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The present invention relates to microwave waveguide coupling devices, and more particularly to TE.sub.21 circular waveguide couplers.
Prior art TE.sub.21 coupler designs employ four auxiliary rectangular waveguide lines symmetrically oriented around the main line circular waveguide to excite or receive a TE.sub.21 mode. These lines are subsequently connected to a 1:4 power distribution network. To convert this coupler to a circularly polarized TE.sub.21 mode, two sets of four auxiliary lines and two sets of 1:4 power distribution networks are required.
In other words, current TE.sub.21 circular waveguide couplers employ eight auxiliary rectangular waveguides to receive a circularly polarized TE.sub.21 circular waveguide mode, and two sets of 1:4 power combining circuitries and a quadrature hybrid are required to combine the outputs from the eight auxiliary coupler lines.
The disclosed invention, on the other hand, employs only one or two auxiliary lines for each TE.sub.21 mode excitation in the circular waveguide. With a single auxiliary line, no distribution network is required. For a two line coupler, a 1:2 power distribution network is required. The choice of a single or dual auxiliary line coupler depends on the length of the coupler and the coupling factor of the auxiliary coupling lines. If length is not a consideration, then a single line coupler is employed. A dual line coupler is used where it is required to constrain the coupler length. The main advantage gained is the significant reduction in the complexity and construction and hence, the cost of the power divider and feed circuitry.
The modified coupler design uses only two, or at the most, four auxiliary lines to achieve the same capabilities and performance of the TE.sub.21 circular waveguide coupler. This reduces the complexity of the combining circuitry. For a two auxiliary line coupler, only a quadrature hybrid is required. For a four auxiliary line coupler, two sets of 1:2 combiners and a quadrature hybrid are required. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an apparatus for adjusting the height of a basketball goal and, more particularly, to a constant force adjustment assembly for a basketball goal assembly having an extension arm adjustable between a plurality of positions to facilitate the adjustment of the basketball goal over a playing surface.
2. Technical Background
Basketball is an increasingly popular sport in the United States and abroad. There are many cities, counties and other associations that sponsor recreational and instruction leagues where people of all ages can participate in the sport of basketball. Today there are organized leagues for children as young as five and six years old. Accordingly, is not surprising that more and more people have a basketball goal assembly mounted on their own property.
The problem with many basketball goal assemblies of the prior art is that the goal is usually fixed at a certain height above the playing surface, with a standard height being about ten (10) feet. Children and younger teens, however, generally don""t have the strength or agility to shoot and make a basket at the typical height of ten feet. Moreover, children tend to develop improper shooting skills by attempting to throw a basketball toward a goal that is disposed too high. Oftentimes, children or younger teens get frustrated with the sport of basketball and may give up the sport altogether.
Many attempts have been made by those skilled in the art to design basketball goal assemblies which are adjustable to several different heights. Adjustable basketball goal assemblies allow persons of all ages and sizes to enjoy the sport of basketball because the basketball goal can be adjusted to various heights above the playing surface. Some prior art basketball goal assemblies employ a deformable linkage design which generally connects the backboard to a rigid mount such as a support pole. In operation, prior art deformable linkages may be selectively locked at various positions to secure the basketball goal at a predetermined height above the playing surface.
One disadvantage of prior art deformable linkage devices is that the adjustment assembly is typically positioned within or near the linkage which is generally well above the playing surface. Accordingly, whenever a user desires to adjust the height of the basketball goal, the use of a ladder, stool or the like is required to enable the user to reach the adjustment assembly and xe2x80x9cunlockxe2x80x9d the basketball goal. Having to use a ladder, stool or the like to adjust the height of the basketball goal creates an inherent danger to the user of the potential for falling.
Other prior art adjustable basketball goal assemblies were developed having an adjustment assembly that is only accessible with the use of a separate rod or pole, such as a broomstick handle. Often times, there is not such an adjustment device readily available. The user must therefore accommodate the inconvenience of having to find a suitable implement, or simply choose not to adjust the height of the basketball goal.
Another disadvantage of many prior art adjustable basketball goal assemblies is that the mechanism for adjusting the height of the basketball goal is separate and distinct from the mechanism used to secure the goal assembly at a particular height. Thus, both hands of a user are normally needed to simultaneously unlock the adjustment mechanism, adjust the basketball goal and then lock the adjustment assembly at a predetermined position.
Some prior art basketball goal assemblies are configured with the adjustment assembly positioned adjacent the basketball playing area. Such adjustment assemblies can interfere with users, thereby creating a potentially dangerous situation. For example, such adjustable basketball goal assemblies are usually subject to inadvertent adjustment if bumped by a user or hit with a basketball.
Yet another disadvantage of prior art basketball goal assemblies is that the adjustment assembly is in tension with the linkage device attached to the goal; thus the locking or adjustment assembly is susceptible to separation upon failure and, accordingly, the goal assembly may drop into the playing area and cause potential injuries to users. Another disadvantage of prior art basketball goal adjustment assemblies is that many of the securing and adjustment assemblies require numerous working components and a complex design configuration to be able to simultaneously adjust and secure the basketball goal assembly in a predetermined position above a playing surface. This increases the cost, the difficulty of manufacture and the time required for a user to assemble the basketball goal.
Moreover, many prior art adjustable goal systems require a user to apply considerable force to operate them. Some mechanism is needed to provide an upward force, or counterbalancing force, on the basketball goal to counteract its weight. Several known adjustable systems have a counterweight positioned to rise when the goal falls, and vice versa, to provide a neutral balance, thereby making adjustment easier. However, this approach requires either the use of long, protruding members to provide a longer moment arm for the counterweight, or heavy weights to compensate for a shorter moment arm. Either solution is undesirable. Long counterweight extensions impede goal placement and possibly game play. Heavy weights make the entire assembly expensive to ship and difficult to move.
Springs, when used in the place of a counterweight, are prone to a different problem. Since the force provided by a spring increases with the spring""s deflection, the counterbalancing force increases along the goal""s range of adjustment. As a result, the counterbalancing force will be inadequate when the spring is nearly undeflected, i.e., when the goal is near the top of its range of adjustment, so that a user must bear a portion of the goal""s weight to adjust it. Similarly, when the goal is in a lower position, the counterbalancing force is too great, so that a user must fight the counterbalance to avoid adjusting the goal height more than desired. The unpredictability of such a mechanism is frustrating for users, who may have to make several adjustments to obtain a desired goal height.
Furthermore, many known adjustment assemblies are difficult to fine-tune because they are either locked in place, or unlocked for adjustment. Once unlocked, the goal adjustment assembly moves freely, so that it is difficult to make slight adjustments, especially if the counterbalancing force is too large, too small, or not present. Such free motion also creates a danger of injury from rapid adjustment. For example, a person standing underneath the goal may be injured if another person unlocks the adjustment mechanism, thereby allowing the backboard to fall rapidly.
Another disadvantage of many known adjustment assemblies is that they obstruct the space behind the backboard with springs, levers, and the like. As a result, an overshot ball may become lodged behind the backboard by the adjustment mechanism, or possibly trip or damage the adjustment mechanism. If the backboard is transparent, visible componentry of the adjustment assembly may distract players, especially if it shows through the square typically painted on backboards to help players aim at the basket.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that it would be an advancement in the art to provide an adjustable basketball goal assembly that can be adjusted without the use of a ladder or a pole. It would be a further advancement to provide such an adjustable basketball goal assembly that could be quickly and easily adjusted using a single hand of a user. It would be yet another advancement to provide an adjustable basketball goal assembly that does not interfere with game play and that would not endanger users if the adjustment or locking mechanism failed. Moreover, it would be another advancement in the art to provide an adjustable basketball goal assembly that is simple in design and cost effective relative to manufacture.
Furthermore, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an adjustable basketball goal system that is adjustable across a large range of goal heights with a substantially constant input force from a user. It would be a further advancement in the art to provide an adjustable basketball goal system with dampened motion, such that adjustment takes place in a measured, safe fashion. Yet further, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an adjustable basketball goal system in which components of the adjustment assembly are substantially removed from the area behind the backboard, so that overshot basketballs will not strike the adjustment mechanism, and players will not be distracted by additional parts behind a transparent backboard.
Such an adjustable basketball goal assembly is disclosed and claimed herein.
The present invention is directed to a novel adjustable basketball goal assembly having a constant force adjustment assembly that facilitates adjusting the height of a basketball goal above a playing surface. The basketball goal assembly of the present invention includes a support pole that extends in a substantially upward direction. The support pole has a goal side and a back side formed opposite the goal side. A deformable goal support structure may be pivotally attached to the goal side of the support pole such that the goal support structure is suspended above the playing surface. The goal support structure includes an upper support arm and a lower support arm. In one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, one of the support arms has a tail section that extends substantially outward from the back side of the support pole.
A basketball goal is preferably attached to the goal support structure adjacent the goal side of the support pole. In one presently preferred embodiment, the goal comprises a rim, a backboard and a net. The goal support structure is preferably configured such that as the goal support structure deforms, the height of the basketball goal above the playing surface is correspondingly adjusted, wherein each variation in height of the basketball goal corresponds to a different deformation of the goal support structure. In operation, the goal support structure allows the rim of the basketball goal to be adjusted to several different heights while retaining the rim in a substantially horizontal disposition in relation to the playing surface.
In one presently preferred embodiment, a handle member is pivotally mounted at the back side of the support pole such that a user can adjust the handle member without needing a ladder, stool, pole or the like. An extension arm is preferably positioned between the parallelogrammic deformable goal support structure and the handle substantially along the back side of the support pole. A first end of the extension arm is pivotally attached to a cam fixture mounted on the tail section of the lower support arm and a second end of the extension arm is pivotally attached to the handle member. The handle member may include a distal end pivotally attached to the support pole and an intermediate portion pivotally attached contiguous a second end of the extension arm. In this configuration, an adjustment of the handle member moves the extension arm and deforms the parallelogrammic structure to thereby adjust the height of the basketball goal in relation to the playing surface. Thus, the height of the basketball goal can be adjusted without the use of a ladder or other adjustment implement.
In preferred design, a first resilient member, in the form of a gas spring, also pivotally engages the intermediate portion of the handle member and the support pole. The gas spring includes a first adjustment member telescopically engaged within a second adjustment member. One or more internal compressible fluids, such as a gas and an oil, operate to urge the first adjustment member out from the second adjustment member, thereby pressing the handle downward to oppose the weight of the basketball goal.
The gas spring has an internal valve structure operable by means of a rod extending through the first adjustment member. The rod actuates the internal valving to lock the gas spring against adjustment when the rod is drawn outward from the first adjustment member, and to permit adjustment when the rod is pressed into the first adjustment member. The rod is pivotally attached to a trigger, which is, in turn, pivotally attached to the handle member. The trigger acts as a lever, such that a user squeezing the trigger against the handle pushes the rod into the first adjustment member, thereby permitting adjustment of the gas spring. Once adjustment of the basketball goal assembly is completed, a user releases the trigger and the handle, and the rod is drawn from the first adjustment member to once again lock the gas spring. Hence, and the entire basketball goal assembly is locked in that configuration until the user once again grips the handle and squeezes the trigger.
When released, the gas spring, like a coil spring, provides a force proportional to its deflection. Thus, when the basketball goal is near its lowest point, the gas spring is greatly compressed and provides a large restorative force. When the basketball goal is near its highest point, the gas spring is only slightly compressed, so the restorative force is less. This changing force is compensated for by the cam fixture mounted on the tail section of the lower support arm.
The cam fixture provides an offset for the force of the gas spring, which acts on the goal support structure through the extension arm. The attachment point of the extension arm on the cam fixture is effectively drawn inward, toward the support pole, as the goal moves downward. This lessens the moment arm of the gas spring""s force on the lower support arm. The smaller moment arm compensates for the larger force of the gas spring when it is greatly compressed, as when the goal is lowered. Consequently, the moment exerted by the gas spring on the goal support structure, and therefore the upward force provided to counterbalance the weight of the basketball goal, remains substantially constant through the basketball goal""s entire range of adjustment.
The gas spring also tends to resist rapid adjustment. The internal fluids of the gas spring create an additional force that is opposed to and proportional to the velocity of adjustment in either direction. This may be called a dampening force because it tends to dampen rapid motion. Thus, the basketball goal assembly will only be adjustable at a relatively safe rate of speed, or rate of adjustment, even if a user is pushing or pulling the handle with considerable force.
In one presently preferred embodiment, a second resilient member is also provided. The second resilient member may include a second adjustment member telescopically engaged within a first adjustment member. However, a coil spring inside the first and second adjustment members may be used to provide the restorative force for the second resilient member. The second resilient member may be pivotally attached to the support pole and to the cam fixture, so that it functions similar to the first resilient member. More specifically, as the basketball goal is lowered, the spring stretches to a greater deflection, thereby providing a larger restorative force. The cam offset decreases the moment arm of this force against the goal support structure as the basketball goal is lowered, thereby providing a constant counterbalancing force against the basketball goal, substantially independent of the goal""s height above the playing surface.
The basketball goal assembly may also include a support base configured having an internal cavity sufficient for receiving and retaining a ballast material. The support base is configured such that when filled with a ballast material, the base stabilizes the adjustable basketball goal assembly and supports the support pole, disposed in a receiving aperture formed in the support base, in a substantially upright position.
Thus, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide an adjustable basketball goal assembly with an adjustment assembly in compression with the extension arm and which does not interfere with the playing area. It is another advantage of the present invention to be able to adjust the height of the basketball goal without the aid of a ladder or pole. It is a further advantage of the present invention to be able to easily adjust the height of the basketball goal using only a single hand of a user.
It is another advantage of the present invention to be able to adjust the height of the basketball goal by applying a constant external force, independent of the configuration of the basketball goal assembly. It is yet another advantage of the present invention to be able to safely and accurately adjust the height of the basketball goal through a dampening force provided by the adjustment mechanism. It is an additional advantage of the present invention to be able to adjust the height of the basketball goal without interference with game play from adjustment assembly components behind the backboard. Still further, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide an adjustable basketball goal assembly that is cost effective to manufacture and easy to assemble. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The necessity to provide persistent, wide-area surveillance of city size regions has emerged as a critical need for both law enforcement and military applications. Determination of the location and identity of flash events within the area under surveillance enables time critical decisions to be made on the allocation of resources. Only a limited number of technical approaches have been applied to this problem. To date, these approaches have suffered from limited range, the need for large amounts of processing power, large apparatus, or combinations of these which make employment on airborne platforms problematic. The present invention overcomes these limitations. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to the manufacture of work surfaces, such as hang-on office furniture work surfaces. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a work surface by pouring a liquid into a mold and allowing the liquid to solidify.
2. Description of Related Art
Counter tops are commonly manufactured by pouring a liquid into a rectangular mold, and then curing the liquid by applying heat. This produces a work surface with a planar top and a planar bottom surface. A support structure of wood is built to support the work surface, and the work surface is placed on top of the support.
Recently, a new chemical formula has been developed for manufacturing work surfaces without having to apply heat to cure the material. This new material is self curing, and the liquid will set without being heated.
The new material is poured into a mold and allowed to set, forming a work surface having a planar top and a planar bottom surface. The work surface is then placed on a support structure.
Unfortunately, a work surface having planar top and bottom surfaces has a tendency to bend and warp, and is not self-supporting. When the work surface bends or warps, it will separate from the support structure, causing cracks.
Another disadvantage of the prior art is that it is difficult to use with hang-on wall brackets. The prior art work surfaces tends to deflect and sag when suspended from wall brackets. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pointing device which can be suitably provided in a data processor such as a personal computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a digital data processor, such as a personal computer, provided with a display and a keyboard incorporated therein, a pointing device is conventionally used as an auxiliary input device for indicating coordinate data on the display by entering analog information through a manual operation by an operator. Particularly, a typical small-sized portable data processor is provided with a built-in type pointing device integrally incorporated in a housing body of the data processor, or otherwise a separate pointing device, such as a mouse, is detachably connected with the processor housing body through a cable and a connector when it is used.
The conventional pointing device, described, e.g., in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-49292 (JP-A-10-49292), includes a base part, an operating part supported on the base part and rockable about a fulcrum provided on the base part, a magnet carried on one of the base part and the operating part, a magneto-electro transducer (generally, a Hall element) carried on the other of the base part and the operating part opposite to the magnet, and an elastic member for pushing or biasing the operating part toward an initial balanced position on the base part. In this pointing device, an operator manually operates the operating part to rock it on the base part against the biasing force of the elastic member, and changes the positional relationship between the magnet and the magneto-electro transducer to vary the output voltage of the magneto-electro transducer, whereby it is possible to enter analog information corresponding to the rocking direction and rocking angle of the operating part.
In the case where the above pointing device having the magneto-electro transducer is integrally incorporated in the housing body of the small-sized data processor, the pointing device is mounted with the operating part thereof being exposed on the upper side portion of the housing body adjacent to the keyboard of the data processor. In this arrangement, the height of the operating part projecting from the upper side of the housing body is reduced as much as possible, in order to ensure the portability of the data processor. Particularly, when it is required to facilitate the reduction of thickness of the data processor, the pointing device is also required in itself to be reduced in the height thereof, i.e., a distance between the bottom surface of the base part and the top surface of the operating part should be decreased as much as possible.
Incidentally, the built-in type pointing device as described above essentially imposes an input operation within a limited area on a operator, and besides, there is a possibility of further deteriorating the operational properties when the height reduction is facilitated. Therefore, in the case where the operator regards the good operational properties of the pointing device as important when using the data processor with a reduced thickness, a detachable type pointing device, in which the dimensions are not related to the dimensions of the data processor, is used. In particular, when the data processor is used in a portable way, it is difficult to ensure a space for operating a mouse having a normal structure, in which an operative ball is partially exposed on the back side of the mouse. Consequently, it has been proposed that a pointing device having a structure similar to that of the conventional built-in type pointing device is used while being detachably attached to the housing body of the data processor (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-139013 (JP-A-6-139013)).
When it is required to reduce the height of the conventional pointing device having the magneto-electro transducer, it is also required to decrease the dimension of the components of the pointing device in a vertical direction, corresponding to height in the assembled state thereof. However, if the dimension in a vertical direction of the elastic member, generally formed by a rubber or a coil spring for biasing the operating part toward the initial position, is excessively reduced, it is possible that a spring force generated when the elastic member is elastically deformed becomes insufficient, which may result in a difficulty in the proper and stable operation of the operating part. Also, if the dimension in a vertical direction of the respective components is decreased, problems may arise wherein the distance between the magnet and the outer surface of the operating part exposed on the upper side of the housing body of the data processor is inevitably reduced, and thereby facilitating magnetic leakage through the operating part to the exterior thereof.
On the other hand, the conventional detachable pointing device, described, e.g., in JP-A-6-139013, includes a housing accommodating both an operating part and a detecting section for detecting the movement of the operating part. When the detachable pointing device is used, a cable extending from the housing is connected through a connector to the data processor, and the housing is mounted at a desired position on the housing body of the data processor. In this arrangement, it is generally troublesome to electrically connect and mechanically attach the pointing device with the data processor, and the cable extending around the data processor from the pointing device mounted thereon may deteriorate the portability and operational environmental condition of the data processor. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates accessing and filtering libraries of literature via a computer system.
2. Background Art
Doctors, clinicians, scientists, and other medical professionals consult journal articles for a variety of reasons. For example, a doctor might want to learn more about a certain type of illness or to try to determine how to handle a patient with an unfamiliar set of symptoms. A scientist may wish to discover what other scientists think of a particular theory or treatment regime. Journal articles provide both the doctor and the scientist with a way to find such information. Articles discussing the results of a clinical trial or the side effects of a new drug, for example, can also be found in such journals. If a new method for diagnosing a certain ailment is discovered journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine may decide to publish one or more articles describing how to perform the new method.
Practicing physicians (as well other professionals or individuals) have significant constraints placed on their time. The structure of modern medical practices and the productivity pressures of managed care have circumscribed the time available to keep abreast of recent advances in the medical literature. There are a significant number of new articles that appear on a regular basis from many different sources. It is impossible for a physician to be able to peruse each of the journals and other literature sources to find those articles that are most relevant to the physician's practice or otherwise of interest to the physician.
To obtain articles that discuss issues such as those identified above a person may utilize the Internet. The Internet is an amalgamation of interconnected computer networks that provides anybody who is connected with access to other computers that are also connected to the Internet. The Internet contains a number of searchable data repositories that contain articles related to the medical field. The National Library of Medicine (NLM), for example, provides users with access to a number of different databases via a program called the Internet Grateful Med (IGM). The IGM is accessible via the World Wide Web (WWW). The WWW is a part of the Internet that may be accessed by using a browser application. Netscape Communicator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are examples of several widely used browser applications. The IGM provides access to MEDLINE, a database which contains more than nine million articles from journals throughout the world, and 14 other databases. AIDSLINE, AIDSDRUGS, AIDSTRIALS, DIRLINE, HealthSTAR, HSRPROJ, HISTLINE, OLDMEDLINE, SDILINE, SPACELNE, BIOETHICSLINE, POPLINE, TOXLINE and ChemID, for example, are all available using the IGM.
A problem with using search interfaces such as the IGM is that it requires a substantial amount of time to locate relevant articles. Time to search through databases for articles relevant to a particular subject is not a luxury many medical professionals can afford. Moreover, even if a person does manage to find the time to conduct a search, the articles are not provided at a time when they are immediately pertinent. For example, current systems do not provide a mechanism for providing articles to a doctor when the doctor is seeing patients.
When a doctor sees a patient, information about that patient is typically entered into a medical chart. The medical chart becomes part of the patient's permanent medical history. In some instances the patient's medical chart is in electronic form. Electronic medical records provide doctors and other medical professionals with a simple way to store and retrieve information about a patient. The HBOC in Atlanta Ga. and the SMS in Malvern, Pa. for example are both companies that provide and maintain electronic medical record systems. Current electronic medical record systems do not, however, provide a way for the doctor to obtain journal articles about a particular subject by automatically pulling information directly from the patient's medical chart and querying a medical library for information about that subject. In the prior art, the patient's medical chart is separate from journal article retrieval systems such as the IGM.
If a doctor wants to conduct a search of a medical journal database using a particular patient's information, the doctor must manually decide what information is pertinent, create a query using that information using the appropriate query format for the database and submit that query to a search program. If the doctor then becomes curious about the side effects that might occur if a certain type of drug is used to treat that patient then the doctor must manually create another search and submit it to the search program. This process can become laborious and has the negative effect of discouraging doctors or any other person who has a need for such articles from searching for them. To understand other problems associated with existing search techniques it is helpful to examine the current methods used to query medical libraries.
The IGM, for example, is capable of processing queries for information in several different ways. A detailed illustration of these query methods and the problems associated with them follows. Referring now to FIG. 1 an interface for querying MEDLINE is shown. There is a row of action buttons 100-104 across the top of the interface. Each action button performs a different function. Below the action buttons 100-104 is a section 110 for entering query terms. Section 110 contains three empty text boxes 111-113. Words or phrases to search on may be entered into text boxes 111-113. Whatever is entered into the text boxes 111-113 can be searched using three methods. The method is selected using pull-down boxes 114-116. Pull-down box 114, for example, contains the options subject, author name, or title word. If author name is selected the search program will use the information entered into text box 111 to search for articles written by a certain author. The default state for pull-down boxes 114-116 is to conduct a subject search.
Once a query term is entered in text boxes 111-113 the search may be performed. To perform a search the user selects action box 100. Once a query is submitted all the records that match the parameters entered in text boxes 111-113 are retrieved. For example, if a doctor enters the words "Alzheimer's Disease" into text box 112 and clicks on action button 100 a list of articles that mention Alzheimer's Disease is displayed. If the doctor conducts the same search at a later date a list of all the articles previously located and any new articles entered into the database since the last search is displayed.
If the amount of results retrieved by the search is excessively large limits can be placed on the search. Section 120 is utilized to apply limits. Limits enable the user to narrow the amount of information being retrieved using a certain set of query terms. Section 120 contains a number of different limit boxes 121-128. Each limit box allows the user to place a different kind of limit on a search. For example, the user can elect to only search for articles between two dates by entering a begin date in limit box 124 and an end date in limit box 128. Limit box 121 allows the user to retrieve articles written in a particular language. Limit box 122 provides the user with a way to specify whether the articles retrieved contain data that was the result of studying humans or animals. Limit box 123 allows the user to identify an age group while limit box 126 allows the user to specify a gender to search for. Limit box 127 and limit box 125 provide a way to control the type of articles retrieved during a search. Limit box 125, for example, allows the user to specify what type of publications to search. If a user wants only to obtain articles about clinical trials the user could specify that using limit box 125. Additionally, action box 103 may be utilized to select what journals to specify in limit box 127.
Existing limiting systems do not provide a way to organize or categorize the results obtained from the search according to user defined criteria. For example, there is no way for a user to prevent a particular article from being retrieved if the user has already read that article. Furthermore, search terms and limits must be manually entered every time a new search is conducted. In the prior art, users cannot specify a set of parameters and then automatically apply those parameters to every search that is conducted. For example, a user cannot direct the search program to pull information from a patient's medical record and search for articles about that information.
Referring now to FIG. 2 a results screen is shown. When a search is performed the user is displayed the results screen. The results screen contains a list 210 of articles matching the search criteria specified by the user. At the top of the results screen is a number of action buttons 200-203. Each action button performs a different function. Action button 200, for example, obtains a long record for all the documents recovered during the search. Action button 201 allows the user to download a document to disk. Action button 202 allows the user to order documents and action button 203 returns the user to the initial search screen shown in FIG. 1.
Below action buttons 200-203 is a list 210 containing citations that matched the search query entered by the user. A short record 211-214 represents a shortened version of each citation. How many short records 211-214 are displayed depends upon the scope of the search. A problem with results screens is that an excessive number of references may be displayed. FIG. 2, for example, shows four short records 211-214 of the five hundred and four retrieved. In operation the number of articles retrieved may be even larger. Users often lack the time to sufficiently peruse all of the displayed references at the time of retrieval. To the left of each short record 211-214 is a full citation button 216, and a related articles button 217. When the related articles button 217 is depressed a new display of citations conceptually related to the first one will appear. The user can go several levels deep and by clicking the related articles button 217 multiple times can obtain numerous lists of articles that are conceptually related to one another. When the full citation button 216 is depressed, the long record for the adjacent citation is displayed. FIG. 3 shows an example of a long record. In some instances, the long record contains an abstract that briefly summarizes the contents of each article. Citations lacking abstracts are marked "no abstract available" in the short record.
Present search interfaces, such as the one described above, have limited functionality. For example, such systems do not have the ability to filter search results based on a user's prior search history. The user may specify limits for each search, but each time a new search is conducted new search limitations must be entered. It would be beneficial to the user to have a system that enables the user to define a set of user specified search preferences that may be applied to any search the user conducts. It would be of further benefit to the user if these search preferences were correlated with entries in an electronic medical record. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The dumper of this invention loads in the front and dumps to the side, that is, 90.degree. from the point of loading. The dumper has a cradle adapted to receive a container loaded with various types of parts. The cradle can rotate through an angle approaching 180.degree. to insure that all of the parts are discharged. This is accomplished by fastening the cradle to moving chains to drive the cradle in both directions under power.
The method of fastening the chains to the cradle is preferably by welding sprockets to the cradle and fastening the chain ends around the sprockets so that no movement between the chain ends and sprockets occurs. Chain and sprocket wear is thereby eliminated and maintenance is reduced.
The cradle is mounted on a stationary pivot to simplify construction and reduce cost.
Other dumpers have been built in the past which have a movable pivot for the cradle, do not dump 90.degree. from the loading point and require frequent maintenance due to wear at the points where the lifting chains are connected to the cradle. In these previously built dumpers, a track which is not a true segment of a circle must be used with a roller to move the pivot back and forth. The roller is subject to rapid wear due to the heavy loads, resulting in costly repair and loss of operating time. There is also relative motion where the lifting chains are connected to the cradle. This motion is due to the contour of the track and results in rapid wear. These previously built dumpers employed rack and pinion arrangements for the movable pivot but such arrangements are subject to fouling due to falling material even with the best of guarding.
All of the above problems are eliminated by my new design. The pivot is fixed eliminating the rack and pinion. The ends of the lifting chains are fastened to stationary sprockets on the cradle so that there is no movement between the chain ends and the sprockets, thus eliminating wear. The sprockets clear and hence do not rub on the chain guides.
Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of chemical processing, and more particularly to a method for the efficient production of ethanol.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art is replete with myriad and diverse methods of producing ethanol.
The conventional commercial method of creating ethanol consists of using a number of very large (10 thousand gallon plus) tanks. The historical reason for using the large tank method is that the method of automating such a system was more economical. The drawback was that the conversion process of converting grain into ethanol was less efficient in very large batch quantities versus using a series of smaller tanks that allow greater agitation of the product and more uniform distribution of fermentation activation agents. In the past, making ethanol from a series of small tanks required a very high manual labor component that made large scale, 24 hour per day production very expensive and not economically feasible.
While prior art methods of producing ethanol are adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical method of automating the production of ethanol.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved method of producing ethanol, and the provision of such a method is a stated objective of the present invention. | {
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The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device including a capacitor device having a capacitive insulating film of insulating metal oxide film such as a ferroelectric film or a high dielectric film (i.e., a film made of a material having a high dielectric constant) and to a method for fabricating the same.
In recent years, as various electronic units such as microcomputers operating at an even higher speed and with even lower power consumption have been developed, the performance of consumer-use electronic units have also been further enhanced. Correspondingly, the sizes of semiconductor devices used for these units have also been rapidly reduced drastically.
As semiconductor devices have been miniaturized, unwanted radiation, i.e., electromagnetic wave noise generated from electronic units, has become a serious problem. Technology for incorporating a large-capacity capacitor device, including a ferroelectric film or a high dielectric film as a capacitive insulating film, into a semiconductor integrated circuit is now the object of much attention as a means for reducing the unwanted radiation.
On the other hand, since a very highly integrated dynamic RAM is now provided, researches have been widely carried out on technology for using a high dielectric film as a capacitive insulating film, instead of a silicon oxide film or a silicon nitride film, which has been conventionally used.
Furthermore, in order to put into practical use a non-volatile RAM operating with a low voltage and enabling high-speed write and read operations, researches and developments have also been vigorously carried out on a ferroelectric film having spontaneous polarization properties. A ferroelectric memory using a ferroelectric film as a capacitive insulating film takes advantage of a phenomenon that the amount of charge flowing into/out of a data line of a ferroelectric memory differs depending upon whether or not the spontaneous polarization of the ferroelectric film is inverted.
In all of these types of semiconductor devices mentioned above, it is an urgent task to develop technology for realizing very high integration for a capacitor device without deteriorating the characteristics thereof.
Hereinafter, a conventional semiconductor device will be described with reference to FIG. 13.
FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional structure of a conventional semiconductor device. As shown in FIG. 13, a lower electrode 2 made of a first platinum film, a capacitive insulating film 3 made of a ferroelectric film and an upper electrode 4 made of a second platinum film are formed in this order on a semiconductor substrate 1 made of silicon. The lower electrode 2, the capacitive insulating film 3 and the upper electrode 4 constitute a capacitor device. An interlevel insulating film 5 made of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film or the like is deposited to cover the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 as well as the capacitor device. A lower-electrode contact hole 6 and an upper-electrode contact hole 7 are formed through the interlevel insulating film 5. Metal interconnections 8, each consisting of a titanium film 8a, a first titanium nitride film 8b, an aluminum film 8c and a second titanium nitride film 8d, are formed to cover the interlevel insulating film 5 as well as the inner surfaces of the lower-electrode contact hole 6 and the upper-electrode contact hole 7.
Hereinafter, a method for fabricating the conventional semiconductor device will be described with reference to FIGS. 14(a) through 14(e).
First, as shown in FIG. 14(a), the first platinum film 2A, the ferroelectric film 3A and the second platinum film 4A are sequentially stacked over the entire surface of the semi-conductor substrate 1. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14(b), the second platinum film 4A is selectively etched, thereby forming the upper electrode 4. Then, in order to recover and stabilize the crystal structure of the ferroelectric film 3A, the ferroelectric film 3A is subjected to a heat treatment within oxygen ambient.
Next, as shown in FIG. 14(c), the ferroelectric film 3A and the first platinum film 2A are selectively etched, thereby forming the capacitive insulating film 3 out of the ferroelectric film 3A and the lower electrode 2 out of the first platinum film 2A. Then, in order to recover and stabilize the crystal structure of the ferroelectric film constituting the capacitive insulating film 3, the capacitive insulating film 3 is subjected to a heat treatment within oxygen ambient.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 14(d), the interlevel insulating film 5 made of a silicon oxide film or a silicon nitride film is deposited over the entire surface of the semi-conductor substrate 1. And the lower-electrode contact hole 6 and the upper-electrode contact hole 7 are formed through the interlevel insulating film 5. Then, in order to recover and stabilize the crystal structure of the ferroelectric film constituting the capacitive insulating film 3, the capacitive insulating film 3 is subjected to a heat treatment within oxygen ambient.
In order to prevent the lower electrode 2 or the upper electrode 4 from being oxidized as a result of the reaction between the lower electrode 2 or the upper electrode 4 with the capacitive insulating film 3 during the heat treatment conducted to recover and stabilize the crystal structure of the ferroelectric film, the lower and the upper electrodes 2, 4 are made of platinum, which is hard to react with the ferroelectric film 3A constituting the capacitive insulating film 3 during the heat treatment and exhibits anti-oxidation properties even at a high temperature.
Then, as shown in FIG. 14(e), the titanium film 8a, the first titanium nitride film 8b, the aluminum film 8c and the second titanium nitride film 8d are sequentially deposited to cover the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 as well as the inner surfaces of the lower-electrode contact hole 6 and the upper-electrode contact hole 7, thereby forming the metal interconnections 8, each consisting of the titanium film 8a, the first titanium nitride film 8b, the aluminum film 8c and the second titanium nitride film 8d. The titanium film 8a functions as an adhesive film for improving the adhesion between the aluminum film 8c and the platinum film constituting the upper electrode 4. The first titanium nitride film 8b functions as a barrier film for preventing aluminum in the aluminum film 8c from diffusing into the capacitive insulating film 3. The second titanium nitride film 8d functions as an anti-reflection film while an upper inter level insulating film deposited over the metal interconnections 8 is etched.
Next, in order to further improve the adhesion between the titanium film 8a constituting the metal interconnections 8 and the interlevel insulating film 5, the metal interconnections 8 are subjected to a heat treatment.
However, during the heat treatment conducted to stabilize the crystal structure of the ferroelectric film, the platinum film constituting the upper electrode comes to have column like crystal structure. Thus, during the heat treatment conducted to improve the adhesion between the metal interconnections and the interlevel insulating film, the titanium atoms in the titanium film constituting the metal interconnections adversely pass through the grain boundary of the column like crystals of the platinum film constituting the upper electrode so as to diffuse into the capacitive insulating film. As a result, since the composition of the ferroelectric film or the high dielectric film constituting the capacitive insulating film is varied, the electrical characteristics of the capacitor device are disadvantageously deteriorated.
It is not only when the upper electrode is made of platinum but also when the upper electrode is made of iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium or the like that the upper electrode ordinarily has a column like crystal structure. Thus, in the latter case, the titanium atoms in the titanium film constituting the metal interconnections also adversely pass through the grain boundary of the column like crystals constituting the upper electrode so as to diffuse into the capacitive insulating film. | {
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Light emitting diodes (LED's) are solid-state semiconductor devices which emit light when an electrical current is passed between anode and cathode. Conventional LED's contain a single pn junction. The pn junction may include an intermediate undoped region; this type of pn junction may also be called a pin junction. Like non-light emitting semiconductor diodes, conventional LED's pass an electrical current much more readily in one direction, i.e., in the direction where electrons are moving from the n-region to the p-region. When a current passes in the “forward” direction through the LED, electrons from the n-region recombine with holes from the p-region, generating photons of light. The light emitted by a conventional LED is monochromatic in appearance; that is, it is generated in a single narrow band of wavelengths. The wavelength of the emitted light corresponds to the energy associated with electron-hole pair recombination. In the simplest case, that energy is approximately the band gap energy of the semiconductor in which the recombination occurs.
Conventional LED's may additionally contain one or more quantum wells at the pn junction which capture high concentrations of both electrons and holes, thereby enhancing light-producing recombination. Several investigators have attempted to produce an LED device which emits white light, or light which appears white to the 3-color perception of the human eye.
Some investigators report the purported design or manufacture of LED's having multiple quantum wells within the pn junction, where the multiple quantum wells are intended to emit light at different wavelengths. The following references may be relevant to such a technology: U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,905; U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,404; U.S. Pat. No. 6,504,171; U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,467; Damilano et al., Monolithic White Light Emitting Diodes Based on InGaN/GaN Multiple-Quantum Wells, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 40 (2001) pp. L918-L920; Yamada et al., Phosphor Free High-Luminous-Efficiency White Light-Emitting Diodes Composed of InGaN Multi-Quantum Well, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 41 (2002) pp. L246-L248; Dalmasso et al., Injection Dependence of the Electroluminescence Spectra of Phosphor Free GaN-Based White Light Emitting Diodes, phys. stat. sol. (a) 192, No. 1, 139-143 (2003).
Some investigators report the purported design or manufacture of LED devices which combine two conventional LED's, intended to independently emit light at different wavelengths, in a single device. The following references may be relevant to such a technology: U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,905; U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,467; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2002/0041148 A1; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2002/0134989 A1; and Luo et al., Patterned three-color ZnCdSe/ZnCdMgSe quantum-well structures for integrated full-color and white light emitters, App. Phys. Letters, vol. 77, no. 26, pp. 4259-4261 (2000).
Some investigators report the purported design or manufacture of LED devices which combine a conventional LED element with a chemical phosphor, such as yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), which is intended to absorb a portion of the light emitted by the LED element and re-emit light of a longer wavelength. U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,925 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,467 may be relevant to such a technology.
Some investigators report the purported design or manufacture of LED's grown on a ZnSe substrate n-doped. with I, Al, Cl, Br, Ga or In so as to create fluorescing centers in the substrate, which are intended to absorb a portion of the light emitted by the LED element and re-emit light of a longer wavelength. U.S. Pat. App. No. 6,337,536 and Japanese Pat. App. Pub. No. 2004-072047 may be relevant to such a technology. | {
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Nowadays, high speed data transmission in wireless communication system becomes more and more important. This trend raises a very high requirement of data processing capability in wireless communication system. Multiple-input Multiple-output (abbr. MIMO) communication system is rising, using several distributed processing devices which contain several digital signal processors (DSP) to process physical layer data in parallel, in MIMO system.
Due to the characteristic of multi-antenna MIMO system, operations such channel estimation for multiple channels, modulating and demodulating for data sent and received by multiple antennas need to be done by every processors synchronously. For example, received data from multi-antenna are needed to be processed synchronously: each processor processes one antenna's received data separately, and every processor process the physical layer data of the same frame and send the data to MIMO demodulator at the same time. Thus, synchronous operation among the several processors turn into extremely necessary.
Currently, synchronization among several processors in multi-antenna MIMO system is realized by means of software. For example, each processor is controlled by its respective controlling process, and every controlling process realizes their synchronization through inter-process communication such as signal value or signal light, semaphore, or shared global variant, and indirectly controls each processor to operate synchronously. In addition, in some current technical solutions, each process is running on a different CPU, and each CPU is connected by Ethernet network. In this case, each process is also synchronized through the Ethernet protocol.
Since the communication speed of multi-antenna MIMO is very high, accordingly, the requirement of synchronization processing speed is also high, thus time overhead for synchronization should be as small as possible, and this often requires real-time synchronization. In the current art, implementing synchronization among distributed modules by means of software, such as inter-process communication, generally has larger latency, especially in the case of there is a large number of processes that need to be synchronized. The synchronization latency is usually as long as several milliseconds to tens of milliseconds, thus it will be difficult to meet the real-time synchronization requirement of the multi-antenna MIMO system. | {
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Algal cells are a promising source of biofuels (Wijffels & Barbosa (2010) Science 329:796-799). Their ability to harness solar energy to convert carbon dioxide into carbon-rich lipids already exceeds the abilities of oil-producing agricultural crops, with the added advantage that algae grown for biofuel do not compete with oil-producing crops for agricultural land (Wijffels & Barbosa, 2010). Parachlorella phytoplankton are unicellular green algae (phylum Chlorophya) of the Trebouxiophyceae class that can be cultured easily, rapidly, and economically. In order to maximize algal fuel production, new algal strains will need to be engineered for growth and carbon fixation at an industrial scale (Wijffels & Barbosa, 2010).
