A versatile walking cane that has an adjustable length and a jaw-grip. The walking cane includes a trigger that can be actuated to mechanically operate the jaw-grip from an open to a closed position. In the closed position, the jaw-grip is retracted into the interior of the cane and does not obstruct the use of the cane for walking. The cane includes an interface for receiving additional tools and an illumination source.

A walking stick or cane is a device used by many people to facilitate balancing while walking. Walking canes come in many shapes and sizes, and can be sought by collectors. Some styles of walking canes include features and aspects more suitable for use by people with disabilities. For instance, a walking cane can be constructed such that it can be used as a crutch or a tool. In addition, the walking cane has historically been known to be used as a defensive or offensive weapon, and may conceal a knife or sword or simply can be used to ward off over excited dogs.
Walking canes, also known as trekking poles, pilgrim's staffs, hiking poles or hiking sticks, are used by hikers for a wide variety of purposes, such as clearing spider webs, parting thick bushes or grass obscuring the trail; providing support when going uphill or providing braking help when going downhill; serving as a balance point when crossing streams, swamps or other rough terrain; as feeler for finding obstacles in the path; for testing mud and puddles for depth; and for providing a defense against wild animals. A walking cane can be improvised from nearby felled wood. More ornate sticks are made for avid hikers, and are often adorned with small trinkets or medallions depicting "conquered" territory. Wood walking canes are used for outdoor sports, healthy upper body exercise and even club, department and family memorials. They can be individually handcrafted from a number of woods, and may be personalized in many ways for the owner.
For those that find the need for, or simply just fancy the use of a walking cane, it can be very convenient for the walking cane to provide a variety of additional functions. Thus, there is a need in the art for a versatile walking cane that can be used for a variety of other purposes.


Adaptive modulation and priority-based flow control in wireless communications are disclosed. Ingress communication traffic is modulated for transmission over a wireless communication link. A modulation rate of modulation to be applied to the ingress communication traffic is controlled by adaptive modulation. A rate at which the ingress communication traffic is received is controlled through Priority-based Flow Control (PFC), but the PFC is based on the adaptive modulation. Adaptive modulation and PFC are thus linked together. PFC messaging could be sent when a change in modulation rate due to the adaptive modulation would not meet the rate at which the ingress communication traffic is received. If a change in modulation rate due to the adaptive modulation would still meet the rate at which the ingress communication traffic is received, then PFC messaging might not be sent.

In wireless telecommunications, technology like modulation and demodulation are used to transfer data from one location to another location over the air, using allocated frequency spectrum. The wireless industry has developed Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM), for example, to contend with changing over-air conditions on wireless communication links. The higher the modulation rate, the higher the over-air throughput. When over-air conditions deteriorate, the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) deteriorates, and modulation shifts to a lower modulation rate. The lower modulation rate provides a higher wireless system gain, which in turn provides higher immunity to the deteriorated over-air conditions. A resultant boost in SNR to maintain the over-air wireless communication link comes at the cost of reduced over-air bandwidth or data throughput due to the lower modulation rate.
Ethernet traffic class, for example, is identified by Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag priority values (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.1p). PFC in accordance with IEEE standard 802.1Qbb, for example, is intended to eliminate frame loss due to congestion. This is achieved by a mechanism similar to the IEEE 802.3x PAUSE, but operating on individual Class of Service as defined by IEEE 802.1p.


An image forming apparatus which adjusts toner density in a developing device according to humidity. However, an image quality may decrease if the humidity changes between the time when a power source is turned off and the time when the power source is turned on. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus includes an absolute humidity calculator and a toner density controller for changing the toner density in the developing device in accordance with a difference between the absolute humidities. A storage controller controls the storing of an absolute humidity in a storage portion; and a toner removal controller controls the removal of residual toner particles from the developing device if a difference between an absolute humidity detected by the humidity detector when the power source is turned on and an absolute humidity stored in the storage portion is more than a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which adjusts a toner density in accordance with humidity, and an image forming method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been a widely known image forming apparatus adopting an electrophotographic method, in which an image is formed on a recording sheet by performing an exposing operation to a photoconductive drum whose surface is uniformly charged with electricity based on a predetermined image data to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductive drum, forming a toner image by a developing device which develops an electrostatic latent image by charged toner particles, and directly or indirectly transferring the toner image from the photoconductive drum to the recording sheet and fixing the toner image.
In such image forming apparatus, a developing device stores developer particles including carrier and toner particles. The image density is increased by increasing a ratio of toner particles included in the developer i.e. the toner density, and the image density is decreased by lowering the toner density. However, the amount of electric charge to toner particles is changed in accordance with the humidity. When the humidity is high, the amount of electric charge is lowered. Accordingly, toner particles become easily separated from carrier particles, and the density of an image is increased. On the other hand, when the humidity is low, the amount of electric charge is increased so that toner particles become hardly separated from carrier particles, and the density of an image is decreased.
Thus, there has been a known image forming apparatus (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-47438) which decreases the toner density of a developing device to decrease the density of an image when the humidity is high, and increases the toner density of the developing device to increase the density of an image when the humidity is low, so that the change of image density due to the change of humidity can be adjusted.
Meanwhile, in the above-described image forming apparatus, there has been a disadvantage that an appropriate image density cannot be obtained and the image quality is degraded when a humidity in a power-off state and a humidity in a power-on state are greatly different from each other. For example, it is taken in consideration the case where a power source of the image forming apparatus is turned off under an environment where an air conditioner is turned on in summer, and the power source of the image forming apparatus is turned on next day while the air conditioner is not turned on. In such a case, the toner density in the developing device is increased since the humidity is low when the power source of the image forming apparatus is turned off on the previous day. Then, on the next day, when the power source of the image forming apparatus is turned on, toner particles with high density at the time when the power source is turned off on the previous day remain in the developing device even though the humidity is high. At this time, even if it is tried to adjust the image density by decreasing the toner density, the image density is not adjusted until all of the toner particles with high density remained in the developing device are used. Therefore, there existed a disadvantage that an appropriate image density cannot be obtained and the image quality is degraded.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method


Provided are a medical suture having micro cogs on a surface thereof and a method of manufacturing the medical suture. The method of manufacturing a medical suture includes steps of: producing a suture preform where micro cogs are formed on a surface thereof by heating and pressing a raw material of a suture for surgery in an overflow mould in a heat-press solid-phase forming method; and producing a suture with twist maintained by applying a tensile force and a rotational force to the suture preform in a vacuum state where a specific temperature condition is maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical suture having micro cogs on a surface thereof and a method of manufacturing the medical suture.
2. Description of the Related Art
From the second half of the 1960s, in order to finish suturing tissue without knotting the suture, a barbed suture having barbs which are formed by cutting an outer portion of the suture has been tried to be used for suturing tissue. In the barbed suture, one or more micro cogs are formed on a surface of the suture at a predetermined interval. If the suture is inserted in one direction and tension is applied to pull the suture in the opposite direction, the barbs formed on the surface of the suture are firmly engaged with the tissue. Therefore, unlike a general suture, the barbed suture is used without knotting.
In the 1990s, Ruff in North Carolina of US and Sulamanidze in Russia published a new form of a medical barbed suture which could be used for surgical suturing, facelift for removing wrinkles in a face, a neck, a chest, and the like or pulling face tissue, and plastic surgery for removing wrinkles. In addition to the barbed suture, various medical sutures for anchoring tissue have been used for two purposes, that is, knot-free suturing and facelift.
As a representative method of manufacturing a barbed suture for surgical tissue suturing and plastic surgery, cutting methods are disclosed in US Patent No. 2004/0060410 titled by "Barbed Suture" and US Patent No. 2003/0041426 titled by "Method of Forming Barbs on a Suture and Apparatus for Performing Same". The cutting method is currently widely used, and most of suture products are manufactured according to the cutting method. However, the cutting method has the shortcomings as follows. Since the barbs are formed by cutting the surface of a spun thread of the suture, there is a limitation in size and thickness of the barb; since a distal end of the barb is too sharp, stimulus may be exerted on tissues or nerves in the vicinity thereof; since the spun thread of the suture is damaged due to the cutting, the strength thereof is greatly decreased in comparison with the suture having the same size; and since bio-absorption of relatively slender barbs formed by the cutting method is speedily made, a tissue anchoring ability is easily lost.
In order to compensate for the structural shortcomings in the barb formation, U.S. Pat. No. 7,582,105 discloses "Suture for Wound Closure, Tissue Approximation, Tissue Support, Suspension and/or Anchoration". In the invention, barbs are not formed in the suture, but knotting of the suture is performed with a predetermined interval, and a cone is suspended at each knot. However, in the invention, since the knots are formed in the suture, excessive folding and curving occur in the suture, and thus, the strength is greatly decreased at the knots, so that the function as a suture may be lost. In addition, the cone suspended to each knot is larger and harder than the barb. When the suture is inserted into a subcutaneous tissue, a patient may feel great pains due to damage to tissues and nerves.
Besides, US Patent No. 2006/005144 titled by "Tissue Holding Devices and Methods for Making the Same" discloses a pressing and die cutting method and an injection molding method as cited techniques. However, implementation of the invention is not assured, and the invention is not yet commercialized.
As described above, although various methods have been used for manufacturing a medical suture having a tissue anchoring function, the techniques for compensating for the shortcomings of the current products and capable of being immediately commercialized and practically used has been required to be developed.

