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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel and a touch panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display panel having a touch panel function is known (e.g., Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-95044 and Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-58070).
The conventional liquid crystal display panel having the touch panel function has the following configuration: Electrodes are provided on opposite surfaces of first and second substrates arranged across a liquid crystal layer. These electrodes serve to form pixels for controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules by the application of a voltage and thereby controlling the transmission of light. X-coordinate detection lines and Y-coordinate detection lines are provided on the surface of the first substrate in accordance with regions between the pixels. The X-coordinate detection lines serve to detect coordinates of a touched point in an X direction intersecting with a Y direction. The Y-coordinate detection lines serve to detect coordinates of the touched point in the Y direction. Coordinate detection electrodes are provided between one or both of the X-coordinate detection line and Y-coordinate detection line and the pixel electrode adjacent thereto. These coordinate detection electrodes are provided to be connected to each of the X-coordinate detection lines and each of the Y-coordinate detection lines. Contact portions are provided on the surface of the second substrate to face the coordinate detection electrodes. These contact portions flexibly deform and come into contact with the coordinate detection electrodes when the outer surface of the liquid crystal panel is touched.
However, in the conventional liquid crystal display panel having the touch panel function, since arrangement space for the coordinate detection electrodes must be allocated between one or both of the X-coordinate detection lines and the Y-coordinate detection lines and each pixel electrode, each pixel electrode adjacent to the arrangement portion of the contact electrodes must be formed to be greatly apart from the coordinate detection lines. Thus, an area of each pixel electrode adjacent to the arrangement portion of the contact electrodes is considerably small, thereby greatly reducing an aperture ratio of a pixel corresponding to this pixel electrode. | {
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1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a frame of a beach chair, and more particularly to a foldable beach chair frame with an inclined back frame which is facilitated to be folded into a compact unit for storage and carriage.
2. Description of Related Arts
The distinctive feature of a beach chair is its low height. Normally, a beach chair merely has half the height of a normal chair. FIG. 1A illustrates a conventional folding chair. If its height is reduced to a half, the angle between each of the inclined legs with the ground must be reduced to a half too, that will damage its supporting structure to largely decrease the supporting ability thereof while maintaining the same width of the folding chair. In other words, the cross tube structure of the conventional folding chair, as shown in FIG. 1A, limits the height of the chair.
Therefore, due to the low height requirement of the beach chair, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the common foldable beach chair comprises a chair seat A2 which is made of durable fabric and a chair frame A1 which is constructed by a set of metal tubes. The chair frame A1 for supporting the chair seat A2 comprises a seat frame section A12, a back frame section A13 pivotally mounted to the seat frame section A12, a leg frame section A14 for supporting the seat frame section A12 pivotally mounted underneath the seat frame section A12, and a pair of pivotal arms A15 each pivotally connecting between the seat frame section A12 and the back frame section A13. In order to fold the conventional foldable beach chair, fold the back frame section A13 toward the seat frame section A12 by rotating the pivotal arms A15 outwardly and fold the leg frame section A14 underneath and into the seat frame section A12. The folded beach chair is bulky and difficult to carry because the size of the beach chair is limited by its seat frame section A12. Also, the beach chair is usually heavy since the chair frame A1 must be constructed sturdily in order to support a user's weight. | {
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Liquid crystals (LCs) are anisotropic elastic materials that are comprised of molecules with translational mobility similar to that of isotropic fluids and long-range orientational ordering that is reminiscent of solid crystals[1]. Synthetic liquid crystals are a particularly promising but largely unexplored class of materials for engineering dynamic and responsive interfaces between synthetic and biological systems because interfacial events involving biomolecular and/or mechanical interactions can lead to reorganization of the LCs.[2-4] Such reorganization of the LCs can be transduced optically, as was demonstrated when human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) were cultured on the protein-coated surfaces of thermotropic LCs.[4] Whereas hESCs are known to grow on very soft materials (e.g. gels with shear modulus, G, <35 Pa),[5] many other types of mammalian cells require a level of mechanical rigidity in their underlying substrates that exceeds that of low molecular weight LCs in order to maintain normal cell functions.[5, 6]
Synthetic LCs have received attention as materials with which to create responsive interfaces to biological systems.[2-4, 12-15] Examples include the use of LCs to report the presence of viruses captured at surfaces,[12] amplify receptor-ligand binding events involving proteins,[2] and report enzymatic activity.[3, 13] Additionally, LCs have been studied as materials to create interfaces to mammalian cells.[4, 15] Fang et al. demonstrated that the thermotropic liquid crystal 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl, 5CB, assumed distinct orientations when it was layered over several different cell lines cultured on glass substrates.[14] However, those cells were fixed (i.e. dead) prior to contact with the LCs. In a later study by Luk et al.,[15] CB was shown to cause cell death within a short time period when placed into direct contact with live cells. To address the issue of cytotoxicity of LCs, Luk et al. screened a panel of LCs[15] and identified the nematic LC called TL205 that exhibited no cytotoxicity when fibroblasts were incubated under it for up to 4 hr. TL205 is a mixture of mesogens containing cyclohexane-fluorinated biphenyls and fluorinated terphenyls with aliphatic chains containing 2-5 carbon atoms (E Merck Co, Germany). Building from the study by Luk et al., Lockwood et al. demonstrated that ˜20 μm thick films of TL205, when hosted within electron microscopy grids and coated with molecularly thin (thickness of ˜10 nm) films of an extracellular matrix protein mixture (Matrigel), could support the growth and self-renewal of hESCs.[4] Reorganization of the Matrigel over time by the hESCs was found to trigger an orientational transition within the film of LC that could be readily seen by using polarized light transmitted through the LC.
Terentjev, Cates and others have demonstrated that suspensions of sterically stabilized polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles (diam=200-1000 nm) dispersed in isotropic 5CB, i.e. above the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature TNI (T>TNI, with TNI˜35.5° C. for 5CB), when cooled to room temperature, form a network within the nematic 5CB, thereby creating a birefringent waxy composite with storage moduli of G′˜1-10 kPa (30° C. with 5-15 wt % of colloids).[9-11] | {
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Field of the Invention:
The invention relates to a production process for a capacitor electrode formed of a platinum metal in an integrated semiconductor circuit.
One example of a semiconductor circuit with a capacitor is a DRAM memory cell. In order to increase the scale of integration thereof, it can be constructed as a so-called stacked capacitor cell, in which the memory capacitor is located outside the associated selection transistor. The choice of the capacitor dielectric, among other factors, has a substantial influence on the space required by such a capacitor.
Conventional capacitors usually use silicon oxide or silicon nitride layers as the storage dielectric, and those layers have a maximum dielectric constant of 8. New paraelectrical materials, such as BST (barium strontium titanate, BaSrTiO.sub.3) and the like have a dielectric constant .di-elect cons.>150 and thus make a smaller capacitor possible.
Such memory elements with a paraelectric material as their capacitor dielectric (DRAM) lose their charge if the supply voltage fails and thus they lose the information stored in them. Moreover, conventional memory elements must be constantly rewritten (refresh time) because of the residual leakage current. The use of a ferroelectric material as a storage dielectric provides different directions of polarization, which makes it possible to construct a nonvolatile memory that does not lose its information if the supply voltage fails and does not have to be refreshed constantly. The residual leakage current from that cell does not affect the signal stored in memory. One example of such a ferroelectric material is PZT (lead zirconium titanate, Pb (Zr, Ti)O.sub.3).
In general, those novel ferroelectrics and paraelectrics are produced at high temperatures in an oxidizing atmosphere. Therefore, a material is needed that is compatible with those conditions, particularly for the first capacitor electrode.
In most cases, an electrode of a noble metal such as platinum, iridium or ruthenium (generally referred to as "platinum metals") is used. However, the structuring of platinum metals, especially with a relatively thick platinum layer, for instance, is so far a largely unsolved problem, since until now no suitable etching process has been developed, and since no volatile platinum compounds appear suitable for RIE processes. Previous etching processes have been based on the application of a resist mask and on etching in argon, oxygen or chlorine plasmas. Due to the high physical component of the process, only slight selectivity with regard to mask materials and the underlying material can be attained. | {
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This invention is related to a thermosetting coating composition and in particular to a polymeric coating composition that is useful for finishing metallic substrates.
The can manufacturing industry is utilizing cans customarily made from aluminum or steel, coated on their interior by a thin coating designed to protect the metal walls from attack by food or beverage to be stored therein. Such coating should have among other properties good adhesion to the metal walls, low extractables to prevent taste adulteration, and a rapid cure rate for an economical manufacturing process. The coatings of the prior art can be classified generally as vinyls, butadienes, epoxies, alkyd/urea-formaldehyde, and oleoresinous products. They are most commonly applied at a solids content below 40%.
The coating composition of this invention combines the desired properties of low extractability, fast cure, and flexibility with low application viscosity at high solids content. These high solids or, if desired, solventless two composition liquid systems can be mixed continuously in line prior to roller coating or spraying or batch premixed for one component application. | {
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The present invention relates to the assessment of picture quality for video image signals, and more particularly to a harmonic method and apparatus for measuring blockiness in video image signals.
In digital video transmission where bandwidth is important, such as transmission over satellite link, the video signal is subjected to varying degrees of compression to decrease the bandwidth required for each video channel. The compression standards typically used, such as JPEG, MPEG or proprietary variants thereof, are xe2x80x9clossyxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94to achieve higher compression they allow distortions to occur in an image represented by the video signal. The amount of distortion is a function of the complexity of the image and of the number of bits per second (bit rate) a compression encoder is allowed to use. Ideally the amount of compression is maximized while still providing a video image or picture to the customer that is free of disturbing artifacts.
Current devices to analyze picture quality, such as the PQA200 Picture Quality Analyzer manufactured by Tektronix, Inc. of Beaverton, Oreg., USA, are reference-based. A video signal transmitted through a video system is compared with the original video signal as a reference video signal in a measurement device. The reference video signal is either stored in the measurement device or is transmitted via some other non-distorted pathway to the measurement device. Use of a reference video signal is necessary for extremely accurate algorithms, such as the Sarnoff Corporation JNDmetrix(trademark) human visual model algorithm. However, this means that measurements are only made on video signals whose contents are either known in advance or are immediately available, such as double-checking an encoder at the source.
Other potential methods of measuring discrete cosine transform (DCT) based codec degradations involve directly examining the coarseness of the quantization scale in the compressed video stream, optionally combined with a measure of the complexity of the original image transmitted by some means outside the video channelxe2x80x94a form of compressed reference. This method is not as accurate, and in any case can only make measurements on compressed video, not video that has been already decompressed and potentially passed through other systems, including other additional codecs, prior to end-user delivery.
What is desired is a method and apparatus that allows measurement of blockiness artifacts, such as incurred when compressing video using discrete cosine transforms, in situations where there is no prior knowledge of the blockiness period and in the presence of image-content generated noise.
Accordingly the present invention provides a harmonic method and apparatus for measuring blockiness in a video input signal. A power spectrum is obtained for a video field of the video input signal as the Fast Fourier transform of the sum of the lines in the video line after edge filtering. The largest frequency peaks from the higher frequency end of the power spectrum are initially selected, and a common period for the peaks is determined representing a common frequency interval. The amplitudes of the peaks at the common frequency interval are corrected for the contributions made by peaks at one-half and double the common frequency interval. The corrected amplitudes of the peaks at the common frequency interval are averaged and normalized to produce a blockiness metric for the video input signal.
The objects, advantages and other novel features of the present invention are apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended claims and attached drawing. | {
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The invention relates to a method for producing a preferably asymmetrical lens element from a tempered blank; to a lens blank for microlithography, preferably with cylindrical geometry; as well as to lens elements and to a projection lens with such a lens element.
Lens elements made of fused silica are, for example, used in projection exposure apparatuses for microlithography. In such apparatuses, radiation generated by a usually pulsed laser at an operating wavelength of e.g. 248 nm (KrF laser) or 193 nm (ArF laser) is imaged to a sharply delimited very homogeneously illuminated image field by means of an illumination system, in which image field a mask is arranged. A pattern that is provided on the mask is imaged, by means of a downstream projection lens, at a reduced scale on a semiconductor wafer that comprises a light-sensitive layer.
For wavelengths of 250 nm and below, which wavelengths are used in such systems, birefringence of the fused silica material plays an important role. The term “birefringence” refers to the splitting, which occurs in optically anisotropic materials, of the incident radiation into two partial beams that are polarized perpendicularly in relation to each other and in relation to the direction of propagation (ordinary and extraordinary beams) of different propagation speeds. The axis with the higher propagation speed is also referred to as the “fast axis”.
As a result of the different propagation speeds, after passing through the optical material the two partial rays undergo a phase shift, which in an imaging optical arrangement can have a negative effect on its ability to provide a true image, i.e. on the imaging contrast. Therefore, optical components used in lithography optics applications should have as little birefringence as possible. Furthermore, in so-called polarization-preserving lithography systems a polarization state, once set in the illumination system, should be preserved as well as possible right to the wafer, i.e. the projection lens should maintain polarization to the greatest possible extent, which is made considerably more difficult by birefringence.
The blanks made of synthetic fused silica that are used in the manufacture of lenses, which blanks usually consist of cylindrical discs, are manufactured by way of flame hydrolysis (soot process) or in the direct process (direct vitrification) at high temperatures. In order to prevent birefringence, which can occur as a result of mechanical strain during fast cooling of the blanks, the blanks are subjected to tempering treatment, i.e. for an extended period of time (e.g. 50 h) they are held at high temperatures (usually in excess of 1800° C.) before they are slowly cooled to room temperature.
DE 10 2004 009 577 A1 describes a method for manufacturing optical components, in which method a first tempering treatment at high temperatures is followed by a second tempering treatment at low temperatures, e.g. between 350° C. and 800° C. By means of the second tempering treatment the essentially tangential alignment of the fast axis of the birefringence on the longitudinal axis of the cylinder should be able to be transformed into an essentially radial alignment. Furthermore, the blanks manufactured in this way are said to be more resistant to decompacting (rarefaction).
In order to determine the strain birefringence (SBR) of the lenses cut from the blanks before they are installed in an optical system, and if necessary to be able to initiate measures to compensate for it, the strain birefringence of each blank is measured after tempering, namely along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical blank-disc (z-direction), which longitudinal axis essentially corresponds to the direction of passage of the light. In this method, a value of the strain birefringence, which value has been integrated over the z-axis and has been averaged, is determined. For the purpose of measuring, devices are used that produce a strain birefringence at 633 nm (He—Ne laser) and that can scan the blank automatically in the x- and y-directions. In most cases involving fused silica, an essentially rotationally-symmetrical distribution of the SBR in the x-y-plane is detected in this process, wherein its absolute value increases squarely with the distance from the center point (corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder). In this arrangement the orientation of the fast axis of the SBR normally is predominantly tangential or radial. The specified SBR at 633 nm in the case of averaging across the circumference of the optically clear diameter is typically in an interval of between 0.2 nm/cm and 1 nm/cm, most often at 0.5 nm/cm.
When using the lenses, formed from the blanks, in optical systems of the applicant, an SBR has been observed that differs from the SBR measured on the blanks by means of the above methods, even after the contributions that material processing, material refining and mounting techniques make to SBR have been taken into account. During investigations as to the reasons for this material-related SBR, the inventor found that in particular highly curved lenses, already after cutting the lens-form into the blank and after polishing, but before mounting and coating, have an SBR that is higher than the SBR predicted on the basis of initial measurement of the blank by weighting with the local lens density. Furthermore, it has been observed that a tangential distribution of the fast axis in the blank can transform into a radial distribution in the lens (or vice-versa).
Such a difference between the SBR of the cut lens and the SBR measured on the blank has been observed in particular in the case of asymmetrical lenses. In an asymmetrical lens the radii of curvature of the two optically effective surfaces differ as far as their absolute values and/or their signs are concerned. In aspherical lenses where if applicable no radii of curvature have been defined, the term “asymmetrical lens” refers to a lens in which no plane can be determined, in relation to which the lens has a mirror symmetry. The difference described above is particularly pronounced in the case of highly curved lenses, i.e. in lenses in which the two radii of curvature differ significantly from each other, e.g. in an extreme case in plano-convex lenses, but also in meniscus lenses that essentially have the same large radii of curvature with opposite signs.
In order to understand the origin of the effects described above, the density distribution of the blank has to be examined in more detail, which density distribution results during the tempering process. As stated above, during tempering, the blank is heated to a maximum temperature of up to 1800° C. (glass temperature), is held for several hours to days at this temperature, and is then slowly cooled at a defined rate. Generally speaking, the slower the rate of cooling, the higher the resulting density. Furthermore, there is a temperature range of 1000° C. to 1500° C. in which there is an anomaly in the dependence of the density on the rate of cooling; i.e. in this temperature range the density increases as the cooling rate increases. By controlling the cooling rate it is possible to have an influence as to which process dominates. Apart from this, the OH content and thus the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the blank can also have a radial dependence, and can thus also lead to a rotationally symmetrical density distribution.
In the context of the density distribution arising during the tempering process it is essential that normally the slower the rate of cooling, the higher the resulting density. Since cooling takes place over the surfaces of the cylindrical blank, volume elements that are close to the edge cool faster than do volume elements that are near the centre, and therefore have a different, usually lower, density.
FIG. 5a shows a lateral view (zx-section of an xyz-coordinate system) of a tempered blank 1, during whose tempering the cooling-rate anomaly did not dominate, and which blank 1 showed adequately homogeneous OH distribution. The near-center volume elements of said blank 1 therefore have a higher density than its edge regions. The regions 2a to 2d, which are shown in a dotted line in FIG. 5, show regions of identical density. They are nested in the manner of onion skins and in the center form spheroids (regions 2a, 2b), while towards the edge they extend to the corners (regions 2c, 2d), i.e. they tend to become cylindrical discs. Overall, the tempered blank 1 has a density distribution which extends rotation-symmetrically in relation to the z-axis as well as mirror-symmetrically in relation to a central plane (not shown) of the tempered blank 1, which central plane extends so as to be perpendicular in relation to the z-direction.
In the tempered blank 1 (tensile) strain 3a to 3d forms, which acts perpendicularly to the region 2a to 2d and whose amount and direction is shown by lines in FIG. 5a. The amount of the strain 3a to 3d, and thus the amount of the birefringence, increases in the tempered blank 1 from the inside to the outside.
In the case of SBR-measuring in z-direction in the manner described above, the strain components in the xy-plane are integrated along the z-direction over the thickness D of the tempered blank 1. Strain 3d that occurs parallel in relation to the z-axis is not detected, while strain 3a in circumferential direction is fully detected, which is consistent with the observed r2-distribution of the density amplitude. In relation to tension 3b, 3c with a 45° orientation, only the xy-component is detected, while the z-components are not detectable during standard measuring, and even during measuring with the blank tilted they are only detected conditionally, because the z-components of the strain 3b and 3c extending into the corners act in opposite directions, thus canceling each other out. If, as is the case in the state of the art, asymmetrical lens elements are cut from the tempered blank 1, as shown in FIG. 5b in relation to a meniscus lens element 4 and in FIG. 5c in relation to a plano-convex lens element 5, two effects occur, which are described in more detail below.
At first strain 3b occurs in the edge regions of the lens elements 4, 5, which strain extends so as to be essentially parallel in relation to the lens surfaces. Depending on the precise beam path, this strain can be almost perpendicular in relation to the direction of light and will thus result in high SBR observed. In contrast to this, in the middle, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the tempered blank 1, the strain extends parallel in relation to the z-axis. As long as the beam path in this arrangement extends so as to be more or less parallel in relation to the z-axis, no SBR is observed. Only if the beam path extends obliquely through the middle of the lens, do SBR components occur; a situation which differs from that of e.g. a symmetrical biconvex lens.
Moreover, the volume of the tempered blank 1, from which the lens elements 4, 5 are formed, comprises a multitude of regions of equal density 2a to 2d. In the middle, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the tempered blank 1, the density gradients extend parallel in relation to the lens surfaces, while at the edge they extend so as to be perpendicular to them. If the form of a body comprising internal mechanical strain is changed (in the present example from a cylindrical shape to a meniscus or plano-convex shape) then said body attempts to again assume a state of minimum energy. Said body will thus slightly deform in relation to the intended contour and in this process the strain will partly relax and partly shift. A body with high density gradients that are oriented differently, which body is formed by the lens elements 4, 5, thus behaves in an unfavorable manner in the sense that the shift in strain can be calculated in advance only with considerable difficulty and in that the precise effect of such shift in strain can only be clarified by means of experiments or by means of elaborate simulation.
If asymmetrical lens elements are cut from tempered blanks in a manner described in FIG. 5b and FIG. 5c, the unfavorable effects described above thus occur, namely on the one hand a high SBR observed in the edge regions of the lens elements, and on the other hand a shift in the strain after cutting the lens elements, which shift results in a shift of the SBR. | {
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This invention relates to a culture producing zaragozic acid A, and a compound of the formula I below. It also relates to a composition for the treatment of fungal infections and hypercholesterolemia comprising the compound I, and the use of such compound in the treatment of fungal infections, hypercholesterolemia, and in cancer chemotherapy.
The risk of coronary disease may be reduced by lowering the serum cholesterol level. In the biosynthesis of cholesterol, squalene synthase plays a critical role in combining two units of farnesyl diphosphate into squalene which is a penultimate precursor of sterols. Zaragozic acid A, a known squalene synthase inhibitor, also known as squalestatin 1, is reportedly produced by an unidentified culture ATCC 20986, Phoma sp. C2932, Curvularia lunata, Exserohilum rostratum and Setosphaeria khartoumensis. Other known squalene synthase inhibitors are zaragozic acid B and C which are produced by Sporormiella intermedia and Leptodontium elatius, respectively; squalestatin 2 and 3 are also produced by Phoma sp. C2932.
In cancer chemotherapy, inhibitors of ras farnesylation have been sought, based on the observation that farnesylation is critical for ras protein to localize onto the cytosolic membrane. Interference of the function of mutated ras protein is considered to provide a novel cancer therapy. Zaragozic acid A has been shown to inhibit farnesylation of ras protein. More recently, several peptidominmetic compounds have been disclosed as inhibitors of ras farnesyltransferase. | {
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The present invention relates to the operations for mounting and removing wheels of motor vehicles in general on machines provided with a rotating horizontal shaft on which said wheels are meant to be locked.
A typical example of such machines is constituted by wheel balancing machines, which have a cantilevered horizontal shaft on which the wheel to be balanced is fitted and appropriately locked.
With particular reference to these balancing machines, the mounting and removal operations are usually performed manually and this is particularly awkward when dealing with relatively heavy wheels.
In fact the shaft of the balancing machine is spaced from the ground by an extent which is greater than the radius of the wheel, which must therefore be lifted in order to align it axially with said shaft and fit it thereon.
Obviously, these awkward operations are particularly tiring or demanding when they must be performed repeatedly and at short intervals, as often occurs.
Furthermore, a requirement of recent statutory provisions, not only at the national level, on the issues of workplace safety and worker health is that workers who are assigned to relatively tiring duties must not be forced to perform excessive and prolonged efforts.
Hence the need for means which are adapted to meet said statutory provisions.
Furthermore, in an attempt to obviate the above, devices have been proposed which comprise a platform on which the wheel to be balanced is mounted; said platform is adapted to slide in a vertical direction under the actuation of adapted means, for example a jack with multiple telescopic elements.
However, this approach has proved to be unsatisfactory, both because the alignment between the axis of the wheel and the balancing shaft is not automatic and often requires multiple actuations of the jack and is therefore unsuitably time-consuming, and because said alignment is not precise and this usually entails, as occurs during manual mounting, undesirable friction between the metal wheel and the balancing shaft, with consequent possible inaccurate measurements. | {
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The prior art fixed orthodontic appliances usually comprise a plurality of brackets and tubes which are cemented or banded to the labial and buccal surfaces of the respective teeth around the arch, and which are intercoupled by an arch wire extending around the external surface of the arch. Although the prior art appliances are effective, they are unsightly and embarrassing to the wearer.
The direct bonded orthodontic appliance of the present invention includes brackets and tubes which are designed to be cemented to the lingual surfaces of the teeth of the maxillary arch, so as to be virtually invisible. The appliance of the invention finds utility in the correction of the maxillary arch, where aesthetics are important to the wearer.
The appliance of the invention has the following advantages:
1. It is invisible to public view making it the most aesthetic appliance available.
2. It can perform all the necessary requirements of a fixed orthodontic appliance, such as:
a. Translation of crowns and roots of the maxillary teeth to a desired position; PA1 b. Act as a bite opening means to accomplish the opening of a deep anterior bite situation so as to aid in the immediate relief of an over closed occlusion which is causing temporomandibular problems; PA1 c. Aid in the anterior advancement of lingually inclined maxillary anteriors, such as found in the Class II Division II deep bite malocclusions.
The brackets of the appliance of the invention may be all metal, part metal and part plastic, or all plastic. | {
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Numerous devices incorporate touchscreens as both a display and an input device. Touchscreens are widely used in environments and form factors where a simple and dynamic interface is preferred.
Although touchscreens are widely used in gaming devices, for example, currently available touchscreens have limitations in detecting the increasing variety of inputs that the graphic user interfaces and applications make possible. | {
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The present invention relates to beam propagation method and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for designing planar lightwave circuits using beam propagation methods.
Planar lightwave circuits are well-suited for mass production of optical filters and switches. Planar lightwave circuits, such as step-index waveguides, typically consist of a substrate, a uniform lower cladding, a core that varies discretely in two dimensions, and a uniform upper cladding. Beam propagation methods (BPM) are utilized to investigate lightwave propagation through simulated planar lightwave circuits. For a review of general beam propagation methods, see, for example, K. Okamoto, Fundamentals of Optical Waveguides, Chapter 7, Academic Press (2000), incorporated by reference herein. The two most popular beam propagation methods used in the design of planar lightwave circuits are the split-step Fourier Transform beam propagation method, often referred to as the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)-BPM, and the finite-difference beam propagation method (FD-BPM).
Generally, the FFT-BPM and FD-BPM both approximate a planar waveguide structure by plotting the index of refraction as a function of the spatial coordinates using a spatial grid. Thus, spatial quantization errors are introduced along the waveguide boundaries between the core and the cladding. In addition, the FFT-BPM and FD-BPM both permit simulation of planar lightwave circuits having an arbitrary index distribution, i.e., an arbitrary core cross section. In addition, the FFT-BPM continuously translates between the spatial domain and angular spectrum domain using Fourier transform techniques. Thus, these beam propagation methods have significant processing speed and memory capacity requirements. A need therefore exists for beam propagation methods with reduced computational complexity and spatial quantization errors.
Generally, a novel beam propagation method and design tool are disclosed that are based on the FFT-BPM. The present invention provides a beam propagation method that is constrained to planar waveguides having a rectangular cross-section, resulting in significantly reduced computational complexity and better accuracy. Among other benefits, the beam propagation method can be performed entirely in the angular spectrum domain, without translating back and forth to the spatial domain. In addition, the constrained shape of the waveguide allows the structure to be accurately specified by its width and center-to-center arm spacing, thereby avoiding transverse spatial quantization.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages of the present invention, will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description and drawings. | {
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For some time it has been a critical requirement for both soldiers and for those operating in extreme temperature environments, especially in the Arctic and in the desert, that a garment be provided which is both air and vapor permeable while at the same time having synthetic tubing carrying cooling or heating fluids in which close body contact is made with the tubing.
Typically, a heating/cooling garment, such as a vest, is made in which tubing is attached to a liner, with the liner then attached to fabric which forms the outer portion of the garment. While a wide variety of such garments exist, garments for this purpose are desirably stretchable and flexible to conform to the body of the individual, not only to provide mobility for arms and legs, but also to hold the cooling tubes closer to the body for more efficient heat transfer to the heating or cooling fluid. Additionally, flexibility produces less damage to the tubing during the flexure of the garment, with the garment being less susceptible to being torn when the material is flexible. Moreover, there is a requirement for lightweight construction, launderability, and dry cleanability. Additionally, since pressures within the tubing can reach 100 psi, the mating of the tubing to its substrate must be fluid pressure insensitive.
In the past, such a garment has involved the sewing of tubing to a substrate or liner which is porous enough to provide both for internal vapors to escape as well as to provide for air permeability. However, a major problem with sewn tubing is a problem called needleholing, in which every inch of the tubing is sewn to the porous substrate. Not only is there a potential problem in terms of pinhole puncturing of the tubing during the sewing process, the threads themselves provide a major irritant when these tubes are pressed into contact with the body. Additionally, since a T-shirt made in this manner can take as long as one day to manufacture and another day to test, the sewing method is intolerably slow and expensive, with registration problems of the tubing with a predetermined pattern making automatic sewing all but impossible.
Another reason that stitching is avoided is in so-called chemical protective clothing. Here, stitching tubing to any substrate for use in this application will result in needle holes, the size of which will permit unwanted chemicals to transit from one side of the garment to the other. Sewn tubing type garments are exemplified by Exotemp Ltd. heat transfer garments.
In order to provide an alternative to the sewn-in tubing, heating/cooling garments have been made with a bladder sealed at its edges, with the cooling fluid being contained within the bladder. However, while bladder-type garments do in fact conduct heat away from the body or conduct heat to the body, due to the two-coated fabrics which are joined together by heat, the resulting garment is non-breathable, non-stretchable and non-flexible. Additionally, there is a flexibility problem because of the large volume of liquid which is captured in the garment. Also, there is only one method of removing heat, e.g., conduction, since a bladder-type garment poses an impermeable barrier against natural sweating. Such a cooling garment thus completely eliminates the possibility of evaporative or convective cooling. Further, the edges of the bladder can come apart when subjected to pressures higher than 30 psi. Bladder type garments are exemplified by COOLVEST Model 17 manufactured by ILC DOVER.
Bladder type garments aside, methods other than sewing have been used to attach tubing to a liner or substrate. One such method involves brushing or rolling adhesives onto liners.
While brushed on or rolled on adhesives have been used in an attempt to adhere tubing to liners, the result is that all lining porosity is destroyed when the adhesive is massively applied across the substrate.
There is also a technique for adhesively taping the tubing to a liner, with adhesive tape contacting the liner to either side of the tube along its length. This system is exceedingly difficult to implement due to the fact that when the tubing is formed around small radius corners, the overlying strip of tape has to be notched to go around the corners. Also, it will be appreciated that the tape retards stretchability and permeability, adds unwanted stiffness to the garment and does not result in secure fastening of the tubing to the liner.
In general, heating or cooling garments are exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,451,812; 3,425,486; 3,419,702; 4,691,762; 4,718,429; and 4,998,415. Other types of systems for body heating and cooling are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,114,620 and 5,062,424.
None of the above patents describe the utilization of a substrate or liner which is both air permeable and vapor permeable to which tubing is attached using fusible fabrics.
In summary, it is important to provide a garment that does not restrict the evaporative process in that it does not restrict the natural evaporation process of the human body, thereby preventing heat stress. It is therefore important that the garment not trap vapor as is the case with both bladder-type garments and those garments which have an excessive amount of adhesive blocking the naturally occurring pores in the liner. While some of the sewn in tubing garments provide for many of the above features, needleholing due to stitching and exhorbitant amounts of time spent in making the garment, as well as testing it after manufacture, preclude large scale usage. The sewn method precludes use in chemical protective uniform applications. Also, the sewn tubing method can be uncomfortable to the wearer. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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OLAP analysis is form analysis associated with multi-dimensional data and ad hoc methods. OLAP ad-hoc analysis typically includes analyzing multidimensional data by dissecting, aggregating and filtering the data along a number of dimensions and measures. Often there is a need to convey the insight gained by the analysis to others. One of the most popular means of sharing insights involves building a presentation mixing text and visualizations of the back-end data. However, transferring the data from a Business Intelligence (BI) OLAP client into a data visualization tool such as PowerPoint by Microsoft Corporation or a word processing tool where the data can be presented along with questions, answers or insights, can be very time consuming and often needs to be repeated when the underlying data changes.
There are several tools that allow for an interface to import or connect back-end data into front end tools such as applications in the Microsoft Office suite. For example, SAP BusinessObjects Live Office, available from SAP Americas, Palo Alto, Calif., allows a user to place visualizations of data in a data visualization tool and refresh them periodically. However, when creating or refreshing such visualizations the user has to manually save each query view and import them to the visualization tool one by one. Providing a way to transform the steps followed in generating the reports and the analysis within an OLAP tool and import them into a data visualization tool like Microsoft PowerPoint may reduce the manual intervention and make the transition between reporting and visualization environments more seamless. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a stylus for portable electronic devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Styluses are often used with touch screens of electronic devices. A stylus may include a main body and a nib portion formed at one end of the main body, and be configured for comfortably held and used by an average user. However, the typical pen-like configuration is often difficult for certain types of users to accurately use, such as users with vision deficiencies.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A well system (e.g., an oil or gas well for extracting fluid or gas from a subterranean formation) can include a well tool. For example, a well system can include a logging while drilling (LWD) or a measuring while drilling (MWD) tool. It can be challenging to wirelessly communicate data from the well tool to the well surface for use by a well operator. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a sleeve for branch or joint areas in optical or electrical cables.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A sleeve for a branch or joint area of cables is known from German document No. DE-OS 40 39 242, which consists of a bushing that surrounds the branch or joint area, and frontal bodies that seal the ends. The frontal bodies contain passage openings for cables in the form of radial slots, so that the sleeve can simply and equally be used for uncut and for cut cables. The frontal bodies and the bushing are surrounded by a shrinkable tube or sleeve, which is shrunken onto the incoming or outgoing cables. One side of the shrinkable tubing is sealed by a clamp between two cables.
A hooded sleeve is known from German document No. DE-GM 92 17 709, which comprises a foot part and a hood part that covers the foot part. In this case as well, radial cuts are made in the foot part for inserting the cable. The separation area between the hood part and the foot part is sealed by shrinkable tubing or a shrinkable sleeve. The shrinkable tubing is sealed between two cables by a clamp placed on the end.
Both of the above solutions have in common that a shrinkable tube or a shrinkable sleeve is used for sealing, which is shrunk onto the sleeve by applying heat. The seal is achieved with a coating of hot-melt adhesive applied to the inside surface of the shrinkable tubing. This adhesive coating makes it difficult to reopen the sleeve. In addition, the use of heat, e.g. from an open flame or a hot air blower, is often undesirable or impossible. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a printing sheet which is suitable for use in full color hard copies of video printers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In Japanese Patent Application No. 3-10204, we proposed hydrophobic cationic dyes for an ink ribbon of thermal transfer systems which are adapted for use as a full color hard copying material of video printers and also the ink ribbon using the hydrophobic cationic dyes. The citation is incorporated herein by reference. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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An image forming apparatus includes a rotator (such as a photoconductor or a paper conveyer roller), provided to form an image on the rotator or on a recording medium moving with rotation of the rotator. In an electrophotographic printer, for example, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a rotating photoconductor by optical scanning, and thereafter is developed and transferred to a recording medium.
If the photoconductor rotates at a constant speed, line scanning at a constant time interval enables a proper image (as an electrostatic latent image, or a developed or transferred image), in which the scanning line interval is uniform.
However, the photoconductor actually has cyclic variation in rotational speed. This could result in an odd image, in which the scanning line interval has variation. Thus, image quality may be degraded due to the rotational variation of the photoconductor.
In view of this, it has been proposed that an image forming apparatus includes a function for suppressing variation in scanning line interval caused by variation in rotational speed of the photoconductor.
In the image forming apparatus, correction amounts corresponding to some phase points of rotation of the photoconductor are preliminarily measured, and the measurements are stored in a memory. The correction amounts are amounts of time used for correcting the scanning line interval at the respective phase points into a predetermined reference interval.
Specifically, the image forming apparatus starts line scanning (of the rotating photoconductor) in response to an instruction for image formation. During the line scanning, the image forming apparatus regularly estimates the current phase of rotation of the photoconductor, based on detection of the origin phase of the photoconductor by an origin sensor, and further based on an internal clock provided therein.
The above correction amounts are sequentially retrieved according to the estimated current phase. Thereby, the starting time for each scanning line is corrected based on the retrieved correction amounts, so that the scanning line interval is consistently adjusted to the reference line interval.
However, the current phase, estimated based on the detected origin phase and the internal clock as described above, is not necessarily consistent with the actual current phase of the photoconductor. Further, the difference between the estimated current phase and the actual current phase may increase over the cycles of rotation of the photoconductor.
Consequently, the correction amount corresponding to a phase point substantially different from the actual current phase may be retrieved and used for correction, resulting in false correction. Thus, there is a problem that the effect of variation in rotational speed of the rotator cannot be adequately suppressed. This problem is also relevant in other kinds of printers, such as an ink-jet printer.
Thus, there is a need in the art to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the effect of variation in rotational speed of a rotator on image quality. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Clusters are groups of computers that use groups of redundant computing resources in order to provide continued service when individual system components fail. More specifically, clusters eliminate single points of failure by providing multiple servers, multiple network connections, redundant data storage, etc. Clustering systems are often combined with storage management products that provide additional useful features, such as journaling file systems, logical volume management, multipath input/output (I/O) functionality, etc.
In a high-availability clustering system, the failure of a server (or of a specific computing resource used thereby such as a network adapter, storage device, etc.) is detected, and the application that was being run on the failed server is automatically restarted on another computing system. This process is called “failover.” The high-availability clustering system can also detect the failure of the application itself, and failover the application to another node. In effect, the high-availability clustering system monitors applications, the servers the applications run on, and the resources used by the applications, to ensure that the applications remain highly available.
Virtualization of computing devices can be employed in high availability clustering and in other contexts. One or more virtual machines (VMs or guests) can be instantiated at a software level on physical computers (host computers or hosts), such that each VM runs its own operating system instance. Just as software applications, including server applications such as databases, enterprise management solutions and e-commerce websites, can be run on physical computers, so too can these applications be run on virtual machines. VMs can be deployed such that applications being monitored by the high-availability clustering system run on and are failed over between VMs, as opposed to physical servers. In order to provide an application with high availability in a cloud environment, the application can be run on a virtual machine which is in turn running on a high-availability cluster. The virtual machine provides the desired mobility and isolation of the application, whereas the underlying high-availability cluster provides the highly available computing infrastructure.
For these reasons, enterprises and other organizations that require high availability for their applications such as databases, enterprise management solutions and e-commerce websites often enter into service level agreements with a high availability cluster provider to host their applications and guarantee a specific level of availability. In these cases, the high-availability cluster provides the underlying infrastructure from which to serve applications to organizational customers over a network (e.g., as a cloud service), where the organizational customer requires high availability of the application, either to make it available to its own customers (e.g., an e-commerce web service) or for internal organizational use (e.g., a critical database application).
At the level of the high-availability cluster, a specific application that is being made highly available to an organizational customer is associated with a logical grouping of associated hardware and software resources and underlying infrastructure. Using an example scenario of an instance of an Oracle database application being made highly available to a given enterprise, the group of high-availability cluster level resources could include the instance of the database application itself and associated code libraries, a given VM the application executes on, a share of the processing resources of the physical host the VM executes on, virtual network resources of the VM which are in turn mapped to underlying physical network resources (e.g., the network card(s) used to export the database application service, one or more IP addresses associated with the network cards, etc.), a database whose table spaces are files, the virtual file system of the VM, a mount point to underlying storage media which may itself be logical or physical (e.g., disk groups on which the data is stored, a logical volume built in the disk group and a file system using the volume), physical storage resources allocated to the application which may be distributed across various physical media and/or sites with various levels of redundancy, additional processing and network infrastructure guaranteed to be available for the application according to the service agreement and the various relationships and dependencies between these components, including protocols for starting, stopping restarting and monitoring the application.
At the level of the high-availability clustering system, such groupings of resources need to be identified, configured and maintained in order to provide specific application services to organizational customers at agreed levels. Such a group of resources can be thought of as a high-availability cluster level operational representation of the application. These operational representations of applications are present in various clustering technologies. Different clustering products use different terminology to refer to such groupings. For example, these operational representations are termed service groups in Veritas Cluster Server, whereas in Microsoft Cluster Server they are called resource groups.
As useful as they are at the high-availability cluster level, such operational representations do not give visibility into the actual service provided by the application, which is how consumers of the application conceive of and interact with it. In other words, consumers of application services (e.g., organizational customers contracting with high-availability cluster providers) do not identify the application by its operational representation, but instead by the service it provides and its connection endpoints. The operational representation of an application does not provide visibility into the actual service provided, which causes disconnect for the consumer in identifying the multiple tiers and components of the provided business service, which is a very critical aspect of information technology management and continuity. Conventionally, these important identifications are made at the IT administrative level manually, and made available at the business service level using listing information such as a service catalog.
It would be desirable to address this issue. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a system for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger, and more particularly to a system for controlling the ignition timing at cold engine operation.
In the engine having a turbocharger, the pressure of intake air greatly increases during supercharging operation, which results in an increase of the pressure of mixture compressed in cylinders. Such a high pressure is apt to induce "knocking" in the engine.
Japanese patent laid open 56-99066 discloses a system for preventing the knocking. The system is adapted to control the ignition timing in the retard direction during supercharging operation and to control the timing in the advance direction at non-supercharging operation. However, the knocking does not occur at cold engine operation or at low temperature of intake air, since the detonation causing the knocking occurs under conditions of high compression pressure at high temperature in cylinders. In the system of the prior art, ignition timing is retarded also in such a cold engine condition that knocking hardly occur, which decreases operability of the engine. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In recent years, the growth in wireless technology for local area networking, mobile computing and “hotspot” services has been nothing short of explosive. At the same time, there have been discoveries of egregious security vulnerabilities, privacy concerns and a general recognition that failure diagnosis and recovery must be made affordable and expedient.
Wireless networks essentially eliminate the traditional security barriers offered by wired networks and give attackers direct access to both observe and interject communications with any wireless networks in range. Thus, no matter the degree to which encryption and authentication are employed, the need to monitor for and defend against illicit usage and to rapidly diagnose communication disruptions in wireless network environments is critical.
Though products have been developed to address wireless intrusion detection and fault management concerns, these devices are generally insufficient to meet the security demands of wireless network environments. Tremendous resources are expended in identifying malicious traffic, and many of these efforts are still easily subverted. For example, traditional filtering based on medium access control (MAC) address can be subverted by simply forging a MAC address, making signals and sessions approximately free for anyone in the vicinity to generate.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for identifying wireless transmitters. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to an electronic device and a case.
