A measurement-based color management system (MBCMS) plugin device model, methods, and a color profiler program that use the plugin device model. The plugin device model provides both an interface used to convert between device dependent and device independent color values, and an interface used to create a color device profile for use with the plugin device model. The color profiler receives color sample information from the plugin device model, using the color profiler interface provided by the plugin device model. The color profiler generates a color target having color samples as specified by the received color sample information. The color values of the color target's color samples are measured. The color device profile is generated, based on the measured color values.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to color management systems, and more particularly relates to generating customized device profiles for use with a plugin device model in a measurement-based color management system.
2. Description of the Related Art
One central concept in color management is the need for accurate device characterization, i.e., characterization of a color input or output device in terms of its color behavior. For use by color management systems, the device's color characteristics are encapsulated together with other information in a "device profile". Currently known types of device profiles include older-style transform-based device profiles and newer-style measurement-based profiles.
An example of a transform-based device profile is typified by International Color Consortium (ICC) color management systems (CMS) which utilize transform-based color profiles for the conversion of color image data between device-dependent and device-independent color spaces. Such color profiles are often created by a hardware manufacturer of a target color device. These color profiles are typically created by a color profiler device. The color profiler device might be a general-purpose computer interfaced to the target color device as well as color measurement devices (e.g., a calorimeter), and executing a color profiler program.
In the case of an output device (e.g., a printer or display), the color profiling device creates color profiles by displaying or printing a sample set of controlled device signals (i.e., a "target"), and measuring the calorimetric values of the displayed or printed output. The sample set of device signals, and measured calorimetric values, are used to generate a color profile for the device.
In the case of capture devices (e.g., scanners and digital cameras), an image of a known color target is captured. Suitable targets include a Gretag-Macbeth color checker chart. Device signals that the capture device reports for a given color patch from the color target and the measured calorimetric value for that color patch are used to generate a color profile for the device.
More recently, measurement-based color management systems (MBCMS) have been developed that use measurement-based profiles. Unlike transform-based profiles which contain transforms for converting between device colors and calorimetric values (i.e., device independent values), measurement-based profiles contain measured color values. Measurement-based CMSs use device models to convert between device colors and calorimetric values using measurement-based profiles. Device models are software modules that receive information contained in measurement-based profiles, and provide color conversion via a standardized programming interface.
These MBCMSs often have a workflow such as that depicted in FIG. 1. As seen there, device models use information contained within device profiles to convert colors from a source device's color space to a destination device's color space. Source device model 10 uses source device profile 50 to convert source device colors (colorants) 1 to source device calorimetric values 12 in a device independent color space (e.g., the CIEXYZ color space). Source device calorimetric values 12 are then converted to appearance values 22 (e.g., in the CIECAM02 JCh color appearance space) by color appearance model 20, which uses an appearance model profile for source device viewing conditions (i.e., 60) to perform the conversion.
In order to properly model the behavior of a device, the device model (e.g., 10) is initialized with measurement information obtained from the device model profile (e.g., 50). The format of the information in the profile is specific to the implementation and can take the form of binary formatted data, such as in an ICC profile, text formatted data, or XML formatted data. The information used by the device model during the initialization process can be processed directly by the device model itself or the information can be obtained from the profile by a separate routine and provided to the device model in a standardized manner. For example, if the measurement profile is stored in an XML format using a schema, the information can be obtained by the device model using the XML DOM (data object model) process. Because the specific information required by the device model will vary from device type to device type, the actual measurement file contents will vary as well.
Gamut mapping model 40 then uses a gamut boundary description for the source device (i.e., 30) and a gamut boundary description for the destination device (i.e., 31) to convert source device color appearance values 22 to destination device color appearance values 23.
Next, destination device color appearance values 23 are converted to destination device calorimetric values 13 by color appearance model 21, which uses an appearance model profile for destination device viewing conditions (i.e., 61) to perform an inverse conversion. Finally, destination device model 11 uses destination device profile 51 to convert destination device calorimetric values 13 to destination device colors (colorants) 2.
The device models (e.g., 10 and 11) work hand-in-hand with the device profiles (e.g., 50 and 51), in the sense that the device models expect to be able to find specific information, required by the device model, inside the device profile.
Typical MBCMSs support both baseline device models and plugin device models. The baseline device models are typically provided as a default by the MBCMS, and each models the general behavior common to a particular class of devices. Examples of baseline models include CRT, LCD, ICC virtual device, RGB virtual device, RGB capture device, RGB projector, RGB printer, and CMYK printer device models. A general purpose profiler may be used to generate measurement-based profiles for devices modeled by the baseline device models.
A plugin device model, as opposed to a baseline model, departs from a baseline model and is tailored to specific behavior of the modeled device. Often, the plugin model is created by the device vendor, to take advantage of the behavior of the device that is understood by the vendor. When used with a customized measurement-based device profile that provides additional information about the device (beyond information typically included in a profile and expected by a baseline device model), the plugin device model provides the MBCMS with a more accurate model of the device's behavior.

Plug-in for customized device model with interface for device profiler and for color management system


According to the present invention, there is provided a fiber-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic prepared by sintering a starting composition containing silicon nitride, at least one sintering additive and silicon carbide fiber or a fiber containing silicon carbide as a major constituent (to be referred to as a silicon carbide fiber hereinafter), characterized in that said silicon carbide fiber has a length of 200 .mu.m or more, and is contained 5 to 50 wt %, and said sintering additive is contained 0.1 to 30 wt % and is selected from the group consisting of an oxide, a nitride, and a carbide of titanium or zirconium, a composite oxide of titanium and zirconium, magnesia, and spinel. When the contents of the fibers and the sintering addtives fall within the ranges according to the present invention, a high strength and a large toughness value are simultaneously obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fiber-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic having a high fracture strength and excellent toughness.
2. Description of the Related Art
A silicon nitride ceramic has a fracture strength and thermal resistance higher than those of other ceramic materials. However, in order to use the silicon nitride ceramic as mechanical parts or structural materials, brittleness inherent to the ceramic must be overcome. This brittleness can be represented by a toughness value. Although the silicon nitride ceramic has a relatively high toughness value, its toughness must be further improved in practical applications.
Extensive studies have been made to improve toughness by a composite material obtained by incorporating fibers into a silicon nitride matrix, i.e., by a fiber-reinforced ceramic.
There are two types of fibers: a whisker which is a single crystal having a size substantially equal to a silicon nitride grain; and a long fiber having a length and size much larger than those of the silicon nitride grain. Since the long fiber has a crack arrest effect and a pull-out effect as compared with the whisker, the long fiber has been regarded to be effective for improving toughness. However, the long fiber is not a single crystal unlike the whisker and often contains polycrystalline and amorphous components. C-fibers may be mixed in the cores of the long fibers, depending on a manufacturing method. For these reasons, the long fiber has heat resistance lower than that of the whisker. During the sintering of silicon nitride containing long fibers, decreases in mechanical strength and modulus of elasticity inevitably occur. In addition, good bonding strength cannot be obtained between the silicon nitride matrix and the fibers. Therefore, expected improvement of toughness has not been made. In the past studies, it was found that this problem occurred since optimal sintering additive and sintering conditions for only the silicon nitride matrix were simply applied to a composite system of long fibers. It is therefore necessary to find a sintering additive suitable for a composite ceramic system of the long fiber and the ceramic material although such an additive may not be necessarily be optimal to the matrix.

Fiber-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic


A wireless communication terminal is provided. The wireless communication terminal including a first wireless communication section configured to operate in a first clock system; a second wireless communication section configured to operate in a second clock system different from the first clock system, and perform short-range wireless communication; and an asynchronous interface that mediates between the first wireless communication section and the second wireless communication section.

The present application relates to a wireless communication terminal, a semiconductor device, a data communication method, and a wireless communication system which can be suitably applied to a wireless local area network (LAN) system, for example. In particular, the present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal and so on in which a first wireless communication section, which operates in a first clock system, and a second wireless communication section, which operates in a second clock system and performs short-range wireless communication, are connected to each other via an asynchronous interface, so that the first and second wireless communication sections can be formed within a single chip.
Wireless communication terminals that have a wireless LAN communication section and a short-range wireless communication section have already been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-166311 describes a wireless communication terminal having a wireless LAN communication section and a short-range wireless communication section, and which performs communication setting for a wireless LAN based on wireless LAN setting information acquired via the short-range wireless communication section.

Wireless communication terminal, semiconductor device, data communication method, and wireless communication system


An improved gutter shield device includes a first connecting plane of roll formed metal, a second filtering plane of roll formed metal and metallic or polymer cloth, and a third connecting plane of roll formed metal combined into an integral unit.

