Techniques for estimating depth for a video stream captured by a monocular image sensor are disclosed. A sequence of image frames are captured by the monocular image sensor. A first neural network is configured to process at least a portion of the sequence of image frames to generate a depth probability volume. The depth probability volume includes a plurality of probability maps corresponding to a number of discrete depth candidate locations over a range of depths defined for the scene. The depth probability volume can be updated using a second neural network that is configured to generate adaptive gain parameters to integrate the DPVs over time. A third neural network is configured to refine the updated depth probability volume from a lower resolution to a higher resolution that matches the original resolution of the sequence of image frames. A depth map can be calculated based on the depth probability volume.

Understanding depth information related to a scene represented in an image is crucial for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. Active techniques for measuring depth information associated with an image provide dense measurements, but can often suffer from limitations such as restricted operating ranges, low spatial resolution, sensor accuracy, and high power consumption. In addition, the active sensors used to measure depth information can be expensive and complicated to set up in order to accurately capture the depth information corresponding to an image captured with a related image sensor.
Basic deep-learning based techniques for estimating depth information from a single monocular image or a stereo image pair have been explored within the prior art. However, the results of these techniques have low accuracy and are unstable temporally when applied to a series of related images captured in a video stream. Furthermore, many of these techniques are not stable across multiple domains and only provide adequate results when the deep-learning neural network is trained for a specific domain (e.g., indoors vs. outdoors). Thus, there is a need for addressing these issues and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

Estimating depth for a video stream captured with a monocular rgb camera


A method discovers neighboring nodes in a wireless network of nodes. The nodes include a set of concentrators acting as IPv6 routers and a set of sensor nodes acting as IPv6 hosts. The sensor nodes can also act as relay nodes. In each node, a 64-bit interface ID is configured using a 48-bit MAC address. In each node, a unique IPv6 link-local address is configured using the 64-bit interface ID. In each node, the neighboring nodes are discovered by transmitting unsolicited Neighbor Advertisement (NA) messages. A Router Advertisement (RA) messages is distributed from the concentrators to the sensor nodes meters by using the relay nodes. In each node, a unique IPv6 address is configured and registered at the concentrators by using the relay nodes.

In an IPv6 network of nodes, neighbor discovery (ND) configures IPv6 addresses of the nodes (hosts and routers), discovers other nodes on link, and discovers routers to forward data packets. The conventional IPv6 ND protocol is specified in the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) standard RFC 4861, which defines Router Solicitation (RS), Router Advertisement (RA), Neighbor Solicitation (NS), Neighbor Advertisement (NA), and Redirect messages for neighbor discovery purposes. All the standards referenced herein are well known and readily available from a number of sources.
In the conventional IPv6 network, the routers broadcast the RA messages periodically, the hosts receive the RA messages from the routers, configure their IPv6 addresses and select routers for packet forwarding. According to RFC 4861, a host can receive the RA message from at least one router, that is, 1-hop communication between the router and the host. RFC 4861 does not consider sleeping hosts. A sleeping host is a node not actively transmitting. Therefore, RFC 4861 is not suitable for emerging low power and lossy networks (LLNs), where sleeping host must be supported.
To meet requirements of the LLNs, IETF 6LoWPAN (IPv6 over Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Networks) Working Group (WG) has developed a new ND protocol RFC 6775, which optimizes the IPv6 ND protocol RFC 4861 for LLNs. The optimizations include host-initiated interactions to support sleeping hosts, and multi-hop distribution of a prefix by introducing 6LoWPAN Router. Host-initiated interaction removes the need for periodic or unsolicited RA message from the routers to the hosts. 6LoWPAN routers can transmit and receive the RA and RS messages and forward and route IPv6 packets, and are present only in the route-over a topology, where routing decisions take place at the network layer and hosts are connected to the 6LoWPAN border router through the use of intermediate network layer (IP layer) routing.
A route-over topology typically includes a 6LoWPAN border router, a set of 6LoWPAN routers, and hosts. Hosts are typically multiple hops away from a 6LoWPAN border router. The 6LoWPAN routers do not configure the IPv6 prefix, which is configured at 6LoWPAN border router. Hosts in the 6LoWPAN network receive the RA message from the 6LoWPAN router in a multi-hop manner or directly from the 6LoWPAN border router. In other words, communication between the host and the router is also I-hop.
Security has been added to IPv6 neighbor discovery. U.S. Patent Publication 20120084568 describes a secure neighbor discovery protocol for resource limited devices in low-power and lossy networks. That protocol uses reduced size public key and signature, and simpler signature calculations in comparison to a secure neighbor discovery protocol for securing neighbor discovery protocol communications that are more suitable for low-power and lossy networks.
IPv6 neighbor discovery has been extended to specific networks. For example, U.S. Patent Publication 20130091269 describes a distributed IPv6 neighbor discovery for large data switching systems, in which all neighbor discovery operations and functionality are distributed to a switch device. Each neighbor discovery process in the switch device operates as an individual neighbor discovery router node.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,335,505 describes neighbor discovery in an IPv6-based mobile system. A mobile station includes a mapping table storing a connection identifier (CID) prefix and a neighbor identifier, a controller generating a CID with respect to a message that is transmitted by referring to the mapping table, and a message transmitter for transmitting the message to a base station connected the mobile station, by using the CID.
A smart meter or sensor node is different from a host in the conventional IPv6 network and the 6LoWPAN network because the typical node, when compared to the host, has limited resources, such as processing and transmitting power, memory, etc. However, nodes such as smart meters are typically mains-powered and do not sleep. Therefore, the smart meter is different from a host in the 6LoWPAN network.
The main difference is that in the IPv6 network and the 6LoWPAN network, the host can reach at least one router. This may not be the case in the smart meter network. In the smart meter network, the concentrators only operate as routers. Most of the smart meters are multiple hops away from the concentrators. There are no 6LoWPAN routers to distribute the prefix from the concentrators to the smart meters because installation of 6LoWPAN router in smart meter network is impractical for cost reason. Neighbor discovery methods for large switching systems and for mobile systems are not suitable for the smart meter networks. Accordingly, it is desired to provide a neighbor discovery method for smart meter networks.

Method for discovering neighboring nodes in wireless networks

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A coherent range measurement system includes a detector optical arrangement defining a current optical field of view and an illumination subsystem configured for transmitting pulses of coherent illumination at different times along each of a plurality of directions within the current optical field of view without moving parts. A detection arrangement is configured to direct part of the transmitted pulses and a reflected signal from each of the directions onto a common detector. The output of the detector is processed by a processing system to derive range data associated with each of the directions by coherent detection of the reflected signals employing the part of the transmitted pulses as a local oscillator.

The present invention relates to coherent optical range finders and, in particular, it concerns a coherent range measurement system where a single detector is used to detect time-multiplexed signals reflected from a plurality of directions.
Coherent laser range detection is based on interference of two light beams on a detector. The first light beam originates directly from a laser (defined as the "local oscillator") while the second light beam is the reflection from a laser illuminated target (defined as the "signal"). This method is very sensitive and even weak reflections from the target can be detected. This method is also characterized by being very insensitive to background radiation.
Unfortunately, this method requires a very complicated and expensive optical setup. Utilization of optical fibers somewhat reduces the complexity and improves robustness.
An optimal receiver that uses polarization splitters and balanced receivers can achieve shot noise limited performance. However, this receiver is complicated and expensive.
Present coherent range detection systems are expensive; therefore, direct detection methods are used whenever possible.
An example of prior art coherent receiver is presented in FIG. 11A continuous laser source 5 is modulated to pulses by a modulator 10, and the pulses are then amplified 15 and pass through the circulator 20 to be transmitted by optics 25. The received signal from the target is collected by optics 25 and directed by circulator 20 to a different path 30 onto the coherent receiver 35. Some of the light from the continuous laser 5 is coupled 40 directly onto the coherent receiver in order to generate interference. The receiver 35 can include polarization splitters and balanced receivers in order to achieve optimal detection.
This system is complicated and expensive. The use of separate modulator (not modulated laser) and interfering CW light with pulsed signal dictates expensive components.
An alternative approach has been suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 6,469,778 to Asaka et al. which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Asaka et al. proposes splitting the transmitted illumination pulse and using a part of the radiation as a local oscillator for coherent detection.
There is a need for a coherent detection system which is simple, inexpensive and can be scalable to multiple transmitters and receivers even at the price of non-optimal operation.


A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid or a base to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base or acid is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then hydrolyzed to produce an hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from a wash stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis, drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example, as a fertilizer.

