Improvements in method and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from marginal oil wells, especially wells that previously used standard pump jacks. Substitution of the present invention for prior art production equipment solves many common problems found in the prior art, such as a well pump that experiences gas lock and pounding, which is a hindrance to efficient production in other known pump systems but is advantageous when using the Smart Pump of this disclosure. Disclosed herein is a pump assembly which senses when fluid is pumped uphole at a rate different than the rate that fluid is produced from the formation, by continually adjusting the time interval of one cycle of operation to coincide with the production history of the well. Stored data related to the production history of the well enables determination of the quantity of fluid that should be contained within the pump barrel each cycle of operation and changes the time interval for successive cycles of operation so as to continually adjust the next time interval to coincide with the rate of production of the formation whereby the optimum rate of production is always attained by this method of operation of the apparatus disclosed herein. These and many other unforseen advantages are realized by this disclosure that can change an unprofitable well into a profitable well, often at no additional cost.

The present invention relates to improvements in downhole production pumps and operating systems therefor for use in pumping fluids from boreholes and especially an oil well production system for stripper wells wherein crude oil is removed from the borehole as fast as it comes into the well.
Marginal oil wells, also called stripper wells, are usually uneconomical for the major oil companies to operate because the labor and pumping costs are close to the revenue from the hydrocarbon sales. Every day many of these unprofitable stripper wells are being shut in, plugged, and abandoned. But there is a type of oil field hand that loves to get possession of these marginal wells because he has the where-with-all to scrounge up enough equipment to maintain and operate these wells at a small profit.
Many of these stripper wells in the U.S.A. produce only about 10 barrels or less, of hydrocarbons/day. These wells are important to the U.S. economy, especially during times of political unrest when they become vital to our national defense. After all, just one days production at a rate of 10 barrels, or 440 gal, of oil/day will operate a small auto several thousand miles after the crude oil has been refined into fuel.
Accordingly, it is desirable to make available novel oil well production equipment that is relatively inexpensive and can be assembled from mostly commercially available material and thereby increase the profit gleaned from a stripper well. Additionally, the novel equipment should be easy to work on and have low cost maintenance and operation. Further, the novel equipment should operate the well in such a manner that the production rate can be increased from marginal to profitable. When all of these and several other desirable attributes are considered, it is easy to see that they add up to a novel well production system that provides the unexpected result of changing an unprofitable situation into one that is profitable.
Most oil wells in West Texas are produced by a pump-jack unit that reciprocates a bottom hole pump. The pump-jack usually operates cyclically for time intervals selected to avoid reaching a pump-off condition which starts a destructive condition known as fluid pounding, or gas lock. This situation is evidenced by the hundreds of issued US Patents which address this problem. One simply never pumps-off a well.
Fluid pounding is encountered when a pump-off condition is reached due to the attempt to remove downhole fluid from the borehole faster than it can accumulate. This introduces compressible gas into the variable chamber of the downhole pump, causing the plunger to accelerate and xe2x80x9cpoundxe2x80x9d the bottom of the pump as the liquid supported by the plunger impacts the stationary valve assembly at the bottom of the pump barrel. Fluid pounding is destructive for it can result in accelerated wear and tear on the entire production equipment. Therefore, in most reciprocating downhole production pumps, a lot of consideration is given to avoiding a pump-off condition of the downhole pump.
Contrary to the prior art method of producing a well, the production system of the present invention is operated in a continually pumped-off condition by removing the formation fluid from the bottom of the well just as fast as it enters through the casing perforations of the borehole, thereby reducing the hydrostatic pressure against the pay zone to a minimum. This allows the oil bearing formation to produce at its maximum, but at the same time it is bound to ingest compressible gas into the bottom of the pump barrel, where it would be expected to cause fluid pounding, especially if provision is not made to avoid this occurrence. Accordingly, a purpose of this invention is the provision of a novel downhole pump and system that can accommodate the pumping of mixed hydrocarbon fluids (gas and liquid) and thereby change the problem of encountering a pump-off condition into an asset, while avoiding the dangers of fluid pounding. This is achieved in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a downhole pump assembly having a very long barrel that lifts both gas and liquid uphole every up-stroke of the pump plunger so that the pump chamber does not accumulate compressible fluids therewithin, but instead exhausts all gases along with the liquid each upstroke of the pump.
In addition to avoiding fluid pounding, this novel feature of this invention also has the unexpected advantage of enhancing pumping efficiency by using the gas expelled from the pump into the production tubing to provide additional lifting power in the manner similar to a well that uses a gas or air lift to produce liquid therefrom. Hence, gas that flows into the pump apparatus of this disclosure is slowly exhausted from the top of the variable chamber each upstroke of the pump plunger, and consequently there is no means by which the gas from a previous stroke can accumulate in the pump barrel for another stroke because the gas is removed from the pump apparatus at the end of each upstroke. Accordingly, fluid pounding is never encountered.
Further, the exceedingly long stroking pump plunger, together with the unusually slow time interval of the upstroke each cycle of operation, provides the necessary time delay for any gas that flows into the pump chamber to separate from the fluid and accumulate at the top of the barrel. During the slow plunger up-stroke the accumulated gas is slowly expelled from the pump variable chamber and enters the bottom of the production string at a very slow rate, which reduces the density of the contents of the tubing.
During the upstroke, the slow traveling pump plunger is acting against a constant lifting force and therefore does not accelerate significantly due to the differences in design between the system of this invention and the prior art production pumps, as will be more fully appreciated later on as this disclosure is more fully digested. Stated differently, there is not enough plunger speed and built-in inertia force in the present system as compared to the massive rotating parts of a prior art pumpjack operation to effect fluid pounding. Further, the low pumping speed of this novel cyclic operation along with the low bottom hole pressure at the perforations prevents accumulation of gases within the pump barrel for more than one cycle of operation, and this is a situation in which fluid pounding cannot be brought about.
Another novel feature of this disclosure is the provision of a method which reduces the oil/water ratio to a minimum by skimming the oil from above the oil/water interface of the formation fluid accumulated in the bottom of the well. The amount of water produced can be reduced until the desired crude production is achieved, or the desired oil/water ratio is achieved.
Other advantages of this disclosure over rod type downhole pumps is that the downhole production pump apparatus claimed herein can be pulled from the tubing by using the operating cable for reeling the lifting cable uphole until the pump apparatus surfaces. Then the entire pump apparatus can be serviced, as required, with change out of desired parts, and thereafter run back downhole into the borehole by unspooling the cable. Both method and apparatus that achieves the above desirable results are the subject of this invention and for which patent protection is sought.
In the prior art, it is noted that Coberly, U.S. Pat. No. 1,970,596, discloses a cable actuated long stroke pumping mechanism having a cable drum that includes a mechanical speed and switching control means associated therewith. The cable drum is rotated such that it accelerates the rate of travel of the plunger at the end of each stroke.
Mayer, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,120, measures a load on the rod string to provide automatic shutdown of a pumping unit.
London, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,482, controls the filling of a well pumping device by an arrangement in which the motor current is measured and compared to rod position using a computer to process the signals.
McKee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,226 discloses a pumpjack reciprocating a sucker rod string for actuating a downhole pump by measuring load on the rod string during a downstroke position of the walking beam to provide a signal which is stored and processed by a computer to determine the filling of a pump barrel. The electrical power to the pump jack motor is controlled by the computer to control stroke speed which keeps the pump barrel full by comparing instantaneous computer generated data with previous data and to continuously correct the filling of the barrel.
Improvements in downhole production pumps and operating systems therefor for use in pumping fluids from boreholes, and especially an oil well production system for stripper wells wherein crude oil is removed from the borehole as fast as it comes into the well. This system includes weight indicators, downhole sensing devices, including fluid level detecting devices, bottom hole pressure measurement, detection of oil/water contact or interface, and a cable actuated downhole production pump that can handle both oil and gas. All of these system parts are assembled and programmed to operate a novel downhole production pump at a production rate equal to the flow rate of the produced oil flowing into the well bore from the casing perforations. This keeps the hydrostatic head at the perforations at a minimum value which can be substantially zero, so that the downhole hydrostatic pressure imposed on the production zone is relatively low, which is a condition that achieves maximum production of oil from an oil well.
Reduced power consumption is realized by the incorporation of a very long pump barrel having a special cable actuated lifting plunger received therein that is slowly reciprocated uphole and then lowered back into the well 24 hours per day. This novel lifting system is designed for maximum efficiency as well as increased recovery of oil from old stripper wells; especially old wells that have declined in yearly production to only 10 barrels of oil per day or less, for example, when using conventional pump systems. Properly installed, the system set forth in this disclosure could significantly increase present production in old stripper wells while at the same time reducing the cost of operation.
Sensing devices are employed to control the action of the production apparatus which enables the speed of the operation to be controlled to match the rate of fluid input into the well bore at the casing perforations, thereby saving energy by allowing the pump to operate in a timed cyclic mode which upstrokes after there is a predetermined accumulation of production fluid in the pump barrel ready to be removed from the bottom of the borehole.
Accordingly, each time the operating cable is lowered into the borehole, diagnosis by the surface equipment determines the downhole fluid level, and, when there is less than a full pump barrel of formation fluid available to be transferred into the pump barrel, the timing of the next operating cycle is modified to coincide with the formation production rate so that a full pump barrel is attained prior to each upstroke. This additional cycle time provides sufficient time for the well to make the additional fluid needed to completely fill the pump barrel with the accumulated well fluid and further keeps a minimum hydrostatic head at the perforations.
Many unprofitable stripper wells can be operated profitably by judiciously diagnosing the operating history of the well and carrying out any future operation of the well in accordance with this invention.
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of both method and apparatus of a pump system made in accordance with this disclosure that employs a cyclicly continuously operated slow moving, long stroking plunger on the upstroke and on the downstroke to save power by moving a relatively large column of fluid uphole each upstroke of the plunger as contrasted to a short stroking pump, such as a pumpjack, which has a fast moving short stroking plunger on both the upstroke and downstroke.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a cable actuated downhole pump assembly that forces an unusual quantity of fluid uphole on the upstroke while overcoming inertia one time instead of several times for the same quantity of production fluid.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a cable actuated downhole pump assembly that easily can be pulled for servicing by reeling or spooling the lifting cable uphole until the pump barrel surfaces and then, after changing out various parts, the pump easily is run back into the hole on the operating cable; thus avoiding the necessary expense of using a pulling unit.
Another and still further object of this invention is the provision of a downhole pump assembly having a unique bypass valve device that is opened in response to the pump barrel initially being lifted uphole by the operating cable and thereby equalizes the pressure between the tubing and the casing annulus, and also washes debris from the lower end of the pump assembly in proximity of the hold-down, all of which avoids a stuck pump.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a downhole pump assembly having a plurality of sensor devices uniquely connected to an uphole controller to monitor the pumping operation and enable selection of the optimum time intervals for making a relative slow upstroke, followed by a downstroke of another timed interval; with this cyclic operation being modified by the controller each cycle of operation to maintain a continuous optimum production as conditions change.
A still further object of the invention is a pumping system that skims oil from a hydrocarbon producing well by allowing the pump plunger to descend through the oil phase in the pump barrel and stop at the oil/water interface, thereby producing or skimming hydrocarbons (oil and gas) without producing excessive water.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a downhole pump assembly operated in a manner to keep the hydrostatic head in front of each perforation at a minimum so that the fluid from the pay zone is free to flow into the wellbore without being held back by an excessive fluid hydrostatic head.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a downhole pump assembly operated in a manner whereby compressible fluid produced by the pay zone is admixed with liquid rather than vented up the casing string, and the mixed fluids are passed through the pumping chamber, and up the production tubing each upstroke of the pump.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a downhole pump assembly operated in a manner whereby fluid is pumped to the surface at the same rate that fluid is produced from a formation within a time interval of one cycle of operation calculated from stored data related to the production history of the well to determine the quantity of fluid contained within the pump each cycle of operation and to change the time interval for successive cycles of operation so as to continually adjust the time intervals to coincide with the rate of production of the formation whereby the optimum rate of production is attained and the cyclic operation continues until the well is shut down.
Another and still further object of this invention is the provision of a downhole pump assembly operated in a manner whereby there is no danger of fluid pounding, even though the well is always operated under severe pump-off conditions, because the gas ingested by the pump is slowly expelled up the production tubing each pump upstroke, and thereby enhances pumping efficiency.
A still further object of the invention is a pumping system that skims oil from a hydrocarbon producing well by allowing the pump plunger to descend through the oil phase in the pump barrel and stop adjacent the oil/water interface, thereby producing or skimming hydrocarbons (oil and gas) without producing excessive water, while the formation gas is flowed into the working chamber, and is expelled from an upper stationary valve with the production rate being held to a value that keeps the hydrostatic head in front of each perforation at a minimum so that the fluid from the pay zone is free to flow into the wellbore without being held back by an excessive fluid hydrostatic head.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a downhole pump assembly operated in a manner whereby compressible fluid produced by the pay zone is admixed with liquid and the mixed fluids are passed through the pumping chamber, and up the production tubing each upstroke of the pump assembly and becomes part of the fluid contained within the production tubing, thereby reducing the tubing hydrostatic pressure or fluid density and enhancing lift in a manner similar to a gas lift well.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a downhole pump assembly operated in a manner whereby the simplicity of design is reflected in lower initial cost and subsequent low operation maintenance, which, together with the enhanced production of the well, makes a marginal well into a profitable one.
These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
These and other objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a method for use with apparatus fabricated and operated in a manner substantially as described herein.