While it will be necessary to manipulate algal genomes, such as the Parachlorella genome, in order to maximize biofuel output, this has proven difficult to date because of the thick cell wall that surrounds many algal cells, including Parachlorella cells. In fact, to our knowledge, techniques for reliable and reproducible methods for transformation of Parachlorella cells have not been developed or published. There is a lack of knowledge relating to techniques suitable for transforming may species of algae, including algae of the Trebouxiophyceae class, such as Parachlorella cells, with transgenes. Consistent procedures for genetic manipulation of these organisms are needed.
Further, modern recombinant strain development requires robust and efficient tools for expressing transgenes to alter cellular metabolism and physiology in desired ways. An essential component of any genetic engineering “toolkit” is a suite of functional promoters to drive transgene-expression. There is a need for endogenous promoters, cloned and verified, from the strains for which recombinant DNA technology is being developed as well as additional strategies for increasing transformation of microorganisms such as algae and improved expression of heterologous genes. | {
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In the process of manufacturing semiconductors or liquid crystals, thin substrates, which are substances to be processed like liquid crystal substrates or wafers, are stored in a storage cassette, and they are transferred between processing devices in the respective steps. The storage cassette is a box-like container that stores a plurality of thin substrates stacked, whose inner wall is cut to have a plurality of shelf-like grooves, and in which the thin substrates are inserted into the grooves, respectively, so as not to bring the stacked substrates into contact with each other.
When the storage cassette arrives at each step, a thin-substrate transfer robot carries out the thin substrates from the storage cassette and carries them into the processing device, and, when the processing is completed, the thin-substrate transfer robot stores the thin substrates in the storage cassette again. Generally, before extracting the thin substrates from the storage cassette, an inspection is made as to whether the thin substrates are stored in the cassette at a correct posture or not. The reason is that, if the thin substrates are stored at an abnormal posture like two-substrate insertion or oblique insertion, the thin-substrate transfer robot cannot extract the substrates from the storage cassette, and, if the substrates assuming such an abnormal posture are forcibly extracted therefrom, the storage cassette or the substrates will be damaged.
For this inspection, a method has been performed such that a transmission type or reflection type optical sensor using a laser beam or an LED beam is disposed in the vicinity of the storage cassette, and the state of the thin substrates in the storage cassette is detected.
However, a long-unsolved problem resides in that these optical sensors have difficulty in detecting a state (two-substrate insertion state) where two substrates are inserted in the same groove in two-ply form although the sensors can detect the presence or absence of the thin substrates. Another unsolved problem resides in that, since the detecting distance is short, the sensors must be moved in the vicinity of the thin substrates, and particles arise and contaminate the substrates. In recent years, an inspection method through image processing by use of a camera has been proposed in order to solve these problems.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of a thin-substrate inspecting apparatus that uses a camera.
In the figure, 1 denotes an inspection camera that is connected to an image processing apparatus not shown. 2 denotes a storage cassette in the interior of which a plurality of thin substrates 3 are stacked and stored.
The inspection camera 1 picks up an image of the thin substrates 3 stored in the storage cassette 2, and detects the state of the wafers 3 by processing this image. Since the inspection camera 1 performs photography while enlarging the limited field of view 4 so that the two-ply state of the thin substrates can be detected, the entire storage cassette 2 cannot be photographed at a time. Therefore, the camera 1 is moved in the upward/downward direction along an arrow 100 in order to detect the state of all thin substrates 3.
However, the following problems have arisen in using the camera. (1) Since the field of view of the camera is limited, a driving device for moving the position and direction of the camera is required in order to see all wafers in the storage cassette. The camera having such a driving device interferes with a thin-substrate transfer robot because the camera requires large dimensions. (2) If the camera and the driving device are disposed to avoid interference, the camera cannot be disposed at the most suitable position for inspection, and therefore inspection accuracy will deteriorate. (3) Since much time is consumed to move the camera, inspection time becomes long. | {
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Exercise machines for simulating walking or running are known and used for directing the movement of a user's legs and feet in a variety of repetitive paths of travel. The user typically performs an exercise using such a walking or running machine for an extended period of time such as one to 30 minutes without interruption and without stopping to perform a different exercise using a different machine such as a user might perform in a circuit protocol of exercise. The machines typically include an electrically powered mechanism that the user can activate to adjust some aspect of the machine such as degree of resistance. Running or walking simulation machines commonly referred to as elliptical path machines have been designed to pivot the foot pedals on which the user's feet reside guiding the pedals and the user's feet to travel in an elliptical or arcuate path. The degree of resistance to performance of the exercise in such prior art machines typically varies linearly with the degree of force or speed exerted by the user to a moving mechanical component of the apparatus. The path of travel of the foot pedal in such prior machines is not adjustable other than to change the shape of the ellipse. The foot travels along a different path from back to front than from front to back in such elliptical machines. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In a cloud storage system, a user may be limited by the network environment or the particular application features. Consequently, the user may need to perform multiple write operations to complete the writing of one data file. For example, when writing a large data file, a user usually needs to use append write mode. In a distributed cloud storage system, problems such as concurrent writes of a user and issues regarding data integrity need to be addressed, in order to support append write mode. Therefore, there is a need for techniques on how to support append write mode for a data file in a cloud storage system. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Acesulfame potassium has an intense, sweet taste and has been used in many food-related applications as a sweetener. In conventional acesulfame potassium production processes, sulfamic acid and an amine, e.g., triethylamine, are reacted to form an amidosulfamic acid salt, such as a trialkyl ammonium amidosulfamic acid salt. The amidosulfamic acid salt is then reacted with diketene to form an acetoacetamide salt. The acetoacetamide salt may be cyclized, hydrolyzed, and neutralized to form acesulfame potassium. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,744,010 and 9,024,016 disclose exemplary acesulfame potassium production processes.
Typically, the acetoacetamide salt intermediate is cyclized by reaction with sulfur trioxide in an inorganic or organic solvent to form a cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct. The solvent routinely utilized in this reaction is an organic solvent such as a halogenated, aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, for example, dichloromethane. The adduct formed by this reaction is subsequently hydrolyzed and then neutralized with potassium hydroxide to form acesulfame potassium.
Acesulfame potassium product and the intermediate compositions produced by conventional methods contain undesirable impurities, such as acetoacetamide-N-sulfonic acid. Limits for the content of various impurities are often set by governmental regulations or customer guidelines. Separation of many of these impurities using standard purification procedures such as evaporation, crystallization, and/or filtration has proven difficult, resulting in consumer dissatisfaction and the failure to meet standards.
The need exists for improved processes for producing high purity acesulfame potassium compositions in which the formation of impurities such as acetoacetamide-N-sulfonic acid during synthesis is reduced or eliminated.
All of the references discussed herein are hereby incorporated by reference. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The AC universal motor has been used for a long time as the most widely used motor in small domestic appliances and electric devices powered by the single-phase mains. Although it has a number of drawbacks, such as a short lifetime, poor quality of operation, and loud noise, it is widely used because of its low cost.
For some time, solutions with electronically commutated motors have been proposed, which, however, have not come into use due to their higher cost price. The drawback of a higher cost price is caused by the required power electronics, which converts a DC source into a three-phase current system for which it requires a plurality of power conductors (generally six). Moreover, a quite substantial number of additional components is required in that a further power-electronic circuit (generally an up-converter) is required so as to keep the overshoot of the mains input current below legally required limit values. This circuit comprises further power-electronic components such as an expensive electrolytic capacitor. This part of the circuit covers approximately one third of the overall costs.
A known method of powering asynchronous motors without energy stores uses a direct changer (Sxc3xa4mann, EP 0 489 970, FIG. 9). In this method, however, the output frequency of the static inverter is limited to approximately ⅓ of the mains frequency. The method is thus not suitable for drives with rotational speeds of more than 950 min-1.
A further method shown in FIG. 5 of the drawing and described in xe2x80x9cUndeland, Mohan, Robbins: Power Electronics: Converters applications and design, Wiley and Sons, 1989, pp. 415 etc.xe2x80x9d uses an up-converter for supplying a high, approximately constant intermediate circuit voltage which can be supplied to a static inverter. Simultaneously, the mains input current is controlled in such a way that a substantially sinusoidal current is obtained. This circuit also comprises an energy store (21, usually an electrolytic capacitor), a semiconductor switch (17), a power choke (19) and a high-frequency diode (18). This method is universally usable but has the drawback of higher costs.
A method is known from DE 19729705 in which the intermediate circuit capacitor and a special phase switch of the static inverter achieves an effect which is seemingly similar to the effect achieved by the present invention. The associated circuit arrangement is shown in FIG. 7. In this method, it is, however, impossible to reduce the power arbitrarily because then this phase switch takes place when the intermediate circuit capacitor has not been discharged yet. This results in unacceptably high currents in the static inverter, except in high-speed motors with a sufficiently high spread. Consequently, the method is not suitable for low speeds and for drives whose power is adjustable within wide ranges.
In a further method known from EP 0 711 470 and shown in FIG. 6, the phase switching as described in DE 19729705 is dispensed with and, instead, a frequency modulation is utilized so as to operate the drive suitably. However, mains current oscillations, which are unwanted in the mains zero crossing, may then still occur, causing the harmonic limits to be exceeded at average power. Their use is limited to high-speed drives having a power which must not decrease below a minimum value during operation.
Further methods are known in which it is achieved by means of a special arrangement of diodes and storage capacitors (for example, xe2x80x9cValley-fillxe2x80x9d circuit shown in FIG. 8) that, in spite of a storage capacitor in the intermediate circuit, there flows a current during a comparatively large part of the mains period. These circuits mainly influence the angle of current flow in the mains. However, it is not possible to reduce the mains current harmonic content sufficiently enough to allow use of drives having an average and a high power.
The drive system according to the invention comprises a rectifier, a high-frequency filter, a static inverter and an induction motor, is driven without energy stores and fed by the single-phase mains, in which the use of an envelope generator with a mains-synchronous, preferably sinusoidal signal causes a preferably sinusoidal envelope to be sign-superimposed on the static inverter output signal, thus preventing inadmissible current overshoots in the single-phase mains. Possible fluctuations of the intermediate circuit voltage are thereby compensated.
In further embodiments of the invention, the advantageous operating frequency of the static inverter is adjusted automatically by means of a PLL control circuit in that the phase shift between the intermediate circuit current and the envelope signal is evaluated.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the advantageous operating frequency is gained by adding a given frequency difference to the rotational speed of the motor.
In further embodiments of the invention, the envelope directly represents a projection of the variation of the voltage of the single-phase mains.
The present invention relates to a method of advantageously driving an induction or asynchronous motor in its overall speed range from the single-phase mains so that the harmonic content of the mains input current of the circuit remains below the admissible upper limits. Moreover, the drive can be arbitrarily adjusted in power. It is also possible to realize generator operation by means of an active mains rectifier. This provides the possibility of manufacturing electronically commutated speed-controlled drives at low cost for substantially any speed range and substantially any application. A principal limitation of the power range, as in all the other methods, is thereby eliminated. Drives up to the typical power limit of 3 kW of the single-phase mains can thus be realized. | {
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The effectiveness of an online advertising campaign can be measured using various techniques. One technique includes measuring the conversion rate of the advertising campaign as a way of estimating whether the advertisements are effective at driving consumer behavior. A campaign conversion can generally be defined as a consumer being presented with an advertisement and then taking a particular action. Examples of actions that can be considered a campaign conversion include engagement with or clicking on the advertisement, accessing and/or browsing a web site of the advertiser, downloading and/or purchasing a product sold or provided by the advertiser, signing up for a subscription from the advertiser, providing information to be added to an advertiser's mailing list, etc.
As part of an online advertising campaign, an advertiser can use various advertising channels for delivering advertisements to consumers. For example, an advertiser can contact content publishers (e.g., news web sites, blogs, social networking websites, etc.) directly to arrange for advertisements associated with an advertising campaign to be presented to consumers (e.g., a direct publisher channel). In other examples, an advertiser can use programmatic advertising channels to buy and/or place advertisements. For example, an advertiser can contact a marketer who can arrange for advertisements to be shown on various web pages and/or arrange for advertisements to be placed in advertisement placements on one or more web sites through one or more real-time bidding exchanges. As another example of programmatic buying, an advertiser can contact a demand side platform that can arrange for advertisements to be placed in advertisement placements on one or more web sites through one or more real-time bidding exchanges. As yet another example of programmatic buying, an advertiser can use a real-time bidding exchange directly to bid on the opportunity to place advertisements.
When advertisements are delivered to consumers using these advertising channels, one or more targeting parameters can be used to target specific types of consumers. For example, advertisements can be delivered to specific consumers who fall into various demographic groups or psychographic groups. In another example, advertisements can be delivered to consumers that have visited specific types of web sites, consumers that are located in certain geographic areas, etc.
Attribution of conversion actions can be performed (or measured) to determine which of the advertising channels to attribute a conversion action to. For example, when a conversion action is performed, it can be matched with one or more advertisements from one or more particular advertising channels that were presented to the consumer that performed the conversion action. A conversion rate for each particular advertising channel can be determined by comparing the number of conversions attributable to that advertising channel and the total number of advertisements presented through that advertising channel.
In conducting an advertising campaign, advertisers can use multiple channels for delivering advertisements, including multiple partners within the same type of channel (e.g., multiple marketers, multiple demand-side platforms, multiple direct publishing partners, etc.). When multiple channels are being used to deliver advertisements to consumers, conversion rates calculated for the various channels, along with the cost of advertising via those channels can be used to determine a return on investment of advertising. For example, one channel may be low cost but also have a low conversion rate, while another may be higher cost and also have a higher conversion rate. Using a measurement such as return on investment (“ROI”), an advertiser can attempt to determine the cost effectiveness of different channels despite the channels having different cost structures.
Although conversion rate can be used to determine the comparative effectiveness of advertising through various channels, determining the quantitative effect of a certain advertising channel (e.g., whether the conversion was the result of the advertisement being presented to a consumer) can be problematic. For example, various advertising channels can use consumer modeling and/or behavioral targeting techniques to present advertisements to consumers that are more likely than a typical consumer to perform conversion actions (e.g., buy the advertised product, visit the advertised web site, etc.). However, the consumers being targeted may have performed the conversion action regardless of whether they were presented with an advertisement. If the consumer is likely to have performed the conversion action without being presented with the advertisement, then presenting the user with the advertisement may not be a cost effective way for an advertiser to use its advertising budget. Moreover, when judging the effectiveness of different advertising channels based on conversion rates, it is difficult to determine what quantitative effect the advertising delivered via each advertising channel has on the conversions and/or whether the conversions were actually caused by the advertising delivered via the advertising channels at all.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods, systems, and media for managing online advertising campaigns based on causal conversion metrics. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a laminated heated plate glass, especially for an airplane cockpit.
2. Description of the Related Art
An airplane window normally includes at least two sheets of structural glass connected to one another by a first intermediate layer made of transparent plastic, for example polyvinylbutyral (PVB) or of polyurethane, the sheet of structural glass which faces the external side of the cockpit being covered by at least one third sheet, made of tempered glass or glass reinforced chemically through the intermediary of another intermediate layer made of PVB or of polyurethane.
The third sheet and the second intermediate layer have dimensions which are reduced with respect to those of the two sheets of structural glass, so as to form on the latter a peripheral overlapping edge which is to be received in a rabbet of the cockpit.
In order that a plate glass of this type can be heated, it is known to place a network of thin, generally parallel conducting wires or an electrically conducting film between the first intermediate layer and the sheet of glass which is turned toward the outside, during fabrication, these components being connected to two current input strips or collectors which are connected to a source of current external to the plate glass.
Under normal conditions of use which prevail during flight, the plate glass is subjected to stresses due to pressure and temperature differences between the two sides of the plate glass, which generate shearing forces between the different layers of the plate glass and therefore relative displacement of the different components which comprise the laminated structure, and in particular displacement of the first intermediate layer and current input strips with respect to the wires. Due to this displacement, there can occur a rupture of the electric wires and therefore a disturbance in the temperature regulation of the plate glass. Short circuits and localized overheated spots can occur, possibly causing breakage of one or even both sheets of structural glass. | {
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The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-248919, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a motor-operated expansion valve, and more particularly to a mechanism for avoiding welding heat applied to a valve element.
Generally, a motor-operated expansion valve consists of a main body making up a valve mechanism and a housing for hermetically sealing the valve mechanism. For example, in a three-way valve in a motor-operated expansion valve 100 shown in FIG. 13 (disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. JP-A-2000-310348), the opening and closing of two outflow pipes 106a and 106b are controlled by a single valve element 102 provided at a distal end of a rotor 101. Therefore, to ensure that the heat from a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding position 104a for gastightly sealing a housing 104 and a main body 105 will not adversely affect a sliding contact surface 102a of the valve element 102, the valve element 102 is disposed in a central portion of the main body 105 which is the farthest from the welding position 104a at an outer periphery of the housing. Furthermore, to make it difficult for the welding heat from welds 105b at the outflow pipes 106a and 106b to be transmitted to the resin-made valve element 102, a thick machined part having a large thermal capacity is used for a metallic valve seat plate portion.
In addition, communicating holes 107a and 107b communicating with the two outflow pipes 106a and 106b are formed in a valve seat 105a in such a manner as to be open to a valve chamber 109, and are selectively caused to communicate with an inlet port 110 through the valve element 102 inside the valve chamber 109. As shown in FIGS. 14A to 14D, a rib 103 has a shape which surrounds a crescent recess 111, and the single valve element 102 changes over the partition of the communicating holes 107a and 107b in four modes in correspondence with the angle of rotation of the rotating shaft 101 which is displaced in response to an electrical signal sent from a stator coil 112. Namely, FIG. 14A shows a state in which the communicating hole 107a is closed and the communicating hole 107b is open; FIG. 14B shows a state in which both the communicating hole 107a and the communicating hole 107b are closed; FIG. 14C shows a state in which the communicating hole 107a is open and the communicating hole 107b is closed; and FIG. 14D shows a state in which both the communicating hole 107a and the communicating hole 107b are open.
In the mechanism shown in FIG. 13, in which the opening and closing of the two outflow pipes 106a and 106b are thus controlled by the single valve element 102, firstly, the distance between the two outflow pipes 106a and 106b is short, and the working of parts and the blazing and welding operation are difficult. Secondly, since the changeover of the four modes (open/close, close/open, open/open, and close/close) shown in FIGS. 14A through 14D is effected while the single valve element 102 is turned by one revolution, there is no leeway in the space, which makes it impossible to construct a multi-way valve of four or more ways.
Thirdly, it is impossible to independently change the flowrate control pattern of the two outflow pipes 106a and 106b, and the pattern becomes a simple one comprising only the changeover between open and close. Fourthly, since the resin-made valve element 102 is brought into pressure contact with the valve seat 105a by a spring 108, if the temperature of the metal becomes high, irregularities occur on the resin surface, and the surface roughness of the resin becomes destroyed due to heat, resulting in the occurrence of leakage in the fully closed state. Accordingly, to avoid the welding heat, it is necessary to finish TIG welding in a short time and effect rapid cooling after welding so as to minimize the effect on the resin-made valve element. For this reason, the operation requires expert skill, and uncertainty remains in the stability of quality and in reliability.
The object of the invention is to provide a valve drive device in which the above problem is overcome in a suitable manner.
To overcome the problem, there has been conceived and embodied a three-way valve 200a of a motor-operated expansion valve 200 having the construction shown in FIG. 15. Valve elements 202a and 202b are separately provided for openings 207a and 207b of outflow pipes 206a and 206b which are selectively made to communicate with an inflow pipe 210 in a valve chamber 209, and the valve elements 202a and 202b are rotated in response to inputs of electrical signals from a stator coil 212 so as to control the opening and closing of the openings 207a and 207b.
However, since the positions of the valve elements 202a and 202b geared with and disposed radially from a pinion 203 formed integrally with a rotor 201 with respect to the two outflow pipes 206a and 206b are close to an outer peripheral portion 204a which is subject to heating by TIG welding for gastightly sealing a housing 204 and a main-body base plate 205, the resin-made valve elements 202a and 202b which are held in pressure contact with a valve seat 205a by leaf springs 208 are directly exposed to welding heat and become deteriorated or deformed, possibly resulting in faulty functioning.
In addition, consideration must also be given to the fact that the valve elements 202a and 202b are similarly affected by welding heat from welds 205b for gastightly connecting the outflow pipes 206a and 206b to the main-body base plate 205. To avoid the effect of such welding heat on the valve elements 202a and 202b, it is necessary to increase the thermal capacity by enlarging the circumference of the metallic main-body base plate 205 including the valve seat or by increasing the thickness thereof. Hence, there are problems in terms of cost and miniaturization.
In the present invention, to solve these problems, an air heat-insulation layer is formed by holding the valve element in an initial period of assembly and thereby providing a gap between the valve element and the valve seat.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a valve drive device having a plurality of openings for communicating with an inflow pipe and an outflow pipe, said valve drive device comprising:
a valve element for opening and closing said openings;
a driving member for driving said valve element;
a rotation transmitting member for transmitting rotation from said driving member to said valve element;
a valve seat plate in which said openings are formed and on which said valve element is slid in pressure contact therewith so as to open and close said openings; and
a housing for gastightly sealing said valve seat plate and said valve element together with said driving member and said rotation transmitting member so as to form a hermetically sealed space; and
a holding device provided for tentatively retaining said valve element at a spaced-apart position spaced apart from said valve seat plate;
wherein said valve element is retained at the space-apart position when said valve seat plate and said housing are welded together.
By the above construction, an air layer extremely excelling in heat insulation is formed between the valve element and the valve seat plate, so that the valve element can be protected from welding heat, and the deformation of a sliding contact surface is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily maintain the sealing characteristic of the valve element.
In the invention, the holding device causes the valve element to be spaced apart from the valve seat plate in opposition to an urging device for bringing the valve element into pressure contact with the valve seat plate, the retention by the holding device is canceled after welding, and the valve element which returned to an abutment position against the valve seat plate by the urging device is spaced apart to a position in which rotating operation of the valve element for opening and closing is not interfered by the holding device. Thus, in the state in which the valve element is retained prior to effecting the starting of initial setting, the air insulating layer can be secured, and it is possible to effect the welding of the piping. In addition, the retention by the holding device is irreversible, and the valve element which has been disengaged once is disengaged completely and reliably from the holding device. The valve element upon cancellation of the retention is brought into close contact with the valve seat plate to allow the openings to sufficiently maintain gastightness, and its rotating operation for opening and closing can be effected quite freely without trouble.
Furthermore, the holding operation for retaining the valve element by the holding device is effected by the rotation of the valve element, and there is provided a restricting position for preventing the rotation at a predetermined angle of rotation. Namely, by setting the restricting position for preventing the rotation by the operation of holding the valve element by its rotation, each rotation transmitting member (gear) is retained at a position (meshing position) in which the rotation transmitting member is in a state of being interlocked with the driving member (pinion), so that the driving member (pinion) is capable of being smoothly linked with the rotation transmitting member (gear) without mutually interfering therewith. Since there is no need to adjust the angles of rotation of the gears at the time of assembly, a gear assembly jig is not required, and the assembling process can be simplified.
In addition, since the cancellation of the retention of the urging device and the valve element is effected by the operation of the valve element itself, after the valve drive device is gastightly sealed in the housing, the retention can be reliably canceled by electrical remote operation from the outside. Conversely, since the mechanical retention cannot be canceled unless the electrical operation is used, the sealing characteristic of the valve element does not deteriorate even if heat treatment is provided for the exterior fittings prior to wiring.
Furthermore, a relative angular relationship between origins of starting of the valve elements and a preventing portion provided on the rotation transmitting member for mechanically preventing the rotation at the origins of starting are uniformly defined by the restricting position. Since the proper angular position of the gear is thus ensured automatically in the assembly of parts by virtue of the restricting position, and because the number of pulses up to an electrical origin of the rotor by the pulse driving from the stator can be set in advance, the matching of origins of mechanical starting of the valve elements can be easily attained without resorting to visual observation after the valve drive device has been gastightly sealed in the housing.
Preferably, the rotation transmitting member is a gear. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of gas chromatography. More particularly, this invention relates to a micro-gas chromatograph device that is formed from multiple layers of green-sheet and also relates to methods for making such devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Gas chromatography is a well-established analytical technique that is commonly used for the separation and detection of the various chemical components present in gases and low boiling point liquids. The technique is widely used in organic chemistry research, pharmaceutical development, and forensic specimen analysis. A gas chromatography system typically has five major components: (1) a carrier gas; (2) a sample injector; (3) a gas chromatography column; (4) a detector; and (5) a data processing system. The carrier gas, also referred to as the mobile phase, is a high-purity and relatively inert gas, such as helium. The carrier gas flows through the column throughout the separation process. The sample injector introduces a precise and, typically, very small volume of the sample, in gaseous form, into the flow of carrier gas into the column. The gaseous sample typically includes a number of different chemical components that are intended to be separated by the gas chromatograph. To effect this separation, the inside of the column is coated with a stationary phase that adsorbs the different chemical components in the sample to differing degrees. These differences in adsorption cause differing propagation delays for the chemical components as they travel down the column, thereby effecting a physical separation of the sample into its chemical components. The detector is located after the column and serves to detect the various chemical components in the sample as they emerge from the column at different times. The data processing system reads the detector and is typically able to store, process, and record the results.
Conventional gas chromatography systems are bench top instruments that are designed for use in a laboratory setting. However, in many instances, it is desirable to have a portable gas chromatograph that can be used outside of the laboratory, such as where the samples are collected. Portable gas chromatographs have potential application for leak detection, environmental screening, monitoring the volatile organic chemical content of waste water, and in the detection and analysis of vent gases, land fill gases, and natural gas.
One of the most significant barriers to making a portable gas chromatograph device is that the separation efficiency of the device is directly proportional to the length of the column. Currently, a few portable gas chromatography systems are available, but they are only suited for the detection of certain specific substances. In recent years, efforts have been made to fabricate the column and detector using newly developed micromachining techniques in order to provide miniaturized gas chromatography systems that are portable and that can analyze multiple substances.
Such micro-gas chromatograph devices are most commonly fabricated from silicon substrates. However, such substrates have a number of disadvantages. For example, a micro-gas chromatograph column has been fabricated by etching an interlocking spiral channel about 10 microns deep and 300 microns wide in a silicon wafer. See Reston, et al., xe2x80x9cSilicon-Micromachined Gas Chromatography System Used to Separate and Detect Ammonia and Nitrogen Dioxide,xe2x80x9d J. Microelectromechanical Systems, 3:134-146 (1994). The top surface of the column was defined by a borosilicate glass plate anodically bonded to the silicon wafer. Because the bond frequently failed along the edges, presumably because of the mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients of the two materials, the column was restricted to an area in the center of the wafer about 3.8 cm in diameter. Accordingly, the anodic bonding process used with silicon substrates serves to limit the length and, thus, the separation efficiency of the column. Another limitation on the length of the column in the Reston device is that it lies all in one plane, namely, the interface of the silicon and glass layers. Still another disadvantage with this approach is that, because the column is defined by dissimilar materials, thermal gradients can develop that further decrease the column""s separation efficiency.
Goedert, U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,040 discloses a micro-gas chromatograph device that is made up of multiple layers. Several planar column sections are defined by the interfaces between pairs of layers, and the planar column sections are connected in series to increase the available column length. The layers alternate between silicon and glass wafers that are joined together by anodic bonding. Alternatively, the layers may be silicon, with bonding effected by a thin layer of silica between. By using multiple layers, the Goedert device is able to provide a longer column. However, anodically bonding multiple layers is difficult to achieve reliably.
In a first principal aspect, the present invention provides a multilayered micro-gas chromatograph device for analyzing an analyte gas that includes a plurality of chemical components. The multilayered micro-gas chromatograph device comprises a substantially monolithic structure having a micro-gas chromatograph column defined therein. The substantially monolithic structure is formed from a plurality of green-sheet layers sintered together, wherein the green-sheet layers include particles selected from the group consisting of ceramic particles, glass particles, and glass-ceramic particles. The micro-gas chromatograph column has an inlet port for receiving the analyte gas and an outlet port for releasing the analyte gas. A stationary phase for differentially adsorbing chemical components in the analyte gas is disposed in a portion of the micro-gas chromatograph column.
In a second principal aspect, the present invention provides a micro-gas chromatography system comprising a supply of a carrier gas, a sample injection valve, a micro-gas chromatograph column, and a detector. The sample injection valve is connected to the supply and injects a sample gas into the carrier gas to provide an analyte gas. The micro-gas chromatograph column separates the analyte gas into a plurality of chemical components. It has an inlet port and an outlet port, with the inlet port connected to the sample injection valve to receive the analyte gas. The micro-gas chromatography column is defined in a substantially monolithic structure that is formed from a plurality of green-sheet layers sintered together. The green-sheet layers include particles selected from the group consisting of ceramic particles, glass particles, and glass-ceramic particles. The detector is connected to the outlet port and detects the plurality of chemical components separated by the micro-gas chromatograph column.
In a third principal aspect, the present invention provides a method for making a multilayered micro-gas chromatograph device. A plurality of green-sheet layers are textured in a predetermined pattern to define a micro-gas chromatograph column. The green-sheet layers include particles selected from the group consisting of ceramic particles, glass particles, and glass-ceramic particles. A thick-film paste is applied to at least a portion of the predetermined pattern in the green-sheet layers. The green-sheet layers are sintered together at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time to form a substantially monolithic structure having a micro-gas chromatograph column defined therein, with a porous plug, formed from the thick-film paste, disposed in the micro-gas chromatograph column. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates generally to indirectly mounting a pressure sensitive silicon chip to a metallic header such as stainless steel and more particularly to the use of a glass tube holder for the silicon chip and a iron-nickel (Kovar) interface between the glass tube and the header.
In electronic pressure transmitters an existing problem is the mounting of the silicon chip to the stainless steel header. The very different thermal expansion coefficients of the silicon chip and the stainless steel would cause the silicon chip to be damaged due to expansion and contraction of the stainless steel if it was directly bonded to the stainless steel. Therefore a holder in the form of a glass tube is often used for mounting the silicon chip. When a glass tube holder is used to mount the silicon chip, the problem becomes how to connect the glass tube to the stainless steel.
Various methods of indirectly mounting a glass tube to a steel header have been used in the past. In particular U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,388 issued to George R. Hall et al. on Apr. 26, 1977 discloses a glass tube holder for a silicon chip and a nickel-iron holder for indirectly mounting the glass tube to a steel housing. The Hall patent recognizes the advantage of using a nickel-iron or Kovar interface which may be joined to both glass and stainless steel and has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is intermediate between the thermal expansion coefficient of the silicon chip and that of the stainless steel.
However, the Hall patent does not disclose the considerations for releasing stress on the glass tube through a particular Kovar interface construction and through a particular configuration for connecting the interface to the stainless steel.
Thus a need exists for a Kovar interface that is both constructed in a way and connected to the stainless steel in a way to reduce stress on the glass tube. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package and a semiconductor device and, more particularly, a semiconductor package of FBGA (Fine Pitch Ball Grid Array) type, or the like employed in the high frequency application, and a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip is packaged in the semiconductor package.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in the high-frequency application semiconductor device employed in the telecommunication apparatus, etc., the signal speed is being increased highly, and such higher speed of the signal is restricted by the disturbance in the signal waveform. For this reason, the semiconductor device that can suppress the disturbance in the signal waveform even when the higher speed signal is applied is desired. Such semiconductor device has the FBGA type structure using two metal wiring substrates, for example. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a semiconductor device having the FBGA type structure in the related art, and FIG. 2 is partial plan view viewed from an A portion in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, in a semiconductor device 120 of the FBGA package type in the related art, signal wiring layers 102 are formed on one surface of an insulating film 100, and a ground plane 104 is formed on the other surface to spread over the entire surface. The signal wiring layers 102 are covered with a solder resist film 106 except their bump connection portions. In this manner, a wiring substrate 105 is basically constructed. Then, solder balls 108 are mounted on the bump connection portions of the signal wiring layers 102 respectively.
A surface of the wiring substrate 105 on the ground plane 104 side is adhered to a peripheral portion of a stiffener 112 (radiating plate and reinforcing plate), to a center portion of which a cavity 112a is provided, via an adhesive layer 110 so as to avoid the cavity 112a. Also, the back surface side of a semiconductor chip 114 having connection electrodes 114a thereon is adhered to a bottom portion of the cavity 112a of the stiffener 112 by die bonding material 110a.
The connection electrodes 114a of the semiconductor chip 114 and wire bonding pads 102a of the signal wiring layers 102 on the wiring substrate 105 are connected via wires 116. In addition, the semiconductor chip 114, the wires 116, and the wire bonding pads 102a of the signal wiring layers 102 are sealed by a sealing resin 118.
Also, as shown in FIG. 2, if the signal wiring layers 102 in FIG. 1 are viewed from the A portion, the signal wiring layer 102 consists of a wiring line portion 102x and a connection pad portion 102y. The wiring line portion 102x is formed to have an almost identical wiring width over the entire transmission path. While, a diameter of the connection pad portion 102y is formed thicker than the wiring width of the wiring line portion 102x because the solder ball 108 having a relatively large diameter is placed on the connection pad portion 102y.
In addition, ground wiring layers 103 are formed adjacently on both sides of plural signal wiring layers 102. The ground wiring layers 103 are connected electrically to the ground plane 104 via through holes 100a. As described above, the semiconductor device 120 having the FBGA package structure in the related art is basically constructed.
In the wiring substrate 105 of the above semiconductor device 120, it is possible to design the wiring line portion 102x of the signal wiring layer 102 such that, if the wiring width of the wiring line portion 102x is arranged to have the almost identical width over the overall transmission path, the electrostatic capacity between the wiring line portion 102x and the ground plane 104, etc. can be set almost identically.
In addition, the ground wiring layers 103 can be arranged near the signal wiring layer 102 in such a manner that space portions are set almost equal. In this fashion, since the impedance matching can be implemented in the wiring line portion 102x, a transfer loss of the signal is seldom generated.
However, because the solder ball 108 is mounted on the connection pad portion 102y, the connection pad portion 102y of the signal wiring layer 102 is arranged to have a larger width than the wiring width of the wiring line portion 102x. Therefore, the electrostatic capacity between the wiring line portion 102x and the ground plane 104 becomes different from the electrostatic capacity between the connection pad portion 102y and the ground plane 104, so that the impedance matching is largely lost. As a result, there is such a problem that the transfer loss of the signal is generated and thus the transfer characteristic at a desired frequency cannot be obtained.
Also, in the case that the conventional semiconductor device 120 is packaged in the packaging substrate, if the stress is applied to the semiconductor device 120 from the horizontal direction, such stress is concentrated to jointed portions of the solder balls 108 in the semiconductor device 120. Thus, it is possible that the signal wiring layers 102 jointed to the solder balls 108, etc. are disconnected.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor package that can cause the overall transmission path to match the impedance and also generates no trouble when stress is applied on packaging such package in a packaging substrate, and a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip is packaged in the semiconductor package.
The present invention provides a semiconductor package which comprises a metal plate; and a wiring substrate having an insulating substrate, signal wiring layer formed on one surface of the insulating substrate, and a ground plane formed integrally on other surface of the insulating substrate, whereby a surface of the wiring substrate on a ground plane side is adhered onto the metal plate; wherein the signal wiring layer is constructed by a wiring line portion and a connection pad portion whose width is thicker than a width of the wiring line portion, and a non-forming portion is provided in portion of the ground plane, which corresponds to the connection pad portion.
In the present invention, in order to attain the impedance matching between the wiring line portion of the signal wiring layer and the connection pad portion whose width is larger than that of the wiring line portion, the non-forming portion is provided by removing from a portion of the ground plane, which corresponds to the connection pad portion.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metal plate and the wiring substrate are adhered mutually by the resin layer. The non-forming portion of the ground plane may be formed as a hollow, or may be filled with the resin layer respectively. Otherwise, the non-forming portion of the ground plane may be formed as a hollow, and a resin layer may be interposed between the non-forming portion and the metal plate.
The electrostatic capacity, which is formed between the wiring line portion and the ground plane, and the electrostatic capacity, which is formed between the connection pad portion and the metal plate, are made equal by adjusting a thickness of the non-forming portion of the ground plane, a thickness of the resin layer, or both thicknesses. According to this, the impedance matching is obtained between the wiring line portion and the connection pad portion.
Also, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a recess portion may be further provided in a portion of the metal plate corresponding to the non-forming portion of the ground plane. In this case, a depth of the recess portion is set to attain the impedance matching between the wiring line portion and the connection pad portion.
Also, in the wiring substrate that is adhered to the metal plate not to provide the ground plane on the other surface of the insulating substrate, similarly the impedance matching can be obtained between the wiring line portion and the connection pad portion by providing predetermined recess portion in a portion of the metal plate corresponding to the connection pad portion.
Also, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the semiconductor package further comprises ground wiring layer formed on one surface of the insulating substrate adjacently to the signal wiring layer; and wherein the ground wiring layer, the ground plane, and the metal plate may be electrically connected mutually to constitute an integral equal-potential ground. As a result, variation in the ground potential can be suppressed and the impedance matching can be obtained in its stable state.
Also, the present invention provides a semiconductor package which comprises a metal plate; and a wiring substrate including a film substrate, and a signal wiring layer formed on a one surface of the film substrate and the signal wiring layer having connection pad portion that is joined to a bump, whereby another surface of the film substrate is adhered onto the metal plate; wherein stresses applied to the bump are relaxed by providing a recess portion in a portion of the metal plate, which correspond to the connection pad portions.
In the case that the stress is applied to the semiconductor device in the horizontal direction after the semiconductor device having the semiconductor package of the present invention is mounted on the packaging substrate, if the recess portion is provided in the portion of the metal plate corresponding to the connection pad portion, the stress that concentrated onto the bump can be absorbed by the film substrate because the film substrate having the flexibility is bent and deformed.
Therefore, even when the stress is applied to the bump from the horizontal direction, the disadvantages such that the crack is generated in the signal wiring layer containing the connection pad portion, which are jointed to the bump, to disconnect the wiring, etc. can be prevented from being generated. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A solder to be used for bonding of electronic parts is advancing to be lead-free from the viewpoint of environment, and has now been employed a solder powder containing tin as a main component. As a method for obtaining a fine metal powder such as the solder powder, there have been known, in addition to the atomizing method such as the gas atomizing method and the rotary disc method, etc., the melt spinning method, the rotary electrode method, the mechanical process and the chemical process, etc. The gas atomizing method is a method in which a metal is melted by an induction furnace or a gas furnace, the molten metal is flowed down from a nozzle at the bottom of a tundish, and a high pressure gas is blown thereto from the circumference to powderize the metal. The rotary disc method is also called as the centrifugal force atomizing method, and is a method to prepare fine powder by dropping a molten metal on a disc rotating with a high speed to apply a shearing force to the tangential direction to fracture the metal.
On the other hand, finer pitch of bonding parts is also progressing with miniaturization of electronic parts, and solder powder having a finer particle size is desired, so that improvement in technologies for such a finer pitch has also been actively carried out. For example, as a technique in which the gas atomizing method has been improved, it has been disclosed a method for manufacturing metal fine powder in which a molten metal in a gas-entrained state is jetted from a nozzle and a high pressure gas is blown from the circumference of the nozzle against the metal (for example, see Patent Document 1.). According to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, by entraining the gas into the molten metal when it passes through the nozzle, the molten metal has already been separated at the time of tapping from the nozzle whereby finer powder can be produced.
In addition, as a technique in which the rotary disc method has been improved, it has been disclosed a preparation method of metal fine powder in which a mesh is arranged to a rotary member as a means for adjusting a size of the metal fine powder, and a molten metal is scattered through the mesh (for example, see Patent Document 2.). According to the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, fine metal powder can be formed with good efficiency as compared with the conventional rotary disc method.
