A cable assembly for coupling a transducer includes a plug body having a nose section with a nose end, a tail section with a tail end opposite the nose end; and a cable restraining feature disposed proximal the tail end. In addition, the cable assembly includes a cable having a first end, a second end, a signal conductor, and a pliable fixing member. A portion of the pliable fixing member is disposed in the cable restraining feature and extends at least partially around the plug body to limit the movement of the first end of the cable relative to the plug body.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to transducer assemblies with cable assemblies used for instrumentation of fluid processes. More particularly, it relates to transducer and cable assemblies applicable for liquid and gas flow meters.
2. Background Information
Hydrocarbons, in both liquid and gas phases, are transported from place to place via pipelines. It is desirable to know with accuracy the amount of fluid flowing in the pipeline, particularly when the fluid is changing hands, an event referred to as "custody transfer." Even where custody transfer is not taking place, measurement accuracy is desirable, and in these situations, ultrasonic flow meters are commonly used.
An ultrasonic flow meter typically includes two or more transducers employing the piezoelectric effect, each secured inside of a dedicated port in the body of the flow meter. The body of the flow meter may also be referred to as a spool piece. The arrangement used to couple the transducers within the port also seals the fluid within the flow meter. Thus, the spool piece and the coupled transducers or transducer assemblies create a sealed housing and pressure boundary that contains the fluid that is flowing through the meter.
To measure fluid flow through the meter, a pair of transducers is positioned such that the piezoelectric elements of the transducers are adjacent the inner surface of the spool piece, and such that each transducer of the pair faces the other of the pair that is positioned on opposite sides of the fluid-carrying bore of the spool piece. The transducers transmit and receive electric signals back-and-forth across the fluid stream.
Each transducer is coupled to a cable that extends through the end connector of the transducer to the exterior of the spool piece, and to a remote location, typically an electronics enclosure mounted on or adjacent to the spool piece. The electric signals created by the piezoelectric element of the particular transducer are carried by the cable to an acquisition circuit board housed within the electronics enclosure, where the signals may be processed and subsequently used to determine the fluid flow rate through the meter.
In typical meter designs, the transducer cables are run to the electronics enclosure along the outer surface of the meter body. If unprotected, the cables and transducers would be exposed to possible damage during shipping and installation, and, upon installation, from falling debris and livestock. Consequently, it is common to employ robust and thus relatively expensive cables in an attempt to resist damage and degradation.
Protective coverings or shrouds for transducer cables may be employed. However, while protecting the transducer cables and associated end connectors from damage, the coverings limit the space available for the cable assemblies. Conventional cable assemblies that may be employed in meters providing such protection may be too large or difficult to install and service. A cable assembly for installation in a meter where the transducer and cable connector is covered or otherwise employed in a relatively small space, and one that has features that simplify the assembly of transducer assemblies or flow meters or that reduce manufacturing, assembly, or transportation costs of the same would be desirable.

Transducer cable assembly and flow meter employing same


An equalizer circuit for precharging a pair of bit lines in a dynamic random access memory circuit. The equalizer circuit includes a substantially T-shaped polysilicon gate portion oriented at an angle relative to the pair of bit lines. The angle is an angle other than an integer multiple of 90.degree.. The substantially T-shaped polysilicon gate portion includes first polysilicon area for implementing a gate of a first switch of the equalizer circuit. The first switch is coupled to a first bit line of the pair of bit lines and a second bit line of the pair of bit lines. The substantially T-shaped polysilicon gate portion also includes a second polysilicon area for implementing a gate of a second switch of the equalizer circuit. The second switch is coupled to the first bit line of the pair of bit lines and a precharge voltage source. The substantially T-shaped polysilicon gate portion further includes a third polysilicon area for implementing a gate of a third switch of the equalizer circuit. The third switch is coupled to the second bit line of the pair of bit lines and the precharge voltage source.

