A method for making a decision includes receiving a first decision question from a first user, providing a database of information regarding elements of decision quality, populating the database with data corresponding to each element of decision quality as applied to the first decision question, and providing a decision recommendation for the first decision question based at least in part on the data.

The present invention relates to a decision analysis and decision framing using a social network and historic decision posts.
While the field of decision analysis has advanced significantly in the last few decades, it has not penetrated the daily lives of the general public. Many people are not even aware that decision skills can be taught and improved. The general public relies mainly on their intuition in decision making. Contributing factors to this include but are not limited to:                i. Decision education is mainly conducted through coursework at the university level using hypothetical numerical examples and/or case studies involving large corporations that are removed from peoples' daily lives.        ii. Decision support software has been created for a trained analyst, who knows about decision modeling, and not a general user.        iii. Conducting a decision analysis requires identifying the elements of a decision such as the important alternatives, objectives, uncertainties, and the frame (or bigger picture of the decision). It has been proven that this is a cognitively difficult task when a person is facing a decision.        iv. The average individual lacks probabilistic reasoning skills.        v. Current social media sites, while popular, are not equipped with decision support tools, so the general public is unaware of their existence.
As can be seen, there is a need for solutions to these and other problems.

Method, software, and system for making a decision


Using a web presence manager infrastructure (see Appendix), actions, appliance events, and presences are continuously and automatically captured and stored as historical metadata for each physical context managed. The metadata is mapped interactively for all users. Personal content for each user, such as digital file usage, is indexed in association with each physical context. Users personal content from autobiographical web presence manager past events is displayed upon each registration of the user's presence in a current physical context with content recall directly related to the current physical context. Personal content mapping to available services is also provided.

1. Technology Field
The present invention relates generally to virtual representation technology. As used herein, "internet" shall be used as a generic term for any collection of distributed, interconnected networks (ARPANET, DARPANET, World Wide Web (hereinafter web), or the like) that are linked together by a set of industry standard protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, HTTP, and the like) to form a global or sub-global distributed network; an "intranet" is a proprietary network having similar properties to which the present invention may be adapted.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently an internet user's personal content is some combination of digital data files—that may include information data, pictures, video clips, presentations, electronic books, digital music, and the like—and the user's generally random and unorganized interactions therewith. A user's personal content grows at a rapid rate. Organization of and access to personal content becomes a significant issue.
In the state-of-the-art, the user's experience of internet-relational, mobile computing consists largely of being able, as examples, to listen to an MP3 song, read e-mail, or browse the web from a laptop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile telephone, or the like, referred to hereinafter generically as "mobile devices." Even the most mundane of these activities are frequently hampered by the need for making configuration settings, waiting for connections, losing wireless connection signals and starting over, and the like, even when the action desired by the user is similar to a previous mobile computing experience.
An advancement to the state-of-the-art is to have task-focused, sensor-enhanced, mobile devices that have tools for capturing some type of data or content from the physical world. For example, a PDA might be enhanced by addition of data capture tools, e.g., sensors such as an optical tag compatible subsystem—generally known as a barcode reader—an infrared receiver, a contact tag, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader, a position locator—such as Global Positioning System (GPS)—a camera, a handheld scanner, environmental condition detectors, a microphone and recording memory, or the like. Identifiers compatible with these capture tools, e.g., bar codes, beacons—namely, a transmitter of an identifier signal, e.g. Uniform Resource Locator (URL), over a short range via an infrared, wireless, or the like mechanism—and the like, are provided to be extracted from, attached to, or be near, associated physical objects. The capture tool obtains the identifier. The device resolves the identifier into a virtual resource or action related to the associated physical object. The result of resolution of an identifier may be information, e.g., a web page, or a service provided to the device user, or an action in the local physical environment. Provided with an appropriate infrastructure, mobile device users now automatically can find specific single web links by sensing something in the physical world; i.e., these enhanced mobile computing solutions use an iconic physical interface sensed by a sensor-enhanced mobile device and mapped by network software to a name for a contextual action associated with the current need. Examples are described by J. Barton and T. Kindberg in HPL-2001-18 Technical Report, titled "The Challenges and Opportunities of Integrating the Physical World and Network Systems," Jan. 24, 2001, discussing physical entities, virtual entities, and network-based linage mechanisms between them, whereby users engage simultaneously in mobile computing and their familiar physical world. The ability to resolve identifiers should be ubiquitous in that users should be able to pick up identifiers and, as long as they are connected to a wireless network, have the identifiers resolved. Examples of identifier resolution are described by T. Kindberg in HPL-2001-95 Technical Report, titled "Ubiquitous and Contextual Identifier Resolution for the Real-world Wide Web," Apr. 18, 2001, revised as HPL-2001-95R1 Technical Report, titled "Implementing Physical Hyperlinks Using Ubiquitous Identifier Resolution," Mar. 26, 2002, focusing on choices for identifier encoding and associated contextual parameters. These reports are available at the Hewlett-Packard Company web site. Such smart space systems further complicate the issue of use and query of personal content in relation to current physical context. Web servers may now be embedded in appliances in order to render them compliant with smart space environments; for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,177 (assigned to the common assignee herein).
In the current computer-centric paradigm, a user can only use resources and services installed and available on his computer to process his files. For instance, to print a file, a driver code needs to be installed beforehand on the computer for each printer that is to be a peripheral resource of the computer.

File processing using mapping between web presences

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for treating a subterranean formation by introducing into a gas or oil well a stable foam well treatment fluid which exhibits high viscosity. The well treatment fluid is prepared by first forming a mixture of crosslinking agent and foaming agent and then introducing the mixture to an aqueous fluid containing a crosslinkable polymer followed by the addition of a gas or gaseous liquid.

When treating a subterranean formation which is sensitive to water, it is often necessary to minimize the amount of water in the well treatment fluid. In such instances, it is typically preferred to mix a gas with the treatment fluid. This allows for a reduction in the amount of water without loss of treatment fluid volume. In some instances, the gas is mixed with the treatment fluid in order to assist in the recovery of the fluid after treatment of the formation is concluded. Suitable gases include nitrogen and carbon dioxide. In some cases, a mixture of such gases may be used. A mixture of two of such gases is referred to as a binary composition.
Typically, when the amount of gas in the treatment fluid exceeds 30% by volume, a foaming agent is further added to the fluid in order to create a foamed fluid. The addition of a foam typically increases the viscosity of the treatment fluid. Where the amount of gas and foaming agent in the treatment fluid is greater than 63 volume percent, the fluid is termed as being "energized". In addition to increasing viscosity, the foaming agent further contributes to the stability of the resulting fluid. Typical foaming agents include surfactants based on betaines, alpha olefin sulfonates, sulfate ethers, ethoxylated sulfate ethers and ethoxylates. Alpha olefin sulfonates are often preferred since they exhibit greater tolerance to oil contamination, such as that which originates from hydrocarbon based polymer slurries.
Often, well treatment fluids, such as those used as fracturing fluids, are either non-viscosified aqueous-based solutions (usually introduced into the formation at a high pumping rate) or are viscosified aqueous-based fluids. Hydraulic fracturing is the process of enhancing oil and/or gas production from producing wells or enhancing the injection of water or other fluids into injection wells. Fracturing fluids are usually injected into the wellbore and pass down tubulars within the wellbore into the formation. Once natural reservoir pressures are exceeded, the confining stresses in the formation cause the formation to fail, thereby inducing a fracture. A proppant is then deposited in the fracture, where it remains after the treatment is completed. The proppant serves to hold the fracture open, thereby enhancing the ability of fluids to migrate from the formation to the wellbore through the fracture.
Most viscosified fluids used in fracturing fluids are composed of water-soluble polymers which have been hydrated in water and chemically modified with crosslinking agents in order to increase fluid viscosity. Typical of such water-soluble polymers are those based on guar gum and include guar derivatives as well as cellulosic derivatives, xanthan and carrageenan. Commonly used crosslinking agents are those capable of providing borate ions as well as those agents which contain a metal ion such as aluminum, zirconium and titanium. Such viscosified fluids form three-dimensional gels. The viscosity of such fluids is sufficient to adequately carry and place proppant into the formation.
Further, viscosified fluids have been used in blocking gels. Such gels are used to isolate and protect the production zone of the well from damage. For instance, production from wellbore operations is typically temporarily ceased in order to perform such auxiliary procedures as workover operations. Such operations frequently use heavy brines and other fluids to maintain pressure control within the reservoir. Such fluids can leak-off into the production zone, causing damage which interferes with the efficient operation of the well. Temporary blocking gels are thus used to isolate and protect the production zone. Blocking gels formed by viscous fluids produce a relatively impermeable barrier across the production formation. The barrier cordons off the production zone from the area undergoing the workover operations until production is resumed after removal of the blocking gel.
In those instances where it is desired to use a foaming agent in order to treat a water sensitive formation, it has been found that many crosslinking agents are less effective in the presence of certain foaming agents, such as alpha olefin sulfonates. The ultimate effect is a substantial loss of foam viscosity. While loss in viscosity may be overcome by the addition of greater amounts of crosslinking agent to the polymer solution, the amount of additional crosslinking agent which must be added is often staggering. For instance, in some cases, the crosslinker concentration must be increased by 300%. This causes a substantial increase in the treatment cost.
More cost effective methodologies have therefore been sought for foamed well treatment fluids. Such alternative methodologies must be capable of providing foamed well treatment fluids having the requisite viscosity for the desired operation.

