A system and method for transmitting data packets from a memory hub to a memory controller is disclosed. The system includes an upstream reception port coupled to an upstream link. The upstream reception port receives the data packets from downstream memory hubs. The system further includes a bypass bus coupled to the upstream reception port. The bypass bus transports the data packets from the upstream reception port. The system further includes a temporary storage coupled to the upstream reception port and configured to receive the data packets from the upstream reception port. The system further includes a bypass multiplexer for selectively coupling an upstream transmission port to either one of a core logic circuit, the temporary storage, or the bypass bus. The system further includes a breakpoint logic circuit coupled to the bypass multiplexer and configured to switch the bypass multiplexer to selectively connect the upstream transmission port to either one of the core logic circuit, the bypass bus, or the temporary storage. The system further includes a local memory coupled to the core logic circuit and operable to receive and send the data packets to the core logic circuit.

Computer systems use memory devices, such as dynamic random access memory ("DRAM") devices, to store data that are accessed by a processor. These memory devices are normally used as system memory in a computer system. In a typical computer system, the processor communicates with the system memory through a processor bus and a memory controller. The processor issues a memory request, which includes a memory command, such as a read command, and an address designating the location from which data or instructions are to be read. The memory controller uses the command and address to generate appropriate command signals as well as row and column addresses, which are applied to the system memory. In response to the commands and addresses, data are transferred between the system memory and the processor.
Although the operating speed of memory devices has continuously increased, this increase in operating speed has not kept pace with increases in the operating speed of processors. Even slower has been the increase in operating speed of memory controllers coupling processors to memory devices. The relatively slow speed of memory controllers and memory devices limits the data bandwidth between the processor and the memory devices.
In addition to the limited bandwidth between processors and memory devices, the performance of computer systems is also limited by latency problems that increase the time required to read data from system memory devices. More specifically, when a memory device read command is coupled to a system memory device, such as a synchronous DRAM ("SDRAM") device, the read data are output from the SDRAM device only after a delay of several clock periods. Therefore, although SDRAM devices can synchronously output burst data at a high data rate, the delay in initially providing the data can significantly slow the operating speed of a computer system using such SDRAM devices.
One approach to alleviating the memory latency problem is to use multiple memory devices coupled to the processor through a memory hub. In a memory hub architecture, a system controller or memory controller is coupled over a high speed link to several memory modules. Typically, the memory modules are coupled in a point-to-point or daisy chain architecture such that the memory modules are connected one to another in series. Thus, the memory controller is coupled to a first memory module over a first high speed link, with the first memory module connected to a second memory module through a second high speed link, and the second memory module coupled to a third memory module through a third high speed link, and so on in a daisy chain fashion.
Each memory module includes a memory hub that is coupled to the corresponding high speed links and a number of memory devices on the module, with the memory hubs efficiently routing memory requests and memory responses between the controller and the memory devices over the high speed links. Computer systems employing this architecture can have a higher bandwidth because a processor can access one memory device while another memory device is responding to a prior memory access. For example, the processor can output write data to one of the memory devices in the system while another memory device in the system is preparing to provide read data to the processor. Moreover, this architecture also provides for easy expansion of the system memory without concern for degradation in signal quality as more memory modules are added, such as occurs in conventional multi drop bus architectures.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system memory 102 that includes memory modules 104a and 104b. The memory module 104a is coupled to a system controller 108 through a downstream link 128 and an upstream link 136. Each of the memory modules 104a, 104b includes a memory hub 112, which includes a link interface 116. In the memory module 104a, the link interface 116 is connected to the system controller 108 by the links 128, 136. The link interface 116 includes a downstream reception port 124 that receives downstream memory requests from the system controller 108 over the downstream link 128, and includes an upstream transmission port 132 that provides upstream memory responses to the system controller over the upstream link 136
The system controller 108 includes a downstream transmission port 140 coupled to the downstream link 128 to provide memory requests to the memory module 104a, and also includes an upstream reception port 144 coupled to the upstream link 136 to receive memory responses from the memory module 104a. The ports 124, 132, 140, 144 and other ports to be discussed below are designated "physical" interfaces or ports since these ports are in what is commonly termed the "physical layer" of a communications system. In this case, the physical layer corresponds to components providing the actual physical connection and communications between the system controller 108 and system memory 102 as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
The nature of the reception ports 124, 144 and transmission ports 132, 140 will depend upon the characteristics of the links 128, 136. For example, in the event the links 128, 136 are implemented using optical communications paths, the reception ports 124, 144 will convert optical signals received through the optical communications path into electrical signals and the transmission ports 140, 132 will convert electrical signals into optical signals that are then transmitted over the corresponding optical communications path.
In operation, the reception port 124 captures the downstream memory requests and provides the captured memory request to local hub circuitry 148, which includes control logic for processing the request and accessing the memory devices 156 over a bus system 152 to provide the corresponding data when the request packet is directed to the memory module 104a. The reception port 124 also provides the captured downstream memory request to a downstream transmission port 160 on a bypass bus 180. The downstream transmission port 160, in turn, provides the memory request over the corresponding downstream link 128 to a downstream reception port 124 in the adjacent downstream memory module 104b. The port 124 in module 104b operates in the same way as the corresponding port in the module 104a, namely to capture the memory request and provide the request to the local hub circuitry 148 for processing and to provide the request to a downstream transmission port 160. The port 160 in the module 104b then operates in the same way as the corresponding port in module 104a to provide the memory request over the corresponding downstream link 128 to the next downstream memory module (not shown in FIG. 1).
The memory hub 112 in the module 104a further includes an upstream reception port 164 that receives memory responses over the corresponding upstream link 136 from an upstream transmission port 132 in the adjacent module 104b. An upstream transmission port 132, in turn, provides the response over the upstream link 136 to the upstream physical reception port 144 in the system controller 108. Each of the memory modules 112 includes a corresponding downstream reception port 124, upstream transmission port 132, downstream transmission port 160, and upstream reception port 164. Moreover, these ports 124, 132, 160, 164 in each module 104b operate in the same way as just described for the corresponding ports in the module 104a.
In addition to the memory responses from the downstream hubs, the local hub circuitry 148 also receives memory responses from a local memory 156. The local memory 156 may be a DRAM type memory device or other suitable memory devices as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The local hub circuitry 148 provides the memory responses from the local memory 156 to the upstream transmission port 132 for transmission over the upstream link 136 to the upstream reception port 144 of the controller 108. Thus, the local hub circuitry 148 must monitor and control transmission of memory responses to the system controller 108 from the downstream memory module 104b and from the local memory 156. Since the hub circuitry 148 must monitor and control transmission of memory responses to the system controller 108 from the downstream memory module 104b and the local memory 156, the hub circuitry 148 must determine the priority of transmission of the memory responses. The hub circuitry 148 also must efficiently switch the transmission of memory responses from one source to another source. The hub circuitry 148 also must switch transmission of memory responses from one source to another source at an appropriate time.
The system controller 108 can control the timing of the memory responses inside the memory hubs 112. However, if there are a large number of memory hubs 112 coupled to the system controller 108, it becomes complicated for the system controller 108 to efficiently determine the priority of transmission of memory responses and to do the scheduling in all the memory hubs 112. Also when the system controller 108 controls the scheduling of memory responses inside the memory hubs 112, the bandwidth available for data transmission is reduced.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for efficiently determining the priority of transmission of the memory responses inside the memory hub 112. There is a need for a system and method for efficiently switching transmission of the memory responses from one source to another source inside the memory hub 112. There is a need for a system and method for efficiently switching transmission of the memory responses from one source to another source at an appropriate point.

System and method for transmitting data packets in a computer system having a memory hub architecture


A music content playback apparatus includes: a selection section that selects a piece of music content out of a plurality of pieces of music content; a recognition section that recognizes playback elapse state about a previous piece of music content played immediately before the piece of music content is selected; and a playback section that plays back the selected piece of music content from a playback point corresponding to the playback elapse state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a music content playback apparatus, music content playback method and storage medium for storing a music content playback program, and is preferably applied to a case in which a user interface is provided to retrieve the user's desired piece of music content out of many pieces of music content, for example.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, a content playback device is here to stay: the content playback device stores many pieces of digital content, such as music and video, in a large-capacity hard disk and the like; the content playback device is also capable of acquiring the digital content from external servers through a high-speed network and the like; the content playback device plays back the piece of digital content specified by a user.
For example, Jpn. Pat. Laid-open Publication No. 2004-356774 discloses a content playback device which displays rows of thumbnails each of which is associated with each piece of content after classifying them by content (media) type. This allows a user to easily select pieces of content.

