A delimber suitable for mounting on a logging skidder. The delimber comprises a series of delimbing/clamping elements and hydraulic actuators for moving the delimbing/clamping elements between an open and a closed position. Each of the delimbing elements comprises a clamping surface and a cutting edge. In the closed position, the delimbing elements hold a bunch of trees and the cutting edges penetrate the trees. Moving the delimber along the trees causes the cutting edges to cut the limbs off the trunks. In another aspect, the delimber includes a tilt feature for topping the trees.

Delimbing in the logging field comprises removing or cutting off the branches from a felled tree. In the days of old, logging was strictly a manual endeavour and a logger would chop the limbs from a felled tree using a hand axe. The advent of large-scale logging operations has lead to the development of logging machinery to improve the efficiency and output of a logging operation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,438, Gaudreault discloses a dual head delimber which is mounted to one end of a boom on a logging vehicle. The dual head delimber comprises a cradle having two sets of pivotally mounted clamps which are juxtaposed to one another and mounted at an angle to define a V-shaped arrangement in relation to the longitudinal axis of the boom. The dual head delimber also includes a separate delimbing knife for each clamp. In operation, the operator moves the boom to bring the dual head delimber near a pile of felled trees and the delimber is lowered with the clamps opened around the felled trees. The clamps are then closed to grasp one or more of the felled trees and the boom is retracted so that the butt ends of the trees can also be grasped by another clamping element. The clamps are then slightly loosened and the delimbing knives are brought into contact with the trees, and the boom is moved longitudinally along the trees to delimb the trees. Once delimbed, the first clamps are engaged, while the second clamps are disengaged, and the boom is moved to unload the delimbed trees.
While the dual head delimber taught by Gaudreault provides a means for delimbing trees, there are shortcomings. First, the arrangement of the dual head delimber and boom requires a vehicle with an adequate flat-bed to accommodate the boom and the clamp elements for clamping the butt ends of the trees. Secondly, the felled trees cannot be delimbed as they lay on the ground. The trees must be gathered into a bundle and loaded on the vehicle with the delimber as taught by Gaudreault. In practical terms, this means that such a vehicle will only be suitable for roadside delimbing operations and not in the field. In another aspect, the arrangement of the clamping elements and delimbing knives limits the effectiveness of the dual head delimber, and also the number of trees which can be delimbed at one time.
The present invention addresses these shortcomings by providing a multiple-head delimber apparatus suitable for mounting on a grapple skidder or line skidder, which allows a bundle of felled trees to be delimbed on the ground without the need to move or lift the trees off the ground.


A process for indicator coating of SERS fiber-optic probes comprising selecting a potentially roughened probe which is enhanced with a deposited silver film and then treated by chemisorption on said probe to form a molecular-specific coating, such as by employing Eriochrome Black T for metal ions, octadecyl mercaptan for organics, or Cresol Red for pH.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the making of molecular-specific optical fiber probe coatings for Raman spectroscopy, specifically SERS qualitative and quantitative detection of molecular or ionic species.
2. Background
Contaminant analysis of water is an important requirement and many current methods require the taking and removal of samples. This may inherently degrade the sample resulting in spurious results. For instance, in sampling groundwater exposure to air, contaminating collection procedures, or dirty sample containers may degrade the results. An in-situ, or direct, procedure is needed. Early attempts centered on fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy; however, SERS using fiber-optic probes has a great potential to satisfy this requirement.
Raman spectroscopy, particularly when surfaced enhanced which usually is referred to as SERS, is a proven and effective technique for qualitatively or quantitatively detecting specific chemical compounds within liquids. In Raman detection a probe light created by a laser excites molecules to higher energy states often in their vibrational energy bands. In returning to equilibrium, emission of Raman signal photons occur which characterize the molecular species. This emitted light can then be analyzed to determine the specie and its amount in the solution.
Surface enhancement of the Raman signals makes them orders of magnitude more intense and thus easier to detect; therefore, much lower concentrations can be resolved. Said enhancement is commonly achieved by adsorbed surface compounds containing silver, gold or copper. In many applications of SERS, optical fibers become the medium for transmitting light signals; thus, processing of said optical fibers may improve the SERS response.
Conventional Raman spectroscopy is well covered by D. A. Long's excellent treatise Raman Spectroscopy, McGraw-Hill 1977. A good review of SERS can be found in Keith T. Carron's dissertation, Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman, Resonance Hyper-Raman, and Hyper-Raman Spectroscopy of Molecules Absorbed to Thin Metal Films, Northwestern University 1985; Chapter 2, "Experimental Techniques for Thin Film SERRS", pages 13-45 is herein incorporated by reference, and hereinafter referred to as Carron (1985).
For the subject invention Raman spectroscopy is applied by calibration of the frequency shifts of the returning photon beam. These spectral peaks represent a specific molecular vibration which can be related to the peak height and correlates to the concentration of analyte. However, certain interferences occur between molecular species that mask the individual response peaks and make quantitative determinations especially uncertain. Further developments in Raman spectroscopy have tried to overcome this situation.
Recent U.S. patents covering the above mentioned concepts include;
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Year ______________________________________ 4,395,312 McCreery et al 1983 4,573,761 McLachlan et al 1986 4,674,878 V0-Dinh-1 1987 4,781,458 Angel-1 et al 1988 4,804,930 Simic-Glavaski 1989 4,834,497 Angel-2 1989 4,999,810 Vo-Dinh-2 1991 ______________________________________
Referring to the above list, McCreery discloses electrochemically generated chromophores in solution that can be detected by Raman probes. McLachlan discloses a fiber-optic probe comprising separate transmitting and collecting optical fibers useful for Raman spectroscopy that have a specially designed angle of convergence. Vo-Dinh-1 discloses SERS substrate of cellulosic material coated with roughness-imparting latex-like microbodies and a metallized coating, preferably of silver, with a thickness of between about 100 to 2000 angstroms. Angel-1 discloses an optical fiber probe, or optrode, thinly coated with SERS metal at a thickness of about 10 to 50 angstroms, and additionally side-only coated over the metal with selectively absorbent material. Simic-Glavaski discloses a molecular electro-optical transistor and switch that can supplement Raman spectroscopy with electrical ionization designed to represent logical or switchable information. Angel-2 discloses a fiber-optic fluid detector designed for a specific material, such as a toxic fluid like gasoline. Vo-Dinh-2 discloses a data storage system using the principle of an SERS substrate as a means of accepting optical information.
The subject invention involves a method of producing optical fibers or fiber-optic probes coated with an appropriate chemical layer that selectively complexes or partitions desired molecules allowing SERS detection.

Process for molecular-specific optical fiber probes for raman detection


An apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of sensors for detecting operational conditions of the vehicle and for producing condition signals which are received by a plurality of control units. The control units produce control signals in response to which a plurality of actuators control the operations of the vehicle. In order to judge failures of the sensors, a managing unit is provided separately from the control units and the condition signals generated by the sensors are supplied to the managing unit. In the managing unit, a failure judging process is performed by using the condition signals in combination to derive a judgment result.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automotive vehicle controlling apparatus comprising a plurality of sensors for detecting operational conditions of the automotive vehicle to generate condition signals, at least one electronic control unit for processing the condition signals generated by said sensors to produce at least one control signal, and at least one actuator for controlling the operation of the automotive vehicle in response to said control signal.

Automotive vehicle controlling apparatus with failure judging facility


A radio receiver has a receiver section (103) that receives an information signal and an integrated circuit (105) in which a default operating condition of an electronic device is selectively programmed. A mask option programming link in the integrated circuit (105) is programmed while maintaining electrical isolation of a programming bias from the electronic device (207). The mask option programming link has a first conductor (211) in a first layer with first (212) and second (213) programming contact terminals. A second conductor (210) that determines a default operating condition of the electronic device (207), resides in a second layer that is electrically isolated from the first layer. When sufficient programming bias is applied to the programming terminals of the first conductor (211), energy dissipated by the first conductor eliminates coupling of the second conductor (210) to the electronic device (207), changing its default operating condition.

