In one preferred embodiment, an electronic key, including: a housing; unlocking apparatus extending from the housing, insertable in an electronic lock to unlock the electronic lock; and optical indicia reading apparatus disposed in the housing to read optical indicia. In another preferred embodiment, a lock system, including: at least two electronic cylinder locks; and a single electronic controller to which the at least two electronic cylinder locks are operatively attached, the electronic controller being adapted to monitor usage of the at least two electronic cylinder locks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lock systems generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel, simplified, electronic lock system which is especially useful in monitoring use of the lock and eliminating unauthorized access to a locked device.
2. Background Art
Vendor enclosures (e.g., public telephones, vending machines, gaming machines, etc.) are generally divided into several compartments (e.g., a service compartment, a coin or money compartment, etc.) each with a separate lock. Access to each compartment is limited. For example, a service technician would not be allowed access to the coin area without special permission. In such situations, there are typically two keys provided, one for the money compartment and the other for the service area, for example. It is desirable to have a convenient method for auditing when the compartments have been accessed, what keys have been used, and in what sequence.
It is frequently necessary, in systems that employ locks, to collect location specific information in the field form media such as barcode labels affixed to the field device. Most collection system utilize a portable data collection device equipped with both an electronic key and a separate barcode wand. This arrangement results in the worker carrying a portable unit with two input devices connected to it, often making the unit difficult to carry and inefficient to use.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide electronic key apparatus and method for multiple locked compartments that afford easy auditing of access to the compartments.
It is a further object of the invention to provide electronic key apparatus and method for collection systems that eliminates the need for having two input devices connected to a portable control unit.
Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.
The present invention achieves the above objects, among others, by providing, in one preferred embodiment, an electronic key, comprising: a housing; unlocking means extending from said housing, insertable in an electronic lock to unlock said electronic lock; and optical indicia reading means disposed in said housing to read optical indicia. In another preferred embodiment, a lock system, comprising: at least two electronic cylinder locks; and a single electronic controller to which said at least two electronic cylinder locks are operatively attached, said electronic controller being adapted to monitor usage of said at least two electronic cylinder locks.

Electronic lock and key apparatus and method


A cooking utensil includes a body with a depressed portion, a handle extending from the body in a first direction, and a blade extending from the body in a second direction not parallel to the first direction. The body has a curved leading edge that is continuous with a lateral edge of the blade. The upper boundaries of the depressed portion of the body form a plane that makes a non-zero angle with the plane of the blade. A leading edge of the blade is sharpened to facilitate use of the utensil as a cleaver.

This invention relates generally to culinary implements, and more particularly to a utensil that performs multiple culinary tasks.
In any kitchen, whether restaurant or private, there are numerous tools designed to aid in the preparation of food. Common kitchen tools include spoons, spatulas, cleavers, and the like. The spoon has a function of scooping and retaining various foods, including gravies and other liquids. It is common for spoon to have drainage slots or holes for allowing the passage of a fluid (e.g., broth), while retaining larger pieces of solid food. A spatula is useful for turning, lifting, and transferring foods. A spatula typically has a flat blade with a leading edge that allows the blade to slip between foods and a cooking surface (e.g., the bottom of a pan or a griddle). The spatula, like the spoon, commonly contains drainage openings designed to allow liquids such as grease or oil to pass through them. A cleaver is a sharp, tall bladed knife typically used for chopping or slicing foods. The cleaver aids in the processing of foods that require a more specialized utensil than a standard knife, such as foods already being prepared in a deep pan, or foods that require more force to be chopped (e.g., hard vegetables or meats).
While each of the above described utensils is particularly useful for its intended purpose, using multiple utensils simultaneously results in many inconveniences. One problem associated with using multiple utensils is their use of kitchen space. Each utensil requires its own counter-space, to be rested on when not in use by the chef, and its own cupboard space to be stored in. Resting each utensil on the counter when cooking consumes the chef""s valuable work area, and increases the mess resulting from excess food residue on the utensils, which must be cleaned up. Furthermore, purchasing multiple utensils is costly, because well-made kitchen utensils are expensive. In addition, switching between various utensils while preparing foods consumes the chef""s valuable time. This loss of time, even if small, can cause over-cooking of certain foods and the resultant waste of food that is then not suitable for serving. All of these problems contribute to chef frustration in their attempt to timely prepare high quality food.
The use of known individual utensils also inherently limits the functionality of each particular utensil to its intended purpose, and there are some combined functions for which no utensil exists. For example, when cooking an omelet in a frying pan with a curved side, there is no known utensil for lifting and turning the omelet (e.g., spatula function) and detaching the omelet from the curved side wall of the pan. The straight leading edged of the spatula does not conform to the curved wall of the pan.
What is needed is a kitchen utensil that combines the specialized functions of various culinary implements in a single utensil, in order-to minimize the inconveniences and expense associated with using separate utensils. What is also needed is a utensil that combines the functionality of known, individual utensils into a single utensil.
The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the prior art by combining the functions of multiple culinary implements into a single, novel kitchen utensil, thus reducing the cost and inconvenience of using multiple utensils.
One particular embodiment of the present invention includes a body having a depressed portion (e.g., a spoon) formed therein, a handle extending from the body in a first direction, and a blade (e.g., a spatula) extending from the body in a second direction. Optionally, the depressed portion of the body and/or the blade defines one or more apertures to facilitate fluid flow therethrough. The handle and the blade extend in directions that are not parallel to one another. In a more particular embodiment, the handle and the blade are perpendicular to one another. Additionally, the plane of the blade forms a nonzero angle with a plane defined by the upper boundary of the depressed portion of the body (e.g., spoon lip).
The body includes a curved leading edge designed to uniformly contact a curved wall of a cooking container. In a more particular embodiment the curved leading edge of the body is detachable to facilitate the use of leading edges of varying contours.
The flat blade extending from the body includes a flat lateral edge adapted to contact the bottom surface of the cooking container. Optionally, the lateral edge of the blade is continuous with the curved leading edge of the body. In a particular embodiment the blade includes a sharpened leading edge to facilitate the chopping and slicing of foods. In addition, the sharpened leading edge of the blade facilitates the lifting of food from the bottom of a cooking container, as does the lateral edge of the blade, such that the blade can function as a spatula in either the forward or lateral direction.


A door hinge assembly is provided which includes a mounting body with a pocket for receiving an edge of a door, a clamping mechanism positioned on and securing the mounting body to the door, a pin projecting upwards from the mounting body and a bushing for receiving the pin. The bushing is mounted in a recess of a door frame and preferably includes a series of fluted ribs along its outer wall. An annular ring projects inwardly from an inner wall of the bushing. A channel on the pin receives the annular ring and retains same within the bushing.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a hinge assembly which assists in the mounting of a door, especially an unframed glass door, into a casement.
2. The Related Art
A variety of mechanisms are known for attaching hinged doors to their cabinets. Glass doors are particularly difficult to mount. In many conventional methods, the known doors suffer from a disadvantage that they cannot be easily and quickly removed from their hinges and replaced with equal ease and speed, particularly by one person.
Some of these problems have been addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,7 (Bachor). Therein is disclosed a hinge part having a receiving pocket for enclosing an edge of a glass door, which is then further secured by a clamping screw threaded through a hole in a wall of the hinge part. Protruding vertically upward from the hinge part is a post insertable into a bushing. Two elastic members with locking projections are formed within the bushing. When the post is inserted between the elastic member, the locking projections lodge within an annular groove to lockingly secure the post to the bushing.
Although U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,794 has advanced the art, there still remain technical deficiencies. The locking projections of the bushing have limited vertical play within the annular groove of the post. Vertical adjustment of the door during emplacement becomes restricted. Moreover, the locking projections are subject to wear. The described clamping screw securing the glass door to the pocket of the hinge part also may be difficult to adjust, tighten and untighten.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge assembly for mounting a door, especially an unframed glass door, into a structure opening such as a cabinet.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge assembly for mounting a door, especially an unframed glass door, into a structure opening in a manner which allows ample vertical adjustment for proper placement.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge assembly for mounting a door, especially an unframed glass door, into a structure opening which facilitates horizontal placement of the door.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge assembly for mounting a door, especially an unframed glass door, into a structure opening wherein the locking elements are less subject to wear.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a hinge assembly for mounting a door, especially an unframed glass door, in a structure opening wherein locking screws of the hinge assembly can be more readily tightened and untightened than previously possible.
Other objects of this invention will become apparent from consideration of the following summary, detailed discussion and drawings.


