Water resistant wood composition boards and methods of making the boards by coating or impregnating the panels with a solvent soluble, further curable, partial condensation product of a methyltrialkoxy silane or a phenyl trialkoxy silane or mixtures thereof or ladder-type organosilsesquioxane polymers.

This invention relates to water resistant wood composition boards and methods of making the boards by coating or impregnating the panels with a solvent soluble, further curable, partial condensation product of a methyltrialkoxy silane or a phenyl trialkoxy silane or mixtures thereof or ladder-type organosilsesquioxane polymers as described in the Bagley et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,057.
Wood-based composite panels such as particle boards are used as paneling and siding in indoor and outdoor construction.
Low cost construction products such as inside paneling and outside siding are currently manufactured by printing and/or embossing an inexpensive sheet, or piece, of fiberboard (hardboard). The low-cost fiberboard, however, is sensitive to moisture and water reaching fiberboard through the exposed surface is the current quality problem which limits the useful product lifetime. Current practice is to coat an exposed surface with a thin organic plastic coating. This coating can be either a thermoset or uv-cure, but thermosets are generally used to reduce the cost (thermoset resins are cheaper). Much of the paneling is used in showers and tub areas and, of course, outside siding is exposed to the weather. Current practice provides marginally adequate protection against water so product lifetime is marginally adequate.
The present invention is directed to increasing the product lifetime of wood composition board construction products (e.g., paneling and siding) by reducing the permeability of water through use of a siloxane coating or impregnation. The best candidate is an organosilsesquioxane (ladder siloxane) having methyl (CH3) pendant groups (prepared preferably from methyl triethoxysilane), as this material has the highest volume fraction of SiO1.5. However, ladder siloxanes with other pendant groups (e.g., phenyl) or mixtures (e.g., methyl and phenyl) are also candidates. In addition, admixture of linear siloxanes and/or linear organic polymers can be added to the ladder siloxane (if they are all soluble in the same organic solvent) so as to achieve a particular property (e.g., coating flexibility). However, such additions will increase the permeability of water, and in the limit of having 100% organic polymer that is generally current practice. The ladder siloxanes can be either thermosets or uv-cured, but the thermosets are less expensive and completely compatible with the current product manufacturing process. The resins are solid at room temperature and soluble in organic solvents to a controllable viscosity. Because it is the wood composition board that needs protection, the siloxane can be applied in a number of places in the manufacturing sequence. As examples: the resin could be a component in the manufacture of the board (binding the wood fibers together); it could be impregnated in the board after its manufacture; it could be a coating on the board prior to design printing; it could be a replacement for the final organic coating now used, or it could be a final coating on top of the current practice. One added benefit of having it as a final coating is that the high SiO1.5 content of the ladder siloxanes gives them better abrasion resistance than organic coatingsxe2x80x94an advantage in cleaning installed paneling.
It is desired to have wood composition boards that have increased resistance to permeation by water and resultant deterioration.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of treating wood composition boards to reduce the penetration of water therethrough by coating or impregnating the panels with a solvent soluble, further curable organosilsesquioxane polymer of the formula shown in an idealized structure:
wherein R and Rxe2x80x2 may be the same and are selected from the group consisting of:
a) aliphatic hydrocarbons of 1-4 carbon atoms;
b) a phenyl radical;
c) a phenyl radical substituted with hydroxy or halogen groups; and
d) halogen groups, provided that R and Rxe2x80x2 are not both halogens;
w, x, y, and z are functional groups selected from the group consisting of alkoxy groups of 1-4 carbon atoms, halogen atoms, hydroxyl groups and silanol groups, and n is an integer ranging from 10-200.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water-resistant wood composition board treated by coating or impregnating a hydrolysis and a partial condensation reaction product of a solvent soluble organopolysiloxane which is the reaction product of methyl triethoxysiloxane and water or a mixture of a methyl triethoxy silane and phenyl triethoxy silane and water.
It is an object of the present invention to provide wood composition boards that are used in panel construction or as siding, the panels being coated or immersed in a solvent soluble, further curable, hydrolysis and partial condensation product that is an organosilsesquioxane polymer including an organopolysiloxane resin made from methyl triethoxysilane or a mixture of phenyl triethoxysilane and methyl triethoxysilane.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of treating wood composition boards to reduce the penetration of water therethrough by coating or impregnating the boards with a solvent soluble, further curable organopolysiloxane resin that is a hydrolysis and partial condensation product of water and (A) methyl trialkoxy silane, or (B) a mixture of (A) and a phenyl trialkoxy silane.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the specification that follows and the appended claims.
The invention provides a method of treating wood composition boards to reduce the penetration of water therethrough by coating or impregnating the panels with a solvent soluble, further curable organosilsesquioxane polymer of the formula:
wherein R and Rxe2x80x2 may be the same and are selected from the group consisting of:
a) aliphatic hydrocarbons of 1-4 carbon atoms;
b) a phenyl radical;
c) a phenyl radical substituted with hydroxy or halogen groups; and
d) halogen groups, provided that R and Rxe2x80x2 are not both halogens;
w, x, y, and z are functional groups selected from the group consisting of alkoxy groups of 1-4 carbon atoms, halogen atoms, hydroxyl groups and silanol groups, and n is an integer ranging from 10-200.
The present invention provides a method of treating wood composition boards to reduce the penetration of water therethrough by coating or impregnating the panels with a solvent soluble, further curable organopolysiloxane resin that is a hydrolysis and partial condensation product of water and (A) methyl trialkoxy silane, or (B) a mixture of (A) and a phenyl trialkoxy silane.

Method of making wood composition boards resistant to water permeation


A power plant includes a prime mover for burning fuel and producing work and hot exhaust gases, and heat exchanger apparatus that is responsive to the hot exhaust gases and to pre-heated steam condensate for converting the latter into high-pressure steam and for producing heat depleted exhaust gases. A combustor, preferably, a fluidized bed combustor, is responsive to burning fuel for supplying additional heat to a product of the heat exchanger apparatus, and producing combustion products. The combustion products are supplied to a superheater for producing superheated, high pressure steam from the high pressure steam supplied from the heat exchange apparatus. A high pressure steam turbine expands the superheated, high pressure steam and produces power and exhaust steam that is condensed to steam condensate in a condenser. Finally, the power plant includes an economizer that is responsive to the heat-depleted combustion products and to the steam condensate for producing the pre-heated condensate used by the heat exchange apparatus.

