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Violations of body cavities may occur for any of a number of reasons such as surgery, wounds or, in the case of pleural space invasion, rupture caused by coughing or disease. As a consequence atmospheric air, body gases and other fluids may invade the cavities and, e.g., in the case of pleurae, fill the pleural spaces thereby decreasing the lung capacity. If sufficient fluids accumulate the intimate contact between pleura and lung would be broken thereby preventing the outward pull of the pleura on the lung which results in shrinkage of the lung, i.e., a "collapsed" lung.
Another possible deleterious consequence of such a pleural space invasion would be a mediastinal shift in which the mediastinum, or space between the lungs, which contains such organs as the heart, is displaced from the center thereby compressing said organs. This could result in blood circulation problems and heart cessation.
Thus, it is desirable to remove such invasive fluids from the body cavities as quickly and completely as possible.
Furthermore, blood lost as a result of the above factors must be replaced either by the patient's own blood, i.e., auto-transfusion, or donated blood.
Due to the current atmosphere of fear with respect to AIDS, hepatitis and the like, transfusions of donated blood are becoming more difficult to effect.
Therefore, the demand for autotransfusion of the patient's own blood is growing with a concomitantly increasing need to recover blood lost by the patient due to the factors listed above.
However, to date, the recovery of such blood has been complicated and expensive.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,413 there is described a drainage unit with "blood transfer adapter" which allegedly obviates the above problems. The Patented system depends upon the presence of a liquid seal in the drainage chamber, at the time of connection of the unit to the patient to prevent entry of atmospheric air to the body cavity. Thus, the device must comprise a liquid seal before any drainage of fluids in order to prevent possible pneumothorax before drainage would by sufficient to effect such a seal in the absence of added liquids. Such a system suffers from the major drawbacks of many of the earlier drainage units, that is that an instantaneous decrease of the pressure in the body cavity, e.g., due to gasping respiration of the patient, could result in aspiration of the fluids from the drainage chamber back into the body cavity or the mounting level of fluid in the chamber might impose a progressively increasing resistance to drainage thereby requiring progressively decreased vacuum pressures with its concomitant added monitoring requirements. Furthermore, the advantage of having anti-clotting agents present in the liquid seal (i.e. drainage) chamber would be negated by the fact that as fluid is removed from the drainage chamber some of said agents would also be removed thereby decreasing their concentrations in the drainage sump.
In addition, any debris present in the draining fluid might tend to build up in or around the drainage tube thereby partially or completely clogging it. This might result in slower, or complete cessation of, drainage with the concomitant deleterious effects of poor drainage and/or excess pressure buildup in the body cavity.
Thus, the blood could not "be readily transferred to . . . an autotransfusion device" as the blood is not "processed", as indicated therein, but would require additional processing for removal of said debris, etc. as well as the added anti-coagulants. (Emphasis added)
In addition the blood might be foamed as a result of the bubbles passing therethough which would prevent its immediate use for reinfusion. Said bubbling might also cause damage to the blood components.
Other prior art drainage systems are described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 801,205, filed Nov. 25, 1985, which is incorporated herein by reference. The drainage systems, described therein, which obviate the above problems by removing the liquid (water) seal from the drainage chamber to the other, e.g., suction control, chambers suffer from the disadvantage of being cumbersome. Furthermore, their use is position dependent in that any changes in height of the liquid, e.g., as a result of tilting in the suction and/or water seal chambers of, e.g., the Deknatel(.TM.) Pleur-evac(.TM.) drainage systems (Deknatel division of Howmedica, Inc., Floral Park, N.Y.) will effect changes in the suction applied to the patient. In addition, changes in water level as a result of evaporation or entrainment in the evacuated gases will also affect accurate control of pressures within the system. To overcome those problems constant monitoring of, or periodic additions of water to maintain the liquid levels of the water seal containing chambers is required with their concomitant potential for operator errors.
The drainage system described in said co-pending application Ser. No. 801,205 avoids those problems by removing all liquid seals and uses purely mechanical means, such as flapper valves on the drainage inlet tube and excess positive or negative pressure relief valves. Therefore, although liquids may be present in the chamber after drainage has been initiated the applied suction cannot be affected by changes in the liquid level therein and the patient is protected from pnemothorax upon attachment to the device. Furthermore, said invention also avoids the cumbersome aspects of the prior art devices by providing a single easily detachable drainage collection chamber to which is removably and sealably affixed a cap comprising all of the controls, valves and inlet and outlet ports from which the collection chamber could be removed without disconnecting the drainage unit from the patient.
The Pleur-evac(.TM.) ATS, an autotransfusion system based upon the above described Deknatel drainage system, with its concomitant disadvantages, interposes, for autotransfusion purposes, an autotransfusion bag between the patient and the drainage chamber. The autotransfusion bag is flexible but has a rigid top which comprises inlet and outlet stems. Thus, there is always some air present in the bag which contributes to the deterioration of the drained blood exposed thereto and opposes the draining fluids. Furthermore, in order to maintain the autotransfusion bag in an open condition while under vacuum a support frame must be attached to said bag during filling. The bag must then be removed from the frame before being used for reinsfusion.
Furthermore, when changing or removal of the bag is required the drainage unit must be disconnected from the patient. This may have undesirable effects if it occurs at an inconvenient time during the drainage process.
Another autotransfusion system, described by Sorensen, comprises a collapsible collection bag which also suffers from the disadvantage of incomplete evacuation due to the top thereof being flat. Furthermore, in order to prevent collapse of the bag, due to the applied suction, which would preclude entry of the drained fluids therein the bag must be placed in another receptacle to which suction is applied and collapse of the bag prevent. Such a system is cumbersome and complex of operation.
The present invention overcomes said disadvantages by providing a compact continuous drainage system which purifies and collects the drainage fluids, prior to the passage thereof into the autotransfusion bag, which does not require a frame to allow filling said bag, and does not require disconnecting of the drainage system from the patient or cessation of suction and/or drainage during the filling and/or removal of the autotransfusion bag. | {
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X-ray detectors may be devices used to measure the flux, spatial distribution, spectrum or other properties of X-rays.
X-ray detectors may be used for many applications. One important application is imaging. X-ray imaging is a radiography technique and can be used to reveal the internal structure of a non-uniformly composed and opaque object such as the human body.
Early X-ray detectors for imaging include photographic plates and photographic films. A photographic plate may be a glass plate with a coating of light-sensitive emulsion. Although photographic plates were replaced by photographic films, they may still be used in special situations due to the superior quality they offer and their extreme stability. A photographic film may be a plastic film (e.g., a strip or sheet) with a coating of light-sensitive emulsion.
In the 1980s, photostimulable phosphor plates (PSP plates) became available. A PSP plate may contain a phosphor material with color centers in its lattice. When the PSP plate is exposed to X-ray, electrons excited by X-ray are trapped in the color centers until they are stimulated by a laser beam scanning over the plate surface. As the plate is scanned by laser, trapped excited electrons give off light, which is collected by a photo multiplier tube. The collected light is converted into a digital image. In contrast to photographic plates and photographic films, PSP plates can be reused.
Another kind of X-ray detectors are X-ray image intensifiers. Components of an X-ray image intensifier are usually sealed in a vacuum. In contrast to photographic plates, photographic films, and PSP plates, X-ray image intensifiers may produce real-time images, i.e., not requiring post-exposure processing to produce images. X-ray first hits an input phosphor (e.g., cesium iodide) and is converted to visible light. The visible light then hits a photocathode (e.g., a thin metal layer containing cesium and antimony compounds) and causes emission of electrons. The number of emitted electrons is proportional to the intensity of the incident X-ray. The emitted electrons are projected, through electron optics, onto an output phosphor and cause the output phosphor to produce a visible-light image.
Scintillators operate somewhat similarly to X-ray image intensifiers in that scintillators (e.g., sodium iodide) absorb X-ray and emit visible light, which can then be detected by a suitable image sensor for visible light. In scintillators, the visible light spreads and scatters in all directions and thus reduces spatial resolution. Reducing the scintillator thickness helps to improve the spatial resolution but also reduces absorption of X-ray. A scintillator thus has to strike a compromise between absorption efficiency and resolution.
Semiconductor X-ray detectors largely overcome this problem by a direct conversion of X-ray into electric signals. A semiconductor X-ray detector may include a semiconductor layer that absorbs X-ray in wavelengths of interest. When an X-ray photon is absorbed in the semiconductor layer, multiple charge carriers (e.g., electrons and holes) are generated and swept under an electric field towards electrical contacts on the semiconductor layer. Cumbersome heat management required in currently available semiconductor X-ray detectors (e.g., Medipix) can make a detector with a large area and a large number of pixels difficult or impossible to produce. | {
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The present application relates to phase-change memories, and more particularly to phase-change memories in which at least one type of write operation is more favorable.
Note that the points discussed below may reflect the hindsight gained from the disclosed inventions, and are not necessarily admitted to be prior art.
Phase change memory (“PCM”) is a relatively new nonvolatile memory technology, which is very different from any other kind of nonvolatile memory. First, the fundamental principles of operation, at the smallest scale, are different: no other kind of solid-state memory uses a reversible PHYSICAL change to store data. Second, in order to achieve that permanent physical change, an array of PCM cells has to allow read, set, and reset operations which are all very different from each other. The electrical requirements of the read, set, and reset operations make the peripheral circuit operations of a PCM very different from those of other nonvolatile memories. Obviously some functions, such address decoding and bus interface, can be the same; but the closest-in parts of the periphery, which perform set, reset, and read operations on an array or subarray, must satisfy some unique requirements.
The physical state of a PCM cell's memory material is detected as resistance. For each selected cell, its bitline is set to a known voltage, and the cell's access transistor is turned on (by the appropriate wordline). If the cell is in its low-resistance state, it will sink a significant current from the bit line; if it is not, it will not.
Set and Reset operations are more complicated. Both involve heat. As discussed below, a “set” operation induces the memory material to recrystallize into its low-resistance (polycrystalline) state; a “reset” operation anneals the memory material into its high-resistance (amorphous) state.
Write operations (Set and Reset) normally have more time budget than read operations. In read mode a commercial PCM memory should be competitive with the access speed (and latency if possible) of a standard DRAM. If this degree of read speed can be achieved, PCM becomes very attractive for many applications.
The phase change material is typically a chalcogenide glass, using amorphous and crystalline (or polycrystalline) phase states to represent bit states.
A complete PCM cell can include, for example: a top electrode (connected to the bit line), a phase change material (e.g. a chalcogenide glass), a conductive pillar which reaches down from the bottom of the phase change material, an access transistor (gated by a word line), and a bottom connection to ground. The phase change material can extend over multiple cells (or over the whole array), but the access transistors are laterally isolated from each other by a dielectric.
FIG. 2A shows an example of a PCM element 2010. A top electrode 2020 overlies a phase change material 2030, e.g. a chalcogenide glass. Note that material 2030 also includes a mushroom-shaped annealed zone (portion) 2070 within it. (The annealed zone 2070 may or may not be present, depending on what data has been stored in this particular location.) The annealed zone 2070, if present, has a much higher resistivity than the other (crystalline or polycrystalline) parts of the material 2030.
A conductive pillar 2050 connects the material 2030 to a bottom electrode 2040. In this example, no selection device is shown; in practice, an access transistor would normally be connected in series with the phase change material. The pillar 2050 is embedded in an insulator layer 2060.
When voltage is applied between the top 2020 and bottom 2040 electrodes, the voltage drop will appear across the high-resistivity zone 2070 (if present). If sufficient voltage is applied, breakdown will occur across the high-resistivity zone. In this state the material will become very conductive, with large populations of mobile carriers. The material will therefore pass current, and current crowding can occur near the top of the pillar 2050. The voltage which initiates this conduction is referred to as the “snapback” voltage, and FIG. 2C shows why.
FIG. 2C shows an example of instantaneous I-V curves for a device like that of FIG. 2A, in two different states. Three zones of operation are marked.
In the zone 2200 marked “READ,” the device will act either as a resistor or as an open (perhaps with some leakage). A small applied voltage will result in a state-dependent difference in current, which can be detected.
However, the curve with open circles, corresponding to the amorphous state of the device, shows some more complex behaviors. The two curves show behaviors under conditions of higher voltage and higher current.
If the voltage reaches the threshold voltage Vth, current increases dramatically without any increase in voltage. (This occurs when breakdown occurs, so the phase-change material suddenly has a large population of mobile carriers.) Further increases in applied voltage above Vth result in further increases in current; note that this upper branch of the curve with hollow circles shows a lower resistance than the curve with solid squares.
If the applied voltage is stepped up to reach the zone 2150, the behavior of the cell is now independent of its previous state.
When relatively large currents are applied, localized heating will occur at the top of the pillar 2050, due to the relatively high current density. Current densities with typical dimensions can be in the range of tens of millions of Amperes per square cm. This is enough to produce significant localized heating within the phase-change material.
This localized heating is used to change the state of the phase-change material, as shown in FIG. 2B. If maximum current is applied in a very brief pulse 2100 and then abruptly stopped, the material will tend to quench into an amorphous high-resistivity condition; if the phase-change material is cooled more gradually and/or not heated as high as zone 2150, the material can recrystallize into a low-resistivity condition. Conversion to the high-resistance state is normally referred to as “Reset”, and conversion to the low-resistance state is normally referred to as “Set” (operation 2080). Note that, in this example, the Set pulse has a tail where current is reduced fairly gradually, but the Reset pulse does not. The duration of the Set pulse is also much longer than that of the Reset pulse, e.g. tens of microseconds versus hundreds of nanoseconds.
FIG. 2D shows an example of temperature versus resistivity for various PCM materials. It can be seen that each curve has a notable resistivity drop 2210 at some particular temperature. These resistivity drops correspond to phase change to a crystalline (or polysilicon) state. If the material is cooled gradually, it remains in the low resistivity state after cooling.
In a single-bit PCM, as described above, only two phases are distinguished: either the cell does or does not have a significant high-resistivity “mushroom cap” 2070. However, it is also possible to distinguish between different states of the mushroom cap 2070, and thereby store more than one bit per cell.
FIG. 2E shows an equivalent circuit for an “upside down” PCM cell 2010. In this example the pass transistor 2240 is gated by Wordline 2230, and is connected between the phase-change material 2250 and the bitline 2220. (Instead, it is somewhat preferable to connect this transistor between ground and the phase-change material.
FIG. 2F shows another example of a PCM cell 2010. A bitline 2220 is connected to the top electrode 2020 of the phase-change material 2250, and transistor 2240 which is connected to the bottom electrode 2030 of the PCM element. (The wordline 2230 which gates the vertical transistor 2240 is not shown in this drawing.) Lines 2232, which are shown as separate (and would be in a diode array), may instead be a continuous sheet, and provide the ground connection.
FIG. 2G shows an example of how resistance (R) changes over long time periods (t) for a single PCM cell following a single PCM write event at time t=0. The resistance curve 2400 for a cell which has been reset (i.e. which is in its high-resistance state) may rise at first, but then drifts significantly lower. The resistance curve 2410 for a cell in the Set state is much flatter. The sense margin 2420, i.e., the difference between set and reset resistances, also decreases over time. Larger sense margins generally result in more reliable reads, and a sense margin which is too small may not permit reliable reading at all. 2G represents the approximate behavior of one known PCM material; other PCM material compositions may behave differently. For example, other PCM material compositions may display variation of the set resistance over time.
The downwards drift of reset resistance may be due to, for example, shrinking size of the amorphous zone of the phase-change material, due to crystal growth; and, in some cells, spontaneous nucleation steepening the drift curve (possibly only slightly) due to introducing further conductive elements into the mushroom-shaped programmable region.
FIG. 2H shows an example of a processing system 2300. Typically, a processing system 2300 will incorporate at least some of interconnected power supplies 2310, processor units 2320 performing processing functions, memory units 2330 supplying stored data and instructions, and I/O units 2340 controlling communications internally and with external devices 2350.
FIG. 2I shows an example of a PCM single ended sensing memory. Two different PCM cells 2400 on different ends of a sense amplifier can be selected separately. Selected elements 2410 are separately sensed by a single-ended sense amplifier 2420.
FIG. 2J shows an example of a known PCM single ended sense amplifier 2500. Generally, in a single ended sense amplifier, a cell read output conducted by a selected bitline BLB is compared against a reference current to provide a digital output OUT. When the PRECHARGE signal turns on transistor 2530, voltage V04 (e.g., 400 mV) precharges the bitline BLB. After precharge ends, the READ signal turns on transistor 2550. Transistor 2550 is connected, through source follower 2560 and load 2580, to provide a voltage which comparator 2600 compares to Voltage_REF, to thereby generate the digital output OUT.
A variety of nonvolatile memory technologies have been proposed over recent decades, and many of them have required some engineering to provide reference values for sensing. However, the requirements and constraints of phase-change memory are fundamentally different from those of any other kind of nonvolatile memory. Many memory technologies (such as EEPROM, EPROM, MNOS, and flash) test the threshold voltage of the transistor in a selected cell, so referencing must allow for the transistor's behavior. By contrast, phase-change memory simply senses the resistance of the selected cell. This avoids the complexities of providing a reference which will distinguish two (or more) possibilities for an active device's state, but does require detecting a resistance value, and tracking external variations (e.g. temperature and supply voltage) which may affect the instantaneous value of that resistance.
The possibility of storing more than one bit of data in a single phase-change material has also been suggested. Phase-change memories implementing such architectures are referred to here as “multibit” PCMs. If the “Set” and/or “Reset” operations can be controlled to produce multiple electrically distinguishable states, then more than one bit of information can be stored in each phase-change material location. It is known that the current over time profile of the Set operation can be controlled to produce electrically distinguishable results, though this can be due to more than one effect. In the simplest implementation, shorter anneals—too short to produce full annealing of the amorphous layer—can be used to produce one or more intermediate states. In some materials, different crystalline phases can also be produced by appropriate selection of the current over time profile. However, what is important for the present application is merely that electrically distinguishable states can be produced.
For example, if the complete layer of phase-change material can have four possible I/V characteristics, two bits of information can be stored in each cell—IF the read cycle can accurately distinguish among the four different states.
(The I/V characteristics of the cells which are not in the fully Set state are typically nonlinear, so it is more accurate to distinguish the states in terms of current flow at a given voltage; resistance is often used as a shorthand term, but implies a linearity which may not be present. The cells can be highly nonlinear, and usually operate similarly to a punchthrough diode.)
In order to make use of the possible multibit cell structures, it is necessary to reliably distinguish among the possible states. To make this distinction reliably, there must be some margin of safety, despite the change in characteristics which may occur due to history, manufacturing tolerances, and environmental factors. Thus the read architecture of multibit PCMs is a far more difficult challenge it is for PCMs with single-bit cells. | {
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Composites may be fabricated with thermoset plastics such as epoxies, polyurethanes, and silicones. Epoxies may be produced by reacting an epoxy resin and a hardener. Polyurethane polymers can be formed by reacting an isocyanate with a polyol. Silicones may comprise polymerized siloxanes with organic side groups.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene have been used to reinforce thermoset plastics like epoxies, polyurethanes, silicones, and other resins and polymers. CNTs, functionalized CNTs (or hybrid CNTs, denoted HNTs), graphene, and functionalized graphene may collectively be referred to as hybrid graphitic materials (HGMs). These HGMs can be incorporated into any of the epoxy components such as the epoxy resin and hardener. HGMs may also be incorporated into polyurethanes and silicones.
Thermoset plastics, CNTs, graphene, and HNTs may increase modules and toughness, but elasticity may be preferred for certain plastic composites. In order to increase elasticity, siloxane may be added. Siloxane backbone may be coiled, and it can be covered by alkyl or aryl groups in silicones. Thus, silicones can be very flexible and hydrophobic. Hydrophobicity can be increased by functionalization with groups such as fluorinated alkyl or aryl groups.
Numerous functionalization methods for the CNTs have been developed. These include nitric acid/sulfuric acid oxidation of the CNTs, aryl radical addition to the CNTs, ball milling induces addition of amines and sulfides into the CNTs, butyl lithium activated coupling to alkyl halides, and ultrasonic vibration assisted addition of many reagents, including amines, and epoxies. Improving mechanochemical reactions, such as mechanical or ultrasound cutting, may induce chemical reactions of the CNTs.
An anticorrosive coating may contain sacrificial metal particles, such as zinc particles. The concentration of the particles may exceed the percolation limit, which is about 30% for spherical particles. High concentration of these particles can reduce the integrity of the coating, especially if the particles are not chemically bound with the polymer. Anticorrosive coatings may use sacrificial metal particles that are electrically connected with a coated metal surface through a CNT or graphene network. Using the CNT or graphene network may require less sacrificial metal particles within an anticorrosive coating. Additionally, the graphitic material may be coated with a metal layer. The metal layer may be comprised of nanoparticles or microparticles. The metal particles may be coated with a thin oxide layer unless the graphitic material is coated in the absence of oxygen. With the nanoparticles, the oxide layer can be a relatively large part of the particle. The oxide layer may also be a large portion for a metal coating around a CNT. Besides metallic particles, the particles may also be ceramic. | {
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This invention relates to systems and methods of rapid prototyping and production (or called additive manufacturing or 3D printing). Especially, this invention relates to fabricating 3D prototypes, articles, components and molds at improved surface finish and increased speed.
Existing major rapid prototyping (also known as additive manufacturing or 3D printing) techniques include methods such as SLM (Selective Laser Melting) for making metal parts (for examples, EOS M400, referring to http://www.eos.info/systems_solutions/metal/systems_equipment/eos_m_400, 3D Systems SPro 250, see http://production3dprinters.com/sites/production3dprinters.com/files/downloads/sPro-125-250-SLM-Direct-Metal.pdf, or Renishaw AM250, referring to http://www.renishaw.com/en/am250-laser-melting-machine--15253)), and SLA ((Stereolithography) (for example, 3D Systems ProJet HD 7000, referring to http://printin3d.com/sites/printin3d.com/files/downloads/ProJet-6000-7000-USEN.pdf), FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) (e.g. Stratasys FDM 900m, referring to http://www.fortus.com/Products/Fortus-900mc.aspx) and 3DP (3D Printing) (jetting binders to powder bed layer-by-layer) for making plastic parts.
In general, these existing rapid prototyping methods apply a layer-by-layer construction methodology. Materials are dispensed in horizontal layers and within each layer joined by point scanning. Material build-up by horizontal layers, regardless of the 3D shape to be built, creates inevitable layered (stairs-like) surface feature, resulting in poor surface finish. Material joining by point scanning is basically “scanning a 3D body by one tiny point”, resulting in slow build-up rate. Combined operation of layer dispensing and point-scanning joining slows down the process further. FIG. 1 illustrates an example 3D part. FIG. 2 illustrates the fabrication of this example 3D part by the existing methodology. FIG. 2(a) shows the blade portion and FIG. 2(b) shows the cross-sectional view. Dotted lines 201 indicate the grid structure of horizontal layers and solid curves 203 indicate trajectories of point scanning. Stairs-like surface features at 214 and 212 are inevitable.
When using the SLM technique to make a mold for plastic injection molding, the surface finish can be about 40 um Ra and a machining tolerance of 200˜500 um is generally required, which makes post machining cost significant. There are studies on post polishing using laser beams. (Referring to Lamikiz et al., “Laser polishing of parts built up by selective laser sintering”; International Journal of Machine Tools & Manufacture 47 (2007) 2040-2050). In order to improve forming speed, a so called “skin-core strategy” was developed, which uses a laser of small focal spot to scan edges of patterns in each layer and a larger focal spot to scan the interior. (Referring to (1) K. Wissenbach, “Fantasia Project Shows Selective Laser Melting Can Produce Complex Components Quickly and Cost Effectively”, http://www.ineffableisland.com/2010/05/fantasia-project-shows-selective-laser.html?showComment=1318241730096; (2) C. Hinke, “Direct, Mould-less Production Systems”, http://www.production-research.de/_C12577F20052BDC7.nsf/html/de_040d66b2c812b739c1257829005207de.html). But these methods also increase equipment costs.
In the FDM technique, U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,329, which is incorporated herein for this current application by reference, describes methods of moving a material dispensing head along curved trajectories to produce curved surfaces or frames and of dispensing materials of variable thickness by changing material feed rate (referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 12 of that patent). However, because the FDM method uses a fixed orifice size to dispense material, the effect of speed Increasing is likely to be limited. In another FDM related technique, U.S. Pat. No. 8,221,669, which is incorporated herein for this current application by reference, describes the use of ribbon (non-cylindrical) filament as material, in contrast to the cylindrical filament used in most current commercial systems, in order to reduce the so called “response time”, that is, the delay time from the start or stop of the feeding mechanism to the actual flow rate change at the tip of the extrusion tip of the liquefier. But it should be noted that faster material deposition is not the purpose nor mentioned in this patent.
There are other methods developed or under development for making metal objects.
For example, applying the FDM technique to make metal parts has been attempted. U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,987, which is incorporated herein for this current application by reference, describes a method of heating a metal alloy to a temperature between a solidus temperature and a liquidus temperature to obtain a semi-solid metal alloy with enough viscosity so that it can be extruded. However, the “point scanning” and “layer by layer” issues are not addressed in this approach.
Another approach is called Laser Deposition Technology (LDT) or Laser Engineered Net Shape (LENS). Metal powder is injected into a focused beam of a high-power laser under tightly controlled atmospheric conditions. The focused laser beam melts the surface of the target material and generates a small molten pool of base material. Powder delivered into this same spot is absorbed into the melt pool, thus generating a deposit. By moving the laser beam and the deposition relative to the target material, 3D shapes can be built up. A description of the process can be found from http://www.rpm-innovations.com/laser_deposition_technology and related technical details can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,323,756 and 5,043,548, which are incorporated herein by reference. A very similar method, except using wire metal instead of powder, was described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,227, which is incorporated herein by reference. In general, these approaches are basically still a “point scanning” based approach. Further, surfaces of built-up parts are usually rough. | {
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(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for refining sugar solutions. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for refining sugar solutions with magnesia in which the used magnesia is calcined and used repeatedly.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Various methods have heretofore been proposed for refining cane juices, beet juices, liquors molasses and syrups obtained from cane, beet and raw sugar and other sugar solutions comprising sucrose as the main component.
Refining methods mainly adopted in the sugar refining process are a carbon dioxide saturation method (carbonation method), a phosphoration method, a bone black or active carbon method, an ion exchange resin method and combinations of these methods.
In the case of the carbon dioxide saturation method, since kinds of thermal energies used in sugar refining plants are expected to be increased according to location conditions of the plants, there are risks of reduction of the CO.sub.2 content and incorporation of harmful substances owing to changes of compositions of chimney gases, and in a special case, it will happen that steam per se is purchased and no chimney gas is formed.
Furthermore, in order to effectively saturate a sugar solution with CO.sub.2, it is necessary to control the concentration of the sugar solution below a certain critical level, and therefore, the carbon dioxide saturation method is defective in that a relatively large quantity of energy is necessary for concentration of the sugar solution.
Moreover, in the carbon dioxide saturation method, since a large quantity of lime is used, the amount of the waste cake produced is increased, disposal of the waste cake is troublesome and a problem arises in connection with prevention of environmental pollution.
The phosphoration method is defective in that since control of the reaction is difficult, decomposition of sucrose is readily caused, and that filtration of the refined sugar solution is troublesome and phosphoric acid is expensive.
The bone black method is defective in that expensive bone black should be used in large quantities and installation costs are increased.
The active carbon method is defective in that powdered active carbon is expensive. Besides, today it has grown to be difficult to obtain active carbons of a high quality due to shortage of natural resources.
The ion exchange resin method is defective in that if a sugar solution containing large quantities of impurities is passed through a column packed with an ion exchange resin without any appropriate preliminary treatment, sufficient refining of the sugar solution is not accomplished, and furthermore, this method involves such problems as insufficient passage of the sugar solution and degradation of the ion exchange resin. | {
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This invention relates to a positionally adjustable set of multiple probes particularly suitable for delivering multiple liquid samples, a system incorporating the probes and a process for utilizing the probes.
Prior to the present invention, robots have been used in numerous applications to reduce the labor required for repetitive sample processing. One such application involves processing and spotting samples for analysis by mass spectrometry (MS) from micro titer plates (MTP) on to Matrix-Assisted Laser/Desorption Ionization (MALDI) sample plates. Historically to assure proper sample spotting a robot end-user doing MALDI MS would need to conduct a height calibration for specific sample plates in specific racks on the robot deck to xe2x80x9cteachxe2x80x9d the robot where the surface of the sample plate was located in relation to the outlet end of a hollow robotic probe. Having determined the height calibration, the robot would attempt to dispense a small volume of liquid onto the surface of the plate by positioning the hollow probe containing a liquid sample just above the surface and then allowing a hanging drop of the sample to touch the surface, thus causing it to stick and be deposited on the surface. Robotic workstations can hold many racks, which typically hold many sample plates and can be moved to different locations on the robot deck. Even if the software controlling the robot could make the multiple height calibrations required, the operator would be required to conduct the calibration every time the plate or probe is relocated or replaced.
Sample delivering robotic systems become more complicated when multiple probes (e.g., a one by four row) which move in the Z direction (i.e., up or down) with respect to the robot deck are used in the system, particularly when such probes are rigidly attached to a robotic arm. Even if the multiple probes could be perfectly aligned to each other, only one probe would theoretically be positioned in a plane parallel with the receiving sample plate. Because the row of probe tips will not be in a parallel plane, the distance from tips to plate will vary. If the distance is too great, the droplet of sample will not touch the plate and hence the liquid sample will not spot. Conversely, if there is no distance between the probe and plate, or if this distance is too close, then the chemistry previously deposited on the surface could be damaged or the sample may not deposit or deposit off position. Variations that result from manufacturing the robotic system, the racks and the sample plates have proven to be too great to attain the perfect relative positioning between a sample plate and an array of multiple probes. Matters are even more complicated when probes that are assembled as a three-dimensional array, for example in a four by four arrangement, are moved in the Z direction.
It would be desirable to provide a robotic apparatus, system and process which includes an array of multiple probes for delivering liquid samples which can be positioned at a desired position quickly and automatically. In addition, it would be desirable to provide such an apparatus, system and process wherein the multiple probes can be accurately positioned simultaneously rather than individually.
This invention provides an array of probes capable of simultaneously delivering a plurality of samples to a substrate surface wherein the distance between the outlet end of each probe and the substrate surface is essentially the same for each probe. This distance can be accurately controlled each time the substrate surface is replaced with a new substrate surface. The probes are slidably mounted within a probe housing such that the outlet end of each probe is exposed to allow interaction with the substrate surface, and a wall of the probe is contacted with a friction element which exerts a friction force on the probe to retain the probe in place within the housing. In one embodiment, the probes are hollow tubes and an inlet end of the probe is secured to a flexible conduit which permits movement of the probe and which delivers fluid to the probe or removes fluid from the probe. Movement of the probes from an initial position is effected by the application of a second force that is sufficient to overcome the friction force exerted on the probe wall. When the second force is no longer applied to the probes, the friction force retains the probes at a new position.
For the fluid dispense embodiment discussed above, a cycle for using the probe comprises drawing a vacuum within the probe through the flexible conduits in order to aspirate air into the probes. The air functions as a barrier between a wash liquid and a liquid sample within the probe. The robotic system positions the probe housing over the MTP to allow the probes to aspirate liquid sample from the MTP. Thereafter the probe housing is positioned over a MALDI sample plate and the probe housing is lowered such that the probes are then allowed to contact the surface of the sample plate. The force applied to lower the probes is sufficiently large to overcome the friction force exerted by the friction element so that the probes are moved to come in contact with the substrate surface. Since the position of the substrate surface within the robotic system is almost always nonparallel with the ends of the probes, the outlet ends of the probes will be in different positions and thus the robotic system overdrives the lowering probes to make sure that each probe in the array comes in contact with the substrate surface. The probes are then raised to position the outlet ends of each of the probes at a desired distance from the substrate surface, such as about 0.01 inch from the surface. A positive pressure is then applied to the probe so that the liquid samples are deposited on the substrate surface, such as on a plurality of shallow wells on the MALDI sample plate surface. The probe housing is then raised and a plate integral with the probe housing contacts a fixed surface which moves and resets the probes to their initial position. The probes are then directed to a waste container whereupon the pressure within the probe is increased in order to deliver wash liquid from the flexible conduits through the probes to render them sufficiently clean to process additional samples without contamination. The cycle then is repeated with a replacement sample plate being positioned within the robotic system for sample spotting.
The use of the friction element and the fixed surface to reset the probes permits repeated use of the probes wherein the probes are moved simultaneously to adjust to the surface configuration of a given substrate surface without the need to calibrate the position of each probe individually. | {
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The present invention of the hygienically cleaning of the toilet bowl provides for the brush and the formulated cleaner on the same base. The cleaner formulation is detergent paste with germicidal properties. Uniqueness of this set-up is to utilize the ability of the brush by a twist to pick up cleaner granules on bristles for start of the cleaning operation. The brush and cleaner combination provides effective, economical and convenient method of cleaning and maintaining sanitary condition of the toilet bowl.
Cleaning the toilet bowl is an unpleasant chore that must, however be done regularly to achieve acceptable sanitary state of the toilet bowl. If not cleaned regularly, hard scale can form from the water-borne minerals can stain the interior of the bowl. Bodily waste can also build up and get stuck on the pitted surface of the bowl and down the goose neck drain. Toilet bowl manufacture has not changed over recent decades. The bowl interior is glazed to get a smooth vitreous surface, however, polishing has not kept with the surface finish technology. Presently available toilet bowl cleaners are composed of harsher and corrosive chemicals that have the potential of pitting the bowl surface and speed up the problem of ugly deposits, a source of infectious bacteria and viruses in the bowl.
Over time, the nature of toilet bowl cleaning has swung from manual to automatic and from disposable swabs to strong chemical fluids. Manual cleaning lends to cleaning with toilet brush to loosen the waste off the bowl surface then flushing the toilet to rinse away the waste. In the process the brush gets contaminated. Simply rinsing the brush does not disinfect it. Automatic cleaners are sold as in-tank or in-bowl and under the rim apparatuses that channel cleaners. It is believed that automatic chemical, acidic or alkaline bowl cleaners, however strong they may be, lacks total effectiveness due to lack of scrubbing; especially older bowls that are stripped of smooth interior surface. In-tank cleaners have also been found to damage tank internals and lack control on cleaner strength and life cycle. Experience has shown that these devices and arrangement are not cost effective.
Over decades, the main cleaning tool available was the toilet brush. The brush was used to scrub off the waste stuck to the inside of the bowl and then flushed to rinse away the waste. Various brush designs have been offered to the consumer without resolving possible contaminant problem. U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,215 B1 claims to reduce time of cleaning but does not deal with brush contamination.
Effort to resolve brush contamination problem resulted in disposable brush head design. Numerous types of disposable swabs or pads designs are known. Manufacture of Swabs or pads of the shape and size requires special equipment. Disposal of swab with every operation adds to the cost of the bowl cleaning. Also swabs, if not properly used, may clog the sewer drain on flushing. Needless to say, every swab design must develop its own disintegration curve for optimum performance. U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,201 discloses a disposable flat biodegradable pad and a specially designed wand an attach and release mechanism on the wand to dispose of the pad before it disintegrates. This has the potential of causing clogging problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,697 supports a disposable disintegrating cleaning device by being partially dissolved in water in the process of cleaning the toilet bowl. The boot shaped device has greater probability of causing blockage at the goose neck of the bowl drain. As stated earlier, such devices require special equipment to manufacture, package and store in use. U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,076 has tried to combine a brush and fluid cleaner in a rather complex piece of machinery on the premise that a toilet brush is highly unsanitary unless it is dropped back in the same vessel where cleaning fluid is kept. This danger is highly over-rated. Cost and operation of such a machine is inadmissible for residential and commercial use.
Automatic drop-in-tank and other one step cleaners without the use of a toilet brush may be easier to use but does not serve the purpose of sanitizing and cleaning. Effective cleaning needs manual effort with scrubbing pads or toilet brush. A root cause of stains is from mineral build-up seen at the waterline in the toilet bowl and hidden from sight under the rim. This is so because most raw water supply to the homes is high in mineral content. Overtime crusty matter builds up that shows up as stain around the water mark and rim. The crusty surface serves as habitat for microorganisms. Most in-tank cleaners have blue dye as ingredient. Blue water masks the dirt and grime accumulating in the bowl between manual cleaning by brush or effective scrubbers. Such in-tank cleaners may last long but do not claim to clean and sanitize a dirty toilet bowl. Some in-tank cleaners release chlorine bleach from hydrochlorides to disinfect the bowl and discolor the stain. The amount of bleach such cleaners release during flushes depends on the surface exposed to water and temperature of the water. If the bowl is not flushed regularly, chlorine concentration may increase and corrode parts inside the tank. Some plumber manufacturers advise against using such in-tank cleaners. Whatever the constituent of in-tank cleaners, blue color or hydrochloride based, scrubbing with a brush in-between periods to keep up with cleaning chores on the toilets must be done regularly.
Therefore, there is a need for simple yet effective and economical combined cleaning system that is easy to operate and store without the hazards of harsh so and harmful chemicals. | {
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In certain circumstances, taxing jurisdictions may allow for a deduction of sales tax paid during the taxing period. For example, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 gives taxpayers the option to claim state and local sales taxes instead of state and local income taxes when they itemize deductions. Currently, this option is available for the 2004 and 2005 returns only, but may be extended. Additionally, similar laws may exist or be enacted in other jurisdictions. In connection with current federal law, tables are available to enable taxpayers to determine their sales tax deduction amount in lieu of saving their receipts throughout the year. Taxpayers use their income level and number of exemptions to find the sales tax amount for their state. The table instructions explain how to add an amount for local sales taxes if appropriate. Taxpayers also may add to the table amount any sales taxes paid in connection with certain purchases such as a motor vehicle, aircraft, boat, or home.
Taxpayers often use a monetary card to make purchases which include sales tax. An example of such a monetary card is a credit card. Credit cards are cards associated with a credit account. A credit card issuer, such as a bank or other financial institution, generally provides credit accounts to customers, or cardholders, allowing the customers to make purchases on credit rather than using cash. A customer incurs debt with each credit card purchase which may be repaid over time according to the terms and conditions of the particular customer's credit account. Credit card accounts provide a customer one or more lines of credit, typically including at least one revolving credit line in which the customer may choose to pay the full amount of debt owed on an account by a specified date or alternatively defer payment of all or a portion of the debt to a later date. The credit card issuer typically charges the customer interest or finance charges for such deferred payments during the period of deferral.
