A method and/or electrochemical cell for utilizing one or more gas diffusion 5 electrodes (GDEs) in an electrochemical cell, the one or more gas diffusion electrodes have a wetting pressure and/or a bubble point exceeding 0.2 bar. The one or more gas diffusion electrodes can be subjected to a pressure differential between a liquid side and a gas side. A pressure on the liquid side of the GDE over the gas side does not exceed the wetting pressure of the GDE during 10 operation (in cases where a liquid electrolyte side has higher pressure), and/or a pressure on the gas side of the GDE over the liquid side, does not exceeds the bubble point of the GDE (in cases where the gas side has the higher pressure).

Numerous electrochemical processes involve gas-to-liquid or liquid-to-gas transformations. For example, hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells typically utilize the transformation of gaseous oxygen and hydrogen into liquid water at solid-phase, electrically-connected catalysts, like platinum metal.
Many gas-to-liquid or liquid-to-gas processes are most effectively carried out by so-called Gas Diffusion Electrodes (GDEs). At the present time, commercially available GDEs typically comprise fused, porous layers of conductive particles (usually carbon particles) of different size. The outer-most layers typically contain particles of the smallest dimensions, fused together with lesser amounts of hydrophobic PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, or Teflon™) binder. The inner-most layers typically contain the largest particles. There may be multiple intermediate layers of intermediary particle size.
The intention of this gradation in particle size within GDEs, from largest in the center to smallest on the outer sides, is to create and control a three-phase solid-liquid-gas boundary within the electrode. This boundary should have the largest possible surface area. The creation of such a boundary is achieved, effectively, by controlling the average pore sizes between the particles, ensuring that the smallest pore sizes are at the edges and the largest are in the center. Since the pores are typically relatively hydrophobic (due to the PTFE binder), the small pore sizes at the edges (e.g. 30 microns pore size) act to hinder and limit the ingress of liquid water into the GDE. That is, water can penetrate only a relatively short distance into the GDE, where the electrochemically active surface area per unit volume, is largest. By contrast, the larger pores in the centre of the GDE (e.g. 150 microns pore size), allow for ready gas transmission at low pressure along the length of the GDE, with the gas then forming a three-way solid-liquid-gas boundary with the liquid water at the edges of the GDE, where the electrochemically active surface area per unit volume is the largest.
Layered porous electrode structures are presently the industry standard for:                (1) conventional free-standing GDEs (for example, of the type used in hydrogen-oxygen PEM fuel cells); and        (2) hybrid GDEs, where a GDE layer has been incorporated within an electrode, typically between a current collector and the gas zone.
GDEs of this type often display significant technical problems during operation. These largely derive from the difficulty of creating a seamlessly homogeneous particulate bed, with uniform pore sizes and distributions, and uniform hydrophobicity (imparted by the hydrophobic PTFE binder within the GDE). Because of the resulting relative lack of uniformity in the GDE structure, the three-phase solid-liquid-gas boundary created within the GDE may be:                Unstable and fluctuating. The location of the boundary within the GDE may be subject to changing conditions during reaction which cause the boundary to constantly re-distribute itself to new locations within the GDE during operation.        Inhomogeneous. The boundary may be located at widely and unpredictably divergent depths within the GDE as one traverses the length of the GDE.        Inconsistent and ill-defined. At certain points within the GDE, there may be multiple and not a single solid-liquid-gas boundary.        Prone to failure. The boundary may fail at certain points within the GDE during operation, causing a halt to the desired chemical reaction. For example, a common failure mode is that the GDE becomes completely filled with the liquid phase, thereby destroying the three-phase boundary; this is known in the industry as "flooding". Flooding is a particular problem in fuel cells, such as hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, that require the feedstock gases to be humidified. Flooding may be caused by water ingress into the gas diffusion electrode via systematic, incremental percolation through the non-homogeneous pores of the electrode, or it may be caused by spontaneous condensation of the water vapour in the feedstock gas stream. In all cases, flooding induces a decline in the voltage output and power generation of such fuel cells.
Problems of this type are not conducive to optimum operations and may result in uneven, low-yielding, incomplete or incorrect reactions, amongst others.
Conventional 3D Particulate Fixed-Bed Electrodes and GDEs
At the present time, 3D particulate fixed bed electrodes and gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) are conventionally fabricated by mixing carbon black and PTFE powders and then compressing the solid mixture into a bulk, porous electrode.
The pore size of the resulting structure may be very roughly controlled by managing the particle size of the particulates used. However, it is difficult to achieve a uniform pore size throughout the electrode using this approach because particles, especially "sticky" particles like PTFE, often do not flow evenly and distribute themselves uniformly when compressed. A wide range of pore sizes are therefore typically obtained. It is, moreover, generally not possible to create structures with uniformly small pore sizes, such as 0.05 μm-0.5 μm in size.
The hydrophobicity of the structure is typically controlled by managing the relative quantity of PTFE incorporated into the structure. The PTFE holds the structure together and creates the required porosity. However, its quantity must be carefully controlled so as to impart the electrode with an appropriately intermediate hydrophobicity. An intermediate hydrophobicity is needed to ensure partial, but not complete water ingress. In the case of GDEs, this is needed to thereby create a solid-liquid-gas boundary within the carbon black matrix that makes up the electrode.
This method of constructing 3D particulate fixed bed electrodes and gas diffusion electrodes creates some significant practical problems when operating such electrodes in industrial electrochemical cells, particularly in electro-synthetic and electro-energy (e.g. fuel cell) applications. These problems include the formation of three-way solid-liquid-gas boundaries that are: ill-defined, inconsistent, unstable, fluctuating, inhomogeneous, and prone to failures like flooding.
Problems of this type largely arise from the intrinsic lack of control in the fabrication process, which attempts to create all of the inherent properties of the electrode—including porosity, hydrophobicity, and conductivity—in a single step. Moreover, the fabrication method seeks to simultaneously optimise all of these properties within a single structure. This is often not practically possible since the properties are inter-related, meaning that optimising one may degrade another.
Despite these drawbacks, the approach of combining particulate carbon black and PTFE into a compressed or sintered fixed bed remains the standard method of fabricating GDEs for industrial electrochemistry. This approach is used to fabricate, for example, free-standing GDEs of the type used in hydrogen-oxygen PEM fuel cells. Even where only a GDE component is required within an electrode, the standard method of fabricating that GDE component is to form it as a compressed, porous layer of particulate carbon black and PTFE.
For the above and other reasons, the conventional method of making GDEs and the properties of conventional GDEs, and methods for managing electrochemical reactions occurring therein, are open to improvement.
FIG. 1 (prior art) depicts in a schematic form, a conventional 3D particulate fixed bed electrode or a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) 110, as widely used in industry at present.
In a conventional 3D particulate fixed bed electrode or GDE 110, a conductive element (e.g. carbon particles) is typically combined (using compression/sintering) with a non-conductive, hydrophobic element (e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Teflon™ particles) and catalyst into a single, fixed-bed structure 110. The fixed-bed structure 110 has intermediate hydrophobicity, good but not the best available conductivity, and a pore structure that is non-uniform and poorly defined over a single region 113. When the 3D particulate fixed bed electrode or GDE 110 is then contacted on one side by a liquid electrolyte and on the other side by a gaseous substance, these physical features bring about the formation of an irregularly-distributed three-phase solid-liquid-gas boundary within the body of the electrode 110, below its outer surface 112 and within single region 113, as illustrated in the magnified view presented in FIG. 1. At the three-phase boundary, electrically connected catalyst (solid phase) is in simultaneous contact with the reactants (in either the liquid or the gas phase) and the products (in the other one of the liquid or gas phase). The solid-liquid-gas boundary within the GDE 110 therefore provides a boundary at which electrochemical liquid-to-gas or gas-to-liquid reactions may be facilitated by, for example, the application of a particular electrical voltage. The macroscopic width of the three-phase solid-liquid-gas boundary is comparable or similar in dimension to the width of the conventional GDE. The thickness of the three-phase solid-liquid-gas boundary in a conventional GDE is typically in the range of from 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm in fuel cell GDEs up to, higher thicknesses, such as several millimeters, in industrial electrochemical GDEs.
Overpressure and Flooding
The phenomenon of flooding described above is often caused by ingress of liquid electrolyte, for example water, into the gas diffusion electrode when the liquid electrolyte is subject to any sort of external pressure. For example, in an industrial electrolytic cell of 1 meter height, water at the bottom of the cell is pressurised at 0.1 bar due to the hydraulic head of water. If a GDE were used at this depth, the GDE would typically be immediately flooded by water ingress because modern-day GDEs have very low "wetting pressures" (also known as the "water entry pressure"), that are typically less than 0.1 bar (although GDEs with wetting pressures of 0.2 bar have recently been reported in WO2013037902). GDEs are, additionally, relatively expensive.
This is a particular problem in industrial electrochemical cells in which it is highly beneficial to apply a gas, for example such as oxygen or hydrogen, to an electrode, via the use of a GDE at that electrode. Many industrial electrochemical cells are large, employing water electrolyte with a depth greater than 1 meter in the cell. If a GDE with wetting pressure less than 0.1 bar is used, then the cell will leak from its electrolyte chamber unless additional means are applied to balance the pressure differential between the liquid and the gas side of the GDE.
Companies have therefore gone to great lengths to try to operate GDEs at or near 0.1 bar. For example, WO 2003035939 describes a method for segmenting the water head so that a depth of more than 1 meter can be used but no part of the GDE feels more than 0.1 bar trans-electrode pressure.
In other industrial electrochemical cells, electrolyte is routinely pumped around the cell. Unless expensive pressure-compensation equipment is installed to scrupulously avoid pressure differentials, such pumping actions may readily generate local increases in the liquid pressure of 0.1 bar or more, thereby causing the cell to leak from its electrolyte chamber if a GDE was used as one of the electrodes.
The counterpart to the problem of flooding relates to the development of excess pressure on the gaseous side of conventional GDEs. If the gas pressure in a conventional GDE becomes even a little higher than the liquid pressure, then excess gas may pass through the GDE, exiting as bubbles at the liquid-facing side of the GDE. The formation of bubbles in this way is generally deleterious to the performance of the cell in that bubbles typically: (i) "mask" the electrode surface, causing a decline in the rate of reaction, and (ii) increase the ionic resistance of the electrolyte solution, inducing unnecessary energy consumption.
These problems related to pressure equalisation at the gas-liquid interface in GDEs are compounded by the fact that many industrial electrochemical cells operate most effectively when the liquid electrolyte is pressurised to, for example, several bars of pressure. As it can be extremely difficult to maintain pressure equalisation at a GDE, solid-state electrodes, such as dimensionally-stable electrodes, must instead be used. Such electrodes typically generate bubbles of the product gases, so that, the gas-liquid interface for such electrodes involves the surface of the gas bubbles present in the liquid electrolyte at the electrode face. The gas within such bubbles must necessarily and automatically be at the same pressure as the surrounding liquid electrolyte, in order for the bubble to resist collapse, or to avoid uncontrolled expansion. Under these circumstances, pressure equalisation is not a challenge and the problem is thereby avoided.
The technical problems associated with commercially available GDEs, along with their high cost and other factors, mean that it is generally commercially and technically unviable to use GDEs in many present-day industrial electrochemical gas-to-liquid or liquid-to-gas processes.
This is demonstrated by the very extensive efforts that have been made over the years seeking to develop GDEs and pressure-equalising apparatuses to deal with these challenges in the case of the chlor-alkali process. The chlor-alkali process is one of the most widely used electrochemical processes in the world. Numerous patent applications have described approaches seeking to overcome the problem of pressure equalisation in the chlor-alkali process. For example, Patent Publication Nos. WO 2003035939, WO 2003042430, and, more recently, WO 2013037902, have described pressure-equalising apparatuses and/or fabrication techniques to create Gas Diffusion Electrodes able to avoid leaking up to 0.2 bar liquid overpressure.
In summary, in order to realise the benefits that GDEs may confer upon electrochemical gas-to-liquid and liquid-to-gas processes, new electrochemical cells, GDEs and/or methods to manage electrochemical reactions or pressure differentials at the liquid-gas interface of GDEs are needed. Preferably, an improved Gas Diffusion Electrode should be relatively inexpensive, robust and/or mechanically strong, and have a relatively high wetting pressure.
The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Method and electrochemical cell for managing electrochemical reactions