Fuel ethanol is currently made from feedstocks such as corn starch, sugar cane, and sugar beets. The production of ethanol from these sources cannot grow much further, as most of the farmland suitable for the production of these crops is in use. In addition, these feedstocks can be costly since they compete with the human and animal food chain. Finally, the use of fossil fuels, with the associated release of carbon dioxide and other products, for the conversion process is a negative environmental impact of the use of these feedstocks.
The production of fuel ethanol from cellulosic feedstocks provides an attractive alternative to the fuel ethanol feedstocks used to date. Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer, so there is an enormous untapped potential for its use as a source of ethanol. Cellulosic feedstocks are also inexpensive, as they do not have many other uses. Another advantage of producing ethanol from cellulosic feedstocks is that lignin, which is a byproduct of the cellulose conversion process, can be used as a fuel to power the conversion process, thereby avoiding the use of fossil fuels. Several studies have concluded that, when the entire cycle is taken into account, the use of ethanol produced from cellulose generates close to nil greenhouse gases.
The cellulosic feedstocks that are the most promising for ethanol production include (1) agricultural wastes such as corn stover, wheat straw, barley straw, canola straw, rice straw, and soybean stover; (2) grasses such as switch grass, miscanthus, cord grass, and reed canary grass, (3) forestry wastes such as aspen wood and sawdust, and (4) sugar processing residues such as bagasse and beet pulp.
Regardless of the feedstock used, the first step involves handling and size reduction of the material. The feedstock must be conveyed into the plant. This is contemplated to be carried out by trucks, followed by placing the feedstock on conveyor belts to be conveyed into the plant. The feedstock particles must then be reduced to the desired size to be suitable for handling in the subsequent processing steps.
The first process step is a chemical treatment, which generally involves the use of steam or heated water along with acid or alkali to break down the fibrous material. The chemical treatment is carried out either as a direct conversion process-acid hydrolysis or alkali hydrolysis- or as a pretreatment prior to enzymatic hydrolysis.
In the acid hydrolysis process, the feedstock is subjected to steam and sulfuric acid at a temperature, acid concentration, and length of time that are sufficient to hydrolyze the cellulose to glucose and hemicellulose to xylose and arabinose. The sulfuric acid can be concentrated (25-90% w/w) or dilute (3-8% w/w). The glucose, xylose and arabinose are then fermented to ethanol using yeast, and the ethanol is recovered and purified by distillation. A problem with concentrated acid hydrolysis is that the high levels of concentrated acid required necessitate the recovery and re-use of over 99% of the acid in the process. The recovery of this high proportion of acid is especially difficult due to the high viscosity and corrosivity of concentrated acid.
In the alkali hydrolysis process, the feedstock is subjected to steam and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide at a temperature, concentration, and length of time that are sufficient to hydrolyze the cellulose to glucose and hemicellulose to xylose and arabinose. The alkali is concentrated (15-50% w/w). The glucose, xylose and arabinose are then fermented to ethanol using yeast, and the ethanol is recovered and purified by distillation. A problem with alkali hydrolysis is that the high levels of alkali required necessitate the recovery and re-use of over 99% of the alkali in the process. The recovery of this high proportion of alkali is especially difficult due to the high viscosity of concentrated alkali.
In the enzymatic hydrolysis process, the feedstock is first pretreated with acid or base under milder conditions than that in the acid or alkali hydrolysis processes such that the exposed cellulose surface area is greatly increased as the fibrous feedstock is converted to a muddy texture. During acid pretreatment, much of the hemicellulose is hydrolyzed, but there is little conversion of the cellulose to glucose. The cellulose is hydrolyzed to glucose in a subsequent step that uses cellulase enzymes, and the steam/acid treatment in this case is known as pretreatment. The acids used in pretreatment typically include sulfuric acid in steam explosion and batch and continuous flow pretreatments and also sulfurous acid and phosphoric acid.
Some alkali pretreatment methods disclosed in the prior art, such as those involving concentrated ammonia, do not hydrolyze hemicellulose, but rather the base reacts with acidic groups present on the hemicellulose to open up the surface of the substrate. In addition, the concentrated ammonia alters the crystal structure of the cellulose so that it is more amenable to hydrolysis. Examples of such bases typically used in pretreatment include ammonia or ammonium hydroxide. The cellulose is hydrolyzed to glucose in a subsequent step that uses cellulase enzymes, although it is also possible to hydrolyze the cellulose, in addition to the hemicellulose, using acid hydrolysis after alkaline pretreatment.
The hydrolysis of the cellulose, whether by acid or alkali hydrolysis or by cellulase enzymes after pretreatment with acid or base, is followed by the fermentation of the sugar to ethanol. The ethanol is then recovered by distillation.
There are several problems that must be overcome in order for the conversion of cellulosic biomass to sugar or ethanol to be commercially viable. In particular, there is a large amount of inorganic salt present in the feedstock. Furthermore, inorganic salt is generated in the process, in particular, during the neutralization of the acid or alkali used in the pretreatment or hydrolysis. The inorganic salt has an adverse impact on the enzymatic hydrolysis and yeast fermentation processes. In addition, the purchase of the acid and the alkali and the disposal of the salt are costly.
If the pretreated feedstock is subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis by cellulase enzymes, the pH of the pretreated feedstock is typically between about 4-6. Cellulase enzymes produced by the fungus Trichoderma, which are the leading sources of cellulase for cellulose conversion, exhibit optimum activity at pH 4.5 to 5.0. These enzymes exhibit little activity below pH 3 or above pH 6. Microbes that ferment the sugar include yeast and Zymomonas bacteria. The yeast are active at pH 4-5 while the Zymomonas are active at pH 5-6. An acidic chemical treatment is often carried out at a pH of about 0.8 to 2.0, so a significant amount of alkali must be added to increase the pH to the range that is required for microbial fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis. An alkaline pretreatment is often carried out at a pH of 9.5 to 12, so a significant amount of acid must be added to decrease the pH to the range that is required for enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial fermentation.
When an acidic pretreatment is carried out, the alkaline that is usually used for neutralization of the acid is sodium hydroxide, but potassium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide have also been reported. The high levels of these compounds that are required increase the cost of the process.
Although the neutralized slurry is at a pH range that is compatible with yeast or fermenting bacteria or cellulase enzymes, the inorganic salt concentration is high enough to be inhibitory to the microbes or enzymes. The inorganic salt can also cause a degradation of the sugar, particularly the xylose, in evaporation and distillation processes that are carried out downstream of the hydrolysis.
One known pretreatment method utilizing a base is known as Ammonia Freeze Explosion, and more recently as the Ammonia Fiber Explosion or "AFEX" process. The process involves contacting lignocellulosic feedstock with liquid ammonia in a pressure vessel. The contact is maintained for a sufficient time to enable the ammonia to swell (i.e., decrystallize) the cellulose fibers, and the pressure is then rapidly reduced which causes the ammonia to flash or boil and explode the cellulose fiber structure. (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,171,592, 5,037,663, 4,600,590, 6,106,888, 4,356,196, 5,939,544, 6,176,176, 5,037,663 and 5,171,592 which are incorporated herein by reference.)
The AFEX process typically requires the addition of ammonia at high concentrations. Due to the high cost of ammonia, AFEX pretreatment methods involve recovery of the flashed ammonia, which, in turn, is recycled to the pretreatment step. However, the ammonia recovery process does not remove all of the ammonia from the pretreated feedstock. The inability to recover this residual ammonia decreases the economics of the process.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,060 discloses a pretreatment method involving contacting lignocellulosic materials with ammonia. This is followed by flashing to recover and re-use the ammonia. The pretreated material is then subjected to enzyme hydrolysis with cellulases. Prior to enzyme hydrolysis, the pH of the pretreated feedstock is neutralized by addition of hydrochloric acid. As a result of the cellulase treatment, most of the available cellulose was hydrolyzed to glucose and 78% of the available xylan was hydrolyzed to xylobiose and xylose. However, a disadvantage of this method is that the ammonia recovery process does not remove all of the ammonia from the pretreated feedstock, which limits the economic viability of the method.
Alkali that is used during processing of the lignocellulosic feedstock can be either soluble or insoluble. An example of an insoluble alkali is lime, which is typically used to neutralize acids and precipitate inhibitors of cellulase enzymes arising from the pretreatment. It is also known to pretreat lignocellulosic feedstocks with hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide). However, there are numerous problems associated with using lime including (1) disposal of the lime; (2) calcium precipitation which leads to downstream scaling; (3) the expense of the lime; and (4) its ineffectiveness at completely removing inhibitors of enzymes and yeast.
Holtzapple (U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,898) discloses an alkaline pretreatment using insoluble hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide). After the alkali pretreatment, the pH is reduced to a pH amenable for enzymatic hydrolysis using acetic acid. The pretreated biomass is digested and useful products such as alcohols, organic acids, sugars, ketones, starches, fatty acids, are separated from the remaining or residual mixture. Calcium hydroxide is recovered by reacting the pretreated material with carbon dioxide to convert it to calcium carbonate. The residual insoluble solids, comprising lignin and calcium carbonate, are heated in a lime kiln to convert the calcium carbonate into calcium hydroxide. However, this is a very expensive and time consuming process that involves handling and processing a large amount of insoluble salts. It has therefore not been possible, to date, for this process to be economically viable.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,392 (Holtzapple et al.) employs a pretreatment step with lime prior to producing volatile fatty acids during the fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass by anaerobic or thermophilic bacteria. After the lime treatment, lime is removed by draining the lime-containing water from the biomass, followed by fermentation with anaerobic bacteria. The anaerobic organisms then convert the biomass to organic acids such as acetic acid, proprionic and butyric acids. The organic acids produced by these fermentation processes can be concentrated and converted to ketones by pyrolysis in a thermal converter. Calcium salts can be precipitated by evaporation, dried and pyrolyzed to produce solid calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate may be sent to a lime kiln to regenerate lime which may then be mixed with water to produce a dissolved lime stream and insolubles. Minerals may be recovered from a side stream of calcium carbonate or from the insolubles and sold as fertilizer. Alternatively, the organic acids are treated with a tertiary amine and carbon dioxide to produce an acid/amine complex that decomposes to form an acid and an amine with different volatilities. The acid can then be separated from the amine by distillation and precipitated minerals that accumulate in the bottoms of the distillation column can be recovered. Although Holtzapple et al. describe an effective method for the isolation of organic acids produced during fermentation using an alkaline pretreatment, the method involves pretreatment with insoluble lime, which is subject to the disadvantages described above.
