Provided is a compound bow comprising: a bow main body; upper and lower pulley assemblies; a bowstring; and first and second cam cables, wherein at least one of the first and second cam cables is coupled to the fixing projection that moves along as a cam module moves, is wound on a cam cable winding portion via a compensation projection, and then extends toward the other side pulley assembly, and a front portion of the cam module is in contact with the one cam cable and thus the one cam cable is bent when the cam module is moved, to thus release the one cam cable from the cam cable winding portion via the compensating projection from the fixing projection that the one cam cable is coupled, to thereby maintain constant tension of the cam cable and keep the power of the bow.

Typically, compound bows are configured so that a bowstring is easily pulled without using a large force and arrow shooting power is increased during shooting, by using an effect of a cam or wheel, to thus result in a fast speed of an arrow and have very strong power, and are widely used mainly for hunting.
When users having different arm's reaches use an identical compound bow, it is necessary to adjust a draw length of a bowstring in a let-off state, that is, in the latest state immediately before an arrow is launched. Otherwise, when a user is skilled in comparison with a beginner time, there may be the need to increase the draw length of the bowstring. A structure of a compound bow (Korean Patent No. 10-1418312, published on Jul. 10, 2014) proposed by the present applicant in order to easily adjust the pulling length of the bowstring in the let-off state is shown in FIGS. 1-3.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional compound bow. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a pulley assembly coupled to a lower limb in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a pivoted state of a cam module in the compound bow of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a compound bow includes: a bow main body 100 including a pair of limbs 103 that are respectively coupled to both ends of a handle 102; upper and lower pulley assemblies 107 and 108 that are respectively coupled to the rear end of each limb 103; a bowstring 140; cam cables 150 that are wound around a cam 200 of each of the upper and lower pulley assemblies as the bowstring 140 is pulled.
The bow main body 100 includes a handle 102 at a central portion of which a grip portion is formed so as to be gripped by a user, and a pair of limbs 103 that are respectively coupled to both ends of the handle 102 in which two branches are formed at the rear portion of each limb 103. A rotating shaft 101 is formed at the rear end of each limb 103, in which a pulley assembly is rotatably coupled on the rotating shaft 101 between the two branches at the rear end of each limb 103.
Each of the upper and lower pulley assemblies is rotatably coupled to the rotating shaft 101 at the rear end of each limb 103, and includes: a pulley 110 that is rotatably coupled to the rotating shaft 101 formed at the rear end of each limb 103; and a cam 200 coupled to one side of the pulley 110 and rotating with the pulley 110.
Each pulley 110 is formed of an oval-like plate-shaped member, and has an eccentric through-hole that is formed at the center of the pulley 110 and through which the rotating shaft 101 is coupled. A fixing protrusion 111 for fixing one end of the bowstring 140 wound on the guide groove is formed at one side of each pulley 110. In addition, fixing protrusions 112 and 113 are formed in each pulley 110 in which the cam cables 150 are fixed to the fixing protrusions 112 and 113, respectively. The bowstring 140 is wound in the guide groove of the pulley 110 of each pulley assembly and thus both ends of the bowstring 140 are coupled to the fixing protrusions 111 formed on the respective pulleys 110.
The cam cables 150 are formed between a pair of the limbs 103 of the bow main body 100 and are wound on the cams 200 formed in the respective pulleys 110, as the bowstring 140 is pulled. One end of each of the cam cables 150 is coupled to the fixing protrusion 113 formed on the pulley 110 of one of the pulley assemblies, and then is wound around the rotating wheel 120 that is rotatably coupled to the rotating shaft 101, to then be extended toward the other one of the pulley assemblies, and the other end of each of the cam cables 150 is fixed to the fixing protrusion 112 of the pulley 110 of the other one of the pulley assemblies. Therefore, as the bowstring 140 is pulled, the cam cables 150 are wound on the cam 200 that is coupled to the other pulley 110 of the pulley assemblies.
The cam 200 is formed in each pulley 110 and is rotated with rotation of the pulley 110, and includes: a cam cable support portion 210 fabricated in an arc-shaped form and on which one of the cam cables 150 is wound; and a cam module 220 that has a pivot shaft 221 at a position spaced by a predetermined distance from the rotating shaft 101 of the pulley 110 to which the cam 200 is coupled, and that is rotatably coupled to the pivot shaft 221 by a predetermined angle from the cam cable winding portion 210, in which a cam cable winding groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cam module 220, and the one of the cam cables 150 is wound around the cam cable support portion 210 and then sequentially wound on the outer circumferential surface of the cam module 220 when the bowstring 140 is pulled.
The cam module 220 has the pivot shaft 221 at a position spaced by a predetermined distance from the rotating shaft 101 of the pulley 110 to which the cam 200 is coupled, and is rotatably coupled to the pivot shaft 221 by a predetermined angle from the cam cable support portion 210, and is configured to have a gentle slope portion 222 formed of a gentle arc-shaped curve and a steep slope portion 223 that is extended from the gentle slope portion 222 to be close to the rotating shaft 101, to thus form a steep slope. Further, the cam cable winding grooves on which the cam cables 150 are wound are formed on the outer circumferential surfaces of the gentle slope portion 222 and the steep slope portion 223. Accordingly, the cam module 220 is rotated along with the pulley 110 when the bowstring 140 is pulled, and thus the cam cables 150 are sequentially wound on the gentle slope portion 222 and the steep slope portion 223 of the cam module 220 adjacent to the cam cable support portion 210. In addition, the cam 200 further includes a fixing unit that makes the cam module 220 rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to the pivot shaft 221 in order to control the draw length of the let-off state of the compound bow, and that makes the cam module 220 fixed to the pulley 110 at a position where the cam module 220 has been rotated.
The fixing unit makes the cam module 220 fixed to the pulley 110 at a position where the cam module 220 has been rotated. To this end, an arc-shaped positioning hole 230 centered at the pivot shaft 221 is formed in the cam module 220, and a coupling hole (not shown) is formed in the pulley 110 to which the cam module 220 is coupled. Thus, when the cam module 220 is rotated by a predetermined angle around the pivot shaft 221, and a coupling member 115 is coupled to the coupling hole (not shown) formed in the pulley 110 at a predetermined position of the positioning hole 230, the cam module 220 is coupled to the pulley 110. When a bolt as the coupling member 115 is inserted into the positioning hole 230 and is screw-coupled into the coupling hole (not shown) formed in the pulley 110, the cam module 220 is coupled to the pulley 110. In addition, a position display part indicated by numbers are provided around the positioning hole 230, in order to display position at which the cam module 220 is fixed. The cam modules 220 that are respectively coupled to the upper and lower pulley assemblies should have an identical rotational angle, and thus the position display part is indicated by numbers so as to see the rotational angle of each cam module 220. In addition, an arc-shaped coupling hole 116 centered at the pivot shaft 221 is additionally formed in the pulley 110, and a bolt 225 is coupled to a bolt hole formed at a predetermined position of the cam module 220.
When considering a lower pulley 110 in order to adjust a draw length of a bowstring 140 at a let-off state in a compound bow 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a bolt 115 engaged in a position adjusting hole 230 of a cam module 220 is removed, and then the cam module 220 is rotated by a predetermined angle around a pivot shaft 221 formed at a position spaced from a rotating shaft 101 of the lower pulley 110 to obtain a user desired draw length of the bowstring 140 at a let-off state. Then, the cam module 220 is fixed to the lower pulley 110 by using the bolt 115 again at the rotated position of the cam module 220, as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the cam modules 220 respectively coupled to the lower and upper pulleys 110 are moved at an identical rotation angle.
When the cam module 220 is rotated around the pivot shaft 221 by a predetermined angle from the cam cable support portion 210, and the cam module 220 is fixed again to the lower pulley 110 at the rotated position of the cam module 220, as shown in FIG. 3, a winding length of a cam cable 150 wound on a smooth curved portion 222 of the cam module 220 is increased in comparison with FIG. 2. The length of the cam cable 150 wound on the cam module 220 from the cam cable support portion 210 up to the let-off state is eventually increased, to thereby increase a draw length of the bowstring 140.
By the way, in such a conventional compound bow, the cam modules 220 on which the cam cables 150 are wound are respectively coupled to an equi-directional side of the lower and upper pulleys 110, and rotating wheels 120 are respectively mounted more spaced apart from the lower and upper pulleys 110 than the cam modules 220. It is a factor of enlarging distortion of bow limbs 103 and also lowering accuracy of an arrow when the bowstring 140 is pulled that a configuration of the rotating wheels 120 that are respectively coupled to the pulleys 110 is formed higher than a configuration of the cam modules 220 that are respectively coupled to the pulleys 110.