Method for treating subterranean formation with enhanced viscosity foam


A wireless transmission system is provided that can minimize the control command transmission amount by operating a plurality of sink devices in conjunction with each other with respect to each group. The wireless transmission system includes: a bridge device (1) which wireless-transmits an AV content; and a plurality of wireless sink devices (5, 6) which reproduce the wireless-transmitted AV content. The bridge device (1) has a group identification table which stores a group identifier for identifying a group formed by the wireless sink device (5, 6). The bridge device (1) adds a group identifier extracted from the group identification table to a control command for controlling the sink devices (5, 6) and wireless-transmits the control command having the group identifier. The wireless sink devices (5, 6) receive a control command wireless-transmitted from the bridge device (1) if a corresponding group identifier is added to the control command.

A wireless network represented by a wireless LAN (local area network) is conventionally used for data transmission between devices such as personal computers (PC). Such a wireless network can be constructed so as to transmit data from an access point to devices through multicast transmission.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wireless transmission apparatus that wirelessly communicates with other communication stations within a wireless network. This wireless transmission apparatus includes a wireless processing means that transmits and receives a wireless signal, and a control means that sets a predetermined frame cycle received by the wireless processing means based on management information from surrounding communication stations, that defines a predetermined position within the set frame cycle as a management information transmission area, that prescribes a plurality of slots in the management information transmission area to allow communication stations to transmit management information through one of the slots, that prescribes a portion of the slots as a new entry slot in advance, and that executes processing, for involving a transmission source of a specific signal in the wireless network when the specific signal is recognized at a predetermined new entry slot position.
If AV (audio visual) contents are transmitted by utilizing wireless transmission, the AV contents can be distributed through multicast transmission to a plurality of devices at the same time as described above. Not only a device having a display and a speaker integrated such as a television appliance (television) is available, but also a television and a plurality of speakers (e.g., 5.1-ch surround system) can be combined and utilized as devices on the side of receiving the distribution of AV contents (referred to as sink devices). Since such a form of utilization through the multicast transmission is difficult in a wired AV transmission mode such as conventional HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface), AV systems utilizing wireless transmission are likely to become widespread in the future.

Wireless transmission system, relay device, wireless sink device, and wireless source device


Provided is a method of optimizing statistical timing of an integration circuit, the method including applying subtle changes of mean arrival times with respect to each of nodes in a timing graph of an integrated circuit to ADD operations and MAX operations of a block-based statistical static timing analysis (SSTA) method and approximating the corresponding operations; generating Jacobian matrixes between each node by using matrix components including differential coefficients calculated during linear approximation of the operations; calculating changed arrival time values of the circuit by propagating the Jacobian matrixes from a virtual sink node to a virtual source node; and calculating timing yield criticalities, which are variances of timing yield of the circuit due to subtle changes of mean arrival times with respect to each node, based on values obtained by the propagation. Accordingly, timing yield criticality is calculated based on linear approximation of ADD operations and MAX operations of statistical static timing analysis (SSTA), and thus the calculation complexity is linear with respect to the total number of nodes, and critical nodes significantly affecting the timing yield of a circuit can be extracted more accurately.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of timing optimization of an integrated circuit, and more particularly, to a method of efficiently calculating timing yield criticality, which is newly defined for effectively determining nodes significantly affecting a timing yield of an integrated circuit, for statistical timing optimization of integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
In fabrication of very-large-scale-integration (VLSI) circuits, variations in chip performance become more significant due to variations in the manufacturing process, which is increased as fabrication techniques become more intricate, and thus a loss in chip yield becomes a serious problem. Examples of conventional methods of analyzing timing in consideration of the process variation include corner-based static timing analysis and Monte-Carlo simulation-based static timing analysis. According to the corner-based static timing analysis, a timing variation in a chip is predicted based on analysis at a couple of important process corners, such as in the case of the best parameter conditions affecting improvement in the chip's operating speed, the case of the worst parameter conditions, and the case of normal parameter conditions. The method of analysis may significantly overrate the effect of process variations with respect to chip timing in a current nanometer process in which both process variations between chips and process variations within a chip significantly affect chip performance.
According to the other conventional method of analyzing timing, that is, the Monte-Carlo simulation-based static timing analysis, a highly accurate analysis result can be obtained. However, calculation thereof is highly complicated, and thus it is practically impossible to apply the method to actual chip design.
As an alternative to such conventional analyzing methods, statistical static timing analysis (SSTA) has been suggested. According to the SSTA, timings of a chip are indicated as a probability distribution, and timing yield, which is a probability that a chip satisfies given timing-limiting conditions, is predicted based on the distribution of probabilities. SSTA can be roughly classified into path-based SSTA and block-based SSTA. According to the path-based SSTA, a timing distribution of a chip is predicted by analyzing timings of potential critical paths that are selected in advance.
In conventional static timing analysis, a critical path has the longest delay from among all paths, and thus can be easily confirmed. Meanwhile, in SSTA, delays of all circuit components are indicated by random variables, and every path has a probability of becoming a critical path. Thus, a new method, which is different from the method used in static timing analysis (STA), is required to determine a critical path in SSTA.
References regarding conventional techniques to which SSTA is applied are shown below.
Reference 1: C. Visweswariah, K. Ravindran, K. Kalafala, S. G. Walker, S. Narayan, D. K. Beece, J. Piaget, N. Venkateswaran, and J. G. Hemmett, "First-order incremental block-based statistical timing analysis," IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, vol. 25, no. 10, pp. 2170-2180, October 2006.
Reference 2: X. Li, J. Le, M. Celik, and L. T. Pileggi, "Defining statistical sensitivity for timing optimization of logic circuits with large-scale process and environmental variations," Proc. International Conf. on Computer-Aided Design, pp. 844-851, November 2005.
Timing analysis regarding a digital circuit is performed in the timing graph shown in FIG. 1, for example. In order to simplify timing analysis regarding a circuit, primary input nodes 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the timing graph and primary output nodes 9 and 10 of the timing graph are connected to a virtual source node 100 and a virtual sink node 110, respectively. The virtual source node 100 becomes the origin of all circuit signals, whereas the virtual sink nodes 110 becomes the final destination of all circuit signals.
In general digital circuits, input pins and output pins of gates are converted to nodes corresponding to each of the pins. Signal paths from input pins to output pins of gates and delays thereof are converted to edges between nodes and to edge delays, respectively. Furthermore, connecting lines between gates and delays thereof are also converted to edges and edge delays, respectively.
In the reference 1, timing criticalities of paths, nodes, and edges are defined using tightness probability. In the reference 1, path criticality indicates a probability that a corresponding path has the longest delay, whereas node/edge criticalities indicate corresponding node/edge are located on a critical path.
In the reference 2, sensitivities of paths and arcs, which are defined by the sensitivity of mean arrival time at a virtual sink node, with respect to mean delay of paths or arcs, are suggested for timing criticality. Sensitivities of paths and arcs represent a probability that a corresponding path becomes a critical path and a probability that a corresponding arc is located on the critical path, respectively, which are similar to criticalities of paths and edges. Thus, the most critical path based on timing criticalities suggested in the references 1 and 2 is a path having the highest probability that the path becomes a critical path, and the most critical node/edges are a node and an edge that have the highest probability that the path becomes a critical node and a critical edge, respectively.
In SSTA, delays of all gates affect timing yield of chips, and optimization of timing yield is achieved by gate replacement. Therefore, node/edge timing criticalities should be defined in a timing graph to determine gates significantly affecting timing yield.
However, conventional timing criticalities suggested in references 1 and 2 are not defined in view of timing yield, and thus there are cases where the most critical node/edge predicted based on the definitions of references 1 and 2 are not node/edge affecting the timing yield most significantly, in reality.