Medical suture having micro cogs on surface and method of manufacturing the same


The invention provides a method of fabricating an SOI substrate including the steps of introducing crystal defects at a desired depth in a silicon substrate, and thereafter, implanting oxygen or nitrogen ions into the silicon substrate, and thermally annealing the silicon substrate. The method of the present invention makes it possible to fabricate an SOI substrate with fewer crystal defects and lower fabrication cost than is possible according to the prior art.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of fabricating an SOI (silicon on insulator) substrate having a semiconductor active layer on an insulator, which substrate is considered to be promising as a substrate to be used for next generation LSI.
2. Description of the Related Art
One method of fabricating an SOI substrate having a semiconductor active layer on an insulator is suggested in Sadao Nakashima and Katsutoshi Izumi: "Analysis of buried oxide layer formation and mechanism of threading dislocation generation in the substoichiometric oxygen dose region", Journal of Material Research, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp 523-534, March 1993. The suggested method is the so-called SIMOX (Separation by Implanted Oxygen) technique which includes the steps of implanting oxygen ions (O+) with high doses into a silicon substrate, and applying thermal annealing at high temperature to the silicon substrate to form a continuous silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) film in the silicon substrate.
The SIMOX process has an advantage that an SOI substrate can be fabricated relatively readily, however, has a shortcoming that crystal defects tend to remain in an upper Si active layer in which semiconductor devices are to be fabricated. The density of the residual crystal defects is dependent on doses of implanted oxygen ions. In general, a higher dose causes a greater number of crystal defects.
Thus, it is necessary to lower the dose of implanted oxygen ion in order to decrease crystal defects. For instance, it is possible to decrease crystal defects by implanting oxygen ions at 180 KeV with doses of 3.times.10.sup.17 -4.times.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-2. However, if such low doses of oxygen ions are implanted into a silicon substrate, it is not possible to form a continuous silicon dioxide film even by subsequent thermal annealing at high temperature, thereby causing current leakage. Thus, desired characteristics of a semiconductor device cannot be obtained.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a silicon substrate into which low doses of oxygen ions are implanted according to prior art. At first, oxygen ions are implanted with low dosage into a silicon substrate 30, and then thermal annealing at high temperature is applied to the silicon substrate 30, thereby discontinuous dioxide islands 31 are produced in the silicon substrate 30, as illustrated in FIG. 1-B.
As having been described, the SIMOX process, which has a step of implanting oxygen ions (O+) with high dose into a silicon substrate, has an advantage that an SOI substrate can be fabricated relatively easily, but has a shortcoming that crystal defects tend to stay behind in an upper silicon active layer in which a semiconductor device is to be fabricated. On the other hand, if oxygen ions with low dose are implanted into a silicon substrate so as to decrease crystal defects, a continuous silicon dioxide film cannot be formed by subsequent thermal annealing at high temperature with the result of causing current leakage.


A device and associated method for passing parameters to a finger in a rake receiver are disclosed. The finger is initially operated with a first parameter set which is held in a first memory area (PAR_RAM). To change the parameter set, a second parameter set is loaded into a second memory area (PAR_CHG_RAM1/2), a check is carried out to determine whether a switching condition (SCHED_RAM) is satisfied, and if it is an access for that finger is switched (MUX) from the first memory area (PAR_RAM) to the second memory area.

Radio signals in mobile radio are subject to multipath propagation, that is to say a number of versions of the received signal appear in the receiver as a result of reflection, scatter and diffraction of the transmitted radio signal on various obstructions in the propagation path, which versions of the received signal are shifted in time with respect to one another and are subject to different attenuations. The principle of operation of a rake receiver is based on separate evaluation of the received signal versions with the highest energy, which are then superimposed with the correct timing. The expression "rake" in this case figuratively describes the structure of a receiver such as this, with the tines of the rake representing the rake fingers, and the handle of the rake representing the superimposed received signal produced on the output side.
Rake receivers are known and are frequently used in mobile radio stations.
Each rake finger operates with the aid of a set of operating parameters, which determine the function of that rake finger. The set of operating parameters includes the delay time which the rake finger "sets" for the desired propagation path, that is to say it selects one of the versions of the received signal. In the case of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) systems, further parameters are added in order to despread the received spread-coded received signal versions in each rake finger. Details relating to the scrambling sequence and the spread code to be despread as well as details relating to the spreading factor on which it is based are signaled in parametric form to the rake finger.
The parameter set is normally stored in a parameter memory, which is accessed by the rake finger.
During operation, the rake fingers which are physically present are generally not all allocated. If an active rake finger with a parameter set which is no longer required is intended to be deactivated and a rake finger with a new parameter set is required, one of the free rake fingers with the new parameter set is activated in good time at the time of the start of a time slot or frame, according to the previous procedure. The change from the rake finger with the parameter set which is no longer required to the rake finger with the new parameter set then takes place by switching from the output of the "old" rake finger to the output of the "new" rake finger.
One disadvantage of this procedure is that, at least temporarily, at least two rake fingers must always be set up in order to change the parameter sets. This results in increased power consumption and, furthermore, the necessity to always keep free (unallocated) rake fingers available for a change.

Method and device for passing parameters to rake receiver


A system and a method are described for providing a graphical user interface display with a conspicuous image element. In one example, a particular image element is first identified. Predetermined rules are then applied to ensure that the particular image element in a first window in a displayable image has a unique user visible display attribute absent from other image elements in the first window. Predetermined rules are also applied to ensure that the unique display attribute is absent from other image elements in any other window concurrently displayed in the displayed image. The particular image element is then enabled to be responsive to user selection.

User interfaces for an embedded or a proprietary computer system (e.g., a patient monitor interface for medical use), or a non-embedded or non-proprietary system (e.g., a windows browser), often have a user interface focus element. FIG. 1 shows, for example, a user interface graphical display 100 similar to that of a well-known Microsoft Windows® operating system. Display 100 is shown having a currently focused icon such as "Small Icons" 102 command selection in the "View" command pop down list 101. As a user moves a cursor 130 up and down list 101, an item in the list 101 that is pointed to by cursor 130 will be highlighted. For example, the currently focused icon 102 is typically highlighted or made conspicous in some way by changing its attribute, such as, for example, by inversing the text, making it a different color or adding an outline box, etc., to indicate that the element is enabled to be acted upon.
In the example of FIG. 1, highlight of icon 102 is shown as, for example, having a different background color, which is represented by a darkened background shading in the black and white rendering of FIG. 1. The highlighted icon 102 may then be acted on by a further user confirmation input (e.g. via a mouse click or enter key depression).
In addition, when searching on the world wide web, a search engine site may automatically highlight a word that a user has entered to make a search, when a found web page matching the search word is being displayed. This would allow a user to easily scroll through the found web page to better locate the portion of interest on the web page.

System and method for providing a graphical user interface display with a conspicuous image element


A transportation device lamp fixture includes a semiconductor light-emitting device, a circuit board to which the semiconductor light-emitting device is mounted, a lamp body, and a front cover that covers an opening of the lamp body. The semiconductor light-emitting device and the circuit board are housed inside of a lamp chamber formed by the lamp body and the front cover, and the circuit board is attached to an inside surface of an upper portion of the front cover or the lamp body.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a transportation device lamp fixture, and more particularly, to a transportation device lamp fixture that uses a semiconductor light-emitting device.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, single-person transportation devices referred to as personal mobility vehicles have been developed. A personal mobility vehicle is designed to be a mode of transportation that is between walking and existing vehicles, and is proposed as a vehicle that differs from existing vehicles, based on the concept of reducing the amount of energy consumed for personal transportation.
A personal mobility vehicle is small compared to an existing vehicle, so the position in which a lamp fixture is able to be mounted is limited. Therefore, a lamp fixture having a simpler structure than an existing vehicle lamp structure is required.


In an embodiment of this invention, an adhesion layer is deposited on an encapsulation lid to provide strong adhesion with the UV-curable adhesive in order to improve encapsulation of an organic electronic device. The adhesion layer is comprised of a metallic layer or a ceramic layer that is thin enough to be nonopaque and thick enough to provide stronger adhesion at an interface with said UV-curable adhesive than said encapsulation lid.

