A bolt assembly for use with a toilet seat bracket that permits the toilet seat to be removed and replaced for cleaning without the necessity of reaching below the toilet bowl or toilet bowl flange and the method of using same. A threaded rod is passed through the flange and held in place with a first nut below the flange and a second nut above the flange. Once the rod is in place there is no reason to have to reach under the flange. The bracket of the toilet seat is then placed over the rod and secured with a third nut. A cap on the bracket conceals the rod and nut. The toilet seat can easily be removed by merely removing the third nut and lifting the seat off the flange. Another embodiment utilized a threaded opening in the toilet bowl flange so that a bolt can be admitted from above the flange to secure and remove the toilet seat. A further embodiment uses a tubular insert with a threaded inner wall affixed into the flange opening to receive the bolt.

The instant invention relates to bolt assemblies for the attachment of toilet seats to the toilet bowl flange that enable installation and removal of the toilet seat from above the toilet bowl flange and the method of use of same.
The common toilet seat assembly has been known for over a century. The installation of the toilet seat assembly has always required the installer to maneuver under the back end or flange of the toilet bowl or to reach under the flange. This type of installation has always made removal of the toilet seat assembly for cleaning a cumbersome task. The result has been that the seat assembly is usually only removed when there is a need to change it. Additionally, after remaining in place for a considerable period of time, the nuts and bolts that maintain the seat assembly in place are often badly corroded making removal very difficult, and more so when it is necessary to reach under the flange or get down beneath the flange to perform this task.
A patent to Pryor describes a seat assembly that is fastened to the rear flange of the bowl by downwardly facing screws and held within countersinks on the under side of the flange with washers and nuts. This arrangement requires the fastening of the nuts into the countersink from beneath the flange. (U.S. Pat. No. 976,395)
Another toilet bowl hinge arrangement is made of stamped metal that is secured to the bowl flange by a downwardly facing round headed carriage bolt having a square shoulder that fits into a square countersink in the top of the flange. The shank of the bolt is smooth with a threaded end portion. This bolt must be fastened in place under the flange and a nut is used that is flush with the bottom surface of the flange. (Mears, U.S. Pat. No. 1,799,309) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,096, Knight discloses a nut and bolt apparatus for use in securing a toilet seat assembly to the toilet bowl flange. A threaded bolt is passed downward through openings in the back of the seat assembly and the flange and is secured in place under the flange with a threaded nut having a horizontal arm. The nut is thereafter turned from below the flange until the arm contacts the lower surface of the bowl at which time it can no longer turn. The installer must then tighten the bolt from above. The upper part of the nut is conical so it may rest part way into the opening in the flange. When the bolt is tightened a part of the conical nut is drawn up into the opening for a tight fit. Though the bolt is tightened from above, the nut must still be seated and turned from beneath the flange. Newman et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,150, discloses a smooth cylindrical bolt having a linear key way near the bottom. The bolt is inserted through the holes in the seat assembly bracket and the bowl flange from above. Under the flange a spring is slipped over the lower portion of the bolt followed by a sleeve. The bolt can be given a quarter turn in the sleeve so the key way faces an axial opening wherein a threaded nipple locks the bolt in place. An installer would have to access the threaded nipple from below the flange in order to install the seat assembly or to remove it.
Watson, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,021, describes a toilet seat assembly that can be installed from above the flange. The seat assembly bracket has two downwardly projecting stems that fit into the stud holes in the toilet bowl flange. The stems have a flared opening at the bottom. A threaded bolt held in place with a nut is placed into each stem before the seat assembly is put in place. Once in place the bolts are tightened within the stems pulling the nuts up into the flared opening and in turn forcing the walls of the stem to flare out against the stud holes to secure the seat assembly in place. Such an assembly is also subject to rusting which will render it impossible to remove the assembly. Frequent removal and replacement can strip the inside of the stem causing fatigue which will no longer permit tightening of the nut. A seat assembly that can be easily removed and replaced is taught by Corda in U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,471. A threaded post having a smooth upper portion extending above a flat bushing is set into each hole in the bowl flange and secured with a nut from below. The bracket of the seat assembly has two smooth walled cylindrical bushings that fit over the smooth upper portions of the posts enabling the scat assembly to be taken off and replaced while the bolt remains in place. After time the connections can become loose so that the seat assembly will no longer be held securely in place. A similar arrangement is taught by Hulsebus et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,875 where a bolts are passed downward through base members and the holes in the bowl flange and are secured with nuts under the flange. Locking members that cooperate with the base members above the flange fasten the seat assembly in place. The locking members enable the seat assembly to be removed and replaced. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,762 to Moser.
Another system that enables removing the seat assembly from above the flange is disclosed by Reed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,824. A hollow bolt threaded on its outer surface and smooth on its inner surface is placed into each hole in the flange and must be secured with a nut from below the flange. The seat assembly mounting bracket is placed over the two bolts and a hollow pin is placed into each bolt. A screw is then placed into each pin and turned so the walls of the pin are forced against the inner sides of the hollow bolt to secure the seat assembly. A similar system is disclosed in UK Pat. Application GB2 167 096 A. Such systems will exhibit fatigue after the seat assembly is repeatedly removed and replaced.
Edgcumbe discloses a toilet seat hinge assembly that is affixed to the bowl flange by bolts that have smooth stems and threaded ends. The bolts are introduced upwardly into the holes in the bowl flange from below the flange and the threaded ends must be screwed into cooperating covered threaded channels in the seat assembly brackets. The openings in the underside of the brackets must be placed exactly over the holes to accept the bolts. These bolts must be introduced from the underside of the flange and tightened from the underside of the flange. There is no access to the bolts from above. (U.S. Pat. No. 1,975,570) In U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,363 Watson discloses using a threaded studs that are screwed directly into sockets on the underside of the hinge posts of the seat assembly. The studs are then lowered into the holes in the bowl flange. A soft washer must be pushed up onto each stud from below the flange followed by plastic nuts having toothed top surfaces. As the nuts are tightened on the studs from below the flange the teeth grip the soft washer and force is exerted on the stud pulling it downward for a tight fit.
Schlegel, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,559,283 teaches the use of a bolt with a square shank and a round threaded end that is inserted upward into the holes in the bowl flange from below. The flange holes arc also square so the bolts cannot rotate once set in place. The threaded end passes through openings in the back of the scat assembly and are maintained in place by closed nuts having a lubricant reservoir in the top to prevent rusting. When the seat assembly is to be removed, the nuts can be taken off from above, but the bolts must be caught from below or they will fall to the floor. The fixed length of the bolts cannot accommodate variations in the thickness of the flange that may occur from one toilet bowl assembly to another.
Most of the prior art patents disclose a system whereby the seat assembly can be removed for cleaning and replaced only by gaining access to removable nuts situated under the flange where space is usually very limited and access is difficult. Even those prior art systems that enable removal of the seat assembly from above the flange require setting the main bolts with nuts that are screwed on from below. Many seat assemblies currently on the market come with two downwardly facing bolts permanently attached to the seat brackets. These bolts must be inserted downwardly into the flange openings and fastened with nuts from below the flange. The only way to remove these seat assemblies is to reach under the flange to remove the two nuts. After time the nuts and bolts often become severely corroded making the removal of the seat assembly even more difficult.
With present day requirements for sanitary provisions that were not necessary only a few years ago there is a need for a bolt arrangement to affix a toilet seat assembly to the bowl flange that enables the scat assembly to be easily removed for cleaning and where the access to the fastening bolts for the removal of the seat assembly is made from above the flange. There is a need for such a system that is compatible with existing toilet bowl fixtures.
