Sprayable, environmentally harmless addition curable silicone foul release coating compositions comprise a polyorganosiloxane having at least two organic radicals bound to silicon which have therein a carbon-carbon double bond, a polyorganosiloxane having at least two Si--H moieties per molecule, silica having a surface area in the range of about 100-600 m.sup.2 /g, a platinum group hydrosilylation catalyst and a polymerization inhibitor. One of the polyorganosiloxane components comprises internally functional and terminally functional compounds.

This invention relates to foul release coatings and articles coated therewith. More particularly, it relates to sprayable foul release coatings which may be employed without undue environmental harm.
As poetically stated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,670, "Marine fouling due to pernicious and pestiferous sessile organisms is a problem which reaches from ancient times to the present." In more simple terms, a perennial major aggravation to shippers and users of marine equipment in contact with water is the tendency of such equipment to become encrusted with various varieties of wildlife, as illustrated by barnacles and zebra mussels.
Said patent goes on to describe in considerable detail the types of treatments that have been employed, starting as early as 1854, to minimize marine fouling. Treatment materials have included compounds of such metals as copper, tin, arsenic, mercury, zinc, lead, antimony, silver and iron, as well as toxic organic materials such as strychnine and atropine. With increasing interest in the state of the environment, the use of such materials has been strongly discouraged.
More recently, polyorganosiloxanes (hereinafter sometimes designated "silicones" for brevity) have been found useful as anti-fouling coatings. They include condensation cured silicones, which, however, are sometimes considered undesirable since a frequent constituent thereof is a catalyst containing tin, and tin in various states is believed to have undesirable effects on aquatic life. Interest has turned to some extent, therefore, to the use of addition curable silicones, which are typically cured by the action of platinum-containing catalysts in very small proportions.
The aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,670 discloses a suitable addition curable silicone coating material which may be employed for foul release in marine environments. It comprises a vinyl chain-stopped polysiloxane in combination with a non-reinforcing filler, a platinum catalyst, an organohydrogen polysiloxane and, as a reinforcing material, an organopolysiloxane copolymer comprising units generally described by the formulas R.sub.3 SiO-- and Si(O--).sub.4. Such units are conventionally and hereinafter sometimes designated M and Q units, as abbreviations for "mono" and "quater" representing the number of Si--O moieties therein, and such a copolymer is correspondingly designated an MQ resin. By the same rationale, R.sub.2 Si(O--).sub.2 and RSi(O--).sub.3 units are respectively designated D and T for "di" and "tri".
The MQ organopolysiloxane employed in the patented compositions functions as a reinforcing filler material. At the same time, however, its rheology is such that the coating composition in which it is incorporated is thixotropic and thus incapable as prepared of application by spraying. As disclosed in said patent, such compositions can only be conveniently applied neat by such time-honored but tedious methods as brushing or roller coating. The only potential way to make such materials sprayable is to dilute them with solvents, typically volatile organic compounds such as hydrocarbons which present their own environmental hazards. In any event, many localities have enacted legislation limiting the proportions of volatile organic compounds in such compositions to values in the parts-per-million range, far below those that would be necessary for them to serve as solvents.
Thus, the development of sprayable, environmentally harmless addition curable silicone foul release coating compositions remains a major concern.

Sprayable, addition curable silicone foul release coatings and articles coated therewith


A foldable water tank remote level detector system is provided including a fire truck having a side extent with an analog gauge mounted thereon. The analog gauge has an indicator pivotally coupled thereto for pivoting between an empty indicia and a full indicia. As such, the gauge is adapted for indicating a level corresponding to a level signal upon the receipt thereof. Also included is a water level sensor situated within a body of water distant the fire truck. The water level sensor is adapted to continuously generate a level signal corresponding with a level of the water within the body of water. Finally, an extension cord is provided having a first end connected to the water level sensor and a second end connected to the gauge outlet of the fire truck thereby transmitting the level signals to the analog gauge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to water level detectors and more particularly pertains to a new remote water level detector for a fire truck for allowing a fireman to remain adjacent to a fire truck while monitoring a water level within a foldable water tank.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of water level detectors is known in the prior art. More specifically, water level detectors heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art water level detectors include U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,125; U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,465; U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,214; U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,238; U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,838; and U.S. Pat. Des. 350,489.
In these respects, the remote water level detector for a fire truck according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a firemen to remain adjacent a fire truck while monitoring a water level within a foldable water tank.

Remote water level detector for a fire truck


A leg stretching device includes a base frame, a support plate adjustably coupled to the base frame, a leg tube including a proximal end hingedly connected to the base frame and a distal end, a foot plate disposed at the distal end of the leg tube, and an actuation assembly including an actuation tube hingedly connected to the base frame and an actuation bar slidably disposed within the actuation tube and hingedly connected to the leg tube. The actuation assembly includes an actuator motor for moving the actuation bar relative to the actuation tube to reposition the leg tube relative to the base frame.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to muscle stretching devices and methods of using the stretching devices for stretching muscles of a leg of user, and in particular, devices and methods of stretching hamstring and/or gastrocnemius muscles of a user.
Background of Related Art
Stretching of the body is performed for a variety of reasons, including, for example, decreasing muscle tone, increasing range of motion, improving flexibility, decreasing pain, and/or preventing injury. Equipment has been developed to aid in stretching different parts of the body, such as the arms and legs. Examples of devices for leg stretching are described in: U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,415, which relates to a "Universal Exercise Apparatus for Performing Hamstring Flex and Other Exercises;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,427, which relates to a "Leg Stretching Apparatus;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,222, which relates to an "Exercise Device;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,759, which relates to a "Stretching Apparatus;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,476,182, which relates to a "Horizontal Hamstring Stretcher;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,762,936, which relates to a "Stretching and Conditioning Apparatus;" U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2002/0193710, which relates to a "Leg Stretching Apparatus;" and Korean Patent Pub. KR 2011/0017047, which relates to an "Apparatus For Evaluation Hamstring Tightness Or Flexibility And Method Thereof."


A data processing device is disclosed that is able to limit functions of a connected apparatus without providing additional components in the apparatus and without dependence on types of the apparatus. The data processing device includes a function limiting file storage unit to store a function limiting file; a function list file storage unit to store function list files dependent upon the apparatus type and function list files independent of the apparatus type, the function list files including descriptions of functions available in the apparatus; a function list file selection unit to select one of the function list files corresponding to the apparatus type; and a display item generation unit to generate a setting screen image for setting operations of the apparatus based on the selected function list file and the function limiting file stored in the function limiting file storage unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing device able to limit functions of an apparatus connected to the data processing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, or another peripheral device is connected to a personal computer or other data processing device through a network or in series, the personal computer includes device drivers for converting data created or viewed by applications installed in the personal computer to data able to be processed by the peripheral devices.
For example, when a laser printer is connected to a personal computer, generally, a printer driver for the laser printer is installed in the personal computer, and thereby, the data created or viewed by applications are converted into page-description language (PDL) data which are able to be processed by the laser printer. In order for one personal computer to utilize multiple laser printers connected through a network, it is necessary to install the printer drivers for the multiple laser printers in the personal computer.
For example, when using printers in an office network system, sometimes it is recommended to use "double face printing", "collective printing", or other special printing settings. In this case, in a system in which each of the personal computers on the network has one printer driver (in other words, the personal computers on the network correspond to the printer drivers installed in the personal computers one by one), in order to apply the same specific printing settings to all printers, it is necessary to limit the printing setting items in each printer driver.
For example, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 2004-2341693 (hereinafter, referred to as "reference 1") discloses a printing device able to specify items usable or un-usable for each user by using setting information stored in the printing device. The printing device receives information indicating whether a printing setting item specified by a printer driver (in the personal computer) is usable or not usable, and stores the information in a memory of the printing device. When the printing device is used once again, the printing device transmits the stored information indicating whether a printing setting item is usable to the personal computer, and the printer driver in the personal computer displays the obtained information on a user interface (UI).
In addition, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 2003-323268 (hereinafter, referred to as "reference 2") discloses a printing system able to limit functions of a printer to be used, in which a host computer having a printer driver able to set printing conditions into printing data is connected to a printing device able to generate image data from the printing data transmitted from the host computer and to print the generated image data. Limitation of functions of the printer device is performed on an operational panel on the printer device, and information concerning printer device function limitation is stored in the printer device. When displaying a user interface (UI), the printing driver acquires the function limitation information from the printer device, and displays the function limitation information on the user interface.
However, in order to realize the printing device and the printing system disclosed in reference 1 and reference 2, it is necessary to provide a unit for limiting the printing setting items on both the printer driver and the printer. In addition, in the techniques disclosed reference 1 and reference 2, as described above, each of the personal computers on the network has one printer driver (namely, the personal computers on the network correspond to the printer drivers installed in the personal computers one by one); thus, each time a printer connected to a personal computer is changed, the printer driver has to be changed, and it is necessary to execute a series of operations for limiting the printing setting items, requiring interactive communications between the printer and the personal computer.

