Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a material intake device and a urea preparation machine. The material intake device includes a housing, an inlet port is provided at a first end of the housing, and an outlet port is provided at a second end of the housing, and the housing is further provided with an exhaust port used for exhausting an air in the housing; a separation plate is provided within the housing to isolate the inlet port from the exhaust port, an air inlet duct and an exhaust ductexhaust duct are formed respectively between the separation plate and sidewalls of the housing, the exhaust port is communicated with the exhaust ductexhaust duct, and an overflow port connecting the air inlet duct to the exhaust ductexhaust duct is provided between a bottom of the separation plate and the sidewalls of the housing.

A heating device in a urea preparation machine in a related art is generally provided in a stirring tank, or provided in an ultrapure water tank to heat water entering the stirring tank in the urea preparation machine and prepare urea solution. Heating modes in the related art are limited, in the case of using a lot of the urea solution, the heating modes in the related art which are used for heating the water may not satisfy user requirements, and production efficiency of the urea solution is reduced. Besides, a material intake device used of the urea preparation machine in the related art is provided with a filtering screen at a feeding port, urea particles entering a housing are easily blocked by using a mode of the filter screen, so a problem that the feeding port is easily blocked is caused.

Material intake device and urea preparation machine with material intake device

ZHUHAI GREE INTELLIGENT EQUIPMENT CO., LTD

GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI


A tube assembly includes at least first and second tubes configured for coupling at respective ends. The first and second tubes each include a base material, and a weld interface at the respective end. The weld interface is proximate to an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the first and second tubes, and includes a weld interface segment extending therebetween. A work hardened weld assembly couples the base material of each of the first and second tubes. The work hardened weld assembly includes a weld fusion zone between the weld interfaces of the first and second tubes and the weld interface segments of the first and second tubes. The weld fusion zone is work hardened and at least the weld interface segments of the first and second tubes are work hardened between the work hardened weld fusion zone and the base material of the first and second tubes.

High strength tubes, pipes or the like (e.g., metal components) are used in a variety of applications because of their strength including yield strength, ultimate (tensile) strength, high fatigue life and the like. Further, in some applications tubes, pipes or the like are used in corrosive conditions including undersea or subterranean environments, mining, gas or oil production or the like. Metal components, such as stainless steel and nickel alloys are suited in some examples for use in these environments and also, when conditioned, provide a high strength component.
Metal components, in some examples, are welded to join components and enclose other components or form larger assemblies. In examples, welding uses a heat source to melt and join components. The component material is melted and then joined, for instance with a filler metal. One example of a welded assembly includes umbilicals used in offshore oil and gas production. The umbilical includes tubular segments that are connected by way of orbital welds and helically wound or bundled together with other components to form a wrapped and continuous unit that is encased in a jacket and extends to one or more pieces of equipment in the aquatic environment. The umbilical provides one or more of fluids, power, information (e.g., instructions, data streams or the like) to and from the pieces of equipment.

Work hardened welds and methods for same


A buckle device includes a female member having a chamber for receiving a strap, a male member having two tabs for engaging into the chamber of the female member and for detachably coupling the female member and the male member together, and a pressing device engaged into the chamber of the female member and having one end pivotally coupled to the female member with a pivot axle, and having the other end for engaging with the strap and for limiting the strap to move relative to the female member, and the tabs of the male member are engageable with the pressing device for forcing the pressing device to engage with the strap when the tabs of the male member are engaged into the chamber of the female member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a buckle device, and more particularly to a buckle device including a structure for allowing the strap to be easily and quickly adjusted relative to the buckle device and for allowing the strap to be easily and quickly attached onto the cargo or objects.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical buckle devices comprise a male member and a female member detachably coupled together, and each including an aperture formed therein for strapping or engaging with a belt and for detachably coupling or attaching the buckle devices onto a user or a cargo or objects.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,826 to Gould, U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,590 to Lan, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,849 to Schleifer disclose three of the typical buckle devices each comprising a male member and a female member detachably fastened together, and the female member including a chamber for receiving the male member, and a belt or a strap coupled to the male member and the female member with frictional snubbing devices and for allowing the belt to be adjustably coupled or attached onto the user or the cargo or the objects.
However, the typical buckle devices include only an aperture formed therein for strapping or receiving the belt or the strap, but have no engaging means or device for engaging with the belt or the strap such that the belt or the strap may not be frictionally attached to the typical buckle devices and may not be adjusted relative to the buckle devices.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional belt buckle devices.

Buckle device having strap adjusting structure


Proposed are a storage apparatus and a failure recovery method capable of performing failure recovery processing while reducing performance deterioration. Whether user data is written into a storage area provided by multiple storage mediums is managed for each stripe. When any one of the storage mediums is blocked due to a failure, correction copy processing is executed to the stripe written with the user data in preference to the stripe not written with the user data in a storage area provided by the multiple storage mediums, and correction copy processing is executed to the stripe not written with the user data in a storage area provided by the multiple storage mediums during spare time.

The present invention generally relates to a storage apparatus and a failure recovery method, and in particular can be suitably applied to a disk array device.
In recent years, as a storage apparatus for storing data in corporations and government offices, a so-called disk array device in which a plurality of hard disk devices are managed and operated in RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) format is being widely used.
With a disk array device, a single RAID group is configured from a prescribed number of hard disk devices, and one or more logical volumes (hereinafter referred to as "logical volumes") are defined in a storage area provided by the respective hard disk devices configuring one RAID group.
User data from a host apparatus is partitioned into the same size as a block, which is a unit for reading and writing data in the hard disk device, and distributively written into the respective hard disk devices configuring the RAID group together with redundant data (hereinafter referred to as "parity data") created based on such user data.
As a result of this parity data, even if one or two of the hard disk devices configuring the RAID group are blocked due to a failure, user data stored in the hard disk device which has been blocked (hereinafter referred to as the "blocked hard disk device" as appropriate) can be restored based on the corresponding user data and the corresponding parity data stored in the other hard disk devices.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-167690 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-175158 disclose inventions related to the technology of recovering data stored in a blocked hard disk device using the foregoing parity data.

Storage apparatus and failure recovery method


Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a resistance-reduced transistor with metallized bilayer overlying source/drain regions and gate electrode thereof. A first dielectric layer with a conductive contact overlies the resistance-reduced transistor. A second dielectric layer having a first conductive feature overlies the first dielectric layer. A third dielectric layer with a second conductive feature overlies the second dielectric layer, forming a conductive pathway down to the top surface of the metallized bilayer over one of the source/drain regions or the gate electrode layer.

The present invention relates to semiconductor fabrication technology and in particular to a resistance-reduced semiconductor device fabricated by a self-aligned metallized (SAM) process.
Along with high integration, high performance, and low power consumption in semiconductor devices, a low resistance gate material is required to reduce gate length in transistors and memory cells through formation of fine patterns and to improve device characteristics. The thickness of a gate insulating layer gradually decreases to increase a channel current in a transistor and a memory cell due to low power consumption. In order to prevent short channel effects caused by the reduction of the gate length in a transistor and secure a margin against punchthrough, the sacrificial resistance, for example, sheet resistance and contact resistance of a source/drain region, must be reduced when forming a shallow source/drain.
Therefore, integrated circuits (ICs) fabrication have been fabricated by a salicide (self-aligned silicide) process in which a silicide is formed on the surfaces of a gate and a source/drain region to thereby reduce the resistivity of the gate and the sheet resistance and contact resistance of the source/drain region. The salicide process indicates selective formation of a silicide region only on a gate and a source/drain region. The silicide region is formed of titanium silicide (TiSi2) or materials of the group-VIII silicides (e.g., PtSi2, PdSi2, CoSi2, and NiSi2).
Nevertheless, process issues such as agglomeration or bubbles formed along a polysilicon or silicon boundary of a device do exist in the metal silicide layer having lowered sheet resistance formed by the conventional salicide process through reacting refractory metal with the silicon, and dislocation and discontinuity of boundary structures can be found therein due to poor thermal stability under high annealing temperature. Thus, an issue such as electrical disconnection or increased sheet resistance caused by the agglomeration of the metal silicide occurs and degrades reliability of the semiconductor device.
Hence, there is a need for a better resistance-reduced structure to prevent possible degradation of the metal silicide layer thereof.

Resistance-reduced semiconductor device and methods for fabricating the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A combined abdominals (main and lower abs)/thighs/calves exercise device, which composes a base support member assembly upon which the user sits, a partially vertical and horizontal resistance mast with resilient restorative properties mounted upon the base support member support, and a collar oriented upon the upper mast. A bracket means is reciprocally mounted upon the collar and is adapted to hold a range of vertical positions along same. A pair of grippable bars transversely mounted upon the outer end of bracket means, which bars permit the user to train and strengthen major and minor muscle sets dependent upon the physical orientation of the grippable bars.