The present invention provides a bolt arrangement for use in fastening a toilet seat assembly to the flange of the bowl without the need to get under the flange. This bolt arrangement enables the easy removal and replacement of the entire seat assembly from above the bowl flange and makes removal of the toilet seat for cleaning a very simple operation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick and easy means to remove and replace a toilet seat assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple bolt assembly that is compatible with present fixtures.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a bolt assembly that can be easily removed even if the nut under the flange has rusted.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bolt assembly that enables the placement and removal of a toilet seat assembly without having to reach or access under the bowl flange.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bolt assembly that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
The invention is a bolt assembly to reversibly affix a toilet seat having an attaching bracket with at least one opening to a toilet bowl flange having at least one corresponding vertical opening. The bolt assembly comprises at least one threaded rod dimensioned to be received within the opening in the flange, and the opening in the attaching bracket and being substantially longer than the thickness of the flange and the bracket combined, at least one first nut for being threaded onto the bottom of the rod such that the rod may thereafter be inserted upwardly into the opening in the flange with the top of the rod extending a substantial distance above the flange, at least one second nut for being threaded onto the top of the rod and being rotated downwardly until the second nut rests against the flange to maintain the rod securely in place with the top of the rod projecting upwardly therefrom to receive the toilet seat bracket, and at least one third nut for being threaded onto the top of the rod after the toilet seat bracket has been received thereon. The third nut secures the toilet seat to the flange. The toilet seat can be easily removed by removing the third nut and lifting the toilet seat and bracket upwardly away from the flange with no need to reach below the flange and the toilet seat may be just as easily replaced and secured with the third nut from above the flange. The length of the rod and the placement of the first, second and third nuts accommodates any variations in the thickness of the flange and the bracket.
A bolt assembly to reversibly affix a toilet seat to a toilet bowl flange having at least one vertical opening therethrough comprises at least one threaded rod dimensioned to be received within the opening in the flange and being substantially longer than the thickness of the flange, at least one first nut for being threaded onto the bottom of the rod such that the rod may thereafter be inserted upwardly into the opening in the flange with the top of the rod extending a substantial distance above the flange, at least one second nut for being threaded onto the top of the rod and being rotated downwardly until the second nut rests against the flange to maintain the rod securely in place with the top of the rod projecting upwardly from the second nut to receive the toilet seat, at least one toilet seat bracket for securing the toilet seat to the toilet bowl flange, and the bracket comprises attaching means to attach the bracket to the toilet seat, a base member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening therethrough. The bracket being placed over the rod and is disposed on the top surface of the flange with the rod extending through the opening in the bracket. At least one third nut for being threaded onto the top of the rod after the toilet seat bracket has been received thereon. The third nut secures the toilet seat bracket and thereby the toilet seat to the flange. When the toilet seat is secured to the toilet bowl flange the toilet seat can be easily removed by removing the third nut and lifting the toilet seat and bracket upwardly from the flange with no need to reach below the flange and the toilet seat may just as easily be replaced and secured with the third nut from above the flange. The length of the rod and placement of the first, second and third nuts accommodates any variations in the thickness of flange and the bracket.
A bolt assembly to reversibly affix a toilet seat to a toilet bowl flange having at least one vertical opening therethrough comprises at least one threaded rod dimensioned to be received within the opening in the flange and being substantially longer that the thickness of the flange, stop means affixed to the rod at a point below the top of the rod marking a top portion and a longer bottom portion so that when the bottom portion of the rod is inserted downwardly into the opening in the flange the top portion of the rod projects a fixed distance above the flange and the bottom portion of the rod projects below the flange. The longer bottom portion to accommodate variations in the thickness of the flange. There is at least one bottom nut for being threaded onto the bottom portion of the rod after the rod has been inserted into the opening in the flange to securely maintain the rod in place. At least one toilet seat bracket to which the toilet seat is attached secures the toilet seat to the toilet bowl flange, and the bracket comprises attaching means to attach the bracket to the toilet seat, a base member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a cap, and an opening therethrough. There is at least one top nut being threaded onto the top of the rod after the toilet seat bracket has been received over the rod with the top of the rod projecting through the opening in the bracket and such that the top nut secures the toilet seat bracket and thereby the toilet seat to the flange. When the toilet seat is secured to the toilet bowl flange the cap covers the top nut and the toilet seat can be easily removed by lifting the cap, removing the top nut and lifting the toilet seat and bracket upwardly from the flange with no need to reach below the flange and the toilet seat may just as easily be replaced and secured with the top nut from above the flange.
An assembly designed to reversibly accept a toilet seat comprises a toilet bowl with a rear flange having at least one vertical cylindrical opening therethrough, the opening having threaded walls, at least one rod substantially longer then the thickness of the flange, and dimensioned to be received within the opening in the flange the rod being threaded on its outer surface to cooperate with the threaded walls of the flange opening. At least one toilet seat bracket to which the toilet seat is attached for securing the toilet seat to the toilet bowl flange, and the bracket comprises attaching means to attach the bracket to the toilet seat, a base member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a cap and an opening therethrough. When the toilet seat is placed on the flange with the opening in the bracket communicating with the opening in the flange the rod can be passed through the opening in the bracket and threaded into the opening in the flange a sufficient distance such that the rod is secured therein, the top of the rod extends above top surface of the bracket and the toilet seat can be removed and replaced with no need to reach below the flange.
An assembly designed to reversibly accept a toilet seat comprises a toilet bowl with a rear flange having at least one vertical cylindrical opening therethrough, at least one tubular insert for placement within the opening, the insert having a substantially smooth outer wall and a threaded inner wall, adhesive means to permanently secure the insert in the opening, at least one rod substantially longer then the thickness of the flange, and dimensioned to be received within the insert, the rod being threaded on its outer surface to cooperate with the threaded inner wall of the insert, at least one toilet seat bracket to which the toilet seat is attached, the bracket for securing the toilet seat to the toilet bowl flange. The bracket comprises a base member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a cap and an opening therethrough. When the insert is secured in the opening and the toilet seat is placed on the flange so the opening in the bracket cooperates with the opening in the insert the rod can be passed through the opening in the bracket and threaded into the insert a sufficient distance such that the rod is secured therein and the top of the rod extends above top surface of the bracket and the toilet seat can be removed and replaced from above the flange.
A method for reversibly attaching a toilet seat assembly having at least one attaching bracket with an aperture therethrough to a toilet bowl flange having at least one vertical opening therethrough. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a threaded rod having a top end and a bottom end, being substantially longer than the thickness of the flange and being dimensioned to pass through the aperture in the bracket and the opening in the flange, obtaining a first nut dimensioned to cooperate with the rod, threading the first nut onto the bottom end of the rod, passing the top end of the rod upward through the opening in the flange until the top end of the rod projects above the flange and the first nut is in contact with the underside of the flange, obtaining a second nut dimensioned to cooperate with the rod, threading the second nut onto the top end of the rod until the second nut is in contact with the top surface of the flange and the rod is held securely to the flange, placing the bracket over the rod such that the rod is passed through the aperture and projects above the bracket, obtaining a third nut dimensioned to cooperate with the rod, threading the third nut onto the top end of the rod until the third nut is in contact with the top of the bracket, rotating the rod and the first, second and third nuts until the top end of the rod is substantially flush with the top of the third nut, removing the third nut, and lifting the toilet seat assembly upward off the flange, whereby the toilet seat assembly can be easily and repeatedly placed on and removed from the toilet bowl flange with no need to reach below the flange.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following description and drawings.


An adhesive tape (1) comprises a base material layer, an adhesive layer, and a release material layer, wherein two edges (11 and 12) extending in the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape include parallel portions (11a and 12a), the length of one of the two edges (11 and 12) is greater than the length of the other, the ends of the two edges (11 and 12) are connected to the ends of two other edges (13 and 14), and two angles formed between the longer edge of the two edges (11 and 12) extending in the longitudinal direction and the two other edges (13 and 14) are acute angles.

