A method for controlling the battery of a mild hybrid vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention, includes: a first step of detecting the traffic conditions based on the driving state of the vehicle; and a second step of adjusting the target SOC of an energy storage device based on the detected traffic conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for controlling the battery of a mild hybrid vehicle and, more specifically, to a method for determining a target State of Charge (SOC) of an energy storage device of a mild hybrid vehicle based on traffic conditions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vehicle manufacturers have made an effort to improve fuel economy and develop eco-friendly vehicles in response to the increase of social interest in rising oil prices and the environment, and hybrid systems that regenerate and use the deceleration energy of vehicles have emerged in order to satisfy this demand.
In the related art, in order to control the battery charging state of a hybrid vehicle, the compensation value for an engine torque is calculated from the output of a motor based on information, such as the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery, power of a low-voltage battery that supplies power to an electric field load side of the vehicle, a driving environment (an angle of inclination and external temperature), and the like, and then an operating point (an engine torque output point according to a current engine RPM) of an engine is finally determined based on the calculated compensation value.
However, the control method in the related art does not consider road/traffic conditions and accordingly, does not maximize a Stop and Go function that has a great effect of fuel economy improvement and a regenerative energy use function. For example, in cases where the battery charging state is maintained to be a single target SOC, the Stop and Go function cannot be sufficiently utilized in heavy traffic congestion. In contrast, maximum regenerative energy has to be used in road/traffic conditions that have a large regenerative quantity, but unnecessary engine power generation occurs in order to manage the battery, thereby increasing fuel consumption.
The related art document below discloses a technology of controlling Idle Stop and Go and behavior based on information transmitted from a traffic control center, but does not disclose a technical feature of the present invention wherein a target SOC of an energy storage device of a mild hybrid vehicle is adjusted based on a driving condition of a vehicle.

Method for controlling battery of mild hybrid vehicle


In various embodiments a transmitter circuit may include a first circuit configured to transmit data in a first data transmission mode, a second circuit configured to transmit data in a second data transmission mode and a switching circuit configured to control the first circuit and the second circuit to transmit data in the first data transmission mode or in the second data transmission mode. Further, a corresponding method for operating the transmitter circuit is provided.

CAN (Controller Area Network) bus has been developed for a wide variety of distributed industrial systems with automotive applications being probably the most prominent field of application. CAN is a multi master architecture which means that each entity connected to the bus (also referred to as a node) is able to send and receive messages, but not at the same time. This is achieved by providing each message with an identifier which also defines the priority of the corresponding message. In order to avoid collisions of messages sent at the same time by different nodes, an arbitration phase precedes each phase during which "payload" data is sent. During the arbitration phase the node with a message of the highest priority is designated to transmit its message whereas all the other nodes enter a listening mode. One aspect limiting the data rate originates from the arbitration phase. During that phase the cycle length of the data rate has to be larger than the time it takes for the signal to travel back and forth from a respective node to a node lying farthest away within the network. In other words, the length of the lines within the network is one factor limiting the data rate.
Further factors limiting the data rate are signal integrity and capacitive loads which affect signal propagation during the arbitration phase, as well as the propagation delay of signals on the conductors. In order to circumvent those limiting factors, CAN FD (CAN with flexible data rate) has been conceived. CAN FD allows for sending data with a slower rate during the arbitration phase, after which the data rate may be increased.
However, the use of common CAN transceivers introduces the following problem. Depending on the network quality, ringing, i.e. an unwanted oscillation of a voltage or current, with typical ringing times on the order of many hundreds of nanoseconds occurs at every switching between a dominant bit and a recessive bit, wherein the dominant bit corresponds to a state of the differential lines carrying substantially different voltages and is interpreted as a logical 0 and the recessive bit corresponds to a state of the differential lines carrying substantially the same voltages and is interpreted as a logical 1. The reason for the ringing can be seen in that the CAN transceivers are basically binary switches, which are either switched on (during the transmission of a dominant bit) or switched off (during the transmission of a recessive bit). The ringing caused by the transition from a dominant state to a recessive state disturbs the actual signal on the bus and impedes a fast and accurate detection of the state of the bus (i.e. a determination whether a dominant bit or a recessive bit is present on the data bus) in a potential receiving node. This effect may also limit the maximally possible data rate. In order to allow a proper communication within the CAN network, those issues are taken into account when the maximal data rate using ordinary CAN transceivers is set. The maximal data rate is so to speak adapted to the integrity of the signals which in practice results in its appropriate limitation.

Transmitter circuit and method for operating thereof


Disclosed is a process for the synthesis of chlorzoxazone (1) from 4-chloro-2-aminophenol and ethyl chloroformate in the presence of a base.

Chlorzoxazone, 5-chlorobenzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-one, is a muscle relaxant which acts at central level and is used in the treatment of muscle spasms and the resulting pain. Chlorzoxazone acts on the spinal cord, by depressing/suppressing the reflexes.
A number of examples of synthesis of chlorzoxazone (1) from 4-chloro-2-aminophenol, into which an acyl group, usually from urea or phosgene, is inserted, are described in the literature. Cases in which the carbonyl group inserted is directly gaseous CO are also reported.
A representative example of the use of urea for the synthesis of chlorzoxazone (1) is reported in U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,138 (DE2131366), which discloses the formation of dibenzothiazolones from various aminophenols/aminothiols in the presence of urea and mineral acids according to the following synthesis scheme:

Specifically, chlorzoxazone (1) is synthesised by loading concentrated HCl, 4-chloro-2-aminophenol and urea into an autoclave and heating them in an inert atmosphere at 125° C. After cooling to room temperature, the crystalline paste that precipitates is suspended in 1500 parts of water, the pH of the suspension is adjusted to 5-6, and the paste is heated at 100° C. for an hour. After cooling, the residue is filtered and washed under vacuum to obtain chlorzoxazone (1) with a yield of 91%.
The patent does not report the degree of purity of the product obtained and, despite the high yield of the process, this synthesis is not particularly economical in terms of energy because very high temperatures are used. Moreover, the required work-up considerably increases the volumes of work, making it inefficient on an industrial scale.
CN1560040 and CN103360336 also report the synthesis of chlorzoxazone (1) by reacting 4-chloro-2-aminophenol with urea at high temperatures in the presence of mineral acids (HCl or H2SO4).
CN1560040 also discloses the synthesis of chlorzoxazone using phosgene

The same document also describes the synthesis of chlorzoxazone (1) from the nitro derivative by reacting it with gaseous CO, which leads to the formation of cyclic carbamate

Another synthesis method involves cyclisation of 5-chloro-salicylamide by the action of 13% NaOH.

An alternative process using phosgene is reported in U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,022. The cyclisation of 4-chloro-2-aminophenol is described in procedure no. 2, according to the following synthesis scheme:

In particular, a solution of phosgene in ethyl acetate is dripped into a suspension of 4-chloro-2-aminophenol and sodium acetate in ethyl acetate. The reaction mixture is heated to reflux and cooled, then washed with water containing 5% hydrochloric acid. After a distillation under vacuum and a further crystallisation, the product is obtained.
The procedure does not provide any data relating to the yield or purity of the chlorzoxazone (1) obtained, but even if they were excellent, the process presents the significant drawback of the manageability of phosgene, a particularly reactive, toxic reagent which requires special precautions for both use and disposal.
Another example of synthesis of chlorzoxazone (1) involving the use of phosgene is reported in EP0477819. The procedure described therein also appears unsatisfactory in terms of yields.
Alternative methods of synthesising chlorzoxazone are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,895,877. Starting with 2-amino-5-chlorobenzoxazole or N-(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)urea at reflux in 1N HCl a solid precipitates which, after a basic work-up and an acid work-up, is crystallised from a suitable solvent.
An alternative synthesis method not requiring the use of urea or phosgene is described in JP4834875, wherein a mixture of 4-chloro-2-nitrophenol, benzene, RhCl3 and V2O5 is heated in an autoclave with CO.

Also in JP58225072, chlorzoxazone (1) is obtained by heating a suitable nitrophenol with CO in hydrated organic solvent (e.g. THF) in the presence of a base (e.g. triethylamine) and selenium.
SK278412 describes a process wherein 4-chloro-2-nitrophenol is carbonylated with CO at high temperatures in the presence of catalytic systems such as S, COS, H2S or CS, bases (alkoxides, alkaline metal oxides, etc.) and vanadium derivatives (V2O5, V2S5, NH3VO3).
EP0087347 discloses (Example 7) the synthesis of chlorzoxazone (1) obtained directly from the nitro derivative in the presence of pyridine and of a catalyst based on palladium and molybdenum in a CO atmosphere (200 bars) at 200° C. Cyclic carbamate is then isolated by cooling, filtration of the catalyst and recrystallisation of the product from water.
The use of CO is problematic; said gas is highly poisonous, and insidious because it is odourless, colourless and tasteless. Its extremely hazardous nature requires particular precautions which make its industrial use extremely complicated.
RO75779 discloses the synthesis of chlorzoxazone (1) from 5-Cl-salicylamide; in particular, the desired product is obtained by treating the amide in water, NaOH and butanol with 13% NaOCl at 35° C.

On the basis of the information set out above, there is clearly a need to find a process for synthesising chlorzoxazone (1) that is easier to manage industrially, safer, by avoiding the use of reagents which are extremely hazardous to humans and the environment, and more economical.