2. Description of Related Art
Most of the existing electronic devices, such as the desktop case, can be connected to a display module through a slot provided on the case. As the needs of users become more and more diverse, some electronic devices will have expansion slots on the case for connection to another display module. However, by providing an expansion slot on the case to expand the connection to another display module, the connecting lines required for the connection (for example, transmission lines or power lines) occupy the surrounding environment of the case, which is not favorable for the use of the case. In addition, the expanded another display module is connected to the expansion slot of the case through a line such as a connecting line, resulting in that the display module is limited to the position of the expansion slot and is in a fixed operating mode, which is not favorable for the operation of the electronic device. | {
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This invention is concerned with processes and apparatus for the extraction of at least one valuable metal from materials such as composite mixtures of metallic compounds which may contain relatively small amounts of such valuable metal.
In particular the invention is concerned with techniques and apparatus suitable for extraction of at least one valuable metal such as one or more of: gold, platinum, silver, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, and manganese from a starting material which, by way of example, could be freshly mined mixed ore containing both oxidic and refractory (sulphide) ores. The starting material could be subjected to valuable metal extraction in the form of an aqueous slurry containing such material. If required, the starting material e.g. mixed ore can be crushed and/or ground to appropriate particle size before treatment. The starting material could, during the course of extraction, become mixed into an aqueous slurry if it is desired to commence an extraction process upon solid particulate material.
However the present invention is not limited to the use of such dry or wet mixed ores as the starting material. It will become apparent that the present invention can be used to treat other material which comprises metallic oxide and/or metallic sulphide in addition to the said valuable metal whether the valuable metal is present in the form of metal or metallic compounds.
In the extraction of valuable metals, such as listed above the metals may be contained in matter such as tailings, slimes, calcined ores, and other discarded materials which have already been processed in some way, but which it is now economically viable to extract.
It has been commonplace for freshly mined ores, and material from mine dumps which are to be further treated, to be transported for comparatively large distances, such as several miles, to a processing plant. The ore or dump material is usually transported as a slurry through suitable pipelines. When the slurry reaches the processing plant it is subjected to valuable metal-leaching and subsequent extraction. The overall cost of pipelines, leaching and extraction apparatus is high, especially as the leaching process usually required elevated temperature and pressure.
Although the possibility of carrying out reactions such as leaching within the interior of a pipeline as a reactor vessel has been previously proposed, practical pipeline reactors for carrying out such pressure reactions have not been generally available until pipeline reactor vessels termed xe2x80x98Hydrocoilsxe2x80x99 were made available. Such tubular pressure reactors are commercially available from the company, HMC Technology Limited.
For a description and drawing of such a tubular pressure reactor, the reader is referred to GB-A-2 158 734, the contents of which are incorporated herein, by reference. This prior reference also discloses by way of background a technique for extracting gold and other valuable metal from refractory ores by use of a leaching agent based on acid as an oxidising agent and sodium chloride as a source of halide ions. For further background information on extraction processes, the reader is also referred to prior specification EP-A-0 124 213, also incorporated herein by reference, wherein use of such a leaching agent is described in more detail.
The present invention represents a significant technical advance upon the procedures referred to in these prior patent specifications, in that it seeks to provide an economic and yet convenient method of carrying out a sequential two-stage or combined single stage leaching process for the extraction of gold or other valuable metal from starting material e.g. mixed oxidic and refractory ore which hitherto has not been amenable to cyanide extraction.
In addition embodiments of the present invention can be operated so as to overcome a substantial technical prejudice in the art, against valuable metal extraction using cyanide in the presence of acid.
Firstly gold cyanide complex loading on carbon column retaining means is severely hindered in the presence of base metals, which preferentially compete with the gold complex for available carbon loading sites. The oxidic copper content in prior ore material treatments, for example, has been so high that the amount of carbon required in terms of retention columns rendered such a process uneconomic. However, we have demonstrated that base metals if present in solution will not load to any significant extent on such carbon retention means at the values of pH we prefer in our present extraction processes i.e. less than 4.0, preferably less than 3.0 but more preferably less than 2.0 pH.
Secondly there are not unreasonable safety/toxicity fears surrounding acidic conditions for cyanide treatments, with potential formation of poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas. Despite these technical prejudices our extraction conditions include the presence of acid, preferably nitric with sulphuric acid (a known catalyst) and an aqueous source of halide e.g. a saline solution, thus providing favourable conditions for conversion of hydrocyanic gas (if such should form or tend to form) to the soluble cyanide ion in solution. This is further aided by the process being preferably operated under pressure e.g. as a result of pump pressure and/or gas generation.
In a preferred embodiment of the process, in the acid treatment stage 1 the nitric acid leach converts sulphides to sulphates but also produces sulphuric acid (which is why the pH can stay low even after oxide(s) of nitrogen NOx""s are flashed off)xe2x80x94hence stage 1 acid treatment and stage 2 cyanide treatment interlink so well. It may be necessary in stage 2 cyanide treatment to adjust the pH with slightly more sulphuric acid or alternatively making the reaction medium more alkalinexe2x80x94but stage 1 is in such an embodiment already producing some sulphuric acid in solution, which is desirable.
Such processes according to the invention can achieve and maintain a beneficial stability, with the minimum production of hydrogen cyanide gas.
According to this invention we provide a process for extracting at least one valuable metal from starting material comprising a plurality of metallic compounds including:
(i) said at least one valuable metal and/or compound thereof,
(ii) oxide of at least one other metal, and optionally
(iii) sulphide of the same or different other metal,
which process includes treating the starting material with liquid. leaching agent containing
(iv) acid and a source of halide ions, and with
(v) the same or different liquid leaching agent containing a source of cyanide ions,
so as to solubilise said valuable metal(s)
whereby liquor obtained from the treatment with leaching agent which contains said solubilised valuable metal(s), is caused to contact valuable metal retaining means wherein said valuable metal(s) is(are) retained.
Subsequently it is preferred to release the retained valuable metal(s) from said retaining means. This can be achieved by techniques which are well known in the art.
In a second aspect the invention also provides apparatus for carrying into effect the above process. Such apparatus is illustrated and described subsequently hereinafter, with reference to embodiments of the present invention. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of dyeing a synthetic fiber material and a dyed synthetic fiber material.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of dyeing a synthetic fiber material with an organic coloring material at a high temperature to produce deeply and evenly colored synthetic fiber material having a significantly enhanced color fastness, and a dyed synthetic fiber material.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that synthetic fiber materials, for example, fabrics, are employed not only for various types of clothes but also for various types of industrial materials. Almost all of the synthetic fiber materials are colored. Also, a major portion of the colored synthetic fiber materials are produced by a dyeing method using a dye, whereas a minor portion of the colored synthetic fiber materials are produced by a printing method or dope-coloring method in which a pigment is mixed with a synthetic polymer material.
Recently, various fabrics are produced from combined filament yarns containing extremely fine synthetic fibers or two or more types of synthetic fibers different in dyeing property from each other, and become widely employed in various uses. Accordingly, there is a strong demand for developing a new method of dyeing the synthetic fiber materials at a high color depth and at a high evenness.
For example, the extremely fine fibers have a large total surface area per unit weight of the fibers, and thus light irradiated on the extremely fine fibers is reflected on a large total surface area. Therefore, when the same amount of dye is adsorbed in the fibers, the color depth of the dyed extremely fine fibers appears lower than that of fibers having a higher diameter than that of the extremely fine fibers. Accordingly, various methods for dyeing the extremely fine fibers at a high color depth are developed.
In the most simple method, the amount of dye to be applied to the fibers is increased so as to increase the amount of the dye to be adsorbed by the fibers. This method is, however, disadvantageous in that the dyeing cost becomes high, and in the dyed fibers, an increase in the amount of the dye adsorbed in the fibers causes the amount of the dye desorbed from the dyed fibers to be increased, in other words, the increase in the absorbed dye amount results in a reduction in washing fastness of the dyed fibers.
It is known that hydrophilic synthetic fibers having a high crystallinity, for example, polyester fibers, can be dyed with a water-insoluble disperse dye by a carrier dying method in which an additive, for example, acetophenone or o-phenylphenol, is used as a carrier. This carrier dyeing method is, however, disadvantageous in that the removal of the carrier from the dyed fibers is difficult, the dyed fibers are deteriorated by the carrier, the waste water containing the carrier has a bad odor and is harmful to the environment, and the treatment of the waste water is difficult.
To eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 59-71,487 discloses a method of dyeing a false-twisted yarn of a cationic dye-dyeable polyester filaments with a cationic dye at a temperature of 120.degree. C. or more. This method is characterized only in that the cationic dye having higher wet color fastness and sublimation color fastness than those of disperse dye is used to prevent a reduction in color fastness of a dyed filament yarn material after a resin treatment is applied thereto. Therefore, when the dyeing method is applied to the extremely fine fiber material, it is impossible to obtain both the high dyeability (color depth) and the high washing fastness of the dyed fiber material.
Further, when a composite yarn material comprising two or more types of fibers different in dyeability are dyed, the different types of fibers are dyed with the dye at different dyeing rates from each other, and thus the dyed fibers are different in hue and color depth from each other. The resultant dyed composite yarn material exhibits a melange (sprinkly) colored appearance. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to printing of paper hardcopy output from data processing systems and in particular to printing of watermarks on hardcopy output from data processing systems. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to consistently forcing watermarks to be printed under administrative control on print jobs submitted to selected printers or print queues.
2. Description of the Related Art
Watermarks are among various security mechanisms, including wax seals and embossing (such as by a notary public""s seal), long used for source identification or similar control over printed matter. Traditional watermarks are markings in paper resulting from differences in thickness, usually produced by the differential pressure of a projecting design on a processing roll during paper manufacture and visible when the paper is held up to the light or viewed at certain angles with respect to incident light. Contemporary xe2x80x9cwatermarks,xe2x80x9d which are simply preselected, recognizable text or graphics overlaid on other printed matter, originated with xerographic (copier) hardware, which permitted configuration of such watermarks by a keypad and/or display.
In contemporary desktop publishing or printing, watermarks are text or graphics overlaid on an application-rendered page to be printed. Some commercial word processor applications support the creation of watermarks overlaid on a print job in a manner analogous to page numbering or headers/footers, but at the control of the user and with no override at a printer or network print queue. These watermarks are application dependent and not administrator controlled. Printer hardware has not been provided with the option of hardware configurable watermarks analogous to xerographic mechanisms.
In an information kiosk environment such as a university transcript office or Olympic kiosk, the ability to consistently force the printing of watermarks may be of significant value. Guaranteeing that watermarks are printed for specific printers or print queues may reduce the possibility of fraudulent printing of xe2x80x9cofficialxe2x80x9d documents, such as university transcripts.
In a network computing environment, watermarks may reduce waste and enforce enterprise printer restrictions, for example by printing the used, hostname and printer name in the watermark on every page of a print job. Printer resources such as toner and paper are a significant business expense in many enterprises, especially for emerging high quality color printers which are pervasive and very expensive to operate.
In many enterprises, forced printing of watermarks may serve as a security mechanism for proprietary information. For example, printer-specific watermark variances which are undetectable without minute examination or comparison may serve to identify which printer was employed to print information recovered from a source to which it was leaked, narrowing the number of individuals who could have been the source of the hardcopy recovered.
Forced watermarks could also limit enterprise liability when dispersing information. For example, watermarks containing the phrases xe2x80x9cDRAFTxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cUNAPPROVEDxe2x80x9d, or xe2x80x9cUSE WITH CAUTION UNTIL APPROVEDxe2x80x9d could be consistently printed on print outs for jobs generated by most users in an enterprise, with the watermark suppressed on when a particular user having authority to approve the information released prints the document.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a mechanism for consistently printing a watermark, without regard to user selected print job properties, on print jobs submitted to a printer or print queue.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide improved printing of paper hardcopy output from data processing systems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide improved printing of watermarks on hardcopy output from data processing systems.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for consistently forcing watermarks to be printed under administrative control on print jobs submitted to selected printers or print queues.
The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described. A watermark property is specified for a print queue, subject to control only by network administrators. The value within the watermark may be a pointer to a graphic image, text, or a logical value, allowing, flexible specification of a watermark on a printer by printer basis. The queue watermark property overrides any print job watermark properties before the print job is submitted to the print driver, regardless of whether the print job watermark was set in the job properties locally or remotely, by a user or an application. The queue watermark property thus serves as a distinct, mandatory watermark associated with the print queue, whether local or network. The watermark property setting is retained by a persistent parameter in configuration information for the print server hosting the print queue, which is employed to initialize the queue. As a queue property,, which ordinary users will not normally be permitted to control, the watermark property may be protected from modification or circumvention by any user not having network administrator status.
The above as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Preproglucagon is a 158 amino acid precursor polypeptide that is differentially processed in the tissues to form a number of structurally related proglucagon-derived peptides, including glucagon (Glu), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), and oxyntomodulin (OXM). These molecules are involved in a wide variety of physiological functions, including glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, gastric emptying and intestinal growth, as well as regulation of food intake.
Glucagon is a 29-amino acid peptide that corresponds to amino acids 53 to 81 of pre-proglucagon and has the sequence His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Met-Asn-Thr (SEQ ID NO: 1). Oxyntomodulin (OXM) is a 37 amino acid peptide which includes the complete 29 amino acid sequence of glucagon with an octapeptide carboxyterminal extension (amino acids 82 to 89 of pre-proglucagon, having the sequence Lys-Arg-Asn-Arg-Asn-Asn-Ile-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 2) and termed “intervening peptide 1” or IP-1; the full sequence of human oxyntomodulin is thus His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Met-Asn-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Arg-Asn-Asn-Ile-Ala) (SEQ ID NO: 3). The major biologically active fragment of GLP-1 is produced as a 30-amino acid, C-terminally amidated peptide that corresponds to amino acids 98 to 127 of pre-proglucagon.
Glucagon helps maintain the level of glucose in the blood by binding to glucagon receptors on hepatocytes, causing the liver to release glucose—stored in the form of glycogen—through glycogenolysis. As these stores become depleted, glucagon stimulates the liver to synthesize additional glucose by gluconeogenesis. This glucose is released into the bloodstream, preventing the development of hypoglycemia.
OXM is released into the blood in response to food ingestion and in proportion to meal calorie content. OXM has been shown to suppress appetite and inhibit food intake in humans (Cohen et al, Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 88, 4696-4701, 2003; WO 2003/022304). In addition to those anorectic effects, which are similar to those of GLP-1, OXM must also affect body weight by another mechanism, since rats treated with oxyntomodulin show less body weight gain than pair-fed rats (Bloom, Endocrinology 2004, 145, 2687). Treatment of obese rodents with OXM also improves their glucose tolerance (Parlevliet et al, Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 294, E142-7, 2008) and suppresses body weight gain (WO 2003/022304).
OXM activates both the glucagon receptor and the GLP-1 receptor with a two-fold higher potency for the glucagon receptor over the GLP-1 receptor, but is less potent than native glucagon and GLP-1 on their respective receptors. Glucagon is also capable of activating both receptors, though with a strong preference for the glucagon receptor over the GLP-1 receptor. GLP-1 on the other hand is not capable of activating the glucagon receptor. The mechanism of action of oxyntomodulin is not well understood. In particular, it is not known whether the effects of the hormone are mediated exclusively through the glucagon receptor and the GLP-1 receptor, or through one or more as-yet unidentified receptors.
Other peptides have been shown to bind and activate both the glucagon and the GLP-1 receptor (Hjort et al, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 269, 30121-30124) and to suppress body weight gain and reduce food intake (WO 2006/134340; WO 2007/100535; WO 2008/101017).
Obesity, classified is a globally increasing health problem and is associated with various diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. As a result, obesity has been found to reduce life expectancy. According to 2005 projections by the World Health Organization there are 400 million adults (age >15) classified as obese worldwide. In the US, obesity is now believed to be the second-leading cause of preventable death after smoking.
The rise in obesity drives an increase in diabetes, and approximately 90% of peoble with type 2 diabetes may be classified obese. There are 246 million people worldwide with diabetes, and by 2025 it is estimate that 380 million will have diabetes. Many have additional cardiovascular risk factors including high/aberrant LDL and triglyceridesand low HDL.
People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people without diabetes, making it the most common complication of diabetes. Cardiovascular disease accounts for about 50% of the mortality in people with diabetes. Young adults with diabetes have rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) 12-40 times higher than those in young adults without diabetes and together with the high incidence and prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, the morbidity and mortality rates relating to these metabolic disorders underscore the medical need for efficacious treatment options
Accordingly, there is a strong medical need for treating obesity, and improving glucose tolerance. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates generally to the field of communication and, in particular, controlling conference calls over a network.
Conference calls provide a real time communication between two or more persons. Conference calls offer an ‘in person’ meeting experience, connecting participants across multiple continents and time zones. Specifically, conference calls provide a highly effective and convenient conversation medium between persons. For example, businesses use conference calls regularly to meet with remote parties, both internally and outside of their company, allowing businesses to reduce travel expenses and save time, while still maintaining the close relationships with customers and employees.
To create a satisfactory conference call, the conference calling system emulates what participants would experience during a regular ‘in person’ meeting. For example, a conference call may utilize audio, video and multimedia technology, creating a better user experience. Further, a conference call may include the ability to allow separate conference calls to be merged into one larger conference call. Moreover, a conference call may include the ability to have a sub-conference, or a breakout session with a particular set of the participants, apart from the main conference call. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Advertising-supported distribution of audio-video data may be implemented from a content server to remote client devices over computer networks, telecommunications networks, and combinations of such networks, using various methods, for example progressive downloading or streaming. Platforms for such distribution may include sites that offer a great variety of different programming, including both newly released episodes of serial programs, major features, documentaries, special events, archives of past episodes and classic serial programs, of different types targeted to users having various different demographic profiles or located in different area, and in various formats for use on different kinds of player devices. One or more video ads may be inserted into each video program and sold to advertisers who are charged based on how many times each advertisement is played on a client device; i.e., for each video ad impression.
The delivery of video content by streaming or progressive download may be accomplished under a variety of models. In one model, the user pays for the viewing of each video program, for example, using a pay-per-view service. In another model widely adopted by broadcast television shortly after its inception, sponsors pay for the presentation of the media program in exchange for the right to present advertisements during or adjacent to the presentation of the program. In some models, advertisements are inserted at predetermined times in a video program, which times may be referred to as “ad pods” or “ad breaks.” With streaming video, the media player may be configured so that the client device cannot play the video without also playing predetermined advertisements during the designated ad breaks. While this feature is helpful for ensuring that ad impressions are delivered to the client device, a lack of ability for the user to influence or control the advertising content played during the ad breaks may reduce the interest of some viewers in viewing streaming video content with inserted advertising. These and other limitations of prior methods for ad selection for a streaming video may be overcome by the novel methods and apparatus disclosed herein. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 98-45734, filed Oct. 29, 1998, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to signal transmission in general, and more particularly, to signal transmission between integrated circuit devices.
Many techniques have been developed to reduce the amount of noise introduced into data transmitted between integrated circuit (IC) devices. Two such data transmission techniques include single-ended interfaces and differential interfaces.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional single-ended interface can include integrated circuit devices 101 and 121 and a transmission line 111 therebetween. The integrated circuit device 101 includes a driver 103 and a pad 105, and the integrated circuit device 121 includes a receiver 123 and a pad 125. The transmission line 111 is connected between the pads 105 and 125. The driver 103 compares input data S1 to a reference voltage Vref, generates a high or low level signal, and transmits the signal on the transmission line 111. The signal is transferred to the receiver 123 via the transmission line 111. The receiver 123 compares the signal transferred via the transmission line 111 to the reference voltage Vref, and produces the data S1. Unfortunately, the integrity of data transferred using single-ended interfaces may be adversely affected by the presence of common mode noise, such as echo or ground bounce.
Referring to FIG. 2, a differential interface can include integrated circuit devices 201 and 221 and transmission lines 211 and 213 therebetween. The integrated circuit device 201 includes drivers 203 and 205 and pads 207 and 209. The integrated circuit device 221 includes a receiver 223 and pads 225 and 227. The transmission lines 211 and 213 electrically couple the pad 207 to the pad 225 and the pad 209 to the pad 227 respectively. The driver 203 amplifies input data S1 and transmits the input data on the transmission line 211, and the driver 205 amplifies an inverted signal S1B of the input data S1 and transmits the inverted signal on the transmission line 213. The data S1 and S1B are input to the receiver 223 via the transmission lines 211 and 213, respectively. The receiver 223 compares the signals S1 and S1B transmitted via the transmission lines 211 and 213, and produces the data S1. Unfortunately, the data integrity of a signal transmitted using a differential method may be adversely affected by common mode noise. In addition, the use of a differential interface may complicate the structure of the interface, thereby possibly increasing the cost of manufacturing the interface.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to allow improvement in the transmission of signals between integrated circuit devices.
It is another object of the present invention to allow improved noise immunity for signals transmitted between integrated circuit devices.
It is another object of the present invention to allow reductions in cost of interfaces used to transmit signals between integrated circuits.
These, and other objects may be provided by a transmission circuit that includes a first driver circuit that generates a first transmit signal in response to first and second input signals, the first transmit signal being transmitted from the integrated circuit device. A second driver circuit generates a second transmit signal in response to the first transmit signal and a third input signal, the second transmit signal being transmitted from the integrated circuit device. Accordingly, the likelihood of data loss can be reduced despite the presence of common mode noise. The use of one transmission line per receiver may also simplify the structure of an embodiment according to the present invention.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a first pad is electrically coupled to the first driver circuit and a second pad is electrically coupled to the second driver circuit.
In another aspect of the present invention, a pad is electrically coupled to the first input signal, wherein the first input signal is transmitted from the integrated circuit device.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a first detector circuit is electrically coupled to the first and second input signals and detects when the first and second input signals are a high logic level. A second detector circuit is electrically coupled to the first and second input signals and detects when the first and second input signals are a low logic level. A transmit signal generator is electrically coupled to the first and second detectors and generates the first transmit signal at a first voltage level when at least one of the first and second detector circuits detects that the first and second input signals are both a high logic level and that generates the first transmit signal at a second voltage level when at least one of the first and second detector circuits detects that the first and second input signals are both a low logic level. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a probe for testing of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices.
One type of probe utilizes a spaced-apart array of slender needles to contact pads on a device under test (DUT). A signal is provided to the DUT, and the voltages and/or currents at the selected nodes are routed to measurement equipment. A problem encountered with such measurement systems, particularly at high frequencies, is that the close proximity between the needle tips creates inductance that can interfere with accurate measurements. Though this inductance can be reduced by limiting the isolated portion of the probe tips to the region immediately surrounding the DUT, practical considerations make such a design difficult.
Probe structures have been developed to compensate for the inductance at the probe tips. One such design is exemplified by Lockwood et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,143. Lockwood et al. disclose a ground-signal-ground arrangement of strip like conductive traces formed on the underside of an alumina substrate so as to create coplanar transmission lines. These coplanar transmission lines extend from the pads of the DUT at one end to a coaxial cable at the other end. The associated pair of ground traces on each coplanar transmission line is connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable and the interposed signal trace is connected to the inner conductor. Areas of wear-resistant conductive material are provided to reliably establish an electrical connection with the respective pads of the DUT. Layers of ferrite-containing microwave absorbing material are mounted about the substrate to absorb spurious microwave energy over a major portion of the length of each ground-signal-ground trace pattern. In accordance with this type of construction, a high frequency impedance (e.g., 50 ohms) can be presented at the probe tips to the device under test. Thus broadband signals of eighteen gigahertz or less can travel with little loss across the coplanar transmission lines formed by each ground-signal-ground trace pattern.
The probing system of Lockwood et al., however, is insufficient to effectively probe non-planar surfaces. Such surfaces might result, for example, if the pads of the DUT differ in height, if a loose metallic particle of minute dimension adheres electrostatically to the surface of one of the pads of the DUT so as to form a non-planar surface irregularity, or when the plane of the DUT is inadvertently tilted slightly with respect to the plane of the coplanar tips of the probing assembly. Further, proper alignment between the needles and the DUT requires careful placement of each needle, a time consuming process.
The alignment limitation between the needles was addressed by Godshalk, U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,515. Godshalk discloses a ground-signal-ground finger arrangement attached to a coaxial cable, as in Lockwood. The fingers, however, are originally formed in one piece, joined together by a carrier tab at the contact ends. Once the fingers are attached to the coaxial cable, the carrier tab is severed and the contact fingers appropriately shaped for contact with the DUT. Godshalk discloses that the relative position of each finger is held in alignment first by the carrying tab, and then by the coaxial cable. Unfortunately, Godshalk's design is limited in that the close placement of a coaxial cable to the finely spaced geometry of the DUT places a limit on the number of coaxial cables, and hence contact fingers, that may be used effectively in the probe. Further, a probe having multiple adjacent coaxial cables, each of which has different flexibilities, may lead to insufficient contact with some of the nodes on the DUT.
Another class of probes that provide clean power to circuits at low impedance are generally referred to as power bypass probes. Another configuration that has been developed to counteract the inductance at the tips of a probe assembly is a power bypass quadrant. The power bypass quadrant minimizes such inductance by providing integrated capacitors or resistor-capacitor networks within the probe.
Strid, U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,723, discloses a power bypass quadrant probe that utilizes an array of ceramic fingers coated with a thin gold or polyimide film to make contact with the DUT. The test signals are routed through a power bypass structure consisting of an RC network. Because of the small geometries near the DUT, the capacitors are located far away from the probe tip, which potentially decreases performance. In addition, the ceramic contact fingers tend to break during probing, particularly when the probe overshoots the contact pads. Further, probing pads that are not coplanar is exceedingly difficult because the ceramic contacting fingers lack flexibility.
Boll et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,231 disclose a probe that includes an array of blades to contact the pads of a DUT. The array of blades extend from a transmission line network traced on a circuit board. An RC network is provided on the circuit board to provide the requisite power bypass, and in some instances, flexible capacitors are located close to, or between the contact blades. Because of the limited geometries near the DUT, the capacitance of the capacitors interconnected between the blades are small, and alone are insufficient to adequately eliminate circuit inductance. Accordingly, a second bank of capacitors with larger values are located away from the probe tip where space is available. Probes utilizing flexible capacitors between the closely spaced blades of the probe have proven to be of limited mechanical durability.
What is desired, therefore, is a configurable, multi-contact probe for high frequency testing of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices that reduces the inductance at the probe tip to levels acceptable for measurement over a wide range of frequencies. The probe should be sufficiently durable and flexible to reliably and repeatedly probe substantially non-planar devices over time. It is further desired that the probe be easily aligned with the contact points on the device to be tested and that the probe be capable of simultaneously probing a number of such contact points.
The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a developing device mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copier or a laser beam printer adopting the electrophotographic process.
2. Description of Related Art
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic image forming process, there has heretofore been adopted a process cartridge system in which an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally made into a cartridge which is detachably mountable on the main body of the image forming apparatus. According to this process cartridge system, a user himself can effect the maintenance of the apparatus without resort to a serviceman and therefore, operability could be markedly improved. So, this process cartridge system is widely used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses.
A process cartridge comprises at least developing means and a photosensitive drum integrally made into a cartridge detachably mountable on the main body of an image forming apparatus, and there is also a process cartridge further comprising a developer container, charging means, cleaning means, etc. constructed integrally with one another.
FIG. 16 of the accompanying drawings illustrates an image forming apparatus according to the prior art. In FIG. 16, a process cartridge 100 comprises a photosensitive drum 101 which is an image bearing member, a developing device 103, a cleaning device 105, a charging member 106 and a toner container 109 which is a developer container, all being constructed integrally with each other. The image forming apparatus also has an exposing device 102, a transferring device 104, a fixing device 107 and a feeding device 108.
The exposing device 102 applies a laser beam L conforming to image information to the surface of the photosensitive drum 101 charged to predetermined potential by the charging member 106, and eliminates charges therefrom to thereby form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 101.
An agitating member 110 is provided in the toner container 109, and prevents the coagulation of a developer (hereinafter referred to as the toner) and also carries the toner to the developing device 103. The developing device 103 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 101 by a developing sleeve 111 to thereby form a toner image. The formed toner image is transferred to the surface of a transferring material fed by the feeding device 108, and is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 107, whereby it is permanently fixed, and the transferring material is discharged out of the apparatus. On the other hand, any toner, paper dust, etc. residual on the photosensitive drum 101 after the transfer are removed by the cleaning device 105.
Now, with the higher speed of the image forming apparatus in recent years, the higher-speed countermeasure and higher durability of the process cartridge 100 have been required and therefore, the amount of toner filling a process cartridge 100 has become great and the toner container 109 itself also has become large. However, the increase in the amount of filling toner gives rise to the problem that in the conventional container construction, the rising time of the toner (reaching a predetermined charging amount necessary for development) becomes long, that is, much time is required until a proper amount of development is reached.
As shown in FIG. 17 of the accompanying drawings, the toner in the toner container 109 is charged by contacting with the developing sleeve 111, and any toner which has not been used for development returns into the toner container 109. When the amount of filling toner becomes great, the occasion on which the toner in the toner container 109 contacts with the developing sleeve 111 decreases and therefore, much time is required until all the toner in the toner container 109 reaches a predetermined charging amount.
FIG. 18 of the accompanying drawings shows the relationship between the number of formed images and the amount of toner used for development (the amount of development per unit time: M/S: mass/sheet, unit mg/cm2) when the toner container is filled with 1500 g of toner to ensure, for example, recording of 30,000 sheets. As shown, when the conventional construction of the toner container 109 was filled with 1500 g of toner, 15,000 sheets of image formation were required until a proper amount of development was reached. At this time, the toner in the process cartridge 100 circulates greatly in the toner container 109, as shown in FIG. 17.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-noted problems and an object thereof is to provide a developing device which is stable in its developing characteristic from the initial stage of use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device of large capacity which is excellent in its developing characteristic.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device comprising:
a developer bearing member; and
a developer container for containing a developer therein, the developer container having a plurality of developer containing rooms (chambers) provided with developer conveyers for conveying the developer toward the developer bearing member;
wherein the rotational speed of the developer conveyer in the room (chamber) nearest to the developer bearing member is higher than that of the developer conveyers in the other rooms (chambers).
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device comprising:
a developer bearing member; and
a developer container for containing a developer therein, the developer container having a plurality of developer containing rooms (chambers) provided with developer conveyers for conveying the developer toward the developer bearing member;
wherein the volume of the room (chamber) nearest to the developer bearing member is smaller than that of the other rooms (chambers).
a further object of the present invention is to provide a developing device comprising:
a developer bearing member; and
a developer container for containing a developer therein, the developer container having a plurality of developer containing rooms (chambers) provided with sheet-shaped developer conveyers for conveying the developer toward the developer bearing member;
wherein the thickness of the developer conveyer in the room (chamber) nearest to the developer bearing member is smaller than that of the developer conveyers in the other rooms (chambers).
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a developing device comprising:
a developer bearing member; and
a developer container containing a developer therein, the developer container having a plurality of developer containing rooms (chambers) provided with sheet-shaped developer conveyers for conveying the developer toward the developer bearing member;
wherein the Young""s modulus of the developer conveyer in the room (chamber) nearest to the developer bearing member is smaller than that of the developer conveyers in the other rooms (chambers).
Further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a programmable controller which performs high-speed pulse output to control a controlled apparatus for positioning control according to a user program.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional programmable controller.
In FIG. 3, the reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit (which will be hereinafter referred to as a “CPU”) for controlling each section of the programmable controller, and the reference numeral 2 denotes a pulse generating section for generating a pulse string in a cycle set by the CPU 1.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are flowcharts showing the operation of the conventional programmable controller. FIG. 4A shows a main processing and FIG. 4B shows an interruption processing.
In the main processing shown in FIG. 4A, first of all, the CPU 1 sets an output pulse cycle of the pulse generating section 2 at Step S1 and sets a residual pulse number indicative of an output pulse number at Step S2. Then, an interrupt enable state for enabling interruption is set at Step S3 and pulse output is started at Step S4. At Step S5, pulse output for the residual pulse number is carried out. When the pulse output is completed, an interrupt disable state is set at Step S6. Thus, the main processing is ended.
Every time one pulse is output at the Step S5, the interruption processing shown in FIG. 4B is executed. At Step S11, one is subtracted from the residual pulse number. When the residual pulse number reaches zero, a processing of stopping the pulse output is carried out at Step S13. Thus, the interruption processing is ended. If the residual pulse number is not zero at the Step S12, the interruption processing is ended and the control is returned to the main processing. By the main processing, the pulse output at the Step S5 is executed successively.
The conventional programmable controller comprises a CPU 1 for controlling each section and a pulse generating section 2 for generating a pulse string having a cycle set by the CPU 1 as shown in FIG. 3, and is controlled by control means for executing an interruption processing for each pulse output as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The control means sequentially subtracts one from the residual pulse number for each output pulse, and executes the processing of stopping the pulse when the residual pulse number reaches zero.
In the conventional art, the CPU 1 should execute an interruption processing for each pulse output. For example, in case where a pulse of 200 KHz is output, an interruption cycle is 5 μs. Therefore, it is necessary to use a high-speed CPU applicable to the interruption processing having a cycle of 5 μS. However, the CPU applicable to such a high-speed processing using a general one-chip microcomputer is expensive. As a result, the cost of a product is increased. | {
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The decision to use a deterrent device such as a firearm in a response to a home invasion is not a decision that is made lightly. Many homeowners would prefer to allow trained law enforcement professionals to address such situations. However, when confronted with the possibility of a home invasion it may be necessary to make a split second decision as to whether to reach for a firearm or to reach for a telephone. This gives a homeowner a difficult choice between arming to defend oneself and remaining disarmed and distracted while attempting to contact law enforcement officials.
It is known to equip firearms with gunshot detectors and notification systems that advise local authorities when the firearm is discharged. Examples of this include but are not limited to US Pat. Pub. No. 2006/0042142 entitled Gunshot Detector Notification System, U.S. Pat. No. 8,339,257 entitled Firearm and System for Notifying Firearm Discharge and US Pat. Pub. No. 2012/0062388 entitled Firearms Management System. However, such approaches merely notify authorities that firearm has been discharged and do not achieve the goal of preventing the need for the homeowner to discharge the weapon. Additionally, firearm interlock systems are known that prevent firearms from being used in certain areas or regions. For example, US Pat. Pub. No. 2002/0170219 entitled Dischargeable Hand Weapons Having Reduced Criminal Usefulness describes a firearm control system that limits the geographical area in which the firearm will discharge to an area where the firearm is kept for defense. However, this does nothing to assist the homeowner in the case of a home invasion.
Additionally, many of these systems require that a cellular telephone be integrated into the firearm. This creates difficulties in that incorporating such technologies into the firearm typically requires a significant alteration in weapon design, balance, handling and ultimately utility.
What is needed therefore is an integrated approach to home defense allowing a homeowner to seek help from law enforcement while maintaining an active and ready deterrent capability.
The challenge of maintaining a firearm or other deterrent device in a ready position during a home invasion while also attempting to communicate with police or other law enforcement authorities can be complicated when a homeowner chooses to retreat into a hiding place while waiting for seeking law enforcement help. In such circumstances, the dilemma of whether to focus on manipulating a deterrent device or a telephone can extend for a significant period of time.
Despite these challenges it can be critical for a homeowner to maintain communications with law enforcement personnel during a home invasion. For example, such communications can be important in helping to direct law enforcement personnel to particular portions of the home where the perpetrator may be found. Such communications can also be used to help ensure that law enforcement is aware of locations of the home where the homeowner or other family members may be found so as to lessen the risk that the homeowner or family members will be confused with the perpetrator and to lessen the risk that law enforcement will take actions that may endanger a homeowner or other family members.
Accordingly, what is needed is a new personal defense system that enables communication between a homeowner with law enforcement personnel while allowing the homeowner to maintain an active and ready defensive position. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Today Ethernet is the dominant computer networking technology for local area networks (LANs). As Ethernet gains wide popularity among enterprise, carriers, and cloud service providers, Ethernet architecture has transitioned LAN segments from being implemented as passive shared mediums only to being implemented as actively switched networks. In an actively switched network for Ethernet, resilient loop free frame forwarding is essential for efficient data communication, and shortest path bridging (SPB) protocol is the latest evolutionary step in Ethernet networking that has been standardized. On Mar. 29, 2012, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Review Committee (IEEE RevCom) approved 802.1aq standards for SPB protocols.
SPB introduces link state routing to Ethernet to replace the distance vector algorithm underlying the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP, standardized as IEEE 802.1D), and uses multiple sets of edge rooted shortest path trees in lieu of a single or small number of spanning trees. A node in a SPB network maintains sets of shortest path trees so that the node knows how to forward frames to other nodes in the network. By definition, an Ethernet node does not forward a frame back to the port of arrival in frame forwarding (sometimes referred to as “reverse poisoning”) to avoid forwarding loops. Yet forwarding loop may still happen in an SPB network with reverse poisoning enabled. For example, forwarding loop may occur upon distance inversion. The simplest form of a distance inversion is when two nodes each believe the other is closer to a destination node thus frame destined to the destination node will be forwarded back and forth between the two nodes. Poisoned reverse means such a loop cannot happen in Ethernet, but loops caused by lack of synchronization of multiple switches creating distance inversion scenarios can demonstrably occur.
Forwarding loop causes chronic drain on network bandwidth. Worse, for multicast frame forwarding, forwarding loop can be catastrophic, especially if a loop feeds back into another loop, resulting in an exponential increase in the bandwidth consumed in the network, and causing nearly instantaneous network “meltdown.” For this and other reasons, loop prevention is critical for a SPB network.
Shortest path bridging as specified is augmented with a reverse path forwarding check (RPFC, which is referred to as ingress checking in IEEE 802.1aq). Ingress checking (also referred to as ingress check or source address lookup) checks the source MAC address of a given Ethernet frame with the expected port of arrival for that address. If there is a discrepancy the frame is discarded. This adds robustness to loop mitigation but is not authoritative hence is augmented with a control plane handshake to specifically prevent loops when multiple switches are not synchronized. What the addition of the strictness of RPFC does is restrict resiliency options as nodes cannot “blindly” exploit alternate forwarding paths to a given destination, because with RPFC, only one path from a source is permitted by any given node in any given backbone virtual LAN identifier (B-VID). What would be desirable would be to have more relaxed forms of loop mitigation for 802.1aq such that in failure scenarios fast local switching to loop free alternate paths could be exploited. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to a lens system.
2. Description of Related Art
Where a short overall length is demanded for use in lens module for image acquisition. The lens module is mounted in relatively thin equipment, such as simple digital cameras, webcams for personal computers, and portable imaging systems in general. In order to satisfy this demand of compact lens system, conventional lens systems reduce the number of lenses to shorten the overall length, but this will decrease the resolution. Increasing the number of lenses can increase resolution, but will also increase the overall length of the lens systems.
What is needed, therefore, is a lens system to overcome the above-described problem. | {
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Factor Xa is a member of the trypsin-like serine protease class of enzymes. A one-to-one binding of factors Xa and Va with calcium ions and phospholipid forms the prothrombinase complex which converts prothrombin to factor IIa (thrombin). Thrombin, in turn, converts fibrinogen to fibrin which polymerizes to form insoluble fibrin.
In the coagulation cascade, the prothrombinase complex is the convergent point of the intrinsic (surface activated) and extrinsic (vessel injury-tissue factor) pathways (Biochemistry (1991), Vol. 30, p. 10363; and Cell (1988), Vol. 53, pp. 505-518). The model of the coagulation cascade has been refined further with the discovery of the mode of action of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) (Seminars in Hematology (1992), Vol. 29, pp. 159-161). TFPI is a circulating multi-domain serine protease inhibitor with three kunitz-like domains which competes with factor Va for free factor Xa. Once formed, the binary complex of factor Xa and TFPI becomes a potent inhibitor of the factor VIIa and tissue factor complex.
Factor Xa can be activated by two distinct complexes, by tissue factor-factor VIIa complex on the "Xa burst" pathway and by the factor IXa-VIIA complex (TENase) of the "sustained Xa" pathway in the coagulation cascade. After vessel injury, the "Xa burst" pathway is activated via tissue factor (TF). Up regulation of the coagulation cascade occurs via increased factor Xa production via the "sustained Xa" pathway. Down regulation of the coagulation cascade occurs with the formation of the factor Xa-TFPI complex, which not only removes factor Xa but also inhibits further factor formation via the "Xa burst" pathway. Consequently, there is a natural regulation of the coagulation cascade by factor Xa.
Published data with the proteins antistasin and tick anti-coagulant peptide (TAP) demonstrate that factor Xa inhibitors are efficacious anti-coagulants (Thrombosis and Haemostasis (1992), Vol. 67, pp. 371-376; and Science (1990), Vol. 248, pp. 593-596).
The active site of factor Xa can be blocked by either a mechanism-based or a tight binding inhibitor (a tight binding inhibitor differs from a mechanism-based inhibitor by the lack of a covalent link between the enzyme and the inhibitor). Two types of mechanism-based inhibitors are known, reversible and irreversible, which are distinguished by ease of hydrolysis of the enzyme-inhibitor link (Thrombosis Res (1992), Vol. 67, pp. 221-231; and Trends Pharmacol. Sci. (1987), Vol. 8, pp. 303-307). A series of guanidino compounds are examples of tight-binding inhibitors (Thrombosis Res. (1980), Vol. 19, pp. 339-349). Arylsulfonyl-arginine-piperidinecarboxylic acid derivatives have also been shown to be tight-binding inhibitors of thrombin (Biochem. (1984), Vol. 23, pp. 85-90), as well as a series of arylamidine-containing compounds, including 3-amidinophenylaryl derivatives (Thrombosis Res. (1983), Vol. 29, pp. 635-642) and bis(amidino)benzyl cycloketones (Thrombosis Res. (1980), Vol. 17, pp. 545-548). Therapeutic utility of these compounds, however, is limited by their poor selectivity for factor Xa. | {
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Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Devices that can be used to translate documents may take various forms. For example, some devices can capture an image of a document that is to be translated, and then use optical character recognition (OCR) to detect text in the image of the document. The device may then use translation software to translate the detected text. The translated text may then be displayed and/or played out (e.g., via a computerized voice) to the user. | {
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Advertising is a form of marketing communication used for promoting or selling a product or service. The purpose of advertising is to convince customers that a company's services or products are the best, enhance the image of the company, point out and create a need for products or services, demonstrate new uses for established products, announce new products and programs, reinforce the company messages, draw customers to the company, and to retain existing customers. Contextual advertising represents a form of targeted advertising for advertisements appearing on webpages or other media, such as content displayed in software applications for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web, often referred to as web browsers. It can be beneficial to use browsing habits and other data collected from customers, such as traditional television viewership data to provide an example, to make the advertising more effective.
