A spread spectrum receiving device is disclosed, in which data demodulation is effected in such a way that a received signal is divided into two parts, from which a COS PN code chip signal and a SIN PN code chip signal are obtained; that these chip signals are A/D-converted by means of A/D converters and then given to digital correlators; and that correlation outputs thus obtained are combined to synthesize a final correlation output. Further there are disposed a plurality of steering gates on the input side of the A/D converters. The a/D conversion can be effected in the neighborhood of a point, where the level of PN code chip waveforms is stable, owing to the fact that the steering gates are controlled by control signals obtained by processing the correlation outputs or output of the A/D conversion. In this way it is made unnecessary to raise the sampling frequency for the A/D conversion and to increase the number of stages of shift registers in the digital correlators.

In an SSC, as indicated by (A) in FIG. 9, a pseudo noise code (hereinbelow abbreviated to PN code) is modulated by data and a carrier signal is modulated by the modulated PN code to be transmitted.
In (A) in FIG. 9, reference numeral 1 represents the data; 2 is a modulator; 3 is a PN code generator; 4 is a carrier signal generator; 5 is a modulator; and 6 is an antenna.
On the receiver side, as indicated by (B) in FIG. 9, the signal is received and correlated with a PN code serving as a reference by a correlator. A self-correlation spike waveform having a relatively great amplitude appearing when the signal described previously and the code are in accordance with each other and when they are close to each other is processed for reproducing data.
In (B) in FIG. 9, reference numeral 7 is an antenna; 8 is a correlator; 9 is a reference PN code generator; 10 is a data demodulator; and 11 represents the data.
As an example of the correlator described above there is known a digital correlator. FIG. 10 shows a basic circuit construction of the digital correlator. In the figure, S and R are shift registers; Ex-NOR.sub.1 to Ex-NOR.sub.1 are NOR gates; and ADD is an adder. Reference data REF of N bits are inputted serially to the shift register R of N bits in synchronism with a clock RCLK. On the other hand, information data DATA are inputted serially to the register S of N bits in synchronism with a clock SCLK. Accordance and disaccordance of the contents of the registers are detected by the NOR gates for every bit and the total number of bits, which are in accordance with each other, is obtained by the adder ADD.
FIG. 11 shows one of constructions, in the case where the digital correlator as indicated in FIG. 10 is applied to the SSC. In the FIG. 1 and 2 are multipliers; 3 and 4 are low pass filters (LPF); 5 and 6 are A/D converters; 7 and 8 are digital correlators; and 9 is an adder. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the data demodulation at receiving an SS signal (hereinbelow abbreviated to SS-BPSK) modulated by the bi-phase shift keying (hereinbelow abbreviated to BPSK).
Now asynchronous demodulation operation for the SS-BPSK signal according to FIG. 11 will be explained. The SS-BPSK signal can be expressed by Equation (1); EQU r(t)={f(t).sym.PN(t)}.COS.omega.ot (1)
f(t): digital data corresponding to "1" or "0" PA1 PN(t): PN code (Pseudo Noise Code) PA1 .sym.: exclusive or PA1 COS.omega.ot modulation carrier signal
In FIG. 11, as indicated in FIG. 12, a COS component and a SIN component are obtained by multiplying the SS-BPSK signal by COS.omega.t and SIN.omega.t having a same frequency as a modulation carrier frequency for the SS-BPSK signal by means of the multiplier 1 and 2, respectively. PN code chips are extracted from the components by the low pass filters LPF 3 and 4 having a cut-off frequency, which is equal to the PN code clock frequency. The data modulation is effected by effecting the base band processing by means of the digital correlators 7 and 8, after they have been A/D-converted by means of the A/D converters 5 and 6, respectively.
That is, correlation values of the digital data of the COS component and the SIN component are obtained by means of the digital correlators 7 and 8, for which reference data, which are equal to a result of the exclusive logic sum of e.g. data "1" at the transmission and the PN code, are set. Then the data demodulation is effected on the basis of the value obtained by adding the different correlation values by means of the adder 9.
However the prior art digital correlating device described above has a problem as follows.
That is, when PN code chip waveforms obtained by the low pass filters LPF 5 and 6 indicated in FIG. 11 are A/D-converted, it is desirable to sample ideally a point P, at which the level of the PN code chip waveforms is most stable, with an interval, which is equal to the PN code clock period, as indicated in FIG. 13. However, it is difficult to sample the point P in FIG. 13 by the asynchronous SS-BPSK demodulating method as indicated in FIG. 11. As a measure taking the place thereof, there is known usually a method, by which the sampling frequency is raised. However, by this method, since the amount of information corresponding to one PN code chip increases with increasing sampling frequency, it is necessary to increase the number of stages of the shift registers in the digital correlators.
For example, in the case indicated by (B) in FIG. 13, the sampling period T is reduced to 1/4 of that indicated by (A) in FIG. 13. Therefore the number of stages of the shift registers in the digital correlators should be increased by a factor of 4.


An electrode patch and physiological signal device are disclosed. The physiological signal device includes an electrode patch and a physiological signal unit. The physiological signal unit has a conductive pad, and the electrode patch includes a flexible sheet having a first surface and a second surface opposite from each other, a conductive pad is disposed on the first surface, a conductive gel covers a portion of the conductive pad and a conductive area is exposed; the conductive gel penetrates through the flexible sheet and is exposed on the second surface; the second surface of the electrode patch contacts with the physiological signal unit, and the conductive gel is electrically connected to the conductive pad. The physiological signal unit is electrically connected to a charging device via the conductive area of the electrode patch. Thereby, the physiological signal unit can be placed on the charging device directly for charging.

Technical Field
The technical field relates to a physiological signal device, in particular, to a rechargeable physiological signal device and an electrode patch thereof.
Description of Related Art
A conventional physiological signal monitoring device typically uses an electrocardiographic signal capturing device to capture the physiological signal of the monitored subject. In addition, an external auxiliary instrument is used for transmitting the physiological signal data of the patient monitored to a medical unit or a monitoring center in order to be used as a reference basis for analyzing the conditions of the patient.
However, for some of the chronic illness, the physiological signal needs to be controlled and monitored for a longer period of time in order to effectively reduce the risk of the occurrence of the illness by monitoring the physiological signal. To facilitate long time wearing on human body without affecting the daily life, there are selling wireless and small size of physiological signal devices in the market currently. Specifically, OK-bandage type of wireless physiological signal device utilizes an electrode patch with a conductive adhesive tape to be adhered onto the small size of physiological signal device, and then, the conductive adhesive tape is used for attaching onto the human body to perform the measurements.
In addition, a power source of the currently existing portable physiological signal device mainly comes from the use of a button cell battery. Since the battery needs to be replaced frequently causes inconvenience of use, there has been a solution proposing to be configured additionally a connection port at the lateral side of the housing of the physiological signal device for connecting a power transmission wire from the connection port to a charging device, thus relatively increases the mechanical complexity and the overall thickness.

Electrode patch and physiological signal device

CAL-COMP ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LIMITED


The disclosure provides devices for cooling a turbine casing for a turbomachine and methods of using the same. The devices extend around an axis (X) and include air-distribution means configured to take in air and convey it to the casing. The air-distribution means include a first ramp and a second ramp extending circumferentially about the axis (X), each ramp having air ejection orifices intended to be directed towards the casing in order to cool it The devices further include adjustment means capable of adjusting the flow rate of air ejected at the level of the first ramp with respect to the flow rate of air ejected at the level of the second ramp.

A turbofan engine typically has a fan downstream of which the following elements extend:                a primary vein in which a primary flow circulates, the primary vein passing through, in the direction of the primary flow circulation, a low-pressure compressor, a high-pressure compressor, a combustion chamber, a high-pressure turbine and a low-pressure turbine, the primary vein being externally delimited at the turbine by a turbine casing,        a secondary vein in which a secondary flow, distinct from the primary flow, circulates,
The primary air flow from the turbine chamber has a high temperature and heats up the downstream parts. In order to avoid contact between the fixed and moving parts of the turbine during operation due to differential expansion, it is necessary to provide effective means of cooling which can be easily integrated into the environment of the turbojet engine and which make it possible to control this differential expansion by controlling the temperature of the parts during operation.
The terms 'upstream' and 'downstream' are defined with respect to the gas flows through the turbomachine. The terms 'radial', 'axial' and 'circumferential' are defined with respect to the axis of the turbomachine.
The patent application FR 2 867 806, in the name of the Applicant, discloses a device for cooling a turbine casing for a turbomachine comprising means for sampling and supply air and means for distributing the sampled air including ramps extending circumferentially about the axis of the turbomachine. The ramps are connected to the air intake and supply means by connecting areas. Each ramp has orifices distributed along the ramp, with the extracted air being intended to escape from these orifices to cool the casing.
The orifices are uniformly distributed along each ramp so that the flow rate is relatively uniform around the circumference of the casing.
In addition, the turbine rotor has blades whose radially outer ends cooperate with one or more rings of material that can be abraded during operation.
It was found that during operation the rotor is subject to eccentricities or excursions in the radial plane, in particular, the rotor can undergo strong accelerations during these excursions, which leads to the formation of localized circumferential wear of the rings made of abradable material, thus penalizing the efficiency of the turbomachine. In other words, such wear extends over an angular portion of the turbomachine only and is not annular.
There is currently a need to be able to compensate locally for such wear and tear.
Document FR 3 002 971 discloses a device for cooling a turbine casing of a turbomachine.