Data processing device that displays a setting screen for setting operations of a connected apparatus


A method and system for repairing an air hose having a first exterior diameter having a deformed or crimped portion is presented. The system includes a helical polymer member, which when in a non-deformed state, has a second inner diameter smaller than a first diameter. The helical member is disposed about the air hose on first and second sides of the deformed member. The helical member has an interior diameter equal to the first diameter when the helical member is disposed about the air hose.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Patients in various treatment scenarios are provided oxygen supplementation which typically comes as flowing oxygen from a compressed source of oxygen to an appliance. This flow of oxygen allows the patient to inhale a flow of oxygen. The flow of oxygen from the source of the compressed source of oxygen, which can be a bottle or an oxygen generator, is carried to the appliance using a flexible hose. The supplementation often uses hoses which are replaced at a predetermined frequency for sanitation purposes. The replaceable hoses are susceptible to failure caused by the bending or folding of the hose. Once folded, plastic deformation within the air hose causes a weakness in the hose which leads to frequent repeated folding of the hose at the given location. This folding of the hose inhibits the flow of oxygen to a patient caused by a crimped oxygen hose which can cause discomfort and which is a safety hazard. As such, it would be desirable to have a system which prevents or repairs the disposable air hoses in a cost effecting and simple manner.

Method and device for preventing crimping in an air hose


Technologies are described herein for force commutating a current from a cathode terminal of a diode to an anode terminal of the diode. In one aspect, a method for eliminating diode reverse recovery time is presented herein. The method includes force commutating a current from a cathode terminal of a diode to an anode terminal of the diode. According to embodiments, the diode may be an intrinsic part of a component, such as a field effect transistor (FET). In such embodiments, the FET is switched from being on to off while force commutating a current through the body diode of the FET.

Synchronous rectification replaces a traditional rectifier with a Field Effect Transistor (FET) switch. This reduces power dissipation as the forward voltage drop in the FET switch is much lower than the forward voltage drop of a rectifier. However, the reverse recovery time of the FET body diode in higher voltage applications (e.g. greater than about 60 Volts, >60V) is substantial. Therefore, switching losses can be quite high and the switching frequency of the power supply can be limited.
Most of the prior improvements addressing this problem have been driven by FET manufacturers. In the recent past, the reverse recovery time of the body diode in low voltage FET switches has improved significantly. However, the reverse recovery time of the body diode in high voltage FET switches still remains too high, causing extensive switching losses. One solution that tackles the extensive switching losses is to package a Schottky diode in parallel with the FET switch. However, this solution may not be effective for 100V to 200V applications since the forward drop of the FET body diode is comparable to the forward drop of the Schottky diode. Therefore, some current remains in the body diode when the FET is switched off, such that the FET switch still has a significant associated reverse recovery time, resulting in reduced, but intolerable switching losses.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the disclosure made herein is presented.

Forced commutating a current through a diode


A method and system are provided for removing, from an implant chamber of a heart, a leadless implantable medical device (LIMD) having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end is configured to be actively secured to tissue in the implant chamber of the heart. The proximal end is configured to be coupled to a distal end of an indwelling retrieval mechanism (IRM). The IRM extends from the heart along a vessel, the IRM having a proximal end configured to be anchored at a temporary anchor site. The method comprises detaching the IRM from the anchor site, loading a retrieval tool over the proximal end of the IRM and along the body of the IRM. The retrieval tool has a lumen therein that receives the IRM as the retrieval tool re-enters the vessel, thereby allowing the retrieval tool to engage the LIMD.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to leadless implantable medical devices (LIMDs) and more particularly to temporary LIMDs that are implanted for a short period of time.
Recently, it has been proposed to utilize small sized devices configured for intra-cardiac implant. These devices, termed leadless implantable medical devices (LIMDs) are typically characterized by the following features: they are devoid of leads that pass out of the heart to another component, such as a pacemaker outside of the heart; they include electrodes that are affixed directly to the "can" of the device or to extensions of the device; and the device is capable of pacing and sensing in the chamber of the heart where it is implanted.
LIMDs that have been proposed thus far offer limited functional capability. These LIMDs are able to sense in one chamber and deliver pacing pulses in that same chamber, and thus offer single chamber functionality. For example, an LIMD device that is located in the right atrium offers AAI mode functionality. An AAI mode LIMD can only sense in the right atrium, pace in the right atrium and inhibit pacing function when an intrinsic event is detected in the right atrium within a preset time limit. Similarly, an LIMD that is located in the right ventricle would be limited to offering WI mode functionality. A WI mode LIMD can only sense in the right ventricle, pace in the right ventricle and inhibit pacing function when an intrinsic event is detected in the right ventricle within a preset time limit. More recently, LIMDs have been proposed that afford dual chamber pacing/sensing capability (DDD mode) along with other features, such as rate adaptive pacing.
LIMDs are being considered initially for chronic pacing patients, such as with current indications for VVIR pacing. However, another possible use for the LIMD is for temporary use, such as in the order of a few months or even less than 30 days (e.g., for patients needing peri-operative, but not chronic, pacing). The indications for such temporary LIMDs would include patients who are currently indicated for temporary pacing using an external pacer, for example patients recovering from heart surgery. As another example, it is known that a potential complication of surgical aortic valve replacement is sudden death in the month following surgery. However, the risk of sudden death could be mediated by offering a device that can support pacing during a time period when the patient may experience heart block.
One of the challenges with leadless implantable medical devices will be explant, whether for battery depletion, lack of need, infection or otherwise. Various systems are being developed to capture the proximal end of a leadless pacemaker and retrieve it. See for example Khairkhahan 2012/0165827 (Nanostim).
It is known to anchor a temporary pacemaker or intravascular defibrillator with a tether inside a vein. For example, Ostroff 2009/0082828 shows a tether anchoring the leadless pacemaker to an intraluminal stent in the inferior vena cava. An intravascular anchor with tether is also shown in Ransbury 2011/0071585.
However, conventional approaches experience certain limitations. For example, to explant conventional LIMDs, a separate extraction tool must be introduced and independently steered or manipulated along the patient's vasculature system into the heart and to a chamber in which the LIMD is implanted. The extraction tool must be independently guided by the physician. It may be difficult to align and connect the extraction tool with the LIMD. This alignment process may become unduly time consuming. Also, the physician typically utilizes a fluoroscopy system, CT system and the like to watch the position and movement of the extraction tool relative to the LIMD. Hence, the patient is exposed to a certain amount of radiation during the LIMD extraction process. The amount of radiation will vary based upon the amount of time needed, and number of images taken, in connection with attaching the extraction tool to the LIMD, detaching the LIMD from the heart tissue and extracting the LIMD.
A need remains for an extraction system and method that is efficient, not time consuming, and reduces a physician's need for fluoroscopy or CT images of the patient.

Temporary leadless implantable medical device with indwelling retrieval mechanism


A Bluetooth audio streaming passthrough, and a method for transmitting an audio stream over a Bluetooth communication link and disclosed. The method is carried out by a source device. An audio codec configuration and a sampling rate of the audio stream are received, the audio stream coming from a streaming application running on the source device. A Bluetooth audio stream between the source device and a sink device is configured using the received audio codec configuration and sampling rate. The first audio stream is received from the streaming application. The received first audio stream is packetized into the Bluetooth audio stream. The Bluetooth audio stream is transmitted to the sink device over the Bluetooth communication link, including the packetized received audio stream.

Bluetooth defines a communication standard for transmitting and receiving audio data wirelessly over distances which are typically limited up to 10 meters and using radio waves with a frequency comprised in the Ultra High Frequency band. This standard makes Bluetooth devices very popular among customers due to their portability, and in particular, for short-range applications.
The audio quality of the transmitted and received data depends mainly on digital audio encoders and decoders, called codecs, which are used to transfer data to Bluetooth audio output devices like headphones or loudspeakers. The use of standard Bluetooth codecs, namely, the low-complexity subband codec called SBC, is necessary as it is designed to provide a reasonably good audio quality at medium bit rates while keeping low computational complexity. Further, SBC supports mono and stereo streams with sampling frequencies up to 48 kHz while bitrates are usually being set up to 193 kbit/s and 328 kbit/s for mono and joint-stereo streams, respectively.
In view of improving the quality of transmitted and received audio data, a current trend is to propose codecs requiring increasingly large bandwidth usage, such as the APTX audio codec compression algorithm or the LDAC audio hybrid coding technology, which allows streaming audio over Bluetooth connections with bitrates up to 352 and 990 kbit/s, respectively.
Because of the need for lossy compression due to limited bandwidth, such codecs are being developed so as to limit the audio quality loss when using standard Bluetooth protocols and codecs, such as SBC.
However, the quality of an audio stream is not necessarily improved by using codecs which have a higher bandwidth usage, since achieving such a quality depends on the different coding, decoding, mixing and sampling processes which are used by audio devices for transmitting audio streams. This is true, in particular, for source devices such as smartphones and sink devices such as wireless headphones or speakers, when using the Bluetooth standard.
Moreover, the streaming applications used by the current audio listening devices rely on their own encoding format, which has a higher compression rate and better algorithms than the standard Bluetooth codecs such as SBC. This also implies that audio data being streamed between a source and a sink device suffers multiple decoding, encoding and resampling processes, resulting in possibly significant quality loss.