Music content playback apparatus, music content playback method and storage medium


An exerciser includes a shaft rotatably disposed on a base, a housing rotatably engaged on the shaft and having a chamber formed by an outer peripheral wall which has a groove, a belt wound around the tube for rotating the housing, a barrel received in the chamber of the housing and secured to the shaft and having a slot. A coil spring is received in the housing and has two ends engaged into the slot of the barrel and the groove of the outer peripheral wall of the housing. A cover includes a space formed by an outer peripheral fence, to suitably enclose the chamber of the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly to an exerciser having an improved resistive device for suitably applying resistive forces to against the driving device of the exerciser.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various kinds of typical exercise apparatus have been developed and comprise a resistive device coupled to a driving device, in order to provide a resistive force against the driving device.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,512,911 to Benice disclose two of the typical exercise machines comprising a coil spring type resistive device received in a drum, to provide the resistive force against a pulling type driving device. The drum of the typical exercise machines do not enclosed or sealed such that no grease or lubrication oil may be received in the drum to lubricate the coil spring.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,069 to Wang et al. discloses another typical exercise machine comprising a magnetic resistive device in addition to a coil spring type resistive device, to provide the resistive force against a pulling type driving device. Similar, the coil spring may not be enclosed and sealed within a driving wheel, such that grease or lubrication oil may flow out of the driving wheel.
The present applicant has also developed a typical exercise machine comprising a magnetic resistive device for providing the resistive forces against a cycling exerciser, and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,069 to Liou. However, the typical exercise machine also fail to disclose a resistive device including a coil spring type resistive device in addition to the magnetic resistive device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,611 to Ambrosina et al. discloses a further typical exercise machine comprising a fluid resistance device to provide an impeller actuated resistive force against a driving device. However, a housing is required to be completely sealed to receive the fluid, and to prevent the fluid from flowing out of the housing, such that a complicated water sealing structure is required to be provided or formed in the housing. Furthermore, the typical exercise machine also fail to disclose a resistive device including a coil spring type resistive device received in a fluid tight sealed housing.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional exercisers.

Exerciser having improved resistive device


An optical modulator includes at least one waveguide medium that receives light. An absorption medium absorbs the light under predefined conditions and outputs optically modulated light. The absorption medium is comprised of a Ge-based structure. The Ge-based structure uses the Franz-Keldysh effect to create said optically modulated light.

The invention relates to the field of optical modulator, and in particular to a method of modulating light in SiGe utilizing the Franz-Keldysh (FK) effect.
The FK effect states that the optical absorption of light in energy near the bandgap can be changed by the presence of an electric field. This effect has been utilized in direct gap systems, such as GaAs, to create electro-optic modulators, because the absorption coefficient changes very rapidly in the vicinity of the band edge. However, because phonons must be involved in absorption in an indirect transition, absorption near the band edge is very weak in indirect semiconductors. Weak absorption makes them poor candidates for optical modulation. For this reason, the FK effect has not been effectively used to create electro-optic modulators in indirect semiconductors, such as Si or Ge.
Although Ge is an indirect semiconductor with a bandgap of approximately 0.68 eV, the direct transition lies at 0.8, which corresponds to 1.55 um light. Ge is highly absorptive at 1.55 μm, so it cannot be used to make a modulator. However, the addition of Si raises the direction transition energy, creating a material with relatively low absorption.
The FK effect has been used in the InGaAs materials system to make linear electro-absorption modulators. However, this effect has not been utilized in any Si-compatible materials system to make electro-optic modulators. Furthermore, the FK effect has not been used before in any system to make modulators utilizing a resonant structure or interference effect. Both of these applications are described in this invention.

Light modulation using the Franz-Keldysh effect


A system for seafloor mining. A seafloor auxiliary mining tool works a seafloor site to prepare a bench, and deposits cut ore in a gathering area. A seafloor bulk mining tool undertakes production cutting of a bench and deposits cut ore in a gathering area. A seafloor gathering machine gathers cut ore deposited in the gathering area and pumps gathered ore as a slurry to a riser base. A riser and lifting system receives slurry from the gathering machine and lifts the slurry to the surface. A surface vessel receives slurry from the riser and lifting system.

Seabed excavation is often performed by dredging, for example to retrieve valuable alluvial placer deposits or to keep waterways navigable. Suction dredging involves positioning a gathering end of a pipe or tube close to the seabed material to be excavated, and using a surface pump to generate a negative differential pressure to suck water and nearby mobile seafloor sediment up the pipe. Cutter suction dredging further provides a cutter head at or near the suction inlet to release compacted soils, gravels or even hard rock, to be sucked up the tube. Large cutter suction dredges can apply tens of thousands of kilowatts of cutting power. Other seabed dredging techniques include auger suction, jet lift, air lift and bucket dredging.
Most dredging equipment typically operates only to depths of tens of meters, with even very large dredges having maximum dredging depths of little more than one hundred meters. Dredging is thus usually limited to relatively shallow water.
Subsea boreholes such as oil wells can operate in deeper water of up to several thousand meters depth. However, subsea borehole mining technology does not enable seafloor mining.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like included in the present specification is for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention, and is not to be taken as an admission that any such matters form part of the prior art base or were before the priority date of each claim of this application common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.
In this document the term "comprise", and derivatives including "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising", are to be understood to convey inclusion of one or more stated elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step.


The present invention relates to triaza- and tetraaza-anthracenedione derivatives of the formula I,

Endothelial NO synthase (eNOS, NOS-III) belongs to a group of three isoenzymes that produce nitric oxide (nitrogen monoxide, NO) by oxidation of arginine. Endothelially released NO is of central importance in a number of key cardiovascular mechanisms. It has a vasodilating effect and inhibits the aggregation of platelets, the adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium and the proliferation of intimal smooth muscle cells.
Endothelial NO synthase is subject to physiological and pathophysiological regulation both at the transcriptional and at the post-transcriptional level. Enzyme already present in the endothelium may undergo calcium-dependent and calcium-independent activation through phosphorylation of specific amino acids, but also by direct interactions with specific proteins. Stimulators of this, usually transient, NO release are extracellular arginine, 17β-estrogen and the mechanical stimulus exerted on the luminal surface of the endothelium by the blood flow (shear stress). The latter additionally leads to regulation of eNOS at the transcriptional level. Thus, for example, Sessa et al. (Circ. Research 74 (1994) 349) were able to obtain a marked increase in eNOS by means of exercise training and the increase in shear stress associated therewith.
Whether regulation at the post-transcriptional level is relevant in vivo, has not been unambiguously proven. Thus, for example, administration of a high arginine dose is followed by only a transient improvement in the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in patients with coronary heart disease.
On the other hand, the significance of the upregulation of the eNOS protein is scientifically accepted. Thus, there are findings which show that the protective properties of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin can be attributed, besides to the lipid lowering, also in part to an increase in eNOS expression in vivo (Endres et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95 (1998) 8880). It is additionally known that single point mutations in the 5′-flanking region of the eNOS gene ("eNOS promoter"), and the reduction in the rate of eNOS gene transcription associated therewith, in the Japanese population is associated with an increase in the risk of coronary spasms (Nakayama et al., Circulation 99 (1999) 2864).
The current assumption therefore is that the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms of eNOS regulation are seriously disturbed in a large number of disorders, especially in cardiovascular disorders. Even in very early stages of a wide variety of cardiovascular disorders it is possible for a dysfunction of this type in the endothelium lining the blood vessels to lead to a deficiency of bioactive NO, which is manifested as the disorder progresses in the form of measurable pathophysiological and morphological changes. Thus, critical steps in early atherogenesis are speeded up by a decrease in endothelial NO release, such as, for example, the oxidation of low density lipoproteins, the recruitment and deposition of monocytes in the intima of vessels, and the proliferation of intimal cells. A consequence of atherogenesis is the formation of plaques on the inside of the blood vessels, which may in turn lead, through a diminution in the shear stress, to a further decrease in endothelial NO release and a further deterioration in the pathology. Since endothelial NO is also a vasodilator, a decrease thereof frequently also leads to hypertension that may, as an independent risk factor, cause further organ damage.
The aim of a therapeutic approach to the treatment of these disorders must accordingly be to interrupt this chain of events by increasing the endothelial NO expression. Gene transfer experiments which lead in vitro to overexpression of NO synthase in previously damaged vessels are in fact able to counteract the described processes and are thus evidence of the correctness of this approach (Varenne et al., Hum. Gene Ther. 11 (2000) 1329).
Some low molecular weight compounds that, in cell cultures, may lead to a direct effect on eNOS transcription and expression are disclosed in the literature. For the statins, as has already been mentioned, it has been possible to show such an increase in eNOS in vivo as a side effect. In view of the known range of side effects of this class of substances, however, it is unclear how far use of this effect can be made in a toxicologically unproblematic dose. Liao et al. claim in WO 99/47153 and WO 00/03746 the use of rhoGTPase inhibitors and agents which influence the organization of the actin cytoskeleton for increasing eNOS in endothelial cells and for the therapy of various disorders such as, for example, strokes or pulmonary hypertension without, however, indicating a specific way of achieving this. Certain compounds of the N-benzocycloalkenyl amide type which upregulate the expression of endothelial NO synthase have been described in WO 02/064146, WO 02/064545, WO 02/064546 and WO 02/064565.
There still exists a strong need for further compounds which upregulate eNOS expression in endothelial cells. Surprisingly it has now been found that the triaza- and tetraaza-anthracenedione derivatives of formula I upregulate eNOS expression and are useful in the treatment of various disease states such as cardiovascular disorders.
Compounds of the formula I that are similar to the compounds according to the present invention, specifically the compound of the formula I in which simultaneously A is C—NO2, B is CH, R1 is benzyl, R2 is methyl, R3 is isopropyl and R4 and R5 are hydrogen, and the compound of formula I in which simultaneously A is C—NO2, B is CH, R1 is 2-methoxyethyl, R2 is benzyl, R3 is isopropyl and R4 and R5 are hydrogen, have already been obtained by Vojkovsky et al. (J. Org. Chem. 63 (1998) 3162) during investigations on N-acyliminium ion reactions. However, any biological activities of these two compounds have not been described. This also applies for the compound of the formula I in which simultaneously A and B are CH, R1 and R2 are methyl, R3 is benzyl, i.e. unsubstituted —CH2-phenyl, and R4 and R5 are hydrogen, which has been prepared by Martin-Santamaria et al. (J. Org. Chem. 64 (1999) 7233 during investigations on rearrangement reactions.