An organic electronic device such as an organic light emitting diode ("OLED") (the OLED can be used in, for example, a display or as a light source element of a light source), an organic light sensor, an organic transistor, an organic solar cell, or an organic laser require protection from oxygen and moisture in the atmosphere, and therefore employ some form of encapsulation. One common procedure to encapsulate the organic electronic device is to sandwich it between a substrate and an encapsulation lid, and an adhesive around the perimeter of the device holds together the substrate and the encapsulation lid such that there is a continuous perimeter seal around the device.
OLEDs, in general, are known in the art and are discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,565 entitled "Organic Electroluminescent Device". Organic light sensors, in general, are also known in the art and are discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,483,099 entitled "Organic Diodes with Switchable Photosensitivity". Organic transistors, in general, are known in the art and are discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,884 entitled "Method for Patterning Oriented Materials for Organic Electronic Displays and Devices." Organic solar cells are also known in the art and are discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,196 entitled "Organic Solar Cell". Organic lasers are known in the art and are discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,089 entitled "Article Comprising an Organic Laser".
When manufacturing an organic electronic device, adhesives that provide low total accumulated cycle ("TAC") times and that remain stable or are workable over extended periods of time are desirable. Thermal-cure adhesives can be used to manufacture the organic electronic device but they have long TAC times (e.g., thermal-cure adhesives typically take an hour to cure) and is workable for only a short time (e.g., once the resin is mixed, the thermal-cure adhesive will typically cure after an hour or even less and the curing can occur anywhere, even in the dispensing equipment). On the other hand, UV-curable adhesives can cure very quickly when exposed to UV radiation (e.g., UV-curable adhesives have a low TAC time typically about ninety seconds), yet remain stable or workable for long periods until triggered by the UV radiation at a user-designated point in the process sequence. These characteristics, among others, make it desirable to use UV-curable adhesives to form the perimeter seal to encapsulate the organic electronic device.
In terms of degradation caused by the environment, the electronic device's lifetime is related to the permeation rate of oxygen and particularly water across this perimeter seal (the permeation rate through the substrates is generally negligible). This permeation rate is a sum of the permeation through the bulk of the sealing material ("bulk diffusion") and permeation along the interfaces between the sealing material and the substrate or encapsulation lid ("interface diffusion"). When the bonding to the encapsulation lid is weak (i.e., there's poor adhesion), permeation along this interface can be high, greatly shortening the device lifetime. Furthermore, poor adhesion can lead to delamination during mechanical processes such as scribe and break (i.e., device singulation). Therefore, strong adhesion to the encapsulation lid is important to effectively encapsulate the elements.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art encapsulated organic electronic device 106. In FIG. 1, an organic electronic device 115 is fabricated on a substrate 118. As stated earlier, the organic electronic device 115 can be an OLED, an organic light sensor, an organic transistor, an organic solar cell, or an organic laser. A UV-curable adhesive 112 is applied around the perimeter of the organic electronic device 115. An encapsulation lid 109 is placed on the UV-curable adhesive 112 in order to encapsulate the organic electronic device 115. The encapsulation lid 109 is nonopaque. The substrate 118 and the encapsulation lid 109 are moved together so that the UV-curable adhesive 112 is in contact with both the substrate 118 and the encapsulation lid 109. Then, UV radiation is applied to the UV-curable adhesive 112 in order to cure it (e.g., the adhesive absorbs the UV-radiation and transfers that energy to cross-link the adhesive groups so that the adhesive becomes rigid). One of the disadvantages of this configuration is that over time, delamination typically occurs at the interface between the UV-curable adhesive 112 and the encapsulation lid 109.
In order to decrease the likelihood of delamination and improve adhesion, an additional adhesion layer is typically incorporated. Incorporating the adhesion layer to improve encapsulation of the organic electronic device is not effective if UV-curable adhesive is also used since the materials that are good adhesion layers typically require a thickness that makes them opaque. FIG. 2 shows the prior art use of the adhesion layer extended to organic electronic device encapsulation. In FIG. 2, an organic electronic device 115 is fabricated on a substrate 118. An opaque adhesion layer 221 is deposited on the encapsulation lid 209. A UV-curable adhesive 112 is applied on the substrate 118 around the perimeter of the organic electronic device 115, or alternatively, applied on the opaque adhesion layer 221 such that when the encapsulation lid 209, the substrate 118, and the UV-curable adhesive 112 are brought together, the organic electronic device 115 is sealed around its perimeter. After the UV-curable adhesive is applied, the substrate 118 and the encapsulation lid 209 are moved together so that the UV-curable adhesive 112 is in contact with both the substrate 118 and the opaque adhesion layer 221 to seal the organic electronic device. Because this adhesion layer is opaque, UV radiation will not reach the UV-curable adhesive 112 to cure that adhesive. Therefore, one of the disadvantages of this configuration is that UV-curable adhesive cannot be used. A thermal-cure adhesive can be used, but this adhesive results in high TAC times and is workable for only a short time.
For the foregoing reasons, there exists a need to encapsulate the organic electronic device using a UV-curable adhesive such that there is strong adhesion at the interface between the UV-curable adhesive and the encapsulation lid.


A connector comprises an inner conductor (1) and an outer conductor (2); an insulating medium (3) is provided between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, the insulating medium forming an unclosed cavity, and an opening of the unclosed cavity being a port for termination. The inner conductor comprises a first inner conductor (40) and an elastic inner conductor (60), the first inner conductor and the elastic inner conductor being disposed in the unclosed cavity; the elastic inner conductor (60) comprises an elastic member (61) having an inclinedly oriented free end portion (611) and a protrusion (612) projecting towards the first inner conductor (40); in the case where the connector is unterminated, the protrusion of the elastic inner conductor contacts the first inner conductor, and in the case where the connector is terminated, the inclinedly oriented free end portion (611) is moved substantially laterally by a terminating conductor (50) vertically inserted through the port for termination, such that the protrusion (612) is separated from the first inner conductor (40) and the terminating conductor (50) is in contact with the elastic inner conductor (60). The connector solves the problem of a complex connector structure caused by separation of a performance transmission device and an elastic device of a connector in the prior art.

With the rapid development of modern mobile communication technology, a new requirement for functions of a connector associated with mobile communication is put forward. For example, there may be a plurality of external input ports or external output ports in an integrated signal transmission system, and a corresponding connector is required for mating by each of the external input ports and the external output port, in order to ensure the signal transmission. In addition, when one of the external input ports and the external output ports is not in use, a corresponding load is also required for absorbing escaping signal in order to prevent interference of the escaping signal. However, absorbing the escaping signal by the corresponding load will increase the volume of the overall structure, and will significantly increase the manufacture cost. In general, a switch connector can be used for preventing interference of the escaping signal. A common switch connector in the prior art is described below.
FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a switch connector in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector includes an inner conductor 11, an inner conductor 12 and an inner conductor 13. The connector is also provided with a pressure ring 14 and a spring 15. In particular, in the case where the connector is unterminated, the inner conductor 11 is not in contact with the inner conductor 12 and in an open state, while the inner conductor 12 is in contact with the inner conductor 13 by the pressure ring 14 and in a close state. In particular, in the case where the connector is terminated, due to the spring 15, the inner conductor 11 and the pressure ring 14 are pushed downward by a force produced by an interface fit. The inner conductor 11 is in contact with the inner conductor 12 and in a close state, while the inner conductor 12 is separated from the inner conductor 13 and in an open state. The inner conductor 11, the inner conductor 12, the inner conductor 13, the pressure ring 14 and the spring 15 operate together for port selection. The connector being unterminated means that there is no load connected to a connector port, and correspondingly, the connector being terminated means that there is a load connected to the connector port. However, in FIG. 1, a selective contact elastic device and the three inner conductors for accomplishing performance transmission are two separate systems, which result in complex structure of the entire connector, miscellaneous small parts, and difficult assembly and performance adjusting.
There is no efficient solution for solving the problem of complex structure of the connector due to the separation of the performance transmission device and the elastic device of the connector in the prior art.

Communication connector with an elastic inner conductor


The present invention consists of an improved method and apparatus to upgrade bitumen in various forms which comprises four main components; namely, a fractionator equipped with a condenser, a heavy gas oil catalytic treater, a catalyst regenerator/gasifier and a gas cleanup assembly. In operation, the bitumen in liquid form is fed to the fractionator for initial separation of fractions with the bulk of the bitumen leaving the bottom of the fractionator in the form of a heavy gas oil which is pumped to the catalytic treater and sprayed on a hot catalyst to crack the heavy gas oil (an endothermic reaction) to release lighter hydrocarbons in the form of H2 rich volatile matter while depositing carbon on the catalyst. The volatile matter from the treater is directed to the fractionator where the condensable fractions are separated from the non-condensable H2 rich gas, a valuable primary gas. The carbon containing catalyst from the treater is recycled to the regenerator/gasifier, and the catalyst after being regenerated (an exothermic reaction) is fed hot to the treater. Various fractions are removed from the fractionator as intermediates in the form of light napthas and light oils. The off-gas from the regenerator/gasifier is directed to a gas cleanup system to produce a valuable secondary gas. Both the primary gas and the secondary gas may be further utilized in the processing of the intermediates produced by the method, the primary gas being a source of H2 and the secondary gas being a source of thermal energy.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating hydrocarbon materials that are in the form of liquid or gaseous state which may also contain sulfur that needs to be removed in order for the materials to become benign from an environmental stand point, when consumed. These hydrocarbons may be derived from any of the following:-Heavy petroleum crude, tar sands, coal, oil shale, asphalt, syncrude, residium, oil refinery waste, and so forth. In the description of this patent application which follows the term "bitumen" shall be used exclusively to denote anyone or all of the above materials for the sake of simplifying the description of the invention.
The present invention encompasses improvements made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,530 issued to Albert Calderon. These improvements reside in structural modifications to better practice the method, in the manner of heating, in the movement of the solid catalyst, in desulfurization, in energy conservation and in the reduction of capital costs.
Briefly, the above mentioned reference comprises the charging of a petroleum material into a vessel having a cylindrical wall, then heating the wall indirectly. The petroleum material adjacent to the wall is heated to a temperature sufficient to crack hydrocarbons and form a layer of carbon against the wall, thus generating volatile matter which leaves the vessel, the carbon deposited next to the wall being periodically removed from the wall by scraping. The disadvantages of this reference are as follows:
The apparatus to carry out the method is cumbersome and complex, requiring large capital investment while at the same time making the process difficult to operate and to maintain. The material charged into the vessel upon heating becomes quite fluid and does not adhere to the wall of the vessel uniformly but runs down to the bottom of the vessel. Further, any carbon that is deposited against the wall forms an insulating barrier to the rest of the material within the vessel thus reducing the rate of heat transfer making the process inefficient. Great difficulty is experienced in the movement of the solid catalyst in gas cleanup system 23 (column 4, lines 46 & 47), in pyrolysis cylinder 24a (column 5 line 35) as well as in all other cylinders (vessels) by virtue of each vessel having a conical bottom for the discharging of the solid catalyst. Such conical shape often causes bridging of the catalyst within the vessel, which interrupts the flow of the catalyst thus causing forced shut-downs.