An environment virtualization infrastructure (EVI) is made up of storage, network, and compute elements which are virtualized in a virtual platform that is implemented on a hardware platform. In some embodiments, the EVI is dynamic and is expressed as a collection of downloadable data structures. The virtual platform can include an EVI with a definable topology and an emulator that configures various components of the EVI automatically. In some embodiments, the emulator is invoked via an Application Programming Interface. The EVI can be implemented as a Software as a Service. In some embodiments, the EVI includes virtual environments that have routers, switches, operating systems, and software applications.

Cloud infrastructures typically include compute, network and storage elements. Deployments of cloud infrastructures are typically composed of physical and virtual dependencies. These dependencies are independently configured and provisioned on demand as needed.
Infrastructure elements can be configured to know about each other and to allow them to communicate with one another. Configuration of cloud infrastructure deployments typically requires significant manual effort. Moreover, the infrastructure can be tied to specific physical and virtual dependencies.
In existing cloud infrastructure technologies, a cloud infrastructure can be assembled from a variety of compute, network, and storage technologies. In some cases, the cloud infrastructure can be integrated and validated before installation so as to speed deployment and guarantee interoperability between the hardware and software components.
Cloud infrastructure can assist backup, workload balancing and disaster recovery within a data center, for example, or across more than one data center.
In some cases, cloud infrastructures include a cloud management system. The management system can enable cloud operations and improve productivity. Moreover, the cloud management system can validate updates prior to installation to reduce risk.
The cloud management system can, in addition, provide a level of application optimization, and streamline infrastructure support.
One shortcoming of the conventional cloud infrastructure is the significant effort required to provision and configure the infrastructure. Another shortcoming is the reliance on special purpose hardware (such as switches, routers, and storage systems) for compute, network and storage elements of the cloud infrastructure. A further shortcoming is the significant time and effort required to re-configure existing infrastructure and/or deploy additional infrastructure in an operational cloud infrastructure.


An optical component for coupling out an individual output beam from a collective output beam includes a plurality of radiation-reflecting regions which are grouped in such a way that regions of the same group serve for guiding different partial beams of the individual output beam to the same scanner.

A free electron laser (FEL) can serve as a radiation source for a projection exposure system including a plurality of scanners. An FEL emits illumination radiation with an intensity profile which can be subject to fluctuations. Such fluctuations can have the effect that the energy proportion of the illumination radiation which is guided to a specific one of the scanners varies. This can lead, in particular, to dose fluctuations of the individual scanner.

Optical component for use in a radiation source module of a projection exposure system


A system is described for synchronously detecting a video signal along a selectable detection axis. The system includes a limiter receiving an input video signal and a phase-locked loop for developing an oscillator signal whose frequency is locked to the frequency of the video signal. A phase-adjustment network recieves the oscillator signal from the phase-locked loop for adjusting the phase of the oscillator signal such that it corresponds to the desired axis of detection. A synchronous detector receives the input video signal and the phase-adjusted oscillator signal for detecting the video signal along the selected detection axis.

The present invention relates generally to television receivers, and particularly to improvements in synchronous detection systems for use in television receivers.
Present high quality television receivers generally employ a synchronous detector rather than a diode detector for detecting video signals. The advantages of synchronous detection are well known and need not be detailed. Suffice it to say that the resultant picture which the receiver generates is of a higher quality than that obtainable by use of a diode detector.
As is well known, a synchronous detector receives a 45 megahertz video signal and an oscillator signal which is of exactly the same frequency and of substantially the same phase as the video signal. To develop the oscillator signal, a phase-locked loop is usually employed wherein a limiter limits the amplitude of the video signal and applies the limited video signal to a phase detector. The phase detector also receives an oscillation signal from a VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) and generates an error signal for locking the VCO to the frequency of the video signal. When such frequency lock occurs, the phase of the oscillator signal is also generally locked such that it is in phase quadrature with the video signal received by the phase detector. As a result of such quadrature phase lock, the oscillator signal must be shifted in phase by ninety degrees to bring it into alignment with the phase of the video signal which is received by the synchronous detector, thereby to provide the proper detection axis for the synchronous detector.
One way in which the detection axis of the synchronous detector has been at least partially adjusted is by modifying the phase response of the limiter. To accommodate such modification, the limiter conventionally includes a variable tuned circuit which serves multiple purposes. One of those purposes is to modify the phase of the limited video signal so that the VCO locks at a phase at which an acceptable detection axis occurs. Another purpose of the tuned circuit is to adjust the limiter for optimum differential phase performance. However, adjusting the tuned circuit for optimum performance of one of its functions causes another of its functions to be performed less than optimally. For example, when the tuned circuit is adjusted for the best detection axis, its differential phase performance may suffer. Likewise, when the tuned circuit is adjusted for best differential phase performance, the VCO may be locked to a phase which produces an undesirable detection axis. Hence, the adjustment of the tuned circuit has been a compromise among conflicting requirements, none of which end up being met optimally. Hence, the qualities inherent in synchronous detection have not been taken advantage of to the fullest desirable extent.


A material handling apparatus and methods for transporting and manipulating headstones are provided. The apparatus consists of a mobile carrier having a frame and a bed member pivotally attached thereto that is adapted to carry and support a headstone thereon. The bed member is pivotable between a horizontal position wherein it is carried on the frame of the mobile carrier to a position wherein it is perpendicular to the mobile carrier frame by a manually operated hydraulic cylinder. A support foot is attached to the end of the bed member to support the bottom of a headstone when the bed member is in the perpendicular position. The position of the support foot may be selectively adjusted with respect to the end of the bed member to enable the headstone to be placed on objects located at various heights above the ground level. A removable water-tight container is also provided for hauling concrete solutions or crushed gravel.