A phase change memory device and a method of manufacturing the same are presented. The phase change memory device includes a silicon substrate, a first insulation layer, cell switching elements, heaters, a gate, a second insulation layer, a barrier layer, a phase change layer and top electrodes. The first insulation layer has first holes. The cell switching elements are in the first holes. The heaters are on the cell switching elements. The gate is higher than the cell switching elements. The second insulation layer having second holes which expose the heaters, and exposes a hard mask layer of the gate. The barrier layer is on sidewalls of the second holes and on the second insulation layer. The phase change layer is formed in and over the second holes in which the barrier layer is formed. The top electrodes are formed on the phase change layer.

The present invention relates to a phase change memory device and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a phase change memory device which can prevent or inhibit the deterioration of transistor characteristics formed in a peripheral region and a method for manufacturing the same.
In general, memory devices are generally divided into volatile RAMs (random access memory) that loses inputted information when power is interrupted and non-volatile ROMs (read-only memory) that maintain the stored state of inputted information even when power is interrupted. As to volatile RAMs, a DRAM (dynamic RAM) and an SRAM (static RAM) can be mentioned. As to non-volatile ROMs, a flash memory device such as an EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM) can be mentioned.
While the DRAM belongs to an excellent memory device, the DRAM must have high charge storing capacity. To this end, since the surface area of an electrode must be increased, it is difficult to accomplish a high level of integration with DRAMs. Further, in the flash memory devices, due to the fact that two gates are stacked on each other, a high operation voltage is required as compared to a power supply voltage. According for flash memory devices, a separate booster circuit is needed to generate a voltage needed for write and delete operations. Therefore for flash memory devices it is also difficult to achieve a high level of integration.
Under these situations, much research has been undertaken with the hopes of developing alternate novel memory devices that still retain simple configurations and are able to achieve a high level of integration while retaining the desirable characteristics of non-volatile memory devices. As one example, a phase change memory device has been disclosed in the art. The operational basis of phase change memory device is that a phase change layer is interposed between a bottom electrode and a top electrode. The phase change layer can be in a crystalline state to an amorphous state which can be brought about by imposing a current flow between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. Accordingly, the information can be stored in a phase change memory cell by exploiting the physical phenomenon of the difference in resistance between the crystalline state and the amorphous state.
One of the most important factors that must be considered to develop a phase change memory device is to reduce or minimize programming current. Accordingly, recent phase change memory devices adopt vertical PN diodes, having high current flow rate, as cell switching elements in place of NMOS transistors. When the vertical PN diodes are adopted, because the vertical PN diodes have increased current flow rate and the size of cells can be decreased, it is possible to realize a highly integrated phase change memory device.
While not shown in a drawing, phase change memory devices can employ the vertical PN diodes, as cell switching elements. The vertical PN diodes are formed in a cell region after forming gates in a peripheral region. Due to this fact, the vertical PN diodes cannot but be formed higher than the gates. Accordingly, defects are likely to be caused in the transistors which are formed in the peripheral region.
In order to form the vertical PN diodes, in the conventional art, after defining holes in an insulation layer, an epi-silicon layer is formed in the holes through a selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process. Then, N-type and P-type impurities are ion-implanted into the epi-silicon layer. In this regard, since the epi-silicon layer is formed higher than the gates formed in the peripheral region, when conducting the SEG process as a high temperature process, impurities ion-implanted into the source and drain areas of the transistors in the peripheral region diffuse. As a result, a problem is caused in that the characteristics of the transistors in the peripheral region deteriorate.
Meanwhile, in order to reduce the programming current of a phase change memory device, it is necessary to decrease the contact interface between each heater and a phase change layer. This can be accomplished by decreasing the size of the heater. However, since the size distribution of the holes in which heaters are to be formed cannot but be wide due to the limitations in a lithography process, programming current distribution also becomes wide. As a consequence, it is difficult to secure the characteristics of the phase change memory device.
In phase change memory devices, current flow from the cell switching elements is transmitted to the phase change layer through the heaters. If the size of the heaters is decreased so as to reduce the programming current of the phase change memory device, when reset programming is performed, that is, when the phase change layer is quenched after being melted, heat transfer to the heaters does not quickly occur. As a result nucleation is caused in the phase change layer, and reset resistances cannot be produced at a high level. As a result, the difference between reset resistance and set resistance is not substantial enough for an adequate sensing margin to be exploited in which durability characteristics are likely to degrade.

