A method of fabricating a CMOSFET includes the steps of selectively forming first and second conductive type wells in a semiconductor substrate, forming an isolation insulating layer at interface of the first and second conductive type wells, forming a first gate electrode formed of a first conductive type electrode over a predetermined area of the second conductive type well and a second gate electrode successively formed of a second conductive type electrode, a diffusion preventing layer, and the first conductive type electrode over a predetermined area of the first conductive type well, forming sidewall spacers on both sides of each of the first and second gate electrodes, forming second and first conductive type impurity regions under surfaces of the first and second conductive type wells, respectively, at both sides of the first and second gate electrodes and the their sidewall spacers, and forming a silicide layer on the first and second gate electrodes and on the semiconductor substrate where the first and second conductive type impurity regions are.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a complementary metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (CMOSFET) and, more particularly, to a CMOSFET suitable for simplifying its process and improving the reliability of dual gate lines, and method of to fabricating the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Development and research has been directed to reducing a size of a MOSFET constituting integrated circuits in order to obtain good performance of circuits and its high integration. As a result, semiconductor integration circuits have been scaled down to smaller than micron sizes. A width of a gate line in a MOSFET has been narrower, and a parasite capacitance between gate lines is substantially increased due to the increase of wiring voltages and the reduction of a gap between the gate lines caused by the micronization of gate lines, so that the rate of circuits for transmitting signals is considerably reduced. That is, since a delay time which has an influence on the rate of circuits for transmitting signals is indicated by RC which a resistance R of a gate line by a parasite capacitance C between gate lines makes, the resistance R of a gate line is required to be decreased in order to improve a rate of circuits for transmitting signals.
In a method for decreasing a line resistance of a gate electrode, a polycide structure in which silicide is deposited on polysilicon for forming a gate electrode is used instead of a structure in which only polysilicon is used for forming a gate electrode.
As integration of CMOSFETs has been higher, unit devices become smaller in size. An LDD structure is applied to a MOSFET in order to solve the problem of hot carrier which is caused by the short channel effect due to the decrease of the size of unit devices. A gate electrode for a PMOSFET is doped with n-type impurity ions which are identical ones doped into a gate electrode in an N-type MOSFET, such that current doesn't travel between source and drain, but in a bulk inside a substrate. Accordingly, in order to solve the problem of a resulting low punch through breakdown voltage between source and drain, p-type impurity ions are doped into a gate electrode. A CMOSFET produced in this manner is named a dual gate CMOSFET.
In a dual gate CMOSFET, a rate of transmitting signals is decreased as its integration is increased. Accordingly, a structure of a gate using polycide is desired. On account of structural characteristic that silicide is formed on polysilicon so as to form a polycide gate, impurity ions doped into the polysilicon are diffused into the silicide formed on the polysilicon in a process at a high temperature and the impurity ions contained in the silicide are easily diffused. At this time, because of silicide which is known to be diffused more easily than polysilicon, dopants move in the boundary between an n-type gate and a p-type gate, thereby making a threshold voltage of the MOSFET unstable. In order to solve this problem, a method has appeared in which a diffusion-preventing layer is formed at the interface of the silicide and the polysilicon. In the method, a structure of a gate electrode is a silicide structure composed of 3 layers which are silicide/TiN/polysilicon layers.
A conventional CMOSFET using a dual gate will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1a to 1n are cross-sectional views showing process steps of a conventional method of fabricating a CMOSFET.
Referring initially to FIG. 1a, on an n-type semiconductor substrate 1, there are formed a p-type well 2, an n-type well 3, and a field oxide layer 4.
Subsequently, on the entire surface, there are successively formed a gate oxide layer 5 and an undoped polysilicon layer 6, as shown in FIG. 1b.
Thereafter, a photo resist film PR.sub.1 is coated on the entire surface of the polysilicon layer 6 and then patterned by an exposure and development process so that the polysilicon layer 6 is partially exposed, as shown in FIG. 1c. Next, using the photo resist pattern PR.sub.1 as a mask, an ion implanting process is performed to turn the undoped polysilicon layer 6 over the p-type well 2 into an n-type polysilicon layer 6a. In this case, phosphorous ions are used.
Then, the remaining photo resist film PR.sub.1 is removed as shown in FIG. 1d. Subsequently, another photo resist film PR, is coated on the entire surface of the polysilicon layer 6 including the n-type polysilicon layer 6a and then patterned by an exposure and development process until the polysilicon layer 6 over the n-type well 3 is partially exposed. Using the photo resist pattern PR.sub.2 as a mask, an ion-implanting process is performed to turn the undoped polysilicon layer 6 over the n-type well 3 into a p-type polysilicon layer 6b. In this case, boron (B) ions are implanted.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1e, the remaining photo resist film PR.sub.2 is removed. Then, a TiN layer 7, which functions as a diffusion preventing layer, and a WSi.sub.2 layer 8, which is a first silicide layer, are successively formed on the entire surface of the n-type and p-type polysilicon layers 6a and 6b.
Subsequently, a photo resist film PR.sub.3, as shown in FIG. 1f, is coated on the WSi.sub.2 layer 8 and then patterned by an exposure and development process so that placements of gate electrodes are defined.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1g, using the photo resist pattern PR.sub.3 as a mask, the WSi.sub.2 layer 8, the TiN layer 7, and the n-type and p-type polysilicon layers 6a and 6b are selectively removed by an etching process, thus forming a first gate electrode 9 composed of the n-type polysilicon layer 6a, the TiN layer 7, and the WSi.sub.2 layer 8 over the p-type well 2, and a second gate electrode 10 composed of the p-type polysilicon layer 6b, the TiN layer 7, and the WSi.sub.2 layer 8 over the n-type well 3.
Next, the remaining photo resist film PR.sub.3 is removed as shown in FIG. 1h. Still another photo resist film PR.sub.4 is coated on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 including the first and second gate electrodes 9 and 10 and then is patterned by an exposure and development process so that the region of the n-type well 3 is masked. Thereafter, using the first gate electrode 9 over the p-type well 2 as a mask, phosphorous ions are implanted into the p-type well 2 at both sides of the first gate electrode 9.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1i, the remaining photo resist film PR.sub.4 is removed. Next, yet another photo resist film PR.sub.5 is coated on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 including the first and second gate electrodes 9 and 10 and then patterned by an exposure and development process so that the region of the p-type well 2 is masked. Using the second gate electrode 10 over the n-type well 3 as a mask, boron ions are implanted into the n-type well 3 at both sides of the second gate electrode 10.
As shown in FIG. 1j, the remaining photo resist film PR.sub.5 is removed. Impurity ions implanted into the p-type and n-type wells 2 and 3 are activated to form n-type lightly doped impurity diffusion regions 11 under the surface of the p-type well 2 at both sides of the first gate electrode 9 and p-type lightly doped impurity diffusion regions 12 under the surface of the n-type well 3 at both sides of the second gate electrode 10. That is to say, lightly doped drain (LDD) regions are formed under the surface of each of the wells 2 and 3 at both sides of each of the gate electrodes 9 and 10. Thereafter, an oxide layer is deposited on the entire surface of the substrate including the first and second gate electrodes 9 and 10 and then is etched-back to form sidewall spacers 13 on both sides of each of the first and second gate electrodes 9 and 10.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1k, another photo resist film PR.sub.6 is coated on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 including the first and second gate electrodes 9 and 10 and then patterned by an exposure and development process so that the n-type well 3 is masked. Subsequently, using the first gate electrode 9 and its sidewall spacers 13 as masks, an arsenic (As) ion implanting process is executed to the exposed p-type well 2.
As shown in FIG. 1l, the remaining photo resist film PR.sub.6 is removed. Then, still another photo resist film PR.sub.7 is coated on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 including the first and second gate electrodes 9 and 10 and then patterned by an exposure and development process so that the region of the p-type well 2 is masked. Next, using the second gate electrode 10 and its sidewall spacers 13 as masks, BF.sub.2 ions are implanted into the exposed n-type well 3.
Subsequently, the remaining photo resist film PH.sub.7 is removed as shown in FIG. 1m. The As ions and the BF.sub.2 ions doped into the p-type and n-type wells 2 and 3, respectively, are activated to form n-type heavily doped impurity diffusion regions 14 under the surface of the p-type well 2 at both sides of the first gate electrode 9 and its sidewall spacers 13, and p-type heavily doped impurity diffusion regions 15 under the surface of the n-type well 3 at both sides of the second gate electrode 10 and its sidewall spacers 13. That is to say, heavily doped source/drain regions are formed. Thereafter, a titanium (Ti) layer 16 is formed on the entire surface of the substrate including the first and second gate electrodes 9 and 10 and their sidewall spacers 13 for performing a silicide process.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1n, the semiconductor substrate 1 is annealed to form a TiSi.sub.2 layer 17, which is a second silicide layer, at the interface of the heavily doped impurity diffusion regions 14 and 15 and the Ti layer 16. Next, the Ti layer 16 that has not been reacted is removed.
The conventional method of fabricating a CMOSFET using a dual gate has the following problems.
First, an ion implanting process should be performed to each of polysilicon layers which are used as n-type and p-type gate electrodes and additionally lots of masking processes using photo resist films should be performed. Accordingly, the overall fabricating process becomes complicated and its productivity is decreased.
Second, although impurity ions are implanted to a polysilicon layers in order to decrease a resistance of a gate electrode, a simple ion implanting process can not achieve uniform impurity diffusion concentration of the impurity ions over the polysilicon, and thus a resistance of the gate electrode may be increased. As a result, the performance of a transistor becomes inferior and thus the reliability of highly integrated devices is decreased.
Third, in order to form a silicide layer on gate electrodes and on source/drain regions, a WSi.sub.2 layer, a first silicide layer, is formed on the gate electrodes, and a TiSi.sub.2 layer, a second silicide layer, is formed on the source/drain regions. That is, two processes should be performed to form the silicide layer, whereby the productivity is decreased.


