In an embodiment, an originating communication device within a wireless communications system sends a call request to a server to initiate a communication session with a target communication device, and also sends, along with the call request, a session description request, the session description request requesting alerting data to be sent to the target communication device from the server in addition to a call announce message for announcing the communication session to the at least one target communication device, the alerting data describing a nature of the communication session. The server sends the call announce message and the alerting data to the target communication device. The target communication device receives the call announce message and the alerting data, notifies a user of the target communication device of the announced communication session and outputs the alerting data to the user of the target communication device in conjunction with the notification.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to setting up a communication session within a wireless communications system.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a synchronous communication is desired between two communication devices, such as a telephone call between two telephones, it is common to have one device attempt to start the communication and bridge the connection by contacting the other device. The contacted device will then broadcast an alert, such as a ring or other audible alert, and can also give a visual alert, such as flashing lights or activity on a display, to inform a person near the device that another communication device is attempting to bridge a communication.
In telephone systems, it is common to send some identification data, often called "caller id" which indicates a caller's number, and other identification data such as the name associated with the calling telephone, during the ringing signal, or when the call is being set up, but before the call is answered. The information made available to the called party may be made visible on a display on the telephone or on a separate attached device. The caller ID information can be manipulated as to the calling number and identity of the calling party, but cannot otherwise be modified to include more data that could provide more data to the user of the called telephone about the nature of the intended call bridge attempt.
There are also specialized telephones and other communication devices, either land-line based telephones or mobile devices, that allow a user to select a specific ringtone or alert for an incoming call based upon the caller id information. This does allow the user of the receiving device to know via the alert mechanism of the phone or other communication device the identity of the caller, but it does not allow the caller to manipulate the ringtone or alert, and does not give any information on the nature of the incoming request to bridge a communication.

Setting up a communication session within a wireless communications system


A remote surveillance utilizing signalling incorporated in traffic and concerns more particularly digital links using a prohibited configuration code for the line signal. The purpose is to produce a system consisting of periodically incorporating an interrogation identifier containing a prohibited configuration in the line signal at the transmitter terminal, recognizing the interrogation identifiers as they pass through equipment under remote surveillance, modifying one interrogation identifier out of r by equipment that has remote surveillance data to be transmitted, using the interrogation identifiers reaching the receiving terminal intact to determine those time slots occupied by the remote surveillance signal and extracting the identifiers occupying these time slots for decoding the remote surveillance.

This invention relates to the remote surveillance of equipment such as repeaters located along a digital transmission link. More specifically, it concerns remote surveillance utilizing signaling incorporated in the traffic on the basis of time division multiplexing with the data.
Remote surveillance systems of this type are already known in which signalling uses an identifier specific to each item of equipment followed by a reply block. These identifiers must be distinguishable from the data, this normally being obtained by making them of sufficient length for it to be highly improbable that a data burst would be identical. This method has the drawback that it does not totally eliminate a risk of confusion with data and requires long identifiers for remote surveillance which occupy the link disportionately.

System and device for remote surveillance of equipment on a digital transmission link without interrupting traffic

Compagnie Industrielle des Telecommunications Cit-Alcatel


‘Greenpower ’ is a new Cupressocyparis leylandii variety particularly distinguished by having a sturdy, straight upright leader, which creates the cultural advantage of not being necessary to tie the leader to a cane in order to maintain a good upright growth, a very narrow, pyramidal growth habit, and dark green foliage is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Cupressocyparis leylandii plant and is hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'Greenpower'. 'Greenpower' is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an un-named selection of Cupressocyparis leylandii (unpatented) discovered in a cultivated nursery in Biezenmortel, The Netherlands in 2003. The nursery has a dilluvial sandy soil with a pH of 6.7 and an annual rainfall of approximately 670 mm. The location can be rated as USDA Zone 8a.
'Greenpower' has been asexually reproduced for five generations by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Biezenmortel, The Netherlands since 2005. 'Greenpower' has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive generations of asexual propagation via softwood cuttings.


A neonatal suction adaptor with reduced deadspace allows tidal volume monitoring and synchronization to continue without substantial interference while a suction catheter is used. The adaptor includes a central housing disposed about a central chamber. A ventilation connector and an endotracheal connector are each secured to, and extend from, the central housing. Each tubular connector defines a passage connected with the central chamber. The connectors are sized and shaped to form press-fit connections with endotracheal tubes and ventilation monitors. The endotracheal connector includes a sleeve separated from a core by an annular recess configured to receive part of an endotracheal tube ventilation adaptor. A suction access tube is also secured to, and extends from, the central housing. The suction access tube is connectable to a wide variety of standard sleeved or exposed suction catheters. The adaptor's deadspace is reduced by utilizing a narrow core passage, by receiving portions of conventional monitors and tubes into the ventilation connector passage and the endotracheal connector annular recess, and by filling potential deadspace with the core. A valve may be seated in the central chamber to further reduce the deadspace.