The present invention relates to a portable and easily storable device for selective torso muscle conditioning and development.
While there are a large number of multi-exercise machines on the market, there is a need for an economical and efficient one which focuses on conditioning the torso and the related upper/lower ABS muscles. A device of simplified construction, yet having versatility of uses, is much to be desired.
Abdo U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,303 of Feb. 8, 2000 is to an abdominal exercise device and describes one in which the vertical resistance member 22 (FIGS. 1-6) provides for its deflection only in a horizontal plane for its U-shaped arm support member 23 mounted thereon. This limitation permits only a torso (trunk) rotational exercise while a user is gripping hand grasps 37/38. Similarly, Prusick U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,317 of Nov. 14, 2000, is described for strengthening abdominal and lower back muscles, but permits rotation of his flexible mast 30 only in a reciprocal vertical plane by the user exerting backward pressure against resilient member 30.
By contrast with the present invention, having mast 20 (FIG. xc2xd) being disposed at an angle, such allows for deflection within both the horizontal and vertical planes, whereby the larger number of exercises are made possible, specifically main ABS, oblique ABS, lower ABS, thighs, and calves.
The presently disclosed device has additional useful features, the first being an adjustable height, sleeve-like collar riding on the mast component. The resulting adjustable height of the U-shaped grippable bands can accommodate the varying heights of users, and offer two modes when the bracket setting on the collar in the upper reach for the main ABS and oblique ABS, and alternatively, the bracket setting is in its lower reach for lower ABS, thighs, and calves.
The slidable collars provide it with a plunger pin 40 (FIG. 2) which allows the associated handles to more move upwardly and/or downwardly quite readily, affording the alternate exercise modes of operation.
By now providing for the mast and associated handles to be aligned proximal to, and anchored centrally of the seat component forward edge, this triples the number of body exercises that can be enjoyed with the device employing a single mast. In this arrangement, the user can perform a front rotation while the device straddles a chair available in the home.
It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide a portable torso/abdominal (ABS) exercise machine that exercises the entire torso muscle set, and, secondarily, works the thighs and calf muscles.
It is a still further object of the invention to use the arms and thighs to provide the force needed to effect a workout of the ABS/and calves muscles.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide for ABS-calves exercises without need for inclusion of a counter resistence means, like dampers and/or weighted pulley sets.
A yet further object of the invention is provide a portable exercise device which is positioned upon a supporting chair, temporarily anchored in place by the user""s weight, and relies on inherent resilience of a single device component to provide the resistance needed to the exertion of user""s arms and thighs.
The operating advantages of the present device include: (a) the support mast serving as a restorative force member and affording repetitive resistance; (b) an angled energy restorative force member providing for both vertical and horizontal deflections and thus plural exercises with one portable machine; (c) handles heights being adjusted vertically on the resilient mast for alternative sets or exercises with either a handy upward or downward orientation of the grippable handles.
According to the invention, there is provided a multi-exercise device adapted to be positioned during use on an conventional armless and firm supporting chair, while being temporarily pinned thereto, by virtue of the weight of a user seated astraddle same upon the cushion component of the exercise device; an elongated rigid first member is provided which is secured lengthwise of the seating pad preferably on the undersurface along its proximal (to the user) longitudinal end, and having a formed but resilient single mast member, which mast is anchored at the lower end thereof to the distal longitudinal end of the elongate first member; the centrally-located mast member is slanted outwardly and fixedly from its lower anchor point; a slidable, rigid collar-like member is mounted normally proximal on the upper longitudinal end of the mast member; an elongate, two element bracket set is adapted to straddle the collar component in a fixed angular juxtaposition, which bracket extends outwardly and upwardly; such bracket can be shifted along same to varied horizontal positions, and locked thereat, so as to accommodate the physical dimensions of several users; a cylindrical bar is journalled horizontally and transversely through the outer longitudinal ends of the bracket set; a set of laterally extending, handle bars are pivotally secured to the cylindrical bar outer ends; the handle bar set is rotatable between an upper and lower extension modes of orientation, depending upon which exercise groups are intended: (a) arms in upright positionxe2x80x94torso/upper and main Abs; and, (b) arms folded in down positionxe2x80x94lower Abs, calves, and thighs.
The mast member is fabricated from somewhat flexible material of construction, like polyurethane, which thus provides some resistance to torso flexing in any of one of several directions which are being imposed thereon by the user""s arms and knees. The polyurethane flexible rod (black in color) is a counter resistance means for this product.


A cable drum for supplying power to an electrically powered utility vehicle, with an axially running winding body which can be set in rotation about a rotational axis in order to wind up and unwind an electrical cable, wherein on an inside, the winding body carries a plurality of fans which are configured to generate a cooling air stream directed radially outward with respect to a cylindrical drum wall.

A cable drum is known for example from JP S 62 260512, which describes a cable drum delimited by an end-side flange for winding up an extension cable. Depending on the electrical power to be transmitted, because of inductive losses, the wound cable heats up to a greater or lesser extent. In order to counter a possible overheating, on one of the end-side flanges an axial fan is arranged which draws in air from the environment and conveys it in the direction of the interior of the drum body. A plurality of openings distributed in a cylindrical wall of the drum body allows the air to emerge in the direction of the wound cable, whereby the heat losses are conveyed by the generated air stream outwards past the windings via clearances formed by spacer rods.
It is an object of the present disclosure to optimize a cable drum of the type cited initially with respect to the dissipation of loss-induced waste heat in the windings of a cable wound onto the winding body. This object is achieved by means of a cable drum having the features of claim 1.

Cable drum for supplying energy to an electrically powered utility vehicle


An oral suctioning swab includes a rigid plastic tube of an elongated shape having first and second ends and a bend therebetween. A suctioning thumb control is bonded to the tube first end and a soft resilient tubular tip is bonded to said tube second end. A foam sleeve is bonded over the tube second end and soft resilient tubular tip such that the soft resilient tubular tip extends beyond the foam sleeve thereby avoiding any radial aspiration through the foam sleeve.

It is known in the art relating to oral swabs to apply vacuum force through a porous foam sleeve or through an aperture in the foam sleeve to remove liquid and other material from the mouth of a patient. Such oral swabs clog as the porous surface of the foam sleeve becomes filled or as the aperture in the foam sleeve becomes restricted with debris.
In addition, such oral swabs preclude removal of viscus fluid and/or material from oral recesses and recesses between the teeth and gum line. Often times the vacuum force drawn through the foam sleeve collapses the foam into the device and/or onto itself and causes the swab to fail to continue suctioning. Such side hole devices are difficult to manufacture as the foam sleeve must be properly placed on a vacuum supply tube end to ensure flow through the element. In some cases, an aperture in the foam sleeve must be aligned relative to an aperture in the vacuum supply tube end.


To provide a radio-wave watch, which can have an excellent appearance and can minimize the drop of the sensitivity of receiving radio waves, while suppressing the size enlargement and the cost for the contour. A radio-wave watch comprises a metallic dial having an opening, and a receiving antenna for receiving the standard radio waves containing the time data. The receiving antenna is arranged on the back of the opening of the dial and in a case at a position to confront the opening. The receiving antenna is arranged in the case at a spacing from the dial. Time lapse indicating means substantially formed of a non-metal is arranged in the case between the dial and the receiving antenna for indicating the time lapse within the range of the opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio-wave watch and, more particularly, to a radio-wave watch suited for taking the mode of a wrist watch.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An antenna for receiving the standard radio waves is indispensable for the radio-wave watch, which adjusts its indication time to time data by receiving the standard radio waves containing the time data.
With a view to receiving the standard radio waves in high sensitivity by that antenna, it has been proposed (in JP-A-8-307141) to arrange a loop-shaped antenna in the outer circumference of the watch case.
In the radio-wave watch proposed in JP-A-8-307141, however, the contour or size may become so large as to provide a contour, exceeding a desired extent as the radio-wave watch to be worn oh the wrist.
On the other hand, it has also been proposed (in JP-A-2002-107463) to house the antenna in the case. In JP-A-2002-107463, however, the dial is formed of a resin so as to hold the receiving sensitivity of the antenna housed in the case.
In case, however, the dial made of a resin is used, as proposed in JP-A-2002-107463, a formatively complicated working on the surface is required for enhancing the appearance. This requirement makes it unavoidable to raise the cost and to elongate the fabrication process and accordingly the leadtime.
The present invention has been conceived in view of the aforementioned points and contemplates to provide a radio-wave watch, which can have an excellent appearance and can minimize the drop of the sensitivity of receiving the radio waves, while suppressing the size enlargement and the cost for the contour.