A substrate (e.g., a cycloalkane, a polycyclic hydrocarbon, an aromatic compound having a methyl group) is oxidized with oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalytic system comprising an imide compound of the following formula (1) (e.g., N-hydroxyphthalimide) and a co-catalyst containing a element selected from Group 3 to 12 elements (in particular, Group 4 to 11 elements) of the Periodic Table of Elements. The co-catalyst comprises a compound containing plural elements (except heteropolyacid and a combination of Group 7 and 8 elements of the Periodic Table of Elements), and is useful for the formation of an oxide (e.g., a ketone, an alcohol, a carboxylic acid): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a substituent such as a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may together form a double bond or an aromatic or nonaromatic 5- to 12-membered ring, X is O or OH, and n is 1 to 3.

An oxidation reaction is a basic reaction in the field of industrial organic chemistry, and there are a variety of known oxidation processes, in particular an oxidation process for a substrate using nitric acid. By way of illustration, adipic acid that is a raw material for the production of nylon 66 is prepared by a process of oxidizing cyclohexanol and no other, or a mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone (K/A oil) with nitric acid. An aromatic compound having a carboxyl group (e.g., benzoic acid) has been produced by a process that comprises oxidizing an aromatic compound having a methyl group (e.g., toluene) with nitric acid or dichromic acid.
Each of these processes, however, requires an expensive exhaust gas treatment plant for treatment of N.sub.2 O and NO.sub.x produced by the oxidation with nitric acid. Similarly, the case with dichromic acid requires treatment of a chromium component.
Polycyclic hydrocarbons each having a functional group in a bridgehead position are compounds applicable to many applications, and most of these compounds may be induced or derived from corresponding alcohols. In particular, polyols each substituted with hydroxyl groups on plural, i.e., two or more bridgehead positions can be advantageously employed for production of progressive materials (highly functional materials). However, it is difficult to introduce hydroxyl groups into the bridgehead positions of such chemically stable polycyclic hydrocarbons with effectiveness and high efficiency. By way of illustration, introduction of hydroxyl groups is conducted by bromination of a bridged cyclic hydrocarbon (e.g., adamantane or its derivative) with the use of excess bromine (e.g., 10 times by mole or more), and hydrolyzing the formed bromide with silver nitrate or silver sulfate in an excess amount greater than a stoichiometric amount (Chem. Ber., 92, 1629 (1959), 93, 226, 1161 (1960): J. Org. Chem., 26 2207 (1961)).
In this process, however, the reaction should be conducted over a long period at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. using a large quantity of bromine. Besides, the reaction consumes the expensive silver reagent in a large quantity. Moreover, successive bromination of two or more bridgehead positions would not be expected. In addition, since an adamantanetriol cannot be formed directly from adamantane, it has to be produced by isolation and hydrolysis of a successively highly brominated compound. Accordingly, the yield of the adamantanetriol is extremely low at about 10 to 30% [Tetrahedron Letters, 19 1841 (1967); Just. Liebigs Ann. Chem., 717 60 (1968)].
As a process for producing an adamantanediol, Japanese Patent Publication No. 16621/1967 (JP-B-42-16621) discloses that an adamantanediol is obtained by reacting adamantane with five times by mole or more of chromic acid in a concentrated acetic acid solution. However, in this technology, for a treatment of chromic component is needed, and in addition, although an adamantanediol is formed according to the process, oxidation of adamantane to a triol or higher polyol will not proceed, even when the reaction is carried out in severe conditions.
From the viewpoints of resource and environment, a preferable oxidation process is a catalytic oxidation in which molecular oxygen or air is directly used as an oxidizing agent. In page 762 of the "Lecture Draft II" (1994) of 67th Spring Annual Meeting of Chemical Society of Japan, it is reported that oxidation of an alcohol such as benzyl alcohol or benzhydrol with air using vanadomolybdophosphoriate and N-hydroxyphthalimide provides a ketone such as acetophenone or benzophenone in a high yield. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 38909/1996 (JP-A-8-38909) discloses an oxidizing a substrate with oxygen by using the oxidation catalyst comprised an imide compound (e.g., N-hydroxyphthalimide) and a transition metal compound.
The catalytic systems show high activities in an oxidation of a substrate with oxygen. However, transformation rates or conversions or selectivities sometimes deteriorate depending on spieces of catalysts. When the catalytic activities are reduced and the amount of co-catalysts used is increased, it is difficult to continue the conduction of the oxidation reaction for a long time, because that the imide compound such as N-hydroxyphthalimide is deactivated in a short time.

Oxidation catalytic system and oxidation process


An adaptor couples multiple high-voltage connector elements included on a plurality of medical electrical lead connectors to a single connector port of an implantable medical device thereby facilitating alternative high-voltage therapy vectors.

In the field of therapeutic electrical stimulation, it is often desirable to provide electrical connection of more than one lead to a single connection port of a medical device. In particular, in the field of cardiac pacing, it is sometimes necessary to provide electrical connection of two leads to a single connection port of an IMD, e.g. a cardiac pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator, such that stimulation pulses may be delivered to more than one cardiac site or across a desired vector.
Medical lead connectors have been standardized in the industry. For example IS-1 pacing/sensing connectors are available in unipolar or bipolar configurations, including one or two electrical contacts, respectively, for making connection between a unipolar pace/sense electrode or a bipolar pace/sense electrode pair and an IMD; DF-1 connectors are available for making a high-voltage connection between an IMD and a defibrillation electrode via a single a single electrical contact. Other contemplated standards define connectors for making both high-voltage and low-voltage connections between an IMD and multiple electrodes; one such standard defines a connector including two high voltage contacts and two low voltage contacts, effectively combining two unipolar DF-1 connectors and a bipolar IS-1 connector into a single connector in order to provide electrical coupling to two high-voltage electrodes and a bipolar pace/sense electrode pair carried on a single, quadripolar lead for pacing and defibrillating the heart.
Clinical experience has shown that, in some patients, an acceptable defibrillation threshold cannot be reached using two high-voltage electrodes located on a single lead. In these patients, it becomes necessary to implant more than one lead in order to create an effective vector for the delivery of defibrillation energy. It is therefore desirable to provide a medical lead adaptor that allows connection of two connectors, each including a high voltage contact, to a single connector port of an IMD.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A multiple-chip semiconductor device of the present invention comprises a first and a second leadframes. The same package envelops a power semiconductor chip mounted on a power chip mounting area in the first leadframe and a control chip mounted on a control chip mounting area in the second leadframe. In the device, the second leadframe is made of metal material which is processed easier than the first leadframe, and/or is finished thinner than the first leadframe. Thus, the multiple-chip semiconductor device can effectively dissipate the heat producing in the power semiconductor chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple-chip semiconductor device in which the same package envelop a semiconductor power chip, viz., a power transistor or a power MOSFET, and a control semiconductor chip for controlling the semiconductor power chip. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a multiple-chip semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIGS. 1 and 2 are a plan view and a cross sectional view of a conventional multiple-chip semiconductor device, respectively. The conventional multiple-chip semiconductor device is manufactured in the following manner.
A first step of fabrication is, as shown in FIG. 1, preparation of a leadframe 5 which consists of a tiebar 1 and external leads 2 to 4 extending from the tiebar 1. Of the external leads 2 to 4, the external leads 2 and 3 respectively have at their ends mounting areas 2a and 3a which respectively mount a semiconductor power chip 6 (hereinafter "power chip") and a control semiconductor chip 7 (hereinafter "control chip") which controls the power chip 6.
The power chip 6 and the control chip 7 are then attached on the mounting areas 2a and 3a. This is followed by wiring for electrically interconnecting the external leads 2 to 4, the power chip 6 and the control chip 7 with aluminum wires 8 and gold wires 9 and subsequent transfer molding for forming a monolithic resin package 10 (FIG. 1). The external leads 2 to 4 are then severed from the tiebar 1, completing the multiple-chip semiconductor device of FIG. 2. In FIGS. 1 and 2, indicated at reference numeral 11 is a through hole.
Due to the presence of the power chip 6, how to efficiently radiate heat which is developed by the power chip 6 is an important consideration in designing the multiple-chip semiconductor device described as above. To ensure efficient heat dissipation, the leadframe 5 is customarily made of a metal which has a relatively high heat conductivity, typically cooper, and finished relatively thick.
The package pin counts and the chip-feature size will undoubtedly continue to increase with improvement in capabilities of the control chip 7. Hence, to satisfy the demand, it is necessary that the leadframe 5, made of copper, is designed in fine configuration. However, the thicker the leadframe 5, the more difficult it becomes to form the leadframe 5 in fine configuration.
On the other hand, with a decrease in the leadframe thickness for easiness in fine processing, efficiency of heat radiation decreases. For multiple-chip semiconductor devices in which a thin leadframe 5 is used, serious problems arise due to heat produced in the power chip 6; the semiconductor devices will fail, or will be destructed.
The problem above is joined by another inconvenience. As described earlier, two wire bonding steps, one using the aluminum wires 8 and the other using the gold wires 9, are required to fabricate the conventional multiple-chip semiconductor device. The aluminum wires 8 are used for interconnection of the power chip 6. This is because the power chip 6 is a semiconductor element which handles large power and aluminum endures large power. The gold wires 9 are used for interconnection of the control chip 7 since interconnecting using aluminum wires is not suitable for a small and delicate chip like the control chip 7. Hence, the two wire bondings need to be performed separately and serially. A result of this is a lowered manufacturing efficiency and a prolonged manufacturing time.

