A vehicle wheel having a tire mounted on a wheel rim with a precured and foamed elastomeric material in a closed cavity in the tire and a polyurethane formed in the closed cavity around the precured and foamed elastomeric material.

Vehicle wheels with foam filled tires are especially useful in applications involving industrial and off-the-road vehicles, where it is essential to maintain the vehicles in service, since time lost for repairs is very costly. It is known to fill tires with a curable and foamable elastomeric material, which, after heat curing, expands to a closed cell foam rubber composition that provides an operating pressure within the tire. Such foam filled tires are substantially deflation proof and almost indestructible from normal hazards, for example, bolts, nails, large holes, jagged curbs, sharp rocks, deep water, etc. Thus, foam filled tires substantially reduce the time such vehicles are down for repairs.
Examples of filled tires are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,022,810, 3,381,735, 3,650,865, 3,872,201, 4,060,578 and 6,623,580. U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,865 provides one example of filling a tire cavity with a curable and foamable elastomeric material to pressurize the tire. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,650,865 and 6,623,580 describe methods of making a foam filled tire by inserting layers of a curable and foamable elastomeric material within a cured tire. The tire is then heated to cure the curable and foamable elastomeric material contained therein. The heat curing process can be performed either before, or after, the tire is mounted on a wheel rim. Heating causes the layers of the curable and foamable elastomeric material to expand and form a closed cell foam rubber composition that provides an internal tire pressure.
Tires filled with such a curable and foamable elastomeric material have a damping similar to that of a pneumatic tire and thus, provide a pneumatic-like ride, which is especially important with unsprung off-the-road vehicles. Further, the performance of such foam filled tires is often superior to the performance of tires filled with other materials. To achieve greater market acceptance, it is desirable that tire dealers be able to manufacture foam filled tires with an elastomeric material. However, many tire dealers do not have heat curing equipment. Further, the cost of such equipment and the time and energy required for the heat curing process add substantial costs to a foam filled tire made with an elastomeric material.
To avoid such costs, tire dealers often make vehicle wheels using alternative materials, for example, polyurethane. With such a process, after mounting a cured tire on a wheel rim, the tire is often prestretched for about 24 hours. Materials forming a polyurethane or a similar polymer are then injected into a tire cavity through a check valve in the wheel rim that is located in a lower-most six o'clock position. Air is vented from the tire cavity through a bleed or vent hole extending through the tread at an upper-most twelve o'clock position. The injected materials react to form a polyurethane that fills the cavity inside the tire.
A polyurethane filled wheel has several disadvantages compared to a wheel filled with a cured and foamed elastomeric material. First, the polyurethane fill provides little or no dampening and thus, gives a harsher ride, which increases vehicle wear and tear, as well as operator fatigue. Further, the polyurethane is a very hard fill material that provides a smaller tire footprint. Thus, the polyurethane filled tire has a greater ground pressure that may breakup the ground surface. In addition, the smaller footprint provides less tire traction.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved foam filled tire and method of manufacture that reduces the cost of making a tire filled with a closed cell foam rubber composition.

Vehicle wheel made with precured and foamed elastomeric material and method


A manual powered lawn mower comprises a pair of large diameter drive wheels on an axle, two clutch and roller bearing mechanisms on the axle coupling the drive wheels thereto, a gear mechanism coupled to the axle for translating rotation of the drive wheels to rotation of a gear around a vertical axis, and a rotary type blade which is coupled to the gear mechanism via a vertical axle and another clutch and roller bearing mechanism. When the lawn mower is pushed forward, the clutch and roller bearing mechanisms on the wheel axle causes the axle to drive the gear mechanism, which in turn drives the vertical axle and the blade. When a drive wheel is not turning the axle faster than the speed that the axle is turning, that drive wheel is decoupled by the clutch and roller bearing mechanism and no longer adds either power or drag to the system. With clutch and roller bearing mechanisms on each wheel, a "differential" is provided which permits maneuverability without adversely affecting blade speed. The clutch and roller bearing mechanism coupling the blade to the vertical axle permits the vertical axle to drive the blade provided the vertical axle is rotating as fast as the blade, but permits the blade to spin unimpeded otherwise. Numerous blade arrangements are provided, including inertial blades which ease lawn mower start-up, and different attachment modules are provided which convert the mower into a sweeper, mulcher, lawn edger, lawn thatcher, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to lawn mowers. More particularly, this invention relates to a manual powered lawn mower; i.e., a lawn mower without a motor, which provides the performance of a motor powered lawn mower.
2. State of the Art
Lawn mowers of many types have long been known in the arts. A common old style of lawn mower is the reel-type blade with its multiple cutting bars, such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 437,808 to Batcheller. Because the reel-type blade mower has multiple curved blades, it is expensive to manufacture and sharpen. In addition, the reel-type blade mower only performs adequately when the grass which it is cutting is very short, because a fan action of the multiple rotating blades creates a wind force that actually pushes longer grasses flat before the blades reach them for cutting.
While less common in the old style lawn mowers, rotary blade mowers, which are common today as motor powered lawn mowers, were also well known to the arts. Examples of early manual rotary blade type mowers are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,931 to Boone, 270,090 to Martin, 498,533 to Clousing, and 703,513 to Adams and Hough. Common to the manual rotary blade type mowers is that a bevel gear is used to translate the power provided by the wheels of the mower so that rotation of the blade can be around an axis perpendicular to an axis around which the wheels rotate.
With the advent of inexpensive, compact motors, the motor powered lawn mower substantially displaced the market for manual powered lawn mowers. Not only are the motor powered lawn mowers easier to handle, but the cut provided with a high speed rotary blade is typically superior to that available with manual powered mowers. Thus, while occasional manual powered mowers have recently been designed, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,058 to Chun which provides a bicycle/mower for exercise purposes, for the most part, the advances in the art have been in motor powered mowers. However, due to environmental concerns relating to gas powered mowers, laws have recently been enacted in various jurisdictions which favor manual powered mowers.


In the present invention, a system and method is described for allocating portfolio assets in an emerging market, where the portfolio initially includes substantially all fixed income securities or substantially all equities. Specifically, a yield spread is periodically determining between a first fixed income instrument and a second fixed income instrument. A mean spread is determined based on the determined yield spread over a selected period of time. A band above and below the mean spread is defined over the selected period of time, where the band has an upper limit above the mean spread and a lower limit below the mean spread. Fixed income securities, in the investment portfolio, are switched for equities when a current determined yield spread exceeds the upper limit of the band. Similarly, equities, in the portfolio, are switched for fixed income securities when the current determined yield spread falls below the lower limit of the band.

Emerging markets are defined as the financial markets of developing economies. Approximately 45 countries are classified as emerging markets. For example, emerging markets are found in regions such as Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Peru, etc.), Central and Eastern Europe (Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia, etc.), the Mideast (Israel, Turkey, etc.), Asia (China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, etc.), and Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, etc.)
Improved government and market-oriented management in such emerging countries are expected to provide economic benefits over the long term. Such benefits include long-term economic growth in a non-hyper-inflationary environment, and a strong demand for goods and services from an under-served and growing population.
However, recent experiences regarding the management of equities (e.g., common stocks) and fixed income (e.g., bonds, preferred stock or debt) instruments of emerging countries are somewhat inconsistent with the above described long term expectations and goals. This inconsistency occurs for many reasons. For example, economic and political developments do not follow a linear process. Further, "growing pains" have translated into significant economic and financial market volatility. In addition, traditional equity and fixed-income vehicles have not performed as would have been hoped.
Nevertheless, the fundamental themes for investing in emerging markets remain intact. However, investors would best be served by an investment vehicle that exploits the most desirable characteristics of both fixed income instruments and equity instruments. Such characteristics include strong capital appreciation potential of equities in a "benign" or stable environment, and defensive attributes of local and foreign currency bond instruments in a "hostile" or risky environment. A balanced product also provides access to a greater variety of markets than would be available with bond or equity vehicles alone.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of investing in the equities and sovereign bonds of emerging countries. This method may further be applied to allocating investments between equities and sovereign bonds of individual countries in a fund comprised of the financial instruments of a plurality of emerging countries.

Method and system for allocating assets in emerging markets


This invention relates to radiation curable alk-1-enyloxy carbonate reaction products of a polyhydroxylated compound having the formula ROH and a dialk-1-enyloxy carbonate having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.3 to C.sub.50 saturated or unsaturated, linear, branched or cyclic polyhydroxylated hydrocarbon radical optionally substituted with halo, alkoxy, lower alkyl, cyano or nitro;. R' is hydrogen or lower alkyl PA0 B is a linear, branched or cyclic divalent radical having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms and is selected from the group of alkylene, mono- or poly- alkoxylated alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, arylene, alkarylene and aralkylene radicals, which radicals are optionally substituted with halo, lower alkyl, cyano, nitro or alkoxy and m has a value of from 1 to 10. The products of this invention are defined by the formula: ##STR2## wherein R" is the same as R except that it contains at least one less hydroxy group; (b) has a value of at least 1 up to the number of hydroxy groups in ROH and (n) represents the number of hydroxy groups in ROH.

