A wall-mounted picture display device generally including a flat substrate and a transparent pocket. The substrate, which is preferably comprised of wall paper or a wall paper border, includes a permanent or non-permanent adhesive layer on a rear surface such that the display device may be attached to a wall, ceiling or other surface without the use of nails, tacks, etc. Likewise, the transparent pocket includes a permanent or non-permanent adhesive layer on a rear surface for attachment to the substrate. In use, the display device provides for easy insertion or removal of a display object, such as a photograph, picture, postcard, memento, etc., without having to detach the display device from the wall.

It is already known in the prior art to provide a transparent device for the display of photographs, pictures, post cards, mementos, and other objects. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,557 issued Sep. 20, 1988 to Bowman and U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,968 issued Jul. 31, 1990 to Wagner each discloses such a device. Moreover, it also known in the prior art to provide a wall decorating system having pictorial cutouts removably adhered to a flat, wall-mounted background. U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,604 issued Feb. 13, 1990 to Martinez et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,764 issued Apr. 15, 1997 to Schwarz et al. disclose examples of such wall decorating systems. However, the prior art is characterized by certain structural and functional limitations which allow for improvement in the art.
For example, there is a need in the art to provide a picture display device for displaying a picture or other object on a wall. Such a device should allow for the easy removal and replacement of displayed objects, such that a person may quickly and easily exchange the displayed object without having to remove the display device from the wall. Additionally, there is a need in the art for a wall-mounted picture display device capable of being attached to a wall without the use of nails, thumbtacks, pins, or other mechanical fastening devices. Such a device would be ideal for the display of objects in a setting, such as a college dormitory room, where the displays are only intended to be temporary.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an improved wall-mounted picture display device that allows for easy insertion of the object to be displayed, as well as easy attachment of the display device to the wall.