A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first area and a second area, a first transistor in the first area, a second transistor in the second area, an isolation layer between the first area and the second area, and at least one buried shield structure on the isolation layer.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. More particularly, example embodiments relate to a nonvolatile semiconductor device including a buried shield structure, and a method of manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor device having a buried shield structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices are generally used to store desired data therein and to read the stored data. The semiconductor memory devices are usually classified into volatile semiconductor memory devices and nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices. The volatile semiconductor memory device lose the stored data when an applied power is off, while the nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices maintain the stored data even though a power applied thereto is off.
A flash memory device, one of electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) devices, has been widely employed in various electronic apparatuses such as a cellular phone, a digital camera, a portable multimedia player, a USB memory device, etc. Data may be stored into the flash memory device or may be erased from the flash memory device through a Fowler-Nordheim tunneling process or a hot electron injection process.
FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit diagram of a conventional flash memory device. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional flash memory device 11 generally includes a row decoder 12, a memory cell array 13, a sense amplifier 14 and a source line driver (not shown).
When the flash memory device 11 is a NAND type memory device, the memory cell array 13 of the flash memory device 11 includes a plurality of word lines WL1, WL2, WL3, WL4, WL5, WL6, WL7 and WL8, a plurality of bit lines BL1, BL2 and BLn, a plurality of string memory cells MT, and selection transistors ST1 and ST2. The string memory cells MT and the selection transistors ST1 and ST2 are electrically connected to the word lines and the bit lines.
The row decoder 12 includes the word lines WL1 to WL8 and selection gate lines SGD and SGS. The row decoder 12 further includes peripheral circuit decoders 16 and 17. The sense amplifier 14 can read data stored in a selected memory cell, and then can amplify the data of the selected memory cell. The source line driver 15 can supply source lines with a power.
The peripheral circuit decoder 17 includes high voltage transistors TR1, TR2, TR3, TR4, TR5, TR6, TR7 and TR8, whereas the memory cell array 13 has cell transistors operated with a common voltage. Since the flash memory device 11 occasionally requires a high operation voltage, the high voltage transistors and the cell transistors are simultaneously used in the flash memory device 11.
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional NAND type flash memory device.
Referring to FIG. 2, the NAND type flash memory device is formed on a substrate 10 having a cell transistor area A and a high voltage transistor area B. Cell transistors are provided in the cell transistor area A. Each of the cell transistors includes a first gate oxide layer 17, a first gate electrode 19, and a gate mask 21. The cell transistors are isolated by a first isolation layer 14. High voltage transistors are provided in the high voltage transistor area B. Each of the high voltage transistors includes a second gate oxide layer 18 and a second gate electrode 23. The high voltage transistors are separated by a second isolation layer 15. An insulating interlayer 24 covers the cell transistor and the high voltage transistors.
In the conventional flash memory device, electrical insulation between an isolation layer, a high voltage transistor, and a cell transistor may be easily broken when a high voltage is applied to the high voltage transistor in an operation of the flash memory device. Due to such a breakdown of electrical insulation, a punch-through leakage may be caused, thereby deteriorating electrical characteristics of the flash memory device.
Although the second isolation layer 15 shown in FIG. 2 is relatively deep in an attempt to ensure electrical insulation between the cell transistor and the high voltage transistor, processes for forming the first and the second isolation layers 14 and 15 on the substrate 10 may be considerably complicated, because the dimensions of the first isolation layer 14 are quite different from those of the second isolation layer 15. Additionally, the size of the flash memory device may be increased when the second isolation layer 15 has a large width and depth. Furthermore, the flash memory device may not properly operate in a reading operation and an erasing operation because the first and the second isolation layers 14 and 15 have considerably different dimensions.


A condensate trap is provided for a housing of a motor vehicle that is sealed off from the environment, wherein the housing is provided for accommodating a technical component, in particular a power storage module. A reservoir for accommodating the condensate is formed in or on the floor of the housing. The reservoir forms the lowest point of the floor in a predefined installation situation of the housing. The reservoir is separated from the interior of the housing by a cover, which is provided with at least one breakthrough as an inlet for the condensate, accumulating in the interior. An outlet opening of the reservoir is coupled to an actively actuable element for discharging the condensate.

The invention relates to a device for discharging a condensate for a housing of a motor vehicle that is sealed off from the environment, wherein this housing is provided for accommodating a technical component, in particular a power storage module (such as battery cells or capacitors). Furthermore, the invention relates to a housing for a power storage module as well as to a motor vehicle comprising a device for supplying the power.
Housings, which are provided for accommodating a technical component, such as a power storage module for a vehicle, have to fulfill a number of requirements, in order to meet the changing operating conditions of a vehicle. Such a housing serves the purpose of protecting the power storage module against environmental influences, such as water and dirt. Typically, the heat that is generated when the power storage module is operating is dissipated from the interior of the housing by means of a cooler, or more specifically, a coolant evaporator. Therefore, the moisture, which penetrates into the interior of the housing due to the air exchange, can condense in the interior of the housing because of the refrigerant cooling. This condensate typically collects on the floor of the housing, from which it has to be drained. At the same time it has to be ensured that the transversal and longitudinal vehicle acceleration that takes place when the vehicle is running does not prevent a reliable discharge of the condensate. Furthermore, the approach for discharging the condensate must also take into consideration that the condensate discharge does not allow impurities and water to penetrate into the housing, a state that would impair the function of the power storage modules.
The use of float valves are known from the prior art in order to achieve a condensate discharge. These valves hold open an outlet cross section on the floor of the power storage in order to allow the condensate to drain continuously. The float valve closes the cross section, when the water tries to penetrate into the interior of the housing from the bottom. However, such a float valve for discharging the condensate on the floor area of the housing is sensitive to fouling, so that, on the one hand, the condensate discharge can be degraded, and, on the other hand, the penetration of water into the housing can be facilitated. The latter can become a problem, in particular under so-called fording conditions, because a dirty float valve can no longer reliably close the opening of the valve. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to propose a solution that can provide for the condensate to be discharged in a more reliable way from a housing of a motor vehicle that is sealed off from the environment. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a housing that makes it possible to implement the condensate discharge with a design that is simple and cost effective. Another object of the present invention consists of providing a motor vehicle exhibiting an improved condensate discharge.
These objects are achieved with a device for discharging a condensate in the form of a condensate trap for a housing of a motor vehicle that is sealed off from the environment, wherein the housing is provided for accommodating a technical component, in particular a power storage module. The device according to the invention has a reservoir for accommodating the condensate formed in or on the floor of the housing, and this reservoir forms the lowest point of the floor in a predefined installation situation of the housing. In this context the reservoir is separated from the interior of the housing by a cover, which is provided with at least one breakthrough as an inlet for the condensate accumulating in the interior, and wherein an outlet opening of the reservoir is coupled to an actively actuable element for discharging a condensate.
The inventive condensate discharge by use of a condensate trap allows an implementation with small dimensions. In particular, it is possible to realize housings with a low profile and large installation area. The cover of the reservoir ensures that even transversal and/or longitudinal vehicle acceleration will not cause the condensate, contained in the reservoir of the condensate trap, to run back into the interior of the housing. The actively actuable element for discharging a condensate ensures that the reservoir is closed, except for those periods of time, when the element is actively actuated. Thus, the penetration of water into the interior of the housing, for example, in the course of cleaning a vehicle with a high pressure cleaner, through the outlet opening of the reservoir is ruled out. In addition and beyond this feature, damage to the condensate discharge system, for example, by way of a high pressure cleaner, is virtually ruled out. The actively actuable element makes it possible to control the discharge of the condensate, as required. For example, the condensate is discharged, only if such a discharge is necessary, for example, because a certain amount of condensate has collected in the interior of the reservoir. As a result, this feature also offers a number of diagnostic possibilities.
A practical embodiment provides that the reservoir extends over the entire width of the floor. Thus, it is guaranteed that any condensate falling on the floor of the housing will flow sooner or later into the reservoir.
In particular, it is provided that in the predefined installation situation of the housing in a vehicle, the direction of extension of the reservoir extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. As a result, the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle can be used to force the condensate, accumulating on the floor of the interior of the housing, in the direction of the reservoir.
A practical embodiment provides that in the predefined installation situation of the housing the reservoir is arranged in relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in the rear third, in particular on the rear end. This feature allows, in particular, the acceleration phases of a vehicle to be utilized to drive the condensate in the direction of the reservoir. In principle, the reservoir could also be arranged in the front third, in particular, on the front end, of the floor of the housing, in order to achieve a "transport" of the condensate in the direction of the reservoir in the braking phases. However, tests have demonstrated that the former variant is the preferred option.
The reservoir is especially easy to manufacture in or on the floor of the housing, when the reservoir is formed by an embossing of the floor. The only requirement for manufacturing the reservoir is a modified embossing die. Thus, the costs incurred to provide the condensate trap are minimal, compared to the costs for a conventional housing.
As an alternative, the reservoir is formed by the position of the floor relative to an area that lies in the horizontal plane. According to this embodiment, the reservoir is provided just by means of the relative arrangement of the housing in the vehicle.
According to an additional practical embodiment, the at least one breakthrough has a collar, so that the opening cross section of the breakthrough that faces the interior of the housing is larger than the opening cross section of the breakthrough that faces the reservoir. The result of this arrangement is that the condensate, which may be found in the reservoir, can be easily prevented from flowing back into the interior of the housing, or this backflow can at least be minimized.
An additional practical embodiment provides that the actively actuable element closes the outlet opening of the reservoir, when the actively actuable element is not activated. This feature makes it possible to arrange the outlet opening of the reservoir below a fording line of a motor vehicle, because even under fording conditions the water is prevented from penetrating into the interior of the housing.
In another advantageous variant the actively actuable element is activated at predefined time intervals for discharging the condensate in the reservoir. As a result, it is possible to control the discharge of the condensate, as required. The activation of the actively actuable element can take place, for example, once a day, once a week or once a month. In general, the activation can take place as a function of the necessity to discharge the condensate, and this necessity can also be determined by use of sensor technology.
In a first variant, the actively actuable element is a pump with an inlet that is connected to the outlet opening of the reservoir. An outlet of the pump is located preferably above a predefined fording line in the predefined installation situation of the housing and the pump. This feature can prevent the water from flowing back through the pump in the direction of the interior of the housing without any additional design measures. An especially simple and cost effective implementation of the actively actuable element as a pump can be achieved, when the pump is a windshield wiper water pump. This windshield wiper water pump can be provided as a standardized component in a variety of sizes and designs.
In a second variant, the actively actuable element is a valve, which upon activation opens the outlet opening, which is arranged at the bottom in the reservoir in the direction of gravity, and, upon deactivation, closes the outlet opening. In particular, the second variant provides that the valve can be operated magnetically. In order to be able to solve the problem of sealing off the interior of the housing against the environment, it is preferred that a valve tappet of the valve rests against a seal, surrounding the outlet opening, when the valve is deactivated.
It is self-evident that in the two variants of the actively actuable element the outlet opening is arranged at the lowest point of the reservoir in the respectively predefined installation situation, in order to be able to carry out the condensate discharge in the event that the element is actuated.
Furthermore, the invention provides a housing for one or more power storage modules, in particular, for a motor vehicle, and this housing is distinguished by a condensate trap of the type described above. The housing is, for example, a power storage module housing for motor vehicles, which have a hybrid drive or an electric drive. The housing according to the invention has the same advantages as the housings described in connection with the pressure compensation element according to the invention.
Furthermore, the invention provides a motor vehicle with a device for supplying power. In this context a housing of the device for supplying the power has a condensate trap of the type described above. The motor vehicle is, in particular, a motor vehicle that is provided with an electric drive or a hybrid drive.
The invention is explained in detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment in the drawings.

