Author: claimsbot

We claim:

1. A double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst which comprises a double metal cyanide compound and a complexing agent of the formula:
R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH(I)
wherein:
x is 1, 2, or 3;
R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group; and
R2 is H or a CH3 group.
2. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein R1 and each R2 are CH3 and x is 3.
3. The catalyst of claim 1, which contains neither cubic, U1 nor U1A crystalline phases.
4. The catalyst of claim 1, which contains cubic, U1 or U1A crystalline phases.
5. The catalyst of claim 2, which exhibits the x-ray diffraction pattern of Example 3.
6. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein the DMC compound is zinc hexacyanocobaltate and the metal salt is a zinc halide.
7. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein the double metal cyanide compound is the reaction product of a metal salt and a metal cyanide which contains greater than about 0.2 moles of the metal salt per mole of metal cyanide.
8. The catalyst of claim 2, wherein the catalyst is monoclinic.
9. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein R1 is CH3, each R2 is H, and x is 3.
10. The catalyst of claim 9, wherein the catalyst contains neither cubic, U1 nor U1A crystalline phases.
11. The catalyst of claim 9, wherein the catalyst contains cubic, U1 or U1A crystalline phases.
12. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein R1 is CH3, R2 is CH3 and x is 1.
13. The catalyst of claim 12, wherein the catalyst contains neither cubic, U1 nor U1A crystalline phases.
14. The catalyst of claim 12, wherein the catalyst contains cubic, U1 or U1A crystalline phases.
15. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein R1 is CH3, R2 is H, and x is 2.
16. The catalyst of claim 15, wherein the catalyst contains neither cubic, U1 nor U1A crystalline phases.
17. The catalyst of claim 15, wherein the catalyst contains cubic, U1 or U1A crystalline phases.
18. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein R1 is CH3, R2 is CH3, and x is 2.
19. The catalyst of claim 18, wherein the catalyst contains neither cubic, U1 nor U1A crystalline phases.
20. The catalyst of claim 18, wherein the catalyst contains cubic, U1 or U1A crystalline phases.
21. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein R1 is C4H9, R2 is H, and x is 1.
22. The catalyst of claim 21, wherein the catalyst contains neither cubic, U1 nor U1 A crystalline phases.
23. The catalyst of claim 21, wherein the catalyst contains cubic, U1 or U1A crystalline phases.
24. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein R1 is t-C4H9, R2 is H, and x is 1.
25. The catalyst of claim 24, wherein the catalyst contains neither cubic, U1 nor U1A crystalline phases.
26. The catalyst of claim 24, wherein the catalyst contains cubic, U1 or U1A crystalline phases.
27. A double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst which contains a complexing agent of the formula:
R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH(I)
wherein:
x is 1, 2, or 3;
R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group; and
R2 is H or a CH3 group
and which exhibits the x-ray diffraction pattern of any of the XRPDs of FIGS. 5-10.
28. A double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst comprising the reaction product of a metal salt and a metal cyanide salt in the presence of a complexing agent of the formula:
R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH(I)
wherein:
x is 1, 2, or 3;
R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group; and
R2 is H or a CH3 group.
29. A low monol containing polyol prepared using a catalyst which comprises the DMC of claim 1.
30. A low monol containing polyol prepared using a catalyst which comprises the DMC of claim 27.
31. A method of making a highly active DMC complex catalyst, which comprises reacting an aqueous solution of a metal salt and a metal cyanide salt and reacting the resulting product with an organic complexing agent of the formula:
R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH(I)
wherein:
x is 1, 2, or 3;
R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group; and
R2 is H or a CH3 group.
to form a precipitate.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the reaction product of metal salt and metal cyanide salt is zinc hexacyanocobaltate.
33. The method of claim 31, further comprising washing the precipitate with a mixture of water and organic complexing agent.
34. A method of making a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst comprising:
(a) combining and reacting an aqueous solution of a water-soluble metal salt and a water-soluble metal cyanide salt in the presence of a complexing agent to produce an aqueous mixture containing a precipitated DMC complex catalyst wherein the complexing agent is of the formula:
R1O(CH2CHR2O)xH(I)
wherein:
x is 1, 2, or 3;
R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group; and
R2 is H or a CH3 group; and

(b) isolating and drying the DMC catalyst.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the aqueous solution of step (a) is subjected to a homogenization process.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein x is 3, R1 is CH3 and each R2 is hydrogen.
37. A DMC catalyst produced by the method of claim 24 and which exhibits the XRPDs of any of FIGS. 5-11.
38. The method of claim 31, further comprising washing the precipitate with a mixture of water and organic complexing agent.
39. A process for making a polyether polymer which comprises polymerizing an epoxide in the presence of the catalyst of claim 1.
40. A process for making a polyether polymer which comprises polymerizing an epoxide in the presence of the catalyst of claim 27.