Process for the synthesis of chlorzoxazone

Abstract: The process is particularly advantageous because it uses ethyl chloroformate instead of triphosgene, a highly dangerous reagent that releases phosgene and must be handled with extremely strict procedures to guarantee the safety of operators in industrial facilities.

Abstract: Ethyl chloroformate allows the possibility of working with a number of solvents, including water.

Abstract: The yield and purity of the product obtained are very high.


Computer-implemented systems and associated operating methods create and use an operator map to identify and evaluate database query plan robustness landmarks. The computer-implemented system comprises logic that creates a map evaluating performance of an implementation of a database engine operator during execution under actual operating conditions. The logic measures and maps performance for a selected range of runtime conditions including resource availability and data characteristics.

A query statement can be compiled into a query plan consisting of query operators. A query operator can be executed in many different ways, for example full table scans, index scans, nested loop joins, hash joins, and others. A query optimizer is a component of a database management system that attempts to determine the most efficient way to execute a query. The query optimizer determines the most efficient way to execute a SQL statement after considering many factors related to the objects referenced and the conditions specified in the query. The determination is a useful step in the processing of any query statement and can greatly affect execution time.
The query optimizer compares the available query plans for a target input query and estimates which plan will be the most efficient in practice. One type of query optimizer operates on a cost basis and assigns an estimated cost to each possible query plan, for example selecting the plan with the smallest cost. Costs can be used to estimate the runtime cost of evaluating the query in terms of factors such as the number of I/O operations required, processor load requirements, and other factors which can be set forth in a data structure. The set of available query plans that are examined is formed by examining the possible combinations of different database operators (algorithm implementations), such as index scan and sequential scan, and join algorithms including sort-merge join, hash join, nested loops, and others. A search space can become very large according to complexity of the query.
Performance of a database system during processing of a query depends on the ability of a query optimizer to select an appropriate plan for executing the query under an expected set of conditions (for example, cardinality estimates, resource availability assumptions), and the ability of an executor to process the query using the selected plan under actual runtime conditions.
Some approaches to managing database system performance focus on the query optimizer's ability to select an appropriate plan. Even techniques that consider the disparity between expected and actual runtime conditions focus on assisting the query optimizer to pick the best plan with regard to such disparity.

Evaluation of database query plan robustness landmarks using operator maps or query maps

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Provided is a flow generation method for Internet traffic measurement. In the flow generation method, dependency between packet collecting time and flow generating time is removed using a virtual timer and a flow generation completion processing interval is controlled to skip by a unit time in response to a user's request. Also, a fragmented packet processing method is selectively used at need and a FIN timeout is applied selectively to a timeout mechanism used in flow generation completion. Thereby, this invention can improve accuracy and efficiency of Internet traffic measurement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an Internet traffic measurement method, and more particularly, to a flow generation method for accurate and efficient measurement of traffic flowing in the Internet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traffic measurement performed in the Internet has been mainly used to measure the scale of traffic for each line or device or to provide simple analysis results by monitoring utilization of each line using a management information base (MIB) or monitoring a level at which a monitoring method is slightly complemented. However, such simple measurement results are insufficient to understand the performance of the Internet.
Traffic measurement becomes the critical factor in researches on the Internet due to the sharp increase in the Internet users, the increase in scale of and the complication of Internet, and the increase in scale of and the variety of application of Internet traffic. Traffic measurement in the Internet directly involves designing and planning at an initial step of a network, traffic engineering at a step of operation of the network, provision of future high-quality Internet services, billing, and service level agreement (SLA). Also, traffic measurement is a task that should be basically performed in every network related work. Thus, there exists a need for researches on traffic measurement methods based on the characteristic of traffic measurement.
One of the traffic measurement methods that are actively studied is a flow-based Internet traffic measurement method. This method involves reducing the amount of measurement and more clearly recognizing the characteristic of Internet traffic by processing collected packets into flows (i.e., a group of packets having a common feature), thereby making it possible to provide the above-mentioned services.
In currently used flow-based Internet traffic measurement methods, there are a method as used in the Internet equipment company CISCO systems, Inc., in which a NetFlow function is implemented in a router, traffic passing through the router is processed into flows, and the flows are transmitted to an analyzing server. And there are various probes which is similar to the above method.
However, in these methods, processing of packets into flows having a common feature means that comparison and searching need to be performed on a packet-by-packet basis and, in some cases, not only headers of packets but also payloads of packets should be searched for in a real-time manner. Such operations mean a lot of processing time is needed in comparison to a speed of packet collection and independence between a speed of packet collection and a speed of packet processing should be guaranteed. However, there has been no proposal for measurement methods considering these characteristics.

Flow generation method for internet traffic measurement

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A vehicular hydraulic braking pump includes a sleeve having an inner bore defining an inner bore surface and a piston having a stop collar and a ramped seal face. The stop collar, ramped seal face, and the inner bore cooperating to define a seal pocket which traps a high pressure seal therein. The ramped seal face provides contact of the high pressure seal to the sleeve inner bore that is proportional to fluid pressure acting on the high pressure seal.

This invention relates in general to vehicular braking systems and, in particular, to hydraulic braking systems having pump-operated pressurizing systems.
Hydraulic braking systems, particularly for vehicular applications, can be equipped with pump and controller systems that dynamically vary the fluid pressure in response to sensor inputs. These sensor inputs provide information relating to the dynamic operating state of the vehicle, i.e., skidding conditions, tractive effort conditions, and steering reactions, to name a few. These braking systems, sometimes referred to as antilock braking systems (ABS), traction control systems (TCS), and electro-hydraulic braking systems (EHB), use a motor-driven pump to supply fluid pressure to a wheel-end brake mechanism. The fluid pressure is modulated by a valve circuit to provide proper distribution of braking effort to each wheel in response to a particular vehicle dynamic state.
The hydraulic pumps used to generate hydraulic pressure may be piston-type hydraulic pumps that supply fluid pressure by means of a piston that axially reciprocates within a cylinder bore. These piston pumps generally include a plurality of components, such as pistons, cylinders, bushings, springs, filters, and seals, for example, that are assembled into a pump housing. Because of the generally high fluid pressure levels and the high pressure modulation speeds needed to support antilock braking systems, these hydraulic pumps are precision assemblies requiring that tight machining and assembly tolerances be maintained. Additionally, the design of high pressure sealing systems, which includes material selection and dimensional tolerancing, needs to accommodate both the high fluid pressures and piston reaction speeds without leaking or excessive wearing. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a brake system hydraulic pump that is easier to manufacture and improves fluid pumping performance.

Slip control braking pump having a high pressure sealing structure


In the field of monitoring communications systems, it is necessary for a monitoring system to be aware of an association of a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC) and an IP Address of a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) of a first network when a mobile terminal is roaming into a second network. Probes monitoring links with the second network generate transaction data. The transaction data is generated from messages communicated as part of a dialogue to establish a data “tunnel” between a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of the second network and the GGSN of the first network. The MCC, MNC and IP address data are extracted from the transaction data and used to update an address network name table.

In the field of mobile data communications, it is known for mobile terminals to roam from a first network in a first country to a second network in a second country. It is also known, in some circumstances, for users to roam between networks in a same country. When roaming, it is not uncommon for subscribers using the mobile terminals to require mobile data services. Such mobile data services are known to be provided by Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) networks supporting a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and third generation (3G) Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS) networks.
As part of the infrastructure supporting both the GPRS service of the GSM networks and the UMTS networks, Serving GPRS Support Nodes (SGSNs) are provided to support mobility and data session management. Additionally, Gateway GPRS Support Nodes (GGSNs) are provided to serve as a gateway between the GSM networks and/or the UMTS networks and an external packet data network, such as the Internet. From a network management perspective, it is desirable to monitor traffic flowing between a given SGSN in a "visited" network in which the mobile terminal is roaming and a given GGSN of a "home" network. Conversely, it is also desirable to monitor traffic flowing between an SGSN of the home network being accessed by a mobile terminal roaming in the home network and a GGSN of another network from which the mobile terminal originates, the another network constituting a home network from the perspective of the mobile terminal. Network management and reporting systems concerned with subscriber roaming must be able to determine both an origin and a final destination of network traffic in order to identify the network from which the traffic originates and the network in which the traffic terminates. This information allows the network in which the mobile terminal is roaming to be identified and also the home network of the mobile terminal to be identified.
GPRS-enabled mobile data networks and UMTS mobile data networks use Internet Protocol (IP) network addresses to route traffic directly from the visited network in which the mobile terminal is roaming to the home network of the mobile terminal.
However, in order for a network management application, for example a billing verification application as used in conjunction with an AcceSS7 network monitoring system produced by Agilent Technologies, Inc., to make use of associations between IP addresses and networks, it is necessary to perform a look-up operation. Therefore, reference is made to a so-called address network name table of MCCs, MNCs and IP addresses, each entry of the table comprising an MCC/MNC/IP address tuple.
Currently, construction of the table is a manual process of providing a spreadsheet of IP Addresses, MCCs, and MNCs, typically carried out by a GPRS Roaming Exchange (GRX) supplier, since the GRX supplier has knowledge of IP addresses being used in different networks. To compile the table, a so-called "protocol analysis session" is run by an administrator of a Roaming Management System (RMS) of the acceSS7 monitoring system on Gp links of the home network to verify IP addresses in the table. Obviously, errors need to be identified, and so a troubleshooting stage needs to take place, but this requires expenditure of time by engineers. Clearly, manual compilation of the table is therefore prone to human error, and even if substantially error free, IP addresses listed in the table can become disused or re-allocated. Hence, compilation of the table is an extremely laborious and time-consuming activity.
Furthermore, as GPRS networks expand and evolve to become UMTS networks, network operators are constantly allocating and reallocating IP addresses to switches. In the case of GPRS and UMTS networks, the GGSNs can have up to 32 active IP addresses each and these are subject to periodic change, for example as a result of network engineering activity, further exacerbating the problem of maintaining accuracy of the table. Additionally, a given network operator can have a number of GGSNs having IP addresses that may be contiguous, but alternatively may be on different subnets. Further, the IP addresses of the GGSNs may be paired-off as dual redundant nodes. Therefore, disparate and unrelated IP addresses may be associated with different GGSNs, resulting in an absence of consistent patterns of IP addresses that could be used by the GRX supplier to simplify the manual process of compiling the address network name table.
Without accurate maintenance of the table, management reporting systems and roaming management systems will not operate correctly, resulting in the generation of false alarms, investigation of which wastes time.