There is an increasing number of patients with paronychia (also called "inflammation around nails"), which is a side effect of anticancer agents. Paronychia is inflammation of the skin around fingernails and toenails, and causes often painful redness or swelling on the skin around fingernails and toenails. Conventionally, a commercially available taping material has been used by wrapping it around a nail to relieve pressure on tissue around the nail and the like, prevent increase in severity of inflammation, and relieve pain (Non-patent Literature 1). However, this is cumbersome because a doctor, nurse, patient, or like user must select a taping material from among various commercially available products and cut it to an appropriate size each time for use. Thus, outpatients in particular cannot continue to apply the adhesive tape material, for example, at home, which increases the severity of paronychia.


Provided is a method for immobilizing a macromolecule to a solid support material using poly(ethylene glycol), and a device obtained from the method. The macromolecule can be a polypeptide, such as an antibody.

A support on which a macromolecule such as a polypeptide has been immobilized is very useful in a variety of diagnostic and research applications. For instance, such supports can be used to purify substances that bind specifically to the immobilized macromolecule or to detect a substance using the macromolecule as a probe. A common application is in immunoassays, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or sandwich immunoassays. Protein chips and antibody chips are useful for analysis of protein-protein interactions and protein expression profiling. Other uses include chips for high throughput assays, for instance, for identifying potential therapeutics.
There are a number of methods for immobilizing a macromolecule on a support, including passive absorption, polyethyleneimine and EDC/sNHS chemistry. While these methods are useful, there is a need for a method to improve the amount of macromolecule that is immobilized in to a solid support material. This present invention addresses this need.

Antibody immobilization using poly(ethylene glycol) crosslinking


A cross-sectional area calculation section calculates a cross-sectional area of a subject as physical quantity with respect to a size of the subject, and an NEC calculation section calculates a noise equivalent count NEC as physical quantity for evaluating an image. The C-NEC calculation section calculates a noise equivalent count per unit area C-NEC as physical quantity for evaluating an image as per size of the subject in accordance with the cross-sectional area of the subject calculated in the cross-sectional area calculation section and the noise equivalent count NEC calculated in the NEC calculation section. Accordingly, the noise equivalent count per unit area C-NEC is calculated as noted above, whereby an index may be determined that is independent of the cross-sectional area of the subject in evaluating the image.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) equipment reconstructs sectional images of a subject only upon detection of positron, i.e., two or more gamma rays generated in annihilation of the positron and, detection of the gamma rays simultaneously with two or more detectors.
The PET equipment of this type doses a subject with a radioactive drug, and thereafter determines accumulation of the drug in a target tissue temporally. As a result, various body functions may be determined quantitatively. Consequently, an image that the PET equipment obtains has functional information.
Here, in techniques to simultaneously detect gamma rays, i.e. to perform coincidence of gamma rays, a 3D-PET that detects gamma rays three-dimensionally has been recently used besides a 2D-PET that detects gamma rays two-dimensionally. In such 3D-PET, each of the detectors is arranged close to the subject at a large solid angle, which results in enhanced detection efficiency of gamma rays and significantly improved system sensitivity.
For performing coincidence of gamma rays, each of gamma rays is inputted into a coincidence circuit to determine on whether or not a time lag of the inputted gamma rays is kept within a given time window. In an actual coincidence circuit, gamma rays are typically considered "coincident" that are detected in an extremely short time window of around 4 ns to 20 ns (ns=10−9 s). Consequently, there arises a possibility of performing coincidence of each one of gamma rays generated at two different points. This is called "random, coincidence count." FIG. 12(a) is a schematic view exemplarily showing a state of the random coincidence. On the other hand, where coincidence is performed after one or both of a pair of gamma rays causes Compton scattering within the subject, the coincidence is called "scatter coincidence count." FIG. 12(b) is a schematic view exemplarily showing a state of the scatter coincidence. A portion shown in the detector in FIG. 12 by hatching illustrates a detector that performed coincidence. Where coincidence of both a pair of gamma rays is normally performed, the coincidence is called "true coincidence count" (see, for example, Patent Literatures 1, 2).
In order to enhance image quality of the PET, it needs to increase the number of true coincidence counts (T) to enhance statistical accuracy, and also to suppress noise amplification in various corrections. As for an approach to enhance statistical accuracy, a dosage of radiopharmaceutical may be increased or a data acquisition time to perform coincidence for data acquisition may be extended. However, even if the true coincidence count (T) doubles by increasing dosage by twice, the random coincidence count (R) will increase by 4 times, which results in increased noise amplification in correction of the random coincidence count. In addition, scattered coincidence count (S) is to be included that varies depending on a size of the subject and distribution of radioactivity. Here, noise equivalent count (NEC: Noise Equivalent Count) is used as an index of simple evaluation of the PET image quality from the counts T, S, and R (see, for example, Non-Patent Literature 1.)
Where the random coincidence count is measured and corrected, the noise equivalent count NEC is given by the following equation (1) using a circuit that is a combination of the coincidence circuit with a delay circuit (delayed coincidence circuit). Moreover, where the random coincidence count is estimated and corrected from a single counting rate, the noise equivalent count NEC is given by the following equation (2).NEC=T2/(T+S+2×f×R)  (1)NEC=T2/(T+S+f×R)  (2)
Where, f in the foregoing equations (1) and (2) is a ratio of the subject to a gantry with a gamma-ray detector being embedded therein. Specifically, the rate is a rate of the subject to an aperture diameter of the gantry (i.e., an aperture diameter of the gamma-ray detector.)
[Patent Literature 1]    Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-28727 (page 3, FIG. 5)
[Patent Literature 2]    Japanese Patent Publication No. H07-113873 (page 1-7 and 9-11, FIGS. 2, 5, 7, 8 and 13)
[Non-Patent Literature 3]    Keiichi Matsumoto and other 5 persons: "Comparison of Noise Equivalent Count Rate and Image Quality of Two-dimensional and Three-dimensional PET Scans", Japanese Journal of Radiological Technology, Vol. 62, No. 8, P1111-1118 (2006.8)

Tomographic equipment, imaging system provided therewith, and imaging data acquisition method

FOUNDATION FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION


A system for reducing the complexity of an adaptive decision feedback equalizer, for use in connection with a dual-mode QAM/VSB receiver system is disclosed. QAM and VSB symbols, which are expressed in two's compliment notation, include an extra bit required to compensate for a fixed offset term introduced by the two's compliment numbering system. A decision feedback equalizer includes a decision feedback filter section which operates on symbolic decisions represented by a wordlength which excludes the added bit representing the offset. The vestigal word is convolved with the decision feedback filter's coefficients, while a DC component, corresponding to the excluded bit, is convolved with the same coefficient values in a correction filter. The two values are summed to provide an ISI compensation signal at the input of a decision device such as a slicer. A DC component representing a pilot tone in VSB transmission systems also introduces a DC component, and additional bits, to a VSB wordlength. These additional bits are similarly excluded and the vestigal representation convolved with coefficient values in a decision feedback filter. The DC component, including the pilot tone representation, is convolved with the same coefficient values in a correction filter.