Sample extraction or trimming from an end strip of an elongated formed metal that is coiled in layers within a tensioned metal coil resting on driven rollers. A cut channel is formed across the material width. In some embodiments the cut channel is formed between the rollers and by cutting at an angle relative to the coil outer surface. Coil weight and/or a coil tensioner mechanism inhibits coil relaxation along the cut channel by maintaining tension on wrapped layers against each other when the coil is unbanded for sample extraction. The coil is rotated so that the cut channel clears the rollers laterally. Material downstream the cut is then separated from the coil. After trimming and/or sample extraction the coil maintains rolled tautness for ease of rebanding.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to trimming ends from a coil of coiled formed metal without distorting the material remaining on the coil and maintaining the coil layers tightly wrapped in taut tension for banding or rebanding. Coil ends are trimmed for obtaining test and inspection samples, as well as for trimming scrap tail ends.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A known system places a banded metal coil of tightly wrapped formed elongated sheet material (e.g., a sheet web) between spaced parallel rollers, removes bands that maintain coiled metal layers in a tightly wrapped, taut layer condition, and thereafter unwinds a portion of the coil end so that a desired length extends generally tangentially from the coil laterally clear from the rollers. The tangential end is selectively cut through the full material thickness normal to its surface by a shear. The sheared-off tangential end separates from the roll and drops into a collection container. A remnant stub projects generally tangentially from the roller in a relaxed uncoiled deformed state that inhibits tight re-rolling and banding of the sampled coil. The sheared edge remaining on the coil may have localized distortion and a relatively blunt edge generally along the coil's radial circumference that may hinder further rotational maneuvering of the coil on the rollers. The known sampling system is monitored and controlled by a human operator.

Method and apparatus for trimming a sample from a coiled metal web


Compositions and methods for influencing the metabolic state of plant cells are provided. The compositions comprise poly ADP-ribose polymerase genes and portions thereof, particularly the maize poly ADP-ribose polymerase gene as well as antisense nucleotide sequences for poly ADP-ribose polymerase genes. The nucleotide sequences find use in transforming plant cells to alter the metabolic state of the transformed plants and plant cells.

The physiological and metabolic state of plant cells directly influences the plant response to external stimuli. The plant response to disease includes a host of cellular processes to enable plants to defend themselves from pathogenic agents. These processes apparently form an integrated set of resistance mechanisms that is activated by initial infection and then limits further spread of the invading pathogenic microorganism.
The transformation of plants is a complex process. The process involves contacting cells with a DNA to be integrated into the plant cell genome. Generally, genetic transformation of eukaryotic cells is a random event. That is, the foreign DNA is integrated into the genome at random positions. Often several copies, or parts of copies, of the transforming DNA are integrated in a single position, and/or at different positions, resulting in a transformed cell containing multiple copies of the foreign DNA.
Because the metabolic state of the plant cell is instrumental in various processes, it would be beneficial to be able to influence the state of the cells. Accordingly, there is a need for genes and methods for altering the metabolic state of plant cells.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Poly ADP-ribose polymerase gene and it uses


A plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits have the same configuration as that of an LSI which is subjected to debugging. Different internal signals are respectively collected from the semiconductor integrated circuits under the same operation conditions. The operation of the LSI is analyzed based on the collected internal signals. By doing this, it is not necessary to add output terminals to the LSI or switch the internal signals output from output terminals at periodic time intervals. This facilitates the debugging of the entire LSI in a low-cost and simple configuration.

The present invention is related to a debugging system for analyzing internal signals of LSIs and debugging (fixing defects or errors) hardware or software within the LSIs, a semiconductor integrated circuit, a debugging method thereof, a debugging program for the semiconductor integrated circuit, and a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon the debugging program for the semiconductor integrated circuit.
In general, debugging processing of hardware and software within an LSI (LSI: Large Scale Integration) is performed by observing and analyzing internal signals of the LSI utilizing a measuring device such as a logic analyzer or oscilloscope. It is thus important to observe and analyze as many internal signals as possible through the debugging processing in order to design and manufacture an LSI having no defects or errors.
However, in the case that output terminals of the LSI are added to observe as many of the internal signals as possible, the LSI may have a complicated configuration and large dimensions, and further may become expensive.
To overcome such problems, it can be considered that internal signals output from output terminals are switched every period of time, whereupon a plurality of internal signals cannot be observed at the same time, so that a correlation between internal signals is not analyzable, so that debugging of the entire LSI can not be performed accurately.

Debugging system for semiconductor integrated circuit


A process for producing a composite material with an intermediate layer made from a thermoplastic polymer, an intermediate layer arranged thereupon, and a heat-cured layer applied to the intermediate layer, where the bonding material of the intermediate layer is a thermoplastic, the process comprising providing the materials for the intermediate layer, an optional decorative layer, and the heat-cured layer each in the form of a sheet, then bonding the sheets to the backing material at temperatures from 150 to 300xc2x0 C. The intermediate layer and the backing may be composed of the same thermoplastic. The intermediate layer and the heat-cured layer may also be applied to both sides of the backing. The layered composite material may furthermore comprise a decorative layer between the intermediate layer and the heat-cured layer.