This invention relates to a multi-fuel, combined cycle power plant.
For many years, large scale gas turbine based stationary power plants fueled by conventional gas or liquid fuels, such as natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), etc., have been used by utilities for peaking purposes because of the fast, on-line response of a gas turbine, and the relatively low cost of large gas turbine plants. More recently, combined cycle power plants have been constructed to increase the efficiency of the system thus enabling the gas turbine to be incorporated into power plants that provide base load electric power. Such power plants include a waste heat boiler that extracts heat from the exhaust gases of the gas turbine for generating steam that drives a steam turbine and produces additional power. Furthermore, sometimes supplementary duct firing has been used as an addition to the waste heat boiler.
At the same time, efforts have been made to utilize less expensive, and more abundant low heat content solid fuels, such as low quality coal, oil shale, bituminous phosphates, biomass, etc., in base-line power plants. Conventionally, power plants using such low heat content fuels have employed fluidized bed combustors that include integral heat transfer elements for generating steam. Examples of such power plants are disclosed in application Ser. No. 08/747,400 filed Nov. 12, 1996, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved combined cycle power plant operating on low cost solid fuel in which several of the disadvantages outlined are reduced or substantially overcome.
A power plant according to the present invention includes a prime mover for burning fuel and producing work and hot exhaust gases, and heat exchanger apparatus that is responsive to the hot exhaust gases and to pre-heated steam condensate for converting the latter into a heated water product, e.g., high pressure steam, and for producing heat depleted exhaust gases. A combustor, preferably, a fluidized bed combustor, and part of a combustor-heat exchanger apparatus, is responsive to burning fuel, such as low cost solid fuel, for supplying additional heat to a product of the heat exchanger apparatus, and producing combustion products. The combustion products are supplied to a superheater for producing superheated, high pressure steam from the high pressure steam which is a product of the heat exchanger apparatus. A high pressure steam turbine expands the superheated high pressure steam and produces power and exhaust steam that is condensed to steam condensate in a condenser. Finally, the power plant includes an economizer that is responsive to heat-depleted combustion products and to the steam condensate for producing the pre-heated steam condensate used by the heat exchanger apparatus.
One form of the prime mover includes a gas turbine unit having a compressor for producing compressed air, a burner for combusting fuel and heating said compressed air to produce heated gases, and a turbine for expanding the heated compressed gases and driving the compressor.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the combustor receives the heat depleted exhaust gases produced by the heat exchanger apparatus. When the combustor is a fluidized bed combustor, the heat depleted exhaust gases serve to fluidize said combustor.
Preferably, the heat exchanger apparatus includes a first vaporizer responsive to the hot exhaust gases from the gas turbine, and to a portion of the pre-heated condensate for converting the latter into high pressure steam and producing the heat depleted exhaust gases. The additional heat supplied by the combustor is applied to the superheater containing the steam produced by the first vaporizer for converting the latter to superheated high pressure steam supplied to the high pressure steam turbine.
The power plant of the present invention may also include a second vaporizer interposed between the superheater and the economizer for extracting heat from the heat depleted combustion products supplied from the superheater and vaporizing an additional portion of the pre-heated condensate and producing further high pressure steam which is also supplied to the superheater.


An engine device of the present invention includes including: an intake manifold configured to supply air into a cylinder; an exhaust manifold configured to output exhaust gas from the cylinder; a gas injector which mixes a gaseous fuel with the air supplied from the intake manifold; and a main fuel injection valve configured to inject a liquid fuel into the cylinder for combustion. At the time of switching from a gas mode in which the gaseous fuel is supplied into the cylinder to a diesel mode in which the liquid fuel is supplied into the cylinder, a supply-start timing of the liquid fuel is delayed relative to a supply-stop timing of the gaseous fuel.

Traditionally, diesel engines are used as a drive source of vessels such as tankers or transport ships and onshore power generation facilities. However, the exhaust gas of the diesel engine contains a large amount of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, particulate matter, and the like which are harmful substances hindering preservation of the environment. For this reason, in recent years, gas engines that can reduce the amount of harmful substances generated are becoming prevalent as an alternative engine for diesel engines.
A so-called gas engine that generates power by using a fuel gas such as natural gas supplies a mixed gas obtained by mixing a fuel gas with the air to a cylinder and combust the same (see Patent Literature 1; hereinafter PTL 1). Further, as an engine device combining the characteristics of a diesel engine and characteristics of a gas engine, there is a dual-fuel engine which allows a use of a premixed combustion mode in which a mixture of a gaseous fuel (fuel gas) such as natural gas and air is supplied to a combustion chamber and combusted, in combination with a diffusion combustion mode in which a liquid fuel such as crude oil is injected into the combustion chamber and combusted (see patent Literature 2; hereinafter, PTL 2).
Further, as a dual-fuel engine, a multifuel engine or a bi-fuel engine has been suggested which adjusts a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel at a time of switching from a gas mode using the gaseous fuel to a diesel mode using the liquid fuel (see Patent Literature 3 and Patent Literature 4; hereinafter, referred to as PTL 3 and PTL 4, respectively). Further, as a dual-fuel engine, a bi-fuel internal combustion engine which restrains fuel shortage in cylinders by advancing the fuel injection timing immediately after switching, in a case of performing switching between a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel as needed according to the operational state (see Patent Literature 5; hereinafter, PTL 5).


A method of playing a game where there is a first set of die, each of which has the numerical values of one through six thereon, and a second set of die each of which has plus, minus, division and multiplication signs thereon. The two sets of die are discharged onto a playing surface in a random pattern, and then the individual dice members of the first and second set are placed in an alternating pattern so that when the mathematical operations are performed as indicated in the alternating arrangement of the two sets of die, a desired maximum value is obtained.

