An air conditioning system is provided, particularly for a vehicle having a main air conditioning unit, an auxiliary air conditioning unit, wherein both the main air conditioning unit and the auxiliary air conditioning unit contain a blower, an evaporator and a heater core, a cold pass is attached to the evaporator, a hot pass is affiliated to the heater core and the cold pass is separated from the hot pass by at least one temperature door. By an air conditioning system, especially for a vehicle, which uses the conditioned air in the vehicle cabin for engine cooling, an additional pass is arranged before the heater core in the auxiliary air conditioning unit wherein said hot pass ends in a body exhauster during the cooling mode of said auxiliary air conditioning unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention refers to an air conditioning system in accordance with preamble of claim 1. The air conditioning system comprises a main air conditioning unit, an auxiliary air conditioning unit, wherein both the main air conditioning unit and the auxiliary air conditioning unit contain a blower, an evaporator and a heater core, a cold pass is attached to the evaporator, a hot pass is affiliated to the heater core and the cold pass is separated from the hot pass by at least one temperature door.
2. Description of the Background Art
The document DE 10 2004 003 787 A1 describes an air conditioning system for a vehicle comprising a blower connected to an evaporator wherein a cold air pass is arranged behind the evaporator. A heat exchanger is positioned before a blower of a combustion engine with a hot pass behind it. The evaporator and the heat exchanger are combined as one part. With help of mixing doors the air passed the heat exchanger and the evaporator are mixed to condition the cabin temperature and cooling the oil of the combustion engine.
Another conventional air conditioning system is shown in FIG. 4-6. The air conditioning system includes two parts, a main air conditioning unit 1 and an auxiliary air conditioning unit 2 arranged in different positions in the vehicle 3. The main air conditioning unit 1 is placed in front of the vehicle 3 while the auxiliary air conditioning unit 2 is arranged in a back side of the vehicle, especially in the vehicle cabin (FIG. 4). The outside air of vehicle is absorbed by the main air conditioning unit 1 and a conditioned air is emitted into the vehicle cabin. The auxiliary air conditioning unit 2 even absorbs air and circulates conditioned air.
In FIG. 5. an auxiliary air conditioning unit 2 is described. The auxiliary air conditioning unit 2 comprises a blower 4, an evaporator 5 and a heater core 6. Behind the evaporator 5 a cold pass 8 extends while a hot pass 9 lies behind the heater core 6. In the cold pass 8 a first temperature door 10 is positioned. Between the evaporator 5 and the heater core 6 a second temperature mixing door 11 is placed. As shown in FIG. 5 the auxiliary air conditioning unit 2 is working in a cooling mode wherein the first temperature door 10 is open and the second temperature mixing door 11 is closed wherefore the air could not flow through the heater core 6. The cold air streams out through an outlet 7.
The hot mode of the auxiliary conditioning unit 2 is shown in FIG. 6. The first temperature door 10 blocked the air in the cold pass 8. The air is deflected and goes through the heater core 6 because the second temperature mixing door 11 is open.
Air that goes through an air conditioning system has to exit the vehicle cabin through one or more body exhausters 12. Especially under warm or hot ambient conditions like in the summertime the heater cores of the main and the auxiliary air conditioning units are not be utilized. The conditioned air from the cabin leaves the vehicle cabin unutilized through the body exhauster.


A virtual people networking allows multiple people working for the same organizational organization with similar interests to automatically interface with each other when any one of the people accesses any given one of multiple electronic sites provided through an intranet of the organization. A virtual people networking (VPN) module of the present invention is capable of residing in a storage element coupled to a processor running the VPN module in any one of the multiple systems interconnected within the electronic intra-organizational network. The VPN modules may also reside in a storage element coupled to a processor running the VPN module in a firewall system acting as a gateway between the organizational intranet and the Internet providing access to the World Wide Web (WWW).

(1) Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention is related to a method and an apparatus for local and wide area networks, more specifically to a method and an apparatus for virtual people networking through an intranet.
(2) Related Art
The Internet is a wide area network connecting thousands of disparate networks in industry, education, government and research. The Internet utilizes transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) as a standard for transmitting information. An intranet is a local area network supporting a single organization such as a company. Through an intranet, users may transmit messages to other users through electronic mail (e-mail) and browse web pages. In business, the use of e-mail is becoming the preferred mode of communication amongst employees in a corporation.
With the increase in the number of employees in a corporation using an intranet to communicate with other employees and to search for information from various electronic web sites, an opportunity for potentially meaningful and productive work related interaction amongst employees arises. To promote interaction amongst employees, it is desirable to make certain user access information on employees available. It is therefore desirable to have a method and an apparatus for a user connected to an intranet to accumulate information on other users connected to the same network and to access information allowing employees of the same corporation to network with the other employees and to remotely participate in group projects.


The invention concerns a system (20) used to reduce pollutant emissions in the form of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxides and nitric oxides from internal combustion engines, in particular from ships' engines or stationary engines. The catalyst housing (40) is covered by a gas-insulation hood (24) which is open upstream for the waste gas (18) to be decontaminated and is closed downstream. The gas-insulation hood (24) comprises a water cooler (28) which at least in some cases rests on the exterior thereof. The gas-insulation hood (24) preferably takes the form of a baffle silencer of known type of construction.

The invention relates to a water-cooled catalyst system for reducing the emission of pollutants in the form of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxides and nitrous oxides from fuelled combustion engines, in particular ship engines or stationary engines
An auto-ignition or a fuelled combustion engine with an external ignition system essentially generates carbon dioxide but also carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and hydrocarbons which are emitted in the exhaust gases. Whereas the carbon and nitrous oxides are chemically defined compounds, the hydrocarbons comprise a large number of compounds.
Today, increasingly strict exhaust gas standards are being passed which now allow only very small residual quantities of the said toxic gases. This applies not only to car engines but increasingly also to ship engines and stationary engines. In particular, the increasing numbers of motor boats travelling on lakes and rivers will in the near future be subject to stricter regulations which allow scarcely any exhaust emissions from engines presently in use.
Exhaust cleaning technologies of petrol driven engines focus on catalysts controlled by a lambda probe, in particular three-way catalysts, but depending on the country also oxidation and/or double bed catalysts. These catalysts reach a high temperature in the range from 900.degree. to 1000.degree. C. after a short time, i.e. they develop a great heat radiation and must lie out of human reach. In cars this is not a problem, the catalysts are safely arranged below the vehicle floor at a relatively large distance from the engine, and exposed to cooling air flows. A boat engine however only allows catalytic exhaust gas detoxification if the catalyst is fitted in the immediate vicinity of the engine, where there is largely no cooling wind. In view of the heat developed by the catalyst and the associated risk of fire, despite the wide range on the market almost no boat engines can be found with catalytically cleaned exhaust gases. This is all the more disadvantageous as it is naturally more difficult for a boat to escape quickly and completely from its own exhaust gas cloud. In unfavourable wind conditions, such an exhaust gas cloud can accompany the boat for relatively long periods.
EP, B1 0314129 describes a catalyst system for petrol engines, using which exhaust gases from boat engines can be treated even when the injection mixture is rich, i.e. with high CO and HC emissions. This is aimed in particular at boat engines which are operated with very high lambda values of between 0.75 and 0.90. To solve the problem, a catalyst system is used with a reductive part lying upstream in the exhaust gas flow and an oxidative catalyst part lying downstream, with a purely axial guidance of the exhaust gas through the catalyst parts. The catalyst is surrounded by a water-cooled housing, so it cannot develop a great heat radiation. According to a feature essential to the invention, between the catalyst shell and the water-cooled housing is an air gap. Secondary air is drawn from the environment on the downstream end of the catalyst, guided through the said air gap into an intermediate chamber between the reductive and the oxidative catalyst parts and there expelled with the exhaust gases. The secondary air introduced via a special pump serves, in addition to secondary combustion of the rich injected fuel mixture, also to insulate the very hot catalyst from the cold water-cooled housing parts. The risk of fire on any leakage of exhaust gas into the boat in the event of a defect in the secondary air fan or secondary air line is eliminated by non-return valves.
The inventor has faced the task of creating a water-cooled catalyst system of the type described initially which can be used universally for all engine and catalyst types and which requires no additional pipelines with non-return valves.