The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. | {
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Three-dimensional, stand-alone display devices are known. Such devices are useful for displaying, for example, wine lists, calendars, menus, or print advertisements. One such three-dimensional, standalone display device is shown assembled and disassembled in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. The prior art device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as is common with prior display devices, is comprised of two separate sheets 10 and 12. Both sheets 10 and 12 have a slot 14 for use in assembling the sheets together as shown in FIG. 1. The display device, when assembled, is free standing and has eight (8) viewing panels 16A-H that may contain calendars, advertisements, or printed matter.
There are several problems with prior art display devices such as the display device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. First, the display device must be shipped unassembled and assembled prior to use. Second, the use of two separate sheets to form the display device is undesirable because of the increased cost in manufacturing two parts, rather than one. Further, if the printed matter to be displayed on the display device is contiguous between adjacent panels, for example, panels 16A and 16H of FIG. 1, then the manufacturing process may cause misalignment of the printed matter in the assembled device. Moreover, errors in assembly are prone to occur, causing a noninformative display device.
To address the aforementioned problems, there is a need for a three-dimensional, stand-alone display device that may be mass manufactured at a fraction of the cost of prior devices, requires no assembly at the point of deployment, and achieves a configuration suitable for efficient shipping. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing of a mixture of gas with liquid and/or solid material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known are gravity separation vessels, also referred to as two or three phase separators, for separating mixtures of respectively gas with a liquid or gas with a light and a heavy liquid. As a result of the action of the force of gravity the gas is collected at the top of the gravity separation vessel, while the liquid is collected at the bottom of the vessel, wherein the light liquid remains floating on the heavy liquid. This provides the possibility of separating the mixture.
A device is also known which is constructed from a gravity separation vessel in which one or more inlet devices are arranged. With such inlet devices a pre-treatment can be carried out on the supplied mixture before the mixture is separated in the above described manner. Such inlet devices have as most important functions the reduction of the impact of the inlet flow so that the degree of separation inside the gravity separation vessel can be maximized, preventing liquid shattering whereby small liquid droplets could result which would make the separation process more difficult, and prevention of so-called xe2x80x9cfoamingxe2x80x9d, or the occurrence of foam.
These inlet devices have a number of drawbacks however. A first drawback is that since the liquids and the gases are discharged from different outlets, both outlets can have different pressure drops, with the result that gas can flow out of the liquid outlet and/or liquid out of the gas outlet. A second problem is that the discharge of gas can be obstructed by an increase in the quantity of liquid in the inlet device.
The object of the present invention is to provide a device and method wherein the above stated drawbacks are obviated and wherein the liquid level is situated at a suitable height in the inlet device (processing vessel).
According to a first aspect of the invention a device is provided for separating a mixture of gas with liquid and/or solids, comprising:
a gravity separation vessel which is provided with an inlet for the supply of the mixture;
a processing vessel which can be mounted in the gravity separation vessel and connected to the inlet, which processing vessel comprises a first and second outlet opening for the discharge of respectively a first mixture part and a second mixture part to a space of the gravity separation vessel for further separation of the second mixture part;
a flow body arranged substantially concentrically in the processing vessel and provided with one or more swirl elements for setting the supplied mixture into swirling movement;
a discharge channel for discharging the first mixture part to the first outlet opening, which discharge channel is arranged substantially through the interior of the flow body and extends from the downstream side of the flow body to the first outlet opening;
a resistance element with a predetermined flow resistance arranged between the second outlet opening and the flow body. By setting the supplied mixture into rotation a change in pressure can be realized in the processing vessel with which the pressure balance in the processing vessel can be preadjusted.
A device is per se known from European patent application EU 0436973 A2 wherein a supplied mixture of gas with liquid and/or gas with solids is set into swirling movement in a vessel by a swirl element, which swirling generates centrifugal forces in the mixture whereby a first mixture part consisting substantially of liquid or solids is pressed against the wall of the processing vessel, while a second mixture part consisting substantially of gas moves to the middle of the processing vessel. The second mixture part is discharged in the known device via a discharge pipe at the top of the vessel, while the second mixture part is discharged via a discharge pipe at the bottom of the vessel. The known device is however of an entirely different type and is not suitable for carrying out a pretreatment in a gravity separation vessel in which the mixture parts, once they have been discharged, remain in open connection in (a space of) the gravity separation vessel for the purpose of a further treatment.
According to a preferred embodiment the device comprises one or more first counter-swirl elements arranged in the discharge channel for reducing the swirling movement of the first mixture part, downstream of which the first outlet opening is arranged. By arranging a counter-swirl element in the discharge channel to reduce the swirling movement of the first mixture part, the pressure drop over the discharge channel is decreased whereby the discharge of the first mixture part through the discharge channel is improved. This moreover prevents the first mixture part being entrained by the second mixture part and exiting to the outside through the second outlet opening.
According to a further preferred embodiment the resistance element comprises one or more second counter-swirl elements for reducing the swirling movement of the second mixture part. The pressure balance, and therewith the height of the second mixture part (liquid) in the processing vessel, can be further adjusted with the second counter-swirl element.
According to another aspect of the invention a device is provided for separating a mixture of gas with liquid and/or solids, comprising:
a gravity separation vessel which is provided with an inlet for the supply of the mixture;
a processing vessel which can be mounted in the gravity separation vessel and connected to the inlet, which processing vessel comprises a first and second outlet opening for the discharge of respectively a first mixture part and a second mixture part to a space of the gravity separation vessel for further separation of the second mixture part;
a flow body arranged in the longitudinal direction of the processing vessel;
a discharge channel for discharging the first mixture part which is arranged substantially through the interior of the flow body and extends from the downstream side of the flow body to the first outlet opening;
a resistance element with a predetermined flow resistance which is arranged between the second outlet opening and the flow body, wherein the resistance element comprises one or more counter-swirl elements. Using a resistance element embodied in such a manner the pressure in the processing vessel can be preadjusted to a value which is appropriate under the conditions of use by a correct placing and dimensioning of the plates and the orientation thereof relative to each other.
The device preferably comprises one or more first counter-swirl elements arranged in the discharge channel for reducing the swirling movement of the first mixture part, downstream of which the first outlet opening is arranged.
According to yet another aspect of the invention a device is provided for separating a mixture of gas with liquid and/or solids, comprising:
a gravity separation vessel which is provided with an inlet for the supply of the mixture;
a processing vessel which can be mounted in the gravity separation vessel and connected to the inlet, which processing vessel comprises a first and second outlet opening for the discharge of respectively a first mixture part and a second mixture part to a space of the gravity separation vessel for further separation of the second mixture part;
a flow body arranged in the longitudinal direction of the processing vessel;
a discharge channel for discharging the first mixture part arranged substantially through the interior of the flow body and extending from the downstream side of the flow body to the first outlet opening;
one or more first counter-swirl elements arranged in the discharge channel for reducing the swirling movement of the, first mixture part, downstream of which the first outlet opening is arranged;
a resistance element with a predetermined flow resistance arranged between the second outlet opening and the flow body.
According to a preferred embodiment a swirl element comprises one or more preferably curved swirling blades, wherein the swirling blades are formed for setting into swirling movement or at least increasing the swirling movement of the mixture or mixture part flowing therealong, while a counter-element preferably comprises one or more preferably curved swirling blades, wherein the swirling blades are formed for decreasing the swirling movement of the mixture or mixture part flowing therealong. Through a correct choice of the curvature the swirling speed of the mixture flowing therealong, and therewith the pressure drop over the swirl element, can be modified.
It is noted that this curvature can vary. When for instance the curvature of a swirling blade increases in flow direction, the mixture flowing therealong will then undergo an increasingly more rapid swirling movement. Conversely, a mixture flowing along a swirling blade with decreasing curvature undergoes an increasingly slower swirling movement.
According to a further preferred embodiment the processing vessel comprises an inner jacket which comprises a conically tapering part in flow direction, in order to obtain a uniform flow of the first mixture part along the inner jacket.
According to a further preferred embodiment the components of the processing vessel are embodied such that they can be fed through a manhole in the gravity separation vessel. The greatest dimension of a component is herein a maximum of 150 cm. By constructing the processing vessel from such relatively small components it is possible to arrange the processing vessel in already existing gravity separators.
According to a further aspect of the present invention a method is provided for designing, a separation vessel for separating a mixture into a light and heavy fraction, wherein the processing vessel comprises an inlet for the mixture, a first outlet for the light fraction and a second outlet for the heavy fraction, in addition to rotation means for setting the mixture into rotation, wherein swirl elements arranged close to the inlet and/or counter-swirl elements arranged close to the first and second outlet are provided with swirling blades dimensioned such that through the desired degree of rotation a pressure is available in the separation vessel for separating the mixture in as optimal a manner as possible.
By designing the rotation means or the counter-rotation means in correct manner in accordance with fluid dynamic principles the desired rotation of the mixture as well as the desired pressure drop over such a separation vessel can be preselected in accordance with the conditions, since the boundary surface between the heavy and light fraction extends in as optimal a manner as possible in the separation vessel. | {
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1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to ultrasonic liquid-level meters of the echo-ranging type, and in particular to a meter adapted to reject parasitic echo pulses derived from reflective surfaces other than the liquid surface whose level is to be measured whereby the meter is responsive only to main echo pulses reflected from the liquid surface, thereby avoiding erroneous readings.
2. Status of Prior Art
In an ultrasonic echo-ranging meter, pulses of ultrasonic energy transmitted by a transducer placed above the surface of a liquid in a tank or open channel are reflected thereby to produce echo pulses which are picked up by the same transducer. By determining the round trip transit time of the pulse energy in the gaseous medium above the liquid surface, which transit time depends on the distance between the transducer and the surface, one is able to provide a reading of liquid level.
The accuracy of an ultrasonic liquid level meter of the echo-ranging type is adversely affected by environmental changes; notably temperature, pressure and chemical composition. These factors alter the velocity of acoustic propagation. For example, the velocity of sound in air at 0.degree. is 1,087.42 fps, whereas in carbon dioxide it is 1,106 fps (feet per second). When a meter is installed in an environment in which the chemical nature of the gaseous medium undergoes change, this factor will disturb the level reading unless means are provided to compensate or correct therefor. Similarly, changes in the temperature of the medium or in ambient pressure adversely affects the accuracy of the instrument.
In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,299 (Soltz), compensation for environmental changes is effected by a reflector fixedly positioned to intercept and reflect energy from a side portion of the radiation field pattern of the transmitted beam to produce a reference echo signal which in no way interferes with the main liquid level echo signal derived from transmitted energy in a path normal to the surface of the liquid.
In the system disclosed in my prior '299 patent, the transducer is excited to emit periodic pulses which are directed along a center path toward the liquid surface and reflected to produce liquid echo pulses which return to the transducer and are detected thereby. The reference reflector which is placed at a predetermined position relative to the transducer intercepts energy from a side path in the radiation pattern of the transducer to return it to the transducer to produce reference echo pulses. Means are provided to determine the transit time along the center path and along the side path. The ratio of the reference side path and center path transit times is computed to provide an output representing the level of liquid independent of changes in the gaseous environment.
In prior art ultrasonic meters such as those disclosed in the Tankin U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,224 and the Kohno U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,244, use is made of an automatic gain control circuit in conjunction with the received signals. Automatic gain is generally effected by a control circuit adapted to automatically modify the amplification gain of a receiver in a manner whereby the desired output signal remains at a constant amplitude despite variations in input signal strength.
In an ultrasonic echo-ranging liquid level meter, variations in the amplitude of the echo pulses received from the surface of the liquid are encountered by reason of changes in this surface as well as changes in distance due to liquid level changes. Thus an echo pulse which has a long distance to travel before reaching the transducer will be weaker than an echo pulse traveling a shorter distance.
But in the context of an echo-ranging system of the type disclosed in my prior patent '299 in which reference echo pulses as well as liquid level echo pulses are received, at first blush it would appear that no need exists for automatic gain control with respect to the reference echo pulses. Because these pulses are derived from a reflector having a smooth surface placed a fixed distance from the transducer, all reference echo pulses should have the same strength.
However, typical ultrasonic transducers of the same model, though seemingly alike, nevertheless differ somewhat in sensitivity and exhibit a wide spread in echo response. Thus when manufacturing ultrasonic echo-ranging instruments, all of which incorporate the same model of transducer, it becomes necessary to make an individual gain setting to match a particular transducer to the instrument.
Hence in an environmentally-compensated ultrasonic instrument of the type disclosed in my prior '299 patent in which reference as well as liquid level echo pulses are received, actually two automatic gain control functions are needed: one for the reference echo pulses, and the other for the liquid level pulses.
To obviate the need for two automatic gain control circuits in an instrument of the type disclosed in my prior '299 patent, my subsequent U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,997 (Soltz), makes use of a single automatic gain control circuit that is time shared to effect separate gain control for operation in the reference mode and in the liquid level or target mode. In the arrangement disclosed in my '997 patent, the AGC is enabled in a reference mode during a time slot or window having a predetermined duration to effect gain control for the reference echo pulses, and the AGC is thereafter similarly enabled in the target mode to effect gain control for the liquid echo pulses.
The problem to which the present invention is addressed concerns parasitic echo pulses originating from reflecting surfaces other than the liquid surface, such as walls, pipes, brackets and other objects in the vicinity of the open channel or tank containing the liquid whose level is being ultrasonically metered. Thus when the liquid is contained in a tank having a flat top, should the liquid surface be wavy or turbulent rather than smooth and mirror-like, then transmitted pulses striking this liquid surface will not result solely in echo pulses which are returned to the transducer.
Some of the ultrasonic energy incident to the uneven liquid surface, instead of being directly reflected back to the transducer may be diverted or deflected toward the tank top at a site thereon displaced from the transducer and be bounced back from this site toward the reflective liquid surface from which it will be directed toward the transducer. Hence the round trip transit time of the diverted ultrasonic energy is not a function of the straight line distance between the transducer and the liquid surface and is not an index to the level of liquid in the tank.
In this specification, echo pulses which arrive at the transducer directly from the liquid surface are designated "main echo pulses," and those which come by way of an ultrasonically-reflective surface above the tank or other ultrasonically reflective obstacles are designated "parasitic echo pulses," both types of echoes being intercepted by the same transducer. Should the main echo pulses picked up by the transducer be relatively strong, the meter will disregard the parasitic echo pulses and its output reading will accurately represent liquid level. But if the main echo pulses are weak--and this depends on how much of the transmitted ultrasonic energy incident to the liquid level is returned directly to the transducer as against the portion diverted to produce parasitic echoes--then the parasitic echo pulses might be accepted as true echo pulses, thereby producing erroneous liquid level readings or output "spikes."
While it has heretofore been known to employ severe filtering and averaging techniques to discriminate against parasitic echo pulses, such expedients act to slow down the response time of the meter to changes in liquid level. This slowdown is not tolerable where a rapid response is required, as is usually the case.
It is also known to take spikes out of ultrasonic liquid level measurements in open-channel meters in a situation in which secondary echoes are derived from the transducer face itself. This is disclosed in the article "Taking the Spikes out of Ultrasonic Flow Measurement" by Daniel J. Soltz that appeared in the March 1984 issue of Pollution Engineering.
In the problem dealt with in this article, only secondary echoes outside of the measurement (i.e., time) span were found troublesome and easily rejectable. However, the present invention is especially concerned with an ultrasonic liquid level measuring system for tank disposed below an ultrasonically reflective ceiling or with other installations which give rise to parasitic echo pulses well within the measured span. These parasitic echo pulses cannot be rejected in the manner set forth in this article. | {
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There has been proposed an electronic equipment, such as a portable radio receiver or the like, which is provided with a manual rotary driver and a generator having a rotor and operative to generate electric power when the rotor is driven to rotate by the manual rotary driver. When such an electronic equipment is put into actual use, for example, the manual rotary driver is rotated manually by a user to drive the rotor of the generator to rotate, so that the generator is put in operation for generating electric power. The electric power obtained from the generator is supplied to a secondary battery or a condenser for accumulating electric power, such as an electrical double layer condenser, connected with the generator as a load and stored or accumulated in the secondary battery or the condenser for accumulating electric power. The electronic equipment, such as the portable radio receiver or the like, is operative to work with a power source of the secondary battery or the condenser for accumulating electric power in which the electric power from the generator is stored or accumulated.
Since such an electronic equipment containing the generator as mentioned above generates electric power for itself as occasion demands, it can be put in operation without any external power source and being concerned about consumption in a battery contained therein. Accordingly, it is spontaneously considered that the electronic equipment containing the generator is used for countermeasures against various calamities. For example, under a situation where a commercial electric power supplying system is visited by a calamity, such as a big earthquake, a big fire and so on so as, to be destroyed and an inconvenience in which it is very difficult to obtain new batteries is raised by the calamity, the electronic equipment containing the generator can be operative to function normally.
Then, it is required for the electronic equipment containing the generator to be made portable and easily carried and used with simple operations by a user when a calamity occurs. Consequently, it is desirable that each of a generating apparatus comprising the generator contained in the electronic equipment and the manual rotary driver for driving the rotor of the generator to rotate and a power supplying portion for supplying a load connected to the generator with electric power is miniaturized in weight and size so that high efficiency is obtained.
As for the generating apparatus provided to the electronic equipment containing the generator, it has been proposed that such an apparatus as to comprise an AC generator having a stator arranged around a rotary shaft and a rotor secured to the rotary shaft and having an annular portion surrounding the outer peripheral portion of the stator and a manual rotary driving mechanism having a rotary driver which can be manually rotated and an accelerator for increasing the rotation of the rotary driver to be transmitted to the rotor of the AC generator.
In the generating apparatus thus provided, when the rotary driver of the manual rotary driving mechanism is rotated manually, the rotation of the rotary driver is increased by the accelerator and the increased rotation is transmitted from the accelerator to the rotor of the AC generator so as to cause the AC generator to generate electric power. The electric power obtained from the AC generator is rectified to be converted to direct-current (DC) electric power which is supplied to a secondary battery or a condenser for accumulating electric power to be stored therein.
In the generating apparatus which comprises the AC generator and the manual rotary driving mechanism having the rotary driver and the accelerator as mentioned above, when the operation for generating electric power is carried out, a torque necessary for rotating the rotary driver of the manual rotary driving mechanism is relatively large and therefore there has been a problem that a user who rotates manually the rotor of the AC generator through the rotary driver and the accelerator of the manual rotary driving mechanism, meets with such resistance as to be generally expressed "heavy" and is required to spend a relatively great deal of labor and further it is feared that it is substantially impossible for the user to rotate appropriately the rotary driver of the manual rotary driving mechanism.
The torque necessary for rotating the rotary driver of the manual rotary driving mechanism so as to rotate the rotor of the AC generator is increased to be relatively large in the following manner, for example.
When the rotation transmitted from the rotary driver of the manual rotary driving mechanism through the accelerator to the rotor of the AC generator is steeply increased by the accelerator for the purpose of rotating the rotor of the AC generator at a relatively high speed, the torque necessary for rotating the rotary driver of the manual rotary driving mechanism so as to rotate the rotor of the AC generator through the accelerator is increased, and especially, an initial torque necessary for the incipient stage of the rotation of the rotor of the AC generator is steeply increased. In addition, when the electric power obtained from the AC generator is rectified to be converted to DC electric power which is supplied to the secondary battery or the condenser for accumulating electric power to be stored therein, a torque necessary for rotating the rotor of the AC generator becomes relatively large in response to an output current of the AC generator which increases by reason of the following.
Generally, in a generator having a stator and a rotor, for example, a coil wound on a magnetic core is provided on the stator and a permanent magnet opposite to the magnetic core on which the coil is wound is provided on the rotor. When the permanent magnet provided on the rotor is moved to the magnetic core on which the coil is wound, electromotive force is generated in the coil and a current based on the electromotive force flows through the coil to form an output current of the generator on condition that a load is connected with the generator. When the current flows through the coil, the magnetic core on which the coil is wound is magnetized by that current, so that magnetic attractive force and magnetic repulsive force are generated between the magnetic core and the permanent magnet provided on the rotor and electromagnetic brake acts on the rotor. Accordingly, a torque overcoming the electro-magnetic brake acting on the rotor is necessitated to rotate the rotor. The larger the current flowing through the coil wound on the magnetic core, namely, the output current of the generator is, the larger the electromagnetic brake acting on the rotor becomes. Consequently, the larger the output current of the generator is, the larger the torque necessary for rotating the rotor becomes.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a generating apparatus comprising an AC generator and a manual rotary driving mechanism having a rotary driver and an accelerator, in which the rotation of the rotary driver is increased by the accelerator and the increased rotation is transmitted from the accelerator to a rotor of the AC generator so as to cause the AC generator to generate electric power when the rotary driver is rotated, and by which force required to act necessarily on the rotary driver to rotate the same is effectively reduced and therefore the rotary driver can be easily and appropriately rotated by relatively small force. | {
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The present invention relates to a cable harness plug for establishing an electric connection to a plug strip, including a housing, contact elements arranged in the housing and at least one lock, the cable harness plug including at least two different types of contacts, and a lock assigned to each type of contact, and a secondary lock for a cable harness plug of the type defined above.
Cable harness plugs of the type defined above may include a housing with a contact strip. The contact strip in turn includes contact elements which cooperate electrically with contact elements of a plug strip.
Cable harness plugs may also include different areas of contact elements, in particular when a cable harness plug is used to establish an electric connection in low as well as high power ranges.
In the case of a first type of contact, a contact is arranged in a chamber for establishing an electric connection to a contact element in such a manner that spring-like latch arms, which are arranged inside the contact strip, are pressed in the direction of the contact by insertion of a locking element and hold the contact in the chamber. The locking element may be inserted into the cable harness plug perpendicular to and opposite the direction of insertion of the cable harness plug. The guide elements provided on the latching element ensure that the latch arms are pressed in the direction of the contact.
With another type of contact, a contact is arranged in a chamber for establishing an electric connection to a contact element in such a manner that it is held in the chamber by a spring element mounted on the contact. A locking plate configured like a clamp is insertable perpendicular to the direction of plug insertion of the cable harness plug. In the locked position of this locking plate, the contact is surrounded in a clamping fashion and is thus also positioned in the correct position.
Due to the different configurations of contact elements, it is necessary to create a corresponding secondary lock which depends on the type of contact. It may be tedious and time-consuming to activate the secondary lock for each individual type of contact, depending on the position and arrangement of the lock. For this purpose, it may also be necessary to keep a supply of the corresponding components on hand. The injection molds for the cable harness plugs and the contact strips may be very complex in configuration and therefore cost intensive.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, secondary locking of at least two types of contacts or contact areas is provided by using one locking element. The lock includes at least one locking plate covering at least one area of one type of contact and including a locking element which, by insertion into the cable harness plug, converts the locking plate to the locked position in the one area of the type of contact and at the same time activates the lock which is assigned to the other types of contacts.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, simple operation, in particular of a secondary lock, is accomplished despite the fact that the cable harness plug includes different types of contacts.
Furthermore, due to the extraordinary retaining force of the exemplary locking plate according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary to include additional retaining elements for retaining and positioning contacts in the chambers of the contact strips.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a secondary lock for a first type of contact is provided, its first part is composed of two locking plates which are movable back and forth within the cable harness plug in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the cable harness plug and which are lockable using an additional part, namely a locking element.
The locking plates are configured identically. They include recesses which in the locked state encompass contacts in the contact chambers. The individual locking plates overlap in the locked state. A large recess which is arranged centrally is necessary to establish the electric plug connection between the contact elements of the cable harness plug and the plug strip.
In one exemplary embodiment, the locking plates have a spring-like configuration which press the locking plates into their respective original positions, i.e., releasing the contacts. By insertion of the locking element, the two locking plates are converted to the locked position against the spring force. | {
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The Federal Drug Administration requires that the peak rarefractional pressure of an ultrasonic beam entering a patient be below a specified level. To ensure this requirement is met, medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging systems often display the mechanical index, which is related to the peak acoustic pressure in the imaging field. The displayed mechanical index can also be used to set-up and conduct a contrast imaging examination. The non-linear response (harmonics or destruction) of contrast agents is dependent, in part, on the acoustic pressure of an ultrasonic wave. If a non-linear response is not desired, a user of the ultrasound system can reduce the transmit power, for example, to reduce the displayed mechanical index to a level that will minimize undesired responses in the contrast agent. However, the displayed mechanical index may not be related to the location in the imaging field where the contrast agent is present. Accordingly, the use of the displayed mechanical index is often only a crude measure of the relevant pressure and can result in sub-optimal imaging conditions. For example, a user may reduce the transmit power to a level lower than needed to avoid a non-linear response from the contrast agent, thereby making an unnecessary sacrifice in image quality. Also, with the current approach, multiple injections of contrast agent into a patient may be needed to optimize the imaging procedure. Additionally, the spatial ambiguity associated with the displayed mechanical index can result in error when comparing the response of contrast agent from two regions of interest.
There is a need, therefore, for a medical diagnostic ultrasonic imaging system and method that overcomes the disadvantages described above.
The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims.
By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described below provide a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system and method for determining an acoustic output parameter of a transmitted ultrasonic beam. In one preferred embodiment, the ultrasound system determines an acoustic output parameter of a transmitted ultrasonic beam in a user-selected region. In another preferred embodiment, the ultrasound system achieves a specified acoustic output parameter of a transmitted ultrasonic beam in a selected region by automatically adjusting an operating parameter of the ultrasound imaging system. In yet another preferred embodiment, a region is selected in the ultrasound image that does not contain a peak acoustic output parameter of a transmitted ultrasonic beam. The system then determines an acoustic output parameter of the transmitted ultrasonic beam in that region and provides an indication of the determined acoustic output parameter.
The preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the attached drawings. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a downhole tool for use in oil field applications. In particular, this invention relates to an anchor for use with a work string, such as coiled tubing, in a wellbore, such as a horizontal wellbore.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
In recent years there has been a large increase in the number of wells that have been drilled with horizontal portions. When servicing or completing these kinds of wells it is common to use coiled tubing to convey the tools or instruments to the portion of the wellbore of interest, owing to its flexibility and speed of deployment compared to other methods. Compared to traditional drill pipe, coiled tubing is quite thin walled, and subject to buckling if a large compressive force is applied to it.
If the bottom sealing elements on a selective frac packer fail, a net upward force is generated due to the pressure contained between the upper sealing device(s) and the toe of the well. This upward force can result in the coiled tubing buckling under the compressive loading. The upward force can be mitigated in wells comprised of 4.5 inch casing or smaller, however in wells with 5.5 inch casing or larger the hydraulic forces can easily exceed 200,000 psi. In order to prevent buckling of the coiled tubing, it is necessary to provide a device that can transmit the upward compressive force in the event of a seal failure away from the coiled tubing and to the casing and thereby to the earth, rather than allowing the coiled tubing to be subjected to the compressive force. | {
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As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Technology and information handling needs and requirements can vary between different applications. Thus information handling systems can also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information can be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems can include a variety of hardware and software resources that can be configured to process, store, and communicate information and can include one or more computer systems, graphics interface systems, data storage systems, networking systems, and mobile communication systems. Information handling systems can also implement various virtualized architectures. Data and voice communications among information handling systems may be via networks that are wired, wireless, or some combination. | {
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This invention relates to hydraulic braking pressure control valves for use in vehicle braking systems.
Conventionally, in applying brakes on a vehicle a major portion of the load of the vehicle will act on the front wheels and the load acting on the rear wheels will reduce according to the so-called "nose dive phenomenon", thus, the rear wheels will be locked earlier than the front wheels if braking forces applied on the front and rear wheels are equal. Therefore, it is required to reduce the braking pressure applied on the rear wheels as compared with that of the front wheels in accordance with the brake applying force, and there is usually provided a hydraulic braking pressure control valve for controlling braking pressure applied on the rear wheels, such that the braking pressure for the rear wheels will elevate at a reduced rate as compared with the braking pressure supplied to the front wheels.
Recently, there have been provided two braking pressure circuits respectively for the front wheels and rear wheels for securing safety of the vehicle, and in such case it is required to increase the braking force acting on the rear wheels when failure occurs in the pressure circuit for the front wheels and the braking function of front wheels is not available, as compared with a normal operating condition.
One prior art hydraulic braking pressure control valve of the aforementioned kind comprises a piston valve slidably received in a main body of the braking pressure control valve and having a liquid passage therethrough for passing braking liquid therethrough which is supplied to the rear wheels, an actuating piston being slidably received in the main body for receiving the braking pressure of the front wheels to bias the piston valve in one direction, a liquid pressure control spring for biassing the piston valve in a direction opposite to such one direction, and a valve body retained at a predetermined position in the main body and being adapted to engage with a seat formed in the liquid passage to close the passage. Upon depressing a brake pedal the braking pressure in the front wheels moves the piston valve in such one direction and closes the liquid passage at a predetermined pressure level (cut-off pressure) thus controlling the braking pressure for the rear wheels. Thereafter, when liquid pressure is supplied to the pressure control valve the passage repeatingly opens and closes, thus elevating the braking pressure supplied to the rear wheels at a reduced rate as compared with that of the front wheels. And when failure occurs in the pressure circuit for the front wheels, the actuating piston does not act to move the piston valve and thus the liquid passage is maintained to open and the braking pressure of the rear wheels is maintained equal to liquid pressure supplied to the control valve.
However, in a braking pressure control valve of the aforementioned kind, the braking pressure control spring has been arranged to extend between the piston valve and a plug screw-threadingly engaging with the main body, and the valve body has been fixedly retained at a predetermined position by a member associating with the plug. Therefore, it has not been possible to provide load responsive characteristics on the pressure control valve, viz. to change or adjust the braking pressure of the rear wheels by changing the strength of the braking pressure control spring in response to the weight or load distribution of the vehicle. More particularly, when the biassing force of the pressure control spring is changed in accordance with a change in the load by displacing, for example, the plug so as to change the distance between the plug and the piston valve, the valve body will accordingly displace, thus changing the distance between the valve body and the valve seat formed in the liquid passage, and therefore, the desired characteristics of the pressure control valve will not be attained. | {
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This disclosure relates to smart-home environments. In particular, this disclosure relates to generation and/or distribution of device-implementable occupant policies for smart-device environments.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
People interact with a number of different electronic devices on a daily basis. In a home setting, for example, a person may interact with smart thermostats, lighting systems, alarm systems, entertainment systems, and a variety of other electronic devices. Unfortunately, the usefulness of these devices often times limited to basic and/or particular pre-determined tasks associated with the device.
As society advances, households within the society may become increasingly diverse, having varied household norms, procedures, and rules. Unfortunately, because so-called smart devices have traditionally been designed with pre-determined tasks and/or functionalities, comparatively fewer advances have been made regarding using these devices in diverse or evolving households or in the context of diverse or evolving household norms, procedures, and rules. | {
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This invention is related to a two way over-running clutch, preferably for use in automotive differential applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to a two-way over-running clutch assembly of a roller/ramp variety which can be controlled for selectively locking up an automotive differential assembly.
This invention is related to devices and methods as described in United States Provisional Application No.: 60/223,882, filed Aug. 8, 2000, and United States Provisional Application No.: 60/258,383, filed Dec. 27, 2000, all of which are commonly assigned.
Differential assemblies are used in motor vehicles to allow the wheels to turn at different rotational speeds while still providing power to the wheels. Various types of differential assemblies are used in motor vehicles to redirect the transfer of power to the driving axles.
In a standard differential, as a vehicle turns, power continues to be provided through pinion and ring gears to the differential housing. As the inner and outer wheels describe different circles or radii, side gears attached to axle shafts are allowed to turn at different speeds by the motion of intermediate spider gears. As long traction is maintained between the drive wheels and the road service, the power is properly distributed to the wheels through the differential assembly. However, when traction is reduced or lost altogether, a standard differential assembly will spin uselessly, providing little tractive power to the wheels. For instance, if one tire is on ice or some other slippery service while the other is on dry pavement, slip will occur at the low friction side and all the power through the differential assembly will be sent to the slipping tire. No power will be delivered to the wheel on the dry pavement and the vehicle will not be powered forward or backward. Therefore, there is a need to lock the axle halves together in certain situations.
A differential assembly design that is used to overcome the shortcomings of the standard differential assembly is known as the locking differential. A locking differential typically engages a xe2x80x9cdogxe2x80x9d clutch or an axial gear set to lock the two axle halves together. Unfortunately, locking differentials cannot be engaged xe2x80x9con-the-flyxe2x80x9d because any relative motion between the gear teeth would result in severe mechanical damage. It would be desirable to selectively lock the differential assembly instantaneously during xe2x80x9con-the-flyxe2x80x9d operation.
It is known in the art to selectively lock other drivetrain components using roller/ramp clutch assemblies. For example, the two-way over-running clutch assembly described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,456, assigned to NTN Corporation, and hereby incorporated by reference, describes a clutch assembly of a roller ramp variety and the mechanism by which the rollers are retained and biased in the assembly. In addition, the rotation transmission device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,510, also assigned to NTN Corporation, and hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a device which includes a clutch assembly mounted in the transfer case of a four-wheel drive vehicle that can selectively transmit a driving force.
It would be desirable to provide this technology for use with differential assemblies to selectively lock the two axle halves together during xe2x80x9con-the-flyxe2x80x9d operation.
A primary object of this invention is therefore to provide a two-way over-running clutch mechanism, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,456 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,510, installed in the differential assembly of a motor vehicle which when energized will lock together a side gear or drive axle and the differential housing so that no relative rotation can occur between the two drive wheels. This system will provide on-demand traction and can be controlled by an electromagnetic trigger clutch or by hydraulic, pneumatic or other means.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a differential assembly which can be selectively locked together instantaneously during xe2x80x9con-the-flyxe2x80x9d operation.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention an over-running clutch assembly comprises an outer race having a cylindrical inner surface and being rotatable about an axis and a case end enclosing a first end of the outer race, an inner race having a segmented (flat or slightly concave) outer surface coaxial with the cylindrical inner surface and defining a gap therebetween. The inner race is rotatable about the axis with rotational movement relative to the outer race. A plurality of ramp surfaces formed at spaced apart locations on the outer surface define a plurality of cammed surfaces on the outer surface of the inner race. A plurality of rollers are positioned between the outer race and the inner race with one of the rollers being located centrally within each of the cammed surfaces and each of the rollers having a diameter less than the gap between the center of the cammed surface on the inner race and the cylindrical inner surface of the outer race. A retainer interconnects all of the rollers and causes the rollers to circumferentially move in unison with one another. The retainer is rotatable about the axis with limited relative rotation with respect to the inner race. A first biasing element is supported on the retainer to radially bias the retainer position relative to the inner race such that each of the rollers is held in the center of the flat cammed surfaces on the inner race. An actuation disk is connected to the retainer by a means which allows some axial movement of the activation disk with respect to the retainer toward the case end. The preferred method would include a retainer tab extending axially from one end of the retainer and a notch which is adapted to engage the retainer tab thereby preventing circumferential or relative rotational motion of the actuation disk relative to the retainer and allowing axial motion of the actuation disk relative to the retainer. A second biasing element is disposed between the actuation disk and the inner axial surface of the case end to bias the actuation disk away from the case end.
The clutch assembly includes an actuator to selectively overcome the second biasing element to force the actuation disk into contact with the case end, wherein rotation of the outer race and case end with respect to said inner race is frictionally transferred to the actuation disk and the retainer, overcoming the first biasing element, thereby moving the rollers along the ramp surfaces to a position where the rollers engage and wedge between the inner and outer races to prevent relative rotation between the inner and outer races. | {
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Upright vacuum cleaners and extractors have become increasingly popular over recent years. Both floor care apparatus generally incorporate a nozzle assembly that rides on wheels over the floor surface to be cleaned. A canister assembly includes an operating handle that is manipulated by an operator to move the floor care apparatus to and fro across the floor. The canister assembly also includes a dirt collector that traps dirt and debris while substantially clean air is exhausted by an electrically operated fan that is driven by an onboard motor. It is this fan and motor arrangement that generates the drop in air pressure necessary to provide the desired cleaning action.
Many upright vacuum cleaners and extractors also provide a cleaning wand that is manipulated by the hand and used to clean areas typically not reachable or generally regarded as cleanable with the suction inlet of the nozzle assembly. The present invention relates to a floor care apparatus equipped with a novel three section wand assembly. | {
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The invention refers to a suture material dispenser for surgical suture material and especially, but not exclusively, to a dispenser for needle-thread combinations which are wound around a carrier and can easily be withdrawn from the carrier.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,155, a surgical suture material dispenser is known comprising two parallel panels being fixed to each other. On the upper side of one of these panels, the needle of a needle-thread combination is fixed, and a thread coil is then produced on a winding core positioned on the panel by rotating the panel and the core in the panel plane. Finally, a second panel is put on top of the thread coil. The thread end can be fixed in a clamping slot of the one panel. In such a suture material dispenser, the individual panels have to be mounted to each other after the coil has been produced. The thread coil is located in the form of a spiral between the panels. The suture material has to be pulled out through a hole provided in one of the panels. | {
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The electroless nickel plating industry has long been involved in developing metal coatings for various substrates. These coatings are deposited on materials, both metallic and non-metallic, imparting the desirable physical and chemical properties of a nickel alloy to the surface. This electroless plating method typically employs reducing agents, such as hypophosphite, and is described generally as a controlled autocatalytic chemical reduction process for depositing the desired metal as a deposit or plating on a suitable substrate. The deposit is formed upon immersion of an appropriate substrate into an aqueous nickel plating solution in the presence of a reducing agent and under appropriate electroless nickel plating conditions. The electroless nickel alloy formed on the surface of the substrate is often referred to as a coating, film, deposit, or plated layer.
In the computer industry, hard disk data storage elements, or memory disks, are generally made from aluminum or an aluminum alloy substrate. Through any variety of processes, the substrate is treated or otherwise coated so that it may act as a repository for magnetic media which stores electronically written information onto the disk. Typically, electrolessly plating a nickel phosphorus alloy layer onto the bare aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate is undertaken to protect the substrate, providing a surface which is both chemically and mechanically appropriate for subsequent processing and deposition of magnetic media. Electroless nickel alloy plating of the substrate covers defects and provides a surface which is capable of being polished and super finished.
For memory disk plating applications, electroless nickel alloy plating is an established plating method which provides continuous deposition of a nickel phosphorus (NiP) alloy coating onto the memory disk substrate without the need for external electric plating current. The resulting NiP alloy coating is amorphous, and remains suitably non-crystalline upon subsequent annealing. The formation of nickel alloy crystallites in the coating would prevent the surface from being polished and super-finished to the standards required by the memory disk industry. One method of monitoring if NiP alloy crystallite formation has occurred in the coating is through magnetics measurements of the deposit. While the amorphous phase of the NiP alloy is nonmagnetic, the crystalline domains are magnetic.
As magnetic media technology evolves to higher areal density storage devices, the memory disk industry requires more robust characteristics of the electroless nickel alloy layer. One of these deposit characteristics is improved thermal stability, meaning the ability of the deposit to withstand exposure to higher annealing temperatures without crystallization. This inhibition of crystallization during annealing manifests itself as a suppression of the deposit's magnetization when compared to less stable materials. One way to achieve an increase in thermal stability of a nickel phosphorus alloy is through the incorporation of a suitable third component which aids in the inhibition of crystallization at elevated temperatures.
Inclusion of tin (Sn) in alloys where at least one constituent is nickel (Ni) has been accomplished previously by arc melting of bulk constituents and quench cooling the resulting mixture. These works lend evidence that adding Sn to a Ni alloy should help improve the thermal stability of that material. However, the arc melting process is not suitable for coating memory disk substrates industrially. Decomposition reactions have also been utilized to make Ni—Sn materials, but this method cannot produce a smooth, uniform coating and, as such, is not suitable for memory disk applications. Electroplating of Sn—Ni alloys is also known, but this method cannot produce a film with the flatness required for memory disk applications.
Nickel phosphorus tin (NiPSn) alloys have been made previously using electroless plating baths. However, these electroless deposition techniques typically used alkaline-based baths which utilized a stannate source for Sn, and were unable to achieve both greater than 3% Sn and 7-12% P in the deposited alloy. Often, alkaline-based baths also contain sulfur-based stabilizers/accelerators, like thiourea, which degrade the corrosion resistance properties of the deposit and prevent that bath's use for memory disk applications. Additional methods included the use of very acidic NiPSn baths, but were not found to be suitable for memory disk applications. In one case, a highly acidic bath was used (pH=0.5) which required high levels of tin and thiourea, and did not result in co-deposition of phosphorus, producing a crystalline deposit at unsuitably low deposition rates (˜0.6 μinches/minute). The crystalline nature of the deposit rendered it unsuitable for memory disk applications. In the other cases, the plating baths required a diboron ester, usually from glucoheptonic acid, or the formation of a stannate-gluconate complex in order to achieve co-deposition of tin. The plating baths in those works also required a greater amount of tin, and at pH<5 could not produce NiPSn deposits with both 3-9% Sn and 7-12% P under those conditions. In addition, some prior art plating baths utilized thiourea, which rendered the deposit unsuitable for memory disk applications.
Notwithstanding the prior art described herein, there is a need for an aqueous nickel phosphorus tin alloy electroless plating bath and process for chemically depositing that NiPSn alloy onto a memory disk substrate, wherein the deposited material is amorphous and possesses enhanced thermal stability as defined by the inhibition of crystallization and suppression of magnetization upon high temperature annealing. Though an obvious application for this type of aqueous nickel phosphorus tin alloy electroless plating bath and methodology for plating a substrate is in the memory disk industry, this bath and process could be used generally to apply a NiPSn alloy deposit to any appropriately activated material surface where a nickel alloy deposit is desired that possesses improved thermal stability. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to applying a predetermined volume of material to a predetermined location on a substrate and, more particularly, to the use of a stencil having apertures that minimize the shear stress of a material applied using the stencil to a substrate.
