An electrical network creates a differential voltage signal and comprises a plurality of first impedance elements of substantially equal values which are connected to form an impedance bridge. The impedance of at least one of the first impedance elements changes in response to at least one selected external condition to which the first impedance elements are exposed. The network also comprises a second impedance element which has two nodes. The second impedance element is connected at these nodes between a first pair of the first impedance elements. The differential voltages are measured between these nodes and between another node or nodes with magnitudes and signs being dependent upon the change in the impedance of the first impedance elements.

The development of bridge transducers with long-term stabilities of the order of 0.02 percent of full scale over a temperature range of -55.degree. C. to 225.degree. C. has created a demand for high resolution .delta.R-to-digital conversion systems with commensurate long-term stabilities over these temperatures.
In a conventional Wheatstone bridge transducer, illustrated in FIG. 1, an outside quantity, such as pressure or temperature, causes a change in resistance, .delta.R, in some or all of the bridge resistors, 10, 11, 12 and 13. These resistors can be arranged in such a way that the measured quantity changes the resistances of all or some of the resistors by about the same magnitude, .delta.R, but in directions that give an additive output. For example, if the resistance of resistors 10 and 13 changes to R-.delta.R and the resistance of resistors 11 and 12 changes to R+.delta.R, the differential output voltage of such a bridge powered by a dc voltage V.sub.ref will be ##EQU1##
In pressure transducers, the full-scale of V.sub.od is usually less than one percent of V.sub.ref. Therefore, if the small output voltage of the bridge is applied directly to an N-bit analog-to-digital converter with an input range of 0 to V.sub.ref, the conversion resolution will not be better than (N-7) bits.
To obtain higher resolutions, V.sub.od in FIG. 1 must be amplified to a level comparable to the full-scale input range of the analog-to-digital converter. For example, the output of the bridge of FIG. 1 can be amplified using the single amplifier bridge balancing circuit shown in FIG. 2 or by using an instrumentation amplifier as shown in FIG. 3. However, even if modern auto-zeroing operational amplifiers ("op-amps") are used in these circuits, gain control resistors (resistors 22 and 23 in FIG. 2 and 34, 35, 36, and 37 in FIG. 3) some of whose values will normally be larger than the bridge arm resistors are required. These resistors would have to be of high quality with low temperature coefficients and low tracking temperature coefficients. Even then, they are subject to long-term drift at high temperatures and this drift affects the long-term stability of the overall measurement system.
Therefore, a need exists for a bridge transducer network producing differential output voltages with magnitudes and signs such that the network can be attached directly to a .delta.R-to-digital conversion system.
Conversion systems which use the circuits of FIGS. 2 and 3 have performances dependent on passive or active component values. Therefore, a need exists for a resistance bridge .delta.R-to-frequency conversion system with performance independent of most passive or active component parameter variations.
Furthermore, conventional bridge conversion systems which use the circuits of FIGS. 2 and 3 do not provide good noise rejection. Therefore, a need exists for a conversion system with good noise rejection.
Conventional conversion systems are not stable at high temperatures and are susceptible to component aging. Therefore, a resistance bridge .delta.R-to-digital conversion system is needed that is stable over a wide temperature range and relatively immune to component aging.
Furthermore, a need exists for a resistance bridge .delta.R-to-digital conversion system with the above properties but in integrated form.

Resistance bridge and its use in conversion systems


The present invention provides a field hockey stick having a substantially straight grip portion and a bowed hitting portion. In one embodiment, a stick has a substantially straight handle, a bowed throat, and a bowed head. In another embodiment, a stick has a substantially straight handle and a bowed throat, with at least a portion of the playing surface of the head in substantially the same plane or line as the front face of the handle. In another embodiment, a stick has a substantially straight handle and a bowed throat, with the playing surface of the head set back from the plane or line of the front face of the handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to field hockey sticks, and more particularly, to a field hockey stick having a substantially straight grip portion and a bowed hitting portion.
2. Background of the Invention
As shown in FIG. 1, a field hockey stick 100 typically has a handle 102, a throat 104, and a head 106. The handle 102 starts at the top and extends through to the throat 104. The handle 102 and throat 104 together define the shaft of the stick 100. The stick 100 curves at the base of the throat 104 to form the head 106. A horizontal line (such as line 115) drawn through the point at which stick 100 begins to curve marks the end of throat 104 and the beginning of head 106. The head 106 is also considered the base of the stick 100. The head 106 includes a toe 108 and curves horizontally and upwardly to form toe 108. The front (or left hand side, as shown in FIG. 1) of the stick 100 has a flat playing surface and the back is typically rounded and not playable in the game. The edges, disposed between the flat playing surface and the non-playing surface, are legal for play in the game. Generally, the flat playing surface (i.e., hitting portion) includes all of head 106 and at least a portion of throat 104. All sticks are suitable for "right handed" play.
Traditionally, field hockey sticks have been constructed of relatively standard dimensions, due primarily to widely accepted rules of the game. These rules dictate aspects of the stick such as weight, length, shape, and cross-section. For example, these rules can require that the lower part of the stick's left-hand (playing side) be smooth and flat, that the back of the stick (right-hand side or non-playing side) be smooth and rounded, that the stick weigh not more than 737 grams, and that every cross-section of the stick be able to pass through a two-inch ring. In meeting these rules, the traditional field hockey stick has typically featured a straight handle and straight hitting portion, a flat front face, and a curved back.
Recently, however, there has been a trend toward bowing or raking the entire length of a field hockey stick, from the end of the handle to the head. This bowing can enable players to increase the power with which they flick the ball, especially for shots on goal.
As players increase in skill level, they typically play lower to the ground and therefore can utilize more of the stick as a hitting surface, including the full hitting area of the stick from the end of the grip to the head. For example, in using full-length bowed sticks for push passes, a player typically sweeps the stick from a squatting position, causing the ball to travel down the stick and to whip off of the stick at a location near the head. However, because the full-length bow also shifts the hands behind the head, the full-length bowed sticks can impart an undesirable loft to the ball, especially as the bow increases the power of the shot. The setback position of the hands can also inhibit a player's feel for the ball during cradling and dribbling.