System, apparatus and method of determining associated data


A linear actuator particularly for sliding doors and for sliding door or window closure elements in general, comprising a box-like body, to be fixed with corresponding elements of fixing between the two jambs of a door or of a window or door frame, in order to move a leaf by translational motion, fixed drive elements being accommodated within the box-like body which are adapted to move corresponding transmission elements which are associated with the leaf. The box-like body is telescopic in structure in order to be adapted in length to the width of the space of the door, or other window or door frame, with which it is intended to be used.

Nowadays, in the field of automation of the home and of habitable spaces generally, the use is becoming more and more widespread of actuators for opening and closing inner doors as well.
The automation of "pocket" sliding doors is however currently still not common, since such pocket sliding doors are normally installed to be moved manually, and a subsequent mounting of actuation means in order to automate the translational motion of the leaf is relatively complex and inconvenient.
Such subsequent mounting requires in fact the removal of the jamb of the door for the mounting of parts of the actuation mechanism to be fixed to the leaf, as well as the addition of a box-like body to contain the actuation means, the latter being supported inside the box-like body by a metallic cross-member that constitutes the supporting structure for the actuator itself, to be arranged at the upper edge of the leaf after specific cutting to measure.
The box-like body and structural cross-member, in addition to representing a cost in their own right, exhibit the drawback of needing to be cut to measure according to the space of the door to which they are to be applied.

Linear actuator particularly for sliding doors and for sliding door or window closure elements in general


An electric propulsion system, comprising a propeller and a motor arranged to rotate the propeller, the motor comprising an axial flux motor comprising a rotor disc and a stator disc mounted in face-to-face relationship with an air gap defined therebetween, the rotor disc driven to rotate relative to the stator disc to cause magnetic flux in the air gap to cause rotation of the propeller, characterised in that the propeller is directly attached to the rotor disc to rotate with the rotor disc.

Many aircraft are driven by propellers that rotate to propel the aircraft through the air. A drive means such as a jet or piston engine or an electric motor is required to cause the propeller to rotate. Typically several hundred kW or more of power from the motor is required.
Various types of electric motor can be used to drive the propeller but generally, motors that can produce the required power are large and heavy and not particularly efficient. A standard radial flux electric motor comprises a rotor surrounded by a stator, the rotor caused to rotate relative to the stator to generate power.
In an electric motor, the moving part is the rotor, which turns a shaft to deliver the mechanical power. The rotor usually carries permanent magnets, and the stator carries conductors that carry currents, which interact with the magnetic field of the stator to generate the forces that turn the shaft. Alternatively, the stator can carry the magnets and the rotor holds the conductors. The rotor is supported by bearings, which allow the rotor to turn on its axis. The bearings are in turn supported by a motor housing. The motor shaft extends through the bearings to the outside of the motor, where the propeller is mounted, also by means of bearings.
The stator is the stationary part of the motor's electromagnetic circuit and usually consists of either windings or permanent magnets.
The rotor and stator are separated by an air gap.
The propeller is mounted on a shaft that is connected to and rotated by the motor mounted in the aircraft body. The structure is fairly complex, as separate bearings are required for the motor rotor and for the propeller. Such a structure ensures, though, that the radial force generated in the motor is balanced and so the loading on bearings on the rotor is balanced around the rotor.
Axial flux motors are known to provide higher performance than a radial electric motor. Such motors comprise two discs, one having magnets arranged thereon, the other having windings, facing each other and separated by an air gap. The discs have a relative rotation to cause a magnetic flux to generate power. Such motors are often used in low speed applications such as an in-wheel motor for electric cars.
As axial flux motors are known to provide better performance than standard electric motors, it would be advantageous to use such motors in propeller aircraft to drive the propeller. For such high power ranges, though, the diameter of the axial flux motor rotor and stator discs needs to be proportionally large. Greater structural strength is then required to counteract the magnetic attractive force between them so as to maintain the air gap required to generate flux. This leads to a bigger, heavier motor and is, therefore, much less suitable for lighter aircraft that are usually propeller driven.
Further, due to the larger discs required to maintain the air gap, the force on the bearings will not be balanced, causing uneven wear on the bearings.
It would be advantageous to be able to use an axial flux motor to drive the propeller of an aircraft without the above problems.


An integrated process is described for producing biodiesel from oleaginous seeds, preferably castor bean seeds. The inventive process includes a transesterification reaction where the seeds themselves react with anhydrous ethyl alcohol in the presence of an alkaline catalyst. The resulting ethyl esters are then separated by decantation and neutralized and used as fuel for diesel engines, co-solvents for diesel and gasoline mixtures with anhydrous or hydrated ethyl alcohol. The solid fractions may be used as fertilizers, for feeding cattle and as a raw material for producing ethyl alcohol.

Products known or classified as biodiesel are synthetic liquid fuels obtained from renewable raw materials and made up of mixtures of long chain fatty acid alkyl monoesters derived from vegetable oils or animal fat.
The use of such products as fuel, by themselves or in admixture with other products is well known. The reference international specification for this kind of product is the "Provisional Specification for Biodiesel Fuel (B100) Blend Stock for Distillate Fuels" defined by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) and designed as PS 121-99.
Conventional processes for the industrial production of this kind of fuel are the transesterification unit processes where the triglycerides that make up the vegetable oils or the animal fats are made to react with lower alcohols, in the presence of acidic or basic catalysts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,411 teaches one of these processes for producing a fatty acid monoester composition, useful as a fuel for a diesel engine as a replacement of gas oil. According to the teachings of said US patent, a transesterification of oils or greases of vegetable or animal origin is performed in three distinct steps, using four different anhydrous or hydrated alcohols, in the presence of acidic or basic catalysts.
A similar process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,743, which provides a list of vegetable oils that was made to react with various alcohols in the presence of the following catalysts: sodium alkoxide, sodium or potassium hydroxide and titanium tetrahydropropoxide (basic catalysts) or the sulfuric, alkyl sulfonic or aryl sulfonic acids.
Other documents forward similar processes with modifications in the production steps of other kinds of biodiesel, none of them mentioning however the straight use of the oleaginous seeds as raw material for the transesterification reaction. These documents are U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,126; U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,440; U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,501 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,390.
Other patents, such as for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,090; U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,369 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,773, teach and prove the technical viability of using several kinds of biodiesel, as such or in admixture with petroleum diesel as a fuel for vehicle or stationary engines.
In one way or another, and at different sophistication levels, the basic feature of these prior art processes is always a transesterification of vegetable oil or animal fat triglycerides, with lower primary alcohols, catalyzed by an acidic or basic, soluble or not, catalyst. Product and by-product (esters and glycerin) refining is performed at different quality and purity grades, after the physical separation of the two liquid phases formed in the reactor after distilling the remaining excess alcohol.
It should be pointed out that in all the cited patents either the process is to be carried out on a high cost, purified or semi-purified vegetable oil, or it is carried out on a sort of waste or by-product having low oil content. This means most of the time a high cost/benefit ratio, since the starting raw material—vegetable oil—has a higher price than the final biodiesel product. Further, according to the state-of-the-art technique, the alcohol, either methyl or ethyl alcohol, even if partly recycled or recovered, must be supplied from external sources. That is why, in spite of the huge government interest of several countries on the biodiesel technology and production, still heavy subsidies are required for supplying biodiesel in gas stations. On the contrary, the process of the present application, by carrying the transesterification reaction on seeds and generating all the required reaction ethyl alcohol, besides other valuable co-products such as pure glycerin, agricultural fertilizers and cattle feed, dispenses with subsidizing and may be produced industrially at a reasonable cost without any burden to the economy.
Brazilian patent PI BR 8003739 teaches a process for extracting vegetable oils from seeds for obtaining a fuel using methyl or ethyl alcohol with the concomitant partial modification of oil into methyl or ethyl esters that are soluble in the corresponding alcohols. The so-obtained fuel is useful for diesel or similar engines. In spite of the reported transesterification reaction and the resulting fuel, the technique of the said Brazilian patent does not lead to a biodiesel product as specified in the above cited ASTM PS 121-99 Method. To begin with, at the time of the research that led to said patent was carried out, the term biodiesel meant the vegetable oil itself, as used in diesel engines. Since petroleum diesel contains C8–C22 hydrocarbon molecules, and vegetable oil C12–C18 moieties linked to a glycerol residue, the similarity of the molecules led to experiments for replacing petroleum-derived molecules for vegetable oils. It should be noted that the heating until the ethyl alcohol boiling point used in the process of PI BR 8003739 entrains vegetable components present in the seeds that are harmful to the produced fuel, such as pigments, vitamins, gum-generating phospholipids and even essential oils. The catalyst used, NaOH, yields soaps that should be withdrawn from the final product. Also, free glycerol is left in the final product, which on burning in the engine yields acrolein, a potent carcinogen. The glycerol amount based on the reaction stoichiometry is nearly 10% by weight of the final product. This is exceedingly more than allowed by the present ASTM PS 121-99, limited to 0.02 wt %.
Therefore, in spite of the state-of-the-art developments, the technique still needs an economically viable process for preparing biodiesel where the transesterification of the triglycerides present in an oleaginous seed be effected directly and integrally on such seeds, dispensing with the step of oil extraction from such seeds and the need to supply ethyl alcohol from external sources while at the same time producing pure glycerin and valuable agricultural co-products, such a process being described and claimed in the present application.