The invention relates to composite screen or perforated surface and filtering membrane gutter guards. The invention employs a filtering membrane and underlying skeletal support system applicable for disallowing small twigs, leaves, pine needles, pollen, and other debris larger than 100 microns from-entering the gutter while directing rain water roof run off into an underlying rain gutter in the presence of such debris. The invention employs downward extending planes underside the filtering membrane and supporting skeletal structure that break the forward flow of water.
Unlike some prior art gutter guards which have a relatively fine-mesh polymer, fiberglass, or metal layer overlying a perforated panel that exhibits no downward water channeling planes, the gutter guard of the present invention includes a filtering screen integrally joined to a perforated expanded metal panel forming a lateral plane with downward extending water channeling paths. The absence of effective downward extending water channeling paths exhibited in prior art that employs filtering methods often allows for the forward channeling of water past rather than downward into an underlying rain gutter. Unlike prior art that does employ effective downward extending water channeling paths in a polymer body, notably LEAFFILTER.TM, the present invention has been demonstrated to achieve similar properties through a design more readily accomplished at lower cost of manufacture.

Abstract: An elongated strip of roll formed metal includes a rear vertical plane adapted to seat beneath shingles of a roof structure. The rear vertical plane is crimped by roll forming onto the second and rear longitudinal edge of a forward extending plane that combines a fine filtering membrane with an underlying skeletal support of expanded metal as an integral unit. The expanded metal and filtering membrane so joined contain two or more v-shaped downward extending longitudinal channels within the forward extending plane that transverse the length of the forward extending plane parallel to it's first edge. The forward extending plane is bound on a first and forward longitudinal edge by a first plane of that comprises a roll formed angled z-shaped connecting metal strip for securing the gutter shield to an inwardly extending flange of a k-style gutter.


An SRAM includes a substrate containing a plurality of first substrate regions and a plurality of second substrate regions, a plurality of pull-down transistors formed in the first substrate regions with each pull-down transistor including a first gate structure, and a plurality of pass-gate transistors formed in the second substrate regions with each pass-gate transistor including a second gate structure. A portion of the first substrate region under each first gate structure is doped with first doping ions and a portion of the second substrate region under each second gate structure is doped with second doping ions. Moreover, the concentration of the first doping ions is less than the concentration of the second doping ions, and the work function of the first work function layer in the first gate structures is greater than the work function of the second work function layer in the second gate structures.

With the development of information technology, the amount of information to be stored increases dramatically. The expansion of the stored information not only promotes the rapid development of memories but also requires higher stability of memories.
Currently, static random access memory (SRAM) is one of the most popular memories for information storage. A storage unit of an SRAM may include four or six transistors. That is, the storage unit may have a 4T structure or a 6T structure. Storage units having either the 4T structure or the 6T structure may all include one or more pull-down transistors and one or more pass-gate transistors. Specifically, the pull-down transistors may be used to store data while the pass-gate transistors may be used to read and write data.
In order to have sufficient anti-interference ability and desired read stability, fin field-effect transistors (Fin-FETs) are commonly used to form memories. In a Fin-FET, the gate electrode has a three-dimensional (3D) structure covering three surfaces of the fin structure such that circuit control may be significantly improved. The application of Fin-FETs in memories may improve the stability of data storage and the integration level of the memories.
However, existing memories may still face problems including small static noise margin, poor read stability, etc. The disclosed static random access memories and the fabrication methods are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems in the art.

Static random access memory and fabrication method thereof

SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION

SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (BEIJING) CORPORATION


A laundry additive pouch is disclosed which includes a pair of plastic sheets joined to one another along mutually confronting and opposed marginal edges, one of the sheets including a smaller region remote from the marginal edges which mutually confronts and opposes an identical such smaller region of the other of the sheets and is joined thereto, each of the sheets having an opening confronting and opposing one another and surrounded by the joined portions of the smaller regions, and a laundry additive substance confined in a substantially annular-like space in the pouch between the joined marginal edges of the sheets and the joined portions of the smaller regions of the sheets.

There are many conventional laundry additives available commercially which are introduced to laundry preferably during a rinse cycle of an automatic clothes washing machine, either because of the incompatability of the laundry additive with washing agents generally present in the wash cycle, or because of the increased efficiency of introducing the laundry additive during the rinse cycle as opposed to the wash or spin cycle of an automatic washing machine. With the ever-growing numbers and types of laundry additives available for use in washing clothes, a need has arisen for an effective device to most effectively automatically dispense the laundry additives at the proper interval of a rinse cycle of an automatic clothes washing machine. Indeed, a need has also arisen to provide such a device that will dispense the laundry additive in a clean, effective and simple manner, thereby obviating the difficulties commonly associated with the conventional, more complicated devices that are presently available.
One such type of laundry additive dispenser or pouch for automatically introducing a laundry additive into rinse water in automatic clothes washers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,131, dated May 31, 1977. The problem generally attributable to the dispenser or pouch disclosed in the aforementioned patent is that it is not quite as simple in construction as it might otherwise be, nor as commercially economical to produce on a large scale as it might otherwise be. It has a rupturable fold region which adds to its complexity and cost to produce. It is of the variety, however, which can be mounted upon the central upright post of the agitator in a washer, and is adapted to rupture at its prescribed folded region when subjected to the centrifugal force of a rinse cycle in the washer to release its contents. In short, its manner of function is something of the general principle upon which the present invention is grounded, absent, however, in one regard, the fold region.


The angularly accessible head for a threaded connector comprises a spherical structure having a centered slot therein, the slot having a bottom surface or wall in the shape of an inverted V, with a point thereof extending toward the center of the sphere. The cooperating tool includes a hollow cylindrical head portion having an open end, the open end being defined by opposed plateau areas in one plane and opposed cusp areas in a transverse plane, with a rod extending across the open end between the plateau areas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an angularly accessible head for a threaded connector such as a screw or bolt and to a tool for use in manipulating the head of the connector.
2. Prior Art
Heretofore, threaded connectors have required placement in such a manner that a tool for use in manipulating same must lie in the same plane as the connector.
For instance, a screwdriver must be coplanar with the slot for same in the screw head to operate efficiently in manipulating the screw. Likewise, a socket for use in tightening a bolt must be coplanar to engage the polygonal circumference of the bolt for manipulation.
Such required alignment can cause problems, such as when a tool cannot be aligned appropriately due to lack of space. This is a particular problem in vehicles, such as when one wishes to remove a hose clamp but cannot access the screw head, often requiring the clamp to be mangled for removal.

Angularly accessible head for threaded connector and cooperating tool


An integrated optical switch/amplifier with modulation capabilities comprises a semiconductor waveguide with an input end-face and an output end-face. The waveguide is disposed on a substrate and separated from it by an I-region. A laser cavity is fabricated transverse to the semiconductor waveguide and supports a bleed laser during operation. A pair of switching electrodes with one placed on top of the semiconductor waveguide and another placed beneath the substrate provide for a selective injection of electron carriers from a top length of the semiconductor waveguide and from the substrate through the I-region. Thus, an optical signal presented at the input end-face is either blocked, modulated, or amplified-through according to the relative polarity of voltages applied to the pair of switching electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to replacements for electronic switches, and more particularly to semiconductor devices for switching, amplifying, and modulating beams of light.
2. Description of Related Art
One obvious way to switch a beam of light on and off is to interrupt it with a shutter. Mirrors can be used too with the advantage of being able to redirect the beam of light elsewhere. In fiber-optic devices, moving mirrors, lenses, and other optics principles have been developed. But these mechanical methods of switching light are relatively slow, and not well-suited to high-speed switchboard and router use.
Broadband Internet communication is now being made possible by fiberoptics backbones and distribution cables that are being installed all over the world. Each fiber can carry an incredible amount of information in a single beam of laser light. Fast and effective ways are needed to be able to switch these communications channels as fast as they are able to carry data from point-to-point.
One of the present inventors, Carl E. Watterson, reported on experiments with a miniature gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated optical switch. Such switch provided power amplification from a few milliwatts input to a one watt output according to combinations of digital signals applied to its electrodes. This GaAs optical switch integrated a curved tapered waveguide section and a segmented heatsink.
Tapered semiconductor laser amplifiers are capable of outputting powers in excess of one watt. Single-mode preamplifiers and tapered power-amplifiers have been integrated together in prior art monolithic devices for high-quality and high-power beams. The single-mode preamplifier is used to provide a proper Gaussian-shaped input to the tapered section. The one described by Watterson was a single-angle facet curved ridge preamplifier, wherein the input ridge waveguide was slanted from the crystalline cleavage plane to reduce the effective reflectivity. For a 5xc2x0 angle, a three micrometer mode width, and a carrier light at 0.83 xcexcm, the effective modal reflectivity was under 10xe2x88x926.
A prior art device reported by Watterson included an integrated circuit device with a preamplifier section and a power amplifier section. The preamplifier section had three stages each with a pair of independent control electrodes. The power amplifier had another pair of independent electrodes. Each such controlled part exhibited a xe2x80x9ccontrast ratioxe2x80x9d between the light that was passed in the xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d state and that which was passed in the xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d state. In light lock applications, as few as one stage in the off condition has to completely block light passage through the switch to maintain the locked condition.
Sol P. Dijaili, et al., describe a Cross-Talk Free, Low-Noise Optical Amplifier in U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,759, issued Jul. 25, 1995. Crosstalk is a major problem in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA), and Dijaili describes carrier lifetimes as being at fault. A tapered amplifier is mentioned as a prior art attempt at a solution that increases output saturation power. So a segmented transverse lasing field is proposed to reduce crosstalk. A clamping action of the laser gain reduces crosstalk by gain saturation.
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical switch.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated semiconductor device that combines the functions of an optical switch and an optical amplifier.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical switch with modulation capabilities.
Briefly, an integrated optical switch/amplifier embodiment of the present invention comprises a semiconductor waveguide with an input end-face and an output end-face. The waveguide is disposed on a substrate and separated from it by an I-region. A laser cavity is fabricated transverse to the semiconductor waveguide and supports a bleed laser during operation. A pair of switching electrodes with one placed on top of the semiconductor waveguide and another placed beneath the substrate provide for a selective injection of electron carriers from a top length of the semiconductor waveguide and from the substrate through the I-region. Thus, an optical signal presented at the input end-face is either blocked or amplified-through according to the relative polarity of voltages applied to the pair of switching electrodes.
An advantage of the present invention is that an optical switch is provided that is rugged and suitable for use in optical signal networks and routing.
Another advantage of the present invention is that an optical switch is provided that is economical to build.
Another advantage of the present invention is that an optical switch is provided that can modulate optical signals.
The above and still further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Integrated optical switch/amplifier with modulation capabilities


