A method of estimating the location of the anterior and posterior commissures in a brain scan image is proposed. Firstly, a geometrical object is constructed using points on a brain scan image of an individual which are on the surface of the brain, such as an ellipse fitting the cerebral surface of a sagittal image of the mid-sagittal plane, or an adjacent sagittal plane. The locations on the MSP of the AC and PC landmarks (and optionally other landmarks) are estimated using the five parameters which define the ellipse, plus numerical values obtained in advance from statistical analysis of other individuals.

The human body demonstrates definite proportions. The same is true for proportions of the head. The systematic study of brain proportions and morphometry could start only with the development of in vivo techniques of brain visualisation. Attempts to establish the relationship between landmarks on the skull and anatomical structures within the brain were undertaken starting from the beginning of 19th century. Use of this technique in patients was not practical because of variability in the spatial relationship between sub-cortical structures and cranial landmarks until intracerebral reference points could be located and correlated to sub-cortical target structures. Using a system of coordinates defined based on the brain can help in location of sub-cortical structures. The Talairach and Toumoux (TT) system of coordinates is based on 6 external landmarks and 2 internal landmarks (the anterior commissure—AC and posterior commissure—PC).
The human cerebrum comprises of two hemispheres that exchange information with each other through axons, which are arranged in specific bundles called commissures. The anterior commissure (AC) and posterior commissure (PC) are two such structures. Identification of AC and PC is critical not only because they are important brain structures, but also because their location is crucial in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery [1], localization analysis in human brain mapping [2], medical image analysis [3], structure segmentation and labeling in neuroradiology [4] as well as in registration to reduce the number of degrees of freedom. Major stereotactic brain atlases, such as the Talairach and Toumoux (TT) brain atlas [5], the Referentially Oriented Talairach-Toumoux atlas [6] and the Schaltenbrand-Wahren atlas [7] are based on the AC and PC. The Talairach transformation based on AC and PC is also widely used in human brain mapping for brain comparison across subjects [8]. In addition, the number of references to the TT atlas has been growing exponentially [9].
The AC and PC structures are often hard to detect due to their small size, variability in intensity properties, low data resolution in comparison to their size, presence of neighboring structures with similar appearance (e.g., the fornix, blood vessels) and noise. For neuroanatomy experts, an interactive identification of AC and PC is straightforward for high quality data. However, automation is desirable not only in research but also in clinical practice to increase confidence with which these structures can be identified by a non-neuroradiologist or other non-specialist (e.g., in urgent cases), and to save a substantial amount of time when processing numerous datasets. Extraction of the AC and PC landmarks from T1WI neuroimages is described in [10, 11]. Some spatial properties of cerebral structures and the anterior and posterior commissures were presented in [12, 13]. In paper [12] quantitative and statistical analysis of angles and distances related to the inter-commissural line has been done. In particular the mean length of the inter-commissural line and range were found for 50 subjects. However, none of these results were correlated to the shape of the brain.
In the case that only low-resolution images of the brain are available, a large interslice gap and partial effects might cause partial visibility or non-visibility of the AC and PC landmarks. Non-morphological cerebral images, such as perfusion-weighted images (PWI) (e.g. a CBF map which indicates cerebral blood flow) and diffusion-weighted images (DWI), do not reflect anatomy and this makes it impossible to detect anatomical structures directly. FIG. 1(a) is an example of a CBF image and FIG. 1(b) is an example of a DWI image.

Localization of brain landmarks such as the anterior and posterior commissures based on geometrical fitting

Agency for Science, Technology and Research


A crimp ring (14) is mounted on a braided wire (13) of a shielded cable (12). On the other hand, a shielding shell (20) connectable with a large diameter portion (14b) of the crimp ring (14) is mounted in a housing (8). Entire touching portions (35) are formed at both upper and lower surfaces of the shielding shell (20) by being bent inward to form mountain-shaped resilient contact pieces (36) that can resiliently contact the large diameter portion (14b) and then being folded back outward near the rear edge of the shielding shell (20). Displacement restricting portions (40) are arranged between the touching portions (35) adjacent in width direction to protect the other touching portions (35) from the interference of the shielded cable (12) being inserted or withdrawn.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a shielded connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H11-40273 discloses a conventional shielded connector with an electrical contact formed in a shielding shell. The contact can resiliently contact a shielding portion to achieve reliable and easy connection of a shielding portion of a shielded cable and the shielding shell.
The shielding shell of the above-described connector is formed by bending an electrically conductive metal plate into a cylindrical shape, and four spring pieces project out in the longitudinal direction at regular angular intervals from the rear edge of the shielding shell. The spring pieces are folded in at the longitudinal projecting ends and can deform resiliently in radial directions. However, external matter can interfere with outwardly projecting parts of the spring pieces. Thus, the spring pieces easily can be damaged. Accordingly, a contact state of the shielded cable and the shielding portion is likely to be unstable.
The invention was developed in view of the above situation and an object thereof is to provide a shielded connector for protecting a touching portion of a shielding shell from contact with external matter.


Photographic pyrazolotriazole dye forming coupler compound or coupler intermediate compounds can be readily prepared by inducing an elimination-addition reaction between certain pyrazolotriazole compounds and aromatic amines in the presence of an inorganic base or formate. Yields and purity are high, and reaction time is reduced with the specific set of conditions and reactants, and environmental impact from waste is reduced. The resulting compounds can be used themselves as photographic dye forming couplers or further reacted to prepare useful coupler compounds for photographic use.

Color photographic silver halide materials are used to provide color images with the use of certain dye forming compounds that are usually in the various photosensitive silver halide layers of the materials. These dye forming compounds are conventionally known as "dye forming couplers" and are reactive with suitable oxidized forms of color developing agents used during photoprocessing to provide the desired dye images. Since most of such silver halide materials (such as color negative films and color papers) provide images based on what is known in the art as "subtractive color mixing", they typically include dye forming couplers that will provide cyan, yellow and magenta dyes in the appropriate photosensitive layers.
Pyrazolotriazoles have been known to be useful photographic magenta dye forming couplers for some time, and various processes are known for preparing them, all of which usually include various chemical reactions taken in specific order. Such processes add functionality that defines the desired dye forming coupler early in the synthesis. These processes result in the lack of generality of the process and the need to make different intermediates for different dye forming coupler end products.
It is well known in the art [for example, U.S. Pat. No.5,183,728 (Romanet et al), U.S. Pat. No, 5,457,210 (Kim et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,572 (Potenza et al)] that coupler precursors defined by Formula I below can be converted to coupler intermediates defined by Formula II (wherein R.sub.3 is an alkyl group and R.sub.4 is hydrogen) by reacting a Formula I compound with a primary aliphatic amine in refluxing tetrahydrofuran (THF). ##STR1##
This reaction works well if R.sub.3 is an alkyl group and R.sub.4 is hydrogen, but it does not work well (i.e. resulting in long reaction times and/or low chemical yields) if either R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 is an aromatic group.
It is also known from the noted Kim et al and Potenza et al patents that this same transformation can be affected by adding triethylamine to the reaction mixture. ##STR2##
While this reaction works well if R.sub.3 is an alkyl group and R.sub.4 is hydrogen, if either R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 is an aromatic group, the results (i.e. chemical yield, reaction times, and product purity) are variable and substrate dependent. Additionally, disposal of reaction process waste material containing an organic base like triethylamine presents a more serious environmental problem.
There remains a need in the photographic industry for a synthetic method for preparing dye forming coupler intermediates of the pyrazolotriazole type that can be carried out with reactants containing aromatic groups with high yield, high purity and shortened reaction time, while the environmental impact of waste disposal is minimized.

Synthesis of pyrazolotriazole photographic dye forming color couplers and intermediates


A method is disclosed for managing the performance of shared computing resources in furtherance of delivering on-demand IT services to multiple customers. The inventive method comprises predicting the performance of resources allocated among the customers to minimize performance related problems; preventing performance related problems by evaluating the impact of changes in resource allocations; reacting to performance alerts to resolve performance related problems; and determining the appropriate level of resource performance needed in service level agreements, and that these requirements detailed in the service level agreements are achieved. This Performance Management method ensures that the demands of the customers are not affected by the allocation and utilization of the shared IT resources.

