An optical device, such as a lens or a light quantity adjusting member, can avoid an increase in its size and also reduce the start-up time without damaging its components. An extracting section, a convex section, and a concave section are formed in a fixing member side by side in an optical axis direction. A flexible board is extracted from the extracting section. The convex section located on the extracting section projects to an inner diameter side from the extracting section. The concave section located on the convex section is recessed to an outer diameter side of the extracting section. While the optical device shifts into an accommodated state, the flexible board contacts a part of the convex section, a first bending portion of the flexible board projects to an inner diameter side thereof, and a second bending portion of the flexible board is accommodated in the concave section.

1. Field of the Invention
The claimed invention relates to an optical device provided with a zooming mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known an image pickup apparatus including an optical device, such as an image pickup lens barrel, provided with a zooming mechanism configured to change image pickup magnification by moving a plurality of optical lenses in an optical axis direction. As the zooming mechanism of the image pickup lens barrel, there is known, for example, a mechanism configured such that a lens holding frame holding a lens is engaged with a cam groove of a rotating cam cylinder, and such that the rotation of the lens holding frame is regulated by a rectilinear motion barrel, so as to move the lens holding frame in the optical axis direction.
In the image pickup lens barrel provided with the zooming mechanism, the size of the image pickup lens barrel itself tends to be reduced in accordance with the improvement of lens specifications. However, with the reduction of the size of the image pickup lens barrel, the stroke (extension amount) between extension and retraction times of a light amount adjusting member, which is required to be electrically connected by a flexible board inside and outside of the image pickup lens barrel, has been increased. For this reason, it has become difficult that a long flexible board corresponding to the stroke is accommodated in a U-shape conventionally used in general.
In order to accommodate the long flexible board in a space in the image pickup lens barrel at the time of retraction without increasing the size of the image pickup lens barrel, many studies have been made on a method for increasing the space itself in the image pickup lens barrel, and on a method for efficiently folding the long flexible board into the space. For example, at the time of the retraction of the image pickup lens barrel, the image pickup apparatus is in a non-image-pickup state. By using this, a technique has been proposed, in which a part of the flexible board is made to enter into the optically effective light path of the image pickup lens barrel at the time of the retraction of the image pickup lens barrel (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-211284). The technique is configured such that a space required only when the image pickup lens barrel is in an image pickup state is efficiently used at the time of the retraction of the image pickup lens barrel, and thereby the space for accommodating the flexible board is substantially expanded.
However, in the technique described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-211284, a flexible member, such as the flexible board, the accommodated state of which is unstable, is made to enter the optically effective light path of the image pickup lens barrel. For this reason, when the flexible board is made to enter the optically effective light path of the image pickup lens barrel, there is also a possibility that the flexible board is brought into contact with a lens, so as to damage the lens. Further, when the flexible board is made to enter the optically effective light path of the image pickup lens barrel, a time period during which the flexible board can be completely retracted from the optically effective light path needs to be added to a time period from when the power supply of the image pickup apparatus is turned on to when an object image formed on an image pickup element is outputted. This results in a problem that the start-up time of the image pickup apparatus is increased.

Optical device provided with zooming mechanism


A waterbased coating composition containing about 10-30% by weight of film forming binder dispersed in an aqueous carrier; wherein the binder contains about. a. 20-85% by weight, based on the weight of the binder, of a methylol (meth)acrylamide carboxyl containing acrylic polymer and the carboxyl groups of the polymer are reacted with ammonia or amine to provide a pH to the composition of about 7.0-10.0; PA1 b. 10-40% by weight, based on the weight of the binder, of a polyurethane which is either a polyester urethane, polyether urethane or polyacrylourethane; PA1 c. 5-40% by weight, based on the weight of the binder of a water-soluble or a water-dispersible alkylated melamine formaldehyde crosslinking agent of a polymeric partially methylated melamine formaldehyde resin having a degree of polymerization of about 1-3;. the composition forms an automotive quality clear coat and/or pigmented color coat for automobiles and trucks; and the acrylic polymer can be used to form an automotive quality primer composition.

This invention is directed to a waterbased coating composition and in particular to a waterbased coating containing a methylol (meth)acrylamide acrylic polymer, a polyurethane and an alkylated melamine crosslinking agent.
Methylol (meth)acrylamide acrylic polymers are polymers containing polymerized monomers of methylol methacrylamide or methylol acrylamide or any mixtures thereof.
Waterbased coating compositions useful for base coats and clear coats for automotive applications are shown in Wilfinger et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,020, issued Mar. 8, 1988. Waterbased dispersions of polyurethane are known as shown in Drexler et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,135, issued Dec. 18, 1984. Processes for preparing aqueous dispersions of acrylic polyesters are shown in Osborn et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,295 issued Dec. 9, 1975 and Osmond et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,155 issued Jan. 27, 1976. However, none of the compositions shown in the art form finishes having properties that are required in particular for exterior finishes of automobiles and trucks.
To date, solvent based paints have been the predominant finishes used to coat the exterior of automobiles and trucks. These solvent based paints have excellent adhesion to the substrate and provide properties such as weatherability, gloss, hardness, distinctness of image that are required for the finishes of the exterior of automobiles and trucks. To meet desired standards of reduced solvent emissions and achieve lower baking temperatures to save energy, waterbased paints were suggested for use. However, none of the known water based paints form finishes that have the necessary properties for automotive and truck use along with lower baking temperatures.

Waterbased coating compositions of methylol(meth)acrylamide acrylic polymer, polyurethane and melamine crosslinking agent


A bottle cover arranged for securement about an upper portion of a bottle member in a complementary relationship, wherein the bottle cover includes a body cavity and is formed of a fluid absorbing sponge material having a head portion to receive the bottle cap therewithin, with the head portion having a cylindrical cavity, including a cylindrical resilient insert arranged coextensively about an interior wall of the head portion for enhanced engagement of the bottle cap to permit rotation of the bottle cap relative to the associated bottle, with the sponge body arranged to absorb fluid in an overflow from the associated bottle member.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to bottle cover structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved fluid absorbing bottle cover wherein the same is directed to the absorbing of fluid from a bottle member.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The opening of carbonated beverage bottles frequently results in the overflow of fluid therefrom due to the projection of the carbonated beverage fluid from the bottle structure. The instant invention is arranged to address and overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a bottle cover having a complementary cavity relative to the associated bottle to provide for contiguous communication to an exterior surface of the bottle and absorb fluid projecting therefrom.


A lubricator for the bearings of a wheel hub that includes a bellows for accommodating changes in pressure in the wheel hub and utilizes a nongrease lubricant. Methods of manufacturing the lubricator and of lubricating wheel bearings are also provided.