Headstones are employed in cemeteries to mark the location of individual grave sites and serve as a medium for memorializing information about the decedent. Headstones are typically fabricated from marble or granite materials and generally weigh 1000 pounds or more depending upon their size.
The process of transporting a headstone to a grave site and manipulating it to an upright position is known as stone setting and those who perform this process must be trained in the methods for handling headstones to minimize the chance of injuring themselves or causing damage to the headstone. The stone setting process is typically performed in two steps. The first step of the process consists of transporting the headstone in a vehicle from the manufacturer to the cemetery. The second step of the process consists of transporting the headstone from the vehicle to the grave site and manipulating it into a final upright position.
Trucks or other similar motor vehicles are typically employed to transfer the headstone from the manufacturer to the cemetery. However, due to the close proximity of the headstones to one another and the possibility of damaging the cemetery grounds by the truck's wheels, the headstone often must be transported from the truck to the grave site by other means that can be maneuvered between the headstones without damaging existing headstones and the cemetery grounds. In some instances, the headstone must be transported a great distance through the cemetery and up steep hills to reach the grave site.
One method commonly employed to transport a headstone from the truck to the grave site uses a manually operated four-wheeled dolly similar to those dollies used to move large appliances. The dolly is laid in a horizontal position on the ground and the headstone is transferred from the truck bed either manually or by a crane that is connected to the truck bed. To manually transfer the headstone from the truck bed to the dolly, boards are typically leaned onto the rear of the truck bed to create a ramp between the dolly and the truck bed. The headstone is then manually manipulated from the truck bed onto the boards and is then permitted slide down the boards onto the dolly. That method of transferring the headstone onto the dolly can be quite dangerous and must be carefully performed to prevent damaging the headstone as it slides down the boards onto the dolly.
After the headstone has been transferred to the dolly, the dolly must be manually pushed or pulled to the grave site. That process may be complicated by soft or water-soaked ground conditions which tend to cause the dolly wheels to sink into the ground thus making the dolly difficult to move. In instances where a hillside must be traversed to reach the grave site, a winch is commonly employed to winch the heavy headstone and dolly up the hill. More specifically, a length of pipe or rod is inserted into the hillside at a position above the dolly. The winch is then connected between the pipe and the dolly and the dolly is winched to the pipe. The pipe is then removed and the entire process is repeated until the dolly has been transported up the hillside. That process is very labor intensive, dangerous and time consuming and can damage the cemetery grounds.
After the headstone has been transported to the grave site, it must be unloaded from the dolly. That process requires the stone setters to manually push or pull the dolly to an upright position wherein the headstone can be slid from the bottom support ledge of the dolly and onto the ground. Depending upon the size and the weight of the headstone, many individuals may be required to transfer the headstone to the upright position.
Often, the headstone must be placed onto a base or foundation member that is raised above the ground level a distance of, for example, six to eight inches. In those situations, the stone setters must either advance the dolly wheels onto a makeshift ramp usually created by stacking loose boards together or, in the alternative, may unload the headstone onto the ground and then pry the headstone onto the base with pry bars. The latter method increases the possibility of damaging the headstone or the base during the lifting and prying process.
Also, because the headstones are constantly exposed to the elements and may also be subjected to acts of vandalism, it often becomes necessary sometime during the life of the headstone to take the headstone back to the manufacturer for refurbishing or repair. In those instances, a dolly is also used to transport the headstone from the grave site to the truck. The stone setter must transfer the headstone onto the dolly and then return the dolly to a horizontal position wherein it can be pushed or pulled to the truck. It will be appreciated that the above described methods and apparatus for handling and transporting a headstone are very time consuming and cumbersome to use. It will be further appreciated that the above-described methods often result in injury to the stone setter by virtue of the difficulty in manually moving and manipulating the heavy headstone.
In the material handling industry, several devices have been developed for unloading materials from mobile vehicles. For example, a tiltable loading and unloading truck bed is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,882. The truck bed disclosed in that patent has support forks non-movably attached thereto that are constructed for picking up large loads such as a stack of hay bales. The position of the forks, however, cannot be selectively adjusted with respect to the end of the tiltable bed to enable one to load or unload materials at different heights. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,894 discloses a tiltable truck bed that has a forklift mechanism movably attached thereto. The vertical position of the forklift platform, however, is dependent upon the inclination angle of the truck bed and, as such would be ill-suited for transporting and manipulating headstones in the manner described above.
Other material handling devices such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,963,070 and 5,147,170 to Detrick are equally ill-suited for performing the various transportation and manipulation tasks associated with handling headstones. In particular, the Detrick apparatuses are not adapted for travel on a variety of different terrain conditions. Also, the Detrick devices and others like them are not adapted to place an item on an upstanding foundation that is located on uneven terrain. For example, often the foundation upon which a headstone must be gently placed is located on sloping terrain. In those situations, the top surface of the foundation is typically located on an angle with respect to the ground surface. The prior apparatuses, such as those disclosed in the above-mentioned patents, all have support mechanisms that are not capable of assuming various angular positions with respect to the tiltable members to which they are attached. That is, support mechanisms of prior devices are fixed on a substantially horizontal position that is substantially parallel with the surface upon which the mobile device is traversing. Therefore, if one were to use those devices to place a headstone onto a foundation located on sloping or uneven terrain, one portion of the headstone would be held a certain distance above the foundation. Because the headstones are subject to being damaged should they be dropped a small distance onto a foundation, make-shift cribbing and/or support ramps must be manufactured in the field in order for the transport apparatus to be oriented at the proper angle. In particular, with this method, the transport device is driven onto the cribbing, thus causing the device to be tilted to an angle that substantially corresponds with the angle of the foundation. Such method is time consuming and may be unsafe depending upon the magnitude of the angle at which the transport device is positioned.
Thus, there is a need for a material handling device and method for transporting and manipulating a headstone from a horizontal transportable position to a vertical position, the height of which is selectively adjustable to various heights above the ground without the manual handling and manipulation normally associated with those procedures. There is a further need for a material handling device that can safely position a headstone onto a foundation that is located on uneven or slopping terrain.

Mobile material handling apparatus for transporting and manipulating a load and methods for using same


A storage case for storing a hinge-lidded box-type package, the hinge-lidded box-type package including a package body that has an open end at an upper part, and is capable of housing an object to be housed therein, and a lid part that is rotatably coupled to an edge of the open end through a hinge, and opens and closes the open end, the storage case having: a bottom surface wall; a rectangular tube wall body that is erected from the bottom surface wall, and forms therein a storage part that stores the package; and an insertion opening that is famed at an upper edge of the rectangular tube wall body, and enables the package to be inserted, wherein a slip-out regulating part that regulates slip-out of the package from the storage part is attached to the insertion opening.

Conventionally, a hinge-lidded box-type package including a lid part openably coupled to a package body through a hinge is known as a package for housing an object to be housed such as a tobacco product. In this kind of hinge-lidded box-type package, a package body that houses a cigarette bundle, and a lid part for opening and closing an open end formed in an upper part of the package body are generally rotatably coupled to each other through a hinge famed along an edge of the open end.    [Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-135048

Storage case for storing hinge-lidded box-type package


A method and apparatus is provided for ensuring that an image projected upon a visual display device is properly aligned with the viewing surface of the display device. Important to achieving the proper alignment is the use of a fluorescent ink which is visible only when illuminated under ultraviolet light. Use of the fluorescent ink allows a pattern of reference points, constituting an alignment pattern, to be permanently marked directly on the viewing surface of the visual display device, for example. Since the alignment pattern is permanently marked and is visible only when illuminated with ultraviolet light, alignment between the image and the display device can be immediately determined without the aid of additional equipment such as is employed by previously known image alignment systems.

In order to ensure that visual images are properly displayed, systems have been developed to determine that the image and the visual display device onto which the image is projected are properly aligned. Proper alignment requires the comparison of reference points located or projected onto the viewing surface of the display device with similar points in an appropriate test pattern.
Previously known systems use modified slide projectors or slide projectors incorporating custom lenses and specially designed optical reticles. Alignment is achieved using either a laser theodolite or a removable clear plastic overlay template. Such a template may be installed on the face of a CRT, for example. The laser theodolite and the template may be used in conjunction to achieve the desired alignment of image and visual display device.
These previously known systems suffer from both installation and manufacturing tolerance problems. For example, back projections screens are free form blow molded. The curvature of screens produced by this process may vary from screen to screen. As a result of this variation in curvature resulting from the fabrication process, optical reticles may yield variations in tolerances from screen to screen during the alignment process.
Repeated attachments of the above-mentioned templates may lead to installation tolerance problems where the actual orientation of the template relative to the display device may vary slightly from one application to the next. As a result, attempts to evaluate alignment of image and the display device may lead to variations in tolerance when evaluations are repeated over a period of time.
The use of laser theodolites may prove expensive and very time-consuming to use in aligning images with visual display devices. Using a laser theodolite, which resembles the device used by surveyors to measure angles, the reference points are mapped on the viewing surface of the display device. The locations of the various reference points are given as coordinates, usually azimuth and elevation. However, when using a laser theodolite, each reference point must be mapped individually. Therefore, deviations from proper alignment are determined only when the map of reference points is completely constructed and the resulting map of reference points is compared with the test pattern.
Accordingly, corrections to the alignment of the display device and the test pattern due to orientation problems or distortion of the image can be made only after reconstruction of the entire array of reference points. Therefore, the use of laser theodolites is very time-consuming and expensive when determining whether an image is properly aligned with the visual display device.
The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems in the previously known systems to provide a method and apparatus for efficiently aligning an image and a display device.