An image forming apparatus includes a first writing control device configured to control a writing of a first latent image, a second writing control device configured to control a writing of a second latent image, and a criterion timing determination device configured to determine a criterion timing for a series of image forming operations based on an image forming instruction and to transmit to the first writing control device one of (i) a signal of the criterion timing, or (ii) a signal of a writing instruction determined based on the criterion timing. The first writing control device is configured to start a writing process of the first latent image based on one of the signal of the criterion timing or the signal of the writing instruction received from the criterion timing determination device, and to transmit a signal of a timing for starting a writing process to the second writing control device. The second writing control device is configured to start the writing process of the second latent image based on the signal of the timing for starting the writing process received from the first writing control device.

1. Field of the Invention
An image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, etc., forms images on both sides of a recording medium using a one-path method, and a control method of the image forming apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Background
As methods of forming images on both sides of a recording medium, such as a transfer sheet, a switchback method and a one-path method are known. Japanese Patent No. 3484996 describes an example of the one-path method. In the switchback method, an image is formed on one side of a recording medium by causing the recording medium to pass a transfer device and then the recording medium passes a fixing device so that the image is fixed to the recording medium. Thereafter, the recording medium is returned to the transfer device and the fixing device so that another image is formed on the other side of the recording medium.
In the one-path method, visible images are transferred onto both sides of a recording medium by a both-sides transfer device, and thereafter the recording medium passes a fixing device, so that the images on both sides of the recording medium are fixed to the recording medium at the same time. The one-path method is superior in cost to the switchback method because a relatively complicated switchback mechanism is avoided.
Further, the time for forming the images on both sides of the recording medium is shorter in the one-path method because the recording medium is not returned to the transfer device and the fixing device after forming the image on one side thereof. Furthermore, in the switchback method, when the recording medium is curled by the heat of the fixing device and the curled recording medium is returned to the transfer device and the fixing device, the recording medium tends to jam. Such jamming of the recording medium is avoided in the one-path method.
In image forming apparatuses forming images on both sides of a recording medium using the one-path method, a known method uses a common latent image bearing member for forming the image on one side of the recording medium and for forming another image on the other side of the recording medium. Another known method uses separate latent image bearing members for forming the image on one side of the recording medium and for forming the other image on the other side of the recording medium.
In the method that uses the common latent image bearing member, a first latent image is formed on the latent image bearing member by optically scanning the latent image bearing member, and a first visible image is obtained by developing the first latent image. Then, the first visible image is transferred onto an intermediary transfer member, such as an intermediary transfer belt, etc. Subsequently, a second latent image is formed on the latent image bearing member, and a second visible image is obtained by developing the second latent image. Then, while the second visible image is transferred onto the backside of the recording medium, the first visible image transferred onto the intermediary transfer member is transferred onto the front side of the recording medium.
In the method that uses separate latent image bearing members, while a first visible image formed on a first latent image bearing member is transferred onto the front side of the recording medium, a second visible image formed on a second latent image bearing member is transferred onto the backside of the recording medium. In this method, because visible images for the front side and the backside of the recording medium are formed substantially simultaneously, the image formation speed is faster as compared to the method that uses the common latent image bearing member.
In the above-described method that uses separate latent image bearing members, however, there is the possibility that a deviation from a predetermined position is caused to the images on both sides of the recording medium in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Generally, in an image forming apparatus, a main controller including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, etc. controls a driving of a latent image bearing member, a development device, a transfer device, a sheet conveying device, etc., and a latent image writing device writing a latent image on the latent image bearing member is controlled by a separate writing controller because of the necessity of processing a large volume of information.
The main controller determines a time criterion in a series of image forming operations upon receiving an image formation instruction inputted by an operator, and based on the time criterion, drives the development device, the transfer device, etc. at appropriate timings. Further, the main controller transmits a writing instruction signal to the writing controller to determine the timing of starting a writing process. At this time, the main controller not only performs a calculation process for counting the timing for transmitting the signal of the writing instruction but also performs calculation processes for driving the development device, the transfer device, etc. at the same time.
In this case, if the calculation process for determining the timing for starting the writing process is interrupted by the calculation processes for driving the development device, etc., the timing for transmitting the signal of the writing instruction to the writing controller may be deviated from a regular timing. When (i) the timing for transmitting the writing instruction signal to the writing controller controlling writing of the latent image for the front side of the recording medium and (ii) the timing for transmitting another writing instruction signal to the writing controller controlling writing of the other latent image for the back side of the recording medium are irregularly deviated from regular timings, respectively, a deviation in the positions of resulting images is caused on both sides of the recording medium in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.
For example, the first character line of a first page of a document formed on the front side of the recording medium and the first character line of the second page of the document formed on the backside of the recording medium are not aligned with each other.
The above-described JP No. 3484996 describes a technology for suppressing the deviation in the positions of the images on both sides of the recording medium in the widthwise direction (the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction) of the recording medium. However, JP No. 3484996 fails to disclose a technology or method for suppressing the deviation in the positions of images on both sides of the recording medium in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

Image forming apparatus and control method thereof


A seal for a spin-on filter of the type including an outer housing having a closed end and an open end, an end cover provided in the open end and a filter element disposed within the housing, the filter being adapted to be attached by screw threads to a mounting plate. The seal includes an annular gasket disposed within an annular seating recess formed in the end cover, the gasket having a circumferential groove formed on the inner face thereof. A portion of the end cover extends into the groove in the gasket to retain the gasket within the recess. The gasket is thus retained within the recess in the end cover but is freely rotatable relative to the end cover as the filter is rotated during installation. The seal requires no face selection, will feed in the lathe cut assembly insertion machines currently in use, will fit most conventional ding type gasket retaining recesses, and has rounded edges to eliminate trapped air.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a seal for a fluid filter and, more particularly, to a seal for a spin-on type oil filter.
2. Summary of Related Art
Spin-on oil filters are well known devices often used in the lubrication system of internal combustion engines. These filters generally include an outer container and an end cover enclosing a hollow cylindrical filter element. An annular gasket is utilized for effecting a seal between the end cover of the filter and an engine block or adapter plate or the like on which the filter is used. Generally, a rectangular lathe cut gasket is disposed within an annular recess formed in the end cover. One or both sidewalls of the recess is then crimped to retain the gasket therein.
Such sealing gaskets are disadvantageous in that the gasket is prevented from rotating relative to the end cover. Once the gasket has made contact with the sealing base, the gasket is subjected to a shearing strain as the filter is rotated into final, operative position, despite the fact that the gasket is typically lubricated prior to installation. The development of such internal shear in the gasket may result in the gasket becoming dislodged and the failure of the seal.
In filters utilizing such sealing gaskets, there is also a tendency for air to become trapped between the gasket and the end cover upon installation. The trapped acts like a spring, so that once the air escapes, the effective torque applied to the gasket is reduced. This allows the filter to loosen due to vibration, and may even result in the filter becoming disengaged from the mount.
Some more recently developed filters have utilized a substantially round sealing gasket having a lip extending radially inwardly and tangentially therefrom. The gasket is retained by a portion of the end cover which is crimped to loosely engage the lip. The gasket is thereby capable of rotation relative to the end cover, limiting the internal shear experienced by the gasket during installation.
These sealing gaskets, however, cannot be used with conventional spin-on filter end covers. Additionally, such gaskets are difficult to automatically install in the end cover, and require proper face orientation prior to installation. Should such a gasket become dislodged, it is also difficult to reinstall by hand. Finally, the extended lip formed on these gaskets appears to be susceptible to cuts and tears, especially if not properly seated.

