A process and catalyst are provided for the catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock to catalytic cracking conversion products comprising the steps of contacting the hydrocarbon feedstock at catalytic cracking conditions with a catalytic cracking catalyst. The catalytic cracking catalyst is prepared by modifying a base catalyst comprising a crystalline molecular sieve and a binder by combining the base catalyst with an ion exchange solution comprising at least one trivalent cation, a trivalent cation complexing agent, and a hydroxide-producing component, wherein the ion exchange solution has a pH ranging from about 4 to about 8, and producing an ion exchanged catalyst and excess ion exchange solution. The modified catalyst is then separated from said excess ion exchange solution.

This invention relates to a catalyst and process for increasing the yield of iso-olefinic hydrocarbons in a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCC). More particularly, this invention relates to a modified FCC catalyst and a process for using such a catalyst wherein the catalyst is modified by trivalent cation exchange with an ion exchange solution comprising a trivalent cation, a trivalent cation complexing agent, and a hydroxide-producing component. Increased yields of FCC unit olefinic hydrocarbons are particularly useful for the production of oxygenated gasoline blending components.
Oxygenates have been part of the United States gasoline strategy since the late 1970s. With the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the demand for oxygenates is expected to increase even further. For example, starting in the winter months of 1992, gasoline containing 2.7 weight percent oxygen will have to be provided to approximately 40 metropolitan areas that have failed to meet carbon monoxide pollution standards. It is expected that in the near future, between 30 and 60 percent of the United States gasoline pool may be required to contain oxygenates. Current oxygenate production capacity is insufficient for meeting these requirements.
The most commonly used oxygenates today are methanol, ethanol, and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). Although methanol and ethanol have high blending octanes, problems with toxicity, water miscibility, high Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP), high nitrogen oxide emissions, lower fuel efficiency, and cost have dampened industry enthusiasm for these components. Partially as a result of the above, MTBE has become particularly attractive.
Homologues of MTBE such as ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) and methyl tertiary amyl ether (TAME) are also gaining industry acceptance. Moreover, commercial activity with respect to ETBE and TAME is expected to increase relative to MTBE, in view of the recent Environmental Protection Agency decision to reduce the RVP requirements for gasolines well below 9 psia, the blending RVP of MTBE.
Oxygenate production in the United States is generally limited by oxygenate plant capacity and by feedstock availability. MTBE and ETBE both utilize isobutylene as a feedstock while TAME utilizes isoamylene as a feedstock. Isobutylene and isoamylene are generally supplied to petroleum refinery MTBE, ETBE, and TAME facilities from fluid catalytic cracking units, fluidized or delayed cokers, and/or from downstream paraffin dehydrogenation and isomerization facilities. The availability of hydrocarbons having 4 or 5 carbon atoms is generally limited by constraints such as, but not limited to, crude properties, commercial FCC catalyst properties, FCC operating conditions, and coking conditions, etc. The chemical mix of C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 paraffins, olefins, and aromatics as well as the particular mix of iso-olefins to normal olefins are similarly constrained.
It has now been found that another method exists to favorably affect the yield of olefins and iso-olefins for use in such oxygenate producing processes. FCC catalysts comprising crystalline molecular sieves can be modified either during or after production of the catalyst off-site, or on-site at a fluid catalytic cracking facility, in order to favorably increase the yields of olefins and, in particular, iso-olefins having 4 and 5 carbon atoms.
Crystalline molecular sieves commonly utilized in fluid catalytic cracking catalysts have distinct crystal structures which are demonstrated by X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure defines cavities and pores which are characteristic of the different species. The adsorptive and catalytic properties of each molecular sieve are determined in part by the dimensions of its pores and cavities. Thus the utility of a particular molecular sieve as a fluid catalystic cracking catalyst depends at least partly on its crystal structure. Although many different molecular sieves have been disclosed in the prior art for use in cracking catalysts, there continues to be a need for still more effective molecular sieves and methods for making and modifying such sieves. This is particularly true since the product needs of the refiner continue to change due to unpredictable and quickly evolving events such as, for example, unforeseen nor predictable environmental regulation.
Synthetic molecular sieves are often prepared from mixtures containing alkali metal hydroxides and therefore, can have alkali metal contents of 1 percent by weight or more. The ion exchange of various metals or ammonium ion for such alkali metals is generally performed in catalysis in order to obtain active sites that will facilitate particular catalytic reactions. For example, ion exchange of other metal cations or ammonium ion for such alkali metals can be performed to modify catalyst acidity subject to the particular reactions desired and the feedstock and operating condition constraints inherent to the process for conducting these reactions. In other cases, ion exchange of other metal cations or ammonium ion for such alkali metals can be performed to obtain a particular type of activity or selectivity conducive to catalyzing a particular type or degree of reaction. Typical exchangeable alkali metals in the sieve include sodium or potassium and such an ion exchange can be performed with components such as ammonium nitrate or acetate, followed by a subsequent heating step for releasing ammonia, wherein a proton remains at the exchangeable site. This type of ion exchange generally leaves the molecular sieve in the "hydrogen form."
For purposes of the present invention, the term "ion exchange" shall mean the method of changing one cation for another cation at the ion exchangeable sites in the pores of the molecular sieve. This term does not refer to the elemental replacement of one framework element by another potential framework element. Framework elements are generally those elements that are tetrahedrally bonded through oxygen to each other for providing the typical molecular sieve framework.
Similarly, the term "ion exchangeable sites" shall means the site(s) in a molecular sieve occupied by the cation that balances the negative charge of the electron rich framework tetrahedra.
Metal cation ion exchanges such as aluminum ion exchange can also be performed and generally involve the addition of a molecular sieve to an ion exchange solution comprising a metal salt such as aluminum nitrate and water as exemplified by the following example:
Below a pH of about 4 EQU Al(NO.sub.3).sub.3.9H.sub.2 O (s).fwdarw.Al(H.sub.2 O).sub.6.sup.+3 +3NO.sub.3.sup.-1 (sol)+3H.sub.2 O EQU Al(H.sub.2 O).sub.6.sup.+3 .fwdarw.Al(OH)(H.sub.2 O).sub.5.sup.+2 +H.sup.+ EQU NaMS(s)+Al.sup.+3 (sol).fwdarw.Al MS (s)+3Na.sup.+1 (sol)
where MS is a molecular sieve, Na and Al are the sodium and aluminum ions respectively, and where (s) and (sol) designate the solid species and species dissolved in solution respectively.
Trivalent cation ion exchange can be particularly beneficial, compared to divalent and monovalent cation ion exchange, due to advantages in molecular sieve stability and enhanced activity and selectively.
However, it is generally known in the prior art that trivalent cation ion exchanges with aluminum can be very difficult to effect. See Carvajal, Chu, and Lunsford, The Role of Polyvalent Cations in Developing Strong Acidity: A Study of Lanthanum-Exchanged Zeolites, Journal of Catalysis 125, 123-131 (1990). In Dealumination of Large Crystals of Zeolite ZSM-5 by Various Methods by Kornatowski, Rozwadowski, Schmitz, and Cichowlas, J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans., 88(9), 1339-43, it is noted that ion exchange of ZSM-5 with Al.sup.+3 by using aqueous solutions of Al salts is impossible. The salts of metallic cations, and particularly the trivalent cations such as aluminum, generally form acidic solutions when dissolved in water. For example, the pH of aluminum nitrate generally ranges from about 1 to about 3. Maintaining a low trivalent cation ion exchange solution pH is generally necessary to keep the aluminum in solution. Where the pH of the ion exchange solution comprising an aluminum trivalent cation is increased beyond a level of about 4, the lower solution acidity creates a competition between the aluminum ion exchange reaction and hydroxide ion wherein the aluminum cation can form the colloidal hydroxide and precipitate from the ion exchange solution according to the following reactions:
Above a pH of about 4 EQU Al(NO.sub.3).sub.3.9H.sub.2 O(s).fwdarw.Al(H.sub.2 O).sub.6.sup.+3 +3NO.sub.3.sup.-1 (sol)+3H.sub.2 O EQU Al(H.sub.2 O).sub.6.sup.+3 .fwdarw.Al(OH).sub.3 (s)+3H.sub.2 O+3H.sup.+
It is generally the formation of the aluminum hydroxide precipitate that will not allow aluminum ion exchange to occur above a pH of about 4. Therefore, practicality has historically dictated that such molecular sieve ion exchanges using trivalent cations be conducted at a pH of below 4.
However, molecular sieve ion exchange using ion exchange solutions having a pH of less than 4 can cause the framework aluminum of a zeolite to be acidically leached from the silicon framework. For non-zeolitic molecular sieves such as a borosilicate or a gallosilicate, the framework boron or gallium can similarly be acidically leached from the silicon framework. Since this leaching effect generally reduces the number of exchangeable sites in the molecular sieve, the level of possible trivalent cation ion exchange is also reduced. This leaching effect generally results in a less acidic sieve and can be undesirable to the fluid catalytic cracking catalyst manufacturer or fluid catalytic cracking process operator. Moreover, with some zeolites, a pH of less than 4 can cause the general collapse of the framework and result in an amorphous material.
Therefore, there is a great need in fluid catalytic cracking and catalysis in general, for a method for trivalent cation ion exchange of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts comprising at least one molecular sieve that avoids the problems inherent to the methods of the prior art and does not acidically leach framework metals from the molecular sieve.
Conventional methods for the ion exchange of molecular sieves, and in particular, the zeolites are disclosed in Zeolite Molecular Sieves, Donald W. Breck, John Wiley & Sons at pages 529-580 (1974).
Ion-exchange of cations into zeolite, and particularly the Y zeolite, has also been studied extensively, including work by H. S. Sherry in J. Phys. Chem. (1968) 72, 4086 and in Advan. Chem. Ser. (1971) 101, 350.
Lactic acid has been used in catalysis for templating zeolite synthesis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,547 to lwayama et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,216 to lwayama et al. disclose the use of lactic acid for the formation of zeolites where the cation-lactate is a space-filling material around which the zeolite is crystallized. The lactic acid in the lwayama et al. references is provided for templating the zeolite during formation and is not used for zeolite modification or for the ion exchange of the zeolite subsequent to formation.
Enhancing the activity of a zeolite through low temperature steaming has been disclosed for limited uses. For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,747 to Shihabi discloses a catalytic hydrodewaxing process utilizing a catalyst comprising an aluminosilicate crystalline zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 250:1 and a Constraint Index from 1 to 12 and an alumina binder. The catalyst is subsequently steamed by heating for at least one hour in the presence of water at a temperature from about 300.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. such that the pressure during steaming ranges from about 100 to 500 kPa.
It has now been found that trivalent cation ion exchange of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts comprising one or more molecular sieves can be performed while minimizing the adverse effects of framework metal leaching by complexing the trivalent cation in a manner so as to keep it from precipitating from the ion exchange solution when the pH of the solution is increased.
It has also been found that increasing the pH of the ion exchange solution to a level ranging from about 4 to about 8, as provided for in the present invention, results in effective ion exchange while substantially minimizing leaching of the framework metal and the reduction in ion exchangeable sites caused by such leaching.
It has also been found that when using the particular complexing solution of the present invention comprising one or more of the alpha, beta, and gamma hydroxy- and amino-carboxylic acids and some crown ethers as exemplified by lactic acid, tartaric acid, glycine, and 15-crown-5, and equivalents thereof, the complexed trivalent cation can generally continue to enter the pores of the molecular sieve and gain access to the exchangeable sites.
It has also been found that when using the particular complexing solution of the present invention comprising one or more of the alpha, beta, and gamma hydroxy- and amino-carboxylic acids and some crown ethers as exemplified by lactic acid, tartaric acid, glycine, and 15-crown-5, and equivalents thereof, the complexed trivalent cation can be effectively released to the molecular sieve exchangeable sites of the fluid catalytic cracking catalyst.
It has also been found that when a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst is modified utilizing the method of the present invention, the yield of iso-olefins, and particularly iso-olefins having 4 and 5 carbon atoms, can be increased compared to identical fluid catalytic cracking catalysts that are not so modified.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a catalyst and process for fluid catalytic cracking comprising the effective trivalent cation ion exchange of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts comprising molecular sieves.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a catalyst and process for fluid catalytic cracking comprising the effective trivalent cation ion exchange of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts comprising molecular sieves at a pH above 4.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a catalyst and process for fluid catalytic cracking comprising the trivalent cation ion exchange of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts comprising molecular sieves which reduces the level of acidic leaching of framework metals and permits the molecular sieve to retain its integrity and maintain its cracking activity compared to prior art processes.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a catalyst and process for fluid catalytic cracking comprising the trivalent cation ion exchange of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts comprising molecular sieves which increases the yield of iso-olefins produced in a fluid catalytic cracking process compared to prior art catalysts and processes.
Other objects appear herein.