Multiple-chip semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same


The present invention suppresses charges incurred by data communications. A controller transmits data values acquired by sensors to a data center at predetermined intervals. When a predetermined interval has elapsed, a data value to be transmitted is compared with the previously transmitted data value, and in the absence of a change that is equal to or more than a predetermined variation amount, this data value is not transmitted. When such a state in which data values are not transmitted continues for a predetermined interval or more, the data value is transmitted irrespective of the data value variation amount. Further, when the data value has changed abruptly, the data value is transmitted even if the predetermined interval has not yet elapsed. The present invention can be applied to a controller that transmits data values acquired by sensors to a data center for collecting these data values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing device and method, and more particularly to an information processing device and method suitable for application in a device that performs wireless packet communications.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of sensors for judging the quantities and status of predetermined materials exist. There are systems in which data values obtained by such sensors are transmitted wirelessly to a predetermined center, and then transmitted from this center to a user's computer via a network such as the Internet or the like to enable a user to view the data values obtained by the sensors.
Through the use of a system of this kind, the user is able to view data values obtained by sensors installed in remote locations by means of a computer that is in close proximity with the user, whereby the collection of various data for which sensors are employed can be performed in a straightforward manner.
In the system described above, when data values are transmitted from the sensors to the center, transmission charges apply. These charges are sometimes determined in accordance with the time interval for the transmission of the data values, and sometimes determined in accordance with the data volume of the transmitted data values. Further, connection modes include a continuous connection mode for which a state exists in which the sensors that transmit the data values and the center receiving these values are always connected (in a state of being capable of transmitting and receiving data values), and an intermittent connection mode for which a state exists in which a connection only exists while data values are being transmitted and received.
Where the state of the continuous connection mode is concerned, the receipt of data values takes place at predetermined intervals after data relating to settings for the corresponding connection is first received. For example, even when the amount of variation in the data values acquired by the sensor is zero or very small, because the transmission and receipt of data values is performed at predetermined intervals, there are problems such as an increase in the charges incurred for the transmission and receipt of the data values.
Where the state of the intermittent connection mode is concerned, because a connection is made as required, when there is a very small variation amount in the data values obtained by the sensors and the data values need not be transmitted, the transmission content can be controlled. Hence, in comparison with the state of the continuous connection mode, charges incurred by the transmission and receipt of data values can be suppressed. However, the fact that a connection is made as required means that, when a connection is required, data relating to settings for making the connection must be received on every occasion and there is therefore the problem of an increase in the charges incurred to receive the data for these settings.

Information processing device and method


Bioabsorbable polymers and copolymers having accelerated mass loss, and more particularly bioabsorbable polymers and/or copolymers blended with particles of bioabsorbable polymers as well as surgical articles made totally or in part therefrom, including both monofilament and multifilament sutures, are provided.

Polymers and copolymers of, and surgical devices made from lactide and/or glycolide and/or related compounds are well-know. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,668,162, 2,683,136, 2,703,316, 2,758,987, 3,225,766, 3,268,486, 3,268,487, 3,297,033, 3,422,181, 3,442,871, 3,463,158, 3,468,853, 3,531,561, 3,565,869, 3,597,449, 3,620,218, 3,626,948, 3,636,956, 3,736,646, 3,739,773, 3,772,420, 3,733,919, 3,781,349, 3,784,585, 3,792,010, 3,797,499, 3,839,297, 3,846,382, 3,867,190, 3,987,937, 3,878,284, 3,896,802, 3,902,497, 3,937,223, 3,982,543, 4,033,938, 4,045,418, 4,057,537, 4,060,089, 4,137,921, 4,157,437, 4,243,775, 4,246,904, 4,273,920, 4,275,813, 4,279,249, 4,300,565, and 4,744,365, U.K. Pat. or Appln. Nos. 779,291, 1,332,505, 1,414,600 and 2,102,827, D. K. Gilding et al., "Biodegradable polymers for use in surgery-polyglycolic/poly (lactic acid) homo-and copolymers: 1, "Polymer, Volume 20, pages 1459-1464 (1979), and D. F. Williams (ed.) Biocompatibility Of Clinical Implant Materials, Volume II, chapter 9: "Biodegradable Polymers" (1981).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,988 describes random copolymers containing dioxanone and up to 50 percent by weight of other copolymerizable monomers which produce non-toxic and absorbable copolymers.
As described above, bioabsorbable surgical devices, such as surgical sutures, are known in the art. A desirable characteristic of bioabsorbable devices, such as sutures, is their ability to exhibit and maintain desired tensile properties for a predetermined time period followed by rapid absorption of the mass of the surgical device (hereinafter "mass loss").
Absorbable multifilament sutures such as Dexon, Vicryl, and Polysorb commercially available from Davis & Geck (Danbury, Connecticut), Ethicon, Inc. (Sommerville, N.J.), and United States Surgical Corporation (Norwalk, Conn.), respectively, are known in the industry as short term absorbable sutures. The classification short term absorbable sutures generally refers to surgical sutures which retain about 20 percent of their original strength at three weeks after implantation, with the suture mass being essentially absorbed in the body within about 60 to 90 days post implantation.
Long term absorbable sutures are generally known to be sutures which retain about 20 percent of their original strength at six or more weeks after implantation, with the suture mass being essentially absorbed in the body within about 180 days post implantation. For example, PDS II, a synthetic absorbable monofilament suture, commercially available from Ethicon, Inc. (Sommerville, N.J.), retains about 20 to about 30 percent of its original strength at six weeks after implantation. However, PDS II exhibits minimal mass loss until 90 days after implantation with the suture mass being essentially absorbed in the body about 180 days after implantation. Maxon, commercially available from Davis & Geck (Danbury, Conn.) is another absorbable synthetic monofilament generally fitting this absorption profile.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide bioabsorbable surgical devices which exhibit and maintain tensile properties for the desired period of time while having a shorter and thus improved mass loss profile, such as a long term bioabsorbable synthetic monofilament surgical suture having tensile properties and handling characteristics comparable to PDS II, which exhibits a shorter mass loss profile.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,927 describes a process for fabricating dioxanone articles by heating a mixture of polydioxanone and finely divided sucrose or lactose nucleating agent. The '927 patent teaches that as a result of the presence of nucleating agents, the cycling time of injection molding of the polymers can be significantly reduced in many cases. However, the '937 patent does not disclose or suggest that such blends would reduce the mass loss absorption time, let alone disclose blending fine particles of fast absorbing polymers with longer term absorbable polymers to reduce the mass loss time of the longer term absorbable polymers.

