Distributed processing systems having a host processor and at least one object oriented processor are provided. An object oriented processor according to the invention has a communications interface, an intelligent message handler, and a task-specific functionality. The communications interface is coupled to a host processor via a message based communications link. A high level command language is provided which is easily implemented in a host processor program. The command language includes subsets of commands which are understood by different object oriented processors having different functionality. According to one embodiment, the object oriented processor includes support for a broad array of input and output devices. The command language includes high level commands for initializing, reading from and/or writing to the peripherals supported by the object oriented processor. According to another embodiment, the object oriented processor is addressable and several object oriented processors having similar functionality can be coupled to a single host via the same comms link. According to yet another embodiment, an object oriented processor further includes a linking table and a periodic message generator which allows one object oriented processor to communicate directly with another object oriented processor without supervision by the host processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to distributed processing systems. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for distributing processing tasks between a real-time host processor and at least one object oriented processor, such as an I/O processor, wherein the host processor is substantially relieved of real time interrupts.
2. State of the Art
Early ("batch mode") data processors operated with peripheral devices in a strictly sequential manner governed by a sequential software program. For example, a software program instructed the central processor to control a card reader to sequentially read input from punched cards. The input was sequentially manipulated according to the program and the processor was instructed to control a line printer to print output one line at a time in a sequential manner. At no time did two peripheral devices attempt to operate simultaneously.
Modern ("real time" or "multi-tasking") computers permit seemingly simultaneous operation of peripherals by interrupting the processor periodically to control several peripheral devices. For example, as a user types on a keyboard, the input from this peripheral to the processor is seemingly simultaneously displayed by the processor on a video display peripheral. In reality, the processor is interrupted periodically from displaying output on the video display in order to obtain input from the keyboard. It is only because the processor operates at a very high speed that there is an illusion of simultaneity. In a more complex processing system, there may be several peripherals vying for processor attention at any time. For example, in a desktop multimedia computer, several peripheral devices must be controlled by the processor in a seemingly simultaneous manner in order to produce the proper results. The peripheral devices in this system might include a CD-ROM drive, a hard disk drive, a color video display, a stereo sound card, a keyboard, and a mouse, a joystick, or a graphics tablet. Moreover, the programming environment in a system baking so many demanding peripheral devices is incredibly complex. The system software must be written to schedule processor attention to each device, assign priority to each device and allow each device to interrupt the processor at appropriate times. The system software must then schedule tasks for the processor in response to the interrupts from various peripheral devices.
The complexity of task scheduling if further complicated by the fact that control of the peripherals is typically at a very low level and on an event by event basis. Each peripheral device is controlled by peeking and poking values stored in a set of registers which is typically unique to each peripheral and which registers are mapped in the memory addressed by the host. Often these memory mapped peripherals flag activity to the host via interrupts. Given the low level at which these peripheral devices require support, interrupts must be serviced by the host in a very time-critical manner. Any delay in the servicing of interrupts can easily cause the system to malfunction.
Prior art FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a plurality of peripherals 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 coupled to a host processor 22 by an interrupt driven bus 24. Inputs from and outputs to the peripheral devices 10-20 are orchestrated by the host processor 22 under guidance from system software 26 on an event-by-event basis. The software must fully account for each peripheral and how communication with that peripheral is to be handled. This gives rise to complicated task scheduling problems when there are a number of peripheral devices.
Prior art FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the complexity of the host software necessary to handle a plurality of peripheral devices. Separate peripheral I/O handler routines 30 must be written to communicate with each peripheral at a very low level taking into account the register addresses and their content for each individual peripheral. Access to each peripheral must be scheduled in a main task loop 32 so that timely access to each peripheral is achieved. Data to/from each peripheral must be processed at 34 in order to be used with a data processing program 36. From the foregoing, it will be understood that it is difficult to expand the number of peripherals, because each peripheral added to the bus gives rise to new scheduling problems in the host software. Moreover, as the number of interrupt driven devices increases, so does the possibility arise that a coincidence of interrupts (collision) will cause the system to malfunction. In addition, it is possible that data expected to be available by the data processing program is not available because of a scheduling error.
In addition to scheduling problems, software in a multi-tasking (multi-threaded) system is difficult to debug. Single stepping techniques cannot be used because during any single step of the software program, peripherals serviced by interrupt handlers will be non-functional; i.e., any data that the main program was expecting to read or write will be unavailable as only a single thread can be operational during single stepping. Moreover, since peripheral devices typically require that both hardware timing and software execution be synchronized, it is extremely difficult to emulate a system for the purpose of testing and debugging.
The handling of interrupts by the processor is determined in part by the bus protocol and in part by the design of the processor itself. Typically, the bus is designed to work with a particular processor or group of processors; and peripheral devices are designed to work with a particular bus. Moreover, each processor-bus system handles interrupts in a different way. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, to adapt program code used on one processor-bus system for use on another. Thus, simple I/O functions frequently need to be re-engineered for each processor-bus system. For example, a typical "front panel" interface for a computer controlled device may require the use of over sixty peripherals in the form of switches, LEDs, LCDs, rotary encoders, sound output drivers, etc. Functions which might seem superficially simple, such as driving an LED display, can be problematic. In a multiplexed LED display, e.g., the brightness of a particular column is directly proportional to the time the column is active. If this time varies significantly, as it will easily do when driven by a processor subject to a number of interrupts, the display will flicker.
In summary, coupling peripheral devices to a host processor for real-time computing/event handling is problematic for the following reasons: scheduling is difficult, communication with peripherals is tedious and inconsistent, addition of peripherals requires major program changes, debugging is difficult, and code adaptation is difficult. Nevertheless, virtually all real-time processor systems deal with peripherals using this type of memory mapping and interrupt driven bus system where the host is required to service the peripherals on an event-by-event basis. The state of the art solution to dealing with scheduling problems is to provide a faster processor which expedites the execution of the peripheral supervision code and thus reduces the latency between concurrent interrupts simplifying the scheduling task. However, due to the criticality of interrupt scheduling, the finite speed of even the fastest processors, and the limitations of the bandwidth of the bus system, scheduling problems are still the single greatest challenge in the writing of software today. Achieving the most potential from any processor depends to a large degree on programming skill in scheduling tasks in response to interrupts. However, the complexity of even marginally efficient task scheduling is daunting to most developers.
The speed and complexity of real time processor systems also depends on the number of processes being managed by the host processor. For example, if the processor is managing input from a serial communications port, output to a printer, and manipulating a complex data set, even the fastest processor will slow dramatically and the software management of these events will be extremely complex. Even if the input from the communications port is merely being transferred as output to the printer, without manipulation, the host processor must be involved in taking the data from the communications port and then sending it to the printer.
In order to relieve the host processor from performing every task, multiprocessor systems have been proposed. Some multiprocessor systems are successful in dividing tasks among processors when the tasks are well defined. For example, it is not uncommon to divide tasks between a data processor and a signal processor in systems which deal with signals and data in real time. It is more difficult to divide data processing tasks among several data processors. The operating system must decide which tasks will be performed by which processor and must schedule tasks so that processors do not remain idle while waiting for new tasks or while waiting for other processors to complete tasks so as to provide needed results. Consequently, there has been very little success in developing a general purpose multiprocessor system and there is no standard programming language for programming a multiprocessor system.
Throughout the years there have been great advances in software development tools which simplify the writing of computer programs. Perhaps the greatest single improvement in these development tools is the utilization of "object oriented" programming languages such as "Smalltalk". Object oriented programming allows the developer to raise the level of abstraction so that complex problems can be solved at a higher level. The elements that provide for this approach are modules of code each of which is referred to as an "object". These objects can be individually debugged and re-used in other programs to shorten the time it takes to develop software. A developer can assemble a number of objects, each of which performs a specific task needed to complete the larger task performed by the software package and write a program which calls upon these objects in an appropriate order. Nevertheless, when the software accesses hardware, e.g. peripheral devices, the software must be written to "micro-manage" the hardware on an event-by-event basis.