When an infant cannot breathe adequately without assistance, medical personnel may introduce a beveled end of an endotracheal tube into the infant's trachea. One conventional endotracheal tube 10 having a beveled end 12 is illustrated in FIG. 1. An external end 14 of the endotracheal tube 10 is connected to a mechanical ventilator (not shown) which pumps air through the endotracheal tube 10 into the infant's lungs, pauses while the infant exhales, and then repeats this cycle. The ventilator thus introduces oxygen-carrying air into the infant's lungs until such time as the infant is strong enough to breathe on its own. The amount of air pumped during each cycle is calculated according to the infant's lung capacity.
The ventilation system is preferably a "closed system." In a closed system, air pumped into the patient by the ventilator is cleaned to remove hazardous microorganisms. Also, a closed system has no substantial openings in the ventilation circuit through which microorganisms in the ambient environment can easily gain access to the interior of the endotracheal tube 10 and hence to the patient's lungs. In addition to reducing the risk of infection, a closed system is better suited for maintaining PEEP (positive end expiratory pressure) at the internal end 12 of the endotracheal tube 10 to ensure that the air pumped into the ventilation circuit by the ventilator actually reaches the patient's lungs.
To monitor PEEP and other important ventilation characteristics, modern ventilators include various monitoring devices such as the monitor 16 shown in FIG. 1. The monitor 16 is connectable to the endotracheal tube 10 by a conventional ventilation adaptor 18. The ventilation adaptor 18 includes a relatively large-diameter cylindrical extension 20 configured for press-fit connection to a ventilation circuit. The extension 20 is in fluid communication with a smaller-diameter tube 22 that is inserted in the external end 14 of the endotracheal tube 10.
The monitor 16 may be designed to monitor the "tidal volume," that is, the volume of air which moves as the infant inhales and exhales. Changes in tidal volume over time, or tidal volumes which lie outside the expected range, may indicate medical problems in the infant or mechanical problems with the ventilation circuit. The times at which air moves may also be monitored by the monitor 16 in order to synchronize the ventilator's pumping and pausing cycles with the infant's own breathing efforts. Synchronized ventilation has been shown to be more effective in oxygenating the patient's blood and less likely to cause significant damage to the patient's lungs.
In caring for infant patients, it is necessary to periodically suction out secretions which would otherwise accumulate in the infant's lungs. Suctioning is generally accomplished by introducing one end of a flexible suction catheter tube into the endotracheal tube and applying suction to the other end of the catheter tube. To reduce the extent of airway occlusion, the catheter tube is typically withdrawn from the endotracheal tube when the catheter is not in use.
The catheter tube may be an "exposed" catheter tube (not shown) whose only sterility-preserving enclosure is the manufacturer's packaging. An exposed catheter tube cannot be used without removing the tube from its packaging and thereby exposing the tube to an ambient environment which often contains potentially hazardous microorganisms.
In order to reduce the risk of introducing microorganisms into the infant's lungs during use of the suction catheter, many catheters are "sleeved." One conventional sleeved catheter is indicated generally at 30 in FIG. 2. In addition to a catheter tube 32, the sleeved catheter 30 includes a sterile sleeve or sack 34 which substantially encloses the catheter tube 32 to preserve the tube's sterility during use in a closed system. The sleeved catheter 30 also includes a fitting 36 for connecting the catheter 30 to a ventilation circuit.
Although a catheter tube (either sleeved or exposed) may be introduced by temporarily disconnecting a portion of the ventilation circuit to provide access to the endotracheal tube 10, this approach is not preferred. Opening the ventilation circuit interferes with proper ventilation of the infant. In some cases, opening a closed ventilator system leads to brain cell death from anoxia, or to cardiac irregularities such as bradycardia and cardiac arrest. Even if these severe consequences are avoided, opening the ventilation circuit breaches the system's sterility and thus creates a risk of infection in the infant. Introduction of the suction catheter should therefore interfere as little as possible with the continued ventilation of the infant, with the continuous monitoring of that ventilation, and with the sterility of the closed system.
To reduce the adverse impact of suction catheter usage on ventilation, various suction adaptors have been designed. One conventional adaptor, indicated at 40 in FIG. 2, includes three tubes 42, 44, and 46 which meet in a Y-shaped configuration. The bottom leg 42 of the Y-adaptor 40 includes an endotracheal connector which is insertable within the external end 14 of the endotracheal tube 10. One arm 44 of the Y includes a ventilation connector which is connectable to the ventilator by way of additional tubing. The other arm 46 of the Y includes a suction access tube which provides the neonatal suction catheter 30 with access to the endotracheal tube 10. Like the monitor 16 and other devices designed for connection to a ventilation circuit, the Y-adaptor 40 is typically attached to the circuit by press-fit connections which are held in place by friction.
In theory, the Y-adaptor 40 would allow the suction catheter tube 32 access to the endotracheal tube 10 without interrupting ventilation and monitoring, and without opening a sterile closed system. Medical personnel would feed the catheter tube 32 down through the suction access tube 46, into the endotracheal connector 42, and from there into the endotracheal tube 10. The catheter 30 would remain attached to the Y-adaptor 40 and the tube 32 would be withdrawn into its sterile sleeve 34 when not in use, so there would be no need to disconnect the ventilator and the system would remain closed during suction catheter usage.
In practice, however, the endotracheal tube 10 is often inserted in the infant with the ventilation adaptor 18 securely attached to the external end 14 of the endotracheal tube as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, in order to suction the infant's airway it is necessary to remove the endotracheal adaptor 18 from the endotracheal tube 10 and replace it with the Y-adaptor 40 as shown in FIG. 2.
Removing the ventilation adaptor 18 and attaching the Y-adaptor 40 to the endotracheal tube 10 poses numerous risks for the infant. The removal necessarily interrupts ventilation, and thus increases the risk of brain anoxia or cardiac irregularities. The removal also breaches the sterility of the system, thereby increasing the risk of infection. In addition, the twisting, pulling and pushing actions required to replace the ventilation adaptor 18 with the Y-adaptor 40 may cause the endotracheal tube 10 to bruise the infant's breathing passages.
Even if these problems are avoided, maneuvering the catheter tube 32 around the bend 48 between the arm 46 and the leg 42 of the Y-adaptor 40 may cause a kink in the endotracheal tube 10 at or near the edge 50 of the Y-adaptor 40 that interferes with ventilation. Such maneuvering may also cause a kink in the catheter tube 32 that interferes with suctioning.
Accordingly, some conventional suction adaptors are "straight" adaptors which allow the catheter tube to travel in a substantially straight line in or out of the endotracheal tube. A straight adaptor includes a suction access tube that provides endotracheal tube access to a suction catheter. The straight adaptor also includes a tubular endotracheal connector that is connectable to the ventilation adaptor of an endotracheal tube, and a tubular ventilation connector that is connectable to a ventilator. The suction access tube and the endotracheal connector are substantially aligned in that their central longitudinal axes are collinear.
Thus, the straight adaptor is essentially a Y-adaptor in which the leg and one arm of the Y have been moved into alignment, and which connects to the endotracheal tube ventilation adaptor rather than connecting directly to the endotracheal tube. The straight adaptor avoids the problems created by the bend between a Y-adaptor's arm and leg by simply removing the bend. The straight adaptor avoids the problems created by removal of the endotracheal tube ventilation adaptor by connecting to that adaptor rather than removing and replacing it.
However, straight adaptors, Y-adaptors, and other conventional suction adaptors all derive their internal configurations from suction adaptors that are intended for use in treating adult patients rather than neonates. As a consequence, conventional neonatal suction adaptors have a relatively large effective internal volume, which in turn increases the effective internal volume of the entire ventilation circuit. The effective internal volume of an adaptor or a ventilation circuit is also known as the "deadspace" of the adaptor or the circuit, respectively.
The deadspace includes spaces inside the ventilation circuit which are in fluid communication with the infant's lungs. If the amount of deadspace is too great, the infant's exhalations will not be substantially cleared from the ventilation circuit but will rather remain behind in the deadspace. This previously breathed air will then be re-inhaled on the infant's next breath. If the infant rebreathes too great a portion of its exhalations, the infant will retain carbon dioxide rather than receiving oxygen. Brain anoxia, cardiac irregularities, and death may follow.
Likewise, if the ventilation circuit contains excessive deadspace, the ventilator will ventilate the deadspace rather than ventilating the infant's lungs. Oxygenated air will be pumped into the ventilation circuit by the ventilator during "inhalation," but rather than being inhaled by the infant, the oxygenated air will remain within the deadspace. On exhalation, the oxygenated air will be expelled from the circuit without ever having reached the infant.
Adequate ventilation of an infant is generally difficult or impossible if the amount of deadspace inside the ventilation circuit exceeds about one-third of the infant's tidal volume. The tidal volume of a neonatal patient is typically in the range from about three to about six cubic centimeters per pound of body weight. For instance, an infant weighing about 1000 grams (about two pounds) normally has a tidal volume in the range from about six to about 12 cubic centimeters.
Because neonatal patients have significantly smaller tidal volumes than other patients, they are significantly more sensitive than other patients to small changes in the volume of deadspace within an adaptor. A change of one or two cubic centimeters in the deadspace of an infant's ventilation circuit may mean the difference between life and death. For instance, a ventilation circuit having five cubic centimeters of deadspace could be fatal to a two-pound infant which is effectively ventilated once the circuit's deadspace is reduced to three cubic centimeters.
The need to reduce deadspace is not even recognized in conventional neonatal suction adaptors, much less adequately addressed. The ventilator connectors, endotracheal tube connectors, and suction access tubes of conventional neonatal adaptors are configured merely with a view toward providing press-fit connections to standard size ventilator tubes, endotracheal tubes, sleeved catheters, and other devices. Thus, the internal dimensions of these elements of conventional adaptors often contribute excessive deadspace to the ventilation circuit. Likewise, many conventional straight adaptors include additional tubes or connectors which allow temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and other devices to be connected to the adaptor. These additional tubes increase the deadspace of the ventilation circuit by providing volumes which may trap oxygenated air intended for the infant or volumes which may trap the infant's exhalations and permit excessive rebreathing of those exhalations.
Thus, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a neonatal suction adaptor which has less deadspace than conventional adaptors.
It would also be an advancement in the art to provide such a neonatal suction adaptor which allows a catheter tube to travel substantially unobstructed in and out of the endotracheal tube.
It would be a further advancement to provide such a neonatal suction adaptor which is easily connected with a wide variety of conventional sleeved catheters, ventilation monitors, and endotracheal tubes to form a closed system.
It would be an additional advantage to provide such a neonatal suction adaptor which allows the use of a suction catheter without substantial interruption of neonatal tidal volume monitoring and synchronization.
Such a neonatal suction adaptor is disclosed and claimed herein.

Reduced internal volume neonatal suction adaptor


An apparatus for producing, collecting and transporting platelike fins, including fin forming means for simultaneously forming plural fins in adjacent side-by-side relationship from sheet material. The forming means causes the fins to be discharged outwardly in the lengthwise direction thereof. Fin handling means are positioned adjacent the forming means for collecting and transporting the fins. The fin handling means includes an endless conveyor having a substantially straight upper reach positioned adjacent the forming means and movable substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the fins as discharged from the forming means.. A plurality of elongated fin collectors are fixed to the endless conveyor, being spaced a predetermined distance apart throughout the lengthwise direction of the conveyor, said predetermined distance being equal to the centerline-to-centerline distance between adjacent fins as discharged from the forming means. The collectors projecting outwardly in substantially transverse relationship to the endless conveyor for permitting a plurality of fins to be collected thereon in stacked relationship.