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 power converter, comprising:
an inverter circuit comprising a first phase leg comprising a first node, a second phase leg comprising a second node, and a third phase leg comprising a third node;
a first transformer comprising a first side and a second side, the first side of the first transformer electrically coupled between the first node of the first phase leg and the second node of the second phase leg of the inverter circuit; and
a second transformer comprising a first side and a second side, the first side of the second transformer electrically coupled between the first node of the first phase leg and the third node of the third phase leg of the inverter circuit.
2. The power converter of claim 1 wherein each of the first, the second and the third phase legs comprise a respective pair of power switching elements, one of the power switching elements in the pair electrically coupled between a first rail of a power bus and the respective one of the first, the second, or the third nodes, and the other one of the power switching elements in the pair electrically coupled between a second rail of the power bus and the respective one of the first, the second, or the third nodes.
3. The power converter of claim 2, further comprising:
a current doubler rectifier electrically coupled to the second sides of the first and the second transformers.
4. The power converter of claim 3 wherein the current doubler rectifier comprises:
a first pair of switches electrically coupled in series between a first pole of the second side of the first transformer and a first pole of the second side of the second transformer, a first rectifier node formed between the switches of the first pair of switches; and
a second pair of switches electrically coupled in series between a second pole of the second side of the first transformer and a second pole of the second side of the second transformer, a second rectifier node formed between the switches of the second pair of switches, the second rectifier node electrically coupled to the first rectifier node.
5. The power converter of claim 4, further comprising:
a controller communicatingly coupled to control operation of the power switching elements of the first, the second and the third phase legs of the inverter circuit, and to control operation of the first and the second pairs of switches of the current doubler rectifier.
6. The power converter of claim 3, further comprising:
a first inductor electrically coupled in series with a first pole of the second side of the first transformer;
a second inductor electrically coupled in series with a second pole of the second side of the first transformer;
a third inductor electrically coupled in series with a first pole of the second side of the second transformer; and
a fourth inductor electrically coupled in series with a second pole of the second side of the second transformer.
7. The power converter of claim 6, further comprising:
a first capacitance comprising a first pole and a second pole, the first pole of the first capacitance electrically coupled to the first and the second inductors at a first potential node; and
a second capacitance comprising a first pole and a second pole, the second pole of the second capacitance electrically coupled to the third and the fourth inductors at a third potential node, the first pole of the second capacitance electrically coupled to the second pole of the first capacitance at a second potential node.
8. The power converter of claim 7, further comprising:
electrically coupling a single load across the first and second potential nodes in parallel with the second and the third potential nodes.
9. The power converter of claim 7, further comprising:
electrically coupling a first load across the first and the second potential nodes; and
electrically coupling a second load across the second and the third potential nodes.
10. The power converter of claim 2 wherein each of the power switching elements comprises at least one high power transistor and at least one anti-parallel diode electrically coupled across the at least one high power transistor.
11. The power converter of claim 2 wherein each of the power switching elements comprises at least one insulated gate bipolar transistor.
12. The power converter of claim 2 where in each of the power switching elements comprises at least one metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.
13. The power converter of claim 1 wherein the first and the second transformers are planar transformers, and the number of turns in the first side of the first and the second transformers is greater than the number of turns in the second side of the first and the second transformers.
14. The power converter of claim 1 wherein the number of turns in the first side of the first and the second transformers is less than the number of turns in the second side of the first and the second transformers.
15. A method of converting power, comprising:
inverting a direct current to produce at least three phases of alternating current;
supplying a first and a second of the three phases of alternating current to a first side of a first transformer to induce an alternating current on a second side of the first transformer;
supplying the second and a third of the three phases of alternating current to a first side of a second transformer to induce an alternating current on a second side of the second transformer;
supplying the alternating current from the second side of the first transformer to a rectifier;
supplying the alternating current from the second side of the second transformer to the rectifier; and
rectifying the first and the second alternating currents supplied to the rectifier from the second sides of the first and the second transformers, respectively, to produce a first voltage across a first potential node and a second potential node and to produce a second voltage across the second potential node and a third potential node.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second voltage across the second potential node and the third potential node is approximately equal to the first voltage across the first potential node and the second potential node.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
inductively coupling the alternating current from the second side of the first transformer to the first and the second potential nodes; and
inductively coupling the alternating current from the second side of the second transformer to the second and the third potential nodes.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
phase locking the phases of alternating current supplied to the first side of the first transformer with the phases of the alternating current supplied to the first side of the second transformer.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein supplying a first and a second of the three phases of alternating current to a first side of a first transformer comprises generating a three-level square waveform to the primary winding of the first transformer, and wherein supplying the second and a third phases of the three phases of alternating current to a first side of a second transformer comprises generating a three-level square waveform to the primary winding of the second transformer.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein generating a three-level square waveform to the primary winding of the first transformer comprises phase shift controlling a high side and a low side switch of each of a first and a second leg of an inverter circuit.
21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
electrically coupling the first and the second voltages in parallel to a load.
22. A power converter, comprising:
a first transformer comprising a first side including at least a first pole and a second pole, and a second side including at least a first pole and a second pole;
a second transformer comprising a first side including at least a first pole and a second pole, and a second side including at least a first pole and a second pole;
means for supplying a first phase of alternating current to the first pole of the first side of the first transformer, a second phase of alternating current to the second pole of the first side of the first transformer and to the first pole of the first side of the second transformer, and a third phase of alternating current to the second pole of the first side of the second transformer; and
means for current double rectifying alternating currents supplied from the second sides of the first and the second transformers.
23. The power converter of claim 22 wherein the means for current double rectifying produces a first voltage across a first potential node and a second potential node and to produces a second voltage across the second potential node and a third potential node.
24. The power converter of claim 23 wherein an output across the first and the second potential nodes is electrically coupled in parallel with an output across the third and the second potential nodes.
25. The power converter of claim 23 wherein an output across the first and the second potential nodes is independently controllable with respect to an output across the third and the second potential nodes.
26. The power converter of claim 22, further comprising:
a number of inductors, each of the inductors electrically coupled in series with a respective one of the poles of the second sides of the first and the second transformers.
27. The power converter of claim 22, further comprising:
a first capacitor electrically coupled in parallel across the first and the second potential nodes; and
a second capacitor electrically coupled in parallel across the second and the third potential nodes.