Radio communication systems typically use a receiver (e.g., a selective call receiver or "pager") that has at least one unique call address associated therewith. These radios receive and decode at least one specific address, then typically alert the user to the presence of incoming information and operate to present this information. Radio communication systems are an excellent vehicle for delivering voice, numeric, alphanumeric or coded information to a user.
In contemporary selective call receivers, selective call addresses and operating features are selected by an integrated circuit controller (e.g., a microprocessor or the like) that reads information from a non-volatile memory such as a code plug. The same basic integrated circuit controller may be used in a number of selective call receiver models ranging from a basic low tier model (e.g., tone only alerting) to a full featured high tier model (e.g., alphanumeric display and voice messaging). In the past, to establish tiering among these models, a common base integrated circuit layout was designed with a plurality of unique, optional metal mask layers, each representing different levels of functionality (e.g., more or less options). More modern configuration methods use the same basic layout with either zener diode (electrically severed) or laser trimmable programming or trim links. The links are initially continuous and are selectively severed, depending on the requirements of the integrated circuit.
With integration of the programming links comes a new problem. In order to sever these links, one must use either a high power, extremely accurate laser, or apply a high voltage bias across a selected link, thereby melting the link. Because of a large beam spot size in relation to the absolute device size and geometry in state of the art integrated circuits, laser trimming has become impractical. Electrically programming links using zener trims also has problems. Since the programing links are electrically connected to their respective circuits, there is no way to prevent the trim bias from being applied to the active and passive devices comprising the integrated circuitry. This imposes an undesirable and sometimes impossible design constraint in that the breakdown potentials of the devices interconnected to the links must exceed by a significant amount, the trim bias potential applied thereto. If this constraint is not met, damage or destruction of the circuitry will occur.
Consequently, what is needed is an apparatus for electrically programming metal mask options that will provide sufficient isolation of the programming bias potential from the integrated circuitry, thereby preventing any damage to the circuit devices.

Electrically isolated metal mask programming using a polysilicon fuse


A personal gas flow indicator is disclosed in which a flow indicator is interposed between the proximal end of a gas delivery cannula that conducts breathing-gas from a breathing-gas source to an airway interface device (AID) for introducing the breathing-gas into the airway of an patient. By having the gas flow indicator positioned at the proximal end of the gas delivery cannula, the patient or some other person in visual contact with the patient can easily determine whether or not breathing-gas is flowing through the gas delivery cannula. The flow indicator is sufficiently lightweight that it can be worn by the patient. It is both disposable and portable and can be easily retrofit into existing-gas delivery systems. The flow indicator can be incorporated into an AID, into a gas delivery cannula, or it can be easily retrofit into one-piece gas delivery cannulas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical devices for monitoring the flow of breathing-gases through a gas delivery cannula, and more specifically the invention relates to a personal, disposable, and wearable flow indicator for monitoring the flow of a breathing-gas through a gas delivery cannula.
2. Definitions
The definitions set forth here are provided in order to clarify certain terms used in this disclosure. Examples, where provided, are not meant to limit the scope of the invention, but are provided to illustrate the relevant terms.
Breathing-gas—gaseous oxygen, either alone or admixed with other gases and/or pharmacological agents, that is or is intended to be delivered to the airway of a patient. Air, and more specifically compressed air, is considered a breathing-gas within the scope of the present disclosure and claims.
Patient—An individual who is in need of and/or who consumes a breathing-gas. The term "patient" is used herein not to limit the scope or context of the invention, but rather to emphasize that the most common use of the present invention is within the medical setting.
Personal—"Personal" when used herein refers to those collective characteristics of a flow indicator that allow the flow indicator to be used by a single patient and then disposed of. Such characteristics, as described in detail below, include the ability to easily swap the flow indicator in and out of the breathing-gas delivery system, and the ability to mass produce sufficiently large numbers of the flow indicators that they can be used and disposed of economically.
Breathing-gas source—A breathing-gas source is considered herein to be any device feeding breathing-gas under positive pressure into a gas delivery cannula, as "gas delivery cannula" is defined below. Common examples of breathing-gas sources include a tank containing a breathing-gas under pressure, and a pump that pumps a breathing-gas into a gas delivery cannula. "Breathing-gas source" as used herein includes hardware components "upstream" of the gas delivery cannula, for instance, regulators, meters, metal conduits, and "Christmas tree" connectors. For the purposes of the present disclosure, a gas outlet built into a wall or bulkhead is considered a component of a breathing-gas source.
Proximal and distal—The terms "proximal" and "distal" are used herein with reference to the patient. "Proximal" means towards or near the patient. "Distal" means away from the patient; i.e. towards, at, or near the gas source.
Airway Interface Device (AID)—A device for introducing a breathing-gas into a patient's airway. By way of example, commonly employed AID's include face masks, mouthpieces, nasal cannulas, and endotracheal tubes. An AID may be reversibly separable from the gas delivery cannula or it may be integrated into the gas delivery cannula.
Gas delivery cannula—tubing used to transmit a breathing-gas from a gas source to an AID. Flexible, transparent tubing having an internal diameter of approximately 2.0-4.0 mm is generally used as gas delivery cannulas. However, the term "gas delivery cannula" is used broadly in the present disclosure and claims to include any tubing used to transmit breathing-gas from a gas source to an AID.
Nasal cannula—a specific type of AID that delivers breathing-gas to a person's nasal passages. By way of example, the standard nasal cannula now commonly used consists of tubing that connects at its distal end to the proximal end of the gas delivery cannula and bifurcates to form a loop. The loop incorporates a nose-piece with two outlet ports. The outlet ports are placed adjacent to the patient's nares so that breathing-gas flows out of the outlet ports and directly into the nasal airway of the patient. The nasal cannula is held in place by the loop being placed over the patient's ears, by means of an elastic strap, or by other means not pertinent to the present invention.
Accommodate frictional faying—refers to a characteristic of two elements such that they are designed and manufactured with sufficiently complimentary dimensions and geometry to permit them to be frictionally joined in a secure, air-tight manner.
3. Prior Art
A very common medical situation is one in which it is necessary to deliver a breathing-gas to a patient's airway. A large variety of breathing-gas delivery systems have been designed for this purpose. Although the prior art of such breathing-gas delivery systems is too extensive to inventory here, U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,946 to Watson and Rayburn discloses a representative example.
Such breathing-gas delivery systems comprise a minimum of three elements: 1) a source of the breathing-gas; 2) a gas delivery cannula for transmitting the breathing-gas from the source to the patient, and 3) an AID for introducing the breathing-gas into the patient's airway. Many breathing-gas delivery systems incorporate additional elements incorporated into the breathing-gas source or interposed between the breathing-gas source and the gas delivery cannula. Such elements include metal conduits, "Christmas tree" connectors, wall outlets, flow meters, valves, flow regulators, and the like.
In breathing-gas delivery systems the distal end of the gas delivery cannula is connected to the breathing-gas source. The proximal end of the gas delivery cannula is continuous with or connected to the AID, which introduces the breathing-gas to the patient's airway. As long as breathing-gas is flowing through the system, the patient inhales the delivered breathing-gas as it exits the AID. If the flow of the breathing-gas through the system is cut off, the patient inhales either nothing or only ambient air, which may not have a sufficiently high oxygen content to sustain the patient. Consequently, it is important to be able to ascertain whether or not breathing-gas is flowing all the way through the gas delivery cannula to the patient's airway.
Flow-indicators are commonly used to determine whether breathing-gas is flowing in a breathing-gas delivery system. A common type of flow indicator is a rotary sight flow indicator, which comprises a rotatable member positioned in a chamber that is in communication with the gas source. The rotatable member in the chamber is visible through a window in the flow indicator housing. Gas moving through the chamber causes the rotatable member to rotate, and this provides a visible indication that the gas is moving. A representative general-use rotary sight flow indicator is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,877 to Chang. Such flow indicators are used in breathing-gas delivery systems. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,196 ("Culton" herein) issued to Steven Culton discloses a rotary sight flow indicator incorporated into the flow meter hardware of breathing-gas source.
4. Problems and Limitations of the Prior Art Overcome by the Present Invention
In situations where breathing-gas delivery systems are employed to deliver breathing-gases to patients who are dependent on the breathing-gases, a failure of the system can cause catastrophic results; consequently, the prior art discloses a wide variety of flow-meters and flow indicators. These prior art devices, however, are invariably positioned at or near the source of the breathing-gas; i.e., distal to the gas delivery cannula. The Culton flow-indicator is a good example of a flow-indicator being positioned at the distal end of the system, upstream from the gas delivery cannula. Culton is actually incorporated into the gas source apparatus. Such prior art flow-indicators present a number of problems, some of which are potentially life-threatening, that are overcome by the present invention.
One such problem is that the distally placed flow indicator device can be hidden from the patient because the device is often mounted on a wall, usually behind the patient and often occluded by hanging drapes or other obstructions. Even when those who are caring for the patient can see the flow indicator, the patient himself often cannot. Similarly, flow indicator devices are often connected to portable gas tanks or pumps. Such tanks and pumps are often kept out of the way by placing them on the floor, under the bed, or behind furniture or other obstructions; consequently, it is often hard or impossible to see such flow indicators.
This problem of the patient not being able to see the flow indicator is exacerbated by the fact that many such patients do not have the strength or agility to twist around to see the flow indicators. Because the patient cannot monitor the flow-indicator, should the flow of the breathing-gas flow be interrupted, the patient may not realize it. This is particularly problematic for debilitated patients, who are most in need of a constant flow of breathing-gas.
The present invention solves this problem by providing a breathing-gas flow indicator positioned at or near the proximal end of the gas delivery cannula close to the patient's face, so that the patient and his care-givers can easily see the flow indicator and determine whether breathing-gas is flowing through the gas delivery cannula.
A second potentially dangerous problem of the existing art that is overcome by the present invention is that the distally placed flow indicators are too far "upstream" from the patient to detect flow-failures in most of the system. The amount of information provided by the flow indicator is directly proportional to the distance the flow indicator is from the gas source. In a hospital setting, the length of the gas delivery cannula between the prior art flow indicator and the patient may be several meters. If the gas delivery cannula develops a leak, or a kink, or is severed at some point between the prior art flow indicator located at the gas source and the patient, the prior art flow indicator continues to indicate that the breathing-gas is flowing normally when, in fact, the patient is not receiving any breathing-gas at all. This problem is referred to here as a "false flow signal."
The present invention solves this false flow signal problem by providing a flow indicator placed at or near the proximal end of the gas delivery cannula, near the patient, so that any interruption of flow in the system anywhere between the patient all the way back to and including the gas source is immediately and easily detected.
A third problem with the prior art that is overcome by the present invention is that the prior art flow indicators cannot be easily retrofit into existing systems. The present invention solves this problem by providing a flow indicator that can be easily retrofit into an existing-gas delivery cannula without fittings, clamps, or other hardware. Even if the gas delivery cannula is continuous with the AID, the present invention can be easily frictionally spliced into a convenient point in the gas delivery cannula for easy viewing by the patient.
A fourth problem of the prior art that is overcome by the present invention is that the complexity of the prior art requires excessive manufacturing costs which militate against 1) the device being disposable and 2) wide-spread use and acceptance of the prior art flow indicators. The present invention solves this problem by providing a flow indicator that is sufficiently simple, elegant, and inexpensively produced that it can be widely used to improve the safety of breathing-gas delivery systems. In fact, the present invention can be inexpensively produced in such large quantities as to be used by a single patient for a brief time and then hygienically disposed of. The device can either be manufactured as a separate flow indicator that can be retrofitted into an existing-gas delivery cannula and simply replaced with each new patient, or it can be manufactured as an integral part of the gas delivery cannula, and the entire gas delivery cannula and flow indicator combination replaced when necessary. Thus, the present invention is both personal, in that it is used by only one patient, it is hygienic, and it is disposable.
A fifth problem with the prior art that is overcome by the present invention is that flow indicators incorporated into the breathing-gas source are not portable. This is of concern when a patient is transported from one location to another because during transport the distal end of the gas delivery cannula must be disconnected from the breathing-gas source (and its integrated flow indicator) and re-connected to a portable source of breathing-gas. Consequently, a separate flow indicator is required for the portable breathing-gas source. This problem is solved by the present invention by providing a flow indicator that remains interposed between the AID and the proximal end of the gas delivery cannula when the distal end of the gas delivery cannula is repeatedly connected to and disconnected from different breathing-gas sources. The invention is light enough that it can be worn by an ambulatory patient and still remain fully functional. Even if the patient walks about with a portable tank of gas, the flow indicator remains with the patient to monitor the gas flow.
A sixth problem with the prior art that is overcome by the present invention is that prior art flow indicators cannot be used at night or by the sight impaired. The present invention overcomes this problem in two ways. First, the flow indicator is worn close to the patient's face and can be raised to his eyes and observed in dim light. Second, the flow indicator vibrates gently when gas is flowing through it and the patient can feel these vibrations thereby indicating gas flow even in a completely dark room and even when used by blind patients.
5. Overview of the Invention
Our invention is a flow indicator used in a breathing-gas delivery system, the system comprising a breathing-gas source, an AID, and a gas delivery cannula for conducting breathing-gas from the source to the AID. The gas delivery cannula has a distal end in communication with the source, and a proximal end. The flow indicator has a housing that has at least one transparent housing surface. The housing forms a chamber through which the breathing-gas flows. The housing forms at least one inlet through which the breathing-gas enters the chamber and which is in direct communication with the proximal end of the gas delivery cannula. The housing also forms an outlet through which the breathing-gas exits the chamber, and which is in communication with the AID. The flow indicator has a rotatable member rotatably mounted by mounting means within the chamber and visible from without the chamber through the transparent housing surface. The rotatable member has at least one rotatable member surface upon which the flowing gas impinges and causes the rotatable member to rotate about its axis of rotation, thereby producing a visible and/or vibrational indication that the breathing-gas is flowing through the gas delivery cannula. Details, variations, and embellishments of the invention are disclosed below.