Method and apparatus for upgrading bituminous material


A sound intensity display system for use by performers. The invention is a system which displays indications of sound intensity on a display large enough to be viewed by performers distant from the display. This invention allows indication of a sufficient number of different sound intensity ranges to make the system useful for performers including, but not limited to, musical performers. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the display face is permanently marked with “ppp” and “fff.” In that embodiment, vertical variable display elements styled as line segments can be selectively illuminated by light emitting diodes based on the sound intensity. This embodiment includes a built in microphone and a female jack connection to allow the optional use of an external microphone. That embodiment can be battery powered or powered by an external power supply through a jack-connection, at the option of the user. Other embodiments include ones capable of receiving and displaying inputs from multiple channels.

There are many circumstances in which it is important for performers creating sound to have a reliable, timely and reasonably precise indication of the intensity of the sound being created. Such performers include, without limitations, solo singers, singers who are part of a group of singers, solo instrumental musicians, instrumental musicians who are part of a group of musicians, individuals giving public addresses, and theatrical performers. Reliable, timely and reasonably precise indication of the intensity of the sound being created can be useful during practice and during public performance.
Electric and electronic systems which display indications of sound intensity are well know in the art. Most have displays that are too small to allow ready viewing more than a short distance from the display. That makes them unsuitable for use by many sorts of performers (e.g., for direct use by members of a singing group).
There are systems which display indications of sound intensity in manners which allow that indication to be seen by more distant viewers. For example, Yacker Tracker (Creative Toys, Fort Collins, Colo.) and Talk Light (Talk Light, Inc., Garland, Tex.) are systems styled in the likeness of traffic lights. The systems are designed for use in places such as classrooms and school cafeterias. Two sound intensity thresholds can be set by the user. If the detected sound intensity is below both thresholds, the green light is illuminated. If the detected sound intensity is between the two thresholds, the yellow light is illuminated. If the detected sound intensity exceeds both thresholds, the red light is illuminated. Although other uses are possible, the primary use is to encourage children to keep the noise level within acceptable bounds. Such a system is disclosed by Fran Rebello in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/876,024. Systems of this type would have limited usefulness as sound intensity feedback for performers, because of the limited number of intensity thresholds.

Sound intensity display system for use by performers


The present invention is directed to an image plate comprised of a stiffening layer formed from a first photocured polymeric material and a print contact layer formed from a second photocured polymeric material wherein the first photocured polymeric material is a hard photocured polymeric material and the second photocured polymeric material is formed from a soft photocured polymeric material. The image plate is assembled as a photocured pre-cut sheet of relief images comprising a first layer formed from a releasable substrate, a second layer formed from a first photocured polymer, and a third layer formed from a second photocured polymer, wherein the first photocured polymer is formed from a hard photopolymer resin and the second photocured polymer is formed from a soft photopolymer resin. The method of forming releasable image plate is also disclosed which includes selectively photocuring a first and second liquid photosensitive material to form the releasable photocured image plate via light transmitted from a first light source through an image bearing negative and light transmitted from a second light source through a blank forming negative.

It is known in the art that artwork or relief images can be formed by photocuring photosensitive polymeric material. This process is particularly useful in the formation of hand stamping devices and other printing devices which require a wide variety of images to be produced. Image plates for hand stamping devices are normally produced in a sheet containing multiple individual image plates due to the typically small size of the image plates or stamps being produced. Typically, the photocuring process involves laying down a negative on a photopolymer exposing unit such as a light box and pouring a liquid photopolymer over the negative to form a photopolymer layer to be cured. A substrate which includes an adhesive layer on the inner surface is then placed on top of the photopolymer. The photopolymer is exposed to light transmitted through the negative to create the desired relief image or group of letters on the stamp. The adhesive layer on the inner surface of the substrate creates a strong adhesive bond between the substrate backing material and the photopolymer used to create the image. This backing material rigidifies each of the individual stamps and provides a carrier for the photocured material. After the polymer material is photocured, the entire unit is washed and final cured. Thereafter, individual stamps or image plates are cut from the continuous carrier sheet.
As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,998 discloses a process and apparatus for producing a photopolymer plate incorporating relief images thereon which includes an apparatus for developing the photopolymer plate. An image-bearing transparency is placed on a rigid glass plate capable of transmitting actinic radiation. A sheet of protective film which is also capable of transmitting actinic radiation is placed over the image bearing transparency. A layer of liquid photosensitive material is then applied to the upper surface of the sheet of protective film material and a sheet of backing material is laminated onto the upper surface of the photosensitive layer to form an assembly. The photosensitive layer is then exposed to photocuring light through the transparent portions of the image bearing transparency. The sheet of protective film material is then removed from the lower surface of the exposed photosensitive layer to reveal the photocured photopolymer layer and the sheet of laminated backing material. This assembly is then washed in order to remove the unhardened, nonexposed, photosensitive material. The relief image remains on the sheet of backing material as an integral assembly. In order to obtain individual image plates it is necessary to cut them from the integral assembly. The relief image formed on the sheet of backing material may then be used on a variety of printing equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,182 is a modified version of the above-identified patent. This reference utilizes a second or auxiliary light source located above the backing material. A dotted image-bearing sheet may be used to cover the auxiliary light source. The dots are preferably sized such that 30 to 150 lines of dots per inch are formed on the sheet. The dots increase transmittance of radiation to the sheet and can form projections or studs between the larger projections which are exposed to light from the bottom light source in order to prevent unwanted compression of the studs and smearing.
The related art requires the substrate as backing material to provide sufficient strength and rigidity to the image-bearing relief plate. The related art also requires sheets containing multiple relief images or individual stamps to be cut from the sheet. The cutting of individual stamps can be particularly problematic because after cutting the stamps from the sheet there is no means to maintain them in a pre-defined orientation.

Releasable photopolymer printing plate and method of forming same


An apparatus for securing a gas bag module to a vehicle part, more particularly to a steering wheel hub, is provided, in which the vehicle part comprises at least one protruding mounting part having one end split into two webs. The gas bag module has a housing comprising at least one pre-mounted bolt screwed into a side of one of the housing and a part connected thereto. The bolt has a shank engaging between the webs during mounting of the gas bag module on the vehicle part. The bolt has a bolt head and is supported on the mounting part by the bold head in subsequent tightening.

Hitherto, gas bag modules have been bolted to the front side or rear side of a steering wheel. For this purpose, mostly nuts are utilized which are fixed non-rotatably at the housing of the gas bag module and into which the corresponding bolts are then screwed during assembly. These bolts need to be applied separately, correctly positioned and screwed in place which is time-consuming. In addition to this, the bolts are often difficult to access for screwing-in which increases the time needed for assembly.


This invention is a space-efficient pixel control circuit for a field emission flat panel matrix-addressable array display. The invention reduces by one the number of transistors required at the intersection of each row line and column line within the array. In addition, only two lines need be routed through the array (i.e., row and column). The array space saved by increased layout efficiency may be used to increase pixel density within the array. The new space-efficient pixel control circuit has a single transistor in a base electrode grounding path that is directly controlled by is a row line. A current-limiting resistor is interposed between the single grounding transistor and a column line to which an inverse video signal is applied. The magnitude of the current through the current-limiting resistor is inversely proportional to the inverse column signal voltage. Thus, pixel brightness is directly proportional to the voltage drop across the current-limiting resistor.

