An improved injection/compression molding process for the manufacturing of high quality concave optical lenses of thin thickness. A thermoplastic material is injected into a mold cavity of an injection/compression molding machine, the mold cavity is designed to have adjustable thickness and is initially set at a thickness greater than the lens to be produced. After the amount of the plastic injected fills the enlarged cavity, the thickness of the cavity is gradually reduced by exerting a compressional force on the thermoplastic material inside the mold cavity. During the compression stage, the injection continues and the excess thermoplastic material is squeezed into an overflow pocket inside the injection/compression mold. The injection apparatus can be switched into a pressure holding mode during and after the compression stage to prevent any backflow and post-injection shrinkage. The process disclosed in the present invention offers many significant advantages over prior art processes, including avoidance of the commonly encountered weld line and birefrigence problem, substantially improved quality control, elimination of external heating or cooling needs, increased production rate, and reduced production cost.

Various processes involving Injection molding have been disclosed in the prior art for the fabrication of plastic lenses. In a typical process for the injection-molding of plastic lenses, plastic resins, such as polycarbonate (PC) or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), are initially heated to a molten state. Then, the molten plastic is injected into a mold cavity so that it assumes the compensated form of the mold cavity when it cools. Empirically, good lens quality is achievable if the injection molding process is used in the production of relatively thick lenses (including both the concave lenses and convex lenses). However, it has not been successful to use the injection molding process to fabricate high-quality relatively thin lenses, particularly, thin concave lenses.
A mold cavity for the fabrication of concave lenses has a relatively thinner central portion and a relatively thicker annular portion (i.e., the annular portion is thicker than the central portion). During the conventional injection-molding process, the molten plastic flows through the annular portion of the molding cavity at a greater linear speed than the speed by which it flows through the central portion of the same. As a consequence, the molten plastic diverges into two melt fronts (leading tips of the molten plastic) along the annular portion of the mold cavity. When the two melt fronts meet at a seam, a weld (knit) line is formed on the surface of the lens being formed. For plastic concave lenses having the same diameters, the higher the degree of the concave lens, the longer the weld line of the concave lens would become. The weld line is formed because the melt fronts of the molten plastic cool and thus at least partially solidify when they flow towards each other. The solidification prevents the two melt-fronts to satisfactorily merge with each other. One way to solve this problem is to externally apply heat to the mold to maintain the mold at a temperature such that the viscosity of the plastic is retained at a minimum. However, this introduces another problem in that this process would require a relatively longer period of time for the molten plastic to cool and solidify. As a consequence, the plastic lenses cannot be produced at high rates using the conventional injection-molding process.
Another way to alleviate the above-mentioned problem is to compression-mold blanks of lenses (i.e., precursory lenses) into finished lenses. A typical process for compression-molding of plastic lenses employs a mold having a sleeve and two inserts (dies) slidably mounted in the sleeve. The confronting tips of the inserts define the compensated form of the surfaces of the lens to be manufactured. The sleeve has a tubular inner wall. A mold cavity is defined by the confronting tips of the inserts and the inner wall of the sleeve. The blanks are preheated to their melting temperature and placed inside the mold cavity. The inserts are moved towards each other so as to compress the blanks. The blanks, after compression, assume the compensated form of the mold cavity. However, since it is difficult to prepare blanks having exactly the same amount of plastic material required for making the desired lens, it is difficult to have finished lenses having exactly the desired dimensions. The conventional process requires that the mold to be maintained at or near the glass transition temperature of the plastic being molded so that the molten plastic is maintained in a viscous form. Because of the accompanying low heat transfer coefficients associated with the highly viscous material, it takes a long period of time for the plastic to cool and solidify. Consequently, with the conventional compression-molding process, the lenses also cannot be produced at satisfactorily high rates.
There have been several attempts in the industry to combine injection molding and compression molding for the production of plastic lenses. U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,057 issued to Hermann P. Weber on 23 May 1978 teaches a method for the injection molding of plastic lenses. This method employs a mold having at least an upper inner block defining a hole, a lower inner block defining another hole, an upper insert slidably mounted in the upper inner block, a lower insert slidably mounted in the lower block, several heating rods mounted about the upper and lower inner blocks, and a heating rod axially mounted in the lower insert. The confronting tips of the inserts define the compensated form of the surfaces of the lens to be produced. Each of the upper and lower inner blocks defines a tubular inner wall. The confronting tips of the upper and lower inserts and the inner walls of the upper and lower inner blocks define a mold cavity having a central portion and an annular portion having a thickness greater than the central portion. The lower inner block also defines an inlet in communicating with the hole formed in the same. The lower inner block also defines an overflow passageway, by means of which the hole formed in the lower inner block can be communicated to an overflow pocket formed in the lower inner block. A piston is slidably received in the overflow pocket and biased by a spring attached to the mold so that the volume of the overflow pocket is adjustable. A thermoplastic material is heated to a temperature of 520.degree.-560.degree. F. so that it is molten in order to be injected into the mold cavity, which is heated to a temperature of 260.degree.-275.degree. F. by means of the heating rods. The force of the molten plastic against the upper insert causes the upper insert to rise, thereby increasing the thickness of the central portion of the mold cavity. Thus, a weld line will not occur. Then, the upper insert is moved towards the lower insert in order to compress the molten plastic which is urged into the overflow pocket through the overflow passageway. In this manner finished lenses with predetermined dimensions are obtained. In the process disclosed in the '057 patent, the injection of the molten plastic material into the mold cavity is stopped before the compression of the molten plastic in the mold cavity. That is, the melt front pauses before it is urged into the overflow pocket. Birefringence thus occurs at the point wherein the melt front pauses.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,878 issued to Albert J. Laliberte on 21 Dec. 1982 teaches a method for molding ophthalmic lenses. Such a method employs a mold having two sleeves and two mold inserts slidably mounted in the sleeves. The sleeves each define a tubular inner wall. The confronting tips of the mold inserts define the compensated form of the surfaces of the lenses to be manufactured. The confronting tips of the mold inserts and the inner walls of the sleeves define a compressible mold cavity. Initially, the mold inserts are positioned at an extended distance from each other so that the mold cavity is greater than in volume than the desired lenses. Then, molten plastic is injected into the mold cavity. Thereafter, the mold inserts are moved to an appropriate distance from each other so that the mold has exactly the compensated form of the desired lenses. Finally, the lenses are cooled and allowed to solidify and assume the shape which is the compensated form of the mold cavity. With the method disclosed in the '878 patent, the amount of plastic injected into the mold cavity must be exactly the same as the amount of plastic required for the desired lenses, as the mold does not define any overflow cavity. This requires a measuring device for ensuring that exactly the amount of molten plastic is injected into the mold cavity. To satisfy this requirement, molten plastic is injected into the mold cavity from a reservoir through the measuring device. The measuring device must be heated so as to maintain the molten plastic at a certain temperature so that the molten plastic is retained at a certain viscosity in the measuring device in order for the measuring device to properly function. Therefore, this process requires more energy. Furthermore, it takes a longer period of time as it involves the extra steps of measuring the quantity of the molten plastic. It takes an even longer period of time as it involves a long travel of the molten plastic and birefringence also occurs as a consequence.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,960 issued to David P. Spector et al. on 6 Jun. 1989 teaches a fabrication of plastic optical components by injection/compression molding. The fabrication process disclosed in the '960 patent employs a mold having a sleeve and two mold dies slidably mounted in the sleeve. The sleeve defines a tubular wall. The confronting tips of the mold dies define the compensated form of the surfaces of the desired lenses. The inner wall of the sleeve and the confronting tips of the mold dies define a compressible mold cavity. Initially, the assembly is heated to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material to be molded. An injection port extends through the sleeve to the bore, and is positioned to inject the thermoplastic material that has been heated to a liquid state into the cavity. After injection of the thermoplastic material, the mold inserts are moved toward each other to compress the thermoplastic material, while excess thermoplastic material is forced out of the mold cavity. The molds are then turned in a reverse direction to uncouple the injection port from the cavity. The assembly is then cooled to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material. Finally, the lens is removed from the mold. The method disclosed in the '960 patent has the disadvantage that, because it requires both the heating and cooling steps, it takes a long period of time to complete the process. Furthermore, expensive injection molding apparatus is required to practice the process disclosed therein, particularly to accommodate the heating and cooling requirements.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The present specification discloses a mobile communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving data using a plurality of carriers in a mobile communication system.