A method of detecting at least one analyte in extra-cellular spaces includes the step of inserting a microprobe through the stratum corneum toward the stratum basale of the skin of a subject into extra-cellular spaces containing interstitial fluid having at least one analyte to be detected, said microprobe having a diameter at its tip no larger than approximately 10-50 microns. The method further includes optically testing for a predetermined analyte in the extra-cellular space adjacent the distal end of the microprobe without drawing a sample of the interstitial fluid. Preferably the microprobe body includes a sensor layer covering the distal optical tip of the microprobe body, the sensor layer being adapted to interact with a predetermined analyte to be detected in the interstitial fluid, and an optical detector responsive to interaction of the sensor layer with the predetermined analyte to signal detection of said predetermined analyte.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for detection of analytes, and more particularly to such method and apparatus for the painless detection of such analytes in extracellular space.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The past decade has seen an increased effort for new and less invasive means of detecting relevant compounds in biological systems. In the past such detection has involved clinical assays using in vitro diagnostics requiring invasive sampling methods. Newer philosophies in medicine and related disciplines have tended to use less invasive means that are more comfortable to the subject and which tend to reduce the possibility of transmission of infection.
It is known in the art to use non-invasive spectral techniques to quantitatively determine the presence and concentration of analytes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,492 to Schlager teaches a non-invasive near-infrared measurement of blood analyte concentrations, in particular the measurement of blood glucose levels. Schlager recognizes that certain wavelengths of light in the near-infrared spectrum are absorbed by glucose. In that patent, modulated light is directed against a tissue (such as an earlobe). Some portion of the light is passed through the tissue and its spectrum is modified in response to the amount of glucose in the blood and tissue. Similar approaches are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,321 to March, U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,225 to Dahne et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,623 to Jobsis, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,951 to Knudson. However methods using various parts of the infrared spectrum for detecting some analytes are relatively unproven to date due to their inability to differentiate multiple occurrences of the analytes at different concentration levels in different body compartments using the available spectral data.
Cygnus, Inc. has demonstrated a technique for collection of glucose in interstitial fluid found in extra cellular space. This technique uses reverse ionopherisis to attract heavier salt molecules to the outside surface of the skin and uses electrochemical means for detecting glucose. This method is currently the subject of an FDA PMA review. One drawback of this method is the initial time delay for retrieval of sufficient fluid for sampling. This method also requires the subject to constantly have a device in place for collection of the fluid.
SpectRx has developed an alternative method for accessing the interstitial fluid by using a laser to ablate small apertures in the surface of the skin sufficient to release interstitial fluid from extra cellular space. Although this method has also produced data which correlates well with constituents found in blood, it suffers from a progressive closure of the aperture and a correlation between sufficient aperture size and the amount of discomfort caused by the initial ablation of the skin.
TCPI has developed a method similar to that of Cygnus which draws interstitial fluid outside the skin. This method however uses a replaceable patch that changes colormetrically according to the presence of the analyte. This method also requires several minutes more than present blood testing methods.
Integ has disclosed a method to access interstitial fluid in an intradermal layer, sampling the interstitial fluid by drawing interstitial fluid through a capillary and then testing the fluid in situ or extracting the fluid to an external apparatus. The Integ method may be prone to rupture of small capillaries that are found in the upper layers of the dermis and to contact with nerve endings that abut the dermal/epidermal junction. There has also been controversial data produced as to whether glucose levels in particular track well between levels produced in the intradermal interstitial fluid and that found in capillaries or veins. Apparently the Integ method draws a one microliter sample from the interstitial fluid, which sample is analyzed for glucose.
In summary, the prior art methods could be improved in that they suffer from insufficient sampling quantities, delayed periods of testing required for sample collection, destruction of skin cells at the stratum corneum level, discomfort to the subject, and the production of quantities of blood.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Micro-invasive method for painless detection of analytes in extracellular space


A combustible pellet comprising municipal solid waste. The pellet has a water content of less than 10% by weight and a fuel value of at least 10,000 BTU. A process for the forming of a combustible pellet from municipal solid wastes, comprising the steps of removing solid hazardous waste from said municipal solid waste; subjecting the municipal solid waste so obtained to at least one step to separate recyclable products therefrom; and subjecting the resultant product to a shredding and a pulverizing step. A fluff with a water content of less than 10% by weight is obtained. The fluff is compacted to form a combustible pellet.

One of the largest problems faced by municipalities, and by society in general, is the increase in the amount of municipal solid waste and other wastes generated each year. For instance, 220 million tons of waste is produced each year in North America alone. A study by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revealed that there has been a 42% increase in recycling and composting from 1988 to 1995. Surprisingly, during this same period, the quantity of municipal solid waste still increased. Certified landfill capacity is decreasing and other sites require clean-up. New options of waste management to replace traditional methods e.g. open dumping, landfills and composting, are needed in order to manage the millions of tons of municipal solid waste that are produced each year.
One way to alleviate the above problems is to convert waste to energy. Most waste-to-energy systems used are so-called through-systems i.e. the waste is combined with fuel as required and burned. In a typical 50 megawatt plant, approximately 5000 tons of waste would be burnt per day. There are, however, several disadvantages to this system. For instance, 50 to 60% of the waste processed is transformed into incompletely burned bottom ash. In addition, fly ash is produced, which is classified as hazardous waste. The bottom ash would have to be shipped to a landfill site and the fly ash would have to be sent to a hazardous waste facility.
The burning of raw municipal solid waste also creates heavy metal emissions, especially from the burning of plastics, aluminum and batteries contained in a general unsorted waste stream. An expensive off-gas treatment installation is necessary to reduce these emissions to levels required to meet environmental and other regulations. In addition, if the municipal solid waste is wet, it would, in general, cost more in energy to burn the waste than the actual amount of energy produced from the waste. Nonetheless, production of waste-derived fuel has evolved to become an acceptable approach to waste management. For instance, the waste may be stripped of metal and glass components, and then granulated, shredded and subsequently dried to yield a product with a higher fuel value and lower ash production than an incineration process.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,473,494 and 3,584,587 disclose a system for processing raw municipal solid waste, in which non-ferrous waste is passed through a grinder, a shredder and a dryer. Incineration of the resultant product in a furnace results in a by-product of slag or ash, mainly consisting of glass and some plastics, in the form of solid clinker in the base of the furnace. Periodic shut-downs are required for removal of such clinkers. Canadian Patent No. 1,038,335 discloses a further processing step that passes the shredded and dried non-ferrous waste through another separation step in which heavier shredded particles of non-ferrous metal, glass and plastic are separated from lighter particles such as paper, vegetation, and pulp. The lighter particles, in the form of a fluff, are screened to remove dust or grit and then incinerated.
EP 0 036 784 discloses pulverizing municipal solid waste, and then screening to remove fines and oversize material. A light fraction, containing mainly paper and plastics, is separated from the screened residue and pelletized. The ideal moisture content is 10% to 20% by weight, which is lower than a typical wet pulping process e.g. as disclosed in British Patent No. 1,517,687. In the latter, a combustible fraction of waste is obtained from an aqueous slurry containing about 4% to 6% solid waste, by extraction of organic components. The combustible fraction is dried to a moisture content of 10 to 20% by weight, and then pelletized. The energy consumed in the drying step has to be balanced against the energy available from the pelletized fuel. The high water content and the foul aqueous medium obtained detract from the wet pulping process.
British Patent No. 2,024,856 discloses a process wherein a light fraction extracted from municipal solid waste and selectively containing plastics, wood, rags and paper, is subjected to a milling process. The moisture content of the resulting waste may be controlled.
European Patent No. 566,419 discloses introducing an additive, such as calcium oxide/calcium-based bentonite, to comminuted municipal solid waste for odour control.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,365 discloses a method of producing fuel briquettes from organic waste products enriched with organic materials such as coal, by adding lime and subsequently compressing the mixture under high pressure. In North America, governments are seeking to phase out coal-fired facilities because of the emissions, such as sulphur, that are produced.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,256 discloses a method of producing a fuel by blending one or more waste materials selected from paper mill waste, paper mill lime waste, municipal waste water treatment sludge, wood waste, paper waste, plastic-containing manufacturing waste, fly ash, petroleum-containing sludge, organic agricultural wastes, rubber-containing waste and inorganic mineral-containing waste. A pellet of at least 5500 BTU/lb, or, more preferably, 7000 to 9000 BTU/lb is obtained. It is to be expected that the pellet could cause heavy metal emissions.
Biogas systems are also known. Methane gas can be produced from the fermentation of waste materials such as municipal solid waste, organic waste and food matter. The resultant product is approximately 98% of the input waste, and may be sent to landfill. However, the product is not suitable for composting because the organic and food matter that makes good compost has been used in the methane gas production process. Compost of poor quality is obtained.
Many of the aforementioned processes involve processing the raw municipal solid waste such that a light fraction more suitable for combustion is separated and burned. Therefore, the entire waste is not completely utilized. The heavier fraction of waste must still be disposed of or utilized e.g. as earth fill. It would be more effective if the raw municipal solid waste could be utilized in a more efficient and less hazardous manner.
A process is required that will utilize the majority of municipal solid waste, thereby eliminating or reducing the need for landfill sites and composting. In addition, the waste should provide a high fuel value for generation of energy.