Modern digital telecommunication systems are operating at ever-increasing data rates to accommodate society's growing demands for information exchange. However, increasing the data rates, while at the same time accommodating the fixed bandwidths allocated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), requires increasingly sophisticated signal processing techniques. Since low cost, small size and low power consumption are portent in the hardware implementations of such communication systems, custom integrated circuit solutions are important to achieving these goals.
Next generation digital television systems, such as cable transported television (CATV) and high-definition television (HDTV) rely on telecommunication transceivers to deliver data at rates in excess of 30 megabits per second (30 Mb/s). The ATSC A/53 Digital Television Standard, was developed by the "Digital HDTV Alliance" of U.S. television vendors, and has been accepted as the standard for terrestrial transmission of SDTV and HDTV signals in the United States. The ATSC A/53 standard is based on an 8-level vestigal sideband (8-VSB) modulation format with a nominal payload data rate of 19.4 Mbps in a 6 MHz channel. A high data rate mode, for use in a cable television environment, is also specified by the standard. This particular mode, defined in Annex D to the ITU-T J.83 specification, utilizes a 16-VSB modulation format to provide a data rate of 38.8 Mbps in a 6 MHz channel.
Transmission modes defined in ITU-T J.83 Annex A/C are used primarily outside the United States for digital cable television transmission. The transmission modes supported by this specification have been adopted in Europe as the Digital Video Broadcast for Cable (DVB-C) standard, and further adopted by the Digital Audio-Video Council (DAVIC) with extensions to support 256-QAM modulation formats.
Beyond these divergent requirements, the ITU-T J.83 Annex B standards define the dominant methodology for digital television delivery over CATV networks in the United States. It has been adopted as the physical layer standard by various organizations including the SCTE DVS-031, MCNS-DOCSIS and the IEEE 802.14 committee.
Given the implementation of multiple modulation techniques in the various adopted standards, there exists a need for a television receiver system capable of receiving and demodulating television signal information content that has been modulated and transmitted in accordance with a variety of modulation formats. In particular, such a system should be able to accommodate receipt and demodulation of at least 8 and 16-VSB modulated signals in order to support US HDTV applications, as well as 64 and 256-QAM modulated signals, for European and potential US CATV implementations.

Technique for minimizing decision feedback equalizer wordlength in the presence of a DC component


A system and method for transferring data from a source to a destination are described. Data packets are split into multiple data packet portions and are transferred in parallel over parallel data streams or pipes to grouping circuitry where they are recombined into full data packets. Each packet portion is assigned a synchronization code and a pipe state machine state. The grouping circuitry reads individual packet portions from the parallel streams and analyzes the synchronization codes and the state machine states to determine if the individual packet portions were generated from the same packet. If so, they are recombined into a full packet and are forwarded to the destination. If not, an error is detected. The grouping circuitry automatically realigns the data streams to recover synchronization without the need for any feedback to the individual streams to correct the error.

In many electronic systems, large amounts of data are often transferred between components in parallel or serial format. Some components across which the data are to be transferred, for example, packet switching devices, can be extremely complex. Oftentimes, because of limitations such as pin count limits, such devices can be more efficiently implemented as multiple relatively small devices that operate in parallel, rather than as a single large device. Consequently, to accommodate this implementation, packets of data can be split into multiple portions, each of which is transferred along a separate parallel processing path to one of the devices. At the output of the devices, the portions of the data packets are reassembled or grouped into the original data packet for further processing.
There are many sources of error in reassembling or grouping the data packet portions into the original data packet. For example, in many systems, it is desirable and/or required that the individual data paths operate asynchronously with respect to each other and independently of each other and also that the grouping device be located a substantial distance from the individual data paths. These factors can result in a system implementation in which there is no real-time communication between the individual processing paths and the grouping device. With no inherent time relationship between portions of the data packets arriving at the grouping device that would identify the portions as belonging together in the same data packet, data packets may be formed by grouping portions that do not belong together. Other factors may also contribute to the possibility of grouping unrelated portions of data packets. For example, errors such as parity errors in one or more of the individual paths, which can be caused by such factors as noise, may result in the loss of a portion of a packet. At the grouping device, it is important to discover such errors to prevent the grouping device from inadvertently replacing the lost portion with a portion of another packet and then incorrectly reassembling the packet.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for synchronization of multiple data paths and recovery from lost synchronization


The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a polymerized CNSL composition, the method comprising subjecting a raw or technical CNSL to a heat treatment under reflux to obtain the polymerized CNSL composition, wherein the heat treatment is performed until the polymerized CNSL composition has a molecular weight Mw of about 2800 to about 3700, such as from about 2900 to about 3600, or from about 3000 to about 3500 g/mol. The invention further relates to a polymerized CNSL composition, use of a polymerized CNSL composition according to the invention in a bitumen composition, a modified bitumen composition according to the invention and an asphalt composition comprising a modified bitumen composition according to the present invention.

Bitumen is a bi-product of the distillation of oil, which is widely used in the preparation of asphalts. Bitumen comprises saturated hydrocarbons, aromates, resins and asphaltenes. Asphaltenes are high molecular weight hydrocarbons, the composition of which vary depending on the oil distillation process. The aromates and resins stabilize the asphaltenes by keeping them dispersed in the bitumen.
Current bitumen production differs from the original "straight run" bitumen. The straight run bitumen is a residue of a distilled crude oil. In the past, it was often produced with only one type of crude oil. The last decades the refineries has changed over to other production techniques such as hydro-cracking and crude blending. Because of this, the virgin bitumen does not meet the requirements of the asphalt producers/road builders.
More and more bitumen are sold on the market with a high asphaltenes content and low aromatics and resins content (the maltenes). If polymers or waxes are introduced to this type of binder the colloidal stability is disrupted and the bitumen will lose a big part of its properties. When the bitumen becomes unstable the asphalt mix will lose its workability and its cohesion. Furthermore, a significant decrease is observed in the water sensitivity. Adding maltenes will improve the bitumen binder behaviour and will stabilize the asphaltenes. Adding aged asphalt to the asphalt mix with this high asphaltenes content, will have the same result as the addition of polymers or waxes: not only will it make the virgin unstable it will also result in a quicker aging. Accordingly, there is a need methods for modifying virgin bitumen compositions.
Furthermore, bitumen compositions are very sensitive to aging and need to be replaced in time as their properties degrade in the course of time. A common problem is that bitumen compositions become too brittle as a result of which road surfaces deteriorate and need to be renewed every so many years. Since the amount of available and suitable bitumen has been decreasing considerably in recent years, it is also desirable to reuse bitumen compositions. This can be established by recycling the bitumen compositions with or without the addition of fresh bitumen and/or suitable additives.
Examples of known additives to modify bitumen compositions for recycling include for instance mineral oils, paraffin's and rapeseed oil. These additives have, however, the disadvantage that they render the bitumen composition too soft, resulting in for instance asphalts having too high viscous behavior and thus impacting the durability of such asphalts in road applications. Another disadvantage of these additives is that they poorly agree with bitumen compositions as they not only have a bad influence on the colloidal index (CII), but also on the adhesion on the minerals. Other known bitumen modification additives include petrochemical resins but these are very expensive.
An alternative and less costly additive to rejuvenate (recycle) bitumen compositions has been proposed in WO 2010/085140, which describes a method to rejuvenate bitumen-containing compositions by adding to the bitumen-containing compositions a distillation residue of a cashew nut shell liquid (DR-CNSL). Further, WO 2010/110651 discloses another method for rejuvenating a bitumen-containing according to which a raw (untreated) cashew nut shell liquid, which has been heated so as to obtain a technical CNSL (T-CNSL), is added to a bitumen-containing composition. The rejuvenated bitumen-containing compositions obtained in accordance with these two patent specifications, still leave considerable room for improvement.
The present inventors hereby provide an improvement to these previously disclosed methods, by providing a polymerized CNSL, that besides showing an improved effect, also is more reliable and obtainable with a high yield.

Directly polymerized cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) and bitumen compositions comprising the same

VENTRACO INNOVATION CENTRE AMSTERDAM B.V.


The present invention provides bio-based aromatic diisocyanate of formula (I). [Formula should be inserted here] wherein X is OCH3, Y is selected from —H or OCH3, and m=0-12. The present invention further provides a method for preparation of aromatic diisocyanate of formula (I) useful for preparation of polyurethane.