Conventional axle-hub assemblies include a stationary axle or spindle that supports a pair of spaced apart wheel bearings which, in turn, support a rotatable hub or wheel bearing housing. Most hub assemblies are constructed such that there is usually a lubricating cavity filled completely or partially with a lubricant, usually grease, that is applied to the bearings. Trailers such as boat trailers, utility trailers, cattle trailers, and the like, all utilize such wheel bearings assemblies.
Many present hub assemblies allow contaminants, e.g., dirty air and water, to enter the bearing housing contaminating the grease and reducing the effectiveness of and shortening the life of the hub assembly. The entry of such contaminants is generally related to variations of temperature and pressure in the bearing housing. When the housing is exposed to high temperatures, e.g., when the temperature increases as a trailer is being towed, gases, such as air, and grease, in the hub expand and are expelled from the structure. If the bearing assembly is packed tight with grease and designed so that no air or grease can escape without accommodating the pressure changes, the increased pressure in the hub causes damage to the bearing seals and the inside of the hub, which may not be immediately noticed but will result in the bearings becoming dry and freezing. When a hot trailer is suddenly cooled, e.g., when a boat trailer is submerged in water during boat launching, there is contraction of the grease and gases that tends to create a vacuum and suck water into the bearing housing. The water washes the grease from within the housing, causing the wheel bearings to be improperly lubricated and often ruined, due to friction and excessive heat while the trailer is towed.
The circumstances of use necessitate that the bearings be frequently lubricated, a time-consuming task. The trailer must be jacked up to free the wheel, the wheel and bearing hub removed, and the bearings then removed from the bearing housing in the wheel, washed free of old grease, repacked with new grease, and replaced in the bearing housing. Ultimately, one or both of the bearings will require replacement.
Various devices for lubricating wheel bearings and other bearings are known in the art. For example, some patents have addressed the problem of automatically supplying lubricant to a machine. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 915,731 issued to Brigham that discloses an oil chamber having multiple outlets from which oil is supplied to different parts of a machine to be lubricated, along with means for supplying the chamber with oil under pressure and control devices for regulating the automatic flow of oil through the outlets in a selected time period, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,526,568 issued to Leonard that discloses a lubricating apparatus which includes a measuring valve adaptable for use in a machine with either grease or oil as the lubricant.
Other patents have described systems for ascertaining the level of lubricant in a housing so that lubricant can be timely replaced. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,958 issued to Swearingen that discloses an apparatus designed for attachment to a bearing housing. The apparatus has an access conduit that allows observation of the level of the oil in the lubricating housing, thereby permitting a desired oil level in the bearing housing to be maintained. U.S. Pat. No. 960,341 to Kincaid discloses a grease reservoir adapted to contain a stick of semi-solid lubricant. The reservoir serves as an auxiliary grease chamber and includes a spring-press plunger adapted to indicate the quantity of grease contained in the reservoir.
Other devices, many of which are patterned after the aforementioned Kincaid patent, are self-lubricating devices. These devices include a grease chamber disposed within a cylindrical housing, a spring-loaded plate slidably mounted in the housing, a grease fitting provided in the housing for charging the housing with grease and forcing the spring-loaded plate outwardly. The spring-loaded plate continually exerts pressure against the grease and causes the grease to enter the wheel bearing housing and coat the wheel bearings. Patents that describe such a spring-loaded piston system include U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,550 issued to Blake, U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,500 issued to Prokop, U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,816 issued to August, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,190,133 and 4,058,185 issued to Ploeger.
Still other prior art devices have addressed the problem of pressure changes in the wheel hub especially in particular applications where the bearing houses are exposed to high temperatures. Such devices incorporate a flexible diaphragm in the device. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,676,073 issued to Boden (railway cars) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,229 issued to Ohlberg (grate cars for sintering machines).
The self-lubricating devices, however, tend to be very complex structures. Most lack facility for quickly determining when the housing needs recharging with grease and do not permit quick and efficient recharging, without overcharging. Moreover, for those devices that attempt to use diaphragms to accommodate pressure changes, the construction typically requires isolation of the diaphragm from the grease lubricant.
Despite recognition of the many practical problems associated with lubrication of wheel hubs, proper solution to all these problems in a single device has not yet been demonstrated in the prior art. None of the prior art devices provides a lubricating device of simple construction that is sealed and eliminates water and other contaminants from being drawn into the hub, adjusts to temperature and pressure differentials in the hub, and utilizes an easy to handle, fluid lubricant which facilitates charging of the hub.

Closed lubrication system for wheel hub bearings


A ladder acoustic wave filter device is constructed such that ripples in the pass band are suppressed, and insertion loss is small in both of a high frequency side portion and a low frequency side portion of the pass band. Apodization weighting is applied to a series-arm-side IDT electrode. Busbars of the series-arm-side IDT electrode are configured so that in an acoustic wave propagation direction, a distance in an overlap width direction between the busbars becomes shorter as the overlap width of electrode fingers becomes smaller. Each of a pair of comb-shaped electrodes of a parallel-arm-side IDT electrode further includes a plurality of dummy electrodes that extend from a busbar and are opposed to electrode fingers of the other comb-shaped electrode in the overlap width direction. The parallel-arm-side IDT electrode is a normal IDT electrode in which the overlap width is constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ladder acoustic wave filter device, and a branching filter including the ladder acoustic wave filter device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In related art, as filter devices for use in communication equipment such as a mobile telephone, acoustic wave filter devices using acoustic waves are used. Acoustic wave filter devices include a longitudinally coupled resonator-type acoustic wave filter device, a ladder acoustic filter device, and so on. For example, a longitudinally coupled resonator-type acoustic wave filter device is preferably used as a receiving filter device in communication equipment which is required to be of a balanced type. On the other hand, a ladder acoustic wave filter device is preferably used as a transmitting filter device that is required to have high electric power handling capability.
For example, according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-246911 mentioned below, in such a ladder acoustic wave filter device, apodization weighting is applied to an IDT electrode forming a series arm resonator. An IDT electrode forming a parallel arm resonator is configured as a normal IDT electrode. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-246911, it is described that signal transmission characteristics can be improved by adopting the above-mentioned configuration.
In the ladder acoustic wave filter device described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-246911 mentioned above, ripples occurring in the high frequency side portion of the pass band can be suppressed by applying apodization weighting to the IDT electrode forming the series arm resonator. However, there is a problem in that it is difficult to sufficiently suppress ripples in the middle portion of the pass band. Moreover, there is a problem in that insertion loss in the lower frequency side portion of the pass band deteriorates.

Ladder acoustic wave filter device and branching filter


A method for fabricating an MRAM bit that includes depositing a spacer layer that protects the tunneling barrier layer during processing is disclosed. The deposited spacer layer prevents byproducts formed in later processing from redepositing on the tunneling barrier layer. Such redeposition may lead to product failure and decreased manufacturing yield. The method further includes non-corrosive processing conditions that prevent damage to the layers of MRAM bits. The non-corrosive processing conditions may include etching without using a halogen-based plasma. Embodiments disclosed herein use an etch-deposition-etch sequence that simplifies processing.

Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to the fabrication of memory devices, and more specifically to methods of forming components of magnetoresistive random access memory devices.
Description of the Related Art
Random access memory (RAM) is the most common type of memory found in computing devices. Advances in RAM technology have allowed for an increase in computing power. One advance in RAM technology is the development of magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM). Unlike other RAM technologies, data in MRAM is not stored as electric charge, but rather by magnetic storage elements, known as MRAM bits. MRAM bits have magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) structures. MTJ structures are formed from two ferromagnetic layers separated by a thin dielectric layer. The thin dielectric layer is commonly referred to as a tunneling barrier layer. The tunneling barrier layer is designed to be thin enough to allow electrons from one ferromagnetic layer to "tunnel" through the tunneling barrier layer to the other ferromagnetic layer. One of the ferromagnetic layers, referred to as the "pinned" ferromagnetic layer, is set to a specific polarity. The polarity of the other ferromagnetic layer, referred to as the "free" ferromagnetic layer, can be changed by an electrical current. In spin transfer torque (STT) MRAM devices, the orientation of the free ferromagnetic layer can be modified by using a spin-polarized current, which is called writing.
To write a "0," or a low resistance state, on a bit which was previously a "1," or a high resistance state, a current is caused to pass from the free layer to the pinned layer. The electrons flowing through the pinned layer attain the majority spin along the pinned layer magnetization and exert a spin torque on the free layer to switch the magnetization direction to align along the pinned layer. To switch to the "1" state, a write current is caused to flow from the pinned layer to the free layer. The electrons flowing from the free layer with majority spin (aligned with pinned layer) pass through the pinned layer, but the electrons with minority spin are reflected back to the free layer. The minority spin electrons then exert spin torque on the moment of the free layer and switch the free layer to align along the minority spin, or anti-parallel, to the pinned layer. A bit state is read by sensing the resistance of the bit and comparing the resistance to a reference resistance, which is usually an average of the high and low resistance values.
MRAM offers the advantages over other types of non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) of being much faster while consuming less power and suffering from less degradation over time. However, current manufacturing yields of MRAM devices are low, while the industry demands that the size of MRAM devices decreases. For example, one obstacle for high manufacturing yields is that some etching processes in the fabrication of MRAM bits corrode the MTJ layers.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a new process flow for reliably fabricating MRAM devices.

Method of forming magnetic tunneling junctions


A method and system is disclosed that permits users of an online gaming platform to communicate via voice with other user in the online gaming platform.

Online gaming platforms, allow users to connect with each other, interact with each other (e.g., within a game) and share information with each other via the Internet. Users of online gaming platforms may participate in multiplayer gaming environments, design custom gaming environments, decorate avatars, exchange virtual items with other users, communicate with other users, and so forth.
In order to protect the privacy of users and/or to provide a more entertaining gaming experience, voice communications within an online gaming environment may need to include voice audio that is modified so as to obscure the actual sound of a user's voice and/or to change voice audio to reflect a character or avatar of a user within the online gaming environment.
Some implementations were conceived in light of the above-mentioned needs, among other things.

Online gaming platform voice communication system


The present invention provides an apparatus and method for modifying existing water tanks on recreational vehicles so they may be cleaned. The apparatus and method may also be applied during the production of new water tanks for recreational vehicles. The apparatus includes an inlet plate, side wall with threads, gaskets, seal plate and a threaded plug. The method is the installation of the apparatus.