For many years, information technology (IT) organizations (the "providers") have offered IT management services and computing resources to other business entities (the "customers"). In a "traditional" service model, the customers share a provider's management services, but each customer purchases or leases specific resources for the customer's exclusive benefit. The customer may purchase or lease the resources directly from the provider or from a third party. Regardless of their origins, though, such a purchase or lease may require extensive, time-consuming negotiations based upon the customer's anticipated requirements. If the customer's requirements are less than anticipated, then the customer effectively has wasted resources. If, however, the customer's requirements are greater than anticipated, then the customer may have to enter into additional time-consuming negotiations for the necessary resources.
Customers of "on-demand" services, on the other hand, share the provider's management services and computing resources (to the system and subsystem level), including persistent memory ("storage"), volatile memory ("memory"), and processors, as depicted in FIG. 1. As FIG. 1 also illustrates, another characteristic of the on-demand model is multiple customers sharing the same subsystem within the same computing resource, such as a logical partition (LPAR). In FIG. 1, for example, customer 3 and customer 4 could each run separate instances of operating system 3, such as Z/LINUX, on a single z/VM LPAR. Multiple external customers sharing singular hardware requires that performance tuning not only be applicable to the workload, but to the entire customer and the other customers sharing the hardware.
Generally, the on-demand provider delivers services based upon a contract that allows a variance of utilization. The provider delivers the requested services without regard to the physical resources used to provide those services. The customer does not purchase or lease the physical resources; instead, the provider retains the discretion to allocate the resources to logical partitions as needed to meet its service obligations. Typically, the provider establishes threshold levels of service that guide dynamic allocation of resources. Although on-demand customers may share a provider's services and computing resources, the provider generally must segregate and protect each customer's data.
While the on-demand service model addresses many of the problems of the traditional model, including wasted resources and time-consuming negotiations, it presents some unique problems of its own. Specifically, the on-demand provider must ensure that dynamic resource allocation does not interrupt any customer's service. The provider also must ensure that dynamic resource allocation for one customer does not negatively impact service performance or security for any other customer that shares the resources. Because the concept of dynamic resource allocation is foreign to the traditional service model, the traditional service management processes do not support these unique needs of the on-demand service model.
Therefore, one skilled in the art should appreciate the need for a detailed performance management method that allocates resources, at the system and subsystem level, in a dynamically shared computing environment, and ensures that the demands of one customer's applications are not affected by the allocation and utilization of the other customers who share these IT resources.

Method for supporting on-demand performance

International Business Machines Corporation


The cytogenetic chamber includes a chamber enclosure, a drying cavity in the enclosure, a door and a hand-insertion port through the door. A slide-supported, fixative-treated cell (prepared outside the chamber or in situ in the chamber) is in the drying area and air flows through the entirety of the drying area at a substantially uniform (and relatively low) flow rate. The fixative dries at substantially the same drying rate, irrespective of the location of the slide in the drying area. The invention is particularly useful for chromosome spreading and results in a significantly-increased percentage of metaphases having metaphase areas in the optimal range of 2,500 to 4,500 squared microns.

For some time, it has been known that cells, human cells, can be treated to "spread" the chromosomes so that they might be analyzed under a microscope for possible defects. The breakthroughs in cytogenetic techniques have been of landmark proportions in the last few decades. Examples include introduction of the hypotonic treatment in the 50s (HSu 1952), use of PHA to stimulate lymphocyte culture in the 60s (Nowell et al. 1960a; Nowell et al. 1960b), the ability to induce high resolution banding (Yunis et al. 1976) and development of in situ culture methods (Peakman et al. 1979; Spurbeck et al. 1988a) and robotic harvesting (Spurbeck et al. 1988b) during the 70s and 80s.
In spite of these remarkable advancements in cytogenetic techniques, consistency of optimum spreading of chromosomes remains a major problem. The consistency with which one could obtain optimum chromosome spreading of cytogenetic specimens has been a major concern.
From an examination of prior art, it is apparent that incubators used to grow cell cultures using live cells are unsuited for cytogenetic analysis. (It is understood that cell culturing is carried out in Petri dishes or other shallow vessels capable of holding a liquid such as a cell nutrient. The very name "incubator" implies sustenance of life.)
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,572,427 (Selfridge et al.); 4,689,303 (Kraft et al.); 4,696,902 (Bisconte); 4,701,415 (Dutton et al.) and 4,923,816 (Heeg et al.) disclose and seem to typify such incubators. The incubators disclosed in such patents appear suitable for use by but one person at a time and require door opening to place the cell cultures.
The Selfridge et al. and Dutton et al. patents describe incubators said to be useful in growing cell cultures. Chamber atmosphere is controlled as to concentrations of one or more constituent gases (e.g., oxygen and carbon dioxide) and as to humidity.
The Kraft et al. patent discloses an incubator for treating cultures placed on microplates. Several microplates are placed on each of several vertically-spaced trays and each tray has an angularly-upturned lip which juts outward beyond the lip of the tray above it. Some of the air circulating past the lips is diverted by each lip and thereby directed across the surface of the microplates on that tray. In other words, the direction of air flow differs, depending upon what area of the incubator interior is being considered.
The Kraft et al. incubator has carbon dioxide and oxygen sensors and the patent mentions that temperatures in the range of 37.degree. C. (99.degree. F.) to 50.degree. C. (122.degree. F.) are used for incubation. Gas flow rates of 250 feet (760 cm.) per minute and 1000 feet (3050 cm.) per minute are also mentioned. The enclosure is of the double-door type.
The gassing incubator described in the Heeg et al. patent has two doors, both of which are transparent. Such patent implies that humidities of 90% and higher are used for cell culturing.
The Bisconte patent also describes an apparatus for cell culture. Cells to be cultured are in each of several storage devices within the enclosure, with each storage device holding multiple culture containers. Each container is in a respective sealed compartment and as a consequence, cells being cultured are shielded from direct air flow. Such shielding (and the use of high humidity as noted above) seemingly is to prevent drying of the culture. In its mention of how high air flow rates "tend to dry out biological culture media," the Dutton et al. patent appears to be in support of the idea that drying is undesirable when incubating cells.
Certainly, incubators are suitable for growing cell cultures but from the foregoing, it seems apparent that incubators are inappropriate for cell drying. A chamber configured for cytogenetic analysis and cell drying would be an important advance in the art.


A superconductor-based modulator includes a superconductor coupled to a cold reservoir to receive extreme ultra-violet (EUV) light beams. The light beams are modulated by altering transmission and reflection properties of the superconductor. Magnetic field, temperature, or a combination of both, may be used to control the superconducting properties of the superconductor. The modulator may perform temporal, spatial, and grey-scale modulations. The surface of the superconductor may be patterned with heat or infrared radiation to facilitate light focusing.

1. Field
Modulating an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light.
2. Background
The extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light commonly refers to the region of spectrum having a wavelength of approximately 13.5 nm. One application of the EUV is in photolithography where reduced feature size (the critical dimension) of a circuit is desired. The EUV may be used for patterning; that is, creating a circuit design by projecting the EUV light on a wafer covered by a mask. The mask blocks the EUV light from entering the covered area. Thus, selective areas of the wafer may be etched according to the circuit design.
As the EUV is highly reflective, conventional system including lens and quartz cannot be used to direct the projection of the EUV light. Thus, EUV mirrors are generally used. Presently, EUV mirrors are made of machined flat materials, usually diamond turned, which are coated with a material with a high index of refraction at 13.5 nm. Ruthenium is commonly used as a coating material, as are stacks of materials that have alternating high and low refractive indices in the EUV region of the spectrum. Examples are MoRu and Be multilayers, which has been disclosed by, for example, J. F. Seely et al. in the article "High-Efficiency MoRu—Be Multilayer-Coated Gratings Operating near Normal Incidence in the 11.1–12.0 nm Wavelength Range," published by Applied Optics, vol. 40, No. 31, pp. 5565–5574. The EUV mirrors are typically used at grazing incidence to enhance the reflection coefficient.
In photolithography, the EUV may be used not only to pattern a wafer with a mask, but also to write the mask. EUV light beams may be modulated such that selective portions of the beams may be projected onto a wafer while the rest of the beams may be directed away from the wafer. As such, the projected beams form a mask pattern on the wafer. Due to the short wavelength, EUV light beams cannot be easily modulated. Conventional mechanical shutters typically have slow modulation speed and therefore do not achieve good performance.

Superconductor-based modulator for extreme ultraviolet (EUV)


An electrode column and a method of determining the length of the electrode in it in an active furnace. The column is a Söderberg column including a mantel in which the electrode is movable in an axial direction by lower and upper slipping clamps which are movable relatively to each other by slipping cylinders. The method includes the steps of moving, with the slip clamps, the electrode in a downslip relatively to the mantel with the slipping cylinders and gravity and measuring the force required to move the electrode with only the upper slipping clamp against predetermined reaction forces acting against movement of the electrode and computing these parameters to determine the mass and so the length of the electrode relatively to the theoretical mass of the undamaged electrode at the time of movement.

Most conventional submerged arc furnaces include a plurality of electrode columns, generally three, which each include an electrode and an electrode column mantel in which the electrode is concentrically located and is vertically slidable. The mantels are themselves slidable through suitable seal arrangements in the roof of the furnace.
The electrode mantels each include hanger arrangements from which a pressure ring and the electrical contact shoe assemblies for the electrode are suspended to be located around the electrode a little above the material in the furnace. The electrode column mantels are complicated arrangements which are connected to electrical and cooling water services by flexible cooling water supply hoses and electrical bus-tube connections.
The majority of electrodes used in furnaces of the above type are those known as Söderberg electrodes which consist of an electrode casing which extends from the top of the electrode to below the electrode contact shoes in the furnace and an electrode portion which initially consists of a carbon based paste in the electrode casing which is baked by furnace heat into an electrically conductive solid cylindrical form in the lower portion of the electrode casing. The lower end of the casing is burned from the solid portion of the electrode, from below the contact shoes, by furnace heat. A large portion of the exposed length of the solid portion of the electrode is located in the furnace material in use. The electrode column is supported in the furnace by electrical load regulating rams which act between an electrode clamp slipping arrangement and a suspended floor in the furnace building above the furnace roof.
The electrode clamp slipping arrangement generally consists of upper and lower slipping clamps which are sequentially operated and moved to extend the electrode as the tip of the electrode is consumed in use in the furnace material.
A major problem with furnaces of the above type is that of electrode breakage. An electrode break at or towards its end in the furnace material due, to perhaps uneven baking of the paste due to inconsistent furnace conditions, such as furnace material movement and so on which could induce stresses in the baked region of the electrode which ultimately lead to the electrode break. The breaks are unpredictable and difficult to detect once broken. It not infrequently happens that the electrode break is not detected by the furnace operator until a fire or in the worst case, an explosion, occurs in the furnace seriously compromising the safety of personnel in the vicinity of the furnace and the integrity of the furnace itself.
In order to minimise serious furnace downtime and the problems mentioned above due to electrode breakage, systems have been developed for detecting the breakage of an electrode in the furnace in use. In all of the known electrode break detection arrangements load cells or the like which are acted on by the electrode electrical load regulating cylinders are employed continuously to monitor the mass of the entire electrode columns and so indirectly the mass of the electrodes, in use. This electrode mass measuring arrangement is, however, highly complicated by forces acting on the total electrode column. These forces include, amongst others, the electrode contact shoe pressure on the electrode, the load variations on the mantel by roof seal friction, the mass of water and even direct load forces applied to the exposed tip portions of the electrodes by furnace rabbling and sludge with all of these parameters, some of which are unpredictable, having to be taken into calculation account in arriving at the electrode mass.

