Two already known items are combined to provide a means to draw with color on paper especially at an office work place using a set of felt tipped markers and a typist's correction fluid.

The genesis of this invention is my novel education: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Painting and Drawing, 1974, Arizona State University and Master of Science (MS), Industrial Engineering, 1979, University of Arizona.
Studying Fine Arts first and Engineering second was hard, but latter it caused me to work in an Engineering Office and have a need to practice my art at the same time as my engineering.
I practiced my art using supplies from the office. At first a felt tipped marker, having a blunt drawing nib and harsh, dark colors and a typist's correction fluid seemed unusual drawing tools.
1. Prior Art
Chinese White is an opaque white paste, comes in a tube and sometimes is sold in stores next to said felt tipped markers. Chinese White is the color white with similar properties to said typist's correction fluid. And if there is a greater purpose for Chinese White other than as the color white for said felt tipped markers, it is not advertised.
2. Objects and Advantages
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
(a) to provide a means to draw with a color(s) from said felt tipped markers on a paper, especially a sheet of 8×11 inch office paper.
(b) to provide a means to draw with said color on said paper such that an error, or a mistake made while drawing on said paper, is corrected easily and quickly.
(c) to provide a means to draw with said color on said paper such that an act of drawing, where the end result of said act of drawing is a finished drawing, can commence impulsively and spontaneously without prior study or plans, thereby allowing for a form of sketching.
(d) to provide a means to draw with said color on said paper such that said finished drawing is drawn in a spontaneous style of art.
(e) to provide a means to draw with said color on said paper such that said finished drawing is a well prepared sketch and a means of preparation for an intended oil painting or an intended acrylic painting, where said well prepared sketch takes about a few hours to prepare and is not an usual, ten minute, rough, thumbnail sketch.
(f) to provide a means to draw with said color on said paper such that said finished drawing resembles or looks similar to a painting having brush marks and new, complex colors from said colors mixing and blending together on the drawing.
(g) to provide a means to draw with said color on said paper such that said well prepared sketch, having looks similar to a painting, is a model or an object to copy from for said intended painting.
(h) to provide a means to draw with said color on said paper such that personal correspondence and letters sent by mail can be decorated with designs, doodles and other forms of artistic embellishments in color.
(i) to provide a means to draw with said color on said paper so as to allow for a practice of drawing in an office or at work during brief pauses from a regular office work.
(j) to provide a means to draw with said color on said paper and a means to relax during brief pauses from said regular office work and thereby to allow for a practice of a form of art therapy.


A distributed database encrypts a table using a table encryption key protected by a client master encryption key. The encrypted table is replicated among a plurality of nodes of the distributed database. The table encryption key is replicated among the plurality of nodes, and is stored on each node in a respective secure memory. In the event of node failure, a copy of the stored key held by another member of the replication group is used to restore a node to operation. The replication group may continue operation in the event of a revocation of authorization to access the client master encryption key.

Increasingly, data encryption is used in a variety of applications. Encryption makes it much more difficult for a malicious actor to steal sensitive information, and protects the privacy and security of the data's owner. Data encryption is typically employed in transit. In addition, encryption of data at rest has become more common. However, the operation or efficiency of databases that maintain encrypted data may be improved. The operation or efficiency of managed databases, in which a provider manages a database on behalf of a client, may be particularly challenging, especially where the client maintains control over certain encryption keys.

Database with client-controlled encryption key


Two opening through which a refrigerant runs are connected by a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe. One end of the first connecting pipe is connected to a first opening by a planar seal. Another end of the first connecting pipe is connected to one end of a second connecting pipe by a shaft seal. Another end of the second connecting pipe is connected to a second opening by a planar seal. An axial direction of a shaft seal is perpendicular to a plane that includes the first opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connection structure for connecting two openings in and out of which a fluid flows by a rigid connecting pipe and also to an inverter that utilizes the connection structure.
2. Description of Related Art
It has been a common practice to connect two openings in and out of which a fluid flows by a rigid connecting pipe. For example, an opening of a cooler, such as an inverter cooler or a motor cooler, is connected to an opening of a radiator by a pipe in an electric vehicle. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-054444 (JP 2012-054444 A) discloses a technique to reduce flow path resistance in a U-shaped connecting pipe that connects two openings, for example. The invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-232484 (JP 2003-232484 A) includes: a connector section having a stop section that is attachable to a cooling system and an elbow section at which a flow path is bent; and a pipe section that is continuous with the elbow section. In addition, JP 2003-232484 A discloses a flow path port for the cooling system in which the pipe section and the connector section are integrally molded by die casting. This technique exhibits an excellent effect in terms of workability of the flow path port.


A network service access gateway is described that provides service correlation for incoming and outgoing invocations. The service requests can be received to the gateway from telecommunication mobile devices as well as from external service provider applications. A first service request can be received to the gateway and processed. The service correlation identifier (SCID) of the request can be persisted within the gateway prior to forwarding the request to the recipient. When a second and related service invocation is later received to the gateway, the two invocations can be associated based on the SCID. Based on the association, various custom functionality can be performed, such as invoking the charging system to treat the multiple services as a single unified transaction.

With the ever-increasing popularity of the World Wide Web, more and more previously unrelated technologies are becoming integrated with the enormous network of information and functionality that the internet provides. Everything from television and radio to books and encyclopedias are becoming available online, amongst a wide variety of other technologies. One such area of technology is telephony and the related telecommunications services.
Conventionally, telecommunications and network infrastructure providers have relied on often decades-old switching technology to providing routing for network traffic. Businesses and consumers, however, are driving industry transformation by demanding new converged voice, data and video services. The ability to meet these demands can often be limited by existing IT and network infrastructures that are closed, proprietary and too rigid to support these next generation services. As a result, telecommunications companies have been transitioning from traditional, circuit-switched Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN), the common wired telephone system used around the world to connect any one telephone to another telephone, to Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks. VoIP technologies enable voice communication over "vanilla" IP networks, such as the public Internet. Additionally, a steady decline in voice revenues has resulted in heightened competitive pressures as carriers vie to grow data/service revenues and reduce churn through the delivery of these more sophisticated data services. Increased federal regulation, security and privacy issues, as well as newly emerging standards can further compound the pressure.
Delivering these more sophisticated data services has proved to be more difficult than first imagined. Existing IT and network infrastructures, closed proprietary network-based switching fabrics and the like have proved to be too complex and too rigid to allow the creation and deployment of new service offerings.
While the worlds of TCP/IP applications and of telephony networks continue to converge, the relationship between them has often been overly complex and difficult to manage for various organizations, as well as for consumers. In recent times, specialized telecommunication servers and various service gateway applications have emerged to enable simpler ways for developers to include telephony-based functionality in their software applications, as well as provide increased security and stability. Nevertheless, these specialized solutions continue to need improvements in performance generally required by network operators and demanded by their subscribers. As an example, a desirable feature within this context is the ability to associate various atomic operations in telecommunications network.

System and method for providing service correlation in a service access gateway environment


In various embodiments, a module for providing thermal fold-back protection to an illumination device includes a housing, at least one temperature sensor, and thermal fold-back circuitry.

Unlike incandescent, halogen, metal halide, and fluorescent lights, LEDs are quite sensitive to elevated temperature. High temperatures reduce the light output of an LED as well as its lifetime. While temperatures above roughly 100° C. can shorten the lifetime of an LED, when combined with high operating currents such elevated temperatures are particularly damaging to the LED. While it is possible that high ambient operating temperatures may result from the local environment external to the fixture containing the LED, typically excessive operating temperatures are due to improperly designed or assembled light fixtures or failure of an LED cooling system (e.g., a fan). Currently LEDs are approximately 20% efficient, i.e., 20% of the incoming electrical energy is converted to light; the remaining 80% of the electrical energy is dissipated in the form of heat. If not removed from the vicinity of the LED, this dissipated heat can lead to deleteriously high LED operating temperatures and, consequently, shortened lifetimes.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for systems and techniques for controlling the operating current of an LED in response to its operating temperature in order to prevent deleterious overheating. However, methods of controlling LED operating current are complicated by the fact that many LED-based illumination devices are dimmable; moreover, multiple different dimming techniques may be utilized. For example, two common dimming techniques are phase dimming and 0-10 V dimming, each of which controls the light output of the LED-based device in a different manner.
In phase dimming, a dimming controller such as a semiconductor-controlled rectifier (SCR) or a bidirectional triode thyristor (triac) reduces the power input by truncating the leading or trailing edge of the sinusoidally varying line voltage waveform. Driver electronics (typically designed to supply constant current to the LED) connected in series to the phase dimmer sense the duration of conduction, i.e., the phase angle, of the abbreviated waveform and reduce the current to the LED in response, resulting in decreased light output from the LED.
In 0-10 V (or similarly, 1-10 V) dimming, the 0-10 V analog power signal is connected to the two wires of a specially designed dimming LED driver. The dimmer, located remotely, produces a voltage signal that is accepted by the driver and is used via appropriate circuit elements to reduce the output current. In general, these analog dimmers have circuit elements that maintain electrical isolation from line voltage for safety.
Other types of dimming schemes such as Digitally Addressable Light Interface (DALI) or DMX512 also exist. DMX512 dimmers generate a digital signal that is de-multiplexed to a 0-10 V signal. DALI is a specialized bi-directional digital interface control that uses purpose-designed LED drivers.
The use of different techniques for dimming LED-based illumination systems complicates attempts to thermally protect the LEDs themselves, as current control for thermal protection may have different impacts on the light output of the system depending on the dimming system. Furthermore, current control may be incompatible with non-dimmable LED drivers, which are designed to supply a constant current level regardless of variations in input voltage. Thus, there is a need for systems and techniques of providing thermal fold-back protection to LED-based lighting systems and that are compatible with various types of dimming solutions.

