The present invention relates to improved reductive amination processes whereby monoethanolamine and ammonia are reacted in the presence of hydrogen and various reductive amination catalysts to yield high selectivity to acyclic products such as aminoethylethanolamine, while reducing the production of cyclic products such as piperazine. When the process of the present invention is carried out in the presence of reductive amination catalyst containing metals such as nickel or nickel-rhenium on transitional alumina carriers, productivity and selectivity to the desired products is increased. Alternatively, the process may be carried out in the presence of hydrotalcite-like or takovite-like catalysts which have been enhanced by the use of promoters to achieve the desired results.

The present invention relates to reductive amination processes useful in the selective production of aminoethylethanolamine (AEEA). More specifically, the invention provides catalysts, which when used with specific promoters in the reductive amination of monoethanolamine (MEA) and ammonia, produce a product composition having higher levels of aminoethylethanolamine and reduced levels of cyclics such as piperazine (PIP).
AEEA is typically considered a by-product of processes used in the preparation of ethylenediamine (EDA). A significant portion of EDA made commercially is by the continuous reaction of monoethanolamine (MEA) and ammonia in the presence of hydrogen over a fixed bed reductive amination catalyst. The reaction generates a variety of polyalkylene polyamines as well. Illustrative of many of them are the following:
AEEA--N-(2-aminoethyl)ethanolamine PA0 PIP--Piperazine PA0 HEP--N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine PA0 AEP--N-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine PA0 DETA--Diethylenetriamine PA0 TETA--Triethylenetetramine PA0 TEPA--Tetraethylenepentamine PA0 PEHA--Pentaethylenehexamine
Until recently, AEEA was viewed as an unwanted by-product and a precursor to PIP (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,479,657 and 3,383,417). The value of AEEA has risen considerably in recent years because significant commercial uses have evolved for it. Because most commercial processes have been designed to produce EDA and minimize the formation of PIP, owing to the limited demand for PIP, little is known about the manipulation of the commercial reductive amination processes to generate larger amounts of AEEA. There are very few patents directed to the manufacture of AEEA, and most do not rely on the reaction of MEA and ammonia under reductive amination conditions.
The following patents are directed to reductive amination processes for producing alkyleneamines product mixtures, which may contain AEEA in the product mix.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,462 describes a nickel-rhenium reductive amination catalyst for the production of desirable alkylamines and reduction of undesirable by-products having improved selectivity and increased conversion. The nickel-rhenium catalyst comprises rhenium and nickel impregnated on a support material selected from the group consisting of aluminas, silicas, silica-aluminas, kieselguhrs or diatomaceous earths and silica-titanias. The patent suggests that when selectivity is of primary concern, the amination process should not be run at high conversions, as it has been found that selectivity to the preferred aminoalkanes decreases as conversion increases. It is suggested that the formation of aminoethylethanolamine leads to increased piperazine formation at these higher conversions via intramolecular ring closure of AEEA.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,329 describes a continuously generated alkyleneamines producers composition rich in AEEA prepared by the reaction of MEA in the presence of a reductive amination catalyst. Ammonia is not used as a reactant. The product distribution shows the production of about 50% to about 90% AEEA, less than about 3% EDA, less than 2% DETA and about 5% to 18% cyclics including PIP, AEP and HEP. The patent lists numerous known reductive amination catalyst useful in the process including those which typically contain metals such as nickel, rhodium, rhenium, zinc, palladium, platinum and the like supported on various materials such as alumina, silica, silica-alumina, kieselguhr, diatomaceous earth and silica-titania.
The patent states that support materials are not equivalent in their ability to form active catalysts and that the actual effectiveness of a material as a support in a potentiated nickel catalyst is generally not predictable in advance. In addition, the nickel-rhenium catalyst disclosed can contain other metals in admixture with the nickel and rhenium which do not detrimentally affect the catalytic properties of the catalyst. It is stated that certain metals can extend the activity life and other physical properties of the Ni--Re catalysts, these metals include lanthanum, calcium, magnesium, strontium, lithium, potassium, barium, cesium, tungsten, iron, ruthenium, copper, silver, zinc, cobalt, uranium, titanium, boron and manganese.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,490 describes a process for the manufacture of an alkyleneamines reaction product mixture without a net increase in piperazine by the reaction of MEA and ammonia using a reductive amination catalyst. Again, the product mixture is characterized by the presence of about 15% to 35% DETA, about 10% to about 35% AEEA, about 15% to about 55% EDA (net generated) and about 3% to about 25% cyclics including PIP, AEP and HEP.
The patent describes the same catalysts enumerated above and in addition states that other preferred reduction amination catalysts are composed of rhenium, nickel and boron impregnated on a support material selected from the group consisting of alumina (e.g. alpha), silicas, silica-aluminas, kieselguhrs or diatomaceous earths and silica-titanias, wherein the ratio of nickel to boron to rhenium is in the range of from about 2:2:1 to about 30:30:1 and the total nickel, boron and rhenium present is in the range of about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of the support material.
The increased production of AEEA is achieved by using lower ammonia/MEA mole ratios to favor MEA self condensation. Such changes in reaction conditions may lead to harsher reaction conditions, e.g. higher pH, which may contribute to deactivation and degradation of the catalyst and catalyst supports, and produces larger amounts of undesired aminoalkyl ethanolamines.
It would be beneficial to have a process which increases the selective production of AEEA, without generating large amounts of cyclic alkylenepolyamine products.

Reductive amination processes for the selective production of amino-ethyylethanolamine

Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation


A waveguide horn has septums to decrease the side lobes in its E-plane radiation pattern and the input ends of the septums are spaced from the horn's rectangular input port to improve the return loss of the horn. The input ends are preferably spaced from the input port >3a in which a is the dimension of the broad side of the input port.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to microwave antennas and more particularly to feed horns.
2. Description of the Related Art
To reduce the side lobes in an antenna beam from a reflector antenna, the amplitude of the reflector's feed signal should preferably be on the order of 10 db down in the direction of the reflector edges. On the other hand, the radiation pattern at a wavelength .lambda. from a rectangular waveguide with dimensions a=0.71.lambda. and b=0.32.lambda. typically meets this criterion (10 db down) for angles of 180.degree. and 120.degree. in the waveguide's electric plane and magnetic plane respectively. For enhanced performance with this waveguide as a feed, a reflector would have to be shaped to intercept these angles. A reflector with a significantly different shape would have reduced performance in one or more parameters, e.g., side lobe levels or gain. Alternatively, enlarging the waveguide to narrow its radiation pattern would invite excitation of undesired modes in the waveguide.
For these reasons, an open-ended waveguide can be used as the feed aperture for a reflector antenna only in restricted situations. Typically, reflector dimensions are determined by the requirements of an application and the feed aperture dimensions must then be selected accordingly. Flaring a terminal end of a waveguide to form a larger aperture, i.e., forming a pyramidal waveguide horn, is a conventional solution in constructing a feed for a reflector antenna.
The structure of a pyramidal waveguide horn is advantageous in that it allows the horn's input port dimensions to be selected for enhancement of single mode propagation in the waveguide which connects to the input port, while other dimensions of the horn, e.g., horn length and flare angle, are selected for efficient illumination of a specific reflector antenna. The input waveguide can then essentially act as a filter to suppress propagation of undesired modes so that the field at the horn's input port is relatively independent of the length of the waveguide.
Without the use of further structures, the side lobe suppression of a well-designed, pyramidal waveguide horn is limited to .about.12 db in its E-plane radiation pattern. In contrast, H-plane radiation patterns of these horns typically have a slightly wider beam width than the E-plane pattern but a much improved side lobe suppression. It is difficult to efficiently illuminate a reflector antenna with a waveguide horn that has inferior side lobe suppression. If the radiation pattern of the horn is narrowed to bring the side lobes within the reflector illumination, an undesirable illumination distribution is obtained. If the radiation pattern of the horn is widened to exclude the side lobes from the reflector illumination, efficiency is lowered because of lost "spill over" power.
Circular, corrugated, waveguide horns have an E-plane radiation pattern which is superior to that of pyramidal waveguide horns. However, because of their weight (usually 6-8 times that of an equivalent pyramidal waveguide horn) and high manufacturing cost, their use is limited to special applications in which weight and cost are not critical considerations.
Septums have been introduced into pyramidal waveguide horns for the purpose of obtaining lower side lobes in the E-plane radiation pattern. The septums are typically arranged orthogonally with the radiation's E field so that the uniform amplitude distribution of the E field across the output aperture is converted into a tapered amplitude distribution. This tapering has been found to produce an E-field radiation pattern whose side lobe performance approaches that of the H-field radiation pattern.
Typically, the introduction of septums into a waveguide horn does not significantly degrade the return loss at the input port. It is probable that this follows from, the fact that, even without septums, waveguide horns generally provide an inferior impedance match to a feed waveguide.
In spite of this, attempts have been made to improve the impedance match of horns with septums because antenna losses directly degrade the efficiency of the system containing the antenna and decreased system efficiency generally raises costs and lowers performance. As an example of these attempts, the thickness of the septums has been reduced as far as structurally possible to improve the input port return loss.

Waveguide horn with restricted-length septums


A first network device in a high-availability cluster may configure a first wireless channel for a wireless control link. The first network device may establish, using the first wireless channel, the wireless control link with a second network device in the high-availability cluster. The first network device may configure a second wireless channel for a wireless fabric link. The first network device may establish, using the second wireless channel, the wireless fabric link with the second network device.