In general, mobile communication systems have been developed to provide communication while securing mobility of users. With the rapid development of technologies, the mobile communication systems have reached a stage of providing high-speed data communication services as well as voice communication.
Currently, a standardization operation for a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system is being progressed as one of the next generation mobile communication systems by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The LTE system corresponds to a technology, which implements high speed packet-based communication having a maximum transmission rate of 100 Mbps, which is faster than a data transmission rate currently provided, and its standardization has been almost completed.
Recently, discussion about an evolved LTE communication system (LTE-A), in which various new technologies are grafted into the LTE communication system to increase a transmission rate, is progressed in earnest. A representative of the newly introduced technologies may be carrier aggregation. The carrier aggregation uses a plurality of forward carriers and a plurality of backward carriers by one UE (User Equipment) unlike the conventional data transmission/reception using only one forward carrier and one backward carrier by the UE.
The current LTE-A defines only intra-ENB (Evolved NodeB) carrier aggregation. This results in reducing an application possibility of a carrier aggregation function. Particularly, in a scenario overlappingly operating a plurality of pico cells and one micro cell, the macro cell and the pico cells may not be aggregated.

Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data using plurality of carriers in mobile communication system


In order to set a user information such as a nickname, memo or the like easily in an electronic appliance, text data or graphic data about the appliance entered on the basis of a specified manipulation or command is written by using a part of the descriptor which can be read out by the command conforming to a specified protocol from other appliance connected mutually through a bus, and when displaying about the appliance, the nickname, memo or the like by the text data or graphic data written in the descriptor is displayed.

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a providing medium, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a providing medium capable of discriminating electronic appliances of the same type easily at a user side when a plurality of electronic appliances are connected through an IEEE 1394 bus or the like, and allowing the user to read and write necessary information directly from and in each electronic appliance.
As a system composed by connecting a plurality of electronic appliances and communicating among them, a system using the IEEE 1394 bus is known. In this system, when a plurality of electronic appliances of the same type are connected, one of the means for discriminating them is a technique of furnishing the electronic appliance main bodies with slide switches and assigning by numerals, such as VTR1, VTR2, and so forth.
In this conventional technique, the user must identify the VTR1 and VRT2 with actual electronic appliances, and it was a burden for the user side. As an improving measure thereof, a method of discriminating electronic appliances of the same type by providing the electronic appliances with easy names or nicknames by the user is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 7-212662.
In such conventional method, however, although electronic appliances of the same type can be discriminated, the information of the individual electronic appliances such as the guarantee, manufacturing date and so on cannot be directly written in or read from the electronic appliances by the user.
The invention is made in view of the above circumstance, and it is hence an object thereof to present a constitution in which the user can easily recognize the electronic appliances of the same type, and the user can directly read and write necessary information from and in the individual electronic appliances.
A first invention relates to an information processing apparatus controlled by transmission of command conforming to a specific protocol from other appliance mutually connected through a bus, comprising memory means for storing a descriptor that can be read by the command as a hierarchical list, and control means for writing text data or graphic data relating to the appliance, inputted by specific operation or command, at a specified position in the hierarchical descriptor stored in the memory means. Therefore, the text data or graphic data relating to the appliance is written in a part of the hierarchical descriptor that can be read or written by a specific command, and by using the written data, information necessary for identifying the appliance can be easily obtained.
A second invention relates to the information processing apparatus of the first invention, in which the text data or graphic data written in by the control means is data relating to the name of the appliance. Therefore, the name of the appliance can be easily set by the user""s input or the like.
A third invention relates to the information processing apparatus of the first invention, in which the text data or graphic data written in by the control means is made as memo data entered in relation to the appliance. Therefore, various memos relating to the appliance can be easily stored in the appliance by the user""s input or the like, and read out when necessary.
A fourth invention relates to the information processing apparatus of the first invention, in which the text data or graphic data written in the memory means by the control means is written in a part of the hierarchical descriptor. Therefore, when reading out the text data or graphic data written in the memory means from other appliance, by tracing along the hierarchical structure, the memory position of the desired data can be reached easily, and it can be read out easily.
A fifth invention relates to the information processing apparatus of the first invention, in which the text data or graphic data written in the memory means by the control means is written in other descriptor than the hierarchical descriptor, and the information of the writing position is written in the hierarchical descriptor. Therefore, based on the instruction in the hierarchical descriptor, the memory position of the text data or graphic data written in the memory means can be easily judged, and the text data or graphic data relating to the appliance can be easily read out.
A sixth invention relates to the information processing apparatus of the first invention, in which the text data or graphic data written in the memory means by the control means is composed of a plurality of of data. Therefore, a plurality of of data relating to the apparatus can be held.
A seventh invention relates to the information processing apparatus of the sixth invention, in which a specific one of the a plurality of data is read out by priority from the memory means and used. Therefore, when a plurality of data relating to the appliance are held, the data to be used is determined according to a specific condition.
An eighth invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of controlling other appliance mutually connected through a bus by transmission of a command conforming to a specific protocol, comprising input means for inputting text data or graphic data, and transmitting means for transmitting a command for writing in the text data or graphic data inputted by the input means to the descriptor of the other appliance as the data relating to the appliance through the bus. Therefore, information necessary for identifying the appliance connected through the bus can be easily written in.
A ninth invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of controlling other appliance mutually connected through a bus by transmission of a command conforming to a specific protocol, comprising transmitting means for transmitting a command for reading out memory data of the text data or graphic data concerning the appliance to the descriptor of the other appliance through the bus, and control means for using the text data or graphic data as display data for recognizing the other appliance when receiving the text data or graphic data added to a response based on the command sent out from the transmitting means. Therefore, the information for identifying the appliance, stored in the appliance connected through the bus, can be easily read out and displayed.
A tenth invention relates to an information processing system composed of a first appliance and a second appliance mutually connected through a specific bus, in which the first appliance stores the text data or graphic data relating to the own appliance at a specific position of a descriptor which can be read out by a command conforming to a specific protocol, and the second appliance sends a command for reading out the text data or graphic data stored at the specific position of the descriptor of the first appliance, and uses the text data or graphic data obtained by the response based on that command as the display data for recognizing the first appliance. Therefore, the information necessary for identifying the appliance connected through the bus can be easily written into the corresponding appliance, and the information necessary for identifying being written in that appliance can be easily read out and displayed.
An eleventh invention relates to an information processing method in which a descriptor which can be readout by a specific command conforming to a specific protocol from other appliance mutually connected through a bus is stored as a hierarchical list, and text data or graphic data relating to the own appliance inputted by a specific operation or command is writter at a specific position in the stored hierarchical descriptor. Therefore, the text data or graphic data relating to the appliance is written in a part of the hierarchical descriptor which can be read or written by a specific command, and by using the written data, the information necessary for identifying the appliance can be easily obtained.
A twelfth invention relates to the information processing method of the eleventh invention, in which the text data or graphic data to be writter is made as data relating to the name of the appliance. Therefore, the name of the appliance can be easily set by user""s input or the like.
A thirteenth invention relates to the information processing method of the eleventh invention, in which the text data or graphic data to be written is made as memo data inputted in relation to the appliance. Therefore, various memos relating to the appliance can be easily stored in the appliance by the user""s input or the like, and read out when necessary.
A fourteenth invention relates to the information processing method of the eleventh invention, in which the text data or graphic data to be written is written in a part of the hierarchical descriptor. Therefore, when reading out the text data or graphic data written from other appliance, by tracing along the hierarchical structure, the memory position of the desired data can be reached easily, and it can be read out easily.
A fifteenth invention relates to the information processing method of the eleventh invention, in which the text data or graphic data to be written is written in other descriptor than the hierarchical descriptor, and the information of the writing position is written in the hierarchical descriptor. Therefore, based on the instruction in the hierarchical descriptor, the memory position of the text data or graphic data written in can be easily judged, and the text data or graphic data relating to the appliance can be easily read out.
A sixteenth invention relates to the information processing method of the eleventh invention, in which the text data or graphic data to be written is composed of a plurality of pieces of data. Therefore, a plurality of pieces of data relating to the apparatus can be held.
A seventeenth invention relates to the information processing method of the sixteenth invention, in which a specific one of the a plurality of pieces of data is read out with priority and used. Therefore, when a plurality of pieces of data relating to the appliance are held, the data to be used is determined according to a specific condition.
An eighteenth invention relates to an information processing method capable of controlling other appliance mutually connected through a bus by transmission of a command conforming to a specific protocol, comprising a process of inputting text data or graphic data, and a process of transmitting a command for writing in the text data or graphic data inputted by the above process to the descriptor of the other appliance as the data relating to the appliance through the bus. Therefore, the information necessary for identifying the appliance connected through the bus can be easily written in.
A nineteenth invention relates to an information processing method capable of controlling other appliance mutually connected through a bus by transmission of a command conforming to a specific protocol, comprising a process of transmitting a command for reading out memory data of the text data or graphic data about the appliance to the descriptor of the other appliance through the bus, and a process of using the text data or graphic data as display data for recognizing the other appliance when receiving the text data or graphic data added to the response based on the command sent out at the above process. Therefore, the information for identifying the appliance stored in the appliance connected through the bus can be easily read out and displayed.
A twentieth invention relates to a providing medium for providing a program which can be read by a computer for executing the process comprising a step of holding a description which can be read out by a specific command conforming to a specific protocol from other appliance mutually connected through a bus as a hierarchical list, and a step of writing text data or graphic data relating to the own appliance inputted according to a specific operation or command at a specific position of the hierarchical descriptor. Therefore, by using the program provided by the medium, the text data of graphic data relating to the appliance is written in a part of the hierarchical descriptor which can be read or written by a specific command, and by using the written data, the information necessary for identifying the appliance can be easily obtained.