This invention relates to matrix-addressable flat panel displays and, more particularly, to a field emission display in which a single transistor located at each row and column intersection controls pixel activation. The invention lends itself to an architecture wherein row and column signal voltages that are compatible with standard integrated circuit logic levels, control a much higher pixel activation voltage.
For more than half a century, the cathode ray tube (CRT) has been the principal device for displaying visual information. Although CRTs have been endowed during that period with remarkable display characteristics in the areas of color, brightness, contrast and resolution, they have remained relatively bulky and power hungry. The advent of portable computers has created intense demand for displays which are lightweight, compact, and power efficient. Although liquid crystal displays are now used almost universally for laptop computers, contrast is poor in comparison to CRTs, only a limited range of viewing angles is possible, and in color versions, they consume power at rates which are incompatible with extended battery operation. In addition, color screens tend to be far more costly than CRTs of equal screen size.
As a result of the drawbacks of liquid crystal display technology, thin film field emission display technology has been receiving increasing attention by industry. Flat panel display utilizing such technology employ a matrix-addressable array of pointed, thin-film, cold field emission cathodes in combination with a phosphor-luminescent screen. Somewhat analogous to a cathode ray tube, individual field emission structures are sometimes referred to as vacuum microelectronic triodes. The triode elements are a cathode (emitter tip), a grid (also referred to as the gate), and an anode (typically, the phosphor-coated element to which emitted electrons are directed).
Although the phenomenon of field emission was discovered in the 1950""s, extensive research by many individuals, such as Charles A. Spindt of SRI International, improved the technology to the extent that prospects for its use in the manufacture of inexpensive, low-power, high-resolution, high-contrast, full-color flat displays appeared promising. Realizing that field emission technology was no longer a technology that should be relegated to the care of scientists interested primarily in pure research, a dozen or so companies joined the race to develop a practical flat panel field emission display.
Conventional field emission displays are constructed such that a column signal activates a single conductive strip within the grid, while a row signal activates a conductive strip within the emitter base electrode. At the intersection of an activated column and an activated row, a grid-to-emitter voltage differential sufficient to induce field emission will exist, causing illumination of an associated phosphor on the phosphorescent screen. There are a number of problems associated with this conventional matrix-addressable field-emission display architecture. In order for field emission to occur, the voltage differential between a row conductor and a column conductor must be at least equal to a voltage which will provide acceptable field emission levels. Field emission intensity is highly dependent on several factors, the most important of which is the sharpness of the cathode emitter tip and the intensity of the electric field at the tip. Although a level of field emission suitable for the operation of flat panel displays has been achieved with emitter-to-grid voltages as low as 60 volts (and this figure is expected to decrease in the coming years due to improvements in emitter structure design and fabrication) emission voltages will probably remain far greater than 5 volts, which is the standard CMOS, NMOS, and TTL xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d level. Thus, if the field emission threshold voltage is at 60 volts, row and column lines will, most probably, be designed to switch between 0 and either +30 or xe2x88x9230 volts in order to provide an intersection voltage differential of 60 volts. Hence, it will be necessary to perform high-voltage switching as these row and column lines are activated. Not only is there a problem of building drivers to switch such high voltages, but there is also the problem of unnecessary power consumption because of the capacitive coupling of row and column lines. That is to say, the higher the voltage on these lines, the greater the power required to drive the display.
In addition to the problem of high-voltage switching, conventional field emission displays are also prone to low yield and low reliability due to the possibility of emitter-to-grid shorts. Such a short affects the voltage differential between the emitters and grid within the entire array, and may well render the entire array useless, either by consuming so much power that the supply is not able to maintain a voltage differential sufficient to induce field emission, or by actually generating so much heat that a portion of the array is actually destroyed.
A field emission display architecture, which is the subject of U.S. Pat. NO. 5,210,472, overcomes the problems of high-voltage switching and emitter-to-grid shorts, which, in turn, ameliorates the problem of display power consumption. The new architecture (hereinafter referred to as the xe2x80x9cdual series-coupled transistor, low-voltage-switching field emission display architecturexe2x80x9d) permits the switching of a high pixel activation voltage with low signal voltages that are compatible with standard CMOS, NMOS, or other integrated circuit logic levels. Instead of having rows and columns tied directly to the cathode array, they are used to gate at least one pair of series-connected field effect transistors (FETs), each pair when conductive coupling the base electrode of a single emitter node to a potential that is sufficiently low, with respect to a higher potential applied to the grid, to induce field emission. Each row-column intersection (i.e. pixel) within the display may contain multiple emitter nodes in order to improve manufacturing yield and product reliability. In a preferred embodiment, the grid of the array is held at a constant potential (VFE), which is consistent with reliable field emission when the emitters are at ground potential. A multiplicity of emitter nodes are employed, one or more of which correspond to a single pixel (i.e., row and column intersection). Each emitter node has its own base electrode, which is groundable through its own pair of series-coupled field-effect transistors by applying a signal voltage to both the row and column lines associated with that emitter node. One of the series-connected FETs is gated by a signal on the row line; the other FET is gated by a signal on the column line. Also in the preferred embodiment of the invention, each emitter node contains multiple cathode emitters. Hence, each row-column intersection controls multiple pairs of series-coupled FETs, and each pair controls a single emitter node (pixel) containing multiple emitters.
The regulation of cathode-to-grid current has become a major issue in the design of field emission displays, as the issues of cathode life expectancy, low power consumption, and stability requirements are addressed.
The issue of current regulation has been addressed with respect to conventionally constructed flat panel field emission displays, such as the one depicted in FIG. 1. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,916, Michel Borel and three colleagues disclose a field emission display having a resistive layer between each cathode (emitter tip) and an underlying conductive layer. In a subsequent U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,704, Yoichi Bobori and Mitsuru Tanaka disclose a field emission display having a diode in series with each emitter tip.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/011,927, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,172, a method is disclosed for reducing power consumption and enhancing reliability and stability in the low-voltage switching field emission display architecture by regulating cathode emission current. This is achieved by placing a resistor in series with each pair of series-coupled low-voltage switching MOSFETs. As heretofore explained, each MOSFET pair couples an emitter node, which contains one or more field emitter tips, to ground. The resistor is coupled directly to the ground bus and to the source of the MOSFET furthest from the emitter node. By coupling the current-regulating resistor directly to the ground bus, stable current values independent of cathode voltage are achieved over a wide range of cathode voltages.
A functional, monochrome, 1.75 cm-diagonal prototype of the dual, series-coupled low-voltage switching field emission display architecture, which incorporated the current-regulating resistors of U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,172 in the emitter grounding circuits, was constructed in 1993 by Micron Display Technology, Inc. of Boise, Id. FIG. 1 is representative of the pixel control circuitry for a single emitter node of the monochrome prototype display. Ideally, each pixel within the display will have multiple emitter nodes so that if one node is defective, the pixel will still function. The circuitry is characterized by a conductive grid 11, which is maintained at a constant potential, VGRID, a transparent screen 12, and a phosphorescent layer 13, which coats the screen. The grid 11, the screen 12, and the phosphorescent layer 13 are continuous throughout the entire display. The node is depicted as having only two field emission cathodes 14A and 14B (also referred to as emitter tips). In actuality, a larger number of cathodes is desirable, as illumination uniformity in the display is thereby enhanced. Each of the emitters 14A and 14B is connected to a base electrode 15 that is common to only the emitters of the emitter node. In order to induce field emission, base electrode 15 is grounded through a pair of series-coupled field-effect transistors Q1 and Q2 and current-regulating resistor R1. Resistor R1 is interposed between the source of transistor Q1 and ground. Transistor Q1 is gated by a row line RL, while transistor Q2 is gated by a column line CL. It should be noted that a functionally equivalent circuit is created if column line CL controls the gate of transistor Q1 and row line RL controls the gate of transistor Q2. Standard logic signal voltages for CMOS, NMOS, TTL and other integrated circuits are generally 5 volts or less, and may be used for both column and row line signals. A pixel is turned off (i.e., placed in a non-emitting state) by turning off either or both of the series-connected FETs (Q1 and Q2). From the moment that at least one of the FETs becomes non-conductive (i.e., the gate-to-source voltage VGS drops below the device threshold voltage VT, electrons will continue to be discharged from the emitter tips corresponding to that pixel until the voltage differential between the base and the grid is just below emission threshold voltage. In order to improve yield and to minimize array power consumption, an optional fusible link FL is placed in series with the pull-down current path from base electrode 15 to ground via transistors Q1 and Q2. Fusible link FL may be blown during testing if a base-to-emitter short exists within that emitter group, thus isolating the shorted group from the rest of the array.
Although performance of the prototype display exceeded expectations in many respects, it was noted that, under certain operating conditions, unintended pixel emission occurred when the transistor nearest ground was turned xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d and the transistor nearest the emitter tip was turned xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d. This phenomenon resulted in a low-intensity background glow over which desired images were superimposed. This problem is believed to be associated with the parasitic capacitance of the node between each pair of transistors in the pixel grounding path (hereinafter the intermediate node). The following sequence of events is the most likely cause of the phenomenon. The transistor nearest the emitter node is turned xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d by a low logic signal on its gate. Then, the transistor nearest ground is turned xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d by a low logic signal on its gate, resulting in the intermediate node being at ground potential. When the transistor nearest the emitter is then turned xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d by a high logic signal on its gate, the difference in potential between the emitter node and the grid is sufficient to cause field emission until the intermediate node has emitted a number of electrons sufficient to cause the difference in potential between the emitter node and the grid to drop below the emission threshold.
In 1994, Micron Display Technology, Inc. constructed a functional, color, 1.75 cm-diagonal prototype employing an improved two-transistor pixel control circuit that remedied the heretofore described unintended pixel emission phenomenon. The improved pixel control circuit, which is depicted in FIG. 2, places only a single transistor (the primary control transistor) QP in the grounding path. The problematic intermediate node is thus eliminated from the grounding path. The gate of transistor QP is controlled by a row line RL, which passes through a secondary pixel control transistor QS. Transistor QS, in turn, is controlled by a column line CL. Thus, only when both the signals on both row line RL and column line CL are high is the primary pixel control transistor QP in an xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d state. It should be noted that a functionally equivalent circuit is created if column line CL controls the gate of transistor QP and row line RL controls the gate of transistor QS. Capacitor C1, which is charged when signals on both row line RL and column line CL are high, retains pixel information between raster scans. The improved circuit, like the original dual, series-coupled transistor pixel control circuit, requires two transistors at the intersection of each row and column line in the display, and also requires the routing of three signal lines through the display array (i.e., row, column and ground).
This invention is a space-efficient pixel control circuit for a field emission flat panel matrix-addressable array display. The invention reduces by one the number of transistors required at the intersection of each row line and column line within the array. In addition, only the row lines and column lines need be routed through the array, as the grid is common to the entire array and at a topographically higher level. The array space saved by increased layout efficiency may be used to increase pixel density within the array. The new space-efficient pixel control circuit is similar to the circuit of FIG. 2, in that it has a single transistor in the base electrode grounding path. The new control circuit is also similar to the circuit of FIG. 1, in that the single transistor in the grounding path is directly controlled by a row signal line. Unlike either the circuit of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, instead of having the current-limiting resistor interposed between the single grounding transistor and the ground bus, it is interposed between the grounding transistor and a column line to which an inverse video signal is applied. The magnitude of the current through the current-limiting resistor is inversely proportional to the inverse video signal voltage. Thus, pixel brightness is directly proportional to the voltage drop across the current-limiting resistor (this, of course, presupposes that all emitter nodes pertaining to a given pixel are coupled to the same column line).

Field emission display with pixel current controlled by analog voltage


A flossing tool, for use with flossing string, includes a handle having a forked head at its first end. The forked head has first and second arms extending outwardly to first and second distal ends for supporting flossing string therebetween. A tensioner is slidably disposed on the handle and includes a clamp for receiving ends of the flossing string. The tensioner is movably between a first position wherein the flossing string is freely receivable in the clamp and a second position wherein the flossing string is secured in the clamp.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to flossing teeth and in particular to flossing tools adapted to hold floss string to assist a person flossing teeth.
2. Background Information
Numerous flossing tools designed to hold flossing string are known. Examples are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,550; U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,536; U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,250 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,466. A problem with these flossing tools, and many others, is that a high degree of skill and dexterity is required to manipulate the flossing string on the tool.


Apparatus and method for determining the condition of the floor to be cleaned by a cleaning robot. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic wave signal transmitting circuit for transmitting an ultrasonic wave signal to an ultrasonic wave signal transmitter under the control of a microcomputer, a receiving amplifying unit for amplifying the ultrasonic wave signal transmitted from the ultrasonic wave signal transmitter and received in a ultrasonic wave signal receiver, a receiving demodulating unit for smoothing the output signal from the receiving amplifying unit to demodulate it and then apply it to the microcomputer. According to the control of the microcomputer, the ultrasonic wave signal is transmitted for a predetermined period. The period from the time when the ultrasonic wave signal is transmitted to the time when the ultrasonic wave signal is received in the ultrasonic wave signal receiver is measured. Then, the distance between the position of the ultrasonic wave signal receiver and the floor to be cleaned is calculated from the measured period. Accordingly, it can be determined whether the floor to be cleaned is a normal floor, a floor covered with a carpet, or stairs, thereby enabling correct recognition of the condition of the floor to be cleaned, without being adversely affected from environment.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for recognizing floor condition of a cleaner, and more particularly to an apparatus and a method for recognizing carpets and stairs of a cleaning robot, which can determine whether the floor to be cleaned is a normal floor, a floor covered with a carpet, or stairs.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are a side view and a bottom view showing a conventional cleaner with infrared ray transmitter and receiver, respectively. As shown in the drawings, the infrared ray transmitter 4 and the infrared ray receiver 5 are mounted to the front portion of the bottom surface of a cleaner body 1 such that they are vertically spaced about 5 cm apart from the floor to be cleaned. In the drawings, the reference numeral "2" designates wheels and the reference numeral "3" designates a caster.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a circuit for transmitting infrared ray in the conventional cleaner. As shown in the drawing, the circuit which is designated by the reference numeral "6" comprises an oscillating element 7 to which a resistor R21 for supplying a power from a power source Vcc, resistors R22 and R23, a condenser C21 for setting a time constant by cooperating with said resistors R22 and R23, and a transistor Q21 having a base connected with the output terminal P3 via a resistor 24 and a collector connected to a light emitting element, that is the infrared ray transmitter 4 via a resistor R25.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a circuit for receiving infrared ray in the conventional cleaner. As shown in the drawing, the circuit comprises a receiving detector unit 71 which includes resistors R31 to R33, diodes D31 and D32, condensers C31 and C32 and a transistor Q31 and functions to detect the infrared ray received in the infrared ray receiver 5, that is a light receiving element, as a sine wave, a receiving amplifier unit 72 which includes resistors R34 to R40, condensers C33 to C37 and an operational amplifier OP31 and functions to compare the output signal from the infrared ray receiver 5 with an offset voltage and then amplify it, and a receiving demodulator unit 73 which includes inverters IN31 to IN33, a diode D33, a condenser C38 and a resistor R41 and functions to smooth the output signal from said receiving amplifier unit 72 to demodulate it and then apply it to the input terminal PAO of a microcomputer 73.
Operations of the above-mentioned circuits will now be described.
The oscillating element 7 of the infrared ray transmitting circuit 6 generates square wave of 1 KHz according to the time constant set by the resistors R22 and R23 and the condenser C21. The 1 KHz square wave which is outputted from the output terminal P3 of the oscillating element 7 is applied to the base of the transistor Q21 via the resistor R24 so that the transistor Q21 is turned on or off, thereby causing the infrared ray transmitter 4 to transmit infrared ray at the period of 1 msec (=1/1 KHz).
The infrared signals outputted from the infrared ray transmitter 4 as above-mentioned are reflected against the floor and then received in the infrared ray receiver 5. Accordingly, the infrared ray receiver 5 also repeats to be turned on and off at the period of 1 msec so that sine waves are outputted, at the period of 1 msec, from the output terminal of the receiving detector 71 which is connected to the collector of the infrared ray receiver 5.
On the other hand, the amount of the infrared ray signals received in the infrared ray receiver 5 varies depending on the floor condition.
For example, in the case of a normal floor shown in FIG. 4A, all infrared ray signals are directly reflected and received in the infrared ray receiver 5, so that the amount of infrared ray signals received in the infrared ray receiver 5 is greatly different from that in the case that the infrared ray receiver 5 receives no infrared ray. In the case of a carpet covered floor shown in FIG. 4B, however, a part of infrared ray signals transmitted from the infrared ray transmitter 4 are absorbed in the carpet and only the remained part of transmitted infrared ray signals are reflected against the carpet. As a result, the amount of infrared ray signals received in the infrared ray receiver 5 is slightly different from that in the case that the infrared ray receiver 5 receives no infrared ray. On the other hand, in the case of stairs or a very steep surface as shown in FIGS. 4C to 4E, infrared ray signals transmitted from the infrared ray transmitter 4 are reflected from a distant surface and then received in the infrared ray receiver 5. Accordingly, the amount of infrared ray signals received in the infrared ray receiver 5 is slightly different from that in the case that the infrared ray receiver 5 receives no infrared ray.
Depending on such difference in amounts of infrared ray signals received in the infrared ray receiver 5, the amount of current passing through the infrared ray receiver 5 varies. On the other hand, sine wave signals are outputted, at the period of 1 msec, from the output of the receiving detector unit 71 connected to the collector of the infrared ray receiver 5. The amplitude of the sine wave signals is in proportion to the difference between the amount of infrared ray signals received in the infrared ray receiver 5 is slightly and the amount of infrared ray signals in the case that the infrared ray receiver 5 receives no infrared ray. Consequently, the amplitude of sine wave signals outputted from the receiving detector unit 71 is large in the case of FIG. 4A, while it is small in the case of FIGS. 4B to 4E.
These sine wave signals outputted from the receiving detector unit 71 are applied to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP31, via the condenser C33, the resistor R39 and the condenser C35 of the receiving amplifier unit 72 and then compared with the DC offset voltage predetermined by the variable resistor R35. Thereafter, the compared sine wave signals are amplified at the rate of R38/R39 and then applied to the inverter IN31 of the receiving demodulator unit 73. At this time, if the DC offset voltage is predetermined to the voltage applied to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP31, when sine wave signals of large amplitude are outputted from the receiver detector unit 71 as in the case of FIG. 4A, low potential signals are outputted from the operational amplifier OP31. Accordingly, the inverter IN31 outputs peak signals of high potential, which is then smoothed at the condenser C38 and the resistor R41, via the diode D33. At this time, the voltages smoothed at the condenser C38 are maintained above a predetermined value, since high potential peak signals are outputted from the inverter IN31, at the period of 1 msec. This smoothed voltages are inverted into low potential signals at the inverter IN32. At the inverter IN33, the low signals are then inverted into high potential signals which is applied to the input terminal PAO of the microcomputer 8. Thus, the microcomputer 8 recognizes that the floor to be cleaned is a normal floor.
On the other hand, when sine wave signals of small amplitude is outputted from the receiving detector unit 71, as in the cases of FIGS. 4B to 4E, the operational amplifier OP31 outputs continuously high potential signals, thereby causing the inverter IN31 to output low potential signals. As a result, low level signals are applied to the input terminal PAO of the microcomputer 8, so that the microcomputer 8 recognizes that the floor to be cleaned is not a normal floor, but a carpet covered floor.
Although the above-mentioned conventional circuit can determine a normal floor and a carpet covered floor, it may mistake stairs or a very steep surface for the carpet covered floor. As a result, there is a disadvantage of providing no protection of cleaning robots from stairs or a very steep surface.
In addition, external light beams may cause malfunction of the circuit in discriminating between a normal floor and a carpet covered floor.