The credit card issuer typically establishes a credit limit for each credit account defining the maximum amount of credit available to the customer for making purchases at any given time. When a customer makes a credit card purchase, the amount of credit available to the customer, often called the available balance, is reduced by the amount of the purchase, and the amount of debt currently owed by the customer, often called the outstanding balance, is increased by the amount of the purchase.
It is common for consumers to make purchases using a card, which is linked to a financial account. The card may be any of a variety of types including debit, credit, or stored-value cards. The accounts may similarly be of a variety of types including checking, savings, or credit accounts. The card may be scanned, swiped, or otherwise processed at the location at which the purchase transaction is being conducted. This location is sometimes referred to as the Point of Sale (“POS”). A POS device, such as an electronic card reader, may be used to scan the card, thus reading electronic information stored on a magnetic strip or on a chip on, or inside, the card. The electronic card reader may be coupled, via a telecommunications system to one or more computers located at the purchase site and/or at remote sites, such as banks and card issuers. The electronic information is used by the various computers to process the transaction and electronically transfer funds from one account to another, such as from the consumer's credit account to the merchant's bank account, in order to complete the transaction. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to a dispenser for the release of a volatile material from a container, and more particularly, to an ergonomic dispenser for the release of an aerosolized fluid from a container.
2. Description of the Background of the Invention
Aerosol containers are commonly used to store and dispense a variety of possible volatile materials such as air fresheners, deodorants, insecticides, germicides, decongestants, perfumes, and the like. The volatile material is stored under compression and a release valve on the aerosol container controls release of the volatile material. The release valve is activated by actuation of a valve stem through which the volatile material flows. However, aerosol containers typically include unwieldy canisters that are not ergonomically fashioned for ease of use and that appear intrusive in many home or work environments. The present disclosure provides an aerosol dispenser for housing an aerosol container in an ergonomically actuable housing, which appears like a naturally occurring object or includes naturally occurring elements in its construction. Further, such ergonomically actuable housings may be used in conjunction with any type of container having a compressed or compressible fluid, e.g., containers having a pump-type sprayer or containers that include a compressed or LPG, to name a few. It is contemplated that the present disclosure in connection with aerosol containers may be modified as known to one of skill in the art to be inclusive of these other types of containers. | {
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The present invention relates to powered vehicles and particularly to an internal combustion engine powered industrial vehicle having a unique layout and engine mounting arrangement which facilitates access to the engine and its accessories.
As is well recognized, industrial-type vehicles, or vehicles used in an industrial environment, are subject to very hard continuous and often abusive use and are consequently more in need of maintenance than many other types of equipment.
It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a vehicle layout and engine mounting arrangement which permits the engine and most of its accessories to be pivoted out of the engine compartment to a position in which there is ready access to virtually all parts of the engine and its accessories, thereby facilitating inspection, cleaning, maintenance, replacement and the like of the engine and/or accessories. This is believed to be particularly advantageous with respect to internal combustion engines (gasoline, gas or diesel), but is also of significant benefit to vehicles having relatively complex hydraulic systems regardless of whether powered by an internal combustion engine or only an electric motor.
Related objects of the invention reside in the provision of such a vehicle which is easy to operate to accomplish the desired access, which has durable and accurate means for mechanically locking the engine in place for normal operation, which has provision for easy adjustment of engine position and which provides all the necessary safety lockouts to prevent the engine from being actuated to its full-access position while being operated or operable.
These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings and following detailed description. | {
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1. Field of The Invention
This invention relates to connecting clips which are used in the formation of junctions for elongate reinforcing members, such as metal rod and reinforcing members, to form extended grids. These grid may be provided with means for cathodic protection which restricts corrosion and increases the useful life of reinforced concrete structures by stabilizing the metal grid.
2. Description of The Related Art
Metal rods in the form of a grid structure have long been used as internal reinforcement for concrete structures, such as beams, girders, columns, support surfaces and the like. These concrete forms are frequently subject to weakening due to the gradual deterioration of the reinforcing metal grid. Deterioration of the grid occurs because most metals, exposed to natural environments without protection, enter into reaction with constituents in the environment. This reaction results in the formation of corrosion products typical of the ores from which the metals were originally formed. Thus constituents, present in concrete, will attack the metal reinforcing structure, especially in the presence of moisture and soluble salts. This phenomenon may also be referred to as electrochemical corrosion. Since moisture is readily absorbed by concrete, it is necessary to provide a means of protection for the metal reinforcement. Two such means are regularly practiced. The first involves the deposition or formation of a protective coating on the surface of the metal rod which is used to form the grid structure. Coatings applied to rods are effective in protecting them from environmental attack. Unfortunately, damage of the coating is common and results in voids, cuts or scratches which allow access to the metal causing it to dissolve via electro-chemical corrosion. The dissolution of a metal in a liquid environment occurs at discrete sites which act as anodes. A corrosion cell consists of an anode and a cathode in contact with each other and with a common electrolyte. The metal forming the anode will dissolve while the cathode remains intact. It is necessary, therefore, to provide means whereby the metal to be protected becomes the cathode under conditions of corrosion cell formation. There are several ways of doing this. The most commonly used method is to attach a sacrificial anode to the metal to be protected. This method relies upon a characteristic electromotive force (EMF) which controls the tendency of a given metal to corrode. If two metals are connected through an external conductor and there is provision for a continuous electrolyte, the metal with the lower EMF will corrode.
An alternate means of cathodic protection is impressed-current cathodic protection (ICCPS). In this case the negative terminal of a DC power source is connected to the metal grid and the positive terminal is connected to a suitable anode adjacent to the reinforced structure. This arrangement establishes an electrical bias by which the reinforcing grid becomes the cathode upon formation of a corrosion cell.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,094 (I. C. Scott Jr.) discloses a device which may be strapped onto a coated pipe to provide a metallic component which preferentially becomes the anode during electrolytic cell formation in the presence of moisture. Penetration of the protective coating of the pipe occurs during tightening of the device against the pipe. Sharp projections, in contact with the protective pipe coating, cut through the coating and penetrate the metal surface to provide metal-to-metal, electrical connection to the pipe. A sacrificial anode, attached to the device, will be preferentially consumed, via electrochemical action, leaving the metal pipe intact.
Another form of sacrificial anode is revealed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,024 (Drachnik et al). In this case the anode is produced in the form of a mesh. The mesh is constructed of elongate electrodes held together at points of intersection or junctions by resilient conductive clips which secure and electrically connect the elongate electrodes. When suitably connected to e.g. a reinforcing grid of steel the mesh anode will protect the steel grid from corrosion. Protection is achieved by connecting the steel grid to a mesh anode positioned at the surface of the concrete form or embedded in concrete closely proximate the grid.
The properties and form of the resilient conductive clips, used to develop and stabilize the mesh anode, are selected to provide long term, optimum connection at the junctions.
Methods involving the use of clips to form grid networks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,778,951 and 3,863,416 (both by G. Oroshakoff). In neither case is consideration given to corrosion protection of the metal rods used to form grids of the invention.
Study of the prior art has not revealed any concept which provides protective coating and cathodic protection combined with ease of assembly of metallic grids using connecting clips of this invention. | {
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The invention relates to the processing of particles, including but not limited to the examination of particles which are conventionally examined by cytometry.
Flow cytometry is widely used in life sciences research and clinical diagnostics for analyzing particles, including cells and beads having analytes attached thereto. A disadvantage of cytometry is that each particle must be examined individually. Other techniques for examining particles are disclosed in, for example, Nature Biotechnology (2000), 18, 630–634, Brenner, S. et al, and Anal. Chem. (2000), 72, 1144–1147, Kitamori, T. et al. | {
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An electrical panel or panelboard, has a main bus and individual connection points on the bus that are connectable to electrical devices, such as circuit breakers for branch conductors and any other electrical devices designed to be installed for a branch circuit. Because the circuit breakers, sometimes referred to herein simply as “breakers” for convenience, and other branch electrical devices are typically mounted directly to the panelboard, an operator and/or tools may come in contact with exposed conductors in the panelboard when installing or removing the circuit breakers from the panelboard. Thus, it is recommended that power be shut off to the panelboard as a precaution when electrical devices are being installed or removed. However, it may be considered desirable in some cases to keep the panelboard energized to prevent an electrical hazard as a consequence of deenergization, or operators may intentionally keep the power on in the interest of saving time. Moreover, shutting off power to the panelboard can be a major inconvenience, especially for data centers, hospitals, and other critical applications that require a high availability power source.
A need exists for an improved way to safely insert and remove a circuit breaker or other switching equipment from an electrical panel as part of a larger scheme for installing and removing branch circuit devices without deenergizing the electrical panel. Measures to prevent unintentional contact with live, i.e. energized, conductors are often known as “finger safe” provisions. Work on energized equipment will be known herein as “live work”. Particular panelboards, oftentimes called load centers, are front-accessible, wall-mounted panelboards, and typically for low voltage light, heat or power circuits in residential applications, which have miniature circuit breakers to define and protect each branch circuit. Due to their size, design, and economic constraints, load center-type panelboards can present unique challenges for the above considerations. Further, it is desirable that production and installation of panelboards be made economical, flexible and simple wherever possible while their use and operation remain as safe as possible. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for treating a potassium chloride mixture with grains of different sizes, in particular with grains of up to 1.5 mm, in which the dry or moist potassium chloride is mashed with a potassium chloride solution and, in a continuous circulation, fed into a dissolving vessel.
2. The Prior Art
In Germany, crude salt obtained from potash deposits contains up to 75% sodium chloride and various secondary components such as magnesium and calcium in the form of chlorides, sulfates and bromides.
The quality standard of the potassium chloride produced therefrom has a content of valuable substances of about 60% to 62% K.sub.2 O, which conforms to a purity of 95% to 98% potassium chloride in the finished product.
In the extraction processes, traces of heavy metals (chromium, nickel, iron, molybdenum and vanadium) may get into the salt as well, conditioned by the materials of the plant equipment.
Since the impurities are present in different orders of magnitude, the problem of product refinement is manifold. An enhancement of the product primarily means increasing the overall purity, which has to be equated to a selective reduction of certain impurities.
Furthermore, for the use of the potassium chloride in practical life, the grain size or grain distribution plays an important role. If no "narrow grain cut" is desired exclusively, the "dust-free" product is desirable. Minimizing or eliminating the finest grains, which are responsible for the formation of dust, is one of the most important objectives.
In the discussion of processes already known for the production of potassium chloride products with higher purity, the fractionated crystallization of crude salt solutions is not addressed because a purity of more than 98% cannot be obtained with these known processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,902, which corresponds to German PS 2,852,925, proposes a process for the purification of potassium chloride crystals with a potassium chloride content of more than 97.5%, by extraction with a potassium chloride-saturated solution under isothermal conditions of 20.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. In this process, the sodium chloride content of the solution has to be under 35 g/L, preferably under 15 g/L. The treatment lasts 0.5 to 18 hours, whereby the rate of extraction process highly declines as the amounts of sodium chloride extracted increase. Seventy percent of the original sodium chloride content is extracted in the first four hours; the next 20% require a time expenditure of 12 hours. The rate of the process is highly dependent upon the size and structure of the grains and can be influenced only little by raising the temperature.
In addition to reducing the sodium chloride content as the main impurity, a reduction of the magnesium, calcium and bromine contents is found as well.
In German PS 3,129,042, an improvement of the process is achieved by using an extraction column operating countercurrently. In this case, sodium chloride concentrations in the treatment solution of up to 45 g/L are permissible; recommended is a concentration of less than 25 g/L. Another advantage is that it is possible also to purify coarser grains with a diameter of up to 4.7 mm.
German PS 4,014,370 specifies a digestion crystallization process in which small, contaminated crystals are flushed out in an aqueous medium together with larger, purer crystals. At the same time, a dissolution of the smaller crystals takes place, of which the order of magnitude is between 0.1 and 50 .mu.m, and a growth of the potassium chloride product crystals occurs. Since no evaporation is required in order to obtain the product potassium chloride, this process operates with a substantially lower expenditure of energy than the recrystallization processes. Even though a crystal with enlarged grains is obtained in this process, the product obtained remains finely granular, overall.
In U.S. Pat. No. 681,407, recrystallization is carried out by heating the suspension under pressure. The subsequent relief and introduction of new components such as, for example, magnesium ions, lead to salting out.
Based on the current state of knowledge and technology for the purification of potassium chloride with potassium chloride solutions, the following steps were carried out for enhancing or optimizing the procedure.
As opposed to German PS 3,129,042, where it is assumed that "the inorganic salt impurities are generally evenly distributed over the potassium chloride particles," one has to expect in the purification of potassium chloride crystals a non-uniform distribution of the impurities, depending on the grain size. The coarser crystals are contaminated more by inclusions of mother liquid. On the other hand, with the smaller grains, which have a larger specific surface, the adhering amount of secondary components present in the solution increases. From this follows that the grains of different grain sizes have to be treated differently in order to achieve a uniform reduction of the impurities.
The extraction of the foreign substances by treating the potassium chloride grains with a solution is a heterogeneous process. The lower chemical potential of the impurities in the solution is the driving force permitting the emigration of the foreign substances until an equilibrium is adjusted. This is a typical diffusion process in which the rate decreases as the process progresses because profiles of concentration develop from the interior of the grains. In order to achieve a uniform elimination of the impurities, coarser grains have to be extracted longer than the finer grains under the same conditions.
Microscopic and other investigations have shown that in the crystallization of potassium chloride from aqueous solutions, no monocrystals are formed, but rather aggregates and agglomerates whose original particles can have different dimensions. Therefore, a specific behavior has to be expected in the treatment of different products. This requires higher flexibility in the adjustment of the process conditions.
It is known from German PS 2,852,925 that temperature increases lead to a measurable acceleration of the process; however, various negative factors occur at the same time.
Due to the increase in concentration in the potassium chloride solution, the amount of potassium chloride per ton of treated product is increased. Furthermore, higher evaporation rates lead to undesirable potassium chloride deposits on the treated grains. A maximum temperature of 60.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. is justifiable under these conditions.
Reducing the distance for the diffusion process by crushing of the grains is permissible only in a limited way because this enlarges the specific surface of the grains, which leads to an increase of the adsorption capacity and accumulation of the impurities on the surface of the grains.
A "controlled dissolving" of about 10% of the grain volume with undersaturated potassium chloride solution, on the other hand, leads to a process acceleration of about one decimal power. The higher the degree of dissolution, the more impurities are removed from the volume of the grains per unit of time. Starting dissolution of the grains has to take place uniformly. Due to break-up of the closed pores, such dissolution leads to a loosening of the grain structure, so that the grains can be cleaned of adhering impurities in a superior way. | {
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The invention relates to a safety device between a safety actuator control system and a logic circuit for controlling these actuators. It applies more particularly to the testing of transmission means and systems enabling the application of urgent release signals to a safety actuator. These safety actuators are used, for example, for controlling the emergency shutdown or scram of a nuclear reactor.
It is known that a nuclear reactor, for example, comprises a large number of devices enabling the checking and monitoring of its operation. These devices are called safety actuators. In the case of incidents, it must be possible to release these actuators in an urgent manner, in such a way that their protective action can stop the incident. In nuclear reactors, the values of a certain number of physical magnitudes such as pressure, temperature, neutron flux, etc are measured at a certain number of points by means of transducers. The analog values of these magnitudes are converted into digital values, which are then compared in processing systems with reference values. These processing systems also make it possible to control one or more safety actuators. They normally supply a logic comparison signal which is, for example, of a non-zero value, when the digital values of the physical magnitudes are within a predetermined reference value range and corresponding to the normal operation of the monitored reactor or apparatus. When the physical magnitudes measured by the transducers pass beyond this safety range, the processing and control system or systems supplies logic output signals of e.g. zero value, for each of the measuring values passing beyond the safety range. These logic output signals from the processing system are sequentially applied by communication means which will be described hereinafter to the input of a logic circuit, whose outputs control safety actuators. In general, this logic circuit is designed in such a way that a protective action is initiated when at least half the redundant channels of the communication means apply to at least half the inputs of this logic circuit signals controlling the initiation of protective actions. As stated in French patent application No. 80 25068 filed on Nov. 26, 1980 in the name of the present Applicant, such logic circuits also make it possible to inhibit certain of the transmission channels for performing tests, e.g. circuits or the system located upstream of said channels. These upstream circuits can, for example, be signal amplification and processing chains connected to the aforementioned transducers.
For safety reasons, it is particularly advantageous to release the safety actuator via the logic circuit controlling it, in the case of a failure in the transmission of the logic control signals supplied by the processing and control system to the logic circuit, or in the case of a failure of the said system. At present, no safety device is known which makes it possible to simply and permanently check that the sequential transmission of the signals between a processing and control system and a logic control circuit of a safety actuator takes place without failure and also to check that the processing and control system itself is also suffering from no defect or failure. | {
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This application relates to a new closure design for securing a lid to the mouth of a container. The design is easily molded, without complexities and multiple steps as in many prior art closures. The lid, once installed, may be designed to be nonremovable, or, alternatively, it may be of a removable design as shown herein. Also, the lid is easily insertable, but, once inserted, the filled container can resist the shock of being dropped, without the lid popping out from its position in the mouth of the container.
The container of this invention can be readily utilized as a container for motor oil or other liquid, containing a quart or a liter of liquid, or, alternatively, it may be used for large, one-gallon or five-gallon paint or chemical containers or drums. It may also be used in other containers of various sizes for holding any desired material.
In the Von Holdt copending U.S. application Ser. No. 101,220, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,970, filed Dec. 7, 1979 and entitled PLASTIC BUCKET DEFINING ANNULAR, INWARDLY-PROJECTING RIDGE AND METHOD, a bucket is disclosed having an annular, inwardly-projecting ridge adjacent the mouth in which the ridge extends inwardly in essentially perpendicular relation to the wall of the container.
Mirasol, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,436 discloses a container and lid type structure in which the container carries an outer channel in which an annular, outer flange of the lid fits.
Norton U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,636 discloses a container lid with a springy, convoluted end that fits within an annular channel of a bucket having a double-walled lip.
McDonald U.S. Pat. No. 3,566,946 shows a bucket lid seal having an outwardly facing angled flange.
Von Holdt U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,258, at FIG. 8, shows a bucket and lid with an annular, angled rib extending toward the mouth of the bucket, the radially inner edge of the rib being gripped by the lid.
In this invention, distinct advantages have been found in the use of an annular flange which is typically straight and which extends inwardly from the inner wall of the container, while extending at an acute angle of substantially less than 90.degree. to the inner wall. | {
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Mesh networking is a way to route data, voice and instructions between nodes. It allows for continuous connections and reconfiguration around blocked paths by “hopping” from node to node until a connection can be established. Mesh networks are self-healing: the network can still operate even when a node breaks down or a connection goes bad. As a result, a very reliable network is formed. This concept is applicable to wireless networks, wired networks, and software interaction.
A mesh network is a networking technique which allows inexpensive peer network nodes to supply back haul services to other nodes in the same network. It effectively extends a network by sharing access to higher cost network infrastructure.
Mesh networks differ from other networks in that the component parts can all connect to each other.
Wireless mesh networking is mesh networking implemented over a Wireless LAN. This type of Internet infrastructure is decentralized, relatively inexpensive, and very reliable and resilient, as each node need only transmit as far as the next node. Nodes act as repeaters to transmit data from nearby nodes to peers that are too far away to reach, resulting in a network that can span large distances, especially over rough or difficult terrain. Mesh networks are also extremely reliable, as each node is connected to several other nodes. If one node drops out of the network, due to hardware failure or any other reason, its neighbors simply find another route. Extra capacity can be installed by simply adding more nodes with wired or wireless backhaul. Mesh networks may involve either fixed or mobile devices.
The principle is similar to the way packets travel around the wired Internet—data will hop from one device to another until it reaches a given destination. Dynamic routing capabilities included in each device allow this to happen. To implement such dynamic routing capabilities, each device needs to communicate its routing information to every device it connects with, “almost in real time”. Each device then determines what to do with the data it receives—either pass it on to the next device or keep it.
In general, mesh networking replaces the access points with “backhaul nodes” that are entirely wireless, except for the electrical cord. One side of the node interfaces with Wi-Fi users, typically via 802.11b/g. The Wi-Fi user associates with the mesh network node just as it does with an access point. The other side of the backhaul node has radios that interconnect the node to other backhaul nodes that comprise the mesh network. | {
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Traditionally, radio telecommunication systems have been designed almost exclusively for voice or for packet data. There have been several attempts to design systems to provide both data and voice in the same system. One such proposal is the ETSI General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) which is designed for packet data transfer and is an overlay network on the circuit switched GSM system which is designed for speech communication. A GPRS architecture proposed by ETSI in Technical Specification 3.6 is shown in FIG. 1. Shown mainly on the left of the diagram is a conventional GSM mobile telephone system for full duplex voice communications comprising a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) a Base Station System (BSS) usually including a Base Station Controller (BSC) and a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), and a mobile terminal (MT) and a Home Location Register (HLR). Packet data services are limited to the Short Message Service (SMS) which is dealt with by an SMS Gateway Mobile Switching Centre (SMS-GMSC) and a Short Message Service Centre (SM-SC). Fax is dealt with as in an ordinary telephone system, e.g. via suitable modems and an Interworking Function (IWF) fax data is transmitted via circuit switching. Hence, conventional mobile telecommunications systems generally use what may be described as circuit switched data transmissions. GPRS adds two new nodes to such a system, namely the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and the Gateway GPRS Support node (GGSN), both of which may be seen as routers. The SGSN contains the identity of MT in its routing tables which are inserted when the MT registers with the network. The GGSN is connected to other data carrying networks, for example a Packet Data network (PDN), for the receipt and transmission of packets of data. As the GPRS system is in parallel to the GSM system information about change of location of the MT is also sent to the SGSN/GGSN.
The above hybrid system may be adapted to a Third Generation Mobile Telephone system such as the UMTS system as shown schematically in FIG. 2. Further details of such an implementation may be found in the book by Ojanpera and Prasad, “Wideband CDMA for Third Generation Mobile Communications”, Artech House Publishers, 1998. Basically, the Radio Access Network (RAN) provides the network-side equipment for communicating with the MT. A GPRS SGSN and a UMTS MSC are provided in parallel between the RAN and the relevant network, i.e. or a PDN or a Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN), respectively.
For multimedia and especially highly interactive wireless applications there can be a wide variation in the amount of data to be sent in one direction as well as in the rate at which replies to the data are expected. Further, there is a general interest in providing services at difference priorities and at different prices. Thus, the GPRS standards provide, especially in ETSI standard 3GPP TS 0.8.18 (e.g. V8.10.0 (2002-05)), possibilities to dynamically adjust the Quality of Service (QoS) for data transmitted over the air interface.
GPRS provides a connectionless support for data transmission. However, in order to use the scarce resources on the radio air interface between the BTS and the MT, a circuit switched radio resource allocation is used. Thus, although the networks attached to the GGSN may operate in a completely connectionless way, the transmission of the data packets across the air interface makes use of conventional timeslot and frame management. Accordingly, at some position in the GPRS network a packet handler is required which prepares the packets for transmission in frames across the air interface and receives the frames from the air interface and prepares them for transmission to the data network. This unit may be called a Packet Control Unit (PCU) and may be placed at several alternative positions, e.g. in the Base Transceiver Station (BTS), in the Base Station Controller (BSC) or between the BSC and the SGSN. Generally, the PCU may be assigned to some part of the BSS—the base station system. Typically frame relay will be used between the PCU and the SGSN.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to access GPRS services, a user equipment (UE) such as a mobile terminal (MT) or mobile phone first performs a GPRS attachment. This operation establishes a logical link between the UE and the SGSN, and makes the UE, available for SMS (Short Message Services) over GPRS, paging via SGSN, and notification of incoming GPRS data. Also the authentication of the user is carried out by the SGSN in the GPRS attachment procedure. In order to send and receive GPRS data, the UE activates the packet data address wanted to be used, by requesting a PDP activation procedure (Packet Data Protocol). This operation makes the UE known in the corresponding GGSN, and interworking with external data networks can commence. More particularly, a PDP context is created in the UE, the GGSN and the SGSN. The packet data protocol context defines different data transmission parameters, such as the PDP type (e.g. X.25 or IP), the PDP address (e.g. X.121 address), the quality of service (QoS) and the NSAPI (Network Service Access Point Identifier). The UE activates the PDP context with a specific message comprising the TLLI (Temporary logic link Identity), an Activate PDP Context Request, in which it gives information on the PDP type, the PDP address, the required QoS and the NSAPI, and optionally the access point name (APN). The SGSN provides the TLLI which identifies the UE.
The setting up of circuit switched calls across the air interface in a GPRS network is shown in message flows in FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 3 a data request is initiated by a mobile terminal (MT) using an access control channel, e.g. a Random Access Channel RACH. When a MT has some data to send it makes an Uplink Radio Connection Establishment Request specifying how much data is to be sent. The RAN replies with a confirmation message that the uplink radio link is provided and gives details of when and how the MT is to transmit, e.g. which timeslot and how much of the timeslot can be used. Then the data is transmitted by the MT on a traffic channel and the RAN disconnects the radio link after all data has been transmitted successfully. The data received by the RAN is forwarded to the SGSN and from there to the GGSN which removes any headers used for transporting the data up to this point and transfers the data to the relevant PDN, e.g. via the Internet to a remote server. As some time later the answer to the data arrives from the remote site, e.g. a service provider's server on the Internet. On receipt of this answer a downlink radio connection is set up by the RAN via a control channel and the answer data transferred via a traffic channel. After transfer the radio connection is released once again.
FIG. 4 shows a similar message scheme when the initiating message is downlink. Again, the downlink and uplink transfers are not coupled so that the downlink radio connection is released at the end of the downlink transmission and before the answering uplink transmission.
Data transmission over an air interface is subject to errors. For some packet data transmissions some guarantee of the received data is required. Traditionally this has been achieved by an automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocol in which ACK (accepted) and NACK (not accepted) messages returned depending on whether a received block of data was correctly received or not. Either the failure to receive an ACK message within a predetermined time or the receipt of a NACK message this triggers resending of the data. A known problem with such as scheme is setting an optimum time interval for receipt of an ACK message before the data is resent. Too short a time can result in data being resent frequently when an ACK message is still going to be received and would have stopped the resend. Too long a time can result in use of large buffers to accommodate data until the status of this data is clarified. U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,224 proposes a scheme in which the length of time for an outbound communication is determined and this is transmitted to the transmitting device so that the timer can be started. This known technique relies on the fact that the type of data to be sent is sensibly constant. However, in the type of applications mentioned above the data rates and answer frequencies can be very varied and the known scheme is not optimal in all circumstances.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data carrying cellular mobile radio telecommunications system and a method of operating the same which provides an improved QoS. | {
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The sacroiliac joint is located at the intersection of the ilium, the upper bone of the pelvis, and the sacrum at the base of the spine. One of the primary functions of the sacroiliac joint is to provide shock absorption of pressures put on the spine.
Certain persons experience pain in the sacroiliac joint. This pain may result from a variety of causes, examples of which include injuries, incorrect vertebra fusion during pre-birth development and effects of pregnancy.
If initial efforts to reduce the pain in the sacroiliac joint through physical therapy and/or steroid injections are not effective, surgery may be needed to fuse together the sacroiliac joint. One typical surgical technique involves forming an incision in the lower back over the sacroiliac joint. The articular cartilage is removed from both surfaces. This process is also called chondrectomy.
The sacrum and the ilium are held together with screws or a plate. Eventually, bone grows between the sacrum and the ilium to thereby fuse together the sacroiliac joint. Because of the challenges in accessing the surfaces of the sacrum and the ilium that will fuse together, this type of surgery may result in damage to tissue, nerves and/or blood vessels that surround the sacroiliac joint. Such damage may prevent the patient from fully realizing the benefits of the sacroiliac joint fusion and in some instances cause the patient to experience more pain after the sacroiliac joint fusion than before the sacroiliac joint fusion. | {
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This disclosure is generally directed to imaging members, photoreceptors, photoconductors, and the like. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a multi-layered photoreceptor with a substrate, an outer layer such as a charge transport layer or overcoat layer, an optional hole blocking, and/or optional undercoat layer, and wherein at least one layer comprises a material having both antioxidant and lubricant moieties. The photoreceptors herein, in embodiments, have extended life, and excellent wear resistant characteristics. In addition, in embodiments, the present photoreceptors have improved toner cleanability.
Use of the antioxidant lubricant additives has shown an improvement in wear resistance when compared to a CTL without the antioxidant lubricant additives. The antioxidant lubricant additives also allow for anti-oxidation, which is desired in the photoreceptor. The use of antioxidant lubricant additives has been shown to exhibit little or no detrimental effects to electrical and cyclic properties at all zones, including A and J. Excellent prints were obtained via printing in both the A and J zones. The antioxidant lubricant additive coatings have proven compatible with Emulsion Aggregation (E/A) toner. The antioxidant lubricant additives can function well in many of the layers of the photoreceptor, such as the charge transport layer, overcoat layer, or other layer. | {
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The proper fitting of contact lenses involves various ophthalmic measurements, such as iris diameter, pupil diameter, height of the palpebral fissure, as well as parameters of the contact lens. Unfortunately, present day instruments and methods used for making such measurements are generally inefficient, cumbersome, or unduly expensive.
Measurements of the pupil, iris and fissure are currently made with the use of a hand held graduated rule or a reticle used with a simple magnifier or a more sophistocated slit lamp. The use of the rule is subject to the accuracy of the markings on the rule, elimination of eye movement during measuring, elimination of parallax errors and unwanted shadows. Even the most sophistocated systems, however, have an accuracy of about .+-.0.3 mm, whereas proper fitting of some types of contact lenses require accuracy within .+-.0.1mm.
None of the above instruments are used to measure the parameters of contact lenses, such as overall diameter, optical zone, and peripheral curve. Instead, a separate instrument is employed and usually comprises a 7.times.magnifier having a reticle with scale markings. Proper use of the instrument requires exact positioning of the lens relative to the scale, which is often a cumbersome procedure.
In summary, there is presently no instrument capable of making highly accurate and reliable measurements of the eye, and no single instrument capable of making measurements of both the eye and the contact lens. | {
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As the integrated circuit (IC) fabrication moves to advanced technology nodes, the IC feature size scales down to smaller dimensions. For example, trench dimensions and gate sizes continue to get smaller and smaller. One limitation to achieving smaller sizes of IC device features is conventional lithography. Small trench formation typically requires a high cost exposure tool, such as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography tools that are constrained by scanner wavelength and various patterns for blocking certain wavelengths. A large etching bias is generally required to compensate for the large lithographic pattern for non-shrinkable critical dimensions, which often results in poor critical dimension uniformity or shorting of the gate when blocking patterns are misaligned. Thus, better methods and materials are needed to define small trench dimensions. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which it is possible to always form an image optimally.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional image forming apparatus such as color copying machines, light from an exposure lamp irradiates onto the original document. The reflected light from the original document pass through a RGB filter to obtain color signals each corresponding to color components. Then the color signals are treated to finally form a color image on a paper.
In image forming process such as this, there are various correction processes in the latter part of the image density conversion, when a standard paper, which is used as a paper having a white color, is placed on the original document table, it is assumed that the image signal is optimized at 1.
Consequently, at the point in time when the standard paper is placed on the original document table, when there are large differences in brightness and color from a shading correction standard plate mounted on the original document table, the assumption of the image signal being at 1 is void.
Furthermore, as this type of image treatment continues as it is, the above-mentioned assumption of the brightness of the image is inaccurate and as the various correction treatments are undertaken in practice, in extreme case there are fluctuations in the color matching such that the quality of the image is noticeably deteriorated.
To overcome the above-mentioned problem, in a color image reading apparatus shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,692 (Jan. 2, 1990), a CPU refers the reading image signal value, then the CPU calculates optimal density conversion parameters based upon this reference value to correct the image density conversion parameters. After that, the process of image density conversion is performed.
In the above-mentioned case, if the apparatus have fluctuations of characteristics of the exposure lamp, fluctuations of precision of the construction, and etc., the brightness of the image is not converted uniformly within every pixel of each of the R, G, B colors signals in many cases.
In this way when the ratio of the sensitivity of each R, G, B color signal is thus distorted, in prior art correction processes, the problem of the image quality fluctuations between each apparatus can not be solved. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle charging system and a vehicle charging method, and more particularly, to a vehicle charging system and a vehicle charging method for charging a drive battery of a vehicle which is capable of being charged from outside of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there have been developed an electric vehicle and a hybrid vehicle as environmentally-friendly vehicles. Such vehicles are provided with a drive battery and a running motor, and run on the running motor with the use of power from the drive battery. Therefore, it is necessary to charge the drive battery. The drive battery can be charged by receiving power from an external power source such as a commercial power source.
When charging is performed, a control power source circuit (control section) controls a drive battery charging device. Therefore, supply of power to the control power source circuit is necessary.
JP 2008-149897 A discloses a charging system for a vehicle, which performs supply of power to a control power source circuit with the use of power from an auxiliary battery and power from a drive battery.
In the charging system for a vehicle described in JP 2008-149897 A, when power cannot be supplied from both of the auxiliary battery and the drive battery, the supply of power to the control power source circuit is cut off. Thus, the drive battery charging device cannot operate. As a result, the drive battery cannot be charged. | {
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A typical differential global positioning system (DGPS) network includes a receiver which receives ephemerides data from satellites. Typically, such data is received from global positioning system (GPS) satellites which are a part of the GPS satellite network or satellites which are a part of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). The ephemerides data is processed via an electronics package located within the GPS unit. The GPS unit receives differential correction data through a separate radio which is typically connected to the GPS unit by cable. The differential correction data is typically obtained from a radio coupled to a GPS unit which is located at a fixed site which is placed at a known location or it is obtained from other sources and is conveyed via radio. By processing the differential correction data together with the data received at the particular GPS receiver, the location of the GPS unit may be determined within a high degree of accuracy. This same method may be used to perform real time kinematic (RTK) surveys so as to accurately determine the relative position of the GPS system with sub centimeter accuracy.
Prior art GPS devices used in DGPS applications and RTK applications typically require numerous separate, distinct component units which are connected via cables. For example, the GPS receiver and processor would constitute one unit and the terrestrial radio would constitute a second unit which would be coupled to the GPS processor via cable. Typically, an input/output (I/O) unit which includes a display for data monitoring and a keypad for data input is also required. The I/O unit is coupled to the GPS receiver/processor unit and to the terrestrial radio via cable. Some systems also require the attachment of a separate battery via cable. Because multiple separate units are used in these prior art systems, the systems are bulky and they are difficult to move around.
For example, one type of prior art system which is typically referred to as "handheld" includes a GPS antenna, a GPS processor, a display processor, and a display in a single unit. A DGPS radio antenna and receiver are provided in a separate unit or units which are connected to the GPS processor. Another type of prior art system places the GPS antenna in an antenna unit and the display in a separate display unit. The GPS processor and the display processor may be contained in the GPS antenna unit, the display unit, or in a separate unit. A DGPS radio antenna and receiver are provided in a separate unit or units connected to the GPS processor. This format allows the user to separate the GPS antenna and the display units so that the GPS position and time information can be observed and operated upon in a protected environment.
The use of multiple units to house the various components required for prior art DGPS systems, and the requirement for cables and connectors to couple the units creates problems regarding reliability and durability. This is particularly true for DGPS systems which are mobile and which are jarred and shaken by use and movement. In addition, the systems are expensive to manufacture and assemble. Furthermore, the connections are often bulky, expensive and prone to breakage or malfunction. In addition, it is difficult to move the various boxes and cables around.
Typically, the GPS unit receivers are separated by long distances or by immobile structures; therefore, radio relay units are used to get the signal from one GPS unit to anther GPS unit. Prior art radio relay systems for relaying GPS signals typically include multiple separate components such as a transceiver operating at one frequency which is coupled via cable to a separate transceiver operating at a second frequency. These relay systems typically receive signals through an antenna which is cabled to a processor which is then cabled to a radio which rebroadcasts the signal through an antenna attached by cable to the radio. These relay systems are bulky and difficult to move around. Furthermore, these relay systems typically are expensive and are difficult to maintain and operate due to the fact that each of the components of the radio relay system is unique. In addition, most of the currently available systems are not durable and reliable enough for applications such as RTK surveying and operation in harsh environments such as construction sites.
What is needed is a simple GPS network which is easy to move from place to place and which is durable, reliable, and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. More specifically, a GPS network which includes a GPS unit, a radio and a radio relay which will reliably operate in difficult environments such as those presented by repeated movement and use in harsh environments such as construction sites is required. Also, a GPS network consisting of components which are easy to operate, use and maintain is required. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of construction, and more particularly the construction of walls, facings and the like, such as in swimming pools, simulating natural rock or other decorative surfaces.
2. Prior Art
Rock walls and the like have been used as decorative facings for various types of structures for many years. Historically such walls have been constructed from natural rock and mortar, generally abutting a structural wall of some kind to provide a decorative surface or finish therefor. In recent years however, the cost of locating and transporting natural rock of suitable size and character for such purposes has rapidly increased, and accordingly various techniques have been utilized to simulate rock surfaces and the like, utilizing materials other than natural rock. Fiberglass panels simulating rock and mortar, and molded concrete rock and mortar walls are examples.
The particularly attractive ornamental appearance of natural rock surfaces has created a demand for the accurate simulation of such surfaces in new applications; such as by way of example, swimming pool walls. Such applications may require the simulation of rock surfaces of greater area, of various overall shapes, and of greater structural requirements. For cost and structural reasons, such applications may preclude the separate casting of individual concrete rocks and the placement of the individual molded rocks utilizing mortar to achieve the desired results. Accordingly, techniques have been developed and are known in the prior art for molding complete walls simulating rock surfaces.
One technique for simulating rock surfaces which is known in the prior art is to coat a suitable natural rock surface with liquid latex so as to provide a latex imprint of fine detail duplicating the rock surface. A number of latex coatings may be used to provide an overall thickness of latex sufficient to provide a relatively durable latex sheet giving a high degree of detail for the rock surface. This latex sheet may then be pealed away from the natural rock and supported at the location of the desired simulated rock surface for coating with concrete, gunnite or the like to provide this simulated surface.
While the latex sheet as hereinbefore described provides an accurate duplication of the natural rock surface to be simulated, it must be suitably supported before concrete or gunnite may be applied to the surface thereof. Thus various types of support have been utilized in the prior art. By way of example, soil may be utilized to support the latex sheet in the desired position which, depending upon its characteristics, may be sufficiently self-supporting to allow the vertical disposition of the latex sheet in the desired position prior to the pouring of concrete or the application of the gunnite. Other materials such as sand provide a better support for the detail on the latex sheet, though because of its lack of self-supporting characteristic, the sand on one side of the latex sheet is best added as the concrete or gunnite is applied to the opposite side of the sheet.