Method and apparatus for aligning visual images with visual display devices


A process of purifying the gypsum slurry end product produced by a flue gas desulfurization process which incorporates fine solids separation/classifying, dewatering, mixing, and filtering to both achieve a useful gypsum product and to recycle as much process water as possible to the flue gas desulfurization process. This purification process separates the incoming gypsum slurry into a fine solids stream containing a disproportionate amount of impurities therein that are concentrated and subsequently disposed of and a coarse solids stream containing a large amount of gypsum therein from which a usable gypsum product is recovered.

The resultant end or by-product of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) is often a gypsum slurry. Impurities that enter the FGD system with the flue gas, reagent, make-up water, etc., subsequently translate to varying levels of contaminants present in the gypsum slurry. It is desirable to purify this gypsum slurry by reducing the contaminants therein. Such a purified product has greater commercial worth due to the reduction of undesirable contaminants such as flyash, unburned carbon, limestone impurities, and ultra fine particulate that adversely effect its end use in industries such as the manufacture of wallboard. In terms of disposability, a purified end product results in less disposal cost or liability due to a reduction in impurities which, if not removed, can provide sources of leachable metal.
It is an object of this invention to utilize hydroclones to selectively remove undesirable constituents, in the form of fine solids, from the FGD end product. Additionally, with these contaminants removed, downstream clarifiers, press filters, and/or other dewatering devices can be used to further concentrate the undesirable solids stream so that these solids can be eliminated without also discarding any salvageable process return water. As far as is known, such use of a hydroclone is not known to exist for the purpose of purifying the FGD gypsum slurry end product.


An example method for use with a LIDAR system includes assigning a firing time of a laser included in the LIDAR system. The assignment of the firing time includes: (i) receiving a universal clock signal at the LIDAR system, where the universal clock signal common to one or more other LIDAR systems; (ii) synchronizing a system clock of the LIDAR system to the universal clock signal to generate a synchronized clock signal; and determining the firing time based on the synchronized clock signal to reduce interference with the one or more other LIDAR systems. The method also includes firing the laser at the firing time.

With the proliferation of operation of LIDAR systems, the frequency of occurrences where multiple LIDAR systems are operating in the close vicinity to each other will increase. This operation of multiple LIDAR systems in close proximity to each other will create a potential for each system to become a source of jamming and/or of an interfering signal for another LIDAR system.

Timing synchronization of LIDAR system to reduce interference


In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first request to join a conference from a first user device. The location of the first user device is determined. Based on the location of the first user device, the proximity of the first user device relative to endpoints configured to facilitate the conference is identified. A first one of the endpoints that is more proximate to the first user device than other endpoints is selected for handling the conferences.

For some conferences or meetings, all the attendees or participants may not be in the same location. For example, some of the participants may be in one conference room, while other participants may be in another conference room and/or at various separate remote locations. Still other participants may be in transit between two locations and/or may be dialing into the conference using a mobile device. Regardless of the location of the user, conferencing systems such as WebEx or other collaborative applications require the participant to dial and/or identify a phone number that the application may dial to conference in the participant.

Location aware conferencing system and method


An expandable roll sock delivery catheter includes an inner tube, an outer tube having a distal outer tube end, and a medical device, such as a self-expanding stent, collapsibly disposed over the inner tube and concentrically oriented between the inner tube and the outer tube. A hollow tube of expandable balloon material extends from the distal outer tube end, the balloon material being substantially disposed in its entirety within a distal end portion of the outer tube. The balloon material is folded back into the outer tube and over the device as a single layer of balloon material connectively linked to the inner tube proximal to the self-expanding device so as to form an expandable roll sock balloon. The roll sock balloon defines an inflation lumen disposed between the outer tube and inner tube, whereby the inflation lumen is configured for expansion of the roll sock balloon following release of the device.

Percutaneous interventional angioplasty procedures typically involve guide catheters introduced into the cardiovascular system and advanced through the aorta into a desired coronary artery. Using fluoroscopy, a guide wire is then advanced through the guide catheter and across an artery site to be treated, such as a blockage, lesion, stenosis, or thrombus in an artery lumen. A delivery catheter may then be advanced over the guide wire to deliver a suitable endoluminal medical device, such as a stent, graft, stent-graft, vena cava filter, or other vascular implant. In many cases, a stent is delivered to the treatment site to reinforce body vessels, keep the vessel open and unoccluded, and prevent restenosis. The stent is expanded to a predetermined size, thereby dilating the vessel so as to, for example, radially compress an atherosclerotic plaque in a lesion against the inside of the artery wall. The stent may be a mechanically expandable stent that is expanded using a balloon catheter, for example, or it may be a radially self-expanding stent utilizing resilient or shape memory materials, such as spring steel or nitinol. With respect to a balloon expandable stent, the stent is compressed or crimped about a balloon on the distal end of the catheter. The stent may be covered by an overlying sheath or sleeve to prevent the stent from becoming dislodged from the balloon. With respect to a self-expanding stent, the stent is positioned at a distal catheter end around a core lumen where it is held down (compressed) and covered by an overlying delivery sheath or sleeve. In either case, upon retraction of the sleeve, the stent is able to self-expand and/or be expanded with a balloon. In particular, it is often necessary to remove the stent delivery device and then introduce a separate balloon catheter to "seat" the deployed stent with a balloon.
During the loading and deployment of self-expanding stents, there may be significant frictional forces between the stent surface and the surrounding delivery sheath. These forces may damage the coatings on coated stents, especially longer coated stents, and can create difficulties for sheath retraction and placement. The frictional forces can cause the stent to act like a spring, releasing the stored frictional forces beyond the sheath end and causing the stent to move or "jump" from the desired position and be imprecisely deployed. In addition to the imprecise placement of self-expanding stents, it is often difficult to predict the final stent length in advance of its expansion in the vessel. Further, once a portion of the stent has expanded against the vessel walls, it becomes difficult to adjust its position. Similar problems may occur during the loading and deployment of balloon expandable stents. For example, frictional forces between the protective sheath and the stent may damage any coating on the stent.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,843 B1 to Brown et al. discloses a 3-tube stent delivery system, including an outer sheath; an inner sheath; a rollable balloon material folded upon itself and connecting the distal ends of an outer sheath and an inner sheath; and a stent attached around a coaxially positioned inner catheter, constrained by either the inner sheath or the rollable balloon material. An inflation lumen between the outer sheath and the inner sheath may used to dilate a vessel prior to stent deployment. When constrained by the inner sheath, the rollable balloon material may be inflated to dilate a vessel prior to delivery of the stent. When constrained by the rollable balloon material, the balloon may be inflated to seat a stent following its delivery. Brown's 3-tube system limits the size range of stents that may be employed, and depending on its construction, may limit its ability for seating a stent after deployment (when constrained by the inner sheath), or be more prone to inadvertent expansion of the stent (when constrained by the balloon material).
U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,770 B2 to Johnson et al. discloses a stent delivery system, including an outer tube, an inner tube, and a balloon affixed therebetween. An inflation lumen is defined by the space between the inner tube and the outer tube for inflating and deflating the balloon. The balloon is designed to surround and prevent (or constrain) the expansion of a compressed self-expanding stent. The balloon, extending from the distal end of the outer tube is folded back onto itself and affixed to the inner tube, proximal to the stent. When the outer tube is retracted in the proximal direction, the balloon progressively peels back to release the stent. Following release of the stent, the balloon may be positioned within the stent and inflated to fully expand or "tack" the stent in place, as necessary. Johnson characterizes "the unique arrangement of the present invention" in terms of the distal area of the balloon having a novel shape, whereby the distal section of the both the inner and outer balloon portions are tapered inward to protect the leading distal end of the stent and to provide for easier advancement of the catheter system along the desired passage for treatment (col. 2, lines 22-28). However, inasmuch as Johnson relies on the balloon to constrain the stent in a compressed state, Johnson's system risks inadvertent expansion of the stent at an undesired vessel location. Moreover, Johnson's reliance on balloon material to constrain the stent may limit the range and size of stents that can be compressively maintained without significant risk of inadvertent release.
U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2006/0030923 to Gunderson discloses a stent delivery system comprised an outer tube, an inner tube, and a rollable membrane affixed therebetween. A fluid lumen, defined by the space between the inner tube, the rollable membrane, and the outer tube, is utilized to encourage the rolling action of the membrane and to maintain a gap between the membrane and the outer tube during retraction so as to reduce frictional forces underlying the stent's tendency to push outward against the outer tube. In another embodiment, a secondary fluid lumen extending into the stent receiving region underlying the membrane is utilized to provide a flush path for transporting fluid to the stent receiving region during or prior to delivery of the stent. Gunderson does not suggest an expandable balloon material for use in the membrane, nor does Gunderson suggest inflation of the membrane overlying the fluid lumen to dilate a vessel and/or seat a stent following initial deployment.
In view of the shortcomings and limitations in the prior art, there is a need for a reliable endoluminal medical device delivery system, which addresses the above difficulties by reducing frictional forces hampering stent delivery, by increasing the range of employable self-expanding stents for use, by reducing the risk of inadvertent stent release, and by simplifying the process for setting (or seating) a stent following deployment.