2. State of the Art
The use of screen printing stencils is well known in the art. Screen printing stencils are used in a wide variety of applications in the electronic substrate fabrication and electronic assembly industry for applying materials such as photo resist or solder paste.
As the size of the features of a semiconductor device continues to decrease with each generation, ever greater precision is required in order to apply viscous material to the surface thereof. This includes the application of solder paste to the surface of a printed circuit board or die for securing a flip chip thereto. Metal stencils are currently utilized to apply the solder paste onto the surface for connecting the contact pads of surface mounted flip chips. These stencils typically have a plurality of apertures, each formed in the stencil in predetermined locations that correspond to the pattern of the contact pads on the printed circuit board of choice.
In use, these stencils are positioned near or on the surface of the printed circuit board, the apertures in the stencil are aligned over the contact pads upon which the solder paste is to be applied, the solder paste is then urged mechanically through the apertures via a wiper, and the stencil is removed, leaving small islands of solder paste remaining on the contact pads of the printed circuit board.
One problem associated with the use of stencils is that an uneven, or varying, amount of solder may be placed across the contact pads of the printed circuit board. This adds to a lack of planarity across the printed circuit board contact pads which may cause a subsequent rework operation. Further, excess solder paste can be applied that results either in shorting or bridging between adjacent contact pads on the printed circuit board.
Another problem associated with the use of stencils is that the ratio of the height of the material to area occupied by the material is limited by the release of the material from apertures of the stencil. This material release is a function of the cohesive forces within the material and the cohesive forces between the material and stencil. As the size of the aperture dimensions decreases, the base cross-sectional area of the aperture decreases; however, it is still desirable to keep the material being applied through the aperture in the stencil at the same vertical size or height, or greater. Further, such material applied through the apertures of the stencil must be placed very close together. Unfortunately, current technology requires that as the vertical size or height increases, the base cross-sectional area of an aperture of the stencil must increase as well for release of the material applied through the apertures. This limits the pitch or spacing of the apertures in the stencil.
One prior art solution to this problem has been to taper the wall of an aperture in the stencil so that the aperture is wider or has a larger cross-sectional base area on the substrate side to provide an improved release of the material from the aperture. Unfortunately, since the taper of the aperture in the stencil is small with the aperture wall being substantially vertical, thereby providing a small increase in the cross-sectional base area of the aperture located adjacent the substrate, the material applied through the aperture can be pulled away from the substrate when the stencil is removed, thus resulting in the same problem as before.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,928, issued Nov. 1, 1994, discloses a screen printing stencil that has raised edges surrounding the apertures. The apertures also include tapered edges that provide a larger area at the portion of the stencil surface adjacent the substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,316, issued Oct. 24, 1995, also discloses the use of stencils and apertures with tapered walls. The apertures having tapered walls provide a larger cross-sectional base area of the aperture adjacent the substrate than at the cross-sectional area at the opening or top of the aperture into which the solder paste is applied to the stencil. In both references, the larger cross-sectional base area of the aperture in the stencil is provided to reduce the amount of solder paste pulled away when the stencil is removed; however, the stencils require a larger cross-sectional base area for increased height or thickness of the solder paste being applied through the aperture to the substrate.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to overcome the problems inherent in the prior art solutions of using stencils while retaining sufficient material applied to the substrate upon removing the stencil in order to manufacture increased height or thicknesses of material applied through the apertures in the stencil while facilitating a reduced pitch or spacing of the apertures in the stencil. | {
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Recently, in the vehicle industry, the demand for the durability, stability and fuel economy of vehicles is continuously increasing, and much effort is directed to satisfying the demand.
In particular, many attempts have been made to improve the properties of rubber, as a material for vehicle tires, especially tire treads, which are in contact with roads. The rubber composition for a vehicle tire contains a conjugated diene-based polymer, such as polybutadiene or butadiene-styrene copolymer.
Thorough research is currently ongoing into the addition of various reinforcing agents to conjugated diene-based rubber compositions to increase the performance of vehicle tires. Specifically, as vehicles are required to exhibit stability, durability and fuel economy, rubber having high wet skid resistance and mechanical strength and low rolling resistance is being developed as a material for vehicle tires, especially tire treads, which are in contact with roads.
In this regard, modified polymers having high resilience and thus superior fuel economy are under study, as disclosed in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2006-0012403, but the effects thereof are still not satisfactory. | {
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This invention relates to a battery charging device installing structure for an outboard motor and more particularly to an improved mounting and cooling arrangement for the rectifier of an outboard motor battery charging system.
It is well known with outboard motors, particularly those of the large displacement type, to employ a separate battery which battery is charged by an alternator which may form a portion of the magneto ignition system for the engine. Because of the alternating input current from the charging device, it is necessary to employ a rectifier for converting the alternating current into direct current to charge the battery. Frequently, a voltage regulator is also employed in conjunction with the rectifier. When used herein in both the specification and claims, the term "rectifier" is used generically so as to cover a rectifier per se or a rectifier regulator.
Obviously, the rectifier becomes heated in its operation. As larger alternators are employed, the amount of heat generated by the rectifier increases significantly. It has been the practice to provide an arrangement for cooling the rectifier in outboard motor applications. This may be done by providing either cooling fins on the rectifier for air cooling or by placing the rectifier so that it will be in contact with the engine water cooling system and water cooled. However, both of these constructions have disadvantages.
As the power output becomes larger, the dimension of the cooling fins also becomes larger. Quite obviously there is not adequate space in conventional outboard motors to accommodate such large finned rectifiers. In addition, the increase in the amount of finning can in some events actually interfere with the amount of cooling.
Where the rectifier is water cooled, on the other hand, obvious corrosion problems can exist, particularly when operating in marine environments. As corrosion builds up on the rectifier outer surfaces, the heat transmission ability becomes reduced and overheating and eventual destruction of the rectifier can be a problem.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved rectifier and mounting arrangement for an outboard motor wherein the rectifier will be cooled but no special cooling construction of the rectifier per se or involvement with the engine cooling system is required.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved, simplified and highly effective arrangement for cooling a rectifier in an outboard motor battery charging system. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to nonlinear optical systems, and particularly to substituted stilbenes and diphenylacetylenes capable of second harmonic generation (SHG) and having other useful nonlinear optical and electro-optic properties.
2. Description of Related Art
The nonlinear optical response of a molecule can be described by the following expansion: EQU .mu.=.mu..sub.o +.alpha.E+.beta.EE+.gamma.EEE+ . . .
where .mu. is the induced dipole moment and .mu..sub.o is the permanent dipole moment of the molecule; .alpha., .beta., and .gamma. are the linear, second order and third order polarizabilities, respectively; E is the applied electric field. To describe an ensemble of molecules such as a crystal, the macroscopic relationship should be used: EQU P=P.sub.o .chi..sup.(1) E+.chi..sup.(2) EE+.chi..sup.(3) EEE+ . . .
where P is the induced polarization and P.sub.o is the permanent polarization; .chi..sup.(1), .chi..sup.(2) and .chi..sup.(3) are the linear, second order and third order susceptibility, respectively. Second order nonlinear optical phenomena such as second harmonic generation, sum and difference frequency generation, parametric processes and electro-optical effects all arise from the .chi..sup.(2) term. To have a large .chi..sup.(2), a molecule should both possess a large .beta. and crystallize in a noncentrosymmetric structure. Centrosymmetric crystals have vanishing .chi..sup.(2) and are therefore incapable of second harmonic generation.
Franken, et al., Physical Review Letters, Vol. 7, 118-119 (1961), disclose the observation of second harmonic generation upon the projection of a pulsed ruby laser beam through crystalline quartz. They observed the generation of the second harmonic of light, in which light of 6943 .ANG. was converted to light of 3472 .ANG.. The use of a laser remains the only practical way to generate an E large enough to be able to detect the SHG phenomenon.
Coda et al., J. Appl. Cryst., Vol. 9, 193 (1976), disclose SHG in a powder sample of 4-methoxy-4'-nitrostilbene.
Kurihara, et al., J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 959-960 (1987), disclose the synthesis of 4-methoxy-4'-nitrotolan (MNT) (i.e., 4-methoxy-4'-nitrodiphenylacetylene) and the use of MNT for second harmonic generation.
Fouquey, et al., J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun., 1424-6 (1987), disclose the preparation and crystal phase transition temperatures for several 4-amino-4'-nitrostilbene and 4-nitrodiphenylacetylene derivatives. Non-linear optical properties, including second harmonic generation, are noted for selected compounds.
Useful reviews of the art relating to nonlinear properties of organic materials are given in the following references: "Nonlinear Optical Properties of Organic and Polymeric Materials", D. J. Williams, ed., American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C. (1983); D. J. Williams, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., Vol. 23, 690 (1984); "Nonlinear Optical Properties of Organic Molecules and Crystals", Vol. 2, D. S. Chemla, et al., ed., Associated Press, Orlando, Fla. (1987).
Although a large number of organic and inorganic materials capable of SHG have been found since Franken's discovery, an intense search continues. Through many years of research, it is now believed that an organic molecule having a conjugated .pi. electron system or a low-lying charge transfer excited state often has a large second order polarizability, .beta.. Many molecules with large .beta. have been discovered based on these principles. However, many of these molecules have vanishing .chi..sup.(2) because of their unfavorable centrosymmetric crystal structures and therefore have no practical use. To this date, there is no absolute way of predicting whether a molecule can crystallize in a noncentrosymmetric structure. | {
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The invention is based on a fuel injection valve as defined hereinafter. A fuel injection valve has already been disclosed (DE 34 11 537 A1) in which the two guide sections on the valve needle and the guide faces provided for guiding the valve needle on the inside of the valve housing are machined by means of a costly paired grinding in order to achieve a narrow guidance play, which is a prerequisite for low wear and a leakproof valve. | {
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This invention relates to a process for preparing nitramines and more particularly to a process for preparing chloro substituted nitramines.
Monochloromethyl and bis(chloromethyl) substituted nitramines are useful as comonomers in energetic polymers for use in propellant and explosive binders. J. Majer and J. Denkstein, Collection Czech.Chem.Commun. 31(b), pp. 2547-57 (1966) disclose a process for making chloromethyl nitramines by bubbling dry hydrochloric acid gas through a solution of N-acetoxymethyl nitramines in anhydrous dioxane at 0.degree. C. The process is expensive and difficult to use. It requires cooling and the use of anhydrous solvents It requires the use of hydrogen chloride gas which is dangerous and requires special handling. Additionally, product separation from the solvent-hydrogen chloride mixture is cumbersome.
Therefore it would be desirable to. provide a safer, less expensive, and easier to use process for producing N-chloromethyl nitramines. | {
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Error diffusion is a common technique for converting a grey scale image to a binary image. This process, however, assumes that a printer is an ideal device wherein black pixels and white pixels can be rendered not withstanding their effective size. FIG. 1 shows the block diagram of a conventional error diffusion process.
As illustrated in FIG. 22, input grey video is inputted to an adder 10 wherein slowscan error, which represents error from the processing of the previous scanline of pixels, stored in a FIFO 11 is added to the input grey video. Moreover, fastscan error from an error distribution circuit 15 is also added to the input grey video at adder 10. The fastscan error from the error distribution circuit 15 represents the error from processing the previous pixel in the same scanline. The modified input grey video (Pix.sub.N) is then fed to a comparator 14 which compares the modified input grey video with a threshold value. Based on the comparison with the threshold value, the comparator 14 outputs a binary output of either 1 or 0. The modified input grey video is also fed to a subtraction circuit 12 and a multiplexer 14. Subtraction circuit 12 generates a value representative of the difference between a black reference value and the modified input grey video value. This difference is also fed to multiplexer 14. Multiplexer 14 selects either the difference value or the modified input grey video value as the pixel error for the presently processed pixel based on the binary output from comparator 14. This pixel error is fed to the error distribution circuit 15 which utilizes a plurality of weighting coefficients to distribute the error to various adjacent pixels.
However, with the recent improvements in the capabilities of printers, conventional error diffusion cannot be readily used without experiencing artifacts in the rendered image. For example, many printers now use high addressable outputs; two or more binary bits are generated for each grey pixel input. Usually, the multiple bits are created in the fastscan direction (the orientation in which the single scanline is printed).
High addressability is important in situations where the device can process the image data at one resolution, but print at a higher resolution. In such a situation, the present invention can take advantage of a processing system designed for a lower resolution image, (lower resolution can be processed quicker and less expensively), and a printing device which, through laser pulse manipulation, can print at a higher resolution. For example, the image can be processed at 600.times.600.times.8 and printed at 2400.times.600.times.1 using the high addressability process of the present invention. In the above example, the high addressability characteristic is 4. If the image was processed at 600.times.600.times.8 and printed at 1200.times.600.times.1, the high addressability characteristic would be 2.
In such a high addressable environment, conventional error diffusion process can generate images that contain many isolated subpixels. An isolated subpixel is a subpixel that is different from both of it's neighbors in the fastscan direction; i.e., a black subpixel surrounded by white subpixels. At first blush this would not seem to be a problem, but xerography is not sensitive enough to effectively print single isolated subpixels, thus resulting in objectionable artifacts being created in the rendered image.
One such artifact that is caused by the inability of a xerographic system to render a subpixel is a grey level shift in the output data. More specifically, the grey level shift is caused because the isolated subpixels that don't print due to the insensitivity of a xerographic printer, do not add to the light absorption as expected and thus the actual grey level perceived is not equal to the grey level of the original image.
For example, if a grey sweep is printed using a high addressability characteristic that is greater than 1, for example 2, the image should appear as a smooth gradient of grey from grey to light grey to white. However, if such a grey sweep is printed utilizing conventional error diffusion and a high addressability characteristic greater than 1, a discontinuity appears in the image near the darker end. This discontinuity is due to the fact that a certain grey level may produce relatively few isolated subpixels, but the adjacent grey levels may produce many more isolated subpixels. The areas with a large percentage of isolated subpixels appear much lighter since the subpixels do not faithfully reproduce.
Another artifact of the inability to render isolated subpixels is that certain grey levels may have whited out areas. This artifact is caused by many isolated subpixels being printed in a localized area. In other words, since the isolated pixels cannot be effectively rendered by the printer, these isolated pixels become white areas in the generated output document. Thus, a grey area may become completely white if the many isolated subpixels are not properly rendered by the printer.
Thus, the present invention proposes a system which compensates for a printer's inability to render isolated subpixels when using high addressability error diffusion to process the image data, by eliminating the isolated subpixels. The present invention also proposes updating the error propagated in the error diffusion process to account for modifications in the subpixel datastream.
Moreover, the present invention improves the image quality of images processed using subpixel elimination in an error diffusion process. More specifically, the present invention reduces the magnitude of the error signal which is calculated and propagated to pixels in the slow-scan direction after subpixel elimination. In other words, the present invention reduces the variance of the modified error signal but keep overall sum of error unchanged. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to an electrically actuated relay valve or adaptive braking modulator for a vehicle fluid pressure braking system.
Recent governmental regulations require that all vehicles equipped with air brake systems be equipped with adaptive braking system to control the vehicle brakes automatically when an incipient skidding condition is present. These types of adaptive braking system require a modulator or electrically actuated relay valve which is responsive to the output of an electronic control unit that is capable of sensing an incipient skidding condition to effect a brake pressure reduction. The modulator must be capable of quickly responding to the output signal of the control unit to effect the brake pressure control. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Extracorporeal fluid treatment typically involves the removal of a body fluid from a patient, treatment of the fluid externally to the patient, and return of the treated fluid to the patient. Blood is one body fluid for which conventional extracorporeal techniques have been developed. Using these techniques, blood is treated to extract materials from the blood and/or add materials to augment the blood prior to return of the treated blood to the patient. More particularly, extracorporeal blood treatment may be accomplished by removing the blood from the patient in a continuous flow and introducing the blood into a chamber containing a filtration unit, wherein the blood is conducted past a semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane selectively allows material in the blood to pass through the membrane for removal from the blood and/or allows material to pass through the semi-permeable membrane to the blood, to or from a fluid separately flowing past the semi-permeable membrane of the filtration unit. After passage of materials to and from the blood, the treated blood is discharged from the filtration device for return to the patient. The material which has been removed from the blood is separately discharged from the filtration unit.
One exemplary extracorporeal blood treatment is hemodialysis. In conventional hemodialysis treatment, treated water is provided to a hemodialysis machine and mixed therein with a predetermined amount of one or more solutes or concentrates to form a dialysate. The water is heated in the hemodialysis machine before and/or after addition of solutes and/or concentrates, typically to a body temperature of approximately 37.degree. C. This fresh dialysate is then conducted into a filtration device or dialyzer of the hemodialysis machine. Once in the dialyzer, the dialysate flows past a side of a semi-permeable membrane, typically in a counter-current direction to that of the blood from a patient flowing in the dialyzer on an opposite side of the membrane. Waste matter, typically organic molecular ions, plasma and water, is transferred from the blood to the dialysate due to osmotic, diffusive and convective action. Further, in a process known as ultrafiltration, excess fluid may be removed from the blood by establishing a pressure differential across the membrane that pulls the excess fluid from the blood across the membrane and combines it with the dialysate in the dialyzer. Dialysate discharged from the filtration device, sometimes referred to as spent dialysate, may be conducted past a heat exchanger where heat from the spent dialysate is transferred to the treated water being provided to the hemodialysis machine on the "fresh" side. Thereafter, the spent dialysate is conducted to a drain line for collection, analysis and/or, more typically, discharge.
A single hemodialysis machine generally does not run continuously, but rather is used to treat blood in discrete treatment sessions, usually with different patients. The equipment may be idle between treatments and may accumulate deposits in the flowpath. Further, spent dialysate may contain molecules or material which can accumulate in the flowpath after the dialyzer, which can provide a nutrient source for bacterial growth and accumulation therein. The use of such equipment for different patients, the need to prevent patient pyrogenic reactions due to bacterial endotoxin, and the possible accumulation of dirt or other unsterile substances in the equipment make periodic cleaning and disinfection of the equipment desirable.
Cleaning is typically achieved by rinsing the affected portions of the flowpath with bleach solution. Chemical and/or heat disinfection are methods commonly used to disinfect the non-disposable portions of hemodialysis equipment.
Chemical disinfection techniques include the conduction of chemicals such as formaldehyde, bleach, peracetic acid or other disinfectant solutions through the non-disposable portions of such equipment. There can be, however, significant cost associated with the purchase and use of such chemicals. In addition, chemical disinfection techniques require a technician to specially add, remove and/or dispose of the chemical disinfectant, while disconnecting the hemofiltration device and other components from the dialysate equipment. Performance of these steps can take time away from the technician's other duties. With certain disinfectants, the technician who is cleaning the system must take special care when dealing with concentrated chemical solutions. Moreover, in disinfecting with chemicals, care must be taken to completely flush the chemicals, which may exhibit some degree of toxicity, from the portion of the flowpath in which the dialysate is prepared and through which fresh dialysate flows during treatment, to avoid any possibility of delivering the chemical to the patient through the membrane of the dialyzer. There may also be environmental concerns or regulations which restrict the discharge of the disinfecting chemicals to public waste disposal facilities. Container disposal can also be problematical.
Heat disinfection of extracorporeal blood treatment systems is well known. Heat disinfection of the fluid pathway of extracorporeal blood treatment systems is performed by circulating a fluid such as water, sterile water, or a disinfection solution throughout all such pathways of the equipment for a sufficiently long period of time, typically 15 minutes or more, at a sufficiently high temperature, typically from 80.degree. C. to as high as 125.degree. C. One way in which such disinfection is achieved is by conducting the solution (1) through the pathway which ordinarily receives treated water, (2) into the portions of the flowpath in which fresh dialysate is prepared with heated water and in which fresh dialysate flows during treatment, (3) bypassing the dialyzer, (4) into the portions of the flowpath in which spent dialysate flows during treatment, and (5) through the drain line to exit the machine. This technique is referred to herein as a single path once-through heat disinfection method. Single path once-through heat disinfection discharges the heated fluid through the drain line to the drain. As a result, fluid continuously added to the system must be heated to temperature, which consumes additional power and results in additional cost.
This problem has been ameliorated in some hemodialysis systems by routing all or a portion of the heated fluid from the part of the flowpath in which spent dialysate flows during treatment back, to the part which receives treated water, or to the dialysate preparation portion, thereby conserving heat and reducing the power required to maintain adequate disinfection temperature. These techniques are referred to herein as single path heat disinfection methods with recirculation.
Although single path heat disinfection with recirculation reduces the power consumed by the disinfection process, it creates a new problem. The heated fluid, in passing through the spent dialysate line, may pick up material in the line deposited by spent dialysate during prior treatments. Such material may be subsequently carried into the dialysate preparation line and fresh dialysate lines. This creates a possibility of contamination which may potentially be passed on to patients subsequently treated with the equipment.
All single path heat disinfection methods may exhibit substantial heat loss between a point in the dialysate preparation line where the solution is heated and the drain line where solution is discharged from the system. This heat loss results in decreasing temperature from the dialysate preparation portion of the flowpath to the drain line which may result in incomplete disinfection of the flowpath approaching the drain line. The disinfection fluid in the dialysate preparation portion is sometimes heated to a temperature substantially above 90.degree. C., for example at or around 125.degree. C., so that the resulting fluid temperature gradient from the fluid in the dialysate preparation portion to the fluid in the drain line results in a low temperature of closer to 90.degree. C. However, this technique can result in damage to equipment which may not be designed for repeated operation at such elevated temperatures or can require the incorporation of material capable of withstanding elevated temperatures, thereby increasing system cost.
It is against this background that the significant improvements and advancements of the present invention have taken place in the field of disinfecting extracorporeal treatment apparatus. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Certain highly ring-substituted liquid aromatic diamines such as diethyltoluenediamine are effective curatives (curing agents) for polyurethanes and epoxy resins. Other uses include use as extenders for polyurethane elastomers, particularly in RIM applications, use as monomers, and use as antioxidants for elastomers, lubricants, and industrial oils. Unfortunately such highly substituted liquid aromatic diamines are highly sensitive to development of coloration, so much so that even when such materials are produced under an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen, color can develop when transferring the diamine product into containers. Prevention of such color development in commercial plant facilities cannot be accomplished economically.
During storage after exposure to air the coloration of such highly ring-substituted liquid aromatic diamines typically becomes progressively darker, even to the point at which the material appears almost like black ink to the naked eye. To ameliorate this problem it has been recommended that the purchaser of such a product maintain the product under a nitrogen atmosphere during storage to at least keep the existing yellow or amber coloration from reaching the black stage.
Since coloration in the product can detract from its sales appeal, a need has existed for an effective, economical way of decolorizing such aromatic diamine.
In Japan Kokai No. SHO 59-42346 published on Mar. 8, 1984 it is shown that m-phenylenediamine which initially had a standard color rating of 200 remained at the same color level for 3 days after addition thereto of 0.5% of diethylhydroxylamine, and thereafter suffered an increase in coloration to a rating of 300 at 7 days after the addition. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In meat processing plants the strictest sanitary conditions are required, and overhead conveyor rails on which the animal carcasses and meat products are moved through the plant must be maintained clean and sanitary at all times. Originally, this was done by hand and recently automatic rail cleaners have been proposed, the most pertinent of which, to our knowledge, is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,779.
Certain difficulties were present in the construction of said patent; for example, the vertical adjustment of the brushes on splined shafts required more clearance above the rail than is normally available in meat processing plants, the supporting wheels did not float properly to accommodate unevenness and curvature of the rails, the movement of the carriage was not smooth and positive in both directions as only one supporting wheel was driven, and the location of a photocell and its light source for controlling the vertical adjustment of the brushes did not closely follow the path of the conveyor rail on a curve. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom finder optical system, and more specifically, to a real-image zoom finder optical system for use in a lens shutter camera and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, with the appearance of smaller-size, higher-zoom-ratio and wider-angle (because of the popularity of panorama-size photos) lens shutter cameras, similar specifications are required for finder optical systems used in the lens shutter cameras. Specifically, wide-angle, high-zoom-ratio (ranging from wide angle to telephoto) and small-size finder optical systems are required.
The conventionally used high-zoom-ratio finder optical system is a real-image finder optical system comprising from the object side a positive objective lens system, a positive condenser lens and a positive eyepiece system. As a zoom finder optical system of this type, an optical system has been proposed having an objective lens system provided with a special feature.
For example, with a zoom finder optical system of a type where the objective lens system is of positive, negative, positive configuration and zooming is performed by moving the second and third lens units (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H3-87803), a compact finder optical system with a high zoom ratio is realized.
However, in view of the realization of a wide angle (corresponding to an angle of view of 28 mm) and a high zoom ratio (3.times. or higher), in an objective lens system whose first lens unit has a positive refractive power, although an appropriate refractive power arrangement is obtained paraxially, in actuality, the necessary effective aperture of the first lens unit is too large at the shorter focal length condition (wide angle condition), so that it is impossible to secure the necessary thickness of the edge of the positive lens.
Therefore, to realize a wide angle and a high zoom ratio, it is desirable for the first lens unit of the objective lens system to have a negative refractive power. As a zoom finder optical system of such a type, optical systems are known which are of negative, positive, positive configuration (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H1-116616) or of negative, positive configuration where zooming is performed by moving the first and second lens units constituting the objective lens system.
Generally, lenses provide a light beam having a large angle of view with a large amount of aberration. In particular, distortion is generated in proportion to the cube of the angle of view. Therefore, since the angle of view is large at the shorter focal length condition, a large negative distortion is generated by the first lens unit. Conversely, at the longer focal length condition (telephoto condition), since the angle of view of the light beam incident on the first lens unit is small, distortion is hardly generated. For example, in the case of 3.times. zoom, the angle of view is also tripled, so that distortion generated by the first lens unit at the longer focal length condition is 1/27 times that at the shorter focal length condition.
Because of this, in the optical systems of the type having the objective lens system of negative, positive, positive configuration (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H1-116616) or of negative, positive configuration, a large negative distortion is generated by the first lens unit due to the increase in angle of view at the shorter focal length condition, so that the difference between distortion at the shorter focal length condition and distortion at the longer focal length condition (hereinafter referred to as "distortion difference") increases to a impermissible level. Thus, if the realization of a wide angle and a high zoom ratio is intended with this type, a large negative distortion is generated by the first lens unit only at the shorter focal length condition, so that aberration correction is difficult.
The present applicant disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H4-51108 a zoom finder optical system of a type where the objective lens system is of negative, negative, positive configuration and zooming is performed by moving the second and third lens units.
This negative, negative, positive type objective lens system is of an arrangement where the refractive power is divided into two by dividing into two units the negative first lens unit of the negative, positive type objective lens system, so that the effect of distortion generated at the shorter focal length condition is restrained to reduce the distortion difference. This is because in the negative, negative, positive type objective lens system, the distortion generated by the first lens unit decreases since the refractive power of the first lens unit is small compared to the negative, positive type objective lens system. In addition, in the negative, negative, positive type objective lens system, since the angle of view is reduced by the first lens unit, the distortion generated by the second lens unit is also reduced.
As described above, the objective lens system of negative, negative, positive configuration can realize the wide angle. However, since the refractive power of the third lens unit increases too much if the high zoom ratio is realized, a large aberration is generated at the longer focal length condition where the light beam passes the outermost periphery of the lens (in other words, the aperture of the entrance pupil of the lens is large). In particular, spherical aberration is generated in proportion to the cube of the entrance pupil. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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As photoconductive compositions to be incorporated in electrophotographic photoreceptors there have heretofore been well known inorganic substances such as selenium, cadmium sulfide, zinc oxide and amorphous silicon. These inorganic substances are advantageous in that they have excellent electrophotographic properties. In particular, these inorganic substances exhibit an extremely excellent photoconductivity, charge acceptability in a dark place and insulating properties. On the contrary, however, these inorganic substances have various disadvantages. For example, selenium photoreceptors are expensive to manufacture, have no flexibility and cannot withstand thermal or mechanical shock. Cadmium sulfide photoreceptors can cause a pollution problem because cadmium is a toxic substance. Zinc oxide is disadvantageous in that it exhibits a poor image stability after repeated use. Furthermore, amorphous silicon photoreceptors are extremely expensive to manufacture and also require a special surface treatment to prevent surface deterioration thereof.
In recent years, electrophotographic photoreceptors comprising various organic substances have been proposed and some of them have been put into practical use to eliminate the disadvantages of inorganic substances. Examples of these approaches include electrophotographic photoreceptors comprising poly-N-vinylcarbazole and 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone-9-one as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,237, electrophotographic photoreceptors comprising poly-N-vinylcarbazole sensitized with a pyrilium salt dye as disclosed in JP-B-48-25658 (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication"), and electrophotographic photoreceptors comprising as a main component a eutectic complex of a dye and a resin as disclosed in JP-A-47-10375 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application").
Furthermore, many active studies and proposals have recently been made with regard to electrophotographic photoreceptors comprising as main components organic pigments such as perylene pigment (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,371,884), phthalocyanine pigment (as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,397,086 and 4,666,802), azulenium salt pigment (as described in JP-A-59-53850 and JP-A-61-212542), squalium salt pigment (as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,396,610 and 4,644,082) and polycyclic quinone pigment (as described in JP-A-59-184348 and JP-A-62-28738) or the following azo pigments:
Bisazo pigments as disclosed in JP-A-47-37543, JP-A-56-116039, JP-A-58-123541, JP-A-61-260250, JP-A-61-228453, JP-A-61-275849 and JP-A-61-275850, and JP-B-60-5941 and JP-B-60-45664;
Trisazo pigments as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,436,800 and 4,439,506, and JP-A-53-132347, JP-A-55-69148, JP-A-57-195767, JP-A-57-200045, JP-A-57-204556, JP-A-58-31340, JP-A-58-31341, JP-A-58-154560, JP-A-58-160358, JP-A-58-160359, JP-A-59-127044, JP-A-59-196366, JP-A-59-204046, JP-A-59-204841, JP-A-59-218454, JP-A-60-111249, JP-A-60-111250, JP-A-61-11754, JP-A-61-22346, JP-A-61-35451, JP-A-61-67865, JP-A-61-121059, JP-A-61-163969, JP-A-61-179746, JP-A-61-230157, JP-A-61-251862, JP-A-61-251865, JP-A-61-269164, JP-A-62-21157, JP-A-62-78563 and JP-A-62-115452; and
Tetrakisazo pigments as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,513, and JP-A-60-108857, JP-A-60-108858, JP-A-60-111247, JP-A-60-111248, JP-A-60-118843, JP-A-60-176046, JP-A-61-103157, JP-A-61-117559, JP-A-61-182051, JP-A-61-194447, JP-A-61-196253, JP-A-61-212848, JP-A-61-240246, JP-A-61-273548, JP-A-61-284769, JP-A-62-18565, JP-A-62-18566, and JP-A-62-19875.
On the other hand, small-sized and inexpensive semiconducting lasers having an oscillating wavelength in the range of 780 nm to 830 nm have recently been put into practical use. High sensitivity near infrared-sensitive photoreceptors have been disclosed for use in electrophotographic systems utilizing these semiconducting lasers as light sources.
These electrophotographic photoreceptors can attain some improvement in mechanical properties and flexibility in comparison with the above-described inorganic electrophotographic photoreceptors. However, these electrophotographic photoreceptors leave to be desired in sensitivity. These electrophotographic photoreceptors are also disadvantageous in that they may exhibit some change in electrical properties upon repeated use. Thus, these electrophotographic photoreceptors do not necessarily satisfy the requirements for electrophotographic photoreceptors. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a photographing apparatus such as a digital camera, which photoelectrically converts an optical image of an object into an image signal, preforms image processing if necessary, and records the image signal in a recording medium. This invention also relates to a method for recording an image by the photographing apparatus, and a method for reproducing the image by the photographing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a recording medium for use in a digital camera, not only a memory built in the digital camera but also a memory card detachably installed in the digital camera, have been known. By using the memory card, a user can consecutively photograph by replacing the memory cards, and the image data can be stored in these memory cards.
However, the capacity of such a normal memory card is about 2M or 8M, therefore, the number of the flames recordable in each memory card is limited to only 40 to 160. Thus, in order to store these images, it is required to transfer these image data to a recording medium having a large recording capacity, such as an optical magnetic disk, a CD-R or a hard disk. In this case, the recording medium can store images approximately 100 times as compared to a normal memory card, though it depends on which recording medium having a large capacity is used.
Under such circumstances, a digital camera system, in which a digital camera is connected to a personal computer (PC) having a large capacity recording medium so that the image data photographed by the digital camera is transferred to the large capacity recording medium by a driver software of the PC side, has been provided.
However, in a conventional digital camera system, in a case where the digital camera is once connected to the PC, even if a recording medium such as a memory card is installed in the digital camera and the recording medium can record a photographed image, the image data photographed by the digital camera is recorded in a recording medium in the PC side. Thus, in a case where the digital camera is frequently connected to or disconnected from the PC, some of the image data are recorded in the digital camera side, and the other thereof are recorded in the recording medium of the PC side. This causes troublesome management of the recorded images.
Furthermore, in order to transfer the image data from the digital camera to the PC or to record the image data in a recording medium of the PC side, it is required to follow a troublesome procedures including appropriately physically connecting the digital camera to the PC and then activating the driver software of the PC, resulting in a poor operability. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A perilymph fistula is an abnormal connection, i.e., a small hole in the round or oval window, between the perilymph fluid of the inner ear and the middle ear air space. The first described cases of perilymph fistulas were a consequence of otic capsule bone erosion associated with middle ear and mastoid infections (Schuknecht, 1974). Fee (1968) was the first to report oval and round window fistulas caused by head trauma. Patients with both types of perilymph fistulas report episodes of dizziness, vertigo, dysequilibrium, tinitus, and hearing loss. Other abnormal couplings between the air-filled middle ear and the fluid-filled inner ear involve softening of the otic capsule, evulsion of the stapes footplate, deformation of the ossicular chain, and fractures of the ossicles or temporal bone. In some cases these problems are congenital rather than adventitious.
A reliable and non-invasive clinical test for perilymph fistulas and other abnormal communication between the middle and inner ear is not possible with the devices and methods currently available to clinicians. Because the history and symptoms reported by the patient with a middle ear perilymph fistula often resemble those reported by patients with other forms of inner ear vestibular disorders, symptoms and history do not provide a reliable means to determine whether or not the patient has a perilymph fistula. According to a number of clinicians specializing in vestibular disorders, a definitive diagnosis of a post-traumatic middle ear perilymph fistula can be made only by direct inspection of the middle ear through surgical intervention, i.e., tympanotomy (Goodhill, 1980; Healy, 1974 & 1976; Simmons, 1982; Lehrer, 1984; Kohut, 1979; Nomura, 1984; Singleton, 1978). Hence, a reliable non-invasive perilymph fistula test would eliminate the need for exploratory surgery in many cases.
Several groups of individuals have attempted to develop non-invasive and yet reliable tests for the presence of middle ear perilymph fistulas. Daspit, et al., (1980) used an impedance bridge to introduce controlled changes in external ear canal pressure while recording the patient's eye movement responses using electronystagmography. These clinicians used air pressure stimuli ranging from -600 +300 millimeters of water. Supance (1983) and Healey, et al. (1979) used similar techniques. In all of these instances, however, the reliability of the test was found to be relatively low, ranging from a high of 75% to a low of 37%. Noting the high incidence of postural instability among fistula patients, Lehrer, et al. (1984) used the so called Quix test in which body sway responses to external ear canal pressure stimuli are measured with the subject standing freely. In the Quix test, however, the subject stands on a fixed surface and within a normally fixed visual surround. Hence, this method does not test the subject's postural response to external ear canal pressure at a time when the posture control system is maximally sensitive to vestibular inputs.
A number of signal processing methods exist for determining whether or not a stimulus produces statistically significant changes in a measured variable. One such technique is termed "pulse triggered averaging". The stimulus in this technique consists of a train of discrete mono or biphasic pulses. The measured variable is divided into segments that are time locked to the onset of the stimulus pulses. The segments are then averaged. A significant change in the properties of the measured variable correlated with the onset of pulses indicates that the measured variable is influenced by the stimulus. A second technique uses continuously varying sinusoidal or step-like stimuli and "linear systems analysis" to determine whether or not temporal properties of the measured variable are significantly correlated with the stimulus (for example; Brown, et al., 1982). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention deals with the automation involved in accepting orders sent via instant messenger and from cell phone text messaging, and contemplates an automated system for receiving pizza orders that originate on Simple Message System (SMS) or web browser equipped cell phones, a web based system to pre-configure customer information, a database method to assemble messages in real-time, and a method for transmitting these orders to intended stores using pull mechanism via hyper text transport protocol with dynamic security for low cost, and ease of installation, management and maintenance. The invention generally relates to electronic ordering of products and services, including time sensitive food products, using computers and cell phones.
In the food industry, point of sales systems have been available for the past ten or so years that are able to keep track of customer names, addresses, and order history. An example of this is National Systems TMS® which was introduced in 1986 and has processed more than approximately sixty billion dollars worth of pizza orders since that time. A point-of-sale (POS) system presents an order form to store employees, and they enter codes into the system in pre-defined screen locations to place orders.
In 1996, a QuikOrder® system made it possible for customers to place pizza orders on the Internet by filling in elements on a web form using their home computer and a browser. These orders were automatically entered into the TMS system.
The ability to place orders for pizza using a cell phone, using technology from a company named KARGO called the 9-grid, which presented a form and assisted in the order entry process was demonstrated by QuikOrder® in 2000 at the CTIA show during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
A pizza store owner, in 2005, at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. accepted text messages from customers to order pizza, which he would then enter into his TMS system for processing. An embodiment of the invention provides a system and method to eliminate the manual steps involved in accepting orders sent via instant messenger and from cell phone text messaging.
There are a wide variety of signaling mechanisms in the cell phone and computer industry. In most cases however they consist of setting up an account with personal information, account code, and password for access, and then logging in to a server where the user can engage in error-checked challenge and response systems that establish communication, send a message, receive an acknowledgement that the message was received intact, and, often, a turnaround request for a reply. Communication channels can be simplex, where only one side can talk at one time, or duplex, where both sides can send and receive simultaneously.
In the simplex instance, care must be taken so that one side does not send transmissions while the other side is talking. In the duplex instance, care must be taken so that one party does not to get out of sequence with the other party, since any latency in transmission could cause messages to arrive in what appear to be an inconsistent sequence. These systems today are referred to as “instant messaging” or “text messaging”.
In the previous systems, POS and Internet ordering, forms are used to provide context and sequencing for the order process. For example, an order for a pizza with sausage and mushroom, breadsticks, a two-liter soda, and an order of wings, would be entered into a form that provided a context and discrete checking for content by attribute. For example, a form might have the following attributes:
QuantitySizeItemToppings1largethinsausage, mushrooms, onion1mediumpanpepperoniQuantitySideOptions2breadstxcheeseQuantityItemTypeSauce1wingsbone-inbar-b-q
In a touchscreen POS system, these codes would be represented by buttons displayed on the screen that, when touched, would present further options. In a web based system, these options might actually be pictures of the items themselves, and when these images are selected, e.g., by being clicked on with a mouse, the order elements are updated based on the selection.
The form provides the context for the computer system to understand what is being ordered. Without context, the codes do not have any meaning. For example, to express “bone-in” and “bar-b-q sauce” an abbreviated code for both elements might be “b”—in this context, it is the position in the form where the “b” is entered that determines how the computer understands what is intended.
Presenting a form on a small form factor device such as a cell phone display which is limited in width, or an instant messaging text window which is typically limited in depth because it is designed to take up a small portion of the user's screen, makes it essential that an ordering solution take up as little room as possible.
To meet this challenge a number of conventions have been created to make it possible to communicate ideas using very few characters, or in some cases with symbols, or shorthand.
For example, common expressions that are used in instant message can be expressed by using just the first letter of each word in a phrase: Talk To You Later=TTYL Laughing Out Loud=LOL Rolling On The Floor Laughing=ROTFL Thank You=TY OK=K
These contractions are easy to learn, use and understand, and the present an example of how much time might be saved by a tokenized order system. Yet a tokenized order system requires special syntax and grammar that the user would not normally encounter in an online chat discussion, and further must be explicit and defined enough to communicate the user's request with 100% accuracy to the remote computer system. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to video information retrieval.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Video images are a useful resource for entertainment and for dissemination of information. Digital video images are also increasingly being used in a wide range of multimedia applications.
The sheer volume of video information currently available to the user is overwhelming with the existence of many video libraries and archives each of which potentially stores millions of images. These video archives have a broad spectrum of users running different applications and requiring a range of services from provision of subject-specific video clips for editing purposes to video on demand. In practical terms the video archive environment must allow users to run custom applications which utilise a common database of video images and provide descriptive data related to the video images to allow the user to make an informed choice of which media file to download. The generic term for the descriptive data associated with video images is metadata.
Computer database management systems have proved to be very effective for organising text and numeric data. The most widespread database management systems are known as “relational” databases. These systems collect data and organise it as a set of formally described tables from which data can be accessed selectively and reassembled in a variety of ways without having to reorganise the data tables. The standard user and application program interface (API) to a relational database is the structured query language (SQL) which can be used for simple interactive queries as well as for more extensive data gathering for use in compiling reports.
A further example of an information management system is a web search engine. The web search engine is ideally suited for use in a multimedia environment and has three basic components: A program known as a “spider” that goes to every page or representative pages on every web site that wants to be searchable and reads it, using hypertext links on each page to discover and read a site's other pages. A program that creates a master index from the pages that have been read. A program that receives a user's text-based search request, compares it to the entries in the master index, and returns results to the user.
Video archives are of very limited value to the user unless there is an information management system for images capable of delivering images based on their specific content. This video information management system is likely to require features used in database management systems as well as some of the functionality of the web search engine. One difficulty is that image and video data require a much higher bandwidth than text-based information. Downloading a video clip across a computer network can be very time consuming because of the large quantity of data involved. In some cases the user may have to download and view several video clips in real time in order to find a clip with the required information content. Thus it is very important to provide the user with adequate information about images in the archives prior to any download to increase the likelihood of the downloaded images meeting the user-specific requirements. Some users may be looking for video clips that can be used to illustrate a particular feature or issue, for example, video segments showing a particular politician or dignitary. Other users might be searching for complete programmes and news items related to a specific topic such as global warming. It would also be advantageous to the user to have unrestricted access to as many video archives as possible via a single video-specific search query.