A dosing nozzle is intended to be fitted onto a container containing a product. The nozzle comprises a dosing cavity which can move between a first position and a second position in which it occupies a minimum volume, the cavity being delimited by first and second pistons capable of sliding inside a fixed body. The first piston is fixed to a closure member capable, selectively, of closing off/exposing at least one outlet of the dosing cavity. During a first phase of the movement of the dosing cavity, the first piston is driven by through the effect of the pressure of the product being exerted on the second piston and, during a second phase of the movement of the dosing cavity, the first piston is driven by the pressure of the product being exerted on the first piston, the second piston being immobilized in translation during this second phase.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing doses of fluid product, such as, for example, doses of a predetermined volume of a cosmetic product such as a shampoo, a conditioner, a gel, a lotion, a milk, etc. The invention also relates to a device including the apparatus and a container. The invention further relates to a method of dosing a product.
In the cosmetics field, a good number of haircare products, particularly shampoos, are packaged in a container having deformable walls and a neck which is closed off by a wall having a center portion having one or more small holes for expulsion of the product. In order to dispense the product, the container is turned upside down. Pressure exerted on the deformable walls of the container allows the product to be forced out through the hole or holes. The product is collected in the user""s palm and applied to his or her hair. However, this simple operation does not allow the amount of product dispensed to be dosed.
Of course, there are devices for dosing a product to be dispensed, but many of these devices have a complexity such that their cost is completely inconsistent with the economic requirements of certain distribution channels, in particular the mass market.
Some devices use a dosing arrangement of the type which includes a dosing chamber formed inside a movable member having a free end provided with openings capable of allowing dosed expulsion of the product. The openings in the dosing chamber are exposed by means of pressure exerted by the product on one face of the member. The product then flows under gravity when the openings are exposed. During expulsion of the product, the moveable member emerges substantially outside the dosing chamber. Such an arrangement is particularly appropriate for the dosed dispensing of very liquid products, such as drinks. On the other hand, such a system cannot easily be used for dispensing viscous products, such as those normally used especially in the cosmetics field. This is because the viscosity of these products does not allow the dose of product to flow sufficiently rapidly merely under the effect of its own weight.
Some other devices use a dosing arrangement comprising a dosing chamber inside which a piston is slideably fitted. An axial channel passes through a stem attached to the piston and terminates near the free end of the stem in a radial portion which emerges in an outlet. In the rest position, the outlet is closed off. In order to dispense a dose of product, the outlet is exposed due to the pressure of the product being exerted on the piston. The product flows through a radial portion of the channel, passes into the axial part of the channel and leaves through the radial outlet. Since the product necessarily passes through this axial channel made inside the stem, the device is particularly unsuitable for high flow rates, particularly in the case of products having a high viscosity. In addition, such an axial channel is subject to clogging, particularly when the product has not been used for a long period of time, possibly making the device completely unusable. Finally, localized dispensing of the product into the palm of the hand is one of the most difficult operations to carry out successfully.
Other configurations, such as that described in FR-A-2,578,806, include a second piston acting as a closure for an outlet. This configuration renders axial expulsion of the product difficult or even impossible.
Other dosing devices present a number of problems. Among these problems are, in particular, the relatively large number of parts, the complexity which results therefrom, the cost, the difficulty of use, problems of sealing, the problem of dispensing a precise dose, etc.
The invention optionally overcomes one or more limitations of the related art describe above. Certain aspects of the invention could be practiced without necessarily obviating one or more of these limitations.
A first optional aspect of the invention, includes a dosing nozzle, intended to be fitted onto a container containing a product, such as a cosmetic product, the nozzle including a dosing cavity in selective communication with the container via at least one inlet, the cavity being moveable between a first position and a second position in which it occupies a minimum volume; wherein the cavity is delimited partly by first and second pistons capable of sliding inside a fixed body; wherein the first position is fixed to a closure member which can move with respect to the second piston, and is capable, selectively, of closing off/exposing at least one outlet of the dosing cavity delimited at least partly by the second piston; wherein, during a first phase of the movement of the dosing cavity, the first piston is entrained by the second piston through the effect of the pressure of the product being exerted on the second piston and, during a second phase of the movement of the dosing cavity, is entrained by the pressure of the product being exerted on the first piston; and wherein the second piston is immobilized in translation during this second phase.
In certain optional embodiments of the invention, the first piston may be fixed relative to the closure member in at least one direction such as the axial direction. The first piston could be a single piece with the closure member, especially one obtained by molding.
Optionally, the dosing nozzle could be economical to produce. The nozzle may be simple and reliable to use and may be used for high-viscosity products. The product may be dosed in a relatively precise manner and it may be dispensed in a very localized manner into the palm of the hand.
In some optional embodiments, the degree of sealing between the peripheral edges of the first and second pistons and the inner surface of the body of the dosing nozzle depends to a large extent on the viscosity of the product, on the degree of inertia of the system which is deemed to be acceptable, and on the comfort sought when dispensing. For example, the nozzle could be configured so that when the product contains a great deal of liquid, there is a tight contact between the peripheral edges and the inner surface.
Optionally, the at least one expulsion passage is defined between a linking element at the end of which the closure member is formed, and an opening formed in the second piston. By modifying the number of passages and their size, it may be possible to a large extent to alter the expulsion flow rate of the product. In the case of a closure element whose cross section is in the form of a cross, four flow passages may be defined for the product. This flexibility in the configuration of the at least one expulsion passage may allow the dispensing of products having a viscosity chosen from the series ranging from very liquid products to very viscous products, such as shampoos or gels.
Optionally, the nozzle may employ a limited number of parts whose production, for example by moulding, does not involve the use of complicated, expensive moulds. For a shampoo, the volume of the dosing chamber may be on the order of about 5 ml., for example.
The container may have deformable lateral walls. The pressure of the product on the second piston, then on the first, may be obtained by pressure exerted on the walls. There may be means allowing an intake of air into the container when the pressure on the walls ceases, in such a manner as to offset the reduction in the product volume inside the container after a dose of product has been dispensed. This configuration optionally may allow dispensing actuation by hand movements similar to hand movements conventionally employed, in particular in the field of cosmetics.
According to another embodiment, the at least one inlet of the dosing cavity may be delimited at least partly by the first piston. The dosing cavity may be in communication with the container during the first phase of the movement of the dosing cavity and isolated from the container during the second phase. The outlet or outlets may be closed during the first phase of the movement and open during the second.
With such a configuration, and by virtue of the axial height of the inlet or inlets, the dosing cavity optionally communicates with the container throughout the first phase of the movement of the dosing cavity. Such communication, on the one hand, may allow the progression of the second piston in the body of the dosing cavity and, on the other hand, may allow complete filling or xe2x80x9cforce-feedingxe2x80x9d of the dosing cavity. The dosing cavity may be arranged so that the at least one outlet of the dosing cavity is closed off during this first phase. In one optional embodiment, the first phase of the movement is continued until the second piston is immobilized axially, which immobilization substantially coincides with the interruption of communication between the container and the dosing cavity. At this point, the pressure may be exerted solely on the first piston integral with the closure member, which then exposes the outlet of the dosing cavity. Due to the pressure of the first piston, the product may then be expelled from the dosing cavity.
According to another optional embodiment, the dosing cavity may be arranged in an annular manner right around a linking member having an end fixed to the closure member. The linking member may be centered on the axis X of the dosing cavity. The cavity may have a circular cross section, but any other cross section shape may nevertheless be used. Similarly, it is possible to provide for the closure element and the linking member not to be centered on the axis of the dosing chamber.
The dosing nozzle may comprise means capable of allowing fixing of the nozzle onto a neck formed by the container, for example by glueing, snap-fitting or screwing. Fitting may also be the result of force-fitting inside the neck of the container. The dosing nozzle is optionally formed by moulding of a thermoplastic material, such as a material chosen from polypropylenes or polyethylenes.
In some optional embodiments, the closure member and the first and second pistons are designed in such a manner that, when the dosing cavity returns from the second position to the first position, the first piston entrains the second piston. The closure member may be integral with the first piston and may be formed at the free end of a linking element traversing the second piston. The closure member may have a first portion with a maximum cross section smaller than the cross section of the outlet, and a second portion with a cross section larger than the cross section of the outlet.
In some optional embodiments, elastic return means may be provided in order to return the dosing cavity into the first position when the pressure of the product on the first piston ceases. These return means, which can, among other things, comprise a helical spring, any other type of spring or any other elastic biasing member, may facilitate the operation of the assembly. For example, after the dispensing of one dose, the elastic return means might automatically prepare the assembly for the dispensing of a further dose.
In the case of a helical spring, a first end of the spring may bear against the closure member located outside the dosing cavity, and the other end of the spring may bear against an end wall of the dosing nozzle located opposite the second piston.
According to an optional embodiment, during the second phase of movement of the dosing cavity, the second piston may be immobilized in translation by a stop formed by the body. Such a stop may extend continuously over the entire inner surface of the dosing cavity, or only in a discontinuous manner.
In some optional embodiments, a closure member may be designed so as to allow air to be taken inside the container via the outlet or outlets of the dosing cavity when the dosing cavity returns from the second position to the first position.
A closure member may be designed so as to allow the intake of air inside the container via the outlet or outlets of the dosing cavity when the dosing cavity returns from the second position to the first position. Thus the intake of air may take place during the return of the dosing cavity into the first position, via the outlet or outlets of the dosing cavity, before said outlet or outlets has or have been closed by the closure member. Optionally, there might not be a separate circuit for the intake of air.
According to an optional embodiment, the product is dispensed via at least one dispensing hole traversing an end wall of the body of the dosing nozzle, arranged opposite to and at a distance from the second piston when the dosing cavity is in the second position. The end wall may be at a distance from the second piston such that, when the dosing cavity is in the second position, the closure member is at most level with the end wall of the dosing nozzle. Optionally, this type of arrangement may provide that no portion of the closure member emerges outside the device during the product dispensing, which may contribute to maintaining a satisfactorily attractive design of the device.
Optionally, a dispensing hole may be substantially in line with the outlet of the dosing cavity.
An additional option may include an elastically deformable membrane arranged in the dispensing hole. The membrane may include at least one slot, closed in the absence of pressure inside the dosing nozzle and capable of opening in response to a pressure exerted by the product exiting the outlet of the dosing cavity. The membrane may be glued, snap-fitted, welded, or otherwise fastened around the dispensing hole. Such a membrane may make it possible to keep the dispensing hole in a satisfactorily clean condition and allow the flow of product to be interrupted instantaneously.
Again, the degree of closure of the slot may depend to a large extent on the viscosity of the product. As a function of the viscosity of the product, the edges which delimit the slot may be more or less contiguous and sufficiently close to retain the product inside the dosing nozzle.
Optionally, the membrane may be capable, in response to pressure exerted by the product being expelled from the outlet of the dosing cavity, of occupying a convex profile facing towards the outside of the dosing nozzle and, due to a suction phenomenon when the dosing cavity returns from the second position to the first, of returning to a convex profile facing towards the inside of the container. During this return of the membrane towards the inside of the dosing nozzle, an intake of air towards the container may take place. This is because the return of the membrane may confer on the slot an orientation capable of allowing the intake of air inside the dosing nozzle and of preventing any inconvenient expulsion of product.
Such a membrane may be produced from a material chosen from thermoplastic or crosslinked elastomers, in particular silicones, natural or synthetic latexes, EPDMs, polyurethanes, mixtures of polypropylene and of SBS, SEBS or EPDM, very-low-density polyethylenes, mixtures based on polyester glycols (TPU) or polyether glycols (PEBA and COPE), and flexible polyvinyl chlorides (PVC).
According to a further optional aspect, an assembly may be provided for the packaging and dosed dispensing of a product (P), such as a cosmetic product. The assembly may comprise a container formed from a body having one end closed by a base, and another end forming a neck having a free edge delimiting an opening. A dosing nozzle may be fitted securely onto the neck. The container may have the form of a tube or of a bottle. The cross section of the container may be of any type, for example oval, elliptical or circular. A cap may be provided to removably cover the dosing nozzle, for example, in a storage position. The dosing nozzle may be mounted substantially parallel to and along the axis of the container. However, this is not a necessary characteristic. In certain cases, it may be desirable to fit the dosing nozzle at an angle with respect to the axis of the container, in order to enhance the rate of emptying of the container.
The body of the container may have one or more walls capable of being squashed when pressure is exerted on the container in a direction substantially perpendicular to the wall(s), and of returning to their initial shape when the pressure ceases.
Other means, for example a piston, could be envisaged for pressurizing the product with a view to forcing its expulsion through the dosing nozzle.
Such an assembly may be particularly suited to, but not limited to, the packaging and dosed dispensing of a cosmetic product, for example a shampoo, a conditioner, a hair gel, or a beauty-care cream or milk.
According to one aspect, a dosing nozzle for a container comprises a body and a first piston and a second piston configured to slide inside the body. The first and second pistons at least partially define a dosing cavity for selective communication with a container via at least one inlet. The cavity may be movable between a first position and a second position. At least one outlet for the dosing cavity, may be defined at least partially by the second piston and a closure member may be fixed to the first piston. The closure member may be moveable with respect to the second piston and be configured to selectively provide one of closing off and opening of the at least one outlet.
Another exemplary apparatus may comprise a body, movable first and second pistons provided in the body, the pistons at least partially defining a dosing cavity located between the first and second pistons, at least one outlet for passing product from the cavity, the at least one outlet being defined at least partially by the second piston, a valving member configured to provide valving of product flow through the at least one outlet, and at least one inlet for passing product into the cavity.
An additional example of an apparatus comprises a body, movable first and second pistons provided in the body, the pistons at least partially defining a dosing cavity located between the first and second pistons, at least one outlet for passing product from the cavity, a valving member configured to provide valving of product flow through the at least one outlet, at least one inlet for passing product into the cavity, and a biasing member for biasing at least one of the pistons.
An optional arrangement may include the at least one outlet substantially in a center part of the second piston. Optionally, the first piston, during a first phase of movement of the dosing cavity, is driven by the second piston through the effect of pressure of a product being exerted on the second piston and, during a second phase of movement of the dosing cavity, is driven by the pressure of the product being exerted on the first piston. The apparatus may be configured such that the second piston is immobilized in translation during the second phase and/or the closure member may be configured such that, when the dosing cavity returns from the second position to the first position, the first piston drives the second piston.
Additionally, the apparatus may further comprise elastic return means for returning the dosing cavity to the first position when the pressure of the product on the first piston ceases. The elastic return means could be a spring biasing at least one of the closure member, the first piston, and the second piston.
The at least one inlet may be delimited at least partly by the first piston. The apparatus may be configured such that the dosing cavity is in flow communication with the container during the first phase of movement and isolated from the container in the second phase of movement. Also possible is an apparatus configured such that the at least one outlet is closed during the first phase of movement and open during the second phase of movement. Some apparatuses of the invention may include a stop limiting translation of the second piston.
Some embodiments of the invention may include an element coupling together at least some movement of the first piston and the second piston. Optionally, the coupling element comprises the valving member. The valving member may be, but is not required to be, fixed to the first piston. The valving member may be configured to selectively close off and open the at least one outlet. The at least one inlet may at least partially defined by the nozzle/apparatus.
Another optional aspect of the invention includes a closure member configured to permit air to be taken inside the cavity and/or container via the at least one outlet.
In another aspect, the body may comprise an end wall having at least one dispensing hole through which the product can be dispensed. The at least one dispensing hole can be substantially aligned with the at least one outlet for the dosing cavity. When an end wall is present, the dosing cavity may be movable between a first position and a second position, and the end wall may be spaced at a distance from the second piston when the dosing cavity is in the second position.
An optional feature may include an elastically deformable membrane associated with the at least one dispensing hole. The membrane may comprise at least one slot configured to be closed in the absence of sufficient pressure inside the dosing nozzle and to open in response to pressure exerted by product exiting the at least one outlet of the dosing cavity. When equipped with such a membrane, the membrane may be configured such that pressure exerted by the product exiting the at least one outlet of the dosing cavity, changes the profile of the membrane between a convex profile facing towards an outside of the dosing nozzle or apparatus and a convex profile facing towards an inside of the nozzle or appratus. The membrane may be formed of a material chosen from, but not limited to: thermoplastic elastomers, crosslinked elastomers, silicones, natural latexes, synthetic latexes, EPDMs, polyurethanes, mixtures of polypropylene and SBS, SEBS or EPDM, very-low-density polyethylenes, mixtures based on polyester glycols (TPU) or polyether glycols (PEBA and COPE), and flexible polyvinyl chlorides (PVC).
Another aspect includes a dispensing device comprising a container and the dispensing nozzle or apparatus associated with the container. The dispensing device may comprise a container body having one end closed by a base and another end forming a neck with a free edge delimiting an opening, the dosing nozzle being fitted securely onto the neck. The container may include at least one wall capable of being squeezed when squeezing pressure is exerted on the container and of returning to an initial shape when the squeezing pressure ceases. Additionally, the dispensing device may include a cosmetic product contained in the container. For example, the product can be chosen from, but not limited to, a shampoo, a conditioner, a hair gel, a beauty-care cream and beauty-care milk.
Other aspects may include a method of dispensing and applying a cosmetic product. The method may comprise providing any one of the dispensing devices described herein, and dispensing cosmetic product from the device, wherein the dispensing comprises passing the cosmetic product through the at least one outlet and applying the cosmetic product to at least one of skin and hair.
An additional aspect may include a method of dosing a product. The method may comprise providing an apparatus comprising a cavity defined, at least in part, by first and second movable pistons, flowing a product from a reservoir into the cavity, moving the pistons in response to pressure of the product, closing at least one inlet providing product flow from the reservoir to the cavity, opening at least one outlet for the cavity, wherein the opening comprises moving a closure member in response to movement of the first piston, and passing the product from the cavity via the at least one outlet. The method may further include squeezing the reservoir to increase pressure of the product.
Aside from the structural and procedural arrangement set forth above, the invention could include a number of other arrangements, such as those explained hereinafter. It is to be understood that both the foregoing description and the following description are exemplary.