An energy recycling type dust removing processing system for removing a contaminated material in high temperature contaminated gas and an inertial impact type energy recovery and dust removal apparatus. The energy recycling type dust removing processing system includes: a duct collecting a high temperature contaminated gas including high temperature dust; an energy recovery and inertial impact type dust removal unit recovering energy of the high temperature contaminated gas to convert the high temperature contaminated gas into a middle temperature contaminated gas and removing coarse dust from the high temperature dust through an inertial impact phenomenon; an in-flight adsorption apparatus removing fine dust from the contaminated gas in which the coarse dust is removed; and a micro dust removal apparatus removing micro dust in the contaminated air from which the fine dust is removed by the in-flight adsorption apparatus.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an energy recycling type dust removing processing system for removing contaminated material in high temperature contaminated gas by recovering energy and simultaneously processing a particulate air contaminated material, a gaseous air contaminated material, and an offensive odor material in a process of processing high temperature exhaust gas containing high viscosity oil droplets and fine dust, and an inertial impact type energy recovery and dust removal apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, as technologies for processing the exhaust gas generated in various industrial fields and including an air contaminated material, a technology for processing a particulate air contaminated material, an electrostatic precipitator, a filter dust collector, or the like, has been used. Furthermore, a technology for processing a gaseous air contaminated material, an absorption method, an adsorption method, a catalytic oxidizer, or the like, has been used. However, in the case of processing the exhaust gas containing a large amount of high viscosity oil droplets, fine dust, and a gaseous air contaminated material, at the time of applying a general processing technology, the processing efficiency decreases and the maintenance cost increases.
Particularly, at the time of using a general processing apparatus as an apparatus for processing the exhaust gas generated at the time of biomass burning and containing fine dust and oil droplet including a large amount of pyroligneous liquor generated in carbonization process, such as a charcoal kiln for charcoal production or a charcoal kiln for fomentation, processing efficiency decreases and processing costs increase. The reason that the processing efficiency decreases and the processing costs increase is that the high viscosity oil droplets adhere to a surface of the electrostatic precipitator, such that it is not easily separated or the high viscosity oil droplets close filtering pores of a filter cloth of the filter dust collector to increase differential pressure, such that it is not processed or separated, whereby the electrostatic precipitator or the filter dust collector should be replaced.
In addition, at the time of use of a general air contaminated material processing apparatus as an apparatus for processing the exhaust gas containing oil droplets generated in a process of roasting meat and fine dust or an apparatus for processing oil vapor and exhaust gas generated in a drying process, or the like, of a food processing factory and containing high viscosity and high temperature oil droplet and fine dust, it is difficult to process the exhaust gas containing the oil droplets generated in a process of roasting meat and the fine dust and the oil vapor and the exhaust gas containing the high temperature oil droplets and the fine dust. Further, even in an apparatus for processing the exhaust gas discharged from an industrial facility and containing a large amount oil droplets and oil vapor, an improved processing technology has been demanded.
In order to solve these problems, various processing systems for removing high viscosity oil droplets and fine dust in the exhaust gas of a kiln for charcoal production and a charcoal kiln for fomentation, the exhaust gas of a meat roasting restaurant, the oil vapor generated in a drying process of a food processing factory, and the exhaust gas generated in an industrial facility and containing high viscosity oil droplets and fine dust have been developed, and a technology for improving dust removing efficiency and recovering and recycling energy from high temperature exhaust gas has been required.

Energy recycling type dust removing processing system for removing contaiminated material in high temperature contaminated gas and inertial impact type energy recovering and dust removing apparatus


The invention concerns a clamp coupling for coupling pairs of pipes. Such clamp couplings are used, for example, for coupling concrete conduits from concrete pumps. This clamp coupling (10) comprises two clamp shells (16, 18) which, in the coupling state, define a circular opening (14) for the passage-through of the pipes. The coupling shells can be pivoted relative to each other via a pivot linkage (20) at their one end, and have a locking mechanism (26) provided at their other end. In order to be able to fasten the clamp coupling (10) even in confined spaces, the locking mechanism (26) comprises a locking hook (30) which, in the closed state, positively grasps a latch pin (24) provided on the other coupling clamp (16), and pulls the clamp shells (16, 18) towards each other at their point of separation (28) opposite the linkage (20). During the opening process, the locking hook (30) can be lifted from the latch pin (24) and pivoted out of its engaged position about a pivoting axis (32) which is perpendicular to the linkage axis (22). The locking mechanism (26) also comprises a clamping lever (36) which can be pivoted relative to the coupling clamp about a lever axis (34) which is perpendicular to the linkage axis. The clamping lever is also operatively associated with the locking hook (30).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a clamp coupling for the pair-wise coupling of pipes, the pipes having substantially radially projecting coupling flanges at the ends facing each other, the clamp coupling comprising two clamp shells which, in the coupled state, define a circular opening for the passage-through of the pipes, said shells pivotable relative to each other about a linkage axis parallel to the opening via an external linkage, wherein the first clamp shell is provided on the end opposite the linkage with a radially projecting latch pin and the second clamp shell is provided on the end opposite the linkage with a locking mechanism which cooperates with said latch pin.
2. Description of the Related Art
Clamp couplings of this type have been employed as pipe couplings primarily in concrete conveyance lines. Due to the high conveyance pressures occurring there, a stable and reliable connection and a good seal in the coupling area is essential. Clamp couplings are known (DE-U-72 29 511, DE-C-1 186 284), in which the locking mechanism includes a clamping lever engagable with a latch pin, which is limitedly pivotable about an axis axially parallel to the circular opening from an open position to a closed position lying against the exterior surface of the latch pin carrying clamp shell. Such clamp couplings can often not be employed in difficult to access locations in narrow spaces due to the need to pivot the clamp lever about greater than 90° axially parallel to the circular opening.


Computer network method and apparatus provides targeting of appropriate audience based on psychographic or behavioral profiles of end users. The psychographic profile is formed by recording computer activity and viewing habits of the end user. Content of categories of interest and display format in each category are revealed by the psychographic profile, based on user viewing of agate information. Using the profile (with or without additional user demographics), advertisements are displayed to appropriately selected users. Based on regression analysis of recorded responses of a first set of users viewing the advertisements, the target user profile is refined. Viewing by and regression analysis of recorded responses of subsequent sets of users continually auto-targets and customizes ads for the optimal end user audience.

In traditional print media, the term "agate" was originally used to refer to any information printed in columns 1.5 inches wide in 5 point type (e.g., stock quotes). Today, agate is used to refer to time-sensitive, reference information that is not read linearly. Examples are telephone listings, classified advertisements, weather reports, sports scores and statistics, market data, books and recordings in print, and television and film listings.
Some types of agate require continual updating in the short term, like stock quotes, while other types have a longer life, like travel information and business directories. The newspaper industry is one of the primary suppliers of agate. Newspapers provide listings of stock quotes, television and radio programming, film schedules, and classified ads. A second group of agate suppliers are book publishers. From travel guides to books in print, a wide variety of books provide agate information that changes monthly or yearly.
Although many types of agate are traditionally found in publications (e.g., newspapers, magazines, and books), all agate can be placed into large indexed databases. Because agate is non-linear reference material, it is often more efficient to search for agate in a database, than to scan columns of a newspaper.
One of the largest pools of databases and electronic media is found on The Internet. The World Wide Web (Web) is a two-year-old protocol used to create and publish documents on the Internet. Web documents may contain graphics, text, sound, video or any combination of these. Web documents can include "hyperlinks" which are highlighted areas of information in one document that, when user-selected, open a related document. In late 1994, "forms" were added to the Web to make it interactive. Previously, Web pages could only be used to display information or point to other Web sites where information was available. The 1994 change allowed those publishing Web pages to publish "forms", i.e., documents that include blank spaces to be completed by users and then returned to the publishing computer, thus allowing interactivity.
Publishing information on the Web requires two software components. Electronic publishers must run HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server software. Users scanning or searching on the Internet must use Web browser software. A variety of firms including Microsoft, Oracle, Netscape Communications, Spyglass, Spry, Netcom, and EINet all distribute Web software.
A variety of businesses are now offering information, some of it agate, on the Internet. One example is newspaper distribution on the Internet. However, the agate found in newspapers is at least twelve hours old. In the case of stock quotes, the information found usually recaps trading for the previous day, listing the high, low and closing prices as well as the number of shares traded. While this information is sufficient for tracking investments, investors often require real-time information to trade on the market.
Other examples of businesses that offer agate information on the Internet are Movie Phone whose World Wide Web Site is WWW.777film.com and Securities APL (at WWW.secapl.com) which allows users to look up individual stock quotes (delayed 15 minutes).
To date, however, there is no general agate provider on the Web.

Computer program apparatus for determining behavioral profile of a computer user


A mobile crusher includes: a crusher having a fixed jaw and a swing jaw and adjusting an outlet gap between lower ends of the fixed jaw and the swing jaw, the crusher crushing raw materials by swing movement of the swing jaw toward the fixed jaw and discharging the raw materials crushed by the crusher from the outlet gap to produce crushed materials; a work implement disposed on an upper stream or a lower stream of the crusher to produce the crushed materials; and a controller that controls a work implement speed of the work implement depending on the outlet gap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile crusher.
2. Description of Related Art
In a typical mobile crusher including a crusher for crushing raw materials, the raw materials conveyed by a feeder are crushed to a predetermined particle size and the crushed materials are discharged by a conveyor as products (For example, Document 1: JP-A-11-10023). When a jaw crusher is used, the particle size of the crushed materials is determined by adjusting an outlet gap (from which the crushed materials are discharged out of the crusher) between a lower end of a swing jaw and a lower end of a fixed jaw. At this time, the particle size of the crushed materials is increased when the outlet gap is enlarged. Thus, an operating quantity (a crushing throughput per hour) of the crusher for crushing raw materials is usually increased. Conversely, when the outlet gap is shrunk, the particle size of the crushed materials is decreased and thus the operating quantity of the crusher is usually decreased.
However, in the typical mobile crusher, the delivery speed of the feeder and conveyor for delivering raw materials and crushed materials kept constant at the speed for delivering the crushed materials having a large particle size even though the operating quantity of the crusher is varied depending on the particle size of the crushed materials (that is to say, an opening degree of the outlet gap). Thus, the delivery speed is too fast when the crushed materials having a small particle size is delivered, so that conveying efficiency is lowered and energy loss is increased.