Absorbable polymer blends and surgical articles fabricated therefrom


The present invention is directed to a one-transistor non-volatile DRAM cell having a two layer floating gate to allow the contents of a storage capacitor to be transferred to the floating gate during power interruptions. The first layer of the floating gate is separated from a storage node of the storage capacitor by a tunnel oxide to allow electron tunnelling between the floating gate and the storage capacitor. In another embodiment of the present invention, a dual electron injector structure is disposed between a one layer floating and the storage node to allow electrons to be injected between the floating gate and the storage node. In another embodiment of the present invention, an erase gate is implemented to remove the charge on the floating gate. The erase gate can be separated from the floating gate by a tunnel oxide or a single electron injector structure to allow electrons to travel from the floating gate to the erase gate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to non-volatile semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly, to a DRAM cell having a tunnel oxide or dual electron injector structure disposed between a storage node and a floating gate for non-volatile data retention during power interruptions in a compact one transistor structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell is very fast and compact but its contents must be refreshed periodically. In addition, a DRAM cell may be referred to as a volatile cell since information stored in the cell is completely lost when the power supply voltage applied to the memory cell is interrupted or turned off. As a result, when there is a power failure, information stored in present day random access memories is lost. Thus, there is a need for non-volatile dynamic random access memories (DRAM) in the electronic industry.
In contrast with volatile memory cells, the contents of a non-volatile memory cell, such as an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) cell, are preserved when the power supply is turned off. However, existing EEPROM cells are much slower than DRAM cells and are subject to wear each time information is written into the cell. Thus, EEPROMs cannot be used as the main memory of a computer.
To overcome the limitations of DRAMs and EEPROMs, various non-volatile RAM cells which merge DRAM and EEPROM cells together have been proposed. For example, in an article entitled "A New Architecture for the NVRAM--An EEPROM Backed-Up Dynamic Ram", by Y. Terada et al., IEEE J. Solid State Circuits, 23(1): p. 86 (1988), a DRAM cell is electrically coupled with an EEPROM cell to provide a non-volatile RAM cell. This cell consists of four n-channel transistors and a capacitor. In this cell, data can be transferred from DRAM to EEPROM in parallel for all cells. A similar non-volatile RAM cell that also allows the simultaneous transfer of the entire DRAM data to EEPROM is disclosed in an article entitled "A Novel NVRAM Cell Technology for High Density Applications" by Y. Yasmauchi et al., IEDM, p. 416 (1988). In this non-volatile RAM cell, a standard DRAM cell is electrically coupled with a conventional FLOTOX EEPROM cell. The cell consists of two transistors, a memory transistor having a floating gate and a storage capacitor. In an article entitled "Dynamic Non-Volatile and Electrically Erasable Read-Only Memories" by H. L. Kalter et al., IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, p. 540 (1982), a DRAM cell is made non-volatile by utilizing a four terminal floating gate device and a dual electron injector structure (DEIS) between the floating gate and a first control gate. A similar non-volatile DRAM cell is disclosed in an article entitled "Non-Volatile Dynamic Random Access Memory Cell with Built-In Boosting" by B. A. Kaufman et al., IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, p. 1182 (1985). In addition to using a DEIS stack between the floating gate and the control gate, this non-volatile DRAM cell utilizes a DEIS stack between a boost plate and the storage plate of an integrated voltage-boosting capacitor. Although all of the above non-volatile DRAM cells overcome some of the limitations of DRAMs and EEPROMs, they have more complicated cell structures, require larger cell areas and more complicated fabrication processes than existing DRAM cells.
One device dynamic volatile memory cells having the capability of storing data non-volatilely are known. For example, in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,471, there is disclosed a one device non-volatile DRAM cell which requires a DEIS between a floating gate and a transfer gate. This device uses the floating gate for storing information non-volatilely during power failure and utilizes the DEIS stack over the transfer gate for data recovery after resumption of power. A main disadvantage of this cell is that since the DEIS stack is located on the bit line side of the cell, data cannot be transferred from the DRAM to the floating gate in parallel in all cells. The data first has to be read out by turning on the transfer transistor and reading the voltage on the bit line. Next, depending on the contents, the programming voltage has to be applied on the bit line one cell at a time which is very time consuming. Thus, there is a need to develop a non-volatile DRAM cell which overcomes the limitations of DRAMs and EEPROMs in a compact simplified cell structure that can be fabricated with simplified fabrication techniques.

International Business Machines Corporation


Thermal ink jet apparatus includes an ink jet pen with a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. Associated with each nozzle is a first resistor and second resistor. A feed channel introduces a quantum of ink into thermal communication with each first resistor and second resistor. The quantum of ink requires a level of applied thermal energy of E.sub.min to be caused to be ejected from the associated nozzle. An X-Y matrix drive circuit selectively applies a half-select address current to a first resistor and a half-select address current to a second resistor, both resistors located at a common nozzle. Each half-select current is insufficient to cause a resistor to emit E.sub.min thermal energy, but both half-select currents cause the first and second resistors to couple at least E.sub.min of thermal energy to the co-located quantum of ink so as to enable an ejection thereof.

Thermal ink jet pens commonly utilize heater resistors that are placed on a common substrate and are aligned with individual ink reservoirs and corresponding ink ejection nozzles. The heater resistors are electrically driven by conductive traces which are photolithographically formed on the surface of a suitable resistor material, such as tantalum-aluminum. The heater resistors are isolated from the overlying ink reservoir by an inert dielectric material.
To reduce the number of conductors required to drive the heater resistors, the prior art has combined the resistors with diodes to enable the resistors to be formed into an X-Y matrix which is, in turn, driven by a multiplexing circuit. Such an arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,853 to Hackleman et al., assigned the same Assignee as this patent application. U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,246 to Dunn, assigned to the same Assignee as this patent application, describes a technique for configuring such an X-Y electrical multiplexing arrangement so as to enable highly dense packing of the heater resistors. In each reference, a single resistor is employed per ink jet ejection nozzle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,425 to Yeung, assigned to the same Assignee as this patent application, shows a further X-Y addressing matrix for plural ink jet heater resistors. Yeung describes a circuit which addresses the problem of parasitic voltages which appear across non-addressed heater resistors when plural addressed heater resistors are subjected to drive voltages. The parasitic voltages result from current flowing through non-addressed resistors along alternate paths between a drive voltage source and electrical ground. The preferred embodiment disclosed by Yeung drives each heating element in the matrix with a specified voltage and applies constant voltages across non-addressed heating elements, thus limiting the variations in total power dissipation of all heating elements. The power dissipated by each non-addressed heating element is less than or equal to 1/4 of the power that is dissipated by an addressed heating element, thus reducing the danger of misfiring in any particular print head design.
Notwithstanding the success of prior art ink jet driving apparatus and circuitry, there is a continuing demand to achieve both simplification of the driving circuitry and reduced cost. Further, there is a need to assure that whatever driving technique is utilized enables reliable operation of the ink jet pen.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for selecting and driving individual ink jet nozzles.
It is another object of this invention to provide a simple structure that enables an X-Y multiplexed drive circuitry to selectively address ink nozzles.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for controlling addressing of individual ink jet nozzles.

Thermal ink jet with half-select thermal addressing


A water-softening system includes a filter device including filter units that are provided in at least some of a plurality of supply channels arranged in parallel to supply raw water to a consumption site and that remove at least part of ionic matter contained in supplied raw water by electro-deionization and discharge soft water containing less ionic matter than the raw water, a plurality of supply valves provided in the plurality of supply channels to open or close the supply channels, and a processor connected to the filter device and the plurality of supply valves. The processor determines whether water is supplied to the consumption site and controls at least one of the plurality of supply valves to remain open to maintain a state in which water is allowed to be supplied to the consumption site, when it is determined that no water is supplied to the consumption site.

A water-softening system of a Point of Entry (PoE) type is a system that produces soft water from raw water and supplies the soft water to a consumption site. The consumption site may be a house. The soft water supplied to the consumption site is delivered to a faucet, a shower head, or the like for use.
When water is used in the consumption site, water is automatically supplied to the consumption site through the water-softening system by water pressure of raw water delivered from a water source to the consumption site. That is, the water-softening system cannot determine when to supply water to the consumption site.
The water-softening system needs to recognize when water is supplied to the consumption site. This is because when water is supplied to the consumption site, the water-softening system has to be controlled to produce soft water from raw water.
As foreign matter is accumulated or adsorbed in the water-softening system, a capability to produce soft water may be degraded, and impurities may be mixed with soft water. Accordingly, treatment is required to return the capability to produce soft water to the original state and remove impurities that are likely to be mixed with soft water.
Meanwhile, water may be used in the consumption site even while the treatment is performed. To sufficiently deliver water to the consumption site irrespective of the treatment, the water-softening system needs to consistently determine whether water is used in the consumption site and needs to supply water even while the treatment is performed.


A projector slide apparatus for use in a duplex optical chart projector of the type used by optometrists and eye care professionals. The apparatus is insertable into and capable of variable movement within the optical chart projector towards combined simultaneous projection of indicia from an optical acuity chart slide onto a display screen; at different acuity diffusion levels for further testing, evaluating and measuring of the capabilities and sensitivities of the patient's eye.