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method, and providing medium


An apparatus (12) for tracking an abnormal condition of a vehicle tire (20, 22, 24) includes a receiver (62) that receives a data message having data indicative of a condition of the vehicle tire (20, 22, 24). A controller (64) is connected to the receiver (62) and is responsive to the data message received by the receiver (62). The controller (64) includes a counter that has a value indicative of a duration of an abnormal tire condition. The controller (64) adjusts the counter value as a function of the content of the received data message.

The present invention relates to tire condition sensing and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for tracking the duration of an abnormal tire condition in a tire condition sensing system.
Numerous tire pressure monitoring systems have been developed in order to detect when the air pressure within a tire drops below a threshold pressure value. A system typically includes a pressure switch, an internal power source, and a communications link. The pressure switch provides tire pressure information to a central receiver through the communications link. The communications link may be a wired or wireless link.
There has been an increasing need for tire pressure monitoring systems due to the use of xe2x80x9crun flatxe2x80x9d tires in vehicles. xe2x80x9cRun flatxe2x80x9d tires enable a driver to travel an extended distance after a substantial loss of air pressure within a vehicle tire.
Examples of tire condition monitoring systems which maintain information related to a detected tire condition are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,825,286, 5,754,965, 5,559,484, 5,731,754, 5,581,464, and 4,186,377.
One aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for tracking an abnormal condition of a vehicle tire. The apparatus includes a receiver that receives a data message having data indicative of a condition of the vehicle tire. A controller is connected to the receiver and is responsive to the data message received by the receiver. The controller includes a counter that has a value indicative of a duration of an abnormal tire condition. The controller adjusts the counter value as a function of the content of the received data message.
Another aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for tracking an abnormal condition of a vehicle tire. The apparatus includes a receiver for receiving a data message that includes data indicative of an operating mode of a transmitter module associated with the vehicle tire. The data message also includes data indicative of a condition of the associated vehicle tire. A controller is coupled to the receiver for determining an operating mode of the transmitter module based on the data message. The controller includes a counter having a value indicative of a duration of an abnormal condition for the associated vehicle tire. The controller, in response to receiving a data message indicating the abnormal tire condition, adjusts the counter value based on the operating mode data of the data message.
Still another aspect of the present invention provides a system for tracking an abnormal condition of a vehicle tire. The system includes a transmitter module having a tire condition sensor for sensing a condition of the associated vehicle tire and a transmitter for transmitting a data message having a characteristic indicative of the sensed condition. A receiver remote from the transmitter module receives the data message. A controller is connected to the receiver and responsive to the data message received by the receiver. The controller includes a counter having a value indicative of a duration of an abnormal tire condition. The controller adjusts the counter value as a function of the content of the data message.
Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a method for tracking an abnormal tire condition in a tire condition monitoring system. The method includes receiving a signal having a data message indicative of a condition of an associated vehicle tire. The method further includes the step of counting values indicative of a duration of an abnormal tire condition of the associated vehicle tire and adjusting the count value as a function of the content of the received data message.

