The invention relates to a method for tomographically displaying a cavity by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to an OCT device, wherein the path length of a measuring light beam in the catheter can change as a result of a movement of the catheter and brings about a change in the display scale, wherein a possible change in the path length of the measuring light beam in the event of a movement of the catheter is electronically determined and automatically compensated.

The basic principle of OCT is based on white light interferometry. This method compares the propagation time of a signal using an interferometer, usually a Michelson interferometer. In this case an optical path with known optical wavelength, the reference path of the interferometer, is used as the reference for the measuring path. The interference of the signals from both paths produces a pattern, as a result of optical cross correlation, from which pattern the relative optical wavelength—an individual depth signal—can be read. In the one-dimensional grid method the beam is transversely guided in one or two directions, whereby a two-dimensional scan or a three-dimensional tomogram may be taken. The outstanding property of the OCT lies in the decoupling of the transversal resolution from the longitudinal resolution. In contrast thereto both the axial resolution—depth-wise—and the transversal—lateral—resolution depend on the focusing of the light beam in conventional light-optical microscopy.
The fields of application are primarily in medicine, in particular in ophthalmology, and in early cancer diagnosis, for skin examination or in the field of examination of vessels which is considered in particular here. Reflections on boundaries of materials with different refractive indices (membranes, cellular layers, organ boundaries) are measured in this case and thus a two- or three-dimensional image is reconstructed.
The use of OCT is limited by the penetration depth of electromagnetic radiation into the object being examined and by the bandwidth. Since 1996 sophisticated broadband [lasers] have enabled the development of UHR-OCT (Ultra High Resolution OCT) which has advanced the resolution from a few tens of micrometers (μm) to fractions of micrometers. Subcellular structures in human cancer cells can thus be displayed.
In the field of vessel examination OCT is used, as is described for example in WO 97/32182 A1, to generate images from the insides of the vessels using image-producing intravascular catheters. OCT is particularly suitable for example for qualitative plaque assessment. For this purpose OCT systems operate in a light wave range of approx. 1,300 nm. The light is emitted into the vessel wall from a catheter introduced into a vessel and the reflection from the vessel wall is registered in a depth-resolved manner, as described above, by means of interferometry. By translating the irradiated light beam information from various adjacent locations in the vessel wall can be obtained and compiled into a 2D image. The catheter can also be moved in the longitudinal axis of the vessel during image acquisition in order to sequentially display portions of the vessel that are located one behind the other.
The reflections of the various vessel wall layers carry the relevant image information and must be detected and displayed by the OCT device. The catheter itself has an internal structure which produces reflections, so the OCT system displays the catheter used in the image. OCT and the interferometry used for this purpose involve minimal differences in length which have to be detected. As, during catheter production, the manufacturing tolerances of the catheter length far exceed the differences in length that are to be measured, the OCT system must be re-calibrated for each new OCT catheter which is used as disposable material.
It is known here to make use of the autoreflections from the catheter itself. As the manufacturing tolerance of the diameter of the OCT catheter, which is visible in the center of the OCT image, is negligible compared with the differences in length that are to be measured, markings are usually displayed on the screen of the OCT system for calibration purposes, the spacing of which markings from each other corresponds to the known diameter of the OCT catheter. During calibration the user manually adjusts the length of the measuring path until the marking and the displayed reflection of the catheter match.
If the OCT catheter is advanced or withdrawn the optical fiber, which is part of the measuring path, in the catheter is compressed or elongated by a few micrometers. The changed length of the OCT catheter, or its core, changes the calibration, so length measurements in photographs which are caused by a movement of the catheter contain substantial errors and thus cannot be utilized for the examination. Manual recalibration is not possible as the catheter moves very quickly.

Method for tomographically displaying a cavity by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and an OCT device for carrying out the method


A textile-printing apparatus includes a pre-treatment agent-applying section that applies a pre-treatment agent to a textile-printing medium, a press section that compresses, while heating the textile-printing medium, the textile-printing medium to which the pre-treatment agent has been applied, a printing liquid discharge section that discharges a printing liquid to the textile-printing medium that has been compressed while being heated by the press section, and a heater that heats the textile-printing medium to which the printing liquid has been discharged.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a textile-printing apparatus that prints an image on a textile-printing medium.
2. Related Art
There has been known a technique that prints an image on a textile-printing medium by discharging a printing liquid onto a textile-printing medium. According to the related-art, a textile-printing medium is set in a pre-treatment apparatus that applies a pre-treatment agent for fixing a printing liquid to a textile-printing medium. After the pre-treatment agent is applied to the textile-printing medium by the apparatus, the textile-printing medium is set in a textile-printing apparatus. Then, the printing liquid is discharged onto the textile-printing medium by the textile-printing apparatus.
According to such related-art technique, due to the effect of the pre-treatment agent applied to the textile-printing medium, the printing liquid is easily fixed to the textile-printing medium, and print quality is improved. However, since the two apparatuses, that is, the pre-treatment apparatus and the textile-printing apparatus are used, printing operations are time and energy consuming.
On the other hand, a textile-printing apparatus described in JP-A-2008-75215 is equipped with a function to apply a pre-treatment agent to a textile-printing medium. Therefore, a single textile-printing apparatus is capable of applying a pre-treatment agent to a textile-printing medium and discharging a printing liquid to the textile-printing medium.
However, in the textile-printing apparatus described in JP-A-2008-75215, wrinkles and fluff of the textile-printing medium are not particularly taken into account, and therefore, there is a risk that a wrinkle or fluff of a textile-printing medium will degrade print quality.


An operation mode conversion device, a mobile communication terminal having the same and a method for converting the operation mode are provided. According to an embodiment, a user interface element is provided with an input unit configured to generate a signal to switch a current operation mode to a selected operation mode upon being pressed by a user, the selected operation mode being set with respect to a position on the input unit, and a display area is located at a central portion of the input unit, the display area being configured to output information about the selected operation mode. The user can quickly perform menu navigation to convert the operation mode as desired, the information about the converted operation mode is conveniently viewed, and the overall size of the mobile phone can be minimized.

The present disclosure relates generally to an operation mode conversion device, mobile communication terminal having the operation mode conversion device, and methods for converting operation mode using the same.
Mobile communication terminals (e.g., mobile phones, handsets, wireless communication devices, etc.) are being developed to handle increased capabilities and functions. As such, several different operation modes may be performed, such as, for example, a system management mode, a phone book mode, an entertainment (or games) mode, and the like.
An operation mode function may be selected by the user via an input device (e.g., a keypad, buttons, function keys, etc.). Typically, a user interface menu (or other navigation scheme) allows the user to initially select higher level menu items, which then allows further selection of lower level sub-menu items that exist under each higher level menu item. As numerous menu items and sub-menu items may exist due to increased capabilities of the mobile phone, the user must go through many steps of selecting certain buttons, and thus, menu navigation is time consuming and inconvenient.
As a more specific example, a conventional mobile communication terminal allows a user to make a voice call to another party via wireless communication. In addition, various operation mode conversion devices for converting into the corresponding operation modes are implemented in the conventional mobile communication terminal so as to perform various functions.
A button type, a scroll type, or a wheel type of an operation mode selector may be used to perform as the conventional operation mode conversion device. The operation mode selectors are operated to output information about an operation mode on a display of the terminal. Also, control keys for selecting the operation mode are located at fixed positions of an input portion (e.g. key pad) to allow the user to select the operation modes.
The operation mode conversion device having the operation mode selector and the mobile terminals having the operation mode conversion device are configured to select an operation mode which is actually desired to be used and belongs to a lower level of each menu item after a higher level menu (e.g. a manager function, a diary function of telephone numbers, etc., an entertainment function such as an entertainment, etc.) is selected. However, such configuration is inconvenient for the user, because the user must manipulate the operation mode selector several times to select the desired operation mode.
Therefore, there is a need to improve the operation mode selection and conversion operation. In some mobile terminals, the operation mode can be selected through simple manipulation. However, the converted operation mode may still not be easily and simply recognized by the user.
Meanwhile, in some mobile phones, a plurality of selection buttons respectively used for selecting and converting one of the many operation modes may be used to allow more simple and rapid operation mode selection. However, the size of the mobile terminal does not allow for a large number of selection buttons to be provided thereon.

