Author: claimsbot

1. An endless drive track for a snowmobile,
comprising a base and traction lugs integrally formed with the base, the traction lugs extending upward from the base and extending across a width of the base,
wherein the traction lugs are inclined relative to normal to the base and wherein the traction lugs comprise a first set of traction lugs inclined away from a track travel direction and a second set of traction lugs inclined toward a track travel direction.
2. An endless drive track for a snowmobile, the track having an outer periphery comprising:
a base including an outer side; and
a plurality of traction lugs formed with the base in a unitary construction and extending across a width of the base, each lug having a lower portion proximate and extending outward from the outer side of the base by a first angle of inclination, and at least some of the lugs having an upper portion extending from the lower portion by second angle of inclination relative to the direction perpendicular to the outer side of the base, the second angle of inclination being greater than the first angle of inclination.
wherein the first angle of inclination is in the range from 5 to 45 degrees.
3. The endless drive track of claim 2, wherein the first angle of inclination is in the range from 5 to 30 degrees.
4. The endless drive track of claim 2, wherein the first angle of inclination is in the range from 5 to 15 degrees.
5. The endless drive track of claim 2, further comprising an inflection point between the upper portion and the lower portion of at least some of the lugs.
6. An endless drive track for a snowmobile, the track having an outer periphery, the track comprising:
a base including an outer side; and
traction lugs extending outward from the outer side of the base, the lugs comprising a lower portion having a first angle of inclination relative to normal to the base and an upper portion having a second angle of inclination relative to normal to the base, the second angle being greater than the first angle;
wherein the lower portion has a first leading face having a first leading face angle and the upper portion has a second leading face having a second leading face angle, the first leading face angle being about 14 degrees and the second leading face angle being about 20 degrees.
7. An endless drive track for a snowmobile, the track having an outer periphery, the track comprising:
a base including an outer side; and
traction lugs extending outward from the outer side of the base, the lugs comprising a lower portion having a first angle of inclination relative to normal to the base and an upper portion having a second angle of inclination relative to normal to the base, the second angle being greater than the first angle;
wherein the lower portion has a trailing face having a first trailing face angle and wherein the upper portion has a trailing face having a second trailing face angle, the first trailing face angle being about equal to 3 degrees and the second trailing face angle being about equal to 11 degrees.
8. A method for using an endless track, the method comprising:
providing a snowmobile;
providing a track comprising
a base; and
traction lugs integrally formed with the base, the traction lugs extending upward from the base and extending at intervals across a width of the base, the traction lugs being inclined relative to normal to the base;
selectively securing the track to the snowmobile with one of having the traction lugs inclined toward a track direction of travel and having the traction lugs inclined away from the track direction of travel; and
securing the track to the snowmobile with the traction lugs inclined opposite the previous securement.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the track bears indicia indicating orientations of the traction lugs suitable for hill climbing and deep snow; the selected track lug orientation being based on the intended use of the track in conjunction with the indicia formed on the track.

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 switching power supply into which AC power is input and which outputs DC power electrically insulated from the AC power, the switching power supply comprising:
a first rectification-smoothing unit that rectifies and smooths the AC power;
an insulation transformer that includes at least a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a third winding;
a second rectification-smoothing unit which is connected to the secondary winding, rectifies and smooths AC power from the secondary winding and outputs DC power;
a first switching device that is connected between a DC-side terminal of the first rectification-smoothing unit and the primary winding;
an inrush current suppressing unit which is connected to the primary winding in parallel therewith and which includes a second switching device;
a charge storing unit that is connected to a DC side of the first rectification-smoothing unit;
a third switching device that is connected in series to the DC side of the first rectification-smoothing unit so as to prevent the charge storing unit from discharging;
a charging circuit that charges the charge storing unit with power from the third winding in a boosted manner;
a fourth switching device which is connected between the charging circuit and the charge storing unit and which controls a charging current of the charging circuit;
a power factor improving control unit which controls the first, second, third and fourth switching devices and which improves a power factor of the AC power to be input; and
a power-suspension detecting unit that detects a power suspension of the AC power,
the third switching device being controlled when the power-suspension detecting unit detects a power suspension of the AC power in order to cause the charge storing unit that stores a charge in advance to discharge the insulated DC power to an output side through the insulation transformer.