Arc furnace electrode length determination

Pyromet Proprietary Products (Pty) Limited


A backup acquisition method and a disk array apparatus for implementing the method are provided for acquiring a whole or a differential backup from a disk array apparatus to a backup device. A snapshot of the contents of disks in the disk array apparatus is captured in response to a snapshot capture instruction to the disk array apparatus. Updated data is sequentially recorded after the capture of the snapshot separately into a pre-update data storage area of the disk array apparatus from the beginning. The disk array apparatus is instructed to acquire a whole or a differential backup at an arbitrary timing. The whole areas or used areas of disks in the disk array apparatus are sequentially read to acquire a whole or differential backup into the backup device.

The present invention relates to a disk array apparatus which is configured to efficiently acquire a backup, and more particularly to a backup acquisition method and a disk array apparatus which can back up a disk area while sequentially reading the area without being conscious of a file system.
Generally, data recorded in a storage device must be periodically backed up using a backup device such as a magnetic tape device on the assumption that the data could be lost due to possible contingencies. Since an update to data being backed up, if made during a backup operation, can result in discrepancies in data, the data must be protected from being updated during the backup operation. However, in a system which is required to provide a high availability, it is difficult in view of the operation to stop updating data during a backup operation. Thus, for acquiring a backup, a snapshot of data, described below, is utilized to prevent the data from being updated, before the data is backed up.
Generally, a snapshot refers to an image of stored data at a certain time. Data subjected to the snapshot is called "original data." Immediately after a snapshot is captured, the snapshot and original data physically share a storage area. For updating data after the capture of the snapshot, the data before the update is recorded in a different area (pre-update data storage area) before the original data in the storage area is updated. Also, for referencing the original data, data should be always read from the storage area of the original data. On the other hand, for referencing a snapshot, data which is not updated after the capture of the snapshot is read from the storage area of the original data, and data which has been updated after the capture of the snapshot is read from a different area in which data before the update is recorded.
As described above, the snapshot and original data can be accessed as logically independent different data, so that the snapshot is not updated even when the original data is updated.
In a snapshot which is captured for making a backup, an update to data after the capture of the snapshot involves preserving the data before the update in a different area (pre-update data storage area), and then updating the original data storage area. As a result, the storage area of the snapshot will mixedly exist in the original data storage area and the pre-update data storage area. For referencing the snapshot, required portions must be referenced astride both the areas, disadvantageously resulting in the inability to sequentially reading a single disk area for acquiring a backup.
Also, during the acquisition of a backup, frequent seek operations are required for searching the original data storage area and pre-update data storage area for a differential backup from a whole backup, disadvantageously causing an increase in the processing time and time-consuming operations.

Backup acquisition method and disk array apparatus


A surgical mesh of warp knit construction is fabricated from a polypropylene multifilament yarn.

This invention relates to a textile material and, in particular, to a nonabsorbable surgical mesh of warp knit construction fabricated from a polypropylene multifilament yarn.
Knitted and woven fabrics constructed from a variety of synthetic fibers and the use of the fabrics in surgical repair are known from, among others, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,054,406; 3,124,136; 4,193,137; 4,347,847; 4,452,245; 4,520,821; 4,633,873; 4,652,264; 4,655,221,; 4,838,884; 5,002,551; and, European Patent Application No. 334,046.
Hernia repairs are among the more common surgical operations which employ a mesh fabric prothesis. A mesh constructed from polypropylene monofilament, while it induces a good fibroblastic response ensuring its prompt fixation and integration with tissue at the surgical repair site, is considered to be too stiff for some types of hernioplasties, e.g., giant prosthetic reinforcement of the visceral sac (GPRVS). While a warp knitted surgical mesh constructed from a nonabsorbable polyester multifilament yarn (e.g., Mersilene of Ethicon, Inc.) has been indicated to be a particularly desirable prosthesis for a GPRVS procedure due to its suppleness and elasticity (Wantz, "Atlas of Hernia Surgery", Raven Press, 1991, p. 102), were it not for the aforementioned stiffness associated with a polypropylene monofilament mesh, the later would likely be the material of choice due to its greater strength and chemical inertness.

Polypropylene multifilament warp knitted mesh and its use in surgery


A Programmable Logic Device providing reduction in power consumption for sequential logic and data storage functions, including at least one circuit arrangement configurable to function as a dual-edge-triggered flip-flop operating on a selected one or both edges of the circuit clock.

Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs) are semi-custom devices incuding a fixed set of logic structures which may be interconnected in several different ways to achieve a desired logic function. PLDs generally include an array of Programmable Logic Blocks (PLBs). A PLB may also be called a Configurable Logic Block (CLB), or a Configurable Logic Element (CLE), or Programmable Function Unit (PFU). Each PLB is a programmable logic circuit comprising one or more input lines, one or more output lines, one or more latches, and one or more Look-Up Tables (LUTs) along with sequential logic elements. Each LUT can be programmed to perform various functions including general combinatorial or control logic, or to operate as a Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), or as a data path between input and output lines. In this manner, the LUT determines whether the PLB performs general logic, or operates in a special mode such as an adder, a subtracter, a counter, a register, or a memory cell.
As the size and speed of PLDs increase, the power consumption also increases. The device architecture directly affects the power efficiency which can be expected in any design. PLDs generally use low-power technologies such as CMOS technology. However, in high-density PLDs the power-consumption issue becomes a limiting factor in spite of the low-power technology used. This results in the limitation that all the resources (logic blocks, routing, etc.) of the device cannot be used at the maximum speed owing to excessive temperature rise. The power consumption of the device also directly affects reliability and cost. Almost all power consumption in PLDs is dynamic powerbecause it is the result of charging and discharging of internal and external capacitance. One of the main causes of dynamic power consumption in PLDs is clock-distribution power. High-speed switching in clock distribution results in considerably higher power consumption. Thus, it is typically safe to operate a PLD device at lower speed with a low-cost package without any heat sink. However, at high speed the reliability of the device can typically be sustained only by using an expensive package alone or together with a heat sink.
Furthermore, sequential logic elements and data-storage circuit elements including memory cells incorporate edge-triggered flip-flops as the basic building block. These flip-flops, being edge-triggered, operate on only a specific edge of the clock signal. The remaining edge of the clock signal typically does not produce any circuit action. However, the unused edge does contribute to an equal amount of wasteful power dissipation. It is therefore desirable to have a mechanism that enables useful operation on the unused clock edges.

Programmable logic devices providing reduced power consumption


A trip bar is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, an operating mechanism, and a number of accessories installable within the housing. At least one of the accessories has an actuator, such as a stem. The trip bar includes an elongated pivot member having a first end pivotably coupled to the operating mechanism, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the elongated pivot member between the first and second ends. Such protrusion is actuatable by the stem to pivot the elongated pivot member. A deflecting mechanism, such as a cam surface, is disposed at or about the second end of the elongated pivot member. When such one of the accessories is being installed within the housing, the stem deflects the cam surface to facilitate insertion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to electrical switching apparatus and, more particularly, to trip bars for electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers.
2. Background Information
Electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers, as well as transfer switches, network protectors and the like, are often equipped with accessories such as, for example and without limitation, auxiliary switches, shunt trip devices, under voltage release devices, and bell alarms. Such devices can be employed in a variety of ways to provide signals indicating certain conditions within the apparatus and/or to initiate a change in status of the apparatus such as, for example, to trip open the separable contacts of the apparatus in response to an electrical fault condition (e.g., without limitation, current overload; short circuit; abnormal voltage).
In view of the increasing market trend to reduce the overall size of the circuit breaker, the space which is available within the circuit breaker housing is limited. In addition to size constraints, the location available for mounting accessories within the circuit breaker can also be problematic. For example, some locations for mounting the accessories in the circuit breaker have limited access for installing the accessories and, in some instances, blind installation is required, wherein it is not possible to see the accessory to mount the accessory within the circuit breaker housing. As a result, incorrect installation and/or damage to the accessories can result, and safety features of the circuit breaker can be adversely affected.
Additionally, some accessories such as, for example, some under voltage release (UVR) devices include an actuator, such as a stem. The stem is movable from a retracted position to an extended position in which it is structured to engage and actuate (e.g., pivot) the trip bar of the circuit breaker operating mechanism in order to, for example, initiate a tripping operation of the circuit breaker in response to a trip condition. Typically, the UVR is installed within the circuit breaker in a de-energized (e.g., no input voltage) state, in which the stem is disposed in the released (e.g., fully extended) position. This can make installation of the UVR difficult as the fully extended stem tends to interfere with the trip bar. It, therefore, becomes necessary to pivot the trip bar and/or depress the stem and hold it in the retracted position in order to properly install the UVR. This operation, which is typically performed by hand, is particularly difficult in view of the aforementioned limited access and space available within the circuit breaker to perform the installation.
There is, therefore, room for improvement in electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers, and in trip bars therefor.