Turbine casing cooling device for a turbomachine


A long-distance polarization and phase-sensitive reflectometry based on random laser amplification for extending a sensing distance includes a long-distance polarization and phase-sensitive reflectometry of a distributed Raman amplification based on optical fiber random lasers generated by unilateral pumps, a long-distance polarization and phase-sensitive reflectometry of a distributed Raman amplification based on optical fiber random lasers generated by bilateral pumps, and a long-distance polarization and phase-sensitive reflectometry of a Raman amplification based on a combination of optical fiber random lasers generated by unilateral pumps and a common Raman pump source, which are applied in optical fiber perturbation sensing and have a capability of greatly improving a working distance of a sensing system and a high practicability.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a field of optical fiber sensing technology, and more particularly to a long distance polarization and phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry having optical fiber random lasers as a distributed pump source.
2. Description of Related Arts
In the distributed optical fiber transmission technology, the optical fibers are both the transmission medium and the sensing elements; meanwhile, the optical fibers obtain the spatial distribution states of the measured parameters at a whole length of the optical fibers and the information changes of the measured parameters over time, so it is very suitable for the optical fibers to be applied in the safety and protection of long-distance optical cables and the peripheral security based on the optical cables. Because the phase and the polarization state of the light pulses transmitted in the optical fibers are very sensitive to the perturbation of the optical fiber lines, the phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (-OTDR) and the polarization optical time domain reflectometry (POTDR) which are made according to the feature that the phase and the polarization state of the light pulse transmitted in the optical fibers changes with the line state are able to detect whether the optical fiber lines are perturbed or not, which facilitates the judgment of whether there is anybody approaching the communications cables, so as to accomplish early warning and avoid the destruction of the optical cables to a greatest extent.
The conventional phase-sensitive and polarization optical time-domain reflectometries in a front-end concentrated amplification manner are unable to ensure the measurement accuracy of the optical fiber back-end, which is explained as follows. Firstly, the light power peak of the signal light is prevented to be too high, otherwise unstable modulation, decrease of frequency spectrum broadening caused by the self-phase modulation or decrease of measurement accuracy may be caused. Secondly, the optical fiber loss and the pump consumption effect can affect the measurement resolution of the optical fiber back-end. Thirdly, along with the increasing requirement of spatial resolution, the used pulse width is increasingly narrow, which results in the decrease of the energy carried by the signal pulse to further result in the decrease of the measurement accuracy.
Although the conventional first-order distributed Raman amplification technology is able to improve the spatial distribution uniformity of the optical signals to some extent and ensure the entire consistency of the measurement accuracy, the relative intensity noise RIN of the Raman pump source is usually larger than −100 dBc/Hz; the RIN transfer from the pump to the scattered light becomes an important factor restricting the extension of the sensing distance and the accuracy improvement.

Long-distance polarization and phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry based on random laser amplification

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China


A controller for an X-ray device and an X-ray device with such a controller are provided. The X-ray device includes an X-ray generator, connected to the controller and at least one camera, connected to the controller. The controller is embodied to receive image data of a patient or object from the camera. The controller includes an analytical module, embodied to analyze image data from the camera and to generate at least one control signal for control of the X-ray generator depending on the result of the analysis of the image data, transmitted thereto by the controller.

The present embodiments relate to an x-ray facility. Such an x-ray facility has a control facility, which includes a control interface for connection to at least one of the components of the x-ray facility to be controlled, and a camera interface for connection to at least one camera. To this end, the control facility is designed to receive image data of a patient or object from the camera interface.
X-ray facilities can be used for the diagnostic x-raying of patients or objects or the therapeutic x-raying of patients. Within the field of technology, x-ray facilities can be used, for example, for material examinations or for baggage control in airports. In the medical field, x-ray facilities are used for the therapeutic irradiation of tissues of the patient body, and for fluoroscopy purposes, which serve to generate x-ray images. The x-ray images are 2D projections of the x-rayed body parts. X-ray images of different 2D projections of the same body part can be used to generate 3D image data by way of imaging algorithms.
The characteristics of a 2D x-ray image, such as brightness, contrast or contrast intensity, essentially depend, in a technical sense, on the energy of the x-rays and on the x-ray dose. These characteristics are predefined by the x-ray generator, which activates the x-ray tubes and thus significantly influences the characteristics of the x-ray image. The characteristics of the x-ray image are influenced by the material x-rayed using the x-rays. The volume of the patients' body plays more of a decisive role during the diagnostic examination of said patient body than anything else. Parameters of the x-ray image detector, such as sensitivity, resolution, or scattered radiation grids, also play a decisive role.
In the field of x-ray diagnostics, different patient-dependent adjustments must be carried out by an operator of the x-ray facility prior to generating an x-ray recording. Many of these adjustments can be derived from the size and volume of the patient. For instance, the parameters of the x-ray generator must be adjusted to the volume of the body. Adjustments are also to be carried out based on the location of the patient. For instance, the position of the x-ray detector must be adjusted to the location of the organ or body part to be examined. The diaphragm of the x-ray emitter is adjusted as a function of the size of the organ or body part to be examined, in order to limit the x-ray beam bundle to the smallest possible size and thus to keep the radiation exposure for the patient as minimal as possible.
The operator carries out the geometric adjustments, for example, orientation and diaphragm adaptation, by hand using an optical light visor. The operator estimates the patient volume and adjusts the recording parameters of the x-ray generator. Alternatively, an automatic exposure system can be provided. The automatic exposure system requires an additional dose/measuring device that is upstream of the x-ray image detector.
JP 08-266536 discloses an x-ray facility, which includes at least one moveable component. The moveable component can be, for example, an x-ray image detector. The moveable component should be able to be moved as fast as possible and should be protected against collisions with obstacles. Distance sensors that operate in a touch-free manner are attached to the moveable component. The distance sensors are be able to detect whether a minimal distance from obstacles has not been met.
DE 197 43 500 A1 discloses an x-ray facility, with which the collision of moveable components with obstacles or even the patient to be examined is likewise to be avoided. The x-ray facility includes a light emitter for emitting a light fan and a camera for detecting the patient and/or the obstacle. 3D data is generated with the aid of the camera. The 3D data can be used to avoid collisions. The light emitters and cameras may operate in the infrared wavelength range.
DE 102 32 676 A1 discloses the positioning of a patient to be examined in a computed tomograph. An image recording device records the image data of the patient to be examined. The image data is subject to an image processing, which automatically proposes a body region for the examination. The patient can be automatically positioned such that the body region to be examined is located in the scanning area of the computed tomograph.


An adjustable, beveled press plate is provided on an agricultural bagging machine rearwardly of the rotor thereof. There vertical adjustablity of the press plate enables the machine operator to more precisely control the density of the material being packed in an agricultural bag.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an agricultural feed bagging machine and more particularly to an agricultural feed bagging machine having a vertically adjustable, beveled press plate associated therewith to control the density of the material being packed in the bag without the need for a backstop and cable brakes.
2. Background Information
Agricultural feed bagging machines have been employed for several years to pack or bag silage or the like into elongated plastic bags. Two of the earliest bagging machines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,061 and 4,046,068. In the prior art bagging machines, silage or the like is supplied to the forward or intake end of the bagging machine and is fed to a rotor or the like which conveys the silage into a tunnel on which the bag is positioned so that the bag is filled. As silage is loaded into the bag, the bagging machine moves away from the filled end of the bag in a controlled fashion so as to achieve uniform compaction of the silage material within the bag. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,805, silage is forced by means of a rotor from the intake chamber of the machine through the output chamber of the machine and into the agricultural bag with a backstop structure yieldably engaging the closed end of the agricultural bag to resist the movement of the bagging machine away from the filled end of the agricultural bag as silage is forced into the bag. The structure of the '805 patent includes a pair of drums rotatably mounted on the bagging machine with a brake associated therewith for braking or resisting the rotation of the drum with a selected brake force. A cable is wrapped around the drum and is connected to the backstop.
Although the cable drum and backstop structure of the '805 patent and other similar machines do function generally satisfactorily, the cables, which are positioned on opposite sides of the bag, can create openings or holes in the bag which will adversely affect the fermentation process within the bag. A further disadvantage of the cable drum and backstop structure of the devices such as shown in the '805 patent is that the cables must be rewound after the filling of an individual bag. Yet another disadvantage of the cable drum and backstop structure of the machine such as disclosed in the '805 patent is that a dangerous condition exists should one of the cables break.
In an effort to overcome some of the disadvantages of machines such as disclosed in the '805 patent, an attempt was made in U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,666 to achieve the desired bagging operation while eliminating the need for the cable drum and backstop structure. In the '666 patent, the wheels on the bagging machine were braked to provide the desired resistance to the filling of the bag. Although the brake system of the '666 patent apparently met with some success, it is believed that machines such as disclosed in the '666 patent experience slippage difficulties in wet field conditions which adversely affect the bagging operation. It is also believed that the brake means alone on the bagging machine such as those disclosed in the '666 patent does not achieve the desired compaction of the silage material within the bag.
In applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,377, a bagging machine is described which has the capability of enabling the density of the silage material to be selectively controlled without the need of an elaborate braking system. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,377, a density control means was described which included a plurality of cables which were positioned in the flow of the silage material being bagged. In order to vary the density of the material in the machine of the '377 patent, more or less cables would be employed based on the material being packed. For example, corn silage flows easy and would require more cables while alfalfa packs hard and would use less cables.
In applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,220, a density control means is described which includes a pair of intersecting cables positioned in the flow of the silage material being bagged. In order to vary the density of the material in the machine of the '220 patent, the relationship of the intersecting or crisscrossing cables is varied. In applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,594, a fixed beveled press plate is disclosed for use with a density control cable. Although a density control means is disclosed in the above-identified patents of applicant, it is believed that the instant invention provides a significant advance in the art.