Further, it has been is disclosed a solder powder which is obtained by the wet reduction method, that a yield of the solder powder having an average particle size of 5 μm or less is extremely high (for example, see Patent Document 3.). This solder powder is a ternary solder powder which consists of a metal particle of a center core, a covering layer encapsulating the center core, and an outermost layer encapsulating the covering layer to improve wettability of a paste for solder or strength required for a solder bump. This solder powder consists of a metal particle in which all the three kinds of metals are contained in one particle, so that the composition is more uniform as compared with a solder powder in which different kinds of single-metal powders are simply mixed. Also, it has a structure in which an intermediate layer and an outermost layer are successively coated over a center core in this order depending on an ionization tendency of metal elements forming the respective layers, so that a process of reducing a metal ion to precipitate a powder is not so complicated whereby it is also excellent in mass productivity. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory skin disease, with a global incidence of approximately 2%, associated with significant morbidity and can have a substantial psychosocial impact on quality of life and well-being of patients. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form and affects approximately 80-90% of patients, manifesting as raised plaques on the skin; the disease usually begins in late adolescence and early adulthood and may persist through adult life. The extent of the affected body surface area (BSA) and the degree of skin manifestations, including erythema, induration, and scaling, defines the severity of psoriasis with approximately 20-30% of patients having moderate-to-severe disease.
Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease, of unknown aetiology, with autoimmune and autoinflammatory components. Multiple genome-wide association studies have linked variants in the genes for the IL-23 receptor to psoriasis susceptibility. Human IL-23 is primarily produced by antigen presenting cells and induces differentiation of T helper 17 (Th17) cells. This results in the production of IL-17 and IL-22, which may mediate the development of the epidermal hyperplasia and tissue inflammation observed in psoriasis.
There is therefore a need for improved means to follow the efficacy of treatment options against psoriasis, identify patients that will most benefit from these treatments in Psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases, and to determine and adjust the dosages of therapies for patients as may be needed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a developer replenishing mechanism having a developing apparatus for replenishing the developing apparatus with a developer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A developer replenishing apparatus for replenishing a developing device which is a developing apparatus for effecting the developing process with a developer has a developer bottle which is storing means (a storing container) storing the developer therein, and a carrying portion which is carrying means for carrying the developer supplied from the developer bottle to the developing device, and is designed to replenish the developing device with the stored developer in conformity with the consumption of the developer in the developing device resulting from the image forming operation.
The developer bottle is detachably attachable from the carrying portion, and it is possible to continue to replenish the developing device with the developer by detaching the developer bottle in which the developer has been consumed and attaching a new developer bottle.
Also, the supply of the developer from the developer bottle to the carrying portion is effected by rotating a supplying screw which is a developer carrying member provided in the developer bottle by driving means such as a motor to thereby discharge the developer from the developer bottle.
The driving means may have an abnormality such as an abnormal load monitored by abnormality detecting means which is load detecting means, and when an abnormal load or the like occurs, driving is stopped to thereby prevent the destruction of the driving means.
In such a developer replenishing apparatus, however, it is known that the inclination or solidification of the developer in the developer bottle occurs depending on a method of preserving the developer bottle, and when the inclination or solidification occurs, the rotational load of the supplying screw may increase and may sometimes exceed the amount of drivable load of the driving means.
In such cases, the abnormality detecting means detects abnormality and the driving by the driving means is stopped, whereby the problem of the destruction of the driving means is solved, but by the detection of this abnormality, an image forming apparatus assumes an operation-inhibited state (an operation-interrupted state), and for the user of the image forming apparatus, this has led to a remarkable reduction in work efficiency.
On the other hand, it is also known that the inclination or solidification of the developer as described above can be eliminated in most cases by once detaching the developer bottle from the carrying portion, and shaking the developer bottle, and thereafter attaching it again.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer replenishing mechanism in which when the inclination or solidification of a developer in a storing container occurs, the damage of the driving portion of a developer carrying member in the storing container is prevented.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a developer replenishing mechanism in which the time during which the developing operation of a developing apparatus is interrupted is shortened to thereby prevent any reduction in a user""s work efficiency.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1 Field of the Invention
This invention relates to DNA repair enzymes and, in particular, to 1) methods for purifying DNA repair enzymes, and 2) methods and means for administering DNA repair enzymes to living cells in situ, e.g. human skin cells, so that the enzymes can enter the cells and enhance the repair of damaged DNA in the cells.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Skin cancer is a serious human health problem. The incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer in the United States is 500,000 per year, and 23,000 per year for melanoma. Annual deaths are 2,000 and 6,000 respectively, and 800,000 deaths from skin cancer are predicted in the next 88 years if current trends continue.
The causal link between non-melanoma skin cancer and ultraviolet light exposure from the sun has been clearly established, and sun exposure is an important causative factor in melanoma. The target for ultraviolet light damage leading to cancer is widely accepted as DNA.
Xeroderma pigmentosum is a human genetic disease in which patients develop solar damage, pigmentation abnormalities and malignancies in sun-exposed skin. A review of the disease was authored by J. H. Robbins, K. H. Kraemer, M. A. Lutzner, B. W. Festoff and H. G. Coon, entitled "Xeroderma Pigmentosum: An Inherited Disease with Sun Sensitivity, Multiple Cutaneous Neoplasms, and Abnormal DNA Repair", and published in the ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, volume 80, number 2, pages 221-248, February, 1974. The disease occurs in 1 of 250,000 worldwide. Cells from xeroderma pigmentosum patients are deficient in repair of ultraviolet damage to DNA, which results in a cancer incidence 4,800 times the frequency of the general U.S. population. There is no cure, and treatment consists of avoiding sun exposure and excising skin lesions. Death occurs 30 years earlier in these patients than among the general U.S. population.
Research into the basic mechanisms of DNA repair has established outlines of biochemical pathways which remove ultraviolet damage in DNA. Bacterial repair systems have been demonstrated to differ significantly from repair in human cells. However, the enzyme endonuclease V (also referred to herein as T4 endonuclease V and denV endonuclease V) has the ability to enhance DNA repair in human cells as evidenced by increased UV-specific incision of cellular DNA, increased DNA repair replication, and increased UV survival after treatment with the enzyme.
The endonuclease V enzyme is produced by the denV gene of the bacteriophage T4. It has been established that this enzyme catalyzes the rate limiting, first step in the removal of UV-induced DNA damage, namely, single strand incision of DNA at the site of damage. In particular, the enzyme exhibits glycosylase and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease activities and acts at the site of ultraviolet induced pyrimidine dimers. See "Evidence that the UV Endonuclease Activity Induced by Bacteriophage T4 Contains Both Pyrimidine Dimer-DNA Glycosylase and Apyrimidinic/Apurinic Endonuclease Activities in the Enzyme Molecule" by H. R. Warner, L. M. Christensen and M. L. Persson, in JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY, 1981, Vol. 40, pages 204-210: "denV Gene of Bacteriophage T4 Codes for Both Pyrimidine Dimer DNA Glycosylase and Apyrimidinic Endonuclease Activities" by S. McMillan, H. J. Edenberg, E. H. Radany, R. C. Friedberg and E. C. Friedberg, in JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY, 1981, Vol. 40, pages 211-223, and "Physical Association of Pyrimidine Dimer DNA Glycosylase and Apurinic/Apyrimidinic DNA Endonuclease Essential for Repair of Ultraviolet-damaged DNA" by Y. Nakabeppu and M. Sekiguchi, in PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 1981, Vol. 78, pages 2742-2746.
Other enzyme having the ability to repair DNA damage have also been identified. These enzymes include O.sup.6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferases, photolyases, uracil- and hypoxanthine-DNA glycosylases, apyrimidinic/apurinic endonucleases, DNA exonucleases, damaged-bases glycosylases (e.g., 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase), correndonucleases alone or in complexes (e.g., E. coli uvrA/uvrB/uvrC endonuclease complex), and other enzymes and enzyme complexes whose activities at present are only partially understood, such as, the products of the ERCC genes of humans and the RAD genes of yeast. Various of these enzymes have been purified to homogeneity from microorganisms, and the genes for some of the enzymes have been cloned. As used herein, the term "DNA repair enzymes is intended to include the foregoing enzymes, the T4 endonuclease V enzyme, and other enzymes now known or subsequently discovered or developed which have the ability to participate in repair of damaged nucleic acids and, in particular, damaged DNA.
To date, the use of exogenous enzymes in DNA repair systems has been limited to laboratory experiments designed to study the biochemical and evolutionary relationships among DNA repair pathways. Clinical application of these laboratory results has not been undertaken because, inter alia, there has been no effective way of purifying commercial quantities of DNA repair enzymes, and there has been no effective, non-toxic way of administering DNA repair enzymes to living cells. The present invention addresses both of these long-standing problems in the art.
Purification of DNA enzymes for commercial use requires a homogenous final product, high yield, speed, simplicity and low cost. The existing methods of the art have been unable to meet these goals, as follows:
(1) P. Seawell, E. C. Friedberg, A. K. Ganesan and P. C. Hanawalt, "Purification of Endonuclease V of Bacteriophage T4" in DNA REPAIR: A LABORATORY MANUAL OF RESEARCH PROCEDURES, edited by E. C. Friedberg and P. C. Hanawalt, Marcel Dekker, Inc., N.Y., 1981, Volume 1, Part A, pages 229-236.
This method uses phage T4 infected E. coli, and purification relies on phase-separation and two ion-exchange chromatography steps (DEAE- and phospho-cellulose). The DEAE chromatography step limits the yield of the method because all proteins must bind in order to elute the enzyme of interest. The method is not rapid: each chromatography step is preceded by dialysis, each elution requires at least 20 hours, and each fraction is assayed for activity. The process is neither simple nor inexpensive: tedious phase separation and repetitive assays are performed, and all spent dialysate and separated phases are discarded. Significantly, the authors of this method describe their final product as being only partially purified.
The basic steps of the Seawell et al. method were first described by E. C. Friedberg and J. J. King in "Dark Repair of Ultraviolet-irradiated Deoxyribonucleic acid by Bacteriophage T4: Purification and Characterization of a Dimer-Specific Phage-Induced Endonuclease", JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY, 1971, Vol. 106, pages 500-507. This earlier version of the method included an additional DNA-cellulose step, which was omitted in the later version. A method similar to the Friedberg and King method was described by S. Yasuda and M. Sekiguchi, "T4 Endonuclease Involved in Repair of DNA" PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, Dec., 1970, Vol. 67, pages 1839-1845. Instead of using a DNA-cellulose step as in the Friedberg and King method, the Yasuda and Sekiguchi method included an optional gel filtration step.
(2) Y. Nakabeppu, K. Yamashita and M. Sekiguchi, "Purification and Characterization of Normal and Mutant Forms of T4 Endonuclease V" JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 1982, Vol. 257, pages 2556-2562.
The basic steps of this method were first described by S. Yasuda and M. Sekiguchi, "Further Purification and Characterization of T4 Endonuclease V", BIOCHIMICIA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA, 1976, Vol. 442, pages 197-207. These methods are similar to the Seawell et al. method, except that they substitute cation exchange (carboxymethyl Sephadex) chromatography for anion exchange (DEAE) chromatography, and add additional chromatography steps including either hydroxylapatite or gel filtration and UV DNA cellulose (the Yasuda and Sekiguchi method also differs from the Seawell et al. method in that it does not include a phosphocellulose step). These methods have the same difficulties as the Seawell et al. method with the additional problems of lower yield, less speed and simplicity, and greater cost.
(3) K. M. Higgins and R. S. Lloyd, "Purification of the T4 Endonuclease V", MUTATION RESEARCH, 1987, Vol. 183, pages 117-121.
This method uses an E. coli strain which harbors a plasmid containing the phage T4 denV structural gene under the control of the phage lambda rightward promoter. The chromatography steps are single-stranded DNA agarose, chromatofocusing and cation exchange (carboxymethyl-Sephadex). The yield is low compared to the present invention, in that 12 liters of bacteria are required for 15 mg pure enzyme. The yield is also limited by the requirement that all proteins bind to the chromatofocusing column in order to elute the desired enzyme. The method is not rapid: each chromatography step is preceded by dialysis and concentration by ultrafiltration; at least two of the steps require on the order of 17.5 hours for elution; and each step is followed both by enzyme activity assays and polyacrylamide gel analysis of each fraction. The method is not simple: the single-stranded DNA agarose chromatography requires pooling of 84% of the collected fraction (520 ml of 700 ml eluent), extensively diluting the loaded protein; experiments in connection with the present invention showed that the chromatofocusing step was not reproducible using DEAE agarose and Servalyte ampholines; ultrafiltration is required in addition to dialysis; and tedious, repetitive activity assays and gel analysis are performed after each step. The method is expensive: large ultrafiltration devices are used and discarded at every step; the single-stranded DNA agarose is exposed to crude bacterial lysates with active nucleases which drastically reduce the useful life of the column; and costly chromatofocusing reagents including Pharmacia PBE 94 gel and polybuffer ampholines must be used.
In addition to the foregoing, two methods have been published for the purification of O.sup.6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase. See B. Demple, A. Jacobsson, M. Olsson, P. Robbins and T. Lindahl, "Repair of Alkylated DNA in Escherichia coli: Physical properties of O.sup.6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase" in THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, vol. 257, pages 13776-13780, 1982, and Y. Nakabeppu, H. Kondo, S. Kawabata, S. Iwanaga and M. Sekiguchi, "Purification and Structure of the Intact Ada Regulatory Protein of Escherichia coli K12 O.sup.6 -Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase" in THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, vol. 260, pages 7281-7288, 1986. The Demple method uses phosphocellulose chromatography before DNA-cellulose and gel filtration, and includes a final phenylagarose chromatography step. The Nakabeppu method uses two rounds of ion-exchange (DEAE-) chromatography followed by phosphocellulose and gel filtration chromatography.
A general review of purification methods for DNA repair enzymes can be found in DNA REPAIR: A LABORATORY MANUAL OF RESEARCH PROCEDURES, edited by E. Friedberg and P. C. Hanawalt, published by Marcel Dekker, N.Y. Volume I, part A, of this text contains methods for purifying five enzymes: photolyase, endonuclease V (discussed above), AP endonuclease, uracil-DNA glycosylase and hypoxanthine-DNA glycosylase, in chapters 18-22, respectively. Volume II, chapters 3-5, discuss the Demple method referred to above and methods for purifying 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylases. Volume III, Section IV, contains methods for purification of photolyase, the uvrABC excision nuclease and the uvrD helicase in chapters 23-25. None of these methods, nor the two methods discussed above for purifying O.sup.6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, use the purification procedures of the present invention.
Various approaches have been considered in the field of DNA repair for delivering DNA repair enzymes to mammalian cells. The goal of these efforts has been to discover and characterize the pathways of DNA repair in mammalian cells and their evolution, not to develop commercial methods for augmenting DNA repair. Thus, researchers have not used normal cells, such as skin epidermal keratinocyte cells, as target cells, but rather have concentrated on fibroblasts from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum. Similarly, prior research has focused on non-physiological techniques for introducing DNA repair enzymes into cells which are useful only in the laboratory and which compromise the physiology of the target cells. The published reports regarding this work include:
(1) K. Tanaka, M. Sekiguchi and Y. Okada, "Restoration of ultraviolet-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis of xeroderma pigmentosum cells by the concomitant treatment with bacteriophage T4 endonuclease V and HVJ (Sendai virus)", PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES U.S.A., 1975, Vol. 72, pages 4071-4075; and K. Tanaka, H. Hayakawa, M. Sekiguchi and Y. Okada, "Specific action of T4 endonuclease V on damaged DNA in xeroderma pigmentosum cells in vivo", PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES U.S.A., 1977, Vol. 74, pages 2958-2962.
In these two reports, fibroblasts derived from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum were treated with inactivated Sendai virus and endonuclease V after UV irradiation. Proteins on the coat of the Sendai virus rendered the cells permeable to endonuclease V. This treatment enhanced DNA repair replication and increased survival of the treated cells. This method of introducing the enzyme is not practical for commercial application because of the pathogenicity of the Sendai virus. Large external enzyme concentrations are also required. In its discussion section, the Tanaka et al. reference discusses approaches to the study of the evolution of macromolecular (i.e. DNA repair) systems in organisms and mentions liposome methods and erythrocyte ghost/HVJ methods as other methods for introducing macromolecules into cells. Significantly, Tanaka et al. ultimately conclude that the Sendai virus method is the most simple and applicable method in basic research for the introduction of rather small macromolecules of about 20,000 daltons, i.e., the T4 endonuclease V molecule.
(2) G. Ciarrocchi and S. Linn, "A cell-free assay measuring repair DNA synthesis in human fibroblasts", PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES U.S.A., 1978, Vol. 75, pages 1887-1891.
In this report, human normal and xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts were disrupted by osmotic shock after UV irradiation, and incubated with endonuclease V. DNA repair synthesis was increased in both types of cells, and repair in xeroderma pigmentosum cells increased to the level of normal cells. This method for introducing enzyme into cells was only employed for in vitro research, as it destroys the integrity of the cell membrane and viability is drastically affected. Large external enzyme concentrations are also required.
(3) D. Yarosh and R. Setlow, "Permeabilization of Ultraviolet-irradiated Chinese hamster cells with polyethylene glycol and introduction of ultraviolet endonuclease from Micrococcus luteus", MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY, 1981, Volume 1, pages 237-244.
In this method, hamster cells were treated with polyethylene glycol after UV irradiation and then incubated with a DNA repair enzyme which acts similarly to endonuclease V. The enzyme entered the cells and acted on resident DNA. The method was toxic to target cells, probably because it relied on permeabilization, and vital molecules exited as the enzyme entered. This method also requires large external enzyme concentrations for efficacy.
(4) J. H. J. Hoeijmakers, "Characterization of genes and proteins involved in excision repair of human cells", JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE SUPPL., 1987, Vol. 6, pages 111-125.
This reference summarizes a body of research in which proteins were introduced into the nuclei of cells by microinjection. When endonuclease V was injected into the nuclei of xeroderma pigmentosum cells, DNA repair synthesis was increased. This method is applicable only for laboratory research.
(5) K. Valerie, A. P. Green, J. K. de Riel and E. E. Henderson, "Transient and stable complementation of ultraviolet repair in xeroderma pigmentosum cells by the denV gene of bacteriophage T4", CANCER RESEARCH, 1987, Vol. 47, pages 2967-2971.
In this method, the denV gene under the control of a mammalian promoter was transfected into xeroderma pigmentosum cells. Clones selected for uptake of the denV gene showed increased incision of UV-DNA, enhanced DNA repair synthesis and increased resistance to ultraviolet irradiation. The transfection process is very inefficient (less than one success per million cells) for normal human cells. These methods fall into the category of gene therapy, and are beyond the scope of the current art for commercial use. | {
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1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a shoe having a spring-position limitation for use, in particular, in a torsional-vibration damper and to a torsional-vibration damper having end shoes and/or slide shoes designed on the basis of such shoe.
2. Description of Related Art
EP 1 584 839 A1 discloses a torsional vibration damper having a drive-input-side primary element which has at least one primary driver and having a drive-output-side secondary element which has at least one secondary driver, which primary element and secondary element can be rotated relative to one another about a neutral position counter to at least one spring element which is provided between one of the primary drivers and one of the secondary drivers, and having end shoes arranged on the end sides of the spring elements, with at least one of the end shoes being designed such that, when a threshold relative rotational angle with respect to the neutral position is reached, at least one of the drivers comes into direct contact with the spring element, bypassing the at least one end shoe.
Torsional vibration dampers or rotary vibration dampers are known in different variations and from different applications. They are provided in particular in automotive engineering for elastically coupling the internal combustion engine and drivetrain. In this way, it is sought to prevent vibrations from being transmitted from the internal combustion engine to the drivetrain or gearbox. Such a transmission of vibrations occurs in motor vehicle drives in particular in the case of internal combustion engines with comparatively few cylinders and at low rotational speeds. Effective damping of such vibrations makes it possible for the internal combustion engine to be operated at relatively low rotational speeds, which generally entails a reduced fuel consumption and is therefore both economically and ecologically advantageous.
Torsional vibration dampers having a drive-input-side primary element and a drive-output-side secondary element which are coupled to one another by means of a spring device and which are rotatable with respect to one another to a limited extent about a rotational axis are known for example from EP 1 371 875 A1 or DE 195 22 718 A1. The primary element comprises a first driver which will also be referred to below as the primary driver. The secondary element comprises a second driver which will also be referred to below as the secondary driver. The torque is transmitted from the primary element by means of the primary driver firstly to the spring device and from there to the secondary driver of the secondary element.
The spring device is generally composed of one or more spring elements arranged in series in the circumferential direction of the torsional vibration damper, preferably helical springs or helical spring sets which are if appropriate connected to one another by means of slide shoes and are supported at both end sides by means of end shoes against the respective driver. If a transmission of torque takes place from the primary element to the secondary element, the described transmission of torque is referred to as traction. If, in contrast, the transmission of torque takes place in the opposite direction from the secondary element to the primary element, this is referred to as overrun.
It has been found that, in the event of a traction/overrun shift, in particular under low load conditions, a changeover noise can be heard. This can be attributed to the fact that, during the traction/overrun shift, the drivers of the primary and secondary elements abut against the end shoes which support the spring elements, and this can cause the changeover noise mentioned.
For this reason, in DE 101 33 694 A1, additional spring elements were provided between the end shoes and the drivers in order to reduce the abutment of these against one another and the associated generation of noise.
In contrast, in DE 199 58 814 A1, such additional spring elements are dispensed with and, instead, the end shoe which bears against the end side of the respective spring element is designed so as not to completely cover the end side of the spring element. Furthermore, the drivers are provided with an arm which is designed such that, in the event of an abutment of the driver and end shoe against one another, the arm of the driver firstly abuts directly against the spring element, bypassing the end shoe. In this way, the movement of the driver is initially damped slightly before the driver abuts over a large area against the end shoe, such that the abovementioned changeover noises can be reduced at least in the event of small torques to be transmitted. A disadvantage of the device is that the initial damping effect is not great enough if the driver is acted on with a high rotational impetus or a high torque. In this case, changeover noises are still generated as the driver abuts against the stop.
Generally known from EP 0 236 159 is a torsional vibration damper in which use is made of two differently-dimensioned types of springs, with the first of the springs being connected in each case alternately in series with the second of the springs.
DE 102 40 839 A1 discloses a torsional vibration damper in which, within the windings of a first spring, a second spring with a smaller outer diameter is inserted. Here, the second spring projects at the end side slightly out of the end side of the first spring. Here, the two springs are mounted in each case entirely within a common end stop, such that undesirable noises are generated in the event of an abutment of a driver.
DE 199 09 044 A1 describes a further arrangement of a torsional vibration damper of this type, with the second spring having, in its central section, a spring winding with an increased diameter, which spring winding engage between two adjacent spring windings of the first, outer spring and thereby fix the second spring in the first spring. In this arrangement, the second, inner spring is dimensioned so as to be harder than the outer spring. The two springs are again mounted at the end side on in each case one end stop or driver.
DE 100 19 873 A1 describes a torsional vibration damper having a multiplicity of springs which are mounted in slide shoes. Here, partially differently dimensioned first and second springs alternate in the circumferential direction.
DE 41 41 723 C2 describes a torsional vibration damper having an idling spring system. In this arrangement, too, differently dimensioned springs are inserted in the circumferential direction.
The problem on which the invention is based is that of proposing, in a simple manner, a shoe having a spring position limitation and having two springs which are arranged one inside the other, such that improved isolation and vibration damping can be realized. Furthermore, it is sought to propose a torsional vibration damper using a shoe of this type in the form of end shoes and/or slide shoes. | {
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Not applicable.
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the control and monitoring of computers, specifically to an improved Keyboard-Video-Mouse switch fully integrated with a video display, character input device, and pointing device.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Many computers capable of performing general purpose and specialized tasks require a computer room with raised flooring and air conditioning. Because computer room space is quite expensive, such computers must be mounted in a rack. Having a separate video display, character input device, and pointing device for each computer is impractical and wastes valuable computer room space. Keyboard-Video-Mouse (KVM) switches were developed which allows a single video display, character input device, and pointing device to communicate with one or more rack-mounted computers. However, requiring a separate video display, a separate character input device, a separate pointing device, and a separate KVM switch has the disadvantages of:
(a) consuming valuable rack space
(b) requiring a separate connector for video display, character input, and pointing data and signals on the KVM switch
(c) likelihood of malfunction due to a loose connection or failure of the aforementioned connectors and cables
(d) requiring the user to slide a video display monitor separately from a keyboard and pointing device from the rack before using the video display monitor and the keyboard and pointing device.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,721,842 (1998) and 5,884,096 (1999) and 5,937,176 (1999) to Beasley, et. al. (1998) merely specify a switching system but no display, character input device, or pointing device. Video signals are sent on cables separate from the keyboard and mouse signals. Furthermore, separate connectors are required on the switch side and on the remote computer side of cables used for video display, keyboard, and mouse. The programmable switch described as part of the claims uses only a single processor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,212 to Perholtz, et. al. (1998) provides for a method of redirecting video display, keyboard, and mouse signals to a switch via a serial or parallel port or over a modem or network device on the computer being monitored or controlled. However, said method requires the use of special software or hardware which must be installed on the computer being monitored or controlled.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,377 to Lee (1996) describes a multi-computer access switching system. Although sixteen (16) computers may be accessed from a work center the system requires a cable bus and a manual switch rather than an electronically controlled switch which may be controlled by a command entered from a keyboard.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,643 to Batio (1999) describes a portable computer having split keyboard and pivotal display screen halves. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,364 to Karidis (1999) describes a tri-fold personal computer with touchpad and keyboard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,034 to Malcolm (1999) describes an administrator station for a computer system. However, such a device requires a notebook computer in order to function. In fact all of the described inventions and devices like them provide a display, keyboard, and pointing device but they are full fledged computers complete with CPU, memory, and secondary storage device and require an operating system in order to function. Such devices are relatively expensive and consume more power and space compared to a device which only has a display, keyboard, and pointing device.
Similarly, devices such as the device access controller in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,248 to Tehranian, et. al. (1999) also require a computer. Such devices also do not offer the convenience of easily multiplexing keyboard data, pointer data, and video signals from multiple computers.
The reference http://www.compaq.com/products/storageworks/options/1udrawerindex.html describes a keyboard drawer which consumes 1U (1.75 in rack space and the reference http://www.compaq.com/products/storageworks/options/skvm_index.html describes a KVM switch which may be mounted behind the 1U keyboard drawer but a video display device must be mounted separately in a rack.
ICS provides a flat panel display attached by a hinge to a drawer for a keyboard and pointing device. However, it consumes 2U (1.75 inches xc3x972) of vertical rack space.
Raritan offers a KVM switch, which offers one processor per channel or computer system. However, only one processor is active at a time and only when the channel associated with it is actively selected. Raritan KVM switches also offer a single connector for each computer system but. the connector is wide and space consuming. The cascade mechanism used by Raritan does not utilize differential signaling for improved reliability.
Current KVM switches do not provide a means for upgrade, downloading or uploading of code, testing, or configuration of the KVM switch from a remote location. Furthermore, existing KVM switches do not have the capability of communicating with each other such that a plurality of interconnected KVM switches appear to the human user as a single KVM switch. The human user must be aware of which KVM switch a particular computer is connected in order to make use of the KVM switch. For example, the video output port, keyboard input port, and mouse input port of a first KVM switch must be connected into one of the video input ports, one of the keyboard output ports, and one of the mouse output ports of a second KVM switch. A human user must first select the video input port, keyboard output port, and mouse output port on the second KVM switch before the user is able to access the first KVM switch.
In accordance with the present invention a intelligent control and monitoring system comprises at least one first processor communicating with a second processor, a video switch, video display, character input device, pointing device, and cable capable of carrying video signals, character input data, and pointing input data.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
(a) To provide a compact control and monitoring system which minimizes the amount of rack space consumed by the following separate elements: KVM switch, video display, character input device, and pointing device;
(b) To provide a compact control and monitoring system which accepts data for video display and transmits data for character input and pointing to a computer but requires a single connector at the KVM switch;
(c) To provide a compact control and monitoring system which reduces the likelihood of a malfunction due to a loose connection or cable failure by reducing the number of cables and connections that must be made;
(d) To provide a compact control and monitoring system which extends out of a rack as a single unit;
Further objects and advantages are:
(a) To provide a control and monitoring system which allows upgrades, downloading or uploading of code, testing, and configuration from a remote location;
(b) To provide a control and monitoring system which can communicate with other control and monitoring systems;
(c) To provide a plurality of interconnected control and monitoring systems which appear to be a single control and monitoring system to a human user;
(d) To provide a control and monitoring system which has the ability to switch off power to the video display after a period of time has elapsed, where said period of time has been specified by a human user;
(e) To provide a control and monitoring system which utilizes a plurality of processing units, thereby reducing the likelihood of losing data from one of the computers connected to the compact control and monitoring system;
(f) To provide a control and monitoring system where a video display, a character input device, and a pointing device are protected from dust and impact from objects when the control and monitoring system is stored in a rack;
(g) To provide a control and monitoring system where no special software or hardware is required on the computer being monitored or controlled. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to techniques for managing visual information, and relates more particularly to a system and method for effectively implementing an electronic image manager device.
2. Description of the Background Art
Implementing effective methods for managing visual information is a significant consideration for designers and manufacturers of contemporary electronic devices. However, effectively managing visual information with electronic devices may create substantial challenges for system designers. For example, enhanced demands for increased device functionality and performance may require more system processing power and require additional hardware resources. An increase in processing or hardware requirements may also result in a corresponding detrimental economic impact due to increased production costs and operational inefficiencies.
Furthermore, enhanced device capability to perform various advanced operations may provide additional benefits to a system user, but may also place increased demands on the control and management of various device components. For example, an enhanced electronic device that effectively stores, displays, and manipulates digital image data may benefit from an efficient implementation because of the large amount and complexity of the digital data involved.
Due to growing demands on system resources and substantially increasing data magnitudes, it is apparent that developing new techniques for managing visual information is a matter of concern for related electronic technologies. Therefore, for all the foregoing reasons, developing effective systems for managing visual information remains a significant consideration for designers, manufacturers, and users of contemporary electronic devices. | {
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A digital imaging device may use an imager to generate a response. The response may be a digital response signal output characterizing a color of an imaged subject. A digital imaging device can be a digital scanner that, for example, may image a document placed adjacent an imager. | {
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The present disclosure relates to architectural systems, such as headwalls, columns, and ceiling-suspended arm assemblies used in hospitals, and particularly to an architectural system adaptable to patient acuity level. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an architectural system that is configured to deliver services, such as medical gases, to a patient and/or that is configured to support patient-care devices for delivering intensive care services to a patient.
Architectural systems, such as headwalls, columns, and ceiling-suspended arm assemblies, through which medical gases are accessible via medical service outlets are known. Headwalls, columns, and arm assemblies having rails, tracks, or brackets for attachment of patient-care devices and having electrical outlets for delivering power to the patient-care devices are also known. Patients in critical condition are oftentimes located in an intensive care unit of a hospital, whereas patients in stable condition are oftentimes located in a standard patient room. Architectural systems in intensive care units are generally configured to hold more patient-care devices and provide more types of medical services than architectural systems found in a standard patient room.
The numbers of patients in critical condition and the numbers of patients in stable condition fluctuate in a hospital over time. Thus, at any given time there may be either a shortage or excess of spaces for patients in an intensive care unit. In addition, at any given time there may be either a shortage or surplus of standard hospital rooms. Thus, there is a need for an architectural system that is adaptable to patients having high, medium, and low acuity levels so that hospitals have the flexibility to meet the needs of the patient population at any give time.
According to this disclosure, an architectural system adaptable to an acuity level of a patient supported by a hospital bed in a patient room having a wall and a ceiling is provided. The architectural system comprises a wall unit coupled to the wall and having a cavity, a ceiling unit coupled to the ceiling, and a column coupled to the ceiling unit for movement between a first position in which at least a majority of the column is situated in the cavity and a second position in which the column is situated outside the cavity.
Various patient-care devices and equipment are attachable to the column. Such patient care devices include, for example, IV racks, infusion pumps, ventilation equipment, heart rate monitoring equipment, and patient data acquisition equipment. In an illustrative embodiment, a number of medical service outlets, such as gas outlets and electrical outlets, are coupled to the column. Also in the illustrative embodiment, a number of doors are coupled to the wall unit for opening and closing the cavity. Thus, when the column is in the cavity, the doors may be moved to closed positions shielding the column and the equipment carried by the column from view and blocking access to the medical service outlets on the column. Opening the doors, but leaving the column in the cavity of the headwall unit, permits access to some of the medical service outlets and to some portions of the equipment carried by the column. When the column is moved out of the cavity, all of the medical service outlets and all pertinent portions of the equipment carried by the column are accessible.
Also according to this disclosure, a ceiling unit having one or more pieces of equipment coupled thereto is provided. Such equipment includes, for example, a reading light, an examination light, a display screen, air curtain generation equipment, a privacy curtain, a temperature sensor, an air quality sensor, an air purifier, aroma therapy equipment, a motion sensor, and a proximity sensor. In one illustrative embodiment, an arm assembly is coupled to the ceiling unit and supports an overbed table. The arm assembly permits the overbed table to be moved from one side of a hospital bed to an opposite side of the hospital bed.
A mobile cart is also disclosed herein. In an illustrative embodiment, the mobile cart comprises an upstanding pedestal, a plurality of legs coupled to a bottom of the upstanding pedestal, and a plurality of wheels. Each wheel is coupled to a respective leg of the plurality of legs. The legs, along with the wheels coupled thereto, are each movable between a first position extending outwardly from beneath the upstanding pedestal and a second position tucked beneath the upstanding pedestal. The mobile cart is attachable to a ceiling-mounted column or an arm assembly. The mobile cart is also attachable to a hospital bed to be transported with the bed. When the mobile cart is attached to either the column, the arm assembly, or the bed, the wheels of the mobile cart are spaced apart for the floor. A headwall unit having a cavity configured to receive the mobile cart is also disclosed. The mobile cart carries one or more pieces of patient-care equipment such as, for example, an IV pole, an infusion pump, a ventilator control unit, a gas tank, a gas control unit, a vital signs monitor, an on-board computer, a receiver, a transmitter, and a battery.
Further according to this disclosure, a set of hospital equipment comprises a headwall, a blanket, a unit housed in the headwall, and a hose coupled to the blanket and coupled to the unit, a thermoregulation medium being moved between the blanket and the unit through the hose. The thermoregulation medium includes, for example, heated air, cooled air, a heated liquid, or a cooled liquid. In some embodiments, in which the thermoregulation medium is heated or cooled air, the blanket has a plurality of perforations through which the heated or cooled air is expelled.
Additional features will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the various inventions disclosed herein as presently perceived. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In recent years, along with the popularization of a personal computer, a digital camera through which an image can be captures into the personal computer easily is coming into wide use. Further, incorporating a digital camera in an information processing equipment such as a mobile computer, a cell-phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA: Personal Digital Assistant) is now generalized. With this spread of a digital camera, a digital camera in a smaller size is demanded, and a lens unit to be incorporated in this digital camera in a smaller size is required to be further smaller. For photographing, on the other hand, a high-power zoom lens that is easy-to-use is demanded.
To cope with these demands, there is available an image pickup apparatus equipped with an image pickup means that outputs electric signals in accordance with an amount of incident light, including therein: an optical means that bends an optical path of incident light, for example, a reflecting mirror; a first lens group that is constructed at the object side of the reflecting mirror and is driven such that at least a part of the first lens group is housed in the image pickup apparatus when an image is not taken, and that the first lens group is more protruded toward the object side than its housed condition when an image is taken; and a second lens group constructed at the object side of the image pickup means (See Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 2006-64958). In the image pickup apparatus, the reflecting mirror moves to a position so as to change the optical path of an optical image of an object entering through the first lens group to the direction of the second lens group when an image is taken, and moves from an area where the first lens group is housed to the position for retreating when an image is not taken. Specifically, the Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection (JP-A) No. 2006-64958 discloses an image pickup apparatus in which a prism is used as an optical means, and the first lens group and the prism retreat integrally in the direction of a thickness of a camera body before image taking is completed. JP-A No. 2006-64958 further discloses, specifically, an image pickup apparatus in which a prism and a second lens group are moved integrally in the optical axis direction of the second lens group representing a lateral direction of a camera body to make a space of retreating for the first lens group.
However, as for the image pickup apparatus described in JP-A No. 2006-64958, the method to retreat the prism and the first lens group integrally in the thickness direction of a camera boy when an image is not taken, provides difficulty of making a camera body thin in its thickness direction in. Further, the method to make an space for the first lens group to retreat by moving the prism and the second lens group integrally in the lateral direction of a camera body, provides difficulty of making a size of the second lens group small in its optical axis direction because it requires to secure the space by making the second lens group in addition to the prism to be retreated. Further, the structure has a complicated structure because it is necessary to move both of the prism and the second lens group. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related in general to processes for the manufacture of photonic polymer composite films. In particular, the invention pertains to large-area flexible photonic films with self-healing properties produced by flash evaporation, vacuum deposition and radiation curing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) consist of the combination of a hole-transport (electron-donor) organic material with an electron-transport (electron-acceptor) compound such as an organometallic substance. Both materials may be in the form of monomers, oligomers or polymers combined in a single layer or in multi-layer composite structures sandwiched between two electrodes. The composites are typically deposited on a carrying substrate either by a solvent-based technique or a vapor-deposition process. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,902,641 and 6,040,017 describe flash-evaporation techniques for the deposition of single- and multi-layer structures, respectively.
Manufacturing defects in the active layers of OLEDs, such as may be caused by embedded foreign particles, micro-inclusions, or micro-protrusions, can produce electromechanically and dielectrically weak spots that in turn can lead to localized structural breakdowns. These pinhole occurrences typically result in a high localized current flow, or even in the formation of an arc, between the anode and the cathode electrodes of the OLED. When this kind of dielectric breakdown occurs, the capacitive energy stored between the two electrodes is first discharged, and then it is followed by a continuous current flow supplied by the power source energizing the OLED. This type of breakdown and the attendant high currents cause the formation of elemental carbon that further enhances the electrical conductivity between the electrodes in the vicinity of the damaged spot, thereby producing more current and in turn the formation of more conductive carbon. Thus, the damage propagates and, if not controlled, it leads to complete failure and functional destruction of the OLED device. This is a major drawback in the utilization of currently available OLED technology for many potential applications in which it could otherwise be advantageously adopted.
Another problem with present organic photonic systems lies in the rigidity and brittleness of their structure. All small organic molecules used to produce hole-transport layers (HTL) and electron-transport layers (ETL) consist of crystals that form very brittle thin films. Thus, while these materials may be appropriate for small-area glass-supported devices, less brittle and tougher thin films are required for large-area flexible light sources. Accordingly, the possibility of improving the mechanical properties of photonic films by including such active small molecules inside a polymer matrix has been investigated. Because of the poor solubility of photonic molecules in polymeric materials and the tendency of these molecules to separate out of the polymeric matrix, this line of research has not produced satisfactory results.
Therefore, there is still a need for an organic photonic structure that is both self-healing from pin-hole dielectric failures and sufficiently flexible to warrant the manufacture of large-area OLED devices. This invention is directed at a novel process for achieving these objectives through flash evaporation, vapor deposition, and curing of the various constituents under parameters selected to yield a flexible, self-healing, composite photonic layer.
The primary objective of this invention is an organic LED structure that prevents the propagation of the damage caused by the occurrence of an electrical short between the electrodes of the device.
Another important objective is a sufficiently flexible photonic structure to permit large-area applications over flexible substrates.
Another goal is an advantageous method of manufacture for photonic composites that have such self-healing and flexible-structure characteristics.
Yet another goal is a production process suitable for making large-area photonic products by direct deposition of the photonic layer or layers over a flexible substrate.
Another objective is a process that can be implemented at high production rates.
Still another goal is a process that produces a highly homogeneous, defect-free, film.
Specifically, a goal of the invention is a process particularly suitable for manufacturing large light sources for buildings, such as for wall, ceiling, and window signs.
Another specific goal is a process particularly suitable for manufacturing thin-film lights for the automotive industry.
Yet another specific goal is a process suitable for manufacturing flexible photonic composites for general decorative applications.
A final objective is a method of manufacture that can be implemented relatively easily and economically utilizing modified prior-art vapor deposition technology.