The present invention relates to a layered composite material comprising a backing made from a thermoplastic polymer, an intermediate layer arranged thereupon, and a heat-cured layer applied to the intermediate layer, where the bonding material of the intermediate layer is a thermoplastic. The present invention further relates to a process for producing this layered composite material and to its use for producing furniture, floorcoverings, wall paneling, household equipment or moldings in the electrical, construction or automotive industry.
The layered composite materials known hitherto are used in particular in the furniture industry and in the household equipment industry and essentially consist of a backing layer made from wood or from wood fibers or from individual sheets of paper press-molded with addition of resin, to which decorative layers, and also other heat-cured layers, known as overlays, are applied using heat and pressure. The decorative layers used here frequently have a woodgrain, metallic or marble pattern. In many cases the decorative layers are used together with the heat-cured layers applied thereto, in the form of laminates.
However, a disadvantage of layered composite materials of this type is that they are to some extent susceptible to moisture penetrating into the core layer from the edges, since both wood and wood fibers, and also individual sheets of paper, tend to swell when exposed to moisture. In addition, layered composite materials of this type are relatively difficult to shape.
For a wide variety of industrial applications, for example in the automotive or electrical industry, there is a need for surface materials which, on the one hand, have high compressive strength and, on the other hand, have comparatively high heat resistance, and which moreover can readily be produced with decorative effects.
Surface materials used for a long time in furniture production have two or more layers, including a backing layer, a decorative layer and a heat-cured layer lying thereupon. These layers, with the aid of other bonded layers, for example made from paper or from adhesive films, give a decorative layered composite material. However, a layered composite material of this type is very complicated to produce, frequently has a high formaldehyde content, and has disadvantageous swelling behavior.
DE-A 1 97 22 339 discloses a layered composite material which comprises a backing layer made from polypropylene, a decorative layer arranged thereupon and a heat-cured layer applied to the decorative layer. The earlier application DE-A 19 858 173 moreover describes a layered composite material made from a backing layer of various other thermoplastic polymers, for example certain styrene copolymers or polyoxymethylene or, respectively, polybutylene terephthalate, and also a decorative layer applied thereto and a heat-cured layer lying thereupon. Examples of features of layered composite materials of this type with a backing layer made from thermoplastic polymers are, when compared with conventional layered composite materials with backing layers made from wood, wood fibers or paper: high heat and moisture resistance, better mechanical strength and easier processing. However, a degree of stiffness and brittleness in the individual polymeric layers means that the layered composite materials known from DE-A 19 722 339 and DE-A 19 858 173 still have certain disadvantages in processing and shaping, in particular in three-dimensional shaping to give components for the automotive sector, the household sector or the electrical sector. In addition, layered composite materials of this type are sometimes also found to have unsatisfactory mechanical stability, attributable to a slight deficiency in adhesion between the backing layer and the decorative layer or, respectively, the heat-cured layer.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages described and to provide an improved layered composite material which, inter alia, can very easily be shaped in two or three dimensions and, due to high adhesion between the individual layers, has very high mechanical stability. This layered composite material should also be very easy to pigment.
We have found that this object is achieved by developing an improved layered composite material comprising a backing made from a thermoplastic polymer, an intermediate layer arranged thereupon, and a heat-cured layer applied to the intermediate layer, where the bonding material of the intermediate layer is a thermoplastic.
In one modification of the novel layered composite material, this may also comprise a decorative layer applied to the intermediate layer between the intermediate layer and the heat-cured layer. In the novel layered composite material it is also possible for an appropriate intermediate layer, a decorative layer arranged thereupon, if desired, and a heat-cured layer applied either to the intermediate layer or else to the decorative layer to be present on both sides of the backing made from the thermoplastic polymer, giving a sandwich structure with the backing layer in the middle.
The material of the backing may comprise based on the total weight of the backing, from 1 to 60% by weight, preferably from 5 to 50% by weight, particularly preferably from 10 to 40% by weight, of reinforcing fillers, such as barium sulfate, magnesium hydroxide or talc with an average particle size of from 0.1 to 10 xcexcm, measured to DIN 66 115, wood, flax, chalk, glass fibers, coated glass fibers, long or short glass fibers, glass beads or mixtures of these. The material of the backing may also comprise the usual additives, such as stabilizers to protect against the action of light, UV radiation or heat, pigments, carbon blacks, lubricants, flame retardants, blowing agents and the like, in the amounts which are usual and required.
Examples of thermoplastic polymers which form the backing are polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polysulfones, polyether ketones, polyesters, polycycloolefins, polyacrylates and polymethacrylates, polyamides, polycarbonate, polyurethanes, polyacetals, such as polyoxymethylene, polybutylene terephthalates and polystyrenes. Both homopolymers and copolymers of these thermoplastic polymers may be used here. The backing layer preferably also comprises, besides the reinforcing fillers, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene, polybutylene terephthalate or polystyrene, in particular styrene copolymers with subordinate proportions of one or more comonomers, such as butadiene, xcex1-methylstyrene, acrylonitrile, vinylcarbazole, or else esters of acrylic, methacrylic or itaconic acid. The backing of the novel layered composite material may also comprise recycled materials made from these thermoplastic polymers.
For the purposes of the present invention, polyoxymethylenes are homo- or copolymers of aldehydes, for example of formaldehyde, or of cyclic acetals, containing recurring carbon-oxygen bonds in the molecule and having a melt flow rate (MFR) to ISO 1133 of from 5 to 40 g/10 min, in particular from 5 to 30 g/10 min, at 230xc2x0 C. with a load of 2.16 kg.
The polybutylene terephthalate preferably used is a higher-molecular-weight esterification product of terephthalic acid and butylene glycol with a melt flow rate (MFR) to ISO 1133 of from 5 to 50 g/10 min, in particular from 5 to 30 g/10 min, at 230xc2x0 C. with a load of 2.16 kg.
Possible styrene copolymers are in particular copolymers having up to 45% by weight, preferably up to 20% by weight, of copolymerized acrylonitrile. Copolymers of this type made from styrene and acrylonitrile (SAN) have a melt flow rate (MFR) to ISO 1133 of from 1 to 25 g/10 min, in particular from 4 to 20 g/10 min, at 230xc2x0 C. with a load of 2.16 kg.
Other styrene copolymers whose use is likewise preferred contain up to 35% by weight, in particular up to 20% by weight, of copolymerized acrylonitrile and up to 35% by weight, in particular up to 30% by weight, of copolymerized butadiene. The melt flow rate of copolymers of this type made from styrene, acrylonitrile and butadiene (ABS) to ISO 1133 is from 1 to 40 g/10 min, in particular from 2 to 30 g/10 min, at 230xc2x0 C. with a load of 2.16 kg.
Other materials used for the backing are in particular polyolefins, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, preferably the latter. For the purposes of the present invention, polypropylenes are homo- or copolymers of propylene. Copolymers of propylene contain subordinate amounts of monomers copolymerizable with propylene, for example C2-C8-1-alkenes, such as ethylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene or 1-hexene. It is also possible to use two or more different comonomers.
Examples of particularly suitable backing materials are propylene homopolymers or propylene copolymers having up to 50% by weight of other copolymerized 1-alkenes having up to 8 carbon atoms. The propylene copolymers here are random copolymers or block or impact copolymers. If the propylene copolymers have a random structure they generally contain up to 15% by weight, preferably up to 6% by weight, of other 1-alkenes having up to 8 carbon atoms, in particular ethylene, 1-butene or a mixture of ethylene and 1-butene.
Block or impact copolymers of propylene are polymers resulting from a two-stage preparation in which a propylene homopolymer or a random propylene copolymer having up to 15% by weight, preferably up to 6% by weight, of other 1-alkenes having up to 8 carbon atoms is first prepared. Onto this is then polymerized a propylene-ethylene copolymer with an ethylene content of from 15 to 80% by weight. The propylene-ethylene copolymer may also contain other C4-C8-1-alkenes. The amount of the propylene-ethylene copolymer polymerized on generally gives the final product a content of from 3 to 60% by weight of the copolymer produced in the second stage.
The polymerization to prepare polypropylene may use a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system. Catalyst systems of this type used here are in particular those which have, in addition to a titanium-containing solid component a), cocatalysts in the form of organic aluminum compounds b) and electron-donor compounds c).
It is, however, also possible to use catalyst systems based on metallocene compounds or, respectively, based on metal complexes which are active in polymerization.
Specifically, conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems comprise a titanium-containing solid component, inter alia halides or alcoholates of tri- or tetravalent titanium, together with a halogen-containing magnesium compound, inorganic oxide backings, such as silica gel, and also electron-donor compounds. These are in particular carboxylic derivatives, ketones, ethers, alcohols or organosilicon compounds.
The titanium-containing solid component may be prepared by methods known per se. Examples of these are described, for example, in EP-A 45 975, EP-A 45 977, EP-A 86 473, EP-A 171 200, GB-A 2 111 066, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,857,613 and 5,288,824. The process disclosed in DE-A 195 29 240 is preferably used.
Suitable aluminum compounds b) other than trialkylaluminum compounds are those in which one alkyl group has been replaced by an alkoxy group or by a halogen atom, for example by chlorine or bromine. The alkyl groups may be identical or different. Linear or branched alkyl groups are possible. Preference is given to the use of trialkylaluminum compounds each of whose alkyl groups has from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, for example trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, trioctylaluminum or methyldiethylaluminum, or mixtures of these.
Besides the aluminum compound b), electron-donor compounds c) are generally used as another cocatalyst. Examples of these are mono- or polyfunctional carboxylic acids, carboxylic anhydrides and carboxylic esters, and also ketones, ethers, alcohols, lactones, organophosphorus compounds and organosilicon compounds. These electron-donor compounds c) may be identical with or differ from the electron-donor compounds used to prepare the titanium-containing solid component a).
Other compounds which may be used to prepare polypropylene, instead of Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems, are metallocene compounds or, respectively, metal complexes which are active in polymerization.
For the purposes of the present invention, metallocenes are complex compounds made from metals of transition groups of the Periodic Table with organic ligands, and these together with metallocenium-ion-forming compounds give effective catalyst systems. When used to prepare polypropylene the metallocene complexes in the catalyst system are generally in the form of a backing. Backings frequently used are inorganic oxides, but it is also possible to use organic backings in the form of polymers, for example polyolefins. Preference is given to the inorganic oxides described above which are also used to prepare the titanium-containing solid component a).
The central atoms present in metallocenes usually used are titanium, zirconium or hafnium, preferably zirconium. The central atom usually has bonding via a xcfx80 bond to at least one, generally a substituted, cyclopentadienyl group, and also to other substituents. The other substituents may be halogens, hydrogen or organic radicals, preferably fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine or a C1-C10-alkyl group. The cyclopentadienyl group may also be a constituent of an appropriate heteroaromatic system.
Preferred metallocenes contain central atoms which have bonding via two identical or different xcfx80 bonds to two substituted cyclopentadienyl groups, and particular preference is given to those in which there are substituents of the cyclopentadienyl groups bonded to both cyclopentadienyl groups. Particular preference is given to complexes whose substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl groups also have substitution by cyclic groups on two adjacent carbon atoms, and the cyclic groups may also have been integrated into a heteroaromatic system.
Other preferred metallocenes have only one substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl group which, however, contains at least one substituent which also has bonding to the central atom.
Examples of suitable metallocene compounds are
ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride,
ethylenebis(tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium dichloride,