Personal, wearable, disposable breathing-gas flow indicator


A stringed instrument has a body which is composed of a back case and a top case combined by screwing up screw receiving bosses of the back case to screw attaching bosses of the top case with a vibration absorber provided between a side wall of the back and a side wall of the top. Attached to the back case are string vibration parts such as a neck and a bridge base. The bridge base is exposed to the outside from an opening in the top case. Non-string vibration parts including a tape recorder and a speaker are attached to the top case. Thus, when string vibrations are transmitted from the back case to the top case, the central portion of the top of the top case becomes a loop where the vibration amplitude is maximum and the top vibrates greatly freely. Thus, according to the inventive stringed instrument, a musical sound of an increased volume with a warm tone quality containing sufficient overtones is obtained.

The present invention relates to stringed instruments such as electric guitars and folk guitars.
There are stringed instruments which have a hollow body generally composed of a pair of substantially parallel top and back and a side which extends between the top and back along the periphery of the top and back so as to form a hollow in the body. Strings extend over the outer top whereas the outer back faces the player when the instrument is played. A neck is attached to the body between the top and back at a predetermined end of the body with the strings extending from a bridge attached at substantially the center of the top to a head provided at an opposite end of the body from the neck.
A stringed instrument having a hollow body causes the air within the hollow body to resonate with string vibrations to thereby generate a musical sound of a warm soft tone quality compared to a stringed instrument having a solid body without a hollow in its body. The features of the tone quality of a musical sound generated by a hollow-bodied stringed instrument are common to any of an acoustic stringed instrument which generates a musical sound due to only string vibrations and body resonance without electrical amplification and an electric stringed instrument which generates a musical sound by converting a string vibration to an electric signal and amplifying the electric signal. Even in the case of the electric stringed instrument, vibrations of its body return to its strings, so that not only the strings but also the structure of the body is a factor which characterizes the tone quality of the musical sound.
In the conventional hollow-bodied stringed instrument, a bridge is attached at the center of the top of the body which makes string vibrations rich in resonance to the string vibrations. Thus, the center of the body does not vibrate and forms a node of the vibrations of the top (where the vibration amplitude is minimum). Accordingly, the vibrations of the top are limited and monotonous and the vibration amplitude is limited. Thus, the number of overtone components added to the obtained musical sound is limited and hence the warmth of the tone quality of the musical sound is limited, undesirably.
If parts such as a tape recorder and a speaker providing an additional function are attached to the hollow body of the stringed instrument so as to have additional functions, many of the additional parts are generally vulnerable to vibrations and could malfunction owing to possible impact produced by touching the strings and the movement of the whole instrument caused by the player's move.

Stringed instruments having impact absorber between top and back


Image data for a page having an amount of data exceeding the capacity of a printer memory is suitably output. A comparison is made among areas of buffer management blocks (TIME) in four data queues in which cyan, magenta, yellow, and black image data commands are stored. Then, the image data command having the earliest time is selected and is transferred to a printer. As a result, the image data is transferred in the order in which it is to be output in the printer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image transfer apparatuses, and more particularly, to an image transfer apparatus suitable for transferring image data to a printer, such as a color printer having a plurality of drums.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a typical page printer such as a laser beam printer, a printing operation begins after print data for one page is stored in memory.
However, if the entirety of print commands for one page cannot be stored in the memory due to insufficient capacity, the printing operation cannot be started.
In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-11554 ("HOST BASED PRINTER" in U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,090) discloses a method for starting a printing operation when memory becomes full before the printing operation, and then transferring the remaining portion of an image while the printing operation is being performed.
For faster printing, the so-called four-drum color printers are coming into widespread use, wherein a dedicated drum is provided for each of the colors, i.e., cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, to simultaneously print the four colors.
FIG. 8 illustrates the output timing of image data of the individual colors in a four-drum color printer. Since there is a certain distance between photosensitive drums, a plurality of colors cannot be simultaneously printed, and, as shown in FIG. 8, there is a certain regular difference of the output timing of the image data of the individual colors, i.e., cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
In a page printer, a printing operation cannot be stopped once the output of image data is started. Accordingly, if a certain portion of the image data is not received by the time it is output, the image data becomes discontinuous, resulting in poor image quality. One way to reduce or eliminate this problem is to transfer image data in the order in which it is to be output.
In the above-described known technique, however, the order in which image data is output is not considered. For example, the transfer order of image data in a one-drum color printer is set such that the whole image data for cyan for the first page is transferred, followed by the image data for magenta for the first page. According to this transfer order, even though the head of the image data for black is simultaneously output around the end of the image data for cyan, it is transferred long after the end of the image data for cyan has been transferred.
Image data can be transferred in the order in which an image is generated in a host computer (for example, when an image is generated by dividing one page into 16 bands, the image data is transferred in the order of the cyan image of the first band, the magenta image of the first band, the yellow image of the first band, the black image of the first band, the cyan image of the second band, and so on, and finally, the black image of the sixteenth band). In this case, even though the end of the image data for cyan is simultaneously output around the head of the image data for black, it is transferred long after the head of the image data for black.
Thus, when image data of the entirety of one page cannot be stored in a printer, it cannot be suitably output from the printer.