Operation mode conversion device, mobile communication terminal having the operation mode conversion device and method for converting operation mode using the same


In a method of treating the spine of a patient, an access device is inserted into the patient with the access device in a first configuration having a first cross-sectional area at a distal portion thereof. The access device is actuated to a second configuration having an enlarged cross-sectional area at the distal portion thereof such that the distal portion extends across at least a portion of each of two adjacent vertebrae. A stabilization of the vertebrae is then achieved using either translaminar facet screw fixation or transfacet pedicle screw fixation.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to methods of using access devices to perform minimally invasive surgery, such as procedures for stabilizing bone structures of a patient.
2. Description of the Related Art
Spinal surgery presents significant difficulties to the physician attempting to reduce chronic back pain or correct spinal deformities without introducing additional trauma due to the surgical procedure itself. In order to access the vertebrae to perform spinal procedures, the physician is typically required to make large incisions and cut or strip muscle tissue surrounding the spine. In addition, care must be taken not to injure nerve tissue in the area. Consequently, traditional surgical procedures of this type carry high risks of scarring, pain, significant blood loss, and extended recovery times.
Apparatuses for performing minimally invasive techniques have been proposed to reduce the trauma of posterior spinal surgery by reducing the size of the incision and the degree of muscle stripping in order to access the vertebrae. One such apparatus provides a constant diameter cannula, which is made narrow in order to provide a small entry profile. As a result, the cannula provides minimal space for the physician to observe the body structures and manipulate surgical instruments in order to perform the required procedures.
Once a doctor has exposed the vertebrae in some way, the most common treatment to reduce or eliminate degeneration of the spine or a portion thereof is fixation and/or fusion. Those conditions that compromise the spinal motion segments (adjacent vertebrae and the disc tissue or space in between) are often addressed by inserting a fusion device to promote bone growth between adjacent vertebrae. These devices are most commonly reinforced with a series of pedicle screws and rods to ensure minimal movement between adjacent vertebrae. These fixation devices provide load support for the spine, and can decrease the need for more extensive postoperative immobilization. Unfortunately, a narrow cannula is typically insufficient to perform one level spinal fixation procedures, which requires visualization of two vertebrae and introduction of screws, rods, as well as other large spinal fixation devices. Moreover, the pedicle screw fixation systems themselves require access to a larger area of the spine than the targeted disk area, increasing the trauma during surgery and increasing the time of patient recovery.

Methods and apparatuses for fixation of the spine through an access device


A manual grinding tool, in particular an oscillating sander (10), with a housing (12) and an abrasive sheet carrier (14), against the working surface (15) of which an installable abrasive sheet (16; 150) rests, whereby said abrasive sheet is installed using clamping means (20, 23; 360, 500) which clamp opposite abrasive sheet ends (17, 19; 155) to the abrasive sheet carrier (14), is made easier to operate and handle because it is lighterweight and more effective by the fact that the clamping means (20, 23; 350, 500), together with an abrasive sheet end (17; 155) clamped thereto, are capable of being moved away from the diametrically opposed abrasive sheet end (19; 155) which is also clamped thereto, so that said abrasive sheet is locked under tensile stress, whereby the clamping means are composed of resilient material.

The present invention concerns a manual grinding tool.
An orbital sander with a sanding plate on which abrasive sheets are installed is made known in GB patent publication 23 22 582; the abrasive sheets are capable of resting with their back against the underside of the sanding plate and are clampable in place on their top side. The underside of the abrasive sheets, where sanding means are provided, faces downward/outwardly and, when the abrasive sheet carrier is mounted on a workpiece, it is usable for sanding.
The operator must use both hands to clamp the abrasive sheets in place, and the hand power tool should be placed on a solid surface. Using one hand, one end of the abrasive sheet is inserted into a slit between an opened clamping jaw and the top side of the abrasive sheet carrier, and the clamping jaw is held open in the release position until the end of the abrasive sheet is inserted so that it closes via spring force when the clamping jaw is released. This is the clamped position in which the abrasive sheet end is fixed. The abrasive sheet is automatically tightened to a certain extent in that the rotatably mounted clamping jaw tries to roll away from the abrasive sheet end, thereby carrying it along, due to an inclined-plane contact surface on the top side of the abrasive sheet carrier.
The same procedure is used with the other abrasive sheet end as is used with the first abrasive sheet end, whereby the clamping force and tightening force of the clamping means are limited.
The same disadvantages also apply for the abrasive sheet clamping system according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,161.


A modular blood filter device and delivery system, comprising a hollow vessel insertion device with a modular filter apparatus. The insertion device, which can be an introducer, includes a distal end adapted to enter an artery, and a proximal end adapted to receive a modular filter apparatus. When the insertion device is a cannula, the modular filter apparatus is received through a side port. The modular filter apparatus includes a shaft and an adjustable filter device or a removable filter associated with the shaft. The adjustable filter includes filter mesh, an adjustable flame capable of assuming enlarged and contracted conditions and a frame sizing mechanism associated with the frame. Certain embodiments include a filter cartridge, and the shaft is inserted into the cartridge, thereby protecting the adjustable filter device therein. The cartridge may then be removably received by the insertion device. An expandable obturator may be used to ease the entry of the insertion device into the vessel. Indexing and locking mechanisms are described for aligning the cartridge or the obturator to the insertion device. Vessel sizing tools are also described for determining the size of the vessel into which the filter will be introduced. The insertion device may then be introduced into a blood vessel, and the adjustable filter device may be deployed through the device into the vessel The adjustable frame may be self-adjusting or externally adjusted to fit the vessel and to capture embolic material in the mesh. The frame may be collapsed to the contracted condition, and may be removed from the vessel or embolic debris may be removed by an aspiration tube. The modular filter cartridge may be removed from the cannula, and a new modular filter cartridge may then be received therein.

During cardiac surgery, it is often necessary to introduce a cannula into an artery or other blood vessel. For example, an arterial cannula is typically introduced into the aorta to deliver blood from a bypass-oxygenator system. Such a cannula generally includes a proximal end for receiving blood from a bypass-oxygenator machine, a distal end for entry into an artery and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends.
One concern with such procedures is that calcified plaque or other embolic material may be dislodged, particularly when clamping or unclamping arteries such as the aorta. See Barbut et al., "Cerebral Emboli Detected During Bypass Surgery Are Associated With Clamp Removal," Stroke, 25(12):2398-2402 (1994), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such embolic material may travel downstream, possibly becoming lodged in another portion of the blood vessel or possibly reaching a vital organ, such as the brain, where the material can cause substantial injury to the patient.
For this reason, some arterial cannulas may include a blood filter device attached directly to them. For example, an expandable filter device may be mounted on the distal end of a cannula, allowing the filter to capture any loose embolic material once the cannula is introduced into the vessel. Generally, such devices include an expandable frame, such as an inflation seal or an umbrella frame, and a filter mesh attached to the frame, the mesh being adapted to capture embolic material of a predetermined minimum size. The frame may be attached externally to the distal end, or alternatively, it may be retractably deployed from a lumen within the cannula.
The use of a cannula with such a filter device, however, may not be as effective as desired. For example, because the filter is generally attached to the distal end of the cannula, the filter may be exposed within the vessel for the entire duration of the procedure, sometimes several hours. Because of the length of time of most cardiac procedures, the filter mesh may eventually become clogged due to thrombus formation or buildup of embolic material, preventing the device from effectively capturing additional material and/or possibly impairing blood flow through the filter. If the filter is retractable, it may be closed within the vessel when it becomes clogged, but this prevents capture of embolic material throughout the remainder of the procedure.
Accordingly, there is a need for a filter device for use with an arterial cannula or other hollow vessel insertion device, such as an introducer, that minimizes the exposure of the filter within a blood vessel, thereby reducing the risk of clogging the filter mesh. Certain types of self-expanding modular filter devices have been described in U.S. Ser. No. 08/853,165, filed May 8, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. However, there is a need for a modular filter apparatus with a filter that can be adjusted to fit various sizes of vessels. The exterior of such a device should optimally conform to the size and shape of the inner lumen of the vessel through which the emboli may pass to reduce the possibility of emboli escape around the exterior of the filter. The size of such a filter should either be self-adjusting or adapted to external operation to adjust the size to fit the vessel in which the filter resides. Further, there is a need for associated devices such as vessel sizing tools, expandable obturators, cannula liners and blood filtering system indexing/locking devices to assist in the use of the blood filtering system.


An apparatus includes a recording head arranged so as to oppose a sheet moving in a first direction, in which a plurality of first nozzle chips and a plurality of second nozzle chips each having a nozzle array are arranged as different arrays in a second direction crossing the first direction, and in which the first nozzle chips and the second nozzle chips adjacent to each other are shifted from each other in the second direction, a first suction unit opposed to the first nozzle chips and configured to suction ink from a part of the nozzle arrays included in the first nozzle chips, a second suction unit opposed to the second nozzle chips and configured to suction ink from a part of the nozzle arrays included in the second nozzle chips, a suction holder configured to retain the first suction unit and the second suction unit, and a movement mechanism configured to cause relative movement between the recording head and the suction holder in the second direction, wherein the first suction unit and the second suction unit are shifted from each other in the second direction in correspondence with the shift between the first nozzle chips and the second nozzle chips.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet type recording apparatus using a line type recording head.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an ink jet type recording apparatus, the ink within the head nozzle may be dried and increased in viscosity to be solidified. Further, paper powder, dust, and bubbles may be mixed with the ink in the nozzle, with the result that the recording quality deteriorates due to defective ink discharge caused by clogging. Thus, the recording heads needs to be cleaned.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-201028 discusses a cleaning mechanism which forcibly suctions ink out of a recording head for recovery. This cleaning mechanism is equipped with a suction port shorter than the entire nozzle arrays of the recording head, and performs suction on the entire nozzles while moving the suction port in the direction in which the nozzle arrays are formed.
There is known a line type recording head in which a plurality of nozzle chips are regularly arranged in a staggered arrangement. Usually, a predetermined gap is provided between the nozzle chips adjacent to each other in each array of the staggered arrangement. In some cases, this gap has a height different from that of the nozzle surface. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, to protect the electrode, there may be provided a sealing portion 123 consisting of a protrusion protruded beyond the nozzle surface 122. If an attempt is made to apply the suction mechanism illustrated in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-201028 to a recording head of such a structure, the following problem will be involved.
While the suction port is being moved along the nozzle arrays, the suction port is raised when it gets over the sealing portion 123 of a different height. In the direction in which the suction port moves, the position of the sealing portion 123 in a nozzle chip array is that of the nozzle array 121 in the adjacent nozzle chip array. When a portion of the suction port climbs onto the sealing portion 123 of a nozzle chip array, the entire suction port is raised, and the intimate contact between the nozzles of the adjacent nozzle chip array and the suction port becomes rather incomplete, which may lead to defective suction.