Seal for spin-on filter having circumferential retaining groove


The language is composed using phonemes which is easy to separate in an environment of noise and disturbing sound.. An acoustic signal comprising phonemes which is easy to separate in an environment of noise and disturbing sound fed to the acoustic signal analyzer is analyzed therein, and from the result of the analysis, the tone name is recognized in the tone name identifier, and after the tone name is recognized as a prescribed sentence, the sentence is fed to the utterance generator. Corresponding to these operations, the utterance generator generates a prescribed time series composed of tone names comprising phonemes which is easy to separate in an environment of noise and disturbing sound, and inputs it to the acoustic signal generator. The acoustic signal generator synthesizes an acoustic signal which corresponds to the time series and outputs the acoustic signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a speech recognition system, speech synthesis system, and a speech recognition and synthesis system, and more particularly relates to speech recognition system, speech synthesis system, and speech recognition synthesis system suitable for recognition and synthesis of acoustic signal in the audible band range.
2. Description of the Related Art
For conversation between one or more of apparatus and one or more of persons, conventionally a system is structured so as the apparatus recognizes a natural language (such as Japanese and English) by combining speech recognition and speech synthesis, convert words or sentences to speech signal, and answer in a natural language. However, conventional speech recognition systems are affected by noise and disturbing sound, and the correct recognition rate is low. To solve this problem, some techniques have been proposed as described herein under.
One is a technique to avoid noise and disturbing sound by modifying a microphone. For example, in a technique a directional microphone is directed to a sound source to reduce noise. The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 59-012500 (1984) may be referred as the example.
Otherwise, in another technique, noise and disturbing sound are estimated by signal processing to subtract the estimated noise and disturbing sound from the signal. For example, in the pre-processing such as frequency conversion, spectrum component of background noise is subtracted to mitigate the affection of the background noise, this technique is referred as spectrum subtraction. The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 57-212496 (1982) may be referred as the example. Further otherwise, in another technique, for the case in which noise is collected using adaptive signal processing, the noise is filtered to remove the noise from the mixed signal of speech and noise.
In still another technique, disturbing sound and speech to be recognized are mapped using a certain map in a space where the position of the disturbing sound is far from that of the speech, and the speech is recognized. For example, "A noise removing device using a neuro-network model" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-15718 (1990) describes a device in which a neuro-network having a multilayered structure learns the map with input of mixed speech and noise and output of speech without noise to remove the noise. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 60-75898 (1985) discloses a technique that solely harmonic component of speech pitch is detected to prevent the degradation of word recognition performance.
From the view point of the freedom in designing a speech recognizer, these techniques are categorized to a technique for removing disturbing sound by providing a suitable method for sound collection in an service environment, a technique for removing disturbing sound by suitable signal processing, and a technique for separating disturbing sound from speech by selecting suitable map.
On the other hand, as method to transmit a message from an apparatus to a person, a method which involves a natural language has been disclosed conventionally. As a method which does not involves a natural language, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 54-153070 (1979) discloses an apparatus in which the time of a clock is informed by one-to-one corresponding tones such as "do, re, mi, fa, . . . " instead of a natural language to numerals. This apparatus involves transmission of information from an apparatus which does not speak a natural language to a person, the transmission from the apparatus to a person does not involve a natural language, therefore, this is not a conversational system.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 61-110837 (1986) discloses an apparatus remote controllable by clapping hand or whistling, this apparatus is an example of information transmission means from a person to an apparatus. The claim 1 of this invention describes "A method for controlling an air conditioner which is remote controllable to control ON-OFF switching of power supply and other setting remotely, wherein an air conditioner is switched to start-up or to shut-down by inputting arbitrary numbers of acoustic wave in a certain time period intermittently". The description of background in the invention points out the disadvantage of a wireless remote controller that a controller can be dropped or lost, however, the invention does not involves the phoneme design associated with measures against noise and disturbing sound. Also this technique involves only one-way information transmission from a person to an apparatus, therefore, this is not a conversational system.
As described herein above, from the view point of the freedom in designing, these conventional speech recognition apparatus are optimized in designing based on the view point of;
(1) removal of disturbing sound by providing a suitable sound collection, PA1 (2) removal of disturbing sound by suitable signal processing, and PA1 (3) separation of speech and disturbing sound by selecting a suitable map.
As described herein above, in the field of speech recognition and speech synthesis using a natural language, conversational systems are disclosed, however, natural conversation using a natural language is still technically difficult now. Particularly, the recognition is very difficult in usual institutional and home environments because of disturbing sound and noise.
Synthesizers and recognizers not using a natural language have been disclosed independently, these systems are not introduced to improve disturbing sound and noise reduction performance, therefore, a conversational system can not be suggested from these systems.
In view of the above mentioned situation, the present invention has been accomplished to realize a conversational system which is capable of recognizing the information transmission between one or more of apparatus and one or more of persons provided with measures against disturbing sound and noise.

Speech recognition and synthesis systems which distinguish speech phonemes from noise


To transmit the shielding potential of an electric cable that is connected to a circular connector and surrounded by a braided shield to a mating connector, a circular connector includes a shield transfer element comprising an insulation displacement connector, a transfer contact and a spring bow in the connector housing of the circuit connector. The spring bow contacts the electrically conductive screw cap arranged on the outside of the connector housing through an opening provided in the connector housing while the transfer contact contacts a neutral wire of the circular connector in the center of the circular connector. The braided shield is connected to the shield transfer element by the insulation displacement connector.

An arrangement of this type is required in a circular connector in order to ensure that the shielding potential of shielded cables can be reliably transmitted from a plug to a correspondingly prepared mating connector.
DE 41 37 355 C2 discloses a circular connector for shielded cables, in which the housing is connected to the shield of the cable in an electrically conductive fashion, wherein an electrically conductive elastomer part that is realized in the form of a tube and held in the housing in an axially compressed fashion ensures the connection between the housing and the shield.
DE 197 27 453 A1 discloses a circular connector for a shielded cable that comprises an inner housing and an outer housing, as well as an end cap that can be screwed on. In addition, strain relief means are provided in this case. A crown spring is utilized for contacting the shield of a shielded cable.

