The gate of a transistor Q1 serving as a selection transistor is connected to a word line and the source thereof is connected to a bit line BL. The gate of a transistor Q2 serving as a cell capacitor is connected to the drain of the transistor Q1 and the drain thereof is connected to a pulse generation circuit. Whether an inverted layer is formed in the channel region of the transistor Q2 or not is determined according to the stored data. An inverted layer is formed in the channel region of the transistor Q2 having data "1" stored as storage data. The source of the transistor Q2 is connected to the gate of a transistor Q3. The drain of the transistor Q3 is connected to a pulse generation circuit 11 and the source thereof is connected to the drain of the transistor Q1. The transistor Q2 having an inverted layer formed therein is turned on when a preset voltage is supplied from the pulse generation circuit 11 in the stored data reading operation, and in this case, the transistor Q3 is turned on. Therefore, a current can be supplied to the bit line BL from the pulse generation circuit 11 via the transistor Q3 and the selected transistor Q1.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a memory cell of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) of stacked capacitor structure, for example, and more particularly to a semiconductor memory device formed by utilizing a thin film technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8 shows an equivalent circuit of a memory cell of a conventional DRAM having a stacked capacitor structure. The memory cell includes a selection transistor Q1 and a data storing capacitor C.sub.S. The gate of the selection transistor Q1 is connected to a word line WL, and one end of the current path of the selection transistor Q1 is connected to a bit line BL and the other end of the current path thereof is connected to the capacitor C.sub.S.
FIGS. 9 and 10 show the structure of the above memory cell and portions which are the same as those of FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In FIGS. 9 and 10, a pair of polysilicon layers 31 and 32 constituting the capacitor C.sub.S are formed above a diffusion layer n.sup.+ of the selection transistor Q1. That is, the polysilicon layer 31 is formed in valid contact with the diffusion layer n.sup.+ of the selection transistor Q1 and the polysilicon layer 32 serving as a plate electrode which is formed above the polysilicon layer 31 with an insulation film disposed therebetween is biased to a preset potential. The pair of polysilicon layers 31 and 32 are formed to extend over the word line WL partly acting as the gate of the selection transistor Q1 to increase the storage capacitance.
In the DRAM, the number of memory cells connected to the bit line increases and the capacitance associated with the bit line tends to increase with formation of the memory cell of even greater miniaturization. Further, as the miniaturization processing technique has been developed, the occupied area of each cell is reduced. Therefore, the technique for making the insulation film of the capacitor thinner is required to obtain the memory capacitance C.sub.S of a desired value. However, there is a limitation on the technique of reducing the film thickness of the insulation film since it is necessary to maintain the reliability of the capacitor, for example. Therefore, it becomes difficult to attain a desired value of a so-called C.sub.B /C.sub.S ratio which is the ratio of the capacitance C.sub.B of the bit line to the memory capacitance C.sub.S of the cell.
Further, in the LSI of the extremely fine pattern processing generation in the future, it is considered that the power source voltage will be made lower than 5 V. When the power source voltage of the DRAM is lowered, the amount of charge stored in the capacitor is reduced so that the amount of charge transferred to the bit line in the data readout operation will become small. Therefore, it is considered difficult to correctly amplify data by use of a sense amplifier.
Now, the relation between the capacitance C.sub.B of the bit line and the memory capacitance C.sub.S of the cell is explained.
FIG. 11 shows a conventional DRAM including a peripheral circuit and FIG. 12 illustrates the operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 11. The bit line potential V.sub.BL is an initial preset potential of the bit line before the readout operation.
First, the readout operation is explained.
(1) Since the equalizing signal EQL is set at a high level before the active cycle is started the bit lines BL0 to BL3 are precharged to a potential of V.sub.BL level.
(2) A word line WL0 is selected by a row decoder (not shown) and the potential of the word line WL0 is raised to 7.5 V which is higher than Vcc (=5 V) by means of a bootstrap circuit (not shown).
(3) Dummy word lines DWL0 and /DWL0 (/ indicates an inverted form) corresponding to the selected word line are selected, and the potential of the dummy word line DWL0 is set from the V.sub.BL level to the Vcc level and the potential of the dummy word line /DWL0 is set from the V.sub.BL to the Vss level.
(4) Data "1" stored in the selected cell connected to the bit line BL0 and data "0" stored in the selected cell connected to the bit line BL2 are respectively transferred to the bit lines BL0 and BL2. Assuming that the storage level of data "1" in the memory cell is V.sub.1 and the storage level of data "0" is V.sub.0, then the potential level v.sub.1 of the bit line after the readout of data "1" can be expressed by the following equation (1): EQU v.sub.1 =(V.sub.1 +C.sub.B /C.sub.S .multidot.V.sub.BL)/(1+C.sub.B /C.sub.S) . . . (1)
Also, the potential level v.sub.0 of the bit line after the readout of data "0" can be expressed by the following equation (2): EQU v.sub.0 =(V.sub.0 +C.sub.B /C.sub.S .multidot.V.sub.BL)/(1+C.sub.B /C.sub.S) . . . (2)
If V.sub.1 =5 V, V.sub.0 =0 V, V.sub.BL =2.5 V, and C.sub.B /C.sub.S =15, then v.sub.1 =2.656 V and v.sub.0 =2.344 V. Since the reference level of the bit lines BL1 and BL3 is V.sub.BL =2.5 V, the potential difference .DELTA.v amplified by the sense amplifier becomes equal to .DELTA.v.sub.1 =0.156 V at the readout time of data "1" and becomes equal to .DELTA.v.sub.0 =0.156 V at the readout time of data "0", and thus the potential difference is set to the same value at the readout time of data "1" and "0".
(5) The sense amplifier is activated, the potentials of the bit lines BL0 and BL3 are amplified to the Vcc level, and the potentials of the bit lines BL1 and BL2 are amplified to the Vss level.
(6) The potentials of a pair of bit lines BL0 and BL1 or bit lines BL2 and BL3 selected by a selection signal supplied from a column decoder (not shown) to a column selection line CSL are respectively supplied to output lines DQ and /DQ.
Next, the write-in operation is explained. In the write-in operation, the same steps (1) to (3) as described in the readout operation are effected. After this, in the step (4), write-in potentials supplied to the output lines DQ and /DQ are transferred to the sense amplifier via a column switching transistor selected by means of the column selection line CSL. The potentials of the pair of bit lines are set to the Vcc and Vss levels by means of the sense amplifier and data corresponding to the thus set levels is written into a selected memory cell.
In this case, the equations (1) and (2) can be rewritten as follows. EQU v.sub.1 =V.sub.BL +(V.sub.1 -V.sub.BL)/(1+C.sub.B /C.sub.S) . . . (3) EQU v.sub.0 =V.sub.BL +(V.sub.0 -V.sub.BL)/(1+C.sub.B /C.sub.S) . . . (4)
As is clearly seen from the equations (3) and (4), v.sub.1 and v.sub.0 become nearer to V.sub.BL when the capacitance C.sub.B of the bit line increases and the capacitance C.sub.S of the capacitor decreases with an increase in the memory capacitance and with formation of the memory cell of even greater miniaturization.
Since an amplification reference voltage of the sense amplifier is V.sub.BL, the potential differences .DELTA.v.sub.1 and .DELTA.v.sub.0 amplified by the sense amplifier are both lowered. Therefore, it becomes difficult to correctly amplify data by use of the sense amplifier.

Semiconductor memory device having capacitor of thin film transistor structure


When regenerative power from an AC motor via an inverter exceeds a predetermined power threshold, a charging/discharging control unit, which outputs a control signal for controlling the inverter on the basis of a DC bus voltage value and a charging/discharging current value, causes a power storage device to be charged such that the DC bus voltage value becomes a voltage threshold corresponding to the power threshold and causes a charging current at a start time of charging to the power storage device to start from a charging current value that is based on a DC bus voltage value.

As a configuration example of AC motor drive systems, there has been an AC motor drive system in which an inverter that converts DC power into AC power having a voltage value and a frequency different from those of a system power supply to drive an AC motor and a charging/discharging circuit for charging and discharging a power storage device, which stores and discharges the DC power, are connected in parallel, via a smoothing capacitor, to a DC bus on the output side of a converter that converts AC power from the system power supply into DC power.
As an example of such an AC motor drive system, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology for an AC motor drive system that uses, when regenerative power regenerated from an AC motor via an inverter charges a power storage device via a charging/discharging circuit, a predetermined regeneration-time-current-command-value-integral-component initial value for proportional integral control (PI control) of a charging-current-command-value generating unit in the charging/discharging circuit to cope with regenerative power having a steep regeneration initial value.


A clamping system for high or ultra-high vacuum system components including a clamping member surrounding a flange of the vacuum system component. A bead along the inside diameter of the clamping member engages a groove in the peripheral surface of the flange. When a clamping force is applied to the clamping member, as by a bolt, the force is transmitted to the flange providing sufficient clamping force to form a vacuum seal.