Alkali treatment of lignocellulosic feedstocks has also been employed to produce animal feed. In this case, the treatment with alkali increases the feed value of the feedstock by making cellulose more accessible to digestion by ruminants. U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,341 discloses such a process for producing animal fodder. After alkali chemical treatment, the lignocellulosic material is treated with acid to neutralize the fodder. However, the process is limited to the production of animal fodder and there is no disclosure of producing a sugar stream.
Wooley et al. (In Lignocellulosic Biomass to Ethanol Process Design and Economics Utilizing Co-Current Dilute Acid Prehydrolysis and Enzyme Hydrolysis Current and Future Scenarios, (1999) Technical Report, National Renewable Energy Laboratory pp. 16-17) describe a process of treating lignocellulosic material utilizing over-liming following acid pretreatment. Milled wood chips are first pretreated with dilute sulfuric acid followed by enzyme hydrolysis and fermentation. Following pretreatment, the resulting liquid and solids are flash cooled to vapourize a large amount of water and inhibitors of the downstream fermentation reaction. After ion exchange to remove acetic acid, the material is over-limed by adding lime to raise the pH to 10. The liquid is then adjusted to pH 4.5 which results in the formation of gypsum crystals (CaSO4). These crystals can be removed from the liquid by hydrocyclone and rotary drum filtration in series. Although the process describes the removal of gypsum after acid treatment, the investigators do not address the problems associated with removal of insoluble calcium salt.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,965 (Holtzapple et al.) discloses a method for isolating carboxylate salts formed as a product during the fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass by anaerobic bacteria. A fermentation broth, which contains dilute carboxylate salt in aqueous solution, is contacted with a low molecular weight secondary or tertiary amine which has a high affinity for water and a low affinity for the carboxylate salt. This allows the water to be selectively extracted while the carboxylate salt remains in the fermentation broth and becomes concentrated so that it can be easily recovered. The carboxylate salt may be further concentrated by evaporation, dried or converted to a more concentrated carboxylic acid solution. While Holtzapple et al. describe an effective method for the isolation of carboxylate fermentation products, they do not address the recovery of inorganic salts from the feedstock itself or inorganic salts arising from the acids and bases used during the processing of the lignocellulosic feedstocks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,004 (Grethlein et al.) discloses a method for concentrating an ethanol solution by distillation. The method first involves partially concentrating the ethanol solution by distillation and withdrawing a vapour stream. Next, the condensation temperature of the vapour is raised above the evaporation temperature of a re-boiler liquid used in the process (a heat-sink liquid). The vapour stream is then used to heat the re-boiler liquid and partially enriched vapour is then removed and condensed. The condensed stream is introduced to an extractive distillation column and concentrated in the presence of an added salt to increase the volatility of the ethanol. The method provides the benefit that the heat requirement of distillation is reduced since vapour required to heat the system does not need to be provided by an external source. However, there is no discussion of recovering and removing the salts added during the final distillation step.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,008 (Kampen) discloses the recovery of fermentation by-products, namely glycerol, betaine, L-pyroglutamic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid and potassium sulfate, produced during the manufacture of ethanol from sugar beets. The process involves fermenting the raw material, collecting the ethanol by distillation and then recovering the by-products in the remaining still bottoms. The by-products are isolated by first centrifuging the still bottoms and performing microfiltration to further clarify the solution. The resulting permeate is then concentrated to a solids concentration of 50-75%. The concentrated solution is first subjected to a crystallization step to recover potassium sulfate and then passed to a chromatographic separation step for the subsequent recovery of glycerol, betaine, succinic acid, L-pyroglutamic acid or lactic acid. The potassium sulfate is present in the raw material and its concentration is increased by cooling the solution and/or by the addition of sulfuric acid as part of the crystallization. The process of Kampen has several advantages such as energy and water savings and high solids concentrations. However, there is no discussion of a chemical pretreatment of lignocellulosic material with acid or alkali or an acid or alkali neutralization step prior to enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation and the associated problems with the presence of sodium and magnesium salts arising from such a pretreatment. Furthermore, since Kampen et al. used sugar beets, they were able to crystallize potassium sulfate directly from the still bottoms, and they do not address the recovery from still bottoms of salt mixtures with high levels of impurities that do not crystallize. Acid pretreatment of lignocellulosic feedstocks results in mixtures of inorganic salts in the still bottoms that cannot be directly crystallized.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,620,877 and 5,782,982 (Farone et al.) disclose a method for producing sugars from rice straw using concentrated acid hydrolysis which, as set out above, is not a preferred pretreatment method. The method results in the production of quantitative yields of potassium silicate. In this method, the rice straw is treated with concentrated sulfuric acid at a concentration of between 25% and 90%. The resulting mixture is then heated to a temperature to effect acid hydrolysis of the rice straw. Subsequently, the mixture is separated from the remaining solids by pressing. The pressed solids can then be treated with 5% to 10% sodium hydroxide to extract silicic acid. Following the treatment with sodium hydroxide, the solids are heated and then pressed and washed with water to extract a liquid. The extracted liquid is then treated with an acid, which results in the formation of a precipitate that can be separated by filtration. The filtered material is then treated with bleach to produce silica gel that can be further treated to produce sodium silicate, potassium silicate or other useful materials. The method also employs a neutralization step using lime to precipitate soluble inorganic salts present in a sugar stream produced during fermentation. Lime is an insoluble base that can build up on process equipment downstream of its point of addition and decrease the efficiency of the process.
WO 02/070753 (Griffin et al.) discloses a leaching process to remove alkali from lignocellulosic feedstocks thereby decreasing the acid requirement for chemical treatment. The process includes milling the feedstock, followed by preconditioning it with steam and then contacting the feedstock with water to leach out the salts, protein, and other impurities. The water containing these soluble compounds is then removed from the feedstock. This process decreases the acid requirements in the subsequent pretreatment process, which increases the yield of xylose after pretreatment. However, the costs and problems associated with the salt arising from the acid or alkali added for chemical treatment and the alkali or acid added after chemical treatment for adjustment of the pH are not addressed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,360 (Blount) discloses the preparation of ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstocks; however, there is no discussion of salt processing or recovery arising during this process. U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,184 (Blount) describes the production of ethanol, salt, and several other organic products from sewer sludge comprising sewered cellulose waste material (rather than a lignin-cellulose material). This process involves mixing sewer sludge with water and sodium hydroxide, or an acid (sulfuric or hydrochloric acid). The slurry containing acid or alkali is then heated to hydrolyze the cellulose in the sludge, and an excess of water is added to dissolve the organic compounds. The aqueous material is then separated from the insolubles and evaporated to concentrate the solution and crystallize out the carbohydrates. The carbohydrates are filtered off, slurried in water, and fermented to ethanol using yeast. The aqueous solution containing ammonium sulfate and other compounds may then be used as a fertilizer. Alternatively, the salt is separated from the sugar by membrane filtration and then the salt is evaporated and dried.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,527 (Fechter et al.) discloses a process of treating an impure cane-derived sugar juice to produce white sugar and white strap molasses. The process involves subjecting the sugar juice to microfiltration/ultrafiltration to decrease the levels of suspended solids, organic non-sugar impurities and/or colour. The sugar juice is next subjected to ion exchange with a strong acid cation exchange resin in the hydrogen form and then to ion exchange with an anion ion exchange resin in the hydroxide form. Potassium-based fertilizer components can be obtained by regenerating the strong acid cation exchange resin with a strong acid such as hydrochloric acid or nitric acid to produce an acid stream rich in potassium salt. Ammonium-based fertilizer components can be obtained by regenerating the anion ion exchange resin with a strong or weak base such as sodium or potassium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide to obtain an alkaline stream which is rich in nitrogen. After ion exchange, the resulting sugar solution is concentrated to produce a syrup, which is crystallized twice to produce impure crystallized sugar and white strap molasses. Although the process involves the production of potassium and ammonium-based fertilizer components from an impure sugar cane juice, there is no disclosure of producing a sugar stream by hydrolysis of a lignocellulosic feedstock.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,338 (Rapaport et al.) disclose the separation of sucrose from impurities in sugar cane molasses. Rapaport et al. teach the pretreatment of a molasses stream to remove a significant amount of organic non-carbohydrate impurities and colour. The pretreatment can be carried out by precipitation with iron salts, such as ferric chloride or ferric sulfate. The insoluble flocculants are then removed from the molasses stream and the soluble iron salts are removed by the addition of lime and phosphoric acid or phosphate salts. The pretreatment may also be carried out by other processes which include: centrifugation, with removal of the cake; precipitation by adding ethanol to the molasses stream; and filtering the molasses across a membrane of cellulose acetate. Regardless of the pretreatment process, the purpose is to decrease the amount of organic non-carbohydrate impurities so that a subsequent step of ion exclusion chromatography will separate the carbohydrate fraction from the dissolved impurities. Rapaport et al. report that the pretreatment decreased the ash content to 10% and the organic non-sugar content to 16.3% of the solids present.
Organic non-carbohydrate impurities, within a lignocellulosic system, cannot be removed by the methods of U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,338 (Rapaport et al.) According to Rapaport's method, the amount of solids precipitated by iron salts or ethanol is modest and no solids are removed by centrifugation. By contrast, the sugar streams produced during the processing of lignocellulosic feedstock have a much higher level of organic non-carbohydrate impurities and inorganic salts. Rapaport et al. do not address the processing of such concentrated streams. Furthermore, the use of cellulose acetate membranes in a lignocellulosic system may not be feasible since such membranes could be destroyed by cellulase enzymes.
A method for the processing of lignocellulosic feedstock to produce a sugar stream is required that addresses the problems associated with high inorganic salt concentrations. The development of such a method would represent a significant step forward in the commercialization of, for example, ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Inorganic salt recovery during processing of lignocellulosic feedstocks