The disclosed computer-implemented method for protecting purpose-built appliances on local networks may include (1) identifying a purpose-built appliance that is installed at a physical site to enhance the physical site with a pre-programmed functionality and that is connected to a local network that operates at the physical site, (2) intercepting, by a router of the local network, a request from a requesting device to access the pre-programmed functionality of the purpose-built appliance via the local network, (3) querying, from the router, via an authorization channel that is separate from a communication channel used to transmit the request, an owner of the physical site for authorization for the requesting device to access the purpose-built appliance, (4) receiving, by the router, the authorization from the owner, and (5) forwarding, by the router, the request from the requesting device to the purpose-built appliance. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Computing devices are no longer just servers, desktops, and laptops, but also can be found in phones, watches, and even eyeglasses. Many appliances around the home now incorporate a growing array of computing functions, such as thermostats that can be programmed remotely and refrigerators with touchscreens for looking up and displaying recipes. The ideal smart home is composed of numerous networked smart appliances that can be controlled over the home network and can perform a variety of tasks for enhancing a home's convenience and safety, including turning on security cameras automatically when a user leaves, matching a sound system's volume level to the genre of movie being watched on the television, and texting a user when the oven has finished pre-heating. Every day this ideal is moving closer to becoming a reality and with this new reality comes new challenges in ensuring that smart homes are secure from threats.
Unfortunately, traditional systems for securing networks from attackers are typically designed with desktops and servers in mind, not toasters and stereos. Smart appliances may not be designed with the kind of robust individual security expected to be found on more traditional computing devices, potentially leaving these devices—and the home network on which they operate—open to attacks and exploits. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved systems and methods for protecting purpose-built appliances on local networks.

Systems and methods for protecting purpose-built appliances on local networks


Stoppable flushing mechanism having an assured minimum flow of water is provided with an evacuation orifice having a sealing edge adapted to be positioned in a base of a flushing tank, and a substantially axially movable valve capable of being applied to the sealing edge. A substantially axially movable floater is affixed to the valve and adapted to maintain the valve at a distance from the sealing edge during evacuation of water. A transmission and lifting system is provided for moving the valve, and a push-button control device activates the transmission and lifting system. The transmission and lifting system includes a buoyancy chamber having a first base, with the buoyancy chamber being arranged in an upper portion of a housing in which the floater is housed and being associated with a rapid evacuation mechanism comprising at least one element activatable by the push-button control device, and at least one orifice in the first base or in a vicinity of the first base of the buoyancy chamber. The rapid evacuation mechanism is placed in an operative position when the push-button control device is pressed and in an inoperative position when the push-button control device is no longer pressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a "stoppable" flushing mechanism, with assured minimal flow, for the flushing tanks of toilets, the neologism "stoppable" meaning: whose action may be stopped.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Flushing mechanisms are known (EP-A-0,124,458, EP-A-0,128,847, FR-A-2,591,250, FR-A-2,580,694) that include a mobile valve in axial translation and adapted to be applied on the edge of the evacuation orifice arranged in the base of the flushing tank, this valve being mounted at the end or in the lower portion of a tubular rod, which is itself affixed to a floater, whose function is to maintain the valve at a distance from its seat, during the process of evacuating water or flushing: these flushing mechanisms also include a push-button control device, and a transmission or lifting system for the valve, activated by the said push-button.
According to these mechanisms, when the control push-button has been pressed, and the flushing process started, this process can no longer be interrupted, and the valve only falls back on its seat after the complete evacuation of the tank. Although this result is often desirable, it can also constitute a disadvantage when the bowl can be well flushed with a quantity of water that is substantially less than the capacity of the tank. This results in the use of excessive quantities of water, and is undesirable both for the user as well as for society at large.
FR-A-2,548,328 tries to overcome this disadvantage by an activating device for the flow valve, comprising a control push-button device affixed to a pushing member able to slide axially, and connected, by means of a joint, to a pusher head, able to pivot laterally in a limited manner, from one side to the other of its sliding axis, so as to act on one or the other of the two arms of a rocking lever, one of the arms of this lever being connected, via mismatched transmission members, to the flow valve, such that when the pivoting pusher head rests on one or the other of the arms of the pivoting lever, an ascending traction action is exercised, bringing about the lifting of the valve, or a descending pusher action brings about the lowering of the latter in the direction of its seat.
The main disadvantage of this device is that it does not transmit axial forces to the tube equipped with the flow valve, such that the longitudinal translation of the tube-flow valve assembly is not perfect, which increases the amount of force necessary to bring about the displacement of the assembly, especially in the upward direction, and may bring about, in the long run, a misalignment of the mobile equipment of the flushing mechanism, as well as an inappropriate application of the valve on its seat, giving rise to leaks.
Another major disadvantage of this device is the fact that it enables the flushing process to be stopped at any time after it has been activated, such that the influx of water may be stopped before the bowl has been completely cleaned, and that inefficient quantities of evacuated water are wasted; the use of such a device therefore does not ensure desirable cleanliness and hygiene.

Stoppable flushing mechanism with assured minimal flow

Societe Phoceene de Matieres Plastiques, SPMP


A CMOS implemented output buffer (10) provides ECL level output signals. The output buffer (10) is implemented in two stages. The first stage (36) includes an inverter having a resistor (39) in series with a P-channel transistor (38) and an N-channel transistor (40) and provides the initial buffering. The resistor (39) in the first inverter stage (36) is used to reduce a cross-over current in the second drive stage (42). The second stage (42) provides additional drive capability and includes an integral level converter. The integral level converter is implemented as a P-channel transistor (44) connected in series with the P-channel and N-channel output driver transistors (53 and 55). The P-channel transistor (44) provides the level shifting function to ECL levels for the second stage. The bias level of the P-channel transistor (44) determines the output logic swing.

In integrated circuit design, there are various types of logic available. For example, ECL (emitter-coupled logic) is a type of integrated circuit logic which traditionally uses bipolar transistors. CMOS is another type of integrated circuit logic, however CMOS uses complementary MOSFET transistors. ECL circuits have the advantage of high speed, but they consume a large amount of power. CMOS logic circuits have the advantages of low power dissipation, high input resistance, low output resistance, and low noise generation. An ECL voltage swing is generally about one diode voltage drop from a logic high to a logic low, while CMOS logic levels may swing full rail. To achieve compatibility between two different logic families, a level conversion circuit converts, or translates, a logic signal from one logic level to another logic level. For example, a CMOS logic level may have to be converted to an ECL (emitter-coupled logic) level to allow one integrated circuit to communicate with another. A level conversion circuit is used to do the conversion. A level conversion circuit should not cause excessive delay or consume a large amount of power. Additional buffering and drive capability may be provided using an output driver circuit.
An ECL output driver generally consists of a differential pair of bipolar transistors having current electrodes coupled to a power supply via resistors and supplied by a common current source. The ECL output driver provides reduced voltage swing, allowing a reduction in average switching current. Also, ECL generally provides the advantages of good noise immunity because the signals are differential. In addition, ECL provides reduced switching current, and is relatively fast.
A problem with using an ECL output driver with a significant load capacitance is that as the load capacitance increases, the required bias current also increases. For a given rise time, the required bias current may be prohibitive for low power applications such as battery powered communications devices including pagers, two-way radios, etc. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an output buffer which provides the advantages of ECL with reduced bias current.