There are in the prior art games which utilize dice or the like to provide a first set of randomly selected numerical values and also a second set of mathematical operational symbols which are utilized in conjunction with one another to achieve a desired result. Two such games were disclosed in a search of the U.S. patent literature, these being the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,377 (Gardner) discloses an instructional game where there are two sets of dice. Each die of the first set has a series of numbers, each of which is placed on one of the six spaces of that dice. Each die of the second set has on four of its six faces mathematical operational symbols, namely a plus sign, a minus sign, a multiplication sign, and a division sign, and on the other two faces equals sign. The game is played by rolling the two sets of dice and then arranging these so that a mathematically correct equation is displayed. Thus, the result achieved by arranging the numerical values and mathematical symbols is to achieve a balanced equation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,314,168 (Heckman) shows a game where there are two sets of dice, one of which has numerical values on each face of each die, and the other set having mathematical operational symbols on four of the six faces of each die, namely a minus sign, a plus sign, a multiplication sign and a division sign. There is also a set of cards having a numerical value thereon. The game is played by turning over a card to display a numerical value, rolling the two sets of dice, and then attempting to arrange the numerical values with the mathematical operation symbols so that the numerical equivalent of the numbers along with the mathematical operational symbols equals the number on the card. Therefore the result achieved by performing the basic operation of this game is to arrange the numerical values with the operational symbols in a manner to achieve a value equal to a randomly selected value as indicated on one of the selected cards.
Other patents disclosed in the search are the following.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,315 (Cutler) shows a game where there are a plurality of pivotally mounted panels which have numerical values on one face and letters on the other face. A pair of dice are rolled to provide the numbers for a total numerical value (e.g. the value three on one die and the numerical value six on another die totaling nine). Then two panels are moved down, the numerical values of which would add up to the same total (e.g. nine). Then the player attempts to create words from the letters displayed on those panels that have been moved downwardly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,612 (Harder) shows an educational algebra board game where there is a game board and a plurality of "equation strips", each of which has printed thereon an equation or inequality to be solved. There is also a plurality of markers having printed thereon portions of the equations or inequalities. The player then places the portions of the equations (i.e. the markers) on the equation strips to properly form the equation or inequality.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,238,522 (Kalista) shows a game where there are displayed a series of numbers ranging from 2 to 12. A pair of dice are rolled, and the numerical value of the sum of the two die is covered on the particular numerical display of that same value. The object of the game is to roll the dice until the person has managed to cover up all of his or her particular numbers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,443,012 (Makovic et al) discloses a combination card and dice game where there is a set of playing cards, each of which has printed thereon the symbols for each possible combination of a pair of dice to make that numerical value. For example, the cards corresponding to the numerical value 3 have printed thereon one die displaying a single dot and the other die displaying 2 dots for a total of 3. Then the roll of the dice is correlated with the cards and the playing of the game.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,182 (Francis) discloses what is called an "arithmetic dice game board". There are eleven elements 30 mounted rotatably on a rod, so that each element can be moved to a one position where a number thereon is displayed, and then moved to a second position where the number is covered or masked. The pair of dice are rolled and the total shown on the two dice permits the player to move two numbers on the elements that total the total value shown on the dice. For example, if the dice display a total of 8, by the two dice showing a 6 plus 2 value, the player can mask the number 8, or the numbers 7 and 1, the numbers 6 and 2, etc.


A driving mechanism such as a Geneva Mechanism which allows a load, such as film in a motion picture projector, to be intermittently advanced with controlled acceleration. The Geneva Mechanism includes a star wheel and a rotating driver. The star wheel includes slots and is operationally associated with the load. The rotating driver includes a drive pin which cooperates with the slots to cause an intermittent rotation of the star wheel. Either the slots or the drive pin is shaped in a controlled manner to permit optimum acceleration and deceleration of the star wheel.