Density control means for an agricultural feed bagging machine including an adjustable, beveled press plate


A method is disclosed of forming a tampon is which can be comfortably withdrawn from a body cavity. The method includes the steps of cutting an individual absorbent member from an absorbent strip. Each absorbent member is then shaped to form an elongated absorbent having an outer periphery. A liquid-permeable cover is secured to the outer periphery of the elongated absorbent to form a softwind. The softwind has a first end and a second end and is folded on itself such that the first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another. The softwind contains two folds therebetween which divide the softwind into first, second and third portions. A withdrawal string is secured to the second portion of the softwind and then the softwind is compressed into a cylindrically shaped pledget. The pledget has an insertion end and a trailing end and the insertion end located adjacent to the second portion. The compressed pledget and attached withdrawal string form a tampon wherein the insertion end is capable of collapsing upon itself as pressure is exerted on the withdrawal string to provide a comfortable removal from the body cavity.

Currently, there are two basic types of catamenial tampons used for feminine hygiene. The first type is a digital tampon which is designed to be inserted into a woman's vagina directly by the user's fingers. The second type is a tampon which is designed to be inserted with the aid of an applicator. Both types are usually made by folding or rolling a loosely associated strip of absorbent material into an elongated shape referred to as a "softwind". The softwind may or may not include a cover. The softwind is then radially and/or biaxially compressed into a pledget. In both types of tampons, a withdrawal string is attached to the absorbent, either before or after compression, to facilitate removal of the tampon from the user's vagina after it has absorbed a certain quantity of body fluid, such as menses, blood, etc.
It is known that most tampons expand as they absorb body fluid and this larger size and/or diameter can contribute to an uncomfortable withdrawal from the body cavity. In addition, some tampons are designed to mechanically expand once positioned within a body cavity so as to reduce the chance of fluid leakage. This expanded configuration can also contribute to an uncomfortable withdrawal. Tampon users like to use tampons which are comfortable to remove.
Now a method of forming a catamenial tampon has been invented which can be comfortably withdrawn from a body cavity. This tampon has the withdrawal string attached in such a manner that it will cause the insertion end to collapse upon itself such that it is easier to remove from the body cavity.

Method of forming a tampon which can be comfortably withdrawn from a body cavity


A latch bolt actuating mechanism for a door having a latch bolt mounted on its inner surface adjacent a top edge thereof in position to engage and cooperate with a fixed keeper above the door includes an elongated strap having its top end connected to the latch bolt for vertical movement therewith and its bottom end connected to an actuator pivotally mounted in a rigid housing on the door surface by a removable shaft extending through the housing. The actuator is biased to the closed or latched position and a lever or strike plate extends from the housing in position to be pivoted about the shaft toward and away from the door inner surface with the lever being operable upon movement toward the inner surface to move said strap and the latch bolt connected thereto downwardly to release the latch bolt from the keeper. The rigid housing provides a stop for engaging said lever to limit the pivotal movement of said actuator and the downward movement of the strap.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to door bolting and opening mechanisms and more particularly to an improved bolting and opening mechanism for use on doors in areas such as on loading docks or in service corridors where they are subject to heavy use and impact damage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Doors used in service corridors, on loading docks and other high use service areas are generally of rugged construction to resist damage from repeated impact with service carts, hand trucks, and the like. Typically such doors are of hollow steel construction and are mounted in pairs to provide minimum obstruction to traffic, but frequently are not classified as fire doors which require the conventional panic bar actuator extending across the width of the door for releasing the door latch in order to meet fire codes. Nevertheless, it is conventional to use latch bolts at the top and bottom of the doors, with the latch bolts being operated by vertical actuating rods which, in turn, are actuated by horizontally extending panic bars. The known panic bar actuated latch bolt mechanisms, or door hardware, is not only relatively expensive to manufacture and to install, but is particularly difficult and expensive to maintain.
Because of the difficulty in repairing the prior art service door hardware, it is common practice to simply remove and replace the hardware when it is damaged to the extent that it is no longer functional. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved latch bolt mechanism for security doors which is highly reliable in operation and economical to produce.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a latch bolt actuating mechanism which is highly resistant to damage by impact with service carts, hand trucks and the like.
Another object is to provide such a latch bolt actuating mechanism which is readily accessible and easily and economically maintained.
In the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention, an important feature resides in providing a latch bolt actuator which can be mounted onto the flat interior surface of a metal door using conventional fasteners such as self-tapping metal screws. A rigid metal housing is mounted directly onto the face of the door, or a reinforcing plate mounted on the door, adjacent the strike style, and an actuation lever is pivotally mounted within the housing for movement about a horizontal axis defined by a removable bolt or shaft. An actuator lever or paddle extends from the housing in position to be depressed toward the door face about the pivotal shaft to actuate the latch bolt, and the rigid housing includes stop means extending beneath the lever in position to engage and stop its movement after a predetermined rotation about the pivotal shaft whereby excess force on the lever is absorbed by the housing and transferred directly to the door without applying excessive stress to the actuating mechanism. The pivoted actuator is connected to a flexible metal strap which extends along the surface of the door and is connected to a conventional latch bolt supported in a guide mounted at the top edge of the door in position to engage a fixed keeper on the top frame or soffit of the door. A spring biased lost motion means is provided in the latch bolt and a cam surface on the latch is positioned to engage the keeper to permit the door to be closed and latched without actuation of the lever. Resilient biasing means is provided in the actuator housing to urge the actuator to the raised position to normally retain the latch bolt in position to engage the keeper when the door is closed.


A supplemental storage rack system expanding the storage capacity of a high density storage rack system includes a supplemental rack disposed along and extending parallel to a side rack of the high density storage rack system. The supplemental rack receiving and supporting items. The supplemental storage rack system also includes an upper guide track, upper rollers rotatably mounted to an upper end of the supplemental rack and receiving therebetween the upper guide track for movement of the upper rollers therealong, outrigger support members attached to an upper end of a main rack of the high density storage rack system and extending outwardly therefrom beyond a side of the side rack to support the upper guide track above the upper end of the supplemental rack, a lower auxiliary extension guide track secured to a guide track for the side rack of the high density storage rack system and aligned generally parallel with the upper guide track, and lower rollers rotatably mounted to a lower end of the supplemental rack which movably contact the lower auxiliary extension guide track and thereby movably support the supplemental rack thereon. The lower rollers engage the lower auxiliary extension guide track as the upper rollers engage the upper guide track and thereby permit parallel movement of the supplemental rack along the high density storage rack system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to storage rack systems for items, such as data storage cartridges and the like and, more particularly, is concerned with a supplemental storage rack system for expansion of the storage capacity of a high density storage rack system for such items.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Large information systems utilizing computers are requiring more and more data storage cartridges. This correspondingly requires more storage area for these cartridges. Since there is typically only a limited amount of physical space in computer room and office facilities allotted to the storage of data cartridges, there is increasing pressure to better utilize the space available for the storage of data storage cartridges.
One approach to augmenting the storage capacity for tape cartridges is to provide racks for retaining tape cartridge storage holders. Tape cartridge holders normally hold a number of tape cartridges for ease of transportation of the cartridges. These tape cartridge holders are then mounted on shelves or vertical support members in the rack until needed.
A further approach to augmenting the storage capacity for tape cartridges within the limited space available is the use of sliding rack systems, such as high density storage rack systems manufactured by Engineered Data Products, Inc. of Broomfield, Colo. Such high density storage rack systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,072,838, 5,193,696, 5,226,549 and B1 5,265,739, all of which are assigned to Engineered Data Products, Inc., as is the present invention. In these systems, slidably movable racks are mounted at opposite front and rear sides of stationary racks. This system provides additional storage with only a small amount of increased size.
Notwithstanding the substantial acceptance of these high density storage rack systems in the marketplace, there is a continuing demand for still more innovation to better utilize the available space for the storage of data storage cartridges. Consequently, a need still exists for an improved storage rack system which within the limited physical space available in computer room and office environments will maximize storage capacity for such items as data storage cartridges and the like.