CMOS implemented output buffer circuit for providing ECL level signals


The invention relates to an electrochemical cell which has an electrode, which may be either an anode or a cathode, and a membrane disposed in contact with one side of the electrode. An anode current bus is disposed on the other side of the anode, and a cathode current bus is disposed on the other side of the cathode. An anode current distributor collects current from the anode current bus and distributes it to the anode by electronic conduction, and a cathode current distributor collects current from the cathode and distributes it to the cathode bus by electronic conduction. The anode or the cathode current distributor is made of a metal which is treated by either nitriding, boriding or carbiding the metal in order to make the metal oxide growth resistant. In particular, the current distributor comprises tantalum that has been nitrided to form Ta.sub.2 N. The current distributor thus provides a barrier between the current bus and the electrode, and the anolyte, catholyte and products of the cell. This is especially important in aggressive environments, such as hydrogen chloride. Thus, the cell of the present invention is particularly useful in converting anhydrous hydrogen halide directly to essentially dry halogen gas, such as anhydrous hydrogen chloride to chlorine gas, or for converting aqueous hydrogen chloride to wet chlorine gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell having a conductive, dimensionally stable, oxide growth resistant current distributor. The current distributor of the present invention is useful in a process for converting anhydrous hydrogen halide to a halogen gas or in an aqueous electrochemical process. The oxide growth resistant current distributor of the present invention is particularly useful in the very aggressive environment associated with the oxidation of HCl to Cl.sub.2, whether in an anhydrous or an aqueous process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydrogen chloride (HCl) or hydrochloric acid is a reaction by-product of many manufacturing processes which use chlorine. For example, chlorine is used to manufacture polyvinyl chloride, isocyanates, and chlorinated hydrocarbons/fluorinated hydrocarbons, with hydrogen chloride as a by-product of these processes. Because supply so exceeds demand, hydrogen chloride or the acid produced often cannot be sold or used, even after careful purification. Shipment over long distances is not economically feasible. Discharge of the acid or chloride ions into waste water streams is environmentally unsound. Recovery and feedback of the chlorine to the manufacturing process is the most desirable route for handling the HCl by-product.
A number of commercial processes have been developed to convert HCl into usable chlorine gas. See, e.g., F. R. Minz, "HCl-Electrolysis--Technology for Recycling Chlorine", Bayer AG, Conference on Electrochemical Processing, Innovation & Progress, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, Apr. 21-Apr. 23, 1993.
Currently, thermal catalytic oxidation processes exist for converting anhydrous HCl and aqueous HCl into chlorine. Commercial processes, known as the "Shell-Chlor", the "Kel-Chlor" and the MT-Chlor"processes, are based on the Deacon reaction. The original Deacon reaction as developed in the 1870's made use of a fluidized bed containing a copper chloride salt which acted as the catalyst. The Deacon reaction is generally expressed as follows: ##STR1## where the following catalysts may be used, depending on the reaction or process in which equation (1) is used.
______________________________________ Catalyst Reaction or Process ______________________________________ Cu Deacon Cu, Rare Earth, Alkali Shell-Chlor NO.sub.2, NOHSO.sub.4 Kel-Chlor Cr.sub.m O.sub.n MT-Chlor ______________________________________
The commercial improvements to the Deacon reaction have used other catalysts in addition to or in place of the copper used in the Deacon reaction, such as rare earth compounds, various forms of nitrogen oxide, and chromium oxide, in order to improve the rate of conversion, to reduce the energy input and to reduce the corrosive effects on the processing equipment produced by harsh chemical reaction conditions. However, in general, these thermal catalytic oxidation processes are complicated because they require separating the different reaction components in order to achieve product purity. They also involve the production of highly corrosive intermediates, which necessitates expensive construction materials for the reaction systems. Moreover, these thermal catalytic oxidation processes are operated at elevated temperatures of 250.degree. C. and above.
Electrochemical processes exist for converting aqueous HCl to chlorine gas by passage of direct electrical current through the solution. The current electrochemical commercial process is known as the Uhde process. In the Uhde process, aqueous HCl solution of approximately 22% is fed at 65.degree. to 80.degree. C. to both compartments of an electrochemical cell, where exposure to a direct current in the cell results in an electrochemical reaction and a decrease in HCl concentration to 17% with the production of chlorine gas and hydrogen gas. A polymeric separator divides the two compartments. The process requires recycling of dilute (17%) HCl solution produced during the electrolysis step and regenerating an HCl solution of 22% for feed to the electrochemical cell. The overall reaction of the Uhde process is expressed by the equation: ##STR2## As is apparent from equation (2), the chlorine gas produced by the Uhde process is wet, usually containing about 1% to 2% water. This wet chlorine gas must then be further processed to produce a dry, usable gas. If the concentration of HCl in the water becomes too low, it is possible for oxygen to be generated from the water present in the Uhde process. This possible side reaction of the Uhde process due to the presence of water, is expressed by the equation: EQU 2H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.O.sub.2 +4H.sup.+ +4e.sup.- ( 3)
Further, the presence of water in the Uhde system limits the current densities at which the cells can perform to less than 500 amps./ft..sup.2, because of this side reaction. The side reaction results in reduced electrical efficiency and corrosion of the cell components.
Another electrochemical process for processing aqueous HCl has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,568 to Balko. Balko employs an electrolytic cell having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. Hydrogen chloride, in the form of hydrogen ions and chloride ions in aqueous solution, is introduced into an electrolytic cell. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is bonded to the anode to permit transport from the anode surface into the membrane. In Balko, controlling and minimizing the oxygen evolution side reaction is an important consideration. Evolution of oxygen decreases cell efficiency and leads to rapid corrosion of components of the cell. The design and configuration of the anode pore size and electrode thickness employed by Balko maximizes transport of the chloride ions. This results in effective chlorine evolution while minimizing the evolution of oxygen, since oxygen evolution tends to increase under conditions of chloride ion depletion near the anode surface. In Balko, although oxygen evolution may be minimized, it is not eliminated. As can be seen from FIGS. 3 to 5 of Balko, as the overall current density is increased, the rate of oxygen evolution increases, as evidenced by the increase in the concentration of oxygen found in the chlorine produced. Balko can run at higher current densities, but is limited by the deleterious effects of oxygen evolution. If the Balko cell were to be run at high current densities, the anode would be destroyed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,671, also to Balko, discloses another configuration for an electrochemical cell for processing aqueous HCl. In this cell, niobium current distributing screen elements are positioned between an anode deposited on a membrane and an anode current collector. Metals such as niobium, tantalum, titanium, etc. and alloys thereof are known to have good corrosion resistance and conductivity. However, they are costly. Moreover, valve metals also have a tendency to passivate by the formation of protective surface oxide layers which are very poor conductors. Hence, it is necessary to coat the valve metal with a non-oxide forming material, such as a film of one of the platinum group metals, which further adds to the cost. In addition, the platinum group metals corrode in the presence of chlorides and oxidizing potentials, as is the case when generating chlorine for HCl. As a result, known current collectors use costly materials, require difficult and costly manufacturing procedures and in many ways present problems from a fabrication and cost standpoint.
It is also known to use graphite for a current collector, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,671 to Balko, or a graphite-polyvinylidene fluoride, sold under the trademark KYNAR.RTM. by Elf Atochem North America, Inc. Fluoropolymers, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,969 to Lawrance. However, it has been found that graphite can be oxidized, due to the side reaction of oxygen generated from water, as expressed in equation (3) above. Moreover, graphite and the best case of graphite-polyvinylidene fluoride have resistivities of 10.sup.-3 ohm.multidot.cm and 3.times.10.sup.-3 ohm.multidot.cm, respectively, which make them relatively poor conductors.
Oda et al., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,909,912, 4,666,574 and 4,655,887, recognize the corrosion-resistant properties of a porous layer made of the oxides, hydroxides, nitrides or carbides of certain metals in electrolyzing an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chloride. The porous layer is disposed between a membrane and an anode, which in turn is disposed in contact with the alkali metal chloride. Thus, although corrosion resistant, the porous layer does not act as a corrosion barrier to the alkali metal chloride. Nor does it act as an electronic current conductor, instead acting as an ionic current transmitter.

Electrochemical cell having an oxide growth resistant current distributor


This invention relates to 1-dimethylcarbamoyl-3-substituted-5-substituted-1H-1,2,4-triazoles as defined herein, compositions containing those compounds and methods of use.