Deployment and dilation with an expandable roll sock delivery system


System and method for collecting object identification data from a plurality of objects that interact with a vehicle during operation of the vehicle, where the vehicle interacts with specific objects at specific geographical positions. An identification sensor is coupled to a geographical position sensor, and whenever an object is identified a record is generated, the record including the identification of the object, the position of the vehicle when the interaction between the object and the vehicle occurs, and the time of the interaction. Exemplary objects include passengers, containers, and documents. Exemplary interactions include loading/unloading an object from the vehicle, boarding a passenger, unloading a passenger, transferring a bulk material from the vehicle into a specific container, and/or transferring a bulk material from a specific container to the vehicle. The record may also include additional data about a parameter of the object (such as the object's weight, volume, or temperature).

As the cost of sensors, communications systems and navigational systems has dropped, operators of commercial and fleet vehicles now have the ability to collect a tremendous amount of data about the vehicles that they operate, including geographical position data collected during the operation of the vehicle.
Vehicle fleet operators often operate vehicles along predefined and generally invariant routes. For example, buses frequently operate on predefined routes, according to a predefined time schedule (for example, along a route that is geographically, as well as temporally defined). Migrating route data from one software platform to another software platform can be a tedious task.
It would be desirable to provide such fleet operators with additional tools for moving data between different software platforms, and for collecting and analyzing data (such as Global Positioning System (GPS) data, as well as other route related data) collected from vehicles traversing a predefined route.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for supervised disembarking of passengers from a bus


A handgun sear has a sear body extending between a proximal end portion to a distal end portion. The sear defines a first engagement surface adjacent the proximal end portion and a second engagement surface positioned distally of the first engagement surface. The sear can pivot about the distal end portion between a cocked position and a displaced position. The second engagement surface can be used to arrest forward movement of the striker in the event of an impulse that causes the striker to disengage from the first engagement surface. The sear may be incorporated into a fire control assembly of a semiautomatic handgun or other firearm.

Traditionally, handguns have included a metal frame and receiver as a single component to which additional components are attached, such as the fire control group, barrel, slide, safety levers, grips, and other parts of the handgun. The advent of polymer-framed handguns has been accompanied by new challenges in firearms design. Instead of a steel frame that also serves as the receiver, polymer-framed handguns commonly have a polymer frame that extends along the barrel and includes a hand grip and trigger guard. A separate metal receiver is installed into a receiver box defined in the top of the frame. The receiver includes components of the fire control group. A slide, often made of metal, attaches to and moves along rails on top of the receiver. Many polymer-framed handguns are striker-fired, where the action includes a striker held in spring tension until released forward to impact the ammunition primer when the user pulls the trigger.

Handgun sear with multiple engagement surfaces


An aerosol inhalation device comprising an elongated chamber, an outer chamber part of which has an outlet opening and is telescopically displaceable over an inner chamber part which is connectable to an aerosol dispenser and provided with a flexible tongue which on telescoping the device together closes the outlet opening.

Therapeutically active substances may be administered by inhalation to the lungs of a patient for producing a local effect therein. Thereby a rapid onset of the effect is obtained using a low dosage of the substance, and systemic side-effects are reduced. Pressurized containers, in which the active substance is dissolved or suspended in a propellant such as a chlorofluorocarbon, are often used.
From such a container a dosage is released via a valve system and inhaled through a mouthpiece. On release of the dosage the particles formed have a high velocity. Furthermore the aerosol droplets generated in the orifice of the mouthpiece are large as they contain residual amounts of propellant. A reduced particle size is obtaind from an increased distance to the patient as the propellant is then more completely evaporated. A reduced velocity and a reduced particle size are desirable in order to obtain a low deposition of substance on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity i.a. Thereby, a greater portion of the particles may follow the air inhaled into the pulmonary system and a better distribution is obtained into the small lumens of the lungs. Local side effects in the oral cavity may also be avoided as they are dependent on a high local concentration of drug substance.
Inhalation of drugs directly from the mouthpiece of a pressurized container requires a coordination between release of the dosage from the container and inspiration by the patient. Some patients have difficulties in performing such coordination.
It has been proposed to provide a pressurized aerosol container with a cylindrical or pear shaped inhalation tube (Moren, F; Int. J. Pharm. 1 (1978) 205-212). Such inhalation tubes may be used to avoid to some extent problems referred to above. However, to be an effective aid to the patient in need of inhalation therapy an inhalation device must be easy to put into operation. Devices in which parts must be assembled before use should be avoided in view of the acute conditions, e.g. asthmatic conditions under which some patients must take their medication. While providing a sufficient space for retardation of the drug particles and for evaporation of the propellant, the inhalation device must be sufficiently small to be carried with the patient. Further the interior of an inhalation device must be protected from contamination with dust. The object of the present invention is to provide an inhalation device fulfilling these requirements.


A module for an aircraft cabin and an aircraft with a passenger cabin and such a module where the module includes a door to open the module, and a seat that is fastened to the door. The seat can be a vehicle attendant seat, and the module can be a lavatory. The rear side of the module can nestle against the pressure bulkhead in the tail of the aircraft. The module can include another module directly adjacent to its side, e.g., a galley module.

One objective when equipping aircraft cabins is to accommodate the highest possible number of passengers, without significantly reducing the comfort of individual passengers in the process. As a rule, the number of flight attendant seats and lavatories will rise along with the number of passenger seats. Therefore, it is advantageous to accommodate as many flight attendant seats and lavatories as possible in as confined a space as possible.
DE 10 2011 011 704 A1 describes a lavatory configuration for a means of transportation that comprises a first lavatory, a second lavatory adjacent thereto, and a partition situated between the first lavatory and second lavatory. The partition is movably mounted, and designed to be moved into an opening position, which removes the separation between the first lavatory and second lavatory.
US 2013/001359 A1 describes a modular cabin segment with a first lateral segment module that houses a first lavatory configuration with at least one lavatory. The cabin segment further comprises a second lateral segment module, wherein at least one of the modules comprises a vehicle attendant seat mounted to the at least one module so that it can unilaterally pivot around a vertical axis.

Module for an aircraft cabin with a seat fastened to a door


A line-of-sight input device includes a detection means that detects a point of gaze or an eyeball rotational movement of the user, a movement control means that moves the input element; and an input determining means that determine an input of the input element near a predetermined position when a predetermined condition is satisfied; wherein the movement control means increases a movement speed of the input element as the point of gaze is farther from the predetermined position or a rotation angle of the eyeball rotational movement is larger, and makes the movement speed closer to zero as the point of gaze becomes nearer to the predetermined position or a rotation angle of the eyeball rotational movement becomes smaller.

This invention relates to a line-of-sight input device, a method of a line-of-sight input, and a line-of-sight input program.
Conventionally, methods of a line-of-sight input for inputting by using a line-of-sight have been developed for people who cannot operate a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel due to physical disabilities.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5077879 (hereinafter Patent Document 1) discloses a method for determining an input element at a position of a cursor with a trigger of detecting a blink of an input operator after acquiring an image around an eyeball of the input operator, detecting a direction of line-of-sight of the input operator, and moving a cursor index between a plurality of input elements according to the direction of line-of-sight.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-100366 (hereinafter Patent Document 2) discloses, as a method of scrolling a screen, a method of starting an application, with a trigger of detecting an intentional blink for more than or equal to three seconds, when an icon or the like reaches a selected region near a center of a screen by moving the whole screen toward the center of the screen according to a direction of line-of-sight.
There was a problem, however, that it was difficult for the conventional methods of line-of-sight input to determine a position quickly and precisely according to an intention of a user.
For example, the method of line-of-sight input of Patent Document 1 reads whether the direction of line-of-sight is right or left and sequentially moves a cursor one by one through input elements aligned on a screen, and so it takes time in proportion to the number of input elements through which the cursor must be moved. Although Patent Document 1 also discloses a method for accelerating movement speed of the cursor in accordance with the number of blinks or as a result of the user's line-of-sight being turned in the same direction, there was a problem that an operation error tends to take place if a user tries to place an accelerated cursor on a targeted input element.
Similarly, although the method of line-of-sight input of Patent Document 2 mentions a method for accelerating screen scroll speed when a user turns their line-of-sight in the same direction for more than or equal to three seconds, there was a problem that the user must maintain this line-of-sight even during a scroll at a relatively lower speed for a certain period of time, and an operation error tends to take place if the user tries to place a once-accelerated cursor on a targeted input element.
The present invention focuses on these points and provides a line-of-sight input device, a method of a line-of-sight input, and a line-of-sight input program that are capable of determining a position quickly and precisely according to an intention of a user.

Line-of-sight input device, and method of line-of-sight input


A well swab cup has an annular bushing for supporting a plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcing members within an elastomeric cup like body. The reinforcing members are supported around the periphery of the bushing and extend upward to a mid-portion of the body. A reinforcing member position support assembly is located above the bushing within the body to locate and position the reinforcing members in a spaced relation to each other around the swab cup.

