The present invention relates to a process for demetallating a petroleum stream by contacting a metals-containing petroleum feed in the presence of an aqueous base selected from Group IA and IIA hydroxides and carbonates and ammonium hydroxide and carbonate and mixtures thereof, an oxygen containing gas and a phase transfer agent at a temperature of up to 180.degree. C. for a time sufficient to produce a treated petroleum feed having a decreased metals content. The invention provides a method for enhancing the value of petroleum feeds that traditionally have limited use in refineries due to their metals, e.g., Ni and V content.

Petroleum streams that contain metals are typically problematic in refineries as streams because the metallic components contained therein have a negative impact on certain refinery operations. Thus, demetallation has been referred to as critical to help conversion of crude fractions (see, e.g., Branthaver, Western Research Institute in Ch. 12, "Influence of Metal Complexes in Fossil Fuels on Industrial Operations", Am. Chem. Soc. Symp. Series No. 344 (1987)).
The presence of such metals prevents more advantageous use of the petroleum stream by rendering especially the heaviest oil fractions (in which these metal containing structures concentrate) less profitable to upgrade, and when these resources are used they make catalyst replacement/disposal expensive. Current refinery technologies typically address the problem by using metal containing feedstreams as a less preferred option, and by tolerating catalyst deactivation when there are not other feedstream alternatives available.
Treatment of petroleum resids to remove metals in the presence of air and a 50% NaOH solution with strong oxidants (sodium hypochlorite and peroxyacetic acid) are disclosed in Gould (Fuel, Vol. 59, p. 733, October 1980). Gould disclosed negligible metals removal with NaOH and air and no metals removed with air alone at 100.degree. C. Additionally, essentially no demetallation was achieved in Gould when a weak oxidizing agent was used. It was concluded that stronger oxidants than air were required.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,713 discloses a process for desulfurizing crude oils using solid calcium hydroxide at atmospheric pressure. Vanadium removal is also disclosed. However, the process is carried out at temperatures below about 100.degree. F. because desulfurization decreases at higher temperatures. The addition of water had a detrimental effect on the process as well. This would suggest that the use of aqueous calcium hydroxide is precluded. This process would be of limited application for treatment of resids, which are characterized by much higher viscosities than whole crude.
By contrast there exist a body of art related to the removal of non-metals, e.g., sulfur, which use phase transfer agents but typically require the presence of a strong oxidizing agent such as H.sub.2 O.sub.2 (see, e.g., Collins, et al., J. Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical 117, 397-403 (1997)). Use of the oxidant often also must be combined with additional processing steps (e.g., adsorption) in order to remove the oxygenated sulfur compounds from the treated stream. Treatment of petroleum feeds with base has been practiced to remove certain acids see, e.g., Kalichevsky and Kobe, eds., Petroleum Refinery With Chemicals, Elsevier Publ., 1956; Sartori, et al, International Application No. PCT/US96/13688 (Int'l. Publ. No. WO 97/08270) which discloses treatment with Group IA or IIA oxides, hydroxides or hydrates. U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,626 which discloses treatment of with tetraalkylammonium hydroxides to decrease crude acidity.
One skilled in the art would not expect that processes for removal of sulfur or naphthenic acids would be applicable to demetallation of petroleum streams because sulfur and naphthenic acids are not metals and would not be expected to behave as such.
It would be desirable to develop a process that would permit demetallation to be carried out at mild process conditions using air or oxygen rather than the stronger oxidizing agents (H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and stronger) that are typically used.

Method for demetallating petroleum streams (LAW772)


A variable driven, customizable data management system creates a descendent child module controllable by parameters set through action of a precedently operated architecture input module. Customizable child modules are expediently creatable to enable management of complex and disparate data sets per the requirements of particular end-users. Source files of varying file-types are determinable over network and data is extractable and pulled to populate a plurality of containers operative in the child module. Edits made to data displayed as part of the child module may be pushed over network to overwrite source files as amended. Complex data sets are thus collatable from disparate locations, over network, between partitions, even across platforms, whereby pulled data is rendered interactive for end-user control, despite local and root disunity, and displayed for interaction at a single instance.

Data sets generable in the twenty-first century are often large and complex. Networks of information now span multiple nodes, multiple databases, between individual partitions, even across platforms. Some industries and businesses require communication between multiple users who may not utilize compatible data file-types. Currently users confronted with assembling large data sets for customers, clients, and patients, for example, may employ local iterations of preexisting files whereby amendment to an iteration of a particular file is not always rendered by amendment of the preexisting file of which the amended file was iterative. Presently, shared networks enable access to shared partitions and drives, whereby local files are swapped between users. Problems of duplication and non-compatibility persist. Data entry is often duplicative as retrieved data is repeatedly entered into end-user systems. What is needed is a variable driven, customizable data management system which enables access to disparate files rendered accessible across platforms spread over non-uniform locations.
But devising individualized data management systems is expensive and laborious. Many such data management systems as customized to meet end-user specifications take months of programming, to generate particular instances having a single use. What is needed is a means of generating customized information management systems by use of an architecture input module devised to expediently create, configure, and format a descendent child module customized to meet the needs of multiple end-users operating between large and disparate data sets that require frequent interaction and management.

Variable driven, customizable information management system


A method of navigating through audio files and an apparatus for playing back audio files using the method are provided. The apparatus for playing back audio files includes an input module which receives from a user a command to switch the apparatus to a navigation mode, a storage module which stores a plurality of audio files, each audio file comprising a highlight section, a control module which extracts the audio files from the storage module in response to the command received by the input module and plays back the highlight sections of the audio files while adjusting a volume level for each of the audio files, and an output module which outputs to the user the highlight sections of the audio files played back by the control module.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to navigation and playback of audio files, and more particularly, to an apparatus for playing back audio files which can play back an audio file comprising a highlight section, and a method of navigating through audio files using the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sometimes, there is a need to play back only part of an audio file that comprises various acoustic information such as music information, sound information, or voice information, according to a user's preferences or the purpose of use of the audio file. An example of an audio file played back in this manner is a ring tone of a mobile phone.
A portion of an audio file that is chosen to be played back is referred to as a highlight section, and this will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, an audio file is played back between a time t0 and a time t3, and a line 100 represents variations in the amplitude of music being played back. When a portion of the audio file corresponding to a time period between a time t1 and a time t2 is chosen as a highlight section, only the portion chosen as the highlight section can be played back. Then, a user can easily identify the type of a music item in the audio file by listening to only the portion chosen as the highlight section.
In general, a portion of an audio file having a high amplitude such as music, sounds, or voices is chosen as a highlight section, thereby enabling a user to easily recognize music, sounds or voices included in the audio file.
However, when a portion of an audio file having a high amplitude is chosen as a highlight section, loudness and discontinuity in the playback of the audio file may cause aural discomfort or irritate a user.
In addition, when navigating through a plurality of music files on a highlight section-by-highlight section basis (this type of audio file navigation method will hereinafter be referred to as a highlight-navigation method), repeated discontinuities in the playback of the music files may also increase the aural discomfort of a user.
In this regard, this highlight-navigation method may not be well suited for providing a user interface for audio file navigation.
Typical portable audio file players need to be equipped with an additional function button in order to provide a highlight navigation function. However, since size increases in portable audio file players are clearly limited, the structure of portable audio file players becomes complicated and gives poor usability when they are equipped with such an additional function button. In addition, existing highlight navigation techniques do not provide a user action-based reasoning function.

Apparatus for playing back audio files and method of navigating through audio files using the apparatus


A simplified rotatable anti-theft tool rack comprises a tool rack body and an inserting body that cooperate with each other to position a tool. The tool rack body includes a limiting portion used to receive an inserting portion of the head of the tool and connected with a guiding portion. At the end of the guiding portion is disposed with a fastening portion for restricting the tool by cooperating with a fixing element. The inserting body includes a multangular engaging portion. One end of the engaging portion is disposed with a stopping flange, and the other end of the engaging portion is extended to form a neck-shaped inserting portion. At the end of the inserting portion which has inserted through the limiting portion is formed a big-diameter check portion, thus forming a simplified structure, achieving the anti-theft and rotatable effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a simplified rotatable anti-theft tool rack suitable for a tool with a closed head. It utilizes the integral inserting body to insert into the receiving portion of the head of the tool and then directly assemble the tool on the tool rack through a simplified structure, so as to achieve the objectives of safe anti-theft, high safety and quick & easy operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The existing tool hanging display structures are various, they have different structures and different functions, and a lot of tool racks or display structures or anti-theft structures designed for the tools with an enclosed head have obtained the patent, for instance:
Wrench Suspension Board disclosed by TW Patent No. 86304252 uses a fastening strap as an anti-theft device, so that the anti-theft effect is rather limited and it is easy to damage the strap from outside, thus improvement is necessary.
A tool rack disclosed by Patent No. 89215602 comprises a rotatable element and a sounding element which are disposed on a rack body. The tool can be positioned on the rack body by cooperating with the rotatable element and the sounding board, the rotatable element is formed with a furcated elastic structure corresponding to the sounding plate or the end of the tool rack, although such a structure has a reverse hook for positioning the tools, the hook can be pulled out or pushed back by force, so that the tools can be taken away and accordingly the anti-theft effect is not good. Furthermore, the integral structure is comparatively complicated; in order to produce sound, between the sounding plate and the tool rack body is arranged a tooth type sound generating device which causes the interspace between the tool rack body and the sounding plate & the tool to be positioned and also causes unnecessary loose of the integral structure.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Simplified rotatable anti-theft tool rack


An array of carbon nanotubes is prepared by exposing a catalyst structure to a carbon nanotube precursor. Embodiment catalyst structures include one or more trenches, channels, or a combination of trenches and channels. A system for preparing the array includes a heated surface for heating the catalyst structure and a cooling portion that cools gas above the catalyst structure. The system heats the catalyst structure so that the interaction between the precursor and the catalyst structure results in the formation of an array of carbon nanotubes on the catalyst structure, and cools the gas near the catalyst structure and also cools any carbon nanotubes that form on the catalyst structure to prevent or at least minimize the formation of amorphous carbon. Arrays thus formed may be used for spinning fibers of carbon nanotubes.

Individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are at least one order of magnitude stronger than any other known material. CNTs with perfect atomic structures have a theoretical strength of about 300 GPa. In practice carbon nanotubes do not have perfect structures. However, CNTs that have been prepared have a measured strength of up to about 150 GPa, and the strength may improve upon annealing. For comparison, Kevlar fibers currently used in bullet-proof vests have a strength of only about 3 GPa, and carbon fibers used for making space shuttles and other aerospace structures have strengths of only about 2-5 GPa.
CNTs prepared according to present methods are far too short to make effective use of their strength and/or cannot be prepared in sufficiently large quantities.
CNT fibers can be drawn from CNT-polymer solutions or directly from CNT arrays. However, due to practical difficulties in dispersing, assembling and aligning carbon nanotubes using a CNT-polymer route, a strategy based on direct spinning of fibers from CNT arrays is more attractive.
The spinnability of CNT arrays depends greatly on the quality of the arrays, including CNT alignment, density, purity, length, and other factors. CNT arrays of the prior art are generally not good precursors for fibers because they tend to be contaminated with amorphous carbon. Too much amorphous carbon tends to affect the spinnability of the CNT arrays in a deleterious manner.

Preparation of array of long carbon nanotubes and fibers therefrom


A system for quickly aligning a test optic with various components of an optical metrology tool. A collimated target is presented to a beamsplitting reference surface located on a positioning system for holding and manipulating the test optic. Video images of the target and its reflection from the reference surface are displayed for analysis and visualization so that any tilt between the reference surface and the optical axis of the collimated beam can be removed to align the test optic. After alignment, the video based system is used to quickly measure and display in real-time a variety of performance characteristics of optical components such as lenses. The metrology system is under the control of a computer which uses a windowing software program to provide the user with a graphical user interface by which the various components of the system and test lenses may be aligned and characterized.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to optical metrology apparatus and more particularly to apparatus and methodology for aligning an image forming optical system to a video metrology tool.
2. Background of the Prior Art
To properly measure an optical system, one needs to bring its optical axis into alignment with the optical axis of a collimated beam provided in the metrology tool. While this requirement is easily stated, co-alignment of the optical axes of the test instrument and the unit under test (UUT) is usually an awkward and time consuming process in practice, typically achieved by putting a mirror on a reference surface of the UUT and attempting to reflect the incident collimated beam back onto the collimator target. The return image formed at the target is usually difficult to see even at visible wavelengths and is not visible to the human eye if in the infrared or deep ultraviolet.
Well-known metrology instruments contain a light source, test target, refractive or reflective collimator, and an image analyzer. The image analyzer is generally comprised of a relay lens and two-dimensional video sensor, such as a CCD camera for the visible spectrum or microbolometer for the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum. The optical system to be tested (unit-under-test or UUT) forms an image of the illuminated test target at an infinite conjugate. The image analyzer captures this image for analysis to determine properties and qualities of the UUT. An example of such instruments is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,816 which issued on Aug. 26, 1997 in the name of Stephen D. Fantone, et al. with the title "IMAGE ANALYSIS SYSTEM."
To properly characterize the properties of a UUT with a metrology tool requires that it be aligned with the collimated beam of the metrology tool such that there is no tilt between the optical axes of the UUT and that of the metrology tool.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide alignment apparatus and methodology by which an optical component to be measured in a video based metrology instrument can readily be aligned with respect to the other components comprising the system.
Other objects will be obvious and others will appear hereinafter when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Optical alignment apparatus and methodology for a video based metrology tool


The invention provides a control apparatus comprising a controller for determining a manipulated variable for manipulating a controlled object so that an output of the controlled object converges to a desired value and a modulator for modulating the manipulated variable by using one of a delta-sigma modulation algorithm, a sigma-delta modulation algorithm and a delta modulation algorithm to generate a modulated signal to be applied to the controlled object. The modulator generates the modulated signal so that a center value of an amplitude of the modulated signal follows a change of the manipulated variable. Thus, the modulated signal in which the manipulated variable is reflected without any loss can be generated even when the manipulated variable changes.

The present invention relates to a control apparatus for accurately controlling a plant by using a delta-sigma (ΔΣ) modulation algorithm.
A method for controlling a plant (controlled object) by using a delta-sigma modulation algorithm (or a sigma-delta (ΣΔ) modulation algorithm or a delta (Δ) modulation algorithm) is known, as shown in the Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-195908. As long as the plant is capable of generating an appropriate control output in response to a control input having an on/off switching behavior, the plant can be accurately controlled by the delta-sigma modulation algorithm.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of a control scheme using a delta-sigma modulation algorithm. A controller 101 calculates a manipulated variable for causing a controlled variable of a plant to converge to a desired value. A modulator 102 uses the delta-sigma modulation algorithm to modulate the manipulated variable. The modulated manipulated variable is input into the plant 103. An output from the plant 103, which is the controlled variable, is fed back to the controller 101.
FIG. 16 shows exemplary behaviors of various signals in accordance with a control scheme using a conventional delta-sigma modulation algorithm. Rcain indicates the manipulated variable calculated by the controller 101. Vcain indicates the modulated manipulated variable, which is a modulated signal generated by the modulator 102. CAIN indicates an output from the plant 103, which is a controlled variable. CAIN_cmd indicates a desired value of the controlled variable. The modulated signal Vcain is generated to switch between +d and −d with respect to a predetermined center value. The amplitude of the modulated signal Vcain is 2d. When the manipulated variable Rcain is within the amplitude 2d of the modulated signal, the delta-sigma modulation algorithm is capable of reconstructing the manipulated variable Rcain as the modulated signal Vcain. During a period from time t0 to time t1, an appropriate modulated signal Vcain is generated because the magnitude of the manipulated variable Rcain is smaller than the amplitude 2d of the modulated signal. Thus, the controlled variable CAIN can be appropriately controlled to follow the desired value CAIN_cmd by applying the modulated signal Vcain to the plant.
However, when the magnitude of the manipulated variable Rcain exceeds the amplitude 2d of the modulated signal as shown from time t1, such increased manipulated variable Rcain cannot be appropriately modulated because the amplitude of the modulated signal is limited to 2d. A portion of the manipulated variable exceeding the amplitude 2d is not reflected in the modulated signal Vcain. As a result, the manipulated variable Rcain is substantially limited as shown by a dotted line 105. Since the modulated signal is generated with a portion of the manipulated variable Rcain being lost, a deviation occurs between the controlled variable CAIN and the desired value CAIN_cmd. Thus, from time t1, the plant cannot be appropriately controlled.
Such condition may occur, for example, in a phase control for a camshaft of an engine of a vehicle. When the phase of the camshaft is controlled by an actuator, that actuator is regarded as a plant. If the torque generated by the actuator decreases due to heat generated by the actuator, or if the friction characteristics of the actuator vary due to variations and age deterioration of the actuator, such condition may occur.
In order to handle such condition, there is considered a method for calculating in advance a maximum value and a minimum value which the manipulated variable can take. The amplitude 2d of the modulated signal is established to contain the maximum and minimum values. According to such a method, however, the amplitude of the modulated signal may increase. Such increase of the amplitude may destabilize the output of the plant.
An electromagnet may be used as the actuator. The electric current of the electromagnet decreases as the resistance of the electromagnet increases. This decrease of the electric current reduces the torque generated by the actuator. In order to avoid such decrease of the torque, there is considered a method for feedback controlling the electric current of the electromagnet and generating the torque corresponding to the manipulated variable determined by the feedback control. According to this method, the controlled variable can converge to a desired value even when some variations occur in the torque due to the electric current. However, such an electric current control cannot handle changes in the friction characteristics.
Thus, there is a need for an apparatus or method for implementing a delta-sigma modulation that is capable of generating a modulated signal adapted to changes in the manipulated variable.