2. The switching power supply according to claim 1, wherein the charging circuit includes:
a diode connected to an input side from the third winding;
a capacitor connected to the diode and the third winding in parallel with the diode and the third winding; and
a coil connected to a charging path from the capacitor to the charge storing unit.
3. The switching power supply according to claim 1, wherein
when the power-suspension detecting unit determines that an input voltage of the commercially available AC power is high, the third switching device is controlled so as to halt an operation thereof, and the fourth switching device is controlled so as to charge the charge storing unit until a hold voltage thereof becomes a predetermined set value, and
when the power-suspension detecting unit determines that the input voltage of the commercially available AC power is low, the fourth switching device is controlled so as to halt an operation thereof, and the third switching device is controlled in order to cause the charge storing unit storing a charge in advance to discharge, thereby discharging and outputting the insulated DC power to an output side through the insulation transformer and the second rectification-smoothing unit.
4. The switching power supply according to claim 2, wherein
when the power-suspension detecting unit determines that an input voltage of the commercially available AC power is high, the third switching device is controlled so as to halt an operation thereof, and the fourth switching device is controlled so as to charge the charge storing unit until a hold voltage thereof becomes a predetermined set value, and
when the power-suspension detecting unit determines that the input voltage of the commercially available AC power is low, the fourth switching device is controlled so as to halt an operation thereof, and the third switching device is controlled in order to cause the charge storing unit storing a charge in advance to discharge, thereby discharging and outputting the insulated DC power to an output side through the insulation transformer and the second rectification-smoothing unit.
5. A display device comprising the switching device according to claim 1 as a power converting device.
6. A display device comprising the switching device according to claim 2 as a power converting device.
7. A display device comprising the switching device according to claim 3 as a power converting device.
8. A display unit comprising the switching device according to claim 4 as a power converting device.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of providing a metal seed layer substantially free of discontinuities disposed on a substrate comprising the step of contacting a metal seed layer disposed on a substrate with an electroplating bath comprising a) a source of metal ions; b) an electrolyte comprising two or more acids; c) and optionally one or more additives.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the two or more acids are selected from organic acids, inorganic acids, or mixtures thereof.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the organic acids are selected from alkylsulfonic acids, aryl sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids or halogenated acids.
4. The method claim 2 wherein the inorganic acids are selected from sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, hydrogen halide acids, sulfamic acid or fluoroboric acid.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the two or more acids are present in an amount of from about 1 to about 350 gL.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the source of metal ions is a source of copper ions.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the source of copper ions is selected from copper sulfates, copper acetates, copper fluoroborate, or cupric nitrates.
8. The method bath of claim 6 wherein the source of copper ions is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 300 gL.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte further comprises a source of halide ions.
10. A method of manufacturing an electronic device comprising the step of contacting a metal seed layer disposed on a substrate with an electroplating bath comprising a) a source of metal ions; b) an electrolyte comprising two or more acids; c) and optionally one or more additives.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the two or more acids are selected from organic acids, inorganic acids, or mixtures thereof.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the organic acids are selected from alkylsulfonic acids, aryl sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids or halogenated acids.
13. The method claim 11 wherein the inorganic acids are selected from sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, hydrogen halide acids, sulfamic acid or fluoroboric acid.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the two or more acids are present in an amount of from about 1 to about 350 gL.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein the source of metal ions is a source of copper ions.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the source of copper ions is selected from copper sulfates, copper acetates, copper fluoroborate, or cupric nitrates.
17. The method bath of claim 15 wherein the source of copper ions is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 300 gL.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein the electrolyte further comprises a source of halide ions.
19. An article of manufacture comprising an electronic device substrate containing one or more apertures, each aperture containing a seed layer deposit obtained from an electroplating composition that comprises a) a source of metal ions; b) an electrolyte comprising two or more acids; c) and optionally one or more additives.