Vacuum systems find wide applications in research, education, product development, and production. Typical systems are comprised of independent and interchangeable components. Components include testing chambers, pumps, gauges, valves, specimen holders, electron sources, ion sources, photon sources, molecular beam sources, detectors of various types, etc.
Processes or experiments that require high or ultra-high vacuum (UHV) currently employ all metal vacuum joints. A typical all-metal joint, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,758, is illustrated in FIG. 1. Such a joint comprises a flange 20 (FIG. 2) that includes an annular recess 26 and an annular knife edge 30. The flange 20 is intended for mating with another like flange 24 separated by a soft, metallic gasket 34. The opposing knife edges 30, 32 are pressed into the gasket 34 by tightening bolts 38 forming the UHV seal.
In UHV systems, the level of vacuum is dependant upon the speed of the vacuum pumps, the leak rates of the vacuum joints and vacuum walls, the surface area of the chamber and pumping lines, and the surface roughness of the interior components. Cleanliness or purity of the vacuum environment depends upon the interior component's material, forming method, and surface finish. The practicality of a vacuum system depends on the ease of access for changing specimens, the required down-time to trouble shoot and to do repairs, and the ease with which components may be added and removed from the system. The expense of a vacuum system lies in the cost of components, the required pump types and speeds, and the number and type of extra adapters needed to attach components to a system. Methods of accurately placing testing apparatus, processing equipment, or samples within a system are often required for an experiment or process. The prior art flanges do not adequately optimize some of these requirements, in some cases.
Standard thickness flanges depend on the thickness of the flange to transfer force from the bolts to the sealing gasket in order to crush the gasket and form the seal. This requires that mating flange configurations be one flange with clear bolt holes and one flange with either clear or tapped bolt holes. If both flanges have clear holes, then there must be room for bolt heads on one side of the flange pair and for nuts on the other. If at least one of the flange pairs is not rotatable, then the possible mounting configurations are limited to the number of bolt holes.
Methods for directly attaching two vacuum components that both have tapped holes currently involve one of several options, all of which significantly increase size or complexity of the vacuum system. One method includes inserting an adapter comprised of two flanges on each end of a thin wall tube. Unfortunately, the tube has to be long enough to provide bolt clearance. Another method uses double-sided couplers that bolt to the two components. Such a coupler is described in Crawford U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,956. However, even couplers of this type add length. Adding length and surface area significantly decreases molecular conductance, as well as increasing the overall system size.

Alternative method for sealing all-metal vacuum joints


An agricultural harvester includes a header with an infeed assembly including a driving element configured to rotate; a cylinder rotationally coupled to the driving element and having a plurality of openings formed therein; and a paddle assembly eccentrically positioned and rotationally held within the cylinder. Each paddle assembly includes a plurality of paddles variably positioned through the openings in the cylinder. Each paddle includes a laterally slidable wing that withdraws into the cylinder when the paddle retracts into the cylinder, and slides outwardly as the paddle extends form the cylinder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to agricultural harvesters, and, more particularly, to header assemblies for agricultural harvesters.
2. Description of the Related Art
Combines are used to harvest agricultural crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat and other grain crops. As the combine is driven through a crop field, the combine cuts the crop, separates the desired crop from the undesired waste, stores the crop, and discards the waste.
In a typical combine, a header is mounted at the front of the combine to gather the crop and feed the crop into the combine for processing. In a continuous process as the combine is driven through the field, the crop material is collected by the header, deposited into a feeder housing and transported upwardly into the combine by a feed elevator located within the feeder housing. The crop material then passes through a threshing and separating mechanism in which the crop material is impacted and/or rubbed, thereby causing the grain to separate from the stalk material. In a rotary combine, the threshing and separating mechanism includes a rotor, a threshing concave, a rotor cage and a separating grate; however, many types of combines are known that perform similar functions using different mechanisms. The stalk material that is separated from the grain is commonly referred to as material other than grain (MOG).
After passing through the threshing and separating assembly, the grain and MOG are deposited onto a grain cleaning system to separate the grain from the MOG. The grain cleaning system typically includes a plurality of adjustable, reciprocating cleaning sieves, often referred to as a chaffer sieve and a shoe sieve. To further separate the grain from the MOG, a cleaning fan or blower is positioned to blow air up through the cleaning sieves. The flow of air tends to blow the MOG, which is typically lighter than grain, out the back of the combine. Grain, which typically is heavier than MOG, is allowed to drop through the openings in the sieves.
The clean grain that falls through the cleaning sieves is deposited on a collection panel positioned beneath the cleaning sieves. The collection panel is angled so as to permit the grain to flow, under the influence of gravity, into an auger trough positioned along the lowermost edge of the collection panel. The grain collected in the auger trough is then moved by an auger towards the side of the combine where it is raised by a grain elevator and deposited into a storage tank or grain tank.
The header is designed to cut a swath in the crop of substantial width, and to convey the cut crop material into the feeder housing, typically the feeder housing being substantially narrower than the swath width cut by the header. An infeed assembly can be included in the header to direct the cut crop material from the outer portions of the header into a middle area of the header for movement into the feeder housing for transport to the threshing and separating mechanism. It is known to use opposed feed augers having helically oriented flights to convey the cut crop material laterally inward toward the center of the header. Center support structures are provided for the conveying augers. The opposed feed augers operating with necessary support structures and the associated part stack up create a center zone without positive crop material conveyance by the augers. While the conveyed crop material will urge other crop material through the zone and into the feeder housing, under some conditions, crop material can stagnate in a re-circling pattern within the center zone, thereby hindering movement of the crop material into the feeder housing. However, the presence of supporting structure makes it difficult to install mechanism to positively move the crop material through the center zone and into the feeder housing.
What is needed in the art is an infeed assembly that can overcome some of the previously described disadvantages of the prior art.

Agricultural harvester header with retracting paddles for conveying crop material


A mailer with a return envelope is formed from an intermediate which is a single ply of paper having first and second faces. Fold lines divide the ply into four about equal size quadrants with outgoing address indicia printed on the first ply first face, and the reply address indicia printed on the third quadrant first face. Adhesive associated with either the second or fourth ply and the third ply forms the second or fourth and the third ply into a return envelope. The return envelope has a closable flap, having adhesive on the second face, which is adjacent the open portion of the return envelope. Permanent adhesive, such as heat seal adhesive, is disposed in border areas on portions of the second faces of at least two of the quadrants, and on the fourth or third quadrant, to hold the ply into a mailer configuration, folded about the fold lines.

Mailers are widely used types of business forms. It is desirable to be able to manufacture mailers as simply as possible, yet provide a high degree of versatility and functionality thereof. It is, for many circumstances, particularly desirable to be able to form a mailer from a single ply of paper, that has an entirely functional return envelope provided with it, as well as significant areas for printed information, or a return coupon. In the construction of the mailers, it is also desirable to minimize the number of manufacturing steps, prevent sheet length or tenting problems, minimize the use of unrecyclable materials, and to provide flexibility in the construction of a return envelope provided.
According to the present invention, an intermediate for construction of a mailer, and the mailer constructed thereby, are provided which substantially achieves the goals set forth above. According to the present invention, it is possible to make a mailer with a fully functional, and versatile configuration, return envelope, from a single ply of paper, yet provide sufficient space for significant information transmitting indicia, and even to provide a return coupon if desired. The mailer according to the invention is constructed in only two steps, one pass on a press, and one pass on an "85" machine for applying adhesive, and the mailer has a minimum of unrecyclable material, and avoids sheet length and tenting problems.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a mailer intermediate is provided. The intermediate comprises: A single ply having first and second faces. First and second orthogonal fold lines separating the ply into first, second, third and fourth quadrants of substantially the same size, the first and third quadrants diagonally disposed with respect to each other, the first and second quadrants separated by the second fold line, and the first and fourth quadrants separated by the first fold line, each quadrant having first through fourth border lines. The first face of the first quadrant having outgoing address indicia thereon, and the first face of the third quadrant having reply address indicia thereon. First adhesive adjacent the first through third border lines of the second face of the third quadrant and/or the second or fourth quadrants, for forming a return envelope with the third quadrant and one of the second and fourth quadrants, no adhesive disposed along the fourth border line. First perforation means defining a return envelope flap in one of the quadrants in or adjacent the fourth border line which has no adhesive. Information transmitting indicia printed on the second face of whichever of the second and fourth quadrants does not form the return envelope with the third quadrant. Second adhesive disposed on the second face of the return envelope flap. And third adhesive for holding the quadrants together if folded about the first and second fold lines into a mailer, with the first face of the first quadrant and the first face of one of the second or fourth quadrants forming the exterior of the mailer.
Typically, the return envelope is formed from the second and third quadrants, with the first adhesive (typically heat sealable permanent adhesive) disposed on the second ply, and the flap typically formed from the third or fourth plies by the first perforation means. The second adhesive can be rewettable adhesive, and the third adhesive is typically disposed in border areas defined by perforation lines adjacent the border lines of the quadrants, and separable when the mailer is received by a recipient by tearing along perforation lines. Other perforations can be provided which define a coupon portion from the fourth quadrant, which may be readily inserted into the return envelope.
The invention also comprises a mailer formed from the intermediate described above. The mailer comprises: A single ply having first and second faces. First and second orthogonal fold lines separating the ply into first, second, third and fourth quadrants of substantially the same size, the first and third quadrants diagonally disposed with respect to each other, the first and second quadrants separated by the second fold line, and the first and fourth quadrants separated by the first fold line, each quadrant having first through fourth border lines. The first face of the first quadrant having outgoing address indicia thereon, and the first face of the third quadrant having reply address indicia thereon. First adhesive adjacent the first through third border lines of the second face of the third quadrant and/or the second or fourth quadrants, for forming a return envelope with the third quadrant and one of the second and fourth quadrants, no adhesive disposed along the fourth border line. First perforation means defining a return envelope flap in one of the quadrants in or adjacent the fourth border line which has no adhesive. Information transmitting indicia printed on the second face of whichever of the second and fourth quadrants does not form the return envelope with the third quadrant. Second adhesive disposed on the second face of the return envelope flap. The quadrants folded about the first and second fold lines, so that the first face of the first quadrant, and the first face of whichever of the second and fourth quadrants that forms the return envelope with the third quadrant, are visible from the exterior of the mailer while the first face of the third quadrant is not visible. And, third adhesive for holding the quadrants together folded about the first and second fold line.
The mailer described above is typically formed by first folding the intermediate about the first fold line so that the first faces of the quadrants are outward, then folding about the second fold line so that the first faces of the first and second quadrants are facing outward, with fourth adhesive disposed on the first face of the fourth quadrant, and border areas, to facilitate folding the mailer in a compact configuration for mailing. By simply detaching the mailer portions along perf lines, the mailer may be "opened", and the return envelope prepared for reply mailing.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an advantageous intermediate for a business form mailer, and mailer constructed thereby, which utilizes a return envelope. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention, and from the appended claims.