A catheter system comprising a catheter including a tip having a distal opening, a first opening, and an insertion wire lumen extending from the distal opening to the first opening provided on a surface of the catheter, and an insertion wire having a length substantially smaller than a length dimension of the catheter. The catheter system in accordance with the present invention may include a sensor lumen and a pressure lumen. The sensor lumen terminates at a second opening and includes an optically transparent closure and the pressure lumen includes a third opening. In the preferred embodiment, the first opening and the second opening are positioned on the catheter at substantially same axial distance from the distal opening and further includes a perforation that allows fluidic communication between the pressure lumen and the second opening. The catheter system may also comprise a pressure hose, at least one optical fiber and a thermal sensor element. Furthermore, the catheter system may further comprise a three-way valve, a pressure transducer, a flushing valve, a flow controller, and a drip chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a catheter systems with an insertion wire and a catheter. More specifically, this invention relates to such catheter systems in which at a distal end of the catheter at a tip, there is provided an insertion wire lumen which extends from the tip to an opening provided laterally in the catheter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Placement of catheters through small blood vessels is currently done essentially by means of a technology combining two different processes. In the standard process, the radial artery is used to monitor the arterial blood pressure and the arterial blood gases, especially in the perioperative area under anesthesia. Generally, in this standard process, a single-lumen intravasal catheter of teflon or of polyurethane with a length between 3 cm and 5 cm and with a diameter up to 18 gauge are inserted into the radial artery. Catheters are inserted conventionally via a guide cannula which fills the lumen of the catheter and projects above it. In addition, the arterial pressure is generally measured invasively by means of a liquid coupling to an external pressure transducer. Blood gases and other physiological parameters are determined from blood samples which are collected through the catheter lumen.
One disadvantage of the existing technique of puncturing the radial artery and inserting the above described catheter into the vascular lumen is that the catheter cause a reactive constriction of the radial artery and thus, interruption of the blood flow on the catheter often occurs. This, in turn, results in incorrect pressure measurements which is described by R. Mohr, J. Lavee and D. A. Goor in xe2x80x9cInaccuracy Of Radial Artery Pressure Measurement After Cardiac Operationsxe2x80x9d published in the J. Thorac. Cardiovascular Surg. 94(2), 286-290 (1987). This pressure measurement is erroneously interpreted as being accurate while in fact, the pressure measurement is inaccurate because it is acquired by measuring a pulsating stagnating blood column.
If blood is taken via the pressure/blood collection lumen of the catheter, the biochemical or physiological values of the sample often do not agree with the actual values since this blood originates, at least in part, from a blood column which is not being circulated. Analogous inaccurate measurements arise when a relatively short radial catheter is provided with sensors for measuring biochemical or physiological parameters such as blood gases.
In addition, central arterial pressure curves is necessary in critical situations. However, pressure curves in the radial artery generally deviate dramatically from pressure curves measured in central arteries such as the aorta, both in the shape of the pressure curve, and in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. This deviation is discussed by G. P. Gravlee, S. D. Brauer, M. F. O""Rourke, and A. P. Avolio in xe2x80x9cA Comparison Of Brachial, Femoral And Aortic Intra-Arterial Pressures Before And After Cardiopulmonary Bypassxe2x80x9d published in Anaesth. Intensive Care, 17(3), 305-311 (1989).
Peripheral-arterial pressure curves from the radial artery are also not suitable for computing the cardiac output using the pulse contour method because an unambiguous diagnosis of the ejection phase of the left ventricle is not possible. Centrally measured pressure curves are required for this purpose. This is discussed by K. H. Wesseling, B. de Wit, A. P. Weber, N. Ty Smith in xe2x80x9cA Simple Device For The Continuous Measurement Of Cardiac Outputxe2x80x9d published in Adv. Cardiovasc. Phys., vol 5 (Part II); 16-52 (1983).
The cardiac output and circulatory filling state in the perioperative area are generally determined through a pulmonary-arterial thermodilution catheter placed within the radial artery in addition to the arterial radial catheter. In the surgical arts, the pulmonary-arterial thermodilution catheter is also known as a pulmonary catheter or a pulmonary arterial catheter. In pulmonary arterial thermodilution, a glucose or saline solution which has a temperature which deviates from the blood temperature is venously injected. The pulmonary arterial catheter placed in the pulmonary artery includes a temperature sensor on the distal end which allows recording of the thermodilution curve. For example, the cardiac output is computed from the thermodilution curve by means of the Stewart-Hamilton process. Furthermore, by inflating a balloon placed on the distal end of the catheter, a pulmonary arterial closing pressure is recorded which will provide information on the circulatory fill status.
The cardiac output and the circulatory fill status can also be measured by means of transcardiopulmonary arterially measured thermodilution as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,817 to U. J. Pfeiffer and R. Knoll or also by means of thermo-dye dilution as discussed by U. J. Pfeiffer, G. Backus, G. Bluemel, J. Eckart, P. Mueller, P. Winkler, J. Zeravik, and G. J. Zimmerman in xe2x80x9cA Fiberoptics-Based System For Integrated Monitoring Of Cardiac Output, Intrathoracic Blood Volume, Extravascular Lung Water, O2 Saturation, And a-v Differences, Practical Applications Of Fiberoptics In Critical Care Monitoringxe2x80x9d published in Springer Verlag, p. 114-125 (1990). However, existing measurement catheters allow simple and reliable measurements in the femoral artery and in the abdominal aorta.
Experience shows that the currently available arterial thermodilution and thermo-dye dilution catheters with a blood pressure lumen having an extremely small diameter of 1.33 mm still do not allow reliable thermo- or thermo-dye dilution measurements in the radial artery because they can only be placed into position by an insertion catheter with a much larger outside diameter. However, measurement through the radial artery is necessary during anesthesia because during many surgeries, the anesthetist does not have any opportunity to correct the location of the femoral catheter. In addition, such measurements may also be required if as a result of the completed surgery, there is no blood flow in the femoral artery or the blood flow it is influenced by the surgeon.
The disadvantages of the existing arterial thermo- or oximetry/thermo-dye dilution catheters include the fact that the sensors such as a fiber optic eye or a thermistor have been attached to the distal end and end flat on the catheter end next to the opening of the blood pressure lumen. In addition to the insertion of the measurement catheter, this requires the use of an additional insertion catheter which pushes the measurement catheter into the blood vessel. Consequently this system results in a much larger puncture surface and thus, can cause damage to the blood vessel wall and reduce blood flow because of the greater diameter.
Furthermore, the fiber optic eye which is often unprotected on the tip of the catheter, is frequently blinded since the catheter tips adjoin certain structures of the vessel wall such as branches, atherosclerotic changes, etc. and its function can be adversely effected because of formation of a microthrombus.
The German reference DE 42 00 032 C2 discloses a catheter system in which a catheter is preferably provided with a dilation balloon, by means of which constricted vessels, for example coronary vessels, can be widened. A catheter of this type is usually inserted via a lock attached to the femoral artery of the patient, and is pushed into the coronary system via the patient""s aorta as disclosed in the German reference DE 42 00 030 C2. In this manner, the catheter is guided by the guide wire in the area of the catheter tip whereas in the proximal catheter area adjacent to the catheter tip, it is guided by the parallel guide wire lying outside the catheter but within the blood vessel.
The guide wire is thus used in the catheter system known from DE 2 00 030 C2, to guide the catheter tip within the blood vessel system. Due to the necessity of using an insertion catheter or a lock, the insertion of this catheter requires a comparatively large puncture surface. Due to the long length of the guide wire (which usually has at least the length of the catheter, but generally have twice the length of the catheter), a large sterile surgical field is necessary since the guide wire can easily come into contact with articles in the vicinity of the patient during its insertion.
The published European Patent ApplicationEP 0 266 928 A1 discloses a multifunction cardiovascular catheter system but fails to disclose the use of a guide wire or insertion wire.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a catheter system that can be quickly and easily placed in small blood vessels, for example in the radial artery, by means of direct insertion wire technique with little traumatizing effect.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a catheter system which can ensure that the sensor or the sensors on or in the catheter comes to rest in an area of the vessels in which blood flows past the catheter and in an area in which the shape of the blood pressure curve closely corresponds to that in the aorta when placed in the arterial system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a catheter system with a relatively short insertion wire in order to make the sterile covering as small as possible when the blood vessel is punctured.
Yet, still another object of the present invention is to provide a catheter system wherein the catheter remains positionable and repositionable under sterile conditions.
With the catheter system in accordance with the present invention, it becomes possible to push the catheter into the vicinity of the aorta, for example via a minimally traumatizing puncture of the radial artery, in order to take measurements, like blood pressure measurements or optical spectral measurements, which are far superior than previous measurements possible through a puncture of the radial artery.
The improved catheter system in accordance with the present invention is used in the manner described below. The radial artery is punctured in the conventional manner by means of a cannula. Then, the short insertion wire is pushed via the lumen of the cannula into the blood vessel and the cannula is withdrawn while holding the insertion wire stationary. The puncture side of the blood vessel is widened by a dilator. Then, the dilator is likewise withdrawn, leaving the insertion wire in the vessel. The insertion wire is then threaded into the distal opening in the tip and the catheter is pushed forward. The insertion wire is pushed forward far enough to allow the insertion wire to project out of the first opening on a surface of the catheter so that it can be securely gripped by the surgeon with his or her fingers. Then, by using the insertion wire, the catheter is pushed roughly 5 cm through the skin and the subcutaneous tissue into the blood vessel. Then the insertion wire is pulled. Subsequently, the catheter (without the insertion wire) is pushed forward approximately another 50 cm so that its tip reaches a large artery (for example, the axillary artery). The attachment of the catheter is minimally traumatizing since only the easily accessible radial artery need be punctured and the use of a lock is not necessary. Because the insertion wire is short, the sterile field can be kept very small without the danger of contamination of the insertion wire during the insertion.
In contrast to the teachings of the prior art German reference DE 42 00 030 C2, the short insertion wire provided in the present invention is not used to guide the catheter within the blood vessel system, but rather to insert the catheter through the puncture site into the blood vessel system. Therefore, in contrast to the German reference DE 42 00 030 C2, the short insertion wire provided in the present invention replaces the lock or insertion cannula usually necessary for insertion of catheters. Thus, the present catheter system is substantially different than that disclosed in the German reference DE 42 00 030 C2 and fulfills a completely different purpose. More specifically, the guide wire as disclosed in DE 42 00 030 C2 has a length which is at least equal to the length of the catheter since it is used to insert the catheter along with the guide wire into small blood vessels, for example into the coronary system.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the intention when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