The present invention relates to water tanks, especially water tanks in recreational vehicles which require cleaning and service.
The industry of recreational vehicles typically provides a vehicle which includes one or more fresh water tanks. The fresh water tanks are used to provide fresh water to the occupants of the vehicle. The majority of existing fresh water tanks provided on recreational vehicles are one piece and have only an inlet and outlet. The inlet and outlet are normally of a diameter of a garden hose. This presents a problem when the user of the tank wishes to clean the tank or store the vehicle along with the tank for a period of non-use. The period of non-use is usually when the recreational vehicle is stored during winter months. Cleaning requires the use of chemicals due to inability of the user to get inside the tank to clean it. Usually, the water tanks are not easy to detach and re-attach for cleaning purposes. Therefore, the recreational vehicle manufactures actually recommend filling the tank with cleaning chemicals and driving the vehicle forwards and backwards to provide a cleaning action that is unattainable in any other way. Storage of the tank with the vehicle requires filling the tank with clean water after the tank has been clean. Storage of the tank filled with water usually requires the addition of anti-freeze so that the water does not freeze during the winter months. After the tank is stored, cleaning is recommended before use.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to modify existing recreational vehicle water tanks so they may be easily cleaned by the user. It is also an objective of the present invention to incorporate this feature in new tanks before attachment to recreational vehicles.


A packaging product for packaging flat products (e.g., flat stock) such as abrasive articles, e.g., abrasive disks. The packaging product is designed to display flat stock products while maintaining the geometric properties and integrity of the products. The packaging product has a first component that is an engagement member, a second component that is a first retention portion and a third component that is a second retention portion. The engagement member engages with the first and second retention portions to secure a plurality of products between the retention portions.

One form of abrasive article (e.g., sandpaper) is a disk, which is typically used for grinding, often using a motorized sander, grinder or other tool. The disk is usually mounted on a rigid support pad that is rotatably connected to the tool. These types of abrasive articles typically have a backing with at least one layer of abrasive particles adhered to the backing with a binder, usually polymeric binder. The backing is often paper, polymeric material(s), cloth, nonwoven materials, vulcanized fiber, or combinations of these materials, depending on the intended application of the disk.
While a vulcanized fiber disk is highly desired due to the durability of the backing, particularly under high pressure and high temperature grinding applications, this disk is very susceptible to warping. A main disadvantage of the vulcanized fiber disk is that it is relatively hygroscopic and sensitive to humidity and is thus affected by water absorption or loss. Consequently, a vulcanized disk will warp or curl, typically with the abrasive coated side convexly outward. Once curled, the disk does not lay flat against the support pad and when trying to flatten the disk, it is subject to breaking as it is typically very brittle. This warping often occurs while on the shelf in the store or once opened from the package. This is a significant problem.


Methods and systems for adjusting a sampling rate of a digital radio receiver are disclosed that comprise the steps of receiving from a decoder a first frame of data having a first number of samples; determining at the digital radio receiver a phase difference between a receiver clock and a transmitter clock; generating at the digital radio receiver a second frame of data having a second number of samples, wherein the second number of samples depends on the phase difference between the receiver clock and the transmitter clock such that the second number of samples is less than the first number of samples if the transmitter clock is ahead of the receiver clock, and the second number of samples is greater than the first number of samples if the receiver clock is ahead of the transmitter clock; outputting the second frame of data having the second number of samples; and requesting a next frame of data from the decoder at a time that is earlier than a processing time for the first number of samples if the transmitter clock is ahead of the receiver clock and at a time that is later than the processing time for the first number of samples if the receiver clock is ahead of the transmitter clock such that the next frame of data from the decoder and a next transmitter frame are synchronized, and wherein whether the second number of samples is greater than or less than the first number of samples is determined by whether the sampling rate is increased or decreased.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to digital radio broadcast receivers and, in particular, to methods and systems for sampling rate adjustment in digital radio receivers.
2. Background Information
Digital radio broadcasting technology delivers digital audio and data services to mobile, portable, and fixed receivers. One type of digital radio broadcasting, referred to as in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital audio broadcasting (DAB), uses terrestrial transmitters in the existing Medium Frequency (MF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radio bands. HD Radio™ technology, developed by iBiquity Digital Corporation, is one example of an IBOC implementation for digital radio broadcasting and reception.
IBOC DAB signals can be transmitted in a hybrid format including an analog modulated carrier in combination with a plurality of digitally modulated carriers or in an all -digital format wherein the analog modulated carrier is not used. Using the hybrid mode, broadcasters may continue to transmit analog AM and FM simultaneously with higher-quality and more robust digital signals, allowing themselves and their listeners to convert from analog-to-digital radio while maintaining their current frequency allocations.
One feature of digital transmission systems is the inherent ability to simultaneously transmit both digitized audio and data. Thus the technology also allows for wireless data services from AM and FM radio stations. The broadcast signals can include metadata, such as the artist, song title, or station call letters. Special messages about events, traffic, and weather can also be included. For example, traffic information, weather forecasts, news, and sports scores can all be scrolled across a radio receiver's display while the user listens to a radio station.
IBOC DAB technology can provide digital quality audio, superior to existing analog broadcasting formats. Because each IBOC DAB signal is transmitted within the spectral mask of an existing AM or FM channel allocation, it requires no new spectral allocations. IBOC DAB promotes economy of spectrum while enabling broadcasters to supply digital quality audio to the present base of listeners.
Multicasting, the ability to deliver several audio programs or streams over one channel in the AM or FM spectrum, enables stations to broadcast multiple streams on separate supplemental or sub-channels of the main frequency. For example, multiple streams of data can include alternative music formats, local traffic, weather, news, and sports. The supplemental channels can be accessed in the same manner as the traditional station frequency using tuning or seeking functions. For example, if the analog modulated signal is centered at 94.1 MHz, the same broadcast in IBOC DAB can include supplemental channels 94.1-1, 94.1-2, and 94.1-3. Highly specialized programming on supplemental channels can be delivered to tightly targeted audiences, creating more opportunities for advertisers to integrate their brand with program content. As used herein, multicasting includes the transmission of one or more programs in a single digital radio broadcasting channel or on a single digital radio broadcasting signal. Multicast content over IBOC DAB transmissions can include a main program service (MPS), supplemental program services (SPS), program service data (PSD), and/or other broadcast data.
The National Radio Systems Committee, a standard-setting organization sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters and the Consumer Electronics Association, adopted an IBOC standard, designated NRSC-5A, in September 2005. NRSC-5A, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, sets forth the requirements for broadcasting digital audio and ancillary data over AM and FM broadcast channels. The standard and its reference documents contain detailed explanations of the RF/transmission subsystem and the transport and service multiplex subsystems. Copies of the standard can be obtained from the NRSC at http://www.nrscstandards.org/standards.asp. iBiquity's HD Radio technology is an implementation of the NRSC-5A IBOC standard. Further information regarding HD Radio technology can be found at www.hdradio.com and www.ibiquity.com.
Other types of digital radio broadcasting systems include satellite systems such as Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS , e.g., XM Radio™, Sirius®), Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS, e.g., WorldSpace®), and terrestrial systems such as Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), Eureka 147 (branded as DAB Digital Audio Broadcasting®), DAB Version 2, and FMeXtra®. As used herein, the phrase "digital radio broadcasting" encompasses digital audio and data broadcasting including in-band on-channel broadcasting, as well as other digital terrestrial broadcasting and satellite broadcasting.
Digital radio broadcasting systems use a variety of audio encoding/decoding techniques. These techniques typically require synchronization between clocks in the digital radio transmitter and receiver to match the audio sampling rates. The present inventors have observed that in certain systems, such as where the receiver's baseband processor is not the master of the receiver clock, there is a need to adjust the receiver's audio sampling rate without synchronizing the receiver audio sampling clock with the transmitter audio sampling clock.

System and method for sampling rate adjustment of digital radio receiver


A method of producing a fluoroapatite is provided. The method comprises preparing a slurry containing a hydroxyapatite which has at least one hydroxyl group, preparing a hydrogen fluoride-containing solution containing a hydrogen fluoride, mixing the hydrogen fluoride-containing solution with the slurry to obtain a mixture to thereby adjust a pH of the mixture in the range of 2.5 to 5, and reacting the hydroxyapatite with the hydrogen fluoride in the mixture in a state that the pH of the mixture is adjusted within the above range to thereby obtain the fluoroapatite by substituting the at least one hydroxyl group of the hydroxyapatite with fluorine atom of the hydrogen fluoride. The method can produce the fluoroapatite having improved acid resistance by reducing an impurity, such as ammonia, derived from a raw material to a low or very low level. Further, a fluoroapatite having high acid resistance is also provided. Furthermore, an adsorption apparatus using such a fluoroapatite is provided.

