A boundary of a well 102 of a finger structured MOSFET is positioned between an element region 104 and a gate contact 108. With this geometry, it is feasible to reduce the well and attain a decrease in noises. A well electric potential take-out region 105 is disposed in close proximity to the element region 104 within the well 102, thereby making it possible to reduce an areal size of the well and farther decrease the noises.

The present invention relates to a finger structured MOSFET, and more particularly to a MOSFET suitable for an application of reducing noises.
It is highly requested of an analog system circuit required to have a low noise characteristic that high-frequency noises of a transistor used for the analog circuit be decreased.
The noises emitted from the transistor are mainly caused by a resistance component. That is, the resistance component, when an electric current flows therethrough, emits heat noises, thus becoming a noise source.
Generally, the transistor used in a high-frequency analog amplifier circuit has a large size for reducing an input impedance and ensuring a gain. In this case, however, a gate resistance increases, and on the contrary the noise characteristic declines.
Such being the case, a comb-shaped transistor is proposed as a MOSFET exhibiting the low noise characteristic.
FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a construction of a finger structured MOSFET which has hitherto been proposed. FIG. 14 is a sectional view thereof taken along the line D-D. An active region 4 taking a laterally elongate rectangular shape serving as a source or drain region, which is surrounded with an element isolation layer 3, is provided within a well 2 formed in the surface of a semiconductor substrate 1. A polysilicon layer 6 serving as a gate electrode is provided on the element isolation layer 3 and the active region 4 as well, and a geometry thereof is, as shown in FIG. 13, that a plurality of gates each taking a rectangular shape with a predetermined width (a gate length) and connected to each other to form a gate electrode, reciprocates up and down with respect to the active region 4 on the element isolation layer 3 as viewed in FIG. 13 while traversing the active region 4, thus assuming rectangular undulations (a finger structure). Then, an impurity is diffused into the active regions 4 disposed on both sides of the gates defined as transverse areas, whereby sources 4a and drains 4b are alternately formed in self-alignment to the gates.
With such a geometry being adopted, an apparent gate width of the transistor is increased while restraining a gate resistance.
Further, a substrate contact region 5 for taking out an electric potential of the well, is provided outwardly at a spacing from the active region 4.
Moreover, a first contact hole 8 for supplying the gate electrode with an electric signal and a second contact hole 9 for taking out the well electric potential, are formed penetrating a first inter-layer insulating layer 7 deposited on the semiconductor substrate 1, and are filled with a metal such as aluminum etc, thus forming a first layer wire 10 through patterning. Herein, the first contact hole 8 is positioned between the active region 4 and the well electric potential take-out region 5.
A second inter-layer insulating layer 11 deposited on the first inter-layer insulating layer 7 is formed with a third contact hole 12 corresponding to the first contact hole 8, and a second layer wire (a gate wire) 13 is formed on the second inter-layer insulating layer 11, which involves filling the hole 12 with a metal and undergoing the patterning. Note that refractory metal silicide is provided on the surfaces of the gate electrode and of the gate wire, whereby a much lower resistance thereof can be attained.
Herein, as illustrated in FIG. 14, a variety of parasitic capacitances and parasitic resistances might occur in the construction of the finger structured MOSFET in FIG. 13. For instance, it might be considered that there exist a capacitance Cgb between the gate polysilicon layer and the well, a substrate resistance R between the well and the well electric potential take-out substrate contact, and a capacitance Cpad between the gate wire and the substrate.
On the other hand, the high frequency noises are influenced by a distance between the substrate contact and the element region and by a size of the well.
FIG. 11 is a graph showing a relationship between a drain current and a noise factor NF when an operation frequency is 2 GHz, wherein what is marked with a black circle shows a characteristic in a conventional MOSFET of which a gate width is 200 .mu.m and a gate length is 0.25 .mu.m.
In the conventional finger structured MOSFET, the substrate contact is formed outwardly of the contacts of the active region and of the gate electrode, and hence a distance between the substrate contact and an impurity diffused region could not be sufficiently decreased. There was therefore a limit in reducing the noises.


An aerodynamic blunt aft body (10) of a helicopter fuselage with two strakes (7, 8) along an aft surface (9) and/or respective left hand and right hand side fuselage surfaces (5, 6). Each strake (7, 8) is defined by first and second intersection lines (3, 4) resulting from intersections of horizontal planes (z) with the surface of the aft surface (9) or the respective left hand and right hand side fuselage surfaces (7, 8). The strakes are defined by a two or three dimensional spline (12) from the surface (2) towards the aft surface (9) inside said first and second intersection lines (3, 4) and inside the bounding box (15).

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention is related to an aerodynamic, blunt aft body, particularly an aerodynamic, blunt aft body of a helicopter with a rear loading capability according to the preamble of claim 1. The upsweep angle of the rear part of the helicopter fuselage is defined by the angle between the lowest tangential z-plane of the fuselage midsection and the tangential planes with the fuselage midsection. An aft body is blunt, when the maximum of the said upsweep angle is greater than 25°.
(2) Description of Related Art
The aerodynamics of helicopters with fuselages featuring a blunt aft body, e.g. fuselages featuring a backdoor or a ramp/hatch with rear loading capabilities, are characterized by flow separation in the blunt aft body region, said flow separation being the main source of fuselage drag. Improving the flow by reducing as much as possible the separation region on the blunt aft body to weaken the turbulence in this region, can noticeably reduce drag of the aircraft and hence required power and fuel consumption of the helicopter can be reduced.
The installation of so called strakes is known to reduce the drag of cambered rear loading aft bodies of airplanes. However, helicopters do indeed fly often at flow conditions with side-slip angles much higher than the ones airplanes experience. For those high side-slip angles the flow separates upstream of the strakes. In these cases, the fuselage drag is no longer reduced, but can even increase.
The document US 2009/0078830 A (Airbus) discloses a surface including a geometrical deformation configured to generate lateral aerodynamic disturbances on the central fairing to control the flow of air. This patent does neither deal with helicopters nor with reducing separated flows, nor with lateral stability.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,009 A (NASA) discloses a method and apparatus for controlling yaw and pitch at high angles of attack by controlling the vortex pattern around the forebodies of air vehicles by means of deflecting strakes. This patent does not deal with drag reduction of blunt aft bodies. In fact these deflecting strakes generate control moments around the pitch and yaw axis by increasing the fuselage sectional forebody drag. Considering the local flow condition around the fuselage forebody the strakes act as spoilers, being placed transversally with respect to the air flow.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,430 A discloses the use of strakes on helicopters to spoil the airflow on the tail boom so that less side thrust is needed from the tail rotor. It is not dealing with blunt fuselages.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 7,686,245 discloses a download alleviation strake on a rotary aircraft said strake extending at least partially along a length of the fuselage and configured to reduce a downwash download during operation of the rotor assembly. There is no hint to drag reduction or lateral stability.


An impact absorbing member is formed by bending one sheet of a metal plate material and then joining adjacent end parts thereof. The impact absorbing member includes the following integrally-connected portions: a fixing plate, an impact absorbing part having two first side wall plates and two second side wall plates, two flange plates, and two bridge plates. The impact absorbing part overall has an approximate square or rectangular tube shape after being bent. Joining parts are provided at each opposing end parts of the first and second side wall plates. The adjacent end parts of the first and second side wall plates overlap and are joined. The end parts of the two flange plates are also joined to the end parts of the two bridge plates.

Conventionally, bumpers are provided at the front or at the rear of a vehicle such as a car for mitigating impact energy transmitted to the vehicle by absorbing the impact at the time of a collision with another vehicle. The bumper typically includes an outer cover made of a resin, a reinforcement that extends in the vehicle width direction, and a foamed resin that fills a gap between the outer cover and the reinforcement. The reinforcement is mounted on a frame of a vehicle body via an impact absorbing member that absorbs impact energy by undergoing buckling deformation.
For example, as described in Patent Document 1 or the like, hollow-extruded-shaped materials made of aluminum alloy and having a predetermined cross-sectional shape, which takes into consideration the impact absorption, have been widely used as the above-mentioned impact absorbing member.
In addition, in Patent Document 2 an impact absorbing member is proposed that is obtained by press deep drawing an aluminum plate material to form a bottomed cylindrical body and then forming a spiral-shaped step on the outer wall surfaces by press working the bottomed cylindrical body in the axial direction.

Impact absorbing member and bumper device


An inflatable beach pillow with a pocket to slip over a beach chair and having both water and air compartments is furnished with suction for supporting the pillow from the side of a tub so that it will serve as a combination chair pillow and tub pillow. The suction cups are disposed either on the air compartment side or on the water compartment side.