A high-availability cluster may include a plurality of network devices that are linked or connected together to form a logical or virtual network device that is more resilient to faults than if the plurality of network devices were to operate in discrete configurations. The plurality of network devices in the high-availability cluster may share session information associated with routing engine sessions and/or user sessions such that faults in the high-availability cluster may be mitigated by near instantaneous failover and/or reversion of stateful network traffic.

Wireless control and fabric links for high-availability cluster nodes


The present invention is directed to novel methods for in vitro and in vivo detection of target nucleic acid molecules, including DNA and RNA targets, as well as nucleic acid analogues. The present invention is based on protein complementation, in which two individual polypeptides are inactive. When the two inactive polypeptide fragment are brought in close proximity during hybridization to a target nucleic acid, they re-associate into an active, detectable protein.

There is a great demand for methods to detect and quantify the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence of interest. In particular, there is a great demand for methods that can be used to detect and quantitate the presence of a target nucleic acid in vivo and in vitro.
For example, detection of RNA in vivo is of particular interest. During the last several years, knowledge on multiple functional roles of RNAs in gene expression has substantially increased, as has the number of newly isolated RNA molecules. Additionally, it has become clear that mRNA localization plays an important role in directing specific proteins to their correct position within the cell, thus regulating gene expression and cell development (Johnston, 1995; Oleynikov & Singer, 2003). To fully understand functions of various RNAs, methods of studying their dynamic behavior within living cells are required.
Different strategies for labeling RNA molecules for in vivo detection have been used (for a review, see Pederson, 2001). Most methods rely on different RNA-specific hybridization probes and microinjection or lipofection for probe delivery to the nucleus or cytoplasm. For example self-ligating quenching probes were successfully used by Kool and co-workers for RNA hybridization within bacterial cells (Sando & Kool, 2002). Fluorescent 2-O-methyl-RNA probes have been shown to be more stable than unmethylated oligonucleotides and have been used by several groups (Carma-Fonseca et al, 1999; Molenaar et al., 2001). Molecular beacons, (Sokol et al., 1998; Perlette & Tan, 2001), RNA hybridizing oligonucleotide probes capable of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) (Matsuo, 1998; Tsui et al., 2000; Tsuji et al, 2001; Sei-Iida et al., 2000) and caged-fluorescein labeled antisense oligonucleotides present different variants of the same approach (for a review see Politz, 1999, Pederson, 2001).
However, all of these approaches are probe-based, and thus are limited by the low sensitivity of hybridization due to the low concentration of RNA within the cell. In most cases, only highly abundant RNA species can be detected. Thus, because of their abundance, it has been possible to detect β-actin mRNA, c-fos mRNA, basic fibroblast growth factor RNA, and total poly (A)-RNA).
Another obstacle of using oligonucleotide probes for RNA detection in vivo is their fast accumulation in the nucleus (Tsuji et al., 2000; Molenaar et al., 2001). One approach to overcome this difficulty has been the use short oligonucleotide hybridization probes bound to streptavidin via biotin-straptavidin interactions, to lower their passage through nuclear pores (Tsuji et al., 2000).
Yet another strategy to study RNA in vivo has been to generate fusions between functionally important RNA-binding proteins and fluorescent proteins, which allows RNA kinetic studies. For example, real time RNA movement in yeast cells was monitored by co-expressing a GFP-MS2 fusion protein and an ASH1 RNA reporter fused to MS2 binding sequences (Bertrand et al, 1998; Beach et al., 1999; Oleynikov & Singer, 2003). In these studies, GFP or its spectral variants were used as fluorescent tags. Thus, no signal amplification was generated in this approach, which again restricts the method to detection of only highly abundant RNAs. Another drawback of this approach is the background signal of the expressed fluorophore-protein chimera, which substantially limits the sensitivity of the method.
The majority of detection methods have relied on the use of nucleic acid probes to detect a nucleic acid of interest. Probe-based assays are useful in the detection, quantitation and analysis of nucleic acids. Nucleic acid probes have long been used to analyze samples for the presence of nucleic acid from bacteria, fungi, virus or other organisms and are also useful in examining genetically-based disease states or clinical conditions of interest. Nonetheless, probe-based assays have been hampered in part by difficulties associated with specificity, sensitivity and reliability, and the challenges presented by detection of nucleic acids in vivo.
Nucleic acid hybridization is a fundamental process in molecular biology. Sequence differences as subtle as a single base (point mutation) in very short oligomers (<10 base pairs "bp") can be sufficient to enable the discrimination of the hybridization to complementary nucleic acid target sequences as compared with non-target sequences. However, nucleic acid probes of greater than 10 bp in length are generally required to obtain the sequence diversity necessary to correctly identify a unique organism, disease state or clinical condition of interest.
Several nucleic acid probe-based methods have been developed for the detection of nucleic acids. Most are designed around the amplification of selected targets and/or probes composed of DNA, including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), ligase chain reaction (LCR), self-sustained sequence replication (3SR), nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA), strand displacement amplification (SDA), amplification with Q.beta. replicase (Birkenmeyer and Mushahwar, J. Virological Methods, 35:117-126 (1991); Landegren, Trends Genetics, 9:199-202 (1993)), rolling circle amplification (RCA), and linear rolling circle amplification (LRCA), which uses a primer annealed to the circular target DNA molecule before adding DNA polymerase.
However, these methods are associated with a number of difficulties, including relatively low precision in quantitative measurements, being laborious, expensive, time-consuming, inefficient, and lacking in sensitivity. In addition, there are sources of error in such methods, such as where structural differences lead to different efficiencies.
Any hybridization of a nucleic acid probe to a closely related non-target sequence will result in the generation of undesired background signal. Because the sequences are so closely related, point mutations are some of the most difficult of all nucleic acid modifications to detect using a probe-based assay. Numerous diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis, are caused by a single point mutation of genomic nucleic acid.
Furthermore, all of these methods suffer from a lack of sensitivity, especially to rare genetic events, such as infrequent mutations.
In addition, the detection of nucleic acids in vivo, including in real time, has presented a significant challenge. For example, demonstrating hybridization between an antisense oligonucleotide and its mRNA target has proven extremely difficult in living cells. The development of molecular beacon technology has provided one new approach to nucleic acid detection in vivo. See Sokol et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:11538-43 (1998); Perlette et al., Anal. Chem. 73:657A (2001).
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to have improved methods for the detection of target nucleic acids, including methods for in vivo detection. Such improved detection of DNA and RNA targets would be useful in the detection, analysis and quantitation of nucleic acid containing samples.

Nucleic acid supported protein complementation


Track grooves of an outer joint member include first and second track groove portions. Each of the first track groove portions is formed into an arc shape having a curvature center at a position offset to an opening side with respect to a joint center. The first track groove portions are inclined in a peripheral direction of the outer joint member with respect to a joint axial line and adjacent to each other in the peripheral direction with their inclination directions opposite to each other. Each of the second track groove portions includes a linear part and is connected to the each of the first track groove portions at a position on the opening side with respect to the joint center. Track grooves of inner and outer joint members are formed to be mirror-image symmetrical with respect to a joint center plane at an operating angle of 0°.