Another material which has been used in the prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,477, issued to the present inventor) is foam plastic pellets such as the foam plastic materials commonly used for packing materials. Such materials are very light and accordingly are very easily disposed behind the latex sheet without distorting the sheet. Also these pellets may have interlocking characteristics so as to bind rather than flow under pressure, thereby enhancing their ability to support the loads of cast concrete and gunnite. They have the disadvantage however of not providing the very finely distributed and uniform support, and accordingly may result in greater local irregularity in the simulated surface than desired. Also none of the foregoing materials provides the form and support of the latex sheet in the same shape in which it was originally formed on the natural rock surface, and accordingly the resulting distortion and reorientation of the latex results in some loss in detail in the simulated surface. Also these support materials are in turn not easily supported at the construction site, resulting in considerable hand labor during construction, and substantial variation during the practicing of the various methods. | {
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This invention relates to methods and systems for locating persons and places using mobile devices.
People attend events where they want to meet up with friends and acquaintances. If there is a large crowd at the event, it can be difficult for people to locate each other. Sometimes last minute changes in plans also prevent meeting up. Other times the problem is finding exactly where one parked the car after the event. Because many people carry mobile devices (e.g., cellphones), it would be useful to provide methods and systems for locating persons and places that could be implemented with mobile devices in these and other circumstances. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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With the spectacular rise of personal computer and telecommunications technology, there has been an equally phenomenal development in the technology of ICs. In particular, with the drive to ever higher levels of circuit integration, the importance of conserving the real estate on a die and minimizing the consumption of power continues to draw the attention of scientists and engineers engaged in the design of ICs.
This is particularly true in the field of capacitance-sensing devices where there is a premium attached to producing devices with small size and minimal power consumption. The elimination of circuit designs which are overdesigned and suffer from inelegant use of the die real estate for integrated circuits used to drive capacitance-sensing devices is an area drawing the continued attention of scientists and engineers engaged in the development of capacitance-sensing devices. Thus, elegant circuit designs that reduce the number of circuit components on a die of an IC and minimize power consumption are of particular interest for maintaining a competitive edge in the field of capacitance-sensing devices and integrated-circuit technology, more generally. | {
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Andiroba (Carapa guianensis Aubl.) is a tree which belongs to the Meliaceae family. Originating from the Amazonian tropical forest, it can grow up to 25 meters, the trunk ends with a large foliage of leaves and branches, its fruits are large capsules containing 7 to 8 seeds of varying shapes.
The seeds of Andiroba contain a stone which represents 72 to 74% of the weight of the seed and which is rich in fat (of the order of 60-66%).
The lipid extract which can be obtained from these stones is traditionally used externally for its anti-inflammatory properties to soothe muscle and rheumatic pains, to treat insect bites or to tone up the hair and to get rid of lice. It is also used as a disinfectant or a cicatrisant for the skin. It is a general tonic by the internal route. | {
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Bowlers, like any other athlete, are always looking for a competitive advantage. One area in which this advantage is constantly sought is in the equipment used by the bowler. And of the equipment used by any specific bowler, the most important is the bowling ball.
For the better part of a century, bowling balls have been manufactured of two or more parts. An inner part is termed the "core" while the outer part is termed the "cover". Not infrequently, the core itself is made up of more than one part.
Core density and/or core geometry exert significant effects over the reactive characteristics of any given ball. The term "reactive characteristics" is commonly employed to denote the degree to which a ball will hook, i.e. deviate from the line of travel on which it was originally released, and how soon the hooking action begins to occur as the ball is rolling down a lane. A highly reactive ball will hook more than a less reactive ball, all other things being equal. A cover heavy ball will begin to hook further down the lane and/or change direction more slowly than a center heavy ball. That is to say, center heavy balls are said to react earlier in their path of travel whereas cover heavy balls are said to react later in their path of travel.
A variety of factors influence the selection of a ball by a bowler. A bowler who releases the ball with a relatively low velocity frequently will prefer a cover heavy ball so that the reaction does not occur to soon such that the ball hits too high in the pocket or even misses it entirely. Conversely a bowler who rolls a relatively high velocity ball will prefer a center heavy so as to assure that the desired reaction will occur sufficiently early that the ball will not slide by the pocket.
Of course, a large variety of factors other than core weight and geometry have a considerable affect on the reactivity of a ball. The material of which the cover is made quite obviously has an effect because of differing effect on the frictional characteristics of the surface of the ball. This invention, however, is not concerned with the effects of such variables. Rather, it is concerned with providing a core of novel geometry and with providing a family of bowling balls, at least some of which are of significantly varying weight, that have substantially identical reaction characteristics.
Typically, when a new ball having some sort of desired reactive characteristics is developed, great effort is applied to the details of coverstock formulation and the shape of the weight block of the sixteen pound prototype ball. Sixteen pound balls are chosen for the prototypes because they facilitate testing by professional and other high quality bowlers who almost exclusively use a sixteen pound ball.
Once the sixteen pound design is finalized as a result of such development and testing, lighter weight balls are produced by removing weight from the core of the sixteen pound design. Some manufacturers even change the core shape that was developed for the sixteen pound ball when making lighter weight balls in favor of any convenient shape with no regard for rotational dynamics. Weight is removed from the core as opposed to the cover stock because the resin and filler systems customarily employed to make cores can produce a much wider range of densities than the resin systems used to produce cover stock. However, removing weight from a core even while maintaining the same core shape produces bowling balls with different rotational dynamics and differing reaction characteristics.
Still another technique used to make lighter weight balls involves the use of a compound core design. Typically, this involves the use of a high density inner core and a low density outer core. With this technique, the ratio of cover density to core density that exists in a sixteen pound ball can be maintained in the ratio of the outer core density to the inner core density in the lightweight balls. Stated another way, the lightweight ball made according to this technique employs lower densities in the core to lower the weight of the ball but the cover to core density ratio is maintained. This represents a significant improvement over the method of simply removing weight from the core but even so, it fails to preserve the same rotational dynamics at ail weights. This is due to the fact that the cover stock remains of the same density for ail ball weights which in turn causes the reaction characteristics of the lighter weight balls to differ from those of the sixteen pound version.
According to the invention, the aforementioned problems with lightweight ball designs are avoided by designing lightweight balls so that they have proportionally the same relationship between their moment of inertia and the ball/lane frictional forces as a sixteen pound ball of the same family.
As is well known, the moment of inertia, which is the resistance to a change in the rotational state of an object, plays an important part in bowling ball reaction as explained more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,553. Further, dynamic or sliding fiction between the bowling ball and the surface of the bowling lane is substantially responsible for the forces which cause a ball to hook or curve as it travels down the lane. Dynamic fiction is, of course, directly proportional to the weight of the ball in the case of a bowling ball rolling on a bowling lane so that as the weight of the ball is decreased, the resulting frictional force is also decreased proportional to the decrease in weight.
By way of example, consider a twelve pound ball. The same is twenty-five percent lighter than a sixteen pound ball. To achieve substantially identical reaction characteristics (assuming identical cover stock, identical surface finish, identical position of grip holes relative to the core of the ball, the maximum, minimum and differential moments of inertia of the twelve pound ball would have to be approximately twenty-five percent lower than those of the sixteen pound ball.
Typically, lightweight balls have a lower maximum moment of inertia than does a heavier ball. However, the decrease is usually not proportional to the decrease in weight and the result is that lightweight balls have different rotational dynamics than heavier balls and as a consequence, differing reaction characteristics.
The practice of removing weight from the core while maintaining the same core shape is to be particularly avoided. A fifteen pound ball cast with the same internal core shape typically will lose more than twenty-five percent of the differential moment of inertia of the sixteen pound version. For a 14 pound ball, the loss will be sixty-six percent. This decrease of differential moment of inertia results in the lighter balls having different rotational dynamics than heaver weight balls and therefore, different reaction characteristics.
According to the present invention, proportional lowering of the moments of inertia and differential moments of inertia can be accomplished by maintaining the same radii of gyration and differential radius of gyration for all the balls in a family of balls of greatly varying weight. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to an assembly including a casing that supports a liner constructed from a plurality of arcuate segments, which segments, when in situ, surround a stage of turbine blades in close spaced relationship therewith. The segments are moveable relative to the blades, so as to cater for variations in blade length due to operating stresses.
It is known to provide a casing structure supporting a segmented liner about a stage of turbine blades, and, when rotational operation of the stage of blades in an associated gas turbine engine causes them to extend e.g. when the gas turbine engine is accelerated to full power, to then heat the casing structure so as to expand it and thus lift the segments away from the blades tips. Further, when engine power is reduced, which results in contraction of the turbine blades, it is known to cool the casing structure in order to cause it to also contract, in an attempt to maintain a desired clearance between the liner segments and the blades tips. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention concerns periodic temporal signals the configuration of which over a time period is defined by an arrangement of seed patterns of different types resulting from a recursive construction using successively applied recurrent pattern element composition laws generating on each new iteration progressively more complex patterns. Generally speaking, the configuration over a time period of a temporal signal resulting from this kind of branching construction may be considered as a component "a.sub.n " of the Nth term Un with m components (a.sub.n, b.sub.n, c.sub.n, etc) of a recurrent sequence, this nth term being defined at the level of each of its components (a.sub.n, b.sub.n, c.sub.n, etc) according to the components (a.sub.(n-1), b.sub.(n-1), c.sub.(n-1), etc) of the preceding term U.sub.n-1 by the arrangements of the recurrent pattern type composition laws and the initial term Uo of the sequence having for its components (a.sub.0, b.sub.0, c.sub.0, etc) the seed patterns.
The branching construction process makes it possible to increase the complexity of the pattern obtained from one iteration to another extremely quickly. It produces after very few iterations a signal pattern having the general appearance of noise although it is in fact highly structured and has complex self-simulating properties resulting from the iteration process. Because of these characteristics the resultant temporal signal finds beneficial applications in varied techniques including vibration testing, transducers and stimulators, deposition of electrochemical layers using pulsed current, chemical synthesis of disordered systems, optical modulation, etc.
Signals known by the general name fractal temporal signals result from branching constructions of this kind.
An object of the present invention is a periodic temporal signal generator making it possible to generate very quickly a great diversity of periodic signals having a period with a recursive structure of the aforementioned type. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Certain chemical processes involve the interaction of two liquids or fluids of different densities and limited mutual solubility. When these liquids are mixed to form a two-phase system and are then catalytically reacted under strongly exothermic or endothermic conditions, it becomes desirable and even necessary to achieve an intermixing between the two liquids before they are subjected to reaction conditions. With liquids of differing density, it is particularly difficult to achieve a distribution of one liquid in the other, or vice versa, on a uniform basis, even transitorily, because of the inherent physical tendency of such liquids to assume different flow rates, even with all other variables being substantially constant.
For example, the hydration of acrylonitrile to acrylamide is a highly exothermic reaction. The problem of controlling reaction temperature is particularly, and perhaps even uniquely, difficult when using a reactor feed of relatively high acrylonitrile concentration due to the relatively low system heat capacity per mole of reactant acrylonitrile. This results in the necessity of conducting the reaction between acrylonitrile and water when using a concentrated acrylonitrile feed in a reaction zone from which the heat of reaction can be continuously removed to avoid undesirably high temperatures where side reactions may occur.
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, if the heat of reaction is continuously removed from a fixed-bed catalytic reaction zone, the zone or zonal elements must have a relatively small cross-sectional area with a coolant circulated around the outside of the zone or zonal elements. If large cross sectional areas are used for the zone or zonal elements, some areas of the reaction zone are too far from the cooling surface and hence tend to experience undesirably large temperatures. In addition, a small cross sectional area tends to maximize the interfacial area between the reaction zone and the cooling media, which allows removing the heat of reaction efficiently with a relatively small temperature difference between reaction zone and cooling media. In common, normal practice using a tubular reaction zone with a fixed catalytic bed in the zones, it is common to employ tubes having inside diameters in the range of from about 0.4 to 2.6 inches with a circular cross section.
In the case of acrylamide production by a hydrolysis of acrylonitrile, one employs a reaction having a sufficiently large catalyst bed volume to produce commercial quantities of acrylamide at commercial rates. The particular reactor design used can be one which has a multiplicity of longitudinally parallel, transversely spaced tubes positioned within a common shell through which a coolant is circulatable. A single tube is not used because the bed length would be impractically long for a commercial reactor.
In such a reactor or reactors, the feed composition used in making a concentrated acrylamide solution directly is inherently two phased because of the limited solubility of acrylonitrile in water. In a commercial size reaction having a multiplicity of parallel tubes, it is critically important that all tubes receive approximately the same total flow rate per tube of each of the two phases. Thus, if a substantial deviation occurs from this desired equal distribution, the reactor conversion performance will be inherently reduced. In the extreme case, where essentially all water goes through one set of tubes, while substantially all acrylonitrile goes through another set of tubes, conversion is essentially zero.
The achievement of such a mixture having substantially uniform distribution of water and acrylonitrile in two phases at the entrance to each of a multiplicity of reactor tubes presents a formidable problem which does not appear to be solvable by any known technique. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Recently a large number of digital cameras, which store images sensed by an image sensing element such as a CCD in a storage medium such as a memory card, are available on the market. A digital camera of this type, which does not require a film, stores an image signal sensed by the image sensing element in an external storage device, e.g., a CF card, hard disk and so on. Since such external storage device allows rewriting and erasing a number of times unlike films, expenses for the consumables can be kept low, which is very convenient.
Most of these digital cameras include an LCD monitor capable of displaying an image and a large-capacity memory such as a memory card. With the use of such digital cameras, not only films which have conventionally been used as consumables become unnecessary, but also outcomes of a photographed image can instantly be confirmed on the LCD monitor. Therefore, image data thought to be unnecessary by an operator can be erased in an instant, and an image can be photographed again if it is necessary. Digital cameras have enabled editing of an image stored in the memory at the scene of photographing, thus dramatically increasing the efficiency of photographing compared to silver chloride photographs.
On the contrary, conventional digital cameras have a problem. If a foreign substance, e.g., dust, which is unrelated to an object of shooting exists in the neighborhood of the image forming surface of the image sensing element such as a CCD (e.g., on the cover glass of a CCD), the image of the foreign substance is also photographed. A conventional silver chloride film also has the same problem of picking up an image of foreign substance if dust or the like exists on the film. However, in the case of a film, since film is moved every time one frame of photograph is taken, it is extremely rare to pick up the same dust on all frames.
However, in the case of the digital camera which senses an image with the image sensing element, since there is no mechanical movement after an image is photographed, once a foreign substance such as dust attaches to the image sensing element, there is a possibility that the dust is photographed on all frames after then. For this reason, an operator must always be careful about dust attachment to the image sensing element (CCD), and expends enormous effort in examining for the dust and cleaning. Particularly since the image sensing element (CCD) is arranged in the inner portion of the camera, examining for foreign substances is not easy.
In a digital camera of single lens reflex type, dust invasion easily takes place due to attachment and removal of the lens. Furthermore, in many cases of digital cameras of single lens reflex type, a focal plane shutter is arranged immediately before the image sensing element. Therefore, a mechanical operation of the shutter easily allows dust attachment to the image sensing element. Accordingly, it has been a great problem for a digital camera to identify and clean the dust attached to the image sensing element.
In view of this, digital cameras available on the market have begun to comprise a function (dusting mode) for identifying dust on the image sensing element using an LCD monitor, a function (cleaning mode) for removing foreign substances on the image sensing element by making the camera into a bulb state, and so on. Using the dusting mode of such digital camera enables easy identification of foreign substance attachment, e.g., dust, through an LCD monitor, or using the cleaning mode enables cleaning of the CCD cover glass surface from the lens mounting side.
However, the above-described conventional example has following problems.
During the cleaning mode operation, if the battery (portable electric power source) voltage declines to a level that cannot hold the rear curtain magnet of the shutter, the rear curtain of the shutter travels. More specifically, if the battery voltage declines causing the shutter rear curtain to travel while an operator removes dust or stain on the CCD surface from the lens mounting side using a cleaning tool such as a blower, the shutter is damaged and thereafter image sensing may become impossible. Since shutter repairing requires a high cost, damaging a sector is a great loss for a user. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a clarifying filter centrifuge of the type including an enclosed drum driven by a driving shaft, and a filter means positioned in a cover of the centrifuge and extending perpendicular to the axis of the driving shaft, and to a method of separating or filtering suspensions by means of said centrifuge.
There are two types of conventional centrifuges for filtering suspensions, namely solid jacket centrifuges and filter centrifuges.
Solid jacket centrifuges are utilized preferably for clarifying liquids. The heavy phase is deposited and collected on the wall of the drum while the light phase of the liquid, which is also a liquid, flows through an overflow weir.
In filter centrifuges, the liquid flows through filter cakes and filter means. This type of centrifuge is normally applied for dehumidizing well-filtered pumps.
The specific characteristic of the clarifying filter-centrifuge resides in that the suspension is not only silted there but is also filtered. If it is desired to treat a solid-free material, for example in case of solvent agent recovery and if the suspension are not well filtered, the application of the clarifying filter centrifuge is preferable, specifically when flocculation means are undesired due to their costs or when these means affect the following chemical process.
German Offenlegungsschrift DE-OS No. 32 38 728 discloses a centrifuge for difficulty filterable suspensions. The filtering process is carried out under superimposing of the other separation methods. The separation of the liquid from the solids is performed by the sedimentation and filtration. The centrifuge is comprised substantially of two preferably parallel plate-shaped members rigidly connected to each other and extending normal to the axis of rotation. The peripheries of these members are closed with a tubular body so that a hollow chamber for receiving a suspension to be processed is formed.
For the removal of the solids the hollow chamber is opened by the displacement of the tubular body. The separating insert which is comprised of a diaphragm, which is connected to a supporting element by a conical ring is perpendicular to the rotation axis and is secured to a ring-shaped front wall of the centrifuge chamber. The ring-shaped front wall is connected to the back wall of the chamber by three bolts inserted in protective sleeves. The suspension flows via an inlet tube to a distributor cone which accelerates suspension and leads the same to the back wall. The suspension is fed into the centrifuge until the liquid level has reached the bolts. The displacement of the solid jacket or the sleeve for the unloading of solids from the centrifuge is carried out by a pneumatic cylinder which transmits a displacement force of a system operated outside to a rotating system via ball bearings. Also, a force which is required to lock up the centrifuge while the centrifuge is operating is applied by that cylinder. Another version utilizes vacuum and pressure air which are supplied via the centrifuge shaft between the back wall of the chamber and drum body for the closing or opening of the centrifuge.
The disadvantages of this conventional centrifuge are as follows:
The centrifuge chamber is, at the location of the seal between the drum and the cover, subjected to the action of a small centrifugal forces, and if the sealing of the centrifuge is not tight enough the suspension liquid flows into the solid material and the separation material becomes moist.
Further, during the high-speed centrifugal process the relatively high force for locking applied via the ball bearings leads to failure of the ball bearings.
The conical shape of the clamping ring of the filter means leads to folding of the filter means whereby the filter means can no longer be reliably stretched.
The clamping of the filter means is not suitable to various thicknesses of the filter means because the clamping and the diaphragm rings must be precisely adjusted.
If, due to manufacture tolerances of the clamping ring and diaphragm ring and manufacture tolerances of the thickness of the filter means, the diaphragm ring is not precisely positioned on the membrane this would cause leakage at the worn-off places between the drum and the cover of the centrifuge.
Due to wear it has been required that sealings between the wall of the chamber of the centrifuge and drum sleeve be non-tight so that suspension would penetrate the chamber between the back wall of the centrifuge and the bottom wall of the drum which, on the one hand, was prevented by leakage of vacuum pressure for the centrifugal process and, on the other hand, caused the formation of radiation nests during the filtering of radio-active suspensions. Furthermore, this undesired breakoff during filtering of suspension which contain ferments or the like materials causes non-desired residues to be deposited in the centrifuge chamber which would require dismanteling and cleaning of the centrifuge.
Sealing materials and shapes utilized in conventional centrifuges of the type under discussion are not suitable for sealing pharmaceutical, life-supporting, radiation-active or chemically aggressive suspensions. They are also unsuitable with high pressures which occur due to liquid pressure of suspensions treated at high speeds.
Metal components utilized in such centrifuges are not sufficiently stable for filtering radioactive or chemically aggressive suspensions.
Therefore for unloading solids obtained in a centrifuging process the drum is displaced, and an enlarged projecting length of the driving shaft between the bearing and the drum bottom wall is obtained over the drum displacement path, which affects center of mass of the protruding components such as the drum chamber walls. Centrifugal materials are affected by unfavorable bearing loads or shaft loads and critical speeds so that high speeds can not be adjusted to filtering of heavier materials The overflow is not separated from the clarified suspension, and during the overfilling of the centrifuge it causes contamination of the filtrate.
The liquid and solid amounts in the centrifuge are visually controlled by operators, this however is non-allowable when radioactive or toxic suspensions are treated.
The housing of the centrifuge is open for feeding the suspension thereinto so that processing of the radiation-active or toxic suspensions leads to affecting the personnel and the environment.
The machine must be manually controlled during its entire operation cycle which is undesired specifically with radioactive suspensions. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine in which the compression ratio and valve characteristics are variable.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, various controls for controlling internal combustion engines have been proposed and employed to further improve the engine efficiency. The engine efficiency improves, for example, when the charging efficiency of air-fuel mixtures improves and when the compression ratio at which fuel is burned increases. Thus, it has been proposed to variably control the compression ratio in a combustion chamber, as well as the valve characteristics of the intake and exhaust valves, on the basis of the operation state of the internal combustion engine.
However, as the compression ratio increases as a result of such compression ratio control, the top dead center of the piston approaches the valves. Therefore, in a certain state of the valve characteristics control, the piston and the valves may collide with each other when the piston is at or close to the top dead center. Thus, solutions for preventing such collision between a piston and valves have been sought (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Publications No. JP-A-2001-263099 and No. JP-A-2005-83238).
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2001-263099 describes a method for avoiding collision between a valve and a piston, in which, when the compression ratio is made high during the compression ratio control, the timing at which the intake valve is retarded and/or the lift of the intake valve is reduced in order to create a clearance between the intake valve and the piston to prevent collision therebetween. Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2005-83238 describes a method for avoiding collision between a valve and a piston, in which the compression ratio is reduced towards the minimum compression ratio of the variation range of compression ratio in order to increase the distance between the top dead center of the piston and the valve and thereby prevent collision between the valve and the piston.
According to theses methods, however, it is considered that the following problems may occur when the above-stated controls are being implemented to prevent collision between the piston and the valve. Specifically, regarding the former method, when the valve lift of the intake valve is reduced and/or the valve timing of the intake valve is retarded to prevent collision with the piston, the charge efficiency of air-fuel mixture may decrease and thus the engine efficiency. Regarding the latter method, when the compression ratio is reduced towards the minimum compression ratio to prevent collision between the piston and the valve, the temperature of air-fuel mixture may not sufficiently increase, which reduces the fuel economy. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to semiconductor device fabrication and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for imparting a coating material to the surface of a semiconductor wafer and for efficiently removing excess amounts of the coating material and preventing excess coating material from adhering to the edges and back side of the wafer once the wafer has been coated.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known to those experienced in the art of semiconductor device fabrication, polyimide films have proven useful for a number of purposes, particularly for planarization of the semiconductor device surface in anticipation of photolithographic patterning and a passivation stress buffer. Polyimide films, which consist of polyimide resins in a solvent such as NMP (n-methyl-2-pyrolidone), demonstrate excellent thermal stability and chemical resistance, as well as acceptable dielectric properties. Consequently, polyimide films can be left permanently in place on the device, and are often used as a substitute for SiO2 or PSG (phososilicate glass) layers. The films can be applied in layers on the order of 1 to 40 xcexcm thickness by conventional photoresist spinning techniques. Upon application, polyimide films flow around projections and steps in the device surface, thereby contributing to planarization. The film contour becomes permanent upon curing at about 300xc2x0 C. In use, the degree of planarization effected by polyimide coating may be controlled by the viscosity of the film, that is, by the ratio of resin to solvent, and by the film thickness.
In a conventional semiconductor device fabrication process, a polyimide coating step takes place in a coater spin cup. The semiconductor wafer is supported inside the cup by a spin chuck. A dollop of polyimide is dispensed on the top surface of the wafer, and the wafer is rotated through rotation of the spin chuck shaft, while the coater spin cup remains essentially stationary. As the wafer rotates, polyimide is more or less uniformly dispensed over the surface of the wafer, with excess polyimide material centrifugally expelled off the circumferential perimeter of the wafer. The wafer then is subjected to a backrinse with a solvent such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA). As an undesired side effect of the coating process, excess polyimide material is deposited on the edges of the wafer and accumulates in the coater spin cup, thereby requiring cups to be periodically changed out after, approximately, 100 to 150 coating steps. In addition, because polyimide mixed with PGMEA results in a viscous fluid that cannot be piped into a bulk drain, the polyimide must be evacuated to a waste drain tank.
Accordingly, what is desired is an improved polyimide coating step in a semiconductor device fabrication process, wherein the improved step mitigates the need for frequent changes in the coater spin cup, removes wafer-edge and back side deposits and provides more efficient and convenient disposal of excess polyimide.
The above and other objects, advantages and capabilities are realized in one aspect of the invention by a method of coating a semiconductor wafer that is characterized by respective first and second substantially planar surfaces. The wafer is supported in a coater cup by a spin chuck that is disposed at or near the center of the first surface. After a coating material is deposited over at least a portion of the second surface, the wafer is spun, via rotation of the spin chuck shaft, so as to distribute the coating material over remaining portions of the second surface, and thereby cause excess coating material to be centrifigually expelled from the perimeter of the wafer. A developing fluid is injected on the back side of the wafer and is also centrifugally expelled off the wafer into the coater cup so that the excess coating material mixes with the developing fluid. Subsequently, a rinsing fluid is injected into the cup at a position proximal to the first surface so that developing fluid may be rinsed from the first surface. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coating material is polyimide, the developing fluid is dilute tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH), and the rinsing fluid is DI water.
Another aspect of the invention is realized by an apparatus for coating a first surface of a semiconductor wafer. The apparatus includes a coater cup in which is disposed a spin chuck consisting essentially of a platen portion for supporting the semiconductor wafer at the center of the second surface and a shaft portion extending downwardly from the platen through the bottom of, but separate from, the coater cup. The apparatus also includes first and second nozzles, extending into the coater cup through the bottom portion, for respectively injecting a rinsing fluid and a developing fluid into the coater cup at predetermined intervals. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and display devices using the semiconductor devices, and further manufacturing methods thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are a wide variety of metal oxides and such metal oxides are used for various applications. Indium oxide is a well-known material and is used as a transparent electrode material needed for a liquid crystal display and the like.
Some metal oxides exhibit semiconductor characteristics. Examples of such metal oxides having semiconductor characteristics include tungsten oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, and zinc oxide. A thin film transistor having such metal oxide having semiconductor characteristics in its channel formation region has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 to 4 and Non-Patent Document 1).
As metal oxides, multi-component oxides as well as single-component oxides are known. For example, homologous compound, InGaO3(ZnO)m, (m is natural number) is known as a multi-component oxide having In, Ga and Zn (Non-Patent Documents 2 to 4).
Furthermore, it is confirmed that an oxide semiconductor including such an In—Ga—Zn-based oxide is applicable to a channel layer of a thin film transistor (Patent Document 5 and Non-Patent Documents 5 and 6).
In a conventional technique, amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon has been used for a thin film transistor (a TFT) provided for each pixel of an active matrix liquid crystal display. However, in place of these silicon materials, attention has been attracted to a technique for manufacturing a thin film transistor including such a metal oxide semiconductor described above. For example, in Patent Documents 6 to 9, a technique in which a thin film transistor is formed using zinc oxide or an In—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor as a metal oxide semiconductor film and is used as a switching element or the like of an image display device is described. It is also known that semiconductors including elements of Group 14 other than silicon and compound semiconductors other than the oxide semiconductor described above can be used for channel layers of transistors.
In addition, an oxide semiconductor film can be deposited at temperature of 300° C. or lower by a sputtering method or the like, and thin film transistors having channel formation regions formed using oxide semiconductor can be easily formed in a wide region of a large substrate. Thus, application of oxide semiconductors to active matrix display devices has been expected. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a synchronous control apparatus of a rotary press including printing units and other necessary units, and more specifically, it relates to a synchronous control apparatus of a rotary press for selecting a drive control target based on printing image information of each printing couple in a rotary press for printing newspaper provided with a plurality of multicolor printing units as printing units each having a combination of at least two printing sections each provided with two printing couples capable of printing, for example, four pages of newspaper arranged in an axial direction of a plate cylinder so that respective blanket cylinders can contact each other and each printing couple can be individually driven.
2.Description of the Related Art
A rotary press in which each printing mechanism forming a printing section, for example, a printing couple or the like constituted by a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder is individually driven is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-85196. This specification describes that a drive motor provided to be able to individually drive each printing mechanism and retracting device are rotated by being controlled in a rotational angle by a computerized motor controller to make it possible to excellently adjust each printing mechanism and retracting device to each other in accordance with the progress of printing and drive them. This specification also discloses that aggregates of a printing machine, including the retracting device, are variably combined.
Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-64882 discloses a rotary press constituted by units being printing mechanisms to be mechanically independent and individually driven, and describes that a drive motor for each unit of this rotary press is subjected to a synchronous phase control by control means. Further, it describes that automatic connection between the units is facilitated.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-47905 discloses a rotary printing machine having a plurality of cylinders individually driven and a folding device individually driven by an electric motor, and describes that a master system for operating this rotary press is constituted by an upper master device and an autonomous printing station group separated into a plurality of pieces and assigned to the folding device, which is excellent in flexibility with a simple structure. Further, it also describes that when the printing station group is assigned to the folding device, it can be assigned in any manner.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-114058 discloses a synchronous control apparatus for synchronously controlling a plurality of motors so that differences in mutual phases of machine axes of a plurality of machines rotationally driven by a plurality of motors are held in a fixed relationship.
However, the above-described Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-85196 does not disclose means for variably combining the aggregations of the printing machine. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-64882 does not disclose means for performing automatic connection between the units, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-47905 does not disclose means for assigning the printing station group to the folding device. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-114058 never discloses that the synchronous control apparatus disclosed in this specification specifies or selects a control target.
Incidentally, for example, in newspaper printing, a rotary press in which all printing units are multicolor printing units each with at least two sets of so-called BB printing sections, usually, four sets of them, being stacked in a height direction is used so that multicolor printing surfaces can be placed on all pages, or so that a complicated paper feeder is not required on whichever page the multicolor printing surface may be placed.
However, for various reasons, virtually no newspaper with all of its pages being multicolor printed surfaces is issued. Accordingly, when newspaper is actually printed, it sometimes happens that some of the printing sections are not required to operate, and therefore there arises an increasing request for performing a printing operation while stopping the printing sections having no need to operate, that is, the printing sections that may be stopped, in terms of many points such as energy saving, reduction in running cost, and improvement in operation safety.
However, if an operator specifies the printing sections to be stopped each time, it often happens that the operator fails to specify the printing sections to be specified, and a desired energy saving, reduction in running cost, and improvement in operation safety are sometimes hindered. Though extremely rarely, it happens that the operator specifies the printing sections that are not to be specified, whereby defective printed matters occur and a problem such as a trouble in printing process step occurs, and a delay in operation is caused.
Consequently, a reasonable apparatus capable of correctly and surely specifying the printing sections to be stopped is demanded.
On the other hand, in the above described multicolor printing unit, it goes without saying that supply of ink is not needed in the printing sections that are stopped, but in the printing sections using the blanket cylinders on the other surface sides as the impression cylinders in order to print on only one face of the paper web, the supply of ink is not needed in the printing couples using the blanket cylinders as impression cylinders, either. Therefore, as for the printing couples having no need for supply of ink, a demand for performing a printing operation while stopping ink supply to a printing image on the plate cylinders is increasing, in terms of many points such as energy saving by reduction in drive load, reduction in running cost such as prevention of exhaustion of the inking roller, favorable maintenance of an operation environment by reducing ink mist generation sources, and improvement in operation safety by reducing useless rotationally operating parts.
However, if an operator specifies the printing couples ink supply to which is to be stopped each time, the operator often fails to specify the printing couples to be specified, which sometimes causes troubles in a desired energy saving, reduction in running cost, favorable maintenance of an operation environment, and improvement in operation safety. Though extremely rarely, the operator specifies the printing couples not to be specified, and defective printed matters occur and problems such as a trouble in the printing process step occurs, whereby a delay in operation is caused. Thus, a reasonable apparatus capable of correctly and surely specifying the printing couples ink supply to which is to be stopped is demanded.
The present invention is made in view of the aforementioned points, and its object is to provide a synchronous control apparatus of a rotary press for selecting a control target based on printing image information, which reduces a failure to specify the printing couples to be specified by previously specifying the printing sections that may be stopped, intends to achieve desired energy saving, reduction in running cost, favorable maintenance of an operation environment and improvement in operation safety, and prevents occurrence of defective printed matters by specifying the printing couples not to be specified, the resultant occurrence of a trouble in the printing process step and causation of a delay in operation.
The present invention is, in a rotary press having a plurality of multicolor printing units to print, constructed to include a printing image allocation setting section 8 for allocating printing images which printing couples print, drive means MO for driving the printing couples, inking transmission means 50, first moving means 90 for moving blanket cylinders BC of two of the printing couples, second moving means 62 for allowing ink supply, slave control sections 2 for controlling rotation of the drive means MO, transmission means related to the printing couples and inking devices 60, operation control sections 100 for controlling operations of the first moving means 90 and second moving means 62 according to output signals of the slave control sections 2, and a master control section 1 connected to the printing image allocation setting section 8 and each of the slave control sections 2 via a network 4. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is used in semiconductor manufacturing processes for planarizing a wafer or other work piece. To maintain the stability and throughput of CMP, the polishing pads used in CMP should be dressed by a diamond dresser.
The function of the diamond dresser is to maintain or restore the polishing characteristics of the polishing pad to the maximum extent possible during the polishing process and in doing so, extend the useful life of the polishing pad. The dressing step may be performed simultaneously with the polishing of the wafer, or as a separate step after every wafer or an x number of wafers is polished. The diamond dresser performs this function by exerting pressure on the polishing pad thereby affecting the polishing characteristics of the polishing pad.
Diamond dressers are generally made with diamonds. The usage of diamonds and the designs of most diamond dressers are such that the last 2 mm to 3 mm towards the outer circumference of the dressers are not covered by diamonds. Therefore, when the polishing pad is dressed down, the travel of this 2 mm to 3 mm of flat outer circumference region would be obstructed by the undressed part of the pad material. Such undressed part of the polishing pad affect CMP removal rate stability and increases wafer range issues as the polishing pad ages, thus limiting any future pad consumable life extension.
From the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an improved polishing pad that addresses the issue caused by the undressed part of the pad material. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to airbags for use in vehicles as a passive passenger restraint in the event of an accident, and more particularly for seamless woven bags suitable for use therein and methods of making the same.
An airbag is typically made with a bag which is formed by sewing or stitching together a pair of separate and distinct panels or by folding over an oversize piece of material and stitching the free edges thereof together. In either case, the cost of manufacturing the bag far exceeds the cost of weaving the bag due to the need for the seaming operation (i.e., stitching or sewing) and the additional time required to perform that operation. Equally important, while the weaving of the bag is a reliable and dependable operation requiring only minimal quality control, the seaming operation is greatly less predictable and reliable and indeed necessitates extensive and careful inspection procedures to ensure that the finished bag meets its specifications. These inspection procedures further increase the final cost of the bag.
Seamless bags of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction are known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 592,057; 3,340,919; 3,360,014; and 3,544,404 describe bags which are useful for containing granular solid material such as sand, coffee, food grains and the like. Each of these patents discloses designs which relate to the ability of the bag to hold a great quantity of weight (e.g., sand), the need to open and fill the bag (e.g., by opening the bag at one of the edges thereof), and the problems that result from stressing of the woven material where the two panels join together (variously referred to as the uniting band, the single ply cutting strip, the double thickness single layer fabric portion, or the single thickness strip).
Such prior art seamless bags are not suitable for use in airbags, however, and the design considerations applicable to airbags differ from those applicable to sand bags and the like. For example, typically an airbag must have a low Frazier porosity (e.g., less than eight cubic feet per minute (CFM) for a Passenger side airbag and less than 2 CFM for a driver side airbag) and must be capable of being rapidly inflated with nitrogen or other gas (e.g., within one hundred milliseconds) and then deflating. To this end, a uniform distribution of permeability is crucial. Therefore, the uniting band must not suffer combing or windowing--i.e., the formation of gaps in the yarn under stress as a result of compaction--as such gaps would permit gases to flow therethrough. A non-uniform permeability about the interface between the separate panel areas, on the one hand, and the uniting band thereabout, on the other hand, such as might result from combing or windowing, would present a problem because hot gases (about 1000.degree. F.) could concentrate at stress points exhibiting gaps or small holes and cause melting failures. Accordingly, a bag suitable for use in an airbag should not allow substantial compression of gases to occur in that interface area.
Additionally, an airbag does not have an opening at one of the edges, but rather a hole cut into the center of one of the opposed panels for subsequent attachment of an inflating device.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a seamless bag of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction suitable for use in an airbag.
Another object is to provide an airbag using such a seamless bag.
A further object is to provide a method of making such a seamless bag. | {
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The detection of micro-organisms for medical treatments and security systems has taken on increased importance in recent years. Modern medical systems as well as security systems depend on the detection and identification of microorganisms, including bioagents or toxins in the air, food, water, blood or other specimens.
Conventional detection is usually done in the laboratory. Laboratory testing typically uses skilled personnel in a time consuming process. Portable versions of laboratory PCR (polymerase chain reaction) have been developed, however, these devices are bulky and not cost effective.
Optical systems for detecting and identifying micro-organisms provide numerous advantages over chemical and other analysis techniques. For example, optical systems can reduce or eliminate the need for field workers to use chemical reactions to detect elements. Optical systems are also often nondestructive to the sample being analyzed.
Most optical biosensor designs rely on interactions between light and a biological sample to provide information on sample characteristics. However, the interaction between light and biological elements in the sample is typically weak. Thus without amplification of the interaction, a large quantity of analyte may be needed. Obtaining such large sample sizes may not be practical for many applications.
In order to increase the interaction between light and biological elements in the sample, optical waveguides may concentrate the intensity of light on the sample. In one use, microorganisms in the sample reside in liquid immediately adjacent to a waveguide surface. Evanescent waves from the waveguide interact with the molecules of the biological elements. However, the interaction between the evanescent waves and the biological elements is still weaker than desired.