A system and method for enhanced read performance of a memory storage system is disclosed. The storage system includes a first memory controller. At least one first channel of a plurality of memory modules couples to the first memory controller. At least one memory module in the at least one first channel can return data sought in a read request, if present, to the first memory controller without sending the data through each memory module in the at least one first channel. The storage system also includes a second memory controller coupled to at least one second channel of a plurality of memory modules. At least one memory module in the at least one second channel can return data sought in a read request, if present, to the second memory controller without sending the data through each memory module in the at least one second channel. The at least one second channel contains an inverse mirror copy of data stored on the first channel.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to these users is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may vary with respect to the type of information handled; the methods for handling the information; the methods for processing, storing or communicating the information; the amount of information processed, stored, or communicated; and the speed and efficiency with which the information is processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include or comprise a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
An information handling system may include a memory storage system or storage network that includes dual in-line memory modules, or "DIMMs." A DIMM is a form of random-access-memory integrated circuit. Many information handling systems employ bi-directional, parallel channel designs for systems of DIMMs. Parallel channel DIMM systems, however, sometimes cannot provide the increased memory capacity required by increasingly fast new processors and improved input/output ("I/O") subsystem performance. One cost-efficient solution to this problem may be serialized DIMM systems that include fully buffered DIMMs, or "FB-DIMMs." FB-DIMM systems may be especially useful for high-end information handling systems, such as workstations and server platforms, to enable scaling of both bandwidth and density.
Although FB-DIMM systems allow for cost-efficient high-capacity memory systems, such systems may suffer an increased risk of system failure because the potential for multi-bit errors increases as memory capacity increases. As a result, FB-DIMM systems may utilize memory mirroring techniques, similar to a redundant array of independent disks ("RAID"), to guard against information loss in the case of a system failure. RAID storage systems combine multiple storage units into an array to obtain performance, capacity, and reliability advantages over other storage techniques, including, for example, using a single large storage device. In FB-DIMM systems using RAID storage techniques, multiple memory controllers simultaneously send read requests for information from a host through multiple channels of serialized FB-DIMMs that contain directly mirrored data. The host compares the data resulting from the requests to the different channels; inconsistencies between data read from the different channels indicate failures in the FB-DIMM system that should be investigated. Because the FB-DIMM system stores a directly mirrored set of the data, however, the likelihood that the data will be irretrievably lost in the case of a system failure is reduced.
Although such a directly mirrored FB-DIMM systems offer greater fault tolerance than non-mirrored systems, the availability of the directly mirror data set does not reduce read latencies caused by the serial architecture used with FB-DIMM systems. Read latencies result from "round-trip delays" that data requests experience as they travel through a channel: in a serial FB-DIMM system, the memory controllers must wait until the data request has traveled to each FB-DIMM in serial fashion and then return to the memory controller through each FB-DIMM, even if the requested information is available in the first FB-DIMM unit in the system. For directly mirrored FB-DIMM systems, a read request must travel to and from each FB-DIMM in the channel containing the original data, while substantially simultaneously traveling to and from each FB-DIMM in the channel containing the mirror data set. The resulting round-trip delays slow the operation of the FB-DIMM system.

System and method for enhancing read performance of a memory storage system including fully buffered dual in-line memory modules


A low noise AC coupled amplifier having transistors sharing bias currents, and having a low band-pass corner frequency and consuming low power. The amplifier may be used in a magneto-resistive (MR) preamplifier to amplify a response from a MR sensor. Bipolar and MOS transistors are used in the front end, utilizing the advantages of each transistor type to achieve low noise as well as low band-pass corner. The amplifier has a modified structure achieving lower power by using a PNP transistor instead of an NPN transistor.

Front end amplifiers are conventionally used to amplify low voltage signals provided by a magneto-resistive (MR) sensor adapted to read a hard disk drive (HDD). These amplifiers are designed to produce low noise, and produce a low corner frequency. There is a trade-off between low noise and a low corner frequency, depending on the transistor design utilized in the amplifier. There is a need for an improved lower power amplifier suitable amplifying MR sensor signals.