Therefore, according to these and other objectives, one aspect of the invention consists of flash evaporating a heterogeneous blend of small photonic organic molecules and a binder consisting of polymerizable monomers or oligomers to provide a vapor-phase mixture at the molecular level. The mixture is then condensed as a homogeneous liquid layer on a substrate and cured in-line within a very short time (in the order of milliseconds) to ensure that phase separation of the homogeneous condensed film does not occur. According to another aspect of the invention, the surface resistance of the metallic cathode and the chemical characteristics of the polymer binder in the photonic structure are selected such as to ensure the melting and oxidation of exposed portions of the cathode and the complete combustion of elemental carbon generated during a dielectric breakdown in the device, thereby providing a built-in mechanism for minimizing conductivity and preventing the propagation of the damage caused by electrical shorts. The resulting characteristics of self-healing and flexibility of the OLED structure are advantageously utilized to produce large-area flexible light sources for automotive, sign, and decorative applications.
Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows and from the novel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention consists of the features hereinafter illustrated in the drawings, fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such drawings and description disclose but one of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure of a cylinder block.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a skirt portion, the lower structure of a cylinder block for an engine (an internal combustion engine), forms a crankcase to contain a crankshaft.
For example, an accompanying drawing FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a cylinder block for an engine (a V-engine) seen from the axis direction of a crankshaft. As shown in FIG. 8, a crankshaft 3 is arranged inside a skirt portion 2 of the cylinder block 1. The crankshaft 3 is mounted, via bearings (bearing metals, not shown), on bearing mechanisms 4 formed in the cylinder block 1 and bearing caps 5 are attached to bottom of the bearing mechanisms 4 in order to fix the bearings of the crankshaft 3. The bearing mechanisms 4 are placed at both ends and appropriate intermediate portions of the engine. A bearing cap 5 is mounted on each of the bearing mechanisms 4.
In order to fasten the bearing caps 5 to the cylinder block 1, beams 6 in the separated form from the bearing caps 5 are attached one to each bearing cap 5. Each beam 6 is disposed at the skirt portion 2 of the cylinder block 1 in such a direction that the beam 6 extends in the crosswise direction (perpendicular to the crankshaft 3) of the engine. The both end of each beam 6 is fixed to the skirt portion by bolts 7 and the intermediate portion between the both ends is fixed, together with the corresponding bearing cap 5, to the bearing mechanism 4 by longer bolts 8.
An oil pan (however not shown) is arranged under the skirt portion 2 (under the beams 6) of the cylinder block 1 and store a drain of an engine oil serving as a lubricant in the cylinder block 1. Further, a baffle plate is placed between the top of the oil pan and the bottom of the beams 6.
In relation to a technique concerning a skirt portion in such a cylinder block, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open (KOKAI) Publication Number 2000-104726 discloses a structure in which height between the top surface and the bottom surface of each bearing cap is set equal to the height between the cap-installation surface and the bottom surface of each skirt portion and a ladder board connects the bottom surfaces of each adjacent pair of the skirt portions. The fringe of each ladder board is fixed to the bottom surfaces of the corresponding skirt portions by oil-pan bolts and is fastened to the cap-installation surface of the cylinder block via a bearing cap by cap bolts, so that the ladder boards, the bearing caps and the cylinder block are formed into an integrated body. | {
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Surgical access devices of the prior art typically include a sheath having an outside diameter and an inside diameter. An obturator or dilator is inserted into the sheath to facilitate introduction of the sheath into the body conduit. Once the sheath is positioned, the obturator is removed leaving a working channel for surgical instrumentation.
Particularly in the field of urology, the sheath has been provided in the form of an elongate tube having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The diameter of the tube is generally constant, except for a reduced diameter segment at the distal end. Although the obturator has had an enlarged structure at its proximal end, there has been no such enlargement for the sheath. This has presented a problem as the sheath has tended to migrate distally and disappear beneath the urethral meatus. Representative of this art is the FLEXIBLE URETEROSCOPE SHEATH manufactured and sold by Cook Urological Incorporated.
Access devices particularly adapted for other body conduits have had enlargements at the proximal end, but these have not been specifically configured to prevent migration or facilitate the introduction of instrumentation. Representative of this art are the “banana peel” sheaths which split axially for removal after catheter placement.
During the introduction and removal of dilators, obturators, and instrumentation into and out of a sheath, it is always desirable to facilitate maintenance of the sheath in a relatively stationary orientation. In the past, there has been no handle structure which was sized and shaped to accommodate engagement by a user's hand disposed in its natural position with the palm facing the user. Nor has there been any progressive funnel structure which would facilitate the introduction of instrumentation into the working channel of the sheath. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaning blade to be used in a copying machine for forming images by electrophotography, and to a cleaning apparatus, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, formation of an image by electrophotography or an electrostatic recording method is carried out by forming an electrostatic latent image on an image holding member such as a photoreceptor, forming a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer, and successively transferring and fixing the toner image on a recording medium. An image forming apparatus employing the above-mentioned image forming method is generally provided with a cleaning apparatus for cleaning the toner remaining on the image holding member after the transfer of the toner image.
Various types of cleaning apparatuses are known and, typically, a blade cleaning method in which a cleaning blade (a contact plate having elasticity is generally used) is installed so as to have a contact with the image holding member and thus scrape off any toner remaining on the image holding member has been employed in many cases.
In the case of low-to-middle speed apparatuses, contact type charging apparatuses such as charging rolls have widely been used as the charging members of an image holding member. The reasons for the wide use of a contact type charging apparatus are that as compared with a non-contact type charging apparatus using Corotron charging, the contact type apparatus is accompanied with very little ozone generation and is therefore environment-friendly, and that the contact type apparatus is compact and economical in cost since it requires no ozone filter or air blow.
On the other hand, a contact type charging apparatus has the problem that the deposition amount of electrically discharged residue to a photoreceptor is considerably larger than that of a non-contact type charging apparatus using corotron charging. This is because the electric discharge region is very close to the photoreceptor, although the absolute amount of the electrically discharged residue is less than that generated in the case of a non-contact type charging apparatus. Therefore, in the case of using a contact type charging apparatus and a cleaning blade in combination, there occur problems of wearing, cracking, and curling of the cleaning blade and torque increase of the photoreceptor operation system owing to the increase of the friction coefficient.
To prevent these problems, apparatuses capable of removing the electrically discharged residue discharged onto the surface of an image holding member and lowering the friction force on a cleaning blade have been proposed For example, methods for removing the electrically discharged residue by sliding a magnetic brush and a sponge roll containing an abrasive agent on the surface of an image holding member have been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 10-143039 and 1-090479). Further, there have been other methods proposed which provide improved wear resistance of a cleaning blade by selecting proper materials such as, for example, a method of using a material having low friction and high hardness for a portion of a cleaning blade which is brought into contact with an image holding member (see, for example, JP-A 2001-343874) and a method of using a material having high modulus (high hardness) for a portion of a cleaning blade which is brought into contact with an image holding member (see, for example, JP-A 2003-241599).
In the case where a two-component development method using a developer containing a magnetic carrier and a toner is employed, the toner development is carried out by applying predetermined development bias to a development roll and thereby applying a development electric field between the development roll and an image holding member for transferring the toner to an electrostatic latent image and in such a process, there occurs the BCO (Bead Carry Over) phenomenon in which a portion of the magnetic carrier is transferred to the surface of the image holding member owing to the electrostatic attraction force.
On the other hand, unlike normal carrier of a substantially spherical shape, fine powder carrier pulverized carrier) generated in a developer production process or a development apparatus often has a sharp debris shape. Accordingly, if BCO takes place, at the time of transferring a toner image to an toner-receiving body, the fine powder carrier is easily buried in the surface of the image holding member owing to the transfer electric field or the transferring pressure between the image holding member and the toner-receiving body and the fine powder carrier is firmly fixed in the surface of the image holding member once adhered to the surface.
Along with a rotation of the image holding member, the carrier thus adhered to the surface of the image holding member is repeatedly brought into contact with a cleaning blade being brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member, such that edge-cracking takes place in the cleaning blade. To prevent such a phenomenon, apparatuses for trapping the carrier adhered to the surface of the image holding member have been proposed. For example, an apparatus for trapping the carrier by forming an electric field between a trapping member and a photoreceptor (see, JP-A No. 62-262074) and apparatuses for trapping the carrier by magnetic attraction force (see, JP-A No. 3-120577 and Japanese Utility Model Application Publication (JP-Y) No. 53-32599) have been proposed.
However, neither addition of means for removing the electrically discharged residue in order to improve the wear resistance of the cleaning blade nor addition of carrier trapping means for trapping the fine powder carrier which adheres to the surface of the image holding member along with occurrence of BCO and becomes a cause of edge-cracking, to an image forming apparatus is desirable in terms of miniaturization and cost cutting. Further, carrier with a sharp debris shape being transferred to and buried in the surface of the image holding member at the time of transferring a toner image needs to be prevented. In this case, between the development step and the transfer step, carrier with a sharp debris shape adhered to the surface of the image holding member has to be removed without disturbing the loner image developed on the image holding member.
Therefore, to trap the carrier with a small particle diameter and a sharp debris shape adhered to the surface of the image holding member, a magnetic field or electric field more intense than that in the case of trapping a carrier with a normal particle diameter is required To generate a more intense magnetic field or electric field, it is necessary to set the trapping means closer to the photoreceptor. However, the trapped carrier scratches the toner image on the image holding member during transportation if the trapping means is simply set closer to the photoreceptor and thus it is very difficult to completely remove the carrier shifted to the image holding member without disturbing of the toner image.
On the other hand, if a material with high hardness or high modulus is employed as the material for a portion of the cleaning blade to be brought into contact with the image holding member to improve the wear resistance of the cleaning blade, in general, the resistance is improved but the elasticity is decreased. If the elasticity is decreased, rubber-like properties are lost and it becomes difficult for the cleaning blade to expand. Owing to difficulty of expansion, when foreign substances such as carrier debris buried in the surface of the image holding member along with the occurrence of BCO pass the contact part between the edge of the cleaning blade and the surface of the image holding member, the edge tip end cannot be deformed in response the force of the foreign substances deforming the edge and is easily cracked.
Accordingly, to prevent the edge-cracking of the cleaning blade, it is advantageous that a material having a somewhat low hardness so that the edge tip end deforms (expands) when foreign substances pass the contact part between the edge of the cleaning blade and the surface of the image holding member is used to form the edge tip end part. However, a material with low hardness is inferior in wear resistance, so that it cannot maintain good cleaning capability for a long period of time. | {
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The present disclosure relates generally to the field of lithography, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for reducing distortion to a mask during a pellicle to mask mounting process.
Optical projection lithography is a process by which an image on a mask is transferred to a substrate. A mask is typically included with a frame and a pellicle, collectively referred to as a mask system. The frame holds the mask and the pellicle in a transparent thin film that is mounted over the frame. The pellicle protects the mask from fallen particles and keeps the particles out of focus so that they do not produce an image, which may cause defects when the mask is being used. The pellicle is typically stretched and mounted over the frame and is attached to the frame by glue or other adhesive. The pellicle has become an indispensable component in optical projection lithography because of its defect prevention properties.
Existing pellicle application techniques use pressure to create an adhesive bond between the pellicle frame and the mask. During mounting, a pressure is applied to the pellicle in order to create a seal between the pellicle and the mask. The pressure distorts both the pellicle frame and the mask causing the flatness of the mask to degrade and cause registration errors on the wafer. Recently, experiments show that the stress due to pellicle mounting can contribute between 10 and 32 nm of inconsistent lateral pattern positioning at the mask. After a 4× reduction, the overlay accuracy has a pellicle-mounting component in the range of 2.5˜8 nm, which is undesirable. Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus and method to reduce pellicle induced distortion to the mask and overlay error. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Disclosure
Embodiments of the disclosure relate in general to the field of computers and similar technologies, and in particular to software utilized in this field. Still more particularly, it provides a system, method, and computer-usable medium for improved processing of calls within an interactive voice response (IVR) system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is a telephony technology that allows a user to navigate through a series of prompts and responses using keypad input or voice response commands. Over the years, there has been widespread adoption of IVR systems, especially in businesses that handle large volumes of incoming calls. The size of known IVR systems range from small to large, and their abilities from simple to complex. In recent years, IVR processes have become more sophisticated, irrespective of their size or complexity, which in some cases has resulted in a corresponding improvement in user experience.
In general, a Computer Telephone Integration (CTI) system is used to identify the Calling Line ID (CLI) of an inbound call. The inbound call is then routed to an IVR system, which in some cases can use the CLI to identify the customer for profile-directed service tailoring. The IVR system queries the customer with a digitally recorded set of questions and the customer's responses are then used to ascertain the appropriate routing for the call. In addition, some IVR systems utilize complex algorithms to determine the most appropriate routing of the call. Once a destination has been determined, the CTI system passes the routing for the call to an Automated Call Distributor (ACD), which in turn connects the customer with the intended recipient or customer hold queue.
While IVR systems typically enhance the customer service experience, they are not without their limitations. Unexpected user input or responses, line faults, and operator errors often result in premature termination of the IVR processes and dropped calls, which can be frustrating if the user has experienced a lengthy wait while in the call queue. While many IVR systems routinely store customer information in a buffer or cache for call routing completion, this information is generally lost upon call termination and is unavailable when a customer re-establishes their connection with the IVR system. As a result, customers that have been inadvertently or prematurely disconnected from the IVR system do not have the ability to resume their prior IVR process at the point of termination. Furthermore, not only do they lose their priority in a call queue, they are typically unable to re-establish a call session with the customer support representative they were speaking with. | {
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The present disclosure relates to a method for calibrating a color space transformation, a method for color space transformation and a color control system for a light source.
Color-tunable light sources have become popular in various lighting applications. In particular, implementations using light-emitting diodes, LED, based light sources offer a whole range of possible features for lighting applications. Such color-tuneable light sources are, for example, used in ambient lighting applications or backlighting applications for dashboards in automotive products. Another application is color-tuneable backlights for displays. In the field of general lighting applications particularly white tuneable light sources play a major role. LED-based solutions allow for a tuning of the white point, in particular by adjusting the correlated color temperature of the emitted light. In general, such lighting applications feature high requirements on color accuracy and maintenance. For example, luminary to luminary matching is necessary in order to prevent the human eye from perceiving the color of light from different luminaires differently. In particular, with respect to changing ambient temperatures, different light intensities and in view of the long lifetime of LED-based light sources color accuracy and maintenance may be crucial.
In this context, commonly color space transformations, in particular from an RGB color space to an XYZ color space, are involved when measuring or controlling color deviations or differences. On the one hand this is due to the fact that the measurement of color coordinates is technically favourable in an RGB color space, for example the CIE 1931 RGB color space. However, for applications where the perception of an observer is of relevance, expressing color differences makes most sense in a color space adjusted to the biological principles of human color reception, such as an XYZ color space, for example the standard observer CIE 1931 XYZ color space. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Technical Field
Embodiments described in this disclosure generally relate to storage area networks. More particularly, the described embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for introducing cascaded intelligent services for data flowing between a host and a storage device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A storage area network (SAN) provides a high-speed special-purpose network that interconnects different data storage devices and associated data hosts on behalf of a larger network of users. Generally, a SAN is used to attach computer storage devices, e.g., disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes, to a host. The SAN operates such that the storage devices appear to each host as being locally attached, i.e., as though the storage devices where physically connected to the host.
In general, a host accesses one or more storage devices so that traffic flows between the host and a storage device via an existing infrastructure of switches, e.g., a fabric of interconnected Fibre Channel switches. Depending on the number of switches, the path taken by different frames sent between the host and the storage device may differ from one another. In some situations, however, it may be useful to provide intelligent services to the data traffic flowing between a particular host and storage device, and it may be preferable to implement such intelligent services on a switch or appliance device that is not in the existing infrastructure or data path that is located between the host and the storage device. For example, switches positioned in a path of a particular host and storage device pair may not have the necessary intelligence, either hardware or software, to implement such a service. Additionally, one may wish to avoid rewiring the infrastructure between a host and storage device pair so as to not incur significant time, increased complexity, or temporary loss of communication. Further, it may be desirable to locate a service in a remote location from the data path between a host and storage device pair. | {
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It is believed that the ability of a bait to attract fish is at least partially related to its color. Accordingly, numerous methods are disclosed in the prior art for coloring live bait to thereby enhance its efficacy in attracting fish. Examples of methods and materials for coloring the external surface of a live bait, such as a bait fish or a bait worm, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,460 (Kienast et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,514 (Lechnir) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,858 (Mayer). These patents describe methods and compositions used for applying a colorant to an external surface of the live bait to thereby change its color. One disadvantage of such methods and compositions is that they must be applied to the live bait by the fisherman, and are therefore inconvenient.
Another method for coloring live bait worms is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,981 to Rose et al. According to Rose et al., it is possible to produce live worms of substantially any desired color by adding any conventional pure edible food coloring to food fed to the worms and/or to the beds of earth or other material in which the worms are cultivated. Preferably, sixteen parts of the pure edible food coloring are mixed with one part of a fruit or vegetable juice. It is stated by Rose et al. that one ounce of this mixture when applied to food which is fed to worms and to beds in which the worms are cultivated or shipped will effectively color approximately one hundred worms.
Although Rose et al. apparently discloses an effective method for coloring live worms, it has been found by the inventor of the present invention that many presently available edible food colorings are unsatisfactory for coloring live bait worms, and that the amount of food coloring recommended by Rose et al. is in many cases detrimental to the viability of the worms.
Therefore, there is a continued need for an effective method to color live bait worms. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field
Embodiments relate to an apparatus and method for coating a functional layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rechargeable battery may include an electrode plate formed by coating different kinds of functional layers on an active material layer on a current collector in order to enhance thermal stability. Materials for forming the functional layer may be maintained in a slurry state when supplied to a coating apparatus.
For example, in order to form a functional material in a thin film, a coating apparatus may perform pattern coating of a functional layer on an active material layer that is formed in a pattern on a current collector by applying a micro gravure coating method that coats by directly contacting a gravure roll to the current collector.
Thus, the electrode plate may include a multi-layer structure including a current collector, an active material layer, and a functional layer. A coating thickness of the functional layer in a wet state may be about 10 μm to about 15 μm. In a rechargeable battery, it is desirable to coat a functional layer material on an active material layer with an accurate dimension to thereby form the functional layer in a uniform thickness.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to the field of equalization in high-speed receiving units, and more particularly to a peaking inductor array for a peaking control unit of a transceiver.
Data transceiving systems for high-speed communication are subject to signal distortion of the transmitted signal. Various measures are applied to reconstruct the transmitted data from the received analog signal. In receiving units, a number of equalizers are commonly provided to compensate for losses and signal distortion substantially caused by propagating the data signal via the transmission channel.
One known measure concerns an equalization of the received analog signal in the continuous time regime, i.e., before sampling and digitization and before the final digital processing of information is performed, by means of a continuous-time linear equalizer. The received analog signal to be processed by the continuous-time linear equalizer corresponds to a continuous voltage or current signal which is transmitted across the physical transmission channel according to a digital modulation format, e.g., to non-return-to-zero binary level signaling or to a pulse amplitude modulation with four signaling levels (PAM-4). It is the general purpose of a continuous-time linear equalization to compensate for the losses of high-frequency components of the transmitted analog signal which are caused by attenuation and dispersion of the signal propagating along the transmission channel. | {
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The qualitative and quantitative determination of cations is of major significance in areas such as chemical and biochemical engineering for process control, in agriculture chemistry for soil research and fertilizer metering and in medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic determination of the potassium-sodium ratio. Present methods for cation determination include flame photometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy, both of which require sophisticated apparatus. Ion-sensitive cation electrodes on an ion-exchange basis generally yield sufficiently differentiated results, but are cumbersome to use.
Vogtle, U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,072 describes a process for determining ions. It is essentially based on selective complexing between the ion to be determined and a complexing agent and measurement of the extinction change occurring during complexation. The complexing agent is bonded with a chromophore.
The selective complexing agent may be an oligoether, oligoester or oligoamide, containing, for example, corand, cryptand or cyclic peptide and/or polyethylene glycol groups or other hetero atom-containing groups. The covalently or heteropolarly bound chromophore is a dye or fluorescent dye or a chromogen whose absorption spectra change through interaction with ions or lipophilic molecules through charge shifts or disturbances of the mesomeric system. This principle is well known in nature and in the art. Hemin, chlorophyll and metal complex dyes and metal indicators (e.g., zylenol orange and methylthymol blue based on the colorless complexing agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)) exhibit, to a greater or lesser extent, this general configuration.
A general problem of the above-cited complexing agents is that they usually are capable of reacting only in organic media, whereas the ion being determined is, as a rule, present in an aqueous solution. Although the aqueous solutions of the ions could be transformed in many cases to organic media by concentration, inclusion in organic salts, or solvent extraction, this would not satisfy the requirements of a practical and, if necessary, automated rapid method.
Klink, et al., European Patent Publication 85,320, disclose a potassium reagent and a procedure for determining potassium ions. The reagent contains a compound of general formula ##STR5## where n and m=0 or 1, X=N or COH and R=p-nitrophenylazo, 3-phenylisothiazolyl-5-azo, isothiazolyl-5-azo, thiazolyl-5-azo, 2,4,6-trinitrophenylazo, p-nitrostyryl, p-benzoquinonemonoimino and bis-(p-dimethylaminophenyl) hydroxymethyl. The potassium ions are determined in a reaction medium consisting of water and at least one water-miscible organic solvent and in the presence of an organic base.
Klink et al. do not recognize the interference from sodium ion in determination of potassium in EP 85,320. They provide extinction maxima data of various cations, and state that aside from the extinction maxima for rubidium, all other extinction maxima for the various cations tested are so far removed from potassium's extinction maxima that no interference occurs. However, Klink et al. base their conclusion on data obtained from isolated cation measurements, and fail to contemplate the effect on extinction maxima for these cations in mixed cation solutions.
The present invention is directed to novel compounds, reagents and methods which permit rapid determination of the presence of cations in a sample. The present invention also concerns reagents and methods permitting rapid determination of cations in single-phase aqueous media, wherein one of the improvements comprises use of one or more interfering cation complexing compound masks.
Certain cryptands have high selectivity for complexing with cations and, if coupled with chromophores, yield intensive color reactions that can be evaluated analytically. For example, it has been discovered that chromogenic cryptand 3.2.2 is particularly effective for potassium cation determination. Furthermore, it has been discovered that chromogenic cryptand 3.3.2 has good sodium cation selectivity. Determination of cations is further enhanced by using reagents of the present invention which may also contain one or more interfering cation complexing compound masks. For example, reagents and methods of the invention are effective for determining potassium ion concentration of a sample comprising a mixture of potassium and sodium ions. Reagents and methods of the invention are also effective for determining sodium ion concentration of a sample which comprises a mixture of large amount of sodium ions and potassium ions. These and other advantages will be more clearly described in the detailed description of the application. | {
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In the interests of the environment, and to comply with increasingly stringent regulatory demands, it is necessary to increase the amount of biofuels used in automotive fuels.
Biofuels are combustible fuels, typically derived from biological sources, which result in a reduction in “well-to-wheels” (i.e. from source to combustion) greenhouse gas emissions. In gasoline fuels for use in spark ignition engines, the most common biofuels are alcohols, in particular ethanol. These are typically blended with more traditional gasoline fuel components. For use in diesel engines, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) such as rapeseed oil methyl ester, soybean oil methyl ester and palm oil methyl ester are the biofuels most commonly blended with conventional diesel fuel components. However, FAMEs and their oxidation products tend to accumulate in engine oil, which has limited their use to 10% v/v or less in fuels burned in many diesel engines. At higher concentrations they can also cause fouling of fuel injectors. FAMEs are also more expensive to produce than ethanol, and their world production levels much lower.
It would be desirable to provide new biofuel-containing compression ignition fuel formulations which could overcome or at least mitigate the above problems. | {
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Despite the increased manufacture and sale of automotive security devices, automobile theft remains a major problem throughout the world. In recent years, assault of vehicle occupants has also become a common event. Despite the tremendous increase in the development and sales of anti-theft devices, professional thieves have no difficulty in breaking into vehicles and over-riding existing devices. Automobile sirens announcing these burglaries attract little attention to a car thieve's efforts as these sounds have become as common a sound in urban areas as the sound of crickets in the countryside.
Once a thief has gained entrance to an automobile, he has little difficulty in distorting or cutting a steering wheel to remove a wheel lock or hot wiring an ignition system to defeat a starter or ignition kill alarm system. It is painfully obvious that access for over-riding these deterrent systems simply requires a thief to defeat the o.e.m. door locks baring his immediate entry into a vehicle. Unfortunately, the majority of o.e.m. locks may be opened, possibly faster than with a key, utilizing a "slim-jim" (a flat metal lock-tripping theft device). Therefore, the time a thief remains in view, and vulnerable to discovery, is minima.
The slim jim may also be utilized to allow entry through a locked car door for assault of individuals who erroneous believe they are safe within their cars. As discussed above, the slim jim allows a thief or assailant almost immediate entry into a locked vehicle. Therefore, an individual may be taken by surprise by a criminals entry into a vehicle while waiting at a traffic light or a highway entrance ramp.
What is needed is a device which effectively resists unauthorized entry into a locked vehicle. It would be highly desirable if such a device could be instantly operated from within a vehicle to provide added passenger security. It would be further desirable for such a device to additionally include a keyed mechanism for operation thereof from outside a vehicle. | {
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1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of high yields of 5-oxohexane nitriles. Such nitriles are formulated by catalytic conversion of a methyl ketone and an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitrile in the presence of a strong base.
One type of 5-oxohexane nitrile which can be created using the present process is 2,4-dimethyl-5-oxohexane nitrile.
2. Background Information
A related process is known from U.S. patent specification No. 2,850,519. In particular, this publication describes the reaction of acrylic acid nitrile and ketones in the presence of primary amines as catalysts. It has appeared, however, that when asymmetrical methyl ketones are used in this process, as starting material in combination with other nitriles than acrylic acid nitrile (e.g. methacrylic acid nitrile), isomer mixtures are formed that contain a substantial amount of undesired isomer, namely the product of addition of the .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitrile to the methyl group of the ketone, whereas this is not the case when acrylic acid nitrile is used as starting material in such a reaction. Furthermore, isolation of the isomers generally is very difficult.
As a consequence, the yield in which the 5-oxohexane nitriles can be obtained in purified form, that is, with less than 0.2 wt. % of undesired isomer, generally is very low, as a major part of the nitrile is lost in the separation process. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for driving a gas-discharge panel such as a plasma display panel (PDP) or a plasma addressed liquid crystal (PALC), and a display device using the gas-discharge panel.
A plasma display panel is coming into wide use as a large screen display device for a television set taking advantage of commercialization of color display. Along with the expansion of the market, requirement for reliability of operation has become more rigorous.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a color display device, an AC type plasma display panel having three-electrode surface discharging structure is commercialized. This device has a pair of main electrodes for sustaining discharge disposed for each row of matrix display, and an address electrode for each column. Diaphragms for suppressing discharge interference between cells are disposed like a stripe. A discharge space is continuous over the entire length of each column. This AC type plasma display panel utilizes a memory function performed by wall charge on a dielectric layer covering the main electrodes on occasion of displaying. Namely, one pair of main electrodes is assigned to a scanning electrode and the address electrode is assigned to a data electrode for addressing by a line-sequential format for controlling the charging state of each cell corresponding to the display contents. After that, a sustaining voltage (Vs) having alternating polarities is applied to all pairs of the main electrodes simultaneously. Thus, a cell voltage (Vc) that is a sum of the wall voltage (Vw) and the applied voltage can exceeds a discharge starting voltage (Vf) only in a cell having a wall discharge above a predetermined quantity, so that the surface discharge occurs along the surface of the substrate for each application of the sustaining voltage. By shortening the period of applying the sustaining voltage, continuous displaying state can be observed.
Concerning a display of sequential images like a television, the addressing and the sustaining are repeated. In general, in order to prevent fluctuations of the display, preparation of addressing is performed for making the charged stale uniform over the entire screen, after sustaining of an image and before addressing of the next image.
In the conventional addressing, the charged quantity of the wall charge (wall voltage) is altered by generating the addressing discharge in either the cell to be lighted or the cell not to be lighted. In the writing address format, the wall charge remaining in the display screen is erased as preparation for addressing, and the addressing discharge is generated only in the cell to be lighted, so that an adequate quantity of wall charge is generated in the cell. In the erasing address format, an adequate quantity of wall charge is generated in all cells as preparation of addressing, and then the addressing discharge is generated only in the cell not to be lighted, so that the wall charge in the relevant cell is erased. | {
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This invention relates generally to furnaces for semiconductor wafer processing and, more particularly, to a process tube support sleeve used in high temperature processing.
For a number of reasons, furnaces commonly used for semiconductor processing have shortcomings.
For example, furnaces used in the semiconductor industry for high temperature processing, e.g., processing at temperatures in the range of about 1100xc2x0 C. to 1350xc2x0 C., typicallly use process tubes formed of SiC (silicon carbide). Silicon carbide is used to form the process tubes because it desirably is a material that can withstand high temperatures and because it is available in adequate purity for use in semiconductor processing.
A problem encountered with SiC, however, is that it has a high thermal conductivity. Because of this high thermal conductivity, the extremities of a SiC process tube, located away from the heating elements in a furnace, remain very hot even in comparison to parts of the process tube next to those heating elements. Thus, SiC can conduct heat away from the areas near the heating elements, resulting in undesirable heat loss at the extremities of the process tube. To minimize heat loss away from the process tube, U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,470, assigned to ASM International N.V., describes use of a quartz support sleeve, which is less thermally conductive than a similar part made of SiC, between the process tube and a cooler metal support structure.
Where various parts of a furnace meet, a seal is generally required to prevent leakage of process gas out to the ambient environment and leakage of ambient air into the process tube. Because of its high thermal conductivity, the temperature of a SiC process tube at the location of a seal will be close to the operating temperature of the furnace and, so, the seal should be temperature resistant, especially if the furnace: is used for high temperature processing. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,470 a seal is formed by simply contacting surfaces of the SiC process tube with surfaces of the quartz support sleeve. Such a seal, however, can still allow some leakage of process gas and ambient air and so, is not adequate for use in cases where a high purity atmosphere inside a process tube is required.
In addition to problems stemming from process tube atmosphere purity requirements, another problem relating to furnaces stems from thermal effects caused by feeding gases into a vertical furnace. Before entering the furnace, a gas should be heated from room temperature to the process temperature. In one design according to the prior art, a gas feed tube is mounted on the outside of the process tube. Gas is supplied, at the bottom of the feed tube, located near the bottom of the process tube, and flowed in an upward direction through the feed tube to the top of the furnace, where it is introduced centrally into the reaction chamber. This scheme causes radial asymmetries in temperature over the length of the process tube because the gas, while flowing through the gas feed tube and up the length of the process tube, heats up by withdrawing heat from the furnace where the gas feed tube is located. In addition, gas introduction at the process tube top results in stronger thermal effects on the uppermost wafers relative to the lower wafers.
Apart from thermal effects caused by a gas feed, the movement of gas feeding into and exhausting out of a process tube can give rise to a flow pattern inside the process tube that is not cylindrically symmetrical, i.e., the flow pattern is not symmetrical over horizontal cross-sections of the process tube. This asymmetrical flow pattern can give rise to non-uniformities in the process results on wafers processed in the process tube.
One possible solution for minimizing these non-uniformities in process results is to rotate, during processing, the boat containing the wafers. By rotating the wafers, local non-uniformities are smeared or averaged out over a complete circle. However, for high temperature applications it is difficult to provide a boat rotation mechanism and rotation feed-through that is sufficiently resistant to the high temperatures (e.g., 1100xc2x0 C.-1350xc2x0 C.) employed in such applications.
A further problem with commonly used furnaces is that manufacturing a SiC process tube is costly and complicated, especially when gas feed tubes or gas distribution tubes need to be incorporated into the process tube.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide methods and structures for a furnace that overcome one or more of the disadvantages and difficulties discussed above.
In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, a support sleeve is provided for supporting a process vessel in a furnace for semiconductor processing. The sleeve comprises a top and a bottom surface and a wall defining the support sleeve. The wall has at least one channel, with surfaces of the wall defining sides of the channel. The channel extends in a horizontal direction along the wall and is connected to a gas communication line.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment, a semiconductor processing furnace is provided. The furnace comprises a process vessel support sleeve having a first surface on which the process vessel is supported, the first surface having a perimeter. The furnace also comprises a process vessel that overlies the support sleeve and has a second surface. The second surface contacts the first surface, which has an opening in that surface. The opening extends along a length of the interface between the first surface and the second surface and the interface extends along the length of the perimeter of the support sleeve.
In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment, a method is provided for forming a seal between parts of a semiconductor processing furnace. The method comprises circulating a gas inside a first sealing channel that is defined by surfaces of a wall. The first sealing channel is open to a first contact surface with a first contact part. The wall defines a support sleeve and partially separates a reaction space for processing wafers and an ambient atmosphere. The support sleeve supports a process tube. The method further comprises generating a first pressure differential, where a first sealing channel gas pressure is either greater than both a reaction space gas pressure and an ambient atmosphere gas pressure or the sealing channel gas pressure is less than both the reaction space gas pressure and the ambient atmosphere gas pressure.
In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment, a method is provided for manufacturing semiconductor devices. The method comprises flowing a gas around an interior of a wall defining a support sleeve that supports a process, around the sleeve""s circumference, and expelling the gas out of a surface of the support sleeve. | {
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The present invention relates to decompression of digital information and, more particularly, to decompression of digital video information.
Video information requires a large amount of storage space, therefore video information is generally compressed before it is stored. Accordingly, to display compressed video information which is stored, for example, as a compressed video bitstream on a compact disk read only memory (CD ROM), the compressed video information is decompressed to furnish decompressed video information. The decompressed video information is then communicated to a display. The video information is generally stored in a plurality of memory storage locations corresponding to pixel locations on a display. The stored video information is generally referred to as a bit map. The video information representing a single screen of information on a display is called a frame. A goal of many video systems is to quickly and efficiently decode compressed video information to enable a motion video capability.
Standardization of recording media, devices and various aspects of data handling, such as video compression, is highly desirable for continued growth of this technology and its applications. One compression standard which has attained wide spread use for compressing and decompressing video information is the Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) standard for video encoding and decoding. The MPEG standard is defined in International Standard ISO/IEC 11172-1, "Information Technology--Coding of moving pictures and associated audio for digital storage media at up to about 1.5 Mbit/s", Parts 1, 2 and 3, First edition Jan. 8, 1993 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Frames within the MPEG standard are divided into 16.times.16 pixel macroblocks. Each macroblock includes six 8.times.8 blocks: four luminance (Y) blocks, one chrominance red (C.sub.r) block and one chrominance blue (C.sub.b) block. The luminance blocks correspond to sets of 8.times.8 pixels on a display and control the brightness of respective pixels. The chrominance blocks control the color of the frame. For each set of four pixels on the display, there is a single C.sub.r characteristic and a single C.sub.b characteristic.
For example, referring to FIG. 1, labeled prior art, a frame presented by a typical display includes 240 lines of video information in which each line has 352 pixels. Accordingly, a frame includes 240.times.352=84,480 pixel locations. Under the MPEG standard, this frame of video includes 44 by 30 luminance blocks or 1320 blocks of luminance video information. Additionally, because each macroblock of information also includes two corresponding chrominance blocks, each frame of video information also includes 330 C.sub.r blocks and 330 C.sub.b blocks. Accordingly, each frame of video information requires 126,720 pixels or a total of 1,013,760 bits of bit-mapped storage space for presentation on a display.
There are three types of frames of video information which are defined by the MPEG standard: intra-frames (I frame), forward predicted frames (P frame) and bi-predicted frames (B frame). An example frame sequence is shown in FIG. 2, labelled prior art, which represents one of but many possible frame sequences supported by MPEG.
An I frame, such as I-frame 20, is encoded as a single image having no reference to any past or future frame (with one minor exception not important for this discussion). Each block of an I frame is encoded independently. Accordingly, when decoding an I frame, no motion processing is necessary. However, for the reasons discussed below, it is necessary to store and access I frames for use in decoding other types of frames.
A P frame, such as P-frame 24, is encoded relative to a past reference frame. A reference frame is a P or I frame. The past reference frame is the closest preceding reference frame. For example, P-frame 24 is shown as referring back to I-frame 20 by reference arrow 29, and thus, I-frame 20 is the past reference frame for P-frame 24. P-frame 28 is shown as referring back to P-frame 24 by reference arrow 30, and thus, P-frame 24 is the past reference frame for P-frame 28. Each macroblock in a P frame can be encoded either as an I macroblock or as a P macroblock. A P macroblock is stored as a translated 16.times.16 area of a past reference frame plus an error term. To specify the location of the P macroblock, a motion vector (i.e., an indication of the relative position of the macroblock in the current frame to the position of the translated area in the past reference frame) is also encoded. When decoding a P macroblock, the 16.times.16 area from the reference frame is offset according to a motion vector. The decoding function accordingly includes motion compensation, which is performed on a macroblock, in combination with error (IDCT) terms, which are defined on a block by block basis.
A B frame (e.g., B-frames 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, and 27) is encoded relative to the past reference frame and/or a future reference frame. The future reference frame is the closest proceeding reference frame (whereas the past reference frame is the closest preceding reference frame). Accordingly, the decoding of a B-frame is similar to that of a P frame with the exception that a B frame motion vector may refer to areas in the future reference frame. For example, B-frame 22 is shown as referring back to I-frame 20 by reference arrow 31, and is also shown as referring forward to P-frame 24 by reference arrow 32. For macroblocks that use both past and future reference frames, the two 16.times.16 areas are averaged and then added to blocks of pixel error terms. The macroblocks from the reference frames are offset according to motion vectors.
Frames are coded using a discrete cosine transform (DCT) coding scheme which transforms pixels (or error terms) into a set of coefficients corresponding to amplitudes of specific cosine basis functions. The discrete cosine transform is used in image compression to decorrelate picture data prior to quantization. The DCT coefficients are further coded using variable length coding. Variable length coding (VLC) is a statistical coding technique that assigns codewords to values to be encoded. Values having a high frequency of occurrence are assigned short codewords, and those having infrequent occurrence are assigned long codewords. On the average, the more frequent shorter codewords dominate so that the code string is shorter than the original data.
The above described scheme using I, P, and B frames and motion vectors is often referred to as motion compensation. The pixel error terms are coded via the discrete cosine transform (DCT), quantization, and variable-length coding (VLC). Motion compensation is one of the most computationally intensive operations in many common video decompression methods. When pixels change between video frames, this change is often due to predictable camera or subject motion. Thus, a macroblock of pixels in one frame can be obtained by translating a macroblock of pixels in a previous or subsequent reference frame. The amount of translation is referred to as the motion vector. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, compression methods such as MPEG employ bi-directional motion compensation (B blocks) wherein a macroblock of pixels in the current frame is computed as the average or interpolation of a macroblock from a past reference frame and a macroblock from a future reference frame. Both averaging and interpolation are computationally intensive operations which require extensive processor resources.
Moreover, VLC decoding is also a particularly processor-intensive operation. Such decoding demands severely burden the video system processor when implemented in a general purpose processor system. Systems unable to keep up with the computational demands of decoding the compressed video information frequently drop entire frames to resynchronize with a real time clock signal also encoded in the video stream. Otherwise, video signals would become out of synchronization with audio signals, and/or the video playback would "slow down" compared to the "real" speed otherwise intended. This is sometimes observable as a momentary freeze of the picture in the video playback, followed by sudden discontinuities or jerkiness in the picture.
Many video compression algorithms are designed to optimize compression ratio (or the compression efficiency) and little attention is paid to enabling playback on a machine having a lower performance level. For example, MPEG 1 was developed to enable storage and playback of 352.times.240 resolution video frames from then-available (today's so-called "single speed") CD-ROM drives which support transfer rates of 150 Kbytes/second. While MPEG 1 enables playback from a CD-ROM, a processor with a relatively high performance level is required to decode and display the video information. Thus, the playback rate and/or the quality of MPEG video varies greatly depending upon the processor being used. Consequently, a significant need exists for enabling high quality playback of compressed video information using processors having less than stellar performance levels. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells. Each of the power generation cells includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and first and second separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. The electrolyte electrode assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the electrodes. The surface area of the second electrode is larger than the surface area of the first electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a solid polymer fuel cell employs a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) which includes two electrodes (anode and cathode), and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the electrodes. The electrolyte membrane is a polymer ion exchange membrane. The membrane electrode assembly and separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly make up a unit of a power generation cell for generating electricity. A predetermined number of the power generation cells are stacked together to form a stack of the fuel cell.