A method and apparatus for writing data onto the read bitline when a FIFO buffer memory is nearly empty that includes circuitry detecting when a memory is nearly empty, when the read pointer and the write pointer are on the same line with the read pointer behind the write pointer. Another circuit writes data onto the read bitline as the data is written into the buffer memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to data writing and data reading in FIFO buffer memories and more particularly to data writing in fallthru conditions where the read pointer and the write pointer are in the same row of the memory.
2. Related Prior Art
In present technology, data is written and read in FIFO memories at ever increasing speed. In a FIFOs memory, data is written one cell at a time while data is read onto the bitlines a complete row at a time. A condition called fallthru occurs when the read pointer and the write pointer are in the same row, with the write pointer being ahead of the read pointer. In this situation, when the write pointer is not finished with the row and the read pointer is enabled, the entire row of data is read onto the bitlines. The data at the end of the row and ahead of the write pointer which was read onto the bitline will be incorrect or unreliable.
Prior art has provided a solution to this problem by shorting the read bitline and the write bitline together in the fallthru case, where the read pointer and the write pointer are in the same row with the FIFO almost empty (the write pointer is ahead of the read pointer in the row).
In a typical dual-port memory cell for a first-in first-out memory circuit, the cell is provided with a pair of write bitlines through which data in the form of a 1 or a 0, may be entered into the cell. The cell is likewise connected to a pair of read bitlines through which one can read the contents of the cell.
In such a first-in first-out memory circuit, data entered at the inputs appears at the outputs in the same order, the data "falling through" to the output queue with a small delay. While such typical design is rapid and effective in use, it is generally desirable to reduce the overall delay time for providing to the output queue the data written into the memory.
In one type of system in the prior art, rapid access to the data on memory cell write bitlines by the read bitlines of the memory cell is allowed in the case where the memory cell is being accessed by appropriate row and column pointers by shorting read and write bitlines.
This type of prior art circuit has one or more write bitlines connected with the memory cell for communicating data to the cell, one or more read bitlines connected with the memory cell for communicating data from the cell, and a logic circuit for connecting the write bitline with the read bitline independent of the cell so that data carried by the write bitline can be communicated to the read bitlines independent of the memory cell.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art circuit that attempts to solve the fallthru problem that can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,122. Referring to the drawing, a typical memory cell 10 is illustrated in the dotted box. This memory cell is representative of the more than one thousand that are contained in a 1K memory array.
The memory cell 10 includes a voltage supply terminal V.sub.cc, a resistor 14 connected to the voltage supply, V.sub.cc, and an N-channel MOS transistor 16 having its drain connected to the resistor 14. In parallel with the resistor 14 and transistor 16 are another resistor 18 connected to the voltage supply terminal V.sub.cc, and another N-channel MOS transistor 20 having its drain connected to the resistor 18. The sources of the transistors 16 and 20 are connected to ground terminals 22. The drain of transistor 16 is connected to the gate of transistor 20 and the drain of transistor 20 is connected to the gate of transistor 16.
N-channel MOS transistors 24, 26 have their sources connected to the drain of the transistor 16, while N-channel MOS transistors 28, 30 have their sources connected to the drain of the transistor 20. The drain of the transistor 24 connects to the external write bitline 32, while the drain of the transistor 26 connects to the external read bitline 34. Similarly, the drain of the transistor 28 connects to another external write bitline 36 while the drain of the transistor 30 connects to another external read bitline 38. The gates of the transistors 24 and 28 connect to the external write word line 40, while the gates of the transistors 26 and 30 connect to the external read word line 42. The logic states of the write word line 40 and read word line 42 are input into an AND gate 44. The output signal of the AND gate 44 is input to the gates of N-channel MOS transistors 50 and 52. Transistor 50 provides connection between the write bitline 32 and read bitline 34 when transistor 50 is on. Transistor 52 provides connection between the write bitline 36 and read bitline 38 when transistor 52 is on.
Data is communicated from a data input line through a buffer (not shown) to write bitline 32 and through an inverter (not shown) to the write bitline 36. Thus, whatever the state of the input signal, the write bitline 32 and write bitline 36 will carry opposite values (D and D). Assuming, for example, that a 1 is provided as the input signal on line 34 to be written into the memory cell 10, the write bitline 32 will carry a high signal and the write bitline 36 will carry a low signal. The write row line 40 is activated to turn transistors 24 and 28 on, so that the drain of transistor 16 goes high, turning the gate of transistor 20 on and bringing the drain of transistor 20 and the gate of transistor 16 low, so that transistor 16 is off and transistor 20 is on.
Assuming that such data is needed to be read from the memory cell 10, the read row line 42 is activated, turning on transistors 26 and 30. The cell's data is placed on the read bitlines 34 and 38 and the data applied to a sense amplifier, communicating with a line from which the ultimate output is taken.
In this circuit, upon the write row line 40 and read row line 42 being simultaneously addressed, the signal from the AND gate 44 is high. The transistors 50 and 52 are turned on, providing direct communication between the write bitline 32 and read bitline 34, and also between the write bitline 36 and read bitline 38. Thus, in this situation, data is written into the memory cell 10 as was previously described. However, because of the direct communication between the lines as described above, the data being supplied by the write bitlines 32 and 36 can be read faster than in the prior art description, since the data is transferred directly from the write bitlines 32 and 36 through transistors 50 and 52 to the read bitlines 34 and 38, respectively.
An additional prior art method is the TBus Shorter method which can be used on a typical dual-port memory cell, having write and read column select circuitry. In this method the write bitlines are shorted to tbus and tbusb (the differential inputs of the sense amplifier) in order to reduce the fallthru delay.
The tbus shorter method that was previously used, placed constraints on the timing of the column select circuitry and the tbus shorter signal. When a write occurs and the write bitlines are column selected the data is written onto the write bitlines by the data input driver. When the write wordline is turned on, the memory cell is written. Now the Write operation must also flip the read bitlines through the small pass gates of the dual port memory cell. If the Write bitline driver and the write wordline turn off prior to the read bitlines being flipped then there is a possibility that the read bitlines may over-write the memory with wrong data, resulting in a functional failure, or a downbinning due to required longer cycle times.

Read bitline writer for fallthru in fifos


A method for providing rapid recovery from a network file server failure through the use of a backup computer system. The backup computer system runs a special mass storage access program that communicates with a mass storage emulator program on the network file server, making the disks (or other mass storage devices) on the backup computer system appear like they were disks on the file server computer. By mirroring data by writing to both the mass storage of the file server and through the mass storage emulator and mass storage access program to the disks on the backup computer, a copy of the data on the file server computer is made. Optionally, selected portions of the data read through the mass storage emulator program can be altered before being returned as the result of the read operation on the file server. In the event of failure of the file server computer, the backup computer can replace the file server, using the copy of the file server's data stored on its disks. A single backup computer can support a plurality of file server computers. Unlike other redundant file server configurations, this method does not require the backup computer system to be running the file server operating system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to network file server computer systems, and in particular to the methods used to recover from a computer failure in a system with a plurality of computer systems, each with its own mass storage devices.
2. Description of Related Art
It is often desirable to provide continuous operation of computer systems, particularly file servers which support a number of user workstations or personal computers. To achieve this continuous operation, it is necessary for the computer system to be tolerant of software and hardware problems or faults. This is generally done by having redundant computers and mass storage devices, such that a backup computer or disk drive is immediately available to take over in the event of a fault.
A number of techniques for implementing a fault-tolerant computer system are described in Major et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,663, and its cited references. In particular, the invention of Major provides a redundant network file server capable of recovering from the failure of either the computer or the mass storage device of one of the file servers. The file server operating system is run on each computer system in the network file server, with each computer system cooperating to produce the redundant network file server. This technique has been used by Novell to implement its SFT-III fault-tolerant file server product.
There are a number of reasons why the use of a redundant network file server such as described in Major may be undesirable. As can be seen from the description in Major, the software needed to provide such a redundant network file server is considerably more complex than the software of the present invention. This can result in a lower reliability due the increased presence of programming errors ("bugs") in the complex software. Also, the processing time required to handle a client request may be increased by the complexity of the redundant network file server software, when compared to a single-processor network file server. Finally, license restrictions or other limitations may make it infeasible or uneconomical to run a redundant network file server instead of a normal network file server.

Method for rapid recovery from a network file server failure including method for operating co-standby servers


The invention comprises a in line memory module which includes connections on its surface so that either a standard Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), or a "daisy chain" EEPROM can be utilized with the memory module.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a wiring configuration for memory module, for example, a Single (SIMM) or Dual In-Line Memory Module (DIMM).
2. Description of the Related Art
Memory Modules (e.g. Single In Line Memory Modules (SIMMs), Dual In Line Memory Modules (DIMMs), etc.) are an essential part of almost every computer. In fact, the random access memory (RAM) of most computers is comprised mainly of memory modules. Computer mother boards often include expansion ports for the placement of additional memory modules to increase the memory capacity of the computer. The memory module is essentially a circuit board with memory devices affixed to one or both sides thereof. These memory devices are typically DRAMs, but may also comprise other similar memories (e.g., SDRAMs, SRAMS, etc.) The circuit board also include terminals, or "pins" which facilitate communications between the memory devices and the rest of the computer (e.g., CPU, etc.). In Line Memory Modules (IMMs) are the most popular memory modules for use in computer systems. They include SIMMs and DIMMs. For convenience the ensuing discussion describes IMMs as representative of memory modules with which the invention may be used.
Most IMMs on the market today include an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) containng configuration information relating to the IMM. One of the main functions the EEPROM performs is serial presence detect (SPD) commonly used in computer systems. SPD is a method by which a IMM identifies itself to a (CPU of a computer through information stored in the EEPROM. The SPD is performed by a SPD processor in conjunction with the EEPROMs of the IMMs. When the computer first boots up, the SPD controller reads out the EEPROM of each memory module in order to identity to the CPU how much and what type of memory is installed.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary IMM with an associated EEPROM attached thereto. The EEPROM typically includes 256 bytes of storage capacity. The first 128 bytes are used to store industry standard information relating to the IMM. The contents of each of these 128 bytes is specified by the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC). The other 128 bytes are usually reserved for use by either the manufacturer or purchaser of the IMM. Using a conventional JEDEC protocol, the EEPROMs of only eight IMMs can be addressed by the SPD controller because of the limited number of address pins (3) on the EEPROM and the computer bus structure. This causes a problem because it limits the amount of memory that can be utilized by the computer.
Recently, a new type of memory module architecture has been developed which allows more than eight memory modules and their associated EEPROMs to be addressed by a CPU. This new module is referred to as a "daisy chain" module because it has the capability to link together with other memory modules to increase memory capacity of a computer. The "daisy chain" memory module contains an EEPROM which is different from the EEPROM of the JEDEC specification and includes pins not present on traditional EEPROMs, which provide ports for the clock signals of several EEPROMs to be serially interconnected. By linking together the multiple EEPROMs of the multiple memory modules, the number of memory modules which can be addressed becomes unlimited. This new memory architecture is beginning to gain popularity and is being deployed in IMMs.
Since most IMMs were developed with configurations for the JEDEC standard only at present a memory module manufacturer must stock different circuit boards for JEDEC type of memory module and associated EEPROM as well as for a "daisy chain" type of memory module and its associated EEPROM. There is accordingly a current need for an IMM mounting board which can support either the JEDEC standard EEPROM or the newer "daisy chain" EEPROM, yet be universally accepted by computer systems designed for use with either architecture. There is also currently a need for a method for transforming exisitng circuit boards so that they can be used with either the JEDEC standard or the "daisy chain" EEPROM.