1. An image transfer apparatus for simultaneously transferring image data for a plurality of color planes of an identical color page to a printer for simultaneously forming an image having the plurality of color planes, said image transfer apparatus comprising:
order estimating means for estimating the order in which image data blocks for the plurality of color planes of the identical color page are to be output in the printer;
image data transfer means for transferring the image data blocks in the order estimated by said order estimating means; and
transfer-enable-signal receiving means for receiving from the printer a signal indicating whether an image data block transferred by said image data transfer means is transferable,
wherein, when the signal received by said transfer-enable-signal receiving means indicates that an image data block estimated by said order estimating means to be located at the head of the order is transferable, said image data transfer means transfers the image data block, and when the signal received by said transfer-enable-signal receiving means indicates that the image data block is not transferable, said image transfer means transfers another image data block which is transferable.
2. An image transfer method for use in a host computer for simultaneously transferring image data for a plurality of color planes of an identical color page to a printer for simultaneously forming an image having the plurality of color planes, said image transfer method comprising:
an order estimating step of estimating the order in which image data blocks for the plurality of color planes of the identical color page are to be output in the printer;
an image data transfer step of transferring the image data blocks in the order estimated by said order estimating step; and
a transfer-enable-signal receiving step of receiving from the printer a signal indicating whether an image data block transferred by said image data transfer step is transferable,
wherein, when the signal received by said transfer-enable-signal receiving step indicates that an image data block estimated by said order estimating step to be located at the head of the order is transferable, said image data transfer step transfers the image data block, and when the signal received by said transfer-enable-signal receiving step indicates that the image data block is not transferable, said image transfer step transfers another image data block which is transferable.
3. A computer-readable medium storing a computer program that can be executed by a host computer for simultaneously transferring image data for a plurality of color planes of an identical color page to a printer for simultaneously forming an image having the plurality of color planes, said computer program comprising:
an order estimating step of estimating the order in which image data blocks for the plurality of color planes of the identical color page are to be output in the printer;
an image data transfer step of transferring the image data blocks in the order estimated by said order estimating step; and
a transfer-enable-signal receiving step of receiving from the printer a signal indicating whether an image data block transferred by said image data transfer step is transferable,
wherein, when the signal received by said transfer-enable-signal receiving step indicates that an image data block estimated by said order estimating step to be located at the head of the order is transferable, said image data transfer step transfers the image data block, and when the signal received by said transfer-enable-signal receiving step indicates that the image data block is not transferable, said image transfer step transfers another image data block which is transferable.
4. An image transfer method for transferring image data for a plurality of color planes of a color page to a printer for forming an image having the plurality of color planes, said image transfer method comprising:
estimating the order for outputting the image data blocks of the plurality of color planes of the color page to the printer;
transferring the image data blocks to the printer in the estimated order; and
receiving from the printer a signal to indicate whether an image data block is transferable,
wherein, when the signal indicates that the image data block estimated to be located at the head of the order is transferable, the image data block is transferred, and when the signal indicates that the image data block is not transferable, another image data block, which is transferable is transferred.