Process for producing biodiesel fuel using triglyceride-rich oleagineous seed directly in a transesterification reaction in the presence of an alkaline alkoxide catalyst


A portable recumbent stepper device may comprise a frame which may have a main body in the form of a beam extending fore-to-aft. The frame may also include a front leg and a rear base both for providing vertical and lateral support. The device may include an upward frame element fixedly joined to the fore end of the main body. A pair of foot pedals may be hingedly joined to the upward frame element. A pair of upwardly extending handles may be hingedly joined to the upward frame element and to the foot pedals so that they move in unison with the foot pedals, and the handles may be swept rearward to accommodate a seated user. A pair of resistance elements may be joined to the frame at one end and to one of the pair of foot pedals at another end.

A. Field of Invention
Embodiments of the invention may generally relate to portable exercise devices wherein the user remains seated or reclined.
B. Description of the Related Art
Stepper exercise devices are known in the art. Many require a user to stand on the device and provide the user with resistance to his stepping motion either with or without arm rowing motions. Some devices enable a user to exercise with the device from a seated position. Typically, such devices include an integrated seat and the resistance mechanism may be housed partially under the seat. What is absent from the art is an easily portable device. Such devices would be especially useful to home healthcare workers who may conduct physical or occupational therapy sessions in patients' homes. Such persons may find it advantageous to have an easily portable device which could be carried from site to site.
Some embodiments of the present invention may provide one or more benefits or advantages over the prior art.

Foldable recumbent stepper exercise device


A radially expandable, endovascular stent designed for placement at a site of vascular injury, for inhibiting restenosis at the site, a method of using, and a method of making the stent. The stent includes a radially expandable body formed of one or more metallic filaments where at least one surface of the filaments has a roughened or abraded surface. The stent may include a therapeutic agent on the abraded surface.

Complications such as restenosis are a recurring problem in patients who have received artherosclerosis therapy in the form of medical procedures such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Restenosis is commonly treated by a procedure known as stenting, where a medical device is surgically implanted in the affected artery to prevent it from occluding post procedure.
A stent is typically cylindrical in shape and is usually made from a biocompatible metal, such as titanium or surgical steel. Most stents are collapsible and are delivered to the occluded artery via transluminal catheter. The stent is affixed to the catheter and can be either self expanding or expanded by inflation of a balloon inside the stent that is then removed with the catheter once the device is in place. Examples of common types of stents are disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,066 to Palmaz entitled "Complaint Implantable Medical Devices and Methods of Making Same."
Complications that arise from stent therapy are restenosis and thrombosis. In an effort to overcome these complications, stents are routinely developed to have the additional feature of controlled drug elution. To accomplish this, a metal stent is coated with an API mixed with polymer, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,981 issued to Hunter entitled anti-angiogenic Compositions and Methods of Use. Examples of typical therapies that are delivered in this manner are antiproliferatives, anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory agents and immunosuppressive agents, though there are many other chemical and biological agents that can be used. A porous layer of biodegradable material is often applied over the coating layer to regulate controlled release of the drug into the body. Common types of polymer coated drug eluting stents are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,774,278 and 6,730,064 issued to Ragheb entitled "Coated Implantable Medical Device."
It has been postulated that the presence of this polymer contributes to thrombosis due to delamination. It is thought that over time, the protective polymer may separate from the bare metal or substrate, resulting in sharp peaks or edges that come in direct contact with red blood cells, the result of which is thrombosis, causing serious illness or death in the patient. Stents have been designed that do not include a permanent polymer, like BSI biodegradable PLLA. Some stent designs have moved towards the polymerless altogether such as surface textured stents or biocompatible oil coatings.
To increase the drug loading capacity, stents can be engineered to have roughened surfaces. Rough surfaces on the stent provide for peaks and valleys which increase the total surface area of the stent thereby increasing the amount of API that may be associated with the stent. Roughening of the surface of a stent is accomplished in a number of ways, such as sintering, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,172 issued to Yan entitled "Porous Medical Stent." Surface roughness is also achieved by abrasive techniques such as sandblasting and reductive acid etching as disclosed in European patent No. 0806212 issued to Leitao entitled "Device For Incorporation and Release of Biologically Active Agents." Roughening of a stent surface can also be achieved pressing indentations directly onto the device as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,237 Issued to Thomas entitled "Method of Forming a Drug Eluting Stent" or using the common metal working techniques of shot peening or laser peening. A stent having a mechanical anchoring layer is described in co-owned U.S. Publication No. 2006/0069427. However, the stent and catheter crossing profile serve as physical limitations for the thickness of coatings. A problem encountered with rough stents is that the crossing profile of the stent and catheter must be limited to a thickness that is narrow enough to pass through an occluded artery.
In light of the complications associated with stent therapy, it would be desirable to develop a stent that will have the increased surface area of a rough stent which can be manufactured in such a way as to maximize structural integrity and drug loading capacity. Further, it would be desirable to develop a polymerless stent that is capable of delivering API to decrease or eliminate the risk the risk of late stent thrombosis. Finally, it is desirable to develop a stent that maximizes drug loading capacity while at the same time minimizing the total thickness of the stent-catheter crossing profile.

Drug-delivery endovascular stent and method of use


A method of providing parking information for autonomous parking, may include receiving, by an autonomous driving vehicle based on a connected car entering a parking lot, pieces of global positioning system (GPS) information for a driving route in the parking lot from the connected car, configuring a map of the parking lot on the basis of the received pieces of GPS information, and providing a driving route on the map of the parking lot according to a request of the autonomous driving vehicle entering the parking lot, wherein the driving route is selected by a weight value assigned to each route on the map of the parking lot.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
A connected car is a vehicle capable of accessing the Internet by converging a car with information technology (IT), and the connected car may be connected to other vehicles or traffic and communication infrastructures to allow a danger warning, a real-time navigation, remote vehicle control, and a management service.
Further, on the basis of the connected car, research has been conducted to allow autonomous driving in which a situation is determined by a vehicle through a precise map and various sensors of the vehicle, such as a global positioning system (GPS) and the like, to reach a destination even though a driver does not manipulate a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, a brake, and the like.
When a connected car enters a parking lot, it may not obtain information for parking by searching for a parking space. The connected car may perform autonomous parking to find a parking space by relying solely on the sensors of the connected car, such that autonomous parking may not always be successful.
In some instances, the connected car may be led out of the parking lot while searching for a place where obstacles are absent, or when there is no operation scenario for each situation that might be encountered, the connected car may have difficulty constructing a subsequent operation scenario after encountering a front-side obstacle.
The contents described in the above are to help the understanding of the background, and may include what is not previously known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Method of providing parking information for autonomous parking, service server for providing parking information, and system for providing parking information


A protein comprising (i) a domain of the Platelet-Derived Growth Factor receptor (PDGFR) and (ii) a domain of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor receptor (VEGFR) is provided. In a preferred embodiment, said domain of PDGFR and said domain of VEGFR are attached by a linker consisting of proline, alanine and serine. The domain of PDGFR and said domain of VEGFR can also be attached by a linker consisting of proline and alanine. Compositions comprising the proteins, as well as therapeutic uses thereof are also provided.