A related patent application entitled Anti-resonant waveguide sensors, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/976,434 by many of the same inventors and assigned to the same assignee describes an improved sensor system and is hereby incorporated by reference. The patent application describes using an anti-resonant waveguide to confine and guide the light within the target-containing medium and therefore increase the interaction region between light and analyte (e.g., biological or chemical agent) being tested. The described system has a number of uses including the detection of binding events.
However, the system has not performed as well as expected. In particular, the light distribution within the anti-resonant waveguide is not as uniform as desired for many applications. Furthermore, in some applications, significant portions of the waveguide need to be devoted to coupling the light and uniformly distributing the light through the waveguide.
Thus an improved system for detection and identification with minimized light coupling region and homogeneous light distribution is needed. | {
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Videos can be used to convey a wide variety of audiovisual content. From entertainment video content, such as movies, television programs, music videos, and the like, to informational or instructional content (e.g., news broadcasts, documentaries, product advertisements, educational shows, etc.), video content offers a rich and effective means for communicating information.
Most contemporary video content is available in digital form and can be recorded or transmitted in one or more electronic formats. For example, traditional cable and satellite television service providers transmit live and prerecorded digital video signals to consumers over corresponding wired and wireless electronic communication media in real time according to a broadcast schedule. In addition many cable and satellite television service providers, and other web based services, have developed functionality to provide video content to consumers using so-called “video-on-demand” (VOD) systems. VOD systems allow service providers to provide specific video assets, such as television shows, movies, and the like, in response to user requests to any number of client devices for viewing.
Such live video and VOD content is usually transmitted as video data. The video data can include constituent visual data, audio data, and, in some instances, textual data (e.g., closed captioning data). In many of the video formats, the visual data is recorded as a sequence of frames that include still images resulting from the arrangement of pixels. Accordingly, the visual data can include a set of frames in which each frame includes a specific set of pixel data that, when rendered by a computer system, results in the corresponding visual content (e.g., images of people, places, and objects) of the video content.
In some scenarios, the visual content might include images of text. Images of text may include images of text on objects in a scene (e.g., words or characters on buildings, signs, or written documents, etc.). The visual content may also include rendered text superimposed over the images of a scene of the visual content. For instance, some television stations may embed on-screen text into visual content of a news broadcast to display summary information, captioning, or to introduce individual stories or segments. Similarly, talk shows may use on-screen text to identify people or topics, while programs showing or discussing sporting events may display on-screen text with running statistics about one or more games (e.g., score, period, time, etc.). Text that appears in the images of a scene or text that is embedded into or superimposed on the image of the scene are referred to herein as “on-screen text.”
On-screen text is distinguishable from text rendered from textual data (e.g., a text string) in that on-screen text does not correspond to underlying data that includes specifications or other indications of the text. Rather, on-screen text is only recognizable by examining the images that result from rendering the corresponding pixel data of the visual data. | {
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The present invention relates to silicon-germanium-based compositions comprising silicon, germanium and carbon (Si--Ge--C), methods for growing Si--Ge--C epitaxial layer(s) on a substrate, etchants especially suitable for Si--Ge--C etch-stops, and novel methods of use for Si--Ge--C compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to Si--Ge--C compositions, especially for use as etch-stops, related processes and etchants useful for microelectronic and nanotechnology fabrication.
The invention was made with U.S. Government support under (i) Phase I SBIR N00014-93-C-0114 awarded by the Office of Naval Research (BMDO), (ii) F49620-93-C-0018 awarded by AFOSR (DARPA), and (iii) DMR-9115680 awarded by the National Science Foundation, and the Government has certain rights in the invention.
In etching we remove a film or layer from a substrate, in some instances defining the layer to be removed by photolithography. One way to etch is to immerse the substrate in a bath of some chemical that attacks the film. Preferably, the chemical should react with and etch the film or layer in a smooth and reproducible manner, producing soluble products that can be carried away from the substrate. In particular, an ideal etchant will not attack any layer underneath the film being etched, so that the etch process will be self-limiting. Unfortunately, the etching is often not self-limiting and therefore goes below the desired depth. Etch-stops are designed to address this problem.
Semiconductors have the interesting property that when they are alloyed with certain elements, the rate of wet chemical etch in the alloy will vary from that of the unalloyed semiconductor. Alloys with different etch rates can be used to cause etching to slow at a pre-defined interface. Typically, a layer with a particular composition etches at a known rate in an etchant A second adjacent layer may etch at a different rate because it has a different composition. The layer with the lower etch rate is often referred to as the etch-stop layer.
Etch-stops are used to fabricate devices for a wide variety of applications. Membranes and diaphragms formed via etch-stops are used in sensors such as pressure transducers, as elements in experimental x-ray lithography systems, as windows for high energy radiation, and as low thermal mass supports for microcalorimeter and bolometric radiation detectors. Additional uses for selective etch-stops are in micromachining applications such as accelerometers, gears, micro-beams, miniature fluid lines, pumps and valves, and in flow sensors. Another application with a potentially large commercial market is in fabricating silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates by the bond-and-etch-back silicon-on-insulator (BESOI) process.
Silicon-based selective chemical etch-stop layers such as Si--B, Si--Ge, Si--Ge--B, Si--P, and Si--As have major problems and disadvantages which are overcome by the present invention. The disadvantages can be illustrated by examining examples pertaining to the commonly used Si--Ge--B etch-stops. First, the specially doped layer (e.g., Si--Ge--B) and the lightly doped silicon have limited selectivity. Selectivity is defined as the etch rate of lightly doped silicon divided by the etch rate of the etch-stop layer, or in some cases its reciprocal as discussed below. Limited selectivity increases the manufacturing cost by creating a need for tightly controlled, and sometimes labor-intensive processing to prevent the etch from going beyond the intended depth. This problem is exacerbated when fabricating the thin layers that are required for submicron electronic devices.
Certain chemical solutions etch a lightly doped silicon layer more rapidly than a heavily doped layer. For this purpose lightly doped means less than approximately 1E17 dopant atoms per cm.sup.3, and heavily doped means more than approximately 1E19 dopant atoms per cm.sup.3. For example, 21 weight percent (wt %) potassium hydroxide in H.sub.2 O (KOH--H.sub.2 O) at about 70.degree. C. etches the (100) plane of lightly doped silicon rapidly (approximately 1 micrometer per minute), but the etch rate becomes slow (less than 0.01 micrometer per minute), making possible selective etching, as the boron concentration in the silicon increases to more than about 5E19 atoms per cm.sup.3.
The conventional formulations of these etchants have serious problems when used with the above-mentioned etch-stop layers. For example, KOH--H.sub.2 0, an inexpensive etchant, is prone to producing a rough surface when it etches silicon. Ethylenediamine pyrocatechol in water (EDP--H.sub.2 O) provides somewhat better etch selectivity and is less prone to developing surface roughness than KOH--H.sub.2 O, but has limited application in that it emits extremely toxic vapors and is relatively expensive. Another etchant, cesium hydroxide in water (CsOH--H.sub.2 O), can provide smoother surfaces than KOH--H.sub.2 O for conventional etch-stop layers but is even more expensive than EDP--H.sub.2 O.
Surface roughness arises from the anisotropic etch properties of the solutions that preferentially etch lightly doped silicon. These solutions etch certain crystallographic directions in the material faster than other directions. For example, a chemical solution consisting of 21 wt % KOH--H.sub.2 O at 70.degree. C. will rapidly etch the (100) plane of lightly doped silicon, but only slowly etch the (111) plane. This leads to the etched surface being rough as illustrated in FIGS. 1A-B. As shown in FIG. 1A, a solution of KOH--H.sub.2 O (11) will rapidly etch lightly doped silicon (12). If a small particle such as particle (13) adheres to the surface of the lightly doped silicon (12), the etch rate will be locally retarded under the particle (13). Slow etching planes (14) on the (111) plane will form as the particle (13) is undercut by the etch solution. This leads to the formation of a slow-etching pyramid under the particle (13). If the etch selectivity is not sufficiently high, these pyramids will propagate into the etch-stop layer (15), shown in FIG. 1A as peaks (16), resulting in a rough surface.
Another problem with conventional etch-stop compositions, especially those containing a high boron concentration, is they leave an insoluble staining residue on the surface of the substrate. This residue both roughens and contaminates the substrate surface. Increasing the KOH concentration of the etch solution, for example, from 21 wt % to 40 wt % will eliminate the surface staining, but will also substantially decrease the etch selectivity.
In contrast to the above etchants, conventional formulations of 1:3:8 and 1:3:12 parts by volume of HF--NHO.sub.3 --CH.sub.3 COOH (HNA) etch lightly doped silicon somewhat less rapidly than heavily doped silicon and are therefore used preferentially to remove etch-stop layers. In this case, selectivity is defined as the etch rate of the etch-stop layer divided by the etch rate of the lightly doped silicon. The above formulations of HNA have major drawbacks, including relatively low selectivity, and selectivity decreasing rapidly with time during etching due to reduction of the HNO.sub.3 to HNO.sub.2.
Still another problem with conventional etch-stop compositions is that the impurity which provides the etch selectivity is also a donor or acceptor dopant in the silicon. Thus, for example, when a Si--Ge--B etch-stop is used to fabricate a BESOI substrate, boron diffusing out from the etch-stop layer during a bonding anneal causes unwanted electrically active dopant in the device layer. This problem is illustrated in FIGS. 2A-B which show concentration profiles of boron and germanium as a function of depth in a substrate layer, an etch-stop layer, and a device layer, before a bonding anneal (FIG. 2A) and after the anneal (FIG. 2B). FIG. 2A illustrates the boron (21) and germanium (22) concentration profiles in the substrate (23), the etch-stop layer (24), and in the device layer (25) after epitaxial layer growth and before the bonding anneal. FIG. 2B shows the changed boron (26) and germanium (27) concentration profiles after the bonding anneal. Because boron diffuses through the material faster than germanium during the bonding anneal, its profile is broadened such that significant "diffusion tails" extend from the etch-stop layer into the substrate (23) and the device layer (25). In a BESOI structure, the boron diffusion tail causes an unacceptable level of electrically active dopant to exist in the device layer (25).
There are reports in the literature of Si--Ge--C layer fabrication. However, to the best of applicants' knowledge, none of the existing processes for forming Si--Ge--C are suitable for producing Si--Ge--C layers as part of a large scale manufacturing process. Feijoo et al., Etch Stop Barriers in Silicon Produced by Ion Implantation of Electrically Non-Active Species, Journal of the Electrochemical Society (1992) describe silicon layers implanted with silicon, germanium, and carbon at doses between 1E14 and 3E16 ions/cm.sup.2 and energies between 35 and 200 keV and testing them as etch-stop barriers in an EDP--H.sub.2 O based solution (p. 2309, Abstract). When ions are implanted in this range of dose and energies, the lattice structure is damaged. Feijoo states the results obtained indicate that the effectiveness of the etch-stop is influenced (i.e., improved) by both the implantation damage and the chemical interaction between the implanted ions and the defective crystal (Abstract). The resulting damage greatly restricts the number of useful commercial applications for Feijoo's etch-stop barriers. Accordingly, Feijoo's methods and results are substantially different from the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,614 to Furukawa et al., Semiconductor Device with Crystalline Silicon-Germanium-Carbon Alloy, describes another process of producing a silicon-germanium-carbon alloy film principally by molecular beam epitaxy, but also by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD), photoenhanced CVD, microwave-excited CVD, thermal CVD and metal-organic CVD methods. Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) might provide good crystalline quality, but it is a slow and expensive process. With regard to a description of the thermal CVD process (col. 10, lines 37-43) Furukawa describes that the surface of a silicon substrate was cleaned and the temperature thereof adjusted to 650.degree. C. Gaseous SiH.sub.4, GeH.sub.4 and CH.sub.4 were allegedly introduced into a reactor so as to give a total pressure of 100 torr. Thus, a Si--Ge--C alloy film was purportedly formed on the substrate by a thermal CVD method. However, applicants believe methane at the stated process temperature is far too stable to function as a carbon source for thermal CVD formation of the silicon-germanium-carbon film. Further, Furukawa et al. do not recognize or discuss the use of Si--Ge--C as an etch-stop.
Regolini et al., Growth and characterization of strain compensated Si.sub.1,xy Ge.sub.x C.sub.y epitaxial layers, Materials Letters (1993) describe metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) for fabricating epitaxial Si--Ge--C layers with less than 1 atomic percent carbon, which is far less than desirable for etch-stops. Further, there is no mention in the Regolini et al. publication of using Si--Ge--C as an etch-stop. | {
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Automatic power control (APC) of light emitting devices allows for a constant and a consistent output from these devices. Generally, automatic power control of edge emitting laser devices is easily achieved because edge emitting devices emit light from two ends. Thus, enabling one of the light emitting ends to be used to measure the power output, which is subsequently use to adjust the power input to the edge emitting device, thereby adjusting the power output.
However, automatic power control of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is a difficult task because the VCSEL generally emits light from only a single surface, thus making measurement of the output and subsequent adjustment thereof a difficult task. Conventionally, in order to accomplish this task, several optical devices, such as photodiodes, mirrors, beam splitters, and the like are positioned in the optical path of the emission from the VCSEL. To maintain a given output power from a VCSEL it has been previously proposed to integrate a photodetector with the device structure and collect a portion of the lasing light that can then be used in a feedback control system to maintain a constant output power. Each individual VCSEL includes its own photodetector and control circuitry.
Many future applications utilizing VCSEL technology, include VCSEL arrays such as those preferred in parallel data storage, printing and data communications applications. In all of these applications it is advantageous if the output power from each individual VCSEL device of the VCSEL array be maintained at a constant value that is independent of such things as the ambient temperature or age of the actual VCSEL device. Effects such as increasing temperature and aging generally reduce the level of output power from a given output power of a VCSEL device and as such this impacts the performance of the laser device in any given system. However, individual APC of each VCSEL device in a VCSEL array has not been addressed.
It can be readily seen that conventional APC technology of VCSEL devices does not easily enable the automatic power control of individual VCSEL devices which compose an array of VCSELs. Therefore, an integrated article and method for making a VCSEL array with integrated photodetectors for automatic power control of each individual VCSEL device of the array would be highly desirable.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved integrated VCSEL array and photodetector for automatic power control of each individual VCSEL in the array.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved integrated VCSEL array and photodetector which is simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture
It is still another purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved integrated VCSEL array and photodetector which are integrated with a minimum of labor and cost.
It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved integrated VCSEL array and photodetector which can be utilized to control the output of each individual VCSEL device which composes the array. | {
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The present invention relates to liquid droplet ejection systems and, more particularly, ink jet system and, even more particularly, to drop-on-demand ink jet systems.
Ink jet systems generally fall into two categoriesxe2x80x94continuous systems and drop-on-demand systems. Continuous inkjet systems operate by continuously ejecting droplets of ink, some of which are deflected by some suitable means prior to reaching the substrate being imprinted, allowing the undeflected drops to form the desired imprinting pattern. In drop-on-demand systems, drops are produced only when and where needed to help form the desired image on the substrate.
Drop-on-demand ink jet systems can, in turn, be divided into two major categories on the basis of the type of ink driver used. Most systems in use today are of the thermal bubble type wherein the ejection of ink droplets is effected through the boiling of the ink. Other drop-on-demand ink jet systems use piezoelectric crystals which change their planar dimensions in response to an applied voltage and thereby cause the ejection of a drop of ink from an adjoining ink chamber.
Typically, a piezoelectric crystal is bonded to a thin diaphragm which bounds a small chamber or cavity fill of ink or the piezoelectric crystal directly forms the cavity walls. Ink is fed to the chamber through an inlet opening and leaves the chamber through an outlet, typically a nozzle. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric crystal, the crystal attempts to change its planar dimensions and, because the crystal is securely connected to the diaphragm, the result is the bending of the diaphragm into the chamber. The bending of the diaphragm effectively reduces the volume of the chamber and causes ink to flow out of the chamber through both the inlet opening and the outlet nozzle. The fluid impedances of the inlet and outlet openings are such that a suitable amount of ink exits the outlet nozzle during the bending of the diaphragm. When the diaphragm returns to its rest position ink is drawn into the chamber so as to refill it so that it is ready to eject the next drop.
Thermal bubble systems, although highly desirable for a variety of applications, suffer from a number of disadvantages relative to piezoelectric crystal systems. For example, the useful life of a thermal bubble system print head is considerably shortened, primarily because of the stresses which are imposed on the resistor protecting layer by the collapsing of bubbles. In addition, because of the inherent nature of the boiling process, it is relatively difficult to precisely control the volume of the drop and its directionality. As a result, the produced dot quality on a substrate may be less than optimal.
Still another drawback of thermal bubble systems is related to the fact that the boiling of the ink is achieved at high temperatures, which calls for the use of inks which can tolerate such elevated temperatures without undergoing either mechanical or chemical degradation. As a result of this limitation, only a relatively small number of ink formulations, generally aqueous inks, can be used in thermal bubble systems.
These disadvantages are not present in piezoelectric crystal drivers, primarily because piezoelectric crystal drivers are not required to operate at elevated temperatures. Thus, piezoelectric crystal drivers are not subjected to large heat-induced stresses. For the same reason, piezoelectric crystal drivers can accommodate a much wider selection of inks. Furthermore, the shape, timing and duration of the ink driving pulse is more easily controlled. Finally, the operational life of a piezoelectric crystal driver, and hence of the print head, is much longer. The increased useful life of the piezoelectric crystal print head, as compared to the corresponding thermal bubble device, makes it more suitable for large, stationary and heavily used print heads.
Piezoelectric crystal drop-on-demand print heads have been the subject of much technological development. Some illustrative examples of such developments include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,087,930 and 4,730,197, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein and which disclose a construction having a series of stainless steel layers. The layers are of various thicknesses and include various openings and channels. The various layers are stacked and bonded together to form a suitable fluid inlet channel, pressure cavity, fluid outlet channel and orifice plate.
The systems disclosed in the above-referenced patents illustrate the use of a fluid inlet channel having a very small aperture, typically, 100 microns or less. The use of a very small aperture is dictated by the desirability of limiting the backflow from the ink cavity during. ejection of a drop but is problematic in that the small aperture is susceptible to clogging during the bonding of layers as well as during normal operation of the print head.
The construction disclosed in the above-referenced patents requires the very accurate alignment of the various layers during manufacture, especially in the vicinity of the small apertures which form portions of the fluid path. Furthermore, the openings in the orifice plate which form the outlets of the various flow channels have sharp edges which could have adverse effects on the fluid mechanics of the system.
Additionally, the techniques used in forming the openings in the orifice plate, which typically include punching, chemical etching or laser drilling, require that the thickness of the orifice plate be equal to, or less than, the orifice diameter which is itself limited by resolution considerations to about 50 microns.
Finally, any air bubbles trapped inside the flow channel cannot easily be purged and, because the bubbles are compressible, their presence in the system can have detrimental effects on system performance.
According to the present invention there is provided a liquid droplet ejection device, comprising: (a) a plurality of liquid ejection nozzles; (b) a liquid supply layer including porous material, the liquid supply layer featuring holes related to the nozzles; and (c) a plurality of transducers related to the holes for ejecting liquid droplets out through the nozzles.
In some embodiments of devices according to the present invention, the porous material includes sintered material, such as, sintered stainless steel.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the transducers are piezoelectric elements, the nozzles are the outlets of capillaries and the device further comprises: (d) a deflection plate, the piezoelectric elements being connected to the deflection plate; and (e) a liquid cavity layer formed with cutouts therethrough, the cutouts being related to the piezoelectric elements, the liquid cavity layer adjoining the deflection plate, the liquid cavity layer adjoining the liquid supply layer, the holes of the liquid supply layer being related to the cutouts, the capillaries located in the holes, the liquid supply layer being configured so that liquid is able to flow from the porous material into the cutouts.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the liquid cavity layer is omitted and the deflection layer directly adjoins the liquid supply layer.
According to yet other embodiments of the present invention, the nozzles are formed by an orifice plate which adjoins the liquid supply layer, which may, in turn, adjoins the deflection plate or the liquid cavity layer, when present.
According to other embodiments of the present invention, the transducers are heat elements and droplet ejection is effected by the thermal bubble method, rather than through the use of piezoelectric elements.
The ejection of ink drops using a device according to one embodiment of the present invention is accomplished as follows: A pressure pulse is imparted to a volume of ink in an ink cavity through the deflection of a thin deflection plate, or diaphragm, located on top of the ink cavity. The plate is deflected downward by the action of a piezoceramic crystal whenever a voltage is applied across its electrodes, one of which is in electrical contact with the usually metallic deflection plate.
The pressure pulse created by the downward bending of the deflection plate drives the ink towards and through an outlet, preferably a glass capillary having a convergent nozzle at its outlet end, causing the ejection of a drop of a specific size.
When the piezoelectric crystal is de-energized, it returns to its equilibrium position, reducing the pressure in the ink cavity and causing the meniscus at the outlet end of the glass capillary to retract.
The retracted meniscus generates a capillary force in the glass capillary which acts to pull ink from an ink reservoir into the ink cavity and into the glass capillary. The refilling process ends when the meniscus regains its equilibrium position.
In alternative embodiments of devices of the present invention there are provided systems similar to those presented above but which, instead of relying on piezoelectric elements and a deflecting plate, features heating elements which serve to boil the ink, thereby causing its ejection.
A key element in print heads according to the present invention is the presence of porous material which is in hydraulic communication with both the ink reservoir and the individual ink cavities. Preferably, the glass capillaries are embedded in openings in the porous material. The porous material preferably also defines part of the walls of the ink cavities.
Proper selection of the porous material makes it useful as a filter, serving to prevent any foreign particles which may be present in the ink from reaching the nozzles and possibly blocking them.
It will be readily appreciated that in order to achieve high drop ejection rates, the time required to refill the ink cavity following ejection of a drop must be as short as possible. The refilling time can be reduced by reducing the restriction to flow into the ink cavity. However, reduction of the restriction to inflow tends to increase the adverse effects of cross talk, i.e., the undesired interactions between separate ink cavities.
The optimization of the system in terms of the conflicting requirements of low cross talk and high refill rate can be effected through the judicious selection of a porous material having optimal characteristics for the intended application, taking into account, in addition, the viscosity of the ink and the nozzle geometry. The important characteristics of the porous material include the pore size and the permeability to flow (together referred to as xe2x80x9cmicron gradexe2x80x9d), as well as the macro and micro geometries of the porous material.
As stated above, the optimal balance between the in-flow of ink into the ink cavity and its out-flow from the cavity is also affected by the ink viscosity and nozzle dimensions. The lower the viscosity of the ink, the faster is the refilling rate of the ink cavity but the more pronounced is the cross talk between separate cavities. Also, the smaller the outlet nozzle diameter, the more pronounced is the capillary action of the nozzle and hence, the higher is the refilling rate.
Ink jet print heads are generally designed so that the dimensions of the ink channels into and out of the ink cavity are such that the channels have acoustic impedances which are optimal for a specific ink of a given viscosity and for a specific nozzle diameter. If it is desired to use a print head with a different nozzle diameter and/or with a different viscosity ink, the print head channels must be redesigned to accommodate the new nozzle diameter and/or different viscosity ink.
By contrast, use of a porous material according to the present invention, makes it possible to preserve the same print head geometry and structure even when ink of a different viscosity and/or when a different nozzle geometry are to be used. The optimization of the acoustic impedances of the channels can be effected merely through the proper selection of a suitable porous material having suitable characteristics, such as a suitable micron grade.
Apart from the ability to optimize the print head without the need to redesign the flow channels, use of porous materials according to the present invention eliminates the small, and easily clogged, ink inlet apertures leading to the ink cavities.
Still another advantage offered by the use of the porous material according to the present invention is the material""s ability to act as a filter, thereby reducing, or even completely obviating, the need for special filtration of the in-flowing ink.
Finally, the fabrication of print heads including porous material according to the present invention can be effected using simple production techniques without the need for complex and expensive micro-machining. | {
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Organo-phosphorus fungicides are now extensively employed mainly for treating rice diseases caused by fungi Piricularia oryzae and Pellicularia sasaki (cf. A. F. Granov, N. N. Melnikov "Uspekhi Khimii", 1973, 42, 9, 1681).
Fungitoxical agents are found among different typs of organo-phosphorus compounds including derivatives of phosphoric and phosphonic acids, phosphines and phosphonium salts, acids of tetracoordination phosphorus and salts thereof, esters of acids of tetracoordination phosphorus, and amides of phosphorus acids.
As a fungicidal thereapeutic compound for treating dermatomycoses known in the art is O,O-dimethyl-1-acetoxy-2,2,2-trichloroethylphosphonate (chloracetophos)--the closest analogue of the novel compounds according to the present invention cf. USSR Inventor's Certificate No. 280768, Bulletin of inventions, 1970, No. 28, p. 93).
Currently known organo-phosphorus fungicides are slightly effective against plant diseases, in particular in killing rust fungi causing most dangerous diseases of cereal and other crops.
For successful control of rust diseases of cereal crops being cultivated in vast areas, highly-effective fungicides are needed that are suitable for efficient application methods, e.g. for the ultra-small volume spraying (USVS) method.
A high activity in respect of rust diseases of cereal crops is revealed by dithiocarbamic acid derivatives, in particular by zinc ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (zineb). These fungicides, however, ar not suitable for application by the USVS method. Besides, these products are not stable upon storage and are harmful to human beings as well as the environment (1. Choinka A., Mosinski S. Pr. Inst.przem. organ., 1971, 3, 269; 2. Ivanova-Chemishanskaja "Gigiena i Sanitaria" 1971, No. 11, 95; 3. E. A. Antonovich et al. "Gigiena i Sanitaria", 1972, No. 9, 25). An essential disadvantage of dithiocarbamate fungicides resides in their limited application, i.e. they are effective only for the purpose of prophylaxis (prior to appearance of visualized symptoms of the disease). For this reason, their application may be effective only upon availability of trustworthy forecasts of disease development.
The above-mentioned disadvantages of dithiocarbamate fungicides gave rise to investigations aiming at finding appropriate substitutes therefor (cf. Gibney L., Chem. and Eng. News, 1975, 53, No. 23, 15).
A high activity against rust diseases is inherent in salts of nickel or mixtures thereof with ethylenebisdithiocarbamic acid derivatives (cf. Jones R. J., E.Afric.Agric. and Forest J., 1961, 26, No. 4, 210; Hardison J. R., Phytopathology, 1963, 53, No. 2, 209). However, due to a detrimental effect of said compounds on human organisms and environments, the use of nickel-containing fungicides has been prohibited (cf. J. Horsefall, Presentation to VIII Congress on Plant Protection, Moscow, 1975).
Ammonium salts of sulphanilic acid such as anilate have been suggested for killing rust fungi of cereal crops and other plants (cf. USSR Inventor's Certificate No. 178236, 1964; Bulletin of inventions, 1966, No. 2, 138). These compounds, however, are phytotoxic and of low-efficiency.
Certain modern system fungicides have proven to be efficient in killing rust fungi, e.g. 1,4-dioxide-2,3-dihydro-6-methyl-5-phenylcarbamoyl-1,4-oxathiine (hydroxycarboxine, plantwax), cf. "Systemic Fungicides", "MIR" Publishing House, 1975, p. 209. However, the use of these fungicides for treating rust diseases of cereal crops is in most cases economically inefficient due to the high cost of the compounds. | {
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This invention relates generally to seat devices which are transportable and adjustable, as for use by musicians and others; and more particularly concerning a seat device which defines an interior storage area, for example to carry musical equipments or music sheets.
There is a need for devices of the above type, since musicians constantly move between performance locations, and have a need to carry their equipments and music, including seats which they have become accustomed to.
It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved device of the above type, which has many highly advantageous features. Basically, the preferred device includes:
a) upper, lower and intermediate sleeves having telescopic interconnections,
b) a seat on the upper sleeve,
c) transporting structure including wheels carried by the lower sleeve.
d) and adjustable locking elements associated with at least two of the sleeves for locking the two sleeves in selected positions for vertical height adjustment.
The referenced elements are preferably located proximate side walls of at least two sleeves, and are adjustable at the interior of the structure.
It is another object to provide one of the locking elements to define at least one vertical series of slots carried by a side wall of one of the intermediate and lower sleeves. Another of such elements constitutes at least one support carried by the side wall of the other of said intermediate and lower sleeves and located to be selectively received in each of the different slots. The slots may be defined by at least one plate attached to the side wall of one of the intermediate and lower sleeves, with the plate facing to the interior of said sleeve assembly. The support may comprise a threaded member projecting sidewardly through the walls of the intermediate and lower sleeves, and through the plate.
Yet another object is to provide three of such vertical series of slots, and there are at least three of the supports respectively associated with said at least three series of slots. Such slots may advantageously define dwell regions for reception of at least one support, to block twisting displacement of the supports out of the slots without relative vertical movement of the intermediate and lower sleeves.
A further object is to provide at least one trunnion on the lower sleeve, the transporting structure including at least one wheel carrying axle carried by that trunnion. As will be seen, there are typically two trunnions carrying the axle, and a handle projects downwardly between the trunnions for connection to the axle, and also projecting upwardly at a side of assembly. At least one strap is typically carried by the assembly to wrap the adjacent handle and the assembly, for retaining the handle to the assembly.
A further object is to provide multiple sleeve retention straps spaced about the assembly and acting to hold the sleeves against relative vertical separation in a selected position of vertical height adjustment. The internal supports are then enabled to be held in selected dwell regions by the external retention straps acting on the sleeve assembly.
An additional object is to provide a transporting structure that includes an upright handle having operative connection to the lower sleeve, at a lower elevation, and also releasably connected to at least one of the sleeves at an upper elevation.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to circuits for driving power transistors which control the application of electricity to a load; and more particularly to such circuits which provide some degree of protection against the adverse effects of a short circuit in the load coupled to the transistor.
A recent addition to the family of power semiconductor devices are insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT). This type of device is adapted for use in power supplies and other applications where it is required to switch currents on the order of several hundred amperes. One application of IGBT's is in high frequency inverters of X-ray generators.
A desirable feature of this type of power semiconductor device, compared to thyristors, is the capability of surviving short circuit load conditions by self-limiting the fault current rather than relying solely upon conventional protection techniques. This self-limiting capability is a function of the conductivity of the IGBT and the magnitude of the drive voltage applied to its gate electrode. Higher gat voltages permit a greater fault current to flow through the transistor; thereby increasing the stress on the device and likelihood that it will fail under a short circuit condition before a current sensor can act to turn off the transistor's gate drive. It is therefore advantageous from the aspect of short circuit survival to limit the conductivity of the transistor, but this has the adverse effect of raising the on-state voltage drop across the IGBT. A higher voltage drop results in a larger power loss in the device and more power dissipation. When the IGBT is switching several hundred amperes, a difference of a few volts across the device amounts to a significant power dissipation.
As a consequence, a designer seeking to incorporate an IGBT into a power switching circuit has been faced with the dilemma of choosing between a relatively high gate drive voltage in order to reduce the power dissipation in the device, while reducing short circuit protection; or utilizing a lower gate drive voltage to increase the short circuit survivability, while increasing the power dissipation of the device. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a light emitting diode having a thermal conductive is substrate and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Discussion of the Background
A light emitting diode (LED) is an electroluminescent device having a structure in which an N-type semiconductor and a P-type semiconductor are joined together, and emits light through recombination of electrons and holes. Such an LED has been widely used for a display and a backlight. Further, since the LED has less electric power consumption and a long life span as compared with conventional electric bulbs or fluorescent lamps, its application area has been expanded to the use thereof for general illumination while substituting for conventional incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps.
The LED repeats on/off in accordance with the direction of a current under an AC power source. Thus, if the LED is used while being connected directly to the AC power source, there is a problem in that it does not continuously emit light and is easily broken by means of a reverse current.
To solve such a problem of the LED, an LED that can be used while being connected directly to a high voltage AC power source is proposed in International Publication No. WO 2004/023568A1 entitled “LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE HAVING LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENTS” by SAKAI et al.
According to the disclosure of WO 2004/023568A1, LEDs are two-dimensionally connected in series on an insulating substrate such as a sapphire substrate to form LED arrays. Two LED arrays are connected in reverse parallel on the sapphire substrate. As a result, there is provided a single chip light emitting device that can be driven by means of an AC power supply.
However, since the sapphire substrate has relatively lower thermal conductivity, heat cannot be smoothly dissipated. This limitation on the heat dissipation leads to a limitation on the maximum luminous power of the light emitting device. Therefore, there is a need to improve a heat dissipation property in order to increase the maximum luminous power of a light emitting device under a high voltage AC power source.
Further, since the LED arrays are alternately operated under the AC power source in the light emitting device, the luminous power is considerably limited as compared with a case where light emitting cells are simultaneously operated. As a result, in order to increase the maximum luminous power, it is necessary to improve the light extraction efficiency of each light emitting cell. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a drum cleaning apparatus for an electrostatic copying machine.
In an electrostatic copying machine of the dry development type, a photoconductive drum is electrostatically charged and radiated with a light image of an original document to form an electrostatic image thereon through localized photoconduction. A powdered toner substance is applied to the drum to develop the electrostatic image into a toner image which is transferred and fixed to a copy sheet to form a permanent reproduction of the original document.
However, not all of the toner substance is transferred to the copy sheet and residual amount remains. The residual toner substance must be removed prior to another copying operation in order to avoid double printing (the superimposition of an image of the previous document on that of the subsequent document).
An effective way to remove the residual toner substance and thereby clean the drum is by means of a resilient scraper blade made of rubber or the like. In order to preclude contamination of the internal components of the copying machine with the residual toner substance scraped off the drum by the scraper blade it is necessary to catch the toner substance and convey the same to a container, preferably for recycling. It has been proposed in the prior art to provide a roller below the scraper blade. The roller is driven in such a direction as to carry the toner substance which falls thereon from the scraper blade to a container. In order to be effective, the scraper blade must be disposed above the axis of the drum and the roller must be below the axis of the drum. Whereas this type of arrangement is marginally effective, it is inadequate when the amount of toner substance removed by the scraper blade is greater than a certain value. More specifically, although a portion of the removed toner substance is carried to the container by the roller another portion of the removed toner substance spills off the roller onto operating parts of the copying machine.
Two expedients have been attempted in the prior art in order to overcome this problem. As the first, a bias voltage has been applied to the roller which attracts the toner particles and prevents the same from spilling off the roller. However, unless the bias voltage is high enough to cause deterioration of the toner particles and make the same unsuitable for recycling, this first expedient is ineffective.
The second prior art expedient is to make the roller larger in diameter, thereby providing a larger surface area for the toner substance falling from the scraper blade. Whereas this expedient does improve the effectiveness somewhat, it is still inadequate and merely contributes to an overall increase in size of the copying machine. | {
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1. Field
The present application relates to a transmitter optical module, in particular, the application relates to a transmitter optical module that installs a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes (hereafter denoted as LD), a thermo-electric controller (hereafter denoted as TEC), and a wiring mechanism to the TEC within a housing of the transmitter optical module.
2. Description of the Related Art
A transmitter optical module is often used as an optical signal source of an optical transceiver and/or an optical pumping source for a fiber amplifier. A transmitter optical module generally installs therein an LD to transduce an electrical signal into an optical signal with an emission wavelength depending on a temperature of the LD. In order to keep the emission wavelength in constant in a preset wavelength, the transmitter optical module provides a TEC to control a temperature of the LD.
Various techniques have been known in the field to provide electrical currents from the outside of an housing to the TEC set in a bottom of the housing. The current to be supplied to the TEC sometimes becomes large, occasionally exceeding a several amperes. In order to provide such a large current securely, a particular arrangement for the electrical connection to the TEC is necessary. For instance, a wire with an extremely large cross section, and/or, an interconnection having extremely wide and thick dimensions on a wiring substrate has been conventionally known. The present application is to provide another technique to supply a large current to the TEC within the housing. | {
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Electric toothbrushes and other small electrical appliances such as shaving apparatus, kitchen appliances, and the like generally have a watertight housing in the interior in which there are often switches. In some cases, it may be desired that the actuating energy for such switches be passed through the housing wall in a manner preventing the ingress of water. In a typical arrangement the switch or other mechanism (e.g., a brake, coupling, valve, transmission, etc.) to be actuated lies behind an aperture in the housing wall which is sealed by an elastic membrane. To activate the appliance, the user presses (e.g., presses with his or her finger) on the membrane, thereby actuating the switch or other mechanism underneath. The membrane is generally made of a soft plastic material which is bonded to the hard plastic housing wall. The membrane and the housing wall can be injection-molded by a two-component injection method.
As a visual and tactile indicator to the underlying switch, the membrane often has a projection or some other three-dimensional structure on its outside surface. In cases in which the three-dimensional structure is made of the same material as the membrane, the three-dimensional structure and the membrane generally have the same color, which can impair recognition of the three-dimensional structure.
For this reason, some known appliances include a metal actuating button inserted in a hole passing through the membrane. However, such an arrangement can allow liquid (e.g., water) to pass through the hole into the interior of the housing. Thus, water-tightness of the housing may no longer be assured. | {
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Rapamycin (Sirolimus) is a 31-member natural macrocyclic lactone [C51H79N1O13; MWt=914.2] produced by Streptomyces hygroscopicus and found in the 1970s (U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,992; 3,993,749). Rapamycin (structure shown below) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prophylaxis of renal transplant rejection in 1999.
Rapamycin resembles tacrolimus (binds to the same intracellular binding protein or immunophilin known as FKBP-12) but differs in its mechanism of action. Whereas tacrolimus and cyclosporine inhibit T-cell activation by blocking lymphokine (e.g., IL2) gene transcription, sirolimus inhibits T-cell activation and T lymphocyte proliferation by binding to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Rapamycin can act in synergy with cyclosporine or tacrolimus in suppressing the immune system.
Rapamycin is also useful in preventing or treating systemic lupus erythematosus [U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,999], pulmonary inflammation [U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,899], insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,009], skin disorders, such as psoriasis [U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,730], bowel disorders [U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,731], smooth muscle cell proliferation and intimal thickening following vascular injury [U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,288,711 and 5,516,781], adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma [European Patent Application 525,960 A1], ocular inflammation [U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,589], malignant carcinomas [U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,018], cardiac inflammatory disease [U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,832], anemia [U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,138] and increase neurite outgrowth [Parker, E. M. et al, Neuropharmacology 39, 1913-1919, 2000].