The present invention relates to dynamic random access memory circuits and particularly to equalizing circuits in dynamic random access memory circuits.
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) circuits are known. In a DRAM circuit, there may be millions, even billions, of memory cells. The memory cells are typically grouped in a plurality of memory arrays, each of which contains a subset of the total number of memory cells of the DRAM circuit. By way of example, a 256 Megabit DRAM cell may have up to 256 arrays, each of which may contain roughly 1-megabit of DRAM cells. The arrays may be arranged in rows and columns, e.g., 32.times.8 in one example.
The memory cells in each array are also arranged in rows and columns for ease of access. A plurality of bit lines and word lines are then employed to read from and/or write to each memory cell. For ease of discussion, the bit lines may be thought of as being in the vertical direction although bit lines may be either vertical or horizontal, with the word lines disposed orthogonal to the bit lines.
A column of memory cells is generally coupled to a pair of bit lines. During the active cycle of the DRAM, information may be written to or read from the cells through the bit lines. The bit lines are typically complementary, with one bit line low and the other bit line high during reading or writing. By way of example, if the DRAM operates on 3V, the voltages on the bit lines are typically 0V and 3V during a given active cycle.
During the inactive cycle, the bit lines are precharged in preparation for the next active cycle. Precharging equalizes the voltages on the pair of bit lines to a predetermined voltage level, which typically is about 1/2of the "high" voltage level. Using the previous example, the voltages on the pair of bit lines may be precharged to, for example, 1.5 V in preparation for the next active cycle.
To facilitate discussion, FIG. I illustrates an exemplary prior art equalizer circuit 100 employed to precharge the bit lines. As shown, the circuit is coupled to bit lines 102a and 102b from array 104. Bit lines 102a and 102b, as mentioned before, are complementary of one another. During the inactive cycle, a signal EQ on conductor 106 turns on switch 108 (typically an n-FET device) to short bit lines 102a and 102b together to substantially equalize their voltages. The same signal EQ also turns on switch 110, which is typically an n-FET device that is coupled to bit line 102a, to supply a precharge potential level VBLEQ to bit line 102a. The same signal EQ also turns on switch 112, which is typically an n-FET device that is coupled to bit line 102b, to supply a precharge potential level VBLEQ to bit line 102b. By turning on all these three switches 108, 110, and 112 simultaneously, the voltages on bit lines 102a and 102b are equalized and precharged to the precharge potential level VBLEQ during the DRAM inactive cycle. Since all three switches 108, 110, and 112 participate in equalizing the bit lines, they are referred to herein as the set of three equalizing switches.
Precharge potential level VBLEQ is supplied to the aforementioned switches 110 and 112 through an optional current limiting switch 114. Switch 114 is typically an n-FET depletion device that has its gate and source coupled together. Accordingly, switch 114 is normally "on" and VBLEQ is always supplied to switches 110 and 112 (the bit lines themselves do not receive VBLEQ until switches 110 and 112 are turned on, as discussed earlier). If a column of cells is defective (e.g., either bit line 102a or 102b is shorted to ground), switch 114 prevents the defect from drawing down the voltage level of VBLEQ excessively and from rendering the entire DRAM unusable. The defective column of cells may then be replaced by a redundant column of cells using standard replacement techniques.
FIG. 2 is a layout view of equalizer circuit 100 of FIG. 1, including bit lines 102a and 102b. In FIG. 2, three layers are shown: a metal layer, a polysilicon layer, and an active layer. The metal layer is employed for implementing the bit lines and some interconnect. The metal layer overlies a polysilicon layer and is insulated therefrom by a layer of dielectric. The polysilicon layer is employed to implement gates of the switches and to provide conduction among some switches. The polysilicon layer overlaps an underlying active layer in some places to form n-FET switches. The functions of the devices of FIG. 2 are more fully discussed in the explanation that follows.
Signal EQ of FIG. 1 is provided on metal line 200. Through contact 202, signal EQ is also provided to polysilicon conductor 204. Polysilicon conductor 204 furnishes the gates for switches formed where polysilicon conductor 204 overlies an underlying active layer 206. As polysilicon conductor 204 overlies active layer 206 in multiple places, multiple switches are formed.
Switch 108 of FIG. 1 is formed where polysilicon area 204a overlaps active areas 206a and 206b. As can be seen in FIG. 2, polysilicon area 204a is disposed in the vertical portion of the T-shaped polysilicon gate portion 204TA. Switch 110 of FIG. 1 is formed where polysilicon area 204b overlaps active areas 206c and 206d. As can be seen in FIG. 2, polysilicon area 204b is disposed in the horizontal portion of the T-shaped polysilicon gate portion 204TA. Switch 112 of FIG. 1 is formed where polysilicon area 204c overlaps active areas 206e and 206f. As can be seen in FIG. 2, polysilicon area 204b is disposed in the other horizontal portion of the T-shaped polysilicon gate portion 204TA. Polysilicon areas 204a, 204b, and 204c of polysilicon conductor 204 make up the T-shaped polysilicon gate portion 204TA that forms switches 108, 110, and 112. For ease of reference, this polysilicon conductor is referred herein as T-shaped polysilicon gate portion 204TA (to distinguish it from the T-shaped polysilicon gate portion 204TB of the adjacent bit line pairs).
Active area 206a of switch 108 is coupled to bit line 102a through contact 220. Active area 206b of switch 108 is coupled to bit line 102b through contact 222. When the EQ signal is present on polysilicon conductor 204 (and therefore polysilicon area 204a), a conductive channel is created between active areas 206a and 206b of switch 108, thereby shorting together bit lines 102a and 102b in the manner discussed in connection with FIG. 1.
The presence of the EQ signal on polysilicon conductor 204 also causes this same signal to be present on polysilicon area 204b, thereby creating a conductive channel between active areas 206c and 206d, i.e., turning on switch 110. Likewise, the presence of the EQ signal on polysilicon conductor 204 also causes this same signal to be present on polysilicon area 204c, thereby creating a conductive channel between active areas 206e and 206f, i.e., turning on switch 112.
Active areas 206e and 206d, being in the same active area layer, are interconnected. This interconnection represents connector 120 of FIG. 1, i.e., the connector that couples switches 110 and 112 to VBLEQ (via switch 114). In FIG. 2, this interconnection is coupled to active area 206g of switch 114. A polysilicon gate area 230(a) of polysilicon line 230 serves as a gate for switch 114. This polysilicon layer 230 also couples through contact 234 with metal line 232, which is in turn coupled to the interconnection of active areas 206d/206e through contacts 236a and 236b. Metal line 232 therefore couples the gate of switch 114 to its source in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Normally, this source-to-gate connection permits switch 114 to remain on, i.e., to permit a conductive channel to exist between active areas 206g and 206h of switch 114.
Active area 206h is coupled in the active area layer to metal 240, which carries the VBLEQ signal. Thus the VBLEQ signal is supplied from metal 204 to switches 110 and 112 through switch 114. One skilled in the art would readily appreciate the correspondence between the elements of diagramatic FIG. 1 and of layout FIG. 2.
In FIG. 2, the area required to implement the equalizer circuit is bounded roughly within the area delineated by arrows X and Y. In a typical 256M-bit DRAM, for example, there may be up to 4000 bit line pairs in each array. To maximize the area available for implementing the equalizer circuits, designers have in the past interleaved the bit line pairs. By interleaving, the odd bit line pairs may be equalized with equalizer circuits provided at, for example, the upper edge of the array while the even bit line pairs may be equalized with equalizer circuits provided at, for example, the lower edge of the array.
FIG. 3 depicts a hypothetical array 300 to illustrate this interleaving concept. In array 300, odd bit line pairs 301 and 303 extend out from upper edge 320 to be equalized with equalizer circuits 322 and 324 provided within equalizer strip 326. Likewise, even bit line pairs 302 and 304 extend out from lower edge 350 to be equalized with equalizer circuits 352 and 354 provided within equalizer strip 356. By interleaving the bit line pairs, there is more area to implement the equalizer circuits within the equalizer strips, e.g., equalizer circuit 322, 324, 352, or 354, than if all the bit lines simple extended out of one of edges 320 and 350 of array 300.
Referring back to FIG. 2, it has been found that the X dimension of the equalizer circuit is typically predefined by the dimension of the design rules employed to fabricate the memory cells within the array. Accordingly, when the design rules for the array changes, the bit lines are spaced closer, which reduces the area available for implementing the equalizer circuit. By way of example, when the design rules within the array change from 0.25 micron to 0.175 micron, e.g., in the case of 1-Gigabit DRAM circuits, the X dimension available for implementing each equalizer circuit may be reduced to only, for example, 0.5 micron.
Although the design rules within the array may shrink, it has also been found that photolithography and design constraints prevent the designer from using correspondingly aggressive, i.e., small design rules, in the implementation of the equalizer circuits. This is due, in part, to the fact that the memory cells within the array are highly regular and repeatable and are therefore more suitable for the smaller design rules than those outside of the array.
As can be expected, the differential between the design rules employed inside the array and those employed outside the array gives rise to design difficulties. Consider the situation wherein the design rules inside the array is shrunk so that they are substantially smaller than those employed outside the array. Since the distance between adjacent bit line pairs shrink, e.g., between bit line pairs 301 and 303 of FIG. 3, less area is available for implementing the equalizer circuits outside of the array (as the term is used herein, "adjacent bit line pairs" refer to bit line pairs that are adjacent to one another on one side of the array). Unless an improved equalizer circuit design is found, it may no longer be possible to, for example, place the T-shaped polysilicon gate portions of adjacent equalizer circuits (e.g., T-shaped polysilicon gate portion 204TA and T-shaped polysilicon gate portion 204TB of FIG. 2) adjacent to one another along a row in the equalizer strip since the spacings between adjacent bit line pairs may be too small for such placement.
In view of the foregoing, there are desired improved equalizer circuit designs and methods therefor that advantageously reduce the area required for implementing the equalizer circuit.

Dynamic access memory equalizer circuits and methods therefor


A contact spring for a plug-in connector includes spring legs (2,3) which are disposed and constructed in such a way that they are capable of exerting a compressive force from opposite sides on a contact blade (20) inserted in between and of thereby establishing contact with the contact blade. The spring legs (2,3) are disposed laterally offset with respect to each other in such a way that they do not overlap each other in the respective directions of compressive force.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a contact spring for a plug-in connector having two spring legs and a common supporting portion, the spring legs being disposed and formed in such a way that they are capable of exerting a compressive force from opposite sides on a contact blade inserted between them and of thereby establishing electrical contact with the latter, and the spring legs being disposed laterally offset with respect to each other in such a way that they do not overlap each other in the respective directions of compressive force.
Such a contact spring is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,462. The contact springs described in that document are relatively simple to produce, but they cannot be disposed particularly closely together in series and they are also not optimal with regard to a resilient force which can be exerted by the spring legs on a contact blade inserted between them.


A communication system and method for transmitting data to mobile platforms using multiple simultaneous channels operating at multiple data rates. Each mobile receiver has the capability to receive multiple transmit channels at multiple data rates. Mobile platforms report their position to a ground based controller which determines which communication channel can be operated without substantial loss of data. Data packets destined for each aircraft are preferably routed to the highest data rate channel that can be received by that mobile platform without substantial loss of data. This maximizes the overall system efficiency and throughput. High priority and mission critical data may be transmitted to the aircraft using low data rate channels to increase link availability.