Apparatus and method for dosing a product


A rattle insertion device and method for inserting a rattle into an elastomeric fishing lure that includes having a push rod member with an insertion rod portion, a needle member with a second needle end operably configured to puncture an elastomeric lure and that defines a needle channel with a channel diameter greater than a rod diameter and a needle opening disposed along the needle length. Additionally, the device and method include having a rattle member with a rigid rattle member, sized to be inserted within the needle channel, and that defines a rattle cavity encapsulating one or more rigid noise particle therein that are operably configured to be freely mobile therein. The push rod member is operably configured to translate within the needle channel along a rod translation path to transport the rattle member through the needle channel and out through the needle opening.

Many users around the world fish with a lure to attract and/or catch fish. Specifically, a fishing lure is a type of artificial fishing bait which is designed to attract a fish's attention. The lure uses movement, vibration, flash and color to bait fish. Many lures are equipped with one or more hooks that are used to catch fish when they strike the lure. Some lures are placed to attract fish so a spear can be impaled into the fish or so the fish can be captured by hand. Most lures are attached to the end of a fishing line and have various styles of hooks attached to the body and are designed to elicit a strike resulting in a hookset. Many lures are commercially made but some are handmade. One type of fishing lure is an elastomeric material such as rubber. Furthermore, many users desire to utilize what is known as a "rattle" with a fishing lure, whereby the rattle generates sound that might be similar to the sounds created by actual live creatures. Inserting a rattle into an elastomeric lure, however, comes with many challenges.
Specifically, some known devices and methods of coupling a rattle with an elastomeric lure include prefabricating the lure with the rattle inside, a methodology that typically results in a higher-priced and less versatile lure. Additional devices and methods include using adhesive, which is prone to dislodgement or degradation when utilized and is time-intensive and messy to couple and/or decouple the rattle to the lure. Some known lures also include prefabricated pockets or holes shaped and sized to receive a rattle. These prefabricated lures fail to accommodate various sizes of rattles, fail to sufficient retain the rattle, are also prone to dislodgment of the rattle, and are also time-intensive to couple and uncouple the rattle to and from the lure.
One potential device and method of coupling a rattle with an elastomeric lure may include utilizing a needle to make a hole or channel into the lure for insertion of the rattle. These devices and methods are problematic, however, as the created hole in the lure often closes after removal of the needle. As such, utilizing this device and method is time-consuming and cumbersome. Some known devices also include rattles with a pointed end, wherein the user typically inserts said pointed rattle into the lure with manual force. For some materials this does method works, but the accuracy and the required strength can be an issue. With other materials that have a very high elasticity, it is almost impossible to insert said pointed rattles therein with utilizing unsafe techniques like a heated icepick or screwdriver.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Rattle insertion device for elastomeric fishing lure and method of use


A crop harvesting header includes a compact arrangement of side-by-side mounted intake and mowing units, cross conveyors and deflection coveyors, which operate to efficiently deliver cut crop to a central outlet at the rear side of the header. Some of the compactness is attributable to a drive arrangement which makes it possible to mount the axes of rotation of certain cross conveyors respectively within the cylindrical envelopes described by the peripheries of the vertically spaced intake disks of the intake and mowing devices.

In DE 39 09 754 A, a harvesting device for introducing stalk fodder is described, for which four rotating cutting disks are arranged laterally one next to the other. The cut crops are received at their rear side by a cross auger. The cutting disks rotate, each in the same sense, on the two sides of the longitudinal center plane, wherein the crops are conveyed first outwards and then rearwards. WO 02/062128 A shows a machine with the same general configuration.
DE 199 53 521 A shows a cutting and conveying device for stalk crops, which has four cutting and conveying rotors arranged laterally one next to the other. The rotational sense of the cutting and conveying rotors is such that the crops are conveyed first inwards and then rearwards. At the rear side of the cutting and conveying rotors there is a cross auger, which conveys the harvested crops from the outer cutting and conveying rotors to the center of the machine, where they are conveyed rearwards into the field chopper through the center region of the cross auger together with the crops running in from the inner cutting and conveying rotors.
In EP 0 760 200 A, a machine for harvesting crops having stalks is disclosed, for which several intake and mowing drums are distributed over the working width. The crops are transported inwards to the rear side of the intake and mowing drums along the rear wall. On the two sides of the longitudinal center plane, the intake and mowing drums rotate in the same sense with the exception of the outer intake and mowing drums, so that the crops are conveyed first outwards and then rearwards. This rotational direction enables the use of cross auger drums in the wedge-shaped region of adjacent intake and mowing drums. The material is fed from the intake and mowing drums arranged farther to the outside through the cross auger drums to the inner intake and mowing drums. They feed this material, together with the crops harvested by the inner intake and mowing drums, to the diagonal conveyor drums, which convey the gathered crop material upwards and rearwards into the intake channel of the field chopper.
The intake and mowing drums of EP 1 008 291 A rotate with the same rotational sense as those of EP 0 760 200 A. The cross conveyance, however, behind the intake and mowing drums is created by a separate cross conveyor, which is separate from the intake and mowing drums.
In FIGS. 10 and 11 of GB 2 012 154 A, a corn harvesting machine is shown, for which two receiving drums are arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center plane. The outer receiving drums rotate outwards, while the inner receiving drums rotate inwards. At the rear side, the harvested crops are conveyed through a belt conveyor or a worm conveyor inwards to the center of the machine and then deflected rearwards into the intake channel of a chopper.
DE 102 22 310 A discloses a machine for harvesting corn, for which the inner intake and mowing drums turn inwards. They feed the crops to deflection conveyor units in the form of diagonal conveyor drums, which convey the crops upwards and rearwards into the intake channel of the harvesting machine. The crops from the outer intake and mowing drums rotating outwards are fed to the diagonal conveyor drums behind the last intake and mowing drums by a separate cross conveyor, because conveyance through the rear sides of the inner intake and mowing drums against the selected rotational direction is not possible. The cross conveyor can be located in front of or behind the cross conveyor channel.
The machine disclosed in EP 0 760 200 A, wherein the cross conveyor drums interact with the intake and mowing drums, has the advantage of a short construction, so that the field chopper carrying them must absorb only a relatively small torque. The machine proposed in DE 102 22 310 A also has a short construction. However, a few mowing drums for these machines rotate in the opposite sense, so that infeed problems occur in the infeed region between these mowing drums. The machines according to DE 39 09 754 A, DE 199 53 521 A, WO 02/062128 A, EP 1 008 291 A, and GB 2 012 154 A are significantly longer in the direction of motion due to the cross conveyor acting independently of the intake and mowing drums in the form of worm or band conveyors and place more stress on the field chopper. The construction according to EP 0 508 189 A is only suitable in a restrictive way for working widths like those achieved with the previously mentioned machines.
The invention is based on the problem of designing a compact crop harvester header for harvesting crops having stalks, for which the disadvantages mentioned above are present not at all or only to a small degree.

Header for harvesting crops having stalks


A semiconductor portion of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer with a drift zone of a first conductivity type and at least one impurity zone of a second, opposite conductivity type. The impurity zone adjoins a first surface of the semiconductor portion in an element area. A connection layer directly adjoins the semiconductor layer opposite to the first surface. At a distance to the first surface an overcompensation zone is formed in an edge area that surrounds the element area. The overcompensation zone and the connection layer have opposite conductivity types. In a direction vertical to the first surface, a portion of the drift zone is arranged between the first surface and the overcompensation zone. In case of locally high current densities, the overcompensation zone injects charge carriers into the semiconductor layer that locally counter a further increase of electric field strength and reduce the risk of avalanche breakdown.