Apparatus and method for tracking an abnormal tire condition


A sheet processing apparatus capable of creating fold sections suitable for an apparatus that performs saddle-stitch processing on fold sections. A sheet processing apparatus includes a printer engine configured to form an image on a recording sheet. The sheet processing apparatus sets a bookbinding lap which is a distance between a first sheet end and a second sheet end of the recording sheet assumed to have been folded in two. A finisher creates the fold section by forming a folding line on recording sheets according to a reference line which is shifted from the centerline of the recording sheet by the bookbinding lap.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus, a method of controlling the same, and a storage medium.
Description of the Related Art
In conventional sheet processing apparatuses, during production of saddle-stitched books, a folding position for center-fold processing is sometimes displaced from the center of a sheet. The displacement of the folding position from the middle of a sheet is caused e.g. by an assembly error of a sheet processing apparatus, variation in sheets between production lots of the sheets, and a change in sheets due to changes in environmental conditions, such as humidity and temperature.
To cope with this, conventionally, several copies are printed for test printing before final production of saddle-stitched books so as to check whether or not a folding position is at an expected position. Then, if the folding position is displaced from the expected position, fine adjustment is performed physically or by software such that the folding position is arranged at the expected position.
In relation to this, there has been proposed a sheet processing apparatus that is capable of correcting displacement of a folding position within approximately ±1 mm, by providing two setting items for adjusting the folding position and the stitched position such that they are accurately arranged in the middle of each sheet during production of saddle-stitched books (see e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-206626).
The two setting items are an item which can be set only by a service technician for correcting the above-mentioned displacement due to an assembly error, and an item which can be set by a user for correcting displacement due to a sheet.
This makes it possible to prevent the position on which saddle-stitch processing and center-fold processing are performed from being displaced from the middle of a sheet.
For production of saddle-stitched books, in some cases, processing operations up to center-fold processing are performed by a sheet processing apparatus, and subsequent processing operations including saddle-stitch processing are performed using another sheet processing apparatus (off-line apparatus) which is different from the above-mentioned sheet processing apparatus. Further, the off-line apparatuses include one configured to feed sheets one by one by pinching an extending portion (portion of a sheet, which does not overlap when being folded) of an end of a sheet with rollers. In the off-line apparatus of this type, if a sheet is folded in the middle, an extending portion of an end of the sheet is not generated, and as a result, the off-line apparatus cannot accurately feed the sheet (fold section, i.e. signature).
A production method in which saddle-stitch processing and processing steps thereafter are performed using an off-line apparatus is generally determined from the viewpoint of productivity, based on related factors, such as a difference in the number of sheets which can be bound, a level of the accuracy of binding, and a level of speed at which the off-line apparatus can perform processing.
When producing saddle-stitched books using the above-mentioned production method, a print product generated by the sheet processing apparatus is required to have a center-folding position shifted from the center of a sheet by a predetermined length.
The sheet processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-206626 is capable of performing fine adjustment for correcting the displacement of a folding position from the center of a sheet, caused by the above-mentioned assembly error, and displacement of a folding position from the center of a sheet, caused by the above-mentioned variation in sheets.
On the other hand, the sheet processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-206626 does not take into consideration shifting of a folding position from the center of a sheet, and further, is not capable of performing adjustment large enough to create a fold section, a fore edge of which is generally required to have a length of 5 mm to 10 mm, demanded by the above-mentioned production method.
Further, when shifting a folding position from the center of a sheet, it is necessary to adjust the position of an image to be printed on the sheet in accordance with the adjustment of the folding position. In the sheet processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-206626, however, the image position adjustment is not taken into consideration.

Sheet processing apparatus capable of creating fold section, method of controlling the same, and storage medium


A pharmaceutical packaging is provided including a glass, comprising at least the following components (given in mol % on oxide basis): SiO2: 5 9-84, Al2O3: 7-18.5, CaO: 1-25, SrO: 0-6.5, BaO: 0-5, ZrO2: 0-3, TiO2: 0-5, B2O3: 0-1, wherein the ratio (CaO+SrO+BaO)/Al2O3<2.8, wherein the ratio (CaO+SrO+BaO)/SiO2≤0.39, wherein the hydrolytic resistance according to DIN ISO 720 is class HGA 1, and wherein the glass, apart from unavoidable contaminations, is free of alkali oxides and magnesium oxides.

The invention relates to a pharmaceutical packaging comprising a chemically resistant glass that, in particular, is suitable as primary packaging material in the pharmaceutical industry.
There are high demands with respect to such pharmaceutical packagings. In particular a high chemical resistance is important. In addition the glasses used therefor shall be free of delamination, i.e. during use no layers shall separate from the glass which would contaminate the packaged pharmaceutical agent. A main cause for the delamination is the evaporation of alkali borates or boron or alkali-hydro-oxides during the hot-forming to yield pharmaceutical containers. Basically this can be impeded by using boron-free and alkali-free glasses. However, herein basically a problem resists in the fact that in such a case a substantially increased crystallization tendency results which is also detrimental.
Apart from a very good chemical resistance, however there are further demands with respect to glasses that are suitable as primary packaging material in the pharmaceutical industry.
Thus it should be possible to produce the glasses in common melting units, i.e. the viscosity of the melt must not be too high—if possible, the processing temperature (temperature at which the viscosity is 104 dPas, which is also designated as VA or T4) should not exceed the maximum value of 1350° C. For an energy-saving production T4 should be as low as possible.
From EP 0 510 544 A1 alkali-free glasses with the following composition (in wt.-%) are known: 55-65 SiO2, 10-18 Al2O3, 0-3 B2O3, 0-3 MgO, 8-15 CaO, 8-15 SrO and 0-3 ZnO. All examples contain either B2O3 or MgO.
By using B2O3 the delamination tendency is increased which is detrimental for a use as a pharmaceutical packaging. The addition of MgO leads to an increased crystallization tendency which is also detrimental.
EP 2 639 205 A1 discloses alkali-free glasses with the following composition (in wt.-%): 58-70 SiO2, 15.5-20 Al2O3, 0-1 B2O3, 0-5 MgO, 3.5-16 CaO, 0.5-6.5 SrO and 5-15 BaO. These glasses shall be in particular suitable as display glasses.
Herein the high BaO-content which in all examples is at least 5.9 wt.-%, is detrimental, due to the release of Ba2+, which as a heavy metal may give rise to interactions with drugs. In addition the high BaO-content leads to an increased density which increases the cost per kilogram.
From EP 2 650 262 A1 alkali-free glasses with the following composition (in wt.-%) are known: 66-70 SiO2, 12-15 Al2O3, 0-1.5 B2O3, more than 9.5 and 13 or less MgO, 4-9 CaO, 0.5-4.5 SrO, 0-1 BaO and 0-2 ZrO2.
The utilization of high portions of MgO in this glass system leads to an increase of the crystallization tendency which during melting in particular during hot-forming leads to problems or impedes the production of pharmaceutical packagings, respectively.
In JP 05155638 A glasses with the following composition (in wt.-%) are described which shall be in particular usable in combination with resins: 54-62 SiO2, 8-12 Al2O3, 0-5 MgO, 18-22 CaO, 0-5 BaO, 0.5-1.9 TiO2, 0.5-5 ZnO, 0.6-5.0 ZrO2, and 0-1R2O.
In all examples the addition of small amounts of alkali metal oxides (R2O) leads to the formation of easily elusive alkali metal species which also leads to an increase of the delamination tendency. Also MgO is detrimental, since thereby the crystallization tendency is increased. The relatively low Al2O3 content may lead to low resistances against bases.
In US 2014/0377525 A1 substantially alkali-free glasses with the following composition (in mol %) are disclosed: 60-70 SiO2, 9.5-17 Al2O3, 0-9 B2O3, 0-8 MgO, 2-15 CaO, 0.1-10 SrO, 0.5-4 BaO, wherein the molar ratio (CaO+SrO+BaO)/Al2O3 shall be between 0.6 and 1.0.
According to all examples higher portions of B2O3 are contained which leads to an increase in the delamination tendency which is detrimental for a use as a pharmaceutical packaging. The additional MgO present in all embodiments of this system also leads to an increased crystallization tendency which is detrimental for the hot-forming.
From WO 2014/196655 A1 glasses for pharmaceutical packagings with low delamination of the following composition (given in mol %) are known: 69-81 SiO2, 4-12 Al2O3, 0-5 B2O3, 0-10 MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, 5-20 Li2O+Na2O+K2O, 0.1-12 Li2O.
The utilization of B2O3 as well as the relatively high alkali metal oxide content are main causes for increased delamination which is detrimental for a utilization as a pharmaceutical packaging.
From DE 1 816 391 A1 a glass comprising 59 bis 70 mol % SiO2, 10-20 mol % Al2O3, 12-28 mol % BaO, 0-5 mol % CaO, 0-14 mol % SrO, 0-5 mol % ZnO, 0-3 mol % MgO, 0-2 mol % B2O3 is known which is utilized as a high-temperature glass.
Herein the high content of BaO is detrimental by the release of Ba2+ which as a heavy metal may lead to interactions with drugs. In addition the high contents of BaO lead to an increased density which increases the cost per kilogram.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,263 an alkali-free glass for the electronics industry is known comprising 50-62 wt.-% SiO2, 8-14 wt.-% Al2O3, 15.5-32 wt.-% BaO and at least CaO or MgO, wherein CaO is 0-25 wt.-% and MgO is 0-2.4 wt.-%.
Again the high BaO-content is detrimental.
In addition from EP 0 048 120 A1 a high-temperature-glass for tungsten halogen lamps is known that comprises 64-68 wt.-% SiO2, 11-14 wt.-% CaO, 16.5 to 18.5 wt.-% Al2O3 and a total amount of SrO and BaO of 2-6.5 wt.-%, wherein SrO is 0-4 wt.-% and BaO is 0-5 wt.-%.