A picture processing apparatus for processing picture signals of different formats. A memory stores input picture signals. A read-out section reads the picture signals stored in the memory in terms of a preset number of the picture signals as a unit. An interpolation section interpolates picture signals for a preset position by executing preset calculations on the plural picture signals read out. For picture signals of an HD format, the picture signals are simultaneously read out in terms of the four pixels as a unit to execute four-point interpolation processing. Whilst for picture signals of an SD format, after a conversion to a 960.times.720 frame picture by applying field/frame conversion and doubling the number of the pixels in the vertical direction, the picture signals are stored in the memory. The operating frequency and the number of times of operations of the read-out section and the interpolation section are changed to values as large as four times those. Thus, the picture signals of the SD format are simultaneously read out four times in terms of the four pixels as a unit to execute the 16-point interpolation processing.

The advent of digital storage contributes significantly to the technical progress in the production technique of television programs. The DRAM, among different types of the digital storage, is gradually increasing in its storage capacity so that one scanning line, one field picture, one frame picture and even a sequence of plural pictures can be stored therein. The digital storage is economically practicable even in consideration of its production cost, circuit scale or power consumption. Among the instances of application of the digital storage, such as DRAM, there are so-called DME (digital multi-effects) used when modifying the picture to an optional shape or when moving the picture such as at the time of creation of television programs.
Meanwhile, when e.g., the conventional DME executes processing of interpolation of picture signals of the conventional HD (high definition) format, so-called four-point interpolation, which consists in calculating picture signals of a position for interpolation using picture signals corresponding to four pixels lying around the position for interpolation, is used. If the conventional DME execute processing of the interpolation on picture signals of the SD (standard definition) format, the processing of so-called 16-point interpolation is used, in which, after field/frame conversion, the number of horizontal scanning lines is doubled, and picture signals at the position of interpolation are calculated using picture signals corresponding to 16 pixels lying in the vicinity of the position of interpolation. If now the four-point interpolation is applied to picture signals of the SD format, the picture signals resulting from the interpolation are lower in quality than those obtained on 16-point interpolation. It is therefore desirable if, in implementing DME capable of processing picture signals of the HD format and those of the SD format, the four-point interpolation and the 16-point interpolation can be executed for picture signals of the SD format and those of the HD format, respectively. However, there lacks such DME in the current technical level.
Also, in the DME, it is practiced to interpolate picture signals at a certain position using picture signals of plural signals lying around the position, for example, four pixels lying at upper, lower, left and right positions. However, if the position desired for interpolation is near a picture edge, it may be an occurrence that no sufficient number of neighboring pixels is available. In such case, processing different from the usual interpolation is needed. That is, there is the necessity of verifying whether or not the processing of usual interpolation is applicable to the particular position for interpolation. Consequently, a dedicated circuit for making the decision in this respect is needed.
In the conventional DME, it is also practiced to interpolate picture signals of a preset position with picture signals of pixels lying in the vicinity of the position. However, since the picture signals input to e.g., the DME are of the 4:2:2 (Y/U/Y) format, in which the positions of the chroma signals U, V associated with luminance signals Y are geometrically offset, there is raised a problem that a memory cannot be efficiently utilized. There is also an additional problem that, since the luminance signals Y and the chroma signals U, V are different in the spatial frequencies from each other, processing pertinent to color, such as colored spotlight effect or trailing effects accompanied with color changes, cannot be performed.
In the conventional DME, directed to the processing of the SD format picture signals, a field memory is used for changing the scanning direction from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction. However, if it is considered to process the picture signals of the HD (high definition) format, higher in resolution higher than the picture signals of the SD format, a larger storage capacity and a higher read-write speed, are required, thus raising a problem that the conventional field memory cannot be used.
On the other hand, if a general-purpose memory is usable in producing e.g., the DME, low cost can be achieved. However, in view of the limitations imposed on the sorts of the bit widths of the general-purpose memory, the bit width of input picture signals needs to be matched to the bit width of the general-purpose memory.

Image processing apparatus and method, and recorded medium


The material supplied to the interior of the crushing tank by the material supply device is: crushed into the form of a fine powder by the agitator; sent upward by a gas to be directed to the classifier through the guide device; classified in the course to the classifier and the fine powder reduced to a predetermined particle size is extracted to the outside by means of the fine powder discharge tube. On the other hand, the coarse powder of which the particle size has not been reduced to the predetermined particle size is guided again to the crushing tank through a ring-like circulation passage formed between the inner peripheral surface of the communicating portion of the classifier and the outer peripheral surface of the dispersing tube of the guide device so as to be crushed by the agitator. Since this process is repeated, a fine powder of the predetermined particle size is obtained. Further, since the process as described is performed by means of a continuous flow which flows through the interior of the crushing tank, the guide device and the classifier, aggregation and/or adhering of the fine powder may be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to crushing apparatus and, more particularly, relates to a crushing apparatus capable of agitating to crush a material which has been introduced into a crushing tank to obtain a product in the form of a fine powder.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, there is a type of crushing apparatus in which a material is introduced into a crushing tank and an agitator is then rotated to crush the material into pulverized particles in the form of a fine powder. Some of this type contain media in the crushing tank so that the material introduced into the crushing tank is to be crushed while it is agitated together with the media.
Such media-agitation type crushing apparatus crushes up the material by means of shearing force and impact force which are generated at the time of agitation, where its crushing ability is several tens of times greater than that of a ball mill.
However, while having a high crushing ability, the crushing efficiency of the crushing apparatus as described is relatively low.
Specifically, when the material is crushed up into pulverized particles in the form of a fine powder especially in a dry crushing apparatus, the pulverized particles in the form of a fine powder may be aggregated within the crushing tank to equilibrate the crushing process.
The pulverized particles in the form of a fine powder have a strong tendency to aggregate. As a result, the material once crushed into the form of a fine powder is aggregated to be increased in particle size again, even though it is in the process of agitation/crushing by means of the media.
Accordingly, when crushing action and aggregating action are repeated within the crushing tank, the crushing process is brought into an equilibrium to halt the progress of crushing even if a larger amount of energy for crushing is supplied. The obtainable particle size of the pulverized particles as a product is limited, resulting in a lower crushing efficiency.
Further, some crushing apparatus have a built-in classifier for improving accuracy in the fineness of the product.
A classifier having a high-speed rotor is usually used as the classifier incorporated into such crushing apparatus. Since the material crushed into the form of a fine powder tends to cause clogging at the rotating portion of the rotor, an obstacle on the rotation of the rotor may result to lower the classifying efficiency.
Further, re-aggregation of the material tends to occur to cause a lowered classifying efficiency. In addition, thus aggregated fine powder is returned to the interior of the crushing tank, resulting in a problem that the crushing efficiency may be reduced.


A connector (3) is suggested, which is capable of connecting a fluid line (28) to a fluid technology device. A connection channel runs between a device connection (24) and a line connection (25) in the connector (3). The connector (3) is equipped with a volume flow detection device (2) that has a mass flow sensor device (54), using which the volume flow through the connection channel (26) may be determined using a bypass channel (48).

A connector of this type is disclosed, for example, in German Utility Model 20008129. It allows a fluid line to be connected to a fluid technology device to be supplied with a pressure medium. A device connection, implemented as a screw connection, for example, allows the connector to be attached to the fluid technology device. A separate line connection allows the fixing of a fluid line, detachably in particular. In operation, pressure medium may flow in one or the other direction between the two connections, depending on the design of the connector, with the fluid flowing through a connection channel of the connector.
During operation of fluid technology devices, it is necessary in some cases to determine the volume flow rate, typically referred to simply as "volume flow", of pressure medium to and/or from the relevant fluid technology device. In such cases, connecting a volume flow sensor into the course of the fluid line is known, as is disclosed, for example, in DE 29821673 U1 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,005. In the case of DE 29821673 U1, the volume flow sensor contains a housing having a continuous axial channel in which a spring-loaded dam element is housed. The pressure medium flowing in displaces the dam element, which actuates a position sensor as a function of its position. In the case of U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,005, a laminar flow element is provided in order to cause a pressure drop of the medium flowing through. A bypass channel discharging before and after the laminar flow element is assigned to a mass flow sensor device, whose measured values allow the volume flow and/or the volume flow rate to be calculated.
Both known volume flow measurement devices require a cumbersome installation in the course of the fluid line. If it is a flexible fluid line, such as a compressed air hose, additional attachment measures are also to be made in order to fix the volume flow measurement device securely in place.