A die is attached to a substrate and is enclosed in a heat spreader, the heat spreader having a first encapsulant guide and a heat spreader air vent in the heat spreader extending therethrough. An encapsulant encapsulates the die, the substrate, at least a portion of the heat spreader, the first encapsulant guide, and the heat spreader air vent such that the encapsulant enters the heat spreader through the first encapsulant guide and air exits the heat spreader through the heat spreader air vent, thus preventing the formation of air pockets under the heat spreader.

In the electronics industry, a continuing objective is to further and further reduce the size of electronic devices while simultaneously increasing performance and speed. Cellular telephones, personal data devices, notebook computers, camcorders, and digital cameras are but a few of the consumer products that require and benefit from this ongoing miniaturization of sophisticated electronics.
Integrated circuit ("IC") assemblies for such complex electronic systems typically have a large number of interconnected IC chips. The IC chips, commonly called dies, are usually made from a semiconductor material such as silicon or gallium arsenide. Photolithographic techniques are used to form the various semiconductor devices in multiple layers on the dies.
Dies are encapsulated in a molded plastic package that has connectors or leads on the exterior of the package that function as input/output terminals for the die inside the package. The package includes a substrate, a die mounted on the top surface of the substrate, and a heat spreader mounted on the substrate and covering the die.
The substrate may be comprised of a flexible resin tape, a rigid fiber-glass/copper sheet laminate, a co-fired ceramic coupon, a flexible metal lead frame, a ball grid array substrate or other well-known types of substrates in the semiconductor industry, depending on the particular type of semiconductor package being used.
The die is conventionally mounted to the top surface of the substrate with, for example, a layer of an adhesive or an adhesive film, and then electrically connected to the substrate by a number of fine, conductive wires, typically gold (Au) or aluminum (Al), that electrically connect the die to the substrate. The wires are attached to the die at the bonding pads of the die, which are located around the periphery of the die.
The heat spreader is made of a thermally conductive material, usually metal, to improve heat transfer. The heat spreader, covering the die and conductive wires, is attached to the substrate with an adhesive, a thermal paste, or grease. To prevent electrical interference and short circuits, the heat spreader does not touch the die or the conductive wires. Thus, a heat spreader cavity is formed under the heat spreader.
After the heat spreader is attached, the die, the substrate, the heat spreader, and the conductive wires are encapsulated in a mold compound, such as plastic or epoxy, or in a multi-part housing made of plastic, ceramic, or metal. The encapsulation protects the substrate, the heat spreader, the fine conductive wires, and the die from physical, electrical, moisture, and/or chemical damage.
The encapsulation process begins by placing a mold over the die, the substrate, the heat spreader, and the conductive wires. Next, a mold compound is injected into the mold. The mold compound flows through the mold, encasing the die, the substrate, the heat spreader, and the conductive wires.
In order for the heat spreader to efficiently transfer heat, and for the mold compound to protect the die, the substrate, the heat spreader, and the conductive wires, the mold compound must fill the mold and the cavity under the heat spreader. Thus, air must be removed from the mold and from under the heat sink. However, efficient, simple, and cost effective air removal under the heat sink continues to remain a problem during the encapsulation process. In view of the ever-increasing need to save costs and improve efficiencies, it is more and more critical that answers be found to such problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Air pocket resistant semiconductor package


One aspect of the invention relates to pigment composition containing a monoarylide pigment and a hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine compound. Another aspect of the invention relates to making an monoarylide pigment involving coupling a substituted or unsubstituted acetoacetanilide with at least one diazotized aromatic amine in a solution containing a hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to paint, ink, electrostatic toner, powder coating, and paper compositions containing the pigment composition or monoarylide pigment made in accordance with the invention.