Control apparatus for controlling a plant by using a delta-sigma modulation algorithm


A device for introducing ozone uniformly into water flowing through a conduit for disinfecting the water. An ozone-contacting vessel is provided and includes a downflow tube through which water is caused to flow. The downflow tube is positioned vertically within a diffusion chamber. Within the downflow tube are a plurality of layers of transversely extending porous elements that are in communication with a source of ozone to provide a relatively uniform distribution of fine ozone bubbles over the cross-sectional area of the downflow tube. The downflow tube can be J-shaped, to convey ozonated water into downstream ozone reaction cells to permit oxidation or disinfection of the water being treated. An outlet seal plate is provided at the J-tube outlet to prevent backflow into the J-tube upon shutdown of the contactor cell containing the J-tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for disinfecting water by the direct introduction of gaseous ozone into the water. More particularly, the present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus in which gaseous ozone is introduced into a vertically disposed water conduit, such as by a plurality of porous diffuser elements positioned within the conduit or by direct injection.
2. Description of the Related Art
The notion of treating water with gaseous ozone for disinfection is well known. Various types of apparatus and methods have been devised to introduce and dissolve gaseous ozone into water for treatment of the water by providing retention chambers in which the ozone is introduced through mechanical mixers, injectors, porous diffusers, and packed columns. The primary purpose of each of those approaches is to transfer sufficient gaseous ozone to the water to be treated, in order to provide the required contact time of the ozone with the water so that the disinfection treatment is as thorough as possible.
Although there are several known approaches to accomplish the disinfection operation, even the more efficient of those processes, in terms of the efficiency of exposure of the water to ozone, include certain drawbacks. For example, although packed column technology provides transfer efficiencies of from about 80% to about 95%, there is little operational experience with such approaches, and, more significantly, there is a strong potential for high head losses as the result of build-up of scale on the column medium. Mechanical mixing, on the other hand, although capable of providing ozone transfer efficiencies in the range of from about 90% to about 98%, involves brief ozone-water contact times that might require retreatment for effective disinfection. Additionally, mechanical mixing also involves high operating cost because of the energy usage and the requirement for maintenance of the mechanical equipment.
Fine bubble diffuser contactors, another approach for effecting disinfection of water by the introduction of ozone, are quite widely used and provide ozone transfer efficiencies in the range of about 90% to about 95%. They operate effectively at low to medium ozone concentrations ( less than 6% by wt.) when there is a sufficient volumetric ozone flow rate delivered to the ozone contactor to effectively distribute the ozone to the diffusers and provide adequate ozone-water mixing for homogenous ozone dissolution. However, at higher ozone concentrations (8 to 12% by wt.) and lower gas flow rates, which often result when oxygen feed gas systems and advanced technology ozone generators are employed, there is an increased risk of gas bubble channeling, with resultant inadequate contact between the ozone gas bubbles and the water being treated, which could cause incomplete disinfection of the water.
To overcome inefficient mixing conditions in fine bubble diffuser systems at higher ozone concentrations, the present inventor developed an improved ozone dissolution system, combining a sidestream venturi injection system with a specially designed downflow tube to convey the ozone-water mixture into an ozone contactor. The downflow tube can be installed within or adjacent to one or more diffusion chambers of the ozone contactor to increase the time of contact of the ozone with the water. Turbulent mixing conditions are provided by the sidestream venturi injection system, even at low plant flows or low ozone doses. Pressurized sidestream flows discharge into the downflow tube through one or more venturi injectors, which also pull ozone gas onto the sidestream flows under negative pressure. In addition, the vertically oriented downflow tube maximizes bubble hold-up, thereby increasing bubble contact time with the water and improving ozone mass transfer rates. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,664, which issued on Dec. 28, 1993, and is entitled, xe2x80x9cApparatus and Method for Disinfection of Water by Ozone Injection.xe2x80x9d That patent discloses the combination of sidestream injection and injection within the downflow tube to introduce ozone into the water. However, some venturi injection systems also exhibit incomplete mixing.
There have been recent advances in ozone generation technology by several equipment suppliers, and it is now possible to generate ozone at concentrations as high as 15% by weight. However, there still exists a need to develop a cost-effective ozone contacting device that is fully compatible with those equipment advances, and that can be used effectively for primary disinfection of drinking water. In particular, the inactivation of Cryptosporidium requires higher ozone concentrations and longer contact times than for the inactivation of other microorganisms of interest (e.g., Giardia and viruses). Consequently, careful attention to ozone mass transfer and homogeneous, two-phase mixing considerations in the ozone contactor are of critical importance.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified and efficient apparatus for introducing low volumetric flows and high concentrations of ozone into water, for maintaining longer and more turbulent ozone-water contact in order to provide more complete disinfection of water, for providing positive mixing action at a point downstream of the ozone introduction point, and for positive sealing against backflow when the apparatus is out of service.
Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, apparatus is provided for introducing ozone into water for treatment for disinfection purposes. The apparatus includes a contactor vessel for receiving water to be treated, the vessel including a water inlet conduit for introducing untreated water into the vessel and a water outlet conduit for withdrawing treated water from the vessel. At least one diffusion chamber is provided within the contactor vessel and within which ozone is introduced into water to be treated, and at least one downflow tube having a longitudinal axis is positioned substantially vertically within the diffusion chamber. The downflow tube includes a water inlet and a water outlet, wherein the water outlet is positioned below the water inlet. An ozone distributor is positioned within the downflow tube between the downflow tube water inlet and the downflow tube water outlet. The ozone distributor is in communication with a source of ozone for introducing the ozone into the downflow tube. A check valve is positioned at the downflow tube water outlet for closing the outlet opening and preventing backflow of water into the outlet opening upon cessation for flow of untreated water into the downflow tube inlet.

Diffuser for ozone disinfection of water


The present invention provides a coil device including magnetic cores having gap regions and a coil wound to contain the gap regions. The present invention provides an improvement in which a shape of at least one of the opposing magnetic cores forming the gap regions is formed into a curve of logarithmic function from its base end to its extreme end, its most extreme end is provided with a gap adjusting flat surface and then a plurality of gaps are formed in the gap regions.. With such an arrangement as above, the present invention provides the coil device capable of reducing a leakage magnetic flux produced around the gaps, preventing an abnormal generation of heat of the coils and further preventing a bad influence of noise against a peripheral apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in a coil device for use in a flyback transformer, a switching power transformer, a choke coil or the like and more particularly it relates to improvements in a coil device employing a magnetic core with a gap.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In any of the conventional transformers, choke coils and so forth known heretofore, it is customary to form a gap in a closed magnetic path so that the magnetic core thereof is not saturated when a desired current is caused to flow. For example, when a ferrite magnetic core usually having a magnetic permeability .mu. of 5000 or so is used in a transformer, a gap is formed there to reduce the effective permeability .mu. within a range of 50 to 300.
This signifies that a gap having a great magnetic reluctance needs to be existence in a ferrite magnetic core of which magnetic reluctance is originally small, wherein a great leakage flux is generated in the periphery of the gap.
It is generally known that such leakage flux exerts at least two harmful influences as follows.
(1) Noise is induced in peripheral apparatus (components) which are prone to be effected by magnetic induction.
(2) In case the coil is so wound as to surround the gap, there occurs abnormal generation of heat in the coil around the gap due to the leakage flux.
For the purpose of solving the above problems, a variety of improvements have been developed.
In an attempt to settle the problem (1) above, there is contrived a coil device 1' of forming a gap merely in the coil alone. In FIG. 17 is illustrated a structure of this conventional type of coil device 1'.
This coil device 1' is constructed such that a sectionally U-shaped first magnetic core 2' is combined with a similarly sectionally U-shaped second magnetic core 3' and then a coil 6' is wound around portions of the magnetic cores 2' and 3'.
The first magnetic 2' and the second magnetic core 3' have legs 2a' and 3a', respectively. The first magnetic core 2' and the second magnetic core 3' are arranged such hat the first leg 2a' and the first leg 3a' are oppositely faced to each other via a gap 5'. The coil 6' is wound so as to cover the gap 5' within it. The opposing legs 2a' and 3a' are formed into such a shape as one in which their lateral sectional areas become equal to each other over their entire lengths. As a combination of the magnetic cores, there may be another sectionally E-shaped magnetic core.
A B-H curve shown in FIG. 18 shows a data found in the prior art coil device 1'. As shown in this figure, a maximum flux density Bm of the conventional type of coil device 1' is 5510 Gs.
Table 1 below indicates a result of measurement of temperature in a coil center X, a coil end Y, a core Z and a periphery W of the conventional type of the coil device 1' of E-shaped section measured by a testing device Tb shown in FIG. 16 (Test condition: Frequency 100 KHz, Sine wave of 0.8 A and Ambinent temperature of 40.degree.).
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ (.degree.C.) X Y Z W Structure Coil center Coil end Core Periphery ______________________________________ Prior Art 101.5 81.0 67.5 51.0 ______________________________________
As indicated in Table 1, a mere arrangement of the gap 5' only in the coil 6' causes a high temperature of more than 100.degree. C. at the coil center X and further the problem (2) above is expanded more.
As regards the problem (2) above, as already disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-77115 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-130402, this problem is resolved by a method wherein the gap placed within the coil is divided magnetically into a series of plural segments so as to disperse a concentration of leakage magnetic flux. In addition, there are Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 53-53850 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-7448 in order to resolve the problems (1) and (2) above. These utility models use material as a gap filler of a material having a large specific permeability than that of air (more than 1), reduce magnetic reluctance at the gap and further decrease the leakage magnetic flux.
As described above, in case that the material quality having a greater relative permeability than that of air (more than 1) is arranged within the coil as the gap member, there is a possibility that the problems (1) and (2) above can be improved to a certain degree.
However, even in this case, there remains a problem that a leakage magnetic flux may be concentrated at an interface part between the gap and the magnetic core. In addition, there is a new problem that it is hard to get such material as one in which it has an appropriate permeability as the gap filling material, a high saturated magnetic flux density and a low magnetic core loss characteristic corresponding to the magnetic core. Due to this fact, this system may generate the following new problem. Namely, the coil wound over the interface part between the gap and the magnetic core may generate heat abnormally. In addition, the gap may also generate heat abnormally due to the loss of magnetic core at the gap filling material. Further, the B-H curve of the magnetic core having the gap filling material therein becomes non-linear form and if this is used in a transformer, it may produce a deformed wave form. This is the present state that a more effective improvement may not be attained.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coil device capable of resolving the aforesaid problems, reducing influence of noise against the peripheral apparatus (component)r reducing a leakage magnetic flux generated around the gap and preventing an abnormal occurrence of heat in the coil. It is another object of the present invention to provide a coil device whose cost is less expensive and its reliability in operation is improved.