For example, a plunging type constant velocity universal joint that is axially displaceable while forming an operating angle but forms a relatively small maximum operating angle is generally assembled on an inboard side (differential side) of an automotive front drive shaft. Further, a fixed type constant velocity universal joint that can form a large operating angle but is not axially displaceable is generally assembled on an outboard side (wheel side) of the automotive front drive shaft because the wheel is steered on the outboard side.
An example of the fixed type constant velocity universal joint to be used on the outboard side is described with reference to FIG. 19A, which is a vertical sectional view of a state in which a constant velocity universal joint 101 forms an operating angle of 0°, and to FIG. 19B, which is a schematic view of a state in which the constant velocity universal joint 101 forms the maximum operating angle. The constant velocity universal joint 101 is a Rzeppa type constant velocity universal joint of an eight ball type, and mainly includes an outer joint member 102, an inner joint member 103, balls 104, and a cage 105. Eight track grooves 107 are formed equiangularly in a spherical inner peripheral surface 106 of the outer joint member 102 so as to extend along an axial direction. Track grooves 109 opposed to the track grooves 107 of the outer joint member 102 are formed equiangularly in a spherical outer peripheral surface 108 of the inner joint member 103 so as to extend along the axial direction. Each ball 104 is arranged between the paired track grooves 107 and 109 (opposed to each other in a radial direction) of the outer joint member 102 and the inner joint member 103. The cage 105 for holding the balls 104 is arranged between the spherical inner peripheral surface 106 of the outer joint member 102 and the spherical outer peripheral surface 108 of the inner joint member 103.
As illustrated in FIG. 19A, the cage 105 has a spherical outer peripheral surface 112 fitted to the spherical inner peripheral surface 106 of the outer joint member 102, and a spherical inner peripheral surface 113 fitted to the spherical outer peripheral surface 108 of the inner joint member 103. The spherical outer peripheral surface 112 and the spherical inner peripheral surface 113 each have a curvature center formed at a joint center O. On the other hand, a curvature center Oo of a ball raceway center line x of each track groove 107 of the outer joint member 102 and a curvature center Oi of a ball raceway center line y of each track groove 109 of the inner joint member 103 are offset to both sides in the axial direction by equal distances with respect to the joint center O. Therefore, when the joint forms an operating angle, the balls 104 are always guided in a plane bisecting an angle formed between axial lines of the outer joint member 102 and the inner joint member 103. As a result, rotational torque is transmitted at a constant velocity between the two axes.
As illustrated in FIG. 19B, a maximum operating angle θmax, which is defined as a main function of the fixed type constant velocity universal joint 101, depends on an angle causing interference between an inlet chamfer 110 formed at an opening rim (inner rim portion) of the outer joint member 102 and a shaft 111. In order to secure permissible torque to be transmitted, an axial diameter d of the shaft 111 is determined for each joint size. When a large inlet chamfer 110 is formed, the length of each track groove 107 of the outer joint member 102, on which the ball 104 is brought into contact (hereinafter referred to as "effective track length"), is insufficient. As a result, the ball 104 may drop off the track groove 107, and the rotational torque cannot be transmitted. Therefore, how the inlet chamfer 110 is formed while securing the effective track length of the outer joint member 102 is an important factor in securing the operating angle. In the constant velocity universal joint 101 illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the curvature center Oo of the ball raceway center line x of the track groove 107 is offset to an opening side. Thus, there is an advantage in terms of the maximum operating angle, and the maximum operating angle θmax is approximately 47°.
Further, as compared to a related-art constant velocity universal joint of a six ball type, the above-mentioned constant velocity universal joint of the eight ball type has a smaller track offset amount, a larger number of balls, and has a larger diameter. Thus, it is possible to attain a highly efficient constant velocity universal joint that is lightweight and compact, and is suppressed in torque loss. However, at an operating angle of 0°, wedge angles formed between the paired track grooves 107 and 109 of the outer joint member 102 and the inner joint member 103 are opened toward the opening side of the outer joint member 102. Therefore, due to axial forces applied from the track grooves 107 and 109 to the balls 104, loads to be applied to the spherical contact portions 106 and 112 of the outer joint member 102 and the cage 105 and the spherical contact portions 108 and 113 of the inner joint member 103 and the cage 105 are generated in a certain direction. Thus, this structure leads to restriction on achieving even higher efficiency and less heat generation.
Therefore, in order to achieve even higher efficiency and less heat generation, a fixed type constant velocity universal joint 121 of a track groove crossing type illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). FIG. 20A is a vertical sectional view of a state in which the constant velocity universal joint 121 forms an operating angle of 0°, and FIG. 20B is a schematic view of a state in which the constant velocity universal joint 121 forms a high operating angle. As illustrated in FIG. 20A, the constant velocity universal joint 121 mainly includes an outer joint member 122, an inner joint member 123, balls 124, and a cage 125. Although illustration is omitted, in the constant velocity universal joint 121, planes including ball raceway center lines x of eight track grooves 127 of the outer joint member 122 and a joint center O are inclined with respect to a joint axial line n-n with their inclination directions opposite to each other in the track grooves 127 adjacent to each other in a peripheral direction. In addition, each track groove 129 of the inner joint member 123 has a ball raceway center line y, which is formed so as to be mirror-image symmetrical with the ball raceway center line x of the paired track groove 127 of the outer joint member 122 with respect to a joint center plane P at the operating angle of 0° (plane including the joint center O at the operating angle of 0° and extending in a direction orthogonal to the joint axial line n-n).
As illustrated in FIG. 20A, each of the track groove 127 formed in a spherical inner peripheral surface 126 of the outer joint member 122 and the track groove 129 formed in a spherical outer peripheral surface 128 of the inner joint member 123 extends into an arc shape along the axial direction, and a curvature center of each of the track grooves 127 and 129 is positioned at the joint center O. Each ball 124 is interposed in a crossing portion between the paired track grooves 127 and 129 (opposed to each other in a radial direction) of the outer joint member 122 and the inner joint member 123. The cage 125 for holding the balls 124 is arranged between the spherical inner peripheral surface 126 of the outer joint member 122 and the spherical outer peripheral surface 128 of the inner joint member 123. The cage 125 has a spherical outer peripheral surface 132 fitted to the spherical inner peripheral surface 126 of the outer joint member 122, and a spherical inner peripheral surface 133 fitted to the spherical outer peripheral surface 128 of the inner joint member 123. The spherical outer peripheral surface 132 and the spherical inner peripheral surface 133 each have a curvature center formed at the joint center O. In the constant velocity universal joint 121, curvature centers of the ball raceway center lines x and y of the track grooves 127 and 129 of the outer joint member 122 and the inner joint member 123 are arranged at the joint center O. However, the paired track grooves 127 and 129 cross each other, and the balls 124 are interposed in those crossing portions. Therefore, when the joint forms an operating angle, the balls 124 are always guided in a plane bisecting an angle formed between axial lines of the outer joint member 122 and the inner joint member 123. As a result, rotational torque is transmitted at a constant velocity between the two axes.
In the above-mentioned fixed type constant velocity universal joint 121 of the track groove crossing type, the track grooves 127 of the outer joint member 122 that are adjacent to each other in the peripheral direction are inclined in the opposite directions. Further, the track grooves 129 of the inner joint member 123 that are adjacent to each other in the peripheral direction are inclined in the opposite directions. Therefore, forces in the opposite directions are applied from the balls 124 to pocket portions 125a of the cage 125 that are adjacent to each other in the peripheral direction. Due to the forces in the opposite directions, the cage 125 is stabilized at the position of the joint center O. Thus, a contact force between the spherical outer peripheral surface 132 of the cage 125 and the spherical inner peripheral surface 126 of the outer joint member 122, and a contact force between the spherical inner peripheral surface 133 of the cage 125 and the spherical outer peripheral surface 128 of the inner joint member 123 are suppressed. Accordingly, the joint is smoothly operated under high load and in high speed rotation. As a result, torque loss and heat generation are suppressed, and the durability is enhanced.

Fixed type constant-velocity universal joint


A bottle includes a container and a closure device. The closure device includes a threaded cap for closing up the container, a slidable spout for opening and closing the fluid flow path from the container by means of two sealing elements on the spout, a vent check valve for permitting air to rapidly enter the container without passing through the spout and a multi-fold protective cover and, more particularly, to a two-fold protective cover for achieving the leak-proof by forcing the spout to a close position and closing up the vent check valve by a projection extended from the protective cover.

Conventional bottles for outdoor use are usually equipped with protective cover and the protective cover is a one-piece design with dimension same as the threaded cap. The one-piece protective cover design of the prior art is difficult to open and close by one hand. Some examples of this general type of protective cover are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,603,436 and 5,094,363.
Another fast push-pull spouts design is also common feature of the bottles. Some examples of this general type of push-pull spouts design are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,738,545; 5,100,033; and 5,094,363. Many of these past designs are difficult to operate and/or do not provide adequate leak protection.
Another vent check valve design permits air to rapidly enter the bottle without the need to pass through the water treatment unit to equalize the pressure in the bottle as water is treated and removed is also a common feature of the bottles. However, leakage through the vent check valve happens frequently.
It is therefore advantageous to design a bottle devoid of the shortcomings associated with the prior art bottles.

Bottle with multi-fold protective cover and leak-proof closure device


A method of forming cylinder heads having bonded valve seat inserts. The method reduces the machining operations necessary to place the insert in place by forming the cylinder head casting with reference surfaces that are employed for determining the pressing axis and location for the valve seat insert.