diphenylmethylene-9-fluorenylcyclopentadienylzirconium dichloride,
dimethylsilanediylbis(3-tert-butyl-5-methylcyclopentadienyl)-zirconium dichloride,
dimethylsilanediyl(2-methyl-4-azapentalene) (2-methyl-4(4xe2x80x2-methylphenyl)indenyl)zirconium dichloride,
dimethylsilanediyl(2-methyl-4-thiapentalene) (2-ethyl-4(4xe2x80x2-tert-butylphenyl)indenyl)zirconium dichloride,
ethanediyl(2-ethyl-4-azapentalene) (2-ethyl-4(4xe2x80x2-tert-butylphenyl)indenyl)zirconium dichloride,
dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4-azapentalene)zirconium dichloride,
dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4-thiapentalene)zirconium dichloride,
dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methylindenyl)zirconium dichloride,
dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methylbenzindenyl)zirconium dichloride,
dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4-phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride,
dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4-naphthylindenyl)zirconium dichloride,
dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4-isopropylindenyl)zirconium dichloride or
dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,6-diisopropylindenyl)zirconium dichloride and also the corresponding dimethylzirconium compounds.
The metallocene compounds are known or obtainable by methods known per se. Other catalysts which may be used are mixtures of metallocene compounds of this type, and also the metallocene complexes described in EP-A 416 815.
The metallocene catalyst systems also comprise metallocenium-ion-forming compounds. Suitable compounds are strong, neutral Lewis acids, ionic compounds with Lewis-acid cations and ionic compounds with Bronsted acids as cation. Examples of these are tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate or salts of N,N-dimethylanilinium. Other suitable metallocenium-ion-forming compounds are open-chain or cyclic aluminoxane compounds. These are usually prepared by reacting trialkylaluminum with water and are generally mixtures of linear and cyclic chain molecules of different lengths.
The metallocene catalyst systems may also comprise organometallic compounds of the metals of the 1st, 2nd or 3rd main group of the Periodic Table, for example n-butyllithium, n-butyl-n-octylmagnesium, triisobutylaluminum, triethylaluminum or trimethylaluminum.
The polypropylenes which are used for the backing layer are prepared by polymerization in at least one reaction zone, and also frequently in two or more reaction zones arranged in series (reactor cascade), in the gas phase, in suspension or in the liquid phase (bulk phase). The reactors used may be those usual for polymerizing C2-C8-1-alkenes. Examples of suitable reactors are continuous stirred-tank reactors, loop reactors and fluidized-bed reactors. The size of the reactors is of no significant importance in this context and depends on the output to be achieved in each reaction zone.
The reactors used are in particular fluidized-bed reactors, and also horizontally or vertically agitated powder-bed reactors. The reaction bed for the process according to the invention is generally composed of the polymer made from C2-C8-1-alkenes polymerized in the respective reactor.
The polypropylenes used as backing layers are prepared by polymerization under conventional reaction conditions at from 40 to 120xc2x0 C., in particular from 50 to 100xc2x0 C., and at pressures of from 10 to 100 bar, in particular from 20 to 50 bar.
The polypropylenes used as backing generally have a melt flow rate (MFR) to ISO 1133 of from 0.1 to 200 g/10 min, in particular from 0.2 to 100 g/10 min, at 230xc2x0 C. with a load of 2.16 kg.
The backing used in the novel layered composite material may also be a blend, i.e. a mixture of different thermoplastic polymers, for example a blend made from a styrene copolymer with acrylonitrile and from a copolymer made from butadiene and acrylonitrile.
According to the invention the layered composite material also comprises a bonding layer made from a thermoplastic, preferably from the thermoplastic also used for the backing, as an intermediate layer between the backing and the heat-cured layer. This in particular improves the adhesion between backing and intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is in particular a thin film or else a thin nonwoven web of a thickness from 0.001 to 1.0 mm, in particular from 0.005 to 0.3 mm. Possible materials for the intermediate layer are the thermoplastics also described above for the backings, i.e. in particular polypropylene and polyethylene, styrene polymers, polyoxymethylene or polybutylene terephthalate.
Another intermediate layer whose use is preferred is a resin-saturated nonwoven web or a resin-saturated film made from a thermoplastic. Resins used for this are in particular acrylate resins, phenolic resins, urea resins or melamine resins. The degree of resinification here may be up to 300%, meaning that practically the entire surface of the intermediate layer has multiple coatings of resin. The degree of resinification is preferably from 50 to 150%, in particular from 80 to 120%. The weight per m2 of the intermediate layer is from 15 to 150 g, in particular from 30 to 60 g.
In a preferred embodiment the novel layered composite material may also have a decorative layer arranged on the intermediate layer, between the intermediate layer and the heat-cured layer.
The decorative layer may be composed of a plastic which has an embossment or a coloration, or both combined, and may be a ready-to-use laminate, for example. However, the decorative layer may also be composed of paper or of a fabric or of a paper-like or fabric-like or wood-like or metal-like material. Examples of these would be decorative layers made from an aluminum-like material or from a stainless-steel-like material, or else from leather-like, silk-like, wood-like, cork-like or linoleum-like material. The decorative layer may also have been resinified with acrylic resins, phenolic resins, urea resins or melamine resins, in which case the degree of resinification may be from 50 to 300%, in particular from 100 to 300%, based on the weight of the decorative layer. The weight of the decorative layer is usually from 10 to 200 g/m2, in particular from 30 to 150 g/m2 and particularly preferably from 50 to 130 g/m2.
The heat-cured layer (overlay) arranged upon the decorative layer is preferably composed of a thermoset plastic, for example of a paper saturated with acrylic resin, with phenolic resin, with melamine resin or with urea resin, crosslinked by exposure to pressure or heat during the production of the layered composite material. The weight of the heat-cured layer (overlay) is usually from 10 to 300 g/m2, in particular from 15 to 150 g/m2 and particularly preferably from 20 to 70 g/m2.
For the arrangement of the heat-cured layer (overlay) on the intermediate layer, on one or, if desired, on both sides, it is also possible to use a ready-to-use laminate. It is also possible to apply a ready-to-use laminate, composed of the decorative layer and the overlay, to the intermediate layer. Ready-to-use laminates of this type are known per se and are obtainable, inter alia, from Melaplast in Schweinfurt, Germany.
The total thickness of the novel layered composite material is from 1 mm to 100 mm, preferably from 1 to 20 mm, in particular from 1.5 to 10 mm, and the backing accounts for at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the total thickness.
The novel layered composite materials may be prepared by a process in which the materials for the intermediate layer, the decorative layer, if used, and the heat-cured layer are in the form of thin sheets in each case and are then bonded at from 150 to 300xc2x0 C., in particular from 160 to 280xc2x0 C., to the material for the backing. The intermediate layer, the decorative layer, if used, and the heat-cured layer (overlay) may also preferably be used here combined as a ready-to-use laminate, which is likewise a sheet.
It is also possible for the intermediate layer, the decorative layer, if used, and the heat-cured layer first to be bonded to one another by dipping into a bath of adhesive or by using thin adhesive strips in a press, preferably in a double belt press, and then applying this composite to the backing. It can also be advisable here for the composite made from intermediate layer, decorative layer, if used, and heat-cured layer first to be shaped in two dimensions by a thermoforming process or, respectively, by direct shaping, for example in an injection mold, and then combined, by in-mold coating, extrusion or hot-press molding, with the thermoplastic which is to form the backing. If the backing and intermediate layer here are composed of identical thermoplastics, the adhesion between the two layers is very high.
The process for producing the novel layered composite material may also be modified by shaping the layered composite material in three dimensions after a preceding heat treatment at from 150 to 300xc2x0 C., in particular from 150 to 250xc2x0 C. and particularly preferably from 160 to 200xc2x0 C. This method can give, for example, moldings for the electrical, construction or automotive industry.
It is also possible to use conventional plastics industry processing methods to produce the novel layered composite material, by bonding the heat-cured layer with the intermediate layer, the decorative layer, if used, and the backing. Examples of these conventional processing methods are injection molding, extrusion and hot-press molding of the individual layers.
In injection molding, the individual layers, i.e. the backing, the intermediate layer, the decorative layer, if used, and the heat-cured layer (or the two latter layers together in the form of a ready-to-use laminate) are either shaped directly in advance by way of a thermoforming process and then in-mold coated with one another in an injection mold, or else are directly shaped and in-mold coated with one another only once they are in the injection mold. This may be done either on one side or on both sides, and in the latter case the arrangement has the intermediate layer, the decorative layer, if used, and the heat-cured layer on both sides of the backing. This injection molding procedure usually takes place at from 150 to 300xc2x0 C., in particular at from 180 to 280xc2x0 C., preferably at from 190 to 270xc2x0 C., and at pressures of from 50 to 100 N/cm2, in particular from 60 to 80 N/cm2. The temperatures and pressures arising in the injection mold achieve both very good bonding of the thermoplastic intermediate layer to the thermoplastic backing and also further curing of the novel layered composite material. Compared with the layered composite materials known hitherto, this material is very flexible and is easy to shape in subsequent processing steps.
In the extrusion process the intermediate layer, the decorative layer, if used, and the heat-cured layer of the novel layered composite material are bonded to one another by being fed to one or both sides of the thermoplastic backing by way of temperature-controlled calender rolls or embossing rolls (a process known as lamination). The temperatures usually used here are from 150 to 300xc2x0 C., in particular from 160 to 250xc2x0 C., preferably from 170 to 220xc2x0 C., and the pressures are from 40 to 200 N/cm2, in particular from 50 to 100 N/cm2. This gives very good adhesion of the individual sheets to one another. The resultant layered composite material also has good surface properties.
One version of the extrusion process is that known as profile extrusion. In this, the individual layers of the novel layered composite material, in particular the intermediate layer, are shaped by a calibrating unit in such a way that these can then be fed directly onto the actual profile, i.e. the backing made from a thermoplastic.
It is also possible to obtain the novel layered composite material by hot-press molding of the individual layers. These may either be shaped in advance by an upstream thermoforming process or else directly within the press. This is done by feeding pellets of thermoplastic directly onto a laminated composite made from the intermediate layer, the decorative layer, if used, and the heat-cured layer and hot-press molding this combination at from 150 to 300xc2x0 C., in particular from 160 to 250xc2x0 C., preferably from 170 to 230xc2x0 C., and at a pressure of from 50 to 120 N/cm2, in particular from 80 to 100 N/cm2, with press times of from 0.5 to 10 minutes, in particular from 1 to 5 minutes and particularly preferably from 1 to 3 minutes.
The surface of the layered composite materials obtained in this manner may also be pigmented.
The novel layered composite materials have, inter alia, good mechanical properties due to the good adhesion between the individual layers. They are easy to shape in two or three dimensions and also have high resistance to high temperatures and to chemicals.
The novel layered composite materials are suitable, inter alia, for producing furniture, floorcoverings, wall paneling or household equipment, or moldings in the electrical, construction or automotive industry.
The examples below are intended to describe the invention in further detail. The following test methods were used in the working examples:
behavior on exposure to steam was determined to EN 438-2.24;
abrasion resistance was determined to EN 438-2.6 at 6000 to 10,000 U/min;
compressive strength was determined by the falling ball test to EN 438 with an 8 mm backing plate, size of impression: 5.5 mm;
resistance to the heat of a cigarette was determined to EN 438-2.18;
chemicals resistance was determined to DIN 51958;
scratch resistance was determined to ISO 1518;
bond strength was determined by using a razor blade to make cruciform parallel cuts (crosscuts) into the surface of a molding. An adhesive tape was then pressed onto the cut surface and then vigorously pulled off from the surface at an angle perpendicular to the same. If virtually no segments were removed from the surface with the adhesive tape, the bond strength was graded xe2x80x9c+xe2x80x9d; if individual segments amounting up to 10% of the total coverage could be pulled away, the result was graded xe2x80x9cxc2x1xe2x80x9d and if more than 10% of the entire surface could be pulled away the result was graded xe2x80x9cxe2x88x92xe2x80x9d. Particularly good bond strengths were graded xe2x80x9c++xe2x80x9d.