The present invention generally relates to monoarylide pigment compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to monoarylide pigments coupled in the presence of hydrocarbyl polyamines which provide pigment compositions having increased tinctorial strength.
Azo pigments are a class of colorants that are relatively strong tinctorially and relatively inexpensive. Azo pigments are generally either monoazo or disazo pigments. Azo pigments can also be classified by the type of coupler used (e.g., acetoacetarylide or arylide, pyrazolone, or 2-naphthol). Monoazo pigments made by coupling into an acetoacetarylide are called monoarylide pigments.
Monoarylide pigments generally show good lightfastness/weathering resistance and are particularly useful as coloring agents for paints. One particular use of reddish yellow monoarylide pigments includes replacement for medium chrome yellow pigments in paints used to make traffic stripes. Although monoarylide pigments are relatively strong tinctorially, they are not as tinctorially strong as diarylide pigments. For example, monoarylide yellow C.I. (Colour Index) P.Y. (Pigment Yellow) 65 is not as tinctorially strong as diarylide yellow C.I. P.Y. 83. W. Herbst and K. Hunger, Industrial Organic Pigments, Second Edition, VCH, New York, 1997, p. 228, state: xe2x80x9cTinctorially, however, P.Y. 65 is considerably inferior, which precludes its application in printing inks. Opaque varieties of the slightly more greenish diarylide yellow pigment P.Y. 83, for instance, are more than three times as strong as P.Y. 65, yet provide similar lightfastness.xe2x80x9d
A patent which describes coupling monoarylide yellow pigments in the presence of monoamine salts, followed by addition of rosin solutions, is German Offenlegungsschrift 2526872 (1976, Ciba-Geigy AG); this process gives pigments with increased dispersibility and transparency in lithographic inks.
Several patents describe coupling diarylide yellow pigments in the presence of amine salts. U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,202 to Stirling et al relates to coupling diarylide yellow C.I. P.Y. 12 in the presence of a long chain aliphatic primary amine and ethylene polyamine, then post-adding (adding after coupling) quaternary ammonium chloride and a long chain aliphatic dipropylenetriamine to improve strength, gloss and transparency. U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,997 to Schwartz et al relates to co-coupling P.Y. 12 with a (acetoacet) derivative of a polyoxyalkylene mono-, di- or tri-amine, which gave gravure inks with less color deterioration than inks containing P.Y. 12 modified with tallowalkyl dipropylenetriamine. U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,033 to Blackburn et al relates to coupling P.Y. 12 in the presence of 2,2xe2x80x2-disulfobenzidine dyes and rosin salts, then mixing it with a P.Y. 13/tallowalkyl propylenediamine mixture to improve rheology and printing properties of inks. European Patent 567,918 (1994, Hoechst AG) relates to coupling P.Y. 12 in the presence of an amide of tallowalkyl propylenediamine and caprolactam along with bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)methane and a long chain aliphatic amine to improve gloss, strength and holdout. European Patent 62,304 (1982, Hoechst AG) relates to coupling diarylide yellows in the presence of a long chain aliphatic amine or a quaternary ammonium chloride phase transfer catalyst, then post-adding a polyethyleneamine to increase strength and gloss. U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,833 to Hays et al relates to post-adding tallowalkyl tripropylenetetramine to P.Y. 12 slurries to increase holdout of publication gravure inks.
The present invention provides monoarylide pigments with excellent tinctorial strength. Since monoarylide pigments tend to be less expensive and have better lightfastness/weathering resistance than diarylide pigments, increasing the tinctorial strength of monoarylide pigments is a very attractive benefit associated with the present invention.
One aspect of the invention relates to pigment composition containing a monoarylide pigment and a hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine compound. Another aspect of the invention relates to making an monoarylide pigment involving coupling a substituted or unsubstituted acetoacetanilide with at least one diazotized aromatic amine in a solution containing a hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to paint, ink, electrostatic toner, powder coating, and paper compositions containing the pigment composition or monoarylide pigment made in accordance with the invention.
The present invention relates to a monoarylide pigment made using one or more hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine compounds. In this connection, monoarylide pigments in accordance with the present invention are made, in part, by coupling a diazotized aromatic amine with a substituted or unsubstituted acetoacetanilide in the presence of at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine. Pigment compositions contain the monoarylide pigment and the hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine. Although not limited thereto, monoarylide pigments in accordance with the present invention typically have yellow and/or orange color.
The pigments of the present invention are made using or pigment compositions of the present invention contain a hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine having Formula (I):
RNH(CH2CH2CH2NH)xHxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group containing about 10 or more carbon atoms and about 24 or less carbon atoms and x is about 1 or more and about 5 or less. In another embodiment, R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group containing about 12 or more carbon atoms and about 22 or less carbon atoms and x is about 2 or more and about 4 or less. In yet another embodiment, R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group containing about 14 or more carbon atoms and about 20 or less carbon atoms.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9chydrocarbylxe2x80x9d means that the group being described has predominantly hydrocarbon character within the context of this invention. These include groups that are not only purely hydrocarbon in nature (containing only carbon and hydrogen), but also groups containing substituents or hetero atoms which do not alter the predominantly hydrocarbon character of the group. Such substituents may include halo-, carbonyl-, ester-, ether-, alkoxy-, nitro-, etc. These groups also may contain hetero atoms. Suitable hetero atoms will be apparent to those skilled in the art and include, for example, sulfur, nitrogen and particularly oxygen.
In one embodiment, the hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine is a saturated alkyl polypropyleneamine, wherein the alkyl group contains about 10 or more carbon atoms and about 24 or less carbon atoms. In another embodiment, the hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine is an unsaturated alkyl polypropyleneamine, wherein the alkyl group contains about 10 or more carbon atoms and about 24 or less carbon atoms.
General examples of hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamines include stearyl poly(propyleneamine), oleyl poly(propyleneamine), lauryl poly(propyleneamine), decyl poly(propyleneamine), myristyl poly(propyleneamine), palmyl poly(propyleneamine), isodecyl poly(propyleneamine), tallowalkyl poly(propyleneamine), and cocoalkyl poly(propyleneamine).
Specific examples of hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamines include tallowalkyl tetrapropylenepentamine, tallowalkyl tripropylenetetramine, tallowalkyl dipropylenetriamine, cocoalkyl tetrapropylenepentamine, cocoalkyl tripropylenetetramine, cocoalkyl dipropylenetriamine, stearyl tetrapropylenepentamine, stearyl tripropylenetetramine, stearyl dipropylenetriamine, oleyl tetrapropylenepentamine, oleyl tripropylenetetramine, oleyl dipropylenetriamine, lauryl tetrapropylenepentamine, lauryl tripropylenetetramine, lauryl dipropylenetriamine, decyl tetrapropylenepentamine, decyl tripropylenetetramine, decyl dipropylenetriamine, myristyl tetrapropylenepentamine, myristyl tripropylenetetramine, myristyl dipropylenetriamine, palmyl tetrapropylenepentamine, palmyl tripropylenetetramine, palmyl dipropylenetriamine, isodecyl tetrapropylenepentamine, isodecyl tripropylenetetramine, and isodecyl dipropylenetriamine.
Hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamines include those under the trade designation Corsamine available from Corsicana Technologies, Inc., and specifically product designations PNT, TET and TRT; those available from Akzo Nobel Chemicals Inc. under the trade designations Tetrameen T and Triameen T; and those under the trade designation Polyram(copyright) available from Ceca S. A.
The hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamines are typically insoluble in water, so they can be made soluble, if necessary, by dissolving in an acidic solutions of acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like. After coupling (subsequently described), the soluble protonated hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamines may be precipitated on the pigment by addition of a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and the like, which promotes flocculation of the pigment dispersion and allows filtration and washing. Monoarylide pigments in accordance with the present invention are represented by compounds having Formula (II):
wherein each R1 and each R2, if any, are independently halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, a nitro group, a cyano group, a phenoxy group, or a trifluoromethyl group, and n and y are independently 0 or more and 4 or less. In another embodiment, each R1 and each R2, if any, are independently halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, a nitro group, and n and y are independently 1 or more and 3 or less. Halogens include fluorine, chlorine and bromine. The monoarylide pigments in accordance with the present invention are made, in part, by coupling a diazotized aromatic amine with a substituted or unsubstituted acetoacetanilide in the presence of at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine.
Specific examples of monoarylide pigments in accordance with the present invention include P.Y. 3 (wherein a first R1 in the 2-position is nitro, a second R1 in the 4-position is chloro, and an R2 in the 2-position is chloro), P.Y. 65 (wherein a first R1 in the 2-position is nitro, a second R1 in the 4-position is methoxy, and an R2 in the 2-position is methoxy), and P.O. 1 (wherein a first R1 in the 2-position is nitro, a second R1 in the 4-position is methoxy, and an R2 in the 2-position is methyl).
Aromatic amines are compounds generally represented by Formula (III):
wherein each R1 is independently halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, a nitro group, a cyano group, a phenoxy group, or a trifluoromethyl group, and n is 0 or more and 4 or less. In another embodiment, each R1 is independently halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, a nitro group, and n is 1 or more and 3 or less.
In yet another embodiment, aromatic amines are nitro compounds represented by Formula (IV):
wherein each R1 is independently halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a phenoxy group, or a trifluoromethyl group, and n is 0 or more and 3 or less. In another embodiment, each R1 is independently halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, and n is 1 or more and 2 or less.
Examples of commonly available aromatic amines characterized by Formulae (III) and/or (IV) include 2-methoxy-4-nitroaniline; 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline; 4-methoxy-2-nitroaniline; 2-amino-4-chloro-5-nitrotoluene; 2-chloro-4-nitroaniline; 2-chloro-5-nitroaniline; 4-chloro-2-nitroaniline; 4-chloro-3-nitroaniline; 5-chloro-2-nitroaniline; 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-nitroaniline; 2-chloro-4-methylaniline; 2-chloro-5-methylaniline; 2-chloro-6-methylaniline 3-chloro-2-methylaniline; 3-chloro-4-methylaniline; 4-chloro-2-methylaniline; 5-chloro-2-methylaniline; 4-chloro-2-methoxy-5-methylaniline; 4-chloro-2,6-dinitroaniline; 6-chloro-2,4-dinitroaniline; 2-chloro-4,6-dimethylaniline; 3-chloro-2,6-diethylaniline; 4-chloro-2,6-dibromoaniline; 2-chloroaniline; 3-chloroaniline; 4-chloroaniline; 5-chloro-2-methoxyaniline; 3-chloro-4-methoxyaniline; aniline; and the like.
Substituted or unsubstituted acetoacetanilides are compounds generally represented by Formula (V):
wherein each R2 is independently halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, a nitro group, or a phenoxy group, and y is 0 or more and 4 or less. In another embodiment, each R2 is independently halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, a nitro group, and y is 1 or more and 3 or less.
Examples of acetoacetanilides include acetoacetanilide, acetoacet-2-methoxyanilide, acetoacet-4-methoxyanilide, acetoacet-2-methylanilide, acetoacet-4-methylanilide, acetoacet-2,4-xylidide, acetoacet-2-chloranilide, acetoacet-2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloranilide, and the like.
The pigments of the present invention may be prepared by initially diazotizing the aromatic amine wherein the aromatic amine forms a diazonium component, and coupling the diazonium component with a coupling component comprised of an acetoacetanilide coupler in the presence of at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine. The coupling may be conducted in an acidic solution of at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine.
The aromatic amines from which the diazonium components are prepared are available commercially or can be prepared using methods known in the art. The diazotization of the aromatic amines useful for the purposes of this invention may be carried out in the manners known to those skilled in the art. For example, diazotization may be carried out through the use of alkali metal nitrites or lower alkyl nitrites together with an adequately strong acid such as a mineral acid. Examples of useful mineral acids include hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid. Nitrosyl sulfuric acid also can be utilized. The diazotization reaction can be conducted at a temperature in the range from about xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C. to about 30xc2x0 C., preferably from about 0xc2x0 C. to about 20xc2x0 C.
In one embodiment, it is advantageous in the diazotization reactions (and in the subsequent coupling reactions) to include one or more appropriate organic solvents. For example, suitable organic solvents include one or more of glacial acetic acid, lower alkanols, dioxane, formamide, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, pyridine or N-methyl pyrrolidone. In another embodiment, it is advantageous in the diazotization reactions (and in the subsequent coupling reactions) not to include one or more organic solvents.
The coupling reaction useful for the purposes of the present invention may be effected preferably by adding the diazonium components to the coupling components, but the coupling components can be added to the diazonium components. Coupling is generally effected at a temperature of from about xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C. to about 80xc2x0 C., preferably from about 10xc2x0 C. to about 40xc2x0 C. As in the diazotization reaction, coupling may be carried out in the presence or absence of an suitable organic solvent, such as all of those identified above in connection with the diazotization reaction.
The coupling reaction solution or slurry generally has an acidic or neutral pH. For example, in one embodiment, the coupling reaction solution has a pH of about 3 or more and about 7 or less. In another embodiment, the coupling reaction solution has a pH of about 4 or more and about 6 or less. In yet another embodiment, the coupling reaction solution has a pH of about 4.25 or more and about 6.5 or less.
In another embodiment, generally, the diazonium components are coupled with a slight stoichiometric excess of the coupling component. That is, one equivalent of the diazonium components (total amount of the diazonium components) is coupled with slightly more than one equivalent of the coupling component. In one embodiment, the ratio of equivalents of the diazonium components to the coupling component is from about 0.9:1 to about 1:1. In another embodiment, the ratio of equivalents of the diazonium components to the coupling component is from about 0.95:1 to about 1:1 and preferably from about 0.98:1 to about 1:1.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dispersibility of the pigments of the present invention can be improved by adding alkali-soluble resin-like products before, during, or after the coupling is completed. Various resin-like materials can be added for this purpose, and these include for example, rosin resins, polymeric rosins, resin soap, chemically modified rosin resins, such as rosin-maleinate resins, alkyd resins, and other synthetic hydrocarbon resins with a higher acid number, or combination of these resins. The resins may be present in a product with free carboxyl groups that are capable of forming a salt, or may be partially or completely in the form of salts, for example, with alkali metal ions. It may also be advantageous to perform the coupling reaction in the presence of a finely divided insoluble material, for example, alkaline earth metal sulfates and carbonates, titanium dioxide or clay materials or very finely divided organic plastic materials.
The coupling reaction of the present invention is conducted in a solution or slurry in the presence of at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine. In one embodiment, the solution in which coupling occurs contains at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine in an amount of about 1% by weight or more and about 25% by weight or less based on the weight of the monoarylide pigment. In another embodiment, the solution in which coupling occurs contains at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine in an amount of about 2.5% by weight or more and about 20% by weight or less based on the weight of the monoarylide pigment. In yet another embodiment, the solution in which coupling occurs contains at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine in an amount of about 5% by weight or more and about 15% by weight or less based on the weight of the monoarylide pigment.
In most applications, it is desirable, in order to achieve the full brightness and tinctorial strength, to heat the monoarylide pigment. For example, the monoarylide pigment may be heated to boiling temperature for about 0.25 to about 3 hours at temperatures about 100xc2x0 C. or higher optionally under pressure in the presence or absence of the above-described resin soaps or other soluble resins.
After completion of the reactions and optional heating, the finely divided dispersion of monoarylide pigment and acidic solution of hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine is flocculated by addition of a strong base to raise the pH to about 10 to about 11; this high pH precipitates the hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine and changes the fine dispersion to a coarse slurry.
The monoarylide pigments are recovered from the water-based reaction slurry by filtering to form a presscake of pigment which is washed with cold water or hot water (e.g., from about 40xc2x0 C. to about 70xc2x0 C.), so as to remove the excess acids, bases and unwanted salts formed during the coupling reaction. The presscake is typically washed with from about 10 to about 20 times its volume of hot water. The filter cake is generally washed until the filtrate gives only a slightly positive test for chloride ion. The washed presscakes can be dried, ground and used in the form of a coarse or finely divided powder. Alternatively, the monoarylide pigments of this invention can be dispersed into oleoresinous vehicles to prepare flushed bases or dispersed into aqueous or organic vehicles to prepare aqueous dispersions or organic pigment compositions.
As stated above, the monoarylide pigments in accordance with the present invention are represented by Formula (II). In another embodiment, monoarylide pigments in accordance with the present invention are compounds represented by Formula (VI)
wherein each R1 and each R2, if any, are independently halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, a nitro group, a cyano group, a phenoxy group, or a trifluoromethyl group, y is 0 or more and 4 or less, and n is 0 or more and 3 or less. In yet another embodiment, each R1 and each R2, if any, are independently halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, a nitro group, y is 1 or more and 3 or less, and n is 1 or more and 2 or less.
The pigment compositions of this invention contain at least one monoarylide pigment and at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine. In one embodiment, the pigment compositions contain about 90% by weight or more and about 99.99% by weight or less of at least one monoarylide pigment and about 0.01% by weight or more and about 10% by weight or less of at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine. In another embodiment, the pigment compositions contain about 95% by weight or more and about 99.9% by weight or less of at least one monoarylide pigment and about 0.1% by weight or more and about 5% by weight or less of at least one hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine.
The pigment compositions of this invention provide high quality monoarylide pigments having improved color/tinctorial strength, and are useful as coloring agents in paints, inks, electrostatic toners, powder coatings, and papers. This invention, therefore, also relates to paint, ink, electrostatic toner, powder coating, and paper compositions comprising major amounts of a paint vehicle, ink vehicle, electrostatic toner vehicle, powder coating vehicle, and paper vehicle and minor amounts of the monoarylide pigment compositions of this invention. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to paints comprising the monoarylide pigment composition. Major amounts include at least 50% by weight whereas minor amounts include less than 50% by weight.
The paint, ink, electrostatic toner, powder coating, and paper compositions in which the pigments of this invention are useful are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Examples of inks include printing inks, gravure inks and lacquers. The monoarylide pigment compositions are also useful for pigment printing and for the pigmenting of paper in the mass, electrostatic toners, and powder coatings.
Due to its excellent color/tintorial strength, the monoarylide pigments are particularly suitable for the pigmenting of paints, such as, for example, latex paints, alkyd paints, epoxy paints, oil based paints, road paints (generally for use on asphalt and cement), and the like.
See, for example, with regard to ink: R. H. Leach, editor, The Printing Ink Manual, Fourth Edition, Van Nostrand Reinhold (International) Co. Ltd., London (1988), particularly pages 282-591; and with regard to paints: C. H. Hare, Protective Coatings, Technology Publishing Co., Pittsburgh (1994), particularly pages 63-288. The foregoing references are hereby incorporated by reference herein for their teachings of ink and paint compositions, formulations and vehicles in which the compositions of this invention may be used including amounts of colorants.