Distributed processing systems having a host processor and at least two object oriented processors which communicate directly with each other


The present invention supports the initialization of an interface between a wireless network and a packet-based communication network, including the exchange of initial endpoint address information and the revision of such endpoint address information through an addition and/or deletion procedure.

In a telecommunications system, the devices involved with a telecommunications call or connection are referred to as the originating device and the terminating device, respectively. The originating device is where the user initiates the communication, and the terminating device is the device used by the person called by the originating device. To initiate a telecommunications communication, the user typically enters an identifying number of the person called into the originating device.
If the telecommunications call is made on a traditional telecommunication network, the originating device will accept the entry of the identifying number and perform a call setup procedure that establishes, among other things, a switched connection between the originating device and the terminating device. On a traditional telecommunications network, this switched connection will maintain an open connection between the originating and terminating device during the telecommunication call.
In Internet Protocol (IP) networks, the communication process is very different from a traditional telecommunication system. In an IP network, there is no open switched connection established between the originating and terminating devices. The information being transmitted between the originating and terminating devices is broken into packets of data, each of which is transmitted independently over the network to the terminating devices. Upon receipt by the terminating devices, the packets are reassembled into a coherent stream of voice or data.
A wireless communication system is very different from a traditional land-based communication system. For instance, a cellular system operates on a grid of cellular sites where two-way radio transmissions support the communication. Wireless networks can operate using different communication protocols, and hybrid systems are available which use packet-based communications on a wireless network.
In order for different types of telecommunication networks to communicate, there is a need for a consistent scheme for routing of data across the system boundaries, especially on interface boundaries between a wireless network and a packet-based communication system.

System interface supporting IP endpoint data exchange and regulation


A hoist assembly includes a casing, a pulley mechanism and a latch mechanism. The casing has a pair of identical mating front and rear casing halves. The casing has an aperture formed therethrough and an interior chamber formed therein between said front and rear casing halves. The aperture receives a fastener member therethrough for supporting the casing on a tree at a predetermined height. The casing also has a centering recess formed therethrough in communication with the aperture for receiving a portion of the fastener member therein for balancing the casing thereon. The pulley mechanism includes a pulley and a cable. The pulley is rotatably mounted to and disposed within the interior chamber of the casing. The cable is entrained about the pulley and extends downwardly through the interior chamber and spaced apart openings defined at a lower end of the casing to exteriorly of the casing. A first opposite end portion of the cable is for attachment of an item thereto and the second opposite end portion of the cable is for a user to grip for pulling the second opposite end portion downward to thereby raise the item attached to the first opposite end portion. The latch mechanism includes a latching pawl pivotally mounted to and disposed within the interior chamber of the casing and being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position relative to the cable on the pulley. The latching pin is for moving the latching pawl between the locked and unlocked positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to pulley mechanisms and, more particularly, is concerned with a tree stand hoist assembly and a casing therefor having identical mating casing halves.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hunting wild game is a popular activity. Hunters often find it useful to position themselves above the ground, such as on trees. Tree stands are employed for this purpose. Hunters are less likely to be spotted or scented by game and have a better view of the surrounding terrain at elevated positions. A challenge for hunters, however, is getting a tree stand and other items on a tree at a desired position above the ground. Tree stands generally may be constructed on a tree, may be used in climbing the tree or may be raised onto the tree.
Various devices have been developed over the years for raising items, such as tree stands and the like, to higher elevations. Representative examples of prior art pulley mechanisms and the like are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 723,231 to Benedict, U.S. Pat. No. 1,107,934 to Hagan, U.S. Pat. No. 1,167,295 to Hall, U.S. Pat. No. 1,243,107 to Richardson, U.S. Pat. No. 1,399,182 to Benedict, U.S. Pat. No. 1,961,081 to Schrader, U.S. Pat. No. 2,292,353 to Ennis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,532,893 to Crotty, U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,023 to Muller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,489 to Regal, U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,143 to Regal and U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,865 to Fountain. While these prior art devices may be satisfactory in use for the specific purposes for which they were designed, none of them seem to provide a simple and effective solution for raising tree stands and the like to desired elevated positions.
Consequently, a need still exists for an assembly which provides an optimum solution to the aforementioned problem in the prior art without introducing any new problems in place thereof.

Tree stand hoist assembly and casing therefor having identical mating halves


The improved binder system for use in the injection molding of sinterable powders such as metal powders, ceramic powders and cermet powders comprises a (co)polymer that has a molecular weight in excess of 2000 and which contains at least one epoxy group in the molecule. Preferably, the binder system comprises said (co)polymer, a (co)polymer other than said (co)polymer, and an organic compound having a molecular weight up to 2000. Using a binder system comprising (a) 3-80 wt % of a (co)polymer that has a molecular weight in excess of 2000 and which has at least one epoxy group in the molecule, (b) up to 70 wt % of a (co)polymer other than component (a), and (c) 20-80 wt % of an organic compound having a molecular weight of not more than 2000, there is provided a composition for the injection molding of sinterable powders. The compound has excellent moldability and strength properties. The powders to be mixed with the binder system for use in injection molding have preferably average particle sizes in the range of 0.01-1000 .mu.m.