Although rapamycin can be used to treat various disease conditions, the utility of the compound as a pharmaceutical drug has been limited by its very low and variable bioavailability and its high immunosuppressive potency and potential high toxicity. Also, rapamycin is only very slightly soluble in water. To overcome these problems, prodrugs and analogues of the compound have been synthesized. Water soluble prodrugs prepared by derivatizing rapamycin positions 31 and 42 (formerly positions 28 and 40) of the rapamycin structure to form glycinate, propionate, and pyrrolidino butyrate prodrugs have been described (U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,803). Some of the analogues of rapamycin described in the art include monoacyl and diacyl analogues (U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,885), acetal analogues (U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,413), silyl ethers (U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,842), hydroxyesters (U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,718), as well as alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, and alkynyl analogues (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,665,772; 5,258,389; 6,384,046; WO 97/35575).
Prodrugs and analogues of rapamycin are synthesized by chemical synthesis, where additional synthetic steps are required to protect and deprotect certain positions. Analogues can also be synthesized biologically, where the Streptomyces strain is genetically modified to produce these analogues of rapamycin. The analogues need to maintain necessary positions for protein binding or other cellular interactions and not generate steric hindrance in order to preserve its activity. The safety of these analogues requires extensively testing by series of preclinical and clinical experimentations.
The present invention comprises novel macrocyclic lactones and novel uses for macrocyclic lactones, where the compositions can be synthesized chemically or biologically and which preserve at least some immunosuppressive, anti-proliferative, anti-fungal and anti-tumor properties for use in systemic and site specific applications. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Multipath interference (MPI) in an optical link occurs when an optical signal can take more than one path to reach the same place. This can occur as a result of branching and recombining topologies, or as a result of reflective elements present in the link causing cavity effects. Such effects may occur as follows:
After one partial reflection in a link, a delayed version of the original signal is created, travelling in the opposite direction to the original signal. If the reflected signal is again partially reflected, a delayed version of the original signal is created which travels in the same direction as the original. It may cause interference with the original signal which can be constructive or destructive, according to the relative phase. The relative phase will depend the frequency of the signal and on the delay, which is in turn dependent on the difference in path lengths, i.e. the distance D between the reflective features.
The magnitude of the interfering signal will depend on the degree of reflection at each feature, on the gain or loss between reflections, the optical distance D, and the signal frequency. For a branching topology, path length difference, signal frequency, and path gains will characterise the MPI.
Reflections may be caused by connections, taps, optical amplifiers or isolators for example. Small amounts of reflection can cause significant interference particularly in systems containing optical amplifiers, which have gain between the reflections. This means the unwanted reflections will be amplified twice for each round-trip. Isolators are used to limit the round-trip gain, operating with a high loss in a reverse direction. However, the loss will be in the same order as the gain of the amplifier, thus the effect is only mitigated but not eliminated. MPI may vary with time as components degrade or are replaced, or as paths are switched.
Current methods for measuring MPI or parameters relating to MPI can be divided into three categories. Firstly, laboratory instruments for determining MPI effects of individual components or units will insert precise sinusoid test waveforms and include high frequency spectrum analysers for determining resultant outputs. They are not suitable for incorporation into transmission systems or for testing. They are expensive, unsuitable for field use, and incapable of operating with existing transmission sources which cannot generate pure waveforms, or be easily provided with branches to receive pure waveforms.
Secondly, methods for assessing bit error rates (BER) or signal to noise ratios (SNR) of optical transmission systems are known. They may assess the output eye, and in some circumstances, MPI may cause up to around half the noise or errors that are detected.
However, it is impossible to separate MPI from optical noise in such systems. Thus although they can perform tests under realistic operating conditions, with data traffic present, they cannot be used to derive amounts of MPI or locate sources of MPI.
Thirdly, methods of locating the cause of optical reflections are known. One example is an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR). It is a dedicated instrument for locating reflections. It is bulky, costly, and cannot work through optical amplifiers, or while there is traffic present at the same wavelength.
Another example is known from PCT/GB95/01918 in which the function of an OTDR is incorporated in an optical element, by using the data signal as a stimulus for locating causes of reflections. The delay can be measured and thus the distance to reflective features can be calculated. This can help to locate reflective features, which is of great assistance in fault finding during commissioning.
However, such techniques can only measure reflections from points downstream of the measurement point. Furthermore, the MPI which might arise downstream of reflective features depends further on the amount of any second reflection of the reflected signal, and on any gain encountered by the twice reflected signal. These cannot be measured, and so the amount of MPI remains unknown. Furthermore, OTDR techniques cannot achieve good resolution at large distances, thus it may be difficult to distinguish closely neighbouring reflection sources.
Furthermore, if there are isolators in the path, as are usually provided in optical amplifier units, then measurements of reflections may be completely unrepresentative of MPI.
Accordingly, existing methods give no suggestion as to how to determine an amount of MPI in a link when data traffic is present. They give no suggestion as to how to determine characteristics of MPI from a measurement point downstream of sources of MPI, and no suggestion of how to derive a signature of MPI from an optical signal, or how to assess the characteristics causing the MPI. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates to a birefringent element for use in corrugated waveguide of circular cross section propagating the HE.sub.11 mode, and to a method of manufacturing such a waveguide.
It is frequently desirable in a transmission system to have a birefringent element, either to produce a circular or elliptic polarization, or to eliminate ellipticity introduced by another element, such as a bend in the waveguide. One of the generally accepted desirable properties of the HE.sub.11 mode in a corrugated waveguide is its insensitivity to deformations of cross section as compared to a smooth wall waveguide, (P. J. B. Clarricoats, A. D. Olver, C. G. Parini and G. T. Poulton, in "Proceedings of the Fifth European Microwave Conference," Hamburg, F.R.G., pp. 56-60, September 1975.) For that reason propagation in the HE.sub.11 mode through a circularly symmetric corrugated waveguide is often used. However, generation of a circular or elliptical polarization from a linear polarization has not heretofore been accomplished directly in a corrugated waveguide used for propagation in the HE.sub.11 mode. Instead, any required rotation of the polarization has been achieved before conversion to the HE.sub.11 propagation mode by using a smooth wall waveguide of elliptic cross section propagating the TE.sub.11 or TM.sub.11 mode as a birefringent element, (J. L. Doane, "Int. J. of Electronics," 61, 1109-1133, 1986.) After the change in polarization has been made, conversion to the HE.sub.11 mode may be made for propagation through circularly symmetric corrugated waveguides. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Postpaid cellular phone (cell phone) services typically allow the user of a cell phone to spend unlimited amounts of money for services. In other words, there is nothing to stop the user from running up a huge cell phone bill. Many parents have experienced this issue with their children, prompting the parents to take their children's phones away or to otherwise restrict their children's access to the phones. Unfortunately, modern society requires that parents have the ability to contact their children by cell phone and vice versa, so the cell phones are often returned to the children despite the possibility of future abuse.
The same type of issue exists between employers and employees and other parties in similar administrator/user relationships with respect to the use/abuse of cell phones and other devices. For example, an employer may want an employee to have a communications or mobile computing device, but may not want to pay for certain services or applications that the employee can access with the device or may want to limit how, when, and how much of those services or applications can be used by the employee. Likewise, a government agency or school might be willing to pay for or subsidize certain communications services or applications, but not others. Without the ability to somehow restrict the employee's ability to use services or applications that the employer does not want to pay for or to shift payment obligations for those services or applications to the employee, many employers are forced to give their employees the devices anyway and hope for the best.
One partial solution to the problems associated with postpaid cellular phone abuse is the prepaid cellular phone. Prepaid phone services limit spending because the user of the phone can only use what has been paid for in advance. Many children, however, are not responsible or mature enough to adequately track and maintain their prepaid phone service accounts, and many parents have too many other obligations to keep close track of their children's cell phone use, so as to make sure the phone service accounts are adequately funded all of the time. The net result can be disastrous. For example, if a child uses up all of the funds in their prepaid account, and their phone service provider shuts down access to its services, the child will not be able to call a parent in the event of an emergency, or arrange to be picked up after school or a sporting event, etc.
Thus, a prepaid phone service does not solve the problem of ensuring availability of key services even if the prepaid account has run out of money. In addition to insuring the safety of their children, many parents, employers and others would like to be able to exercise administrative control over the services and activities that a child, employee, etc., is allowed to pay for out of their prepaid account, but prepaid accounts have not been structured to provide such administrative control or feature management. Feature management can encompass many activities, such as preventing a feature or service from being used entirely, limiting how much a feature or service can be used in a given time period, or limiting when a given feature or service can be used (i.e. time of day, days in month, etc).
Prior attempts by prepaid service providers to address these problems have only resulted in partial solutions. Some service providers have provided for rollover usage minutes, which are minutes that were not used as part of a user's service plan and are allowed to roll over to the same user for use in the next month. In some cases, this might prevent a user from running out of minutes in the next month, but it does not guarantee that the user will not use up all of their monthly minutes, plus the rollover minutes, and be denied access to key services anyway. Other service providers have provided an automated refill service, which automatically bills some amount to a credit card to recharge the user's prepaid account in the event the balance in the user's account gets too low. However, a prepaid phone service with an automated refill service is the equivalent of a postpaid phone service and would therefore have the same problem with potential abuse as a postpaid service. In other words, there is no spending limit on the phone service.
Postpaid services have also attempted to address these problems by offering users unlimited usage packages that limit a user's exposure to running up charges. However, for parents who are also interested in preventing their children from sending 300 text messages per day with their phone, or running up a huge bill for services that are not included in the “unlimited usage package,” such as downloaded games or ringtones, unlimited usage offerings are not a complete solution. Another partial solution is to provide the administrator (parent) with an alert when a user has reached some limit for a service. For example, a parent could be alerted when a child has spent more than $10 on text messages within a certain period of time. An alert, however, does not actually limit usage of the service, it just warns the parent that the limit has been reached, at which point the parent has to intervene to prevent further abuse, such as by taking the phone away from the child, which is one of the problems with postpaid services in the first place.
It is further known in the art to provide an account for a user of a prepaid phone, such as a cellular phone, in which funds are stored electronically for future use of the phone. For example, a service provider could establish an account for a user, in which funds can be stored, such as through use of a credit card charge or electronic transfer from a bank account. In some cases, corporate customers with multiple users under the same service provider might be able to have a single account for their business, with subaccounts assigned to certain phones and charged to the particular departments within the corporation to which the employees using those phones correspond. Some service providers also provide affinity accounts, which include special rates and promotions for groups of people belonging to a similar business, club, etc. In each case, however, these accounts operate separate from one another in that all of the charges for a particular phone are charged to a particular account, rather than some charges being billed to one account while other charges are billed to another account. The same is true with respect to discounts and promotions, i.e., a discount or promotion is either applied to an existing account or it is not.
Finally, it is further known to establish some measure of parental or administrative control over an account. The Telcordia™ Converged Real-Time Charging system allows users to place limited real-time controls over prepaid and postpaid accounts. For example, when an account allows a child to download premium data (data for which a charge is imposed), parental controls over that account can be set to limit that child's spending within a set of parameters. This system and other solutions, however, are only partial solutions to the problem of providing limits on overspending and other activities by the user while simultaneously assuring that the user will always be able to use the phone when appropriately needed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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At present, most communication power supplies adopt multiple rectifiers connected in parallel for load sharing. Efficiency characteristics of a rectifier may vary with a load. In general, efficiency for a light load may be low, and therefore some rectifiers have to be turned off to optimize system efficiency, such that system may have energy saving effect. In general, a battery may be hooked to an output of a system with multiple rectifiers connected in parallel. An existing efficient energy saving mode is as shown in FIG. 1. A system Micro Control Unit (MCU) controller 17 may be powered by a battery 15. The MCU controller 17 may make a logic decision according to a system load and a single-rectifier efficiency curve, and control some control pins of a secondary power supply 16 by optocoupler isolation, such that the secondary power supply idles. The secondary power supply 16 may serve to provide a DC stabilized voltage to a controlling circuit, a logic circuit, a fan circuit, or the like. Thus, by controlling the secondary power supply to stay idle, a rectifier in an energy saving state may be made to be merely hooked to an AC grid without drawing energy from the grid, thereby achieving better energy saving effect. In FIG. 1, EMI 11 may represent an Electro-Magnetic Interference filter, PFC 13 may represent a Power Factor Corrector.
A communication power supply adopts an AC input. When an AC input produces a long-term high voltage or when a neutral line in a Three-phase Power Supply System is disconnected, although there is no power output in overvoltage protection, an input circuit thereof is still connected to a grid. Without measure-taking at the power supply or the system, an output filtering electrolytic capacitor, generally 450V/470 μF, behind a rectifier bridge, will be damaged. The electrolytic capacitor may then burst, or even a fire at the power supply and a severe failure may be caused, leading to system communication interruption. Therefore, at present high-voltage protection is often implemented via protection at a power supply per se. High-voltage protection at a power supply may further include hiccup protection using a voltage-dividing resistor and hiccup protection via input cutoff with a relay.
A circuit for hiccup protection using a voltage-dividing resistor, as shown in FIG. 2, basically operates as follows. When it is detected that everything is normal, regular relays K1, K2 are closed, in which case contact closure at a primary relay K1 leads to normal power output. When a voltage on an electrolytic capacitor C3 is detected to exceed a set value for high-voltage protection, a primary power circuit stops operating. At the same time the circuit is disconnected at regular relays K1, K2, in which case R2, R1 may be connected in series in the input circuit. Voltage-division may be implemented by impedance variability of R2, such that the voltage on the electrolytic capacitor C3 will not be overly high, implementing high-voltage protection. The R1 in general may be of a fixed resistance. The R2 in general may be a thermistor with a positive temperature coefficient. For a high-voltage protection by voltage division circuit, when an MCU controller issues an energy saving instruction to implement energy saving at a rectifier by controlling a secondary power supply to stop operating, the regular relays K1, K2 lose power rendering circuit disconnection at K1, K2, and R1, R2 are thus connected in series into the circuit. In this case, with a high grid voltage, a high distorted grid harmonic component, or a high environment temperature, R2 also will share a high voltage, thus a low voltage on the electrolytic capacitor C3. Now as the MCU controller issue a rebound-from-energy-saving instruction, the secondary power supply cannot operate right away, and therefore a rectifier cannot rebound right away from energy saving. In FIG. 2, L may represent a live line, N may represent a neutral line, and VD1 may represent a rectifier bridge.
A circuit for hiccup protection via input cutoff with a relay, as shown in FIG. 3, basically operates as follows. When it is detected that everything is normal, a regular relay K1 is closed. In high-voltage protection, the circuit is disconnected at the regular relay K1, an alternative relay K2 is closed. High-voltage protection is implemented by switching K2 with a voltage threshold of a control logic. A device for high-voltage protection by cutoff implements ultra-low standby power consumption by controlling a secondary power supply, during which reliable high-voltage protection may not be guaranteed in an abnormal grid, unless an additional secondary power supply powered by a system battery is provided, which may further complicates the circuit and raise a cost thereof. | {
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1. Field
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to computer implemented techniques for rapidly determining certain numerical values. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to techniques for calculating common logarithms to large precisions.
2. Description of the Related Art
In mathematics, a logarithm of a number to a given base is the power or exponent to which the base must be raised in order to produce that number. For example, the logarithm of 1000 to base 10 is 3. A logarithm with base 10 is generally known as a common logarithm. The fractional part of a logarithm is known as the “mantissa” or “significand”; the integer part is called the “characteristic”. For example, the logarithm of 120 is written as log10 120=2.07918125, where 2 is the characteristic and 0.07918125 is the mantissa. One property of logarithms is multiplication may be reduced to addition: the logarithm of a product of two numbers is equal to the sum of the logarithm of the first number and the logarithm of the second number. That is, log(ab)=log(a)+log(b). Similarly, logarithms reduce division to subtraction: the logarithm of the quotient of two numbers is equal to the difference between the logarithm of the first number and the logarithm of the second number. That is,
log ( a b ) = log ( a ) - log ( b ) .
Logarithms have numerous applications, particularly in finance where some transactions require the use of logarithmic operations. In some contexts, financial data may be stored in a format or manner in which known and conventional methods of computing logarithms are inappropriate. In addition, calculation of logarithms may be limited to a certain precision due to constraints in hardware and/or software architecture. For example, double precision calculations provide precision up to 1017. A logarithm may be calculated for precision less than 1018 by using the following equation:
x = 889 * ( y 1 2048 - 1 ) . Logarithms needing precision greater than 1018 must be calculated through an alternative method. | {
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The present invention relates to an air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to an air-fuel ratio control which is capable of improving an engine performance in a transient operation during EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) control.
JP-A-10-288043 discloses an air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine. This air-fuel ratio control system is arranged to determine a preferable relationship between an excess air ratio and an EGR ratio in correspondence to each engine operating condition and to control the engine on the basis of this determined relationship in order to mainly ensure exhaust gas purifying performance.
However, this air-fuel ratio control system has limitations in varying the excess air ratio and the EGR ratio since the air-fuel ratio control is executed on the basis of this linear relationship.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved air-fuel ratio control system which is capable of maintaining an optimum combustion condition of an internal combustion engine even when an excess air ratio and an EGR ratio of the engine are separately varied, such as during a transient operation.
An aspect of the present invention resides in an air-fuel ratio control system which is for an internal combustion engine and which comprises an engine condition detecting unit and a control unit coupled to the engine condition detecting unit. The engine condition detecting unit detects an engine operating condition of the internal combustion engine. The control unit is arranged to calculate a target engine torque on the basis of the engine operating condition; to calculate a target EGR ratio, a target excess air ratio and a target intake air quantity on the basis of the engine operating condition and the target engine torque; to calculate a target equivalence ratio on the basis of the target EGR ratio and the target excess air ratio; to calculate a target injection quantity on the basis of the engine operating condition and the target equivalence ratio; and to control an air-fuel ratio at a desired value by bringing a real intake air quantity to the target intake air quantity and by bringing a real fuel injection quantity to the target fuel injection quantity.
Another aspect of the present invention resides in a method for controlling an air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine. The method comprises a step for detecting an engine operating condition of the internal combustion engine; a step for calculating a target engine torque on the basis of the engine operating condition; a step for calculating a target EGR ratio, a target excess air ratio and a target intake air quantity on the basis of the engine operating condition and the target engine torque; a step for calculating a target equivalence ratio on the basis of the target EGR ratio and the target excess air ratio; a step for calculating a target injection quantity on the basis of the engine operating condition and the target equivalence ratio; and a step for controlling an air-fuel ratio at a desired value by bringing a real intake air quantity to the target intake air quantity and by bringing a real fuel injection quantity to the target fuel injection quantity. | {
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The present invention relates to a filter device, which removes foreign matter contained in gaseous fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine, and a pressure regulator, which includes the filter device.
A pressure regulator as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-167417 is provided in a supply passage through which gaseous fuel such as compressed natural gas (CNG) is supplied to an internal combustion engine. Such a pressure regulator includes a reducing valve, which reduces the pressure of the gaseous fuel, and a filter device, which removes foreign matter such as oil contained in the gaseous fuel.
The filter device includes a substantially cylindrical drain tank with a closed end. The body of the pressure regulator closes the opening of the drain tank. A cylindrical filter and a lid member arranged on the bottom of the filter are provided in the drain tank. The lid member includes a post, which extends downward. The lid member is supported by the bottom wall of the drain tank with the post. The lid member closes the bottom opening of the filter, and the body closes the top opening of the filter.
The gaseous fuel with the pressure reduced by the reducing valve flows through an inflow portion into the drain tank, passes through the filter, and then flows out of the drain tank through an outflow portion. The foreign matter caught by the filter when the gaseous fuel passes through the filter as described above is accumulated in the drain tank.
The pressure regulator is provided in an engine compartment. The body of the pressure regulator may receive thermal energy emitted from a thermal source such as an internal combustion engine provided in the engine compartment so that the body may be heated to a high temperature. When the body is heated to a high temperature as described above, the filter that is in contact with the body becomes high temperature as well. Accordingly, the filter may be deformed.
If the filter is shortened by such a deformation in the axial direction, a gap may occur in at least one of the interface between the filter and the body and the interface between the filter and the lid member. In this case, a part of the gaseous fuel that has flowed through the inflow portion into the drain tank may flow into the gap. The gaseous fuel that has flowed into the gap as described above flows out of the drain tank through the outflow portion without passing through the filter. Accordingly, if a gap occurs in at least one of the interface between the filter and the body and the interface between the filter and the lid member due to the deformation of the filter, the performance of the filter device for catching the foreign matter will be reduced. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film feeding apparatus of a camera and more particularly to the construction of the mechanism for stopping the feeding of the film each time one frame of the film is fed.
The present invention also relates to a film feeding apparatus of a camera having an automatic initial loading function for feeding out the film from a cartridge after the cartridge is installed in a cartridge chamber of the camera and winding the film round a spool provided in the camera.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Normally, the film feeding apparatus of a camera automatically stops the operation for feeding the film each time the film is fed by one frame, by utilizing perforations formed in the film. In a camera using an ordinary 35 mm film having perforations formed therein at small regular intervals, the film feeding is stopped when the rotational angle of a sprocket engaging perforations reaches a predetermined value. For example, a camera for use with 110 type film having one perforation formed in each frame at regular intervals has a mechanism comprising a perforation detecting lever having a claw which penetrates into each perforation and a spring for urging the lever in the direction in which the claw presses against the film surface. In this mechanism, the claw penetrates into one perforation and engage with it while the film is being fed. Thus, the film is prevented from moving. In using the film having one perforation formed for each frame, the mechanism for stopping the feeding of the film by means of the lever can be constructed comparatively easily.
In the meantime, the present applicant proposed a camera which uses a film having two perforations formed in one frame in Japanese Patent Application 2-092579. If the lever mechanism of the camera for use with 110 type film is applied in the camera using the film having two perforations formed for one frame, it is difficult to distinguish whether the claw of the lever has penetrated into the front perforation or the rear perforation in each frame, which causes the control system and the construction of the camera to be complicated.
In using film having two perforations formed for one frame, it is considered that the claw of the lever is allowed to penetrate into only the front perforation. More specifically, the lever is interlocked with a shutter charging mechanism so as to move the lever away from the film surface when the rear perforation passes the position corresponding to the claw of the lever. However, a mechanism in which the operation timing of the lever is controlled by interlocking the lever mechanism with a different mechanism leads to a limitation in designing or assembling the camera. In addition, if the lever is operated at an inappropriate time, the control for winding the film cannot be appropriately accomplished. These problems may occur when one frame has more than two perforations.
The following initial loading function is known. That is, a film is automatically fed out from a film cartridge after a user installs it in a cartridge chamber of a camera and the film is automatically wound round a spool of the camera. In this initial loading mechanism, when the film fed out from the cartridge advances toward the spool, the film is prevented from proceeding if there is an obstacle on the film feeding path. In the mechanism of the camera for use with 110 type film, the lever described above is urged so that the claw presses against the film surface. That is, if the lever mechanism of the camera for use 110 type film is employed in a camera having the initial loading mechanism, the claw of the lever prevents the feeding of the film during the initial loading operation.
In order to adopt a mechanism equivalent to the lever mechanism of the camera for use 110 type film in the camera having the initial loading mechanism, it is necessary in initial loading to move the claw of the perforation detecting lever away from the film feeding path by interlocking the operation of the perforation detecting lever with that of the film feeding mechanism or by a user's manual operation. However, in the former, the construction of the film feeding apparatus and the control system thereof because complicated. In the latter, it is necessary for the user to perform an operation, which may lead to an operation mistake. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for delivery and vaporization of a liquid reagent for transport to a deposition zone, e.g., a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the formation of thin films, layers and coatings on substrates, a wide variety of source materials have been employed. These source materials include reagents and precursor materials of widely varying types, and in various physical states. To achieve highly uniform thickness layers of a conformal character on the substrate, vapor phase deposition has been used widely as a technique. In vapor phase deposition, the source material may be of initially solid form which is sublimed or melted and vaporized to provide a desirable vapor phase source reagent. Alternatively, the reagent may be of normally liquid state, or may be in a liquid solution or suspension, which is vaporized, or the reagent may be in the vapor phase in the first instance.
In the manufacture of advanced thin film materials, a variety of reagents may be used. These reagents may be used in mixture with one another in a multicomponent fluid which is utilized to deposit a corresponding multicomponent or heterogeneous film material. Such advanced thin film materials are increasingly important in the manufacture of microelectronic devices and in the emerging field of nanotechnology. For such applications and their implementation in high volume commercial manufacturing processes, it is essential that the film morphology, composition, and stoichiometry be closely controllable. This in turn requires highly reliable and efficient means and methods for delivery of source reagents to the locus of film formation.
Examples of advanced thin film materials include refractory materials such as high temperature superconducting (HTSC) materials including YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x, wherein x is from about 6 to 7.3, BiSrCaCuO, and TlBaCaCuO. Barium titanate, BaTiO.sub.3, and barium strontium titanate ("BST"), Ba.sub.x Sr.sub.1-x TiO.sub.3, have been identified as ferroelectric and photonic materials with unique and potentially very useful properties in thin film applications of such materials. Ba.sub.x Sr.sub.1-x Nb.sub.2 O.sub.6 is a photonic material whose index of refraction changes as a function of electric field and also as a function of the intensity of light upon it. Lead zirconate titanate, PbZr.sub.1-x Ti.sub.x O.sub.3, is a ferroelectric material whose properties are very interesting. The Group II metal fluorides, BaF.sub.2, CaF.sub.2, and SrF.sub.2, are useful for scintillation detecting and coating of optical fibers. Refractory oxides such as Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 are coming into expanded use in the microelectronics industry; Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 is envisioned as a thin-film capacitor material whose use may enable higher density memory devices to be fabricated.
Thin films comprising the Group II metal fluorides, BaF.sub.2, CaF.sub.2, and SrF.sub.2, are potentially very useful as buffer layers for interfacing between silicon substrates and HTSC or GaAs overlayers or between GaAs substrates and HTSC or silicon overlayers, and combinations of two or all of such metal fluorides may be employed in forming graded compositions in interlayers providing close lattice matching at the interfaces with the substrate and overlayer constituents of the composite. For example, a silicon substrate could be coated with an epitaxial layer of BaF.sub.2 /CaF.sub.2, SrF.sub.2 /CaF.sub.2, or SrF.sub.2 /CaF.sub.2 /BaF.sub.2, whose composition is tailored for a close lattic to the silicon. If the ratio of the respective Group II metal species in the metal fluoride interlayers can be controlled precisely in the growth of the interlayer, the lattice constant could be graded to approach the lattice constant of GaAs. Thus, a gallium arsenide epitaxial layer could be grown over the metal fluoride interlayer, allowing the production of integrated GaAs devices on widely available, high quality silicon substrates. Another potential use of such type of metal fluoride interlayers would be as buffers between silicon substrates and polycrystalline HTSC films for applications such as non-equilibrium infrared detectors. Such an interlayer would permit the HTSC to be used in monolithic integrated circuits on silicon substrates.
BaTiO.sub.3 and Ba.sub.x Sr.sub.1-x Nb.sub.2 O.sub.6 in film or epitaxial layer form are useful in photonic applications such as optical switching, holographic memory storage, and sensors. In these applications, the BaTiO.sub.3 or Ba.sub.x Sr.sub.1-x Nb.sub.2 O.sub.6 film is the active element. The related ferroelectric material PbZr.sub.1-x Ti.sub.x O.sub.3 is potentially useful in infrared detectors and thin film capacitors well as filters and phase shifters.
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a particularly attractive method for forming thin film materials of the aforementioned types, because it is readily scaled up to production runs and because the electronic industry has a wide experience and an established equipment base in the use of CVD technology which can be applied to new CVD processes. In general, the control of key variables such as stoichiometry and film thickness, and the coating of a wide variety of substrate geometries is possible with CVD. Forming the thin films by CVD permits the integration of these materials into existing device production technologies. CVD also permits the formation of layers of the refractory materials that are epitaxially related to substrates having close crystal structures.
CVD requires that the element source reagents, i.e., the precursor compounds and complexes containing the elements or components of interest must be sufficiently volatile to permit gas phase transport into the chemical vapor deposition reactor. The elemental component source reagent must decompose in the CVD reactor to deposit only the desired element at the desired growth temperatures. Premature gas phase reactions leading to particulate formation must not occur, nor should the source reagent decompose in the lines before reaching the reactor deposition chamber. When compounds are desired to be deposited, obtaining optimal properties requires close control of stoichiometry which can be achieved if the reagent can be delivered into the reactor in a controllable fashion. In this respect the reagents must not be so chemically stable that they are non-reactive in the deposition chamber.
Desirable CVD reagents therefore are fairly reactive and volatile. Unfortunately, for many of the refractive materials described above, volatile reagents do not exist. Many potentially highly useful refractory materials have in common that one or more of their components are elements, i.e., the Group II metals barium, calcium, or strontium, or the early transition metals zirconium or hafnium, for which no or few volatile compounds well-suited for CVD are known. In many cases, the source reagents are solids whose sublimation temperature may be very close to the decomposition temperature, in which case the reagent may begin to decompose in the lines before reaching the reactor, and it therefore is very difficult to control the stoichiometry of the deposited films from such decomposition--susceptible reagents.
When the film being deposited by CVD is a multicomponent substance rather than a pure element, such as barium titanate or the oxide superconductors, controlling the stoichiometry of the film is critical to obtaining the desired film properties. In the deposition of such materials, which may form films with a wide range of stoichiometries, the controlled delivery of known proportions of the source reagents into the CVD reactor chamber is essential.
In other cases, the CVD reagents are liquids, but their delivery into the CVD reactor in the vapor phase has proven difficult because of problems of premature decomposition or stoichiometry control. Examples include the deposition of tantalum oxide from the liquid source tantalum ethoxide and the deposition of titanium nitride from bis(dialkylamide)titanium reagents.
In recent years, the liquid delivery technique has come into increasingly widespread use, for chemical vapor deposition applications using "problematic" reagents such as those described above. In the liquid delivery approach, the reagent composition is dissolved or suspended in a suitable solvent medium, and the liquid is subjected to rapid vaporization to produce a precursor vapor which then is transported to the chemical vapor deposition chamber, optionally augmented by a carrier gas, e.g., an inert gas or an oxidant medium, to be contacted with the substrate heated to appropriate temperature. The liquid delivery technique has come into increasingly widespread use, and continues to evolve as a thin film materials fabrication methodology.
While source reagent liquid delivery systems present distinct advantages over conventional techniques, there is often some fraction of the precursor compound that decomposes into very low volatility compounds that remain at the vaporization zone. This deficiency is an important issue in the operation of CVD processes that use thermally unstable solid source precursors which undergo significant decomposition at conditions needed for sublimation. Such decomposition can occur in all reagent delivery systems that involve a vaporization step, including flash vaporizer liquid delivery systems as well as more conventional reagent delivery systems that include bubblers and heated vessels operated without carrier gas.
Although well-behaved CVD precursors vaporized under "ideal" conditions will form no deposits or residue at the vaporization zone, deviations from this situation are common and can be divided into several categories:
1) Reactive impurities in either the precursor or in the carrier gas decompose at the vaporizer temperatures.
2) Spatial and temporal temperature variations occur in the vaporization zone, with temperatures in some regions being sufficient to bring about decomposition.
3) CVD precursors are employed which are thermally unstable at the sublimation temperature.
Optimization of the conditions used in the vaporizer of reagent delivery systems can minimize the fraction of the delivered precursor that decomposes (and remains) at the vaporization zone, but virtually all solid and liquid precursors undergo some decomposition when they are heated for conversion to the gas phase, although this fraction is negligibly small in "well-behaved" compounds. Use of precursors that tend to decompose near their vaporization temperature may be mandated by availability (i.e., where the selected precursor possesses the best properties of available choices) or by economics, where precursor cost is strongly dependent on the complexity of its synthesis.
Additionally, CVD precursors often contain impurities, and the presence of those impurities can cause undesirable thermally activated chemical reactions at the vaporization zone, also resulting in formation of involatile solids and liquids at that location. For example, a variety of CVD precursors (such as tantalum pentaethoxide) are water-sensitive and hydrolysis can occur at the heated vaporizer zone forming tantalum oxide particulates that may be incorporated into the growing tantalum oxide film with deleterious effects.
Despite the advantages of the liquid delivery approach (which include improved precision and accuracy for most liquid and solid CVD precursors and higher delivery rates), the foregoing deficiencies pose a serious impediment to widespread use of the vaporization liquid delivery technique for providing volatilized reagent to the CVD reactor.
Improved liquid delivery systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,314 issued Apr. 20, 1993 to Peter S. Kirlin et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,323 issued Jul. 16, 1996 to Peter S. Kirlin et al., which describe heated foraminous vaporizer elements such as microporous disk elements, frits, screens, meshes, grids, porous sintered matrices, and other high surface area elements onto which the liquid solution or suspension is introduced for vaporization thereof. These heated foraminous vaporizer elements may be composed of various materials including ceramic, glass or metal and serve to carry out the rapid vaporization step. In use, liquid source reagent compositions are flowed onto the foraminous vaporizer element for flash vaporization thereof. Vapor thereby is produced for transport to the deposition zone, e.g., a CVD reactor. The liquid delivery systems of these patents provide high efficiency generation of vapor from which films may be grown on substrates. Such liquid delivery systems are also usefully employed for generation of multicomponent vapors from corresponding liquid reagent solutions containing one or more precursors as solutes, or alternatively from liquid reagent suspensions containing one or more precursors as suspended species.
The art continues to seek improvements in liquid delivery systems for vapor-phase formation of advanced materials, as well as improvements in ancillary equipment such as fluid transport, vaporizer, mixing, and control means associated with the liquid delivery system, and process conditions and techniques for operating the liquid delivery system and ancillary equipment in a maximally efficient manner.
One area in which improvement is sought relates to the time-varying thermal loading of the vaporizer in the liquid delivery system.
This variation is due to the fact that in a manufacturing environment the continuous flow of reagent(s) through the vaporizer, be it a liquid delivery system with a vaporizer element for volatilizing liquid source reagents contacted with the vaporizer element, or a conventional bubbler-based reagent vaporization system, in the absence of deposition downstream is not desirable. A reagent on/off sequence is advantageous both economically and environmentally in the liquid delivery system, with the reagent thereby being cyclically fed to the vaporizer element. Such reagent on/off sequence, however results in cooling and heating cycles occurring in the vaporizer, which upset the thermal gradients established in the vaporizer during its operation. This, in turn, adversely affects the reproducibility of the films deposited in the downstream chemical vapor deposition chamber.
It would therefore be a significant advance in the art of liquid delivery reagent vaporization systems, and is an object of the present invention, to provide an effective means of delivering a reagent liquid in vapor form to a chemical vapor deposition process with minimal formation of deposits and residue.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a vaporizer arrangement which is not adversely affected by periodic feeding of source reagent liquid to the vaporizer element of the liquid delivery system.
It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide a liquid delivery reagent vaporization system having a periodic feeding of source liquid reagent to a vaporizer element without adversely affecting the thermal gradients established in the vaporizer during its operation.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuring disclosure and appended claims. | {
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This invention relates to a multi-cassette recording and reproducing apparatus in which cassettes in racks are loaded into cassette drive units to record and reproduce a large amount of video information, audio information, and other information.
In the field of broadcast equipments, multi-cassette recording and reproducing apparatuses are used for broadcasting commercials. As will be explained later, a prior-art multi-cassette recording and reproducing apparatus has some problem. | {
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1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a pivot restriction for tubular discharge bodies and particularly to a pivot restriction for sanitary flow fittings.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
The German printed publication of the unexamined application No. 2,161,762 describes a discharge device the pivoting range of which is limited by means of a recess in the holding nipple for engagement of a stud from the flow fitting casing. In addition to this, the German utility Model No. 1 974 595 shows a pivoting discharge the pivoting range of which is restricted by means of a radial pin arranged on the discharge tube, the pin sliding in a recess on the flow fitting body.
It is a particular disadvantage of these pivoting discharges that the pivoting range is established at the factory so that there is no possibility of varying the pivoting range at the final location. More recently this disadvantage has become more significant because some countries have issued regulations specifying a maximum pivoting range. | {
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As is described further in the background discussion below, it is difficult to provide information indicating operative condition, status, and the like of a variable shutter or lens that is used to protect the eyes of a person if that lens or shutter is located in close proximity to the eyes. Because of the close proximity of the lens or shutter, it is difficult, if not impossible, accurately or conveniently to focus the eyes on status indicators or the like that are proximate the shutter or lens. Examples of such a shutter or lens include an auto-darkening welding lens used in a welding helmet, a similar auto-darkening lens used in a respirator system that employs a helmet or other face covering, etc. Exemplary information that may be conveyed to the person wearing the helmet, respirator, etc., may be shade number, sensitivity, power level, power or battery reserve, etc.
In the description herein reference will be made to a lens (also sometimes referred to as “welding lens,” “welding filter,” “shutter,” and the like), and to an automatically darkening lens (sometimes referred to as auto-darkening lens) that is able to operate automatically to control the transmission of light through the lens. The lens may be a light shutter type of a device that is able to control light transmission without distorting, or at least with relatively minimal distortion of, the light and the image characteristics carried by the light or represented by the light. Therefore, when a person looks through the lens, the image seen would be substantially the same as the image seen without the lens, except that the intensity of the light transmitted through the lens may be altered depending on the operative state of the lens. The lens may be used in a welding helmet, and the lens may be used in other types of devices, such as goggles, spectacles, face masks, e.g., for industry (such as in an industrial plant or to protect outdoor or indoor electrical workers), for dentistry to protect the fact of a dentist in the operative, respirator systems, nuclear flash eye protection devices, and other types of helmets and other eye-protection devices, etc. Such devices usually are employed to protect the face or the eyes of a person, as is known, for example, in the field of welding as well as other fields. Further, the lenses may be used in various other places to protect workers from bright light that could present a risk of injury.
For the purposes of providing eye protection, usually a welding lens provides light blocking characteristics in the visible, infrared and ultraviolet wavelength ranges. The actual ranges may be determined by the components of the lens, the arrangement of those components, and so forth. One example of such a welding lens is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,522. The lens assembly disclosed in that patent includes several liquid crystal cell light shutters, several plane polarizers, and a reflector or band pass filter, that are able to reflect ultraviolet and infrared electromagnetic energy and possibly also some electromagnetic energy in the visible wavelength range. The several liquid crystal cells, for example, may be birefringent liquid crystal cells sometimes referred to as surface mode liquid crystal cells or pi-cells.
As will be described further below, the present invention may be embodied in a variable optical transmission controlling device. Such a device is described in detail with respect to use in a welding helmet. However, it will be appreciated that such a device may be employed in other environments and in other devices and systems for controlling transmission of electromagnetic energy broadly, and, in particular, for controlling optical transmission. As used herein with respect to one example, optical transmission means transmission of light, i.e., electromagnetic energy that is in the visible spectrum and that also may include ultraviolet and infrared ranges. The features, concepts, and principles of the invention also may be used in connection with electromagnetic energy in other spectral ranges.