Strong monoarylide pigment/hydrocarbyl polypropyleneamine compositions


A feminine cooling pad configured for cooling a vulva and/or adjacent region. The cooling pad may include a non-adhesive outer liquid permeable layer configured to be oriented toward the pubic area during use. A liquid absorbent layer forming or adjacent to the outer layer absorbs bodily fluids or discharges during use. A cooling layer adjacent to the liquid absorbent layer provides cooling for at least about 15 minutes when the cooling pad is placed adjacent to the pubic area of a woman. An optional adhesive layer adjacent to the cooling layer can adhere the feminine cooling pad to an undergarment or clothing during use and maintain the cooling pad in a desired orientation. A feminine heating pad may include a microwavable material that becomes warm or hot when placed in a microwave oven. A feminine cooling pad can operate as a heating pad when heated instead of cooled.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of feminine cooling pads.
2. Relevant Technology
A common problem experienced by women is discomfort of the vulva, perineum, and surrounding regions. Such discomfort can have a variety of causes, including but not limited to, vaginal itching and burning as a result of infection (e.g., yeast infection), urethral pain or inflammation as a result of infection (e.g., urinary tract infection), vaginal varicosity (e.g., during pregnancy), damage to the perineum following child birth, and chronic inflammation (e.g., atopic dermatitis).
While various ways of cooling the perineum have been proposed, none have gained acceptance in the market place. Perhaps this is due to inconvenience in the mode of application and/or poor design, causing additional discomfort. If a product is inconvenient and hard to use and/or causes discomfort it will fail in the market place.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,315 to Patel and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0142807 to Lee et al. are examples of cooling devices for the perineum that have been proposed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,376 to Kozak discloses a flexible adhesive bandage designed to adhere to tissue immediately surrounding a wound, absorb fluid, and provide cooling. These devices have certain design aspects that limit their usefulness and effectiveness.
Accordingly, there remains a need to provide a feminine cooling pad that is designed to more comfortably and conveniently cool and provide relief to the vulva and/or adjacent regions of a woman's body.


A device for generating an image comprising polygons having polygon edges and a reduced aliasing effect on the polygon edges. The device includes a drawing processing unit for obtaining a color of a given dot, an area size occupied by one of the polygons in the given dot, and a direction code indicating a direction of an adjacent dot relative to the given dot, a frame-memory unit for storing the color, the area size, and the direction code for each dot of the image, and a display processing unit for combining the color of the given dot and a color of the adjacent dot indicated by the direction code with a ratio corresponding to the area size to obtain a color to be displayed for the given dot in the image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to image processing devices, and particularly relates to an image processing device having a function of removing the aliasing generated through sampling of an image.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A wide variety of application fields using computer image generation include designs, games, arts, commercial films, cartoons, simulations, etc. In these application fields, realism is pursued so that a generated image should be as realistic as possible.
Computer-generated images typically have a problem of aliasing, which is generated by digital sampling of an image at a time of model generation or at a time of display on a screen. In the computer-generated images, the aliasing appears as stair-stepped contours of image objects, i.e., so called "jaggies".
Generally, image processing or image generation is carried out at a predetermined coordinate in each pixel of an image. Since a pixel occupies an area of a certain size, processing only at a predetermined coordinate in each pixel will lose some information about the image. For example, a pixel is assigned to a dark tone when the predetermined coordinate in that pixel is dark, even if there is a bright portion in that pixel. This causes the aliasing.
There are various anti-aliasing algorithms for removing the aliasing.
A super-sampling method assigns a plurality of dots such as 4.times.4 dots, 8.times.8 dots, or the like of a frame buffer to one pixel of a CRT to draw a picture in the frame buffer. This frame buffer has a memory size 16 times greater, 64 times greater, etc. Then, this method uses an average value of the plurality of dots for a corresponding dot of the CRT.
A filtering method removes the aliasing by filtering images.
Other methods include a method of calculating an area occupied by a given object in a given pixel by clipping the object within the pixel, and a method of calculating area proportions of objects in a given pixel by using auxiliary scan lines called sub scan lines.
Further another anti-aliasing method is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No.3-139774. This anti-aliasing method applies a filtering operation to discontinuity regions in a Z buffer, thereby avoiding blurring of an entire image. Namely, this method is an augmented version of the filtering method described above.
Also, there are anti-aliasing methods used in texture mapping. These methods include a method of integrating colors of mapping patterns in one dot of the screen, a method of sampling a plurality of mapping-pattern colors with equal intervals for one dot of the screen, and a method of sampling a plurality of mapping-pattern colors at random for one dot of the screen.
The super-sampling method described above generates a high-quality image at an expense of device costs. That is, when one dot is comprised of 8.times.8 dots, for example, the memory volume of the frame buffer becomes 64 times as large. Such an increase in the memory volume makes the image processing device costly.
The filtering method has a problem in that an entire image is blurred through the filtering process.
The method of applying a filtering operation to a Z buffer needs a mask memory for storing the discontinuity regions detected in the Z buffer. The use of the mask memory leads to an increase in the cost. Also, a differential filter needs to be applied to the entire image to detect the discontinuity regions, so that a performance in terms of a drawing speed is deteriorated.
Accordingly, there is a need for an image generation device which can remove the aliasing without an increase in memory and a decrease in a drawing speed.