Device for discharging condensate for a housing of a motor vehicle closed off from the environment, housing, and motor vehicle

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A detection signal receiving unit receives, via signal lines, a detection signal output from a position detector which is used in a motor control device. The resistance value of a termination resistor unit is changed to a resistance value determined depending on the type of the position detector in accordance with the received detection signal and the reference value determined depending on the type of the position detector.

A signal adjusting device for adjusting a signal when the signal is transmitted from a transmitting unit to a receiving unit via a signal line is known. In the signal adjusting device, a termination resistor unit in which a signal line is subjected to termination processing is connected to the signal line in order that an adverse effect such as variation of the amplitude of a signal, generation of a stepped signal waveform, distortion, turbulence, or the like of a signal due to reflection, or the like of the signal is not imposed on the signal.
For such a signal adjusting processing device, a signal adjusting device in which a termination resistor unit having a uniquely determined optimum resistance value is provided with respect to a transmitting unit which comprises in advance an internal processing circuit, an output buffer for outputting an processing result of the internal processing circuit to a signal line, and a code check bit insertion circuit provided therebetween, and in which the uniquely determined resistance value of the termination resistor unit is changed in accordance with the variation of a margin for a mask that an eye pattern opening has been proposed (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. JP-A-2009-159256).
In some cases, a position detector which is used for a motor control device and which detects the position of a motor can be connected to a receiving unit via a signal line, and a detection signal is transmitted from the connected position detector to the receiving unit via the signal line. In cases in which a signal line is subjected to a termination processing by using a termination resistor unit, an optimum resistance value of the termination resistor unit in order that adverse effect is not imposed on a detection signal differs depending on the type of the position detector to which the receiving unit is connected. For example, the optimum resistance value of a termination resistor unit in cases in which a position detector manufactured by a specified manufacturer is connected to a receiving unit differs from the optimum resistance value of a termination resistor unit in cases in which a position detector manufactured by another manufacturer is connected to a receiving unit.
Accordingly, it is difficult to set an optimum resistance value of a termination resistor unit with respect to a position detector connected to a receiving unit. Further, in order to set an optimum resistance value of the termination resistor unit for the position detector to which the receiving unit is connected, another resistor may be added to the termination resistor unit to omit some resistors included in the termination resistor unit, or a resistor included in the termination resistor unit may be changed to another resistor.
An object of the invention is to provide a signal adjusting device in which a resistance value of a termination resistor unit can be set to an appropriate value depending on the type of a position detector to which a receiving unit is connected without adding, omitting, or changing a resistor.

Signal adjusting device comprising termination resistor unit in which a signal line is subjected to termination


In a digital sigma-delta modulator with multi-phase operations by time-sharing including an adder to produce multiple integration, an arrangement includes switching circuitry for alternately establishing one of: a connection between a first input of the adder and an input of the modulator; and connections between the adder output and the first input of the adder by way of a first integration delay circuit, and the adder output and a second input of the adder by way of a second delay circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a digital sigma-delta modulator with multi-phase operations by time-shared means including an adder to produce multiple integration.
2. Background Information
Such a second-order modulator based on a double-loop configuration but with the digital integrators implemented by add and store structures using a time-shared arithmetic unit having two phases of operation corresponding to the two integrations is outlined in the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 24, No 2, April 1989, p. 274 to 280, particularly on p. 278, as part of a dual-channel voice-band PCM codec. The basic configuration shown differs from the classical double-loop circuit in that the output integrator has its delay circuit not in the forward path, immediately after the adder, but in the feedback loop as for the input integrator, a third delay circuit being added between the output integrator and the quantizer. In other words, one keeps a delay circuit in the forward path, but since it is shifted beyond the feedback loop, the latter also includes a delay circuit to keep the equivalence with the classical circuit. The latter is for instance discussed in the IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol.COM-33, No 3, March 1985, p. 249 to 258, where the advantages of double integration in conjunction with two-level quantization are explored in relation to more general structures having three or more feedback loops and quantizers not limited to two levels only. In the first article mentioned above, the digital delay circuits are used as registers with the content of the first added to the digital input signal during a first phase of operation. The result is used to update this first register and it is added to the content of the second register. The quantization is achieved by taking the sign bit from the second register. The 1-bit subtraction of the quantizer bit is done by bit manipulation of the Most Significant Bit of the input signal for the first phase and of the input coming from the first register during phase two. Bit manipulations, by combinational logic techniques on the MSBs of the two numbers of which the difference is to be obtained without performing a full subtraction operation, is for instance disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4209773 as well as in the IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol.COM-27, No 2, February 1979, p. 283 to 295, particularly on p. 288 describing a single loop digital Delta Sigma Modulator part of a single-channel PCM codec. This uses 2's complement arithmetic with parallel bit operations as is also the case in the U.S. Pat. No. 4270027 on a telephone subscriber line unit with sigma-delta digital to analog converter where only an adder, without an additional subtractor, is disclosed, e.g. in FIG. 5 of that patent, for the single loop digital integration.
The solution of the first article using a time-shared arithmetic unit for a second-order Digital Sigma-Delta Modulator starting from a double-loop circuit configuration, with the input and output integrators each including registers providing feedback loop delays, implies two separate registers each with associated input and output switches enabling appropriate connections to the adder and to the digital sigma-delta modulator (hereafter referred to as DSDM) input during the two phases of operations. Especially when implementing such a time-shared solution in a dedicated structure not relying on a time-shared arithmetic unit used also for other purposes, it would be desirable to avoid three 2-way switches to interconnect the adder inputs and output with the two registers and with the DSDM input in the way appropriate to the two phases of operations. This is all the more true with a bit-slice architecture, e.g. with operations on 17 bits in parallel, if one wishes to minimize the area of the chip, e.g. CMOS. Likewise, savings with respect to the two separate registers solution would help to achieve that goal.
Instead of the modified architecture of the basic second-order double-loop DSDM, used in the first article for a time-shared approach, it is also known to have the delay circuit of the input integrator not in the feedback loop but in the forward path, immediately after the adder, as for the output integrator. This is disclosed for instance in the IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. COM-31, No 3, March 1983, p.360 to 369, as well as in the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 23, No 6, December 1988, p. 1298 to 1308, particularly p.1300 discussing the extraction of this modified structure from the conventional one.