Electrical switching apparatus and trip bar therefor


The present invention discloses a movement facilitative device, basically comprising a first fixing module, a second fixing module, an energy storing module and a switching module, wherein the first fixing module and the second fixing module are fixed on the first extremity and the second extremity of the animal respectively. The first fixing module is connected with the second fixing module. The present invention has the advantages of decreasing the force required by the muscles during the exercise as well as retarding the impact enforced thereon while the user is jogging or exercising. Furthermore, the switching module of the present invention minimizes the limitations to the movement of the user so as to let the user exercise more effortlessly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a movement facilitative device, and more particularly, the movement facilitative device has a switching module capable of switching into an engaged position and a disengaged position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Since the muscular endurance and knee joints of human bodies will degrade naturally with age, people may suffer from joint pain or muscle soreness during exercises, and cannot be as agile as ever.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, Taiwan patent application No. 96214735 discloses a structure of bouncing stilt, wherein the prior structure is L-shaped for foot to step on and leg to be fixed by straps. Moreover, the structure of bouncing shoes comprises an elastic slat, the top thereof is joined with the top of the L-shaped structure and the bottom thereof contacts with the ground surface, so as to absorb a certain degree of the impact of knees. However, this prior structure not only limits the movement of legs and causes an abnormal gait as users walk or run, but also leads to the possibility of losing balance and even to fall down.
Furthermore, considering the muscle strength of users may be insufficient, how to develop a movement facilitative device with simple structure which can let the user exercise more effortlessly and securely is a major preoccupation.

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology


The tendency of liquid hydrocarbon-based fuels, such as kerosene, diesel l, and jet fuel toward the formation of fuel-insoluble solids during thermal stress in an aircraft fuel system is assessed by an accelerated test method comprising passing a predetermined quantity of a sample of fuel through a heated test section maintained at a predetermined temperature, at a predetermined fuel flow rate. A metal test strip, weighed before the test, is clamped in the heated test section during the test. It is weighed again after the test and the weight of solids buildup during the test is determined. It is related directly to the tendency of the fuel to form fuel-insoluble solids during thermal stress. A filter is weighed before the test. It is then connected to the outlet of the test section, and liquid fuel leaving the test section during the test is passed through it. The filter is then weighed a second time and the weight increase of the filter due to its capture of fuel-insoluble solids is calculated. It also is directly related to the tendency of the fuel to form fuel-insoluble solids during thermal stress.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for assessing the tendency of hydrocarbon-based liquid fuels to form insoluble products during thermal stress encountered in aircraft fuel systems. More specifically, it relates to an accelerated method for assessing such insoluble product formation which avoids subjective human judgment, such as the color of a test specimen, and relies on an objective, gravimetric measurement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hydrocarbon-based fuels such as kerosene, diesel fuel, and jet fuel tend to form fuel-insoluble solid products during thermal stress, defined as exposure to elevated temperature for short or prolonged periods of time. Liquid fuels are normally exposed to such thermal stress in aircraft fuel systems. Fuel-insoluble solids may clog fuel filters and fuel atomizing nozzles in engines, coat heat exchanger surfaces, and obstruct close-tolerance fuel control mechanisms, thereby causing operating problems.
The formation of fuel-insoluble solids in hydrocarbon-based liquid fuels is a function of the presence in the fuel of certain chemical components which at present have not been identified. Empirical test methods are therefore needed for assessing the tendency of any given fuel to form fuel-insoluble solids during thermal stress in an aircraft fuel system. As a practical matter, such tests must be completed within about 24 hours. There is a need therefore for an accelerated test method for assessing the formation of fuel-insoluble solids in a fuel which yields results within a few hours.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,404 describes a thermally stable turbine or jet fuel composition comprising a mineral oil distillate and a low concentration of an additive inhibiting the formation of fuel-insoluble solids in turbine or jet fuels.

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


A fast food wrapper for hamburgers or the like is fashioned from a single square or diamond shaped sheet of paper, the food contacting surface of the blank coated with a food grade grease resistant composition. The blank is provided with a fold lines both parallel and orthogonal to an imaginary axis joining the top and bottom tips of the blank. These tips are provided with portions of latching elements. The side or lateral blank tips are folded towards the middle to form an expansion bellows along both of the sides and are adhesively tacked together. The bottom of the blank is folded upwardly and also adhesively tacked. In use, the hamburger is placed within the wrapper and the top of the wrapper folded over the hamburger and latched. The wrapper may be unfolded so as to function as a napkin or paper plate during eating.

This invention relates to a wrapper or envelope particularly adapted for the packaging of fast foods such as hamburgers. The art is aware of such envelopes or wrappers in general, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,914 issued to Wischusen. The art is also aware of latch constructions for holding an envelope or wrapper closed, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,437,934 issued to Brink. However, there still exists a need for a unitary wrapper for a hamburger or the like fashioned from a single sheet of paper provided on one surface with a grease resistant coating and which can be inexpensively made and is easy to use.


Disclosed herein is a method of measuring an absolute lung volume. In the method, concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases are measured and analyzed in respiratory gas, consisting of nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), and carbon dioxide (CO2), to indirectly measure a concentration of nitrogen, thereby achieving measurement of absolute lung volume, such as a functional residual capacity. The method comprises connecting a one-way valve to a subject so as to separate an inspiration path from an expiration path, measuring a flow rate of respiratory gas using a flow sensor, which is provided in the expiration path, continuously measuring a concentration (FO2) of oxygen and a concentration (FCO2) of carbon dioxide using O2 and CO2 sensors provided in the expiration path, correcting dynamic characteristics of the concentration (FO2) of oxygen and the concentration (FCO2) of carbon dioxide so that the dynamic characteristics agree with each other in terms of time, and analyzing oxygen and carbon dioxide gases using the following Equation

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a method of measuring an absolute lung volume based on O2/CO2 gas analysis and, more particularly, to a method of measuring an absolute lung volume based on O2/CO2 gas analysis, in which concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases are measured and analyzed in respiratory gas, consisting of nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), and carbon dioxide (CO2), to indirectly measure a concentration of nitrogen, thereby achieving measurement of the absolute lung volume, including a functional residual capacity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Exhaled through expiration during respiration of humans, respiratory gas consists of only nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), and carbon dioxide (CO2). A concentration of the respiratory gas exhaled during the respiration of humans is important to evaluate a respiratory function. For example, the evaluation of the respiratory function is implemented in such a way that expired air, which is generated through a physiological gas exchange process in the lung after inspiring 100% oxygen, is collected and subjected to concentration analysis so as to measure, for example, concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Used to evaluate the respiratory function, an absolute lung volume, such as a functional residual capacity (hereinafter, referred to as "FRC"), is a very important parameter for diagnosing a chronic respiratory disease.
The FRC denotes a volume of air remaining in the lung at the moment that expiration ends, and is normally about 1-2 L. Of methods of measuring the FRC, a whole-body plethysmography is the most precise method. However, the whole-body plethysmography is disadvantageous in that a volume of air existing in the abdominal cavity is included in measurements, and that it is impossible to apply to claustrophobia patients or patients who have difficulty in breathing because a subject must respire in a closed large box.
Accordingly, an N2 wash-out test is clinically used to measure the FRC. The N2 wash-out test employs the property that nitrogen does not diffuse into a closed capillary. As shown in FIG. 1, in the N2 wash-out test, a three-way valve 50 is connected to a subject 40, who inspires air, to form an air feeding path 13, and an inspiration path 11 and an expiration path 12 of the subject. The inspiration path 11 and the expiration path 12 of the subject 40 are divided by one-way valves 10, 20, and an airbag 30 is connected to the expiration path 12 to collect expired gases.
When the subject 40, who respires air fed through the air feeding path 13, is in an FRC state, that is, when the subject 40 is in the last stage of expiration, the lung of the subject 40 is fully filled with air and a concentration of nitrogen is 79% in the air. Hence, the total nitrogen volume (VN2) of the lung of the subject is 0.79×FRC as shown in Equation 1.VN2=0.79×FRC  Formula 1
At this stage, the three-way valve 50 is adjusted to allow the subject to inspire 100% oxygen fed through the inspiration path 11, and expired gas is collected through the expiration path 12 in the airbag 30. When 100% oxygen is inspired through the inspiration path 13, air in the lung of the subject 40 is diluted by oxygen fed into the lung. If the subject expires the air, which is diluted by oxygen, from the lung, the concentration of nitrogen in the expired gas is reduced to be less than 79% of the initial concentration. Upon repeating this process, the lung of the subject 40 is fully filled with oxygen, and the concentration of nitrogen in the expired gas becomes 0%.
In the FRC state in which the lung of the subject is fully filled with air containing 79% nitrogen, the inspiration of 100% oxygen is repeated to collect the expired gas in the airbag 30 until the concentration of nitrogen is 0% in the expired gas, thereby completely transferring nitrogen from the lung of the subject 40 into the airbag.
Calculated using a volume (VB) of the airbag and a nitrogen concentration ratio (FN2) of gas in the airbag, a volume (VN2) of nitrogen in the airbag 30 is VB×FN2 as shown in Equation 2.VN2=FN2VB  Formula 2
In this regard, since the volume (VN2) of nitrogen in the airbag 30 of Equation 2 must be the same as the volume (VN2) of nitrogen in the lung of Equation 1, the FRC of Equation 3 is calculated using Equations 1 and 2.FRC=FN2VB/0.79  Formula 3
However, the concentration of nitrogen must be measured using a nitrogen concentration analyzer during the N2 wash-out test. The nitrogen concentration analyzer has disadvantages of a high price, noise, and additional use of a large-sized vacuum pump, and thus, its usage is complicated. Accordingly, it is impossible to conduct the N2 wash-out test to evaluate the FRC except in a large hospital.