A toy check out station simulates the action of an actual check out station by including a work supporting surface, a system that simulates the action of a bar code reader system, a cash register and a conveyor system. The station includes a plurality of objects that have identifying discs thereon and which are passed over a field generator. When the field of the generator is broken by the discs, a signal is actuated so that each individual item can have its own code according to the number of discs thereon.

Children enjoy playing adult simulating role games. For example, games simulating shopping have always been popular, and there have been numerous toy stores proposed in response to this popularity.
While there have been numerous toy store devices known, the inventor is not aware of any such devices which accurately simulate a modern check-out station, such as might be found in a modern grocery store. Since shopping in general, and grocery shopping in particular, is an important aspect of everyday adult life, and since children's games are often patterned after everyday life, there is a need for a toy which accurately simulates a grocery store check-out station.
More important than simply providing amusement for children, many games can be used to teach children valuable lessons in life situations and skills that will serve them well in later life. For example, many games are directed to teaching reading skills, or teaching math skills, or the like. It is usually an objective of these games to be enjoyable as well as to be instructive; however, this object is not always achieved.
Therefore, there is a need for a game device for use by children that is not only enjoyable to use, but will also teach the children valuable skills, especially skills associated with shopping, such as in a grocery store.


An electronic oil filter apparatus comprising an oil filter (20) and a bypass valve (22). Pressure build up within the filter (20) caused by clogging of the filter results in opening the bypass valve (22) allowing dirty oil to flow around the filter. When the valve is actuated in response to excess pressure build up, a low voltage switching device allows current to flow to a signal means (74) thereby indicating a need to change the filter.

This invention relates to a novel oil filter apparatus. More particularly the invention comprises a combination of an electronic apparatus for monitoring and signaling the condition of an oil filter operable to remove solid contaminates and water or other volatile contaminates from engine lubricating oils.
Internal combustion engines, and the like, having a large number of relative moving parts are continuously lubricated by an associated lubrication system. The lubrication system typically includes an oil sump from which oil is pumped in a fluidic loop or splashed around and over moving engine parts such as valves, piston rods, etc. In order to eliminate abrasives which become suspended within the lubrication system the oil is continuously pumped through an oil filter mounted in series with the oil loop. In addition to abrasives however, water and other entrained liquid contmainates should be removed to prevent "sludge" buildup. If both solid and liquid contaminates can be reliably removed it becomes unnecessary to change the oil since the oil per se does not "wear out" but rather becomes contaminated with solid and liquid impurities.
It is critical to maintain lubricating oils clean when lubricating expensive machinery such as internal combustion machines. The prior art teaches many variations in replaceable filters for such purposes. It is difficult for the operator of machinery, however, to determine when a filter must be replaced. Therefore, manufacturers of such equipment typically recommend that filters should be replaced after "so many hours of operation" or "after so many miles traveled". These methods are imprecise and often lead to the retention of filters past their useful life with subsequent damages to an engine or the filters are replaced unnecessarily before replacement is required. As more expensive and sophisticated filtering equipment is utilized an incentive exists to extend the useful life of the filter while concomitantly accurately determining when a filter needs replacement.
One method for increasing the useful life of filters is to insure that the oil to be cleaned is heated to a sufficient degree to evaporate entrained liquid impurities such as water. In this connection water combines with other impurities to form sludge which leads to an early clogging of a filter media. Although such heating apparatus is relatively expensive it does not provide an operator with a means for determining the effectiveness of the heating means in extending the life of the filter. One example of a heating device used in association with an oil filter is shown in an Engel U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,351, issued Feb. 19, 1980.
Other workers in the field have developed means for sensing the degree of resistance filtered oil encounters via its travel through a filter by sensing the difference in oil pressure between an inlet and outlet and, upon sensing a predetermined difference, activating an alarm for signalling the operator that the filter is clogged.
At least one previously known system is designed to signal actuation of an engine mounted bypass valve. In this regard the valve structure is placed in series with an engine battery and in parallel with an alarm. In the event the bypass valve and circuit are opened the battery will conduct through the alarm thus signalling opening of the bypass valve.
While such a system provides at least a degree of theoretical appeal one disadvantage is that alarm systems of this type require special fitting within an oil system. Additionally a potential for sparking exists within the oil system when the bypass electrical circuit is broken. Still further such bypass valves are subject to "chatter" during starting, etc. due to temporary high loads.
One system which advantageously obviates many of the disadvantaes of previously known bypass systems is disclosed and claimed in my copending U.S. application Ser. No. 77,832, filed Sept. 21, 1979 and now U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,109. The disclosure of this patent is hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth at length.
A difficulty with my prior disclosed bypass system is that the bypass structure tends to be relatively expensive when compared with many filter canisters. Moreover the inferior character of most filtering media and systrems dictates relatively rapid replacement.
The difficulties suggested in the preceding are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather are among many which may tend to reduce the effectiveness of prior oil filter methods and apparatus. Other noteworthy problems may also exist; however, those presented above should be sufficient to demonstrate that oil filter methods and apparatus appearing in the past will admit to worthwhile improvement.


Surgical device having a shaft with a distal end including a surgical instrument, and a proximal end including an actuation device; wherein the surgical instrument is mounted on sliders longitudinally movable in opposite directions relative to each other in the shaft by operation of the actuation device, the sliders provided adjacent to each other within the shaft; wherein in a first mounted position the sliders are coupled with the actuation device and are secured against rotation within the shaft to prevent releasing of the coupling between the sliders and the actuation device, and in a second dismountable position the sliders are concurrently slidable at least partly out of the shaft to a point at which rotation of the remainder of the sliders within the shaft is enabled, and the coupling between the sliders and the actuation device is releasable.

The invention relates to a surgical device, in particular for minimally invasive surgery, having a shaft with a distal end equipped with a surgical instrument, for instance a grasper, and a proximal end equipped with an actuation device for the surgical instrument, and wherein the surgical instrument is mounted on sliders that are longitudinally movable in opposite directions with respect to each other in the said shaft by operation of the said actuation device for actuating the surgical instrument, which sliders are provided adjacent to each other within said shaft.
Such a surgical device is known from WO2014148898. In this known device the actuation device is coupled with a handgrip, but within the scope of this invention it is also envisaged that the actuation device can be coupled with other mechanical actuation means which do not form part of a handgrip.
Despite all the merits of the known device, it does not yet provide an explicit solution for the problem how to arrange that the surgical device is at the same time secure and reliable in its integrity of construction during its intended use, and yet provide that the surgical device is dismountable in its component parts so as to enable that it can effectively be cleaned and sterilized after its intended use.

Surgical device, in particular for minimally invasive surgery


A camera mounting system has an upper mount component, a lower mount component, and a base mount component. The upper mount component secures the camera and has a ball protrusion that reciprocally couples with a socket of the lower mount component. The upper mount component can rotate 360 degrees relative to the lower mount, and can pivot 90 degrees or more relative to the lower mount component. The lower mount component couples with the base mount component in a plurality of orientations. This camera mounting system allows for a large range of motion for the camera relative to the mounting system.

Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a camera mounting system, and more specifically, to a ball-and-socket joint camera mounting system.
Description of the Related Art
Digital cameras are increasingly used in outdoors and sports environments. In order to secure cameras to sports equipment (such as sports boards, helmets, vehicles, and the like), cameras can be coupled to mounts that are mounted on the sports equipment. Conventional mounting systems can be limited in the directions and orientations in which a camera can be configured, limiting the utility and flexibility of the camera, and potentially decreasing a user's satisfaction with the camera and mounting system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Quick-release ball-and-socket joint camera mount


A method for modifying a beacon obstruction lighting system to replace the incandescent lamp with an LED lamp. The LED lamp includes a heat sink and is installed to be at the same location as the incandescent lamp.

The use of obstruction lighting is well known in the art. Such obstruction lighting is typically used on towers, though the use thereof is also known at other locations such as airport runways and the like. Frequently, the use of beacons to warn of an obstruction comprises the use of a strobe lighting system. During the day, a white light is employed while during the night time hours, the intensity of the strobe is diminished.
There are other situations wherein lighting of the tower is not required during the daylight hours, but rather only during the night time hours. Typically, such towers can be painted for visual warning during the daylight hours, the tower typically having bands of red and white. In such situations, the warning beacons typically use incandescent lamps as being a far less expensive option.
One of the down sides to the use of incandescent lighting is the operational cost. Typically, such incandescent lighting uses a housing and a glass with a fresnel lens. Frequently, two lamps are employed and use incandescent bulbs of 700 watts capacity for each. The electricity cost can be substantial.
It is also known in the art to use LEDs as a source of illumination. This has the advantage of substantially reducing the operational costs; however, typically these devices have a plastic case and lens which deteriorates over a period of time. A typical life span would be 10 years, at which point in time the whole assembly must be replaced.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a beacon warning system which is inexpensive to operate while having a long life span.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the replacement of incandescent lamps in a beacon system.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for modifying a beacon having a housing, fresnel type lens, and an incandescent lamp, comprising the steps of removing the incandescent lamp and installing an LED assembly comprising an LED lamp and a heat sink to replace the incandescent lamp, the LED lamp being installed at the same location as the incandescent lamp, the LED lamp having a diameter of between 15 and 45 mm.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a replacement kit for a beacon having a housing, fresnel lens and an incandescent lamp assembly therein, the retrofit kit comprising an LED lamp having a diameter of between 15 and 45 mm, a heat sink and mounting arrangement such that the LED lamp is mounted at the same height where the incandescent lamp would be mounted, the LED lamp having a diameter of between 15 mm and 45 mm.
As the world becomes more energy conscious, the development of lighting systems utilizing less power has become desirable and indeed, many such systems exist. Typically, they use high performance LED's to substantially reduce energy costs. However, typically these systems will be formed of plastic materials which, given the hostile environment in which they are utilized, normally deteriorate and have to be replaced.
At the present time, there are many obstruction lighting systems which use beacons having incandescent lamps. As these beacons are formed of glass and metal, they have a substantially longer life span. However, if they are replaced with LED beacons, then the housing and lens become scrap.
As used herein, the term LED lamp refers to any structure which uses LEDs to emit light. Frequently, the LED lamp of the present invention is made up of a plurality of LED lights arranged together on a common base or mounting member.
According to the present invention, the housing and lens can still be utilized with LED lighting. However, it has been found that certain dimensions are critical for the practice of the present invention.
The present invention will essentially recycle many of the existing warning beacons which have a metallic body and a glass lens. By replacing the incandescent lights with LED's there is a substantial energy saving and furthermore, the use of LED's will minimize future maintenance and downtime thereby leading to even further reduced costs.
As many beacons have two incandescent lights, one may utilize two LED lamps, as will be discussed hereinbelow, to replace the incandescent lights. However, it may, in certain circumstances, be desirable to only replace one of the incandescent lamps which then can be employed to prevent thermal shock as far as the LED's are concerned. Furthermore, the incandescent bulb could be utilized to melt ice or snow from the housing if so desired. The modified beacon of the present invention thus may have either one or two LED assemblies.
The LED assembly will include a heat sink on which the LED's are mounted. The heat sink will have means associated therewith for securing the same in a beacon housing. Thus, one may use legs to permit the LED assembly to replace the lower incandescent bulb and arms to hang the LED assembly when it replaces the upper incandescent bulb. Needless to say, many suitable mounting means may be utilized.
The LED lighting assembly of the present invention may utilize a plurality of LED lights mounted in a circular type arrangement for maximum visibility. In this arrangement, it is critical that the LED lights be mounted such that the lamp will have a diameter of between 15 and 45 mm and even more preferably, a diameter of between 25 and 35 mm.
The LED assembly of the present invention as aforementioned, is designed to replace the incandescent lamps in conventional beacons. In this respect, virtually all the beacons in North America are of identical design and use a KOPP glass lens. The lens in these beacons is of a red color.
The heat sink utilized with the LED assembly of the present invention naturally must be sized to dissipate the heat generated by the light assembly or assemblies. A preferred version will be illustrated in the detailed description of the invention. It is important that the heat sink be properly shaped so as not to block any light.
The LED assembly will require a driver and associated electronics. This may be mounted at either the top or bottom of the housing with the driver being put in a Faraday cage. Conveniently, this may take the form of a cylindrical disc.


A method and apparatus for producing an elongated beam from compressible material. A mixture of filling material and plastic material is delivered to a first space and there compressed. The compressed material is pressed through a nozzle into a second space defined by a matrix of wall parts, where the material is made more rigid. The wall parts of the matrix can be moved backwards and forwards in a particular sequence to enable beam parts to be fed continuously through the matrix.

Different methods and arrangements for producing elongated beams are known to the art, these methods and arrangements having been adapted to the material from which the beam is composed.
An example of the present state of the art in this respect is found in the plant machinery illustrated and described in International Patent Application PCT/SE84/00303. This publication illustrates and describes an arrangement for producing an elongated member (a beam), in which a compression arrangement incorporated in a compression section is intended to displace and to compress separate batches of chip fibre which are moistened with binder and clearly defined by weighing, these compressed, separate material batches being intended to pass, in sequence, through a high-frequency heating section.
The subject matter of Swedish Patent Specification 415 547 (Swedish Patent Application 7809708-4) also belongs to the prior state of the art. This specification teaches a heating section arrangement in which the wall parts of said section can move reciprocatingly in a horizontal direction and function in part as means for transporting compressed, chip-fibre batches.
In each of these known embodiments, the beam is produced from separate, well defined material batches which are mutually separated by a boundary section or interface section of varying degrees of compression and also, to some extent, fibre directions which are displaced relative to one another in the vertical plane, and wherein the requisite curing of the batches is effected in a heating section.
The contents of the respective following publications also forms part of the known prior art with respect to the principles of the present invention.
It is known from publication FR-1 589 723 to use in extrusion processes a screw conveyor which has a decreasing pitch.
Publication DE-A-2 304 088 teaches a method of controlling the rotational speed of an extruder screw.
Publication GB-A 484 544 teaches a method in which there is used a starting material which comprises disintegrated cork admixed with a binder and used to produce a continuous elongated member or beam. Part of an elongated extrusion passage is displaced axially at the same speed as the material during a part of the compression movement, so as to reduce friction.
This publication teaches an application in which the material mixture is pressed by means of a plunger or piston through a passage of rectangular cross-section, where the upper and the lower wall surfaces are stationary whereas the side surfaces are movable and extend beyond the upper wall. The movable surfaces or walls are connected to the piston via clearance-defining means. This means has the form of a projection provided on the piston and coacting with a groove in the walls. The size of this clearance can be adjusted with the aid of an adjusting screw.
The material mixture is fed from a feed hopper into a compression space and is there compressed initially by the starting movement of the piston, with the side walls stationary, whereafter the compressed part of the material mixture and the two side walls are moved together during terminal movement of the piston.
When the piston is withdrawn, the side walls remain stationary until the piston carries out its terminal movement.
Similar to the invention, it is also known to use granulated waste plastic, waste paper, waste metal foil and the like for producing extruded profiled sections. Reference is made in this respect to publication SE-B-410 946, which makes reference to a polyolefin plastic proportion of 60-80% and the remainder paper or board, and optionally also up to 5% by weight metal.
Publication DE-B-1 778 230 describes the possibility of producing profiled bodies by producing a mixture of granulated waste plastic and paper, shaping the mixture, and incorporating 20% paper waste as a filling agent.
For the sake of completeness it can also mentioned that a large number of machines for compressing granulated material to briquette form are known to the art.
The International Patent Application PCT/SE89/00652 also teaches a method and apparatus for constructing a beam or elongated member from a mixture of plastic material and a filler material, such as wood fibres, textile fibres and the like, by subjecting the mixture to compression while the plastic material portion of the mixture is tacky or in a molten state.