Geneva Mechanisms are widely used in motion picture film projectors to intermittently advance film through a film gate having a projection aperture. The film is moved or advanced by a Geneva Mechanism (also known as a "Maltese Cross") until an image frame is in alignment with the projection aperture. The film is then held stationary for a discrete time period during which light is passed through the aperture, film frame, projection lens, and onto a screen. This intermittent frame-by-frame motion of the film is enabled by the Geneva Mechanism, which comprises one portion, the driver, which rotates continuously, and which causes intermittent rotation of a second portion, the star wheel. In a motion picture projector the star wheel shares its central shaft with a sprocket, the teeth of which are engaged with perforations in the film. Therefore, when the driver moves the star wheel, both the star wheel and the film experience a resulting intermittent motion. Other mechanisms, including servo motors and a Mitchell Movement, have been used to drive film through a gate in an intermittent manner, but the Geneva Mechanism has proven itself over the past century to be particularly well suited to accurately drive a load (the film) in an intermittent fashion when the time allowed for motion of the load is minimal. For example, motion picture film is typically projected at a rate of 24 frames per second, such that a new film frame is positioned in the projection aperture every 1/24 second, or approximately 42 ms. The typical projector Geneva Mechanism moves a film frame into the projection aperture with an indexing time of one-fourth of the frame period, or approximately 10.5 ms.
During essentially all of this indexing time, a shutter must block the light incident to the film to prevent the appearance of "travel ghost" (smear of the image caused by film motion). The projectable frame time, which would appear to be approximately three-fourths of the total frame period, is further reduced to only approximately one-half of the total frame period because the typical motion picture projector employs a two-bladed shutter, which causes two blanking periods per frame of the film, in order to raise the apparent frame rate to 48 frames per second, and thereby greatly reduce the apparent flicker perceived by the human eye. Furthermore, it is necessary for these two shutter intervals to be nearly equal in duration in order to limit perceived flicker. Therefore, since one blanking period must be approximately one-fourth of the frame period in order to blank the projected image as the film moves, the other blanking period must be of essentially the same duration.
A basic Geneva Mechanism, as is commonly employed in motion picture projectors, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,774,789. In general, a Geneva Mechanism is used to convert uniform rotary motion to incremental rotary motion. Typically, such a mechanism includes a star wheel having a plurality of radially extending straight slots spaced equally around the periphery of the star. Interposed between these slots are concave cam guide surfaces, which, like the slots, are uniformly dimensioned and arranged. A driver component, comprised of a restraining cam, a drive arm extending from the base of the cam, and a drive pin near the far end of the drive arm, is employed for indexing the star wheel. The restraining cam has a side cam surface, which is convex and configured to interact with the concave cam guide surfaces of the star wheel. The close contact of this convex cam surface to the concave cam guide surfaces restrains the star wheel from experiencing rotary motion except during the periods in which the star wheel is driven by the drive pin. The star wheel is thus restrained intermittently, and in a manner such that the straight slots sequentially receive the drive pin.
The number of slots radially disposed around a Geneva Mechanism's star wheel is variable, and may be any whole number greater than 2. As the number of straight slots is changed, specific features of the mechanism such as component sizes, the speed and duration of the intermittent motion, and the forces or loads applied to the drive pin and star wheel, and to the load (film) all vary as well. For example, the Geneva Mechanisms used in motion picture projectors (which vary some in detail depending on the projector) typically use a star wheel with four equally spaced straight-sided slots. Such star wheels with four straight slots are engaged with the driver pin for 90.degree. of a 360.degree. revolution of the driver, producing the intermittent motion. Thus, in the case of film projected at 24 frames per second, the star wheel and film experience movement during an indexing time of only approximately 10.5 ms of the approximately 42 ms available time per frame. By comparison, a star wheel with three straight slots will also experience intermittent motion once per revolution of the cam, but the engagement of the star wheel with the driver pin occurs over only 60.degree. of the 360.degree. revolution of the driver. If used in a motion picture projector at 24 frames per second, a star wheel with three slots would utilize an indexing time of approximately 7 ms per frame to move a film frame into the projecting aperture. While a three slot star wheel would thus decrease the time required to move the film and thereby increase the available projection time, the acceleration forces applied to the drive pin, slots, and the load (the film and film perforations) are greatly increased over those of a four-slot mechanism, making the three-slot mechanism undesirable for use in a projector. On the other hand, a star wheel with five straight slots will have any one slot engaged with the driver pin over 118.degree. of the 360.degree. revolution of the driver, for an indexing time of approximately 14 ms versus the approximately 42 ms available time per frame. This is not desirable in a projector, as the light efficiency to the screen would be significantly reduced when compared with those of a four-slot mechanism, and a more powerful lamp would be needed to obtain the same screen luminance. However, the acceleration forces on the drive pin, star wheel, and load (film perforations) would be reduced relative to a three or four straight slot star wheel.
Accordingly, it would be very advantageous to find a geometry for a Geneva Mechanism in which the indexing time is reduced, and therefore the projectable time available per frame is increased, without necessarily incurring a substantial increase in the acceleration forces applied to the drive pin, star wheel slots, and the load (the film and film perforations). U.S. Pat. No. 1,801,969 proposes to solve this problem by altering the slots of the star wheel to have curved surfaces. Thus, as the drive pin moves in engagement with these curved slots, the acceleration and velocity experienced by both the star wheel and the load (film) are altered, and the indexing time is greatly reduced when compared with that of a star wheel with an identical number of straight slots operating at the same frame rate. However, the designs for the curved star wheel slots described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,801,969 fail to adequately provide for the forces applied both to the drive pin and to the star wheel slot surfaces with which the pin is in contact. As a result, a drive pin and/or slot surfaces manufactured per U.S. Pat. No. 1,801,969 would quickly experience overloading failure during operation. Furthermore, the curved star wheel slot geometry as described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,801,969 also fails to provide sufficient slot width at the mouth of the slot for the drive pin to enter and exit the slot without very heavy interference.
It should therefore readily be appreciated that there currently exists a need for an improved Geneva Mechanism, which includes a driver with a cam and a star wheel; in which a load can be advanced intermittently with a reduced indexing time required to experience the intermittent motion, while the load forces applied to the star wheel, drive pin, and the load are all controlled, without sacrificing any of the advantages normally attendant to the use of a Geneva Mechanism. It should also be apparent, that other improved configurations for Geneva Mechanisms, in which the indexing time required to experience the intermittent motion can be reduced while the forces on the load driven by the star wheel and on the drive pin are also reduced, would likewise be advantageous. Likewise, it should be apparent that yet other improved configurations for Geneva Mechanisms, in which the indexing time is effectively unchanged, but where the load forces applied to the star wheel, drive pin, and load are substantially reduced, would also have value. Finally, it should be readily apparent that such improved Geneva Mechanisms could be employed in devices generally, and in motion picture projectors particularly, with an advantageous affect.

Geneva mechanism and motion picture projector using same


An upright keyboard instrument comprises a prescribed number of keys that are interlocked with actions, hammer assemblies, and a plate spring unit, which is interlocked with a loud pedal. When the key is depressed, the action is activated to drive the hammer assembly, thus producing a musical tone. Each of plate springs is normally arranged close to an end portion of a whippen included in the action. Upon depression of the key, the end portion of the whippen comes in contact with the plate spring to cause a resistive force, which is transmitted back to a player's finger depressing the key. When the loud pedal is depressed, the plate spring departs from the end portion of the whippen, which becomes free to rotate upon depression of the key, thus realizing loudness effect on sound.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to upright keyboard instruments such as electronic upright pianos that realize real key-touch feelings (or key-touch sensations) in depressing and releasing keys.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, electronic upright pianos comprise hammers that are rotatably moved to strike strings upon depressions of keys, and actions (or action mechanisms) for transmitting movements of depressed keys to hammers, wherein movements of keys are detected by sensors to produce detection results, based on which musical tones are correspondingly produced. Therefore, players (or users) are able to play electronic upright pianos with key-touch feelings (e.g., key-touch sensations, key-touch responses and reactions, or resistances of keys being depressed) similar to those of acoustic upright pianos, while they are able to listen to sounds via speakers or headphone sets, for example.
Acoustic upright pianos have strings and dampers for stopping vibrations of strings, wherein dampers are normally forced to come into contact with strings by damper springs. When keys are depressed, dampers are moved to depart from strings against forces of damper springs. In contrast, electronic upright pianos do not have strings and dampers. Even in acoustic upright pianos, no damper is arranged for each of keys of a prescribed range of pitches, for example, each of twenty keys counted from the rightmost key having the highest pitch. Therefore, acoustic upright pianos contain keys associated with dampers and other keys that are not associated with dampers, wherein key-touch feelings may differ based on their actions as to whether or not dampers are arranged therefor.
FIG. 12 shows variations of key-touch feelings that depend upon whether or not dampers are arranged therefor. In a graph of FIG. 12, the horizontal axis represents distance (in units of millimeters) by which each key is depressed, and the vertical axis represents a force (or a weight in units of grams) required for depressing each key. Herein, a curve A represents variations of force required for depressing each of keys associated with dampers, and a dotted line B represents a certain level of force required for depressing each of keys not associated with dampers (e.g., a force required for depressing a specific key not associated with a damper in an acoustic upright piano, or a force required for depressing each of keys of an electronic upright piano).
That is, each of keys not associated with dampers can be depressed with substantially a certain level of force except an initial state thereof in depression, which is shown by the dotted line B in FIG. 12. In contrast, as shown in the curve A in FIG. 12, each of keys associated with dampers must be increased in depressing force particularly in the middle of a stroke in depression and then be decreased, which indicates a so-called escapement where a load of a hammer is not applied on the keys.
When a player (or a user) depresses a key associated with a damper with a finger in an acoustic upright piano, a certain key-touch feeling is applied to a finger. In contrast, an electronic upright piano does not contain dampers, therefore, a player (or a user) cannot enjoy feeling such key-touch feelings. Even in an acoustic upright piano in which keys of higher pitches are not associated with dampers, the player (or user) cannot experience key-touch feelings similar to those produced when depressing other keys associated with dampers.