Memory module with flexible serial presence detect configuration


A bread toaster comprising: a frame; a bread-supporting carriage mounted in the frame for vertical movement between a toasting portion and a first bread discharge position, the carriage having an extension; first cushioning means for cushioning arrival of the carriage at the first bread discharge position; return means mounted between the frame and the extension of the carriage; and a control means having an abutment and being movable in the frame for limiting ascent of the carriage to a second position by interaction of the abutment with a part of the carriage, wherein: the second position is a second bread discharge position for discharging bread having a first size and the first bread discharge position is a position for discharging bread having a size smaller than the first size; and one of the abutment and the part of the carriage which interacts with the abutment is provided with second cushioning means for cushioning arrival of the carriage at the second position.

The present invention relates to the technical field of household electrical appliances of the toaster type, and more particularly to a toaster having a carriage that can be brought to a position called complementary raised position, which position is intended for retrieval of small slices of bread.
French Patent Document FR 2 729 285 discloses a toaster having a return spring, in which the ascent into the complementary position is effectuated, after a first ascent, by compression of a second spring. This system requires an effort on the part of the user which is liable to destabilize the toaster and requires that one of the user's hands be used to maintain the spring compressed in order to assure the additional raising function, causing the bread discharge operation to be tricky. In addition, other published documents describe systems permitting interruption of the ascent of the bread supporting carriage at an intermediate position between a lowered position in which the bread is toasted and a rest position of the carriage, corresponding to discharge of the bread. This interruption permits, after a cooking cycle, the bread to be left in the toasting enclosure and to remain warm. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 2,330,644 describes a toaster which can keep bread slices warm at the interior of the toasting chamber of the toaster, by the intermediary of a blade which pivots in a plane perpendicular to the plain defined by the displacement of the carriage. According to the positioning of this blade, its extremity permits ascent of the carriage to be prevented. Control of the pivoting of the blade is assured by an external means situated at the side of the appliance, at the level of the carriage intermediate position for keeping the bread warm. However, this procedure does not permit discharge of the bread in this intermediate position.

Toaster with means for selection of two bread discharge positions


The present invention is a percutaneous catheter assembly intended for long-term blood flow of several days, said assembly comprising generally three components: a catheter housing having three sections, each of preferably differing diameter, with a set of perforations in a distal section, an end cap for closing off a proximal end of the catheter housing during insertion, and a dilator having an outer diameter substantially the same size as the inner diameter of the smallest section of the catheter housing, the dilator being configured to pass radiopaque contrast through a first and second set of openings in the dilator and the perforations in the catheter housing. The present invention further comprises a method of percutaneous blood perfusion in which the catheter assembly is used without the need for an introducer sheath.

The present invention relates generally to a percutaneous catheter for the introduction and withdrawal of fluids from the vascular system of a patient and, more particularly, to a catheter assembly that employs a multi-diameter catheter housing, a proximal end cap for the housing having a central bore therein, and a dilator for passage through the catheter housing and the cap.
Under various circumstances in the treatment of a patient experiencing cardiac problems, it is desired to cannulate the patient""s vasculature for either blood perfusion or other treatment, such as the insertion of a catheter, a cannulae or an IABP. In a surgical environment, the surgeon typically exposes the blood vessel through a cut-down process. To cannulate the blood vessel, a small slit is made in the vessel wall of a clamped vessel to permit insertion of either an arterial perfusion catheter or a therapeutic catheter for the application of, for example, an IABP. With a perfusion catheter, often an atraumatic tip dilator is positioned concentrically within the catheter over a guidewire to assist in advancing the catheter to the desired point with minimal trauma to the epithelial layer. The dilator and guidewire are then removed and the catheter left in place for treatment.
In an environment such as a cardiac catheterization laboratory, an interventional clinician is not trained to perform a surgical cut down to penetrate the patient""s vasculature. Thus, a percutaneous cannulation is necessary. With a percutaneous cannulation, a very small diameter insertion needle having a hollow lumen therein is used to penetrate the vessel wall. Then a guidewire is inserted through the insertion needle, and the needle removed. Next, an angio-cath, which may be made of polyethylene, is inserted over the guidewire, replacing the needle. Where it is desired only to establish a low flow rate of fluid percutaneously, either for aspiration or infusion, the angio-cath is left in place. The angio-cath may then be connected at its proximal end to a source of fluid or a syringe to inject fluid or to remove blood.
Where it is desired to establish a larger flow of fluid or to apply some level of cardiac treatment to the patient, a guide wire may then be inserted within the lumen of the insertion needle to permit removal of the insertion needle, leaving the guide wire in place. Once the guide wire is positioned where desired, an introducer sheath is inserted over the guide wire and through the vessel wall. In order to dilate the wall opening with minimal trauma to the blood vessel, a stylet (dilator) is placed concentrically within the introducer sheath so that both ride over the guide wire to position the sheath within the vessel wall. The dilator has a very small distal diameter to permit easy penetration through the small opening in the vessel wall. The dilator is tapered with increasing diameter toward the proximal end up to the diameter of the sheath so that the opening in the vessel wall is gradually expanded. Once the sheath is positioned within the vessel wall, the dilator is then removed, leaving the sheath within the wall with the guide wire remaining therethrough. The clinician has now established communication with the blood vessel at the desired diameter. The guide wire is then typically advanced into the patient""s vasculature as far as is desired to either establish remote fluid communication with the patient or to a point where treatment with an perfusion catheter or other device is desired. For the passage of large devices or for the passage of a large volume of blood, a large diameter introducer sheath is required. With this sheath/guide wire arrangement, the clinician may exchange any one of a number of catheters without risk of losing that communication, because the sheath remains in place. The clinician threads the catheter over the guide wire to the desired location. Even where treatment is discontinued, the sheath may be left in place temporarily to permit the clinician to apply treatment again without having to reopen the blood vessel wall. Typically, the introducer sheath has a hemostasis valve at its proximal end to control the flow of fluid therethrough.
Once the sheath is in place, a perfusion catheter of a desired size (smaller than the sheath, however) may be inserted over the guide wire and through the sheath. The guide wire may then be removed, if so desired. Where fluid communication with the patient is desired at a location remote from the penetration site, a guiding catheter may first be inserted within the sheath and over the guide wire while it is advanced to the desired point in the patient""s vasculature. To serve its function as a guide, the guiding catheter typically has a radiopaque marker at the distal end that may be seen through an x-ray monitor via fluoroscopy technique. The marker typically consists of a metallic ring detectable via fluoroscopy by the x-ray. With such a marker, the clinician may follow the location of the distal end as it advances through the vasculature. If desired, radiopaque contrast fluid may be directed through the guiding catheter and out into the vessel at the distal end to permit viewing of the vasculature through which the guiding catheter is passing. This serves the purpose of showing the general profile of the vessel as the guiding catheter is advanced. Such contrast may expose problems with continuing to proceed in that particular vessel before the guiding catheter has advanced too far.
Once the guiding catheter has been advanced to the desired point, an intravascular device, such as an angioplasty balloon, may be inserted the guiding catheter for vascular treatment. Or, a perfusion catheter may be inserted within the guiding catheter as well, to permit blood flow. In either case, it may be desirable to remove both the guiding catheter and the guide wire to permit treatment to be applied. The introducer sheath may be of the type that remains in place, or it may be of the type that tears away, leaving whatever device is in the sheath to maintain the opening in the vessel wall. Once the sheath is removed, however, that device (i.e., a guiding catheter or other device) provides the only vehicle to maintain the vessel wall opening at that diameter.
The advantage of an introducer sheath is that it permits exchange of catheters over time without losing the benefit of an established vessel wall opening. The disadvantage is that it hampers the use of large diameter catheters, i.e., where it is desired to establish fluid communication with the patient""s vasculature at high flow rates. With a large diameter introducer sheath, occlusion of the blood vessel may occur, leading to possible ischemia of the limb served by the blood vessel. For example, if it is desired to establish fluid communication on the order of 1.5 liters per minute or greater through the femoral artery, it would be desirable to use a 12 French (outer diameter) perfusion catheter. To do so, however, would require at least a 12 French (inner diameter) introducer sheath. An even larger sheath would be necessary if it were also desired to have a guiding catheter inserted within the sheath and the perfusion catheter inserted within the guiding catheter. Given the size of the femoral artery, such a large introducer sheath has risks of occluding the femoral artery.
Thus, it would be desirable to establish a large fluid flow connection percutaneously to an artery or vein without the need for an introducer sheath or without a guiding catheter, but yet still provide a way of serving the function normally served by a guiding catheter.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to establish a large fluid flow connection percutaneously to an artery or vein without either an introducer sheath or a guiding catheter. In that regard the present invention comprises a percutaneous catheter assembly intended for long-term use of several days. The catheter assembly comprises generally three components: a catheter housing having three sections, each of preferably differing diameter, an end cap for closing off the proximal end of the catheter housing during insertion, and a dilator having an outer diameter substantially the same size as the inner diameter of the smallest section of the catheter housing.
The catheter housing of a preferred embodiment comprises three sections, a distal end section, which is tapered at the tip to facilitate penetration of a vessel wall, a mid-section having an inner diameter greater than the distal section, having a tapered transition between the distal end section and the mid-section, and a proximal section having an inner diameter of preferably about xe2x85x9cxe2x80x3 to permit connection to standard components, such as a flow probe and/or a pump. A polyester sleeve may be provided over the catheter housing, positioned to correspond with the point on the catheter adjacent the patient""s skin. The sleeve may be sutured to the patient to resist relative movement. In addition to or in place of the sleeve, a disk surrounding the catheter housing may be used at or about the same position on the catheter. Also, a reinforcing member, such as a helical coil, is provided in the wall of at least the distal end section and the mid-section of the catheter for reinforcement purposes. At the distal end of the catheter housing, one or more radiopaque markers may be positioned to assist in intravascular location during insertion of the catheter assembly. Proximate the distal tip is a plurality of openings or perforations.
Various coatings may be applied to the catheter housing to improve its performance. For example, an anti-bacterial or anti-microbial coating may be applied to reduce infection risk; an anti-thrombotic coating may be applied to reduce adhesions to the catheter housing and any other component that comes into contact with blood for any significant period of time.
The cap is configured to seal off the proximal end of the catheter housing during insertion until the proximal end of the catheter housing is ready for connection to a tube for aspiration or infusion. The cap includes an internal bore that has an inner diameter the same size as the dilator.
The dilator comprises a long tube with a concentrically tapered distal end and a hemostasis valve at the proximal end. Extending from the hemostasis valve is a tube with a luer connector for connecting to a source of radiopaque contrast. The dilator includes a plurality of struts extending axially through the length of the dilator for stiffening the dilator. The distal tip of the dilator includes a plurality of openings, a first set positioned preferably adjacent the tip and a second set proximal thereto. It is intended that, when the dilator is placed within the catheter housing, that the distal tip of the dilator project beyond the distal tip of the housing so that the second set of holes in the dilator align generally with the perforations in the distal end of the catheter housing.
The invention also comprises a preferred method of operation of the catheter assembly. The method comprises penetrating a patient""s vasculature so as to permit a guide wire to be inserted in the patient""s blood vessel. The cap is placed within the proximal end of the catheter housing. The dilator is then placed within the catheter housing through the cap so that the distal tip of the dilator extends just beyond the distal tip of the catheter housing. Saline is flushed through the hemostasis valve and out through the distal tip to flush the assembly of air. The catheter assembly is then placed over the guide wire and inserted through the patient and into the blood vessel. Radiopaque contrast may then be injected through the hemostasis valve and out through the first set of holes in the distal end of the dilator to permit detection of the distal end as the catheter assembly is being advanced through the patient. The radiopaque contrast also advantageously exits the second set of holes in the distal end of the catheter so as to detect the location of the perforations in the catheter housing.
Once the catheter assembly is advanced to the desired point within the blood vessel, the guide wire may be removed. Then the dilator may then be removed, leaving the cap in place. When the distal tip of the dilator is within the proximal section of the catheter housing, a hemostat may be used to clamp the catheter so as to prevent the flow of blood out of the proximal end of the catheter housing. Also, once the catheter housing is positioned, a sleeve and/or disk may be used to secure the catheter housing to the patient to minimize relative movement between the patient and the catheter housing. At that point, the cap may be removed and a delivery (or withdrawal) line attached to the proximal end of the catheter housing.