In the power generation cell, a fuel gas such as a gas chiefly containing hydrogen (hydrogen-containing gas) is supplied to the anode. The catalyst of the anode induces a chemical reaction of the fuel gas to split the hydrogen molecule into hydrogen ions (protons) and electrons. The hydrogen ions move toward the cathode through the electrolyte, and the electrons flow through an external circuit to the cathode, creating a DC electric current. A gas chiefly containing oxygen (oxygen-containing gas) or air is supplied to the cathode. At the cathode, the hydrogen ions from the anode combine with the electrons and oxygen to produce water.
Various sealing structures are used for preventing the leakage of the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas in the power generation cell. For example, Japanese laid-open patent publication 2002-25587 discloses a fuel cell which is designed to improve sealing characteristics between a membrane electrode assembly and separators. As shown in FIG. 9, the fuel cell includes a power generation cell formed by a membrane electrode assembly 1a interposed between first and second separators 2a, 3a. The membrane electrode assembly 1a includes an anode 5a, a cathode 6a, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 4a interposed between the anode 5a and the cathode 6a. The surface area of the anode 5a is larger than the surface area of the cathode 6a.
A first seal 8a is attached to an inner surface of a second separator 3a. The first seal 8a is provided around the cathode 6a, and tightly in contact with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 4a. Further, a second seal 8b is provided between the first and second separators 2a, 3a around the first seal 8a.
The first and second seals 8a, 8b prevent the leakage of the reactant gases and the coolant. Further, the load balance in the surface of the power generation cell should be uniform, and the pressure load balance should not change depending on the power generation cell in order to achieve the uniform, and the stable power generation performance in each of the power generation cells. In particular, the pressure applied to the power generation surface should be kept at the desired level to stabilize the power generation performance. Further, each of the power generation cells should have a uniform space in the flow field so that the cross sectional area of the flow field does not change depending on the power generation cell, and the uniform flow rates of the reactant gases distributed from the reactant gas passages and the coolant distributed from the coolant passage can be achieved.
When thin metal separators are used as the first and second separators 2a, 3a, the balance of the line pressure (load) is not uniform, and the separators 2a, 3a tend to be deformed in the stacking direction. Thus, the pressure is applied to the sealing surface or the power generation surface excessively or insufficiently. As a result, it is difficult to achieve the desired power generation performance with the simple structure.
In the membrane electrode assembly 1a, the surface area of the anode 5a is larger than the surface area of the cathode 6a. In the structure, it is likely that the membrane electrode assembly 1a is deformed easily due to the difference between the surface pressure applied to the seal of the first separator 2a and the surface pressure applied to the seal of the second separator 3a. | {
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Household appliances, such as clothes washers, dispensing dryers, and dishwashers, may include a treating chamber in which items are placed for treating and a dispensing system for dispensing treating chemistries to achieve better cleaning. Single dose cartridges may be used within the dispensing system to provide treating chemistry to the treating chamber for use in the household appliance. A reduced cleaning effect or damage to the appliance or items to be treated may be caused if the unit dose present in the dispensing system is not a new, full unit dose package. | {
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As pack containers from which the contents can be easily taken out, there are known a type of container in which, as shown in FIG. 7, the lid (B) is peeled off from the container body (A), and another type of container in which, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 8', the container body (A) can be bent outwardly and is divided into two content-holding portions designed such that they may be pressed by each other when the container body is bent, and furthermore a slit line (13) is provided across the lid (B) so that the lid can be ripped along said slit line. However, the former type of container has the possibility of soiling the user's fingers since the contents (C) are liable to spatter out when the lid (B) is peeled off, and moreover in case the contents comprise a viscous substance, it is impossible to take out the contents entirely from the container. The containers of the latter type, whose examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,986,640, 4,493,574, 9,611,715, etc., have the defects that they are poor in barrier properties and also the materials to be contained therein are limited to certain specific ones, since the lid usable therefor is confined to a hard sheet made of a brittle single material such as hard polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene and the like because in the case of this type of containers the lid must be torn along the slit line (13) while bending the container body outwardly. Further, since tearing of the lid and ejection of the contents are conducted at the same time, the contents tend to spatter out and be scattered about on peel-off of the lid, causing soiling of the environment and the user's fingers.
Moreover, this type of containers, with their lid made of a rigid sheet and provided with a slit line, often suffer from breakage of the lid under impact or the like in the course of distribution. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to double-package the container with a firmer and impact-resistant packaging material, and since such a container has a hard corner because of using a rigid sheet, there is a fear that the user's fingers would be cut when they contact strongly with the corner.
Further, in these conventional containers, in case it is desired to use two kinds of contents such as two different kinds of seasonings, for example, soy sauce and mustard, when taking a specific food such as a Chinese pie, it is necessary to take out said two substances from the respective containers. It has thus been impossible to take out and use two different substances, such as soy sauce and mustard, at the same time or separately by a single opening operation with a single container. | {
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The present invention relates to computer programs, particularly those incorporated into microcircuit supports, and more generally portable objects equipped with integrated circuits comprising at least one central processing unit, one read-only program memory, one nonvolatile programmable memory and one working memory. This nonvolatile memory is capable of storing data and code, and the central processing unit executes this code. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to diagnosing internal combustion engines electronically.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In modern diagnostic systems, the accurate analysis of the health of various engine subsystems is necessary. One such example is the lubricating oil subsystem in an engine. Factors which are desired to be known are the pressure at which the pressure regulator operates, the general health of the pump, the degree of restriction in the oil labyrinth in the engine, including blockages, worn bearings and the like. This information can be derived by relating engine oil pressure to speed, but tests of that nature have heretofore required the use of a dynomometer.
There are other tests in which engine parameters are related to speed, and in which the particular speed at which a given condition of the engine parameter occurs may be of interest. | {
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} |
The present invention relates to an improvement in a hydraulic reaction force apparatus in a power steering device, for obtaining a proper steering force corresponding to various running conditions of a vehicle, such as a vehicle speed and a steering angle.
In a power steering device for reducing a steering wheel operating force (steering force) of a vehicle, an operation of the device must be properly controlled in accordance with various running conditions of a vehicle, such as a steering force and a steering angle corresponding to a steering operation of a driver, and a vehicle speed, thereby obtaining an auxiliary steering force. That is, a large auxiliary steering force must be output to require an extremely small steering force of the operator during the steering operation performed when a vehicle is parked or running at a low speed. On the other hand, when a vehicle is running at a high speed, such a large auxiliary steering force reduces the steering force too much. Then, the driver feels uneasy, and hence this is not preferable to allow safe and comfortable driving. Therefore, in this case, the auxiliary steering force must be reduced to make a steering wheel heavier, i.e., to increase the steering force, thereby obtaining stability during straight running of a vehicle. Such steering force control is similarly required as a steering angle is increased.
In order to satisfy the above requirement, a number of hydraulic reaction force apparatuses having various arrangements have been conventionally proposed. In these apparatuses, a proper rigidity (steering reaction force) is given to a steering wheel by a reaction force hydraulic pressure controlled in accordance with various running conditions of a vehicle, thereby controlling a steering force when a vehicle runs at high and low speeds and under various other conditions. More specifically, in a hydraulic reaction force apparatus of this type disclosed in Japanese Patent Prepublication (Kokai) No. 49-102092 and Japanese Utility Model Prepublication (Kokai) No. 60-169068, reaction force arms project at the input shaft side of a rotary control valve for switching flow paths, a pair of reaction force plungers are provided at the output shaft side thereof for each arm to move forward and backward from both sides along a rotation direction of the arm, and a hydraulic reaction force chamber is formed at the outer ends of the plungers. A reaction force hydraulic pressure is applied into the hydraulic reaction force chamber to drive the plungers in accordance with a vehicle speed, and a predetermined restriction force is applied on the input shaft through the arms, thereby obtaining a proper steering reaction force to facilitate the steering operation corresponding to various running conditions of the vehicle.
In the hydraulic reaction force apparatus having the above arrangement, the reaction plungers are slidably held in guide holes formed at the output shaft side, and the plungers are moved in a desired direction by a differential pressure before and after themselves (a pressure difference between the arms and the hydraulic reaction force chamber). The outer ends of the plungers strike against retainers provided as stoppers at the outer ends of the guide holes, and the inner ends thereof strike against locking step portions at the output shaft side facing the inner ends of the guide holes or the reaction force arms at the input shaft side. In this case, an impact sound is generated between metal members, thus posing a noise problem.
Especially, the impact sound generated when the plungers strike against the retainers as stoppers is generated because a return pressure is abruptly increased due to an impulsive input such as kickback from a tire, and hence is a large sound. Therefore, a countermeasure is required to absorb or reduce the above impact sound. It is a matter of course that such a problem is not posed in a hydraulic reaction force apparatus of a type in which the plungers are biased toward the arms by springs, since the impact sound is absorbed by the biasing force. However, the plungers strike against the arms or the locking step portions by the spring reaction force to generate a large impact sound. Therefore, such a problem must be taken into consideration again in this apparatus.
In order to prevent the impact sound generated between the plungers and retainers, a buffer member such as rubber may be adhered on a contacting portion of each retainer opposing the corresponding plunger. However, in this arrangement, durability or a proper absorbing effect of kinetic energy with respect to the repeatedly applied impulsive force poses another problem. In addition, a problem of an impact sound generated by the arms or the locking step portions at the opposite side remains unsolved. Therefore, some countermeasures must be taken in consideration of the above situation. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a financial product and method for providing financial assurance for decommissioning a nuclear power plant using insurance. More specifically, the present invention relates to a financial product, such as a decommissioning insurance policy, and method for receiving premiums from a trust, investing the received premiums, and paying actual decommissioning expenses back to the trust in accordance with the decommissioning insurance policy. Further, the present invention relates to a financial product and method for determining the premium of the financial product.
Nuclear Power Facilities and Licenses
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (xe2x80x9cNRCxe2x80x9d) sets requirements for the safe operation of commercial nuclear power reactors, licenses the construction and operation of the reactors, and inspects them to assure they are operating safely within the agency""s regulations. According to the NRC, there are 103 operating nuclear power reactors at 65 sites. These plants use nuclear energy to generate electricity and generate approximately 22% of electricity in the United States. From the 103 operating plants, there are approximately 48 licensees, 4 reactor vendors, and 80 different nuclear power plant designs.
Commercial nuclear power plants are licensed by the NRC for a 40-year operating period with possible renewal of the license for an extended period of operation of up to 20 additional years. The last new license granted by the NRC was issued in 1978 and there are currently no new licensing requests. Further, the NRC is not expecting any new applications in the near future. However, in 1998 two plants, Calvert Cliffs and Oconee, have applied for and received a 20-year license renewal. Further, the NRC and other regulatory authorities may encourage the extension of nuclear power plants in order to meet air emission standards.
Unless license extensions are granted, all current licenses will expire by 2035, including Calvert Cliffs and Oconee whose extensions will expire in 2018. In particular, licenses for twelve plants will expire by 2011, and licenses for thirty-six plants will expire between 2011 and 2015. It should also be noted that the NRC may issue an order to a licensee to suspend or permanently cease operations if the licensee fails to operate the facility in accordance with the terms of the license.
Nuclear Value Chainxe2x80x94Nuclear Plants Considered as a Business
Due to low and steady variable costs, nuclear power plants provide long-term stability of total costs. This allows nuclear power plants to offer forward sales that capture a market premium which can be much more valuable than the margin from low current production costs.
In particular, when the electricity industry is considered as a business, the economic value of nuclear power plants can be defined in stages. The Nuclear Energy Institute (xe2x80x9cNEIxe2x80x9d) refers to this analysis of economic value as the xe2x80x9cnuclear value chain.xe2x80x9d The nuclear value chain includes:
Low production cost: The going forward cost of electricity from a nuclear power plant is clearly competitive when compared to the market clearing price of electricity in the day-ahead market. However, nuclear units have significantly more value than simply the price they receive for electricity in the wholesale market.
Improved performance: The industry can continue to achieve improved performance through increased rates, shorter refueling outages, higher fuel burn-ups, and better management of OandM costs.
Future price stability: Nuclear facilities can leverage its high degree of future price stability by selling at a premium to large users an assured source of electricity supply at a known price. For example, presently some users in California are willing to pay this premium to protect themselves against the damaging effects of price volatility in the day-ahead market.
Site value: Nuclear power plants have significant additional site value, such as switchyards, access to the power grid, ingress and egress, and spare cooling capacity. In many cases, nuclear power sites were planned for more units than were built, providing room to build additional non-nuclear generation. Such diverse generation would enable a single site to execute forward sales in the bilateral contract market and participate in the day-ahead market, in particular selling highly profitable 10-minute spinning reserve capacity.
Clean air compliance value: The substantial emissions avoided by the use of nuclear energy reduce the compliance obligation and associated costs for affected fossil-fueled power plants, including capital outlays to bring fossil-fueled plants into compliance.
Accordingly, based on the many advantages of nuclear power plants shown in the above nuclear value chain, the number of new nuclear power plants built, as well as the sale of existing plants, may increase.
Decommissioning
When nuclear facilities are shut down permanently, they enter a decommission process which will lead to the release of the site for unrestricted uses. Specifically, decommissioning a nuclear power plant can be defined as the cessation of operations and the withdrawal of the facility from service, followed by its transformation into an out-of-service state and eventually, its complete removal. Decommissioning activities are intended to place the nuclear facility in a condition that provides for the health and safety of the general public and the environment, while at the same time protecting the health and safety of the decommissioning workers.
Decommission begins when operations at a nuclear power plant are terminated. In most cases, the nuclear fuel, the mobile radioactive materials in the process systems, and the radioactive waste produced during normal operations are removed as soon as the plant ceases to operate. Certain equipment can also be removed and discarded. If the entire facility were to be dismantled immediately, however, the decommissioning workers would be exposed to higher levels of radiation than if the dismantlement were to be accomplished in several steps. Therefore, decommissioning activities have been divided into three stages. Each of these stages can be defined by two characteristics: the physical state of the plant and its equipment, and the surveillance needed to maintain that physical state.
Stage 1 decommissioning entails removing the spent fuel from the reactor, draining the liquid systems, disconnecting the operating systems, blocking and sealing the mechanical openings such as valves and plugs, and controlling the atmosphere inside the containment building. The facility is kept under surveillance, access is limited and routine inspections are carried out to assure that the plant remains in a safe condition.
Stage 2 decommissioning requires all equipment and buildings which can be easily dismantled to be removed or decontaminated and made available for other uses, leaving only the reactor core structure and its extensive shielding. The containment building and the ventilation system may be modified or removed if they are no longer needed for safety reasons, or they may be decontaminated to allow access for other purposes. Other buildings and equipment which are not radioactive may be converted for new purposes as well. Surveillance during Stage 2 is reduced, but it is desirable to continue periodic spot checks of the buildings as well as surveillance of the surrounding environment.
Stage 3 decommissioning requires that, unless the site, buildings or equipment are to be re-used for other nuclear purposes, all materials with radioactivity levels exceeding those closely equivalent to the natural radiation environment will be removed and the site released without restrictions or further surveillance.
These three stages may be carried out by rapidly progressing from one stage to the next or carried out over a prolonged period lasting as long as 100 years or more. Although most facilities intend to complete all three stages, a facility could remain at Stage 1 or Stage 2 for a relatively long period of time, or decommissioning could proceed directly from Stage 1 to Stage 3.
According to the NRC, however, decommissioning must be completed within 60 years of permanent cessation of operations. In contrast, conservation groups such as the Sierra Club lobby for a 30 to 50 year completion time-frame. However, some decommissioning tasks cannot begin immediately after plant cessation. For example, current dry storage cask designs are licensed for spent fuel with a core discharge decay time averaging approximately five years or longer. Therefore, decommissioning operations for the plant""s xe2x80x9cfuel buildingxe2x80x9d cannot be expected to begin prior to five years after the cessation of plant operations.
One open question regarding NRC licensing relates to possible deregulation of the nuclear power industry. Deregulation may cause some NRC licensees to cease being an xe2x80x9celectric utilityxe2x80x9d, as defined in NRC regulations. If this occurs, the NRC will require the licensees to meet more stringent decommissioning funding assurance requirements that apply to non-electric utilities. Further, NRC is considering revising its financial and decommissioning funding assurance requirements.
Acceptable Decommissioning Alternatives
Decommissioning involves three different alternatives: DECON, SAFSTOR, or ENTOMB. Under DECON (immediate dismantlement), shortly after the nuclear facility closes, equipment, structures, and portions of the facility containing radioactive contaminants are removed or decontaminated to a level that permits release of the property and termination of the NRC license. Note that the required work force during DECON is one-third to one-tenth the required number of people employed during normal operations. As is evident, the work force and associated costs are high.
Under SAFSTOR, often called xe2x80x9cdelayed DECON,xe2x80x9d a nuclear facility is maintained and monitored in a condition that allows the radioactivity to decay; afterwards, the nuclear facility is dismantled. For example, if a new plant is built next to an existing plant, then this will enable the existing plant to go into SAFSTOR upon license expiration. The personnel that operate the new plant will be able to look over the SAFSTOR plant without incurring significant costs. Therefore, decommissioning the plant after SAFSTOR will lower the cost of decommissioning. It follows that if new nuclear power plants are ever built, it would be likely that they would be built next to existing facilities. This may allow the older facilities to be placed into SAFSTOR at little cost.
Under ENTOMB, radioactive contaminants are encased in a structurally sound material such as concrete and appropriately maintained and monitored until the radioactivity decays to a level permitting release of the property. ENTOMB is not presently allowed by NRC regulations but is under consideration as a possible option.
A licensee may also choose to adopt a combination of the first two alternatives in which some portions of the facility are dismantled or decontaminated while other parts of the facility are left in SAFSTOR. The decision may be based on factors besides radioactive decay such as availability of waste disposal sites. However, most facilities will use either immediate DECON or a DECON after some period of SAFSTOR.
As stated, under NRC regulations, decommissioning must be completed within 60 years. A time beyond that will be considered only when necessary to protect public health and safety in accordance with NRC regulations.
Actual Decommissioning Experience
As of January 1998, there have only been five plants that have completed the DECON process, three nuclear power plants, and two Department of Energy (xe2x80x9cDOExe2x80x9d) plants. Further, six nuclear power plants are now in various stages of dismantlement and decontamination and eleven nuclear power reactors are currently in long term storage (SAFSTOR).
Decommissioning Cost Estimates
The total cost of decommissioning is dependent on the sequence and timing of the various stages one through three, described above. Deferment of a stage tends to reduce its cost, due to decreasing radioactivity, but this may be offset by increased storage and surveillance costs.
Even allowing for uncertainties in cost estimates and applicable discount rates, decommissioning contributes less than 5% to total electricity generation costs. In the United States, many utilities have revised their cost projections downwards in the light of experience, and estimates from 1998 now average $325 to $500 million per reactor and up.
Financing methods vary; however, the most common methods are:
Prepayment: Money is deposited in a separate account to cover decommissioning costs even before the plant begins operation. This may be done in a number of ways but the funds cannot be withdrawn other than for decommissioning purposes.
External sinking fund (Nuclear Power Levy): A fund is built up over the years from a percentage of the electricity rates charged to consumers. Proceeds are placed in a trust fund outside the utility""s control. This method is the main method in the United States, where sufficient funds are set aside during the reactor""s operating lifetime to cover the cost of decommissioning.
Surety fund, letter of credit, or insurance: Purchased by the utility to guarantee that decommissioning costs will be covered even if the utility defaults.
In the United States, utilities generally collect 0.1 to 0.2 cents per kW-hour to fund decommissioning. They must then report regularly to the NRC on the status of their decommissioning funds. As of 1998, $22.5 billion of the total estimated cost of decommissioning all U.S. nuclear power plants had been collected, leaving a liability of about $9.5 billion to be covered over the operating lives of 103 active reactors.
Further, in accordance with NRC regulations, decommissioning cost estimates are required at five different periods, which are:
1) at the time of NRC licensing,
2) five years before anticipated shutdown,
3) with a Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report (PSDAR) submittal,
4) two years following shutdown (this is the first time that the cost estimate has to be site specific, prior to this the facility could use estimates from similar sites as their basis), and
5) two years preceding the anticipated termination of the license.
Note that decommissioning costs do not include the cost of removal and disposal of spent fuel or of non-radioactive structures and materials beyond that necessary to terminate the license.
Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts
As should be appreciated, nuclear facilities have extraordinary costs at the end of their lives. By NRC regulation, these costs must be collected and managed during the life of the facility, creating several valuation issues. As the term of its license ends, a nuclear facility will be decommissioned and radioactive portions safely removed or contained. As stated, typical decommissioning costs for nuclear facilities approach $500 million dollars per reactor, based on NRC minimum facility funding for a large nuclear unit. Although funding depends on unit size, and other factors, these current dollar estimates for decommissioning costs and the future cost could be triple this estimate, or more, by the end of a typical full life of these facilities.
By regulation, the dollars collected for decommissioning are periodically deposited into an externally managed investment fund or trust (external sinking fund), discussed above, and kept separate from an owner""s other assets. The objective is to accrue an amount that is sufficient to pay for decommissioning costs as of the termination date of the facility.
Two types of trust funds can be used to accrue amounts for decommissioning: a qualified trust fund and a non-qualified trust fund. The non-qualified trust fund receives no special tax treatment, whereas the qualified trust fund is provided special timing considerations and tax benefits. Internal Revenue Code Section 468A allows for the establishment of qualified trust funds.
Under the qualified trust funds, contributions to these funds are immediately deductible in computing taxable income. Although any revenue that may be received specifically for decommissioning is included in taxable income, the contributions to a qualified trust fund are immediately deductible as an offset. The net effect is that no taxable income will be recognized until expenditures are actually incurred for decommission, at which time actual decommissioning costs are treated as deductible expenses. This tax method has the advantage of recognizing revenues during the same future tax-period that the expense will be incurred.
In contrast, contributions to non-qualified trust funds are treated as income during the tax period earned and therefore are not immediately deductible. Thus, while amounts collected from customers are included in taxable income, the contribution to a non-qualified trust does not offer a current tax deduction. Consequently, non-qualified funds collected from customers need to include a xe2x80x9cgross upxe2x80x9d for taxes, to allow sufficient after-tax amounts to fund the trusts.
The income earned by the funds is also subject to different tax rates. Qualified funds are subjected to a 20% federal tax rate. The non-qualified funds are taxed at the federal tax rate, which currently is typically 35%. Although it is advantageous to maximize contributions to a qualified fund, the amount that is allowed for deposit into a qualified trust fund is restricted by rules governed by the state regulatory commission and the Internal Revenue Service.
Any amounts withdrawn from a qualified fund are taxable during the tax period of the withdrawal. For the non-qualified fund, however, there is no taxable income recognition on withdrawal from the funds because no tax deduction had been allowed on the original contribution. A tax deduction for the actual decommissioning costs expended is taken for both types of funds during the tax period of the expenditure. Therefore, to the extent that money withdrawn from a qualified fund is used to meet decommissioning expenses, there will be an equal offset between revenue and expenses for the tax period.
For example, NISA Investment Advisors, L.L.C. (xe2x80x9cNISAxe2x80x9d) manages $2.4 billion in fixed income and equity portfolios for twenty-one Nuclear Decommissioning Trust clients. NISA has estimated that the total qualified decommissioning trust has $16.3 billion in assets while the total non-qualified decommissioning trust has $5.6 billion.
Equity allocations in qualified trusts and non-qualified trusts continue to grow with target allocations of 55% for both trusts. Currently, the qualified trusts equity allocation is 48% of assets, while the non-qualified equity allocation is 56% of assets. NISA expects 1999 total contributions to qualified decommissioning trusts to be $1,074 million, and $356 million for non-qualified trusts. In addition, 58% of the investor owned nuclear decommissioning trusts are subject to state income taxes. The median state tax rate is 7.8%, where the maximum is 12.8% and the minimum is 2.0%. NISA published after-tax asset returns for investor owned decommissioning trust in 1998 are:
A 1998 study conducted by NISA indicated the following factors that contribute to the uncertainty of funding of the decommissioning liability, according to owners. These factors are (ranked by degree of uncertainty):
Waste Disposal Cost Inflation
Regulatory Environment
Asset Returns
Early Decommissioning
Deregulation
Labor Cost Inflation
Energy Cost Inflation
Method of Decommissioning
Nuclear Decommissioning Inflation
NRC licensees are required to annually adjust the amount of decommissioning funding assurance based on inflation estimations. For example, decommissioning cost inflation assumptions declined by 40 basis points (xe2x80x9cbpsxe2x80x9d) over the past two years, slightly less than the decline in the Consumer Price Index (xe2x80x9cCPIxe2x80x9d).
According to NISA, the inflation average rate is 4.3% with a median rate of 4.1% and a standard deviation of 1.3%. A 1999 study conducted by NISA indicated that the average inflation assumption for waste burial costs, accounting for 22% of total decommissioning costs, were 9.9%. Adjustments by licensees are either based upon a revised decommissioning estimate or by using the following inflation adjustment factor (set for by the NRC):
0.65L+0.13E+0.22B
where L=Labor escalation factor
E=Energy and transportation escalation factor
B=Escalation factor for waste burial
Correlation of Decommissioning and CPI Inflation
As part of the CPI, Labor and Energy costs are naturally correlated therewith. Although, low level waste may not be correlated with the CPI, based upon the above formula, the annual low-level waste inflation would need to be 27% in order to have the total decommissioning inflation be 6.0% above CPI.
The costs for low-level waste disposal are determined by market conditions of the demand for the disposal of low-level waste and the supply capacity of facilities that can accept the low-level waste. Currently, there are only three facilities that are licensed to accept low level waste: Barnwell (in South Carolina), Hanford (in Washington), and Clive (in Utah). Historical escalation of low-level waste has been higher than CPI escalation; however, for the following reasons, this may not be the case in the future:
1. The Federal government has stated that it is the individual state""s responsibility to dispose of the low-level radioactive waste. The states have formed eleven compacts to date where the states within each compact will work together to decide upon, where to develop new disposal facilities that could be used for all of the states within that compact. There will be economic pressure on the states to develop their own disposal sites if the low-level disposal costs continue to escalate, or as the existing facilities reach their waste capacity.
2. Rapidly increasing fees for disposal of low-level waste have spawned the creation of a niche market for firms specializing in the management of low-level waste. Since these firms are controlling the low level waste disposal of several companies, they are in a better position to negotiate disposal fees. These firms also specialize in volume reduction or waste treatment so that the waste could be disposed of in solid waste landfills.
3. Efficiencies in decommissioning should be studied as more and more nuclear power plants go through decommissioning.
Decommissioning Financial Assurance Requirements
An NRC licensee may take credit for projected earnings on the prepaid decommissioning trust funds using a 2% annual real rate of return from the time of future funds"" collection through the projected decommissioning period. This includes the periods of safe storage, final dismantlement, and license termination, if the licensee""s rate-setting authority does not authorize the use of another rate. However, actual earnings of existing funds may be used to calculate future fund needs.
Insurance Requirements for Financial Assurance of Decommissioning
Any surety method or insurance used to provide financial assurance must be open-ended, or if written for a specific term, must be renewed automatically. The exception is if ninety days or more preceding the renewal date, the issuer notifies the Commission, the beneficiary, and the licensee of its intent to not renew. The surety or insurance must also provide that the full amount be paid to the beneficiary, automatically preceding the expiration date without proof of forfeiture, if the licensee fails to provide a replacement acceptable to the Commission within thirty days after receipt of notification of cancellation. In addition, the surety or insurance must be payable to a trust established for decommissioning costs, and the trustee and trust must be acceptable to the Commission. The surety method or insurance must remain in effect until the commission has terminated the license.
Acceptable Payments for Decommissioning
The NRC licensee is permitted to use 3% of the generic amount of decommissioning funds, even while the facility is operating for engineering design, work package preparation, and licensing activities. After submitting the certification of permanent cessation of operations and the certification that the fuel has been removed from the reactor vessel, the licensee may use an additional 20% of the funds for any legitimate decommissioning activities. However, the licensee is prohibited from using the remaining 77% of the generic decommissioning funds until a site specific cost estimate is submitted to the NRC.
Further, the licensee must not perform any decommissioning activity that results in there no longer being reasonable assurance that adequate funds will be available for decommissioning.
Disposal of High-Level and Low-Level Radioactive Waste
During decommissioning, both high-level and low-level radioactive waste must be disposed of properly. High-level radioactive wastes are: (1) irradiated (spent) reactor fuel; (2) liquid waste resulting from the operation of the first-cycle solvent-extraction system, and the concentrated wastes from subsequent extraction cycles in a facility for reprocessing irradiated fuel; and (3) solids into which such liquid wastes have been converted.
The DOE became responsible for the permanent disposal capacity for spent fuel and other high-level nuclear wastes in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. The DOE was suppose to be able to accept waste in 1998; however, the DOE is still investigating possible sites. Presently, Yucca Mountain in Nevada is under investigation as a possible disposal facility; however, it is not likely that this site will be available prior to 2015.
Although the DOE is responsible for the disposal of the spent fuel, the licensees are incurring significant costs in the construction and monitoring of the ISFSI (Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation) which is required since the DOE is not ready to accept the spent fuel. This has created a tremendous amount of litigation where the licensees are suing the DOE. It is expected that this litigation may go on for several years.
Low-level waste is any radioactive waste that is not classified as high-level waste. As stated above, there are currently only three active licensed disposal facilities of low-level radioactive waste.
U.S. Price Anderson Act
The Price Anderson Act provides coverage for xe2x80x9cany legal liabilityxe2x80x9d arising from a xe2x80x9cnuclear incidentxe2x80x9d with three specific exclusions: (1) worker""s compensation claims for persons employed at the site in connection with the activity, (2) claims arising out of an act of war, and (3) damage to property at the site used in connection with the activities of the licensee. This last exclusion implies that the Price Anderson Act does not cover decommissioning costs.
Federal Statutes require reactor operators to maintain primary financial protection equal to the maximum amount of liability insurance available from private insurance sources at reasonable terms. See 10 C.F.R. xc2xa750.54(w).
The Act provides a three layered system of financial protection and indemnity agreements. In the first tier, licensees are required to provide proof of financial assurance protection in an amount equal to the maximum liability insurance available from private sources, currently $200 million. The second tier provides for a retrospective premium payment mechanism, whereby the industry would share liability for any damage resulting from a nuclear incident, currently $9.5 billion. In the event of such an incident, each commercial reactor licensee would be assessed a prorated share of damages up to the statutory maximum of $83.9 million per reactor per incident, but are limited to no more than $10 million annually per reactor per incident. In the third tier, the indemnity is guaranteed by the U.S. government.
Property Insurance
To meet the requirements of 10 C.F.R. xc2xa750.54(w), nuclear power plant licensees need to purchase the maximum coverage available. Currently, there are two levels of property insurance that provide coverage of post-accident stabilization and decontamination costs, xe2x80x9cprimaryxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cexcessxe2x80x9d coverages.
For example, both American Nuclear Insurers (xe2x80x9cANIxe2x80x9d) and Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited (xe2x80x9cNEILxe2x80x9d) offer primary property coverage up to a limit of $500 million. ANI offers excess coverage in the amount of $600 million, and NEIL offers excess coverage in the amount of $2.25 billion. The combined amount of coverage available is at least $1.1 billion, and potentially as much as $3.85 billion in property insurance.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a financial product and method for providing financial assurance for decommissioning a nuclear power plant using insurance.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a financial product, such as a decommissioning insurance policy, and method for receiving premiums from a trust, investing the received premiums, and paying actual decommissioning expenses back to the trust.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a financial product and method for accurately determining the premium of the financial product independent of the actual year decommissioning begins.
Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed description and the novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The present invention is directed to an insurance policy and insurance method wherein an insurance company agrees to pay on behalf of an insured (e.g., a qualified or non-qualified nuclear decommissioning trust) the decommissioning costs incurred by the insured which occur after a policy inception date and before a policy termination date that are required to decommission one or more nuclear power plants.
In one embodiment, an insurance policy provides financial assurance for the decommissioning of a nuclear power facility. The policy provides, in exchange for payment of a premium, for an insurer to pay actual decommissioning expenses for the nuclear power facility between a policy inception date and a policy termination date. As an aspect of this embodiment, the insurer will invest the received premium in, e.g., securities, and will use the accrued value of the premium to pay the actual decommissioning expenses in accordance with the terms of the policy.
In another embodiment, an insurance policy, issued by the insurer, such as an insurance company, for decommissioning a nuclear power facility, includes a monetary premium that is determined based on a plurality of scenarios. Each scenario is based on the decommission starting on a different time schedule, e.g., by year, where each scenario has a monetary sum of estimated expenses and risk.
The premium is based on an adjusted sum of the scenarios, where the adjusted sum is determined by 1) determining a net present value (NPV) of expected decommissioning expenses for each scenario, 2) by determining a risk transfer element for each scenario, where the risk transfer element is an NPV of unexpected expenses multiplied by a probability of actual occurrence, and 3) by determining insurer expenses for each scenario, where the insurer expenses are an NPV of expected expenses incurred by an insurer of the nuclear facility. The above three NPVs are then added for each scenario, to calculate the monetary sum of each scenario. The monetary sum of each scenario is then adjusted, so that each monetary sum is substantially equal to one another. The premium of the insurance policy is based on the adjusted sum. As an aspect of this insurance policy, an insurance profit value is added to the adjusted sum to obtain the premium. Note that all of the above is preferably performed by a computerized system.
In addition, the inventive financial products advantageously offer tax efficiencies. For example, regarding tax implications of transferring non-qualified trust funds when a nuclear power plant is sold, the inventive financial products and methods provide tax efficiencies on the transfer of such non-qualified funds.
Further, under the existing decommissioning trust accounts, the contributions to the qualified trust fund accounts should be tax deductible when paid into the trust, while the contributions to the non-qualified trust fund accounts may need to wait until the actual decommissioning costs are paid out before a deduction may be taken. Under the inventive financial products and methods, the entire premium payment may be tax deductible when paid.
In addition, regarding interest income, under the existing decommissioning trust accounts, the qualified trusts are taxed at a 20% rate, while the non-qualified accounts are taxed at the corporate rate (typically 35%). Under the inventive financial products and methods, the interest income will be earned in a tax deferred environment, from the insured""s prospective.
Further, the insured will have better ability to access funds. The inventive financial products may be set up to pay for maintenance of the facility, while providing adequate coverage for decommissioning.
As another advantage, the inventive financial product may be AAA rated. Such a AAA rating is very important to the NRC, since the companies that are looking at acquiring the nuclear power plants are generally private companies (not utilities). The NRC will want to make sure that a financially strong company is providing the financial assurance.
In addition, the inventive financial product provides financial assurance to the seller of a nuclear power plant that the decommissioning obligations are secured. The seller may also require the potential buyer to demonstrate that money will be available for the ultimate decommissioning.
As yet another advantage, the inventive financial product may be set up to allow the owner of several plants to pool their exposure.
Such advantages listed above are merely illustrative and not exhaustive. Further, these and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Currently, patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure is a function of the time that has elapsed since the procedure. Indeed, follow-up meetings with the orthopaedic care provider (e.g., the surgeon) are typically scheduled for dates in the future which reflect the passage of a given amount of time since the procedure. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A flash memory is a type of nonvolatile memory cell that is electrically reprogrammable. Typically, the memory cells are arranged in an array of rows and columns. These memory cells typically include floating gate transistors. These transistors can be programmed or erased by applying voltage between a control electrode and the drain, source or substrate. The voltage applied during programming (V.sub.p) or erasing (V.sub.e) is a "high" voltage, higher than the input voltage, or V.sub.cc, necessitating a charge pump to pump the voltage from V.sub.cc to V.sub.p or V.sub.e.
The charge pump increases a small input voltage (for example, V.sub.cc) into the larger voltages that are passed to the word lines and bit lines of semiconductor devices. These voltages affect the writing or erasing of data to and from the memory device. The charge pump usually includes a number of serially-connected pump stages that are driven by two non-overlapping clock signals. The serially-connected pump stages multiply the amplitude of the clock signals. The actual voltage obtained at the charge pump output terminal depends upon the number of pump stages, the clock frequency, and on the charge transfer efficiency of each pump stage.
Currently, charge pumps are constructed using several bootstrap capacitors having the same size capacitance (C) at each respective node of the charge pump. A bootstrap capacitor is simply a capacitor connected to each respective node of a charge pump.
As the input voltage V.sub.cc decreases, due to the flash memory being used in low voltage environments, such as battery operation, the number of stages necessary to generate the same high output voltages also increases. Typically, the voltage required to program or erase a flash memory array is in the range of about 10 volts.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional prior art charge pump 1. The prior art charge pump 1 consists of n stages, each stage is comprised of a diode means 2 and a capacitor 3. Typically, the diode means 2 is a field effect transistor 2 with the gate terminal connected to a source/drain terminal causing the FET to act as a diode, and the capacitor 3 is coupled to the source/drain terminal of the field effect transistor 2.
This capacitor 3 stores a charge V.sub.cc -V.sub.Th at each successive stage, thereby increasing the voltage potential by V.sub.cc -V.sub.Th at each successive stage. Thus, the current, I, across one stage n of the charge pump 1 is proportional to n(V.sub.cc -V.sub.Th), where V.sub.Th is the threshold voltage of the transistor 2 and n is the number of stages. Thus, at each stage, the voltage is pumped up proportional to n(V.sub.cc -V.sub.Th). However, in this prior art charge pump 1, reverse current flow is not prevented since adjacent transistors 2 are not switched OFF.
Thus, a drawback to prior art charge pumps is that as the number of stages increases, the power required to drive the charge pump also increases due to the increased number of capacitors in the charge pump and the reverse current flow. There is a need to reduce the size of these power supplies, by designing a more sophisticated charge pump which operates at a lower voltage than previous charge pumps, thereby reducing the amount of power needed to drive the device.
It is therefore desirable to provide a pump voltage circuit which can be used for very low voltage operation. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Description of the Prior Art
Hand-operated bending apparatus using a sweep arm is well known. There are many patents disclosing the use of a sweep arm cooperating with either a fixed or rotating shoe to urge the metal to be bent against a forming die. Most of the existing apparatus requires the clamping of the metal in order to prevent movement of the metal bar during the bending operation. Scoring or marking the metal is another problem that has occurred in bending metal when using existing apparatus. It has been found that prior art patents require a considerable amount of force to bend tubing having a medium to thick gauge wall when heat has not been applied to the metal.
The present invention provides a relatively simple, light-weight and inexpensive bending tool which effectively and accurately bends metal while requiring less force on the part of the operator. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates generally to wireless communication systems and more particularly to a communication method that uses time division duplexing.
In addition to traditional voice services, next generation wireless communication systems have to support various different types of multimedia services, including broadcasts, video conferencing, and interactive applications, for example. Many of these multimedia services may require flexibility in their use of spectrum capacity to operate effectively. The typical spectrum management approach is to assign frequencies to a particular use. This approach, however, has become somewhat limited in view of the complexity and overlap between the operations of next generation services and applications. One regulatory solution has been the introduction of flexible-use spectrum in which users of assigned portions of spectrum have more freedom to decide which technologies and services to deploy. In this regard, flexible-use spectrum can allow spectrum users to make timely commercial choices and can let market forces determine which competing technologies and services will be offered in a particular frequency band. Such approach can result in a more effective use of spectrum than that which occurs by imposing a technology or a service by regulation. As a result of these efforts to open up the spectrum, new user-based communication techniques are being considered that address aspects that are particular to next generation services and applications. For example, communication methods that include duplexing techniques or schemes that incorporate the inherent asymmetry in data flow that is characteristic of many multimedia services are being considered for next generation wireless communication systems.