This invention relates to an inflatable pillow. More particularly, it relates to an inflatable pillow incorporating a water compartment that can either be used over the back of a chair, or can be used in a tub in the bath or at a spa.
An inflatable beach pillow having a pocket adapted to be filled with sand and having straps to attach it to a chair is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,154 issued Mar. 28, 1989 to Grimes. The Grimes patent uses sand as a weighting material and therefore would be of limited use in a swimming pool where there is no sand.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,116 issued Apr. 17, 2001 to Sloot discloses an inflexible pillow attached to a pocket-shaped slipcover designed to fit over the back of a chair, but having no means to use it as a weighted beach pillow.
My U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,429 issued Feb. 3, 2004 describes a beach pillow with an inflatable air compartment and a fillable water compartment on a flexible base sheet. The base sheet and sheet or sheets forming the compartments can be either permanently or temporarily connected on their sides to form a pocket. The pocket can be slipped over the back of the chair to allow the inflatable pillow to serve as a head rest. However, the pillow is not easily used in a tub or at the spa, because the walls of the tub are inclined and there is no means to hold it in place. If the pillow is used on a smooth surface, where there is high wind or on a moving object, such as the deck or bow of a boat, there is danger of it blowing away, even when the water compartment is used to add weight.
It would be desirable to extend the use of such an inflatable pillow so that it can serve as a headrest while using a tub in a bath or spa or on smooth surfaces in windy locations.
It would also be desirable to allow the user to adjust the cushioning effect of an inflatable pillow having both a water compartment and an air compartment when such a pillow is used in a tub or on the bow of a moving boat.
It would also be desirable to be able to adjust the temperature of the pillow by adding water of a desired temperature.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved inflatable pillow that can be used either over the back of a chair or on smooth surfaces, such as a tub, or in a spa, or on the deck or bow of a boat.
Another object of the invention is to enhance the performance of an inflatable pillow especially adapted for use in a tub or at a spa by adding a water compartment for adjustable support and temperature control.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system and method for allowing gaming device participants to effect trades of player assets for improved odds of attaining gaming bonus events. A player engages in play of a gaming activity, such as a slot game, which includes a standard mode of play and a bonus mode of play. Player assets are traded for an increased probability of attaining a bonus event associated with the bonus mode. A trade amount is surrendered by the player as part of the trade, and the probability of the player attaining the bonus event increased, thereby allowing the player to engage in bonus activity sooner, more frequently, or when otherwise less available to the player.

Gaming devices such as slot machines have been in use in the U.S. for over a century. The earliest slot machines originally paid out in cigars and chewing gum. Remnants of the early slot machines are manifested in the traditional "fruit" symbols such as cherries, lemons, oranges, etc., which represent the original flavors of gum. Notwithstanding the similarity of the symbols and reels associated with the slot machines of both today and yesteryear, modern day slot machine implementations are markedly different than their mechanical ancestors. This dramatic implementation disparity results primarily from the advent of computers and video capabilities.
Pure chance gaming devices such as slot machines have proved wildly popular, and in recent years have rivaled and even surpassed their once untouchable table game counterparts. One reason for this popularity is the increase in innovation, and the recognition of the need for human stimulation. While true that a primary motivator for people to play gaming devices is the chance to win monetary or other prizes (in the case of legalized gambling), the intrigue and excitement of playing these newly created machines lures people as well. It is therefore important in the gaming industry that innovative gaming devices continue to be rolled out to the playing public.
Commonly referred to as one-armed bandits, the goal of slot machines is to spin the reels so that the symbols on all reels line up on the payline in a winning combination. For multi-lined paylines, a coin or other token may be played for any one or more of the available paylines, and each of the paylines may provide a winning payout. When this occurs, the slot machine pays out according to the payoff table posted on the slot machine. The payoff table informs players of the winning symbol combinations for that machine, and what each combination pays based on the number of coins allocated for the spin. If a winning combination occurs, the machine releases money or tokens into a payout chute, or may award the winning amount onto a credit meter for the player. For example, if a player initially wagered three coins and that player won a high payout, that player may receive fifty coins of the same denomination in return, or may receive fifty credits for continued play.
It is a continual effort to try to find ways to attract and captivate players in playing gaming machines, such as slot games. One such manner of stimulating interest and heightening excitement has been through the use of "bonus" events. Bonus events or games are used to attract and keep players at a gaming machine. A bonus game is typically an additional gaming reel or machine, or a random selection device, that is enabled by a bonus qualifying signal from an underlying or primary gaming machine. Generally, a predetermined prize-winning combination of symbols in an underlying or primary game may result in the player being awarded one or more bonus games. Often the bonus event has a much higher probability of winning, thereby instilling a great interest by players in being awarded bonus events.
There are various known secondary or "bonus" events known in the art. One such bonus event allows the player to depress a bonus spin button to allow the player one or more "free spins" in which a winning payout may be made. Alternatively, additional, discrete bonus reels may be used for the bonus event. In such case, a particular symbol on any one or more of the reels which is stopped on a winning line may result in a winning payout. The reels may be controllable in a bonus play, unlike the underlying primary gaming play. For example, the reels may be individually stopped, and/or the reels may be rotated slower to allow the player to attempt to stop the reel such that the prize-winning symbol stops on the win line. In another example, a bonus event for a video slot machine may have a second screen where the player is rewarded with a bonus game, such as allowing the player to pick one of five different items on the second screen, and the selected item reveals a value won by the player. In recent times, bonus events have become quite extravagant, sometimes leading the player through video animations that provide visual and audio entertainment while providing clever ways in which the participant can receive payouts of varying quantities. After engaging in the bonus event, play resumes in the underlying, primary gaming machine.
Due to the entertainment, excitement and heightened potential for reaping monetary rewards, participants yearn to reach the bonus rounds. Traditionally, this has been the intent of bonus events, to tantalize the participant into continued play to reach the prize of a bonus round. However, the advancement of video gaming devices and sophistication of bonus event activities may have, to many participants, made reaching the bonus round even a greater priority than anticipated. A potential exists for disappointment or frustration by participants of a gaming device that either fails to employ bonus activities, or causes the participant to wait too long before presenting the participant with the more exciting bonus activities.
The present invention recognizes the strong desirability of bonus activities in today's gaming industry, and addresses the need to attract and hold participants' interest through heightened bonus round activity. Accordingly, the present invention addresses the current need in the gaming industry for a manner of augmenting bonus round activities of gaming devices, by establishing a participant-controlled barter system for improving or otherwise altering the odds of reaching and/or engaging in bonus activity. Thus, the present invention fulfills the aforementioned and other shortcomings of the prior art, and offers a variety of advantages over prior art gaming approaches.

System and method for facilitating trades for bonus activity in gaming systems


A thin, flexible magnetic sheet material for therapeutic purposes has a spiral magnetization pattern in which areas of alternating north and south magnetic polarity are arranged in a concentric spiral pattern expanding from a center point. The sheet material may incorporate an adhesive layer for fastening to the skin of a patient.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to magnetic sheet materials and more particularly to flexible magnetic sheet materials for therapeutic use.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
A number of magnetic sheet materials intended for application to the surface of a human or animal body for therapeutic effect have been devised. Mitsuno, U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,111, discloses a flexible planar magnetic sheet material for therapeutic use having areas of alternating magnetic polarity. Mitsuno discloses a pattern wherein generally circular areas of one magnetic polarity are surrounded by a general background of the opposite magnetic polarity. Mitsuno also discloses a pattern of undulating interdigitated areas of alternating magnetic polarity. Baermann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,532 discloses a flexible magnetic sheet for therapeutic use made of magnetic particles dispersed in a rubbery matrix and having concentric circles or rectangles of alternating magnetic polarity. In another embodiment, Baermann's magnetic sheet has sectors of alternating polarity.
The therapeutic magnetic materials of the prior art have attempted to provide a pattern of magnetic polarity that does not have a preferential orientation with respect to anatomical structures, e.g., blood vessels, in or close to the skin. Such patterns are intended to insure that the effect of the magnetic field on the anatomical structures in uniform in any direction. However, the known patterns may not provide for such uniform influence in all cases.
Accordingly a need has continued to exist for an improved therapeutic magnetic sheet material having a pattern that provides a highly symmetrical arrangement of magnetic poles.