A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.

The present disclosure generally relates to a hood lift mechanism for use in an automotive vehicle, wherein the hood lift mechanism includes the use of active materials. Also disclosed is control logic for reversibly and selectively activating the active material based hood lift mechanism.
Numerous motor vehicles employ a hingeable hood disposed in a region between the passenger compartment and the forward bumper of the motor vehicle, or between the passenger compartment and the rearward bumper of the motor vehicle. The hingeable hood provides a mechanism for accessing the underlying engine or storage compartment. The hingeable hood is typically formed of a relatively thin sheet of metal or plastic that is molded to the appropriate contour corresponding to the overall vehicle body design. Owing to the relatively thin nature of the material forming the hingeable hood, a support structure such as a contoured plate with stamped rib supports typically extends across the underside of the hood portion so as to provide a degree of dimensional stability to the structure.
Aerodynamics, styling, and packaging considerations, among others, have all contributed to the design of the front ends and hood regions of current vehicles. Aerodynamic drag (and fuel economy considerations) in particular has contributed to the hood being in close proximity to the engine or storage compartment. Accordingly, hood deformation such as that which may occur upon impact of an object onto the hood, and thus the ability of the hood to absorb energy at appropriate force levels before bottoming out against hard objects beneath it, is somewhat limited by the contents of the compartment.
In response, automobile manufacturers have proposed a number of mechanisms that change the orientation and/or position with respect to the vehicle of the hood before a deformation event such as the impact event previously described. For example, hood lifters may be activated by impact sensors to increase the space between the hood and the underlying compartment. The hood lifters change the orientation of the hood by raising it (in most mechanisms by raising it at a rear edge while maintaining attachment of a front edge to the vehicle structure, i.e., tilting) above the engine compartment. Upon deformation then, because of the increase in clearance there is an increase in the amount of the energy that can be absorbed by deformation of the sheet metal before bottoming out. One drawback to such hood lifting mechanisms is that they tend to be irreversible (which makes them best suited for use only with crash and not with pre-crash sensors), so that such mechanisms will need to be replaced/repaired even if a collision does not in fact occur.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for automotive hood components having improved energy absorbing capabilities. The means/mechanisms that produce these energy-absorbing capabilities are desirably reversible as well.

Hood lift mechanisms utilizing active materials and methods of use


A sigma-delta digital-to-analog converter (DAC) (40) receives oversampled input data representative of an analog signal. The data may be optionally interpolated to a higher rate in a interpolator (41). A noise-shaping sigma-delta modulator (42) is connected to the output of the interpolator (41). The output of the modulator (42) is provided to a finite impulse response (FIR) filter (43). The FIR filter (43) has a frequency response characteristic which reduces the shaped noise and aliased components. This noise has a tendency to intermodulate back into the DAC's passband. The FIR filter (43) uses a series of flip-flops (81, 82, 83) functioning as delay elements with well-controlled timing edges. The outputs of the flip-flops (81, 82, 83) control current sources (91, 92, 93) weighted according to corresponding filter coefficients. The outputs of the current sources (91, 92, 93) are then summed in a summing device such as an amplifier (101).

There are two basic techniques used in digital-to-analog converters (DACs). These are the sigma-delta technique and the resistive or capacitive divider techniques. The sigma-delta technique is attractive because it achieves high resolution by precise timing instead of precisely-matched on-chip components such as resistors. In addition, the expertise needed to produce thin-film, laser-trimmed analog components is difficult to obtain; whereas, high-speed digital switching capability is commonplace in the semiconductor industry.
A basic sigma-delta DAC receives a digital input signal which is summed with inverse feedback of the output signal to provide an error signal. The error signal is then processed through an integrator and a comparator to provide the analog output signal. The sigma-delta DAC is able to shape the quantization noise out of the audio signal range, and any noise beyond that range is imperceptible to the listener in an ideal implementation. The output of an ideal sigma-delta modulator can thus be used as the DAC analog output signal.
However, added filtering is required for non-ideal following amplifier stages because the out-of-band noise tends to intermodulate back into the passband. Sigma-delta modulators often require oversampled data which would be provided by an interpolator. The DAC's input data may be at the Nyquist rate or may require interpolation to a higher rate before being provided to the sigma-delta modulator. The sigma-delta modulator is clocked using a high-speed digital clock, which may be different from the DAC's input clock. In general, noise present near multiples of these clock frequencies does not affect the analog output signal, because these frequencies are well beyond the passband of the signal of interest. However, this noise has a tendency to intermodulate back into the passband when nonlinearities, such as rise- and fall-time mismatch of the modulator output, are present. For example, a modulator based on complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistor technology has an output driver using both a P-channel and N-channel transistors. The thresholds of these transistors are difficult to match, and there may be differences in speed of the output signal depending on whether the output driver is switching high or low.
The modulator output signal is commonly filtered in an analog smoothing filter, but there are problems with this approach. The analog smoothing filter should have an order at least one greater than that of the modulator and the filter must be complex if it is to reduce aliased outputs. Ironically, the sigma-delta architecture was intended to simplify the implementation of the data converter. What is needed, then, is a sigma-delta DAC architecture with improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and reduced complexity.