Method and apparatus for producing an elongated beam


A composition useful as a catalyst in solution polymerization comprises (1) a barium, calcium and/or strontium alcoholate, (2) an organoaluminum compound and (3) an organomagnesium compound. (2) and (3) may be used as a complex with (1). The compositions can be used to polymerize ethylenically unsaturated monomers like butadiene, butadiene and styrene, and isoprene and heterocyclic monomers like oxiranes, thiiranes, siloxanes, thiatanes and lactams. The catalyst composition can produce polybutadienes and butadiene-styrene copolymers having a trans-1,4 content as high as 90%. The non-terminating features of the polymerization of this invention permit the preparation of functionally terminated butadiene based polymers and block polymers containing sufficient amounts of trans-1,4 butadiene units to crystallize.

The use of dialkylmagnesium or alkylmagnesium iodide in combination with barium ethoxide particularly additionally with 1,1-diphenylethylene as initiators of polymerization of butadiene to give polybutadienes having a trans-1,4 content as high as 78% and a vinyl content of 6% has been disclosed by the Physico-Chemical Research Institute, Polymer Science U.S.S.R., 18 (9), 2325 (1976). This paper, also, shows that a catalyst system of magnesium and barium tert-butoxide gave a polybutadiene with only 45% trans-1,4 content (200 hours polymerization time and conversion of only 10%).
U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,385 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,903,019 is a Division of the same) shows the preparation of random butadiene-styrene copolymers having a high trans-1,4 content and a vinyl content of 9%. The trans-1,4 content increased as the mol ratio of Ba(t-BuO).sub.2 /(Bu).sub.2 Mg decreased with little variation in either the vinyl content or heterogeneity index. A copolymer exhibited a well defined crystalline melting temperature at 32.6.degree. C. by differential thermal analysis (DTA). The Molecular Weight Distribution (MWD) of these copolymers was characterized by having heterogeneity indices (M.sub.w /M.sub.n) ranging from 1.4 to 2.2. Polybutadienes made with these catalysts exhibited a trans-1,4 content as high as 78%. No polymerization or copolymerization occurred when only one of the catalyst components was used alone.
Polymerization of butadiene with some cyclization in hexane or toluene at 100.degree. C. using Bu.sub.2 Mg-BuMgI is reported in "Chem. Abstracts," 1963, 4045e.
Polymerization of butadiene using Ba(OEt).sub.2 with Et.sub.2 Mg, (C.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.3 Mg.sub.2 I or (C.sub.6 H.sub.13).sub.2 Mg is reported in "Chem. Abstracts," Vol. 84, 1976, 151067n.
Dialkylmagnesium compounds and their complexes with organo-aluminum or with organolithium compounds are said to be cocatalysts with Ziegler based catalyst systems (transition metal compounds) for the polymerization of dienes and olefins. This has been described by Texas Alkyls (Product Data Sheet MAGALA-6E) and Lithium Corporation of America (Product and Technical Bulletin on "Polymerization Using Magnesium Alkyl Catalysts," 1978).
British Pat. No. 1,531,085 disclosed in the working examples the preparation of polybutadienes and butadiene-styrene copolymers having inherent viscosities of 0.8 to 5, trans-1,4 contents of 34 to 90% and vinyl contents of 2 to 38%. A two component catalyst is used. As shown by the working examples the first component can comprise a Ba[Al(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.4 ].sub.2, Ba[Al(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.3 OR].sub.2 where R is a nonyl phenate radical, LiAl-(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.4, NaAl(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.4, KAl(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.4, LiAl(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.3 OCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, LiOAl(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2 compound and so forth. The second component is a polar compound or the like such as tetrahydrofuran, methanol, water, tetramethylethylene diamine, acetone, barium nonyl phenate, lithium isopropylate, Na-tert-amylate, acetonitrile and so forth. The molar ratio between the polar compound and the organic compound of metal of Group IIIA such as Al is from 0.01 to 100.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,176 discloses a process for polymerizing dienes and for copolymerizing dienes and vinyl aromatic compounds with a catalyst composition comprising (A) an organolithium and (B) a compound having the formula EQU M.sup.a (M.sup.b R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4).sub.2 or M.sup.a [M.sup.c (R.sup.1).sub.4 ]
where M.sup.a is Ba, Ca, Sr or Mg; M.sup.b is B or Al; M.sup.c is Zn or Cd; R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are alkyl or aralkyl radicals; R.sup.4 is an alkyl, aralkyl radical or OR.sup.5 where R.sup.5 is an alkyl or aralkyl radical. The working examples show the polymerization of BD and copolymerization of BD with STY to provide polymers exhibiting intrinsic viscosities of 0.81 to 1.6, trans-1,4 contents of 76 to 85% and vinyl contents of 2 to 6%.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,492 discloses a method for polymerizing BD or copolymerizing BD and vinyl aromatic compounds using a catalytic composition of (a) an organolithium compound and (b) a cocatalyst system which comprises a Ba or Sr compound and an organometallic compound from Groups IIB or IIIA like zinc or aluminum. Examples of the Ba or Sr compounds are their hydrides, organic acid salt, alcoholates, thiolates, phenates, alcohol and phenol acid salts, betadiketonates and so forth. Table VIIA shows the use of barium tertiobutanolate. Examples of the Group IIB and IIIA materials are diethylzinc, diethyl cadmium, triethyl aluminum and so forth. The working examples for the preparation of polymers of BD and copolymers of BD and STY show .eta. of 0.34 to 2.15, trans-1,4 of 61 to 90% and vinyl contents of 2.4 to 9%.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,268 is similar to U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,492 but it includes isoprene and shows in Examples 11 and 12 the polymerization of isoprene and the copolymerization of isoprene and styrene.
British Pat. No. 1,516,861 has a somewhat similar disclosure to that of U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,492 and both are based on the same French patent application. The U.S. case apparently deleted reference to the polymerization of isoprene.
British Pat. No. 1,525,381 (patent of addition to British Pat. No. 1,516,861, above) discloses a process for polymerizing butadiene and copolymerizing butadiene and styrene using a catalyst composition of (a) an organolithium, (b) a compound of barium, strontium or calcium, (c) an organometallic compound of a metal of Group IIB or IIIA and (d) an amino or ether alcoholate of an alkali metal. An example of (a) is n-butyl lithium; of (b) is Ca, Ba or Sr alcoholate or phenate particularly barium nonyl phenate; of (c) is
(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2 Zn, (C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.3 Al or (i-butyl).sub.3 Al; and of (d) is C.sub.2 H.sub.5 (OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.2 OLi, PA0 (C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2 NCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OLi or CH.sub.2 (OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 ONa.
The working examples for the polybutadienes and butadiene-styrene copolymers made show inherent viscosities of 0.9 to 2.4, trans-1,4 contents of 80 to 90% and vinyl contents of 2 to 4%. For Example 2 it is stated that the green strength test on the black loaded uncured copolymers showed a similar resistance to elongation to that of natural rubber.
A class of crystallizing elastomers based on butadiene containing sufficient amounts of the trans-1,4 structure to crystallize has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,561 (divisional U.S. patents of the same U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,020,115; 4,033,900 and 4,048,427 have the same disclosure in the specification). The catalyst for the preparation of these polymers comprises an alkyl lithium compound such as n-butyl lithium and a barium t-alkoxide salt such as a barium salt of t-butanol and water. The polymerization temperature, the nature of the solvent and the mole ratio of the catalyst components and its concentration were found to control the polybutadiene microstructure and molecular weight. It is stated that the crystalline melting temperature of the high trans polybutadienes can be depressed near or below room temperature by the copolymerization of styrene, still permitting the rubber to undergo strain induced crystallization. The butadiene polymers and butadiene-styrene copolymers exhibited green strength and tack strength. A high trans polybutadiene exhibited a broad bimodal molecular weight distribution. This patent discloses in the working examples for the invention polybutadiene and butadiene-styrene copolymers exhibiting intrinsic viscosities of 1.43 to 7.39, trans-1,4 contents of 63 to 80.4% and vinyl contents of 6 to 9%.
Copending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 77,428 filed September 20, 1979, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,712 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,519 is a division), discloses an improved barium t-alkoxide salt for use with a hydrocarbon lithium compound for the preparation of polybutadiene and butadiene-styrene copolymers. It shows in the working examples for polybutadiene and butadiene-styrene copolymers intrinsic viscosities of from 3.74 to 7.68, trans-1,4 contents of 73 to 82% and vinyl contents of 6 to 13%.
"Gummi-Asbest-Kunststoffe," pages 832 to 842, 1962 reviews several catalyst systems for polymerizing unsaturated monomers and discusses the properties of several polymers. On page 835, Table 4, it discloses the use of a catalyst system of R.sub.2 Mg and RMgHal to polymerize butadiene to make a polybutadiene having 45-49 trans-1,4 units.