Pharmaceutical packaging comprising a chemically resistant glass


A tool for removal and reassembly of selective links of a chain includes separate clamping means for holding different types of chains and provides a tapered link engaging surface against which a selected link to be removed can be driven to separate the same from the chain. Indicators are also provided to enable a chain having removable pins to be aligned for the easy removal of the pins and the separation or reassembly of the links thereof.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to drive chain repair tools and more particularly to tools which facilitate the removal and replacement of links of a sprocket chain or the like. Such sprocket chains are formed of a plurality of releasable connected links and have been utilized in a wide variety of mechanical applications including farm machinery. Links of such chains include a generally rectangular open framework having a pintle or male connecting part extending along one end thereof and a sleeve or female connecting part extending along the opposite edge. The pintle of one link is slid transversely to the longitudinal axis of the chain into the sleeve of the adjacent chain link through a slot in the sleeve approximately the same width as the thickness of the chain link. When the chain is then put in use, the hinge connection remains together and is difficult to separate. When it becomes necessary to replace one or more links because of damage, a tool such as disclosed herein can be quickly and easily applied to the chain, properly supported and the links removed in a combination driving and wedging action.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Prior tools as known in the art are best represented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,369 wherein a vice engages the upper and lower surfaces of the chain when the same is in a vertical plane and requires the use of a chisel-like tool and hammer to effect separation and/or replacement of a link. A typical pin removing tool may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,286.
The present invention provides a tool which may be used to remove the selected links of a sprocket chain as well as remove the pins from a pin assembled chain.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,369, downward force is necessary to separate the selective links of the sprocket chain.
In the present invention, downward driving force moves the selected link against a tapered surface which effects a rapid separation of the link from the adjacent link and facilitates quick and easy removal. Another portion of applicant's tool provides location indicators to permit a pin assembled link chain to be positioned with respect to a plurality of openings with which the pins will register so as to facilitate the rapid and easy removal of the pins from the chain and the separation thereof.


Printing methods and systems are described herein. In one example, a method includes rasterizing a document to create color rasters and linearizing the color rasters to create high drop weight (HDW) planes and low drop weight (LDW) planes. HDW and LDW halftone planes are created from the HDW and LDW planes. The HDW and LDW halftone planes are masked to create HDW and LDW printhead maps, and the HDW and LDW printhead maps are merged into print data. The print data is sent to a number of printheads.

Thermal ink jet printheads are fabricated on integrated circuit wafers. Drive electronics and control features are first fabricated, then the columns of heater resistors are added and finally the structural layers, for example, formed from photoimageable epoxy, are added, and processed to form the drop generators. The drop size for print heads is often uniform. However, this makes the high speed printing of documents problematic, as large drops, which can print at higher speed, do not resolve images as well. Printheads could be switched out by job, but a web press can have hundreds of printheads, making this option difficult.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ink jet printing with high drop weight (HDW) planes and low drop weight (LDW) planes

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A meta-material filter that may be used in constructing a duplex filter is provided. The metal-material filter is comprised of a substrate, a plurality of metal strips periodically positioned on the substrate, and a ground plane spaced from the plurality of metal strips. The plurality of metal strips may be arranged mono-periodically or bi-periodically.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to telecommunications, and more particularly, to wireless communications.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a telecommunication system, a large geographically distributed network coverage area is typically partitioned into a multiplicity of mobile communication regions, such as cells, where each cell includes a communication node, such as a base station to realize wireless communications with one or more mobile stations or wireless devices within that cell. The network coverage area is commonly based on wireless links that are designed to operate at a minimum level consistent with Quality of Service (QoS) in an area where the mobile station has sufficient power to achieve a target signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio at a cell site that includes the base station.
Continued growth in the number of users of mobile communications means that many wireless network operators or service providers must find new ways of increasing the capacity of their networks. Antenna systems represent an area that may be developed to increase capacity in mobile communication networks. Specifically, many traditional installations of mobile communication base-station antennas make use of space-diversity techniques (e.g., Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems), which require at least two antennas pointing in the same direction and separated from each other. A typical base station may now employ as many as six transmitting and six receiving antennas, each requiring its own duplex filter.
The main task of the duplex filter is to separate transmit and receive frequencies at the antenna port. A typical duplex filter thus has three ports, one for the antenna, one for the transmitter and one for the receiver. A typical duplex filter is composed of coaxial resonators that require advanced fabrication techniques and materials to achieve high Q-factors (e.g., ˜5000) that are needed to provide high filter selectivity. Filter selectivity is critical in a base station because very sensitive receivers are operated in parallel with strong transmitters. In some applications, MIMO systems have proven to be cost prohibitive because of the cost of the duplex filters alone.

Meta-material for use in a base station of a wireless communication system


Optical mirror systems are provided by cooperative arrangements of a plurality of curved mirrors, preferably of approximately elliptical and hyperbolic shapes. In one arrangement, a convex segment of an hyperbolic primary mirror and a concave segment of an hyperbolic secondary mirror form a forward looking magnification system. In another arrangement, a concave segment of an elliptical primary mirror and a convex segment of an hyperbolic secondary mirror form a microscope. In still another arrangement, a convex segment of an hyperbolic primary mirror, a concave segment of an hyperbolic intermediate mirror and a concave segment of an elliptical secondary mirror form a periscope which may be assembled on an automobile for use as a wide angle rearview mirror in which the primary mirror is supported above the vehicle roof, the intermediate mirror is mounted on the dashboard in optical registry with the primary mirror through the windshield, and the secondary mirror also is mounted on the dashboard laterally displaced from the intermediate mirror for viewing by the driver of the vehicle.