Systems and methods for providing thermal fold-back to LED lights


A fixture intended to be implanted into bone tissue, for example, the bone tissue of a jaw, for anchoring a prothesis, such as a tooth crown. The fixture includes a cylindrical head disposed on the end of a shaft for positionally fixing the prothesis. An upper and lower external thread section is formed on the shaft. The lower external thread section is screwed into a previously prepared hole in the bone tissue, the hole having a diameter that is substantially equal to a core diameter of the shaft. A thread-free zone is located along a mid-section of the shaft. The thread-free zone has a smooth outer surface to avoid the irritation of nerves present in the bone tissue in the vicinity of the fixture. Gently curving transitional portions connect the thread-free zone with the upper and lower external thread sections. The thread-free mid-section and the lower external thread section are provided with a coating of tissue friendly material.

The invention relates to a fixture intended to be implanted or anchored in bone tissue such as the bone tissue of the jaw, in order to support a prosthesis such as a tooth crown or the like. The fixture is provided with a surface coating of tissue-friendly material, at least in the area intended to contact the bone tissue, and has a cylindrical shaft provided with external threading and a cylindrical head. The fixture is arranged to be screwed into a previously prepared hole in the bone tissue, the diameter of the hole being substantially in equal to the core diameter of the shaft section.
A number of factors must be taken into consideration when implanting fixtures in the form of screws into bone tissue such as in the jaw-bone. When attaching a superstructure such as a dental prosthesis or the like. A primary factor is of course that integration of the fixture should occur as favourably as possible with minimum risk of infection and mechanical damage in the implantation region. Furthermore, it should be possible for the fixture to be fitted relatively quickly and simply, permitting rapid integration. Furthermore, the fixture and bandage should naturally be such as to minimize the risk of disturbance during the integration period.
One known technique, for instance, is to use a fixture comprising a cylindrically threaded shaft with a cylindrical head, the height of which is a fraction of the shaft diameter, and the diameter of which is slightly greater than the shaft diameter, with a short and gently curved transition being arranged between shaft and head. The head may be provided with a central axial hole and may be provided at its free end with formations facilitating assembly of a superstructure, for instance in the form of a crown or a base for a crown or the like.
During installation a hole is prepared in the jaw-bone, the bore diameter corresponding substantially to the core diameter of the shaft. The bore may be formed on or in the fixture itself, for instance at the lower end of the shaft. The threaded shaft of the fixture may suitably be arranged to cut the a thread in the jaw-bone for the shaft threading.
The technique described above has been used with success for many years. However, in recent years symptoms have been observed in certain cases, particularly when such fixtures are applied in the lower jaw, entailing motoric and/or sensory loss of feeling, often in the area of the lower lip. After thorough studies of these cases it has been established that the loss of feeling is caused by a nerve--the nervus alveolaris interior--located in the mandible coming into contact with the external threading of the implanted fixture. This probably causes irritation of the nerve, thereby disturbing the distal area supplied by the nerve.
It has now proved possible to eliminate these disturbances by means of the fixture proposed according to the present invention, the primary characteristic of which is that the threaded shaft section of the fixture has at least one zone without threading.


The plastic blister of the package has a lip which is bonded to a stiff backing card to define a space for retaining one or more batteries. Portions of the blister overlie the positive and negative terminals of the batteries to prevent the rotation of the battery within the package. The portions overlying the negative terminal have protrusions which extend inward toward the negative terminal battery. The protrusions are formed so as to engage more tightly battery features of larger size, or to come into greater contact with certain batteries. These "progressive retention" features ensure rotation-preventive engagement with the positive contact nubbins. Thus, batteries of slightly differing size or end configuration will be retained by one or more retention features, as the size and configuration of the battery packaged within the blister is varied. Similarly, the portions of the blister engaging the positive end resiliently engage the negative terminal of the battery. Additionally, one other retention feature is formed as a portion of the blister which protrudes inwardly to grip a feature of the positive terminal. A common blister may thus be employed with batteries of the same standard output yet with dimensions which vary within the allowable standard.

Consumer batteries are commonly sold in blister card packages hung from display rods located near the point of purchase. An important function of the clear plastic blister which is affixed to the blister card and contains the batteries is to allow individual visual display of the batteries contained therein. The most appealing and informative information concerning the battery is normally printed on the battery itself. This display material on the battery identifies the brand and the type of the battery. In order that the information printed on the battery may be readily seen by the consumer, the rotation of the batteries within the package must be prevented between the time of manufacturing when the batteries are oriented within the blister for viewing by the consumer and the sale of the batteries. Thus the orientation set at the factory must be preserved by the plastic blister. This anti-rotation feature of the plastic blister is normally achieved by protrusions which engage the top and bottom of the battery. These protrusions normally engage a single feature on each end of the battery, and are thus battery specific.
Batteries of a standard cell size, such as a "D" size battery, may have a range of dimensions both in length, diameter, and the positive terminal nubbin diameter. A standard "D" cell may employ one of several different chemistries. These chemistries provide batteries of different total energy content with different costs that generally correspond to the energy content of the battery. Different chemistries involved in modern batteries result in radically different structures internal to a battery, yet externally the batteries appear, and for most purposes are, interchangeable. The differences of internal battery structure and energy content are what cause the minor differences in battery geometry. These geometric differences are normally accommodated in battery-using devices by spring-loaded contacts which accommodate themselves to the range of battery configurations allowed within the industry standard for a consumer battery.
In order to prevent rotation of a particular battery, the blister must engage the battery. Design optimization has resulted in blisters with protrusions which grip a unique feature or dimension of a particular type of standard cell. Thus, the typical blister designed to work with a common zinc "D" cell will not properly accommodate or prevent the rotation of a heavy duty alkaline "D" battery.
Heretofore, the requirement of a unique blister for each type of "D" or "C" cell has been generally accepted as a given of consumer batter production. Batteries are commodities of mass consumption and the economies of scale with each battery type is such that little attention was directed to the requirement of a different blister package for each battery type.
However, in recent years, new management and manufacturing philosophies originating in the United States, but first widely put into practice in Japan, have focused attention on new ways to improve quality and decrease cost in the manufacturing process. These new manufacturing techniques involve controlling inventory at all stages of the manufacturing process through close coordination with suppliers. The new manufacturing techniques also involve the rapid change over of tooling so that many products may be manufactured on a single line. The result of these techniques has been lower costs through reduced inventory and improved quality through more timely feedback of quality problems through the manufacturing chain.
What is needed is a blister package for the display of batteries which can contribute to lower blister inventory and reduce change-over times on battery manufacture and packaging lines.

Common blister battery package and display


Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and processes for manufacturing the same. The RFID device generally includes (1) a metal antenna and/or inductor; (2) a dielectric layer thereon, to support and insulate integrated circuitry from the metal antenna and/or inductor; (3) a plurality of diodes and a plurality of transistors on the dielectric layer, the diodes having at least one layer in common with the transistors; and (4) a plurality of capacitors in electrical communication with the metal antenna and/or inductor and at least some of the diodes, the plurality of capacitors having at least one layer in common with the plurality of diodes and/or with contacts to the diodes and transistors. The method preferably integrates liquid silicon-containing ink deposition into a cost effective, integrated manufacturing process for the manufacture of RFID circuits. Furthermore, the present RFID tags generally provide higher performance (e.g., improved electrical characteristics) as compared to tags containing organic electronic devices.