Layered composite material with an intermediate layer made from a thermoplastic


The purpose is to accurately and promptly calculate an error of a magnetic sensor. A sensor error calculating device may include a GNSS attitude angle calculating module, a GNSS geomagnetism calculating module, and an error estimating module. The GNSS attitude angle calculating module may calculate a GNSS attitude angle of a movable body based on positioning signals of a GNSS. The GNSS geomagnetism calculating module may calculate a GNSS geomagnetism based on the GNSS attitude angle. The error estimating module may estimate a sensitivity error, a misalignment error and a bias error of the magnetic sensor by using a magnetic detection value of the magnetic sensor and the GNSS geomagnetism.

Various azimuth calculating devices which detect a geomagnetism by a magnetic sensor and calculate an azimuth of a movable body have conventionally been put in use. The magnetic sensor detects field intensities in two or three orthogonal axes with, for example, voltage. The azimuth calculating devices calculate the azimuth based on a relationship of the detection values for the two or three axes.
General-purpose magnetic sensors are generally known to include an error in its magnetic detection value. Therefore, the azimuth calculating devices correct this error to improve an accuracy of the calculated azimuth.
According to Patent Document 1, a plurality of magnetic detection values are acquired while causing a ship attached with a magnetic sensor to make a full turn, and an error caused by a disturbance magnetic field, included in the magnetic detection values, is calculated based on a trace of the plurality of magnetic detection values.
According to Patent Document 2, a residual magnetic value (magnetic bias) at each azimuth is calculated by using standard geomagnetism data obtained externally, a heading and position calculated using satellite signals, and geomagnetism data corresponding to this position.
According to Patent Document 3, a sensitivity error and bias error of a magnetic sensor are calculated using GPS azimuths acquired in two observations and a magnetic azimuth calculated based on an output value of the magnetic sensor.

Sensor error calculating device, attitude angle calculating apparatus, method of calculating sensor error and method of calculating attitude angle


A waterproof rubber plug has a through hole for allowing a pair of electrical wires to pass therethrough. the end of each of the electrical wires being electrically connected to a terminal. The waterproof rubber plug is inserted into a mounting hole formed in a connector housing for filling the gap between the outer periphery of each of the pair of electrical wires and the inner surface of the mounting hole of the connector housing. The through hole is divided into a pair of branch holes, each allowing the corresponding one of the pair of electrical wires to pass therethrough so as to tightly engage the outer periphery of each of the electric wires.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a waterproof rubber plug for filling the gap between the outer surface of an electrical wire and the inner surface of a mounting hole of a connector housing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One of conventional waterproof rubber plugs of this type is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-163879.
In this waterproof rubber plug, a connector housing has a mounting hole for engaging a waterproof rubber plug of a substantially cylindrical shape. The waterproof rubber plug also has a through hole which extends along the longitudinal central axis of the waterproof rubber plug for engaging the outer surface of an electrical wire. The waterproof rubber plug comprises a thick-walled body portion for filling the gap between the outer surface of the electrical wire and the inner surface of the mounting hole of the connector housing, and a thin-walled clamped portion extending from an end of the body portion. The waterproof rubber plug is designed to fill the gap between the outer surface of the electrical wire and the inner surface of the mounting hole when it is inserted into the mounting hole of the connector housing.
A pair of inside annularly raised portions are so formed as to project from the inner surface of the through hole of the body portion at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction. The inside annularly raised portions cause the inner surface of the through hole to be a corrugated surface for tightly engaging the outer surface of the electrical wire. In addition, a plurality of outside annularly raised portions are so formed as to project from the outer surface of the body portion at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction. The outside annularly raised portions also cause the outer surface of the body portion to be a corrugated surface for tightly engaging the inner surface of the mounting hole of the connector housing.
The connector housing is designed to receive therein a wire connecting terminal. One end of the terminal is provided with a rubber-plug clamping piece. When the clamped portion of the waterproof rubber plug is clamped by the rubber-plug clamping piece, the waterproof rubber plug is secured to the electrical wire.
A flange portion extends radially from the outer periphery of the end portion of the clamped portion of the waterproof rubber plug. One end of the electrical wire is drawn out of the through hole at the flange portion. The drawn portion of the electrical wire serves as a connecting portion, in which the coating portion of the electrical is removed to expose the conducting portion thereof. The terminal is provided with a wire clamping portion. When the electrical wire is clamped by the wire clamping portion, the conducting portion of the connecting portion is electrically connected to the terminal.
According to such a waterproof rubber plug, it is possible to ensure the waterproof characteristic between the mounting hole of the connector housing and the electrical wire.
However, when a branch electrical wire is connected to a main electrical wire using such a conventional waterproof rubber plug, the coating portion must be stripped at an intermediate portion (a branch connecting portion) of the main electrical wire drawn out of the connector housing. In addition, in order to connect the branch electrical wire to the main electrical wire, both of the exposed conducting portion of the main electrical wire and the conducting portion of the branch electrical wire must be clamped by a joint terminal or the like. Moreover, the connecting portion of the main electrical wire must be clamped by the wire clampling portion of the terminal at another place. That is, two electrical connections must be performed.
In order to ensure the waterproof characteristic at the branch connecting portion, it is required to waterproof the branch connecting portion, for example, by binding a pair of tape-like members round the main and branch electrical wires on both sides of the branch connecting portion and by arranging the branch connecting portion within an insulating cover. The tape-like members must fill in the spaces between the outer surfaces of the main and branch electrical wires and the inner surface of the insulating cover. Such a structure is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-130066.
That is, in such a conventional structure, the clamping and waterproofing of the electrical wires must be performed at two places, respectively. Therefore, there is a problem in that the wire connecting structure and assembly operation thereof are complicated. In addition, since the electrical connections are also performed at two places, there is a problem in that the reliability on the conductivity may be decreased by the electrical connections.


Replay counter cache reduction mechanisms are described herein.

An evolving family of standards is being developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) to define parameters of a point-to-multipoint wireless, packet-switched communications system. In particular, the 802.16 family of standards (e.g., the IEEE std. 802.16-2004 (published Sep. 18, 2004)) may provide for fixed, portable, and/or mobile broadband wireless access networks. Additional information regarding the IEEE 802.16 standard may be found in IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks—Part 16: Air Interface for Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems (published Oct. 1, 2004). See also IEEE 802.16E-2005, IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks—Part 16: Air Interface for Fixed and Mobile Broadband Wireless Access Systems—Amendment for Physical and Medium Access Control Layers for Combined Fixed and Mobile Operation in Licensed Bands (published Feb. 28, 2006). Further, the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) Forum facilitates the deployment of broadband wireless networks based on the IEEE 802.16 standards. For convenience, the terms "802.16" and "WiMAX" may be used interchangeably throughout this disclosure to refer to the IEEE 802.16 suite of air interface standards.
WiMax technology may support a high-speed seamless handoff of a mobile station (MS) from a source base station (BS) to a target BS while maintaining subscriber and network security. Security mechanisms may include an automatic key derivation in which an authentication key (AK) for the target BS is derived by both the MS and by the target BS prior to a handoff, while the MS remains connected to the source BS. This may avoid a lengthy and time-consuming authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) session at the handoff. A seamless, low-latency handoff may result.
The process of deriving the AK automatically at both the target BS and at the MS from a parent key (e.g., from a pairwise master key, or "PMK") may create a fresh context associated with the derived AK (e.g., an AK context). Protocol rules may establish that the AK context may be derived only once per BS and PMK, and that the single AK context may be used until the PMK expires. If an AK context was created more than once for a given AK, a replay attack security hole may be created.
In accordance with WiMAX standards and/or protocols, AKs and AK contexts may be cached until the corresponding PMK becomes invalid. In one example, a PMK may be valid for several days in some networks. An AK context may comprise a 32-bit uplink packet number (PN) and a 32-bit downlink PN. The size of an AK cache may grow quite large because it may contain AKs and AK contexts belonging to MSs currently active in the network and to MSs that have left the network but continue to maintain valid PMKs. These potentially large caching requirements may lead to a large memory requirement in the BS and to costs associated therewith. Similarly, an MS needs to cache AKs and AK contexts for BSs that it has visited previously and for which it continues to maintain a valid PMK. The memory requirement is also increased for an MS because the MS may visit many BSs during a PMK's lifetime.