The present invention provides a method for pattering oriented materials to make organic electronic displays or devices. The method includes selective thermal transfer of an oriented electronically active or emissive material from a thermal transfer donor sheet to a receptor. The method can be used to make organic electroluminescent devices and displays that emit polarized light. The method can also be used to make organic electronic devices with enhanced charge mobility properties. The present invention also provides donor sheets for use with the method, and methods for making donor sheets that include transfer layers having oriented electronically active organic materials.

This invention relates to organic electroluminescent displays and organic electronic devices.
Pattern-wise thermal transfer of materials from donor sheets to receptor substrates has been proposed for a wide variety of applications. For example, materials can be selectively thermally transferred to form elements useful in electronic displays and other devices. Specifically, selective thermal transfer of color filters, black matrix, spacers, polarizers, conductive layers, transistors, phosphors, and organic electroluminescent materials have all been proposed.
The ability to selectively thermally transfer organic electronically active materials can allow a wide variety of organic electronic devices to be made that cannot currently be made by conventional means. For example, while emission of polarized light from oriented organic electroluminescent materials has been demonstrated in the literature, the ability to pattern devices or to make displays utilizing organic polarized light emitting devices has not been shown. The present invention provides methods for patterning oriented electronically active organic materials, and thus for the first time enables the fabrication and manufacture of patterned organic electronic displays and devices. Such devices include organic transistors and other such electronic devices that have oriented conductive or semiconductive polymer layers, for example to enhance charge mobility properties in the device. Other such devices include organic electroluminescent devices and pixilated displays that incorporate oriented organic emissive materials, for example to emit linearly or circularly polarized light.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a process for making an organic electroluminescent device by selectively thermally transferring a transfer layer comprising an oriented organic emissive material from a donor sheet to a receptor substrate that has a first electrode, and forming a second electrode so that the oriented organic emissive material is positioned between the first and second electrodes, wherein the device is capable of emitting polarized light when activated.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a process for making an organic electronic device by selectively thermally transferring a transfer layer comprising an oriented electronically active polymer from a donor sheet to a device substrate, and connecting the oriented electronically active polymer layer on the device substrate to other layers of the organic electronic device to form a completed device.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a donor sheet comprising a selectively thermally transferable transfer layer comprising an oriented organic emissive material capable of emitting polarized light when suitably disposed in an organic electroluminescent device.
In still another aspect, the present invention provides a donor sheet that includes a substrate, an alignment layer, a light-to-heat conversion layer disposed between the substrate and the alignment layer for converting incident imaging radiation into heat, and a transfer layer comprising an oriented light emitting polymer coated onto the alignment layer and capable of being selectively thermally transferred from the donor sheet to a proximately located receptor.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of making a donor sheet by providing a donor substrate and forming a transfer layer adjacent to the substrate, the transfer layer including an oriented electronically active organic material capable of being selectively thermally transferred from the donor sheet to a proximately located receptor while substantially maintaining the orientation of the oriented electronically active organic material.

Method for patterning oriented materials for organic electronic displays and devices


A method and apparatus for sorting or pre-sorting objects contains a system of conveyors and crossover diverters incorporating the topology of an omega network. The sorter interconnects a series of perfect shuffle networks, interleaved with banks of crossover switches. Collision avoidance is implemented by controlling flow on accumulator conveyors entering the crossover switches. Extra banks of crossover switches may be added to provide redundancy and load-balancing capabilities to the system.

Sortation is a key added-value operation in distribution centers (DCs). Input product must be routed to its correct destination; e.g., as derived from its identification tag, such as an RFID or barcode. Sortation rate measured in cartons per minute (cpm) is a key performance measure for sorters. Other important criteria are low cost, small footprint, low noise, short (if any) downtimes, safety, reliability, fault-tolerance, and ability to handle skewed product mixes.
Two popular sortation concepts are linear sorters and circular or carousel sorters. A linear sorter is made up of one or more slat conveyors with laterally sliding shoes actuated at appropriate times to divert parcels onto fixed destination chutes. A carousel sorter is based on a circular train of bidirectional cross belts. Product is inducted by one or more induction systems; cross belts are run in one direction to accept product, and in the same or reverse direction to release it at the appropriate destination.
Linear sorters are inherently simpler in construction; however, higher rates require higher conveyance speeds and/or smaller inter-package gaps, imposing hard real-time constraints on the controller and mechanical system. Parallel utilization of linear sorters is often used when rates above the control or mechanical limits are needed. Product must be pre-sorted at the total rate to feed each linear sorter branch; the pre-sorter uptime is a crucial bottleneck for continuous operation.
Circular sorters are inherently parallel and can double as buffers; however, they require complex induct and release control (parcels must be pre-rotated, pre-gapped, etc.), and must be operated at relatively low speed to keep centrifugal forces low.
Sorters have also been proposed based on a matrix of multidirectional conveyors, a rotary accept-release unit with vertical motion, a crossbar array of shoe sorters, and others.
In a typical DC application, product is inducted into typically 30-60 induction conveyors and merged into a few (e.g., 2) "trunks," after which it is pre-sorted and inducted (gapped) into one or more sortation units. Failure of either component implies partial (or complete) system stoppage, causing costly downtimes. Additionally, the system can only poorly compensate for product imbalance, requiring unreasonably large buffers to accommodate surges in imbalanced flow.
There is therefore presently a need for a method and system for a fault-tolerant, high-rate sortation unit that reduces or eliminates the need for both merge and induct apparatus. To the inventors' knowledge, no such techniques are currently available.


Method and device for providing an increment shifted transmission (9) for motor vehicles including an in-going shaft in a housing. At least one intermediate shaft in the housing exhibits at least one gear wheel (16, 17) in engagement with a gearwheel (12, 15) on the in-going shaft. A main shaft in the housing has gear wheels (15, 21, 22, 23) and is in engagement with gear wheels (18, 19, 20) on the intermediate shaft. At least one of the gear wheels in each neutrally engaging pair of gear wheels on the intermediate shaft and the main shaft are rotatably arranged about the shaft and by coupling members (13, 24, 25) being lockable onto its shaft and maneuvering members (40, 41, 42) co-operating with the coupling members controlled by a control unit (45) depending on signals fed to the control unit representative of various engine and vehicle data.