Phase change memory device and method for manufacturing the same


A golf club head is disclosed that includes weight positioning system for modifying a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight positioning system includes a weight and a support. The weight is independently movable along the support to change the position of the center of gravity in a first direction, and the weight is independently movable around the support to change the position of the center of gravity in a second direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the game of golf. The invention concerns, more particularly, a weight positioning system for modifying a position of a center of gravity of a golf club head.
2. Description of Background Art
The formal origins of the game of golf, one of the oldest international sports, dates to the 16th century at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews, located in Scotland. During successive centuries, the game of golf has gained and maintained a populous following due to inherent challenges of the game, a prestigious reputation, and its suitability for relaxation.
Growth in the number of individuals playing the game of golf provides an incentive for manufacturers of golf equipment, which includes golf clubs, balls, footwear, and bags, to improve upon the various features and characteristics of the golf equipment. Golf equipment has, therefore, evolved over time to provide enhanced performance and suitability for a wide range of playing abilities and styles. Many traditional golf balls, for example, included a wound, twine core and a balata rubber cover. More modern golf balls, however, may incorporate a solid core formed of polybutadiene, titanium, nickel, or cobalt, and a cover formed of ionomeric resin, surlyn, or polyurethane. Similarly, footwear intended for the game of golf traditionally utilized sharp, metallic spikes that provided a high degree of traction at the expense of damaging floors and other walking surfaces. In response, modern footwear incorporates polymer structures that provide a comparable degree of traction without damaging walking surfaces. Advances in golf club technology are also of particular interest to sporting goods manufacturers. Golf club shafts, for example, were often fashioned from wood, and are commonly formed of metal or graphite materials today. Whereas golf club heads of drivers were also fashioned from wood, modern drivers generally utilize heads formed of metals, such as steel, aluminum, or titanium.
A golf club head generally includes a substantially planar contact area for engaging a golf ball and propelling the golf ball in an intended direction. One factor that determines whether the golf ball is propelled in the intended direction relates to a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. When the center of gravity is positioned behind the point of engagement on the contact surface, the golf ball follows a generally straight route. When the center of gravity is spaced to a side of the point of engagement, however, the golf ball may follow a route that curves left or right, which is often referred to as a hook or a slice. Similarly, when the center of gravity is spaced above or below the point of engagement, the route of the golf ball may exhibit a boring or climbing trajectory.
Most conventional golf club heads have a fixed center of gravity intended to accommodate a majority of the individuals that play the game of golf. Although golf club heads with a fixed center of gravity are popular among individuals that play the game of golf, systems permitting an individual to adjust or reposition the center of gravity have been proposed. A first type of positioning system involves a translating weight. U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,032 to Smith, for example, discloses a rotatable screw extending through a void in the golf club head. Rotation of the screw induces a weight to move along the length of the screw, thereby altering the position of the center of gravity. A second type of positioning system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,042 to Reimers and generally involves a rotatable, eccentric weight that rotates around a central axis to alter the position of the center of gravity. A third type of positioning system, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,348 to Wargo, includes a removable element of the golf club head that may be replaced by an alternate element having a different weight or moved to a different position of the golf club head, thereby altering the position of the center of gravity.

Golf club having a weight positioning system


A soft start tool handle trigger switch circuit (10) applies voltage from an AC source (12) to a portable tool electric motor (10). A current limiter (30) is connected in series between the AC source (12) and motor (14). A first sub-circuit (32) is connected in parallel with the motor (14) and includes actuator circuitry (34) tripping an actuator solenoid (36). A second sub-circuit (40) is connected in parallel with the current limiter (30) and has a pair of contacts (44, 46) actuated from an open condition to a closed condition upon movement of an actuator plunger (38). An NTC thermistor (48) is connected in series with the actuator circuitry and is physically proximate and heated by heat from the current limiter (30) to reduce the resistance of the NTC thermistor (48) and supply increased current to the actuator circuit (34) for earlier closing of the bypass sub-circuit (40), to stop the current-induced heating of the current limiter (30). Positive kick-off opening of the bypass contacts (44, 46) is provided upon release of the user finger engaged trigger (28) as the latter moves from its depressed to its extended position. Voltage sensitive (34) and time sensitive (70) circuitry is provided.

The invention relates to tool handle trigger switch circuits for applying voltage from an AC source to a portable tool electric motor.
Soft turn-on circuitry using a current limiting resistor for limiting the amount of power initially applied to a load from a power source is known in the prior art. This is typically accomplished by a current limiting resistor. This type of soft turn-on circuitry has not been applied to tool handle trigger switches because of the heat generated by the current limiting resistor and the inability to dissipate same within the small confines of a compact tool handle trigger switch. Instead, soft start tool handle trigger switch circuitry uses an SCR and gradually phases-on the SCR to provide soft turn-on. Initially, the SCR is on for only a small portion of the AC cycle, which portion is increased with subsequent cycles to gradually apply power to the portable tool electric motor. This phasing-on soft start circuitry is objectionable because of its high cost, including the SCR, and concerns about reliability.
The present invention provides a soft start tool handle trigger switch circuit for applying voltage from an AC source to a portable tool electric motor without the expense of the above noted phasing-on circuitry. The present invention uses a current limiter connected in series between the AC source and the motor, and solves the above noted heating problem.

Soft start AC tool handle trigger switch circuit


Dichlorotin phthalocyanine crystals having distinct diffraction peaks at (i) 8.7.degree., 9.9.degree., 10.9.degree., 13.1.degree., 15.2.degree., 16.3.degree., 17.4.degree., 21.9.degree. and 25.5.degree., or (ii) 9.2.degree., 12.2.degree., 13.4.degree., 14.6.degree., 17.0.degree. and 25.3.degree. of the Bragg angle (2.theta..+-.0.2) to a CuK.alpha. characteristic X-ray; a method of preparing dichlorotin phthalocyanine crystals having the strongest diffraction peak at 28.2.degree. in the range of from 25.degree. to 30.degree. of the Bragg angle (2.theta..+-.0.2) in an X-ray diffraction spectrum; and an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising an electroconductive support having thereon a light-sensitive layer containing the dichlorotin phthalocyanine crystals having distinct diffraction peaks at the particular angles or the dichlorotin phthalocyanine crystals prepared by the method.

Phthalocyanines are useful as materials for paint compositions, printing inks and catalysts and as electronic materials and, in particular, they have been broadly investigated as materials for electrophotographic photoreceptors, materials for optical recording and materials for photo-electric conversion in these days.
Regarding electrophotographic photoreceptors, recently, the demand for extending the light-sensitive wavelength range of organic photoconductive materials which have heretofore been proposed up to the near infrared wavelength range of semiconductor lasers (780 to 830 nm) so as to use the materials as a photoreceptor for a digital recording system such as a laser printer. From the viewpoint, squalilium compounds (as disclosed, e.g., in JP-A-49-105536 and JP-A-58-21414 triphenylamine trisazo compounds (as disclosed, e.g., in JP-A-61-151659) and phthalocyanine compounds (as disclosed, e.g., in JP-A-48-34189 and JP-A-57-148745) have been proposed as photoconductive materials for semiconductor lasers. (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application")
Where organic photoconductive materials are used as light-sensitive materials for semiconductor lasers, they are needed to satisfy the conditions that the light-sensitive wavelength range is extended up to a long wavelength range and that the sensitivity and durability of the photoreceptors to be formed therefrom are good. The above-mentioned organic photoconductive materials do not sufficiently meet the conditions.
In order to overcome various drawbacks of the known photoconductive materials, the materials have been investigated with respect to the relationship between the crystal form and the electrophotographic characteristics. In particular, many reports relating to phthalocyanine compounds have heretofore been disclosed.
In general, it is known that phthalocyanine compounds have various crystal forms, depending upon the difference in the manufacture method and treating method, and that the difference in the crystal form has a great influence on the photo-electric, conversion characteristics of phthalocyanine compounds. Regarding crystal forms of phthalocyanine compounds, for example, with respect to copper phthalocyanine, various crystal forms of .alpha., .pi., .chi., .rho., .gamma. and .delta. are known in addition to a stable crystal form of .beta.. It is also known that these crystal forms are mutually transferable to each other by mechanical tension, sulfuric acid treatment, organic solvent treatment or heat treatment (for example, refer to U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,770,029, 3,160,635, 3,708,292 and 3,357,989). JP-A-50-38543 describes relationship between the difference of crystal forms of copper phthalocyanine and electrophotographic characteristics of them.
JP-A-62-119547 describes an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a dihalogenotin phthalocyanine as a charge generating material; and JP-A-1-144057 describes tin phthalocyanine compounds having particular diffraction peaks on an X-ray diffraction pattern and an electrophotographic photoreceptor having them.
However, the above-mentioned phthalocyanine compounds which have heretofore been proposed are not sufficient in point of the light sensitivity and the durability when used as a light-sensitive material.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned situation of the prior art techniques.