Supplemental storage rack system for expansion of storage capacity of high density storage rack system


A 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic acid precursor as an intermediate material for a highly functional fluororesin may be produced at a high yield by reacting tetrafluorophthalonitrile with an alkali metal iodide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic acid precursors which are useful as intermediate materials for highly functional fluororesins with excellent heat resistance, light resistance, low moisture absorption and low permittivity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent years have seen an increased demand for resins with high functionality. Functional materials having high heat resistance, low moisture absorption and low permittivity have been particularly desired in the electronics industry.
Fluorinated polyimides are examples of materials which can meet this demand, and fluorinated tetracarboxylic dianhydrides are known as aromatic tetracarboxylic acid components thereof.
Among these there is known 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride, represented by the following formula (4). ##STR1##
This 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride is usually produced by anhydrating 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic acid.
Only two types of processes are known for their synthesis. One is the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,440,277 (1969). This patent specification gives examples of producing 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic acid, 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic acid tetramethyl ester and 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride. However, the process described in this patent specification is a synthesis process requiring multiple stages employing a polyfluoroaromatic lithium compound during the synthesis, and because this compound necessitates special care for handling and increases costs, this process has been disadvantageous for industrial production.
The other process is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-101673. This process uses 4-bromo-3,5,6-trifluorophthalonitrile and copper powder to synthesize 3,3',5,5',6,6'-hexafluoro-4,4'-biphthalonitrile by the Ullmann reaction. The same publication also describes hydrolysis and anhydration of the 3,3',5,5',6,6'-hexafluoro-4,4'-biphthalonitrile to obtain 3,3',5,5',6,6'-hexafluoro-4,4'-biphthalic dianhydride in an approximately quantitative manner.
This process requires a large excess of copper in the production step for the 3,3',5,5',6,6'-hexafluoro-4,4'-biphthalonitrile (2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarbonitrile) and, with a yield as low as about 18%, it is not satisfactory as an industrial production process.
In summary, to date there has been no industrially practical production process for high-yield production of 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic acid precursors such as 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarbonitrile and 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic tetraalkyl esters, which are useful as synthetic intermediates for 2,2',5,5',6,6'-hexafluorobiphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride.

Process for producing hexafluorobiphenyl -3,3',4,4'-Tetracarboxylic acid precursors


Processes for removing arsenic compounds from a feed stream using an adsorbent in disclosed. The process includes contacting a feed stream comprising at least arsenic and sulfur compounds with an adsorbent comprising an low-crystallinity manganese oxide, at least one halide and a binder, to provide a treated effluent substantially free of the arsenic and sulfur compounds.

Low cost, safe adsorbents for arsine removal are needed in a variety of applications including treating cracked/refinery off gas feed stream, light hydrocarbon feedstocks being sent to polymerization catalysts and in the semiconductor industry to prevent arsine emissions where metal hydrides are used for production of semiconductor materials. Currently, the dominant adsorbent for arsine removal in treating cracked/refinery off gas feeds is lead oxide based. While lead oxide is not prone to reduction, it presents a number of challenges as it is more toxic, less environmentally friendly, and subject to increasing governmental regulation thus limiting application.
Copper oxide based adsorbents are also used for arsine removal but are not typically used for treating cracked/refinery off gas feeds due to the high potential for exothermic hydrogenation activity with feed components such as hydrogen and ethylene, propylene, and/or acetylene. Also, copper based adsorbents are more expensive relative to first row transition metals.
Further, the metal oxide oxidation state in such adsorbents is a critical determinant of reactivity. Retaining the desired metal oxidation state and the desired reactivity and functionality within a reducing environment such as environments containing hydrogen or hydrocarbon is particularly challenging. This is a prevalent problem in arsine removal from cracked and/or refinery off gas feedstock.
Therefore, there is a need for low cost and environmentally friendly alternative options for arsine removal. Further, there is a need for a novel adsorbent for arsenic and sulfur compounds removal which is less prone to deactivation and a method for enhancing the resistance to reduction of such adsorbents to reductants such as hydrogen. Further, there is a requirement for the high oxidation state of the metal oxides present in the adsorbent to be maintained for reaction with contaminants, thereby increasing the capacity for contaminants in reducing environments. Other desirable features and characteristics of the present subject matter will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the subject matter and the claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the subject matter.

Enhancement of reduction resistance for manganese oxide adsorbents


An electrical connection box for installation in a space that has a small vertical height. The electrical connection box includes horizontal terminal guide portion, an insertion hole for the tip of the terminal guide portion, a bolt fastening terminal connected to an end of an electrical wire, an electrical wire connection portion and an electrical contact portion. The terminal guide portion includes a side wall that has a step conforming to the shape of a barrel crimped portion of the bolt fastening terminal, a flat plate-shaped side wall that opposes the side wall that has the step, and upper and lower walls. The terminal guide portion is shaped so as to be fitted with and hold the electrical wire connection portion, and does not allow insertion of the bolt fastening terminal into the terminal guide portion in an opposite orientation. Visual check openings are provided in the upper wall of the terminal guide portion.

An electrical connection box, such as a fuse relay box or a junction box, installed in an automobile internally accommodates a bus bar, a relay or a fuse, and electrical wires for connection thereto which are drawn to the outside of the case. If there is little space for the installation of this type of electrical connection box in terms of vertical height due to the design aspect, the arrangement relationship with other installed parts, or the like, it may be necessary to raise the bottom wall of the lower case of the electrical connection box and decrease the height of the electrical connection box.
If an electrical wire in an electrical connection box whose height has been reduced in this way is drawn downward, it comes into contact with the bottom wall, and thus it is difficult for the electrical wire to be drawn out downward. For example, as shown by the dashed double-dotted line in FIG. 8A, if the upper end portion of a tire house or wheel well H of an automobile is located at a position higher than the conventional position, the position of the lower surface of the rear portion of an electrical connection box 100 installed above the tire house rises from the position at the dashed single-dotted line to the solid line position. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8B, when a terminal 120 is connected to a bus bar 110 of an internal circuit member through the lower surface of the rear portion of the electrical connection box 100, an electrical wire 130 extends downward in a state of extending without interfering with a bottom wall 100a of the electrical connection box 100, but in the above case, the electrical wire 130 interferes with the bottom wall 100a as shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D, and there have been problems such as the electrical wire becoming damaged, a detachment-direction load being applied to the junction with the bus bar due to excessive bending of the electrical wire, and degradation in the electrical connection reliability. In particular, if the electrical wire 130 is a thick electrical wire that is not easily bent, it is difficult for the thick electrical wire to extend downward and be bent to the side so as to follow the bottom wall 100a, and it becomes very difficult to install the electrical connection box 100 above the tire house H.
In general, a thick electrical wire has a core cross-sectional area of 8 mm2 or more, and since thick electrical wires are often used as power supply lines or the like and have bolt fastening terminals connected to their ends, thick electrical wires have a large curvature and are not easily bent, as mentioned above. In the case where it is difficult for a thick electrical wire to be drawn out downward from the electrical connection box, if the thick electrical wire is drawn out horizontally, instead, it may avoid interfering with the bottom wall of the electrical connection box. In such a case, drawing out the thick electrical wire in the horizontal direction requires the bolt fastening terminal connected to the end of the thick electrical wire to be bolt-fastened to the bus bar in a horizontally lateral orientation.
Also, in the case where a bolt fastening terminal is connected to the end of an electrical wire and bolt-fastened to a bus bar accommodated in an electrical connection box, as shown in FIG. 9A, it is necessary to bring a base plate 123 of a bolt fastening terminal 122 into contact with a bus bar 110 and fasten it thereto using a bolt B in the regular orientation in which a barrel crimping portion 124 is on the opposite side. However, there are cases where, as shown in FIG. 9B, the bolt fastening terminal 122 faces the opposite direction and is forcibly fastened to the bus bar 110 using the bolt B in an erroneous assembly, and the bolt fastening terminal becomes damaged.
In particular, there is a risk of the erroneous assembly shown in FIG. 9B occurring if the bolt fastening position of the bus bar 110 cannot be viewed from the outside.
As a configuration for connecting a bolt fastening terminal, which is connected to the end of an electrical wire that is to be laid out in the horizontal direction, to a bus bar in an electrical connection box, Japanese patent no. 4356741 (Patent Document 1), which was submitted by the same applicant as this application, conventionally provides the electrical connection box shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B for preventing an electrical wire drawn out from the electrical connection box from interfering with other parts arranged in the vicinity. In this electrical connection box, the electrical wire crimping portion of a bolt fastening terminal 150, which is connected to an electrical wire W by crimping, is covered by a terminal cover 210, and the terminal cover 210 is fitted into a notch 200a provided in an outer wall of a main body case 200 of the electrical connection box, and is joined to the outer wall. The bolt fastening terminal 150 is connected to the end of the electrical wire W, which is to be laid out in the horizontal direction, and is provided with a vertical electrical contact portion 152 that extends straight out from the crimping portion of a crimping barrel 151, and a horizontal bent portion 153 that is obtained by the width-direction upper end of the electrical contact portion 152 being bent 90 degrees outward. A bolt hole 154 provided in the bent portion 153 is fastened to a horizontal bus bar, which is arranged inside the electrical connection box, using a bolt B.
Similarly, according to Japanese registered utility model 2593663 (Patent Document 2), as shown in FIG. 11, a bolt fastening terminal 300 connected to the end of a power supply electrical wire W that is to be laid out in the horizontal direction is provided with an electrical wire connection portion 301, a portion 302 that extends straight out from the electrical wire connection 301, and an L-shaped bent portion 305 obtained by a side end of the portion 302 being bent 90 degrees. A bolt hole 310 provided in the L-shaped bent portion 305 is placed over and fastened to an L-shaped bent portion of a bus bar, using a bolt.
JP 4356741B and JP 2593663Y are examples of related art.
As shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, conventionally, in the case where an electrical wire constituted by a power supply wire or the like is to be laid out in the horizontal direction and connected to a bus bar in an electrical connection box, the bolt fastening terminal connected to the end of the electrical wire is provided with an electrical wire connection portion that is crimped by a barrel, and a bent portion that extends straight out from the electrical wire connection portion and is bent 90 degree along one width-direction edge of the electrical contact portion, and a bolt hole is provided in the bent portion and fastened to the bus bar using a bolt. However, the bolt fastening terminals disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are not shaped for general use, but rather are dedicated parts that have special shapes.
Conventionally, a general-purpose bolt fastening terminal used for connection to the end of a thick electrical wire, such as a power supply line, is shaped so as to include an electrical wire connection portion that is provided with a barrel, an electrical connection portion that extends straight out from the electrical wire connection portion, and a bolt hole provided in the electrical connection portion. In other words, it does not have the special shape of the electrical contact portions of Patent Documents 1 and 2, which are provided with a bent portion that has the bolt hole.
As described above, if a bolt fastening terminal connected to the end of an electrical wire that is to be laid out in the horizontal direction has a special shape of being provided with a bent portion, the cost rises due to the terminal being a dedicated part, it is necessary to also provide the electrical connection box with a portion for positioning, holding, and protecting the bolt hole-including bent portion of the terminal, and so on, and therefore there has been the problem of the structure of the electrical connection box becoming complex.
The electrical connection box disclosed herein was achieved in light of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electrical connection box that has a reduced cost due to being able to use a general-purpose part as the bolt fastening terminal, and is able to, using a simple structure, position the general-purpose bolt fastening terminal in the insertion direction and furthermore protect it.