Free radical induced radiation curable coatings and films are normally formulated with acrylate monomer diluents and acrylate functional oligomers. The formulations usually contain minor amounts of additive ingredients such as surfactants, slip agents, defoamers, thickeners, and/or thixothopes. Representative oligomers are the acrylate functional end capped urethane polyesters, polyols and acrylate functional end capped bisphenol A epoxy and novalic epoxy resins.
Since acrylates are not conducive to cationically induced radiation curing, they require free radical systems which are oxygen inhibited unless reacted in an inert atmosphere, generally under a blanket of nitrogen. Although formulation with a photoinitiator which undergoes bimolecular reaction with a hydrogen donor minimizes the inhibitory effect of air, this benefit is realized at the expense of a greatly reduced cure rate. Also, it is found that polymerization or curing in free radical systems ceases almost immediately upon removal from the source of radiation; thus, the cured product often contains some unpolymerized components. Accordingly, it is an aim of research to develop an oligomer having the beneficial properties of acrylates but which is amenable to radiation curing at a rapid rate by cationically induced polymerization which is not oxygen inhibited and which permits continued polymerization after removal from the source of radiation exposure.
It has also been found that acrylate formulations when stored under normal condition require the addition of a free radical scavanger such as substituted hydroquinones and phenothiazine to achieve long term stability. However, after the stored coating is applied on a substrate, the inhibitory effect of the stabilizer significantly reduces the cure rate.
Finally, it is noted that the unsubstituted acrylates are sensitizers and skin irritants as well as being carcinogenic, so that specialized safety precautions must be taken to protect operators from exposure. Although alkoxylation has lessened irritancy of the acrylates, their carcinogenic properties are not reduced.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above described deficiencies by employing an economical and commercially acceptable compound or composition and curing process.
Another object of this invention is to utilize a multifunctional cross-linking agent, which is itself a polymerizable viscous liquid and which assists rapid radiation curing when formulated with allyl, epoxide or acrylate monomers and oligomers.
Another object is to provide a non-toxic cross linkable compound which is suitably cured as a film or as a coating on a substrate and which possesses good adhesion, high abrasion resistance and resistance to chemical attack in both acid or basic media.
Still another object is to provide a more economical process for cross-linking monomeric or polymeric acrylates or epoxides within a few seconds which can be effected in the presence of air.
Another object is to provide a compound which is curable at a rapid rate by cationically induced radiation.
Yet another object is to provide a substrate coated with a rigid scratch resistant and chemical resistant coating.
These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and disclosure.


A circuit system having compact decoupling structure, including: a mother board; at least one circuit unit, each having a substrate, a logic-circuit die, a plurality of first metal contacts, and a plurality of second metal contacts, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the first metal contacts being formed on the first surface and soldered onto the mother board, the second metal contacts being formed on the logic-circuit die and soldered onto the second surface to form flip-chip pillars, and the flip-chip pillars determining a height of a gap between the die and the substrate; and at least one decoupling unit for providing an AC signals decoupling function for the at least one circuit unit; wherein each of the at least one decoupling unit is placed in the gap of one said circuit unit and includes a mother die and at least one stack-type integrated-passive-device die.

To protect a powered circuit system from being interfered by switching noises or AC signals from a power supply circuit, a decoupling means is usually adopted in practical circuit designs.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of a circuit system having a decoupling structure of prior art. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the circuit system includes a mother board 10, a circuit unit 11, and a decoupling capacitor 12.
The mother board 10 is used for carrying the circuit unit 11 and the decoupling capacitor 12.
The circuit unit 11 has a substrate 11a, a die 11b, and a plurality of metal contacts 11c, the die 11b being formed on the top surface of the substrate 11a, the metal contacts 11c being formed on the bottom surface of the substrate 11a and soldered onto the mother board 10.
The decoupling capacitor 12 is placed on the top surface of the substrate 11a and beside the die 11b for providing an AC signals decoupling function.
For another decoupling structure, please refer to FIG. 2, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of another circuit system having a decoupling structure of prior art. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the circuit system includes a mother board 10, a circuit unit 11, and a decoupling capacitor 12.
The mother board 10 is used for carrying the circuit unit 11 and the decoupling capacitor 12.
The circuit unit 11 has a substrate 11a, a die 11b, and a plurality of metal contacts 11c, the die 11b being formed on the top surface of the substrate 11a, the metal contacts 11c being formed on the bottom surface of the substrate 11a and soldered onto the mother board 10.
The decoupling capacitor 12 is placed on the mother board 10 and beside the circuit unit 11 for providing an AC signals decoupling function.
To minimize the form factor of a circuit system, the metal contacts 11c can be BGA (ball grid array) contacts. However, as the decoupling capacitor 12 is required to possess large capacitance to provide the AC signals decoupling function, the size of the decoupling capacitor 12 will be quite large to compromise the form factor of both the circuit systems of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Besides, as there is a length of conductive trace connecting the decoupling capacitor 12 and the die 11b, there will be substantial parasite resistance and parasite inductance to compromise the AC signals decoupling effect. For example, an LC resonant frequency can be introduced into the circuit unit 11 due to the combination of the parasite inductance and the decoupling capacitor 12.
To solve the foregoing problems, a novel decoupling structure for a circuit system is needed.

Circuit system having compact decoupling structure


The object of the invention is an apparatus for locking an underwater hatch or other removable or turnable structure (6) in a vessel or other floating structure, which comprises at least a locking rod (2), that is attachable in an articulated manner to the hull (7) or other structure of the vessel or other floating structure and which locking rod is, at its second end (2″), arrangeable in connection with a surface of the lockable hatch or other removable or turnable structure (6), a turning mechanism (3) of the locking rod (2), which comprises at least a first part (3′) and a second part (3″), which are, at their first ends, attached to each other in an articulated manner, and of which a second end of the first part (3′) is arranged in connection with the locking rod (2) in an articulated manner and a second end of the second part (3″) is attachable in an articulated manner to the hull (7) or other structure of the vessel or other floating structure, and an actuator (4) that is arranged in connection with the turning mechanism (3).

A vessel or other floating structure such as drilling or service rigs or similar may comprise an underwater space for example as a service space or hoisting shaft for a propeller device or similar system. Such an underwater space comprises a closed or closable space into which an access for the crew is arranged from other parts of the vessel or similar floating structure, and which space is arranged in connection with the bottom or side of the vessel or similar floating structure, whereby the propeller device or similar system can be hoisted from its operation position up to the service/storage position in the service space and correspondingly lowered from the service space down to the operation position.
The underwater space is equipped with at least one watertight closing device, such as a hatch or other removable construction part, arranged in the bottom or side of the vessel or similar floating structure which when open form a direct connection from the underwater space into water in order to lower the propeller device from the service space into water to its operation position, i.e. its operation mode, and correspondingly to hoist from water inside the service space into service/storage position, i.e. service/storage mode, and which when closed forms a watertight space together with the other structures of the underwater space, from which water can be removed after closing the closing devices.
The opening of the underwater space is closed in a watertight manner by a hatch or other removable construction part that is in one or several parts, the construction part being typically attached to the hull structure of the vessel mechanically via bolts or other similar fastening means. When it is desired to open the hatch/hatches or removable construction part for hoisting or lowering the propeller device through the underwater opening, the hatch/hatches or removable construction part hoist up in their guides or turn to the side. The hatch/hatches or other removable construction part is opened/closed via an actuator designed for this purpose, and is kept temporarily locked via for example hydraulic cylinders or other similar actuators, in order to be able to remove or attach the mechanical fastening means such as bolts or similar, used for attaching the hatch or other construction part. The use of such solutions based on hydraulic cylinders as locking devices is problematic since they need operational energy in order to lock and to keep locked. The buoyancy force directed to underwater hatches is significant, thus the pressure directed to the cylinders is high and thereby the amount of operational energy is also significant. Moreover, such actuators are large, heavy and require space.

Apparatus, an arrangement and a method for locking an underwater hatch or other removable structure


An optical apparatus comprises a set of diffractive elements (trenches between ribs) arranged on a substrate to: receive a diffraction-guided input optical signal from an input port; diffract the input signal as a diffraction-guided output optical signal; and route the output signal to an output port. In one embodiment, a side surface of each trench is perpendicular to its bottom surface and at least one trench depth is equal to half of its width divided by the tangent of a selected Littrow angle. In another embodiment, a side surface of each rib and its bottom surface are arranged to successively reflect a portion of the input optical signal preferentially in a selected output direction. In another embodiment, each diffractive element comprises multiple trenches; selected relative widths or depths of the multiple trenches of each diffractive element at least partly determining diffractive amplitude and a selected blaze direction.