Such internal decoration is implemented that an object looks a target color as viewed in any direction, and that the object is colored and has image depiction in any cross-section. A method is provided for producing a three-dimensional object by extruding a build material to form a layer corresponding to each of cross-sections obtained by slicing a target object by a plurality of parallel planes, and depositing such layers in sequence so as to form the three-dimensional object. A white material 15 and one or two or more decoration materials 13 of colors other than white, which solidify wider a predetermined condition after extruded from nozzles, are used as the build material. The decoration materials 13 and the white material 15 are mixed to form the layer.

Conventionally, it has been known to slice a three-dimensional target object into cross-sections by a plurality of parallel planes and deposit layers of resin corresponding to the respective cross-sections in sequence to perform three-dimensional formation to produce an object as a three-dimensional model of the target object. In a case of coloring such a three-dimensional object, build resin colored in advance is to be used.
In another case of coloring a three-dimensional object, it has been suggested to extrude coloring material into a surface layer of the three-dimensional object and extrude build resin into an inner region to form a layer corresponding to each of cross-sections into which a target object is sliced by a plurality of parallel planes, and deposit such layers in sequence to produce the three-dimensional object equivalent to the target object having the surface colored (patent document I). For this three-dimensional object, (W) resin is used to express bright colors, and shading and gradation of colors that cannot be expressed with only three colors Y M, and C. In some cases, the white resin is extruded along with the three colors Y, M, and C into only a surface layer of the three-dimensional object as necessary based on coloring information derived from the target object. In a case where the white resin is used as build resin, however, the white resin serves as paper (substrate) in normal 2D printing. Consequently, the white (W) resin is not used for coloring a surface layer, but only the three colors Y, M, and C are used for coloring the surface layer. In such cases, coloring material is extruded into only the surface layer of the three-dimensional object except for a case in which it involves control difficulty to strictly color the surface alone.

Method for producing three-dimensional object and forming apparatus


A system for achieving bubble stability within a cavitation chamber is provided. The system includes an impeller assembly, the impeller assembly having at least one impeller located within the cavitation chamber. A motor, coupled to the impeller by a drive shaft, rotates the impeller thereby causing bubbles within the cavitation chamber to move toward the impeller's axis of rotation. As a consequence, the bubbles become more stable. Preferably the axis of rotation of the impeller is positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, thus allowing the rotating impeller to counteract the tendency of the bubbles to drift upward and to accumulate on the upper, inner surfaces of the cavitation chamber. The impeller can be rotated continuously throughout the cavitation process or stopped prior to cavitating the bubbles within the cavitation chamber. In the latter scenario, the impeller can be stopped, and if desired locked, at a specific rotational position, thus minimizing possible interference between the impeller and the source of the cavitation energy. The impeller can be shaped to correspond to the inner surface of the cavitation chamber, for example spherically or cylindrically, and can utilize multiple impeller blades.

Sonoluminescence is a well-known phenomena discovered in the 1930's in which light is generated when a liquid is cavitated. Although a variety of techniques for cavitating the liquid are known (e.g., spark discharge, laser pulse, flowing the liquid through a Venturi tube), one of the most common techniques is through the application of high intensity sound waves.
In essence, the cavitation process consists of three stages; bubble formation, growth and subsequent collapse. The bubble or bubbles cavitated during this process absorb the applied energy, for example sound energy, and then release the energy in the form of light emission during an extremely brief period of time. The intensity of the generated light depends on a variety of factors including the physical properties of the liquid (e.g., density, surface tension, vapor pressure, chemical structure, temperature, hydrostatic pressure, etc.) and the applied energy (e.g., sound wave amplitude, sound wave frequency, etc.).
Although it is generally recognized that during the collapse of a cavitating bubble extremely high temperature plasmas are developed, leading to the observed sonoluminescence effect, many aspects of the phenomena have not yet been characterized. As such, the phenomena is at the heart of a considerable amount of research as scientists attempt to further characterize the phenomena (e.g., effects of pressure on the cavitating medium) as well as its many applications (e.g., sonochemistry, chemical detoxification, ultrasonic cleaning, etc.). By-products of this research have been several patents claiming various aspects of the process. One such patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,796, discloses a cavitation chamber that is generally cylindrical although the inventors note that other shapes, such as spherical, can also be used. It is further disclosed that the chamber is comprised of a refractory metal such as tungsten, titanium, molybdenum, rhenium or some alloy thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,796 states that the temperatures achieved by a collapsing bubble depend strongly on whether or not the interface of the bubble and the host liquid remain spherical during collapse. Noting that the earth's gravitational field is an asymmetric force that can cause bubble deformation, the patent discloses that a preferred cavitation chamber includes means for applying a magnetic field to cancel the gravitational force, thus creating a zero-gravity field within the cavitation zone. U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,796 further discloses that if the bubble is cylindrical or quasi-cylindrical, small surface perturbations will neither grow nor decay. The patent discloses several means of achieving such a bubble shape, including imposing a time-varying magnetic field. U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,341, a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,796, discloses the use of a vertical standing pressure wave excited by a transducer in the bottom wall of the chamber as a means of reducing the effects of the earth's gravitational field within the cavitation zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,173 discloses a sonoluminescence system that uses a transparent spherical flask. The spherical flask is not described in detail, although the specification discloses that flasks of Pyrex®, Kontes®, and glass were used with sizes ranging from 10 milliliters to 5 liters. U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,173 does not disclose any means for stabilizing bubbles within the cavitation zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,104 discloses a shock wave chamber partially filled with a liquid. The remaining portion of the chamber is filled with gas which can be pressurized by a connected pressure source. Acoustic transducers mounted in the sidewalls of the chamber are used to position an object within the chamber. Another transducer mounted in the chamber wall delivers a compressional acoustic shock wave into the liquid. A flexible membrane separating the liquid from the gas reflects the compressional shock wave as a dilatation wave focused on the location of the object about which a bubble is formed.
PCT WO 03/077260 discloses a nuclear fusion reactor in which a bubble of fusionable material is compressed using an acoustic pulse, the compression of the bubble providing the necessary energy to induce nuclear fusion. The nuclear fusion reactor is spherically shaped and filled with a liquid such as molten lithium or molten sodium. To form the desired acoustic pulse, a pneumatic-mechanical system is used in which a plurality of pistons associated with a plurality of air guns strike the outer surface of the reactor with sufficient force to form a shock wave within the reactor's liquid. The application discloses releasing the bubble at the bottom of the chamber and applying the acoustic pulse as the bubble passes through the center of the reactor. A number of methods of determining when the bubble is approximately located at the center of the reactor are disclosed. The application also discloses that a bubble positioning system may be used, the system comprised of two pairs of jets which flow the liquid within the reactor inwardly, thereby directing the bubble towards the center of the vessel.
PCT WO 96/21230 discloses a non-periodically forced bubble fusion apparatus. The apparatus is comprised of a liquid-filled pressure vessel into which deuterium gas bubbles are injected. A non-periodic pressure field is generated within the liquid, the pressure field causing the bubbles to oscillate and become compressed thereby heating the bubbles to a temperature which is sufficiently high to cause a fusion reaction in the hot deuterium plasma formed at implosion stagnation. The application does not disclose any means of stabilizing the movement of the injected bubbles or positioning the bubbles within the pressure vessel.
In a paper entitled Sonoluminescence and Bubble Dynamics for a Single, Stable, Cavitation Bubble (J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 91 (6), June 1992), Felipe Gaitan et al. modeled the motion of acoustically driven bubbles based on the results of their single bubble experiments. The authors' experimental apparatus included a liquid filled levitation cell in which a stationary acoustic wave was excited, the stationary wave counteracting the hydrostatic or buoyancy force, thus stabilizing a bubble injected into the cell and allowing it to remain suspended in the liquid indefinitely.
Avik Chakravarty et al., in a paper entitled Stable Sonoluminescence Within a Water Hammer Tube (Phys Rev E 69 (066317), Jun. 24, 2004), investigated the sonoluminescence effect using a water hammer tube rather than an acoustic resonator, thus allowing bubbles of greater size to be studied. The experimental apparatus employed by the authors included a sealed water hammer tube partially filled with the liquid under investigation. The water hammer tube was mounted vertically to the shaft of a moving coil vibrator. Cavitation was monitored both with a microphone and a photomultiplier tube. To stabilize the bubbles within the water hammer tube and minimize the effects of the tube walls, in one embodiment the tube was rotated about its axis.
Although a variety of sonoluminescence systems have been designed, typically these systems suffer from a variety of shortcomings due to the inherent instability of the cavitating bubbles. The present invention overcomes these shortcomings by providing a system for stabilizing the cavitating bubbles within the cavitation chamber.

Fluid rotation system for a cavitation chamber


Disclosed are nonvolatile memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. A nonvolatile memory device can include a field isolation film configured to define active regions in a substrate and a wordline configured to intersect the active regions. Devices can also include source and drain regions formed in each of the active regions at both sides of the wordline and a source line configured to extend along the wordline under the source region. Devices can further include a join region configured to connect the source region with the source line.