In the manufacture of well swab cups, the cage consisting of the bushing and the wires or support members is formed of separate parts then assembled into a skeletal like configuration. Once this is done, the cage is placed in a mold cavity and the mold cavity is filled with an elastomeric compound to complete the molding process. Because of the relatively large quantity of swab cups that are manufactured, the bushing is constructed so the wires can be easily slipped into place in the mounting portion of the bushing. In order to assure ease in assembly, apertures through the bushing which support the wires are substantially larger than the normal or typical wires to allow for rapid assembly. Because of this loose fit, wires which are only supported by a single mount or contact with the bushing tend to become displaced during the molding process from a regularly spaced arrangement around the bushing to an irregular arrangement that may have a substantial gap between certain of the wires while others are substantially closer together than may be desirable.
When a swab cup is made with an excessively large gap between some of the wires while the others are abnormally close together, this will create a weakened sidewall of the cup body. This weakened wall portion will cause the cup to blowout or become peforated through a portion of the cup sidewall at the large gap thus destroying the swab cup.
Prior art swab cup constructions have overcome this problem of maintaining this spaced relation of the wires during molding by rigidly clamping the lower ends of the wires. This solution will overcome the problem of positioning the wires, however, it makes the lower portion of the swab cup extremely rigid; therefore, it is not a feasible solution for swab cups which must flex radially a significant amount in their lower as well as in their upper portions.


The present invention relates to a NAND-type memory array and method of reading, programming and erasing the same. In order to solve a problem that a reading speed is lowered due to a large well loading upon a reading operation as the well and the bit line are connected in order to apply a negative bias upon a programming operation and a positive bias upon an erasure operation in a NAND-type memory array using a dip trench isolation (DTI) scheme, the present invention separates the well and the bit line by additionally including a well node for applying a bias to the well upon an erasure and reading operation, a triple well select gate for selecting the well node, and a program well select gate for applying a bias to the well via the bit line upon a programming operation. Therefore, the present invention can lower in the speed upon a reading operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a NAND-type memory array and method of reading, programming and erasing the same, and more particularly to, a NAND-type memory array and method of reading, programming and erasing the same capable of preventing lowering in the read speed by separating well and bit line.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, in a NAND-type memory array using a deep trench isolation (DTI) scheme, all the well bias is applied via bit line upon reading, programming and erasure since it employs an independent well.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views of a conventional NAND-type memory array, wherein FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the memory array taken along in a word line direction of the array and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the memory array taken along in a bit line direction of the array.
A construction of the conventional NAND-type memory array will be described by reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.
Referring now to FIG. 1A, a triple N well 12 is formed on a P type substrate 11 and triple P well 13 are then formed to be included in the triple N well 12. The triple P well 13 are divided by a plurality of numbers, by means of a plurality of dip trench device isolation films 14. Floating gates 17 are formed on the triple P well 13, respectively. Word lines 20 are overlapped with the floating gates 17.
Referring now to FIG. 1B, firstxcx9celeventh N+ junctions 15axcx9c15k and a P+ junction 16 are formed within the triple P well 13 in an isolated fashion. Firstxcx9csixth floating gates 17axcx9c17f are formed on the triple P well 13 in an isolated fashion. Source nodes 19 are connected to the second N+ junction 15b. Each of firstxcx9csecond source select lines 18a and 18b is formed at both sides of the second N+ junction 15b. A bit line 23 is connected to a P+ junction 16, and seventh and eighth N+ junctions 15g and 15h formed at both sides of the P+ junction 16, respectively.
A first drain select line 22a is formed at one side of the seventh N+ junction 15g and a second drain select line 22b is formed at one side of the eighth N+ junction 15h. Between a second source select line 18b and the first drain select line 22a, a first pass gate 20a is overlapped with the first floating gate 17a, a first cell gate 21a is overlapped with the second floating gate 17b, a second pass gate 20b is overlapped with the third floating gate 17c. At this time, the first cell gate 21b is located between the first pass gate 20a and the second pass gate 20b. Similarly in the second drain select line 22b, a third pass gate 20c is overlapped with the fourth floating gate 17d, a second cell gate 21b is overlapped with the fifth floating gate 17e and a fourth pass gate 20d is overlapped with the sixth floating gate 17f.
In the above, each of the source node 19, the source select lines 18a and 18b, the drain select lines 22a and 22b, the pass gates 20axcx9c20d, and the cell gates 21a and 21b is formed in the triple P well 13 in a crossing direction. The bit line 23 is formed in a direction of the triple P well 13.
It is known that the NAND-type memory array is based on the above construction and this basic construction is constantly arranged.
An operation of reading, programming and erasing the conventional NAND-type memory array will be described by reference to FIG. 2 showing a node bias condition of the NAND-type memory array.
First, the read operation includes applying a voltage of 0xcx9c1V to the bit line 23, applying a voltage of 0V to the triple P well 13, applying a voltage of 3V to the source node 19, applying a voltage of 5V to the drain select line 22, applying a voltage of 5V to the source select line 18, applying a voltage of 3V to the cell gate 21 and applying a voltage of 3V to the triple N well 12.
The program operation includes applying a voltage of xe2x88x929V to the bit line 23, applying a voltage of xe2x88x929V to the triple P well 13, applying a voltage of 0V to the source node 19, applying a voltage of 0V to the drain select line 22, applying a voltage of xe2x88x929V to the source select line 18, applying a voltage of 9V to the cell gate 21 and applying a voltage of 0V to the triple N well 12.
The erase operation includes applying a voltage of 9V to the bit line 23, applying a voltage of 9V to the triple P well 13, making the source node 19 floated, making the drain select lines 22 floated, making the source select lines 18 floated, applying a voltage of xe2x88x929V the cell gate 21 and applying a voltage of 9V to the triple N well 12.
In the above conventional NAND-type memory array, as the triple P well 13 is independently driven by the dip trench device isolation film 14 in structure, it is required that all the well bias be applied via the bit line 23 upon reading, programming and erasure operation.
It is inevitable that the bias is applied to the well in programming and erasure operations using this method. In a reading operation, however, there is a problem that the read speed is lowered due to a well loading if this method is used. In other words, if a voltage of 3V is applied to the source node 19 and a voltage of 3V is applied to the cell gate 21 upon a reading operation, a bias passing the cell is applied to the bit line 23, which charges the well via the P+ junction 16. As such, as the loading of the triple P well 13 is generated upon a reading operation, delay in the speed is caused.
The present invention is contrived to solve this problem and an object of the present invention is to provide a NAND-type memory array and method of reading, programming and erasing the same capable of preventing lowering in the speed upon a reading operation, by separating well and bit line.
In order to accomplish the above object, a NAND-type memory array according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises P type substrate in which a triple P well is formed; firstxcx9ceighth N+ junctions, a P+ junction and ninth fourteenth N+ junctions, which are sequentially formed within the triple P well; firstxcx9csixth floating gates formed on the triple P well; source node connected to the second N+ junction; first and second source select lines each formed at both sides of the second N+ junction; bit line each connected to the seventh and eleventh N+ junctions; first drain select line formed at one side of the N+ junction and second drain select line formed at one side of the eleventh N+ junction; first pass gate, first cell gate and second pass gate each formed between the second source select line and the first drain select line; third pass gate, second cell gate and fourth pass gate each formed on the triple P well on the second drain select linexe2x80x99 side; interconnection line connecting the eighth N+ junction, the P+ junction and the ninth N+ junction, respectively; program well select gate formed between the seventh N+ junction and the eighth N+ junction; P well node connected to the tenth N+ junction between the ninth N+ junction and the eleventh N+ junction; and triple P well select gate formed between the ninth N+ junction and the tenth N+ junction, wherein the elements being a basic construction and this basic construction is constantly arranged.
In the above, the triple P well is formed within the triple N well. The pass gates and the cell gates are overlapped with the floating gates, respectively. The cell gates have the pass gates located at its both side, respectively.
The source nodes, the source select lines, the drain select lines, the pass gates and the cell gates are each formed in a direction crossing with the triple P well. The bit line are formed in a direction of the triple P well.
A reading method in a NAND-type memory array comprises applying a voltage of 0xcx9c1V to a bit line, applying a voltage of 0xcx9c1V to a triple P well, applying a voltage of 3V to a source node, applying a voltage of 5V to a drain select line, applying a voltage of 5V to a source select line, applying a voltage of 0V to a program well select gate and applying a voltage of 3V to a triple P well select gate.
A programming method in a NAND-type memory array comprises applying a voltage of xe2x88x929V to a bit line, applying a voltage of 0V to a P well node, applying a voltage of 0V to a source node, applying a voltage of 0V to a drain select line, applying a voltage of 0V to a source select line, applying a voltage of 3V to a program well select gate and applying a voltage of xe2x88x929V to a triple P well select gate.
An erasing method in a NAND-type memory array comprises applying a voltage of 9V to a bit line, applying a voltage of 9V to a P well node, making a source node floated, making a drain select line floated, making a source select line floated, applying a voltage of 0V to a program well select gate and applying a voltage of 12V to a triple P well select gate.