Duplexing techniques include time division duplexing (TDD), frequency division duplexing (FDD), and/or hybrid duplexing, the latter of which includes aspects of both TDD and FDD schemes. In TDD, bidirectional communication or data flow is implemented through a communication link by separating the communication time within a given frequency band associated with the communication link into alternating transmission time slots and reception time slots. A time guard is used between time slots to reduce or minimize the likelihood of interference. In this scheme, a satellite or a base station, for example, can allocate a number of transmission time slots different from a number of reception time slots to a mobile device within a given time interval to produce asymmetric data communication. As the area of coverage provided by the satellite or the base station increases significantly, the guard time between time slots may be increased to compensate for delays that result from a longer signal round-trip between the satellite or base station and the mobile device. The increased delay can reduce the communication efficiency of the TDD scheme. In many instances, however, the time guard is sufficiently small even when large areas of coverage are concerned such that the TDD scheme efficiency remains adequate for many services or applications.
In FDD, bidirectional communication or data flow is implemented through a communication link by partitioning a given frequency band associated with the communication link into separate transmission and reception frequency bands that operate concurrently. Because the transmission and reception bands are separate from each other to reduce the likelihood of interference, no time delays occur associated with the transmission or reception of signals (i.e., no round-trip delays). Although the FDD scheme may be suitable for large areas of coverage because time delays do not play a significant role, the fixed and balanced nature of the transmission and reception frequency bands limit the flexibility that is necessary for asymmetric data communication in next generation wireless communication services. Some FDD schemes achieve asymmetry by using an auxiliary frequency band separate from the paired transmission and reception frequency bands to provide additional capacity in one direction of the data flow. This approach, however, requires the communication system to include additional hardware and/or software to handle the separate frequency band through which asymmetry is achieved.
Thus, a need exists for new methods for asymmetric communication in wireless communication systems. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In recent years, interpolymer complexes have received considerable attention in the literature due to their interesting and unique properties. In most instances, these complexes are formed by intimately mixing aqueous solutions containing high-charge density polyelectrolytes possessing opposite charge. When these polymer molecules meet in solution, the interaction between oppositely charged sites will cause the release of their associated counterions forming the complex. The counterions are now free to diffuse into the bulk solution. Normally, phase separation occurs upon prolonged standing in these high-charged density complexes. As a result, these materials have poor rheological properties. In recent work we have found that low-charge interpolymer complexes are soluble and effective in viscosifying aqueous solution systems. More importantly, these complexes possess a substantially higher viscosity than the corresponding individual low-charge density copolymer components. These characteristics are unexpected since high-charge density complexes are insoluble in these conventional solution systems. Therefore, it is anticipated that few detailed rheological studies of these latter materials appear in the literature. In particular, shear rate measurements are markedly absent.
Polymeric materials are useful as viscosity enhancers when dissolved in the appropriate solvent system. The principle reason for this behavior is due primarily to the large volume which a single macromolecular chain can occupy within the solvent. An increase in the size of the chain produces a concomitant enhancement in the solution viscosity. However, when the polymer chain is placed in a shear field, segmental orientation takes place in the direction of the shearing force. The viscosity of the fluid dramatically drops due to this orientation phenomena. Such shear thinning behavior is typical of most solutions containing dissolved polymeric materials. However, if the polymer molecular has a very high molecular weight with a relatively flexible backbone and the solvent viscosity is sufficiently high, different behavior can be anticipated. It has been shown by several groups that, with increasing shear rates, the viscosity should show a decrease, followed by a minimum value and a subsequent small increase in cases where both solvent viscosity and polymer molecular weight are very high. This latter effect gives rise to a very mild dilatant behavior. However, the above-mentioned conditions required for the appearance of shear thickening behavior in these polymeric solution systems are not applicable for many technologically interesting fluids. In most of the common synthetic polymers, it is difficult from a synthetic viewpoint to obtain sufficiently high molecular weight and even when obtained it is easily degraded under shear, in addition, most solvents (for example, water) have rather low viscosities.
This invention discloses the novel and unexpected result that soluble interpolymer complexes of lower molecular weight are capable of enhancing the viscosity of aqueous solutions under relatively broad shear conditions. With these unique polymeric materials, dilatant behavior occurs in aqueous fluids which are of extreme technological utility. It is further observed that under the identical experimental conditions, the viscosity of the individual copolymer components show the normal shear thinning behavior.
Polymers with very high molecular weight can be used to modify a solvent for a variety of technological applications. In this invention it is disclosed that an alternative to ultra high molecular weight additives are lower molecular weight polymers which are capable of associating in solution, thereby building a network of a very high molecular weight. A way for achieving such networks is the complexation of two dissolved polymers, one having anionic charges along its backbone and the other having cationic charges along its backbone. The complex can be achieved by dissolving each polymer alone in the solvent and combining the two solutions. Alternatively, each polymer can be codissolved in the same solution system. When polymer molecules of opposite charges meet in solution, an interaction occurs between oppositely charged sites forming a complex which involves the associated counterions that may have been present in one or both polymers.
In order to avoid phase separation of the complex in solution, the charge density along the polymer backbones should be relatively low. The resulting solution of such a complex is then significantly more viscous than solutions containing the individual polymers, provided that the total numbers of negative and positive charges are correctly balanced. Upon addition of a strongly polar agent such as water soluble inorganic salts alcohol the complex can be disturbed and the viscosity reduced.
It was found that for a given balance of the various parameters that may be varied in an interpolymer complex solution, an unexpected shear thickening (dilatant) behavior may be obtained. These parameters include:
Backbone nature of each of the polymers (or copolymers). PA1 The charge densities along the polymer backbones. PA1 The molecular weight of each polymer. PA1 The ratio between the polymers introduced into solution. PA1 The solvent (and cosolvent, if any). PA1 The concentration of polymer in solution.
As explained above, most solutions of high molecular weight polymers are expected to exhibit a shear thinning behavior. Interpolymer complexes under narrow conditions seem on the other hand to possess an ability to establish even larger networks or act as if networks are larger under high shear rates resulting in shear thickening.
For example, shear thickening behavior can be useful in affecting antimisting characteristics. Such a solution can behave as a fairly low viscosity fluid at low shear rates. However, the viscosity begins to rise as the shear rate is progressively increased. Accordingly, the solution can more effectively resist breakup into a mist of minute droplets. This is a very desirable attribute in a variety of fluids of technological interest. Another desirable attribute is to be able to reverse (or erase) the above-mentioned antimisting behavior and render it atomizable. With regard to interpolymer complexes, this is readily achieved through addition of a soluble component capable of weakening or totally disrupting the ionic linkages which hold the complex together. Such a component should be highly polar, soluble in the solution containing the dissolved interpolymer complex and capable of efficiently migrating (and disrupting) to the ionic linkages. Water soluble salts, acids, bases and amines are some possible examples. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of allocating radio resources in a multi-carrier system, and more particularly, to a method of transmitting a signaling message from a user equipment communicating with a multi-carrier system. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for an OFDM communication system, a DFT-S-OFDM communication system, an OFDMA communication system or a communication system of transmitting data carried by a plurality of subcarriers to maintain orthogonality between a plurality of the subcarriers.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, OFDM, DFT-S-OFDM (DFT spreading OFDM) and OFDMA systems are used as communication methods in multi-carrier systems, which is explained as follows.
In the following description, OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) is explained. A basic principle of OFDM lies in dividing a high-rate data stream into a number of slow-rate data streams and transmitting the slow-rate data streams simultaneously using a plurality of carriers. In this case, each of a plurality of the carriers is called a subcarrier. Since orthogonality exists between a plurality of the carriers of OFDM, even if frequency components of the carriers are mutually overlapped, they can be detected by a receiving end. The high-rate data stream is converted to a plurality of slow-rate data streams by a serial-to-parallel converter, a plurality of the parallel-converted data streams are multiplied by subcarriers, respectively, the multiplied data streams are summed up together, and the corresponding sum is then transmitted to the receiving terminal.
A plurality of the parallel-converted data streams can be transmitted as a plurality of subcarriers by IDFT (Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform). And, the IDFT can be efficiently implemented using IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform).
As a symbol duration of a subcarrier having a low data rate increases, relative signal dispersion occurring by multi-path delay spreading decreases. And, it is able to reduce inter-symbol interference by inserting a guard interval, which is longer than delay spreading of channel, between OFDM symbols. Moreover, a portion of an OFDM signal is copied and placed at a start portion of symbols in a guard interval. If so, OFDM symbols are cyclically extends to be protected.
DFT-S-OFDM according to a related art is explained as follows.
First of all, the DFT-S-OFDM is called SC-FDMA (Single Carrier-FDMA) as well. The SC-FDMA is the scheme mainly applicable to uplink. In the SC-FDMA, a spreading scheme is first applied in a frequency domain by DFT matrix before generating an OFDM signal, the corresponding result is modulated by the OFDM scheme, and the modulated result is then transmitted.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a transmitting end according to DFT-S-OFDM. To explain operations of the related art device, several variables are defined. ‘N’ indicates a number of subcarriers carrying OFDM signal, ‘Nb’ indicates a number of subcarriers for a random user, ‘F’ indicates Discrete Fourier Transform matrix, i.e., DFT matrix, ‘s’ indicates a data symbol vector, ‘x’ indicates a spread vector in frequency domain, and ‘y’ indicates a transmitted OFDM symbol vector in time domain.
In SC-FDMA, data symbol (s) is spread using DFT matrix before being transmitted. This is represented as Formula 1.x=FNb×Nbs [Formula 1]
In Formula 1, FNb×Nb is an Nb-sized DFT matrix used to spread data symbol (s). Subcarrier mapping is performed on the spread vector (x) by a predetermined subcarrier assigning scheme and a signal to be transmitted to a receiving end is obtained from transforming the corresponding result into a time domain by IDFT module. A signal transmitted to the receiving end is represented as Formula 2.y=FN×N−1x [Formula 2]
In Formula 2, FN×N−1 is an N-sized DFT matrix used to convert a frequency-domain signal to a time-domain signal. A cyclic prefix is inserted in a signal ‘y’ generated by the above method to be transmitted. And, a method of generating a transmission signal and transmitting the signal to a transmitting terminal in the above manner is called SC-FDMA. And, it is able to control a size of DFT matrix in various ways for specific purposes. For instance, if the size of the DFT matrix is equal to the number of points of IDFT, it is able to reduce PAPR in a transmitting terminal.
OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) according to a related art is explained as follows.
First of all, OFDMA is a multiple access method for implementing a multiple access in a modulating system using a plurality of orthogonal subcarriers in a manner of providing each user with available subcarriers. In the OFDMA, frequency resources called subcarriers are provided to a plurality of users, respectively. In general, the frequency resources are independently provided to a plurality of the users, respectively not to be overlapped with each other.
A control signal transmitting method in LTE (Long Term Evolution) system is explained as follows.
First of all, unlike the uplink of the conventional CDMA communication system, an uplink of the LTE system uses an access method using a plurality of subcarriers having orthogonality.
In case of a system supporting a circuit type service, if there exists data to be transmitted to the LTE system, a user equipment (UE) makes a request for a call setup to a Node B. If the call setup is achieved by the Node B, the user equipment keeps transmitting the data. Even if there exists no data to be transmitted in this system, the call keeps being maintained. After the call maintained status has passed by, the call is disconnected. For this reason, in case of a service that mainly uses packet type data, system efficiency gets degraded.
So, in case of a system that mainly provides a packet data service, the service is provided using a shared channel shared by all user equipments to enhance system efficiency. In particular, in an orthogonal frequency division access system that transmits packets via the shared channel, orthogonality between data channels transmitted in uplink should be maintained. Through this, transmission efficiency of the system can be raised.
Explained in the following description is a method of transmitting data via the shared channel.
A general scheduled transmission mode is explained.
First of all, a Node B performs scheduling and designates a UE to transmit data according to a result of the scheduling. According to the scheduling result, the Node B exclusively allocates resources in frequency and time domains to be used by the user equipment and then informs the user equipment of the allocated resources. So, it is able to previously prevent collisions between a plurality of user equipments in data transmission. In other words, uplink resources managed by the Node B are shared by a plurality of the user equipments. The scheduling for allocating the uplink shared channel to a plurality of the user equipments under the supervision of the Node B so that the corresponding user equipment transmits data to the Node B. This transmission mode is defined as a scheduled transmission mode.
The scheduled transmission mode is also characterized in that a scheme for maintaining synchronization between user equipments transmitting data in uplink should be used. In particular, in order to maintain orthogonality between signals transmitted from a plurality of user equipments in uplink, signals transmitted from a plurality of the user equipments should be received by the Node B at the same time with error ranging within a cyclic prefix of OFDM.
For this, the Node B should adjust a transmission timing point of each of the user equipments by calculating time information for the signal of each of the user equipments and setting the timing point ahead or behind.
A contention based transmission mode is explained as follows.
First of all, the contention based transmission mode is preferably used for a case that the Node B is unable to designate a user equipment by performing the scheduling in advance or a case that a user equipment should make a transmission arbitrarily without a permission of base station to minimize the time delay attributed to the scheduling.
There should be a clear discrimination between the contention based transmission mode and the scheduled transmission mode in a time or frequency domain.
FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C show methods of discriminating the contention based transmission mode and the scheduled transmission mode from each other. FIG. 2A shows a method of discrimination in a time domain. FIG. 2B shows a method of discrimination in a frequency domain. And, FIG. 2C shows a discriminating method by combination between the time domain discrimination and the frequency domain discrimination.
Consequently, resources transmitted by the scheduled transmission mode or the contention based transmission mode are discriminated based on a specific time domain, a specific frequency domain, or a combination of the specific time and frequency domains.
For a specific frequency-time domain to which the contention based transmission mode is applied, a plurality of the user equipments are free to transmit specific data. Yet, since resource scheduling of the Node B is not carried out in the frequency-time domain, it may happen that a plurality of user equipments may use the same resource at the same time. If a plurality of the user equipments use the same resource simultaneously, the Node B has a problem in recovering all information received from a plurality of the user equipments. In this case, the Node B is able to recover the information transmitted from the user equipment corresponding to a signal having a biggest reception power.
The Node B transmits a acknowledgement signal to the user equipment having transmitted a message detected by the Node B. In this case, the UE failing to receive the acknowledgement (ACK) may attempt a message transmission again via the frequency-time domain for performing the contention based transmission after a specific time has passed by. In particular, a basic operation of the contention based transmission is carried out in a manner of sending a signal to the Node B, waiting for the ACK, and attempting a retransmission in case of failing to receive the AC.
A representative example of the contention based transmission is the data transmission using RACH (Random Access Channel). The transmission system via the RACH is explained as follows.
First of all, a user equipment (UE) obtains timing information of downlink and receives system information transmitted via downlink. In this case, the system information is broadcasted in general. The user equipment obtains information for a time interval and frequency domain available for a contention based transmission via the broadcasted signal. Yet, the Node B is unable to know the presence of the user equipment. So, the user equipment applies a specific code to a specific sequence called a preamble and then transmits the preamble to the Node B to inform of the presence of the corresponding user equipment.
Subsequently, the Node B detects the preamble and then transmits ACK (acknowledgement) to the user equipment using a specific code assigned to the code applied to the preamble.
Through the above process, the data transmission via RACH is executed. The preamble may include other informations (e.g., resource allocation request, UE ID, etc.) except the preamble sequence including the specific code. Moreover, it is able to transmit the preamble and the information for temporary UE ID) or the like via the RACH.
Yet, the above-explained preamble transmission via the RACH has a danger of data collision as well as a danger attributed to the contention. The data collision according to the data transmission via the RACH is explained as follows.
First of all, if a plurality of user equipments attempt accesses to a Node B suing the same preamble code at the same time, the collision may take place. The Node B is capable of detecting an access attempt transmitted from one of a plurality of the user equipments only and transmitting ACK (acknowledgement) in response to the access attempt. Yet, in viewpoint of the user equipment, the corresponding user equipment regards the ACK as transmitted to itself, whereby the collision takes place. So, a collision detection process for preventing the collision should be executed in a physical or upper layer.
In the contention based transmission mode, a transmission may be basically carried out while reception synchronization occurs between a plurality of user equipments. And, it is also possible to assume the other case that the synchronized transmission does not occur. In particular, in case that a signal transmitted in a contention based transmission mode is a signal transmitted via RACH, the synchronization between the user equipment and the Node B is not completed yet. So, since a transmission timing point of the user equipment is calculated from a downlink frame time, it is unable to guarantee the synchronization when the Node receives the signal. Yet, after an initial transmission on RACH, it can be assumed that the reception synchronization between the user equipments is completed in a contention based transmission mode used after the beginning of a timing control for each of the user equipments.
In the conventional W-CDMA or CDMA system, an orthogonal code channel dedicated to a signaling message necessary to be transmitted to a Node B from a user equipment exists. If a traffic channel is not established yet since a traffic does not exist between a user equipment and a Node B for a considerable time, a different transmission channel should be used to send an urgent or normal signaling message to the Node B from the user equipment instead of using in-band type signaling via the traffic channel. So, there exists a dedicated orthogonal channel exists to be used for this purpose. A representative example of this kind of signaling message is a request message. In particular, the request message is needed to notify the Node B that a traffic channel needs to be urgently scheduled since a size of transmitting buffer of the user equipment exceeds a specific level under the circumstance that there exist data to be transmitted by the user equipment.
As mentioned in the foregoing description, the uplink transmission modes of the LTE include the scheduled transmission mode and the contention based transmission mode. Due to the characteristics of the orthogonal multiplexing transmission, it is difficult to assign a dedicated channel to transmit a signaling message for user equipments in idle mode. In particular, if a dedicated channel for a transmission of a signaling message is assigned to all user equipments in idle mode, uplink resources are excessively wasted. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dual tube dispenser and an adapter for use in such dual tube dispenser for separate storage of two dissimilar substances which are to be kept separate for one reason or another, e.g. because they are mutually chemically reactive and/or physically incompatible with respect to one another, or because one wants to have perceptually attractive product forms with e.g. different colours, and simultaneous dispensing when combined use of such substances is required by application of external pressure on the dispenser body which is deformable.
2. The Related Art
Certain health & beauty aids, cleansing compositions and in particular, dental formulations sometimes require dual or multicompartment containers for storage of such dissimilar substances, e.g. mutually chemically reactive and/or physically incompatible substances for simultaneous dispensing of the same for combined end uses as and when desired.
There are already dual compartment dispensers for dental formulations known wherein two dentrifrice portions, each of which includes a component which is chemically reactive with another component in the other portion, with the portions being maintained separate from each other in said dispenser by means of a separator membrane which is formed of an extrudable material which is non-reactive with either of the two dentifrice portions stored together. Although in such known dispensers, the purpose of effective storage of the two reactive substances and/or physically incompatible substances and simultaneous release of the same for combined end use is achieved, the manner of manufacture of such known dispensers is cumbersome, time consuming and is also expensive. Importantly, the manufacture of such dual compartment dispensers involves substantial modification in dispenser manufacturing machinery and requires special filling aids for the dispenser contents.
It is thus the basic object of the present invention to provide for a dispensing container which would be effective in storing separately two dissimilar substances which are mutually reactive and/or physically incompatible and/or perceptually different and which also provides for simultaneous release of both said substances as and when required, for combined end uses upon application of external pressure on the dispenser body portion which is deformable.
A further object of the present invention is to provide for a dual tube dispenser container utilizing conventional tube manufacturing and filling-in-aids.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide for an adapter by which conventional stock tubes such as toothpaste tubes of varying sizes can be utilised to produce dual tube dispensers for storing and simultaneous extrusion as and when necessary, of two dissimilar substances for combined end uses.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide for a simple and cost-effective manner of manufacture of dual tube dispensers. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Fluid displacement pumps provide fluid at a volume flow rate that is proportional to the rotational speed of a pump input member. The fluid volume pumped per input member revolution is substantially constant. As such, the pump outputs a relatively high volume flow rate when the rotational speed of the pump input member is high. Depending on the application of the pump, an output volume flow rate greater than a desired flow rate may be provided.
In particular, many internal combustion engines are equipped with lubrication pumps to provide pressurized lubricant to one or more moving components. Typical lubrication pumps are sized to provide a maximum output pressure at a predetermined operating speed. Many vehicle engines are rarely operated at maximum speed where maximum pump output is required. The engine frequently operates at lower rotational speeds. At the lower engine speeds, the pump output may be greater than required. A higher output pressure is maintained than necessary. An inefficient conversion of energy to heat may result thereby reducing the efficiency of the engine and pump combination. While many lubrication pumps are equipped with a pressure relief valve to assure that a maximum pressure within the lubrication system is not exceeded, these simple systems do not address the need for a reduced pump output at low to moderate engine operating speeds.
Some engine lubrication systems attempt to include components to reduce the pump output in the low to moderate engine speed range of operation. The previously known arrangements, however, may include high cost solutions incorporating multiple relief valves, solenoids and other control hardware. As such, it may be beneficial to provide a simplified pressure relief valve for increasing the energy efficiency of a pump. | {
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The present invention relates in general to identifying nucleic acid sequences and in particular to an automated method for identifying nucleic acid sequences and electronically storing information related to the nucleic acid sequences.
The present invention is useful, for example, for researchers using the subtraction library technique to determine regulation of mRNA, researchers using a high throughput technique for identification of DNA or cDNA nucleotide sequences and researchers with data containing many unknown DNA sequences that require revisiting a nucleic acid identification database on a regular basis.
In the United States, the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Center for Biotechnological Information (NCBI) maintains databases with information about each nucleotide sequence that has been submitted to it. The NCBI database is accessible to the general public. There is one record for each sequence in the non-repeating database (NR) or multiple matching records in the expression sequence tags (EST) database. The NCBI database is updated daily and has become one of the world's largest repositories of protein and genetic data. Other publicly available databases are located in Europe and Japan. In addition, some private entities maintain nucleic acid identification databases that are not generally available to the public.
An example of the use of a nucleic acid identification database involves the subtraction library technique. Using a subtraction library technique, one can produce hundreds of cDNA protein fragments that are either up regulated or down regulated in response to a stimulus defined by different experimental conditions. The sequence of base pairs for each fragment can be determined using DNA sequencers, producing files of “raw” sequences, generally in an electronic format. To make use of these data, each raw sequence needs to be identified as a subset of a known protein, mRNA, gene, or DNA sequence for use in further analysis. The identification can be done by requesting that NCBI match the sequence against all of the known sequences in its database and return information about the most similar matching items. There will usually be many possible matches with reams of data returned for each match. The amount of data generated becomes unmanageable very quickly. The present invention helps a researcher organize and use data obtained from a nucleic acid identification database.
In the past, when using a publicly available database such as the NCBI database, the identification of each nucleic acid sequence involved: 1) visually scanning the nucleic acid sequence; 2) deleting the vector and adaptor sequences; 3) electronically pasting the edited sequence into a web-based search request form for submission to the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) page on the NCBI website; 4) waiting on-line for data analysis and transfer; 5) printing the search results for later review; and 6) selecting certain of the sequence identifier search results and typing them into a spreadsheet for specific data capture, archiving and subsequent sequence analysis. During review of the hard (paper) copy sequence alignments, it was common to revisit the BLAST site on the web to obtain further information. This further information was available through hyperlinks embedded in the original output, but was not accessible when reviewing a paper copy.
The present invention automates all of the steps that were previously done by hand, starting from the raw sequence files (produced by the nucleic acid sequencers) through to the creation of a complete library file that contains identification of the nucleic acid sequences in an individual nucleic acid library sample set. It is estimated that the invention reduces the data capture and review time required for nucleic acid sequence identification by as much as 90 percent. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates generally to optical communication systems and more particularly to optical laser sources with multiple lasing wavelengths.
One way to utilize the large bandwidth of optical fibers is to use optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) schemes to increase the rate of data transmission through optical fibers. In the transmitter end of a WDM transmission system and network it is necessary to have number of laser sources with different wavelengths. Each laser light is then modulated either directly in the laser or by an external modulator to impress the data information on each of the WDM channels.
Multi-wavelength laser sources are desirable for optical wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) transmission systems and networks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,962 introduces a multi-wavelength laser source which provides multiple laser signals at different wavelengths incorporating DBR (Distributed Bragg Reflector) fiber lasers or DFB (Distributed Feedback) fiber lasers. In the proposed design, a pumping laser with operating wavelength below 1500 nm is used. Each DFB or DBR laser is tuned to a selected wavelength in the 1550 nm range. The fiber lasers may be connected in series to each other to form a multi-wavelength source. There are a number of issues with respect to this arrangement. We can easily observe that the number of wavelength channels is very limited. As a result, it is very difficult to scale the source to have a large number of lasing channels. On the other hand, the processes of tuning each laser and consequently the whole set of wavelength channels are very challenging. Stability of the lasing frequencies is also of great concern.
M. Zirngibl et at. in xe2x80x9cAn 18 channel Multi-Frequency Laser,xe2x80x9d IEEE Photonics Technology Letter, Vol. 8, No. 7 July 1996 propose an array of semi-conductor optical amplifiers integrated monolithically with a ADM multiplexers/demultiplexers. In this architecture, a Wavelength Grating Router (WGR) is used as an intra-cavity wavelength selective filter element. The number of amplifiers and the complexity of the WDM filter increase as the number of lasing channels or, equivalently, as the channel spacing in a given wavelength range decreases. The wavelength selectivity of this device is governed by the geometric layout of the filter and a discrete choice of the gain elements. As a result, for a large number of wavelength channels, a large number of router arms are needed. The cost of these multi-wavelength laser sources is therefore, high and they cannot be easily fabricated for a large number of wavelengths or lasing channels. Similar designs have also been reported, such as R. Monnard et al. in xe2x80x9cDirect Modulation of a Multi-frequency Laser up to 16xc3x97622 Mb/s,xe2x80x9d IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol. 9, No. 6, June 1997.
It is therefore desirable to have a low cost multi-wavelength laser source with a large number of lasing channels.
In the present invention an optical gain element or medium is used where in a fraction of the optical output signal is passed through a periodic filter and fed back to the gain medium. This configuration simply forms a multi-wavelength ringer laser. The optical gain element provides the gain medium for the laser and the filter forces the laser to lase on the predetermined wavelengths. The periodic filter may simply be an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI). It is known that asymmetric MZIs have an almost sinusoidal wavelength response, where the period is function of the length difference between the arms of the asymmetric MZI. In other words, one can control the channel spacing by changing the length difference of an asymmetric MZI. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge device for use in a portable apparatus such as a lap-top or portable personal computer and more particularly to a hinge device having a mechanism for stopping a movable member of the apparatus at an open position, by virtue of the frictional force exerted by a spring member.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,456 discloses a portable personal computer which comprises a rectangular case, a keyboard attached to the case, and a display unit attached to the case by a hinge.
Connected by the hinge to the case, the display unit can rotate between a position (hereinafter referred to as "closed position") where it covers the keyboard and a position (hereinafter referred to as "opened position") where it stands upright at the rear of the keyboard. The hinge includes a mechanism which exerts a frictional force to stop the display unit at any position between the closed position and the open position.
A hinge having such a mechanism and designed to connect a display unit to the case of a personal computer is disclosed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 59-99111. This hinge comprises a shaft and a coil spring wound around the shaft. The shaft is fastened at one end to the display unit and at the other end to the case. As the display unit is rotated upward, the coil spring is wound more and more tightly around the shaft, whereby a frictional force is generated between the shaft and the coil spring. By virtue of this force, the display unit is held up at a position where the user takes his or her hand off the display unit, provided that the hinge shaft and the coil spring have a proper outside diameter and an appropriate inside diameter, respectively, and are set at correct positions. It requires much time and labor to make the shaft and the spring with sufficient precision and to set them in a correct positional relationship. Consequently, the manufacturing cost of the hinge is inevitably high. | {
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Since the development of the photocomposing machine, photocomposing has grown to a position of major importance in the typesetting field. Although complex computerized photocomposing machines have geen developed with the capability to rapidly compose a large number of characters from type faces of diferent designs, such machines are extremely expensive. No photocomposing machine has been developed which employs conventional, relatively inexpensive logic control systems and techniques to facilitate the photocomposing of thousands of characters without requiring the changing of type fonts.
Although photocomposing technology relating to composition in the English language is quite advanced, photocomposition in many foreign languages is still in a very rudimentary stage. For example, even with expensive computerized photocomposing machines, it is still extremely difficult to effectively compose in Japanese. Even a single type font including enough Japanese characters, punctuation, and English characters to provide an adequate range for Japanese composition must include over four thousand characters. For a photocomposing machine to be able to compose characters from just two type fonts with Japanese type faces of different design without a font change, over eight thousand characters are required. These requirements present keyboarding problems and character coding and selection requirements which have not been adequately solved.
To accomplish justification when lines are photocomposed in English, the spaces between words in a line are adjusted. However, with Japanese characters, there are no word spaces to adjust, but the Japanese rules of inhibition, which require that certain characters known as Kanji be followed by other characters known as Kana, make justification desirable. Also, the justification of Japanese type is rendered more difficult by the fact that English words and characters are normally interspersed with Japanese characters in print.
A photocomposing machine having the capability to compose the thousands of characters required for Japanese photocomposition would be readily adaptable for use with the English language, and with smaller alphabets, would have trmendous capabilities.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved photocomposing machine and method for composing thousands of characters without requiring computerization or type font substitution.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved photocomposing machine which is adapted to select characters from a plurality of simultaneously rotating drums; each drum containing many hundreds of characters.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved photocomposing machine which is adapted to employ a single functional main keyboard to select characters displayed on both the main keyboard and a plurality of display keyboards.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of justification for characters of substantially two different width sizes wherein the smaller width characters are sensed and used in justification.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for automating a photocomposing machine to operate in an automatic end of line mode.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel method for justifying characters such as Japanese characters wherein major unit spaces such as those provided by punctuation are first sensed and used for justification and subsequently unit spaces available from characters of smaller width size are sensed and used for justification. | {
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A plurality of electronic devices are equipped with a touch-sensitive screen, a so-called touch screen, instead of a keyboard. One of the most common devices with touch screen include mobile phones, especially smartphones and tablet computers and PDAs (personal digital assistants). Touch screens can also be found in many other electronic devices, such as in navigation systems, remote controls and door locks.
A large part of electronic devices with a touch screen contains personal data such as emails, passwords and credit card numbers that must be protected against unauthorized access. For this purpose, usually, the input of a password is required when the device is turned on. After correct input of the password a certain action is executed, such as unlocking the device for full use. As an alternative to entering a password, a specific pattern can be required, which is drawn with a finger on the touch screen. As described in patent specification WO 2011/143476 A1, the input of different patterns can also merely result in the execution of actions which do not unlock the device for full use, such as displaying the email mailbox during activated screen lock.
If the device is not used for a certain time, a screen lock usually activates automatically or the device goes into standby mode. For further use of the device after the screen lock or the standby mode was activated, it is required to enter the password again. For devices such as electronic door locks with touch screen the primary function of such devices is to provide protection from unauthorized access. After input of the correct password on a door lock, an action is executed that allows to open the door.
For password input via a touch screen usually a keyboard is displayed on the touch screen on which the letters and/or numbers of the password are successively touched with a finger tip. Since the display of the time is an important feature especially on mobile electronic devices such as smartphones, the current time is displayed in addition to the keyboard often in combination with the date. When the screen lock is activated, therefore, the current time can be read without deactivating the screen lock.
For a comfortable input of the password, the keys of the keyboard which is displayed for entering the password are usually of similar dimension as a fingertip. Already with a keyboard with the numbers 0 to 9, the keyboard occupies about two-thirds of the screen on a smartphone. For the input of the above mentioned pattern a similar amount of space is needed on the screen as well. This has the disadvantage that the remaining space is often not sufficient to display additional information. Such additional information could for example include notifications about the latest calendar events or new messages such as email, SMS or MMS. The display of the time is limited by the display of a keyboard on the screen as well. Here, the remaining space on the screen is not sufficient to display an analog clock in a comfortable size for reading. The time display while displaying a keyboard is therefore mainly based on simple digital clocks.
Another disadvantage of the password input by tapping the alphanumeric characters such as letters or numbers of the password on a keyboard displayed on the touch screen are the traces that are left on the touch screen. These smudges can firstly result from residues on the touch screen or secondly from sweat or grease on the finger. The touch screen can be dirty e.g. from residues of detergent, dust or sweat and grease for example from putting a smartphone to the ear to make phone calls. In this layer the finger or in general the object with which the touch screen is operated then draws the smudges of the password. With a residue free clean touch screen on the other hand, the sweat and grease on the finger are sufficient to leave traces of the password on the touch screen. Such traces will remain on the screen until they are worn away.
Based on the smudges on the touch screen, the alphanumeric characters from the password can be read which makes it considerably easier to decrypt the password and thus gain unauthorized access. The pattern described in patent specification WO 2011/143476 A1, which is drawn with a finger on the touch screen can as well be detected from the smudges left on the touch screen. | {
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This invention relates to a thread tension control device of sewing machine which is automatically operated to control the thread tension in accordance with the stitching types of the sewing machine.
The most suited stitches or seams can be obtained only by suitably controlling the upper thread tension in accordance with the conditions in dependence upon the stitching types. However there have not been offerred any proposals which are to automatically control the upper thread tension in response to various stitching conditions, and therefore desired or suitable formation of stitches have been obtained only by manual adjustment of the thread tension device in accordance to the stitching conditions.
This invention has been devised to eliminate such a disadvantage of the prior art. | {
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Modular irrigation controllers use optional modules that can be added to the controller to increase the number of irrigation stations that may be controlled by the controller. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,248 (William et al.) provides an irrigation controller having a housing that encloses a microprocessor that stores and executes watering programs, and includes station modules that can be added within the housing to increase the number of irrigation stations controlled. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,936 (Faris et al.) provides a controller having a base unit for actuating a predetermined minimum number of irrigation stations. External station expansion modules can be added to the base unit for increasing the number of irrigation stations controlled by the controller. Also describes are optional pump modules and accessory timer modules that behave the same as the station modules in that they provide an electrical output signal to a pump or to an accessory (such as a light), instead of to an irrigation station. However, the expansion modules in these patents simply act as additional station outputs (e.g., a conduit extension of the logic inside the controller and only include driver circuitry responsive to commands from the base unit) and do not provide any additional functionality or intelligence. In order to add functionality to these controllers apart from adding additional station outputs (e.g., to control additional stations or accessories), a user would have to purchase another irrigation controller configured with the desired functionality.
There exists, therefore, a need for an improved irrigation controller with a flexible and expandable architecture modular design, along with an enhanced communications to the modules that will provide enough flexibility for further additions to an irrigation system, not only to include additional output stations, but also to upgrade to new features and capabilities of expansion and re-configuration. | {
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The present invention is concerned with the management of temperature of a mould tool. More specifically the present invention is concerned with management of the temperature of a mould tool which utilises fluid heating and cooling. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel manifold, and more particularly to a coupling for such a fuel manifold which provides drainage of leaked fuel to a safe environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Gas turbine engines include fuel lines and in particular fuel manifolds which surround a combustion chamber and are adapted to communicate with fuel nozzles projecting within the combustion chamber. The manifold may be made up of segments interconnected by couplings. The joints so formed are subject to leakage, and, in the light of the high temperature environment, possibly spontaneous combustion.
It is imperative that caution be taken to avoid any leakage of fuel from such a system. Such leakage could result in dangerous uncontrolled combustion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,675, issued Dec. 27, 1983 to Norris et al, describes a slidable sleeve which may be placed about a coupling for the purpose of containing fuel if a leak occurs in the coupling. There is, however, no provision for draining the leaked fuel to a safe location from the sleeve other than a small leak indicator passage. The purpose of this passage is merely to allow the detection of leakage and not for the purposes of drainage. | {
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This invention relates to a flotation apparatus for removing dirt particles and scum from a suspension. More particularly, this invention relates to a flotation apparatus comprising an elongate tank which has successive compartments arranged in the longitudinal direction of the tank to form individual flotation cells, and to which a suspension is supplied which is mixed with air via at least one injector per cell.
An apparatus of this general type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,612. In this prior art flotation apparatus, the partitions are extended far above the level of the suspension and the injectors are connected to the individual compartments on the outlet side only. Inside the flotation tank, the flow of the suspension proceeds from compartment to compartment through apertures located in the base of the partitions. The suspension is partially removed at the outlet end and is then returned to the individual injectors. The flow of suspension in this prior art apparatus is subject to very unfavorable conditions as regards the elimination of gas bubbles to which the particles of dirt which are present in the suspension have become attached. Each compartment, therefore, needs at least one scum paddle and its own scum removal trough for the removal of scum. Consequently, such prior art apparatus is relatively costly while retaining the disadvantage of unfavorable flotation conditions. | {
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The invention is directed to a hearing aid of the type having a microphone unit with at least two microphones for generating at least two microphone signals, and a signal processing unit supplied with the microphone signals which generates an output signal therefrom, wherein signal components of the microphone signals are amplified and/or attenuated in a directionally dependent manner, and a reproduction unit connected to the signal processing unit from which the output signal is emitted. The invention is provided for use in all types of hearing aids, however, the invention is especially suited for highly developed hearing aids that, for example, have digital signaling processing components.
European Application 802699 discloses a method for electronically increasing of the spacing between two acousto-electrical transducers as well as the application of this method in a hearing aid. The phase shift between the signals registered by the acousto-electrical transducers is thereby first identified. Subsequently, at least one of the signals is supplied to a phase shifter.
A hearing aid of the above general type is disclosed in German Patentschrift 43 27 901. Here, a signal processing unit serves the purpose of achieving a predetermined directional characteristic on the basis of a suitable mixing of signals of a plurality of microphones. The properties of this directional effect, however, are permanently prescribed. Signal components from lateral signal sources are always attenuated and signal parts from signal sources arranged in front of or behind the hearing aid user are amplified.
Given this hearing aid, therefore, little flexibility is established in the case of changing auditory situations. Noises from signal sources behind the hearing aid user are not attenuated. The attenuation mechanism, which also necessarily deteriorates the wanted sound reproduction, is constantly active. The reproduction quality of the hearing aid is therefore not optimum when no unwanted noise attenuation is required in an auditory situation.
An object of the invention, accordingly, is to avoid the aforementioned problems and offer a hearing aid as well as a method for processing microphone signals in a hearing aid having high transmission quality and noise suppression in numerous auditory situations.
The above object is achieved in a hearing aid, and in a method for processing signals in a hearing aid, of the type of initially described, wherein a signal analysis unit is employed for undertaking a directional analysis of the microphone signals, and wherein the signal processing unit of the microphone signals, and wherein the signal processing unit modifies at least one property of the directionally dependent amplification and/or attenuation dependent on the directional analysis made by the signal analysis unit.
The invention proceeds on the basis of the idea of varying the properties of an existing directionally dependent amplification/attenuation according to the result of an additional signal analysis. Thus, an especially good adaptation of the inventive hearing aid to different auditory situations can be realized. For example, the direction of a noise source can be taken into consideration in the directionally dependent amplification/attenuation in order to offer good noise elimination. When no noteworthy unwanted sound is present, in contrast, the noise attenuation can be switched off in order to minimize distortions.
The modification of a property of the directionally dependent amplification/attenuation assumes a directional dependency of the amplification/attenuation that exists without this modification.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, the intensities of signal parts of the microphone signals in a number of predetermined direction classes (angular ranges) are defined in the direction analysis. As a result, the approximate direction of the principal component of a noise source can be identified. Alternatively, the direction of one or more signal sources can be determined more precisely.
An adaptive LMS filter can be employed for the signal analysis, signal distortions, in particular, being estimated therewith by whole multiples of a sampling cycle. The coefficients of the LMS filter determined by the adaption event can influence the result of the direction analysis or (completely) define it or even represent this result themselves.
Dependent on the result of the signal analysis, different signal processing steps can be implemented in preferred embodiments. For example, the directional characteristic of a directional microphone (a virtual directional microphone formed by superimposition of the microphone signals) can be suitably modified. Such a modification can, in particular, be an alignment of the directional microphone pole. Alternatively or additionally, a suitable noise elimination method can be selected.
Weighting signals, that determine the weighting factors with which the results of different filter, noise elimination and/or directional methods enter into the output signal, are preferably generated in the evaluation of the signal analysis.
The microphones for generating the microphone signals in preferred embodiments are arranged at a relatively slight distance of at most 5 cm or at most 2.5 cm or approximately 1.6 cm from one another, whereby the connecting line between the microphones can extend at an angle of at most 45xc2x0 or at most 30xc2x0 relative to the line of sight of the hearing aid user or can lie approximately in this line of sight. In particular, a common housing can be provided for both microphones. | {
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This invention relates to a combustion chamber for internal combustion engines of the direct injection type, and more particularly to a combustion chamber which can reduce the level of noise (hereinafter referred to as the noise generated by combustion) and can also reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide (hereinafter referred to as NOx).