Method of timing criticality calculation for statistical timing optimization of VLSI circuit


A drive train is proposed for a motor vehicle which is driven by an internal combustion engine, having a single friction clutch which has an input element and an output element, wherein the input element is to be connected to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine; a step-by-step variable speed transmission which has an input shaft connected to the output element of the friction clutch; and an electric machine which can be connected via a clutch to an output shaft of the step-by-step variable speed transmission in order to be able to apply traction force to the output shaft when the friction clutch is opened or closed, and which can be connected as a starter generator to the crankshaft in order to start the internal combustion engine or be driven by the internal combustion engine. The electric machine can be connected fixed in terms of rotation to the crankshaft while bypassing the friction clutch in order, in this way, to start the internal combustion engine when the friction clutch is opened or to be driven by the internal combustion engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive train for a motor vehicle which is driven by an internal combustion engine, having:                an individual friction clutch which has an input element and an output element, wherein the input element is to be connected to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine;        a step-by-step variable speed transmission which has an input shaft, a multiplicity of wheel sets corresponding to a multiplicity of gear speeds, and an output shaft, wherein the input shaft is connected to the output element of the friction clutch; and        an electric machine which can be connected via a clutch to the output shaft of the step-by-step variable speed transmission in order to be able to apply traction force to the output shaft of the step-by-step variable speed transmission when the friction clutch is opened or closed, and which can be connected as a starter generator to the crankshaft in order to start the internal combustion engine or be driven by the internal combustion engine.
The present invention also relates to a method for starting an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle and for initiating the starting up of the motor vehicle.
Finally, the present invention relates to a method for generating electric current while the motor vehicle is stationary by means of an electric machine which is driven by an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
It has been known for a long time to integrate an electric machine into the drive train of a motor vehicle which is driven by an internal combustion engine. In this context, the functions of starting the internal combustion engine and generating current for the on-board electric system are conventionally implemented by means of two separate electric machines, the starter and the dynamo (generator), respectively.
For on-board electric systems of the motor vehicle with relatively high rated voltages (for example 42 volts on-board electric system) the possibility of providing an electric machine as a starter generator between the internal combustion engine and friction clutch is generally also considered. When the friction clutch is opened, the electric machine can be operated as a motor for starting the internal combustion engine. When the internal combustion engine is running, the electric machine can be used as a generator for feeding the on-board electric system. Cf. Bosch Kraftfahrtechnisches Taschenbuch [Bosch Motor Vehicle Handbook], 24th edition, page 932.
An electric machine in the drive train can also be used for other functions.
For example it is known to use the electric machine as a "booster" when there is a desire by the driver for high acceleration so that the performance of the internal combustion engine and the performance of the electric machine are added at the output.
In addition it is possible to convert the centrifugal energy (inertia) remaining when the vehicle is braked or when the engine is switched off into electrical energy (recuperation). The energy which is acquired in this way can be used to support the starting up process.
In addition it is known to assign an electric machine to the output side of the transmission so that when changing the gear speed the electric machine can be used to apply traction force to the output shaft of the transmission during phases when the friction clutch is opened. This brings about boosting of the traction force, which is applied in particular in what is referred to as automated manual shift transmissions.
Active synchronization is another function of an electric machine in the drive train. In such a case the electric machine is connected to at least one transmission shaft of a step-by-step variable speed transmission and is used to brake or accelerate the shaft for the purpose of synchronization with the clutch of a gear speed which is to be engaged. In this embodiment, it is possible to dispense with mechanical synchronization at least for some clutches so that the clutches can be embodied as simple claw clutches or the like.
Finally it is also known that switching off the internal combustion engine in the stationary state (for example at traffic lights) and not restarting until there is a desire to drive off offers considerable potential for saving fuel.
Consequently, a function which is desired for integrated electric machines is the supporting of such direct starting after the internal combustion engine has been switched off.
The document "Mögliche Anordnung des Startergenerators im Antriebsstrang [Possible arrangement of the starter generator in the drive train]" by Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Reik, Tagungsband zur Fachtagung "E-Maschine im Antriebsstrang" [Conference papers at the specialist conference "The electric machine in the drive train"], Apr. 9, 1999, discloses an overview of the possible arrangements of an electric machine in the drive train and the advantages and disadvantages which are associated with the respective arrangement.
For example, a connection of the electric machine to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine has the advantage that a direct start is possible, but the traction force cannot be boosted.
An arrangement between the friction clutch and transmission has the advantage that recuperation is possible but both a direct start and boosting of the traction force are impossible.
An electric machine which is arranged in the transmission permits both boosting of the traction force and recuperation but frequently does not allow the electric machine to be operated as a starter generator since generally not only the friction clutch but also at least one of the clutches of the step-by-step variable speed transmission have to be closed in order to drive the internal combustion engine.
"Integration automatisierter Schaltgetriebe mit E-Maschine [Integration of automated transmissions with an electric machine]" by Dr. Robert Fischer et al., Tagungsband zur Fachtagung "E-Maschine im Antriebsstrang [Conference papers for the specialist conference "The electric machine in the drive train"], Apr. 9, 1999, discloses that an electric machine is to be arranged in the drive train in such a way that it can be connected, on the one hand, to the output shaft of the step-by-step variable transmission via a clutch and, on the other hand, to the transmission input shaft via a clutch (referred to below as the "Fischer solution"). This arrangement is considered to be particularly favorable since it permits starter generator operation, recuperation and load shifting with boosting of the traction force.
This variant of the prior art has been used to form the preamble of claim 1.
An example of a drive train in which an electric machine is connected to a shaft of the step-by-step variable speed transmission is known from DE 199 31 770 A1.
Instead of a synchronization device, the clutch for the third gear speed is embodied as a friction clutch.
DE 199 60 621 A1 discloses a hybrid drive for vehicles, in which a step-by-step variable speed transmission is divided into two component transmissions. One of the component transmissions is connected to an electric machine. The other component transmission can optionally have a drive connection to an internal combustion engine and/or to the electric machine. The output shaft of the electric machine is connected to a shaft of the step-by-step variable speed transmission.
DE 295 02 906 U1 also discloses a hybrid drive wherein the rotor of an electric machine is rotatably mounted on the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. The rotor can be connected to the crankshaft by means of a first separating clutch. The rotor can be connected to a transmission input shaft by means of a second separating clutch.
Finally, DE 101 33 695 A1 discloses a double clutch transmission which has two component transmissions. At least one of the transmissions can be connected to an electric machine.

Drive train for a motor vehicle and method for starting an internal combustion engine and method for generating electric current