To provide a dynamo-electric machine with which it is possible to improve electrical characteristics by reducing the leakage magnetic flux and increasing the effective magnetic flux. In order to achieve this, a magnetic pole head (23) for restraining a field winding (24) is provided with restraining parts (31) for restraining only the coil end (24b) of the field winding (24). The restraining parts (31) are positioned further axially outside or inside than both axial end surfaces (11a) of a stator core (11). The restraining parts (31) have formed thereon: an inclined surface (31a) positioned further radially inside than the radially outside end surface (23a), of the magnetic pole head (23), which radially faces the inner circumferential surface (11b) of the stator core (11); and a step (31b) for linking the radially outside end surface (23a) and the inclined surface (31a) in the radial direction.

Among dynamo-electric machines conventionally provided is a dynamo-electric machine including a salient pole rotor structure. In such a salient pole rotor structure, multiple protrusions protruding radially outward are arranged at the outer circumferential portion of the magnetic pole core constituting the center portion of the rotor, along the circumferential direction, and a field winding is wound around each protrusion.
In this case, provided on the top surface of the protrusion is a magnetic pole head, which is adapted to restrain the field winding wound around the protrusion. This prevents the field winding from deviating from the protrusion due to centrifugal force by the rotation of the rotor.
Conventional dynamo-electric machines as described above are disclosed, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2.


A method of creating a visual access token is described. The method comprises: receiving an input referencing private information without revealing the private information; retrieving the referenced private information using the referencing input; encoding the retrieved private information as part of a visual image for use as a visual access token; and presenting the visual access token on a display of a portable communication device for machine reading.

A visual access token, such as a two-dimensional (2D) barcode, provides optically-readable data to a system that includes an image reader, so that a user presenting the visual access token can access functions or information provided by that system. The system allows the user to access the system based on the data extracted from the visual access token by the image reader. For example, a 2D barcode may encode a Web site Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and some transaction data. The 2D barcode may be presented to a computer having a 2D barcode reader, so that the computer accesses the encoded Web site and provides the transaction data to that Web site automatically as a result of reading the 2D barcode.
It would be desirable to be able to create a visual access token that includes private information, since this would be needed to access some Web sites or other resources (such as self-service terminals (SSTs)). Such private information could be encrypted within the visual access token to prevent third parties from extracting this private information. However, it may not be desirable to enter the private information if the user is in a public location, particularly if voice input is being used to enter the private information. This is because a passer-by or some other third party may overhear the private information. Even if a user entered the private information using keystrokes on a menu-based graphical user interface (GUI), there would still be the possibility of someone else "shoulder surfing" the user to observe the private information.


A system quantifies the extent of a damaged vehicle in the absence of a specialist (appraiser) present onsite. The system enables an objective estimate of the damage, supplanting or merely supplementing psychologically biased claimant reporting. The system has hardware structures to perform imagery quantification of damage on a damaged vehicle. The damaged vehicle may be located anywhere, including at the scene of an accident, at an insured's home, at an insurer's claims offices, or at a body shop. Anyone, including the insured, with a mobile device such as a smart phone, may download onto it a mobile application that guides the user to take photographs or moving images of the damaged vehicle for the system to perform imagery quantification of damage.

Computer vision includes methods for acquiring, processing, analyzing, and understanding images, and in particular, high-dimensional data from the real world in order to produce numerical or symbolic information, such as in the form of decisions. A recent development in this field has been to duplicate the abilities of human vision by electronically perceiving and understanding an image. Computer vision seeks to apply theories and models to the construction of computer vision systems. Examples of applications of computer vision include a system for automatic inspection, such as in manufacturing applications. However, there has been no application in the insurance industry.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A crop residue handling device is mounted to the rear of a combine harvester for intercepting crop residue that remains after grain has been separated from the crop by the separator and cleaning arrangement of the harvester. The residue handling device includes a chopper which chops and impels the chopped residue rearwardly through a discharge duct. A transition duct receives the crop exiting from the chopper and contains upright deflector vanes mounted for pivoting and being automatically moved among desired positions, by a power actuator so as to direct desired proportions of the crop residue between a blower for receiving and accelerating the crop through a discharge chute for collection in a receptacle of a towed trailer, and a pair of spreader disks located at opposite sides of the blower for receiving and dispersing the crop residue on the ground.