Single web bifold with outgoing and return envelope


First, the coordinate position on a game screen of each point is calculated (S501). Then, a path which circulates through the coordinate positions (or their vicinities) of all the points is obtained (S502). A line segment is drawn to extend from the barycentric position of the points in a direction corresponding to an input direction, and the coordinate position of the intersection point of the obtained line segment and the path is calculated as a position on the path through which a cursor passes (S503). Finally, the image of the cursor is moved to the calculated intersection point coordinate position and is displayed (S504).

A cursor is generally used to point a desired item out of several items displayed on a display screen of, e.g., a CRT or liquid crystal screen. More specifically, a cursor is displayed on a display screen and is moved using a pointing device such as a mouse. Since the cursor is moved to a desired position, and a predetermined operation (e.g., an operation such as a click) is performed, a desired item can be pointed.
In some games, it is necessary to point a desired item out of several items on a game screen. These games include a game in which several spots (these "spots" are not explicitly displayed on a display screen) each of which generates an event upon pointing are set in the game space as a three-dimensional virtual space, and the spots are searched for on the screen.
In games as well, a cursor is generally displayed on a game screen for use in pointing such a spot. Devices operated by a player to change the display position of the cursor include a cross key, joystick, and the like. When each direction key component of a cross key is pressed, the cursor moves in the direction indicated by the direction key component. When a joystick is tilted, the cursor moves in the direction in which the stick is tilted.
In some games, the position of a spot of this kind dynamically changes in a game screen. In this case, it is burdensome for a player to move the position of a cursor using, e.g., a cross key or joystick while following the position of the moving spot.
Even when the spots are stationary in the game screen, it is also burdensome for the player to align the cursor with the position of the spot using the cross key or joystick.

Cursor control apparatus and cursor control program


A roll fuser assembly including a fuser roll and a pressure roll. The rolls are crowned and are supported in pressure engagement with each other to form a fusing nip. The pressure engagement of the rolls eliminate nonuniform nip loading in wide fusers as well as providing uniform velocity through the fuser roll/pressure roll nip. It is preferred that the crowned profile of one of the rolls be substantially to the center of the roll and that the other be offset therefrom. It is further preferred that the diameters of each of the rolls be substantially the same at each end.

In imaging systems commonly used today, a charge retentive surface is typically charged to a uniform potential and thereafter exposed to a light source to thereby selectively discharge the charge retentive surface to form a latent electrostatic image thereon. The image may comprise either the discharged portions or the charged portions of the charge retentive surface. The light source may comprise any well known device such as a light lens scanning system or a laser beam. Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image on the charge retentive surface is rendered visible by developing the image with developer powder referred to in the art as toner. The most common development systems employ developer which comprises both charged carrier particles and charged toner particles which triboelectrically adhere to the carrier particles. During development, the toner particles are attracted from the carrier particles by the charged pattern of the image areas of the charge retentive surface to form a powder image thereon. This toner image may be subsequently transferred to a support surface, such as plain paper to which it may be permanently affixed by heating or by the application of pressure or a combination of both.
In order to fix or fuse the toner material onto a support member or substrate, such as a sheet, permanently by heat, it is necessary to elevate the temperature of the toner material to a point at which constituents of the toner material coalesce and become tacky. This action causes the toner to flow to some extent onto the fibers or pores of the support members or otherwise upon the surfaces thereof. Thereafter, as the toner material cools, solidification of the toner material occurs causing the toner material to be bonded firmly to the support member.
One approach to thermal fusing of toner material images onto the supporting substrate has been to pass the substrate with the unfused toner images thereon between a pair of opposed roller members at least one of which is internally heated. During operation of a fusing system of this type, the support member to which the toner images are electrostatically adhered is moved through the nip formed between the rolls with the toner image contacting the heated fuser roll to thereby effect heating of the toner images within the nip. Typical of such fusing devices are two roll systems wherein the fusing roll is coated with a material, such as a silicone rubber or other low surface energy elastomer or, for example, tetrafluoroethylene resin sold by E. I. DuPont De Nemours under the trademark Teflon. In these fusing systems, however, since the toner image is tackified by heat it frequently happens that a part of the image carried on the supporting substrate will be retrained by the heated fuser roller and not penetrate into the substrate surface. The tackified toner may stick to the surface of the fuser roll and offset to a subsequent sheet of support substrate or offset to the pressure roll when there is no sheet passing through a fuser nip resulting in contamination of the pressure roll with subsequent offset of toner from the pressure roll to the image substrate. In order to prevent this from happening, a release agent application mechanism is generally utilized.
Wide, small diameter roll fusers also inherently suffer from excessive fuser and pressure roll deflection. The load on the fuser rolls required is a function of speed and type of image to be fused. Bending of a beam, or roller, is inversely proportional to the cube of the length thus, as fuser get wider the rolls bend appreciably more at a given load. Likewise, the bending of a beam with a round cross section, or roller, is directly proportional to the cube of the roll radius. So if it is desired to make the roll a little smaller the deflection increases significantly. The goal in a fuser nip is to produce nearly uniform load across the width. As the roll deflects the load at the ends increase thereby producing paper handing problems, if the load is too nonuniform (e.g. wrinkling or creasing of the sheet).
It is known that skewing the fuser roll with respect to the pressure roll and wrapping one roll around the other tend to counteract the uneven load distribution caused by roll bending. However, the bent shape roll is a curve which is a cubic function, and it is being wrapped around a circular roll with is a squared function. Thus, resulting load distribution is a maximum about one quarter of the roll length in from each end to get a "bow tie" nip. Skewing has been successfully employed for fairly stiff systems and very flexible systems. The former needs very little compensation and thus little "bow tie" effect is apparent while the latter requires a lot of skew but the stiffness is low enough that the "bow tie" effect is not visible. Skewing also generates lateral thrust forces that wear the roll surface.
It is also known to profile fuser rollers so that the shapes of the fuser tends to overcome the bending problem or even to place a third roll in pressure engagement with the fuser opposite the pressure roll to overcome the deflection in the ends of the fuser roll. Uneven roll load distribution can also be prevented by crowning one of the two fuser rolls. However, crowning of one of two fuser rolls results in nip velocity problems which induce paper wrinkle.
The following references may be of relevance to the present invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,558; Patentee: Takiguchi; Issued: Mar. 2, 1976. PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,804; Patentee: Nygard et al; Issued: Jul. 19, 1983. PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,588; Patentee: Tomosada; Issued: Dec. 10, 1985. PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,552; Patentee: Nakanishi; Issued: Jul. 3, 1990. PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,890; Patentee: DeBolt et al.; Issued: Sep. 3, 1991. PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,944; Patentee: DeBolt et al.; Issued: Sep. 17, 1991. PA1 JPPN-58-184173 (A); Patentee: Katou; Published: Oct. 27, 1983. PA1 JPPN-61-251881 (A) Patentee: Takizawa; Published: Nov. 8, 1986.
The foregoing references may be summarized as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,558 discloses a rolled web impregnated with silicone oil for preventing offset. The web has a thickness of 2 mm, a total length of 50 cm, and travels 1 cm per thousand copies between the supply and take-up rollers. This system transfers about 0.003 cc of oil to the fuser per copy.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,804 discloses a rolled web system that moves between a supply core and take-up roller. A felt applicator supplies oil from a supply reservoir to the web. The take-up core is driven by a slip clutch at a speed greater than the speed of the pressure roller, thus exerting tension on the web. The web is between one and two mm in thickness and moves at a constant speed of 5 cm per 200 to 1,000 copies.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,588 discloses an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copier, microfilm equipment, recording equipment, facsimile or printer. A movable cleaning member is maintained in contact with a member to clean its surface and the movement of the cleaning member is variably controlled according to the state of the image formation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,552 discloses a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of an element of a copying apparatus to be cleaned by contacting a cleaning web therewith is connected to a driving mechanism of a scanning member of the coping apparatus and is driven in correlative movement with the scanning member. It is driven only when the scanning member returns to its original position by a one way clutch and by a constant amount of movement irrespective of the amount of movement of the scanning member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,890 discloses a fuser apparatus for applying offset preventing liquid to a fuser roll including: a supply core; a rotatable take-up core; an oil impregnated web member adapted to be moved from the supply core to the take up core; a motor mechanically coupled to the take up roll for driving the web member from the the supply core to the take up core; a pressure roll in engagement with the web member and positioned to provide a contact nip for the web member with the fuser roll opposite the pressure roll wherein the contact of the web member with the fuser roll transfers oil from the web member to the fuser roll, and control means to vary the duty cycle operation of the motor to drive the web member at a relatively constant linear speed at the contact nip, the control means including a timer to monitor the cumulative time of operation of the motor and means to progressively decrease the duty cycle of the motor in response to the cumulative time of operation wherein the progressively decreased duty cycle of operation compensates for the increasing radius of the web member on the take up roll to maintain said relatively constant linear speed at the contact nip.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,944 discloses apparatus for applying offset preventing liquid to a fuser roll including an oil impregnated web to be moved relative to a fuser roll. A timer is employed to monitor the cumulative time of operation of a motor used to drive the web relative to the fuser roll and to progressively decrease the cycle of the motor so that essentially a uniform amount of the web is moved at each cycle.
JPPN-58-184173 (A) discloses a fuser apparatus in which one of the rolls is crowned in the center and the other is flared toward one end. The flared roller is also mounted at an angle to the center line of the crowned roller.
JPPN-61-251881 (A) discloses a fixed roller having an inverted crow shape along its length, which engages a belt entrained about two crown shaped rollers to act a part of a fixing device.
Additionally, there are several automatic printing machines commercially available, such as the Xerox 5028 model copier, which employ webs for providing release agents to fuser rolls. Other examples of such commercial devices, presently or currently available, include the Canon model 3225, 3725, 3000 series, 4000 series and 5000 series products. These products also all have liquid release agent impregnated webs supported between a supply roll and a take-up roll and urged into contact with the fuser roll by an open celled foam pinch roll.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for fusing toner images to substrates, The apparatus comprises an elongated heated fuser roll having a crowned surface an elongated pressure roll having a crowned surface, with the pressure roll being supported for pressure engagement with the fuser roll to form a nip therebetween adapted to receive substrates. The apparatus according to this aspect can further comprise means for applying substantially uniform pressure and velocity on substrates in the nip, wherein the applying means comprises loading means for deflecting the pressure roll into pressure engagement with the fuser roll to form the nip. Means for supporting the pressure roll rotatably in contact with the fuser roll may also be supplied. The crowned surface of the fuser roll and pressure roll is approximately equal to the sum of the deflection of the fuser roll and the pressure roll. The pressure roll of this aspect of the invention can be provided with a surface having a maximum diameter in the central region thereof, and the fuser roll can be provided with a surface having a maximum diameter offset from the maximum diameter of the pressure roll. The fuser roll's surface can be provided with a maximum diameter positioned approximately one third of the length from one end thereof.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for fusing toner images to substrates which comprises the steps of providing an elongated heated fuser roll having a crowned surface, and supporting an elongated pressure roll having a crowned surface in pressure engagement with said heated fuser roll to form a nip therebetween adapted to receive substrates. The method of this aspect can further comprise applying substantially uniform pressure in the nip and effecting substantially uniform velocity on substrates in the nip. The applying step can include deflecting the pressure roll and fuser roll in the nip. This aspect of the invention can further include fabricating the crowned surface of the pressure roll and the crowned surface of the fuser roll to correspond to the deflection of the fuser roll and the pressure roll induced by the applying step, and the method can comprise the step of transporting the substrate through the nip. Additionally, the method of this aspect may include the steps of heating the fuser roll so as to fix toner on the transported substrates thereto and offsetting the maximum diameter of the fuser roll from the maximum diameter of the pressure roll so as to apply a substantially uniform pressure.