Arrangement of an element in a circular connector


The catheter is a catheter for controlling the circulation of fluid through it, from or to a vessel in which the catheter is inserted. The catheter comprises a long tubular body that is open especially at its distal end (5), over which there is arranged a cap (5) having an essentially flat distal wall (7) in which there is formed at least one slit forming a valve (7).. The slit in the cap has a length that is greater than or equal to the inside diameter of the body of the catheter. The said slit preferably extends also into the side of the cap, and a tube is inserted into the distal portion of the catheter in order to support the sleeve during aspiration.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a catheter comprising a valve for controlling fluid (especially liquid) at its distal end by which it is inserted into a duct of a human or animal body, in order to control the distribution of fluid from the catheter into said duct or the removal of fluid from the duct.
In particular, the catheter of the invention is a vascular catheter adapted to be inserted into a vessel in such a manner that its distal end is located therein, either in order to remove blood, for example, from the vessel or to inject a treatment product into the vessel.
2. Description of Background Art
Several intravenous therapies, including the administration of chemotherapeutic medicaments and hyper-feeding, require the use of such a vascular catheter that is suitable for remaining in the patient's body for an implantation period that may sometimes last several weeks.
Typically, such a catheter is implanted by the femoral or jugular route (then through the subclavian vein, towards the upper vena cava).
Of the existing vascular catheters, that of EP-A-328 332 (or U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,210) is known in particular.
As in the invention, it is a "two-way" catheter for controlling the circulation of fluid through it from, or to, a duct of a human or animal body in which the catheter is inserted.
That catheter has a principal axis and comprises:
a long tubular body extending along the principal axis and having an internal passage, an inside diameter, an outside diameter, and a distal end having an opening that communicates with the passage, PA1 a cap that is located over the open distal end of the body and is fixed to the body, the cap having an essentially flat distal wall facing the open distal end of the body, PA1 and at least one slit forming a valve that is formed through said flat distal wall of the cap, to communicate with the passage in the body of the catheter, the valve reacting to pressure differences on either side of it, for the circulation of fluid from, or to, the duct. PA1 that the cap has a substantially cylindrical side wall, PA1 that the cap has an inside diameter that is comparable to, and preferably larger than, the inside diameter of the body of the catheter, PA1 and that the slit(s) forming the valve extend(s) both over the distal wall of the cap and into its cylindrical side wall. PA1 the valve comprises at least two slits arranged in a cross, each slit having a length of approximately from 3 mm to 4.5 mm, PA1 and the cap has an outside diameter of approximately from 2.2 mm to 2.8 mm and an inside diameter that is more than approximately 0.3 mm larger than the inside diameter of the body of the catheter. In both cases, the distal wall of the cap, in which the valve is formed, will of course extend at a distance from the distal end of the body of the catheter.
In the above-mentioned patent it is indicated that the catheter disclosed therein has been optimised for the circulation of liquid, within the context of intravascular implantation.
In particular, it is indicated therein that the problem of circulating liquid in both directions (from or to the catheter) has been taken into consideration; the proposed catheter is supposed to provide such bi-directional operation, in particular without causing the catheter to fold or collapse in on itself on aspiration.
The proposed solution also claims to provide the distal end of the catheter with a structure that is sufficiently thick that it will not fold or become blocked as a result of movements of the patient, muscular movements or an aspiration vacuum; moreover, the valve slit arranged in a relatively thin wall covering the open distal end of the catheter is said to permit a rapid reaction of the valve to differences in pressure.
The catheter of EP-A-328 332, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,210, has a catheter body preferably made of polyurethane and having a thickness of approximately from 0.25 to 0.75 mm. The cap has a wall thickness of preferably from 0.05 to 0.25 mm. Silicone rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene may also be used. A single slit forming a valve is provided, its length being approximately from 30 to 70% of the inside diameter of the catheter. The slit arranged in the distal end wall of the cap is flattened against the open distal end of the body of the catheter, in such a manner that there is no gap between the distal ends of the body and of the cap.
Within the context of the present invention it is maintained that a further real improvement in operation, especially on aspiration, can be achieved and that a further improvement can likewise be obtained in the manner in which the problem of the wall surrounding the valve slit collapsing in on itself is resolved, in particular within the context of vascular catheters provided for injecting a treatment liquid into a vessel in one direction and, in the opposite direction, for allowing the removal of, especially, blood or a body fluid.
For bi-directional operation to be possible it is essential to ensure that the valve will open correctly (in one direction or the other) for a predetermined pressure difference and that it will remain closed, by its lips being in contact with each other, if that pressure difference is not achieved, without damaging the integrity of the catheter, its necessary flexibility associated with mechanical strength, and the resistance that must be provided in view of the consequences of unexpected movements of the catheter inside the patient's body.
In accordance with the solution of the invention, the catheter described above in connection with EP-A-328 332 has a cap, the slit(s) of which has (have) a length that is at least equal to the inside diameter of the body of the catheter. Another characteristic that is also used to solve in particular the problem of the walls surrounding the slit forming the valve collapsing in on themselves, especially on aspiration, is that the flat distal wall of the cap is located at a distance from the distal end of the body of the catheter.
Especially with such a characteristic, and if the distal wall of the cap is in the form of a full circular disc that is split, it will be possible to lengthen the slit(s) in such a manner that the length of the slit(s) is greater than the outside diameter of that wall. In fact, it has been found that very good operation is obtained if the length of the slits(s) (especially two slits in a cross extending in two perpendicular directions) is (per slit) from 1.5 to 2.5 times the inside diameter of the catheter, that is to say in fact much greater than the outside diameter of the cap, since that outside diameter is only several tenths of a millimeter (indeed possibly several millimeters) larger than the inside diameter of the body of the catheter.
A further problem to be solved by the invention concerns the flow rate of fluid that is to be able to pass through the valve. In fact, it has been found that existing "two-way" catheters only allow flow rates that are too weak to satisfy the users' requirements. Therefore, the invention solved that problem, by requiring, moreover, that the flow rate through the valve be comparable to that which would exist for the same catheter, but without a cap, and for the same pressure. It is likewise to be noted that while designing the present catheter it was found that the problem to be solved is associated both with the manner in which the valve is formed and with certain characteristics of the cap.

Catheter having a valve with a bi-directional axial slits


An internal mandrel for cooling a tubular thin film is disclosed where an air layer is eliminated in the lower side cooler of the internal mandrel, so that the tubular thin film can be continuously and stably produced. In the internal mandrel for directly cooling the tubular thin film while using external circularly shaped cooling tank where the tubular thin film is downwardly extruded through a circular slit of the die, the internal mandrel is characterized in that coolant for cooling a lower most part of the internal mandrel is flown in the countercurrent direction in the internal mandrel to the tubular thin film.

Conventionally, various types of apparatuses have been provided for cooling an extruded thin film by bringing it into direct contact with coolant in the process of making a tubular thin film from thermoplastic resin.
For example, the following are known: quenched solidification method through direct pressure against and retention of overflow liquid flowing down on the outer wall of internal overflow pipe (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 35192/1970); the method of improving accelerated film production performance by providing a helical channel through which coolant flows in the lower part of double tube for pipe size control through which overflow liquid flows down (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 31473/1971); the method of cooling and solidifying through contact with coolant and of removing by absorbing adhesive liquid (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 2072/1964); and an internal mandrel for a cooling tubular thin film that is provided with more than one stage of an upper annular slit nozzle for jetting coolant (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 47795/1994).
The most important technical point for producing thin film that has excellent extensibility and long-term stability lies in how to manufacture substantially formless thin film in continuous and stable manner. This is important, in particular, in film production equipment of tubular method that uses an internal cooling mandrel, and determines efficiency of the entire equipment and production quality of a tubular thin film and of a sheet.
The inventors precedently proposed the multi-stage cooling that could enhance cooling ability and significantly improve accelerated film production (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 47795/1994). Although this enabled substantially accelerated production of a tubular molten thin film, it has a disadvantage that further acceleration will increase air entrained with the thin film or coolant, thus leading to increased air quantity contained in the coolant, which results in accumulation of air space in the lower part of the pipe size control ring.
This air space adversely affects moldability of molten thin film. More specifically, although molten thin film achieves a balance by head pressure of an external water tank and hydraulic pressure of internal coolant, when the said air space gets off balance and the balance disproportionates, the air space passes between the thin film and the tubular control ring, reaches an annular nozzle for jetting coolant in the upper part, bursts in an area where the molten thin film enters the coolant and causes cooling irregularity of the thin film or pores.
These problems have considerable effect on the entire equipment, such as reduced runnability due to inability of continuous drawing, and deteriorated quality of the tubular thin film or sheet due to cooling irregularity.
In the following, we describe a conventional cooling mandrel in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration of a cooling unit of the conventional cooling mandrel.
Conventionally, an inner surface of an tubular thin film 4 is cooled by internal coolant and coolant from an external cooling tank 22 that are uniformly distributed by a helical channel 9 provided in the lower cooling unit 10.
The tubular thin film then cooled down achieves a balance by internal pressure of the lower coolant and head pressure of the external cooling tank, and enters a seal ring unit 15 without contacting the helical channel 9 of the lower cooling unit 10, or without separating from the bottom of a pipe size control ring unit 6.
However, as film production is accelerated, air entrained with the molten tubular thin film 4 or contained in the coolant from an upper annular nozzle for jetting coolant 8, a middle annular nozzle for jetting coolant 7 and the lower cooling unit 10 also increases.
During film production the air stays as air space 12 in the bottom of the tubular control ring unit 6. Although the coolant running through the helical channel 9 in the lower cooling unit 10 is drained from a lower exhaust port 14, the air space 12 residing in the bottom of the tubular control ring unit 6 expands as film production time passes, rather than being vented to the lower exhaust port 14.
In the internal cooling mandrel, the air space 12 destroys the balance between the internal pressure of the lower coolant and the head pressure of the external cooling tank 22 in the lower cooling unit 10, and rises as bubble to the middle annular nozzle for jetting coolant 7 or the upper annular nozzle for jetting coolant 8, through a gap between the tubular thin film and the pipe size control ring unit 6. Then, as the air space 12 rising as bubble bursts in the vicinity of the upper or middle annular nozzle unit for jetting coolant, the molten tubular thin film 4 suffers from uneven thickness due to irregular cooling or generation of pores.


A safety device which is responsive to excessive wave motion of a body of water includes a housing having a pivotable telescoping arm connected thereto. A pair of spaced apart probes are mounted on the end of the arm. The probes are connected to a control circuit located in the housing. The control circuit measures the electrical resistance between the two probes, which is normally an open circuit. In use, the arm is manipulated so as to position the probes a desired distance above the normal water level when no one is in the pool. Thus, the space separating the two probes is normally not bridged by water from the pool. When a person enters the pool, however, larger waves are created. These larger waves splash across the probes, bridging the space therebetween. As a result, the electrical resistance between the probes decreases. The control circuit is responsive to this change for generating an alarm. The safety device may also include a pressure responsive switch secured to a step of a ladder in the pool. The pressure switch is also connected by wires to the control circuit. When a person using the ladder steps on the pressure switch, the control circuit is activated to generate the alarm.