An integrated progressive brake light system for vehicles in which different sequences of brake lights are illuminated dependent on operator activation input. The brake light system uses a progressive multiple selective illumination in which additional central oriented brake lights are actuated as metered increase of operator input to indicate the relative degree of applied braking force as will be evident to the visual interpretation thereof.

1. Technical Field
This device is related to vehicle stop lights that are positioned on the rear of the vehicle to indicate to following traffic when the vehicle is stopping.
2. Description of Prior Art
Prior art devices of this type have all been based on the accepted brake light system currently used on motor vehicles. Typically, two brake lights are positioned on the rear surface of the vehicle and are actuated once the driver applies any pressure to the brake pedal. They normally are illuminated jointly and at the same intensity as long as the user's foot remains on the brake pedal.
Alternate brake light systems have been developed in which multiple lights come on in different sequences depending on the relative braking effort or degree of deceleration that is occurring. Such systems have used different colored lights also to indicate the degree of braking, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,753,769, 6,268,792, 7,002,459 and 7,019,632.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,769 a progressive slow stop signaling system is disclosed wherein a number of different colored light sets on a vehicle are illuminated to indicate relative speed of the vehicle at that time.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,792 claims a progressive brake light gauge using an accelerometer actuating a plurality of lamps in response thereto in all or separate sequence illumination.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,002,459 discloses a vehicle braking indicator that uses analysis of vehicle speed determined by engine revolution and progressive segment lighting associated therewith.
Finally, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,019,632 a vehicle braking light system is disclosed in which signal activation braking and intended braking of the driver by actuating a portion of the light display in association therewith.


A liquid crystal light valve cell has two optically different states switchable therebetween by bias voltage in response to incident light. A ferroelectric liquid crystal layer is sandwiched by a pair of front and rear alignment layers to establish the two bistable states in the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer. A front electrode layer is disposed on the front alignment layer. An optically reflecting layer is disposed on the rear alignment layer. A photo-conductive layer is disposed on the reflecting layer and responsive to the incident light incident from the rear face of cell to increase its electroconductivity. A rear electrode layer is disposed on the photo-conductive layer in cooperation with the front electrode layer to apply the bias voltage between the multi-layer structure including the liquid crystal layer and the photo-conductive layer such that effective bias voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer through the increased electroconductive region of photo-conductive layer to thereby effect the switching between the two bistable states. The multi-layer structure is sandwiched by a pair of front and rear transparent substrates to construct the liquid crystal light valve cell.

The present invention relates to liquid crystal light valves which are activated optically to effect switching between an optical ON state and an optical OFF state, and which are utilized for the intermediate recording medium of an optical printer, graphic display device, light shutter, image processing device, optical information processing system and so on.
There are known optically switching liquid crystal light valves of the various types which may be classified in terms of optical switching mode and liquid crystal mode. The known optical switching modes include an opto-electric conversion mode of irradiating light onto photo-conductive film, through which liquid crystal film is indirectly electrically biased, to optically change the electroconductivity of photo-conductive film to thereby electrically activate the liquid crystal film, and another opto-thermal conversion mode of scanning a laser beam along liquid crystal film to thermally change the optical state of liquid crystal film. The known optical liquid crystal modes of switching between ON and OFF states include phase transition mode of smectic A (SmA) liquid crystal, phase transition mode between nematic (Ne) liquid crystal phase and cholesteric (Ch) liquid crystal phase, dynamic scattering mode (DSM) of liquid crystal, twist nematic (TN) mode, super twist nematic (STN) mode and so on.
The opto-electro conversion mode is superior to the thermal conversion mode in view of switching speed and therefore is expected for application of displaying a moving image. However, in the known opto-electro conversion mode, the liquid crystal film maintains its activated state only during the irradiation of light thereonto. After stopping the irradiation of light, the activated or ON state of liquid crystal can be momentarily held due to the CR time constant of liquid crystal film and thereafter immediately returns to the non-activated or OFF state.
In the case of using twist nematic liquid crystal film having a normal twist angle of 90.degree. in the opto-electric conversion mode light valve, a cathode ray tube (CRT) is utilized as an irradiating light source so as to use its afterglow for maintaining the activated state. However, in such case, the resolution of the light valve is determined substantially by that of the CRT. Therefore, there are various drawbacks such as large dimension and high cost which are needed to improve the resolution of CRT.
On the other hand, there has been proposed another light irradiation source of a scanned laser beam. In this case, however, since the twist nematic liquid crystal holds its ON state only for a moment, it is difficult to improve the resolution of the light valve. In order to obtain the large scale image display of high resolution with such type of light valve, it would be necessary to repeatedly scan the laser beam along the identical path at high speed to thereby necessitate an ultra high speed laser beam scanner with ultra high resolution and ultra-high-sensitive photo-conductive film, and there would be many technical problems to be solved.

Optically switching ferroelectric liquid crystal light valve having a pre-tilt angle of 60 to 80 degrees


Devices and methods are disclosed for implanting, positioning, removing, replacing and operating intra-aortic balloon pumps.

The use of intraaortic balloon pumps is a well known method for treating heart failure. The balloon pump is positioned inside the aorta, typically in the proximal descending aorta. The balloon pump (typically 40-50 milliliters in capacity) is inflated and deflated in time with the contraction of the left ventricle. During diastole, the balloon is inflated, thereby driving blood in the ascending aorta and aortic arch into the coronary arteries to supply oxygen to the heart muscle. During systole, as the left ventricle contracts, the balloon is deflated so as to decrease the afterload. This procedure is termed "counterpulsation."
Such balloon pumps also typically require burdensome external equipment to operate, such as gas compressors, gas tanks, and/or condensors.


A method and system for providing an output voltage greater than a voltage of a voltage supply in a semiconductor device are disclosed. The method and system include providing basic stage(s) and/or a bi-directional stage and basic stage(s) coupled with the bi-directional stage. The bi-directional stage includes boosting capacitors, N-type devices, and an interface and allows operation in positive or negative configurations. A first of the basic stage(s) is coupled with the interface. The basic stage includes first and second sections. The first section includes pumping node(s) coupled with pumping capacitor(s), device(s) coupled with the pumping node(s), and auxiliary capacitors for providing an overshoot for the device(s) for value(s) of the clock signals. The second section is analogous to the first section. A clock provides clock signals to the first and second sections and the bi-directional stage. The first and second sections alternately charge and fully discharge based on the clock signals.