Method of measuring absolute lung volume based on O

Abstract: FRC  =            1      0.79                  ∫                        (                      1            -                          (                                                F                  O2                                -                                  F                  CO2                                            )                                )                        F                                      ⅆ            t                    .


An efficient DSP or MPU is combined with efficient DRAM on a single IC die. To optimize the embedded memory, the chip includes wide-band connections to DRAM. Row and column addresses of DRAM can be applied at the same time using wide address busses. Additional metal lines lower the resistance of the word line in the DRAM circuits. For certain process steps, the processor block is masked off and the process steps unique to the fabrication of memory are performed on the memory block, and vice-versa. Process steps which are common to the processor and memory blocks can be performed simultaneously on the processor and memory blocks without masking off either block. Certain process steps can be employed in the fabrication of the one of the two processor and memory blocks in addition to or in lieu of processes normally used in the fabrication of that block. An electronic component (e.g., integrated circuit) incorporating the technique is suitably included in a system or subsystem having electrical functionality, such as general purpose computers, telecommunications devices, and the like.

The present invention relates to digital signal processing (DSP) and, more particularly, to the integration of processors and memory.
In recent years we have been witness to many advances in VLSI (very Large Scale Integration) technology. Minimum feature sizes on integrated circuits (ICs) continue to shrink, permitting dramatic improvements in processing speeds, reduced power consumption and increased functional density. Due to higher functional integration, new processing architectures for microprocessors (MPUs) and digital signal processors (DSPs) achieve higher performance by employing such techniques as VLIW (Very Long Instruction Word) and SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data). Other improvements in integrated circuit fabrication technology have made much denser RAMs possible, and have brought forth new memory architectures that promise substantial improvements in memory access efficiency for certain applications.
Traditionally, memory chip architecture and fabrication techniques have been cost and volume driven, while processing architectures and fabrications techniques have been performance and speed driven. New and emerging applications of MPU""s and DSP""s tend to require massive high-speed, data arrays which require massive high-speed locally-connected memories. The traditional design goals for memories and processors have resulted in a few performance and configuration xe2x80x9cgapsxe2x80x9d between DSP and memory functionality:
Operating Frequency: Although clock frequencies for DSPs or MPUs are approaching 500 MHz, the maximum access times for RAM memories is only approaching 150 MHz. Hence, a typical DSP or MPU may be capable of processing and execution speeds three times faster than the RAM to which it must connect.
Data Bus and Address Bus width: DSPs and MPUs, being performance-driven architectures, have moved rapidly towards very-wide address and data buses. Memories on the other hand, particularly Dynamic RAM architectures, however, tend to be rather xe2x80x9cstingyxe2x80x9d with package pins, and have moved towards such techniques as minimizing pinout by multiplexing the address bus, which limits their performance and tends to complicate interface circuitry.
To overcome these performance and configuration gaps between memory architecture and processing architecture:, memory designers have devised a number of improvements to the external interfaces of RAM memories. Among the improvements that have been made are: Rambus DRAM (RDRAM), Sync-Link and Synchronous Graphics RAM (SGRAM). However, even these improved DRAMs have some important, limiting constraints on their usage:
DRAM is typically only available in huge binary multiple increments (e.g, 4 Mbytes, 8 Mbytes, 16 Mbytes, etc.). If xe2x80x9cHUGE_INCREMENTxe2x80x9d plus 1 byte is required for a particular application, the designer is essentially xe2x80x9cforcedxe2x80x9d into using double (twice) xe2x80x9cHUGE_INCREMENTxe2x80x9d amount of memory, and the remaining memory is wasted.
Cost is also a prevalent problem, and relates to memory granularity and architecture. For some applications, the size of general purpose RAM is not optimum. An example is when an application requires 4.2 MB of application specific memory and only 4M and 16 MB RAM are available. A 4.2 MB application specific memory module could cost less than two 4 MB RAMs or one 16 MB RAM if it were to be produced in sufficiently large volume to cover the development and production costs.
In an attempt to address these problems directly, there has been some research on the integration of a processor and DRAM onto a single chip. Most of this work consists of integrating the two functions (DRAM and processor) by using the fabrication process of one function and adapting the design of the other function to fit, for example by integrating an MPU function onto a DRAM process, by altering the multi-layer metal process of a processor to use the polysilicon-connected fabrication process of a DRAM. Unfortunately, this tends to adversely impact the processor""s performance, since polysilicon connection are inherently more resistive than metal interconnection layers, resulting in xe2x80x9cslowerxe2x80x9d circuits due to RC (resistive-capacitive) delay from the interaction between the polysilicon connection and on-chip parasitic capacitances.
Evidently, there is a need for a DSP or MPU with Embedded DRAM which is cost-effective and performs better than conventional DSP/DRAM or MPU/DRAM pairings.
The following documents, all of which are US patents, all of which are incorporated by reference herein, disclose various techniques having some relevance to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,570 (September 1997) discloses a high-frequency wireless communication system on a single ultrathin silicon on sapphire chip. The devices are fabricated using conventional bulk silicon CMOS processing techniques. See also related U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,857 (February 1996).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,295 (June 1997) discloses systems utilizing a single chip microcontroller having non-volatile memory devices and power devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,108 (May 1997) discloses a single chip processing system utilizing general cache and microcode cache enabling simultaneous multiple functions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,836 (April 1997) discloses SIMD/MIMD processing memory element (PME). Eight processors on a single chip have their own associated processing element, significant memory, and I/O, and are interconnected with a hypercube-based topology. Particular attention is directed to column 22 lines 54-55 of this patent, wherein it is stated (with reference to FIG. 2 of the patent) that xe2x80x9cwe combine both significant memory and I/O and processor into a single chip.xe2x80x9d As also described therein (column 20, lines 49-50), our device is a 4 MEG CMOS DRAM believed to be the first general memory chip with extensive rom for logic.xe2x80x9d See also related U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,152 (December 1996) which discloses advanced parallel processor including advanced support hardware.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,437 (April 1996) discloses a microcomputer with high density RAM in separate isolation well on a single chip. See also related U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,359 (February 1996).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,573 (December 1995) discloses single chip controller-memory device and a memory architecture and methods suitable for implementing same.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,516 (July 1990) discloses single chip integrated circuit computer architecture.
U.S. Pat. No. 4.734,856 (March 1988) discloses autogeneric system.
Unless otherwise noted, or as may be evident from the context of their usage, any terms, abbreviations, acronyms or scientific symbols and notations used herein are to be given their ordinary meaning in the technical discipline to which the invention most nearly pertains. The following terms, abbreviations and acronyms may be used in the description contained herein:
A/D: Analog-to-Digital (converter).
ALU: Arithmetic Logic Unit.
ASIC: Application-Specific Integrated Circuit.
bit: binary digit.
byte: eight contiguous bits.
CAM: Content-Addressable Memory.
CMOS: Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor.
CODEC: Encoder/De-Coder. In hardware, a combination of A/D and D/A converters. In software, an algorithm pair.
CPU: Central Processing Unit.
D/A: Digital-to-Analog (converter).
DRAM: Dynamic Random Access Memory
DSP: Digital Signal Processing (or Processor)
EEPROM: Also E2PROM. An electrically-erasable EPROM.
EPROM: Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory.
Flash: Also known as Flash ROM. A form of EPROM based upon conventional UV EPROM technology but which is provided with a mechanism for electrically pre-charging selected sections of the capacitive storage array, thereby effectively xe2x80x9cerasingxe2x80x9d all capacitive storage cells to a known state.
FPGA: Field-Programmable Gate Array g: or (giga), 1,000,000,000
Gbyte: gigabyte(s).
GPIO: General Purpose Input/Output.
HDL: Hardware Description Language.
IC: Integrated Circuit.
I/O: Input/Output.
IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group
k: (or kilo), 1000.
KHz: KiloHertz (1,000 cycles per second).
MAC: Media Access Control.
Mask ROM: A form of ROM where the information pattern is xe2x80x9cDmaskedxe2x80x9d onto memory at the time of manufacture.
MCM: Multi-Chip Module.
memory: hardware that stores information (data).
M: (or mega, or MEG), 1,000,000
MHz: MegaHertz (1,000,000 cycles per second).
MLT: Multi-Level Technology.
NVRAM: Non-volatile RAM.
PLL: Phase Locked Loop
PROM: Programmable Read-Only Memory.
PWM: Pulse Width Modulation.
PLD: Programmable Logic Device.
RAM: Random-Access Memory.
RISC: Reduced Instruction Set Computer (or Chip).
ROM: Read-Only Memory.
SIE: Serial Interface Engine.
software: Instructions for a computer or CPU.
SRAM: Static Random Access Memory.
UART: Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter.
USB: Universal Serial Bus.
UV EPROM: An EPROM. Data stored therein can be erased by exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) light.
VHDL: VHSIC (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit) HDL.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved technique for interfacing a DSP or CPU processor and memory.
Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient integration of DSP or CPU processor and memory on a single integrated circuit (IC) chip.
According to the invention, a DSP or MPU processor and DRAM are integrated on a single chip by utilizing one or more of the following techniques:
Since the architectures of a DSP or MPU are optimally configured for performance and those of DRAM for density and costs, radical changes in MPU (or DSP) and DRAM architectures and circuits are inappropriate. Accordingly, the present invention uses an approach that makes small but efficient changes to the processor and DRAM architectures and circuits, specifically:
Masking off one portion of the chip while one function (processor or DRAM) is fabricated, then effectively xe2x80x9creversingxe2x80x9d the mask to fabricate the other function (DRAM or processor), integrating each function using its xe2x80x9cnativexe2x80x9d process. Of course, this could potentially require a great number of process steps, resulting in a significantly higher fabrication cost than for other chips of the same size, and would do nothing to: address the functional/architectural performance gaps between processors and DRAM. To reduce the number of process steps,: common fabrication processes are preferably performed on both functions at the same time.
The following techniques address architecture-based performance improvements:
Organizing the DRAM on the chip in a wide word configuration. This is made possible by eliminating the need to conserve external pins. Since no external pins will be used to connect the DRAM to the processor, it is not necessary to conserve them. The processor is connected directly to the wide DRAM, thereby providing high bandwidth to the memory.
Eliminating address multiplexers and latches in the DRAM. Since the processor and DRAM co-reside on the same integrated circuit (IC) chip, the need for a multiplexed address bus is eliminated, and the processor""s address signals can be connected in parallel directly the DRAMs array addressing inputs.
Implementing DRAM xe2x80x9cwordxe2x80x9d lines in metal instead of polysilicon. This is made possible by exploiting the additional metal lines available in the fabrication process of the processor. The lower resistance of word line speeds up the performance of the DRAM circuit.
The density of the less performance-critical logic circuits in the processor can be increased by using multiple polysilicon interconnect layers available from the DRAM fabrication process.
These techniques take maximum advantage of the best characteristics of both technologies, and enhance the performance of the combination while making only minor architectural changes, if any, to either function (processor or DSP).
In digital signal processing (DSP) applications, two of the most widely used processing algorithms are the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT). Both algorithms involve generating a series of sum-of-product terms resulting by multiplying of two matrices. A design that optimizes these functions requires two operands to compute the product and produces a result (sum-of-product) every cycle. Therefore, for optimal system performance, the processor/memory system of the present invention is configured to be capable of fetching two operands and storing a result during every clock cycle.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such a system is constructed by dividing the DRAM memory into at least three independent blocksxe2x80x94one for each of the two operands, and one for the result. By keeping the memory blocks (or xe2x80x9cbanksxe2x80x9d) separate from one another, all three memory operations (two fetches and one store) can occur in parallel (simultaneously).
According to an aspect of this preferred embodiment, DRAM can be divided into four independent blocks (banks), three for the aforementioned operands and result, the fourth, one being used as program memory, thereby permitting all three data accesses and an instruction fetch to be performed in parallel, without interfering with one another.
An integrated circuit (IC) employing the techniques of the present invention may be included in a system or subsystem having electrical functionality. Example systems may include general purpose computers; telecommunications devices (i.e., phones, faxes, etc.); networks; consumer devices; audio and visual receiving, recording and display devices; vehicle; etc. It is within the scope of the invention that such systems would benefit substantially from technique(s) of the present invention.