The present invention relates in general to optical projector slides for use in optical chart projectors used by optometrists and other eye care specialists and, in particular, to a projector slide apparatus for altering the visual contrast background of the symbols or characters located on an optical acuity slide which is being projected through such optical chart projectors onto a display screen towards testing, evaluating and measuring the capabilities of a patient's eye.
For years optometrists and eye care specialists have been utilizing duplex optical chart projectors for analyzing the capabilities of a patient's eyes. Such projectors generally contain areas for insertion of two slides which, when used in combination, simultaneously project through an optical chart projector onto a screen so that a patient can read back to the optometrist what he or she was seeing on the screen. The eye care specialist would then interpret the results towards providing the patient consultation in hopes of diagnosing the patients eye deficiency and therefore bettering the patient's eye sight.
Commonly used within the optical chart projector is a optical acuity slide which contains various symbol and character charts that have different dimensions in not only height and width, but also thickness. Light is transmitted by the optical chart projector through the optical acuity slide so that the symbols or characters are projected onto a display screen. The number of symbols and characters from the optical acuity slide that the patient can read from the screen determines the keenness of the patient's eye sight. Generally speaking, the more of the symbols or characters a patient can read, the better the patient's eye sight may be.
A second slide, known as the horizontal selector slide, is used to test a patient's color perception as well as to isolate various sections of a portion of chart located on the optical acuity slide. A conventional horizontal selector slide has three apertures through which both light and the optical acuity slide may be projected onto the display means. The first aperture in such a horizontal selector slide is a substantially thin, open rectangular aperture which allows the optometrist or eye care specialist to isolate a column or vertical portion of the selected symbols or characters from the optical acuity slide as projected on the display screen. The second aperture is an open aperture utilized to project a full frame of selected portions of the selected symbols or characters of the optical acuity slide onto the display screen.
The final aperture generally found in the horizontal selector slide contains a colorized film, half of which is red and half of which is green, both of which are disposed vertically. The utilization of such film allows for a duochrome test to be performed. The duochrome test permits the optometrist or eye care specialist to test the patient's eyes for color blindness. In contrast to the vertically movable optical acuity slide, such horizontal selector slides are commonly configured for insertion and movement within optical chart projectors in a horizontal manner.
By using the two slides in combination within the optical chart projector, the optometrist or eye care specialist can test many aspects of the human eye. However, these slides do not allow for the testing or measuring of the contrast sensitivity of the patient's eye. Although not widely publicized, the contrast sensitivity of a patient's eye may be clinically significant. Contrast sensitivity testing allows the eye care specialist to detect a cataract, especially incipient cataracts, at earlier stages, as they are forming on the patient's eye. Such contrast sensitivity testing also allows for an earlier determination of when contact lenses are becoming soiled or film-coated. Both cataracts and soiled contact lenses can cause blurred vision and, in more serious cases, may lead to lack of vision.
Currently, such contrast sensitivity testing is only accomplished by providing another set of characters on the optical acuity slide. These characters are "fuzzied" or faded in varying degrees with respect to the normal characters on the optical acuity slide. In order to test contrast sensitivity of the patient, the optometrist or eye care specialist selects the fuzzied or faded characters from the optical acuity slide and projects them onto the display screen which the patient then attempts to read. However, this manner of testing patient's eye does have drawbacks. The incandescent light bulb used in most optical chart projectors does not provide a uniform amount of light to the optical acuity slide. Therefore, the light transmitted through the optical acuity slide onto the display screen may already incorporate a varying degree of contrast. The additional change of contrast embodied by the fuzzied of faded characters on the optical acuity slide has the consequence of causing any measurements taken by the optometrist or eye care specialist to be less precise. Any additional adjustments that may be made in order to compensate for the lack of precision, only makes the procedure more cumbersome and burdensome to both the eye care specialist and the patient. This difficulty in measuring the contrast of the characters as displayed on the screen has prevented the proliferation of such testing within the industry.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a projector slide apparatus that can be utilized in an optical chart projector, in combination with a single optical acuity slide for use in testing the contrast sensitivity of the patient's eye--while offering a greater degree of flexibility in testing acuity diffusion distinctions in all acuity chart portions.
It is additionally an object of the invention to standardize the contrast transmission of the symbols or characters from the optical acuity slide onto the display screen.
Still further an object of the invention, is to incorporate in a single slide the contrast sensitivity testing process as well as the duochrome and other testing processes currently performed on the optical acuity slide as projected onto the display screen.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in the light of the present specification and drawings.


A tabbing machine for applying adhesive tabs over the edge of an article comprises a feed mechanism for advancing tabs from a roll of tape past a tab discharge station. A tab applicator station located downstream of the tab discharge station functions to press the adhesive surfaces of a tab carried by the lead edge of an article to be tabbed which is moved past the applicator station. The device includes a control mechanism having a first photo sensor which senses the presence or absence of an article to be tabbed and a second photo sensor downstream of the first photo sensor for sensing a tab positioned at a tab discharge station. The sensors are interconnected in such manner that the tape drive mechanism for feeding tabs can be energized only when the infeed table is clear of an article to be tabbed and when no tab is located at the discharge station. The position of a tab relative to an article to be tabbed is controllable responsive to adjustment of the second or tab locator sensor.

The present invention is directed to a tabbing device, namely, an apparatus for placing adhesive backed tabs over the lead edge of envelopes or similar flat articles such as thin packets. The invention is more particularly directed to a tabber device intended for use in small offices, in house mail departments, etc., as opposed to high volume automatic feed industrial tabbers. Still more particularly, the invention is directed to a tabber device having fail safe features and also being capable of adjustably positioning the tab which is applied such that the degree of overlap of the tab with respect to the lead surface of an article can be reliably controlled. The invention is further directed to a tabbing device which is automatically adjusted to apply tabs of different sizes.


A mold assembly for footwear components is cast as a collection of mold elements having integral attachment members. Attachment members of separate mold elements may then be joined by, e.g., welding. Handles may also be formed into one or more mold elements as part of the casting process. Outsole negatives are juxtaposed with templates for attachment tabs and/or handles and used to form ceramic casting molds. The ceramic casting molds can then be used to cast individual mold elements.

Molding is a common method used to manufacture a large variety of items. In many cases, a mold includes several pieces which must fit together in order to define the mold volume (i.e., the space to be filled with plastic or other material being molded into a manufactured part). In some cases, a single mold may actually include elements used to mold several parts. One example is a mold used to form outsoles for a pair of shoes. Such a mold is used to simultaneously mold the upper and lower surfaces of two outsoles—a right shoe outsole and a left shoe outsole. Conventional outsole molds can include two mold halves. The first mold half is used to mold the upper surfaces of a pair of outsoles. The second mold half mates with the first half, and is used to mold the lower surfaces of the outsole pair. Each mold half has traditionally been cast as a single piece of steel or other metal, and can be quite heavy.
The location of the parting line can be important when molding shoe outsoles. As is known in the art, the parting line is where portions of a mold meet and seal. Because the seal is often not perfect, a small amount of molded material will often seep through the parting line and leave "flash" on the molded part. Removing flash from a molded part requires extra labor and increases manufacturing cost. Even in the absence of flash, however, a molded part often has a noticeable ridge that corresponds to the parting line. For these reasons, it is advantageous to construct the mold so that the parting line is in a less noticeable location. For outsoles, this often means locating the parting line along an upper edge of the outsole. This upper edge sometimes follows a complex curve.
Beyond being heavy and cumbersome, conventional outsole molds can be expensive and time-consuming to fabricate. In particular, achieving a desired parting line often requires significant hand finishing work after the mold halves are cast. Because of the large amounts of metal used to cast conventional outsole molds, forming the parting line as part of the casting process is difficult. In particular, the large metal volume of a cast mold half holds substantial heat, and significant warpage can occur as the cast mold cools. In order to reduce this warpage, the size of the mold could be reduced by, e.g., separating the upper and lower halves into smaller separate left and right elements. However, this presents additional challenges. For example, joining multiple smaller elements together can introduce additional manufacturing steps into the mold making process.

Method of making a multi-element mold assembly for, E.G., footwear components


An object is to provide a support for image-recording material excellent in dimension stability and smoothness, a manufacturing process of the support, and an image-recording material which employs such support and which can obtain a high quality image. Accordingly, provided is a support for an image-recording material which comprises at least a sheet of raw paper wherein a pressure drying treatment is performed at a temperature of from 100° C. to 200° C. on the raw paper sheet having a water content of from 30% to 70%, while applying pressure to a surface of the raw paper sheet on which an image-recording layer is to be formed, and a calender treatment is carried out afterwards using at least one calender.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to supports for an image-recording material which have better density, elasticity modulus, tensile strength, strength, and the like; which are excellent in dimension stability and smoothness; and with which curling is less likely to occur, compared with conventional supports. The present invention also relates to processes for manufacturing such supports for an image-recording material and to image-recording materials using such supports thereby being capable of forming high quality images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in a process of fast and efficient papermaking, a sheet of paper is dried as it passes through a number of cylindrical driers while being tensioned in a vertical direction (the direction of papermaking) and contracting freely in a horizontal direction. Accordingly, when such a sheet of paper is subjected to a change of humidity, it tends to contract or expand largely in the horizontal direction. Therefore, when the sheet of paper is used as a support and information is recorded for example in a form of a photograph, curling occurs and provides a disadvantage of not being able to obtain a high quality image.
To solve this issue, transfer paper for electrophotography proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 01-292354 (Japanese Patent (JP-B) No. 2739160) is manufactured using a so-called Yankee paper machine which does not tension in the vertical direction during the drying process and can restrict the drying contraction in both vertical and horizontal directions so that even if the transfer sheet is subjected to a humidity change after it is dried, the rate of contraction is small, its smoothness is excellent, and a degree of curling is small.
However, when a sheet of paper is manufactured using a Yankee paper machine as in JP-A No. 01-292354, the freeness of pulp is generally limited to a range of from 400 ml to 600 ml Canadian Standard Freeness (C.S.F.) and many other papermaking conditions such as papermaking speed are limited, resulting in very strict limitation on manufacturing.
On the other hand, a treatment in which a sheet of paper is dried while being pressurized (hereinafter may be referred to as pressure drying treatment or press dry treatment) is expected to provide higher strength, elasticity modulus, density and the like, and such process is currently under development (T. Kadoya et al., Seishi Kagaku [Science of papermaking] (Tokyo: Chugai Sangyo Chosakai, 1982), pp. 174-177). In addition, JP-A Nos. 2000-500536 and 07-91829 (JP-B No. 3041754) propose web pressure drying apparatuses which perform thermal drying of a fiber web with a press dry treatment and provide less limitations when used in a manufacturing line.
However, Seishi Kagaku does not disclose nor suggest specific conditions or the like for a press dry treatment. Moreover, JP-A Nos. 2000-500536 and 07-91829 only disclose press dry apparatuses and they do not disclose nor suggest a relationship between a press dry treatment and a support for an image-recording material. Therefore it is difficult to predict that a press dry treatment is applicable to a support for an image-recording material and that a high quality image can be formed.