This invention relates to a binder system for use in the injection molding of metal powders, ceramic powders and cermet powders (these powders are hereunder collectively referred to as "sinterable powders"), as well as a molding compound containing the binder system.
Sinters are conventionally produced by a process that comprises mixing a sinterable powder with a binder, molding the mixture by a suitable technique such as casting, extrusion, jiggering or pressing, and sintering the molded part. However, it is difficult to produce sinters of complex forms by these molding methods. Under the circumstances, injection molding of sinterable powders is adopted as a method for producing more complexly molded parts.
Injection molding of sinterable powders is a technique commonly employed to mass produce small-sized sinters of complex shapes. The process starts with mixing a sinterable powder (raw material) with a binder to prepare a compound for injection molding. The compound is thermoplastic and can be molded into desired forms with an injection molding machine. This forming step is essentially the same as the molding of plastic materials and permits mass production. In the next step, the unwanted binder is removed from the molded part. This "debinding" step is performed either by heating the molded part so that the binder will evaporate or flow out or by holding the molded part in a solvent to extract the binder or by the combination of the two methods. A suitable debinding method is selected in accordance with the type of binder used. In the last step, the debound part is sintered to yield the final product.
Injection molding of sinterable powders is characterized by its ability to mold fine sinterable powders with which high sintered density can be attained. Fine powders having average particle sizes of no more than 10 .mu.m have heretofore been difficult to mold by pressing for several reasons such as poor flowability and the galling of molds. In contrast, even such fine powders can be easily molded by the injection molding method and, furthermore, complex three-dimensional molds can be produced. Because of these advantages, the injection molding of sinterable powders has recently gained popularity in the manufacture of pure iron parts, Fe-Ni base alloyed parts and stainless steel parts and its application is making way even to magnetic materials and cemented carbides.
Binders to be used in the injection molding of sinterable powders are roughly classified into two types, thermoplastic and thermosetting, but considering the recycling of sprues, runners, etc. unrecyclable thermosetting binders are not used very often. Commonly used thermoplastic binder systems are composed of such ingredients as thermoplastic resins, waxes, plasticizers and lubricants. The resins, which are the principal ingredient of the binder system, impart plasticity to the molding compound and insure the necessary strength for the molded part at room temperature. Furthermore, waxes and plasticizers which are organics having lower molecular weights than the resins are added to improve the moldability and debinding properties. Known resin components include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer (EEA), poly (alkyl methacrylate) and polyamides, and these may be used either alone or in admixtures. Components of lower molecular weights than the resins include paraffin waxes, higher fatty acids, higher alcohols, higher fatty acid esters, higher fatty acid amides, and phthalic acid esters such as diethyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate, and these may used either alone or in admixtures. Thus, compounds as the feed stock for the injection molding of sinterable powders are typically in the forms of a mixture of sinterable powders and several organic additives including resins, waxes and plasticizers.
Sinterable powders such as metal powders and ceramic powders have near-hydrophilic surfaces, so they wet very poorly with hydrophobic binders which are chiefly composed of organics. Hence, it is difficult to have the sinterable powders dispersed uniformly in the binders and agglomerates will readily form. If the molding compound contains agglomerates which are not wetted with the binder, the compound becomes highly viscous and not only does this impair the moldability of the compound but also the strength of the green body drops so markedly that cracking is prone to occur. As a further problem, cracking and blistering are also prone to occur during the removal of the binder (debinding step).
Agglomerates are more prone to form as the molecular weight of the binder increases. Consider, for example polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS); these resins have long been used in the binder systems for powder injection molding but because of their low ability to wet sinterable powders, the molding compound has such low fluidity that it is difficult to be injection molded or the molded part has only low strength.
It is known that the wettability of sinterable powders with binders can be enhanced either by treating the surface of sinterable powders to render it hydrophobic or by introducing into binder components those functional groups which will wet the hydrophilic surface of the sinterable powders. The first approach can be implemented by treating the surface of sinterable powders with a silane-base coupling agent, a titanate-base coupling agent [Japanese Patent Publication (kokoku) SHO No. 59-41949] or an aluminum chelate compound [Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (kokai) SHO No. 61-242947]. The second approach can be implemented by using surfactants [Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (kokai) SHO Nos. 59-182267 and 59-35058] or by using binder components into which a carboxyl group, an ester, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, an acid anhydride and other functional groups that will interact with the surface of sinterable powders have been introduced, as exemplified by an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) [Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (kokai) SHO Nos. 52-117909 and 58-135173], an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer (EEA) [Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (kokai) SHO No. 59-121150], cyclopentadiene-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride copolymers or hydrogenation products thereof [Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (kokai) No. 62-12658], alpha-methylstyrene-unsaturated acid anhydride copolymers [Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (kokai) SHO NO. 63-252951], stearic acid [Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku) SHO No. 36-7883], behenic acid [Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (kokai) HEI No. 2-267156], and polyalkylene carbonates [Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) Publication HEI No. 1-257158 ]. These methods are effective in improving the wettability of sinterable powders with binders and the powders are dispersed so uniformly in the binders that the molding compound can be easily injection molded to produce satisfactory molded parts.
While the selection of a suitable binder is important for successful injection molding of sinterable powders, the conventional binder systems have had the following problems.
Since binder resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene only poorly wet the sinterable powders, it is difficult to disperse the powders completely and the mixture contains residual agglomerates, thus failing to produce a uniform molding compound having good fluidity. Even if a low-molecular weight component such as wax is added with a view to improving moldability, the added component is still low in miscibility with the sinterable powder and troubles such as separation between the binder and the powder have occurred during injection molding. As a further problem, if heat is applied to remove the binder in the debinding step, the molded part may occasionally deform or debinding defects such as blisters or cracks may occur during heating. In order to avoid these "debinding defects", the debinding time has to be extended and it takes an increased time to complete the step of binder removal.
The ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer (EEA) have polar functional groups and are highly miscible with sinterable powders; hence, these resins are extensively used as components of injection molding binder systems. Compounds using these resins as binder components have good moldability and the molded part also has high strength. However, in order for these resins to exhibit their performance fully, the content of vinyl acetate or ethyl acrylate must exceed a certain level but, then, the softening temperature of the binder will drop. As a result, the molded part is highly prone to deform in the debinding step, with occasional occurrence of blisters. Therefore, a prolonged time is also required for binder removal to give an immaculate and sound debound part.
Polystyrene and poly (alkyl methacrylate) esters have high tendency to depolymerize and, hence, they are easy to remove and are often used as binder components. However, these resins wet sinterable powders so poorly thai they are no more suitable for molding than polyethylene and polypropylene.
Under the circumstances, it has been proposed that two or three of the resins described above be used in combination in the injection molding compound but the proposed combinations have their own advantages and disadvantages and, as of today, no single binder system has been developed that is satisfactory in terms of both moldability and ease of debinding.
The method of treating the surface of sinterable powders in order to improve their wettability with binders has various defects such as the high cost of agents used for surface treatment, the addition of an extra step for surface treatment, and the tendency of Ti, Si, and Al used as surface treating agents to remain in the sinter, thereby causing adverse effects on its properties. The addition of surfactants or higher aliphatic acids causes a drop in the softening temperature of the binder and, hence, defects such as deformation and blistering will readily take place upon application of heat for removing the binder. The proposal made by Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (kokai) SHO No. 62-12658 uses a polymer containing unsaturated bonds, so gelation is prone to occur during mixing and the molding compound becomes highly viscous or difficulty is encountered in the effort to recycle sprues or runners. The alpha-methylstyrene-unsaturated acid anhydride copolymer used in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (kokai) SHO 63-252951 has such a high softening temperature and viscosity that it is also necessary to use large amounts of solvents such as toluene and alcohol and, as a result, not only does a significant change in density occur on account of the evaporation of solvent but there also occurs a marked drop in strength, thereby presenting difficulty in accomplishing injection molding. Furthermore, whichever method is used, prolonged application of heat is necessary in order no remove the binder without causing deformation and if the debinding time is shortened, blistering or deformation will inevitably occur.

Binder system for use in the injection molding of sinterable powders and molding compound containing the binder system


Coaching notifications can be determined based on current user fitness data and historical user fitness data. The coaching notifications may include information that encourages or otherwise coaches users towards established fitness goals. To this end, the timing for presenting along with the substance of the coaching notifications can be customized to the users.

Electronic devices, especially portable electronic user devices, are quickly becoming ubiquitous in every modern society. Such devices often include functionality to schedule future notifications (e.g., reminders of calendar events) and to process unscheduled notifications (e.g., alerts about breaking news or new messages). While such notifications can be useful, when notifications are presented too frequently or with irrelevant information, users may experience alarm fatigue. Alarm fatigue results in users becoming desensitized to the notifications, which can lead to users intentionally ignoring the notifications or otherwise missing them.
Goal setting and goal keeping is an effective way to achieve a desired result. This is especially true when improving one's health is the desired result. Even with established goals, users often get busy with other activities and forget about keeping their goals and/or prioritize other activities ahead of keeping their goals. This can lead to abandonment of goal setting.

Determination and presentation of customized notifications


The present invention relates to an implantable prosthesis having a membrane and a fluid channel that are inserted into a body lumen to maintain fluid flow and support the lumen wall. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a mesh membrane or filter attached to a covered stent. The membrane can be mounted on a frame formed with a shape memory material that can be delivered through a catheter into a body lumen. The membrane and the frame can expand from a delivery state into an expanded state.