An error check and correction circuit includes a Chien search unit. The Chien search unit includes a calculation circuit and a plurality of Chien search circuits. The calculation circuit is configured to calculate a first bit stream by multiplying a value of (n−k) bits by a plurality of elements and a second bit stream by multiplying a value of k bits by the plurality of elements. The plurality of Chien search circuits configured to calculate the element by connecting the first bit stream and the second bit stream, and substitute the calculated element into the error correction search equation.

Example embodiments of the inventive concepts relate to error check and correction circuits and semiconductor memories.
In a high-capacity memory such as a NAND flash memory, there is a possibility of stored data loss caused by various factors during data retention. An error rate tends to increase with large-scale memory capacity and miniaturization of manufacturing process. In order to overcome such a problem, an error check and correction (ECC) circuit has been used to improve performance of a flash memory. A highly reliable memory may be provided by mounting an ECC system as on-chip. Since data cannot be output to an external entity until a correction process is terminated in the ECC system, a technique is required to reduce this time.
In order to overcome the above problem, studies have been conducted on the use of high-speed Hamming codes and speedup of Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) code that is capable of performing high-level correction. The BCH code is a type of block code using a finite or Galois field that contains a finite number of elements. In a block code such as BCH code or Reed-Solomon (RS) code, error location may be calculated using an error location search equation. For example, error location search is performed by sequentially substituting respective elements (other than zero) of the Galois field into the error location search equation and searching elements of the equation. The search of the elements is called a Chien search. Techniques associated with the Chien search are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2001-044853 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 1") and 2001-203587 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 2").
Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe Chien search circuits that implement error correction search equations using a flip-flop or register, a multiplication circuit or the like. A signal indicating a location of bit is input to the Chien search circuit to determine whether there is an error in the bit. Therefore, to determine whether there is an error in multiple bits in parallel requires a corresponding increase in the number of Chien search circuits. As the number of the Chien search circuits increases, the number of wirings for providing signals indicating locations of bits at the Chien search circuits also increases. Accordingly, if the number of the bits processed in parallel increases, the size of a Chien search unit including the Chien search circuits and their peripheral circuits also increases.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Error check and correction circuit and semiconductor memory


A compressor having a housing formed by joining a plurality of housing components. A plurality of muffler elements are formed integrally with the housing components along the periphery of the housing. A muffler chamber is defined in the housing by coupling the housing components to one another. A large volume chamber and a small volume chamber are defined in the muffler chamber and connected to each other. An inlet is provided in at least one of the muffler elements for drawing the gas in the discharge chamber into the large volume chamber. An outlet is provided in the muffler elements for discharging the gas in the small volume chamber into the external circuit. The arrangement and construction of the housing is such that the pressure pulses in the discharge gas are reduced, and thus vibration and noise are reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compressors incorporated in, for example, vehicle air-conditioning systems, and more particularly, to structure of mufflers for compressors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Compressors having a suction muffler in a suction gas passage or in a discharge gas passage are known in the prior art. The muffler includes a space used to reduce pulsation components of the suction gas or the discharge gas. The pulsation components are reflected to cause mutual interference between one another. This decreases vibrations and noise that result from the pulsation.
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 59-135385 describes a compressor that is provided with a typical muffler structure. The compressor has a housing that houses a compressing mechanism. A muffler chamber is defined between a recess, which is provided in the peripheral portion of the housing, and a cover, which is a component independent from the housing and which seals the recess. However, in this prior art example, the housing and the separate cover must be provided to define the muffler chamber. Accordingly, this increases the number of parts required to constitute the muffler and increases the number of assembly steps. Thus, the structure of this muffler resulted in an increase in the production cost of the compressor.
Furthermore, the muffler chamber of the above compressor causes the reflection and interference of the pulsation components of the suction gas or the discharge gas to be monotonous. Thus, the reduction of the gas pulsation is inefficient.

Integrated muffler structure for compressors

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho


The present invention provides stable support for the extended arm of the operator of a projectile weapon or camera. The invention contains two support members oriented opposed from one another and connected by telescoping support extension members. One support member accepts the user's arm, while the other accepts the user's thigh. Since the invention supports the user's arm rather than the object being used, the invention may accommodate—without alteration—any device the user wishes to operate. Between each support member and the extension member is a connector which provides for 360 degree rotation of each support member. This innovation allows the user to extend or contract the user's arm while still supported by the invention, thereby alleviating the fatigue which may develop from keeping the arm fixed in an extended position. The invention requires no straps or other means to affix it to the operator's body and instead is held in place by tension between the user's arm and the user's thigh. This design helps minimize injury from a fall by enabling the user to quickly discard the invention. The noiseless operation of the invention ensures it will not frighten away game or other wildlife.

1. Field of the Invention
Applicants' invention relates generally to an aiming and shooting support apparatus, designed to assist disabled users of devices needing to be aimed, such as projectile weapons or video recording devices, but with application for all users of such devices. More specifically, it relates to a lightweight, portable, aiming and shooting device that provides hunters, photographers, and others with an easily guidable, stable, fatigue-reducing support apparatus.
2. Background Information
It is well known that holding a weight at arm's length for an extended period is fatiguing. When a person is attempting to aim a weapon, a telephoto camera, or other device requiring high degrees of stability, such fatigue can cause aim-spoiling muscle spasms or trembling. Also, persons with a disability in one arm, such as loss of use of levitator muscles in the shoulder, are unable to properly hold and aim two-handed weapons such as rifles and bows.
Accordingly, inventors have devised a number of braces that assist the user in supporting their arm as discussed below; however, these devices have a number of flaws making them inferior to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,474,050 issued to Herbert H. Harris on Jun. 21, 1949 discloses an armrest, which must be attached to the user's arm via an encircling strap and buckle arrangement. The arm-encircling strap and bracket are attached to a brace via a hinge, but the device does not rotate about its axis. The bottom of the brace is a friction pad designed to rest against the body or a flat work surface; however, it does not provide sufficient stability for firing a rifle or shotgun.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,964 issued to Donnie R. Griffin on Mar. 18, 1986 discloses a portable gun rest. The rest has two U-shaped saddle members, one of which fits over the thigh with the other fitting under the weapon. The two saddle members are held in coaxial alignment by the same pin that adjusts the height of the rest. Only when the pin is removed and the rest retracted to its shortest height can the saddle members freely rotate about the longitudinal axis of the brace. The upper end of the device is designed to directly hold a rifle or shotgun.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,867 issued to Clyde L. Vest on Oct. 4, 1994 discloses an arm steady brace (The "Vest brace"). The brace is strapped or clipped to the user's belt and then extends upward to support the user's forearm. When not supporting the user's arm, it is carried in a locked downward position, which can hinder mobility and elevates the risk of an impalement injury in the event of a fall.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,931 issued to Jerry Wade Watson on Sep. 15, 1997 discloses an adjustable gun rest. Like the Griffin device, this device directly supports the weapon; however, this device improves upon the Griffin device by allowing the user to position the weapon at an angle other than parallel with the user's thigh. A set-screw allows variable adjustment of the gun rest's height, as opposed to the discrete adjustment settings of the Griffin device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,104 issued to Robert P. Breazeale, Jr. on Nov. 11, 1997 discloses a gun rest that mounts to a tree stand. The device directly supports the weapon, but is unusable except in a tree stand.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,708 B1 issued to Thomas K. M. Peterson on Oct. 23, 2003 discloses an articulated aiming support. This support directly supports the weapon and is mounted to a shooting platform or tree stand. Like the Breazeale device, the support is unusable away from a platform or stand.
Thus, there is a need for a method and device for supporting the support arm of the user, both in a resting position and in a shooting position. Further, it is advantageous for the device to provide sufficient stability for firing a weapon, be freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the device in any configuration, is not attached to the user, and is not attached to an inanimate object.
The present invention addresses the requirement for a lightweight, portable aiming device that provides a wide range of motion without manual adjustment, reduces fatigue, and adapts to a range of shooting positions.