GETRAG Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG


An antenna device includes an antenna substrate 30 and a multilayer substrate 36 mounted on the antenna substrate 30. The antennal substrate 30 includes an insulating part 31, an antenna element 32 composed of a conductor pattern formed on a predetermined principal surface and a ground part 34 connected to the antenna element 32 electrically and formed on the principal surface. The multilayer substrate 36 includes a wiring pattern formed in an inside layer, an opening through which the wiring pattern is exposed on the side of one principal surface of the multilayer substrate 36, a plurality of through-holes formed so as to surround the opening and penetrate the inside layer of the multilayer substrate 36 while extending from the one principal surface and a ground layer 38 arranged to make contact with respective other ends of the through-holes and arranged in a position to interleave the wiring pattern against the opening. The antenna substrate 30 is electrically joined to the multilayer substrate 36 through the through-holes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna device having an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals and also relates to an information terminal device equipped with the antenna device.
2. Description of the Related Art
With a dramatic development in the communication technology, a radio (wireless) system for an information terminal device, such as laptop computer and mobile telephone, has become popular explosively in recent years. Assuming that a laptop computer as the information terminal device has a multifunctional radio system on board, an antenna of the radio system is generally arranged on an upper part of a display unit sensitive to radio wave. Under such an arrangement, if the laptop computer has a transmitter-receiver circuit arranged in a main unit, then a distance from the antenna to the transmitter-receiver circuit (i.e. cables for connecting the antenna with the transmitter-receiver) is lengthened. As such an elongated cable is equivalent to a low pass filter (LPF), a high frequency signal in the gigahertz band, which is used by a radio device in a hopeful view of the information terminal device, becomes easy to be attenuated in the cable. That is, in view from the main unit of the radio device, the ratio of carrier signal to noise (C/N) in receiving the radio wave is reduced to deteriorate a noise figure (NF). Here, the noise figure designates a ratio of C/N at input to C/N at output.
As means for restricting the deterioration of N/F in the radio device, Japanese Patent Publication Laid-open No. 2006-33076 discloses an active antenna where both a signal reception line and a signal transmission line are arranged in the vicinity of the antenna and additionally, an amplifier is interposed in the signal reception line to amplify the radio signal on reception.
FIG. 1 is a bock diagram showing the schematic constitution of an active antenna. This active antenna includes an antenna 1, an active circuit 2 having a low noise amplifier 3 and a radio module 5. The active circuit 2 is connected to the radio module 5 by a signal line passing through a hinge 4. In transmitting, the active antenna produces a control voltage for switches in the active circuit 2 through the use of a transmission power on a single signal line connecting the active circuit 2 with the radio module 5, accomplishing a transmission in the route of avoiding the low noise amplifier 3. In receiving a radio signal, the active antenna changes the positions of the switches into the route of receiving the radio signal by a voltage superimposed on a signal on the signal line and further activates the low noise amplifier. In this way, the switching operation between transmission and reception of the radio signal can be accomplished by the above single signal line.
According to the active antenna mentioned above, since the radio signal on reception is amplified by the low noise amplifier 3 before being attenuated by the signal line, it is possible to suppress a reduction of C/N in spite of attenuation of the radio signal via the signal line. Consequently, it is possible to prevent deterioration of NF of the radio unit.
FIG. 2 is a view showing the constitution of a laptop computer 10. The laptop computer 10 comprises a display unit 12, hinge parts 14 and main unit 16. As shown in the figure, the display unit 12 is connected to the main unit 16 by the hinge parts 14 for effecting a relative rotation therebetween.
In the general laptop computer 10 constructed above, the antenna 1 of FIG. 1 is generally arranged in a sensitive upper part 11 of the display unit 12. The radio module 5 is arranged inside the main unit 16. Therefore, the cables connecting the active circuit 2 with the radio module 5 have to be wired so as to pass through the interior of the hinge parts 14.
Further, as the radio signal received by the antenna 1 in the upper part 11 would be attenuated in the course of transmitting into the radio module 5 through the cables, the active circuit 2 for amplifying the radio signal should be arranged inside the display unit 12, as similar to the antenna 1.
Thus, due to an arrangement behind a liquid crystal part forming the display unit 12, the active circuit 2 is required to be thin. Meanwhile, the active circuit 2 has to be provided with an electromagnetic shield structure for suppressing an influence of electromagnetic waves. If the active circuit 2 is provided with no electromagnetic shield structure, there is a possibility of problems in radio communication since the active circuit 2 is under the influence of noise produced from the liquid crystal part. Additionally, there may be produced problems in liquid crystal displaying since the distribution of lights in the liquid crystal part is disturbed by noise produced from the active circuit 2. After all, it is necessary that the active circuit 2 is thinned (low height) to have an electromagnetic shield structure.
FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional electromagnetic shield structure for a high frequency circuit, for example, the above active circuit 2. The illustrated shield structure comprises a substrate 24 having a shield frame 22 and a shield cover 20. The shield frame 22 made of metal is soldered onto the substrate 24 so as to realize an electrical connection between a ground layer (not shown) in the substrate 24 and the frame 22. In connection, the shield frame 22 is arranged so as to surround a not-shown circuit as a noise source. The shield cover 20 as a lid is also made of metal and overlaid on the shield frame 22. Again, the shield cover 20 is provided, on its side faces, with a plurality of emboss parts 21 at predetermined intervals. The emboss parts 21 constitute electrical contacts between the shield cover 20 and the shield frame 22. Each interval between the adjoining emboss parts 21 is smaller than a half wavelength of an electromagnetic wave as an object to be shielded. With this arrangement of the emboss parts 21, the circuit(s) surrounded by the shield frame 22 can be protected from the outside electromagnetic wave and additionally, an electromagnetic wave originating in the inside circuit(s) can be prevented from leaking out.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are sectional views showing the above-mentioned electromagnetic shield structure. As shown in FIG. 4A, the shield frame 22 is soldered onto the substrate so as to be electrically connected to the ground layer 28 embedded in the substrate 24. The above high frequency circuit 26 is mounted on the substrate 24. As shown in FIG. 4B, the high frequency circuit 26 is electromagnetically shielded by the shield cover 20 since it is overlaid on the shield frame 22 while engaging the emboss parts 21 in openings (or recesses) 23 formed in the shield frame 22. In this way, by the shield structure comprising the shield cover 20, the shield frame 22, the emboss parts 21 and the ground layer 28, it is possible to protect the high frequency circuit 26 from the outside electromagnetic wave and also possible to prevent the electromagnetic wave in the circuit 26 from leaking out.

Antenna device and information terminal device


A golf game apparatus is provided including a game sheet for tracking a score of a plurality of players at each of a plurality of holes of golf. Also included is a plurality of dice each representing a different set of numbers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to games and more particularly pertains to a new golf game for providing a chance game to be played after a game of golf.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of games is known in the prior art. More specifically, games heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art games include U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,229; U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,569; U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,174; U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,027; U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,475; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 326,480.
In these respects, the golf game according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a chance game to be played after a game of golf.


A system is provided with an ejector having an outer wall extending circumferentially about a flow path, wherein the outer wall has a throat section along the flow path, and a diverging section downstream from the throat section along the flow path. The ejector includes a gas inlet configured to supply a gas into the flow path, and a water inlet configured to supply water into the flow path. The ejector is configured to produce steam in response to mixing of the water and the gas along the flow path. The system also includes a controller configured to control flows of the gas and the water to produce the steam for a steam purge of a liquid fuel circuit.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to gas turbine engines and, particularly, to fuel circuits of the gas turbine engines.
A gas turbine engine may include one or more fuel circuits, such as a liquid fuel circuit and a gas fuel circuit. Unfortunately, the heat generated by the gas turbine engine can cause coking in the liquid fuel circuit. If the liquid fuel circuit is not properly purged, then the coking can result in plugged fuel lines, valves, and fuel nozzles. As a result, the coking can result in undesirable downtime of the gas turbine engine. A need exists for an improved purging system for the liquid fuel circuit of the gas turbine engine.

Liquid fuel steam purge system and method for gas turbine engine


The purpose of the present invention is to provide an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive and a pressure sensitive adhesive tape preferable to be used for adhesion and fixation of members to be used in closed space of such as a vehicle, a housing where odors become a problem; or in the side of electronic appliances where volatile gases become a problem and also relates to a vehicular air conditioner unit produced by using them.

Double coated tapes to be used for adhesion and fixation of members have been used in a vehicle and a housing as well as in the inside of electronic appliances. However, recently, problems of the use of these pressure sensitive adhesive tapes have been pointed out. For example, there occurs fogging attributed to high boiling point volatile components in glass in an automotive inside or operation failure attributed to high boiling point volatile components and impurities also in members of the inside of electronic appliances in some cases. Accordingly, a pressure sensitive adhesive tape to be used in closed space of vehicles such as automobiles and housings, electronic appliance insides is strongly required to be scarcely odorous and have a low total amount of volatile gases, which are environmental burden substances.
Meanwhile, in Japan, guidelines of decrease of respective interior volatile organic compounds but also decrease of the total of the volatile organic compounds for countermeasures for so-called sick houses in the housing field are issued from Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Also, German Association of the Automotive Industry (Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA)) has determined an evaluation method for odors of members to be used for the automotive insides in VDA 270 and also evaluation methods for volatile components in DVA 277 and VDA 278. Further, in order to determine the behavior of the fog attributed to volatile components emitted from members, Deutsches Institut fur Normung has determined in DIN No. 75201. As described, it is required to decrease not only specific volatile substances but also a variety of volatile substances in various fields.
The causes of the volatile gases emitted from a common pressure sensitive adhesive tape may include a remaining solvent, a remaining monomer, a remaining polymerization initiator, a tackifier to be used for improving the pressure sensitive physical properties, and the like. Also, the causes of odors may include volatile gas and the like.
Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-6-122859 discloses a method for obtaining a pressure sensitive adhesive scarcely containing a remaining monomer by polymerizing a monomer having a high molecular weight and a low saturated steam pressure. Further, Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-2-115291 discloses a pressure sensitive adhesive using an acrylic polymer obtained by polymerization of a specific acrylic monomer to lower the odor. On the other hand, Japanese Kokai Publication 2002-69411 discloses a production method for a pressure sensitive adhesive tape comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive obtained by using a high purity acrylic polymer with few volatile components such as a remaining initiator or an unreacted monomer produced at a high polymerization ratio by solution polymerization at a specified reaction temperature using a specified amount of an azo type polymerization initiator. Japanese Kokai Publication 2002-309210 discloses a pressure sensitive adhesive tape at a low gas emission level obtained by block copolymerization. Further, Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-11-315260 discloses a production method for a hot melt type pressure sensitive adhesive tape as an anti-fogging pressure sensitive adhesive tape.
However, even in the case of these pressure sensitive adhesive tapes, there still remains a problem that in the case the tapes are used in closed space in housings, vehicles, the insides of electronic appliances, the odor suppression is insufficient by simply suppressing specific volatile components, so that the odor cannot be decreased to an insensible level. Also, high boiling point volatile components in the case of adding a tackifier are not taken into consideration and therefore, with respect to a common pressure sensitive adhesive containing the tackifier, no satisfactory effect has been achieved by conventional techniques.

Acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive and pressure sensitive adhesive tape

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive, which has 500 ppm or lower of volatile component concentration A calculated by the following equation (1), when the acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive is heated at 90° C. for 30 minutes:volatile component concentration A (ppm)=volatile component content X (μg)/pressure sensitive adhesive weight Z (g) before heating   (1)

Abstract: in the equation (1), the volatile component content X is an amount measured by conversion into toluene.


A charge pump for increasing the amplitude of a voltage supply signal is disclosed. The charge pump includes an auxiliary pump, a buffer stage, and a main pump. The auxiliary pump generates several intermediate voltage signals in response to a pair of complementary clock signals. Each intermediate voltage signal has a different amplitude which is greater than the amplitude of the voltage supply signal. The buffer stage increases the amplitudes of the pair of complementary clock signals in response to the several intermediate voltage signals generated by the auxiliary pump. The main pump increases the amplitude of the voltage supply signal in response to the pair of increased amplitude complementary clock signals generated by the buffer stage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to charge pumps used for providing high voltages to digital memories, and more particularly, to charge pumps which operate on low voltage power supplies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many non-volatile digital memories, such as EEPROMs, EPROMs, and FLASH memories, require relatively high voltage potentials in order to write or erase information. Typically, the required voltage is approximately 12-20 Volts. Because the power supplies of most digital systems supply a much lower voltage, such as 2-5 Volts, various methods of high-voltage generation have been used to "pump up" the supply voltage to the potential required by non-volatile memories.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional charge pump 20, a device, well known in the art, used for high-voltage generation. The charge pump 20, which is also referred to as a voltage multiplier, increases (or "pumps up") the amplitude of the voltage supply signal Vcc to the programming/erase voltage Vpp required by non-volatile memories.
The charge pump 20 is made up of several series-connected pump stages 22, 24, 26, and 28. Pump stage 28 represents the nth pump stage. Each pump stage 22, 24, 26, and 28 is respectively made up of capacitors C2, C3, C4, and Cn connected to the respective anodes of diodes D2, D3, D4, and Dn. The voltage supply signal Vcc is coupled through a diode D1 to the anode of diode D2 of pump stage 22. The pumped up voltage signal Vpp is received from the cathode of diode Dn of pump stage 28. Each pump stage 22, 24, 26, and 28 is coupled to one of a pair of complementary clock signals .PHI..sub.1 and .PHI..sub.2 through capacitors C2, C3, C4, and Cn, respectively.
During operation, the capacitors C2, C3, C4, and Cn are successively charged and discharged during each half of the clock signal. Specifically, capacitor C2 is charged through diode D1 as clock signal .PHI..sub.1 goes low; capacitor C4 is charged via the path through capacitor C3, diode D3 and positive-going clock .PHI..sub.2 at the same time. Charge is transferred from capacitor C2 to capcitor C3 through diode D2 when the clocks reverse polarity. Charge transfer is constrained by the diodes to be from left to right.
As the capacitors C2, C3, C4, and Cn are successively charged and discharged, packets of charge are "pumped" along the diode chain D2, D3, D4, and Dn. The average voltage potential at the cathodes of diodes D2, D3, D4, and Dn increases progressively from the input to the output of the diode chain. Thus, the voltage signal generated at the cathode of diode Dn has a greater amplitude than the voltage supply signal Vcc.
When the voltage supply signal is 5 Volts, the charge pump 20 is sufficient for generating the high voltages required by non-volatile memories. In this scenario, approximately 10 pump stages are utilized. Furthermore, it is common for diodes D2, D3, D4, and Dn, and capacitors C2, C3, C4, and Cn, to be implemented with diode-connected and capacitor-connected MOS transistors.
Many of today's digital systems, however, such as portable computers, have power supplies that supply voltages less than 5 Volts. Charge pumps designed for 5 Volt supplies are inadequate for low voltage power supplies for two reasons. First, additional pump stages are required because the incremental voltage increase per stage is small. As the number of pump stages increases, the effective resistance of the charge pump increases, which limits the amount of current that can be supplied to the non-volatile memories. Second, a phenomenon known as "body effect" (or "M factor") causes the effective threshold voltages of the capacitor-connected transistors in the upper pump stages to increase. Because the clock signals have small amplitudes, body effect causes the transistor conductance to decrease. As conduction of the transistors decreases, the upper pump stages become highly resistive, which severely limits current.
FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art attempt to solve the inadequacies of conventional charge pumps when used with low voltage power supplies. A first-stage charge pump 30, which has the same general design as charge pump 20, is powered by a 2 Volt power supply signal Vcc. A first oscillator 32, which is also powered by Vcc, generates a pair of complementary clock signals .PHI..sub.1 and .PHI..sub.2 for use by first-stage charge pump 30. The output Vo of first-stage charge pump 30 is used as the power supply signal for a second oscillator 34. The second oscillator 34 generates a pair of complementary clock signals .PHI..sub.1.sup.+ and .PHI..sub.2.sup.+ for use by second-stage charge pump 36. The second stage charge pump 36, which also has the same general design as charge pump 20, is powered by voltage supply signal Vcc.
During operation, first stage charge pump 30 increases ("pumps up") the amplitude of voltage supply signal Vcc, resulting in output signal Vo. Because output signal Vo is used as a power supply signal for second oscillator 34, complementary clock signals .PHI..sub.1.sup.+ and .PHI..sub.2.sup.+ have greater amplitudes than clock signals .PHI..sub.1 and .PHI..sub.2. Although second stage charge pump 36 is powered by low voltage supply signal Vcc, the clock signals .PHI..sub.1.sup.+ and .PHI..sub.2.sup.+, which have increased amplitudes, cause second stage charge pump 36 to increase ("pump up") the voltage supply signal Vcc more than usual. Thus, a programming/erase voltage signal Vpp in the 12-20 Volt range is produced.
The two-stage charge pump of FIG. 2 suffers from a number of disadvantages. First, two oscillators are required which increases the physical size of the pump and consumes additional power. Second, very large elements are required in the first-stage pump 30 in order to provide sufficient power to the second oscillator 34. The larger elements require more power from the first oscillator 32 which cause it to consume substantial quantities of power. Energy efficiency is very important in low voltage supply applications.
Thus, there is a need for a charge pump that can generate the high voltages required by non-volatile memories from a low voltage power supply without being unduly resistive, power consuming, or physically large.

Charge pump which operates on a low voltage power supply


As a pretreatment of a manufacturing process of sintered ore, a sintering material including iron ore, a SiO2-containing material, a limestone base powdery material and a solid fuel type powdery material is projected as a additional coating auxiliary raw material into the drum mixer with a additional coating conveyor disposed in proximity to an exhaust outlet of the drum mixer. Preferably, a sintering material excepting a limestone base powdery material and a solid fuel type powdery material is charged from a charge inlet of the drum mixer to granulate and in a region disposed on a downstream side, an additional coating auxiliary raw material including a limestone base powdery material and a solid fuel type powdery material is added, and thereby until reaching the exhaust outlet, the additional coating auxiliary raw material is deposited and formed on a exterior coating portion of the sintering material.