Current state-of-the-art anti-angiogenic therapies target the VEGF pathway, which is the main essential signaling pathway for angiogenesis, including pathological angiogenesis in cancer and eye diseases. However, the long-term outcomes of anti-VEGF monotherapy in patients with eye diseases are somewhat disappointing (Dugel, 2013) since chronic anti-VEGF treatment seems to induce disease-resistance in some patient populations, which is often associated with a substantial loss of vision (Rofagha et al., 2013; Ying et al., 2014; Rosenfeld et al., 2011). As the VEGF level varies in the vitreous of patients, it was proposed that those poor responders of anti-VEGF therapy may need much higher doses of anti-VEGF drugs due to higher levels of VEGF. However, 1-year results from the Clinical Study READ-3 showed no additional benefit of using 4 times higher dose than the regular regimen (Nguyen et al., 2014; Bai et al, 2016). Such observations suggest that multiple pathways are involved in retinal and choroidal neovascularization in eye diseases. In fact, growing clinical and laboratory evidence indicates that, in addition to VEGF, which is a key player in neovascular (or wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD; Rosenfeld et al., 2006; Heier et al., 2012), PDGF may also play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of this disease. In fact, dual inhibition of VEGF and PDGF may be more effective than targeting VEGF alone (Robins et al., 1994; Benjamin et al., 1998; Zehetner et al., 2014; Bergers et al., 2003; Erber et al., 2004; Pachydaki et al., 2012).
The pathological condition AMD occurs when unstable and highly permeable blood vessels grow and invade from the choroid into the retina, where leakage and bleeding results in a rapid loss of sight (during a period of a few weeks to months). In this setting, VEGF is one of the most potent inducers of vascular permeability known (Carmeliet, 2000), even though the precise mechanisms by which VEGF increases vascular permeability are not entirely clear.
Studies examining postnatal remodeling of the retina provided initial clues as to the importance of VEGF and PDGF in wet AMD (Benjamin et al., 1998) while work on cancer models gave the final push to pursue anti-VEGF/PDGF combination therapies for the treatment of wet AMD (Bergers et al., 2003; Erber et al., 2004). Patients under anti-VEGF monotherapy typically gain an initial improvement in visual acuity (i.e., clarity of vision) in the first 3 or 4 months of treatment, which is followed by a plateau that persists throughout the study (Dugel, 2013). In these first months of treatment, Anti-VEGF monotherapy acts primarily on fenestrated endothelial cells that form the inner lining of the vessel wall, causing a decrease in edema and, consequently, initial improvement in visual acuity. Thereafter, however, the remainder of the neovascular complex seems to be protected by pericyte cells that coat and stabilize the endothelial tube. In this situation, pericytes are thought to render the survival of blood vessels resistant to VEGF inhibition, which may account for the plateau that is usually observed after initial anti-VEGF treatment (Dugel, 2013). Notably, anti-VEGF therapy may not only lead to endothelial cell apoptosis but also enhance pericyte recruitment, thereby potentially reversing the effect of VEGF inhibition (Winkler et al., 2004; Pachydaki et al., 2012).
The arsenal of clinically useful VEGF blockers has evolved over time, with newer generations offering potentially improved anti-angiogenic activity by increasing the affinity towards VEGF-A and/or a number of VEGF isoforms as well as family members they inhibit. In principle, these blockers fall into two categories: (i) monoclonal antibodies, alternative binding proteins (scaffolds) or engineered soluble receptor fragments and (ii) small molecule inhibitors of the kinase domains of VEGFR and related receptors.
One of the first anti-VEGF therapies approved by the FDA for AMD was pegaptanib (Macugen), an RNA aptamer that binds and neutralizes VEGF-A165 (Gragoudas et al., 2004). The first protein-based therapy employing a VEGF-neutralizing strategy was bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech), a recombinant humanized anti-VEGF antibody designed to block all VEGF isoforms via antigen recognition by its variable region. Bevacizumab was initially approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer and glioblastoma multiforme (Grothey et al., 2009; Ferrara et al., 2004).
Concomitantly with the development of such cancer therapies, VEGF was found to also play a pivotal role in neovascular AMD and diabetic retinopathy. Starting from this notion, ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) was developed based on bevacizumab as an affinity-matured antigen-binding fragment (Fab) specifically for intravitreal administration to treat vascular eye diseases, especially the wet or neovascular form of AMD (Ferrara et al., 2006) and, recently, also for diabetic retinopathy (Stewart, 2017). The smaller size of the Fab compared with a full size antibody was thought to enhance its diffusion from the vitreous into the retina as well as choroid (Ferrara et al., 2006).
VEGF-Trap (aflibercept; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals) is an engineered soluble decoy receptor that binds VEGF-A based on the molecular interaction of the growth factor with its cognate cellular receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. VEGF-Trap consists of a fully human amino-acid sequence comprising the second Ig domain of human VEGFR-1 and the third Ig domain of human VEGFR-2 fused in-line with the constant region (Fc) of human IgG1 (Holash et al., 2002). Therefore, VEGF-Trap has a broader specificity than an antibody, recognizing not only multiple isoforms of VEGF-A but also the related VEGF-B, P1GF (placental growth factor), and PIGF2 (Papadopoulos et al., 2012), which all are physiological ligands of the two tyrosine kinase (TK) receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2.

PASylated VEGFR/PDGFR fusion proteins and their use in therapy


A square secondary battery suppresses welding failure from occurring by temporarily retaining and securing a sealing cover and enabling detection by a leakage test even when welding failure occurs. The square secondary battery has a case surface portion with an injection opening for injecting an electrolyte, a sealing cover disposed at a position opposite to the case surface portion and sealing the injection opening and having an outer edge welded to the case surface portion to seal the injection opening, and a pressure sensitive adhesive member interposed between the sealing cover and the case surface portion for securing the sealing cover to the case surface portion. A gas passage is provided between the case surface portion and the sealing cover for communicating a gap formed at a position outer to the pressure sensitive adhesive member with respect to a battery case and the injection opening in a ventilation manner.

In recent years, development of square lithium secondary batteries of high energy density has proceeded as a power source for electric automobiles and the like. A square lithium ion secondary battery has an electrode group having a positive electrode and a negative electrode with a separator interposed therebetween. The electrode group is soaked with an electrolyte and housed within a battery case. Generally, the battery case is formed with an injection opening for injecting an electrolyte. The injection opening is sealed by a sealing cap after injection of the electrolyte, so that the battery case may tightly be sealed.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a sealed type battery. The structure described in Patent Literature 1 is formed as follows. A sealing cap having a pressure sensitive adhesive tape bonded to the lower surface of the sealing cap is fitted in a concave portion of an injection opening, whereby the upper surface of the concave portion of the injection opening and the bottom of the sealing cap are bonded by the pressure sensitive adhesive tape. The peripheral edge of the sealing cap is joined, by laser welding, to the battery case at the peripheral edge of the concave portion of the injection opening with the sealing cap secured temporarily.


A modulated light source includes a ring modulator, a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide that are optically connected to the ring modulator, and a third optical waveguide that optically connects an end of the first optical waveguide and an end of the second optical waveguide. At least part of the third optical waveguide has optical gain, and an optical waveguide loop including the ring modulator, the first optical waveguide, the second optical waveguide, and the third optical waveguide is used as a resonator to cause laser oscillation.

It has been desired to develop a modulated light source that is compact and consumes a low power. In such a modulated light source, using a minute ring modulator with a silicon sub-micron optical waveguide has been studied.
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view depicting a schematic configuration of a modulated light source of related art using a ring modulator.
The modulated light source includes a distributed feedback (DFB) laser 101, a ring modulator 102, a PD 103, a wavelength controller 104, and a heater 105.
The PD 103 senses power of light having passed through the ring modulator 102. The wavelength controller 104 outputs a signal that controls the wavelength of the ring resonance based on the optical power sensed with the PD 103. The heater 105 heats the ring modulator 102 in accordance with the control signal from the wavelength controller 104 to adjust the wavelength of the ring modulator to match the laser wavelength.
In the modulated light source, the DFB laser 101 outputs laser light in a continuous emission mode. The outputted laser light passes through an optical waveguide and then is guided to the ring modulator 102, which modulates the transmissivity at the laser light wavelength transmissivity.
The ring modulator 102 has a Lorentzian spectrum centered at a resonance wavelength. The ring modulator 102 changes the resonance wavelength in accordance with a change in a modulation signal between voltages V0 and V1. The transmissivity is thus modulated, whereby intensity-modulated output light is produced.
The resonance wavelength of the ring modulator 102 changes as a circumference optical path length of the ring modulator 102 changes due to a manufacturing error and/or a temperature change, resulting in a discrepancy between the resonance wavelength and the wavelength of the laser light being emitted. As depicted in FIG. 9, to compensate for the discrepancy, the heater 105 heats the ring modulator 102 to raise the temperature of it for adjustment of the resonance wavelength.
In this case, however, it is undesirably difficult not only to ensure reliability of the modulated light source but also to improve power efficiency in the modulation or the like (decrease in electric power necessary for heater and modulation operation). The reason for this is as follows.
The case where the ring modulator has a small radius as depicted in FIG. 10A will be considered. In this case, the volume of the ring modulator is small, whereby electric power consumed by the heater that is required to compensate for the wavelength shift resulting from variation in temperature is decreased. Furthermore, the small radius of the ring modulator reduces a capacitance that serves as a load on a drive circuit of the ring modulator, whereby the modulation power is deceased. On the other hand, because the difference between the laser and the ring modulator wavelength amounts up to the free spectral range (FSR), an increased FSR increases the amount of required wavelength compensation, resulting in an increase in the amount of increase in the temperature of the ring modulator and hence a decrease in reliability of the ring modulator.
The case where the ring modulator 102 has a large radius as depicted in FIG. 10B will be considered. In this case, the FSR is small, resulting in a decrease in the amount of wavelength compensation, which reduces the amount of increase in the temperature of the ring modulator, whereby reliability of the ring modulator is ensured. On the other hand, the volume of the ring modulator increases, resulting in increases in modulation power, and electric power consumed by the heater that is required to compensate for the wavelength shift due to variation in temperature.
Furthermore, a problem caused by use of the DFB laser 101 is not negligible. That is, DFB lasers without a phase shift in the diffraction grating for improvement of power efficiency reduces a yield thereof. Conversely, introduction of a phase shift for improvement in the yield lowers the power efficiency.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-64862
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-59729