It is known to collect crop residue discharged from the back of a combine harvester and to convey the collected material into an in-field collection device. Further, it is known to provide a horizontal deflector door to split a flow of residue into upper and lower streams with the upper stream being collected and the lower stream being directed to spreader vanes which operate to disperse the lower stream onto the ground. A crop residue handling device of this type is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/062,846, filed Apr. 4, 2008 and published as US 2008/0248843 on Oct. 9, 2008. This patent application discloses a control system for automatically varying the amount of the crop residue collected as a function of one or more of soil parameters, crop parameters or terrain parameters, which parameters are sensed "on the go" during the harvesting procedure and/or are provided in the form of previously garnered field mapping data which is used in conjunction with an on-board global positioning system to output desired control signals.
A refinement of the known residue handling device was developed which included a transverse wedge-shaped nose for intercepting crop from the horizontal deflector so as to split the crop into the upper and lower streams. While this usage of a wedge-shaped nose for splitting the residue flow worked satisfactorily in respective modes wherein all of the flow was collected or all of the flow was diverted, the operation was not satisfactory for varying the flow between these two extreme modes, and crop residue tended to hairpin on the splitting nose resulting in plugging.
The problem to be solved then is to provide an apparatus for splitting crop residue issuing from the back of a combine between a collection arrangement and a spreading arrangement while avoiding the drawbacks associated with the known splitter arrangement.

Variable rate diverter for a crop residue collecting device carried by a combine harvester


The present invention relates to a novel YlMPO1 gene which plays an important role in mannosylphosphorylation of an industrial yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, and to a method for preparing a host system capable of producing recombinant glycoproteins free of mannosylphosphate by disruption of the gene. The mannosylphosphorylation is suppressed by the disruption of YlMPO1 gene according to the present invention, thereby achieving humanization of glycosylation pathway of Yarrowia lipolytica.

Most therapeutic proteins are glycoproteins where oligosaccharides are covalently bonded to amino acid residues as they pass through the secretory pathway. The sugar moieties are known to greatly affect biological activity and function of the glycoproteins. To date, to solve the problems such as immune response in the body, therapeutic glycoproteins are commonly produced using animal cell expression systems. However, there are drawbacks to animal cell culture systems, which include low yield, high cost, and potential viral and prion contamination. In this regard, many attempts have been made to use, as an alternative to animal cell expression systems, yeast expression systems, which are efficient and high-yield expression systems, and share the early steps of the N-linked glycosylation pathway of higher animal cells.
Microbial eukaryotes, yeasts have advantages of rapidly producing a high concentration of proteins, being easily genetically engineered, and having no risk of infections by human or animal virus and prion to ensure safety. However, the final oligosaccharides synthesized in yeasts have different type of sugar moieties from those of human, and thus may cause immune responses in animal cells. To solve the above problems, there is a need for glycotechnology, by which the yeast glycosylation pathway is remodeled to express glycoproteins having oligosaccharides similar to those of human glycoproteins.
A traditional yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a hypermannosylated N-linked oligosaccharide composed of a series of 50 to 200 mannose residues attached to a core oligosaccharide chain and decorated with the terminal alpha 1,3-linked mannoses (Dean, Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 1426, p.309-322, 1999). In addition, mannosylphosphate is added to the core and outer chain of oligosaccharide (Ballow, 1990, Methods Enzymol. 185: 440-470), and a glycoprotein with mannosylphosphorylated oligosaccharide was reported to induce immune responses when injected to animals (Rosenfeld and Ballou, 1974, J. Biol. Chem. 249: 2319-2321). Thus, there is an attempt to humanize glycosylation pathway by disrupting OCH1 and MNN4 genes, which mediates outer chain initiation and participates in addition of mannosylphosphate, respectively (Jigami and Odani, Biochim, Biophys. Acta 1426, 335-345, 1999). However, mannosylphosphorylation was not completely regulated in MNN4-disrupted strains, even though the extent was less than that in a wild-type strain (Odani et al., Glycobiology, 6, p.805-810, 1996).
There is an attempt to humanize the glycosylation pathway by eliminating mannosylphosphorylation in a methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, as well as in the traditional yeast. A PNO1 (Phosphorylmannosylation of N-linked Oligosacharides) gene, which plays an important role in mannosylphosphorylation in Pichia pastoris, was cloned by using a sequence of MNN4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a probe (Miura et al., Japan), and there is a report that the mannosylphosphorylation can be controlled by the elimination of PNO1 gene (WO 01/88143; Miura et al., 2004, Gene 324; 129-137).
However, it was found by GlycolFi Inc. that the disruption of the PNO1 may suppress the mannosylphosphorylation, but does not completely eliminate it, leading to application of the invention (US2006/0160179). In the invention, a BLAST search was performed for the amino acid sequence of Mnn4 protein (SEQ ID NO: 19) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae against the genome of Pichia pastoris (Integrated Genomics, Chicago, Ill.). This search resulted in the identification of three genes, which were designated as MNN4A, MNN4B and MNN4C, respectively. They also found that the mannosylphosphorylation can be completely eliminated by double disruption of MNN4A and PNO1 genes.
A dimorphic, non-pathogenic yeast, Yarrowia lipolytica has been used on a large scale for the production of citric acid and of single-cell proteins, and is characterized by excessive secretion of extracellular proteins such as protease and lipase. Also, Yarrowia lipolytica has been considered as an excellent host system for producing therapeutic glycoproteins, since it exhibits higher protein secretion efficiency than the traditional yeast Saccharomyces, has co-translational protein modification similar in animal cells (Boisrame et al., J. Biol. Chem., 273, p.30903-30908, 1998), has a lower number of mannose attached to the core chain than Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Madzak et al., J. Biotechnol., 10, p.63-81, 2004), and has no immunogenic alpha 1,3-linked mannose. To express and secrete therapeutic glycoproteins derived from human in Yarrowia lipolytica, the glycosylation pathway of Yarrowia lipolytica has to be understood, but is still poorly understood (Jaagar et al., Yeast, 20, p.633-644, 2003, Barnay-Verdier et al., Microbiology, 150, p.2185-2195, 2004).
To develop Yarrowia lipolytica as a host for secretory expression of therapeutic glycoproteins, the present inventors have conducted studies on the glycosylation pathway of Yarrowia lipolytica, and manufactured a strain comprising a disrupted YlOCH1 gene which mediates outer chain initiation. However, upon disruption of the YlOCH1 gene, the mannosylphosphorylation was found to be more activated.