This invention relates to novel 1-dimethylcarbamoyl-3-substituted-5-substituted-1H-1,2,4-triazoles which are useful as insecticides, acaricides, molluscicides and/or plant growth regulating agents, compositions containing those compounds and methods of use.
The search for compounds which have a combination of excellent activity and low undesirable toxicity is a continuing one because of factors such as the desire for compounds exhibiting greater activity, better selectivity, low undesirable environmental impact, low production cost and effectiveness against insects resistant to many known insecticides.
Certain compounds of the present invention, as defined herein, are particularly suitable for controlling plant-destructive insects from the order Homoptera in agriculture and horticulture. Certain compounds of the present invention, as defined herein, control foliage feeding insects in other orders such as Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and/or acarids as shown by the biological evaluation data herein. Certain compounds of the present invention as more fully defined herein are particularly suitable for use in regulating plant growth. Further, certain compounds of the present invention as more fully defined herein are particularly suitable for controlling molluscs.
Certain 1,2,4-triazoles have been disclosed as having pesticidal activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,131 describes a group of 1,2,4-triazoles having the general formula ##STR1## where X is oxygen or sulfur, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are aliphatic groups containing up to 14 carbons and which may be joined to form a heterocyclic ring with the carbamoyl nitrogen atom and R.sup.7 and R.sup.8, which together contain up to 14 carbon atoms, are free from aliphatic unsaturation and are selected from hydrogen, halogen, sulfonyl, mercapto, cyano, hydrocarbyl, halohydrocarbyl, nitrohydrocarbyl, hydroxycarbyloxycarbonylhydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsulfonyl, hydrocarbylmercapto, nitrohydrocarbylmrcapto, halohydrocarbylmercapto, aminohydrocarbylmercapto and hydrocarbyloxyhydrocarbyl. These compounds are said to be useful as insecticides, in dyeing textiles and as analgesics.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,043 describes 1-N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl-3(5)-alkyl-5(3)-alkylthioalkylthio-1,2,4-triazoles having insecticidal activity. The 3(5) substituents include i-propyl, S-butyl, t-butyl or optionally methyl-substituted cyclopropyl and a group having the formula EQU --S--CH(R')--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --S--R"
where R' is H or methyl, R" is lower (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl and n is zero or 1.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,028 describes 1-dimethyl-carbamoyl-3-branched alkyl-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl-(N-substituted)sulfonamides having insecticidal activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,664 describes 1(2)-(N,N-disubstituted carbamyl)-3,5-substituted-1,2,4-triazoles having insecticidal activity. The 3(5) substituents include isopropyl, S-butyl, t-butyl, and S-R where R is methyl, ethyl, propyl, vinyl, prop-2-ynyl, but-2-enyl or 2-haloalkyl.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,839 discloes 1-N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl-3,5-substituted-1,2,4-triazoles having insecticidal activity. The 3-substituents include t-butyl, propyl, cyclopropyl, isopropyl or 1-methylpropyl. The 5-substituents include S-R where R is 2-propynyl, allyl, 2-bromoallyl, 2-chloroallyl, 2-rnethylallyl, 1-methylallyl or 2,3,3-trichloroallyl.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,790 discloses 1-N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl-3-tert-butyl-5-methylthio-1,2,4-triazole having insecticidal activity.
European Patent Application 0029407 discloses 1-N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl-3(5)-alkyl-5(3)-alkoxyalkylthio-1,2,4-triazoles where the 3(5)-substituent is isopropyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, or cyclopropyl optionally substituted by methyl; and the 5(3)-substituent is S(CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sup.2 where R.sup.2 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkyl and n is 1 or 2.
The present invention discloses 1-dimethylcarbamoyl-3-substituted-5-substituted-lH-1,2,4-triazoles. These compounds are distinguished primarily by their novel 5-position substituents.
The 5-position acid and ester compounds of the present invention are distinguished by their excellent insecticidal activity against sucking insects of the order Homoptera and especially those of the family Aphididae. These acid and ester compounds are highly selective against aphids, possess very good contact action and are plant systemic through both foliar and root absorption; and exhibit very good residual properties as foliar deposits and through both foliar and root absorption and transport.
Certain compounds of the present invention, generally the 5-position carbonyl, amido, sulfonyl and sulfonamide compounds, exhibit a broader spectrum of activity against foliage feeding insects, such as those from the order Coleoptera, and Acarids, in addition to exhibiting activity against insects from the order Homoptera.
Certain compounds of the present invention are also distinguished by their plant growth regulator effect. Further, certain compounds of the present invention are distinguished by their molluscicidal activity.
Accordingly, compounds of the present invention are particularly suitable for controlling plant-destructive insects and/or acarids in crops of cultivated plants and ornamentals, especially in crops of fruits, vegetables and cereals. Certain compounds are suitable as plant growth regulating agents and certain compounds are suitable for controlling molluscs.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide novel compounds and compositions containing said compounds which possess selective aphpicidal activity. it is also an object of the present invention to provide novel compounds, and compositions containing said compounds which possess insecticidal and acaricidal activity. It is a further object of this invention to provide methods for controlling insects, acarids, regulating plant growth and/or controlling molluscs using the novel compounds.


A method for forming a space transformer (and a space transformer formed by the method) having a first plate and a second plate, the plates being separated by a frame, and electrical connectors for providing electrical connections between electrical contacts which are relatively closely spaced on the first plate and relatively more widely spaced on the second plate. The method comprises attaching first ends of wires to first electrically conductive regions on the first plate; forming insulating layers over the wires; forming electrically conductive coverings over the insulating layers; and connecting second ends of the wires to second electrically conductive regions on the second plate.

During the testing of semiconductor wafers, it is often necessary to temporarily connect to semiconductor chip or chips, each containing a complex electronic circuit. This temporary contacting technology is described in detail in for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,027,935 and 5,207,585 assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. These chips have small contact areas which are often connected to chip carriers having electrical conductors for carrying electrical signals between the chips. Contact is often made between these contact areas and the electrical conductors by using the so called C4 solder bump "flip-chip" technology.
Before an investment is made in joining the chips to the chip carrier, it is desirable to test the electrical functionality of each chip. Chips that do not meet test specifications can be discarded, rather than an entire assembly of chips and the chip carrier. In order to do this testing, the very small contact areas on the chip must be connected to a test apparatus. This is typically done at the wafer level.
Typically the contact areas on the chips are impacted by small contact areas of a probing device during test. The difficulty is that the closely spaced pins of the probe must be attached to the more widely spaced lands on a printed circuit board, in order to conduct electrical signals between the test apparatus and the chip having the contact areas that have been contacted by the pins of the probe. This is essentially a fan-out problem.
At least two approaches have been used in an attempt to solve this problem. One makes use of a multilayered ceramic or laminate substrate for the fan-out to the printed circuit board. The main problem with this technique is the lead time; custom designs require additional costs and time to manufacture. From the viewpoint of high frequency, alternating current performance, this approach is better than a second approach noted below.
A second approach uses a hand wired fan-out apparatus made essentially by fabricating a guide template which is a copy of the chip footprint. The wires are manually routed to the printed circuit board. A principal difficulty with this approach is that AC performance of such a hand wired apparatus is very limited, principally because of the unshielded nature of the wires.

High density space transformer and method of fabricating same

International Business Machines Corporation


A swing assembly includes a swing frame and at least two single-seater seat units. The swing frame includes a horizontal support bar and a plurality of spaced apart hook members disposed swingably on the support bar. Each single-seater seat unit includes a chair member, and a hanging unit connected to an adjacent pair of the hook members and further connected to the chair member. The single-seater seat units are swingable independently of each other on the swing frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a swing assembly, and more particularly to a swing assembly capable of seating more than one person thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional swing assembly 1 includes a swing frame 11 and a swing chair 12 supported by the swing frame 11. Hitherto, the swing chair 12 is designed as an elongated chair for seating more than one person thereon. Because the swing assembly 1 has only one swing chair 12, all persons seated on the swing chair 12 would experience swinging simultaneously. That is to say, it is not possible for one person on the swing chair 12 to experience swinging while another person on the same swing chair 12 does not experience swinging, which can be a cause of inconvenience for some.