Crystals of dichlorotin phthalocyanine, method of preparing the crystal, and electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising the crystal


A method and a system for automatically mapping obstacles within a bin that stores content, the system may include: a location estimator that is arranged to calculate, in response to detection signals, an estimated shape of an upper surface of the content; wherein the detection signals are generated by a receiver in response to radiation signals reflected or scattered from multiple points within the bin; and an obstacle detector that is arranged to detect at least one obstacle point that belongs to an obstacle in response to (a) the estimated shape of the upper surface of the content, and (b) an expected shape attribute of the upper surface of the content.

The present invention relates to monitoring of inventory and to process measurement, and, more particularly, to a system and method for measuring the content of a bin.
The monitoring of liquid inventory generally is straightforward. By contrast, the monitoring of bulk solid inventory that consists of particulates piled up inside a to bin such as a silo often is very difficult. Examples of such bulk solid inventory include cement and sand for construction, grain, fertilizer, etc. The measurement of the level of bulk materials inside a bin is a problem that has not yet been solved adequately. The conditions inside bins typically are unfavorable (dust, extreme temperatures, etc.) and the contents of the bulk material stored in the bins often do not have a flat surface and are not always isotropic. Other difficulties arises from the wide variety of bin shapes in use and from the explosive atmospheres inside some bins.
The scope of the term "bin" as used herein includes any storage container, for bulk particulate solids, whose structure defines an interior volume for receiving and storing the solids. Such a bin may be closed above, below and on all sides, as is the case when the bin is a silo, vessel or tank, or may be open above or on one or more sides. The example of a "bin" that is used in the detailed description of the present invention below is a silo; but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art how to apply the principles of the present invention to any type of bin.
Five principal methods are known for continuous measurement of the content of a bin such as a silo.
An electromechanical (yo-yo) level sensor consists essentially of a weight at one end of a reel of tape. The weight is allowed to descend in the silo to the depth at which the top surface of the content is situated. When the weight settles on top of the content, the tension in the tape slackens. The weight then is retracted to the top set point. The height of the content is inferred from the time required to retract the weight or from the measured tape length.
Mechanical devices such as yo-yo sensors are unreliable. They tend to get clogged by dust and to get stuck on obstacles such as pumps and rods inside the silos.
Ultrasonic level sensors work on the principle of ultrasonic sound wave transmission and reception. High frequency sound waves from a transmitter are reflected by the top surface of the content to a receiver. The height of the content is inferred from the round-trip travel time. Such sensors have limited range and work poorly in the presence of dust. In addition, such devices need to be custom-designed for different types of silo.
Radar level sensors work on the principle of electromagnetic wave transmission and reception. Electromagnetic waves from a transmitter are reflected by the top surface of the content to a receiver. The height of the content is inferred from the round-trip travel time. Such sensors are have a single point of measurement that is not suited for bulk solids.
Capacitance sensors measure the capacitance between two metallic rods or between a metallic rod and the ground. Because the silo content has a different dielectric constant than air, the capacitance changes according to the level of the top surface of the content between the two rods or between a rod and the ground. Such sensors tend to be inaccurate and are sensitive to humidity and to type of material stored in the silo.
All the prior art sensors discussed above are insensitive to the shape of the contents, and so are inaccurate in the presence of a common phenomenon called "coning" that occurs as bulk particulate solids are withdrawn via the base of a bin: an inverted conical hole, whose apex is directly above the point of withdrawal, tends to form in the bulk particulate solids. A similar phenomenon occurs as bulk particulate solids are added to a bin from the top: the solids tend to pile up in a cone whose apex is directly below the point of insertion of the solids. These sensors also work poorly in bins with complicated geometries and in the presence of obstacles.
A weight gauge measures the weight of a mobile silo and its content by measuring the tension in the rods that hold the silo. Installation of such gauges is complex, and they are suitable only for mobile silos with metallic legs.
One of the main issues in measuring the contents of a bin (bulk solids or liquids) is false echoes.
False echoes results from an illumination of obstacles within the bin. These obstacles can be foreign objects, irregularities on the bin walls, build up of content material and even corrugations). Content material can, for example, accumulate on an obstacle or on the bin wall.
When material level is bellow these obstacles—the level measurement device might lock on the obstacles and consider them as the actual material level.
The location of these obstacles and their sizes is different in every bin and therefore they cannot be eliminated prior to installation in a generic robust way for all vessels.
A known way to cope the false echoes problem is to wait till the bin is empty of contents (after level measurement device is installed) and then map (record) manually all the echoes the device detect that come from distances that are smaller than the vessel bottom. In more general sense the mapping can be done till a given known material level (that might be above the bottom).
There are few major problems with this method:                a. Manual mapping requires some technical understanding of the device operation (which makes the installation easy to use).        b. Manual mapping requires the knowledge of the contents level at a given time (which is actually why the device was installed in the first place).        c. At some cases the vessel will be emptied only a long time after installation which prolongs the completion of installation        d. Build ups of bulk solids create obstacles that grow over time and thus no manual mapping can eliminate them in advance.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a method of measuring the content of a bin and especially detect obstacles and would overcome the disadvantages of presently known methods as described above.

System and method for shape attribute based detection of obstacles within a bin


An electrophotographic organic photosensitive layer is formed by using a diphenoquinone derivative A and a diphenoquinone derivative B having a larger absolute value for reduction potential as electron transport materials. The diphenoquinone derivative A is, for example, 3,5-dimethyl-3',5'-di-t-butyl-4,4'-diphenoquinone. The diphenoquinone derivative B is, for example, 3,3',5,5'-tetra-t-butyl-4,4'-diphenoquinone. The diphenoquinone derivative B is included in the proportion of 3 to 50 wt % on the basis of the total weight of the electron transport materials (the diphenoquinone derivatives A and B).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic organic photoconductor used in a copying machine, a laser printer and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a monolayer type electrophotographic organic photoconductor which can be charged with a desired polarity, i.e., either positively or negatively, and has a small residual potential and an improved sensitivity.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electrophotographic copying machine using a digital optical system, the light source generally has a wavelength of 700 nm or more. As a photoconductor having a sensitivity in this wavelength region, an organic photoconductor (OPC), an amorphous silicon (.alpha.-Si) photoconductor, a selenium photoconductor and the like are known. Among them, the organic photoconductor is mostly used because of its high sensitivity and low cost.
The following two types of organic photoconductors are known: A so-called function separate type organic photoconductor in which a charge generation layer (hereinafter referred to as the "CGL") and a charge transport layer (hereinafter referred to as the "CTL") are laminated onto each other, that is, a multi-layer type photoconductor; and a monolayer type photoconductor having a photosensitive layer including a charge transport material and a charge generation material. The function separate type organic photoconductor mainly used these days comprises the CGL and the CTL successively laminated on a conductive substrate and has a large sensitivity and a high mechanical strength.
The charge transport material used in the photoconductor is required to have high carrier mobility. Since most of the charge transport materials with high carrier mobility are hole transport materials, all the practical organic photoconductors including such a charge transport material are always negatively charged. However, when a negative charge is produced on the surface of such an organic photoconductor, a large amount of ozone is produced due to a reaction with oxygen in air, since the charge is caused by a negative corona discharge, resulting in problems of environmental contamination and degradation of the photoconductor to be obtained. Moreover, a special charging system for preventing the generation of ozone, a decomposition system for the generated ozone, a system for exhausting the ozone from the apparatus and the like are required in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, resulting in a complicated process and system.
The multilayer type photoconductor requires two coating processes for forming the photosensitive layer. Moreover, an interface is present between the CGL and the CTL. Such an interface tends to cause an interference fringe.
As a charge transport material for overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages, use of an electron transport material is proposed. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1-206349 discloses the use of a compound having a diphenoquinone structure as the charge transport material.
However, the electron transport materials including diphenoquinones generally have a poor compatibility with a binding resin, resulting in lengthening the hopping distance of an electron. Therefore, an electron has difficulty in moving within an electric field with a low voltage, and the residual potential is fairly high. Thus, a photoconductor utilizing a practical electron transport material is desired to be developed.
On the other hand, a photoconductor which can be charged with a desired polarity, i.e., either positively or negatively, has a wider range of application. As a result, the foregoing various disadvantages can be overcome.
Moreover, the monolayer organic photoconductor including the electron transport material and the like dispersed therein can be easily produced and has a number of advantages in the prevention of coating defects and improvement of optical characteristics of the photoconductor.


The invention provides a scented gel candle which is flash proof and provides a greater scent. The candle consists of a container having a candle body of a triblock copolymer and hydrocarbon oil having a high flash point. A wick is located in the candle body and is preferably of an unwaxed diameter of about 3/64 to 5/64 inch. The use of the combination of an appropriately sized wick and the high flash hydrocarbon oil provides a safe candle with a satisfactory release of a scent.