It is well known in the field of the art that in internal combustion engines if the timing of injection of fuel into the combustion chamber is delayed to some extent so as to reduce the explosion pressure and the rate of increase thereof the level of the noise generated by fuel combustion can be reduced and at the same time the combustion gas temperature can be lowered thereby reducing the amount of NOx.
However, there encounters a difficulty that in general when the timing of fuel injection is delayed the thermal efficiency of the Diesel cycle will be lowered so as to increase the fuel consumption rate, and so imperfect combustion is caused thereby producing black exhaust gas or smoke.
Stated in brief, the fuel consumption rate is a function of dM/dt.multidot.S.multidot.Tm.multidot.Td.multidot.d.theta./dt, and in the similar manner the color of exhaust gas, NOx, the noise generated by combustion are a function of dM/dt.multidot.S.multidot.Tm.multidot.Td.multidot.d.theta./dt, respectively.
A delay in injection timing serves to reduce an ignition lag Td, and therefore as a mean cycle gas temperature Tm and a heat generation coefficient d.theta./dt are reduced the velocity of mixing fuel and air dM/dt and the time and space distribution "S" of mixing ratio will be reduced.
Accordingly, if the timing of fuel injection is delayed the level of noise generated by fuel combustion and the amount of NOx can be reduced; however, the fuel consumption rate will be increased thereby generating black exhaust gas or smoke based on the above-mentioned relationship.
In order to eliminate such difficulty it is only necessary to increase the air and fuel mixing speed dM/dt at the time of delaying the fuel injection timing or increase the combustion speed after the fuel ignition. Stated more specifically, the emission of black exhaust gas and increase in fuel consumption rate are due to the fact that the combustion process is maintained even after the piston has reached its top dead centre, and so in order to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantage, it is necessary to increase the combustion speed thereby shortening the combustion period. In the conventional combustion chamber having a toroidal cavity formed in a piston head, in order to achieve a good combustion of fuel injected from fuel injection nozzles, pertinent combination of fuel injection angles in lateral and vertical directions with speed of air swirl can be selected.
In order to increase the combustion speed, it is required to increase the air flow (in particular, the air flow after the fuel ignition) within the combustion chamber.
The term "air flow" employed herein is meant by a large swirl motion generated in the combustion chamber and a resultant turbulence of a small scale.
To produce the above-mentioned air flow, there is conventionally provided a quadrilateral combustion chamber having a quadrilateral cavity formed in the upper part or top of a piston.
The combustion chamber of this form enables air turbulences of a small scale to be produced by a large air swirl motion in the corner square parts thereof so that a strong air flow can be produced therein.
However, the combustion chamber of such shape is disadvantageous in that the intensity of the turbulence of a small scale generated in the corner square parts and that of the large swirl are contrary to each other. In brief, if radius "R" of the corner square parts is comparatively smaller than radius "Ro" of the inscribed circle of the quadrilateral cavity (if the ratio R/Ro is reduced) the intensity of air turbulences of a small scale generated in the corner square parts can be increased; therefore the intensity of the large air swirl motion will be reduced. If the ratio R/Ro is increased, the intensity of the large air swirl can be increased, whilst the air turbulence of a small scale generated in the corner square parts will be reduced.
In any case, the combustion chamber of the conventional shape cannot afford increased turbulences of a small scale and the large air swirl motion at the same time, and further the turbulences can be produced only in the corner square parts so that a sufficiently large air flow cannot be produced therein. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to textile sizing compositions and textiles sized therewith.
2. Background of the Art
Sizing is the term for the procedure wherein yarn is prepared for weaving. During sizing, yarn is coated with a layer of polymers by immersing the yarn in an aqueous sizing liquor in order to diminish friction between the yarn and the metal parts of a loom used to weave the yarn into textiles. Sizing also can improve the abrasion resistance of yarn during weaving.
The main objective of sizing is to allow the weaving of yarns to be done efficiently, reducing the number of breaks and, as a consequence, the number of loom stops. Sized yarns are reinforced, smoothed and lubricated.
A sizing machine (slasher), is a machine having one or two sizing boxes in which yarn, coming from a warping beam or a creel, is immersed in an aqueous sizing solution (sizing bath or sizing liquor). The yarn is then squeezed, in a dryer, using several hot cylinders to eliminate the excess liquor. The dryer also includes a winding unit where the sized yarn is wound onto a beam for eventual loading on a loom to be woven into a textile. Sizing can be performed with a xe2x80x9cback beamxe2x80x9d system in which several beams are sized at the same time, or with a xe2x80x9cbeam to beamxe2x80x9d system wherein a single beam is sized.
Sizing compositions generally should be easily dispersible in water without foam formation and should produce a sizing liquor having a desired viscosity. Once dried, sizing compositions should form a thin and soluble film on yarn, which is easily removed by washing or scouring from the textile (fabric). One problem with conventional sizing compositions is that they must be removed from the sized fabric to enable an efficient finishing, and thus a large quantity of waste compositions with a high content of pollutants can be discharged into the preparation mills"" water, which can result in significant costs for water treatment.
Starch derivatives are widely used in yarn sizing and they are often the main constituent of many sizing compositions. The starch derivatives are usually used together with synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and/or with modified natural polymers such as carboxymethyl cellulose, especially where a high film strength is required. One disadvantage of starch derivative sizing compositions is that they may require enzymes for efficient removal, which can increase costs associated with their use. It would be desirable in the art of sizing textile to reduce the xe2x80x9cadd-onxe2x80x9d (quantity of sizing on the yarn), the production costs and also the pollution in waste water resulting from sizing operations.
In one aspect, the present invention is a sizing composition for use with open-end yarn comprising from about 20 to about 100 percent, by weight, high viscosity cellulose ethers having a molar substitution of from about 0.5 to about 4.0.
In another aspect, the present invention is a sizing liquor for use with open-end yarn comprising from 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of high viscosity cellulose ethers having a molar substitution of from about 0.5 to about 4.0 and having a viscosity of from about 100 to about 1000 cps at 85xc2x0 C.
In yet another aspect, the present invention is a sized open-end yarn comprising an open-end yard sized with a sizing liquor comprising from 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of high viscosity cellulose ethers having a molar substitution of from about 0.5 to about 4.0 and having a viscosity of from about 100 to about 1000 cps at 85xc2x0 C. and having an add-on of between about 0.8 and about 6 percent by weight.
Another aspect of the present invention is a process for sizing open-end yarn comprising sizing an open-end yarn using a sizing liquor comprising from 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of high viscosity cellulose ethers having a molar substitution of from about 0.5 to about 4.0 and having a viscosity of from about 100 to about 1000 cps at 85xc2x0 C.
In still another aspect, the present invention is a sizing composition for use with open-end yarn comprising from about 20 to about 100 percent, by weight, high viscosity cellulose ethers having a molar substitution of from about 0.5 to about 4.0.
While all kinds of yarn can be sized, the present invention is directed particularly to the warp sizing of natural, artificial, synthetic or blended staple fibers coming from an open-end spinning, the so called xe2x80x9copen-end yarnsxe2x80x9d. Open-end yarns (or rotor yarns) are generated by a non-conventional spinning system in which the sliver feedstock is highly drafted, ideally to individual fiber state, thus creating an open end or a break in the fiber flow. The fibers are subsequently assembled on the end of a rotating yarn and twisted in.
The resulting yarn appears regular and well built, but the longer fibers may twist around the yarn and impart to the yarn its characteristic hairy aspect. The open-end spinning is an alternative to the traditional ring spinning wherein the yarn is produced through the steps of drawing, twisting and winding in a continuous way. The open-end yarn compared to the traditional (or ring yarn) has different tensile characteristics, particularly a lower breaking point, a lower tenacity, a higher stiffness, and a better abrasion resistance.
The viscosity range of sizing liquors of the present invention is usually 50-250 centipoises (cps) at an operating temperature of from about 70 to about 90xc2x0 C. For the purposes of the present invention, the term xe2x80x9cviscosityxe2x80x9d means a Brookfield viscosity, determined according to ASTM standard method D2169-99.
The quantity in weight of dried sizing composition applied on 100 part in weight of yarn (add-on) is normally comprised between 6 and 30 percent, depending on the yarn count (fineness). When performing an open-end yarn sizing operation, it is important to consider that this type of yarn is more open, more porous, more bulky, hairy and with a lower tenacity than a traditional ring yarn.
The open-end yarn sizing composition of the present invention essentially consists of from about 20 to about 100 percent by weight of high viscosity cellulose ethers having a M.S. from about 0.5 to about 4.0. For purposes of the present invention, xe2x80x9chigh viscosity cellulose ethersxe2x80x9d are cellulose ethers having a viscosity from 500 to 8000 cps at 20xc2x0 C. in a 2 percent aqueous solution. The term xe2x80x9cM.S.xe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cmolar substitutionxe2x80x9d, namely the average number of moles of substituent added per sugar unit. The preferred high viscosity cellulose ethers of the present invention have a M.S. from about 0.5 to about 1.2.
Advantageously, the high viscosity cellulose ethers of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred among these cellulose ethers is carboxymethyl cellulose. The preferred high viscosity cellulose ethers of the present invention have a viscosity from 1000 to 3000 cps at 20xc2x0 C. in a 2 percent aqueous solution. When the cellulose ethers are carboxymethyl cellulose or methyl cellulose the M.S. value coincides with the D.S. value; the term xe2x80x9cD.S.xe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cdegree of substitutionxe2x80x9d, namely the average number of hydroxyl groups per monosaccharide unit that have been etherified.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the open-end yarn sizing composition may contain one or more natural, natural-modified, or synthetic polymers chosen in the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic polymers and copolymers, starch, modified starch, polygalactomannans, tamarinds. According to a further feature of the present invention, the sizing compositions are normally dispersed or solubilised in water to prepare sizing liquors for open-end yarns; these liquors have a viscosity from 100 to 1000 cps at 85xc2x0 C., preferably from 100 to 300 cps, and essentially contain from 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of high viscosity cellulose ethers having a M.S. from about 0.5 to about 4.0.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the open-end yarns sized with the sizing compositions of this invention have an add-on of from about 0.8 to about 6 percent by weight. The results obtained with the sizing compositions of this invention are desirably advantageous compared with the prior art requirement of loading yarns with from 6 to 30 percent by weight of add-on. As already stated, all sizing compositions applied on yarn should be removed from the fabric before dyeing and finishing.
The sizing compositions normally contribute about 70 percent of the pollution of wastewater from a preparation mill. It is well known that all wastewater must be treated in order to reach a Chemical Oxidation Demand (COD) and a Biological Oxidation Demand (BOD) within the limits of law and a drastic reduction of oxygen request during wastewater treatment is economically very advantageous. Using the sizing compositions of the present invention, the add-on can be reduced by from 60 to 80 percent and a COD reduction of 70 percent can thus be expected. This is an excellent result both from a technological and from an economic point of view. | {
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A major problem in two-stroke engines is the process of purging exhaust gases and, during the same stroke, providing combustion air. The process of purging the exhaust gases is commonly referred to as “scavenging”. Although fuel injection systems mitigate this problem to some extent, proper scavenging is indispensable for achieving high efficiency and low exhaust emissions.
A problem with scavenging in conventional two-stroke engines has been to prevent these two gas masses from mixing, with all the well-known resulting drawbacks regarding fuel efficiency and emissions. This problem was addressed by the prior invention.
In the prior invention, scavenging was achieved by locating at least one and preferably a number of air intake valves in the head of each cylinder, and at least one and preferably a number of exhaust gas discharge openings in the lower cylinder walls. The air intake valves were controlled solely by air pressure differentials, generated by fluctuating pressure inside the cylinder on one side and in the air supply chamber on the other side. When the piston rim cleared the exhaust openings on its downstroke, pressure in the cylinder decreased below the pressure in the air supply chamber, causing the air intake valves to open and allow for the inflow of scavenging air. A scavenging blower was used to force air into the air supply chamber and thence through the valves, in order to more effectively purge the exhaust gases form the cylinder as the piston descended. This arrangement can operate in an internal combustion engine utilizing either the Diesel or Otto processes.
Test results with a prototype engine according to the prior invention are very encouraging. However, it has been realized that notwithstanding excellent results to date, further improvement is possible.
In particular it has been realized that it would be beneficial to assist the passive valve check bodies of the prior invention to close more promptly after the upward-moving piston has closed the exhaust ports. This would increase the crankshaft angle available to compression, and thus facilitate a higher effective compression ratio in the combustion chamber. | {
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A typical television (TV) has a plurality of buttons to actuate associated features. One such feature is channel changing actuated by pressing a channel up or a channel down button on, e.g., a TV's remote control or front panel. The user presses the channel up or down button once for each channel up or down, respectively, he desires to view. Every time the user presses the channel up or down buttons, the channel displayed on the TV prior to the press is replaced with the currently selected channel. That is, the TV displays the currently selected channel with each channel up or down button press, no longer displaying previously selected channels.
FIGS. 1A-D are illustrations of a TV 160's display as the user changes selected channels. FIG. 1A is a display of the user's current channel 2 selection. After the user presses the channel up button once, the panel 160 replaces channel 2 with a display of channel 6 (FIG. 1B). After the user presses the channel up button again, the panel 160 replaces channel 6 with a display of channel 8 (FIG. 1C). After the user presses the channel up button yet again, the panel 160 replaces channel 8 with a display of channel 10 (FIG. 1D). And so on. After each channel change, the TV replaces display of the previous channel with a display of the current channel.
During channel surfing, the user scans a series of television channels to find something eye catching or to avoid commercials. It is desirable to channel surf without replacing the television's display of the currently selected channel at every channel change button press.
Accordingly, a need remains for a TV channel change picture-in-picture circuit and method. | {
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1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an intervertebral implant, especially to an artificial intervertebral disk of the introductory portion of claim 1.
2. Description of Related Art
After a damaged, natural intervertebral disk or a damaged Nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disk is removed, implants or prostheses are introduced at the present time into the intervertebral space between two adjacent vertebrae. The objective of implanting such implants is to bring about natural conditions once again as far as possible, that is, to restore, in particular, the original intervertebral disk height and, with that, the original distance between the two adjacent vertebrae. Furthermore, it shall be possible to carry out movements of the adjacent vertebrae relative to one another in a natural way as far as possible without hindrance. For this purpose, it is essential to maintain movement possibilities while bending forwards or backwards, that is, during flexion and extension of the vertebrae, as well as during a lateral bending of the vertebrae within the natural limits. The natural ligaments and muscles along the spinal column essentially are left intact, so that these further stabilize the movements of a mechanical replacement for an intervertebral disk.
Such an intervertebral implant is known from the DE 203 20 454 of MEISEL. This known implant comprises two cover plates, lying in contact with the bones, and a joint, which is disposed between the cover plates. This joint consists essentially of a spherically shaped first joint part and of a complementary joint shell as a second joint part, so that the cover plates can be swiveled polyaxially relative to one another. It is a disadvantage of this known intervertebral implant that it is opaque to x-rays and, accordingly, no longer permits adjacent vertebrae to be observed after an implantation. | {
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In many applications, the qualities of lightweight construction and high resistance to fragmentation and corrosion damage are highly desirable characteristics for a pressure vessel. These design criteria have been met for many years by the development of high pressure composite (fiber reinforced resin matrix) containers; for instance, container shells fabricated of laminated layers of wound fiberglass filaments or various types of other synthetic filaments which are bonded together by a thermal-setting or thermoplastic resin. An elastomeric or other non-metal resilient liner or bladder often is disposed within the composite shell to seal the vessel and prevent internal fluids from contacting the composite material.
Such composite vessels have become commonly used for containing a variety of fluids under pressure, such as storing helium, natural gas, nitrogen, rocket or other fuel, propane, etc. The composite construction of the vessels provides numerous advantages such as lightness in weight and resistance to corrosion, fatigue and catastrophic failure. These attributes are due to the high specific strengths of the reinforcing fibers or filaments which typically are oriented in the direction of the principal forces in the construction of the pressure vessels.
Filament wound vessels often are constructed in a spherical shape or an elongated cylindrical shape with generally hemispherical or hemispheroidal ends for use in high pressure applications. At least one of the ends has an opening, and a boss is positioned in the opening, with the boss reliably joining the inner liner with the outer composite shell such that fluid is prevented from penetrating between the liner and the shell. In many applications, such as in the aerospace industry, composite pressure vessels may be required to contain extremely high pressures, operating at 25,000 p.s.i. with design burst values in the range of 50,000 p.s.i. Consequently, as internal pressure increases, the interface of the boss, the liner and the outer shell is subjected to extreme structural loading.
Examples of pressure vessels of the character described above, including boss-liner attachment systems, are shown in copending application Ser. No. 902,725, dated Jun. 23, 1992 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention; as well as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,779 to Sirosh, dated Oct. 19, 1993. While both of these items of prior art may be successful for their intended purposes of compensating for varying stress generated between the boss and the composite shell of a pressure vessel, shearing stress between the boss and the inner liner, and steep strain gradients through the shell, problems still are encountered in these types of pressure vessels, particularly when the vessels are considerably elongated between their ends.
More particularly, an elongated pressure vessel generally includes a cylindrical side wall configuration including the outer composite shell and the inner liner, with at least one end being generally hemispherical (or hemispheroidal) in configuration. Such a vessel may be as long as 300 inches, such as on a semi-trailer truck for carrying natural gas, or other appropriate applications. The design specifications for such a vessel include accommodating temperatures as low as -40.degree. F. When the pressure vessel cools to such temperatures, the inner liner tends to shrink, but the outer composite shell does not shrink as much. This difference between the coefficient of thermal contraction/expansion between the inner liner and the outer shell often causes the liner to separate from the boss and to separate and develop gaps between the liner and the shell at the hemispherical ends of the vessel. In fact, in a vessel which is 100 inches long and which is subjected to a temperature of -40.degree. F., the inner liner may shrink a full one inch more than the outer shell. The shrinkage in the cylindrical areas of the liner literally pulls on the hemispherical ends of the liner. This invention is directed to solving those problems and preventing separation of the liner in the ends of an elongated pressure vessel. | {
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The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and do not constitute prior art.
Standardization of a new standard corresponding to High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) which is more excellent and outstanding above existing H.264/Advanced Video Coding (AVC) is being progressed by a joint team of Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) which is called Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC).
HEVC uses a Coding Tree Block (CTB) as a basic encoding unit, and the CTB is defined by square shapes in different sizes. The CTB is commonly composed of a Coding Units (CUs). In HEVC, a basic unit of the prediction is defined as a Prediction Unit (PU), and one CU is divided into a plurality of blocks and then used for the prediction.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of typical PU types and a sequence of coding the PUs in a single CU.
Referring to FIG. 2, a skip mode is performed in the single CU having a size of 2N×2N followed by sequential predictions in an inter 2N×2N mode, inter 2N×N mode, inter N×2N mode, inter N×N mode, intra 2N×2N mode and then intra N×N mode. However, in all CUs except for the CU of size 8×8 (2N×2N), the encoding is performed in all PUs except for the inter N×N mode and the intra N×N mode. So the predictions in the inter N×N mode and the intra N×N mode are performed only for the CU of size 8×8.
A prediction method is largely classified into an intra predictive coding which performs the prediction by using a predicted value from an encoded block within a frame which is being encoded and an inter predictive coding which predicts a block of a current frame by estimating a motion from a previously reconstructed frame.
The intra prediction method includes a unified intra prediction method which performs the prediction in various directions by using previously encoded pixel values located in a left side, a lower left side, an upper left side, an upper side, or an upper right side of a current block to be encoded.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of typical directions of intra prediction modes.
Referring to FIG. 3, the intra prediction modes comprises a total of thirty five prediction modes including a DC (direct current) mode, a planar mode and angular modes having a total of thirty three prediction directions.
The inter predictive coding of the video uses a motion compensation which predicts a current block by partitioning an image frame and estimating a motion from a previously encoded frame.
When one predicted block is generated through the intra predictive coding or the inter predictive coding, a residual signal is generated by calculating a difference between original pixel values of the current block and predicted pixel values of the predicted block. Then, the residual signal is transformed to generate a frequency transform block which is then quantized to generate a frequency coefficient block.
As fore-mentioned in FIG. 2, a general video encoding apparatus calculates optimal units from various candidate PUs according to a Rate-Distortion (RD) cost optimization scheme, and then transmits information on a result generated by performing the encoding in the corresponding units to a video decoding apparatus.
The inventor(s) has experienced that a method of calculating RD costs for all PUs in a single CU is efficient as long as the last-place intra N×N mode in the prediction sequence is determined to be the optimal mode, but is inefficient in time when the first-place inter 2N×2N mode in the prediction sequence is determined as the optimal mode. | {
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The present invention concerns a zirconia based article, particularly a sintered article, and in particular an article of this type whose chemical structure is transformed over part of its thickness to give it an external surface having a gold-plated metal appearance. The invention also concerns a use of such an article, as an exterior part for a wristwatch, in particular for making construction parts for watch cases or wristbands. The present invention concerns, finally, a method for obtaining such an article.
Among all known materials, metals are very widely used because of certain advantageous properties: a high level of mechanical resistance, a high level of toughness, electrical conductivity, etc. Moreover, the characteristic brilliance or lustre of such metals is very much sought after for decorative applications such as for making watch cases or such. The hardness of solid gold or gold coloured coatings is however inferior to that of ceramics, which may result in significant wear in numerous common conditions of use, for example when these materials are used to make exterior parts used in watchmaking, such as watch cases or wristbands.
In order to overcome these drawbacks, it has long been sought to increase the hardness of articles made of solid gold or including a gold coloured coating. However, conventional metallurgic methods do not allow very high levels of hardness to be attained, i.e., levels of hardness greater than 1,000 HV (Vickers hardness), which would allow scratchproof decorative parts having a gold-plated metal appearance to be made.
This is why one has proposed increasing the hardness of metals by adding very hard particles. Two-phase composites have thus been made formed of a metallic phase coating hard particles, which frequently take up most of the volume of the material. A certain number of materials of this type having a gold-plated metal appearance have been developed and are today commonly used in industry. They are generally called xe2x80x9ccermetxe2x80x9d when they are made of a ceramic material, for example titanium nitride.
All these materials have in common however the fact that they include a distinct metallic phase which may limit their resistance to corrosion and their mechanical properties at high temperatures.
Moreover, the metallic phase used as binding agent always contains nickel or cobalt, all attempts to substitute other metals for these elements having failed until now. However, the use of nickel and cobalt, in applications which result in prolonged contact with the skin, such as, for example, for watchmaking and jewelry applications, must be avoided since these elements are known to frequently cause allergies.
Finally, these materials are generally difficult to shape. This constitutes a significant limitation for the manufacture of exterior parts for watchmaking or pieces of jewelry which often have complex shapes with resultant high manufacturing costs.
An object of the invention is thus to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a zirconia based article, in particular a sintered article, having all the advantageous properties of conventional ceramic parts (hardness, shapeability, lack of allergenic effect, etc.) while having the brilliance or lustre of gold-plated metal parts.
Another object of the invention is to use in an advantageous manner certain properties of the zirconium carbide obtained by converting the zirconia at the surface of a part for aesthetic and decorative purposes within the scope of applications in the watchmaking industry.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining such a zirconia article which may easily be industrialized and which allows these articles to be obtained at cycle rates and costs compatible with market requirements.
The invention thus concerns a zirconia based article having a ZrO2 and/or partially reduced ZrO2 core characterized in that it includes, over at least part of its surface, a superficial layer integral with said article, said superficial layer including a plurality of regions of which one external region is formed of zirconium nitride having a gold, metallic brilliance.
According to a preferred feature of the article according to the invention, the superficial layer includes a transition region situated between the core and the external region, said transition region including sub-stoichiometric zirconium nitride and zirconium oxynitrides.
It is to be noted that the chemical composition of the superficial layer varies as a function of the depth measured from the surface of the exterior part and passes continuously, i.e., without interruption of continuity, from stoichiometric zirconium nitride (ZrN) to a transition region including sub-stoichiometric zirconium nitride and zirconium oxynitrides.
According to another preferred feature of the invention, the nitrogen content of the sub-stoichiometric zirconium nitride in the transition region decreases with the depth while the oxygen content of the oxynitrides increases with the depth.
The transition region thus includes sub-stoichiometric zirconium nitride whose nitrogen content gradually decreases as one progresses towards the core of the article whereas its oxygen content progressively increases in the form of zirconium oxynitride (ZrOxNy) type compounds, to progressively reach the core of the article which is essentially formed of partially reduced zirconia of the ZrO2xe2x88x92x type and/or zirconia (ZrO2). It will of course be understood that the transition between these various regions happens gradually, the quantity of a compound of an upper region decreasing in favour of a compound of a lower layer.
Chemical analysis of the superficial layer by RBS-ERDA measuring techniques has demonstrated the relative concentrations of zirconium, nitrogen and oxygen corresponding to the aforecited chemical compounds as a function of the depth from the surface of the article.
The invention also concerns a method for obtaining a finished or semi-finished zirconia article having a ZrO2 and/or partially reduced ZrO2 core, having a gold-plated metallic external appearance, characterized in that it includes the steps of:
providing at least one zirconia article previously shaped into its finished or semi-finished shape;
placing said article in a reaction vessel in which a plasma obtained from a gaseous mixture of ammonia and an inert gas, a mixture of nitrogen, hydrogen and an inert gas or a combination of such two mixtures is generated; and
maintaining said article in the plasma for a period of time of approximately 15 to 240 minutes, the average temperature of the article being in these conditions between approximately 600 and 1,300xc2x0 C.
In order to make such articles, one started by making, in accordance with conventional techniques, a conventional zirconia ceramic part having all the required properties, but with no metallic features. This part was then subjected to the method according to the invention in order to transform the crystallographic structure of its surface thereby forming a superficial layer including, in particular, an external region formed of zirconium nitride.
The external region of the superficial layer of the zirconia exterior part transformed according to the method of the invention thus gives such part the optical characteristics of a zirconium nitride of gold metallic appearance.
Moreover, grazing X ray diffraction analysis has shown that the structure of the superficial layer transformed at the surface has the crystallographic structure corresponding to that of zirconium nitride.
Standard X ray diffraction analysis has shown that the crystallographic structure of the core of the part corresponds to that of tetragonal zirconia.
The articles obtained from this method acquire certain new properties, in particular electrical conductivity and a gold metallic brilliance or lustre while keeping the properties of ceramics, in particular their very high level of hardness.
Quite unlike known xe2x80x9chard metalsxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ccermetsxe2x80x9d, the zirconia articles according to the invention do not contain any metallic phase containing Ni or Co.
The invention also concerns the use of a ceramic material having a ZrO2 and/or partially reduced ZrO2 core as a wear resistant exterior part for a wristwatch, such part including, over at least part of its surface, a superficial layer integral with said part, the thickness of said superficial layer including a plurality of regions of which one external region is formed of zirconium nitride having a gold metallic brilliance.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood hereinafter with the aid of the following description of an embodiment example of a zirconia article having a gold metallic external appearance, such description being given solely by way of illustrative example and made with reference to the annexed drawings. | {
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1. Field
The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to electrical switching equipment and, more particularly, to a switch apparatus for connection with a DC circuit.
2. Related Art
Numerous types of circuit interrupters are known for use in diverse applications. In certain applications, such as low power situations, the circuit interrupter can be as simple as a mechanical switch, of which many types are known.
One type of mechanical switch that is employed in somewhat higher voltage and current applications involves the use of a rotatable shaft upon which an elongated conductor is mounted. The ends of the conductor are electrically connected with a pair of contacts when the switch is in an ON condition. When the switch is moved toward its OFF condition, the shaft is rotated, which causes the elongated conductor to pivot about a pivot axis about the shaft, which causes air gaps to form between the ends of the elongated conductor and the pair of contacts as the conductor is disconnected from the contacts. While such circuit interrupters have been generally effective for their intended purposes, they have not been without limitation.
Certain applications involve DC circuits, and it has become desirable in certain applications, such as photovoltaic applications and other application, to increase the voltage and current that flow within a circuit. This increase consequently exacerbates the difficulty of extinguishing the arcs that form at the air gaps when switching a switch from an ON condition to an OFF condition. For example, it has become desirable in photovoltaic applications to increase the number of solar arrays arranged in parallel and in series, which increases current and voltage, respectively, and which must be interrupted by a circuit interrupter such as a switch. Moreover, depending upon the orientation of the contacts in relation to one another and in relation to the movable elongated conductor, it is possible that the arc created at the air gap can tend to move along the elongated conductor toward the pivot axis of the shaft. Movement of the arc toward the pivot axis of the shaft on which the elongated conductor is mounted may tend to shorten the arc and reinforce it, which is undesirable since any arc is preferably extinguished as soon as possible. While efforts have been made to employ magnets and resultant Lorentz forces to extinguish arcs in such circuit interrupters, the result has sometimes been a circuit interrupter that can only interrupt DC power of a given polarity. Moreover, magnets (such as rare earth magnets) are rather costly, and the extensive use of such magnets can undesirably increase the cost of the resultant switching device. It thus would be desirable to provide an improved circuit interrupter that provides improved performance. | {
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An optical fiber comprises a core and a cladding which surrounds the core and has a lower refractive index than that of the core.
Several methods for producing the optical fiber have been developed and are commercially employed. Examples of such methods are the modified chemical vapor deposition method (M-CVD method), the vapor axial deposition method (VAD method) and the outside vapor deposition method (OVD method). In these methods, the core is mainly made of SiO.sub.2 /GeO.sub.2 type glass, and the cladding is mainly made of SiO.sub.2.
Since light is intensively propagated through the core of the optical fiber, from an idealistic viewpoint, the core is to be made of SiO.sub.2 which has the smallest attenuation of light transmission. On the other hand, the cladding made of SiO.sub.2 containing an additive such as B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and fluorine for reducing the refractive index since it should have a lower refractive index than that of the core. Although B.sub.2 O.sub.3 may be added to the core of the optical fiber employed in some uses, it is not preferred to add B.sub.2 O.sub.3 to the core of the optical fiber through which light having a wavelength longer than 1 .mu.m is propagated since the presence of B-O bonds absorb light in far infrared range. In this respect, fluorine is an ideal additive for the cladding since it does not induce any absorption peak in a wavelength range used for the optical fiber. Thus, it is preferable to adjust the refractive index difference between the core and the cladding of the optical fiber by making use of SiO.sub.2 as the core material and SiO.sub.2 /F type glass as the cladding material. Such an optical fiber is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 15682/1980.
The optical fiber comprising the core made of SiO.sub.2 and the cladding made of SiO.sub.2 /F type glass is fabricated from a glass preform produced, for example, by accumulating fluorine added quartz glass in a glassy state around a quartz rod in its radial direction by means of thermal plasma, or by depositing fine particles of fluorine added quartz glass around a quartz rod in its radial direction by flame hydrolysis of the glass raw material and sintering the deposited fine particle mass to make it transparent, or by depositing fluorine added quartz glass on an inner surface of a quartz tube by the M-CVD method to form a core portion and collapsing the central hollow part to form a glass preform in a solid rod form.
However, by the thermal plasma method, it is difficult to fabricate an optical fiber having satisfactorily low attenuation of light transmission from the produced glass preform, since an interface between the quartz rod and the accumulated fluorine added quartz glass is polluted and the fluorine added glass itself is contaminated with hydroxyl groups. By the method in which the fine glass particles are deposited around the quartz rod by flame hydrolysis, it is also difficult to fabricate an optical fiber having satisfactorily low attenuation of light transmission from the produced glass preform, since the quartz rod is contaminated with the hydroxyl groups made from water adsorbed on the surface of the quartz rod or produced by the flame hydrolysis of the glass raw material. In this method, water or moisture is easily removed from the fine glass particles but hardly removed from the inside of the quartz rod. Although the M-CVD method can produce the glass preform from which an optical fiber having comparatively good properties, it is poor in productivity. | {
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The present invention relates generally to packaging systems that deform a web of flexible material into product-holding cavities and, more particularly, to a belt-driven clamping arrangement that advances the web of flexible material through the various stations of a packaging system.
Conventional packaging machines that deform a web of flexible material into product-holding cavities, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,283, have a clamping arrangement in the form of a pair of spaced apart clip chains that grip the edges of the web and advance the web through the machine. In this regard, the clips or clamps used to grip and release the web of flexible material are mounted at predefined positions along the length of the chain. When the chain is taut, the position of the clamps can be controlled; however, over time, the chain can wear and become loose and, thus, the position of the clamps can become difficult to control. In this regard, periodic shut-downs of the packaging system are required for maintenance of the chain.
In addition, prior art packaging machines utilizing a chain-type clamping arrangement involve the use of a drive motor that rotates a drive shaft, and a pair of drive sprockets that are mounted to the drive shave. Each drive sprocket is engaged with one of the clip chains. The drive shaft extends across the width of the packaging machine, and is operable to synchronously drive the drive sprockets so as to move the clip chains together. With this construction, the components of the machine must be arranged so as to provide clearance for the drive shaft. In addition, in the event the chains wear unevenly, this arrangement can result in the opposite edges of the web material being advanced at slightly different rates of speed through the machine, which can cause skewing and wrinkling of the web material. | {
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Personal subscriber stations such as cellular telephones or other Personal Communication System (PCS) equipment are commonly used to communicate with other parties via a wireless communications system, such as a cellular telephone network. The ability of a personal subscriber station to access and properly operate within a wireless communications system depends in large part upon certain unique, and often secret, operational information which is programmed into each subscriber station prior to activation of wireless service, or initial use of the equipment within the wireless system. Generally, this operational information is used for such things as "authentication" of the subscriber station. Authentication is a procedure whereby information is exchanged between a subscriber station and a base station for purposes of enabling the base station to confirm the identity, or validity, of the subscriber station. A standardized method for authenticating a cellular subscriber station has been established by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). This procedure is described in EIA/TIA Interim Standard IS-54 (IS-54) and TIA/EIA Telecommunications Systems Bulletin TSB50 (TSB50), both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
A successful outcome of the authentication process generally occurs only when it can be demonstrated that the subscriber station and the base station process identical sets of Shared Secret Data (SSD). This Shared Secret Data is generally a multi-bit pattern stored in semi-permanent memory of the subscriber station. It is, however, known to the Base Station and is calculated, or derived, based upon certain information which may include operational information unique to the subscriber station. One method of deriving SSD is more thoroughly disclosed in TIA IS-54.
Operational information may include such things as a Mobile Identification Number (MIN), or a Personal Identification Number (PIN), sometimes referred to as "A-Key". A Mobile Identification Number generally refers to the directory telephone number assigned to the particular subscriber unit and is considered non-secret. The Personal Identification Number on the other hand is a secret number which is managed by the Home Service Operator for each subscriber station. The PIN is intended primarily for use in "authenticating" the subscriber station. Both the PIN and MIN identities are uniquely assigned to a particular subscriber station which is further distinguished by an Electronic Serial Number (ESN). The ESN may be, for example, a 32-bit binary number which uniquely identifies the subscriber station to any cellular system. It is generally factory-set and is not readily alterable since modification thereof generally requires a special facility not normally available to subscribers. Whereas the ESN and MIN are generally not regarded as secret information, the PIN, or A-Key, is usually considered confidential. This confidentiality, however, may be jeopardized under commonly accepted practices for authenticating a cellular telephone or the like.
Generally, confidential operational information such as A-Key information is generated for a subscriber station only when a new customer, or subscriber, contracts with a wireless communication system operator (Home Service Operator) for wireless service. However, A-Key information may also be generated in those situations when the validity of an active A-Key value is in question.
A procedure for loading confidential A-Key or Authentication information, or the like, into a subscriber station via a numeric keypad, is described in TIA IS-54 and TIA TSB50. Under this procedure, A-Key information or values are usually generated and issued to a new subscriber by a Home Service Operator. The A-Key value information is then delivered to the new subscriber, in printed form, either at the point of sale by an agent of the Home Service Operator or via the postal service. With reference to FIG. 2, once the "A-Key" value information is received by a subscriber, the information must be manually entered, or programmed, via a keypad (23) into the subscriber station (20) during a special programming mode of the subscriber station. This information is then stored in the A-Key register (21).
Under the procedure for loading authentication information into a subscriber station described in IS-54 And TSB50, the confidential authentication information is, at best, only minimally secure from the risk of theft or pirating. This is due, in part, to the fact that operational personnel involved in generating, issuing, printing and mailing authentication information to subscribers, have access to the authentication information and ample opportunity to pirate the information during the course carrying out their duties. Further, by mailing authentication information to a subscriber, there exists the additional risk that the authentication information can be intercepted, or retrieved from the mail, by an unauthorized party. The stolen authentication information could then be loaded into a "clone" or "pirate" subscriber station, while the printed material disclosing the authentication information is re-mailed or otherwise allowed to reach the legitimate subscriber who would have no immediate knowledge that this confidential operational information had been pirated.
Other disadvantages of this method of generating and entering authentication information include the fact that the manual entry of, for instance, a 26 digit authentication number into a subscriber station can be awkward or burdensome for a user. Further, if an error is made during the manual entry of the authentication number the entire authentication number must be re-entered, since it is not possible to correct only the erroneously entered digit or digits. | {
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Crystalline silicon (including multi- and mono-crystalline silicon) is the most dominant absorber material for commercial photovoltaic applications. The relatively high efficiencies associated with mass-produced crystalline silicon solar cells, in conjunction with the abundance of material, garner appeal for continued use and advancement. But the relatively high cost of crystalline silicon material itself limits the widespread use of these solar modules. At present, the cost of “wafering,” or crystallizing silicon and cutting a wafer, accounts for about 40% to 60% of the finished solar module manufacturing cost. If a more direct way of making wafers were possible, great headway could be made in lowering the cost of solar cells.
There are different known methods of growing monocrystalline silicon and releasing or transferring the grown wafer. Regardless of the methods, a low cost epitaxial silicon deposition process and a high-volume, production-worthy low cost method of release layer formation may be prerequisites for wider use of silicon solar cells.
Porous semiconductor (PS) formation is a fairly new field with an expanding application landscape. The viability of this technology in solar applications may hinge on the ability to industrialize the process to large scale (at low cost), requiring development of very low cost-of-ownership, high-productivity porous silicon manufacturing equipment.
PS has been used in MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) and related applications, where there is a higher tolerance for cost per unit area of the wafer than solar PV. The microelectronics industry achieves economy of scale through obtaining greater yield by increasing the number of die (or chips) per wafer, scaling the wafer size, and enhancing the chip functionality (or integration density) with each successive new product generation. In the solar industry, economy is achieved through the industrialization of solar cell and module manufacturing processes with low-cost, high-productivity equipment. Further economies are achieved through price reduction in raw materials through reduction of materials used per watt output of solar cells.
Some typical precursor chemistries for PS are: HF (49% in H2O typically), IPA (and/or acetic acid) and DI H2O. IPA (and/or acetic acid) serves as a surfactant and assists in the uniform creation of PS. Additional additives may be used to enhance the electrical conductivity of the electrolyte, thus reducing its heating through ohmic losses. Mixtures of HF and chemicals other than IPA can be readily employed by those skilled in the art.
In order to achieve the necessary economy for solar, process cost modeling is studied to identify and optimize equipment performance. Three categories of cost make up the total cost picture: fixed cost (FC), recurring cost (RC) and yield cost (YC). FC is made up of items such as equipment purchase price, installation cost and robotics or automation cost. RC is largely made up of electricity, gases, chemicals, operator salaries and maintenance technician support. YC may be interpreted as the total value of parts lost during production.
To achieve the cost-of-ownership (CoO) numbers required by the solar field, all aspects of the cost picture must be optimized. The qualities of a low cost process are (in order of priority): 1) high productivity, 2) high yield, 3) low RC, and 4) low FC.
Designing highly productive equipment requires a good understanding of the process requirements and reflecting those requirements in the equipment architecture. High yield requires a robust process and reliable equipment, and as equipment productivity increases, so too does yield cost. Low RC is also a prerequisite for overall low CoO. RC can impact plant site selection based on, for example, cost of local power or availability of bulk chemicals. FC, although important, is diluted by equipment productivity.
With the above said, in summary, high productivity, reliable, efficient manufacturing equipment may be a prerequisite for low cost solar cells.