The field of the present disclosure relates to optical surface gratings. In particular, surface gratings designed by computed interference between simulated optical signals and fabricated using photoreduction lithography or photoreduction lithography followed by replication, and optical devices or instruments incorporating such gratings, are disclosed herein.
One or more distributed optical structures (i.e., sets of diffractive elements) on a surficial interface may be used to angularly disperse light as a function of frequency and to also provide signal wavefront transformations. Distributed optical structures designed by computed interference between simulated optical signals are disclosed herein that may enable substantially optimized performance of such devices. Also disclosed are reduction lithographic fabrication means that allow for designed distributed optical structures to be rendered on a mask on a size scale consistent with economical and flexible spatially coherent writing means and yet fabricated on the smaller size scales necessary to support desired optical functionality.
Various embodiments, implementations, and adaptations of optical waveguides with diffractive element sets are disclosed in:                application Ser. No. 11/361,407 filed Feb. 23, 2006 in the name of Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,116,453 issued Oct. 3, 2006);        application Ser. No. 11/334,039 filed Jan. 17, 2006 in the names of Thomas W. Mossberg, Christoph M. Greiner, and Dmitri Iazikov;        application Ser. No. 11/298,290 filed Dec. 9, 2005 in the names of Thomas W. Mossberg, Dmitri Iazikov, and Christoph M. Greiner (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,330,614 issued Feb. 12, 2008);        application Ser. No. 11/280,876 filed Nov. 15, 2005 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Dmitri Iazikov, and Thomas W. Mossberg;        application Ser. No. 11/239,540 filed Sep. 28, 2005 in the name of Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,009,743 issued Mar. 7, 2006);        application Ser. No. 11/213,345 filed Aug. 25, 2005 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Dmitri Iazikov, and Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,120,334 issued Oct. 10, 2006);        application Ser. No. 11/210,439 filed Aug. 23, 2005 in the names of Dmitri Iazikov, Christoph M. Greiner, and Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,359,597 issued Apr. 15, 2008);        application Ser. No. 11/155,327 filed Jun. 16, 2005 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri Iazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,190,858 issued Mar. 13, 2007);        application Ser. No. 11/076,251 filed Mar. 8, 2005 in the name of Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,128 issued Jun. 13, 2006);        application Ser. No. 11/062,109 filed Feb. 17, 2005 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri Iazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,181,103 issued Feb. 20, 2007);        application Ser. No. 11/055,559 filed Feb. 9, 2005 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri Iazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,794 issued Oct. 17, 2006);        application Ser. No. 11/021,549 filed Dec. 23, 2004 in the names of Dmitri Iazikov, Christoph M. Greiner, and Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,260,290 issued Aug. 21, 2007);        application Ser. No. 10/998,185 filed Nov. 26, 2004 in the names of Dmitri Iazikov, Christoph M. Greiner, and Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,223 issued Jan. 31, 2006);        application Ser. No. 10/989,244 filed Nov. 15, 2004 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri Iazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,961,491 issued Nov. 1, 2005);        application Ser. No. 10/989,236 filed Nov. 15, 2004 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Dmitri Iazikov, and Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,716 issued Nov. 15, 2005);        application Ser. No. 10/923,455 filed Aug. 21, 2004 in the names of Thomas W. Mossberg, Dmitri Iazikov, and Christoph M. Greiner (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,054,517 issued May 30, 2006);        application Ser. No. 10/898,527 filed Jul. 22, 2004 in the named of Dmitri Iazikov, Christoph M. Greiner, and Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,194,164 issued Mar. 20, 2007);        application Ser. No. 10/857,987 filed May 29, 2004 in the names of Lawrence D. Brice, Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri Iazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,276 issued Jan. 24, 2006);        application Ser. No. 10/842,790 filed May 11, 2004 in the names of Thomas W. Mossberg, Christoph M. Greiner, and Dmitri Iazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,987,911 issued Jan. 17, 2006);        application Ser. No. 10/798,089 filed Mar. 10, 2004 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri Iazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,115 issued Nov. 23, 2004);        application Ser. No. 10/794,634 filed Mar. 5, 2004 in the names of Dmitri Iazikov, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Christoph M. Greiner (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,656 issued Jan. 10, 2006);        application Ser. No. 10/740,194 filed Dec. 17, 2003 in the names of Dmitri Iazikov, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Christoph M. Greiner (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,224,855 issued May 29, 2007);        application Ser. No. 10/653,876 filed Sep. 2, 2003 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Dmitri Iazikov, and Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,417 issued Dec. 7, 2004);        application Ser. No. 10/602,327 filed Jun. 23, 2003 in the name of Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,318 issued Feb. 22, 2005);        application Ser. No. 10/229,444 filed Aug. 27, 2002 in the names of Thomas W. Mossberg and Christoph M. Greiner (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,429 issued Jan. 13, 2004);        application Ser. No. 09/843,597 filed Apr. 26, 2001 in the name of Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,464 issued Nov. 15, 2005);        application Ser. No. 09/811,081 filed Mar. 16, 2001 in the name of Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,441 issued Apr. 12, 2005).
These references indicate the state of the art available for forming diffractive elements, and may be applicable to formation of diffractive elements of a surface grating according to the present disclosure. Many of these references describe diffractive elements formed in a one- or two-dimensional optical waveguide, wherein the input or output optical signal propagates in the waveguide. Some of these references describe diffractive elements forming surface gratings, wherein both input and output optical signals propagate as diffraction-guided optical beams. For one or more of the references listed hereinabove, it may be the case that the devices, structures, embodiments, implementations, adaptations, procedures, or techniques disclosed therein may be employed, within the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims, for implementing an optical surface grating, a method for fabricating the optical surface grating, or an optical spectrometer incorporating the optical surface grating.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Etched surface grating having an effective blaze angle


An electrochemical leaching system for cleaning contaminated fines. The system has a waste vessel for receiving and holding a contaminated fines and lixiviant mixture. On a side of the waste vessel is an anolyte vessel holding an anolyte fluid. An anolyte barrier separates the waste and anolyte vessels. On an opposite side of the waste vessel is a catholyte vessel holding a catholyte fluid. A catholyte barrier separates the waste and catholyte vessels. A potential between an anode in the anolyte vessel and a cathode in the catholyte vessel ionizes the fines contaminants into anionic and cationic contaminants in the lixiviant. The anolyte and catholyte barriers allow the anionic and cationic contaminants, respectively, to flow from the lixiviant and into the anolyte and catholyte fluids in their respective vessels without allowing bulk transfer therebetween. The anionic and cationic contaminants are then removed from the anolyte and catholyte fluids. A cleaner lixiviant and fines exits the system.

For the purposes of the present application the following word(s) and expression(s), unless otherwise indicated, shall be understood as having the meaning indicated in respect thereto:
the word "soil" and the like (whether as noun, adjective, etc.) shall be understood as referring to unconsolidated mantle (whether natural or man made) including:
material disposed on dry land masses; PA1 material which is wholly mineral or which in addition to mineral material, has an organic matter portion derived for example from plant or animal sources; organic material such as plant material would usually form part of the courser aggregate material as described hereinafter and would include, for example, tree stumps, ligneous particles, floor sweepings, etc.;
sediment including any bottom sediments of fresh or marine water systems; PA2 man-made mineral aggregate material and fill materials as well as man-made sediments arising in water-ways; and PA2 mineral residues from mining operations, such as those present in a tailings pond;
the words "fine" or "fines" shall be understood as referring to particles of soil having a diameter of not greater than approximately 250 .mu.;
the word "aggregate" and any similar word (whether as noun, adjective, etc.) shall be understood as referring to or as characterizing (or emphasizing) a "soil", "sediment", "material" or any portion thereof as a mass of individual particles or components of the same or varied size (e.g. the size of the components may be not uniform and may range from microscopic granules to 10 cm and larger); it is also to be understood that the particle size distribution of any particular soil mass, etc. may be different from that of another soil mass, etc.;
the words/expressions "contaminated", "metal contaminated" and the like, when used in relation to the words "soil", "sediment", "material" and the like, shall be understood as referring to that portion of the unconsolidated mantle (whether natural or man made) which is contaminated, in any way whatsoever, whether voluntarily or otherwise;
the word "lixiviant" shall be understood as referring to a reagent capable of extracting a soluble constituent (i.e. solubilizing) from a solid mass (i.e. the lixiviation of a material);
the words "decontaminate", "decontamination" and the like shall, in relation to metal contaminated material, be understood as referring to a process or the material produced by a process wherein the material or part thereof is provided which has a reduced level of metal as compared to the original material; and
the word "classification" and the like shall, be understood as referring to the dividing of an aggregate material into size groupings or portions and as including separation of constituent components in accordance with size, separation of constituent components by magnetic separation, disaggregation to reduce particle size followed (as desired or necessary) by magnetic separation and/or separation by size (e.g. size separation by screening, gravity separation, etc.).
Metal contaminants in aggregate consist of naturally occurring metals as well as man-made metals. The metal contaminants may be present as free or chemically combined species in any state of oxidation chemically possible. Metal contaminants include, for example, base metals, such as lead, zinc, mercury, cadmium, copper, nickel, chromium and cobalt, as well as other metals such as silver, molybdenum, selenium, arsenic and vanadium, etc. Metal contaminants also include radioactive metals (such as for example uranium, technetium, radioactive cobalt60, and plutonium) and other inorganic species (such as for example metal complexes based on arsenates, selenates, etc.) which when present in a soil are considered to be a contaminant.
The existence of metal contaminated aggregate material can lead to serious environmental problems. Improperly contained or decontaminated aggregate material can, for example, contribute to unsafe levels of metal(s) in surface and ground water as well as in the air (e.g. by contaminated dust). Contaminated aggregate material can thus affect the health and well being of people living or working in the vicinity of or who come into direct contact with such material.
Thus, the presence of contaminated aggregate on the sites of former or existing industrial complexes, for example, pose a particularly serious problem. Since such aggregate can pose a risk to the health of individuals, the presence of such soils can seriously affect the continued or alternate usage of such sites, e.g. redevelopment of a former industrial site for residential use may be precluded due to the presence of the contaminated soil.
Discarded mining aggregate is another source of contaminated aggregate. Previous mining operations were limited by the current technology of the time as to the amount of metals that could be extracted. As a result, discarded mining aggregate exists that could be further processed to extract more of the metal. However, the existence of the aggregate creates an environmental concern.
The related art discloses decontaminating aggregate by the use of physical mechanisms, i.e., segregation by classification; chemical mechanisms, i.e., accelerated chemical leaching; or a combination of both. The use of any of these mechanisms results in a clean fraction and a fines fraction. The fines fraction consists of small particles that are relatively highly contaminated per unit volume. This is due to the fines having a higher surface area per unit volume, relative to larger particles. The higher surface per unit volume offers more exchange and adsorption sites for the contaminants to bind to the soil. As a result, the fines fraction is also highly resistant to washing as the fines have already resisted previous soil washings.
As the fines fraction can reach 10% to 20% of the soil, treatment and disposal of it is a critical issue in soil decontamination. Therefore, a need exists to decontaminate the fines that result from the decontamination of aggregate material.