This invention relates to a valve seat arrangement for a reciprocating machine and more particularly to an improved method of forming a bonded valve seat for an internal combustion engine.
In internal combustion engines, it frequently is the practice to employ aluminum or aluminum alloys as the material for a number of the major engine castings such as the cylinder heads. When the cylinder heads are formed from aluminum or aluminum alloys, however, certain components of the cylinder head are formed from a dissimilar material so as to improve performance. For example, the valve seats of the cylinder head are normally formed from a harder, less heat conductive material such as iron or ferrous iron alloys. By utilizing such harder materials, the valve seat life can be extended. However, the attachment of the dissimilar valve seat insert into the cylinder head presents a number of problems.
Conventionally, it has been the practice to form the cylinder head passages with recesses adjacent the seating area into which the insert rings which form the valve seat are press fit. The use of press fitting has a number of disadvantages. These disadvantages may be understood by reference to FIG. 1 which shows a conventional pressed in type of valve seat.
The cylinder head material 21 is formed with a counter-bore 22 at the cylinder head recess side of the flow passage 23. The flow passage 23 may be either an intake passage or an exhaust passage. The insert ring is indicated by the reference numeral 24 and may be formed from any suitable material, such as a Sintered ferrous material. Such materials have the advantage of having high wear capabilities. After the insert 24 has been pressed into place, its surface is machined as at 25 so as to form the actual valve seating surface.
As may be seen, this technique requires relatively large valve seat inserts in order to withstand the pressing pressures. In addition, the press fit must be such that the insert ring will not fall out when the engine is running. As a result, there are quite high stresses exerted both on the cylinder head and on the insert ring. The stresses can result in loads which may eventually cause cracks in the cylinder head.
These types of construction also limit the maximum size and spacing of the valve seats in order to ensure adequate cylinder head material between adjacent valve seats to reduce the likelihood of cracking. In addition, the large seats compromise the configuration of the intake passages, particularly at the critical valve seating area. Finally, these constructions result in somewhat poor heat transfer from the valve to the cylinder head due to the poor thermal conductivity of the valve seat material and the poor contact area between the insert 24 and the cylinder head 21.
In addition, the interface between the insert ring and the cylinder head frequently leaves voids or air gaps which further reduce the heat transfer and thus cause the valves to run at a higher temperature. This higher temperature operation of the valves requires the valves to be made heavier and stronger and thus reduce the performance of the engine and increase its size and costs.
Many of these problems become worse as the engine reaches operating or higher temperatures. Because of the higher coefficient of expansion of the cylinder head material, the press fit force diminishes and the contact area for heat transfer also decreases.
In addition to these problems which deal primarily with the ultimate performance of the resulting cylinder head and associated engine, there are certain additional manufacturing disadvantages with the pressed-in type of insert. These have to do with the cost and the complicated manufacturing process by which the pressed-in inserts are formed.
As has been previously noted, the insert ring is press-fit into a bore or counterbore 22 which is machined on the cylinder head recess side of the flow passage 23. Because of the techniques which are employed, the positioning and formation of this bore must be done very accurately so as to ensure that the resulting valve seat will be appropriately positioned so that it will cooperate with the associated poppet valve. Thus, a machining operation has been required to accurately form the valve seat receiving counterbore 22. In addition and frequently at the same time, the bore in the cylinder head which receives the respective valve guide also is machined.
Furthermore, to accommodate both the pressing of the valve seat insert and of the valve guide, separate heating steps are required for heating the cylinder head and/or cooling the valve seat insert and the valve guide so as to facilitate installation.
The machining operations require a cleaning operation before the subsequent heating so as to ensure that particles will not be present in the cylinder head that can interfere with the subsequent press-fitting. Thus, the prior art methods are not only expensive but also time-consuming. In addition to resulting in a cylinder head that has less than optimum performance.
To overcome the disadvantages in the performance of the cylinder heads having pressed in inserts it has been proposed, therefore, to employ a technique wherein the insert ring is metallurgically bonded but not alloyed to the cylinder head material. This is accomplished by pressing the insert into place and passing an electrical current through the insert which is sufficient to cause the cylinder head material to plastically deform upon insertion of the insert ring. The plastically deformed phase of the cylinder head material forms a metallurgical bond at the interface with the insert ring without any significant resulting alloying of the cylinder head material to that of the insert ring. Such an arrangement is disclosed in our copending application entitled, "Valve Seat Bonded Cylinder Head and Method for Producing Same," application Ser. No., 08/483,246, filed Jun. 7, 1995 and assigned to the assignee hereof. In addition, certain of these techniques are also described in our copending application entitled "VALVE SEAT," application Ser. No. 08/278,026, filed Jul. 20, 1994, in our names and also assigned to the Assignee hereof.
These techniques have a number of advantages over the conventional structures. First, they permit the use of much smaller insert rings since the pressing pressure is reduced and thus the shape of the intake passage, particularly the shape of the cylinder head passages, particularly in the critical area of the valve seats are not compromised. In addition, the bond strength is considerably higher than more conventional methods. Furthermore, this technique, because of the improved way in which the adhesion is formed, permits the use of much smaller insert rings and thus permits the valve seat openings to be positioned closer to each other without the likelihood of causing defects in the cylinder head which may manifest themselves during the engine running and life.
Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a further improved method for bonding such valve seat inserts into place.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a further improved method for bonding such valve seat inserts into place that minimizes the machining and other steps required to form the valve seat.


A organic light emitting display device includes a thin film transistor (TFT) having a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode which are insulated from the gate electrode, and a semiconductor layer which is insulated from the gate electrode and which contacts each of the source electrode and the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode electrically connected to one of the source electrode and the drain electrode. The gate electrode is made up of a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer on the first conductive layer, and the pixel electrode is formed of the same material as the first conductive layer of the gate electrode on a same layer as the first conductive layer of the gate electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an organic light emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the same which reduces the number of times that masks are used, reduces manufacturing costs, and simplifies manufacture thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an organic light emitting display device is a flat display device that includes organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) as display elements, wherein each OLED has a pixel electrode, a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode, and an intermediate layer including an emission layer disposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode. Such an organic light emitting display device includes thin film transistors (TFTs) that control the function of each OLED.
FIGS. 1A through 1L are cross-sectional views for illustrating a conventional method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device. According to the conventional method, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, a semiconductor layer 21 is patterned and formed on a substrate 10, a gate insulating layer 11 is formed to cover the semiconductor layer 21, a conductive layer 23a to be formed as a gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating layer 11, and a photoresist layer 23b for the gate electrode is formed on a portion of the conductive layer 23a. To produce the structure as illustrated in FIG. 1A, a first mask process is performed to pattern the semiconductor layer 21, and a second mask process is performed to form the photoresist layer 23b for the gate electrode.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the gate electrode 23 is formed by patterning the conductive layer 23a for the gate electrode by using the photoresist layer 23b. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, after an intermediate insulating layer 13 is formed to cover the gate electrode 23, a third mask process is performed to form via holes 13a, exposing a part of the semiconductor layer 21.
After the via holes 13a are formed, a conductive layer 25a for source/drain electrodes is formed as illustrated in FIG. 1D so that the conductive layer 25a for the source/drain electrodes contacts the semiconductor layer 21 through the via holes 13a. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 1E, a fourth mask process is performed to form a photoresist layer 25b on a portion of the conductive layer 25a for the source/drain electrodes. Next, by patterning the conductive layer 25a for the source/drain electrodes using the photoresist layer 25b, source/drain electrodes 25 insulated from the gate electrode 23 and respectively contacting the semiconductor layer 21 are formed to complete a TFT 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1F.
Then, as illustrated in FIG. 1G, a planarization layer 15 is formed to cover the source/drain electrodes 25, and a fifth mask process is performed to form a photoresist layer 15a for a contact hole on an entire surface of the planarization layer 15, except for where the contact hole is to be formed. Next, by etching the planarization layer 15 using the photoresist layer 15a for the contact hole, one of the source/drain electrodes 25 is exposed by the contact hole 15c formed in the planarization layer 15, as illustrated in FIG. 1H.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 1I, a conductive layer 31a for a pixel electrode is formed to cover the planarization layer 15 and contact one of the source/drain electrodes 25 via the contact hole 15c. Then, a sixth mask process is performed to form a photoresist layer 31b for the pixel electrode on the conductive layer 31a so as to correspond to an area where a pixel electrode is to be formed. By patterning the conductive layer 31a using the photoresist layer 31b, a pixel electrode 31 that contacts one of the source/drain electrodes 25 is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 1K. Then, an insulating layer for a pixel defining layer is formed to cover the pixel electrode 31, and the insulating layer is patterned via a seventh mask process to form a pixel defining layer 17 in which at least a part of the pixel electrode 31 is exposed. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 1L, an intermediate layer 32 including an emission layer is formed on the pixel electrode 31 via an eighth mask process, and a counter electrode 33 is formed to over an entire display area, thereby forming an active matrix (AM) organic light emitting display device having an OLED 30 as a pixel, the emission of which is controlled by the TFT 20.
However, according to the above described conventional method of manufacturing the organic light emitting display device, since a total of eight mask processes have to be performed to form the TFT 20 and the OLED 30, many masks are used and the process is very complicated. Thus, the manufacturing costs of the display device are high and the yield is low.

Method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device by patterning and formation of pixel and gate electrodes


An aerofoil assembly includes a plurality of rotatable blades. A damping member is disposed between at least two of the blades, each of the at least two blades having an aerofoil portion, a stem portion and a root portion. A recess is provided on two cooperating stem portions with a first shelf extending from a first end of each recess, and a second shelf extending from a second end of each recess to define a compartment. When the blades are aligned the damping member is held on one side of the shelves within the compartment. The damping member is provided with a projection at one corner and a projection on a diagonally opposite corner, the longitudinal distance between ends of the projections being greater than the distance between edges of the first and second shelf.

The invention relates to an aerofoil assembly and a method of assembly of an aerofoil assembly.
Aerofoil assemblies such as stages of a gas turbine compressor or turbine typically have an array of blades 10 which are located in a supporting disc or drum 12 and have a damping member 14 disposed between the blades 10 in order to achieve a desirable vibration characteristic. Such an arrangement is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 (PRIOR ART) in which the damping member 14 is located in a compartment 16 formed between adjacent blades 10.
The damping member 14, as viewed in FIG. 1, has a "cottage roof" type cross section in that it is part triangular (or "peaked"). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (PRIOR ART), which are sectional views on arrow "A" in FIG. 1 (PRIOR ART) the damping member 14 is largely rectangular in cross section. As also shown in FIG. 2 (PRIOR ART) the compartment 16 is formed by the provision of a recess 18 in each blade 14, and a shelf 20 at either end of the recess 18 forms a support structure 22 for the damping member 14. The member 14 is trapped in the compartment 16 by the shelves 20 since the overall span or longitudinal length "x" of the damping member 14 is greater than the distance between edges 24 of the shelves 20. As shown in FIG. 3 (PRIOR ART) part of the method of assembly requires at least one of the blades 10 to be slid out of the array to allow for a locking member 26 to be inserted in a groove 28, on the rear or forward edge of the blade, in direction B. Thus the damping member 14 must be small enough to allow the blades 10 to move relative to one another to allow access to the groove 28, and yet the damping member 14 must be long enough to stay trapped between the blades 10 when the blades 10 are realigned. Manufacturing tolerances may result in the damping member 14 or support structure 22 being undersize and hence the damping member 14 may fall out. In this eventuality damage may be caused to the blade disc 12 and other components it comes into contact with.