Conversion of municipal solid waste to high fuel value


A distributed arbitration scheme for a communications bus wherein the bus interface modules decide among themselves who should next use the bus. The protocol is a common multiprocessor backplane bus interface for supporting multiprocessing, shared memory, and memory mapped input/output operations. The protocol allows programmable priority which can be changed during system operation. The architecture handles interrupts over the bus and therefore eliminates separate interrupt lines. The scheme can implemented in CMOS technology and is compatible with other integrate circuit device technology.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related generally to multiprocessing computer systems and more particularly to the selection of one of a plurality of processors to communicate on a common communications bus.
2. Background Art
Multiprocessing techniques have become widely used in computing systems. Essentially, multiprocessing systems employ a plurality of processing devices operating substantially independent from one another to thereby enable the computing system to simultaneously accomplish a variety of different tasks.
Rather than provide each of the processors with a complete independent computing system having inputs, processing, and storage along with outputs, a plurality of processors are interconnected by a single communications bus.
In computer systems, design tradeoffs in circuit packaging, technology, cost and system performance often result in the implementation of shared buses for the transfer of information such as data, commands or other messages. In systems that utilize high speed parallel buses which interconnect several devices of similar function and bus priority, it is necessary that each device be given sufficient allocation in bus access to balance bus utilization, i.e., bandwidth. For optimum operation, it is also necessary that the average wait time for all devices in accessing the bus be as small as possible. It is further necessary for optimum performance that the arbitration mechanism which determines priority in access to the shared bus be as fast as possible, particularly in terms of logic level transitions, to calculate the next device grant.
Prior art techniques for selecting the processor for access to the bus have generally involved the use of discrete combinatorial and sequential logic elements and have therefore been highly complex and cumbersome in use. Further, such prior art techniques are relatively inflexible in operation, thus limiting the ability of such systems to accommodate for particular contingencies. For example, in many systems, the routine priority scheme may be upset by special memory requests, such as a multi-cycle request where the requesting processor requires a memory access involving more than a single memory cycle. Other special priority requests include "super priority" requests such as memory refresh cycles which must be performed to the exclusion of all other memory accesses. The prior art techniques employing discrete components cannot easily accommodate such non-routine memory requests without involving highly complex circuitry.
Conventional bus arbitration schemes generally implement a fixed, unchanging priority scheme among the using devices. Non programmable hardware logic generates bus use grant signals as a function of the incoming request signals in a fixed and unchanging priority structure. Such schemes are inflexible because the priority structure is built into the logic hardware and there is no way, short of redesigning the arbitration circuit, to accommodate different applications or changing system configurations and request loads.
The prior art has sought to alleviate these limitations by providing programmable arbitration mechanisms in which the relative priority ordering of the using devices is indicated by the contents of storage devices, such as registers, and hence may be changed by reprogramming the register contents.
While providing programmability at one level, these mechanisms have not met the needs of multiprocessor computer systems and other bus-oriented digital systems that require flexible, programmable, class-oriented priority schemes. In such systems, using devices are commonly divided into classes, with each class having a different priority, while devices within a class have the same priority and are generally scheduled to access the bus in a round-robin, equal opportunity, manner. The prior art programmable arbitration mechanisms have traditionally not possessed the flexibility necessary to adapt to such a variety and combination of priority determining manners. Hence the prior art mechanisms have not been capable of meeting the changing needs of a variety of arbitrator applications, configurations of using devices and device response time requirements.
Typical multiprocessor environments employ a common backplane bus to connect a plurality of processors. To interrupt a central processor each device must send an interrupt signal to the processor. Due to packaging constraints dedicated interrupt lines are at a premium. Many interrupt schemes have been implemented in the past to control the accessing of data in a computerized system. Fixed, as well as programmable, priority interrupt systems are available. As data acquisition rates increase with faster processors and the emergence of 32-bit processors, faster priority interrupt schemes are needed. To save dedicated interrupt lines and the associated integrated circuit pinouts, what is needed is a bus interrupt technique that uses the backplane bus. A device desiring access to the bus interrupts by first broadcasting its priority onto the bus and then sending an interrupt message.
Also common in the prior art in a centralized arbitration scheme, where a central arbitrator determines which module will receive the bus use next. This is the conventional way and has the disadvantage of a single point of failure (that is, when the centralized arbitrator fails, everything stops). This is unacceptable in fault tolerance systems, like space projects, banking, and critical industrial processes which can not use a centralized arbitration scheme.
What is needed is a distributed programmable priority scheme to solve the problems encountered in the prior art.

Distributed programmable priority arbitration

International Business Machines Corporation


A pet toilet comprising a shallow tray 2, a plate-shaped urine absorbent mat 3 which is put in the tray 2, and a perforated film 4 which has a number of openings H and covers the entire upper surface of the absorbent mat 3 is disclosed. The openings H of the perforated film 4 have a sidewall extending from one side to the other side of the film. The perforated film 4 is fixed at such a position that at least the lower end of the sidewall of the openings H is in contact with the upper surface of the urine absorbent mat 3.

The present invention relates to a pet toilet which is conveniently used to raise various domesticated pets, particularly dogs.
JP-A-7-67489 proposes a litter box for treating excreta of pets such as dogs and cats which has a porous member partitioning the litter box into upper and lower parts, water-repellent litter placed on the porous member, and a particulate or granular absorbent member made of an absorbent polymer placed under the porous member.
This litter box is, however, designed to keep the litter in the upper part always dry by making the lower absorbent member absorb liquid waste. In other words, it chiefly aims at urine treatment. When a pet has eliminated its solid waste, the whole litter must be exchanged for fresh one. In this respect there is no difference from common litter, still leaving the problems of laboriousness and bad economy. Further, when a large quantity of urine has been absorbed, urine easily migrates backward to soil the pet's limbs.
An object of the present invention is to provide a pet toilet which hardly allows absorbed urine to migrate outside even after absorbing a large quantity of urine.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pet toilet with which both liquid and solid wastes can be disposed of easily and economically.


A vehicle for fighting fires, retrieving hazardous materials, performing rescues and providing emergency medical services in remote areas comprises an all terrain vehicle suitably equipped for the task it is intended to carry out. As a vehicle for retrieving hazardous materials, it is equipped with a crane (202) to lift a container (204) of waste onto its deck (206). For emergency medical services and searches and rescues, it has a full length protective wire mesh (252) over driver and occupants and a stretcher (254) elevated on cabinetry (258) so that the stretcher extends over the seat back to fit within the confines of the mesh.

Although the system of paved roads in many places throughout the world is excellent, there are still many areas that are remote or where the lack of paved roads makes access difficult. In these remote areas, events may take place or circumstances exist that require retrieval of people or cargo.
So-called "all terrain vehicles" are designed to travel over uneven surfaces and rough ground, usually for those engaged in hunting or fishing to get to areas where these sports can be enjoyed. These vehicles are well suited to travel where needed. However, they are not always equipped for accomplishing tasks other than to carry people and cargo for recreational uses.
For example, not all fires that threaten life and property occur in urban areas where roads lead to a convenient spot for deploying fire-fighting equipment and tapping into a municipal water supply. Fires often occur in remote, rugged areas where water for dousing the fire might be in short supply. To make matters worse, because many of these areas are covered with vegetation and trees, there will be no shortage of fuel for the fire. Consequently, some of the most destructive fires—forest fires and brush fires—occur or begin in remote areas.
These fires are fought in a variety of ways, usually by attempting to remove fuel from the fire's path with earth-moving equipment or by dousing the fire with water or fire retardant carried by transport planes or helicopters. Establishing a fire break takes time; sometimes the fire must be extinguished or at least controlled until a fire break can be established. Under these circumstances, fires are fought by individuals on foot carrying tanks of water on their backs. Water, of course, cools the fuel below its ignition temperature. By adding a foaming agent to the water, the resulting foam suffocates the fire and makes better use of the water. However, it may require a large number of tanks and many trips on foot over rugged ground to secure control over a fire. There remains a need for a more effective way to control fires in remote areas.
In addition, many public safety departments, including fire and police departments, conduct search and rescue operations in areas that are not suitable for automotive traffic, or they provide emergency medical service to those far from a paved road. In such instances, it may not be possible to transport medical equipment or rescue equipment to specific locations by ambulance because of the terrain. In the past, the equipment had to be carried to the injured individual by the search and rescue personnel, who then had to carry the injured party back out. Consequently, there is a need for a more effective way to transport equipment and personnel over areas having rough terrain and for transporting injured persons.
Still another example is in removing dangerous or hazardous cargo from remote areas. Sometimes hazardous wastes are found in remote areas, areas where those wastes were dumped years before. Often the ground near such wastes is soft, muddy or overgrown with vegetation. Recovery of the drummed waste can be difficult. Large-scale construction equipment such as crawler tractor cranes can be brought to such a location to remove the wastes, however, in some cases, this kind of equipment may do more harm than good because of size and relative lack of maneuverability.

All terrain retrieval vehicle for medical emergencies


Buried platform wells are specifically used to electrically interact with the platform transistors of the invention. The dopant concentration distribution of the buried platform wells is used to change the threshold voltage of the platform transistors of the invention by introducing a tail dopant concentration into the active region of the platform transistors. The platform transistors of the invention can also be used in conjunction with standard transistors, on a single structure, to provide both low and relatively high threshold voltage transistors on a single structure. Consequently, using the method and structure of the invention, considerable versatility and design flexibility are achieved with minimum additional structural complexity.