Multi-purpose aiming aid and method for using same


A single pixel sensor is provided, comprising a photo sensor configured to convert light into proportional signals; a charge storage configured to accumulate, repeatedly, a plurality of the signals converted by the photosensor; a first transistor coupled between a pixel voltage terminal and the photosensor; a second transistor coupled between the photosensor and the charge storage; and a readout circuit coupled between the charge storage and an output channel, wherein: the single pixel sensor is configured to carry out the repeated accumulations of signals multiple times per each readout by the readout circuit, the single pixel sensor is configured to synchronously convert reflections of light emitted by an associated illuminator or to convert light emitted by non-associated flickering light sources, and wherein the single pixel sensor is backside illuminated by the light.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of imaging systems, and more particularly, to active and non-active imaging systems with controllable single pixel sensor.
2. Discussion of Related Art
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0080500, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses an indicia reading terminal having an image sensor pixel array incorporated therein, where the terminal is operative for decoding of decodable indicia and for providing frames of image data (e.g., color) for storage, display, or transmission.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/009375, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses an imaging system having an array of image pixels in which each image pixel includes an electronic shutter for controlling when a photosensor in the image pixel accumulates charge.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0156387, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses an image sensor including an imaging element that generates a pixel signal through photoelectric conversion with a variable exposure time; and an accumulation unit that accumulates the pixel signal generated by the imaging element, in which the imaging element repeatedly generates the pixel signal through the photoelectric conversion for each of the divided exposure time periods obtained by dividing a necessary exposure time which is necessary for imaging an image into multiple time periods at intervals of a predetermined time within an imaging time of one frame image, and the accumulation unit accumulates the pixel signal generated by the imaging element and outputs the pixel signal accumulated in the necessary exposure time.


The present invention provides an image reader apparatus capable of obtaining an image having stable brightness while suppressing an increase of the cost of the apparatus. The image reader apparatus 1 for reading an image on a document 2 being fed and outputting an image signal includes a synchronization signal generation circuit 4 for generating a synchronization signal SS synchronous with a feed timing and a feed cycle of the document 2, a CCD 6 for reading an image on the document 2 in synchronism with the synchronization signal SS, an LED 9 for emitting white light, and a lighting control circuit 7 for turning the LED 9 on in synchronism with the synchronization signal SS and turning the light source off so that a lighting period is equalized for each line irrespective of a variation of the feed cycle of the document 2. The lighting control circuit 7 turns the LED 9 off so that the lighting period of the LED 9 is equal to a predetermined preset period.

Heretofore, an image reader apparatus for reading an image with an image sensor while emitting light from a light source and outputting an image signal has been utilized as an apparatus for reading an object image such as a printed matter or a photograph (an image on a document) (See, e.g., Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2004-126721 (Patent Document 1)).
For a light source of such a reader apparatus, LEDs, which consume low electric power and are highly responsive, have heavily been used. Furthermore, for an image sensor, one-dimensional CCD sensors in which a plurality of light-receiving elements are arrayed in one direction have heavily been used. As shown in FIG. 6, a one-dimensional CCD sensor, which may be referred to as "CCD" in context, includes a light-receiving part 33 for storing charges corresponding to the quantity of incident light in respective light-receiving pixels 32, a horizontal transfer part 34 for transferring the charges stored in the light-receiving part 33 in the horizontal direction, an output part 35 for converting the charges transferred from the horizontal transfer part 34 into image signals and outputting the image signals, and the like.

Image reader apparatus and method of driving the same


Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device. In embodiments, a semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having isolation layers and a well region, a gate electrode formed within a trench having a predetermined depth in the well region, source/drain regions formed at both sides of the trench, respectively, an interlayer dielectric layer formed on the semiconductor substrate to have predetermined contact holes, and metal interconnections formed within the contact holes, respectively.

Semiconductor devices, such as memory devices, image sensors, and the like, may be obtained by highly integrating a plurality of unit elements on a semiconductor substrate.
To highly integrate a plurality of unit elements on a semiconductor substrate, the respective unit elements may be stacked. Alternatively, metal interconnections may be required through which driving signals may be applied to drive the respective unit elements. Such metal interconnections may also be stacked as multiple layers by interlayer dielectric layers.
If unit elements are formed in the above manner and metal interconnections to drive the unit elements are arranged, the metal interconnections may be disconnected if a prescribed portion of an interlayer dielectric layer, in which the metal interconnections are stacked later, is not planarized.
For this reason, a CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) process may be used to planarize the interlayer dielectric layer. The CMP process may not be able to completely planarize the interlayer dielectric layer. Accordingly, a defect may occur in the interconnection process.
FIG. 1 is an example sectional view showing a structure of a related art MOS transistor.
According to the related art MOS transistor, as shown in FIG. 1, active and field regions may be defined in semiconductor substrate 1 such that isolation layers 2 may be formed in the field region.
A gate, which may have gate insulating layer 3, gate electrode 4, and cap insulating layer 5 sequentially formed therein, may be formed on semiconductor device 1 in the active region.
Lowly concentrated n-type impurity regions (-n) 8a and 8b may be formed in semiconductor substrate 1 at both sides of the gate, for example by implanting impurities using the gate as a mask. Sidewall insulating layers 6 may be formed on both side surfaces of gate, respectively.
Source/drain regions 9, which may be highly concentrated n-type impurity regions, may be formed in semiconductor substrate 1 at both sides of the gate, for example by implanting impurities using the sidewall insulating layers and the gate as a mask.
The related art semiconductor device may have various problems. For example, since an interlayer dielectric layer may convexly protrude along a gate in a case where it may be formed on a top surface of a MOS transistor formed as described above, it may be difficult to planarize the interlayer dielectric layer.
Since an interlayer dielectric layer may not be planarized, a failure of a metal interconnection may be caused in a case where a metal interconnection is formed on the interlayer dielectric layer.


A technique capable of constructing a disaster recovery system reduced in performance degradation of a primary system is provided. The technique includes a step of conducting synchronous writing of log information into a secondary storage subsystem in a secondary system when a write request received from a host computer is a write request of log information, a step of temporarily storing a write request and conducting asynchronous writing into the secondary storage subsystem when the received write request is a write request of database data or status information, a step of modifying log information, data in a database area, and status information in the secondary storage subsystem according to contents of a write request received from a primary storage subsystem, and a step of recovering the database area according to contents of log information in a location indicated by the status information.