Various prosthetic devices have been developed for the treatment of vascular disease. These include self expanding stents that can be compressed and introduced into the vascular system using catheters. When the catheter is positioned percutaneously or by other techniques at the required site, the stent is released and the catheter is withdrawn.
The stents or prostheses have been developed to treat particular forms of vascular disease including weakened or occluded blood vessels or arteries. The treatment of a stenosis or aneurysm, for example, using a tubular prosthesis can reduce the risk of an embolism or rupture of the aneurysm. In an abdominal aortic aneurysm, for example, a bifurcated tubular sleeve can be used to maintain blood flow between the aortic artery and the iliac arteries.
However, a continuing need exists for further improvements in devices and methods of using implantable prostheses for the treatment of various conditions.
This invention relates to an implantable prosthesis including a membrane or filter and a fluid flow channel to control the flow of fluid through a body lumen. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a mesh membrane connected to a stent and, more particularly, to a stent used to bypass an aneurysm. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid flow channel, or stent, is coupled to the filter. The device includes, in a preferred embodiment, a frame having a plurality of struts, the struts conforming to the shape of the inner wall of a vessel, a membrane covering the struts, at least one tubular prosthesis or stent being aligned with and connected to an aperture in the membrane and an attaching mechanism that connects the membrane to the tubular section.
In one embodiment, the device is collapsible to fit inside a catheter. In a preferred embodiment, the device is collapsible to a diameter of 12 French or less. The frame and/or the tubular prosthesis can be a device such as that described in International Application No. PCT/DE/00226 filed on Jan. 24, 1998, and also described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/250,714, filed on Feb. 16, 1999 the entire contents of these applications being incorporated herein by reference. The stent and the frame of the filter or membrane can comprise a shape memory material such as a nickel-titanium alloy.
In a preferred embodiment, the frame comprises a double coil as described and illustrated in the above incorporated applications. One of the coils can be covered with a membrane material. In one embodiment, there can be an oblique angle between the two coils up to and including, for example, a 90-degree angle.
The struts of the frame can radiate outwardly from a center point of the frame. In this embodiment, the perimeter formed by the struts conforms to the shape of the inner wall of a vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the perimeter formed by the struts is circular. In another preferred embodiment, the struts comprise a plurality of loop shapes.
The membrane material can comprise either a mesh material or a non-permeable material. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane material extends beyond the perimeter formed by the struts of the frame. The additional membrane material allows the vessel to become completely sealed to prevent leakage between the membrane and the vessel wall.
The stent can comprise a flexible material. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises two stents to be used to bypass an aneurysm located at a bifurcation. The stent can also comprise an attachment mechanism to secure an end of the stent to the membrane.
The stent can be attached to the membrane and/or a vessel wall using an adhesive such as a polymer. The polymer can also be used to secure the stent to a double coil membrane. After insertion of the prosthesis, the adhesive can be injected in fluid form into the cavity with a catheter and then hardened in situ.
The invention also relates to a method for treating a body lumen using an implantable prosthesis. The invention can relate to a method for deploying a prosthesis within a body lumen. This method can include the use of one or more catheters to deploy the elements of the prosthesis. The invention can also relate to a method for attaching at least one stent to a membrane. This method can involve deploying a membrane in a vessel, forming an opening or aperture in the membrane, and connecting a stent to the membrane wherein the tubular path through the stent is coaxially aligned with the aperture.


A processing apparatus is provided which can be easily transported to whatever location is required. The apparatus has no open tanks of processing solution, the possibility of spillage of the solutions being therefore eliminated.

This invention relates to the processing of photographic material. The invention particularly relates to a transportable processing unit for processing photographic material.
The invention relates to the photographic processing of film and paper in a processing machine, e.g. a minilab. Processing machines are not usually portable. It is desirable to have a processing machine or minilab that is portable. It is also desirable to have a processing machine without the need to empty the chemicals therefrom, or have a hydraulic truck to move it. Such a machine can be used at events where the machine could be quickly set up to process customer films on site. The machine could be transported in van or a truck or even the boot of a car. Such events include big events like the Olympic games or football matches to local fairs and sports events. Other locations could be on passenger ships and trains, for example the Eurostar train. It will be understood that these are examples only and the invention is applicable to any site where the processing of photographic film is wanted.
As stated above, processing machines are not generally transportable. Most machines are large, heavy and contain several liters of chemicals. Attempts have been made to make a portable processor. Some small tabletop machines have been made. These are mostly manual and are certainly not apparently dry in operation. Also, these machines do not demonstrate the film throughput or automated operation suitable for the small minilab market. A small minilab is defined as one that can process between 10-20 rolls of 135-36 film every hour when working at full capacity.
A mobile processor is disclosed in WO93/04404. This document describes a xe2x80x9csuitcase processorxe2x80x9d which is computer controlled. The processor is in the form of a case-like container. The base of the container includes processing units in which film to be processed is accommodated. The lid of the container houses containers which contain chemicals for processing the film. The chemicals can be fed to the processing units in the base by means of valves operable under control of a computer, also within the case-like container. This processor is portable but cannot handle the capacity of a minilab. In addition there is a strong possibility of leakage of the processing chemicals.
It is an aim of the invention to provide an easily transportable processing machine in which there are no open tanks containing processing solutions.
According to the present invention there is provided a portable processing apparatus for closed processing photographic material including a processing chamber housed in a transportable unit, the unit being adapted to house a replaceable sealed cartridge containing the processing solutions in individual containers and a sealed waste container, both the cartridge and the waste container being connectable to the processing chamber via fluid tight valve connectors, substantially no processing solution being held in the processing chamber between processing operations.
The machine according to the invention is apparently dry, i.e. there are no open tanks containing processing chemical solutions which may leak. It is also easily transportable and the set up time for processing is short. The processing machine may therefore be placed in a multitude of outlets, or events which may not normally be associated with photo-processing. The owner of the processor can maximize the return on his investment in the processor by being able to place his processor wherever there is a market demand for photographs. The processor is also suitable for environments such as ships and trains where the movement thereof would normally interfere with the quality of processing.


A multi-beam laser cavity unit (10) comprises a laser crystal (13) and lens array (14) disposed in the laser cavity (LC). The lens array comprises an integral piece formed by a plurality of interconnected lenses. Each lens (14a) is configured to form a respective closed optical path (OPa) along the length (Z) of the laser cavity (LC) between the cavity mirrors (11,12) through the laser crystal (13) corresponding to a cavity mode for generating one (LBa) of the plurality of parallel laser beams (LB). The cavity unit (10) can be comprised in a laser system receiving pump light (PL) from a plurality of light sources. For example, the system can be used in a maskless patterning device.

The present disclosure relates to a multi-beam laser cavity and a laser system comprising the cavity.
In the fields of maskless lithography and additive manufacturing it can be desired to provide an array of highly parallel laser sources, in which each channel can be controlled independently. The high degree of parallelism may provide a reduction of the beam size further down in the optical chain to meet the current state of the art values for common applications, e.g. writing conducting lines on flat panel displays with a few micrometers spot size.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,488,638 describes a compact solid state laser that generates multiple wavelengths and multiple beams that are parallel, i.e., bore-sighted relative to each other. Each of the multiple laser beams can be at a different wavelength, pulse energy, pulse length, repetition rate and average power. Each of the laser beams can be turned on or off independently. The laser is comprised of an optically segmented gain section, common laser resonator with common surface segmented cavity mirrors, optically segmented pump laser, and different intra-cavity elements in each laser segment. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to generate and control multiple beams to have uniform beam properties.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,577 describes direct patterning of a substrate by means of a solid state microchip laser, which is pumped by separate laser diodes and emits an array of laser spots. However, the laser system can be sensitive to small misalignment of the crystal facet. Furthermore, it can be difficult to control parameters like beam divergence and beam output size, e.g. because the size and divergence of the beams is strongly related to the heat deposited in the crystal, and therefore to the optical pump power.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,229 is directed to a laser having a resonator structure which efficiently generates only a fundamental transverse mode. The laser includes a laser source, first and second resonator mirrors, and an array illuminator optical system which is placed within the resonator optical system. The array illuminator optical system includes a Fourier plane array illuminator using one of a first lens array and a first phase grating; a Fourier transform lens; and a Fourier plane array illuminator using one of a second lens array and a second phase grating. The known laser system does not provide individual control of the laser beams.
There is a desire for a compact laser source array providing improved control and uniformity of the beam properties. There is a further desire for an array of highly parallel laser sources with individual control of the laser beams.

Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO


An assembly is used with a remote source of hydraulic power to control flow of wellbore fluid in a drilling system. At least one choke is operable to control the flow of the fluid to other portions of the system. At least one hydraulic actuator disposed with the choke actuates operation of the choke in response to the hydraulic power. At least one control valve disposed with the choke controls supply of the hydraulic power to and controls return of the hydraulic power from the actuator. An accumulator can be disposed with the choke and coupled to the supply upstream of the control valve. The control valve can couple to the actuator with a pair of pilot-operated check valves disposed in fluid communication between the control valve and the actuator. A stage tank and stage pump can be disposed with the choke. The tank receives the return from the control valve, and the stage pump can pump the return from the stage tank to the source.

Several controlled pressure drilling techniques are used to drill wellbores. In general, controlled pressure drilling includes managed pressure drilling (MPD), underbalanced drilling (UBD), and air drilling (AD) operations.
In the Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) technique, a MPD system uses a closed and pressurizable mud-return system, a rotating control device (RCD), and a choke manifold to control the wellbore pressure during drilling. The various MPD techniques used in the industry allow operators to drill successfully in conditions where conventional technology simply will not work by allowing operators to manage the pressure in a controlled fashion during drilling.
During drilling, the bit drills through a formation, and pores become exposed and opened. As a result, formation fluids (i.e., gas) can mix with the drilling mud. The drilling system then pumps this gas, drilling mud, and the formation cuttings back to the surface. As the gas rises up the borehole, the pressure drops, meaning more gas from the formation may be able to enter the wellbore. If the hydrostatic pressure is less than the formation pressure, then even more gas can enter the wellbore.
FIG. 1A schematically shows a controlled pressure drilling system 10 according to the prior art. As shown here, this system 10 is a Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) system having a rotating control device (RCD) 12 from which a drill string and drill bit (not shown) extend downhole in a wellbore through a formation. The rotating control device 12 can include any suitable pressure containment device that keeps the wellbore closed at all time while the wellbore is being drilled. The system 10 also includes mud pumps (not shown), a standpipe (not shown), a mud tank (not shown), a mud gas separator 18, and various flow lines (14, 16, etc.), as well as other conventional components. In addition to these, the MPD system 10 includes an automated choke manifold 20 that is incorporated into the other components of the system 10.
One suitable example of a drilling system 10 with a choke manifold 20 is the Secure Drilling™ System available from Weatherford. Details related to such a system are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,237, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The automated choke manifold 20 manages pressure during drilling and is incorporated into the system 10 downstream from the rotating control device 12 and upstream from the gas separator 18. The manifold 20 has chokes 22A-B, choke actuators 24A-B, a mass flow meter 26, pressure sensors, a hydraulic power unit 50 to actuate the chokes 22A-B, and a controller 40 to control operation of the manifold 20.
The system 10 uses the rotating control device 12 to keep the well closed to atmospheric conditions. Fluid leaving the well flows through the automated choke manifold 20, which measures return flow and density using the flow meter 26 installed in line with the chokes 22A-B. Software components of the manifold 20 then compare the flow rate in and out of the wellbore, the injection pressure (or standpipe pressure), the surface backpressure (measured upstream from the drilling chokes 22), the position of the chokes 22A-B, and the mud density. Comparing these variables, the system 10 identifies minute downhole influxes and losses on a real-time basis and to manage the annulus pressure during drilling. All of the monitored information can be displayed for the operator at the controller 40.
During drilling operations, the controller 40 monitors for any deviations in values and alerts the operators of any problems that might be caused by a fluid influx into the wellbore from the formation or a loss of drilling mud into the formation. In addition, the controller 40 can automatically detect, control, and circulate out such influxes by operating the chokes 22A-B on the choke manifold 20 with the power unit 50.
For example, a possible fluid influx can be noted when the "flow out" value (measured from flow meter 26) deviates from the "flow in" value (measured from the mud pumps). When an influx is detected, an alert notifies the operator to apply the brake until it is confirmed safe to drill. Meanwhile, no change in the mud pump rate is needed at this stage.
In a form of auto kick control, however, the controller 40 automatically closes the choke 22A-B to a determined degree to increase surface backpressure in the wellbore annulus and stop the influx. Next, the controller 40 circulates the influx out of the well by automatically adjusting the surface backpressure, thereby increasing the downhole circulating pressure and avoiding a secondary influx.
On the other hand, a possible fluid loss can be noted when the "flow in" value (measured from the pumps) is greater than the "flow out" value (measured by the flow meter 26). Similar steps as those above but suited for fluid loss can then be implemented by the controller 40 to manage the pressure during drilling in this situation.
When the managed pressure drilling system 10 is deployed on a drilling rig floor, hydraulic power is typically supplied remotely to the chokes 22A-B of the system 10. As shown in FIG. 1B, a hydraulic power unit 50 includes a hydraulic reservoir 52, one or more hydraulic pumps 54, one or more accumulators 56, hydraulic choke control valves 58A-B, and necessary piping, fittings, and valves. Each choke 22A-B located in the choke unit 20 has its actuator 24A-B connected by flow paths 55A-B to one of the hydraulic choke control valves 58A-B located in hydraulic power unit 50.
As will be appreciated, the flow-paths 55A-B for the hydraulic power used to control the chokes 22A-B may need to travel some distance (e.g., 12 ft. or so). Additionally, the flow paths 55A-B can be coupled with various bends, not necessarily depicted in this schematic view. Further, wave pulses may tend to originate from the pump(s) 54 and travel along the flow paths 55A-B.
Moreover, any hydraulic hoses used for the flow-paths 55A-B can elastically expand (i.e., expand diametrically) as the hydraulic pressure increases. Conversely, the hydraulic hoses used for the flow-paths 55A-B can elastically contract (i.e., contract diametrically) as the hydraulic pressure decreases. When the length of the hoses for the flow-paths 55A-B is long, a large volume of fluid can be contained in the hoses, thereby causing measurable increases and decreases in hydraulic fluid volume corresponding to these pressure changes. As a result, the hoses for the flow-paths 55A-B can effectively respond as an accumulator and can further exaggerate or reduce the responsiveness of the choke actuators.
Consequently, the distance, bends, wave pulses, and the like can create hydraulic frictional losses and delays that hinder the response of the chokes 22A-B during operations. Moreover, when managed pressure drilling uses two or more chokes 22A-B in simultaneous operation, the hydraulic losses in the flow-path 55A can be different from the hydraulic losses in flow-path 55B depending on construction of the materials or differences in geometries. This can lead to a different system response between the chokes 22A-B, which requires a more complex control algorithm for the controller 40. For example, one hydraulic choke 22A may tend to respond more slowly than the other choke 22B.
It is recognized that electric actuation of the chokes 22A-B may have faster response times (i.e., closing and opening times for the chokes 22A-B) when compared to hydraulic actuation. However, electric actuation on the drilling rig may not be desirable or even possible for various reasons so that hydraulic actuation may be preferred.
What is needed is a way to mitigate any timing differences that may occur when multiple hydraulic chokes are operating simultaneously, as well as improve the response of individual chokes in a choke manifold for a drilling system. Therefore, the subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Control of multiple hydraulic chokes in managed pressure drilling


An apparatus and method for maintaining variable data in a non-volatile electronic memory device comprises a shifter array (106) which provides a shifter value to shifter register (104). Shifter register (104) uses 8-bit column decoder (110) to specify which of a plurality of overlapping storage units in array (94) will store variable data provided from register (92). Address register (112) specifies to row decoder (116) which of two rows in shifter array (106), pointer array (118) and array (94) will be accessed by read and write operations. Pointer array (118) stores an index specifying which of the two rows contains the most recently updated variable data. Shifter register (104) uses 8-bit column decoder (108) to specify which of a plurality of adjacent storage units in pointer array (118) will store the index. OR gate (98) specifies when to replace an overlapping storage unit in array (94) and an adjacent storage unit in pointer array (118).