An image processing system and method for processing a source digital image with a first energy sensitivity parameter value and including first pixels of first pixel values into a target digital image with a selected second energy sensitivity parameter value and including second pixels of second pixel values, for enabling a photographer to adjust resolution and sensitivity of a digital image to correspond to the light sensitivity of a specific photographic film. Thus, the photographer can use a light meter to indicate pairs of exposure time and diaphragm settings for the electronic camera that will ensure a correct exposure of the digital image when the light meter is set to indicate correct pairs of exposure time and diaphragm settings for a camera.

It is well known to represent an image digitally by dividing the image into a large number of segments, denoted pixels, and allocating digital values, denoted pixel values, to each pixel. Typically, the image is divided into a matrix of rows and columns of pixels and the size of a digital image is then given by the number of pixels in a row and the number of pixels in a column. The pixel values are typically stored in an array in a digital memory. For example, a grey tone image may be represented digitally by a digital image comprising pixels each of which has one pixel value representing the grey tone of the corresponding pixel. Similarly, a color image may be represented by a digital image comprising pixels each of which has three pixel values, one for each of the colors red, green, and blue.
Typically, a digital image is created by transmission of light towards an object and detection by an electronic camera of light reflected from or transmitted through the object. However, in general a digital image may be created by transmission of any kind of radiated energy, such as electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, radio waves, etc, ultrasound energy, particle energy, such as electrons, neutrons, etc, etc, towards an object for interaction with the object and by detection of energy having interacted with the object, such as by reflection, refraction, absorption, etc.
A digital image may be formed by any imaging system, such as radiometer systems, infrared systems, radar systems, ultrasound systems, X-ray systems, electronic cameras, digital scanners, etc, adapted to detect the kind of energy in question and to generate a digital image based on the energy detection.
The amount of energy needed to record a digital image with a desired signal to noise ratio, i.e. the sensitivity of the imaging system, is determined by the noise level in the imaging system. Energy detectors of any kind generate noise that adds to the signal desired to be recorded. The signal to noise level of a digital image is typically required to be comparable to if not better than the signal to noise level of an image recorded on a photographic film for subsequent reproduction in professional publications.
Typically, an image recording system operating in the visible light range of electromagnetic radiation, such as an electronic camera, a digital camera, an electronic scanner, a digital scanner, etc, uses a solid state imaging device, typically a charge coupled device (CCD), for recording of an image. The CCD is an array of a large number of light sensitive detectors connected to each other as an analog shift register. In each detector of the CCD a charge is formed that is proportional to the light energy incident on the detector during an integration period. The analog charge of each detector is shifted serially out of the CCD and is typically converted to a digital value whereby a digital representation of the recorded image is formed. Each pixel value of the digital image is equal to the digitized charge of the corresponding CCD detector. The pixel values may be transferred to an external computer through a computer interface or may be stored on a memory card or on a rotating magnetic recording medium.
It is known in the art to use linear CCDs in an image recording system in which the linear CCDs light-sensing detectors are arranged in a single line. Typically, the array is moved across the image, scanning it one line at a time. For color images, filters can be placed in front of the array, which then makes three passes across the image during image recording.
Offering a good compromise of image resolution (high pixel count) and cost in an image recording system is the trilinear CCD array, which comprises three linear CCDs positioned side by side. Each line is covered by its own color filter. The array makes a single pass across the image, and each linear CCD records a line at a time.
At a higher cost, a two-dimensional CCD array can capture the entire image in a very short time. Three separate exposures with three color filters can be used to make a color representation. For example, the color filters can be placed in a rotating wheel that sequentially inserts each color filter in the optical path between the image forming optics of the image recording system and the two-dimensional CCD array.
In the present context, the term exposure is to be understood in a broad sense as the time period during which an energy sensor is actually sensing the energy. For example, a photographic film is exposed to light whenever light is incident upon it, while a CCD is exposed to light when the elements of the CCD are allowed to integrate light incident upon them. The CCD is not exposed when its light sensing elements are short-circuited although light may be incident upon them.
It is well known in the art to size a digital image, i.e. to change, typically reduce, the size of the digital image, i.e. the number of pixels of the digital image in order to minimize the amount of pixel data to be stored for later processing of the digital image. Various, sometimes complex, strategies for forming sets of pixels from which new pixel values are calculated may be employed. In a very simple example, a digital image may be down-sized by reducing the number of pixels of the digital image by an integer, e.g. by a number of four. In this case, the pixels of the original digital image is divided into sets of four pixels each and each set of pixels is transformed into a new pixel of a pixel value equal to the average value of the original pixel values. Thereby, a new digital image of one fourth the size of the original digital image is generated.
Further, it is well-known to adjust brightness of an image produced from a digital image by forming a new digital image with the same number of pixels as the original image in which each of the new pixel values is generated by a linear or non-linear transformation of the corresponding original pixel value.
Replacement of conventional cameras for photographing and recording images by use of the photosensitivity of photographic films by electronic cameras has gained increasing attention in recent years.
In photography, it is well known to use photographic films of different light sensitivity and optical resolution. Typically, a photographic film with good light sensitivity has a lower optical resolution than a film with a lower light sensitivity. Simultaneously, the less light that is needed to expose a film the more depth of focus can be obtained. Thus, a photographer is accustomed to work out compromises between the three parameters of a recorded image: resolution, light sensitivity and depth of focus.
In working out such compromises, the photographer uses a light meter. Based on the light sensitivity of the film in the camera and the intensity of light incident on the light meter, the light meter indicates pairs of exposure time and diaphragm settings that will ensure a correct exposure of the photographic film.
It is known to specify the light sensitivity of an electronic camera as a parameter corresponding to the light sensitivity of a photographic film, e.g. as an ASA value. For example, the light sensitivity of an electronic camera may be specified as 400 ASA. This means that a photographer can use a light meter to indicate pairs of exposure time and diaphragm settings for the electronic camera that will ensure a correct exposure of the recorded image when the light meter is set to indicate correct pairs of exposure time and diaphragm settings for a camera with a 400 ASA photographic film.
It is seen that there are resemblances between a digital image, e.g. recorded with a CCD array, and an image recorded on a photographic film. A photographic film comprises light sensitive particles that chemically stores information about light energy incident upon them during an exposure period. By increasing the density of particles on a film, the resolution of the film is increased while the light sensitivity of the film is decreased. Thus, resolution and light sensitivity of a photographic film is interrelated.
Similarly, the number of pixels in a digital image defines the resolution of the digital image and the pixel values of a recorded image correspond to the information chemically stored in the light sensitive particles on the photographic film.
Thus, by analogy with a photographic film, a digital image comprising pixel locations in a memory holding pixel values can be seen to correspond to a developed photographic film while the set of pixel locations in a memory for holding pixel values of a digital image may be said to constitute a virtual film.