Support for image-recording material, process for manufacturing thereof, and image-recording material


A tracheal tube ventilation apparatus to more effectively remove expired gases. In one preferred embodiment, one or more leak holes are created in the side walls of an endotracheal tube so that expired gases can leak out of the endotracheal tube above the larynx, such as into the back of the mouth (i.e., oropharynx). Each leak hole might advantageously have a diameter between 0.5 and 4.0 mm. In another preferred embodiment, a tube is attached to a proportionately larger leak hole (e.g., up to 8.0 mm) so that the expired gases can be directed away from the leak hole to a specific location, such as directed out of the mouth. In the case of mechanically controlled ventilation, a positive end expiratory pressure can be applied to this tube to mechanically assist with the process of exhaling. In each of these embodiments, it is preferred, but not required, that the endotracheal tube be an ultra-thin walled, two stage tube so as to further assist in the reduction of resistance to the flow of oxygen/air.

Through injury or diseases, human or animal lungs can become too weak to sustain a sufficient flow of oxygen to the body and to remove adequate amounts of expired carbon dioxide. Under these circumstances, it is often necessary to aid the lungs through forms of mechanical assistance, such as mechanical ventilation.
In a common form, mechanical ventilation involves the introduction of an endotracheal tube and, in some cases, a small, open-ended catheter within that tube, into the trachea of a human or animal. The distal ends of the endotracheal tube and/or catheter are positioned to rest at or slightly above the carina of the lungs. A well-humidified oxygen/air mixture is then introduced through the endotracheal tube and/or catheter to provide oxygen to the lungs. In less severe circumstances, the oxygen/air mixture can be supplied through the endotracheal tube and/or catheter using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Where CPAP is used, the patient will use his or her own lung power to exhale the expired gas. In more severe circumstances, it is necessary to use mechanically controlled ventilation with a positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP).
One of the drawbacks of inserting an endotracheal tube and/or catheter into the trachea of a patient is that it reduces the lumen of the tracheal passageway and thus, without mechanical assistance, would make it more difficult for the patient to breathe. This situation is exacerbated if the endotracheal tube has a thick wall. To the extent the endotracheal tube and/or catheter is removing space from the tracheal passageway, it increases airway resistance. This airway resistance can be reduced by increasing the internal diameter of the endotracheal tube, but at a cost of increasing dead space where expired carbon dioxide gas can accumulate and be inhaled during the next breath.
There have been a number of attempts in the art to alleviate these airway resistance and dead space problems. In the inventor's earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,127, which is incorporated herein by reference, a two stage ultra-thin walled endotracheal tube is disclosed which fits snugly against the contours of the trachea and uses a thin reinforcing wire to allow the endotracheal tube to be formed as thinly as possible. The ultra-thin walled endotracheal tube is effective in lowering the airway resistance as compared with thicker conventional endotracheal tubes. Also, in the inventor's earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,714, a method is disclosed for preventing the distal end of an endotracheal tube catheter from becoming clogged with mucus and thereby unable to deliver fresh air to the lungs. By assuring that fresh air is delivered to the lungs, this invention reduces endotracheal tube dead space. While these inventions certainly represent important steps in the development of the tracheal ventilation art, more can still be done to address the airway resistance and dead space problems.

Endotracheal tube using leak hole to lower dead space

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health & Human Services


The invention concerns an elastic coupling device comprising a first cylindrical part (46), a second cylindrical part (47), at least partly tubular and enclosing the first part with its tubular part and provided with internal teeth (9), at least an elastic means (12) mounted inside the first part in a housing (11) and operating in substantially radial compression, at least a pinion (7) mounted in the first part and meshing with the teeth of the second part to drive a compression means (5) for the elastic means, the compression means consisting advantageously of a clamp. Said construction is particularly compact. Said device combined with rotation detecting means can constitute a torque sensor.

The subject of the invention is an elastic coupling device for connecting two pieces in rotation.
Such a device is, in particular, for connecting the output of a tubular motor to the winding tube of a roller shutter or the like, for example as provided in document EP-A-0 135 731 for winding an awning. The elastic coupling allows the motor to turn for a few moments longer when the awning reaches the top stop before the stop device reacts. This makes it possible to absorb variations in length of the fabric of the awning and to guarantee a stop position against the stops.
In the roller blind described in document EP-A-0 684 362, an elastic coupling makes it possible to maintain a pressure on a lock, this pressure being necessary for its proper operation.
In the stop device for the roller shutter described in document DE 44 40 449, a clearance wheel is provided, which allows detection of the moment when the shutter encounters an obstacle by means of observation of the rotation of the winding shaft relative to the shaft for entraining the winding shaft. An elastic coupling could be used instead of the clearance wheel.

Elastic coupling device for connecting two rotating parts


A method for deep-packet inspection of packets flowing through an end unit in a point-to-multipoint network. The method comprises classifying packet flows through the end unit using their flow-identification (ID) to determine which of the packet flows should be deep-packet inspected, wherein the packet flows include incoming packets received from a central unit and outgoing packets sent to the central unit of the point-to-multipoint network; duplicating packets determined to be deep-packet inspected; saving all duplicated packets in a memory; upon collection of a predefined number of duplicated packets belonging to a certain flow-ID, performing deep-packet processing based on at least one deep-packet inspection application; and saving the deep-packet processing results in the memory.

Deep packet inspection (DPI) is a technique of a network packet filtering that examines the payload and in some cases header of a packet, when the packet reaches an inspection module. The DPI technique has many applications including, for example, advanced network management services, security (e.g., malware and spam detection), data mining, eavesdropping, censorship, and the like. The packet inspection can be performed from Layer 2 through Layer 7 of the open system interconnection model (OSI) model. This includes inspection of one or more of headers, data protocol structures, and payload of the message. The layer or layers and the content within a packet being inspected depend on the application. As an example, for a data mining or eavesdropping application, the DPI may include searching for keywords in packets carrying layer 7 protocols' data. Examples for such protocols include hypertext transfer protocol (HTT), simple mail transfer protocol, instant-messaging protocols, and the like.
In conventional communication systems, the packets, filtering, classification, and inspection is performed by DPI systems. In point-to-multipoint networks, DPI systems are typically deployed near to a central node (e.g., line terminal node, switchboard, data center, etc.) or as a proxy between user nodes and the central node. This requires the DPI system to receive all traffic flows between all user nodes and the central node, process the traffic, and relay the inspected traffic by the DPI system back to the network.
Examples for possible deployments of a DPI system are illustrated in FIG. 1 where a point-to-multipoint network 100 is shown. The system 100 includes M end-units 120-1 through 120-M (collectively end units 120) connected to a central unit 130 via a network 140. The network 140 facilitates the communication between the end-units 120 and the central unit 130. The network 140 may be realized as multiple optical connections between the end-units 120 and the central unit 130. Thus, exemplary network 100 may be a passive optical network (PON).
In the network 100, a DPI system 150 is connected to the central unit 130. The DPI system 150 taps traffic flows between the end-units 120 and the OLT 130 and processes such traffic, in real-time, for deep-pack inspection purposes, e.g., to identify information of interest to a user of the DPI system 150.
Regardless of the deployment of the DPI system, the operation of such system, specifically those designed for data mining, eavesdropping, and censorship applications, is intrusive. That is, a packet sent from an end-unit 120 is inspected by the DPI system 150. With this aim, the packet is first terminated by the central unit 130 and then mirrored to the DPI system 150. As a result, the communication latency between the central unit 130 and end-units 120 is significant.
Furthermore, the DPI system (e.g., system 150) should process all packets flowing from all end-units 120 to central node 130, thus the DPI system should handle vast amount of data. Thus, a conventional DPI system is typically a complex processing machine that should have powerful processing capabilities. Hence, conventional DPI systems are also costly.
Other techniques for tapping users' traffic include an Ethernet hub connected to an end-unit that replicates Ethernet frames. The duplicated Ethernet frames are forwarded to a DPI system for further processing. Such solutions replicate all Ethernet frames, thus still require utilizing DPI systems having powerful processing capabilities. Further, inspection of frames are limited to Layer 2 inspection, hence information encapsulated in higher layers cannot be evaluated.
Therefore, it would be highly advantageous to provide a DPI solution that overcomes the deficiencies noted above.