This invention relates in general to safety devices and in particular to a device which is responsive to excessive wave motion of water in swimming pools and the like for generating an alarm.
Many homeowners enjoy the convenience of a swimming pool or similar body of water on their property. Although swimming pools provide obvious recreational benefits when used properly, they also represent a source of potential danger, especially to children who use the pool without permission and without adult supervision. To prevent accidental entry and to minimize unauthorized use, pools are commonly enclosed by a fence or similar barrier. Unfortunately, older children are often capable of climbing such fences or otherwise gaining access to the pool. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a device which can detect when the pool is in use and generate an alarm in response thereto.
Many safety devices are known which are responsive to wave motion for generating an alarm indicating that a pool or similar body of water is being used. Such devices operate on the theory that excessive waves are created in the pool by movement of a person in the water. When such waves are sensed, an alarm is generated. Unfortunately, many of these devices are complicated, expensive, or difficult to use. Thus, pool owners frequently do not obtain these safety devices for use with their pools. It would be desirable, therefore, to provide an improved wave responsive alarm which is simple and inexpensive in construction and operation.
Furthermore, some of the known wave responsive devices are not easily adjustable for use under differing weather conditions. For example, it is known that some waves are naturally created when the wind blows, even when no person is in the pool. On very windy days, these waves are larger than on calm days. Known wave responsive devices are not readily adjustable to compensate for the larger waves naturally encountered on windy days. As a result, such devices generate false alarms or, because of the likelihood of such false alarms, are not used at all. Accordingly, it would also be desirable to provide a wave responsive safety device which is easily adjustable for use under different weather conditions.


A cable stripper having a stripper body having at least one hole and opposite first and second ends, a cable stripper guide having a connection part and a guiding part, the connection part engaging the first end of the cable stripper body, at least one marble located within the at least one hole in the cable stripper body, and at least one spring having first and second ends and being located within the at least one hole in the cable stripper body and engaging the at least one marble.

At present, high market demand for communication equipment products requires mass production of associated cable. Generally, communication cable consists of a cable jacket layer, an outer conductor layer, an insulating layer, and an inner conductor layer. The outer conductor layer may have a waved ring shape, thereby forming a peak and trough pattern known as "corrugation."
Conventional cable strippers often fail to properly strip the outer conductor layer of the cable to ensure proper crimping to a cable clamp, for example.
Accordingly, there is a need for a cable stripper that strips an outer conductor of a cable to half of the peak of the corrugation, thereby improving the quality of the stripped cable.

Changzhou Amphenol Fuyang Communication Equipment Co., Ltd.


A magnetic sensor is operated by a method which provides a magnetic field extending through a preselected detection zone. A permanent magnet can be used to provide the magnetic field. The method disposes a magnetically sensitive component within the magnetic field and the magnetically sensitive component, such as a Hall effect element, provides a first signal that is responsive to a portion of the magnetic field imposed on the magnetically sensitive component. The sensor also determines a base value and measures a maximum magnitude of the first signal during a preselected period of time, such as the time required for a gear to rotate so that all of its ferromagnetic teeth pass through the detection zone. The sensor also determines a reference value as a function of the base value and the maximum magnitude. The sensor compares the first signal to the reference value and provides a second signal that is a function of the relative magnitudes of the first signal and the reference value, whereby the second signal is representative of the position of the ferromagnetic object relative to the detection zone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a magnetic sensor and, more particularly, to a magnetic sensor that is able to set a comparative threshold limit which is determined as a function of a peak value in order to optimize the operation of the sensor over a wide range of gaps between the sensing face of the sensor and the path of a ferromagnetic object.
2.Description of the Prior Art
Many different types of geartooth sensors are well known to those skilled in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,283, which issued to Vig et al on Aug. 15, 1995, discloses a Hall voltage slope-activated sensor circuit that includes a Hall element that is preferably followed by a Hall voltage amplifier and a pole end of a magnet which is preferably fixed adjacent to the Hall element. The amplifier output is connected directly to one of a pair of differential inputs of a Schmitt trigger circuit and is also connected, via a single or a dual polarity track and hold circuit, to the other of the differential Schmitt inputs. The dual polarity track and hold circuit causes the voltage across a capacitor to track positive and negative Hall voltage slopes and to hold the positive going peaks and negative going peaks of the Hall voltage presented to the other Schmitt input so that when the difference voltage between the Hall voltage and the held voltage of the capacitor exceeds a positive or negative threshold of the Schmitt circuit, the Schmitt circuit output changes binary state indicating the approaching edge or the receding edge of a ferrous geartooth. The dual polarity track and hold circuit is made up of two complimentary plus and minus peak detector circuits, each including a bipolar transistor having an emitter connected to the voltage holding capacitor, an operational amplifier with an output connected to the base of the transistor, the amplifier having a negative input connected to the transistor emitter and a positive input serving as the input of the Hall voltage tracking and holding circuit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,589, which issued to Sumcad on Mar. 19, 1996, describes a method for calibrating a sensor by moving a magnet while monitoring an output signal from a magnetically sensitive component. The sensor is provided with a carrier that has a cavity shaped to receive a magnet in sliding association therein. Ribs are provided to guide the movement of the magnet into the cavity and a deformable rib is used to hold the magnet at a precise position determined by an active calibration process. A magnetically sensitive component is rigidly attached to a substrate and the substrate is rigidly attached to the carrier in which the cavity is formed. Electrically conductive leads are molded into the carrier and extend through the carrier to positions where they can be electrically connected to circuit runs on the substrate. A flexible wall can also be deformed in the carrier to deflect in response to the insertion of a magnet into the cavity. This provides additional holding capability that retains the magnet in position when an external force is removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,084, which issued to Bicking on Mar. 5, 1996, discloses a geartooth sensor with a means for selecting a threshold magnitude as a function of the average and minimum values of a signal of magnet field strength. The geartooth sensor is provided with a circuit which determines a threshold magnitude as a function of the minimum value of a first output signal from a magnetically sensitive component and an average output signal from a magnetically sensitive component. Circuitry is provided to determine the average signal. The minimum signal is then subtracted from the average signal and the resulting signal is doubled before being scaled by a predetermined fraction and then compared to the original output signal from the magnetically sensitive component. This circuit therefore determines a threshold signal as a function of both the minimum signal value and the average signal value and, in addition, enables the resulting signal to be scaled to a predetermined percentage of this difference for the purpose of selecting a threshold value that is most particularly suitable for a given application.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,355, which issued to Davidson et al on May 9, 1995, describes a magnet carrier disposed within a outer housing. A magnetic sensor is provided with a housing in which a carrier is inserted. The carrier is particularly shaped to retain a permanent magnet in a particular position relative to a plurality of electrical conductors and a substrate on which a magnetically sensitive component is attached. The carrier and its associated components are inserted into a housing which can be deformed to permanently retain the carrier within a cavity of the housing. All of the components of the sensor are designed to be easily assembled along a common axis to facilitate automatic assembly and manufacture of the sensor. The magnetically sensitive component can be a Hall effect element that is associated with other electrical components which are also attached to a substrate that is disposed proximate to a front end of the carrier.
The skilled artisan is familiar with the general operation of most magnetic sensors which typically comprises steps of measuring an output, from a magnetically sensitive component, such as a Hall effect element or a magnetoresistive device, and comparing that voltage to a predetermined threshold value. The threshold value can, in certain applications, be a constant magnitude. However, changing conditions can significantly affect the signal from the magnetically sensitive component and, generally, the accuracy of the sensor can be improved by calculating the threshold magnitude as a function of the changing signals from the magnetically sensitive component. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,084 measures the minimum magnitude of the signal from a Hall element and the average magnitude of the signal from the Hall element and uses these two variable signals to determine an appropriate threshold level. The Hall signal is then continuously compared to the threshold signal to determine the presence or absence of ferromagnetic teeth passing through a detection zone of the sensor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,283, in a different approach to this general problem, uses the peak values of the Hall signal as a temporary reference value and then changes the binary output signal from the sensor when the Hall signal decreases by a preselected amount relative to the stored peak value. U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,355 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,589 are typical of the type of structure used in magnetic sensors. These four patents mentioned above are expressly incorporated by reference in this description.

Method and apparatus for sensing the position of a ferromagnetic object


A universal control adapter system allows any commercial or custom snowplow controller to be quickly and easily attached and detached from any commercial or custom snowplow blade. A first adapter connects the snowplow driver's controller to a first universal controller. A second adapter connects the snowplow to a second universal connector, where the second universal connector is configured to removably mate with the first universal connector. The first universal connector and second universal connector are color coded or otherwise configured to ensure proper mating. In this manner, skilled snowplow drivers can quickly and easily transfer their controllers to different vehicles rather than learning different controls for various snowplow manufacturers.