A RFID tag or electronic barcode is generally used to provide identification or other information about a product to which the tag is attached through a wireless link to a reader system which captures this information and passes it on, typically in digital form, to various database, decision-making, or other electronic tracking systems. This information is gathered wirelessly by the RF transmit and receive components of the reader device which typically broadcasts a carrier frequency which can provide RF power, clock signal, and modulation-encoded commands.
In the case of passive tags, which are generally most interesting for low cost tags as they avoid on-tag power source costs, the carrier frequency signal provides the RF energy to power the chip. Clock signal recovery and synchronization are also important system attributes/functions which are usually derived from the reader→tag RF signals. The clock frequency can define the operating frequency and data communication rates from tag to reader and from reader to tag.
At HF, due to frequency bandwidth concerns imposed by national and international regulations, the clock signal is often derived by the tag circuit by dividing down the carrier frequency. At UHF frequencies and above, clock signals are typically derived from subcarrier frequency modulations on the carrier frequency. This is due to a number of reasons. Around 869 MHz and 915 MHz, bandwidth constraints are less restrictive than at HF frequencies in Europe and the U.S., respectively. This allows for the addition of subcarrier modulation of a sufficient frequency to allow high speed data communication between reader and tag. Also, dividing down the carrier frequency directly requires GHz-speed clocking circuits and their associated energy losses. Instead, a 104-105 Hz sub-carrier signal can be demodulated or modulated with simple, lower loss subcircuits that can be made with thin film transistors (TFTs), diodes, capacitors, inductors and resistors.
Communication from tag to reader generally occurs through impedance modulation. In the HF range and lower, the tag is usually in the near field, inductive-coupling range, significantly less than the free space wavelength of the RF carrier. In this case, there is a direct inductive coupling between the tag, which typically has a resonant inductor-capacitor (LC) loop tuned at or near the carrier frequency, and reader as in the primary and secondary coils of a simple inductor-based AC transformer. Modulation of the resonance characteristics of the LC loop in the tag, typically through a variable resistive load (which can be provided by a transistor), results in a detectable impedance change in the reader front end circuit. The tag circuitry serially reads out data via this modulation signal to the reader.
At UHF frequencies, the reader to tag distance is generally longer, and the carrier wavelength is shorter. Due to this, the RF link between the two falls in the range of electromagnetic wave propagation physics, as is typically the case in radar, AM/FM radio or cellular phone technology. In this case, the tag links to the reader via a reflected backscatter signal. By modulating the impedance of the tag's antenna(e), the amount of power or the phase or frequency of the signal reflected back to the reader can be changed, and a time-varying signal can be encoded with this form of modulation. This modulation can be performed resistively, as with a transistor, or through the use of varactors that modulate the imaginary part of the tag antennae's impedance.
On a more basic level, RFID tag circuitry generally performs some or all of the following functions:                1. Absorption of RF energy from the reader field.        2. Conversion of this RF signal into a DC signal that powers the chip.        3. Demodulation of incoming clock, timing and/or command signals available in the RF signal from the reader.        4. State machine decision making and control logic that acts on incoming or preset instructions.        5. Counter- or register-based reading of data in digital form from a memory array or other source (example: output of a sensor).        6. Storage elements (e.g., memory) that store the ID code or other information that is to be read out to the reader and/or used for security authentication.        7. Modulation of coded data, timing signals or other commands back to the tag antenna(e) for transmission to the tag reader

Methods for manufacturing RFID tags and structures formed therefrom


The present invention relates to a pellicle frame including a frame base, a black anodized film formed on a surface of the frame base and having a thickness of 2.0 to 7.5 μm, and a transparent polymer electrodeposition coating film formed on the anodized film, and a production method thereof; and to a pellicle including the pellicle frame and a pellicle film provided on one end face of the pellicle frame.

In the manufacture of semiconductors, such as LSI and VLSI, or liquid crystal displays and the like, there is adopted a photolithography technique of irradiating a semiconductor wafer or a liquid crystal original plate with light, to form a pattern.
In this photography process, in the case where a dust adheres to a photomask (exposure original plate), the dust likely absorbs the light or bends the light. As a result, there was encountered a problem of impaired dimensions, quality, and appearance, due to deformation of transferred patterns, roughened edges, black stains on the base, or the like. For this reason, these operations are usually performed in a clean room, but it is still difficult to keep the photomask completely clean even in the clean room. In consequence, for the purpose of defending the dust, it is typically performed to attach a pellicle which permits exposure light to pass well to a surface of the photomask. According to this, the dust does not directly adhere to the surface of the photomask but adheres onto a pellicle film. For that reason, if the exposure light is focused on the pattern on the photomask at the time of exposure, the dust on the pellicle film does not partake in the transfer.
A configuration of a typical pellicle is shown in FIG. 2. In the pellicle, a pellicle film 101 which permits exposure light to pass well is bonded to an upper end face of a pellicle frame 102 via an adhesive 103 in a slack-free manner, and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer 104 for attaching the pellicle to a photomask 105 is formed on a lower end face of the pellicle frame 102. In addition, a separator (not shown) for protecting the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 104 may be provided on a lower end face of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 104 in a detachable manner. Such a pellicle is fixed so as to cover a pattern region 106 formed on a surface of the photomask. In consequence, this pattern region 106 is isolated from the outside by the pellicle, and the matter that the dust adheres onto the photomask is prevented from occurring.
In recent years, the design rule of LSI is increasingly densified to sub-quarter microns. Following this, the particle size subjective to suppression of contamination has been further miniaturized. In addition, the wavelength of an exposure light source has also been shortened, and fine particles which likely cause a haze due to exposure are liable to be generated.
This is because in view of the matter that the energy of light becomes large due to shorter wavelength of exposure, a gaseous substance existing in an exposure atmosphere reacts to produce a reaction product on a mask substrate. For example, an acid, such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and an organic acid, is taken into an anodized film of an aluminum alloy surface to be used for a pellicle frame. This is detached from the anodized film of the frame surface in an exposure environment and stays in a space between the pellicle and the mask. When a short-wavelength ultraviolet ray is applied in this state at the time of exposure, a sulfuric acid compound, for example, ammonium sulfate, is produced.
For that reason, a conventional frame having been subjected to an alumite treatment (anodizing) has become avoided due to contamination of sulfate ions. Then, for example, PTL 1 proposes a pellicle coated with a polymer as a frame which is free from elution of sulfate ions. This patent literature discloses a matte black electrodeposition coating film prepared by using a matte coating material colored with a black pigment.
In addition, PTL 2 discloses a pellicle frame in which a pure aluminum film is formed on a surface of a frame base made of an aluminum alloy and further subjected to anodizing and black dyeing, followed by performing electrodeposition coating to form a transparent acrylic resin film. The foregoing pure aluminum film is one which covers crystalline particles of the aluminum alloy surface, which are a cause of a light reflective point (defect), which may be mistaken for a foreign material stuck on the pellicle frame surface, thereby improving the appearance quality or reliability of the pellicle.

Pellicle frame, pellicle, and method of producing pellicle frame


A single or multi-stage process for providing compatible thermoplastic blends of polyphenylene ether resins and polyamide resins is provided by combining such resins with a compatiblizing amount of an agent having in its molecule both acyl-functionality as well as at least one of the following functional groups: carboxylic acid or acid anhydride, acid amide, imido, carboxylic acid ester, amino or hydroxyl group.

Blends of polyphenylene ether resins and polyamide resins offer desirable properties such as impact strength and chemical resistance and are useful in many thermoplastic applications. Several patents and applications have provided blends of these materials in various proportions. U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,792 by Finholt provided compatible polyphenylene ether-polyamide compositions. Other patents have utilized various compatibilizing agents to improve the properties of the blend.
The co-pending applications mentioned above provide improved polyphenylene ether-polyamide compositions by inclusion of certain effective compatibilizing agents. In Ser. No. 663,745 the inventors discovered a functionalized polyphenylene ether composition which could compatibilize a polyphenylene ether-polyamide composition as shown in the 654,922 application. In a typical example from those patent applications, a polyphenylene ether molecule is functionalized with a compound such as trimellitic anhydride acid chloride (TAAC) which thereby provides a TAAC-functional polyphenylene ether. It was discovered that this TAAC-functional polyphenylene ether was itself a very effective compatibilizer for polyphenylene ether-polyamide blends. It was discovered that the TAAC-functional polyphenylene ether compound could replace all or part of the conventional polyphenylene ether resin in such polyphenylene ether-polyamide compositions.
It has now been discovered that it is possible to bypass the step of separately functionalizing the polyphenylene ether in order to provide an effective compatibilizing agent. The compatibilizing agent (such as trimellitic anhydride acid chloride) can be incorporated directly in a polyphenylene ether-polyamide resin composition and effect useful compatibilization therein under certain conditions. This offers the important advantage of elimination a processing step, thus offering greater flexibility in the manufacturing processes.

Process for compatibilizing polyphenylene ether-polyamide compositions


A transport apparatus including a drive; a first arm connected to the drive, where the first arm includes a first link, a second link and an end effector connected in series with the drive, where the first link and the second link have different effective lengths; and a system for limiting rotation of the end effector relative to the second link to provide substantially only straight movement of the end effector relative to the drive when the first arm is extended or retracted.

1. Technical Field
The disclosed embodiment relates to a robot having an arm with unequal link lengths and more particularly to a robot having one or more arms with unequal link lengths, each supporting one or more substrates.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
Vacuum, atmospheric and controlled environment processing for applications such as associated with manufacturing of semiconductor, LED, Solar, MEMS or other devices utilize robotics and other forms of automation to transport substrates and carriers associated with substrates to and from storage locations, processing locations or other locations. Such transport of substrates may be moving individual substrates, groups of substrates with single arms transporting one or more substrates or with multiple arms, each transporting one or more substrate. Much of the manufacturing, for example, as associated with semiconductor manufacturing is done in a clean or vacuum environment where footprint and volume are at a premium. Further, much of the automated transport is conducted where minimization of transport times results in reduction of cycle time and increased throughput and utilization of the associated equipment. Accordingly, there is a desire to provide substrate transport automation that requires minimum footprint and workspace volume for a given range of transport applications with minimized transport times.

Robot having arm with unequal link lengths


A new, miniaturized guillotine blade cutting mechanism is for cutting the paper web of the supply roll of a receipt printer. The miniaturized cutting mechanism features a direct drive mechanism and home switch which are both integral with the cutting blade holder.