Power semiconductor devices are used as switches in power electronic circuits for switching on and off loads supplied with high currents. Usually power semiconductor devices are able to carry a high electric current in a conductive mode and to withstand high blocking voltages in a reverse blocking and/or forward blocking mode. Edge termination structures smooth electric field profiles in an edge area surrounding the active element area in the blocking mode such that the maximum electric field strength in the edge area at least approximates the maximum electrical field strength in the element area. The edge termination structure of a semiconductor device with an n type drift layer may include field electrodes arranged in trenches and p type zones directly below and adjoining the trenches. The p type zones smooth the curvature of equipotential lines in the edge area.
It is desirable to improve the reliability of semiconductor devices.

Semiconductor device including an edge area and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device


A rock gathering tool (10) for collecting rocks and stones lying on or loosely embedded in the surface of the ground, comprising a rock collection basket having an opening (19) at its front side, a handle (27) fixedly mounted to the basket and extending forwardly of the basket for pulling the basket along the surface of the ground, a plurality of tines (29) mounted to the basket along the bottom edge at the front side of the basket, the plurality of tines extending forwardly of and downwardly from the basket, and a one-way gate (36) for closing the opening at the front side of the basket and which is pivotable inwardly of the basket to allow rocks and stones to enter the basket as the basket is pulled along the ground.

Various types of rock gathering devices are commonly employed in the agricultural and commercial sod industries, as well as in other industries and applications where it is necessary to clear rocks and stones from the ground. Such rock gathering devices gather rocks lying at or near the surface of the ground into a hopper or other suitable rock collection basket so that the rocks may be collected and removed from the surface of the ground prior to, for example, the commencement of tillage or sod laying operations. However, for such applications, a rock gathering device must be relatively large to clear large fields of rocks and of sufficient strength to direct rocks of substantial size into the hopper, yet be flexible enough to accommodate immovable objects, such as roots or large rocks.
Many known rock gathering devices typically comprise a large mobile frame supporting a rock collection basket and a stationary fork and rotatable reel assembly positioned ahead of the basket. The reel has a series of rotatable rakes, or reels of tines, for dislodging the rocks and stones from the ground surface. The stationary fork has a grate portion, which together with the rotatable tines, functions to transfer the rocks and stones rearwardly into the rock collection basket.
While such known rock gathering devices are generally well suited for large commercial and agricultural applications, they necessarily are large and complicated in design because they require a separate motor to drive the reel assembly and a tractor to pull the entire device. As such, they are expensive and bulky in size and poorly suited for smaller, simpler applications, such as for clearing residential yards of rocks prior to planting seed.
For such residential and other less demanding applications, it is desirable to have a rock gathering tool that is inexpensive and simple in design, yet which is easy to operate and flexible and mobile enough to get around immovable objects, between objects, and into tight spaces, as is often encountered in common residential applications. Hence, a heretofore unaddressed need exists for an improved rock gathering tool for smaller scale applications that efficiently dislodges and removes rocks embedded or lying along the surface of the ground and collects them for loading into a hopper or other suitable collection means for remote dumping.


An apparatus and a method for transmitting at least a digital optical signal with return-to-zero phase-shift keying, employing a single optical modulator with dual-drive design, the encoded optical signal having improved spectral efficiency and performances and being generated by transmitters with simplified scheme; an optical communication system comprising the transmitting apparatus, a transmission line and an apparatus to receive the optical signal.

Advanced optical modulation formats are commonly referred to signals alternative to the common Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) and Return-to-Zero (RZ), offering improved performances and tolerances to optical linear and nonlinear physical effects. The binary NRZ format consists in transmitting a first of the two logical states (for example the 1) through a substantially constant optical signal over the whole bit time slot TB, and the second of the two logical states (for example the 0) through a reduced or absent optical power over the whole bit slot. In the common RZ modulation format, one of the two logical states corresponds to the presence of an optical pulse with proper optical power and duration shorter than the bit period TB, the second of the two logical states corresponds to the absence of pulses, or to a pulse with reduced power.
Key features for the success of advanced modulation technologies are the tolerances to linear and to nonlinear optical effects, the receiver sensitivity, the reachable signal extinction ratio, the number of modulators required at the transmitter, the electronics bandwidth as well as the maximum spectral efficiency in the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission. Local area optical networks (LAN) and metropolitan area networks (MAN) require modulation formats with large tolerances to chromatic dispersion, and low-cost transmitter/receiver devices.
Next generation WDM channels are planned to transmit at bit rates of R=40, 80 and 160 Gbit/s; the feasibility of commercial NRZ or RZ transmitters at those bit rates is not obvious, because the required bandwidth for the electronics and opto-electronics is comparable to R. The development of stable 40 GHz electronics has emerged in the last few years, and is still characterized by high production costs, while the development of electronics with cut-off frequency approaching to 80 or 160 GHz is still far to come.
In the last years, optical phase-shift keying (PSK) has been proposed for improving the tolerances to Kerr nonlinearity, optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR), WDM channel spacing and to chromatic dispersion. Optical phase is commonly modulated using a 2-level differential signal (DPSK), 4-level pre-encoded signal (DQPSK) or M-ary signal. Return-to-Zero Phase-Shift Keying (RZ-PSK) is characterized by the phase modulation of a train of optical pulses. In the common RZ-DPSK format, one of the two logical states corresponds to the presence of an optical pulse with arbitrary optical phase φ0 (rad), the second of the two logical states corresponds to a pulse with optical phase φ0+π. In the RZ-DQPSK format, two bits are contemporarily transmitted at each baud slot TB; one of the corresponding four logical states corresponds to the presence of an optical pulse with arbitrary optical phase φ0 (rad), the other logical states correspond to pulses with optical phase φ0+π/2, φ0+π and φ0+3π/2. The RZ power shaping advantageously eliminates the patterning effects due to the phase modulation, by reducing the optical power in correspondence of the phase transitions.
Differential quadrature phase-shift keying (DQPSK and RZ-DQPSK) has revealed one of the most promising modulation formats for metropolitan and long-haul applications; the transmission of a multi-level signal permits to reduce the transmitter/receiver electrical and optical bandwidth, as well as the optical pulse repetition rate, increasing the tolerances to chromatic dispersion. Paper [R. A. Griffin, A. C. Carter, "Optical differential quadrature phase-shift key (oDQPSK) for high capacity optical transmission", OFC '02, vol. WX6, 2002] introduces a new DQPSK transmitter scheme based on a Mach-Zehnder super-structure, including 2 phase modulators; a further external intensity shaper modulator may be added to the proposed transmitter to generate a RZ-DQPSK optical signal. Patent application publication no. US 2005/0074245 A1, by R. Griffin, describes the above DQPSK transmitter with Mach-Zehnder super-structure. Paper [P. S. Cho, G. Harston, C. J. Kerr, A. S. Greenblatt, A. Kaplan, Y. Achiam, G. Levy-Yurista, M. Margalit, Y. Gross, J. B. Khurgin, "Investigation of 2-b/s/Hz 40-Gb/s DWDM transmission over 4×100 km SMF-28 fiber using RZ-DQPSK and polarization multiplexing", IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 16, pp. 656-659, Feburary 2004] investigates experimentally the use of polarization-time interleaving with RZ-DQPSK signals; RZ-DQPSK was generated using an intensity shaper modulator, and two Lithium Niobate Mach-Zehnder modulators in push-pull configuration, biased at the minimum transmission point. Paper [K. P. Ho, H. W. Cuei, "Generation of arbitrary quadrature signals using one dual-drive modulator", J. of Lightwave Technology, vol. 23, pp. 764-770, February 2005] proposes the generation of NRZ QAM and QPSK optical signals using a single dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator. RZ-DQPSK is produced by an intensity shaper modulator cascaded to a dual-drive modulator biased at the minimum transmission point. Paper [M. Ohm, T. Freckmann, "Comparison of different DQPSK transmitters with NRZ and RZ impulse shaping", proc. of LEOS '04, vol. ThB2, 2004] investigates numerically three DQPSK transmitter schemes with NRZ optical power; one of the 3 transmitters employs a single phase modulator driven by a 4-level electrical signal. No RZ amplitude shaping is investigated. Patent no. U.S. Pat. No. 6,798,557 B1, by A. Leven, introduces a binary phase modulator with arbitrary phase shift, employing a Mach-Zehnder super-structure with a single phase modulator. The device is suitable to be cascaded with other Mach-Zehnder super-structures to generate a M-ary phase-modulated optical signal. RZ pulse shaping may be added using a further external shaper modulator. Patent no. U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,950 B1, by P. B. Hansen and T. N. Nielsen, describes an optical transmitter with N cascaded phase modulators, suitable for the time division multiplexing (TDM) of N DPSK tributaries.
The modulation formats and transmitter/receiver schemes proposed above require one or two optical phase modulators to generate a DQPSK optical signal, and one to n=log2M phase modulators for a M-ary signal. For all the transmitter schemes presented in the prior art, a further optical intensity modulator is required to shape the optical pulses in the form of a pulse train (RZ-DPSK, RZ-DQPSK etc.). The complexity of the proposed transmitters, and the high costs for each optical modulator reduce their applicability to metropolitan and local area networks, where cost-effective devices are a primary requisite.