Sigma-delta digital-to-analog converter with reduced noise


A sighting system utilizes identical sight pins to form a series of sighting indicia for aiming a bow. The sight pins comprise a contrast fin with a sighting end surrounding an aiming dot of a light gathering member which is held by a transparent flange connected to the contrast fin. The transparent flange allows almost the entire surface area of the light gathering member to be used to gather light which is focused at an end of the light gathering member which forms the aiming dot. In an alternate embodiment the sight pin is formed of a unitary piece entirely of contrast material. In another embodiment of the sight pin, a shaft is provided with a threaded outer surface and a channel through the outer surface for receiving the light gathering member. The sight end of the sight pin is coated to form a contrast between the aiming dot and the sight pin.

This invention relates to sighting indicia for aiming an arrow to be fired from a bow and, more particularly, to illuminated sight pins maximizing the light gathering capabilities of light gathering members while sufficiently supporting the light gathering members.
In firing an arrow from a bow, a skilled archer performs a regimented sequence of steps to obtain high accuracy. The archer will always nock the arrow (snap the arrow on the bow string) at the same point, and the archer will always draw the string back the exact same distance. The latter is accomplished by drawing the string back until a particular portion of the hand contacts a particular portion of the head or by means attached to the string which stop the draw at the desired point. Thus, the feathered end of the arrow is always at a fixed distance from the eye. The archer then aligns the arrow laterally with a target. This leaves only the action of elevating or lowering the arrow head to correspond to the distance to the target. While in the past archers have determined the arrow head elevation by intuition, it has become common for archers to utilize a sighting system with sighting indicia such as sight pins to aid in aiming the arrow. To protect the sighting indicia from breakage and prevent them from being bumped out of place, sighting systems frequently incorporate a guard which partially surrounds the sighting indicia.
When hunting, one of the best times of day to find game is during the dimly lighted, early morning or late evening hours. During such periods, visibility of the sighting indicia is impaired or non-existent. Accordingly, lighted sights have been devised in an attempt to overcome this problem, and recently, devices, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,928,394; 5,231,765; and 5,201,124 all to Sherman and 5,442,861 to Lorocco, have been developed with light gathering characteristics which are capable of focusing light gathered from the surroundings at a small point referred to herein as an aiming dot. The light gathering members of these devices are lightweight but brittle and thus easily broken.
The archer's ability to identify the aiming dot is improved by increasing the brightness of the aiming dot. The aiming dot depends directly on the surface area of the device light gathering member which is, available to gather light. However, the size and configuration of the device must be limited to prevent obstruction of the archer's vision. The archer's ability to identify the aiming dot is further enhanced by utilizing a sight pin which sufficiently contrasts the aiming dot. The '394 and '765 Sherman references and the '861 Lorocco reference disclose sighting systems which utilize sight pins with each sight pin having a relatively long, small diameter light gathering fiber for gathering light and directing it to the aiming dot which is located at one end of the sight pin. The sight pin of the '124 Sherman reference utilizes a molded plastic with a fluorescent dye dispensed therein. The sight pins of these references provide a well illuminated aiming dot.
With regard to the Sherman references, however, the fibers loop around the sighting system in a complex fashion increasing cost and leaving portions of the fibers unsupported and thus susceptible to breakage. Further, the bodies of the fibers are visible to the archer and the aiming dots are not well contrasted, for example, by a surrounding black surface. These factors reduce the archer's ability to identify and concentrate on the aiming dots. The '124 Sherman reference addresses the breakage problem and reduces the sight pin configuration complexity by providing a shorter, relatively larger diameter light gathering members made of molded plastic, which taper toward the aiming dots. While the larger diameter members provide sufficient surface area for gathering light, they are brittle and unsupported or unprotected. Further, the aiming dot is insufficiently contrasted. The '861 Lorocco reference, suffers from similar deficiencies. The body of the fiber is visible to the archer, and the aiming dot is not contrasted. Further, the fiber is insufficiently protected to prevent breakage especially at the most susceptible point, the aiming dot.
To provide sufficient contrast, one commercially available sighting system utilizes a black sight pin which holds the light gathering fiber. Sufficient surface area is provided for gathering light by looping the light gathering fiber out away from the sight pin in a plane parallel to the archer's line of sight and behind the sight pin. In this manner, the light gathering surface area is increased without additional obstruction of the archer's vision, and the black sight pin masks the body of the light gathering fiber from the archer's vision and surrounds the aiming dot to sufficiently contrast the aiming dot. However, a portion of the light gathering fiber is separated from and extends beyond the protective structure of the sight pin and guard. Because the light gathering fiber is made from brittle materials, the small diameter fiber is easily broken, especially during hunting excursions through wooded areas and undergrowth where the unprotected fiber can be caught on tree branches and twigs and bumped against tree trunks or other obstacles. Clearly, an archer does not want to be replacing a sight pin when a rare and fleeting opportunity for a shot at wild game presents itself.
Another commercially available sight pin includes a light gathering fiber extending through a long and shiny tubular sight end with a clear plastic casing molded onto the sight end. The casing is threaded externally for mounting to an archery sighting system. Because the tubular sight end is shiny and only slightly larger than the fiber, this sight pin fails to sufficiently contrast the aiming dot, and it also fails to minimize the potential distraction from the body of the light gathering fiber. Further, the tubular sight end does not allow light through thereby decreasing the intensity of the aiming dot.
Thus, providing an illuminated sighting indicia with a light gathering member which is not susceptible to breakage, has sufficient exposed surface area for gathering light, and which sufficiently contrasts the aiming dot is desirable to enhance the durability, reliability, and the natural light gathering function of sighting indicia.


A packet-switching connection is set up from a mobile station through a first transceiver unit, whereby the mobile station is assigned to a first cell and a first residence zone. As the mobile station moves to a second cell and a second residence zone, the connection is assigned a residence zone change identification. A transfer procedure for the packet-oriented connection from the first cell to the second cell is carried out. After the transfer procedure a data exchange by the packet-switched connection is reestablished. After reestablishing the data exchange a procedure for residence zone exchange is carried out.

Radio communication systems are used for the transmission of information, speech or data, with the aid of electromagnetic waves over a radio interface between a sending and a receiving radio station. An example of a radio communication system is the known GSM mobile radio network, as well as its further development GPRS, for which the network architecture is described for example in B. Walke, "Mobilfunknetze und ihre Protokolls" (Mobile Radio Networks and their Protocols), Volume 1, Teubner-Verlag Stuttgart, 1998, Pages 139 to 151 and Pages 295 to 311. In this case a channel formed from a narrowband frequency range and a time slot is provided in each case for transmission of a subscriber signal.
For packet switched data transmission, the data is transmitted for a plurality of subscribers in the time division multiplex over one and the same channel. Each subscriber can thus occupy a plurality of channels simultaneously in this case.
For packet switching, a radio communication system, for example a GSM mobile radio network with GPRS, comprises a plurality of packet data service nodes (Serving GPRS Support Node, SGSN) which are internetworked and establish access to a fixed network. The Serving GPRS Support Nodes are further connected to Base Station Controllers (BSC). Each Base Station Controller in its turn makes possible at least one connection to at least one Base Station (BTS) and handles the administration of the technical resources of the base stations connected to it. Such a base station is a transceiver unit which can establish a telecommunication connection to mobile stations over a radio interface.
The individual subscribers are assigned to a channel via a packet data control unit which is provided in the base station controller in each case.
An area covered by a radio communication system is divided up into individual radio zones which are also referred to as cells. A cell here is served by one of the base stations via which radio connections are set up from mobile stations located in this cell. Further the area which is covered by a radio communication system is subdivided into residence zones, also known as routing areas. A routing area in this case comprises a plurality of radio cells. The area which is controlled by a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) can be assigned a plurality of routing areas. The routing areas are administered by an administration system which is frequently also referred to as Mobility Management and is housed on the packet service node.
If a mobile station moves from the area of a cell into another cell, if the radio connection is still in place, an automatic procedure known as a handover is undertaken. This means that an active radio connection is retained even across cell borders. In the handover procedure the radio connection which is established over a first transceiver unit is switched over to a second transceiver unit.
If a mobile station moves out of the territory of one routing area into another routing area a process known as a routing area update must be undertaken. The mobile station is assigned an identifier in the relevant routing area, known in the GPRS system by the name of Temporary Logical Link Identifier (TLLI). In this case the mobile station must be assigned a new TLLI in the new routing area.
In the GPRS system, Release 5 (see 3GPP TS23.060, Pages 32 to 110) there is provision for the mobile station to establish the necessity for a handover procedure for packet switched data. If a handover procedure is to be performed for a mobile station, the mobile station registers with the base station of the new cell. If a change of routing area is taking place at the same time, a procedure for routing area update must first be performed, in which the mobile station will be assigned a new identifier. Only after the procedure for routing area update has successfully concluded can the exchange of data between the new transceiver unit and the mobile station continue. During the routing area update procedure the exchange of data is interrupted. This interruption is perceived as disruptive for various applications such as streaming applications or conversational services for example.