The present invention relates to a technique for executing processing in another information processing apparatus, or a program or an object that conducts its processing, in response to occurrence of a failure or a predetermined condition, or a request.
For conventional database management systems (or computer systems or information processing systems), there is a technique of placing a plurality of replications in a plurality of geographically distributed sites (computers or information processing apparatuses) by way of precaution against failures, i.e., the so-called disaster recovery technique. In the so-called disaster recovery technique, data of a certain site are stored in other geographically separated sites as replications. In the case where a failure is caused by a disaster or the like in a certain site, business is recovered in another site.
For database management systems (or computer systems or information processing systems, where database management systems are taken as an example), there are several methods as a technique of having such replications. Basically, a request is sent to a system that becomes principal when seen from clients, i.e., a primary system, and an information record called log is generated in the primary system, and used to recover the processing and as backup. In other words, this log record is sent from the primary system to a system called secondary system, and a host computer of the secondary system conducts the same modification processing as the primary system by referring to the log record and thereby modifies the state of the secondary system. Such a technique of implementing the replication by sending a log record generated in the primary system to the secondary system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,561.
In a remote copy function (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,561) in a storage apparatus used when sending a log record or database data generated in a primary system to a secondary system, conventional data transfer methods are mainly divided broadly into the following two kinds.
(1) Synchronous Method
Upon a data write request from a host computer in a certain site (herein referred to as main site), a storage apparatus in the main site transfers pertinent data to a storage apparatus in another site (herein referred to as remote site). After arrival of a receipt report of pertinent data from the storage apparatus in the remote site, the storage apparatus in the main site reports writing completion to a host computer in the main site.
There is a merit that it is assured that data have arrived at the remote site when writing has been completed in the main site. On the other hand, there is a drawback that an increase in distance between sites or line delay increases the write response time in the main site and causes performance degradation.
(2) Asynchronous Method
When a data write request from a host computer in a main site has arrived, a storage apparatus in the main site reports writing completion to the host computer in the main site without waiting for completion of pertinent data transfer to a remote site.
As compared with the synchronous method, the possibility of performance degradation in the main site is reduced. In the case where a failure has occurred in the main site, there is a possibility that recent data are lost in the remote site and transactions are lost.
There are methods in which it is assured that the sequentiality of data writing in the main site coincides with that in the remote site as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,561, and methods in which it is not assured. For avoiding that the state in the middle of a transaction remains and consistency of a database cannot be assured, it is necessary to assure the sequentiality of data writing. The sequentiality assurance can be configured so as to be effective for a set of a plurality of disks. A technique for assuring the sequentiality for a set of a disk for log (journal) and a disk for DB is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,561.
In general, a database management system (DBMS) has a DB disk for storing data itself and a log disk for storing DB modification history information in a time series form. If a server in the main site (which is a computer or an information processing apparatus in the main site) is shut down, data on the DB disk assumes an incomplete modification state in some cases. At the time of restart of the DBMS, however, a consistent state is recovered on the basis of the DB modification history information on the log disk. (Such a technique is disclosed in Jim Gray and Andreas Reuter, "TRANSACTION PROCESSING: Concepts and Techniques," published by Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, which is hereafter referred to as reference paper 1) In other words, at the time of server shut down, modification data of completed transactions are forced to the DB disk (rollforward), and modification data of transactions that have been incomplete at the time of server down are invalidated (rollback).
As a transfer method in the disaster recovery system, the following methods are known.
(a) Log Synchronous and DB Synchronous Method
The log and DB are transferred synchronously to the remote site. The same states of the log and DB as those in the main site are always present in the remote site. When a failure has occurred, recovery processing in the same situation as the restart in the main site can be implemented. In other words, modification contents of transactions that have been completed in the main site are not lost in the remote site. Since the log and DB are transferred synchronously, however, the performance in the main site is degraded as compared with the case where such a configuration is not adopted.
(b) Log Asynchronous and DB Asynchronous Method
The log and DB are transferred asynchronously to the remote site. In addition, the modification sequentiality in the remote site is guaranteed. Since the modification in the remote side is delayed, states of the log and DB assumed in the main site the delay time before are present in the remote site. By making the modification sequentiality of the log and DB assured, the consistent DB state assumed in the main site the delay time before can be recovered. Although the performance degradation in the main site is slight, modification contents of transactions that have been completed in the main site are sometimes lost in the remote site.

Disaster recovery processing method and apparatus and storage unit for the same


The present invention relates to a fusion peptide, in which a self cell-penetrating Tat peptide having a self penetrating signal is bound to a human Type-I collagen C-terminal derived peptide, a preparation thereof, and a skin anti-aging cosmetic composition comprising the same. Since the fusion peptide, in which the Tat peptide is bound to the human Type-collagen C-terminal derived peptide is highly stable and has a superior skin absorption capability, the present invention provides a skin anti-aging agent having superior synthesis of collagen and hyaluronic acid, anti-aging effects, and improved durability of the effects.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fusion peptide, in which a self cell-penetrating Tat peptide (transactivator of transcription peptide) is bound to a human Type-collagen C-terminal derived peptide, and to a skin anti-aging cosmetic composition comprising the same.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Collagen is an important structural ingredient of extra-cellular matrix accounting for 25% of the total protein in mammals. The abnormal synthesis and analysis of collagen is closely related to skin aging, particularly the formation of wrinkles. It has been reported that a type-I collagen is an important structural ingredient of extra-cellular matrix in skin, bones, etc. in that it controls collagen synthesis inside cells in a cell synthesized collagen (Wiestner, M. et al. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 10482 10484, Paglia, L. M. et al. (1979) Biochemistry 18, 5030 5034). If a part of a peptide of human α1(I) procollagen C-terminal is added to human fibroblast, a synthesis of type-III collagen and fibronectin is strengthened [K. Katayama et al.(1991), Biochemistry, 30, 7097, K. Katayama et al.(1993), J. Biol. Chem. 268(14), 9941, Aycock, R. S. et. al.(1986), J. Biol. Chem. 261, 14355]. it was determined from this report that a human type-collagen derived peptide may provide anti-aging effects. That is, if a part of human Type-collagen transmits on a fibroblast, cell-growth and creation of extra-cellular matrix will be promoted by collagen synthesis. Therefore, through the synthesis of various peptides and screening, it has been verified that peptides of amino sequences 182 to 216, and 197 to 241 of human Type-collagen are effective in preventing aging of the skin by using a collagen synthesis process (PCT/FR99/02178, WO 00/15188). However, these peptides have weak skin absorbency due to their water-solubility and thus anti-aging effects of the skin are not to be expected. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of a novel skin anti-aging agent that has increased skin absorbency to thereby maximize anti-aging effects.
As one method for increasing skin absorbency of these peptide anti-aging agents, a method of grafting a long chain fatty acid such as palmitic acid on a peptide has been suggested in order to increase the fat solubility of the peptide (France Patent Application No. 2788058, PCT Laid-open Publication No. WO 00/40611). However, skin absorbency is not significantly improved with this method.
Accordingly, there is a need for the development of a novel skin anti-aging agent that does not cause skin irritation and that has increased skin absorbency, improved stability, and provides maximum anti-aging effects to the skin.

Fusion peptide containing human type-1 collagen derived peptide, preparation thereof, and skin anti-aging cosmetic composition comprising the same


A bobbin thread cutting device of a sewing machine for cutting a bobbin thread and for temporarily anchoring an end of the cut thread. The bobbin thread cutting device has a cover openably attached to a bed. The cover is formed with a guide groove in which a cutting blade is positioned. A blade edge of the cutting blade and a side edge of the guide groove define an acute-angled portion. A direction in which the bobbin thread is pulled out of the bed through the guide groove intersects a direction in which the bobbin thread extends from a tension generating portion of the bobbin case when the bobbin thread is about to be cut. A leading end of a cut bobbin thread is temporarily anchored at the acute-angled portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bobbin thread cutting device of a sewing machine for cutting a bobbin thread extending out of a bobbin case provided within a bed of the sewing machine, and more specifically, to a bobbin thread cutting device capable of cutting a bobbin thread so that an extending portion of the bobbin thread will be of a predetermined length necessary for forming a first stitch in sewing operations, and temporarily anchoring an end portion of the cut thread as a result of cutting.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, a preparatory operation is needed before performing sewing operations. That is, after inserting a bobbin case with a bobbin holding a bobbin thread into a loop taker, a needle with a needle thread stitches once without cloth on a bed. Then, when an end of the needle thread is pulled, the bobbin thread is drawn out of a needle hole of the needle plate. Also, at this time, a needle thread and the bobbin thread are excessively drawn out.
Japanese Patent Publication No. SHO-56-20876 describes a sewing machine with which no preparatory operation to draw out the bobbin thread is needed. As shown in FIG. 1, the sewing machine includes a needle 113 maintained vertically and movably up and down, a bed 111, a loop taker 118 positioned within the bed, a bobbin case 119 removably mounted inside the loop taker 118, a bobbin 120 holding a bobbin thread 102 and removably mounted in the loop taker 118, and a bed slide 121 provided on an upper surface of the bed 111 near the loop taker 118. The loop taker 118 forms lock stitches in cooperation with the needle using the bobbin thread 102 and a needle thread (not shown). A user can slide open the bed slide 121 to access the bobbin 120 and/or bobbin case 119 for replenishing or replacing the bobbin thread 102.
A cutting blade 122 for cutting the bobbin thread 102 is installed on a free end of the bed slide 121. Also, a bobbin thread cutting assist member 124 is provided in the bed 111 so as to be positioned near a blade edge 122a of the cutting blade 122 when the bed slide 121 is in a closed position. A midway portion of the bobbin thread 102 pulled out of the bobbin case 119 is bent into an approximate Z-shape around the cutting blade 122 and the bobbin thread cutting assist member 124.
With this configuration, when the bed slide 121 is closed after the bobbin case 119 with the bobbin 120 has been inserted to the loop taker 118, the bobbin thread 102 issuing from the bobbin case 119 is easily cut to a certain length necessary for forming a first stitch. It is unnecessary to draw out the bobbin thread 102 in preparatory operations using a needle thread, and the sewing operations can be begun immediately after inserting the bobbin case 119. Also, a length of a needle thread extending from the needle can be shortened, and a neat stitch can be formed.
However, a direction in which the bobbin thread 102 extends out of the bed 111 is approximately in parallel with a direction in which the thread 102 extends from the bobbin case 119 to the bobbin cutting assist member 124. Therefore, if there is little overlap in the parallel portions of is thread 102, the frictional resistance in the bent portions of the Z-shape is insufficient to cut the bobbin thread 102. Also, if the user pulls out the bobbin thread at this time, the thread 102 has a tendency to slip over the blade edge 122a and be pulled out too far before being cut. In addition, the end of cut bobbin thread 102 may fall inside the bed 111 of the sewing machine, and may be suspended from the loop taker 118.
On the other hand, if the cutting blade 122 and the bobbin thread cutting assist member 124 are positioned to provide a larger overlap in the parallel portions of the bobbin thread 102 to provide more acute bending angle in the Z-shaped portion of the thread 102, a risk of collision between a surface of the cutting blade 122 and an edge of the bobbin thread cutting assist member 124 when closing the bed slide 121 increases, thereby inviting damage to the cutting blade 122 and reducing durability thereof.