Triaza- and tetraaza-anthracenedione derivatives, their preparation and their use as pharmaceuticals

Abstract: wherein A, B and R1 to R5 are as defined herein. The compounds of formula I are valuable pharmacologically active compounds. They are useful in the treatment of various disease states including cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, coronary artery disease, hypertension and cardiac insufficiency. They upregulate the expression of the enzyme endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase and can be applied in conditions in which an increased expression of said enzyme or an increased NO level or the normalization of a decreased NO level is desired. The invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of compounds of the formula I, their use, in particular as active ingredients in pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical preparations comprising them.


An ion generation element includes an induction electrode and a plurality of discharge electrodes. The induction electrode is formed of one metal plate. A circumferential portion of a through hole is bent, and a thickness of a wall portion of the through hole is greater than a thickness of a top plate portion. A needle-like tip end of the discharge electrode is located within a range of the thickness of the through hole. Thus, an induction electrode having a structure realizing a small thickness, capable of lessening variation in an amount of ion generation caused by variation in positional relation between the tip end of the discharge electrode and the induction electrode, an ion generation element, an ion generation apparatus, and electric equipment can be obtained.

It has generally been known that, by combining a needle electrode serving as a discharge electrode and a plate electrode serving as an induction electrode and by applying a high voltage across the discharge electrode and the induction electrode, dielectric breakdown of air in the vicinity of a tip end portion of the needle electrode occurs and partial discharge takes place. This phenomenon is referred to as corona discharge.
An ion generation element utilizing this corona discharge phenomenon has been realized. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-199653 (Patent Document 1) discloses an exemplary electrode configuration generating negative ions as the ion generation element. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-199653 (Patent Document 1) describes the electrode configuration including a discharge electrode having a needle-shaped electrode to which a negative high voltage is applied, a perforated flat electrode provided opposed to the discharge electrode, to which a ground voltage or a positive high voltage is applied, and a cylindrical electrode attached to the perforated flat electrode.
In addition, Registered Japanese Utility Model No. 3028457 (Patent Document 2) also discloses an electrode configuration including a needle-shaped electrode. Registered Japanese Utility Model No. 3028457 (Patent Document 2) describes the electrode configuration including a needle-shaped corona generation electrode, a first opposing electrode in a cylindrical shape, and a second opposing electrode set up within the first opposing electrode, in which a tip end portion of the needle-shaped corona generation electrode is inserted in an opening at one end of the first opposing electrode in a cylindrical shape. In this electrode configuration, corona discharge occurs in the vicinity of the tip end of the needle-shaped electrode by applying a high voltage across the needle-shaped corona generation electrode and the cylindrical opposing electrode.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-199653    Patent Document 2: Registered Japanese Utility Model No. 3028457

Induction electrode, ion generation element, ion generation apparatus, and electric equipment


The present invention relates to a miniature light bulb socket featured by the capability of preventing the rupture of electrical wires at deflection points. The light bulb socket according to the invention has primarily two semi-circular grooves each formed on two opposed side walls thereof. The two grooves are located on such positions that enable the outwardly extending electrical wires to deflect at different points or levels when the wires bend towards two sides so as to avoid ruptures of electrical wires resulting from repeated reversal deflection at the same position. Therefore, the socket structure of the invention can prolong the service life of a miniature light bulb series and enhance the efficiency.

Generally a miniature type decorative light bulb series is made by serially connecting a plurality of small light bulbs with electrical wires that enter each light bulb socket from the lower end of the socket and conduct electrical currents to the light bulb via contact terminals. When a light bulb series is in use, it often requires to bend the connecting electrical wires toward one side or the other side depending on what the occasions it is used. As a result, after the electrical wires being bent a few times, they rupture at the deflection point, resulting in poor contacts. Hence, it is desirable to have an improved light bulb socket structure that can prevent the electrical wires from being broken.
In view of the above problem, the object of the present invention is to provide an innovative light bulb socket structure that can prevent electrical wires from being broken, prolonging the service life and enhancing the efficiency thereof. Now the detailed structure and features of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Miniature light bulb socket preventing the rupture of electrical wires at deflection points


A wheel slip control system (ABS and/or drive slip control and/or engine drag moment control system) is formed so that when vehicle motion along curvilinear path is detected the control system is switched to different permitted wheel slip values on different sides of the vehicle, in such a way that a yawing moment is created which acts counter to the yawing moment produced by the vehicle's tendency to oversteer or understeer.

The present invention relates to a wheel slip control system. It is known that there are, for example, anti-locking systems, drive slip control systems or engine drag moment control systems which avoid the excessive wheel slippage caused, under certain road surfaces,. by braking too hard, or excessive or insufficient driving torque. In the case of these systems, in addition to the other control criteria, the wheel slip may be determined and compared with a limit value. If the limit value is exceeded, then the brake pressure is reduced or increased, and if necessary the engine torque is reduced or increased.
Some vehicles have a tendency when cornering to understeer or to oversteer. This feature is intensified by greater wheel slip, i.e. on cornering, and with the control system running, the feature occurs in an intensified manner.


An address counter includes FIFO units and first to third command counters that controls the groups. In the FIFO units, latch circuits including input gates and output gates are connected in parallel. The first command counter conducts any one of the input gates in response to a first internal command; the second command counter conducts any one of the output gates in response to a second internal command; and the third command counter conducts any one of the output gates in response to a third internal command. Thereby, the same address signals can be outputted successively at a plurality of timings, and thus, a circuit scale of the address counter can be reduced.

Synchronous memory devices represented by synchronous DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) have been widely used for a main memory or the like of a personal computer. The synchronous memory device can input and output data in synchronism with a clock signal supplied from a memory controller. Therefore, when a higher-speed clock is used, a data transfer rate can be increased.
However, so long as a DRAM core performs an analog operation also in the synchronous DRAM, a considerably weak charge needs to be amplified based on a sense operation. Accordingly, it is not possible to shorten a time from issuing a read command until outputting first data. After a lapse of a predetermined delay time since an issuance of the read command, the first data is outputted in synchronism with an external clock.
This delay time during a read operation is generally called a "CAS latency" and is set to an integral multiple of a clock cycle. For example, when the CAS latency is 5 (CL=5), the synchronous memory device fetches the read command in synchronism with the external clock, and thereafter, outputs the first data in synchronism with the external clock after five clock cycles. That is, the first data is outputted after a lapse of the five clock cycles.
Such delay is required also during a write operation. During the write operation, the data needs to be continuously inputted in synchronism with the external clock after a lapse of a predetermined delay time after an issuance of a write command. This delay time during the write operation is generally called a "CAS write latency" and is set to an integral multiple of a clock cycle. For example, when the CAS write latency is 5 (CWL=5), the synchronous memory device fetches the write command in synchronism with the external clock, and thereafter, needs to input the first data in synchronism with the external clock after five clock cycles.
The write data thus fetched is written via a read/write bus, a column switch or the like into a memory cell employed inside the memory device. Thus, it is necessary that an address signal is appropriately delayed also inside the memory device to supply the address signal to each circuit at an appropriate timing. Because of these purposes, an FIFO circuit that delays the address signal by a predetermined period is used in the synchronous memory device. Such a FIFO circuit is generally called an "address counter".
The most simple method for delaying the address signal is to use a shift-register FIFO circuit. However, when this method is used, there is a problem in that since the number of required stages of shift registers is proportional to the latency. Therefore, when the latency becomes larger, a size of a circuit scale is automatically increased. Since the latency is tended to become larger with a higher frequency of a clock, it is not possible to avoid an increase of latency caused concurrently with a high speed of the synchronous memory device.
For an FIFO circuit smaller in circuit scale than that of the shift register type, there have been types of a point-shift FIFO circuit described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-102936 and in "A 1.2 Gb/s/pin Double Data Rate SDRAM with On-Die-Termination", by Ho Young Song and 15 others, ISSCC 2003/SESSION 17/SRAM AND DRAM/PAPER 17.8, (U.S.A), IEEE, 2003, p. 314. The point-shift FIFO circuit is an FIFO circuit which has a configuration in which a plurality of latch circuits having input gates and output gates are connected in parallel. The point-shift FIFO circuit can set an output timing of a latched signal by being brought any one of the input gates and any one of the output gates into on state.
The number of latch circuits required for the point-shift FIFO circuit is not equal to that of the latencies, but is defined according to a maximum accumulation number of an address signal to be delayed. Thus, the circuit scale can be further reduced than a case that the shift register is used.
As described above, in the synchronous memory device, timings for supplying addresses to the respective internal circuits differ. Thus, when the address counter is configured by using the point-shift FIFO circuit, it becomes necessary to prepare a plurality of sets of FIFO units inside the point-shift FIFO circuit.
More specifically, because write data inputted via a data input/output terminal is supplied from the data input/output circuit via the column switch or the like to the memory cell, supplying the address signal basically needs to be performed according to this order. Thus, it becomes necessary to separately prepare a FIFO unit that supply the address signal to the data input/output circuit and a FIFO unit that supply the address signal to the column switch.
In addition, as described above, the number of latch circuits required for one set of the FIFO unit is defined by a maximum accumulation number of address signal, and thus, when a minimum input cycle (tCCD) of a command is small, the circuit scale becomes large as a result, and this poses a problem.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Address counter, semiconductor memory device having the same, and data processing system


A tubular handling device. The device includes a plurality of slips, and wherein the slips have an arcuate inner face that has a longitudinally disposed slot and a ledge therein. The device further comprises an insert having a shoulder that is configured to fit within the ledge, and wherein the insert is capable of transferring a load from the shoulder to the ledge. In one preferred embodiment, the outer portion of the slips have a taper of greater than 11 degrees and a complementary bowl insert is provided that has a matching taper. A method of handling tubular members on a drilling rig is also disclosed.