The performance of a communication link between a satellite and a mobile platform (i.e., aircraft, ship, train, truck, etc) is influenced by many factors. Most prominently is the effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the satellite antenna, in addition to the slant range, rain loss, and Gain over noise temperature (G/T) of the receive antenna being used to form the link with the satellite. The EIRP of satellite transponders typically varies across a coverage region, as does the slant range and rain loss. In addition, some antennas, such as a planar phased array antennas, exhibit a large G/T reduction with increasing scan angle . The antenna scan angle, and hence the receive G/T, can vary significantly with the location and attitude (pitch, roll and yaw) of the mobile platform. The result is that the performance of a communication link from the satellite to the mobile platform can vary over a large range depending on whether the mobile platform is in a favorable or unfavorable location and attitude (relative to the satellite) in a coverage region. In practice, this performance variation can be as large as 10× (10 dB) over a coverage region. Performance variation can become even larger when the mobile receivers use different size aperture antennas. Larger antennas provide better link performance. Link performance can be defined in many ways. In this context, it is defined as the maximum data rate at which the communication link can operate with a given bit error rate (BER), as described further in the following paragraphs.
The present discussion refers to mobile platforms that are in less favorable locations and operating with smaller aperture antennas as being "disadvantaged", while mobile users in favorable locations and operating with larger antenna apertures are referred to as "advantaged". One factor that determines the performance or degree of favor for a particular location in satellite coverage region is illustrated with reference to FIG. 1. The EIRP variation for a typical Ku-band geostationary satellite transponder (e.g. Telstar 6 at 63° west longitude) is shown in FIG. 1. Notice that there is about 2 dB variation across the continental United States (CONUS) coverage area. As mentioned previously, other factors can cause a large change in performance across a coverage region. Table 1 below shows the effect of slant range and antenna scan angle loss across CONUS. The scan angle loss for a planar phased array antenna manufactured by The Boeing Company is approximately equal to cos1.2(θ), where θ is the elevation scan angle to the target satellite, measured with respect to an axis extending perpendicular to the planar aperture.
LocationFree Space Loss (dB)Antenna Scan Loss (db)Seattle, WA205.83.5Brownsville, TX205.30.7Delta (dB)0.52.8
An analysis can be performed to determine the highest date rate at which a communication link may be operated with a specified bit error rate (BER). Further to the present discussion, a communication link is considered to be "closed" or "available" when it achieves less than some threshold BER. For this discussion, the threshold BER is assumed to be 1E-9, or one erred bit for every billion received. Any excess received power beyond that required to "close" the link is referred to as "margin". In the present discussion, the term "data rate" will be used, however, an even more accurate term for "data rate" is "information rate", which is the available data rate after removing forward error correction (FEC) and other overhead information. Thus, the terms "data rate" and "information rate" will be used interchangeably throughout the following discussion, although "information rate" is, strictly speaking, a more accurate term to describe the available data rate of a communication link. A user that is in a favorable location within a coverage region is one that can close his communication link at a higher data rate. Alternatively, a challenged user, or a user in a less favorable location within a coverage region, will only be able to achieve communication link closure using lower data rates.
Referring to FIG. 2, this figure shows contours of the highest data rates at which links can be "closed" using a Ku-band transponder on Telstar 6 using a Boeing planar phased array receive antenna having an active aperture measuring 17 inch (43.18 cm)×24 inch (60.96 cm) and having 1500 elements mounted flat on the crown of an aircraft flying in level attitude. The analysis used to generate this is highly sophisticated and includes the effect of adjacent satellite interference. Adjacent satellite interference is caused by the use of small aperture mobile antennas and the elongation of the phased array antenna beam that occurs with increasing scan angle. Adjacent satellite interference causes further variations in the link performance across a coverage region. The contours are generated by performing a link analysis at equally spaced geographic grid points and constructing performance contours. At each grid point the aircraft is rotated 360° in heading to find the worst case heading. The maximum data rate at which the link can be closed for the worst case heading is shown in FIG. 2. Within region A, the maximum channel data rate at which the link can be closed is 12 Mbps. Within region B a maximum channel data rate of 10 Mbps can be used. Within region C a maximum of 8 Mbps, within region D, 6 Mbps; within Region E, 4 Mbps; and within region F, a maximum of 2 Mbps can be utilized.
A communication system using a single forward link data rate would have to operate at a data rate commensurate with the most disadvantaged mobile platform in the coverage region. By "forward link" it is meant a signal from a satellite to the mobile platform. Typically, system designers select the highest data rate at which the communication link can be closed to the most disadvantaged mobile platform in a given coverage region. For example, suppose that one wishes to choose a single data rate for communication across CONUS. FIG. 2 shows that the 6 Mbps contour covers nearly all of CONUS except for a tiny slice of land in northern North Dakota. Therefore, 5–6 Mbps would be a good choice for CONUS operation. However, there are regions within CONUS at which the link can be closed at twice this data rate (i.e., 12 Mbps). Therefore, operation with a single data rate is very inefficient because there are typically many advantaged mobile platforms that can operate at much higher data rates. In other words, the advantaged mobile platforms have large excess margins in their forward links which is being wasted when a single, lower, data rate channel is used to service all mobile platforms operating within a given coverage region.
There is also a "coverage vs. capacity" tradeoff associated with the selection of a single forward link data rate. A low data rate (i.e., low capacity) permits the link to be closed over a wider coverage area. In contrast, a high data rate is only available in a small coverage area. FIG. 3 shows the difference in coverage area for 2 Mbps and 8 Mbps. The 2 Mbps region is greater than 3 times the area of the 8 Mbps region. If multiple data rates could be employed, then both wide coverage and high capacity could be achieved. This is not possible when operating with a single data transmission rate.
Another problem that must be considered is that the most disadvantaged mobile platform typically operates with little or no margin, which means that the communication link is not very robust. For example, suppose a disadvantaged mobile platform (e.g., an aircraft) must operate with a forward link data rate chosen so that the communication link with the satellite is barely closed. Now suppose that the aircraft banks away from the satellite during flight. If the aircraft is using a planar phased array antenna mounted flush on the crown of the aircraft, then the scan angle to the satellite will increase and the G/T will decrease. This can cause a loss of the communication link. Similarly, the aircraft could stray outside the designated coverage region and lose its communication link.
In summary, problems with the existing "single data rate" approach include capacity inefficiency and lack of robustness (i.e., lack of margin). The lack of robustness can cause a loss of the communication link if the operational environment is adversely affected such as by adverse weather. Rain loss as well as standing water and/or ice on the aircraft receive antenna radome or aperture also represents situations where the lack of robustness of a single data rate approach can compromise the ability to achieve and maintain link closure with a mobile platform. The lack of margin also makes it more difficult to initially acquire the target satellite if the antenna on the mobile platform is not pointed precisely at the target satellite.
One method for addressing the above-described problem of managing communications links with a number of different mobile platforms capable of operating at varying data rates within a given coverage region could involve the use of a single carrier that is continuously switched between different data rates. Data packets sent to advantaged mobile platforms could be sent at a higher data rate than to disadvantaged mobile platforms. Making such "on-the-fly" data rate changes requires significant time to synchronize the mobile platform RF receiver to each burst of data that is received at different data rates, resulting in a loss of efficiency. Also, burst mode receivers are far more complex, expensive, and provide reduced performances compared with continuous mode receivers, which are used in the invention.
Another approach for solving the above-described problem in addressing multiple mobile platforms capable of communicating at different data rates is the well known "fade mitigation" method. This method is employed with the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite ("ACTS") operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This method involves reducing the information transmission rate during a rain fade. More specifically, it works by adding forward error correction (FEC) coding during a fade event and removing it during clear weather conditions. Since the bit rate is constant, the addition of FEC overhead reduces the information rate during a fade event and increases it in clear weather. Such a method could be used to efficiently service advantaged and disadvantaged mobile platforms, except for the fact that this approach has insufficient dynamic range. As previously mentioned, the dynamic range between advantaged and disadvantaged mobile terminals is typically more than 10 dB in a coverage region. FEC will provide at most only about five dB of dynamic range. Thus, this method would be unsuitable for use in connection with mobile platforms operating within a relatively large coverage region such as CONUS.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Communications system and method employing forward satellite links using multiple simultaneous data rates


An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle having opposite axle ends and a pair of axle hubs. The axle assembly has a pair of double kingpin hinge arrangements, each including a first pivot pin connected with a respective one of the axle ends, a second pivot pin operatively associated with a respective axle hub, and a knuckle interconnecting the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin. At least one steering cylinder is associated with each double kingpin hinge arrangement. Each steering cylinder is interconnected between the axle and the knuckle or the axle hub.

The present invention relates to axle assemblies for vehicles, and, more particularly, to steering arrangements for such axle assemblies.
Ground engaging work vehicles such as agricultural combines typically include a pair of axle assemblies, with each axle assembly including an axle, a pair of axle hubs at the respective longitudinal ends of the axle, and a pair or tires respectively mounted to the axle hubs. For steerable wheels, the axle hubs may be rotated relative to the axle about a kingpin such that the wheels are steered to a desired steering angle. Usually both wheels are steered with a power actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder, and the wheels are interconnected through a tie rod.
For agricultural vehicles, the tendency is for the vehicle to become larger and larger, so that the vehicle can pull and/or provide power to larger and heavier related equipment or implements. In the case of a combine, the size of the header or cutting platform mounted to the front of the combine tends to be larger over time, which increases power requirements. Grain storage capacity is also growing with higher threshing capacity, resulting in higher steering axle weights. Moreover, it is becoming more common to tow other implements behind the combine, such as biomass harvesters or related storage carts or wagons.
With larger combines, it may also be necessary or desirable to equip the combine with larger drive wheels and steering wheels. Such wheels provide a larger surface area contacting the ground, which in turn results in better traction, less soil compaction, less rolling resistance on wet soil, etc. However, in the case of the steering wheels, the use of larger wheels may also result in a smaller turning angle since the larger wheels can contact and potentially interfere with or damage the vehicle structure, such as frame members, sheet metal siding or housings, etc. A smaller turning angle causes a larger turning radius for the vehicle, which is not desirable. Additionally, road legislation in Europe is becoming more and more restrictive, requiring vehicle profiles to remain within certain width (3.5 m) and height (4 m) limits to drive without being accompanied by safety escort vehicles.
What is needed in the art is a steering arrangement for a large vehicle, such as a combine, which allows the use of large tires while at the same time retaining a tight turning radius for the vehicle.