Fins of the type used for attachment to heat exchanger tubes, such as used in heating, air conditioning, and heat exchange equipment, are conventionally formed on a ribbon-type fin line apparatus. This apparatus acts on a sheet of suitable material such as sheet metal to simultaneously form a plurality of platelike fins during each cycle of operation. In addition to severing the fins from the sheet stock, the apparatus also simultaneously forms several holes through each fin so that they can be positioned in surrounding relationship to appropriate heat exchanger tubes.
While this known fin line apparatus is able to produce fins at a relatively high rate, nevertheless, the handling of the fins, and specifically the collecting of the fins and the transporting thereof to a further work station has long presented a problem to users of this equipment. Most heat exchanger manufacturers utilizing fin forming equipment of the above type position a spiked fin-stacking rack adjacent the apparatus so that the fins, when discharged from the press, are collected on the rack. The fins collect in vertical stacks until the rack is filled, whereupon it is then necessary to shut down the fin line apparatus and the filled rack is then removed.
In an attempt to improve the efficiency of this operation, some fin line apparatus have provided a rotary table or shuttle with a plurality of fin receiving racks thereon so that when one rack is filled, it can be removed and an empty rack moved into the fin receiving position. This operation, while it minimizes the shutdown time of the apparatus, nevertheless still requires shutdown of the apparatus for a substantial time.
When utilizing spiked racks as described above, the spikes are normally of substantial height to permit formation thereon of a fin stack of maximum height. This, however, creates additional problems in that it has been discovered that the large vertical stacks can cause deflection of the spikes so that upper ends do not properly align with the discharge of the press. Hence, proper feeding of fins onto the spikes may be difficult, possibly fouling the stacking operation and requiring a shutdown of the overall assembly.
The use of these known spiked racks for stacking fins also requires substantial manual manipulation and effort inasmuch as the fins, when collected in stacks on the rack, are normally manually removed from the racks for supply to a further processing station.
While other devices have been devised which have attempted to provide for automated collecting and transporting of the fins, nevertheless these other devices have primarily related to machines of the fin-per-stroke type which normally produce only a single fin during each cycle, or at best only a small number of fins per stroke since the fins are moved in a direction perpendicular to their lengthwise extent. This type of machine has a very limited rate of production, particularly when compared with a multi-progression ribbon-type fin line apparatus whih can produce a large number of fins (such as thirty-two) during each cycle. The fin-per-stroke machine is thus totally undesirable where the efficient mass producing and handling of fins is required.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for collecting and stacking the fins as formed on a fin forming apparatus, and then transporting the fins to a further work location, which apparatus and method overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.
More specifically, it is an object to provide an improved apparatus, as aforesaid, employing an endless fin collector extending between the fin forming apparatus and a selected location, which collector permits the fins to be collected and stacked thereon, and then automatically transported to said selected location for discharge. The endless collector includes an endless conveyor member movable transversely of the ribbon-type fin forming apparatus so that the newly formed fins are sequentially vertically stacked on the conveyor member due to the movement thereof below the apparatus. When the conveyor member leaves the region below the fin forming apparatus, it contains thereon adjacent stacks each containing a predetermined number of fins. This endless collector thus permits efficient and automatic collection of fins in vertical stacks each containing a predetermined number of fins, which is a function of the number of fins produced in side-by-side relationship during each operation, with the stacks being automatically transported to and discharged from the collector at a selected location.
A further object is to provide an apparatus, as aforesaid, wherein the endless conveyor member is formed by a plurality of adjacent fin receiving devices each formed by a bottom fin support and having outwardly projecting fin supporting structure, such as two or more outwardly projecting spikes adapted to project through openings formed in the fins, to securely and accurately receive and vertically stack the fins as they are discharged from the fin forming machine, so that the stacks can be securely and safely transported to a discharge location.
Still a further object is to provide an improved apparatus, as aforesaid, which includes a removing structure in association with the endless collector for enabling the stacks or fins to be sequentially and automatically removed from the endless conveyor member at the discharge location, with the removal of the stacks being synchronized with the receiving of the fins on the endless collector from the fin forming machine, so as to provide for totally automatic collecting, transporting and discharging of the fins, thereby providing an efficient and time-saving operation.
Another object is to provide an improved method, as aforesaid, for receiving, collecting, transporting and discharging fins as formed on a conventional ribbon-type fin forming machine, which method can be carried out automatically at a high rate of speed consistent with the continuous operation of the fin forming machine while simultaneously enabling the collected stacks of fins to be efficiently and safely transported to and discharged at a further work location, thereby providing a method having vastly improved accuracy and efficiency in contrast to prior known techniques.
Still another object is to provide an improved fin supporting structure in association with a ribbon-type machine, which fin supporting structure is particularly desirable when used in combination with the aforesaid apparatus and method of this invention, and which fin supporting structure permits the plurality of fins as formed during each cycle of the machine to be securely and accurately held in proper orientation and then efficiently and rapidly discharged downwardly in the necessary aligned relationship for deposit on the fin stacking structure located therebelow.
Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons familiar with apparatus and methods of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

Device for discharging stacked fins from a transporter


A method to remediate water includes preparing a microbial solution with microbes, a growth medium, and water; iteratively and selectively breeding generations of microbes to arrive at a predetermined microbial solution in a highly concentrated form of at least 1×109 cfu/ml (colony-forming units per milliliter); and dispensing the microbial solution into the water, wherein the microbes metabolizes excess nutrients and uses microbial desalination to reduce water salinity.

The present invention relates to water remediation.
For aquatic applications, algae blooms are one of the most common problems encountered by lake and pond owners. More than just aesthetically unappealing, certain forms of algae may harbor potentially toxic bacteria. Conventional ways of solving algae blooms are expensive and/or environmentally harmful as follows:
Mechanical intervention—Mechanical methods of algae control include removing blooms with a rake, seine, screen or other tool. While useful for quickly remediating harmful or invasive growths, mechanical controls do not address the underlying conditions that caused the problem. To address the underlying conditions, they must be used in conjunction with other methods.
Physical intervention—Some lakes and ponds are more prone to algae growth than others—factors such as aeration, light and nutrient content all affect whether or not algae will bloom. Adding an aerator or making other changes that promote these positive physical characteristics is one method of preventing algae outbreaks.
Biological intervention—Ponds and lakes are complex ecosystems. Under ideal conditions, they will attain a balance in which invasive algae growth is kept to a minimum. By introducing certain fish or insects into this ecosystem, we can help it attain a state of equilibrium that minimizes algae blooms naturally.
Material intervention—One of the most common methods utilized for controlling noxious algal blooms is with the use of algaecides. When utilized by a professional, algaecides can provide safe and effective management of harmful algae blooms. Out of balance populations of algae can be quickly brought under control when applications are conducted in a timely manner and under appropriate environmental conditions. Fish populations can benefit as well from improved spawning habitat and increased access to forage.

Method for water remediation and desalination via selectively breeding and cultivating generations of microbes


Performances of a semiconductor device are improved. The semiconductor device has: a gate electrode formed on an SOI layer of an SOI substrate via a gate insulating film having a charge storage film therein; an n-type semiconductor region and a p-type semiconductor region respectively formed on SOI layers on both sides of the gate electrode. A memory cell MC serving as a non-volatile memory cell is formed of the gate insulating film, the gate electrode, the n-type semiconductor region and the p-type semiconductor region.

In an MISFET (Metal Insulator Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) formed in a bulk substrate, performances such as short channel characteristics or uniformity of a threshold voltage, etc., are lowered due to its miniaturization, and power consumption tends to increase.
On the other hand, a MISFET formed on an SOI substrate on which a BOX (Buried Oxide) layer serving as a buried oxide film and an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) layer serving as a semiconductor layer are formed on a base body as a bulk substrate is more excellent in performances such as the short channel characteristics or the uniformity of a threshold voltage than the MISFET on the bulk substrate even when being miniaturized, and is also advantageous in achieving low power consumption. Moreover, the MISFET formed on an SOI substrate is referred to as an MISFET on a thin film BOX-SOI, that is, an SOTB (Silicon On Thin Buried oxide)-MISFET.
As a semiconductor device on which such an SOTB-MISFET is mounted, a semiconductor device on which a non-volatile memory is mounted together is cited. As the non-volatile memory, non-volatile memories using an MONOS (Metal-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Semiconductor) film or an SONOS (Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon) film as the charge storage film are cited.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2014-232810 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique of a semiconductor device in which a memory cell using the MONOS film is formed in an SOI region of an SOI substrate. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2006-310860 (Patent Document 2) discloses a technique of a flash memory including a flash block formed on an SOI substrate and a body electrode formed in a lower surface of an SOI substrate.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2002-520807 (Patent Document 3) discloses a technique of a non-volatile semiconductor device in which a memory transistor includes an SONOS tunnel metal insulating semiconductor field effect transistor. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2007-234861 (Patent Document 4) discloses a technique of a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which in, a first MISFET is formed on a first region of a semiconductor substrate and a second MISFET is formed on a second region of the semiconductor substrate.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A process for increasing plant growth and productivity comprising treating the roots, stems and/or foliage of the plant with .gamma.-aminobutyric acid and succinic acid as a readily metabolized source of carbon. The present invention also provides for a process for increasing plant growth and productivity comprising treating the roots of the plant with .gamma.-aminobutyric acid and succinic acid, and a process for increasing the rate of root formation in a plant comprising treating the roots, stems and foliage of the plant with .gamma.-aminobutyric acid and succinic acid. Further, plant growth is increased by application of mixtures of .gamma.-aminobutyric acid and synthetic succinic acid, in a suitable carrier to a plant.

It is well known that organic acids are useful in stimulating the growth of plants. It has been theorized that much of the action of organic fertilizers, such as manure, is due to the presence of organic acids. These organic acids include those such as acids of the citric acid cycle or amino acids.
GABA (.gamma.-aminobutyric acid), 4-aminobutyric acid, is an ubiquitous non-protein amino acid that is found in plants, bacteria and animals. Although the presence of GABA was discovered in plants more than forty years ago, its function remains unknown. As has been pointed out by Satya, Naryan and Nair (Review Article No. 51, Phytochemistry 29:367-375, 1990), the only known function of GABA is as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in animal nervous systems. Commenting on the possible functions of GABA in plants, Chung, et al., (Plant Physiology 99:659-664, 1992) have concluded that "such an abundant and ubiquitous compound will fulfill a significant physiological role". Thus, although an important role for GABA has been suggested, the nature of this role has remained a mystery.