Semiconductor devices, such as EEPROMs or Flash devices, may be desired to be run using a voltage supply that provides a lower supply voltage. Although lower supply voltages are desired for the semiconductor devices, higher voltages may be desired for certain operations. For example, a voltage that is higher than the supply voltage may be required for operations such as programming or erasing memory cells in a Flash memory. In order to obtain the higher voltages, a conventional charge pump may be used.
FIG. 1 depicts a conventional charge pump 10, which can be used to increase voltages above the supply voltage or provide a reverse polarity voltage. The conventional charge pump 10 includes a conventional capacitor-diode ladder 12 and a conventional oscillator 20 coupled with a voltage supply 22. The conventional capacitor-diode ladder 12 includes capacitor-diode pairs 13 (including capacitor 14 and diode 24), 15 (including capacitor 16 and diode 26), and 17 (that includes capacitor 18 and diode 28). The conventional oscillator 20 outputs clocks signals CLK and CLKB. The diodes 24, 26, and 28 are typically NMOS devices that function as diodes. The signal CLKB is the inverse of the signal CLK.
Based on the signals CLK and CLKB, the capacitor-diode pairs 13, 15, and 17 alternately charge to approximately the supply voltage and discharge. For example, the capacitor-diode pair 13 charges the capacitor 14, then discharges the capacitor 14 and transfers the energy to the next capacitor-diode pair 15. The charging and discharging of capacitors 14, 16, and 18 in the capacitor-diode ladder 12 allows for energy to be transferred between capacitor-diode pairs 13, 15, and 17, and output. This energy is also transferred at the output 30 of the conventional charge pump 10 by an output current provided at the output 30. The conventional charge pump 10, has a gain per capacitor-diode pair of Vdd−Vt, where Vdd is the supply voltage and Vt is the threshold voltage of the NMOS devices 24, 26, and 28. Thus, a voltage above that of the conventional voltage supply 22 can be provided.
Although the conventional charge pump 10 functions, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the conventional charge pump 10 may have significant drawbacks, particularly for lower supply voltages. The number of capacitor-diode pairs, such as the capacitor-diode pairs 13, 15, and 17, that can be cascaded is limited by the amount of the voltage drop increase between the source and the bulk of an NMOS device in the capacitor-diode pairs 13, 15, and 17. This drop results in a dramatic increase in the threshold voltage in the final stages. Consequently, a limited number of capacitor-diode pairs and, therefore, a limited gain may be achieved. Another drawback is that thick oxide, high voltage dedicated transistors are necessary to reliably sustain a large voltage drop between gate and bulk. Thus, thin oxide, low voltage standard devices which can sustain a maximum drop of Vdd may not be used in the conventional charge pump 10. Moreover, when used in applications using a low supply voltage, the charge pump 10 provides a lower output current from the output 30 because charge is output at a lower rate from the capacitor-diode ladder 12. Furthermore, the high voltage from the conventional charge pump 10 may be on the order of the breakdown voltage of devices to which the voltage is applied, inducing breakdown leakage. As the output current of the conventional charge pump 10 decreases, the effect of the leakage becomes more marked. As a result, the ability of the conventional charge pump 10 to provide a sufficient output current in combination with a high voltage may be adversely affected.
In addition, the conventional charge pump 10 is typically uni-directional. Stated differently, the conventional charge pump 10 is typically used to provide a high positive voltage but not a high negative voltage. Another structure based on this conventional charge pump is used to generate a high negative voltage. Thus, to obtain both positive and negative high voltages for both programming and erasing, two conventional charge pumps are typically used. One conventional charge pump 10 is used for the program operation, while another conventional charge pump is used for the erase operation. Thus, such conventional charge pumps typically do not work at the same time. The area consumed by two conventional charge pumps may be extensive. As technology moves toward higher densities, such a large consumption of area is undesirable.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved method and system for providing high positive or negative voltages, particularly in lower supply voltage devices. The present invention addresses such a need.

High efficiency low cost bi-directional charge pump circuit for very low voltage applications


Ethylene polymers or copolymers having very broad molecular weight distributions in a broad range of melt-indicies are produced by using mixtures of MgO-supported Ziegler catalyst and a chromium oxide catalyst in which the usual poisoning of the catalysts does not occur.

It is well recognized that for certain applications it is advantageous that high density ethylene polymers have a broad molecular weight distribution (MWD). For example, in blow molding of articles, such as bottles, broad MWD polymers are desirable because they exhibit better impact strength and have superior environmental stress-crack resistance (ESCR) compared to polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution.
Various expedients have been proposed to prepare ethylene polymers with broad molecular weight distribution including modifications to the catalyst system such as described in many patents, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,657,998 and 4,569,975.
In accordance with this invention, novel catalysts quite different from those previously proposed are provided for preparing ethylene polymers and copolymers, particularly high density polyethylene (HDPE) with a broad molecular weight distribution. The unique character of these catalysts is reflected in the general belief that the essential components, a magnesium oxide supported Ziegler catalyst and chromium catalyst component, should not be combined because poisoning of the chromium catalyst would result.

Mixed Ziegler and chromium catalyst and process for preparing a broad molecular weight distribution HDPE


The present invention provides a sealed lithium secondary battery in which redox shuttle reactions of an aromatic compound that is an overcharge inhibitor are inhibited, and the aromatic compound decomposes appropriately, and a desired amount of gas can be generated more stably than in conventional instances, even in high-temperature environments. In the sealed lithium secondary battery (100), an electrode assembly (80) and an electrolyte are accommodated in a battery case (50) that is provided with a current interrupt device (30). The electrolyte comprises a compound that is capable of suppressing drops in viscosity of the electrolyte as a result of a rise in temperature in a temperature region up to 100° C., and an aromatic compound capable of generating hydrogen gas when a predetermined battery voltage is exceeded.

Lithium secondary batteries, such as lithium ion batteries, boast smaller size, lighter weight and higher energy density than existing batteries. Accordingly, lithium secondary batteries are preferably used as so-called portable power sources in personal computers or mobile terminals, and as electric power sources for driving in vehicles.
Sealed lithium secondary batteries are one form of such batteries. One such battery has typically a construction wherein an electrode assembly comprising positive and negative electrodes, each provided with a mix layer that comprises an active material, is accommodated inside a battery case, together with an electrolyte (typically, an electrolyte solution), after which a lid body is fitted to close (seal) the battery case. The sealed lithium secondary battery is ordinarily used in a state where the voltage is limited so as to lie within a predetermined region (for instance, 3.0 V to 4.2 V). However, the predetermined voltage may in some instances be exceeded, and overcharge may occur, if more current than usual is supplied to the battery, for instance due to some malfunction.
Current interrupt devices (CIDs) that cut off charging current when pressure inside a battery case becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value are one widely-known overcharge countermeasure technique. Ordinarily, a nonaqueous solvent or the like, in an electrolyte, becomes electrolyzed and generates a gas when the battery is brought to an overcharge state. On the basis of this gas generation, the current interrupt device cuts off the charging circuit of the battery, such that overcharge can be prevented to proceed any further.
Incorporating beforehand, into the electrolyte, a compound (hereafter referred to as "overcharge inhibitor") having an oxidation potential that is lower than that of the nonaqueous solvent of the electrolyte (i.e. a lower voltage at which an oxidative decomposition reaction starts), is a known method that is resorted to when using such current interrupt device. When the battery enters an overcharge state, such an overcharge inhibitor quickly undergoes oxidative decomposition, and generates hydrogen ions (H+) as a result, at a positive electrode surface. The hydrogen ions diffuse into the electrolyte, and are reduced at the negative electrode, giving rise thereby to hydrogen gas (H2). The internal pressure of the battery rises on account of the generated hydrogen gas, and as a result, the current interrupt device can be activated quickly. As an instance of such prior art, for example Patent document 1 discloses the feature of using cyclohexylbenzene (CHB) and/or biphenyl (BP) as an overcharge inhibitor.


An aspect of the present invention includes a footwear assembly comprising: an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly has a footwear assembly comprising a sole assembly connected to an upper. The sole assembly has a midsole made of a first material and having a forefoot portion, an arch portion, a heel portion, and a sidewall extending around a lateral side, a medial side, and a heel side of the midsole. A stiffener is connected to the midsole. The stiffener is made of a second material stiffer than the first material. The stiffener has a base portion adjacent to the arch portion and at least one of the forefoot portion and the heel portion of the midsole. The stiffener has a side stabilizer and a heel wrap coupled to the base portion. The side stabilizer is adjacent to the sidewall in at least one of the arch portion and forefoot portion. The heel wrap is adjacent to the heel side and at least one of the lateral side and medial side of the midsole's sidewall.

Boots and other footwear are typically constructed of materials that provide a comfortable, durable, and stable platform. Boots, such as hunting and hiking boots, are constructed with an upper connected to a sole assembly. The sole assembly has an outsole, a midsole, an insole, and an internal shank. Conventional boot construction provides a stable product, although additional stability typically results in a heavier product. It is desirable to maintain the durability and stability of a boot while reducing its weight.