Reduced wireless context caching apparatus, systems, and methods


A roadable, adaptable-modular, multiphibious-amphibious ground-effect or flying, car-boat-plane or surface-effect motorcycle. A pivoting wing using the NACA 23112 airfoil provides longitudinal stability through changes in wing or power settings. The airfoil can also be “locked” in place to provide conventional aircraft type controls. The wings fold for driving mode or can be removed. Surface-effect sensor rods provide the automatic altitude control for operations in surface-effect mode. Horizontal stabilizer and elevator provide trim and balance to level the vehicle for passenger comfort and optimal landing attitude. The hull/fuselage consists of three main modules: The main central module (engine, transmission, passengers, wings and cargo storage), the forward module and the aft module which may include one or two wheels with or without a motor, engine, batteries or fuel and differential.

There is currently a very wide variety of transportation solutions that include: cars, boats, airboats, aircraft, Ground-Effect Vehicles (GEV). Most of the currently existing transportation solutions tend to focus on a single or dual use such as amphibious aircraft, flying car (roadable aircraft) or car-boats. None of the existing transportation solutions allow for adaptability to a wide variety of customer requirements and a wide variety of environments. Examples of simplified versions of the invention would be an airboat-motorcycle (no wings) or ground-effect-motorcycle which is licensed as a motorcycle and a boat which has folding wings to allow storage in a standard garage. The three wheeled configuration helps to keep weight to a minimum which improves performance (larger useful payload, more passengers or better fuel/battery economy) and simplifies licensing. Ground-Effect Vehicles have been in use for many decades but have not gain popularity. One reason that the inventor believes the GEV has not been popular is due to the limitation of not being able to drive the GEV on roads. The subject of this patent is a roadable, adaptable-modular, multiphibious-amphibious ground-effect or flying, car-boat-plane or surface-effect motorcycle invention which can more fully address that issue while allowing for the flexibility to adapt the vehicle to the needs of each customer.
The advantages of a roadable airboat, GEV or aircraft are well known from prior inventions such as amphibious cars. The amphibious car can basically use any body of water as an additional "road" to and from other destinations by driving from the home to readily available boat ramps then thru the water, up a boat ramp near the destination and then drive on the roads to the final destination and back home all from the same vehicle. A roadable GEV has the added advantage of a smoother ride, lower surface resistance, higher cruising speeds and/or lower energy/fuel consumption. The roadable Multiphibious Vehicle can operate over water, sand, weeds, floating wood, subsurface or shallow stumps, snow, ice and any other semi-smooth flat surface or convert to be able to fly like a conventional aircraft (by following FAA rules). The roadable Multiphibious Vehicle also protects marine life such as Manatee, Dolphins/Porpoises, whales, Sunfish, Rays, Crocodiles, Alligators and all types of fish that are near the surface since there is no propeller or boat hull in the water.
Another environmental feature is that the engine-motor, fuel, batteries and transmission are fully contained in the central module (for collection and proper disposal) such that no motor oil, lubrication, battery fluids, fuel or other contaminants will leak into the water. An all electric and hybrid-electric, diesel-electric or gas-electric versions of this invention are all possible with this Multiphibious Vehicle's modular-adaptable design.

Roadable, adaptable-modular, multiphibious-amphibious ground effect or flying, car-boat-plane or surface-effect motorcycle


Complex layout features, especially two-dimensional (2D) features such as jogs and corners, are more susceptible to photo-resist pinching and bridging, even with the use of optical proximity correction. These problems may arise due to unrealistic targets, e.g. square corners, thereby resulting in excessively aggressive correction in the vicinity of these 2D features. To provide a more realistic target, an aerial image can be sampled and its gradient computed at evaluation points on the 2D feature. The aerial image contains spatial information about the local pattern and the interaction of the pattern with the manufacturing process. This information can be used to predict a feasible shape or curvature for the 2D feature. The predicted shape can then be used to retarget the 2D feature based on realistic process capabilities.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a mask layout and in particular to optimizing two-dimensional features on a mask layout using interpretation filtering before optical proximity correction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In designing an integrated circuit (IC), engineers typically rely upon computer simulation tools to help create a circuit schematic design consisting of individual devices coupled together to perform a certain function. To actually fabricate this circuit on a semiconductor substrate the circuit must be translated into a physical representation, or layout, which itself can then be transferred onto a template (i.e. a mask or reticle, hereinafter called a mask), and then to the silicon surface. Again, computer aided design (CAD) tools assist layout designers in the task of translating the discrete circuit elements into shapes, which will embody the devices themselves on the completed IC. These shapes make up the individual components of the circuit, such as gate electrodes, field oxidation regions, diffusion regions, metal interconnections, and so on.
Once the layout of the circuit has been created, the next step to manufacturing the integrated circuit (IC) is to transfer the layout onto a semiconductor substrate. One way to do this is to use the process of optical lithography in which the layout is first transferred onto a physical template, which is in turn used to optically project the layout onto a silicon wafer.
In transferring the layout to a physical template, a mask (usually a quartz plate coated with chrome) is generally created for each layer of the integrated circuit design. This is done by inputting the data representing the layout design for that layer into a device such, as an electron beam machine, which writes the integrated circuit layout pattern into the mask material.
These masks are then used to optically project the layout onto a silicon wafer coated with photo-resist material. For each layer of the design, a light is shone on the mask corresponding to that layer. This light passes through the clear regions of the mask, whose image exposes the underlying photo-resist layer. The light is blocked by the opaque regions of the mask, thereby leaving the underlying portion of the photo-resist layer unexposed. The exposed photo-resist layer is then developed, typically, through chemical removal of the exposed/non-exposed regions of the photo-resist layer. The end result is a semiconductor wafer coated with a photo-resist layer exhibiting a desired pattern, which defines the geometries, features, lines and shapes of that layer. This process is then repeated for each layer of the design.
FIG. 1A illustrates a standard mask layout feature 100 that can be used to form a transistor. Diffraction effects, photo-resist processing effects, other processing effects, and/or combinations of one or more effects can cause distortions of mask layout feature 100 during lithography. FIG. 1B illustrates that such distortions can cause an ideal printed line end 101 of mask layout feature 100 to transfer to a wafer as actual printed line end 102. Notably, actual printed line end 102 is shorter and exhibits more rounded corners than ideal printed line end 101. Unfortunately, these distortions can cause adverse effects on the functioning of a printed circuit including feature 100.
To solve the problem associated with lithographic distortions, optical proximity correction features, e.g. hammerheads or serifs, can be added to the layout. FIG. 2A illustrates exemplary serifs 201 that can be added to mask layout feature 100 (FIG. 1A). FIG. 2B illustrates that serifs 201 can cause ideal printed line end 106 to transfer to a wafer as actual printed line end 202. Note that actual printed line end 202 is substantially the same length as ideal printed line end 106, thereby resolving the line end shortening problem.
Unfortunately, actual printed line end 202 now exhibits other undesirable characteristics. Specifically, this line end has a bulbous feature in addition to a pinch point. This phenomenon is sometimes called Q-tipping because of the resulting shape. This phenomenon is caused by constructive interference nodes, which are created during the lithographic process and occurs around all two-dimensional features. The effect of Q-tipping (i.e. the offset from the ideal printed line edge) can be significant, e.g. 10% or more of the line width per side, thereby resulting in an 80 nm wide pinch point for a nominally 100 nm wide line. Therefore, in features formed in close proximity, bridging between features may occur because of their bulbous portions.
The pinched portions of the line ends can also become problematic. Specifically, in a standard IC manufacturing process, variations in through-process effects can exacerbate the pinching. Through-process effects can include, for example, the dose and focus variation from the nominal conditions provided by a photolithography stepper as well as the variations in the thickness or other characteristics (e.g. bake temperature, chemical composition, water quality, ambient temperature, etc.) of a photo-resist used on a wafer. Therefore, for example, if a contact is to be formed underneath a line end, then the pinched portion of the line end in combination with through-process variations could result in an open circuit for that contact.
These through-process variations can occur despite the best intentions of the manufacturer. Setting and resetting a tool to correct for such through-process effects can take significant time, e.g. on the order of 12 hours. Logically, the less time needed to perform maintenance for such through-process variations can improve the cost effectiveness of the equipment. That is, the equipment is on-line more, thereby producing more products per unit of time.
Therefore, a need arises for a technique to more effectively correct for lithographic distortions while providing a technique that is less sensitive to (i.e. more tolerant of) through-process effects.