Method for stimulating plant growth using GABA and succinic acid


The present disclosure is drawn to an electrostatic ink composition comprising a resin and an elongate conductive species. Also disclosed herein is a substrate on which is electrostatically printed a conductive trace, wherein the trace comprises a resin and an elongate conductive species. Further disclosed herein is a method of electrophotographic printing an electrostatic ink composition comprising a resin and an elongate conductive species.

In electrostatic printing systems, it is common practice to develop a hardcopy of an image by using a photoconductive surface. The photoconductive surface is typically on a cylinder and is often termed a photo imaging plate (PIP). The photoconductive surface is selectively charged with a latent electrostatic image having image and background areas with different potentials. For example, an electrostatic ink composition comprising charged toner particles in a carrier liquid can be brought into contact with the selectively charged photoconductive surface. The charged toner particles adhere to the image areas of the latent image while the background areas remain clean. The image is then transferred to a print substrate (e.g. paper) directly or, more commonly, by being first transferred to an intermediate transfer member, which can be a soft swelling blanket, and then to the print substrate. Variations of this method utilize different ways for forming the electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor or on a dielectric material.


An increased yield of hydrogenated liquid product is obtained from coal by contacting the feed coal with a hydrogen-donor solvent and a hydrogen-containing gas in a series of two or more liquefaction zones arranged in series and operated in such a manner that the temperature in each zone increases from the initial to the final zone. The effluent from each liquefaction zone is passed to the next succeeding higher temperature zone in the series. Liquid hydrocarbonaceous products are recovered from the effluent withdrawn from the last zone. Hydrogen-donor solvent may be produced in the process by catalytically hydrogenating at least a portion of the liquid product from the last liquefaction zone, recovering a liquid fraction from the product of the catalytic hydrogenation and separating a hydrogen-donor solvent from the liquid fraction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to coal liquefaction and is particularly concerned with staged temperature hydrogen-donor coal liquefaction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A number of different processes are being developed for the production of liquid hydrocarbons from coal. Among the most promising of these are processes in which the feed coal is first contacted with a hydrogen-containing gas and a hydrogen-donor solvent at elevated temperature and pressure in a liquefaction reactor and a portion of the liquid product is then catalytically hydrogenated in a solvent hydrogenation reactor to generate a hydrogen-donor solvent for recycle to the liquefaction step. Within the liquefaction zone, the high molecular weight constituents of the coal are cracked and hydrogenated to form lower molecular weight vapor and liquid products. The effluent from the liquefaction reactor is then separated into gases, low molecular weight liquids, and a bottoms stream containing high molecular weight constituents and unconverted mineral matter. The separation of the liquefaction reactor effluent is normally made in such a manner as to produce a bottoms stream consisting of material that boils above about 1000.degree. F. The bottoms stream is composed primarily of high molecular weight hydrocarbons formed when the original high molecular weight coal constituents are only partially converted in the liquefaction reactor, suspended particles of unreacted coal, mineral matter and other solid residues. Depending on liquefaction conditions, the bottoms stream will normally contain from about 40 to 60 wt.% of the high molecular weight hydrocarbons and unconverted coal based on the weight of the original dry coal feed.
It has been suggested that the quantity of high molecular weight bottoms formed from a caking type coal in the above process or similar one-stage liquefaction processes can be decreased and coal conversion therefore increased by utilizing a pretreatment step in which the caking coal is completely dispersed in the hydrogen-donor solvent before the slurry is subjected to liquefaction conditions. Complete dispersion is obtained by maintaining the coal-solvent slurry at a temperature within the range from about 500.degree. F. to about 700.degree. F. as it is agitated. Normally, complete dispersion is indicated when the viscosity of the slurry passes through a maximum and then falls to a value within a predetermined range lower than the maximum. In the agitated pretreatment step an insignificant number of coal molecule bonds are broken and therefore little if any liquefaction actually occurs. The pretreatment step is utilized to obtain a complete dispersion of the coal in the solvent so that the coal particles will be in intimate contact with the hydrogen-donor solvent during the subsequent liquefaction step, and therefore the coal radicals produced in that step can be more effectively stabilized to prevent their recombination. This in turn results in an increased production of low molecular weight liquids.
Although the above-described process supposedly has advantages over other processes for liquefying coals, it has disadvantages in that it is applicable only to the liquefaction of caking type coals, and agitation is required during the pretreatment step. Furthermore, virtually no liquefaction takes place in the pretreatment step.

Staged temperature hydrogen-donor coal liquefaction process


A non-black dead front display assembly includes a display frame, a backlight system supported by the frame, the backlight system configured to generate backlight rays, a light mask disposed on the backlight system, a light mask disposed on the backlight system, the light mask configured to transmit or to block the backlight rays in response to a control signal, and a film positioned over the light mask, the film configured to reflect ambient light rays and to scatter the backlight rays transmitted through the light mask, the scattered backlight rays causing a first portion of the film to glow while a second portion of the film appears non-glowing.

Various products such as learning thermostats or security alarm panels have displays to show alphanumeric characters, icons, symbols, graphics, user interface elements, or the like. These displays, which are typically liquid crystal displays (LCDs), are naturally black in the off state. Most walls in homes, offices, or other indoor environments, however, are white or lightly colored, which means that such displays will stand out and thus not blend harmoniously with interior decoration.


A ceramic conversion element having a multiplicity of columnar regions arranged within a ceramic or vitreous matrix, wherein the columnar regions have a preferential direction which makes an angle of at most 45° with a normal to the main surface of the conversion element, at least either the columnar regions or the matrix convert electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength range into electromagnetic radiation of a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range and, the columnar regions are formed by wavelength-converting monocrystalline or ceramic fibers and/or monocrystalline or ceramic platelets, said fibers and/or said platelets are provided with a reflective coating.

US 2007/0215890 discloses, for example, ceramic conversion elements whose bulk material is essentially formed homogeneously. Such conversion elements generally have the disadvantage that the color of the light emitted by them varies with the observation angle. In particular, such conversion elements generally emit light via their side surfaces so that this effect is exacerbated.
It could therefore be helpful to provide a ceramic conversion element with which the color of the emitted light is homogenized as a function of the observation angle, as well as an optoelectronic semiconductor component having such a ceramic conversion element and a method of producing such a conversion element.

Ceramic conversion element, optoelectronic semiconductor component comprising a ceramic conversion element, and method for producing a ceramic conversion element