A motor control device is provided which controls a motor by performing switching between forward rotation and reverse rotation so as to cause an object to be controlled to reciprocate, the motor control device including a lead angle map storage unit configured to store a lead angle map in which a motor rotation speed and a lead angle to be set are associated for each of the forward rotation and the reverse rotation, a target rotation speed-setting unit configured to set a target rotation speed of the motor based on an input signal from outside, a lead angle-setting unit configured to obtain the lead angle associated with the set target rotation speed by referring to the lead angle map and set the lead angle as a lead angle of the motor, and a driving control unit configured to control rotation of the motor so as to achieve the set target rotation speed and the set lead angle.

Vehicles are conventionally provided with a wiper device attached to the windshield to wipe off rain, splashes from a preceding vehicle, etc. in order to provide the driver with an optimum field of vision. The wiper device has a wiper arm whose oscillation is controlled by a wiper-driving device and a wiper blade abutting the windshield is mounted on a tip end of the wiper arm. The wiper arm on which the wiper blade is mounted performs a reciprocating motion, so that wiping of the windshield is performed. A link mechanism changes a rotational motion of a motor to a reciprocating motion and thus the wiper arm performs a wiping operation.
Because the wiper arm is required to perform a reciprocating motion, a more efficient and highly-functional wiper device is obtained in case that the motor generating a driving force for the reciprocating motion performs switching between the forward rotation and the reverse rotation, which makes the link mechanism for causing the reciprocating motion unnecessary, rather than in case that the reciprocating motion is implemented through the link mechanism by rotating the motor in only one direction. Therefore, the number of wiper devices which cause the wiper arm to reciprocate by switching the rotation of the motor between the forward rotation and the reverse rotation has recently increased (for example, see Patent Literature 1).


The present invention discloses a portable shelf including a pair of shelf plates each having two folding members pivotally connected with each other by inner edges, a pair of side frames pivotally connecting the two plates to form a rectangular body, and a folding arrangement including two connecting guiders spacedly extended from the inner edges of the upper folding member to the inner edges of the lower folding member, and two reinforcement sliders which are pivotally coupled with the bottom frame and slidably mounted along the connecting guiders respectively, adapted to fold the foldable shelf between an unfolded position and a folded position.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to stuff shelves, and more particularly, to a foldable stuff shelf which is able to be folded for convenient portability and easy storage.
2. Description of Related Arts
Stuff shelves have been widely used in routing practices for disposing goods. For example, stuff shelves could be disposed in a room for placing the books or a variety of household utensils. Or otherwise, stuff shelves could be employed for disposing stuffs not suitable to be laid onto the floors in outdoor activities. Commonly, most stuff shelves available on the market are of fixed structure, which includes a rectangular frame and a plurality of panels spacedly supported by the rectangular frame. Such kind of stuff shelf having comparably simple structure is light weight and user friendly practicality, and it is welcomed by household families, individuals as well as students living in dormitories. However, there are still some drawbacks of such stuff shelves emerged in practices. First of all, this kind of stuff shelves would more or less occupy certain space for storage. Moreover, such kind of stuff shelves could not be disposed into a trunk of a vehicle thus restraining its utilization in outdoor activities.
Detachable stuff shelves need time and effort to assemble and disassemble although it can save spaces for storage and transportation. However, such detachable stuff shelves are unexceptionally made of large numbers of assembling parts and connecting means. The likelihood of such parts or connecting means to be lost during transportations and operations is rather high. Needless to say, the loss of key parts of the detachable stuff shelves would impose a serious headache to the user, especially under a dark and outdoor circumstance.


An electronic musical instrument having a waveform memory of a relatively small capacity for storing waveform information similar to conventional waveform information, the waveform memory being compatible with any data reading scheme. The waveform information is stored in the form of a plurality of frames. Each frame includes a plurality of pieces of sampled waveform data compressed by ADPCM or the like and decode information for extending the sampled waveform data to be read next to the current frame. Storing the decode information in a frame for extending the sampled waveform data stored in frames before and after that frame makes it possible to extract the necessary decode information from the frame read immediately before regardless of whether the frames are read forward or backward.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument and, more particularly, to an electronic musical instrument capable of compressing waveform data for storage and reading out the stored data in any reading scheme.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional synthesizer, an electronic piano, an electronic organ, an electronic single keyboard, and other electronic musical instruments, a musical tone generated by an acoustic musical instrument is recorded (as in PCM recording, for example) from the beginning of sound to the end thereof or up to a point at which there is little change in timbre, the recorded sound is processed so as to have desired characteristics, and the resultant waveforms are stored in a waveform memory. In reproduction, the stored data is read out of the memory at an address interval corresponding to the pitch for a pressed key, an envelope is given to the read data, and the enveloped data is sounded. Also, other sounding processing operations are practiced in a manner which the last half of a tone waveform is repeatedly read in the forward direction or in the backward direction, or in an alternate manner in which particular waveform ranges are read in both the directions alternately.
However, in the waveform storing system in the conventional electronic musical instruments, the sampled values themselves of a PCM-recorded waveform are stored over a plurality of periods, thereby requiring the waveform memory of a relatively large capacity.

Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


There is provided a rotation detection jig used for an apparatus in which a substrate is processed inside a processing container by rotating a mounting stand for a substrate provided on one surface side of a rotary table while revolving the mounting stand with rotation of the rotary table, and supplying a processing gas to a region through which the mounting stand passes, including: a rotating element configured to rotate about a rotation shaft of the mounting stand; an encoder main body configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotating element and configured to constitute a rotary encoder together with the rotating element; a fixing member configured to fix the encoder main body to a rotating portion including the rotary table; and a signal processing part provided in the rotating portion and configured to process a detection signal detected by the encoder main body.

In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, for example, ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) is performed when forming a film on a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter referred to as a wafer) which is a substrate. In order to increase the productivity of the semiconductor device, the aforementioned ALD may be performed by an apparatus in which a plurality of wafers is revolved by rotating a rotary table having the wafers mounted thereon and is caused to repeatedly pass through a processing gas supply region disposed to extend along the radial direction of the rotary table.
Moreover, in an etching process performed as a post process of a film forming process, there may be a case where an etching rate can be adjusted concentrically. Therefore, in the film forming process, film formation must be performed on a wafer with concentrically high uniformity, namely with high uniformity in the circumferential direction of the wafer. However, in the film forming apparatus for revolving the wafer, a processing gas is supplied along the radial direction of a rotary table. Therefore, the film thickness distribution formed on the wafer tends to become a film thickness distribution in which the film thickness is changed from the center side toward the periphery side of the rotary table. Accordingly, in the aforementioned film forming apparatus, it is necessary to rotate the wafer while revolving the same.
For example, techniques have been proposed in which, in a film forming apparatus that revolves a wafer during a film forming process, uniform film formation is performed along the circumferential direction of the wafer by rotating the wafer mounted on a rotary table on its own axis. One of the techniques uses a first gear and a second gear and rotates the second gear with a motor to rotate the wafer on its own axis. However, particles may be generated due to the contact between the first gear and the second gear. In another technique, the rotation of the wafer is performed by rotating a rotation shaft provided in a wafer mounting region with a motor. Therefore, when a plurality of mounting regions is provided in the rotary table, control becomes complicated as the number of motors increases.
Under these circumstances, the present inventors have been studying a technique of using a magnetic gear mechanism to rotate a mounting stand through a magnetic force in a non-contact manner. A method capable of accurately and easily detecting the rotation amount of the mounting stand is needed.

Rotation detection jig, substrate processing apparatus and method of operating the substrate processing apparatus


A scheme for determining which of a set of taps that can potentially be used to measure a channel impulse response should be used to estimate the channel impulse response.

In a typical radio system (see FIG. 1), information is modulated onto a radio carrier by a transmitter. This signal then travels via an unknown and changing environment to the receiver. The ability to remove the effects of the environment from the signal is often key to the performance of a receiver.
The effects of the environment are usually described by a radio channel, interference and noise. The noise arises from thermal noise in the environment together with circuit noise in the receiver. The interference arises from other users of the radio spectrum. The radio channel describes the effects of a multitude of propagation paths, each with potentially differing lengths and attenuations (see FIG. 2a).
The differing path lengths in the radio channel give rise to differing delays in sending signals between the transmitter and the receiver. This, in turn, yields a distribution in the received power when viewed against the delay (see FIG. 2b). This range of delays causes successive transmitted symbols to overlap at the receiver; a phenomenon known as inter-symbol interference (ISI). The primary purpose of the receiver is to remove this ISI in the presence of interference and noise thereby recovering the transmitted information (see 'Digital Communications', John G. Proakis, McGraw-Hill International Series, 3rd Edition). Note that in a sampled system, the radio channel filter is sampled, as is the associated distribution of power against delay (see FIG. 2c).
In order to successfully remove the ISI, the receiver needs to estimate the radio channel. A poor channel estimate significantly degrades the performance of the receiver. Some receivers estimate the channel in an blind fashion (see 'Digital Communications', John G. Proakis, McGraw-Hill International Series, 3rd Edition); however, many modern communications standards provide the receiver with known sequences of transmitted symbols from which the channel can more easily be estimated. Examples of such standards are GSM/GPRS and E-GPRS.
When estimating a radio channel from a sequence of symbols, whether known in advance or previously estimated in the receiver, a number of techniques may be used (see 'Channel estimation in narrowband communication systems', H. Arslan and G, Bottomley, Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing; 2001; vol. 1:201-219. Examples of such techniques include Least-Squares (LS) estimation and, for particular forms of symbol sequences, correlation.
When estimating the radio channel the presence of noise and interference degrade the accuracy of the estimate. In order to maximise the performance of the receiver this degradation should be kept to a minimum. One means of reducing the effects of noise and interference is to ensure that taps in the radio channel which are effectively zero are not estimated but are instead set to zero. By setting the taps to zero, error due to noise on those taps is removed. This effect has been previously documented (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,233). Moreover, by only estimating the non-zero taps, the number of degrees of freedom in the estimation is reduced which in turn increases the suppression of noise and interference on the estimated taps.