Disclosed are new dihydropteridinones of general formula (I)

Pteridinone derivatives are known from the prior art as active substances with an antiproliferative activity. WO 01/019825 and WO 03/020722 describe the use of pteridinone derivatives for the treatment of tumoral diseases.
Tumour cells wholly or partly elude regulation and control by the body and are characterised by uncontrolled growth. This is based on the one hand on the loss of control proteins, such as e.g. Rb, p16, p21 and p53 and also on the activation of so-called accelerators of the cell cycle, the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK's).
In addition, the protein kinase Aurora B has been described as having an essential function during entry into mitosis. Aurora B phosphorylates histone H3 at Ser10 and thus initiates chromosome condensation (Hsu et al. 2000, Cell 102:279-91). A specific cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase may however also be triggered e.g. by the inhibition of specific phosphatases such as e.g. Cdc25C (Russell and Nurse 1986, Cell 45:145-53). Yeasts with a defective Cdc25 gene arrest in the G2 phase, while overexpression of Cdc25 leads to premature entry into the mitosis phase (Russell and Nurse 1987, Cell 49:559-67). Moreover, an arrest in the G2/M phase may also be triggered by the inhibition of certain motor proteins, the so-called kinesins such as e.g. Eg5 (Mayer et al. 1999, Science 286:971-4), or by agents which stabilise or destabilise microtubules (e.g. colchicin, taxol, etoposide, vinblastin, vincristine) (Schiff and Horwitz 1980, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:1561-5).
In addition to the cyclin-dependent and Aurora kinases the so-called polo-like kinases, a small family of serine/threonine kinases, play an important part in the regulation of the eukaryotic cell cycle. Hitherto, the polo-like kinases PLK-1, PLK-2, PLK-3 and PLK-4 have been described in the literature. PLK-1 in particular has been shown to play a central part in the regulation of the mitosis phase. PLK-1 is responsible for the maturation of the centrosomes, for the activation of phosphatase Cdc25C, and for the activation of the Anaphase Promoting Complex (Glover et al. 1998, Genes Dev. 12:3777-87; Qian et al. 2001, Mol Biol Cell. 12:1791-9). The injection of PLK-1 antibodies leads to a G2 arrest in untransformed cells, whereas tumour cells arrest in the mitosis phase (Lane and Nigg 1996, J Cell Biol. 135:1701-13). Overexpression of PLK-1 has been demonstrated for various types of tumour, such as non-small-cell lung cancer, plate epithelial carcinoma, breast and colorectal carcinoma (Wolf et al. 1997, Oncogene 14:543-549; Knecht et al. 1999, Cancer Res. 59:2794-2797; Wolf et al. 2000, Pathol. Res. Pract. 196:753-759; Takahashi et al. 2003, Cancer Sci. 94:148-52). Therefore, this category of proteins also constitutes an interesting approach to therapeutic intervention in proliferative diseases (Liu and Erikson 2003, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:5789-5794).
The resistance of many types of tumours calls for the development of new pharmaceutical compositions for combating tumours. The aim of the present invention is to provide new compounds having an antiproliferative activity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dihydropteridinones, processes for preparing them and their use as pharmaceutical compositions

Abstract: wherein the groups R1 to R5, Ra to Rc, W, Q1 and Q2 have the meanings given in the claims and specification, the isomers thereof and the use thereof for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of diseases characterised by excessive or abnormal cell proliferation.


Methods and systems for conducting financial transactions in a mobile environment utilizing a mobile device such as a mobile telephone or wireless connected personal digital assistant (PDA) that communicates with a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) that stores user and transaction information. The MFTS receives information on behalf of a mobile device user corresponding to bills to pay or other payments to make. The MFTS also receives information corresponding to payment sources available for use in making payments. Selected payments information and payment source information are communicated to the mobile user via a wireless network and displayed for user selection. The user selects a payment to make and a payment source. A mobile payment instruction is generated and communicated to the MFTS. The MFTS instructs a payment instruction recipient to make a payment to an identified payee. Real-time updated account and payment balances are provided to the user's mobile device.