Polyurethanes are a versatile class of polymers which find applications in elastomers, foams, coating, biomedical devices, etc. The principal monomers for synthesis of polyurethanes are diol/polyol and diisocyanates. Usually, hydroxyl-terminated prepolymers or aliphatic diols and diisocyanates such as toluenediisocyanate, methylene bis(phenyl isocyanate), hexamethylene diisocyanate, etc are used. The starting materials for synthesis of polyurethanes are mostly derived from fossil resources. Recent research efforts are directed towards synthesis of diols/polyols and diisocyanates based on renewable resource materials. Several examples of diols/polyols and aliphatic diisocyanates derived from bio-based chemicals are known in the literature. However, examples of aromatic diisocyanates based on bio-derived chemicals are scarce. Still et al. in Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, Volume 185, Pages 697-707, Journal 1984 disclose synthesis of renewable furan-based diisocyanate.
Lignin is one of the most abundant aromatic renewable resource and is a by-product of various industries like sugarcane industry, paper and pulp mills. Utilization of lignin-based aromatic building blocks for the synthesis of monomers is of great interest. Recently, Pang et al. in Polymer Chemistry. Volume 5, Page 2843, Journal 2014 reported aliphatic-aromatic polyesters from lignin-derived chemicals. Mialon et al. in US patent no US 2013/0137847 A1. 2013 disclosed bio-renewable PET mimic derived from lignin-based aromatics. Caillol et al. in Green Chemistry, Volume 16, Page 1987, Journal 2014 reported a library of monomers starting from vanillin, which in turn is obtained from lignin.
Wadgaonkar et al. in European Polymer Journal, Volume 71, Page 547, Journal 2015 reported aliphatic-aromatic polyurethanes and in WO patent no WO 2015/140818 A1 disclosed pendant furyl containing bisphenols starting from lignin-based aromatics.
It would be advantageous to provide novel aromatic diisocyanates from bio-based starting materials. Such diisocyanates find applications in polyurethane industries.
Korean Pat. No. KR20130056025 discloses manufacturing method of polyurethane resin comprising the steps of 1) a mixture obtained by mixing poly(tetramethylene glycol)(PTMG), poly(carbonate diol), 1,3-propandiol, 1,4-butandiol, 2,2-bis(hydroxyl methyl) propionic acid(DMPA) as a diol/polyols and dibutyltin dilaurate(DBTDL) as a catalyst; 2) Prepolymer was synthesized by reaction of diisocyanate with mixture of diol/polyols and catalyst; 3) Polyurethane resin was synthesized by adding a chain extender into the prepolymer mixture. Chain extender was selected from EDA(ethylenediamine), DETA(diethylene tri amine).
Chinese Pat. No. CN103030969 discloses waterborne polyurethane curing agent and its preparation method. Polyurethane curing agent is made by using polyisocyanate (46-77%), polyether polyol (3.5-17.2%), phosphoric acid (01-0.05%), DBTDL (0.01-0.3%) and solvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide at a temperature of 65° C.-100° C. for 3-6 h.
Korean Pat. No. KR20030049684 discloses polymeric resin composition for water curable filler and process for producing polyurethane using the same composition. The process for producing polyurethane comprises the step of agitating polyisocyanate (mixed polyisocyanate containing MDI and isophorone diisocyanate in the ratio of 4:1) with the polymeric resin composition for water curable fillers in the ratio of 1:1 at a high speed. The polymeric resin composition for water curable fillers comprises 30 to 100 wt % of greeno13001, 0.1 to 5 wt % of TEDA, 5 to 30 wt % of DPG(1000, 750, 280), 0.1 to 5 wt % of DBTDL, 5 to 30 wt % of DMEA, 0.1 to 5 wt % of B8404, 1 to 10 wt % of H2O, 8 to 28 wt % of CaCO3, 1.4 to 8.5 wt % of 1,4-butanediol, 1.8 to 30 wt % of ethylene oxide, and 10 to 40 wt % of glycerol.
PCT Pat. Appl. No. WO2011123492 discloses a method of making polyurethane dispersions made from a mixture of aromatic polyisocyanates including: (1) forming a polyurethane prepolymer from a composition including: a) at least one polyol; b) at least one diol containing carboxyl functionality; c) an isomeric mixture of diphenylmethyl diisocyanate including about 37% by weight or less of 4,4′-methylene bis (phenyl isocyanate); and optionally, but desirably, d) at least one additional aromatic isocyanate and (2) combining the polyurethane prepolymer from step (1) with at least one neutralizing amine and water. DBTDL is also used.
Article titled "Preparation and characterization of waterborne polyurethane crosslinked by urea bridges" by Hercule et al. published in International Journal of Chemistry, 2011, 3 (2), pp 88-96 reports waterborne polyurethane dispersion were prepared by polyaddition reaction using polyethylene glycol (PEG Mw 2000) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) in presence of dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTL) as catalyst.
Article titled "Catalytic activity of DBTDL in polyurethane formation" by Niyogi Sobhan et al. published in Indian Journal of Chemical Technology, 2002, 9, pp 330-333 reports preparation of Polyurethane from neopentyl glycol (NPG) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) using dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) catalyst.

Bio-based aromatic diisocyanates for preparation of polyurethanes

COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH


Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for treating a substrate. The method includes repeatedly rotating the substrate alternately at a first speed and at a second speed while the treatment liquid is supplied, and the second speed is higher than the first speed.

Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate to an apparatus and a method for treating a substrate.
Various processes such as cleaning, deposition, photographing, etching, and ion implantation are performed to manufacture a semiconductor device. Among the processes, deposition and a spin-on hard (SOH) mask (hereinafter, coating) process are used as a process of forming a film on a substrate. Further, the etching process includes a dry etching method that uses plasma in a vacuum state, and a wet etching method that uses a liquid chemical in a normal pressure state.
In general, the deposition process is a process of forming a film on a substrate by depositing a process gas on the substrate, and the coating process is a process of forming a liquid film by supplying a treatment liquid to the center of the substrate.
The process of supplying a treatment liquid, such as the coating process or the wet etching process is generally performed by supplying the treatment liquid to the substrate that rotates at a specific speed. In this case, in order to coat the treatment liquid to the entire surface of the substrate and to provide a sufficient treatment rate, the treatment liquid of a specific amount or more is supplied.

Apparatus and method for treating substrate


Devices for attaching medical tubing to a nasal cannula are provided. Such devices may comprise a body having a distal end and a proximal end, a connector disposed on the body and adapted to releasably attach the body to the nasal cannula, and one of the following: at least one tube holding member extending along at least one surface of the body and adapted to accept the medical tubing, or at least one body channel extending through the body and having an outlet at the distal end of the body, and a tube connector attached to the proximal end of the body and adapted to fluidly connect the medical tubing the at least one channel.

Anaesthesia allows patients to undergo surgery and other procedures without the distress and pain they would otherwise experience. A variety of drugs, referred herein as anesthetic drugs, may be given to a patient to block sensation in the patient by ensuring patient's unconsciousness, amnesia, analgesia and paralysis during the surgery and for some time after surgery. The anesthetic drugs may be administered by a variety of routes, including by injection or by inhalation. To administer the anesthetic drugs by inhalation, the following steps are typically taken: the drugs are formulated to evaporate easily, the vapors of the anesthetic drugs are mixed with carrier gasses, such as oxygen or nitrous oxide, and the mixture is administered to a patient throughout the surgery from an anesthesia machine. During sedation, oxygen is administered to the patient via medical tubing connected to a nasal cannula.
During surgery, patients being administered anesthetic drugs are continuously monitored to ensure the patient's safety. One of the standard monitoring tools is a capnograph, which monitors the carbon dioxide (CO2) in the exhaled respiratory gases. Monitoring amount of CO2 in exhaled respiratory gasses, which is known as Capnography, provides one of the most rapid and reliable methods to detect life-threatening conditions, including movement of tracheal tubes, unsuspected ventilatory failure, circulatory failure and defective breathing circuits, and enables physician to circumvent potentially irreversible patient injury.
Some nasal cannulas may also include a built-in means for sampling exhaled respiratory gases for CO2. Such cannulas are, however, extremely expensive and cannot be afforded by many hospitals. Alternatively, a medical tubing connected to a capnograph may be simply positioned near a patient's nose by, for example, attaching the medical tubing to a nasal cannula, such as by tape. This method, although easy and inexpensive, suffers from a number of shortcomings. For example, the connection between the medical tubing and the cannula may be insufficiently firm so the medical tube may shift from the desired position during the surgery. In addition, taping the medical tubing may result in pinching the medical tube causing the flow through the medical tube to substantially decrease or, in some instances, to cease completely. Finally, this method of attaching medical tubing to a nasal cannula may also interfere with the position and operation of the nasal cannula itself.
Accordingly, there is still a need for a device for attaching medical tubing to a nasal cannula that ensures that the medical tubing stays in the desired position throughout the surgery without interfering with performance of the medical tubing or the nasal cannula.