A device, such as a valve, includes a hard seat having an axial bore extending along a central axis. A flapper pivotally connected with the hard seat at a hinge axis and pivotal between an open position to allow flow through the bore and a closed position to block flow through the bore, the flapper having a flapper sealing surface that slopes inward toward the central axis along a full circumference of the flapper sealing surface and the hard seat having a hard sealing surface that slopes inward toward the central axis conforming to the flapper sealing surface and on which the flapper sealing surface bears when in the closed position.

This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the disclosure. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
The present disclosure relates generally to wellbore operations and equipment and more specifically to actuation devices for downhole tools (e.g., subsurface tools, wellbore tools) and methods of operation.
Hydrocarbon fluids such as oil and natural gas are produced from subterranean geologic formations, referred to as reservoirs, by drilling wells that penetrate the hydrocarbon-bearing formations. Once a wellbore is drilled, various forms of well completion components may be installed in order to control and enhance the efficiency of producing fluids from the reservoir and/or injecting fluid into the reservoir and/or other geological formations penetrated by the wellbore. In some wells, for example, valves are actuated between open and closed states to compensate or balance fluid flow across multiple zones in the wellbore. In other wells, an isolation valve may be actuated to a closed position to shut in or suspend a well for a period of time and then opened when desired. Often a well will include a subsurface valve to prevent or limit the flow of fluids in an undesired direction.


A conveyor for transporting load carriers, having load-bearing members which are spaced apart parallel to one another on frame parts and are intended for accommodating drivable load-bearing elements which form longitudinally running load-bearing tracks for the load carriers resting on the load-bearing elements. The conveyor may include modular-construction conveying units, and each load-bearing element of at least two laterally spaced-apart load-bearing members of each conveyor unit may comprise an endlessly circulating load-bearing belt, which bears the load carriers and which is supported on load-bearing rollers mounted on the load-bearing members. The conveyor may be provided for transporting load carriers and may be suitable for conveying the load carriers both longitudinally and transversely. The conveyor may transport the load carriers with a lower level of noise, and may allow a high throughput even of large loads. The conveyor may be used cost-effectively both for production and for installation on site.

Known conveyors for transporting load carriers operate as roller conveyors or chain conveyors, depending on the type of load carriers which are to be transported. In the case of pallet conveyors, use is made predominantly of roller conveyors, in particular if the pallets are transported in their longitudinal direction. If the pallets are transported in the transverse direction, chain conveyors are usually used. Both conveying principles have disadvantages both for the manufacturer and for the operator of the installations.
Since the manufacturer often has to provide for both the conveying principles, that is to say for conveying in the longitudinal and transverse directions, in conjunction with a multiplicity of drive variants for which provision has to be made, the installations may become very expensive. As a result of the large spacing between rollers in roller conveyors, the pallets are subjected to pronounced loading and, over the long term, they become pliable since the nails which hold the pallet parts together loosen as the pallet runs over the rollers.
The conveyors, in particular the chain conveyors, make a lot of noise. Moreover, for drive purposes, chain conveyors require high levels of motor power since the chains are borne with friction. In addition, the chains may have to be constantly oiled, and this contaminates the pallets, for which reason the use of chain conveyors is not permitted in many branches of industry (e.g. the automotive sector). Furthermore, the articles conveyed are also subjected to pronounced loading as they are transported. It is also the case with chain conveyors that it is necessary to provide a large number of drive and transmission variants, which ultimately has an adverse effect on the price and the cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, at present, roller conveyors are used predominantly for conveying pallets longitudinally, while the chain conveyors are reserved predominantly for conveying the pallets transversely.


Uni-directional fibers are wrapped in tension around vehicle body panels to place the body panels in compression. A compressive load on the inner body panels, coupled with the actual load on the uni-directional fibers in tension contribute to a vehicle structural body that has increased stiffness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a motor vehicle body, and more particularly to a motor vehicle body of simple, lightweight construction having structural uni-directional fibers overwrapped in tension in order to contribute to the vehicle body stiffness.
2. Background and Summary of the Invention
As the automotive industry explores the use of plastic vehicle structures, it is desirable to provide a method for improving the body stiffness of the plastic vehicle structures without greatly increasing the amount of material and/or weight of the vehicle. The Assignee of the present application has a U.S. application entitled "Motor Vehicle Body", Ser. No. 08/892,461 which discloses a motor vehicle body which includes a left hand inner body panel, a left hand outer body panel, a right hand inner body panel, and a right hand outer body panel. The four body panels are capable of being easily and inexpensively secured together at the longitudinal mid-line of the motor vehicle body. The motor vehicle body disclosed in the above-identified application provides a vehicle body which is lightweight, low cost, and has a minimum number of parts which is easy to manufacture and assemble.
The vehicle body structure of the present invention provides a structural, uni-directional fiber over-wrap of the plastic body panels in order to greatly enhance the physical and crash characteristics of the plastic vehicle structure. The structural uni-directional fibers, which are preferably made from carbon, graphite, KEVLAR, or fiberglass are placed in tension on an injection molded, Sheet Molding Compound (SMC). The structural fiber overwrap is provided in tension and contributes to the overall vehicle structure, thus allowing a lighter vehicle understructure to be used.
According to the principles of the present invention, a vehicle body structure is provided including a vehicle body including sidewall portions, roof portions, and front and rear wall portions. The fiber overwrap is wrapped around the vehicle body in tension. According to one aspect of the present invention, the fiber overwrap is bonded to the vehicle body. The fiber overwrap can include a plurality of thermoplastic coated fibers which are heated prior to application on the vehicle body in order to slightly melt the thermoplastic materials and create the bond between the vehicle body and the fiber overwrap. As an alternative, the fiber overwrap can be bonded to the vehicle body by an adhesive.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


A stalk roll set for a corn-harvesting combine includes first and second rolls adjacent one another, each having an axis of rotation and defining a shear zone therebetween. At least one pair of flutes projecting radially from each roll. The pair of flutes being bilaterally symmetrical and each including a knife edge with a leading surface and a trailing surface forming an acute angle therebetween, whereby the flutes of the adjoining stalk rolls are offset to and overlapping one another.

Corn harvesting combines utilize one or more roll or row units positioned in front of the combine with each unit engaging a row of corn stalks as the combine moves forward. Each unit has a pair or set of counter-rotating and cooperating stalk rolls with outwardly extending blades or flutes that grip the corn stalks therebetween and pull the stalks downwardly. The flutes grip and pull the stalk downwardly through the rolls until the ear of corn strikes against plates positioned above and adjacent the stalk rolls, thereby separating the ear from the stalk. If the stalk is severed prior to the ear striking the plates, the stalk and ear will both fall into the combine, which reduces combine capacity. Once the ear strikes the plates and is removed from the stalk, the stalk is pushed downwardly toward the ground by the rolls and dropped in the field to eventually dry out and decompose.
Ideally, the stalks are discarded in the wake of the combine. The discarded stalks may be chopped up before new plowing or seeding can be done. Increased chopping action advantageously provides for faster decomposition, easier tillage and better insect control. Furthermore, residue cover, as typically measured, would increase with the stalk being cut into more pieces. It is desirable, therefore, that the stalk undergo as much breakage and mutilation as possible during combining. Previous rolls have been ineffective in adequately breaking up the stalk residue and the farmer must make repeated passes with disks and shredders to mutilate the stalks in order to prepare the field for plowing.
Since the invention of the corn-harvesting combine, many stalk roll designs have been developed. Most designs only work satisfactorily when the combine moves at slow ground speeds with moderately dry corn and under reasonably dry field and weather conditions. As ground speed is increased the performance of conventional stalk rolls significantly deteriorates with increasing numbers of stalks severed before ear removal.
Furthermore, corn harvesting is often done late in the growing season just before freezing and at a time when the weather is unpredictable at best. Frequently the crop is wet from rain. The muddy field and cool temperatures allow little chance of rapid drying. As a result the farmer must harvest his crop within a short time interval or risk loss or deterioration of the crop due to worsening weather. When time is short, it may be necessary to harvest in the rain and at high speed.
Also, different varieties of corn affect stalk roll performance. For example, moisture content, stalk thickness, ear size, ear placement and fiber consistency of the stalk, may help or hinder stalk roll operation. Specifically, corn crops like sweet corn are harvested when the stalks are still green and contain high levels of moisture. Such stalks are far more prone to slip during stalk engagement than are dry stalks.
Most stalk rolls have a central, one-piece cylindrical steel core and outwardly extending flutes attached thereto. Some designs have plates with bilaterally symmetrical flutes extending from lateral ends thereof, which detachably engage the cylindrical core. This design, while having the benefit of detachable plates, is not considered aggressive under wet crop conditions from either a stalk gripping or a stalk-mutilating standpoint. More specifically, the flutes lack knife-edges and the edges do not overlap. Other more aggressive designs have flutes with knife-edges that are offset to one another and overlap in the shear zone area. This design, however, lacks the benefit of having detachable flutes. Furthermore, although opposing flutes overlap, they are not sufficiently adjacent one another during stalk shear so as to aggressively mutilate the stalk as well as prevent stalk slippage.