Image generating device with anti-aliasing function


A tuner part of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver includes an IF signal demodulator part and an I/Q signal demodulator part. These demodulator parts are formed on different substrates, and covered with different chassis respectively. Low-pass filters are provided between an amplifier circuit of the IF signal demodulator part and an output terminal and between an IF signal input terminal of the I/Q signal demodulator part and a baseband converter circuit respectively. Further, an AGC detector circuit for detecting the level of an IF signal for the baseband converter circuit is provided for controlling the amplifier circuit of the IF signal demodulator part by its AGC voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiver for receiving satellite broadcasting which transmits digitally compressed video and audio information digitally modulated by QPSK (quadrature phase shift keying) modulation, for example, and more particularly, it relates to a tuner part for receiving signals of the 1 GHz band from an antenna (LNB: low noise block downconverter) and selecting a channel.
2. Description of the Background Art
Satellite television broadcast systems can be divided into an analog FM system which frequency-modulates analog video and audio signals and a digital modulation system which digitizes and compresses analog video and audio signals and digitally modulates the compressed data by QPSK modulation or the like for transmitting the same.
Due to the development of the semiconductor technique and the digital image compression technique, it is nowadays possible to transmit a larger number of television programs by the digital modulation system in the same frequency band as compared with the analog FM system. Therefore, digital modulation satellite broadcasting is employed or planned at present. Also in relation to CATV (cable television) and ground wave broadcasting, employment of the digitization system is discussed.
FIG. 35 is a block diagram showing a part 402 for making a transport output in a digital DBS (direct broadcasting satellite) receiver 400. The term "transport output" indicates a data format defined by the MPEG standard for transmission/reception of data compressed in the MPEG standard. Video and audio data are multiplexed in the transport output.
Referring to FIG. 35, the transport output part 402 includes an RF (radio frequency) signal input terminal 60, a tuner circuit 410 for selecting a signal of a certain single channel from RF signals and converting the same to an intermediate frequency (hereinafter referred to as IF) signal, an I/Q demodulator 412 for demodulating baseband signals including I (in-phase) and Q (Quadrature-phase) signals from the IF signal, and a QPSK demodulator+FEC part 414 for digitally processing outputs of the I/Q demodulator 412, performing error detection, error correction etc. and obtaining the transport output.
The QPSK demodulator+FEC part 414 includes an A/D converter circuit 416 for digitizing the baseband signals outputted from the I/Q demodulator 412, a QPSK demodulator 418 for QPSK-demodulating outputs of the A/D converter circuit 416, a Viterbi decoder 420 for Viterbi-decoding outputs of the QPSK demodulator 418, and a Reed-Solomon error correcting circuit 422 for error-correcting outputs of the Viterbi decoder 420 by Reed-Solomon coding.
The Viterbi decoding is one technique for detecting the most probable series in case of receiving data series recorded with data-to-data correlation. The feature of the Viterbi decoding resides in that the original data series is easy to detect even when the data include noise. The Reed-Solomon coding is one error correction coding methods for transmitting/receiving data with the addition of data for error correction.
The QPSK demodulator 418 and the I/Q demodulator 412 are controlled by a microcomputer 404.
FIG. 36 shows the block structure of the conventional tuner part 408 along with the relation between a chassis for shielding and a substrate. In the following description including that of FIG. 36, it is assumed that the respective circuits are clearly divided into blocks, simply for the purpose of convenience. In practice, the circuits are not so clearly divided into blocks.
Referring to FIG. 36, the tuner part 408 includes an IF signal demodulator part or tuner circuit 410 for selecting a signal of a single channel from RF signals of the 1 GHz band consisting of a plurality of channels received from an LNB of an antenna, amplifying this signal and converting the same to an IF signal, and an I/Q signal demodulator part 412 for demodulating I and Q signals which are baseband signals by demodulating the IF signal outputted from the IF signal demodulator part 410. The IF signal demodulator part 410 and the I/Q signal demodulator part 412 are formed on the same substrate 432, and stored in a single chassis 430.
The IF signal demodulator part 410 includes an RF signal input circuit 90 which is connected to receive the RF signals from the RF signal input terminal 90, a frequency selector circuit 96 for oscillating a first local oscillation signal for selecting a signal of a certain single channel from the RF signals, an IF signal converter circuit 92 for mixing the first local oscillation signal with the RF signal for converting the same to an IF signal, an amplifier circuit 94 for amplifying the IF signal at an amplification factor which is decided by a supplied AGC (Auto Gain Control) voltage and controlling the same to a prescribed bandwidth for outputting this signal, and an AGC control circuit 98 for controlling a signal attenuation factor in the RF signal input circuit 90 and the signal amplification factor in the amplifier circuit 94 on the basis of an AGC control voltage (AGC IN) supplied from a terminal 78. The AGC control voltage is supplied from an integrated circuit for PSK/QPSK demodulation which will be described later.
This tuner part 408 has an input terminal 66 for applying supply voltage to the LNB, source voltage terminals 68 and 70 for supplying source voltages, terminals 72 and 74 for supplying data for specifying a selected frequency from the microcomputer and a clock signal, respectively and a terminal 76 for supplying a tuning voltage (28 V).
The I/Q signal demodulator part 412 includes a second oscillator circuit 112 for outputting a second local oscillation signal having a frequency substantially identical to the frequency of the IF signal, a 90.degree. phase shifter 114 for producing two oscillation signals which are 90.degree. out of phase with each other from the second local oscillator circuit 112, a baseband converter circuit 116 for mixing the IF signal received from the amplifier circuit 94 with the two oscillation signals from the 90.degree. phase shifter 114 with each other, converting the same to baseband signals consisting of I and Q signals and outputting these signals, and an amplifier circuit 118 for amplifying the I and Q signals outputted from the baseband converter circuit 116 respectively and outputting the same to I/Q signal output terminals 62 and 64. The I/Q signal demodulator part 412 further has terminals 84, 86 and 88 for supplying prescribed source voltages.
The terminals 72 and 74 are connected to the microcomputer 404 (not shown in FIG. 36) shown in FIG. 35.
Referring to FIG. 36, the RF signals inputted in the RF signal input terminal 60 are supplied to the IF signal converter circuit 92 through the RF signal input circuit 90. These RF signals are mixed with the first local oscillation signal which is outputted from a first local oscillator included in the frequency selector circuit 96, whereby the IF signal converter circuit 92 outputs IF signals having frequencies defined by the frequency differences between the RF signals and the first local oscillation signal. At this time, the frequency of the first local oscillation signal outputted from the frequency selector circuit 96 is locked on the basis of channel data supplied from the microcomputer 404. Thus, the IF signal converter circuit 92 selects only one channel.
The IF signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 94 and bandwidth-limited to become a signal having a frequency of 479.5 MHz, further level-controlled in accordance with a control voltage from the AGC control circuit 98, and guided to the I/Q signal demodulator part 412.
The second local oscillator 112 generates a second local oscillation signal having the same frequency as the IF signal. The 90.degree. phase shifter 114 produces signals which are 90.degree. out of phase with each other from the second local oscillation signal, and supplies the same to the baseband converter circuit 116. The baseband converter circuit 116 mixes the IF signal with the two oscillation signals which are 90.degree. out of phase with each other respectively, and extracts phase information from the IF signal, thereby obtaining I and Q signals which are baseband signals.
The I and Q signals are amplified by the amplifier circuit 118 to proper levels respectively, supplied to a subsequent circuit (QPSK demodulator part) from the I/Q signal output terminals 62 and 64, to be QPSK-demodulated.
As hereinabove described, the second local oscillation signal generated from the second local oscillator 112 in the I/Q signal demodulator part 412 is made to have the same frequency as the IF signal, in order to demodulate the IF signal. Further, the IF signal demodulator part 410 and the I/Q signal demodulator part 412 are formed on the same single substrate 432, and stored in the single chassis 430. Thus, the IF signal demodulator part 410 and the I/Q signal demodulator part 412 share a ground pattern.
Therefore, the second local oscillation signal from the second local oscillator 112 of the I/Q signal demodulator part 412 may be mixed into the IF signal demodulator part 410 through a power supply line, a signal line and the ground pattern on the common substrate 432. Since the 90.degree. phase shifter 114 and the AGC control circuit 98 are arranged on the same substrate 432 in proximity to each other, further, a harmonic twice or three times the second local oscillation signal from the second local oscillator 112 may be mixed into the AGC control circuit 98 from the 90.degree. phase shifter 114 through a floating capacitance, and inputted in the RF signal input terminal 60 through the circuits in the IF signal demodulator part 410.
If the RF signal selected in the IF signal converter circuit 92 has the same frequency as this harmonic in this case, the unnecessary harmonic interferes with the originally required normal IF signal, leading to inferior QPSK modulation. In case of digital broadcasting, such inferior demodulation results in data loss to mosaic the screen, and the picture quality is heavily deteriorated as compared with the analog system. Therefore, such interference is preferably eliminated to the minimum.
For example, the second local oscillator 112 oscillates at 479.5 MHz. Harmonics twice, three times and four times this frequency are 959 MHz, 1438.5 MHz and 1918 MHz respectively. Spurious responses are caused at input frequencies in the range of .+-.10 MHz with respect to these frequencies. In case of the harmonic having the frequency of 959 MHz, for example, a spurious response is caused in the range of input frequencies of 949 MHz to 969 MHz.
While the AGC control circuit 98 of the IF signal demodulator part 410 is supplied with the AGC control voltage from the QPSK demodulator part, it is necessary to quicken the response of AGC control through the AGC control circuit 98 and the amplifier circuit 94, in order to perform QPSK demodulation in an excellent state.


There is provided a deformed steel wire includes, as a chemical component, by mass %; C: 0.30% to 1.10%, Si: 0.10% to 1.50%, and Mn: 0.20% to 1.50%, and the balance consists of Fe and unavoidable impurities, in which a metallographic structure is a ferrite-pearlite structure or a pearlite structure, integration degrees of a crystal orientation <110> in a longitudinal direction of a thickness center area and a surface area are in a range of 2.0 to 4.0, an absolute value of a difference in the integration degree between an inner surface and an outer surface of the surface area is 0.3 or less, an integration degree of a crystal orientation <100> in a thickness direction of the thickness center area is in a range of 1.2 to 3.8, and a dimensional accuracy index is in a range of 0.5 to 2.0.