A power seat adjuster includes first and second spaced track assemblies, each formed of an upper track slidably mounted on a lower track anchored to a vehicle floor. A drive block disposed in each upper track rotatably engages a lead screw bi-directionally rotated by a drive transmission coupled to the output shaft of a horizontal drive motor mounted between the track assemblies. A drive block mounting bracket supports each drive block and has a leg extending through an elongated slot in the upper track and an aperture in the lower tracks to a fixed connection to the lower track. A seat support plate is disposed adjacent each upper track and is connected to a seat. A pair of vertical drive motors are each coupled through a lead screw, a rotatable shaft and pivot links to opposite ends of the seat support plates for selectively varying the vertical position of the ends of the seat support plates with respect to the track assemblies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to vehicle seats and, more specifically, to power seat adjusters for vehicle seats.
1. Description of the Art
Power seat adjusters are available on many automotive vehicles. Such power seat adjusters are primarily used on the driver's seat and, occasionally, also on the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
Power seat adjusters typically carry an upper support frame or support members which engage and support the seat bottom of a vehicle seat. The upper support members are mounted on first and second, spaced track assemblies, each formed of an upper track which is connected to the upper support members and which is also slidably mounted in a lower track anchored to the vehicle floor. A drive mechanism, typically formed of a bi-directional electric motor mounted on the power seat adjuster, rotates a pair of drive shafts extending outward from the motor to a gear assembly or gear box mounted in each upper track. In one arrangement, the gear box rotates a lead screw extending along each upper track. A drive block connected by a bracket extending outward from the upper track and downward to a fixed connection with the lower track threadingly receives the lead screw to cause reciprocal movement of the upper track and the attached upper support member upon selective direction energization of the drive motor. Other drive motors may also be incorporated into the power seat adjuster to provide vertical movement of the front or back or both ends of the upper support members as well as pivotal movement of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom.
In certain vehicle configurations, interior space for mounting a vehicle seat having a power seat adjuster is constricted or limited, particularly in height. Such vehicle configurations have previously required a manual seat adjuster due to the larger height requirement of power seat adjusters employing electric drive motors and interconnecting drive shafts, links, lead screws, etc. This is particularly the case in power seat adjusters having a bracket attached to a drive nut mounted on a lead screw in an upper track which extends outward from the upper track and then downward to a fixed engagement at one end to the lower track.
Thus, it will be desirable to provide a power seat adjuster for a vehicle seat which has a minimal height so as to be usable in a wide variety of vehicle configurations. It would also be desirable to provide a power seat adjuster having at least horizontal fore and aft movement which has improved mechanical response and a reduced cost compared to previously devised power seat adjusters.

Power seat adjuster with horizontal slot drive


Loudspeaker has frame, magnetic circuit, voice coil, diaphragm, first combination and second combination. First combination and second combination are both provided closer to magnetic circuit than diaphragm, the inner rims of which are connected to voice coil while the outer rims are to frame. First combination has first damper and first edge wherein first edge has first edge protrusion protruding in a direction toward diaphragm. Second combination has second damper and second edge wherein second edge has second edge protrusion protruding in an opposite direction to the protruding direction of first edge protrusion This structure obtains loudspeaker that distortion is suppressed and weight reduction is easy for an excursion part thus improved in driving efficiency.

The conventional loudspeaker 100 has a magnetic circuit 101, a voice coil 102, a diaphragm 103 and a frame 105, as shown in FIG. 12. The voice coil 102 is arranged movable relative to the magnetic gap provided over the magnetic circuit 101 and connected to an inner rim of the diaphragm 103. The diaphragm 103 has an outer rim connected to the frame 105 via a diaphragm edge 104. Furthermore, diaphragm 103 has a rear surface connected to the frame 105 via a suspension holder 106 and an edge 107. By providing the protrusion form of diaphragm edge 104 and the protrusion form of edge 107 in opposite direction, the vertical excursion of diaphragm 103 is given symmetric with respect to the vertical. This reduces distortion of loudspeaker 100.
Such a conventional loudspeaker 100 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2004-7332 (patent document 1), for example.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2004-7332


Methods and apparatus for non-axisymmetric radome according to various aspects of the present invention include a non-symmetric housing for a forward portion of a projectile. Multiple sensors may be positioned in an off-axis configuration within the non-symmetric housing reducing the possibility of one sensor interfering with the operation of another sensor. The non-symmetric housing may also be configured with a strengthening member suitably adapted to provide additional resistance to bending moments caused by external loading along a surface of the non-symmetric housing.

Projectiles such as missiles, bombs, interceptors, and similar targeted airframes utilize sensors for guidance. Typically one or more sensors are located in a forward section, or nose, of the projectile often necessitating the use of a radome assembly to provide the sensor a path to obtain data pertaining to flight characteristics, position, or target location. Ceramic radomes are commonly used but have several shortcomings.
Typical ceramics provide poor erosion resistance and are subject to damage from rain and particulates. This damage may "blind" the projectile during flight and/or cause premature warhead ignition. Increases in projectile velocity result in increased radome surface temperatures and it is common to use a symmetric ceramic radome incorporating various structural elements such as, ablative thermal protective overlaps, structural cutouts, fasteners, doublers, and the like. Each of these elements may involve significant labor to construct and implement, additional weight, and increased complexity. Moreover, conventional radomes utilizing additional structural elements may provide a potential leak path requiring in the use of multiple gaskets and seals to isolate internal components from the environment.


Systems and methods are described for communications networks. A method, includes deploying a communication link, at least a portion of which is protected against active equipment failure, that includes a splitter-combiner communicatively coupled between a data drop/add device and a headend. The systems and methods provide advantages because a communication network can be protected, at least in-part, against active equipment (e.g., data drop/add device) failure, passive equipment (e.g., optical fiber) failure, and/or equipped for non-intrusive expansion of the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of communication networks. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of splitter-combiners in ring communication networks.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Communication nodes are designed and used for point to point communications over a network. A communications node is a transmitting and receiving (TX/RX) source.
Stringing a plurality of nodes together into a ring network is well known to those skilled in the art of communications. What is also well known is that an interruption in communication service can be both inconvenient and costly.
For instance, a conventional ring network is shown in FIG. 1, where a physical bus logical ring is depicted with three nodes 110, 120, 130 communicatively coupled to a headend. Each of the nodes 110-130 includes a data drop/add device 125. Node 110 is physically connected to node 120 with a pair of optical fibers 140. Node 120 is physically coupled to node 130 with a further pair of optical fibers 150. FIG. 1 indicates by dashed line segments that additional nodes may be positioned between nodes 120 and 130.
Another instance of a conventional ring network is shown in FIG. 4, where a ring architecture is depicted with three nodes 410, 420, 430 communicatively coupled to a headend. As above, each of the nodes 410-430 includes the data drop/add device 125. However, node 420 is physically connected to node 410 with a single optical fiber 440. Similarly, node 430 is physically coupled to node 420 with a single optical fiber 450. FIG. 4 indicates by dashed line segments that additional nodes may be positioned along fiber 450 between nodes 420 and 430.
A disadvantage of either of the instances shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 is that a break one of the optical fiber lines can prevent all of the nodes from bidirectionally communicating with the headend. Therefore, what is required is solution that provides the network with at least some protection in the event of a break in one of the fiber lines.
One approach to providing some protection in the event of a break in one of the fibers in the past has been to connect the nodes together with redundant parallel fibers. A break in one fiber can then be overcome through the use of a parallel redundant fiber. However, a disadvantage of this approach has been relatively high cost. Therefore, what is also needed is a solution that provides some protection in the event of a fiber break in a more cost-effective manner.
Another problem with this technology has been that expansion of a ring network requires interruption of communication services. Adding a node to the ring requires that the ring be broken, at least temporarily, so that the new node can be inserted into the ring. This break in the ring can prevent all of the nodes from bidirectionally communicating with the headend until the installation is complete. In many commercial settings, such a temporary interruption to install additional nodes is unacceptable. Therefore, what is also required is a solution that permits the network to be expanded without interrupting communication service.
Another problem with this technology has been failure of active equipment along the ring. If one of the data drop/add devices fails, all of the nodes can be prevented from bidirectionally communicating with the headend. Therefore, what is also required is a solution that provides protection in the event of active equipment failure.
Heretofore, the requirement(s) of protection in the event of a line break, expandability without interruption, and protection in the event of active equipment failure, referred to above have not been fully met. What is needed is a solution that addresses at least one, and preferably all, of these requirements. The invention is directed to meeting these requirements, among others.
A goal of the invention is to simultaneously satisfy the above-discussed requirements of network protection in the event of a line break, expandability without communications interruption, and network protection in the event of active equipment failure which, in the case of the prior art, are not satisfied, much less simultaneously satisfied. Another goal of the invention is to satisfying one or two of these requirements.
One embodiment of the invention is based on an apparatus, comprising a communications link, said communications link including a splitter-combiner communicatively coupled to a headend, said splitter-combiner including: a signal splitter communicatively coupled to a headend input and communicatively coupled to a downstream output; and signal combiner communicatively coupled to said signal splitter, communicatively coupled to an upstream input, and communicatively coupled to a headend output. Another embodiment of the invention is based on a method, comprising deploying a communications link at least a portion of which is protected against signal conductor failure, wherein deploying includes providing said communications link with a splitter-combiner that is communicatively coupled to a headend. Another embodiment of the invention is based on a method, comprising deploying a communications link with non-intrusive expansion capability, wherein deploying includes providing said communications link with a splitter-combiner communicatively coupled to a headend.
Another embodiment of the invention is based on an apparatus, comprising a communications link, said communications link including a splitter-combiner communicatively coupled to a headend, said splitter-combiner including: a signal splitter communicatively coupled to a headend input and communicatively coupled to a downstream output; and signal combiner communicatively coupled to said signal splitter, communicatively coupled to an upstream input, and communicatively coupled to a headend output; and a data drop/add device communicatively coupled to said downstream output and communicatively coupled to said upstream input. Another embodiment of the invention is based on an apparatus, comprising a communications link, said communications link including a first splitter-combiner communicatively coupled to a headend, said first splitter-combiner including: a first signal splitter communicatively coupled to a first headend input and communicatively coupled to a first downstream output; and a first signal combiner communicatively coupled to said first signal splitter, communicatively coupled to a first upstream input, and communicatively coupled to a first headend output; a data drop/add device communicatively coupled to said first downstream output and communicatively coupled to said first upstream input; a second splitter-combiner communicatively coupled between said first headend input and said headend, said second splitter-combiner including: a second signal splitter communicatively coupled to said headend and communicatively coupled to a second downstream output; and a second signal combiner communicatively coupled to said second signal splitter, communicatively coupled to a second upstream input, and communicatively coupled to said first headend input. Another embodiment of the invention is based on a method, comprising deploying a communication link, at least a portion of which is protected against active equipment failure, that includes a splitter-combiner communicatively coupled between a data drop/add device and a headend.
These, and other goals and embodiments of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