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 method for feeding a child with a spoon during a transition from bottle-to-spoon-feeding, the child having a mouth, the child having a natural swallowing reflex, the spoon having a handle, the spoon having a bowl, the bowl having an end away from the handle thus defining an anterior end, the bowl having an end toward the handle thus defining a posterior end, the method comprising the steps of:
covering a front portion of a spoon bowl by an enclosing shield so that that it leaves an opening at a posterior of the spoon bowl and at an anterior of the spoon bowl, wherein the enclosing shield of the spoon bowl corresponds at its anterior end to the shape of a slightly depressed nipple, being ovoid in shape;
collecting a semi-liquid food through the posterior opening in the spoon bowl by moving the spoon bowl through a container of food so that the semi-liquid food enters the posterior opening of the spoon bowl and is held within a bowl cavity formed by the spoon bowl and the enclosing shield; inserting the spoon into the child’s mouth;
suctioning the semi-liquid food by the child through the anterior opening of the spoon bowl and into a rear cavity of the child’s mouth; and
removing the spoon from the child’s mouth to allow for the natural swallowing reflex to be completed.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the anterior opening of the spoon bowl is oval in shape and is smaller than the posterior opening of the bowl.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the posterior opening of the spoon bowl is angled to allow for easier collection of the food, as compared with a spoon lacking the one, and where the posterior opening of the spoon bowl is larger than the anterior opening of the bowl.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the shield is asymmetrical relative to the bowl to allow for an easy collection of the food into the enlarged side of the posterior opening.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the underside shape of the spoon bowl corresponds to a conventional spoon shape except that the anterior of the bowl is more narrow and convex than a conventional spoon shape and the tip is a straight edge.
6. A method for reducing expulsion of food from a mouth of an infant transitioning from bottle to spoon feeding comprising the steps of:
drawing a spoon through food in a dish or jar,
said spoon having a handle, said spoon having a bowl, said bowl having a posterior end and an anterior end, said posterior end further defined as the end positioned closest to the handle of the spoon, said anterior end further defined as the end positioned closest to the mouth of the infant during feeding, said bowl being partially covered by an enclosing shield attached to the bowl, said enclosing shield being positioned in such as way as to create an opening at the posterior end of the bowl and an opening at the anterior end of the bowl;
collecting food through the opening at the posterior end of the bowl;
placing the anterior end of the bowl into the mouth of the infant;
providing full circumferential contact of the bowl of the spoon with the mouth of the infant, creating a seal around the opening at the anterior end of the bowl;
drawing, by the infant, the food from the bowl of the spoon through the opening at the anterior end of the bowl to the rear of the mouth of the infant;
removing the bowl of the spoon from the mouth of the infant.
7. The method of claim 6, performed at least three times in succession.
8. The method of claim 6, further characterized in that the handle of the spoon is contoured for ease in collection of the food and insertion of the spoon bowl into the mouth of the infant.
9. The method of claim 6, further characterized in that the handle of the spoon has a coating of vinyl or other friction-inducing material.
10. The method of claim 2 wherein the enclosing shield is asymmetrical relative to the bowl to allow for an easy collection of the food into the enlarged side of the posterior opening.
11. The method of claim 6 wherein the enclosing shield is asymmetrical relative to the bowl.
12. A method for feeding a child with a spoon during a transition from bottle-to-spoon-feeding, the child having a mouth, the child having a natural swallowing reflex, the spoon having a handle, the spoon having a bowl, the bowl having an end away from the handle thus defining an anterior end, the bowl having an end toward the handle thus defining a posterior end, the method comprising the steps of:
covering a front portion of a spoon bowl by an enclosing shield so that that it leaves an opening at a posterior of the spoon bowl and at an anterior of the spoon bowl;
wherein the enclosing shield of the spoon bowl corresponds at its anterior end to the shape of a slightly depressed nipple, being ovoid in shape;
wherein the enclosing shield is asymmetrical relative to the bowl to allow for easy collection of food into the enlarged side of the posterior opening;
wherein the handle of the spoon is further characterized in that it is contoured for ease in collection food and insertion of the spoon bowl into the mouth of the infant;
wherein the handle of the spoon is further characterized in that it has a coating of vinyl or other friction-inducing material;
wherein the posterior opening of the spoon bowl is angled to allow for easier collection of the food, and where the posterior opening of the spoon bowl is larger than the anterior opening of the bowl;

collecting a semi-liquid food through the posterior opening in the spoon bowl by moving the spoon bowl through a container of food so that the semi-liquid food enters the posterior opening of the spoon bowl and is held within a bowl cavity formed by the spoon bowl and the enclosing shield;
inserting the spoon into the child’s mouth;
suctioning the semi-liquid food by the child through the anterior opening of the spoon bowl and into a rear cavity of the child’s mouth; and
removing the spoon from the child’s mouth to allow for the natural swallowing reflex to be completed.