The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to nonvolatile memory devices and methods of fabricating the same.
In general, semiconductor memory devices can be classified into volatile and nonvolatile types. Nonvolatile memory devices, including dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) and static random access memories (SRAMs), can be conducive in fast data input/output operation, but will lose their data when there is no power supply. On the contrary, the nonvolatile memory devices can retain their data even without power supply.
Flash memory devices, which are a generally classified as nonvolatile memory devices, are highly integrated devices that can have the merits of erasable and programmable read-only memories (EPROMs) and electrically EPROMs.
The flash memory devices are generally distinguished into NOR and NAND types. A NOR-type flash memory can be operable at high frequencies since the memory cells can be controlled independently. A NOR-type flash memory device, however, is larger than that of NAND-type memory device because a bitline contact is required for each pair of memory cells.
Many techniques have been proposed to address the shortcomings of the NOR-type flash memory. For example, self-aligned source line (SAS) and shallow trench isolation (STI) techniques can be useful to reduce memory cell sizes in the bitline and wordline directions, respectively. These techniques can be currently used in the fabrication of NOR-type flash memory devices.
However, with a reduction of the size of memory cells, the SAS resistance can increase substantially. In addition, as trenches are deepened using a high internal voltage in the flash memory device, the SAS resistance can increase further. While an increasing concentration of impurities can be injected into the SAS to overcome this effect, the memory device may experience reduced reliability due to a channel length shortening, which can cause a punch-through effect.


An etchant composition includes an inorganic acid, a siloxane compound, an ammonium compound, and a solvent, wherein the siloxane compound is represented by General Formula (I):

The present inventive concept herein relates to an etchant composition and a method of fabricating an integrated circuit device using the same, and more particularly, to an etchant composition for etching a nitride film and a method of fabricating an integrated circuit device using the etchant composition.
As multifunctional information communication devices have recently been developed, there has been demand to increase the capacity and integration of integrated circuit devices including memory devices used in such communication devices. As the size of memory cells has been reduced so as to realize high integration, operation circuits and connective wiring structures included in memory devices are becoming complicated. In processes of fabricating highly down-scaled integrated circuit devices, oxide films and nitride films, which are generally used as insulating films, may be used alone or alternately stacked. In addition, processes of selectively etching nitride films having variously shaped patterns may be required to form electronic devices having complicated and fine structure such as 3-dimensional structures for example. In particular, there is a need for an etchant composition that does not cause generation of unnecessary particles or undesired abnormal growth of by-products on a surface of an oxide film during a nitride film etching process, and which provides sufficient nitride film-to-oxide film etch selectivity.

Etchant composition and method of fabricating integrated circuit device using the same

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit device includes forming a structure on a substrate, the structure having a surface on which an oxide film and a nitride film are exposed; and selectively removing the nitride film from the oxide film and the nitride film by bringing the etchant composition into contact with the structure.


A system for constructing and deconstructing data packets is disclosed, wherein the system is operable to support a number of different coding formats. The system comprises a processor means operatively coupled to a processor bus. A packet processing data path is attached to the processor bus as a slave via a bus interface means. The packet processing data path comprises a number, n, of blocks, where n is an integer. Respective blocks comprise configuration registers operable to provide information on what operation the blocks should perform for the current packet field being processed. The bus interface means comprises a first register operable to control a bus of Update Enable signals, which bus is also connected to the n blocks. The bus interface means also comprises a second register operable to control a Mode signal, which is also connected to the n blocks.

Many communications protocols are based on the transmission and reception of information coded into so-called 'packets'. Such packets consist of a number of defined fields, and the protocol defines the content of such fields for transmitting a particular item of data. An important part of communication equipment is therefore an apparatus for constructing and deconstructing such packets.
As an example, some of the different packet types for the Bluetooth® standard are shown in FIG. 1. The packets begin with an access code field which allows the receiver to discriminate the beginning of the transmission. This carries no other information content. The packets also include a header field: amongst other things, this identifies the type of packet. This part of the packet is protected against transmission errors with a rate 1/3 error correcting code (FEC), and remaining errors are detected by an 8-bit CRC check.
What follows next then depends on the type of packet: for packet types Null and Poll, there is no other information. For other packet types, there are one or more subsequent information fields carrying different types of data.
Depending on packet type, these are encoded with different types of error correcting codes and may or may not contain a CRC field to check for errors. The length (number of bytes) of subsequent fields may be defined by the packet type (e.g. HVx packet types), may be pre-defined by some prior negotiation (e.g EVx packet types), or may be variable and defined by a further information field (e.g. the payload header for packet types with a data payload).
The apparatus for constructing and deconstructing such packets must therefore be capable of supporting a number of different coding formats. Particularly in the receive direction, there are often hard real time constraints and it is necessary to rapidly interpret the contents of one information field in order to re-configure the packet deconstruction apparatus to process the following sections. Due to the time constraints, and also due to the requirements for low power consumption for portable data communication systems such as Bluetooth®, it is common to design a dedicated hardware packet processing datapath block for performing the bit-level operations.
Communication standards are always in a state of rapid evolution, and the pressure to achieve a fast time-to-market for updated versions of a standard requires that a communications product be designed with flexibility in mind. Typically, this is achieved by having the key decision-making processes performed by software running on a general purpose micro-processor embedded in the communications product. An update to the standard (e.g. a new packet type) can then often be catered for by a pure software upgrade. This also provides for protection against errors in design, since hardware errors in the packet processing datapath can often be corrected by intervention from the microprocessor via a work-around in the software.
A simple example of such a system 10 is shown in FIG. 2. This comprises a microprocessor 12 with its own bus system 14, 16 and a packet processing datapath 18 consisting of an RF interface 181 (which transfers data to and from the radio), a FEC block 182 (which performs error correction coding or decoding), a CRC block 183 (which generates or checks a CRC code) and a DMA endpoint 184 (which requests that information bytes be transferred to or from system memory via direct memory access, and issues an interrupt to the processor when the required number of bytes have been transferred).
Respective block in the packet processing datapath 18 communicates with its neighbors, and contains configuration registers which provide information on what operation the block should perform for the current packet field being processed. An example of a possible register definition for the simple example datapath is shown in FIG. 3. It should be noted that a practical implementation is likely to contain both more functional blocks and more configuration registers per block. The packet processing datapath 18 is attached to the bus as a slave via a bus 14 interface block 16. This decodes the bus protocol and performs write or read operations to the configuration registers.
For the case of reception of Bluetooth® packets, the microprocessor would first configure the datapath for reception of the header field. For the simple example datapath, this would require 7 programming operations over the microprocessor bus. The Bit_Count field for the RF interface would be programmed last, since this would have the side-effect of causing data to begin to flow through the datapath. Once the header is received, the microprocessor would receive an interrupt from the end-point. It would then read the packet type from the header. Depending on the packet type, it would be necessary to reprogram some or all of the registers for the subsequent field, and repeat this for every subsequent field. For example, a DH1 packet would first require that the datapath be programmed to receive the payload header. Then, the datapath would need to be reprogrammed to receive the payload body.
The example datapath has a fairly trivial number of configuration registers. In a practical hardware implementation there are likely to be considerably more registers. Also, there may be a number of wait states introduced in gaining access to the registers. This means that such reprogramming can take a significant amount of time (from the system viewpoint). As mentioned previously, decisions during reception are often time-critical. The time taken to do the reprogramming means that there is less time left and therefore there is less flexibility to implement software work-arounds. The alternative is to increase the clock frequency to reduce the time taken, which has an effect on system power consumption.
Additionally, a microprocessor (and associated ROM and RAM memories) consumes significant amounts of energy when active. Typically, in an event-driven system such as that described, the processor will be shut down when there are no tasks to perform and will consume almost no energy. Once the "intelligence" of the microprocessor has been used to make a decision about what type of field is to come next, it is wasteful of energy for the processor to perform the manual process of updating respective of the registers.

System and a method for constructing and deconstructing data packets


A test method allows testing of source-synchronous high-speed wide busses on automatic testing equipment for at-speed characterization and production at-speed testing. An integrated circuit that is verified using the method and systems including such an integrated circuit are also disclosed. The invention can enable sampling or testing of signals or test pins that that are running very fast, particular compared to available automatic testing equipment for testing these device. The invention uses data recovery emulation on various types of automated test equipment to capture output data for further, more sophisticated analysis.

A number of different tests may be commonly performed to validate or test advanced integrated circuits (ICs). For example, a SCAN TEST scans an IC based on known input and expected output strings. An IDDQ test measures the quiescent current on a power pin (such as VDD) to check for current leaks or shorts within an IC device.
The most rigorous testing, however, and generally the most difficult to perform, is commonly referred to as "functional" testing. Ideally, a functional test runs the device at rated speed and ensures that the device works as intended (e.g. provides "at speed" the expected outputs). For advanced ICs, a "functional test" generally requires advanced automated test equipment (ATE).
An alternative mechanism for performing a type of functional test is to perform a LOOP TEST e.g. by connecting the transmit and receive pins. However, this method is not as good as a true functional test because a defect in one pin may be masked by an enhanced performance by another pin.
A variety of ATE equipment is known in the art. Generally such equipment is able to drive the input of up to all input pins and sample the output of up to all output pins. This can be particularly challenging for high speed chips (such as IC with data inputs and/or outputs operating at up to about 770 MHz) because it can be a challenge for an ATE to keep up with the operating speeds of an IC under test.
Some types of Automated Test Equipment (ATE) used in digital IC functional testing provides either a pass or a fail result for an output pin up to each output pin based on a sample taken from an output pin of a Device Under Test (DUT) at a fixed time (sometimes referred to as a strobe). The pass or fail result for an output pin is typically based on comparing the output of the output to a pattern of expected outputs, which is commonly stored in some types of ATEs in a pattern memory. Test results are commonly captured in some types of ATEs in a capture memory.
As will be understood in the art, a DUT can include any type of information or digital or signal processing device, including but not limited to a packaged integrated circuit, a device on a wafer probed before packaging, a system comprising multiple circuits or ICs, etc. A pin may refer to a pin on a packaged IC, a pad on a wafer, or an output pin on an information or communication system.
Some types of ATE systems have a pattern memory (often a separate memory or memory area for each pin under test (PUT)) and a capture memory for each pin. At the appropriate start time, the ATE compares the output of the DUT with the pattern in the pattern memory and can store results of such a compare in the capture memory. Thus, the capture memory will indicate whether any test failed on a pin and may indicate which test failed or precisely when the test failed.
An implicit requirement of this type of testing is that the DUT output logic states are deterministic and repeatable in time over the small fluctuations in the otherwise tightly controlled operating conditions and manufacturing variations. Unfortunately, this model of the DUT fails to apply when the period of the output data is very small. With increased output operating frequency, the time that the expected data sequence reaches the tester pins (e.g. the delay of the data in reaching the pins) varies so much in relation to the period that setting a fixed time within the cycle to strobe the outputs is not possible. Consider the following analysis.
Referring to FIG. 1, the time at which a known data sequence begins to be transmitted from the DUT is normally deterministic, and can be expressed as a number N of bit periods T, plus a phase offset, φ, as shown in Eq. 1
                              t          s                =                  NT          +                                    ϕ                                                                                T                                      2                            π                                                          (                  eq          .                                                    1                )
At low speeds, it is taken for granted that N never changes. More importantly, the deviation between the best and worst case φ is less then half a bit period. In that case, the strobe time is fixed between best and worst case, guaranteeing that the device's behavior will be observed at the proper time.
As frequency increases, the bit period is smaller than the maximum deviation of φ so there is no single fixed strobe time that will not reject good DUTs. In addition to this dilemma, serializer/deserializer circuits (SERDES) may be included on DUTs as functional blocks and there could be added variation on the phase depending on the status of the divided-by-N counter of the SERDES (where N is the ratio of the parallel to serial conversion).
Some prior systems use a search test built into some ATEs. In this test method the functional test is run multiple times until the correct strobe location if found, as shown in FIG. 2. It is mainly used for characterization because it is very time consuming, especially for devices that have a long PLL lock time.
A second solution uses an external time measurement unit (TMU) and a special pattern to find the strobe time.
The first method is mainly used for characterization and debugging. Use in production test was abandoned long ago and is no longer useful to at-speed testing because: (a) This solution requires the functional test to be run in every iteration of the loop. Depending on the strobe time search depth, many passes are typically required, resulting in a long total test time; and (b) This method applies PER PIN. Given that the time of (a) is tolerable (which it is not in some cases), the search must be done for every high speed pin being tested. Multiply the time of (a) by the number of pins and it becomes clear that this solution is quite limited and not at all applicable to, for example, devices with wide, high speed busses.
The second method is sometimes used in high-speed IC production testing. It's disadvantages are: (a) The data pattern from the device is limited to a train of 0's followed by a pulse. There may be are variants to this restriction but in general the number of possible patterns is limited; (b) Test time can be 100 ms or more per measurement per pin; (c) The test method is not easily scalable to wide busses.
This measurement cannot be used for devices with multiple high speed outputs because: (a) The TMU can only measure one pin at a time. To scale means to measure pins sequentially, which increases test time, or to use multiple TMU's, a solution that becomes physically and financially cumbersome with increasing bus width; and (b) Some devices do not function properly without a specific data pattern (e.g. a valid oc48 frame). It is not possible to test such a device because the pattern requirements for the test.

Apparatus and method for high speed sampling or testing of data signals using automated testing equipment


A multiple pronged hook assembly has hook shafts that can be rotated and locked into desired positions individually, independent from the other hook shafts and is sealed free from outside elements, dirt, or liquid. A junction body securely encloses shafts of planetary hooks with a cylindrical opening to rotatably accommodate a cylindrical shaft of at least one circumferentially rotatable hook. A plunger rod has a rigging aperture at a top. A bottom end of the plunger is slidably disposed within a center of the junction body between the shafts of the plurality of planetary hooks to rotatably lock the at least one circumferentially rotatable hook when the plunger rod is in an up position and rotatably unlock the at least one circumferentially rotatable hook when the plunger rod is in a down position.

1. Technical Field
The present inventions relates to a circumferentially foldable multiple pronged hook.
2. Description of the Related Art
A multipronged hook more commonly known as a grappling hook is a very difficult item to stow safely, securely, or conveniently. Some have utilized the less common folding grappling hook to address this concern. Folding grappling hooks have traits built in leaving subjects for consideration of safety, storage, flawless operation, and transportation.
Typically folding grappling hooks leave very sharp edges exposed to personal while the hooks are in the open or closed position. A typical folding grappling hook fixed in its folded closed or open position remains a very difficult and dangerous object to deal with.
A common grappling hook or folding grappling hook is a very difficult and dangerous item to stow on one's person. A common grappling hook or folding grappling hook is a very difficult item to stow safely or securely in a vehicle. A folding grappling hook must be available to personal for quick deployment in many if not all situations. Being able to stow the grappling hook on one's self safely and efficiently is essential in situations common to recreational, rescue, tactical, and military operations.
The mechanisms of typical folding grappling hooks are exposed to the local elements. Dirt, mud, and sand are very frequently applied to the same exposed mechanisms in everyday use. It is not uncommon for these conditions to cause the malfunction or failure of these same mechanisms common to folding grappling hooks.

Circumferentially foldable multiple pronged hook


A pallet for receiving and transporting loads, having an upper platform for receiving the loads, and a substructure, which supports the upper platform and is constructed of an upper part and a lower part and several support members inserted between them. A good shock absorption, along with a rugged construction, is achieved because the support members each is of a held-together bundle of spike-like individual elements, which extend between the upper part and the lower part, can be laterally deflected with respect to each other and have damping properties.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pallet for receiving and transporting loads, having an upper platform for receiving the loads, and a substructure, which supports the upper platform and is constructed of an upper part and a lower part and several support members therebetween inserted.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A pallet is disclosed in German Patent Reference DE 36 12 647 A1. Individual ones, or all components of this pallet, on which packages to be stored or transported are received on support decks attached to a support substructure, have been produced from comminuted fiber waste material, with plastic as a binder, to obtain a budget-priced, weather-resistant pallet with a long service life. However, such pallets often do no have a sufficient shock-absorbing capability for the goods to be transported.
German Patent Reference DE 299 09 001 U1 shows pallets with a substructure of interspersed blocks, on which a receiving platform is placed. As reinforcement, the interspersed blocks have fiber mats or a bi-axially stretched thermoplastic material, if required with additives, which are also cost-effective and can be recycled. With these pallets, the absorption of shocks is often not sufficient.


A CMOS integrated circuit (IC) device. embodiment of the present invention comprises an internal logic circuit operating with traditional 3.3 volt or five volt internal logic levels, an output buffer to convert the internal logic levels to external logic levels of 0.3 volts and an input buffer to convert the 0.3 volt external logic levels to the internal logic levels. In a CMOS IC device having numerous external output loads including relatively high capacitive values that are driven at very high clock rates, the restricted voltage swings of the 0.3 volt external logic levels permit unusually large numbers of devices to be driven without exceeding a predetermined power dissipation limit of the CMOS IC device. The low external logic levels further permit electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection to be included on all signal inputs and outputs of the CMOS IC device. The ESD protection comprises a pair of opposite polarity silicon PN junction diodes in parallel and connected between each signal line and a ground reference.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention relates to electronic digital circuitry, and more particularly to devices that enable communication among packaged CMOS logic circuits at very high communication rates and yet at relatively low dynamic power levels by using very low voltage signal swings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Digital electronic devices and systems typically comprise several integrated circuit packages (ICs) that are interconnected on a printed circuit board assembly. Each of these ICs very often includes whole functional units, not unlike blocks in a block diagram. Digital ICs are ubiquitously supplied with five volts power and have both internal and external signal transitions that approach five volts. Five volt transistor-transistor logic (TTL) has been superseded by complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, which also is typically operated at five volts. The CMOS logic draws far less power under static conditions, compared to TTL, but can draw much higher power under dynamic (switching) conditions because the logic must charge and discharge various stray capacitances and has very short transition times.
Advancements in CMOS fabrication processes have recently enabled the design of very high speed, very complex devices, or "chips", that are capable of clock rates in excess of fifty megahertz (MHz). Prior art CMOS logic systems experience difficulties with such high speeds, especially in inter-chip communication because of the high dynamic power currents involved.
Although the static power consumption of CMOS circuits is generally regarded as being next to insignificant, the dynamic power consumption can be very large and quite troublesome. The high currents principally result from charging and discharging of capacitances associated with internal chip nodes, and with the charging and discharging of load capacitances external to a chip. Both kinds of currents result in power, in the form of heat, being dissipated within the CMOS circuit itself. Manufacturers typically overlook this power consumption phenomenon in their published specifications by describing chip power consumption under test conditions where the outputs are open, or not loaded.
The power dissipated in such logic devices is proportional to the square of the voltage swing charging or discharging a capacitor load. The dynamic power consumption of a node may be expressed as, EQU P.sub.D =CV.sup.2 f, (1)
where P.sub.D is dynamic power in watts, C is the capacitance driven in farads, V is the signal swing in volts, and f is the frequency in Hertz.
Driving individual n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) and p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistors that constitute CMOS logic also causes power to dissipated. For example, if a node drives a fifty picofarad load with a five volt swing at a fifty MHz rate, equation (1) shows that 62.5 mW of dynamic power will be dissipated. (0.0625=50.times.10.sup.- .multidot.5.sup.2 .multidot.50.times.10.sup.6.) A typical internal node drives between 0.01 picofarad and 0.1 picofarad, but many thousands of internal nodes are usually involved and can add up to fifty picofarads, or more. Large chips can consume several watts of internal dynamic power when operated at high frequencies. For chips that have many output driver circuits, each driving fifty picofarads or more, external dynamic power consumption can also easily be several watts. For example, with eighty output drivers, each switching at twenty-five MHz and driving fifty picofarads, and each swinging five volts, the external power dissipated may be as much as 2.5 watts. This power must be dissipated in the output buffers, which typically comprise a relatively small percentage of the total chip area, and can therefore cause destructive overheating.
There is an industry trend developing towards lower supply voltages of 3.3 volts, rather than the more typical 5.0 volts. Such lower voltages allow more reliable short channel length transistors. CMOS circuits using 3.3 volt supplies may have a nominal 3.3 volt signal swing, and therefore has the side-effect of reducing the dynamic power consumption to 43%, according to equation (1). Although this is a significant power dissipation reduction, large chips can nevertheless still consume several watts of dynamic power.
The present invention reduces dynamic power consumption in CMOS devices by over two orders of magnitude.
Strip line circuit board techniques are called for when signaling at high speed between chips separated by more than approximately eight to ten inches. A terminating resistor network is also required at the receiving end of each signal. The termination network typically comprises two resistors, one connected between a signal line and a ground reference, and the other connected between the signal line and a supply voltage. Each resistor is typically one hundred ohms.
High speed CMOS design does not typically permit the use of such low value terminating resistors because of the high static currents that result. Such currents would cause the typical CMOS device to operate outside its safe operating area. The power consumed in a resistor is proportional to the square of the voltage across the resistor and inversely proportional to the resistor's value. Algebraically expressed, this is, EQU P.sub.R =V.sup.2 /R, (2)
where P.sub.R is the resistive power consumption in watts, V is the signal swing in volts, and R is the terminating resistor values in ohms. For example, if one signal line is terminated with two 100 ohm resistors, and the signal swing is 3.3 volts, then P.sub.R will equal 109 mW, for just one line.
The maximum clock rate is severely limited with CMOS logic by not being able to include proper termination, for example in a long main system bus in a personal computer operating at eight to ten MHz. Only the shorter local buses are able to operate at the much higher clock rates now possible with microprocessors and cache memories.
Several outputs from different chips often share one signal line in a bus arrangement, with only one chip at a time driving the line. The other chips float their outputs. When not being floated, such outputs express very low sink and/or source driving impedances, e.g., approximately five ohms. It is therefore important that a system be designed to guarantee that no two outputs can drive a common signal line in different directions at the same time. Such bus contentions would otherwise cause catastrophic currents that could easily destroy one or more of the drivers involved. In system development this can occur accidentally, before the protective logic is in place.
Very often two inter-communicating CMOS chips reside on different circuit boards which each have a separate power supply. However, the input/output (I/O) lines are common. If one such board is powered up before the other, the I/O lines of the CMOS circuit on the powered down board should preferably be allowed to float, e.g., present a high impedance. Many commercially available CMOS circuits do not include this protection
Very thin gate oxides of less than one hundred Angstroms are desirable in some devices and the newer semiconductor processes have made this practical, and therefore more common. But with such thin gate oxides, it is very difficult to provide adequate electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, because the thin oxide barrier is so easily breached.

Very low voltage inter-chip CMOS logic signaling for large numbers of high-speed output lines each associated with large capacitive loads


High precision elemental concentration determination is achieved using a nuclear magnetic resonance device that can continuously monitor samples of a source fluid in the field and in the refinery plant while the source fluid is refined into a desired product fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed toward nuclear magnetic resonance ("NMR") and is more particularly directed toward high precision elemental composition determination using NMR.
2. Related Art
Measurements of the concentration of various elements are valuable in a number of industrial situations. Examples include the characterization of the elemental content of raw materials or feedstocks, the monitoring of concentrations in various stages of material or chemical processing, the certification of elemental content of finished products, and the verification of product quality by downstream customers. The elemental concentration measurement usually needs to be cost effective, precise, rapid, robust, straightforward and flexible in order to provide maximal economic benefit. In some cases, the measurement must be minimally or non-invasive and non-destructive.
A number of analytical chemistry techniques are used for elemental analysis and concentration determination. Techniques based on inductively-coupled plasma sample decomposition, followed by detection with mass spectrometry, atomic emission spectroscopy, or other methods are common. Flame-based atomic emission spectroscopy or atomic absorption spectroscopy may also be used. Classical wet chemistry methods may be employed, including precipitation, titration, or other approaches. Separation techniques such as gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, or capillary electrophoresis may be employed. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy may also be utilized for certain elements.
The currently available solutions for measuring elemental concentration all fail to meet one or more of the requirements of cost, precision, speed, robustness, simplicity, and flexibility. For nearly all of them, the sample to be measured must be prepared carefully by a technician, usually in a wet chemistry laboratory. The accuracy relies heavily on multipoint calibration curves and may nevertheless be limited even under ideal measurement conditions. Complicated procedures limit the practically achievable measurement precision. Some techniques, such as conventional NMR, may be considered ill-suited for high precision determinations and may be used mostly for qualitative analysis. Some instruments or procedures may be limited to a single chemical element, or a small number of elements, when the need exists for multi-element characterization. The cost per measurement may be high due to capital equipment and siting expenses, the cost of consumables, maintenance costs, and the technician's time. The measurement procedure may take too much time to provide effective feedback to operational decisions and control. Similarly, the measurement facility may be too far removed from the operational facility to allow for effective integration of process and characterization. Variations between samples, or between technicians, may cause the measurements to fail to meet accuracy requirements. The devices and methods used may fail to meet the desired performance specifications under non-ideal factory or field conditions, or the devices may not be capable of being moved to or being operated in the locations where the measurements need to be made. This lack of flexibility, or the failure to meet other requirements of cost, precision, ease of use, measurement speed, integrability with other processes, and robustness can undermine the desired application of any of the currently available elemental concentration determination methods.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method that overcomes these significant problems found in the conventional systems as described above.

High precision elemental composition determination


A printer-support stand which comprises a pair of first and second support legs adapted to be placed in a spaced-apart relationship to provide a printer-support stand. Each leg is comprised of an integrally molded plastic material, and comprises upward front and back sections, a base element extending between the front and back leg sections and characterized by an elongated, internal open space, and an elongated support-bar element having a generally flat top surface extending between the front and back sections, to provide an upper support surface for the printer. Each of the legs is characterized by an open internal space which mimics the shape of the leg, so that the first and second support legs may be stacked nestably within each other for convenience in shipping and displaying, with the support-stand element within the internal open space of the base in the nestable, stacked condition.

There is a wide variety of support stands, particularly to provide support for printers and other computer and office-type equipment. Typical printer stands comprise a pair of spaced-apart legs, with the printer adapted to be placed on the upper surface of the spaced-apart support legs. The support legs may be adjusted to fit the desired width of the printer, and usually provide for a space beneath the printer to store paper. Optionally, the upper surface of such printer stands may be equipped with a friction-type tape or antislip surface, particularly where the upper surface of the printer stand is tapered, so as to provide for a firm, nonslip arrangement of the printer on the support stand. Such support stands, comprising a pair of spaced-apart support legs, also may be employed in conjunction with a paper-tray receiver or other means, typically placed or attached in the back of the support stand, to receive paper generated from the supported printer.
A printer-support stand, comprising a pair of support legs, is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 290,717, issued Jul. 7, 1987. In addition, adjustable printer support legs, used in conjunction with an adjustable paper a stand for a paper-discharging device, are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,447, issued Jul. 3, 1990.
It is desirable to provide for a new and improved support stand, particularly a printer-support stand composed of a pair of support legs, which is easily and inexpensively manufactured and structured to be conveniently shipped and displayed.