This invention relates to a tubular handling device. More particularly, but not be way of limitation, this invention relates to a tubular slip device and method.
In the drilling for oil and gas, the tubular members utilized during drilling, completion and work over operations are required to be hung off at the drill floor. The device generally used is referred to as a rotary slip. The prior art devices include an apparatus capable of encircling the tubular member. The apparatus has on its inner face slip means for gripping onto the tubular member. The apparatus is placed into a slip bowl on the drill rig floor, as is very well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Conventional rotary slips are commercially available from Access Oil Tools, Inc. of New Iberia, La. under the name "DU" and "SDU" Style Rotary Slips.
In the normal operation of rotary slips, the weight of the pipe tends to wedge the three slip segments back latterly into the slip bowl. The teeth like projections of the inserts dig into the pipe then the slip wedges into the bowl to prevent the pipe from falling into the hole while making or breaking out connections on the rig floor. The bottom ledge of the slip segment, on which the bottom inserts sit, tends to carry a disproportionately large amount of the weight on the slip. Failure of a slip tends to manifest itself in bending or toeing outward of the bottom of the slip segments on this ledge, especially when the slips sit in a worn bowl since the slips are unsupported.
The slip device is inserted into a slip bowl on the drill floor. The slip device is constructed in a generally wedge shape and contains die inserts. The work string is disposed within the slip device and the slip device, and in particular, the die inserts will engage the work string. The inner section of the slip device will engage the work string which in turn cause the die inserts to the engage the work string.
The basic slip and bowl design is used for running drill pipe, casing, liners, bottom hole assemblies, etc. As the search for oil and gas continues, operators find it necessary to drill in more exotic environments, which includes ocean drilling. The water depths in ocean drilling may reach 10,000 feet and more in some instances. Thus, as operators run into the wells with casing, for instance, a landing string that is attached to the casing string. The landing string is necessary due to the 10,000 feet of riser in place which runs from the floating rig floor to the ocean floor. As will be appreciated, the combined landing string and casing applies a heavy load on the slip and bowl.
In combination with this deep water drilling, the actual wells that are drilled are increasingly deep in order to strike these commercially feasible hydrocarbon reservoirs. Hence, these wells can easily reach 25,000 feet in length. The equipment used with these deep water wells is large and extremely heavy. As understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the lifting and lowering capacity of the drilling rigs is being severely tested.
For instance, if an operator is running a casing string into a well bore, the operator is required to lower that proper amount of casing. However, the operator will also be required to lower a landing string, and wherein the ultimate length of the landing string will be basically equal to the depth of the water. Therefore, the weight of the casing string and the landing string has pushed the operating capacity of the drilling rigs to its maximum.
The landing string is specifically designed to provide the very high tensile strengths to safely land out casing in the sub-sea well head. As the water depth increases, the length and weights of the landing string increase proportionateley. Existing mobile offshore drilling units (MODU's) are now operating at or near their maximum hoisting capabilities. Casing loads of 1,600,000 pounds have been experienced. This exposes the entire load hoisting system to maximum loading.
As the loads are increased, there is a danger of crushing the pipe, or alternatively, of slip failure. Conventional slips have a three inch (which translates to 7.12502 degrees) or four inch (which translates to 9.46232 degrees) taper per foot. This means for every twelve inches of vertical height at the top of the slip, the slip is three or four inches larger in diameter than the bottom. This is what helps to create the wedge effect in the bowl that suspends the pipe while connections or made to extend or shorten the drill string when going in or coming out of the hole. The prior art tapering worked well for a long time in the oilfield. However, with the use of landing strings in deepwater drilling and running long strings of casing down to the ocean floor on the bottom of a string of drill pipe, the crushing of the drill pipe, or alternatively, the slip failure has become an area of significant concern. In the case of failure, the damage to the well could be catastrophic and could lead to dire consequences for the rig crew.
Therefore, there is a need for a slip that will not crush the landing string. Also, there is a need for slips that will support heavy loads, including landing strings. Additionally, there is a need for slips that will grip these heavy tubulars, including landing strings.
There is also a need for a slip device that ensures that the total weight of the string is distributed more evenly over the full vertical height of all the slip segments. There is also a need for a rotary slip that can withstand significant loading forces without premature failure or fatigue. These needs, and many others, will be met by the invention herein disclosed.


Methods are provided for diagnosing in a subject a condition, such as a carcinoma, sarcoma or leukemia, associated with hypermethylation of genes by isolating the genes from tissue containing as few as 50 to 1000 tumor cells. Using quantitative multiplex methylation specific PCR (QM-MSP), multiple genes can be quantitatively evaluated from samples usually yielding sufficient DNA for analyses of only 1 or 2 genes. DNA sequences isolated from the sample are simultaneously co-amplified in an initial multiplex round of PCR, and the methylation status of individual hypermethylation-prone gene promoter sequences is then determined separately or in multiplex using a real time PCR round that is methylation status-specific. Within genes of the panel, the level of promoter hypermethylation as well as the incidence of promoter hypermethylation can be determined and the level of genes in the panel can be scored cumulatively. The QM-MSP method is adaptable for high throughput automated technology.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to cancer markers and more specifically to a method of evaluating gene methylation within a sample, referred to herein as quantitative multiplex methylation-specific PCR (QM-MSP), in order to detect conditions associated with methylation status of genes.
2. Background Information
Epigenetic alterations including hypermethylation of gene promoters are proving to be consistent and early events in neoplastic progression (Hanahan D. and Weinberg R. A. Cell (2000) 100:57-70; Wamecke P. M. and Bestor T. H. Cum Opin Oncol (2000) 12:68-73; Yang X. et al. Endocr Relat Cancer (2001) 8:115-127; and Widschwendter M. and Jones P. A. Oncogene (2002) 211:5462-5482). Such alterations are thought to contribute to the neoplastic process by transcriptional silencing of tumor suppressor gene expression, and by increasing the rate of genetic mutation (Wajed S. A. et al. Ann Surg (2001) 234:10-20 and Jones P. A. and Baylin S. B. Nat Rev Genet (2002) 3: 415-428). DNA methylation is reversible, since it does not alter the DNA sequence; however, it is heritable from cell to cell. Methylated genes can serve as biomarkers for early detection of cancer for risk assessment and for predicting response to therapy.
Widschwendter and Jones (supra) reviewed over 40 genes whose expression is lost in breast cancer due to promoter hypermethylation, and others have studied hypermethylation of genes including NES-1 (Goyal J. et al. Cancer Res (1998) 58:4782-4786; Dhar S. et al. Clin Cancer Res (2001) 7:3393-3398; Li B. et al. Cancer Res (2001) 61:8014-8021; and Yunes M. J. et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys (2003) 56:653-657) APC (Kashiwaba M. et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol (1994) 120:727-731; Virmani A. K. et al. Clin Cancer Res (2001) 7:1998-2004; and Sarrio D. et al. Int J Cancer (2003) 106:208-215), Cyclin D2 (Evron E. et al. Cancer Res (2001) 61:2782-2787 and Lehmann U. et al. Am J Pathol (2002) 160:605-612), RARB (Widschwendter M. et al. J Natl Cancer Inst (2000) 92:826-832; Yan L. et al. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia (2001) 6:183-192; and Sirchia S. M. et al. Cancer Res (2002) 62: 2455-2461), TWIST (Evron E. et al. Lancet (2001) 357:1335-1336), RASSF1A (Lehmann U. et al. Cancer Res (2001) 61:8014-8021; Burbee D. G. et al. J Natl Cancer Inst (2001) 93:691-699; and Dammann R. et al. Cancer Res (2001) 61:3105-3109), and HIN1 (Krop I. E. et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (2001) 98:9796-9801) in tissue, blood and ductal fluids. Since methylation changes often appear early in disease, detection of hypermethylated genes could identify tissues derived from subjects with increased risk. Furthermore, the reversible nature of methylation offers the potential to revert aspects of the cancer phenotype with the appropriate therapy (Fackler M. J. et al. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia (2003) 8:75-89).
Tumor DNA can be found in various body fluids and these fluids can potentially serve as diagnostic material. Evaluation of tumor DNA in these fluids requires methods that are specific as well as sensitive. For instance, a PCR-base technique called methylation-specific PCR (MSP) is reported to detect one copy of methylated genomic DNA in one-thousand unmethylated copies of genomic DNA (Herman J. G. et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (1996) 93:9821-9826). This approach has been modified in order to co-amplify several genes simultaneously in a nested or multiplex MSP assay (Palmisano W. A. et al. Cancer Res (2000) 60:5954-5958; Buller A. et al. Mol Diagn (2000) 5:239-243; and Brock M. V. et al. Clin Cancer Res (2003) 9:2912-2919). The read out is gel-based and qualitative ("all or nothing"). This method has been used to establish the frequency of gene promoter hypermethylation among subjects with bronchial and esophageal carcinoma. However, the method cannot quantitatively measure the levels of gene methylation.
Quantitative real time PCR (Q-PCR) allows a highly sensitive quantification of transcriptional levels or levels of the DNA of the gene of interest in a few hours with minimal handling the samples (Heid C. A. et al. Genome Res (1996) 6:986-994 and Gibson U. E. et al. Genome Res (1996) 6:995-1001). cDNA or genomic copies of the gene of interest are quantitated by detecting PCR products as they accumulate using an optically detectable polynucleotide probe. This technique is widely used.
Quantitative MSP (Q-MSP) allows highly sensitive detection of gene promoter methylation levels by real time PCR with methylation-specific primers probes (Lo Y. M. et al. Cancer Res (1999) 59:3899-3903; Trinh B. N. Methods (2001) 25:456-462; Wong I. H. et al. Clin Cancer Res (2003) 9:1047-1052).
The advantage of fluorogenic probes over DNA binding dyes (e.g. syber green for real time PCR) is that specific hybridization between probe and target is required to generate fluorescent signal. Thus, with fluorogenic probes, non-specific amplification due to mis-priming or primer-dimer artifact does not generate signal. However, Q-MSP analysis of multiple genes requires additional quantities of template DNA. Therefore, new and better methods are needed to increase the amount of available DNA and to quantitate detection of gene methylation status for several genes.