This invention relates to optical systems, and more particularly to curved mirror optical systems including two mirror magnifying systems and two and three mirror periscope systems.
Multiple mirror optical systems usually utilize two or more plane surface mirrors. In these systems, lenses which are rotationally symmetric are often mounted along the axis of symmetry of the system. Standard ray tracing para-axial lens mathematics is used to achieve the optical engineering goals. Typical of such systems are the common binocular and periscope systems. The use of curved mirrors in optical systems has been much more limited and have been characterized by excessive structural and optical complications, and correspondingly high cost of manufacture, while producing images of reduced quality.
A matched pair of curved mirrors are used in various telescope, microscope and projection systems. Typical of such a system is the Cassegrain telescope with its various modifications, including the Ritchey-Chertein telescope using two hyperboloid mirrors (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,559). In these telescope systems the light from objects being viewed is first reflected by a large primary mirror onto a smaller secondary mirror which is positioned at the center of the field of view of the primary mirror. The optical axis is identical with the path of a light ray from the eye of the observer to an object at the center of the field of view through the optical system. The two mirrors are rotationally symmetric about the optical axis. The observer looks at the secondary mirror through a hole at the center of the primary mirror.
This telescope design places a small secondary mirror far from the eye of the observer, and the observer has to look through several refractive lenses to see the image generated by the small and far away secondary mirror. The optical quality and the magnification is largely determined by the mirrors, but to allow a view of the image several refractive lenses are needed. The secondary mirror conceals objects in the center of the field of view, because it is at the center of the field of view of the primary mirror. Lenses cause chromatic aberration and also limit the range of electromagnetic radiation that the telescope may use.
Several telescopes using three or more mirrors and no lenses are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,674,334; 4,101,195; 4,215,273; 4,226,501; 4,240,707; 4,265,510; 4,632,521; 4,645,314; 4,733,955; 4,737,021; 4,804,258; 4,834,517; and 4,964,706. These systems project real images directly on sensors. Some of these systems are also off-axis and eliminate the central obstruction by the secondary mirror present in prior telescopes. These systems use more mirrors than necessary, resulting in increased cost and optical aberration.
A combination of two reflecting and two refracting surfaces which are rotationally symmetric about the optical axis, is used in the Maksutov optical systems, as described in "New Catadioptric Meniscus System" by D.D. Maksutov, Journal of Optical Society of America, Vol. 34, No. 5, May, 1944. Maksutov developed the technique whereby several refractive surfaces, e.g. lenses, are used to correct optical aberrations caused by two spherical mirrors. The Maksutov microscope is typical of such a system. Recent off-axis designs based upon the Maksutov approach are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,196,961; 4,293,186; 4,344,676; 4,711,535; 4,747,678 4,812,028; and 4,964,705. Geometrical and chromatic aberrations are still major problems in such systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,256 discloses a two curved mirror, side-looking telescope wherein the primary mirror is an off-axis segment of a concave paraboloid surface and the secondary mirror is a concave segment of an hyperboloid. The secondary mirror is moved off-axis. Because of the specific shape selected, this optical system will not be suitable for direct forward viewing by the eye and there is an increased optical aberration in the periphery. Additional optical elements will be required to overcome those limitations, as admitted by the authors.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,030 discloses a zoom system built around a rotationally symmetric co-axial two-mirror system. This system suffers from the central concealment effect resulting from placement of the secondary mirror at the center of the field of view of the primary mirror mentioned before.
Conventional rearview mirrors in cars have many blind spots. Rearview periscope mirror systems for use with automobiles and other vehicles attempting to eliminate such blind spots heretofore have employed planar mirrors. Some have required a special opening in the roof of the vehicle for communication between interior and exterior mirrors. With planar mirrors, the internal mirrors are small and result in limited field of view. Also, the external mirror needs to be large because of linear divergence of the line of sight from the vehicle driver. Typical of these are the periscope structures disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,058,395; 3,704,062; 3,909,117; 3,914,028; 3,915,562; 3,947,096; 3,979,158; 4,114,989; 4,120,566; and 4,277,142.
Prior attempts also have been made to provide a rearview periscope composed of only two mirrors. Exemplary of these are the systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,110,012 which employs one elliptically curved mirror and an associated flat mirror; and 4,033,678 which utilizes two cylindrically concave mirrors. In both of these systems the use of two mirrors to obtain an upright image of objects to the rear resulted in a very short distance of in-focus viewing sandwiched between relatively long distances of out-of-focus viewing.


A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive layer over first and second regions of a semiconductor substrate, forming a trench extended in the first region of the semiconductor substrate through the conductive layer, forming a recessed gate electrode in the trench, doping the conductive layer and the recessed first gate electrode, and forming a second gate electrode by etching the doped conductive layer.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device with a recess gate and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
With high integration of semiconductor devices, the gate length of a transistor has continuously decreased. Accordingly, drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL), threshold voltage (Vt) roll-off or the like occurs due to a short channel effect.
Therefore, a method for increasing a channel length by applying a recess gate to a cell transistor has been recently adopted. Furthermore, an important circuit such as a sense amplifier, in which the characteristic of a transistor determines the device characteristic, in a peripheral circuit region employs a recess gate, like a cell transistor.
FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a conventional semiconductor device with a recess gate.
Referring to FIG. 1A, an isolation region 12 is formed in a substrate 11, and a trench 13 is formed in an active region of the substrate 11. A gate dielectric layer 14 is formed on the surface of the trench 13. A silicon-containing electrode 15 is formed over the gate dielectric layer 14 so as to gap-fill the trench 13. The top surface of the silicon-containing electrode 15 has a higher level than the top surface of the substrate 11. A metal-containing electrode 16 is formed over the silicon-containing electrode 15. A gate hard mask layer 17 is formed over the metal-containing electrode 16. Accordingly, a recess gate structure including the silicon-containing electrode 15, the metal-containing electrode 16, and the gate hard mask layer 17 is formed. Source/drain regions 18 (not illustrated) are formed in the substrate 11 at both sides of the recess gate structure. Accordingly, a recess channel of which the channel length is increased by the silicon-containing electrode 15 is formed.
In FIG. 1A, the silicon-containing electrode 15 includes polysilicon, and is doped with a dopant to have conductivity. For example, undoped polysilicon is deposited to gap-fill the trench 13, and a dopant is then implanted. The dopant may include an N-type dopant or P-type dopant depending on the type of the transistor.
FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a conventional impurity doping method for a silicon-containing electrode.
Referring to FIG. 1B, when an implant method is used to implant a dopant, 'Rp' may be set at a deep position of the trench 13 as indicated by reference numeral {circle around (1)}.
In the conventional impurity doping method, however, regions where Rp is set at a relatively shallow position and source/drain regions are to be formed may be damaged as indicated by reference numerals {circle around (2)} and {circle around (3)}.
Furthermore, when a planar gate structure and a recess gate structure are formed at the same time, it may be difficult to implement a dopant implant process that satisfies both of the planar gate structure and the recess gate structure.