Nestable, stackable printer support stand


A system for assisting guiding an endovascular instrument in vascular structures of an anatomical region of interest of a patient. This system includes an imaging device for capturing three-dimensional images of parts of the body of a patient, a programmable device and a viewing unit. The imaging device captures partially superposed fluoroscopic images of the region, and the programmable device forms a first augmented image, representative of a complete panorama of bones of the region, and cooperates with the imaging device to obtain a second augmented image including a representation of the vascular structures of the region. The imaging device captures a current fluoroscopic image of a part of the region, and the programmable device registers the current fluoroscopic image with respect to the first augmented image and locates and displays, on the viewing unit, an image region corresponding to the current fluoroscopic image in the second augmented image.

Endovascular interventions make it possible to treat vascular diseases in a minimally invasive manner. It generally consists in inserting by endovascular technique a medical device with the purpose of interacting with the pathological tissues. Endovascular interventions are in particular used to treat stenosis and arterial thrombosis, via the introduction of various suitable endovascular instruments such as a balloon or a stent.
Contrary to conventional surgical interventions that require carrying out a large opening of the body of the patient in order to access the tissues of interest, endovascular interventions require only fine incisions in order to be able to insert the instruments into the vascular structure. They have several advantages, in particular an increase in the short term as well as a decrease in intraoperative morbidity and in the duration of hospitalisation. Despite the generalisation of these interventions, they remain delicate and must be secured and made reliable. Access to the pathological tissues is made difficult by the nature of the intervention. Manipulating and controlling endovascular instruments require substantial precision in order to favour the success of the treatment. Moreover, following operating gestures can be carried out only through the intermediary of intraoperative imaging.
In the field of endovascular interventions two-dimensional images captured via fluoroscopy are used, which make it possible to guide the insertion of medical devices, such as catheters, into the femoral artery and in other vascular branches.
Fluoroscopy designates a medical imaging technique that uses X-rays that makes it possible to view anatomical structures that are in motion and in real time, in particular bone structures.
As the arteries are soft tissue and therefore not visible with X-rays, a radio-opaque contrast agent is administered to the patient so as to opacify the vascular structure and view the paths of the arteries. Useable images can then be obtained. This technique of capturing images of the vascular structures, in particular the arteries, of a patient is known as angiography, and the images obtained are called angiographic images.
The two-dimensional fluoroscopic and angiographic images are captured and used during an operative phase, therefore an intervention phase.
In general, conventional operating rooms are provided with a device for supporting an X-ray imaging device, known as a hoop or a C-arm device, that is mobile, and that makes it possible to capture fluoroscopic and angiographic images with a given field of vision.
In the particular case of endovascular procedures for treating obliterative arteriopathy of the lower limbs, there is an interest in obtaining images of an entire lower limb of the patient. However as the field of vision of an image capturing device is limited, it is necessary to capture a plurality of fluoroscopic and angiographic images, preferably partially superposed, in order to obtain via image processing a composite or panoramic image of an anatomical region of interest, for example of a lower limb of the patient in its entirety.
In addition, in the framework of conventional endovascular interventions, for the treating of lower limbs, if the arterial occlusions are of large size or are obscured, they cannot be viewed on a single angiographic image, therefore several angiographic image captures are required, in a first step in order to view all of the lesions to be treated, then, in a second step, in order to precisely carry out the treatment of each lesion.
However, each angiographic image capture requires the injection of a contrast agent, which is toxic for the patient. For example, an iodinated contrast agent is nephrotoxic.
In addition, each additional image capture exposes the patient and the medical personnel present in the operating room to an additional quantity of X-rays.

Method and system for assistance in guiding an endovascular instrument


A safety belt without tightly binding body includes a safety belt, a belt retractor, a flashboard, a buckle and a limiter. The limiter includes a housing having a belt inlet and outlet located at side faces thereof. An upper roller and a lower roller are provided within the housing. The lower roller is movably engaged with two lower roller supports disposed in the lower housing. A clamping sleeve is fixedly secured around the lower roller. Electromagnets are mounted to the lower roller supports, respectively. A ratchet wheel and a ratchet pawl are mounted to the lower roller. A clamping sleeve is fixedly secured around the upper roller. The upper roller is movably engaged with two upper roller supports. Springs are provided on the two upper roller supports, respectively. A ratchet wheel and a ratchet pawl are mounted to the upper roller. Electromagnets may be mounted to the bottom of the upper roller supports, respectively. A motor may be mounted within the lower housing for rotating the lower roller. The lower housing also provides an automatic or a manual limiter.

A conventional safety belt device for vehicles includes a belt retractor, a safety belt, and a fastening mechanism including a flashboard and a buckle. When the flashboard is inserted into the buckle, the belt is automatically retracted by the belt retractor to make the belt tightly bind body of a passenger. However, some people would not like to use the safety belt for they feel that the belt is too tight and uncomfortable, especially when they only dress light clothing in summer. Moreover, the clothing of the passenger may be wrinkled by the belt. Furthermore, the belt tightly attached to body may influence the operation of the driver.

Safety belt which doesn't keep close to body


This application provides a method for transmitting path load information and a network node. The method includes: obtaining, by the network node, M pieces of path load information; aggregating, by the network node into one load metric based on the M pieces of path load information, load of all shortest paths that are from the network node to the destination node and that pass through M adjacent nodes corresponding to the M pieces of path load information, where the load metric indicates total load of all the shortest paths from the network node to the destination node; and sending, by the network node, information about the load metric to another adjacent node other than the M adjacent nodes of all adjacent nodes of the network node.

On a communications network, such as the Internet Protocol (Internet Protocol, IP), there may be one or more paths for transmitting data from one network node (which may be referred to as a source node) to another network node (which may be referred to as a destination node). Usually, the network node chooses a single path or an equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) to transmit a packet.
However, the path selected by the source node may be in a congested state due to excessive load, resulting in a packet loss. Therefore, the source node needs to obtain path load information, and selects a packet transmission path based on the path load information, so as to select a path with lighter load to transmit a packet.
The source node obtains the path load information by using a feedback of a node on a path. For example, on a 2-tier (2-tier) data center network, the source node may obtain path load information by using a "forward path congestion measurement and backward congestion feedback" method. A specific manner is: Each time data sent by the source node to the destination node passes through a forwarding node on a path, the forwarding node updates the packet with congestion information of an interface that is of the forwarding node and that is used for forwarding the packet from the source node to the destination node, and sends the updated packet to a next-hop forwarding node, until the packet arrives at the destination node. In other words, when the packet arrives at the destination node, the packet carries the load information of the path from the source node to the destination node. Then, the destination node adds the path load information to a backhaul packet from the destination node to the source node, and feeds back the path load information to the source node.
After obtaining the path load information, the source node needs to store the path load information for selecting a path. However, the path load information is fed back based on a quantity of pathsin the prior art. In other words, an amount of path load information that the source node obtains and needs to store is positively correlated with a quantity of paths from the source node to the destination node.
With development of a network, there are a huge quantity of paths from the source node to the destination node on the network. If the foregoing method is used, there is a large amount of path load information that the source node needs to store. As a result, the source node needs to increase a capacity of an entry for storing the path load information.

Method for transmitting path load information and network node


This invention relates to an elbow connection (10) for an electric cable (6) with several wires (5).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of electric cable connections with several electric wires and that of electric cable connectors in general.
2. Description of Related Art
Several electric cable connectors and various different electric cable connection arrangements are known.
This application is aimed at solving a problem which is often encountered during the laying of power cabling comprising several wide section supply wires in confined spaces. The problem is that the cabling has to bend with sharp changes in direction, sometimes immediately after exiting from the back of a connector, without being damaged.
Electric cable connectors are known which comprise an elbow connection comprising an elbow tubular conduit, which can be formed from one or two shells. For narrow section electric wires, particularly under one square millimeter, the elbow conduit can be formed from two shells made of plastic. To hold electric power supply cables containing several wide section wires, particularly over one square millimeter, elbow connections comprising a metal elbow conduit are used. These metal conduits can be part of an electrical connecting and mechanical coupling point. The conduit protects from mechanical damage from an external source (friction, crushing, shearing and impacts).
These metal connections and electric connectors have the drawbacks of being particularly heavy, bulky, expensive and inadaptable, a type of connection having to be chosen for each elbow unit angle desired.

Elbow connection for multiple-wire electric cable

Abstract: According to the invention, the connection (10) comprises a fluted central carrier (1) running longitudinally (L), made up of a flexible stem (2), comprising several substantially parallel recesses (4), and a strengthening rod (3), arranged at the core of the stem (2) and suitable for being bent.