Receipt printing mechanisms are ubiquitously found in many everyday machines, such as ATMs, gas pumps, food store check-out registers, retail establishment registers, etc. In many of these machines, the housing and associated drive mechanism for actuating the cutting blade to sever the receipts is quite large with respect to the blade itself. In addition, the housing and drive mechanism for the cutting blade is also particularly large with respect to the printing mechanism, which has become quite small with the advancements in this technology.
It would be desirable to miniaturize the cutting blade drive mechanism and housing in order to provide a receipt printer that is small and compact.
The present inventor has developed a new, miniaturized cutting blade mechanism and housing that is only approximately 60 millimeters in width. In fact, the housing of this miniature cutting mechanism is only slightly bigger than its guillotine knife cutting blade itself.
The blade is assembled within the housing, which comprises a small, low profile stepper motor. The stepper motor drives a rack and pinion mechanism, of which the rack is integral with the blade holder. That is, the rack is cut into the mid-section of the blade holder in order to reduce the height of the cutting mechanism. This rack arrangement also provides a direct drive for the cutting blade. The home switch for the cutting blade is also integrally disposed upon the cutting blade holder. This has the advantage of eliminating the need for assembly adjustments that were so common with prior art cutting mechanisms of this type. The stepper motor is very precise; it can be driven at a reduced stepper rate at the end of the cutting cycle. The reduced stepper rate is necessary in order to provide the required force to punch, rather than shear, the last six millimeters of the receipt that contacts the notch in the guillotine blade.

Miniature cutting apparatus for receipt printer


Improved wireless telephone call admission methods for admitting new and/or handoff calls into a wireless telephone network having a plurality of communications channels. One such method, fractional guard channel call admission, effectively reserves a non-integral number of guard channels for handoff calls by rejecting new calls in accordance with a probability value that is dependent upon the current channel occupancy. Fractional guard channel call admission results in a significant reduction of new call blocking when a fixed constraint is placed on the handoff call blocking probability. Fractional guard channel call admission also provides improvements over the integral guard channel policy by minimizing the number of required channels when fixed constraints are placed on both the new call blocking probability and the handoff call blocking probability. In addition, methods are disclosed for computing optimized parameter settings for the fractional guard channel policy in the context of specified design objectives.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to wireless telephony, and more specifically to techniques for controlling access to wireless telephone networks.
2. Description of Related Art
At present, there is an ever-increasing demand for personal communications services which will provide reliable voice and data communications, anytime and anywhere, via small, lightweight, portable terminals. The capacity of the existing U.S. cellular telephone network, which uses frequencies in the 824-849 Mhz and 869-894 Mhz bands, may be insufficient to meet this demand. Accordingly, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has allocated a portion of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum to PCS (personal communications services). It is possible to utilize existing cellular telephone communications protocols to implement PCS. For example, the service area of a PCS network may be partitioned into a plurality of cells, macrocells, microcells, and/or picocells. A base station, including a processor and a plurality of RF transceivers, manages channel allocation within each cell.
Two important quality-of-service (QOS) criteria for existing cellular networks are the fraction of new calls, and the fraction of handed-off calls, that are blocked due to unavailability of channels. These QOS criteria are also applicable to other types of wireless communications systems, including PCS. A handed-off call refers to a call in progress that is transferred from a first cell site to a second cell site. A channel is any communications channel adapted for carrying information. The definition of a channel depends upon the specific characteristics of a given cellular network. For example, in the case of a conventional frequency-division, multiple-access (FDMA) system, channels consist of an assigned bandwidth in the frequency domain. If one commonly-utilized type of time-division multiple access (TDMA) is employed, channels consist of a given predefined time slot within a conventional FDMA channel. In code-division, multiple-access (CDMA) systems, each channel is uniquely defmed by a predetermined digital code that modulates user information using spread-spectrum modulation techniques. Channels could also be defined in terms of available computing resources at each of the base station processors. However, note that the two quality-of-service criteria set forth above are meaningful, irrespective of the particular type of communications channel employed in a wireless network.
Quality-of-service criteria are used to measure the effectiveness of wireless telephone call admission control policies. These criteria can be employed to formulate three illustrative design objectives: (1) minimizing a linear finction of the new call blocking probability and the handoff call blocking probability, (2) minimizing the new call blocking probability while placing a fixed constraint on the handoff call blocking probability, and (3) minimizing the number of channels while placing fixed constraints on both blocking probabilities (i.e., the blocking of new, as well as handoff, calls). Existing call admission control techniques address the first of the three basic design objectives described above; namely, minimizing a linear function of the new call blocking and handoff call blocking probabilities so long as it is not also desired to simultaneously optimize other design objectives. For example, one such call admission control technique, generally known to those skilled in the art as the guard channel policy, referred to herein as the integral guard channel policity, explicitly reserves a given set of channels for handoff calls. However, existing techniques do not adequately address the two remaining design objectives, which are minimizing the new call blocking probability with a fixed constraint on handoff call blocking, and minimizing the number of channels with fixed constraints on all call blocking probabilities.
Refer to FIG. 1, which sets forth an illustrative prior-art method termed the integral guard channel policy. The method commences at block 101, where the base station processor of a wireless telephone network checks to ascertain whether or not any of the conditions in the immediately following blocks, namely, blocks 103 and 111, occur. At block 103, a test is performed to ascertain whether or not the base station processor is attempting to set up a new call in response to a request that the processor receives from a telephonic device. The negative branch from block 103 leads back to block 101, and the affirmative branch from block 103 leads to block 105. At block 105, the base station processor checks to ascertain whether or not the number of occupied channels is less than a first threshold. If the number of occupied channels is less than a first threshold, the base station processor admits the new call from (or to) the mobile subscriber unit (block 107), and the program loops back to block 101. However, if the number of occupied channels is not less than the first threshold, the base station processor does not admit the new call from (or to) the mobile subscriber unit (block 109), and the program loops back to block 101.
At block 111, the processor checks to see whether or not the base station processor is attempting to set up a call that is being handed off. If not, the program loops back to block 101. If so, the program continues to block 113, where the base station processor checks to ascertain whether or not there are any unoccupied channels. If there are any unoccupied channels, the base station processor admits the handoff call from the mobile subscriber unit attempting a handoff (block 115), and the program loops back to block 101. However, if there are not any unoccupied channels, the base station processor does not admit the handoff call from the mobile subscriber unit attempting a handoff (block 117), and the program loops back to block 101.

Call admission control for wireless networks


The disclosed embodiments relate to determining an amount of a contrast agent in an image. For example, a computer-implemented method of image processing includes generating, from a first polychromatic contrast-enhanced X-ray image obtained at a first energy and a second polychromatic contrast-enhanced X-ray image obtained at a second energy, a simulated first monochromatic contrast-enhanced X-ray image and a simulated second monochromatic contrast-enhanced X-ray image. The simulated first monochromatic contrast-enhanced X-ray image includes first regions of enhanced contrast and the simulated second monochromatic contrast-enhanced includes second regions of enhanced contrast. The method also includes isolating the first and second regions of enhanced contrast from other regions of the image, and determining an amount of the contrast agent within the first and second regions of enhanced contrast based at least on a derived partial signal attributable to the contrast agent.

In computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy imaging systems, X-ray radiation spans a subject of interest, such as a human patient, and a portion of the radiation impacts a detector or a photographic plate where the image data is collected. In some X-ray systems the photographic plate is then developed to produce an image, which may be used by a radiologist or attending physician for diagnostic purposes. In digital X-ray systems a photo detector produces signals representative of the amount or intensity of radiation impacting discrete pixel regions of a detector surface. The signals may then be processed to generate an image that may be displayed for review. In CT systems a detector array, including a series of detector elements, produces similar signals through various positions as a gantry is displaced around a patient.
In the images produced by such systems, contrast is created based upon the varying attenuation of the X-rays by the materials encountered as the X-rays penetrate the patient's tissue. Typically, materials having atoms with a greater atomic number will have a greater attenuation of X-rays. Thus, tissues such as bone may create relatively high contrast within an image compared to other tissues, such as fatty tissue. Some techniques used for CT and fluoroscopy imaging use a contrast agent to artificially create contrast within an area that would typically not have relatively high contrast, such as blood vessels. The contrast agents may include one or more atoms capable of attenuating X-rays with a relatively high degree of efficiency, such as iodine. For example, in CT angiography, a contrast agent is typically injected into the patient, followed by CT imaging. The contrast agent typically perfuses through certain tissues of the patient, and the resulting CT images contain regions of enhanced contrast corresponding to the areas that are perfused with the contrast agent.
Contrast agents may include ionic or non-ionic, organic compounds. Contrast agents that utilize iodine typically include water-soluble organic compounds based on their relatively low toxicity and their covalent bonding of iodine atoms. Thus, in addition to the iodine atoms, such contrast agents include carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and may include nitrogen (N), oxygen (O) and other atoms having relatively low X-ray attenuating properties. Accordingly, the proportion of these atoms to iodine atoms may affect the signal response of the contrast agent to the X-rays. Thus, the use of different contrast agents may lead to varying signal responses based at least on the molecular structure of the contrast agent.