Active equipment protection methods and apparatus communicatively decoupling data add/drops


A system comprising: a mooring bridle, wherein the mooring bridle is installed below the wave zone of the sea and wherein the bridle is attached to a first vessel; and vessel lines which attach a second vessel to the mooring bridle. A line comprising: an anchor which is attached to the sea floor; an anchor line comprising an upper end and a lower end wherein the lower end is connected to the anchor; an anchor line buoy which is attached to the upper end of the anchor line; and a vessel line comprising an upper end and a lower end wherein the lower end attaches to the buoy and the upper end attaches to the vessel. A system comprising: a first mooring line; and a second mooring line, wherein the first and second mooring lines each comprise: an anchor which is attached to the sea floor; an anchor line comprising an upper end and a lower end wherein the lower end is connected to the anchor; an anchor line buoy attached to the upper end of the anchor line; and a vessel line comprising an upper end and a lower end wherein the lower end is attached to the buoy and the upper end is attached to the vessel, wherein the first and second mooring lines are placed on opposite sides of the vessel so that the net horizontal force on the vessel is zero. A system comprising: a first mooring bridle; first vessel lines which attach the first vessel to the first mooring bridle; a second mooring bridle; and second vessel lines which attach the second vessel to the second mooring bridle, wherein the first and second mooring bridle are connected.

Recently, relatively smaller platforms have been developed for deep sea operations where marginal production does not merit the use of a full scale tension-leg platform (TLP). These marginal platforms use tension-leg mooring, like conventional tension-leg platforms, but comprise smaller floatation structures. Tension-leg mooring typically comprises rigid, single-piece tendons for anchoring the structure to the sea floor, like that disclosed in Monopod TLP Improves Deepwater Economics, PETROLEUM ENGINEER INTERNATIONAL (January 1993), incorporated herein by reference.
It is desirable to use the TLP as a production platform, however, the weight and cost of the TLP platform increase significantly with increasing water depth and payload. Monohull vessels provide greater capacities, but they can hardly support the great weight of the risers which transport minerals from wells on the sea floor when disconnect from the operating site is required. Therefore, it is desirable to use a small riser wellhead TLP platform to suspend the risers and support the wellheads, and a disconnectable tender vessel to receive, process and export the produced minerals. The well streams will be chocked and manifolded on the TLP riser platform.
Close mooring of the TLP riser platform and the production tender vessel allows for light weight flexible hoses to be used to transport the minerals. However, as the two vessels are brought into close proximity so that minerals can be transported to and from the TLP to the tender vessel, environmental loads induce excessive displacements on the two vessels and large loads on the transfer system.
Most mooring systems are heavy for large water depths and rough environments so that they require larger production and tender vessels. In marginal deep sea production, larger vessels are not economical. Previously, mooring systems have been provided for single vessels. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,415, issued to Marshall on Oct. 8, 1991, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a mooring bridle. The reference also suggests that multiple vessels may be moored within the same mooring bridle. But, in order to moor vessels relative to each other so that minerals may be transferred between by light weight, flexible systems, these prior systems require a significant number of mooring lines which increases the overall weight of the system.
Therefore, there is a need for a mooring system of two vessels which stabilizes the two vessels relative to each other without excessive loading the vessels.


A ducted fan gas turbine engine is mountable on an aircraft structure via a pylon which includes a yoke. The yoke straddles the compressor module of the engine and is connected thereto at points diametrically opposite each other, thus obviating thrust links and the need for radial struts in the plane of the yoke.

It has been the practice to interconnect the ducted fan structure and the core gas generator of a ducted fan gas turbine engine and to further connect each to a common pylon projecting from a wing or fuselage of an associated aircraft. The result was that each unit had to be of sufficiently robust construction to absorb loads imposed upon it by the other, to thereby minimise undesirable relative movements therebetween during operation. The arrangement engendered weight penalties.
Another arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,625 and comprises forming an axial portion of the core gas generator cowling into an annular member and supporting it via struts from a pylon. Operating loads as well as the weight of the engine are thus transferred via the struts, and the pylon, to associated aircraft structure. Further, the chordal dimensions of the struts and the axial length of the annular cowl portion, are such as to counter turning forces about a fulcrum in the plane of the struts. Again, in the arrangement of 4,785,625 weight is a penalty, along with the complicated remaining structure shown and claimed therein.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved ducted fan gas turbine engine mounting arrangement.
According to the present invention a ducted fan gas turbine engine mounting arrangement comprises a pylon connectable to aircraft structure, said pylon including a yoke to which the compressor module of a core gas generator of the ducted fan gas turbine engine is connected said yoke and said compressor module being in radially spaced apart relationship, interconnection means being provided to interconnect said yoke and said compressor module in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of said engine, such that vertical side and thrust loads exerted by said ducted fan gas turbine engine are transmitted via said interconnection means and pylon, to a said aircraft when the ducted fan gas turbine is operating thereon.


Methods are provided for the production of granular composite compositions including at least two pesticidally active ingredients in combination such as insecticidally active and herbicidally active ingredients and to the composite combination products produced thereby.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods for the production of composite pesticidal compositions and to the compositions produced thereby. More particularly, it relates to methods for producing granular composite compositions including at least two pesticidally active ingredients in combination such as an insecticidally active ingredient and a herbicidally active ingredient and to the composite combination products produced.
2. Description of Related Art
A wide variety of pesticidal compositions for use in treating plants have been known heretofore which include insecticidally active ingredients and/or herbicidally active ingredients. Additionally, a variety of methods for producing such pesticidal compositions are known and, particularly, methods for producing products including separate, individual ones of the pesticidal agents. For example, The Scotts Company LLC has previously offered a commercially available product under the trademark "Bonus" S for use as a broad leaf weed killer, particularly, in St. Augustinegrass, centipede, zoysia and carpetgrass lawns. This product consists of a herbicidally active Atrazine powder tacked onto a granular urea-formaldehyde fertilizer core material employing polybutene L-14 as the tacking agent.
Another currently available commercial product being offered by The Scotts Company LLC under the tradename "Turf Builder with Fire Ant Killer" is used primarily for fire ant control and consists of an insecticidally active solution of a pyrethroid ingredient (Bifenthrin) which is sprayed onto a granular urea-formaldehyde fertilizer.
However, there has been a continuing unfulfilled need to provide efficient and cost effective methods for producing granular composite compositions comprising combinations of certain pesticidally active ingredients such as mixtures of insecticidally active ingredients and herbicidally active ingredients as well as the unique compositions produced by such methods.
For example, it has been recognized heretofore that it would be of significant economic and functional benefit to provide improved methods for producing composite granular compositions that would solve several troubling problems which consumers have encountered in regard to lawn care in hot, dry climates such as found in the southern United States. In particular, it would be highly advantageous to provide methods for producing a unitary composite composition that is capable of killing and/or preventing fire ants in such lawns and would be effective for eradicating weeds from the lawns while providing enhancements in feeding and strengthening the lawns whereby preventing browning and bare spots in the grass under prevailing heat and drought conditions.
Also, it would be advantageous to provide such unitary, granular composite compositions which exhibit these desirable functional characteristics.
As noted above, a wide variety of pyrethroid compositions have been known to be effective active ingredients for inclusion in insecticidal formulations for controlling fire ants. However, problems have been encountered in attempting to formulate composite products containing pyrethroid compositions in combination with other pesticidally active ingredients. That is, the pyrethroid compositions have been known to exhibit solubility problems which render them commercially unacceptable for formulation as sprays to enable efficient and cost effective application on granular active ingredient substrates such as powdered herbicidally active ingredients or on granular inert carriers.
Specifically, it has been known that pyrethroid compounds such as alphamethrin, cyfluthrin cypermethrin (alpha, beta, theta, zeta), deltamethrin, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, flucythrinate, fluvalinate and tralomethrin which are all cyano-containing compounds are only soluble in highly polar solvents.
However, it has been recognized that the use of such highly polar solvents to dissolve these pyrethroids results in solutions which lack the necessary tackiness to effectively adhere granular active ingredients to substrates when sprayed thereon. Furthermore, to the extent that solutions of these cyano containing pyrethroid insecticidally active ingredients are dissolved in the necessary highly polar solvents to produce sprays and are capable of being applied on granular active ingredient substrates such as herbicidally active ingredients, it has been found that the presence of the highly polar solvents in addition to reducing tackiness of the spray, also causes deterioration of the effectiveness of the composite active ingredients in the compositions including the insecticidally active pyrethroid and any other insecticidally or herbicidally active composition in the composite product.
However, no previously known methods have been available which are suitable for producing unitary, granular composite pesticidal compositions having the desired characteristics either because of process or product shortcomings such as the cost effectiveness of the methods, the ability to include the desired active ingredients efficiently and effectively in the composite compositions and the physical properties of the resulting compositions produced thereby.

Methods for the production of granular composite pesticidal compositions and the compositions produced thereby


A semiconductor device chip, semiconductor device system, and a method. One embodiment provides a semiconductor device chip including a device for determining whether the semiconductor device chip is to be placed in a current saving operating mode.

The invention relates to a semiconductor device chip, to a semiconductor device system with a plurality of, in one embodiment stacked, semiconductor device chips, and to a method for operating a semiconductor device system.
Semiconductor devices, e.g., integrated (analog or digital) computing circuits, semiconductor memory devices such as, for instance, functional memory devices (PLAs, PALs, etc.) and table memory devices (e.g., ROMs or RAMs, in one embodiment SRAMs and DRAMs), etc. are subject to comprehensive tests during and after their manufacturing processes.
For the common manufacturing of a plurality of (in general identical) semiconductor devices, a wafer (i.e. a thin disc of monocrystalline silicon) is used. The wafer is processed appropriately (e.g., subject successively to a plurality of coating, exposure, etching, diffusion, and implantation processes, etc.), and subsequently e.g., sawn apart (or e.g., scratched, and broken), so that individual device chips are then available.
During the manufacturing of semiconductor devices (e.g., of DRAMS (Dynamic Random Access Memories or dynamic read-write memories)), in one embodiment DDR-DRAMs (Double Data Rate—DRAMs) the (semi-finished or finished) devices that are still available on the wafer may be subject to appropriate tests (e.g., "wafer tests").
One or a plurality of further tests may be performed, for instance, after the incorporation of the semiconductor devices or device chips in semiconductor device packages, and/or e.g., after the incorporation of the semiconductor device packages (along with the respectively included semiconductor devices or device chips) in electronic modules, e.g., memory modules (so-called "module tests").
As device packages, appropriate plug or surface-mountable packages, e.g., BGA (Ball Grid Array) packages, etc. may, for instance, be used.
During the incorporation of a device or device chip in a package, connections—pads provided at the semiconductor device are connected with connections—pins provided at the device package by using appropriate bonding wires.
In one single device package, instead of one single semiconductor device or device chip, in one embodiment DRAM chip, a plurality of, e.g., two (or e.g., four) devices, etc. may in one embodiment also be arranged. By the use of such a package with a plurality of chips ("multiple chip package") it is possible to increase the package density.
Part of the connections of a first device arranged in a respective multiple chip package and part of the connections of a second device arranged in a respective multiple chip package, etc. may be connected by using bonding wires with one and the same device package pins, and another part of the connections, in one embodiment, for instance, CS connections (chip select connections), etc., with pins, e.g., chip select pins, etc. that are separate for every device.
If, in the above-mentioned semiconductor device tests, it is determined that a chip that is incorporated in a multiple chip package is defective, but the multiple chip package includes at least one further faultless chip, one is anxious to nevertheless use the multiple chip package (e.g., a "dual die device" including two chips then as a "single die device" instead as a "dual die device" (or e.g., a "four fold stack device" including four chips then as a "dual die device" instead as a "four fold stack device" etc.)).
After the incorporation of the multiple chip package in an electronic module, e.g., memory module, the respective defective chip is controlled such by the applying of signals to pins of the multiple chip package that it consumes only relatively little power.
The remaining power consumption of the defective chip may nevertheless still be relatively high.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.

Semiconductor device chip, semiconductor device system, and method


A mobile computer device obtains location information indicating a geographical location in which the mobile computer device resides. The mobile computer device produces a list based on the location information. The list specifies one or more WiFi networks present in a vicinity of the geographical location. The computer device then establishes a wireless connection between the computer device and a WiFi network as specified in the list. Thus, a geographical location of the computer device can be used as a basis to initiate connectivity to a respective network.

Conventional computer devices typically have the ability to identify a presence of WiFi access points. For example, according to current technology, to learn of WiFi access points in a region, a computer device transmits a wireless query signal in a region. In response to the wireless signal, any of one or more WiFi network access points in the region respond with information indicating their identities. Accordingly, via the response information from the access points, the operator of the computer can identify which, if any, WiFi networks are available in a region.
After identifying available WiFi networks, the computer device can initiate display of the identities of the different WiFi networks on a display screen. In such an instance, the user of the computer can manually select from a listing of the available WiFi networks in which to connect.
In accordance with another conventional application, the computer can be configured to monitor a region and automatically connect to a particular WiFi network depending on detected wireless signal strength. For example, a computer may be configured to automatically connect to one of multiple WiFi networks in a region depending on detected wireless signal strengths.
As a more specific example, to determine which of the multiple WiFi networks to connect, the computer device monitors a wireless signal strength of each of the WiFi networks. Based on signal strength information, the computer device connects to the WiFi network from which the strongest signal is received. Presumably, the WiFi network providing the greatest signal strength will provide the best conveyance of data to and from the computer device over the wireless network.

Establishing network connectivity based on location


An ink jet recording apparatus has a recording head mounted on a carrier which is shifted by a stepping motor in recording. The stepping motor is also utilized as a power source of a recovery system device. The drive mode of the stepping motor for the recovery system is differentiated from that for the recording.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and more particularly to a serial type recording apparatus having a recording head loaded on a carrier which is run in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of a recording material for recording.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, recording apparatuses have a recording head loaded on a carrier, which is run by a conveying mechanism driven by a pulse motor in a perpendicular direction to a feeding direction of a recording medium. Recording information is sent to the recording head in synchronism with movement of the pulse motor to carry out recording.
In such a recording apparatus, in order to stabilize the speed of the carrier during recording, there are provided sufficient acceleration and deceleration areas before and behind a recording region (the width of a recording paper). However, there is a problem that the width of the apparatus becomes fairly large as compared with the recording region, i.e., the maximum width of printable recording mediums (recording papers).
Also, in order to obtain a reference of recording positions relative to the recording medium, the recording apparatus is provided with a sensor (hereinafter called the home position sensor) for detecting the position of the carrier or the recording head.
Also, it is well known that the abnormal positional condition of the carrier caused by the jam of the recording material, the trouble of the pulse motor or the like is detected and a predetermined error treatment is executed based on the detection. For this reason, e.g., encoders are provided to the pulse motor and the carrier to monitor the outputs of the encoders.
However, when the encoders or the like are additionally provided, the apparatus becomes expensive and extra spaces are required for those provisions, so that the apparatus becomes large.
Further, when such a recording apparatus is an ink jet recording apparatus, a recovery system device is provided therein so as to keep the condition of the recording head constantly preferably. A carrier motor is utilized as the power source of the recovery system device.
The recovery system device performs wiping and capping operations, which require larger torques than the operation for running the carrier. Also, at the time of the carrier running operation (recording operation), the number of rotations needs to be increased. Therefore, a motor satisfying these conditions of the torque and the number of rotations is selected for the carrier motor.
Further, a stepping motor is comparatively easy to control and then selected as the carrier motor. The stepping motor is driven by the two-phase excitation.
However, the motor to be used as the carrier motor needs to satisfy the above conditions in the conventional recording apparatus, so that there is a limit to form the motor smaller, which is a big problem to miniaturize the whole body of the apparatus.

Recording apparatus with a step motor controlling mechanism


Within a monolithic semiconductor structure, passive waveguides couple laterally offset generation waveguides for generating light waves to mirrors. The passive waveguides can also couple detecting regions for measuring the light intensity within the laser cavity and adjustable absorption regions for tuning the wavelength of the lightwaves generated by the generation waveguides.

This invention relates to independently addressable semiconductor diode lasers, and, more particularly, to low-loss passive waveguides integrally connected to the localized optical gain active regions of the semiconductor diode lasers.
Monolithic arrays of independently addressable semiconductor diode lasers are the optical sources of choice for high-speed, high-resolution xerographic printers and optical storage systems.
However, independently addressable laser arrays within a monolithic semiconductor structure present several problems.
Increasing the number of laser emitters within the monolithic semiconductor structure decreases the spacing between adjacent laser emitters. This decreased spacing may cause crosstalk between adjacent laser emitters.
The area on the surface of the monolithic semiconductor structure is limited for the number of contacts for the emitters and may require complicated crossover contacting patterns.
Since the area on the surface of the monolithic semiconductor structure is limited and since the volume within the monolithic semiconductor structure is also limited, the addition of detectors to monitor the level of emitted light from each semiconductor diode laser will further decrease the number of contacts on the surface available for laser emitters within the monolithic semiconductor structure.
It is difficult to configure the optical gain active regions of the semiconductor diode lasers within the monolithic semiconductor structure so each will emit light at a different wavelength or so adjacent emitters will emit light to partially overlap without introducing optical interference.
It is an object of this invention to provide an increased density of independently addressable semiconductor diode laser emitters within a monolithic semiconductor structure.
It is another object of this invention to reduce crosstalk between adjacent semiconductor diode laser emitters within a monolithic semiconductor structure.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a separately addressable monitoring detector incorporated on the axis of each semiconductor diode laser emitter with inherent discrimination against light spontaneously emitted by the emitter's optical gain active region.
It is another object of this invention to provide semiconductor diode laser emitters within a monolithic semiconductor structure to emit light at a different wavelength or adjacent laser emitters to emit light to partially overlap without introducing optical interference.

Independently addressable semiconductor diode lasers with integral lowloss passive waveguides


A method and apparatus for opening a gas container that via a filling opening is connected to an air bag of an impact of protection unit for the interior of a motor vehicle are provided. The tip of an electrode, which is under spring pressure, contacts the safety disc, thereby achieving a rapid, point-type beginning of melting of the safety disc followed by an intensive electric arc of constant length and high penetration speed.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for opening a gas container that via a filling opening is connectable to an air bag of an impact protection means for the interior of a motor vehicle. The filling opening is closed off by a safety disc.
Inflatable air bags serve to protect the occupants of motor vehicles. Their effectiveness depends, among other things, upon the functional reliability and speed of the their release mechanism.
DE 195 13 242 C2 discloses a filling device for the air bag of an impact protection means. Upon triggering or release of the impact protection means, the safety disc of a gas container is weakened and thereby made to burst or crack under the pressure of stored gas. This is accomplished by means of an electrode that is spaced from the safety disc and operates with sparks, or by an electrode that is in contact with the safety disc and operates by resistance heating.
The electrode of the aforementioned reference is ring or cylinder shaped, and has a large effective surface area relative to the safety disc.
The drawback of using a spark effect is the high firing voltage that is required, which amounts to 3 KV at only 0.8 mm electrode spacing. In the manner of spark ignition this can be produced with an ignition coil, the continuous current of which is interrupted at the moment of ignition to induce a high voltage pulse. However, already for energy reasons, a continuous current in a motor vehicle does not even come under discussion.
A rapid heating of the safety disc by electrical resistance presumes in the present situation a high electrical power, which requires a large energy storage means.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for reliably, rapidly and with little structural expense being able to open the gas container of an impact protection means for the interior of motor vehicles, thus overcoming the drawbacks of heretofore known devices, namely considerable structural expense, a require for a lot of space, and a relatively long ignition delay.

Method and apparatus for opening a gas container


In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section configured to form a toner image on a printing recording medium, a fixing section configured to heat the printing recording medium printed with the toner image at a fixing temperature, a temperature control section configured to control the fixing section to a temperature above a color erasing temperature, a conveyance section configured to convey the printing recording medium or a color erasing recording medium to the fixing section, and a speed control section configured to control, according to a setting temperature of the fixing section, a speed ratio of a traveling speed of the fixing section to a conveyance speed of the conveyance section.

There exists an image forming apparatus which can change, when switching the conveyance speed of a sheet, the speed ratio of the conveyance speed of a sheet by a conveyance device conveying the sheet towards a fixing device to the conveyance speed of a sheet by the fixing device. On the other hand, in order to reuse a sheet, there exists an apparatus which heats and presses a sheet at a color erasing temperature higher than a fixing temperature using a fixing device to erase an image formed on the sheet. If the sheet is heated and pressed at a high color erasing temperature to erase an image, paper wrinkles occur easily on the sheet. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the paper wrinkles occurring on the sheet when the sheet is heated and pressed at a high color erasing temperature.


The invention is directed to nonpeptide substituted benzazepines of Formula I, which are useful as vasopressin receptor antagonists for treating conditions associated with vasopressin receptor activity such as those involving increased vascular resistance and cardiac insufficiency, including congestive heart failure, hyponatremia, and hypertension, among others disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula I and methods of treating conditions such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, cardiac insufficiency, coronary vasospasm, cardiac ischemia, liver cirrhosis, hyponatremia, renal vasospasm, renal failure, diabetic nephropathy, cerebral edema, cerebral ischemia, stroke, thrombosis, or water retention are also disclosed.

Vasopressin is a nonpeptide hormone that is secreted primarily from the posterior pituitary gland. The hormone effects its actions through the vascular V-1 and renal V-2 receptor subtypes. The functions of vasopressin include contraction of uterine, bladder, and smooth muscle; stimulation of glycogen breakdown in the liver; induction of platelet aggregation; release of corticotropin from the anterior pituitary and stimulation of renal water reabsorption. As a neurotransmitter within the central nervous system (CNS), vasopressin can affect aggressive behavior, sexual behavior, the stress response, social behavior and memory. The V-1a receptor mediates central nervous system effects, contraction of smooth muscle and hepatic glycogenolytic effects of vasopressin, while the V-1b receptor mediates anterior pituitary effects of vasopressin. The V-2 receptor, presumably found only in the kidney, effects the antidiuretic actions of vasopressin via stimulation of adenylate cyclase (Liebsch, G et al Neurosci. 1996, 217, 101).
Elevated plasma vasopressin levels appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of congestive heart failure (P. A. Van Zwieten, Progr. Pharmacol. Clin. Pharmacol. 1990, 7, 49). As progress toward the treatment of congestive heart failure, nonpeptide vasopressin V-2 receptor antagonists have induced low osmolality aquaresis and decreased peripheral resistance in conscious dogs with congestive heart failure (H. Ogawa, J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 3547). In certain pathological states, plasma vasopressin levels may be inappropriately elevated for a given osmolality, thereby resulting in renal water retention and hyponatremia. Hyponatremia, associated with edematous conditions (cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, renal failure), can be accompanied by the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Treatment of SIADH-compromised rats with a vasopressin V-2 antagonist has corrected their existing hyponatremia (G. Fujisawa, Kidney Int. 1993, 44(1), 19). Due in part to the contractile actions of vasopressin at its V-1 receptor in the vasculature, vasopressin V-1 antagonists have reduced blood pressure as a potential treatment for hypertension as well. Known vasopressin receptor antagonists have included YM-087 (Yamanouchi); VPA-985, WAY-140288, and CL-385004 (American Home Products); SR-121463 (Sanofi-Synthelabo); and OPC 31260, OPC 41061, and OPC 21268 (Otsuka).
Thus, vasopressin receptor antagonists are useful as therapeutics in the conditions of hypertension, hyponatremia, congestive heart failure/cardiac insufficiency, coronary vasospasm, cardiac ischemia, liver cirrhosis, renal vasospasm, renal failure, diabetic nephropathy, cerebral edema and ischemia, stroke, thrombosis, and water retention. Additional conditions may include nephrotic syndrome, central nervous system injuries, dysmenorrhea, aggression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders.


Large cylindrical bales of hay, straw, or other forage or fodder are usually wrapped with a filament-type product, typically twine, or a sheet-type product, typically netwrap material, after a bale has reached a predetermined size. A method and apparatus are disclosed that permits the bale to continue to form during part of the wrapping process. A delay occurs between the initiation of the wrapping step and the alarm for the operator to stop the forward movement of the baler. By inserting the wrap material to an entry throat of the baler, new crop material may be added to the bale while the leading edge of the wrap material travels around the bale. The operator is notified only when the feed of additional crop material needs to be stopped for the wrapping operation to conclude. The present invention is applicable to the use of sheet or filament wrapping materials for binding round bales.

Round balers are well known, designed to form agricultural crops into cylindrical packages. All such balers include some type of mechanism for wrapping the formed bales with a wrap material including netwrap, which is a sheet material typically in the form of light, very thin web material, or twine, that is a filament. Round balers generally fall into two categories: fixed chamber balers or variable chamber balers. The fixed chamber balers generally include rollers or short sections of flat belts in fixed locations to define the bale chamber. This configuration provides many optional entry points for the wrapping material, provided at any transition between the rollers or belts.
The variable chamber balers typically include flat belts that form a variable size bale-forming chamber, and the entry point for the wrapping material is generally limited to the in-feed area or throat. FIG. 1 is a schematic of a typical variable chamber baler 100, as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Ser. No. 10/719,460, Filed: Nov. 21, 2003 entitled NETWRAP FEED AND CUT MECHANISM herein incorporated by reference, connected to a towing vehicle, such as a tractor 10. The tractor 10 includes an operator station 12 where information related to the performance of the baler is typically communicated to an operator, with controller 14, which includes a display and audio alarm. In operation, the tractor 10 tows the baler across the ground to feed the crop material 5 to throat 150 defined by a bottom belt roller 110, and an upper roller 120; both supporting the bale forming belts 130. The throat 150 typically also includes other rollers such as a starting roller 140 and drum roller 145 that assist in moving the crop material. Many configurations are known, but each includes what can be defined as an entry side 152 and an exit side 154. The entry side 152 is to be defined by the travel direction of the bale forming belts and crop material 5. For instance in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the bale forming belts 130 are illustrated to travel in a direction that the outer circumference of the forming bale will move in a counter-clockwise direction. The crop material 5 will enter the throat 150 and be moved toward the bottom belt roller 110 at the entry side 152 of the throat. Balers have been designed to rotate the forming bale in the opposite direction, in which case the entry side of the throat would be defined by the upper roller 120.
The exit side 154 of the throat is defined by the upper roller 120, the point at which the bale forming belts 130 leave contact with the outer circumference of the forming bale. Most variable chamber balers operate so that the bale rotates in this manner, and due to the configuration of the supporting frame, a twine mechanism 160 is typically located near the exit side of the throat as shown. The twine 182 is fed from a supply roll 180 through the twine mechanism 160, such that the loose end of the twine is inserted to the nip point where the formed bale contacts the bottom belt roller 110 or, in this case, drum roller 145, from above any incoming material 5. An alternative configuration example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,646, by Meiers. In both cases, the twine will begin restraining the crop material in the throat area as soon as it begins to feed, and any material fed into the baler, after the twine has started to wrap the bale, will be located on top of the twine, and will not be restrained by the twine. Thus, the typical method of operation of the baler has required the operator to stop the forward travel of the tractor and baler, to discontinue feeding material into the baler, before the twine mechanism starts to apply twine to the bale. At times this operation was slightly modified by the operator, by continuing to feed material in to the baler during a portion of the wrap cycle as the loose end of the twine was initially inserted, to assist in restraining the twine to the formed bale. However if an excessive amount of hay were fed into the baler at the same time as the twine was being fed, the resulting amount of un-restrained hay would negatively affect the appearance of the resulting bale. Thus, the amount of time that both crop material and twine are fed is minimized, to reduce the amount of crop material on the outside of the twine.
A desirable bale will typically be wrapped with a significant amount of twine that was applied under significant tension. In order to produce a desirable bale, the twine mechanism will go through two basic movements:
1. wrap cycle initiation and
2. the wrap cycle.
The wrap cycle initiation consists of the first movement from a home position, where the twine tie mechanism is positioned to minimize contact with the incoming crop, to a start-feed position where the loose end is inserted to the nip point. The wrap cycle consists of the reverse motion where the twine tie mechanism moves slowly back to its home position. The twine tie actuators are typically simple mechanical components, not capable of operating at significantly different speeds. Thus, the wrap cycle initiation typically takes a significant amount of time.
The coordination of initiating feed of twine, with discontinuing feed of crop material will maximize productivity of the baling operation: i.e. if the feeding of crop material is stopped before the twine mechanism begins to operate, the baler will be rotating the bale for several seconds, during the wrap cycle initiation, with no incoming crop material and no twine feeding. Balers typically include a bale size sensor that provides a bale size signal that is transferred through wire harness 16 to controller 14. The controller 14 is also typically operatively connected to an actuator for the twine mechanism. When the bale has reached the desired size an alarm or signal is transmitted to the operator, indicating that the forward travel of the baler should be stopped, to stop feeding material into the baler, at the same time the twine tie actuator is energized to start the twine tie cycle. These events typically happen at the same time, or with some selectable time delay between the alarm and the start of the twine tie cycle. Selectable delays ranging from 0 to 5 seconds have been provided, to allow the operator to have time to stop the baler before the twine cycle starts, while minimizing the delay that would result if the operator were required to stop the baler and to initiate the twine tie cycle at the same time. The selectable time delay allows the operators to compensate for variations in ground speed, ground conditions, and tractor capability.
Netwrap mechanisms, for wrapping bales with netwrap material 190, have been developed to feed the wrapping material to either the entry side or the exit side of the throat. A netwrap mechanism 170 that feeds the wrapping material to the entry side is illustrated in FIG. 1. Other mechanisms are illustrated in H. D. Antsey et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,402 and Van Zee U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,208 both of which are herein incorporated by reference, while a mechanism that feeds netwrap material 190 to the exit side of the throat is disclosed in Underhill U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,642.
In the arrangement that inserts the netwrap material 190 at the exit side, the inserted netwrap material 190 will cover any crop material 5 coming into the baler, as soon as it begins to feed onto the bale, similar to the function of the twine mechanism. In the arrangement that inserts the netwrap material 190 at the entry side, where the netting is inserted underneath any incoming crop material, the netting will not cover incoming material until the forming bale has made nearly a complete rotation, wherein the starting edge of the netwrap material 190 will move from the entry side of the throat, around the circumference of the bale, and back to the exit side of the throat, which can take between 3 and 10 seconds, depending on the bale size and speed of operation of the baler. With netwrap material 190 that covers the full length of the bale, the bale needs to rotate only one and one-half to two rotations to achieve acceptable coverage. Thus, the duration of the wrap cycle is very short.
Control systems for the netwrap function typically parallel that of the twine tie function, wherein there is a bale size sensor that provides a signal to the operator to stop the baler, while at the same time initiating the wrap cycle. With this control technique, crop material is not fed during any portion of the wrap cycle, including those portions where the mechanism is moving from the home position to a feed position, and where the wrap material is moving around the portion of the bale's circumference that does not affect the incoming crop material. The speed of the wrap cycle will affect the productivity of the baling operation, and can be evaluated by the amount of time that crop material is not being fed into the baler. There is an opportunity to improve baling productivity by providing a control system to minimize the time required to complete the bale wrapping process, by allowing crop material to feed during a portion of the wrap cycle.
There is a need, therefore, for a more efficient process for bale-wrapping wherein crop material may be fed into the bale during at least some of the bale-wrapping cycle without compromising the integrity of the resulting bale.

Method of initiating automatic feed of bale wrapping material


A fluid pressure apparatus of this invention provides advanced control without imposing an excessive burden on a sequencer. When a plurality of fluid pressure apparatuses are connected to one another by manifolds, the individual fluid pressure apparatuses are provided with controller circuits each having a memory inputted with a control step, wherein each of the controller circuits activates each of control valves and a sensor based on an operating instruction issued from the sequencer to thereby execute processes such as confirmation of a controlled state, a trouble decision, etc.

1. Field of the Art
The present invention relates to a fluid pressure apparatus and, more particularly, to a vacuum apparatus using air to vacuum hold a workpiece, wherein when individual fluid pressure apparatuses connected to one another in plural form are used, controlling means such as controllers are attached to the corresponding fluid pressure apparatuses a sequencer provides timing control and the like on the fluid pressure apparatuses, so as to detect malfunctions or the like, thereby performing advanced control. The present invention also relates to a fluid pressure apparatus wherein, when the fluid pressure apparatus is used either as a fluid pressure apparatus made up of blocks or different types of fluid pressure devices, fluid passages defined in either the blocks or the respective fluid pressure devices are connected by joint surfaces to electrical wires or the like. The joint surfaces are used for either the blocks or the respective fluid pressure devices, and the connecting members which are employed in either the blocks or the respective fluid pressure devices are standardized to thereby simplify the connection as a whole, and to simplify the complex assembly comprised of fluid pressure devices of different types, which are connected to one another.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fluid pressure apparatus for supplying and cutting off a fluid pressure to a working device has heretofore been used under various circumstances. For example, a vacuum unit for supplying a vacuum pressure comprises an ejector, a valve for supplying and cutting off the vacuum pressure, etc., all of which are provided inside the vacuum unit. The vacuum unit is coupled to a suction pad, or the like, used as a working device and operated in response to a signal supplied from a sequencer to supply the vacuum pressure to the suction pad, thereby attracting and feeding a workpiece.
In the vacuum unit referred to above ., it is desirable to prevent the workpiece from falling from the suction pad due to a failure in operation of the ejector by confirming all the operated states. That is, there is now a demand for a system in which operating conditions of an ejector and valve can be rapidly confirmed to detect a failure in operation, which is caused by clogging or the like, and for automatically carrying out a process for coping with such a trouble.
However, when such a process is carried out by a sequencer, a problem arises in that, when vacuum units are connected to one another by manifolds, the burden imposed on the sequencer is too great to adequately carry out discrete control, such as ON/OFF timing control or the like for each vacuum unit.
The present invention is intended to solve the above problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid pressure apparatus capable of reducing the burden imposed on a sequencer, and for carrying out discrete control.


A visual restoration aiding device for restoring vision of a patient, comprises: a substrate which will be placed on or under a retina, a choroid or a sclera of a patient's eye; a plurality of electrodes arranged on the substrate for applying electrical stimulation pulse signals to cells constituting the retina; a photographing unit which photographs an object to be recognized by the patient; and a control unit which controls output of the electrical stimulation pulse signals from each electrode based image data captured by the photographing unit. The number of the electrodes placed on the substrate is less than the number of electrodes that can simultaneously output the electrical stimulation pulse signals based on the image data corresponding to one frame. The control unit is configured to sequentially output the electrical stimulation pulse signals at predetermined time interval based on the divided image data corresponding to one frame so as to allow the patient to recognize the image corresponding to one frame by joining two or more divided sections of the image corresponding to one frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a visual restoration aiding device for inducing restoration of vision.
2. Description of Related Art
There have been proposed a visual restoration aiding device for inducing restoration of vision by applying electrical stimulation to cells constituting a retina from electrodes placed (implanted) in an eye (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,844, U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,155). In the case where such device is used for allowing a patient to have a wide visual field and recognize an object with a good resolution, it is necessary to place many electrodes on the retina, a choroid or a sclera. However, in view of device design or operative method, and further load on a patient, there is a limit to the number of electrodes allowed to be placed. It is desired that the number of electrodes is as small as possible.


A fault monitoring system detects connectivity faults in a device control centre. The fault monitoring system includes, for the or each control section, at least a first pair of temperature sensors adapted to detect the temperature of a first pair of terminals (TL1-IN), (TL1-OUT). The system includes a processor configured to receive the detected temperatures, calculate an IN-OUT difference, the IN-OUT difference being a difference between the temperatures of the first pair of terminals (ΔTL1), compare the calculated IN-OUT difference with a predetermined threshold value (ΔT*L1), whereby a calculated difference IN-OUT (ΔTL1), greater than the predetermined threshold value (ΔT*L1), is indicative of a connectivity fault at one of the first pair of terminals, and to generate at least one output signal based on the results of the comparison.

The present invention relates to fault monitoring systems and methods for detecting connectivity faults in device control centres such as motor control centres (MCCs), power distribution units (PDUs), circuit breakers, switch boards, fuse boards and the like. Also provided is a device control centre having such a fault monitoring system.
Electrical circuits are prone to faults which, if left unchecked, can deteriorate into connection failures. Where the circuit is subject to a high electrical load, as will typically be the case in commercial applications such as manufacturing sites, oil and gas processing facilities and data centres, a connection failure can give rise to an arc flash, resulting in significant explosion and fire, risking both personnel and surrounding infrastructure, as well as substantial downtime.
Indeed, one of the most common causes of production downtime in electrical equipment globally is recognised as connection failures which occur in device control centres. The term "device control centre" refers to electrical equipment located between a power source and once or more devices which is configured to control the supply of power to the device(s). Thus, examples of device control centres include motor control centres (MCCs), power distribution units (PDUs), circuit breakers, switch boards, fuse boards and the like. The device(s) under control could for example include motors, lighting circuits, pumps, refrigeration units, heating units, compressors, or any other devices which are electrically powered (or any combination thereof). The term "control" encompasses switching on and off power supply to the device as well as more complex processes such as adjusting the level of power supplied.
For example, motor control centres (which are so-named as they are commonly used to control a plurality of devices including motors, but here the term should not be construed as limited to this use) typically comprise a number of separate compartments, e.g. in the form of metal-enclosed cubicles, each containing one or more control sections which are each configured to control the power supply to a respective device (e.g. motor). Each control section comprises appropriate switchgear for controlling power to the respective device, e.g. for turning them on and off, starting and stopping motors, or varying operational parameters of the device such as the speed of a motor, etc. Examples of switchgear components which may be provided in the control sections include switches, circuit breakers, disconnectors, isolator switches, fuses, soft starters and the like. The control sections are typically low or medium voltage units. Each individual control section is normally housed in a case inside the compartment, which may be removable in order to enable easy maintenance. If the case is removable it is commonly referred to as a "drawer" whereas if it is non-removable (at least in everyday use) it is typically referred to as a "bucket". Each compartment typically holds a number of drawers or buckets, usually in a vertical column configuration, and multiple compartments may be arranged horizontally beside one another. Equivalently, each compartment may house a horizontal row of drawers or buckets and multiple compartments may be stacked vertically. The industry "average" number of cases (and hence control sections) is 8 per compartment, although they can vary between 3 up to 15 per compartment.
Power is supplied via one or more conductors (e.g. one for each of multiple power lines of different phase) for each compartment, which typically extend along the length of each compartment, e.g. vertically where the cases are arranged in columns. The control section within each case connects to the or each conductor at a respective power source side terminal and routes the power from each conductor to a respective device side terminal, to which the device is connected, via the switchgear. Particularly where the cases are removable (e.g. drawers), the connection(s) at the rear of the drawer to the vertical conductor (the power source side terminal(s)), are often a "plug in"-type connection, achieved via a set of spring loaded "jaws" which clamp onto the vertical conductor. Alternatively the connections may be of a "fixed" type using bolts.
Over time, the connection point between the "jaws" on the rear of the case and the vertical connector can become loose, often due to wear on the tension of the springs. Similar problems occur even in so-called "fixed" joints where the bolts or other connectors can become compromised (e.g. loosen) for a number of reasons, including the thermal dynamics caused by variable loads being applied to the circuit on which the joint resides. The result is a poor connection which will continue to deteriorate until failure. This input terminal between the vertical connector and the control section is acknowledged as a common point of failure. Modern MCC products often incorporate design features which inhibit the possibility of a phase to phase arc flash, such as physical barriers between the conductors. However, such features cannot stop the failure of an individual connection and the resultant damage to the components on the control section, and more seriously the consequential downtime. Further, there is an existing base of several million MCCs which are operational and date from a period prior to the introduction of phase to phase arc protection being implemented. These units are more prone to incidences of failure, due to the age and thus weakening of the spring tension on the "jaw" connectors at the rear of the drawer. Failure of these existing products will thus potentially have the more serious consequence of phase to phase arc flash which would result in significant explosion and fire, with the resulting increased risk of injury to personnel and damage to surrounding infrastructure, as well as more prolonged downtime.
It is therefore vital to monitor the condition of such electrical connections in order that joints which are compromised can be identified before failure occurs, and remedial action taken. One approach is to measure the temperature of each (e.g. vertical) conductor supplying power to the control sections, since if the connection at one of the terminals is faulty this will generate heat due to the increased resistance of the connection. However, the only solution currently available is to monitor the conductor at various discrete points (normally two or three points e.g. top, middle, bottom), typically using non-contact sensors (e.g. infrared). This relies on the excess heat generated by the poor connection between the "jaws" on the rear of the drawer and the vertical conductor being conducted along the vertical conductor, such that the temperature sensor monitoring it will detect the excess heat and initiate an alarm when that heat reaches a thermal alarm threshold. While this can be effective, it is increasingly difficult, and in many cases impossible, in modern MCC products because the vertical conductors are fully enclosed to prevent phase to phase arc flash. Even in MCC products where access to the vertical conductors remains open, the reliance on the excess heat being conducted is not ideal, since there are variables which can inhibit the conduction of the heat, e.g. air-cooled MCC compartments, size of the conductor etc. Further, by its nature the (typically copper) vertical conductor will dissipate heat along its length, introducing a thermal lag between the temperature at the faulty connection and the location of the temperature sensor, making accurate fault detection difficult.
Another method is to attempt to identify any poor connections at the rear of the cases (e.g. drawers) via periodic inspections using a thermal imaging camera to take a picture of those connection points. However, this would normally only take place as part of an annual maintenance program, e.g. one day per year. This represents less than 1% of operational uptime of a facility operating 24 hour production. In addition, it requires the drawer to be removed, which in itself initiates downtime for the device connected to the drawer, and thus interruption to the production process. Further, because the connection points are at the rear of the drawer, the air gap which exists within the drawer will make it virtually impossible to detect a poor connection.
Another alternative is to measure ambient air within the case, by placing an air temperature sensor within the case to detect a rise in the micro environment within the case, and comparing this against a pre-set threshold. However, as a result of the function of the control section (e.g. start/stop, vary speed etc.), the electrical load drawn through the control section will fluctuate and thus the ambient temperature will too, with the danger of either false alarming, or of no alarming when a fault exists. The system will also be susceptible to changes in the ambient temperature. Ultimately, detected temperatures increases due to prolonged high load or high ambient temperatures (which may not be a cause for alarm) cannot be distinguished from true alarm situations, i.e. those in which there is a low/medium electrical load but a significant fault exists. An example of such a system in the context of a circuit breaker is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,495,876.
A variant of this approach is to deploy multiple temperature sensors to detect the temperatures of particular components or connections within the case, rather than merely the air temperature, and examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,528,612 and WO-A-01/48498. However, this approach still suffers from false alarming due to the inevitable changes in load, and hence temperature, that the components or connections will experience during normal operation.
WO-A-2010/070338 discloses apparatus and systems for measuring the temperature of electrical cables and EP-A-2600162 discloses a method of predicting when an electrical joint is compromised in dependence on its electrical load.
Whilst the problems identified above have been discussed in the context of motor control centres, in fact much the same technical challenges exist in all types of device control centre. In general therefore, it would be desirable to provide a new system and method for monitoring and detecting electrical connectivity faults in such apparatus.

Fault monitoring systems and methods for detecting connectivity faults