Model-based two-dimensional interpretation filtering


A method for efficiently estimating crosstalk noise of high-speed VLSI interconnects models high-speed VLSI interconnects as lumped RLG coupled frees. An inductive crosstalk noise waveform can be accurately estimated in an efficient manner using a linear time moment computation technique in conjunction with a projection-based order reduction method. Recursive formulas of moment computations for coupled RC trees are derived taking into consideration of both self inductances and mutual inductances. Also, analytical formulas of voltage moments at each node will be derived explicitly. These formulas can be efficiently implemented for use in crosstalk estimations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of estimating crosstalk noise in high-speed VLSI interconnects and, more particularly, to a method of using moment computations of lumped coupled RLC-tree models and project-based model-order reduction techniques.
2. Description of Related Art
Modern technological trends have caused interconnect modeling to have attracted considerable attention in high-speed VLSI designs. Owing to these designs with performance considerations, increasing clock frequency, shorter rising times, higher density of wires, and using low-resistivity materials, on-chip inductance effects can no longer be ignored in interconnect models. Furthermore, the importance of coupling inductance effects has grown continuously since nanometer technology has emerged over the last few years. It has been observed that crosstalk noise estimations made by considering inductance effects may yield more pessimistic results than those made without considering coupling inductance effects, as discussed in C. K. Cheng, J. Lillis, S. Lin, and N. H. Chang, Interconnect Analysis and Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons Inc., 2000. Such estimation errors follow from two main reasons: (1) more and longer wires in parallel increase the capacitive coupling, leading to large current changes on the victim nets, and (2) increasing self inductance worsens overshooting spikes on aggressor nets, and may worsen noise on the victim nets. For the above practical considerations, interconnect models shall be extended to be coupled RLC trees while considering the inductance effects.
A common manner of estimating crosstalk noise is implemented by simulating circuit-level VLSI interconnects. Although the results are very accurate, the computational complexity is excessive, especially for large-scale interconnect simulations. An alternative approach, called model-order reduction methods, has recently emerged to solve the problem, as disclosed in L. T. Pillage and R. A. Robrer, "Asymptotic waveform evaluation for timing analysis," IEEE Trans. Computer-Aided Design, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 352–366, 1990; P. Feldmann and R. W. Freund, "Efficient linear circuit analysis by Pade approximation via the Lanczos process," IEEE Trans. Computer-Aided Design, vol. 14, no. 5, 1995, and A. Odabasioglu, M. Celik, and L. T. Pileggi, "PRIMA: passive reduced-order interconnect macromodeing algorithm," IEEE Trans. Computer-Aided Design, vol. 17, no. 8, pp. 645–653, 1998. Rather than directly estimating the crosstalk waveform of the original interconnects, the crosstalk noise of the reduced-order system is estimated. However, the computational cost is still too high for a noise optimization problem even though model-order reduction methods have reduced the cost, as disclosed in A. Devgan, "Efficient coupled noise estimation for on-chip interconnects," in Porc. ICCAD, 1997, pp. 147–151; and M. Kuhlmann and S. S. Sapatnekar, "Exact and efficient crosstalk estimation," IEEE Trans. Computer-Aided Design, vol. 20, no. 7, pp. 858–866, 2001.
A consensus has emerged that of the many model-order reduction techniques, the moment matching approach seems to be the most viable for estimating interconnect crosstalk noise. For computational efficiency, traditional models for estimating noise in coupled RC trees have been developed, including the one-pole model (1P) (as disclosed in A. Vittal, L. H. Chen, M. Marek-Sadowska., K. P. Wang, and S. Yang, "Crosstalk in VLSI interconnects," IEEE Trans. Computer-Aided Design, vol. 18, pp. 1817–1824, 1999; and A. Vittal and M. Marek-Sadowska, "Crosstalk reduction for VLSI," IEEE Trans. Computer-Aided Design, vol. 16, pp. 290–298, 1997), the modified one-pole model (M1P) (as disclosed in Q. Yu and E. S. Kub, "Moment computation of lumped and distributed coupled RC trees with application to delay and crosstalk estimation," Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 89, no. 5, pp. 772–788, 2001), the two-pole model (2P) (as discussed in M. Kuhlmann and S. S. Sapatnekar, "Exact and efficient crosstalk estimation," IEEE Trans. Computer-Aided Design, vol. 20, no. 7, pp. 858–866, 2001; and Q. Yu and E. S. Kuh, "Moment computation of lumped and distributed coupled RC trees with application to delay and crosstalk estimation," Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 89, no. 5, pp. 772–788, 2001), the stable two-pole model (S2P) (as disclosed in E. Acar, A. Odabasioglu, M. Celik, and L. T. Pileggi, "S2P: A stable 2-pole RC delay and coupling noise metric," in Proc. 9th Great Lakes Symp. VLSI, March 1999, pp. 60–63), and the guaranteed stable three-pole model (S3P) (as discussed in Q. Yu and E. S. Kuh, "Moment computation of lumped and distributed coupled RC trees with application to delay and crosstalk estimation," Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 89, no. 5, pp. 772–788, 2001). Unlike the general model-order reduction methods, the techniques simply estimate the peak value of crosstalk noise and the time at which it peaks rather than evaluating the waveform of crosstalk noise. Also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,481,695; 5,535,133; 5,555,506; 5,568,395; 5,596,506; 6,018,623; 6,029,117; and 6,405,348 have disclosed the techniques about the crosstalk noise estimations. However, since the interconnect crosstalk noise may have a non-monotonic response waveform, these models seem to be unsuitable for capturing the essential nature of such crosstalk noise.
Recently, the delay and noise formulae by considering self inductances and mutual inductances have been disclosed in Y. Cao, X. Huang, D. Sylvester, N. Chang, and C. Hu, "A new analytical delay and noise model for on-chip RLC interconnect," in Proc. IEDM 2000, 2000, pp. 823–826. However, their model is restricted to two parallel lines. The analytical delay and overshooting formulae for coupled RLC lines have been disclosed in M. H. Chowdhury, Y. I. Ismail, C. V. Kashyap, and B. L. Krauter, "Performance analysis of deep sub micron VLSI circuits in the presence of self and mutual inductance," in Proc. ISCAS 2002, 2002, pp. 197–200. However, issues concerning inductive crosstalk noise analysis have still not yet been studied. Furthermore, by exploring the special nature of RLC-tree structures, recursive algorithms for computing system moments with linear order have been developed, for example, by C. L. Ratzlaff and L. T. Pillage, "RICE: rapid interconnect circuit evaluation using AWE," IEEE Trans. Computer-Aided Design, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 763–776, 1994 and Q. Yu and E. S. Kuh, "Exact moment matching model of transmission lines and application to interconnect delay estimation," IEEE Trans. VLSI syst., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 311–322, 1995, independently. Moment models of general transmission lines were presented in Q. Yu, E. S. Kuh, and T. Xue, "Moment models of general transmission lines with application to interconnect analysis and optimization," IEEE Trans. VLSI syst., vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 477–494, 1996. However, these studies did not mention moment computations for coupled RLC trees.
The technique, "Crosstalk estimated in high-speed VLSI interconnect using coupled RLC-tree models", which is proposed in Proc. 2002 IEEE Asia Pacific Conference on Circuits and Systems, comprised the initial research. Although the moment computation formulae for coupled REC trees have been developed, the technique about efficiently constructing the crosstalk estimation model was not provided. Also, the stability of the model was still not analyzed.

Method of estimating crosstalk noise in lumped RLC coupled interconnects


This invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the air-fuel ratio demanded by a fuel controller in order to maintain optimum performance of a catalytic converter. Provided is an open loop fuel controller comprising a detector arranged down stream of a catalyst for detecting rich breakthrough; a catalyst model having an estimator for estimating a stored oxygen level in the catalyst; a comparator for comparing an estimated stored oxygen level with a plurality of predetermined thresholds; demand adjusting means for adjusting an air fuel ratio demand in dependence upon a received signal from said comparator and upon a received signal from said detector. A method of open loop fuel control is also provided.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the air-fuel ratio demanded by a fuel controller in order to maintain optimum performance of a catalytic converter where there is no feed back between the achieved air fuel ration and the desired air fuel ratio.
2. Related Art
Three way catalytic converters are used to reduce exhaust emission of nitrous oxides (NOx) hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO). In a steady state of operation the performance of the catalyst in removing these pollutants is at an optimum level when the air fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is within a narrow range, close to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
Conventionally, a fuel controller is used to control the air fuel ratio demand from an engine based on feedback from an air fuel ratio sensor upstream of a catalytic converter in the exhaust passage or from two air fuel ratio sensors, one upstream of the catalytic converter, and one downstream of the catalytic converter. Operation based on such feedback is known as 'closed-loop' operation.
However, when it is desired to operate the engine away from the stoichiometric, as the air fuel sensors are insensitive to changes in the air fuel ratio other than around the stoichiometric air fuel ratio, there is no feed back correction relating to the air-fuel ratio actually achieved. Such operation is known as 'open-loop' operation.
For example, after throttle opening it may be desirable to operate on the rich side of a stoichiometric air fuel ratio in order to provide extra torque. Another example is after deceleration fuel shut off it may be desirable to operate on the rich side of a stoichiometric air fuel ration in order to regenerate the catalyst.
The problem therefore is that when an engine is operating away from stoichiometric it is in open loop operation and any error between the requested air fuel ratio and the achieved air fuel ratio is not corrected.
The object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for correcting air fuel errors when in open-loop operation when the engine is operating with a substantially different air fuel ratio to that which is stoichiometric.