Examples of liquid crystal cells, lenses using them and drive circuits are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,208,688, 5,252,817, 5,248,880, 5,347,383, and 5,074,647. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,647, several different types of variable polarizer liquid crystal devices are disclosed. Twisted nematic liquid crystal cells used in an automatic shutter for welding helmets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,039,254 and Re. 29,684. Exemplary birefringent liquid crystal cells useful as light shutters in the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,385,806, 4,436,376, 4,540,243, 4,582,396, and Re. 32,521 and exemplary twisted nematic liquid crystal cells and displays are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,731,986 and 3,881,809.
Another type of liquid crystal light control device is known as a dyed liquid crystal cell. Such a dyed cell usually includes nematic liquid crystal material and a pleochroic dye that absorbs or transmits light according to orientation of the dye molecules. As the dye molecules tend to assume an alignment relative to the alignment of the liquid crystal structure or directors, a solution of liquid crystal material and dye placed between a pair of plates will absorb or transmit light depending on the alignment of the liquid crystal material. Thus, the absorptive characteristics of the liquid crystal device can be controlled as a function of applied electric field.
As is disclosed in several of the above patents, the respective shutters may have one or more operational characteristics (sometimes referred to as modes or states). One example of such an operational characteristic is the shade number; this is the darkness level or value of the shutter when it is in the light blocking mode. Another exemplary operational characteristic is the delay time during which the shutter remains in a dark state after a condition calling for the dark state, such as detection of the bright light occurring during welding, has ceased or detection thereof has terminated or been interrupted. Still another operational characteristic is sensitivity of one or both of the detection circuit or shutter to incident light, for example, to distinguish between ambient conditions and the bright light condition occurring during a welding operation and sensitivity also may refer to shutter response time or to the time required for the circuitry associated with the lens to detect a sharp increase in incident light (e.g., due to striking of the welding arc, etc.) and to switch the lens from the clear state to the dark state. Yet another characteristic, which may be considered an operational characteristic, is the condition of the battery or other power source for the shutter, such as the amount of power remaining, operational time remaining until the power source becomes ineffective, etc. In the past various operational characteristics of such shutters have been adjustable or fixed.
Dynamic operational range or dynamic optical range is the operational range of the lens between the dark state and the clear state, e.g., the difference between the shade numbers of the dark state and the clear state.
An example of a “welding lens with integrated display and method” is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,129. As disclosed therein the current operational characteristics of a shutter can be displayed and can be selectively changed by operating one or more switches. The switches may be flexible membrane switches, microswitches, or another type of switch.
The disclosures of the patents identified herein are specifically incorporated in their entirety by reference. | {
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Mechanical components, such as a gear or the like acting as a power transmission component in an automatic transmission, must have bending fatigue strength and toughness. Due to environmental issues, high dimensional accuracy has also been demanded in recent years in order to suppress noise during gear operation. In the past, case-hardened steels such as JIS SCr420 and SCM420 were often used as material for such gears. However, the growing trends toward less noise and more strength in automotive components have created demands, in terms of strength and dimensional accuracy, that cannot be fully met by conventional case-hardened steels.
Carburized gears undergo almost no mechanical processing and are used as is following carburizing treatment, or used after undergoing only low-temperature tempering following carburizing treatment. As a consequence, heat treatment distortion due to carburizing and hardening remains, which causes noise during operation.
In an attempt to meet such demands, a method disclosed in Japanese application publication H08-311607 subjects a steel, containing by mass 0.30% to 0.60% C, to a carburizing treatment to form a carburized layer. The steel is gradually cooled after the carburizing treatment, after which only the surface layer is subjected to induction hardening. In this method, because the core of the steel is not affected by induction hardening and is not subjected to quenching, the result is considerably less martensitic transformation and heat treatment distortion. However, the high C content leads to a problem of reduced toughness. Furthermore, the poor machinability of the material before carburizing is also a problem. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a semiconductor assembly apparatus for assembling the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional semiconductor devices, circuits are formed on a flat silicon wafer. In order to decrease manufacturing expense, a large diameter single silicon crystal column is manufactured through a crystal growth method, which is then divided into a multitude of wafers. The manufacturing apparatus becomes more expensive as the diameter of the single crystal column increases. During manufacture of the conventional semiconductor device, the wafer is conveyed by a belt conveyor, for example, through many manufacturing stages, while being subjected to successive manufacturing processes. The manufacturing process is intermittent, taking several months to completion. In response to an increasing speed in circuit density of 4 times per three years, the fine-process becomes finer and finer. The result is an increasing and immense experimental cost for particle treatment, stepper, CMP and so forth.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a linear semiconductor device and continuous-process semiconductor manufacturing apparatus that has a low manufacturing cost and is produced in a short manufacturing time.
It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional semi-conductor of high integration without the requirement of forming fine circuitry.
To attain the objects described a semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a plurality of linear semiconductors of a predetermined length parallelly aligned in a lateral direction, each of which includes linear semiconductor material and at least one circuit element formed on a surface of the linear semiconductor material.
A semiconductor device according to the present invention could further include a plurality of linear semiconductors aligned laterally in a square matrix or in a 60 degrees rhombic matrix.
A semiconductor device according to the present invention could further include a plurality of linear semiconductors electrically connected with each other where projection electrodes are formed on outer surfaces of linear semiconductors for connecting a plurality of linear semiconductors with one another and/or fixing the linear semi-conductors relative to one another.
A semiconductor assembly apparatus according to the present invention assembles a semiconductor device utilizing a plurality of linear semiconductors of a predetermined length. The semiconductor assembly apparatus includes an arranging member for parallelly aligning the linear semiconductors extending in a longitudinal direction, and a connecting member for connecting the linear semiconductors electrically with each other.
The semiconductor assembly apparatus according to the present invention can further align a plurality of linear semiconductors laterally in a square matrix or in a 60 degree rhombic matrix.
In the semiconductor assembly apparatus according to the present invention, preferably the arranging member includes a positioning member for fixing a position of each of the linear semiconductors relative to the other linear semiconductors. Preferably, the connecting members electrically connect the linear semiconductors with each other when heated, and the arranging member is liquefied when heated. Preferably, the arranging member includes a plurality of longitudinal members of a rhomboid cross-section parallelly aligned in a lateral direction, each of which decreases in thickness outwardly in the lateral direction and are connected with a neighboring longitudinal member at a narrow connecting portion thereof. The side surface of the longitudinal members touch the outer surface of the linear semiconductors.
The narrow connecting portion in the semiconductor assembly apparatus may be provided with holes which receive the projection electrodes formed on the outer surface of the linear semiconductor. | {
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1. Field
The disclosure relates generally to analyzing source code and in particular, to managing policies for calls in the source code. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method, system, and computer program product for managing a policy for a call in a first source code to a function in a second source code based on information from a trace of the second source code.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data processing systems provide computing resources, such as a computer, that includes a central processing unit and computer memory. Executable programs are executed by the central processing unit in the computer using the computer memory. The executable programs store and use data in the form of data structures located in the computer memory. During execution of the executable programs the information in these data structures may become corrupted by unforeseen errors in the executable programs and also by unforeseen malevolent uses of the executable programs Responsive to the corruption of a data structure, a subsequent error is likely to occur at unexpected points of execution in the program. Further, in the case of an unforeseen malevolent use of an executable program, the unforeseen malevolent use may result in critical security issues.
Static analysis of source code vulnerabilities is a process for assessing risk for vulnerabilities of executable programs by analyzing the source code or compiled form of the executable program. One technique within the field of static analysis includes a process for identifying potentially malicious data entering a program, then determining where the data flows within the program for the purpose of identifying security vulnerabilities. This process for identifying security vulnerabilities using static analysis is called data flow analysis. Data flow analysis tools use parsers to generate a data flow graph of the program being analyzed. Data flow analysis tools also use pre-defined application programming interface (API) policies that identify the expected behavior of each application programming interface utilized by the program being analyzed as well as potential vulnerabilities. Data flow analysis tools traverse the generated graph of an application to identify instances where potentially malicious data may reach an application programming interface that has been identified as vulnerable to malicious data. However, gaps may exist in the number of application programming interfaces for which a policy exists identifying the expected behavior. For example, all of the application programming interfaces that are in use by external applications may not be known when a data flow analysis tool runs. Further, a data flow analysis tool may only be able to create a partial graph of the data flows of an application due to not having access to all of the source code used by application programming interfaces of the application.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method, apparatus, and computer program product that takes into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as possibly other issues. | {
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An organic electroluminescence (EL) device may be a fluorescent organic EL device or a phosphorescent organic EL device, and an optimal device design for the emission mechanism of each type of organic EL device has been studied. It is known that a highly efficient phosphorescent organic EL device cannot be obtained by merely applying fluorescent device technology due to the emission characteristics. The reasons therefor are generally considered to be as follows.
Specifically, since phosphorescence utilizes triplet excitons, a compound used for forming the emitting layer must have a large energy gap. This is because the energy gap (hereinafter may be referred to as “singlet energy”) of a compound is normally larger than the triplet energy (i.e., the difference in energy between the lowest excited triplet state and the ground state) of the compound.
Therefore, it is necessary to form the emitting layer using a host material having a triplet energy higher than that of a phosphorescent dopant material in order to efficiently confine the triplet energy of the phosphorescent dopant material in the emitting layer. It is also necessary to provide an electron-transporting layer and a hole-transporting layer adjacent to the emitting layer, and form the electron-transporting layer and the hole-transporting layer using a compound having a triplet energy higher than that of the phosphorescent dopant material.
Specifically, since a compound having a large energy gap as compared with a compound used for the fluorescent organic EL device is necessarily used for the phosphorescent organic EL device when designing the phosphorescent organic EL device based on a known organic EL device design concept, the driving voltage for the entire organic EL device increases.
Hydrocarbon compounds that exhibit high oxidation resistance and high reduction resistance and are useful for the fluorescent device have a small energy gap due to the large spatial extent of the π-electron cloud. Therefore, an organic compound that contains a heteroatom (e.g., oxygen or nitrogen) is selected for the phosphorescent organic EL device instead of such hydrocarbon compounds. As a result, the phosphorescent organic EL device has a short lifetime as compared with the fluorescent organic EL device.
The fact that the relaxation rate of triplet excitons of a phosphorescent dopant material is much higher than that of singlet excitons also significantly affects the device performance. Specifically, it is expected that efficient emission from singlet excitons can be obtained since diffusion of excitons into the layers (e.g., hole-transporting layer and electron-transporting layer) situated around the emitting layer rarely occurs due to the high relaxation rate that leads to emission. In contrast, since emission from triplet excitons is spin-forbidden (i.e., the relaxation rate is low), diffusion of excitons into the layers situated around the emitting layer easily occurs, and thermal energy inactivation occurs from a compound other than a specific phosphorescent compound. Specifically, it is important to control the electron-hole recombination region as compared with the fluorescent organic EL device.
It is thus necessary to select materials and a device design differing from those of the fluorescent organic EL device in order to obtain a highly efficient phosphorescent organic EL device.
In particular, when designing a phosphorescent organic EL device that emits blue light, it is necessary to use a compound having high triplet energy for forming the emitting layer and the layers situated around the emitting layer as compared with a phosphorescent organic EL device that emits green to red light. More specifically, the triplet energy of a host material used to form the emitting layer generally must be 3.0 eV or more in order to obtain blue phosphorescence without causing efficiency loss. In order to obtain a compound that has such a high triplet energy and meets the requirements for an organic EL material, it is necessary to employ a new molecular design concept that takes account of the electronic state of π-electrons instead of merely combining molecular parts (e.g., heterocyclic compound) having high triplet energy.
In view of the above situation, a compound having a structure obtained by bonding a plurality of heterocyclic rings has been studied as a material for a phosphorescent organic EL device that emits blue light. For example, JP-A-2009-021336 discloses a compound having a dibenzofuran ring and an azine ring as a material for forming an electron-transporting layer.
WO2008/072596 discloses a compound obtained by bonding two dibenzofurans and the like via a divalent linking group as a host material for forming a phosphorescent emitting layer.
JP-A-2011-084531 discloses a compound having an azadibenzofuran structure as a host material for forming a phosphorescent emitting layer and a material for forming an electron-transporting layer. | {
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A semiconductor device fabricating procedure includes a thin film deposition process, such as a CVD process (chemical vapor deposition process), for forming a thin film, such as a silicon dioxide film, a silicon nitride film or the like, on a workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer. Such a thin film deposition process uses a thermal processing apparatus as shown in FIG. 15 to form a thin film on a semiconductor wafer by the following procedure.
A heater 53 heats a double-wall reaction tube 52 consisting of an inner tube 52a and an outer tube 52b at a predetermined temperature. A wafer boat 55 holding a plurality of semiconductor wafers 54 is loaded into the reaction tube 52 (inner tube 52a). Gases in the reaction tube 52 are discharged through an exhaust port 56 to set the interior of the reaction tube 52 at a predetermined reduced pressure. After the interior of the reaction tube 52 has been set at the predetermined reduced pressure, process gases are supplied through a gas supply pipe 57 into the inner tube 52a. The process gases undergo a thermal reaction, and a reaction product produced by the thermal reaction deposits on the surfaces of the semiconductor wafers 54 to form thin films on the surfaces of the semiconductor wafers 54.
Waste gases produced by the thin film deposition process are discharged outside the thermal processing unit 51 through an exhaust pipe 58 connected to the exhaust port 56. A trap and a scrubber and such, not shown, are placed in the exhaust pipe 58. The trap removes the reaction product and other substances contained in the waste gases to discharge the waste gases from the thermal processing unit 51 after rendering the waste gases harmless.
The reaction product produced by the thin film deposition process deposits not only on (adheres not only to) the surfaces of the semiconductor wafers 54, but also on (but also to) the inner surfaces of the thermal processing unit 51 including the inner surface of the inner tube 52a and the surfaces of jigs. If the thin film deposition process is continued in the thermal processing unit 51 with the reaction product adhering to the inside surfaces of the thermal processing unit 51, the reaction product will eventually come off and produce particles. The particles contaminate the semiconductor wafers 54, which reduces the yield of semiconductor devices which are manufactured using the semiconductor wafers 54 contaminated with those particles.
To avoid such troubles, a cleaning process is carried out after the thin film deposition process has been repeated several times to clean the thermal processing unit 51. The cleaning process heats the reaction tube 52 at a predetermined temperature by the heater 53, supplies a cleaning gas, such as a fluoride gas, into the heated reaction tube 52 to remove by etching the reaction product adhering to the inner surfaces of the thermal processing unit 51.
The fluoride gas for such a purpose is a perfluorocompound, such as CF4, C2F6, NF3 or SF6. Generally, the perfluorocompond has a long life. For example, CF4 lasts 50,000 years or longer. The emission of the perfluorocompound into the atmosphere causes global warming. Since there is the possibility that the use of the fluoride gas as a cleaning gas negatively affects the global environment, studies have been made to use a cleaning gas other than the perfluorocompound, such as fluorine gas (F2).
The interior of the reaction tube 52 must be heated at the predetermined temperature to make the cleaning gas etch the reaction product at a desired etch rate to remove the reaction product deposited on the inner surfaces of the thermal processing unit 51. The interior of the reaction tube 52 needs to be heated at a high temperature of, for example, 400° C., to etch the deposited reaction product at a desired etch rate using fluorine gas as a cleaning gas.
If the interior of the reaction tube 52 is heated at such a high temperature of 400° C., the reaction tube 52 formed of quartz and the jigs formed of silicon carbide (SiC) are etched at etch rates higher than that at which the reaction product is etched, and reaction product selectivity, i.e., the ratio between etch rates for the reaction product and the material, decreases. Consequently, the reaction tube 52 formed of quartz, and the jigs formed of SiC are deteriorated when the reaction deposit is removed. | {
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Although various structures for the development of the physical and mental properties of growing children have been heretofore designed it has been found that a need exists for mental and physical development equipment specifically tailored for use by children in the elementary and junior high school age bracket.
The jump set of the instant invention comprises a set of plurality of specifically designed hurdles which may be used not only as hurdles but also as barriers to lay out a prescribed course of movement. While there are various forms of hurdles and barriers which have been previously constructed, most of these previous structures are usable only for a single purpose or for but a few selected purposes. Examples of previously patented devices including some of the basic structural features of the instant invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,910,080, 2,458,984, 2,685,140, 2,706,631 and 3,024,022. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to handheld electronic devices and, more particularly, to a keyboard for a handheld electronic device having a first set of keys structured to engage two contacts and a second set of keys structured to engage a single contact and wherein each key in said first set of keys and said second set of keys is related to two indicia.
2. Background Information
Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples of such handheld electronic devices include, for instance, personal data assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and the like. Such handheld electronic devices are generally intended to be portable and thus must be relatively small. Since handheld electronic devices typically are portable, it is also desired that the form factor of the devices be sufficiently small and ergonomic that they can conveniently be transported with a belt clip, in a user's pocket, manually, or in a briefcase. Advancements in technology have permitted the form factor of such handheld electronic devices to be reduced while increasing their versatility and functionality, such as by increasing the number of functions provided by the device as well as increasing the number of software applications and the variety of their features. However, as the form factor of a handheld electronic device decreases and the number of functions provided by the device increases, the device potentially can become awkward and difficult to use. Thus, it is also desirable to improve the usability of a handheld electronic device as its form factor is reduced and its versatility is increased. Previous attempts to increase such usability have had limitations.
One such type of solution has involved the use of large numbers of keys which, when pressed in various combinations, would produce various functions. For instance, adjacent keys were depressed simultaneously to provide additional functions. In mobile electronics, keys oftentimes are operatively connected with metal domes that act as switches for the keys and that are collapsible and provide tactile feedback to a user when the domes are collapsed from a relaxed position to a deflected position. Due to the closeness of the keys, accidental simultaneous pressing of multiple keys oftentimes results in the collapsing of multiple domes, which can result in a confusing and/or undesirable tactile feedback to a user. Other attempts at improving usability have involved decreasing the quantity of keys on a handheld device while increasing the number of functions each key is to serve. Such systems potentially can become cumbersome because the various functions of a given key may additionally require the pressing of an additional key, such as, but not limited to, the SHIFT key or ALT key. In such a circumstance, the required multiple key pushing requires multiple hand movements which interfere with user friendliness.
It is also desirable to provide users with keys disposed in a common pattern. For example, an English language keyboard typically has the QWERTY layout. Thus, handheld electronic devices having a QWERTY keyboard with a reduced number of keys have been created. Such devices typically have more that one letter associated with most keys. For example, a single key on the QWERTY keyboard with a reduced number of keys would represent both the letter “A” and the letter “S”. Thus, the handheld electronic device needed to provide a means for selecting which letter the user intended to select when the key was depressed. An early differentiating means simply had the user depressing the key once for one letter and twice for the other letter. Alternatively, as described above, a combination of keys could be associated with one letter and not the other. That is, for example, the key by itself was associated with the letter “A” and the key plus the ALT key was associated with the letter “S.” The disadvantage to these means is that users of a QWERTY keyboard prefer to type in a traditional manner, i.e., without having to depress an extra key.
One means of addressing this disadvantage was provided by software. Disambiguation routines were created that suggested one of the letters based on, for example, a subsequent keystroke. That is, if the user had selected the letters “QU” and the next key depressed was the “A/S” key, the software would suggest the use of the letter “A” because the letter combination “QU” is almost always followed by a vowel. Such software solution would typically provide the user with a list of the less preferred letter combinations which the user could select if desired. This means was further improved by providing three conductors, a primary, secondary and tertiary conductor, under each key and which were operable with the software. The primary conductor was engaged when the key was depressed. The secondary and tertiary conductors were disposed adjacent to opposing lateral sides of the keys and were alternately closed when the user depressed one side of the key or the other. Thus, where the letter “A” was located on the left side of a single key, and the secondary conductor was located under the left lateral side of the key, when a user depressed the “A/S” key and pressed on the left side of the key, the primary conductor was engaged indicating the key had been depressed and, if the secondary conductor was depressed, the software would weigh, that is favor, the letter “A” over the letter “S”.
This solution, however, has disadvantages as well. For example, some keys may only be associated with a single letter thereby making the secondary and tertiary conductors redundant. Also, some keys, such as a “Z/X” key have letters that are so relatively uncommon in use that the software could reliably choose the proper letter the user intended to use. Again, the secondary and tertiary conductors were essentially wasted. Additionally, where each key was structured to overlay three conductors, all keys were elongated resulting in a wider keypad. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a honeycomb catalyst body. More specifically, the invention relates to a honeycomb catalyst body having zeolite and vanadia loaded thereon and usable for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx.
2. Description of Related Art
An exhaust gas discharged from internal combustion engines including automotive engines contains harmful substances such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and nitrogen oxide (NOx). For reducing such a harmful substance and thereby purifying an exhaust gas, a catalytic reaction has been used widely. In gasoline engines, a ternary catalyst has been used generally which maintains a mixing ratio (air fuel ratio) of air and a fuel at a theoretical air fuel ratio, bringing CO, HC, and NOx in an exhaust gas into contact with a noble metal catalyst such as platinum or rhodium to convert them into harmless CO2, H2O, and N2.
A ternary catalyst is not suited for use in diesel engines because in general, an amount of air is excessive relative to the amount of a fuel and the air fuel ratio cannot therefore be maintained at a theoretical air fuel ratio. An oxidation catalyst for reacting CO and HO with O2 in the excessive air to convert them into harmless CO2 and H2O can be used, but it cannot reduce NOx into N2 in an oxygen-excess exhaust gas atmosphere of diesel engines. For diesel engines, therefore, a countermeasure against NOx has been a big issue to be solved.
Examples of a technology of reducing NOx in an oxygen-excess atmosphere include selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a technology of reacting NOx with ammonia (NH3) and thereby converting it into N2 and H2O and it has conventionally been used as an exhaust gas treatment system in thermal power plants and the like. In recent years, application of a technology making use of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to diesel engines for vehicles has been underway. Loading of NH3 on vehicles is however dangerous so that reduction of NOx is conducted by loading a tank filled with an aqueous urea solution on the vehicles, injecting the solution into the exhaust gas to hydrolyze it at a high temperature and obtain an NH3 gas, and using the resulting NH3 for the reduction.
In the exhaust gas treatment system in thermal power plants and the like, a titania-vanadia catalyst is used for reacting NOx with NH3. The titania-vanadia catalyst has two types, that is, coat type and solid type. Similar to ternary catalysts or oxidation catalysts for automotive engines, the coat type is obtained by loading titania and vanadia on a ceramic honeycomb carrier. The solid type is obtained by forming titania and vanadia themselves into a honeycomb structure. In recent years, most of the titania-vanadia catalysts have been a solid type. Although catalysts similar to those used in an exhaust gas treatment system of thermal power plants and the like can also be used for diesel engines for vehicles, the titania-vanadia catalyst require a large volume in order to achieve highly-efficient NH3 purification. Using the titania-vanadia catalyst for vehicles is not recommended. There is therefore a demand for a catalyst for vehicles that can be down sized and has a higher efficiency.
Catalysts more efficient than titania-vanadia catalysts include metal-substituted zeolites (such as copper ion-exchanged zeolite and iron ion-exchanged zeolite). Similar to titania-vanadia catalysts, the metal-substituted zeolite catalysts have a coat type and a solid type. Catalysts for vehicles are fixed in a metal container via a heat-resistant cushioning material. In order to prevent catalysts from moving due to vibration of vehicles, catalysts are retained by a friction power while applying a compressive force. The catalysts should therefore have mechanical strength enough to withstand the compressive force. The coat type (zeolite-loaded honeycomb catalyst body) does not have a large problem in strength because a ceramic honeycomb carrier has mechanical strength. In the solid type (zeolite structural body), on the other hand, a honeycomb structure should be made of zeolite. An inorganic binder for binding zeolite particles to each other or an aggregate or fiber for keeping its strength should be added to zeolite (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2012-213755
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-2011-207749 | {
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The present invention relates to an optically pumped amplifier, especially a solid-state amplifier, with an amplifying medium and with an optical pumping array, by means of which the pumping radiation is coupled to the amplifying medium; whereby the pumping radiation is formed before the coupling; and whereby the volume of the amplification medium is only partially pumped.
Optically pumped amplifiers in the form of laser arrays have made their entry into almost all areas of technology. Current developments in the area of laser arrays are directed, among other things, toward increasing the output, improving beam quality, and forming and transforming the output radiation in a defined way.
One class of lasers which, in recent years, has found increased applications in materials processing and medicine is solid state lasers. They are distinguished in that with them, particularly in low power classes, high beam quality can be produced. Such solid state lasers are further distinguished by small attainable design sizes, typically with a length of about 8 cm and a diameter of 1 cm.
While solid state lasers have been pumped in the past using lamps, increasingly the solid state medium is pumped by means of diodes or diode fields. As opposed to lamp-pumped solid state lasers, diode-pumped solid state lasers are distinguished, among other things, by high efficiency, high beam quality, long service life and small dimensions. These can be attained especially with a diode pump array. Various types of laser systems can be implemented in connection with diode-pumped laser arrays. In solid state lasers, distinctions are principally made between axially and transversally pumped solid state lasers (for example, solid state lasers pumped using diodes). Generally the axial pumping array for lasers is used with an output up to several tens of watts, while the transverse pumping array is preferred for scaling the output up to several kilowatts.
The limiting factor for beam quality and output performance of optically pumped amplifiers, which also holds true for diode-pumped solid state lasers, is thermal interference. This is caused by unavoidable heat losses in the amplification medium and in the lasing medium. Additionally, the adjustment between the pumped volume and the mode volume of the resonator plays a decisive role in efficiency and beam quality. To comply with these requirements, the amplification mediumxe2x80x94in solid state lasers, it is the solid state mediumxe2x80x94is pumped via the end (xe2x80x9cend-onxe2x80x9d), making possible an optimal overlap of active volume and mode volume. If diode lasers or diode laser arrays or field arrays are used for such pumping, the radiation of diode lasers, being asymmetric by nature, is so formed that it can be focused on a circular spot. The homogenized radiation is then coupled through the end into the solid state medium, as is also depicted in FIG. 19 from the drawings. If the resonator is designed so that the mode diameter roughly corresponds to the pumping spot diameter, then the laser can be operated efficiently with a high beam quality.
One problem that exists with end-on pumping is that relatively expensive beam formation is needed to focus the pump radiation, and that the limited pump volume limits the attainable laser performance.
To scale the laser output to higher performances, laterally and transversely pumped arrays are used. One such array is depicted in FIG. 20. One such coupling of pump radiation is designated as closed coupling in the technical terminology. It is distinguished by its simple design. It is true that attainable laser performance per length, particularly for pulsed lasers, is limited, since only limited pumping performance can be made available with this array. For this array, high fabrication precision in relation to the relative position of diode laser billets to the rods to be pumped is required. Otherwise, a large part of the diode radiation cannot be coupled into the amplification medium owing to the large divergence angle.
Additional arrays for pumping of solid state bodies according to the state of the art are depicted in FIGS. 20 to 22. In accordance with these arrays, the highly divergent diode laser beams are coupled using cylindrical lenses or elliptical cylinder mirrors into the solid state medium. In these arrays, the gain and amplification distribution can be optimized, depending on the application, through varied focusing. However, focusing components are required, which considerably increase the fabrication costs of the arrays.
The previously mentioned pumping arrays are used for amplification media, i.e. as regards solid state lasers, the solid state media, in the form of rod geometries. It is true that similar pumping arrays can also be used for amplification media or solid state media with so-called slab geometries or plate geometries. Two examples of arrays which preferably can be used in connection with plate-shaped amplification media, are depicted schematically in FIGS. 23 and 24 of the drawings. In the pumping array depicted in FIG. 23, the radiation of the diode laser stack is coupled to the amplification medium by means of a so-called non-imaging concentrator. It is in fact difficult with such an arrangement to illuminate the amplification medium uniformly, i.e., homogeneously, from all sides. Optimization regarding this is attained with the array of FIG. 24, with the diode laser beam coupled through the two narrow sides into the plate-shaped amplification or solid-state medium. Here also it is in fact difficult to achieve a homogeneous optical stimulation or irradiation of the plate-shaped solid-state medium, and thus a homogeneous pumping distribution within the solid state medium.
One feature common to the previously described arrays is that the amplification medium (solid state medium) is pumped in full-volume fashion by means of the pump radiation (diode laser radiation). Owing to this, an amplification profile is produced that is clearly defined by the dimensioning of the amplification medium in all directions. Fundamentally, however, it is not possible that such a clearly delimited amplification profile is fully covered through the laser mode. This, however, is a prerequisite for efficient laser operation and high beam quality of effective radiation. Additionally, the measurements of a solid state medium that is pumped with diode laser radiation cannot be kept arbitrarily small. This is because of the particular absorption coefficient of diode laser radiation. To operate the laser with a high beam quality, therefore, the laser mode volume must be selected to be appropriately large. This, in turn, results in a resonator length which is technically difficult to master. Not lastly, the attainable output performance is limited by thermal disturbances, such as birefringence and thermal lenses.
Proceeding from the state of the art described above, and the problems connected therewith, the task of the present invention is to provide an optical amplifier in which it is possible to attain an optimal overlap of the pumped volume through the mode volume while simultaneously minimizing the thermal degradation, thermal aberration and depolarization loss.
In regard to optically pumped amplifiers, especially in regard to solid state amplifiers of the types previously described, this problem is solved by having the volume of the amplification medium only partially pumped. The pumped volume of the amplification medium in cross section exhibits an approximately rectangular cross section perpendicular to the optical axis. By means of these measures, through suitable coupling arrangements, efforts are made to have only defined partial volumes of the amplification medium (such as a solid state medium) by means of pumping radiation, preferably in connection with solid state amplifiers by means of diode laser beams, with an approximately rectangular cross section. A defined rectangular cross section of the amplification medium can be pumped, and in fact independently of its actual cross sectional form. The latter could also be of circular shape, for example. What is attained by this is that an optimal overlap in regard to the beam quality efficiency is possible, particularly in connection with an off-axis, unstable resonator. There is a quasi-one-dimensional heat transfer, and thus, minimal depolarization loss.
By the term xe2x80x9camplification mediumxe2x80x9d, the description, what is to be understood is a medium that contains excitable atoms, molecules, ions or excimers, by means of pumping radiation. The term amplification medium is also used in the description when only partial pumping or excitation takes place.
Because of the small dimension in relation to the amount of the pumped volume, a small thermal lens effect is achieved by the specific measures according to the invention.
Additionally, only extremely low depolarization losses occur, since in this case there is a quasi-one-dimensional heat transfer. By means of the defined, rectangular volume excitation with pumping radiation, an effect on the beam quality can be attained. This is done by having the height of the pumped volume cross section designed so that it approaches the dimension of the ground mode (ground mode diameter), resulting in a higher attainable efficiency. These advantages are to be particularly cited in relation to solid bodies which are used as amplification media. Additionally, they are to be cited precisely when such solid state media are pumped with diode radiation, for it is precisely with solid state media that the invention-specific measures can implement such pumping geometries relatively simply and efficiently.
What is preferred is an adjustment of the ratio of the maximum to the minimum cross sectional width of the amplification medium pumped volume, viewed as perpendicular to the optical axis of the amplification medium. This adjustment is done so that it amounts to less than 1:5. This means that the fluctuation width of the optically pumped zone in the amplification medium, by such means as by one or more constrictions, is kept within defined small limits.
Additionally, the relationship of width to height of the rectangular cross section of the pumped volume must be greater than 1.8, so that an elongated cross sectional volume is pumped in the amplification medium. In contrast to a rectangular-cross-section pumped volume, by this means an advantage is achieved in that a quasi-one-dimensional heat transfer is present. Connected with that is minimal depolarization loss.
Approximation of the pumped volume to a rectangular cross section can be simplified by having the amplification medium pumped from two opposite sides, and approximately perpendicular to the optical axis. This is called transverse pumping. A further optimization to excite an approximately rectangular cross sectional volume by means of optical pumping radiation can be attained if the amplification medium is pumped from two opposite sides that are roughly parallel to the optical axis. This is called axial pumping. By this means, an approximately ideal rectangularly pumped volume can be achieved.
As was already mentioned previously, the invention-specific measures in particular offer advantages in connection with amplifiers in which the amplification medium is a solid state medium. In connection with such solid state media, this can be divided into various zones which are subjected to different doping. These zones can be formed either along the optical axis, or in fact perpendicular to it. With varying doping in the direction of the optical axis, the pumping performance density can be controlled with axial pumping. With doping that is altered in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, the gain profile can be adjusted to the requirements. Preferably, the doping decreases from zone to zone toward the pumping source. By this means, homogeneous pumping along the pumping direction can be attained.
In connection with a solid-state medium as an amplification medium, optical pumping is done preferably by layers. For this purpose, the amplification medium is divided into fictitious, layered sections, preferably parallel to the optical axis, which are then pumped with varied pumping radiation. By this means, the pumping performance is increased, and thus also the laser performance.
If the solid state medium, for example in relation to a layering, as is presently indicated, is divided, it can be useful to insert a cooling device between each two solid state media, in order to remove heat, thus further increasing attainable performance per length.
As a pumping source of the pumping array by which the amplification medium is optically pumped, it is preferable to use diode lasers or diode laser arrays. These diodes or diode laser arrays can be designed to be compact and stacked in a great variety of configurations. Thus the volume of the amplification medium can be pumped in defined fashion, particularly in reference to the previously indicated, preferred embodiment forms, in which the volume of the amplification medium is divided into zones. Diode lasers and diode laser billets exhibit an elliptical beam cross section that greatly expands or diverges. For this reason, preferably the pumping radiation of a diode laser billet which is used for pumping, is collected by means of a cylindrical lens in linear fashion and/or focused, and coupled in defined fashion to the amplification medium with a narrowly limited pumping radiation cross section. The goal is to have pumping radiation which is high-power and can be emitted by a multiplicity of diode lasers, within a very narrowly defined volume of the amplification medium. To achieve this, several diode laser billets, which emit a quasi-linear-shaped output field, are combined into a field array. The output field of each individual diode laser billet is combined via a cylindrical lens assigned to this billet. The individual collimated radiation fields are then brought to an additional, focused cylindrical lens, from which the entire output field is coupled to the amplification medium.
As an alternative, initially the pumping radiation can be coupled into one or more optical waveguides by a suitable optical array. The pumping radiation emitted from the optical waveguides can then be coupled through an additional optical array into a section of the amplification medium.
To do optical pumping using diode laser billets of extended amplification media, several diode laser billets are placed next to each other, in the direction of the optical axis. Such a division has the advantage of permitting the laser power to be scaled practically at will.
Diode lasers of other beam sources, such as solid state lasers, excimer lasers, and/or ion lasers, can be used for optical pumping as pumping sources for the pumping array.
To fabricate a laser with the invention-specific amplifier, the amplification medium is placed within a resonator. Particular advantages can be achieved in relation to such a laser array if the resonator is designed so that in the width of the pumped volume an off-axis, an unstable resonator is formed, and in the height of the pumped volume a stable resonator is formed. It is exactly in connection with this resonator design that there are advantages in the invention-specific measures. High beam quality (also diffraction-limited beam quality) can be attained at high efficiency.
For stable resonators, the beam quality over the cross section(s) of the radiation emitted from the resonator can exhibit a certain inhomogeneity in both directions. Therefore, the radiation emitted from the resonator can be homogenized by an optical array. Such an optical array can be designed using such concepts as two step-like mirrors.
If necessary, the radiation emitted from the amplification medium can be converted by means of an etalon-shaped, non-linear medium. In connection with a laser array, the etalon-shaped medium or component can be placed inside or outside the resonator.
Yet another embodiment form, in connection with which the invention-specific pumping array can be used, is that in which the solid state medium is in the form of an optical waveguide. In one advantageous embodiment, this guide can have a doped core, preferably with a rectangular cross section. In this arrangement, the doping can differ between core and cover. It is precisely because of this that an extremely compact and disturbance-free laser call be produced.
Preferably in such an array, the pumping radiation is coupled to at least a front-side end of the cover and the core, and be brought within the cover. Typically such an optical waveguide can be 1 m long and have a diameter in the range from 5 xcexcm up to about a millimeter. As was indicated previously, with such an optical waveguide, a laser resonator can be fabricated, by having the resonator mirror placed on the two front surfaces of the optical waveguide. Such a laser is distinguished in that the large surface ensures effective removal of energy-loss heat.
Additionally, an optical waveguide has the advantage that it is via the large surface of an appropriately long optical waveguide that the energy-loss heat can be directed outward via the cover surface. For this purpose, two options are available. One is to mount the optical waveguide on a cooling plate and be in thermal contact with the cooling plate. The other possibility is to place the optical waveguide in a cooling chamber. Such a cooling chamber can be formed by having a hose around the optical waveguide, so that free space remains between the optical waveguide and hose. Through this space, a circulating fluid such as a coolant can be made to flow. The cooling cover and/or the coolant can assume a waveguide function for the pumping radiation.
There are instances when a long pump length must be attained in the pumping beam direction, particularly for the case of axial pumping. In such instances, the amplification medium should be pumped with radiation whose wavelength corresponds at least to a part of the weak absorption lines of the medium. In connection with a solid state medium doped with neodymium, it is pumped with pumping radiation whose wavelength is about 870 nm. This combination results in a highly efficient, long pumping extent in the direction of the optical resonator. By this means, possible parasitic oscillations can be suppressed.
Additional particulars and features of the invention can be gleaned from the following description of specific embodiment examples, using the drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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By definition, a hypsometer is a boiling point barometer by which the atmospheric pressure can be determined by way of the relation between the saturation vapour pressure and the boiling temperature. Thereby, the boiling temperature changes logarithmically with the pressure. This has the advantage that in applications which have a wide pressure span, the relative pressure measuring accuracy of the boiling temperature. Metrological radio-sondes, while rising to a height of 35 km, traverse a pressure range of 1000 hPa to 5 hPa. Therefore, the hypsometers are more qualified than the aneroidal barometers generally used. A further essential advantage of the hypsometer as compared with the aneroidal barometer is that the former does not need an individual calibration, since the relation of pressure to boiling temperature is known with sufficient accuracy. Sondes which do not need calibration can be reused without more ado after they are located. This is reasonable for ecological reasons too. Therefore, it was proposed already some decades ago to equip radio-sondes with hypsometers.