Low noise AC coupled amplifier with low band-pass corner and low power


An electric motor-driven vehicle comprises a seat disposed centrally on a vehicle body, a loading platform located over a loading platform receiving frame and behind the seat, and a plurality of main frame rails connected to the loading platform receiving frame. The vehicle further comprises a fuel supply piping system, at least one battery, a fuel cell and at least one fuel tank. A plurality of air intake openings are formed on the vehicle body in front of the fuel cell and the at least one battery. The plurality of air intake openings are configured to receive at least part of the air caused to flow rearward by the propulsion of the vehicle to cool the fuel cell and the at least one battery. The fuel cell optionally comprises a fan and is optionally disposed in a fuel cell holder having lateral ends that define openings. The fan is configured to draw at least part of the air caused to flow rearward by the propulsion of the vehicle through the openings on the fuel cell holder to cool the fuel cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed at an electric motor-operated vehicle using a fuel cell. Specifically, the invention relates to the layout of cooling elements associated with the fuel cell of an electric motor-operated vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electric motor-operated vehicles having fuel cells are well known in the art. Some of such conventional electric motor-operated vehicles are golf carts or other simple vehicles for carrying objects.
The fuel cell is generally a generator that converts chemical energy, released when water is produced by the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, into electric energy that can be used in conjunction with a battery and an electric motor to propel an electric vehicle. Fuel cells such as the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) that is in practical use is capable of generating electricity at a low working temperature of about 70 to 90 degrees Celsius using an ion exchange membrane as the electrolyte, and hydrogen, natural gas or gasoline as the fuel.
A by-product of the electricity generation process of a fuel cell is heat, which can be dissipated with a variety of devices. Components related to the electricity generation process must be effectively cooled in order to generate electricity with high efficiency and reliability.
A conventional electric motor-operated vehicle with a conventional fuel cell is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,535. The cooling structure disclosed therein to cool the fuel cell comprises a heat exchanger, a cooling medium, and a fan to cool the cooling medium. However, the layout of the cooling structure is large, complicated and heavy.

Small vehicle with fuel cell that has elements cooled by ventilation system


A battery module with a plurality of battery cells arranged in a first direction in a battery array, the battery module including a plurality of barriers in which a pair of adjoining ones of the barriers mount a battery cell therebetween, a frame having at least a pair of opposed frame members, the battery array and the barriers being between the opposed frame members and disposed internally thereof, the frame including a pair of end blocks at outermost sides of the battery array, side frames connecting the end blocks, and a degassing portion overlying vent portions of each of the plurality of battery cells and providing a passage for directing vented gas from the battery cells away from the battery module, the degassing portion rigidly supporting the battery cells and barriers of the battery array within the frame.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a battery module.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, secondary batteries may be reused by repeatedly discharging and recharging, unlike primary batteries, which are not rechargeable. The secondary batteries may be used as energy sources for mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electric bicycles, and uninterruptible power supplies. The secondary batteries may be used in a single battery type or a battery module type (composed of a plurality of batteries connected in one unit), in accordance with the requirements of various available external devices.


A system includes an engine having a crankshaft and an electric motor having a shaft, the shaft including a first end and a second end. The system further includes a power source in electrical communication with the electric motor, the power source configured to provide electrical power to the electric motor, a reduction drive coupled to the crankshaft and to the first end of the shaft of the electric motor, and a fan coupled to the second end of the shaft of the electric motor, wherein rotation of the shaft of the electric motor drives rotation of the fan.

Internal combustion engines include many parasitic loads. Such parasitic loads create various power losses in an engine system. Examples of parasitic loads in an internal combustion engine include, but are not limited to, various pumps, flywheels, transmissions, cooling systems (e.g., radiator fans), driveshafts, differentials, etc. As such, various technologies are implemented in order to reduce and/or eliminate parasitic loads.
However, incorporating such technologies into existing engine systems often requires specific alterations to the engine system. In many examples, these alterations are costly and require structural changes in the engine system. For example, a supercharger provides additional power to the engine system. However, incorporating a supercharger into an engine system requires specific hardware and alterations to the engine system, and these hardware and alterations are costly. Another example is the inclusion of an electric motor to drive a radiator fan. However, costs of incorporating such electric motors in an engine radiator system are often high. Furthermore, these electric motor systems are often large in size and typically require multiple electric motors to be implemented.
An example system for reducing parasitic load is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0144219 (hereinafter referred to as the '219 reference). In particular, the '219 reference describes a marine propulsion system. The marine propulsion system described in the '219 reference includes a hybrid system having combustion engines, electric generators and motors, and an electrical storage device. For example, the '219 reference describes a propulsion system that generates and stores electrical power. Furthermore, the propulsion system in the '219 reference drives a propulsion device (such as a propeller) either by the combustion engines or the electric motors. For example, the '219 reference describes that the propulsion system is driven by the combustion engine and that a drive shaft driven by the combustion engine may be disconnected from an electric motor via a clutch and the electric motor may drive the propulsion device instead of the combustion engine. Furthermore, the '219 reference describes alternate configurations of the propulsion system that allow the propulsion system to drive the propulsion device via the combustion engine and/or the electric motor, generate and store electric power, and power various external loads on a marine vessel. The '219 reference does not, however, describe a system in which an electric motor is incorporated in an engine radiator system such that a combustion engine or the electric motor may drive the radiator fan without connecting or disconnecting drive shafts of the engine radiator system. The system described in the '219 reference is not configured to, among other things, provide an electric motor that drives a radiator fan by the electric motor and/or the combustion engine while, at times, reducing parasitic load in an engine system. As a result, the system described in the '219 reference requires additional hardware and alterations that increase the complexity of an engine system.
Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward overcoming the deficiencies described above.

Engine and fan system having an electric motor


A compressor assembly, including a compressor, at least one pipe having ends and an intermediate portion between the ends, the at least one pipe being connected to the compressor at the ends, and at least one support member for supporting the intermediate portion of the at least one pipe relative to the compressor.

Compressors are widely used for various different needs, one of which is the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration industry. Such compressors involve the flow of refrigerant to various system components, and piping is frequently required to carry working fluids to various inlets and outlets of the compressor.
In operation, the compressor generates vibration, which is transmitted to the piping and can cause breakage. This vibration can be due to gas pulsations, direct vibration from the compressor, and the like.
The need exists for a solution to the vibration as described above. It therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide such a solution.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.


A circuit and method efficiently provide detection of corruption of data using an error correcting code (ECC). The circuit includes an ECC checker, a memory arrangement, and a detection circuit. The ECC checker generates a remainder of an ECC check of the data and an ECC value generated from an uncorrupted version of the data. The memory stores a set of values and receives a first portion of the remainder at a first address port and a second portion of the remainder at a second address port. The memory arrangement outputs a first value of the set responsive to a value of the first portion and output a second value of the set responsive to a value of the second portion. The detection circuit generates an error indication in response to the first and second values to indicate whether a single bit of the data is incorrect.

Error correcting codes (ECCs) may be used to detect and in some cases correct errors introduced into data. Data may be corrupted during transmission and/or storage of the data to imperfect media. One frequently used ECC is a block code in which each block of data is protected by an ECC value generated from the block of data. Following transmission and/or storage of the block of data together with the ECC value, the block of data may be checked by an ECC check to detect corruption of the data. Certain detected errors may be corrected by using the ECC.
Data corruption by a typical transmission and/or storage media may generally be limited to a small portion of a block of data, such as a single bit of the data. An ECC check may determine from the block of data and the corresponding ECC value that the data is correct, the data has a single bit or other small amount of corruption that may be identified for correction, or that the data has corruption that cannot be corrected.
One class of ECC is a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) such as CRC-CCITT. In certain applications, CRC is used to detect corruption of large blocks of data without the possibility of correcting any detected corruption. CRC may also be used in other applications to detect errors and correct certain errors in smaller blocks of data. For example, CRC-CCITT may be used to detect many errors in blocks of data with 16 bits and to correct single bit errors detected in the 16-bit block of data.
Many ECCs were initially developed for relatively low-speed serial data communication and have efficient implementations using linear feedback shift registers for error detection and correction. Many data communication applications, including high-speed serial data communication, have data rates that exceed the processing rate possible using linear feedback shift registers. Circuits are needed that can detect and/or correct corruption of data at data rates that exceed the processing rate possible using linear feedback shift registers. In addition, circuits are needed that reduce the amount of logic necessary to detect and/or correct corruption of data at these high data rates.
The present invention may address one or more of the above issues.


A device for facilitating the correct measurement and placement of tiles having a transparent top plate for viewing indicia markings on bottom sliding plate, also having a channel for the setting of a rule that is angularly and spatially adjustable from the thin metal abutment edge through the loosening and tightening of a wing nut and washer attached to the ruler through said channel. Additionally the rule of the present invention is equipped with a stop which ends 1¼″ from its side edges for the utilization of the present invention as a guide for correct placement of tile.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to measuring devices and, more specifically, to a device for facilitating the correct measurement and placement of tiles. The present invention is a top face plate composed of a translucent and planar sheet having a center channel whereby a ruler is attached therethrough that may be displaced up and down the channel at assorted angles and the ruler can be releasably fixed by applying torque to a wing nut.
The ruler of the present invention, also translucent, additionally has a stop extending from the ruler that is utilized with a second thin metal abutment edge located lining the bottom of the top face plate that when used in conjunction allows for the user to place tile accurately and at angles by using said components as a place guide.
Additionally the ruler of the present invention can be turned to a plurality of angles and has a plurality of ruled markings and indicia representative of grout lines utilized commonly by the user for correct tile placement
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other measurement devices designed for placing tile. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 71,595 issued to Evans on Dec. 3, 1867.
Another patent was issued to Row on Jun. 8, 1915 as U.S. Pat. No. 1,142,368. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 2,580,263 was issued to Wooten on Dec. 25, 1951 and still yet another was issued on Dec. 10, 1974 to Atkins as U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,889.
Another patent was issued to Heinz on May 19, 1981 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,638. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,774 was issued to Trimble on Apr. 20, 1999. Another was issued to Abernathy, et al. on Jul. 17, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,283 and still yet another was issued on Oct. 22, 2002 to Wolf as U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,179.
Another patent was issued to Strahan on Aug. 12, 1915 as U.K. Patent No. GB191418817. Yet another U.K. Patent No. GB742927 was issued to Trimingham, et al. on Jan. 4, 1956. Another was issued to Cairns on Nov. 21, 1985 as German Patent No. DE3418260 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 7, 1899 to McMullen as U.K. Patent No. GB189902578.


A method for manufacturing panels of the type which is at least composed of a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate, the top layer includes at least two material layers, amongst which a print, the method may involve applying the two material layers, such that the print is performed directly on the substrate and the print forms at least a portion of a printed decor. At least one of the two material layers may include a mixture having at least a thermally curing component and a radiation-curing component.

1. Field
This invention relates to methods for manufacturing panels, as well as to panels which can be obtained by means of such methods.
More particularly, the invention relates to methods for manufacturing panels of the type which is at least composed of a substrate and a top layer provided on this substrate and comprising a printed decor. Herein, this may relate, for example, to furniture panels, ceiling panels, floor panels or the like, which substantially consist of an MDF or HDF (Medium or High Density Fiberboard) basic panel or substrate and a top layer provided thereon. In particular, it relates to a method wherein one or more material layers are provided on the substrate, wherein at least one of these material layers is provided by means of a print performed directly on the substrate, wherein this print then forms at least a portion of said printed decor.
2. Related Art
Such panels are known as such, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 1,971,067 or DE 195 32 819 A1. From the above documents, it is also known that said material layers may comprise one or more primer layers, wherein these primer layers extend substantially underneath said print, and/or may comprise one or more finishing layers, which extend substantially above said print. Such finishing layers may comprise, for example, transparent or translucent synthetic material layers, which form a protective layer above the printed decor and can comprise, for example, wear-resistant particles, such as aluminum oxide. It is not excluded that this protective layer comprises a material sheet, such as a paper sheet.
The state of the art in connection with panels which are provided with a print performed directly on the substrate further becomes clear from the documents WO 01/48333, WO 02/00449, WO 2004/042168, EP 1 454 763, DE 197 25 829 C1 and DE 10 2004 009 160 A1.
It is known, amongst others, from WO 01/48333, that either lacquers or synthetic resins may be applied for realizing said material layers. In the case of synthetic resins, these are applied by means of a carrier sheet, which has been provided beforehand with such synthetic resin and is provided on the substrate by means of a heated press. In the case of lacquers, for example, UV-curing lacquers can be applied.
It is known, amongst others, from DE 197 25 829 C1 or EP 1 454 763, that one or more synthetic resins applied in liquid form can be applied for realizing said material layers. After these resin layers are dried, they are cured in a heated press. By means of such method, paper-free top layers can be realized.

Methods for manufacturing panels and panel obtained hereby


Methods and apparatus are provided for a traffic warning system (TWS) for light aircraft. The TWS comprises a processor coupled to a transceiver, adapted to measure signal strength and send/receive messages containing station ID and preferably altitude and position data. Memory, display and various flight data instruments, such as GPS, altimeter, etc., are also coupled to the processor. The transceiver-processor automatically identifies TWS equipped aircraft within range using an ad-hoc network and exchanges ID and position information. The processor determines range from signal strength and/or received position information and, given enough data, determines direction, altitude, speed, etc., of the other aircraft, which it presents to the pilot. These values and their rate of change are compared to stored alarm thresholds, and the pilot is warned when another aircraft triggers the threshold. Evasive action is recommended where possible.

Traffic warning systems for aircraft are well known in the art. Such systems are intended to identify and track other aircraft in the vicinity of a particular plane and warn the pilot of those approaching or hovering aircraft that may present a hazard because of their flight vector, altitude or other factors. Such systems are important for flight safety. They may be entirely contained within the aircraft or rely on a combination of airborne and surface based systems. Either arrangement is useful. Most large commercial aircraft and military aircraft are already equipped with such traffic warning systems. These systems often rely on air traffic control (ATC) radar signals, which are not always available, or on simple transponder signals that convey little information.
The most significant limitation of such prior art traffic warning systems is their size and cost which, in general, makes them unsuitable or economically unattractive for use in relatively small private or commercial aircraft, light helicopters, ultra-light aircraft, pilot-less aircraft or drones, and other airborne platforms of limited size and cost (hereafter collectively "light aircraft"). Accordingly, a need continues to exist for a traffic warning system and method that is simple, compact and of low cost, for use in such light aircraft.
It is desirable to provide a traffic warning system and method that is especially suited for use in light aircraft, that is low in cost compared to prior art systems, and that makes substantial use of standard off-the-shelf components and communication protocols, as well as instruments that many light aircraft already carry. In addition, it is desirable that the traffic warning system and method be simple, rugged and capable of operating in different modes depending upon the avionics capabilities of aircraft in its vicinity. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Aircraft traffic warning system using an ad-hoc radio network


In order to provide a hinge device exhibiting a latchless function even if a lock mechanism exposed on respective surfaces of a main body and a lid body is abolished and a small-sized electronic equipment using the same, the present invention is a hinge device coupling the main body and the lid body in a turnable manner in an open/close direction and a direction perpendicular to it, in which the hinge device includes a mounting member and supporting member to be mounted to either the main body or the lid body; a horizontal shaft member mounted to the mounting member and having a locking groove at an outer periphery thereof; an orthogonal shaft member mounted to the supporting member and having an engaging groove at an outer periphery thereof, the orthogonal shaft groove being orthogonal to the horizontal shaft member; a bracket member mounted to the horizontal shaft member and the orthogonal shaft member to allow the main body and the lid body to turn in the open/close direction and the direction perpendicular to it; and a restriction mechanism having a restriction pin being engaged with either the locking groove or the engaging groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge device composing a lid body in an openable/closable manner with respect to a main body and further composing the lid body in a turnable manner in the direction orthogonal to the opening/closing direction, and a small-sized electronic equipment such as a notebook personal computer, a laptop personal computer, a camera, a camcorder, or a cellular phone that uses the hinge device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among the above-mentioned various electronic equipment, there is conventionally known in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei10-340134 (Patent document 1) an electronic equipment of a compatible structure in which a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display device, a lid body, or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as a "lid body") is mounted in an openable/closable manner to a main body having an in-built key board section and control unit, and the lid body is further structured in a turnable manner in the direction orthogonal to the opening/closing direction when the lid body is opened at a prescribed angle with respect to the main body, by coupling between the main body and the lid body with a hinge device composed of two shafts being orthogonal to each other.
However, among others, these electronic equipment have a problem, in that a lock means for locking the lid body in a closed state with respect to the main body is exposed on an outer surface, so that the lock means contacts with the surface of a housing of the main body (the surface in which the key board section is mounted in the case of the notebook personal computer) when the lid body is opened, and at the same time, the housing of the main body and the lock means tend to be damaged.
As a solution to the above-described problem, it is possible to conceive one obtainable by devising the structure or the arrangement of the lock means, or so forth, however, there is another problem of reducing space for mounting the lock means on the back of the demand for downsizing and weight saving in the overall equipment even in a small-sized electronic equipment based on a potable use such as the notebook personal computer or the like, as well as, as a matter of course, in extremely small-sized electronic equipment such as a cellular phone. Therefore, as in the case of the general cellular phone of a twofold type, even in the other electronic equipment, there is an effort to try to realize a latchless mechanism that enables a locked state without exposing or protruding the lock means on the surface of the main body or the lid body.
The latchless mechanism mentioned here means a structure in which, when the lid body is turned in a closing direction with respect to the main body at a reference angle or below, the closing state is further accelerated in the turning direction, and the most primitive structure thereof is that comes to the closing state by the weight of the lid body itself with the use of the hinge device of a cam/distortion hinge structure. In recent years, however, that provided with a biasing member such as a spring or that has a devised locking structure is common for the reason of letting a user have a click feeling (letting the user feel that it is closed determinably), or so forth.
Notwithstanding the above, in the case of the above-mentioned electronic equipment of the compatible structure, the closing operation of the lid body and the main body may be performed in an irregular state (in the state in which the lid body is swung left or right), so that to incorporate the latchless mechanism into the compatible structure raises a new problem that the lid body and the main body possibly clashes strongly in the irregular state, in other words, the equipment is of a structure easily damaged by the clash of the display/main body more than ever (than those having no latchless mechanism).
As a solution to this problem, in the previously-mentioned Patent document 1, the lid body is structured to be lifted upward to realize a turn in the horizontal direction by artfully devising the structure, arrangement, locking relation, and so on between the lid body and the main body.
Further, as the other solutions to the problem, those in which the turn in the open/close direction (for opening/closing the lid) is restricted depending on the turn state in the horizontal direction (swing state), in which, contrary thereto, the turn in the horizontal direction (swing) is restricted depending on the rotation state (the open/close state of the lid) in the open/close direction, in which, further, above-described both the restrictions are adopted to solve the problem (solution by limiting the turn), or so forth are conceivable. As a specific mechanism structure of the above one adopting both the restrictions, for example, that in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2001-227229 (Patent document 2) is known.
In the above-described Patent document 1, there is no disclosure about the means for restricting the rotation of the lid body in the open/close direction until the lid body is opened at a prescribed angle with respect to the main body; the means for restricting the vertical turn of the lid body when the lid body is in the state of being turned horizontally; nor the previously-described latchless mechanism, so that there were cases where the lid body is turned while it is not opened sufficiently and where the lid body is closed while it is not horizontally turned at an angle of 180 degrees, leaving problems that the lid body and the main body are easily damaged thereby, and they are easily damaged also by the lock mechanism.
That disclosed in the above-described Patent document 2 is structured such that a hinge device to be provided between a lid body and a main body is composed of a first shaft member provided to a mounting member provided in the main body and a second shaft member provided in a supporting member provided in the lid body in which the first and second shaft members are provided in a turnable manner with respect to a bracket, and in which a means for restricting a turn of the bracket composed of: a recession formed at the outer periphery of the first shaft member to accommodate a tip of the second shaft member to allow the second shaft member to turn freely, a protrusion formed at the tip of the second shaft member, and an outer peripheral groove formed at the outer periphery of the first shaft member continuously to/from the recession to accommodate the protrusion to allow the second shaft member to turn freely around the first shaft member while restricted to turn around the axis thereof. Note that, for the hinge device in Patent document 2, no description is given as to the latchless mechanism, however, when incorporating the latchless mechanism into this hinge device of Patent document 2, it is considered to be the most common that the mechanism is provided on the first shaft member which restricts the second shaft member and vice versa (mutually affecting to/from the protrusion formed at the tip portion of the second shaft member and the like).
Such a hinge device has a mechanism in which the respective parts are gathered at one place, so that a quality defective leads to replacement or decomposition of the entire hinge device, causing higher production and quality costs problem. The small-sized electronic equipment is restricted in a thickness direction in an effort to reduce the thickness, however, they are not restricted so much in the lateral direction, so that it should be taken into account that the hinge device is not required to be gathered at one place therein.

Hinge device and electronic equipment using the same


An accessory system for a laptop computer is disclosed which includes a framework adapted to be attached to a top display system of a laptop computer. The accessory system includes an extendable device-carrying arrangement having laterally adjustable holders that retract into the framework when not in use and can be extended beyond the framework to hold items when desired. An auxiliary electronic power port connection provides an auxiliary power source for lighting and battery charging device. The system includes an attachment arrangement capable of attaching the system to the display screen section of a laptop computer.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to accessory devices for portable computing equipment such as laptops and notebooks and, more particularly, to accessory holders that readily attach to and detach from raised upper sections of such computers and that can accommodate and store a variety of accessory devices and auxiliary tools for the computer user.
II. Related Art
Computing technology has progressed at a rapid rate to include smaller, more powerful devices. A variety of laptop or notebook computers have become very popular and they are readily available from a number of well-known manufacturers. These devices are generally made up of a base section connected by a pivoting hinge to an upper section which can be opened when the system is in use and closed and latched, forming a compact arrangement for transport and storage when the device is not in use. The base section includes a keyboard, power supply, disc drive and a variety of additional components. The upper section features a display screen and speakers, but may also include other components or controls. Both the upper and lower sections are typically encased in a plastic housing which is lightweight and affords a level of protection.
It is known to provide a cover or case for a laptop device and covers are available that protect the outside surface of the computer. These may include handles, straps or other carrying aspects and further may enclose the computer using snaps or zippers. The covers or cases must be opened, the computer removed and any necessary auxiliary cables connected before the computer can be used. It is also known to provide a laptop cover that includes a storage aspect. One such device is described in Ames (U.S. Patent Publication No. US2007/0090007) which discloses a laptop cover that includes a storage section located between multiple layers and which can be accessed through a side opening in the laptop cover.
Other computer-related add-on devices have been contrived. Bader et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,248,463 B2) shows a framed image display with a frame attachable to the back side of the upper section or display housing of a laptop computer.
Auxiliary devices with frames are also shown, for example, by Freedman in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,201 which discloses a portable light that attaches to the raised, display or upper section of a laptop computer.
While all of the accessory devices available at this time offer some advantage to the laptop user, there remains a definite need for an auxiliary laptop accessory holder that offers a combination of storage and working advantages.


An MRAM cell including an MRAM cell stack located over a substrate and first and second write lines spanning at least one side of the MRAM cell stack and defining a projected region of intersection of the MRAM cell stack and the first and second write lines. The MRAM cell stack includes a pinned layer, a tunneling barrier layer, and a free layer, the tunneling barrier layer interposing the pinned layer and the free layer. The first write line extends in a first direction within the projected region of intersection. The second write line extends in a second direction within the projected region of intersection. The first and second directions are angularly offset by an angle ranging between 45 and 90 degrees, exclusively. At least one write line may be perpendicular to the easy axis of free layer, while the other line may be rotated off the easy axis of the free layer by an angle which is larger than zero, such as to compensate for a shifting astroid curve.

Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cells are often based on a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) cell comprising at least three basic layers: a "free" ferromagnetic layer, an insulating tunneling barrier, and a "pinned" ferromagnetic layer. In the free layer, magnetization moments are free to rotate under an external magnetic field, but the magnetic moments in the "pinned" layer are not. The pinned layer may comprise a ferromagnetic material and/or an anti-ferromagnetic material which "pins" the magnetic moments in the ferromagnetic layer. A thin insulation layer forms a tunneling barrier between the pinned and free magnetic layers.
In order to sense states in the MTJ configuration, a constant current can be applied through the cell. As the magneto-resistance varies according to the state stored in the cell, the voltage over the memory cell can be sensed. To write or change the state in the memory cell, an external magnetic field can be applied that is sufficient to completely switch the direction of the magnetic moments of the free magnetic layer.
A Tunneling Magneto-Resistance (TMR) effect is often utilized in conventional MTJ configurations. The TMR effect allows magnetic moments to switch directions in a magnetic layer in response to exposure to an external magnetic field. By utilizing the TMR effect, the magneto-resistance (MR) of an MTJ configuration may be altered. MR is a measure of the ease with which electrons may flow through the free layer, the tunneling barrier, and the pinned layer. A minimum MR occurs in an MTJ configuration when the magnetic moments in both magnetic layers have the same direction or are "parallel." A maximum MR occurs when the magnetic moments of both magnetic layers are in opposite directions or are "anti-parallel."
The most common structure for writing to MRAM cells comprises a set of orthogonal write lines, wherein one write line is parallel to the easy axis of the corresponding MRAM cell and the other write line is perpendicular to easy axis (or parallel to the hard axis). An electrical current is introduced to the write line to create the magnetic field necessary to change the direction of the free layer magnetization. However, the path of the resulting magnetic flux of the MRAM cell free layer or pinned layer does not form a closed loop. Consequently, the magnetic flux causes a shift in the corresponding B-H loop and asteroid curve. Increased surface roughness of one or more of the free layer, pinned layer, and tunneling barrier also causes a shift in the corresponding B-H loop and asteroid curve. The shift in the asteroid curve leads to an asymmetric writing threshold, or a switching threshold shift, resulting in bit errors and reducing performance and reliability.

Non-orthogonal write line structure in MRAM

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A pneumatic pressure tank and valve system for pneumatically conveying a granular material to a destination can include a pressurizable chamber adapted to be filled with granular material through an upper inlet opening. When the chamber is filled, pressurized air is introduced into the chamber to lift a floating cone valve to a position closing the inlet opening. Pressurized air in the chamber conveys the granular material through an outlet opening toward the materials destination. The system operates on a very simple time cycle, while achieving effective use of the pressurized air for granular transport purposes.

This invention is related to a device for pneumatically conveying dry solid powdered materials in batches at relatively low velocities.
Conventional apparatus for conveying dry granular or powderized product usually operate at 6-10 cycles per hour and require large volumes of air to meet design capacities.
If the conveying gas velocity is too low, the product will fall out of the airstream. On the other hand if the conveying gas velocity is too high, the product moves too fast, either causing damage to the product or the interior of the coveying system itself, or both.

Pneumatic apparatus for conveying a dry granular material


Coriolis motion gears can be produced in a mass-production manner and in low cost as follows: A ceiling surface of a body 8 is formed into a rotary table 9 and a drive shaft 11 is projected from a center of the rotary table. A slant portion 11a is formed at its end, and a turntable 12 on which a workpiece 13 is mounted is supported rotatably to the slant portion. The turntable 12 is rotated by the tooth number difference between the Coriolis motion gear pair A.sub.1 ' and A.sub.2 ' per one turn of the drive shaft 11 to determine a working position of the workpiece. Also, the workpiece 13 is maintained on the turntable 12 so that a swivel center P.sub.1 of the Coriolis motion gear pair is identical with a swivel center when the workpiece is installed into a gear device to take a Coriolis motion. As a result, the work surface of the workpiece takes a moving locus of the Coriolis motion gears integral with the turntable 12. When a cutter wheel 18 is moved in a direction of a tooth in synchronism with the turntable, the cutter wheel 18 is brought into contact therewith so that the gear that forms the couple with the workpiece is engaged with the working surface of the workpiece to form a desired tooth shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a working apparatus for mass-production of workpieces such as Coriolis motion gears or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
The workpiece to be machined by the working apparatus according to the present invention will now be described by using a sample of a Coriolis motion gear. By the way, a principle of a speed change gear train using a so-called Coriolis motion gear which performs the Coriolis motion (hereinafter referred to as a Coriolis motion gear device) is conventionally known. With such a Coriolis motion gear device, it is possible to obtain a large speed reduction ratio using only four gears. The Coriolis motion gear device has various advantages. However, for the Coriolis motion gear, it is necessary to make a gear tooth configuration a spherical involute gear form that is difficult to produce in low cost with a high precision. This is not yet practically produced. The present inventor has made it possible to put the Coriolis motion gear into practice by using a gear configuration instead of the spherical involute gear form. The detail of this Coriolis motion gear device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. Hei 7-56324.
FIG. 5 shows the Coriolis motion gear device disclosed in the above publication. The Coriolis motion gear device has first through fourth gears A.sub.1 to A.sub.4 as the four gears having different gear tooth number. Among these gears, the first gear A.sub.1 is a fixed gear formed integrally with a housing 6. The second gear A.sub.2 and the third gear A.sub.3 are formed on a rotary member 3 supported by an input shaft 1. Also, the fourth gear A.sub.4 is provided on an output shaft 2 and is pivoted by the housing 6. Then, the first, second, third and fourth gears A.sub.1 to A.sub.4 are engaged with each other.
The rotary member 3 is supported by a slant portion 1a having a predetermined angle relative to an axis of the input shaft 1. Also, the input shaft 1 itself is supported rotatably to the housing 6. When the input shaft 1 rotates, the slant portion 1a takes a swing motion. The rotary member 3 pivoted to this takes a swing motion like a spinning top just before stopping. This motion of the rotary member 3 is referred to as the Coriolis motion. Also, by the Coriolis motion of the rotary member 3, the second gear A.sub.2 and the third gear A.sub.3 are caused to engage with the first gear A.sub.1 and the fourth gear A.sub.4, respectively (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). The second gear A.sub.2 rotates relative to the first gear A.sub.1 corresponding to the gear tooth difference from the first gear A.sub.1 per one cycle of the Coriolis motion (i.e., one turn of the input shaft 1). Namely, one stage speed reduction is attained between the first gear A.sub.1 and the second gear A.sub.2. The motion of the second gear A.sub.2 is directly transmitted to the third gear A.sub.3. The same engagement is attained between the third gear A.sub.3 and the fourth gear A.sub.4. Also, one stage speed reduction is attained between the third gear A.sub.3 and the fourth gear A.sub.4. Namely, when the rotational motion of the input shaft 1 is transmitted to the output shaft 2, the two stage speed reduction effect is attained between the first and second gears A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 and the third and fourth gears A.sub.3 and A.sub.4.
Also, when the second gear A.sub.2 and the third gear A.sub.3 are engaged with the first gear A.sub.1 and the fourth gear A.sub.4 while taking the Coriolis motion, the respective engagement surfaces would be slidably moved with the conventionally known involute gear tooth form or spherical involute gear tooth form. This sliding movement generates noises, vibrations and heat to cause the heat sticking. In order to solve this problem, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, rollers 4 and inner contact surfaces 5 with the rollers are adopted for teeth of each gear. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the rollers 4 are floatingly supported to the inner contact surfaces 5, with the rollers, formed in the first gear A.sub.1 (fourth gear A.sub.4) to form semi-cylindrical projection teeth. Also, the inner contact surfaces 5 are formed in the second gear A.sub.2 (third gear A.sub.3) to form the semi-circular groove-shaped recess teeth. Then, when the rotary member 3 takes the Coriolis motion in a direction indicated by an arrow B, the second gear A.sub.2 (third gear A.sub.3) is moved in a direction indicated by arrows C to cause the respective recess teeth to engage with the projection teeth. Then, the sliding movement generated between the respective recess and projection teeth is absorbed by the rotation of the rollers 4. (This is partially excerpted from NIKKEI MECHANICAL Oct. 28, 1996 No. 492.) Accordingly, it is unnecessary to set the backlash, and in addition, the pre-pressure is applied to the respective gears to make it possible to perform the engagement with high precision.
Thus, by using the rollers 4 and the inner contact surfaces 5 with the rollers 4 as the tooth shaped, it is possible to form the teeth less expensively and much more easily than the formation of the spherical involute gear. However, in order to form the semi-circular sleeve-shaped inner contact surfaces with a precise pitch and a precise angle with high precision, it is necessary to perform the positioning by manually using a precise jig or the like. This needs a highly skilled worker and is not suitable for the mass-projection.

Working apparatus provided with rotary table for mass-production of gears


A connector assembly (100) adapted for electrically connecting with a complementary connector along a mating direction includes an insulative housing (2) defining a mating port, a number of contacts (3) disposed in the housing, a circuit board (4) located on a rear side of the housing and including a front surface facing to the rear side of the housing and an opposite rear surface, and a number of solder tails (8) located behind the rear surface of the circuit board and electrically connecting the contacts with the printed circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a connector assembly, and more particularly to a connector assembly used for power transmission.
2. Description of Related Art
POGO-type (spring-type or pressure) contacts are widely used for chargeable batteries. Such contact as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,312, usually comprises a pin assembled with a spring, a sleeve receiving the pin and the spring, and a mounting portion exposed outside the sleeve for electrically connecting with a printed circuit board. With development of technology, different structures of such type contact are designed to meet different requirements. U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,626 discloses a compression contact having a U-shape mounting portion having tabs pressing against the spring and a bottom portion for surface-mounting to a printed circuit board (PCB) perpendicular to the extending direction of the contact. However, using such type of mounting portion increases the length or dimension along mating direction of the connector which is not glad to be seen by customers or users under today's compact design trend. Thus, it is desired to design a new type POGO (spring-type or pressure) contact to address the problems mentioned above.

Connector assembly with improved solder tails


A rope-like instrument comprising hook and loop fabric to facilitate self-attachment. The instrument wraps about itself to form a closed loop, in place of forming a knot in the rope.

There are numerous situations where a relatively strong rope or cord must be securely attached to an object so that force can be exerted against the object vis-a-vis the rope. However, it may not always be possible to reach the object to which the rope must be secured. For example, it is sometimes desirable to attach a rope to a tree limb or other inaccessible object.
In order to attach a rope to such objects, it is often necessary to loop a substantial length of rope around the object until the distal end of the rope can be accessed and knotted such that the knot can be manipulated to secure the rope around the distant object. However, this is often a difficult task and, on occasion, can lead to an insecure attachment of the rope.
It would be highly desirable to provide a rope or rope-like material which would be capable of easily attaching around an object, particularly when the user is at a distance from the object which inhibits tieing the rope about the object.


A horizontal conveying apparatus moves a pallet from an entrance port to an exit port, with either a load or an article placed on the pallet. The apparatus has fixed rails laid horizontally between the entrance port and the exit port, rails movable along the fixed rails, a plurality of load-conveying wheels/rollers disposed along the movable rails such that the wheels/rollers are rotatable with the pallet placed thereon, a drive device for reciprocally moving the movable rails, and a plurality of movement stopper pieces provided along the fixed rails, to engage with a bottom surface of the pallet and to hold the pallet as the movable rails move from the exit port back to the entrance port.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a horizontal conveying apparatus such as a flow-through rack used for conveying a pallet in a horizontal direction from an entrance port thereof to an exit port thereof, with either a load or an article mounted on the pallet, and particularly, to an improvement in that the pallet is mounted on a rail laid in the horizontal direction and is conveyed intermittently along the rail.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, in various stockrooms of production factories, flow-through racks are widely used. The flow-through rack is arranged so as to automatically and sequentially convey loads through an entrance port, provided at one end portion of the flow-through rack, to an exit port provided at another end portion of the flow-through rack, by means of a horizontal conveying apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to sequentially convey the loads out of the exit port, in the order in which the loads are conveyed from the entrance port.
A horizontal conveying apparatus generally used for this kind of flow-through rack is arranged such that a number of rollers are rotatably supported by a rail provided so as to move a load downwardly at an inclination from an entrance port to an exit port. Further, since loads are mounted on the rollers at the entrance port, the loads self-advance to the exit port, due to gravity, the inclination of the rail, and the rotation of the rollers.
However, in this general kind of horizontal conveyer, since the rail must be inclined to provide a gap between the entrance port and the exit port, there occurs a problem in that a dead space is created. This dead space is unnecessary for storing the loads. In addition, there occurs a problem in that it is not possible to avoid a variation in the moving speed, depending on the degree of the roughness of the bottom surfaces of the loads.
For example, a horizontal conveying apparatus which solves this kind of problem is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application (KOKAI) Publication No. 2-300,012. In the horizontal conveying apparatus shown in this example, at first, a lengthwise conveying member is horizontally extended from the entrance port of the loads to the exit port. This conveying member is supported so as to be reciprocally movable by a constant stroke in the lengthwise direction, with a load mounted thereon.
In addition, a lengthwise support member is provided in parallel with the conveying member. A plurality of stopper pieces are provided at constant intervals along the lengthwise direction. Each of these stopper pieces normally keeps a standing attitude such that these stopper pieces project upwardly, and each is arranged such that each of the stopper pieces falls down as the front side of the load pushes each stopper piece when each load moves from the entrance port to the exit port. Each stopper piece is engaged on the back side of each load when the loads are moved in the reverse direction.
Specifically, loads mounted on the conveying member are allowed to move without being stopped by stopper pieces when these loads are moved from the entrance port to the exit port. The loads are stopped by the stopper pieces and are prevented from moving when the loads are moved from the exit port to the entrance port. Therefore, the conveying member repeats reciprocal movements, thereby intermittently conveying the loads from the entrance port to the exit port.
According to the horizontal conveying apparatus shown in this prior art example, the conveying member can be placed horizontally without being inclined, so that it is possible to prevent occurrence of a dead space which is not directly necessary for storing the loads, like in a conventional apparatus. In addition, since loads are moved with themselves mounted on the conveying member, the moving speed can be kept constant regardless of the weights of the loads and the degree of the roughness of the bottom surfaces of the loads.
However, in the conventional horizontal conveying apparatus as described above, at the time when movement of a load mounted on the conveying member from the entrance port to the exit port is completed by one forward movement of the conveying member, there appears a distance between the back surface of the load mounted on the conveying member and the stopper piece which is closest to the back surface and is still standing, in a normal case.
Therefore, when a load is reversibly moved from the exit port to the entrance port due to a backward movement, the load can move back towards the entrance port together with the conveying member until the back surface of the load is brought into contact with and is stopped by a standing stopper piece. Specifically, the distance over which a load is conveyed by a forward movement of the conveying member is shortened, resulting in a problem that the efficiency of the conveying operation is deteriorated.
In addition, a load being moved toward the exit port is prevented from moving in the reverse direction since the back surface of the load is in contact with the stopper piece. Thereafter, the load is moved again toward the exit port, by the next forward movement of the conveying member. These conveying movements are repeated, and then, the loads are conveyed while being swung forwardly and backwardly in the conveying direction, resulting in a problem that the loads are either damaged or disarranged.

Horizontal convey apparatus for a pallet


A fiber optic connector for a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) has a keying element located along the centerline of the plug which may be rotated to provide different polarizations for the plug. The plug has a cable entering one end, and breaking out into two fibers which terminate in ferrules at the other end of the plug. The keying element has a post which is slidably received in a hole through the plug, the hole positioned in a groove located along the centerline of the plug; an annular flange is formed at the distal end of the post to retain it within the hole. The post is molded with a square keyway block which has two channels in its upper surface. The channels are orthogonal, and one is located along the centerline of the block while the other is located along one side of the block. The plug mates with a receptacle having a spline on its inner surface, located in one of four possible configurations near the centerline of the receptacle. The width of the spline is equal to the width of the channels in the keyway block. By pushing the distal end of the post of the keying element, the element clears the upper surface of the plug and may be rotated to one of three positions, whereby one of the channels is located at a position corresponding to the position or keying format of the spline in the receptacle. Indicia may be provided on the keying element and/or plug to designate the particular format corresponding to each orientation of the element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to connectors for optical fiber waveguides, and more particularly to a keying element for a fiber distributed data interface connector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of optical fibers for high speed communication and data transmission via optical signals has become well established. There are already hundreds of thousands of miles of optical fiber in use today. As with copper wires, it is necessary to provide connections between optical fibers at various locations in the distribution system, whether during the installation of new fibers, or during the repair or replacement of existing fibers. It has, therefore, become imperative to provide optical fiber connectors which may be inexpensively manufactured, as well as easily assembled in the field to provide connections between existing fibers and electro-optical devices. As used herein, the term "connector" refers to a detachable and refastenable device, as opposed to a "splice" which usually provides a permanent connection.
There are several conventional optical fiber connector designs, including those commonly referred to as ST, SC, FC, D4, SMA, and biconic connectors. Each of these designs are simplex, i.e., they are used to connect a single pair of fibers, although they may be adapted for duplex use. Other connectors have been specifically designed for duplex connections, including those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,779,950, 4,979,792 and 5,016,968. The connector design shown in the latter two patents is referred to as FDDI, for Fiber Distributed Data Interface, and is used, among other things, for data transmission and reception between computer systems, particularly local area networks. A typical FDDI connector 1 is depicted in FIG. 1. The prior art FDDI connector 1 includes a body or plug 2 having a hole at one end for receiving the fiber cable 3. Cable 3 breaks out inside plug 2 into two separate optical fibers which are attached to and terminate in two ferrules 4. Plug 2 may mate with one of several different receptacles, including an active device receptacle, a transceiver adaptor, a dual ST coupling, or an FDDI-to-FDDI coupling. Latch members 5 releasably secure plug 2 in the given receptacle.
Each of these receptacles typically includes a projection or spline which acts as a key or polarizing element to insure that the particular receptacle being used is compatible with the overall data transmission system. In this regard, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established several standards for FDDI receptacles, including the keying formats. The keying considerations are the subject of ANSI standard X3T9.5/84-48 (see FIGS. 4-5 of that standard, "receptacle keying detail"). Plug 2 includes a groove 6 formed along one surface thereof, designed to accommodate the projection or spline. There are four basic keying formats under this standard, denoted as A, B, M and S connections. Each format is accomplished by providing a narrow channel in one of three lateral positions along groove 6 (actually, by providing a corresponding ridge or spline in the receptacle), except for the "S" connection ("slave") which is formed by having a channel which is the full width of groove 6, i.e., an "S" receptacle has a wider spline which fills the entire groove. As viewed from the front of plug 2 (i.e., looking from the end near ferrules 4 toward cable 3), the channels for the other three formats are located as follows. For an "A" connection (denoting a main ring trunk with primary in, secondary out), the channel is located at the right side of groove 6. For a "B" connection (denoting a main ring trunk with secondary in, primary out), the channel is located at the left side of groove 6. For an "M" connection (denoting a master connection of a concentrator), the channel is located at the center of groove 6.
In order to avoid the necessity of molding four different plugs for these four keying formats, the prior art connector 1 provides the groove 6 (which is wide enough to accommodate a spline located in any of the three lateral positions) in conjunction with three different keying elements which fit into a hole 7 in groove 6. Each keying element has a shaft which fits into hole 7, and a cross-member which has the narrow channel in the appropriate lateral location. In FIG. 1, two such keying elements are shown, "M" keying element 8, and "A" keying element 9; the "S" format is inherent by simply not placing any element into hole 7. The prior art keying elements are used interchangeably by removing one element and replacing it with the element appropriate to that particular connection. Several problems have arisen, however, in the use of such replaceable keying elements. First of all, since the manufacturer does not know which of the formats will be needed by the user, all three of the elements must be provided. Secondly, since the elements are completely removable from plug 2, it is very easy to lose them. A related problem is the need to store the keying elements that are not presently being used, in case the user desires to later change the connection format. In the prior art design, this problem was addressed by molding storage compartments into the dust cap of the plug (the dust cap being attached to cable 3 by a tether). But the provision of the storage compartments and tether unnecessarily adds cost to the FDDI connector. Finally, the provision of three different keying elements, requiring three different molds, also adds cost to the overall system. It would, therefore, be desirable and advantageous to devise an alternative keying element which would overcome the foregoing disadvantages.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


The invention relates to methods for predicting the onset of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) induced by an antipsychotic-based treatment as well as methods for providing personalized medicine to patients based on the sequence of several SNPs associated with the onset of EPS. The invention relates as well to kits for carrying out the diagnostic and predictive medicine methods.

Antipsychotic treatment-emergent extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) are frequent and serious acute adverse reactions of antipsychotic drugs, the signs of which may develop within few days of starting medication. EPS is a complex phenotype that includes several recognized syndromes namely parkinsonism, akathisia, acute dystonia and dyskinesia. While the situation has improved since the pre-clozapine era, the EPS problem has by no means gone away; for example, in CATIE (Comparative Effectiveness of Antipsychotic Medications in Patients with Schizophrenia), a large effectiveness trial, 10.5% of patients stopped their assigned medication for EPS-related reasons.
Even though the exact mechanism underlying EPS is not clear, striatal dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) blockade is believed to be the principal cause. The essential control of motor activity is assumed by the basal ganglia, whose main constituent is the striatum. In the dorsal striatum, dopamine regulates the motor activity by whether interacting with dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1) or DRD2, resulting in two different projecting pathways ("direct and "indirect" pathways) and most importantly in opposite stimulation of the thalamus. According to this model, dopamine promotes motor activity by increasing the activity of the direct pathway and, concomitantly by inhibiting the indirect pathway.
Several studies have tried to identify potential risk factors for developing EPS, such as younger age, male gender and psychiatric diagnosis, especially mood disorders. Pharmacogenetics markers have been also tested (Zhang and Malhotra, 2011, Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 7:9-37). Although some genetic variant may have significant effects on EPS appearance (Gassó et al., 2009, Pharmacogenomics J 9:404-10; Greenbaum et al., 2009, Pharmacogenomics J 9:103-10) no single factor can predict this phenomenon.
Almoguera et al. [2012, Pharmacogenomics J. doi: 10.1038/tpj.2011.57 (Epub ahead of print Jan. 3, 2012)] describes the association of genetic variants in several genes with adverse effects caused by risperidone in patients with schizophrenia. All analyzed gene variants had been previously described in relation to the ability to predict patient response to risperidone or adverse effects. Almoguera et al. further disclose that ADRB2 gene variants 16Gly, SLC6A4 L/S, SLC6A4 S/S and DRD3 9Gly correlate with the onset of sexual adverse events, somnolence, EPS and weight gain in patients treated with risperidone.
WO 2011/148379 describes genotypes associated with resistance to parkinsonism and other antipsychotic-induced EPS, in particular the rs12678719 SNP in gene ZFPM2 and the rs4606 SNP in gene RGS2.
WO 2007/144874 describes genotypes associated with resistance to EPS induced by antipsychotics, especially the rs2179652, rs1933695, rs2746073, rs4606, rs1819741 and rs1152746 SNPs. Furthermore, this document identifies genotypes associated with a predisposition to the onset or aggravation of EPS. Gene variants associated with EPS are in RGS2 gene.
Xu et al. (2007, J. Clin. Psychiatry, 68:1358-67) describes the identification of the rs3803300 SNP in gene AKT1 and of a haplotype consisting of 5 SNPs in said gene that are associated with the onset of schizophrenia. However, neither the rs3803300 SNP nor the haplotype show any relationship with the onset of EPS.
Thus, there is still a need in the art for a method that allows to predict the onset EPS induced by an antipsychotic-based treatment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for predicting the onset of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) induced by an antipsychotic-based treatment

INSTITUT D'INVESTIGACIONS BIOMÈDIQUES AUSUST PI 1 -SUNYER

CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIÓN BIOMÉDICA EN RED (CIBER)


A safety device, particularly for industrial machines, such as for example bending presses provided with an upper tool that is driven in abutment toward a lower die, at least one blank, such as a metal plate, a bent plate or a box-like element, being interposable between the die and the tool, the safety device comprising a glove worn by the operator, provided with first electrically conducting regions located at the back with no conducting regions at the palm; the glove constitutes, at contact with the machine and/or with the blank, an element for transmitting electrical signal between the machine and a control unit (CU) to stop descent of the tool.

The present invention relates to a safety device, particularly for industrial machines, such as bending presses for cold working of metal plates.
Said bending presses are usually constituted by a supporting frame for a die, which is arranged approximately horizontally and is conveniently shaped; a tool, such as a blade or punch, is arranged above said die and is slidingly associated with said frame.
If a blank, such as a metal plate, a bent plate or a box-like component is positioned above the die, it is possible to actuate the descent of the tool so as to force a given deformation of said blank.
The blank can be subjected to a plurality of successive bending operations, one for each descent of the tool, even along axes that are not mutually perpendicular, until it assumes the intended shape.
In order to protect the safety of the operator assigned to positioning the blank on the die, safety devices are currently used which are based for example on the use of photocells.
In particular, it is known to arrange a pair of transducers, a transmitter and a receiver, along a line that crosses longitudinally the industrial machine at a height from the die that is slightly greater than the thickness of the metal plate and at a short distance from the region occupied by the blade or punch during descent.
The photocells are connected to a control center that is suitable to block the descent of the tool when the signal transmitted between said photocells is interrupted, accordingly indicating the presence of a foreign object proximate to said tool.
The main drawback of this conventional safety device is that said known type of photocell device in some circumstances halts the industrial machine even when the operator is completely safe.
In particular, one case that occurs frequently relates to the working of box-like components or in any case of blanks that have one or more bends for example at 90°.
In this circumstance, the portion of the blank that has already been worked protrudes above the flat portion to be worked, interposing between the two photocells and therefore causing an incorrect stop of production.
In such cases there is therefore the important drawback of having to deactivate said known type of protection device, performing the operation without any assurance for the safety of the operator.
This is a severe problem for protecting operator safety; said operators, in order to work certain parts, are forced to work for most of the time without any safety device.
This problem is worsened by the fact that after a few hours of work the attention of the operator necessarily decreases, entailing an increase in the already high danger level of the use of the machine.
In any case, the lack of safety regarding certain machining operations requires great attention in performing said operations and therefore a greater expenditure of resources and increased slowness with respect to an identical machining process performed in safe conditions.