A protection tube for an optical fiber and the like is formed by combining three deformed steel wires, which have a hollow-fan shape (that is, cut up a doughnut into fan shapes) of cross section, in a cylindrical shape. An optical fiber is protected from an external force by being inserted into the protection tube, and the protection tube serves as a pressure-resistant layer. To decrease the installation costs of a cable, there has been a demand for the weight reduction of the protection tube or the pressure-resistant layer, and thus far, there have been proposals regarding, for example, a deformed steel wire having a high tensile strength as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4. The deformed steel wire is manufactured by drawing a wire rod, and then deforming the wire rod so as to form a substantially hollow-fan shape of cross section. Therefore, for example, a high-strength steel wire satisfying both conditions of cold workability and high strength is proposed in Patent Document 5. Here, the wire rod refers to a material of a steel wire. In addition, the steel wire is a collective term for a deformed steel wire and steel wires other than the deformed steel wire.
To satisfy the cold workability and high strength of a steel wire, an increase in the cementite fraction, the strengthening of ferrite by a solid solution of Si or the like, and a decrease in the lamella spacing of pearlite are effective. The above-described steel wire is manufactured by, for example, hot rolling a steel piece, which includes a great amount of C, produced by adding Si, Cr, and the like as necessary, so as to produce a wire rod, furthermore, heating the wire rod up to an austenite region, then, cooling the wire rod, and carrying out a patenting treatment for isothermal transformation after the cooling.
A deformed steel wire of the related art having a high tensile strength satisfied both conditions of high strength and high ductility using the metallographic structure of a steel wire that had been subjected to hot rolling or patenting treatment. In addition, regarding a drawing process or a deforming process for manufacturing a deformed steel wire satisfying both conditions of high strength and high ductility, for example, methods for adjusting the reduced cross-sectional area or the caliber shape of a roller to prevent wire rapture have been proposed in Patent Documents 2 and 3.
However, for example, the technology that adjusts the reduced cross-sectional area or the caliber shape of a roller, which is disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, is effective to ensure the tensile strength of a deformed steel wire, but it cannot be said that a deformed steel wire obtained using this technology has excellent low-cycle fatigue properties. In addition, for example, in Patent Document 1, there is no regulation regarding the texture or the dimensional accuracy, and thus it is difficult to satisfy both conditions of the uniformity of the tensile strength and excellent low-cycle fatigue properties, that is, durability.
Furthermore, when a power cable or a communication cable is installed in the ocean from a vessel, the cable is affected by bad weather, ocean waves, and the like within a short period of time during which the cable reaches the ocean floor, particularly, the deep ocean floor and is stabilized. Therefore, there is a case in which great tension is repeatedly applied to the cable due to water pressure or tidal force, and the breakage of the cable due to the low-cycle fatigue is concerned. Therefore, the deformed steel wire protecting an optical fiber and the like is required to have low-cycle fatigue properties.

Deformed steel wire for protection tube of submarine cable, method for manufacturing same, and pressure-resistant layer

NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION


An aqueous stripping solution and method for selectively removing a titanium compound from a base metal. The aqueous solution contains a source of hydrogen peroxide, an alkali source of hydroxyl ions and an acid with the components in a concentration such that the pH of the solution is above 8.

High performance components in aircraft engine turbomachines such as compressor blades, bearings and gears are typically coated with a titanium metal compound such as TiN to improve their wear characteristics and to provide erosion protection. The engine parts are cast or otherwise molded or machined from superalloys,- stainless steels or alloy steels and represent very expensive precision components. Removal of the coating from the underlying base metal is necessary if a defect is discovered in the coating and/or for restoring worn components. It is essential to strip the protective coating from the base metal without suffering any detrimental attack to the underlying base metal.
To selectively strip a titanium compound such as TiN from a solid base metal composed of a superalloy, stainless steel or alloy steel without chemically attacking the base metal is particularly difficult when both the base metal and coating have a high corrosion resistance characteristic. Stripping is even more difficult when the corrosion resistance of the coating is equal to or greater than the corrosion resistance of the substrate.
Although, stripping solutions containing hydrogen peroxide are known there is no known aqueous based stripping solution using hydrogen peroxide which will permit the removal of a coating of a titanium compound from a solid base metal composed of a superalloy, stainless steel or alloy steel without causing detrimental attack to the underlying base metal. A chemical stripping solution comprising hydrogen peroxide is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,554,049, 4,410,396 and 4,545,918 respectively. The stripping solutions disclosed in these patents are either unable to strip compounds of titanium from base metals composed of superalloys stainless steels and alloy steels or will actively attack both the titanium compound coating and the base metal.

Striping process for stripping compounds of titanium from base metals


An inertial exciter (40) for an acoustic radiator (42), and a loudspeaker incorporating an acoustic radiator and such an exciter. The exciter has a massive member (44); a coupler (56) adapted for attachment to the acoustic radiator (42) and adapted for relative movement with respect to the massive member (44); a motor for effecting relative movement of the coupler with respect to the massive member; and a suspension (60) for supporting the massive member relative to the coupler. The suspension (60) acts in a plane generally passing through the center of mass of the massive member, thereby reducing any moment acting on the suspension.

Such loudspeakers are known, for example, from international application WO97/09842, and counterpart U.S. application Ser. No. 08/707,012, filed Sep. 3, 1996, both to New Transducers Ltd. In general, such speakers include a resonant bending wave acoustic radiator, e.g. in the form of a plate, and a transducer mounted on the plate to convert electrical signals into mechanical vibrations. The transducer excites the resonant bending wave modes in the plate, which then emits sound to create an acoustic output.
The properties of the acoustic radiator may be chosen to distribute the resonant bending wave modes substantially evenly in frequency. In other words, the properties or parameters, e.g. size, thickness, shape, material, etc., of the acoustic radiator may be chosen to smooth peaks in the frequency response caused by "bunching" or clustering of the modes. The resultant distribution of resonant bending wave modes may thus be such that there are substantially minimal clusterings and disparities of spacing.
In particular, the properties of the acoustic radiator may be chosen to distribute the lower frequency resonant bending wave modes substantially evenly in frequency. The number of resonant bending wave modes is less at lower frequencies than at higher frequencies and thus the distribution of the lower frequency resonant bending wave modes is particularly important. The lower frequency resonant bending wave modes are preferably the ten to twenty lowest frequency resonant bending wave modes of the acoustic radiator. The resonant bending wave modes associated with each conceptual axis of the acoustic radiator may be arranged to be interleaved in frequency. Each conceptual axis has an associated lowest fundamental frequency (conceptual frequency) and higher modes at spaced frequencies. By interleaving the modes associated with each axis, the substantially even distribution may be achieved. There may be two conceptual axes and the axes may be symmetry axes. For example, for a rectangular acoustic radiator, the axes may be a short and a long axis parallel to a short and a long side of the acoustic radiator respectively. For an elliptical acoustic radiator, the axes may correspond to the major and minor axis of the ellipse. The axes may be orthogonal.
The transducer location may be chosen to couple substantially evenly to the resonant bending wave modes. In particular, the transducer location may be chosen to couple substantially evenly to lower frequency resonant bending wave modes. In other words, the transducer may be mounted at a location spaced away from nodes (or dead spots) of as many lower frequency resonant modes as possible. Thus the transducer may be at a location where the number of vibrationally active resonance anti-nodes is relatively high and conversely the number of resonance nodes is relatively low. Any such location may be used, but the most convenient locations (for a rectangular panel) are the near-central locations between 38% to 62% along each of the length and width axes of the panel, but off-central. Specific locations found suitable are at 3/7, 4/9 or 5/13 of the distance along the axes; a different ratio for the length axis and the width axis is preferred.
A particularly preferred kind of exciter for use with bending wave loudspeakers is the inertial exciter, an example of which is shown attached to a panel form member 15 in FIG. 1. The exciter 14 comprises an electromagnetic motor made up of a magnet assembly and a voice coil assembly. The magnet assembly comprises a magnet 20, a pole piece 22 and a magnet cup 24 such that the magnet 20 is sandwiched between and attached to both the pole piece 22 and the magnet cup 24.
The voice coil assembly comprises a voice coil 26 wound on a former 27 which is attached to a coupler ring 28 which in turn is mounted on a mounting surface 30 of the panel-form member 15. The magnet assembly 20,22,24 is mounted on the voice coil assembly by means of a suspension 32 attached between the voice coil former 27 and the magnet cup 24.
Through audio connections (leads) 34, the exciter 14 receives electrical signals which are fed to voice coil 26. In accordance with well-known electromagnetic principles, these signals result in a force being exerted on the magnet assembly, with a reaction force being exerted on the voice coil, coupler ring and finally the panel 15. As a result of the higher mass (inertia) of the magnet assembly, it is the panel 15 that moves and, in combination with the preferential positioning mentioned above, generates sound.
The present inventors have identified two problems with known methods of mounting the magnet assembly. Firstly, when installed on a non-horizontal panel as shown in FIG. 1, the exciter tends to "creep", i.e. twist on its suspension under the effect of the weight, W, of the magnet assembly acting through its centre of mass, M. Secondly, the exciter may exhibit rocking modes which degrade power handling, shorten life, and increase distortion. In particular, leakage of energy into rocking modes may impair the power delivery at the lowest frequencies.
Further issues surround the mounting of the exciter as a whole. As is known, it may be advantageous to attach an exciter to a bending wave, panel-form loudspeaker by means of adhesive. However, should an exciter attached in this manner develop a fault, it will be necessary to break the adhesive joint and remove adhesive residue from the surface of the loudspeaker panel before a replacement exciter can be attached by means of a new adhesive bond.

Abstract: Also disclosed is a loudspeaker exciter assembly (70) that has a base plate (86) for attachment to an acoustic radiator in a non-repeatedly engageable manner, and an exciter (40) attached to the base plate (86) in a repeatedly engageable manner; and a loudspeaker incorporating such an exciter assembly.