PHOTONICS ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION


A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of internal blocks, a supply unit, and a control unit. The supply unit is configured to supply a clock signal to each of the plurality of internal blocks. The control unit is configured to detect power consumption in the semiconductor integrated circuit and to control the supply unit to start supplying the clock signal to each of the internal blocks one by one if the detected power consumption has stabilized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuits and to a method of supplying a clock signal to internal blocks provided in a semiconductor integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Owing to micro-miniaturization of circuit elements and a reduction in power supply voltage that have accompanied advances in semiconductor processes in recent years, semiconductor integrated circuits (referred to as an "LSI" hereinafter) have grown larger in size and operate at higher speeds.
Further, in order to reduce power consumption, the general practice is to cut off the supply of voltage to the LSI when the LSI is not operating or to control the supply of a clock to each of the blocks within the LSI. For example, the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,171 discloses an arrangement in which the clock frequency is changed depending upon the state of the CPU load in order to realize a reduction in power consumption.
While LSIs are increasing in size and are made to operate at high speeds, it is also required that an LSI exhibit a high degree of precision in terms of power supply voltage owing to the use of lower power supply voltages. In LSIs thus far, no problems arise if it is confirmed that a fluctuation in power supply voltage supplied during the operation of the LSI is within the rated range of such voltage fluctuation. However, as the allowable range of fluctuation in supplied voltage narrows due to use of lower power supply voltages, there are instances where the former circuitry that supplies power to the LSI cannot respond, leading to a large fluctuation in voltage, in a case where the power consumed by the LSI changes significantly in accordance with a changeover in the operating state thereof. In conventional arrangements, therefore, one problem is that when there is a large change in LSI power consumption in accordance with a changeover in the operating state, the supplied voltage exceeds the rated range of power-supply voltage fluctuation of the LSI, thereby leading to an LSI malfunction.
As the scale of the LSI gates and the LSI operating frequency increase in the future, it is predicted that the above-mentioned problem will become more conspicuous.
It should be noted that the aforementioned changeover in the operating state includes an on/off changeover in terms of the supply of power supply voltage to the interior of an LSI, a changeover between a normal operation and a power saving mode, and a changeover between a shut-down operation and a power saving mode. The power saving mode includes operation of the circuit at a frequency lower than that of normal operation, and operation only of some functions.

Semiconductor integrated circuit, and method of supplying a clock to internal blocks provided in a semiconductor integrated circuit


An illumination device for uniformly illuminating an image generating micro-display that includes a coherent light source, a beam shaping and speckle reduction device located on an optical path between said coherent light source and said image generating micro-display, wherein the beam shaping and speckle reduction device includes a dynamic diffractive optical element, and a processor which is configured to control said dynamic diffractive optical element so that a sequence of different hologram patterns is generated on said dynamic diffractive optical element, the different hologram patterns being uncorrelated to each other.

Display devices become more and more important in electronic equipment and customer devices. Therefore, the technical development also focuses on processes and devices of illumination, image generation and projection.
In current illumination systems light is guided and shaped in a way to illuminate an image forming device uniformly and static. Usually these illumination systems contain many optical products to shape and uniform the light emitted from a non-uniform light source. Further, speckle and other interferences caused by the illumination system, which uses coherent light, destroys the image quality with nonuniformity.
It is an object of the invention to avoid such problems.
The object is solved by an illumination device, an image generating device, a method and a computer program product according to claims 1, 13, 14, and 20, respectively.
Further embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
Further details of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings ensuing description.

Illumination device and method for illuminating uniformly an image generating micro display


A method and system to implement a periodic auction by a seller of risk through a website for the purpose of transferring specific risks authorized by seller under its medium-term and long-term guarantee and medium-term insurance programs. A computerized communications network, such as the Internet, is used as a vehicle for implementing a seller risk auction. A website is utilized to present auction data and terms as well as auction rules and procedures. In addition, relevant information regarding an exposure can be posted on the website at the time the exposure is auctioned. The website can be interactive to ascertain that a potential bidder is an qualified counterparty.

The present invention relates generally to an on-line risk auction system. In particular, the present invention relates to a method-end system for auctioning risk associated with a financial transaction via a distributed network.
A certain amount of risk exposure is associated with selling financial instruments, and in particular with medium and long term guarantees and medium term insurance policies. It would be most efficient to be able to transfer risk associated with such transactions in an expeditious and convenient manner.
A facility chosen by a seller to complete a transaction should assure be able seller of a competitive and least expensive execution. This can best be accomplished at the point in time when there is the greatest transparency with regard to the exposures. At the current time, there is no way to know which exposures will be authorized by a seller during an authorization period, the concentration of those exposures or the terms of those exposures. Presently, there is no way to know the market conditions which will prevail when such exposures are authorized.
What is needed is a method and system to create a forum to offer to transfer risk exposure and also to receive bids from qualified bidders, accept a bid and transfer the risk exposure.


Disclosed embodiments provide techniques for virtual reality enabled activity allocation. A camera system monitors a physical environment from multiple angles, generating real-time video feeds of the physical environment. A real-time virtual reality environment (RTVRE) rendering system utilizes the real-time video feeds as input to create a virtual reality environment that is representative of the physical environment. A user performs an action in the virtual environment that corresponds to a task to be performed in the physical environment. A computer-implemented virtual reality control management system assesses the task and assigns the task to an electromechanical device that is best-suited to perform the task, based on a scoring algorithm. This enables actions such as remote monitoring and control of a premises. Thus, disclosed embodiments improve the technical field of remote monitoring and control of a premises.

Virtual reality (VR) refers to a computer-generated process that immerses the user into a virtual environment. Using a device such as a VR headset, virtual reality provides a user with the sensation of a simulated world or environment.
Virtual reality is performed by stimulating various human senses. A major aspect of virtual reality is stimulating the visual senses. VR headsets are designed to create an immersive 3D environment. VR headsets include the optics and electronics for rendering a display in front of eyes that displays a view of the virtual environment. Two autofocus lenses are generally placed between the screen and the eyes that adjust based on individual eye movement and positioning. The visual elements provided to the user on the screen are rendered by an electronic computing device such as a mobile phone or other connected computing device.
Another aspect of virtual reality is sound. Sound that is synchronized with the visual component can create very engaging effects. Headphone speakers, combined with audio processing to create directional sound effects, can help to provide an immersive experience.
Another aspect of virtual reality is head tracking. VR headsets may include devices such as accelerometers to detect three-dimensional movement, gyroscopes for angular movement and/or a magnetic compass to identify the orientation of a user. As the user moves his/her head, the display and/or sounds presented to the user are updated in real time, making the user feel as if he/she is "looking around" in the virtual environment.
Virtual reality is finding new uses in areas such as gaming, entertainment, and education. As technology improves, new and exciting applications for virtual reality are enabled.

Virtual reality enabled activity allocation

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatuses for installing a sensor on an active conduit is disclosed. An adaptor is attached to a corporation stop valve that has been installed onto an active conduit in the closed position. A sensor is positioned at a first position in the adaptor forming a seal between the sensor and adaptor. At the first position the sensor is automatically inhibited from moving further into the adaptor. The corporation stop valve is opened and the sensor is further inserted into the adaptor through the open corporation stop valve and into the active conduit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the field of sensors, and in particular, to the insertion of a sensor into a live conduit.
2. Statement of the Problem
Sensors are used to measure the characteristics of various fluids. For example, a sensor may be placed in water to measure the pressure, temperature, or other characteristics of the water. Industrial processes use piping to transport fluid (gas or liquid) as a part of the process. Sensors are placed in these pipes to measure characteristics that are important to the process. If the process is in existence before the sensors are placed, then the pipe is taken out of active service, so the sensors may be placed in the pipe. The pipe is then returned to active service.
Corporation stop valves have been developed to tap active pipes. When open, the corporation stop valve diverts fluid flow away from the existing pipe and into the tapped pipe. Unfortunately, corporation stop valves have not been effectively used to insert multi-parameter sensors into an active pipe.


An assembly for handling a fluid, comprising a valve and a controller. The valve has at least one revolving valve element and a coupling device. The coupling device comprises at least one port coupled to a flow path and is adapted for interacting with said at least one revolving valve element in order to control a fluid flow through said at least one port using a relative valve position between the revolving valve element and the coupling device. The controller is adapted for controlling the relative valve position based on at least one of a current and a previous measurement of an amount of the fluid flow dependent on the relative valve position.

The present invention relates to a fluid handling assembly, in particular as a part of a microfluidic processing system.
The field of microfluidic laboratory technology comprises chemical, physical and/or biological analysis, separation or synthesis of substances on a substrate with a microfluidic structure. There is a growing demand for such microfluidic processing systems that has generated a need for small fluidic valves. Such miniaturized microfluidic devices have to fulfill a variety of requirements such as low dead volume and short flow paths with a cross section as constant as possible. A sufficient approach in the field is the use of microfluidic chips coupled to revolving valve elements for flow controlling the microfluidic processes executed within the chip. One solution for a flexible microfluidic chip is disclosed for example in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,071. One solution for such a revolving valve element is disclosed for example in EP 1 520 837.