Busy consumers in mobile societies seek to maximize the use of their time. Electronic devices such as personal digital assistants ("PDA's") and mobile telephones ("cell phones") provide the promise of more efficient use of time, by allowing communication with other people and institutions wherever a user may go. One particular demand of mobile consumers is better capability to securely manage one's financial situation, such as balances in bank accounts, credit cards, other sources of funds, etc., and quickly but efficiently fulfill financial obligations such as paying bills, transferring funds to third parties and family members, etc. Several useful web- and personal computer (PC)-based financial services programs are available for consumers and businesses. These include the popular QUICKEN™ product from Intuit Inc., MICROSOFT MONEY by Microsoft Corp. and others.
However, these web- and PC-based solutions to financial payments and money management require that a user have access to a network-connected PC. A PC may not always be readily available to a mobile consumer when he or she needs to pay a bill. But a mobile device such as a cellphone or PDA is more likely to be available. (So ubiquitous are modern mobile communication devices that an average consumer knows within about 6 minutes whether they have lost their cellphone, but about 18 minutes before they realize they have lost their traditional wallet.)
Consumers in mobile societies tend to carry a variety of personal possessions, such as keys, wallets, cards, and electronic devices. Currently popular electronic devices include mobile phones, PDAs, MP3 players or other types of music players (e.g. APPLE iPOD™), and personal video players (also APPLE iPOD™). Such electronic devices are converging as to functionality, but the average mobile society consumer still tends to carry too many other personal possessions, such as a wallet, checkbook, multiple credit cards, debit cards, membership cards, loyalty (points) cards, keys, etc. Further consolidation and convergence of electronic and mobile communication devices is expected in the future to alleviate some of the personal possession clutter, but the present-day communication and financial services infrastructure is still lacking in the need for effective conduct of mobile financial transactions and reduction of personal possession clutter.
Unfortunately, current mobile device technology and the financial services infrastructure do not provide convenient, secure, and rapid attention to a person's financial needs in the mobile environment. To enable a mobile device such as cellular phone or PDA to be used successfully for mobile financial transactions, certain functionality relating to transactions is important. A person's financial payment obligations arise from many sources—paying bills and mortgages, sending money, checking out purchases at a retail establishment point of sale (POS), etc. Such obligations can involve dozens (or more) of different entities. Different entities may require different payment forms. A mobile financial transaction system that is attractive to mobile consumers would provide for aggregation and consolidation of payment obligations, and allow a choice of payment vehicles such as checks, direct funds transfer, use of a credit card account, etc. Stored value (SV) cards are an increasingly popular payment option in some communities, especially the so-called "unbanked" (i.e. people who may not have an established bank account and tend to conduct business in cash).
Similarly, a person may have multiple sources of payments and funds—credit cards, bank accounts with savings and checking features, debit cards, etc. People often have preferences as to which source of funds should be used to pay certain payment obligations. A bank account may be desired for some payments, while a credit card may be desired for other transactions, for many reasons such as participation in loyalty programs such as "frequent user" programs. Before using a particular source of funds for a payment, a consumer often needs or wants to have information about available funds balance or credit balance. Some form of account balance inquiry, or perhaps real time balance information updating, from a mobile device is desirable. In addition to balance information, the ability to invoke other financial institution operations while mobile is desirable. Such other operations include funds transfer between accounts, selection of different payment sources or accounts from a particular financial institution, remittance and payment, inquiry and payment of loans, and the like, at any time and anywhere, without requiring an appearance at a banking facility in person or at a PC terminal with internet connectivity.
Some online financial service providers, e.g. CheckFree Corporation, offer a service known as "bill aggregation" or "bill presentment," whereby multiple payment obligations are collected into a centralized computer facility and provided to the consumer as a list. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,322 to Kitchen et al. describes a method of electronically presenting billing information, which can be used in connection with "online bill payment." This method includes receiving billing information associated with a plurality of different billers, different portions of which represent bills for different people (as payers). Billing information is consolidated for each registered user or payer. Individual customers can go to an Internet web site to register an account, add information about billers, add information about financial institutions, and pay bills online. However, the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,322 is intended for users with a PC and Internet access and has several shortcomings for use in a mobile environment. One particular shortcoming is that a web-based user interface actually provides too much information about the user's accounts and bill detail, and is difficult to view and navigate on a small mobile device. Another shortcoming is the lack of integration of online bill payment with the use of multiple and conveniently selectable different payment sources.
U.S. Published Pat. App. No. 20050086164 to Kim et al. describes a method for utilizing a mobile phone to pay a charge of goods or services rendered through approval of a mobile phone network. First, a buyer uses his or her mobile phone to connect to a payment transaction server. A buyer and "merchant store" identification code (for each) and a bill for the goods or services is transmitted to the payment transaction server. The payment transaction server examines the data received from the mobile phone and determines the approval of the transaction based on a balance corresponding to the buyer identification code. When approved, an approval notification is sent to a terminal at the merchant store. After the confirmation from the approval notification at the merchant store, the buyer receives the goods or services.
A system as described in the Kim et al. publication depends on having a pre-established balance in a prepaid account established by the buyer with the mobile phone networks. Furthermore, the method involves delivering voice prompts to the user via the mobile phone and receiving the user's selection of options by activation of keys on the mobile phone keypad. While such a device and system is certainly one way that financial transactions can be conducted using a mobile phone, the well-known method of voice prompts for keypad data entry is slow and awkward, and is a known source of consumer frustration. Furthermore, modern mobile devices are more than just a telephone—many such devices now include displays, controls, and keypads, and provide more ways for wireless interaction than voice messages and prompts.
Mobile communication devices and systems have now progressed beyond the limitations of voice prompts and telephone keypad data entry and option selection. The first generation (1G) of mobile telephone systems was limited to analog radio voice transmission, and has been surpassed by second generation (2G) systems that provide digital signal transmission features and enable greater functionality. Present mobile device communication systems (beyond 2G) are now all digital and utilize data communication channels for carrying voice signals as well as other data signals. Features enabled by the digital data communications include Short Message System (SMS) message for text messaging, ringtone downloads, and other features. Consumer-oriented mobile communication systems are now progressing beyond advanced second generation (2.5G) technologies into third generation (3G) technologies that provide high speed broadband data connectivity for mobile devices. New 3G systems and devices permit capabilities such as full Internet usage on mobile devices, SMS messaging capability, person-to-person direct calling, direct download of content such as ringtones, music, and videos, and many other features.
Significantly, modern mobile devices now involve highly converged PDA and telephone capabilities. New mobile devices possess color displays, touch screens, full telephone capability as well as music playback, streamed videos, memory for data storage (e.g. memory cards), wireless headsets, infrared data connections, and many other features. A system that facilitates convenient, secure, and rapid mobile financial transactions will invariably take advantage of available communication bandwidth and device features in the modern 2.5G and 3G networks and their devices. However, prior to the present invention there has been no effective attempt to identify the usage methodologies and features that consumers want—those that allow convenient, secure, and rapid mobile financial transactions, in a way that is consumer-friendly and allows reduction of personal possession clutter.
In particular, consumers require strong security in using their devices. They require speedy, convenient checkout if used at retail point of sale (POS). They must be able to "PayAnyone", at any time, in any of a number of different ways. They must be provided with the information they need to conduct a transaction—and only such information as is necessary—and this information must be current. Similarly, financial institutions require strong security, which includes authentication, for transactions initiated in a mobile environment. There must be an opportunity for revenue opportunities as well as user retention. There must be opportunity to lower the expense of customer service by use of automation. For retailers and entities that send bills, there must be rapid payment. Any POS transactions must clear quickly. Charges based on credit cards and debit cards must be authenticated and clear quickly—fraud prevention and reduction is paramount both for financial institutions as well as billing entities and other payees. Facilitation of, or at least compatibility with, customer loyalty programs is highly desirable.
All of these requirements—some of which are merely desirable but some are absolutely essential—present a challenge to the present day mobile communication and financial services infrastructure. Prior to the present invention, no system has been made that addresses all of these features, goals, and desires of a mobile communication based financial transaction system in a satisfactory manner.
Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive solution that allows consumers using mobile devices to consolidate their bills and other payment obligations, pay such bills and other obligations at anytime and anywhere, using any selectable available funds, to merchants for goods or services, or to anyone or any other designated entity, with knowledge of the amounts to be paid and the funds available balances. And of course, all of this must be convenient, secure, and rapid.
As will be described and explained in detail below, the present inventors have constructed various systems and methods for completing financial transactions in a mobile environment that meet these and other requirements for an efficient, effective, robust, secure and convenient solution.