Refinement of channel response calculation


A retarding system for an electric drive machine is provided. The retarding system includes an electrical retarding system and a hydraulic braking system. A single pedal controls both the electrical retarding system and the hydraulic braking system. The pedal includes a first range of travel that provides input to the electrical retarding system and a second range of travel that additionally controls the hydraulic braking system. The pedal further includes different levels of travel resistance in each of the two ranges of travel that correspond to providing inputs to the electrical retarding system and the hydraulic braking system.

Braking systems are used in a large variety of machines and vehicles to control, slow and stop the machine. Exemplary machines include passenger vehicles, trains, dump trucks, and mining vehicles. Machines increasingly use electric drive systems to provide propulsion for the machine. For example, passenger vehicles may use a hybrid drive system whereby a traditional gasoline powered engine and an electric motor are both used to provide propulsion for the vehicle. Machines, such as a railway engines and off-road vehicles may use a diesel-powered engine to drive a generator, which provides electric power to a motor. The motor then provides propulsion for the machine.
Braking systems may take advantage of components in electric drive systems to provide braking for machines. For example, a hybrid passenger vehicle may include a regenerative braking system whereby the vehicle is slowed by the electric drive system while at the same time a battery in the vehicle is recharged. Railway engines use dynamic retarding to slow the train. Although brake systems utilizing electric drive systems have been used, these systems cannot stop a machine traveling at high speed quickly, nor can these systems consistently slow a heavily loaded machine traveling downhill or in slippery conditions.
Some prior systems include a manual retarder lever that enables the operator to control ground speed by manually selecting the level of retarding or automatic retarder control that automatically controls machine speed based the operator's machine speed setting. The manual or automatic retarder may control an electric retarding system. Additionally, the operator may control a traditional braking pedal to actuate hydraulic brakes. In this way, the operator can manually control both dynamic retarding and hydraulic brakes. However, this configuration may be difficult for an operator to control effectively. For example, if the speed setting lever is set to high, the operator may have to rely more on the service brakes. In a large, heavily loaded machine, this may lead to the service brakes overheating. In addition, excess service brake wear may occur on a machine if the service brakes are used for continuous retarding.
U.S. Pat. No. 20090,179,486 to Ikeda et al., issued Jul. 16, 2009, entitled "BRAKE SYSTEM IN ELECTRIC DRIVE DUMP TRUCK," discloses a brake system in an electric drive dump truck having a hydraulic brake and a generator-type retarder operated by a brake pedal. However, the Ikeda reference does not disclose how to provide feedback to the truck's operator when the brake system transitions between hydraulic function and retarder function. Nor does the Ikeda reference discuss how the brake system manages the transition between hydraulic braking and retarder operation when the retarder is not available.

Retarding system for an electric drive machine


The present invention comprises a novel modular trigger marker device generally consisting of at least two cylindrical elements, which are connected in a way that will allow the top element to turn independently from the bottom element to reveal multiple variations of the unique identifying image printed on the bottom cylindrical element(s).

The present industry uses Natural Feature Tracking markers (NFT), GPS markers, Object Markers, markerless (tracking) markers, multimarkers, and framemarkers to trigger an event through the camera that will then utilize augmented reality, virtual reality or mixed reality to engage with the user.
Recognition (or marker) based augmented reality is used by a camera to identify visual markers or objects, such as a QR/2D code or natural feature tracking (NFT) markers, to showcase an overlay only when the marker is sensed by the device. Marker-based AR technology depends upon device camera to distinguish a marker from other real-world objects.
The concept of using a marker in an augmented reality system is well-known. For instance, such marking systems are described as early as Apr. 3, 2003 in U.S. Patent Application 2003/0063132 to Sauer et al. Here the inventors describe the use of a single virtual mark for identification of a single structure in an augmented reality system. Various shapes for markers are considered by Sauer et al. however a plurality of markers is not disclosed or considered.
U.S. Patent Application 2007/0242886 to Ben St. John published on Oct. 18, 2007, discloses methods to determine to the position of a marker in either an augmented or virtual reality system. The application discloses methods for precisely determining the position of a marker. Also disclosed are methods for tracking the movement of a marker. Such methods are useful and helpful in an augmented reality system; however, the system is limited by the linking of a single object with a single marker.
U.S. Patent Application 2017/0231714 to Bartosz et al. published on Aug. 17, 2017, presents a method for guiding a user performing surgery using an augmented reality system. Here is a presented a system where augmented reality is used to assist with the placement of a surgical instrument during sinus surgery. Here a plurality of markers are disclosed; however, the markers themselves are virtual markers and are used to guide a user to a desired real-world placement of a surgical instrument. The application does not disclose the use of the real world markers to position a virtual object rather Bertosz et al. disclose the use of a single or plurality of virtual markers to assist in the positioning of a real-world object.
U.S. Patent Application 2017/0,124,765A1 to Kyosuke Imamura published on May 4, 2017, presents the use of a marker object to create an augmented reality or virtual reality experience. Imamura discloses, inter alia, a way to recognize a marker in a video frame and then recognize the presence of said marker in an earlier frame. This method is useful for continuity of display of augmented reality; however, Imamura's invention requires the use of a distinct and separate marker object to establish the presence of another virtual object.
U.S. Patent Application 2011/0134108A1 to David Hertenstein published on Jun. 9, 2011, discloses a system wherein the augmented reality item marker is encoded as a 2D image. This 2D augmented reality item marker can be quickly recognized by a computer-coupled image capturing device. Upon recognition, the augmented reality display can be updated with a virtual object in the same planer position as the item marker. The application to Hertenstein lacks the capability to quickly or rapidly change the item marker to code for a distinct and separate virtual object.
The aforementioned patent applications, U.S. Patent Application 2003/0063132 to Sauer et al. published on Apr. 3, 2003, U.S. Patent Application 2007/0242886 to Ben St. John published on Oct. 18, 2007, U.S. Patent Application 2017/0231714 to Bartosz et al. published on Aug. 17, 2017, U.S. Patent Application 2017/0124765A1 to Kyosuke Imamura published on May 4, 2017 and U.S. Patent Application 2011/0134108A1 to David Hertenstein published on Jun. 9, 2011 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
A commercial attempt to improve on augmented reality marker is The Merge Cube (see mergevr.com/cube). This device aims to improve on the single image. The device is a cube with unique images on the outside of the cube. These images act as the triggers for augmented reality, mixed reality and/or virtual reality events. By rotating the face of the cube-shaped device to display a distinct marker element to the image capture device, this marker system is able to provide the user with a plurality of distinct marker elements. However, this device does not have the dynamic ability of being able to offer more unique images than that which is imprinted on each face of the device, i.e. six images in the cube form. In order to have more trackable marker elements the device would need more faces, e.g octahedron, or multiple objects would be needed. Although this design allows for a plurality of marker elements it is clearly limited in its dynamic range.
The drawback to these types of markers is the necessity to have multiple markers created to hold the capabilities of triggering a single event each. If someone wanted a dozen 3D models of their favorite sports players to be viewed in augmented reality, they would need a dozen of unique identifying images printed out to hold a sports player each.
It is known that Augmented Reality (hereinafter, referred to as "AR"), Mixed Reality (hereinafter, referred to as "MR" and virtual reality (hereinafter, referred to as "VR") can be marked with static images. Such markers include QR codes/2D codes or unique logos printed or displayed somewhere on flat surfaces. Geometrically shaped objects with additional printed static QR codes/2D codes can also be used as markers. These types of markers limit the diversity of augmented reality to be developed as the number of unique images is limited to the single images created.
This lack of dynamic marker ability is causing a hindrance in the adoption rate of marker-based augmented reality for many industries. It would be desirable to have a dynamic and unlimited source of markers to allow the marking of nearly every image imaginable.
Here is presented a device that is capable of dynamically creating a plurality of marks each uniquely identifiable in an augmented reality environment.

Dynamic marker device for augmented and mixed reality and method of use