NAND-type memory array and method of reading, programming and erasing using the same


An apparatus and method for tunable generation of terahertz waves at room temperatures are provided. The apparatus for tunable terahertz generation comprises: (A) a terahertz antenna further comprising a magnon gain medium; (B) a means for generating the nonequilibrium magnons in the magnon gain medium; wherein the terahertz antenna is configured to emit generated terahertz photons; and (C) a means for tuning frequency of terahertz photons emitted by the terahertz antenna. The magnon gain medium is selected from the group consisting of: {a ferromagnetic semiconductor; a dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS); a half-metallic ferromagnet (HMF); and a ferromagnetic conductor, with a gap in the density of states of the minority electrons around the Fermi energy}.

In the parent U.S. Pat. No. 7,430,074 "GENERATION OF TERAHERTZ WAVES" the generation of nonequilibrium magnons was disclosed. In the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/701,284, filed on Jan. 31, 2007 and entitled "MAGNON LASER", the generation of nonequilibrium magnons was described by using a general laser analogy. In the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/290,527, filed on Nov. 1, 2008, and entitled "MAGNON LASER AT ROOM TEMPERATURES", a magnon laser that utilizes a magnon gain medium at room temperatures was disclosed.

Tunable terahertz generator using a magnon gain medium with an antenna


##STR1##. The present invention provides novel compounds of formula I which may be useful in hyperpolarizing cell membranes, opening potassium channels, relaxing smooth muscle cells, and inhibiting bladder contractions.

Potassium channels play an important role in regulating cell membrane excitability. When the potassium channels open, changes in the electrical potential across the cell membrane occur and result in a more polarized state. A number of diseases or conditions can be treated with therapeutic agents that open potassium channels; see (K. Lawson, Pharmacol. Ther., v. 70, pp. 39-63 (1996)); (D. R. Gehlert et al., Prog. Neuro-Psychopharmacol & Biol. Psychiat., v. 18, pp. 1093-1102 (1994)); (M. Gopalakrishnan et al., Drug Development Research, v. 28, pp. 95-127 (1993)); (J. E. Freedman et al., The Neuroscientist, v. 2, pp. 145-152 (1996)); (D. E. Nurse et al., Br. J. Urol., v. 68 pp. 27-31 (1991)); (B. B. Howe et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., v. 274 pp. 884-890 (1995)); and (D. Spanswick et al., Nature, v. 390 pp. 521-25 (Dec. 4, 1997)). Such diseases or conditions include asthma, epilepsy, hypertension, male sexual dysfunction, female sexual dysfunction, migraine, pain, urinary incontinence, stroke, Raynaud's Syndrome, eating disorders, functional bowel disorders, and neurodegeneration.
Potassium channel openers also act as smooth muscle relaxants. Because urinary incontinence can result from the spontaneous, uncontrolled contractions of the smooth muscle of the bladder, the ability of potassium channel openers to hyperpolarize bladder cells and relax bladder smooth muscle provides a method to ameliorate or prevent urinary incontinence.
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology 8:1168-1175, (1986) Raven Press, New York, EP 0 059 291, EP 87051738, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,321,384, 4,551,534, 4,596,873, and U.S. Pat No. 4,618,678 all disclose 4-(aryl)-4,5,6,7,8,-hexahydro-2-alkyl-5-oxo-1,7-naphthyridine-3-carboxylic esters as calcium entry blockers that may be useful as antihypertensive agents.
Compounds of the present Invention are novel, hyperpolarize cell membranes, open potassium channels, relax smooth muscle cells, inhibit bladder contractions and are useful for treating diseases that can be ameliorated by opening potassium channels.

Pyrano, piperidino, and thiopyrano compounds and methods of use


Method and apparatus for diametrically expanding a desired part of a metal shaft which can be a rod or a pipe, wherein the apparatus includes a driving rotary section (4) and a driven rotary section (6) arranged at a predetermined distance (D), each of the rotary sections (4) and (6) including a holder for holding a work, a pressing device (8) for pressing the work held by the holders along the length of the apparatus, and a biasing device (7) for declining the axis of the work, so that the work held by the holders at the distance (D) is rotated around its axis, and one of the holders is forced by the pressing device toward the other to carry out the diametral expansion, and then the work is bent back and straightened up.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for diametrically expanding a desired portion, such as a middle portion, of metal shafts which can be solid like bars or tubular like pipes.
It is common practice to obtain a metal shaft having a locally increased diameter by machining a blank shaft of a relatively large diameter. However, this machining process disadvantageously takes time, and what is worse, tends to waste metal as cutting chips.
In general, the mechanical power transmission shafts require the provision of components such as gears, cams, and sprockets whose diameter is larger than that of the shafts. In order to provide the metal shafts with these components, a mechanical method is not economical where the metal flesh of a shaft is machined to form gears as integral parts. An alternative way is to produce those component parts on a separate process, and join them to the shafts by welding or bolting. This method is not efficient. Therefore, a metallurgical process was proposed for forcing a metal shaft to diametrically expand in a desired portion, and cutting gears or cams there. However, it has been considered to be impracticable to put the proposed metallurgical method in practice.
The inventor of the present application invented a method of expanding the diameter of a metal shaft in its middle portion through rotation, bending and compression, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 1,993,956. This metallurgical method has overshadowed the conventional mechanical method, and made it possible to form gears or cams in the diametrically expanded portion of a metal shaft.
According to the previous invention referred to above, the metal shaft is subjected to rotation and bending under a sufficient compression until a diametrically expanded portion is obtained, and after the shaft is bent back, the rotation and bending are stopped. If the compressive force is too large, the shaft must be held firmly to withstand it. In contrast, if it is too low, an increased number of rotations is required until a desired shape is obtained, thereby taking a long time before the desired portion of the shaft is diametrically expanded. A further disadvantage is the lack of precision involved in a pair of rotary holders provided in the apparatus, one having a biasing means for bending the work, and the other having a pressing means for causing one holder to approach the other.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus capable of performing a local diametral expansion of a metal shaft efficiently and accurately.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus capable of careful inspection of deformation likely to occur in a metal shaft in view of the insufficient analysis on the mechanism of the diametral expansion of a metal shaft.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus capable of diametrically expanding a portion of a metal shaft to a collar-like shape of any size.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus capable of diametrically expanding a metal shaft with no detrimental torsion in the metal shaft, which would otherwise decrease the tensile strength of the metal shaft after the diametral expansion is finished. The torsion results from the fact that one of the rotary holders is subjected to a torque which is transmitted to the other holder through the solid work.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus capable of diametrically expanding a metal shaft with use of a conventional lathe.
The present invention provides a method for diametrically expanding a predetermined part of a metal shaft, including the steps of holding the shaft between a pair of holders spaced at a distance (D); rotating the work around its axis, moving one of the holders toward the other holder so as to compress the work; biasing one of the holders in a direction which crosses the axis of the other holder, so as to bend the work and build up bulged portions accruing inside the bent portion around the periphery of the work within the distance (D) until a desired expansion is achieved; and straightening up the work, wherein the compression is constantly applied to both the inner and outer sides of the work to be bent, and the rotation is initiated at the latest immediately after the bending is started, and the straightening-up is performed under the continued compression and rotation.
In this ease, the compression is relatively low at the initial stage of the diametral expansion, and increases in accordance with the advance of the expansion.
The present invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned method, including a driving rotary section and a driven rotary section arranged at a predetermined distance, each of the rotary sections comprising holders for securing a work therebetween; a driver for operating the driving rotary section; a pressing device for axially compressing the work held by the holders; and a biasing device for declining the axis of the work; wherein the pressing device applies the compression to one of the rotary sections, and the biasing device declining the other rotary section.
According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a driving rotary section and a driven rotary section arranged at a predetermined distance, each of the rotary sections comprising holders for securing a work therebetween; a driver for operating the driving rotary section; a pressing device for axially compressing the work held by the holders; and a biasing device for declining the rotary section so as to cause the work to decline with respect to its axis; wherein either the driving rotary section or the driven rotary section is arranged rotatably around a pivot provided in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the work, and the rotatably arranged rotary section is supported by the pivot so as to enable the simultaneous inspection of the inner and outer sides of the bent portion of the work.
As a further preferred embodiment the apparatus can be provided with a slidable frame on the base plate, and a rotary framework rotatably connected to the slidable frame through a bearing, and wherein the driving rotary section is secured to the base plate and the driven rotary section is secured to the rotary framework.
As another preferred embodiment, especially suitable for processing a work having a relatively large diameter, the apparatus includes a driving rotary section and a driven rotary section arranged at a predetermined distance, each of the rotary sections comprising holders for securing a work therebetween; a driver for operating the driving rotary section; a pressing device for axially compressing the work held by the holders; and a biasing device for declining the rotary section so as to cause the work to decline with respect to its axis; wherein the pressing device applies the compression to one of the rotary sections, and the biasing device declining the other rotary section.
In this case, the apparatus can be provided with a displacing device for shifting the center of rotation between the holders in accordance with a sliding distance covered by the pressing device.
As a further preferred embodiment the apparatus includes a pair of rotary sections; a holder provided in each of the rotary sections for holding a work; a sliding device for causing at least one of the rotary sections to move toward and away from the other rotary section; a biasing device for declining at least one of the rotary sections with respect to the axis of the other rotary section; a driver for rotating the work held by the holders around its axis; and a transmission for transmitting the torque of one rotary section to another so as to effect the synchronous rotation of the two rotary sections.
More specifically, the transmission includes a rotating division in which rotatable brackets are provided, having a pair of splines interposed between them, the splines comprising gears engaged with follower gear provided in the rotating division, thereby transmitting a torque of one of the rotating division to the other.
As a more practical embodiment the apparatus includes a driving rotary section provided with a first work holder and being capable of rotating the work held by the holder; a driven rotary section provided with a second work holder on an opposite side to the holder of the driving rotary section and being capable of moving toward and away from the driving rotary section; a biasing device for declining the second holder with respect to the axis of the first holder; and a pressing device for pressing the driven rotary section toward the driving rotary section; wherein the driving rotary section is driven by an arrangement in which the first work holder is connected to a chuck of a lathe so as to utilize the torque of the lathe.
In this case the pressing device is preferably placed between a base plate and a slidable frame, and wherein the base plate is provided with a tapered shaft, the tapered shaft and the first work holder being connected to the lathe, thereby compensating a repulsive force involved in operating the pressing device within the base plate.