A typical prior-art video information retrieval system for use on the world-wide web is illustrated in FIG. 1. Video source material 10 is input as raw video information 15 to an encoding and content-analysis module 20. The source material could be a digital or analogue video-cassette, an electronically stored digital video file or a broadcast signal fed directly via satellite The encoding and content-analysis module 20 takes the video source material and produces digital copies it in various alternative formats ranging from low bit-rate versions suitable for use on Internet browser plug-ins such as RealVideo™ to high bit-rate broadcast quality MPEG2 images.
On input to the video archive system the analogue or digital source material is subject to an automated content-analysis process. This typically involves the use of local intensity histograms, edge histograms, geometrical shape analysis, face detection and on-screen text extraction to establish and log the content of each image. The associated audio samples may be processed for content using speech detection algorithms. Proprietary content-analysis software such as Virage's Videologger™ has been be used for this purpose. The result is a video index 25 which summarises the content of the video material.
A video application server 30 stores the video index 25 in an appropriate format so that it is accessible to a web server 40. In addition the video application server 30 provides a flexible template system, handles client-queries and provides administration tools. Clients 60 running Internet browsers have access to the video index via the web server 40. The clients may enter search terms in a standard web search engine which is interfaced the video index so that video material can be selectively retrieved on the basis of its logged content.
The encoding and content-analysis module 20 outputs the digital video information 65 across a distribution network. The digital video information 65 is available for download to the clients via a video server 50. The video index 25 is used to search for and retrieve particular video clips required by users. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present disclosure relates to data compression, and more specifically, to lossless compression of binary executable in a memory constrained environment.
Data compression finds use in computing systems because it can reduce the amount of computing resources needed to store and transmit data. Generally, compression reduces the size of a data set by removing redundant data to encode the data set using fewer bits than the data set's original representation. Binary files are typically compressed using lossless compression techniques because these files typically contain executable code, or data where a loss of information can render the file unusable. Lossless compression can reduce the size of a file or data set without loss of information by removing statistical redundancy. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiver hitch boat and canoe rack and more particularly pertains to supporting a back end of a boat or canoe that extends over a top portion of a vehicle while being transported with a receiver hitch boat and canoe rack.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of mountable racks is known in the prior art. More specifically, mountable racks heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of mounting on vehicles for transporting of objects are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,607 to Tolsdorf discloses a rack mountable on a trailer hitch ball.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,042 to Ching discloses a bicycle carrying rack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,002 to Smith et al. discloses a hitch mounted carrying assembly and method.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,399 to Hull et al. discloses an article carrier.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,584 to Wiley discloses a detachable cargo carrier.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a receiver hitch boat and canoe rack for supporting a back end of a boat or canoe that extends over a top portion of a vehicle while being transported.
In this respect, the receiver hitch boat and canoe rack according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of supporting a back end of a boat or canoe that extends over a top portion of a vehicle while being transported.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved receiver hitch boat and canoe rack which can be used for supporting a back end of a boat or canoe that extends over a top portion of a vehicle while being transported. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a technology for discharging products from a movable-hearth furnace. In particular, this invention relates to a technology for discharging a reduced product to the outside from a movable-hearth furnace and a discharging device of the reduced product, the reduced product being obtainable such that raw materials including metallic ingredients such as ores containing minerals and dust and sludge produced in ironworks and industrial wastes are accumulated on a movable hearth together with a solid reductant, and the accumulated raw materials are reduced. Particularly, the invention relates to a technology for selecting a reduced product having a large grain size and discharging the reduced product, and a device for separating the reduced product from a reductant to be left in a furnace.
2. Description of the Related Art
Steel, which is a typical reduced metal, is generally produced in a converter or an electric furnace. For example, scrap and reduced iron are melted with heat by using electric energy, and are smelted, as needed, thereby forming steel in an electric furnace. Recently, however, the supply of and demand for scrap are tight, and high-quality steel is sought on an increasing basis. Therefore, there is a tendency to use reduced iron.
A so-called “movable-hearth-furnace” method which is a process for manufacturing reduced iron and the like is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 63-108188, in which an iron ore and a solid reductant are charged and deposited on a hearth movable in a horizontal direction, and the iron ore is heated and reduced by radiation heat transfer by a burner from above the hearth, thereby manufacturing the reduced iron. In a movable-hearth furnace used in this method, the raw material is charged and heated while the hearth is horizontally moved in a heating zone, generally, in a circle (revolving). In other words, a rotary hearth furnace is used.
In the rotary hearth furnace, pellets including an iron ore and a solid reductant are charged and heated on the hearth, thereby reducing the iron ore and producing reduced pellets. The hearth of the furnace moves in a heated furnace. Therefore, a heat-resistive material is applied on a surface of the hearth, or, sometimes, heat-resistive grains are deposited on the heat-resistive material applied on the surface, thereby protecting the surface of the hearth.
A rotary-hearth furnace as a movable-hearth furnace is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-172312. In FIG. 1, the rotary-hearth furnace includes an annular furnace 10 provided with a pre-heating zone 10a, a melting zone 10c, and a cooling zone 10d, and an annular movable hearth 11 is disposed in the furnace 10. A mixture 12 of a raw material such as an iron ore and a solid reductant is charged and deposited on the movable hearth 11. A heat-resistive material is applied to the surface of the movable hearth 11 of the furnace 10. However, the movable hearth 11 may be protected with a layer of a solid reductant which is formed between the movable hearth 11 and the mixture 12.
Burners 13 are disposed in an upper part of the furnace 10. An oxidized material including metals, such as iron ore, deposited on the movable hearth 11 is heated and reduced by using heat of combustion of the burners 13, thereby forming a reduced material such as reduced iron, and the reduced material is further heated to be melted, thereby forming a reduced product including metals with slag. A charging device 14 for charging a raw material onto the movable hearth 11 and a discharging device 15 for discharging a reduced product are shown in FIG. 1. In the technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-172312, a bed of a solid reductant having a given thickness is formed by depositing the powdered solid reductant on a hearth, a bed of a metal-containing material having a given thickness is formed by depositing the powdered metal-containing material on the surface of the bed of the solid reductant, and a plurality of concavities are formed in the bed of the metal-containing material from the surface thereof to the surface of the bed of the solid reductant. The metal-containing material heated at the surface thereof is reduced and melted, and gathers in the concavities remaining in the bed of the solid reductant by the effect of surface tensity and gravity of the melted material while being divided into a metal and slag. A plurality of large grains of the metal with slag are obtained in the concavities by cooling the melted material.
The reduced product and the like produced on the movable hearth 11 are generally discharged by using the discharging device 15 from the movable hearth 11 to the outside of the furnace. A screw-feeder-type discharging device as a device for discharging the reduced product and the like from a hearth is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-172312. The screw-feeder-type discharging device disclosed therein includes a rod 15a provided with a spiral screw 15b fixed around the rod 15a, as shown in FIG. 2. The rod 15a of the screw-feeder-type discharging device is disposed substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable hearth 11 and rotates on the movable hearth 11, whereby the reduced product 16 including reduced pellets and a metal disposed on the hearth 11 is collected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the hearth 11 and is discharged from the hearth 11.
The technology is characterized in that the reduced product 16 which is, for example, reduced iron as a metal not including a gangue portion can be substantially completely discharged in a transversal direction of the hearth 11 by driving the screw 15b of the screw-feeder-type discharging device while the screw 15b is substantially in contact with the upper surface of the hearth 11.
Grains of a metal with slag as a reduced product and the solid reductant can be substantially completely discharged by using the above screw-feeder-type discharging device shown in FIG. 2 in the solid-reductant-bed-type reducing-melting process. The discharged grains of the reduced product 16 and the solid reductant are classified by a screen. The grains of a metal with slag are classified as manufactured goods and the solid reductant which falls through the screen is reused in the furnace.
In this technology, a mixed raw material which is a mixture of powdered iron ore and a solid reductant is deposited in a layer on a solid reductant layer 1b disposed on a hearth 11, is reduced at a given temperature, and is heated to be melted and divided into metals and slag, whereby reduced iron not including a gangue portion is produced.
However, when the screw-feeder-type discharging device described above, which collects the produced reduced iron with a screw of the screw-feeder-type discharging device, discharges a pellet-shaped reduced product in particular, there is a risk that the driving device stops when the pellet-shaped reduce product is “bitten” or becomes wedged between the screw and the hearth, which fact acts as a pressing force applied to the hearth, thereby damaging the surface of the hearth.
By the discharging method described above, deposited substances on the movable hearth are completely discharged to the outside. However, there is a drawback in that the reduced product 16 (metals) cannot be separated from the solid reductant so as to be collected (discharged) as a manufactured good, although the substances including metals and slag deposited on the movable hearth can be completely discharged by the known technology.
Another drawback has been found in the known discharging method in that the temperature of the solid reductant is significantly reduced during classification, thereby generating thermal loss, in which the reduced product 16 and the solid reductant 65 are completely discharged to the outside for classification and the solid reductant is recharged into the furnace. The solid reductant is preferably returned into the furnace while it is hot, thereby avoiding thermal loss.
Accordingly, it would be helpful to provide a discharging device and a discharging method using the discharging device in which damage to the hearth of a movable-hearth furnace can be avoided.
It is would also be helpful to provide a discharging device and a discharging method using the discharging device in which a reduced product such as reduced iron can be selectively discharged from a hearth of a movable-hearth furnace, and a solid reductant can be left on the hearth of the movable-hearth furnace, whereby thermal loss can be avoided. | {
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It has recently become possible to provide patients with implantable cardiac stimulating devices that detect various cardiac arrhythmias and respond by applying therapies, such as a series of electrical pacing pulses or a cardioversion or defibrillation shock, to a patient's heart. The sophistication of the device to be implanted in a particular patient depends to a large degree on the type of cardiac arrhythmia that patient has. For instance, if a patient suffers from bradycardia, a standard fixed-rate or rate-responsive pacemaker may be sufficient. If, however, a patient suffers from episodes of tachycardia, which may in turn lead to fibrillation, a more complex device such as an implantable cardioverter and/or defibrillator may be warranted. Typically, cardiac stimulating devices such as these can respond to different detected arrhythmias with varying levels of therapy. For instance, if an episode of tachycardia is detected, the device can apply a series of antitachycardia pulses to the heart. If, however, tachycardia persists, even after applying antitachycardia pulses, an appropriate response might be to apply a cardioversion shock.
Because the level of therapy applied to the heart depends on the type of arrhythmia a patient experiences, it is important for a cardiac stimulating device to use appropriate detection criteria to classify and confirm a patient's arrhythmia. For example, tachycardias can be classified into zones, each having a different threshold heartbeat rate. When a threshold has been exceeded for a predetermined period, the cardiac stimulating device confirms tachycardia and responds by applying antitachycardia therapy to the patient. By setting the thresholds correctly, the optimum response of the cardiac stimulating device to such an arrhythmia can be ensured. Further, within each zone a series of applicable therapies may be applied in an effort to terminate an arrhythmia episode. The detection thresholds and the therapies to be applied to the patient's heart can be individually programmed into a cardiac stimulating device by a physician, who uses a "programmer" which is typically microprocessor-based.
The programmer provides a user-friendly interface, such as a touch screen, with which a user can set the desired values of various adjustable parameters for the cardiac stimulating device. After the selected values of these parameters are input into the programmer by the user, the programmer transmits this data to the cardiac stimulating device via a telemetry head.
Each patient has a different cardiac condition, so it is advantageous for the physician to adjust the programmable parameters to maximize the performance of the cardiac stimulating device for each individual. It may be beneficial if a physician adjusts the detection criteria to be more sensitive, so that arrhythmias are confirmed more quickly and the appropriate therapy is applied as soon as possible. Also, the response of the device following arrhythmia detection can be controlled. For example, the most aggressive therapies, such as the application of a cardioversion shock, may only be applied after less aggressive therapies have been unsuccessfully used, although such a shock should always be applied to the patient early enough to avoid subjecting the patient to unnecessary danger associated with persistence of the abnormal rhythm.
A physician traditionally optimizes the antitachycardia settings of a cardiac stimulating device by inducing tachycardia in an anesthetized or sedated patient. The behavior of the device, which is surgically implanted in the patient, to the induced tachycardia is then observed to determine if the detection criteria that were selected are effective at confirming tachycardia and if the therapy that is applied is effective in ending the tachycardia episode.
However, inducing tachycardia an excessive number of times could be stressful to the patient's heart, so the physician can only use this procedure a limited number of times. Further, if the patient has an arrhythmia episode that is recorded "in the field," it would be beneficial if the physician could test various detection criteria using that recorded cardiac signal, because a cardiac signal captured in the field may more accurately reflect the patient's typical arrhythmias than the cardiac signal produced when tachycardia is induced in a patient. If the programmer could generate the patient's cardiac signal, the physician could optimize the selection of detection criteria without having to repeatedly induce the tachycardia in the patient. With a sufficiently sophisticated programming system, a programmer could recommend appropriate detection criteria and levels of therapy to a physician based on a recording of a patient's intrinsic cardiac signal taken during an arrhythmia episode. Further, if the performance of the cardiac stimulating device could be simulated, optimization could be performed more quickly than if the cardiac stimulating device's response to the cardiac signal had to be telemetered from the device following a detected episode. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable displacement compressor. More particularly, it relates to an improvement of a variable angle wobble plate type compressor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical variable angle wobble plate type compressor adapted to be used in a vehicle airconditioning compressor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,718. In the compressor, a control arrangement, having a valve mechanism biased by bellows and springs and responsive to both suction and discharge pressures, is provided to control the compressor crankcase pressure with respect to the suction pressure so as to change a wobble angle of a rotary drive plate on a drive shaft, thereby increasing or decreasing the compressor displacement, i.e., the discharge flow rate. When a cooling load, i.e., an air conditioning capacity demand, is lowered or when the compressor rotating speed is increased, a decrease in the suction pressure occurs. Thus, the bellows of the control arrangement are expanded, due to a change in the balance between the suction and atmospheric pressures, to operate the valve mechanism of the control arrangement. As a result, communication between the compressor suction chamber and crankcase is reduced, and alternately, communication between the compressor discharge chamber and crankcase is expanded so that the crankcase pressure is increased, thereby increasing a pressure differential between the suction pressure and the crankcase pressure. That is, a pressure acting behind the pistons of the compressor is increased resulting in a decrease in the length of stroke of the pistons. As a result, the suction pressure to the compressor is recovered, and the compressor displacement is decreased.
However, in the control arrangement of the above-mentioned typical conventional compressor, the valve mechanism is constructed so as to open and close both the communicating passageways between the suction chamber and crankcase and between the discharge chamber and crankcase. This makes the construction of the valve mechanism complicated. Also, when the compressor is rotated at a high speed and a high load is applied to the seal arrangement of the drive shaft, the crankcase pressure is increased. Therefore, the sliding portion of the seal arrangement of the drive shaft is subjected to a high surface pressure. As a result, the sealing performance as well as the physical durability of the seal mechanism must be lowered. The lowering of the sealing performance also occurs when the vehicle engine for driving the compressor suddenly speeds up. This is because, when the vehicle engine speed is rapidly accelerated, the suction pressure to the compressor is lowered and the above-mentioned control arrangement is operated so as to increase the crankcase pressure. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique that can control a tip-base metal distance in an arc welding system including a welding power source having a constant-voltage characteristic.
2. Description of the Related Art
In arc welding, it is important to maintain a fixed distance between a tip at an end of a welding torch and a base metal. That is, if the tip-base metal distance changes during welding, the penetration depth and the welding bead width change, or sputters, blowholes, etc. are caused. This makes welding unstable and lowers the welding quality. Particularly when automatic welding is performed with an arc welding system using a welding robot, if the tip-base metal distance changes, shieldability of shield gas is sometimes reduced, or the tip and the base metal, or a shield gas nozzle and the base metal sometimes touch each other. Hence, it is necessary to perform control so that a fixed tip-base metal distance is maintained.
In a general arc welding system using a welding power source having a constant-voltage characteristic, a copying operation (copying) is performed to maintain a fixed tip-base metal distance. The copying operation automatically corrects the position of a welding torch in an upward direction or a downward direction by causing the actual welding current value to coincide with a target current value. The constant-voltage characteristic refers to a characteristic in that the welding voltage value is fixed, regardless of increase or decrease in actual welding current value. A specific description will be given below of a flow of a procedure adopted when a tip-base metal distance control method of the related art is applied to an arc welding system, with reference to FIG. 13.
In the related art, it is first determined in Step S101 whether or not copying of the arc welding system is effective. When copying is effective (Yes in Step S101), in Step S102, actual welding current values detected by a sensor or the like are subjected to A/D conversion and sampling. In contrast, when copying is not effective (No in Step S101), the procedure is finished.
Next, in Step S103, it is determined whether or not sampling for a predetermined period is completed. When the sampling is completed (Yes in Step S103), an average actual welding current value is calculated from the sampled actual welding current values in Step S104. In contrast, when the sampling is not completed (No in Step S103), the procedure returns to Step S102.
Next, in Step S105, it is determined whether or not a set welding current value is larger than the average actual welding current value. When the set welding current value is larger than the average actual welding current value (Yes in Step S105), in Step S107, the actual welding current value is increased by correcting the position of the welding torch in the downward direction, and the procedure returns to Step S101. In contrast, when the set welding current value is not larger than the average actual welding current value (No in Step S105), the procedure proceeds to Step S106.
In Step S106, it is determined whether or not the set welding current value is smaller than the average actual welding current value. When the set welding current value is smaller than the average actual welding current value (Yes in Step S106), in Step S108, the actual welding current value is increased by correcting the position of the welding torch in the upward direction, and the procedure returns to Step S101. In contrast, when the set welding current value is not smaller than the average actual welding current value (No in Step S106), the procedure proceeds to Step S101.
Besides this copying operation of the related art, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-58012 discloses a technique that indirectly controls the tip-base metal distance by controlling a wire extension length. That is, in this technique, resistances of wires having different extension lengths are measured and stored as data beforehand, the resistance of a wire in actual welding is calculated from the current and voltage values of the wire, and the calculated resistance is compared with the prestored resistances, whereby the extension length of the wire is estimated.
However, in the above-described copying operation of the related art, the change in set welding voltage value (set value of welding voltage) adversely affects the tip-base metal distance. That is, in arc welding using the welding power source having the constant-voltage characteristic, the arc length changes almost in proportion to the set welding voltage value. Further, if the arc length changes, the wire extension length at an end of the tip changes and the resistance of the wire changes. Hence, the actual welding current value also changes.
For this reason, for example, when arc welding is performed while the wire feeding speed and the tip-base metal distance are fixed, if the set welding voltage value decreases, the arc length decreases, and the actual welding current value also decreases. When the actual welding current value thus decreases, the above-described copying operation performs control so as to make the actual welding current value closer to the set welding current value. That is, the resistance of the wire is decreased and the actual welding current value is increased by correcting the position of the welding torch in the downward direction so as to decrease the wire extension length. Such correction of the position of the welding torch is performed until the actual welding current value coincides with the set welding current value. Therefore, in the copying operation of the related art, if the set welding voltage value changes, the tip-base metal distance also changes.
The set welding voltage value in arc welding is appropriately changed in correspondence with the change of the shape of the base metal and the welding position. Therefore, in the copying operation of the related art that does not consider the influence of the set welding voltage value, the tip-base metal distance cannot be accurately controlled to be fixed at an actual arc welding site. Moreover, devices, such as a sensor for current detection and an A/D converter for current conversion, are sometimes used to detect the actual welding current value and input the actual welding current value to a control unit in the copying operation of the related art. However, these devices usually have errors of several percent to ten percent. Therefore, in the copying operation of the related art that needs to obtain an accurate actual welding current value, it is difficult to accurately control the tip-base metal distance to be fixed.
Similarly to the related art, the above-described Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-58012 does also not consider the influence of the set welding voltage value, and cannot accurately control the tip-base metal distance to be fixed. In addition, while the wire and the base metal need to be short-circuited during welding in order to calculate the resistance of the wire in the invention of the publication, this invention is not applicable, for example, to spray transfer (droplet transfer in which the wire end is melted by arc heat and droplets smaller than the diameter of the wire fly in the arc and are transferred onto the base metal). | {
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Diesel engine exhaust is a heterogeneous mixture that contains particulate emissions such as soot and gaseous emissions such as carbon monoxide, unburned or partially burned hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides (collectively referred to as NOx). Catalyst compositions, often disposed on one or more monolithic substrates, are placed in engine exhaust systems to convert certain or all of these exhaust components to innocuous compounds.
Ammonia selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a NOx abatement technology that will be used to meet strict NOx emission targets in diesel and lean-burn engines. In the ammonia SCR process, NOx (normally consisting of NO+NO2) is reacted with ammonia (or an ammonia precursor such as urea) to form dinitrogen (N2) over a catalyst typically composed of base metals. This technology is capable of NOx conversions greater than 90% over a typical diesel driving cycle, and thus it represents one of the best approaches for achieving aggressive NOx abatement goals.
A characteristic feature of some ammonia SCR catalyst materials is a propensity to retain considerable amounts of ammonia on Lewis and Brønsted acidic sites on the catalyst surface during low temperature portions of a typical driving cycle. A subsequent increase in exhaust temperature can cause ammonia to desorb from the ammonia SCR catalyst surface and exit the exhaust pipe of the vehicle. Overdosing ammonia in order to increase NOx conversion rate is another potential scenario where ammonia may exit from the ammonia SCR catalyst.
Ammonia slip from the ammonia SCR catalyst presents a number of problems. The odor threshold for NH3 is 20 ppm in air. Eye and throat irritation are noticeable above 100 ppm, skin irritation occurs above 400 ppm, and the IDLH is 500 ppm in air. NH3 is caustic, especially in its aqueous form. Condensation of NH3 and water in cooler regions of the exhaust line downstream of the exhaust catalysts will give a corrosive mixture.
Therefore, it is desirable to eliminate the ammonia before it can pass into the tailpipe. A selective ammonia oxidation (AMOx) catalyst is employed for this purpose, with the objective to convert the excess ammonia to N2. It would be desirable to provide a catalyst for selective ammonia oxidation that is able to convert ammonia at a wide range of temperatures where ammonia slip occurs in the vehicles driving cycle, and can produce minimal nitrogen oxide byproducts. The AMOx catalyst should also produce minimal N2O, which is a potent greenhouse gas. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Currently there are no known solutions that enable processing (e.g. indexing and searching) of encrypted data, and encryption is usually on the data being stored to a storage area or on information transmitted between two parties. In both cases before the data is process by the application it must be decrypted.
All known solutions to secure data sent to a SaaS application include securing the pipe between the user (end-user or the enterprise network) and the service, and relying on the security provided by the Software as a Service (SaaS) vendor. However, the SaaS user does not control his sensitive data, and in cases where there is leakage of information from the SaaS provider, the user's confidential data is exposed.
There is the option of standard encryption of the data before it is sent to the external repository. However, standard encryption solutions do not allow for processing of the data content as part of standard operations like searching, calculations and comparison.
There exists a need in the field of data encryption and processing for improved method and systems for data encryption and processing. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Ink printing apparatuses can be used for single-color or multicolor printing of a printing substrate, for example a single sheet or a web-shaped recording medium made of the most varied materials (paper, for example). The design of such ink printing apparatuses is known—see for example EP 0 788 882 B1.
Ink printing apparatuses that operate according to the Drop on Demand (DoD) principle have a print head or multiple print heads that respectively provide a plurality of printing elements. A piezoelectric printing element thereby comprises a piezoactivator that is arranged at an ink channel that is connected with a nozzle. Controlled by control voltages from a printer controller, the activators excite ink droplets in the direction of the printing substrate, which ink droplets are directed onto the printing substrate in order to apply print dots there for a print image. These control voltages are derived from the image to be printed (the print data).
In an ink printing apparatus, the ink that is used is adapted in terms of its physical/chemical composition to the print head; for example the ink is adapted with regard to its viscosity. Given low print utilization, in the printing process not all printing elements of the print head are activated; many printing elements have downtimes, with the consequence that the ink in the ink channel of these printing elements is not moved. Due to the effect of the evaporation from the nozzle opening, the danger exists that the viscosity of the ink then changes. This has the result that the ink in the printing element can no longer move optimally and exit from the nozzle. In extreme cases, the ink in the printing element dries completely and then clogs its nozzle, such that a printing with this printing element is no longer possible.
A drying of the ink in the printing elements of a print head in its downtimes represents a problem that can be prevented in that a flushing medium (for example ink or cleaning fluid) is flushed through all nozzles of the print head within a predetermined cycle. This flushing cycle can be set corresponding to the print utilization.
Furthermore, from DE 697 36 991 T2 (EP 0 788 882 B1) it is known to remedy the difficulties in the ejection of ink droplets that are caused by the change of the viscosity of the ink in the printing elements in that the piezoelectric activators of the printing elements are respectively set into vibration oscillations (also called prefire or meniscus oscillations) before or after a printing process, such that no ink droplets are ejected but the ink meniscus that projects out of the nozzle is moved so that the ink in the printing elements is thoroughly mixed. For this, control voltages are applied to the activators of the printing elements, the control voltages having a smaller amplitude and shape in comparison to the control voltages generating a print dot. It can thereby be achieved that the ink situated at the nozzle openings mixes with the ink located inside the printing elements so that the ink droplets can again be generated under approximately normal conditions in printing operation. | {
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This invention relates to color developing materials used in carbonless copying systems and to receptor sheets and carbonless copying system comprising a substrate bearing said materials in a coating composition.
Copy systems employing chromogenic materials are well known. Such systems usually comprise microcapsules that contain a colorless chromogen (i.e., leuco dye) dissolved in a solvent. The microcapsules form a coating on the back or underside of a sheet of paper called a "transfer sheet" or CB (coated back) sheet. The transfer sheet is superimposed over a "receptor sheet" or CF (coated front) sheet, having a color developer for the chromogenic compound coated onto the front thereof. When the microcapsules containing the chromogen(s) are subjected to localized pressure, e.g., typewriter, ballpoint pen, or thelike, they are ruptured and the chromogenic material is released and transferred onto the underlying receptor sheet where it reacts with the color developer. The color developer is an electron acceptor substance such as an acid activated clay, or a low molecular weight phenol-formaldehyde resin. Such pressure sensitive copying system may include additional sheets interposed between the top sheet (CB) and the bottom sheet (CF). The interposed sheets are coated on their backside with chromogencontaining microcapsules and on their front side with a color developer. These sheets are known on CFB (coated front and back) sheets. As used herein, the term "transfer sheet" includes any substrate bearing a coating of electron accepting material and includes CF and CFB sheets as previously described.
Chromogenic compounds comprising colorless dye intermediates are conventional. Exemplary of the colorless dye intermediates which are contemplated for use in this invention are leuco dyes such as crystal violate lactone (CVL), derivatives of bis(p-dialkylaminoaryl) methane, dilactones, ureido fluorans, and bisfluorans such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,981,733, 2,981,738, 3,819,396, and 3,821,010. These dye intermediates are colorless in a neutral or alkaline medium and react to form a visible color in an acidic medium. Thus, when a capsule containing such a compound is ruptured and the compound is discharged onto an absorbent, acidic, electron-acceptor material, such as a paper web coated with an organic or inorganic acid material, a visible color appears on the absorbent material at the point of contact.
Heretofore, pressure-sensitive copy systems have employed acidic clays, and more recently, oil soluble phenolic resins and/or their metal salts as the receptor materials as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,672,935, 3,723,156 and 3,427,180. Receptor sheets employing acidic clays and phenolic resins as the electron acceptor substances have major disadvantages. For example, images formed on acidic clays are succeptible to deterioration due to heat, moisture and light upon prolonged exposure to atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, acidic clays present severe rheological problems such as extremely high viscosities and dewatering during the preparation of the coating formulation and the application of said coating formulation to the paper web. Additionally, papers coated with acidic clays are highly abrasive and have a tendency to yellow severely upon aging. The oil-soluble phenolic resins offer some improvement over the acidic clays such as improved resistance to moisture, but they too have major drawbacks. For example, prolonged exposure of receptor coatings containing phenolic resins to heat and/or light causes the "splitting off" of phenolic groups and results in an overall degradation of the resin. Such degradation of the resin is reflected in yellowing of the coated sheets, fading of the formed image, and loss of image-forming ability of the receptor sheet. Furthermore, the presence of such free phenolic groups present environmental and health hazards.
The use of certain aromatic carboxylic acids as electron acceptors or color developers in carbonless copying systems is also known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,488,207, 3,871,900, 3,934,070, and 3,983,292 disclose the use of such aromatic carboxylic acids and/or their metallic salts as reactive materials for chromogens. These aromatic carboxylic acids are capable of developing images which are superior in intensity and stability to those formed by acidic clays and phenolic resins. Several of these aromatic carboxylic acids, however, present severe problems such as extremely high viscosities and excessive foaming during the preparation of the coating solution and the application of said solution to the web. These problems render the use of such materials impractical in large scale, commercial manufacturing operations. Furthermore, several of these aromatic carboxylic acids possess some undesirable features such as, slow rate of reaction with the chromogen, low sublimation point resulting in an unstable receptor sheet, and form images of low intensity and stability. | {
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The wavelength of an exposure light source used in the manufacture of semiconductors is becoming shorter as the pattern size shrinks. More specifically, the exposure light source has shifted from an i-line to an excimer laser, and its laser light source has also shifted from KrF to ArF. To establish a finer patterning technique, use of an F2 laser is under study.
To construct an exposure system using an F2 laser as the light source, the problem of attenuation of the exposure light energy must be solved. As the energy of an F2 laser beam is absorbed by the moisture or oxygen contained in the atmosphere, a conventional exposure apparatus cannot be applied as it is.
As a means for enabling adaptation to the F2 laser, a method of sealing a space where exposure light passes with a partition, or the like, and filling this space with an inert gas such as nitrogen may be possible. This system, however, also requires an inert gas temperature adjusting system and a circulating system for setting the temperature of the space in which a wafer and a reticle are arranged at a constant temperature and for removing temperature fluctuation.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a conventional inert gas circulating system. A wafer space 21 and a reticle space 22 in the exposure apparatus main body are surrounded by partitions 23 and the interiors of the partitions 23 serve as sealed spaces. A temperature adjusting gas blow-off portion 24 and exhaust portion 25 are connected to each space.
The temperature adjusting gas blow-off portions 24 are provided with filters 26, respectively. The temperature-adjusted clean inert gas flows are blown off into the wafer space 21 and reticle space 22. The inert gas flows blown off into the wafer space 21 and reticle space 22 absorb heat generated in the wafer space 21 and reticle space 22, and are exhausted through the exhaust portions 25. The inert gas flows are supplied to a cooler 29 through return ducts 28 and are heat-exchanged with a refrigerant 30. Then, the inert gas flows are heated and temperature-adjusted by heaters 31, supplied to the temperature adjusting gas blow-off portions 24, and circulated.
High-purity inert gas flows are supplied in a predetermined amount into the wafer space 21 and reticle space 22 through inert gas injection valves 27, and the gas flows in the wafer space 21 an reticle space 22 are exhausted in predetermined amounts through exhaust valves 35, so that the purity of inert gas flows in the wafer space 21 and reticle space 22a is maintained.
The inert gas flows are temperature-adjusted in the following manner. Temperature sensors 32 detect the temperatures of the inert gas flows in the wafer space 21 and reticle space 22. Detection signals are supplied to temperature adjusting units 33, and outputs from the temperature adjusting units 33 are supplied to the heaters 31 by PID feedback control. Thus, the inert gas flows are controlled such that their temperatures become constant at portions where the temperature sensors 32 are set. The inert gas flows are circulated by a blower 34 arranged between the cooler 29 and heaters 31.
The conventional inert gas circulating system has the following problems in the case of periodical maintenance such as cleaning a wafer chuck arranged in the sealed space, or trouble such as a wafer lost. (1) When the operator needs to access the sealed space, the interior of the sealed space is very dangerous as it is filled with the inert gas. Accordingly, an exclusive air purge blower, or the like, is required. (2) When the interior of the sealed space is purged with air, the filter absorbs the moisture. Accordingly, when restoring the sealed space to a space filled with the inert gas, the moisture of the filter has a bad influence. (3) When a gas containing moisture passes through the cooler, condensation occurs. The condensed water adversely influences circulation of the inert gas.
In particular, problems (2) and (3) largely influence the time necessary for purging with the inert gas at the start-up of the exposure apparatus, and may accordingly degrade the throughput remarkably. | {
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Application servers provide an environment for programmers to write application programs that perform services. Application servers typically include resources provided by third party vendors that can be called by application programs. Application servers may implement large numbers of the resource objects for application program use. One such application server is Web Logic Server (WLS) of BEA Systems of San Jose, Calif.
Application servers implement a resource pool to manage and track resource status. Typically, different subsystems like JDBC, Connector and JMS subsystems use separate resource pooling code implementations. Each implementation generally performs the same function for the corresponding system.
Additionally, pool resource management and invocation can have negative effects on the efficiency of application program operation if the resources used by the application program are not properly managed in resource pools. One disadvantage of current application servers is that most of the management parameters are statically generated. What is needed is an application server that implements a resource pool that re-uses code common to different subsystems, allows for dynamic configuration, and achieves other improvements over previous application servers. Additionally, a statement cache that operates with the resource pool needed would be highly desirable. | {
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The present invention relates to a method of shallow trench isolation for a semiconductor device; and, more particularly, to a method of filling a trench for isolation in a semiconductor device.
An integrated circuit is formed from a silicon substrate within and upon whose surfaces are formed resistors, transistors, diodes and other electrical circuit elements. The electrical circuit elements are connected internally and externally to the silicon substrate upon which they are formed through patterned conductor layers that are separated by dielectric layers.
As integrated circuit device technology has advanced and integrated circuit device dimensions have decreased, it has become increasingly common within advanced integrated circuits to employ a trench isolation method such as a shallow trench isolation (STI) method and a recessed silicon dioxide isolation (ROI) method to form trench isolation regions nominally coplanar with adjoining active semiconductor regions of a silicon substrate. Such a trench isolation method typically employs a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing method to provide a nominally planarized surface to a trench isolation region formed from a trench fill dielectric layer formed within the trench.
To fill a STI trench, an isolation dielectric such as silicon dioxide is deposited over a silicon substrate by using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique, such as low pressure TEOS (tetraethylorthosilicate) (LPCVD), TEOS-ozone atmospheric pressure (APCVD), sub-atmospheric pressure (SACVD), or high density plasma CVD (HDP-CVD). In particular, a TEOS-ozone (O3-TEOS) oxide film is widely used as the isolation dielectric for filling the STI trench because of a superior surface mobility thereof.
A prior art associated with the shallow trench isolation (STI) and the integration of trench filling by TEOS-ozone will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
A silicon substrate 10 is shown in FIG. 1; formed on the silicon substrate 10 is a sacrificial layer 12, which includes a layer of pad thermal silicon dioxide (not shown) grown on a surface of the silicon substrate 10 and a layer of pad silicon nitride (not shown) deposited on the layer of pad thermal silicon dioxide. A trench 14 is etched through the sacrificial layer 12 and partially into the substrate 10, followed by thermal silicon dioxide 16 growth inside the trench 14, i.e., sidewalls and a bottom thereof. A reactive ion etch (RIE) process and a LPCVD process are usually used for forming the trench 14 and the silicon dioxide 16, respectively.
Then, in FIG. 2, a TEOS-ozone oxide film 18 is deposited over the silicon substrate 10 to fill the trench 14 by using APCVD, followed by annealing. Finally, the TEOS-oxide film 18 is planarized by using CMP.
There are some process problems in the prior art associated with shallow trench isolation (STI) and the integration of trench filling by TEOS-ozone. Process problems that arise under certain conditions are the formation of voids and seams in the isolating dielectric, i.e., the TEOS-ozone oxide, which fills the trench. Since the formation of voids or seams more frequently occurs at a higher aspect ratio of the trench, the prior art STI cannot be employed for a highly integrated semiconductor device that may require a high aspect ratio trench for a decreased device dimension. Accordingly, a more improved gap fill method has been developed to avoid the occurrence of the voids or seams in the TEOS-ozone oxide.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of filling a high aspect ratio trench for shallow trench isolation.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of shallow trench isolation, including the steps of: forming a trench into a substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench; thermally oxidizing the polysilicon layer so as to form a thermal oxide layer on the polysilicon layer; removing a portion of the thermal oxide layer such that the polysilicon layer is exposed on the bottom of the trench, while leaving the thermal oxide layer on the sidewalls of the trench; and depositing a TEOS-ozone oxide layer on the substrate to fill the trench.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a shallow trench isolation method, including the steps of: forming a sacrificial layer on a silicon substrate; forming a trench through the sacrificial layer and partially into the silicon substrate; thermally oxidizing exposed portions of the silicon substrate in the trench such that a thermal oxide layer is formed on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench; removing a portion of the thermal oxide layer on the bottom of the trench, while leaving the thermal oxide layer on the sidewalls of the trench; and depositing a TEOS-ozone oxide layer on the silicon substrate to fill the trench. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for producing 3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxylic acid-1,1-dioxide, a valuable intermediate for the synthesis of non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents. More particularly, it relates to the preparation of said carboxylic acid compound by base hydrolysis of alkyl or aralkyl esters of 3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxylic acid-1,1-dioxide and to the use of the acid for production of the antiinflammatory agents N-(2-pyridyl)-3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxamid e-1,1-dioxide and N-(2-thiazolyl)-3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxam ide-1,1-dioxide.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The instability of .beta.-keto carboxylic acids, evidenced by their tendency to undergo decarboxylation, is well known to those skilled in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,740, issued July 1, 1975, and J. Heterocyclic Chem., 13, 333 (1976) report that 3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxylic acid-1,1-dioxides have been prepared by hydrolysis of the corresponding ester but they decarboxylate rapidly once formed. The observed instability arises from their .beta.-keto structure.
The preparation of N-substituted-3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxamide-1,1-dio xides useful as antiinflammatory agents is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,591,584; 3,891,637 and 3,892,740, issued July 6, 1971; June 24, 1975 and July 1, 1975, respectively.
The first patent discloses two routes for the synthesis of N-substituted-benzothiazine-carboxamide-1,1-dioxides: (a) reaction of the appropriate 3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-1,1-dioxide with an organic isocyanate; and (b) ammonolysis of an ester of 3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxylic acid-1,1-dioxide with ammonia or an appropriate amine. The second patent describes the preparation of such compounds wherein the N-substituent is a heterocyclic moiety by a transamidation reaction. The third patent reports preparation of such carboxamide derivatives by contacting a 3,4-dihydro-4-alkoxy- 2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxylic acid-1,1-dioxide with a coupling promoter (dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, POCl.sub.3, N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline) followed by contacting the resulting carboxamide with a mineral acid to convert the 4-alkoxy group to 4-oxo.
In each instance, the particular synthetic route employed carefully avoided the formation of a 3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxylic acid-1,1-dioxide, even as a transient intermediate, in order to circumvent the heretofore reported instability of the .beta.-keto function of such acids. This reported instability of such acids is in keeping with the well-known tendency of .beta.-keto acids to undergo decarboxylation. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic head that incorporates a sensor for measuring a flying height of the magnetic head and for detecting the presence or absence of a projection on a surface of a magnetic disk, and that is used for writing information on the magnetic disk and/or reading information from the magnetic disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
A magnetic head, such as a hard disk device, is arranged at an interval apart from a surface of a rotating magnetic disk, and functions to write information on the magnetic disk and/or to read information from the magnetic disk. In recent years, in association with high density recording on the magnetic disk, the interval between the magnetic head and the surface of the magnetic disk (a flying height of the magnetic head) has become extremely small. The interval is set at, for example, 10 nm or less. In such a case where the flying height of the magnetic head is very minute, when the flying height of the magnetic head is fluctuated for some reason or there is an unintentional projection on the surface of the magnetic disk, the magnetic head may contact the surface of the magnetic disk, thereby damaging the magnetic head. Therefore, in order to control the magnetic head so as not to contact the magnetic disk, it is desirable to control the flying height of the magnetic head and to preliminarily detect the presence or absence of the projection on the surface of the magnetic disk.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-164797, a projection detection head having a sensor for detecting a projection formed on a surface of a magnetic disk is disclosed. This sensor is arranged on an air bearing surface of a slider including the projection detection head, and detects a resistance change corresponding to frictional heat generated by contact between the projection detection head and the magnetic disk. Since this configuration is configured with not only the magnetic head but also the projection detection head, the configuration is extremely complex or two devices (a magnetic disk device and the projection detection device) are needed. Therefore, this results in a complex configuration and an increase in cost.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-18-167121, Japanese Patent No. 2953417, and Japanese Patent No. 2980074, another configuration is disclosed. In the configuration, a MR (magneto-resistance) element that actually works as a reproducing element of a magnetic disk device is used as a sensor for detecting a resistance change corresponding to frictional heat generated by contact between a magnetic head and a magnetic disk. In Japanese Patent No. 2953417 and Japanese Patent No. 2980074 among the documents, the MR element is positioned in a stepped-back position from an air bearing surface that is opposite to the magnetic disk, and is connected to a heat conductive film exposed to the air bearing surface.
In the prior art, the presence or absence of the unintentionally formed projection (abnormal projection) on the surface of the magnetic disk is detected, and the sensor does not exercise a special functional effect when a normal magnetic disk is used on which an unintentional projection is not present.
For a sensor for detecting the resistance change corresponding to the frictional heat generated by contact between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk, when such a sensor is away from a portion of the magnetic head which directly contacts the magnetic disk, it is sometimes impossible to detect the contact. However, it is necessary for the reproducing element of the magnetic disk device to be positioned in a suitable position for reproducing information. Accordingly, the reproducing element may not necessarily be positioned at a suitable position as the sensor for detecting the contact. A TMR (tunnel magneto-resistance) element that has been the mainstream of a reproducing element in recent years is not appropriate when the flying height of the magnetic head is small as described above. That is because a change of an electrical resistance value of a barrier layer caused by a change in heat is small so that detection sensitivity is not excellent.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,589,928, a device is disclosed for measuring a flying height of a magnetic head from the magnetic disk, i.e., an interval between the magnetic head and the surface of the magnetic disk regardless of presence of a projection on a surface of a magnetic disk. In this device, a configuration with a sensor is disclosed in addition to a recording element and a reproducing element of the magnetic head. The sensor is disposed for detecting a temperature change corresponding to a change of the flying height of the magnetic head from the magnetic disk.