Digital sigma-delta modulator and arithmetic overflow protected adder


A method and an apparatus for producing a large-caliber ammunition unit including a combustible or partially combustible propelling charge casing and compacted or partially compacted propelling charge powder, to increase internal ballistic performance. It is known to partially or completely compact or compress the propelling charge powder in a cartridge casing. However, such methods generally cannot be employed for ammunition including a combustible or at least partially combustible propelling charge casing because of the lower strength of the relatively thin-walled combustible casing material, as this would lead to deformation and/or to reduced loadability of such cartridges. The present invention permits the compaction or partial compaction of the propelling charge powder of an ammunition unit including a combustible propelling charge casing in that a pressing mold or matrix is employed which directly encloses the propelling charge casing, with an appropriate annular gap being left free between the inner surface of the propelling charge casing and the outer surface of the press die in dependence on the grain dimension of the propelling charge powder grains to be compacted so that the propelling charge powder can be compacted almost without shear forces with respect to the inner surface of the propelling charge casing.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing large-caliber ammunition including a combustible or partially combustible propelling charge casing and a compacted or partially compacted propelling charge powder. The present invention further relates to ammunition unit including a combustible or partially combustible propelling charge casing and a loose propelling charge which has been partially compacted according to the method of the invention.
Various methods are known in which, in order to increase the internal ballistic performance, the propelling charge powder is further compacted or compressed, either partially or completely, in a cartridge casing. The compaction or compression of the propelling charge powder is here always effected within a pressure resistant metal propelling charge casing or in some other, separate pressing device, with the compacted powder then being transferred into the propelling charge casing. It is here implicitly assumed that the material of the metal propelling charge casing or the other pressing device is suitable to withstand without deformation the radial pressure forces generated during the compaction or compression and acting perpendicular to the walls as well as the tangential friction forces (shear forces) acting parallel to its walls.
This is generally the case for propelling charge casings, projectile casings or other metal devices. For combustible or at least partially combustible propelling charge casings having, for example, non-combustible casing stubs or casing bottoms, the prior art propelling charge compaction methods cannot be employed due to the poor strength of the combustible material since the pressure forces perpendicular to the casing walls generated during the compaction or compression of the powder and the friction or shear forces also occurring during this process and acting parallel to the casing walls would destroy or at least deform the propelling charge casing to the extent that a cartridge stressed in such a way (enlargement of its diameter) could no longer be loaded into the weapon.

Method and apparatus for producing large-caliber ammunition


The present invention relates generally to openers and storage devices for bottled beverages. More particularly, the apparatus and method of the present invention relates to a device designed such that it may hold at least one bottle for storing and be used to easily remove bottle caps.

The present invention relates generally to bottle openers and bottle storage devices. More particularly, the apparatus and method of the present invention relates to a device designed such that it may hold at least one bottle for storing and be used to easily remove bottle caps.
Bottle cap removers are known in the art. Typically, they are a hand held device that makes contact with the cap under its edge and along the caps top to pry the cap off the bottle. Another type of commonly used cap remover is one that is attached to a wall or side of a bar, instead of being handheld, wherein the user places the bottle cap end into the remover and then pries the cap off the bottle by moving the bottle. These known cap removers are limited to removing the cap off of one bottle at a time. In addition, they do not hold the bottle for storage and easy removal when the bottled beverage is ready to be served.
For example, an establishment that servers bottled beverages may receive from the supplier bottled beverages in a packaged container of holding multiple bottles of the beverage including, but not limited to, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, or any other number of bottles. When the employee of the establishment stocks the bottled beverages, the employee grabs one bottle at a time and typically places each one on a shelf or a bottom of a refrigerator or cooler so that it is available for serving in the future. When the employee is stocking large amounts of bottled beverages, this can be a very time consuming task.
In addition, when a customer orders a bottled beverage, the employee must grab a bottle in his/her hand and then open the bottle by using either a handheld opener or by placing the bottle cap end in a remover and opening the bottle. This task seems simple enough. However, having to open one bottle at a time can be troubling in a very busy establishment and especially when customers order multiple bottled beverages at a time. There exist a need for a device that improves the ease and speed of stocking and storing bottled beverages as well as opening multiple bottled beverages.
The bottle holder and opener of the present invention meets such a need. The bottle holder and opener of the present invention provides an employee an apparatus and method to grip multiple bottles at a time and then place those bottles very quickly in storage for future serving. In addition, the present invention provides an apparatus and method to remove multiple caps from multiple bottles simultaneously in a very easy and quick manner. The present invention provides a body having at least one aperture for receiving the cap of a bottle and a slideable member that engages the cap and enables the bottle to suspend from the cap. The present invention further provides a holder that may engage the body and hold it for storing and future serving of the bottled beverages held by the body.
In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments.


The manufacture of polyetherquinoxalines may be accomplished by polymerization of quinoxaline and related monomers with a bisphenol under aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction conditions. A method of manufacture includes contacting a substituted or unsubstituted quinoxaline having replaceable groups at the 2,3 positions with a bisphenol or a bisphenol derivative under aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction conditions. The resulting polyetherquinoxalines contain quinoxaline groups joined by ether linkages at the 2 and 3 positions of the quinoxaline groups. In one example, the polyetherquinoxaline has a formula represented as

The present invention relates to new polyether quinoxalines, which may be used in aerospace, automotive, microelectronic, optical, membrane applications such as gas separation membranes and molecular separation membranes.
Polyquinoxalines are a well established class of high performance thermoplastics with proven potential in aerospace, microelectronic and membrane applications.
Previous types of polyquinoxalines and polyphenylquinoxalines are normally prepared by the reaction of bis-alpha-carbonyl compounds with an organic tetramine, but other synthesis methods are also known.
Methods of synthesis of polyquinoxalines include the condensation of 1,4-diglyoxalylbenzene dehydrate with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine. The preparation of polyphenylquinoxalines by the reaction of combinations of two tetraamines, 3,3′-diaminobenzidine and 3,3′,4,4′-tetraminodiphenyl ether, with two bisbenzils, 4,4′-dibenzil and 4,4′-oxydibenzil is also known.
The formation of certain moldable polyetherquinoxalines from a wide variety of bis-alpha-carbonyl compounds and aromatic organic tetramines has been described, as has been the formation of polyphenylquinoxalines containing alkylenedioxy groups. These polymers have relatively lower glass transition and melt viscosity than other previously reported polyquinoxalines. As a result, they have better melt processability than the previously reported polyquinoxalines. But they still require the synthesis of tetramines and tetraketones.
A common organic tetramine, 3,3′-diaminobenzidine is commercially available but expensive and toxic. Aromatic tetraketones are not commercially available and require successive chemical steps to prepare, further increasing cost of the polyquinoxalines.
The preparation of polyquinoxaline by self condensation of a monomer having both a 1,2-diketone and a 1,2-primary diamine in the molecule has been described. Preparation of this monomer, 3,4-diaminobenzil, requires successive chemical steps and relatively expensive starting materials such as phenyl acetylene and palladium acetate.
Generally, polymerizations by aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction to synthesize a polyarylether, where formation of the ether linkage is the polymer forming reaction, are well known in the art. Many commercially available melt-processable polyarylethers, such as polysulfones, polyetheretherketones or polyetherimides are prepared under aromatic nucleophilic substitution conditions in a polar aprotic solvent. Optimally, solvents used should be able to dissolve monomers, growing chains, and the final polymer at the polymerization temperature. Polar aprotic solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, n-methylpyrrolidinone, sulfolane and diphenylsulfone are generally used. A polymerization solvent should optimally be substantially free of water and the reaction is run under an inert gas atmosphere, such as nitrogen or argon. This polymerization can be performed using a single step process or a two step process, or using a heterogeneous two step process using a phase transfer catalyst.
In the single step process, a bisphenol and activated dihalide or dinitro monomer are polymerized in a polar aprotic solvent using an alkali metal salt, preferably potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate. In the single step process, potassium carbonate reacts with the phenol groups and forms reactive phenoxide salt and potassium bicarbonate. Over the range of 100-200° C., 2 moles of potassium bicarbonate decompose into 1 mole of carbon dioxide, 1 mole of potassium carbonate and 1 mole of water.
In the two step process, bisphenol is converted to a double alkali metal salt first, and then reacted with about stoichiometric quantities of activated dihalide or dinitro monomer. Polyarylethers can also be synthesized by a heterogeneous aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction in relatively non-polar solvents such as o-dichlorobenzene, using a phase transfer catalyst having sufficient thermal stability under the polymerization conditions.
The preparation of other polyphenylquinoxalines by reacting bis-hydroxyphenylquinoxalines with activated difluoro monomers under aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction conditions has also been disclosed. Preparation of bis(hydroxyphenylquinoxalines) requires successive chemicals steps and the activated difluoro monomers are expensive.
The formation of certain polyphenylquinoxalines by reacting bis-fluoro-poly-phenylated-quinoxalines with various bis-hydroxylated aromatic compounds under aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction conditions is also known. The synthetic routes described eliminate the need for tetramines but still require expensive fluorinated starting materials as well as relatively high number of steps to synthesize the monomers.
Other polyether quinoxalines may be synthesized from a self-polymerizable mixture of monomers by a route that eliminates the need for the synthesis of tetraketones. However, that method still requires the use of expensive 4-fluoro-1,2-phenylenediamine and a high number of chemical steps.
Thus, it appears highly desirable to manufacture melt-processable polyetherquinoxalines from low cost starting materials.

Thermoplastic polyphenoxyquinoxaline and method of preparing the same

Abstract: wherein “n” is an integer from 1 to 10000, and R1, R2, R3, R4 are independently hydrogen, methyl, CF3, tert-butyl, benzoyl, benzenesulfonyl, a sulfonic acid salt, an aliphatic group, an alicyclic group, or an aryl group, and Ar is an aromatic radical. These melt-processable polyetherquinoxalines can be prepared under relatively mild conditions, have excellent thermal and mechanical properties, and are organo-soluble, transparent and colorless thermoplastics.


An electromagnetic wave absorber, having two or more magnetic layers for broadening the reduced reflectivity frequency bands, and formed of materials with staggered magnetic dispersion loss spectra. A high permeability nickel-zinc ferrite, rich in zinc, e.g., 0.7 molZn, 0.3 molNi is used as a reference absorber layer adjacent to a ground plane. The successively higher frequency spectra are related to the outer layers and the successively higher loss spectra are achieved by using higher magnetization soft ferro or ferrimagnetics, higher anisotropy semi-hard or hard ferro-ferrimagnetic material, or synthesized "smart" materials, for simulating magnetic loss dispersion. The successive layers are decoupled one from another by any of electrical, magnetic, and/or structural arrangements. The decoupling may be implemented by a significant difference in the frequencies at which the maximum values of the magnetic loss vs. frequency occurs for each layer. Alternatively, the decoupling may be implemented by a significant difference in the optical index of the material in each layer in a decreasing order towards the outside. Also, the decoupling may be implemented by the intercalation of higher wave impedance and low optical index layers increasing the apparent wave impedance presented from one to the next magnetic layer. Using these implementations the wave-absorber frequency range may be extended from about 30 MHz to 3 GHz and above.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electromagnetic wave absorbing structures and more particularly to multilayered or laminated electromagnetic wave absorbers with an extended frequency range, e.g., from under 30 Mhz up to 3 GHz and beyond to 18 GHz and above.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electromagnetic wave absorbers made with a single layer of state-of-the-art ferrite achieve a vertical incidence/reflective performance of the order of 15 dB for frequencies from about 25 MHz to 600 MHz. For the EMC-frequency band, needing 30 MHz to 1 GHz (with provisions of up to 3 GHz), such a one-layer ferrite clearly lacks adequate performance. More appropriately, so-called superwide band absorbers make use of combinations of ferrite tiles and superposed flat layer materials on a metallic substrate in various known structural forms that achieve a relectivity R for vertical incidence better than 20 dB in a "superwide band" from 30 MHz to 3 GHz. However, the design of these structures has to take into account six variables for each layer, which can vary independently, i.e., Epsilon', Epsilon" or Sigma, Mu', Mu", d, and f, so that two permittivity (.epsilon.) values, two permeability (.mu.) values, layer thickness, and wave frequency are involved for just one of the plurality of layers. Therefore, R optimization becomes more difficult for each additional layer, even in the simple case of isotropic materials and an ideal conductive substrate.
Attempts at computer simulations of these structures have difficulties with identifying physical approaches to optimization and rarely offer insights on the electromagnetic phenomena involved, as well as never making a correlation with the feasibility of the material. Many layered broadband absorbers utilizing magnetic materials have been described in various publications since 1945 when broadband absorptive materials became of interest as radar absorptive materials (RAM). More recently, an article by Kim, Kim, and Hong in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 29, #3, July 1993, pps. 2134-2138, entitled, "A study on the Behavior of Laminated Electromagnetic Wave Absorbers", describes a double "ferrite against ferrite" layer absorber, where the center frequency of the absorber is changed between the frequencies of each ferrite. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,160, issued Jun. 21, 1994 to the foregoing authors, describes the same absorber wherein the "materials have different attenuation characteristics and are affixed to each other". Related magnetic spectra are shown by the same authors in the publication, J. Korean Institute Telemat. Electron. (South Korea), Vol. 28a, #8, pps. 9-14, August 1991, "Behavior of Laminates of Ferrites on Electromagnetic Wave Absorbers".
It has been observed that such qualities and implementations do not broaden and enhance the useful absorptive spectrum, where the em wave reflection is reduced by 20 dB, for instance. In fact two ferrites that have been considered have shown different magnetic permeability mu* spectra in the 30 MHz 1 GHz range but very similar mu* spectra in the 1 GHz range. With such structures no extension of this frequency is physically possible.
It is therefore a problem in the art to achieve a desirable range of useful absorptive spectra with current multilayered, electromagnetic wave absorbers.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved layered broadband electromagnetic wave absorber with a broadened and enhanced useful absorptive spectrum.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved multilayered electromagnetic wave absorber with an extended frequency range from under 30 Mhz up to 3 GHz and beyond to 18 GHz and above.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved multilayered, electromagnetic wave absorber with a broadened and enhanced useful absorptive spectrum above 1 GHz with different mu* spectra for the layer materials and magnetic loss dispersion spectra.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved multilayered, electromagnetic wave absorber with a broadened and enhanced useful absorptive spectrum above 1 GHz and "decoupling" of the layers, i.e., reducing of the inherent coupling effect between the adjacent layers, by one or more of the following ways:
increasing the relative wave impedances by staggering the permittivity spectra of the layers; PA1 reducing the dielectric constants from the inside (against the ground reference) to the outside; PA1 separating the permeability dispersion loss spectra in the frequency domain; or PA1 adding intermediary layers of high relative wave impedance, including air layers.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide an improved multilayered, electromagnetic wave absorber with two ferrite layer implementations involving 30 MHz to 3 GHz absorbers using ferrites with different dispersion spectra and using one of the several dispersion techniques above.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide an improved multilayered, electromagnetic wave absorber with a number of two ferrite layer implementations of 30 MHz to 18 GHz absorbers using ferrites with well separated dispersion spectra and one of the several dispersion techniques above.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide an improved multilayered, electromagnetic wave absorber with a broadened and enhanced useful absorptive spectrum below 30 MHz where the coupling effects are small using the above techniques.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide an improved multilayered, electromagnetic wave absorber using a number of "smart materials", i.e., new ferri- and/or ferromagnetic materials as contemplated and synthesized in view of the desired or needed permeability and permittivity spectra, following the above rules of staggered magnetic dispersive loss spectra and/or the rules of decoupling of the successive layers of the absorbers.

High frequency broadband absorption structures


Tissue expanders and methods of their manufacture and use are disclosed herein. A tissue expander shell according to the present disclosure may include a shape and topography that facilitates uniform or substantially uniform expansion and contraction of the tissue expander. In at least one example, the shell may include a series of topographical features, such as ridges, grooves, channels, valleys, canals, protrusions, pleats, creases, or folds. In some embodiments, these features may have a curved or wavy cross sectional profile. For example, the shell may include a series of concentric curved ridges.

Patients have implants for a variety of medical and/or esthetic reasons. Implants may be useful to correct natural asymmetries in body shape, to adjust the size and/or shape of certain features, or for post-operative reconstruction. For example, a breast prosthesis may be used to augment or decrease the size of the breast, or to correct asymmetry in breast shape or volume following surgery, such as a mastectomy or partial mastectomy to remove cancerous breast tissue. Prior to implantation of a prosthesis, a sizer or tissue expander may be inserted temporarily to help to create or maintain the space necessary for the more permanent prosthesis. Keeping living tissues under tension by means of a tissue expander can promote formation of new tissue. As the tissue expander is enlarged over time, the surrounding tissues can expand to the point where the prosthesis may be implanted. Tissue expanders also may be used to spur the growth of new skin and subcutaneous tissue in other parts of the body.

Tissue expanders and methods of use thereof


In a multi-system data sharing complex, a database system can write updated pages to a shared electronic store for a fast write. Other database systems can obtain pages written to the shared store for further modification without the pages first being written to stable storage. However, pages are eventually written to the stable storage in a castout process. Recovery of a database from failure of the shared store is bounded by determination of a recovery boundary which, when applied to the union of database system transaction logs, establishes a point in front of which are found log records of modifications to pages which were in the shared store when it failed. These log records are applied to page versions obtained from stable storage to recover from failure of the shared store.

The technical field of this invention covers the recovery of transaction-based database systems of the write-ahead logging type to a consistent state following a failure. This method is practiced in a multi-system environment in which a plurality of independently-executing database systems share an electronic store for caching data obtained from stable direct access storage. The database systems are all transaction-based and use a transaction log according to a write-ahead protocol.
The background of the invention is exemplified by:
1. Haderle et al, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/406,186, "METHOD FOR MANAGING SUBPAGE CONCURRENCY CONTROL AND PARTIAL TRANSACTION ROLLBACK IN A TRANSACTION-ORIENTED SYSTEM OF THE WRITE-AHEAD LOGGING TYPE", filed Sep. 7, 1989, abandoned; PA0 2. Mohan et al, "ARIES: A TRANSACTION RECOVERY METHOD SUPPORTING FINE-GRANULARITY LOCKING AND PARTIAL ROLLBACKS USING WRITE-AHEAD LOGGING", IBM Research Report RJ 6649; PA0 3. Mohan et al, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/627,315, "NON-BLOCKING SERIALIZATION FOR REMOVING DATA FROM A SHARED CACHE", filed Dec. 14, 1990; PA0 4. Lindsay, "Single and Multi-Site Recovery Facilities" in DISTRIBUTED DATABASES, Draffan et al Eds, Cambridge University Press, 1980. PA0 5. R. A. Crus, "Data Recovery in IBM Database 2", IBM Systems Journal, Vol. 23, No. 2, 1984
In the prior art, transaction-oriented database systems which employ a write-ahead protocol in maintaining logs for recovery in system restart and database recovery from media failure have been fully described. Of the above references, the Haderle application and the IBM Research Report both disclose a write-ahead logging system in which log records are assigned monotonically-increasing log sequence numbers and set forth a method for bounding recovery operations after system failure or media failure where database resides by means of a selected log sequence number. The Lindsay reference describes log-based recovery. The Mohan et al patent application discusses a multi-system data sharing environment in which a plurality of independently-executing database systems utilize a shared storage for caching data for efficient inter-system access and for staging updated data back to permanent storage. Crus discloses a data recovery technique which accommodates transactions that are ongoing when a failure affecting the database occurs.
Transaction-based database system management is well-known and can be understood with reference to available literature such as Date's "An Introduction to Database Systems", Addison Wesley Publishing Company, 1986. Essentially, a transaction-based database management system utilizes a system log stored on stable storage in which are recorded the steps of executing transactions in transforming a consistent state of a recoverable data resource into another consistent state. The transaction steps which are logged can reflect use or modification of a data resource. Logged actions which reflect modification of a data resource form the basis for reconstruction ("recovery") of data. Multi-phase transaction processing initiates a transaction with a BEGIN operation and ends with either a COMMIT or an ABORT operation. The COMMIT operation signifies that a new point of consistency has been reached and all updates made by the transaction must be made permanent. The ABORT operation means that a fault has occurred and that changes made up to the ABORT point must be undone ("rolled back").
Write-ahead logging is a protocol requiring the entry into the log of transaction log records representing changes to a data structure before the changed data structure can replace a previous version of the data structure in permanent storage.
The recordation of transaction progress in a transaction log is essentially in the form of a sequence of records. Every log record has a unique location in the sequence. Sequence locations can be uniquely identified by log sequence numbers (LSN's) which are assigned in a monotonically changing sequence. A convenient way of assigning LSN's is to utilize "timestamps" which are essentially measurements of elapsed time from some initial point. Thus, a microsecond/millisecond/second/minute/hour/date clock can provide log sequence numbers in the form of timestamps.
Failures may occur which catastrophically interrupt or prevent access to a database. In these circumstances, the data must be "recovered" to a "consistent" state. Transaction log records are used for this purpose since they reflect all changes made to data and the status of all transactions operating on data at the time of failure. The transaction log records contain information which is applied to the database to recover it to a consistent state. The challenge in the prior art has been to bound the amount of recovery work which is necessary to bring a database to a consistent state.
Several techniques are described in the prior art which utilize a log sequence number to establish a recovery boundary. These techniques involve ways of "moving" the boundary forward in order to minimize the amount of recovery work required. Since data versions are continually being swapped in a database system between working storage and stable storage, the boundary log sequence number is moved forward to the point in the transaction log behind which the changes made by transactions are in the stable storage. From the boundary forward are found the log records whose changes may not yet be entered in stable storage. The prior art shows how the buffer manager of a database management system (DBMS) maintains and moves the boundary LSN.
Periodically, a DBMS will execute a checkpoint procedure to support restart in the event of failure. The checkpoint procedure is recorded in the transaction log in the same manner as the operations of a transaction. Checkpoint log records include the current boundary LSN, transactions which were active at the time the checkpoint was taken, pages which were "dirty" at the checkpoint, exclusive locks held by current transactions, and so on.
In the event of failure, a restart procedure is invoked in order to restart the failed system. The restart procedure receives the stable storage address of a control block which includes an index to the first record of the last checkpoint recorded in the transaction log. The checkpoint records are used to identify the data structures which must be recovered to a consistent state and the log records necessary for this recovery. The boundary LSN is a key element.
In the event of a failure of storage media, the "ARIES" reference of Mohan et al teaches at p. 32, et seq., that recovery may be bounded by a media recovery redo point. An image of a recoverable entity is loaded and a redo scan is initiated starting from the media recovery redo point. This recovery point is moved forward when an image of the recoverable entity is copied into permanent storage.
The restart and recovery procedures of the prior art which are based on transaction-oriented systems of the write-ahead logging type guarantee the fast, efficient, and reliable operation of a database system. To date, however, these protocols have been developed for single-system use.
Recently, a multi-system data sharing architecture has been proposed in which multiple independently-executing DBMS's utilize a shared electronic store for trans-system data caching. The following U.S. patent applications address, respectively, a non-blocking process for bringing data into the shared store for stable storage and a non-blocking process for returning data from the shared store to the stable storage:
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/628,211, filed Dec. 14, 1990; PA1 U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/627,315, filed Dec. 14, 1990 PA1 These objects are satisfied by a method in which: each database system ascertains a system sequence value which is substantially equivalent to the log sequence location of a log record recording the earliest modification to a data structure at the database system which is not included in any data structure in the shared store; PA1 database system, for each data structure modified at the database system, providing sequence values which are substantially equal to log sequence locations of log records recording modifications to the data structure; PA1 for each data structure in the shared store, based upon sequence values provided by the database systems, ascertaining a structure sequence value corresponding to a log sequence location of a log record of the earliest modification of the data structure occurring after the data structure was obtained from stable storage; and PA1 ascertaining from the system and data structure sequence values a recovery boundary for the shared store which corresponds to the earliest of the system and structure sequence values. PA1 obtaining data structures from the DAS; PA1 locally storing data structures for immediate access; PA1 altering locally-stored data structures; and PA1 storing data structures in, and moving data structures from, the SS; PA1 maintains for each database system a transaction log including a sequence of log records, each log record including a unique sequence value denoting its place in the sequence; PA1 maintains at each database system a system sequence value which is substantially equal to the sequence value of a log record of the earliest modification made by the database system to locally-stored data structures which is not included in any version of the data structure stored in the SS; PA1 maintains for each data structure modified and then stored in the SS, a structure sequence value corresponding to a log record of the earliest modification made by a database system to the data structure after the data structure was obtained from the DAS; PA1 periodically determines a recovery sequence value by taking from the system sequence values and the structure sequence values, the sequence value which corresponds to a log record of the earliest modification made to any data structure which is locally stored at a database system or in the SS; and PA1 merges all of the transaction logs and, from the merged logs, identifies database structures in the DAS for which corresponding log records exist with sequence values following the recovery sequence value; and PA1 applies to the identified data structures the modifications in the log records with sequence values following the recovery sequence value.
In this multi-system architecture, the shared store possesses a high degree of intelligence in the form of management logic which, among other things, manages storage of, and access to, data in the shared store. It is asserted that restart/recovery capacity may be included in the management logic. The management logic also has the ability to take and record checkpoints. However, it is contemplated that the shared store function only as a cache. In this regard, data is brought from stable storage to the shared store by way of a DBMS. However, data is accessed and modified by transactions locally in the buffers of the DBMS's. Modified data is cached in the shared store for fast access by the DBMS's, and data is returned to stable storage only by staging it through the shared store. Thus, no data is modified in the shared store, implying great simplification of the transaction and logging process in the shared store's management logic.
In the face of failure of the shared store, the challenge is to efficiently and quickly recover data which is in the store at the time of failure by bounding the recovery. Since the management logic of the shared store does not serve transactions, it currently has no means for maintaining a recovery boundary for the shared store. In the prior art, recovery of data from media failure can be performed by using an image copy (or dump) of a database and a transaction log. When a failure occurs, the image copy is entered into a replacement medium and the log records are applied. However, this process is slow because the image copy of database can be days/weeks old and the amount of log scan would be worth days/weeks.

Method for managing database recovery from failure of a shared store in a system including a plurality of transaction-based systems of the write-ahead logging type

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention provides compositions comprising one or more bacterial strains for use in a method of reducing the level of Enterobacteriaceae in the gastrointestinal tract.

The human intestine is thought to be sterile in utero, but it is exposed to a large variety of maternal and environmental microbes immediately after birth. Thereafter, a dynamic period of microbial colonization and succession occurs, which is influenced by factors such as delivery mode, environment, diet and host genotype, all of which impact upon the composition of the gut microbiota, particularly during early life. Subsequently, the microbiota stabilizes and becomes adult-like [1]. The human gut microbiota contains more than 1500 different phylotypes dominated in abundance levels by two major bacterial divisions (phyla), the Bacteroidetes and the Firmicutes [2-3]. The successful symbiotic relationships arising from bacterial colonization of the human gut have yielded a wide variety of metabolic, structural, protective and other beneficial functions. The enhanced metabolic activities of the colonized gut ensure that otherwise indigestible dietary components are degraded with release of by-products providing an important nutrient source for the host and additional health benefits. Similarly, the immunological importance of the gut microbiota is well-recognized and is exemplified in germfree animals which have an impaired immune system that is functionally reconstituted following the introduction of commensal bacteria [4-6].
Dramatic changes in microbiota composition have been documented in gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For example, the levels of Clostridium cluster XIVa and Clostridium cluster XI (F. prausnitzii) bacteria are reduced in IBD patients whilst numbers of E. coli are increased, suggesting a shift in the balance of symbionts and pathobionts within the gut [7-11].
In recognition of the potential positive effect that certain bacterial strains may have on the animal gut, various strains have been proposed for use in the treatment of various diseases (see, for example, [12-15]). A number of strains, including mostly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, have been proposed for use in treating various bowel disorders (see [16] for a review). Strains of the genus Blautia have also been proposed for use in modulating the microbial balance of the digestive ecosystem in IBS patients (WO 01/85187). However, the relationship between different bacterial strains and different diseases, and the precise effects of particular bacterial strains on the gut and at a systemic level and on any particular types of diseases, are poorly characterised.
There is a requirement for the potential effects of gut bacteria to be characterised so that new therapies using gut bacteria can be developed.
US 2010/0247489 describes the use of mineral nutrients to treat digestive disorders. US′789 proposes optionally also using numerous different genera of bacteria, including Enterobacteriaceae, to prevent and reduce gas formation in the colon, so this document suggests that increasing Enterobacteriaceae spp. in the gastrointestinal tract may be employed to treat certain diseases. US′789 does not discuss any methods for reducing Enterobacteriaceae spp.
WO 2016/086206 suggests that bacteria in the order Clostridiales, including Enterbacteriaceace spp., can be used to treat or prevent dysbiosis. There is no suggestion in WO′206 that reducing the level of Enterobacteriaceace spp. in the gastrointestinal tract can be used to treat diseases, nor any suggestion regarding how a reduction in the level of Enterbacteriaceace spp. might be achieved.
WO 2012/142605 proposes that it may be possible to treat a number of different diseases with a combination of microorganisms. WO′605 suggests a large number of possible bacterial species that could be employed, but there is no teaching in WO′605 as to how any of the proposed bacterial species could be used to treat any of the diseases proposed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compositions comprising bacterial strains