Optical return-to-zero phase-shift keying with improved transmitters


A four-terminal resistance network provides a range of four-terminal resistance values. The network comprises multiple resistances of at least two different resistance values and typically four or more resistances in a star, ring, or ladder configuration. A combining network connects the resistances in different series, parallel and series-parallel configurations to give the range of four-terminal resistance values. Typically in some of said configurations all of the resistances are used and in others only some of the resistances are used. Typically the number of four-terminal resistance values is greater than the number of resistances.

Resistance networks exhibiting useful properties are used in many aspects of electrical metrology for: the realisation of electrical measurement standards; the evaluation of those standards; and the evaluation of electrical measuring equipment. One such family of networks in common use is the 4-terminal series-parallel build-up resistors known as Hamon resistors. The basic design of the Hamon resistor was proposed by Hamon in 1954--see B V Hamon, "A 1-100 ohm build-up resistor for calibration of standard resistors", J Sci Instru, vol 31, pp 450-453, December 1954. Three of the four key principles that Hamon brought together in his resistor network were known for some time. The principles exploited by Hamon resistor are:
The Four-Terminal Resistor: Electrical resistances drawn in most engineering texts have two terminals. In such a resistor it is impossible to electrically discriminate between the resistor itself and the resistance in the two lead wires connected to it. This severely limits the attainable accuracy in many applications. For high accuracy work four-terminal resistors are used. These resistors have two terminals through which the current is passed, and two terminals where the voltage is measured. The ratio of the voltage to current, the resistance, is independent of all of the four lead resistances. This principle is probably due to Lord Kelvin.
Equal Resistors Connected in Series and Parallel to Realise Accurate Resistance Ratios: It was known that the resistance of N nominally equal value resistors in series is equal to N squared times the resistance of the N resistors in parallel. Further, if the values of the N resistors are adjusted to equality within a given tolerance then the accuracy of the ratio of the series to parallel resistances is accurate to the square of the tolerance. For example, 10 nominally equal 10 ohm resistors matched to within 1 part in 1000 (0.1%) may be connected in series to make a 100 ohm resistance, or in parallel to make a 1 ohm resistance. It can be shown that the ratio of the two resistances so made is accurate to 1 part in 1 000 000 (0.00001%). This principle is probably due to Lord Rayleigh.
The Four-Terminal Junction: Prior to the publication of Hamon's paper, Rayleigh's series-parallel principle proved difficult to exploit. For low values of resistance the effects of lead and contact resistances could not be ignored and the resulting errors limited the accuracy of the measurements. Hamon discovered a way to realise and exploit a four-terminal resistor so that when a current is passed through any pair of leads there is zero voltage produced across the other two leads. Hamon discovered that a four-terminal junction can be realised simply by ensuring that three of the four leads to a junction block are symmetrical with respect to the fourth. Several successful geometries for the manufacture of the junction are known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,252,091 discloses one such geometry.
A four-terminal junction can be used to connect each of the (say, 10) resistors permanently in series in such a way that: firstly, each resistor is a well-defined four-terminal resistance; secondly, the resistance of the (say, 10) in series is exactly equal to the sum (of the 10) because the variable effects of the contact resistances are eliminated; and thirdly, with the use of a combining network as outlined below, it is possible to connect the (10) resistors in a parallel network such that the effects of the lead resistances is negligible.
Combining Networks: In order to make the parallel connection of the Hamon resistor, a low (but practically not zero) resistance connection must be made to each of the terminals of the (10) resistors. Because the resistance of the connection is not zero, the currents through each of the resistors may not be equal. If the currents are not equal then the measured value for the parallel resistance will be in error. The solution is to deliberately introduce known resistances in the various leads so that the current is shared equally. Because the four-terminal resistance is defined independently of the lead resistances, the combining network (also known as a compensation or sharing network) does not directly introduce any error. In practice, a combining network can be introduced into the current terminals or the voltage terminals with equal effect or in both for a greater effect. The sharing network principle was used by Kelvin in his double bridge--see U.S. Pat. No. 3,252,091, and was described in relation to the parallel connection of resistors by Brooks--see H B Brooks, Trans Amer Inst Elect Engrs, 39, p 549, 1920, and Wenner--see F Wenner and E Weibel, Bull Nat Bur Stand, 11, p 65, 1914, and is described by Kibble and Rayner--see B P Kibble and G H Rayner, "Coaxial AC Bridges", (Adam Hilger, Bristol) 1984 in more general terms.
The series-parallel build-up resistor (or Hamon resistor) described has been an important element of electrical metrology since Hamon described the idea. Many variants have been built and described with different numbers of resistors and simultaneous use of series and parallel combinations. The papers by Riley--see J C Riley, "The Accuracy of Series and Parallel Connections of Four-Terminal Resistors", IEEE Trans Instrum Meas, vol IM-16, pp 258-68, September 1967, Page--see C H Page, "Errors in the series-parallel build up of four-terminal resistors", J Res Nat Bur Stand Sect C, vol 69, pp 181-9, July/September 1965, Gorini--see I Gorini, "Errors in the Parallel Connection of a 100:1 Series-Parallel Build-up of Fourier-terminal Resistors", IEEE Trans Instrum Meas, vol IM-21, No. 3, August 1972, as well as Hamon describe the possible errors and their minimisation in the realisation of the Hamon resistors.
Commercially manufactured versions of the Hamon resistors are known to be produced by a number of companies including: Leeds and Northrup (Australia), who have followed Hamon's design in some detail; Guildline Instruments (Canada); and Electro Scientific Industries (USA).
The main use for Hamon resistors has been for the establishment of DC resistance standards at decade intervals, e.g. 1, 10, 100, 1000, 10000 ohms, etc. Measurements of the resistor for, say, the 1 ohm combination means that the value of the combination at the other values is also known. The main attribute of the resistors is the very high accuracy with which the resistance ratios can be realised (as good as 1 part in 100 000 000). Hamon resistors have also been used in pairs to establish accurate voltage ratios. Thompson--see A M Thompson, "Self checking Resistive Ratios", IEEE Trans Instr Meas, IM-27, 4, pp 423-5, December 1978, describes their application in general to the realisation of accurate voltage dividers. As with build-up resistors, the matching of equal valued resistors is critical to the performance of Hamon style voltage dividers.
All the Hamon networks have a large redundancy in the resistances realised i.e. some of the nominal resistance values can be realised by more than one series-parallel combination of the component resistors. Another disadvantage of Hamon networks, whether for build-up resistors or voltage dividers is that they are made with nominally equal valued resistances to exploit the Rayleigh principle, that is, to establish accurate ratios of resistance. Hamon networks are also made with the resistors connected permanently in series (in the so-called "ladder" form) so that two of the terminals of each of the four terminal junctions are used only as voltage or current terminals.

High accuracy four-terminal standard resistor for use in electrical metrology


The parasitic capacitance formed by a gate electrode, a contact, and a side wall is reduced.

The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and relates to a technique applicable to a semiconductor device including a logic region, for example.
Presently, semiconductor devices are being miniaturized. Along with the miniaturization in a semiconductor device, the distance between the semiconductor element and a wiring and the distance between wirings become short. In this case, the parasitic capacitance formed between the semiconductor device and the wiring and the parasitic capacitance formed between the wirings come to affect the operation of the semiconductor device.
For example, in a transistor, sometimes a gate electrode and an LDD (Lightly-doped Drain) form the parasitic capacitance sandwiching a side wall. When the semiconductor element is miniaturized as above, such parasitic capacitance comes to affect the operation of the transistor. Accordingly, non-patent literature 1 (C. H. Ko, T. M. Kuan, Kangzhan Zhang, Gino Tsai, Sean M. Seutter, C. H. Wu, T. J. Wang, C. N. Ye, H. W. Chen, C. H. Ge, K. H. Wu, and W. C. Lee, "A Novel CVD-SiBCN Low-K Spacer Technology for High-Speed Applications", 2008 Symposium on VLSI Technology Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 108-109.), for example, describes the use of a low-k material for the side wall. Specifically, SiBCN is used as the low-k material in non-patent literature 1. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the parasitic capacitance formed by the gate electrode, the LDD region, and the side wall.
Further, also in a NAND flash memory, sometimes parasitic capacitance is formed by neighboring cells. Such parasitic capacitance comes to affect memory operation along with the miniaturization of the cell. Accordingly, non-patent literature 2 (Daewoong Kang, Hyungcheol Shin, Sungnum Chang, Jungjoo An, Kyongjoo Lee, Jinjoo Kim, Eunsang Jeong, Hyukje Kwon, Eunjung Lee, Seunggun Seo, and Wonseong Lee. "The Air Spacer Technology for Improving the Cell Distribution in 1 Giga Bit NAND Flash Memory" Non-Volatile Semiconductor Memory Workshop, 2006. IEEE NVSMW 2006. 21st, pp. 36-37.), for example, describes the formation of an air space between the neighboring cells. Such an air space has a low dielectric constant. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the parasitic capacitance between the neighboring cells.

Abstract: The gate electrode and the side wall are covered by an insulating layer. The contact passes through the insulating layer and is connected to a diffusion layer. Then, an air gap is located between the side wall and the contact. The air gap faces the contact at the side face on the contact side via the insulating layer.