Fluid handling assembly with valve position control based on fluid amount measurement


A method of controlling discharge of printed sheets, which makes it possible to acquire a desired number of printed sheets as a sheet bundle. A controller determines whether or not printed sheets are stored in the stacker. The controller detects the number of printed sheets stored in the stacker. A controller causes the stored printed sheets to be discharged from the stacker as a sheet bundle when the number of printed sheets stored in the stacker is equal to a desired sheet count set by a user. In a case where the set desired sheet count has been changed, if it is determined that the printed sheets are stored in the stacker, the controller causes the printed sheets stored in the sheet discharge unit to be discharged from the stacker.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of controlling discharge of printed sheets as a sheet bundle, a sheet discharge control apparatus, and a storage medium, and more particularly to a method of controlling discharge of a set desired number of printed sheets as a sheet bundle, a sheet discharge control apparatus, and a storage medium.
Description of the Related Art
There has been known a sheet discharge control system that conveys a plurality of printed sheets, which have been printed by an MFP as a sheet discharge control apparatus, from the MFP to a stacker apparatus as a sheet discharge unit, and stores the conveyed sheets in the stacker apparatus. In this sheet discharge control system, the MFP performs print processing on the number of sheets to be printed, which is set by a user, and conveys the set number of printed sheets to the stacker apparatus, wherein the conveyed printed sheets are stored. Here, a technique for acquiring printed sheets conveyed from the MFP to the stacker apparatus as a bundle of sheets of a desired sheet count has been proposed e.g. in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-277339. In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-277339, the MFP divides print processing to be performed on the total number of sheets to be printed, based on the desired sheet count which is set by the user, and whenever execution of each divided print processing operation is completed, the stacker apparatus discharges the printed sheets of the desired sheet count as a sheet bundle. This enables the user to acquire the printed sheets of the desired sheet count as a sheet bundle.
However, in the sheet discharge control system described above, there is a case where the user cannot acquire the printed sheets of the desired sheet count as a sheet bundle. For example, if the number of printed sheets stored in the stacker apparatus does not reach the desired sheet count of printed sheets for a print processing operation, the printed sheets stored in the stacker apparatus remains in the stacker apparatus without being discharged from the stacker apparatus. However, thereafter in this state, if a new print processing operation is executed based on the setting of another desired sheet count which is set by the user, this brings about a situation in which two types of printed sheets, which have been printed by two print processing operations different from each other, are mixed in the stacker apparatus. As a result, in either of the two print processing operations, the user cannot acquire the printed sheets of a desired sheet count as a sheet bundle.

Method of controlling discharge of printed sheets as sheet bundle, sheet discharge control apparatus, and storage medium


An article of manufacture has a first component configured for use with a turbomachine. The first component is configured for attachment to a second component, and reduces the possibility of attachment with an undesired third component by modification of a characteristic of the first component. This modification is matched by a complementary characteristic of the second component. The first component has a nominal airfoil profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in a scalable table selected from the group consisting of TABLES 1-11. Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values convertible to dimensional distances by multiplying by a number. X and Y are coordinates which, when connected by continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each Z height. The airfoil profile sections at each Z height being joined with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.

The present invention relates generally to turbomachinery, and more particularly relates to an article of manufacture configured for use with turbomachines.
In turbomachines, many system requirements should be met at each stage of the turbomachine's flow path to meet design goals. These design goals include, but are not limited to, overall improved efficiency, reduction of vibratory response and improved airfoil loading capability. For example, a compressor airfoil profile should achieve thermal and mechanical operating requirements for a particular stage in the compressor. Moreover, component lifetime, reliability and cost targets also should be met.
During initial assembly of turbomachine components, or subsequent repair and replacement of turbomachine components, a large number of components must be installed in specific locations of the turbomachine. For example, a stage one rotor blade must be installed in the correct position on a stage one rotor wheel. A typical turbomachine may have many stages with many corresponding components, so a high probability exists that a component for a specific stage may get installed in an incorrect stage (e.g., a stage five rotor blade might get installed in a stage six rotor wheel). The negative implications of this event lead to machine malfunction or inefficiency and increase outage or construction time due to the need to remove and correctly install the specific components. Accordingly, a need still exists for an improved system for installing turbomachine components that reduces the probability for errors during installation.


The present invention relates to a process and a device for the continuous manufacture of a polymer of an aromatic alkylene monomer e.g. styrene comprising a bulk polymerisation of the monomer and a devolatilization of the resulting polymer in at least two successive steps so as to separate the polymer from the unreacted monomer and the oligomers formed during the polymerisation. The process comprises conveying a first gas stream resulting from the first step of the devolatilization into a first zone Z1 for direct condensation and fractionation, removing a gas stream G1 comprising essentially the monomer from the top of Z1, and removing a liquid stream L1 rich in oligomers from the bottom of Z1, a portion of L1 being taken, cooled and then returned into Z1. It also comprises conveying a second gas stream resulting from the second step of the devolatilization into a second zone Z2 for direct condensation and fractionation, this zone being also fed with the other portion of L1, removing a gas stream G2 comprising the monomer from the top of Z2, and removing a liquid stream L3 comprising essentially the oligomers from the bottom of Z2. The process and the device are particularly suitable for continuously manufacturing a styrene polymer, a styrene copolymer having a high impact strength modified by grafting onto a rubber, an expandable polystyrene or an expanded polystyrene. The invention is useful for improving the separation of the unreacted monomer from the oligomers and the quality of the polymer when the unreacted monomer thus separated is recycled e.g. to the polymerisation.

The present invention relates to a process and a device for the continuous manufacture of a polymer of an aromatic alkylene such as styrene, especially comprising a step of recovering the unreacted monomer.
It is known practice to continuously manufacture aromatic alkylene polymers by a process of bulk polymerization, in particular a homopolystyrene or a copolymer of styrene having a high impact strength ("HIPS") and which is especially modified by grafting onto a rubber. In such a process, the polymer is first continuously prepared by a bulk polymerization in the liquid monomer. This thus gives a mass of polymer melt, dispersed in the liquid monomer, which is then subjected to degassing, generally known by the term devolatilization. The aim of the devolatilization is to remove from the polymer the unreacted monomer and volatile compounds, such as oligomers formed especially during the polymerization and possibly hydrocarbon-based impurities accompanying the monomer, which are generally inert and have a low boiling point, such as, for example, ethylbenzene (EB), cumene, n-propylbenzene (NPB), methylcyclohexane (MCH) and ethyltoluene (ET).
It is known practice to perform the devolatilization in one or, preferably, at least two successive steps, under a pressure which is generally less than atmospheric pressure, as is described in American patents U.S. Pat. No. 3,853,672, U.S. Pat. No. 3,903 202 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,300 and in European patent application EP 0 323 428. The devolatilization gives one or more streams of gas, separated from the polymer, generally comprising the unreacted monomer and volatile compounds which may be recovered, for example, by condensation. The amount of monomer thus recovered is generally so large that it is necessary for economic reasons to recycle the monomer, for example into the polymerization.
In continuous process, it is thus understood that the recycling of the monomer inevitably results in an increase in the concentration of volatile compounds and especially of oligomers in the polymerization medium. In order to maintain the quality of the polymer produced at a high level, it has become necessary to monitor and limit the amount of oligomers returned into the polymerization, and it is therefore important to separate out and remove the oligomers from the monomer recovered during the devolatilization, before returning the monomer, for example, into the polymerization. A process has already been proposed for separating the oligomers from the monomer by means of a distillation performed according to a type of "delayed" operation ("off-line processing"). However, this process has many drawbacks, especially as regards the flexibility of a continuous process for manufacturing a polymer, the consistency of the quality of the polymer manufactured and the cost of the process.
American patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,886,049 describes a process for separating the oligomers from the monomer, on-line with a process for the continuous manufacture of an aromatic alkylene polymer comprising a devolatilization of the polymer in two successive steps. The gas stream resulting from the first step of the devolatilization feeds a first zone known as a "first contacting and separation or stripping zone" in which a gas phase relatively rich in monomer is separated from a liquid phase. The gas phase is recovered at the top of the first zone and is returned after condensation into the polymerization. The liquid phase which is relatively rich in oligomers is recovered at the bottom of the first zone and is then partly returned into the top of the first zone and partly removed via a purge or even returned into the polymerization. The gas stream resulting from the second step of the devolatilization feeds a second zone known as a "second contacting zone" in which the gas stream is placed in direct contact with a liquid stream derived from a portion of the liquid leaving at the bottom of this zone, after having been cooled beforehand and optionally supplemented with a fresh supply of liquid monomer. The second zone behaves essentially and solely as a direct-contact condenser, such that the gas stream feeding this zone is totally condensed and forms an entirely liquid phase. This entirely liquid phase leaves at the bottom of the second zone and is then cooled. A portion of the entirely liquid phase is then returned into the second zone, such that all of the gas stream feeding this zone is condensed. The other portion of the entirely liquid phase is sent into the first zone in which it is placed in direct contact with the gas stream resulting from the first step of the devolatilization.
It has been observed that the process described by American patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,886,049 does not make it possible to achieve a sufficiently effective separation between the oligomers and the monomer, and that the monomer thus separated out still contains relatively large amounts of oligomers, such that the polymer thus manufactured is of relatively mediocre quality.
A process has now been found for overcoming the difficulties mentioned above. In particular, a process has been found for the continuous manufacture of an aromatic alkylene polymer, comprising a devolatilization in at least two successive steps, and a method which is sufficiently effective for continuously separating the oligomers from the monomer in the gas streams resulting from the devolatilization, so as to be able to recover the monomer with a very low content of oligomers, for example a content of less than 1%, preferably less than 6.1% or even less than 0.01% by weight.