Heated hypsometers use a fluid, e.g. water, the boiling temperature of which is higher than the ambient temperature. The heating capacity must not be high, since it is to be produced by batteries which are flying along with the sonde. Thus, a small quantity of fluid is to be aimed at. In order to achieve a sufficiently long service life with such a small quantity of fluid, it is to be avoided that during operation of the hypsometer any fluid is lost by condensation of the vapour outside the boiling vessel. On the other hand, the heating capacity is to be constantly high enough for maintaining boiling over the entire pressure range. In order to satisfy these requests, a suitable control of the heating capacity is to be provided for.
In a known hypsometer of this kind (cf. Lueger, Lexikon der Technik, 4th Edition, Stuttgart 1968, Volume 13, Page 456), a control of the heating capacity is provided by means of a thermostat having its temperature measuring point within the vapour expansion space. However, this control is only operative in that narrow range of the boiling temperature where, near the temperature measuring point of the thermostat, it can be operated at a constant command temperature. As soon as the boiling temperature is above or below said range, the temperature at the measuring point drops out of the control range of the thermostat, the heating capacity thus always remaining fully switched-on upon further lowering the boiling temperature, and remaining fully switched-off upon further raising the boiling temperature. However, in these phases an ordinary working of the hypsometer is no longer ensured, since the said marginal conditions are no longer met. Therefore, this hypsometer may be suitable for a stationary operation but is not suitable for metrological radio-sondes in which, during their flight, the boiling temperature may change from 100.degree.C. to a few degrees centigrade.
The heating capacity which is necessary for boiling decreases as the altitude increases, since on the one hand the atmospheric pressure, and therewith the boiling temperature, decrease, and on the other hand the thermal conductivity of the air, and therewith the heat loss, decrease when the atmospheric pressure decreases. Even under these conditions, the hypsometer works properly if the great heating capacity, which is necessary for the pressure on the ground, is continously supplied to it. The reason for this tolerance of the instrument is the great evaporation heat of water. However, a continuous supply of too much heating capacity is unwanted, not only for the risk of excessive loss of fluid, but also for reasons of supply. In radio-sonde applications, beside the costs, the weight of unnecessary large batteries is disturbing. | {
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In semiconductor technology, due to the high mobility values, Group III-Group V (or III-V) semiconductor compounds are used to form various integrated circuit devices, such as high power field-effect transistors, high frequency transistors, and High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs). A HEMT is a field effect transistor incorporating a very thin layer close to the junction between two materials with different band gaps (i.e., a heterojunction). The thin layer, instead of a doped region as is generally the case for Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs), acts as the channel. In contrast with the MOSFETs, the HEMTs have a number of attractive properties including high electron mobility, the ability to transmit signals at high frequencies, etc.
The thin layer that forms the channel of a HEMT includes highly mobile conducting electrons with very high densities, giving the channel a very low resistivity. The thin layer is known as a Two-Dimensional Electron Gas (2DEG). The performance of the HEMT is closely related to the carrier density in the 2DEG, and the higher the carrier density is, the better the performance may be obtained. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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There are many tooth malocclusion conditions which are correctable through orthodontic treatment. Some of these conditions include incisal spacing, overjet, overbite, incisal crowding, tooth rotation and improper jaw relations. Metal bands and wires are often used in the permanent dentition stage to provide the desired correction. Thermoplastic removable positioners or appliances are also available such as those disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,139,944; 4,919,612; 3,848,335; and 3,939,598.
These removable appliances are typically provided with tooth sockets each for receiving therein one of the individual's teeth for guiding and directing the tooth into a proper occlusal position. Such appliances are therefore selected by measuring the individual's mouth and teeth and matching the appropriate sized appliance having the appropriate tooth socket sizes and spacing.
It would be an improvement in the art if a removable appliance were provided capable of fitting a variety of mouth and tooth sizes and which could therefore be used to initially guide and direct the erupting permanent incisors and other teeth into an individual's mouth to a desirable occlusal condition. In some cases, after an individual's teeth have erupted, it would also be an improvement in the art if an appliance were provided to correct problems with the permanent teeth and to retain these teeth in proper condition.
Custom made devices for preventing sleep apnea, snoring, bruxism and for use as athletic mouthguards require custom modification and are extremely expensive. A device which would perform these functions, accommodate many mouth and tooth sizes and yet still fit an individual properly would be a significant improvement in the art. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Skiing is a group of sports using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with the use of a binding. Skiing can be grouped into two general categories. The older of the two disciplines, originated in Scandinavia and uses free-heel bindings that attach at the toes of the skier's boots but not at the heels. This type of skiing is generally referred to as Nordic skiing. Types of Nordic skiing include cross-country, ski jumping and Telemark. The second general type of skiing is called Alpine skiing. Alpine skiing (often called “downhill skiing”), originated in the European Alps, and is characterized by fixed-heel bindings that attach at both the toe and the heel of the skier's boot. Alpine skiing is primarily used when traveling down a slope, as gravity propels the skier forward. Whereas Nordic skiers can traverse across open terrain with ease due to the free-heel binding.
No matter the type of skiing, it has become a popular recreational sport participated by many all across the world. Skiing is most visible to the public during the Winter Olympic Games where it is a major sport. Due to its popularity, ski technology has drastically improved over the years. The materials of the skis are now sophisticated composites that can flex and bend while still being light and maneuverable. Bindings have improved that allow the skier to adjust personal settings according to individual preferences. While ski technology has improved there still remains an age old problem; carrying one's skis.
Carrying a pair of skis is not so easy. While graceful on the slopes, even expert skiers have trouble easily carrying a pair of skis. Skis are still substantially heavy and burdensome to control when not in use. Their long lengths make them awkward to manipulate. This problem is exacerbated because you almost always have to carry two skis at any one time. Not only is a skier carrying two skis, but usually two poles as well. Typically people will attempt to lock the skis such that their bottom surfaces are touching. A single hand can then grip the skis for carrying. Unfortunately, the skier is almost undoubtedly wearing a pair of ski gloves or mittens. This only complicates matters for attempting to retain a secure grip. Compound all of these problems with the fact that walking in ski boots is also very difficult. As the skier walks, it is hard to keep a steady and even pace such that the skis won't start to fall or be dislodged from one's grip. Also, the distance walked can be quite significant as one is rarely able to find a parking spot relatively close to a chair lift. It is not uncommon to walk a substantial distance just to get to the slopes.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a device that can easily allow a skier to carry two skis comfortably and easily. Also, there is a need for this device to be compact and easily storable within one's pocket, such that it can be carried while skiing. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Materials for protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or lightning strike mitigation are useful in a number of applications, and are commonly used, for example, in airplanes and other aircraft. Traditionally, metals are used for protection against EMI AND/or for lightning strike mitigation because of their high conductivity, but are often undesirable because of their weight and machinability constraints. Over the last few years, this problem has been addressed through development of light weight conductive polymers, either by synthesizing intrinsically conducting polymers (ICP) or by the inclusion of conductive fillers (e.g., carbon black, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes) in insulating matrices. However, the shielding effectiveness (SE) of these materials and lightning strike mitigation capability is not as high as that of metals, even with the inclusion of high volume fractions of conductive fillers in such polymers. Also, addition of high volume fractions of filler in a composite results in difficulty of manufacture and degradation in toughness and ductility.
One current composite approach uses 100 microns of copper wire in every graphite tow throughout the structure. This method suffers drawbacks due to the additional weight gain of 60 grams per square meter. This can add up to 500-1000 pounds to the overall aircraft. In addition, the conducting material evaporates after a single lightning strike, which leads to high repair costs.
In the case of conductive filler-filled insulating polymers, connectivity of filler particles is not as important for EMI shielding as for electrical conductivity (important for lightning strike mitigation), but the shielding effectiveness improves with a network formation because of enhanced conductivity increases the reflective capacity of the shield. Though carbon is an intrinsically conducting material (10-103 S/m), only high volume fractions of carbon black or short carbon fibers can make any insulating polymer matrix conductive enough to avoid accumulation of charge and to form a connecting and conducting network.
Composites have been manufactured containing SWNTs using a spraying technique. More specifically, in one example, a mixture of 1-3 wt % SWNT is suspended in a solution of dimethylformamide (DMF) or alcohol, and the mixture was sprayed onto the surface of a prepreg or fabric. The resulting composite provided a 42% increase in EMI shielding, but little change in surface conductivity. Additionally, difficulties were encountered in maintaining a desired amount of SWNTs on the prepreg or composite surface. Other composites have been manufactured using nickel-coated SWNTs with the same spraying technique. By spraying nickel-coated SWNTs (1.5 wt %) onto the surface of a prepreg, surface conductivities of 6-10 orders of magnitude higher than the base composite can be established. However, the use of nickel coated SWNTs also decreases the EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of the material. It is therefore desirable to produce a composite having both enhanced surface conductivity and enhanced EMI shielding effectiveness.
Aspects of the present invention are provided to solve the problems discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by prior materials of this type. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric fuse cut-out circuit of the cylindrical type or knife type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Different fuse cartridge structures are already known used for protecting electric apparatus against over currents and short circuits. One of them, of cylindrical type, comprises a cylindrical insulating body ending in two conducting capsules or caps, also called end pieces, and in which is disposed, on the one hand, a fuse wire connected electrically to the two end pieces and, on the other a sand filling whose purpose is to dissipate the electric arc energy created on the appearance of an overcurrent or a short circuit. In fact, in the presence of this type of electric fault, the fuse wire splits into two parts between which an electric arc is created which causes both the sand and the fuse wire to melt. By melting the sand cools the arc so as to extinguish it completely, thus breaking the electric circuit.
Another known fuse cartridge structure, this time of the knife type, and operating in an identical way to that described above comprises, on the one hand, an insulating body of a substantially parallelepipedic shape in which are disposed, as before, the fuse element (blade or strip) and the sand and, on the other hand, two end pieces or conducting knives provided perpendicularly on two opposite end faces of the body and connected electrically to the fuse element.
However, these fuse cartridge structures, whether cylindrical or with knives, have drawbacks. In fact, correct operation of the fuse cartridge implies among other things that the sand is pure and that its grain size is very precise for it varies depending on each type of cartridge. Such conditions require then numerous checks and measurements which are time consuming and complicated to carry out. In addition, the fact of having sand does not guarantee for the fuse cartridge a total insulation between the two parts of the fuse element once split. | {
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This invention relates to the use of dextromethorphan, optionally encompassing salts, prodrugs and metabolites thereof, for the manufacturing of a medicament to be administered transdermally for achieving an antitussive effect and to methods of treating diseases being treatable with antitussive agents by transdermal administration of dextromethorphan, optionally encompassing salts, prodrugs and metabolites thereof.
Dextromethorphan, (+)-3-methoxy-17-methyl-9a,13a,14a-morphinan, is a synthetic opioid. Normally the hydrobromide of dextromethorphan is used pharmacologically, although other salts are not excluded. The preparation of (+)-3-methoxy-17-methyl-9a,13a,14a-morphinan was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,676,177 (SCHNIDER ET AL) and in Hxc3xa4fliger et al., Helv. Chil. Acta 39, 1956: 2053.
Clinically, in connection with tussometri dextromethorphan has shown a significant effect on reducing coughing frequency as well as intensity compared to placebo at a dosage of 40 mg perorally, an effect of the same order of magnitude as 60 mg codeine, see Mathys, Schweiz Med Wschr 1985;115: 307-11. However dextromethorphan has not shown any antitussive effect upon inhalation of 1-30 mg. Also demethylated metabolites, including dextrorphan, have shown cough suppressing effects, see Martindale, The Pharmaceutical Press, London, 1993: 746.
Dextromethorphan is a safe drug as concluded by Bem J. L., Peck R., Drug safety, 1992 (7): 190-199. Dextromethorphan has fewer side-effects than the other antitussive agents codeine and noscapine.
Dextromethorphan is rapidly converted in the liver into inter alia dextrorphan, which also has a clinical activity, see above, however on other receptors than dextromethorphan. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that populations can be divided into two main groups based on their ability to metabolize dextromethorphan, the so called poor metabolizers and the extensive metabolizers, see e.g. J.-C Duchxc3xa9 et al., xe2x80x9cDextromethorphan O-demethylation and dextrorphan glucoronidation in a French populationxe2x80x9d, Int J. of Clin Pharm, Therapy and Tox, 1993; 31(8):392-98, J. S. Marinac et al., xe2x80x9cDextromethorphan Polymorphic Hepatic Oxidation (CYP2D6) in Healthy Black American Adult Subjectsxe2x80x9d. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Raven Press New York, 1995; 17:120-124, and Chen et al., xe2x80x9cDextromethorphan: pharmacogenetics, and a pilot study to determine its disposition and antitussive effect in poor and extensive metabolisersxe2x80x9d, Eur. J. Pharmacol 1990; 183(4):1573-74. Around 10% of the population are slow metabolizers of dextromethorphan and therefore more easily have side-effects, most often being fairly mild, such as drowsiness, confused speech, nausea and dizziness, although serious in case of overdosing, such as excitation, confusion and respiratory depression. The clinical implications of these findings are that different dosing regimes should be used for the individual patients. As this difference is related to the first-pass metabolism in the liver it is highly advantageous to avoid the first pass passage of the drug.
As metabolism following transdermal delivery of a drug is of much lesser extent than after oral delivery of the drug it is highly desirable to deliver dextromethorphan through the transdermal route.
When administered perorally dextromethorphan undergoes an extensive first-pass metabolism, i.e. the oral bioavailability is low meaning that fairly high doses need to be given. Absolute bioavailabilities have been reported as low as 3.8% in dogs, see Barnhart J. W., Massad E. N., xe2x80x9cDetermination of dextromethorphan in serum by gas chromatographyxe2x80x9d, J.
Chromatography 1979, 163: 390-395. Other reported values are 7% and 18%, see Dixon et al., Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol., 1978;22:243).
The half-life of dextromethorphan is around 4-6 hours, which means that the plasma concentration-varies substantially during day and night unless dextromethorphan is delivered frequently, by peroral administration at least 3-4 times daily. Even then the sleeping pattern of the patient will be disturbed by cough attacks as the antitussive effect will not remain through a whole night. The sleeping pattern disturbance, as well as the other adverse effects mentioned above, are removed or reduced with the present invention being transdermally administered dextromethorphan as antitussive agent. The above transdermal administration can be used for human beings as well as animals.
Transdermal administration of dextromethorphan, but not as antitussive agent, is known, e.g. from U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,066 (CARLTON ET AL.) for cryogel bandages. Here dextromethorphan is administered only to sites of trauma, column 2, lines 59-60, whereas in the present invention dextromethorphan is only administered to intact skin. Further U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,066 just mentions dextromethorphan in a long listing of drugs. There are no examples showing administration of dextromethorphan. Further U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,066 does not even mention that an antitussive effect should be achieved. Supposedly this is not what is desired upon administration to sites of trauma
WO 91/15261 (MEDTRONIC) concerns iontophoretic devices which depend upon the physical activity of the patient and just mentions dextramethorphan on page 4, line 32-33, as a drug which could possibly be administered via said devices. Buth there are no examples showing that this is at all possible with said devices. Dextromethorphan is further not mentioned in the claims. Thus, WO 91/15261 simply concerns a very special device, requiring measurement of patient activity (page 4, lines 24-25, which means an activity sensor (page 11, lines 10-17). This is a non-useful device for administering dextromethorphan as the administration takes place once the patient starts coughingxe2x80x94which is too late. Thus, WO 91/15261 is in all respects an irrelevant and non-enabling reference. WO 91/15261 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,568 (LATTIN ET AL.) which thus also is a non-relevant reference.
WO 95/05416 (CYGNUS THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS) discloses mucoadhesive devices for administration of drugs, inter alia dextromethorphan, to a body cavity, specifically to the oral cavity. It does not relate to transdermal administration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,450 (FAWZI ET AL.), corresponding to WO 88/07871 (WARNER LAMBERT) discloses the use of lecithin for enhancing transdermal penetration. U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,502 (GRACE ET AL.) discloses a specific system for transdermal delivery of highly ionized fat insoluble drugs. WO 93/07902 (RICHARDSON-VICKS, INC.) discloses compositions for topical application comprising a drug and a non-ionic polyacrylamide. WO 93/07903 (RICHARDSON-VICKS, INC.) discloses compositions for topical application comprising a drug and a high molecular weight cationic polymer. EP 0 351 897 (THE PROCTER and GAMBLE COMPANY) discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising a drug, a fatty acid and an alkane diol. EP 0 349 763 (BRISTOL-MYERS COMPANY) discloses a composition for trans-dermal administration comprising a drug and an imidazole derivative as penetration enhancer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,354 (CHANG ET AL.) discloses compositions for topical administration of drugs present in both free and acid addition salt form. U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,934 (COOPER) discloses topical compositions comprising a drug and 1-dodecyl-azacycloheptan-2-one as penetration enhancing agent In all these patent documents dextromethorphan is just mentioned in lengthy listings of drugs which theoretically might be included in the claimed compositions.
Anyhow there are nowhere in the above patent documents any examples of formulations including dextromethorphan as an antitussive agent. Thus use of transdermally administered dextromethorphan as an antitussive agent has neither been contemplated nor shown.
The only non-patent literature reference relating to transdermal delivery of dextromethorphan being known to the applicant is Mahjour et al., J. Controlled Release 14 (3); 1990:243-252. The contents thereof essentially corresponds to the above mentioned patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,450 (FAWZI ET AL.).
Hence the present invention, as further described below, is both new and inventive over prior art.
Disturbance of sleeping pattern and the other above mentioned disadvantages are removed or reduced when dextromethorphan is administered transdermally.
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a device for transdermal administration use of dextromethorphan, optionally encompassing salts, prodrugs and metabolites thereof, for achieving an antitussive effect The administration can be to a human being or to an animal. The antitussive effect is for treating, including suppressing, any kind of irritant cough, such as, but not exclusively, non-productive and dry coughs.
A second object of the invention is to provide use of an antitussive compound comprising dextromethorphan for the manufacture of a composition to be administered transdermally for treating cough or conditions associated with cough.
A third object of the invention is to provide a method of treating diseases, in humans or animals, which are treatable with antitussive agents by administering dextromethorphan transdermally.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art, and still other objects will become apparent hereinafter.
The present invention relates to transdermal administration of dextromethorphan, optionally encompassing salts, prodrugs and metabolites thereof for achieving an antitussive effect. This effect is primarily achieved through the systemic effect of dext horphan. Anyhow other actions are not excluded. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Commonly, vehicles, such as work machines, agricultural tractors and combines, and the like, require substantial operational involvement and control by the operator. For example, in a combine, the operator is required to control the direction and speed of the combine while also controlling the height and other operating parameters of the header for harvesting the crops. Accordingly, to reduce the effort required by the operator, it is useful to automate as many tasks performed by the operator as possible.
One task which has been automated is the raising and lowering of the harvesting head or header of a combine. Typically, the header is raised when the combine approaches an already harvested headland of a field, and is lowered to an operating position when the combine has been turned or otherwise positioned for entering an unharvested region of the field. More specifically, some combines permit an operator to activate a switch momentarily for the purpose of causing the header to raise to a predetermined elevation without further interaction by the operator. Upon completion of a turn at the headlands and re-entry into the crop, the operator can activate another switch, typically referred to as a resume switch or button, which causes the header to return to its previous position for harvesting. Reference in this regard, Panoushek et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,694, issued Nov. 28, 1995 to Case Corporation. In the invention of that patent, movement of the header is controlled by a controller which permits the operator to momentarily toggle a resume switch to automatically raise the head, and momentarily toggle the switch to automatically lower the head, each at speeds proportional to the distance between the actual position of the head and the desired position. The resume switch is located on a propulsion handle movable for controlling movements of the combine. A multi-position switch movable for selecting from multiple header height settings, is located in a console adjacent to the propulsion handle. Other known systems provide multiple switches for selecting header height on top of the propulsion handle.
A problem found with locating the resume switch on the propulsion handle and the multi-position switch on the console is that the resume switch only returns the header to the position that the multi-position switch is currently set at. If a different position is desired, the operator must remove his or her hand from the propulsion handle to change the position of the console switch. A problem found with using multiple switches on the top of the propulsion handle is that it requires the operator to reposition his or her hand on the handle or remove the hand from the handle to actuate the switches.
Thus, what is sought is a control system for automatically moving a combine header, which provides improved operability and overcomes one or more problems set forth above. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a data transmitting method of a network line in a TCP/IP protocol environment.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, networking of various apparatuses has been progressed owing to the spread of the Internet. Not only a personal computer and a printer in each home but also an electric refrigerator, an electric washing machine, and the like have begun to be connected to a network. IP (Internet Protocol) addresses are dynamically allocated to most of those apparatuses by an Internet service provider.
In this case, since the IP address changes each time it is allocated, a server to render an address solving service and a name solving service is arranged and it executes a conversion from a host name or an MAC (Media Access Control) address into an IP address.
However, it is difficult to arrange the server to a small LAN such as a home LAN (Local Area Network) or the like. Therefore, development of a network line connecting method whereby the server is not arranged has been progressed (for example, refer to a patent literature 1: JP-A-11-53143 (pages 2-3, FIG. 1).
An outline of the patent literature 1 will now be described with reference to the drawing.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional network printer connecting construction.
When built-in utility software is activated, each of host apparatuses 101 and 102 broadcasts a packet (information of a predetermined size obtained by lumping information) for management and setting onto the LAN. Since the broadcast denotes that data is transmitted to all apparatuses connected to the network irrespective of the IP address, even if no IP address is set, if the apparatuses have physically been connected to the network, the packet is sent to all printing apparatuses (hereinafter, simply referred to as printers). Such a packet is called a response request packet.
When the packet is received, a printer 104 which supports the software returns response data to the host apparatuses on the basis of the utility software.
The utility software displays the response data from the printer 104 which made a response onto display screens of the host apparatuses, thereby allowing the operator to recognize which printer is operating at present. Since the MAC address held in each NIC (Network Interface Card) 103 is included in the response data, the MAC address of the printer 104 can be recognized.
In the case of setting an IP address or the like into the printer, a set packet including the MAC address of a partner printer into which the operator wants to set the IP address is broadcasted. Since the set packet is sent by the broadcast, it is sent to all of the printers in a manner similar to the response request packet.
The printer 104 which received the set packet compares its own MAC address with the MAC address described in the response request packet. If they coincide, the printer 104 determines that the packet has been sent to itself and sets the IP address. If they do not coincide, the printer 104 determines that the packet has been sent to another printer and abandons the data. As mentioned above, the IP address can be set also to the printer in which the IP address is not set yet.
In the prior art described above, the IP address can be set without arranging the server to the small LAN. However, according to the prior art, a problem to be solved such that irrespective of whether the IP address is newly registered or has already been registered or whether the IP address has been changed or not, in all cases, it has to be transmitted by the broadcast and reset on the printer side, and thereafter, the data has to be transmitted, so that processes become complicated, still remains. | {
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The present invention relates to homeotropic alignment liquid crystal films. The homeotropic alignment liquid crystal films of the present invention alone or in combination with other optical films may be used as optical films such as retardation films, viewing angle compensators, elliptical polarizers, and brightness enhancement films. The present invention also relates to image display devices comprising such homeotropic alignment liquid crystal films, such as liquid crystal display devices, organic EL display devices, and PDPs.
Optical films with a refractive index anisotropy have taken industrially important roles as used for enhancing the image quality of a liquid crystal display device. The optical films with a refractive index anisotropy may be broadly classified into those produced by stretching plastic films and those produced by aligning liquid crystalline substances. The latter are more worthy of attention because they have potentials that they achieve structures with various refractive indices.
Films having a larger refractive index in the thickness direction are assumed to be effective in improving the viewing angle of a liquid crystal display device. It is assumed that the use of a homeotropic alignment (vertically aligned) liquid crystal is a close approach to obtain such films. The homeotropic alignment of liquid crystal molecules denotes that the longitudinal axes of liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially vertically relative to the substrate. It is well known that the homeotropic alignment can be obtained by applying electric field to a pair of glass substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal as done in a liquid crystal display device. However, it is very difficult to form the aligned liquid crystal into a film, and the processes having been reported so far have possessed many problems.
For example, in the processes disclosed in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3, the film is obtained by allowing a main chain polymeric liquid crystalline compound to be homeotropically aligned and fixing the compound by vitrification. It is assumed that in the homeotropic alignment, the molecules of the polymeric compound are aligned in the thickness direction and thus there is a concern that cracking is likely to occur in the plane direction. However, in these processes, no technical measure of for example strengthening the materials by cross linking is taken. In the process disclosed in Patent Document 4, the homeotropic alignment of a side chain polymeric liquid crystalline compound is fixed by vitrification. However, there is a concern in terms of strength that is more serious than where a main chain polymeric liquid crystalline compound is used. In the processes disclosed in Patent Documents 5 and 6 below, a polymerizable low molecular weight liquid crystalline compound is added to a side chain polymeric liquid crystalline compound, but there is a limit in reinforcement thereof because the low molecular weight liquid crystalline compound is solely polymerized.
In the process disclosed in Patent Document 7 below, a material is used wherein a radically polymerizable group or a cationically polymerizable group such as vinyl ether and epoxy groups is introduced into a side chain polymeric liquid crystalline compound. However, in general, radical polymerization undergoes oxygen inhibition and may proceed insufficiently, leading the necessity of large facilities or apparatus for removal of oxygen. The vinyl ether or epoxy group is advantageous in this regard because it does not encounter oxygen inhibition. However, there is a concern that the ether bond of the vinyl ether group is unstable and tends to cleave. It is difficult to introduce the epoxy group into a liquid crystalline material and obtain a high polymerization degree when cross linking is carried out. Furthermore, since a large amount of non-liquid crystalline structural units is introduced into the liquid crystalline material in order to obtain the homeotropic alignment, there still remains a concern regarding the stable exhibition of liquid crystallinity. As described above, there have been remains problems in the conventional production of a homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film.
An image display device such as a liquid crystal display device varies in contrast associated with a change in viewing angle due to the birefringence of the liquid crystal or the like. For the purpose of preventing such contrast variations, a technique has been proposed wherein a retardation film is arranged on the liquid crystal cell of a liquid crystal device so as to compensate the optical characteristics relating to birefringence thereby improving the viewing angle characteristics. A uniaxial or biaxial stretched film is used as such a retardation film for compensation. However, such a stretched film does not necessarily have viewing angle characteristics satisfactory to all liquid crystal cells.
Patent Document 8 discloses a continuously carried-out process for producing a retardation film, characterized in that on one or both surfaces of an elongate thermoplastic resin film is bonded one or more heat-contractive films, and the elongate film is held with the grips of a tenter and contracted in the width direction at Magnification A which is in the range of 0.7 or more to less than 1.0, by allowing the contraction force of the heat-contraction films to be acted, followed by stretching and widening the elongate film at a stretch ratio (%) meeting the requirement that the percentage is equal to or less than that represented by (100-Magnification A×100)×0.15 where the film width excluding the parts held by the grips after the contraction is 100.
In this process, the film is also stretched in the thickness direction, resulting in a retardation film having a retardation in the thickness direction. However, when the main refractive indices in the resulting retardation film plane and the refractive index in the retardation film thickness direction are nx and ny, and nz, respectively and nx>ny, Nz defined by Nz=(nx−nz)/(nx−ny) will be −1.0<Nz<0.1. Therefore, there is a limit in stretching in the thickness direction, and thus the retardation in the thickness direction can not be controlled in a wide range. Furthermore, since in this process, the elongate film is stretched in the thickness direction by heat contraction, the resulting retardation film will be thicker than the elongate film. That is, the retardation film produced by this process has a thickness of 50 to 100 μm, which is not thin enough to meet the low profiling required in a liquid crystal display device or the like.
In the process disclosed in Patent Document 9, a retardation film is produced which a homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film and a stretched film with a retardation function are integrally laminated. The process for producing the homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film is the same as that disclosed in Patent Document 7 and is insufficient because the conventional processes including this process still have problems.
In the vertical alignment mode, which is one of the display modes of a liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned vertically to the substrate when no electric voltage is applied thereto and produces a black image when linear polarizers are arranged in a crossing relation to each other on both sides of the liquid crystal cell.
The optical characteristics in the liquid crystal cell is isotropic in the plane direction, and thus an ideal viewing angle compensation therefor can be easily achieved. When an optical element with a negative uniaxial optical anisotropy in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal cell is inserted between one or both surfaces thereof and the linear polarizers in order to compensate the positive uniaxial optical anisotropy in the liquid crystal cell thickness direction, very excellent black image viewing angle characteristics can be obtained.
Upon application of an electric voltage, the liquid crystal molecules changes their alignment from the vertical direction relative to the substrate surface toward the parallel direction. Thereupon, it is difficult to make the liquid crystal alignment uniform. The use of a usual alignment treatment, i.e., a rubbing treatment on the substrate results in a significant deterioration in display quality.
There are proposals for making the liquid crystal alignment uniform upon application of an electric voltage that a uniform alignment is obtained by modifying the shape of the electrodes on the substrates so that an oblique electric field is generated in the liquid crystal layer. Although this method enables the liquid crystal alignment to be uniform, an uneven alignment region is produced when viewed at the micro level and will be a dark region upon application of an electric voltage. Therefore, the transmissivity of the liquid crystal display device will be diminished.
Patent Document 11 proposes a configuration wherein the linear polarizers arranged on the both surfaces of a liquid crystal cell having a liquid crystal layer which may be in a random alignment are replaced by circular polarizers. Replacement of the linear polarizers by circular polarizers each of which is a combination of a linear polarizer and a ¼ wavelength plate can eliminate the dark region produced upon application of an electric voltage and accomplish to produce a liquid crystal display device with high transmissivity. However, the vertical alignment type liquid crystal display device with the circular polarizers has a problem that it has narrower viewing angle characteristics than that with the linear polarizers.
Patent Document 12 proposes an optical anisotropic element with a negative uniaxial optical anisotropy or a biaxial optical anisotropic material for compensating the viewing angle of a vertical alignment type liquid crystal display device with circular polarizers. However, although the optical anisotropic element with a negative uniaxial optical anisotropy can compensate the positive uniaxial optical anisotropy in the cell thickness direction, it fails to compensate the viewing angle characteristics of the ¼ wavelength plate, resulting in insufficient viewing angle characteristics.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2853064
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 3018120
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Publication No. 3078948
Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-174725
Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-333524
Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-333642
Patent Document 7: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-2927
Patent Document 8: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-304924
Patent Document 9: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-149441
Patent Document 10: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-2927
Patent Document 11: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-40428
Patent Document 12: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-207782 | {
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The present invention relates generally to automotive electronics systems and more particularly to low quiescent current circuitry for awakening such systems from an inactive or sleep state and controlling the distribution of power within such systems.
The electrical system in today's automobile is called on to monitor and control a plethora of vehicle convenience, safety and operating functions. Typically these functions are partitioned and performed by numerous multiplexed control modules distributed throughout the vehicle. While these modules may be physically remote from each other, they eventually all derive their electrical power from a common limited source: the vehicle battery. Because an unlimited power source is not available to perform these various functions, power management to prevent premature discharge of the vehicle battery is a key design consideration.
Many schemes have been developed in the past to minimize current drain and conserve battery power by providing a sleep or inactive state for the system. In such systems, however, an issue then arises of how and when to awaken the system from its sleep state. Again, many schemes have been devised. Typical synchronous approaches utilize timing circuits or counters in combination with polling routines to periodically interrogate switch status. However, some asynchronous approaches have been known.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,530 provides for activation of a master unit upon closure of an activation switch connected to a slave module by temporarily applying an activation voltage level different from the active mode operation voltage on a signalling link. To generate this activation voltage, each slave unit capable of activating the system has activation drive means that connect to corresponding power supply control means in the central master unit.
The inventor herein has recognized a number of problems associated with this prior art approach. For example, should an activation switch become stuck in a closed position, the system would continually remain in the active mode drawing current from the battery at its normal operating level thereby defeating the purpose of the voltage activation circuitry. Also, the system disclosed may be activated by noise on the switch contacts because it may not distinguish between an actual switch activation and the presence of electrical noise on the switch contacts. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fixing device for a swing and shifting mechanism in a camera.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The swing and shifting mechanism in a camera causes the picture-taking lens portion to suitably shift and swing relative to the film surface to thereby obtain a desired swing and shifting effect.
However, in the swing and shifting mechanism of the prior art, the fixing of a shift portion and a swing portion has been accomplished by separate fixing knobs. Therefore, to fix the lens portion during photography, the fixing of the shift portion and the swing portion had to be accomplished by operating the separate fixing knobs and this has led to the disadvantages that the fixing operation is cumbersome and that the two fixing knobs are hardly distinguishable from each other. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for acquiring the waveform information of binary data signals of 0 and 1 treated by various kinds of digital apparatuses or transmission systems and effectively evaluating the quality of the eye pattern of the data signals.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to evaluate the digital apparatus or the transmission system, the following methods have been generally used: a method of measuring the bit error rate of the data signal output from an object to be evaluated; and a method of intuitively grasping the degree of fluctuation (jitter) in the phase or amplitude of the data signal while observing the waveform.
As the method of intuitively observing the fluctuation in the phase or amplitude of the data signal with the waveform, a method of displaying an eye pattern has been used.
The eye pattern is obtained by displaying the bit waveforms of the data signal on the same time axis so as to overlap each other. For example, for a data signal x(t) of an NRZ format shown in (a) of FIG. 11, waveform data (H1, H2, . . . ) corresponding to a predetermined number of bits (2 bits) are acquired in synchronization with a trigger signal ((b) of FIG. 11) with a period that is N times the reference bit period Tc of the data signal x(t) and the acquired waveform data overlap each other on the same time axis. In this way, an eye pattern Pe shown in (c) of FIG. 11 is obtained. The actual eye pattern is obtained by displaying the positions corresponding to the size of each waveform data item with points. In FIG. 11, the region in which the points of the waveform data are more likely to be present is hatched and all of the points forming the eye pattern are not included in the hatched portion (which is the same as that in the following description).
The length La of a region A of the obtained eye pattern Pe in the time axis direction depends on the degree of the fluctuation in the phase of the data signal x(t) (the thickness of a level transition portion of data) and the length Lb of the region A in the voltage axis direction depends on the degree of the fluctuation in the amplitude of the data signal (the thickness of a line extending in the time axis direction).
Therefore, the relationship between the eye pattern of the data signal x(t) and the expansion of the region A surrounded by the eye pattern is quantitatively measured to evaluate the quality of the data signal.
As one of the evaluation methods, there is a test method that prepares a mask M that has a polygonal shape (here, a hexagonal shape) corresponding to the shape of the region surrounded by the eye pattern Pe and has a size determined by the bit rate or design amplitude of the data signal and a margin, fixes the mask M to a predetermined position in the vicinity of the center of the region surrounded by the eye pattern, and counts the number of points of the waveform data forming the eye pattern in the mask, as shown in FIG. 12 (mask compliance measurement).
It is defined that, among a total of P points of the waveform data forming the eye pattern, up to Q points are allowed to be present in the mask. When the number of actual points determined to be in the mask is equal to or less than Q, the test result OK (success) is output. When the number of actual points determined to be in the mask is more than Q, the test result NG (failure) is output.
As another evaluation method, there is a test method that prepares a mask M that has a polygonal shape (here, a hexagonal shape) corresponding to the shape of the region surrounded by the eye pattern Pe and has a size determined by the bit rate or design amplitude of the data signal and a margin is used, fixes the mask M to a predetermined position in the vicinity of the center of the region surrounded by the eye pattern, counts the number of points of the waveform data forming the eye pattern while sequentially enlarging the mask M from a standard size, and tests the margin of the quality of the data signal for the mask with the standard size from the relationship between the count value and the enlargement ratio of the mask (margin measurement).
It is defined that, among a total of P points of the waveform data forming the eye pattern, up to Q points of the waveform data are allowed to be present in the mask. From the test result, the enlargement ratio at which the number of points in the mask is more than Q is determined.
An example of the technique for evaluating the quality of the data signal on the basis of the relationship between the eye pattern and the mask is disclosed in the following JP-A-2010-061207. | {
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Common carriers, such as passenger airlines, bus lines, and train lines, frequently convey substantial numbers of passengers simultaneously. In many instances, there is a desire to increase the number of seats within a given space to optimize the number of passengers being transported at any given time. By increasing the number of passenger seats in the space, the amount of space available for each passenger is diminished. The amount of available space is most noticeable by a passenger in the area between the passenger's knees and the passenger seat located forward of that passenger.
In order to provide as much room as possible for the passenger's knees in the diminished space, some passenger seats have been modified so that the seat backs do not recline. The reclining seat back has traditionally impeded into the passenger's knee space because seat backs traditionally pivot near the bottom seat cushion (as indicated by reference number 94 in FIG. 7). While this option may ensure that the passenger's knee space is preserved, the passenger's reclining comfort has been sacrificed. Thus, it is desirable to provide a passenger seat assembly that allows for provides as much space as possible for a passenger's knees, while still allowing the passenger some reclining comfort. | {
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An image forming apparatus that employs an electrophotographic system well-known in the art includes a cartridge that stores developer.
As such an image forming apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Publication no. 2000-250310 discloses a printer that can detachably accommodate a process cartridge therein. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum, and a developing cartridge for storing toner that is detachably attachable to the drum cartridge. | {
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A standard flush toilet has a housing in which is set a bowl that is unitarily formed with a trap outlet. A nozzle ring is provided around the upwardly open mouth of the bowl to direct a plurality of streams of water straight down into the bowl. The incoming water causes the outlet to overflow and the resultant draining action, often augmented by a siphon effect, empties the bowl.
The nozzle ring is typically built into the cover or top part of the toilet and comprises an annular manifold passage fed at one location with water under pressure and having a plurality of outlets forming the nozzles. The nozzles furthest from the feed location are not in this system highly effective because they get little pressure, while those close to the feed location emit relatively powerful streams. | {
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As watches, there are two types of mechanical watches which operate by the use of power of a mainspring and electronic watches which operate by electric power of battery loaded therein. Each of the electronic watches and the mechanical watches has a train wheel portion to move hour hand, minute hand and second hand, such as wheels and bridges, and a slide portion such as levers. For the train wheel portion and the slide portion, parts made of metals or plastics are used taking processability and strength into account.
For the operation of the hands of watches, a magnetized rotor rotates 180° for one second and this rotation is transmitted in the following manner. That is to say, the rotation of the rotor is transmitted to a fifth wheel and pinion, a fourth wheel and pinion, a third wheel and pinion, a second wheel and pinion, a minute wheel, and an hour wheel in this order, and the fourth wheel and pinion moves the second hand, the second wheel and pinion moves the minute hand, and the hour wheel moves the hour hand, whereby each hand is operated.