Shearing stalk roll set and method of harvesting corn


Nonvolatile memory devices according to embodiments of the invention include highly integrated vertical stacks of nonvolatile memory cells. These vertical stacks of memory cells can utilize dummy memory cells to compensate for process artifacts that would otherwise yield relatively poor functioning memory cell strings when relatively large numbers of memory cells are stacked vertically on a semiconductor substrate using a plurality of vertical sub-strings electrically connected in series.

The present disclosure herein relates to semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to three-dimensional nonvolatile memory devices.
In order to satisfy a demand for excellent performance and low price, it is required to increase a degree of integration of a semiconductor device. In the case of a semiconductor memory device, since the integration degree is an important factor which determines a product price, higher integration degree is particularly required. In the case of a typical two dimensional or planar semiconductor memory device, the integration degree is mostly determined by an area occupied by a unit memory cell. Therefore, the typical memory device is greatly affected by a level of a technology for forming a micro pattern.
Recently, a three-dimensional semiconductor memory device provided with three dimensionally arranged memory cells has been proposed. However, for mass production of the three-dimensional semiconductor memory device, it is required to develop fabricating technology so that manufacturing costs per bit may be lower than that of the two-dimensional semiconductor memory device with reliable production properties.

Nonvolatile memory devices having vertically integrated nonvolatile memory cell sub-strings therein


A device for packaging elongated articles, such as plants and cut flowers, in a protective bag. The device includes a tubular frame having a generally horizontal section and a vertical section which is connected to one end of the horizontal section. A support is carried by the upper end of the vertical section and is adapted to support a plant to be packaged. One or more elongated open ended bags are initially positioned around the horizontal section of the frame, and the bag is then drawn upwardly around the plant that is supported on the support to package the plant.

It is often desired to enclose a plant or cut flowers in a protective plastic or paper bag to protect the plant against extreme temperatures. The U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,706 describes a device for bagging or packing small plants in protective plastic bags. The device shown in the aforementioned patent is not particularly suitable for bagging plants of substantial height, in the range of about 4-6 ft. and generally bagging of taller plants has been a manual operation.
Bagging of taller sized plants has normally required the service of two persons. One person holds the bag open and the second person lifts the plant above the open-ended bag and then lowers it into the bag. The person holding the bag then attempts to catch the plant as it is lowered within the bag. Not only does this method of bagging require the services of two persons, but in many cases the plant may fall within the bag, with the result that it is damaged.


A network control system in a hyper cube type network having 2.sup.n nodes (n>0, integer), each of the nodes being arranged on an apex of a cube and having n sets of links for interconnecting other nodes so as to form an n-dimensional hyper cube type network; a plurality of processors, each processor being connected to each node by input/output links, thereby providing communication paths between processors through the nodes and links; each of the nodes comprising: a device for setting 2.sup.n different connection patterns corresponding to 2.sup.n phase signals, and a switching device for interconnecting between the links and between the input/output links in accordance with the connection patterns synchronized with the phase signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network control system in a hyper cube type network used in a multi-processor interconnection system.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, the hyper cube type network has a plurality of nodes (2.sup.n nodes, n>0, integer), each node being arranged on an apex of the cube, a plurality of links connecting the nodes, and a plurality of processors, each connected to each node.
In general, two types of the multi-processor interconnection system are used, i.e., a multi-stage network and a multi-processor network.
The multi-stage network includes various types of networks based on differences in the connection configuration thereof. For example, an omega network, a delta network, a banyan network, a shuffle-exchange network, etc. In general, these types, for example, the omega network and the shuffle-exchange network, have a plurality of switch boxes, and each switch box generally has two input terminals and two output terminals. Each switch box can take two connection configurations, i.e., cross and straight corresponding to a bit "1" and a bit "0". The switch boxes are connected by links from input stages to output stages in accordance with the above connection configurations, to form communication paths.
In these types of multi-stage networks, however, although a high transfer speed can be achieved, a problem arises in that the number of communication paths which can be simultaneously used is limited, because the switch box can deal with only one communication path at a time.
The multi-processor network is constituted by a plurality of nodes and links connected between the nodes, wherein each node has at least one buffer memory for temporarily storing input messages. This type of network has connection configurations, such as, a ring type, tree type, hyper cube type, etc., in accordance with different arrangements of the nodes. In these types of network, however, a problem arises in that much time is required for writing/reading a message to and from the buffer memory. Thus, transmission of a message is delayed in an all-to-all burst communication when many loads are connected to the network.
The hyper cube type network can be obtained in both the multi-stage and the multi-processor type of network, depending upon the connection configuration of the nodes and the links, by rewriting a topology thereof. That is, a network having the hyper cube topology can exist in both multi-stage and multi-processor networks. In particular, it is possible to modify the shuffle-exchange network to the hyper cube topology by rewriting the structure thereof when the former does not have the hyper cube topology.
The present invention features an improvement of the total processing performance of the processors connected to the hyper cube type network, particularly, in an all-to-all burst communication. The all-to-all burst communication is a communication pattern in which each processor can simultaneously communicate to all processors including itself in the system. Therefore, in the present invention, all communication paths are structured to achieve an effective all-to-all burst communication in the hyper cube type network.
One example of the multi-stage network is disclosed in, New Generation Computing, 1984, "A Multi Page-Memory Architecture and A Multiport Disk-Cache System", by Yuzuru Tanaka. This network is constituted by a plurality of ports, a plurality of memory banks, a plurality of switch boxes, and a controller. The controller controls the connection of switch boxes based on a predetermined control program. In this reference, however, the network is formed between the ports and the memory banks. Further, the topology of the network is a type of the shuffle-exchange network, and the switch box comprises two inputs and two outputs. These are important differences from the present invention. Note, if the network of the reference is rewritten to the hyper cube topology, one half of the links are not used, and thus the processing performance is unsatisfactory.

Hyper-cube network control system having different connection patterns corresponding to phase signals for interconnecting inter-node links and between input/output links


A mechanical push button lock used to control locked/unlocked state of a specific element of a machine, such that when the mechanical push button lock is locked then the specific element also is locked. The proposed mechanical push button lock includes a push key, an actuating rod, a cross rod, a shaft and a spring. The push key is located in one end of the actuating rod, the actuating rod couples with the cross rod in another end of the actuating rod and the spring connects the actuating rod and the cross rod. Moreover, when the mechanical push button lock is locked then the cross rod contacts the specific element such that the specific element also is locked. Therefore, when the push key is pressed then the actuating rod slides until it contacts the cross rod. Afterwards, the cross rod is pushed by the actuating rod and rotates around the shaft. When the rotating angle is large enough then the cross rod does not contact the specific element and the specific element is unlocked.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanical push button lock for controlling a locked/unlocked state of a specific element of a machine, and more particularly to a mechanical push button lock that not only provides two stage tactile impression but also has simple structure and low manufacturing tolerance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A mechanical push button lock is used to control the locked/unlocked state of a specific element of a machine and is in widespread use in conventional industry and many products. Possible applications include mechanical push button lock for the cover of a crystal display projector, the mechanical push button lock of door, and so on.
The conventional structure of the mechanical push button lock comprises two categories. One category provides two stage tactile impression and the other category provides a simple structure and low tolerance.
First category, as FIG. 1 shows, comprises push key 10, first cross rod 11, second cross rod 12, shaft 13, first spring 14 and second spring 15. Push key 10 located in one end of first cross rod 11, and one end of first spring 14 is located on first cross rod 11. Another end of first spring 14 is located on a fixed specific object 165 to settle first cross rod 11 in a specific region. Beside, the direction of first cross rod 11 points to second cross rod 12. Moreover, second cross rod 12 rotates around shaft 13 and second spring 15 is used to settle second cross rod 12 in another specific region by connecting second cross rod 12 with fixed specific object 16. Obviously, fixed specific object 16 and fixed specific object 165 can be the same object or be different objects, it depends on the design of mechanical push button lock. In addition, when the mechanical push button lock is locked then specific element17 also is restricted by second cross rod 12 and is locked.
Therefore, it is obvious that when push key 10 is pressed first cross rod 11 slight slides along the pressed direction and first spring 14 is transfigured. Afterwards, when first cross rod 11 touches second cross rod 12 then not only does first cross rod 11 slide along the pressed direction but also second cross rod 12 rotates around shaft 13. In other words, not only first spring 14 is transfigured but also second spring 15 is elongated. Then when second cross rod 12 rotates enough degrees, second cross rod 12 does not restrict specific element17 and then specific element 17 is unlocked.
Consequently, this category provides two stage tactile impression that is obvious to a user because the required pushed force is small before the first cross rod 11 contacts second cross rod 12 and is large after the first cross rod 11 contacts second cross rod 12.
The second category, as FIG. 2 shows, comprises push key 20, spring 21, shaft 22 and skeleton structure 23. Push key 20 is located in one end of skeleton structure 23 and specific element 24 contacts another end of skeleton structure 23 when specific element 24 is locked by the mechanical push button lock, and shaft 22 penetrates through skeleton structure 23. Moreover, spring 21 is used to settle skeleton structure 23 in a specific region by connecting skeleton structure 23 with fixed object 25.
Obviously, when push key 20 is pressed then skeleton structure 23 rotates around shaft 23, and when skeleton structure 23 rotates enough degrees then specific element 24 is relaxed and unlocked. Moreover, because only one spring 21 is transfigured, it provide a one stage tactile impression for user.
Comparing FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it is crystal-clear that the structure of the first category is complicated and thus the cost of the first category is higher. In comparison, the structure of the second category is simplified and the cost of the second category is lower. Beside, the manufacturing process of the first category is more complicated for there are six component parts that need to be installed, but manufacturing tolerance is more sensitive in the second category because no spring is located between the push key and the shaft to absorb some manufacturing tolerance.
According to the previous discussion, it is obvious that both the conventional structures of the mechanical push button lock are required to improve, and it is therefore desired to develop a push button lock that provides two stage tactile impression, a simple structure and low manufacturing tolerances simultaneously.