The present invention relates generally to transistor devices and, more particularly, to low power and ultra-low power transistor devices.
In modern computer systems, power density and scalability issues represent some of the most significant obstacles to increased system performance. For reliability, the supply voltage Vdd must come down. In addition, to control leakage current, the threshold voltage must come up. Consequently, performance is being rapidly squeezed between the two. In addition, with an electronics market that stresses portability, compact size, lightweight and the capability for prolonged remote operation, a demand has arisen for low power and ultra-low power transistor devices and systems. To meet this demand devices are emerging which have extremely low threshold voltages.
In the prior art, devices were introduced that included buried wells. Typically these buried wells were N-type buried wells that were used for connecting N-wells surrounding PFET devices. FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art structure 100. Prior art structure 100 included a P-type substrate 101. A first NFET 105 was formed in P-type substrate 101 and included N-type source 106, N-type drain 108, gate electrode 107, and active region 109. P-type substrate 101 also included a first N-well 119 with first PFET 115 formed in it. First PFET 115 included P-type source 116, P-type drain 118 and gate electrode 117. A second NFET 125 including N-type source 126, N-type drain 128 and gate electrode 127 was also formed in P-type substrate 101. In addition, a second PFET 135 was formed in second N-well 139 and included P-type source 136, P-type drain 138 and gate electrode 137. Prior art structure 100 also included buried N-type well 103, or buried N-well 103, that was positioned below transistors 105, 115, 125 and 135 and connected N-wells 119 and 139 of PFETs 115 and 135.
According to the prior art, the sole purpose of buried N-well 103 was to connect N-type wells 119 and 139 of PFETs 115 and 135 with other N-type wells (not shown) and other PFETs (not shown) that were formed in prior art structure 100. For a more detailed discussion of prior art buried wells and their structures and purpose, see the related Patents listed below, all of which list the inventor of the present invention and are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and are incorporated herein, in their entirety, by reference.
As noted above, according to the teachings of the prior art, buried N-well 103 was used strictly to interconnect N-wells 119 and 139 of PFETs 115 and 135. Consequently, in the prior art, it was specifically taught to minimize and, if possible, eliminate all electrical interaction of buried N-well 103 with transistors 105, 115, 125, and 135. In the prior art, a great deal of energy and thought was devoted to this goal and it was taught that, ideally, there should be no interaction between buried N-well 103 and any of the transistors. In other words, in the prior art, N-well 103 was not considered an element, or a factor, in engineering the operation or threshold voltage of transistors 105, 115, 125 and 135. To this end, in the prior art, great care was taken to use the correct energies and dopant concentrations in forming buried N-well 103 to try to obtain an ideal dopant concentration distribution for buried N-well 103.
FIG. 1B shows NFET 105 of FIG. 1A in detail along with a graph of the dopant concentration, along horizontal axis 151, versus the depth below surface 110 of NFET 105, along vertical axis 153. FIG. 1B shows an idealized curve 150 of the prior art ideal dopant concentration distribution for NFET 105. As seen in FIG. 1B, in the prior art, ideally, there was no dopant in region 155 of curve 150, i.e., the dopant concentration was ideally zero until the first surface 102 of buried N-well 103. Then at depth 152, corresponding to the depth of first surface 102 of buried N-well 103, there would ideally be an immediate increase in dopant concentration to form pulse 158. In the prior art, it was taught that, ideally, the dopant concentration would remain high through region 157 until depth 154, the depth corresponding to the depth of second surface 104 of buried N-well 103, was reached. According to the prior art, ideally, the dopant concentration would then immediately drop back to zero at second surface 104 of buried N-well 103, and remain at zero throughout portion 159 of curve 150.
As noted above, FIG. 1B represents an ideal dopant concentration distribution as taught by the prior art. However, in actual practice, this ideal dopant concentration distribution was not obtainable and, in reality, the dopant concentration was more of a Gaussian distribution centered on the centerline of buried N-well 103. FIG. 1C shows NFET 105 of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B in detail along with a more realistic graph of the dopant concentration, along horizontal axis 151, versus the depth below surface 110 of NFET 105, along vertical axis 153. FIG. 1C shows a realistic curve 150R of the dopant concentration distribution for NFET 105. As seen in FIG. 1C, there is a small dopant concentration in region 155 of curve 150R, i.e., a dopant concentration tail exists in region 155. This small dopant concentration in region 155 of curve 150R typically increases with depth throughout region 155, and the first half of region 157, of curve 150R, through and past the first surface 102 of buried N-well 103, to the depth of centerline 103C of buried N-well 103. The dopant concentration then typically reaches a peak 158R at a depth approximately equal to the depth of centerline 103C of buried N-well 103. After peak 158R, the dopant concentration typically decreases with depth along curve 150R through the second half of region 157, and all of region 159, i.e., a dopant concentration tail exists in region 159.
As noted above, the Gaussian distribution of FIG. 1C was considered problematic in the prior art and considerable energy was spent trying to obtain a dopant concentration distribution closer to the graph of FIG. 1B than that of FIG. 1C. This was because, as discussed above, in the prior art, it was thought that ideally, there should be no interaction between buried N-well 103 and NFET 105.
What is needed is a method and structure that operates well under realistic conditions. In addition, a method and structure is highly desirable that uses the non-ideal dopant concentration, and dopant concentration tail, as a tool for engineering the threshold voltage of the transistor.
In contrast to the structures and teachings of the prior art, the present invention includes a method and structure for using buried platform wells specifically to electrically interact with the platform transistors of the invention. According to the invention, the dopant concentration distribution of the buried platform wells is used to change the threshold voltage of the platform transistors of the invention by introducing a tail dopant concentration into the active region of the platform transistors.
Further, according to the invention, the tail dopant concentration distribution can be engineered to yield a desired threshold voltage for the platform transistor and this threshold voltage can be varied from transistor to transistor. Consequently, according to the method and structure of the invention, the Gaussian dopant concentration distribution that was avoided, minimized, and considered undesirable, in the prior art, is used as an advantageous integral element of the platform transistors of the invention.
The platform transistors of the invention can also be used in conjunction with standard transistors, on a single structure, to provide both low and relatively high threshold voltage transistors on a single structure. As a result of these and other features discussed in more detail above, devices designed according to the principles of the present invention have the desirable attributes of multiple threshold voltages that can be engineered to yield specific results and, using the method and structure of the invention, considerable versatility and design flexibility are achieved with minimum additional structural complexity.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and following detailed description are intended only to exemplify and explain the invention as claimed.

Method for engineering the threshold voltage of a device using buried wells


The invention relates to a device for synchronizing a magnetic resonance unit with the cardiac rhythm of a patient, comprising a number of electrodes for leading off electrocardiogram signals from the body of the patient and an evaluation unit for determining a characteristic trigger time within a cardiac rhythm period of the patient from the electrocardiogram signals. In order to provide a device, which allows reliable determination of characteristic trigger times within the cardiac rhythm period of the patient even with elevated magnetic field strengths and which operates at least largely independently of external magnetic fields, it is proposed that the evaluation unit is designed to compare electrocardiogram signals obtained before and after the introduction of the patient into the magnetic resonance unit, in order to determine an enlargement of at least one characteristic of the electrocardiogram signals due to the magnetic field.

Devices are known from the field, which serve to synchronize a magnetic resonance unit with the cardiac rhythm of a patient. In addition to the electrodes of an electrocardiogram device these have an evaluation unit for determining a characteristic trigger time within a cardiac rhythm period of the patient from the electrocardiogram signals of the electrodes. The characteristic trigger time is determined by a simple trigger threshold within the rising or falling edge of the R wave of the electrocardiogram signal. Synchronization serves to prevent motion artifacts, which can be produced, if the magnetic resonance recording takes place in different phases within the periodic motion of the heartbeat.
While the known methods and devices operate sufficiently reliably in the magnetic field-free space, in the magnetic resonance high field a significantly enlarged T wave can result in the ventricle part of the electrocardiogram signal compared with the field-free electrocardiogram due to the magnetohydrodynamic effect acting on the turbulences in the ventricle, so that the amplitude of the T wave can reach the trigger threshold. This significantly impedes automatic identification of the R wave.

Device and method for synchronizing magnetic resonance unit with the cardiac rhythm of a patient


A waveguide coupler for coupling electromagnetic power between a first rectangular waveguide and a second rectangular waveguide includes a one-dimensional intermediate waveguide formed of two plates spaced apart by a distance equal to a common height of the two waveguides. This enables a wave emanating from the first waveguide to spread apart transversely so as to equal the width of the second waveguide, the width of the second waveguide being greater than the width of the first waveguide. A cylindrical lens is located between the intermediate waveguide and the second waveguide to provide for a conversion between a cylindrical wavefront and a planar wavefront. The coupler is operative in reciprocal fashion such that a wave emanating from the first waveguide spreads out in width and is then converted to a planar waveguide prior to entering the second waveguide; and a wave emanating from the second waveguide is converted to a wave of contracting width for entry into the first waveguide. In each of the first and the second waveguides, the waveguide has an open end which serves as a port by which electromagnetic power is coupled between the waveguide and the intermediate waveguide. In an alternative embodiment, the intermediate waveguide may be fabricated as a block of solid electromagnetic-wave propagating material.