Apparatus and methods for the capture and delivery of content over a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and the apparatus comprises a local server which stores, processes and assembles content prior to its delivery to a VOD server, thus obviating the need for superfluous VOD storage. This approach also facilitates various pre-streaming processing in a video recording (e.g., nPVR) system, and gives a network operator dynamic control over local playlists. In another embodiment, the local server of the improved system obviates the need for a VOD server in the nPVR system. One or more content libraries adapted to facilitate nPVR content access across one or more regions of a broadcast network are also disclosed. Secondary content (e.g., promotions, advertisements, etc.) can also be selectively inserted into nPVR content. Various access, business or operational rules and methods implementing the foregoing are also described.

1. Field of the Invention
In one exemplary aspect, the invention relates to the fields of content storage and delivery over one or more networks, such as for example cable television or satellite networks.
2. Description of Related Technology
Modern content-based networks (e.g., cable television or satellite) provide their subscribers with a broad variety of content in a number of different formats (e.g., digitally encoded according to different encoding schemes, low- and high-definition, etc.) via a number of different delivery paradigms (e.g., broadcast, pay-per view, on-demand, etc.) and with various feature sets (e.g., premises digital recording or DVR, networked personal video recording, etc.). Each of these facets are now described in greater detail.
Digital Encoding
With the advent of digital communications technology, television program streams are now transmitted in digital format. For example, Digital Satellite System (DSS), Digital Broadcast Services (DBS), and Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC) program streams are uniformly digitally encoded or formatted according to a prescribed standard. One such prevailing standard is the Moving Pictures Experts Group 2 (MPEG-2) standard. The MPEG-2 standard specifies, inter alia, the methodologies for video and audio data compression and encoding, allowing for multiplexing multiple programs with different video and audio feeds in a transport stream traversing a single transmission channel. The digital receiver of a digital set-top box (DSTB) or other such device is then used to decode the MPEG-2 encoded transport stream, and extract the desired program therefrom.
In accordance with the MPEG-2 standard, video data is compressed based on a sequence of groups of pictures (GOPs), made up of three types of picture frames: coded picture frames ("I-frames"), forward predictive frames ("P-frames") and bilinear frames ("B-frames"). Each GOP may, for example, begin with an I-frame which is obtained by spatially compressing a complete picture using discrete cosine transform (DCT). As a result, if an error or a channel switch occurs, it is possible to resume correct decoding at the next I-frame.
The GOP may represent additional frames by providing a much smaller block of digital data that indicates how small portions of the I-frame, referred to as macroblocks, move over time.
An I-frame is typically followed by multiple P- and B-frames in a GOP. Thus, for example, a P-frame occurs more frequently than an I-frame by a ratio of about 3 to 1. A P-frame is forward predictive and is encoded from the I- or P-frame that precedes it. A P-frame contains the difference between a current frame and the previous I- or P-frame.
A B-frame compares both the preceding and subsequent I- or P-frame data. The B-frame contains the average of matching macroblocks or motion vectors. Because a B-frame is encoded based upon both preceding and subsequent frame data, it effectively stores motion information.
Thus, MPEG-2 achieves its compression by assuming that only small portions of an image change over time, making the representation of these additional frames extremely compact. Although GOPs have no relationship between themselves, the frames within a GOP have a specific relationship which builds off the initial I-frame.
The compressed video and audio data are carried by continuous elementary streams, respectively, which are broken into access units or packets, resulting in packetized elementary streams (PESs). These packets are identified by headers that contain time stamps for synchronizing, and are used to form MPEG-2 transport streams. For digital broadcasting, multiple programs and their associated PESs are multiplexed into a single transport stream. A transport stream has PES packets further subdivided into short fixed-size data packets, in which multiple programs encoded with different clocks can be carried. A transport stream not only comprises a multiplex of audio and video PESs, but also other data such as MPEG-2 program specific information (sometimes referred to as metadata) describing the transport stream. The MPEG-2 metadata may include a program associated table (PAT) that lists every program in the transport stream. Each entry in the PAT points to an individual program map table (PMT) that lists the elementary streams making up each program. Some programs are open, but some programs may be subject to conditional access (encryption) and this information is also carried in the MPEG-2 transport stream, possibly as metadata.
The aforementioned fixed-size data packets in a transport stream each carry a packet identifier (PID) code. Packets in the same elementary streams all have the same PID, so that a decoder can select the elementary stream(s) it needs and reject the remainder. Packet-continuity counters may be implemented to ensure that every packet that is needed to decode a stream is received.
DVR, PVR and nPVR
Digital video recorders (DVRs) and personal video recorders (PVRs) are devices which record video content, in digital format, to a disk drive or other medium. The use of such devices is now ubiquitous, and they provide conveniences to TV viewers such as e.g., (i) allowing a user to record a program for later review, (ii) allowing a user to record every episode of a program for a period, and/or (iii) automatically recording programs for the user based on viewing habits and preferences. Further, the presentation of the recorded programming content can be manipulated by exercising rewind, pause, play, stop, and fast-forward functions hereinafter referred to as "trick mode" functions) in such DVRs and PVRs.
A network PVR (nPVR) is a form of a PVR which can store content on a remote network device instead of a local hard disk. The nPVR allows the user to perform the analogous DVR functions through use of a network entity or process, rather than a local DVR at the user premises, thereby ostensibly relieving the user of the burdens of ownership and maintenance of a DVR unit.
Numerous nPVR architectures exist. See, e.g., co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,550, filed Nov. 22, 2002, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,189 on Jul. 4, 2006,and entitled "Program Guide and Reservation System for Network Based Digital Information and Entertainment Storage and Delivery System", incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, which discloses one exemplary network architecture and functionalities for implementing nPVR service. Generally, nPVR systems employ Video on-demand (VOD) or similar architecture to provide content storage and retrieval in a network. Typical VOD architectures will be discussed in greater detail below.
Start-Over
So called "start-over" is a feature offered to some network users which allows the user to jump to the beginning of a program in progress without any preplanning or in-home recording devices (e.g., DVR). Start-over is enabled by a software upgrade to the existing video on-demand (VOD) platform, and to the installed base of digital set top boxes. In other words, the start-over feature utilizes an nPVR system to maintain content which users may request, and delivers content in a manner similar to VOD. The start-over system instantaneously captures live television programming for immediate, on-demand viewing. Start-over functionality is the result of MSO-initiated nPVR storage of broadcast programs in real time. In other words, the MSO determines which programs will be start-over enabled, and stores this content as it is broadcast to an nPVR which is accessible by the various client devices utilizing a mechanism similar to VOD (discussed below).
When tuning to a start-over enabled show in progress, customers are alerted to the feature through an on-screen prompt. By pressing appropriate remote control buttons, the program is restarted from the beginning. Under one type of approach, start-over enabled programs may only be restarted within the shows' original telecast window (i.e., during the time window set for broadcasting the program), and may not be restarted after the show has finished broadcast. Thus, the start-over feature generally functions as an nPVR for predefined content (i.e., content on a start-over enabled channel) during a predefined period (i.e., the broadcast window).
Co-owned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/913,064, filed Aug. 6, 2004, and entitled "Technique for Delivering Programming Content Based on a Modified Network Personal Video Recorder Service", incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses exemplary network architecture and functionalities for implementing start-over service within a content-based (e.g., cable) network. As noted above, start-over services generally employ a VOD or similar architecture to provide content storage and retrieval.
VOD Systems
The provision of "on-demand" (OD) services, such as e.g., video on-demand or VOD, is well known in the prior art. In a typical configuration, the VOD service makes available to its users a selection of multiple video programs that they can choose from and watch over a network connection with minimum setup delay. At a high level, a VOD system comprises: (i) one or more VOD servers that pass and/or store the relevant content; (ii) one or more network connections that are used for program selection and program delivery; and (iii) customer premises equipment (CPE) to receive, decode and present the video on a display unit. The content is typically distributed to the CPE over a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) or satellite network, which may include e.g., dense wave division multiplexed (DWDM), coaxial, wireless (e.g., satellite or millimeter wave), and other types of bearer media.
Several different network architectures have evolved for deploying VOD services. These architectures range from fully centralized (e.g., VOD servers at a central location) to fully distributed (e.g., multiple copies of content distributed on VOD servers very close to customer premises; i.e., at the network "edge"), as well as various other network topographies there between. Since most cable television networks today consist of optical fiber towards the core of the network which are connected to coaxial cable networks towards the edge, VOD transmission network architectures also consist of a mixture of optical fiber and coaxial cable portions.
While the architectural details of how video is transported in the core HFC network can be different for each VOD deployment, each generally will have a transition point where the video signals are modulated, upconverted to the appropriate RF channel, and sent over the coaxial segment(s) of the network Depending on the topology of the individual cable plant, this could be performed at a node, hub or a headend. The coaxial cable portion of the network is variously referred to as the "access network" or "edge network" or "last mile network."
A typical prior art VOD architecture useful for prior art nPVR and start-over functionality comprises sending content through various staging and segmenting functions, then on to a VOD server. At the staging and segmenting functions, the content is spliced on valid GOP boundaries, or I-frames. The spliced content is then examined, and a reference data file is created to describe it. However, current splicing functions are often inexact due to the fact that the splicing is occurring on content running open GOPs; this ultimately leads to the creation of data files which relate to portions of the content that have been removed, or content streams having other artifacts or problems. The VOD server uses the data file as a guide to where the segments of the content are located, and constructs a content stream inserting secondary content (e.g., advertisements from an advertisement playlist) in-between the segments.
Associated with the VOD server is a cataloging entity, which maintains records regarding the content stored on (and available for streaming from) the VOD server. In many prior art systems, the cataloging entity is not equipped to manage data regarding the massive quantity of content stored therein. Further, as assets are removed from VOD availability, prior art cataloging entities are often unable to function as intended.
Exemplary nPVR System Utilizing VOD—
A typical prior art VOD architecture providing storage and access to content is given in FIG. 1a. This architecture is utilized for both user-initiated and MSO-initiated nPVR.
As illustrated, audio/video content is received to the MSO. The MSO sends the content to a staging processor 102 adapted to "stage" content for transmission over the network. The staging processor 102 is an entity adapted to prepare content for segmenting and/or for transmission to a VOD server 105 for streaming to one or more users.
Content is prepared for transmission and/or segmenting by processing through various staging processes, or software applications adapted to run on the digital processor associated with the staging processor 102. The processes effected by the staging processor 102 include, inter alia, at least one segmenting process 104. The segmenting process 104 divides the content video feed on valid GOP boundaries, or I-frames.
Segmenting the video feed at the segmenting process 104 results in content which is segmented based on a schedule. The segmented content is then examined by a business management process (BMS) 107. The management process 107, inter alia, creates a data file regarding the segmented content. The data file gives metadata regarding the content and "points" to the segmented portions of the content on the disk. However, current segmenting processes 104 of the type illustrated in FIG. 1a are often imprecise (e.g., splice points not precisely on the correct frame boundaries), and may result in instances where the management process 107 refers to content that is no longer part of the file, and/or contains other "glitches". These conditions cause problems with video received by a user including e.g., "macroblocking" (an effect akin to pixelation), and/or segments of the video stream having no video (i.e., being blank).
Other issues associated with prior art segmentation techniques include overflow or underflow of buffer levels and "closed" GOPs. In an MPEG buffering scheme, certain past and future pictures need to be maintained in a buffer. When switching streams it is possible to overflow or underflow this buffer if the levels are not managed correctly. A GOP in MPEG2 refers to the distance between reference frames that can be completely rendered with only the information in that frame; similar to a still photo compression such as JPEG. Other frames in between the reference or I-frames have some forward or backwards references. It is possible in MPEG to reference frames beyond the I-frames. If a stream is cut where a further frame beyond the next I-frame is needed, visual errors can be introduced.
Once the management process 107 has created a data file for the content, it is sent to a VOD server 105. As described in greater detail subsequently herein, the VOD server 105 stores the content and/or data on hard disks; the VOD server 105 streams the content from these disks as well. The VOD server 105 is also sent a playlist of advertisements.
The VOD server 105, therefore, will receive the segmented content as well as a file indicating where the various portions of the content are and in what order they should be arranged; the VOD server also receives advertisements for insertion into the segmented content.
FIG. 1b is illustrative of a simplified prior art segmented content file 120 and advertisement playlist 130. As noted above, the content is segmented according to a schedule thus resulting in any number (n) content segments 122. The advertisement playlist 130 comprises some number (x) of advertisement segments 132. The number x of advertisement segments 132 may be e.g., equal to the number n of content segments 122; alternatively, the number of advertisement segments 132 may be one more (n+1) or one less (n−1) than the number of content segments 122.
When a CPE 106 requests the content from the VOD server 105 via the network 101, the VOD server 105 utilizes the data file (not shown) created by the management process 106 to find the start 124 and end 126 points of the content segments 122, and the start 134 and end 136 points for the advertisement segments 132. The first content segment 122a is delivered to the user, and at its end point 126a, the VOD server 105 sends the first advertisement segment 132a. At the end point 136a of the first advertisement segment 132a, the VOD server 105 sends the second content segment 122b. At the end point 126b of the second content segment 122b, the second advertisement segment 132b is sent. This pattern continues until the last of the content segments 122n and/or the last of the advertisement segments 132x have been presented to the user. The user will receive a seamless content-plus-advertisement stream 140 comprised of the various segments 122a, 132a, 122b, 132b . . . 122n, 132x sent. It is recognized that the first segment sent to the user may comprise either the first advertisement or the first content segment, still utilizing the pattern outlined above.
Content and data storage within the previously described prior art VOD system requires high performance fiber channels or small computer system interface (SCSI) disks which have the disadvantages of being expensive and small in size (typically 15K RPM). In other words, the VOD system is a full complex, so the storage is tightly coupled to the streaming capabilities. The VOD complex controls the content once received, and thus disallows the multiple systems operator (MSO) to change the content stream in any way, except by providing a new content file. The foregoing approach also generally results in VOD server vendors (i.e., companies who provide and maintain VOD servers for MSO utilization) charging their clients (MSOs) comparatively high rates for storage and streaming of content at the VOD server.
In an nPVR system (and/or a start-over system), MSOs ingest a large quantities of content to the VOD servers for storage and streaming, so as to offer nPVR features (including e.g., start-over) on a variety of channels and/or for a variety of programs. Doing so quickly becomes exceedingly expensive. Further, given that start-over capabilities are made available on a channel-by-channel basis, a large portion of the content stored and available for streaming from the VOD server is often never requested, such as during times when there are fewer viewers (e.g., between 12 midnight and 6 am). Thus, in the present systems, even when content is not requested, it must still be sent to the VOD server as discussed above.
Other inefficiencies or undesirable aspects in these prior art systems lie in the fact that the MSO has no control over the content once ingested by the VOD server. In other words, the MSO is not able to "clean up" portions of the content which were imprecisely segmented or processed (discussed above), because the content is sent directly from the segmenting process to the VOD server. The MSO is also unable to insert advertisements or other secondary content different from those given to the VOD server in the advertisement playlist, or in a different order than presented therein.
Additionally, using the foregoing approach, the BMS 107 is loaded heavily by having to create all the metadata for the ingested content.
Hence, based on the foregoing, there is a need for improved apparatus and methods for efficiently making content available in an nPVR (and/or start-over) system via an on-demand or other network server. Such apparatus and methods would in one embodiment be adapted to store content locally, such as via larger and more cost effective (e.g., COTS) mass storage means. Local storage of content would also optionally provide mechanisms for the addition of secondary content, and other types of content manipulation (such as the aforementioned "clean up" or segmentation or other processing artifacts).
Additionally, such apparatus and methods would in one embodiment reduce the amount of content unnecessarily ingested to the streaming server, and provide more efficient and effective cataloging processes. Historical storage (e.g., storing content relating to past broadcasts for a period of time) would also be improved, thereby providing network users additional viewing options.