A torque coupler for coupling rotatable inner and outer parts. The torque coupler comprises an inner slip section, and an outer slip section. The inner slip section is connected to the inner rotatable part to rotate with the inner part when the inner part is rotating. The inner slip section has an outer circumferential surface disposed around the inner part. The outer surface has a predetermined number of detents formed therein. The outer slip section is connected to the outer rotatable part to rotate with the outer part when the outer part is rotating. The outer slip section is seated against the inner slip section with an inner surface of the outer slip section in contact with the outer surface of the inner slip section. The inner surface of the outer slip section has a predetermined number of spring loaded teeth. The spring loaded teeth are biased for engaging the detents in the outer surface of the inner slip section to lock to the inner slip section and the outer slip section, and transfer an applied torque between the inner and outer parts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to torque controllers and torque limiters and, more particularly, to fully adjustable torque controllers and limiters for rotationally driven systems.
2. Prior Art
In order to protect rotating mechanical systems from damage caused by loads that exceed the limit for which the system was designed, a series of devices called torque limiters have been employed. They are also sometimes called torque limiting clutches. Torque limiters are generally energy or load dumping devices which interface between motive parts of a system and act to prevent damage to the motive parts under excessive loading conditions which are inadvertently imposed on the motive parts. The use of torque limiters in motive systems is highly desirable in order to accurately limit the maximum loading condition to which a system will be subjected, and hence, do away with any reasonable possibility that the system will be subjected to undesired loads. Providing an accurate limit to the maximum loading condition on a system facilitates a reduction in the size, weight, and complexity of the motive parts of the system with an associated reduction in the cost of the parts. Nevertheless, torque limiters of the prior art used on rotating or shaft driven systems have been large, heavy, bulky, complex, and expensive devices, rendering them unsatisfactory for most applications. The prior art torque limiters tend to be of two types. One type of torque limiter of the prior art operates based on friction, generally using either slip clutches and/or visco-elastic materials to absorb excess energy. This friction type of torque limiter in effect converts the excess load into thermal energy (i.e. heat). The heat generated by the torque limiter subjects the torque limiter and adjoining parts to high temperatures, unless the heat generated by the torque limiter is transferred by suitable means away from the torque limiter. Thus, friction type torque limiters of the prior art must employ materials suitable for use at high temperatures, and must be provided with heat dissipation means resulting in increased size, weight, complexity, and cost of this type of torque limiters. Although slip repeat capability has a broad tolerance (≈xc2x110%), friction clutches do reengage automatically when the overload subsides without the need to shut down, thereby avoiding costly downtime. Periodic adjustment and friction lining replacement is required depending upon torque, frequency and duration of activation, and rotational speed of operation. These conventional devices do not function well under adverse ambient conditions because of changes in the coefficient of friction.
Another type of torque limiter of the prior art used on rotating drive systems generally relies on spring loaded rollers or balls which engage complementing pockets or detents to transfer torque between outer and inner rings of the torque limiter. When the torque across the torque limiter exceeds a predetermined amount the spring loaded balls are disengaged from the pockets allowing the outer and inner rings to slip relative to each other. This type has less friction, lasts longer, and repeats more accurately (xc2x13 to 5%) than the friction type. They can also reset to a precise orientation. Spring loaded ball torque limiters are however large, heavy and costly arising from the large number of parts used to hold and support many individual balls and springs in the torque limiter. Each application appears unique and involves a large number of independent design variables. There is no industry standard. Many manufacturers produce ball type torque limiters, serving a limited market, with a diversity of design and custom machined parts, all of which means low volume and high cost. These limiters are not modularized, adding to the diversity of models and further cutting the size of production runs. The torque limiter of the present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art.
In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a torque coupler for coupling rotatable inner and outer parts is provided. The torque coupler comprises an inner slip section, and an outer slip section. The inner slip section is connected to the inner rotatable part to rotate with the inner part when the inner part is rotating. The inner slip section has an outer circumferential surface disposed around the inner part. The outer circumferential surface has a predetermined number of detents formed therein. The outer slip section is connected to the outer rotatable part to rotate with the outer part when the outer part is rotating. The outer slip section is seated against the inner slip section with an inner surface of the outer slip section in contact with the outer surface of the inner slip section. The inner surface of the outer slip section has a predetermined number of spring loaded teeth which are biased for engaging the detents in the outer surface of the inner slip section. This engagement locks the inner slip section and the outer slip section and transfers an applied torque between the inner and outer mating parts.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a torque limiter coupling for coupling rotatable radially spaced first and second parts is provided. The torque limiter coupling comprises a first slip ring and a second slip ring. The first slip ring is sized and shaped to be fixedly mounted onto the first rotatable part. The first slip ring has a circumferential slip surface disposed radially between the first and second parts when the slip ring is mounted onto the first part. The slip surface has a number of detents formed therein. The second slip ring is sized and shaped to be fixedly mounted onto the second rotatable part. The second slip ring has a predetermined number of resilient spring fingers extending radially between the first and second parts when the second slip ring is mounted onto the second part. Each of the resilient spring fingers has a tooth at a tip of the spring finger for engaging a corresponding one of the detents on the first slip ring. This engagement transfers torque between the first slip ring and the second slip ring.
In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable torque limiting coupling for coupling rotatable radially spaced first and second parts is provided. The torque limiting coupling comprises a housing, a slip ring, a slip assembly, and a spring preload adjustment mechanism. The housing is adapted to be fixedly mounted to the first rotatable part to rotate with the first part. The slip ring is disposed in the housing. The slip ring has a bore therein for mating the slip ring to the second rotatable part to rotate with the second rotatable part. The slip ring has a circumferential slip surface radially spaced relative to the second part when the slip ring is mated to the second part. The slip surface has a number of detents formed therein. The slip assembly is connected to the housing to rotate with the housing. The slip assembly interfaces radially between the slip ring and the housing. The slip assembly comprises a slip pad, with a predetermined number of teeth, and a multiple spring member. The multiple spring member biases the slip pad against the circumferential slip surface of the slip ring, and engages the teeth of the slip pad to the detents on the slip ring. The spring preload adjustment mechanism is connected to the housing for adjusting the spring preload of the multiple spring member against the slip pad. The spring preload adjustment mechanism is adjustable when at least one of the first, or second rotatable parts is rotating.

Fully adjustable torque controller, clutch and brake


A touch panel, a touch display device, and a method for fabricating the touch panel are disclosed. The touch panel comprises: a substrate; a plurality of touch sensing units arranged in an array on the substrate, each of the touch sensing units including a first touch sub-electrode arranged in a first direction, two second touch sub-electrodes arranged on both sides of the first touch sub-electrode and arranged in a second direction, and an electrode slit disposed between each of the second touch sub-electrodes and the first touch sub-electrode; wherein the two second touch sub-electrodes in each of the touch sensing units are electrically connected via at least two first bridges.

In recent years, the market for small and medium sized displays has undergone tremendous changes, the shipment of active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) panels has rapidly increased, and the development momentum is rapid. Flexible display technology provides fabricators with more innovation space. In order to be widely used in high-end mobile phones and a new generation of wearable display systems, it is necessary to mount touch sensors on a flexible display product. Current mainstream touch sensor fabricating processes include GFF (Glass+Film+Film), GF (Glass+Film) and other types of bridges. In the design process of touch sensor patterns such as GF bridges, the adoption of metal bridges or Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) bridges is highly controversial. Although the metal bridge has good ductility, the effect of the anti-ghosting is poor. Adopting ITO bridge could achieve good anti-ghosting effect, but cracking as the resulting of bending tends to occur.

Touch panel and method for fabricating the same, touch display device

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


To minimize damage to the surrounding environment, a drip coffeemaker, adapted for use as either an under-the-cabinet unit or a counter-top unit and including a carafe, has a closed system during and following a brewing cycle with a venting arrangement being provided to vent heated vapor or steam back to a water reservoir of the system, the reservoir being fillable by a pull-out drawer. The carafe is a glass vessel having a plastic collar mounted thereon in which is supported a coffee basket. A cover for the carafe has an annular groove provided in its top surface with a series of ports formed in the bottom of the groove in a spreader configuration. The coffeemaker also includes a cabinet-type housing having a carafe-receiving cavity with a ported shower plate floatingly mounted in the top of the cavity for sealing engagement with the top of the carafe cover when the carafe is inserted into the cavity. The venting arrangement is provided, in part, in the shower plate. Bracket-latching mechanisms are provided inside the coffeemaker cabinet for adjustment mounting the cabinet on a pair of brackets which depend from a kitchen cabinet.

With the growing trend of more and more useful, but space-consuming kitchen appliances, counter space in the average kitchen is at a premium. One solution for this problem is the development of appliances that may be hung on a wall or suspended from the underside of kitchen cabinets, thus freeing up valuable kitchen counter space.


A bariatric device for use in inducing weight loss, comprising a cardiac element and a fixation element wherein the fixation element attaches the cardiac element to the upper stomach to allow the cardiac element to apply at least intermittent pressure to the upper stomach which produces a satiety signal to the user, giving the recipient a feeling of fullness and reducing his or her hunger feelings. The device may also contain an esophageal element which is connected to the cardiac element by a connecting element.

Obesity has been steadily increasing worldwide and poses serious health risks, which if untreated, can become life threatening. There are various methods for reducing weight such as diet, exercise, and medications but often the weight loss is not sustained. Significant advances have been made in the surgical treatment of obesity. Surgical procedures such as the gastric bypass and gastric banding have produced substantial and lasting weight loss for obese patients. These procedures and products have been shown to significantly reduce health risks over time, and are currently the gold standard for bariatric treatment.
Although surgical intervention has been shown to be successful at managing weight loss, both procedures are invasive and carry the risks of surgery. Gastric bypass is a highly invasive procedure which creates a small pouch by segmenting and/or removing a large portion of the stomach and rerouting the intestines permanently. Gastric bypass and its variations have known complications. Gastric banding is an invasive procedure which creates a small pouch in the upper stomach by wrapping a band around the stomach to segment it from the lower stomach. Although the procedure is reversible, it also carries known complications.
Less invasive or non-invasive devices that are removable and capable of significant weight loss are desirable. A device that has demonstrated less invasive approach is defined in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/463,192 and PCT/US2008/053912, and shows a three element or single element device that is sutured through the esophagus and cardia or the cardia. The inventions included herein demonstrate improvements of this device such as improved means of adjustability, use of sensors for monitoring physical parameters, use of sensors to controls adjustments, remote adjustments with sensor data, data storage for data collected through the sensors, improvements in fixation, shape and form, and improvements in contact area.
This application also includes new inventions for bariatric devices that apply force to the upper stomach which are placed with fixation or devices which could be placed without fixation in the pouch of a gastric band or by pass patient.

Bariatric device and method for weight loss


An absorption system powered by low temperature heat for producing at least one of refrigeration and power is disclosed, wherein a low-pressure drop heat reclaimer 1 reclaims heat from the source into a heating agent, which in turn supplies heat to the absorption cycle desorber 5 via internal coils 7. The extra temperature differential normally present in closed cycle heating systems is avoided by using the absorption working fluid as the heating agent, in an integrated system.