Sintered ores that are used as a material for blast furnaces are generally manufactured by undergoing a treatment process of a sintering material as shown below. As shown in FIG. 1, at first, iron ores M1 with a particle size of 10 mm or less, an SiO2-containing material M2 including silica rock, serpentine rock or nickel slag, a CaO-containing limestone base powdery material M3 such as limestone, and a solid fuel type powdery material M4 that is a heat source such as powdery coke or anthracite are mixed together with an appropriate amount of water followed by granulating by means of a drum mixer 4, and thereby granulated products called as pseudo-particles are formed.
The blended material including the granulated products is charged on a pallet of a Dwight-Lloyd sintering machine with an appropriate thickness of, for instance, 500 to 700 mm, a solid fuel at a surface thereof is ignited, after the ignition, the solid fuel is combusted with air sucking downwardly, and, by the combustion heat, the blended sintering material is sintered to be a sintered cake. The sintered cake is pulverized and screened, and thereby sintered ores having a particle size larger than a predetermined diameter are obtained. On the other hand, ores having a particle size smaller than the predetermined diameter are returned and used again as the sintering material.
The reducibility of the sintered ore product thus manufactured is, as so far pointed out, a factor that largely controls an operation particularly of the blast furnace. Ordinarily, the reducibility of the sintered ores is defined according to JIS M8713 (JIS: Japanese Industrial Standard, hereinafter referred to as JIS), and here the reducibility of the sintered ores is denoted with JIS-RI.
As shown in FIG. 2, there is a positive correlation between the reducibility (JIS-RI) of the sintered ores and a gas utilization factor (ηco) in the blast furnace, and furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, there is a negative correlation between the gas utilization factor (ηco) in the blast furnace and a fuel ratio. Accordingly, the reducibility (JIS-RI) of the sintered ores is in an excellent negative correlation with the fuel ratio through the gas utilization factor (ηco) in the blast furnace. As a result, when the reducibility of the sintered ores is improved, the fuel ratio in the blast furnace decreases.
The gas utilization factor (ηco) and the fuel ratio are defined as follows.Gas utilization factor (ηco)=CO2 (%)/(CO (%)+CO2 (%))
Here, CO2 (%) and CO (%) each mean volume % in a furnace top gas of the blast furnace.Fuel ratio=(amount of coal+coke used (kg))/amount of pig (1 ton)
Furthermore, the cold strength of the sintered ore product thus manufactured is also an important factor for securing the ventilation in the blast furnace. In the individual blast furnaces, the lower limit of the cold strength is set and operated. Accordingly, the sintered ores preferable for the blast furnace are one that is excellent in the reducibility and high in the cold strength. In Table 1, the reducibility and the tensile strength of four main ore textures that constitute the sintered ores, that is, calcium ferrite (CF): nCaO.Fe2O3, hematite (He): Fe2O3, calcium silicate containing FeO (CS): CaO.xFeO. ySiO2, and magnetite (Mg): Fe3O4 are shown. As shown in Table 1, one that is high in the reducibility is hematite (He) and one that is high in the tensile strength is calcium ferrite (CF).
The desired sintered ore structure that the invention intends is, as shown in FIG. 4, one that has calcium ferrite (CF) high in the strength generated on a surface of the sintered ore and has hematite (He) high in the reducibility selectively generated toward the inside of the sintered ore. Calcium silicate (CS) low in the reducibility and the strength should not be formed as far as possible.
However, so far, as mentioned above, the iron ore M1, SiO2-containing material M2, limestone base powdery material M3 and solid fuel type powdery material M4 are simultaneously mixed and granulated. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, in the pseudo particle structure, there are powdery ores, lime, and coke mixed in the surroundings of coarse seed ores. Accordingly, in the sintered ore structure obtained by the sintering, four ore textures of hematite (He), calcium ferrite (CF), calcium silicate (CS) and magnetite (Mg) are mingled.
In this connection, so far, various methods have been tried so as to produce much calcium ferrite (CF) and hematite (He). For instance, calcium silicate (CS) is produced a lot when the sintering is carried out at high temperatures. Accordingly, in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 63-149331, a technology is proposed in which powdery iron ore, together with a binder and limestone, is granulated followed by coating powdery coke that is a heat source on a surface to improve the combustibility of coke, this is sintered at low temperatures and thereby the reducibility is improved.
However, according to the conventional method proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 63-149331, since CaO and SiO2 in the iron base material or SiO2 base material are in proximity to each other, calcium silicate (CS) is inevitably produced much. Accordingly, in many cases, a structure mainly including calcium ferrite (CF) and hematite (He) is not necessarily obtained.
Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 63-69926 proposes a technology in which after powdery iron ore and/or returned ore is mixed, to the mixed powdery iron ore and/or returned ore limestone, powdery coke and auxiliary raw materials such as scale and silica rock are added to form pseudo particles, thereby the powdery coke can be deposited much on an outer periphery portion of the pseudo particle, thereby the combustion speed of the powdery coke is accelerated, resulting in shortening the combustion time.
However, according to the conventional method proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 63-69926, since limestone and silica rock in the auxiliary raw materials are present together, calcium silicate (CS) weakest in the tensile strength is produced a lot, resulting in fragile sintered ores low in the strength.
Still furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 11-241124 discloses a method of manufacturing low SiO2 sintered ores in which, after iron ore powder, returned ores, part or whole of calcined lime and limestone and part or whole of SiO2 source material are mixed and granulated by use of a primary mixer, powdery coke divided from another system and the slug source such as silica rock and lime are added to the mixed and granulated material followed by granulating by use of a secondary mixer, thereby on a surface portion of the granulated particle a layer of powdery coke and slug source is formed, and thus obtained material is sintered to obtain the low SiO2 sintered ores.
However, according to the technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 11-241124, in an exterior coating portion of the granulated particle (that is, one corresponding to a pseudo-particle of the invention), the low SiO2-containing material is likely to enter. Thereby, calcium silicate (CS) lowest in the tensile strength among constituent ores of the sintered ore as shown in Table 1 is formed, resulting in lowering the Chatter Index or the Tumbler Index that denotes the cold strength. Furthermore, inside of the granulated particle, the material partially containing limestone enters; accordingly inside of the sintered ore, not only hematite (He) high in the reducibility but also calcium ferrite (CF) inferior in the reducibility to hematite (He) and calcium silicate (CS) much inferior in the reducibility to the hematite (He) are formed; as a result, a dramatic improvement effect in the reducibility cannot be obtained.
Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 61-163220 discloses a pre-treatment method of the sintering material. In the method, a sintering material, in which, pellet is mixed while the humidity therein is controlled, is mixed by use of a primary mixer and subsequently, powdery coke is added to the humidity-controlled and granulated substance which is then subjected to rollintg granulation by use of a secondary mixer.
However, according to the technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 61-163220, since the material containing limestone enters inside of the pseudo particles, inside of the sintered ores, not only hematite (He) high in the reducibility but also calcium ferrite (CF) inferior in the reducibility to hematite (He) and calcium silicate (CS) remarkably inferior in the reducibility to the hematite (He) are formed. Accordingly, not only the dramatic improvement effect of the reducibility cannot be obtained, but also in the outside of the sintered ore where the cold strength has to be secured, calcium silicate (CS) lowest in the tensile strength among the ingredient ores of the sintered ore is formed, resulting in decreasing in the Chatter Index or the Tumbler Index that denotes the cold strength.
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication Nos.61-163220, 63-69926 and 11-241124, in the pre-treatment method or manufacturing method of the sintering material in which with the primary and secondary mixers, the mixing and granulation are carried out, fundamentally the primary mixer performs the mixing and granulation mainly consisting of the mixing of the sintering material, and thereafter, the secondary mixer carries out the granulation. When there are the primary and secondary mixers like this (when there are two mixers in total), ordinarily, for the mixing and granulation of the sintering material in the primary mixer, substantially 120 seconds are secured, and for the granulation in the secondary mixer, substantially 180 seconds are secured.
Furthermore, as to the additional coating of powdery coke and limestone, in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No.2002-285250, an applicant the same as the present invention discloses a manufacturing method of a sintering material that the present invention intends to obtain. That is, there is proposed a granulation method in which by additionally coating powdery coke and limestone, so-called three-layer pseudo particles are obtained. The additional coating of powdery coke and limestone intends to deposit an auxiliary raw material including the additionally coated powdery coke and limestone on a surface of the pseudo particle. Thereby, to the pseudo particle with a first layer of a coarse particle and a second layer of fine particles surrounding the coarse particle, on a surface layer of the pseudo particle a third layer rich in powdery coke and limestone is formed, and thereby the reducibility JIS-RI value of the sintered ore can be improved.
However, even in the Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 2002-285250, it was found that when powdery coke and limestone were additionally coated in the course of granulation, in the drum mixer, other than an action of forming the pseudo particles owing to rolling of the drum mixer, breaking down of the pseudo particles was repeated in the course of the rolling; in this breaking down process, powdery coke and limestone were contained inside of the pseudo particles; as a result, powdery coke and limestone could not be coated on the surface of the pseudo particles.
Furthermore, in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 2002-285250, powdery coke and limestone are additionally coated by inserting a belt conveyer into a drum mixer to add.
However, the aditional coating method described in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 2002-285250, in particular a method that uses a belt conveyer has the following disadvantages. That is, deposit adhered to an inner wall of the drum mixer in the course of the granulation of the material for sintering falls down on the belt conveyer to adhere to and deposit on the belt conveyer. In order to remove the accretion and deposit, it takes a lot of labor. Furthermore, in some cases, a driving part of the belt conveyer is damaged and an operation is interrupted. Still furthermore, when the accretion on the belt conveyer becomes too large, the accretion comes into contact with the inner wall of the drum mixer, or the belt conveyer is bent owing to a weight of the accretion to come into contact with the inner wall of the drum mixer. It was found that such a contact of the inner wall of the drum mixer and the accretion gave rise to a large damage onto the inner wall of the drum mixer, other than the interruption of the operation was caused, there was a large problem also from the viewpoint of safety.
Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 58-189335 discloses another additional coating method. According to the method, over a region from an intermediate portion in a direction in which material in the drum mixer flows to an ore exhaust side (exhaust side), an air stream is used to inject and add from the exhaust side.
However, according to the method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 58-189335, equipment expense for an air stream generator that additionally coats auxiliary raw materials, apparatus for transferring additional coating additives and injection equipment becomes enormous. Furthermore, to a portion that is inside of the drum mixer of the injection equipment, the accretion falls from the inner wall of the drum mixer or dust powder adheres to apparatus portion, resulting in disturbing a smooth operation. Furthermore, according to the method, since the additional coating material is injected and added toward a charge side of the drum mixer by the air stream, the additional coating material is widely scattered within the drum mixer and reaches to the charge side of the drum mixer. As a result, a problem is caused in that since such auxiliary raw material that were scattered up to the charge side are contained in the sintering material in the course of granulation in the drum mixer, the intention of depositing the additional coating auxiliary raw material on the pseudo particle surface cannot be realized.
Still furthermore, a still another additional coating method is proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 2002-20820. According to the method, in a predetermined region on a sintering material charge side in the drum mixer, by making use of an air stream, a binder consisting limestone powder and hydrated lime and so on is dispersed and added.
However, even according to the method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 2002-20820, since a portion of the apparatus that projects the additional coating auxiliary raw material is always inside of the drum mixer, dust powder (calcined lime and so on) in the drum mixer adheres and solidly sticks to the portion of the apparatus and disturbs the operation. Accordingly, the maintenance operation that periodically interrupts the operation and pulls the portion of the apparatus out to remove the accretion is necessary. However, in the maintenance operation, since it is difficult to pull out the portion of apparatus, the maintenance operation takes a lot of time.
Furthermore, similarly to the Japanese Unexamined Patnt Application Publication No. 58-189335, the additional coating auxiliary raw material is widely scattered in the drum mixer and reaches up to the charge side of the drum mixer. The auxiliary raw material scattered up to the charge side is taken in the sintering material in the course of the granulation by the drum mixer, accordingly there is a problem in that the additional coating auxiliary raw material cannot be deposited onto the pseudo particle surface.
The present invention was carried out to overcome the above-mentioned conventional problems and intends to provide a manufacturing method of a material for sintering that can improve the cold strength and the reducibility of the sintered ore and apparatus therefor. The inventive manufacturing method includes, as a pre-treatment of a process of manufacturing sintered ore, without necessitating huge apparatus, forming pseudo particles by granulating iron ore M1 and SiO2-containing material M2 separately from limestone base material M3 and solid fuel type material M4; and selecting a time to additionally coat limestone base material M3 and solid fuel type material M4 to gradually form pseudo particles, and thereby manufacturing sintered ore having a structure in which a layer rich in the limestone base material M3 and solid fuel type material M4 is formed on a surface portion of the pseudo particle, calcium ferrite (CF) high in the strength is generated on the surface of the sintered ore, and on the other hand toward the inside of the sintered ore, hematite (He) high in the reducibility is selectively formed.
In the present invention, iron ore of material for sintering includes coarse, powdery iron ore and returned ore that is again utilized as the sintering material, and with these generically referring as iron ore, the invention will be explained.