The present invention pertains to snowplow systems designed for attachment to the front of a vehicle such as a pickup truck. These snowplow systems include a wiring harness that is routed to the interior cabin of the vehicle for connection to a control box. Typically, this wiring harness includes one or more connectors such that the control box may be disconnected from the plow. Some of the snowplow systems include a control box. Others require the purchase of an after-market control box. Further, some manufacturers of control boxes also manufacture compatible plow systems, while others simply manufacture control boxes.
Operating a plow while also operating a vehicle is a skill that is honed with experience. Understandably, some plow operators become extremely proficient using a particular control box and prefer not to change to a different control box. However, compatibility issues between control boxes and snowplows often require these operators to learn to use different control boxes, or forego work with a particular brand of plow.
There is a need for a system that resolves these compatibility issues, thereby allowing a plow operator to attach a favorite control box to any make of snowplow. Preferably, the system allows the connection between the control box and the snowplow to be made without requiring wire splicing.


A process for forming a continuous filament yarn having the surface tactile character of a spun yarn. The process includes passing the cohesive yarn structure through the interior of a rotating sleeve member disposed in surrounding relation to the cohesive yarn structure. The rotating sleeve member includes an abrasive inner surface of diameter greater than the cohesive yarn structure and is adapted to contact the exterior surface of the cohesive yarn structure such that at least a portion of the elongate filaments disposed at the exterior of the cohesive yarn structure are broken. Terminal ends of the broken filaments define an arrangement of outwardly projecting hairs at discrete locations disposed substantially around the circumference of the cohesive yarn structure. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.

Two generally recognized classes of yarn are spun yarns and filament yarns. Spun yarns are typically formed by techniques such as open end spinning, ring spinning and air-jet spinning in which relatively short staple fibers having lengths in the range of about several inches are bound together in a generally stable yarn structure by twist between the discrete staple fibers. Due to the relatively short length of the staple fibers, a portion of the staple fibers tend to project away from the main body of the yarn thereby imparting a textured or hairy surface. Such a textured surface may be desirable to impart a generally soft feel to the yarn and the fabrics formed therefrom.
Filament yarns are generally composed from an assemblage of so-called continuous or endless filaments of substantial length which are assembled together by practices such as air-jet entanglement or the like. Such filament yarns have the advantage of being produceable from substantially continuous lengths of polymer filaments without requiring such filaments to be cut into discrete staple lengths and undergoing a spinning operation. However, due to the continuous nature of the filaments used in a filament yarn, such a yarn is typically substantially free of upstanding fibers defining hair along its length. Thus, the texture of a traditional filament yarn is substantially different from that of a spun yarn. Fabrics formed from traditional filament yarns may thus have a smooth untextured appearance and may lack the soft hand characteristics which may be desirable in applications where physical contact is contemplated.
In the past, attention has been given to finding appropriate methods by which the desirable characteristics of conventional spun yarn, (e.g. appearance, bulk and hand) may be imparted to synthetic continuous filament yarn. In particular, known processes exist for sanding fabrics formed from filament yarns so as to raise fibrils along the filaments forming the yarns. It is also known to subject filament yarns to so-called "false twist texturing" or "air-jet texturing" in which the yarn is treated to impart bulk and texture as will be well known to those of skill in the art. It is also known to impart high bulk characteristics to yarns to produce a so called "core and effect yarn" to yield an arrangement of loops and the like on the periphery of the yarn core. While these various processes are both useful and advantageous to increase the apparent volume of a filament yarn, such techniques typically do not yield substantial numbers of outwardly projecting hair-like elements around the yarn surface and thus do not substantially simulate the characteristics of a traditional spun yarn. That is, while the bulked filaments at the surface of such treated yarns provide the benefit of enhancing bulk in the yarn while also improving the perceived tactile character, the hand of fabrics formed from such false twist yarn may still be inferior to that of spun yarns due to the generally smooth profile of the loops and the lack of hairiness from discrete fiber segments projecting outwardly away from the yarn.
Aside from the known bulking operations, it has also been proposed to utilize various treatments to break surface filaments by frictional forces to impart a degree of hairiness along the yarn length. However, such practices have typically required relatively complex arrangements of equipment which do not treat the entire surface of the yarn and which are susceptible to the risk of damaging the yarn unless the processes are operated with substantial control. Exemplary processes which utilize a series of rolls for carrying a bulked yarn and pulling a portion of the surface fibers away from the bulked yarn to enlarge and/or break those surface fibers are illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,501,046 and 6,012,206 the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. In such processes, the surface filaments are primarily pulled away from the periphery of the yarn with breakage being only incidental to the pulling action as filaments are stretched beyond their breaking point. Accordingly, such processes yield a relatively small number of broken filaments of substantial length. Moreover, since the pulling action is highly dependent upon the yarn itself as the friction inducing component, changes in the yarn such as changes in denier, tension, etc. require relatively complex adjustment. A further drawback is that operation of such a device requires a highly skilled operator.

Treatment of filament yarns to provide spun-like characteristics and yarns and fabrics produced thereby


A system includes a first working fluid compressor configured to pressurize a working fluid, and a prime mover coupled to the first working fluid compressor and configured to provide a mechanical input into the first working fluid compressor. An exhaust assembly is coupled to the prime mover and is configured to receive exhaust heat from the prime mover, the exhaust assembly including a generator configured to generate electric current based on the exhaust heat received by the exhaust assembly. A second working fluid compressor includes an electric motor electrically and synchronously coupled to the generator and configured to pressurize the working fluid.

A compressor operates to increase pressure of a working fluid. In particular, a prime mover is used to rotate a shaft, and/or blades to pressurize a working fluid through the compressor. The prime mover may be a reciprocating engine, such as a piston based engine, a combustion turbine, etc. The prime mover provides the work that pressurizes the working fluid. Additionally, heat is exhausted from the prime mover. This exhaust heat may then be reused as part of a thermodynamic cycle, such as in the Brayton cycle.
In some applications, attempting to use the heat in the exhaust gases can be problematic. For example, when natural gas is conveyed through pipelines across long distances, several compressors may need to be spaced apart along the pipelines to pressurize or maintain pressure of the natural gas. Facilities that include such compressors are referred to as compressor stations. These compressor stations typically house the compressor and prime mover. With the excess heat being exhausted, however, the size of the equipment needed to use the excess heat can be large and expensive. Specifically, the gain in electricity and/or efficiency may not offset the cost and design constraints resulting from use of the exhaust heat. Electricity generated by such a turbine may not have a place to he transmitted or stored, however, because compressor stations often are remote from electrical grids. Thus, the cost and size constraints make providing such a turbine undesirable.
While smaller, more compact turbines exist that may be able to more effectively handle exhaust heat, often the working fluid of such turbines is considered harmful to the environment. With environmental concerns ever present for natural gas pipelines, again, such turbines are also undesirable. As a result, exhaust heat from compressor stations is simply exhausted into the atmosphere, causing significant inefficiencies within compressor stations.


Embodiments of the invention relate to management of notifications responsive to the arrival and departure of mobile devices in a defined area. A prioritized list is shared among mobile devices in a defined area. Upon detection, mobile devices add their respective selected notifications to the prioritized list. A mobile device entering the defined area receives the prioritized list and in response to detecting a shared selected notification on the prioritized list, one of the mobile devices in the area changes its selected notification to an alternative notification. A second mobile device entering the defined area would likewise receive the prioritized list and change its selected notification to a second alternative notification responsive to a shared selected notification on the list. At such time as a device leaves the area, the list is again updated and all notifications exclusive to the device are removed from the list.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to mobile devices and in particular to a method for distinguishing such devices. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method for managing notifications on multiple mobile devices.
2. Background
Today, mobile devices are common place devices used for communication. People all over the world use mobile devices to communicate with each other. Mobile devices are used everywhere both in public, and private places. These devices include numerous features and applications in addition to allowing users to make and receive calls. These features allow users to store contact information, send and receive textual messages, play games, set and track appointments, and generate task lists.
Another feature of mobile devices is the ability to select and change ring tones used to alert a user of an incoming call. Many types of ringtones are available, and although ring tones are changeable, often times, different phones in the same area will use the same ring tone. For example, several mobile phones in a crowded public area such as a train station, airport, or shopping mall may make it impossible for users to distinguish whether the call is for them or another user with the same ring tone.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems and methods for managing multiple wireless devices are disclosed. An exemplary system includes multiple domains each having a particular type of wireless device management system and respective (application programming interface) APIs. API call modules corresponding to each domain enable accessing of the APIs exposed by each of the respective domains. A management console enables compiling of a consolidated list of devices and users from each of the device management systems into a single view. An exemplary method includes querying multiple domains to obtain user information, compiling a consolidated list of users, displaying the consolidated list in a user interface, selecting a user from the consolidated list, and submitting a command to either all or a specific domain for the selected user.