Method and apparatus of diametrically expanding metal shafts


A central lock for multi-point safety belts or safety harnesses includes a housing with several insertion openings distributed over the circumference of the housing. Tongues connected to the belts can be inserted into the insertion openings. A holding plate for holding bolts interacting with the tongues is fixed in the housing. A rotatable release member mounted outside of the housing is provided for axially displacing a release plate against the force of a restoring spring. A mechanism is arranged between the release member and the release plate for transforming the rotary movement of the release member into an axial displacement of the release plate. The mechanism is formed by at least one tilting member arranged between the release member and the release plate which is located on the side of the holding plate facing away from the release member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a central lock for multi-point safety belts or safety harnesses. The central lock includes a housing with several insertion openings distributed over the circumference of the housing. Tongues connected to the belts can be inserted into the insertion openings. A holding plate for holding bolts interacting with the tongues is fixed in the housing. A rotatable release member mounted outside of the housing is provided for axially displacing a release plate against the force of a restoring spring. A mechanism is arranged between the release member and the release plate for transforming the rotary movement of the release member into an axial displacement of the release plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Safety belts which include a lap belt and additional shoulder belts as well as crotch belts, also called four-point, five-point or six-point belts, are usually equipped with so-called central locks. Such central locks have on the circumference thereof slot-like insertion openings in which the belts can be anchored by means of tongues attached to the belts. By actuating opening mechanisms, all or a certain number of the belts are released in such a way that the user of the harness can remove the belts without further impairment. The opening mechanisms are actuated by means of wing-like release members which are mounted in the center of the central locks. The release members can be rotated in both directions for actuating the opening mechanisms. Therefore, they are also called rotary locks. The tongues are anchored in the central locks by means of cylindrical holding bolts which engage under the load of a spring in bores of the tongues. Another possibility of anchoring is provided by rocker-type latches which engage in corresponding recesses in the tongues. In order to release the tongues, the holding bolts or the latches must be displaced axially by a predetermined dimension. For this purpose, the rotary movements of the wing-like release members are transformed into axial movements.
In accordance with a known embodiment, the principle of the inclined plane is utilized for transforming the rotary movements into axial movements. For this purpose, a spring-loaded release plate is arranged in the central lock. A projection in the shape of a tubular piece is arranged in the center axis of the release plate. The projection has four inclined planes arranged uniformly distributed over the circumference. Always two oppositely located inclined planes extend in opposite directions. Each plane forms a quarter helix. The release member is provided with a center axle which extends through the tubular projection of the release plate and which has at its end slide members which accurately correspond to the inclined planes. When the release member is rotated, the rotary movement is transformed into an axial movement as a result of the fact that the sliding members slide on the inclined planes. This results in a positively guided axial movement of the release plate.
In accordance with another embodiment, the sliding members are formed by a pin which transversely extends through the center axle of the release member and which slides with its end portions on the inclined planes.
The axial movement produced in this manner raises the release plate, so that the holding bolts are moved out of their holding positions and release the tongues.
Because of practical considerations, it is desirable to keep the structural height of such central locks low. The structural height of such locks is additionally limited by certain regulations, for example, the safety standards of racing cars FIA 8854 (Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile). In accordance with this regulation, the maximum diameter of the central lock is 71 mm.
For the above reasons, the diameter of the tubular central axles must be kept small in order to be able to accommodate the entire opening and anchoring mechanism for the tongues while taking into consideration the required cross-sections depending on the breaking load. However, the smaller this diameter is selected, the steeper the incline of the inclined planes must be in order to achieve the necessary axial displacement.
The angle of actuation of the rotary locks is usually a maximum of 90.degree.. Some safety standards require additional free paths for the release member of at least 25.degree. before activation of the opening mechanisms occurs. This means that there remain a maximum of 65.degree. for the inclined planes for obtaining the desired axial displacements. While it can be simply assumed that, starting from a 45.degree. inclination of the sides of the inclined planes, the force required for opening is equal to the axial force, this does not take into consideration the friction losses between the sliding blocks or pins and the sides of the planes.
In the embodiment utilizing a pin and inclined planes, only a linear contact exists between the two structural components which leads to the problem that the frictional losses are significantly increased as soon as any sliding/lubricating agent has been used up, has become resin, has been washed out under unfavorable environmental influences or has been contaminated as a result of the influence of dust and, thus, acts more like a grinding agent. This means that after the lock has been in use for several years, wear may occur which impairs the operation of the lock. Damage to the sliding surfaces leads to increased corrosion and abrasion and the attendant increase of frictional forces. This increase causes a direct linear increase of the force required for opening.
The inclined planes of the known embodiments are inclined linearly, so that the opening forces are constant. However, the spring forces which close the opening mechanisms have at least a linearly increasing force characteristic, so that the required opening forces of the central locks increase continuously during opening as a result of the superposition of forces.
The safety standards to be applied when testing such central locks require, in order to prevent unintentional opening, a minimum opening force of a lock which has not been subjected to a load resulting from an accident. The maximum opening forces are limited in order to be able to open the central lock without problems after a load resulting from an accident. The required force limits are between .gtoreq.10N and .ltoreq.60N.

Central lock for multi-point safety belts


An optoelectronic device includes a covering layer, a first electrode, a functional layer stack arranged between the covering layer and the first electrode and a plurality of spacers, wherein the functional layer stack has an organic active layer that generates electromagnetic radiation; the first electrode has conductor tracks with branching points, the spacers are each arranged on one of the branching points, and the functional layer stack is arranged in places between the covering layer and the spacers.

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) normally has an organic functional layer stack and a covering layer arranged on the layer stack. In large-area diodes in particular, the covering layer can be bent due to its own weight or external mechanical influences towards the layer stack due to which the covering layer presses on the layer stack and causes extensive damage.
To avoid such damage, the distance between the covering layer and the layer stack can be enlarged. However, this disadvantageously leads to an increase in the overall thickness of the diode. The stability of the diode is also impaired by the increased distance and an enlarged cavity thus created between the covering layer and the layer stack. Alternatively, in EP 1 238 306, devices with randomly distributed spacers between the covering layer and the layer stack are described. However, in the event of an external force acting on the covering layer, these spacers press directly onto the layer stack and damage not only a portion of the layer stack covered by the spacers, but also its surroundings, which possibly leads to extensive damage to the layer stack and thus to an inhomogeneity with respect of luminance distribution as well as an increased short circuit risk.
It could therefore be helpful to provide a particularly thin and mechanically stable optoelectronic device with a more uniform distribution of the luminance as well as a simplified and reliable method of producing an optoelectronic device.

Optoelectronic device and method of producing an optoelectronic device


The inverter utilizes an LC oscillatory circuit and a switching device for the alternate connection of this oscillating circuit to a d.c. voltage source. Adjustment circuitry is present for the adjustment of the capacitance and/or inductance of the LC oscillatory circuit. Through this circuitry, the inverter is adaptable to different load conditions.

The invention relates to an x-ray diagnostic generator comprising an x-ray tube, a high voltage transformer feeding the x-ray tube, an inverter connected to the input of the high voltage transformer, and a mains rectifier supplying the inverter.
In the case of an x-ray diagnostic generator of this type, it is possible to select the supply frequency of the transformer in the kHz range; i.e., substantially higher than the mains frequency. On account of this high supply frequency, the high voltage transformer can be provided with a substantially smaller and more lightweight construction than in the case of an x-ray diagnostic generator which is operated with the mains frequency. In an x-ray diagnostic generator of this type, the loading of the inverter is not constant; on the contrary, it corresponds to the adjusted x-ray tube voltage and the adjusted x-ray tube current. Thus, the inverter is variably highly loaded in dependence upon these values.

X-ray diagnostic generator comprising an inverter supplying the high voltage transformer