Volatile electronic memory devices are incapable of retaining stored data when primary power to the device is removed. However, non-volatile memory devices can retain stored data even when primary power to the device is removed. Several types of non-volatile memory devices exist. Battery-backed random access memory (RAM) can retain data when properly powered by a battery; however, battery lifetimes are limited, and a battery-backed device will lose its data when the battery wears down. Thus, in most industry applications, battery-backed RAM devices are impractical for maintaining variable data over extended periods of time.
A read-only memory (ROM) does not require a battery to retain data when primary power is removed. However, a ROM device cannot be reprogrammed with new data. Therefore, ROM's are impractical for maintaining variable data.
Erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) can be reprogrammed with new data, but such a reprogramming must be preceded by an erasure of the entire memory contents, typically by applying an external high voltage and exposing the entire device for lengthy periods to ultraviolet light. Thus, in most industry applications, EPROM's are impractical for maintaining variable data.
Electronically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROM) are non-volatile memory devices that require no batteries to retain data; furthermore, these devices are reprogrammable on an addressable basis without requiring erasure of the entire memory contents. Normal 5-volt supply voltage is sufficient to erase an EEPROM storage location.
EEPROMs are useful for numerous applications, including maintaining variable data. One such application is a digital electronic odometer for automobiles that updates an event counter value at discrete mileage distance intervals. The event counter value can be stored in an addressable EEPROM location and periodically updated without requiring erasure of other memory contents. Furthermore, the EEPROM contents will be retained even when power is removed from the circuit.
Nevertheless, using an EEPROM to maintain variable data such as an event counter value raises distinct problems. Specifically, EEPROM storage locations can undergo only a finite number of oxide tunnelling transitions (OTT) which occur when a data bit storage location is reprogrammed with opposite data from what it previously stored. An average EEPROM bit is limited to approximately 10,000 OTT's, but actual limits on OTT's will vary widely between EEPROM bits. Thus, when counting miles using an event counter value stored in a EEPROM, the least significant bit (LSB) of the particular EEPROM storage location will exhaust its limited number of OTT's after approximately 5,000 miles, assuming a resolution of 0.5 miles.
Some EEPROM applications overcome this limitation by relocating the event counter value to a different EEPROM byte storage address once a predefined number of OTT's have occurred. Thus, when the LSB of a particular byte storage address has exhausted its OTT possibilities, the entire byte is no longer used, even though seven of its eight bits remain capable of many more OTT's. This solution is therefore unnecessarily wasteful of memory space, requiring either larger memory capacity (and hence, increased semiconductor chip die area and product cost) or shorter product lifetimes due to more rapid depletion of useable memory space.
Therefore, a need has arisen in the industry for an apparatus and method to maintain variable data in a non-volatile electronic memory device, such that data is retained in the absence of power and such that available EEPROM memory space is efficiently utilized to accurately store the variable data, despite typical OTT limits of EEPROM storage devices.

Method and apparatus for maintaining variable data in a non-volatile electronic memory device


A folder type mobile communication terminal includes a first housing and a second housing hingedly connected to the first housing. The second housing includes a second knuckle on the rotation axis where the second knuckle defines an opening hole inside thereof for insertion of a connection cable, a second hinge aperture formed in the axial direction of the rotation axis to allow the connection cable to insert therethrough, a projecting part at one end, and a structure at the opposite end which allows installation of a hinge spring assembly. The first housing includes first knuckles formed at both ends, where the first knuckles define a first hinge aperture that is directed to the direction of the second hinge aperture, and a first slot formed in the bottom of one of the first knuckles to enable the connection cable to insert therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folder type mobile communication terminal which is characterized in that a projecting part of the second housing including a slot for insertion of a connection cable such as FPC (Flexible Printed Circuitry) or FFC(Flat Flexible Cable) inserts into a hinge aperture in a knuckle of the first housing to form a rotation axis.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The mobile communication terminals tend to be reduced in size and weight for better portability. Manufacturers of mobile communication terminals provide a variety of mobile communication terminals to this end, of which the most typical one is folder type mobile communication terminal.
A folder type mobile communication terminal generally comprises a first housing and a second housing, wherein the first housing includes a microphone, main PCB, and a keypad, while the second housing includes a speaker and a liquid crystal display for display of various information.
The first and the second housings should be coupled to each other by a connection cable such as FPC or FFC in order to allow data transmission between the first and the second housings. However, if the connection cable remains exposed outside of the housings, not only is the outlook of the mobile terminal unfavourable, but also it becomes vulnerable for damages. Therefore, a connection path for the connection cable should be provided inside of the mobile communication terminal, which is capable of protecting the connection cable from damages by repeated folding and unfolding of the mobile communication terminal.
A technique aiming to solve the above problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,699. FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view illustrating the structure of FPC coupling of the folder type mobile communication terminal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,699.
FIG. 1 illustrates a folder type mobile communication terminal comprising a first housing 20 having a first knuckle 21 that defines a first hinge aperture communicating with a second hinge aperture and a slot 22 allowing a FPC 15 to insert through it for connection to the main PCB; and a second housing 10 having a second knuckle 11 that defines a slot at the inner side and a second hinge aperture formed along the hinge axis, wherein the first and the second housings are coupled to each other by shaft 30.
One end of shaft 30 is inserted and fixed into the second knuckle 11 of the second housing 10. The other end of shaft 30 inserts into and interfaces with the inside of the first knuckle 21 of the first housing 20, and has a slot 32 which physically coincides with slot 22 formed in the first knuckle 21.
Accordingly, FPC 15 which is mounted in the second housing 10 and used for data transmission from different wiring devices connected to a speaker and a liquid crystal display inserts through the slot of the second knuckle 11 and is wound by 540° in the second hinge aperture and then passes through slots 32, 22 by way of shaft 30 so as to connect with the main PCB of the first housing 20. In such a way, FPC 15 is saved from external exposure and thus protected better from possible damages, in addition to more elegant outlook, while at the same time allowing easy opening and closing of the first and the second housings.
However, the folder type mobile communication terminal pursuant to U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,699 is disadvantageous in that many components are required for connecting the FPC 15 mounted in the second housing 10 to the main PCB of the first housing 20, and that the components are complex in shapes, thus leads their manufacture costs to increase.
Moreover, the assembling procedure is complicated and takes much time because the FPC 15 should be wound in the hinge aperture and in the shaft by over 360° in order to prevent damage of FPC 15 that might be caused by repeated folding and unfolding of the folder.

Folder type mobile communication terminal


A solenoid actuated valve for regulating the fluid pressure at a control port by cyclically connecting the control port alternately to a fluid pressure supply source and to a sump includes a sleeve-like valve member slidably mounted on a fixed valve member for movement between two positions in response to energization or deenergization of the solenoid coil. The valve sleeve is the armature of the solenoid and operates within an internal chamber in the valve housing with pressure within the chamber being at least substantially balanced against its opposite ends. Energization and deenergization of the solenoid coil may be controlled by an electronic processor which supplies a pulse width modulated electric control signal variable in response to processor inputs to establish a control port pressure which is accurately linearly related to the time duration of the pulse width modulated signal.