System and method for contrast agent estimation in X-ray imaging


The individual identification apparatus is provided for comparing a target pattern of an arbitrary person with a recorded reference pattern of a specific person, thereby judging whether the arbitrary person is the specific person. The apparatus has a calculation processing portion 60. In order to previously record a pattern of the specific person as a reference pattern, the portion 60 calculates correlations between the pattern of the specific person and comparative patterns which belong to other people. The portion 60 records the pattern of the specific person as a reference pattern only when the correlations between the pattern of the specific person and the comparative patterns are equal to or lower than a threshold. The portion 60 refuses to record, as a reference pattern, such a pattern that provides high correlations with regards to the other people's patterns and therefore that has a high similarity with regards to the other people's patterns. There is a small possibility that the apparatus will erroneously judge a match between an arbitrary person and the specific person when the arbitrary person is different from the specific person.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an individual identification apparatus for confirming identities of individuals by using a pattern recognition technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, confirmation of identities of individuals is required in order to manage entrance and exit of individuals in and out of restricted areas and to prevent free access to important equipment. An individual identification apparatus has been proposed to identify each individual under investigation with a specific individual on record. The person under investigation will be referred to as an "arbitrary individual" hereinafter. Fingerprints, face patterns, retinal vascular patterns, palm prints, voice patterns, and DNA patterns are unique for each individual. Accordingly, the individual identification apparatus is designed to previously record such a unique characteristic of a specific individual. When desiring to identify an arbitrary individual with the specific individual, the device picks up a corresponding characteristic of the arbitrary person. Then, the individual identification apparatus compares the picked up characteristic of the arbitrary person with the recorded characteristic of the specific person. This type of individual identification apparatus is described in "Individual Identification Technique and Needs and Future of That Technique" by Hayashi ("Measurement and Control," Vol 25, No.8, 1986.)

Individual identification apparatus for selectively recording a reference pattern based on a correlation with comparative patterns


The present disclosure provides methods for producing an olefin polymer by contacting a C3-C40 olefin, ethylene and a diene with a catalyst system including an activator and a metallocene catalyst compound comprising a substituted or unsubstituted indacenyl group and obtaining a C3-C40 olefin-ethylene-diene terpolymer typically comprising from 1 to 35 mol % of ethylene, from 98.9 to 65 mol % C3-C40 olefin, and, optionally, from 0.1 to 10 mol % diene. Preferably, a propylene-ethylene-ethylidene norbornene is obtained.

Olefin polymerization catalysts are of great use in industry. Hence, there is interest in finding new catalyst systems that increase the commercial usefulness of the catalyst and allow the production of polymers having improved properties.
Catalysts for olefin polymerization are often based on cyclopentadienyl transition metal compounds as catalyst precursors, which are activated either with an alumoxane or with an activator containing a non-coordinating anion. A typical catalyst system includes a metallocene catalyst and an activator, and an optional support. Many metallocene catalyst systems can be used in homogeneous polymerizations (such as solution or supercritical) and supported catalyst systems are used in many polymerization processes, often in slurry or gas phase polymerization processes.
Propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymers are of industrial interest because they can have suitable properties for use in blends and films, such as tire treads and power transmission belts. Conventional catalyst systems can produce Propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymers having a sufficient glass transition temperature (Tg) to provide wet traction and rolling resistance/tread wear when used as a tire tread. Nonetheless, conventional catalyst systems used to produce Propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymers have low catalyst activity such that use of these catalyst systems is not commercially viable (e.g., the catalyst activity of such catalyst systems is 30,000 (g polymer/mmol catalyst/hour) or less.
WO 2004/013149 A1 discloses group 4 metal constrained geometry complexes of tricyclic 4-aryl substituted indenyl ligands, esp. 1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4-aryl-s-indacen-1-yl ligands, where the tetrahydro-s-indacene is substituted in the 4 position with a C6-12 aryl group, and is preferably not substituted in the 5, 6, or 7 position, and if substituted in the 5, 6, or 7 position, is substituted by at most only one substituent at each position.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,507 discloses substituted tetrahydro-s-indacenyl transition metal complexes (such as Examples H to N), where the tetrahydro-s-indacene is not substituted at the 5, 6, or 7 position and is substituted at the 2 and/or 3 position.
EP 1 120 424 (and family member U.S. Pat. No. 6,613,713) disclose tert-butylamino-2-(5,6,7-tetrahydro-s-indacenyldimethylsilyl) titanium dichloride indenyl ligands as polymerization catalyst where the tetrahydro-s-indacene is not substituted at the 5, 6, or 7 position.
WO 2001/042315 discloses dimethylsilylene(t-butylamido)(2-methyl-tetrahydro-s-indacenyl)Ti(CH2SiMe3)2 (see examples 27 and 28, and compounds IB5 and IB5′ in claim 21) as polymerization catalysts where the tetrahydro-s-indacene is not substituted at the 5, 6, or 7 position.
WO 98/27103 discloses dimethylsilylene(t-butylamido)(2-methyl-tetrahydro-s-indacenyl)TiCl2 (see example 1) and others as polymerization catalysts where the tetrahydro-s-indacene is not substituted at the 5, 6, or 7 position.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,803,037 discloses substituted tetrahydro-as-indacenes and a method to produce substituted or unsubstituted tetrahydro-as-indacenes.
US 2016/0244535 discloses monocyclopentadienyl transition metal compounds comprising a tetrahydroindacenyl group (such as tetrahydro-s-indacenyl or tetrahydro-as-indacenyl).
U.S. Pat. No. 9,023,906 (US 2014/0088214), comparative example 1, discloses a propylene-ethylene-ENB terpolymer having a Tg of −27.5° C. and Mw/Mn of 4.7 produced using triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate and Cs symmetric di(p-chlorophenyl)methylene(cyclopentadienyl)(octamethyloctahydrodibenzofluorenyl) zirconium dichloride.
Other references of interest include: US 2016/0244535; US 2017/0362350; WO 2017/034680; WO 2016/53541; WO 2016/53542; WO 2016/114915; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,382,630; 5,382,631; 8,575,284; 6,069,213; Kim, J D et al., J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem., 38, 1427 (2000); Iedema, P. D. et al., Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 43, 36 (2004); U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,656,866; 8,815,357; US 2014/0031504; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,135,526; 7,385,015; WO 2007/080365; WO 2012/006272; US 2014/0242314; WO 00/12565; WO 02/060957; WO 2004/046214; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,846,770; 6,664,348; US 2005/075525; US 2002/007023; WO 2003/025027; US 2005/0288461; US 2014/0031504; U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,088,867; 5,516,848; 4,701,432; 5,077,255; 7,141,632; 6,207,606; 8,598,061; Polymer Engineering and Science-2007, DOI 10.1002/pen, pages 131-139, published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers; US 2012/0130032; U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,192,902; 8,110,518; 9,193,856; 7,355,058; 9,796,795; US 2018/171040; US 2018/134828; U.S. Pat. No. 9,803,037; U.S. Ser. No. 16/098,592, filed Mar. 31, 2017; Ser. No. 16/266,186, filed Feb. 4, 2019; US 2018/002616; US 2018/002517; US 2017/360237; U.S. Ser. No. 16/315,090, filed Jan. 3, 2019; U.S. Ser. No. 16/315,294, filed Jan. 4, 2019; U.S. Ser. No. 16/315,722, filed Jan. 7, 2019; U.S. Ser. No. 16/315,874, filed Jan. 7, 2019; and WO 2016/114914.
There is a need for new and improved catalyst systems for the polymerization of propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymers and methods for producing propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymers capable of increased activity while maintaining or improving other polymer properties, as compared to conventional catalyst systems and methods that produce propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymers.

Processes for producing high propylene content PEDM using tetrahydroindacenyl catalyst systems


The present invention relates to a blocking-vane pump having a casing which contains a rotor and in the wall of which there are arranged grooves which receive in each case one blocking vane and which are pressed by a spring against a circumferential surface of the rotor which has control surfaces separated from each other by separating regions. According to the invention, at least four blocking vanes (30) are provided and, distributed over the circumferential surface (20) of the rotor (16), a number of control surfaces (22) amounting to a multiple of 2, two control surfaces (22) being in each case arranged opposite each other and developed identical and the number of control surfaces (22) being greater than the number of blocking vanes (30).

The present invention relates to a blocking-vane pump in which vanes are urged against the contoured surface of a rotor and particularly relates to the distributions of surface area on the rotor and of the vanes in the pump.
Blocking-vane pumps of the type in question here are known. They have a casing within which a rotor is placed in rotation. The circumferential surface of the rotor has at least one control surface which--seen in circumferential direction--is limited on both sides by separating regions. The control surface and the separating regions cooperate with at least one blocking vane which is arranged in a groove in the wall of the stationary casing and is pressed against the control surface. By the rotation of the rotor, chambers of variable volume, which are limited by the blocking vanes, are delimited from each other. By the periodic change in the size of the volumes, a fluid is drawn in and then delivered again at a pressure connection. The known blocking-vane pumps have the disadvantage that, upon the drawing in and delivery of the fluid, either radial forces occur which must be absorbed by a corresponding expensive mounting of the rotor or such blocking-vane pumps, particularly in the case of the two-stroke embodiment, exhibit strong volumetric stream pulsation. By the rotary movement of the rotor, the blocking vanes experience a radial movement which is determined by the contour of the circumferential surface of the rotor. In the case of multi-stroke blocking-vane pumps, the total volumetric stream of the blocking-vane pump is determined by a superimposing of the conveyance function of the pump space formed in each case by a control surface and a vane. Due to this superimposing of partial delivery streams, there results a kinematic volumetric stream pulsation which exhibits delivery stream variations.


The present invention provides a process for effectively racemizing an amine compound in which an asymmetric carbon is located at the .beta.-position of the amino group or more distant therefrom, which comprises reacting the amine compound with a complex of an alkali metal and a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.

Useful as optical resolution agents, as asymmetric auxiliary agents, as ligands for metals in an asymmetric reaction, or as intermediates for pharmaceuticals are optically active amines of the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an unsubstituted aryl group; an aryl group substituted with one to five substituents selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy groups and halogen atoms; or an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic group;
R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl group; a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl group substituted with one to three aryl groups; a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkoxy group; a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkoxy group substituted with one to three aryl groups; an unsubstituted aryloxy group; an aryloxy group substituted with one to five substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups optionally substituted with one to three halogen atoms and C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy groups optionally substituted with one to three halogen atoms; or PA1 an unsubstituted aryl group; an aryl group substituted with one to five substituents selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy groups and halogen atoms; or an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic group; provided that these unsubstituted and substituted aryl and heterocyclic groups are not identical to R.sup.1 ; PA1 R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, which may be identical or different, are chosen from hydrogen atoms, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups substituted with one to three aryl groups, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl-CO-groups; PA1 A is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylene group; and PA1 * indicates the position of the asymmetric carbon atom. PA1 R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl group; a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl group substituted with one to three aryl groups; a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkoxy group; a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkoxy group substituted with one to three aryl groups; an unsubstituted aryloxy group; an aryloxy group substituted with one to five substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups optionally substituted with one to three halogen atoms and C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy groups optionally substituted with one to three halogen atoms; or PA1 an unsubstituted aryl group; an aryl group substituted with one to five substituents selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy groups and halogen atoms; or an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic group; provided that these unsubstituted and substituted aryl and heterocyclic groups are not identical to R.sup.1 ; PA1 R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, which maybe identical or different, are chosen from hydrogen atoms, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl groups substituted with one to three aryl groups, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl-CO-groups; PA1 A is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylene group; and PA1 * indicates the position of the asymmetric carbon atom;
In particular, the optically active amine of the formula (1) wherein R.sup.1 is phenyl, R.sup.2 is isopropyl, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are both hydrogen atoms, and A is methylene, i.e., optically active 3-methyl-2-phenylbutylamine (PBA) is a useful compound as an optical resolution agent. The compound is used as an optical resolution agent for obtaining only one optically active isomer from racemic ibuprofen [2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid], ketoprofen [2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid] or the like, the isomer being useful as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic or antirheumatic agent [Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) Nos. 229986/1993 and 151344/1996].
At present, optically active PBA can be obtained by resolving racemic PBA with an optically active acid such as mandelic acid [Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 172853/1986] or by selectively hydrolyzing an amide of PBA with an enzyme [Japanese Patent Application No. 215722/1995]. A method utilizing a reaction in which a nitrile undergoes optically selective hydration catalyzed by an enzyme has also been developed [Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 303496/1995].
If an optically active compound having either one of the steric configurations is desired and if one intends to obtain the optically active compound by optical resolution of its racemate, in general, the desired optically active compound is obtained only in 50% yield even at maximum, and not less than 50% of undesired optically active compound is discarded. Accordingly, if one intends to obtain an optically active compound by an optical resolution process, it is important to develop a process for racemization and/or inversion of the steric configuration of the undesired optically active compound so as to increase the yield of the desired optically active compound.
A number of processes for racemizing an amine compound in which a carbon atom at the .alpha.-position of the amino group is an asymmetric one have been developed, including, amongst others, a process of heating the amine compound under an atmosphere of pressurized hydrogen with a catalyst for catalytic reduction such as Raney nickel, Raney cobalt or the like [Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 185943/1988], a process utilizing an imine formed by a reaction of the amine compound with a carbonyl compound [Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) Nos. 23824/1988 and 188120/1995], a process utilizing sodium hydride or sodium amide [DE-OS 2,348,801], and a process utilizing sodium activated by a polycyclic aromatic compound or by a carrier such as alumina [Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) Nos. 50328/1975, 50344/1975 and 49235/1975].
However, up to now, no process has been known for effectively racemizing an amine compound in which an asymmetric carbon is located at the .beta.-position of the amino group or more distant therefrom, as illustrated by PBA.
In view of these facts, the present inventors intended to develop an industrially applicable process for effectively racemizing an amine compound in which an asymmetric carbon is located at the .beta.-position of the amino group or more distant therefrom, as illustrated by PBA.

Process for racemizing of optically active amines


A compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, lower alkoxy(lower)alkyl, halo(lower)alkyl or halo(lower) alkenyl, X is chlorine or bromine, and Y is methyl optionally substituted with halogen, which is useful as an active ingredient of herbicides.

It has hitherto been known that particular kinds of uracil derivatives have herbicidal activity, and there are commercially available herbicides containing such uracil derivatives, for example, under the common name "BROMACIL". U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,920,653 and 4,859,229 disclose some amino uracil and phenyl uracil derivatives, respectively, both of which can be used as an active ingredient of herbicides.

Amino uracil derivatives, and their production and use


A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) receiver includes a photodetector array configured to generate a plurality of electrical signals; a receiver circuit including a plurality of readout channels, configured to read out the plurality of electrical signals from the photodetector array, and a plurality of multibit ADCs, wherein each of the plurality of readout channels includes a different one of the plurality of multibit ADCs, and each of the plurality of multibit ADCs is configured to convert at least one of the plurality of electrical signals into an ADC data sample such that the plurality of multibit ADCs generate a sequence of ADC data samples; an encoder coupled to the plurality of readout channels and configured to receive the sequence of ADC data samples and generate a compressed data packet based on the sequence of ADC data samples; and a communication interface configured to transmit the compressed data packet.

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to one or more objects in a field of view. In particular, light is transmitted towards the object. Single photodetectors or arrays of photodetectors receive reflections from objects illuminated by the light, and the time it takes for the reflections to arrive at various sensors in the photodetector array is determined. This is also referred to as measuring time-of-flight (TOF). LIDAR systems form depth measurements and make distance measurements by mapping the distance to objects based on the time-of-flight computations. Thus, the time-of-flight computations can create distance and depth maps, which may be used to generate images.
Due to specific dynamics of the operating environment and required safety regulations, the amount of acquired data of an automotive LiDAR sensor that has to be processed is reaching several Gbit/s. Therefore, data compression is much-needed to enable future multi-sensor automated vehicles. Numerous techniques have been developed to compress LIDAR raw data; however, these techniques are primarily targeting a compression of three-dimensional (3D) point cloud, while the way data is captured and transferred from a sensor to an electronic computing unit is not addressed.
Therefore, an improved device having an improved way of compressing IDAR raw data may be desirable.

Extended delta encoding technique for LIDAR raw data compression


A magnetic skirt assembly is provided which is used as a metallic particle and grit collector on a railroad car to protect transported products. The magnetic skirt (20) includes a supporting frame structure (21) and a magnetic material (36) operatively attached thereto. The magnetic skirt is installed on the underside of the railroad car, preferably one skirt at each end of the railroad car adjacent to the outboard side of the wheel trucks. The magnetic skirts of the invention attract and collect fine metallic particles and grit on their magnetic surfaces which come off the railroad bed during transit of the railroad car. The design of the magnetic skirt particularly addresses the primary flow of air through the railroad car wheel trucks directed outboard and the airstream carrying the metallic particles flowing upward between rail cars which can potentially enter the gaps in the railroad car end doors. Periodically, the magnetic skirts can be cleaned or rinsed off to remove the accumulated grit or particles.

The use of magnetic wheels to pick up metallic scrap along railroad beds is well known. When disassembling a rail for replacement, several small metallic articles including spikes, tie plates, and anchors are removed and laid upon the railroad bed. Since it is desirable to clear the railroad bed of such metallic articles and re-use such articles, various magnetic wheel constructions for picking up these metallic articles have been developed previously. For example, Holley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,152 discloses a railroad scrap pick-up machine having a magnetic wheel device that is useable with a rail-mounted vehicle for picking up scrap articles such as tie plates and rail spikes on the railroad bed.
New motor vehicles such as cars, light trucks, vans, etc., as well as a variety of other goods, are commonly transported on railroad cars from manufacturing plants to various destinations. Motor vehicles are usually transported in multi-level auto rack railroad freight cars. These multi-level rail cars usually have openings and gaps in their side wall screens and end doors which permit entrance of contaminants such as fine metallic grit or dust particles coming off the railroad bed during transit. Under the right conditions of temperature and humidity, these contaminants become airborne from the railroad bed, settle on the transported motor vehicles and then bloom into rust and damage the horizontal painted surfaces of the motor vehicles being transported. For example, iron filings are produced by rail grinder trains which are employed on railroads to grind the rail thereby extending rail life, however, leaving iron filings on the rail bed. When a train travels along the rail bed, these iron filings or other metallic particles are blown into the surrounding air and can enter the rail car via the end doors or side wall screens, causing rust damage on the transported motor vehicles, even after the vehicles have been deramped and set out on lots awaiting distribution. This problem has existed for many years and motor vehicle manufacturers who ship on the railroad lines want to prevent this problem. The increased activity of rail grinding by railroad companies has served to aggravate this problem.
Thus, minimizing the intrusion of contaminants such as metallic grit and dust particles into a rail car is important in order to prevent or reduce damage to motor vehicles and other goods being transported. The present invention helps to alleviate the above contamination problem as discussed in greater detail below.

Magnetic skirt product protection assembly for transporting on railroad cars


In a method and apparatus for controlling a driving engine/transmission unit having a continuously variable automatic transmission, the transmission output torque acting upon the driving wheels of a vehicle and the engine reaction torque retroacting upon the driving engine can be adjusted by way of a regulated transmission variable. For operating the control as both a torque and transmission ratio regulator, it is suggested to predefine a desired transmission output torque, and to determine the regulated transmission variable, the transmission output power, a transmission power loss, the power requirement of the driving engine (from the transmission output power and the transmission power loss), a desired engine torque and a desired rotational engine speed, a corrected desired engine torque and/or a corrected desired transmission output torque in conjunction with a change of the regulated transmission variable (torque regulator operation) and/or a desired transmission ratio and a desired engine torque with a change of the regulated transmission variable, in such a manner that a determined actual transmission ratio coincides with a calculated desired transmission ratio (transmission ratio regulator operation).

This application claims the priority of German patent document 199 61 312.5, filed Dec. 18, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for. controlling a continuously variable automatic transmission in which the transmission output torque acting upon the driving wheels of a vehicle and the engine reaction torque retroacting upon the driving engine can be adjusted by way of a regulated transmission variable.
So-called CVT transmissions (continuously variable transmissions) have continuously variable gears in which a defined and desired gear ratio can be adjusted by way of the most variable drives (such as belts and bevel gears).
Furthermore, there are continuously variable transmission gears in which transmission output torque can be adjusted by the regulated transmission variable. The transmission output torque acting upon the driving wheels determines by way of the physical transmission quantities the engine reaction torque retroacting upon the driving engine. The ratio in the transmission occurs as a function of the torque balance at the engine interface. Transmissions of the type described above are commercially available, for example, from Torotrak Company. In the invention described in the following, specifically such a continuously variable transmission gear is used which has an adjustable transmission torque.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for controlling a continuously variable automatic transmission, with which a transmission regulator or moment regulator operation can easily be carried out.
This and other objects and advantages are achieved by the present invention, in which the transmission power loss is calculated, for example, by means of a physical model, and a desired transmission output power provided from a demand determination is added. On the whole, this results in a power demand of the driving engine which at the time is composed specifically of the desired transmission output power and of the transmission power loss relative to the desired operating point. By thus taking into account of the transmission power loss, starting is permitted in a system in which the power is considered.
In this case, the desired transmission output torque for providing a desired transmission output power is generated particularly from a wheel torque requirement. The power demand of the driving engine is the basis for determining the desired engine torque as well as of the desired rotational speed of the engine. Both operating point values of the engine can be calculated by means of given algorithms or can be selected by means of given values (generating of the operating point).
During operation in the torque regulator mode, a specific transmission output torque is set which causes a reaction torque on the other side of the transmission. The transmission ratio occurs as a consequence of the torque balance at the engine interface, satisfying the equilibrium condition between the engine torque provided by the engine and the engine reaction torque.
In contrast, during operation in the transmission regulator mode, the transmission control implements a specific defined ratio. In a first approximation, the driving torque will then be a result of the given engine torque; specifically a function of the transmission ratio and its losses.
In a transmission whose output torque is to be adjusted, the process and apparatus described above permit operation in the torque regulator mode, in the transmission ratio regulator mode or in a mixed operation.
During operation in the torque regulator mode, the rotational speed of the engine is regulated to a desired rotational speed which is the result of generating the operating point. According to a first control alternative, the desired engine torque is corrected as a function of the difference between the actual rotational engine speed and a desired rotational engine speed for reaching the desired rotational speed. According to a concurrent second control alternative, the regulated transmission variable is changed so as to obtain a corrected desired transmission output torque. Preferably, the first control alternative is given priority, because it requires no torque change at the transmission output. Only the engine demand is varied in order to achieve the required desired rotational speed by way of the engine torque excess or underrecovery.
If the available engine potential is not sufficient, it is necessary to reduce the desired transmission output torque and thus the engine reaction torque. This, however, results in a torque collapse at the transmission output.
In order to ensure this priority as between changing the desired engine torque and changing the desired transmission output torque during the torque regulator operation mode, it is advantageous to check whether the desired engine torque can be implemented by the driving engine. This can be done, for example, by means of a model calculation.
In contrast, during operation in the transmission ratio regulator mode, the regulated transmission variable is adjusted so that the actual transmission ratio corresponds to a calculated desired transmission ratio. In this case, the actual transmission ratio is preferably determined from the actual rotational engine and transmission speeds. The desired transmission ratio may be determined from the desired engine rotational speed and the actual rotational transmission output speed, by means of a defined algorithm, or by means of defined values.
In the transmission ratio regulator operating mode, by changing a regulated transmission variable, the actual transmission ratio can also be regulated in a targeted manner to a value which differs from the desired transmission ratio. Such deviation may be required for a brief period in order to take into account special system conditions or to implement special requirements.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method and apparatus for controlling a continuously variable automatic transmission

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellshaft


An EEPROM memory cell uses silicon-germanium/silicon and emitter polysilicon film for fabricating shallow source/drain regions to increase a breakdown voltage with respect to a well. The source/drain regions are fabricated to be approximately 100 nm (0.1 micrometers (μm)) in depth with a breakdown voltage of approximately 14 volts or more. A typical breakdown voltage of a well in a bipolar process is approximately 10 volts. Due to the increased breakdown voltage achieved, EEPROM memory cells can be produced along with bipolar devices on a single integrated circuit chip and fabricated on a common semiconductor fabrication line.

Semiconductor memory devices are typically classified into volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices. Volatile memory devices are subdivided into dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) and static random access memories (SRAMs). Non-volatile memory types include mask read-only memories (MROMs), programmable read-only memories (PROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), and electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs). Additionally, flash EEPROMs are advantageous as mass storage devices because their integration density is high compared with conventional EEPROMs.
Non-volatile semiconductor memories have attained broad utilization due to an ability to retain data within a device, even after power has been suspended. EEPROMs are non-volatile semiconductor memories that posses these abilities and additionally are able to store data by electrically erasing and writing storage devices. This programming process can be repeated over hundreds and thousands of cycles.
Frequently, it would be convenient to be able to mix integrated circuit device types, such as EEPROMs with other memory devices or bipolar and MOSFET (BiCMOS) circuits onto a single integrated circuit chip. However, due to the inherently low breakdown voltage (approximately 10 volts or less) of the typical wells used in these devices and the need for a high programming voltage of a flash memory device (approximately 11 to 15 volts), there has been no simple and economical way to integrate these two device types into a single integrated circuit.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fabrication of an EEPROM cell with SiGe source/drain regions