Gel candles have been used for dispensing a controlled release of different scents, phenomones, insect repellents, and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,175 to Johnson, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a hydrocarbon gel in which one or more block copolymers are derived from styrene-rubber block units, a hydrocarbon oil and an insecticide or insect repellant. The composition is for emitting the scents at low temperatures and for use in skin applications. A candle is not disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,089 to Elsamalotz discloses a clear candle made from a gel comprising mineral oil containing at least one diblock copolymer and at least one triblock copolymer. The combination disclosed forms a candle which can overheat and is subject to flashing when in a confined container and burned for a long period of time.
In aromatherapy, the different scents from essential oils trigger a mind-body reaction, which have been indicated as alleviating physical and emotional symptoms such as muscle pain, nervousness, irritability, headaches and lethargy.
In aromatherapy, oils, herbs such as bergamot, geranium, lavender, tea tree, lemon, peppermint and sage have been used to treat acne and oily skin.
The essential oils of rose, aloe, jasmine, and orange have been used to treat dry skin.
For stress and anxiety, the essential oils for aromatherapy are allspice, cedarwood, melissa, orange and sandalwood.
Essential oils derived from impatiens, rose, iris, holly snapdragons and other plants have been found to be useful for aromatherapy alone or in a combination.
The diffusion of the essential oils by means of the present invention provides the same reaction as spraying the essential oils in a room.
Many of the terpenes, for example, menthol, thymol, eucalyptus, and the like have been found to be useful in room vaporizers and sprays to disinfect or to provide a decongestant effect. It would be advantageous to use the terpenes in combination with the candles of the present invention. The use of the specific hydrocarbon oils of the invention together with a larger wick causes a greater pooling of the candle body and thereby a greater release of scent.
It is understood that the term "burn point" with regard to hydrocarbon oil gel candle relates to the temperature at which a fire will be sustained.
"Flash point" relates to the temperature at which the hydrocarbon oil gives off a vapor sufficient to form an ignitable mixture with air. This temperature is generally lower than the burn point and relates to the type of volatiles in the oil.
It is common in the industry to provide a metal clip at the base of a wick. Generally, the base of the metal clip has a base diameter of 15-20 mm and a neck or stem height of about 2 mm.
The wicks of candles are usually waxed and formed by strands of cotton or other threads. The nomenclature varies within the industry. For example, wicking material prepared by Atkins & Pierce having a designation of 44-28-18z refers to a wick wound with a 44 gear (provides relative tightness) size of wick having 28 strands of a type 18 cotton and a zinc core.
Flat braided wicks can be used, however such wicks are more common in large pillar type candles. The dimensions for a flat braided wick are generally by the total number of threads used to prepare the wick, for example, a 15 ply flat braid wick would contain 15 threads, perhaps 5 threads in each of 3 strands which are braided.


A food processing method and system, including a continuous cooker/chiller conveyor system (24) for meat products such as hot dogs and the like, is provided with an automatic unloader (36) having a first discharge transfer mode (FIGS. 1 and 2) automatically transferring the food product (22) to an automatic transfer member (38) for conveyance to a packaging line (32, 34), and a second discharge holding mode (FIGS. 3 and 4) holding the food product (22) on rack-off discharge arms (54, 56) until manually removed. In the event of an interruption in the packaging line (32, 34), rather than automatically transferring the food product (22) from the automatic unloader (36) to the transfer member (38), a rack-off procedure is instituted and the food product (22) is manually unloaded from the automatic unloader (36) and manually transferred to a holding rack (44, 46) on a temporary basis until resumption of operation of the packaging line (32, 34). This enables food product (22) to be continuously conveyed by the continuous cooker/chiller conveyor system (24) to the unloading station (26) without interruption, even if there is an interruption in operation of the downstream packaging line (32, 34).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to food processing systems, including continuous cooker/chiller conveyor systems for meat products such as hot dogs, and more particularly to an automatic unloading system enabling optional manual rack-off in the event of an interruption in a downstream packaging line, and to other automatic unloader features.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a food processing system conveying food product, including meat products such as hot dogs or the like, through a continuous cooker and/or chiller conveyor system to an unloading station, it is desired to continuously convey the food product to the unloading station without interruption, even if there is a breakdown or other interruption in operation of a packaging line downstream thereof.

Food processing system with automatic unloading and optional rack-off

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Example data processing methods and apparatus are provided. In one example, an electronic terminal obtains target data that includes at least one data item, converts the target data into a data image by using a data visualization technology, and then sets the data image as wallpaper, where the data image includes at least one graphic element, and the graphic element is in a one-to-one correspondence with the data item. The target data is user data, and may include operation event information of operating the electronic terminal by a user, or information that is associated with a user account and that is based on at least one network platform, so as to automatically generate the wallpaper and show the user data to the user by using the wallpaper.

With rapid development of electronic technologies, electronic terminals with a display screen, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, and a smart television, are widely applied in people's daily life. For the sake of beauty, wallpaper is usually set in a lock screen interface, a home interface, and the like of an electronic device. The wallpaper is classified into static wallpaper and live wallpaper. A user may set a specific picture as the wallpaper, or set a picture set that includes a plurality of pictures as the wallpaper, and the plurality of the pictures may be switched according to a particular rule.
However, the wallpaper currently set in the electronic terminal is usually a picture obtained from the Internet or a picture taken by using a camera in the electronic terminal, and is relatively singular. Therefore, user experience is relatively poor.

Data processing method and electronic terminal


A non-transitory computer-readable medium can include instructions for performing a method that includes, in response to an activation user input at a mobile device associated with a teleconference event, automatically joining the mobile device to the teleconference event. The mobile device can join the teleconference event by retrieving stored call-in details for the teleconference event, and sending, from the mobile device to a remote proxy, the call-in details for the teleconference event. The method can also include connecting the mobile device to the teleconference event via a call path that is established in response to the sending.

A teleconference can be implemented via two or more persons using a variety of media types, such as via one or more audio, video, and/or data services by one or more means (e.g., telephone, computer, telegraph, teletypewriter, radio, and television). Teleconferences provide convenient way to conduct meetings while reducing travel costs and allowing workers to be more productive by not having to go out-of-office for meetings. Participants of a conference call are usually able to call into the conference call themselves by dialing a telephone number that connects to a conference bridge (a specialized type of equipment that links telephone lines). The conference bridge can be controlled by a participant's company or third party service provider who maintains the conference bridge. In order to connect, each participant typically dials a phone number and enters a conference identifier and a PIN code (e.g., password) to access the conference call.

Methods and systems to facilitate conferencing using mobile device


Disclosed are a phosphor and a light emitting device including the same. The light emitting device includes a light emitting chip, a phosphor layer on the light emitting chip, and a phosphor added into the phosphor layer to absorb a light emitted from the light emitting chip and emit a central wavelength having a first blue color. The phosphor has a composition formula of LaxOySi6Al4N12:Ce3+z, a range of the x is 2≦x≦8, and a range of the y is 3≦y≦12.

The embodiment relates to a phosphor and a light emitting device having the same. The light emitting device may be included in a lighting system.
A LED (Light Emitting Device) is a device having a property of converting electrical energy into light energy. For example, the LED may represent various colors by adjusting the compositional ratio of compound semiconductors.
For instance, a nitride semiconductor represents superior thermal stability and wide bandgap energy so that the nitride semiconductor has been spotlighted in the field of optical devices and high-power electronic devices. In particular, blue, green, and UV light emitting devices employing the nitride semiconductor have already been commercialized and extensively used.
A LED of emitting white color light, which employs a secondary light source of emitting light by coating phosphor, is generally implemented through a scheme of coating YAG:Ce phosphor of generating yellow color light on a blue LED.
However, according to the scheme described above, due to quantum deficits and reradiation efficiency caused by secondary light, the efficiency is degraded and the color rendering is not easy.
Thus, since a white LED backlight according to the related art has the combination of a blue LED and a yellow phosphor, the white LED backlight lacks of green and red components, so that colors are unnaturally represented. For this reason, the white LED backlight has been limitedly applied to a display of a cellular phone or a laptop computer. Nevertheless, the white LED backlight according to the related art has been extensively used because the white LED backlight is easily driven and remarkably inexpensive.
Generally, it is well known in the art that the phosphor material may include a silicate, a phosphate, an aluminate, or a sulfide and a transition metal or a rare earth metal is used at the center of light emission. For example, although silicate phosphor has been used for a backlight unit or a lighting device, the silicate phosphor is weak to moisture so the reliability of the silicate phosphor is inferior to any other phosphors.
Meanwhile, although a phosphor for a white LED, which is excited by an excitation source having high energy such as ultraviolet light or blue light to emit visible light, has been mainly developed, if the phosphor according to the related art is exposed to the excitation source, the luminance of the phosphor is reduced.

Phosphor and light emitting device having the same


There is disclosed a portable electronic device (15) including an electronic circuit for receiving radiobroadcast signals whose frequency belongs to the very high frequency range (VHF). Said receiving circuit includes, in particular, an antenna (1) including one or more coils (2, 27) each having a generally flat spiral-shaped winding housed in the wristband of the portable device (15). One thus obtains a very high quality and compact radiobroadcast signal receiving circuit.