Apparatus and method for recognizing carpets and stairs by cleaning robot


A method for making a pentasil zeolite material includes forming an aqueous solution that includes a structure directing agent and a silica precursor; and heating the solution at a sufficient temperature and for sufficient time to form a pentasil zeolite material from the silica precursor, wherein the structure directing agent includes a quaternary phosphonium ion.

Zeolite particles with structural features as small as the size of a unit cell (e.g., 1-5 nm), such as with lamellar morphology, are desirable for state-of-the-art devices for gas separation, catalysis and low-dielectric constant materials. See, e.g., Tsapatsis, M.; Fan, W. ChemCatChem 2010, 2, 246-248; Choi, M.; Na, K.; Kim, J.; Sakamoto, Y.; Terasaki, O.; Ryoo, R. Nature 2009, 461, 246; Li, Z.; Lew, C. M.; Li, S.; Medina, D. I.; Yan, Y. J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 8652. In addition, the introduction of mesopores with similar size (e.g., smaller than 5 nm) between the zeolitic structural features enables catalysis for fast and selective reactions. See, e.g., Lee, P. S.; Zhang, X.; Stoeger, J. A.; Malek, A.; Fan, W.; Kumar, S.; Yoo, W. C.; Al Hashimi, S.; Penn, R. L.; Stein, A.; Tsapatsis, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 493; Choi, M.; Cho, H. S.; Srivastava, R.; Venkatesan, C.; Choi, D.-H.; Ryoo, R. Nat. Mater. 2006, 5, 718; Na, K.; Choi, M.; Park, W.; Sakamoto, Y.; Terasaki, O.; Ryoo, R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 4169. Conventional techniques for the preparation of mesoporous zeolites having zeolitic structural features and mesopores within the 5 nm range involve either structure-directing agents with complicated structures, and/or additional posts-synthesis processing, such as pillaring or desilication/dealumination. See, e.g., Choi, M.; Cho, H. S.; Srivastava, R.; Venkatesan, C.; Choi, D.-H.; Ryoo, R. Nat. Mater. 2006, 5, 718; Na, K.; Choi, M.; Park, W.; Sakamoto, Y.; Terasaki, O.; Ryoo, R. J, Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 4169; Roth, W. J.; Kresge, C. T.; Vartuli, J. C.; Leonowicz, M. E.; Fung, A. S.; McCullen, S. B. Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis 1995, 94, 301; Groen, J. C.; Moulijn, J. A.; Perez-Ramirez, J. J. Mater. Chem. 2006, 16, 2121. These additional steps are sometimes destructive to the framework. See, e.g., Tsapatsis, M.; Maheshwari, S. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 4262. For example, swelling under high pH conditions is a necessary step before pillaring of layered zeolites and is known to lead to partial dissolution and destruction of the layer framework (See e.g., Maheshwari, S.; Jordan, E.; Kumar, S.; Bates F. S.; Penn, R. L.; Shantz, D. F.; Tsapatsis, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 1507). Even in cases where swelling is not required and/or pillaring can be performed without framework destruction, the introduction of non-zeolitic pillars reduces the relative available zeolitic surface area and can block catalytic sites (See, Na, K.; Choi, M.; Park, W.; Sakamoto, Y.; Terasaki, O.; Ryoo, R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010). Moreover, synthesis processes that require multiple steps and/or complicated structure directing agents are of high cost which often prohibits their commercial use. Therefore, a simple procedure of directly preparing lamellar zeolites and mesoporous zeolites will be beneficial for these applications.

One-step synthesis of mesoporous pentasil zeolite with single-unit-cell lamellar structural features


In a radio data communication network where a plurality of radio data communication apparatuses mutually communicate information through frames carried by radio waves, a communication method using radio data communication apparatuses having a relay function is provided. When two radio data communication apparatuses cannot directly communicate with each other due to the limit of the radio wave range, another radio data communication apparatus serves as a relay station to relay frames between the two apparatuses, thus extending a communicable range.

The present invention relates to a radio data communication apparatus, and a radio data communication method and system using the same, and more particularly, to radio data communication techniques which enable two radio data communication apparatuses, located at a distance too long to enable direct communication between them, to communicate with each other through at least one radio data communication apparatus which performs a relay function and exists between the two radio data communication apparatuses.
Conventionally, as disclosed in JP-A-3-250820 entitled "Local Area Network and Communication Network", radio communication ranges have been extended by additionally installed wired LAN (Local Area Network) for connecting base stations each other. However, the installation of wired LAN implies a problem that it needs additional expense and the system design requires extra labor and time. Generally, the installation of wired LAN requires a system design, construction, connectivity tests, and so on. In addition, once the network system is configured, it cannot be flexibly changed. Further, the cabling may often spoil good appearances. Thus, the construction of a wired LAN is not sometimes desirable in hired stores, offices with walls made of expensive materials (marble or the like), windows for serving customers, which must maintain good appearances, sales floors, and so on.
An example of the prior art for direct communications between radio terminals without intervention of a base station has been proposed in Mar. 7, 1994 issue of a magazine called "Nikkei Communications". In the scheme proposed in this example, however, communications available to each radio terminal is limited to a range in which radio waves sent from a transmitter directly reach a destination stations.
If radio waves from a transmitter do not directly reach a destination stations, a relay station is generally utilized for communications therebetween. The relay station may be searched through the following two techniques.
A first technique is ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) which is used for address resolution for a protocol called TCP/IP. This technique, however, is intended to search for a physical address of a destination station but not for an address sequence of relay stations. Neither one performs chain extension of broadcast in consideration of a radio wave range (zone) which is particular in the radio data communication network. For reference, ARP is described in RFC826 "An Ethernet Address Resolution Protocol" published from Internet Society.
A second technique is source routing in IEEE802.5 in which, however, a relaying system is limited to a particular bridge. Further, every station does not perform a chain extension of broadcasts in consideration of a radio wave reachable range (zone) which is particular in the radio data communication network. In the source routing, an alternative route must be previously prepared for a failure of the bridge. Otherwise, a bypass route cannot be ensured for the communications in case a failure occurs.
In the prior art as described above, an extension of radio communication area requires the installation of wired LAN which is sometimes severely restricted in terms of location, time and cost.
Also, as the route of communication is fixed, the prior art for the communication system has other problems that its resistance to failures for the cable and extra communication devices is lower and controlling distribution of traffic loads is difficult.

Radio data communication apparatus having a relay function and radio data communication method and system using the same


A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device may be a metatarsal protection device, which may include a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces, with at least one of such surfaces including a series of cones or a pattern of hexagons thereon. The metatarsal protection device may also include a second relatively rigid layer of material overlying the first layer, and the first layer may be shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user's foot, such that the device is configured to protect the metatarsal region against injury. Other configurations and variations of a metatarsal protection device are also disclosed, as are other uses for the principles of the invention(s) disclosed herein (e.g., protection devices for other areas of the foot, etc).

Aspects of the present invention relate, in general, to protection devices for use in shoes, and specifically to metatarsal or other protection devices for shielding a user's foot from injury. Protection devices for use in shielding other areas of a user's foot, other portions of the body, or in alternate applications beyond bodily protection are also contemplated.
Protection devices for shielding the metatarsal area of the foot from injury are widely used in various sectors of the footwear industry. Typically, these protection devices are referred to as metatarsal guards, and may be employed as an external guard or integrated into the shoe itself (e.g., an internal guard). Common scenarios in which such metatarsal guards may be necessary are in construction applications, in mining, or in other like fields where the foot may be susceptible to injury due to impact with extraneous objects (e.g., falling rocks, lumber, puncture via nails, etc.) In some cases, while the aforementioned metatarsal guard(s) may provide adequate protection from injury, such guard(s) may restrict comfortable movement of the foot due to the rigidity of the guard(s). Other deficiencies not noted here also exist.
Beyond protection of the metatarsal area of the foot, other sensitive areas that are susceptible to injury may also require shielding. For example, it may be the case that the foot, in certain scenarios, requires side or heel protection instead of, or in combination with, metatarsal protection. It is not uncommon to provide such protective devices on the side or heel region of a shoe in order to provide shielding. Even these protective mechanisms, however, may suffer from several defects, and therefore lack of comfort in use. For example, some heel (or other) protective devices are unnecessarily rigid, and thereby do not adequately absorb the shock resulting from an impact or other injuring event. Stated differently, since such protective devices are unduly rigid, force generated from an impact can travel through the device and be translated to the user, resulting in injury to the user from the impact. Such rigidity also decreases comfort, and sometimes results in the protective device being overly heavy. This may also be the case for several of the metatarsal protection devices noted above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Protection devices for use in shoes or other products