In commercial vehicles such as, for example trucks and buses, use is often made of automatic or semiautomatic gear boxes. Such gear boxes can be likened to conventional manual gear boxes, with the difference that the shifting of gears is carried out by means of operating devices instead of manually by the driver.
Especially in heavy cargo vehicles, automatic gear boxes of the automatic increment shifted transmission kind are utilized. These have become more and more common as microcomputer technology has developed. It is now possible to, with the use of a control computer and a number of control devices, for example servo engines, precisely regulate the rpm of the engine, the engagement and disengagement of a disc coupling between the engine and the gear box, and the coupling members of the gear box relative to each other so that a smooth gear shift is always obtained at the proper rpm. One advantage with this kind of automatic gear box (as compared to a traditional automatic gear box with planetary gear steps and with a hydrodynamic torque converter on the inside) as regards heavy vehicles, is that it is simpler and more robust and can be produced at essentially lower costs than the traditional automatic gear box, and also, it has a higher degree of efficiency, which offers a possibility for lower fuel consumption.
The automatic gear box built on planetary gearing usually has one-way couplings between the planetary gear steps, which in the case of a driving engine in the automatic gear position will prevent torque transfer from the engine to the driving wheels, but which when transferring torque in the other direction; i.e., at zero gas and with the vehicle moving, disengages the gears and allows the engine to roll freely without engine braking, which brings about a lower fuel consumption by the use of the kinetic and position energy of the vehicle as compared to the case where the engine brakes. A corresponding free wheel function of present variable gear boxes has so far been impossible to obtain in another manner than through manual disengagement of the disc coupling between the engine and the gear box.
There is thus a desire to obtain a free wheel function in an automated increment shifted transmission which corresponds to the free wheel function of a traditional automatic gear box with planetary gear steps and free wheel couplings. This desire is generally based on the need to, as far as possible, limit the fuel consumption of the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,631 shows an arrangement in a vehicle comprising (including, but not limited to) a gear box with a mechanical free wheel device which can be automatically activated when the vehicle has reached a pre-set velocity in order to thus reduce the fuel consumption of the engine. In more detail, this previously known arrangement is configured so that the engine is turned off electronically when a certain pre-set velocity has been reached. A free wheel function is then activated by means of a separate mechanical decoupling which decouples the engine from the gear box automatically when the positive; i.e., the driving torque from the engine approaches zero.
A drawback of this previously known arrangement is that a possibly desired engine braking will not be possible since the engine is decoupled from the gear box. Also, this previously known system does not take into account variations regarding outer driving conditions, such as for example the slope of the road, possible wind against or with the vehicle, aerial resistance, rolling resistance, and similar effects.


A deflector (1) for attachment to a spiral separator (2), for capturing and redirecting a portion of a flowing stream of material (5). The deflector (1) includes an attachment means (3), to attach the deflector (1) to the spiral separator (2), a capturing portion (4) to capture a portion of the flowing stream (5), and, a redirecting portion (6) to emit a portion (7) of the stream. A method of separating particles of different densities using the deflector device (1) in conjunction with a spiral separator (2) is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a spiral separator and to a method of spiral separation, and in particular, to a deflector to use in a spiral separator and method of spiral separation. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of such a deflector for the improved separation of particles of different densities.

Deflector for spiral separator, and method of spiral separation


An object sensing apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diodes for illuminating a region of space and a plurality of closely arranged light detectors for receiving light reflected from an object. The apparatus is particularly useful in connection with automatically operated doors.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for sensing the presence of objects within a selected region of space. In particular the present invention relates to object sensing devices which are useful in connection with the operation of automatic doors or other automatically moving equipment.
In accordance with the prior art, it has been known to make use of light or radiation emitting equipment and radiation detecting equipment for the purpose of sensing the presence of an object or person in a particular region of space. One application for such object sensing equipment is in connection with the operation of an automatically operated door. In this case it is desirable to arrange the equipment to sense the approach of a person or an object, such as a shopping cart, from one direction of the door in order to activate the door to move it to the open position. It is likewise desirable to sense the presence of an object or person on the opposite side of the door to prevent the door from striking the person during the opening operation. Another sensing function is to determine when the person has passed through the doorway, and clear of the swing of the door, to enable closing of the door after the person has entered through the doorway.
The most reliable method for sensing the presence of a person known in the art is to provide pressure sensitive doormats which provide a signal in response to the weight of a person standing thereon. Such doormats must be provided on both sides of the door. On the approach side the doormat senses the presence of a person who wishes to pass through the doorway. On the inside of the door, in the area which includes the swing path of the door, the mat is provided to sense the presence of a person or object in the path of the door and provides a signal which prevents the door from opening and causing injury to the person or damage to the object thereon. The inside swing path doormat is also used to prevent closing of the door during the time when a person is passing through the doorway. After there is no weight on either of the doormats the door is permitted to close.
The use of pressure sensitive doormats in connection with the operation of a swinging door in accordance with the prior art, while being the most reliable method for detecting the presence of a person or object, has a disadvantage, which is normally associated with the use of a doormat installation on a high traffic floor. The doormats used to sense the presence of a person or object are subject to wear from the passage of traffic thereover. In addition, the doormats are usually in an outdoor entry location where they will be subjected to rainwater and to damage from ice, snow, and possibly salt or other corrosive chemicals used to clear ice and snow.
A further problem with the doormat sensing devices is the fact that it becomes difficult to tell when the device has failed. Failure of the swing path doormat can result in injury to a person and consequent liability to the owner or occupant of the premises in which the door has been installed.
There have also been provided object sensing devices wherein a radiation source is provided which sends radiation along a selected path at a radiation sensing element. When an object or person enters the path of the radiation, the absence of the radiation being received at the sensing element provides an indication that there is an object or person in the path of the beam. The use of this beam-path type sensor provides a certain "fail safe" reliability because of the fact that a beam must pass completely through the path in order to be detected and provide an indication of a safe condition. It becomes necessary, however, in connection with the operation of a swinging door, to provide a great many emitters and detectors to provide adequate assurance that a small child is not within the path of the swinging door.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,592 to Scoville describes a prior art door opening control apparatus which includes an emitter mounted above the doorway which sends infrared radiation along a downwardly directed energy beam which spans a path of travel of pedestrian traffic approaching the doorway. There is provided a sensing element which is mounted on the jam of the doorway and which has a receiving beam pattern of sensitivity which is generally horizontally disposed, so that there is provided an intersection of the infrared radiation beam from the emitter and the horizontal sensing beam pattern from the receiver, which defines a protected area in space. The patent states that additional emitters may be provided, as required, to provide additional protection in additional regions in space.
While the apparatus described by Scoville may be effective in ordinary circumstances for detecting objects which are in the region defined by the intersection of the two beams, problems may arise from the fact that the door swings into the region of intersection of the two beams, and may provide some interference with operation of the system. In addition, the system may be sensitive to its installation, since the emitter and the detector are located at different locations, and the operation of these devices is sensitive to their locations and to their environment. Further, the system may fail to detect small objects, for example an infant crawling below the horizontal beam.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved object detecting apparatus.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which has a single location for emitters and detectors.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which is less sensitive to the environment of its installation, and is less sensitive to changes in the reflectivity of the object to be detected.


A hybridoma is provided which provides a monoclonal antibody of isotope IgG2a, which recognizes a strip corresponding to a peptidic fragment of 8kD, isolated by controlled proteolysis of the 28kD polypeptide of S. mansoni.

The present invention relates to a peptide isolated from the 28 KD protein of S. mansoni, which bears one or more epitopes and to its process of isolation, as well as to monoclonal antibodies adapted to recognize the peptidic antigenic fractions thus isolated and to therapeutic compositions adapted to induce neutralizing anti-body synthesis, which compositions comprise said peptide alone or in association with other suitable substances.
BALLOUL et Al. (MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY, 17 (1985) p. 105-114) described the synthesis in vitro of an antigen constituted by a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 28 KD and an isoelectric point comprised between 6.3 and 6.8, which constitutes a translation product in vitro of total RNA of Schistosoma mansoni.
The above Authors have pursued their research with the object of isolating from this polypeptide of 28 KD and of identifying, the peptidic epitope or epitopes responsible for the antigenic properties.
It is known to analyze the peptides which constitute proteins isolated from SDS gels, by partial digestion of said proteins by a protease in a buffer containing SDS; stable partial digestion products are obtained, which are composed of numerous peptides whose molecular weights are sufficiently high for it to be possible to separate them on 15% SDS acrylamide gels (CLEVELAND et Al., THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 252, p. 1102-1106, (1977)).
Applicants have sought to isolate, from the 28 KD protein of S. mansoni, the one or more peptides bearing the anti-Schistosoma antigenic activity shown by the 28 KD protein, and have made use for this purpose of techniques for isolating peptidic fragments by proteolysis described in the prior art.

Monoclonal antibodies against the 28KD protein of S. mansoni

Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale


In this disclosure, a system is described, comprising a shear device with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and a mixing vessel with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein an inlet of the shear device is in fluid communication with an outlet of the mixing vessel. In certain embodiments, the shear device and the mixing vessel form a loop for fluid communication. Also disclosed herein is a method of high shear oxidation, comprising mixing an oxidant with a substrate to form a substrate-oxidant mixture and applying shear to the substrate-oxidant mixture to form a product. The product includes ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, terephthalic acid, phenol, acrylonitrile, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, nitric acid, caprolactam, oxidized polyethylene, oxidized polypropylene, oxidized polyethylene copolymers, and oxidized polypropylene copolymers. Suitable oxidant includes air, oxygen, ozone, peroxide, organic peroxide, halogen, oxygen-containing gas, and halogen-containing gas.