Apparatus and methods for network video recording


The present invention relates to a descaling nozzle for removing scales from a metal surface by causing a high-pressure liquid to collide with the metal surface. In the descaling nozzle, the nozzle body includes a concave section formed at a forward end thereof with respect to a liquid jetting direction and having a diameter reducing as it extends downstream with respect to the liquid jetting direction. The forward end has an annular shape integrally surrounding an entire outer circumference of said concave section. The orifice has an outlet opening at a bottom of said concave section around an entire circumference thereof. Thus, the orifice peripheries have high wear resistance against ultrahigh-pressure water and have durability, and can be effectively prevented from damage.

In order to enhance descaling performance, there has been a demand in recent years for the above-mentioned descaling nozzle to jet ultrahigh-pressure water with a pressure of about 30 to 100 MPa. However, the higher pressure of such ultrahigh-pressure water wears orifice peripheries of the nozzle body at the greater rate through contact with the orifice peripheries. In order to meet the demand, it is necessary to minimize the wear of the orifice peripheries, thereby to increase durability.
When the jetting high-pressure water is collected for repeated use, the high-pressure water contains fine scales and the like. The fine scales and the like further accelerate the wear.
Under the circumstances, it has been considered to increase the hardness of the cemented carbide forming the nozzle body, thereby to improve wear resistance of orifice peripheries. For example, the nozzle body may be formed of a carbide hard metal containing tungsten (W) as its main component. However, it is known that, with increased hardness, tenacity and impact resistance are impaired to become susceptible to chipping (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 4-348873).
In a conventional descaling nozzle, as shown in FIGS. 12-14, a nozzle tip 01 acting as a nozzle body includes a groove 03 of U-shaped cross section formed in a distal end thereof and crossing a high-pressure water discharge passage 02 in a downstream position with respect to a high-pressure water jetting direction. An elongated (when seen in the high-pressure water jetting direction) orifice 04 is formed at the intersection of the high-pressure water discharge passage 02 and the groove 03. Orifice peripheries 05 define thin wall portions 06 in the form of knife edges in bottoms of the groove 03 and at longitudinal positions of the orifice (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 1-111464).
When ultrahigh-pressure water is jetted with a higher pressure than before, the thin wall portions 06 tend to be worn away or chipped as indicated by dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 13. The orifice peripheries 05 are damaged quickly, resulting in a deformation of the orifice 04 and a reduction in the jetting pressure of the ultrahigh-pressure water to become unable to remove scales efficiently. Thus, there is a drawback that the durability of the orifice peripheries 05 cannot be improved. Particularly where ultrahigh-pressure water containing fine scales is jetted, there occurs a drawback that the thin wall portions 06 are more susceptible to chipping due to the fine scales colliding with the thin wall portions 06.
When descaling rolled metal, a plurality of descaling nozzles are often juxtaposed for use. Ultrahigh-pressure water jetting from one descaling nozzle may splash in the longitudinal direction of the groove 03 of another descaling nozzle and collide with the thin wall portions 06 of that nozzle tip 01. This may also result in early damage of the orifice peripheries 05.
The present invention has been devised to solve these drawbacks of the prior art, and its object is to provide a descaling nozzle which includes orifice peripheries of improved configuration whereby the orifice peripheries have increased wear resistance against ultrahigh-pressure water, and which effectively prevents the orifice peripheries from being damaged due to a decrease in the impact resistance resulting from the increased wear resistance.