Company employees increasingly use their choice of mobile devices to carry out mobile business processes. IT departments are therefore faced with the challenge of centrally managing several mobile platforms simultaneously. When an enterprise deploys mobile devices of different types and platforms, different management systems corresponding to the different devices and platforms are usually employed. This is typically because device manufacturers and vendors are interested in delivering mobile device management solutions that are specific to their own devices and that support their own product range. These systems allow an administrator to manage devices over-the-air, including activating devices, distributing software and applications, locking or wiping devices, enforcing and resetting device passwords, setting IT policies, and managing optional mobile applications for end users.
An organization wishing to deploy mobile devices from more than one manufacturer is faced with implementing and managing multiple management solutions. For example, different types of devices may run on different operating systems and therefore require different types of management systems suited to their respective operating systems. Furthermore, there may be different device platform capabilities, with some devices further limited by the design of their operating system. A challenge presented by this arrangement is that when an enterprise customer wants to provision different types of devices across its enterprise network it may have separate device management systems and configuration databases that correspond to the different types of devices.
Further problems occur if an employee is assigned one or multiple mobile devices; the person is usually represented by an "account" on each of the disparate management systems corresponding to the device type they have been given. This results in multiple "accounts" for the one person. A problem with this "multiple accounts/one user" situation arises when attempting to manage the "one" user and his/her "multiple devices" from a single management location.
Another difficulty presented by this arrangement is that the user and/or the enterprise network may have different requirements for each of the user's accounts on the different devices. Also, the enterprise network might impose different policies, permissions and guidelines for each device type even though the accounts on each device belong to the same user.

Multiplatform management system and method for mobile devices


A method for queuing asynchronous memory accesses includes pinning memory buffers in a managed memory environment, issuing data transfer requests to a peripheral device, each request corresponding to at least one of the pinned memory buffers, and asynchronously accessing at least one of the pinned buffers responsive to the requests.

Many processing systems manage memory explicitly by allowing applications to expressly allocate and de-allocate buffers in the memory. For instance, applications allocate memory by requesting and receiving pointers to memory buffers from a processing system, and de-allocate the memory buffers by passing the pointers back to the processing system. Often, however, applications fail to de-allocate the memory buffers resulting in memory leakage, or a reduction in available memory for the processing systems.
In another memory management scheme, processing systems actively manage their memory by allowing applications indirect control over the memory. For instance, a processing system may provide an application with a variable corresponding to a block of memory, as opposed to address pointers to specific buffers in the memory, and automatically determine when to release the variable from the application. Since the actual memory buffers associated with the variable are hidden from the application, the processing system attains the ability to automatically relocate the memory block among various memory buffers, for example, with the memory management daemon or garbage collector, without notifying the associated application of the relocation.
Although the managed memory environment reduces, if not eliminates, memory leakage in processing systems, certain applications, such as asynchronous data streaming, require that memory buffers remain static throughout a duration of memory access operations. Since conventional processing systems operating a managed memory environment do not statically allocate memory buffers, these applications either fail to perform or are performed inefficiently.


There is provided a method and apparatus for reducing packet assistant channel power usage in a wireless telephone system. More specifically, there is provided a method comprising measuring a power usage for a packet assistant channel, determining whether the power usage is above a threshold, and discontinuing transmission over the packet assistant channel for a period of time if the power usage is above the threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to communications and, more particularly, to wireless communications.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention, which are described and claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
One of the paramount challenges facing modern wireless telephone systems is the rapid growth of consumer demand for data services such as Internet access, text messaging, and e-mail. In fact, consumers are demanding greater access to data-related services than ever before, and this trend is not likely to change. For example, in the coming years, consumers will likely expect their wireless telephones to provide many, if not all, of the digital data communication features currently provided by computers (e.g., video conferencing, picture mail, etc.).
One method of transmitting digital data, such as digital photos, web pages, or videos, is with packets. A packet is a package of data capable of being routed through a computer network. Packets typically contain a packet header that contains the destination for the data, a payload that contains the data being transmitted, and some form of error checking information. Typically, a transmitting device will divide a message or file into a plurality of packets that will be transmitted across the network to a receiving device. The receiving device will then reassemble the packets into the original message or file. If one or more of the packets does not arrive at the receiver or arrives and cannot be decoded, the receiver can request a replacement packet from the transmitter. In this way, packetizing data may permit more efficient transmission of data by limiting the amount of data resent as a result of an error.
For the reasons stated above, packetizing data is a logical choice for transmitting data to a wireless unit or device. Over the past few years, a variety of systems have been developed to transmit packetized data over the cellular telephone network. These system include, but are not limited to, 1× Evolution Voice-Data Voice ("1× EV-DV") in 3G1×, Evolution Voice-Data Only ("EV-DO"), and High Speed Downlink Packet Access ("HSDPA") of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System ("UMTS"). Although the specific implementation details of each of these systems may vary, each adds at least one additional channel to carry packetized data. For example, 1× EV-DV includes a forward packet data channel ("F-PDCH") to carry packetized data across a forward link between a base station and a wireless device.
In addition to packet data channels, packetized data transmission systems also typically include one or more control channels, referred to as packet assistant channels, to carry information that may facilitate or improve the transmission of data over the packet data channels. For example, 1× EV-DV includes a forward common power control channel ("F-RCCH") that carries power commands to the mobile devices, a forward rate control channel ("F-RCCH") that carries rate control information for the mobile device, a forward acknowledgement channel ("F-ACK") that carries acknowledgement feedback for a reverse packet data channel, and a forward grant channel ("F-GCH") that carries resource assignments associated with the reverse packet data channel.
Although the packet assistant channels facilitate the transmission of packetized data across the forward link, the data transmitted over the packet assistant channels still consumes base station transmission power. In fact, the packet assistant channels in combination with overhead channels, such as the pilot, paging, and sync channels may consume fifty percent or more of the base station's available transmission power in a 3G1× system, for example. Reducing the transmission power usage of the assistant channels may permit more of the base station's transmission power to be used to transmit the actual packetized data, which can increase the amount of digital data that can be transmitted to mobile devices. In the case of mixed voice and data on the same channel, reducing assistant channel power may also permit more of the base station's transmission power for voice calls.

Method and apparatus for reducing packet assistant channel power usage


A snow thrower includes a motor, an auger driven by the motor to rotate, a handle device for a user to operate, an auger housing for containing the auger and a frame for connecting the handle device and the auger housing. The auger housing is made of at least two different materials.

Snow throwers as a kind of hand pushed power tools are important appliances for removing snow in winter, which have advantages such as high efficiency, economy and environmental protection, etc. With the economy growing and the society developing, snow throwers are used widely both at home and abroad.
At present, small snow throwers commonly include a housing, an operating handle, wheels, a battery pack, a motor, an auger and a chute device.
For the battery pack and the motor, they generate lots of heat during working. If the heat isn't managed effectively for a long time, the snow thrower may be damaged.
For the currently known snow throwers, when the auger is rotated, it throws the snow to the chute device directly. It is clear that, most snow can't be thrown to the chute device exactly and therefore, the effect of snow throwing is bad. Otherwise, the currently known snow throwers have low strength and are easy to damage.
Commonly, the chute device is capable of rotating so as to adjust the throwing angle. However, the currently known angle adjusting device is inconvenient to operate, which affects the working efficiency.
Otherwise, when there are wires extending into the housing from the outside, if it is needed to examine and repair the components within the housing, the housing is difficult to remove due to the limitation of the wires. Thus, the maintenance is inconveniently.
Sometimes the snow thrower is needed to work in the evening. However, the vision in the evening is poor. So, the safety of the user can't be ensured and the effect of the snow throwing is affected.
The operating handle is capable of rotating relative to the housing. However, if the user releases the operating handle during rotation, it will drop down quickly so as to damage the operating handle and the housing.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.