The invention relates to a method for the control of an electric machine (5), wherein a control unit (1) comprises a parameterisable speed control (26) and a parameterisable additional control (28). The electric machine (5) is provided in order to modify the position of a displaceable machine part (7,8). The position (29) of the displaceable machine part (7,8) is detected and at least one parameter (31) of the speed control (26) and/or at least one parameter (33) of the additional control (28) is modified according to the position (29) of the displaceable machine part (7,8).

The invention relates to a method for controlling an electrical machine, and to an apparatus for controlling it. A control unit is used in a method for controlling an electrical machine. The control unit is advantageously configurable. The control unit has, for example, a current regulator, a speed regulator or a further additional regulator. At least one of these regulators can be configured by means of at least one parameter. Regulators, for example, have different control elements. Control elements are, for example, P elements (amplification elements), D elements (differential elements), I elements (integrated elements) etc. Control elements such as these have parameters such as gain factors P or else differential time constants TD, or else integrating time constants Ti. Timers, gain factors and/or time constants such as these are examples of parameters.
The electrical machine is intended, for example, for the movement of a machine part. The machine part is, for example, a part of a machine tool, of a production machine or of an automatic handling machine. The machine part may, however, also be a part of the electrical machine itself, for example a rotor of a rotating electrical machine or else a primary part or a secondary part of a linear motor. In the case of a linear motor, either the primary part or else the secondary part can be moved linearly. The secondary part, which has permanent magnets, is generally stationary, and the primary part, which has at least one winding through which a current can be passed, can be moved linearly.
The electrical machine is thus either a rotating electrical machine or a linear motor. In the case of a rotating electrical machine, the moving machine part is, for example, driven directly by the electrical machine, or else via a gearbox or via a means for power transmission, such as a toothed belt or the like.
The constraints for movement (linear or rotational) of the electrical machine may vary depending on the position of the machine part which can be moved. One constraint is, for example, a coefficient of friction, which is dependent on the position of the machine part. In the case of a linear motor, or else in the case of a rotated electrical synchronous machine with permanent-magnet excitation, for example, it is also possible for the permanent magnets on the secondary part of the linear motor or on the rotor to have different magnetization. The magnetization is thus an example of a further constraint. The resultant electromagnetic force EMK differs, depending on the magnetization. In the case of a linear motor, for example, the electromagnetic force EMF also differs because the primary part moves over a section of the secondary part which is free of any cover protecting this secondary part.
According to the prior art, the parameters for controlling a control unit for the electrical machine must be set in such a way that, on average, they produce an optimum control setting for all positions of the electrical machine. This means that the electrical machine is configured optimally with respect to the control system in no position, or only in a small number of positions, of a moving machine part.

Method for the control of an electric machine and/or device for the control thereof


A conveyor support structure for an aggregate processing apparatus, the support structure comprising a base section and a deployable boom structure. The boom structure includes a mid-section pivotably coupled to the base section, and a head section pivotably coupled to the mid-section. When the boom structure adopts a transport state, the mid-section extends at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the ground surface. A pair of crossed head section supports are pivotably coupled between the base section and the head section and serve to guide the movement of the boom structure.

Material processing apparatus may include a plurality of conveyors for transporting aggregate or other material to or from the apparatus. Typically, the conveyors include one or more side conveyors, which extend laterally from the processing apparatus during use. A problem with such conveyors is that transporting or moving the material processing apparatus can be difficult or impossible when they are deployed. For example, when being carried by a transport vehicle, the material processing apparatus must fit onto or into the vehicle as well as complying with any height and/or width restrictions that may be applicable to public roads. To this end, side conveyors are often provided with a foldable support structure that allows them to be folded between the deployed state and a more compact transport state. United Kingdom Patent GB2351719 discloses an example of a side conveyor with a foldable support structure. A problem with the conveyor of GB2351719 is that it does not readily allow another conveyor, for example an auxiliary conveyor, to be mounted beside it.
A further problem with such conveyors is the susceptibility of their component parts to damage or failure resulting from, for example, the ingress of dirt during use.
It would be desirable to provide an improved foldable support structure for a conveyor that mitigates the problems outlined above.


Embodiments are provided for creating and reusing custom data types in a database. A selection of a field or group of fields may be received from a database table in the database by a database software application executing on a computer system. Each selected field may include a set of field properties. The application may further receive a user input to initiate saving the selected field or group of fields as a custom data type. In response to receiving the input, the application may be configured to generate a dialog for receiving custom data type information for the selected field or group of fields and save the selected field or group of fields as a custom data type. The custom data type may then be reused by the application in the database.

Many database software applications allow the creation and utilization of database templates to facilitate the building of solutions using database data. The database software applications utilize a set of predefined data types (e.g., text, number, currency, etc.) to create templates which may comprise forms and reports for entering data into various fields corresponding to a predefined data type (e.g., text).
Currently however, the predefined data types provided by database software applications suffer from a number of drawbacks. One drawback is that users are restricted to using default properties associated with predefined data types which cannot easily be modified by the average database user. Another drawback associated with current database software applications is that there is currently not an easy way for average database users to combine data types for use (and reuse) as a single data type. It is with respect to these considerations and others that the various embodiments of the present invention have been made.


Barrier coating mixtures include (a) a mixture of pre-vulcanized and non-vulcanized elastomeric polymers; (b) an acid or base treated dispersed, substantially exfoliated silicate filler material that has not been functionalized with organic cations having an aspect ratio greater than 25; and (c) at least one additive, wherein the total solids content is less than 30% and the amount of filler is between 5% to about 60% of the total solids content. The coating retains its permeability properties under strain and has a strain to first damage of at least 10% biaxial elongation at 0% RH.

Barrier coatings which prevent, reduce, or inhibit the permeation of a selected substrate with a gas, vapor, chemical and/or aroma have been widely described, and such coatings are used in a variety of industries, e.g., the packaging industries, automobile industries, paint industries, tire industries etc.
It is well known that the barrier properties of a polymer can be improved by the addition of impermeable plate like structures. When the plates are oriented perpendicular to the diffusion (permeation) direction, the diffusing molecules must go around the plates. This leads to significant reductions in the permeability of the polymer. See, for example, E. L. Cussler et al, J. Membrane Sci. 38:161–174 (1988); W. J. Ward et al, J. Membrane Sci., 55:173–180 (1991); Chang, J. et al, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 84, 2294 (2002); Yano, K. et at, Journal of Polymer Science A: Polymer Chemistry, 35, 2289 (1997); Lan, T. et al, Chem. Mater. 6, 573 (1994); Messersmith, P. B. and Giannelis, E. P, Journal of Polymer Science A: Polymer Chemistry 33,1047 (1995); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,528,235; 4,536,425; 4,911,218; 4,960,639; 4,983,432; 5,091,467; and 5,049,609; and International Patent Application No. WO93/04118, published Mar. 4, 1993, among others.
Despite the numerous disclosures of barrier coatings mixtures, most of the coatings useful in the industry either do not optimally reduce permeability or tend to be brittle and non-flexible. For example, attempts to improve the gas permeability of butyl rubber as well as retain its elasticity and fatigue resistance, have involved coating butyl rubber in tires with a polymer containing a platelet filler. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,911,218 and 5,049,609. Only minimal decreases in permeability were achieved by this process.
Other attempts to improve the gas barrier properties of rubber used in tires have included compositions of rubber having layered silicate platelets dispersed within the rubber composition. Se,e e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,397; WO97/00910 and G. J. van Amerogen, "Diffusion in Elastomers", Rubber Chem Tech, 37, pp 1065–1152 (1964).
Most of the earlier work uses relatively low aspect ratio platelets, at low concentrations, and thermoplastically processed at high shear rates. These conditions lead to relatively small improvements in the barrier properties of the polymer. This is because the reduction in permeability varies rapidly with the aspect ratio and the concentration of plates when the plates are well aligned [E. L. Cussler et al, J. Membrane Sci. 38:161–174 (1988); L. E. Nielsen, Journal of Macromolecular Science, Chemistry AI, 929,(1967); R. K. Bharadwaj, "Modeling the Barrier Properties of Polymer-Layered Silicate Nanocomposites", Macromolecules 34, 9189 (2001); G. H. Fredrickson and J. Bicerano, "Barrier properties of oriented disk composites", Journal of Chemical Physics 110, 2181 (1999)]. If the plates are not well aligned, the reductions in permeability are further reduced. The targeted application of these earlier efforts was not coatings, but a bulk polymer with improved barrier and/or mechanical properties.
The use of platelet fillers in coating formulations is also well known. Most often, they have been used in paints to modify the rheology, enabling the production of no-drip paints. These platelet fillers are typically montmorillonites or other exfoliated silicates with aspect ratio of 50 or less. They form a house of cards type structure in the coating suspension that gives a gel like property to the paint (or coating) when it is not undergoing any shear. These structures do not have the plates aligned properly to significantly reduce the permeability of the coating.
The use of exfoliated silicates to produce nanocomposite barrier coatings has been achieved by several methods. The most widely used has been by combining a dissolved polymer with exfoliated filler. Water soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) have been combined with water exfoliated filler such as vermiculite [Japan patent 11-246729, Sep. 14, 1999, "Gas-Barrier Poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly (acrylic acid) Compositions and their Laminates and Shaped Articles". Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. Polycarbonate dissolved in toluene has been combined with organically functionalized filler to form good barrier coatings [W. J. Ward et al, "Gas Barrier Improvement Using Vermiculite and Mica in Polymer Films", Journal of Membrane Science, 55:173–180 (1991)]. Other polymers have also been made into improved barrier coatings by dissolving them in a solvent, and using an organically functionalized filler to improve the barrier properties [Yano, K. et al, "Synthesis and Properties of Polyimide-Filler Hybrid Composites", Journal of Polymer Science A: Polymer Chemistry, 35, 2289 (1997)].
An alternative method that has been used to form nanocomposites has been to incorporate the exfoliated filler into the monomer before polymerization [U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,538 "Composite Material Composed of Filler Mineral and Organic High Polymer and Method for Producing the Same", Sep. 18, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,885 "Composite Material Containing a Layered Silicate", Dec. 26, 1989]. In some cases, this has been done in aqueous dispersion. Several monomers that can be polymerized into elastomers had exfoliated filler incorporated into the monomer droplets before the emulsion polymerization [PCT Patent No. WO 97/00910, Jan. 9, 1997, "Polymer Nanocomposite Formation by emulsion Synthesis", Exxon Research and Engineering Co]. Methacrylate monomer was combined with exfoliated filler in aqueous dispersion prior to its polymerization into a nanocomposite [Lee, D. C. and Jang, L. W., Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 61, 1117–1122 (1996)]. None of these methods led to practical coating formulations. They were designed to help make bulk nanocomposites for thermal processing.
Several references have been made to the orientation of platelet materials in rubber and polymeric compositions. Specific perpendicular orientation of the platelets to the direction of gas diffusion has been found to decrease gas permeability of rubber compositions containing layered silicate platelets, while not adversely affecting the flexibility of the rubber. See, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,576,372; 5,576,373; and 5,665,183. Puncture resistance is increased in polymeric sheet material comprising discrete platelets, which are oriented substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet material in an overlapping interrelation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,810.
Most of the coatings useful in the industry which contain platelet type fillers are prepared by melt processing, in which solid polymer and solid filler are melted together and mixed at high shear rates. Such melt-processed coatings have 100% solids, and usually use less than about 3% by weight of the platelet fillers. Such coatings do not optimally reduce permeability.
Tires with integral innerliners are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,702, wherein the tire has a top layer and multiple layers of rubber laminate in which at least two layers are barrier layers comprising a sulfur cured rubber composition having 100 parts by weight rubber, 100 parts by weight acrylonitrile/diene polymer and about 25–150 parts by weight of platy filler of unspecified width and thickness. These compositions are stated to reduce the costs of the innerliners while maintaining flexibility and barrier performance.
There are several examples of using an aqueous dispersion of exfoliated filler with an aqueous dispersion of polymer to form a nanocomposite. Most of that work used elastomeric polymers in suspension [Wu, Y—P et al, "Structure of Carboxylated Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber (CNBR)-Filler Nanocomposites by Co-coagulating Rubber Latex and Filler Aqueous Suspension", Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 82, 2842–2848 (2001); Wu, Y—P et al, "Structure and Properties of Nitrile Rubber (NBR)-Filler Nanocomposites by Co-coagulating NBR Latex and Filler Aqueous Suspension", Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 89, 3855–3858 (2003): Varghese and Karger-Kocsis, "Natural rubber-based nanocomposites by latex compounding with layered silicates", Polymer (in press) (2003); Feeney et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,016, "Barrier Coating of an Elastomer and a Dispersed Layered Filler in a Liquid Carrier", Jul. 11, 2000; Feeney et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,389, "Barrier Coating of an Elastomer and a Dispersed Layered Filler in a Liquid Carrier and Coated Articles", May 15, 2001; Goldberg et al, "Nanocomposite Barrier Coatings for Elastomeric Applications", Materials Research Society, Symposium T: Polymer nanocomposites, paper T4.7, (April 2002); Goldberg et al, "Elastomeric Barrier Coatings for Sporting Goods", ACS Rubber Section, Apr. 29, 2002, paper 17, published in Rubber World, vol. 226, No. 5, p 15 (August 2002)]. The typical use of ion exchange to make the filler surface more compatible with the polymer is not used in these references, in that it usually makes the filler fall out of aqueous suspension. In order to form a nanocomposite from a combination of polymer spheres and filler platelets, one needs significant flow and deformation of the polymer.
None of the above art discusses treatments of the filler that enhance the flexibility of the final nanocomposite.
There remains a need for low permeability coatings with improved flexibility in a variety of applications. These applications include chemical protective gloves, face masks and protective suits. Other uses include low permeability coatings for sports balls, rubber hoses, inflatable boats and other inflatable products, bladders used in production and to protect storage tanks, window sealing, inner tubes for bicycles, and tires. Pneumatic products need improved air barrier. Rubber hoses for fuel lines, protective equipment (such as gloves) and other products need improved resistance to petroleum oils and gasoline. Rubber is often used as protection against corrosion (storage tanks) and hazardous chemicals (gloves, chemical protective suits, face masks and hoods).

Barrier coating of a mixture of cured and uncured elastomeric polymers and a dispersed layered filler in a liquid carrier and coated articles

Abstract: Coated articles, free standing films and membranes, which are flexible and elastomeric, are produced using the barrier coating mixtures. Methods of manufacturing of such coated products are also encompassed.


A transfer case for use in a motor vehicle to selectively transfer drive torque from a powertrain to first and second pairs of wheels. The transfer case includes an input shaft driven by the powertrain and an output shaft selectively driven by the input shaft. A transfer mechanism is operably disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft to transfer drive torque from the input shaft to the output shaft. The transfer mechanism includes a first chain that is selectively driven by the input shaft and a second chain that is driven by the first chain and that transfers drive torque to the output shaft.

Traditionally, four-wheel drive (4WD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles enable transfer of drive torque, produced by an engine and supplied through a gear reducing transmission, to front and rear wheel assemblies. Depending upon the particular vehicle configuration, drive torque can be transferred to both the front and rear wheel assemblies on a full-time basis, part-time basis or "on-demand" basis. A vehicle using an "on-demand" system, normally operates in two-wheel drive (2WD) driving one of the front and rear wheel assemblies and selectively transfers drive torque to the other of the front and rear wheel assemblies in response to vehicle driving conditions.
A transfer case is generally provided for enabling the split of drive torque between the front and rear wheel assemblies. The transfer case includes an input, operably interconnected to an output of the transmission, a first output shaft and a second output shaft, respectively interconnected with the wheel assemblies. A transfer mechanism is provided therein for selectively engaging the first and second output shafts, enabling the transfer of drive torque therebetween. The transfer case must be conveniently packaged within a vehicle underbody, avoiding interference with other vehicle components including drive shafts, exhaust, suspension, vehicle frame and the like. Packaging of the transfer case within a vehicle underbody has become more difficult in recent years, as automakers seek to implement 4WD/AWD systems in smaller vehicle applications.
Traditional transfer mechanisms include first and second transfer gears interconnected by a transfer chain. The transfer gears are respectively interconnected with the first and second output shafts for rotation therewith. As the first output shaft is caused to rotate, thereby rotating the first transfer gear, the transfer chain transfers drive torque to the second output shaft through the second transfer gear.
Transfer mechanisms employing transfer chains retain significant disadvantages. A first disadvantage is the limited configurability. As mentioned above, a recent trend is to provide 4WD/AWD systems in increasingly smaller vehicle applications. Thus, underbody packaging plays an important role. Traditional transfer cases are sometimes difficult to properly package due to the limited configurability of the chain-type transfer mechanisms. A second disadvantage if noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) associated with chain-type transfer mechanisms.
In view of the above, it is desirable in the industry to provide an improved transfer case design. In particular, the improved transfer case design should alleviate the problems associated with traditional transfer cases employing chain-type transfer mechanism and should further enable design flexibility for resolving underbody packaging issues.

Transfer case with dual chain transfer mechanism