1. An in-vehicle handsfree telephone system comprising:
an in-vehicle handsfree device which is capable of transferring a voice signal to a portable terminal in a passenger compartment of a vehicle;
an operating state detection unit which detects an operating state of the vehicle,
wherein the handsfree device is responsive to a user operation and selectively operable in one of a handsfree mode in which talking on the portable terminal through the handsfree device is allowed by the transfer of the voice signal and a portable terminal stand-alone mode in which talking on the portable terminal in isolation is allowed, and
wherein the handsfree device is configured to have a switching restriction function in which the handsfree device restricts switching between the handsfree mode and the portable terminal stand-alone mode in accordance with the operating state of the vehicle detected by the operating state detection unit.
2. The in-vehicle handsfree telephone system according to claim 1 wherein the switching restriction function of the handsfree device is provided to restrict switching from the handsfree mode to the portable terminal stand-alone mode.
3. The in-vehicle handsfree telephone system according to claim 1 wherein the switching restriction function of the handsfree device is validated when the detected operating state indicates that the vehicle is running.
4. The in-vehicle handsfree telephone system according to claim 1 wherein the switching restriction function of the handsfree device is canceled when the detected operating state of the vehicle indicates that the vehicle stops.
5. The in-vehicle handsfree telephone system according to claim 1 wherein the handsfree device comprises a display indication unit which displays a validatedcanceled state of the switching restriction function which is visually recognized by the user.
6. The in-vehicle handsfree telephone system according to claim 5 wherein mode switching of the handsfree device is performed according to a user’s touch operation on a mode selecting switch displayed on the display indication unit, and the displaying of the mode selecting switch is cancelled when the handsfree device is in the handsfree mode and the switching restriction function is validated.
7. The in-vehicle handsfree telephone system according to claim 6 wherein the handsfree device comprises an output unit which outputs, when the switching restriction function is validated or canceled, an indication of validationcancellation of the switching restriction function which is recognizable to the user.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process for separating less volatile hydrocarbons from more volatile hydrocarbons comprising the steps of:
a. providing a pressurized feedstock stream comprising hydrocarbons C1, C2, C3+;
b. cooling the feed stream in an LNG heat exchanger;
c. further cooling the feed stream from the heat exchanger via a first gas expansion assembly;
d. separating the further cooled stream in a first gasliquid separation vessel assembly into gas and liquid streams;
e. pumping the liquid stream (0-100%) from the first separation vessel assembly into the heat exchanger to impart a cooling effect on the feed stream in the heat exchanger;
f. recycling the gas stream from the first separation assembly into the heat exchanger to impart a cooling effect on the feed stream in the heat exchanger;
g. directing the recycled gas stream from the heat exchanger to a first compressor cooler assembly, and then compressing and cooling such gas for use at a desired location;
h. directing the recycled liquid stream from the heat exchanger to a second separation assembly wherein gas and liquid are separated;
i. directing the gas stream from the second separation assembly to a second compressor cooler assembly and compressing such gas stream;
j. cooling the gas stream from the second compressor cooler assembly via a second gas expansion assembly;
k. directing the cooled stream from the second gas expansion assembly to a third separation vessel assembly;
l. recycling the gas stream (0-100%) from the third separation vessel assembly to the first separation vessel assembly;
m. recycling the gas stream (0-100%) from the third separation vessel assembly to a first stream mixer splitter assembly;
n. recycling the liquid stream (0-100%) from the third separation vessel assembly to the first separation vessel assembly;
o. recycling the liquid stream (0-100%) from the third separation vessel assembly to the first stream mixer splitter assembly;
p. recycling the liquid stream (0-100%) from the third separation vessel assembly to the second separation vessel assembly;
q. pumping the liquid stream from the second separation vessel assembly to the first stream mixer splitter assembly;
r. directing the stream (0-100%) from the first stream mixer splitter assembly to a mixing blender or other desired end location;
s. directing the stream (0-100%) from the first stream mixer splitter assembly to a second stream mixer splitter assembly;
t. directing the stream (0-100%) from the second stream mixer splitter assembly to the mixing blender or other desired location;
u. pumping the liquid stream (0-100%) from the first separation vessel assembly into a third stream splitter;
v. directing the liquid stream (0-100%) from the third stream splitter to the first separation vessel assembly;
w. directing the liquid stream (0-100%) from the third stream splitter to a fourth stream splitter;
x. directing the liquid stream (0-100%) from the third stream splitter to a desired location;
y. directing the liquid stream (0-100%) from the fourth stream splitter to the third separation vessel assembly;
z. directing the liquid stream (0-100%) from the fourth stream splitter to the second separation vessel assembly; and
aa. directing the liquid products from the mixing blender to a desired location.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises a hydrocarbon-containing gas.
3. The process of claim 2 wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises natural gas.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the feed stream is pre-cooled in a pre-cooling assembly prior to the step of cooling in the heat exchanger.
5. The process of claim 4 comprising the further steps of first directing the stream (0-100%) from the first stream mixer splitter assembly to the pre-cooling assembly to provide a cooling duty to the pre-cooling assembly and then directing this stream to the second stream mixer splitter assembly.
6. The process of claim 4 wherein the pre-cooling assembly obtains its cooling duty from an external refrigeration source.
7. The process of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger may comprise one or more heat exchangers operating together.
8. The process of claim 1 wherein the steps of expansion are accomplished using expansion devices selected from the group consisting of: valves, turbo expanders, vortex devices, and sonic devices.
9. The process of claim 1 comprising the further steps of: (i) directing the stream (0-100%) from the second stream mixer splitter assembly to one or more process columns;
(ii) processing this stream in the one or more process columns; (iii) directing the processed product liquid stream from the one or more process columns to the mixing blender or other desired end location; and (iii) directing any residue streams from the one or more process columns to a desired location.
10. The process of claim 1 comprising the further steps of: (i) introducing a source of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons into the mixing blender; and (ii) blending the crude oil with the liquid products from the process that are present in the mixing blender.
11. The process of claim 1 wherein the feedstock is pressurized to between about 300 psig to 1200 psig.
12. The process of claim 1 wherein the feedstock is pressurized to about 500 psig.
13. The process of claim 1 wherein the first gas expansion assembly comprises a first turbo expander, the process comprising the additional steps of: after the step of separating the further cooled stream in a first gasliquid separation vessel assembly into gas and liquid streams, directing the gas stream into a second turbo expander, and then separating the stream from the second turbo expander into a gas stream and an additional liquid stream, the additional liquid stream being directed as per the liquid stream from the first separation vessel assembly.