A corner leg assembly comprises two grooved mating elements divided longitudinally which when held together form the female groove portion of two dovetail joints, one on each side facing laterally 90 degrees apart. One of the corner elements is a substantially triangular corner leg having perpendicular outside surfaces and parallel lengthwise L-shaped grooves on a 45 degree inside surface. The second element is a clamp block which includes opposite-facing L-shaped side grooves corresponding (being the mirror image thereof) to the grooves on the corner leg. The clamp block is affixed down the middle of the corner leg along the inside surface by one or more clamping fasteners such as a screw or bolt which passes through the clamp block. By turning the fastener(s), the clamp block may be loosened or removed to vertically adjust a laterally-extending panel or rail member.

Various types of joints are well-known in the furniture and cabinet-making arts for connecting elements at right angles which can establish a corner portion of the cabinet or article of furniture. Butt joints, mortise and tenon joints, and dovetail joints are all well-known methods for creating such corner joinery. Typically these are all fixed position joints and when some adjustability of the parts is required, a tongue-and-groove type joint is often used. The problem with this type of joint is its lack of pull-out resistance which greatly diminishes its structural integrity. To solve this problem, slidable dovetail joints have been employed in which the male dovetail member can be moved and repositioned within an elongate female dovetail groove such as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,561 issued to Puehlhorn. However, while this dovetail configuration provides lateral pull-out resistance, the slidable nature of the joint requires that the components be somewhat loosely fitting. This has obvious drawbacks to the structural integrity and strength of the joint.
One attempt to provide a better dovetail-type joint is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,551 issued to Lewcock et al. in which the female portion of the dovetail joint includes a locking element which enables a beam end to be secured to a second transversely extending beam. The problem with this system, however, is that the male element is not slidably adjustable and the locking elements are visible on the outside surface of the corner leg which is not aesthetically acceptable for fine furniture or cabinetry. Other attempts for providing a dovetail joint with a tightening function are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,307 issued to Jarvis and U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,355 issued to Anderson et al. These patents disclose the use of wedge-type inserts applied to a cavity in the male portion of the dovetail joint to spread its sides outwardly. While these structures have some utility, their use is limited for the following reasons: the tightening wedges can only be applied axially, they cannot be easily removed and reinstalled, and access to the wedges is restricted.
There is therefore a need in the art for a corner joint construction for use in cabinetry and furniture-making which provides a corner joint with a high degree of structural integrity yet permits positional adjustability of a rail or panel along the length of the corner leg while providing selective lateral attachment and release capability of the rail or panel.


An improved split suspension seat cushion maintains the differing elevation response of a conventional split suspension seat to unequal loading, while evening out the differing reactive upward forces that occur between sides of a conventional split suspension. The left and right suspension mats of the embodiment disclosed, which stretch in response to loading to create an upward reactive forced, are joined to one another at the back through a short sliding cable. In response to an imbalance in a previously balanced and even loading, one side is able to sink down without significantly increasing its stretch, while the other side is able to rise up without significantly decreasing its stretch, thereby maintaining an even loading side to side.

Seat cushions with a so called split suspension are well known in the art. Two, individual occupant suspension members, generally split between a left and right side of the cushion frame, independently support the left and right sides of an occupant. Thereby, should a seated occupant lean more heavily from the right to the left side, the left side can sink down farther, and the right side rise up higher, independently. This also translates into a greater perceived pressure on left side, since the left suspension will either be compressed or stretched to a greater degree, creating more reactive upward force on the occupant's left side. The converse holds true for the right side, of course. Such designs are generally presented as improving seat occupant comfort, because of the independent yieldability of the two sides. However, the unbalanced loading created thereby and perceived by the seat occupant can detract from comfort. Variations of this basic, independent split seat suspension may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,442 issued Jul. 31, 1973 to Berg et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,485 issued Jun. 18, 1991 to Berg et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,127 issued Feb. 22, 1994 to Berg et al.

Vehicle seal cushion with passive unbalanced load compensation


A system and method for selectively granting access to a target object. In one embodiment, the system includes an object data store, an access control instruction data store, an action data store, a context, and an access determination engine. The object data store includes a plurality of hierarchically structured target objects and a plurality of hierarchically structured actor objects. The access control instruction data store includes a plurality of hierarchically structured access control instructions. The action data store comprising a plurality action objects. The context includes an actor attribute, an action attribute, and a target attribute. The access determination engine configured to selectively grant access to the target object based on a first set of access control instructions having attributes that match the context and a second set of access control instructions having attributes that are hierarchically broader than the attributes of the context.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for a hierarchical access determination system and method, and more particularly to a system and method for determining access to a target object based on an actor attribute, an action attribute and a target attribute to determine which access control instructions are relevant to a particular access request.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Conventional systems and methods are available for protecting resources or target objects from unauthorized access and manipulation. Many current systems have limited inheritance capabilities. For example, although a current directory server may enable an access control instruction ("ACI") to designate a group of targets, it is not possible to implement complex ACIs in which access rights are determined based upon the hierarchical structure of the actor data store, the action data store, and the target data store. Furthermore, current directory servers do not allow an administrator to readily extend the types of actions controlled by the system. For example, conventional directory servers enable an administrator to establish ACIs relating to a set of pre-defined actions: reading, writing, adding, deleting, searching, comparing, and self-writing. However, the systems may not be configured to enforce administrator created actions, such as a "buy_from_catalog" action.
Additionally, current directory servers are not configured to allow an administrator to establish an implication hierarchy, or a logical hierarchy relating to actions. Other limitations may exist with current access control systems.

Access control for an e-commerce application


A serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module device includes first and second electronic switches, a voltage detecting circuit, a power circuit, and an edge connector. The edge connector includes first to third power pins and first and second notches. The first power pins are connected to an input terminal of the voltage detecting circuit. An output terminal of the voltage detecting circuit is connected to first terminals of the first and second electronic switches. The second power pins are connected to the second terminal of the first electronic switch. The third power pins are connected to the second terminal of the second electronic switch. The third terminals of the first and second electronic switches are connected together and also connected to the power circuit.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module (SATA DIMM) device.
2. Description of Related Art
Solid state drives (SSD) store data on chips, replacing magnetic or optical discs. One type of SSD has the form factor of a DIMM module and is called a SATA DIMM device. The SATA DIMM device can be inserted into a memory slot of a motherboard, to receive voltages from the motherboard through the memory slot and receive hard disk drive (HDD) signals through SATA connectors arranged on the SATA DIMM device and connected to a SATA connector of the motherboard. However, a traditional SATA DIMM device have a limited number of power pins and when inserted into one of the double data rate type two (DDR2) slots and double data rate type three (DDR3) slot to receive voltages, the low power pin count may not be able to carry a high current, which may damage the SATA DIMM device. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

Serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module device

HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.


An apparatus for delivering acoustic energy to a target site adjacent a body passage includes first and second elongate members, each carrying one or more transducer elements on their distal ends. The first and/or second elongate members include connectors for securing the first and second elongate members together such that the transducer elements together define a transducer array. The first and second elongate members are introduced sequentially into a body passage until the transducer elements are disposed adjacent a target site. Acoustic energy is delivered from the transducer elements to the target site to treat tissue therein. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a tubular member and an expandable structure carrying a plurality of transducer elements. The structure is expanded between a contracted configuration during delivery and an enlarged configuration when deployed for delivering acoustic energy to a target site adjacent the body passage.

Devices and systems using acoustic energy, particularly within the ultrasonic range (acoustic waves with a frequency greater than about twenty kilohertz (20 kHz), and more typically between fifty kilohertz and five Megahertz (0.05-5 MHz)), have been used to diagnose and treat patients. For example, ultrasonic energy may be employed to obtain images of a region of a patient during a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. In addition, ultrasound systems have been used for treating tissue, e.g., by focusing acoustic energy towards a target tissue region within a patient, such as a cancerous or benign tumor, to necrose or otherwise heat the tissue region. For example, one or more piezoelectric transducers may be disposed adjacent a patient's body and used to deliver high intensity acoustic waves, such as ultrasonic waves, to an internal tissue region of a patient to treat the tissue region. An exemplary focused ultrasound ("FUS") system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,042 issued to Umemura et al.
Focused ultrasound procedures may allow a patient to be treated without requiring invasive surgery. Because ultrasonic transducers are generally disposed adjacent to the patient, however, the acoustic path to a target tissue region may be at least partially obstructed, e.g., by anatomical objects such as bones or cavities, within the patient's body. Furthermore, acoustic energy may not be adequately focused at a location deep within a body, e.g., because the resulting focal zone may be too large to provide an effective and safe treatment. As such, it is preferable to place the transducer as close to a target site as possible.
To deliver acoustic energy to locations deep within the body, it has been suggested to use natural body passages to place an acoustic transducer closer to a target site. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,954 discloses a transducer that may be inserted into the rectal canal through the rectal orifice to treat prostate cancer. Natural body passages, however, may limit the size of the transducer that may be introduced.
Generally, a relatively large transducer provides better control over the size and intensity of the resulting focal zone. The size of a transducer that may be delivered inside a body passage may be limited by the size of a body orifice at the entry point for the transducer. For example, the size of a transducer used for treating prostate cancer may be limited by the maximum perimeter of the rectal orifice.
Accordingly, apparatus and methods for delivering acoustic energy within a patient's body would be useful.