20. A method for removing excess material from a semiconductor wafer containing one or more apertures by using a chemical mechanical planarization process which comprises contacting the semiconductor wafer with a rotating polishing pad thereby removing the excess material from the semiconductor wafer; wherein the apertures contain a seed layer deposit obtained from an electroplating composition that comprises a) a source of metal ions; b) an electrolyte including two or more acids; c) and optionally one or more additives.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the polishing pad is grooved.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the semiconductor wafer is also subjected to a polishing slurry.

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 of deploying an optic cable, comprising:
providing the cable comprising an inner tube having an optical fiber disposed inside the inner tube and an outer tube with an inner diameter sized for relative retention of the inner tube disposed inside the outer tube;
positioning the cable at a location; and
controlled flowing of a fluid between the inner and outer tubes to remove hydrogen from within the cable positioned at the location.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the cable includes lowering the cable into a wellbore.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein flowing of the fluid passes the fluid between the inner and outer tubes across a length of the cable in a first direction and returns the fluid between the inner and outer tubes across the length of the cable in a second direction opposite the first direction.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a gas.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is selected from one of air, nitrogen, helium, fluorine, argon, oxygen, neon, krypton, xenon, radon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises hydrogen scavenging compounds.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises one of a fullerene, carbon tetrachloride, perfluorohexane, potassium iodate, and mixtures thereof.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the flowing of the fluid occurs at a flow rate between 0.05 cubic meters and 1.5 cubic meters per day for a period of at least one week.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable further includes gel filler material disposed inside the inner tube around the optical fiber.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein length of the optical fiber disposed inside a unit length of the inner tube is greater than the unit length.
11. An optic cable system, comprising:
a cable that includes an inner tube having an optical fiber disposed inside the inner tube and an outer tube with an inner diameter sized for relative retention of the inner tube disposed inside the outer tube, wherein a flow path disposed between the inner and outer tubes extends across a length of the cable and includes an inlet and an outlet; and
a source of fluid coupled to the inlet of the flow path, wherein the fluid is pressurized to achieve controlled fluid flow of the fluid through the flow path from the inlet toward the outlet that is defined, the controlled fluid flow to remove hydrogen from within the cable.
12. The optic cable system of claim 11, wherein the flow path includes input and return paths coextensive along the length but separated along part of the length from one another, the inlet configured to introduce the fluid from the source into the input path and the outlet configured to receive from the return path the fluid introduced at the inlet.
13. The optic cable system of claim 11, wherein the flow path includes first and second annular paths coextensive along the length but separated along part of the length from one another, the inlet configured to introduce the fluid from the source into the first annular path and the outlet configured to receive the fluid exiting the cable from the second annular path.
14. The optic cable system of claim 13, wherein a tubular aluminum body disposed between the inner and outer tubes is sized to form the annular paths between the aluminum body and the inner tube and the aluminum body and the outer tube.
15. The optic cable system of claim 11, further comprising a flow tube stranded with the inner tube, wherein the inlet introduces the fluid from the source into the flow tube and the outlet receives the fluid introduced at the inlet and returned via a gap between an interior of the outer tube and exteriors of the inner and flow tubes.
16. The optic cable system of claim 11, further comprising a gel filler material disposed inside the inner tube around the optical fiber.
17. The optic cable system of claim 11, wherein length of the optical fiber disposed inside a unit length of the inner tube is greater than the unit length.
18. The optic cable system of claim 11, further comprising a flow control device configured to maintain flowing of the fluid from the source through the flow path for a period of at least one week.
19. A method of deploying an optic cable, comprising:
providing the cable comprising an inner tube having an optical fiber disposed inside the inner tube and an outer tube with an inner diameter sized for relative retention of the inner tube disposed inside the outer tube;
lowering the cable into a wellbore; and
removing hydrogen from within the cable while located in the wellbore by circulating a fluid between the inner and outer tubes.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the fluid comprises a gas and the inner and outer tubes are made of metal.