A seat mounted in the cabin of a vehicle has side supports for supporting the respective right and left lateral sides of the upper half body of an occupant. The seat also has a seat frame and a side support frame incorporated in the side support on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and secured on the seat frame. A console box is mounted adjacent to the seat, on the inner side of the seat in the vehicle width direction. The side support frame and the console box or the console frame are positioned so as to at least partially overlap each other in a side view.

Conventionally, various measures against side collision of vehicles have been suggested. Patent Document 1 below discloses a lower inside impact transmission block (25) mounted to the side of a seat (1) so as to be positioned on the extension of a lower cross member (20) of the seat (1). The lower inside impact transmission block (25) is opposed to a lateral surface of the console box (5). An impact applied to the seat (1) at a side collision is transmitted via the lower inside load transmission block (25) and the console box (5) to the floor tunnel (12). Note that the numbers in the parentheses above correspond to the reference numerals used in Patent Document 1 below, and have no relationship with the reference numerals referred to in the embodiments of this application.


A system includes reception of a logical schema associated with a data store, generation of an input schema based on the logical schema, reception of an expression having a type of the input schema and representing the topology of a data set, the data set being an instance of the input schema, compilation of the expression to a data specification based on the input schema, and generation of a plan to execute on the data store based on the data specification.

Query languages such as Structured Query Language (SQL) are particularly suited for retrieval of data from datastores, regardless of the schema of the data. However, SQL is not suited to data analysis, as it lacks the expressiveness to specify complex, high-level calculations. For example, SQL provides calculation of only one table at a time and lacks constructs such as calculated members, join abstraction, and abstraction of aggregation functions.
In contrast, Multi-Dimensional eXpressions (MDX) is a language providing multi-dimensional analytical queries including calculated measures, calculated members, hierarchical navigation support, and heterogeneous member sets. MDX is therefore commonly used to provide advanced analysis.
MDX, however, requires an underlying multi-dimensional model (i.e., a Cube) which must be authored so as to conform to particular structural requirements. Typically, a Cube represents a set of independent coordinates in an N-dimensional space, each point of which contains a scalar value (i.e., string or numeral). MDX allows programmers to specify sets of coordinates in this space and to retrieve the values corresponding to the coordinates.
Authoring a Cube on top of, for instance, the transactional data model of an application is a relatively costly design task which forces designers to make compromises. For instance, a designer must typically determine a default hierarchy to navigate each dimension of a Cube. Also, all dimensions in a Cube must be orthogonal, so any relations which exist between dimensions in the original schema are lost after the original schema is projected onto a Cube schema.
Data analysis often requires the specification of complex pieces of data, such as an entire report or a dashboard, that can only be materialized in a complex database schema containing, for instance, multiple fact tables sharing some but not all dimension tables. However, SQL, MDX, and other existing query languages for query and analysis are limited in regards to the "shape" of the data sets that a query can return. An SQL SELECT statement, however complex, always computes a single table. Similarly, an MDX statement always brings back a "cube slice" or star schema that includes only one fact table with foreign keys to zero or more independent dimension tables.
Therefore, if a report or dashboard requires more than the above-described simple data topologies, multiple queries to the underlying system must be issued. Then, the client application must reconcile the data returned by the multiple queries, which may involve additional data processing. Consequently, the atomicity of the read transaction is not guaranteed.


A method for implementing adaptive error correction in a memory, comprising the steps of (A) decoding a page of data read from a memory, (B) selecting one of a plurality of histograms based on a measured code word error rate of the decoded page and (C) applying an error correction code rate based on the selected histogram. The error correction code rate allows the memory to use a minimum number of error correction bits to provide reliable operation of the memory.

Conventional flash memory devices degrade over time as the device is programmed/erased and read. Vendors of flash memory devices publish data sheets listing a recommended worse case Error Correction Code (ECC) rate for each flash memory device that guarantees data integrity over a guaranteed program/erase cycle. However, at the beginning of the life cycle of a flash device, the flash device is not subject to as many bit errors, and does not need the correction power recommended by the flash vendors. Over the lifetime of a flash memory device, the flash memory device degrades and needs a lower ECC rate.
It would be desirable to implement a statistical adaptive error correction system for a flash memory device

Statistical adaptive error correction for a flash memory


A stereo demultiplexer is proposed which can be calculation power efficiently implemented in a DSP. Modern digital FM receivers exploit the information content in the in quadrature component of the modulated difference signal for a noise reduction. The proposed stereo demultiplexer derives the in phase component and the in quadrature component of the difference signal with a minimized number of sinus and cosinus calculations by first downconverting the modulated difference signal to a not synchronized complex baseband signal on basis of a fixed frequency, thereafter a complex sampling rate decimation unit sampling rate decimates the not synchronized complex baseband signal with a factor N and a second complex mixer synchronizes and coherent demodulates the sampling rate decimated not synchronized baseband signal on basis of a first complex carrier signal derived on basis of the pilot carrier signal and the fixed frequency. The proposed stereo demultiplexer can easily be combined with a noise reduction system and the digital demodulation of the RDS and ARI signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a stereo demultiplexer, in particular to a stereo demultiplexer realizing a calculation power efficient demodulation of the in phase and in quadrature components of the stereo difference signal.
2. Description of Related Art
A calculation power efficient stereo demultiplexer was already proposed in European patent application 99 120 798.6 of the applicant which is incorporated by reference herein. This stereo demultiplexer performs a calculation power efficient demodulation of the stereo difference signal, but only the in phase component of the modulated difference signal is demodulated. Modern denoising system, as proposed for example in European patent application 00 124 466.4 of the applicant which is incorporated by reference herein, require the demodulation of the in phase component and the in quadrature component of the difference signal for a noise reduction.
Therefore, it is the object underlying the present invention to provide a calculation power efficient stereo demultiplexer and method to demultiplex a stereo multiplex signal.


A press felt (4) is provided for transporting a fibre web (3) through the press section of a paper making machine for efficiently receiving water from the fibre web (3), the press felt (4) includes at least one fabric layer and a surface layer on both sides of the felt (4), the air permeability of both surface layers being substantially smaller than that of all fabric layers. In order to make the removal of water more efficient and to avoid the rewetting of the web, the air permeability of surface layer of the press felt away from the fibre web is substantially smaller than the air permeability of the surface layer on the opposite side of the press felt, i.e., the side adjacent the web.

Press felts are used within the press section of paper machines and the like to transport the fiber web through the press section and, correspondingly, to receive water removed from the fibre web in the press, whereby water is removed from the felt separately. The use of prior art press felt structures causes rewetting problems because water cannot be removed from the felt until after the nip when the felt has been separated from the web. This is due to, e.g., the following reasons. When being pressed, the web and the felt are compressed, so that water contained in the web enters the felt, and thereby the water contained in the web and the water contained in the felt are in close contact. When the web and the felt return to their original dimensions after the nip, the capillary force caused by the structure of the web and the felt is considerably greater in the web than in the felt. As a result, the water remaining in the web is able to suck water from the felt through its surface layer so that the obtained water removal result is deteriorated considerably.
In prior art press felts, in an attempt to eliminate the effect of this phenomenon, the surface layer of the felt on the side of the web has been made as compact as possible in order to increase its capillary force to that the water would be sucked into the felt instead of being sucked into the web. However, no greater improvement in the rewetting problem has been obtained in this way.