In the former of the above-described prior art for detecting the projection on the surface of the magnetic disk, the frictional heat generated by actual contact between the projection detection head or the magnetic head and the magnetic disk is used. Also in the latter of the above-described prior art for measuring the flying height of the magnetic head from the magnetic disk in order to obtain the flying height of the magnetic head under a certain state, an output of the sensor under the certain state and an output of the sensor under a contacting state where the magnetic head is intentionally contacted to the surface of the magnetic head are compared. In other words, by comparing the state where the flying height is to be measured with the other state where the flying height of the magnetic head is zero, the flying height to be measured is obtained. Accordingly, in all of the above-described prior art, the magnetic heads have to be contacted to the magnetic disk.
If the sensor itself directly contacts the magnetic disk when the magnetic head is contacted to the magnetic disk as described above, the sensor might possibly be damaged so that physical reliability is impaired and/or corrosion resistance is deteriorated. The sensor is exposed on the air bearing surface which must be formed with high accuracy in order to increase the accuracy of recording and reproducing while maintaining the magnetic head in the desired orientation and position. If the sensor is largely jutted or stepped-back from the air bearing surface, it is difficult to maintain the air bearing surface in the desired shape so that performance of the magnetic head may be deteriorated. Accordingly, the sensor must be of a size and a shape that does not affect the size and shape of the air bearing surface, and there is a restriction to choose material as well. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibration isolating apparatus which is used on an engine mount, body mount, cab mount and the like for absorbing vibration.
2. Description of Prior Art
A vibration isolating apparatus having the structure of an elastic member engaged or bridged between an inner tube and an outer tube has been used on an engine mount, body mount, cab mount and the like of an automobile.
One type of vibration isolating apparatus 100 is structured, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, such that a rubber body 106 is disposed between and vulcanized to an inner tube 102 and an outer tube 104 thereby defining an auxiliary liquid chamber 108 and a main liquid chamber 110 on the opposite sides of the inner tube 102.
With such a vibration isolating apparatus 100, however, when the inner tube 102 is greatly moved downwardly (as viewed in FIGS. 11 and 12) upon a large load acting on the inner tube 102, a leg 106A of the rubber body 106 which constitutes a side wall of the main liquid chamber 110 is compressed due to the large load.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the leg 106A is deformed to a large extent by bending outwardly in the axial direction of the vibration isolating apparatus 100. This results in a disadvantage that a crack 112 develops in the leg 106A of the rubber body 106 and durability of the vibration isolating apparatus 100 is hence deteriorated. | {
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The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
In a typical internal combustion engine operated using fuel, the fuel in a fuel tank is evaporated and collected in a canister. Subsequently, when the engine reaches a certain condition during the operation thereof, the fuel evaporation gas collected in the canister is transmitted to a surge tank due to a difference in pressure between the fuel tank and an intake manifold, and is then purged.
However, in a GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine equipped with a turbocharger, since the pressure in an intake manifold is very high under the condition of turbo boosting, fuel evaporation gas collected in a canister is not purged. Accordingly, in order to cope with fuel odors and evaporation gas regulations, a separate method is required for the turbo-GDI engine.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional dual purge system for a vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the dual purge system additionally includes a purge line in which a solenoid valve 50 is provided on an air suction line at the rear end of an air cleaner 40, in addition to an intake manifold 20, so as to purge fuel evaporation gas.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a conventional solenoid valve 50. An armature 55 and an elastic member 54 are operated along with the operation of a solenoid 53 when an engine 10 is in a purge condition, and thus an outlet 52 is opened. Thereby, a fluid (fuel evaporation gas) introduced from a lower inlet 51 of a valve body 56 is discharged to an intake manifold 20 through the opened outlet 52.
However, in the above case, check valves 60a and 60b, i.e. two check valves 60a and 60b are applied to respective purge lines for preventing the fluid from flowing backward, and the fuel evaporation gas evaporated from a fuel tank 70 is purged. For this reason, the system has a complex structure, there is a possibility of backflow, odors are generated, and a purge may not be normally performed. | {
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The present invention relates to a polymerization process for the production of a polyethylene. Preferably the polyethylene has a low level of extractables. Films produced from the polyethylene are characterized by having high strength properties.
Polyethylene polymers are well known and are useful in many applications. In particular, linear polyethylene polymers possess properties which distinguish them from other polyethylene polymers, such as branched ethylene homopolymers commonly referred to as LDPE (low density polyethylene). Certain of these properties are described by Anderson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,698.
A particularly useful polymerization medium for producing polyethylene polymers is a gas phase process. Examples of such are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,709,853; 4,003,712; 4,011,382; 4,302,566; 4,543,399; 4,882,400; 5,352,749 and 5,541,270 and Canadian Patent No. 991,798 and Belgian Patent No. 839,380.
Ziegler-Natta type catalyst systems for the polymerization of olefins are well known in the art and have been known at least since the issuance of U.S. Pat. No. 3,113,115. Thereafter, many patents have been issued relating to new or improved Ziegler-Natta type catalysts. Exemplary of such patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,594,330; 3,676,415; 3,644,318; 3,917,575; 4,105,847; 4,148,754; 4,256,866; 4,298,713; 4,311,752; 4,363,904; 4,481,301 and Reissue 33,683.
These patents disclose Ziegler-Natta type catalysts that are well known as typically consisting of a transition metal component and a co-catalyst that is typically an organoaluminum compound. Optionally used with the catalyst are activators such as halogenated hydrocarbons and activity modifiers such as electron donors.
The use of halogenated hydrocarbons with Ziegler-Natta type polymerization catalysts in the production of polyethylene is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,354,139 and European Patent Nos. EP 0 529 977 B1 and EP 0 703 246 A1. As disclosed, the halogenated hydrocarbons may reduce the rate of ethane formation, improve a catalyst efficiency, or provide other effects. Typical of such halogenated hydrocarbons are monohalogen and polyhalogen substituted saturated or unsaturated aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic hydrocarbons having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Exemplary aliphatic compounds include methyl chloride, methyl bromide, methyl iodide, methylene chloride, methylene bromide, methylene iodide, chloroform, bromoform, iodoform, carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide, carbon tetraiodide, ethyl chloride, ethyl bromide, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dibromoethane, methylchloroform, perchloroethylene and the like. Exemplary alicyclic compounds include chlorocyclopropane, tetrachlorocyclopentane and the like. Exemplary aromatic compounds include chlorobenzene, hexabromobenzene, benzotrichloride and the like. These compounds may be used individually or as mixtures thereof.
It is also well known, in the polymerization of olefins, particularly where Ziegler-Natta type catalysts are employed, to utilize, optionally, electron donors. Such electron donors often aid in increasing the efficiency of the catalyst and/or in controlling the stereospecificity of the polymer when an olefin, other than ethylene, is polymerized. Electron donors, typically known as Lewis Bases, when employed during the catalyst preparation step are referred to as internal electron donors. Electron donors when utilized other than during the catalyst preparation step are referred to as external electron donors. For example, the external electron donor may be added to the preformed catalyst, to the prepolymer, and/or to the polymerization medium.
The use of electron donors in the field of propylene polymerization is well known and is primarily used to reduce the atactic form of the polymer and increase the production of the isotactic polymers. The use of electron donors generally improves the productivity of the catalyst in the production of isotactic polypropylene. This is shown generally in U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,930.
In the field of ethylene polymerization, where ethylene constitutes at least about 70% by weight of the total monomers present in the polymer, electron donors are utilized to control the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the polymer and the activity of the catalyst in the polymerization medium. Exemplary patents describing the use of internal electron donors in producing linear polyethylene are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,917,575; 4,187,385; 4,256,866; 4,293,673; 4,296,223; Reissue 33,683; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,302,565; 4,302,566; and 5,470,812. The use of an external monoether electron donor, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), to control molecular weight distribution is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,535; and the use of external electron donors to control the reactivity of catalyst particles is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,002.
Illustrative examples of electron donors include carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid esters, alcohols, ethers, ketones, amines, amides, nitriles, aldehydes, thioethers, thioesters, carbonic esters, organosilicon compounds containing oxygen atoms, and phosphorus, arsenic or antimony compounds connected to an organic group through a carbon or oxygen atom.
The polymerization process of the present invention comprises the introduction into a polymerization medium containing ethylene and optionally other olefin(s), a Ziegler-Natta type polymerization catalyst, at least one halogenated hydrocarbon, at least one compound containing at least one carbon-oxygen-carbon linkage (Cxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94C) of the formula R1xe2x80x94O(xe2x80x94R2xe2x80x94O)nxe2x80x94R3 where n ranges from 0 to 30, and R1, R2 and R3 independently contain from 1 to 30 carbon atoms and from 0 to 30 heteroatoms of an element, or mixtures thereof, selected from Groups 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the Periodic Table of Elements, and further wherein R1, R2 and/or R3 can be linked and form part of a cyclic or polycyclic structure, as an external electron donor, and as a co-catalyst at least one compound of the formula,
XnER3-n,
wherein,
X is hydrogen, halogen, or mixtures of halogens, selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine;
n ranges from 0 to 2;
E is an element from Group 13 of the Periodic Table of Elements such as boron, aluminum and gallium; and
R is a hydrocarbon group, containing from 1 to 100 carbon atoms and from 0 to 10 oxygen atoms, connected to the Group 13 element by a carbon or oxygen bond.
The external electron donor as defined herein, the co-catalyst defined herein, and the halogenated hydrocarbon may be added to the polymerization medium in any manner. The external electron donor as defined herein, the halogenated hydrocarbon, and/or the co-catalyst defined herein may be added to the catalyst just prior to addition to the polymerization medium, or added separately from the catalyst to the polymerization medium in any manner known in the art. For example, the external electron donor as defined herein may optionally be premixed with the co-catalyst prior to addition to the polymerization medium.
If a gas phase fluidized bed process is utilized for polymerization of the ethylene, it may be advantageous to add the external electron donor as defined herein prior to the heat removal means, e.g., the heat exchanger, to slow the rate of fouling of said heat removal means.
All mention herein to elements of Groups of the Periodic Table are made in reference to the Periodic Table of the Elements, as published in xe2x80x9cChemical and Engineering Newsxe2x80x9d, 63(5), 27, 1985. In this format, the Groups are numbered 1 to 18.
The present inventors have unexpectedly discovered that a particular combination of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, at least one halogenated hydrocarbon, as a co-catalyst at least one compound of the formula,
XnER3-n,
wherein,
X is hydrogen, halogen, or mixtures of halogens, selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine;
n ranges from 0 to 2;
E is an element from Group 13 of the Periodic Table of Elements such as boron, aluminum and gallium; and
R is a hydrocarbon group, containing from 1 to 100 carbon atoms and from 0 to 10 oxygen atoms, connected to the Group 13 element by a carbon or oxygen bond, and as an external electron donor, at least one compound containing at least one carbon-oxygen-carbon linkage (Cxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94C) of the formula R1xe2x80x94O(xe2x80x94R2xe2x80x94O)nxe2x80x94R3 where n ranges from 0 to 30, and R1, R2 and R3 independently contain from 1 to 30 carbon atoms and from 0 to 30 heteroatoms of an element, or mixtures thereof, selected from Groups 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the Periodic Table of Elements, and further wherein R1, R2 and/or R3 can be linked and form part of a cyclic or polycyclic structure, makes it possible to produce a polyethylene in an improved manner. Preferably the resultant polyethylene has a reduced level of extractables. Furthermore, films produced from these polyethylenes unexpectedly have high impact resistance as typified by Dart Impact values and have a good balance of machine direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD) tear values.
The compound used herein as external electron donor is any compound containing at least one carbon-oxygen-carbon linkage (Cxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94C) of the formula R1xe2x80x94O(xe2x80x94R2xe2x80x94O)nxe2x80x94R3 where n ranges from 0 to 30, and R1, R2 and R3 independently contain from 1 to 30 carbon atoms and from 0 to 30 heteroatoms of an element, or mixtures thereof, selected from Groups 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the Periodic Table of Elements, and further wherein R1, R2 and/or R3 can be linked and form part of a cyclic or polycyclic structure.
Exemplary of the R1, R2 and R3 groups suitable for use herein are C1-30 alkyl, C2-30 alkenyl, C4-30dienyl, C3-30 cycloalkyl, C3-30cycloalkenyl, C4-30cyclodienyl, C6-18aryl, C7-30aralkyl and C7-30alkaryl. Also exemplary are hydrocarbons containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms and from 1 to 30 heteroatoms of an element, or mixtures thereof, from Groups 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the Periodic Table of Elements such as, for example, B1-30borohydrocarbons, Si1-30silahydrocarbons, P1-30phosphahydrocarbons, S1-30 thiahydrocarbons, Cl1-30chlorohydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons containing mixtures of halogens.
It is also suitable to utilize herein as the external electron donor, mixtures of compounds having the above formula.
Exemplary of compounds that may be used herein as external electron donors are compounds containing one Cxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94C linkage where n=0, such as alkyl, alkenyl, dienyl and aryl substituted compounds of the formula R1xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94R3. Specific examples are dimethyl ether; diethyl ether; dipropyl ether; diisopropyl ether; dibutyl ether; dipentyl ether; dihexyl ether; dioctyl ether; diisoamyl ether; di-tert-butyl ether; diphenyl ether; dibenzyl ether; divinyl ether; diallyl ether; dicyclopropyl ether; dicyclopentyl ether; dicyclohexyl ether; allyl methyl ether; allyl ethyl ether; allyl cyclohexyl ether; allyl phenyl ether; allyl benzyl ether; allyl 2-tolyl ether; allyl 3-tolyl ether; benzyl methyl ether; benzyl ethyl ether; benzyl isoamyl ether; benzyl chloromethyl ether; benzyl cyclohexyl ether; benzyl phenyl ether; benzyl 1-naphthyl ether; benzyl 2-naphthyl ether; butyl methyl ether; butyl ethyl ether; sec-butyl methyl ether; tert-butyl methyl ether; butyl cyclopentyl ether; butyl 2-chloroethyl ether; cyclopentyl methyl ether; cyclohexyl ethyl ether; cyclohexyl vinyl ether; tert-amyl methyl ether; sec-butyl ethyl ether; tert-butyl ethyl ether; tert-amyl ethyl ether; cyclododecyl methyl ether; bis(3-cyclopenten-1-yl) ether; 1-methoxy-1,3-cyclohexadiene; 1-methoxy-1,4-cyclohexadiene; chloromethyl methyl ether; chloromethyl ethyl ether; bis(2-tolyl) ether; trimethylsilylmethyl methyl ether; bis(trimethylsilylmethyl) ether; bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) ether; benzyl 3-bromopropyl ether; benzyl 3-bromo-2-chloropropyl ether; dimethyl 2-methoxyethyl borate; dimethyl methoxymethyl borate; dimethoxy-2-methoxyethylborane; diphenyl-2-methoxyethylphosphine; diphenylmethoxymethylphosphine; 2-(2-thienyl)ethyl ethyl ether; 2-(2-thienyl)ethyl methyl ether; 2-(3-thienyl)ethyl ethyl ether; 2-(3-thienyl)ethyl methyl ether; 2-(2-methoxymethyl)-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane; 1-(2-methoxyethyl)pyrrole; 1-(2-methoxyethyl)pyrazole; 1-(2-methoxyethyl)imidazole; 2-(2-methoxyethyl)pyridine; bis(3-tolyl) ether; bis(1-naphthyl) ether; bis(2-naphthyl) ether; allyl 1-naphthyl ether; allyl 2-naphthyl ether; benzyl 2-tolyl ether; benzyl 3-tolyl ether; ethyl phenyl ether; ethyl 2-tolyl ether; ethyl 3-tolyl ether; ethyl 1-naphthyl ether; ethyl 2-naphthyl ether; methyl phenyl ether; methyl 2-tolyl ether; methyl 3-tolyl ether; methyl 1-naphthyl ether; methyl 2-naphthyl ether; 2-ethoxy-1-methylpyrrole; 3-methoxy-1-methylpyrrole; 2-ethoxythiophene; 3-methoxythiophene; 3-methoxy-1-methylpyrazole; 4-methoxy-1-methylpyrazole; 5-methoxy-1-methylpyrazole; 2-methoxy-1-methylimidazole; 4-methoxy-1-methylimidazole; 5-methoxy-1-methylimidazole; 3-methoxy-1-phenylpyrazole; 4-methoxy-1-phenylpyrazole; 5-methoxy-1-phenylpyrazole; 2-methoxy-1-phenylimidazole; 4-methoxy-1-phenylimidazole; 5-methoxy-1-phenylimidazole; 4-methoxy-1-methyl-1,2,3-triazole; 5-methoxy-1-methyl-1,2,3-triazole; 4-methoxy-1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole; 5-methoxy-1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole; 3-methoxy-1-methyl-1,2,4-triazole; 5-methoxy-1-methyl-1,2,4-triazole; 3-methoxy-1-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole; 5-methoxy-1-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole; 5-methoxy-1-methyltetrazole; 5-methoxy-1-phenyltetrazole; 3-methoxyisoxazole; 4-methoxyisoxazole; 5-methoxyisoxazole; 3-methoxy-1,2,4-oxadiazole; 5-methoxy-1,2,4-oxadiazole; 3-methoxyisothiazole; 4-methoxyisothiazole; 5-methoxyisothiazole; 2-methoxythiazole; 4-methoxythiazole; 5-methoxythiazole; 2-methoxypyridine; 3-methoxypyridine; 4-methoxypyridine; 3-methoxypyridazine; 4-methoxypyridazine; 2-methoxypyrimidine; 4-methoxypyrimidine; 5-methoxypyrimidine; 2-methoxypyrazine; 3-methoxy-1,2,4-triazine; 5-methoxy-1,2,4-triazine; 6-methoxy-1,2,4-triazine; 2-methoxy-1,3,5-triazine and the like. Also exemplary are C2-20cyclic compounds where R1 and R3 are linked and form part of a cyclic or polycyclic structure such as, for example, ethylene oxide; propylene oxide; 1,2-epoxybutane; cyclopentene oxide; epichlorohydrin; trimethylene oxide; 3,3-dimethyloxetane; furan; 2,3-dihydrofuran; 2,5-dihydrofuran; tetrahydrofuran; 2-methyltetrahydrofuran; 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran; 4,5-dihydro-2-methylfuran; 2-methylfuran; 2,5-dimethylfuran; 3-bromofuran; 2,3-benzofuran; 2-methylbenzofuran; dibenzofuran; phthalan; xanthene; 1,2-pyran; 1,4-pyran; tetrahydropyran; 3-methyltetrahydropyran; 4-chlorotetrahydropyran; chroman; isochroman; oxocane; 2,3-epoxybutane; 1,2-epoxybut-3-ene; styrene oxide; 2-ethylfuran; 2-tert-butylfuran; 2,3-dimethylfuran; 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran; dimethyl 3-furylmethyl borate; 2-trimethylsilylfuran; 3-trimethylsilylfuran; oxazole; 1,3,4-oxadiazole; 3,4-dichloro-1,2-epoxybutane; 3,4-dibromo-1,2-epoxybutane and the like.
Exemplary compounds containing more than one Cxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94C linkage include alkyl, alkenyl, dienyl and aryl substituted compounds of the formula R1xe2x80x94O(xe2x80x94R2xe2x80x94O)nxe2x80x94R3 where n ranges from 1 to 30. Specific examples are, dimethoxymethane; 1,1-dimethoxyethane; 1,1,1-trimethoxyethane; 1,1,2-trimethoxyethane; 1,1-dimethoxypropane; 1,2-dimethoxypropane; 2,2-dimethoxypropane; 1,3-dimethoxypropane; 1,1,3-trimethoxypropane; 1,4-dimethoxybutane; 1,2-dimethoxybenzene; 1,3-dimethoxybenzene; 1,4-dimethoxybenzene; ethylene glycol dimethyl ether; ethylene glycol diethyl ether; ethylene glycol divinyl ether; ethylene glycol diphenyl ether; ethylene glycol tert-butyl methyl ether; ethylene glycol tert-butyl ethyl ether; di(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether; di(ethylene glycol) diethyl ether; di(ethylene glycol) dibutyl ether; di(ethylene glycol) tert-butyl methyl ether; tri(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether; tri(ethylene glycol) diethyl ether; tetra(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether; tetra(ethylene glycol) diethyl ether; ethylene glycol bis(trimethylsilylmethyl) ether; di(ethylene glycol) methyl trimethylsilyl ether; tris(2-methoxyethyl) borate; ethylene glycol chloromethyl bromomethyl ether; 2-(2-ethylhexyl)-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-isopropyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-butyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-sec-butyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-tert-butyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-cyclohexyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-phenyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-cumyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-(2-phenylethyl)-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-(2-cyclohexylethyl)-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-(p-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-(diphenylmethyl)-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2,2-dicyclohexyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2,2-diethyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2,2-dipropyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2,2-diisopropyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2,2-dibutyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2,2-diisobutyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-methyl-2-ethyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-methyl-2-propyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-methyl-2-butyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-methyl-2-benzyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-methyl-2-methylcyclohexyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-isopropyl-2-isopentyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2,2-bis(2-cyclohexylmethyl)-1,3-dimethoxypropane and the like. Also exemplary are C3-20cyclic compounds where R1, R2 and/or R3 are linked and form part of a cyclic or polycyclic structure. Specific examples are 2,5-dimethoxyfuran; 2-methoxyfuran; 3-methoxyfuran; 2-methoxytetrahydropyran; 3-methoxytetrahydropyran; 1,3-dioxolane; 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2-ethyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2,2-tetramethylene-1,3-dioxolane; 2,2-pentamethylene-1,3-dioxolane; 2-vinyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2-chloromethyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2-methoxy-1,3-dioxolane; 1,4-dioxaspiro[4,4]non-6-ene; 1,4,9,12-tetraoxadispiro(4,2,4,2)tetradecane; 1,3-dioxane; 1,4-dioxane; 4-methyl-1,3-dioxane; 1,3,5-trioxane; 2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro(5,5)undecane; 12-crown-4; 15-crown-5; cis-4,7-dihydro-1,3-dioxepin; 1,7-dioxaspiro(5,5)undecane; 3,4-epoxytetrahydrofuran; 2,2-dimethyl-4-vinyl-1,3-dioxolane; tri-2-furylphosphine; 2-trimethylsilyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2-(3-thienyl)-1,3-dioxolane; 2-bromochloromethyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2-methoxyoxazole; 4-methoxyoxazole; 5-methoxyoxazole; 2-methoxy-1,3,4-oxadiazole and the like.
Preferred for use herein as external electron donors are dimethyl ether; diethyl ether; dipropyl ether; diisopropyl ether; dibutyl ether; diisoamyl ether; di-tert-butyl ether; diphenyl ether; dibenzyl ether; divinyl ether; butyl methyl ether; butyl ethyl ether; sec-butyl methyl ether; tert-butyl methyl ether; cyclopentyl methyl ether; cyclohexyl ethyl ether; tert-amyl methyl ether; sec-butyl ethyl ether; chloromethyl methyl ether; trimethylsilylmethyl methyl ether; bis(trimethylsilylmethyl) ether; bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) ether; methyl phenyl ether; ethylene oxide; propylene oxide; 1,2-epoxybutane; cyclopentene oxide; epichlorohydrin; furan; 2,3-dihydrofuran; 2,5-dihydrofuran; tetrahydrofuran; 2-methyltetrahydrofuran; 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran; 2-methylfuran; 2,5-dimethylfuran; tetrahydropyran; 1,2-epoxybut-3-ene; styrene oxide; 2-ethylfuran; oxazole; 1,3,4-oxadiazole; 3,4-dichloro-1,2-epoxybutane; 3,4-dibromo-1,2-epoxybutane; dimethoxymethane; 1,1-dimethoxyethane; 1,1,1-trimethoxymethane; 1,1,1-trimethoxyethane; 1,1,2-trimethoxyethane; 1,1-dimethoxypropane; 1,2-dimethoxypropane; 2,2-dimethoxypropane; 1,3-dimethoxypropane; 1,1,3-trimethoxypropane; 1,4-dimethoxybutane; 1,2-dimethoxybenzene; 1,3-dimethoxybenzene; 1,4-dimethoxybenzene; ethylene glycol dimethyl ether; di(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether; di(ethylene glycol) diethyl ether; di(ethylene glycol) dibutyl ether; di(ethylene glycol) tert-butyl methyl ether; tri(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether; tri(ethylene glycol) diethyl ether; tetra(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether; 2,2-diethyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-methyl-2-ethyl-1,3-dimethoxypropane; 2-methoxyfuran; 3-methoxyfuran; 1,3-dioxolane; 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2-ethyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2,2-tetramethylene-1,3-dioxolane; 2,2-pentamethylene-1,3-dioxolane; 1,3-dioxane; 1,4-dioxane; 4-methyl-1,3-dioxane; 1,3,5-trioxane and 3,4-epoxytetrahydrofuran.
Most preferred for use herein as the external electron donor are tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, diisopropyl ether, dibutyl ether, dioctyl ether, tert-butyl methyl ether, trimethylene oxide and tetrahydropyran.
The co-catalyst used in the process of the present invention is at least one compound of the formula,
XnER3-n,
wherein,
X is hydrogen, halogen, or mixtures of halogens, selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine;
n ranges from 0 to 2;
E is an element from Group 13 of the Periodic Table of Elements such as boron, aluminum and gallium; and
R is a hydrocarbon group, containing from 1 to 100 carbon atoms and from 0 to 10 oxygen atoms, connected to the Group 13 element by a carbon or oxygen bond.
Exemplary of the R group suitable for use herein is C1-100alkyl, C1-100alkoxy, C2-100alkenyl, C2-100dienyl, C3-100cycloalkyl, C3-100cycloalkoxy, C3-100cycloalkenyl, C4-100cyclodienyl, C6-100aryl, C7-100aralkyl, C7-100aralkoxy and C7-100alkaryl. Also exemplary of the R group are hydrocarbons containing from 1 to 100 carbon atoms and from 1 to 10 oxygen atoms.
Exemplary of the co-catalyst compounds used in the process of the present invention where n=0 are trimethylaluminum; triethylborane; triethylgallane; triethylaluminum; tri-n-propylaluminum; tri-n-butylaluminum; tri-n-pentylaluminum; triisoprenylaluminum; tri-n-hexylaluminum; tri-n-heptylaluminum; tri-n-ocytlaluminum; triisopropylaluminum; triisobutylaluminum; tris(cylcohexylmethyl)aluminum; dimethylaluminum methoxide; dimethyaluminum ethoxide; diethylaluminum ethoxide and the like. Exemplary of compounds where n=1 are dimethylaluminum chloride; diethylaluminum chloride; di-n-propylaluminum chloride; di-n-butylaluminum chloride; di-n-pentylaluminum chloride; diisoprenylaluminum chloride; di-n-hexylaluminum chloride; di-n-heptylaluminum chloride; di-n-octylaluminum chloride; diisopropylaluminum chloride; diisobutylaluminum chloride; bis(cyclohexylmethyl)aluminum chloride; diethylaluminum fluoride; diethylaluminum bromide; diethylaluminum iodide; dimethylaluminum hydride; diethylaluminum hydride; di-n-propylaluminum hydride; di-n-butylaluminum hydride; di-n-pentylaluminum hydride; diisoprenylaluminum hydride; di-n-hexylaluminum hydride; di-n-heptylaluminum hydride; di-n-octylaluminum hydride; diisopropylaluminum hydride; diisobutylaluminum hydride; bis(cyclohexylmethyl)aluminum hydride; chloromethylaluminum methoxide; chloromethylaluminum ethoxide; chloroethylaluminum ethoxide and the like. Exemplary of compounds where n=2 are methylaluminum dichloride; ethylaluminum dichloride; n-propylaluminum dichloride; n-butylaluminum dichloride; n-pentylaluminum dichloride; isoprenylaluminum dichloride; n-hexylaluminum dichloride; n-heptylaluminum dichloride; n-octylaluminum dichloride; isopropylaluminum dichloride; isobutylaluminum dichloride; (cylcohexylmethyl)aluminum dichloride and the like. Also exemplary are alkylaluminum sesquialkoxides such as methylaluminum sesquimethoxide; ethylaluminum sesquiethoxide; n-butylaluminum sesqui-n-butoxide and the like. Also exemplary are alkylaluminum sesquihalides such as methylaluminum sesquichloride; ethylaluminum sesquichloride; isobutylaluminum sesquichloride; ethylaluminum sesquifluoride; ethylaluminum sesquibromide; ethylaluminum sesquiiodide and the like.
Preferred for use herein as co-catalysts are trialkylaluminums such as trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, tri-n-propylaluminum, tri-n-butylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, triisohexylaluminum, tri-2-methylpentylaluminum, tri-n-octylaluminum, tri-n-decylaluminum; and dialkylaluminum halides such as dimethylaluminum chloride, diethylaluminum chloride, dibutylaluminum chloride, diisobutylaluminum chloride, diethylaluminum bromide and diethylaluminum iodide; and alkylaluminum sesquihalides such as methylaluminum sesquichloride, ethylaluminum sesquichloride, n-butylaluminum sesquichloride, isobutylaluminum sesquichloride, ethylaluminum sesquifluoride, ethylaluminum sesquibromide and ethylaluminum sesquiiodide.
Most preferred for use herein as co-catalysts are trialkylaluminums such as trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, tri-n-propylaluminum, tri-n-butylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, triisohexylaluminum, tri-2-methylpentylaluminum, tri-n-octylaluminum and dialkylaluminum halides such as dimethylaluminum chloride, diethylaluminum chloride, dibutylaluminum chloride, diisobutylaluminum chloride and alkylaluminum sesquihalides such as methylaluminum sesquichloride, ethylaluminum sesquichloride, n-butylaluminum sesquichloride and isobutylaluminum sesquichloride.
Mixtures of compounds of the above formula XnER3-n, also can be utilized herein as the co-catalyst.
Any halogenated hydrocarbon may be used in the process of the present invention. If desired more than one halogenated hydrocarbon can be used. Typical of such halogenated hydrocarbons are monohalogen and polyhalogen substituted saturated or unsaturated aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic hydrocarbons having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Exemplary aliphatic compounds are fluoromethane; chloromethane; bromomethane; iodomethane; difluromethane; dichloromethane; dibromomethane; diiodomethane; chloroform; bromoform; iodoform; carbon tetrachloride; carbon tetrabromide; carbon tetraiodide; bromofluoromethane; bromochloromethane; bromoiodomethane; chlorofluoromethane; chloroiodomethane; fluoroiodomethane; bromodifluromethane; bromodichloromethane; bromodiiodomethane; chlorodifluromethane; chlorodibromomethane; chlorodiiodomethane; fluorodichloromethane; fluorodibromomethane; fluorodiiodomethane; iododifluromethane; iododichloromethane; iododibromomethane; bromotrifluoromethane; bromotrichloromethane; bromotriiodomethane; chlorotrifluoromethane; chlorotribromomethane; chlorotriiodomethane; fluorotrichloromethane; fluorotribromomethane; fluorotriiodomethane; iodotrifluoromethane; iodotrichloromethane; iodotribromomethane; fluoroethane; chloroethane; bromoethane; iodoethane; 1,1-difluoroethane; 1,1-dichloroethane; 1,1-dibromoethane; 1,1-diiodoethane; 1,2-difluoroethane; 1,2-dichloroethane; 1,2-dibromoethane; 1,2-diiodoethane; 1-bromo-1-fluoroethane; 1-bromo-1-chloroethane; 1-bromo-1-iodoethane; 1-chloro-1-fluoroethane; 1-chloro-1-iodoethane; 1-fluoro-1-iodoethane; 1-bromo-2-fluoroethane; 1-bromo-2-chloroethane; 1-bromo-2-iodoethane; 1-chloro-2-fluoroethane; 1-chloro-2-iodoethane; 1-fluoro-2-iodoethane; 1,1,1-trifluoroethane; 1,1,1-trichloroethane; 1,1,1-tribromoethane; 1,1,1-triiodoethane; 1,1,2-trifluoroethane; 1,1,2-trichloroethane; 1,1,2-tribromoethane; 1,1,2-triiodoethane; 1-bromo-1,1-difluoroethane; 1-bromo-1,1-dichloroethane; 1-bromo-1,1-diiodoethane; 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane; 1-chloro-1,1-dibromoethane; 1-chloro-1,1-diiodoethane; 1-fluoro-1,1-dichloroethane; 1-fluoro-1,1-dibromoethane; 1-fluoro-1,1-diiodoethane; 1-iodo-1,1-difluoroethane; 1-iodo-1,1-dichloroethane; 1-iodo-1,1-dibromoethane; 1-bromo-1,2-difluoroethane; 1-bromo-1,2-dichloroethane; 1-bromo-1,2-diiodoethane; 1-chloro-1,2-difluoroethane; 1-chloro-1,2-dibromoethane; 1-chloro-1,2-diiodoethane; 1-fluoro-1,2-dichloroethane; 1-fluoro-1,2-dibromoethane; 1-fluoro-1,2-diiodoethane; 1-iodo-1,2-difluoroethane; 1-iodo-1,2-dichloroethane; 1-iodo-1,2-dibromoethane; 2-bromo-1,1-difluoroethane; 2-bromo-1,1-dichloroethane; 2-bromo-1,1-diiodoethane; 2-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane; 2-chloro-1,1-dibromoethane; 2-chloro-1,1-diiodoethane; 2-fluoro-1,1-dichloroethane; 2-fluoro-1,1-dibromoethane; 2-fluoro-1,1-diiodoethane; 2-iodo-1,1-difluoroethane; 2-iodo-1,1-dichloroethane; 2-iodo-1,1-dibromoethane; 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane; 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane; 1,1,1,2-tetrabromoethane; 1,1,1,2-tetraiodoethane; 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane; 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane; 1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane; 1,1,2,2-tetraiodoethane; 2-bromo-1,1,1-trifluoroethane; 2-bromo-1,1,1-trichloroethane; 2-bromo-1,1,1-triiodoethane; 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane; 2-chloro-1,1,1-tribromoethane; 2-chloro-1,1,1-triiodoethane; 2-fluoro-1,1,1-trichloroethane; 2-fluoro-1,1,1-tribromoethane; 2-fluoro-1,1,1-triiodoethane; 2-iodo-1,1,1-trifluoroethane; 2-iodo-1,1,1-trichloroethane; 2-iodo-1,1,1-tribromoethane; 1,1-dibromo-2,2-difluoroethane; 1,1-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethane; 1,1-dibromo-2,2-diiodoethane; 1,1-dichloro-2,2-difluoroethane; 1,1-dichloro-2,2-diiodoethane; 1,1-difluoro-2,2-diiodoethane; 1,2-dibromo-1,2-difluoroethane; 1,2-dibromo-1,2-dichloroethane; 1,2-dibromo-1,2-diiodoethane; 1,2-dichloro-1,2-difluoroethane; 1,2-dichloro-1,2-diiodoethane; 1,2-difluoro-1,2-diiodoethane; 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane; hexafluoroethane; hexachloroethane; chloropentafluoroethane; iodopentafluoroethane; 1,2-dibromotetrachloroethane; fluoroethylene; chloroethylene; bromoethylene; iodoethylene; 1,1-difluorothylene; 1,1-dichloroethylene; 1,1-dibromoethylene; 1,1-diiodoethylene; 1,1,2-trifluorothylene; 1,1,2-trichloroethylene; 1,1,2-tribromoethylene; 1,1,2-triiodoethylene; 1,1,2,2-tetrafluorothylene; 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylene; 1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethylene; 1,1,2,2-tetraiodoethylene; 1-bromo-1,2,2-trifluorothylene; 1-bromo-1,2,2-trichloroethylene; 1-bromo-1,2,2-triiodoethylene; 1-chloro-1,2,2-trifluorothylene; 1-chloro-1,2,2-tribromoethylene; 1-chloro-1,2,2-triiodoethylene; 1-fluoro-1,2,2-trichloroethylene; 1-fluoro-1,2,2-tribromoethylene; 1-fluoro-1,2,2-triiodoethylene; 1-iodo-1,2,2-trifluorothylene, 1-iodo-1,2,2-trichloroethylene; 1-iodo-1,2,2-tribromoethylene; 1,1-dibromo-2,2-difluorothylene; 1,1-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethylene; 1,1-dibromo-2,2-diiodoethylene; 1,1-dichloro-2,2-difluoroethylene; 1,1-dichloro-2,2-diiodoethylene; 1,1-difluoro-2,2-diiodoethylene; 1,2-dibromo-1,2-difluorothylene; 1,2-dibromo-1,2-dichloroethylene; 1,2-dibromo-1,2-diiodoethylene; 1,2-dichloro-1,2-difluoroethylene; 1,2-dichloro-1,2-diiodoethylene; 1,2-difluoro-1,2-diiodoethylene; 1-fluoropropane; 1-bromopropane; 1-chloropropane; 1-iodopropane; 2-fluoropropane; 2-bromopropane; 2-chloropropane; 2-iodopropane; 1,3-difluoropropane; 1,3-dibromopropane; 1,3-dichloropropane; 1,3-diiodopropane; 1-fluorobutane; 1-bromobutane; 1-chlorobutane; 1-iodobutane; 2-fluorobutane; 2-bromobutane; 2-chlorobutane; 2-iodobutane; 1-fluoro-2-methylpropane; 1-bromo-2-methylpropane; 1-chloro-2-methylpropane; 1-iodo-2-methylpropane; 2-fluoro-2-methylpropane; 2-bromo-2-methylpropane; 2-chloro-2-methylpropane; 2-iodo-2-methylpropane; 1-fluoropentane; 1-bromopentane; 1-chloropentane; 1-iodopentane; 2-fluoropentane; 2-bromopentane; 2-chloropentane; 2-iodopentane; 3-fluoropentane; 3-bromopentane; 3-chloropentane; 3-iodopentane; 1-fluoro-2-methyl-butane; 1-bromo-2-methyl-butane; 1chloro-2-methyl-butane; 1-iodo-2-methyl-butane; 1-fluoro-3-methyl-butane; 1-bromo-3-methyl-butane; 1-chloro-3-methyl-butane; 1-iodo-3-methyl-butane; 2-fluoro-2-methyl-butane; 2-bromo-2-methyl-butane; 2-chloro-2-methyl-butane; 2-iodo-2-methyl-butane; 1-fluoro-2,2-dimethylpropane; 1-bromo-2,2-dimethylpropane; 1-chloro-2,2-dimethylpropane; 1-iodo-2,2-dimethylpropane; hexafluoropropene; hexachloropropene; perfluoro-2-methyl-2-pentene; perfluoropropyl chloride; perfluoroisopropyl chloride; perfluoropropyl iodide; perfluoroisopropyl iodide; 1,2-dibromohexafluoropropane; perfluoropentane; perfluorohexane and the like.
Exemplary alicyclic compounds are chlorocyclopropane, hexachlorocyclopentadiene, pentachlorocyclopropane; chlorocyclobutane; chlorocyclopentane; chlorocyclohexane; 1,1-dichlorocyclobutane; 1,1-dichlorocyclopentane; 1,1-dichlorocyclohexane; cis-1,2-dichlorocyclobutane; cis-1,2-dichlorocyclopentane; cis-1,2-dichlorocyclohexane; trans-1,2-dichlorocyclobutane; trans-1,2-dichlorocyclopentane, trans-1,2-dichlorocyclohexane; alpha-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane; tetrachlorocyclopropene and the like.
Exemplary aromatic compounds are fluorobenzene; chlorobenzene; bromobenzene; iodobenzene; 1,2-difluorobenzene; 1,2-dichlorobenzene; 1,2-dibromobenzene; 1,2-diidobenzene; 1,3-difluorobenzene; 1,3-dichlorobenzene; 1,3-dibromobenzene; 1,3-diiodobenzene; 1,4-difluorobenzene; 1,4-dichlorobenzene; 1,4-dibromobenzene; 1,4-diiodobenzene; 1-bromo-2-fluorobenzene; 1-bromo-2-chlorobenzene; 1-bromo-2-iodobenzene; 1-chloro-2-fluorobenzene; 1-chloro-2-iodobenzene; 1-fluoro-2-iodobenzene; 1-bromo-3-fluorobenzene; 1-bromo-3-chlorobenzene; 1-bromo-3-iodobenzene; 1-chloro-3-fluorobenzene; 1-chloro-3-iodobenzene; 1-fluoro-3-iodobenzene; 1-bromo-4-fluorobenzene; 1-bromo-4-chlorobenzene; 1-bromo-4-iodobenzene; 1-chloro-4-fluorobenzene; 1-chloro-4-iodobenzene; 1-fluoro-4-iodobenzene; 1,2,3-trifluorobenzene; 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene; 1,2,3-tribromobenzene; 1,2,3-triiodobenzene; 1,2,4-trifluorobenzene; 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene; 1,2,4-tribromobenzene; 1,2,4-triiodobenzene; 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorobenzene; 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene; 1,2,3,4-tetrabromobenzene; 1,2,3,4-tetraiodobenzene; 1,2,3,5-tetrafluorobenzene; 1,2,3,5-tetrachlorobenzene; 1,2,3,5-tetrabromobenzene; 1,2,3,5-tetraiodobenzene; pentafluorobenzene; pentachlorobenzene; pentabromobenzene; pentaiodobenzene; hexafluorobenzene; hexachlorobenzene; hexabromobenzene; hexaiodobenzene; benzyl bromide; benzyl chloride; benzyl fluoride; benzyl iodide; alpha,alpha-dibromotoluene; alpha,alpha-dichlorotoluene; alpha,alpha-difluorotoluene; alpha,alpha-diiodotoluene; benzotribromide; benzotrichloride; benzotrifluoride; benzotriiodide; 2-bromotoluene; 2-chlorotoluene; 2-fluorotoluene; 2-iodotoluene; 3-bromotoluene; 3-chlorotoluene; 3-fluorotoluene; 3-iodotoluene; 4-bromotoluene; 4-chlorotoluene; 4-fluorotoluene; 4-iodotoluene; 2-bromobenzyl bromide; 2-chlorobenzyl bromide; 2-fluorobenzyl bromide; 2-iodobenzyl bromide; 2-bromobenzyl chloride; 2-chlorobenzyl chloride; 2-fluorobenzyl chloride; 2-iodobenzyl chloride; 2-bromobenzyl fluoride; 2-chlorobenzyl fluoride; 2-fluorobenzyl fluoride; 2-iodobenzyl fluoride; 2-bromobenzyl iodide; 2-chlorobenzyl iodide; 2-fluorobenzyl iodide; 2-iodobenzyl iodide; 3-bromobenzyl bromide; 3-chlorobenzyl bromide; 3-fluorobenzyl bromide; 3-iodobenzyl bromide; 3-bromobenzyl chloride; 3-chlorobenzyl chloride; 3-fluorobenzyl chloride; 3-iodobenzyl chloride; 3-bromobenzyl fluoride; 3-chlorobenzyl fluoride; 3-fluorobenzyl fluoride; 3-iodobenzyl fluoride; 3-bromobenzyl iodide; 3-chlorobenzyl iodide; 3-fluorobenzyl iodide; 3-iodobenzyl iodide; 4-bromobenzyl bromide; 4-chlorobenzyl bromide; 4-fluorobenzyl bromide; 4-iodobenzyl bromide; 4-bromobenzyl chloride; 4-chlorobenzyl chloride; 4-fluorobenzyl chloride; 4-iodobenzyl chloride; 4-bromobenzyl fluoride; 4-chlorobenzyl fluoride; 4-fluorobenzyl fluoride; 4-iodobenzyl fluoride; 4-bromobenzyl iodide; 4-chlorobenzyl iodide; 4-fluorobenzyl iodide; 4-iodobenzyl iodide and the like.