Fluoroapatite has almost the same crystalline structure as hydroxyapatite, and therefore shows almost the same adsorption characteristics (adsorption ability) to a protein as hydroxyapatite.
Further, fluoroapatite is a substance that is stabler than hydroxyapatite, and therefore has high acid resistance. For these reasons, fluoroapatite has advantages that it has high resistance to acid solutions, and therefore is capable of separating proteins in an acid solution.
Such fluoroapatite is generally synthesized by adding (mixing) ammonium hydrogen fluoride as a fluorine source into (with) a slurry containing hydroxyapatite (JP A-2004-330113 is an example of related art.).
However, the fluoroapatite synthesized by such a method contains ammonia adsorbed thereto as an impurity. Apatites such as fluoroapatite have a high ability to adsorb ammonia, and therefore in a case where a slurry containing synthesized fluoroapatite is spray-dried (granulated) to obtain particles, ammonia remains in the particles (fluoroapatite particles) because it is very difficult to remove ammonia from the particles.
Therefore, an amount of ammonia remaining in the thus produced particles is different from lot to lot, which makes it difficult to obtain particles having uniform characteristics.
Further, ammonia remaining in fluoroapatite (particles) inhibits substitution of hydroxyl groups by fluorine atoms, and therefore there are also problems that a rate of the substitution of hydroxyl groups by fluorine atoms can be increased only to a certain extent and therefore it cannot be expected that acid resistance of fluoroapatite is further improved.

Method of producing fluoroapatite, fluoroapatite, and adsorption apparatus


A drilling device for drilling with diamond tools has a drilling head having a drilling head housing, a drilling shaft rotatably supported in the housing, the drilling shaft having a tool side and being provided with a receiving opening for a drilling tool and extending from the tool side, the drilling shaft being formed as a hollow shaft over a part of its axial length, a drive having a rotary spindle, coupling means for connecting the drilling shaft with the rotary spindle of the drive, the drilling shaft being provided with at least one radial interruption for connecting an interior of the drilling shaft with an interior of the drilling head housing, the drilling head housing having an opening for selective connection of a supply conduit for a cooling/lubricating medium and a suction conduit for drilled material, and a clamping element for releasably connecting the drilling head with a clamping neck of the drive.

The present invention relates to a drilling device, in particular for drilling with diamond tools.
Drilling devices of the above mentioned type are known in the art. Depending on the application, they are classified as drilling devices for dry drilling in masonry and for wet drilling in concrete. During dry drilling, a suction device can be integrated in a drive train between a driving machine and a drilling tool. The known drilling devices have the disadvantage that several coupling points are provided in the drive train and lead to relatively greater radial deviation of the drilling tool at the working location. Moreover, the mounting and dismounting of the drilling device is very complicated and can be performed only with special tools. The connecting means which are required for this are not secured from loosing. The drilling heads which are utilized for corresponding applications have different constructions and requires special adjusted auxiliary parts such as a drilling support, drive machines and clamping means.


A restraint anchorage for a child safety seat for an automotive vehicle having a cross member disposed behind the vehicle's seat. U-shaped latch wires are attached to the cross member. Collars are provided on the legs of the latch wires which engage one side of the cross members. The ends of the legs which protrude through holes provided in the cross member are peened over to form enlarged heads locking the latch wire to the cross member.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the field of child seat restraints for automotive vehicles and in particular to a restraint anchorage system for securing the child restraint seat to the seat of a vehicle.
2. Background Art
For many years, child safety seats have been required by law for small children riding in automotive vehicles. In the past, these child safety seats have been secured to a passenger seat using the seat belts provided for adult passengers. These seat belts are anchored to one or more structural members of the vehicle. The seat belts are normally threaded through apertures or slots provided in the child safety seat to secure the child safety seat to the seat of the vehicle. The procedure for mounting these child safety seats is awkward and sometimes complex. As a result, the child safety seat is improperly secured to the seat of the vehicle and the child is not afforded the desired protection in the event of an accident.
To overcome these problems, various regulations have been implemented requiring a standardization of the structure and methods for securing the child safety seat in an automotive vehicle. A new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requires vehicles be equipped with child seat restraint anchorage systems of the type outlined in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard MVSS 225 Child Tether Restraint Anchorage system, Section S9.1, requires that latch wires be rigidly attached to the vehicle, preferably one on each side of the child seat. As disclosed by Youssef-Agha, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,754, the child safety seat has a pair of latch mechanisms which lockingly engage the latch wires to secure the child safety seat to the seat of the vehicle. In the embodiments disclosed by Youssef-Agha, the latch wires are welded to a cross member. In an alternate embodiment known in the prior art, the latch wires 10 are attached to a cross member 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Each latch wire 10 is a U-shaped member having a pair of legs 14 which pass through holes 16 provided in the cross member 12. The end portions 18 of each of the legs 14 are bent to lie flat against the surface of the cross member 12 on the side opposite the transverse portion 20 of the U-shaped latch wire 10. The legs 14 do not have collars which engage the cross member 12 and limit the extent to which the end portions are received through the holes 16. The end portions 18 of the latch wire 10 are then welded to secure latch wire 10 to the cross member 12. Because the end portions 18 of the legs are bent prior to being inserted through the holes 16, the holes 16 have to be elongated to accept the bent end portions 18 therethrough. These elongated holes decrease the strength of the cross member 12. Further, it has been found that the welding of the latch wires 10 to the cross member 12 distort the cross member causing unacceptable assembly to assembly variations from a manufacturing point of view. This often requires reworking of the completed anchorage to meet product specifications. The invention is directed to an anchorage for a child safety seat in which the aforesaid problems are eliminated.

Restraint anchorage for a child restraint system


The invention provides methods and compositions for improving and reducing age-related skin disorders, particularly fine lines and/or wrinkles, including fine wrinkles, on human skin. The cosmetic compositions of the invention are formulated with less than effective amounts of anti-wrinkle active agents (e.g., drugs) or are devoid of such active agents, which include .alpha.-hydroxy acid and derivatives and salts thereof, tretinoin and derivatives and salts thereof, or vitamin C, and which are typically used for treating and reducing skin lines and/or wrinkles. As tested in clinical trials, the compositions of the invention reduced and improved fine lines and/or wrinkles as well as, or better than, preparations containing .alpha.-hydroxy acids, .alpha.-hydroxy acid salts, tretinoin, or vitamin C, thereby achieving effective anti-wrinkle formulations that are safe, economical and stable, without potential adverse effects to the user that can accompany the use of the aforementioned, typically-employed antiwrinkle preparations and products.

A variety of topical treatments are known in the art for mitigating dermatological conditions of the skin which frequently relate to the natural process of aging. Other factors, such as exposure to the sun or the resulting ultraviolet radiation therefrom, improper care and/or diet, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and genetic propensities also contribute to the development of adverse skin conditions, such as fine lines, wrinkles, especially of the facial skin, age spots, keratoses, dry skin, lack of skin tautness and suppleness, and depigmentation.
Many of the compositions described for topical treatment of the skin include components which have adverse side effects to the user, such as drying, burning, stinging, scaling and itching, irritation to the skin, and induction of photosensitivity. Indeed, methods and compositions commonly used for reducing fine lines and/or wrinkles contain acids, particularly, alpha (.alpha.)-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid, and salts thereof, or they contain tretinoin, also known as all-trans retinoic acid or retinol (Vitamin A), or ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), all of which can induce the above-mentioned disadvantageous effects, often due to a lowering of the pH of the skin, among other factors. With particular regard to topical compositions containing tretinoin, medical reports have documented a number of other adverse skin reactions typically associated with their use, namely, burning, tingling, stinging, dryness, peeling, erythema, itching, skin dermatitis, localized swelling and sun sensitivity.
Particular examples of compositions and methods containing retinol or retinoic acid for treating skin conditions and/or reducing wrinkles are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,828 to J. M. Wilmott et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,146, 4,877,805 and 4,888,342 to A. M. Kligman. Particular examples of compositions and methods employing, among other ingredients, various percentages of one or more .alpha.-hydroxy acids for treating skin conditions and/or reducing wrinkles are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,988 to R. J. Yu et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,370 to R. J. Yu et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,677 to R. J. Yu et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,958 to J. Heath et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,091,171, 5,093,360, 5,561,158, 5,561,157, 5,554,597 and 5,554,652 to E. J. Van Scott et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,740 to S. N. Ozlen and U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,958 to J. L. Heath et al.
Methods and compositions containing permeation enhancers for enhancing and/or controlling penetration of topically applied pharmacologically active agents are further known in the art. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,566 to P. V. Parab discloses the use of dibutyl adipate (DBA) and isopropyl myristate (IPM) to increase the skin permeation of an active or drug, for example, .alpha.-hydroxy acid, or a cosmetically acceptable salt form of .alpha.-hydroxy acid, and retinoids, after topical application. However, prior to the present invention, those skilled in the art would have had no reason or incentive to employ a permeation enhancer, much less DBA/IPM, in methods and formulations which contain less than effective amounts of the afore-mentioned active agents, or which are devoid of such agents, in the treatment of fine lines and/or wrinkles associated with intrinsic or extrinsic ageing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,566 also discloses vehicle compositions that are similar, but not identical, to the compositions of the present invention. Those having skill in the art are taught from this patent that the disclosed compositions are useful only for the enhanced penetration into the skin of a pharmacologically active agent contained therein. The teachings of this patent do not allow those skilled in the art to learn or appreciate that a vehicle composition containing a less than effective amount of an active agent, or containing no active agent, would have any significant or beneficial effect to the user, particularly, for reducing fine lines and/or wrinkles in the skin.
In contrast to the present invention, pharmacologically active agents that are directed to the problem addressed by the present invention frequently include the use of skin proteins such as collagen and/or elastin, either singly or in combination (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,991,184; 4,179,333; 3,941,722; and German Pat. No. 2,804,024). Other compositions include steroids, such as pregnenolone, in combination with elastin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,763).
The present invention was discovered to afford surprising benefits and results in the reduction of fine lines and/or wrinkles, including fine wrinkles, by providing methods and compositions in the absence of, or containing noneffective amounts for such purpose, of the conventionally-used active components of anti-wrinkle compositions and methods, such as the .alpha.-hydroxy acids, retinoic acid and/or derivatives and salts thereof.