A universal clamp for attaching display fixtures to a slot in a hollow vertical column support of a modular display system includes a body piece having an axial opening therein, an elongated clamping piece that extends through the body piece and has an enlarged head at one end, and a clamping actuator at an opposite end of the clamping piece to draw the enlarged head into clamping engagement with the column. The head of the clamping piece has a height H greater than the width of the slot in the vertical column and a width W less than the width of the slot. The clamp is rotated ninety degrees to allow the head of the clamping piece to enter the column through the slot, then turned back ninety degrees to engage the head with the column before clamping. A curved face on the body piece matches the curved outer surface of the column and a ridge across the curved face engages the slot to prevent the clamp from rotating around its own axis during clamping. The clamping actuator is preferably a knob threadedly attached to a threaded end of the clamping piece. The clamping piece has a portion with a non-circular cross section to keep the body piece aligned relative to the head of the clamping piece.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices for attaching display fixtures to display systems of the type commonly used at trade shows, conventions and in public areas to display goods or offer services for sale. More specifically, this invention relates to clamps used to make connection to vertical supports in such display systems so that horizontal supports, shelves, lights and other display fixtures can be quickly attached to the vertical supports.
2. Description of Related Art
Trade shows and conventions have become an important avenue for introducing new products and services to potential customers. Vendors have a need for a reliable display system that can be quickly assembled and disassembled to establish a display area. A suitable display system is seen in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/325,816, filed Jun. 4, 1999 and assigned to Canfield Industries, Inc. of Bridgeport Conn., the owner of the present invention. The disclosure of that application is incorporated herein by reference.
The display system described therein includes vertical columns having a series of spaced horizontal slots used for attaching horizontal supports, lights, shelves and other display fixtures needed in the display area. Previous methods of making connection to the vertical columns of the display system have not been completely satisfactory. Some methods of attachment have required numerous, separate components to make the attachment. When multiple pieces are used to make the connection, the pieces may become separated after the display system is disassembled, making it difficult to reassemble at a new location.
Prior art attachment devices have also been relatively slow to assemble and connect to the vertical supports. Thus they have not fully met the need for rapid assemblyxe2x80x94which is highly desirable when a display must be reassembled at each new location. Accordingly, previous methods of making connection to the vertical columns of the display system have not met the need for a single interchangeable universal clamp that can be quickly attached by hand and which provides a secure, non-rotating attachment point.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a universal clamp for a modular display system that can be quickly attached by hand.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a universal clamp for a modular display system which provides a connection that can be rotated around the axis of a vertical column support and then clamped into positions at a desired angular orientation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a universal clamp for a modular display system that includes threaded connection points located at a fixed orientation to vertical when the clamp is attached.
A further object of the invention is to provide a universal clamp for a modular display system that remains in a single piece when disconnected to reduce the possibility of losing parts when the clamp is not attached and is being transported to another trade show.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp for a modular display system that is universal and can be used for connecting any desired type of display fixture to vertical column supports.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The present invention comprises a universal clamp for attaching display fixtures to a slot in a hollow vertical column support of a modular display system. The clamp includes a body piece having an opening therein, an elongated clamping piece extending through the opening in the body piece, and a clamping actuator.
The clamping piece preferably has threads at one end and an enlarged head at the opposite end. The enlarged head has a dimension in one direction less than a width of the slot in the vertical column support and a dimension in a perpendicular direction greater than the width of the slot in the vertical column support. The clamp is rotated ninety degrees to allow the head of the clamping piece to enter the column through the slot, then turned back ninety degrees to engage the head with the column before clamping.
In the preferred design, the clamping piece is threaded at the opposite end from the head and the clamping actuator is a knob that is threadedly attached to the clamping piece. A non-circular cross section for the opening in the body piece and a corresponding portion of the clamping piece, having a mating non-circular cross section portion, allows the clamping piece to be non-rotatingly engaged by the body piece.
In one aspect of the invention, the body piece includes a face having a ridge formed thereon for engaging the slot in the vertical column support. The ridge prevents rotation of the body piece relative to the vertical column support. In a related aspect of the invention, the body piece includes a curved face, the curved face having a radius of curvature matching a radius of curvature of the vertical column support. Both the curved face and the ridge act to prevent rotation of the body piece about its own axis and to maintain alignment of the clamp with the vertical support.
In one embodiment of the invention, the body piece is substantially cylindrical. Other cross sections for the body piece, such as rectangular or square may also be used. The clamping knob may also be cylindrical.
In the most highly preferred embodiment of the invention, the body piece is provided with one or more connectors, such as threaded openings that allow a display fixture to be attached to the body piece. The clamp holds the connectors at a predetermined orientation relative to the column, preferably vertical, so that the display fixture also maintains a predetermined orientation.

Universal clamp for modular display system


The present invention is directed to a generic, object-oriented library of generators and operations on generators. The library of generators and other objects provides a set of reusable components that can be used in the development of other components required for new risk management generation models. Using basic simple objects predefined in the library and the operations on these objects, complicated objects required for a new risk management generation models may be built more efficiently and easily. In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a generator for use in developing risk management software, where the generator produces elements of a sequence governed by a sequential process, where the generator comprises a common generator interface, and where the common generator interface comprises a first function that generates the next element of the sequence, and a second function that returns the element most recently generated by the first function, and where the generator can participate with at least one other operand in an expression to produce a second generator.

A wide variety of problems that arise in financial risk management deal with various types of sequential processes. For instance, the accumulation of historical data and the calculation of relevant statistical measures typically proceed on a daily basis. Similarly, generating historical or Monte Carlo scenarios, and simulating portfolios of financial instruments over these scenarios are tasks of a repetitive nature. As another example, calibrating financial models may involve iterative algorithms that obtain successively better approximations.
Over the last several years, both the sequential processes and the risk management models that use them have become much more diverse and sophisticated. Today's financial market conditions demand the fast and efficient implementation of flexible computer applications that support a wide variety of options, including the run-time construction of complex models from diverse components. This introduces a new level of requirements for generality and flexibility of the software supporting such applications.
In many prior art risk management systems, each software component implementing a particular process for scenario or price generation is developed separately. Consequently, the level of reusability and flexibility of software components is low, and the development of software components for new models can be labor-intensive and expensive.
Accordingly, there is a need for a means to provide a sufficient set of reusable software components that can be used in the development of other components required for new risk management generation models.


The invention relates to elastomeric compositions containing filler particles that are predominantly two-dimensional in shape. The elastomeric compositions exhibit significantly improved thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties as compared with elastomers containing conventional fillers such as natural clay, carbon black, and carbon fiber. In addition, the elastomeric compositions of the invention exhibit improved resistance to solvent-induced swelling and to unwanted permeation of gases such as hydrogen sulfide. The invention also provides a method of forming such elastomeric compositions and methods of using such elastomeric compositions to prepare elastomeric articles with improved resistance to thermal, chemical, and mechanical stresses.

Elastomer compositions find use in a variety of applications, including as material for seals and gaskets. When elastomeric seals and gaskets are used under ambient conditions or with non-corrosive or non-toxic chemicals, the chemical and physical demands on the type of elastomer are not particularly stringent. However, in aggressive sealing applications, such as those encountered in oil and gas recovery, polymeric compositions that only consist of elastomers have several limitations in their physical properties. For example, such elastomeric compositions may have poor tensile and compressive strengths or may be prone to chemical deterioration or swelling in solvents and gases.
For this reason, elastomeric compositions comprising certain fillers have been developed. The incorporation of filler particles in an elastomer matrix may improve the stiffness of the material, while retaining the essential sealing properties such as sealing force retention under load and elastic recovery. Fillers such as carbon black and silica particles are common. However, such fillers can have the countervailing effect of reducing the flexibility, compliance, and fluidity of the elastomer and reducing shape adaptability or moldability. The flexibility and fluidity of the elastomer relate to the extrudability and workability of the elastomer into useful products, such as seals for industrial oil and gas applications. They also relate to the ability of the elastomer to conform to nonplanar surfaces in a device, resulting in the desired sealing functions. Consequently, there is a need for an elastomer with improved physical properties. Such properties would include, for example, flexibility, moldability, and elastic recovery similar to the unfilled elastomer, high thermal degradation temperature, high activation energy for thermal degradation, lower glass transition temperature, improved resistance to swelling or deterioration in fluids such as oils and industrial solvents, reduced permeability of gases, increased storage and loss modulus, increased stiffness, increased fracture strength, sealing force retention, extrusion or creep, dimensional recovery and dimensional set. An elastomeric composition exhibiting a combination of all of these seemingly incompatible properties would be desirable for use in the high-pressure and variable temperature industry of petrochemical production.

Filled elastomers with improved thermal and mechanical properties


A single mount for mounting a group of accessories on a hand gun, comprising: a four sided bracket for slideably engaging the mount with a Picatinny rail of the hand gun and attaching accessories above, below and to the sides of the hand gun. The mount has a pair of V-grooves in a bottom portion for slideably engaging a pair of V-slides of the hand gun and at least one outward extending Picatinny type rail portions for attaching an accessory to the hand gun. An upper portion of the bracket is spaced upwardly away from a barrel of the hand gun by a distance which allows a shooter to view an existing iron sight at the front of the hand gun. The short Picatinny type rail portion has a cross groove which cooperates with a cross-bolt to lock an accessory on the mount.

The telescopic sight (herein referred to as a "telescope") is the most popular hand gun accessory. The Picatinny rail, also known as the MIL-STD-1913 rail, was developed at a government arsenal to provide a standard platform for mounting the telescopic sight on large caliber military rifles.
The Picatinny and similar rails have been added to the undersides of hand guns for mounting telescopic sights. A need exists for a single mount for combining the telescopic and other accessories, such as, night vision devices, laser pointers and flashlights on revolvers and semi-automatic hand guns. An optimum single mount would engage a Picatinny type type rail which is a simple and precise means for engaging an accessory.
The Picatinny rail is a double V-slide rail which is divided by transverse spaced apart 0.206 wide grooves on 0.394 centers. The grooves form a series of T-shaped cross-section ridges separated by evenly spaced apart grooves. An accessory is mounted on the rail by slideably engaging the V-slide of the Picatinny rail with the V-grooves of the accessory. A similar rail, known as the Weaver rail is marketed for civilian rifles and hand guns.
The weight of an ideal mount should be low. It should not block a shooter's view of an existing iron sight but should allow for hand gun and accessory differences and not affect the balance of a hand gun.