Press felt with asymetric fiber crosssection in a surface layer of lowest permeability


According to the invention, a method for automatically processing an incoming payment for a payee with an online money transfer system. In one step, information is received at the online money transfer system. That information relates to processing of one or more received payments associated with the payee. At some point, the incoming payment associated with the payee is received. A default repository for the incoming payment is determined. It is determined whether to transfer at least some of the incoming payment away from the default repository or escrow at least a portion of the incoming payment for benefit of at least one predetermined party. Either the earmark or the escrow is applied after this determination.

The invention relates generally to stored value fund transactions, and more particularly relates to transferring money between parties with a network-accessible system.
One party may wish to transfer money to herself, a counter party, or vice versa, for any of a variety of reasons. For example, the payee may have sold an auction item to the payor. Frequently, a payor party owes a debt to a payee party. The debt may be an informal IOU or a more formal transaction. Other times, the payor may wish to give the money to the payee as a gift. For example, a corporation may give a number of employees a $50 check, gift certificate or coupon as a holiday present or bonus.
On-line services provide electronic transfers using a credit card or bank account. Money passes from a credit card or bank account of a first party to the on-line service where it is distributed to a credit card or bank account of a second party. Money may be held in the system during this process in a stored value fund. Manual interaction with the on-line service allows transfers of money to and from this stored value fund. An example of this type of service is available at MoneyZap.com.™
Organizations often offer to send an employees paycheck to one or more accounts of their choosing through a process called direct deposit. The employee can specify an amount or percentage to go to one or more accounts. Other things are deducted from the paycheck such as the cost of tools, uniforms, etc. In some cases, a third party may enforce a judicial garnishment against the paycheck such that the third party is paid from the paycheck.
Escrow is used in some situations such as the payment of tax and insurance on property subject to a security interest. The loan company gathers extra money with each payment to fund an escrow account. Tax and insurance payments are deducted from this account. In this way, the loan company can be sure taxes and insurance are paid to protect their security interest.
In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.


Rapid set-up is achieved in a programmable delay element having identical pairs of positionally corresponding delay stages in parallel arrays. The pairs of delay elements include identical arrangements of circuit elements and are replicable in a step-and-repeat fashion to simplify delay element manufacture for any arbitrary maximum delay time to be provided. Delay stages of the delay element are comprised of multiplexers. Outputs of respective delay stages are simultaneously stored as a signal transition is propagated through the delay stages in a first order to program the delay element. Thereafter, signals are propagated through selected delay stages in a second order controlled by the simultaneously stored outputs of respective delay stages during the propagation of the signal transition. The selected stages through which a signal is propagated in the second order are the same stages through which the signal transition had propagated in the first order at the time the delay stage outputs were simultaneously stored.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to digital circuits for providing delay of digital signals and, more particularly, to programmable delay elements for correction and synchronization of propagation times of digital signals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Modern digital logic circuits, such as those used in digital data processors, are characterized by short signal propagation times which are enhanced by decreased switching element (e.g. transistor) sizes and increased integration density. The short signal propagation times are exploited by reducing clock cycle times so that logic functions and data processing can be carried out more rapidly.
However, signal propagation time is necessarily finite and non-uniform due to capacitances and resistances of interconnections and other loads such as those presented by the gates of CMOS devices which are currently the logic circuit technology of choice for most digital circuits and the signal propagation time within the circuits, themselves. The non-uniformity of signal propagation time has increased with digital processor complexity and burdensome design analyses are generally required to determine critical signal paths and maintain propagation time within tolerances in those critical paths. Even non-critical paths may present problems and cause errors of logic function in relatively simple circuit configurations and which cannot be reliably predicted.
Consider, for example, a circuit in which two related signals are propagated in parallel such as respective bits of a single byte of binary code representing a character or number. If a logical combination of those two signals or bits is to be done, it is clearly imperative that both signals or bits be present and determinable as being of the appropriate logic state when the logic function is allowed to occur in order to avoid errors. Of course, it would be possible to latch signals at each point of the propagation path or to delay the logical operation until all signals are unconditionally settled to a stable logic state.
However, either such possibility would greatly reduce the operational speed of the overall logic circuit or processor. Thorough design analysis and adjustment of propagation time of each node of each signal propagation path would be economically prohibitive and does not guarantee the performance of the circuit. Accordingly, it is common practice to provide programmable delay elements in such signal paths to delay selected ones of related signals to correspond to the last to arrive in order to automatically synchronize their arrival at a particular node.
In general, it is also common practice to generate delays in digital signals by propagating signals through a plurality of rapidly switched identical stages such as serial pairs of inverter circuits and which are arrayed such that propagation time over connections between stages is substantially constant. While some variation in propagation time is inevitable, the propagation time through a pair of inverters is a sufficiently small time increment to approximate the required delay with a resolution which is short compared to clock cycle time. However, since propagation time may vary between stages and collectively over a plurality of stage (e.g. due to temperature, supply voltage and other operational and environmental conditions, it is generally necessary to provide for empirical determination of the number of stages which will provide a required delay period at any given time in order to suitably program a delay element.
The ability to program such delay elements potentially reduces the design burden of designing particular delay elements for each node of a circuit path. However, it should be appreciated that delay elements can consume significant amounts of chip space, depending on the maximum amount of delay to be accommodated. While the maximum delay can be estimated, the maximum delay must be matched fairly closely with the actual delay in order to avoid excessive consumption of chip space and specific designs of delay elements for specific maximum delays may be required, depending on other operational constraints such as so-called set-up time.
That is, if delays are reasonably stable, it may be acceptable from a circuit design point of view to more-or-less permanently program the delay element with a few bits of read only memory or to use some type of propagation time monitoring and data collection circuit (external to the delay element) which adjustably reprograms the delay element based on some statistical criteria in regard to error rate, propagation time variation, external conditions such as supply voltage or temperature or the like. This type of expedient allows the delay element to be physically formed on a chip in a step-and-repeat fashion since the delay stages may be made identically and the programming arrangement merely gates the output of each stage appropriately to derive the output from the stage which will provide the needed delay, such as by providing a simple multiplexer at each stage of the delay element.
On the other hand, there are many applications in which operation time is sufficiently critical that reprogramming is desirable upon the detection of any error and must be completed based on a single measurement or detection of actual propagation time, such as by sending a single signal transition through the delay element. Circuit designs capable of such a short set-up time are substantially more complex since they must internally measure signal propagation time through the delay element and immediately adjust the location at which the output is to be taken. It is also necessary to provide equal delay from each tap of the delay line to the output of the multiplexer including the connections from the delay elements to the multiplexer inputs and accommodation of this requirement increases the complexity of the delay element design and requires unique layouts for delay elements of each different maximum delay to be produced.
To do this, it has been considered necessary to store propagation time information in the delay element and to use a single multiplexer having a number of inputs equal to the number of delay stages which is responsive to the stored propagation time data. This latter requirement prevents the delay element to be physically produced by the simple step-and-repeat fashion alluded to above since a different multiplexer design must be provided for each maximum delay. Again, there is a trade-off between chip space and the number of multiplexer designs which may be required in the overall logic circuit or processor design.
In summary, fast set-up time and ease of extendibility of the delay element architecture have been mutually exclusive. This mutual exclusivity can be readily understood from the fact that provision of a simple multiplexer at each stage of the delay element requires serial propagation of signals through a number of the multiplexers. Thus the propagation time through the serial chain of multiplexers after the signal has been tapped from one of the serially connected delay stages precludes the propagation time through the serially connected multiplexers from being directly measured consistent with propagation time data being stored in a latch in a replicable delay element stage. Therefore, a search for the correct stage at which to tap a signal from the delay line requires a number of repetitions to achieve the correct total delay through both a serial array of delay elements and a serial array of multiplexers. Viewed in a slightly different way, the circuit designer must choose between complexity of delay element circuit design and layout and complexity of set-up to achieve correct programming to achieve the required delay.