This invention relates to the coupling of electromagnetic power, such as radiation of a laser, between two waveguides of different cross-sectional dimensions and, more particularly, to a coupler comprising a one-dimensional intermediate waveguide in conjunction with a cylindrical lens disposed between the intermediate waveguide and the larger of the two waveguides, the lens serving to provide a conversion between a cylindrical wavefront and a planar wavefront.
Optical signals may be transmitted by waveguides. By way of example, radiation from a carbon-dioxide laser having a wavelength of 10. 6 microns may be transmitted by a waveguide, such as a rectangular waveguide measuring in the range of approximately two to four millimeters in cross-sectional dimension. In optical systems, the situation may arise wherein it is desired to couple radiant energy from a rectangular waveguide having a first set of cross-sectional dimensions to a second rectangular waveguide having a second set of cross-sectional dimensions different from the dimensions of the first waveguide. For example, it may be desired to couple output power of a carbon-dioxide laser, wherein the output radiation emanates from a square waveguide measuring two millimeters on a side, to a second waveguide of rectangular cross-section measuring two millimeters in height by four millimeters in width. This requires some form of optical coupling structure for converting the waveform of the square waveguide to a waveform suitable for the rectangular waveguide.
A problem arises in that existing coupling structures have excessive complexity, excessive difficulty in alignment, and excessive cost as compared to that which is desirable for providing a suitable waveguide coupler.

Coupler for waveguides of differing cross section


A wear member that includes a pair of legs defining a slot straddles the digging edge of a piece of excavating equipment. In one construction, the slot is formed at its front end with a pair of inclined surfaces and a laterally extending ridge that is fit within a complementary channel on the digging edge. A lock is received within an opening in the wear member to releasably secure the wear member to the digging edge.

Excavating equipment of all kinds and sizes include various wear parts to protect the front digging edge from damage and wear. As a result, the wear parts are commonly subjected to highly abrasive materials and used under arduous conditions. To withstand the rigors of digging, the wear parts must be securely held to the excavating equipment to prevent their loss during use. Nevertheless, due to the harsh environment, the parts frequently wear out and need replacement.
A myriad of ways for attaching the wear parts have been developed with varying degrees of success in securely holding the parts during digging and facilitating easy replacement when the part is worn. For example, wear parts are often attached to the digging edge by welding to prevent loss during use. While welding securely holds the parts to the edge, it makes replacement difficult. Buckets and other digging equipment provided with weld-on wear parts are usually taken out of service for replacement in a shop. Such action typically results in the bucket or other digging equipment being out of service for an extended period of time.
To avoid the difficulties posed by welded parts, many wear parts are mechanically attached to the digging edge. For example, wear parts may be secured by Whisler-style attachments, bolting, etc. While such means facilitate replacement in the field, they also require the formation of holes in the digging edge, thus tending to weaken the equipment. Moreover, some mechanical attachments are susceptible to undesirable loosening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,214 discloses a mechanically attached wear member that relies upon a boss instead of holes in the lip. Nevertheless, these parts can be difficult to manufacture and at times experience high levels of stress in the legs under certain loading.


The invention is a coating and a method for applying coatings to fiber reinforced composite materials. A first polymeric layer, free of fibers and particulate, coats a fiber reinforced polymer substrate. The first layer joins the fiber reinforced polymer substrate to a second polymeric layer. The second polymeric layer contains a polymeric matrix and a particulate within the polymeric matrix. Finally, at least one thermally sprayed material coats the second polymeric layer to form an adherent multi-layer coating attached to the fiber reinforced.

Fiber reinforced composite materials with polymeric matrices (FRP) including carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) can be designed and constructed that have outstanding mechanical and physical properties such as low density, high tensile and torsional strength, and high modulus of elasticity or stiffness. A variety of high strength fiber materials can be used including carbon fibers, glass fibers, silicon carbide fibers, and fibers of many other oxides, carbides, and other materials. Similarly, a wide variety of polymeric materials can be used including thermosetting resins such as phenolic resins, epoxies, and many others. The fibers may be very long and positioned in specific patterns or relatively short and randomly dispersed. When long fibers are positioned in specific patterns, they can be aligned in a single direction or positioned in patterns designed to give two or three dimensional strength to the FRP. Thus the mechanical properties of the FRP structure can be tailored to the specific requirements of a component.
Unfortunately, the surfaces of a FRP have low resistance to wear including adhesive, abrasive, and erosive wear. They may also be susceptible to oxidation or other forms of corrosion, need protection from heat, not have the required optical or electrical characteristics, etc. As a result, their utilization has been limited in many applications or has required the use of metallic or ceramic inserts or sleeves in areas of contact or exposure to wear, heat, etc. For example, a bulky and expensive wear resistant sleeve must be bonded to a FRP shaft in bearing areas to prevent adhesive or abrasive wear and FRP aircraft wing or tail components must have a metallic shield bonded on leading edges to prevent erosion. If the large rolls used in paper manufacturing and printing industries could be made of FRP they would be much lighter and stiffer thus much easier and safer to handle, require less energy and time to accelerate and decelerate (due to lower inertia), and produce better products due to rigidity. Their surface, however, would not have adequate wear resistance and could not be engraved as is required for some printing applications.
A solution to many of the problems associated with the utilization of FRP would be an adherent coating with the required wear resistance or other properties. A wide variety of metallic, ceramic, cermet, and some polymeric coatings can be produced using thermal spray deposition. Many of these materials would be useful in providing wear resistance and other properties for FRP components if they could be successfully deposited on them.
The family of thermal spray processes includes Super D-Gun™ deposition, detonation gun deposition, high velocity oxy-fuel deposition and its variants such as high velocity air-fuel, plasma spray, flame spray, and electric wire arc spray. In most thermal coating processes, a metallic, ceramic, cermet, or some polymeric material in powder, wire, or rod form is heated to near or somewhat above its melting point and droplets of the material accelerated in a gas stream. The droplets are directed against the surface of the substrate (part or component) to be coated where they adhere and flow into thin lamellar particles called splats. The coating is built up of multiple splats overlapping and interlocking. These processes and the coatings they produce have been described in detail in the following: "Advanced Thermal Spray Deposition Techniques", R. C. Tucker, Jr., in Handbook of Deposition Technologies for Films and Coatings, R. F. Bunshah, ed., Second Edition, Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, N.J., 1994, pp. 591 to 642; "Thermal Spray Coatings", R. C. Tucker, Jr. in Handbook of Thin Films Process Technology, Institute of Physics Publishing, Ltd., London, 1995; and "Thermal Spray Coatings", R. C. Tucker, Jr., in Surface Engineering, ASM Handbook, Vol. 5, ASM International, Materials Park, Ohio, 1994, pp. 497-509.
In virtually all thermal spray processes, two of the most important parameters controlling the structure and properties of the coating are the temperature and the velocity of the individual particles as they impact on the surface to be coated. Of these, the temperature of the particles is of greatest import relative to coating FRPs. The temperature the particles achieve during the deposition process is a function of a number of parameters including the temperature and enthalpy (heat content) of the process gases, the specific mechanisms of heat transfer to the particles, the composition and thermal properties of the particles, the size and shape distributions of the particles, the mass flow rate of the particles relative to the gas flow rate, and the time of transit of the particles. The velocity the particles achieve is a function of a number of parameters as well, and some of these are the same as those that affect the particle temperature including the composition, velocity and flow rate of the gases, the size and shape distributions of the particles, the mass injection rate and density of the particles.
In a typical detonation gun deposition process, a mixture of oxygen and acetylene along with a pulse of powder of the coating material is injected into a barrel about 25 mm in diameter and over a meter long. The gas mixture is detonated, and the detonation wave moving down the barrel heats the powder to near or somewhat above its melting point and accelerates it to velocity of about 750 m/s. The powder's rapidly heated into molten, or nearly molten droplets of material that strike the surface of the substrate to be coated and flow into strongly bonded splats. After each detonation the barrel is purged with an inert gas such as nitrogen, and the process repeated many times a second. Detonation gun coatings typically have a porosity of less than two volume percent with very high cohesive strength as well as very high bond strength to the substrate. In the Super D-Gun™ coating process, the gas mixture includes other fuel gases in addition to acetylene. As a result there is an increase in the volume of the detonation gas products which increases the pressure and hence greatly increases the gas velocity. This, in turn, increases the coating material particle velocity, which may exceed 1000 m/s. The increased particle velocity results in an increase in coating bond strength, density, and an increase in coating compressive residual stress. In both the detonation gun and Super D-Gun coating processes nitrogen or another inert gas can be added to the detonation gas mixture to control the temperature of the detonated gas mixture and hence the powder temperature. The total process is complex, and a number of parameters can be used to control both the particle temperature and velocity, including the composition and flow rates of the gases into the gun.
In high velocity oxy-fuel and related coating processes oxygen, air, or another source of oxygen is used to burn a fuel such as hydrogen, propane, propylene, acetylene, or kerosene in a combustion chamber and the gaseous combustion products allowed to expand through a nozzle. The gas velocity may be supersonic. Powdered coating material is injected into the nozzle and heated to near or above its melting point and accelerated to a relatively high velocity, up to about 600 m/s for some coating systems. The temperature and velocity of the gas stream through the nozzle, and ultimately the powder particles, can be controlled by varying the composition and flow rate of the gases or liquids into the gun. The molten particles impinge on the surface to be coated and flow into fairly densely packed splats that are well bonded to the substrate and each other.
In the plasma spray coating process a gas is partially ionized by an electric arc as it flows around a tungsten cathode and through a relatively short converging then diverging nozzle. The partially ionized gas, or gas plasma, is usually based on argon, but may contain, for example, hydrogen, nitrogen, or helium. The temperature of the plasma at its core may exceed 30,000 K and the velocity of the gas may be supersonic. Coating material, usually in the form of powder, is injected into the gas plasma and is heated to near or above its melting point and accelerated to a velocity that may reach about 600 m/s. The rate of heat transfer to the coating material and the ultimate temperature of the coating material are a function of the flow rate and composition of the gas plasma as well as the torch design and powder injection technique. The molten particles are projected against the surface to be coated forming adherent splats.
In the flame spray coating process, oxygen and a fuel such as acetylene are combusted in a torch. Powder, wire, or rod is injected into the flame where it is melted and accelerated. Particle velocities may reach about 300 m/s. The maximum temperature of the gas and ultimately the coating material is a function of the flow rate and composition of the gases used and the torch design. Again, the molten particles are projected against the surface to be coated forming adherent splats.
Many attempts have been made to directly coat FRP surfaces with thermal spray coatings. Thermal spray coatings of metallic, cermet, or ceramic compositions usually do not adhere at all or spall when only a small amount of coating has been deposited. In most thermal spray coating applications, the surface to be coated must be roughened to provide adequate bonding. Roughening is usually done by grit blasting the surface. Grit blasting or some other forms of roughening FRP surfaces leads to unacceptable erosion of the polymeric matrix and fraying of the fibers. The later, in particular, leads to a rough and porous thermal spray coating. This and other problems were found in attempting the method of Hycner in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,950 for example. Hycner teaches grit blasting the surface of a CFRP fluid metering roll (an anilox roll used in printing) and then thermal spraying a layer of zinc, nickel-20 chromium, or mixture of aluminum bronze plus 10 polyester at a negative rake angle of 11½° M to 13½ M degrees. A ceramic coating is then applied over the first layer. The ceramic coating is subsequently finished and engraved. This process has been found to be unacceptable because of poor bond strength with some of the specified first layer coatings and other production problems and because of substantial imperfections in the coating. Many other attempts to use thermally sprayed metallic undercoats have also failed. Even attempts to deposit an undercoat of a polymeric material by thermal spraying were only marginally successful in laboratory experiments and in production were difficult to reproduce in a reliable manner.
An alternative method has been taught by Habenicht in EP 0 514 640 B1. Habenicht first creates on the surface of a CFRP a layer that consists of a mixture of a synthetic resin that bonds to the CFRP and a particulate material. After this layer is cured the surface is partially removed to expose the particulate material. The particulate material must be capable of chemical bonding to the outer coating material that is thermally sprayed on the first layer. The particulate materials and the outer thermal spray coating material are selected from variety of metals and ceramics. While this method has met with limited success, the mixture of synthetic resin and particulate material may not bond well to the CFRP and tends to form balls of material on the surface, thus being unsuitable for commercial production.
Several other techniques of preparing the surface of a CFRP surface for thermal spray coatings have been described by E. Lugscheider, R. Mathesius, G. Spur, and A. Kranz in the Proceedings of the 1993 National Thermal Spray Conference, Anaheim, Calif., 7 to 11 Jun. 1993. One method appears to be similar to that of Habenicht, but the most successful method appeared to be one in which a three dimensional wire mat was laminated into the polymeric composite. The surface was then grit blasted to expose the wire and a thermal spray coating applied. This technique would be very expensive to use in industrial applications and would tend to yield a very rough surface on the thermal spray coating.
Thus the current state of the art is such that there appears to be no method of successfully depositing thermal spray materials of a wide variety of compositions on FRP in a production worthy manner.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a coating for fiber reinforced composite polymeric materials and components that are well bonded and have an exterior layer with high resistance to wear, corrosion or other unique properties not provided by the fiber reinforced composite materials.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a process for applying well bonded thermal spray coatings to fiber reinforced composite polymeric materials.
It is a particular object of the invention is to provide a thermal spray coating and a method of applying thermal spray coating to carbon fiber reinforced composite materials and components.