Axle assembly for a vehicle with a double kingpin hinge arrangement


The mitigation of indoor pathogens comprises quantifying, using a bio-aerosol monitoring system, the amount of total pathogens in the air and on surfaces within an indoor environment. Moreover, the process comprises sanitizing the indoor environment with portable equipment to stabilize the indoor environment when it is determined that the indoor environment is contaminated. Also, the process comprises installing a purification device within a contaminated area of the indoor environment, and monitoring continuously, the indoor environment after sanitizing, for pathogens. Still further, the process comprises releasing a purifying agent upon detecting pathogens in the indoor environment, and providing periodic maintenance to the purification device.

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to pathogen mitigation, and more particularly to systems and processes for the detection, reduction, and prevention of pathogens located in indoor environments.
Pathogens such as mold, mildew, or viruses can be found throughout numerous environments that are frequently encountered by people. Moreover, these pathogens have been linked to illnesses and allergy symptoms that affect some people exposed to such environments. Unfortunately, attempts to remove pathogens can, in some cases, result in the spread of the pathogens further contaminating the associated environment. Even after removal, pathogens may resurface, making the treatment of pathogens difficult and often ineffective.


The present invention provides methods of killing, inhibiting the growth, and/or inhibiting the reproduction of kinetoplastid or apicomplexan protozoan with tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) occurs in 36 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, threatening an estimated 60 million people with debilitating disease. No vaccines are available for prevention of infection by Trypanosoma brucei, which causes trypanosomiasis. Drugs in use are toxic, and drug resistance can be an issue (for review, see Docampo and Moreno, 2003, Parasitol Res; 90 Supp 1:S10-3). As a result, new and safer drugs are needed for the treatment of trypanosomiasis (Cowman and Crabb, 2003, Trends Parasitol; 19(11):538-43; Pink et al., 2005, Nat Rev Drug Discov; 4(9):727-40; and Gelb and Hol, 2003, Science; 297(5580):343-4). In addition, additional new drugs must be developed, in order to prepare for possible emergence of drug resistance in the parasites (de Koning, 2001, Int J Parasitol; 31(5-6):512-22; Ouellette, 2001, Trop Med Int Health; 6(11):874-82; and Sinyangwe et al., 2004, Vet Parasitol; 119(2-3):12-35).

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors as anti-kinetoplastid agents

University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.


Provided is a rotary electric machine including housings, a stator, a rotor, bearings, a slip ring, a power assembly, a control assembly, a rotation sensor, and a brush holder, in which a switching element mounting surface of the power assembly and a surface of the control assembly, on which a control element of a control circuit is mounted, are placed in parallel to a rotation shaft, and the rotation sensor is placed between the rear bearing and the slip ring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary electric machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been known an AC rotary electric machine in which a power assembly including a switching element for carrying a current to a stator having an armature winding, a control assembly including a control circuit for controlling the power assembly, and a rotation sensor for detecting a rotation state of a rotor are mounted.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-72776 discloses a rotary electric machine including a power block having a switching circuit, a control board including a control circuit for controlling the switching circuit, a case for housing the control board, and a rotation sensor provided further on the rear side with respect to a slip ring. In order to increase rigidity of the case for housing the control board, a fixing member is provided at the case so as to fasten the control board and a rear bracket respectively to the fixing member. Thus, the rigidity of the case is increased with the fixing member to enhance the vibration resistance of a control circuit part.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-129362 proposes a motor for electric power steering in which a power element and a control circuit are placed in a case to constitute a control circuit part, the control circuit part is fixed to the outer circumference of a motor body, a rotation sensor of a rotor is fixed inside a housing, and correcting means for electrically correcting the fixing position of the rotation sensor is provided. By fixing the rotation sensor inside the housing, damages caused during transportation are prevented, and the position adjustment of the rotation sensor, which becomes difficult due to the placement of the rotation sensor inside the housing, is electrically performed.
The rotary electric machine has the problems of how to enhance the accuracy of the rotation sensor and how to efficiently cool an electric component. Regarding these problems, in the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-72776 described above, the rotation sensor is provided further on the rear side with respect to the power block and the slip ring, and hence, this configuration does not address the problem of how to enhance the accuracy of the rotation sensor. Further, although the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-72776 enhances the vibration resistance of the control circuit part as described above, this configuration does not address the problem of how to efficiently cool the power block.
In the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-129362 described above, the control circuit and the power element are placed on the outer circumference of the motor as one control circuit part. However, such a configuration is made on a premise that the motor for electric power steering is used. The motor for electric power steering is a product which assists a driver to torque a steering wheel when the driver turns the steering wheel, and the rotor of the motor rotates only at a low speed or is not operated unless the driver turns the steering wheel. Therefore, it is impossible to generate cooling air by fixing a fan to the rotor. Specifically, the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-129362 has a structure for use in such a product. Therefore, when the structure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-129362 is applied to equipment to be constantly used, such as a vehicle power generator, there is a concern about insufficient cooling performance. Further, the structure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-129362 is not made on a premise that the cooling air is generated by fixing a fan to the rotor, and hence, does not address the problem of how to efficiently cool the power element with a fan.


Techniques described herein relate to semi-supervised training and application of stacked autoencoders and other classifiers for predictive and other purposes. In various embodiments, a semi-supervised model (108) may be trained for sentence classification, and may combine what is referred to herein as a “residual stacked de-noising autoencoder” (“RSDA”) (220), which may be unsupervised, with a supervised classifier (218) such as a classification neural network (e.g., a multilayer perceptron, or “MLP”). In various embodiments, the RSDA may be a stacked denoising autoencoder that may or may not include one or more residual connections. If present, the residual connections may help the RSDA “remember” forgotten information across multiple layers. In various embodiments, the semi-supervised model may be trained with unlabeled data (for the RSDA) and labeled data (for the classifier) simultaneously.

Deep learning-based methods for classification typically rely on massive amounts of labeled data. However, acquiring labeled data is costly, and this limits researchers from applying these techniques to many natural language processing tasks. Current semi-supervised methods for deep learning mainly use unlabeled data for learning word embeddings, which are then used in supervised classification, but these learned vectors do not directly benefit from supervision. Semi-supervised learning aims to improve the performance of supervised approaches by leveraging both unlabeled and labeled data. There have been some limited attempts to use deep learning for semi-supervised sentence classification, e.g., using convolutional neural networks ("CNNs") and/or long short-term memory networks ("LSTMs") to learn word embeddings from unlabeled training data and then utilizing these embeddings for supervised classification. While such efforts may alleviate some error in sentence classification tasks, there remain two major limitations. First, these methods have so far only focused on the simple scenario of single sentence classification. Second, such attempts have mainly involved using unlabeled data for word embeddings extraction, followed by supervised classification in a pipeline setting. Consequently, they are unable to learn discriminatory features from both unlabeled and labeled data jointly.

Semi-supervised classification with stacked autoencoder


The present invention discloses modified neurotoxins with altered biological persistence. In one embodiment, the modified neurotoxins are derived from Clostridial botulinum toxins. Such modified neurotoxins may be employed in treating various conditions, including but not limited to muscular disorders, hyperhidrosis, and pain.