A new and distinct Echeveria cultivar named ‘Cubic Frost’ is disclosed, characterized by concentric, geometric rosettes, comprised of many uplifted, slightly undulate, slightly tubular, lilac to lilac pink leaves. The new cultivar Echeveria ‘Cubic Frost’ exhibits robust growth, enabling shorter production intervals. Echeveria ‘Cubic Frost’ is freely offsetting, enhancing propagation intervals, as well as creating attractive clusters. Echeveria ‘Cubic Frost’ prolifically produces plantlets from leaf cuttings, further enhancing propagation in the commercial nursery. The new culitvar ‘Cubic Frost’ is freely flowering, producing a larger flower with an unusual shape. The new variety is an Echeveria, part of the Crassulaceae complex that includes Pachyphytum, Graptopetalum, Sedum, Crassula and others. Echeveria is a popular genus, typically produced as container plants or landscape plants. Currently, there is a growing use of Echeveria for artistic creations such as wedding bouquets, table centerpieces and other ornamental uses for social occasions.

The new Echeveria cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program. The new variety originated from a cross pollination of the proprietary, unpatented, seed parent, Echeveria 'Doppler' with the pollen parent, an unpatented, proprietary variety of Echeveria referred to as 'R-21'. The pollination was made during April of 2011 at a commercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif.
'Cubic Frost' was discovered by the inventor, Renee O'Connell, in September of 2011, in Vista, Calif. at a commercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar 'Cubic Frost' was first performed in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse by vegetative cuttings in March of 2012. 'Cubic Frost' has since produced multiple generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.


At a fire protection gate with an encompassing structure and bilateral steel plate shells, between which a fire protection inset is provided, consisting of at least an insulating element in the form of a plate of mineral fibers, soluble in a physical milieu and reinforced with a binding agent, the composition of the mineral fibers of said insulating element features an alkali/earth alkali-mass relation of <1 and the fiber structure of said insulating element is determined by an average geometrical fiber diameter of ≦4 μm, a gross density in the range of 60 to 130 kg/m3 and a portion of the binding agent, relative to the fiber mass, in the range of 1 to 3 weight %.

The fire protection requirements of fire protecting elements are classified in fire resistance categories, according to DIN 4102, Part 5. The fire resistance capacity of a fire protecting gate is determined based on the duration, at which at a certain temperature increase on one side of the fire protection hate, the other "cold" side of the fire. The fire protection requirements of fire protecting elements are classified in fire resistance categories, according to DIN 4102, Part 5. The fire resistance capacity of a fire protecting gate is determined based on the duration, at which at a certain temperature increase on one side of the fire protection gate, the other "cold" side of the fire protection gate remains under a defined threshold temperature. These fire resistance categories are also valid for fire protection gates. The duration in minutes until the threshold temperature is being attained on the cold side, is designated the resistance time. This determines the classification in the different fire resistance categories. A classification of a fire protection gate in fire resistance category T30 implies in a minimum resistance time respective of T60 and T90, a 60 minutes and 90 minutes resistance time. During these resistance times, it must be insured that the room-closing effect of the fire protection gate is guaranteed, i.e. during these times, no flame may exit the gate on the side opposite to the fire, resulting from combustion of the firing load, i.e. organic binding agent.
As a consequence of the fire protection requirements relative to fire protection doors, as mineral wool insulating material for inserts of fire protection doors, predominantly rock wool is being used, in view of its high temperature resistance, who melting point according to DIN 4102, Part 17, should be around 1.000° C. Usually this type of rock wool is being produced pursuant to the so called nozzle blowing process or with external centrifugation, for example the so called cascade centrifugation process. The fibers thus produced normally present, according to their usage, an average geometric diameter above 4 to 12 μm, so that these fibers—compared to fiber of traditional glass wool—are relatively coarse. Glass wool fibers, on the other hand, according to these, feature an average geometric diameter in the range of 3 μm until 6 μm. In the case of rock wool, however, as a result of the production pursuant to the nozzle blowing process or with external centrifugation, forcibly a large portion of non fibrillated material in form of coarser fiber components results in the form of so-called "beads" with a particle size of at least 50 μm in the insulating material and commonly with a portion from 10 to 30% of the fiber portion of the insulating element. This comparably high bead portion participates of the weight of said insulating element, but does not contribute in any way to the desired insulating effect of the insulating element.
As binding element, for rock wool fibers, normally a phenol-formaldehyde resin is being utilized, which is being integrated into the fire protection gate as organic material, the so-called fire load. The content of binding agent which is required for the structural stabilization of the soft rock wool fleece for the formation of a solid plate of agglutinated rock wool, at fire protecting units is normally below 1 weight % (dry, referred to the fiber mass). Based on the coarse fiber structure of conventional rock wool, as compared to conventional glass wool, to form fire protection insets, high gross densities are needed, in order that the desired insulating effect may be attained. The gross density of such rock wool insets, according to the fire resistance category, is for example 120 kg/m3 until 230 kg/m3.
Such high gross densities, required to attain the desired insulating effect, at a given thickness of fire protection units for fire protection gates directly result in too heavy gate weights. In addition, a large density also forcibly implies that—considered on an absolute basis—a relatively large amount of binding agent and, consequently, fire load, is being introduced in the fire protection gate.
Since the thermal insulating effect of said rock wool inset, with predetermined thickness, separately is frequently insufficient to attain a required fire resistance category, it is often necessary to provide additional fire protection means, which, in the event of a fire, in consequence of the correlate temperature increase, liberate physically and/or chemically bound water, thus rendering slower the temperature increase. Such fire protection means may be applied in different layers, as is known from EP 0 741 003, or are integrated in the rock wool material specifically, as known from EP 1 097 807.
The high gross densities of the conventional rock wool materials, used for the fire protection insets, result not only to correspondingly high weights of the insets and, therefore, also of the fire protection gates, but additionally they imply in that as a result of their surface extent, during the manipulation, eventually during the introduction into the fire protection gate, the insets are exposed to high flexing loads due to their specific weight, featuring a trend to delaminate when being raised or even forming fissures. Therefore, an extremely careful manipulation of these fire protection insets is required, which has unfavorable results vis-à-vis a rational production. This mechanical instability of the inset evidences, as a consequence, that the procedure of introducing the inset into the gate box at many fire protection gate manufacturers is the only procedure, which so far could not be automatized.
Products with high gross density are being produced by a corresponding thickening of the fleece which forms the respective products. Said fleece, before and during their passage through the hardening oven, are being compressed by the compression forces acting upon them, in order to adjust a predetermined form, and after elimination of said compression forces, the hardened binding means accepts the profiling task. Inside the material of the rock wool, quite intensive resetting forces are active, which have to be offset through the effect of the binding agent. The stronger the material has been compressed, the more intensive are these forces, i.e. according to the extent of the gross density.
During the aging process of said rock wool material after integration of the fire protection gate, however, binding forces of the biding agent may be neutralized with the passage of time. As a result, the resetting forces, "frozen" as it were, are being liberated and the rock wool inset may bulge. The forces then incident may become so intense that their considerably deform the steel plate shells of the fire protection gate, so that the gate needs to be replaced.
In order to be able to dominate said resetting forces at a somewhat better level, in normal usage procedures were undertaken according to which in front of said hardening oven, a pressure cylinder exposes to local pressure said not hardened rock wool material, when fibers are being broken, i.e. are being filled. As a result, the resetting forces are somewhat reduced, but the consequence is that the fiber connection may be considerably damaged. Also the resistance of the inset will thus be affect; which may evidence unfavorable effects during their manipulation.
The rupture of fibers caused by the compression cylinder is liable to result, additionally, in a considerable formation of dust, so that dust and fiber particles, as well as beads, during the insertion of the fire protection inset into the gate box may generate impurities at said box. These impurities may result in erroneous adjustment during welded connection at the subsequent welding procedures to close the gate box with the gate cover, so that complex quality controls and eventual subsequent labor will be required.

Fire protection gate and correlated fire protection inset


An aluminum alloy, a clad or unclad material for a brazed product containing the alloy as a core, and a method for producing the material, wherein the material is used for manufacturing the brazed product from the alloy.