A method for removing acetaldehyde from a mixture of methyl acetate, methanol and acetaldehyde includes: (a) feeding the mixture of methyl acetate, methanol and acetaldehyde to a distillation column; (b) distilling the feed mixture of methyl acetate methanol and acetaldehyde at a pressure of 10 psig or more to generate an overhead vapor stream enriched in acetaldehyde as compared with the feed mixture and a residue stream depleted in acetaldehyde as compared with the feed mixture; and (c) withdrawing the residue stream depleted in acetaldehyde from the distillation column.

Mixtures of methyl acetate and methanol are generated when producing polyvinyl alcohol by way of saponification of polyvinyl acetate. U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,772 to Picard et al. discloses a process wherein a methyl acetate/methanol mixture is recovered from a mother liquor of a saponification process. The '772 patent further suggests that the mixture can be used as a feedstock in a carbonylation process to make acetic acid. It was determined, however, that methyl acetate/methanol mixtures so produced contain significant levels of acetaldehyde which are believed to have a deleterious effect on impurities generated during carbonylation. In particular, it is believed that acetaldehyde present in a carbonylation reaction mixture produces propionic acid which is difficult and expensive to remove from acetic acid in order to meet product specifications.
Acetaldehyde is particularly difficult to remove from methyl acetate/methanol mixtures in spite of its relatively low boiling point (20.9° C.). So also, methanol is difficult to separate from methyl acetate because methanol and methyl acetate form a low boiling azeotrope. Thus, in conventional operations, methyl acetate is typically hydrolyzed to acetic acid and methanol prior to further purification and/or re-use as a feedstock.
It has been unexpectedly found in accordance with the present invention that acetaldehyde removal from a methyl acetate/methanol/acetaldehyde mixture by distillation is remarkably enhanced by conducting the distillation at elevated pressure and temperature. Thus purified, the methyl acetate/methanol mixture can be directly fed to a carbonylation unit to make acetic acid without the need for more elaborate treatment.

Acetaldehyde removal from methyl acetate by distillation at elevated pressure


A nonvolatile ferroelectric memory device has a single-ended sensing structure. The nonvolatile ferroelectric memory device comprises a plurality of cell array blocks, a plurality of sense amplifiers, a main amplifier unit and a data bus. The sense amplifier unit sets a voltage of a main bit line to a predetermined sensing level before cell data are transmitted to the main bit line, and then senses data by comparing the voltage of the main bit line with the sensing level when cell data are transmitted. Additionally, a data bus which is divided into a local data bus and a global data bus transmits the sensed data, thereby improving the sensing speed and the sensing margin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a nonvolatile ferroelectric memory device, and more specifically, to a nonvolatile ferroelectric memory device configured to improve the sensing speed and the sensing voltage margin by improving a structure of a sense amplifier for sensing a voltage of a main bit line and a structure of data bus for transmitting data sensed in the sense amplifier.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a ferroelectric random access memory (hereinafter, referred to as 'FeRAM') has a data processing speed as fast as a Dynamic Random Access Memory DRAM and conserves data even after the power is turned off.
The FeRAM having structures similar to the DRAM includes the capacitors made of a ferroelectric substance, so that it utilizes the characteristic of a high residual polarization of the ferroelectric substance in which data is not deleted even after an electric field is eliminated.
The technical contents on the above FeRAM are disclosed in the Korean Patent Application No. 1998-14400 by the same inventor of the present invention. Therefore, the basic structure and the operation on the FeRAM are not described herein.
As the chip operation voltage of the FeRAM becomes lower, the cell sensing voltage also decreases. As a result, it is difficult to embody the rapid operation speed in a FeRAM chip having a 1T1C (1-Transistor 1-Capacitor) structure.
Specifically, when the sensing voltage of cell data is small, it is difficult to sense cell data due to the small voltage margin for sensing timing.

FeRAM having single ended sensing architecture


A method and system may include sending a non-linear content signal to cause display of non-linear content at a display device, identifying a termination identifier associated with display of the non-linear content, and sending a graphical user interface signal to cause display of a graphical user interface that includes a current location field and a previous location field. The system and method may further include receiving a selection request selecting one of the current location field and the previous location field.

Television and television advertising have existed for many years. Traditionally, television advertisements have been linearly inserted within a program through ten, fifteen, or thirty second segments or spots. Advertisers can purchase advertising spots based on the television programs the advertisers believe their customers may be watching. These spots are interspersed in the broadcast and typically do not involve interactivity with the viewer.
These and other embodiments and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the various exemplary embodiments.

Method and system for providing a transition between linear content and non-linear content