Semiconductor device with recess gate and method for fabricating the same


An embolic protection device comprises an intravascular flow-interactive surface supported by an expandable, substantially cylindrical frame, wherein the frame is configured to expand and engage the luminal surface of the ascending aortic arch, wherein said frame defines a longitudinal channel generally parallel to predominant blood flow vectors, and wherein a flow-modulating element is configured to alter fluid dynamics in a manner that redirects the cranial trajectory of embolic particles originating from the heart through and beyond the longitudinal channel. The embolic protection device may also comprise a plurality of independent or interconnected flow-modulating elements serially spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the primary vessel. The interstitial space between flow-modulating elements allows blood flow passage between one another in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal channel. The open central channel allows interval passage and manipulation of transcatheter instruments while maintaining the integrity of radially positioned flow-modulating surfaces.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and otherwise a frequently disabling neurologic condition. The American Heart Association estimates an annual stroke incidence of 500,000 new patients and prevalence of 4 million stroke survivors. Many of these patients require chronic rehabilitation and specialized care, and frequently require long-term hospitalization.
Cerebral embolic stroke represents approximately 10-24% of all stroke types, the remainder of which are atherothrombotic or hemorrhagic in origin. Mechanisms responsible for particle embolization from cardiac structures to the cranial circulation include thrombosis from flow stagnation secondary to arrhythmias and post-myocardial infarction left ventricular dysfunction, intracardiac mechanical prosthesis-blood interface coagulation activation, infective or non-infective endocarditis, and instrument thrombosis related to left-sided endocardial ablations, valvuloplasties, and transcatheter valve replacements.
Current therapies targeting the pro-thrombotic state of atrial arrhythmias include chronic oral anticoagulation and more recently mechanical isolation of the thrombus-prone left atrial appendage for patients deemed to have elevated bleeding risk. Mainstay oral anticoagulation involves variable-dose daily medication with weekly to monthly serum level surveillance for therapeutic effect. Novel anticoagulation with set dosing and no blood level surveillance has recently entered clinical practice, although currently no reversal agents exist in the event of catastrophic bleeding complications. Left atrial appendage occlusion or isolation devices target the essential elimination of the structure most recognized as a culprit region with flow stagnation in atrial arrhythmias, ultimately leading to thrombus formation and potential dislodgment and embolization to the cranial circulation, i.e. stroke. These devices either fill the structural void of the appendage from an intracardiac plug approach, or ligate the segment from a combined epicardial approach such as that augmented with magnetic guidance.
Surgically implanted mechanical prosthetic intracardiac valves require lifelong oral anticoagulation to halt the coagulation cascade and resulting thrombosis activated at the device interface. Under certain clinical circumstances such as bleeding, when reversal of anticoagulation is required to prevent excessive blood loss, the mechanical device in contact with the patient's circulating blood becomes particularly susceptible to thrombosis, and again, embolization leading to potential stroke.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement or implantation (TAVR/TAVI) is gaining popularity as a minimally invasive alternative method for treating severe aortic stenosis (AS) in patients deemed to have prohibitive surgical risk. TAVR is a procedure whereby a catheter-loaded bio-prosthetic aortic valve is delivered either percutaneously via peripheral arteries or surgically via a mini-thoracotomy with trans-apical or trans-aortic approach to the native aortic valve region, following balloon valvuloplasty. The most significant adverse outcome associated with this approach is stroke, both at the time of procedure and up to 2 years post-procedure, despite dual antiplatelet therapy.
The Placement of Aortic Trans-catheter Valves (PARTNER) trial, published in 2010 in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that in high-risk patients with symptomatic severe AS, including those deemed unsuitable candidates for surgery, TAVR, as compared to standard therapy (i.e. balloon valvuloplasty), significantly reduced cardiac symptoms, repeat hospitalization, and all-cause mortality. However, this trial revealed a higher incidence of major strokes and vascular events with TAVR, at both thirty days and one year post-implant. Follow-up data from this trial has demonstrated persisting stroke risk beyond 2 years. Both subclinical athero-embolization (detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain) and clinically evident stroke are potential complications of TAVR, and carry the greatest implications in patient outcome and peri-procedural cost from additional care and hospitalization. Proposed mechanisms for increased risk of embolic events during and after TAVR include the aortic luminal trauma during catheter and device transit, balloon valvuloplasty, deployment-related mechanical disruption of the aorta and native aortic valve causing fragmentation and embolization, potential valvular micro-thrombi, and atrial fibrillation (AF) following TAVR.
Additionally, left-sided or systemic circulation endocardial ablation procedures target elimination of electrophysiologic channels, pathways, and foci responsible for arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation, atypical left-sided flutter, atrial tachycardia, bypass tracts, and ventricular tachycardia. These procedures require either trans-septal or trans-aortic instrument transit to targeted ablation site, exposing instrument surfaces to blood, and yielding potential for thrombus formation and embolic events.


The object of this invention is to provide an improved drive control mechanism for the turntable of a phonograph.. The drive control mechanism comprises a control lever successively movable in one direction from an off position to a 331/3 rpm (revolutions per minute) position or a 45 rpm position for record playing, and then in the reverse direction to its off position. A drive shaft has first and second drive portions of different diameter. A rotatable puck is interposed between the drive portions and turntable for selectively drivingly connecting the drive portions to the turntable. A linkage-means couples the control lever to the puck so that when the lever is moved between the off, 331/3 rpm and 45 rpm positions, the puck is selectively moved (1) out of engagement with the drive portions and turntable, (2) into engagement with the first drive portion and turntable, and (3) into engagement with the second drive portion and turntable respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to phonographs, and particularly to an improved drive control mechanism for the turntable of a phonograph.
It is desirable in phonographs to provide an improved drive control mechanism having an off position in which the drive motor is turned off and a driven puck is disengaged from the drive shaft and turntable, a 331/3 rpm (revolutions per minute) position in which the puck engages one part of the drive shaft and the turntable for driving same at 331/3 rpm, and a 45 rpm position in which the puck engages a different part of the drive shaft and the turntable for driving same at 45 rpm. This is achieved by a drive shaft having drive portions of different diameter, a rotatable puck interposed between the drive portions and turntable for drivingly coupling and uncoupling them, and linkage means for coupling the puck to a control lever which is movable between the off, 331/3 rpm and 45 rpm positions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Drive control mechanisms for the turntable of a phonograph are known. However, such drive control mechanisms normally have a rotatable puck in constant driving engagement with the turntable whether the drive motor is turned on or off. When the drive motor is turned on, the turntable is driven at a selected speed. A problem with this type of drive control mechanism is that the puck, being in substantially constant pressure engagement with the drive shaft in the off position, develops a flattened surface portion which interferes with driving the turntable at a constant rotational velocity.

Drive control mechanism for a phonograph


This disclosure includes various embodiments of couplers for coupling intraosseous (IO) devices and drivers, and various embodiments of drivers and kits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to intraosseous (IO) access and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to couplers, drivers, IO devices (e.g., needle sets), and methods that can be used to facilitate IO access (e.g., to obtain bone marrow from the bone of a patient for biopsy and/or transplantation).
2. Description of Related Art
Examples of couplers, drivers, IO devices, and kits are disclosed, for example, in International Patent Application No. PCT/US2007/078207 (published as WO 2008/033874).