None
Not applicable
Not applicable
This invention relates to methods of efficiently applying low temperature heat to absorption refrigeration cycles and absorption power cycles. In conventional absorption cycles, high temperature heat is applied to a high-pressure desorber or generator, where high-pressure vapor is desorbed from the absorbent solution. When the resulting vapor is pure refrigerant, as with LiBrxe2x80x94H2O absorption cycles, no further treatment is necessary. When the resulting vapor has appreciable absorbent content, as with NH3xe2x80x94H2O absorption cycles, it is necessary to distill, analyze, or rectify the vapor to higher refrigerant purity by contacting it with lower temperature absorbent. That distillation may be done either adiabatically or diabatically. The external heat addition portion of the desorber is customarily termed the generator, and the distillation portion may have internal heat addition.
When the external heat source is at relatively low temperature, for example only modestly above the generator temperature, and when it has a temperature glide, then very little of the heat content of the source can be effectively transferred to the generator using conventional techniques. Consider for example a combustion exhaust stream at 270xc2x0 C., and an absorption cycle generator at 170xc2x0 C. Given a 30xc2x0 C. minimum temperature difference for heat transfer, it is only possible to cool the heat source from 270xc2x0 C. to 200xc2x0 C. by transferring heat to the generator. This is only on the order of 30% of the available heat content of that source.
Two other possible problems arise when supplying low temperature waste heat such as combustion exhaust gas to an absorption cycle. With one approach, the combustion exhaust directly contacts the heat transfer surface of the generator. However, there are usually stringent limitations on the allowable pressure drop of the exhaust gas. For example, the backpressure for a combustion turbine is typically specified at no more than six to ten inches water column. The generator which satisfies both this criterion and also the specialized mass transfer criteria of the absorbent solution will be very large and costly. That is, the transfer geometry necessary for effective desorption is very different from that necessary for low xcex94p extraction of heat from combustion gas. Alternatively a closed cycle heat transfer fluid can be circulated between the heat source and the generator, such that the geometry of each heat exchanger is free to be optimized for the respective requirements. This has the disadvantage that two separate heat exchanger temperature differentials are interposed between the waste heat and the absorbent solution in the generator. For example, the heat transfer fluid must be heated to well above the generator peak temperature. If water is the heat transfer fluid, it will have to be at a much higher pressure than the generator.
There are a variety of hydrocarbon-fueled prime movers which exhaust a combustion gas, including gas turbines, microturbines, reciprocating engines, and fuel cells. Depending upon the prime mover, the exhaust temperature varies from 200xc2x0 C. to 550xc2x0 C. There is increasing need and desire to convert that exhaust heat to useful purpose, such as cooling, refrigeration, shaft power, or electricity. It is one objective of the present invention to convert greater fractions of waste heat to useful purpose than has heretofore been possible. It is another objective to avoid the prior art disadvantages of applying waste heat to absorption cycles, i.e., the high backpressure associated with direct contact heat transfer, and the high temperature differentials associated with pump-around loops. That is, there is a need for a method of transferring heat from a low temperature sensible heat source to an absorption cycle which avoids the xcex94p and xcex94T and high pressure penalties associated with traditional methods, while achieving greater utilization of the heat source, i.e., more useful result.
The above and other useful objects are achieved by apparatus wherein thermal energy is converted into at least one of refrigeration, cooling, and shaft power comprising:
a) an absorbent solution comprised of sorbate plus absorbent;
b) a desorber comprised of:
i) an entry port for sorbate-rich liquid absorbent;
ii) a means for separating said sorbate-rich absorbent into sorbate vapor and sorbate-lean absorbent;
iii) an exit port for said sorbate vapor; and
iv) an internal heat exchanger which has an entry port in communication with said sorbate-lean absorbent;
c) an external heat exchanger which is in thermal contact with said thermal energy;
d) a first flowpath from an exit port of said internal heat exchanger to said external heat exchanger; and
e) a second flowpath from said external heat exchanger to said desorber;
and also by process comprising:
a) circulating an absorbent solution successively through absorbing and desorbing steps;
b) desorbing the absorbent solution into high-pressure sorbate vapor and heated strong absorbent by heating it;
c) using the heated strong absorbent as the heating agent in step b);
d) reheating said heating agent by thermally contacting it with said thermal energy; and
e) combining said reheated heating agent with said heated strong absorbent.
The greater utilization of the thermal energy in the waste heat or other low temperature heat source is accomplished by applying it to a heat transfer agent, and then applying the heat transfer agent heat to at least part of a distillation step, (when present) which is at lower temperature, and/or by applying it to an intermediate-pressure desorber which is at lower temperature. Either or both of these steps further reduce the heat transfer agent temperature to below the high-pressure generator temperature, and in turn make it possible to reclaim lower temperature heat from the heat source. With this technique, the heat transfer agent can be routinely cooled to approximately 80xc2x0 C. or lower, which means the combustion gas can be cooled to approximately 100xc2x0 C. or lower.

Absorption cycle with integrated heating system


A viewer for slot machines has a dihedral support (7) equipped with a large circular window (8) extended through the faces of the support (7), for the display of a disc (1) of flexible transparent or translucid plastic provided along its circumference with an alignment of images (2). The disc (1) is retained by the support (7) across its circumference and, in one embodiment, permanently maintains a dihedral configuration, showing an observer an alignment of images (2) according to a circumferential arc of variable amplitude according to the level of concealment of the front face of the assembly. In another embodiment, the disc is supported by two bracings so as to assume a "U"-shaped configuration, with two semicircular sectors and one intermediate sector.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention refers to a cyclic viewer, for slot machines, which permits either the simultaneous viewing of several symbols or images along a circumferential arc that sequentially change, or the viewing of only one image, which changes within a corresponding viewing window. Such viewer may be constructed, such that it is applicable to two or more slot machines at the same time.
2. Description of the Related Art
Slot machines of the type mentioned above have been known for several years, and at an international level are based on rotating drums of a large diameter carrying images on their perimeters.
An example of this kind of machine may be observed in document EP-A-0 691 634, which discloses a cyclic viewer for slot machines offering the observer numerous changing images, comprising a motorized disc based on a flexible and transparent or translucent plastic material having images around its circumference. This type of slot machine, forbidden in Spain until recently, was authorized later on with limits including that the rotating drums could not exceed four centimeters in diameter. Obviously this limit supposes that if the images are directly arranged over the drum, their number and size are very reduced, such that the functionality of the machine is considerably reduced.
Several systems have been adopted to get around this problem, such as, for example, projection systems permitting a magnification of the images, fixed plate systems, transparent and superimposed viewing of the images by light refraction, systems based on a continuous band carrying the images to be viewed, a flexible band arranged over a series of drums, exclusively acting as guides and to drag them, such that said drums may have a diameter less than that determined as a maximum by the legislation in force, whilst the continuous band, on being a laminar body, may have any length, with no limit.


A fishing rod having provision for elimination of eyelet guide icing. The fishing rod is composed of an elongate fishing pole member, a handle member connected with the fishing pole member, a plurality of eyelets connected with the fishing pole member, a heating element associated with at least one of the eyelet guides, particularly the tip eyelet guide, and an electrical power source located within the handle member for selectably actuating the heating element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fishing rods, and more particularly to a fishing rod having eyelets which are selectively heated so as to provide relief from ice build-up therewithin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fishing rods are constructed of an elongate, usually flexible, pole member, a reel connected with the pole member, and a plurality of eyelets connected with the pole and spaced therealong so as to guide line from the reel to the end of the pole member. The eyelets are constructed of guides of generally annular shape that are connected with stand-offs, the stand-offs being connected with the pole member. When fishing, the eyelet guides can easily pick-up water from precipitation, from contact with the body of water being fished or from the line during reeling-in. This water contacting the eyelet guides is no problem in warm weather, but can be a source of major objection in cold weather. In cold weather, this water can freeze quite easily and thereby cause the eyelet guides to become obstructed. In severe conditions of freezing, the ice in the eyelet guides can actually lock the line in a fixed position in the eyelet guide. In the very least, any icing in the eyelet guides impedes free action of the line--a most important property to the enjoyment of fishing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,070 to Lamothe, dated Aug. 23, 1977, discloses a fishing rod for ice fishing. Lamothe discloses a fishing pole member that is hollow, through which the line is threaded and exits at a tip in the pole member. Lamothe reasons that the dangers of the line becoming immobilized due to icing is minimized if the line is kept within the rod hollow. However, Lamothe's ice fishing rod will still be at atmospheric temperature, and as line is taken-in, water will enter the rod hollow and then freeze in cold weather. Thus, while Lamothe may reduce the problem somewhat, he does not effectively solve the problem of ice caused immobilization of the line. Further, Lamothe proposes a radical restructuring of the conventional fishing rod, which would be most unlikely to find acceptance among sportsmen.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a fishing rod of conventional configuration which provides for the elimination of ice at the eyelet guides.