Oxidation is one of the most common categories of reactions, which is utilized in a wide variety of fields—industrial, military, medical, engineering, consumer products, etc. For example, alkenes are oxidized to produce ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Some other examples include the production of terephthalic acid, phenol, acrylonitrile, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, nitric acid, and caprolactam.
In addition to the oxidation of small molecules, polymers are also oxidized to produce marketable commodities (e.g., oxidized polyethylene waxes) or important intermediates with various functionalized groups for further processing. For example, oxidized polyethylene is useful as components in lubricants for polymer processing and as a water based emulsion in textile, floor care products, leather processing, water dispersible coatings, fruit coatings and inks. Furthermore, oxidation of polymers and waxes is able to modify the properties of polymers and waxes, such as molecular weight distribution, viscosity, density, drop point. A possible mechanism is by cleaving long polymeric molecules to produce shorter polymeric chains.
Therefore, there is continuing interest in developing new oxidation processes that are efficient and economical.


The present invention provides an interface and associated object model that exposes a comprehensive set of natural language processing features to an application developer. In one embodiment, the features include lexicon management services and proofing services.

The present invention deals with natural language processing. More specifically, the present invention relates to an interface and associated object model for providing integrated natural language processing services to an application.
Natural language processing involves the processing of a natural language input. A natural language input is generally language used by a person (as opposed to a computer language or other artificial language), including all of the idioms, assumptions and implications of an utterance in a natural language input. Natural language processing implemented by a computer is typically an attempt to determine the meaning of a natural language input such that the natural language input can be "understood" and/or acted on by the computer.
In many prior natural language processing systems, natural language processing features have been provided by individual natural language processing components. For instance, such individual components have included language detection which is a process that attempts to detect a language that a natural language input is provided in, word breaking that attempts to identify individual words in a natural language input, spell checking, grammar checking, etc. In conventional systems, each of these components is provided separately. This leads to a number of difficulties.
For instance, a word-breaking component must provide its output in a manner which is consistent with the spell checking component. Similarly, the spell checking component must provide its output in a format acceptable to any downstream processing components. Of course, since these individual natural language processing components are often provided by different vendors, they often do not work seamlessly with one another, without substantial reformatting of the processing results so that they are suitable for the next downstream component.
Similarly, prior natural language processing systems have been configured to provide natural language processing features in a single language only. Therefore, if a developer was working on a multi-language application, the developer would likely need to send a natural language input (to be processed) first to a language detection component, and then call the appropriate natural language processing components, given the identified language.
Further, many of the natural language processing components required a lexicon. In order to add a lexicon, prior natural language processing systems often required the lexicon to be added to multiple individual components. The lexicon might have different format for different components or be incompatible between components. In other words, adding a lexicon was not enabled across multiple components or features.
All of these difficulties, presented as a result of providing individual natural language process components, have greatly benefited application developers that have extensive knowledge about a wide variety of individual components provided by different vendors. This has rendered the development of applications that utilize natural language processing very difficult, costly, and time consuming, and has hindered its widespread dissemination in computing.


A steering member includes a main body extending in a vehicle-width direction, at least one support part, a reinforcing part, and a bracket. The support part supports the steering. The reinforcing part is formed in a plate-like shape and attached to a reinforced area of an outer circumferential surface of the main body. The bracket is attached to the reinforcing part and extends from the reinforcing part toward a front side of the vehicle so as to be attached to a body of the vehicle. The outer circumferential surface of the main body comprises a support area to which the at least one support part is attached. The reinforced area faces the support area across the main body.

The present disclosure relates to a steering member disposed under a dashboard of a vehicle.
The steering member of the vehicle is provided with a bracket that supports a steering column. A bracket of a steering member described in Unexamined Japanese Utility Application Publication No. H8-5896 projects toward the rear side of a vehicle, and has a lower member and an upper member. An attachment portion located in the front side of the lower member and an attachment portion located in the front side of the upper member are welded on the lateral surface of the steering member.


The present disclosure relates to a terminal device, a method and apparatus for unlocking a screen of the terminal device. The terminal device comprises a touch and display chip; the method is used on the touch and display chip and comprises: when the terminal device is in a dormant state, displaying a screen unlocking interface on the screen if touch information is detected on the screen; acquiring unlocking information for unlocking the screen via the screen unlocking interface; and unlocking the screen when the unlocking information is consistent with corresponding verification information. The terminal device, the method and apparatus for unlocking the screen of the terminal device according to the present disclosure greatly reduce the power consumption of the terminal device, and save battery power. Furthermore, the touch and display chip enables user verification during unlocking process to be securer.

The low power consumption design of a portable device such as a smart phone and the like has attracted much attention. The power consumption of a main control application processor in the portable device is high. Although the power consumption is low when in a dormant state, the main control application processor is comparatively slow to switch in and out of the dormant state.
When the main control application processor unlocks a portable device and verifies a user, the main control application processor needs to activate a plurality of functional modules, such as an internal CPU, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM) and the like, and needs to drive a display screen and receive an input touch, so as to eliminate a false trigger, determine the validity of the user, and finally wake up the portable device. In the process, a system on chip (SoC) is activated completely, which consumes a lot of power.

Terminal device, method and apparatus for unlocking screen of terminal device


A preferred method for identifying analytes of samples by utilizing chemometric analysis for interpreting chromatographic data obtained under locked conditions includes the steps of: (1) providing a locking GC system which includes a column operated at a column head pressure; (2) adjusting the column head pressure of the locking GC system so that a column void time of the column in the locking GC system, when a known analyte is eluted therethrough, is matched with the column void time of the column in a reference GC system, when the known analyte is eluted therethrough; (3) analyzing the sample with the locking GC system so that chromatographic data corresponding to the sample is compiled, and; (4) performing chemometric analysis on the chromatographic data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to chromatographic analysis and, in particular, to methods for classifying samples by utilizing chemometrics analysis for interpreting chromatographic data obtained under locked conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gas chromatography is a method for analyzing a sample of interest, which may include one or more analytes, to qualitatively determine the identity of the analytes as well as to quantitatively determine the concentration of each of the analytes. This analysis also may include comparing the sample of interest to previously analyzed samples for the purpose of classifying the sample of interest. Gas chromatography typically involves a series of steps, including: sample collection, sample preparation, sample introduction into a chromatographic or separation column, chromatographic separation of the sample into individual analytes, detection of those analytes, and data acquisition and reduction. As is well known, the step of data reduction, which enables the identification of the analytes present in the sample, can be a complex task, primarily due to the multivariate nature of the acquired data.
Chemometrics is a general term applied to the use of statistics and mathematics to extract meaningful information from multivariate data. In a representative implementation, statistical algorithms may be employed to help one reduce large amounts of data into a small number of salient descriptors. Chemometrics typically is applied for one or more of the following primary purposes: (1) to interrogate data efficiently (trend analysis, correlation of results, outlier identification, identification of significant variables, etc.); (2) to track data or a measurement function on an on-going basis (control charting, limit detection); (3) to quantify results based on multivariate response (complex calibration/response functions), and; (4) to reduce complex (e.g., multivariate or multiple response) measurements into classes of like results (classification).
In the context of chromatography, chemometrics may be utilized to provide pattern recognition functionality for interpreting acquired chromatographic data and tends to be most effective when variability in retention times of samples eluting through the separation column of a gas chromatograph is minimized. Heretofore, variability in retention times typically has been addressed by applying a post-analysis adjustment to acquired chromatographic data, such as by mathematically xe2x80x9caligningxe2x80x9d the chromatographic time scales of chromatograms relating to multiple samples. However, post-analysis mathematical approaches for xe2x80x9caligningxe2x80x9d chromatograms include inherent weaknesses, such as requiring reference peaks or patterns to be present in the data for automatic adjustment to work consistently. This may require adding compounds to each sample (internal standards) and also may lead to errors because samples of unknown composition can vary widely in the response or ratio of response of peaks, thereby potentially leading to incorrect assignment of reference peaks or patterns.
Additionally, typical post-analysis mathematical adjustment of acquired data can not compensate for changes in the order of elution of peaks that can result from operation of GC systems under unlocked conditions. Thus, even if reference peaks are identified and the time axis of the chromatographic data is adjusted for an overall improvement, the retention times of several key individual peaks may still be incorrect (possibly even worse than before the adjustment), potentially resulting in the incorrect classification of the resulting xe2x80x9cadjustedxe2x80x9d patterns.
Therefore, there exists a need for improved methods which address these and other shortcomings of the prior art.
Briefly described, the present invention relates to methods for analyzing samples by utilizing chemometric analysis for interpreting chromatographic data obtained under locked conditions. A preferred method comprises the steps of: (1) providing a locking GC system which includes a column operated at a column head pressure; (2) adjusting the column head pressure of the locking GC system so that a column void time of the column in the locking GC system, when a known analyte is eluted therethrough, is matched with the column void time of the column in a reference GC system, when the known analyte is eluted therethrough; (3) analyzing the sample with the locking GC system so that chromatographic data corresponding to the sample is compiled, and; (4) performing chemometric analysis on the chromatographic data.
Alternatively, the column head pressure of the locking GC system may be adjusted so that a retention time of the known analyte in the column of the locking GC system is matched with the retention time of the known analyte in the column of the reference GC system.
In accordance. with another aspect of the present invention, an alternative embodiment for chromatographically analyzing a sample comprises the steps of: (1) receiving chromatographic data from a locking GC system; and (2) performing chemometric analysis on the chromatographic data.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such objects, features, and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Methods for sample identification using pattern recognition under locked conditions


A video decoding method includes obtaining a bitstream including a plurality of coded frames of a video signal; decoding each of the plurality of coded frames into a plurality of CTUs and each of the plurality of CTUs into a plurality of residual blocks; recovering a coding block for each of the plurality of residual blocks based on multiple reference line intra prediction flags and reference samples included in each coded frame, wherein a subset of all available intra prediction modes, is determined for each of the multiple reference lines selected for intra prediction based on coding efficiency and compression performance, and each of the multiple reference lines is identified by an index number; reconstructing each frame of the video signal by storing the recovered coding block for each of the plurality of residual blocks in a frame buffer; and continuously outputting the reconstructed frames to restore the video signal.

AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) is an open video coding format designed for video transmissions over the Internet. It was developed as a successor to VP9 by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), a consortium founded in 2015 that includes semiconductor firms, video on demand providers, video content producers, software development companies and web browser vendors. Building on the codebase of VP9, AV1 incorporates additional techniques, several of which were developed in these experimental formats. The first version 0.1.0 of the AV1 reference codec was published on 7 Apr. 2016. The Alliance announced the release of the AV1 bitstream specification on 28 Mar. 2018, along with a reference, software-based encoder and decoder. On 25 Jun. 2018, a validated version 1.0.0 of the specification was released. On 8 Jan. 2019 a validated version 1.0.0 with Errata 1 of the specification was released. The AV1 bitstream specification includes a reference video codec.
ITU-T VCEG (Q6/16) and ISO/IEC MPEG (JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11) published the H.265/HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) standard in 2013 (version 1) 2014 (version 2) 2015 (version 3) and 2016 (version 4). In 2015, these two standard organizations jointly formed the JVET (Joint Video Exploration Team) to explore the potential of developing the next video coding standard beyond HEVC In October 2017, they issued the Joint Call for Proposals on Video Compression with Capability beyond HEVC (CfP). By Feb. 15, 2018, total 22 CfP responses on standard dynamic range (SDR), 12 CfP responses on high dynamic range (HDR), and 12 CfP responses on 360 video categories were submitted, respectively. In April 2018, all received CfP responses were evaluated in the 122 MPEG/10th JVET meeting. As a result of this meeting, JVET formally launched the standardization process of next-generation video coding beyond HEVC. The new standard was named Versatile Video Coding (VVC), and JVET, Joint Video Exploration Team, was renamed as JVET Joint Video Experts Team.
In the video coding scheme based on the AV1 standard, the number of available intra prediction modes is 62, which includes 56 angular (or directional) intra prediction modes, 5 smooth modes, and one chroma from luma mode. In the description of the present disclosure, the angular (or directional) intra prediction modes are also called angular (or directional) modes. When multiple reference lines are applied in intra prediction and all the intra prediction modes are included for the multiple reference lines, the video coding complexity is substantial. The multiple reference lines include a zero reference line with an index number equal to zero and one or more non-zero reference lines with the index numbers greater than zero. It is desired to limit the number of the intra prediction modes allowed for each of the non-zero reference lines. In the video coding scheme based on the VVC standard, the intra prediction modes are determined to include most probable modes (MPM) in the allowed intra prediction mode (AIPM) set. However, the AV1 does not define similar most probable modes (MPM), and the multiple reference line intra prediction of the video coding scheme based on the VVC standard cannot be directly applied to the video coding scheme based on the AV1 standard.
The disclosed methods and systems are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems.

Method and system of video coding using a subset of available intra prediction modes for multiple reference lines


An anti-reflection film comprises a transparent support and a low refractive index coating layer. The low refractive index coating layer has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the support. The low refractive index coating layer has an essentially uniform thickness, while the layer has a surface roughness in terms of an arithmetic mean (Ra) in the range of 0.05 to 2 μm.

Anti-reflection films are used in various display devices such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an electroluminescence display (ELD), and a cathode-ray tube (CRT). Further, lenses of glasses or cameras generally have the Anti-reflection films.
As an anti-reflection film, a multi-layered film comprising plural transparent metal oxide layers superposed one on another has been widely employed. The plural transparent metal oxide layers lower reflections of light in a wide wavelength region. The layers are formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process or physical vapor deposition (PVD) process (especially, vacuum deposition process).
On a support having a rough surface of anti-glare coating, an anti-reflection film is often formed by PVD process. This film reduces the transmittance of parallel rays as compared with a film provided on a smooth support. In spite of that, since the roughness on the support scatters light to prevent the film from reflecting the surrounding scene, a device equipped with that film can display a remarkably improved image.
Although the transparent metal oxide layers thus give an anti-reflection film having the excellent optical characteristics, the deposition process has insufficient productivity for mass-production.
In place of the deposition process, it is proposed to apply a coating liquid containing inorganic fine particles to prepare an anti-reflection film.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 60(1985)-59250 describes an anti-reflection film comprising fine holes and inorganic fine particles. The film is formed by applying a coating liquid, and the formed film is subjected to active gas treatment. Through the treatment, the gas escapes from the film to form the fine holes.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 59(1984)-50401 describes an anti-reflection film comprising a support, a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer superposed in this order. The publication also discloses an anti-reflection film further comprising a middle refractive index layer provided between the support and the high refractive index layer. In each film, the low refractive index layer is formed by applying a coating liquid containing a polymer or inorganic fine particles.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2(1990)-245702 discloses an anti-reflection film comprising two or more kinds of micro particles (for example, SiO2 and MgF2). The mixing ratio of the particles varies in the thickness direction so that the refractive index may gradually vary along the thickness. The film having that structure has optical characteristics similar to those of the film in No. 59(1984)-50401, which comprises both high and low refractive index layers. In the film of No. 2(1990)-245702, the micro particles are combined with SiO2 formed by thermal decomposition of ethyl silicate. In the thermal decomposition, the ethyl part of ethyl silicate is burnt to evolve carbon dioxide and water vapor. The produced carbon dioxide and water vapor escape from the film to form voids among the micro particles (as shown in FIG. 1 of the Publication).
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 5(1993)-13021 discloses an anti-reflection film in which the voids described in No. 2(1990)-245702 are filled with a binder.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 7(1995)-48527 discloses an anti-reflection film containing a binder and inorganic fine particles of porous silica.
In order to reduce glare of a wet-type anti-reflection film, the above-described process in which the film is formed on a rough support and the process in which matting particles are added into the coating liquid were thus developed and proposed. However, in the former process, the coating liquid applied on convex parts of the rough surface flows into concave parts to form a layer having an uneven thickness. Consequently, the resulting film poorly reduces reflection as compared with a film formed on a smooth surface. On the other hand, in the latter, it is needed to incorporate the matting particles having sizes of about 1 μm or more into a thin film having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 μm, and accordingly the particles are apt to defect from the film. Therefore, an anti-reflection film having both sufficient film strength and satisfying anti-glare performance had been hardly produced by applying a coating liquid.

Anti-reflection film and process for the preparation of the same


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. A substrate is first provided, and then several IO devices and several core devices are formed on the substrate, wherein those IO devices include IO PMOS and IO NMOS, and those core devices include core PMOS and core NMOS. Thereafter, a buffer layer is formed on the substrate, and then the buffer layer except a surface of the IO PMOS is removed in order to reduce the negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) of the IO PMOS. Afterwards, a tensile contact etching stop layer (CESL) is formed on the IO NMOS and the core NMOS, and a compressive CESL is formed the core PMOS.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof capable of improving negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) of the PMOS used as a input/output (IO) device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the matter of the function, the semiconductor devices can be mainly distributed into IO devices and core devices. In accordance with electrical type of the devices, the IO devices further include a IO PMOS and a IO NMOS, wherein the IO PMOS represents a PMOS used as a IO device and the IO NMOS represents a NMOS used as a IO device. The core devices similarly include a core PMOS and a core NMOS.
The use of strained silicon has been utilized to improve the performance of the core device, but this manner is profitless to the reliability of a IO PMOS. Furthermore, the higher voltage is applied to the IO devices, especially the IO PMOS, so NBTI of the IO PMOS can not be reduced and thus the performance and reliability of the IO devices cannot be improved.

Method of fabricating semiconductor device


In a multiple optical waveguide device, a transparent plate is bonded or joined on the top surface of a clad with which optical circuits and quartz glass substrates are covered, and optical reflection film is provided on the fringing area or the whole area of a joint surface of the transparent plate with the clad. Optical circuits or waveguide patterns can be recognized easily by visual inspection.