Intraosseous device couplers, drivers, kits, and methods


An apparatus including sensors that aid in the location of a stylus within the groove of a rotating record. The location of the stylus corresponds to a portion of an audio waveform present at a unique location within the groove. Using the correspondence between the location of the stylus and the portion of the audio waveform, an external digital source may be synchronized with an analog waveform. A high speed digital data path connects a control unit including a turntable platter to signal processing unit. Software in the signal processing unit synchronizes the analog waveform and digital signals from the external digital source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for detecting a location on a surface selected by a user and manipulating a digital source based on information relative to the detected location.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Techniques used by disk jockeys (DJs) to manipulate analog devices have become almost universal. The goal of such techniques typically involves the locking or synchronization of signals (e.g., audio, video, etc.) between at least two devices. By far, the most popular analog devices with DJs are analog record turntables capable of producing sound off of an analog vinyl record. Recently, compact disk (CD) players capable of producing digitized analog sound from CDs have gained acceptance and use by DJs. Manipulation, however, of CD players is not accomplished as easily as with conventional analog turntables.
Over the years, a number of techniques have been proposed to manipulate CD players as analog turntables are manipulated. One such technique involves the use of a time code, used to derive tracking information, embedded within a vinyl analog record. By "playing" the vinyl analog record with a conventional analog turntable, the time code embedded therein may be read and used to synch with an external digital sound source such as a CD player. In implementing this technique, however, latency is deleteriously introduced while the vinyl record is being played and when the conventional record player is being manipulated and the responsiveness of the system is degraded. Additionally, the analog time code embedded within the vinyl record may wear over time, thereby necessitating a costly replacement vinyl record. If the vinyl record is not replaced, erratic playing behavior will result. Lastly, when a regular vinyl record (a vinyl record having no time code embedded therein) is played using the aforementioned system, the DJ is no longer able to control and manipulate any digital sources (e.g., sound source).
Conventional slipmats effectively enable users to queue, beatmatch, scratch, etc., records as a turntable platter is rotating. Slipmats provide just enough friction to grab a record when the turntable platter is rotating at a normal speed. The slipmat usually stops rotating when a predetermined force is applied to the record while the turntable platter keeps rotating. When the predetermined force is removed from the record, the slipmat grips the turntable patter and resumes its rotation. Depending upon the type of material they are formed of, different slipmats may require that different forces be applied to a record to queue, beatmatch, scratch, etc. As different users have different styles and preferences for various activities, and given that any one user may apply different amounts of pressure on a record for different purposes, any one conventional slipmat cannot adequately meet the total demands of users.
Lastly, conventional analog turntables only enable users to manipulate analog records. They do not enable users to control and manipulate the manner in which audio files stored on a digital medium are output.
It was this understanding and recognition of the problems with conventional sound manipulation techniques that formed the impetus for the present invention.

Method and system for synchronizing information specific to a location on a surface with an external source


In apparatus having a work chamber in which workpieces are treated under high vacuum, that improvement comprising an inner chamber having a capacity for a plurality of workpieces, an outer chamber, vacuum means for evacuating the inner and outer chambers, a first valve for sealing between the work chamber and the inner chamber, a second valve for sealing between the inner and outer chambers, a third valve for sealing between the outer chamber and the atmosphere, loading means for loading workpieces through the third valve into the outer chamber from the atmosphere, and transfer means for transferring individual workpieces through the second valve between the inner and outer chambers, and for transferring individual workpieces through the first valve between the inner chamber and the work chamber.

This invention relates to electron beam lithography, or similar systems in which a workpiece is treated in a high vaccum chamber.
Because of the expense of such systems it is important that their active operation time be maximized. It is thus desirable to minimize the downtime associated with loading workpieces into and out of the system.
Typically, some form of vacuum lock is used for loading workpieces.
Thus, in Hasson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,525, wafers are interchanged between an antechamber and an x-y table, and between the antechamber and the atmospheric pressure exterior.
In other prior art systems separate antechambers are used for loading and unloading wafers.
In yet another prior art system a single antechamber is arranged to receive two wafers simultaneously. An elevator is then used to cycle the wafers to and from the x-y table.
The possibility of loading a magazine of, say, four to ten cassettes into such an antechamber has also been disclosed, with suggested use of a roughing vacuum chamber in series with the antechamber. With a magazine in place, the roughing chamber would be pumped down to a rough vacuum. The magazine would then be transferred to the high vacuum antechamber.

Lock and elevator arrangement for loading workpieces into the work chamber of an electron beam lithography system


The present disclosure relates to a swing arm assembly (1) for a mid-wheel drive wheelchair (21), comprising: a front swing arm (3) having a front swing arm pivot point (3a), a drive assembly swing arm (5) having a drive assembly swing arm pivot point (5a) and a resilient member first mounting point (5b), a rear swing arm (7) having a rear swing arm pivot point (7a) and a resilient member second mounting point (7b), and a resilient member (9) configured to be connected to the resilient member first mounting point (5a) and to the resilient member second mounting point (7a) to enable force transfer between the drive assembly swing arm (5) and the rear swing arm (7).

Mid-wheel drive wheelchairs have front wheels, rear wheels, and drive wheels arranged between the front wheels and the rear wheels. The front and rear wheels may typically be caster-type wheels.
In comparison to front-wheel and rear-wheel driven wheelchairs, mid-wheel drive wheel chairs are sometimes considered to present a better manoeuvrability, mainly in terms of a lesser turning radius. In addition to manoeuvrability, some other aspects when designing and configuring a wheelchair are stability, ride comfort and the ability for a wheel suspension assembly to ensure that all wheels are in contact with the ground at all times. Stability may in one aspect be defined as the ability of preventing tipping of the wheelchair about its pitch axis, e.g. tipping over in the forward or rearward direction, or lifting of rear or front caster wheels when driving on a ramp or a slope.
It is especially important that the drive wheels maintain traction against the ground since the wheelchair otherwise will lose its ability to be driven, in any direction. The risk for loss of tractive force increases when operating the wheelchair on a non-planar surface, e.g. on uneven ground. The phenomena when such a situation occurs for a mid-wheel drive wheelchair is sometimes referred to as high-centring, meaning that at least one of the drive wheels has lost contact with the ground. There is also an increased risk of losing traction when entering or leaving a slope, downhill or uphill.
Comfort may in one aspect be defined as the level of vibrations and/or impact transferred from the ground to the user. A low level of transferred vibrations is experienced as more comfortable by the user.
In order to improve the ability to maintain traction to the ground, the swing arms, i.e. arms to which the wheels are mounted, of a wheelchair suspension are preferably connected to each other. For user comfort, on the other hand, it is preferable to have a fully independent suspension where one wheel movement does not affect any other.
US2008/0083573 addresses issues relating to high-centring or traction loss of the drive wheel. Hereto, US2008/0083573 discloses a vehicle including a chassis, a driving unit including a mounting seat pivoted to the chassis, a driving member mounted on the mounting seat, and two driving wheels mounted rotatably on the mounting seat and driven by the driving member. The vehicle further includes two front wheel units, each including a front lever having first and second ends and pivoted to the chassis, a front wheeled member connected to the first end, and a first cushioning member pivoted to the second end and the mounting seat for urging the front lever to rotate, and two rear wheel units, each including a rear lever having first and second ends and pivoted to the chassis, a rear wheeled member connected to the first end, a second cushioning member pivoted to the first end and the mounting seat, and a linkage pivoted to the second end of the rear lever and the mounting seat.
US2014/0339004 aims at providing a suspension for a wheelchair which facilitates for a wheelchair to traverse obstacles by aiding the front casters in overcoming the obstacle. Hereto, this document discloses a suspension for a wheelchair which includes a drive assembly and a front caster pivot arm. The drive assembly and the front caster pivot arm are pivotally connected to the frame such that the drive assembly and the front caster pivot arm are pivotable relative to each other. The drive assembly and the front caster pivot arm are coupled to enhance the vehicle's ability to traverse obstacles.

Swing arm assembly for a mid-wheel drive wheelchair