Doped tantalum and niobium pellets with nitrogen is described wherein the resulting pellets are substantially free of nitride precipitate on their outer surfaces. The tantalum and niobium pellets are formed by heating the pellets to a temperature of from about 600-1400.degree. C. in a nitrogen gas atmosphere and then in a vacuum which causes nitrogen contacting a pellet to diffuse into the inner portion of the pellet instead of forming a precipitate. The resulting pellets have improved DCL stability and reliability in comparison to prior art nitrogen-doped tantalum and niobium pellets.

This invention relates to an improved method of making tantalum and niobium pellets, and more particularly to the production of such pellets for use in electrolytic capacitors.
The usual method for making tantalum pellets for use in tantalum capacitors includes steps wherein tantalum powder is first pressed or compacted into a pellet. The resulting pressed pellets then undergo a sintering process wherein the pellets are heated in a vacuum. The heating allows the tantalum particles to stick together so they can hold a lead wire.
Following the sintering process, the tantalum pellet is dipped in an acid solution to form a dielectric film on the outer surface of the pellet and the particles within the pellet which is typically tantalum pentoxide. The pellet and the particles within the pellet are then subsequently coated with various other metal-containing materials which form the cathode.
For electrolytic capacitors, the oxygen concentration in the tantalum is critical. When the bulk oxygen content of porous tantalum pellets is above the oxygen solubility limit in tantalum (about 2 at. % at T<873 K), oxide phase precipitates appear on the surface of the particles within the tantalum pellets. These precipitates act as efficient crystallization nuclei and concentrators of the electric field in the amorphous tantalum pentoxide film formed by the subsequent anodization. As the specific volume of the crystal and amorphous phases are different, the crystallization causes disruption of the amorphous tantalum pentoxide film. This renders the dielectric film less reliable and degradation of the capacitor occurs. Capacitors made from such pellets may have unsatisfactory life characteristics. Unfortunately, tantalum powder has a great affinity for oxygen and, thus, the processing steps which involve heating and subsequent exposure to air inevitably results in an increased concentration of oxygen. Since the amount of oxygen absorbed will be proportional to the surface area exposed, fine powders with very high CV properties are even more susceptible to the reaction with atmospheric oxygen.
Methods for reducing the oxygen content of tantalum pellets have included nitrogen doping of sintered tantalum pellets. Nitrogen doping prevents the diffusion of oxygen from the ambient atmosphere and from the tantalum pentoxide film to the tantalum pellet, resulting in stabilization of the chemical composition of the dielectric film. As a consequence, tantalum capacitors made from such pellets have excellent thermostability of DCL and capacitance.
In prior art methods, the sintered pellets after doping with nitrogen consist of a mixture of nitride phase TaN and a solid solution of nitrogen in the tantalum phase. In these methods the nitride phase precipitates on the surface of the pellets to similarly interfere with the tantalum pentoxide dielectric properties as with the oxide phase precipitates. This is due to the surface of the tantalum pellet being oversaturated with nitrogen. It would therefore be beneficial to develop a method of nitrogen doping tantalum pellets to reduce their oxygen content following sintering while also preventing the formation of nitride precipitate.
Niobium is a "daughter" element to tantalum. Niobium and tantalum are often found together and share many of the same chemical and physical characteristics and are difficult to separate. Interest in niobium as a capacitor material is largely based upon its relative abundance compared to tantalum and its lower cost.
The major impediment to the use of niobium in capacitors is the very high rate of oxygen dissolving in niobium metal. This causes the capacitor dielectric niobium oxide to degrade rather quickly at moderately elevated temperatures as oxygen is absorbed into the metal. It would therefore also be beneficial to develop a method of nitrogen doping niobium pellets to reduce their oxygen content following sintering while also preventing the formation of nitride precipitate.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a method of reducing the oxygen content of sintered tantalum and niobium pellets.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of doping tantalum and niobium pellets with nitrogen which prevents the formation of a nitride precipitate on the surface of the tantalum or niobium pellet.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved nitrogen-doped tantalum or niobium pellet with improved DCL characteristics and reliability.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved nitrogen-doped tantalum or niobium pellet which is easy to make and economical to manufacture.
The method of accomplishing these and other objects will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

Method for doping sintered tantalum and niobium pellets with nitrogen


The present invention provides an in-building lift taking navigation terminal, system and method and belongs to the field of lift technology. The in-building lift taking navigation terminal provided by the present invention comprises: a query input module at least used for inputting destination floor position information and a query instruction; an optional lift taking path display module used for acquiring and displaying one or more optional lift taking paths from an initial floor position to a destination floor position; and a navigation information display module used for generating and displaying corresponding navigation information based on each of the lift taking paths. The present invention can provide convenient and clear in-building lift taking path navigation for the passenger, the passenger can thus conveniently and efficiently reach the destination floor position and has a good lift taking experience.

With the continuous increase of floors of buildings and the continuous increase of area, the internal structures and zones of the buildings are increasingly complex. Therefore, different functions or types of lift groups are possibly used in the buildings. For example, complex lift combinations are used in high-rise buildings to provide lift taking services for passengers at different floors. Lifts in various lift combinations include lifts at normal speed, express lifts, shuttle lifts, dual-car lifts, and even escalators, etc.
The complexity of in-building lift combinations causes troubles to passengers to take lifts. For example, passengers who enter buildings do not know which lifts or lift groups are suitable for taking and do not know how to select lifts to more rapidly reach destination floor positions. As a result, the situation of taking wrong lifts often occurs when the passengers take lifts, and consequently the taking experience of passengers is greatly reduced.

Navigation terminal, system and method for taking elevator


A new and distinct variety of apricot tree which is characterized by having the following combination of outstanding features that are desirable in a new variety; fruit with an unusually large amount of red skin color in the form of a bright red blush, fruit with good flavor and high eating quality, self-compatible flowers which require no cross-pollination, and fruit with firm flesh, giving good handling and shipping qualities.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apricot tree, which will hereinafter be denominated varietally as `Robada.` More particularly, the invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of apricot Prunus armeniaca L. cv. `Robada.` The new variety is a fresh market apricot for use in local markets as well as for long distance shipping.
The new variety of apricot tree was produced from a cross between the apricot variety `Orangered` (seed parent) and apricot selection K113-40 (pollen parent) grown in a research orchard located near Parlier, Calif. The pollen parent originated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) apricot breeding program. Planned hybridizations, four generations removed from the original apricot varieties `Blenheim`, `Blush` and `Perfection`, resulted in the selection of K113-40.
The first generation seedlings from the `Orangered`.times.K113-40 hybridization were grown and maintained in a research orchard located near Parlier, Calif. When these trees became reproductively fit, close attention was paid to desirable fruit characteristics. The present variety was then selected from among all other seedlings in this progeny, due to its unique combination of desirable fruit characteristics. This tree was then asexually propagated to other rootstocks, where it remained true-to-character in other orchard environments.
The new variety of apricot tree has been asexually reproduced by both dormant grafting and June-budding in the USDA-ARS research orchard in Fresno, Calif., and are identified by Selection Identification Number K106-2. Trees reproduced by both of these means have shown that the characteristics run true to the original seedling tree. Desirable fruit characteristics are therefore transmitted through succeeding propagations.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture