A residual gas volume measuring device for measuring volume of residual gas in a container filled with liquid. The device includes: a puncture member having a first communication path and a second communication path formed therein and connecting a penetrating portion and a coupling portion together, the penetrating portion being located inside the container and the coupling portion being located outside the container when the puncture member is in a penetrating position where an end of the puncture member penetrates into the container; an injection section coupled to the first communication path at the coupling portion and configured to inject a liquid into the container; a discharging section coupled to the second communication path at the coupling portion and configured to discharge the residual gas purged by the injected liquid; and a measurement section configured to measure the volume of the residual gas discharged by the discharging section.

In the process of bottling soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, etc., the volume of gas remaining in a container (hereinafter referred to as "residual gas") is measured as an item to be managed.
As a classical technique of collecting residual gas from a container for measuring the volume of the gas, a technique (collection-over-water technique) of opening a container with the container immersed in a liquid such as water, and collecting released gas into another container, has conventionally been employed.
As a technique of measuring the volume of residual gas in a container, for example, known is a technique of measuring the volume of a gas other than carbon dioxide gas by collecting residual gas from a container filled with a carbonated drink, and removing carbon dioxide gas from the collected residual gas using a carbon dioxide gas absorbent, such as sodium hydroxide (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Residual gas volume measuring device, residual gas volume measuring method, and puncture member

KYOTO ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


The invention relates to an electrical system for a ship, comprising generators, electrical consumers, such as electric motors, and an on-board power supply system with switchgears etc. as the components of the system. The electrical system is further characterized in that supplies sufficient electrical energy in all operating states of the ship and that the system components are automatically controlled by digitized standard modules.

Until now, measurement, control and regulation devices which operate on an analog basis have normally been used in maritime vessels, if appropriate with an associated digital control and observation level. A mixed system such as this has admittedly been proven, but has design disadvantages. Surprisingly, it has been found that a completely digitized version can be more advantageous and, in particular, more cost-effective. This is particularly true when it is intended to carry out continual optimization, by reconfiguration, that is to say by external actions, or by way of an automatic system.


A humidity control system including a heat pump with desiccant coated passive heat transfer devices on both sides of the heat pump and an air circulation system for alternately directing a process air stream to be humidity controlled and a separate regenerative air stream past each side. As desiccant on one side becomes laden with moisture, the air streams are redirected to the opposite sides of the heat pump so the regenerative stream can remove moisture from the first side. Simultaneously, the air stream to be humidity controlled uses the previously regenerated desiccant on the second side.

The present invention relates to system and method for energy efficient humidity control independent of temperature.
Air humidity control has historically been important in providing comfortable working and living environments and for the preservation of assets, such as historical documents. Recently, it has become even more critical for certain environments, such as hospital operating theaters, electronics manufacturing facilities and pharmaceutical production process areas. In addition, humidity control improves the economics of refrigeration on, for example, supermarket display cases, by eliminating or reducing defrost cycles or the use of the anti-sweat heater.
Basic humidity reduction is typically accomplished at the cooling coil of an air conditioning system. If the coil temperature is below the dew point of the air stream entering the coil, excess moisture collects on the coils, producing a condensate stream. In such a system, the goal is control of the air stream temperature, with some reduction in humidity. In contrast, by adding a sensor to measure humidity (humidistat), air is cooled as needed, in response to the humidistat, to maintain a desired humidity level. Such systems provide either temperature control or humidity control, but not both. A separate heating or cooling system must be added in series with the humidity control coil to achieve both temperature and humidity control. This can increase energy costs. For example, often the cooling necessary to reach a desired humidity results in overcooling the air stream, requiring subsequent reheating of the air stream to achieve the desired temperature and humidity. Some systems are able to alleviate energy cost penalty by using waste heat elsewhere in the system (e.g., condenser heat). However, the components necessary to reclaim the waste heat and transfer it to the air stream add to the installation cost of the system. Where low-humidity conditions are needed, coil temperatures must be correspondingly low. If the coil temperature is maintained by a vapor compression system, the compressor must work harder and use more energy to reach the lower temperature, resulting in a reduced chiller coefficient of performance (COP).
Other mature technologies exist for dehumidification, other than by a cooling coil. Desiccant wheels and enthalpy wheels, honeycombed wheels having surfaces covered with a solid desiccant, such as silica gel, are often used to remove moisture from an air stream. The wheels rotate between supply and exhaust air streams to transfer water and heat between them. Desiccant wheels can achieve very low dew points by using a heated exhaust air stream to greatly enhance the removal of adsorbed water, creating a very dry desiccant for contact with the supply air stream. Such a system needs a lot of energy to heat the exhaust air and additional cooling of the supply air stream to remove heat transferred from the exhaust air to the wheel and subsequently to the supply air stream. In contrast, enthalpy wheels have a lighter coating of desiccant and are primarily designed to transfer energy in the forms of heat (sensible heat) and moisture (latent heat) from one stream to another without any additional energy. The amount of moisture removed depends on the dryness of the exhaust air. As such, enthalpy wheels are more limited than desiccant wheels regarding the level of humidity control they can maintain. Combinations of desiccant and enthalpy wheels, along with the use of waste heat from elsewhere or water for evaporative cooling, can improve the level of humidity control as well as the energy efficiency of the system, but at a significant penalty in initial cost and complexity of the system.
Liquid desiccant dehumidifiers are another currently available alternative for removing moisture from air. A hygroscopic fluid (one that readily adsorbs water from the air), such as a LiCl solution, circulates between supply and exhaust air streams. The solution picks up moisture from the supply air stream, essentially diluting the solution, which then circulates to the exhaust air stream where heat evaporates the excess moisture into the exhaust air stream. In addition to the energy needed to heat the liquid to evaporate the moisture on the exhaust air side, additional energy is necessary on the supply air side to remove the heat of condensation either by sub-cooling the liquid before contact with the supply air or by cooling the supply air after dehumidification. As with the systems discussed above, to ease this energy penalty, waste heat from elsewhere can be used to evaporate the moisture, at higher initial cost and complexity for the system.
A disadvantage of liquid desiccant dehumidifiers stems from the often corrosive nature of the liquid desiccant and the direct contact between the corrosive solution and the air being dehumidified. The dehumidified air can pick up corrosive vapors from this direct contact and transport them downstream. Sensitive downstream components can be damaged and people injured by exposure to such corrosive vapors.

Heat pump enabled desiccant dehumidification system


Techniques for sampling a data signal are described. An example of an electronic device includes a data bus, a transmitting device coupled to the data bus, and a receiving device coupled to the data bus by a bus interface. The bus interface is to receive a data signal from the transmitting device, wherein the data signal includes a known data pattern. Additionally, the bus interface is to receive a forwarded clock signal from the transmitting device and generate a sampling clock signal based on the forwarded clock signal. Additionally, the bus interface is to sample the known data pattern to obtain phase tracking data and adjust a sampling phase of the sampling clock signal based on the phase tracking data.

Various types of I/O interconnect protocols use a clocking technique referred to as forwarded clocking. In forwarded clocking, a clock signal is transmitted from a sending device to a receiving device along with a data signal. The forwarded clock signal enables the receiving device to synchronize with the transmitting device, enabling the receiving device to accurately sample the data signal transmitted by the sending device.


In a drum beating assembly, the combination comprising a frame, including at least one pedestal, an axle carried by the pedestal to rotate relative thereto, the axle having an axis of rotation, a drum beater carried by the axle, a pedal operatively connected to the axle to rotate the axle and beater in response to pedal movement, the frame including a base plate, there being a clamp arm and means supporting the arm on the plate to pivot relative thereto, and multiple drum rim support elements carried to engage the drum rim at multiple locations to support the drum rim relative to the base plate. The support elements are typically pivotable to self-adjust during clamp up.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to drum beating apparatus connectable to drums, such as bass drum rims, and more particularly concerns stabilized connection of beater base plates to bass drum rims. In a more general sense, this invention relates to adjustable clamping systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is need for stabilization of such connections, and particularly prevention of disconnection during drum beating. This is a problem due to relatively heavy sizes and weights of bass drums to be and remain accurately connected to drum beaters over extended use periods. There is also need for the particularly efficient and reliable connection modes and apparatus as enabled and provided by the present invention.
Systems for connecting a drum beating apparatus to a drum rim are well known in the art. However, many of these systems can be unstable and become disconnected due to the drum beating motion. Some clamping systems have attempted to remedy the disconnection problem; however, even if successful, other problems can remain. For example, while the clamping system and drum beating apparatus may stay in position relative to the drum rim, the rim and beating apparatus combination may still be unstable and may rock. Further, many clamping systems cause the drum rim to warp or deteriorate, often due to the rigidness of the connection and the inability of the clamping system to adjust to any movement of the drum rim which may occur. Another common problem is centering the clamping system on the drum rim. If the system is not positioned exactly, then part of the drum beating apparatus may lift off the floor when the clamping system is tightened. Further, if the floor is not exactly flat, positioning of the clamping system is made even more difficult. These problems can cause difficulties both in set up and if the drum and/or drum beating apparatus shift(s) during operation.


An embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus relates to a system for detecting a rub in a turbomachine. The system includes a turbomachine; sensors monitoring turbomachine conditions; and an on site monitor in communication with the sensors, and loaded with instructions to implement a method for detecting a rub in the turbomachine.

Turbomachines generally have a centrally disposed rotor that rotates within a stationary cylinder or shell. The working fluid flows through one or more rows of circumferentially arranged rotating blades that extend radially from the periphery of the rotor shaft and one or more rows of circumferentially arranged stator blades that extend centripetally from the interior surface of the shell to the rotor shaft. The fluid imparts energy to the shaft that is used to drive a load, such as an electric generator or compressor. In order to ensure that as much energy as possible is extracted from the fluid, the tips of the stator blades are usually very close to the seals located on the rotor surface, and the tips of the rotating blades are usually very close to the seals located on the internal surface of the shell. From the standpoint of thermodynamic efficiency, it is desirable that the clearance between the stator blade tips and the seals on the rotor surface, and between the rotating blade tips and the seals on the shell be maintained at a minimum so as to prevent excessive amounts of fluid from bypassing the row of rotating blades and stator blades.
Differential thermal expansion during operating conditions between the shell and the rotor results in variations in the tip clearances. In addition various operating conditions affect tip clearances—for example, tip clearances in gas turbine compressors often reach their minimum values during shutdown. Consequently, if insufficient tip clearance is provided at assembly, impact between the stator blade tips and rotor seals and impact between the seals on the shell and the rotating blade tips may occur when certain operating conditions are reached. These impacts are commonly known as "rubs." Also turbomachines are subjected to a variety of forces under various operating conditions, particularly during transient conditions, such as start-ups, shutdowns, and load changes. These forces may also cause rubs. Rubs may cause damage to the blades and seals of the turbomachine. Thus, a system of monitoring and diagnosing rub conditions in turbomachines is desirable.
Some systems have been developed to monitor and diagnose rubs. However, these systems are disadvantageous in that they require the use of very complicated and expensive vibration monitoring systems which are able to provide 1× and 2× amplitude, phase, polar and bode vibration data. Another disadvantage of these systems is that a rub determination is usually made only after subsequent analysis of the data and not made in real time.
Hence, a system of monitoring and diagnosing rub conditions in turbomachines using standard sensors and monitoring equipment already installed and around the turbomachine is desirable.

Method and apparatus for detecting rub in a turbomachine


A portable reading light device adapted to be worn about the head of a user or the like. The device utilizes a projection housing adapted to be used as the light source having the terminal end of a fiberoptic mounted therein, the other end extending to a remote lamp unit having a reflector and a light bulb mounted therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to portable reading lights; and, more particularly, to a light device adapted to be worn by a user or the like.
2. Background of the Invention
Reading lights are well known in the art. In my U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,428, I disclose a portable reading light adapted to be worn about the head of a user. The light of the device projects a beam for reading a book or magazine or the like and is adjustable. The light of the device diffuses a beam substantially uniformly over a quadrilateral area so that the user can read a book or magazine with comfort.
Although this light device works quite well, the bulb used, disposed at the head of the user, generates quite a bit of heat. Increasing the intensity of the bulb to thus increase the amount of light generated would only add to the heat problem. There is thus a need for a reading light which puts out a sufficient amount of light without generating a large amount of heat at the output of the light source.


A toy gun having a pneumatic projectile launcher for launching a foam projectile and a retractable sighting mechanism which automatically raises to an operative viewing position when the gun is cocked. The pneumatic launcher having a plunger is concealed by a sliding housing which simulates the action of an automatic weapon, and the sight is pivotally mounted to the housing. When the gun is cocked by sliding the housing rearwardly relative to the body of the gun, the sight contacts an actuator which rotates the sight to an operative viewing position. When the gun is fired, the housing moves forwardly in unison with the plunger, and the sight automatically rotates to its inoperative position.

Toy air guns that launch soft foam projectiles using a blast of compressed air are generally well known in the art. Because such guns launch an actual projectile they satisfy a child's desire for realism. More importantly, because the projectiles are soft, the guns satisfy a parent's desire for safety. However, the attention span of a typical child is relatively limited, and thus the most popular toy guns are those which incorporate a variety of complex, realistic, and futuristic features. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for increasingly complex, realistic, and futuristic toy guns that will enhance the toy's play value and that will stimulate a child's imagination.
The toy gun according to the present invention incorporates the safety of a pneumatic soft foam projectile launcher with a number of complex and futuristic features that greatly enhance the play value of the toy. The gun includes a retractable sight which automatically shifts to an upright, operative position when the gun is cocked in preparation for firing. When the sight is in the operative position, a user can easily point the projectile towards an intended target. Once the intended target has been acquired, the sight automatically retracts upon firing the gun.
According to one aspect of the invention, the toy gun includes a sliding housing which moves rearwardly in unison with the plunger when the gun is cocked, thus simulating the action of an actual semi-automatic pistol. The sight, which is pivotally mounted to the housing, includes a lever or tab which contacts a concealed actuation member when the plunger is retracted, thus rotating the sight to its operative position. When the gun is fired, a spring returns the sight to its inoperative position as the tab slides off the actuation member. When in the inoperative position, the sight is protected from breakage and the gun maintains a sleek, futuristic appearance.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved toy gun having a retractable sight.
Another object of this invention to provide a toy gun having a sight that extends and retracts automatically when the gun is operated.
A further object of this invention is to provide a toy gun having a sight pivotally mounted to a sliding housing that simulates the action of an actual weapon.
These and other objects of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following description.


A device and method to reduce molecular background emission and to increase matrix management in solution cathode glow discharge (SCGD). A purging device for purging atmospheric gases from a solution cathode glow discharge (SCGD) apparatus, comprising a hollow body that encloses a plasma generated between a solid anode and a solution cathode, wherein the body comprises at least one opening for release of water vapor generated by the plasma. A method for reducing matrix interferences from a SCGD comprising introducing an internal standard into a sample to be analyzed, wherein the sample comprises at least one element of interest; determining a spatial emission profile of the internal standard; using linear correlation between the spatial emission profile of the internal standard and the element of interest to predict a crossover point; and using the crossover point of the element of interest to select a vertical acquisition height for SCGD analysis.

Due to the inherent simplicity and operating characteristics of the solution cathode glow discharge (SCGD), it is emerging as a complimentary emission source to the well-known technique of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).
Referring to FIG. 1A, a representation of a solution cathode glow discharge (SCGD) emission cell 10 found in the prior art is shown. A dc power source 20 connects to an anode 30 and a grounding electrode 40. The anode 30 may be, for example, a tungsten anode rod. The grounding electrode 40 may be, for example, a grounded graphite cathode rod. A capillary tube 50 delivers a solution sample 60 from a pump (not shown) proximate a top 70 of the grounding electrode 40. A plasma emission region 80 remains between an outlet tip 90 of the capillary tube 50 and a tip 100 of the anode 30. The capillary tube 50 may be, for example, a glass capillary tube. Upon activation of the power source 20, a plasma is formed in the plasma emission region 80.
The capillary tube 50 extends a distance (for example about 3 mm) above the top 70 of the grounding electrode 40, and the tip 100 of the anode 30 is a distance (for example about 3 mm) above the outlet tip 90 of the capillary tube 50. Electrical contact between the outlet tip 90 of the capillary tube 50 and the grounding electrode 40 is made along the vertical capillary tube 50 by the overflow of the solution sample 60 from the outlet tip 90 of the capillary tube 50. Optimized electrical contact between the outlet tip 90 of the capillary tube 50 and the grounding electrode 40 is made when the distance that the capillary tube 50 extends above the grounding electrode 40 is minimized. However, distances less than about 3 mm tend to promote a glow-to-arc transition where the plasma anchors to the grounding electrode 40 as opposed to the outlet tip 90 of the capillary tube 50. Electrical arcing can destroy electrode components and prohibits the analytical performance of the SCGD instrument. Therefore, typically a compromised distance of about 3 mm is used and 2.0 mL/min is the lowest flow rate for the solution sample 60 that can be used before analytical performance degrades.
Three different electrical resistance values are shown for a SCGD device found in the prior art. R1 is the ballast resistor 110 used to increase the output impedance of the dc power source 20 and limit the current delivered. R2 is the gas phase resistance of the plasma and R3 is the resistance of the electrical connection between the base of the plasma and the grounding electrode 40. This electrical connection is made through the overflow of the solution sample 60.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a prior art example of a SCGD apparatus is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/274,303 by Schroeder et al., published as US 2017/0097304, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a SCGD device having a solution-catching collar, in the form of a weir 120.
SCGD may prove to be an excellent emission source for unattended operation for on-line analysis for industrial process control applications (on-line herein being real-time or near real-time collection or measurement or analysis of one or more process variables, such as analyte content or concentration or quantification thereof, to provide such information to a user and/or an industrial process control system). However, in many cases, the interfering emission spectra of atmospheric gases degrade the detection limits of this technique. K. Greda, P. Jamroz, and P. Pohl, "Atmospheric pressure glow discharge in a contact with liquid as a new excitation source in optical emission spectroscopy", Przemysl Chemiczny 91 (12) (2012) 2389-2397, which is hereby incorporated by reference, shows the background emission spectrum of the SCGD. Other than the OH background emission that originates from the aqueous sample solution, all dominant interfering background features originate from atmospheric gases.
Previous attempts at reducing the presence of molecular background emission have included purging the plasma cell with an inert gas and adding chemical modifiers to the sample solution (the plasma cell being at least the portion of the SCGD emission cell 10 proximate the anode 30 and the solution sample 60, including the plasma emission region 80), each of the following is hereby incorporated by reference:
Y. S. Park, S. H. Ku, S. H. Hong, H. J. Kim and E. H. Piepmeier, "Fundamental studies of electrolyte-as-cathode glow discharge-atomic emission spectrometry for the determination of trace metals in flowing water", Spectrochimica Acta Part B, 1998, 53, 1167-1179.
G. Jenkins, J. Franzke and A. Manz, "Direct optical emission spectroscopy of liquid analytes using an electrolyte as a cathode discharge source (ELCAD) integrated on a micro-fluidic chip", Lab Chip, 2005, 5, 711-718.
N. Shirai, M. Nakazawa, S. Ibuka and S. Ishii, "Generation and Control of Electrolyte Cathode Atmospheric Glow Discharge Using Miniature Gas Flow", Electrical Engineering in Japan, 2012, 178, 269-274.
K. Greda, K. Swiderski, P. Jamroz and P. Pohl, "Reduction of spectral interferences in atmospheric pressure glow discharge optical emission spectrometry", Microchemical Journal, 2017, 130, 7-13.
K. Greda, P. Jamroz and P. Pohl, "Effect of the addition of non-ionic surfactants on the emission characteristic of direct current atmospheric pressure glow discharge generated in contact with a flowing liquid cathode", J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2013, 28, 134-141.
K. Greda, P. Jamroz and P. Pohl, "The improvement of the analytical performance of direct current atmospheric pressure glow discharge generated in contact with the small-sized liquid cathode after the addition of non-ionic surfactants to electrolyte solutions", Talanta, 2013, 108, 74-82.
T. A. Doroski and M. R. Webb, "Signal enhancement in solution-cathode glow discharge—optical emission spectrometry via low molecular weight organic compounds", Spectrochimica Acta Part B, 2013, 88, 40-45.
Although purging the plasma cell with an inert gas is a technique that can be used to reduce interfering molecular emission, the need to replace gas cylinders would hinder the SCGD from being used in an unattended on-line environment.
China patent CN 104964966(A) "Integrated atomic spectrum atomizer" describes a SCGD apparatus with a closed shell around the anode and cathode, which prevents entry of external airflow; however, the system is fully sealed to the atmosphere, making maintenance and replacement of components difficult.
There is a need in the art for a simple method of reducing molecular background emission that is suitable for an on-line, industrial environment.
SCGD instrument performance can also be significantly degraded by sample matrix interferences. For example, the atomic emission signal can be attenuated when significant components of phosphate or sodium are present in the sample matrix. A. J. Schwartz, S. J. Ray, G. C. Y. Chan and G. M. Hieftje, "Spatially resolved measurements to improve analytical performance of solution-cathode glow discharge optical-emission spectrometry", Spectrochimica Acta Part B, 2016, 125, 168-176. (including Electronic Supplementary Information referenced therein), hereby incorporated by reference, and herein referred to as Schwartz (2016) has recently shown how an imaging spectrograph can be used to record the spatially resolved emission spectra from a SCGD. Schwartz (2016) has observed that locations exist along the vertical profile of the discharge where matrix interference is reduced and even eliminated. The so-called crossover point is the location where sample matrix interferences go to zero. Ideally, acquisition parameters (i.e. the observation height) should be made around this crossover point. Determining this crossover point in a reliable manner is only possible when atomic emission signals are acquired that are free from interfering noise. Schwartz (2016) accomplished a high signal-to-noise ratio acquisition by using a calcium concentration of 20 ppm. However, determining the crossover point for calcium at 1.0 ppb (20,000 times lower) would require the elimination of interfering molecular emission.
The use of a purged configuration to eliminate atmospheric gases from the plasma region would allow the use of crossover points to manage matrix interferences when analyte concentrations are very low.

Reduction of molecular background emission and sample matrix management in a solution cathode glow discharge


Methods and systems are provided for a winch including a motor and a contactor assembly coupled around the motor. In one example, the contactor assembly is coupled around and in face-sharing contact with a portion of an outer surface of the motor. Additionally, the contactor assembly may include two or more coils spaced apart from one another within the contactor assembly.

Winches may include a motor for driving a rotatable drum of the winch to pull in or pull out a cable wound around the drum. In one example, winches may be controlled via a control unit located at a location away from the motor. Further, a remote control may wirelessly (or via a wired connection) control winch operation through electronic communication with the control unit.
The winch motor may be electrically coupled with a power source in order to drive the motor. In some examples, a contactor assembly is electrically coupled between the motor and the power source in order to control a flow of electrical current from the power source to the motor. The contactor assembly is often mounted to an exterior surface of a housing of the winch or motor, thereby resulting in a plurality of wires electrically coupling the motor to the contactor assembly and the contactor assembly to the power source. In examples in which a control unit is coupled to the winch, the control unit may also be electrically coupled to the contactor assembly via another plurality of wires. As a result of the numerous wired electrical connections between the motor, contactor assembly, power source, and control unit, an installation and/or setup time of the winch may be increased. Additionally, in some environments the plurality of wires may be exposed to harsh weather conditions, may be become tangled and/or frayed, etc., thereby resulting in degradation of the electrical connections between components of the winch and/or the power source.
Thus in one example, the above issues may be at least partially addressed by a motor assembly for a winch, comprising: a motor; and a contactor assembly coupled around and in face-sharing contact with a portion of an outer surface of the motor, the contactor assembly including two or more coils spaced apart from one another within the contactor assembly. In this way, electrical connections between the motor and contactor assembly may be of reduced length, thereby saving space and reducing degradation of the electrical connection (e.g., due to exposure to outside elements). A total packaging space for all components of the motor assembly may also be reduce and contained within a space defined by a drum support of the winch.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Winch including a motor mounted contactor


To provide a color mixing inspection method, a color mixing inspection apparatus and a print apparatus capable of carrying out a color mixing inspection at low cost for the inspection with high detection ability. To that end, an evaluation pattern is irradiated with light having a color complementary to color mixed into the evaluation pattern to emphasize the color mixing and measure lightness, thereby determining the presence of color mixing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color mixing inspection method, a color mixing inspection apparatus and a print apparatus in which a predetermined evaluation pattern is formed on a print medium such as paper and a film to inspect the presence of a color mixture by means of the evaluation pattern.
2. Description of the Related Art
Three types of methods as follows has been known as exemplary methods for ejecting ink from an ink jet print head (hereinafter simply referred to as a print head) mounted in an inkjet printing apparatus; more specifically, a method using an electromechanical converting body such as a piezo element, a method in which ink generates heat by irradiation of electromagnetic wave, such as a laser, so that the heat operates to eject the ink droplets, and a method in which ink is heated by an electrothermal conversion element having a heating resistor so that ink droplets are ejected by the action of film boiling.
Of these, a print head using an electrothermal conversion element is provided with an electrothermal conversion element in a printing liquid chamber, to which an electric pulse which is a printing signal is applied to generate heat so as to impart thermal energy to the ink. Then, a change in phase of a printing liquid occurred at that time brings the printing liquid to a boil to produce a foam pressure which is utilized to discharge the ink liquid from a tiny ejection port, thereby executing the print on a print medium. A color print head using an electrothermal conversion element generally has a group of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets of each color, and ink channels for supplying ink to the group of ejection ports.
Furthermore, a print head includes a tank replacing type in which an ink tank and a print head are removable from each other, a head cartridge type in which a print head are integral with an ink tank container containing ink, and so on.
A method for manufacturing such as a print head includes a step of inspecting color mixing which evaluates the tone of the ink droplets ejected on the printing medium. This is for inspecting the presence of color mixing of ink generated due to a malfunction inside the print head. Conventionally, such a type of color mixing inspection has generally drawn a pattern for evaluation on the print medium so as to make a visual inspection by an inspector.
Furthermore, a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-151753 (1998) has been known as a method of detecting color mixing in an ink jet printing apparatus, for example. In accordance with this method, each basic color is printed on a print medium, and reading means reads the printed. Comparison means compares the read result with the acceptable range of tone of each basic color to determine whether or not the tone as a result of printing is normal.
However, the evaluation by an inspector varies depending on variations among individual inspectors who provide an evaluation, and also coming from not being able to conduct a quantitative evaluation. Also, the cost increases because it is a manual operation. Furthermore, the method for detecting mixing color in the ink jet printing apparatus described above may erroneously determine color which is not mixed color as being mixing color because the change in tone may be generated due to overlapping ink droplets ejected on a print medium, ejection failure, change in the amount of ejection, etc.

Color mixing inspection method, color mixing inspection apparatus and print apparatus


A network element of a cable television network includes at least a first and a second upstream amplifier stage, a first attenuator and a first equalizer between the first and the second amplifier stage, and a second attenuator after the second upstream amplifier stage in upstream signal path direction. A target value is determined for total attenuation of the components of the amplifier. The total attenuation is a sum of attenuations of the first attenuator, the first equalizer, and the second attenuator. The attenuation of the first equalizer is preset. The attenuation of the first attenuator is set to a maximum value such the sum of the attenuations of the first attenuator and the first equalizer is below a first threshold value. The attenuation of the second attenuator is set such that the total attenuation reaches the target value.

CATV networks may be implemented with various techniques and network topologies, but currently most cable television networks are implemented as so-called HFC networks (Hybrid Fiber Coax), i.e. as combinations of a fibre network and a coaxial cable network.
Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) is a CATV standard providing specifications for high-bandwidth data transfer in an existing CATV system. The latest versions DOCSIS 3.1 and 4.0 enable the cable network operators to significantly increase both the downstream and upstream data throughput using the existing HFC networks. One issue relating to the introduction of DOCSIS 3.1 and the forthcoming 4.0 is the need to eventually adjust the frequency range and the bandwidth of the communication channels. To support the various DOCSIS standard versions, CATV amplifiers typically need to support several different upstream-downstream frequency splits, such as 42/54 MHz, 65/85 MHz, 85/108 MHz, 204/258 MHz, 300/372 MHz, 396/492 MHz, 492/606 MHz or 684/834 MHz.
Due to the relatively low frequency range of the traditionally used upstream channels (i.e. below 65 MHz or at least below 204 MHz), the alignment of upstream path components of the CATV amplifier has been rather simple. However, due to the introduction of significantly higher frequency ranges for upstream channels in DOCSIS 3.1 and especially in 4.0, up to even 684 MHz, the attenuation in the coaxial cable may increase significantly. This causes challenges for adjusting the gain, slope and/or attenuation parameters of the upstream channel components of the CATV amplifier such that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the upstream signal remains good.
Therefore, an improved arrangement is needed for aligning the upstream path components in CATV amplifiers.


A display system, having an emissive body, varying light emitted from the surface in a way that each area becomes a pixel. The emissive body can be a FIPEL type device. Light can be both color varied and also color temperature controlled. The light color is changed by changing a frequency used to drive the body. Multiplexers can be used to reduce the number of generators needed.

From their first introduction, digital display panels have required astronomical numbers of components. The typical high definition display panel contains 1,080 "pixel groups" horizontally and 1,920 "pixel groups" vertically. Each pixel group contains 3 actual pixels, where one is red, one is green, and one is blue. When all three sub-pixels are "on", three colors are passed through the pixel gates which the eye perceives as coming from a single point source of light that appears white. The other colors mix in a similar way.
In total there are, for a high definition display of 1080 horizontal columns and 1920 vertical rows, 2,073,600 pixel groups with 6,220,800 individual sub-pixels requiring dozens of thin film transistors, resistors and capacitors to control each sub-pixel.
Traces carrying signals from control logic to sub-pixels are generally constructed of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). ITO is used to interconnect all of the components together because of the translucency of ITO. The complexity of constructing a panel with the magnitude of modern panels speaks to the outstanding abilities of modern process engineering.
Current backlit LCD display panel assemblies commonly used in digital televisions contain a substantial number of components. These LCD panel assemblies require that light emitted from the back light be diffused, polarized then passed through a color filter film with colored microscopic dots aligned with the sub-pixels in the LCD panel. The pixels in a LCD panel are formed of 3 sub-pixels each of which is addressable by a column and row multiplexer. That multiplexer needs to address some 6,220,800 sub-pixels. These sub-pixels are each supported by at least a dozen discrete components comprised of Thin Film Transistors, capacitors and resistors. Control circuitry laid out on the LCD panel substrates are connected through thousands of traces of ITO material. Additionally, LCD panels require large light sources, diffusors, polarizer sheets and a color filter film. In all, there are millions of components required to support LCD panels.

Electroluminescent display where each pixel can emit light of any EIA color index


A metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor with a Y structure metal gate is provided. The MOS transistor includes a substrate, a Y structure metal gate positioned on the substrate, two doping regions disposed in the substrate on two sides of the Y structure metal structure, a spacer, an insulating layer positioned outside the spacer, a dielectric layer positioned outside the insulating layer and a bevel edge covering the spacer. The spacer has a vertical sidewall, and the vertical sidewall surrounds a recess. A part of the Y structure metal gate is disposed in the recess, and a part of the Y structure metal gate is positioned on the bevel edge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor, and more particularly to a metal oxide semiconductor transistor with a Y structure metal gate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As semiconductor technology improves, 45 nm semiconductor devices are now being manufactured. Current metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) often utilize poly-silicon to make a gate. A doped poly-silicon gate has problems, however, such as a depletion effect of the poly-silicon gate, and boron penetrates through a channel.
Take the depletion effect of the poly-silicon gate as an example. When the poly-silicon gate is in an inversion, carrier depletion occurs between the poly-silicon gate and the gate dielectric layer. If this poly-silicon gate has the afore-mentioned depletion effect, the effect of the gate capacitance will decrease, but a high quality metal oxide semiconductor transistor should have a high gate capacitance. If the gate capacitance is high, more electric charge will accumulate in two sides of the gate capacitance. More electric charge therefore accumulates in the channel, so when the metal oxide semiconductor transistor has a bias voltage, the speed of the electric current between the source/drain will be improved.
Please refer to FIG. 1A. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram, which illustrates the metal oxide semiconductor transistor having a depletion effect. A substrate 10 has a gate structure 12 thereof in FIG. 1A. A gate dielectric layer 15 is positioned between the gate structure 12 and the substrate 10. The source/drain 14 are in the two sides of the gate structure 12 in the substrate 10. Around the gate structure 12 is a spacer 16. The gate structure 12, the source/drain 14 form the metal oxide semiconductor transistor 18. The gate structure 12 is made from poly-silicon. When the metal oxide semiconductor transistor 18 has a depletion effect, carrier charges will accumulate between the gate structure 12 and the gate dielectric layer 15. Therefore, the thickness of the equivalent gate dielectric layer increases, while the gate capacitance decreases. The total capacitance decreases, and the drive effect of the metal oxide semiconductor transistor is reduced.
To avoid the above-mentioned depletion effect of the poly-silicon gate, the current industry utilizes a metal gate to replace the poly-silicon gate. A so-called replacement metal gate approach is processed with a dummy poly-silicon gate is formed first, and the dummy poly-silicon gate is then removed to form a recess. A metal gate is formed in the recess. Furthermore, a barrier layer and a High-k material layer are formed between the metal gate and the substrate to avoid the leakage of the gate structure and to increase the flexibility of the process. This structure is usually utilized in technology generation equal to or less than 45 nm to decrease the depletion effect of the poly-silicon. Since the source/drain 14 implantation and activation processes have been processed prior to the metal gate formation, the less thermal budget concern of the replacement metal gate could be achieved.
Before the metal fills the recess in the replacement gate process, a barrier layer must be deposited on the inner sidewalls of the recess. The depth/width (L/W) ratio of the recess is too high due to the narrow channel length, so the barrier layer is easy to form poor step coverage in the recess inner sidewall and would cause overhang effect on top of the recess as referred to FIG. 1B. The recess opening becomes smaller with the overhang formation, and the metal filling step is easy to form void in the recess as shown in FIG. 1C. The poor step coverage and the void formed after metal gate process would cause the issues such as the work function deviation and the chemical damage during planarity process. Therefore, to manufacture a metal oxide semiconductor transistor with no poor barrier layer step coverage is an important issue in the semiconductor industry.

Metal oxide semiconductor transistor with Y shape metal gate


A method is performed by a wireless device. The method includes receiving, from a network, an indication for the wireless device to prepare for a change from a first ground station to a second ground station. Each of the first ground station and the second ground station is configured to communicate with the wireless device via one or more satellites. The method further includes preparing to change from the first ground station to the second ground station. The method further includes communicating with the second ground station via the one or more satellites.

There is an ongoing resurgence of satellite communications. Several plans for satellite networks have been announced in the past few years. The target services vary from backhaul and fixed wireless, to transportation, to outdoor mobile, to Internet-of-Things (IoT). Satellite networks could complement mobile networks on the ground by providing connectivity to underserved areas and multicast/broadcast services.
To benefit from the strong mobile ecosystem and economy of scale, adapting the terrestrial wireless access technologies, including Long Term Evolution (LTE) and New Radio (NR), for satellite networks is drawing significant interest. For example, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) completed an initial study in Release 15 on adapting NR to support non-terrestrial networks (mainly satellite networks) (Technical Report TR 38.811). This initial study focused on the channel model for the non-terrestrial networks, defining deployment scenarios, and identifying the key potential impacts. 3GPP is conducting a follow-up study item in Release 16 on solutions evaluation for NR to support non-terrestrial networks (RP-181370)
Satellite Communications
A satellite radio access network (RAN) usually includes the following:                A gateway that connects a satellite network to core network        A satellite, referring to a space-borne platform        A terminal, referring to a terminal wireless device such as a user equipment (UE)        A feeder link, referring to the link between a gateway and a satellite        A service link, referring to the link between a satellite and a terminal
The link from gateway to terminal is often called the forward link, and the link from terminal to gateway is often called the return link or the access link. Depending on the functionality of the satellite in the system, two transponder options can be considered:                Bent pipe transponder: the satellite forwards the received signal back to the earth with only amplification and a shift from uplink frequency to downlink frequency.        Regenerative transponder: the satellite includes on-board processing to demodulate and decode the received signal and regenerate the signal before sending it back to the earth.
Depending on the orbit altitude, a satellite may be categorized as low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), or geostationary (GEO) satellite.                LEO: typical heights ranging from 250-1,500 km, with orbital periods ranging from 90-130 minutes.        MEO: typical heights ranging from 5,000-25,000 km, with orbital periods ranging from 2-14 hours.        GEO: height at about 35,786 km, with an orbital period of 24 hours.
A communication satellite typically generates several beams over a given area. The footprint of a beam is usually in an elliptic shape, which has been traditionally considered as a cell. The footprint of a beam is also often referred to as a spotbeam. The footprint of a beam may move over the earth surface with the satellite movement or may be earth fixed with some beam pointing mechanism used by the satellite to compensate for its motion. The size of a spotbeam depends on the system design, which may range from tens of kilometers to a few thousands of kilometers. FIG. 1 shows an example architecture of a satellite network with bent pipe transponders.
In the 3GPP RAN #80 meeting, a new study item (SI) "Solutions for NR to support Non Terrestrial Network" was agreed (RP-108370). It is a continuation of a preceding SI "NR to support Non-Terrestrial Networks" (RP-171450), where the objective was to study the channel model for the non-terrestrial networks, to define deployment scenarios and parameters, and to identify the key potential impacts on NR. The results are reflected in 3GPP Technical Report 38.811.
The objectives of the current SI are to evaluate solutions for the identified key impacts from the preceding SI and to study impact on radio access network (RAN) protocols/architecture. The objectives for layer 2 and above are:                Study the following aspects and identify related solutions if needed: Propagation delay: Identify timing requirements and solutions on layer 2 aspects, MAC, RLC, RRC, to support non-terrestrial network propagation delays considering FDD and TDD duplexing mode. This includes radio link management. [RAN2]        Handover: Study and identify mobility requirements and necessary measurements that may be needed for handovers between some non-terrestrial space-borne vehicles (such as Non Geo stationary satellites) that move at much higher speed but over predictable paths [RAN2, RAN1]        Architecture: Identify needs for the 5G's Radio Access Network architecture to support non-terrestrial networks (e.g. handling of network identities) [RAN3]        Paging: procedure adaptations in case of moving satellite foot prints or cells
Note, the new study item does not address regulatory issues.
The coverage pattern of NTN is described in TR 38.811 in Section 4.6 as follows:                Satellite or aerial vehicles typically generate several beams over a given area. The foot print of the beams are typically elliptic shape.        The beam footprint may be moving over the earth with the satellite or the aerial vehicle motion on its orbit. Alternatively, the beam foot print may be earth fixed, in such case some beam pointing mechanisms (mechanical or electronic steering feature) will compensate for the satellite or the aerial vehicle motion.
TABLE 4.6-1Typical beam footprint sizeAttributesGEONon-GEOAerialBeam foot200-1000 km100-500 km5-200 kmprint sizein diameter
Typical beam patterns of various NTN access networks are depicted in FIGS. 4.6-1 of TR 38.811, as reproduced herein as FIG. 2.
The Technical Report of the ongoing Study Item, TR 38.821, describes scenarios for the NTN work as follows:
Non-Terrestrial Network typically features the following elements [3]:                One or several sat-gateways that connect the Non-Terrestrial Network to a public data network        a GEO satellite is fed by one or several sat-gateways which are deployed across the satellite targeted coverage (e.g. regional or even continental coverage). We assume that UE in a cell are served by only one sat-gateway        A Non-GEO satellite served successively by one sat-gateway at a time. The system ensures service and feeder link continuity between the successive serving sat-gateways with sufficient time duration to proceed with mobility anchoring and hand-over
Four scenarios are considered as depicted in Table 4.2-1 and are detailed in Table 4.2-2 of TR 38.821, which are reproduced below.
TABLE 4.2-1Reference scenariosTransparentRegenerativesatellitesatelliteGEO based non-terrestrialScenario AScenario Baccess networkLEO based non-terrestrialScenario CScenario Daccess network
TABLE 4.2-2Reference scenario parametersScenariosGEO based non-terrestrial accessLEO based non-network (Scenario A and B)terrestrial access network(Scenario C & D)Orbit typenotional station keeping positioncircular orbiting aroundfixed in terms of elevation/azimuththe earthwith respect to a given earth pointAltitude35,786 km  600 km1,200 kmSpectrum (service link)<6 GHz (e.g. 2 GHz)>6 GHz (e.g. DL 20 GHz, UL 30 GHz)Max channel bandwidth 30 MHz for band <6 GHz(service link)400 MHz for band >6 GHzPayloadScenario A: Transparent (includingScenario C: Transparentradio frequency function only)(including radioScenario B: regenerative (includingfrequency function only)all or part of RAN functions)Scenario D: Regenerative(including all or part ofRAN functions)Inter-Satellite linkNoScenario C: NoScenario D: YesEarth-fixed beamsYesScenario C: No (thebeams move with thesatellite)Scenario D, option 1:Yes (steering beams),see note 1Scenario D,option 2: No(the beams movewith the satellite)Max beam foot print500 km200 kmdiameter at nadirMin Elevation angle for10°10°both sat-gateway and userequipmentMax distance between40,586 km1,932 km (600 kmsatellite and useraltitude)equipment at min3,131 km (1,200 kmelevation anglealtitude)Max Round Trip DelayScenario A: 562 ms (service andScenario C: 25.76 ms(propagation delay only)feeder links)(transparent payload:Scenario B: 281 msservice and feeder links)Scenario D: 12.88 ms(regenerative payload:service link only)Max delay variation16 ms4.44 ms (600 km)within a beam (earth fixed6.44 ms (1200 km)user equipment)Max differential delay1.6 ms0.65 ms (*)within a beamMax Doppler shift (earth0.93 ppm24 ppm (*)fixed user equipment)Max Doppler shift0.000 045 ppm/s0.27 ppm/s (*)variation (earthfixed user equipment)User equipment1000 km/h (e.g. aircraft)500 km/h (e.g. highmotion on the earthspeed train)Possibly 1000 km/h(e.g. aircraft)User equipmentOmnidirectional antenna (linear polarisation), assumingantenna types0 dBi Directive antenna (up to 60 cm equivalentaperture diameter in circular polarisation)User equipmentOmnidirectional antenna: UE power class 3Tx powerwith up to 200 mW Directive antenna: up to 4 WUser equipmentOmnidirectional antenna: 7 dBNoise figureDirective antenna: 1.2 dBService link3GPP defined New RadioFeeder link3GPP or non-3GPP3GPP or non-3GPPdefined Radio interfacedefined Radio interfaceNOTE 1:Each satellite has the capability to steer beams towards fixed points on earth using beamforming techniques. This is applicable for a period of time corresponding to the visibility time of the satelliteNOTE 2:Max delay variation within a beam (earth fixed user equipment) is calculated based on Min Elevation angle for both gateway and user equipmentNOTE 3:Max differential delay within a beam is calculated based on Max beam foot print diameter at nadir
For scenario D, which is LEO with regenerative payload, both earth-fixed and earth moving beams have been listed. So, when factoring in the fixed/non-fixed beams, there is an additional scenario. The complete list of 5 scenarios in TR 38.821 is then:                Scenario A—GEO, transparent satellite, Earth-fixed beams;        Scenario B—GEO, regenerative satellite, Earth fixed beams;        Scenario C—LEO, transparent satellite, Earth-moving beams;        Scenario D1—LEO, regenerative satellite, Earth-fixed beams;        Scenario D2—LEO, regenerative satellite, Earth-moving beams.
When NR or LTE is applied to provide the connectivity via satellites, it means that the ground station is a RAN node. In the case where the satellite is transparent, all RAN functionalities are on the ground which means the sat-gateway has whole eNB/gNB functionality. For the regenerative satellite payload, part or all, of the eNB/gNB processing may be on the satellite.
Radio-Link failure in NR/LTE is defined and reported when a sequence of events occurs at the UE. The UE monitors the downlink link quality based on the cell-specific reference signal, and compares it to the thresholds Qout and Qin. The threshold Qout is defined as the level at which the downlink radio link cannot be reliably received. The threshold Qin is defined as the level at which the downlink radio link quality can be significantly more reliably received than at Qout and typically corresponds to 2% block error rate of a hypothetical Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) transmission (taking into account the Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) errors in LTE).

Radio access network mobility in non-geosynchronous satellite systems


A balloon catheter system is provided which includes a balloon-on-a-wire assembly and an over-the-wire catheter which slidably passes over the elongated body of the balloon-on-a-wire assembly, but not over its balloon. In the procedure by which the system is used, the balloon-on-a-wire assembly achieves an initial dilation or predilation of a lesion or stenosis, after which it is moved somewhat distally to clear the predilated stenosis. The over-the-wire catheter then is slidably moved over the balloon-on-a-wire assembly until its balloon reaches and dilates the predilated stenosis. After dilation is completed, the system is removed from the body vessel thus treated.

The present invention generally relates to procedures and devices for angioplasty treatments and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to improvements in catheter systems and angioplasty procedures for treating stenoses in blood vessels and other vessels of living bodies.
Balloon angioplasty procedures have been shown to be efficient and effective treatments to open arteries and other body passages occluded with plaque. These procedures generally involve insertion of a balloon catheter into the occlusion, or stenosis. The balloon, which is located at or near the distal end of the catheter, is then inflated, compressing the plaque to the arterial wall and dilating the stenosis or lesion within the artery, for example.
Often balloon catheters cannot be easily negotiated through branching vessels such as arterial branches and to the location of the stenosis. To help maneuver the catheters into place, physicians first insert a more maneuverable guidewire through the vessel and branches to the stenosis location. Then the balloon catheter is slidably inserted over the guidewire to and through the stenosis. After balloon inflation, the catheter and guidewire are removed. A limitation of this approach is that the stenoses must be open enough to permit insertion of the balloon catheter therethrough. Patients who suffer from tight stenoses typically are obliged to undergo the risk and expense of heart bypass surgery.
Prior approaches to address the difficulties of especially narrow stenoses include the use of microdilation probes, dilating guidewires, and similar devices. These approaches have permitted angioplasty treatment to many patients who otherwise would have undergone heart bypass surgery. Approaches such as those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,846,174 and 5,102,390 call for insertion of a guidewire, then insertion of the balloon catheter to the stenosis. If the stenosis is too occluded to permit insertion of the uninflated balloon catheter, approaches such as these call for removal of the guidewire while holding the balloon catheter on the proximal side of the stenosis. The physician then inserts a microdilation probe, dilating guidewire, or similar device though the balloon catheter and to and through the stenosis. The microdilation probe and dilating guidewire can consist of a "spring tip" guidewire with a balloon on the proximal side of the tip. The balloon of the microdilation probe, dilating guidewire, or similar device is then inflated, creating an opening sufficiently large to permit insertion of the balloon catheter. The deflated microdilation probe, dilating guidewire, or similar device could be located proximally, distally, or still within the stenosis. Inflation of the balloon catheter further dilates the stenosis.
The present invention improves upon approaches such as these while accomplishing the following objects.
It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved combination catheter device and method of its use, while reducing the steps required to perform an angioplasty procedure.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device and procedure which avoid having a guidewire type of member pass distally of a lesion more than once during the entire procedure.
Another object of the present invention is to improve angioplasty devices and procedures so that angioplasty procedures are available to patients who might otherwise require heart bypass surgery.
Another object of this invention is to reduce risk to the patient due to potential disassembly of components while in the body.

Multiple component balloon catheter system and stenosis treatment procedure


An object of the present invention is to provide a process that enables isocyanate to be produced stably over a long period of time and at high yield without encountering problems of the prior art during production of isocyanate without using phosgene. The present invention discloses a process for producing an isocyanate by subjecting a carbamic acid ester to a thermal decomposition reaction, including the steps of: recovering a low boiling point component in a form of a gaseous phase component from a thermal decomposition reaction vessel in which the thermal decomposition reaction is carried out; recovering a liquid phase component containing a carbamic acid ester from a bottom of the thermal decomposition reaction vessel; and supplying all or a portion of the liquid phase component to an upper portion of the thermal decomposition reaction vessel.

Isocyanates are widely used as raw materials of such products as polyurethane foam, paints, adhesives and the like. The main industrial production process of isocyanates involves reacting amine compounds with phosgene (phosgene method), and nearly the entire amount of isocyanates produced throughout the world are produced according to the phosgene method. However, the phosgene method has numerous problems.
Firstly, this method requires the use of a large amount of phosgene as the raw material. Phosgene is extremely toxic and requires special handling precautions to prevent exposure of handlers thereof, and also requires special apparatuses to detoxify waste.
Secondly, since highly corrosive hydrogen chloride is produced in large amounts as a by-product of the phosgene method, in addition to requiring a process for detoxifying the hydrogen chloride, in many cases hydrolytic chlorine is contained in the isocyanates produced. Consequently, in the case of using isocyanates produced by the phosgene method, the isocyanates may have a detrimental effect on the weather resistance and heat resistance of polyurethane products.
On the basis of this background, a process for producing isocyanate compounds has been sought that does not use phosgene. One example of a method for producing isocyanate compounds without using phosgene that has been proposed involves thermal decomposition of carbamic acid esters. Isocyanates and hydroxy compounds have long been known to be obtained by thermal decomposition of carbamic acid esters (see, for example, Non-Patent document 1). The basic reaction is illustrated by the following formula:R(NHCOOR′)a→R(NCO)a+aR′OH  (1)(wherein R represents an organic residue having a valence of a, R′ represents a monovalent organic residue, and a represents an integer of 1 or more).
On the other hand, thermal decomposition of carbamic acid esters is susceptible to the simultaneous occurrence of various irreversible side reactions such as thermal denaturation reactions undesirable for carbamic acid esters or condensation of isocyanates formed by the thermal decomposition. Examples of these side reactions may include a reaction in which urea bonds are formed as represented by the following formula (2), a reaction in which carbodiimides are formed as represented by the following formula (3), and a reaction in which isocyanurates are formed as represented by the following formula (4) (see Non-Patent documents 1 and 2).