YLMPO1 gene derived from yarrowia lipolytica and a process for preparing a glycoprotein not being mannosylphosphorylated by using a mutated yarrowia lipolytica in which YLMPO1 gene is disrupted

Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology


An integrated TDM-based/packet-based telecommunications backplane system includes a multi-bit backplane bus, a plurality of TDM data modules and packet based data modules coupled to the backplane bus, and a frame controller coupled to the bus which generates a frame by pre-assigning a first plurality of timeslots of a frame for the fixed rate TDM traffic, and allotting the remainder of the frame timeslots as a pool for packet-based traffic. The TDM data modules, which can include bit, and byte or nibble mode modules, place data on the backplane bus in their allotted time slots. The packet-based data modules contend for the pooled timeslots by raising a request on a "request" thread of the backplane bus when the packet module has a packet to send, and dropping the request and raising a busy flag on the "busy" thread while sending a data packet. In order to insure that only one packet-based data module will attempt to raise the request flag at a given time, the pooled timeslots are divided among the packet data sources for purposes of raising the request flag only. Thus, only one packet-based data module can raise its request flag during a given timeslot of the pool; although when sending data, the packet-based data module can send during all timeslots of the pool.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications data time division multiplexed backplane systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to backplane multiplexing systems and methods capable of internetworking bit serial, byte parallel, and packet based products.
2. State of the Art
Apparatus for time division multiplexing (TDM), and their use in the backplanes of telecommunications systems have been known in the arts for some time. Typically, in backplane systems, time division multiplexers are comprised of interfaces to a plurality of channels, buffers for incoming and outgoing information, and a frame processor which includes a memory means and a recirculating counter which addresses the memory means. The frame processor is used to select information from the plurality of channels for sending over the backplane toothers of the channels according to a desired framing algorithm. Many different framing algorithms are known in the art, such as are disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,770 to Bains, U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,745 to Gordon, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,536 to Reeves et al. which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. As is known in the art, the constant bit rate information which is multiplexed over the backplane in this manner may be bit serial, or nibble or byte parallel.
More recently, it has become desirable to provide multiplexers for packet-based LAN (e.g., ETHERNET) and ATM data (these multiplexers being called "routers" because the LAN and ATM packets have the destination addresses imbedded in the packets). While ATM data is of a fixed packet size, LAN data can assume any of various formats which provide different sized packets. In order to accommodate LAN and other bursty packet-based telecommunications traffic, equipment utilizing packet-based backplane buses have been provided. However, these packet-based backplane busses have existed completely apart from the TDM backplane busses, and are rarely, if ever, found in a single piece of equipment; and there are certainly no known backplane systems which accommodate both TDM bit and/or byte data, and packet-based data on a single backplane bus. Thus, various efficiencies which can be obtained by the merging of the TDM and packet-based "worlds" such as the sharing of common bus drivers and receivers and backplane bus resources have been unrecognizable.

Time division multiplexed backplane with packet mode capability


A flip chip is mounted on a printed circuit board, and bump electrodes and pads are established in electrical connection, wherein sealing resin between the flip chip and the printed circuit board is thermally cured for pressing the bump electrodes against the pads and, thereafter, the bump electrodes are alloyed with the pads so that not only the force but also the alloyed portion keep the electrical connection low in contact resistance without disconnection.