Quantitative multiplex methylation-specific PCR


A wireless communication system that includes a hub and multiple nodes is provided. The nodes include a wireless communication control unit that acquires, during a predetermined communication time period, a signal transmitted to the hub by a node; an RSSI calculating unit that calculates propagation information from the signal acquired by the wireless communication control unit; and an RSSI table creating unit that transmits the calculated propagation information to the hub. The hub includes a wireless communication control unit that receives propagation information transmitted by each of the nodes and an RSSI table aggregating unit that aggregates the received propagation information.

In communication systems, a network topology, such as a star, tree, or mesh topology, is used. Furthermore, in communication systems, the components of a network, such as computers or hubs, are called nodes.
In a mesh network, in which nodes communicates equally with each other, nodes adjacent to each other communicate. Accordingly, in a mesh network, when compared with a star network or tree network, it is easy to acquire the received electric field indication (RSSI) of each transmission signal from each node. However, in a mesh network, it is difficult to estimate when a node will communicate. Accordingly, nodes need to be in the state such that they can always communicate and thus it is difficult to put the entire network to sleep, which makes it difficult to implement low electrical power consumption.
In contrast, in a star or tree network, a higher level node manages a lower level node. Accordingly, it is easy to synchronize nodes in the network, which in turn makes it easy to implement low electrical power consumption network with a star or tree topology.
However, in a star or tree network, each node only communicates with a node that corresponds to a master station located higher than the subject node when the subject node is used as a slave station or only communicates with a node that corresponds to a slave station located lower than the subject node when the subject node is used as a master station. For example, a slave station located at the end of the star or tree only communicates with a hub that corresponds to a node functioning as a master station. Specifically, communication is not directly performed between nodes that are both functioning as slave stations of a hub. Accordingly, for the slave stations of the hub, it is difficult to obtain RSSI values for slave stations other than the subject hub. Therefore, it is difficult to use, in a star or tree communication system, a positioning algorithm that is a technology used to estimate the distance between slave stations on the basis of the RSSI value between the slave stations and then estimate the location of each slave station by using the estimated distance.
There is a proposed technology for use in conventional mesh network technologies for obtaining the distance between wireless communication terminals from the indications received from communications between wireless communication terminals, for comparing the distance with the result of the positioning performed using GPS, and for correcting the positioning results obtained by the wireless communication terminals (see, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-343161). Furthermore, there is a conventional technology for obtaining received electric field indications by receiving, at a base station, a response signal from each mobile station in response to a call from a central office and for estimating the location of the mobile stations from the obtained received electric field indications (see, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 08-172663).
However, as described above, it is difficult to implement low electrical power consumption in a mesh network. Accordingly, for example, if a transmitter used as a slave station is attached to a cow in a field, the battery in the transmitter soon runs down and thus information may not be obtained. Furthermore, in the conventional technology for obtaining received electric field indications by receiving, at a base station, a response signal from each mobile station in response to a call from a central office, because the distance between mobile stations is not obtained, the accuracy with which the location of the mobile stations are specified becomes low.

Wireless communication system, slave station device, master station device, and wireless communication system control method


An angulated door assembly affording reduced entry and exit time and motion therethrough. Each door is angulated relative to the adjacent walls and/or the conventional path of ingress/egress therethrough. Such an assembly configuration affords increased sealing capacity as well as convenience for the user. The door opens and closes faster by swinging less than a conventional door, which presents itself orthogonally to the path of ingress/egress. By utilizing a pair of angulated doorways, the doors self-seal against each other while providing the advantages of angulated disposition relative to the path of ingress/egress.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to entrance systems and, more particularly, to an entrance system having at least one transversely disposed, angulated door relative to the walls adjacent thereto and the conventional path of ingress/egress therethrough.
2. History of the Prior Art
The prior art is replete with door and window designs for residential and commercial construction. Designs vary for both the door and the door frame depending on the type of wall construction adjacent thereto. For example, in storefront constructions, the theme of aluminum or steel and glass is generally carried through in the construction of the door and the door free. In the main, such doors and door frames provide a designated path of ingress and egress therethrough which is perpendicular to the door frame. The door itself generally comprises two vertical stiles coupled to top and bottom rails. The door frame may include a door jamb, a door header and a door threshold. However, conventional technology has afforded a wide variety of door and wall assemblies including solid glass doors that do not require either vertical stiles or door jambs for operation.
By way of example, an entrance construction is set forth and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,294 to Bienenfeld. This 1967 patent teaches an entrance construction that comprises a door assembly and frame, the frame being formed of a thin gauge metallic material that is roll formed into a tubular configuration secured in position by an interior lock seam% An object of this particular invention is an entrance construction wherein the members thereof are formed of relatively thin gauge stainless steel material of the type utilizing special retainer clips which are welded in place. This reference is one example of the methodology of doorway construction circa 1960. An earlier reference is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,510,832 to C. A Patterson. This patent teaches a particular storefront construction circa 1950. The doorway includes angulated panel members adjacent the door and the patent teaches the utilization of a supporting framework furred out from the front of ( an ) existing building. Use of a prefabricated false front was said to improve the appearance of the building.
A discussion of more conventional door system construction techniques is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,088. This 1979 patent teaches a structural configuration for ingress/egress that is designed to be beth energy efficient and secure. It incorporates a fully weathers tripped, reversible door assembly having hinged door panels with an intervening strike mullion tied to continuous head and sill assemblies. This assembly emphasizes the current trend toward the design of more efficient doorway systems. This is particularly true in designs of commercial structures where pedestrian traffic often places intense demands upon the doorway system
It is well recognized that the use of doors, particularly in commercial establishments, is beth a functional necessity for the commercial establishment and an aesthetic element in the appearance thereof. When a conventional doorway is used by an individual who must pull on the door to open it, that individual often has to step back while the door is in the opening phase of its operation. Once the individual completes his ingress/egress, the door must close on its own. The open position is generally on the order of 90.degree. to 110.degree. from its closed position Much of the door travel from the open to closed position is necessary simply to provide an opening for the user whose path of ingress/egress is generally perpendicular to the closed position of the door. The period of time that the doer is open to permit ingress/egress (herein referred to as the "swing time") directly affects the air conditioning within the building: the longer the swing time, the more air conditioning loss. To handle this situation, more sophisticated door systems have been designed. In some instances, sliding doers are utilized which are generally electrically operated and/or used in conjunction with a double doer entry area in which one door remains closed while the other is open This design prevents the direct flow of conditioned air through the doorway during the opening and closingthereof.
Moreover, there are cl ear us e and safety considerations when designing conventional door systems. The elimination of a doer swinging outwardly into a pedestrian area, such as a sidewalk, has certain advantages. For example, pedestrians are not interfered with or struck by the doer opening. Moreover, the door does not open into a wind that can catch conventional doors causing them to swing violently from the building.
Not all commercial establishments lend themselves to double doers, sealed doer areas or electric sliding doers. Moreover, some commercial establishments do not find such entry area and sliding doer assemblies economically feasible, aesthetically pleasing or consistent with the basic architectural design of their building. It would be an advantage, therefore, to overcome the problems of the prior art by providing an economical swinging door system that was aesthetically pleasing as well as functionally efficient from an energy efficiency and functionality standpoint.