The present invention relates to modified neurotoxins, particularly modified Clostridial neurotoxins, and use thereof to treat various disorders, including neuromuscular disorders, autonomic nervous system disorders and pain.
The clinical use of botulinum toxin serotype A (herein after "BoNT/A"), a serotype of Clostridial neurotoxin, represents one of the most dramatic role reversals in modern medicine: a potent biologic toxin transformed into a therapeutic agent. BoNT/A has become a versatile tool in the treatment of a wide variety of disorders and conditions characterized by muscle hyperactivity, autonomic nervous system hyperactivity and/or pain.
One of the reasons that BoNT/A has been selected over the other serotypes, for example serotypes B, C.sub.1, D, E, F and G, for clinical use is that BoNT/A has a substantially longer lasting therapeutic effect. In other words, the inhibitory effect of BoNT/A is more persistent. Therefore, the other serotypes of botulinum toxins could potentially be effectively used in a clinical environment if their biological persistence could be enhanced. For example, parotoid sialocele is a condition where the patient suffers from excessive salivation. Sanders et al. disclose in their patent that serotype D may be very effective in reducing excessive salivation. However, the biological persistence of serotype D botulinum toxin is relatively short and thus may not be practical for clinical use. If the biological persistence of serotype D may be enhanced, it may effectively be used in a clinical environment to treat, for example, parotid sialocele.
Another reason that BoNT/A has been a preferred neurotoxin for clinical use is, as discussed above, its superb ability to immobilize muscles through flaccid paralysis. For example, BoNT/A is preferentially used to immobilize muscles and prevent limb movements after a tendon surgery to facilitate recovery. However, for some minor tendon surgeries, the healing time is relatively short. It would be beneficial to have a BoNT/A without the prolonged persistence for use in such circumstances so that the patient can regain mobility at about the same time the recover from the surgery.
Presently, the basis for the differences in persistence among the various botulinum toxins is unknown. However, there are two main theories explaining the differences in the persistence of the toxins. Without wishing to be bound by any theory of operation or mechanism of action, these theories will be discussed briefly below. The first theory proposes that the persistence of a toxin depends on which target protein and where on that target protein that toxin attacks. Raciborska et al., Can. J. Physiol. Pharmcol. 77:679-688 (1999). For example, SNAP-25 and VAMP are proteins required for vesicular docking, a necessary step for vesicular exocytosis. BoNT/A cleaves the target protein SNAP-25 and BoNT/B cleaves the target protein VAMP, respectively. The effect of each is similar in that cleavage of either protein compromises the ability of a neuron to release neurotransmitters via exocytosis. However, damaged VAMP may be more easily replaced with new ones that damaged SNAP-25, for example by replacement synthesis. Therefore, since it takes longer for cells to synthesize new SNAP-25 proteins to replace damaged ones, BoNT/A has longer persistence. Id. At 685.
Additionally, the site of cleavage by a toxin may dictate how quickly the damaged target proteins may be replaced. For example, BoNT/A and E both cleave SNAP-25. However, they cleave at different sites and BoNT/E causes shorter-lasting paralysis in patients, compared with BoNT/A. Id. At 685-6.
The second theory proposes that the particular persistence of a toxin depends on its particular intracellular half-life, or stability, i.e., the longer the toxin is available in the cell, the longer the effect. Keller et al., FEBS Letters 456:137-42 (1999). Many factors contribute to the intracellular stability of a toxin, but primarily, the better it is able to resist the metabolic actions of intracellular proteases to break it down, the more stable it is. Erdal et al. Naunyn-schmiedeber's Arch. Pharmacol. 351:67-78 (1995).
In general, the ability of a molecule to resist metabolic actions of intracellular proteases may depend on its structures. For example, the primary structure of a molecule may include a unique primary sequence which may cause the molecule to be easily degraded by proteases or difficult to be degraded. For example, Varshavsky A. describes polypeptides terminating with certain amino acids are more susceptible to degrading proteases. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:12142-12149 (1996).
Furthermore, intracellular enzymes are known to modify molecules, for example polypeptides through, for example, N-glycosylation, phosphorylation etc. this kind of modification will be referred to herein as "secondary modification". "Secondary modification" often refers to the modification of endogenous molecules, for example, polypeptides after they are translated from RNAs. However, as used herein, "secondary modification" may also refer to an enzyme's, for example an intracellular enzyme's, ability to modify exogenous molecules. For example, after a patient is administered with exogenous molecules, e.g. drugs, these molecules may undergo a secondary modification by the action of the patient's enzymes, for example intracellular enzymes.
Certain secondary modifications of molecules, for example polypeptides, may resist or facilitate the actions of degrading proteases. These secondary modifications may, among other things, (1) affect the ability of a degrading protease to act directly on the molecule and/or (2) affect the ability of the molecules to be sequestered into vesicles to be protected against these degrading proteases.
There is a need to have modified neurotoxins which have efficacies of the various botulinum toxin serotypes, but with altered biological persistence, and methods for preparing such toxins.

Post-translational modifications and Clostridial neurotoxins


Compounds and methods for refolding of proteins in an aqueous solution. In particular, biocompatible multiblock copolymer surfactants such as poloxamers, meroxapols, poloxamines, or polyols are used to catalyze proper refolding without changing the protein composition, and restore the protein to its native conformation and native biological function. The methods can be practiced both in vivo and in vitro. The biocompatible multiblock copolymer surfactants can be used for renaturation of recombinantly expressed proteins, and for renaturation of proteins that are unfolded due to heat, irradiation, mechanical shearing, electrical shock, frostbite, chemical stress, and other abiotic or biotic stresses.

Protein function is dependent on its three-dimensional structure. When a protein is synthesized in a mammalian cell, it first appears essentially as a linear polypeptide chain. The immature chain then folds under appropriate cellular conditions (pH, ionic strength, etc.). Most globular proteins exhibit complicated three-dimensional folding described as secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures. Sometimes the protein folding occurs with the help of protein folding catalysts called molecular chaperones, which are proteins themselves. Out of thousands of possible three dimensional shapes, an average mature protein assumes only one conformation, which is often referred to as the native structure of the protein. This conformation of the protein molecule is rather fragile. Any alteration in the protein's native structure may lead to loss of the protein's biological activity, a phenomenon called denaturation. Since the native structure is maintained mostly by weak forces (hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions), proteins can easily be denatured by small changes in their environment. Thus protein denaturation occurs in their purification, storage, use, and transport. A given protein sample may therefore contain appreciable amounts of denatured, inactive protein besides the active, functional form.
Extensive unfolding sometimes causes precipitation of the protein from solution. Denaturation is defined as a major change from the original native state without alteration of the molecule's primary structure, i.e., without cleavage of any of the primary chemical bonds that link one amino acid to another. Treatment of proteins with strong acids or bases, high concentrations of inorganic salts or organic solvents (e.g., alcohol, chloroform, or guanidine hydrochloride), heat, mechanical shearing, or irradiation, all produce denaturation to a variable degree. Loss of three-dimensional structure usually produces a loss of biological activity. A denatured enzyme is often without catalytic function.
With the growth of the biotechnology industry and the increased production of recombinant proteins, interest in the mechanisms by which a protein adopts its native structure has increased dramatically. A number of therapeutic proteins are currently being produced by recombinant DNA technology, by incorporating a copy of the human gene encoding a particular protein into a rapidly dividing host cell such as a bacterium. The genes are then transcribed into mRNA and translated into protein by the host cell.
Recombinant proteins overexpressed in Escherichia coli are often accumulated as insoluble particles called inclusion bodies. Since proteins in inclusion bodies are usually inactive, they must be solubilized by a denaturing agent and refolded to recover their native steric structures having biological activities. In bioprocesses it is important to obtain a high refolding efficiency and high throughput at high protein concentrations.
Various methods for renaturing denatured proteins in solution have been disclosed. Renaturation of the denatured proteins is accomplished with varying success, and occasionally with a return of biological function, by exposing the denatured protein to a solution that approximates normal physiological conditions. Renaturation of proteins using cyclodextrins in a detergent-free liquid medium has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,804. A high pressure-based method for the refolding of denatured proteins in solution was provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,489,450.
Renaturation (refolding) processes can involve dispersing the protein inclusion bodies in a buffer in the presence of "refolding aids," which can interact with the protein to enhance its renaturation. J. L. Cleland et al., Biotechnology, 10, 1013 (1992), reported that polyethylene glycol enhances refolding yields. Various sugars and detergents have also been employed in refolding. G. Zardeneta at al., J. Biol. Chem., 267, 5811 (1992); L. H. Nguyen et al., Protein Expression Purif., 4, 425 (1993). Recently, D. Rozema et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 117, 2373 (1995), reported that sequential complexation of denatured carbonic anhydrase B with a quaternary amine detergent. CTAB, followed by addition of beta-cyclodextrin to the complex, caused reactivation of the enzyme. None of these methods have been used to refold proteins inside cells, either in vitro or in vivo.
A continuing need exists for methods and compositions for renaturation of denatured proteins. It is particularly important to discover non-toxic compounds and methods that aid renaturation of proteins in an aqueous solution. Such protein folding aids and methods should be inexpensive, non-toxic, and easily administered to the denatured protein sample.