Method and system for performing distributed deep-packet inspection


Provided is an electrode assembly, and more particularly, an electrode assembly having a structure wound in a state, in which a plurality of unit cells having a stacking structure is disposed on a long sheet type separation film, and including the unit cells having two or more types of configurations of electrode materials, wherein a separator stacked on the unit cell having a stacking structure has a coating material coated on both sides thereof and the long sheet type separation film has a coating material coated on one side thereof. According to the present invention, an electrode assembly improving processability of preparation of a battery while reducing initial resistance during the preparation of the battery as well as having battery lifetime equivalent to that of a conventional battery and a lithium secondary battery including the electrode assembly may be provided.

In line with increasing technological development and demand relating to mobile devices, demand for secondary batteries has also been rapidly increased. Among the secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries having high energy density and operating voltage and excellent preservation and lifetime characteristics have been widely used as energy sources of various electronic products as well as various mobile devices.
A lithium secondary battery uses metal oxide such as LiCoO2 as a positive electrode active material and a carbon material as a negative electrode active material, a porous polymer separator is disposed between a negative electrode and a positive electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution containing a lithium salt such as LiPF6 functions as a medium in which lithium ions move between the negative electrode and the positive electrode. The lithium secondary battery must be basically stable in an operating voltage range of the battery, must have high charge and discharge efficiencies, and must have an ability to transfer ions at a sufficiently high rate.
A lithium secondary battery having an operating voltage of 3.6 V or more is used as a power source of a portable electronic device or a plurality of the lithium secondary batteries is connected in series to be used in a high-power hybrid vehicle. Since an operating voltage of the lithium secondary battery is three times higher than that of a nickel-cadmium battery or nickel-metal hydride battery and energy density characteristics per unit weight are also excellent, the lithium secondary battery has a tendency to be used widely. In the lithium secondary battery, coating of a polymer separator may be performed in order to increase adhesion to an electrode while maintaining safety of a cell, high-temperature storage performance, and high-temperature cycle performance. However, this may cause an increase in initial resistance of the battery.

Electrode assembly and lithium secondary battery including the same


A vehicle positioning switch such as a power seat switch is disclosed that combines two separate switch packages (seat switch and memory seat switch) into one switch package without significantly changing the seat switch package size. This simplifies wiring complexity, packaging and reduce costs to the customer and manufacturer. The switch is the integration of a memory seat switch into an eight way seat switch package. By mounting three tact switches to a memory PC board and attaching the PC board assembly to the front cover, separate memory functions are integrated into the seat switch package. The front cover now also serves as the guidance system for the memory buttons. The PC board is connected to the electrical distribution system by a wire harness that is routed around the actuator plate and circuit plate of the manual switch and connected directly to a motor control module.

Providing a memory function to vehicle component positioning systems has gained wide acceptance in recent years. The memory function allows a particular rider to tailor the position of a vehicle component, such as the seat, mirrors, etc. to the position desired for that individual. The memory system will typically allow selection and storage of desired positions for at least two individuals.
While memory functions are gaining wide acceptance, the optional provision of the memory function complicates assembly. Positioning systems that do not include the memory function must still be provided. The memory function is typically provided as an option, and a large percentage of the positioning systems are still assembled without the memory function.
Older prior art controls used to provide the memory function include a separate memory positioning control in addition to a non-memory positioning control. Different tooling and assembly steps must be made available to the assembler for incorporation of the non-memory and the memory controls.
More recent developments provide an optional memory function by a universal positioning switch control board which also controls the manual positioning function. The control board incorporates a circuit board that may optionally receive a piggy-back memory pack. The control board includes connections to be connected to a wire harness extending between the control board and the positioning motor control. The memory pack is attached to the same circuit board that controls the manual switch. Memory signals pass from the memory switch through the circuit board to the motor control. The memory pack plugs into a well adjacent to the manual positioning switch. When the memory option is not utilized, a cover for the manual switch covers and encloses the well.
This arrangement, while being an improvement, still requires positioning switch controls which are not easily pre-assembled. The switch still requires a number of tools and distinct assembly steps. The manual switch circuit board also must be modified to receive the piggy-back memory pack. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,592.


A method for suppressing isomerization of an olefin metathesis product produced in a metathesis reaction includes adding an isomerization suppression agent that includes nitric acid to a mixture that includes the olefin metathesis product and residual metathesis catalyst from the metathesis reaction under conditions that are sufficient to passivate at least a portion of the residual metathesis catalyst. Methods of refining a natural oil are described.

The olefin metathesis reaction is a highly versatile and powerful technique for the synthetic preparation of alkenes. Transition metal carbene complexes—particularly those incorporating ruthenium—are popular catalysts for metathesis. However, the yield of certain desired metathesis products can be significantly reduced by double bond isomerization. This is typically the result of residual metathesis catalyst and/or its byproducts being present in the reaction mixture. This problem becomes particularly acute if the metathesis mixture is heated and/or distilled in the presence of residual catalyst.
In view of this problem, it is oftentimes necessary to remove residual metathesis catalyst from an olefinic metathesis product (or otherwise passivate the residual catalyst) prior to subjecting the olefinic metathesis product to further chemical reactions and/or processing. One approach, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,019 B1, has been to add tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THMP) to the reaction mixture as an isomerization inhibitor. Unfortunately, the commercial availability and pricing of THMP are not viable on an industrial scale. Moreover, although THMP can be prepared from precursor salts, such as tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS) or tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride (TKC), the conversion involves generation of formaldehyde—a known human carcinogen—as a byproduct. In addition, if pH is not strictly controlled during the formation of THMP (e.g., if conditions become too basic), explosive hydrogen gas has been known to form.
An isomerization suppression agent that efficiently passivates residual metathesis catalyst present in admixture with olefinic metathesis product, and which is readily available on a commercial scale but does not produce carcinogenic by-products and/or involve the formation of explosive hydrogen gas is needed.

Methods for suppressing isomerization of olefin metathesis products


The present invention provides for a hose reel assembly structured for ease of use and maintenance. The hose reel assembly includes a folding crank handle, having an easily accessible and identifiable release, an easily released water system, and an autotrack device that is easily engaged/disengaged. By improving the ease of use of such components, the amount of wear and tear on the hose reel is reduced and the life of the hose reel is extended.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hose reels and, more specifically, to a hose reel structured for ease of use and maintenance.
2. Background Information
Hose reel assemblies are devices structured to assist in transporting and using hoses, typically garden hoses for dispensing water. Generally, the hose reel assembly includes a base or housing assembly structured to rotatably support a reel, or "basket assembly." The basket assembly's primary components are a barrel, around which an outlet hose is wrapped, two hubs which are coupled to the housing assembly, and guide plates which define the usable area of the barrel. The basket assembly also includes a crank, used to turn the basket primary components, and a water conduit having a movable outlet and a generally stationary inlet. The stationary inlet of the conduit extends away from the reel and is structured to be coupled to a supply hose which is further coupled to a water supply. The movable outlet of the conduit is disposed on the circumference of the reel. The outlet hose is coupled to the movable outlet and is used to deliver water to the end use. Hose reel assemblies also may include an autotrack device structured to wind the outlet hose on the reel in a controlled manner. In this configuration, an outlet hose may be coupled to the movable end of the conduit and, when the reel is rotated, the hose is wrapped, or unwrapped, about the reel. Thus, a hose may be transported and/or stored on the hose reel assembly.
The hose reel assembly typically is made of plastic and sold in a disassembled state. While manufactures try to make the assembly of a typical hose reel relatively simple, there are many components of a hose reel assembly that are difficult for some users to install or assemble. As such, manufactures try to include as many preinstalled components as possible. The disadvantage to having preinstalled components, however, is that some components, especially those like the crank handle that extend away from the body of the hose reel, require additional room in the shipping container and/or storage box. Accordingly, some manufactures have devised structures that are partially collapsible, such as a folding crank handle, that reduce the volume/size of the hose reel during shipping. Unfortunately, these structures are also designed to snap into an extended position and not be collapsed again, or, if structured to be collapsible, the crank handles did not provide easy to access to, or identify, release buttons. This situation created other disadvantages, namely users causing wear and tear to the plastic components by forcing the components into the desired configuration.
Another component that has been traditionally subject to wear and tear is the autotrack device. The autotrack device is used to guide the hose as the hose is being wound about the basket. The autotrack device includes two spaced, parallel rods, wherein one rod includes a bi-directional track, and a follower assembly. The follower assembly engages the track and, as the user rotates the basket using the crank, the follower assembly moves back and forth on the two rods. The hose passes through the follower assembly and, as such, the hose is wrapped around the basket in a controlled manner. As the autotrack device is only required during winding of the hose, manufacturers typically structured the autotrack device to be engaged only during the winding of the hose and disengaged during unwinding. This procedure reduces wear and tear on the autotrack device as the autotrack device is only in limited use. Many users, however, have found the present design of the autotrack device release to be difficult to operate. As such, the users will simply leave the autotrack device engaged at all times, thereby increasing the wear and tear.
Additionally, users are also known to have difficulty in disassembling, or at least partially disassembling, the hose reel assembly as is required for certain maintenance operations, such as accessing the water system for lubrication. That is, in the prior art, the water system included a conduit having a generally stationary inlet and a movable outlet. The generally stationary inlet is coupled to the hose reel assembly housing assembly, and has a generally circular pipe extending into the reel. The water system also included a rotating outlet, coupled to the reel, and having a wide diameter pipe extending into the reel. The inlet pipe extended into the outlet pipe. The inlet pipe disposed in the outlet pipe creates the water system conduit. An O-ring, or other sealing device, is disposed at the interface between the inlet and the outlet pipes to resist water leaking therefrom. A user typically needed to substantially disassemble the water system, using tools, for such simple maintenance operations as lubricating the water system O-rings. As such, the maintenance procedures are time consuming and difficult and users simply failed to perform the required maintenance, furthering degradation due to wear and tear.
As such, there is a need for a hose reel that is structured for easy assembly and maintenance.
There is a further need for a hose reel assembly having an easily collapsible crank handle.
There is further need for a hose reel assembly having an easily accessible water system.
There is a further need for a hose reel assembly having an easily engaged/disengaged autotrack device.