An automatic washing machine having a imperforate stationery tub and further having a rotatable plastic wash basket, for receiving a clothes load, disposed within the tub. The rotatable plastic wash basket includes a cylindrical outer wall defining a vertical axis and having an upper end open for receiving the clothes load. A base integral with the cylindrical outerwall is provided for forming a bottom of the rotatable basket. A hub member is positioned centrally in the base and is drivingly connectable with a drive shaft for rotating said rotatable wash basket. The base further includes an annular cavity, formed within the base, surrounding the hub member. The annular cavity has a substantially triangular radial cross-section such that the base comprises walls which define the annular cavity and form a triangular truss optimally configured for providing strength and rigidity to the wash basket base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a washing machine and more particularly to a rotatable plastic wash basket having sufficient rigidity to prevent undue vibration and deflection.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
Rotatable wash baskets for use in automatic washers may be subject to various types of forces during basket spin and may have particular dynamic responses to forced vibrations which may occur during basket spin The types of forces experienced by the basket typically include a centrifugal force created by an evenly distributed load of clothes, a localized imbalance force created by an unevenly distributed load of clothes and a reactive force applied at the top lip of the basket by spinning water in a balance ring. The wash basket is typically supported by a hub member which is interconnected with a drive shaft for supporting and rotating the wash basket The localized imbalance force resulting from an unevenly distributed load of clothes creates a moment at the hub member, and if uncorrected, may create undesired vibration in the wash basket during rotation. Preferably, the reactive force resulting from the spinning water in the balance ring will create a substantially equal and opposite moment at the hub member for correction of the localized imbalance such that undesired vibration is prevented. An eccentric spin condition must exist for the balance ring to function therefore some small difference typically exists between the moment created by the reactive force at the hub member and and the moment created by the localized imbalance force at the hub member. However, due to physical size limitations in the balance ring, in the case of large localized imbalance forces large differences in moments may exist These differences result in an overall imbalanced condition for the wash basket which subjects the rotating wash basket to forced vibrations during spin. These forced vibrations will have a frequency equal to the spin frequency (basket revolutions/sec) of the rotatable wash basket.
Typically, rotatable wash baskets for use in an automatic washer are constructed of metal. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,465 shows a metallic rotatable wash basket having a single wall basket structure including a single wall base structure. U.S. Pat. No. 2,921,460 shows a metallic rotatable wash basket having a single wall basket structure including a single wall base structure having an additional rigid metallic bottom plate attached to the base for providing base rigidity. Because of the inherent stiffness and strength of metal, rotatable wash baskets made of metal are sufficient to withstand the various forces to which a rotatable wash basket may be subjected.
It is also well known to utilize plastic rotatable wash baskets in an automatic washer. The use of a plastic material for a rotatable wash basket may offer various advantages over metal including lower cost and corrosion resistance. However, the strength of plastic is such that simple single wall wash basket construction, similar to metallic wash basket designs, may not have adequate strength and stiffness. Plastic processing limitations prevent wash basket designers from simply increasing the thickness of the plastic walls to improve wash basket strength Therefore, to provide adequate strength and stiffness in a plastic basket, various wash basket reinforcement configurations are employed. These wash basket reinforcement configurations are typically intended to provide additional strength to the bottom or base of the wash basket. In particular, the prior art shows the use of reinforcing ribs located on the base of a plastic rotatable wash basket or the use of a rigid metallic bottom plate attached to the base of a plastic rotatable wash basket.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,658 illustrates the use of reinforcing ribs located on the base of a rotatable plastic wash basket for providing the necessary strength and stiffness. The use of reinforcing ribs, however, may have several disadvantages. The use of external ribs on the base of a wash basket may cause the formation of an undue amount of suds between the rotatable basket and an imperforate, non-rotatable tub. This suds condition may cause the automatic washer to fail to adequately perform various functions. Furthermore, ribbed base designs may still not offer equivalent strength and stiffness as compared to metallic wash baskets having metallic base structures and rotatable plastic basket having a ribbed base may be inadequate to withstand the various forces to which a rotating wash basket is subjected.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,161 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,027 illustrate the use of a metal reinforcing plate secured to the base of a plastic rotating wash basket for providing the required stiffness and strength. The use of a metallic reinforcing plate may also have several disadvantages. The use of a reinforcing plate requires the use of fasteners which increases the difficulty of assembly. In addition, a metallic reinforcing plate may create corrosion problems. Finally, the addition of a reinforcing plate and fasteners may increase the cost of the rotatable wash basket.
In both plastic and metallic rotatable wash baskets, the deflection and the dynamic response of the rotatable wash basket may be influenced by several factors including the overall stiffness of the wash basket. In particular, the basket should preferably be designed such that the lowest natural frequency of the wash basket structure is greater than the spin frequency of the rotatable wash basket so that undue vibration may be avoided. Given the inherent stiffness and strength of metal, undue deflection or vibration has typically not been an issue in the design of metallic baskets. Typically, the lowest natural frequency of a metallic basket is higher than the spin frequency of the basket and therefore excitation of the basket at its natural frequency is avoided. However, since plastic has less inherent strength and stiffness than metal, plastic baskets typically require reinforced structure to prevent undue deflection and vibration.
Engineering analysis performed by the inventors has shown that the base which forms the bottom wall of the basket is critical in dictating the stiffness of the entire basket. Therefore, a plastic rotatable wash basket having a base geometry which provides adequate stiffness to the entire basket may provide a basket design having its lowest natural frequency higher than the spin frequency of the basket such that undue vibrations are not experienced during basket spin. Prior art, however, appears to teach the use of relatively thick walls in the vertical cylindrical portion of the plastic wash basket for achieving stiffness and strength. This manner of providing basket stiffness for preventing undue deflection and vibration is relatively ineffective and expensive. Therefore, a basket having a base geometry which provides adequate stiffness may have a cylindrical outerwall portion of the basket having a wall thickness less than a wash basket having a base with inadequate stiffness such that a basket having an adequately stiff base may use less material than a basket having an inadequately stiff base.
There is, therefore, a need for a plastic rotatable wash basket for use in an automatic washer having a structure sufficient to withstand the forces applied to the basket, but which does not create a sudsing problem or require additional reinforcing plates. Additionally, there is a need for a plastic rotatable wash basket having a base sufficiently stiff such that the lowest natural frequency of the rotatable basket is greater than the spin frequency of the rotatable wash basket. Furthermore, there is a need for a plastic basket construction which minimizes the basket wall thickness thereby being of relatively low cost.

Rotatable wash basket for an automatic washer


A device for the sealing of an external drum of a continuous-flow washing machines in relation to the internal drum in a more reliable manner and to prevent the risk of treatment liquid flooding from the one treatment chamber into the adjacent treatment chamber if a seal leaks by providing separate seals between adjacent external drums by each of the end faces of the adjacent external drums which point to one another having assigned thereto an own, preferably identically realized seal. In continuous-flow washing machines stationary external drums are assigned to some treatment chambers in a rotatingly drivable internal drum. Said stationary external drums have to be sealed relative to the treatment chambers of the rotatable internal drum. If one common seal is provided between adjacent external drums, if there are leaks, this results in total failure with treatment liquid flooding from the external drum into the adjacent external drum.

Technical Field
The invention relates to a device for the wet-treatment of laundry having a rotatingly driveable internal drum, which is liquid-permeable at least in part and in which treatment chambers, which follow one after another in the direction of its longitudinal center axis, are formed by partition walls, which extend perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the internal drum, and having at least two stationary external drums which are assigned to treatment chambers, wherein, support rings, which are sealed by means of seals in relation to the external drums, are provided between those treatment chambers, to which external drums are assigned.
Prior Art
The devices referred to here are so-called continuous-flow washing machines. They have a rotatingly driveable, elongated internal drum with partition walls which are at spacings in the longitudinal direction of said internal drum. The partition walls form treatment chambers which follow one after another in the internal drum. Some treatment chambers of the internal drum have assigned thereto a liquid-tight tub which, in specialist jargon, is designated as an external drum. Said external drum serves for receiving the treatment liquid, in particular washing liquid. So that the treatment liquid in the external drums is also able to pass into the internal drum, the lateral surface of the same is perforated at least in part in the region of the external drum.
In order to prevent the treatment liquid being able to pass in an uncontrolled manner from one treatment chamber to another, seals are provided in each case between adjacent external drums. The seals correspond with support rings which surround the outside of the internal drum.
In the case of known devices of the mentioned type (continuous-flow washing machines), a seal with two oppositely situated sealing lips is provided on opposite sides of the support ring in each case between two adjacent external drums. In the event of leakages, the result of these can be that treatment liquid passes from one external drum into the adjacent one. In addition, it is very difficult to adjust the single sealing lip where there are two connected sealing lips. In particular, it is very difficult to compensate for sealing lips that are worn to varying degrees.