Compositions and methods for refolding of denatured proteins


A method and system suitable for use in organize communications in a network. The organization process optionally being suitable to facilitating nodal communications so as to minimize energy consumption and activity periods associated with nodal communications. The process being adaptable for use with any number of nodes, such as but not limited to nodes associated with wireless sensor nets or other networks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to organizing networks having a number of nodes, such as but not limited to wireless sensors, configured to electronically communicate information.
2. Background Art
One of the main power costs in wireless sensor networks or other networks is energy consumption associated with an active/powered radio receiver/transceiver used to facilitate nodal communications. In order to prolong battery life and otherwise limit power consumption, it can be advantageous to minimize an amount of time that the receiver is active, i.e., to reduce the window in which it listens for and/or communicates information.
In order to minimize this so called communication window, each node may be configured to listen (be active) for a period of time and to be turned off (inactive) for another period of time. Energy saving increases as the inactivity period increases. Because each node typically relies on communicates from the other nodes for processing and other operations, the period for which each is active and inactive may be synchronized so that nodes all are listening for the same period of time and inactive for the same period.
Beaconing is one process for synchronizing nodal communications in which nodal activity states are coordinated. Beaconing generally relates to activating each node to listen and communicate during a beaconing window and to deactivate during a period of time outside of the beaconing window. To limit communication collisions and otherwise facilitate communications, each node may be assigned its own time slot within the window in which they are to transmit data packets, if the transmission of data packets is desired. Each node, therefore, listens to the packets communicated from the others within beaconing window, and transmits without fear of collision.
Current approaches to establishing the beaconing window rely on a centralized coordinator that defines when the listening window starts and ends, and assigns all the other nodes a slot in which to transmit. If the centralized coordinator node were to fail, new nodes arriving cannot be assigned a slot, and in many schemes even the existing nodes would become lost, as the start of each window may be marked by the coordinator. This is problematic. If the coordinator is lost or unavailable, the nodes essentially form a collection of peer nodes that must then include capabilities to detect coordinator presence and capabilities to facilitate mutually determining and selecting a common coordinator, adding extra complexity and costs. The coordinator is a single point of failure and maintaining such a coordinator can add complexity cost to the designing and supporting such a network.


An apparatus for applying labels to bottles or the like comprises at least one moveable gluing palette 7 which coacts with a rotary gluing roller 1 so as to be coated with glue, and which thereafter transfers the glue to a label 17 which is transported by the palette from a label magazine 11 to a gripper 12 which grips the glue-coated label and presses it onto a bottle 15. The outer cylindrical surface of the gluing roller is provided with helical grooves 2 which are kept filled with glue, and the outer layer 10 of each gluing palette is slightly elastic so that when the palette is urged into contact with the ridges 3 extending between the grooves on the gluing roller, parts of the outer layer will be pressed partially into the grooves so as to come into contact with the glue present in the grooves.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for applying labels to objects, such as bottles or the like, comprising at least one moveable gluing palette which is intended to coact with a rotary gluing roller so as to be coated with glue and thereafter to transfer glue to a label which is transported by the palette from a label magazine to a gripper which is intended to grip the glue-coated label and press the label onto the object concerned.
Devices of the aforedescribed kind are used, among other things, to apply labels to bottles in breweries, soft-drink bottling plants and like plants, which require the labelling devices to operate at high speed. The majority of these devices include a rubber gluing roller, aluminium gluing palettes and an adjustable glue scraper which is operative in determining the thickness of the glue on the gluing roller.
These known devices must be produced with extreme accuracy and any subsequent adjustments to the devices in operation must be effected very precisely, since, for instance, the gluing palettes may only partially penetrate the glue layer on the gluing roller without making contact with the outer surface of the roller itself, since such contact would force the glue layer carried by the roller out onto the edges of the palette. This would cause glue to splash or squirt onto the palette surroundings, and would also result in glue fastening to the front side of the labels, causing the labels to be drawn off the bottles. Loose labels which fasten to the gluing roller are difficult to remove and may result in damage to the roller, particularly when using foil labels, since such labels can cause wear on the roller when fastening between the glue scraper and the roller. A certain amount of wear can also be caused when the operator scrapes away labels that have fastened to the gluing roller with the aid of a sharp tool.
Another serious drawback with the known apparatus is that labels which fasten between the glue scraper and the gluing roller are liable to prevent the application of a fresh layer of glue on the roller, meaning that subsequent labels will not be completely coated with glue and that these glue-depleted labels will not stick to the very fast moving bottles. This may make it necessary to remove from the production line a very large number of bottles which lack labels.
Another factor is that the clearance between the gluing palettes and the gluing roller must not be excessive, since an excessive clearance will prevent the palettes from coming into contact with the glue, with the result that the labels will not be adequately coated.
The known apparatus are thus very sensitive to non-roundness of the gluing roller and also to wear on said roller, and require precise and play-free journalling of the roller.
DE-A1-3 131 164 describes a gluing machine or apparatus in which the gluing palettes are permitted to make contact with the gluing roller, wherein both the palettes and the roller are provided with mutually intersecting grooves. This arrangement, however, suffers several drawbacks, since, among other things, the ridges located between the grooves become coated with intersecting glue beads which are pressed out onto the edges of the palettes as the ridges come into contact with one another and splash down onto the surroundings and also result in glue fastening to the front side of the label.

Apparatus for applying labels to objects having a helically grooved gluine roller


A molded device package supports a volatile memory chip and a replaceable backup battery for preserving data in the event of loss of main power supply. The package includes an external socket for receiving a replaceable backup battery which can be manually inserted into or removed from the socket after molding encapsulation and metal trim work have been completed. The socket is intersected by an exposure cavity which permits the positive and negative terminals of a backup battery to engage positive and negative finger leads. The positive and negative battery terminals are engaged by resilient terminal contact portions of the positive and negative finger leads which project into the exposure cavity. Socket shoulder portions and a retainer cap hold a backup battery within the socket and in electrical contact with the resilient terminal contact portions.

Conventional packages for semiconductor integrated circuit chips are adapted to enclose and seal the chip devices, while also providing heat dissipation, structural support, electrical attachment of device leads to external pin connectors, and electrical interconnection with other devices in the package. Such packages usually include one or more layers of a non-conductive material, having a central cavity in which a semiconductor chip is received. Flexible metal leads are extended from the central cavity for connecting the device input/output leads to a printed circuit board in a host electronic circuit.
An important integrated circuit product which is implemented on an IC chip encapsulated within an integrated circuit package includes a volatile semiconductor memory such as the static random access memory (SRAM) which is characterized by low power consumption and high memory cell density. The generation of valid logic signals and the retention of data in such integrated memory circuits having volatile memory cells depend in part on maintenance of power supply voltage within specified limits. In conventional integrated circuit memory devices, internal circuits sense the external voltage being applied to determine if it is sufficient for reliable operation. In response to a low voltage condition, control signals are generated which cause active chips to be deselected and maintained in standby condition. This is usually carried out by means of true and complement chip select signals, CS and cs, respectively, which inhibit read/write operations until the low voltage condition has been corrected.
During the period that a memory chip is in the unselected condition it is necessary to maintain the charge levels of the storage capacitors in the volatile memory cells so that stored data will be retained. Otherwise, the information stored in the memory cells, including programs and data, will be lost when main power is removed. Although the loss of power does not result in memory circuit damage, the loss of stored information requires that the memory be reloaded with programs and data before processing can be resumed.

IC package having direct attach backup battery


An antenna system includes a helical antenna that includes one or more helically shaped conductors. Each conductor is substantially embedded in a dielectric structure.

In many aspects of wireless communications, a desire exists to minimize antenna size. In general, technological progress has produced significant advances in the miniaturization of electronic components and circuitry, however, this progress has not been mirrored by corresponding advancements in antenna miniaturization. Theoretical work over the years, as well empirical results, indicate that reducing antenna size may cause compromises to be made in antenna performance, most notably efficiency and bandwidth. Additionally, antenna directivity, cross-polarization isolation, and other antenna performance characteristics may be sacrificed to reduce antenna size.


A monitoring camera control terminal and a monitoring camera apparatus respectively correspond to a plurality of protocols defining messages instructing a variety of settings and operations between the monitoring camera control terminal and the monitoring camera apparatus, and the monitoring camera control terminal uses a first protocol to request the monitoring camera apparatus for information related to the monitoring camera apparatus, receives the requested information from the monitoring camera apparatus, and if the requested information does not match the setting or operation information recorded in a storage part of the monitoring camera control terminal, changes the first protocol to a second protocol.