The present invention concerns a portable electronic device including a wristband, a case and an electronic circuit for receiving radiobroadcast signals comprising an antenna disposed in said wristband.
More precisely, the present invention concerns a particular antenna structure that allows the portable device to receive signals whose frequency is located in the very high frequency range, i.e. VHF waves, with a high level of sensitivity. Preferably, said antenna is capable of receiving signals belonging to the FM ("frequency modulation") band frequency range, in other words whose frequency is substantially comprised between 87 and 110 MHz.
Such devices have already been disclosed in the prior art and in particular, very varied antenna structures have been proposed.
One may, for example, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,285, granted 28 Jun. 1988, which discloses a wristwatch incorporating in particular a circuit for receiving radiobroadcast signals requiring the use of an antenna. The solution disclosed consists in arranging a metal wire in an extensible wristband across its entire length and such that said wire goes successively around in the direction of the width of said wristband. Thus, the length of the wire is greater than the length of said wristband in the rest position, which then allows the wristband to be extended.
However, this solution, in addition to taking up a significant amount of space in the wristband, is not suitable for watches whose wristband comprises two strands closing over each other via a fastening device.
Other solutions have been presented to respond to this particular case, such as a simple metal wire loop passing through each of the two strands of the wristband from the end connected to the watchcase to the end carrying the means for fastening it to the other strand. Means are also provided for establishing an electric connection between the two parts of the loop at the location of the fastening means.
However, these connection means complicate the construction of the wristband, all the more so since they are preferably protected from the external environment, in particular from the perspiration of the person wearing the watch, which means significant protective measures have to be taken.

Vhf wave receiver antenna housed in a wristband of a portable electronic device


A toner for developing an electrostatic charge image is disclosed, which is formed by adding and mixing an external additive with toner particles having an average particle size of not larger than 9 .mu.m and comprising at least a colorant and a binder resin, wherein the external additive is fine particles having a particle size of 20 to 80 nm. There is also disclosed a process for preparing the toner which comprises adding external additives to the toner particles and mixing them, wherein the addition and mixing of said external additive are carried out under specific conditions.

Small-size toners having a particle size of not larger than 9 .mu.m have been used in recent years to provide an image of higher quality. An image of higher quality can be provided by making toner particles finer, but there are caused problems that transferability (i.e., transferring property) and cleaning properties are lowered. To solve these problems, various additives such as transfer aid and cleaning aid have been added to the toner particles. For example, an attempt to improve the powder fluidity of toners has been made by adding fine silica particles to thereby improve transferability, or an attempt to improve cleaning properties has been made by adding lubricants or polymer beads.
These problems can also be improved by lowering the chargeability (i.e., tribocharge) of the toner. In this case, however, there is posed a problem that the occurrence of toner cloud is marked and a trouble due to contamination in machines is caused. FIG. I-1 and FIG. I-2 illustrate these phenomenons. FIG. I-1 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the charge quantity of a toner and adhesion (i.e., adhesive power). FIG. I-2 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the charge quantity of a toner and a toner-peeling electric field (an electric field required for peeling off the toner). It can be seen from these figures that in the case where the charge quantities of the toners are the same, the adhesion of the toner is independent of particle size, while the electric field for peeling off the toner is greatly increased with a reduction in the particle size of the toner. This means that the latitude of transfer cloud becomes greatly narrow by making the particle size of the toner finer.
When external additives are conventionally added to and mixed with the toners, the toners themselves have a particle size of as large as 10 .mu.m or more and hence transferability is good. Accordingly, only a fluidizing agent conventionally is added to and mixed with the toners. In those toner compositions, the fluidizing agent is mixed so as to allow it to firmly adhere to the toners. The addition of two types of external additives having a particle size of not larger than 30 .mu.m to toner particles having an average particle size of 12 .mu.m has been proposed to increase the charge quantity and at the same time to improve transferability as disclosed in JP-A-2-151872 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"). In such a toner composition, the external additives are mixed under such conditions that the additives are allowed to firmly adhere to the toner particles. In carrying out transfer, the particle size of toner greatly contributes to transferability and a contact area between a photoreceptor and the toner is small so that transfer can be relatively well-made irrespective of the mixing conditions.
However, when small-size toners are used, the charge quantity per gram is increased and transferability is lowered. Hence, the particle sizes of the additive particles should be large and as a result, there is a problem that good transferability can not be obtained depending on mixing conditions.
Further, when small-size toners are used, surface area per gram is increased. Accordingly, a large amount of a fluidizing agent is used and mixing must be conducted so as to allow the fluidizing agent to firmly adhere to the toner to obtain fluidity.
Furthermore, when fine particles having a large particle size and fine particles having a small particle size are added to the toner, there are caused problems that the mixing of the particles having a large particle size is insufficient under conventional addition and mixing conditions for fine particles having a small particle size, a toner to which the external additives uniformly adhere can not be obtained and transferability is insufficient. FIG. II-1(B) is a sectional view of a toner where fine particles having a large particle size non-uniformly adhere to the toner, and the fine particles 2 having a large particle size concentratedly adhere to recessed areas (i.e., concave portions) on the surface of toner particle 1.
Accordingly, it has been demanded to improve developing properties, transferability (i.e., transferring property) and cleaning properties without causing the occurrence of toner cloud in development, namely, without causing a lowering in the charge quantity of the toner. The present invention has been accomplished to meet such requirements.

Toner for developing electrostatic charge image and process for preparing the same


A roller bearing is provided with an elastic member that is fitted to an annular groove that is formed in the outer circumference of an outer ring. A chamfered portion, formed on one side face of the groove, is made larger than a chamfered portion formed on the other side face, and has a distance from the bottom face of the groove that is set to ½ or more of the thickness of the elastic member.

In a roller bearing which is provided with an outer ring, an inner ring and a plurality of rollers interposed between the two rings, a structure has been proposed in which an O-ring is fitted to an annular groove formed in the outer circumference of the outer ring so that an creep property of the outer ring, which is exerted when vibration and an unbalanced load are applied thereto, is improved (Patent Document 1=Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-13030.9). The roller bearing of this type is used for supporting, for example, a rotation axis of a motor device so as to provide effects for reducing vibrations and operation sound of the motor.
In the roller bearing of Patent Document 1, however, upon attaching the outer ring to the housing, the O-ring (elastic member) tends to be sandwiched between the opening edge of the groove and the housing, resulting in damages to the O-ring.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a roller bearing that can reduce vibrations and operation sound and also prevent damages to an elastic member that is used for reducing these, and a motor device using such a roller bearing.

Rolling bearing and motor device using the same


An electronic waste tracking device, process, and system to track waste from one location to another location.