Methods and systems for payment transactions in a mobile environment


According to the invention, an exhaust gas purification device for an engine is provided. The device comprises: a plurality of cylinders, the cylinders being divided into at least two cylinder groups; exhaust branch pipes connected to the cylinder groups at their upstream ends, respectively; a common exhaust pipe connected to the downstream ends of the exhaust branch pipes; and a NOx catalyst positioned in the common exhaust pipe. When a sulfate contamination regeneration process for regenerating the sulfate contamination of the NOx catalyst is performed by controlling the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas discharged from one of the cylinder groups to a rich air-fuel ratio and controlling the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas discharged from the other cylinder group to a lean air-fuel ratio and a purge gas including fuel vapor is purged into an intake pipe, one of the amount of purge gas and the ratio of the amount of purge gas relative to an amount of fresh air flowing through the intake pipe is controlled on the basis of the concentration of fuel vapor in the purge gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an exhaust gas purification device for an engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a catalyst for reducing and purifying nitrogen oxides (NOx) included in an exhaust gas discharged from the engine, a catalyst is known which absorbs or stores the NOx included in the exhaust gas to carry it therein when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing thereinto is larger (leaner) than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, and reduces and purifies the NOx carried therein when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing thereinto becomes a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or smaller than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. An engine provided with the above-mentioned catalyst (hereinafter referred to as—NOx catalyst—) is disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-68690.
The engine disclosed in the Publication No. 2004-68690 comprises six cylinders, which is divided into two cylinder groups. Each cylinder group is connected to an exhaust branch pipe. Further, the exhaust branch pipes are connected to a common exhaust pipe at their downstream ends. A NOx catalyst is positioned in the common exhaust pipe.
The exhaust gas also includes sulfur oxides (SOx) in addition to NOx. Therefore, the NOx catalyst can also carry SOx in addition to the NOx. When the NOx catalyst carries SOx, i.e. is contaminated by the sulfate, the capacity of the NOx catalyst to carry NOx is decreased. Therefore, in order to maintain the high capacity of the NOx catalyst to carry NOx, SOx should be removed from the NOx catalyst. In this connection, SOx can be removed from the NOx catalyst, i.e. the contamination of the NOx catalyst by the sulfate is regenerated, when the temperature of the NOx catalyst is increased to a temperature at which SOx can be removed from the NOx catalyst and the exhaust gas having the stoichiometric or rich (in particular, slightly rich) air-fuel ratio is supplied to the NOx catalyst.
According to the engine disclosed in the Publication No. 2004-68690, in order to remove SOx from the NOx catalyst, a following process for regenerating the sulfate contamination of the NOx catalyst is performed. That is, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas discharged from one of the cylinder groups is controlled to a rich air-fuel ratio, while the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas discharged from other cylinder groups is controlled to a lean air-fuel ratio. Then, the exhaust gas having a rich air-fuel ratio (hereinafter referred to as—rich exhaust gas—) and the exhaust gas having a lean air-fuel ratio (hereinafter referred to as—lean exhaust gas—) are mixed with each other and flow into the NOx catalyst. In this case, a rich degree of the rich exhaust gas and a lean degree of the lean exhaust gas are controlled such that the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas resulting from the mixture of the rich exhaust gas and the lean exhaust gas becomes the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
In this case, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx catalyst is controlled to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. In addition, when the rich exhaust gas and the lean exhaust gas are mixed with each other, the hydrocarbon (HC) included in the rich exhaust gas reacts with the oxygen included in the lean exhaust gas. Therefore, the heat produced by the reaction of the HC and the oxygen increases the temperature of the exhaust gas and thus the temperature of the NOx catalyst. Thereby, the temperature of the NOx catalyst is increased to the temperature at which the SOx can be removed from the NOx catalyst and the exhaust gas having a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is supplied to the NOx catalyst. As a result, SOx is removed from the NOx catalyst.
An engine is known which comprises a charcoal canister for adsorbing and storing fuel vapor produced in an fuel tank. In this engine, in order to prevent that an activated charcoal of the canister is filled with the fuel vapor, when the engine is operated, the fuel vapor is discharged into an intake pipe from the canister.
The fuel vapor discharged into the intake pipe is introduced into the cylinders. In the engine disclosed in the Publication No. 2004-68690, if the fuel vapor is discharged from the canister into the intake pipe when the sulfate contamination regeneration process is performed, the amount of the fuel supplied into each cylinder is increased by the amount of the discharged fuel vapor. In this case, in particular, the amount of the fuel in the cylinder, from which the rich exhaust gas is discharged when the sulfate contamination regeneration process is performed, becomes excessively large. Therefore, the fuel may not burn in the cylinder.
The object of the invention is to ensure that the fuel burns in the cylinder in which the mixture gas is smaller (richer) than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the process for regenerating the sulfate contamination of the NOx catalyst is performed.

Exhaust gas purification device for an engine


The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having at least one line terminal and at least one load terminal partially disposed therein. A first conductive path is electrically coupled to the at least one line terminal. A second conductive path is electrically coupled to the at least one load terminal, the second conductive path being connected to the first conductive path in a reset state. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the first conductive path. The fault detection circuit is configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition. A wiring state detection circuit is coupled to the first conductive path. The wiring state detection circuit selectively provides a wiring state detection signal when the at least one line terminal is coupled to a source of AC power, and not providing the wiring state detection signal otherwise. An actuator assembly is configured to provide an actuation stimulus in response to the fault detection signal or the wiring state detection signal. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the actuator assembly. The circuit interrupter is configured to disconnect the first conductive path and the second conductive path in response to the actuation stimulus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to protection devices, and particularly to protection devices having miswire protection.
2. Technical Background
Protective devices such as ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are well known in the art. Their intent is and always has been to protect the electrical power user from electrocution when hazardous ground fault currents are present.
Historical problems with these protective devices include the possibility of line/load miswiring in the field by an installer or the eventual failure of the solenoid driving device, typically a silicon controlled rectifier, which causes the interrupter device to become inoperable while electrical power is still present, even under hazardous ground fault conditions. A variety of methods are used to prevent or attempt to prevent miswiring with varying levels of success. Preventing the problems associated with a defective solenoid driving device is inherently more difficult. Labels and installation instruction sheets have been used to prevent miswiring, but can be ignored by the installer. Solenoid burn-out has been revealed by testing the protective device with a test button, but the result of the test can be ignored by the user.
Most GFCIs have test and reset buttons having associated instructions molded into the front cover of the device. The instructions typically require the user/homeowner to push the test button monthly. When depressed, the test button generates a current to simulate a fault condition. The device is not providing ground fault protection when the reset button fails to pop out. Accordingly, the user is instructed to replace the device. However, this approach has several drawbacks.
Of course, users routinely ignore the instructions printed on the cover of GFCI devices. If the device fails, the user is not aware that the device is not affording any protection. On the other hand, even if the user does press the button and discover that the device has failed, it may be some time before the user replaces the device.
Another drawback of the standard devices relates to the fact that a line-load miswire condition is often not tested by the test button. When a device is miswired, it may not protect the user from a fault condition even if it is functioning properly. The hazard will be present at the receptacle outlets even if the device is tripped. In other words, when a miswiring condition is present, the AC power is connected directly to the load terminals. The load terminals are typically connected to the user load terminals (i.e., the receptacles). When the device trips, the conductive path between the line terminals and load terminals is interrupted. However, since the load terminals and the user load terminals are still connected, the device fails to protect the user. In this case, the test and reset buttons may operate normally, giving the user a false sense of security.
In one approach that has been considered, a lock-out mechanism has been introduced such that the device will not reset if there is a line-load miswire condition. Power is denied to the load side circuit until the miswire condition is eliminated. Further, if the device is experiencing an internal fault such that the device is not operating properly, the device will likewise, not reset. One drawback to this condition is that it provides the user a disincentive to test. In other words, the user will feel inconvenienced if the device does not work after the test button is pushed. Further, this approach fails to address the scenario described above, when users fail to routinely use the test button.
In another approach that has been considered, a fused miswire circuit is disposed in the GFCI. If the device is miswired, the circuit induces a current simulating a fault condition, and the device trips. If the device is wired properly, the circuit again induces a current simulating a fault condition, and the device again trips. However, the current continues to flow until a fuse burns out. One drawback to this approach is that the miswire detection circuit may only be used once, and is forever disabled thereafter.
What is needed is a multi-shot method for testing mis-wiring. Further, a device is needed that eliminates any hazard at the receptacle outlets when the device is tripped.


A grating system includes a first welded subassembly and a second non-welded subassembly joined to one another. The first subassembly includes spaced elongated bearing bars and spaced elongated cross bars extending transversely to the bearing bars. The second subassembly includes spaced elongated filler bars and spaced elongated cross bars extending transversely to the filler bars. The filler bars extend in the same direction as the bearing bars and are disposed in sets between adjacent bearing bars. The bearing bars include spaced notches in which are received the first subassembly cross bars and the second subassembly cross bars, which are aligned above the first subassembly cross bars. The subassemblies have respective upper surfaces which are flush with one another. The first subassembly is configured to support vehicle traffic and the second subassembly is configured to support pedestrian traffic.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to grates and grating systems. More particularly, the invention relates to the combination of heavy duty grating subassemblies with lighter duty grating subassemblies such as those used to accommodate both vehicle traffic and pedestrian traffic. Specifically, the invention relates to the combination of a heavy duty grating subassembly formed by welding and a lighter duty grating subassembly formed without welding.
2. Background Information
Within the broad world of grates and grating systems, there is an area which is configured to accommodate vehicle traffic, such as cars and trucks. Such grating involves the use of relatively heavy duty construction. There is also an area of grating to accommodate the walking traffic of pedestrians, and this type of grating involves relatively light weight construction. However, there are locations common to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic and thus there is a need for a grating system which accommodates both groups. The lighter duty construction typically used for pedestrian traffic is not sufficiently strong to support vehicle traffic. On the other hand, the heavy duty grating typically used for vehicle traffic is more costly and weighs a great deal more than the lighter gauge materials.
Typically, the heavy duty grating used for vehicle traffic may use a much greater mesh size than that used for pedestrian traffic. As a result, the spacing between the members of the grating is too great to appropriately accommodate pedestrian traffic. This spacing issue was amplified by the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, which required that openings between grating bars be no more than ½ inch in the primary direction of travel, thus better accommodating persons using wheelchairs and walking canes.
One option for resolving this problem is to simply build a grate from the heavy duty materials with a smaller mesh to accommodate pedestrian traffic. This may be achieved, for example, with a grating assembly including bearing bars with cross bars perpendicularly attached thereto by welding or swaging. However, this is very costly and increases the weight of the grating far beyond what is needed in order to accomplish this task. Such a product results in a fairly inefficient strength to weight ratio.
Another possibility is to use filler bars which run parallel to the bearing bars and are disposed between each adjacent pair of bearing bars. Such filler bars may be punched to create notches along one side thereof for receiving the cross bar of the grating. This type of construction presents several problems. First, the filler bars must be installed individually after the bearing bars have been welded to the cross bars. Each filler bar is welded to the cross bar at each intersection to keep the filler bar in place. This is a very time consuming process. In addition, the large number of welds on top of the grating assembly leads to heat induced stresses in the assembly that make it difficult to keep the panel flat. The problems associated with this type of construction limit the widths and spans of grating panels that may be manufactured by this method. Thus, there is a need for a combination of heavy duty grating with relatively light weight grating in order to provide a grating system appropriate for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.