Methods and compositions for fine lines and/or wrinkles


A device for covering an object which is transported in an air stream, including a cover which at least partially traverses the object, and a differential pressure device disposed on the cover which creates a pressure differential between the air under the cover and the air passing over or around the cover, where the pressure differential causes the air under the cover to exhaust to an exterior of the cover, drawing the cover toward the object, and where the pressure differential device creates the pressure differential when the covered object is transported in a frontward position with respect to a direction of travel and in a rearward position with respect to the direction of transport.

The present invent generally relates to covers for protecting cargo being transported by motor vehicles and, more particularly, to a protective cover having features for securing the cover to the cargo by differential pressure.
Covers are widely employed during transit to protect valuable cargo, such as boats and other personal watercraft, snowmobiles, automobiles, bicycles, etc., from the elements of weather and from wind blown debris. However, at higher speeds, air flow has a tendency to blow the cover off the cargo. As a result, tie down devices such as straps and buckles have been employed to secure the cover over the cargo. However, even when tied down, such cover has a tendency to whip and buffet as a result of the air flow about the cover particularly when a high speed air stream flows under the cover. This whipping and buffeting can cause the cover to tear and even damage the cargo underneath it. Moreover, the whipping and buffeting of the cover generates considerable noise and can produce undesired drag with respect to forward movement.
Accordingly, a cover for protecting cargo in transit is desired which provides simple and effective securing of the cover to the cargo.

Cover for cargo in transit and device for securing a cover to cargo


A fluid storage tank includes a wall defining a cavity therewithin. An inlet opening is formed through the wall and provides communication between a fluid source and the cavity. A projection and at least one obstruction are positioned within the cavity. The projection directs a flow of a fluid entering the cavity through the inlet opening towards the obstruction. The obstruction interferes with and disperses the flow within the cavity. An outlet opening is formed through the wall and provides communication between the cavity and a fluid dispenser.

This invention relates generally to refrigerators, and more particularly, to water dispensing systems for refrigerators.
Refrigerators may include a water dispensing system having a water storage tank for storing and cooling water to be dispensed. Further, some water dispensing systems include a water filter connected to the water storage tank and located in a fresh food or freezer food compartment of the refrigerator.
Many conventional refrigerator water dispensers use a serpentine tank or a coiled tube to store and cool water. The cooled water is dispensed in a first in/first out basis. Due to the tank size and/or configuration, these conventional water dispensers can only dispense a limited amount of chilled water.

Method and apparatus for water dispensing systems within a refrigerator


The invention relates to a process for preparing organosilanes of the general formula 1R3Si—R′,  (1)in which hydrosilanes of the general formula 2R3Si—H  (2)are reacted with halohydrocarbons of the general formula 3R′—X  (3)where    R are monovalent C1–C18 hydrocarbon radicals, hydrogen or halogen,    R′ are monovalent C1–C18 hydrocarbon radicals and    X is halogen,in the presence of a free-radical initiator which is selected from alkanes, diazenes and organodisilanes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for preparing organosilanes from hydrosilanes and halohydrocarbons in the presence of a free-radical initiator.
2. Background Art
Processes are known in which the hydrogen in hydrosilanes is replaced by a hydrocarbon radical. The thermally induced reaction of hydrosilanes with halohydrocarbons, and also the reaction in the presence of catalysts, are described, for example, in: ORGANOHALOSILANES, by R. J. H. Voorhoeve, Elsevier Publishing Company 1967, pages 40–48.
Thermal initiation has greater significance in the preparation of phenyltrichlorosilane or phenylmethyldichlorosilane from chlorobenzene and trichlorosilane or dichloromethylsilane. Disadvantageously, lower conversions are obtained in this process at low temperatures and a high proportion of undesired by-products at high temperatures. Phenyltrichlorosilane and phenylmethyldichlorosilane are used to prepare organopolysiloxanes.
DE 2132569 A discloses that these reactions can be initiated by appropriate wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.
Chem. Abstr. 84: 44 345e further discloses the preparation of organochlorosilanes by reacting chlorine-containing aromatics with hydro- or organohydrochlorosilanes employing hexachlorodisilane as a catalyst. Disadvantageously, the preparation of hexachlorodisilane is costly and inconvenient.


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a storage pad and a bit line pad on the semiconductor substrate, a first interlayer insulating layer covering the bit line pad and including a bit line contact hole having a width greater than a width of the bit line pad, a barrier insulating layer on sidewalls of the first interlayer insulating layer and upper portions of sidewalls of the bit line pad that are exposed by the bit line contact hole, a bit line plug in the bit line contact hole and on the barrier insulating layer; and a storage plug penetrating the first interlayer insulating layer and contacting the storage pad.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same. More particularly, the invention relates to semiconductor devices having a bit line plug and methods of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor devices are becoming more highly integrated, cell sizes of memory cells are rapidly decreasing. In particular, the high degree of integration in dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) has caused an interval between gate electrodes to be a minimum feature size according to the design rule. Also, as semiconductor devices are becoming more highly integrated, intervals between a contact hole connecting a lower wiring layer with an upper wiring layer and wirings around the contact hole are decreasing. Therefore, when a storage contact hole is formed using a photolithography process in a highly integrated semiconductor device employing a multilayer wiring structure, there are limits to performing a desired process. Accordingly, self-aligned contact (SAC) technology for forming a contact hole using a lower pattern as an etch stop layer is being developed to overcome limitations of the photolithography process. SAC technology may be applied to a storage plug forming process using a bit line pattern as an etch stop layer as well as to a bit line and storage pad forming process using gate patterns as an etch stop layer.
When employing SAC technology, in order to increase a contact area between storage pads and storage plugs of a memory cell, contact holes may be formed to extend below sidewall insulation spacers adjacent to a bit line. Although sidewalls of a bit line plug may be covered with a barrier metal layer, a barrier insulation layer and/or an interlayer insulating layer, during etching, etching solution used to etch the interlayer insulating layer between adjacent bit lines may permeate into an upper portion, e.g., upper edge, of a bit line pad below the bit line plug. For example, in conventional structures, when first and second interlayer insulating layers are isotropically etched, an etching solution may permeate into a bit line pad, thereby modifying a silicide layer that is an ohmic layer. Improved structures and/or methods of fabricating semiconductor devices including bit line plugs are desired.

Semiconductor devices having a bit line plug and methods of fabricating the same


A surgical instrument such as for use in vitreoretinal surgeries is described. The surgical instrument may include a pair of pincers resiliently biased toward an opened configuration and being movable toward each other into a closed configuration to engage a membrane. Each pincer may include a rounded grasping edge. The grasping edges may include a textured surface operable to induce a capillary effect between a membrane and the forceps to promote adhesion therebetween.

Vitreoretinal surgical procedures have been developed for restoring, preserving, and enhancing vision in patients suffering from a variety of injuries and/or age-related degenerative conditions. For example, vitreoretinal procedures, including vitrectomy procedures are used to repair damage to a patient's eye due to conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic vitreous hemorrhage, detached retinas, as well as to repair complications from cataract surgeries and for removal and repair of damage due to foreign bodies within the patient's eye. Atraumatic peeling of internal limiting membranes ("ILM") within the patient's eye increases the chance of a successful vitreoretinal surgical procedure. These membrane peeling or membranectomy procedures generally remove portions of a surface or upper layer ILM covering the retina to remove damaged tissue and inhibit the growth of scar tissue across the macula of the patient's eye, and to reduce traction of the ILM to the underlying retina.
Typically, to perform a peeling procedure, the surgeon will use an extremely fine forceps, under high magnification, to try to grasp and gently peel away the ILM layer from the retina. Diamond dusted or other treated probes or instruments are used to scrape or pull the retinal tissue or an ILM layer into a condition where it can be grasped by the forceps for grasping and peeling of the ILM layer. Such an operation, however, is extremely delicate and requires a significant degree of precision as there is a danger of pressing and/or pinching too deeply into the ILM and underlying retinal tissue during such a peeling operation. This can result in possible infection, bleeding, retinal detachment, and damage of the underlying retina layer that can facilitate cataract progression. Typically, recurrence of epiretinal membranes forming across the macula generally occurs in approximately ten percent of patients following an initial vitreoretinal surgery involving such membrane peeling procedures.