Single mount for attaching accessories to a Picatinny type rail of a hand gun


A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a sense amplifier, and a voltage generator. The memory cell array has a plurality of memory cells. Each of the memory cells is written with “0” or “1” as reference data after “0” or “1” as cell data has been read out from the memory cell. The sense amplifier compares and amplifies the reference data and the cell data read from a memory cell. The voltage generator keeps constant rate of change with time of at least one potential supplied for a read operation for the time interval from readout of the cell data is started until completion of readout of the reference data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and more specifically to a semiconductor memory device which uses ferroelectric capacitors or MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a ferroelectric memory has received attention which has ferroelectric capacitors the dielectric layer of which is made of a ferroelectric material.
The ferroelectric memory utilizes the hysteresis property which is one of the properties of ferroelectric materials and stores data ("0" or "1") through two different remanent polarization in a nonvolatile manner in a ferroelectric capacitor. To read the data, it is required to drive a plate line.
There has been a proposal for a memory cell array configuration of the ferroelectric memory in which two or more ferroelectric capacitors are connected to one cell transistor to allow a cross point type of memory cell array (see, for example, "A Quasi-Matrix Ferroelectric Memory for Future Silicon Storage" by Toshiyuki Nishihara et al, IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits, Vol. 37, No. 11, Nov. 2002). This configuration can provide high integration density. In reading "1" in particular, however, electric fields will be produced between a bit line and nonselected plate line to disturb nonselected memory cells. As a result, data stored in the nonselected memory cells will suffer a deterioration in reliability.
In general, a combination of one cell transistor and one ferroelectric memory is known as a memory cell configuration of the ferroelectric memory. A method has been proposed by which such DRAM-type memory cells are arranged using folded bit lines to form a memory cell array and a selected memory cell itself is used as a reference potential generating cell (see, for example, "A Self-Reference Read Scheme for a 1T/1C FeRAM" by Junichi Yamada et al, 1998 Symposium on VLSI Circuits Digest of Technical Papers pp. 238–241. However, this memory cell array configuration is inferior in integration density to the previously described cross point type of memory cell array configuration.

Semiconductor memory device having memory cells to store cell data and reference data


An approach for managing a family tree archive is provided. The approach includes creating an electronic archive based on a family tree. The approach also includes automatically discovering Internet-based data associated with at least one member of the family tree. The approach additionally includes adding the Internet-based data to the archive. The approach further includes storing the archive at a storage device.

Families around the world create and retain significant amounts of information about themselves and their extended family. Historically this has been in the form of photo albums, videos (e.g., 8 MM, VHS, Beta tapes, etc.), letters and verbal lore. Traditionally, these are passed from one generation to another, often with limited or no background, or with scant information which slowly erodes the value of the data. Even worse, all too often this information is totally lost in the face of disasters or simple neglect.
Much of this data is lost in the course of time. Even when it is not, people spend significant amounts of time exploring archives and attics to learn more about their ancestors. The collection of this data, even when it is already available through electronic means, is tedious due to the need to traverse the relationships, identify the correct contacts that are relatives and then extract the extended data into an archive meant to provide a growing history of the family to pass on through the generations.
Tracking and capturing family history beyond the basic family tree is commonly an ad-hoc behavior that can include online and offline activities. In these cases, both on and off line, the work of tracking down the contacts, locating and collecting the information, and putting in place a retention system is performed manually. Additionally, the heavy lifting of doing most of these steps is left to a few, or often one, member(s) of the family that are willing to put in the effort to pull together a family history. Even with that level of effort it is usually limited to brief bios, contact information and perhaps a photo or two all put in the context of the family tree, perhaps provided by a service or built through sheer legwork by the organizer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Policy based population of genealogical archive data

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A glycol proportioning station that provides a deicing mixture of glycol and water to tank trucks that in turn spray the deicing mixture onto aircraft. The invention includes a remote control that is positioned where the truck is loaded and which runs in parallel with the controls on the main unit of the system. The proportioning system operates with an economy of parts by employing constant flow rates of both water and glycol. The desired percentage of glycol in the effluent is obtained by initially setting the position of one or more modulating valves provided on each of separate water and glycol lines and then employing a refractometer feedback loop to modulate the flow in one or both of the input lines. A static mixer positioned along the effluent line upstream of the in-line refractometer provides a uniform glycol-water mixture. The system provides other novel features such as a “last fill” option that prevents the system from freezing when it is not being used.

In northern climates during winter months, aircraft which are either parked on the ground overnight or which are on the ground during severe winter weather frequently accumulate snow or ice on the airfoil surfaces. It is thus necessary to remove this material prior to takeoff and such removal has been the subject of a variety of deicing equipment in the prior art. The typical approach is to apply deicing compositions to aircraft in wintery weather before takeoff to deice them and to prevent ice from forming for a certain period (the so-called "hold-over time"). This goal is frequently achieved with mixtures of water and ethylene glycol or water and propylene glycol
The most popular equipment to apply the deicing mixtures are self-contained trucks having an extendible and maneuverable boom mounted thereon and a tank containing the deicing mixture. The truck typically includes a self-contained heater that heats the glycol-water mixture to 160 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. The heated deicing fluid is then pumped through a hose to the end of the boom where the operator directs a stream of the heated deicing fluid mixture from a nozzle onto the aircraft. This procedure removes the snow and/or ice and provides a coating of glycol which largely prevents further formation of the freezing substance during the hold-over time. This deicing procedure normally takes place on the tarmac just prior to the plane's departure after which the aircraft's normal internal electrical deicing systems are employed.
It is known to provide "glycol proportioning panels," as they are known in the art, that mix water and pure ethylene or propylene glycol and provide the mixture to the trucks that in turn spray it onto the aircraft. Most of these known proportioning panels are large, ungainly, expensive and offer limited mixing functionality.
For example, one disadvantage of these known proportioning systems is that the desired ratio of glycol to water is typically limited to only three or four settings. However, to minimize glycol waste and to optimize the mixture for a given weather condition, more selections of glycol mixtures are desirable. Another disadvantage to presently available glycol proportioning panels is that the systems are housed in a building that may be hundreds of feet from where the truck that sprays the mix onto the aircraft is loaded. The mixture is piped over this distance. The distance between the main unit and the location where the effluent is being dispensed can create a communication problem between the operator of the panel who is located in the building, and the personnel who are loading the truck, who are outside and several hundred feet away.
Another disadvantage of known proportioning systems is that they employ variable speed or frequency pumps to proportion the percentages of glycol and water. In addition to creating more process variables to be monitored, the variable speed pumps can be undesirably slow.
Systems relying on multiport computer controlled valves to mix glycol and water are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,005 (Hope et al.) discloses a glycol proportioning station wherein water is pumped by a pump and its flow rate measured by a flow meter. Glycol is pumped through another pump and through a multi-port valve, which has multiple ports of different sizes that are pneumatically opened or closed in response to pre-programmed signals from a controller that is coupled to the multiport valve. In use, the water flow rate is sensed and the flow of glycol is controlled by the multi-port digital valve, which opens and closes any number of ten possible elements, or parts, to accommodate the required flow.
It is also known in the art to use refractometers with glycol mixing systems for aircraft. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,497 to Susko discloses a deicing system in which a refractometer is used to monitor the mixed fluid and adjust flow of the glycol and water lines as necessary. Separate supply lines provide controlled flows of water and glycol to a wye-connection point. Each supply line has its own pump and throttling valve to control flow, as directed by a microprocessor. The system includes a heat exchanger into which fluid is recycled until the glycol mix reaches the desired temperature and until the refractive index read by a refractometer has reached the set point. The refractometer output signal indicates whether the refractive index is at, below, or above the set point. If below the set point, the microprocessor adjusts a valve on the glycol line to add glycol to the mix; if above the set point the microprocessor adjusts the valve on the water line to add water to the mix. Once the correct temperature and refractive index are recognized at the microprocessor, a valve is opened on the effluent line and the mixture is delivered.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,593 (Thornton-Trump) discloses an aircraft deicing system which includes a specific gravity meter that displays the glycol percentage to an operator positioned in a basket and a lever to adjust the glycol percentage in the effluent. By adjusting the lever, the operator may vary the amount of pure glycol fed into the mixture line and thereby adjust the glycol percentage in the effluent.
In summary, known glycol proportioning panels can be expensive, slow and inflexible. What is needed is a glycol proportioning panel that addresses these drawbacks.


A fuel-operated heater, especially an auxiliary heater for a motor vehicle, with a fuel feed pump and/or with a combustion air fan, is provided with a combustion control circuit. The control circuit acts to maintain a predetermined air-to-fuel ratio at a constant value in the combustion chamber of the heater ("lambda value") by energizing the controllable fuel feed pump and/or the controllable combustion air fan.

In prior-art, fuel-operated heater, the combustion of fuel, usually gasoline or diesel fuel, takes place in the combustion chamber under air excess. This means that oxygen is still present in the waste gas and stoichiometrically complete combustion does not take place. The range of operation of the combustion chamber covers, in terms of combustion engineering, a lambda range (possible air-to-fuel ratios within the range of operation). To ensure the operation of the device in this range, the amount of combustion air is set during the installation of a prior-art heater or of the fan by means of a variable bypass opening, or the amount of fuel is set in the case of a fuel feed pump by means of an adjusting screw. This requires a high design effort for the heater and long adjusting times.
The above-mentioned range of operation may be left during the operation of a heater for the following reasons:
Clogging of the combustion air intake or of the waste gas outlet, as a result of which the amount of combustion air is reduced. PA1 Clogging of a heat exchanger connected to the heater by combustion residues, as a result of which the amount of combustion air is also reduced during the operation. PA1 Change in the mass flow of combustion air during the operation of the heater at different altitudes above mean sea level.
If the range of operation or lambda range is left, the combustion values deteriorate. The heater no longer operates satisfactorily and it may fail.