Endo-cavity focused ultrasound transducer


A toggle wrench having a first jaw fixed to a handle. A sliding jaw is slidable toward and away from the fixed jaw. The jaws have parallel pressure surfaces disposed at an angle of 30 degrees with respect to the elongation of the handle. A link is pivoted to the forward end of the lever and has a forward end pivotally attached to the sliding jaw. A carrier is positionable along the handle by a manually controllable threaded adjustment assembly mounted on the rearward end of the handle. The lever is pivotally attached to the carrier rearwardly of the forward link. A movement of the rearward end of the link toward the fixed jaw side of the handle, which causes forward movement of the link for toggle-pressing the sliding jaw toward the fixed jaw. The carrier holds the lever and link in alignment with the handle.

This invention relates generally to toggle wrenches that are operated by pressing a hand lever toward the handle and more particularly to such a toggle wrench having parallel jaws disposed at an angle of generally thirty degrees relative to the handle thereof.
In this field, wrenches mass produced have had jaws that approach a nut or bolt while being at an angle to each other. This is damaging to the nuts and bolts of good machinery.
The main object of this invention is to provide such a wrench with jaw surfaces which move in parallelism toward a nut for engaging the flat sides of the nut over broad areas.
Parallel jaw adjustable wrenches of the past have operated by the manipulation of worm gears. Such wrenches have a looseness and tend to slip off of a nut while great wrenching pressure is being applied. The suddenly released pressure causes an operator's knuckles to fly through the air, often being bodily cut on adjacent machinery and so they are nick-named "knuckle-busters".
The advantages of parallel jaws combined with the high gripping of a toggle are provided by the wrench hereof.
An earlier model, described in U.S. patent application titled PARALLEL JAW TOGGLE WRENCH WITH HOUSING, Ser. No. 07/232,591 and filed Aug. 15, 1988, the inventor being Donald J. Finn, shows a wrench having the advantages hereof with the exception that an angle of parallel jaw surfaces to handle length of substantially 30 degrees was not attainable therewith.
A hexagonal nut has tow surfaces at each corner that lie in planes 120 degrees apart and it is for that reason that the 30 degree handle angle is more effective.
Many nuts are in such tight spots that a 60 degree wrenching stroke is not possible. It is then that an approximately 30 degree angled-handle is most desirable.
This angle of approximately 30.degree. permits the wrench hereof to be used in a very tight spot in the manner of most end wrenches. This advantage was not possible with the wrench of my own earlier application because a line between the my own earlier application because a line between the hand lever pivot and the sliding jaw would have been too near to a 90 degree angle.
This problem has been solved by experiment and with concepts in the wrench hereof (a) by providing a link between the hand lever and the sliding jaw, and (b) by providing for the pivot connection between the hand lever and the link to move upwardly, not downwardly, as the hand lever is squeezed toward the desirable 30 degrees even in a workable parallel jaw toggle wrench.
The prior art has a wrench in U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,312 issued Jun. 23, 1981 to Kenneth F. Finn and titled: PARALLEL JAW TOGGLE WRENCH. It has never been marketed. It lacked the strength needed to prevent bending of parts.
The wrench hereof is distinguished by being very rigid, very strong, and without any bending, or "give" or, "springing". This is because it's special open-topped housing of U-shape forms what can be termed "THE IRON TRIANGLE" as explained herein.


Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for conveying vehicle driving information. A server computing device generates a hazard index for a plurality of road segments in a predefined coverage area. The server computing device determines a current hazard value for each of the plurality of road segments based on (i) weather conditions data associated with the road segments, (ii) road conditions data associated with the road segments, and (iii) physical attributes of the road segments. The server computing device determines a predicted hazard value for each of the plurality of road segments and assigns the present hazard value and predicted hazard value to the corresponding road segment. The server computing device receives location data associated with a remote device and transmits hazard information associated with one or more of the plurality of road segments based on the location data and the hazard index.

Reporting of current and forecast weather conditions has become one of the most important and relied-upon sources of information for many drivers in understanding and responding to hazardous driving conditions. Access to up-to-date and accurate severe weather bulletins helps a driver prepare for severe weather, plan an alternate route of travel while in his vehicle, or enables him to avoid driving altogether if the conditions are too dangerous.
Currently, a popular source of this type of driving information is the radio. Drivers tune in to local stations and receive intermittently-scheduled weather summaries for their area. While radio stations provide easy-to-understand weather reports, there is often a fairly substantial lag time between when a weather event occurs and when that event is reported over the air. Also, radio reports may not be localized to the specific road on which a driver is currently traveling. The delay can be costly to a driver who ends up in the middle of an intense thunderstorm when he could have easily altered his route upon receiving the incident information even a few minutes or seconds earlier.
Recently, more vehicles have been equipped with global positioning systems (GPS), which offer a precise depiction of the current location of the vehicle along with a representation of surrounding roads and points of interest. Most models also include audible, turn-by-turn directions to assist the driver in reaching his intended destination. Some GPS devices can also integrate limited weather information, such as radar maps, into their display. However, the data offered by GPS devices often does not display a simple message to the user as related to weather-related driving conditions.
Another drawback to the above-mentioned sources of weather information is the lack of a hazard index based on both the weather conditions, road conditions, and physical road attributes. When utilized in conjunction with weather information, road conditions and physical road attributes are a valuable factor in giving a clearer indication of the potential for hazardous driving. For example, a road facing directly toward the sun can be considered more dangerous than a road facing away from the sun. Further, a section of road composed of gravel may be considered more hazardous than a freshly-paved asphalt section. In another example, a road covered with a layer of ice or slush can be considered more dangerous than a road that is clean and dry. However, the current sources of information may not have access to road conditions data and physical road attributes data, thereby omitting a crucial factor for an accurate determination of road hazards.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for conveying vehicle driving information


An image recording apparatus according to an aspect of the invention comprises a first roller pair disposed downstream of a recording unit; a second roller pair disposed downstream of the first roller pair; an inversion guide portion that connects a downstream portion of a conveying path positioned downstream of the recording unit to an upstream portion of the conveying path positioned upstream of the recording unit; a path changeover unit configured to send the recording medium conveyed from the recording unit with a first end as a leading end to the inversion guide portion with the second end as a leading end. In a stop operation, rotation of the first roller pair and the second roller pair stops in a state where the first roller pair nips a vicinity of the second end of the recording medium and the second roller pair also nips the recording medium.

An image recording apparatus capable of performing a double-sided printing to record images on both sides of a recording sheet has been proposed (see, for example, JP-A-2001-83747). The image recording apparatus of this type feeds a recording sheet from a sheet feeding tray and conveys the fed sheet along a conveying path. An inkjet recording unit disposed along the conveying path ejects ink droplets to one side of the recording sheet, thereby recording an image. Subsequently, the recording sheet is sent back to an inversion path by a pair of discharge rollers and again fed to an upstream position (a position upstream of a recording unit) of the conveying path. The inkjet recording unit then records an image on the other side of the inverted recording sheet, and the sheet is later discharged.
The image recording apparatus described in JP-A-2001-83747 is configured to leave a recording sheet alone in a natural state on the inversion path, to thus be dried.
When a recording sheet soaked with ink droplets is dried, a curl occurs on the recording sheet, which is deformation of a sheet in the conveying direction.
In addition, the recording sheet immediately after performing the image recording is wet by the ink droplets. In order to prevent deterioration of the recorded image, one of the pair of discharge rollers is formed into the shape of a spur. However, the recording sheet wet from the ink droplets exhibits decreased stiffness and remains fragile. For this reason, a spur-shaped roller surface impresses the recording sheet, thereby leaving an imprint of the spur. The imprint of the spur left before drying of the recording sheet turns into a deformed knot, which would otherwise arise during drying of the recording sheet, whereby the number of crinkles increases.
In a case where the recording sheet with such crinkles or curl is inverted to record an image on the rear side of the sheet, when the recording sheet is again sent to the inkjet recording unit while a trailing end thereof is acting as a leading edge, the trailing end of the recording sheet may contact the inkjet recording unit, thereby causing a paper jam or blurring a recorded image.


A rope clamp is provided which is suitable either for use to hang adjustably an article suspended by a rope, or to act as an adjustable tie down. The clamp has a clamping rope channel between a pair of parallel plates. Clamping ribs are located in the rope channel to grip the rope frictionally and to narrow the channel towards its base. One plate of the pair narrows towards one end to leave exposed parts of an inner face on the other plate. Guide to maintain the rope in the rope channel are located on the exposed parts.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rope clamp which may be fixed firmly to an article such as a horizontal rail or a truck box, the rope clamp acting to clamp the rope firmly in one position while allowing easy adjustment of the rope.
2. Acknowledgement of Prior Art
Such a rope clamp may be used where frequent adjustments of the rope are required, for example for suspension of a boat fender. Boat fenders are often suspended from a horizontal rail of a boat to dangle against the side of the boat so as to protect the side of the boat from damage when approaching a dock or other structure. The length of the rope between the horizontal rail of the boat and the fender is dependent upon the level of the dock or other structure and may need adjustment for structures at different levels. Moreover, the setting of such fenders must frequently be readjusted since they are frequently untied and brought inboard when not required for use.
Another example of a situation where easy adjustment of the rope clamp is required with firm clamping of the rope between adjustments, is for progressive tightening of a tyer by means of frictional clamping of webbing positioned in a tortuous path so that, in one position, friction of the webbing against itself prevents loosening of the tyer and, in another position, the tyer may be tightened.
Various devices are available for winding webbing in a tortuous path for use as tie-downs but all of those known to the applicants require careful slotting of the webbing through a buckle in a preset path. Some devices are available as adjustable clamps for ropes. Exemplary of adjustable rope clamps are those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,498 issued to Llewellyn Parsons on Aug. 23, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,791 issued to Llewellyn Parsons on Jan. 28, 1997. Of these, U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,498 describes a rope clamp in which the rope is looped around an object and is allowed to pull freely through the clamp in one direction but is held against movement in the other direction. The rope clamp of U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,791 is a rail fender hanger which hangs loosely on a horizontal rail to adjustably clamp a rope therein.