Bobbin thread cutting device of a sewing machine


To provide a timepiece in which it is possible to promote an edge thinning of an edge member without impairing an exchangeability of a gasket between the edge member to which a glass has been fixed and a case band, and a selectivity of a fixation means of the glass to the edge member. In a case band of an armor case in which a timepiece movement with a dial has been built in, there is provided an inner periphery convex part forming a fit hole while protruding to a case band inside. In an annular edge member which is overlapped to a front side of the case band and to which a glass has been fixed, there are provided a tubular fit part fitted to a fit hole, and a dial cover site covering a peripheral part surface of the dial. An annular seal gasket made of an elastic material is nipped, in an outside than the fit hole, between the edge member and the case band. Plural threaded holes are formed over the inner periphery convex part and the fit part, and there is made such that one part of each of the respective threaded holes is included in a projected region of the seal gasket to a back side. The edge member is retained to the case band by detachably screwing a threaded-axle-like connection member to each of the respective threaded holes from back sides of the inner periphery convex part and the fit part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned with a portable timepiece like a wristwatch for instance, or the like, and relates especially to a timepiece in which there has been improved a structure retaining an edge member, to which a glass has been attached, to a front side of a case band.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hitherto, in order to make a width of an annular edge member to which the glass has been attaches, in other words, a dimension corresponding to a dimension difference between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the edge member, small (This is refereed to as an edge thinning of the edge member.), there is known a technique in which a screw fixing a bezel to the case band by the fact that it is inserted into the case band accommodating a timepiece movement and screwed to the bezel (edge member) is disposed in an inside than a gasket having been provided between the case band and the bezel while ensuring a waterproofness between them (e.g., refer to JP-A-2002-189084 Gazette (paragraphs 0008-0010, 0013-0019, FIG. 1-FIG. 5)).
This prior art is shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, a reference numeral 1 denotes an armor case of one-piece structure, in which a case band 1a and a case back part 1b have been monolithically formed, and a reference numeral 2 a timepiece movement having been accommodated in the armor case 1 while being retained in a casing ring 3, respectively. To the timepiece movement 2, there are attached a dial 4 and timepiece hands 5. In FIG. 7, a reference numeral 6 denotes a bezel to which a glass 7 has been fixed, a reference numeral 8 a gasket, and a reference numeral 9 a screw, respectively. Further, a reference numeral 6a in FIG. 7 denotes a female thread part monolithically formed in a back side of the bezel 6 and having been fitted to the case band 1a from its front face side, and the screw 9 is screwed to this female thread part 6a from the back side. Additionally, a reference numeral 6b in FIG. 7 denoted a dial cover site having been formed while forming an inner periphery part of the bezel 6.
In this prior art, since the case band 1a and the bezel 6 are connected by the screw 9 and the gasket 8 has been nipped between them, an exchange of the gasket 8 is suitable possible. Not only it, there is no fear that a glass fixation part 6c of the bezel 6 is deformed by a stress following upon a screwing of the screw 9. Therefore, a fixation of the glass 7 to the bezel 6 may be performed by using an adhesive, or it is also possible to fix the glass 7 by pushing-in it into an inside of an attachment ring having an interference due to an elastic deformation by disposing this ring in an inner periphery of the glass fixation part 6c, and it is desirable in a point that choices for fixing the glass 7 increase.
In the technique of the Patent Document 1, since it is a constitution in which the screw 9 is meshed with the female thread part 6a having been provided in the bezel 6, this female thread part 6a has a threaded hole 6d. In order to ensure this threaded hole 6d, it is necessary to form the threaded hole 6d by a site surrounding the threaded hole 6d while having a thickness thicker than a certain degree. Since the bezel 6 has the threaded hole 6d like this, the edge thinning of this bezel 6 is not sufficient, so that there is a room for an additional improvement.
Concretely, a width T1 of the bezel 6, which has been shown in FIG. 7, in other words, a dimension T1 from the dial cover site 6b, which specifies an inner diameter of the bezel 6 and a parting dimension E of the dial 4, to an outer diameter of the bezel 6, is denoted by a value in which dimensions A-D and Z along a radial direction of each site of the bezel 6 have been totaled.
The dimension A is a dimension of the dial cover site 6b, the dimension B a dimension of a site from an inner periphery of the male thread part 6a to a center line of the threaded hole 6d, the dimension C a dimension of a site having contacted with the gasket 8, the dimension D a dimension of a site from an outer periphery of the gasket 8 to an outer periphery of the bezel 6, and the dimension Z is a dimension of a site from an inner periphery of the gasket 8 to the center line of the threaded hole 6d and, by this dimension Z, a disposition of the screw 9 is deviated to an inside of the gasket 8.
The width T1 of the bezel 6, which is formed by the total of the dimensions A-D and Z like these, is small in comparison with a constitution in which the screw 9 has been disposed in an outside of the gasket 8. However, since there is required the dimension Z for disposing the screw 9 in an inside of the gasket 8, it is not suitable for making the width T1 of the bezel 6 smaller to thereby perform the edge thinning.


An arrangement for limiting the swing angle of a boom for a rock drilling unit when the boom is being lifted and lowered. In the arrangement, a control member is coupled to the boom, turning therewith. The control member includes a slot which receives a movable dowel pin. The dowel pin is coupled to control a relief valve so that when the boom is being lifted or lowered, and when it tends to turn outside a predetermined widest permissible swing angle, the control member controls the relief valve so that it lets hydraulic fluid into the swing cylinder for turning the boom in a reverse direction.

This invention relates to an arrangement for limiting the swing angle of a boom for a rock drilling unit when the boom is being vertically lifted and lowered, wherein the rock drilling unit comprises a boom, pivotally connected, relative to a frame, about vertical and horizontal shafts, and a swing cylinder and a tilt cylinder between the frame and the boom, in whose cylinder spaces hydraulic fluid may be fed for turning the boom relative to the frame.
A problem with booms for rock drilling units is that the swing angle of a boom changes when the angle of elevation of the boom changes, causing significant widening of the swing angle of the boom at its extreme height values and excessive lateral movement of the boom. Consequently, in known solutions, the swing angles of a boom are defined narrow enough for preventing excessive turning of the boom. This again results in the operating range of a boom being in some cases far too narrow as the whole available width area cannot be utilized in the mid-part of the boom because of problems with the upper and lower angles.
The object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for eliminating the drawbacks of known solutions and allowing optimal utilization of the operating range of a boom. The arrangement of the invention is characterized in that it comprises control means for indicating the widest permissible swing angle of a boom, that the control means are coupled to control a swing cylinder so that if the boom, when being lifted or lowered, tends to turn outside the widest permissible swing angle, the control means let hydraulic fluid flow into the cylinder spaces of the swing cylinder for turning the boom to a reverse direction with respect to the turning movement caused by the lifting or lowering movements, thereby preventing the boom from exceeding the widest permissible swing angle.
It is an essential idea of the invention that the control means are coupled to the boom movably therewith and a relief valve is coupled to be controlled by the control means, whereat, with the boom turning to a predetermined swing angle, the control means control the relief valve so that it feeds hydraulic fluid into the swing cylinder of the boom and, correspondingly, discharges hydraulic fluid therefrom for maintaining the boom in this widest permissible position of the swing angle when it is lifted or lowered farther into the same direction, upward or downward, respectively.
It is an advantage of the invention that the widest possible operating range may be defined for a boom when it is essentially in the horizontal plane, whereat, with the arrangement of the invention, the same operating width is maintained for a boom both in its upper and lower positions without the joints or other parts of boom cylinders ending up in an unusual or operationally impossible position. This allows maximum boom coverage without problems of known solutions.

Arrangement for controlling boom for rock drilling unit


Methods and apparatuses are described for dynamic medium access control (MAC) address distribution in a wireless network. A station (STA) may receive, from an access point (AP), a frame that includes an indicator indicating at least one MAC address type or MAC address policy supported by an extended service set (ESS) associated with the AP. The indicator may comprise an 8 bit bitmap. The STA may then transmit, to the AP, a request message that includes MAC Address Assignment Protocol information determined based on the at least one MAC address type or MAC address policy. The STA may receive a response message that includes a local medium access control (MAC) address assigned based on the MAC Address Assignment Protocol information. The STA may transmit, to the AP, an association request frame with the local MAC address.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 networks require that a device, such as 802.11 stations (STA), have a medium access control (MAC) address before associating with an access point (AP). In the context of IEEE 802c and IEEE 802.1CQ, a device needs to acquire, or claim, a MAC address from the network. Thus, in order to support IEEE 802c and IEEE 802.1CQ, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) need to offer a MAC Address Assignment Protocol in the pre-association discovery (PAD) stage, before a device has associated with an AP. After the MAC address assignment, the device can be connected and associated with an AP in the WLAN. Additionally, in a WLAN, state and security associations consider the MAC address information. Any changes in the STA's MAC address will trigger a new association, new authentication, or the like. The STA may need to rebind a previously assigned MAC address due to mobility. Thus, methods and apparatuses that can configure and assign a STA's MAC address in the PAD stage are needed.

Methods and procedures for the dynamic mac address distribution in IEEE 802.11 networks