This invention relates to a semiconductor device fabricating technology and, more particularly, to a method for mounting a flip chip on a circuit board.
Electronic devices have been continuously miniaturized, and high-density assembling technologies are being still developed. A flip chip mounting technology is one of the high-density assembling technologies, and is attractive to the manufacturers from the viewpoint of simplification.
In order to mount flip chips on a substrate, various methods have been proposed. The prior art methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Nos. 1689504 and 2770821 are categorized in the pressure mounting technology. The pressure mounting technology requires neither solder nor conductive resin. A flip chip is mounted on a printed circuit board in such a manner that the electrodes of the flip chip are held in contact with the conductive pads on the printed circuit board. Sealing resin has been already spread over the printed circuit board, and heat and pressure are applied so as to cure the sealing resin. The sealing resin is shrunk, and the shrunk sealing resin presses the electrodes to the pads. Thus, the flip chip is fixed onto the printed circuit board without any solder or conductive resin.
Description is hereinbelow made on the prior art method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 1689504 with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. The method starts with preparation of a printed circuit board 1 and a semiconductor element 4. A conductive wiring pattern 10 has been already formed on the printed circuit board 1, and the semiconductor element 4 has metal bumps 11. Synthetic resin 12 is spread over an area on the printed circuit board 1 where the semiconductor element 4 is to be mounted. The conductive wiring pattern 10 and an exposed surface of the printed circuit board 1 are covered with the synthetic resin layer 12. The synthetic resin may be spread over the lower surface of the semiconductor element 4. The synthetic resin is, by way of example, epoxy resin, and is provided in either liquid or a piece of foil. The synthetic resin is insulating, and is of the type thermally cured or photo-cured.
Subsequently, the semiconductor element 4 is conveyed to the space over the printed circuit board 1, and the bumps 11 are aligned with the conductive wiring pattern 10 as shown in FIG. 1A.
The semiconductor element 4 is downwardly moved. The metal bumps 11 penetrate through the synthetic resin layer 12, and reach the conductive wiring pattern 10. Thus, the metal bumps 11 are brought in contact with the conductive wiring pattern 10.
Heat is applied to the synthetic resin layer 12, or light is radiated to the synthetic resin layer 12. Then, the synthetic resin layer 12 is cured, and is shrunk as shown in FIG. 1B. The synthetic resin thus cured presses the semiconductor element 4 downwardly, and the metal bumps 11 are pressed against the conductive wiring pattern 10.
Although the semiconductor element 4 is mounted on the printed circuit board 1 without any solder or conductive resin through the prior art method as described hereinbefore, a problem is encountered in the resultant semiconductor device in that disconnection is liable to take place between some metal bumps 11 and the conductive wiring pattern 10. The disconnection is due to a small amount of synthetic resin left on the conductive wiring pattern 10 as indicated by reference numeral 13 in FIG. 1B. While the semiconductor element 4 is being downwardly moved, the metal bumps 11 push the synthetic resin aside. When the metal bumps 11 reach the conductive wiring pattern 10, most of the synthetic resin is evacuated from the upper surface of the conductive wiring pattern 10. However, there remains a small amount of synthetic resin, and the small amount of synthetic resin forms an extremely thin synthetic resin layer 13 between the conductive wiring pattern and some metal bumps 11. The synthetic resin is insulating, and the disconnection takes place between the bumps 11 and the conductive wiring pattern 10.
A solution is proposed in Japanese Patent No. 2770821. According to the prior art method disclosed in the Japanese Patent, sharp tails have been formed on the lower surfaces of the metal bumps 11 before mounting the semiconductor element on the printed circuit board.
While the semiconductor element 4 is being downwardly moved, the sharp tails proceed through the synthetic resin layer. The sharp tails firstly reach the conductive wiring pattern 10. The semiconductor element is further moved downwardly, and the sharp tails are crushed on the conductive wiring pattern. When the sharp tails expand on the conductive wiring pattern, the synthetic resin is perfectly evacuated from the conductive wiring pattern, and the metal bumps are surely held in contact with the conductive wiring pattern. Thus, the sharp tails permit the metal bumps to form the electrical connections between the metal bumps and the conductive wiring pattern.
Finally, the synthetic resin is thermally cured or photo-cured, and the metal bumps are pressed against the conductive wiring pattern by virtue of the shrinkage of the synthetic resin.
Thus, the semiconductor element is electrically connected to the conductive wiring pattern without any solder or conductive resin, and the probability of disconnection between the metal bump and the conductive wiring pattern is little. However, a problem is encountered in the prior art semiconductor devices mounted through the prior art methods in a narrow field of application and a low reliability. Since the compressive force produced through the shrinkage of the synthetic resin keeps the metal bumps and the conductive wiring pattern held in contact with one another, the expansion of the synthetic resin due to high temperature environment removes the pressure from the contacts between the metal bumps and the conductive wiring pattern. When the pressure is removed from between the metal bumps and the conductive wiring pattern, the contact resistance therebetween is increased, and, accordingly, the amount of allowable current passing therethrough is decreased. Thus, the allowable current is smaller than that passing through a contact produced through an alloying. This means that the prior art methods are merely applicable to semiconductor devices, which operate on condition of a small current density at the contacts to the conductive wiring pattern. Further, the prior art methods are hardly applied to semiconductor devices, which are expected to operate in the high temperature environment. As a result, the field of application is narrowed.
The low reliability is due to aged deterioration of the synthetic resin. Even if the semiconductor devices mounted through the prior art methods are not expected to operate in the high temperature environment, the synthetic resin may be periodically subjected to a heat cycle. In this situation, the thermal stress is repeatedly exerted on the synthetic resin, and tends to lose the resiliency. This results in removal of the pressure from between the metal bumps and the conductive wiring pattern. The contact resistance is drastically increased, and some bumps are disconnected from the conductive wiring pattern.
It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a mounting method, which is applicable to a wide variety of application products at high reliability.
To accomplish the object, the present invention proposes to complete electrical connections through alloying.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for mounting a semiconductor chip on a substrate comprising the steps of a) preparing a semiconductor chip having conductive electrodes and a substrate having conductive layers, the conductive electrodes and the conductive layers being formed of material capable of being alloyed with one another, b) pressing the conductive electrodes against the conductive layers by shrinking a sealing layer covering at least the conductive electrodes and the conductive layers, and c) alloying the material with each other for completing electrical connection between the conductive electrodes and the conductive layers.

Method for mounting flip chip on circuit board through reliable electrical connections at low contact resistance


The invention provides a new hybrid 4-in-1 power controller chip for a PC mainboard which integrates a synchronous buck switching regulator to supply the CPU core voltage, a standard buck switching regulator for I/O circuits, a linear controller for the GTL bus, and a linear regulator with built-in pass transistor for a clock generator. On this basis, a hybrid power system for a PC mainboard is constructed.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a power controller and, more particularly, to a hybrid 4-in-1 power controller chip for a PC mainboard integrating a synchronous buck switching regulator, a standard buck switching regulator, a linear controller and a linear regulator.
2. Description of Related Art
Power supplies are usually divided into two basic types; linear regulator and switching regulator. Linear regulators have the merits of small ripple, fast dynamic response and little interference. However, the low conversion efficiency of linear regulators is not suitable for high-power applications such as a high-performance central processing unit (CPU) whose power consumption exceeds 30 watts. To efficiently convert 5 volts from the power supply of a computer to 1.3-3.5 volts as the power supply for a CPU, a buck switching regulator is adopted because of its greatly improved DCxe2x80x94DC conversion efficiency. However, the ripple, dynamic response, and noise of the switching regulator cannot compare with the linear regulator.
The whole switching regulator system can be integrated into a small space via a high-density package. This type of module can greatly decrease the system area and weight, but the cost is high. It has been suggested that switching frequency and output voltage can be adjusted according to the specific tasks which the CPU is processing, but its large output ripple cannot meet the VRM8.4 design guidelines established by Intel for the power supplies of the newest Pentium III CPUs. In addition to the switching regulator for the CPU, there are other switching and linear regulators on the PC mainboard for other circuits.
With the development of the VLSI process, it is now possible to integrate all of the controllers of the switching and linear regulators into one chip, which can meet the demand of increased integration and reduced costs.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects and advantages, the present invention provides a new hybrid 4-in-1 power controller chip for a PC mainboard which integrates a synchronous buck switching regulator to supply the CPU core voltage, a standard buck switching regulator for I/O circuits, a linear controller for the GTL bus, and a linear regulator with built-in pass transistor for a clock generator.
On this basis, a hybrid power system for a PC mainboard is constructed. As compared with the conventional separate power systems on a PC mainboard, the hybrid power system of the present invention can save board area and reduce cost. Test results show this system has high precision and its synchronous switching regulator meets the specifications of Intel""s VRM8.4 design guidelines for Pentium III CPUs.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Dual-switching and dual-linear power controller chip