A layer selected from a group comprising: molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, osmium, rhenium, ruthenium and an alloy of two or more thereof on the under surface of an electrical contact acts as a barrier to copper diffusion from the braze material into the contact structure. A thin nickel layer on the barrier facilitates the brazing of the barrier coated contact surface to the copper electrodes.

This invention relates to electrical contacts and more particularly the manner of attaching an electrical contact to an electrode. This invention has specific application to a structure in which a contact is brazed to the electrode and a barrier layer is provided between the brazing material and the contact to prevent elemental diffusion into the contact.

Electrical contact containing a braze diffusion barrier


A video image processing apparatus including, a generation unit configured to generate a video image frame from an image area to be used included in a video image captured by a camera, a spatial area in the video image being defined by the image area to be used, an encoding unit configured to encode the video image frame into any one of a first video image frame and a second video image frame, and a detection unit configured to detect a trigger for changing the image area to be used to report the detection of the trigger to the generation unit, wherein the encoding unit reports a encoded video image frame type to the generation unit in advance, and in response to receiving the detection of the trigger, the generation unit changes the image area to be used in a video image frame based on the reported type.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to video image processing apparatuses and recording media.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method of TV conference system is now distributed, in which a wide range of video image (image area) is captured by a camera including a wide-angle lens, and the displayed video image is generated from the captured video image.
In the method, in response to detecting that an object to be displayed is changed, a display range of the displayed video image is changed so as to include the object in the displayed video image.
The object to be displayed is changed in accordance with a state of the TV conference, regardless of current display range of the displayed video image. In the TV conference system, etc., encoding process is performed using inter-frame prediction. Therefore, when the object to be displayed is changed, the coding process cannot be performed effectively.
In order to solve the above described problem, a method is proposed, in which the inter-frame prediction is stopped, and instead, intra-frame prediction is used to perform the coding process in response to the change of the object to be displayed (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-305733). However, in a case where the intra-frame prediction is used to perform the encoding process, transmission efficiency of the video image is degraded.

Video image processing apparatus and recording medium


An introducer 40 for guiding an endotracheal tube into a patient's trachea and method for use is provided. The introducer used independently of the endotracheal tube is a malleable elongated tubular body 42 having a proximal end 44 and a distal end 46 and includes an extendible malleable guide member 50 disposed in the bore 48 of the tubular body. Ports 52 are provided in the wall of the tubular body at a point where an operator will normally support the introducer 40 during intubation for contact of the guide member 50 with a finger or fingers of the hand supporting the introducer so that the guide member 50 can be extended without the operator changing the position of the supporting hand while leaving the other hand free for use of a viewing device.

Endotracheal tubes (ETT) are inserted into a patient's trachea to aid breathing during medical emergencies and in combination with a laryngeal mask are employed during surgical procedures to provide ventilation and to administer anesthesia. It is essential that intubation of the patient be accomplished in as short a time as possible both in a medical emergency and especially during surgery where there is a period where the patient is not breathing due to administration of muscle relaxant.
An ETT 10 is shown in FIG. 1. An ETT comprises a tubular shaft 12 with a distal end 14, a proximal end 15, an inflatable cuff 16 and an inflation lumen 17. During intubation the distal end 14 of the ETT is inserted into a person's mouth and slidably positioned into the person's trachea such that proximal end 15 projects outward from person's mouth. Inflatable cuff 16 is then used to secure the ETT 10 in the trachea. Inflatable cuff 16 is inflated by supplying air at inflation lumen 17. Oxygen and/or anesthetics are then supplied to the person by supplying them utilizing proximal end 15 of ETT.
In order to successfully intubate a patient it is essential that the tube be guided to and through the glottis. Traditionally this is accomplished visually by the operator but in many cases insertion into the glottis difficult to accomplish such as if the operators view is obscured because the patient is improperly positioned or because of anatomic abnormalities or obesity. Various devices such as introducers (introducers) or stylets have been designed as an aid to intubation.
A stylet is a stiff but malleable elongated member inserted into the bore of the ETT to maintain rigidity and to allow the ETT to be shaped so as to aid in the insertion of the ETT into the patients trachea. FIG. 2 is a drawing of a standard stylet 20 and ETT 10 assembly 21 inserted into the trachea 22 of a patient. The ETT 10 is pre-loaded over the stylet 20 before intubation. A distal end 24 of standard stylet 20 is inserted into the ETT 10 while its proximal end 26 extends outward from the proximal end 15 of the ETT 10. Once the assembly is inserted the operator withdraws the stylet 20 through the proximal end of the ETT. Maneuvering of the assembly 21 during the procedure must be done at proximal end 15 of the ETT and proximal end 26 of the stylet 20. This normally requires the operator to change hand positions during a critical stage of the intubation or an assistant since one of the operator's hands are required to support the assembly 21 while the other either holds a laryngoscope or maneuvers the assembly from the proximal ends 15 and 26.
The standard stylet 10, together with the ETT 12 can be bent to form a shape that facilitates insertion into the trachea of a person. Stylets are often made of malleable metals such as stainless steel or copper. They are intentionally designed to withstand much deformation force. Unfortunately this makes the airway vulnerable to injury if the stylets are advanced without being surrounded by an ETT. Keeping the distal tip of the stylet within the ETT and not allowing the tip to extend beyond the ETT's distal tip minimizes the risk of airway trauma from the unyielding stylet. These stylets often even have adapters to hold the ETT in place and prevent the stylet from sliding forward relative to the ETT. Unfortunately, styletted ETTs aren't as maneuverable as thin introducers. When they are covered by an ETT, the ETT can also obscure the view of the airway and glottis from a proximal direction as when using traditional laryngoscopes and newer videoscopes.
As illustrated in FIG. 3 a conventional Eschmann-type introducer 28 is a thin elongated member defining a proximal end 30 and a distal end 32 and that is inserted into the patient's trachea, normally using a laryngoscope (not shown). After the distal end 32 of the introducer 28 has been inserted, the laryngoscope is removed and the ETT is railroaded (advanced) over the introducer 28 from the proximal end 30 and guided by the introducer into the trachea.
The Eschmann-type tracheal tube introducer (formerly known as the gum elastic bougie) is a 60 cm long, 15 French Gauge, flexible device with a coude′ distal tip. During use a curve is also formed towards its distal end. The tracheal tube introducer is used to facilitate difficult intubation. It should not be confused with the more rigid stylet 20 discussed above, which is inserted into the endotracheal tube and used to alter its shape prior to intubation. Unlike the stylet 20 the introducer 28 is inserted independently of the ETT and is used as a guide. Since the introducer is considerably softer, more flexible, and blunter than a stylet, use of an introducer is considered to be a relatively atraumatic procedure compared to a procedure using only a stylet.
FIG. 4 illustrates an intubation in which the introducer 28 has been introduced into the trachea 34 of a patient following which the ETT 30 has been advanced down the introducer and guided thereby into the trachea. After intubation the introducer 28 may be removed or may remain in place if it contains a bore through which fluids may be introduced.
Light guided devices employing transillumination such as ETT stylets, Light wands [e.g., Trachlight™ (Laerdal), Vital Light™ (Vital Signs), Trachlite™ (Rusch), Surch-Lite™ (Aaron Medical Industries, Inc.)] have been used to indirectly indicate entrance into the trachea. These devices also require that the ETT be preloaded and thus do not allow the ETT to be railroaded after tracheal placement of the light wand is confirmed.
To further aid intubation flexible fiber optic bronchoscopes and videoscopes may be provided with an optical function. These devices employ a scope through which the operator can directly view the distal end of the device. These aids are often inadequate in reliably assisting placement of ETTs. A significant challenge when using videoscopes has been guiding the ETT into the trachea. Even though there has been a vast improvement in visualizing the glottis with videoscopes, there have been difficulties noted in guiding the ETT to and through the glottis. For example, with stylet style videoscopes the field of view may be obscured by the large diameter of the ETT. Also since the stylet style videoscope is surrounded by the ETT some maneuvering is impossible. An additional problem with devices containing optics is that bending of the device in certain regions, especially at the distal tip cannot be accomplished because this is where the optical component is located.
In an attempt to overcome some of the deficiencies of stylet style videoscope devices the stylet can be provided with an extendible member telescopingly disposed within the body of the stylet. For example Patent Application Publication 2008/0017195 describes an extendable lighted stylet that is inserted into the bore of an ETT. The stylet contains an extendable member that carries a light source which can be extended using a handle portion at its proximal end. The field of view can be obscured by the larger diameter ETT and operation of the stylet requires the operator to use one hand at the proximal end while supporting the tube and stylet with the other hand. This is difficult if a laryngoscope is also being utilized and in fact may require two people to successfully perform the intubation. In addition bending the device to aid intubation can be hampered by the optical components.
A similar system is described by Rayburn et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,242. A stylet with a scope tube contains a light transmitting optic fiber. The stylet is disposed in the bore of an ETT. The scope tube can be used to guide an ETT. This device is subject to the same problems described above, especially as operation must be accomplished at the proximal end handle portion.
Rigid stylets have also been used in combination with conventional laryngoscopes for intubations to provide an enhanced view of the glottis during the procedure. However it has been well documented that providing a good view of the glottis does not always correlate with successful airway intubation. The limitations of video laryngoscopes in advancing the ETT through the vocal cords and into the glottis have been well described.1,2 Using a stylet to curve the ETT through the vocal cords and into the trachea has often proven difficult due to, among other things, having the bevel of the ETT become stuck at the arytenoids, or impact the anterior wall of the larynx. In addition the discomfort to the patient may be increased. The use of a softer stylet has been suggested to allow for the adjustment of the ETT and result in faster intubation times.31 Doyle D J, Zura A, Ramachandran M, Videolayngoscopy in the management of the difficult airway (Letter). Can J Anesth 2004; 51:952 Cooper R M, Videolarynoscopy in the management of the difficult airway (Letter, reply) Can J Anesth 2004; 51: 95-63 Rai M R, Deering A, Verglose C, The Glidescope system: a clinical assessment of performance. Anesth 2005; 60:60-4
Stylets require that the ETT be loaded over the stylet. A problem with the preloaded-ETT-over-the-stylet designs is that they often require use of a control mechanism located at the proximal end. This can be far behind the operator's supporting hand. The operator's other hand must continue to hold the videoscope in a fixed position, so maneuvering from the proximal end of the ETT requires distracting maneuvers by the operator or the help of additional personnel trained in the use of the device. Also, the larger diameter ETT can interfere with operator's line of sight during intubation.
The Eschmann-type introducer has been successfully used for numerous difficult intubations in combination with traditional laryngoscopes. The introducer permits one hand operation from a medial portion of the device making it easier to maneuver the distal end during difficult intubations. Some difficulties have been noted when the introducer is used in combination with the more recently developed videoscopes. Unfortunately, intubating-introducers such as the Eschmann introducer weren't originally conceived of for use with videoscopes. Videoscopes have created the need for more dynamically shapeable designs to adjust to the unique angles of approach required when viewing the glottis through the videoscope. For example, a good view can often be obtained and an introducer can be advanced close to the glottis, but there may be difficulty advancing the tip of the introducer through the glottis. Often the tip of the introducer can be seen with the glottis clearly in the background, but the distal tip of the introducer can't be advanced through the glottis. This often occurs because the introducer must be pre-bent to align with the glottis but can't be extended distally in the direction toward which the distal tip points
In an effort to alleviate this problem some manufacturers have inserted a flexible wire into the introducer to provide for improved molding of the introducer so that the distal end portion can point towards the glottis. But there is no provision for advancing the distal tip toward and through the glottis. Even with the proximal portion of a telescoping device pointing in the general direction of the glottis, maneuvering is still needed to actually advance the distal portion through the glottis.
Yoshida et al. (US Patent Application Publication US2008/0017195, Jan. 24, 2008) teaches a stylet that includes an extendable member carrying a light at its distal tip. This device is subject to many of the disadvantages described above and in addition includes a handle portion at the proximal end that requires the ETT be preloaded over the stylet. Manipulation is by the handle portion at the proximal end and cannot be maneuvered using one hand.
It would be desirable to have an introducer that does not require preloading of the ETT and that does not obscure the view through a videoscope. In addition it would be desirable to have an introducer readily moldable into a desired shape and that has a maneuverable extendable member that can be readily inserted into the trachea using one hand and that can be supported and controlled at a point medial the distal and proximal ends of the introducer.