A transient signal encoding method and device, decoding method and device, and processing system, where the transient signal encoding method includes: obtaining a reference sub-frame where a maximal time envelope having a maximal amplitude value is located from time envelopes of all sub-frames of an input transient signal; adjusting an amplitude value of the time envelope of each sub-frame before the reference sub-frame in such a way that a first difference is greater than a preset first threshold, in which the first difference is a difference between the amplitude value of the time envelope of each sub-frame before the reference sub-frame and the amplitude value of the maximal time envelope; and writing the adjusted time envelope into bitstream.

Due to the limitation of the number of bit rates for encoding speech signals and the influence of human auditory characteristics, low-frequency band information in a speech signal is always encoded first in an audio encoding algorithm. Compared with narrow-band speech, wide-band speech has the characteristics of being fuller and more natural; therefore, the acoustic quality can be improved by increasing the bandwidth for transmitting speech signals. When the number of bit rates for encoding speech signals is small, a bandwidth extension technology can be adopted to extend the bandwidth range of the speech signals and improve the quality of the speech signals.
In recent years, the bandwidth extension technology has developed significantly, and has found commercial applications in several fields, including acoustic enhancement of bass loudspeakers and high frequency enhancement of coded voice and audio.
Among current bandwidth extension methods, the encoding technology of low-frequency band information adopts existing encoding and decoding algorithms; and during the process of encoding and decoding high-frequency band information, a small number of bits are generally adopted to encode the high-frequency band information, and the high-frequency band information is recovered at a decoding end by using the correlation between the high-frequency and low-frequency bands.
In the implementation of the present invention, the inventor finds that a transient signal has the following characteristics different from those of a non-transient signal: in the time domain, the signal energy of the transient signal has a large instant change; while in the frequency domain, the frequency spectrum of the transient signal is smooth. In the prior art, the time envelope of the transient signal is not modified, and due to the influence of the processing in the signal encoding process, such as process by frame by frame, time-frequency transform, and frequency envelope, the transient signal is likely to generate a pre-echo; therefore, the prior art has the disadvantage that the effect of the transient signal recovered at the decoding end is not satisfactory.

Transient signal encoding method and device, decoding method and device, and processing system


The invention concerns the measurement of the radiant density of electron beams from shadow mask tubes. According to a known process, the beam is displaced on the screen and pictures are taken of the light spot areas, as they are detected by the effect of apertures when the beam has been displaced. The pictures are then evaluated with respect to their luminance distribution. This process requires an extraordinary number of adjustments. For that reason the invention states that the pictures are taken by an image converter camera, that light spots are produced over the entire field of view of the image converter, which serve as simulated apertures for the detection of light spot sections and that, to determine the luminous density distribution, the displacement width is selected so that the light spot sections that were detectable before a displacement step can no longer be detected after the displacement step, that the camera takes a picture before the first and after each displacement step, and that all the pictures are stored and composed into a total picture of the light spot distribution.

Terms that are used below in the presentations of the prior art and of the invention are explained first with reference to FIGS. 5a and b. FIG. 5a schematically depicts a partial plan view of the luminous screen of a color picture tube, while FIG. 5b illustrates the density distribution of an electron beam.
The luminous screen according to FIG. 5a has matrix stripes 10 and phosphor stripes 11 for three different colors, indicated by R for red, G for green, and B for blue. Associated with each color is an electron beam that is scanned in the x and y directions over the luminous screen. Electrons then penetrate, in the form of a spot 12, through a shadow mask (not depicted) and strike the luminous screen. In the example according to FIG. 5a, each spot has a height of 700 .mu.m and a width of 220 .mu.m. The vertical spacing between the beginnings of adjacent spots is 800 .mu.m, while the horizontal spacing is 260 .mu.m. However, the spots do not produce a luminous effect over their entire area, but only in that region in which a spot strikes a phosphor stripe. It should be mentioned that the aforesaid dimensions apply essentially to the center of the color picture tube. Towards the edge in the horizontal direction, the widths of the phosphor stripes get larger and the spot widths smaller. In the vertical direction, the spot widths decrease toward the edge.
While a luminous region, as just defined, is that area of the luminous screen in which an individual electron spot produces a luminous effect, a luminous segment is a portion of a luminous region that is perceptible through the hole 13 of a mask. The term "luminous domains" is used as a general term. Luminous domains can be any luminous areas, for example only portions of a segment, or a plurality of luminous segments or regions domains can be any luminous areas, for example only portions of a segment, or a plurality of luminous segments or regions together.
Drawn in FIG. 5a as a dashed segment of a circle is a line that is designed to illustrate the boundary of a stationary electron beam. This boundary is drawn at 5% of the maximum brightness of the beam. The brightness distribution is depicted in FIG. 5b. It corresponds essentially to the electron density distribution; the latter can therefore be determined by measuring the brightness distribution produced by the electron beam on the luminescent screen.
If no shadow mask were present, if the screen were homogeneously coated with phosphor, and if the electron beam were well formed, a circular electron spot would strike the luminescent screen and generate on it a circular luminous spot whose periphery would coincide with the dashed line 14 of FIG. 5a. However, only a few regions of this hypothetical luminous spot actually luminesce; these are indicated in FIG. 5a by crosshatching in the phosphor stripes G. It should be mentioned at this point that when a color picture tube is operated with a single electron beam, not all the spots 12 according to FIG. 5a are perceptible, but only those that belong to the electron beam that was just emitted, for example the one that is designed to excite luminescence in the green-emitting phosphor stripes Only those regions of these phosphor stripes that lie within the circle with the periphery 14 will in turn luminesce. In what follows, when an electron spot is discussed, it is to be understood as the electron spot that would be generated by a single electron beam if the shadow mask were absent A "luminous spot" is understood to mean the area that such a hypothetical electron spot would generate if the luminescent screen were homogeneously coated with phosphor.
In a known process for measuring electron density distribution, viewed over the cross section of an electron beam in a color picture tube, a luminous spot is observed through the mask hole 13 of FIG. 5a with a light-sensitive diode which, in some circumstances with an additional optical system, acts as a camera. The mask shields the diode from all light except that which penetrates through the mask hole 13. The electron beam is then aligned so that its center coincides with the mask hole 13 (beginning at the position in FIG. 5a, it would therefore need to be displaced slightly upward) Then the electron beam is moved horizontally and vertically under the mask hole. This produces a profile of brightness over time, as drawn in FIG. 5b as a local profile for brightness along the horizontal center line H (FIG. 5a). The brightness distribution along the vertical center line looks the same when the electron beam is circularly symmetrical.
The known process therefore possesses the following steps:
displace the electron beam; PA0 record the images of luminous spot domains that are perceptible, as the electron beam is displaced, due to the effect of a masking means; and PA0 analyze the recorded images to obtain a result concerning the luminance distribution produced by the electron beam, which is essentially identical to the electron density distribution. PA0 a masking means; PA0 a camera (19) to record the images of luminous spot domains that are perceptible due to the action of the masking means; PA0 a driving arrangement (18) to drive a deflection arrangement (17) on the color picture tube in such a way that the electron beam is displaced with respect to the camera; and PA0 an analysis arrangement (20) to analyze the images recorded by the camera, in order to obtain a result concerning the luminance distribution produced by the electron beam, which is essentially identical to the electron density distribution. PA0 the camera is an image converter camera (19) and PA0 a sequence controller (21) is present, which is designed so that PA0 to define the electron density distribution, PA0 to record the images, an image converter camera is used; PA0 to generate a simulated masking means, luminous spots are generated in the entire field of view of the image converter, and the image converter regions selected for later use are those that lie within those image converter regions in which the luminous spots are imaged, with these selected image converter regions acting as simulated masking slots of a simulated masking means through which the luminous spot segments are perceptible; and PA0 to define the electron density distribution,
The known device possesses the following features
With this process and the associated device, the mask must be aligned with the center of a phosphor stripe, and the electron beam must be moved in the x and y directions behind the mask hole so that its center coincides in each case with the center of the mask hole. These laborious alignment procedures must be repeated for each of three electron beams at different screen locations in order to examine the beam shape for an entire screen.
As is evident from the above, the problem that existed was to indicate a process and a device of the aforesaid type that requires no alignment effort.

Device and process for measuring an electron density distribution in a cathode ray tube with an image converter camera and a sequence controller