International Business Machines Corporation


The coupling includes first gripping members which are connected, facing on one and the same level on corresponding mounting bodies, to respective structures, and second gripping members mounted so as to slide vertically on the first gripping members in order to secure pneumatic covers in two diametrically opposed regions thereof with the collaboration of threaded rods. The gripping members and provide retention walls that extend towards the mounting bodies by means of horizontal retention flanges. The second gripping members have walls with holes for the passage of screws during fitting thereof to the mounting bodies.

It is necessary to absorb movement in structures that need to be adapted to water movement. Such is the case of jetties or other platforms, either passing-through or support platforms, built with independent elements that must be kept together by means of couplings which can buffer the joining thereof.
Moreover, breeding molluscs at ria mouths, in rough waters of large lakes or in the open sea where waves can be considerable, requires farming structures to resist the battering of the sea and the force of underwater currents during storms, or the efforts derived from tugging said structures to their place of use, or both situations at the same time. In addition, in known designs of mollusc farming structures, the breeding ropes hanging from the structures endure abrupt movements, thus causing the detachment of part of the culture.
The stiffness of these structures, together with the heavy loads they support, prevent proper adjustment to the marine environment and, as a better adjustment to the environment is required in the facilities and devices for mollusc farming than in those designed for fish breeding, it has become necessary to design structures intended for this specific type of farming having elongated hollow members or at least with hollow ends interconnected with intermediate flexible modules, as disclosed in document ES2145727.
Document WO8703170, though not intended for mollusc breeding, discloses a floating breeding device for fish and the like including at least one breeding bag which is carried by a cage equipped with floating bodies, which cage consists of a three-dimensional frame consisting of a number of rods composed to polygons, which rods and foreseen interconnecting struts are elastically interconnected between at least some of the joints.
Document EP0358421 discloses the use of a flexible coupling to join frame members into a fence structure for fish breeding, the coupling including first and second mounting means for mounting to respective frame members adjoining in the structure and a flexible body between said first and second mounting means. The rotational and translational movement between adjoining frame members is determined by the material of the flexible body and by two mechanical stops. The coupling includes a mechanical connection between the mounting means in case the flexible body fails.

Shock-absorbing coupling for floating structures


In a plasma display panel, abnormal discharge in address periods is suppressed to enhance image display quality. The scan electrode driving circuit generates a first falling down-ramp voltage i.e. down-ramp voltage L2 or down-ramp voltage L4, in initializing periods, generates sustain pulses in sustain periods, generates a rising up-ramp voltage, i.e. erasing up-ramp voltage L3, at the ends of the sustain periods, and applies the voltages to the scan electrodes. After generating the sustain pulses in the sustain periods, the scan electrode driving circuit generates a second down-ramp voltage, i.e. erasing down-ramp voltage L5, which has a portion falling with a gradient gentler than that of down-ramp voltage L2 and down-ramp voltage L4. After generating erasing down-ramp voltage L5, the scan electrode driving circuit generates erasing up-ramp voltage L3 and applies the voltage to the scan electrodes.

A typical alternating-current surface discharge panel used as a plasma display panel (hereinafter simply referred to as "panel") has a large number of discharge cells that are formed between a front plate and a rear plate facing each other. The front plate has the following elements:                a plurality of display electrode pairs, each formed of a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, disposed on a front glass substrate parallel to each other; and        a dielectric layer and a protective layer formed so as to cover the display electrode pairs. The rear plate has the following elements:        a plurality of parallel data electrodes formed on a rear glass substrate;        a dielectric layer formed so as to cover the data electrodes;        a plurality of barrier ribs formed on the dielectric layer parallel to the data electrodes; and        phosphor layers formed on the surface of the dielectric layer and on the side faces of the barrier ribs.The front plate and the rear plate face each other so that the display electrode pairs and the data electrodes three-dimensionally intersect, and are sealed together. A discharge gas containing xenon in a partial pressure ratio of 5%, for example, is charged into the sealed inside discharge space. Discharge cells are formed in portions where the display electrode pairs face the data electrodes. In a panel having such a structure, gas discharge generates ultraviolet light in each discharge cell. This ultraviolet light excites the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) phosphors so that the phosphors emit the corresponding colors for color display on the panel.
A subfield method is typically used as a method for driving the panel. In the subfield method, one field is divided into a plurality of subfields, and gradations are displayed by causing light emission or no light emission in each discharge cell in each subfield.
Each subfield has an initializing period, an address period, and a sustain period.
In the initializing period, an initializing waveform is applied to the respective scan electrodes to cause an initializing discharge in the respective discharge cells. This initializing discharge forms wall charge necessary for the subsequent address operation on the electrodes in the respective discharge cells. This discharge also generates priming particles (excitation particles for causing an address discharge) for stably causing the address discharge in the respective discharge cells.
In the address period, a scan pulse is applied to the scan electrodes, and an address pulse is selectively applied to the data electrodes according to the signals of an image to be displayed. Thereby, an address discharge is selectively caused to form wall charge in the discharge cells to be lit (hereinafter, this operation being also referred to as "addressing").
In the sustain period, sustain pulses corresponding in number to the luminance to be displayed are applied to display electrode pairs, each formed of a scan electrode and a sustain electrode. Thereby, a sustain discharge is caused in the discharge cells having undergone the address discharge, and thus the phosphor layers in the discharge cells are caused to emit light. In this manner, an image is displayed.
As one of the subfield methods, the following driving method is disclosed. In this driving method, an initializing discharge is caused with a gently-changing voltage waveform. Further, the initializing discharge is selectively caused in the discharge cells having undergone a sustain discharge. This operation minimizes the light emission unrelated to gradation display and improves the contrast ratio.
Specifically, in the initializing period of one subfield among a plurality of subfields, an all-cell initializing operation for causing an initializing discharge in all the discharge cells is performed. In the initializing periods of the other subfields, a selective initializing operation for causing an initializing discharge only in the discharge cells having undergone a sustain discharge in the immediately preceding sustain period is performed. With such driving, the luminance in an area displaying a black picture (hereinafter, simply referred to as "luminance of a black level") that is changed by light emission unrelated to image display is determined by a weak light emission in the all-cell initializing operation, and an image having a high contrast can be displayed (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
The following driving method is also disclosed. In this driving method, an initializing waveform that has the following two portions is applied in the initializing periods: a portion where the voltage rises with a gentle gradient; and a portion where the voltage falls with a gentle gradient. Immediately before this application, a weak discharge is caused between the sustain electrodes and scan electrodes in all the discharge cells. This operation can improve the visibility of black in the panel (see Patent Literature 2, for example).
With the recent increases in the definition of a panel, the discharge cells have been further miniaturized. The following phenomena are confirmed in such miniaturized discharge cells. The wall charge formed in such discharge cells by the initializing discharge is likely to be changed by the influence of the address discharge or sustain discharge caused in the adjacent discharge cells. The wall charge in the discharge cells undergoing no sustain discharge is likely to be changed by the influence of the adjacent discharge cells undergoing a sustain discharge, in the subfield where a large number of sustain pulses are generated in the sustain period. When unnecessary wall charge excessively accumulates in discharge cells, an erroneous address discharge (hereinafter, also referred to as "false discharge") can occur in the discharge cells where the address discharge is not to be caused. Such a false discharge deteriorates the image display quality.

Plasma display device, and method for driving plasma display panel