An ethylene polymer extrusion composition having high draw down and substantially reduced neck-in, a process for making such a composition and a process of using such a composition to prepare extrusion coatings, extrusion profiles and extrusion cast films are disclosed. The ethylene polymer extrusion composition is made of 75-95 weight percent of at least one ethylene .alpha.-olefin interpolymer and 5-25 weight percent of at least one high pressure ethylene polymer characterized as having high melt strength and a broad, bimodal molecular weight distribution. In profiles, coatings or films, the composition can be used as sealant, adhesive or abuse resistance layers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to polyethylene extrusion compositions. In particular, the invention pertains to an ethylene polymer extrusion composition having high drawdown and substantially reduced neck-in. The invention also pertains to a method of making the ethylene polymer extrusion composition and a method for making an extrusion coated article, an article in the form of an extrusion profile and an article in the form of an extrusion cast film.
2. Technical Background
It is known that low density polyethylene (LDPE) made by high-pressure polymerization of ethylene with free-radical initiators as well as heterogeneous linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE) made by the copolymerization of ethylene and .alpha.-olefins with Ziegler coordination (transition metal) catalysts at low to medium pressures can be used, for example, to extrusion coat substrates such as paper board, to prepare extrusion cast film for applications such as disposable diapers and food packaging and to prepare extrusion profiles such as wire and cable jacketing. However, although LDPE generally exhibits excellent extrusion processability and high extrusion drawdown rates, LDPE extrusion compositions lack sufficient abuse resistance and toughness for many applications. For extrusion coating and extrusion casting purposes, efforts to improve abuse properties by providing LDPE compositions having high molecular weights (i.e., having melt index, I.sub.2, less than 2 g/10) are not effective since such compositions inevitably have too much melt strength to be successfully drawn down at high lines speeds.
While LLDPE and ULDPE extrusion compositions offer improved abuse resistance and toughness properties and MDPE (medium density polyethylene) extrusion compositions offer improved barrier resistance (against, for example, moisture and grease permeation), these linear ethylene polymers can not be extruded or drawn down at high take-off rates and they are known to exhibit relatively poor extrusion processability.
The ultimate extrusion drawdown rate of ethylene .alpha.-olefin interpolymers is limited (at otherwise practicable extrusion line speeds) by the onset of a melt flow instability phenomena known as draw resonance rather than being limited by melt tension breaks due to "strain hardening" which occurs at higher line speeds and is typical for LDPE and other highly branched high pressure ethylene polymers such as, for example, ethylene-acrylic acid (EAA) copolymers and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers.
"Draw resonance" or "melt surging" occurs in LLDPE, ULDPE and other linear polymers such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene and polyester during processing that involves rapid drawing or pulling of the melt such as extrusion coating, extrusion cast film fabrication, profile extrusion and fine denier fiber spinning. Also, the onset or occurrence of draw resonance is unmistakable.
The patent teachings of Kurtz et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,507 and Lucchesi et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,377 (the disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference) describe draw resonance as a sustained random and/or periodic oscillation, variation or pulsation of the polymer melt with respect to the velocity and cross-sectional area of a melt drawing process that occurs between the die and the take-off position when the boundary conditions are a fixed velocity at the die and a fixed velocity at the take-off position. Draw resonance occurs when the draw ratio (i.e., the melt velocity at take-off divided by the melt velocity instantaneous at the die exit often approximated by dividing the reciprocal of the final polymer thickness by the reciprocal of the thickness of the melt instantaneous at the die exit) exceeds a polymer specific critical value. Draw resonance is a melt flow instability that is manifested as irregularities in the final coating, film or fiber dimensions and often produce widely variable thicknesses and widths. When line speeds significantly exceed the speed of onset, draw resonance can cause web or filament breaks and thereby shut down the entire drawing or converting process.
Given the various differences and intricacies that can exist between different extrusion equipment, relative resistance to draw resonance is often expressed in terms of critical draw ratio, and for conventional linear ethylene polymers, maximum stable draw ratios have been found to be less than 10:1, although draw ratios greater than 20:1 are needed for most commercial drawing operations.
"Drawdown" is defined herein to mean stretching or elongating a molten polymer extrudate (web or filament) in the machine direction and occasionally (simultaneously to a lesser degree) also in the transverse direction.
"Melt strength" which is also referred to in the relevant art as "melt tension" is defined and quantified herein to mean the stress or force (as applied by a wind-up drum equipped with a strain cell) required to draw a molten extrudate at some specified rate above its melting point as it passes through the die of a standard plastometer such as the one described in ASTM D1238-E. Melt strength values, which are reported herein in centi-Newtons (cN), are determined using a Gottfert Rheotens at 190.degree. C. In general, for ethylene .alpha.-olefin interpolymers and high pressure ethylene polymers, melt strength tends to increase with increased molecular weight, or with broadening of the molecular weight distribution and/or with increased melt flow ratios.
"Neck-in" which is influenced by extrudate swelling and, to lesser degree, by surface tension effects is defined herein as the difference between the die width and the extrudate width at the taken off position or the final width of the fabricated article. Measured neck-in values (at constant output) will remain constant or decrease as the drawdown rate increases, and, in general, it is well known that for conventional ethylene polymers neck-in values increase as molecular weight decreases and/or as the molecular weight distribution narrows. The neck-in values reported herein are determined at a 1 mil monolayer extrusion coating weight using a 3.5-inch diameter, 30:1 L/D Black-Clawson extrusion coater equipped with a 30 inch wide die deckled to 24 inches and having a 20-mil die gap and 50-lb. Kraft paper.
"Take-off position" is defined herein to mean the contact point (either the top or bottom) of a roller device that draws or pulls the molten extrudate down from its initial thickness instantaneous at the die exit to its final thickness. The roller device can be a nip roll, rubber roll, a chill roll, combinations thereof, or the like constructed from, for example, metal or rubber with various surfaces such as polished, matte or embossed finishes; all of which can to varying degrees affect the onset of draw resonance.
A variety of potential solutions have been disclosed to address the neck-in and/or draw resonance tendencies of ethylene .alpha.-olefin interpolymers. Many of these solutions are equipment related and others primarily relate to modification of the properties of the ethylene .alpha.-olefin interpolymer by forming a polymer blend with a highly branched high pressure ethylene polymer such as, for example, low density polyethylene. Thompson in U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,346 (which is incorporated herein by reference) is an example of equipment related attempts to address neck-in and draw resonance. Thompson describes a secondary injection of polymer melt streams into the primary die at the edges of the primary web stream is described to reduce neck-in and provide improved edge bead control.
An equipment modification solution specific to retarding the onset of draw resonance is provided by Cancio et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,463 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,574 (the disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference) where locating a draw roller not more than 6 inches (15.2 cm) from the die provides a short air/draw gap and reduced draw resonance. Luchessi et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,377, teaches the use of a fluid medium, e.g., nitrogen, carbon monoxide or air, directed against the molten web prior to the take-off position as a viable method of retarding draw resonance. Similarly, Kurtz et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,221 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) discloses that draw resonance can be mitigated by the utilization of a tensioning device with a friction free surface in a "rapid cooling zone" between the die and the take-off position.
Conversely, as another equipment modification example for alleviating or reducing draw resonance, Chaing in U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,379 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) discloses radiant heating of the molten web prior to a chill roll take-off position.
Examples of modified ethylene .alpha.-olefin interpolymer compositions exhibiting reduced draw resonance include U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,451 (Edwards), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which discloses high flow rate compositions based on degraded propylene polymers blended with low density polyethylene. A similar example is provided by Werkman et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,247,290 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) wherein thermally degraded (visbroken) high density polyethylene is blended with low density polyethylene to prepare high drawdown extrusion coating compositions. Another ethylene .alpha.-olefin interpolymer blend example involving low density polyethylene is disclosed by Kurtz et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,507 where high pressure LDPE at 20 to 98 weight percent in combination with a heterogeneous conventional LLDPE is taught to provide extrusion coating compositions with improved running rates.
An example of compositions that reduce draw resonance without the inclusion of a polymer degradation step and/or blending with a branched high pressure ethylene polymer is taught by Dohrer et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,264 where LLDPE with melt flow ratios less than 8.3 (i.e., utilizing molecular weight distributions even more narrow than typically employed) were found to allow surprisingly fast line speeds in extrusion coating and extrusion casting. However, predictably, these materials also exhibit higher neck-in and/or poor extrusion processability (e.g., higher extruder amperage).
In spite of the various advances, there is still a need for avoiding draw resonance and high neck-in problems when extruding ethylene .alpha.-olefin interpolymer compositions, particularly at high extrusion line speeds. For example, while the compositions disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 08/084,054, filed Jun. 29, 1993, exhibit significantly improved line speeds (draw-down rates), high resistance to draw resonance and reduced neck-in relative to conventional linear ethylene .alpha.-olefin compositions, such compositions still exhibit high neck-in (for example, .gtoreq.7 inches at a 1.0 mil extrusion coating weight). Further, where ordinary high pressure ethylene polymers are used as blend component polymers in ethylene .alpha.-olefin polymer compositions to improved line speed, resistance to draw resonance and neck-in performance, relatively high concentrations (i.e., greater than 20 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition) of the high pressure ethylene polymer as a blend component polymer is required to effectuate such improvement. However, where a resin manufacturer or converter is capacity limited, such as, for example, where the only available equipment for addition purposes is a small scale weigh-feeder, a requirement of higher concentrations of a high pressure ethylene polymer blend component can be prohibitive.
As described hereinafter, the present invention substantially fills the need for ethylene polymer extrusion compositions having high line speeds, high resistance to draw resonance and substantially reduced neck-in and a method of making such compositions utilizing low capacity addition equipment. The compositions of the present invention can be used in conjunction with known equipment modifications and in combination with thermally degraded polymers to good advantage and the combined or synergistic benefits of the present invention and known solutions can also be realized.
In addition to the advantage of being able to make an improved extrusion composition by utilizing a wide variety of addition or blending equipment options, converters and fabricators can now realize the advantages of improved abuse or barrier properties (due to the utilization of ethylene .alpha.-olefin interpolymers), higher productivity rates (due to ability to obtain higher line speeds) and down-gauging (lower coat weights or thinner films and profiles), while still preparing high quality, uniform coatings, profiles and films. Another advantage of the invention is the significantly higher melt strength of the inventive composition relative to unmodified ethylene/.alpha.-olefin interpolymer. This increased melt strength should allow improved part definition, less sag and higher hot green strength in profile extrusions such as fabrication of wire and cable products.

Extrusion compositions having high drawdown and substantially reduced neck-in


An interface to a dynamically configurable arithmetic unit can include data alignment modules, where each data alignment module receives input variables being associated with one or more arithmetic expressions. The interface can include multiplexers coupled to the data alignment modules, wherein a data alignment module has outputs coupled to a first multiplexer. The first multiplexer can have a selection line and an output coupled to an input port of the dynamically configurable arithmetic unit. The interface can include a second multiplexer having input instructions and the selection line, where each instruction is associated with one of the arithmetic expressions and has an operation to be performed by the dynamically configurable arithmetic unit. The second multiplexer is configurable to provide selected ones of the input instructions to the dynamically configurable arithmetic unit through an output of the second multiplexer responsive to the selection line.