Method for carrying out a transfer procedure in a radio communication system for a packet-switching connection and radio communication system suitable for the same


In a device for adjusting the forward lean of upper (3) of a ski boot with a pull and pressure piece (6), which is supported on bottom shell (1) and upper or cuff (3), in which the distance of supporting surfaces (11, 12) on pull and pressure piece (6) interacting with upper or cuff (3) is adjustable for support on bottom shell (1) in lengthwise direction of pull and pressure piece (6), supporting surfaces (11, 12) interacting with upper or cuff (3) interact through the interposition of a damping element (13) made from elastomeric plastic or rubber with an upper and a lower stop face (14, 15) on upper or cuff (3).

The invention relates to a device for adjusting the forward lean of the upper of a ski boot with a pull and pressure piece, which is supported on the bottom shell and the upper or the cuff, and the distance of the supporting surfaces on the pull and pressure piece interacting with the upper or the cuff is adjustable for support on the bottom shell in lengthwise direction of the pull and pressure piece.
Devices for adjusting the forward lean of the upper of a ski boot of the above-mentioned type are described, for example, in AT-PS 384 351. In this known design, elastomer components were placed inside a housing designed in the manner of a shock absorber, and the change of the basic setting for the forward lean of the upper becomes possible because the component was released completely from the anchorings, whereupon a cuff was screwed on a male thread by rotating the housing of the shock-damping component, so that the effective length and thus the basic setting of the forward lean could be changed. Altogether, the damping component according to Austrian patent 384 351 represented a relatively expensive and complicated component, in which a basic change of the damping properties for the forward-lean delimitation was possible only by complete dismantling of the component and replacement of damping elements or springs incorporated in the component.
The object of the invention now is to provide a simple device, which can be placed in the smallest space, of the above-mentioned type, with which the possibility is provided to change in a simple way the damping properties starting from a basic setting of the desired forward lean of the upper. Special importance is attached to the circumstance that not only a spring pretension is to be changeable, as is possible in a number of forward-lean delimitations, but that actually the damping can be matched exactly to the respective requirements without big components being necessary for this purpose. To achieve this object, the device according to the invention basically consists in that the supporting surfaces interacting with the upper or the cuff interact through the interposition of a damping element made from elastomeric plastic or rubber with an upper and a lower stop face on the upper or the cuff. Since a relatively small damping element is placed directly between stop faces on the upper or the cuff and supporting surfaces of the pull and pressure piece, a damping element, accessible and exchangeable in a simple way, is made possible, and since the supporting surfaces on the pull and pressure piece are adjustable in the lengthwise direction of the pull and pressure piece, a simple forward-lean adjustment is made possible in a conventional way. The arrangement of an easily accessible damping element directly between the surfaces interacting with one another in this case in no way affects the simple adjustment of the forward lean in a conventional way, and in addition, through the interposition of such a damping component, a slight change of the damping properties is made possible by exchange of the component or other orientation of the component.
According to a preferred further development of the device according to the invention, the design is made so that the supporting surfaces, interacting with the upper or the cuff, are made by a nut that can be rotated on a male thread of the pull and pressure piece, in particular a milled nut. In this way, as known from other forward-lean adjustments, the basic setting of the forward lean can be changed by simple rotation of a nut, in particular a milled nut, and the damping properties starting from the basic setting selected in each case are no longer dependent on the selection of the corresponding material for the interconnected damping element or on the orientation of the damping element in the free space between the nut that can be rotated and the counterstop faces on the upper or the cuff.
According to an advantageous further development of the device according to the invention, the design is made so that the damping element is designed as a component that can be slipped from behind on the pull and pressure piece with an opening for an operating link for the adjustment of the supporting surfaces on the pull and pressure piece, in particular the milled nut. Such a damping element, that can be slipped on from behind, can be removed from behind again in a simple way, if this is desired, and can be replaced by a correspondingly small other damping element with other damping properties.
The fastening of such a damping element can take place in an especially simple way so that the damping element, when it is slipped on the pull and pressure piece, interacts with a detachable locking member, in particular at least one locking pin movable parallel to the pull and pressure piece. The design of the detachable locking member as a movable locking pin can be used in particular if, as corresponds to a preferred further development, two locking pins operable separately from one another are placed laterally to the pull and pressure piece, which engage in recesses on the periphery of the damping element or in bores of the damping element parallel to the pull and pressure piece, to make possible a folding movement of the slipped-on damping element by moving a locking pin. When disengaging a locking pin, the entire damping member can thus be swiveled over the supporting surfaces on the pull and pressure piece, in particular on the milled nut around the axis of the second locking pin, so that in the swiveled-out position, a smaller cross section of the damping element is available for the damping than in the swiveled-in position. A swiveling of the damping member thus produces a continuous change of the damping properties without changing the material of the damping element and after disengaging the second movable locking pin, the damping element can be completely removed and replaced by a damping element with other material properties. In an especially advantageous way, the damping element is thus designed so that the damping element above and below the supporting surfaces on the pull and pressure piece consists of materials, different from one another, with elastic or damping properties different from one another, by which a change of the damping properties in forward or backward direction is possible in a simple way by rotating the damping element about 180.degree. and again slipping on this damping element.
To avoid overstressing the support points of the pull and pressure piece on the bottom shell and on the cuff or the upper, the design is advantageously made so that the pull and pressure piece is hinged directly with an anchor piece in the bottom shell, and such a design in a simple way also offers the possibility of completely releasing the forward-lean delimitation, to be able to swivel the upper into a walking position. To make possible such a complete release to achieve a walking position, the design is advantageously made so that the anchor piece is mounted axially movable in the bottom shell in a recess of the bottom shell and so that the anchor piece is held in at least one moving position by a detachable locking member, and preferably the detachable locking member of the anchor piece is made by a locking bolt movable crosswise to the axis of the anchor piece, which can be attached in a position engaged with a recess or hole of the anchor piece and a position disengaged from the anchor piece. In such a release of the anchor, the anchor piece can be freely moved in axial direction, so that a more extensive swiveling of the upper in the backward-lean direction and thus an upright walking position can be achieved in a simple way.
The stop faces for the supporting surfaces of the pull and pressure piece on the cuff or the upper can be designed in a simple way integral with the upper or the cuff as a flange, which comprise a recess for the passage of the pull and pressure piece, by which a closed outside contour is formed after the insertion of the damping element.
The invention is explained in more detail below based on an embodiment diagrammatically represented in the drawing.

Device for adjusting the forward lean of the upper of a ski boot

Koflach Sport Gesellschaft m.b.H. & Co. KG


At least one example embodiment discloses a user equipment (UE) including a memory configured to store a selected physical random access channel (PRACH) repetition level and a processor configured to monitor a duration of a timer, the duration indicating a length of time to use the PRACH repetition level.

Current wireless cellular systems are designed to serve user terminals and their applications, in order to allow the continuous streaming of data (e.g., voice and/or video) during a communications session. For these types of applications, when a communications link between a user terminal and a base station is enabled, the communications link is expected to last for a relatively long period of time. Additionally, setting up one or more channels for a communications link between a mobile terminal and a base station may require the mobile terminal and the base station to send and receive various control and signaling data prior to starting a streaming session (e.g. signaling procedures for traffic channel access). Once the communications link is established, other signaling protocols, such as scheduling protocols, may be used to avoid signal interference with other data transmissions. Furthermore, even when a user terminal enters an "idle mode" (i.e., when no data is being transmitted) in order to reduce the amount of signaling that takes place during a communications session, the user terminal may be required to send and receive various control and signaling data prior to entering an "connected mode." These control and signaling procedures may require a substantial amount of network resources.
A Machine Type Communication (MTC) device is a UE that is used by a machine for a specific application. An example of an MTC device is smart utility meter. Some of these smart meters are located in basements, which suffer from high penetration loss. Therefore, it is difficult for the MTC device to communicate with the network.
In 3GPP, a coverage enhancement is proposed for MTC UEs. The coverage enhancement aims at extending the coverage of an MTC UE, which may be referred to as a CE-MTC UE (Coverage Enhanced MTC UE).
Repetition may be used for a CE-MTC UE. The term repetition level may refer to a number of repetitions for the PRACH. The repetition level allows the MTC UE at different coverage levels to use a different number of repetitions.
The physical random access channel (PRACH) is one of the physical channels that uses coverage enhancement for a CE-MTC UE.