An indwelling catheter is made of a polyurethane resin having a Shore hardness of 60D or more. The soft segment of the polyurethane resin is constituted by polycaprolactone. The indwelling catheter has a kinking resistance of 10 mm or more when measured at 37.degree. C. in wet state. The Young's modulus is at first 20 kgf/mm.sup.2 or more when measure at 25.degree. C. in dry state, and reduces to 15 kgf/mm.sup.2 or less by soaking it in water of 37.degree. C. for 5 minutes or less.

The present invention relates to an indwelling catheter, more specifically relates to an indwelling catheter to be left in place in a blood vessel to perform infusion, introduction of a medicinal solution, blood transfusion, blood collection, monitor of blood circulation, etc.
An indwelling needle for use in infusion, transfusion, etc. has a catheter tubing made of a biocompatible, blood-compatible plastic, etc., and is left in a blood vessel with a distal end communicated with a tube extending from a receptacle, such as a infusion bag, containing a fluid, medicinal solution, blood, etc. Some type of the indwelling needle has a sharp-tipped internal needle made of a metal, etc. which longitudinally extends through inside the indwelling catheter and is integrated with the body portion of the indwelling catheter. This type of indwelling needle is inserted into a blood vessel together with the internal needle which is then withdrawn from the catheter to conduct the infusion, transfusion, etc. in the same manner as above.
Since the lumen of the catheter inserted in position in a body cavity must be maintained large enough to effectuate the infusion and introduction of medicinal solution which are the primary use of the indwelling needle, the catheter is required to have a high kinking resistance. Further, the catheter is required to be balanced in stiffness for the insertion into a blood vessel and pliability subsequent to the insertion, because the mechanical properties of the catheter largely affect the puncture of skin, the insertion of the catheter into a body cavity and the injury in wall of blood vessel during the insertion and the emplacement of the catheter.
The catheter used in the conventional indwelling needle has been mainly made of a fluorine resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, etc. Although, the catheter made of a fluorine resin is sufficiently stiff for ease of the puncture of a skin and the insertion of the catheter into a blood vessel, it does not sufficiently soften in contact with blood. Therefore, there remains a fear of injuring the inner wall of the blood vessel. Also, since such a catheter is insufficient in the kinking resistance, there may be a fear of collapsing the passage for fluid flow.
Recently, a polyurethane resin having a soft segment of polyether has come to be used as the material for the catheter. U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,899 discloses a method of controlling the balance between the stiffness for inserting the catheter into a body cavity and the pliability after the insertion by using a catheter made of a hydrophilic polyetherurethane which softens upon contacting with a body fluid. However, the indwelling catheter made of polyetherurethane does not exhibit a sufficient kinking resistance even after the insertion into a body cavity such as a blood vessel, although it becomes pliable in contact with blood. When the catheter is made stiffer for ease of insertion, the kinking resistance is further deteriorated.

Indwelling catheter with improved kinking resistance


An analogue-to-digital converter comprises a window comparator. The window comparator comprises an input for an analogue input signal and an output for a comparison result indicating a result of a comparison of the analogue input signal with an upper bound and a lower bound of a level window. The analogue-to-digital converter further comprises a level window position signal generator. The level window position signal generator comprises an output for a level window position signal adjusting a position of the level window based on an information derived from the comparison result and indicating whether the level window should be increased, decreased or maintained. The analogue-to-digital converter further comprises an output for a digital information based on the comparison result.

The present invention is generally related to an analogue-to-digital converter and a method for converting an analogue input signal into a digital information.
In the recent years, digital signal processing has been used in more and more applications. However, many environmental signals are primarily available as analogue quantities. Also, the transmission of information over different types of links often requires treating signals as analogue signals. Consequently, there is a big need for the conversion of an analogue into a digital signal.
Many concepts have been proposed, each of the concepts addressing particular requirements with respect to speed, power consumption, accuracy and costs. However, there is still a demand for improved analogue-to-digital conversion solutions.