Device for introducing an airway tube into the trachea


The various implementations described herein include systems, methods and/or devices used to manage heat flow for dissipating heat generated by electronic components in an electronic system (e.g., a memory system that includes closely spaced memory modules). In one embodiment, heat sinks are disposed on front sides of a first module and a second module in the electronic system, and at least one heat sink in the second module is disposed between at least two heat sinks in the first module. In some embodiments, the number of heat sinks and/or a subset of geometric parameters for the locations, sizes and shapes of the heat sinks are configured for the purpose of disturbing and mixing air flow that passes an air gap between the front sides of the first and second modules.

Many of today's electronic systems, such as desktop computers and servers, include semiconductor memory devices or modules. Such semiconductor memory devices or modules include solid state drives (SSDs), dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), and Small Outline-DIMMs (SO-DIMM), all of which utilize memory cells to store data as an electrical charge or voltage.
Improvements in storage density, including increased density of memory cells on each individual module, have been brought about by manufacturing improvements and the ability to accommodate more memory integrated circuits per module using board-level packaging techniques. As this storage density has increased, so has the heat generated from the tightly packed integrated circuits. This increased heat can ultimately lead device failures. To dissipate this heat, memory modules often make use of heat sinks coupled to the semiconductor memory devices or modules.
Heat generation is especially problematic in blade server systems, where high-density SSDs and DIMMs are frequently accessed for memory read and write operations. Although heat sinks may be mounted on the SSDs and DIMMs and air flow from fans is routed through the heat sinks to help dissipate the heat, the increasingly compact form factor of the DIMMs and SSDs oftentimes compromises the heat dissipation effects of the heat sinks and the air flow around them. In light of this problem, memory slots are often intentionally left empty in order to reduce the heat density within the system. Alternatively, server fans are operated at higher rotational speeds or for longer periods in order to increase the air flow and heat dissipation. However, empty memory slots and higher speed fans undesirably compromise the storage density, noise generation, fan replacement costs, and operating expense of these systems. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and system that efficiently manages the air flow past the heat sinks while maintaining or improving the cost, yield, and performance characteristics and storage density of electronics systems.


A surgical clamping device comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, with a self-locking surgical fastener mountable thereon. The jaws have at least a first closing configuration and a second closing configuration, the first closing configuration designed to reduce a lateral dimension of a clamping device with mounted fastener, without thereby engaging locking devices on the selflocking surgical fastener, the second closing configuration designed to cause an engagement of the self-locking devices, thereby allowing a demounting of the fastener and a permanent disposition thereof in tissue. In a first closing configuration an approximation of the jaws in a transverse plane thereof is accompanied by an out-of-plane movement, comprising translation, or rotation about an axis in the plane, the rotation in turn comprising twistingxe2x80x94rotation about an axis essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the jaws, or skewingxe2x80x94rotation about an axis essentially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the jaws. An alternative engagement of the first closing configuration and the second closing configuration is effected by a ratcheting device in conjunction with a camming device, or any means of actuation known in the mechanical arts.