An adjustable workstop is provided for use in conjunction with a radial saw means having a table upon which the work to be machined is supported, an elongated fence secured to the table and protruding upwardly therefrom thus forming a substantially verticle surface against which at least a portion of the work is positioned, and a radial saw which is movable across the table in a direction transverse to the fence. The workstop device comprises a body having a rectangular channel formed therethrough which can be positioned over the fence protruding upwardly from the table and, upon doing so, a portion of the body forms a workstop surface extending generally perpendicularly outwardly from the fence. A clamp extends into the channel for adjustably securing the workstop device to the fence. In the preferred form of the invention, the body comprises a first part which is secured to the fence and a second part which is movable relative to the first part in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fence and the workstop surface is formed on the movable body part.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to work positioning devices and, more particularly, to such a device for use with a radial saw.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Radial saws, due to their versatility and relatively low cost, have enjoyed widespread acceptance and use. Such radial saws generally comprise a planar worktable upon which the work to be machined is positioned. In addition, an elongated narrow fence is secured to the table and protrudes upwardly therefrom thus forming a vertical support surface against which the work or workpiece is positioned. A saw means is then secured by a column to the table and is movable across the table in a direction transverse to the fence.
The work itself is usually slidable along the fence in order to vary the length of the piece which is to be cut from to work. Thus, when using the saw, it is necessary to measure from the end of the work and to the saw blade in order to machine the work to the desired length.
When it is desired to cut a number of pieces from the workpiece all having the same lineal length, however, the process of repeatedly measuring the work prior to each cut is not only tedious and time-consuming, but also inaccurate. Consequently, when a number of pieces of the same length are to be cut from the work, it has been the previous practice to clamp a block of wood to the worktable so that one edge of the wood block is at the desired distance from the saw blade.
This solution, however, has not proven entirely satisfactory in use. Oftentimes a block of wood of the proper size is unavailable and/or must be separately prepared. Moreover, it is difficult and time-consuming to accurately clamp the wood block to the table at the desired distance from the saw blade.


A modular, scalable high-bandwidth computer architecture. A single integrated router/bridge ASIC defines a family of peripheral controllers that accept high-speed packet switched data, either for routing to other, identical controllers, or for routing to on-board PCI buses, or a combination of the two destinations, depending on the number of ASICs employed and their selectable configuration.

This invention involves a scalable, modular approach to input/output management in a computer system. In particular, the approach integrates packet switched router architecture with high bandwidth bridges to low bandwidth peripheral buses. The former provides simultaneous point-to-point communications between multiple devices of the computer system, while the latter minimizes memory latencies for optimal system performance.
In the past, computers were primarily applied to processing rather mundane, repetitive numerical and/or textual tasks involving number-crunching, spread sheeting, and word processing. These simple tasks merely entailed entering data from a keyboard, processing the data according to some computer program, and then displaying the resulting text or numbers on a computer monitor and perhaps later storing these results in a magnetic disk drive. However, today""s computer systems are much more advanced, versatile, and sophisticated. Especially since the advent of digital media applications and the Internet, computers are now commonly called upon to accept and process data from a wide variety of different formats ranging from audio to video and even realistic computer-generated three-dimensional graphic images. A partial list of applications involving these digital media applications include the generation of special effects for movies, computer animation, real-time simulations, video teleconferencing, Internetrelated applications, computer games, telecommuting, virtual reality, high-speed databases, real-time interactive simulations, medical diagnostic imaging, etc.
The reason behind the proliferation of digital media applications is due to the fact that much more information can be conveyed and readily comprehended with pictures and sounds rather than with text or numbers. Video, audio, and three dimensional graphics render a computer system more user friendly, dynamic, and realistic. However, the added degree of complexity for the design of new generations of computer systems necessary for processing these digital media applications is tremendous. The ability of handling digitized audio, video, and graphics requires that vast amounts of data be processed at extremely fast speeds. An incredible amount of data must be processed every second in order to produce smooth, fluid, and realistic full-motion displays on a computer screen. Additional speed and processing power is needed in order to provide the computer system with high-fidelity stereo sound and real-time, and interactive capabilities. Otherwise, if the computer system is too slow to handle the requisite amount of data, its rendered images would tend to be small, grainy and otherwise blurry.
Furthermore, movement in these images would likely be jerky and disjointed because its update rate is too slow. Sometimes, entire video frames might be dropped. Hence, speed is of the essence in designing modern, state-of-the-art computer systems.
One of the major bottlenecks in designing fast, high performance computer systems pertains to the current bus architecture. A xe2x80x9cbusxe2x80x9d is comprised of a set of wires that is used to electrically interconnect the various semiconductor chips and input/output devices of the computer system. Electric signals are conducted over the bus so that the various components can communicate with each other. Virtually all of today""s computer systems use this same type of busing scheme. A single bus is used to electrically interconnect the central processing unit (CPU) with the memory (e.g., RAM) via a memory controller. Furthermore, other various devices are also coupled to the bus. The bus is comprised of a set of physical wires which are used to convey digital data, address information for specifying the destination of the data, control signals, and timing/clock signals. For instance, the CPU may generate a request to retrieve certain data stored in the memory. This read request is then sent over the bus to the memory controller. Upon receipt of this read request, the memory controller fetches the desired data from memory and sends it back over the bus to the CPU. Once the CPU is finished processing the data, it can be sent via the bus for output by a device (e.g., fax, modem, network controller, storage device, audio/video driver, etc.).
The major drawback to this prior art bus architecture is the fact that it is a xe2x80x9csharedxe2x80x9d arrangement. All of the components share the same bus. They all rely on a single bus to meet their individual communication needs.
However, the bus can only establish communications between two of these devices at any given time. Hence, if the bus is currently busy transmitting signals between two of the devices (e.g., the CPU and another device), then all the other devices (e.g., memory) must wait their turn until that transaction is complete and the bus again becomes available. If a conflict arises, an arbitration circuit, usually residing in the memory controller, resolves which of the devices gets priority of access to the bus.
Essentially, the bus is analogous to a telephone xe2x80x9cpartyxe2x80x9d line, whereby only one conversation can take place amongst a host of different handsets serviced by the party line. If the party line is currently busy, one must wait until the prior parties hang up, before one can initiate their own call.
In the past, this type of bus architecture offered a simple, efficient, and cost-effective method of transmitting data. For a time, it was also sufficient to handle the trickle of data flowing between the various devices residing within the computer system. However, as the demand for increased amounts of data skyrocketed, designers had to find ways to improve the speed at which bits of data can be conveyed (i.e., increased xe2x80x9cbandwidthxe2x80x9d) over the bus. One temporary solution was to increase the width of the bus by adding more wires. The effect is analogous to replacing a two-lane road with a ten-lane super freeway. However, the increase in bus width consumes valuable space on an already densely packed and overcrowded printed circuit board. Furthermore, each of the semiconductor chips connected to the bus must have an equivalent amount of pins to match the increased bus width for accepting and outputting its signals. These additional pins significantly increase the size of the chips. It becomes more difficult to fit these chips onto the printed circuit boards. Furthermore, the practical limitation for cost effective chips and packages impose a physical restriction on the chip""s overall size and its number of pins. Today""s buses are typically limited to being 64-bits wide. In other words, 64 bits of data or address can be sent simultaneously in parallel over 64 separate wires. The next step of increasing the bus width to 128 bits wide has become impractical.
Another temporary solution to the bandwidth problem was to increase the rate (i.e., frequency) at which data is sent over the bus. However, the physics associated with implementing long sets of parallel wires with multiple loads produces a wide range of problems such as impedance, mismatches, reflections, crosstalk, noise, non-linearities, attenuations, distortions, timing, etc. These problems become even more severe as the frequency increases. It has come to a point where the highest attainable frequency is approximately 33-50 MHz. Higher frequencies cannot be attained without fine tuning, extremely tight tolerances, exotic micro-strip layouts, and extensive testing. It is extremely difficult to reliably mass produce such high frequency computers.
Given a 64-bit bus running at 50 MHz, the highest attainable data rate for a typical computer system is 400 Mbytes per second. Although this data rate appears to be quite impressive, it is nevertheless fast becoming insufficient to meet the demands imposed by tomorrow""s new applications. Thus, there is a great need for some type of bus scheme that provides increased throughput.
A specific example of a bottleneck in attaining faster, greater bandwidth computer systems is the standard bus architecture found in most personal computers today, the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. This type of bus architecture offers a simple, efficient, and cost-effective method of transmitting data. For a time, it was also sufficient to handle the amount of data flowing between the various devices residing within the computer system. However, as the demand for increased amounts of data skyrocket, the PCI bus is rapidly becoming inadequate to handle the increase in data transmissions.
In light of the shortcomings inherent to the PCI bus architecture, designers have to find ways to improve the speed at which bits of data can be conveyed. For example, one such solution is to implement a switched router as described in International Patent Application Number PCT/US/14321 entitled xe2x80x9cPacket Switched Router Architecture For Providing Multiple Simultaneous Communications,xe2x80x9d published Mar. 26, 1998 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Rather than having a shared bus arrangement, a central xe2x80x9cswitchboardxe2x80x9d arrangement is used to select and establish temporary links between multiple devices. Packets of data are then sent over the links. By selecting and establishing multiple links, the central switchboard allows multiple packets to be simultaneously sent to various destinations. This results in significantly greater bandwidth. There exist many different, improved bus architectures to meet the high bandwidth requirements.
However, a common problem with any new bus architecture is that various peripheral devices designed specifically for connection to a PCI bus are now rendered incompatible. Existing PCI devices (e.g., modems, disk drives, network controllers, printers, etc.) are designed specifically for a PCI type bus scheme. As such, they are incompatible with and cannot be connected to any non-PCI based bus design. Of course, the computer industry could establish a new, faster bus standard. However, this is a lengthy, complicated, highly contentious, and extremely expensive process. The entire computer industry would have to make a wholesale switch over to the new bus standard. And until a new bus standard is adopted, computer manufacturers are hobbled by the outdated PCI bus architecture.
An alternative option is to implement a PCI bus in conjunction with a new, faster bus architecture (e.g., a packet switched router architecture). A bridge device is interposed between the two different bus schemes and acts as an interface. This approach works fine, except that an extra delay is incurred when data is routed through the bridge. In particular, the main memory and CPU are coupled to the new bus structure on one side of the bridge to take advantage of its higher bandwidth, whereas the PCI devices are coupled to the PCI bus on the other side of the bridge. Consequently, read/write operations involving PCI devices require that data be routed to/from a PCI device via the PCI bus, through the bridge, to the new bus, and to/from the main memory. These memory accesses through the bridge result in added memory latencies. The extra memory latencies associated with the bridge may exceed the tolerances of some PCI devices. Thus, there is a need for some mechanism to hide or minimize this memory latency so that high speed PCI devices may be serviced.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,104, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, provides a novel, effective solution for minimizing latencies in a way that allows standard PCI devices to operate and yet keeps up with higher data rates. It does so by implementing a combination of special write gathering/buffering, read prefetching/buffering, flushing, interrupt, and virtual device operations.
One embodiment of the invention is a bi-modal peripheral controller for a computer system, comprising a single ASIC combination of: at least two high-speed buses; at least one low-speed bus; a packet switched router providing a plurality of communication paths permitting simultaneous multiple communications between any of the high-speed or low-speed buses, a bridge coupled between the routing mechanism and each low-speed bus; a plurality of write buffers, coupled to each bridge, which couple a plurality of write transactions on the low-speed bus coupled to that bridge into a cache line sized transfer to the router; a plurality of read buffers, coupled to each bridge, in which each buffer stores fetched data according to a read request from a device connected to the low-speed bus coupled to that bridge so that the device can access the read buffers multiple times to retrieve the data; a prefetcher, coupled to each bridge, which reads sequential cache lines until the read buffers are full, a page boundary is encountered, or the read buffers are caused to be flushed, if the device connected to the low-speed device coupled to that bridge generates a read request and there is no corresponding data contained in the read buffers; and means for selecting between first and second modes. The ASIC permits transfer of data from a first of the high-speed or low-speed buses to a second of the high-speed or low-speed buses. The first mode of the ASIC permits the router to connect any high-speed bus to any other bus, and the second mode of the ASIC permits the router to connect high-speed buses only to low-speed buses.
In one preferred embodiment, the means for selecting between first and second modes comprises enabling or disabling a clock to the packet switched router, such that when the clock is disabled each bridge coupled to a low-speed bus is directly connected to a high-speed bus. In another preferred embodiment, at least one of the high-speed buses employs differential signaling and at least another of the high speed buses does not.
Another embodiment of the invention is a set of peripheral controllers, each of which comprises at least one bi-modal ASIC. The bi-modal ASIC comprises at least two high-speed buses; at least one low-speed bus; means for routing packet switched data from a first of the high-speed or low-speed buses to a second of the high-speed or low-speed buses; means for compensating for memory latency between the low-speed bus and either high-speed bus; and means for selecting between first and second modes. The first mode of the ASIC permits the routing means to connect any high-speed bus to any other bus, and the second mode of the ASIC permits the routing means to connect high-speed buses only to low-speed buses. In one preferred embodiment, at least one of the high-speed buses employs differential signaling and at least another of the high speed buses does not.
Another embodiment of the invention is a peripheral controller for a computer system comprising a plurality of identical bi-modal ASICs, at least two high-speed buses, at least one low-speed bus, means for routing packet switched data from a first of the high-speed or low-speed buses to a second of the high-speed or low-speed buses, and means for compensating for memory latency between the low-speed bus and either high-speed bus. One ASIC is in a mode that permits the routing means to connect any high-speed bus to any other bus, while all other ASICs are in a mode that permits the routing means to connect high-speed buses only to low-speed buses. In one preferred embodiment, the there are three identical bi-modal ASICs. In another preferred embodiment, at least one of the high-speed buses employs differential signaling and at least another of the high speed buses does not.