While there are many applications for such a valve, one application which has been of interest in recent years is that of the control of an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle by independently regulating the engagement pressure applied to each of the various clutches in the transmission. The torque transmitted by a given clutch may be varied by varying the pressure of engagement between the opposed clutch plates. Presently available electronic control units can rapidly and precisely generate the desired electrical output signals in response to sensed vehicle operating conditions. However, converting these electrical control signals into a precisely proportional fluid pressure which will accurately track variations in the electrical control signal has posed problems.
In such a system, a solenoid actuated valve is a logical choice as the interface between the electrical and hydraulic portions of the system. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,145 which describes a solenoid actuated valve for such an application. A system employing a valve of the type shown in that patent is described in some detail in SAE Technical Paper 840448.
As in U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,145 the solenoid actuated valve may be designed to regulate the pressure at a control port by cyclically connecting the control port alternately to a source of fluid under pressure and to a fluid sump, these alternate connections being made in accordance with the energization or deenergization of the solenoid coil. An electronic processor may be employed to regulate the time during each cycle the coil is energized ("on time"), the coil being deenergized for the remainder of the cycle ("off time"), this type of regulation being commonly referred to as pulse width modulation. A typical operating frequency might be 60 Hz. In steady state operation the pressure at the control port will be that percentage of the fluid source pressure which is equal to that percentage of time which the control port is connected to the fluid source, sump pressure being assumed to be zero.
In order to enable the control port pressure to be varied in a true linear relationship to variations in "on time" of the solenoid coil, the valve member which controls the fluid connection of the control port to pressure supply or sump must be capable of rapid shifting movement in close synchronism with the energization and deenergization of the coil. Further, the valve member should also be movable in response to a relatively small magnetic force in order to minimize the size and power requirements of the solenoid.
The present invention is especially directed to a solenoid valve having these last characteristics.

Solenoid operated pressure control valve


A fastening element for securing a facemask to an outer shell of a protective helmet is disclosed. The fastening element comprises an end portion defining an aperture and a first tab and a second tab each flexibly connected to the end portion. The first tab defines a first tab aperture and the second tab defines a second tab aperture. The first tab and second tab also define a slot therebetween. A combination comprising a facemask and a fastening element is also disclosed. The facemask can comprise at least one substantially horizontal member and at least one substantially vertical member intersecting the substantially horizontal member. The fastening element is connectable to the facemask. Also disclosed is a helmet comprising an outer shell, a facemask and a fastening element for securing the outer shell to the facemask.

Helmets for use in a variety of sports as well as for various safety purposes, are well known. The purpose of a helmet is typically to reduce risk of injury of the head of the wearer in the event that the head is contacted with a direct force. Helmets used by those engaged in certain sports, such as lacrosse, typically have a hard protective outer shell that covers some type of energy-absorbing material. A wire facemask is typically attached to the protective outer shell to shield the wearer's face from a direct impact, such as being hit by a ball.
One of the problems associated with a direct impact on the facemask of a wearer, is that it can shift the orientation of the facemask with respect to the outer shell of the protective helmet. This can cause discomfort for the wearer as well as partially obscure the wearer's view. After impact, the facemask can be skewed such that the vertical or horizontal members comprising the facemask are positioned in front of the wearer's eyes thereby limiting the wearer's field of view. For example, when a lacrosse player is hit directly in the facemask by a lacrosse ball, the impact of the ball can shift the vertical members of the facemask in front of the line of sight of the wearer, thus inhibiting the player.
Conventional fasteners used to secure the facemask to the outer shell of the helmet have proved ineffective in preventing the facemask to misalign with respect to the protective outer shell after certain types of impact. Accordingly, a need remains for an improved fastening device that reduces misalignment between the facemask and the protective outer shell of a helmet after impact.


An apparatus for use in practicing the fundamentals of baseball is provided. The apparatus includes an opening for accepting and capturing baseballs thrown at the apparatus. The opening is covered by a number of vertical flaps, behind which is a padded backstop. The flaps are colored appropriately to designate a typical strike zone. A pitchback machine is provided to propel baseballs from the apparatus. A ball holding tray is positioned beneath the opening and backstop to accumulate thrown balls or to retain a reservoir of balls. A motor-driven spinner plate is situated integral to the holding tray for circulating the balls resting therein and for facilitating the movement of the balls to an outlet path. The holding tray outlet path leads to a motor-driven helical auger. The auger conveys the balls from the outlet path to the pitchback machine. The apparatus may include a channel member adapted to receive balls from the auger, the channel member having a shut off switch for controlling a flow of balls down its length. An adjustable ball stop is positioned adjacent to the channel member at a distance sufficient for presenting the balls to the pitchback machine. The driven components of the apparatus, including the shut off switch and auger, are electrically coordinated such that when one ball is released down the channel member to the pitchback machine, the auger is activated so as to convey another ball to the channel member. The apparatus may also be supported upon a transportable frame for ready movement from one location to another.

A popular game in the United States, Japan, Cuba and other countries of the world is baseball. Most of the action in a baseball game involves pitching, hitting and fielding. The rules require that the pitcher pitch the baseball within an imaginary strike zone over a plate, termed a "home plate". Any pitch that does not pass through the strike zone is called a "ball," and if four balls are pitched to a single batter the batter is allowed to go to first base without putting the ball in play by striking it with a bat. The strike zone is a rectangular area defined by a width equal to the width of home plate (17 inches), a lower edge that is an imaginary line drawn at the knees of the batter, and an upper edge that is an imaginary line drawn just below the shoulders of the batter (although in practice rarely is any pitch above the batter's waist called a strike). Thus, when considering the distance from the pitcher's mound to the batter's box, the strike zone is a relatively small rectangular area through which a ball must pass. A pitcher capable of consistently throwing a ball at a high speed through a strike zone is in great demand by schools and by professional baseball teams. For this reason, a large number of young athletes spend considerable time perfecting baseball pitching skills.
Persons with advanced hitting and fielding skills also have opportunities in baseball. Both hitting and fielding require precise hand/eye coordination best developed through repetition. To practice hitting, baseballs must be repeatedly pitched to the batter. Likewise, to practice fielding baseballs must be repeatedly propelled toward the fielder.
Heretofore, various devices and machines have been invented for aiding the development of those skills necessary for baseball. These devices include Applicants' Apparatus for Use in Practicing Pitching of Baseballs, disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,194, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Applicants' prior machine enables the user to improve pitching accuracy by indicating whether pitched balls are delivered within a strike zone. The apparatus has a vertical backboard with a rectangular opening therethrough, four trapezoidal shaped wings secured to the backboard that serve to form an opening defining a strike zone, each of the wings being pivotal when engaged by a baseball, electrical contacts activated as each trapezoidal wing is pivoted when struck by a baseball, and electrical indicators for signaling when a baseball strikes one of the trapezoidal wings to indicate that the baseball has been pitched high, low, inside or outside of the strike zone.
In one of its preferred embodiments, the prior apparatus includes a pitchback machine configured to return balls that have passed through the strike zone back to the pitcher. A pitched ball passing through the strike zone opening enters a catcher box. From there the ball moves via gravity flow downward to the pitchback machine. The pitchback machine picks up the ball and throws it through a pitchback opening.
A pitchback machine may also be used to throw a baseball to a batter or to propel a baseball toward a fielder. While suitable for its intended usage of improving pitching accuracy, the prior apparatus, and more specifically the configuration of the catcher box and the pitchback machine, is not adequate to propel a high volume of baseballs to a practicing batter or fielder.
It is thus an object of this invention to advance the field of baseball training aids so that a player may easily practice all aspects of the game--pitching, hitting and fielding--utilizing a single machine capable of handling a high volume of baseballs.


Title compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is hydroxy substituted lower alkyl. The compounds have advantageous water solubility and spectral characteristics for use as instrument calibrators for certain homogeneous fluorescent immunoassays.