Apparatuses and methods are described for performing time base correction and frame rate conversion with respect to signals. An apparatus includes circuitry to synthesize an output video clock. The apparatus has circuitry that receives an input video synchronization signal. The apparatus has circuitry to change a frequency of the output video clock based on an intended number of video clock cycles per input vertical period and a period of the input video synchronization signal.

A number of formats exist for video signals, including television signals. For example, conventional television in the United States uses the 525 line/60 Hertz National Television System Committee ("NTSC") standard, while Europe uses a 625 line/50 Hertz standard. Television formats in the United States include 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i, wherein the number indicates the number of scan lines, "i" indicates an interlaced signal, and "p" indicates a progressive scan signal. Motion pictures are recorded on film at 24 frames per second (i.e., 24 Hertz).
For an interlaced television format, each frame is displayed as two sets of spaced lines that are successively scanned. One set of lines comprises even-numbered lines and the other set of lines comprises odd-numbered lines. Each set of spaced lines is referred to a field. The persistence of vision makes two interlaced successive fields appear to be a frame. The phrase "vertical period" as used herein means a field for an interlaced video format and a frame for a non-interlaced video format.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a prior art video system that includes a video cassette recorder ("VCR") 2, a video decoder 6, and a video processor 10. Video decoder 6 digitizes the analog video output signal from VCR 2 to form a digital output signal that includes a data signal and a clock. A phase lock loop ("PLL") circuit 5 of video decoder 6 generates a clock signal from a horizontal synch signal that is part of the analog output of VCR 2. The clock signal and the digital output signal from video decoder 6 are sent to video processor 10.
Prior art video processor 10 converts video data and clock signals from one format to another format using phase-lock loop circuitry 7 that locks to the input clock. For example, the video processor 10 can receive a digital video signal in a 480p format and covert the signal to a 720p format. The frequency of the output clock is proportional to the frequency of the input clock. For the example, the input and output clocks are pixel clocks. For a stable 480p input signal, the frequency of the input signal is 27 megahertz. For a stable 480p input signal, the frequency of the output clock for a 720p output signal is 74.1 megahertz.
Unfortunately, input video signals are not always stable. For example, prior art video cassette recorders ("VCR") typically produce unstable video signals. Typically, VCRs have very unstable horizontal synch signals and somewhat unstable vertical synch signals. The unstable VCR signals have varying pulse widths and varying frequencies.
One problem with the prior art video system of FIG. 1 is that an unstable video input signal produces an unstable video output signal. For example, if the horizontal synch signal that is provided as an output from VCR 2 has a varying frequency, then the clock output of video decoder 6 will have a varying frequency because the PLL circuitry 5 locks to the horizontal synch signal of VCR 2. Likewise, the output clock of video processor 10 will have a varying frequency when the output clock of video decoder 6 has a varying frequency, given that PLL circuitry 7 locks to the output clock of video decoder 6. This can result in a video signal with poor stability at the output of video processor 10.
Various prior art techniques have been used to convert a motion picture 24 Hertz signal to a television signal. For example, in the United States, a 3:2 pulldown technique has been used to convert the 24 Hertz motion picture signal to a 60 Hertz non-interlaced (progressive scan) television signal. FIG. 2 illustrates the prior art 3:2 pulldown technique. Each film frame is tripled or doubled in an alternating pattern to "fit" within the 60 Hertz non-interlaced (progressive scan) television signal. One disadvantage of the 3:2 pulldown technique is that uneven motion is produced given that the film frames appear in a pattern of 3 frames, then 2 frames, then 3 frames, etc.
Europe uses a different technique for converting motion picture signals. Video processors in Europe speed up the 24 Hertz motion picture rate to a 25 Hertz rate, which is then converted to a 50 Hertz rate, which is the European standard television rate. One disadvantage of this European technique is that motion pictures appear 4% faster on European television.

Time base correction and frame rate conversion


A system and method for tracking the flight of golf balls at driving range. The system includes a plurality of hitting stations, a plurality of sensors, a computer, and a range surface. Each hitting station in the plurality of hitting stations includes a golf ball, a golf club, a monitor, and a sensor. At least one other sensor in the plurality of sensors is placed outside a hitting station. The flight path of the golf balls being calculated by the computer using parameters by the plurality of sensors. The method includes steps for determining whether a first sensor detected a first parameter and a second parameter, whether a second sensor detected a first and a second parameter, whether a third sensor detected a third parameter, and depicting the flight path of the golf balls using the first parameter, the second parameter, and the third parameter.

The game of golf has remained a popular hobby and recreational activity since it was invented several centuries ago. Part of the popularity of golf comes from pursuing mastery of its various skills. Improving such skills requires frequent and consistent practice. Driving ranges are common venues used for such practice. At typical driving ranges, golfers can practice their swing. Recently, businesses have begun to open more advanced driving ranges intended to cater to the golfers' desires for other forms of entertainment and recreation. Such facilities include not only the typical driving range, but also restaurants, bars, and other entertainment options with which the golfer may choose to supplement their practice round. On such option is the inclusion of various virtual games related to the golf swing, such as those disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/321,333, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In parallel to the appearance of such new golfing/entertainment facilities, various technologies have been employed to assist golfers in improving their game or enhancing the typical practice round. Such technologies include using rf chips, radar, lasers, or optical cameras to track the golfer's swing and the flight path of the golf ball, and to provide the golfer with useful feedback regarding both. Unfortunately, while each such technology is well-suited for tracking particular parameters of the golf swing or path of the golf ball, none is capable of uninterrupted tracking and providing the golfer with a comprehensive view of their swing and the resulting golf shot. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method to utilize the parameters captured by each such technology across a plurality of sensors and present the resulting information in a meaningful manner to the golfer. It is to this and other restrictions in the prior art that the present invention is directed.

Multiple sensor tracking system and method


The present invention encompasses compositions, including solutions, gels, and pastes, manufactured from amniotic membrane, umbilical cord membrane, or both. The present invention also encompasses methods of making such compositions, and methods of using the compositions to treat conditions of the eye.

The repair or treatment of various body tissues, such as skin, organs, and the like, has been accomplished using collagen compositions, including tissue membranes comprising collagen, e.g., amniotic membrane, pericardium, dura mater, and the like. A need exists, however, for additional, more versatile compositions that can be used in medical applications in addition to, or in place of, membranes.


An ampule of plastic can have liquid removed from the ampule by an injection member having a conical member at its end. The conical member is introduced into the ampule neck. At least one longitudinal passage is arranged peripherally around the ampule neck inside surface and is displaced from alignment with the longitudinal middle plane of the ampule defined by markings.

Such ampules are manufactured by blow-molding in a mold comprising of two identical parts of mirror-image construction. Following completion of the blow-molding process, the two parts of the mold are separated from one another in a direction perpendicular to the plane of separation of the mold. Separation of the mold parts enables removal of the ampule from the mold. When several ampules are formed simultaneously, mold separation permits removal of the ampule block from the mold. Separation of the mold parts forms markings on the ampule, which markings define a longitudinal middle plane.
In a known ampule of this type (European Patent 0 326 391 A2 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,627 to Hansen, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference), two longitudinal venting passages are provided which lie in the inside wall of the ampule neck. During removal of the contents from the ampule by an injection member, the cone or conical member of the injection member is introduced into the ampule neck and engages the neck inside wall in a sealed manner. The longitudinal passages permit the inlet of air into the ampule, and are located in the longitudinal middle plane of the ampule.
In the case of this known ampule, erroneous functions of the longitudinal passages often occur due to improper formation. Either insufficient air can flow through the longitudinal passages to allow sufficiently rapid removal of the contents of the ampule, or the liquid in the ampule can leak out through the longitudinal passages, because the longitudinal passages may be manufactured without suitably uniform definition, and therefore, without the required tolerances.