Today, much waste or waste material from homes, residences, businesses, stores, convenience stores, fast food chains, restaurants, retail locations, offices, schools, and commercial, institutional, and government environments or locations is discarded by individuals (e.g. mainly homeowners, renters, occupants, workers, consumers, employees, students) into waste receptacles (e.g. waste containers such as trash containers, trash receptacles, trash cans, garbage containers, garbage receptacles, and garbage cans) provided onsite. These waste receptacles typically are fitted with disposable plastic bags, which can be closed when filled, removed from the waste receptacles, and then disposed of in waste containers (e.g. trash cans, garbage cans, and dumpsters) usually located outside the buildings and/or adjacent to the parking lots of these locations to facilitate removal by a waste disposal service.
Typically, the waste is not sorted onsite, and all different types of waste are discarded into the same waste receptacles resulting in a wide variety of waste mixed together, including trash, garbage, paper products plastic products, food waste, and other waste items defining a general waste stream. The plastic bags filled with waste are thrown into a garbage can or dumpster, and mixed with other loose waste or plastic bags containing waste. This waste is transported in dumpsters or garbage trucks to landfills, and typically not sorted before land filling.
Currently, there exists a need to recover materials, which requires separating or sorting waste into targeted waste to allow this particular waste to be effectively recycled. Once certain types of waste are mixed together, even subsequent separating or sorting may not allow the waste to be recycled due to the contamination of the targeted waste with other types of waste. In particular, waste food and beverage products (e.g. paper products, paper cups, paper plates, paper containers, plastic products, plastic cups, plastic containers, foam products, foam cups, foam plates, foam containers, cardboard products) should be handled and/or processed to minimize contaminants. For example, these waste food and beverage product should not be mixed with other types of waste to avoid being contaminated to allow these types of waste to be recycled into new products suitable for contact and use with food and beverage that meet the standards and guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Further, to ensure proper handling of the waste food and beverage products, the custody of this waste from the point of disposal (e.g. store located waste receptacle) through the point of recycling of this waste must be established, tracked, maintained, and verified to assure no additional contamination thereof. Thus, it is preferred that this type of waste be immediately separated or sorted at the onsite location, and maintained separate from the general or mixed waste stream throughout collecting, transporting, storing, and recycling thereof. However, if maintained separate in the way described here it can be economically co-transported from facility to facility.
Due to the large amount of labor involved with sorting, it is desirable that consumers (e.g. individuals, end users, customers, students, employees, workers, contractors) of food and beverage products immediately begin the process of sorting the waste food and beverage products by placing these items in marked waste collection containers (e.g. receptacles, bins, vessels). For example, consumers immediately place used paper cups or plastic bottles into separately marked waste collection containers to begin the process of effectively sorting particular types of waste. The marked waste collection containers, preferably contain a removable disposable bag(s) or liner(s), which when filled can be removed and then disposed of into waste containers such as garbage cans and dumpsters.
In the recycling of paper cups and paper plates, the paper substrate is of a high quality paperboard stock, which has been treated with a plastic, wax, or resin coating process to make the paperboard resistant to water penetration and resulting degradation. It is desirable to be able to recycle this particular type of paper stock into long fiber pulp and/or food grade paperboard suitable for manufacturing paper cups, paper plates, and other direct food contact type products and containers, while maintaining a sanitary environment and ensuring a high degree of custody and segregation to avoid the inclusion of unnecessary hazardous or deleterious materials in the new products.
Due to increasing public, private, and government awareness and interest in "going green" and being environmentally friendly, there exists renewed interest and demand for recycled products having greater percentages of recycled material content. Thus, this demand will require new and effective systems and methods of recycling waste into renewable products.
In most store, retail, office, school, commercial, institutional, and government environments or locations, simple waste receptacles (e.g. trash containers, trash cans, garbage containers, garbage cans) are still used today to collect and remove waste from these environments or locations. Again, it is common to provide disposable plastic bags or liners in waste receptacles to facilitate removal and transfer of the waste to garbage cans and dumpsters and to maintain a sanitary condition of the waste receptacles. In order to recycle the waste, in particular targeted waste to be recycled into food grade new products (e.g. paper cups, plastic cups, foam cups, paper plates, plastic plates, foam plates, paper bowls, plastic bowls, foam bowls, plastic utensils), it is desirable to treat the waste prior to and/or during the collecting, storing, transporting, and recycling stages or steps. In particular, it is desirable to densify the waste to reduce its volume, disinfect, and remove water or liquid from the waste to prevent deterioration of the waste (e.g. breaking down of the waste chemically or biologically) to maintain the high quality of the waste material to be recycled, particularly waste to be recycled into food grade or contact recycled products.
Further, it is desirable to collect the waste immediately after use by the consumer, in particular at the onsite environment or location, again to obtain the waste material to be recycled before any deterioration thereof. For example, new paper products are typically placed in contact or filled with food and beverage at store (e.g. fast food establishments, cafés, restaurants, food courts, markets, convenience stores), retail, office, school, commercial, institutional, and government environments or locations, and then immediately consumed onsite. Thus, it is desirable to provide a waste collection device onsite that is configured to operate onsite, and capable of safely and effectively interfacing with consumers. The waste collection device is configured to treat the waste being discarded by mechanical treatment (e.g. shredding, compressing, mechanism and limit consumer contamination, light treatment (e.g. laser, UV, IR), disinfecting, removing water, treating with air, chemicals, gases, and treating with pressure, vacuum, and heat. It is particularly desirable to treat the waste immediately upon being discarded into the waste collection device, however, additional or timed treatments can be applied inside or within the waste collection device, again to maintain the high quality of the stock material to be recycled.
Current Waste Recycling
Recently, there are some stores attempting to separate and collect different types of waste by using multiple waste receptacles marked for a particular type of waste. However, it is not evident if this separated waste is stored, maintained, and/or picked up separately from these stores based on the particular type of waste, or subsequently mixed together, for example, by being thrown together into the same dumpster prior to transportation from a store.
By far the most common waste disposal method used by consumers, is to dispose all types of waste into a common waste receptacle resulting in immediate mixing and contamination of the waste. Specifically, waste paper products, plastic products, and food waste end up being thrown into the same common waste receptacle, and then typically subsequently transferred to a garbage can or dumpster for transportation to a waste disposal location (e.g. land fill) or a waste collection/processing location. The waste is immediately contaminated while sitting in the individual disposable container, and continues to be further contaminated with time, transportation, and handling prior to final disposal, collection and/or processing.
There currently appears to be no devices, systems, processes, or methods of marking, tagging, and otherwise identifying waste receptacles and waste containers to maintain the identification of the type of waste contained in each individual waste receptacle and waste container. Further there appears to be no devices, systems, processes, or methods of tracking individual disposable or recyclable waste containers (e.g. plastic bags, paper bags, cardboard boxes) from the point of collection, being moved around within the store, transported from the store, being moved around in a waste collection or processing center, being transported to a waste recycling location, and to the point of being recycled. Even further, there appears to be no devices, systems, processes, or methods of maintaining and verifying the custody of separated waste, in particular targeted waste, contained in disposable or recyclable waste containers from the point of collection to the point of recycling to ensure that the waste remains uncontaminated at the time and place of recycling.

Smart waste device and waste tracking system


A configurable charge storage network and control system provide a context-aware power network for a system including a circuit, the power network coupled to the circuit to provide a core voltage to the circuit; and a context-based controller that monitors a supply voltage level of a power supply, monitors a core voltage level of the core voltage, and monitors activity of the circuit to derive an activity level of the circuit; and based on the activity level of the circuit, adjusts a capacitance of the power network or charging parameters associated with the power network to correspond to a power requirement associated with the activity level.

Charge storage devices such as capacitors may be used to supply power to Integrated Circuit chips either in their entirety or to part of the circuitry on the chip. The size (capacity) of a power capacitor determines the amount of charge it can hold which in turn determines the amount of power it can supply to the circuitry.


A vacuum suction force control apparatus is disclosed by way of a duct, having an entrance port and at least one exit port. Flow of suction force is controlled by moving a piston-like plunger inside the duct, connecting the entrance port to one, or simultaneously, multiple, adjacent exit ports. The present invention achieves known vacuum distribution without utilizing prior art electromechanical vacuum valves and associated electrical control cabling and power supply equipment. Therefore, the present invention is inherently capable of maintaining a particular, temporary distribution configuration without requiring electrical nor mechanical energy.

The present invention relates to devices for temporarily affixing objects utilizing vacuum and in particular to a vacuum distribution manifold apparatus for vacuum tables.
Surfaces capable of affixing an object by vacuum are commonly known as vacuum tables. Prior art vacuum tables commonly have a predetermined perforated region through which maximum vacuum suction force typically is applied to an object that covers at least the predetermined perforated region. The suction force is usually generated by a vacuum pump system. The object becomes thus affixed to the surface while the suction force or vacuum is enabled. Suction force is lost through holes not covered by the object, and thus many techniques have been employed in the prior art to overcome this problem.
One possible solution is to utilize a suction force controlling device such as a Coanda-Effect operated diaphragm device, or a differential pressure valve. This is an inherently costly solution, since one such device is needed for each of the numerous holes of a vacuum table.
Another simple and effective solution is to cover any uncovered region with masks of various shapes. In mass manufacturing processes the objects usually has a constant size, and a custom made mask is therefore commonly utilized.
Another solution is to divide the perforated region into a number of smaller areas so that suction-force can be occluded from those areas not in contact with or covered by the object. Vacuum valves operated by electrically controlled solenoids are widely utilized in industrial vacuum table applications.
It should be noted here that, for ease of understanding the prior art predicaments, the following discussion relates to FIGS. 1A and 1B, illustrations of a 5-area addressable vacuum table. Persons versed in the art will readily appreciated that, for each addressable area, substantially identical subsystems need to be employed.
FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a prior art vacuum table system configuration for directing suction-force to multiple addressable areas 100 of a vacuum table 102. A vacuum pump 104 is coupled to a manifold 106 comprising a predetermined number (2, 3, or more) of ports 108. Each port 108 is coupled to a respective area suction inlet port 110 via a suitable tubing 112. To independently control suction-force to each area 100, each tubing 112 is equipped with an individual shut-off tap 114.
All shut-off taps 114, except a shut-off tap 128, are activated or, deactivated by a vacuum distribution control system 124, thus inhibiting flow of suction force to all undesired areas 100 and enabling all available suction force to a predetermined area 126.
FIG. 1B shows a more detailed schematic view of individual shut-off tap 114, comprising two main components, a vacuum valve 118 and a solenoid 120. Suction force is either allowed to or inhibited from traversing vacuum valve 118 by activating or by deactivating solenoid 120. Solenoid 120, receives an activate/deactivate signal 122 from vacuum distribution control 124 (best seen in FIG. 1A) or any other suitable subsystem.
To achieve a highly precise dimensioning of an active suction area, a substantial number of addressable, small areas need to be controlled by an equal number of manifold ports, tubing, shut-off taps with accompanying devices, electrical control cabling, etc.
Thus, a substantial number of mechanical, electromechanical, power supply, and electrical control devices are needed in order to perform the task of directing suction force to a few areas of the vacuum table. Those versed in the art will readily appreciate that this can result in a multitude of potential sources of malfunctioning.
There is, accordingly, a need in the art for a novel technique for improved suction force directing means, directable in a variable way to a multitude of areas.