Surgical instrument with adhesion optimized edge condition


Provided is a shipping container having a flexible outer casing, a shell insert that is removeably received within the casing's interior and a tillable insert removeably disposed within an interior of the shell for receiving a shipping parcel. The fillable insert structure may be filled with a medium, such as air, to provide a cushioned environment for the parcel, and the shell insert may include a shelf panel which supports an accessory compartment for receiving selected items to accompany the parcel.

The present invention is broadly directed to containers useful for transporting parcels between senders and recipients and method of using the same.
A fundamental need of commerce based societies is the transportation of goods from one location to another. The development of various postal systems, first on the national and then on an international basis, established an organized system wherein a carrier, for a price, would convey a parcel from a shipper to a recipient. The service provided by such carriers resulted in increasing demand and expansion of their served customer base. In addition to the governmentally sponsored postal services, private carriers have been organized to transport a wide variety of parcels for paying customers. Such companies include those known as United Parcel Service, Federal Express, DHL, Airborne and Emory, to name a few. The proliferation of such companies demonstrates the increasing need for their services.
In addition to the ordinary demands on the parcel carrier industry, the expansion of internet commerce already has and is expected to continue to place increasing demands on the need to ship small parcels from a merchant to a customer. The role of the parcel carrier is becoming increasingly integral to the success or failure of consumers' on-line experience and business in general. Shippers know the importance of having a dependable carrier who ultimately provides dependable service to the end-use customer.
The shipping trend in recent times has been toward smaller parcels, some of which are breakable but the majority of which are considered non-fragile or non-breakable. Indeed, as much as 65% to 70% of the entire parcel market in the United States may be classified as non-fragile, meaning that the actual products being shipped are resistant to damage if handled with any degree of care. However, traditional shipping techniques as far as packaging the parcels are not varied greatly between fragile and non-fragile items with the sometimes exception of the degree of cushioning in the material used for more fragile items.
For the past 40-50 years, shippers have been conditioned to excessively package parcel shipments because there have been few alternatives. Such excessive packaging leads to increased packing costs. This packaging cost results from two factors. First, the cost of packaging materials is not trivial. Typically, parcels are packed inside a one-time use only container, such as a paperboard carton, with the interior of the container filled with cushioning materials, such as styrofoam "peanuts", shredded paper or other paper based filler, to name a few. Second, there is a substantial time investment in packaging that results from the need to carefully pack and seal the paperboard carton and prepare the shipping documents for the same.
In addition to the problem of cost, packing waste is one of the leading contributors to landfill waste today and is a frustration for both the shipper and the recipient. This results from the need to inventory and dispose of these non-reusable materials. As internet commerce and mobile inventory management processes continue to grow, waste from shipped parcels can only be expected to worsen. This is especially true since a vast majority of parcels are excessively over-packaged with the actual product accounting for only about 25% of the available space inside each paperboard box. This is despite the fact that a majority of products could have been shipped without any packaging materials.
Such wasted space also reduces the volume shipping capacity of carriers, be it air transport or land based transport, such as trucks. The shipping of the packaging waste exhibits both direct costs as well as indirect costs in increased fuel consumption, wear and tear on airports, highways, etc. as well as environmental impact. By reducing the amount of waste materials, such indirect costs could be reduced.
While carriers profess to be interested in understanding the hardships on shippers, the only response to these hardships seems to have been in logistics planning. Little effort has been made to avoid unnecessary effort because the carriers would be required to change the service they offer. Further, the presence of several dominant players in the carrier industry have virtually dictated the packaging techniques that have been used for the last few decades, with these rules being those that have resulted in the costs discussed above.
Therefore, while current handling methods were acceptable in the past, there has been an increasing need felt for many years to develop better parcel handling techniques. The environmental and financial factors have been suggesting for many years the need for better solutions to providing carrier services. Indeed, even political factors are changing with governmental agencies listing the activities of box packaging and taping as an activity subject for repetitive motion injury. Accordingly, there is an ever increasing need for solutions to reduce or eliminate the liabilities of current parcel packaging and carriage. The present invention is directed to meeting these needs.

Shipping container and method for using the same


Even if a rotational speed of an engine has already increased due to slipping of a fluid torque converter at the time of start of downshifting, a smooth downshifting is performed. For that purpose, there is obtained a speed change developing degree function K(etrm) of the rotational speed of the engine at the time of start of downshifting, the developing degree being dependent on an increase in the rotational speed of the engine due to slipping in the fluid torque converter. The function K(etrm) is obtained with a speed ratio "etrm" of the fluid torque converter at the time of starting of downshifting as a parameter. A boosting correction value QDNOFFZ is computed by multiplying a reference correction value QDNOFFZO by K(etrm) (step S108-5). The hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic engaging element on the disengaging side during downshifting is boosted by the amount of QDNOFFZ (step S108-6).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for a hydraulically operated vehicular transmission having a plurality of speed stages to be established by a selecting operation of a plurality of hydraulic engaging elements, the transmission being coupled to an engine via a fluid torque converter. In this specification, the term "vehicular transmission" means a transmission for a vehicle such as a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In this kind of conventional control apparatus, the following arrangement is employed. Namely, at the time of downshifting, hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic engaging element on the disengaging side is lowered first. The engine is thus raced by the slipping of this engaging element, whereby a rotational speed of an input shaft of the transmission is increased. When an input and output speed ratio (rotational speed of an output shaft/rotational speed of an input shaft) of the transmission has lowered to a synchronous region which is approximately equal to the gear ratio of a speed stage to be established by the downshifting, a hydraulic engaging element on the engaging side to establish that speed stage is engaged so that a smooth downshifting can be performed.
In case a fluid torque converter is interposed between the engine and the transmission, the rotational speed of the engine exceeds the rotational speed of the input shaft of the transmission due to slipping in the fluid torque converter. Especially, when an accelerator is slowly depressed, only the rotational speed of the engine increases by the slipping of the fluid torque converter if the vehicle speed does not change, and a downshifting is sometimes started in this condition. In such a case, if slipping occurs to the hydraulic engaging element on the disengaging side after start of the downshifting, the rotational speed of the input shaft of the transmission rapidly increases so as to approach the rotational speed of the engine. As a result, the input and output speed ratio rapidly decreases and, while the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic engaging element on the engaging side has not been raised (or boosted) enough, the input and output speed ratio lowers into the synchronous region, whereby the hydraulic engaging element on the engaging side can no longer be engaged at the time of synchronization. According to this, the engine excessively races and shocks occur.
In view of the above point, the present invention has an object of providing a control apparatus for a hydraulically operated vehicular transmission in which a smooth downshifting can be performed even if an excessive increase in the rotational speed of the engine may have occurred due to slipping of the fluid torque converter.

Control apparatus for hydraulically operated vehicular transmission


A semiconductor device packaged adapter for electrically coupling contacts on a first circuit member to contacts on a second circuit member. The adapter typically includes first and second substrates, each with arrays of terminals. Proximal ends of the first terminals on the first substrate are arranged to be soldered to the contacts on the first circuit member and proximal ends of the second terminals on the second substrate are arranged to be soldered to the contacts on the second circuit member. Complementary engaging structures located on distal ends of the first and second terminals engage to electrically and mechanically couple the first circuit member to the second circuit member.