Disclosed is a light emitting polymer material comprising a (co)polymer comprising a structural unit derived from an iridium complex represented by the following formula (1):

In recent years, for the purpose of enlarging the use of an organic electroluminescence device (sometimes referred to as "organic EL device" in this specification), the development of materials towards not only improvements of luminous efficiency and durability of the device but also full-color display, realization of a large area and mass production is actively carried out.
In order to realize full-color display, it is necessary to use materials capable of emitting monochromatic light of each of red, green and blue colors which are primaries (RGB). However, there was encountered a problem that any organic material capable of highly efficiently emitting red light with a high luminance brightness is not obtained.
Patent Document 1 discloses an iridium complex which is constituted of iridium and a quinoline derivative as a material capable of emitting red to orange light. According to Patent Document 1, an organic EL device is prepared by dispersing this iridium complex in a host material and forming a film by a vacuum vapor deposition method to obtain a light emitting layer.
However, the vacuum vapor deposition method involves a problem that not only a vacuum unit is required, but also in the case of a large-area device, the film thickness is liable to become non-uniform.
For that reason, if a light emitting layer could be formed by coating a solution of a light emitting material containing an organic solvent or water, not only the manufacturing step of an organic EL device is made simple, but also it is possible to realize a device with a large area. In this coating method, since a small light-emitting molecule which is liable to cause phase separation or segregation, there is made an attempt to obtain a light emitting polymer material which is free from such defects.
Also, for the purpose of efficiently causing recombination of a hole and an electron on a light emitting compound, thereby designing to improve luminous efficiency, there is also made an attempt to obtain a light emitting polymer material resulting from copolymerization of a light emitting compound and a hole transport compound and/or an electron transport compound.
For example, an organic EL device is prepared by using, as the light emitting polymer material, a copolymer comprising a structural unit derived from an iridium complex, a carbazole derivative, and an oxadiazole derivative. In such an device, in the case where an iridium complex having a phenylpyridine derivative coordinated therein is used, green light emission is observed (see Patent Document 2); and in the case where an iridium complex in which an acetylacetone derivative bound to the polymer main chain and a quinoline derivative are coordinated is used, red light emission is observed (see Patent Document 3).
However, for the purpose of achieving practical application of light emitting polymer materials, it has been desired to develop a durable light emitting polymer material which is able to highly efficiently emit red light with a high luminance brightness and to simplify the manufacturing step of an organic EL device.
[Patent Document 1] WO 2002/064700
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-2003-342325
[Patent Document 3] JP-A-2004-27088

Light emitting polymer material, organic electroluminescence device and display device comprising light emitting polymer material

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents an atom or a substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an amino group which may be substituted with an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and a silyl group; X1 represents a polymerizable functional group-containing substituent; and A1 to A3 each independently represents a divalent substituent having a cyclic structure.


A necktie and separate pre-formed knot that may be slid into position onto the necktie body and securely maintained in position without slipping. A knot is formed from a generally trapezoidally shaped assembly that is first folded over on itself so that its angled ends overlie one another. The overlying angled ends are secured to one another along a seam offset from the edges of the angled ends so as to define a margin or wing portion between the seam and the edges of the angled ends. The resulting folded and closed assembly is then turned inside out to form the finished knot. The wing portion protrudes into the central opening of the knot to engage the necktie body and hold the knot securely in place on the necktie body. The trapezoidally shaped assembly from which the knot is formed is itself formed of a foundation member and a fabric wrapped around the foundation member. Knots of different styles are described emulating, for example, the common four-in-hand, half-windsor and full-windsor knots. A necktie body for use with the above knot is formed with one or more longitudinal pleats in the neck section which gather together the material so that the neck section is at least somewhat narrower than the front section of the tie. Pleated or gathered in this manner, the material forms a dimple at the top portion of the front section of the tie, where the neck and front sections meet. When the knot is slid in place on the tie body around a wearer's neck, this dimple extends from under the knot to emulate the dimple formed when a necktie is tied in conventional manner.

The present invention relates to neckties and in particular to neckties with pre-formed knots.
Neckties having pre-formed knots have long been available as a substitute for the conventional necktie, which must be tied anew around the user's neck each time the tie is to be worn. Known pre-formed neckties, however, are subjected to a variety of deficiencies. Some may not reproduce the appearance of a hand-tied knot very well and thus look artificial. Some may be worn only with a closed collar, and thus are not adaptable to women's tie fashions which are often worn with an open collar. Others require a heavier weight fabric for proper appearance and thus cannot be formed of the finer silk fabrics that are often used for neckties. Yet others are costly to manufacture.


A ride-sharing assistance system includes a plurality of terminals and a ride-sharing assistance apparatus capable of communicating with each of the plurality of terminals. The ride-sharing assistance apparatus sends, when the number of inquiry signals received from at least two terminals of the plurality of terminals for requesting inquiry about a parking space available at a same destination is greater than a vacancy reference value in accordance with the number of available parking spaces within a certain range from the destination, a suggestion signal for suggesting ride-sharing on a vehicle owned by any one of users of the at least two terminals, from which the inquiry signal has been sent, to each of the at least two terminals from which the inquiry signal has been sent.

It is preferable for a plurality of users who are going to travel to the same destination to share a ride in a single vehicle to the destination than to separately drive to the destination in terms of reducing traffic congestion and exhaust gases. Accordingly, techniques have been proposed for assisting a plurality of users in sharing a ride on a single vehicle (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-140399).
For example, an automobile ride-sharing supporting system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-140399 performs a process of matching driving plan information input from a driver side terminal with ride-sharing request information input from a rider side terminal, and sends a meeting place and a meeting time to each terminal. When the system receives that the ride-sharing has been completed from each terminal, the system pays points owned by the rider to the driver.

Ride-sharing assistance system, ride-sharing assistance apparatus and ride-sharing assistance method


A microscope for observing an object selectably using the bright-field transmitted light contrast procedure or the incident-light fluorescence contrast procedure. During the bright-field transmitted light contrast procedure, an illumination beam path is directed from a bright-field light source to the object and an imaging beam path is directed from the object through the microscope objective into the microscope tube, which includes a fluorescence unit that includes a fluorescence excitation light source, an illumination optical system, a filter set having at least one excitation filter and at least one emission filter, as well as a beamsplitter. The fluorescence unit is mounted movably, so that in a first end position of movement the beamsplitter and the emission filter are out of the imaging beam path of the microscope and in a second end position of movement they are in the imaging beam path between the microscope objective and the microscope tube.

In microscopes, particularly in light microscopes for observing objects with the bright-field transmitted light contrast procedure, a microscope beam path is directed from a bright-field light source through the object and through the microscope objective into the microscope tube.
Microscopes that are further developed for observing the object in the incident-light fluorescence contrast procedure also have a fluorescence system comprising essentially the following components:                a multispectrally emitting light source, such as an HBO arc lamp with a line spectrum, or        an XBO arc lamp with a continuous spectrum, or        a light source that emits over a narrow band, such as a LED (light-emitting diode), and        optical elements to image the light source in the object,        excitation filters to select the color of the illumination,        a beamsplitter, and        emission filters to select the color for imaging of the object.
The light source is usually placed outside the microscope structure and coupled through an illumination connection. A set of excitation filters is placed in a mechanical changing means, such as a revolver or a slide moving transversely to the optical axis, so that the excitation filters can be placed in the illuminating beam bath, depending on their optical properties and on the object properties. Likewise a set of emission filters.
When the light source is an arc lamp, a shutter is provided to interrupt the illuminating light. When a LED is used as the light source, the illuminating light can [be controlled] by switching the operating voltage for the LED on and off.
The microscope can be changed from operating in the incident-light fluorescence contrast procedure to the bright-field transmitted light contrast procedure by, for example, setting the changing means for the filter sets to a blank position, so that the illuminating light coming from a bright-field light source can pass unfiltered. At the same time, the shutter is closed, or the operating voltage for the fluorescence excitation light source is interrupted and the bright-field light source is switched on. The bright-field light source can at the same time be adjusted to a preset brightness.
The present invention refers particularly to fluorescence systems with one or more LEDs as the light source for the incident-light fluorescence illumination.
Microscopes constructed in this manner are known principally from two manufacturers.
One of those is the company "FRAEN CORPORATION S.r. 1.; Via Stelvio, 12; 20019 Settimo Milanese—MI".
In that case, the change between incident-light fluorescence contrast and bright-field transmitted light contrast is accomplished by sliding a mirror into or out of the beam path, so that when the mirror is pushed in the object is illuminated by an LED in incident-light fluorescence and when the mirror is pulled out the object is illuminated by the bright-field light source in bright-field transmitted light. At the same time the mirror is moved, the LED must be switched on or off and a filter slide must be moved back and forth to change between a filter position and a blank position.
The fluorescence unit is designed as an add-on for light microscopes which by themselves are operated with the transmitted light procedure and are operated manually. This add-on system has the disadvantage that it is relatively complicated. In addition, four hand operations are needed every time to change between incident-light fluorescence contrast and bright-field transmitted light contrast.
In the applicable microscopes of the second manufacturer, the company "EUROIMMUN AG", Seekamp 31, D-23560 Lübeck", the incident-light fluorescence contrast operating mode is selected by sliding a filter set into the illumination beam path while simultaneously switching on a LED as the light source for the fluorescence excitation.
In this case, three hand operations are needed every time to change between incident-light fluorescence contrast and bright-field transmitted light contrast. There is a further disadvantage that because of a mechanical separation of a solidly built-in filter set and a solidly built-in light source it is impossible for the customer to select different fluorescence wavelengths.
Because of that, the object of the invention is to make possible, for a microscope of the type initially described, a less time-consuming but ergonomically improved change between incident-light fluorescence contrast and bright-field transmitted light contrast and the reverse.

Microscope for observing a sample in the bright field illumination by transmitted light or in fluorescence-contrast epi-illumination


A reverse 911 can be sent to a TV communicating with the Internet. The TV is automatically turned on if it is off, and a viewer can acknowledge the reverse 911 using a TV remote control.