Watches usually have a time-adjusting function. When a crown is pulled in order to adjust time, a clutch wheel is geared into the minute wheel. When the crown is revolved in this state, the clutch wheel is rotated to thereby rotate the minute wheel. By the rotation of the minute wheel, the hour wheel is rotated, whereby the hour hand can be moved. By the rotation of the minute wheel, the second wheel and pinion is also rotated, whereby the minute hand can be moved.
The minute wheel, however, is interlocked with the rotor through the second wheel and pinion, the third wheel and pinion, the fourth wheel and pinion, and the fifth wheel and pinion, so that if the crown is revolved, even the rotor is rotated. Then, in order to prevent rotation of the rotor caused by adjusting time, watches are equipped with a braking mechanism and a sliding mechanism to rotate only wheels necessary to adjust time. The sliding mechanism is usually set on the second wheel and pinion.
The sliding mechanism has an appropriate torque (referred to as “slip torque”), and when a force higher than a certain torque is applied, the sliding mechanism is activated, and thereby, rotation is not transmitted between the second wheel and pinion, and the third wheel and pinion. More specifically, in the usual motion of hands, the rotation is transmitted from the third wheel and pinion to the second wheel and pinion, but when the crown is revolved, a force of a certain torque is applied to actuate the sliding mechanism, whereby rotation is not transmitted from the second wheel and pinion to the third wheel and pinion.
However, if the time-adjusting operation is repeatedly carried out, the sliding mechanism suffers frictional wear and is deteriorated to thereby lower the slip torque. Consequently, it becomes difficult to stop the hand at the desired position in the time-adjusting operation, or also in the usual motion, the sliding mechanism sometimes is activated to thereby stop the motion of the minute hand.
Therefore, a lithium soap grease containing as a base oil an ester type synthetic oil or a mineral oil is conventionally poured into the sliding mechanism to prevent deterioration of the sliding mechanism caused by frictional wear and thereby inhibit lowering of torque. However, if a synthetic oil having a large total acid number and exhibiting metal corrosiveness (e.g., Mabis 9415) is used for a metal part of a precision instrument such as a watch, the metal part is occasionally tarnished or dissolved. Further, if a grease (e.g., CH-1 available from Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.) having poorer storage stability than a high-purity synthetic base oil (e.g., International Publication No. WO01/59043) is used, there is brought about a problem that the sliding mechanism is immediately deteriorated. On this account, development of grease having a small total acid number and exhibiting excellent storage stability has been desired.
Furthermore, grease having been poured into the sliding mechanism sometimes mingles with a lubricating oil that has been applied in order to slide the second wheel and pinion. As a result, deterioration of the slide portion or change of properties of the lubricating oil sometimes occurs. For example, if the aforesaid Mabis 9415 is mixed with the lubricating oil, metal corrosiveness of the lubricating oil is increased to sometimes deteriorate the slide portion. If the CH-1 available from Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. is mixed with the lubricating oil, change of properties of the lubricating oil takes place and the properties inherent in the lubricating oil cannot be obtained in some cases.
Then, as a sliding mechanism having an appropriate torque, a second wheel and pinion manufactured in combination with a resin has been proposed (Japanese Patent Publication No. 16705/1996, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 123783/1994, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 196747/1993). This second wheel and pinion is employable without oil-feeding and is prevented from mixing of a lubricating oil, but it is difficult to easily manufacture the second wheel and pinion because of its complicated structure. Moreover, there is another problem that the sliding mechanism has poor wear resistance because it is made of a resin.
Other various grease compositions have been heretofore proposed (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 31706/1978, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 35963/1999, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 336760/1999, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 336761/1999, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 172656/2001, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 308125/2002), but these grease compositions are intended for large-sized machines, and their consistency is large. Therefore, even if these grease compositions are used for sliding mechanism of watches, it is difficult that the sliding mechanism has a suitable torque.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a grease composition for a precision instrument which has no metal corrosiveness, hardly suffers change of properties and can maintain an appropriate slip torque in a precision instrument such as a watch. It is another object of the invention to provide a watch which exhibits stable operating performance by the use of the grease composition for its sliding mechanism. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The prior art is replete with different techniques and processes for fabricating semiconductor devices such as metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors. In accordance with typical fabrication techniques, a MOS transistor is formed by creating a device structure on a semiconductor substrate, where the device structure includes a gate stack formed on a layer of semiconductor material, and source and drain regions formed in the semiconductor material to define a channel region under the gate stack. In addition, embedded strain elements (i.e., doped/undoped semiconductor material that strains the channel region) can be used to improve the performance of MOS transistors. In this regard, FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a MOS transistor device structure 100 having such embedded strain elements 102 located within a layer of semiconductor material 104. FIG. 1 depicts MOS transistor device structure 100 at an intermediate stage in the overall fabrication process.
For maximum channel stress, it is desirable to locate the embedded strain elements as close to the edge of the gate region as possible. However, the minimum distance between doped embedded strain elements in the semiconductor material (near the channel region) is limited due to the out-diffusion of the doped species into the channel region. Such out-diffusion exacerbates the short channel effect (SCE) that occurs in MOS transistors fabricated using modern small scale process nodes, for example, 45 nm nodes and beyond. To better control SCE, MOS transistor device structure 100 employs embedded strain elements 102 having a symmetric and stepped profile, as shown in FIG. 1. In this regard, embedded strain elements 102 are symmetric relative to the channel region. The stepped profile results in a relatively narrow separation between the upper portions 106 of embedded strain elements 102, and a relatively wide separation between the lower portions 108 of embedded strain elements 102. This structure facilitates the realization of shallow junctions for better SCE control. | {
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A technique for forming three-dimensional structures (e.g. parts, components, devices, and the like) from a plurality of adhered layers was invented by Adam L. Cohen and is known as Electrochemical Fabrication. It is being commercially pursued by Microfabrica Inc. (formerly MEMGen® Corporation) of Burbank, Calif. under the name EFAB™. This technique was described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,630, issued on Feb. 22, 2000. This electrochemical deposition technique allows the selective deposition of a material using a unique masking technique that involves the use of a mask that includes patterned conformable material on a support structure that is independent of the substrate onto which plating will occur. When desiring to perform an electrodeposition using the mask, the conformable portion of the mask is brought into contact with a substrate while in the presence of a plating solution such that the contact of the conformable portion of the mask to the substrate inhibits deposition at selected locations. For convenience, these masks might be generically called conformable contact masks; the masking technique may be generically called a conformable contact mask plating process. More specifically, in the terminology of Microfabrica Inc. (formerly MEMGen® Corporation) of Burbank, Calif. such masks have come to be known as INSTANT MASKS™ and the process known as INSTANT MASKING™ or INSTANT MASK™ plating. Selective depositions using conformable contact mask plating may be used to form single layers of material or may be used to form multi-layer structures. The teachings of the '630 patent are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full herein. Since the filing of the patent application that led to the above noted patent, various papers about conformable contact mask plating (i.e. INSTANT MASKING) and electrochemical fabrication have been published: 1. A. Cohen, G. Zhang, F. Tseng, F. Mansfeld, U. Frodis and P. Will, “EFAB: Batch production of functional, fully-dense metal parts with micro-scale features”, Proc. 9th Solid Freeform Fabrication, The University of Texas at Austin, p 161, August 1998. 2. A. Cohen, G. Zhang, F. Tseng, F. Mansfeld, U. Frodis and P. Will, “EFAB: Rapid, Low-Cost Desktop Micromachining of High Aspect Ratio True 3-D MEMS”, Proc. 12th IEEE Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Workshop, IEEE, p 244, January 1999. 3. A. Cohen, “3-D Micromachining by Electrochemical Fabrication”, Micromachine Devices, March 1999. 4. G. Zhang, A. Cohen, U. Frodis, F. Tseng, F. Mansfeld, and P. Will, “EFAB: Rapid Desktop Manufacturing of True 3-D Microstructures”, Proc. 2nd International Conference on Integrated MicroN\anotechnology for Space Applications, The Aerospace Co., April 1999. 5. F. Tseng, U. Frodis, G. Zhang, A. Cohen, F. Mansfeld, and P. Will, “EFAB: High Aspect Ratio, Arbitrary 3-D Metal Microstructures using a Low-Cost Automated Batch Process”, 3rd International Workshop on High Aspect Ratio MicroStructure Technology (HARMST'99), June 1999. 6. A. Cohen, U. Frodis, F. Tseng, G. Zhang, F. Mansfeld, and P. Will, “EFAB: Low-Cost, Automated Electrochemical Batch Fabrication of Arbitrary 3-D Microstructures”, Micromachining and Microfabrication Process Technology, SPIE 1999 Symposium on Micromachining and Microfabrication, September 1999. 7. F. Tseng, G. Zhang, U. Frodis, A. Cohen, F. Mansfeld, and P. Will, “EFAB: High Aspect Ratio, Arbitrary 3-D Metal Microstructures using a Low-Cost Automated Batch Process”, MEMS Symposium, ASME 1999 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November, 1999. 8. A. Cohen, “Electrochemical Fabrication (EFAB™)”, Chapter 19 of The MEMS Handbook, edited by Mohamed Gad-EI-Hak, CRC Press, 2002. 9. Microfabrication—Rapid Prototyping's Killer Application”, pages 1-5 of the Rapid Prototyping Report, CAD/CAM Publishing, Inc., June 1999.
The disclosures of these nine publications are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full herein.
The electrochemical deposition process may be carried out in a number of different ways as set forth in the above patent and publications. In one form, this process involves the execution of three separate operations during the formation of each layer of the structure that is to be formed: 1. Selectively depositing at least one material by electrodeposition upon one or more desired regions of a substrate. 2. Then, blanket depositing at least one additional material by electrodeposition so that the additional deposit covers both the regions that were previously selectively deposited onto, and the regions of the substrate that did not receive any previously applied selective depositions. 3. Finally, planarizing the materials deposited during the first and second operations to produce a smoothed surface of a first layer of desired thickness having at least one region containing the at least one material and at least one region containing at least the one additional material.
After formation of the first layer, one or more additional layers may be formed adjacent to the immediately preceding layer and adhered to the smoothed surface of that preceding layer. These additional layers are formed by repeating the first through third operations one or more times wherein the formation of each subsequent layer treats the previously formed layers and the initial substrate as a new and thickening substrate.
Once the formation of all layers has been completed, at least a portion of at least one of the materials deposited is generally removed by an etching process to expose or release the three-dimensional structure that was intended to be formed.
The preferred method of performing the selective electrodeposition involved in the first operation is by conformable contact mask plating. In this type of plating, one or more conformable contact (CC) masks are first formed. The CC masks include a support structure onto which a patterned conformable dielectric material is adhered or formed. The conformable material for each mask is shaped in accordance with a particular cross-section of material to be plated. At least one CC mask is needed for each unique cross-sectional pattern that is to be plated.
The support for a CC mask is typically a plate-like structure formed of a metal that is to be selectively electroplated and from which material to be plated will be dissolved. In this typical approach, the support will act as an anode in an electroplating process. In an alternative approach, the support may instead be a porous or otherwise perforated material through which deposition material will pass during an electroplating operation on its way from a distal anode to a deposition surface. In either approach, it is possible for CC masks to share a common support, i.e. the patterns of conformable dielectric material for plating multiple layers of material may be located in different areas of a single support structure. When a single support structure contains multiple plating patterns, the entire structure is referred to as the CC mask while the individual plating masks may be referred to as “submasks”. In the present application such a distinction will be made only when relevant to a specific point being made.
In preparation for performing the selective deposition of the first operation, the conformable portion of the CC mask is placed in registration with and pressed against a selected portion of the substrate (or onto a previously formed layer or onto a previously deposited portion of a layer) on which deposition is to occur. The pressing together of the CC mask and substrate occur in such a way that all openings, in the conformable portions of the CC mask contain plating solution. The conformable material of the CC mask that contacts the substrate acts as a barrier to electrodeposition while the openings in the CC mask that are filled with electroplating solution act as pathways for transferring material from an anode (e.g. the CC mask support) to the non-contacted portions of the substrate (which act as a cathode during the plating operation) when an appropriate potential and/or current are supplied.
An example of a CC mask and CC mask plating are shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. FIG. 1A shows a side view of a CC mask 8 consisting of a conformable or deformable (e.g. elastomeric) insulator 10 patterned on an anode 12. The anode has two functions. One is as a supporting material for the patterned insulator 10 to maintain its integrity and alignment since the pattern may be topologically complex (e.g., involving isolated “islands” of insulator material). The other function is as an anode for the electroplating operation. FIG. 1A also depicts a substrate 6 separated from mask 8. CC mask plating selectively deposits material 22 onto a substrate 6 by simply pressing the insulator against the substrate then electrodepositing material through apertures 26a and 26b in the insulator as shown in FIG. 1B. After deposition, the CC mask is separated, preferably non-destructively, from the substrate 6 as shown in FIG. 1C. The CC mask plating process is distinct from a “through-mask” plating process in that in a through-mask plating process the separation of the masking material from the substrate would occur destructively. As with through-mask plating, CC mask plating deposits material selectively and simultaneously over the entire layer. The plated region may consist of one or more isolated plating regions where these isolated plating regions may belong to a single structure that is being formed or may belong to multiple structures that are being formed simultaneously. In CC mask plating, as individual masks are not intentionally destroyed in the removal process, they may be usable in multiple plating operations.
Another example of a CC mask and CC mask plating is shown in FIGS. 1D-1G. FIG. 1D shows an anode 12′ separated from a mask 8′ that includes a patterned conformable material 10′ and a support structure 20. FIG. 1D also depicts substrate 6 separated from the mask 8′. FIG. 1E illustrates the mask 8′ being brought into contact with the substrate 6. FIG. 1F illustrates the deposit 22′ that results from conducting a current from the anode 12′ to the substrate 6. FIG. 1G illustrates the deposit 22′ on substrate 6 after separation from mask 8′. In this example, an appropriate electrolyte is located between the substrate 6 and the anode 12′ and a current of ions coming from one or both of the solution and the anode are conducted through the opening in the mask to the substrate where material is deposited. This type of mask may be referred to as an anodeless INSTANT MASK™ (AIM) or as an anodeless conformable contact (ACC) mask.
Unlike through-mask plating, CC mask plating allows CC masks to be formed completely separate from the fabrication of the substrate on which plating is to occur (e.g. separate from a three-dimensional (3D) structure that is being formed). CC masks may be formed in a variety of ways, for example, a photolithographic process may be used. All masks can be generated simultaneously prior to structure fabrication rather than during it. This separation makes possible a simple, low-cost, automated, self-contained, and internally-clean “desktop factory” that can be installed almost anywhere to fabricate 3D structures, leaving any required clean room processes, such as photolithography to be performed by service bureaus or the like.
An example of the electrochemical fabrication process discussed above is illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2F. These figures show that the process involves deposition of a first material 2 which is a sacrificial material and a second material 4 which is a structural material. The CC mask 8, in this example, includes a patterned conformable material (e.g. an elastomeric dielectric material) 10 and a support 12 which is made from deposition material 2. The conformal portion of the CC mask is pressed against substrate 6 with a plating solution 14 located within the openings 16 in the conformable material 10. An electric current, from power supply 18, is then passed through the plating solution 14 via (a) support 12 which doubles as an anode and (b) substrate 6 which doubles as a cathode. FIG. 2A, illustrates that the passing of current causes material 2 within the plating solution and material 2 from the anode 12 to be selectively transferred to and plated on the substrate 6. After electroplating the first deposition material 2 onto the substrate 6 using CC mask 8, the CC mask 8 is removed as shown in FIG. 2B. FIG. 2C depicts the second deposition material 4 as having been blanket-deposited (i.e. non-selectively deposited) over the previously deposited first deposition material 2 as well as over the other portions of the substrate 6. The blanket deposition occurs by electroplating from an anode (not shown), composed of the second material, through an appropriate plating solution (not shown), and to the cathode/substrate 6. The entire two-material layer is then planarized to achieve precise thickness and flatness as shown in FIG. 2D. After repetition of this process for all layers, the multi-layer structure 20 formed of the second material 4 (i.e. structural material) is embedded in first material 2 (i.e. sacrificial material) as shown in FIG. 2E. The embedded structure is etched to yield the desired device, i.e. structure 20, as shown in FIG. 2F.
Various components of an exemplary manual electrochemical fabrication system 32 are shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. The system 32 consists of several subsystems 34, 36, 38, and 40. The substrate holding subsystem 34 is depicted in the upper portions of each of FIGS. 3A-3C and includes several components: (1) a carrier 48, (2) a metal substrate 6 onto which the layers are deposited, and (3) a linear slide 42 capable of moving the substrate 6 up and down relative to the carrier 48 in response to drive force from actuator 44. Subsystem 34 also includes an indicator 46 for measuring differences in vertical position of the substrate which may be used in setting or determining layer thicknesses and/or deposition thicknesses. The subsystem 34 further includes feet 68 for carrier 48 which can be precisely mounted on subsystem 36.
The CC mask subsystem 36 shown in the lower portion of FIG. 3A includes several components: (1) a CC mask 8 that is actually made up of a number of CC masks (i.e. submasks) that share a common support/anode 12, (2) precision X-stage 54, (3) precision Y-stage 56, (4) frame 72 on which the feet 68 of subsystem 34 can mount, and (5) a tank 58 for containing the electrolyte 16. Subsystems 34 and 36 also include appropriate electrical connections (not shown) for connecting to an appropriate power source (not shown) for driving the CC masking process.
The blanket deposition subsystem 38 is shown in the lower portion of FIG. 3B and includes several components: (1) an anode 62, (2) an electrolyte tank 64 for holding plating solution 66, and (3) frame 74 on which feet 68 of subsystem 34 may sit. Subsystem 38 also includes appropriate electrical connections (not shown) for connecting the anode to an appropriate power supply (not shown) for driving the blanket deposition process.
The planarization subsystem 40 is shown in the lower portion of FIG. 3C and includes a lapping plate 52 and associated motion and control systems (not shown) for planarizing the depositions.
Another method for forming microstructures from electroplated metals (i.e. using electrochemical fabrication techniques) is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,637 to Henry Guckel, entitled “Formation of Microstructures by Multiple Level Deep X-ray Lithography with Sacrificial Metal layers”. This patent teaches the formation of metal structure utilizing mask exposures. A first layer of a primary metal is electroplated onto an exposed plating base to fill a void in a photoresist, the photoresist is then removed and a secondary metal is electroplated over the first layer and over the plating base. The exposed surface of the secondary metal is then machined down to a height which exposes the first metal to produce a flat uniform surface extending across the both the primary and secondary metals. Formation of a second layer may then begin by applying a photoresist layer over the first layer and then repeating the process used to produce the first layer. The process is then repeated until the entire structure is formed and the secondary metal is removed by etching. The photoresist is formed over the plating base or previous layer by casting and the voids in the photoresist are formed by exposure of the photoresist through a patterned mask via X-rays or UV radiation.
Electrochemical fabrication provides the ability to form prototypes and commercial quantities of miniature objects, parts, structures, devices, and the like at reasonable costs and in reasonable times. In fact, electrochemical fabrication is an enabler for the formation of many structures that were hitherto impossible to produce. Electrochemical fabrication opens the spectrum for new designs and products in many industrial fields. Even though electrochemical fabrication offers this new capability and it is understood that electrochemical fabrication techniques can be combined with designs and structures known within various fields to produce new structures, certain uses for electrochemical fabrication provide designs, structures, capabilities and/or features not known or obvious in view of the state of the art.
A need exists in various fields for miniature devices having improved characteristics, reduced fabrication times, reduced fabrication costs, simplified fabrication processes, and/or more independence between geometric configuration and the selected fabrication process. A need also exists in the field of miniature device fabrication for improved fabrication methods and apparatus. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns techniques for allocating a resource among a number of potential uses for the resource such that a satisfactory tradeoff between a risk and a return on the resource is obtained. More particularly, the invention concerns improved techniques for determining the risk-return tradeoff for particular uses, techniques for determining the contribution of uncertainty to the value of the resource, techniques for specifying risks, and techniques for quantifying the effects and contribution of diversification of risks on the risk-return tradeoff and valuation for a given allocation of the resource among the uses.
2. Description of Related Art
People are constantly allocating resources among a number of potential uses. At one end of the spectrum of resource allocation is the gardener who is figuring out how to spend his or her two hours of gardening time this weekend; at the other end is the money manager who is figuring out how to allocate the money that has been entrusted to him or her among a number of classes of assets. An important element in resource allocation decisions is the tradeoff between return and risk. Generally, the higher the return the greater the risk, but the ratio between return and risk is different for each of the potential uses. Moreover, the form taken by the risk may be different for each of the potential uses. When this is the case, risk may be reduced by diversifying the resource allocation among the uses.
Resource allocation thus typically involves three steps: 1. Selecting a set of uses with different kinds of risks; 2. determining for each of the uses the risk/return tradeoff; and 3. allocating the resource among the uses so as to maximize the return while minimizing the overall risk.
As is evident from proverbs like “Don't put all of your eggs in one basket” and “Don't count your chickens before they're hatched”, people have long been using the kind of analysis summarized in the above three steps to decide how to allocate resources. What is relatively new is the use of mathematical models in analyzing the risk/return tradeoff. One of the earliest models for analyzing risk/return is net present value; in the last ten years, people have begun using the real option model; both of these models are described in Timothy A. Luehrman, “Investment Opportunities as Real Options: Getting Started on the Numbers”, in: Harvard Business Review, July-August 1998, pp. 3-15. The seminal work on modeling portfolio selection is that of Harry M. Markowitz, described in Harry M. Markowitz, Efficient Diversification of Investments, second edition, Blackwell Pub, 1991.
The advantage of the real option model is that it takes better account of uncertainty. Both the NPV model and Markowitz's portfolio modeling techniques treat return volatility as a one-dimensional risk. However, because things are uncertain, the risk and return for an action to be taken at a future time is constantly changing. This fact in turn gives value to the right to take or refrain from taking the action at a future time. Such rights are termed options. Options have long been bought and sold in the financial markets. The reason options have value is that they reduce risk: the closer one comes to the future time, the more is known about the action's potential risks and returns. Thus, in the real option model, the potential value of a resource allocation is not simply what the allocation itself brings, but additionally, the value of being able to undertake future courses of action based on the present resource allocation. For example, when a company purchases a patent license in order to enter a new line of business, the value of the license is not just what the license could be sold to a third party for, but the value to the company of the option of being able to enter the new line of business. Even if the company never enters the new line of business, the option is valuable because the option gives the company choices it otherwise would not have had. For further discussions of real options and their uses, see Keith J. Leslie and Max P. Michaels, “The real power of real options”, in: The McKinsey Quarterly, 1997, No. 3, pp. 4-22, and Thomas E. Copland and Philip T. Keenan, “Making real options real”, The McKinsey Quarterly, 1998, No. 3, pp. 128-141.
In spite of the progress in applying mathematics to the problem of allocating a resource among a number of different uses, difficulties remain. First, the real option model has heretofore been used only to analyze individual resource allocations, and has not been used in portfolio selection. Second, there has been no good way of quantifying the effects of diversification on the overall risk.
Experience with the resource allocation system of U.S. Ser. No. 10/018,696 has demonstrated the usefulness of the system, but has also shown that it is unnecessarily limited. It is an object of the invention disclosed herein to overcome the limitations of U.S. Ser. No. 10/018,696 and thereby to provide an improved resource allocation system. | {
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Portable heating devices have been utilized to raise the temperature in a living space for many years. Conventional portable forced hot air heaters for consumer use are well-known and are comprised of an electrical heating element and a fan within a housing. Ambient air is forced to pass through or over the heating element thus raising the temperature of the air. As sufficient air passes through the heating element the ambient temperature of the room is raised as desired.
One type of conventional portable heater is normally low in elevation with respect to a support surface, such as the floor. This low profile increases the distance that the heat must travel (i.e., the heat path) to reach the upper trunk of the users body. The added heat path distance does not produce the desired effect of heating the upper trunk and extremities of the user body efficiently.
Another type of conventional heater utilizes a transverse air impeller assembly. This type of heater attempts to raise the exit height of the hot air exhaust stream with respect to the floor. One drawback of this type of air circulator is that transverse air impeller assemblies typically have several sections which must be coupled together by glue or ultrasonic welding. This assembly must then be balanced to insure correct operation. Transverse air impeller assemblies may also necessitate the use of vibration dampers on the motor. In addition, long transverse air impeller assemblies tend to become misaligned, thereby requiring a special bearing mounted in rubber pads to compensate for the misalignment. The above mentioned problems are exacerbated as the length of the transverse air impeller assembly is increased, which limits the elevation that the heated exhaust stream can be raised above the floor with a conventional tower heater design. These features and associated problems also add significant expense to the manufacturing process. The result is translated into a higher retail price and less desirable comfort levels for the consumer.
Conventional heaters that utilize a centrifugal blower assembly encounter similar manufacturing problems when the impeller length is increased. Shaft length of the motor, impeller balancing and the need for a more powerful motor to rotate the longer impeller increase manufacturing costs. These problems all result in higher retail prices for heaters having long centrifugal blower assemblies.
The design of conventional tower heaters therefore limits the vertical height of the heated exhaust air stream. This is caused, in part, because the cost and complexity of the devices increases as the length of the heating element and/or the length of the impeller increases.
In light of the aforementioned problems there is a need for a forced air heater having a heated exhaust air stream at a height sufficient to shorten the heat path to an upper portion of the user's body. This heating device should have a vertical aspect ratio while using an air generator with an impeller design having the desired air flow characteristics that allow ease of manufacturing and a desirable retail cost for the consumer. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for manufacturing the same, and an electronic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Solid-state imaging devices are broadly classified into amplified solid-state imaging devices represented by CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensors and charge-transfer solid-state imaging devices represented by CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensors. These types of solid-state imaging devices are widely used in digital still cameras and digital video cameras. In recent years, the CMOS image sensors have often been used as solid-state imaging devices mounted on mobile apparatuses, such as camera-equipped mobile phones or PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), from the viewpoint of low power supply voltages and power consumption.
So-called back-illuminated CMOS image sensors, in which light enters from a back side of a substrate opposite to a side provided with a multilevel wiring layer, have been suggested (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-31785) as solid-state imaging devices and are now under development.
FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the back-illuminated CMOS solid-state imaging device according to a related art. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an imaging region. In FIG. 10, a surface on the side irradiated with incident light L of a silicon portion (corresponding to a semiconductor substrate) 112 is a back surface 112B, and a surface on the opposite side is a front surface 112A.
In the back-illuminated CMOS solid-state imaging device 111, a plurality of pixels including photodiodes PD serving as photoelectric conversion elements and a plurality of pixel transistors are arrayed in the silicon portion 112. On the front surface 112A side of the silicon portion 112, gate electrodes 121 and 122 of the pixel transistors are formed. Also, a multilevel wiring layer 126 including a plurality of wiring layers 125 disposed via an interlayer insulating film 124, and a support substrate 127 are formed. The multilevel wiring layer 126 and the support substrate 127 are bonded via a bonding layer 128. A p-type semiconductor region 129 included in the silicon portion 112 is disposed at the back surface 112B on an interface between the silicon portion 112 and an interlayer insulating film 130. On-chip color filters 131 and on-chip lenses 132 are formed on the interlayer insulating film 130. Reference numeral 133 denotes a unit pixel.
Each of the photodiodes PD includes a p-type semiconductor region 113, an n-type semiconductor region 114 serving as a charge accumulating region, and an n− semiconductor region 115 having a relatively low impurity concentration. Those regions 113 to 115 are disposed in this order from the front surface 112A side to the back surface 112B side of the p-type silicon portion 112. The n− semiconductor region 115 extends to under (above in FIG. 10) a region where the pixel transistors are formed.
In the silicon portion 112, n-type source/drain regions 117, 118, and 119 are formed on the front surface 112A side, and the gate electrodes 121 and 122 are formed via a gate insulating film, whereby a plurality of pixel transistors are formed. The plurality of pixel transistors may be the following three transistors: a transfer transistor; a reset transistor; and an amplification transistor. Alternatively, four transistors may be used by adding a selection transistor.
In the CMOS solid-state imaging device 111, incident light L enters from the upper side of FIG. 10 (from the back surface 112B side), is bent by the on-chip lenses 132 so as to be focused onto the photodiodes PD, and enters the photodiodes PD after color components are separated by the on-chip color filters 131. On receiving the incident light L, the photodiodes PD perform photoelectric conversion thereon.
The incident light L that has entered the vicinity of a border between the pixels 133 passes through the vicinity of a border between the on-chip lenses 132 and enters the silicon portion 112. At the vicinity of the border between the on-chip lenses 132, light passes without being sufficiently bent and photoelectric conversion is performed on the light in that state. Since the photodiodes PD are separated at the vicinity of the border between the pixels 133, photoelectrons produced through photoelectric conversion performed between the photodiodes PD enter any of the photodiodes PD depending on probability.
For example, photoelectrons produced from light that has passed through a green (G) on-chip color filter should ideally enter the photodiode PD under the G on-chip color filter, but actually enter the photodiode PD under an adjoining red (R) or blue (B) on-chip color filter with certain probability. Such a phenomenon where the pixel corresponding to the on-chip color filter through which light has passed is different from the pixel where photoelectrons are detected is called “color mixture”, which deteriorates color reproducibility.
The color mixture is significant when light obliquely enters. Depending on an angle, light that has obliquely passed through an edge of the on-chip color filter may enter the photodiode PD of an adjoining pixel.
In order to suppress the color mixture, a related art has employed a light-shielding metal 141 placed between the pixels 133, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The light-shielding metal 141 is placed to be embedded in the interlayer insulating film 130. Area IX near the light-shielding metal 141 is illustrated in an enlarged view in FIG. 9. As illustrated in FIG. 9, a silicon dioxide film 142 is formed above the silicon portion 112, a light-shielding metal containing Al or W is formed thereon, and then patterning is performed to produce the interpixel light-shielding metal 141. Furthermore, the light-shielding metal 141 is covered by a silicon-nitride (SiN) film 143 for passivation and spectral adjustment, and a planarizing film 144 including a silicon dioxide (SiO2) film or an organic film is formed on the SiN film 143. The on-chip color filters 131, an organic planarizing layer 145, and the on-chip lenses 132 are formed on the planarizing film 144.
In many cases, a pixel unit of the CMOS solid-state imaging device 111 includes an optical black (OPB) portion outside an effective pixel portion. The OPB portion is covered by a metal layer (light-shielding metal) and is shielded to detect a black level. In the effective pixel portion other than the OPB portion, the light-shielding metal opens above the photodiodes PD of the pixels and covers the portions between the pixels. Accordingly, incident light L between the pixels is blocked to suppress color mixture.
On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-347709 discloses a back-illuminated CMOS solid-state imaging device that has a configuration including an element separating region formed between photodiodes corresponding to an ineffective region between on-chip lenses adjoining to each other. Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-19653 discloses a back-illuminated CMOS solid-state imaging device that has a configuration including a metal light-shielding film formed between pixels and in an OPB portion. The metal light-shielding film has a fixed potential. | {
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The present invention is directed to a scene change detection system which can be used for object detection. Scene change detection is often referred to as motion conspicuity detection. While motion conspicuity detectors exist, they each have their drawbacks. Examples of such motion conspicuity detectors include variational optical flow, biological saliency, and standalone bayesian surprise. Variational optical flow was described by Bruhn, A., Weickert, J., Feddern, C., Kohlberger, T., and Schnorr, C., in “Variational optical flow computation in real time”, IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 14(5), 608-615 (2005). Biological saliency was described by Itti, L., Koch, C., and Braun, J., in “Revisiting Spatial Vision”, Towards a Unifying Model. JOSA-A, 17(11), 1899-1917 (2000), while Standalone Bayesian Surprise was described by Itti, L., and Baldi, P. in “A principled approach to detecting surprising events in video”, Paper presented at the Proc. IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR) (2005), and “Bayesian Surprise attracts human attention”, Paper presented at the Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) (2006). Each of the aforementioned conspicuity detectors, in of themselves, are incomplete for scene change detection. Further, they are subject to the effects of motion noise which dramatically decreases their efficacy.
Thus, a continuing need exists for a system that identifies regions of interest in an input frame while reducing the effect of motion noise. | {
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The present invention relates to a procedure for monitoring large surface areas, which has been developed especially for the monitoring of outdoor areas to detect the presence of people, but which can just as well be used in large indoor spaces and for other types of area supervision.
The procedure of the invention can be applied to the supervision of various storage areas, supervision of working sites, frontier supervision, passage control in industrial areas, supervision of military areas, airports, etc.
In the various applications mentioned above and in corresponding applications where supervision is needed, the monitoring equipment mainly consists of video cameras and various optical, mechanical or electrical switches, sensors or alarm systems designed to detect movements or other effects produced by an object moving in the area watched over.
However, prior-art solutions have significant drawbacks. Weather and illumination conditions render the video camera inapplicable for effective monitoring of outdoor areas. The various switches, sensors and alarm devices used serve relatively local needs and are therefore required in large quantities when a large area is to be monitored. Thus, building and especially maintaining a monitoring system is expensive. Moreover, different individual alarm switches are often relatively easy to evade or to make inoperative.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks. A specific object of the invention is to produce a new procedure which allows a maximal land and/or water area to be monitored and supervised in a simple and centralized manner from a single observation point.
As for the features characteristic of the invention, reference is made to the claims.
In the procedure of the invention for the monitoring of large surface areas, the area to be supevised is monitored substantially by means of a monitoring unit located at one point and comprising both a thermal camera and an electromagnetic radar, which are rotated about a vertical axis to scan the area in a horizontal plane. Moreover, the monitoring unit comprises a suitable processing device for the processing of the data supplied by the thermal camera and radar and for performing the functions required by the data obtained, such as issuing an alarm. According to the invention, the area to be monitored is divided into surface elements as a function of the angle of rotation of the vertical shaft and the scanning distance, and monitoring criteria are defined for each surface element. These actions are performed in the memory and files of the processing device. The monitoring criteria may be the same for the entire area to be monitored, in which case they need not be defined separately for different surface elements. The criteria may also be different for each surface element or for larger groups of surface elements. In the procedure of the invention, movements in the surface area to be monitored are observed by means of an electromagnetic radar and, by means of a thermal camera, objects differing from their surroundings in respect of temperature are searched and discriminated. In addition, depending on the circumstances and the distance of observation, either the radar or the thermal camera is used to define the location of the object, i.e. the surface element within which the object has been detected, and to identify the object detected.
The thermal camera and the radar are preferably rotated about a vertical shaft simultaneously, or the thermal camera and the radar are connected together so that they will scan the same sector of the area at the same time. Thus, the information obtained from each can be immediately compared with that obtained from the other device and, if necessary, an alarm can be issued immediately.
It is also possible to turn the thermal camera and the radar about the vertical shaft independently of each other, in which case both can be used continuously or the scanning is performed by only one of the devices and only if the information obtained contains something suspicious, the area in question is checked by the other device as well.
In the procedure of the invention, the entire area to be monitored, which may be a circle or a large sector of a circle, such as a semicircle, is preferably divided into sectors opening from the monitoring unit in all directions over the surface area to be monitored, and these sectors are additionally divided into surface elements in the direction of the scanning distance.
In the procedure of the invention, in addition to horizontal rotational scanning, the radar preferably scans in the direction of distance with the selected surface element resolution. In this case, the echo from each surface element is subjected to an FFT transformation, thus distinguishing moving objects from stationary ones and determinining the velocity and distance of a moving object.
Different parts of the area to be monitored may have different supervision criteria, e.g. such that for some parts an alarm is issued upon any movement, in other parts movement is always allowed and in yet other parts movement is only allowed at certain times. In this way, surface elements having the same supervision criteria can be combined into a surface element group which is treated as a coherent whole in regard of alarms.
In the procedure of the invention, an object in the area to be monitored can be detected on the basis of its movement by means of the radar and on the basis of a temperature deviating from the surroundings by means of the thermal camera. After the object has been detected in one of these ways, the sector in which the object is located, i.e. the sector just observed will also be known automatically. Thus, the exact location of the object can be established on the basis of the sector and the distance data given by the radar. It is also possible to determine the surface element corresponding to the object by means of the thermal camera on the basis of the observation angle.
In an embodiment of the invention, when the location of an object, i.e. its direction and distance from the point of observation, is known, the size and shape of the object can be established by means of a thermal camera and this information can be processed by a suitable image processing technique to identify the object itself, i.e. e.g. whether the object is a human being, a group of people or a larger or a smaller animal. In this way, for instance small animals, such as hares and foxes, can be removed from the alarm list and an alarm is only issued upon detection of people and large animals, such as elks and bears.
As even the best thermal cameras only have a resolution that is sufficient for identifying an object at a distance of max. 500 m in favourable conditions, an embodiment of the invention uses the radar for object identification, in which case the system has been taught what the radar measurement response e.g. for a human being should be at different distances, i.e. what the radar cross-section of possible different objects is like. Thus, the detected object can be identified from the radar signal response on the basis of the distance data. The identification process can additionally be assisted by using the object velocity obtained by radar. Radar equipment can also be used for object identification at shorter distances in bad conditions, e.g. in rainy weather. In this case, the thermal camera is only used to distinguish warm living objects from other objects.
The radar used in the procedure of the invention generally works in the same way in all weather conditions, whereas the thermal camera is significantly affected by the weather. For this reason, the procedure of the invention preferably comprises the measurement of temperature both in shade and in a shadefree place in the area to be monitored and also the measurement of the amount of thermal radiation from the sun in a shadefree place e.g. by means of a solar cell, and the information thus obtained can be used to control the equipment. Similarly, atmospheric humidity can be measured to detect possible rainy conditions and to adjust the thermal camera. These measured data are preferably also utilized in making the decision as to whether the radar or the thermal camera is to be used for object identification.
In addition, the procedure of the invention may also include the measurement of wind direction and force to provide information that enables the system to recognize various movements detected by the radar that should not lead to an alarm. Such movements may include e.g. the sway of trees and plants in general and the movements of boats anchored at a quay.
The procedure of the invention has significant advantages as compared with prior art. The procedure of the invention does not require any sensor or alarm system built over the entire area to be monitored, but instead a single apparatus erected in a suitable place is sufficient. The procedure of the invention allows selective supervision of the entire area to be monitored, in other words, as the objects detected can be identified and their exact location is known, alarms can be issued only about desired objects in desired areas at desired times. Moreover, the procedure of the invention allows very large areas to be supervised with unity, because with modern technology and radar equipment and thermal cameras available, the procedure can be applied to monitor areas exceeding 1000 m in radius, which means that the entire surface area to be monitored may be over 3 km.sup.2. In addition, the area to be monitored can be divided into sectors with an angle e.g. below one degree and the sectors can be further divided in the radial direction into surface elements at 30-m intervals, which means that the location of an object can be accurately determined even at the extreme limits of the area to be monitored. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
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