Preferred for use in the process of the present invention are dichloromethane; dibromomethane; chloroform; carbon tetrachloride; bromochloromethane; chlorofluoromethane; bromodichloromethane; chlorodifluoromethane; fluorodichloromethane; chlorotrifluoromethane; fluorotrichloromethane; 1,2-dichloroethane; 1,2-dibromoethane; 1-chloro-1-fluoroethane; 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane; 1-chloro-1,2-difluoroethane; 2-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane; 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane; 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane; 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane; 1,1-dichloro-2,2-difluoroethane; 1,2-dichloro-1,2-difluoroethane; hexafluoroethane; hexachloroethane; chloropentafluoroethane; 1,2-dibromotetrachloroethane; 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylene; 1-chloro-1,2,2-trifluorothylene; 1-fluoro-1,2,2-trichloroethylene; hexafluoropropene; hexachlorocyclopentadiene and hexachloropropene.
Most preferred for use in the process of the present invention are dichloromethane; chloroform; carbon tetrachloride; chlorofluoromethane; chlorodifluromethane; dichlorodifluoromethane;, fluorodichloromethane; chlorotrifluoromethane; fluorotrichloromethane; 1,2-dichloroethane; 1,2-dibromoethane; 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane; 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane; 1,1-dichloro-2,2-difluoroethane; 1,2-dichloro-1,2-difluoroethane; hexafluoroethane; hexachloroethane; hexafluoropropene; hexachlorocyclopentadiene and hexachloropropene.
The halogenated hydrocarbons may be used individually or as mixtures thereof.
The polymerization process of the present invention may be carried out using any suitable process. For example, there may be utilized polymerization in suspension, in solution, in super-critical or in the gas phase media. All of these polymerization processes are well known in the art.
A particularly desirable method for producing polyethylene polymers according to the present invention is a gas phase polymerization process preferably utilizing a fluidized bed reactor. This type reactor and means for operating the reactor are well known and completely described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,709,853; 4,003,712; 4,011,382; 4,012,573; 4,302,566; 4,543,399; 4,882,400; 5,352,749; 5,541,270; Canadian Patent No. 991,798 and Belgian Patent No. 839,380. These patents disclose gas phase polymerization processes wherein the polymerization medium is either mechanically agitated or fluidized by the continuous flow of the gaseous monomer and diluent. The entire contents of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
In general, the polymerization process of the present invention may be effected as a continuous gas phase process such as a fluid bed process. A fluid bed reactor for use in the process of the present invention typically comprises a reaction zone and a so-called velocity reduction zone. The reaction zone comprises a bed of growing polymer particles, formed polymer particles and a minor amount of catalyst particles fluidized by the continuous flow of the gaseous monomer and diluent to remove heat of polymerization through the reaction zone. Optionally, some of the recirculated gases may be cooled and compressed to form liquids that increase the heat removal capacity of the circulating gas stream when readmitted to the reaction zone. A suitable rate of gas flow may be readily determined by simple experiment. Make up of gaseous monomer to the circulating gas stream is at a rate equal to the rate at which particulate polymer product and monomer associated therewith is withdrawn from the reactor and the composition of the gas passing through the reactor is adjusted to maintain an essentially steady state gaseous composition within the reaction zone. The gas leaving the reaction zone is passed to the velocity reduction zone where entrained particles are removed. Finer entrained particles and dust may be removed in a cyclone and/or fine filter. The gas is passed through a heat exchanger wherein the heat of polymerization is removed, compressed in a compressor and then returned to the reaction zone.
In more detail, the reactor temperature of the fluid bed process herein ranges from about 30xc2x0 C. to about 110xc2x0 C. In general, the reactor temperature is operated at the highest temperature that is feasible taking into account the sintering temperature of the polymer product within the reactor.
The process of the present invention is suitable for the production of homopolymers of ethylene and/or copolymers, terpolymers, and the like, of ethylene and at least one or more other olefins. Preferably the olefins are alpha-olefins. The olefins, for example, may contain from 3 to 16 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred for preparation herein by the process of the present invention are linear polyethylenes. Such linear polyethylenes are preferably linear homopolymers of ethylene and linear copolymers of ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin wherein the ethylene content is at least about 70% by weight of the total monomers involved. Exemplary alpha-olefins that may be utilized herein are propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 4-methylpent-1-ene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-hexadecene and the like. Also utilizable herein are polyenes such as 1,3-hexadiene, 1,4-hexadiene, cyclopentadiene, dicyclopentadiene, 4-vinylcyclohex-1-ene, 1,5-cyclooctadiene, 5-vinylidene-2-norbornene and 5-vinyl-2-norbornene, and olefins formed in situ in the polymerization medium. When olefins are formed in situ in the polymerization medium, the formation of linear polyethylenes containing long chain branching may occur.
The polymerization reaction of the present invention is carried out in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta type catalyst. In the process of the invention, the catalyst can be introduced in any manner known in the art. For example, the catalyst can be introduced directly into the polymerization medium in the form of a solution, a slurry or a dry free flowing powder. The catalyst can also be used in the form of a deactivated catalyst, or in the form of a prepolymer obtained by contacting the catalyst with one or more olefins in the presence of a co-catalyst.
The Ziegler-Natta catalysts are well known in the industry. The Ziegler-Natta catalysts in the simplest form are comprised of a transition metal compound and an organometallic co-catalyst compound. The method of the transition metal compound is a metal of Groups 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, as published in xe2x80x9cChemical and Engineering Newsxe2x80x9d, 63(5), 27, 1985. In this format, the groups are numbered 1-18. Exemplary of such transition metals are titanium, zirconium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, and the like, and mixtures thereof. In a preferred embodiment the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, vanadium and chromium, and in a still further preferred embodiment, the transition metal is titanium. The Ziegler-Natta catalyst can optionally contain magnesium and chlorine. Such magnesium and chlorine containing catalysts may be prepared by any manner known in the art.
In the event that a prepolymerized form of the catalyst is to be employed then the organometallic co-catalyst compound used to form the prepolymer can be any organometallic compound containing a metal of Groups 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the above described Periodic Table of the Elements. Exemplary of such metals are lithium, magnesium, copper, zinc, boron, silicon and the like. However, when a prepolymer is employed, a co-catalyst of the above formula XnER3-n is still utilized as the co-catalyst in the polymerization medium. The external electron donor and/or the halogenated hydrocarbon can, if desired, be added to the prepolymer.
The catalyst system may contain conventional components in addition to the transition metal component, the external electron donor defined herein, the halogenated hydrocarbon and the co-catalyst component. For example, there may be added any magnesium compound known in the art.
The Ziegler-Natta catalyst may be prepared by any method known in the art. The catalyst can be in the form of a solution, a slurry or a dry free flowing powder. The amount of Ziegler-Natta catalyst used is that which is sufficient to allow production of the desired amount of the polyethylene.
In carrying out the polymerization process of the present invention, the co-catalyst is added to the polymerization medium in any amount sufficient to effect production of the desired polyethylene. It is preferred to utilized the co-catalyst in a molar ratio of co-catalyst to transition metal component of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst ranging from about 1:1 to about 100:1. In a more preferred embodiment, the molar ratio of co-catalyst to transition metal component ranges from about 1:1 to about 50:1.
In carrying out the polymerization process of the present invention the external electron donor is added in any manner. For example, the external electron donor may be added to the preformed catalyst, to the prepolymer during the prepolymerization step, to the preformed prepolymer and/or to the polymerization medium. The external electron donor may optionally be premixed with the co-catalyst. The external electron donor is added in any amount sufficient to effect production of the desired polyethylene. It is preferred to incorporate the external electron donor in a molar ratio of external electron donor to transition metal component of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst ranging from about 0.01:1 to about 100:1. In a more preferred embodiment, the molar ratio of external electron donor to transition metal component ranges from about 0.1:1 to about 50:1.
In carrying out the polymerization process of the present invention, the halogenated hydrocarbon is added to the polymerization medium in any amount sufficient to effect production of the desired polyethylene. It is preferred to incorporate the halogenated hydrocarbon in a molar ratio of halogenated hydrocarbon to transition metal component of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst ranging from about 0.01:1 to about 100:1. In a more preferred embodiment, the molar ratio of halogenated hydrocarbon to transition metal component ranges from about 0.001:1 to about 1:1.
The molecular weight of the polyethylene produced by the present invention can be controlled in any known manner, for example, by using hydrogen. The molecular weight control may be evidenced by an increase in the melt index (I2) of the polymer when the molar ratio of hydrogen to ethylene in the polymerization medium is increased.
The molecular weight distribution of the polyethylene produced by the present invention is expressed by the melt flow ratio (MFR). Preferably, the polyethylenes have MFR values varying from about 24 to about 34, and densities ranging from about 0.880 gm/cc to about 0.964 gm/cc.
The polyethylenes of the present invention may be fabricated into films by any technique known in the art. For example, films may be produced by the well known cast film, blown film and extrusion coating techniques.
Further, the polyethylenes may be fabricated into other articles of manufacture, such as molded articles, by any of the well known techniques.
The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples. There are, of course, many other forms of this invention which will become obvious to one skilled in the art, once the invention has been fully disclosed, and it will accordingly be recognized that these examples are given for the purpose of illustration only, and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of this invention in any way. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The invention relates to a catalyst which is appropriate for catalyzing hydrosilylation reactions.
The addition of an organosilylated compound having an Sixe2x80x94H unit to an olefin or to an acetylene derivative through the formation of a carbon-silicon bond (hydrosilylation reaction) is conventionally carried out in the presence of a metal catalyst. The hydrosilylation reaction is schematically represented in the following manner in the case of olefins:
As an example of a catalyst, platinum catalysts have been recommended by numerous authors. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 2,823,218 describes a chloroplatinic acid as catalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 2,970,150 proposes the use of metallic platinum on a finely divided support. The hydrosilylation methods described in these patents are however, not very attractive from an economic point of view since they require the use of large quantities of platinum catalyst.
Thus, up until now, most industrial hydrosilylation reactions are catalyzed by the Karstedt solution which consists of complexes of platinum having the oxidation number 0. The general formula of the Karstedt complex is Pt2(tetramethyldivinylsiloxane)3:
where Me represents methyl.
One of the disadvantages of this catalyst lies in the possible instability of the catalyst during the course of a reaction: it has been possible to observe the precipitation of metallic platinum and the formation of insoluble colloids in the reaction medium: this instability of the catalyst in the reaction medium has the effect of reducing the catalytic activity. Furthermore, it results in cloudy and highly colored solutions which are not much liked by the user since they lead to the formation of highly colored hydrosilylation products.
Another major disadvantage of the Karstedt catalyst is the concomitant formation of by-products of the hydrosilylation reaction: alongside the hydrosilylation products, the products resulting from olefin double bond isomerization reactions and/or hydrogenation reactions are isolated.
One of the objectives of the present invention is therefore to provide a stable catalyst complex which makes it possible to limit the side reactions.
Because of its excellent stability, the complex of the invention moreover makes it possible to operate at higher reaction temperatures.
The other advantages of the invention will appear to a person skilled in the art on reading the preferred embodiments of the invention.
The invention relates more particularly to a metal complex of formula I:
in which:
M represents a metal having an oxidation number 0 chosen from the group 8 metals in the Periodic Table as published in the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 65th edition, 1984-1985;
X represents O, NRa or CRfRg;
Y1 and Y2 represent, independently of each other, CRbRc or SiRdRe;
R1, R2, R5 and R6, which are identical or different, are chosen from a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group and an aryl group optionally substituted with alkyl;
R3, R4, Ra, Rb, Rc, are independently chosen from a hydrogen atom; an alkyl group; an acyl group; an aryl group optionally substituted with alkyl; a cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with alkyl; and an arylalkyl group in which the aryl portion is optionally substituted with alkyl;
Rd and Re are independently chosen from alkenyl; alkynyl; alkyl; alkoxy; acyl; aryl optionally substituted with alkyl; cycloalkyl optionally substituted with alkyl; and arylalkyl in which the aryl portion is optionally substituted with alkyl; or alternatively
when Y1 and Y2 independently represent SiRdRe, two Rd groups linked to two separate silicon atoms together form a chain of formula:
in which n is an integer from 1 to 3; X is as defined above; R and Rxe2x80x2, which are identical or different, take any one of the meanings given above for Re, it being understood that when n is 2 or 3, a single silicon atom of said chain may be substituted with one or two alkenyl or alkynyl groups;
or alternatively when Y1 and Y2 independently represent SiRdRe, two Rd groups linked to separate silicon atoms together form a saturated hydrocarbon chain, the two Rb groups together with said silicon atoms and X forming a 6- to 10-membered ring; or alternatively
when Y1 and Y2 independently represent CRbRc, two Rb groups linked to separate carbon atoms together form a saturated hydrocarbon chain, the two Rb groups together with the carbon atoms carrying them and X form a 6- to 10-membered ring;
Rf and Rg represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom; an alkyl group; an acyl group; an aryl group optionally substituted with alkyl; a cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with alkyl; an arylalkyl group in which the aryl portion is optionally substituted with alkyl; a halogen atom; an alkenyl group; an alkynyl group; or a group SiG1G2G3 where G1, G2 and G3 are, independently of each other, alkyl; alkoxy; aryl optionally substituted with alkyl or alkoxy; or arylalkyl in which the aryl portion is optionally substituted with alkyl or alkoxy;
L represents a carbene of formula II.1 or II.2:
in which:
A and B independently represent C or N, it being understood that when A represents N, then T4 represents nothing and when B represents N, then T3 represents nothing;
T3 and T4 independently represent a hydrogen atom; an alkyl group; a cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with alkyl or alkoxy; an aryl group optionally substituted with alkyl or alkoxy; an alkenyl group; an alkynyl group; or an arylalkyl group in which the aryl portion is optionally substituted with alkyl or alkoxy;
T1 and T2 independently represent an alkyl group; an alkyl group which is perfluorinated or optionally substituted with a perfluoroalkyl group; a cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with alkyl or alkoxy; an aryl group optionally substituted with alkyl or alkoxy; an alkenyl group; an alkynyl group; or an arylalkyl group in which the aryl portion is optionally substituted with alkyl or alkoxy; or alternatively
the substituents T1, T2, T3 and T4, may form in pairs, when they are located on two adjacent summits in the formulae II.1 and II.2, a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain.
According to the invention, the oxidation number 0 of the metal M is an essential characteristic of the invention.
Preferably, the group 8 metals which M represents are palladium, platinum or nickel. According to a more preferred embodiment of the invention, M represents platinum having the oxidation number 0.
The expression alkyl is understood to mean, according to the invention, a linear or branched, saturated hydrocarbon chain, preferably having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, for example from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, even better from 1 to 7 carbon atoms.
Examples of alkyl groups are in particular methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, isoamyl and 1,1-dimethylpropyl.
According to the invention, the alkyl portion of the alkoxy radical is as defined above.
The alkyl radical which is perfluorinated or optionally substituted with a perfluoroalkyl group preferably has the formula:
xe2x80x94(CH2)pxe2x80x94CqF2q+1
in which p represents 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; q is an integer from 1 to 10; and CqF2q+1 is linear or branched. Preferred examples of this radical are: xe2x80x94(CH2)2xe2x80x94(CF2)5xe2x80x94CF3 and xe2x80x94(CF2)7xe2x80x94CF3.
The expression aryl denotes an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, which is monocyclic or polycyclic, and preferably monocyclic or bicyclic. It should be understood that in the context of the invention, the expression polycyclic aromatic radical is understood to mean a radical having two or more aromatic rings, condensed to each other, that is to say having, in pairs, at least two carbons in common. By way of example, there may be mentioned the phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl and phenanthryl radicals.
The expression arylalkyl denotes an alkyl group as defined above, substituted with one or more aryl groups on its hydrocarbon chain, the aryl group being as defined above. Examples thereof are benzyl and triphenylmethyl.
The expression acyl is understood to mean, according to the invention, a group Roxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94 where Ro represents alkyl as defined above; or alternatively a group Arxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94 where Ar represents an aryl group as defined above, or alternatively an arylalkyl in which aryl and alkyl are as defined above and in which the aryl portion is optionally substituted with alkyl.
The expression cycloalkyl is understood to mean a mono- or polycyclic, preferably mono- or bicyclic, saturated hydrocarbon radical preferably having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, even better from 3 to 8. The expression polycyclic saturated hydrocarbon radical is understood to mean a radical having two or more cyclic rings attached to each other by "sgr" bonds and/or condensed in pairs.
Examples of polycyclic cycloalkyl groups are adamantane and norbornane.
Examples of monocyclic cycloalkyl groups are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl.
The expression alkenyl is understood to mean a linear or branched unsaturated hydrocarbon chain having at least one olefin double bond, and more preferably a single double bond. Preferably, the alkenyl group has from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, even better from 2 to 6.
Preferred examples of alkenyl groups are vinyl and allyl groups.
The expression alkynyl is understood to mean, according to the invention, a linear or branched, unsaturated hydrocarbon chain having at least one acetylene triple bond, and more preferably a single triple bond. Preferably, the alkynyl group has from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, even better from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. By way of example, there may be mentioned the acetylenyl group, as well as the propargyl group.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Y1 and Y2 either both represent CRbRc, or both SiRdRe, such that the preferred compounds of the invention either have the formula I.1, or the formula I.2:
where
Rb1 and Rc1 are the substituents Rb and Rc of Y1 in formula I.1;
Rb2 and Rc2 are the substituents Rb and Rc of Y2 in formula I.2;
Rd1 and Re1 are the substituents Rd and Re of Y1 in formula I.1;
Rd2 and Re2 are the substituents Rd and Re of Y2 in formula I.2.
Thus, Rb1 may be identical to or different from Rb2; Rc1 may be identical to or different from Rc2; Rd1 may be identical to or different from Rd2; and Re1 may be identical to or different from Re2.
Preferably, Rb1=Rb2; Rc1=Rc2; Rd1=Rd2; and Re1=Re2.
Among the latter compounds those for which R3=R4; R5=R2; and R1=R6 are further preferred.
According to another preferred variant of the invention, Rd1 and Rd2 together form:
(a) either a chain
xe2x80x83in which n is an integer from 1 to 3; X is as defined above; and R and Rxe2x80x2, which are identical or different, take any one of the meanings given above for Re, it being understood that when n is 2 or 3, a single silicon atom of said chain may be substituted with one or two alkenyl or alkynyl groups;
(b) or a saturated hydrocarbon chain such that the two substituents Rd, together with the two silicon atoms carrying them and X, form a 6- to 10-membered, preferably 6- to 8-membered, ring.
When Rd1 and Rd2 form the chain (a), it is preferable for n to be equal to 1 or 2 (even better n is equal to 1) and that R=Re, the two groups Re carried by the two silicon atoms being identical. In this case, Re preferably represents alkyl, for example methyl. Even better, in these compounds, Rxe2x80x2 represents xe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2 and R1=R6; R5=R2; and R3=R4.
When Rd1 and Rd2 form the chain (b), it is preferable for the two groups Rd, together with the two silicon atoms and the group X, to form an 8-membered ring. In this case, it is preferable that Re1 is identical to Re2. These compounds have the general formula:
where T represents alkyl, i is an integer between 0 and 5, T being located on one or more of the summits 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the above formula.
In the same manner, when Y1 and Y2 represent CRbRc, the two groups Rb linked to separate carbon atoms may together form a saturated hydrocarbon chain (c) such that the two groups Rb together with the carbons carrying them and X form a 6- to 10-membered ring. Preferably, the ring formed is an 8-membered ring, in which case the metal complex corresponds to the formula:
where T represents alkyl; i is an integer between 0 and 5, T being located on one or more of the summits 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the formula above.
In the context of the invention, two groups Rd linked to two separate silicon atoms may form a chain of formula:
When this is the case, it is preferable that X represents O in the compounds of the invention. These preferred compounds have the general formula:
Among these compounds, it is preferable that Re1=Re2. Advantageously Re1=Re2 represents alkyl (for example methyl).
Preferably, n is equal to 1 or 2 and R=Re1, it being understood that when n is equal to 2, a single silicon atom of the chain Oxe2x80x94(SiRRxe2x80x2xe2x80x94O)n may be substituted with one or two alkenyl or alkynyl groups. Even better, Rxe2x80x2=xe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2 and R1=R6; R2=R5 and R3=R4.
The expression xe2x80x9crepresents nothingxe2x80x9d means that the substituents xe2x80x94T3, respectively xe2x80x94T4, are nonexistent. Indeed, in the formulae II.1 and II.2, the nitrogen atom is trivalent, such that when A or B represents N, the nitrogen atom cannot have an additional substituent.
According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the carbenes of formulae II.1 and II.2 have at least two condensed rings, that is to say that at least two substituents among T1, T2, T3 and T4, situated on two adjacent summits, together form a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain preferably having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms. The expression saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain is understood to mean a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain which may or may not have one or more unsaturations of the olefin double bond or acetylene triple bond type.
When the carbenes II.1 and II.2 have two condensed rings, they therefore correspond to one of the following formulae, in which (alk) represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain:
It should be understood however that the carbenes II.1 and II.2 may have more than two condensed rings.
When Rf and/or Rg represents SiG1G2G3, it is preferable that Rf and/or Rg are trialkylsilyl, for example SiG1G2G3 where G1=G2=G3=alkyl.
Subgroups of the metal complexes of the invention consist of the complexes for which:
X=O; Y1 and Y2 independently represent SiRdRe; or
X=NRa; Y1 and Y2 independently represent CRbRc; or
X=NRa; Y1 and Y2 independently represent SiRdRe; or
X=CRfRg; Y1 and Y2 independently represent CRbRc; or
X=CRfRg; Y1 and Y2 independently represent SiRdRe.
Among these metal complexes of formula I, there are preferred those for which:
when X represents O, Y1 and Y2 independently represent SiRdRe; or
when X represents NRa, Y1 and Y2 independently represent CRbRc; or
when X represents CRfRg, Y1 and Y2 independently represent CRbRc.
Most preferably, X represents O and Y1 and Y2 independently represent SiRdRe in the metal complex of formula I. In the context of the invention, the expression xe2x80x9cindependently representxe2x80x9d means that the substituents designated are either identical or different.
Still preferably, R1, R2, R5 and R6 are hydrogen atoms.
Preferred meanings of R3 and R4 are in particular a hydrogen atom; an alkyl group; an aryl group optionally substituted with alkyl; and a cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with alkyl. Among these preferred meanings, it is particularly advantageous that R3 and R4, which are identical, represent a hydrogen atom; (C3-C8)cycloalkyl or (C1-C8)alkyl.
Still preferably, the diolefin ligand of the complex of formula I is symmetric, that is to say that R5=R2; R6=R1; R3=R4 and the two groups Y1, Y2 are strictly identical to each other, that is Y1=CRb1Rc and Y2=CRb2Rc where Rb1 and Rb2 together form a symmetric chain, or alternatively Y1=SiRd1Re and Y2=SiRd2Re where Rd1 and Rd2 together form a symmetric chain.
A preferred group of complexes according to the invention consists of the complexes of formula I in which L represents a carbene of formula II.1.
Preferably, A and B in the formulae II.1 and II.2 both represent a carbon atom.
Preferred meanings of T1 and T2 are alkyl; cycloalkyl; arylalkyl; and aryl which is optionally substituted with alkyl.
Preferred meanings of T3 and T4 are hydrogen; alkyl; cycloalkyl; arylalkyl; and aryl which is optionally substituted with alkyl.
Preferably, when T1, T2, T3 or T4 represents alkyl, then alkyl is methyl, isopropyl or tert-butyl.
Likewise, when T1, T2, T3 or T4 represents aryl, then aryl is phenyl.
When T1, T2, T3 or T4 represents aryl optionally substituted with alkyl, then T1, T2, T3 or T4 is tolyl or xylyl.
When T1, T2, T3 or T4 represents arylalkyl, then arylalkyl is preferably benzyl or triphenylmethyl.
When T1, T2, T3 or T4 represents cycloalkyl, then cycloalkyl is preferably cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or adamantyl.
A preferred group of complexes of formula I consists of the complexes for which in the carbene of formulae II.1 or II.2, T3 and T4 represent a hydrogen atom.
Likewise, the complexes of formula I in which T1 and T2 are chosen from (C1-C8)alkyl and (C3-C8)-cycloalkyl form a preferred subgroup. Even better, T1 and T2 are identical and represent (C3-C8)cycloalkyl.
Advantageously, T1 and T2, which are identical or different, represent (C1-C8)alkyl or (C3-C8)-cycloalkyl; or alternatively R3 and R4, which are identical or different, represent (C1-C8)alkyl or (C3-C8)cycloalkyl; or still alternatively T1, T2, R3 and R4, which are identical or different, represent (C1-C8)alkyl or (C3-C8)cycloalkyl.
A particularly preferred group of metal complexes of formula I consists of the complexes of formula:
in which:
R3 represents a hydrogen atom; a (C1-C8)alkyl group; or a (C3-C8)cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with (C1-C4)alkyl;
T1 and T2 are identical and represent (C1-C8)alkyl or (C3-C8)cycloalkyl;
Rd and Re are as defined above.
Other preferred subgroups of the invention are defined as follows:
Metal complexes of formula I in which Y1 and Y2, which are identical, represent SiRdRe; R1=R2=R3=R4=R5=R6=H; X=O; Rd and Re are independently chosen from alkyl; aryl optionally substituted with alkyl; alkenyl; and alkynyl.
Metal complexes of formula I in which Y1 and Y2, which are identical, represent SiRdRe; X=O; R1=R6; R2=R5; R3=R4; R1 and R2 independently represent alkyl; R3 represents alkyl or aryl optionally substituted with alkyl; Rd and Re independently represent alkyl; alkenyl; alkynyl; or aryl optionally substituted with alkyl.
Metal complexes of formula I in which Y1 and Y2, which are identical, represent SiRdRe; X=O; R1=R2=R3=R4=R5=R6=H; and Rd=Re=methyl or alternatively Rd=methyl and Re=phenyl.
Metal complexes of formula I in which Y1 and Y2, which are identical, represent SiRdRe; X=O; R1=R3=R4=R6=H; R2=R5=alkyl.
Metal complexes of formula I in which Y1 and Y2, which are identical, represent SiRdRe; X=CRfRg; Rf=Rg=a hydrogen atom; Rd and Re, which are identical or different, are chosen from alkyl; and aryl optionally substituted with alkyl; R1=R6; R2=R5; R3=R4; R1 and R2 are chosen from a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl or aryl optionally substituted with alkyl.
Metal complexes of formula I in which Y1 and Y2, which are identical, represent SiRdRe; X=CRfRg where Rf and Rg represent a halogen atom, preferably a chlorine atom or a bromine atom; Rd=Re=alkyl, preferably methyl; R1=R2=R3=R4=R5=R6=H.
Metal complexes of formula I in which Y1 and Y2, which are identical, represent SiRdRe; X=CRfRg where Rf and Rg represent SiG1G2G3 such as trialkylsilyl (for example Si(CH3)3); Rd=Re=alkyl, preferably methyl; R1=R2=R3=R4=R5=R6=H.
Metal complexes of formula I in which X represents xe2x80x94NRa; Y1 and Y2, which are identical, represent SiRdRe; R1=R6; R2=R5; R3=R4.
Metal complexes of formula I in which X represents xe2x80x94NRa; Y1=Y2=SiRdRe; the two groups Rd together form the chain
xe2x80x94NRaxe2x80x94(SiReRd0xe2x80x94NRa)nxe2x80x94
in which Rd0 represents xe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2; n represents from 1 to 3; R1=R6; R2=R5; and R3=R4.
The complexes of the invention are prepared in a conventional manner, for example from complexes known from the state of the art, by ligand exchange, that is to say addition of the appropriate carbene of formula II.1 or II.2 to a metal complex of the metal M in solution, designated precursor complex.
Appropriate precursor complexes are the Karstedt complex of formula:
Pt2[ViMe2Sixe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94SiMe2Vi]3
in which Vi represents the vinyl radical; and more generally
M2[R5R6Cxe2x95x90CR4xe2x80x94Y1xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x94Y2xe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2]3
where M, R5, R6, R4, R3, R1, R2, Y1, X and Y2 are as defined above, such as for example
M2[CR5R6xe2x95x90CR4xe2x80x94SiRdRexe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94SiRdRexe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2]3, it
being understood that M, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, Rd and Re are as defined above;
Pt(COD)2 in which COD represents cyclooctadiene and more generally M(COD)2 where M is a group 8 metal; or alternatively
metal complexes of olefin and of bisphosphine.
The complexes of formula I are generally prepared from precursor complexes having, as ligand, at least one diolefin compound of formula III:
in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, X, Y1 and Y2 are as defined above for formula I.
These ligands are either commercially available, or are easily prepared by a person skilled in the art from commercial compounds.
When X represents NRa and Y1 and Y2, independently of each other, represent CRbRc, the compounds of formula III are amines which can be easily prepared using conventional organic chemistry methods. Thus, when Ra is different from a hydrogen atom, these amines may be easily prepared from the corresponding primary amine of formula RaNH2 by the action of appropriate chlorides, preferably in the presence of an organic or inorganic base.
When the diolefin III is symmetric (that is to say that R4=R3; R5=R2; R1=R6; and Y1=Y2) , RaNH2 is reacted with two equivalents of a chloride of formula:
Clxe2x80x94CRbRcxe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(IV)
in the presence of a base.
When the diolefin III is disymmetric, it is preferable to protect the amino group of RaNH2 with an appropriate conventional protecting group P before reacting the resulting compound of formula RaNHP with the chloride of formula V:
Clxe2x80x94CRb2Rc2xe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(V)
in the presence of an appropriate base.
Then, after deprotection, the resulting amine is reacted with a chloride of formula:
Clxe2x80x94CRb1Rc1xe2x80x94CR4xe2x95x90CR5R6xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(VI)
in order to obtain the expected amine.
In the formulae IV, V and VI above, the substituents R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are as defined for formula I; Rb1 and Rb2 are as defined for Rb; and Rc1 and Rc2 are as defined for Rc.
The groups P for protecting the amine functional groups as well as the corresponding methods of deprotection are described in Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, Greene T. W. and Wuts P. G. M., ed. John Wiley and Sons, 1991, and in Protecting Groups, Kocienski P. J., 1994, Georg Thieme Verlag.
When Ra represents a hydrogen atom, it is desirable to select, as starting compound, the amine having the following formula VII, protected beforehand on the amino functional group by a protecting group P as defined above:
NH2xe2x80x94CRb2Rc2xe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(VII).
The protected amine VII is reacted with a chloride of formula VI as defined above, preferably in the presence of a base, and then, upon deprotection of the amino functional group, the expected compound of formula III is isolated.
Appropriate bases are for example an organic base chosen from triethylamine, diisopropylamine, pyridine and N,N-dimethylaniline or an inorganic base such as NaOH, KOH, NaHCO3, Na2CO3, KHCO3 and K2CO3.
When X represents O and Y represents CRbRc, the compounds of formula III are ethers. These ethers are commercially available or are prepared in a manner known per se from commercially available compounds.
The compounds of formula III in which X represents CRfRg and Y represents CRbRc are diolefins which are easily accessible to a person skilled in the art by synthesis or are commercially available.
The compounds of formula III in which X represents NRa where Ra represents H or alkyl; R1=R6; R2=R5; R3=R4; and Y1=Y2=SiRdRe may be prepared by the action of an amine Raxe2x80x94NH2 with two equivalents of a silyl chloride of formula:
ClSiRdRexe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2
in which Re, Rd, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined above.
The compounds of formula III in which X represents NRa, Ra being as defined above in formula I; Y1=Y2=SiRdRe where Re is as defined above in formula I; the two groups Rd together form the chain:
xe2x80x94NRaxe2x80x94(SiReRd0xe2x80x94NRa)nxe2x80x94
in which Ra and Re are as defined above; n represents an integer from 1 to 3; Rd0 represents xe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2; R1=R6; R2=R5 and R3=R4, may be prepared by reacting the amine Raxe2x80x94NH2 with the silyl chloride of formula:
Cl2SiRexe2x80x94CR3xe2x95x90CR1R2
in which Re, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined above.
The compounds of formula III in which X represents O, and Y1 and Y2 represent SiRdRe are linear, branched or cyclic siloxanes which are commercially available or whose preparation is possible from commercial compounds, using conventional state of the art methods. Examples of preferred siloxanes of formula III are ViMe2SiOSiMe2Vi and (MeViSiO)3, the second formula representing a cyclosiloxane in which Vi represents vinyl.
In the case of the symmetric compounds of formula III, that is to say those for which R1=R6; R2=R5; R3=R4 and Y1=Y2, one of the variants of following synthesis may be used.
(Variant a): For the preparation of said symmetric siloxanes of formula III for which R1, R2, R3, Rd and Re are independently chosen from alkyl, aryl, alkenyl and alkynyl, a silyl chloride of formula Cl2SiRdRe may be reacted with an organometallic compound of formula:
CR1R2xe2x95x90CR3xe2x80x94Mg-Hal
where R1, R2, R3 are as defined above and Hal represents a halogen atom under the usual reaction conditions using magnesium compounds.
(Variant b): For the preparation of said symmetric siloxanes of formula III for which R1=R2=R3=H and Rc, Rd are chosen from alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl and alkyl, a silyl chloride of formula Cl2SiRdxe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CH2 may be reacted with an organometallic compound of formula:
Rexe2x80x94Mg-hal
in which Re is as defined above and hal represents halogen.
For the use of this variant, persons skilled in the art may refer to J. Gen. Chem., USSR, 1977, 47, 1402-1406.
(Variant c): For the preparation of said symmetric siloxanes of formula III in which R1=R3=H and R2 represents alkyl, a siloxane of formula:
Hxe2x80x94SiRdRexe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94SiRdReH
can be reacted with two equivalents of an acetylene hydrocarbon of formula Hxe2x80x94Cxe2x89xa1Cxe2x80x94R2 in which R2 is as defined above.
Cyclic siloxanes of formula III are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,084.
The compounds of formula III in which X represents CRfRg and Y1 and Y2 independently represent xe2x80x94SiRdRe may be prepared using a method similar to one of those described in:
J. of Organometallic Chemistry, 1996, vol. 521, 99-107 (which method is more particularly appropriate for the preparation of the symmetric compounds of formula III in which Y1=Y2; Rf=Rg=H; Rd, Re represent alkyl or aryl optionally substituted with alkyl; R3 represents a hydrogen atom; alkyl; or aryl which is optionally substituted; and R1, R2 are chosen from a hydrogen atom and alkyl);
J. of Organometallic Chemistry, 1997, vol. 545-546, 185-189 (which method is more particularly appropriate for the preparation of symmetric compounds of formula III in which Y1=Y2; Rf=Rg=Cl or Br; Rd and Re represent alkyl; R1=R2=R3=a hydrogen atom);
J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans II, 1987, p.381 (which method is more particularly appropriate for the preparation of the symmetric compounds of formula III in which Y1=Y2; Rf=Rg=SiG1G2G3; Rd and Re represent alkyl; R1=R2=R3=a hydrogen atom).
The carbenes of formula II.1 and II.2 may be prepared by deprotonation of imidazolium salts, of tetrazolium salts, of triazolium salts or of pyrazolium salts according to the case, under the action of a base.
These reactions may be schematically represented as follows:
In these reaction schemes, T1, T2, T3, T4, A and B are as defined above for formula I and Xxe2x88x92 represents an anion.
The nature of the anion Xxe2x88x92 is not critical according to the invention. The anion Xxe2x88x92 is the anion derived from an organic or inorganic Bronsted acid (protic acid). Usually, the anion Xxe2x88x92 is derived from an acid having a pKa of less than 6. Preferably, Xxe2x88x92 is derived from an acid having a pKa of less than 4, even better of less than 2. The pKa values in question here are the pKa values for acids as measured in water.
Examples of acids are carboxylic acids of formula Goxe2x80x94COOH in which Go represents alkyl, and for example (C1-C22)alkyl; or alternatively aryl, and for example (C6-C18)aryl optionally substituted with one or more alkyls, preferably one or more (C1-C6)alkyl; the sulfonic acids of formula Goxe2x80x94SO3H in which Go is as defined above; and the phosphonic acids of formula Goxe2x80x94PO3H in which Go is as defined above; other acids are HF, HCl, HBr, HI, H2SO4, H3PO4 and HClO4.
Preferred examples of carboxylic acids are acetic acid, benzoic acid and stearic acid. By way of preferred sulfonic acid, there will be mentioned benzenesulfonic acid and by way of preferred phosphonic acid, there will be mentioned phenylphosphonic acid.
According to the invention, the anions Xxe2x88x92 derived from HF, HCl, HBr, HI, H2SO4 and H3PO4 acids are more particularly preferred.
Thus, particularly preferred anions Xxe2x88x92, according to the invention, are halide, sulphate, hydrogen sulphate, phosphate, hydrogen phosphate and dihydrogen phosphate anions. There may also be mentioned, as anions, tetrafluoroborates and hexaphenyl phosphate.
The bases which may be used for the deprotonation of the salts of formulae VIII.1 and VIII.2 are strong bases chosen from alkali metal hydrides, alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carboxylates, alkali metal alcoholates and alkali metal amides.
Examples of an appropriate base are therefore sodium hydride, potassium hydroxide, sodium methoxide, potassium tert-butoxide, lithium diisopropylamide and mixtures thereof.
The deprotonation reaction is preferably carried out in a solvent capable of dissolving the starting salt of formula VIII.1 or VIII.2, as well as the other reagents.
The nature of the solvent also depends on the strength of the base. Specifically in the case of a strong base and of particularly reactive starting salts, it may be necessary to carry out the procedure at low temperature.
Generally, the reaction temperature is between 40xc2x0 C. and xe2x88x9278xc2x0 C., preferably between 30 and xe2x88x9250xc2x0 C., even better between 25 and xe2x88x9240xc2x0 C., for example between 20 and xe2x88x9230xc2x0 C.
Solvents which can be used in the method for preparing carbenes are cyclic or noncyclic ethers such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethoxyethane or dimethyl ether of diethylene glycol.
Other solvents which can be used are dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, hexamethylphosphorylamide: [(CH3)2N]3PO and hexamethylphosphoramide [(CH3)2N]3P.
The carbenes of formula II.1 in which A and B both represent a carbon atom may also be prepared by reducing the corresponding thiones of formula IX:
This reaction was described by N. Kuhn in Synthesis, 1993, 561. Preferably, the reduction is carried out in an ether or amide type solvent, as defined above, at a temperature of between 50 and 150xc2x0 C., in the presence of potassium.
The starting salts of formula VIII.1 and VIII.2 may, for their part, prepared by reacting the corresponding imidazoles, pyrazoles, triazoles and tetrazoles with an appropriate acid.
The nature of the anion Xxe2x88x92 in the salts of formula VIII.1 and VIII.2 depends on the acid used at this stage. The acids which can be used are for example those listed above and from which Xxe2x88x92 is derived.
Another method for synthesizing the salts of formula VIII.1 in which A=B=C is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,414.
This method comprises the reaction of an xcex1-dicarbonyl compound X of formula:
in which T3 and T4 are as defined above with HCHO and two amines of formulae T1xe2x80x94NH2 and T2xe2x80x94NH2 in the presence of an appropriate acid.
Other methods for preparing the salts of formulae VIII.1 and VIII.2 are proposed in Chem. Eur. J. 1996, 2, No. 12, pages 1627-1636 and Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1997, 36, 2162-2187.
The compounds of formula IX may be prepared by condensing an appropriate thiourea of formula XI:
with an xcex1-hydroxyketone of formula XII:
in which T1, T2, T3 and T4 are as defined above. Appropriate operating conditions are in particular described by N. Kuhn in Synthesis, 1993, 561.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the metal complex of the invention has the formula:
in which L is as defined above.
A simple method for preparing this complex consists in reacting the carbene L with the Karstedt catalyst having the average formula Pt2[ViMe2Sixe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94SiMe2Vi]3 in which Vi represents the vinyl radical.
This reaction may be carried out in bulk or in a solvent.
Examples of appropriate solvents are cyclic or noncyclic ethers such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethoxyethane or dimethyl ether of diethylene glycol; amides such as dimethylformamide, or dimethylacetamide; aromatic hydrocarbons (such as toluene, xylenes and more particularly toluene); and aliphatic alcohols of the (C1-C4)alkanol type (such as ethanol or isopropanol).
Advantageously, the reaction is carried out in an ether, and preferably in tetrahydrofuran.
The reaction temperature usually varies between 10 and 50xc2x0 C., preferably between 15 and 35xc2x0 C., very preferably between 20 and 25xc2x0 C.