This invention relates to the field of surgeries conducted through a tubular guide or cannula, including but not limited to arthroscopic, endoscopic, laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, and intravascular surgeries. In particular, this invention relates to instruments insertable through a cannula and carrying a surgical fastener to a distal end thereof. This invention also relates to a method for clamping organic tissues.
Various minimally invasive surgical techniques have been developed involving the passage of instruments down a tubular guide or cannula inserted into an existing orifice or duct of the human body, penetrating a bodily wall, or both. These techniques include, but are not limited to, arthroscopic, endoscopic, laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, and intravascular surgeries, although in laparoscopic surgery the tubular penetration may be limited to the bore of a trocar sleeve, an extended cannula being omitted. In these techniques, space, and in particular space perpendicular to a longitudinal or major extensive axis of a surgical instrument designed for insertion through a cannula, is at a premium. Devices which may be collapsed along one or two dimensions, opening to a full extension inside a patient and mechanisms allowing a compact insertion of an otherwise prohibitively large surgical device, will therefore find utility in minimally invasive techniques.
Positively or self-locking surgical clamps, such as those intended for occlusion of a sperm duct, occupy less space in a lateral dimension relative to a major axis of the clamp in a closed configuration than in an open configuration. However, by the very positive locking feature, i.e., by virtue of having a locking mechanism which permanently holds the clamp closed once the jaws are engaged, a clamp of this variety so closed cannot be conveniently opened. Holding such a clamp in a partially closed pre-firing configuration during an insertion is one method of reducing lateral space requirements. However, in order to achieve a maximum pre-firing compactness in a lateral dimension, a self-locking clamp would be ideally inserted in an essentially fully closed configuration, without thereby engaging the locking mechanism.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an instrument for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures.
It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a surgical clamping instrument adapted for insertion through a cannula, or other tightly confined opening.
Yet a more particular object of this invention is provide such a surgical clamping instrument for inserting a lockable surgical clamp in an essentially closed configuration pre-firing condition, without thereby engaging the locking mechanism.
An associated object of the present invention is to provide a method for clamping organic tissues in a surgical procedure.
An additional related object of the present invention is to provide such a method for particular use in minimally invasive procedures wherein surgical operations are effectuated through a narrow tubular guide or cannula.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent through an inspection of the description and figures hereunder.
A insertion device for a surgical clamp or fastener in accordance with the present invention includes a set of jaws having at least one opened configuration and two closed configurations, the closed configurations comprising an in-line configuration and a skewed or off-set configuration. In the offset configuration, the jaws hold the fastener in a distorted essentially closed state so that locking elements on legs of the fastener do not engage one another, enabling the fastener to be opened upon insertion of the jaws and the fastener into a patient. In the in-line configuration of the jaws, the jaws close the fastener about intervening organic tissues of the patient, enabling engagement of the locking elements and a locked closure of the fastener.
Pursuant to another feature of the present invention, the jaws are placed in the offset configuration by a skew motion of at least one of the jaws, which may be defined as a rotation of the jaws about a secondary axis perpendicular to a rotation axis of a jaw hinge and also perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the jaws: rotation about the longitudinal axis would alternatively constitute a relative torquing or twisting motion of the jaws.
Pursuant to one step of a method in accordance with the present invention, the jaws are disposed in an open configuration, pre-mounted with a self-locking clamp or fastener, and then closed into the in-line configuration, resulting in an engagement of locking elements on the fastener, and a permanent closure of the fastener. Subsequently opening the jaws disengages the jaws from the now set fastener and allows withdrawal of the device from an operating site. In contrast, closing the jaws in the offset configuration prevents an engagement of the locking elements, while still substantially closing the fastener. An ability to close the jaws without engaging the locking elements of a positively locking fastener allows the fastener to be first inserted through a narrow cannula or other limited aperture with substantial space savings. The jaws in general will have to be returned to a substantially closed position after disengaging or dismounting of the set fastener, to allow removal of the device through the same cannula.
It is apparent that it must be possible to close the jaws in a first or second closed configuration in a useful order. In a simplest method, an alternation of skew and in-line motions is realized on alternate closures. This alternating motion is achieved by one of two mechanisms or medical instruments pursuant to the present invention.
In a first mechanism or instrument, the instrument device has a lower jaw, rigidly mounted to a sheath or stalk defining a major longitudinal axis of the instrument. An accompanying upper jaw is attached to the lower jaw at a hinge or pivot point. The sheath serves as a guide for a drive rod or post, which is, at a distal tip of the instrument, is essentially constrained to move in parallel to the lower jaw. A linkage engaging the drive rod is connected to lower and upper jaws, and urges the jaws apart, in an opened configuration, when the rod is forced outward, in a distal direction, with respect to the sheath. Conversely, when the rod is withdrawn in an opposite the jaws are urged together into a closed configuration. A distal tip of the drive rod further engages a ratcheting mechanism mounted under the lower jaw, which in turn drives a control wheel mounted in an angle of the jaws, on the lower jaw, via a shaft. The ratcheting mechanism rotates the control wheel a fixed amount, 180xc2x0 in the present embodiment, upon each distal extension of the rod.
The control wheel is provided on an upper surface with two camming devices, which alternatively engage a wedge or tooth mounted on an under surface of the upper jaw. In a locking position of the wheel, a V-shaped guide receives the tooth and aligns the jaws to force an engagement of self-locking elements on a mounted surgical fastener upon closing of the jaws. In a skewing position of the wheel, a second wedge deflects the wedge or tooth on the upper jaw, causing a skewing motion of the jaws and preventing an engagement of the locking elements on the fastener. In this configuration, the jaws may be essentially closed, achieving a minimum lateral dimension, without positively locking an attached surgical fastener. In order to allow a desired range of motion of the jaws, a hinge having a pre-determined amount of mechanical xe2x80x9cslopxe2x80x9d or tolerance is employed, the V-shaped guide serving to effect a positive in-line closure in a first position of the wheel. Alternatively, a partial ball or universal joint may be employed.
In a second mechanism or instrument in accordance with the present invention, a substantially similar design of sheath, drive rod, hinge and jaws are utilized. However, the wheel and camming devices are eliminated. In their place a guide track is mounted on a lower surface of the lower jaw, engaging a substantially vertical pin projecting from a distal end of the drive rod. The track is comprised of two branches, which come together at a distal end thereof, meeting in a ratcheting or switching device. Upon each distal extension of the drive rod, the ratcheting device is engaged at an extreme of the motion, and alternatively redirects the rod into a first branch and a second branch of the track.
Upon engagement of the pin or projection in a first, straight, branch of the track, the jaws are drawn together in-line upon a withdrawal of the drive rod, effectuating engagement of locking elements of an attached surgical fastener. Alternatively, upon engagement of the pin in a second, curved, branch of the track, the drive rod is forced out of alignment with respect to the lower jaw and longitudinal axis of the instrument, and the upper jaw, is compelled by a bending of the rod, via the linkage engaging the rod and the jaws, out of alignment with the lower jaw, and thereby closes in an offset configuration.
An additional degree of mechanical tolerance is included in the linkage in the second embodiment relative to the first embodiment, to allow a bending motion of the rod to be translated to a skew motion of the jaws. Alternatively, partial universal joints are employed in the linkage.
An instrument in accordance with the present invention enables the application of a surgical clip or fastener to internal tissues of a patient via a natural or surgically formed opening in the patient which is substantially smaller than the opened configuration of the clip or fastener.

Off-set clamp mechanism and associated method for minimally invasive surgery


A semiconductor device includes: a thick copper member in which a semiconductor chip is mounted; a printed circuit board that is disposed on a front surface of the thick copper member and provided with an opening exposing a part of the front surface of the thick copper member, a wiring pattern, and conductive vias connecting the pattern and the thick copper member; a semiconductor chip mounted on the front surface of the thick copper member exposed through the opening and connected to the pattern by a metal wire; an electronic component mounted on a front surface of the printed circuit board opposite to a side facing the thick copper member and connected to the pattern; and a cap or an epoxy resin sealing the front surface of the printed circuit board opposite to a side facing the thick copper member, the chip, the component, and the metal wire.

As a wireless communication system represented by mobile phone base stations, a fifth generation mobile communication system (5G) is expected to be launched as a next-generation communication system in the near future. This communication system enables more simultaneous and larger capacity connections than in the past, and it is considered that antennas will be installed in many areas, especially in high-density population areas. In order to satisfy these requirements, a semiconductor device with a small size and low power consumption is necessary. In addition to the above, a low cost semiconductor device without an extreme increase in its cost compared with that in the fourth generation mobile communication system is required.
Currently, in a semiconductor device used for a wireless communication such as the mobile communication system, and in consideration of ease of use for customers, a module structure is adopted in which a high frequency circuit is formed on a printed circuit board, a chip of semiconductor element (semiconductor chip) and electronic components such as chip capacitors are mounted on the circuit at the same time, and a high frequency signal is matched on the printed circuit board.
In general, the printed circuit board used for a semiconductor device having the module structure uses an organic substrate as a base material made from a glass epoxy resin or the like. However, the base material described above has very poor thermal conductivity, and thereby the thermal resistance is high. Thus, an amplifier using a semiconductor element (active element) such as a gallium nitride (GaN) element that is operated in the active manner and at a high power density, characteristics thereof are degraded owing to the temperature rise of the semiconductor element. For the reason above, it is essential to reduce the thermal resistance of the semiconductor element itself, and a problem arises in that the gate interval in the semiconductor element constituting the amplifier must be made larger than necessary, and the size of the chip on which the semiconductor element is formed increases. As the chip size of the semiconductor element increases, the mounting area thereof increases, and an increase in the package size of the semiconductor device will be a problem. Since the cost of the chip increases when the size of the semiconductor element increases, it is preferable that the size of the semiconductor element be as small as possible.
A configuration of a semiconductor device is available in which a lead frame such as that of a quad flat non-lead package (QFN) is adopted and a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) incorporating a high frequency circuit is directly mounted on a copper frame in order to reduce the thermal resistance of the semiconductor device or in which a high frequency circuit as a passive element is formed on a semiconductor such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) as a separate chip (semiconductor chip) to reduce the cost and an active element (semiconductor chip) is directly mounted on a copper frame, thereby reducing the thermal resistance of the semiconductor device. However, when a number of the semiconductor chips are used, the mounting area increases, and an increase in the package size of the semiconductor device will be a problem.
In a package structure in which the lead frame such as that in QFN is used, semiconductor chips for the active element and the passive element are directly mounted on a copper frame. However, when a high frequency circuit to be adopted becomes complicated, for example, in the case of adopting a Doherty circuit used in a high output amplifier for a base station, the chip size will be large when the entire Doherty circuit is formed on a single chip, namely, made into an MMIC, and at a frequency of 6 GHz or less, it is generally difficult to make the entire circuit into an IC and put it into one package. Further, even at a frequency of 6 GHz or more, the cost of the chip increases and the cost of the semiconductor device increases.
In order to put a complex high frequency circuit into one package, a printed circuit board having multilayer wirings is generally used. Patent Document 1 discloses a semiconductor device including a first glass-epoxy substrate on which a semiconductor element is surface-mounted, a second glass-epoxy substrate on which solder bumps are formed, and a plurality of solid electrolyte capacitors embedded in a composite layer between the first glass-epoxy substrate and the second glass-epoxy substrate.