Programmable logic devices (PLDs) are a well-known type of integrated circuit (IC) that can be programmed to perform specified logic functions. One type of PLD, the field programmable gate array (FPGA), typically includes an array of programmable tiles. These programmable tiles can include, for example, input/output blocks (IOBs), configurable logic blocks (CLBs), dedicated random access memory blocks (BRAM), multipliers, digital signal processing blocks (DSPs), processors, clock managers, delay lock loops (DLLs), and so forth.
Each programmable tile typically includes both programmable interconnect and programmable logic. The programmable interconnect typically includes a large number of interconnect lines of varying lengths interconnected by programmable interconnect points (PIPs). The programmable logic implements the logic of a user design using programmable elements that can include, for example, function generators, registers, arithmetic logic, and so forth.
The programmable interconnect and programmable logic are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data into internal configuration memory cells that define how the programmable elements are configured. The configuration data can be read from memory (e.g., from an external PROM) or written into the FPGA by an external device. The collective states of the individual memory cells then determine the function of the FPGA.
Some FPGAs, such as the Virtex FGPA from Xilinx Inc. of San Jose, Calif., can be programmed to incorporate blocks with pre-designed functionalities, i.e., "cores". A core can include a predetermined set of configuration bits that program the FPGA to perform one or more functions. Alternatively, a core can include source code or schematics that describe the logic and connectivity of a design. Typical cores can provide, but are not limited to, digital signal processing (DSP) functions, memories, storage elements, and math functions. Cores can also be parameterizable, i.e., allowing the user to enter parameters to activate or change certain core functionality.
Traditionally, the user of these cores, and in particular cores that perform arithmetic functions, need to specify the details of how their arithmetic expressions can be implemented on the core. More specifically, some of the details that needed to be explicitly specified by the user are connectivity of inputs using multiplexers; alignment of the input data types to match the arithmetic precision of the core; and pipelining of the data.
Therefore, there is a need for improved techniques for reducing the implementation detail required of a user to execute arithmetic expressions on an IC.

Interfacing with a dynamically configurable arithmetic unit


An electromagnetic braking system and method is provided for selectively braking a motor using an electromagnetic brake having an electromagnet, a permanent magnet, a rotor assembly, and a brake pad. The brake assembly applies when the electromagnet is de-energized and releases when the electromagnet is energized. When applied the permanent magnet moves the brake pad into frictional engagement with a housing, and when released the electromagnet cancels the flux of the permanent magnet to allow a leaf spring to move the brake pad away from the housing. A controller has a DC/DC converter for converting a main bus voltage to a lower braking voltage based on certain parameters. The converter utilizes pulse-width modulation (PWM) to regulate the braking voltage. A calibrated gap is defined between the brake pad and permanent magnet when the brake assembly is released, and may be dynamically modified via the controller.

Electric motors are used in a host of robotic or other automated systems to provide a torque suitable for performing useful work in a system. Electric motors include a stator and a rotor, with either or both of these components having windings or coils for producing a magnetic flux when selectively energized by a power supply. The opposing magnetic fluxes of the stator and rotor ultimately produce the desired rotation of the rotor. The rotational force may be harnessed as needed to produce the desired torque within the driven system.
Electric motors come in a variety of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) designs. DC motors in particular may be of the brush type, the brushless type, or the stepper motor type, with each design having relative performance advantages. Of these, the brushless DC or BLDC motor eliminates windings from the rotor and thereby provides certain efficiency, durability, and noise-related performance advantages relative to other motor designs.
In a fail-safe electromagnetic braking system of the type commonly used with a BLDC motor, electrical power may be selectively applied to an electromagnet to actuate or release the brake depending on the design of the brake assembly. For example, one design applies a voltage to the coils of an electromagnet portion of the brake assembly, with the electromagnetic flux generated by the electromagnet ultimately cancelling a magnetic flux of a permanent magnet portion of the brake assembly. Once the respective fluxes are cancelled in this manner a brake pad disengages from frictional engagement with the rotor. Likewise, interruption of power transmission to the electromagnet allows the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet to move the brake pad into frictional engagement with the rotor, thereby applying the brake.
In conventional electromagnetic braking systems the main DC power supply providing electrical power to the motor is usually separate from the power supply used to energize the brake assembly. This is due in large part to the substantial difference between the motor voltage and the required brake release voltage. To optimize performance of a given electromagnetic brake assembly, a controller may apply a constant biasing force using DC power provided by the dedicated brake power supply. However, this practice may result in the generation of excessive heat in the brake assembly, a result that may affect certain heat-sensitive components positioned in proximity to any of the heated surfaces.

Method and apparatus for electromagnetically braking a motor


An arrangement for venting a destructive internal pressure generated by an explosion within an enclosure, such as aircraft fuselage. The arrangement includes a pressure venting device for venting an exterior boundary, fuselage skin, of the enclosure; and an explosion sensitive sensor located within the enclosure. In response to an explosion within the enclosure, the sensor will send a signal to the pressure venting device. The pressure venting device creates a pressure relieving vent in the exterior boundary in advance of build up of destructive internal pressure within the enclosure.

This invention relates to an arrangement for venting an enclosed space to relieve pressure generated by an explosion. More particularly, though not exclusively, it relates to an arrangement for venting an aircraft fuselage, in response to an explosion in a container, for example a freight container, stowed within the fuselage.

Venting a space to relieve pressure generated by an explosion

British Aerospace Public Limited Company


It is intended to provide a multicolor image forming material for laser heat transfer comprising an image receiving sheet having an image receiving layer and at least four heat transfer sheets having different colors each comprising a substrate and a light-heat conversion layer and an image forming layer provided thereon, characterized in that (a) Ra and Rz showing the surface roughness of the image receiving sheet satisfy the following relationships 3≦Rz/Ra≦20 and 0.5 μm≦Rz≦3 μm.

In the field of graphic arts, a printing plate is produced using a set of color separation films of a color original which are prepared using lithographic films. In general, color proofs are prepared from color separation films in order to inspect for errors in the color separation step and to check the need for color correction and the like before the main printing (practical printing operation). Color proofs are required to realize high resolution enabling accurate half tone reproduction, high processing stability and so on. To obtain color proofs close to actual prints, it is desirable for the materials of color proofs to be the same as those used on press, for example, the same paper as the base and the same pigments as colorants. There is a higher demand for a dry process involving no developing solution for the preparation of color proofs.
With the recent spread of computerized systems in prepress work, recording systems for preparing color proofs directly from digital signals (dry process) have been developed. Such computerized systems, particularly contemplated for preparing high quality color proofs, are generally capable of reproducing dot images at 150 lines or more per inch. In order to obtain high quality proofs from digital signals, a laser beam is used as a recording head, which is capable of modulation according to digital signals and focusing into a small spot diameter. Hence it is demanded to develop image forming elements that exhibit high recording sensitivity to laser light and high resolution enabling reproduction of highly precise dot images.
Recording materials known useful in laser transfer methods include a heat melt transfer sheet, which comprises a substrate, a light-heat conversion layer capable of absorbing laser light to generate heat, and an image forming layer having a pigment dispersed in a heat fusible component (e.g., a wax or a binder) in the order described, as disclosed in JP-A-5-58045. In the image formation method using such recording materials, a laser-irradiated area of the light-heat conversion layer generates heat to melt the image forming layer corresponding to the area, and the molten part of the image forming layer is transferred to the image receiving sheet laminated on the transfer sheet, thereby forming a transfer image on the image receiving sheet.
JP-A-6-219052 discloses a heat transfer sheet comprising a substrate, a light-heat conversion layer containing a light-heat converting substance, a highly thin heat release layer (0.03 to 0.3 μm), and an image forming layer containing a colorant. In the case of this heat transfer sheet, the heat release layer reduces its bonding strength between the image forming layer and the light-heat conversion layer upon being irradiated with laser light. As a result, a high precision transfer image is formed on an image receiving sheet laminated on the heat transfer sheet to form. The above-described image formation method with the use of a heat transfer sheet utilizes a phenomenon so-called "ablation". That is, a laser-irradiated area of the heat release layer partly decomposes and vaporizes, resulting in reduction of the strength bonding the image forming layer and the light-heat conversion layer in that area. As a result, the image forming layer of that area is transferred to the image receiving sheet having the image receiving layer laminated thereon.
These imaging formation methods are advantageous in that use can be made of printing paper having an image receiving layer (adhesive layer) as an image receiving sheet material, that a multicolor image can easily be obtained by successively transferring images of different colors onto the same image receiving sheet, and so on. The method utilizing ablation is particularly advantageous for ease of forming a highly precise image and is useful to prepare color proofs (DDCPs: direct digital color proofs) or precise mask images.
With the spread of DPT work, printing companies adopting a computer-to-plate (CTP) system have a strong demand for a DDCP system, which eliminates the need of intermediate film or plate output as has been involved in traditional analog proofing. In recent years, DDCPs with higher qualities, higher stability, and larger sizes have been demanded as good approximations to the final prints.
Laser heat transfer systems, whereby images at high resolution can be formed formation, include (1) a laser sublimation system, (2) a laser ablation system, (3) a laser melt system, etc., though each of which has the problem that the recorded dot shape is not sharp enough. In the laser sublimation system (1), dyes are used as colorants, which results in such problems as insufficient final print approximation and blurred dot outlines due to dye sublimation, thereby failing to achieve sufficiently high-resolution. In the laser ablation system, on the other hand, pigments are used as colorants and thus a satisfactory final print approximation can be achieved. However, the dots are also blurred and only insufficient resolution can be obtained similarly to the dye sublimation system because of the involvement of colorant scattering. The laser melt system (3) also fails to create clear dot outlines because the molten colorant flows.
In image recording systems using laser light, use has been recently made of laser light comprising multibeam, i.e., a plurality of laser beams to shorten the recording time. When an image is recorded using multibeam laser light, however, it is sometimes observed that the transferred image formed on an image receiving sheet has an insufficient image density. A particularly remarkable decrease in the image density arises in the case of recording high-energy laser. As the results of discussions by the inventor, it is found out that the decrease in the image density is caused by uneven transfer occurring in high-energy laser irradiation.
The image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet contains a matting agent to ensure vacuum contact to the heat transfer sheet. Thus, the clearance is controlled to prevent transfer errors such as white image spots and dot defects caused by unevenness on the recording drum or dust or debris. However, a liquid coating composition containing the matting agent undergoes sedimentation with the passage of time, which results in unevenness in the performance of the image receiving sheet. As a result, there arises a problem that the transfer errors such as white image spots and dot defects cannot be sufficiently prevented.
There are additional problems such that the transfer properties onto wood-free paper (paper with high surface roughness) still remains insufficient and that the image surface is sticky after transferred onto printing paper.
There is an additional problem that so-called "picking" occurs by image defects or poor transfer release due to dust or debris in transfer onto printing paper.
Furthermore, there is a problem that only an insufficient register accuracy is achieved, thus causing image distortion.