A microfluidic inkjet control method, by adjusting the driving waveform of the print head, including intercooling waveform and pre-heating waveform, to reduce the satellite droplets produced accompany the main ink droplets during the inkjet printing process. After entering the parameters, the control method uses a print head module with nozzles with adjustable rotating angle and calculates the needed nozzle sequence and appropriate time delay to control the print head module and determine the operation of each nozzle. This achieves the goal of printing different types of elements.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a microfluidic inkjet control method, especially a microfluidic inkjet control method that is used to adjust the inkjet waveforms of the thermal print heads.
2. Related Art
Inkjet printing technology uses precision element printing that is applicable to many different materials. It satisfies electronic industry's precision element production demands of automation, is more compact, has lower costs, has a faster production time and reduces the impact on the environment. For example: application on the color filters on the liquid crystal display panel and the organic polymer light emitter diode, PLED, production. The color filter is composed of red, green and blue colors, spread on the substrate and also the black matrixes between the color ink. The inkjet printing process is to spread the ink droplets directly on the concavities formed by the black matrixes on the color filter substrate. Different types of color filters have different color spreading patterns. Compared to the semiconductor production method for color filters, the inkjet printing equipments and production costs are dramatically decreased. The inkjet production method for the organic PLED is similar to the described color filter production method, the only difference is: the organic PLED does not need the black matrixes structure. The organic light emitting material build photo-resistor banksto separate and guide the flow of different material colors.
However, the generic inkjet production method for color filters or organic PLED has a major problem caused by the satellite ink droplets that accompany the main ink droplets. If the satellite droplets are formed as ink drops break off during the drop ejection, it will follows the main drop to land on substrate, and typically, has position deviation with main drop, then makes a defect on substrate. This characteristic occurs randomly. The path of the satellite droplets usually has a slightly different angle shifted from the main ink droplets and has scattering distribution. This behavior causes serious problems, such as color mixing and low performance efficiency. At the worse case scenario, the satellite droplets can be as far away from the main droplet as 100 μm. For the stripe color filter or organic PLED, the satellite droplets have less influence in the horizontal direction, but would cause color mixing in the vertical direction. If the distance between the nozzle and the printing substrate is large, the satellite droplets can fall further away from the main droplets. The simplest solution is to move the nozzle closer to the printing substrate, so the satellite droplets are hidden within the main droplet. However, if the nozzle is too close to the printing substrate, it is easy to scratch the substrate. On the other hand, if the distance is too short, the ink drops may not be able to break-off completely, so they are dragged on the substrate; this can cause the main droplets to be shifted from the predetermined position and color mixing.
The method for solving the satellite droplet problem completely is to reduce the probability of their occurrences. Since the density of ink increases as it is heated, the size of the ink droplet becomes inconsistent, and it may even influence the deviation straightness of the ink and make the satellite droplets problem worse. Therefore, the internal flow structure of the print head needs consist with the characteristics of the ink (viscosity coefficient and surface tension) and the surface characteristics of the nozzle material, or by changing the driving waveform of the nozzle to reduce the occurrence of the satellite drops by controlling the ink ejection condition. Such as the inkjet driving method proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,039, which divides the driving signal into two stages. The first driving signal preheats the ink and does not eject the ink. After a rest period, the second driving signal then ejects the ink. By using the first driving signal and the rest period, the ink ejection amount variation, which is changed with differential outside temperature, has been controlled.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,846, when the nozzle is idle for a period of time, the viscosity of the ink in the nozzle near nozzle opening increases and causes the ejection of the ink drop to be unstable. The patent revealed a method to adjust the ink ejecting waveforms by adding a fine vibration to the main driving waveform. Using the fine vibration to provide the ink viscosity energy can keep the ink in a more consistent uniform condition. Input signals control the two kinds of waveforms to reduce the problem caused by the increasing viscosity of the ink droplet. The method must use two signals to control the main driving waveform and the fine vibrating waveform separately, so it is more complicated.
Since the ink droplet's ejection amount during the inkjet process is easily affected by the change in ink cartridge pressure and the environmental temperature, which affect the element's homogeneity, a more appropriate ink ejecting signal can be provided by adjusting the ink ejecting waveform or changing the driving method of the print head. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,772, modulating the pulse width can provide different heating energy. The heating energy and the voltage ratio are kept constant to improve the image quality. U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,687 provided a printing head driving method that changes the regular block driving. By using an irregular block driving sequence method it reduces the pressure variation affecting the ink cartridge, increasing the quality of the image.
Also, using the inkjet method to produce components requires very precise positioning to eject the ink droplet onto a predetermined position. Since the inkjet procedure of every type of color filter or organic PLED requires different resolutions and different types of components, they require complicated control systems and adjustment mechanics. These cause device pixel with different types or resolutions, requiring specific production equipments or printing head designs. Therefore, an efficient and simple control method to complete different types of components during the inkjet production process is a major development goal of the inkjet production technique. Like the inkjet alignment correction apparatus for color filter production described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,470, the to be printed color filter and the nozzle of the print head has displacements. Further, the apparatus adjusts the nozzle angle to the to be printed color filter substrate to execute inkjet printing to the color filter with the correct resolution.
However, the described print head driving method or the waveform adjustments are focused on the different specific problems and it is easy to create problems while fixing another, so an inkjet production control method needs to provide overall improvement.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The present invention provides a method for performing device-to-device communication in a wireless access system that supports the device-to-device communication and an apparatus therefor. Specifically, the invention comprises the steps of: receiving, from a base station, device-to-device communication parameters for broadcasted device-to-device communication; transmitting a detection signal to one or more devices using the received device-to-device communication parameters; receiving, from the one or more devices, link measurement information for measuring a link between a first device and the one or more devices using the detection signal; selecting a second device for performing the device-to-device communication from the one or more devices using the link measurement information; and performing the device-to-device communication with the selected second device.

To perform cellular communication, a terminal present in a cell accesses a base station, receives control information for transceiving of data from the base station, and then transmits and receives data to and from the base station. That is, the terminal transceives data via the base station. Accordingly, to transmit data to another cellular terminal, the terminal transmits the data thereof to the base station and the base station in turn transmits the received data to another terminal. Since a terminal is allowed to transmit data to anther terminal only via a base station, the base station performs scheduling of channels and resources for transmission and reception of data and transmits the channel and resource scheduling information to each terminal. While communication between terminals via a base station requires allocation of channels and resources by the base station allowing the terminals to transmit and receive data, D2D communication allows a terminal to directly transmit and receive a signal to and from another terminal to which the terminal desires to transmit data, without assistance from a base station or a repeater.

Method for performing device-to-device communication in wireless access system and apparatus therefor