A device for preparing liquid to thin pulpy media having an inner chamber 1 is substantially symmetrical about longitudinal axis, and the inner chamber has a neck end and a passage end. An outer circumference of the inner chamber tapers down from the passage and to the neck end. An outer chamber surrounds the inner chamber, and the outer chamber is also substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis. The outer chamber communicates with the inner chamber through an opening in the neck of the inner chamber, and an opening in the passage end of the inner chamber. A centrifuge wheel is positioned inside the outer chamber and outside the inner chamber. The centrifuge wheel has an intake pipe extending from a center of the centrifuge wheel, and this intake pipe extends into the neck opening of the inner chamber. The centrifuge wheel and the intake pipe are substantially symmetrical with, and rotate about the longitudinal axis.

A great number of processes and devices for preparing liquid to thin pulpy media, have become known. These processes and devices are used mainly in the areas of wastewater treatment, water preparation, and the preparation of colloidal mixtures. To produce colloidal mixtures by turbulence, especially by means of rotors, intensive mixing of the starting components is achieved. The medium processed develops a colloidal structure due to the size reduction of macroscopic granules or by binding together a plurality of molecules to form clusters. In a prior-art device of this type (West German Offenlegungsschrift No. DE-OS 32,41,011), the medium to be treated is filled from the top into a funnel-shaped container. The medium flows through the funnel from top to bottom under the effect of the force of gravity. The medium leaves the funnel through an outlet opening provided at the lower end of the funnel. This device generates a vortex-like turbulence, which is intended to bring about intense mixing of the components present in the medium, e.g., cement and water. A further improved variant of this device has also become known (West German Offenlegungsschrift No. DE-OS 33,25,952), in which a two-chamber system is used. The inner, funnel-shaped chamber again serves to turbulize the medium flowing through from top to bottom under the effect of the force of gravity, while the outer chamber serves to return the medium leaving the inner chamber to the inlet opening of the inner chamber. A rotor mounted in the vertical axis of the container is used to return the medium. The vanes of the rotor are located in the outer chamber under the outlet opening of the inner chamber, and the rotor returns the medium to the inlet opening of the inner chamber against the force of gravity.
These prior-art devices have mainly the disadvantage that the efficiency is not high enough to achieve sufficient colloidization of the treated medium within a reasonable time. Despite the fact that propellers are provided to support the turbulizing effect of the force of gravity by suction and pumping, the amount of energy introduced is too small. Another disadvantage is the fact that the medium is returned to the inlet opening of the inner chamber against the force of gravity and this is also brought about by a propeller, which is arranged on the same axis as the propeller for generating the suction effect, which is arranged in the inner chamber. The flow conditions are thus undefined, and the amounts of energy introduced partially offset each other.

Device for preparing liquid to thin pulpy media


A catalyst for the oxidation of heavy metal contaminants, especially mercury (Hg), in an effluent stream is presented. The catalyst facilitates removal of mercury through the oxidation of elemental Hg into mercury (II) moieties. The active component of the catalyst is partially combusted coal, or “Thief” carbon, which can be pre-treated with a halogen. An untreated Thief carbon catalyst can be self-promoting in the presence of an effluent gas streams entrained with a halogen.

Certain effluent gas streams contain many toxic pollutants, including the heavy metals mercury and cadmium. Coal-burning power plants, incinerators, oil-burning boilers and power plants, refuse-derived fuel power plants, and gasification systems (especially integrated gasification combined cycle power generation systems) are sources of effluent streams with mercury and other heavy metals. The combustion of low-rank coals, such as Powder River Basin sub-bituminous coal and lignites, has been shown to form flue gases where the mercury is primarily in the elemental form. Indeed, much of the mercury contained in power plant flue gas is in the elemental form. Elemental mercury is a semi-noble metal, insoluble in water, and is not efficiently captured by carbon. As such, elemental mercury is difficult to capture while oxidized mercury is more amenable to capture.
Mercury compounds, such as mercury (II) chloride, HgCl2, are highly soluble in water and more readily removed by carbon sorbents. Therefore, agents that can oxidize elemental mercury to mercury (II) chloride (or another oxidized mercury compound) would be of considerable value in effluent clean-up. Such agents would enable mercury to be captured by existing air pollution control devices (APCDs) present at coal-burning power plants. Typical APCDs include wet and dry scrubbers for acid gas removal (SOx and NOx), as well as electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) and baghouse filters for particulate removal.
Ideally, the mercury oxidation catalysts would be located upstream of the appropriate APCD. Mercury (II) chloride is readily removed by the scrubbing solutions employed for acid gas removal and/or by adsorption on unburned carbon in fly ash captured by ESPs or baghouse filters. Mercury (II) chloride is also sequestered by activated carbon sorbents injected upstream of an ESP or baghouse.
Many technologies are being developed for the control of mercury emissions from flue gases. These methods employ sorbents, catalysts, scrubbing liquors, flue gas or coal additives, combustion modifications, barrier discharges, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Efforts have been made to develop catalysts for selectively oxidizing elemental mercury in effluent streams. However, these selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts, whose primary role in flue gas is the reduction of nitrogen oxides, typically achieve only 50 percent oxidation levels for mercury oxidation. SCR catalysts have not yet been optimized for mercury oxidation and removal.
Due to its relative simplicity and proven successful application for the incinerator market, most of the research has focused upon the use of activated carbon sorbents for the adsorption of mercury.
Gold (Au) and palladium (Pd) catalysts are used as mercury oxidation catalysts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,281 awarded to Meischen, et al. on Oct. 24, 2000, discloses a gold catalyst for the oxidation of elemental Hg in effluent gas streams. However, both Au and Pd catalysts are not inert and therefore degrade in flue gases.
Thief carbons and their adsorption capabilities are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,021 awarded to Pennline, et al., on Feb. 18, 2003, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
None of the aforementioned patents discloses catalysts with both high mercury oxidation levels and high adsorption levels for HCl, Cl2, and other halogens or halogen-containing compounds. In addition, none of the aforementioned patents disclose a catalyst which is self-activating and disposable.

Thief carbon catalyst for oxidation of mercury in effluent stream

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


An apparatus for changing relative concentrations of first and second analyte substances in an analyte sample comprises a sample cell defining a sample chamber therewithin, and a semipermeable boundary member disposed in the sample chamber to define first and second sides of the sample chamber. Sample flow input and sample flow output ducts direct an analyte sample containing respective initial concentrations of the first and second analyte substances into the first side of the sample chamber. The semipermeable boundary member permits diffusion therethrough of the first and second analyte substances to the second side of the sample chamber at different rates. An analyte sample in the second side of the sample chamber, and an analyte sample exiting the first side via the sample flow output duct, have respective concentrations of the first and second analyte substances that are different from the initial concentrations.

The invention relates to mass spectrometry, and particularly to mass spectrometric analysis of gaseous analyte samples containing analyte substances of interest. The invention has applicability, among other areas, to analysis of atmospheric gas samples, and to detection of gaseous substances present in trace amounts.
The presence of normal concentrations of atmospheric gases in an analyte sample can interfere with measuring trace amounts of gases of interest. For example, when analyzing an atmospheric gas sample using a mass selective detector, the large amounts of nitrogen gas present in the atmosphere will cause a large peak, with tailing shoulder. This large signal can overwhelm the signal of a trace gas that is close in molecular weight to nitrogen.
Typically, the entire gas sample enters the analyzer without any separation. However, separation of the gas sample in order to reduce the concentration of the large-quantity gas relative to that of the trace gas of interest could improve the results of the analysis.
A gas chromatograph can be used to separate the gases prior to analysis by the mass spectrometer, but this is an expensive solution and is not easily incorporated into a remote field instrument.

Method and apparatus for changing relative concentrations of gases present within a gaseous sample for mass spectrometry


A geothermal power plant operating on high pressure geothermal fluid includes a primary separator for separating the geothermal fluid into two channels, one containing high pressure steam and the other containing high pressure liquid. A primary steam turbine in the high pressure steam channel is responsive to high pressure steam for generating electricity and producing heat depleted high pressure steam. A secondary separator separates the heat depleted high pressure steam into a steam component and a liquid component. A primary heat exchanger is responsive to the high pressure liquid and the steam component for transferring heat to said steam component thereby producing low pressure steam and cooled high pressure liquid. At least one power plant module includes a low pressure steam turbine responsive to the low pressure steam for producing electricity and heat depleted low pressure steam; a condenser/vaporizer containing an organic fluid for receiving the heat depleted low pressure steam and converting it into condensate, and for vaporizing the organic fluid; an organic vapor turbine responsive to vaporized organic fluid produced by the condenser/vaporizer for generating electricity and for producing heat depleted organic fluid; a condenser for condensing the heat depleted organic vapor into a liquid; a preheater for heating the liquid; a pump for returning heated liquid from the preheater to the condenser/vaporizer; and a conduit for directing condensate from the condenser to the preheater.