Traditional semiconductors and IC devices are typically packaged in a variety of ways to provide redistribution from the terminals on the die to a spacing that is conducive to cost effective printed circuit board ("PCB") fabrication techniques. The packages also serve to protect the fragile silicon or provide additional functions such as thermal management or near device decoupling. In many cases, the size and distance between die terminals is so small that the IC device cannot be connected to the final PCB without some sort of re-routing interface.
Historically, pin grid array packages ("PGA") were used for CPU devices. A socket was soldered to the motherboard and the field of pins extending out of the package was plugged into the socket. One advantage of a PGA is that the IC device can be removed from the socket if needed. The pin on PGA devices degrade signal performance. The pins are also expensive and are subject to damage during handling.
Land grid array ("LGA") packages are now used for many desktop and server applications, and ball grid array ("BGA") packages for direct soldering in notebook computers.
There are many types of connectors used to mate one circuit board to another. A LGA package acts essentially as one PCB and the mother board the other. These connections are made vertical in what is often called a mezzanine style. There are also various right angle connectors called backplane connectors. These consist of a male half and female half that are plugged together to make the connection. In relative terms, however, the size of the contacts used in the connectors is very large compared to those used in the LGA type CPU sockets.
One advantage of PGA devices is that the socket mechanically engages with the pin to secure the PGA package to the PCB. With LGA devices, on the other hand, a mechanism is required to apply a clamping pressure to hold the device against the socket contacts. These clamping mechanisms apply a fairly significant load to the system, and can cause circuit board warpage, broken solder joints, or flexing of the package. In many cases, a heat sink and fan assembly is added to the system by passing fasteners through the circuit board and mating with a stiffening member on the bottom side of the board.
Next generation LGA devices create many challenges due to the increased performance requirements, multi-core processors which drive the terminal count up, and low voltage differential signal architectures which can challenge terminal routing density. The IC device is much smaller than the associated package due to the need to fan out the pitch of the terminals so that the motherboard can be made cost effectively using standard four-layer technology. There is a need to shrink the pitch of the terminals so the package size can be reduced, as is done in cell phones and CPU sockets. The challenge is that it is very difficult to make a socket with contacts on a finer pitch that have enough compliance to accommodate the warpage of the package and provide stable contact resistance. It is also very difficult to route the pattern at the fine pitch and keep the PCB at four layers, unless a very expensive blind and buried via method is used.


A method for preparing an entropy-stabilized ceramic thin film coating includes preparing a first layer formed by raw materials with a plurality of metal elements, and subjecting the first layer to reaction with anion thereby transforming at least a portion of the first layer to a second layer. The present invention also discloses an entropy-stabilized ceramic thin film coating and a component coated with an entropy-stabilized ceramic thin film coating.

Entropy-stabilized ceramics possess attractive physical and mechanical properties. Currently, fabrication methods are limited to additive methods such as sputtering, laser-cladding, nebulized spray pyrolysis, or high-temperature sintering processes. However, such fabrication methods have several insurmountable limitations. For instance, these entropy-stabilized ceramics technologies generally require expensive equipment such as vacuum, protective gases or sophisticated control systems. In addition, these technologies offer only small-area fabrication with low uniformity, small scale production, and in fact it is a highly tedious fabrication process. As a result, entropy-stabilized ceramics are merely applicable to a few entropy-stabilized alloys and it is not suitable for commercialization.

Entropy-stabilized ceramic thin film coating, method for preparing the same, and component coated with the same


The process comprises bringing into contact a naturally alcoholic beer with a hydrophobic zeolite, separating the aqueous eluent phase from the adsorbent, thermally desorbing the adsorbed products, recovering the desorbed phase and separating it by distillation into an alcoholate and an aromatized phase, then reconstituting an alcohol-free beer by mixing the dealcoholized aqueous phase and the aromatized phase with, secondarily, saturation of the reconstituted beer with gaseous carbon dioxide. The reconstituted beer preserves the organoleptic properties of the initial beer.

The present invention pertains to a process of making alcohol-free beer.
Beer is a fermented beverage whose origin goes far back in time. Beer is principally made from barley malt and is highly valued for its savour and its plentiful foam. Additional on the subject of beer can be found in encyclopedias such as Ullmann's Encyclopedia (Ullman's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5th Edition, Vol. 4, p. 421) or the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia (Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Edition, Vol 3, p. 692). It can be stated very schematically for the present purpose that beer is a beverage which is rich in fixed or volatile aromatic substances and in alcohol. For various legal, dietary, cultural and even religious reasons, there is interest in the production of alcohol-free and low-alcohol beers. The technical objective has been established to ferment beers which despite their low final content of alcohol will preserve their organoleptic properties.
Normal beers ordinarily contain 4 to 8% alcohol but some contain more than 10% and others barely exceed 2%. Opposed to them are low-alcohol beers that contain circa 2% alcohol, very-low-alcohol beers (0.5 to 1%), alcohol-free beers that must contain less than 0.5% alcohol, and alcohol-free malt beverages containing less than 0.05% alcohol. Only the last two types are considered by the law to be alcohol-free beverages.
Diverse techniques have been employed to achieve the objective of beers containing little or no alcohol such as fermentation (European Patent Application 213,220) which is stopped before the alcohol level becomes too high (however, by blocking the formation of alcohol there is also a reduction in the production of the aromas specific to beer); fermentation using strains selected to not produce alcohol (European Patent Application 245,841); distillation (Cysewski, G. R. et al., Biotech. Bioeng. 1976, 18, 1297; 1977, 19, 1125) by means of which the alcohol is eliminated by heating the beer which simultaneously degrades the protein components and the sugars; membrane separation (Cysewski G. R. et al, Biotech. Bioeng. 1978, 20, 1421) and its variants comprising reverse osmosis (U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,217); and pervaporation (European Patent Application 332,738) which nevertheless leaves from 1 to 1.5% of alcohol in the final product and which involves very delicate application techniques.
The production of alcohol from aqueous alcoholic solutions via extraction with hydrophobic adsorbents, more specifically hydrophobic silicas or hydrophobic zeolitic silico-aluminates, is disclosed in European Patent Application No. 101,254. The adsorbents employed for the application of this procedure are zeolites with an Si:Al ratio higher than 12 and notably zeolites such as those obtained in accordance with the procedure described in French Patent No. 2,567,868 (CFR) .beta.-zeolites, silica-rich offretites (French Patent 2,575,741) or the USY zeolites with an Si:Al ratio higher than 12 that Bibby and Milestone (J. Chem. Tech. Biotechnol. 1981, 31, 732) discovered were suitable for the extraction of molecules dissolved in water, but less polar than water. It might appear attractive to transpose the principle of this technique to the fabrication of alcohol-free beverages. In addition, Farhadpour (Eur. Brew. Conv. 1983, 12, pp. 203-217, then Processing, Sept. 1987, p. 42) has proposed the extraction of alcohol from beer by adsorption on a very closely related adsorbent, a hydrophobic silica (silicalite).
It is certainly possible to obtain beer containing little or no alcohol with these various techniques, but the fermentation processes that generate little alcohol also generate few aromas and, in terms of the dealcoholization processes, it is not possible to extract the alcohol without an at least partial loss of aromas and it is frequently necessary to readjust the flavors of the product in the final stage, e.g., by means of aromas extracted from yeasts (French Patent 2,106,755).

Process of making alcohol-free beer and beer aroma concentrates


Various technologies described herein pertain to assembling electronic devices into a microsystem. The electronic devices are disposed in a solution. Light can be applied to the electronic devices in the solution. The electronic devices can generate currents responsive to the light applied to the electronic devices in the solution, and the currents can cause electrochemical reactions that functionalize regions on surfaces of the electronic devices. Additionally or alternatively, the light applied to the electronic devices in the solution can cause the electronic devices to generate electric fields, which can orient the electronic devices and/or induce movement of the electronic devices with respect to a receiving substrate. Further, electrodes on a receiving substrate can be biased to attract and form connections with the electronic devices having the functionalized regions on the surfaces. The microsystem can include the receiving substrate and the electronic devices connected to the receiving substrate.

Microsystems are commonly assembled utilizing pick-and-place techniques. Pick-and-place assembly oftentimes utilize robotic systems that mechanically move and place devices on a receiving substrate. However, when assembling microsystems, pick-and-place techniques may be time consuming (e.g., due to serial assembly) and may encounter difficulties due to adhesive forces between manipulator surfaces and the devices.
More recently, various self-assembly techniques have been employed for forming microsystems. Self-assembly techniques are commonly carried out in one or more solutions (e.g., devices and a receiving substrate are disposed in the solution(s) during assembly). Some conventional self-assembly techniques utilize shape matching. Accordingly, a first type of device and a first subset of receptor sites on the receiving substrate can have corresponding shapes, a second type of device and a second subset of receptor sites on the receiving substrate can have corresponding shapes, and so forth. Such techniques can rely on random movement of the devices in the solution(s), leading to the devices fitting in corresponding receptor sites on the receiving substrate that have matching shapes. Other conventional self-assembly approaches utilize hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface interactions to drive self-assembly. However, conventional self-assembly techniques are often time consuming (e.g., self-assembly may take on the order of hours for assembly to complete, particularly if self-assembly is based on random movement of devices fitting into receptor sites on the receiving substrate). Moreover, yields of conventional self-assembly techniques are commonly insufficient.