The present invention relates to an optical waveguide device in which an optical circuit is provided on a quartz glass substrate, and a multiple optical waveguide device in which a plurality of optical circuits are provided on a quartz glass substrate.
In a conventional optical waveguide device which is a typical optical device, an optical circuit is provided on a quartz glass substrate. The optical circuit and the quartz glass substrate are covered with a clad. In addition, a transparent plate (for instance, quartz glass) which protects the edge of the optical device is bonded on the surface of the clad.
The conventional multiple optical waveguide device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-183538 comprises a plurality of optical circuits and waveguide patterns which indicate the standard of cutting off when dicing, provided on a quartz glass substrate. It further comprises a clad with which the optical circuits, the waveguide patterns, and the quartz glass substrate are covered, and a transparent plate bonded on the surface of the clad. The optical waveguide device is made by cutting the multiple optical waveguide device along the waveguide patterns by using a dicing saw.

Optical waveguide device and multiple optical waveguide device


An air port damper system for a recovery boiler employs plural louvers for altering the exit angle of air through an air port. Dampers are provided to enable adjustment of the flow through the device. Suitably, the device may be retracted away from the air port, to enable manual or automatic cleaning of the port. Further the damper system can be removed for maintenance/service purposes, without requiring shut-down of the boiler.

The present invention relates to a device for the regulation of air flow through secondary, tertiary, and quartenary combustion air ports of a chemical recovery boiler.
Pulp for papermaking is typically manufactured according to the Kraft process wherein wood chips are treated with a chemical cooking liquor. The wood chips and liquor are cooked in a digester under predetermined pressure and temperature conditions. At a subsequent point in the process, a xe2x80x9cblack liquorxe2x80x9d, comprising spent chemicals and organic material, is separated from the pulp and is processed in a chemical recovery boiler for reclaiming the cooking chemicals.
This xe2x80x9cblack liquorxe2x80x9d is the fuel for the recovery boiler. It is spray injected into the firebox of the recovery boiler through several nozzles that are located several meters above the boiler floor. The xe2x80x9cblack liquorxe2x80x9d is atomized during injection, dries and falls to the floor of the boiler, forming a mound called the char bed. The xe2x80x9cblack liquorxe2x80x9d has both organic and inorganic constituents wherein the organic constituents burn at a high temperature, and the inorganic constituents are reduced within the char bed to a molten state. The inorganic constituents of the xe2x80x9cblack liquorxe2x80x9d are the cooking chemicals that are being reclaimed. The char bed may exceed two meters in depth with its shape and size controlled by jets of combustion air flowing from the primary and secondary air ports. When the char bed grows in size so as to reach the elevation of the secondary ports, these air jets enhance the localized combustion and xe2x80x9cburn backxe2x80x9d that area of the char bed thus controlling the height and shape of the char bed. The tertiary and quartenary ports, if present, reside at a higher elevation, introduce the rest of the combustion air, and create turbulence to promote mixing, combustion and heat release in the boiler. Some older boilers have just primary and secondary air ports, wherein the secondary air ports correspond in location and function to the tertiary ports mentioned above.
The mass flow control of the combustion air through the ports is critical as it must be controlled to remain within certain stoichiometric parameters, as well as perform the functions discussed above. If not, the overall efficiency of the boiler decreases and mechanical problems abound. Since it is difficult to completely mix the fuel and combustion air, it is common practice to add more combustion air than required for stoichiometric conditions. This helps promote complete combustion. If too much air is admitted to the boiler, however, it will cause an excessive vertical gas flow in the boiler which entrains more particulates and pushes the heat release higher in the boiler causing increased fouling on heat exchanger components and decreased thermal efficiency. Since the air ports affect the lateral and vertical gas flows in the boiler, the location, quantity, and size of the air jets is a critical factor in their performance, in addition to the mass flow of air admitted. Herein lies the problem.
Some boilers have secondary ports that are positioned too high for optimal control of the bed height or are designed such that they require excessive air flow to accomplish this task. If the char bed gets too high it is hard to control and the core may be too cold to properly recover the inorganic constituent. It is also often the case that there are too many secondary ports and/or the ports may be too small. Conversely, many boilers have oversized secondary ports to take into account the fouling that causes a reduction to their opening size until they can be cleaned manually with steel rods. A further difficulty is that other boilers have poor tertiary or quartenary port performance wherein the air jets do not interact optimally with the gas flows and require excessive amounts of air to accomplish the mixing, combustion and heat release functions. A further disadvantage is that some boilers have air ports that do not allow the air to penetrate very far into the boiler, and therefore do not enhance combustion of the fuel. Finally, many newer boilers utilize an apparatus to regulate the air flow through the air ports, however this apparatus is generally structurally fixed to the air port, requires adjustment prior to cleaning of the airport, and is notoriously unreliable. The air ports in a boiler are fixed in location. Once they are made, they cannot be moved to accommodate changing needs or peculiarities of operational characteristics of a given boiler.
In the prior art, nozzles have been inserted into air ports, to provide a more concentrated air jet out of the port. However, adding the nozzles raises space considerations in the duct work around the ports. Reducing the free space around the port can affect the air flow characteristics in the ducts and makes installation of additional equipment problematic.
The above mentioned problems with the lackluster performance of the existing prior art air ports causes operational inefficiencies such as excessive down time, low quality inorganic constituent recovery, slow xe2x80x9cblack liquorxe2x80x9d burn rates, excessive fouling on boiler surfaces, poor thermal efficiency and poor char bed control.
In accordance with the present invention, an air port damper is provided which is adapted to regulate the mass flow and direction of a combustion air jet stream into a boiler. It is an object of the present invention to alleviate the above problems by providing an apparatus and method to control the direction of the air jets as well as the mass flow through the ports. For example, if the secondary ports are located too high, the secondary air jets can be angled downward, such that they interact with the char bed at the optimal height.
In a preferred embodiment, the air port damper is an apparatus that contains a louvered system (for controlling the direction of the air jet through an air port), a damper system (for regulating the mass flow of air through an air port), and an mechanism for moving the air port damper apparatus into or away from its operational position.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for adjusting the direction of a combustion air jet stream into a boiler.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for regulating combustion air into a boiler.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved tool that in effect allows a boiler operator to xe2x80x9cmovexe2x80x9d the ports of the boiler by altering the air flow characteristics therethrough.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling the direction and flow of combustion air into a boiler through an air port that does not interfere with the on-line cleaning of the boiler.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method of controlling char bed height in a boiler.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method for reducing internal boiler fouling.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of separately regulating the mass air flow and adjusting the direction of air flow into a boiler through its existing air ports.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus capable of separately regulating the mass air flow and adjusting the direction of air flow into a boiler through its existing air ports, while working in conjunction with an automatic port cleaner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus capable of separately regulating the mass air flow and adjusting the direction of air flow into a boiler through its existing air ports such that the total mass airflow required may be reduced.
The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.


A method for forming a bipolar emitter using doped SOG which employs diffusion instead of implanting, and which produces a shallow, low-resistance emitter using a variety of dopants besides boron and phosphorus. A layer of doped SOG is spun over a predefined base region. Portions of the SOG layer are defined for removal and removed, leaving the collector and emitter contact areas exposed. The SOG layer is densified and the dopants are driven into the base to form the emitter.

The present invention relates to methods for producing integrated circuit devices and more specifically to a method for forming a bipolar emitter using doped spin on glass (SOG).
Known methods for forming emitters in bipolar complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (BiCMOS) devices involve a masking operation followed by an implant operation in which n-type and p-type impurities are implanted into a substrate, typically silicon. In such a process, the implant energy has to be reduced to produce shallow junctions.
This method suffers from the disadvantage that implanting produces defects which lie in the space charge region of the junction. The implanted impurity is brought to rest by an inelastic collision with silicon atoms in the crystal lattice, which damages the crystal lattice structure by knocking silicon atoms out of place. The crystal lattice structure must be epitaxially regrown by a thermal anneal to activate the implanted impurities by incorporating them into the crystal lattice. For shallow junctions, a rapid thermal process (RTP) cycle is typically done. However, the damage from implanting is not totally repairable without causing undesirable enhanced diffusion of the impurity which is inconsistent with shallow junction technology. Defect sites having energies in the middle of the band gap remain and produce a conduction path which ultimately causes a leakage current to flow.
Another known method for forming bipolar emitters includes the steps of depositing a layer of undoped polysilicon, masking off predetermined areas on the polysilicon, doping the unmasked areas of polysilicon with boron or phosphorus species, and heating the polysilicon to drive the species out of the polysilicon.
This method suffers from the disadvantage that the species are limited to boron and phosphorus and the resistance of the polysilicon line is quite high.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a process for forming a low-resistance bipolar emitter with a shallow junction, which does not suffer from the disadvantages of known process steps.

Method for forming a bipolar emitter using doped SOG