An improved aluminum lithium alloy comprising 0.1 to 2.5 wt. % Li, 2.5 to 5.5 wt. % Cu, 0.2 to 1.0 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.8 wt. % Ag, 0.2 to 0.8 wt. % Mn, up to 0.4 wt. % Zr or other grain refiner such as chromium, titanium, hafnium, scandium or vanadium, the balance aluminum. The present alloy exhibits an improved combination of strength and fracture toughness, over any thickness range. The present invention is further directed to methods for preparing and using Al—Li alloys as well as to products comprising the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to aluminum-lithium based alloy products, particularly those suitable for use as structural members in aircraft construction, such as in bulkhead, spars, wing skin, frames, extruded structural members, and fuselage applications, as well as other applications where a combination of high strength and high fracture toughness are typically desirable and/or required.
2. Description of Related Art
In many industries and particularly in the aircraft industry, reducing the weight of structures has always been a concern. One effective way of doing this is to reduce the density of aluminum alloys used in such structures. It is well known in the art that aluminum alloy densities may be reduced by the addition of lithium. However, it is also known that some problems arise when lithium is added to aluminum based alloys. One of the problems encountered is the possible decrease in ductility and fracture toughness.
Most structural applications in the aircraft industry, and particularly applications such as products intended for use in lower wing skin structures, require a high level of strength, as well as a high level of fracture toughness. It is also desirable for aircraft and other similar applications, that ductility and corrosion behavior remain at an acceptable level.
Among aluminum-lithium based alloys, Al—Cu—Li—Mg—Ag alloys are well-known in the prior art for their interesting properties. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,359 discloses an alloy with a broad composition of 2.0 to 9.8 wt. % of an alloying element, which may be copper, magnesium, or mixtures thereof, the magnesium being at least 0.05 wt. %, from about 0.01 to about 2.0 wt. % silver, from about 0.2 to about 4.1 wt. % lithium, and from about 0.05 to about 1.0 wt. % of a grain refining additive selected from zirconium, chromium, manganese, titanium, boron, hafnium, vanadium, titanium diboride, and mixtures thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,165 discloses a preferred composition of 1.10 wt. % Li, 3.61 wt. % Cu, 0.33 wt. % Mg, 0.40 wt. % Ag and 0.14 wt. % Zr. An alloy composition corresponding to such a range was registered at The Aluminum Association in June 2000 as AA 2098. This alloy exhibits high fracture toughness and strength at elevated temperatures, after having been subjected to a specific process. An alloy as disclosed in the '165 patent may be suitable for some thin or medium gauge plate products used in aircraft structures, but may be less suitable for use as thick gauge plates, because of rather low mechanical properties in the ST direction.
Another aluminum-lithium based alloy has also been proposed for thick gauges. This alloy, registered at The Aluminum Association as AA 2297 in August 1997, contains lithium, copper, manganese, and optionally magnesium, but no silver. U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,662 discloses a preferred composition of 1.6 wt. % Li, 3.0 wt. % Cu, 0.3 wt. % Mn, 0.12 wt. % Zr. The alloy, produced in thick gauges, exhibits a good combination of low density, strength, toughness, fatigue resistance and corrosion resistance.

Al-Cu-Li-Mg-Ag-Mn-Zr alloy for use as structural members requiring high strength and high fracture toughness


A hydrophobic silicone coating composition includes a trialkoxysilane with trialkoxy functionality, a polyfluorinated trialkoxysilane, and an organometallic cure catalyst. A coating on a substrate is provided that includes a cured film produced by the cure of the coating composition. The coating has a contact angle of at least 93 degrees after 500 hours of exposure to UV-A exposure in ASTM D 4329 QUV using UVA 340 bulbs, cycle B exposure of alternate cycles of UV exposure and condensing humidity all at elevated temperature.

In industries inclusive of construction, automotive, aerospace, and marine appliances, surface coatings not only protecting surfaces from weathering, dirt collection, insect deposits, but also in enhancing aerodynamics and aesthetic appeal. Weathering of materials as disparate as polymeric resins, thermoplastics, metal, and glass results from exposure to ultraviolet light, windblown particulate, and water induced corrosion. These problems are further complicated for transparent substrates that become dirty and prone to glare and other optical phenomena that obscure vision through the transparent substrate. An understanding of the wettability of various materials is required to provide a successful protective coating, based on the physical and chemical heterogeneity of substrates, as well the effect of weathering on such a coating. For example, coatings inclusive of double bond unsaturations are prone to both ultraviolet light (UV) degradation and ozonolysis.
There are many products on the market that are used to coat a surface. However, these available water repellent coatings have certain disadvantages as discussed in the foregoing session.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved hydrophobic coating that alleviates problems of the prior art as mentioned above.


Disclosed are surface sections for creating a non-slip or minimal slippage surface. The surface section includes a plate, a plurality of plate apertures, at least one elevator, a plurality of pegs, and a plurality of couplers to couple the pegs to the plate. Each of the plurality of pegs is at least partially located within, and aligned with, one of the plate apertures. Each coupler couples one of the plurality of pegs to the plate in a normal, extended state in which at least a portion of the peg is extended above the upwardly facing surface of the plate. Each coupler allows each of the plurality of pegs to move within its respective plate aperture to a non-extended state upon application of pressure to the peg. When the pressure is removed, the coupler moves the peg back to its normal, extended state.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to non-slip surfaces and methods for creating same. More specifically, the present invention relates to non-slip surfaces and methods for creating same utilizing a plurality of pegs and a surface including a plurality of apertures.
Non-slip surfaces and/or products are known that utilize anti-slip techniques to prevent slips and falls. One such technique for creating a non-slip surface is to increase its normal force or the coefficient of friction such that the surface creates an indirect horizontal force. Frictional force equals the product of the coefficient of friction and the normal force: Ffr=μsFN. The coefficient of static friction may be increased, for example, by including sharp or rough features in the surface, however, such features can cut or damage objects placed upon such surface, or can accelerate the wear of such objects (e.g., shoes). Even if the primary object to be placed upon such a surface (e.g., a shoe) is ruggedized, secondary objects (e.g., hands) can be injured or damaged by the sharp or rough features if, for example, a fall should occur. Surfaces with a high coefficient of friction can also become coated by a film of a material having a low coefficient of friction such as water, frost, mud, grease, or oil, which may act to undermine the non-slip properties of the surface.
One solution known in the art to create a non-slip surface by increasing the surface's coefficient of friction is to place non-slip devices such as spikes or bumps on the surface itself in locations that are likely to come into contact with a person's shoe or foot. These non-slip devices are typically seen, for example, on open metal or plastic steps and metal grate bridges. As such devices are designed to dig into a person's shoe or foot, they can have the undesirable effect of damaging the soles of the shoe or foot. The pressure exerted on a bare foot by the small contact area of the non-slip device can also be very painful.
Similarly, surfaces having integral non-slip devices are also known including, for example, diamond plates and plastic mats with raised circular bumps. Again, such surfaces are designed such that the raised diamonds or bumps deform the sole of a shoe or foot. These non-slip devices are always present, therefore, the walking surface is always uneven and may act as a tripping hazard. Also, some circular bumps of the plastic mats are sloped inward such that only a component of the force applied to an object in contact therewith is horizontal. This therefore requires that a large pressure be exerted by the object in contact with the surface in order to deform such object.
Other known anti-slip solutions include very rough, sandpaper-type surfaces such as those found on diving boards, boat footplates, bath tubs and similar locations. Such surfaces can cut bare feet, especially if the skin is softened due to, for example, exposure to water. Other objects or body parts can also be damaged if they come into contact with such surfaces, as, for example, at the end of a fall onto the surface.
In lieu of sharp or rough features, sticky surface coatings such as chemical coatings may be used to increase the coefficient of static friction of a surface. However, such coatings may wear off or adhere to objects that come into contact with the surface. Also, sticky coatings can make it difficult for the object to be removed from the surface. For example, it may be difficult and/or tiring for someone to walk on such a surface because greater force is required to pull each shoe from the surface's sticky coating. Such surfaces can also become coated with dust, dirt, or a slippery material, which may act to reduce the coefficient of friction of such surface, thereby defeating or minimizing the effect of the non-slip surface.
Also, it is known to use non-slip devices such as shoes having integral cleats or spikes, or studded snow tires for cars, on traditional surfaces. Such devices are designed to deform, or dig into, the surface with which they are in contact to create a higher coefficient of friction for the surface. The sides of the cleat, for example, can provide a horizontal force on a surface; however, cleats must penetrate such surface in order to function properly. These repeated penetrations can damage or destroy the surfaces upon which they are used. Hence, the use of such devices is limited to the greatest extent possible. For example, athletes are not typically allowed to enter buildings while wearing cleats, and studded snow tire use is typically limited to winter months. In addition, if the surface in contact with such devices is too hard, the gripping function is compromised as such devices are unable to achieve sufficient penetration. Also, the protrusions on such devices are subjected to exertion and large pressures, thus they tend to wear away or become damaged in addition to damaging the surfaces with which they are in contact.
Alternate non-slip equipment is also known such as electro-magnetic shoes utilized with steel surfaces or suction cups utilized with glass surfaces. The attraction between the shoes and/or cups and the surface is sufficiently strong to minimize the potential for disengagement from the floor, and thereby a fall. Such equipment is typically expensive, limited in locations of use, and requires the users to be specifically trained.
Similarly, it is known to use mechanical locks coupled to a surface wherein a shoe or the like is clicked into the lock to prevent it from dislodging therefrom until the user chooses to physically unlock it. Racing bicycles, skis, and certain NASA weightless space applications utilize such mechanical locks to lock shoes or boots into place. Freedom of movement and selection of foot placement is extremely limited in these applications as the locks do not conform to, or otherwise protect, the shoe or boot. Also, they require the object to be correctly positioned and oriented in order to lock and unlock the object in place. Sometimes it may be difficult for the object (e.g., a shoe) to disengage from the surface quickly, for example, in an emergency situation which may cause injury to a user. Further, lock-in surfaces only work if the shoe/boot and the lock match.

Non-slip surfaces and methods for creating same