Photoelectrochemically driven self-assembly method


An interactive system for interfacing with signal processing apparatus having a network of interconnected processors (e.g., for a digital audio mixing console) uses a graphical user interface for monitoring the operation of the system. The graphical user interface can be used for inputting control and/or data signals at selected points in said data processing structure and/or for displaying control and/or data signals from selected points in said data processing structure in real time. A graphical representation of an audio mixing console can be used for experimentation, set-up and training purposes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an interactive interface system. The invention finds particular application for interfacing with audio signal processing apparatus, for example, in the form of an audio mixing console.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Traditionally, audio mixing consoles have been based on discrete technology with audio signal processing modules connected together in a desired relationship and then controlled by manually operable switches on the console. It has been a relatively straightforward task, albeit a skilled and time consuming task, to oversee the physical interconnections necessary during setting up and debugging a desired audio processing structure. However, traditional audio mixing consoles have a number of disadvantages including their physical size, the total number manually operable controls (fader, potentiometers, switches, etc.), and the relative inflexibility of the overall arrangement.
Accordingly, it has been proposed to provide an audio mixing console comprising a front panel including a plurality of user operable controls for controlling different audio signal processing functions and a digital signal processor for processing audio signals in response to the settings of the user operable controls. It is hoped that such technology can lead to reductions in the overall size of such consoles while at the same time increasing flexibility. However, a disadvantage of such technology is the removal of direct physical relationship between the actual audio functions and interconnections of the mixing console and the processing of those functions. As a result of this, the setting up and debugging of a desired audio processing structure becomes an virtually impossible task, especially as in practice the operator of the console will wish to try out different combinations and orders of mixing operations before and/or during the processing of real time audio signals for broadcast, recording, or other purposes.


In a drum winding unit, a cylindrical drum winding a wire is supported by paired supports fixed to a base structure so the drum freely rotates about a central axis of the drum. A drive unit for rotating the drum is disposed inside the drum. The drive unit is insertable into and extractable from the drum while keeping the drum and the supports in their operating positions.

The present invention relates to a drum winding apparatus preferably for use with an elevator system for moving a lift unit or elevator cage upward and downward.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 63-160995 describes a drum winding unit having a cylindrical drum in which a motor and a reducer are housed, for use in an elevator system to wind and unwind a wire that is connected at one end to a lift unit and at an opposite end to the drum. In this drum winding unit, for the purpose of maintenance and inspection of a drive unit disposed inside the drum, the drive unit should be extracted from and then inserted into the drum. In this instance, support members used to support the drum against a fixed structure must be removed to give access to the drive unit. Hence, particularly where there is little space around the drum winding unit, as is often experienced with a self-driven elevator system in which the drum winding apparatus is fixed to the lift unit, the extraction and insertion procedures are accompanied with considerable difficulty.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. To this end, a drum winding apparatus of the present invention has first and second supports. A cylindrical hollow drum having first and second ends is rotatably supported by the first and second supports, respectively. Also, the first end of the drum is defined with an opening. A bracket is fixed to the first support. A drive unit, which is inserted through the opening and housed in the drum, has a motor and an output shaft rotated by the motor. The drive unit is fixed to the bracket and the output shaft is detachably fixed to the second end of the drum so that a rotation of the output shaft is transmitted to the drum. In particular, the apparatus is designed so that the drive unit can be inserted and extracted through the opening of the drum while maintaining the drum in its operable position.
In another aspect of the present invention, the second end of the drum is supported by the second support through the output shaft and detachably fixed to the output shaft.


The present invention particularly relates to a method and an apparatus for improving the efficiency of data transmission in a multi-user wireless transmission system. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method, which is a transmission method of data in a multi-user wireless communication system, comprises the steps of: estimating channel states of each terminal through sounding or feedback information received from the terminals, and selecting terminals to which individual data are to be transmitted at the same time; determining a signal to noise ratio of the selected terminals, and calculating a precoding matrix; calculating a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of each terminal and the number of symbols of data fields in accordance with the MCS of each terminal; dividing an area according to the number of terminals to which the data fields are to be simultaneously transmitted, if there are two or more selected terminals; and recalculating a reception signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) for each area of each terminal, configuring a packet by resetting the MCS according to the recalculated SINR, and transmitting the configured packet.

Recently, transmission schemes for higher transmission rates in wireless communication systems are being researched and standardized. In order to have such a high transmission rate in wireless LAN systems as well, a structure having a transmission rate of a maximum of 600 Mbps has been standardized, to which a MIMO system having multiple input/output in IEEE 802.11 TGn has been applied. There has been discussion in IEEE 802.11 VHTSG regarding a system having a maximum transmission rate of 1 Gbps at MAC SAP, and the task group of IEEE 802.11 TGac/TGad has been established accordingly. In order to maintain frequency efficiency while satisfying such a high transmission rate, the AP and STA must support more streams than four, which are supported by TGn, requiring a large number of antennas. In STA's terms, it is difficult to support a large number of antennas, considering the complexity or power consumption of the STA. Therefore, multi-user MIMO is being considered, according to which the AP simultaneously transmits to multiple STAs.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of transmitting data to different STAs in a multi-user MIMO environment.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, according to multi-user MIMO, multiple STAs simultaneously transmit respective pieces of data, and the length of data transmitted by each STA varies depending on the supported service type or transmission rate. That is, each STA transmits a different length of data, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and in order to establish a transmission rule, data transmission needs to be performed as illustrated in (a) or (b).
Specifically, the starting point of each STA is brought into coincidence as in the case of (a) of FIG. 1. That is, each STA starts transmitting data at the same time of t0. Then, the ending point of each STA may fall on different times, such as t3 and t4, depending on the data type, service type, and transmission rate.
Alternatively, the ending point of each STA is brought into coincidence as in the case of (b) of FIG. 1. That is, each STA has the same ending point of t10, although they have different transmission starting points of t0, t1, and t2.
However, there has been proposed no method for transmitting, by each STA, data based on VHT wireless LAN system standards. Therefore, there is a need for a method for transmitting, by STAs, data most efficiently.

Method for transmitting data in multi-user wireless communication system

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A bulk acoustic resonator assembly and methods for fabricated the resonator assembly is provided. The resonator includes a cavity on a first surface of a substrate, with a sheet of low acoustic loss material suspended over the cavity. The sheet of low acoustic loss material is configured such that an associated fundamental frequency of the sheet of low acoustic loss material is a function of a length of the sheet of low acoustic loss material in a direction parallel to the first surface of the substrate. A transducer includes an electromechanical layer on the sheet of low acoustic loss material and a patterned conductive material formed on the electromechanical material. The transducer is configured to induce vibrations in the low acoustic loss material upon application of an electrical signal to the conductive pattern.

As communications devices have grown smaller and more complex, performance demands on radio frequency (RF) components have increased significantly. Particularly, as allocated frequency bands for mobile communication devices are heavily utilized, it is desirable to utilize bands of frequency spectrum allocated to other services without interfering with the designated users. Cognitive radios will measure the spectrum usage of a band and communicate with other cognitive radios using underutilized portions of the band. A spectrum analysis capability is key to the operation of a cognitive radio. Unfortunately, providing high performance spectrum analysis at these frequencies often requires large and unwieldy components. Filtering components, in particular, are difficult to miniaturize at higher frequencies. Various resonator assemblies have been utilized to provide a filtering function on an integrated circuit scale, but these efforts have been complicated by excessive loss and impractical expense.

Lateral over-moded bulk acoustic resonators

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


An airbag device includes a door (16), an inflator (18), and an airbag (20). The door (16), provided in a vehicle-body outer panel (12), is opened to open an opening (12A) in the vehicle-body outer panel (12) when a predetermined situation occurs. The inflator (18) is disposed inside the door (16). The inflator (18) includes a gas-injection port (36) that is closer to the end (16B) of the door (16) in the longitudinal direction of the door (16) than to the center of the door (16) in the longitudinal direction of the door (16). The airbag (20) is disposed at a predetermined position inside the vehicle-body outer panel (12). When the predetermined situation occurs, the airbag (20) is inflated by the pressure of the gas supplied from the inflator (18) to open the door (16), and the airbag (20) passes through the opening (12A) in the vehicle-body outer panel (12), and is deployed toward the outside of a vehicle body. The high inflation pressure of the airbag (20) is applied to the end (16B) of the door (16).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an airbag device that includes an airbag that is deployed toward the outside of a vehicle body, such as a hood airbag device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-8-11662 describes a hood airbag device including an airbag that is deployed toward the outside of a vehicle body. When the airbag device operates, a lid (door) having a rectangular shape, which covers an opening formed in a hood, is opened by the deployment force of the airbag. Then, the airbag passes through the opening, and is deployed toward the outside of the vehicle body.
The hood airbag device described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-8-11662 is proposed on the assumption that the door has a rectangular shape. Therefore, for example, in the case where the door is elongate in a vehicle-width direction, or in the case where the door is curved, the output of an inflator needs to be increased to sufficiently open the entire door from the center to the ends. This results in an increase in the cost.