Abstract: The invention is a process for decreasing the acidity of an organic acid containing petroleum oil, comprising contacting said petroleum oil containing organic acids with an effective amount of an alcohol and an effective trace amount of a base selected from Group IA and IIA metal carbonates, hydroxides, phosphates, biphosphates and mixtures of a hydroxide and phosphate and/or biphosphates at a temperature and under conditions sufficient to form the corresponding ester of said alcohol.

Abstract: With power-on detection circuits provided for a plurality of power supply voltages, a main power-on detection signal is maintained at the active state to reset an internal node while at least one of the power-on detection signals is active. In a multi-power semiconductor integrated circuit device, current consumption at the time of power-up is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention enables the accurate management of the total number of spotting counts for each spotting pin. An IC chip is installed on the spotting pin to allow the IC chip to accumulate spotting-count information, and during each spotting time the information is loaded up and displayed.

Abstract: A defect inspecting device for a wafer is built in a positioning device for positioning a wafer 1, as a substrate to be processed, in a semiconductor manufacturing process. Light is irradiated on the wafer held on a vacuum holding base 2 while rotating the wafer at least one rotation from a position where the wafer is positioned and the scattered light is received. An operation unit 14 and a control unit 15 judge that if the intensity of the scattered light exceeds a predetermined threshold, a defect is detected on the wafer 1.

Abstract: An aircraft structural panel (10) of the skin-stiffener type such as is commonly used in aircraft construction, has a skin (15) supported by uniformly spaced stiffeners or frames (39). Stiffeners (39) are secured to skin (15) and extend outwardly from the associated skin (15). Each stiffener (39) has a horizontal body (38), an inner mounting flange (41), and an outer bowed flange (42). Mounting flange (41) and bowed flange (42) have free edges and respective inturned beads or curls (44, 46) are formed thereon for stiffening of flanges (41) and (42).

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-cyanide displacement gold plating solution with which even an electroless nickel-boron plated or electrolytic nickel plated substrate can be subjected to displacement gold plating with good adhesion properties and high solderability. The displacement gold plating solution in accordance with the present invention contains 0.01 to 1.0 g/L (expressed in terms of gold concentration) of sodium gold sulfite or ethylene diamine complex of sodium gold sulfite, 10 to 100 g/L of sulfite, 5 to 50 g/L of organic carboxylic acid or salt thereof, and 5 to 50 g/L of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or salt thereof, and has a pH value in the weak acid range of 4.5 to 6.

Abstract: A multichip wafer-level package includes a first chip, a second chip, a bump ring and a plurality of bumps. The first chip has a semiconductor device, a first bonding ring surrounding the semiconductor device, a plurality of internal bonding pads disposed within the first bonding ring and electrically connected to the semiconductor device, and a plurality of external bonding pads disposed outside the first bonding ring and electrically connected to the semiconductor device for electrically connecting to an external circuit. The second chip has an electronic device, a plurality of bonding pads electrically connected to the electronic device and corresponding to the internal bonding pads of the first chip, and a second bonding ring corresponding to the first bonding ring of the first chip.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chemical decontamination liquid decomposing system having a catalyst tower which has a mesh filter capable of certainly preventing catalyst from flowing out and a mechanism of pushing-down the catalyst capable of preventing convection of the catalyst caused by decomposition gas. The catalyst tower in accordance with the present invention used for decomposing a chemical decontamination liquid comprises an inlet pipe, a catalyst for decomposing the chemical decontamination liquid, an outlet mesh filter for preventing the catalyst from flowing out, an outlet pipe, a catalyst charging port for charging the catalyst, a catalyst pushing-down mechanism for preventing occurrence of convection of the catalyst caused by a decomposed gas and so on. The outlet mesh filter is arranged so as to closely attached to the inner surface of the catalyst tower and to the inner surface of the catalyst charging port.

Abstract: A stack type flip-chip package that utilizes a redistribution circuit on the back of a chip to serve as a bridge for connecting with other chips. The package includes at least a substrate, a first chip, a second chip, some underfill material and some packaging material. The substrate has a plurality of bump contacts and a plurality of line contacts thereon. The first chip has an active surface with a plurality of first bonding pads thereon. The back surface of the first chip has a redistribution circuit. The redistribution circuit has a plurality of bump pads and a plurality of line pads thereon. The second chip has an active surface with a plurality of second bonding pads thereon. Bumps are positioned between the bump contacts and the first bonding pads and between the bump pads and the second bonding pads. Conductive wires connect the line contacts and the line pads. The underfill material fills the space between the chip and the substrate and the gap between the first and the second chips.

Abstract: A plasma process chamber is monitored for excess current while fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes grounding the plasma process chamber in which fabricating a semiconductor device is conducted using a plasma; detecting a current flowing in a ground line from the plasma process chamber to the ground; interpreting whether the detected current is more than a reference value during fabricating the semiconductor device; and deciding that the plasma process chamber is in an abnormal state when the detected current is more than the reference value. It is thereby possible to produce more stable plasma and the operation of the plasma process chamber is stabilized. Further, the expected life span of the plasma process chamber and other devices is enlarged, and the risk of injuring the operator is prevented.

Abstract: A modular front loadable low loader trailer 20 for transporting large vehicles is disclosed. The trailer 20 includes: a rear axle module 110 for supporting ground engaging wheels; a rear cross-member module 100 removably connected to the rear axle module 110; a front cross-member module 26; and a pair of deck modules 80 and 90, each removably connected between the front and rear cross-member modules 26 and 100. Each of the modules are separable for transport. Pin joints are provided between adjacent modules. The pin joints include interleaved plates held together by removable transverse pins 81. In an alternative embodiment, the rear cross member 100 is permanently connected to the axle module.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer includes a plurality of areas and an array of dice disposed within each of the areas. The feature of the present invention is that at least two fiducial marks are disposed in each of the areas. The present invention further provides a method of testing a sawed semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for treating the upper and lower beaks of poultry by non-contact heating of the upper and lower beaks of the bird are disclosed. The upper and lower beak treatment may include delivery of energy to the upper and lower beak in amounts sufficient to retard the growth and/or result in erosion of portions of both the upper beak and the lower beak. The energy incident on the lower beak may be reflected from a lower beak energy director (e.g., a reflector) or it may be provided a separate energy source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wood board for use as flooring panels and a method of making the wood board. The wood board has the strength and outer surface finish of hardwood boards, increased flexibility, and a lower cost than hardwood boards. The wood board of the present invention comprises a core layer having plural veneer layers oriented such that longitudinal grain structures of adjacent layers are perpendicular with respect to each other, and each veneer having longitudinal pierced slots placed therein oriented in parallel with their respective longitudinal grain structures; and a longitudinally sliced face layer placed upon the inner core layer. This wood board and flooring panel of the present invention have high strength, high flexibility and superior surface smoothness. Further, the present invention provides lower manufacturing costs and thus lower costs for the consumer.

Abstract: In a signal detection circuit for an optical disk, a comparator converts an analog HF signal into a digital HF signal by using a slice level. A dropout detection circuit detects a dropout of the digital HF signal. A charge-pump circuit feeds back a slice-level control voltage to the comparator based on a result of the detection by the dropout detection circuit. A voltage follower holds and outputs a voltage stored in the capacitor. A switch is turned OFF when a dropout signal has been detected, and outputs to the voltage follower the voltage that has been stored in the capacitor during an ON state of the switch. A second switch is turned ON when a dropout signal has been detected, and applies an output of the voltage follower to the comparator.

Abstract: A method for making a hydrophilic and lubricious coating, the coating so made and a medical device including such coating, wherein the coating includes a hydrophilic polymeric unit layer cross-linked with a plasma deposited double bond monomer. The hydrophilic polymeric unit can include ethylene oxide with one or more primary or secondary alcohol groups or glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronic acid, and the double bond monomer includes monomers containing at least one double bond, preferably a C═C, C═N or C═O bond, including N-trimethylsilyl-allylamine, ethylene, propylene and allyl alcohol. The invention also provides products containing such coatings and their uses in medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a catalyst useful for conducting carbon monoxide hydrogenation reactions, particularly Fischer-Tropsch reactions; the catalyst compositions, use of the catalyst compositions for conducting such reactions, and the products of these reactions. The steps of the process for producing the catalyst comprise impregnating a powder, or particulate refractory inorganic oxide solids, preferably silica, with a) a soluble compound or salt of a catalytic metal of the Iron Group, preferably cobalt, and b) a soluble compound, or salt, of a Group VIII noble metal, preferably platinum, suitably by sequential contact of the solids with a solution of (a) and a solution of (b), by sequential contact of the solids with a solution of (b) and a solution of (a), or by contact with a solution which contains both (a) and (b).

Abstract: An audio sound quality enhancer which provides a transparent sound quality, using solid-state devices, which has previously been available only in vacuum tube audio systems. The invention comprises at least one solid-state component in the audio signal path of an audio circuit, and at least one heat source configured to heat the solid-state components. The invention increases the sound quality of solid-state audio systems by increasing the temperature of the semiconductor components involved in sound production. By intentionally heating the semiconductor components of an audio system above standard operating temperatures, the invention delivers sound quality levels normally only associated with vacuum tube sound systems.

Abstract: A knee joint prosthesis includes femoral and tibial components, a bearing and a control arm. The bearing includes an inferior surface in sliding bearing engagement with the tibial component and a superior surface in articular bearing engagement with the femoral component. A notch extends into the posterior end of the bearing and a groove extends anteriorly from the notch in the inferior surface of the bearing. The posterior portions of the femoral component define a cam box having medial and lateral walls and a cam extending therebetween. The control arm is slidably engaged in the groove of the bearing and pivotally engage on the tibial component. The control arm further includes a post that extends into the cam box. The post includes a cam surface that engages the femoral cam to generate roll back of the femoral component on the bearing during flexion. Roll back substantially avoids climb of the femoral component on the bearing during flexion and hence reduces shearing forces on the post.

Abstract: Phosphate ester based functional fluids containing novel anti-erosion additives provides enhanced results in erosion control.