Modular input/output controller capable of routing packets over busses operating at different speeds


Apparatus for loading into an injection device and comprising a syringe and a boot remover. The syringe has a syringe body, a needle and a boot providing a sterile cover for the needle. The boot remover has a body for substantially enclosing the boot and a lip or lips projecting inwardly to engage a junction between the boot and the syringe body. The boot remover also has, at its widest point, substantially the same outer dimension as, or a smaller outer dimension than, the syringe body. The apparatus can be loaded into an injection device through an opening at a distal end of the device such that, when loaded, a portion of the boot remover projects through a proximal end of the device to facilitate removal of the boot remover and boot by a user. This arrangement allows a user to remove the boot from the syringe by holding and pulling on said grip.

Various types of injection devices are available for assisting with the injection of a medicament into a patient (human or animal), and which are configured to receive a standard, pre-filled glass or plastic syringe tipped with an injection needle. These devices may have a dose setting mechanism and a main drive spring for driving a plunger into the syringe so as to expel the medicament out through the needle. Injection devices may comprise a further spring for driving the needle out of the device housing into the patient's skin, prior to activation of the main drive spring to expel the medicament.
In order to maintain sterility prior to use, and to avoid "sticking" injuries, the pre-filled syringe is supplied to the injection device assembler with a rubber or plastic sheath or "boot" covering the needle. The boot has an interior space for containing the needle, and a sealing end that abuts the adjacent end of the syringe body to seal that inner space. Immediately prior to use, a user (e.g. healthcare professional or patient) must remove the boot to uncover the needle. This is typically achieved using a boot removal tool that is inserted by a user into the injecting end of the device. The tool comprises a set of sprung fingers that ride over and along the boot as the tool is pushed into the device. The fingers then snap into the junction between the syringe end and the boot. The user can the pull out the tool, bringing the cap with it.
Particularly in the case of expensive medicaments, it is extremely important to minimise the failure rate of assembled injection devices. Considering the boot removal solution outlined in the previous paragraph, it may be difficult to achieve exactly the right degree of flexibility in the fingers to ensure that they can ride over the boot whilst still providing sufficient force to close over the junction at the rear of the boot.
WO 2007/036676 (Cilag GmbH International) discloses an auto injection device comprising a housing and a threaded, removable, protective cap at the injection end of the device. In place, the cap envelopes and closes off the device housing, as well as preventing a delivery locking mechanism on the device from being released. The cap engages with the boot such that removal of the cap also serves to remove the boot, thereby exposing the needle, whilst at the same time releasing the device's locking mechanism. The device is assembled by positioning the cap at the injection end of the device housing and then inserting the syringe and boot into the device. The cap is of greater diameter than the device housing in order to enable it to enclose the injection end of the device.
WO 2007/047200 (Eli Lilly & Co.) provides an injection device comprising a housing and an outwardly-flared needle cap. The needle cap engages with a needle shield or boot on the syringe needle, gripping the boot and allowing it to be removed. The cap is provided with a flat base, allowing the assembled device to be stood upright on a workbench, for instance. To assist this, the cap is flared outwards from the plane of the device housing to provide greater stability.
Further injection devices comprising a housing and boot remover are disclosed in WO 2007/132353 (Becton Dickinson France) and GB 2 437 922 (Owen Mumford Ltd). These boot removers also have an outward-flaring base or collar.


A system and method for measuring and developing a topography of a surface of a person or an object. The system includes a container having a flexible outer surface against which the person is to be placed. A deformable material located in the container can be rendered rigid while the person is positioned thereagainst to hold a shape of the outer surface of the container after the person is removed from against the container. A contact free measuring device is operatively connected to a memory device and arranged to measure distances from the measuring device to a plurality of points on the surface of the container and to store those distances in the memory device in digital form. A mounting mechanism may orient or couple the container to the measuring device, permitting the measuring device to be positioned and at least temporarily held fixed relative to the container within a predetermined distance range.

The present invention relates to methods and devices for scanning a surface to measure and develop a topography of the surface and to fabricate a custom shaped cushion based on the measured surface topography.
Developing and measuring a topography of a surface is useful in many situations where the surface is to be duplicated in another structure. For example, in the production of custom fitted cushions, such as those used in wheelchair seats and backs designed for a particular patient, it is necessary to measure and develop the precise topography or surface shape of the patient's back and seat in order to produce a complementary shaped cushion.
An apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,130 which is an adjustable molding frame with moldable cushions that can be used to make an impression of the patient's back and seat for development of a reverse plaster or rigid foam cast, which plaster or rigid foam cast can then be used to make a foam cushion. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,789 discloses an apparatus for making the foam cushion by using the plaster or rigid foam cast.

Scanner system and method of measuring a surface topography