Process and device for manufacturing an aromatic alkylene polymer


From a view point of reduction in an out of spec product after surface crosslinking, particularly, when an alkylene carbonate compound is used as a surface crosslinking agent, influence by an air temperature is great, and it is necessary to reduce ethylene glycol which is produced as a byproduct, and there is provided a process for producing a polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water absorbent resin powder, comprising                a step of polymerizing an aqueous acrylic acid (salt)-based monomer solution,        a step of drying the resulting polymer,        an optional grinding•classifying step, and        a surface crosslinking step,        wherein in the surface crosslinking step,        (1) a surface crosslinking agent containing an alkylene carbonate compound and a polyhydric alcohol compound is mixed into a water absorbent resin powder, the mixture is heat-reacted and, further, simultaneously with, or separately from the mixing, an ion reactive surface crosslinking agent is mixed, and/or        (2) mixing treatment of mixing a surface crosslinking agent solution into a water absorbent resin powder containing at least one or more kinds of ion reactive surface crosslinking agents is performed two or more times.

In recent years, in a hygiene material such as a paper diaper, sanitary napkin, an incontinence pad, a water absorbent resin has been widely utilized as a constituent material thereof, from a view point of being excellent in body fluid absorbability. The water absorbent resin is produced via many steps such as polymerization, drying, pulverization, classification, and surface crosslinking (Non-Patent Literature 1). A process for producing a water absorbent resin including such the steps is disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 to 14 etc.
A water absorbent resin is produced by controlling many physical properties (e.g. water absorption capacity, water absorption capacity under load, free swelling rate, liquid permeability, gel stability etc.) as standard, depending on the use purpose thereof (e.g. paper diaper, sanitary napkin etc.). However, in continuous production of a water absorbent resin at a large scale, improvement in productivity, improvement in physical property and stabilization of physical property are difficult, even fine variation in physical property results in deterioration in physical property of a final product (e.g. paper diaper etc.) and consumer complaint, in some cases. In addition, with increase in a production amount, in a production process including many steps, a small trouble and delay at a part of steps including preparation and carry-in of raw materials cause a great trouble and delay of production, increase in impurities and byproducts, and deterioration in physical property in a whole production step, in some cases. Then, maintenance of high physical property and stable continuous operation were a great problem. Further, with increase in a production amount of a water absorbent resin, improvement in productivity thereof was an important problem.
In order to overcome the aforementioned problems, Patent Literature 15 discloses the technique of removing a water absorbent resin having physical property which is too high or too low, followed by remixing. Patent Literatures 16 and 17 disclose the technique of using a plurality of hoppers at an intermediate step and a polymerization step. And, Patent Literature 17 discloses the technique of performing polymerization in two series and performing a latter half in one series. Further, Patent Literature 19 discloses the technique of adopting at least any one step of a drying step and steps thereafter in two or more series, while a polymerization step is one series, in order to improve or stabilize physical property. Many techniques of improving or stabilizing physical property of a water absorbent resin have been proposed by change or impartation of an intermediate step of Patent Literatures 15 to 17 etc., or by joint use of a plurality of production apparatuses of Patent Literatures 20 to 22 etc., but there was sufficient room for improvement. In addition, in order to improve physical property, the technique of removing again fine powders, or recycling fine powders after surface crosslinking has been proposed in Patent Literature 23 etc., but removal of fine powders has a problem of reduction in a yield.
And, since as a production amount of a water absorbent resin grows greater, a size of a production apparatus at each step has a limit, this naturally results in that a water absorbent resin is produced in combination in a plurality of production lines. However, in this case, variation in physical property between respective lines has become a problem. Particularly, in recent years, control of many physical properties, such as not only a water absorption capacity (CRC), but also a water absorption capacity under load (AAP), liquid permeability (SFC, GBP) is required, but in the case of increase in a production amount, or particularly, joint production of a water absorbent resin with a plurality of production facilities (production lines), control of physical property is very difficult, many spec out products (off-specification products) are produced, and this is not preferable from a view point of increase in the cost and an environmental burden due to disposal.
And, also in a water absorbent resin including many production steps, a surface crosslinking step is an important step from a view point of improvement and stabilization of physical property, and reduction in a production trouble, and many improvement techniques have been proposed.
And, various surface crosslinking agents have been proposed, and an oxazoline compound (Patent Literature 24), a vinyl ether compound (Patent Literature 25), an epoxy compound (Patent Literature 26), an oxetane compound (Patent Literature 27), a polyhydric alcohol compound (Patent Literature 28), a polyamidopolyamine-epihalo adduct (Patent Literatures 29 and 30), a hydroxyacrylamide compound (Patent Literature 31), an oxazolidinone compound (Patent Literature 32), a bis or poly-oxazolidinone compound (Patent Literature 33), a 2-oxotetrahydro-1,3-oxazolidine compound (Patent Literature 34), an alkylene carbonate compound (Patent Literature 35), and a polyvalent alkylene carbonate compound (Patent Literature 36) have been proposed. Further, a surface crosslinking method which reduces a volatile alcohol or residual ethylene glycol after surface crosslinking, particularly, after surface crosslinking with an alkylene carbonate compound (Patent Literature 37) has been also proposed.
And, the technique of polymerizing a monomer to crosslink a surface (Patent Literature 38) and the technique of radically-crosslinking a monomer with persulfate (Patent Literatures 39, 40) are also known. Further, the technique of using an additive in combination in mixing a surface crosslinking agent has been proposed, and as the additive, a water-soluble cation such as an aluminum salt (Patent Literatures 41, 42), an alkali (Patent Literature 43), an organic acid and an inorganic acid (Patent Literature 44) and the like are known. Further, a method of adding a variety of additives for modifying a surface of a water absorbent resin, which is added simultaneously with, or separately from surface crosslinking (Patent Literatures 45 to 60) are known.
However, although these surface crosslinking methods are a most important production step in a water absorbent resin, in production at continuous operation or a huge scale, there remains room for stabilization and simplification of a production step. Further, in the aforementioned variation in physical property and generation of spec out, there was a problem of a raw material remaining in a water absorbent resin and a byproduct, for example, a volatile alcohol and residual ethylene glycol described in Patent Literature 37, reduction in them necessitates a complicated step, and the effect thereof was not sufficient.
Further, from property that a water absorbent resin, when mixed with an aqueous solution, generates adhesiveness, although the improving effect by surface treatment is recognized at a small scale such as an laboratory, in the case of commercial continuous production, since operation of an instrument becomes unstable, a water absorbent resin cannot be produced, and since a water absorbent resin powder undergoes a step in which great mechanical energy such as stirring and air transport is applied to the water absorbent resin powder, the surface treating effect is not recognized, or is reduced, in some cases.
For this reason, the result at a commercial continuous production scale (e.g. a few tons to a few thousand tons) cannot be predicted from the result at a small scale of a few hundred grams to a few kilograms (to a few hundred kilograms), and it is necessary to confirm the result by performing a demonstration experiment, but the expected performance was not obtained, in many cases. A demonstration experiment at such the commercial continuous production scale needs a very large cost and time (labor), and a method of predicting the result at commercial continuous production scale from the result at a small scale has been desired. And, further, since even an experiment at a small scale necessitates, after mixing of a surface treating agent, further heat treatment and, thereafter, a variety of post-treatment operations, a considerable time and labor were necessary until the result is made clear.
Main use of a water absorbent resin is a hygiene material such as a paper diaper and a sanitary napkin under the current circumstances, and reduction in a residual raw material (particularly, surface treating agent) and a byproduct is important.
And, particularly when an alkylene carbonate compound is used as a surface crosslinking agent, or a solid non-polymerized organic compound, a representative of which is alkylene carbonate, is used as a surface crosslinking agent, in improvement in productivity of a water absorbent resin, it was necessary to more simplify handleability of a surface crosslinking agent at a production step, and it was necessary to reduce residual ethylene glycol which is generated as a by-product. Particularly, with increase in a production amount of a water absorbent resin, and requirement of higher physical property, simplification and stabilization of a production step and, further, a problem of a residual byproduct (e.g. volatile alcohol and residual ethylene glycol described in Patent Literature 37) has been viewed as important.
Further, also in a problem of improvement and stabilization of physical property, a problem of a free swelling rate and liquid permeability is great and, particularly, as a production scale of a water absorbent resin grows greater, maintenance and improvement of a free swelling rate, or realization of both of a free swelling rate and liquid permeability become more difficult, in reality. For maintenance of a free swelling rate and liquid permeability, spec out and reduction in productivity are caused in some cases and, particularly, in the case of improvement in a free swelling rate and liquid permeability, particularly, when an alkylene carbonate compound is used as a surface crosslinking agent, or when a solid non-polymerized organic compound, a representative of which is alkylene carbonate, is used as a surface crosslinking agent, solution thereof was important.

Method for producing polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water absorbent resin powder