Analogue-to-digital converter and method for converting an analogue input signal into a digital information


An assembly for fixing a module to a surface of a tire. The assembly includes a base having a sole plate with a mounting face, for permanent connection to the surface of the tire and a bearing face. The base also has holding means for holding the module in place on the bearing face. The holding means includes a resilient strap located opposite the bearing face of the sole plate and connected to the sole plate by two opposite ends of the resilient strap. A case encloses the module, and the casing is, under normal operating conditions of the tire, held in place between the strap and the bearing face of the sole plate by resilient restoring forces developed by the resilient strap.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for removably fixing an electronic module to the surface of a tire.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of electronic modules in tires makes possible a wide range of applications including the acquisition, storage and transmission of information in order to track manufacturing or logistics, and more generally informing the user of changes in performance of the tire over the course of its service life.
This electronic module may comprise passive components, such as identification chips or RFID chips, and/or active components connected to an independent system for supplying electrical energy, such as batteries, or indeed an inductive coupling system, which does not form part of the invention. The modules are designed to exchange the desired information with external modules, serving as an interface with the user, by way of radio waves, the frequency and power of which are carefully adjusted to specific transmission protocols. The modules are generally disposed inside flexible or rigid protective casings which are intended to protect the electronic components from shocks and the environment prevailing in and around the tire.
The module, which by way of example is positioned inside the cavity formed by the tire once the tire is mounted on the wheel, may be disposed on a wide variety of supports. Thus, it may be fixed to the valve or to the rim, fixed or glued to the inner wall of the tire cover, or indeed integrated within the components of the tire. The selection of one of these solutions depends on the type of tire and the stresses it must undergo, the type of power source for the electronic module, the information which is to be tracked and the desired accessibility for maintenance.
One of the difficulties to be resolved by those skilled in the art taking on these problems relates to overcoming possible interference between the radio waves and the components of the wheel or the tire. This problem proves particularly difficult to solve if one of these electronic modules is to be disposed inside a tire having metal carcass reinforcement plies.
In this latter case, the solution consists of disposing the module as close as possible to the wall of the tire, while taking into account the flexibility of the tire and the relative rigidity of the module, the resistance to shocks, the possibility of removing the module in order to perform maintenance on it, and the need to ensure that the module is kept in position whatever the speed of rotation and the conditions of use of the cover.
Ways of fixing the module to the tire which allow these requirements to be met are described, for example, in the publication EP 0 936 089 (which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,478), U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,940 or indeed U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,650, which describe systems for fixing a module to the inner wall of a tire. These devices are composed of a flexible sole plate, of which one face serves to provide a connection to the inner wall of the tire and the other face has a fixing means which cooperates with the attachment means disposed on the module.
However, all the solutions proposed in the publications discussed above relate to devices in which the base that serves to provide a connection between the inner wall of the tire and the module proper is relatively bulky and has, in particular, protruding means of connection to the module.
This latter characteristic is particularly inconvenient when the tire has to undergo retreading in the hot condition, since this base and the means of connection to the module associated therewith run the risk of damaging the wall of the curing membranes used for this operation. Added to this inconvenience is the fact that there are local variations in the heat exchange conditions.
It thus becomes necessary to remove this base by grinding it away before the step of vulcanization and, given the destructive nature of the grinding operation, to replace the base after the vulcanization operations are complete.

Device for fixing a module to the surface of a tire


An improved ebullated bed hydroconversion process is disclosed that utilizes a bimodal heterogeneous catalyst and a metal containing oil-miscible-catalysts compound to achieve a reduction in sediment, an increase in conversion, a reduction in the energy utilized to maintain reaction conditions and increases the stability of the ebullated catalyst bed. The oil-miscible compound may be provided in a concentration so as to provide about 1 to about 60 wppm metal based on the charge hydrocarbon oil.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the hydroconversion of heavy hydrocarbon oils. More particularly it relates to a hydroconversion catalyst system which permits operation to be carried out with decreased power consumption and better ebullation in the reactor bed.
2. Background
Often a petroleum refiner wishes to convert high boiling fractions such as vacuum resid to lower boiling fractions which are of higher value and more readily handled and/or marketable. Illustrative of the large body of patents directed to this problem are the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,646 discloses a bottoms visbreaking hydroconversion process wherein hydrocarbon charge is partially coked, and the coke is contacted within the charge stock with an oil-miscible metal catalyst compound of a metal of Group IV-B, V-B, VII-B, or VIII to yield a hydroconversion catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,069 discloses hydrofining in the presence of a supported catalyst bearing a VI-B, VII-B, or VIII metal on alumina, silica, or silica-alumina. There is introduced with the charge oil, as additive, a naphthenate of Co or Fe.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,156 discloses hydroconversion in the presence of a chromium catalyst prepared by adding a water-soluble aliphatic polyhydroxy compound (such as glycerol) to an aqueous solution of chromic acid, adding a hydrocarbon thereto, and heating the mixture in the presence of hydrogen sulfide to yield a slurry.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,441 discloses hydrofining in the presence of a decomposable compound of a metal (Cu, Zn, III-B, IV-B, VII-B, or VIII) mixed with a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream; and the mixture is then contacted with a "suitable refractory inorganic material" such as alumina.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,823 discloses hydrofining in the presence of a decomposable compound of a IV-B metal and a supported catalyst containing a metal of VI-B, VII-B, or VIII.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,824 discloses demetallization in the presence of a decomposable compound of VI-B, VII-B, or VIII metal admitted with the charge and a heterogeneous catalyst containing a phosphate of Zr, Co, or Fe.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,230 discloses demetallization in the presence of a decomposable compound of a IV-B, V-B, VI-B, VII-B, or VIII metal admitted with the charge and a heterogeneous catalyst containing NiAs.sub.x on alumina.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,207 discloses demetallization in the presence of a decomposable compound of V-B, VI-B, VII-B, or VIII metal admitted with the charge and a heterogeneous catalyst containing a phosphate of Zr or Cr.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,301 discloses hydroprocessing in the presence of added dispersed hydrogenation catalyst (typically ammonium molybdate) and added porous contact particles (typically FCC catalyst fines, alumina, or naturally occurring clay).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,729 discloses hydrotreating in the presence of a molybdenum blue solution in polar organic solvent introduced with the hydrocarbon charge.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,183 discloses liquefaction of coal in the presence of unsupported finely divided metal catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,454 discloses hydroconversion of a coal-oil mixture in the presence of a thermally decomposable compound of a IV-B, V-B, VI-B, VII-B, or VIII metal, preferably Mo.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,825 discloses hydroconversion of heavy hydrocarbons in the presence of an oil-miscible compound of IV-B, V-B, VI-B, VII-B, or VIII metal added to charge, the compound being converted to solid, non-colloidal form by heating in the presence of hydrogen.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,455 discloses hydrotreating in the presence of a fatty acid salt of a VI-B metal, typically molybdenum octoate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,867 discloses hydroconversion of coal in the presence of oil-miscible compound of V-B, VI-B, VII-B, or VIII metal plus hydrogen donor solvent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,799 discloses hydroconversion in the presence of a metal phthalocyanine plus dispersed iron particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,530 discloses hydroconversion in the presence of (i) an iron component and (ii) a catalytically active other metal component prepared by dissolving an oil-miscible metal compound in the oil and converting the metal compound in the oil to the corresponding catalytically active metal component.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,581 principally discloses hydroconversion in a stirred batch reactor using homogeneous catalytic systems using various metal compounds.


A clock acquisition subsystem for a data processing system has an interlocked clock multiplexer 100 for acquiring a clock source which is provided as clock signal 102 to the data processing system. Multiplexer 100 has at least two inputs 104 and 106 for clock source signals. Each clock source signal can be connected to one or more clock sources 710 and 720. Control register 730 specifies which clock source is to be selected by the multiplexer. The multiplexer has an interlocked synchronizer on each clock signal input so that when the multiplexer is switched, output clock signal 102 transitions cleanly from a first clock source to a second clock source without glitches or runt pulses. While the data processing system is in a deep sleep low power mode, wakeup logic 750 can provide wakeup signal 751 to power down select logic 740 which automatically selects secondary clock 720 until primary clock 710 is operational.

Data processing systems are used in myriad applications which touch virtually every aspect of life. In applications where the data processing system uses battery power for any substantial length of time, it is particularly desirable to be able to minimize the power consumption of the data processing system. Examples of systems wherein battery power is used for substantial periods of time include portable data processing systems such as notebook and sub-notebook computer systems, and data processing systems which are employed in remote locations, hazardous weather areas, or earthquake prone areas.
In applications which require high performance from a data processing system, the high performance requirement often presents a heat dissipation problem. As a result, most high performance data processing devices use expensive packages such as ceramic pin grid arrays in order to provide heat dissipation capabilities adequate to avoid overheating the data processing device.
In addressing the power management issues presented by the above-described circumstances, it is known that the power dissipation of a data processing system having a fixed operating voltage is given by the following equation : EQU P=CV.sup.2 f,
where P is the power dissipated, C is the effective power dissipation capacitance, V is the operating voltage and f is the effective transition frequency. Thus, the dissipated power P can be reduced by reducing the effective transition frequency f.
In one known approach to reducing the effective transition frequency f, a data processing device can divide down its own clock frequency in response to an external stimulus. For example, one known conventional RISC microprocessor has a reduced power mode of operation wherein it responds to an external stimulus to reduce its internal clock frequency by 75%.
Prior clock switching circuits generally operate by dividing the frequency of a master oscillator so that synchronous operation is maintained, or by stopping the processor prior to switching between asynchronous clock sources. Other switching circuits rely on switching between a high frequency clock and a low frequency clock in order to mask "glitches" produced when the high frequency clock is switched asynchronously.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a clock switching circuit for switching between asynchronous clock sources while the processor remains in operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide clean, "glitchless" switching between asynchronous clock sources which have frequencies which may be relatively close to each other.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having reference to the following figures and specification.

Apparatus and method for automatically sequencing clocks in a data processing system when entering or leaving a low power state