The present invention relates to a camera system, a monitoring camera control terminal and a protocol changing method.
There is a monitoring camera system that is provided with a monitoring camera apparatus which can send a captured image through a network and can be connected to the network, and a monitoring camera control terminal which can display the image captured by the monitoring camera apparatus after receiving it through the network.
Some monitoring camera apparatuses which configure the monitoring camera system and which are network connectable are provided with a function to set a variety of functions provided for the monitoring camera apparatus from a remote monitoring camera control terminal through the network, or a function to receive instructions to perform operations such as panning, tilting, and zooming.
As a protocol specifying communication messages for instructing a variety of settings and operations which are performed between the monitoring camera apparatus and the monitoring camera control terminal through the network, an original protocol which can be used by each company between its own products only was mostly defined and used conventionally. But, today there have appeared standard protocols which can be used in common between the products of two or more companies.
To newly meet a standard protocol in development of products such as the monitoring camera apparatus and the monitoring camera control terminal, it is necessary to develop new software for realizing control using the standard protocol and to apply to the individual products.
It is generally presumed that newly developed software has a large number of defects. But software for realizing the control using an original protocol of each company has a good record of being applied to each product and used up to now for a certain period and its defects which have become obvious are being fixed. Therefore, it is presumed that software quality has become higher.
In such a case, to realize control for setting, operation and the like more securely between the monitoring camera apparatus and the monitoring camera control terminal, it is general to use a technique that both of software for realizing control using an original protocol which is assumed to have higher quality and software for realizing control using a newly developed standard protocol are applied to provide multiplexed software for controlling, and if either of them had a problem, switching to the other is performed.
As a technology for improving the availability of the whole apparatus by multiplexing the software as described above, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-333990 is directed to updating of a program and proposes a method that stores both of a currently operating program and a new program which is an updated version of the former program, and if a startup failure of the new program is detected, the operating program before updating is used to continue the operation of the device.

Camera system, monitoring camera control terminal, and protocol changing method

HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.


A ring laser gyro, having: an envelope for an optically resonant cavity having a gain bore section, the envelope containing an active gas medium. The envelope contains electrically gain bore energizable electrode means having at least two electrodes at electrode locations within the envelope for establishing an electrical discharge in an active gas medium between the electrode locations. The electrical discharge excites a pair of light beams along a lasing path between the electrode locations. The light beams counter-propagate in the optically resonant cavity. The envelope is coupled to means for generating an output signal for the gyro by measuring a difference in the frequencies of the light beams. The active gas medium has an axial current driven gas flow and a return gas flow induced by the electrical discharge in the gain bore. The resultant gas flow contributes to bias errors in the output signal. The envelope also comprises a gas bypass cavity adapted to pneumatically couple the electrode locations along the gain bore. The gas bypass cavity also has a length in excess of that of the gain bore, and second electrode means for an auxiliary discharge path within the bypass cavity to provide axial current driven gas flow between the second electrode means respective electrode locations. Adjustment of the auxiliary discharge current provides a means for adjusting the gyro bias to compensate for bias errors induced by the gain bore axial current driven gas flow. The gas bypass cavity reduces the differential pressure between the respective electrode locations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ring laser gyroscopes and more particularly to ring laser gyroscopes which have bias errors resulting from gas flow within the gas medium.
2. Description of Prior Art
In ring laser gyroscopes, a pair of counter-rotating monochromatic light beams are propagated within a sealed cavity about a closed-loop optical path. The two beams travel in opposite directions around the closed-loop optical path. As the gyroscope cavity rotates in inertial space, the two oppositely traveling beams travel unequal path distances. A component of each light beam is extracted at a single point within the cavity, the point being referenced to the ring laser gyro housing where each of the two components are focused on a suitable detector. The two beams reach the detector having a relative frequency difference resulting from the rotational rate of the gyroscope housing in inertial space. The relative frequency difference is detected as an electrical beat signal which is then electronically interpreted to indicate the direction and inertial rate of rotation of the ring laser gyro housing about the gyro's sensitive axis.
Lasing is typically obtained by applying a DC current source having a voltage sufficient to sustain a discharge in the active gas medium in the gain bore. The discharge is supported between spaced-apart electrodes. The discharge, or plasma excitation current produces a gas flow of ionized gas between oppositely polarized electrodes in the optical cavity. It has long been known that this gas flow tends to induce a bias error in the detected signal of a ring laser gyro. By bias error, we mean a frequency difference between the two beams which are not in proportion to the rotation rate such as: a frequency difference in the absence of rotation, or a change in the frequency difference for a specific rotation rate. Ring laser gyros that use direct current excitation are therefore typically provided with a balanced electrode structure wherein two electrodes of one polarity are symmetrically disposed at each end of the gyro's gain bore about a single electrode of the opposite polarity positioned at the center of the gain bore. This structural arrangement produces two equal and symmetrical plasma flows of ionized gas thereby substantially reducing the bias errors in the detected beat signal.
The active gas medium in a ring laser gyro is typically excited by a DC current source producing a voltage drop between the cathode and each of the two respective anodes. The current source delivers relatively balanced currents to each respective anode through respective active gas medium segments. The gas flow produced in response to the current flow, contributes to a return gas flow between electrodes of opposite polarity. The total ring laser gyro bias error in the detected beat signal is related to the magnitude of the pressure difference between electrodes of opposite polarity.
A prior pending U.S. Patent Application titled "Ring Laser Gyro Gas Bypass", Ser. No. 496,166, filed May 19, 1983 and having the same inventor and assignee, is pertinent. It provided a partial solution to bias errors by providing a gas bypass between electrode locations of opposite polarity through apertures in the gain bore in the lasing path. In this prior invention, the gas bypass operates to control the return gas flow by providing an alternate path for the return gas flow. The alternate path also serves to reduce the pressure differential between electrode locations of opposing polarity.

Ring laser gyro gas bypass with auxiliary discharge


A sidewall spacer structure is formed adjacent to a gate structure whereby a material forming an outer surface of the sidewall spacer structure contains nitrogen. Subsequent to its formation the sidewall spacer structure is annealed to harden the sidewall spacer structure from a subsequent cleaning process. An epitaxial layer is formed subsequent to the cleaning process.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates generally to a semiconductor manufacturing method and more specifically to the use of sidewall structures in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
As critical dimensions of semiconductor-based transistors become smaller the effects of surface contamination on various processing stages can become more pronounced. For example, increased junction leakage can occur subsequent to silicidation of an epitaxial layer when the epitaxial layer is disposed upon a rough surface as a result of surface contamination. Therefore, a method of manufacturing overcoming problems such as this would be useful.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

Method of forming a semiconductor device


A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I)

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the preparation of ketones and more particularly to a method and apparatus for preparing unsymmetrical ketones such as methyl cyclopropyl ketone (MCPK). The invention also relates to a method of using such ketone preparation method in the preparation of a herbicidal or other agricultural compounds.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, unsymmetrical ketones are useful as intermediates for the production of numerous specialty chemicals. More specifically, methyl cyclopropyl ketone (MCPK) has a variety of current and potential future uses including, among others, the production of specialty agricultural and pharmaceutical compounds.
Numerous literature references cite and disclose various well-known processes for the preparation of ketones. These processes include oxidation of secondary alcohols, Friedel-Crafts acylation, reaction of acid chlorides with organo cadmium compounds, acetoacetic ester synthesis and decarboxylation from acids, among others.
Text and literature references also detail problems associated with using these processes to produce ketones. These include problems such as the unavailability and/or cost of raw materials, the requirement of multi-stage processing, the low conversion of the raw materials and/or the low selectivity of the desired ketones, and the production of corrosive or hard to separate products.
Ketone production processes have also been described in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,528,400 and 4,570,021 disclose a process for the preparation of unsymmetrical ketones by a catalytic vapor phase reaction using reactants such as ketones with carboxylic acids. However, laboratory trials using acetone and cyclopropanecarboxylic acid resulted in the production of high quantities of gamma-butyrolactone, several pentenones and pentanones, but no MCPK.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,410,909 and 3,453,331 disclose processes for the preparation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical ketones from aldehydes containing up to 8 carbons in a non-cyclic saturated aliphatic chain.
German Patent Disclosure No. P36 37 788.0 (1986) discloses a specific condensation reactor process for the preparation of methyl cyclopropyl ketone (MCPK) from cyclopropanecarboxylic acid or its derivatives. However, although examples from this patent show raw material conversion of from 58 to 99 percent and selectivity to MCPK of 42 to 75 percent, the liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) or weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) values of less than 1 (i.e., 0.25 to 0.99) minimize the industrial usefulness of this condensation reactor process.
European Patent Application No. 0 085 996 also discloses processes for the preparation of unsymmetric aliphatic ketones at atmospheric pressures (or slightly above) and at relatively low WHSV.
Still further, a reported disadvantage of all vapor phase tube reactor processes is the xe2x80x9ccokingxe2x80x9d or deactivation of the catalyst and consequential xe2x80x9cpluggingxe2x80x9d of the reactors. This results in the loss of production hours while the catalyst is being regenerated or replaced.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for the production of ketones, and particularly unsymmetrical ketones such as methyl cyclopropyl ketone (MCPK) which utilizes readily available and inexpensive raw materials, which eliminates or minimizes reactor plugging, which provides for high conversion rates and high selectivity to MCPK and which dramatically improves the rate of production.
In contrast to the prior art, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing ketones, and in particular unsymmetrical ketones such as MCPK which overcome the limitations of the prior art. Specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention utilizes readily available and inexpensive raw materials, minimizes reactor plugging, results in high conversion and selectivity rates and provides for increased production of the desired ketone. Generally, the raw materials used in the method and apparatus of the present invention include an acid or aldehyde or their derivatives and a carboxylic acid.
More specifically, the present invention involves the preparation of methyl cyclopropyl ketone (MCPK) utilizing a tube reactor provided with a suitable catalyst ranging from about 1 percent to 25 percent by weight. The preferred raw materials or feed materials include cyclopropylaldehyde or its derivatives (such as cyclopropanecarboxylic acid) and acetic acid which are readily available through processes known in the art. These raw materials are fed into a catalytic tube reactor where they are exposed to the catalyst and react to produce the desired ketone and various co-products. Preferably, the new raw materials are fed from the bottom to the top so that the reactant materials flow vertically upwardly through the reactor. To minimize undesired co-products as well as xe2x80x9ccokingxe2x80x9d of the catalyst and thus xe2x80x9cpluggingxe2x80x9d of the reactor, the optimum reaction temperature of the reactant feed stream is determined and the catalyst bed is preheated to such optimum temperature prior to the introduction of the reactant materials.
To further minimize downtime of the production process during the regeneration of catalyst or during reactor maintenance or repair, multiple or side-by-side reactors are provided with means for selectively directing the reactant materials to one or the other and removing product and co-products from such selected reactor. This permits the non-selected reactor or reactors to be repaired and/or maintained and the catalyst therein to be regenerated, if needed.
In the preferred embodiment and method of the present invention, the reactor is a vapor phase tube reactor in contrast to a condensation reactor or a batch stirred reactor. Further, the reactant materials in the method and apparatus of the present invention are preferably fed into the bottom of the reactor and caused to flow upwardly through the reactor over the catalyst. With this configuration, it is possible to dramatically increase the LHSV or WHSV. This results in dramatically increased production rates.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for the preparation of ketones and in particular unsymmetrical ketones such as methyl cyclopropyl ketone (MCPK).
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for preparing MCPK in a tube reactor with a minimized incidence of reactor plugging.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for the preparation of MCPK utilizing inexpensive and readily available reactant or feed materials.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for the preparation of MCPK at high conversion rates and high selectivity to MCPK, with minimal undesirable co-products.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for the preparation of MCPK at high production rates so as to result in an economically attractive process.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method of using the above-described ketone preparation method to prepare a herbicidal or other agricultural compound.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the drawing, the description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims.