Multicolor image forming material and method of multicolor image forming method


An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a hose (100) including an inner liner (104) and a carcass (106) having at least one ply (108a, 108b, 108c, 108d or 108e) disposed in surrounding relationship with the inner liner (104) and an outer cover (300) about the carcass (106). The monitoring apparatus includes an electronic hose tag (310) connected to the hose (100) for measuring the vibration of the hose. In another embodiment, the hose includes at least one sensing element (112) helically wound about the inner liner (104) and an inner sensing element monitoring circuit (404) with a microprocessor (500) connected thereto for determining whether there is a discontinuity in the inner sensing element (112) and thus a worn through area of the inner liner (104). An alarm signal can be transmitted with transmitter structure (430) to a remote receiver (654).

This invention is generally concerned with a process and apparatus for monitoring a physical condition of a hose for moving abrasive materials, and more particularly with a process and apparatus for monitoring a wear condition of a portion of a hose for moving abrasive materials.
Prior art structures for guiding moving masses of abrasive materials, such as mineral bearing ores in either a fluidized or dry bulk state, generally comprise a hose including an inner liner made of an abrasion resistant material, a carcass made of a plurality of pressure resistant layers disposed in surrounding relationship with the inner liner and an outer cover made of a wear resistant layer of an elastomeric material disposed in surrounding relationship with the carcass. Moreover, the hose, which has opposite free ends, may include a reinforcing steel wire helix deployed between a selected pair of carcass layers, and opposite couplings respectively connected to the opposite ends of the hose.
Sections of these hoses are typically deployed with a bend formed therein for connection to other straight sections of similarly constructed hoses or conduits. In the course usage, the abrasive materials flowing through the hoses gradually internally erode away the inner liner, especially at the bend, followed by successively eroding away the carcass layers. If left unchecked, the abrasive materials will finally erode away the elastomeric cover without there being any significant visible sign of such internal erosion until the hose either ruptures or explodes, with consequent spillage of the abrasive materials. Accordingly, a long standing problem that users have had with such hoses has been to provide accurate early warnings of internal erosion of the inner and carcass layers of the hose, to permit timely redeployment of the hose, i.e. to rotate the hose around about 90 degrees so that the abrasive material flowing into the bend will encounter a less worn section of the hose to enable greater usage of the hose prior to replacement thereof.
Various attempts have been made in the prior art to meet the aforesaid need. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,892, issued to Maxwell, discloses the provision in a wire sensing element between plies. When the innermost layer of the hose is worn through, the sensing element is concurrently worn through or otherwise broken, thereby creating an open circuit to a continuity test. This continuity test provides an early warning of significant internal wear and the need to replace the hose before rupture or explosion. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,497, issued to Neto discloses the provision of a plurality of layers of wires arranged to act as a single sensing element.
More recently, the assignee of the present invention has filed PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US99/07899, filed Apr. 12, 1999 which discloses an abrasive material carrying hose that includes at least two resistance wire elements that respectively have free ends. Each of the resistance elements is helically wound about a different layer of hose material, including the inner liner and one of the carcass layers of the hose. In addition, a plurality of conventional, two-pole, electrical receptacles are provided. Preferably, the free ends of one of the resistance elements are electrically connected to one of the receptacles, and the free ends of the other resistance element are electrically connected to the other of the receptacles to permit separate continuity tests of the resistance elements via the respective receptacles. Further, a different continuity testing device is plugged into each of the receptacles. The continuity testing devices each include a battery for energization thereof, a resistance monitoring circuit and a multi-vibrator driven by the monitoring circuit. Each of the continuity testing devices also includes switching structure that is manually actuatable for energizing and de-energizing the continuity testing device, and includes a test switch connected to the resistance monitoring circuit. The test switch is operable for starting and stopping continuous testing of the associated for continuity. Moreover, the continuity testing devices each include a plurality of alarm structures, including audio and visual alarms and a receptacle that is adapted to be hard wired to a remote station. The alarm structures are respectively intermittently operable by the milti-vibrator whenever the resistance monitoring circuit detects a resistance discontinuity. In practice, when the respective alarm structures of one of the continuity testing devices provides an intermittent signal, indicating that the resistance element associated with the inner liner, and thus the inner liner itself, has worn through, the user intervenes by stopping the flow of abrasive materials to the hose, followed by axially rotating the hose about 90 degrees and re-starting the flow of abrasive materials to the hose. Thereafter, when the respective alarm structures of the other continuity testing device provides an intermittent signal indicating that the resistance element associated with a carcass layer, and thus the carcass layer itself, has worn through, the user again intervenes by stopping the flow of abrasive materials to the hose, followed by replacing the hose.
In the prior art, the early warning of hose failure is thus based upon detecting a discontinuity in a resistance wire after wear-through of the inner layer or carcass layer associated therewith. Earlier warning of imminent hose failure, such as partial erosion of a given resistance element or substantial but not complete erosion of a portion of the inner liner or a carcass layer of the hose, is very desirable because it would permit earlier implementation of corrective procedures with a view to prolonging the life of the given hose. In this connection it is noted that if users had access to historical data concerning their prior hose failures, a source of predictive information would be available to permit intermediate hose rotations with consequent prolongation of the life of the given hose.
Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for remotely monitoring a condition of a hose. A subsidiary aspect of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for monitoring vibration of a hose. And, another subsidiary aspect of the invention is to provide structure for collecting data relating to a plurality of prior hose failures.
According to the invention there is provided apparatus for monitoring a hose that includes an inner liner and a carcass disposed coaxially of, and in surrounding relationship with, the inner liner, wherein the carcass includes at least one ply. The hose also includes an outer cover that is disposed coaxially of, and in surrounding relationship with, the carcass. Preferably, the apparatus includes an electronic hose tag. Moreover the structure for connecting the tag to the hose preferably includes a vulcanized rubber patch having an arcuately-shaped radially outwardly extending side, and having an opposite side thereof that is configured for attachment to the hose cover.
In addition, according to the invention there is provided a process for monitoring a condition of a hose that includes an inner liner and a carcass disposed coaxially of, and in surrounding relationship with, the inner liner, wherein the carcass includes at least one ply. The hose also includes an outer cover that is disposed coaxially of, and in surrounding relationship with, the carcass. The process is characterized by the steps of connecting vibration sensing structure to the hose, providing an instrumentation amplifier, providing a microprocessor and connecting the vibration sensing structure thereto via the instrumentation amplifier. In addition, the process is characterized by the step of operating the instrumentation amplifier for providing an analog vibration sample signal to the microprocessor.
Moreover, according to the invention there is provided a process for monitoring a condition of a hose that includes an inner liner and a carcass having at least one ply disposed coaxially of, and in surrounding relationship with the inner liner. The hose includes an outer cover that is disposed coaxially of, and in surrounding relationship with the carcass and an inner sensing element helically wound about the inner liner. The process for monitoring is accomplished by providing an inner sensing element, a monitoring circuit, and a microprocessor connecting the inner sensing element to the monitoring circuit. The microprocessor is operated for providing an inner sensing element continuity sample signal to the microprocessor.
Reference will be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. The figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these preferred embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Certain elements in selected ones of the drawings may be illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views, if any, presented herein may be in the form of xe2x80x9cslicesxe2x80x9d, or xe2x80x9cnear-sightedxe2x80x9d cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines, which would otherwise be visible in a true cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity.
Elements of the figures are typically numbered as follows. The most significant digit (hundreds) of the reference number corresponds to the figure number. Elements of FIG. 1 are typically numbered in the range of 100-199. Elements of FIG. 2 are typically numbered in the range of 200-299. Similar elements throughout the drawings may be referred to by similar reference numerals. For example, the element 199 in a figure may be similar, and possibly identical to the element 299 in an other figure. In some cases, similar (including identical) elements may be referred to with similar numbers in a single drawing. For example, each of a plurality of elements 199 may be referred to individually as 199a, 199b, 199c, etc. Such relationships, if any, between similar elements in the same or different figures will become apparent throughout the specification, including, if applicable, in the claims and abstract.

Process and apparatus for monitoring a physical condition of a hose