Note that in the above formulas, R and R′ represent groups such as aliphatic alkyl groups or aromatic alkyl groups.
In addition to these side reactions leading to a decrease in yield and selectivity of the target isocyanate, in the production of polyisocyanates in particular, these reactions may make long-term operation difficult as a result of, for example, causing the precipitation of polymeric solids that clog the reaction vessel.
Various processes have been proposed thus far for the production of isocyanates without using phosgene.
According to the description of Patent document 1, aliphatic diurethane and/or alicyclic diurethane and/or aliphatic polyurethane and/or alicyclic polyurethane are obtained by reacting aliphatic primary diamine and/or alicyclic primary diamine and/or aliphatic primary polyamine and/or alicyclic primary polyamine in the presence of an O-alkyl carbamate and alcohol, in the presence or absence of a catalyst at a temperature of from 160 to 300° C. such that the ratio of amine NH2 groups to carbamate to alcohol is 1:0.8 to 10:0.25 to 50, and by removing the ammonia formed as necessary. The resulting diurethane and/or polyurethane can be converted to the corresponding diisocyanate and/or highly functional polyisocyanate as necessary. Details of the reaction conditions of the thermal decomposition are not described in the applicable patent document.
According to Patent document 2, aromatic diisocyanates and/or polyisocyanates are produced by going through the following two steps. More specifically, in the first step, an aromatic primary amine and/or aromatic primary polyamine are reacted with an O-alkyl carbamate in the presence or absence of a catalyst and in the presence or absence of urea and alcohol to form an aryl diurethane and/or aryl polyurethane followed by removal of the ammonia formed as necessary. In the second step, an aromatic isocyanate and/or aromatic polyisocyanate are obtained by thermal decomposition of the aryl diurethane and/or aryl polyurethane.
Other publications contain descriptions relating to the partial substitution of urea and/or diamine a carbonyl-containing compound such as N-substituted carbamate and/or dialkyl carbonate, or by mono-substituted urea, di-substituted urea, mono-substituted polyurea or di-substituted polyurea (see Patent document 3, Patent document 4, Patent document 5, Patent document 6 and Patent document 7). Patent document 8 describes a process for producing aliphatic O-aryl urethane by reacting (cyclic) aliphatic polyamines with urea and aromatic hydroxy compounds.
Several processes are known for forming the corresponding isocyanate and alcohol by thermal decomposition of the (cyclic) aliphatic, and particularly the aromatic monourethanes and diurethanes, examples of which may include a process carried out at a high temperature in a gaseous phase, and a process carried out under comparatively low temperature conditions in a liquid phase. In these processes, however, since there are cases in which, for example, the reaction mixture forms precipitates, polymeric substances and closed compounds in the reaction vessel and recovery apparatus due to the occurrence of side reactions as previously described, or these substances form substances that adhere to the walls of the reaction vessel, economic efficiency is poor in the case of producing isocyanates over a long period of time.
Thus, chemical methods, such as the use of a special catalyst (see Patent document 9 and Patent document 10) or a catalyst combined with an insert solvent (see Patent document 11) are disclosed for improving yield during thermal decomposition of urethane.
For example, Patent document 12 describes a process for producing hexamethylene diisocyanate involving thermal decomposition of hexamethylene diethyl urethane in the presence of dibenzyl toluene used as a solvent and in the presence of a catalyst mixture containing methyl toluene sulfonate and diphenyl tin dichloride. However, since there is no detailed description of production of the starting components, isolation or purification and arbitrary recovery of the solvent and catalyst mixture, the economic effects of this process were unable to be assessed.
According to the process described in Patent document 13, urethane can be easily decomposed to isocyanate and alcohol in a carbon-containing fluidized bed without using a catalyst. In addition, according to the description of Patent document 14, hexamethylene dialkyl urethane can be decomposed in a gaseous phase at a temperature exceeding 300° C. in the presence or absence of a gas-permeable packaging material composed of, for example, carbon, copper, bronze, steel, zinc, aluminum, titanium, chromium, cobalt or quartz, resulting in the formation of hexamethylene diisocyanate.
According to the description of Patent document 14, the process is carried out in the presence of a hydrogen halide and/or hydrogen halide donor. However, this process is unable to achieve a yield of hexamethylene diisocyanate of 90% or more. This is because the decomposition product partially rebonds resulting in the formation of urethane bonds. Thus, purification of the hexamethylene diisocyanate by distillation is still required, and there are numerous cases in which yield loss increases.
Moreover, Patent document 15 discloses that monocarbamates can be advantageously decomposed at high yield without using a solvent under reduced pressure and/or in the presence or absence of a stabilizer and at a comparatively low temperature. The decomposition products (monoisocyanates and alcohol) are removed by distillation from a boiling reaction mixture and captured separately by fractional condensation. A method for partially removing the reaction mixture is generically described in order to remove by-products formed during thermal decomposition. Thus, although it is possible to remove by-products from the bottom of the reaction vessel, the problem of the case of substances adhering to the walls of the reaction vessel as previously described remains, and problems regarding long-term operation are unresolved. In addition, there is no description regarding the industrial use of the removed residual substances (containing large amounts of useful components).
According to the description of Patent document 16, thermal decomposition of aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic polycarbamates is carried out at from 150 to 350° C. and from 0.001 to 20 bar, in the presence of an inert solvent, and in the presence or absence of a catalyst and assistant in the form of hydrogen chloride, organic acid chloride, alkylation agent or organic tin compound. By-products formed can be removed continuously from the reaction vessel together with the reaction solution, for example, and corresponding amounts of fresh solvent or recovered solvent are added simultaneously. Examples of disadvantages of this process may include a decrease in the space time yield of polyisocyanate due to the use of a circulating solvent, and a large energy requirement, including recovery of the solvent. Moreover, since the assistant used is volatile under the reaction conditions, contamination of the decomposition products can occur. In addition, since there is a large amount of residual substances formed relative to the polyisocyanate formed, there is some doubt regarding economic efficiency and reliability as an industrial process.
Patent document 17 describes a process for continuous thermal decomposition of a carbamate supplied along the inner walls of a tubular reaction vessel in the form of a liquid in the presence of a high boiling point solvent, an example of which may include an alicyclic diurethane in the form of 5-(ethoxycarbonylamino)-1-(ethoxycarbonylaminomethyl)-1,3,3-trimethylcyclohexane. This process has the shortcomings of low yield and low selectivity during production of (cyclic) aliphatic diisocyanates. In addition, there is no description of a continuous method accompanying recovery of rebonded or partially decomposed carbamates, nor is there any mention of post-treatment of solvent containing by-products and catalyst.
According to the description of Patent document 18, a circulating process is disclosed for producing (cyclic) aliphatic diisocyanates by conversion of the corresponding diamine to diurethane followed by thermal decomposition of the urethane. This process minimizes decreases in yield by recirculating the product of the urethane decomposition step following reaction with alcohol to an urethanation step. By-products that are unable to be recirculated are removed by separating the by-products by distilling a mixture of the urethanation products, and in this case, residues of no value are formed in the form of bottom products, and all components having a comparatively low boiling point, including diurethane, are removed from the top of the column. However, this process has the shortcoming of using a large amount of energy. This is because, in addition to requiring all diurethanes to be evaporated in the presence of a catalyst, the diurethanes must be evaporated at a temperature level within a range of the decomposition temperature of urethane. Isocyanate groups formed in useful products react with residual urethane, frequently resulting in the formation of comparatively high molecular weight by-products that decrease yield.
According to the description of Patent document 19, a process is disclosed whereby worthless by-products are partially removed outside the system prior to carrying out thermal decomposition of polyurethane. The shortcoming of this process is a decrease in the yield of isocyanate since polyurethane ends up being contained in the by-products partially removed outside the system. In addition, although components that do not undergo thermal decomposition present in a reaction mixture obtained in the thermal decomposition step of polyurethane and containing unreacted polyurethane, high boiling point oligomers, and other worthless by-products that are able to be reused are separated and continuously removed from the thermal decomposition apparatus and recirculated to the urethanation step following reaction with alcohol either directly or as necessary in an attempt to increase the yield of isocyanates, recirculated high boiling point oligomers present in the system during the urethanation step may precipitate in the urethanation reaction vessel and gradually accumulate on the walls of the reaction vessel, thereby impairing operation over a long period of time.
In addition, according to the description of Patent document 20, isocyanates are produced by continuous thermal cleavage decomposition of carbamic acid ester using a process in which a reaction medium containing carbamic acid ester is heated so that a biphasic mixture is formed having a gas volume of greater than 50%, the gaseous phase is continuously discharged from the reaction vessel, and the liquid phase is continuously discharged from the reaction vessel. In this process as well, although components that do not undergo thermal decomposition present in a reaction mixture containing unreacted polyurethane, high boiling point oligomers, and other worthless by-products that are able to be reused are separated and continuously removed from the thermal decomposition apparatus and recirculated to the urethanation step following reaction with alcohol either directly or as necessary in an attempt to increase the yield of isocyanates, similar to the process described above, recirculated high boiling point oligomers present in the system during the urethanation step may precipitate in the urethanation reaction vessel and gradually accumulate on the walls of the reaction vessel, thereby impairing operation over a long period of time.
Patent document 21 discloses a process for carrying out thermal decomposition by evaporating methyl urethane, obtained by reacting dimethyl carbonate and amine in the presence of a basic catalyst followed by introducing into a thermal decomposition reaction vessel. Although unevaporated components are removed from the bottom of the evaporator during evaporation of methyl urethane, since methyl urethane ends up being contained in the removed components, this process has the shortcoming of causing a decrease in the yield of isocyanate. In addition, thermal denaturation of methyl urethane also tends to occur easily since methyl urethane vapor is transferred at a high temperature.    Patent document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,963    Patent document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,970    Patent document 3: U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,238    Patent document 4: U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,505    Patent document 5: U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,110    Patent document 6: U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,678    Patent document 7: U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,679    Patent document 8: European Patent Publication No. 0320235    Patent document 9: U.S. Pat. No. 2,692,275    Patent document 10: U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,941    Patent document 11: U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,472    Patent document 12: U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,426    Patent document 13: U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,499    Patent document 14: U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,466    Patent document 15: U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,033    Patent document 16: U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,246    Patent document 17: U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,550    Patent document 18: European Patent No. 0355443    Patent document 19: U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,053    Patent document 20: Japanese Patent No. 3238201    Patent document 21: U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,034    Non-Patent document 1: Berchte der Deutechen Chemischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 3, p. 653, 1870    Non-Patent documents 2: Journal of American Chemical Society, Vol. 81, p. 2138, 1959

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A collapsible sports goal that can be selectively configured between an erect configuration and a folded configuration. The sports goal has six frame elements. Each of the frame elements has two opposite ends. Each end of the frame elements connects to the end of another frame element using six connector joint assemblies. Each of the joint assemblies receives and interconnects a different two of the six frame elements. Each of the connector joint assemblies contains a hinge joint that enables the frame elements connected to each of the six joint assemblies to rotate about said hinge joint between a parallel configuration to a perpendicular configuration. When all of the connector joint assemblies are in their perpendicular configuration, the sports goal is in its fully erect configuration. Conversely, when all of the connector joint assemblies are in their parallel configuration, the sports goal is in its fully folded configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to sports goals, such as those uses as goals for soccer, hockey, lacrosse and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to sports goals that are foldable or otherwise collapsible into a shape that is easier to store and carry.
2. Prior Art Description
Many sports, such as soccer, hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, and the like use goals that rest upon the ground. Such goals vary in dimensions depending upon the rules of the game being played. A great multitude of undersized goals also exist for use in practice and unofficial backyard play.
Regardless of the size of the goal, sports goals tend to be large and bulky. As such, sports goals are difficult to package, difficult to transport to a sports field, and difficult to carry onto a sports field. It is for these reasons that many collapsible sports goals are available in the marketplace. Collapsible sports goals are goals that are designed to be folded or disassembled when not in use. Such sports goals typically come in two styles. The first style uses a flexible spring wire as the frame of the net. The flexible wire enables a net to be folded upon itself and flattened. Such prior art sports goals are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,433 to Armell, entitled Flexible Sports Goal. However, the spring wire must be continuous and have curved corners in order to spring back into its unfolded shape. Accordingly, the sports net cannot have a rectangular shape that is associated with most sports goals.
Another type of collapsible sports goal is the kind designed to be quickly assembled and disassembled. These sports goals typically have straight poles and corner connectors that interconnect the various poles to form the sports goal. Such prior art sports goals are U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,351 to Raber, entitled Portable Foldable Goal Assembly. The problem associated with sports goals that are assembled on site is that it takes time and effort to erect the sports goal. Furthermore, since the sports goal comes disassembled in pieces, all the pieces must be stored and carried together. If one small piece gets misplaced, it may not be possible to properly assemble the sports goal.
A need therefore exists for a sports goal that is collapsible, yet does not disassemble. A need also exists for a sports goal that forms a goal with square corners and wherein the sports goal can be erected using very little labor and time. These needs are met by the present invention as described and claimed below.


A vehicle radio includes a microprocessor-controlled tuner having a seek function. The tuner generates a station detect signal when a sufficiently strong signal is received, and the tuner also generates a multipath detect signal when a received signal exhibits undesirable multipath or adjacent channel conditions. To avoid ending the seek function when a relatively strong but poor-quality sideband signal is received, the microprocessor waits about 200 milliseconds after the station detect signal is generated, then determines whether the multipath detect signal is present, and if so, allows the seek to continue. On the other hand, the multipath detect signal can be expected to indicate that no multipath conditions exist (and, hence, that a good station signal exists) about 200 milliseconds after receipt of a good station signal, in which case the seek is terminated.

The present invention relates generally to vehicle radios, and more particularly to vehicle radios having station seek functions.
A feature of many vehicle radios is the so-called station seek function, wherein a xe2x80x9cseekxe2x80x9d switch on the radio can be manipulated by a user to cause the radio tuner to automatically change its frequency setting from the current setting to the station frequency closest to the current setting. In other words, by simply depressing the xe2x80x9cseekxe2x80x9d button, a user of such a radio can cause the radio to automatically xe2x80x9cfindxe2x80x9d the station closest to the current station, without requiring the user to rotate a tuner dial and essentially to audibly hunt for the next station. It will readily be appreciated that a seek function is particularly useful in vehicle applications, wherein the user might also be the driver and consequently someone whose manipulation of accessories such as radios is preferably minimized, to prevent unduly distracting the driver from his primary task.
Typically, when a radio""s user manipulates a seek switch, the tuner begins to sweep its frequency, monitoring the received signal amplitude as it does so. When the received signal amplitude is greater than a predetermined threshold (indicating receipt of a station), the tuner stops sweeping. Thus, any signal having an amplitude greater than the threshold will stop the seek function on that signal.
Most of the time the radio will stop on the center frequency of a radio station. It happens, however, that a particularly strong station, in addition to having a strong signal at its center frequency, can also produce relatively strong signals on so-called sideband channels. Also, an interfering signal can be caused by a signal from a relatively weak station that is near the center frequency of a stronger station, i.e., a sideband signal or sideband channel noise can be caused by a weak station. In either case, when the sideband signals are sufficiently strong, a radio in a seek function can be caused to stop on the sideband, before the center frequency is reached. This is undesirable, because sideband signals, while carrying some useful information, typically carry a great deal of unpleasant noise. Consequently, when a radio tuner stops on a sideband, the user must reinitiate the seek function (or manually tune the radio) to cause the radio to be tuned to the center frequency, which is much more pleasant to listen to.
As recognized by the present invention, however, it is possible to cause a radio to continue seeking a xe2x80x9clistenablexe2x80x9d station (i.e., a station with relative signal clarity) upon reception of a sideband signal that would otherwise be sufficiently strong to terminate the seek on the sideband, regardless of whether the sideband is caused by the station or another weaker station broadcasting on a sideband frequency. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for causing a radio in which a seek function has been invoked to continue sweeping its frequency past channels that contain large amounts of sideband noise. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for causing a radio to ignore sideband signals during seek, without requiring the addition of hardware to the radio. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for causing a radio to ignore sideband signals during seek that is easy to use and cost-effective.
A radio includes a tuner that has a station seek function. In turn, the tuner includes a station detect circuit for generating a station detect signal having either a true condition or a false condition. Furthermore, the tuner includes a multipath detect circuit for generating a multipath detect signal having either a true condition or a false condition. The radio also includes a microprocessor electrically connected to the tuner for receiving the station detect signal and multipath detect signal. When the station detect signal is true at a first time and when the multipath detect signal is false at a second time, the microprocessor causes the tuner to terminate the seek function. In accordance with the present invention, the second time is a predetermined time period, e.g., at least about 150 milliseconds and preferably about 200 milliseconds, after the first time.
Preferably, the tuner receives an input signal having an amplitude and one or more frequencies, and the station detect signal is true when the amplitude is greater than a predetermined amplitude. Additionally, the multipath detect signal is true when at least one of the frequencies (after demodulation and detection) is in a predetermined frequency band. In one preferred embodiment, the predetermined frequency band is from about sixty kiloHertz to about ninety kiloHertz (60 kHz-90 kHz). A vehicle incorporating the radio is also disclosed.
In another aspect of the present invention, a computer program device is used by a computer to end the seek function of a vehicle radio. As intended by the present invention, the program device is realized in a critical machine component that causes a computer to perform method steps to end the seek function. Stated differently, a machine component establishes a computer program product for ending a radio seek function. In accordance with the principles disclosed herein, the device can be implemented in logic means on a computer chip. Alternatively, the device can be implemented on an electrical circuit board, or in computer instructions on a machine-readable data storage medium.
The computer program device can include a logic means embodying instructions that are executable by the computer for ending a radio""s seek function. The device includes logic means for determining whether a station signal has been detected, and, if a station signal has been detected at a first time, waiting a predetermined time period after the first time. Then, after the elapse of the predetermined time period, logic means determine whether the station signal exhibits multipath conditions. Per the present method the seek function is terminated if the station signal does not exhibit multipath conditions. A computer-implemented method using the above steps is also disclosed.
In yet another aspect, a tuning device is disclosed for a vehicle radio having a seek function. The tuning device receives an input station signal and generates a demodulated detected signal in response. The device includes a voltage discriminator for generating a first signal when the amplitude of the station signal exceeds a predetermined amplitude. Additionally, the tuning device includes a frequency band detector for generating a second signal when the demodulated detected signal is not characterized by a frequency in a predetermined frequency band. Moreover, processor means are included for terminating the seek function of the radio when the second signal is received a predetermined time period after the first signal is received.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:


An optical drop cable-units cable comprising a plastic pipe and a plurality of strandless optical drop cable-units and held in the plastics pipe, in which a space factor EQU (B.times.n/A).times.100(%).ltoreq.51%. where. A: void cross-sectional area of the plastic pipe, PA1 B: a cross-sectional area of a single optical drop cable-unit, and PA1 n: number of optical drop cable-units.

The present invention relates to a cable assembly containing, a plurality of optical cable-units in a pipe. As used herein, a cable-unit is an element which can, in numbers, form a single cable, or which can alone serve as a subscriber's drop optical cable.
In an optical access system connecting a telephone office and subscriber terminals via an optical fiber, the adoption of an optical drop cable-unit as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 has been studied for use in making a direct connection to the subscriber terminals.
In FIG. 1, the optical drop cable-unit 1 is comprised of a unit formed by covering a core fiber, a pair of strength members 3 arranged astride of the core fiber and suspension member 4 with common covering 5 made of plastic.
As an optical drop cable-unit connection method, the following method is employed. An assembled cable 8 is suspended in such a form as shown in FIG. 2. The assembled cable 8 comprises a polyethylene pipe 7 formed integral with a sustainer members 6 and having a plurality of strandless optical drop cable-units 1 held therein. The pipe 7 is opened in such a position and a given one is led out of the optical drop cable-units 1 and dropped (connected) to the subscriber terminal.
In such an optical drop cable-unit cable 8, it is required that any given optical drop cable-unit be led out of the optical drop cable-units 1 held in the pipe 7. If, however, many more optical drop cable-units 1 are held in the pipe 7, too great a force is required for leading of the optical drop cable-unit, thus causing the leading operation to fail.

Optical drop cable-units aggregate cable

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation


An internal pressure relieving device for anti-armour ammunition. The device is mainly adapted for use with barrel-loaded ammunition, that is a naked round including a cartridge case, which normally would be located in its packaging. A plurality of slot formed openings have been cut out through a wall of the cartridge case and the openings have been sealed by inserts of polymeric plastic introduced with a tight fit into each opening. Hence, by the characteristics of the plastic material, the inserts can be configured to open up at a predetermined level of temperature. Alternatively, the inserts open up at a predetermined level of pressure in the cartridge case.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for preventing an unintentional increase of internal pressure in a round comprising a shell and a cartridge case assembly with a cartridge case to be loaded in a barrel of a weapon of an anti-armour non-disposable type. More particularly, the invention relates to a device which is mainly adapted for use with barrel-loaded ammunition per se, that is a naked round, which normally would be located in its packaging, for example a double tube of a conventional kind. Even if said cartridge case has no external support when it is not loaded in the barrel, there is a chance of an increase of internal pressure sufficient for fragmentation of the cartridge case or even for disengaging the shell from the cartridge case assembly and detonating it, should the propellant charge of said assembly accidentally ignite.
2. Description of Related Art
When transporting and storing anti-armour ammunition for weapons of the non-disposable type there is in some cases, involving SCO, SD, FCO, BI and FI situations, a potential chance of an accidental firing of the propellant charge. Normally, any accidental firing of the propellant charge could lead to a closely following fragmentation of said round and a possible detonation of the shell, which in turn would lead to possible fatal consequences, especially when the round is situated in an unrestrained manner (naked round). Recent national and local requirements recommend that in any of the above situations no parts shall be expelled more than 15 meters (30 feet). Up till now the related technical field lacks a suitable solution to the present problem.

Internal pressure relieving device for anti-armour ammunition


Methods and apparatuses for processing systems capable of compensating for data skew are disclosed. An example apparatus can include delay circuitry that includes a plurality of delay devices each being individually adjustable to produce an individual delay for each data line with each data line including branches of different lengths leading to different memory devices, and memory control circuitry coupled to the delay circuitry and configured to determine, for each data line, an individual delay based on an optimized critical window, the optimized critical window being based on multiple chip select signals.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
As computers and computer memories operate ever faster, memory performance becomes increasingly subject to timing skew. For example, memory setup and hold times, which were measured in the tens of nanoseconds a decade ago, are now measured in picoseconds. As a result, the variation in delays between different memory chips to a processor caused by different signal path lengths, as well as the delays between individual bits on the same memory chip, can lead to performance problems.

Apparatus and method to compensate for data skew for multiple memory devices and adjust delay for individual data lines based on an optimized critical window