Vacuum distribution controller apparatus


An optical accessory having a high optical performance arranged to change an optical characteristic of a shooting lens and to be attached on the object side of a shooting lens is provided. The optical accessory FE is to be detachably attached to the object side of a master lens M and has at least one lens FE having a negative refractive power. The image-side surface r2 of the lens FE is designed to have an aspherical shape having a negative refractive power that decreases toward its periphery.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fisheye attachment to be attached to the object side of a shooting lens of an image-pickup apparatus, such as a still camera or a video camera, to give a fisheye effect. The fisheye attachment according to the present invention is an optical accessory to be detachably attached to a shooting lens to change optical characteristics of the lens.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a fisheye effect, or an effect of giving a distortion that is particularly conspicuous in the peripheral area of an image is desired in photo shooting, an optical accessory such as a converter or an attachment is attached to the object side of a shooting lens in the wide angle end state to produce a large negative distortion as discussed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H11-305119.
In recent years, with the spread of high definition broadcasting systems represented by the HDTV broadcasting, shooting lenses are required to have high optical performance. Accordingly, high performance optical accessories such as attachments to be attached to such shooting lenses are also demanded. To meet such a demand, it is necessary that aberrations of the optical accessories themselves be corrected satisfactorily.
In particular, fisheye attachments are designed in such a way that a large negative distortion that satisfies the following condition in terms of the image height y, the beam incidence angle θ and the focal length f of the lens is generated.y/(2×f)=sin(θ/2)  (1)
However, the fisheye attachment is generally composed of a single negative lens, which cannot achieve the desired aberration correction. In particular, satisfactory correction of astigmatism and field curvature cannot be achieved.
An object of the present invention is to provide a fisheye attachment having excellent optical performance by correcting aberrations, in particular astigmatism and field curvature.

Optical accessory arranged to change optical characteristic of shooting lens


A catheter capable of irradiating blood vessel walls to inhibit restenosis after angioplasty. Catheters are capable of simultaneous irradiation, angioplasty, and in some devices, drug infusion. Preferred catheters include a helical perfusion balloon having strand windings spaced apart when inflated and defining a perfusion lumen within. A tubular sheath over the helical strands and distal shaft region is used in some embodiments and defines an outer wall for the perfusion lumen. A spiral, inter-strand space is defined between the sheath outer wall and the blood vessel inner wall, providing a confined volume for controlled delivery of drugs to the vessel wall in conjunction with irradiation. A device having a radiation wire, distally closed-end tube is provided. A device having a radiation wire open ended tube terminating proximally of the perfusion lumen is also provided.

Intravascular diseases are commonly treated by relatively non-invasive techniques such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). These therapeutic techniques are well known in the art and typically involve use of a guide wire and a balloon catheter, possibly in combination with other intravascular devices. A typical balloon catheter has an elongate shaft with a balloon attached to its distal end and a manifold attached to the proximal end. In use, the balloon catheter is advanced over the guide wire such that the balloon is positioned adjacent a restriction in a diseased vessel. The balloon is then inflated and the restriction in the vessel is opened.
Vascular restrictions that have been dilated do not always remain open. In approximately 30% of the cases, a restriction reappears over a period of months. The mechanism of this restenosis is not understood. The mechanism is believed to be different from the mechanism that caused the original stenosis. It is believed that rapid proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells surrounding the dilated region may be involved. Restenosis may be in part a healing response to the dilation, including the formation of scar tissue.
Drug infusion near the stenosis has been proposed as a means to inhibit restenosis. U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,642 to Schweich, Jr. et al. describes drug delivery devices and methods for delivering pharmacological agents to vessel walls in conjunction with angioplasty.
Intravascular radiation, including thermal, light and radioactive radiation, has been proposed as a means to prevent or reduce the effects of restenosis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,479 to Spears suggests that heating a dilated restriction may prevent gradual restenosis at the dilation site. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,653 to Sahota et al. suggests that delivering relatively low energy light, following dilatation of a stenosis, may inhibit restenosis. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,939 to Dake et al. suggests that intravascular delivery of radioactive radiation may be used to prevent restenosis. While most clinical studies suggest that thermal radiation and light radiation are not significantly effective in reducing restenosis, some clinical studies have indicated that intravascular delivery of radioactive radiation is a promising solution to the restenosis enigma.
Since radiation prevents restenosis but will not dilate a stenosis, radiation is preferably administered during or after dilatation. European Patent No. 0 688 580 to Verin discloses a device and method for simultaneously dilating a stenosis and delivering radioactive radiation. In particular, Verin discloses a balloon dilatation catheter having an open-ended lumen extending therethrough for the delivery of a radioactive guide wire.
One problem associated with the open-ended lumen design is that bodily fluids (e.g., blood) may come into contact with the radioactive guide wire. This may result in contamination of the guide wire bodily fluid and require the resterilization or disposal of the radioactive guide wire. To address these issues, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,613 to Weinberger et al. proposes the use of a separate closed-ended lumen in a balloon catheter. The closed-ended lumen may be used to deliver a radioactive guide wire without the risk of contaminating the blood and without the need to resterilize or dispose of the radiation source.
The closed-ended lumen design also has draw backs. For example, the addition of a separate delivery lumen tends to increase the overall profile of the catheter. An increase in profile is not desirable because it may reduce flow rate of fluid injections into the guide catheter and it may interfere with navigation in small vessels.
Another problem with both the open-ended and closed-ended devices is that radiation must travel through the fluid filled balloon in order to reach the treatment site. While this is not a problem for gamma radiation, it poses a significant problem for beta radiation which does not penetrate as well as gamma radiation. Beta radiation is considered a good candidate for radiation treatment because it is easy to shield and control exposure. In larger vessels (e.g., 0.5 cm or larger), a fluid filled balloon absorbs a significant amount of beta radiation and severely limits exposure to the treatment site.
Other intravascular treatments, including delivery of radioactive radiation have been proposed as a means to prevent or reduce the effects of restenosis. Dake et al. suggest delivering radiation within the distal portion of a tubular catheter. Fischell, in the publication EPO 0 593 136 A1 , suggests placing a thin wire having a radioactive tip near the site of vessel wall trauma for a limited time to prevent restenosis. Problems exist in attempting to provide uniform radiation exposure using a point or line source. Specifically, as the radiation varies inversely with the square of distance for a point source and inversely with distance for a line source laying off center near one vessel wall may significantly overexpose the nearby wall while underexposing the further away wall. This is especially critical for beta radiation which is absorbed by tissue and blood at a relatively short distance from the source.
Bradshaw, in PCT publication WO 94/25106, proposes using an inflatable balloon to center the radiation source wire tip. In PCT publication WO 96/14898, Bradshaw et al. propose use of centering balloons which allow blood perfusion around the balloon during treatment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,659 to Tierstein suggests use of a helical centering balloon, attached to a catheter at points about the radiation source to allow perfusion through the balloon, between the balloon and radiation ribbon source.
Use of continuous centering balloons, having a beta radiation source within, significantly attenuate the beta radiation when filled with inflation fluid and they may also allow the radiation source to "warp" when placed across curved vessel regions, allowing the balloon to bend but having the central radiation source lying in a straight line between the two ends. Segmented centering balloons may improve the warping problem but may have significant beta attenuation due to blood standing or flowing between the beta source and vessel walls. What remains to be provided is an improved apparatus and method for delivering uniform radiation to vessel interiors to inhibit restenosis. What remains to be provided is an improved perfusion catheter having radiation delivery and drug infusion capabilities.

Perfusion balloon and radioactive wire delivery system


In an exposure controller of a camera mounted on a robot for taking an image utilizing incident light from external world in which an object such as a human being is present, a brightness histogram of the image is generated and exposure parameters are set based on the generated histogram. Then, it is determined whether the set exposure parameters are within a predetermined range and when they are out of the range and if a high-brightness imaging region is present in the image due to high-brightness incident light, it is again determined whether it is necessary to remove the high-brightness imaging region. When it is determined to be necessary, the high-brightness imaging region is extracted and is removed from the image, thereby enabling the camera to image the object with suitable brightness even when a bright light source such as the sun is within the camera angle of view.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a camera exposure controller, particularly to an exposure controller for a camera mounted on a mobile object.
2. Description of the Related Art
As set out in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-129084, for example, technologies have been developed for predicting the location, shape and the like of a ghost formed on the imaging plane of an imaging device by internal reflection when a bright light source like the sun falls within the angle of view of a camera, determining which portion of the taken image is the ghost, and correcting (reducing) the determined ghost portion in response to photographer instructions or automatically.

Camera exposure controller including imaging devices for capturing an image using stereo-imaging