Achieving low RC requires efficient use of chemicals. In wet processes, “drag out” or chemical carried out of the reaction chamber, must be rinsed off the wafer. With a greater amount of “drag out,” a correspondingly greater amount of rinse water is required to clean the wafer. Both of these factors add to CoO. Moreover, one must minimize the aging of chemicals so that they can be reused and/or recycled over an extended period. | {
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In general, it is desirable to minimize any residual out-of-balance in driveshafts to improve driveline NVH dynamics Compact joint assemblies such as disclosed herein are often used in driveshafts for this reason. More particularly, this applies to high-speed driveshafts, for example propeller shafts of motor vehicles, wherein, due to the higher speeds, the residual out-of-balance has a greater effect than in slow-running driveshafts such as the sideshafts of motor vehicles. Furthermore, even though such joint assemblies have a compact size, it must be ensured that they are securely sealed towards the outside at high operational speeds.
WO 2006/037389 A1 discloses a connecting assembly used between a shaft journal and a constant velocity universal joint. The connecting assembly comprises a threaded sleeve which is connected to the inner joint part on the one side, and to the shaft journal on the other side. A diaphragm boot is provided for sealing the joint chamber which, by means of an inner collar, is positioned on the cylindrical outer face of the threaded sleeve and which is fixed by a securing ring.
DE 10 2005 036789 proposes a drive assembly of a multi-part driveshaft. The drive assembly comprises an intermediate bearing, a constant velocity universal joint, a shaft journal connected to the inner joint part of the constant velocity universal joint and a diaphragm boot for sealing the joint chamber. The diaphragm boot comprises an inner collar by which it engages an annular groove of an intermediate sleeve held on the shaft journal. The inner collar is secured by a securing ring on the intermediate sleeve.
There still exists a need for an improved sealed joint assembly, having a compact design and reliable sealing, even at high speeds. | {
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The invention generally relates to digital signal processing, and more particularly, to a multiplexed state saving analog-to-digital converter.
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC), such as a sigma delta modulator, provides a digital bit stream output of either single or multiple digital bits that are representative of an analog input signal. This bit stream output has noise that varies in the frequency domain, known as shaped noise. Shaped noise is typically removed by a digital low-pass filter having a cutoff frequency below the frequency where the shaped noise rises above the flat-band noise. Typically, the cutoff frequency is {fraction (1/16)}th to {fraction (1/64)}th of the converter sample rate.
FIG. 1 shows the functional architecture of a generic second-order, switched-capacitor, sigma delta modulator ADC similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,793, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Input circuit 10 provides analog input signals for sampling, VinP and VinN. Subtracted from the input voltage signals are positive and negative feedback signals, RefP and RefN, from feedback circuit 11. The first stage integrator 12 receives the difference signals and provides an integrated output signal via coupling capacitor CS2 to second stage integrator 13. Each integrator 12 and 13 also has internal feedback capacitors, Ci1 and Ci2 respectively that feedback the integrated outputs to the integrator inputs. Thus, the voltage across these internal feedback capacitors Ci1 and Ci2 reflects the internal state of their associated integrators. The integrated outputs of each integrator 12 and 13 are provided via coupling capacitors CS31 and CS32 respectively to comparator 14. The output of comparator 14 is a digital data bitstream representative of the analog input voltages. This bitstream is supplied to a decimator filter (not shown) that reduces the out-of-band quantization noise component of the samples and generates a data stream of filtered output samples. A third-order sinc filter may be used, for example, in a particular ADC.
An ADC can be adapted to time division multiplex (TDM) between multiple input signals. Such a multiplexing ADC is described for example, in xe2x80x9cA Programmable Power Metering Chip,xe2x80x9d Y. M. Lin et al., Proceedings of the IEEE 1993 Custom Integrated Circuits Conference, 1993, pp. 25.7.1-25.7.4, incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 2 in that article shows the multiplexed analog input and multiplexed digital filters following the modulator. Further description of such an approach is also provided in xe2x80x9cA Single Shot Sigma Delta Analog to Digital Converter for Multiplexed Applicationsxe2x80x9d; C. Lyden, et al, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,544,089; 5,345,236; and 5,627,536, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
One specific application for a multiplexed ADC would be in an electrical power measuring device. In contemporary power distribution systems, the fundamental line frequency is typically 50 or 60 Hertz, but it should be appreciated that significant energy is present in harmonics as high as the 15th harmonic. The dynamic range requirements of an ADC are also formidable: 20 bits of digital resolution are needed to achieve an accuracy within 0.1% over a 1000:1 current range.
FIG. 2 shows an example of TDM of three input signals to an ADC with each analog input being selected for a processing period consisting of a fixed number of modulator samples before the multiplexer is switched to the next input waveform. In a power metering application, three voltage phases and three current phases need to be sampled. Thus, two three-channel multiplexed ADC modulators are sufficient. Each of the ADC modulators cycles through the same three inputs using the same time division to produce synchronized voltage-current sample pairs for each phase being measured. The separate phases are not themselves synchronized, of course, and are skewed in time from each other. This does not present a problem because the total three-phase power used for energy calculation is an arithmetic sum of the three individual power values.
Existing methods of multiplexing multiple analog inputs to a sigma delta modulator require drastically reducing the resulting sampled data rate. The sample rate of the final de-multiplexed output, Fmux, is the fastest rate possible from a multiplexed ADC with a successive approximation register-type (SAR) architecture. In contemporary systems, Fmux is far lower than the basic modulator sample rate, Fs, or even than Fs/m, where m is the number of analog input channels.
When a sigma delta modulator is used for a TDM ADC, further filtering and decimation is generally required after the output bit stream has been de-multiplexed into multiple TDM bit streams. And when switching from one input signal to the next, the internal analog integrators and the output digital filter all have to settle to appropriate conditions for the new input signal waveform. Typically this settling time is longest for the digital filter.
The settling time of a third-order sinc filter is determined by the first valid value of the order times the decimation rate, e.g., 96 times the modulator sample time. In such a case, the final output data rate would be Fs/m/96. Unless the sampling rate Fs is very high, this final rate can become too low for accurate use in some applications.
A representative embodiment of the present invention includes a multiplexed signal processor having an input circuit for receiving multiple input signals. A modulator processes a selected input signal to produce a representative digital output. The modulator includes an integrator that integrates the difference between the selected input signal and a feedback signal representative of the digital output. A signal control circuit selects in turn by time division multiplexing each input signal for a processing period as the selected input signal, and stores the digital output and the integrator state at the end of each processing period. After an initial processing period for each input signal, each processing period begins based on the digital output and the integrator state from the end of the previous processing period for that input signal.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a multiplexed signal processor having an input circuit for receiving multiple input signals. A multistage modulator processes a selected input signal to produce a representative digital output. The modulator includes one or more integrator stages. One of the integrator stages includes a separate discrete integrator for each input signal, where each integrator produces an output representing the integration of the discrete integrator input and the discrete integrator output. The other integrator stage includes a time division multiplexed integrator that selects each input signal in turn for a processing period to produce an output representing the integration of the multiplexed integrator input and the multiplexed integrator output. After an initial processing period for each input signal, each processing period begins based on the digital output and multiplexed integrator output from the end of the previous processing period for that input signal.
In an embodiment, the multiple input signals may be either analog or digital signals. A switched capacitor arrangement may store at least one of the digital outputs and the integrator states. The signal processor may be a sigma delta modulator. The signal processor may also include a filter in communication with the modulator for removing noise from the digital output, e.g., a sinc filter. | {
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Coatings on parts and products are used in industry for several different purposes. Certain coatings, for instance, are applied to surfaces to provide low friction, non-stick, abrasion resistant or other specific properties. When a harder object contacts a surface and friction is created, the friction of the force on the surface wears away a portion of that surface. Over time, the cumulative effect of repetitive or continuous contact between the object and the surface causes a substantial portion of the surface to wear away so that the surface is no longer functional. One example of such an object applying such a force is the force applied between metal cooking utensils (i.e., the objects) and cooking surfaces such as the non-stick coatings applied to surfaces of pots or pans. Continuous contact between the utensils and these cooking surfaces causes the coatings applied to the surfaces, such as non-stick coatings, to gradually wear away and diminish the effectiveness of the coatings. Therefore, manufacturers have developed abrasion-resistant, non-stick coatings incorporating harder and more durable particles, which resist the abrasive forces created by cooking utensils as the utensils contact the coated surface of the cooking surfaces. As a result, these coatings enhance the durability of cooking surfaces, however, the coatings compromise the non-stick properties of the surface. In addition, the introduced hard particles are not attached firmly to the surface to provide rigid support of the relatively soft non-stick material topcoat. The loose particles can therefore, dislodge from the surface relatively easily.
Wear also occurs, for example, when a surface or surfaces of a component are subject to continuous and prolonged forces such as rotational or reciprocating forces applied by a first object which basically, rubs against the surface of a second object, creating friction between the objects. The friction generally wears away one or both of the surfaces. If one surface is sacrificial in nature, commonly including softer particles or materials versus harder particles or materials, it will wear sooner than the surface including the harder, more durable surface. To prevent this, coatings, which are comprised of relatively soft materials, are applied to a part or parts so that the parts can be replaced easily when the coating wears out. An example is a PTFE-coated solenoid plunger inside a housing of a solenoid which must remain dry or without fluid lubrication in use. In operation, the PTFE-coated solenoid plunger wears at a predictable rate due to friction created between the surface of the plunger and the surface of the housing. Therefore, the plunger can be exchanged for a newly coated plunger on a predictable maintenance schedule. This is particularly appropriate when no fluid lubricants can be introduced into a system.
Another example of intended sacrificial wear is a wear end plate in a rotary gear pump. A thin layer of bronze is attached to, for example, a replaceable iron plate. This plate can be changed when the bronze layer wears.
Other methods of applying reinforcing coatings to surfaces to provide wear resistance for soft coatings have been developed. In another example, metal spray coatings, such as bronze, are arc sprayed or flame sprayed onto metal parts to produce an intermittent bronze coating, which is subsequently coated with PTFE and finished into a smooth surface. The wear resistance of the bronze particles reinforce the relatively weak strength of the PTFE, which has a very low friction however with low wear resistance. This bronze/PTFE coating system will wear longer than a unreinforced PTFE coating.
Coatings are also used for many applications such as for rust resistance, corrosion resistance and as functional or protective coatings. In one example, plastic electric motor brush covers are coated with coatings containing metal to absorb and conduct electrical emissions to reduce electrical emissions coming from electric fuel pumps in an automobile or other vehicle.
Coatings may be applied in various different known manners. One method of applying the coatings is to spray the coatings on to a substrate such as metallic material. The coatings are usually sprayed so that the coatings completely cover the surface or surfaces of the substrate that require the coating. Typically, a bonding agent such as primer is used to initially coat the substrate to promote the adhesion of the coating to the substrate. The bonding agent or primer is typically applied to a cleaned surface of the substrate. Additionally it has been known to add particles to the liquid primer and/or the base coating to increase the abrasion resistance of the liquid coating and primer. As a result, the coating or coatings applied to the substrate has greater abrasion resistance.
In one known coating process described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,769, hard particles are embedded in a surface layer on a substrate to improve the scratch or surface wear resistance of the substrate. The surface of the substrate is prepared and then a thin layer of discrete, hard particles are applied to the surface of the substrate. The surface of the substrate is then softened using heat or a solvent. The surface may also be softened prior to the application of the particles to the surface if needed. After the surface of the substrate is softened, the particles are embedded into the softened surface of the substrate using pressure. The particles are embedded in the surface so that approximately 50% of the volume of the particles are located at the surface layer. The softened surface is then allowed to re-harden, which embeds and bonds the particles to the surface of the substrate. This bonding method is generally limited to substrates such as plastics, polymers and softer metals, which are relatively softer than the particles being embedded in the surfaces of these substrates.
In another known coating process, solid particles are mixed with a liquid primer prior to applying the primer to the surface of the substrate. The particles are non-uniform or irregular in shape and the particles are also non-uniformly dispersed or mixed within the primer because the distribution of the particles cannot be controlled. Therefore, as the primer mixture is applied to the surface of the substrate, the unevenly distributed particles within the primer tend to pool or bunch up on particular areas of the substrate, particularly if the particles are very heavy. In addition, heavy introduced particles in a liquid coating system, will settle in different densities on horizontal, vertical or other pockets or depressions of a coated part. As a result, certain portions of the substrate include more particles than other portions of the substrate. This creates an uneven or non-uniform distribution of introduced particles on the substrate that has been coated. Thus, when a topcoat or final coat that contains heavy or dense particles is applied to the substrate, the topcoat or final coat also pools or builds up in the same areas on the substrate as the particles in the primer mixture. This diminishes the finish strength or quality of the surface of the finished product.
In a further known coating process, the particles are flame sprayed or applied in a molten droplet form and propelled onto the surface of the substrate. The molten particles adhere to the surface of the substrate. However, the molten particles are typically applied or sprayed onto the substrate at such a rate that the molten particles flatten or partially flatten as the particles hit or contact the surface of the substrate. Thus, the surface of such substrates are often uneven because of the varying shapes of the applied molten particles. As described above, this causes an uneven surface area or non-uniform surface area so that the coating that is subsequently applied to the particles is also uneven and non-uniform.
One known wear resistant coating sold under the trademark Excalibur® by Whitford Worldwide is formed using molten stainless steel particles and provides non-stick and initial low friction characteristics to surfaces of substrates but is limited in its application exclusively to metal substrates. This coating is applied to a substrate surface by first grit blasting the surface with a suitable abrasive to roughen it and promote the adherence of subsequent material layers. Then, stainless alloy particles are electric-arc sprayed onto the roughened metal surface of the substrate. The particles cool and harden forming varying surface configurations including high peaks and low peaks, which do not completely bond to the surface. Next, several layers of fluropolymer coatings are applied to the particle layer and permanently bond all of the coatings in place on the surface of the substrate. The application of the molten particles, however, incurs the same problems as described above. Thus, the distribution of the size and shape of the molten particles in this process are generally not uniform or evenly distributed on the surface of the substrate.
The varying particle shapes in the above processes and coatings affect the uniform distribution of the particles on the surface of the substrate. The particles are applied to the surface of the substrate to increase the abrasion resistance of the subsequently applied coating. The irregularly shaped particles generally are not evenly or uniformly distributed on the surface of the substrate because the irregular surfaces of the particles generally do not correspond with each other. In addition, particle size may vary where some particles are much larger than other particles. Thus, some particles bunch together while other particles are spread apart based on the size and shape of the particles. This causes the particles to be non-uniformly distributed and be of non-uniform size on the surface of the substrate, which in turn, causes the coating applied to the particles to be non-uniform.
Furthermore, the irregular shape of the particles limits the consistency of the surface area created by the addition of the non-uniform particles to the substrate. As described above, irregularly shaped particles may bunch up or be spread apart on a percentage of the surface of the substrate and consist of varying heights. Therefore, the maximum surface area of each particle may not be exposed to prevent coating wear depending on whether the particles are partially or wholly covered by other particles and whether particles, such as molten metal particles, are deposited on top of previously deposited particles. Because the maximum exposable surface area of each particle is not consistently available, the total surface area generated by the addition of the particles to the substrate is limited or diminished. As a result, the bond between the coating and the particles is less consistent and weaker than if the maximum exposable surface area is exposed for coating by subsequent topcoats. This results in loose or non-adherent particles on top of the previously deposited particles.
Another reinforced metal/PTFE coating system consists of an electric arc spray of stainless steel or titanium particles subsequently coated with a two coat PTFE commercial non-stick coating. In one example, an aluminum cooking pan is grit blasted with aluminum oxide to roughen the aluminum surface to assist the mechanical attachment of the dissimilar metal stainless steel or titanium particles to the pan. The stainless steel particles are heated to provide molten stainless steel particles which are propelled toward the grit blasted surface. The deposited molten stainless steel or titanium particles cool and the result is a rough, varied group of various shaped metal particles which are mechanically attached to the rough grit blasted aluminum surface. This irregular surface, which resembles a mountain range of irregular shaped stainless steel particles, is then coated with two or more coatings of a commercial non-stick coating. When cooking utensils contact the reinforced non-stick coating, wear is reduced as the metal particles take the mechanical abrasion created by cooking utensils.
This stainless steel/PTFE coating system is exemplified by the Whitford Corporation's Excalibur® coating system. After the stainless particles are deposited on the aluminum, the Excalibur® coating system includes the steps of removing non-adherent particles of loose stainless steel from the aluminum. The loose, non-adherent or slightly adherent particles of stainless steel are removed by wire brushing, air cleaning or both prior to the application of the topcoats of PTFE based non-stick coatings.
Uneven or non-uniform distribution of a coating on a surface of a substrate causes several different problems or issues for manufacturers. An uneven coating on the surface of a particular part will cause uneven wear of the parts and subject the part to more friction if particles protrude through the final coating or topcoat. Conversely, if there are less reinforcing particles in an applied coating due to the non-uniform distribution of the reinforcing particles in the coating on the surface of the part, the coated surface of the part will have less wear resistance or wear protection. Thus, the greater friction and wear on the part may cause the part to fail during operation or not last as long in operation. Additionally, an uneven coating quality may cause a part to not perform as well in operation. An uneven surface roughness due to uneven internally distributed and dispersed reinforcing particles may also cause a part or parts requiring specific tolerance levels or dimensions to be outside acceptable limits and therefore not meet desired designed specifications, fail during assembly or during operation. If the coating over the irregular stainless particles is designed to provide non-stick or release properties, taller or larger stacked particles protruding through the coating quickly wear, dislodge easily and diminish the desired non-stick or release properties and cause sticking instead of preventing it.
In a mechanical wear situation, if the dispersed lubricant/reinforcing materials within the liquid coating, whether the materials are metal or non-metallic materials, are protruding, mechanical interference may be caused thereby preventing component motion. If the particles are not dispersed uniformly, the wear resistance and consistency of performance is diminished.
Additionally, liquid coating end use requirements for reinforcing a coating on a surface of a substrate to provide augmentation of, for instance, a soft coating to increase the wear resistance is presently accomplished by introducing hard particles to the liquid coating. The desired laminar placement of specific particles in the coating is impossible when particles are dispersed in a liquid coating. The placement of reinforcing particles within a coating in a specific area is not possible with a liquid coating containing dispersed particles. Furthermore, the placement of different wear resistant particles in a specific order or location with different properties cannot be done in a liquid coating application. Also, providing an extremely dense, near 100% dense layer of reinforcing particles under a smooth topcoat is not possible with a liquid coating. Even if multiple layers are applied, the possibility of particles moving and migrating in a liquid coating prevent assurance of and determination of density before subsequent coating layers are applied as the liquid carrier reduces the density of the interconnected particles. Additionally, if a liquid coating application includes heavy, hard particles such as certain abrasive particles, the coating is difficult to apply using conventional pumps and spray guns, which causes the pumps and spray guns to wear more rapidly.
Accordingly, there is a need for a coating method, and specifically a coating reinforcing underlayment and method of manufacturing same which enables a reinforced coating system to be evenly, uniformly and densely applied to the surface of a substrate. | {
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The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for identification of interactions between customers and customer service agents within a retail facility and data driven solutions for the evaluation and optimization of the deployment of customer service efforts within the retail facility.
In a retail store setting, customer interactions with customer service agents can improve the customer experience and facilitate increased sales. Current methods of customer service agent deployment within a retail facility is generally based upon management experience and generalized impressions of customer flow and customer-agent interactions within various sales departments. Therefore, these determinations are highly subjective which can result in great inefficiencies in the deployment and management of customer service agents across sales departments in a retail facility. Similarly, the effectiveness of customer-agent interactions are also only anecdotally and subjectively monitored, which can result in unreliable or difficult to evaluate information upon which manager makes customer service decisions. | {
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Conductive particles are widely used for anisotropic conductive materials such as anisotropic conductive paste, anisotropic conductive ink, an anisotropic conductive pressure sensitive adhesive/an anisotropic conductive adhesive, an anisotropic conductive film and an anisotropic conductive sheet by mixing them with a binder resin or a pressure sensitive adhesive/an adhesive and kneading.
These anisotropic conductive materials are used in the form that they are interposed between opposed boards or between opposed electrode terminals of electronic devices such as a liquid crystal display, a personal computer and a mobile telephone in order to electrically connect a board to another board or to electrically connect a small part such as a semiconductor device to a board.
As these conductive particles, there is disclosed the conductive particle in which a metal plating layer is formed as a conductive film on the surface of a nonconductive particle such as a resin particle having a uniform particle diameter and moderate strength (for example, in Patent Document 1).
In the conductive particle disclosed in Patent Document 1, a nickel plating coating is formed as a conductive film but a phosphorus concentration in the process of forming the nickel plating coating becomes low. In such a nickel plating coating having a low phosphorus concentration, a nickel plating coating having a crystal structure is formed. Since such a nickel plating coating is hard and has an inadequate property to follow the impact, there was a problem that the nickel plating coating might break and the adhesion between a base particle and the nickel plating coating was not good.
For these problems, a conductive particle having a nickel coating comprising a first layer in which a crystal grain aggregate is not found on the surface of the base particle and a second layer in which a crystal grain aggregate is oriented in the direction of thickness is disclosed in Patent Document 2. In this conductive particle, the first layer plays a role of enhancing the adhesion between the base particle and the nickel coating and further enhancing the impact resistance of the conductive particle and the second layer plays a role of improving the conductivity of the conductive particle.
However, it cannot be said that the production method disclosed in Patent Document 2 shows adequate performance in order to produce the conductive particle of a level required as electronic devices have been sharply progressing and developing in recent years, and therefore the need for producing a higher-performance conductive particle by a more strict production method has arisen. Patent Document 1: Japanese Kokai Publication Sho-63-190204 Patent Document 2: Japanese Kokai Publication 2004-197160 | {
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The present invention relates generally to remote control processes, and more particularly, to methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing authorized remote control over safety devices.
First responders and other emergency or management personnel oftentimes have very limited knowledge about the current conditions present at a location when an incident is reported. For example, it may be that an alarm was activated at a facility, which caused a first responding entity to be notified. However, the alarm activation itself may not provide sufficient information as to the nature and/or extent of the conditions within the facility. In fact, most first responders do not fully appreciate the nature and extent of conditions at a facility until they are physically present at the facility, and even then, may be not aware of all of the conditions needed to protect themselves and others.
Another disadvantage faced by first responders relates to the operation and procedures followed by various safety devices located throughout a facility. For example, suppose that a first responder detects smoke in one area of the facility. Suppose also that a sprinkler system was activated due to a level of heat detected in the area. Sprinkler systems are typically configured such that the heat of a fire will open a sprinkler head. As the fire spreads, additional sprinkler heads open, even those where the fire is no longer present. Alternatively, a concussion produced via a high-impact explosion has been known to cause many sprinkler heads to simultaneously open. These scenarios may cause a reduction in water pressure due to the number of active sprinkler heads. The reduction in water pressure, particularly in locations of the facility where the water is most needed, may negatively impact the first responders' efforts in containing the fire. In addition, if sprinkler heads are still active in an area that does not require the water, then valuable equipment, furnishings, and valuables may needlessly become damaged.
What is needed, therefore, is way to selectively and remotely operate (e.g., activate/de-activate) various devices in response to known conditions at a location. What is also needed is a way to control or restrict this selective operation based upon an authorization scheme. | {
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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus and a liquid ejecting method.
2. Related Art
One example of a liquid ejecting apparatus is an ink jet printer including nozzle rows in which nozzles ejecting ink (liquid) to a medium are arranged in a predetermined direction. Among the ink jet printer, there is known a printer repeating an operation of ejecting ink from nozzles while moving nozzle rows in a movement direction intersecting the predetermined direction and an operation of transmitting a medium relative to the nozzle rows in a transport direction which is the predetermined direction.
In such a printer, there is used a printing method of changing the number of nozzles to be used or a transport distance upon printing an upper end portion of the medium, when the nozzles form dot rows at an interval narrower than an interval (nozzle pitch) at which the nozzles are arranged, for example.
JP-A-2008-221645 is an example of related art.
In order to improve the chromogenic properties of an image, a background image may be printed with white ink and then an image may be printed with color ink on the background image. In this case, nozzles used to print the background image are fixed to half of nozzles of a white nozzle row on the upstream side in the transport direction. Nozzles used to print the color image are fixed to half of nozzles of a color ink nozzle row on the downstream side in the transport direction. Then, when the background image is printed by the white ink nozzles on the upstream side in the transport direction, a printing start position is located on the upstream side of a head in the transport direction. That is, the position control range of the medium may become long. | {
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There is a multiprocessor system called a directory-based cache coherent Non Uniform Memory Access (ccNUMA) including a plurality of pairs of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a memory where respective memories are shared by a plurality of CPUs. In the directory-based ccNUMA multiprocessor system, each CPU using a directory maintains a coherency between the data stored in a memory connected to the CPU and the data held in a cache memory by each CPU. The directory includes information, for example, on the locations of data in the distributed memories, and is managed and controlled by each CPU.
In the International Publication Pamphlet No. 2007/099583, a technique is disclosed in which a system controller has a copy of tags of a cache device and a next state transition of a data block is finally judged with a response packet upon completion of a snoop process.
A related technique is disclosed in, for example, International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2007/099583. | {
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Water insoluble salts such as calcium and magnesium carbonates or silicates or sulfates commonly referred to as limescale, but also barium sulfate, calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, iron oxide and the like are readily formed in watery solutions when the conditions are right and may each represent particular challenges in relation to their removal.
Limescale or limestone is the hard, off-white, chalky deposit found in kettles, hot-water boilers and the inside of inadequately maintained hot-water central heating systems. It is also often found as a similar deposit on the inner surface of old pipes and other surfaces where “hard water” has evaporated.
These types of limescale differ slightly due to their origins. The type found deposited on the heating elements of water heaters, laundry machines, etc. has a main component of calcium carbonate, precipitated out of the (hot) water. Hard water contains calcium (and often magnesium) bicarbonate and/or similar salts.
Calcium bicarbonate is soluble in water, however at temperatures above 70° C. the soluble bicarbonate is converted to poorly-soluble carbonate, leading to deposits in places where water is heated. Local boiling “hot spots” can also occur when water is heated, resulting in the concentration and deposition of salts from the water. Likewise calcium sulfate is a common component of fouling deposits in industrial heat exchangers, due to its decreased solubility with increasing temperature. Silicate containing laundry and automatic dishwashing products may cause a calcium or magnesium silicate deposit, which is especially difficult to remove (in contrast to calcium carbonate) from glassware.
The type found on air-dried cooking utensils, dripping taps and bathroom tiling consists of calcium carbonate mixed with all the other salts that had been dissolved in the water, prior to evaporation. It can also be found on taps and water reservoirs (such as in the toilet) where hard water has been continually running through and has deposited calcium carbonate.
The presence of limescale presents several problems. Other than being unsightly and harder to clean, limescale can impair the operation of various components or damage them. In kettles, limescale acts as an insulator, impairing heat transfer. Additionally, it can damage the heating element, which overheats due to accruing limescale. Limescale can build up inside tubing, thus reducing water flow and necessitating higher electrical consumption for the circulation pumps, and eventually blocking the tubing. Expresso machine manufacturers recommend to descale the machine (depending on the water hardness) every month or trimester in order to avoid bitter taste development, machine malfunction and slowing down.
Other types of deposits formed by insoluble salts are beerstone and milkstone. Calcium oxalate forms a major component of beerstone, a brownish precipitate that tends to accumulate within vats, barrels and other containers used in the brewing of beer. Beerstone is composed of calcium and magnesium salts and various organic compounds left over from the brewing process; it promotes the growth of unwanted microorganisms that can adversely affect or even ruin the flavor of a batch of beer. Calcium oxalate is also formed during carbonation of raw sugar beet juice before it undergoes crystallization. First, the juice is mixed with hot milk of lime (a suspension of calcium hydroxide in water). This treatment precipitates a number of impurities, including multivalent anions such as sulfate, phosphate, citrate and oxalate, which precipitate as their calcium salts and large organic molecules such as proteins, saponins and pectins, which aggregate in the presence of multivalent cations.
Milkstone is a layer of scale mainly formed by cations like calcium and magnesium originating from both milk and hard water. Besides giving the equipment an unclean appearance, milkstone could harbour and protect micro organisms always present in raw milk and ready to multiply at a high rate. Since milk products are some of the most perishable major foods, cleaning and sanitization in that industry generally require the highest standards. The main part of milk residu is easily removed by rinsing with water. However, the last part comprising the milkstone is often harder to get rid of.
Several methods and products have been developed in order to remove some or all of these different types of deposits by insoluble salts, such as limescale.
Generally, different types of descaling agents are used to remove deposits by insoluble salts. Descaling agents are either acids or complexing agents or both in one (e.g. carboxylic acids). They remove insoluble deposits such as limescale by respectively dissolving the limescale and or complexing its cationic constituents. Acids used as descaling agents can be either mineral acids or organic acids. Below in table 1, the properties of some organic and mineral acids that are used or can be potentially useful for descaling are shown.
TABLE 1Properties of some organic and mineral acids used or potentially useful for descaling.SolubilitySolubilityTrivial namewatercalcium saltphysicalof acid20° C.g/100 mlformSourcingdescalingpKasmellCompatibilitylabeloxalic 14% 0.0007powderPetro1.3/4.3++C, Xnmaleic>40%2.9powderPetro1.9/6.3+−Xi/Xnmalonic>90%No datapowderPetro2.9/5.7+−Xntartaric+−60% 0.04powderFerm 3/4.3++Xifumaric 64%1.4,2%bpowderPetro 3/4.4++Xicitric 60%5%(1.Ca)powderFerm−3.1/4.8/6.4++++Xi0.09%(2-3.Ca)malic>80% 0.8%bpowderPetro+3.4/5.1+−−−Xnformic100%17 liquidPetro++3.8−−−−C, Xnglycolic100% 1.2%powderPetro−−3.9+−−−C, Xnitaconic 9.5%No datapowderFerm3.9/5.1++Xilactic100%7%,3.1%bliquidFerm+3.8++++Xigluconic>50%3,3%bpowderFerm3.9−−Xnsuccinic 7.7% 0.004%bpowderpetro/ferm4.2/5.6++C, Xnglutaric 50%SolublepowderPetro4.3/5.4++XiAcetic100%33.8 liquidpetro/ferm+4.8−−−−C, XnLactideaInsol.aaPowderFerm/++++Xiphosphoric100% 0.03liquidMin++ 2.2/6.8/12.4+−C, Xnsulfamic 29%No datapowderMin++0.1+−+−C, Xn, Nhydrochloric>40%75 liquidMin−9.3 −−C, T, Nsulfuric100%0.3liquidMin−3 +−C, TbLactide is a dimeric ester rather than an acid but readily hydrolyses to lactic acid. Data obtained from presentations by Purac and complemented with various literature data. Properties listed include the solubility in water (pH 7, 20° C.), the solubility of the calcium salt (mono, di, tri-salts,bas % anhydrous at 25° C.), their physical form, descaling effectiveness (Purac data), pKa value(s), smell, overall material compatibility (Purac data) and labeling according to EU legislation.
Table 1 documents among other characteristics the water solubility of di- and tri-salts of polybasic carboxylic acids which tends to be (very) limited as compared to that of monocarboxylic acids, with maleic and glutaric acids as an exception to this apparent rule. No literature data were found regarding the calcium salt of itaconic acid. Whereas the monocalcium salt of citric acid is water soluble (5%), the disalt and trisalts are only sparingly or practically insoluble (0.09 g/l).
The majority of acids commercially used for descaling are mineral acids such as phosphoric, sulfamic, hydrochloric and sulfuric acid (cf table 1). These are however classified as corrosive to the skin and the eyes and as environmentally hazardous or in case of phosphoric acid represent a substantial eutrophication potential. Moreover they tend to be either fuming or cause a pungent smell and their overall material compatibility is limited.
Organic acids have one, two or three carboxyl groups (note the pKa values in table 1) and are usually less aggressive which is why acetic, citric and formic and more recently glycolic and lactic acid found their way to the market.
Organic acids can be sourced from fermentation or from petrochemical synthesis. Citric and lactic acid for example are obtained by fermentation from renewable feedstock (typically molasses). The fact that many of these organic acids suitable for descaling action are renewable is increasingly considered an environmental advantage as illustrated in life cycle analyses. However, some of these organic acids still show disadvantages.
For example, the iron and calcium salts of citric acid are said to be less soluble than those of glycolic acid, so they may precipitate onto the treated surfaces, diminishing cleaning effectiveness of citric acid.
Acetic and formic acid have a pungent smell that is hard to cover with fragrance, which is a serious disadvantage.
Acetic acid, which may be sourced from fermentation or from petrochemical synthesis, is renowned for its corrosivity to copper which leads to the formation of toxic copper acetate (a fungicide) thus rendering acetic and vinegar unsuited for descaling coffee and expresso machines which often have a copper mounting tube for hot water or steam. Acetic acids will thus also be unsuited for all other surfaces comprising cupper.
Furthermore, the descaling activity of many organic acids is quite weak. Many organic acids either show efficiency in fast descaling or in descaling upon prolonged contact, but not both. Moreover a limited number of organic acids is available as a solid. These are huge disadvantages as they put a restriction onto the development of descaling agents that offer an overall better efficiency.
There is a need for a descaling agent which is renewable, and which shows a better efficiency than the existing products.
One specific application of descaling agents is their use in toilet blocks, since toilets often suffer from severe insoluble salt deposits. Traditionally toilet blocks in the past where designed to mask odors and have a slight cleaning effect in the toilet. The two main types manufactured and marketed up until the late 1980's were the so called rim and the in-cistern blocks, applied in the toilet bowl and the water cistern respectively. During the 1990's several new developments have been marketed, with the liquid rim containers coming on the market which has greatly increased the flexibility and number of ingredients available to formulate with, and the solid block formulations have also been expanded with products that have special properties (i.e. lime scale inhibition, bleaching, cleaning efficiency, etc.).
There are different challenges to the formulation and manufacture of toilet and cistern blocks as these are dependent on most of the ingredients being supplied as practically water free chemicals, otherwise they might have a negative influence on the chemical properties of the block as well as the stability and compatibility with other ingredients included. The main manufacturing process for such blocks is by extrusion of a pre-made dry mixture of all the ingredients. A crucial property for the manufacture of solid blocks however has been the extrusion properties of the anionic surfactants and in particular dry LAS (Linear Alkyl Benzene sulfonate). The sodium salt of LAS in dry form is available as a very hygroscopic powder, which means that precaution has to be taken in terms of handling and storage, but it is also this product characteristic that makes it an excellent main ingredient in formulating solid extrude toilet blocks. The hygroscopic nature of LAS ensures that once the final product is exposed to water in the toilet bowl or in the cistern it will create an outer layer or membrane that slows down the overall solubility of the block thereby imparting a controlled release of all the active ingredients in the block (source: Toilet block introductory Leaflet by Unger, 2008). Formulating rim and in-cistern blocks among others implies selecting solubility retarding or “matrix” ingredients with a melting point at or just above the extrusion temperature, which upon cooling will form a homogenous solid block that will gradually and evenly set free its actives over time, typically during several weeks for 50 to several hundreds of flushes, more typically up to 500-800 flushes. Such formulas contain 25-50% LAS (typically 40%), 0-8% fatty alcohol sulfate (mainly C12-14, some C16 in cistern blocks) or 0-5% highly ethoxylated fatty alcohol (e.g. C16-18 with up to 50 mol ethylene oxide), 0-3.5% Coconut monoethanolamide, 1% foam enhancing fatty alcohol ether sulfate, 0.05% paraffin oil, 5-6% fragrance and dyes and sodium sulfate as a filler. Low amounts of acids (e.g. 2% lactic acid or 10-20% citric acid anhydrate) have been incorporated as well as polymers. US2007191245A1 for example describes the use in toilet blocks of polysuccinimide for preventing or dispersing urine scale.
Effervescent toilet descaling tablets form an alternative approach for descaling, targeting fast tablet disintegration (as opposed to toilet blocks) but long contact times (e.g. overnight). They are produced by tabletting and always contain an acid (usually sulfamic or citric acid) for dissolution of the immersed limescale and a carbonate source for the effervescent system (sodium carbonate, bicarbonate, percarbonate, . . . ). Formulating such tablets is all about finding the balance between fast dissolution on one hand and tablet strength and stability on the other. Low moisture content is of paramount importance, especially when the formula contains percarbonate bleach. A typical formula contains 1-2% lauryl sulfoacetate or FAS, 1% FAEO C16-18 8EO, 40-50% citric or sulfamic acid, 20-30% sodium carbonate, some polyethylene glycols, fragrance, dye, and sulfate as a filler. Some formulations additionally contain about 2% percarbonate bleach.
Products dedicated to periodical cleaning and descaling of automatic dishwashing machines usually are based on citric acid and a small amounts of FAEO (e.g. C9-11, 4EO), and additionally may contain some corrosion inhibitor, solvents, PEG, phosphonates, fragrance and dye.
There is a need for a renewable low moisture and stabile descaling agent that can be used in descaling block or tablet formulations and has a better efficiency than the existing descaling agents used in toilet blocks and tabs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new descaling agent which is made of renewable material and which shows a better overall efficiency than the descaling agents known from the prior art.
It is also an object of the present invention to find a toilet block comprising a descaling agent, which is made of renewable material, is low moisture and stabile with a better efficiency than the existing descaling agents used in toilet blocks. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a capacitive accelerometer, and more particularly, to an ultra-small capacitive accelerometer capable of detecting variation in capacitance between a reference electrode and a detection electrode by varying an area overlapping therebetween through a circuit to measure acceleration.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Ultra-small accelerometers are widely used in various fields such as automobile industries, defense industries, robot systems, safety diagnosis, and so on, due to their compact structure, low price, high performance, etc. Among these accelerometers, a capacitive accelerometer is a sensor for detecting variation in capacitance between a reference electrode and a detection electrode by acceleration generated by a force applied from the exterior to determine acceleration of a moving object.
The capacitance is determined by the following Formula 1. As a distance d between the electrodes becomes smaller and an overlapping area increases, the capacitance also increases.
C = ɛ A d [ Formula 1 ]
In addition, since variation in capacitance increases as variation in overlapping area increases, it is possible to manufacture a sensitive accelerometer. Therefore, when an ultra-small capacitive accelerometer is manufactured, it is important to increase variation in overlapping area.
FIG. 1A shows a conventional z-axis capacitive accelerometer having a cantilever beam connected to a support via a torsion part.
The accelerometer includes a substrate 100, detection masses 130 disposed at predetermined intervals and fixed to the substrate 100 by a support 110, and a torsion part 120 connecting the detection masses 130 to the support 110 and twisted by z-axial acceleration. Comb-shaped detection electrodes 140 are formed at ends of the masses, and reference electrodes 150 (150) overlapping the electrodes 140 are fixed to the substrate 100.
When an acceleration movement is performed by an external force in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 100, the detection mass 130 moves in a direction opposite to the acceleration direction as a support spring 120 is twisted, and thus, an area in which the detection electrodes 140 overlap the reference electrodes 150 varies. Therefore, capacitance between the electrodes varies so that the magnitude of acceleration can be detected therethrough. However, since the accelerometer moves only the detection mass with respect to the acceleration, variation in detection area is relatively small, and the accelerometer may be readily affected by the acceleration of the other axis.
FIG. 1B illustrates an example of a z-axis capacitive accelerometer of a seesaw structure having a detection mass disposed in a symmetrical manner with respect to a bending beam.
In FIG. 1B, a detection mass 160 is spaced apart from the substrate 100 by a bending beam 180 connected to a support 170 fixed to the substrate 100, and the mass is disposed in an asymmetrical manner with respect to the bending beam 180. A detection electrode is formed at both ends of the detection mass 160, and a reference electrode overlapping the detection electrode is fixed to the substrate 100.
In the accelerometer, when vertical acceleration is applied to the substrate, a heavy part 170 of the mass is raised or lowered due to the asymmetrical mass, and a light part 180 is moved in an opposite direction, representing a seesaw behavior. Here, the area in which the detection electrode overlaps the reference electrode varies so that variation in capacitance can be detected therefrom to detect acceleration. However, in this structure, similarly, the area varies by a displacement in which the asymmetric mass moves vertically. In addition, when a large mass is provided to increase sensitivity, affection of the acceleration of the other axis may be increased. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
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