It is desirable to carry out the procedure in the presence of a slight excess of carbene relative to the platinum. Thus, the molar ratio of the carbene L to the platinum generally varies between 1 and 1.3, preferably between 1 and 1.1.
A simple way of proceeding consists in pouring, at the appropriate temperature, a carbene solution in a solvent, into a reactor containing a solution of the Karstedt catalyst in this same solvent.
The molarity of the solutions of the carbene and of the catalyst is not critical according to the invention.
According to another of its aspects, the invention relates to a catalytic composition comprising, as active substance, one or more metal complexes according to the invention.
The complexes of formula I of the invention can be used as catalysts for the hydrosilylation reactions. The catalysts of the invention allow homogeneous catalysis of the reaction.
The expression hydrosilylation reaction is understood to mean, according to the invention, the reaction of a compound having an ethylene double bond or having an acetylene triple bond (unsaturated compound) with a compound having at least one unit
in order to form a Cxe2x80x94Si bond.
The hydrosilylation reaction may be schematically represented as follows, in the case of a compound having an ethylene double bond:
and, in the case of a compound having an acetylene triple bond:
The compounds having an ethylene double bond may comprise one or more double bonds and from 2 to 40 carbon atoms. These compounds may be aliphatic hydrocarbons having a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain, or alternatively cyclic hydrocarbons, said cyclic or aliphatic hydrocarbons optionally carrying one or more substituents of (C6-C18)aryl type optionally substituted with (C1-C6)alkyl. The double bonds are generally terminal. Preferably, the compound having an ethylene double bond has a single double bond.
Examples of olefins are ethylene, propylene, 1-butylene, 1-pentene, 2-methyl-1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 3-ethyl-1-hexene, 1-decene, 4,4-dimethyl-1-nonene, vinylcyclohexene, styrene and 2-vinylnaphthalene.
The compounds having an acetylene triple bond may comprise one or more triple bonds and from 2 to 40 carbon atoms. These compounds are generally aliphatic hydrocarbons having a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain, optionally substituted with (C3-C10)cycloalkyl (which cycloalkyl may optionally carry one or more (C1-C6)alkyl) and/or with (C6-C10)aryl (which aryl may optionally carry one or more (C1-C6)alkyl). Preferably, the compounds containing an acetylene triple bond have a single triple bond. The triple bonds are generally terminal. Examples thereof are: ethynyl, 2-propynyl, 1-propynyl and 2-penten-4-ynyl.
The hydrosilylation of compounds having both one or more ethylene double bonds and one or more acetylene triple bonds can also be envisaged in the context of the invention.
Under the operating conditions normally prescribed in the literature for hydrosilylation reactions, the formation of two types of by-products of the hydrosilylation reaction are observed, namely the products of isomerization and the products of hydrogenation. The products of isomerization result from the isomerization of double bonds. The products of hydrogenation result from the hydrogenation of double and triple bonds.
Surprisingly, when the hydrosilylation is carried out using the metal complexes of the invention as catalyst, the formation of these by-products is greatly limited. More particularly, a high reduction in the level of isomers formed is observed.
The hydrosilylation reaction may be carried out in a solvent or in the absence of solvent. As a variant, one of the reagents can play the role of solvent: for example the compound having an ethylene double bond or having an acetylene triple bond.
Appropriate solvents are solvents which are miscible with the compound containing an Sixe2x80x94H unit.
Under the hydrosilylation reaction conditions, the catalyst complex of the invention should be solubilized in the reaction medium.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reaction medium for the reaction for preparing the catalyst complex is used as it is or after dilution, without intermediate isolation.
The compound containing an Sixe2x80x94H unit may be a silicon hydride of formula XIII:
in which:
X is a radical comprising a heteroatom such as O, Si, a halogen atom or the carbon atom of an aliphatic or aromatic group;
R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group or a cycloalkoxy group;
a is an integer from 0 to 3.
It should be understood that, according to the invention, the aliphatic, aromatic, alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy or cycloalkoxy groups may be substituted or otherwise. The nature of the substituents is defined so as not to give rise to side reactions during the hydrosilylation reaction.
Appropriate examples of silane are HSi(OC2H5)3 and HSi(C2H5)3.
The compound containing an Sixe2x80x94H unit may be a siloxane of formula XIV:
in which P1 to P5 are independently chosen from alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, arylalkyl or arylalkoxy which are optionally substituted, it being possible for P3, P4 and/or P5 to also represent a hydrogen atom.
Preferably, P1 to P5 are independently chosen from a (C1-C22)alkyl, preferably (C1-C10)alkyl, group; a (C6-C10)aryl group optionally substituted with one or more (C1-C10)alkyl and/or (C1-C10)alkoxy; a (C1-C22)alkoxy, preferably (C1-C10)alkoxy, group; a (C6-C10)aryloxy group in which the aryl portion is optionally substituted with (C1-C6)alkyl and/or (C1-C6)alkoxy; a (C6-C10)aryl(C1-C10)alkyl group in which the aryl portion is optionally substituted with (C1-C6)alkyl and/or (C1-C6)alkoxy; or alternatively a (C6-C10)aryl-(C1-C10)alkoxy group in which the aryl portion is optionally substituted with (C1-C6)alkyl and/or (C1-C6)alkoxy.
The compound having an Sixe2x80x94H unit may be a polymer of polyhydrogen siloxane type. Other appropriate polymers and copolymers are the polyhydrosilanes comprising a large number of recurring units containing Sixe2x80x94H bonds.
Preferably, the polymers which can be used have recurring units of formula:
in which X is a radical comprising a heteroatom such as O, Si or the carbon atom of an aliphatic or aromatic group; and R0 is a hydrogen atom or an organic group chosen from alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy or cycloalkoxy. By way of examples, there may be mentioned the polyhydrosiloxanes of formula:
in which R7 to R13 are independently a hydrogen atom or an organic group. Preferably, R7, R5, R9, R10, R11, R12 and R13 are chosen from a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy and cycloalkoxy group;
n is an integer at least equal to 1 and preferably at least equal to 10 and, even better, between 10 and 100.
Appropriate polymers are polymethyl hydrogen siloxane, polydimethylsiloxane having a terminal xe2x80x94SiH group, methyl hydrogen dimethylsiloxane copolymers, methyl hydrogen methyloctylsiloxane copolymers and methyl hydrogen cyclosiloxane polymers.
In general, the polymers which can be used in the reaction have a mean molecular mass of 300 or more and preferably of between 300 and 10,000 (g/mol).
Examples of silicon hydrides are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,113.
Examples of solvents which can be used for the hydrosilylation are in particular the aliphatic hydrocarbons (such as pentane, hexane, heptane, pentamethylheptane or the fractions from the distillation of petroleum); aromatic hydrocarbons (such as benzene, toluene and xylenes: ortho-xylene, para-xylene and meta-xylene); halogenated aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons (such as tetrachloroethylene); or ethers (such as tetrahydrofuran or dioxane).
The hydrosilylation reaction may be carried out at a temperature of between 15xc2x0 C. and 300xc2x0 C., for example between 20 and 240xc2x0 C., even better between 70 and 200xc2x0 C., in particular between 50 and 140xc2x0 C., most preferably between 50 and 100xc2x0 C.
The relative quantity of unsaturated compound and of compound containing an Sixe2x80x94H unit may be controlled so as to ensure the reaction of all the unsaturations with Sixe2x80x94H bonds.
It is nevertheless preferable to carry out the procedure in the presence of a molar excess of unsaturation.
The molar ratio of the unsaturations to the Sixe2x80x94H bonds generally varies between 1:100 and 10:1.
The concentration of unsaturated compound in the reaction medium is between 2 and 50% by weight.
According to the invention, the hydrosilylation reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalytic quantity of one or more complexes according to the invention. The expression catalytic quantity is understood to mean less than one molar equivalent of platinum relative to the quantity of unsaturations present in the reaction medium.
In general, it is sufficient to introduce into the reaction medium less than 1000 ppm, preferably less than 100 ppm, even better less than 50 ppm of platinum calculated relative to the total mass of the unsaturated compound and of the compound containing Sixe2x80x94H units.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the unsaturated compound, the catalyst and the solvent are placed, with stirring, in a reactor. The whole is heated to the desired temperature and the compound containing the unit
is introduced, with stirring.
The invention is illustrated in the text which follows in the light of the following examples. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Inkjet printers and other printing devices have become ubiquitous in society. These printing devices can utilize a slotted substrate to deliver ink in the printing process. Such printing devices can provide many desirable characteristics at an affordable price. However, the desire for ever more features at ever-lower prices continues to press manufacturers to improve efficiencies. Consumers want ever higher print image resolution, realistic colors, and increased pages or printing per minute.
One way of achieving consumer demands is by improving the slotted substrates that are incorporated into fluid ejecting devices, printers and other printing devices. Currently, the various slotted substrates can be time consuming and costly to make.
Accordingly, the present invention arose out of a desire to provide fast and economical methods for slotted substrates having desirable characteristics. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electroluminescent device using an organic compound, and more particularly, to an organic electroluminescent device from which light is emitted by applying an electric field on a thin film made of an organic compound.
2. Related Background Art
An organic electroluminescent device is a device that includes a thin film made of a fluorescent organic compound between an anode and a cathode, generates an exciton from the fluorescent organic compound by injection of an electron and a hole from each electrode, and utilizes light to be radiated when the exciton returns to the ground state.
The study conducted by Eastman Kodak Company in 1987 (Non-Patent Document 1) reported light emission on the order of 1,000 cd/m2 at an applied voltage of about 10 V, from a device having a separated-function type two-layer structure where an anode is made of ITO and a cathode is made of magnesium-silver alloy, an aluminum quinolinol complex is used as each of an electron-transporting material and a light-emitting material, and also a triphenylamine derivative is used as a hole-transporting material. In this case, related patent documents include Patent Documents 1 to 3.
In addition, light emission at spectra ranging from ultraviolet through infra-red is allowed by changing the type of the fluorescent organic compound. Recently, therefore, various compounds have been studied extensively and described in, for example, Patent Documents 4 to 11.
Furthermore, in addition to the organic electroluminescent devices using low molecular weight materials as described above, an organic electroluminescent device using a conjugated polymer has been reported from the group of the Cambridge University (Non-Patent Document 2). This report confirmed light emission from a monolayer by film formation with polyphenylene vinylene (PPV) in a coating system. Patents related to the organic electroluminescent device using the conjugated polymer include Patent Documents 12 to 16.
Recent advances in technology concerning organic electroluminescent devices are remarkable and the characteristics thereof allow the formation of thin and lightweight electroluminescent devices having high luminance at a low applied voltage, a variety of emission wavelengths, and high-speed response, suggesting the possibility to extensive uses.
However, many problems still remain to be solved in terms of durability, such as changes over time by prolonged use, or degradation with atmospheric gasses including oxygen, humidity, or the like. Considering applications to full-color displays and so on, under present circumstances, high-luminance optical output and high-efficiency emission have been demanded.
As examples of the materials for organic electroluminescent devices containing anthracene rings, phenyl anthracene derivatives are disclosed in Patent Document 17. In particular, when used as a blue light-emitting material or an electron-injection transporting material, the derivatives are assumed to allow the formation of a good organic film because of its low crystallinity. However, the light-emitting efficiency and useful life thereof are insufficient in practical use.
As other examples, an aminoanthracene derivative and a diaminoanthracene derivative have been disclosed in Patent Documents 18 and 19, respectively. In the documents, those materials are assumed to emit green light when used as light-emitting materials. However, devices prepared from those materials have insufficient light-emitting efficiencies and their useful lives are still insufficient in practical use.
As another example, Patent Document 20 discloses a device using a specific bianthryl compound as a light-emitting material, which is assumed to attain light emission with high luminance. However, there is no description about light-emitting efficiency and useful life.
As still another example, Patent Document 21 discloses a device using a specific anthracene compound having an olefin portion as a light-emitting material, which is assumed to obtain light emission from yellow to red. However, the device has insufficient light-emitting efficiency in practical use.
Furthermore, as yet another example, Patent Document 22 discloses a device that contains an anthracene derivative having a specific structure, an electron-transporting compound, and another fluorescent compound in a light-emitting medium layer. It is assumed to obtain a red light-emitting device with improved reliability. However, the device has insufficient light-emitting efficiency in practical use. In addition, it is difficult to obtain blue light emission because of its device configuration.
[Patent Documents]
1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,507 B
2. U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,432 B
3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,211 B
4. U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,629 B
5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,783 B
6. U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,477 B
7. JP H02-247278 A
8. JP H03-255190 A
9. JP H05-202356 A
10. JP H09-202878 A
11. JP H09-227576 A
12. U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,190 B
13. U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,878 B
14. U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,678 B
15. JP H04-145192 A
16. JP H05-247460 A
17. JP H08-012600 A
18. JP H09-157643 A
19. JP H10-072579 A
20. JP 3008897 B
21. JP H11-008068 A
22. JP 2001-284050 A
[Non-Patent Documents]
1. Appl. Phys. Lett., 51, 913 (1987)
2. Nature, 347, 539 (1990) | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
An aspect of the present invention relates to a pattern forming method and a pattern forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the fabrication steps of semiconductor devices, in order to implement the processability and mass production of devices with fine patterns of 100 nm or below, for example, attention is focused on a nanoimprint lithography technique in which a patterned mold is brought into contact with a substrate such as a wafer for pattern transfer.
In the nanoimprinting method, an original plate (mold) having a pattern on one surface thereof is brought into contact with an imprinting material such as a resist layer coated on a substrate and the imprinting material is then cured, whereby the pattern is transferred.
For example, as the nanoimprinting method, the following methods are known: thermal imprinting methods using a thermoplastic resist disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,905-B and JP-2003-77807-A, described later, and photo-imprinting methods using a photo-curing resist disclosed in JP-2001-68411-A and JP-2000-194142-A, described later.
As one example of the nanoimprinting method, the outline of a flow of pattern transfer according to a photo-imprinting method will be described.
The photo-imprinting method includes the following steps: (1) applying a photo-curing resin onto a substrate, (2) aligning a mold with a substrate and bringing them contact with each other, (3) curing the resin with photoirradiation, (4) removing the mold, and (5) removing a remaining film.Here, in removing the remaining film, anisotropic etching with oxygen plasma has been mainly performed.
In semiconductor lithography, by a demand for processing a base film after pattern formation, the height of a required pattern is defined. In photolithography, the height of the pattern after developed can be chiefly determined by the thickness of an applied resist film. In addition to this, although it is necessary to take into account of resist deformation caused by surface tension, for example, in developing and drying the resist, it is possible to satisfy the demand for processing the to-be-processed film in most cases.
However, in the nanoimprinting method, in the step of removing the mold contacted with the imprinting material on the substrate, it is necessary to remove the mold from the imprinting material in which the pattern is hardened.
Here, between the pattern and the mold, friction works depending on the contact area between them. The tensile strength of the imprinting material made of a resin becomes weakened as the width of the pattern becomes narrower.
Therefore, in the pattern with a narrow width and a high height, that is, in the pattern with a high aspect ratio, such a defect that the pattern may be broken when removing the mold.
In addition, when the adhesion between the imprinting material and the base substrate, or the adhesion of the individual interlayers in a multilayer structure of the base substrate is week, peelings may occur in the interface of the weakest adhesion. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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As shown in FIG. 6, the detection of the segment including the specific sound signal is a detection of similar segments including a sound similar to the specific sound signal called the reference signal (reference sound signal) among the sound signals called the stored signals (stored sound signals) that are longer than the reference signal.
It is to be noted that, in the present application, the detection of the similar segment is defined as a detection of a starting time of a top of this similar segment.
In a prior art, as a high-speed method of detecting the similar segment to the reference signal from the stored signals, there is a time-series active search method (for example, Japanese patent No. 3065314, “HIGH SPEED SIGNAL RETRIEVAL METHOD, APPARATUS AND MEDIUM FOR THE SAME”)
However, most search methods for the reference signal included in the stored signals, as described above, make an assumption that a similar segment to the reference signal involved in the stored signals is almost the same as the reference signal.
Thus, in a case that another sound such as narration and the like is overlapped on the music for detection from the stored signals (a case of overlapping an additive noise), the sound signal of the segment is greatly different from the reference signal, therefore, it is not possible to perform the search.
Moreover, in the prior art, there are rare examples of a segment detection method including the specific sound signal aimed to detect music used as BGM too. There is only “Self-optimized spectral correlation method for background music identification (Proc. IEEE ICME '02, Lausanne, vol. 1, 333/336 (2002))”.
However, “Self-optimized spectral correlation method for background music identification” has a problem such that it requires a very long time for detection because of the huge amount of calculation required.
A divide and locate method is proposed as a method for detecting the segment including the specific sound signal much faster (for example, Japanese Patent Application First Publication No. 2004-102023, “SPECIFIC SOUND SIGNAL DETECTION METHOD, SIGNAL DETECTION APPARATUS AND SIGNAL DETECTION PROGRAM AND MEDIUM”).
<Outline of the Divide and Locate Method>
FIG. 7 shows the outline of the divide and locate method, and steps of the divide and locate method are explained below.
First, as shown in step (a) of FIG. 7, a power spectral is calculated from waveform signals of the reference signal and the stored signals respectively, and the spectrograms are obtained respectively.
The spectrograms of small areas with a predetermined size are cut out of the spectrogram of the reference signal.
These spectrograms of small areas are generated by cutting a certain number of points of the original spectrogram in a direction of a frequency axis and in a direction of a time axis. These spectrograms of small areas can have overlapping.
The spectrograms of small areas cut in such a manner are called small-region spectrograms.
When a starting time is “ti”, and a frequency band is “ωm”, the small-region spectrogram in the reference signal is expressed as “Fti, ωm”.
If the starting time is “t”, the frequency band is “ωm” and the size is the same as “Fti, ωm”, then the small-region spectrogram in the stored signal is expressed as “Gt, ωm”.
A set of all time points ti in the reference signal spectrogram at which the small-region spectrograms Fti, ωm are divided is expressed as TR (TR={t1, t2, . . . }), and a set of all frequency bands is defined as W (W={ω1, ω2, . . . }).
Power values at the small-region spectrograms are normalized respectively in order to reduce the fluctuation of the sound volume.
Next, as shown in step (b) of FIG. 7, in accordance with each of Fti, ωm in the reference signal, similar time points at the frequency ωm are searched from the stored signal.
This search is operated by applying the time-series active search method (TAS: Japanese patent No. 3065314, “HIGH SPEED SIGNAL RETRIEVAL METHOD, APPARATUS AND MEDIUM FOR THE SAME”).
It should be noted here that the time point which is similar to Fti, ωm is the time point t at which a degree of small-region similarity s′p (Fti, ωm, Gt, ωm) between Fti, ωm and Gt, ωm is larger than a search threshold for a small-region s′pth.
In accordance with the divide and locate method, TAS is applied upon searching the time points at which such similar small-region spectrograms are detected, therefore, a ratio of histogram overlapping between Fti, ωm and Gt, ωm is used as the degree of small-region similarity s′p (Fti, ωm, Gt, ωm).
The degree of small-region similarity in accordance with the ratio of histogram overlapping is called a small-region histogram similarity.
Here, the time-series active search method is explained briefly. The time-series active search method (TAS) is outlined in FIG. 8.
In accordance with the time-series active search method, a segment with the spectrogram having the ratio of histogram overlapping with respect to the spectrogram of the reference signal is larger than a threshold θ
First, the ratio of histogram overlapping between a spectrogram X and a spectrogram Y is explained.
Here, X and Y are the spectrograms with the same size in the direction of a frequency axis and in the direction of a time axis
In the beginning, after normalizing spectral feature at each time point on the spectrograms, code (vector quantization code: a code generated by coding in accordance with vector quantization) strings are generated corresponding to the spectrograms respectively.
Next, in a calculation of the ratio of histogram overlapping, with respect to each histogram, a histogram (histogram feature) is generated by counting up a number of indications of the above-described vector quantization code.
Here, the histogram features of X and Y are expressed as hX and hY, and the ratio of histogram overlapping Sh(hX, hY) between X and Y is calculated in accordance with a formula (1) shown below.
Sh ( h X , h Y ) = 1 D ∑ γ = 1 L min ( h γ X , h γ Y ) ( 1 )
Here, it should be noted that hγX and hγY are frequencies (number of indications of vector quantization codes) of hX and hY in γ-th bins. L is a number of bins in the histogram. D is a total number of frequencies in the histogram.
In the time-series active search method, the above described ratio of histogram overlapping is applied to the similarity of the spectrogram.
The ratio of histogram overlapping between the spectrogram of the reference signal and the spectrogram in the segment t of the stored signal is defined as S″ (t). After comparing at the time t, a skip width z to a next comparison position is calculated in accordance with a formula (2) using S″ (t), a comparison is operated after shifting the comparing position by z, and a new skip width is calculated.
z = { floor ( D ( θ - S ″ ( t ) ) + 1 ⋯ if S ″ ( t ) < θ 1 ⋯ otherwise ( 2 )
In the formula (2), floor(x) is an integer which is a maximum and not larger than x.
In the time-series active search method, by repeating the above described operation, the search process is operated.
If the ratio of histogram overlapping of the compared segment is larger than a threshold θ, then the segment is detected to be similar to the reference signal.
In the time-series active search method, in accordance with such an operation, along with reducing a total comparison count, by skipping, it is possible to detect all segments with the ratio of histogram overlapping larger than a threshold θ without missing any.
Next, returning to FIG. 7, as shown in step (c) of FIG. 7, based on the search result of all small-region spectrograms Fti, ωm, with respect to each time point t in the stored signal, the degrees of small-region similarity are integrated and a similarity (a degree of segment similarity) S′ (t) to the reference signal at t is calculated by applying a formula (3) below.
S ′ ( t ) = 1 TR ∑ ti ∈ TR ( max ω m ∈ W ( s ′ P ( Fti , ω m , Gt + ti , ω m ) ) ) ( 3 )
In this formula (3), |TR| is a number of elements in TR. If Gt+ti, ωm is not detected as the small-region spectrogram similar to Fti, ωm at time t in the stored signals as a result of searching Fti, ωm, in other words, this is the case in a formula (4) shown below, then the degree of similarity (degree of small-region similarity) between the small-region spectrograms is as shown in a formula (5).S′P(Fti,ωm,Gt+ti,ωm)≦S′Pth (4)S′P(Fti,ωm,Gt+ti,ωm)=0 (5)
Accordingly, in a practical search, only when Gt+ti, ωm is detected as the small-region spectrogram similar to Fti, ωm, S′p (Fti,ωm, Gt+ti, ωm) is summed up or integrated at the formula (3).
In the formula (3), as in a formula (6) shown below, with respect to S′p (Fti, ωm, Gt+ti, ωm), the frequency band ωm is selected from a set of all the frequency bands such that its value is the maximum.
max ω m ∈ W ( s ′ P ( Fti , ω m , Gt + ti , ω m ) ) ( 6 )
The reason the above described operation is executed is that with respect to the small-region spectrograms of the multiple and different frequency bands at the same time point in the reference signal, if the small-region spectrograms of the multiple and different frequency bands at the same time point in the stored signals are detected as similar small-region spectrograms, the frequency band with the maximum degree of similarity in the small-region histogram is selected, in other words, the frequency band considered to have overlapping sounds which are closest to the silence and overlapping on the reference signal small is selected.
Based on the degree of the segment similarity obtained in accordance with the above manner, the reference signal is detected in the region having the starting time t at which the degree of the segment similarity S′ (t) is larger than the threshold S′th.
However, upon using the divide and locate method described above, when similar small-region spectrograms are searched at a frequency band ωm, the ratio of the histogram overlapping between Fti, ωm and Gt+ti, ωm is calculated, therefore, it takes time to calculate the ratio of the histogram overlapping, and moreover, for the histograms of combinations of Fti, ωm and Gt+ti, ωm which are not similar, their histogram overlapping may be calculated too, therefore, it takes a long time to detect the segment including the specific sound signal.
In the present invention, with respect to searching similar small-region spectrograms that takes a long time in the above described prior art, it is possible to check fast whether or not two small-region spectrograms in the reference signal and the stored signals are similar. The present invention has an object of providing a detection system of the segment including the specific sound signal that detects the segment including the specific sound signal faster than the prior arts by skipping checking the similarity of combinations between the small-region spectrograms having no possibility of being similar. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a display device, and particularly to a cathode ray tube including a deflection yoke and a display device thereof.
In one conventional technique, a horizontal auxiliary coil and a vertical auxiliary coil are wound toroidally about a main core, and a horizontal auxiliary transformer or a vertical auxiliary transformer is provided to cancel a voltage induced from a main deflection yoke (see, FIGS. 3 to 5 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-129846). The main core defines the sole deflection yoke in this art.
In another conventional technique, a portion of a coil of a main deflection yoke is wound about a minor core (see, FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-21330). Accordingly, the portion of the coil wound about the minor yoke cooperates with a portion of the coil wound about the main core to more finely control the trajectory of electrons passing through the main and minor cores, i.e., increase the deflection sensitivity. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Various meter assemblies of the type frequently referred to as compound meters have heretofore been provided for measuring variable flow rates within a piping system. Such assemblies, however, because of certain structural characteristics have been beset with one or more of the following shortcomings: the assembly is incapable of accurately measuring the flow rate where the latter varies over a wide range; the assembly is of bulky, costly and complex construction; the flow paths through the assembly are such that substantial pressure drops occur within the assembly; the assembly is susceptible to harmonic oscillation or chattering when measuring the liquid flow; and servicing of the assembly is a difficult and awkward operation requiring shut down of the assembly for long periods of time and oftentimes requiring removal of the entire assembly from the piping system. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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An air conditioning system provided with a voice recognition function, as disclosed in Patent Literature 1, is known. Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology that, on the basis of emphasizers included in a character string input as speech, recognizes the level of sensitivity expressed by a user and then adjusts the environment of the room accordingly. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to physiological biometrics, including automated fingerprint identification systems (AFISs), and in particular to a system and method for mobile scanning and reporting of fingerprint scans and receiving identification data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Physiological biometric data is used in forensic science to identify suspects, victims and other persons. For example, fingerprints collected from a crime scene, or from items of evidence from a crime, can be used to determine who touched the surface in question. Fingerprints are the primary source of physiological biometric data used for identification purposes today. Fingerprint identification emerged as an important system within various law enforcement agencies in the late 19th century. This system replaced anthropometric measurements as a more reliable method for identifying persons having a prior record, often under an alias name, in a criminal record repository. The science of fingerprint identification stands out among all other forensic sciences for many reasons, including its superiority and reliability.
Fingerprint identifications lead to far more positive identifications of persons worldwide than any other identification procedure. The U.S. government alone effects positive identification of over 70,000 persons daily. A large percentage of the identifications, including approximately 92% of the U.S. Visit Program identifications, are affected in a computer identification process with high accuracy based on only two fingerprints from each individual.
Fingerprint identification is the process of comparing questioned and known friction skin ridge impressions (e.g. minutiae) from fingers or palms or even toes to determine if the impressions are from the same finger or palm. The flexibility of friction ridge skin means that no two finger or palm prints are ever exactly alike (never identical in every detail); even two impressions recorded immediately after each other. Fingerprint identification occurs when an expert or computer system determines that two friction ridge impressions originated from the same finger, palm, toe, etc., to the exclusion of all others.
A known print is the intentional recording of the friction ridges, usually with black printer's ink rolled across a contrasting white background, typically a white card. Friction ridges can also be recorded digitally using a technique called live scan. A latent print is the chance reproduction of the friction ridges deposited on the surface of an item. Latent prints are often fragmentary and may require chemical methods, powder, or alternative light sources in order to be visualized.
When friction ridges come in contact with a surface that is receptive to a print, material on the ridges, such as perspiration, oil, grease, ink, etc. can be transferred to the item. The factors which affect friction ridge impressions are numerous, thereby requiring examiners to undergo extensive and objective study in order to be trained to competency. Pliability of the skin, deposition pressure, slippage, the matrix, the surface, and the development medium are just some of the various factors which can cause a latent print to appear differently from the known recording of the same friction ridges. Indeed, the conditions of friction ridge deposition are unique and never duplicated. This is another reason why extensive and objective study is necessary to achieve competency in fingerprint identifications.
There exist systems known as automatic fingerprint identification systems (AFISs) for accomplishing automatic authentication or identification of a person using his/her fingerprint. Search programs such as the Tracker product line by AFIX Technologies Inc. of Pittsburgh, Kans., the assignee of this application, can be used to take a fingerprint image and conduct a search from a major database. A fingerprint of a person comprises a distinctive and unique ridge pattern structure. For authentication or identification purposes, this ridge pattern structure can be characterized by endings and bifurcations of the individual ridges. These features are popularly known as minutiae. These automatic authentication systems include the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Automatic Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which is able to search all ten finger positions, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). In order for a forensic fingerprint scanning system to be able to submit latent submissions to either the ABIS or the IAFIS, certain qualifications must be met.
The methods of U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,937, the system and methods of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/412,512, and the system and methods of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/095,601, which are assigned to a common assignee and are incorporated herein by reference, provide relevant background regarding AFIS systems and methods commonly used to search major fingerprint database records to find results, and also provide a unique and useful approach to performing such a search within a fingerprint database using state-of-the-art techniques.
Existing AFIS systems typically require a stationary location where fingerprints are taken and individuals can be identified. This requires a police officer or other individual to either take ink or digital fingerprints of an individual at a remote location and transport those prints back to a computer where the prints can be processed, or to take the individual to the police station or other location where printing is actually performed.
What is a desired is a mobile application capable of taking fingerprint information of an individual, as well as other optional identification data, and uploading that information directly to the AFIS system of choice. Such a mobile application would allow a user to nearly instantly determine whether an individual has any outstanding warrants or other issues of concern, based solely upon fingerprints taken at a remote location. Such a system could also be used for identification of injured or unknown individuals during a crisis situation.
Heretofore there has not been available a mobile identification system or method with the advantages and features of the present invention. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hydraulically fracturing subterranean formations having an injection means in fluid communication with the subterranean formation. Fracturing is effected with an aqueous fracturing fluid containing a crosslinked polymer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The productivity or injectivity of a well or formation may be greatly reduced by contamination with waxy occlusions, casing cement, drilling mud, emulsion blocks, low permeability of the formation rock, etc. These blockages may be overcome by injecting a fluid into a well to hydraulically fracture the formation at a sufficient rate and pressure to overcome the tensile strength of the formation and the overburden pressure. This causes cracks extending from the wellbore out into the formation and permits the flow of hydrocarbons and other liquid and gaseous fluids.
Desirable fracturing fluid properties include stability under formation conditions, high viscosity and low fluid loss and low friction loss during injection into the formation. Crosslinked polymer solutions possess some if not all of these properties.
Patents representative of the prior art include the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,044 to Hansen et al: Incorporating polyacrylamide having a molecular weight of at least 3,000,000 in a fracturing fluid reduces energy loss during the pumping of the fluid. The polyacrylamide acts as a friction reducing and dispersing agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,525 to Sarem: Friction loss during pumping is reduced by incorporating an acrylic acid-acrylamide-diacetone acrylamide terpolymer into a fracturing fluid in concentrations up to 500 ppm. The terpolymer provides better friction reduction than is obtained using a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,650 to Watanabe: A suspension of finely divided particles of water-insoluble, oil-soluble homogeneous solid solution of wax and polymer in an aqueous solution of a partially hydrolyzed, high molecular weight polyacrylamide is used for fracturing. The polyacrylamide has 12-67 percent of the original amide groups hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,719 to Root: The pressure drop due to flow of a fracturing fluid is reduced by 0.005-4 weight percent of an acrylamide polymer. The polymer can be a long chain polymer of ethylene oxide having a molecular weight of one to ten million or a copolymer of acrylamide with other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable therewith.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,842,338 to Davis et al: A drilling fluid is obtained by the in situ crosslinking of polyacrylic acid with a polyvalent cation. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to silicon carbide and in particular, to a method of manufacturing a film of silicon carbide, a device including the silicon carbide, an ingot of silicon carbide, and the like. In this event, it is to be noted that the silicon carbide is used for a substrate material of a semiconductor device, a sensor, a dummy wafer in a semiconductor manufacturing process, an X-ray mask, a solar cell, and so on.
It is known in the art that silicon carbide itself is a semiconductor which has a forbidden band as wide as 2.2 eV or more and which is formed by thermally, chemically, and mechanically stable crystals. In addition, consideration has been made about applications of the silicon carbide to a semiconductor substance which is used on conditions of a high frequency and a high electric power because the silicon carbide has a high thermal conductivity. As a method of manufacturing the silicon carbide, have been known in the art the Acheson method and the sublimation and recrystallization method (will be also called an improved Lely method). Specifically, the Acheson method is for reacting silicon on heated coke to deposit the silicon carbide on the surface of the coke while the sublimation and recrystallization method is for heating the silicon carbide obtained by the Acheson method to sublimate and thereafter recrystallize it. In addition, is also known a liquid deposition method which melts silicon within a carbon crucible to pulling the silicon carbide with reacting floating carbon in the crucible with the silicon.
Moreover, any other methods have also been proposed so as to obtain a silicon carbide film which has a high purity and reduced crystal defects. Specifically, as such methods, have been known a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and an atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) method. In the CVD method, the silicon carbide is deposited on a surface of a substrate by thermally reacting a carbon source gas with another silicon source gas in a normal or a reduce pressure atmosphere. On the other hand, silicon source molecules and carbon source molecules are alternately adsorbed on a substrate surface and epitaxial growth of the silicon carbide proceeds with crystallinity of the substrate kept unchanged in the silicon carbide.
Herein, it is to be noted that, when the silicon carbide is used as a material of a semiconductor device, controlling an impurity is extremely important. For example, let the silicon carbide be used as a substrate for a power semiconductor device of a discrete type, such as a Schottky-barrier diode. In this event, the device has a series resistance or an on-resistance when the device is put in an on-state and the on-resistance is preferably small because of a reduction of a power loss within the device. In order to decrease the on-resistance, the substrate must be doped with an impurity of an amount as large as 1021/cm3 at maximum.
On the other hand, consideration should be made about a breakdown voltage of a semiconductor device. Such a breakdown voltage of the semiconductor is generally proportional to −0.5 power (namely, minus square root) of the impurity concentration. Taking this into account, the impurity concentration should be reduced to 1×1014/cm3 at a portion of the device at which an electric field is concentrated.
In the meanwhile, a thermal diffusion method is used to dope the impurity into the substrate on manufacturing the semiconductor device which uses silicon as a base material. The thermal diffusion method is for adding the impurity into the substrate by coating an impurity on a substrate surface or by exposing the substrate in an impurity atmosphere and by thereafter heating the substrate. However, such a thermal diffusion method can not be applied to a silicon carbide substrate. This is because a diffusion coefficient within the silicon carbide is extremely slow as compared with that within the silicon. This make it very difficult to diffuse an impurity to a depth (deeper than 1 μm with a concentration range between 1×1014 and 1×1021/cm3) which is available for manufacturing the semiconductor device.
Under the circumstances, an ion injection method is usually used to add an impurity to silicon carbide and is useful to widely control an impurity concentration. However, restriction is inevitably imposed in the ion injection method on a distribution of impurity along a depth direction due to a range of injected ions. In other words, the distribution of impurity depends on the range of the injected ions. Taking this into consideration, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei.11-503571, namely, 503571/1999 discloses a method of introducing a dopant into a semiconductor layer of silicon carbide. More specifically, the method should have a step of ion injecting a dopant into a semiconductor layer at a low temperature and a step of annealing the semiconductor layer at a high temperature. In this event, the ion injecting step is performed at the low temperature so that an amorphous layer is formed near to a surface of the semiconductor while the annealing step is performed at the high temperature so that the dopant is diffused into an un-injected layer laid under the amorphous layer. Even when this method is used, it is difficult to diffuse the impurity with a high concentration over a whole of the substrate.
In addition, injected ions are insufficient with electrical activation and the ion injection brings about the crystal defects within the silicon carbide. Under the circumstances, proposal has been made in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 12-068225, namely, 068225/2000 about a method of additionally ion injecting carbon atoms (C) to improve electrical activation of acceptors injected into the silicon carbide. This method is also effective to suppress diffusion resulting from heat treatment. Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 11-121393, namely, 121393/1999 discloses a method of forming a mask of SiO2 on a silicon surface of a silicon carbide substrate and thereafter carrying out ion injection of nitrogen as impurity element. After injection of the impurity, this method should further carry out ion injection (channeling injection) from a direction perpendicular to the silicon surface and another ion injection (random injection) from another direction oblique from the perpendicular direction by 7 degrees. As pointed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 11-121393, when phosphorus atoms are ion injected into the semiconductor of silicon carbide, the temperature on the ion injection should be kept at a high temperature, such as 1200° C. or more.
Herein, let an impurity be added all over a substrate. In this case, use is made of a method which forms silicon carbide simultaneously with doping an impurity and which may be called in-situ doping. In such in-situ doping, restrictions are inevitably imposed on an impurity source and a concentration to be added. For example, disclosure is made in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 09-063968 about a method which causes a boron inclusion gas to flow simultaneously with feeding a mix gas of carbon and silicon and which serves to grow a semiconductor layer of p-silicon carbide in a vapor phase. In this event, when a supply quantity of carbon and a supply quantity of silicon, both of which contribute to crystal growth, stand for QC and QSi, respectively, the following relationship should hold:1<QC/QSi<5.
As regards the semiconductor layer of the p-silicon carbide deposited in the above-mentioned manner, the following relationship between atomic density dC of the carbon and atomic density dSi of the silicon should be satisfied:1<dC<dSi<32/31.
As mentioned in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10-507734, namely, 507734/1998, trialkylboron should be used as an organic boron compound in a CVD process or a sublimation process. Specifically, let use be made of the organic boron compound which has, in a molecule, at least one boron atom chemically bonded to at least one carbon atom, when doping is carried out in a single crystal of silicon carbide by each of the CVD and the sublimation process. The above-mentioned Publication points out that trialkylboron effectively acts as such an organic boron compound.
In order to vary a concentration of nitrogen as an impurity over a wide range by using in-situ doping technique, Applied Physics letters 65(13), 26 (1994) reports about varying a concentration of carbon which competes with nitrogen in an occupancy ratio of crystal lattices in silicon carbide. In this case, since the concentration of nitrogen arranged in positions of the crystal lattice in place is sensible against the concentration of carbon, a composition ratio of a silicon source and a carbon source should be strictly controlled on growing the silicon carbide. This makes mass-production of the silicon carbide difficult.
Alternatively, let an impurity be doped with silicon carbide by using the sublimation and recrystallization method. In this event, silicon carbide powder and an impurity source (such as Al, B) which act as raw materials should be mixed at a predetermined ratio and sublimated to be recrystallized on a seed crystal. Herein, it is noted that a vapor pressure of the impurity source is very higher than that of the silicon carbide at a sublimation temperature. In consequence, an impurity concentration in the silicon carbide inevitably becomes high at a beginning of silicon carbide growth and becomes low at an end of the growth because the impurity source is wasted and extinct.
Such a variation of the impurity concentration gives rise to a variation of resisitivity among silicon carbide substrates when the silicon carbide formed by the sublimation and recrystallization method is sliced to obtain the silicon carbide substrates. This makes it difficult to realize a stable characteristic of a device. In addition, the silicon carbide grown by the sublimation and recrystallization method does not always have a flat surface and a sharp pn junction or a flat pn junction can not be attained by the use of such silicon carbide.
In the conventional in-situ doping which dopes an impurity during growing the silicon carbide by a vapor growth method, capturing the impurity proceeds simultaneously with growth of silicon carbide. Taking this into consideration, let a pn junction be formed by the use of the above-mentioned in-situ doping. In this case, impurity materials should be switched from one to another during the doping. On switching the impurity materials, a previous impurity gas is inescapably left in a reaction system at the beginning of doping another impurity. In consequence, it is difficult to obtain a sharp pn junction which has a clear junction boundary between p and n regions. In addition, donor impurities and acceptor impurities coexist in a portion adjacent to the junction boundary and such coexistence brings about a high compensation degree and which makes it difficult to enhance mobility in the pn junction.
Moreover, gas flows and the like give rise to an uneven distribution of impurity concentrations in a plane and a uniform impurity concentration can not be obtained over a wide range. Hence, the impurity concentrations can not be strictly controlled and the silicon carbide which has desired impurity concentration distributions can not be attained with a high yield. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts an analog input signal (e.g., a voltage) to a digital output signal (also termed a “digital code” or simply a “code”). An ADC uniquely represents all analog inputs within a certain range by a limited number of digital output codes. Since the analog scale is continuous, while the digital code scale is discrete, there is a quantization process that introduces an error. That is, a small range of analog voltages will be resolved by the ADC to the same digital output code. As a result, a plot of analog input voltage versus digital output code has a stair step shape. The width of one step is defined as one least significant bit (LSB) and is often used as the reference unit for other quantities or units of the full analog range. For example, one-half LSB represents an analog quantity equal to one-half of the analog resolution.
Various types of errors exist in ADCs. Examples of such errors include offset error, gain error, differential nonlinearity (DNL) error, integral nonlinearity (INL) error, absolute accuracy error, and aperture error. Because an analog voltage is a continuous signal and a digital code is a discrete value, the relationship between digital output codes of an ADC and an analog input voltage has a stair step shape. For a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), analog output voltages are determined based on digital input codes resulting in step increases in voltage from one digital code to the next. The width of each step for an ADC is a function of the resolution of the ADC as well as component mismatches internal to the ADC. The DNL error refers to the difference between an actual step width between successive digital codes and the step width of an ideal ADC (or difference between step heights between an actual and ideal DAC). The step width of an ideal ADC may be referred to as “1 LSB.” DNL error may be expressed in units of LSB. For example, a +½ LSB DNL error means that the step width is 50% larger than the ideal ADC step width.
INL error represents the deviation of the values on the actual transfer function from, in some representations, a straight line. The summation of the differential nonlinearities from bottom up to a particular step determines the value of the INL at that step. A plot of INL errors over the various digital codes may show sharp jumps in the INL errors between certain adjacent digital codes, referred to as “MSB (most significant bit) jumps.”
While the relationship between the analog input and the digital output codes is linear for an ideal ADC, unfortunately DNL and INL errors result in a non-linear relationship between the analog input and the digital output codes. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
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