Process for producing sintering feedstock and apparatus therefor


A light-emitting element package including a heat conductive layer having a first surface and a second surface, a dielectric layer disposed on the first surface of the heat conductive layer and having an opening exposing the heat conductive layer, two electrodes disposed on the dielectric layer at a side far away from the heat conductive layer, a light-emitting element, and a transparent sealing layer. The light-emitting element is disposed in the opening, carried on the first surface of the heat conductive layer, and electrically coupled to the two electrodes. The transparent sealing layer encapsulates the light-emitting element, the heat conductive layer, and the two electrodes, and exposes part of the two electrodes and the second surface of the heat conductive layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting element package. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light-emitting element package having separate layers for achieving heat and electrical conductive functions.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 is a structural view of a conventional LED package.
An LED 108 is attached onto a lead frame 102 by a silver paste 109, and is then electrically connected to an inner lead 102a of the lead frame 102 through a wire 110 by means of wire boding. Finally, a transparent sealing material 112 encapsulates the LED 108 and the wire 110, and exposes one surface of the lead frame 102.
The electrical conductive function of such package is achieved by the wire 110, the inner lead 102a and an outer lead 102b of the lead frame 102. The heat conductive function is achieved through the bottom of the LED 108 via the silver paste 109 and the lead frame 102. Electrical and heat conductive function are both achieved by the lead frame 102, and the main conductive area is limited at the portion of the lead frame right below the LED 108, so that the heat dissipating effect is not satisfactory.

Light-emitting element package and light source apparatus using the same


In a field emitter structure, a method for removing a lift-off layer and an overlying closure layer. In one embodiment, a field emitter structure includes a cavity formed into an insulating layer overlying at least a portion of a first electrically conductive layer. A second electrically conductive layer has an opening formed above the cavity. The second electrically conductive layer has lift-off layer and a closure layer disposed thereon. The present invention removes the lift-off layer and the closure layer from the second electrically conductive layer according to the following method. First, the present invention immerses the field emitter structure in an etchant which attacks the lift-off layer. Next, the present invention activates a transducer immersed in the etchant to subject the lift-off layer of the field emitter structure to vibrational forces generated by the transducer. The vibrational forces, in conjunction with the etchant, causes the lift-off layer and the overlying closure layer to be removed from the second electrically conductive layer. The present invention then removes the field emitter structure from the etchant, removes residual etchant from the field emitter structure, and dries the field emitter structure using a Marangoni drying process.

Field emission cathodes are electron emitting devices which are used, for example, in flat panel displays. A field emission cathode or "field emitter" emits electrons when subjected to an electric field of sufficient strength. A side sectional view depicting conventional steps used to manufacture a field emission cathode is shown in Prior Art FIG. 1A. More specifically, in Prior Art FIG. 1A, a first conductive layer or "row electrode" 102 has a resistive layer 104 disposed thereon. An inter-metal dielectric layer 106 disposed above resistive layer 104 has a cavity 108 formed therein. As shown in Prior Art FIG. 1A, a second conductive layer or gate electrode 110 resides above inter-metal dielectric layer 106. A hole or opening 112 is formed through gate electrode 110 directly above cavity 108. Opening 112 is used to form the field emitter which will reside within cavity 108. Typically, the formation of the field emitter is accomplished, in part, using a lift-off or "parting layer", and a closure layer.
With reference next to Prior Art FIG. 1B, a side sectional view illustrating the deposition of a lift-off layer 114 is shown. Lift-off layer 114 is commonly formed using an angled physical vapor deposition of, for example, aluminum. Arrows 118 illustrate the angled nature of the deposition of lift-off layer 114. The angled deposition of lift-off layer 114 is required to insure that no lift-off layer material, i.e. aluminum, is deposited into the bottom of cavity 108. In order to achieve an angled deposition, the entire field emitter structure must be rotated during the deposition of lift-off layer 114.
Referring next to Prior Art FIG. 1C, a side sectional view illustrating the initial formation of a closure layer 118 is shown. Closure layer 118 is comprised of electron emissive material such as, for example, molybdenum. The electron emissive material which forms closure layer 118 is also deposited into cavity 108 as shown by structure 120. Typically, the electron emissive material is deposited using, for example, an e-beam evaporative deposition method.
Referring now to Prior Art FIG. 1D, a side sectional view illustrating a completed deposition of electron emissive material is shown. As shown in Prior Art FIG. 1D, closure layer 118 completely seals cavity 108. Additionally, as the electron emissive material is deposited as shown in Prior Art FIGS. 1C and 1D, an electron emitting structure 120 commonly referred to as a "Spindt-type" emitter is formed within cavity 108 (Spindt-type emitters are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,241 to Spindt et al. which is incorporated herein by reference as background material). After emitter 120 is formed, closure layer 118 must be removed.
With reference now to Prior Art FIG. 1E, a side sectional view illustrating the removal of closure layer 118 is shown. When removing closure layer 118, care must be taken not to damage or otherwise adversely affect emitter 120. Such a removal process is further complicated by the fact that both closure layer 118 and emitter 120 are formed of the same electron emissive material. Prior art techniques remove closure layer 118 by etching lift-off layer 114 using an etchant which attacks the aluminum lift-off layer 114. As a result, lift-off layer 114 "lifts" from underlying gate electrode 110 and, consequently, removes closure layer 118, as illustrated in Prior Art FIG. 1E.
Unfortunately, such prior art lift-off and closure layer removal methods typically expose the field emitter structure to the etchant for an extended period of time. Specifically, some prior art lift-off layer and closure layer removal processes expose the field emitter structure to an etchant for as long as hours. Such extended exposure to the etchant results in damage to the emitters. Such prior art lift-off and closure layer removal processes also result in the generation of flakes or contaminating chunks, typically shown as 122a-122d, which contaminate the etchant. Flakes or chunks 122a-122d can also redeposit within or over cavity 108, as shown by chunk 122c, and compromise the integrity of emitter 120 formed therein. As a result, the emitter can be severely damaged or even shorted to gate electrode 110, or otherwise affect emission.
Conventional lift-off and closure layer removal methods are not always entirely effective. That is, additional subsequent process steps may be necessary to insure that the lift-off and closure layer are completely removed. As an example, some prior art methods require that the lift-off and closure layer be physically rubbed from the gate electrode even after prolonged exposure to the etchant. Other prior art methods apply a tape to the closure layer after exposure to the etchant. The tape adheres to those portion of the lift-off and closure layers which remain on the gate electrode. The remaining portions of the lift-off and closure layers are then removed by peeling the tape from the field emitter structure. Such post-etch lift-off and closure layer removal process are extremely time-consuming, labor-intensive, and are not well suited for high volume production.
As yet another drawback, conventional lift-off and closure layer removal processes are not well suited for use with field emitter structures containing focusing walls. That is, prolonged exposure to various prior art etchants can deteriorate the focus walls. Also, in prior art approaches, the focus walls can prevent portions of lifted or detached lift-off and closure layers from migrating away from the gate electrode. As a result, the lifted lift-off and closure layer will redeposit back onto the gate electrode. Additionally, post-etch processes such as hand-rubbing or tape-peeling of the lift-off and closure layers is further complicated by the presence of focus wall structures.
Thus, a need exists for a lift-off and closure layer removal method which does not require exposing the field emitter structure to etchants for a prolonged period of time. A further need exists for a lift-off and closure layer removal method which does not require subsequent rubbing or tape-peeling processes to completely remove the lift-off and closure layers. Still another need exists for a lift-off and closure layer removal method which is compatible with the use of focus walls.