Presently, tube materials commonly used by manufacturers of heat exchangers are standard AA3003, or so-called long-life 3005 alloy. These are also the most commonly used materials in manufacturing processes, including Controlled Atmosphere Brazing method (CAB). The long-life 3005 alloy is a standard alloy AA3005, produced with a special process to increase the corrosion resistance of the material, which may be used in heat exchangers etc.
However, the mechanical strength of such materials does not meet the present requirements of the heat exchanger manufacturers, since heat exchanger manufacturers of today desire to produce heat exchangers comprising thinner tubes, which results in heat exchangers with lighter weight.
In the manufacturing of said tube materials, a much overlooked, but increasingly important, property is the ability of the material to resist sagging. Sagging is the ability of the material to resist deformation at brazing temperatures, imposed by the weight of the formed sheet material during the brazing process. Typically, sagging increases as the thickness of the manufactured material decreases. At the same time thinner thickness of the manufactured material requires improved resistance against corrosion attack, which corrosion attack may cause perforation of the manufactured material.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,939 discloses an aluminium brazing sheet, comprising 0.7 to 1.5 weight % Mn, 0.5 to 1.0 weight % Cu, less than 0.15 weight % Si, less than 0.8 weight % Mg, and optionally V, Cr or Ti and unavoidable impurities. According to U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,939 the preferred amount of Mn is 0.8 to 1.2 weight % and all examples discloses a maximum of 1 weight % Mn. This content of Mn will not produce the desired sagging resistance. Furthermore, it will also not give the maximum strength or corrosion protection that can be obtained by using a higher amount of Mn. The teachings of this patent also points away from using Zr as an additive.
JP 8246117 discloses an aluminium alloy of a high strength, used in brazing sheets for heat exchangers. The preferred Si content of this alloy is 0.3 to 0.7 weight %. This amount of Si is too high to provide the required corrosion resistance of the brazing sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,465,113 discloses an aluminium alloy brazing sheet for vehicles, comprising a four layered structure consisting of an aluminium alloy core, a filler alloy on one side of the core, a sacrificial anode material on the other side and an intermediate layer between the core and the sacrificial anode material, said intermediate layer being composed on an aluminium alloy having 0.1 to 0.5 weight % Si, 0.2 to 0.8 weight % Fe, 0.5 to 2.0 weight % Mn, and 0.4 to 1.0 weight % Cu, and optionally containing up to 0.3 weight % Zr. The balance is aluminium and unavoidable impurities. The composition is used as a thin intermediate layer and will therefore not, and is not intended to, provide a required strength to the obtained product. The silicon content in the alloy is also too high to give a desirable corrosion resistance.
WO02070189 discloses an aluminium brazing sheet, particularly suitable for charge air cooler applications, wherein the core comprises <0.2 weight % Si, 1.3-1.7 weight % Mn, 0.4-0.8 weight % Mg, 0.3-0.7 weight % Cu, <0.2 weight % Ti and 0.05-0.2 weight % Zr. This alloy is used for vacuum brazed heat exchangers and receives its strength through the high content of Mg. However, since the content of Mg is high, CAB-brazing of these alloys is very difficult due to a reaction between Mg and the flux.
Thus, there is a need for a new aluminium alloy with an improved ability to withstand corrosion and sagging, while having a high strength, when used to manufacture brazed products from said alloy.

High strength long-life aluminium tube material with high sagging resistance


Methods and systems for detecting a leak in a canister purge valve are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises indicating a leak in response to a temperature change in a fuel vapor canister coupled to a fuel tank in an emission control system while the engine is in operation and a purge valve is closed.

To reduce discharge of fuel vapors into the atmosphere, motor vehicles induct fuel vapors from a fuel tank into the engine. An evaporative emission control system including a carbon canister is also coupled to the fuel tank to adsorb fuel vapors under some conditions when the internal combustion engine is not running. The carbon canister, however, has limited capacity, thus engine running manifold vacuum may be used to desorb the vapor from the carbon canister via opening of a purge valve. Desorbed vapors are combusted in engine.
Diagnostics may be performed on the evaporative emission control system, e.g., to detect leaks in the system. Leak diagnostics may be based on pressure or vacuum changes in one or more components of the emissions control system during certain conditions. The inventors herein have recognized that a common leak path in an emission control system is through a canister purge valve located in a conduit between a fuel vapor canister and the engine.
In some approaches, pressure readings from a pressure sensor in a fuel tank may be monitored during engine operation while the canister purge valve is commanded closed in order to determine if a leak is present in the canister purge valve. For example, if a leak is present in the purge valve while the purge valve is closed and the fuel tank is sealed off from the atmosphere, then a vacuum may build in the fuel tank during engine operation which is indicative of a leak in the purge valve. The inventors herein have recognized that such approaches rely on a pressure sensor in the fuel tank to diagnose leaks and if the pressure sensor degrades then leak testing may be compromised. Thus, it may be desirable to provide an alternative approach to detecting leaks in a purge valve which does not rely on pressure sensors in the fuel tank.
In one example approach to at least partially address these issues, a method for a vehicle with an engine comprises indicating a leak in response to a temperature change in a fuel vapor canister coupled to a fuel tank in an emission control system while the engine is in operation and a purge valve is closed. For example, a leak in the purge valve may be indicated in response to a temperature decrease in the fuel vapor canister while the engine is in operation and the purge valve is closed. In this way, the technical result of a leak in a canister purge valve being indicated even when a fault is present in a pressure sensor in the fuel tank can be obtained by using a temperature sensor, e.g., a thermocouple, in the canister to monitor temperature changes in the canister when the purge valve is closed.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. According to the present invention, an ONO1 HTO film and an ONO2 nitride film are sequentially formed on a polysilicon layer for floating gate and an oxide film for ONO3 is formed as a SiON film by oxidizing the surface of the ONO2 nitride film. Thus, the oxide film for ONO3 having a better film quality and a high dielectric constant compared to an existing HTO oxide film is formed. Accordingly, capacitance and a breakdown voltage are increased and charge leakage and retention properties are thus improved. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the cost through reduction in process by replacing an ONO3 annealing process and a subsequent high temperature steam annealing process with a single process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a flash memory device, and more specifically, to a method of manufacturing a flash memory device in which program, erase and read operational characteristics can be improved.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In a flash memory device, a dielectric film has an absolute influence upon program, erase and read characteristics in a memory cell transistor having a stack type gate structure.
Generally, a dielectric film has an ONO1/2/3 (HTO/nitride/HTO) structure. Oxide films corresponding to ONO1 and 3 are deposited by means of DCS based or MS based CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method. The CVD oxide film formed by this chemical vapor deposition has a film quality lower than the oxide film typically formed through dry or wet oxidization. More particularly, the film quality and thickness of the ONO3 oxide film have an absolute influence upon charge leakage and retention properties of a memory cell.
Further, the nitride film corresponding to ONO2 has lots of apertures and is likely to be easily broken. Thus, it is required that pin holes, etc. existing in the nitride film be controlled by performing a high temperature annealing process as a subsequent process.
Accordingly, in order to obtain the charge leakage and retention properties required in the operation of a device in the flash memory device of the stack type structure, it is required that the film quality of ONO3 (HTO) as well as an ONO2 (nitride) thin film be improved through a high temperature wet annealing (for example, steam annealing) process after the ONO1/2/3 (HTO/nitride/HTO) thin film of a predetermined thickness is formed. However, as the wet annealing process of a high temperature is performed under wet atmosphere of a high temperature over a long time at the atmospheric pressure, thermal budget can be generated. Moreover, abnormal oxidization due to generation of punches of the ONO2 (nitride) thin film causes the dielectric constant of the dielectric film to change. Therefore, the program, erase and read operational characteristic of the flash memory cell can be degraded.

Method of manufacturing flash memory device


An accessory socket is provided for easily supplying power to an accessory device of an all-terrain vehicle. A rear carrier is mounted to the rear portion of the vehicle, and a rear cowl is provided downwardly thereof. The rear cowl is provided with a pair of left and right rear combination lamps and an accessory socket for supplying power to accessory parts therebetween at the position adjacent to the rear combination lamp.

An all-terrain vehicle which is adaptive to all types of terrain and is not only capable of traveling on roads in a well-maintained state such as paved roads, but also capable of traveling on agricultural land or mountainous land for the purpose of farm work, hunting, and the like, irrespective of weather is known. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an all-terrain vehicle in the related art, disclosed in JP-A-2000-243129, in which a front carrier 31 is fixed to the front portion of the vehicle and a rear carrier 32 is fixed to the rear portion of the vehicle.
Various types of accessory devices are provided as options for the all-terrain vehicles described above, and may be used for various purposes not only as towing a trailer for transporting a large amount of loads but also as carrying a sprinkler on the rear carrier 32 for watering lawn or agricultural land, carrying a large projector on the front carrier 31 for functioning as a lighting vehicle, or carrying a water tank on the rear carrier 32 and connecting it with an electric portable sprayer.
When the accessory device such as the sprinkler or the projector is mounted on the vehicle, or when the operator operates the portable sprayer, the power is supplied from an accessory socket provided on the vehicle. In the all-terrain vehicle in the related art, the accessory socket is provided on an instrument panel or on a meter panel in front of a driver's seat as in family cars and the like.
In the related art describe above, a power cable does not reach the accessory socket in many cases where an attempt is made to supply power to the accessory device mounted on the carrier, or to the accessory device carried by the operator, such as the electric sprayer. In such cases, it is necessary to insert an extension cable into the accessory socket and supply the power to each accessory device via the extension cable.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the problem in the related art described above, and provide an all-terrain vehicle in which a power can easily be supplied to the electric accessory devices.