Currently the Emergency Alert System (EAS) makes use of broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite and radio service providers as the means to provide communications of emergency information. As understood herein, the Internet may also be used to disseminate emergency alerts.
The present invention recognizes that as more TVs become Internet-enabled, reverse 911s can be broadcast to the IP addresses of the TVs. As understood herein, however, an intended recipient's TV might be turned off when a reverse 911 is sent. As also understood herein, without an ability to acknowledge a reverse 911, emergency service providers have no way of knowing who has received the alert and who has not, requiring, for instance, police or firefighters to expend time checking on residences that already are aware of the emergency condition and have taken action accordingly.


The invention concerns a chemical reaction process performed in a reaction chamber (1) which contains a catalyst bed, the reaction chamber (1) comprising a first end (2) and a second end (3), opposite the first end (2), the process involving alternately: a reaction phase, in which a reaction flow passes through the reaction chamber (1) from its first end (2) towards its second end (3); and a catalyst-regeneration phase, in which a regeneration flow passes through the reaction chamber (1) from its second end (3) towards its first end (2). The reaction chamber (1) preferably consists of a plurality of separate reaction compartments containing a catalyst bed and a heat-exchange system for exchanging heat therebetween.

The use of chemical reactions, especially involving a heterogeneous catalyst, in fixed bed reactors is known. In processes of this type, control of the heat absorbed or emitted represents a critical aspect.
For example, in exothermic reactions such as combustion reactions, a hot front has a tendency to form in the reactor when the reaction starts, and this hot front has a tendency thereafter to move in the bed of the reactor in the flow direction, until optionally exhibiting a risk of leaving the bed.
In order to resolve this problem, reverse-flow reactors have been developed. The principle of these systems is based on a reversal of the reaction flow that makes it possible to keep the hot front in the bed of the reactor during the reaction.
Documents WO 02/051965 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,356 provide examples of such symmetrical systems, in which the same flow passes through the reactor alternately in one direction and in the opposite direction.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 7,763,174 describes a variant in which adsorbent beds are placed on each side of the catalyst bed.
Still with an objective of optimizing heat transfers, asymmetric reverse-flow reaction processes have also been proposed, in order to enable the thermal coupling of an exothermic reaction and of an endothermic reaction. For example, a first flow direction may be used in order to carry out the combustion of methane (injection of methane and air), whilst the reverse flow direction may be used to carry out methane reforming (injection of methane and water). The first reaction is intended to heat the catalyst bed to a sufficient level to enable the second, endothermic, methane reforming reaction. Document US 2004/0170559 provides an illustration of such an asymmetrical process.
In the reverse-flow reactor systems described above, no specific measure is provided for the regeneration of the catalyst, once the latter is deactivated.
Document DE 10239547 illustrates another example of a thermal coupling of an endothermic reaction and of an exothermic reaction, this time by combining methane reforming with catalyst regeneration. According to this process, steam methane reforming is carried out at 400° K in a reactor comprising distributors for the injection of a supplementary flow introduced by supply pipes integrated into the reactor. During the regeneration, the flow direction is reversed and the internal distributors are supplied with a fuel in order to reach a regeneration temperature of 1000° K.
The process performed in document U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,745 consists in simultaneously carrying out a reaction and a regeneration, each in one half of a reaction chamber, then in reversing these 2 phases, the stream resulting from the regeneration step always being mixed in the reaction chamber with the reaction stream in order to supply the reaction phase zone.
Within the context of catalytic reactions for fluorination or for production of acrylic compounds that are carried out in a fixed bed, the catalyst is deactivated in particular by elimination of coke thereon. The regeneration of the catalyst may be carried out by combustion of the coke, by injecting a stream rich in oxygen or in air into the reactor.
However, the proportion of coke in the reactor is not homogeneous: there is, in principle, more coke accumulated toward the inlet of the reactor than toward the outlet thereof. This poses a combustion control problem. For example, a hot front may appear, leading to a very high temperature differential, which is capable of degrading the catalyst.
There is therefore a need to achieve a better control of the regeneration phase of processes of this type, in particular by avoiding the risks of degradation of the catalyst.

Catalytic reaction with reverse-flow regeneration


A production process of magnetic recording media is provided in which, when using an oxide magnetic material as a perpendicular magnetic recording layer and forming a carbon protective layer using a plasma CVD method, stripping of the carbon protective layer and separation of a lubrication layer can be prevented, and satisfactory recording and reproduction characteristics can be obtained. In the production process of magnetic recording media, the magnetic recording media consists of, at least, a substrate 1 on which are provided a perpendicular magnetic recording layer and a carbon protective layer, in which the perpendicular magnetic recording layer consists of magnetic material containing a Co alloy and oxide material; the method includes a perpendicular magnetic recording layer formation process of forming the perpendicular magnetic recording layer on the substrate 1, a heating process of using a heating portion 28 to heat the substrate 1 on which the perpendicular magnetic recording layer has been formed, and a protective layer formation process of using a plasma CVD method to form a carbon protective layer on the substrate 1 on which the perpendicular magnetic recording layer has been formed.

A perpendicular magnetic recording method is the method which employs a magnetic recording layer in which the easy axis of magnetization is directed perpendicular to the substrate. Compared with the longitudinal magnetic recording method, in perpendicular magnetic recording the demagnetizing field in the vicinity of the magnetization transition region, which is the boundary between recorded bits, is decreased, so that the higher the recording density, the more magnetostatically stable the recorded state, with improved resistance to thermal fluctuations; hence the method is appropriate for increasing areal densities.
In particular, when a soft magnetic underlayer, consisting of soft magnetic material, is provided between the substrate and the perpendicular magnetic recording layer, the functions of so-called perpendicular double-layer media are obtained, and excellent recording performance can be obtained. At this time, the soft magnetic underlayer serves to provide a return path for the recording magnetic field from the magnetic head, and can improve the recording and reproducing efficiency.
In perpendicular magnetic recording media, generally a soft magnetic underlayer, underlayer, perpendicular magnetic recording layer, and protective layer are formed on a substrate.
Co—Cr system alloys are widely used as the perpendicular magnetic recording material. When using Co—Cr system alloys, normally substrate heating during film deposition causes separation of the magnetic phases and nonmagnetic phases within the magnetic recording layer.
A carbon protective layer formed by a plasma CVD method is widely used as the protective layer.
In recent years, oxide magnetic materials including Co alloys (for example Co—Cr—Pt) and SiO2 or other oxides have come to be used as the material of perpendicular magnetic recording layers.
In oxide magnetic materials, a nonmagnetic phase of an oxide is segregated in such a manner as to surround the magnetic phase, of Co alloy or similar, so that the magnetic crystal grains (magnetic phase) can be isolated and made finer, and the magnetization transition region can be made smaller. As a result, media noise can be reduced (see Non-patent references 1 through 3).
Non-patent reference 1: Oikawa et al. "SiO2 composition of CoPtCr—SiO2/Ru perpendicular magnetic recording media and grain isolation", Journal of the Applied Magnetic Society Japan, 29, 231-234 (2005).
Non-patent reference 2: Matsunuma et al, "CoCrPt alloy-oxide perpendicular magnetic recording media with a new structure incorporating an intermediate layer", Technical Report of the Institute of Electronic, Information and Communication Engineers, MR2004-10.
Non-patent reference 3: Ohtsuki and Uwazumi "Development of perpendicular magnetic recording media for an HDD aiming at 400 Gbits/inch2", Nikkei Electronics, Jan. 19, 2004.

Production process of perpendicular magnetic recording medium


Barcode readers and barcode reader assemblies with lift handles are disclosed herein. An example bioptic barcode reader assembly includes a barcode reader having a housing and a metal frame secured to the housing. A retractable first lift handle having an elongated first aperture is positioned on a first side of the housing and a retractable second lift handle having an elongated second aperture is positioned on a second side of the housing, opposite the first side. Each of the first and second lift handles is movable relative to the housing between a retracted position and an extended position and the first and second apertures in the first and second lift handles overlie a first center of gravity of the barcode reader and a second center of gravity of the barcode reader assembly.

Barcode readers and barcode reader assemblies, with metal frames and/or scale assemblies, can be difficult to move, maneuver, install and uninstall because of the size and weight of the unit/assembly. For example, attempting to lift and install a barcode reader assembly into a piece of furniture, such as a countertop at a retail location can be difficult because of the minimal clearances between the barcode reader/assembly and the opening in which is it being installed. This is further complicated by the variety of barcode reader assemblies that can be available. For example, barcode reader assemblies can have different size frames (short, medium, long, etc.) and can come with or without a scale assemblies. All of these different versions change the weight and center of gravity of the assembly and can make lifting and balancing the assembly difficult.
There are some barcode readers and barcode reader assemblies that have attempted to address this issue by providing a lift mechanism that includes a small hook that can rotate between a retracted and extended position and be used to assist in lifting and moving the barcode reader/assembly. However, these lift mechanisms are only large enough to fit a single finger, which does not provide much assistance when lifting a heavier assembly with a metal frame and/or a scale assembly. In addition, since these lift mechanisms are narrow, the area covered by the hook is small and will not be located over the center of gravity of the barcode reader and the barcode reader assembly with a variety of options, which does not help in keeping the barcode reader/assembly balanced when lifted or moved or during installation.

Barcode reader and barcode reader assembly with lift handles