Field emitter fabrication using megasonic assisted lift off


A method for extracting naturally occurring oil bodies (oleosomes) from a material containing naturally occurring oil bodies (oleosomes) includes the steps of dispersing the material containing oleosomes in an aqueous composition to thereby obtain an aqueous dispersion of material containing oleosomes, extracting oleosomes from the aqueous dispersion of material containing oleosomes to thereby obtain a crude oleosome extract and isolating crude oleosomes from the extract by drying the crude oleosome extract. The dried oleosome powder may be used with a personal care product, a pharmaceutical product or a food product.

Oil-in-water emulsions are broadly used in many industrial applications for pharma, cosmetics and foods, but they have a couple of disadvantages, like the inefficient big volume and the droplet instability over time. Therefore, if the water phase could be evaporated while the oil droplets remain stable, the benefits of their use would be greatly enhanced. However, drying of an emulsion is a rather complex and not that straightforward process. And even when a dried emulsion is obtainable, it is hard to stabilise oil droplets against oxidation or prevent the macroscopic separation of the liquid phase. To enhance the stability of the dried oil droplets typically hydrophilic carriers are necessary in order to cover and protect the oil droplets. The carriers are typically applied in amounts varying from 30 to 80 wt % of the total final powder weight. Apart from the addition of carrier, multiple process steps are commonly required, leading to expensive and not green labelled products. Typical examples of hydrophilic carriers that are commonly used at industrial scale are lactose, starch and maltodextrin.
Currently there are efforts to find sustainable and financially affordable processes to overcome the problems associated with the addition of extra carriers. A possible alternative path is to fabricate oil droplet interfaces with an appropriate elasticity that can survive the shear forces and elevated temperatures required during spray drying. Examples are the ionic complexation of polyelectrolytes on the oil droplet interface or the absorption of surfactant/biopolymer mixtures.
Another known path to fabricate oil droplets that can withstand the drying conditions is the thermal or enzymatic cross-linking of the biopolymers on the interface, although the dried droplet stability during storage is not so promising. Additionally, the main downside of the alternative proposed drying paths is the relative complexity of the processes. Therefore, upscaling is an issue and also the products may not be obtained in a grade that is suitable for pharma, food or cosmetics.
US2016/0038450 describes a process for the extraction of oleosomes, wherein the oil bodies are extracted from an aqueous dispersion. The thus obtained crude oil bodies are combined with maltodextrin as a carrier and spray dried to obtain an oleosome powder.

Method for the preparation of dried oleosomes


A welding system for a battery pack utilizing three-phase 400 Hz power at low voltage over a short time period. In utilizing these parameters, there is minimal or no migration of materials between a welding area, welding electrodes, a metal member and a battery cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a welding system for a battery pack, and more particularly, pertains to a welding system for a battery pack by utilizing three-phase power to weld in a geometrical configuration about a plurality of electrodes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art welding of battery packs presents special problems. The work pieces are dissimilar materials which are always difficult to weld. In addition, the work pieces are of different thickness. The battery cap is relatively massive when compared to the thin interconnecting battery straps. The weld nugget formed during welding, while bridging the interface between the battery cap and connector straps, tends to form on the surface of the battery strap due to its thinness. As a result, weld metal can adhere to the welding electrodes and the weld will tear loose on withdrawal of the electrodes. The prior art welds are usually made using DC or capacitor discharge power sources. The production of consistently good welds with these power sources is a problem in the prior art.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a welding system for a battery pack.


A toner cartridge provided in an image forming apparatus in a removable manner for supplying toner to the image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprises a toner cartridge main body which contains the toner, a discharging opening for supplying the toner contained in the toner cartridge main body to the image forming apparatus and a shutter which opens the discharging opening when the toner cartridge main body is inserted in the image forming apparatus and closes the discharging opening when the toner cartridge main body is removed from the image forming apparatus, wherein the shutter has a concave part formed therein for engaging with a holding member which holds the shutter provided in the image forming apparatus to open and close the discharging opening when the toner cartridge main body is inserted in or removed from the image forming apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner cartridge for supplying toner to an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus has a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the apparatus. The toner cartridge is inserted in the image forming apparatus in a removable manner. In addition, a filling opening is provided in the toner cartridge and the toner is supplied through the filling opening. In the toner cartridge, a mixer is rotated constantly so as to prevent the toner from solidifying inside the toner cartridge.
The toner cartridge is configured such that the user can exchange the toner cartridge himself or herself when toner in the toner cartridge is used up.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. Publication No. 2006-30569 discloses a configuration in which a supplying opening of a toner cartridge is open and closed by a hook provided in an image forming apparatus pressing a movable shutter provided at the supplying opening when the user mounts or removes the toner cartridge.
However, the hook for pressing the shutter is oriented toward a front side of the image forming apparatus main body. When the user pulls out the toner cartridge from the image forming apparatus main body and if the cartridge cannot be pulled out smoothly, the user may pull out the cartridge by opening the hook by hand. In this case, the toner cartridge is pulled out without the supplying opening of toner being closed by the shutter. Thereby, there has been a problem that a large amount of toner spills out.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge which can easily be inserted in and removed from an image forming apparatus and is easy to handle.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A consolidated default security policy for a storage node is created by combining a system-wide default security policy with default security policies for multiple protocols and default security policies for multiple applications. The default security policies for protocols and applications include IKE parameters and parameter values. In response to receipt of an IKE request from a peer, the storage node obtains dynamically-assigned source and destination information and finds matching parameters and parameter values in the consolidated default security policy. The matching parameters and parameter values are used with the dynamically-assigned source and destination information to auto-generate a secure channel with the peer.

Data centers are used to maintain large data sets associated with critical functions for which avoidance of data loss and maintenance of data availability are important. Storage nodes such as SANs (Storage Area Networks) are key building blocks of a data center. SANs provide servers known as "hosts" with block-level access to data that is used by the applications that run on the servers. One type of SAN is a storage array that includes interconnected computing nodes that manage access to arrays of non-volatile storage media such as solid-state drives and disk drives. A single storage array may support multiple clusters of hosts. Each host may support multiple instances of an application, and different hosts may run instances different host.
A converged infrastructure storage system supports multiple applications that use various standard protocols such as Ethernet, Fiber Channel etc. and are treated as a single application instance. IKE (Internet Key Exchange) is used to create SAs (Security Associations) between the storage nodes and the hosts. IKE is an IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) protocol to derive symmetric keys for sending encrypted traffic across channels (links) between local and remote peers. An IKE Security policy defines security parameters and parameter values that are used for establishing SAs. The security parameters may vary for different applications depending on the security hardware the application runs on. Manual configuration of security policies on a per-application peer basis is problematic for a converged infrastructure storage system especially when there are potential large number of host peers connected to the storage systems or with multiple peer replication systems. The term "host peer" may be considered as the host server that is connected to the storage system or remote replication storage systems that are connected to each other for data replication.

Security module for auto-generating secure channels