Many geothermal sources currently under investigation or exploitation produce large quantities of hot brine at moderate pressures, typically about 150 psia. Some sources, however, produce fluid mixtures of steam and brine at much higher pressures, for example, 800 psia. In the latter case, the brine is usually very corrosive giving rise to problems in using and disposing of the brine. Recently, geothermal wells in Hawaii have been drilled producing high pressure fluid that is about 80% steam and 20% brine. The steam is usually only saturated, and there is some question as to whether these wells will maintain the 800 psia pressure in the face of continuous use over the years.
To take this uncertainty to account, it has been conventional to install pressure reducing valves into the flow from the well so that a low pressure steam system can be used in the expectation that the high pressure eventually will fall. However, this is a conservative design, and it is costly because over the life of the plant, because a considerable amount of potential power will have been lost.
A back pressure steam turbine driving a generator would seem to be an alternative approach in that the high pressure steam from the well could be converted to lower pressure steam by the turbine and applied in parallel to a plurality of modules that can operate on low pressure steam. Each module may utilize a low pressure steam turbo-generator, and a condenser that acts as a vaporizer for an organic vapor turbo-generator. When the geothermal fluid produces only high pressure, saturated steam, expansion of the steam in a turbine takes place in the wet region of the temperature-entropy diagram, producing exhaust steam that contains water droplets and is thus not suitable for application to the inlet stages of low pressure steam turbines in the various modules.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved geothermal power plant capable of operating on high pressure geothermal fluid without the attendant disadvantages of the prior art described above.

Geothermal power plant operating on high pressure geothermal fluid


Amphiphilic macromolecules having repeating structural units: structural units to adjust molecular weight and molecular weight distribution and charging property effects, high stereo-hindrance structural units, and amphiphilic structural units, and are suitable for fields such as oil field well drilling, well cementation, fracturing, oil gathering and transfer, sewage treatment, sludge treatment and papermaking, etc., and can be used as an oil-displacing agent for enhanced oil production, a heavy oil viscosity reducer, a fracturing fluid, a clay stabilizing agent, a sewage treatment agent, a papermaking retention and drainage aid or a reinforcing agent, etc.

Chemical flooding is one of the most effective and potential chemical technologies for Enhanced Oil Recovery, which is especially represented by polymer flooding. However, there arise some problems for conventional polymers along with the deep implementation of polymer flooding technology. Under reservoir conditions of high temperature and high salinity, the viscosifying capacity and thermal stability of the widely used polymer, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), reduces rapidly; in the meantime, HPAM does not have the surface/interfacial activity per se, and could not start the oil film effectively, so that its ability to mine the remaining oil is limited. The polymer-based binary-component composite system (polymer/surfactant) and triple-component system (polymer/surfactant/alkali) may enhance the stability of the emulsified produced fluid, resulting in increased difficulty in oil/water separation and sewage treatment, as well as the weakening of synergistic effect among the components of the system under reservoir conditions, and also it may damage the reservoir. The application of the composite system is thus restricted.
It has become a difficulty and key for many large oilfield developments to keep the viscosifying capacity and viscosity stability of the polymer solution, so as to achieve the strategic target of stabilization of oil production and water cut control.
Heavy oil is a collective name for unconventional oil, including heavy oil, high viscosity oil, oil sand, natural asphalt and etc., and they are also referred to as heavy oil, ultra-heavy oil, asphalt and etc. Among the approximate 10 trillion barrels of remaining oil resources around the world, more than 70% of which is heavy oil resource. Chinese onshore heavy oil and bitumen resources account for about more than 20% of their total oil resources. According to incomplete statistics, the proved and controlled heavy oil reserves in China reach 1600 million tons. Nowadays heavy oil resource has become one of the important strategic replacement resources in China; however, the exploitation of heavy oil is rather difficult. Chemical emulsification and viscosity reduction method has become an important exploitation technology.
Polymeric emulsification viscosity reducer usually refers to a polymeric surfactant with a relative molecular weight more than several thousands and significant surface activity; according to the ion types, it can be divided into four categories: anionic, cationic, zwitterionic and non-ionic polymeric surfactant. Polymeric surfactant usually has limited capacity to reduce surface tension and oil-water interfacial tension, but has excellent emulsification and dispersion capability for heavy oil, with advantages of small usage amount, high viscosity reduction rate, lower cost and simple implementation process. In recent years, this research especially attracts more and more attention in this field.

Amphiphilic macromolecule and use thereof

BEIJING JUNLUN RUNZHONG SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED


A multiple use camouflage system is described for use by an individual. The system is integrated into and remains attached to a fanny pack secured to a waist belt or to a backpack, etc. The camouflage system utilizes a sheet of flexible rectangular camouflage material (preferably translucent mesh netting) with spaced straps secured along one side edge and spaced D-rings on the opposite side edge. When deployed, the sheet material can be wrapped around the user and secured with the straps. A slit extends upwardly from the bottom edge toward the central section of the sheet, enabling the lower portions of the sheet to be wrapped around the users legs and secured with straps and D-rings, or the lower portions can be secured together to form a tube around the body of the user. The material can also be used off of the body as a fixed positional blind for hunting or surveillance. The material can be folded and rolled into the fanny pack for storage and carrying.

There are many situations where a person desires to be camouflaged while in the field. This is particularly important for hunters, law enforcement and military personnel, and sometimes for photographers. It is not convenient, however, to carry conventional blinds around in the field. Also, conventional blinds are not able to be easily and quickly deployed when needed. Camouflage "suits" which are available do not break up the human form and therefore are not always effective.
Although a convertible garment is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,122 (Steverson), it is not suitable for all uses. It is stated to be convertible to a car coat length, raincoat length, a ground engaging length, and to a coverall (where the lower portion is wound separately around each leg) Basically the garment is a weather-resistant coat with sleeves for the arms and a body portion which extends around the trunk of the person wearing it. The length of the coat may vary by folding or unfolding the lower portion. Although such a coat may be useful for some purposes, it is not useful, for example, as a ground cover or tent for concealing the body of the wearer. Furthermore, in the form of camouflage, it does not reduce the human form.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,125 (Waldmann) describes an upper torso garment having sleeves for the arms, a hood, and a back pack or fanny pack secured to the back of the garment for carrying the folded garment when it is not being used. This garment would not be useful for camouflage purposes because it does not "break up" the human form. Moreover, the garment is simply a wind breaker that is not convertible to any body-covering form.
There has not heretofore been provided an individual camouflage system having the features and advantages provided by the present invention which is convertible to a variety of uses depending upon the demands of a particular situation at hand.


A drum brake apparatus is provided for a vehicle air braking system. The drum brake apparatus comprises a wheel drum having a first interior chamber. The drum brake apparatus also comprises a drum brake assembly disposed in the first interior chamber of the wheel drum and mounted on inboard side of the wheel drum. The drum apparatus further comprises a brake drum adapter mounted on outboard side of the wheel drum and providing a second interior chamber in which an electric drive motor can be disposed. The drum brake apparatus also comprises a wheel hub disposed in the second interior chamber of the brake drum adapter and to which a wheel rim can be mounted.

The present application relates to vehicle air braking systems, and is particularly directed to a drum brake apparatus for a vehicle air braking system, such as a heavy vehicle air braking system that includes a drum brake assembly, and a method of assembling the same.
A typical drum brake assembly includes a brake shoe that engages a wheel drum to transmit brake torque through a brake spider to a wheel axle. One end of the brake shoe is pivotable against an anchor pin that is attached to one side of the brake spider. A cam follower roller is disposed at the other end of the brake shoe. When a service brake application occurs, a camshaft located on the side of the brake spider opposite the anchor pin is actuated to rotate about its longitudinal central axis. As the camshaft rotates about its longitudinal central axis, a cam surface of an S-cam mounted on the camshaft acts against the cam follower roller to pivot the brake shoe about the anchor pin. As the brake shoe pivots about the anchor pin, the lining of the brake shoe frictionally engages the wheel drum to transmit brake torque through the brake spider to the wheel axle and thereby to decelerate and brake the vehicle.
Some drum brake assemblies are equipped with an electric wheel end drive motor. The electric wheel end drive motor functions both to propel the vehicle and to generate brake torque to assist in decelerating and braking the vehicle when needed. Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research and development efforts in drum brake assemblies including drum brake assemblies with electric wheel end drive motors.

Drum brake concept for use with an electric wheel end drive motor


An information processing apparatus which includes a main memory for storing a plurality of data blocks each having a predetermined size stores a plurality of data blocks. Each data block includes a plurality of words, and each word includes a plurality of byte data. A data memory section in a cache memory for storing a small amount of data as compared with that of the main memory to achieve high-speed processing transfers data from/to the main memory in units of data blocks. A microprocessor generates a request address including desired data block and word addresses in order to access a plurality of desired words in a desired data block in the data memory section. A comparator determines whether a data block corresponding to the data block address is present in the data memory section. The microprocessor reads a plurality of words corresponding to the word address in the plurality of words in the corresponding data block from the data memory section in response to an output from the comparator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an information processing apparatus and, more particularly, to an information processing apparatus with a cache memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
An information processing apparatus such as a computer or a word processor often includes a main memory with a relatively large capacity divided into a plurality of blocks each having a predetermined size, and a cache memory, with a capacity smaller than that of the main memory, for achieving high-speed processing. In such an information processing apparatus, the memory contents are stored in the cache memory from the main memory in units of blocks divided to each have a predetermined size, and are returned from the cache memory to the main memory. If the cache memory is driven by a 32-bit microprocessor, the predetermined size corresponds to 4 words (16 bytes).
In a conventional information processing apparatus, a microprocessor can access only one word in the cache memory at a time. For this reason, an application, e.g., in which a plurality of arbitrary words are simultaneously accessed to increase a processing speed, cannot be performed, thus preventing high-speed processing.

Information processing apparatus with cache memory and a processor which generates a data block address and a plurality of data subblock addresses simultaneously