Methods and systems for implementing a repetition level for a channel


The invention relates to a worktable including a work-plate mountable on a support structure, the support structure comprising at least two frames, each frame being either an integral frame or comprising two or more frame members, articulated to one another along a vertical axis, and being pivotally displaceable with respect to one another between an open position and a collapsed position, forming, in the open position, a work-plate bearing structure, and being, in the collapsed position, flush with one another and providing a storage space for the work-plate. The work-plate being rigidly attachable to the work-plate bearing structure of the support structure.

A myriad of worktables are available on the market and many patents are directed to various such worktables, most of which typically comprise a work surface (work-plate) and a support structure which in many cases one or both is collapsible.
A variety of patents are concerned with different aspects of the support structure and their collapsing/folding while other patents are directed to features of the work surface and different accessories therefor.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,031 discloses a collapsible work table which is designed for carrying power tools. In the open position, it comprises a work surface with a means for mounting a tool (such as a power saw), with one set of adjacent legs containing wheels for portability between two proximate locations. In the event that the table needs to be transported a great distance, the table is collapsible.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,555 discloses a collapsible, multiple shelf work table. The support structure provided is simple, and allows for economical and sturdy construction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,174 discloses a worktable comprising two collapsible side frame assemblies, two collapsible cross frame assemblies, and a work surface. The side frame and cross frame assemblies are secured in the open position by the use of turnbuckles attached via hooks. The work surface has hooks which are used to secure it to vertically spaced slots which are on a U-shaped member attached to the side frame assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,824 discloses a work table supported on a workhorse which is either collapsible or non-collapsible. The work surface consists of a member which can be attached to the top of the workhorse, and side work-plates which are collapsible. They are supported in the open position by support legs. The work surface includes various elements which are useful for receiving various hardware.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a worktable which is easily assembled and erected on a support structure, and can be easily disassembled and collapsed in such a way as to minimize its profile for compact transport and storage.


Apparatus for effecting selective withdrawal of cups and the like in which bakery products such as muffins or cupcakes are baked, wherein each cup nested in a stack is subjected to a suction within the cavity defined by the cup to cause the sidewall thereof to move away from the next cup in the stack while being moved from the stack, and providing positive air pressure between and around the sidewall of any such next cup which is frictionally engaged to the cup being withdrawn, thereby to force such next cup out of frictional engagement and back into its nested position.

Bakery products such as muffins, cupcakes, pound cake and the like are usually baked in a fluted paper shell which is specially treated to withstand baking temperatures and ready release from baking tins or receptacles. While various attempts have been made to provide automatic machinery to dispense such paper shells, such attempts have been only marginally successful. It will be understood that to automate the dispensing of such shells, liners or cup-like members is particularly difficult since a nested stack of several hundred such members, each fluted cup nested within the next adjacent, tends to be tightly and frictionally bound. Furthermore, when a cup is extracted from the stack, the next adjacent cup or cups usually are dislodged due to such frictional engagement and more than one such cup will be dispensed.
As mentioned, attempts to automate the dispensing process have been made, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,621 illustrates such an attempt; however, this equipment will not consistently dispense only one cup, shell or member at a time, over long periods of time.
There is a vital and universal need for reliable automatic cup dispensing equipment in the baking industry. In addition to factory use by baking companies, inexpensive, reliable equipment of this type is also needed in nearly every bakery. The unfortunate fact is that such paper shells are at the present time dispensed manually in factories and in bakeries alike. The present invention provides simple, foolproof and reliable automated equipment which solves this problem.

Method and apparatus for dispensing cup-like members from a nested stack


An endoscope system includes a plurality of different endoscopes each of which has an illumination optical system for emitting light outward, an observation optical system for forming an optical image of a subject at the distal end of an insertion tube which can be inserted into the subject, and a solid-state imaging device for converting the optical image of the subject formed by the observation optical system into an electric signal, a plurality of different signal processors each of which drives a solid-state imaging device and processes the output signal sent from the solid-state imaging device to provide a video signal, and a plurality of different light sources each of which is compatible with one of the plurality of different endoscopes and supplies light to the illumination optical system. The system expendability is so excellent that the above equipment will be compatible with technologically-upgraded endoscopes, signal processors, or light sources.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope system permitting expandable combinations of endoscopes, signal processors, and light sources.
2. Description of the Related Art
Endoscopes have been adopted widely in recent years, so that an elongated insertion tube can be inserted into a body cavity to observe organs in the cavity, or a treatment adapter can be routed through a treatment channel, if necessary, to perform various treatments. Endoscopes are used not only for medical but also industrial purposes; such as, observation or inspection of objects in pipes of boilers, machines, or chemical plants, or those in machines.
The aforesaid endoscope may be either an optical endoscope (so-called fiberscopes) permitting observation with naked eyes based on image fiber technologies, or an electronic endoscope having a solid-state imaging device at the tip of an insertion tube to observe subjects on a TV monitor.
An endoscope apparatus having an electronic endoscope requires not only a light source but also a signal processor for driving a solid-state imaging device, and for processing the output signal of the solid-state imaging device to generate a video signal. The endoscope apparatus provides high-resolution images and permits easy image recording and reproduction.
Therefore, electronic endoscopes have taken over from fiberscopes as a mainstream tool of endoscopy nowadays. The core of endoscopic technologies has shifted from image fiber technologies to electronic technologies. More specifically, a semiconducting technology relating to improvement of a charge coupled device (hereafter, CCD) or any other solid-state imaging device, an imaging circuit technology (video process technology) for driving the solid-state imaging device and converting the output signal into a video signal, and a light adjustment technology relating to a light source have become main targets that must be tackled in order to develop endoscope-related technologies.
Under these circumstances, an endoscope apparatus commercialized with state-of-the-art technologies at one point in time rapidly becomes a technologically obsolete because of rapid advancements in the fields of semiconducting, imaging circuitry, and light adjustment. Users who have purchased certain products may be disappointed at finding the debut of a new product or an upgraded version.
Only certain types of signal processors and light sources can usually be combined with certain models of endoscopes due to the differences in the number of pixels of solid-state imaging device and the driving mode, or the difference in color imaging; that is, field sequential or simultaneous (color mosaic) imaging. Even if new products are put on the market, they are nothing but improved versions of previous models. In order to utilize the improved part, users are required to purchase new endoscope apparatuses or keep using existing ones.
To cope with this problem, various proposals have been made to permit the use of the same equipment regardless of the difference in the type of solid-state imaging device or imaging mode. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,774,568, 4,816,909, 4,891,695, 4,926,258 all disclose endoscopes using different types of solid-state imaging devices. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,853,773, 4,855,819, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1988-200736, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1988-220837, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1988-304221, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1990-305543 all disclose related art capable of operating in different imaging modes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,568 discloses an endoscope apparatus in which endoscopes operating the same imaging mode but having different types of solid-state imaging devices can be used. Therein, a connector for connecting between an endoscope and a main unit is provided with an ID detection member for identifying the imaging position of a solid-state imaging device incorporated in an endoscope, and the image format of a reflected image or unreflected image. Depending on the signal the ID detection member detects, it is determined whether the focal position of a solid-state imaging device is set to forward observation, lateral observation, or backward observation, or whether images are displayed laterally or reversely. Thus, formed images are displayed at a correct position on a TV monitor. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,909, an endoscope connector is provided with a ROM containing information indicating the number of pixels of a solid-state imaging device and the spectral characteristic for each endoscope. Then, depending on the information read from the ROM, either a drive or processing circuit is selected.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,695, at least one pixel element of a solid-state imaging device in an endoscope is designed to that the area or at least one lateral side will be the same as that of an effective pixel. Thereby, a pixel configuration is detected to control a video signal processing means. U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,258 discloses an endoscope apparatus in which endoscopes having solid-state imaging devices provide different numbers of pixels. Therein, a drive signal containing a horizontal transfer clock with certain frequencies is applied to a solid-state imaging device and then the signal read from the solid-state imaging device is processed to generate a video signal.
On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,773 discloses an endoscope signal processing apparatus, supporting different imaging modes, wherein an endoscopic signal processing unit is equipped with a first signal processor for processing the signal sent from a field sequential type imaging device, and a second signal processor for processing the signal sent from a simultaneous type imaging device. The endoscopic signal processing unit identifies the imaging mode of an endoscope connected, selects a corresponding signal processor, then outputs a video signal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,819 discloses an endoscope imaging system in which a field sequential type light source and signal processor, and a simultaneous type light source and signal processor are accommodated in one housing. Connectors are formed for both imaging modes, so that either field sequential type or simultaneous type endoscopes can be used.
Japanese patent Laid-Open No. 1988-20736 discloses an endoscope imaging apparatus in which a common circuit is used as parts of a signal processor for field sequential type color imaging system endoscopes and a signal processor for color mosaic imaging system endoscopes. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1988-220837, a signal processor for field sequential type color imaging system endoscopes and a signal processor for color mosaic imaging system endoscopes are mutually connectable, so that one of the panels can be used to adjust the gain of the other signal processor.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1988-304221 discloses an endoscope apparatus in which an external TV camera of an endoscope whose image transmission optical system has a final image forming position outside of the main unit is provided with a type signal generation circuit for generating an identification type signal. Depending on the identification type signal sent from the type signal generation circuit, simultaneous or field sequential imaging is determined to select an associated light source and signal processor. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1990-305543 discloses an endoscope in which a user presses a switch to specify whether to adopt simultaneous or field sequential imaging, then a mosaic filter or a light transmission body is arranged by an electrostatic motor on a photosensitive section of a solid-state imaging device depending on the simultaneous or field sequential imaging mode. Then, the identification signal sent from the type signal generation circuit is checked to determine either the simultaneous or field sequential imaging mode, then an associated light source and signal processor are selected.
However, when a means for identifying the type of endoscope is installed, or light sources or signal processors of field sequential and simultaneous imaging modes are prepared, the product becomes so expensive that users have to incur an enormous amount of equipment investment. Besides, the endoscope apparatus becomes very large and heavy.
Even if functions are installed in a single unit or system to cope with different types of endoscopes, all of the functions are not used for normal operation and many functions remain idle. This opposes the concept of effective use of equipment and wastes equipment.
A unit or a function of a system a user is currently using and dissatisfied with differs from user to user. For example, a user may be disappointed with insufficient resolution of endoscopic images, but another user may be annoyed with slow light adjustment or color aberration.
Even if a single unit or system is upgraded, partial improvements in semiconducting technologies relating to improvement of a solid-state imaging device, imaging circuit technologies, or light source light adjustment technologies are not implemented in the unit or system according to needs from users.


A display device with high productivity and high display quality and a driving method thereof are provided by suppressing generation of a luminescent spot. A first switching element and a second switching element each of which has a different polarity are disposed in series between a power source line for supplying power to a light-emitting element and a power source line having a potential which is equal to or lower than a threshold voltage of the light-emitting element; one electrode of the light-emitting element is connected to a connecting node of the two switching elements; and in the case where a potential which is equal to or higher than the threshold voltage of the light-emitting element is applied to the light-emitting element regardless of an on/off state of the first switching element, a potential applied to the light-emitting element is set to be lower than the threshold voltage by turning the second switching element on. Thus, generation of a luminescent spot is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active matrix display device and a driving method thereof. In particular, the invention relates to a display device having a switching element such as a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT) and a light-emitting element in each pixel and the driving method thereof. Further, the invention relates to an electronic appliance using the display device and the driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the technique for forming TFTs has largely progressed, and is applied and developed to active matrix display devices. Particularly, since the field effect mobility (also referred to as mobility) of a TFT using a polysilicon film as an active layer is higher than that of a conventional TFT using an amorphous silicon film, high-speed operations are enabled. Therefore, a pixel can be controlled by a driver circuit which is formed using a TFT over the same substrate as the pixel. A display device in which various circuits are formed using a TFT which is formed over the same substrate as the pixel has various advantages such as a reduction in manufacturing cost, downsizing, higher increase in yield, and higher throughput.
An active matrix EL display device having an electroluminescence element (hereinafter referred to as EL element) that is a light-emitting element as a display element included in each pixel of a display device has been studied actively. An EL display device is also referred to as an organic EL display (OLED) or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED).
In general, since luminance of an EL element is proportional to a current value of the EL element, an EL display device using an EL element as a display element controls the luminance by a current value. Further, there is also a driving method of controlling the luminance by using the time in which a current flows into an EL element under the condition that a current value of the EL element is constant.
Since the luminance of an EL element is proportional to a current value of the EL element, an EL display device using an EL element as a display element has a problem of off current of a switching element in the case where a power source line is connected to the EL element through the switching element. In order to solve this problem, Patent Document 1 is disclosed.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-323873
If a certain pixel of a display device continuously emits light regardless of a video signal, that is, even if one luminescent spot is generated, the display device is often determined to be defective. On the other hand, if a certain pixel always emits no light regardless of a video signal, that is, if a few dark spots are generated, a display device is not determined to be defective.
Further, a luminescent spot is generated because of such a factor that a short circuit is caused between a source and a drain of a TFT connected to an EL element in series, in which case, potentials of a source electrode or a drain electrode of the TFT has the same level, and an EL element continuously emits light regardless of a potential of a gate electrode of the TFT.

Display device, driving method thereof and electronic appliance

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to a wireless mouse. The wireless mouse includes a base and a slidable battery cover. The slidable battery cover is pivotally coupled to the base. After the slidable battery cover is released from the base, the slidable battery cover is firstly slid outwardly and then rotated upwardly.

Nowadays, computer systems running in the Windows operation system environment are prevailing. For helping the user well operate the computer systems, the hardware and the software associated with the computer system are developed in views of humanization and user-friendliness. For example, a mouse becomes a popular human input device for the computer system. The mouse can be used as a cursor control device for moving the cursor shown on the computer screen. In addition, the user may press down the click buttons of the mouse to execute various instruction input operations. With increasing development of the wireless communication technologies, wireless mice have experienced great growth and are rapidly gaining in popularity especially for the users required to frequently carry the mice.
For most wireless mice, batteries are used as the main power source. Generally, the conventional wireless mouse has a battery receptacle for accommodating one or more batteries therein. After the power of the battery is exhausted, the battery receptacle should be exposed in order to replace the battery with a new one. Generally, a typical wireless mouse comprises a base and a foldable battery cover. The base is a main body of the wireless mouse. The battery receptacle and many elements for operating the wireless mouse are disposed within the base of the wireless mouse. The battery cover is pivotally coupled to the base with respect to a rotating shaft. When the battery cover is opened, the battery receptacle and the battery are exposed and thus the user may replace the battery with a new one.
For avoiding an apparent seam formed in the main body of the wireless mouse in views of aesthetics, the gap between the battery cover and the base should be as tiny as possible. Due to the tiny gap, the front edge of the battery cover is readily conflicted with the base when the battery cover is rotated upwardly or outwardly to be opened. The worse is that the rotating shaft is deviated or the battery cover is shifted.


The invention comprises an apparatus for supporting one or more dies used in a transfer press. In one aspect of the invention, the press die support structure comprises a gull wing shaped press bed comprising a top portion including two opposing wing portions, at least a part of each wing portion being supportable by one of a pair of approximately parallel horizontal beams, the top portion operable to support at least one press die, and a bottom portion having a center portion disposed between the wing portions.. In another aspect of the invention, the press die support structure comprises a bolster assembly operable to carry a first set of dies and to facilitate exchanging the first set of dies with a second set of dies, the bolster assembly comprising a plurality of adjacent support members releasably coupled to one another each operable to carry a respective die, a plurality of wheels disposed inwardly from at least one of the support members, and a drive mechanism coupled to at least one, but not all of the wheels, the drive mechanism operable to drive the wheel coupled thereto to facilitate exchanging the first set of dies with a second set of dies.

In many industries, such as automotive manufacturing, components are formed using a transfer press. At a basic level, a transfer press comprises a press bed supporting one or more lower dies; a slide carrying one or more upper dies corresponding to the lower dies; and a crown for raising and lowering the slide relative to the press bed. Components are formed by positioning materials between the upper and lower dies and lowering the slide to press the material between the upper and lower dies, thus modifying the material between the dies according to the configuration of the dies. After the initial press, the component is transferred to an adjacent set of dies, and the process is repeated to further modify the component. This process is repeated at until the component has been modified as desired.
Transfer presses are typically large, often over fifty feet tall. To accommodate these machines within reasonably sized manufacturing facilities, the transfer presses are generally assembled and operated in a pit extending below the floor level of the facility. Manufacturers of these presses often assemble the presses within similar pits at their own facilities to allow customers to view the press before purchasing it. The total time necessary to assemble the press is determined, in large measure, by the `pit time,` corresponding to the assembly occurring within the pit. Assembling components within the pit generally takes much longer than assembling at floor level because only one level of components may be assembled at a time.
Often, it is desirable to use a single elongated bolster to carry the plurality of lower dies associated with the work stations within the press. These bolsters are generally supported by wheels at either end, which facilitate moving the bolster in and out of the press frame to exchange sets of dies. Each set of wheels is typically driven by one or more drive mechanisms. A problem with this approach is that the single elongated bolster is often too heavy to assemble outside of the pit in which the press operates. Assembly thus requires considerable pit time, which greatly increases the total assembly time of the press. Another problem with this approach is that the large bolsters are often difficult and expensive to transport.
Still another problem with this approach is that the wheels supporting the bolster are often placed at either end of the elongated structure. This allows excess deflection of the bolster during operation of the press. In addition, because the wheels supporting the bolster typically reside at either end, long drive mechanisms, or multiple drive mechanisms are typically used to drive the wheels to move the bolster. This results in extra weight and expense.