The continuously variable transmission (CVT) includes an input shaft delivering power from an engine, an output shaft having a first drive member, and a secondary shaft having a first driven member operationally connected with the first drive member. The CVT further includes a pulley member transferring power from the input shaft to the secondary shaft. The pulley member includes a drive pulley and a driven pulley operationally connected to the drive pulley. The pulley member forms a first power pathway for communicating the engine power from the input shaft to the output shaft via the secondary shaft. The CVT also includes a power by-pass member for selectively supplying power from the input shaft directly to the output shaft to form a second power pathway for communicating the engine power from the input shaft directly to the output shaft which by-passes the first power pathway.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a continuously variable transmission; and more particularly, to a continuously variable transmission having a main power pathway including the pulley member of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a second power pathway which by-passes the main power pathway and does not include the pulley member.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art CVT 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a torque convertor 4 transfers the power output from an engine 2 to an input shaft 6. A planetary gear unit 8 is connected to the input shaft 6 and to a secondary input shaft 6A.
The planetary gear unit 8 includes double pinion gears 11, a sun gear 12 in a gearing relationship with an inner one of the double pinion gears 11, a planetary carrier 10 for the double pinion gears 11, and a ring gear 16 in a gearing relationship with the outer one of the double pinion gears 11. The sun gear 12 is mounted on the secondary input shaft 6A. The planetary carrier 10 is connected to the input shaft 6, and a first friction element 24 selectively connects the planetary carrier 10 to the secondary input shaft 6A. A second friction element 18 selectively connects the ring gear 16 to the housing of the CVT 1.
A drive pulley 22 is mounted on the secondary input shaft 6A. The drive pulley 22 includes a fixed pulley member 34, and a movable drive pulley member 33.
The CVT 1 of FIG. 1 also includes a secondary shaft 30, an output shaft 40, and an output gear unit 53. The secondary shaft 30 includes a driven pulley 28 and a first gear 29 mounted thereon. The driven pulley 28 is operationally connected with the drive pulley 22 by a chain 26. The drive pulley 22, the chain 26 and the drive pulley 28 form a pulley member 21 of the CVT 1.
The output shaft 40 includes a second gear 42 and a third gear 44. The second gear 42 is in a gearing relationship with the first gear 29 to transfer power from the secondary shaft 30 to the output shaft 40.
The output gear unit 53 includes a gear train portion 70 and a differential unit 71. The gear train portion 70 is in a gearing relationship with the third gear 44 and the differential unit 71 to transfer power from the output shaft 40 to the differential unit 71. The differential 71 then transfers power to the driving wheels (not shown).
When operating in reverse, the second friction element 18 is engaged, while the first friction element 24 is disengaged. This causes the secondary input shaft 6A to rotate in the opposite direction in which the input shaft 6 rotates. The power from the engine is transferred from the input shaft 6 to the input shaft 6A via the planetary gear unit 8, from the secondary input shaft 6A to the secondary shaft 30 via the pulley member 21, from the secondary shaft 30 to the output shaft 40 via the first and second gears 29 and 42 and from the output shaft 40 to the differential unit 71 via the third gear 44 and the gear train portion 70.
When operating in the forward direction, the first friction element 24 is engaged, while the second friction element 18 is disengaged. The power is then transferred as discussed above with respect to operation in reverse.
Because the prior art CVT of FIG. 1 utilizes a planetary gear unit 8, the construction of the CVT is quite complex and costly.
European Patent Application 198,534 to Van der Veen discloses a CVT which simplifies the CVT structure by eliminating the need for a planetary gear unit. Additionally, EPO 198,534 discloses that the use of a secondary shaft, such as secondary shaft 30 in FIG. 1, increases the size of the CVT, and discloses a CVT which eliminates the use of a secondary shaft. FIG. 2 illustrates the CVT of EPO 198,534.
As shown in FIG. 2, a torque convertor 4 transfers the power output from an engine 2 to an input shaft 6. The input shaft 6 includes a fourth gear 106 fixedly mounted thereon and a drive pulley 100 freely rotatably mounted thereon. Freely rotatably mounted means that even though the drive pulley 100 is mounted on the input shaft 6, the drive pulley 100 does not rotate when the input shaft 6 rotates unless a third friction element 114 connects the drive pulley 100 to the input shaft 6.
The CVT of EPO application 198,534 also includes an output shaft 40, but no secondary shaft. The output shaft 40 includes a sixth gear 110 freely rotatably mounted thereon. The sixth gear 110 is in a gearing relationship with a fifth gear 108, and the fifth gear 108 is in a gearing relationship with the fourth gear 106. A fourth friction element 112 selectively operationally connects the sixth gear 110 to the output shaft 40.
The output shaft 40 further includes a first sprocket 116 and a driven pulley 102 mounted thereon. The driven pulley 102 is operationally connected to the drive pulley 100 via a chain 104. The drive pulley 100, the chain 104 and the driven pulley 102 form a pulley member 121 of the CVT.
The CVT further includes an output gear unit 53 which includes a differential unit 71 and a gear train portion 70. The gear train portion 70 includes a secondary sprocket 120 operationally connected to the first sprocket 116 by a chain 118.
In operation, the power from the engine can be transferred from the input shaft 6 to the output shaft 40 by engaging the fourth friction element 112 and disengaging the third friction element 114. Power then is transferred from the input shaft 6 to the output shaft 40 via the fourth, fifth and sixth gears 106, 108 and 110. Unlike the CVT of prior art FIG. 1, power from the engine will not be transferred to the output shaft via the pulley member 121.
A second alternate power pathway is created by engaging the third friction element 114 and disengaging the fourth friction element 112. In this instance, the power of the engine is transferred directly from the input shaft 6 to the output shaft 40 via the pulley member 121.
When by-passing the pulley member 121, the EPO application 198,534 uses fourth, fifth and sixth gears 106, 108 and 110. The use of multiple gears to transfer power between rotatable shafts has two disadvantages. First, the use of many gears results in a large amount of noise being generated. Second, gear elements do not absorb vibrations very well; and consequently, any shock experienced by the transmission will be readily transferred by the gear arrangement.


The present invention provides truck or bus tires having an excellent balance of fuel economy, rubber strength, and abrasion resistance together with high productivity. The present invention relates to a truck or bus tire, including a cap tread formed from a rubber composition, the rubber composition containing a rubber component including at least one selected from the group consisting of polyisoprene rubbers and polybutadiene rubber, and, per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, 10 to 60 parts by mass of a reinforcing filler and 1 to 20 parts by mass of a farnesene resin obtained by polymerizing farnesene.

In recent years, the cost increases associated with rising fuel prices and introduction of environmental regulations have led to a need for tires with excellent fuel economy in the transportation business. In order to improve fuel economy, Patent Literatures 1 to 3 for example propose methods in which rubber to be used in a silica-containing composition is addition reacted with a specific polar group so that the rubber has an affinity for silica. Although the methods enhance the reaction efficiency between silica and rubber (polymer) to improve fuel economy, the methods tend to increase Mooney viscosity so that processability can be deteriorated. Moreover, there has been a recent demand for more improved fuel economy.
Furthermore, among automobile tires, truck or bus tires need to have particularly excellent abrasion resistance and rubber strength. However, these properties and fuel economy have a tradeoff relationship. Thus, methods are needed to achieve balanced improvements in processability, fuel economy, rubber strength, and abrasion resistance.


A multi-layer ceramic capacitor having a weight of 8 mg or more includes a capacitance forming unit and a protective unit. The capacitance forming unit includes internal electrodes that are laminated in a first direction and includes end portions, positions of the end portions in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction being aligned with one another within a range of 0.5 μm in the second direction. The protective unit covers the capacitance forming unit in the first direction and the second direction and includes an outer surface, a shortest distance between the outer surface and the end portion of an outermost layer in the internal electrodes in the first direction exceeding 10 μm.

The present disclosure relates to a large-size multi-layer ceramic capacitor.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-6964 discloses a large-size multi-layer ceramic capacitor. Such a large-size multi-layer ceramic capacitor enables increase in capacitance by enlarging the intersectional area of internal electrodes or increasing the number of lamination. This allows the multi-layer ceramic capacitor to be used in place of an electrolytic capacitor, for example.


Devices, methods, and systems for storing a plurality of coiled tubes as well as features for storing or securing brazing rods and other similar items. One example such system/device is modular and includes a rack support and bin-like units for retaining and providing easy identification and access to coiled tubing, such as coiled copper tubing of differing diameters. In this example, the bin-like units are attached ladder-like so as to form adjacent, angled receptacles for different diameter tubing coils, such that each coil type is quickly visable and easily retrieved.

There remains an unmet need for devices, methods, and systems for easily and safely storing tubing, such as coiled copper tubing and brazing rods, including, for example, such storage in vehicles (e.g., service vehicles), where the devices/methods and systems save space, protect such tubing from damage, and allow easy identification, storage, and retrieval of the tubing.

Coiled tubing storage device and system, and method of use thereof


A lawn mower having a rotation drive connection assembly including a reel shaft having concially shaped opposite ends and an interior threaded length in each of the opposite ends. A drive coupler with a conical shape on one end thereof mates with one of the reel conical ends and has a threaded opening for receiving a screw extending into the shaft for holding the coupler thereon. A spline is on the end of the coupler opposite its one end, and there a drive member with a spline engaged with the coupler spline, all for rotating the shaft. A counter-balance is threadedly attached in the assembly adjacent the end of the shaft opposite the coupler location.

Motor drives for lawn mower reels are well known and they already exist in various forms, including spline types of drive connections between the motor and the reel shaft. In those prior arrangements where the motor and reel shaft are in direct drive, any damage to the motor shaft or the reel shaft entails a significant repair to either shaft.
The present invention provides for an intervening coupler between the reel shaft and the motor shaft so that if there is a damaging force between the driving motor and the reel shaft, it will be imposed upon the intervening coupler which can be either readily repaired or replaced in an expedient and relatively inexpensive procedure.
Further, the intervening coupler of this invention, as mentioned above, is in a friction relationship drive and thus structural damage to the shafts or the coupler itself is minimized.
Still further, the intervening coupler can be readily disposed at either end of the mower reel shaft so that the driving motor can then also be located at either end for the purpose of physically accommodating the presence of the motor at either end of the reel shaft. Of course the motor can then be of a bi-directional rotational type so that the reel will be rotated in a forward motion from either end of the reel shaft. Also, this arrangement where the motor can be at either end of the reel shaft accommodates the inclusion of a counterbalance member readily mounted on the opposite end of the reel shaft for balancing the weight of the motor. In all instances, the couplers are readily and easily attached to the axial end of the reel shaft by means of a single cap screw extending through the coupler and into the threaded end of the shaft. In that same context, the coupler is therefore readily removed from the shaft when the screw is removed.
Rotation support bearings are on each end of the reel shaft, and the coupler is axially fixed relative to the longitudinal axis of the reel shaft, and it presents a support for a compression spring which bears against the rotation bearing supporting the reel shaft. Also, that same coupler arrangement is utilized in axially restricting a cylindrical spacer between the coupler and the bearing at the opposite end of the reel shaft.
The reel shaft utilizes a bearing and a bearing seal and a taper, and this invention provides for the concentricity of those members in that they are supported on concentric surfaces which are formed in a grinding process achieved in one fixture setting of the reel shaft to thus assure the concentricity. In that arrangement, there is a process for making the drive connection mentioned herein.

Rotation drive connection for a reel mower