Fuel-operated heater, especially an auxiliary heater for a motor vehicle


In a method for controlling an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having an electronic gear control (EGS) that continuously exchanges signals with a vehicle dynamics regulator (FDR), the electronic gear control (EGS) receives signals (SL) of an anti-slip control system (ASC) and/or of an anti-blocking system (ABS). In addition the vehicle dynamics regulator (FDR) is functionally linked with a dynamic stabilizer (DS) which in predefined operating situations issues a signal (SV) to the electronic gear control (EGS) via the vehicle dynamics control (FDR), which signal is processed simultaneously with the incoming signals (SL) from the anti-slip control system (ASC) and/or the anti-blocking system (ABS).

According to the kind defined in detail in the preamble of claim 1, the invention relates to a method for control of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having an electronic gear control which continuously exchanges signals with at least one vehicle dynamics regulator.
The use of the intelligence in electronics is illustrated in motor vehicles with automatic transmissions by application of an electronic gear control (EGS) with which criteria known to be relevant for the customers, such as driving comfort and driveability and also criteria relevant to safety, are met to a great extent.
For automatic selection of shift program stored in the electronic gear control which describes, for ex., a known driver type recognition, an environment recognition, a driving situation recognition, or a manual engagement recognition, known from the publication xe2x80x9cATZ Automobiltechnische Zeitschriftxe2x80x9d 94 (1992) and for gear selection according to situations, the electronic gear control continuously communicates with other control units and computers of different aggregates via a CAN data bus (Controlled Area Network).
It is known from the practice that the electronic gear control is linked with a vehicle dynamics regulator (FDR) which coordinates and assists with different regulation systems in the braking system and in the drive train. Belonging to the output signals of this regulation system are, for ex., an anti-blocking system (ABS) against blockage of the wheels when braking, an anti-slip control system (ASC) against spinning of the wheels when driving and an engine management that regulates the engagement in the engine control, are issued via the vehicle dynamics regulator to the electronic gear control.
The operating mode of an anti-slip control system has been disclosed, for ex., in DE 34 35 869 A1 and EP 0 583 610 B1.
In these input slip regulation systems known already, in the case of a spinning tendency at least one driven wheel reduces the engine torque and, at the same time, produces a control signal which is passed on to the electronic gear control of an automatic transmission at the start of the engine torque reduction. On the strength of that the electronic gear control introduces a shift to the higher gear.
In addition, in EP 0 583 610 B1 has in addition been described a so-called xe2x80x9cwinter programxe2x80x9d in which, according to a regulating signal of the anti-slip control system, a shift program is started with output-torque reducing shift characteristic lines until an interruption criterion is met.
Together with a vehicle dynamic control with an anti-slip control system and an anti-blocking system, a special program showing a dynamic stabilizer (DS) is known from the practice. The system brakes certain wheels, for ex., upon a critical transverse acceleration of the vehicle, in order to prevent a lateral jack-knifing of the vehicle.
However, the gear control methods known already prove insufficient in some special operating situations.
One of these special operating situation occurs, for ex., when the vehicle dynamics control, on the basis of a signal of the anti-slip control system or of the anti-blocking system, calls for a special driving program with gear shifts in the electronic gear control while a situation is detected by the dynamic stabilizer which requires prevention of the gear shift.
As result of the insufficient assistance of the dynamics stabilizer by the electronic gear control, it is possible for load changes to be carried out which impair the driving comfort and under certain circumstances further destabilize the existing insecure driving state.
The problem on which this invention is based is to make available a method for control of an automatic transmission having an electronic gear control which communicates with a vehicle dynamics control and with a view to better driving comfort and increased safety, can equally react to a signal of an anti-slip control system or of an anti-blocking system, the same as to a signal of a dynamic stabilizer.
By means of the inventive method in which the dynamic stabilizer DS is integrated in the regulation system of the vehicle dynamics regulator FDR and a signal of the dynamic stabilizer DS is processed simultaneously with a signal of the anti-slip control system ASC and/or of the anti-blocking system ABS entering into the electronic gear control EGS, the electronic gear control reacts supportingly in the same manner to the dynamic stabilizer and to the anti-slip control system or anti-blocking system.
The vehicle dynamics regulator offers during slip detection for ex., a change to a special drive program which contains all the shift characteristic lines and converter characteristic lines for a drive mode preventive of slip. The output-put torque reducing shift characteristic lines of this drive program should prevent, or at least reduce, slip on a road having a low frictional value.
Besides, the vehicle dynamics regulator FDR offers the possibility of triggering shifting preventions when thereby the dynamic stabilizer DS is assisted.
When the vehicle dynamics regulator FDR detects during a dynamic stabilization DS that a certain criterion such as, for ex., too high a transverse acceleration has been met, the electronic gear control is engaged, via a corresponding signal, for preventing gear shifts and if needed a deceleration of certain wheels is called for in order to ensure stability of the vehicle.
Since via a function stored in the electronic gear EGS, in addition to the processing of the signal of the anti-slip control system ASC or of the anti-blocking system ABS, it is now at the same time reacted also to a signal of the vehicle dynamics regulator FDR to prevent gear shifts and on the gear side the special conditions of the vehicle dynamics control are taken into account, with the inventive method this represents a gear-assisted dynamic stabilization for the vehicle.

Method for controlling the automatic gearbox of a motor vehicle


A process for manufacturing retroreflective printed material, the process comprising a) providing a composite comprising a temporary support sheet with a layer of microspheres partially embedded in the temporary support sheet such that the surfaces of the microspheres are partially exposed; b) applying a reflecting layer on the microspheres; c) applying a priming layer either on the partially exposed surfaces of the microspheres or on the reflecting layer; d) transferring a printed design layer from a transfer medium with the printed design on the primer layer and separating the transfer medium without the printed design from the printed design layer; e) applying a binder layer on the printed design layer; f) applying a base fabric on the binder layer and separating the temporary support sheet from the layer of microspheres, thereby creating the retroreflective printed material. A retroreflective printed material made according to the process.

The use of safety garments comprising retroreflective printing reduces the risk of accidents, especially for persons in certain professions such as for example firefighters and paramedics, as well as for athletes. Commercial products suitable for use with reflective garments generally consist of a single color. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,985 to Bingham, U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,101 to Li and U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,746 to Billingsley et al., disclose launderable retroreflective grey-colored products.
A number of patents disclose processes for producing colored effects and printed effects, as well as reflectivity. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,121 to Mori discloses a retroreflective structure capable of exhibiting a decorative rainbow-colored effect during both daytime and nighttime. U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,461 to Ogi discloses a process for transferring a retroreflective pattern onto a fabric. U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,562 to Harper et al. discloses retroreflective images formed on garments and other substrates. U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,105 to Orensteen et al. discloses a thermal printing system and a colorant/binder for printing frangible, retroreflective sheeting material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,613 to Olsen discloses the printing of designs or emblems on garments, where the design comprises a monolayer of microspheres, and a first printing of a first color layer with a silk-screening system. When the prints of the first color are dried, subsequent colors can be printed through the same technique until the design on the layer of microspheres is completed. A similar patent for decorating textile surfaces, U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,198 to Olsen et al., discloses a multi-step printing of many colors prepared with a polyester resin and an isocyanate hardener, dried before printing the following color. Also in U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,790 to Olsen et al., the same silk-screening multi-color printing technique is used with a system of colors made of polyester resin hardened with isocyanate. Many other United States patents disclose processes for producing retroreflective materials, including U.S. Pat. No. 2,231,139 to Reininger, U.S. Pat. No. 2,422,256 to Phillippi, U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,346 to Rowland, U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,426 to Brown, U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,072 to Coburn, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,023 to Bradshaw et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,400 to Bernard et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,636 to Nilsen et al. discloses a high speed, low cost process for producing sheets patterned with drawings and emblems using a rotary screen printing system with cylinders, and hardening with UV lamps.
There does not appear, however, to be a practical process for producing a printed retroreflective product for fashion garments using designs containing one or more than one color. While, processes using silk-screen printing with one water-based color or solvent-based colors have been proposed, these processes are unfeasible for reproducing fashion designs with many colors upon a retroreflective material.
Additionally, many patents disclose the use of screen-printing technology, such as for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,630 to Onishi et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,790 to Olsen et al., among others. With this screen-printing technology, however, it is impossible to print designs on garments comprising many colors while maintaining design and color accuracy on a layer of microspheres to produce retroreflecting materials. The same is true of a rotary screen-printing system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,636 to Nilsen et al. Therefore, there remains a need for a process for printing retroreflecting products comprising one or more than one color, with a high production speed, production flexibility and without producing significant amounts of pollution.

Process for manufacturing retroreflective printed material