Method and apparatus for the preparation of ketones

Abstract: wherein:

Abstract: R1 is cycloalkyl having from three to six ring carbon atoms which is unsubstituted or which has one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of R4 and halogen.


A system and method recaptures peripheral device dedicated memory for use by other system components such as the CPU. The system comprises a CPU, a preferred primary PCI bridge and at least one peripheral system. The peripheral system comprises a peripheral device, a peripheral memory typically dedicated to the peripheral device, and a peripheral controller for managing peripheral device commands and peripheral memory access requests. The system may further comprise a system memory unit having a system memory and a system memory controller. The preferred primary PCI bridge couples the CPU to the peripheral system(s), determines dedicated and shared memory portions for the peripheral memory, creates a composite memory map, and delivers memory aperture information to each of the peripherals. During runtime, the preferred primary PCI bridge manages dedicated and shared peripheral memory access. Using the memory aperture information, each peripheral controller manages access to its respective peripheral memory.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to computer memory, and more particularly to a system and method for recapturing dedicated peripheral device memory, thereby making this memory available for general use by the computer system.
2. Description of the Background Art
Many peripheral devices, such as video displays or graphic accelerators, require random access memory (RAM) to operate. To improve system performance and peripheral device functionality, computer designers typically provide dedicated peripheral RAM for these peripheral devices. This dedicated RAM is generally accessible only by the peripheral device and is not available or reassignable to other system components such as the central processing unit (CPU). However, it is not uncommon for a peripheral device to use only a portion of its dedicated peripheral memory, thereby wasting valuable RAM capacity. For example, a typical desktop computer system has four megabytes of Dynamic RAM (DRAM), or similar RAM such as VRAM, dedicated to the video controller and display. Yet, when displaying about 800 by 600 pixels at eight bits per pixel for color definition alone, the typical high resolution SVGA video monitor uses only about one megabyte of its dedicated memory. Thus, three megabytes of RAM remain unused. Laptop computers require even less dedicated memory due to the physical limitations of liquid crystal displays.
This problem is exacerbated when system designers implement wide databuses for coarse grain information transfer between a peripheral device and the dedicated peripheral memory. To obtain this wide databus and thereby improve system performance, many system designers use several memory chips in parallel, which incidentally provides more memory greater than needed by the peripheral device. With increasing RAM requirements, systems should not squander such valuable resources. Therefore, a system and method are needed to make more efficient use of peripheral device dedicated memory.

System using a primary bridge to recapture shared portion of a peripheral memory of a peripheral device to provide plug and play capability


A semiconductor device inspection apparatus is an apparatus for inspecting a semiconductor device which is an object to be inspected based on a result signal which is output in accordance with input of a test pattern signal to the semiconductor device, the apparatus including: an ultrasonic transducer, disposed to face the semiconductor device, which generates ultrasonic waves; a stage for moving a relative position of the semiconductor device and the ultrasonic transducer; a stimulation condition control unit for controlling a condition of stimulation by the ultrasonic waves applied to the semiconductor device; and an analysis unit for generating a measurement image based on the result signal which is output from the semiconductor device.

Patent Literature 1 discloses an apparatus that inspects a semiconductor integrated circuit using ultrasonic heating. In this inspection apparatus, a semiconductor integrated circuit which is an object to be inspected is irradiated with ultrasonic waves while electric power is supplied from a constant voltage source. A current image or a fault image of the semiconductor integrated circuit is generated by detecting a change in a current flowing to ground wiring in accordance with the ultrasonic wave irradiation.

Semiconductor device inspection apparatus and semiconductor device inspection method


A semiconductor device according to the present invention comprises a first non-volatile memory, a second non-volatile memory in which initial data is stored, and an initialization controller for initializing the first non-volatile memory, wherein the second non-volatile memory has anti-stress properties higher than those of the first non-volatile memory, and the initialization controller reads the initial data from the second non-volatile memory when the first non-volatile memory is initialized and copies the read initial data in the first non-volatile memory to thereby initialize the first non-volatile memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and an IC card having a non-volatile memory, more specifically to a technology for reliably initializing data in the non-volatile memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
A non-volatile memory, which is capable of retaining data without any power supply thereto, is often installed in LSI. Any necessary initial data is stored in the non-volatile memory when the non-volatile memory is installed in LSI, and the LSI provided with the non-volatile memory in which such necessary data is stored is shipped. Examples of the initial data include product management information used when the LSI is manufactured, various information used when the quality of a product is judged and various data such as model-specific information, as recited in Japanese Patent Document (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-259602). Such data is used in order to facilitate maintenance service when the product is found defective after the shipment.
In the LSI installed in the IC card, a transportation key is used in order to prevent any illegal use resulting from theft of the LSI and the IC card during the transportation (for example, see Japanese Patent Document (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-102635)). Information of the transportation key is stored in the non-volatile memory as initial data when the LSI is manufactured, and then, the LSI is shipped. In addition to the above-mentioned data, other initial data such as configuration information for setting functions of the LSI is also stored in the non-volatile memory by a manufacturer of the LSI.
There are a wide variety of non-volatile memories, including a ferroelectric memory, EEPROM, a fuse memory and a mask ROM, and each of these memories has advantages and disadvantages. For example, the ferroelectric memory is advantageous in its remarkable access speed and rewritability; however, is unfavorably inferior to the other non-volatile memories in its anti-stress properties (heat-resistant stress property and anti-stress property. Further, the fuse memory, for example, is superior in its anti-stress properties and data retaining performance; however, is disadvantageously rewritable only once.
The LSI may undergo some kind of stress in any of manufacturing steps before the LSI is made into a final product. For example, when the LSI is mounted on a substrate, a thermal stress of approximately 250° C. is applied to the LSI in a reflow step wherein the LSI package is soldered to the substrate. However, in the case where the ferroelectric memory is used as the non-volatile memory, the initial data may be destroyed due to the thermal stress during a manufacturing step. On the other hand, in the case of the fuse memory and the EEPROM whose anti-stress properties are high, such basic performance as the access speed and rewritability fail to satisfy demanded specification.