The cellulose nanofiber production method of the present invention comprises an oxidation treatment step for oxidizing native cellulose in a neutral or acidic reaction solution containing an N-oxyl compound and an oxidizing agent that oxidizes aldehyde groups, and a dispersion step for dispersing the native cellulose in a medium following the oxidation treatment step. According to the production method of the present invention, a cellulose nanofiber is provided that has long fibers and demonstrates high strength.

An object of the invention is to provide cellulose fibers which can give a cellulose composite that renders high transparency, a reduction in linear expansion coefficient, and a high modulus of elasticity possible. The invention relates to: a process for producing modified cellulose fibers which includes a modification reaction step of reacting cellulose with an aromatic compound in an organic acid to thereby modify the cellulose with an aromatic-ring-containing substituent; cellulose fibers modified with aromatic-ring-containing substituent; a dispersion of the cellulose fibers; and a cellulose fiber composite obtained from the same.

A washing machine and a control method thereof to achieve washing performance using bubbles without damage to fiber structures of functional clothes. When a washing course of functional clothes is selected, a motor is frequently rotated at a period of a predetermined time or less, causing the clothes to uniformly adsorb the water. Thereafter, bubbles are generated and applied to the clothes. A drive operation rate of the motor is raised stepwise to wash the clothes to which the bubbles have been applied, so as to effectively remove sweat, contaminants, or the like contained in the clothes.

Provided is a method for washing laundry in a washing machine, wherein the washing machine includes a tub and a drum disposed inside the tub, the method comprising: supplying wash water into the tub; rotating the drum such that the laundry is attached the drum and spraying the wash water changed to whirling water into the drum; and draining the wash water from the tub.

Disclosed is a drum type washing machine having a touch up function and a method for touching up thereof. The drum type washing machine having the touch up function is provided with a touch up button for removing wrinkles on laundry left in the drum type washing machine and a method for touching up. Accordingly, it is not required for a user to additionally execute rinsing and dehydrating processes, or ironing so as to remove wrinkles on the laundry, thus it is convenient. And, since it is not required to additionally execute the rinsing and dehydrating processes, it is capable of preventing unwanted consumption of water and electricity.

The present disclosure therefore relates to a method for lightening keratin materials, in which the following are used: (a) a direct emulsion (A) comprising at least one fatty substance in an amount greater than 25% by weight, such as greater than 50%, at least one surfactant; at least one alkaline agent and an amount of water greater than 5% by weight, of the total weight of the emulsion, (b) a composition (B) comprising at least one oxidizing agent. It also relates to a multi-compartment device comprising, in one compartment, an emulsion (A), in another compartment a composition (B) comprising at least one oxidizing agent.

A photoresist composition includes a binder resin combined with a black dye, a monomer, a photo-polymerization initiator and a remainder of a solvent.

Novel compounds based on distyryl-biphenyl are provided. The compounds conform to the general structure The compounds are useful as optical brighteners. Compositions, such as laundry care compositions, containing such compounds are also provided.

As associative thickener obtainable by free radical polymerization, the preparation thereof and the use thereof in paper coating slips are described. The associative thickener is formed from (a) acid monomers selected from ethylenically unsaturated C3- to C8-carboxylic acids, (b) associative monomers of the general formula H2C═CR1—COO-(EO)n—(PO)m—R2, in which R1 is hydrogen or methyl, n is a number of at least two, m is a number from zero to 50, EO is an ethylene oxide group, PO is a propylene oxide group and R2 is a C8-C30-alkyl group or a C8-C30-alkaryl group, and (c) nonionic, copolymerizable monomers differing from a) and b), the reaction product having been reacted, after the polymerization, with initiators forming nonionic radicals.

The present invention provides dye mixtures containing at least one dye of formula (I) and at least one dye of formula (II) where T1, T2, R1 to R9 and n are each as defined in claim 1, processes for their preparation and their use.

A bluing composition concentrate comprises an aqueous medium and at least one colorant that exhibits a blue or violet shade when deposited onto a textile material. The concentrate can be used to produce a bluing composition, and the bluing composition can be used to treat textile materials in such a way as to decrease the visually-perceived yellow coloration of textile articles that can occur with repeated use and laundering.

The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition for dyeing keratin fibers, in particular human keratin fibers such as the hair, comprising: a) one or more fatty substances; b) one or more surfactants; c) one or more oxidation bases; d) one or more couplers based on 2-hydroxynaphthalene derivatives or particular phenol derivatives, acylaminophenol derivatives or quinoline derivatives; f) one or more basifying agents; e) optionally one or more chemical oxidizing agents; and the fatty substance content representing in total at least 25% by weight relative to the total weight of the formulation. The present invention also relates to a process using this composition, and to a multi-compartment device that is suitable for performing the said process.

Concentrated cleaning formulations for removing debris from hard surfaces and textile surfaces. An exemplary formulation includes a mixture of the following chemical components, in specified proportions: glycerin;monopropylene glycol;triethylene glycol methyl ether;a non-ionic surfactant;an emulsifier;soya methyl ester or canola methyl ester, or both; andhydroxypropyl sulfonate; The formulation is free of water other than insignificant amounts present in the chemical components combined to make the mixture. Combining the formulation with water causes a temperature of the combination to increase above the temperatures of the water and the formulation before combining.

A charge pump circuit includes a capacitor, a first switch between the capacitor and a power supply terminal, a second switch between the capacitor and an output terminal, a third switch between the output terminal and the capacitor, a fourth switch between the capacitor and a ground terminal, and a control unit configured to generate control signals for the switches. The control signals include first signals generated during a first period that cause first and third switches to be in an ON state and second and fourth switches to be in an OFF state, second signals generated during a second period that cause first and third switches to be in an OFF state and second and fourth switches to be in an ON state, and third signals generated between the first and second periods, that cause the ON/OFF state of each of the switches to be switched at different times.

A control switch is connected to a power supply voltage and turns on based on a control signal to output a current. A clamp circuit is connected to a load and performs clamp control of the output voltage of the control switch. A current control element conducts or shuts off a current based on the output voltage to be clamp-controlled. A selector switch group includes switches, and performs switching based on a voltage varying with the current control by the current control element, thereby switching between paths for generating an internal power supply. The switch circuit connects or disconnects the coupling between the clamp circuit and the selector switch group.

An electrical circuit includes: at least one inductor, at least one varactor, and at least two transistors, all of which electrically arranged to form a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having an oscillation frequency; wherein the at least two transistors includes a first transistor and a second transistor; wherein the first transistor has a first bulk terminal and a first parasitic diode disposed between the first bulk terminal and the first transistor; wherein the second transistor has a second bulk terminal and a second parasitic diode disposed between the second bulk terminal and the second transistor; wherein application of a first control voltage to the first bulk terminal, application of a second control voltage to the second bulk terminal, or application of first and second control voltages to the first and second bulk terminals, respectively, is effective to change the oscillation frequency of the VCO.

An active filter device and a circuit arrangement comprising an active filter device are disclosed. In an embodiment the active filter device includes sensor terminals for applying a sensor signal depending on a sensed noise signal, an output terminal for providing a correction signal that is suitable for reducing the noise signal, a signal source adapted for generating a correction signal and a high-pass filter coupled between the sensor terminals and the signal source, wherein the correction signal is generated with a dependence on a high-pass filtered sensor signal.

A semiconductor device includes a first transistor and a clamping circuit. The first transistor is arranged to generate an output signal according to a control signal. The clamping circuit is arranged to generate the control signal according to an input signal, and to clamp the control signal to a predetermined signal level when the input signal exceeds the predetermined signal level.

A system includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) to generate an output signal based on an input voltage and a multi-stage delay network to receive the output signal from the VCO. Each stage of the delay network produces a phase-shifted output signal. The system includes a multi-stage digital-to-analog converter (DAC) network, where each stage of the DAC network is associated with a corresponding stage of the delay network. Each stage of the DAC network receives the phase-shifted output signal from its corresponding stage of the delay network and generates a weighted output signal based on the received phase-shifted output signal. The DAC network combines the weighted output signal of each stage. A weighting factor for each stage of the DAC network is selected to reduce harmonic content of the combination of weighted output signals.

A track and hold circuit comprises an input buffer amplifier, a unit gain amplifier module, a sampling switch, a drive triode and a sampling capacitor. The input buffer amplifier receives an input signal. In a track phase, the sampling switch is electrically connected to an emitter electrode of the drive triode; the input signal charges the sampling capacitor after being buffered by the input buffer amplifier, amplified without distortion by the unit gain amplifier module and driven by the drive triode. In a hold phase, the sampling switch is electrically connected to a base electrode of the drive triode; the base voltage of the drive triode is pulled down until the drive triode is cut off; electrical charges on the sampling capacitor are thereby held, causing the signal to be held on the sampling capacitor.

A high-voltage electronic switch includes first and second transistors defining a current flow path between an input and output of the switch. The transistors have a common point of the current flow path and a common control terminal. A control circuit includes a voltage line receiving a limit operating voltage and first and second branches coupled between the voltage line and the common point and common control terminal, respectively. Further transistors are activated, upon turning-off of the first and second transistors, for coupling the branches to the voltage line. The branches include a parallel connected resistor, diode, and string of diodes with opposite polarities. The diode of the first branch plus string of diodes of the second branch and diode of the second branch plus string of diodes of the first branch provide coupling paths between the voltage line and, respectively, the common point and common control terminal.

An integrated circuit includes a drive circuit with a first inverter circuit with a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor of a second conductivity type. The drains of the first and second transistors are connected. An output circuit is provided having a third transistor of the second conductivity with a gate connected to the drains of the first and second transistors. A capacitor is connected between the gate and a drain of the third transistor and has a capacitance greater than 0.5 pF and less than or equal to 3.0 pF. A gate width of the first transistor when divided by a gate width of the third transistor has a value of less than 1/100. The output circuit is configured to output a transmission signal from the drain of the third transistor.

A signal transfer circuit may include a pass gate coupled between first and second nodes; and a control unit suitable for controlling the pass gate to prevent a current flowing from the second node to the first node during turn-on of the pass gate.

A sampling circuit for sampling an input voltage and generating an output voltage, comprising six switches, a capacitor and a voltage buffer. The first switch has a control terminal and makes the output voltage equal to the input voltage when switching on. The second switch is coupled to a first terminal of the capacitor and a first level. The third switch is coupled to a second terminal of the capacitor and a second level. The fourth switch is coupled to the first terminal of the capacitor and the control terminal. The fifth switch is coupled to the control terminal and the second level. The voltage buffer has large input impedance, and has an input receiving the input voltage, an output providing a voltage equal or close to the input voltage. The sixth switch is coupled to the second terminal of the capacitor and the output of the voltage buffer.

A duty cycle correction circuit may include: a phase mixing section capable of mixing a first integrated signal generated by integrating a positive clock signal, with a first compensation signal generated by differentiating and integrating the positive clock signal and a negative clock signal, respectively, to generate a first phase-mixed signal, and mixing a second integrated signal generated by integrating the negative clock signal, with a second compensation signal generated by integrating and differentiating the positive clock signal and the negative clock signal, respectively, to generate a second phase-mixed signal; and a noise removal section capable of receiving and removing a common mode noise between the first phase-mixed signal and the second phase-mixed signal by adjusting a cross-point therebetween, and outputting first and second duty-corrected clock signals.

A clock generation circuit may include a reference clock generator configured to generate a pair of first reference clocks in an offset code generation mode, a correction code generator configured to generate a reference correction code according to a duty detection signal based on a phase difference between the pair of first reference clocks, and an offset code generator configured to generate an offset code based on the reference correction code and a preset reference code.

A phase locked loop (PLL) includes a controllable oscillator, a charge pump, a type II loop filter, a frequency divider, a phase error processing circuit, a phase frequency detector and a phase alignment circuit. The controllable oscillator generates an oscillating signal. The charge pump circuit generates a charge pump output in a calibration mode. The type II loop filter generates a first control signal to the controllable oscillator according to the charge pump output. The frequency divider performs frequency division upon the oscillating signal for generating a feedback signal. The phase error processing circuit outputs an adjusting signal by comparing a reference signal with the feedback signal. The phase frequency detector generates a detection signal by comparing the feedback signal and the reference signal. The phase alignment circuit generates a second control signal in the calibration mode.

The present disclosure is directed to multichannel transducer devices and methods of operation thereof. One example device includes at least two acquisition modules that have different sensitives and a signal processing stage that generates a blended signal representative of a lower gain signal mapped onto a higher gain signal. One example method of operation includes receiving a first signal from a first sensor having a first sensitivity, receiving a second signal from a second sensor having a second sensitivity that is different from the first sensitivity, generating a blended signal by mapping the second signal to the first signal, outputting the first signal while the first signal is below a first threshold and above a second threshold, and outputting the blended signal when the first signal is above the first threshold and when the first signal is below the second threshold.

An apparatus includes an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a power controller, which includes a regulator and a controller. The regulator receives a plurality of input voltages and provides a regulated output voltage. The controller controls the regulator to generate the regulated output voltage from the plurality of input voltages. The power controller provides power to a load integrated in the IC from a set of arbitrary input voltages. The set of arbitrary input voltages includes the plurality of input voltages.

The present invention is directed to an electronic switch device, the device including a housing assembly including a front cover assembly having a user accessible surface, a back body assembly, terminals configured to be coupled to an AC power source and the load; an antenna assembly including an antenna substrate disposed inside the housing assembly adjacent a portion of the front cover assembly, an antenna being disposed on the antenna substrate having a conductive grid structure; and a circuit assembly disposed inside the housing assembly coupled to the terminals, the circuit assembly comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including a ground plane, the circuit assembly being electrically connected to the antenna assembly via a conductor, the printed circuit board being separated from the antenna assembly by a predetermined distance, the circuit assembly including a relay switch having at least one solenoid winding connected to the circuit assembly and a set of contacts.

A power conversion system may include a plurality of power devices and a sensor operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of power devices and configured to detect a voltage, current, or electromagnetic signature signal associated with the plurality of power devices. The power converter may also include circuitry operably coupled to the plurality of power devices and the sensor. The circuitry may send a respective gate signal to each respective power device of the plurality of power devices, such that each respective gate signal is delayed by a respective compensation delay that is determined for the respective power device based on a respective time delay of the respective power device and a maximum time delay of the plurality of power devices.

A circuit suitable for data backup of a logic circuit is provided. The circuit includes first to fourth nodes, a capacitor, first to third transistors, and first and second circuits. Data can be loaded and stored between the circuit and the logic circuit. The first node is electrically connected to a data output terminal of the logic circuit. The second node is electrically connected to a data input terminal of the logic circuit. The capacitor is electrically connected to the third node. The first transistor controls electrical continuity between the first node and the third node. The second transistor controls electrical continuity between the second node and the third node. The third transistor controls electrical continuity between the second node and the fourth node. The first and second circuits have functions of raising gate voltage of the first transistor and raising gate voltage of the second transistor, respectively.

Devices are provided in which a metastable state can be detected in a memory device by means of a metastability detector. Corresponding information can be conveyed to a further device which, in dependence thereon, can process data from the memory device.

To provide a clock selection circuit capable of reducing clock omission generated when switching from a state of being synchronized with a first clock to a second clock. The clock selection circuit is equipped with a clock detection circuit which detects a first clock to output a detected signal, a switch which outputs the first clock when the detected signal is at a first level and outputs a second clock when the detected signal is at a second level different from the first level, and a one-shot circuit which outputs a one-shot pulse in response to switching of the detected signal from the first level to the second level. The output of the switch and the output of the one-shot circuit are added to be outputted as an output clock.

A clock-signal generator circuit, for generating an output clock signal starting from an input clock signal, includes: a monostable stage having a clock input configured to receive the input clock signal, a control input configured to receive a control signal, and an output configured to supply the output clock signal having a duty cycle variable as a function of the control signal; and a feedback loop, operatively coupled to the monostable stage for generating the control signal as a function of a detected value, and of a desired value, of the duty cycle of the output clock signal.

A device (442) for producing a dynamic reference signal (UREF) for a control circuit for a power semiconductor switch comprises a reference signal generator (442) for providing a dynamic reference signal (UREF), which has a stationary signal level after elapse of a predefined time following a switching process of the power semiconductor switch, a passive charging circuit (450) which is configured to increase a signal level of the dynamic reference signal in reaction to a switching of a control signal of the power semiconductor switch from an OFF state to ON state for at least one part of the predefined time above the stationary signal level, in order to produce the dynamic reference signal and an output (A) for tapping the dynamic reference signal (UREF).

In accordance with an embodiment, an adjustable capacitance circuit comprising a first branch comprising plurality of transistors having load paths coupled in series with a first capacitor. A method of operating the adjustable capacitance circuit includes programming a capacitance by selectively turning-on and turning-off ones of the plurality of transistors, wherein the load path of each transistor of the plurality of transistors is resistive when the transistor is on and is capacitive when the transistor is off.

A half-bridge circuit comprises a high supply contact and a low supply contact. A half-bridge output contact is connectable to drive a load and has a high-side between the high supply contact and the half-bridge output contact and a low-side between the half-bridge output contact and the low supply contact. A high-side bidirectional vertical power transistor at the high-side has a source connected to the high supply contact, and a low-side bidirectional vertical power transistor at the low-side, transistor has a source connected to the low supply contact. The high-side bidirectional vertical power transistor and low-side bidirectional vertical power transistor are connected in cascode and share a common drain connected to the half-bridge output contact, and are controllable to alternatingly allow a current flow from the high supply contact to the half-bridge output contact or from the half-bridge output contact to the low supply contact.

Methods and systems include constructing and operating a semiconductor device with a mid-band dopant layer. In various implementations, carriers that are optically excited in a mid-band dopant region may provide injection currents that may reduce transition times and increase achievable operating frequency in a bipolar junction transistor (BJT). In various implementations, carriers that are optically excited in a mid-band dopant region within a thyristor may improve closure transition time, effective current spreading velocity, and maximum rate of current rise.

A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention includes a positive electrode containing olivine-structured Fe or a Mn-containing phosphorus compound as a positive electrode active material; a negative electrode containing a titanium-containing metal oxide capable of inserting and extracting lithium ions as a negative electrode active material; a nonwoven fabric separator, which contains an electrically insulating fiber and is bonded to a surface of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a nonaqueous electrolyte. In a thickness direction of the nonwoven fabric separator, a density of the fiber on a side having contact with the positive electrode is high, and a density of the fiber on a side having contact with the negative electrode is low.

A separator for a rechargeable battery and a rechargeable lithium battery, the separator including a porous substrate; and a heat-resistant porous layer on at least one surface of the porous substrate, wherein the heat-resistant porous layer includes a filler and a copolymer including a structural unit of vinylidenefluoride, a structural unit of hexafluoropropylene, and a structural unit of a carboxyl-containing monomer, the structural unit of hexafluoropropylene is present in an amount of about 4 wt % to about 10 wt %, based on a total weight of the copolymer, and the structural unit of a carboxyl-containing monomer is present in an amount of about 1 wt % to about 7 wt %, based on the total weight of the copolymer.

The object of the present invention is to provide a positive electrode active material usable for a lithium ion battery capable of high charge/discharge cycle performance and high discharge capacity. The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery has a layered structure and comprises at least nickel, cobalt and manganese. Further, the positive electrode active material satisfies requirements (1) to (3) below: (1) a primary particle size of 0.1 μm to 1 μm, and a 50% cumulative particle size D50 of 1 μm to 10 μm, (2) a ratio (D90/D10) of volume-based 90% cumulative particle size D50 to volume-based 10% cumulative particle size D10 of 2 to 6, and (3) a lithium carbonate content in a residual alkali on particle surfaces of 0.1% by mass to 0.8% by mass as measured by neutralization titration.

The positive electrode as an embodiment includes a positive electrode current collector mainly composed of aluminum, a positive electrode mixture layer containing a lithium-containing transition metal oxide and disposed above the positive electrode current collector, and a protective layer disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the positive electrode mixture layer. The protective layer contains inorganic particles, an electro-conductive material, and a binding material; is mainly composed of the inorganic particles; and is disposed on the positive electrode current collector to cover the positive electrode current collector in approximately the entire area where the positive electrode mixture layer is disposed and at least a part of the exposed portion of the positive electrode current collector where the positive electrode mixture layer is not disposed on the surface of the positive electrode current collector.

The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material for a sodium secondary battery, and a method for preparing the same. The positive electrode active material for the sodium secondary battery according to the present invention is structurally more stable by replacing a part of the transition metal with Li, and accordingly, the thermal stability and life characteristics of the sodium battery including the positive electrode active material are greatly improved.

A carbon material for a non-aqueous secondary battery containing a graphite capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions, and having a cumulative pore volume at pore diameters in a range of 0.01 μm to 1 μm of 0.08 mL/g or more, a roundness, as determined by flow-type particle image analysis, of 0.88 or greater, and a pore diameter to particle diameter ratio (PD/d50 (%)) of 1.8 or less, the ratio being given by equation (1A): PD/d50 (%)=mode pore diameter (PD) in a pore diameter range of 0.01 μm to 1 μm in a pore distribution determined by mercury intrusion/volume-based average particle diameter (d50)×100 is provided.

Disclosed are a reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode in which IrO2 is electrodeposited and formed on a porous carbon material and platinum is applied thereon to form a porous platinum layer, a reversible fuel cell including the same, and a method for preparing the same. According to the corresponding reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode, as the loading amounts of IrO2 and platinum used in the reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode can be lowered, it is possible to exhibit excellent reversible fuel cell performances (excellent fuel cell performance and water electrolysis performance) by improving the mass transport of water and oxygen while being capable of reducing the loading amounts of IrO2 and platinum. Further, it is possible to exhibit a good activity of a catalyst when the present disclosure is applied to a reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode and to reduce corrosion of carbon.

Disclosed is an anode for a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) having improved creep property by adding an additive for imparting creep resistance to nickel-aluminum alloy and nickel as materials for an anode. Improved sintering property, creep property and increased mechanical strength of a molten carbonate fuel cell may be obtained accordingly.

A catalyst composition and a use thereof are provided. The catalyst composition includes a support and at least one RuXMY alloy attached to the surface of the support, wherein M is a transition metal and X≧Y. The catalyst composition is used in an alkaline electrochemical energy conversion reaction, and can improve the energy conversion efficiency for an electrochemical energy conversion device and significantly reduce material costs.

In some embodiments, a solid oxide fuel system is provided. The solid oxide fuel cell system may include a chromium-getter material. The chromium-getter material may react with chromium to remove chromium species from chromium vapor. The solid oxide fuel cell system may also include an inert substrate. The chromium-getter material may be coated onto the inert substrate. The coated substrate may remove chromium species from chromium vapor before the chromium species can react with a cathode in the solid oxide fuel cell system.

A solid oxide fuel cell having an electric power generating element unit that is configured by sandwiching a solid electrolyte layer between a fuel electrode layer and an oxygen electrode layer with a pore that is present in the solid electrolyte layer and is covered with a sealing material. In addition, a pore that is present in an interconnector, which is electrically connected to the fuel electrode layer or the oxygen electrode layer, is covered with the sealing material. Consequently, the solid oxide fuel cell is capable of easily preventing gas leakage.