The present invention relates to fluorescent coumarin derivatives useful as instrument calibrators for certain homogeneous fluorescent immunoassay test procedures. In particular, the present compounds have advantageous water solubility and spectral characteristics as instrument calibrators for use in conjunction with certain homogeneous enzyme substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay methods.
In September 1979, the first product in the series of AMES TDA.TM. therapeutic drug assay test kits (Miles Laboratories, Inc., Elkhart, IN) was introduced, the AMES TDA Gentamicin test kit. The assay method used with the test kit is a homogeneous enzyme-substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay (SLFIA) technique; "homogeneous" because there is no separation step required in performing the assay, in contrast with "heterogeneous" techniques such as the radioimmunoassay (RIA). A key reagent in the test kit is a labeled conjugate comprising sisomicin (an aminoglycoside antibiotic which behaves immunochemically like gentamicin) covalently bound to a derivative of the fluorogenic enzyme substrate umbelliferyl-.beta.-D-galactoside. This Fluorogenic Gentamicin Reagent (FGR) is non-fluorescent under the conditions of the assay, however, hydrolysis catalyzed by .beta.-galactosidase yields a fluorescent product. When antibody to gentamicin binds FGR, it becomes virtually inactive as a substrate for .beta.-galactosidase.
Competitive binding reactions are established with a constant amount of FGR, a limiting amount of the antibody, and the test sample containing gentamicin: ##EQU1## The gentamicin in the test sample competes with FGR for binding to antibody. FGR not bound by antibody is hydrolyzed by .beta.-galactosidase to produce the fluorescent product. Hence the fluorescence produced is dependent on the gentamicin level in the sample. The fluorescence intensity is related to gentamicin level by means of a standard curve.
Fluorescence is measured on a fluorometer and recorded in arbitrary fluorescence units. In order that the instrument operator can properly set the instrument to the appropriate scale multiplier prior to reading the first actual assay result, the AMES TDA Gentamicin product includes a Range Adjustment Solution (RAS) comprising the fluorescent compound N-(phenyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxamide. The concentration of this fluorescent compound in the RAS is set such that the resulting fluorescence intensity of a prescribed diluted volume of the RAS under the conditions of the assay, i.e., room temperature, excitation wavelength of 400 nm and emission wavelength of 450 nm, approximates the fluorescence of the highest gentamicin level on the standard curve. Thus, the operator can preset the instrument to the maximum useable scale for actual assay runs. In addition, instrument function can be tested by assaying a series of dilutions of the RAS and checking the expected linearity of the relationship between observed fluorescence and RAS level.
Although the RAS compound, N-(phenyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxamide, is commercially available and has the desired spectral characteristics, its water solubility is quite poor for manufacturing purposes. Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide compounds having the desired spectral characteristics for use in the Range Adjustment Solution together with increased water solubility, yet not involving a delicate or intricate synthesis.


A memory clear method useful to clear a plurality of words contained in a memory from a specific address to an address at the same time. An address register is provided for this purpose. In one preferred form, the address register is responsive to a CX key indicating a memory clear operation, a , key indicating start of the memory clear operation and 0 to 9 digit keys identifying a memory address for the memory clear operation.

The present invention relates to a clear scheme for a memory having a capacity of a plurality of words in a programmable calculator for example, and more particularly to a method for clearing a specific number of words contained in a multi-word memory at the same time.
In the past, this type of the memory clear system has been divided into two categories; one was adapted to designate a memory address for a single word and clear away such designated word and the other was adapted to clear away the entire contents of a memory. However, when it was required to clear a specific number [n] of words, the clear operation had to be repeated n times and the operator had to identify the respective memory addresses for each of the n words each time the clear operation was carried out. This was extremely troublesome.
Moreoever, in case where n words were to be cleared by program instructions, a string of instructions for n steps was required. Therefore, the program unit was very complicated.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved clear system capable of clearing away a desired number of words from a memory at a time.


Selected strongly adsorbed gaseous impurities are removed from a gas stream by pressure swing adsorption in an adsorption system which includes a single adsorption vessel, a gas storage vessel and a single gas pump. Feed gas is pumped at a selected adsorption pressure cocurrently through the adsorption vessel, which contains an adsorbent that selectively adsorbs the selected impurity or impurities. The less strongly adsorbed components of the gas mixture pass out the adsorption vessel through the nonadsorbed gas outlet end of the adsorption vessel. When the adsorbed gas front reaches a certain point in the adsorption vessel, the adsorption step is terminated and gas is countercurrently transferred from the adsorption vessel to a gas storage vessel, optionally with use of the gas pump. The adsorption vessel is then countercurrently evacuated by use of the pump and a selected gas-enriched product is recovered and sent to storage or further processed in downstream treatment operations. Following bed regeneration, the adsorption vessel is partially repressurized by transferring gas from the storage vessel to the adsorption vessel, optionally with use of the pump, and then the adsorption vessel is pressurized to the selected adsorption pressure using the pump.

Waste gases from industrial processes often contain small amounts of gas components that render the waste gases unsuitable for discharge to the environment. For example, waste gas streams from semiconductor fabrication processes comprise as major components inert gases, such as nitrogen, argon, but they also contain small amounts of fluorinated hydrocarbons, phosphine, silanes, etc. Similarly, waste gas streams from certain hydrocarbon processing plants mostly comprise gases that can be discharged to the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen, but they frequently also contain small amounts of hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon derivatives or byproduct gases, such as carbon monoxide, that cannot be discharged to the environment.
Processes for the destruction of the environmentally objectionable gaseous impurities have long been available. Typical of such processes are combustion and catalytic oxidation processes. Such process are not, however, always effective for the destruction of the objectionable gas components. For instance fluorinated hydrocarbons, such as tetrafluoromethane and hexafluoroethane, cannot easily be destroyed by conventional combustion processes.
Even if processes for the destruction of these compounds were available, it is not always desirable to destroy the compounds because of their value. In such cases it is preferable to recover and recycle the trace gases.
Processes for the removal of trace gases from waste gas streams are well known. Among the known techniques is adsorptive separation. It is known to purify gas streams by passing the gas streams through adsorbents which more strongly adsorb the impurity than the other components of the gas stream. Typical of known adsorption processes for purifying gas streams is U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,742, issued to Tamhankar et al, which discloses the removal of perfluorocarbons from gas streams by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or temperature swing adsorption (TSA) using certain adsorbents which selectively adsorb the fluorocarbons.
Equipment configurations for the adsorption of components from gas streams are generally complex and costly, and usually comprise two or more adsorption vessels and two or more pumps to transfer the various gas streams associated with such processes. Less complex equipment configurations, such as those having one adsorption vessel are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,728, issued to LaSala et al, discloses a single vessel PSA system for separating air into oxygen and nitrogen. A void space gas tank located on the nonadsorbed gas outlet end of the system is used to receive and hold void space gas from the adsorption vessel while the vessel is being evacuated. Upon completion of the evacuation step, the vessel is partially repressurized by returning the void space gas into the vessel via its nonadsorbed gas outlet. This patent also discloses the use of the same pump to both charge feed air into the vessel and to evacuate the vessel. U. S. Pat. Nos. 4,561,865 and 4,948,391, issued to McCombs et al and Noguchi, respectively, disclose single adsorption vessel PSA systems which have a gas reservoir on their nonadsorbed gas outlet ends to hold gas for purging and/or partially repressurizing the adsorption vessel. The Noguchi patent also discloses the use of a gas reservoir to hold feed gas. Although these patents provide simplified one-vessel adsorption systems, these systems would not be suitable for removing strongly adsorbed components from gas streams where it is highly desirable to produce a nonadsorbed gas product that is substantially free of the strongly adsorbed gas, since residual strongly adsorbed gas will remain in the nonadsorbed gas conduits after the void space gas is returned to the adsorption vessel.
Methods and equipment configurations which can be used to remove trace components from waste gas streams so that the waste gas stream can be discharged into the atmosphere, are continually sought. The present invention provides an efficient method and a compact and relatively inexpensive single adsorption vessel system for efficiently removing strongly adsorbed trace gases from gas streams on an intermittent basis.

Recovery of trace gases from gas streams