A curable coating composition for preparing an anti-static coating contains at least one addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, a perfluoro ionic surfactant, and a polyethoxy or fluorinated polyethoxy auxiliary compound. The perfluoro ionic surfactant and the polyethoxy or fluorinated polyethoxy auxiliary compound are present in the composition in amounts effective to impart static-dissipative properties to polymerized coatings prepared therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to synthetic resin coatings capable of dissipating surface electrostatic charge and more particularly to ultraviolet radiation-curable compositions for preparing coatings having high abrasion resistance in conjunction with permanent anti-static properties.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Coatable compositions curable by ultraviolet radiation are well known in modern coating technology. Such coatings are convenient to apply and are environmentally advantageous because they typically contain no volatile organic solvents. However, such coatings, generally formed from synthetic resins, are often lacking in the hardness needed to prevent scratching of the surface in use, with accompanying dulling of the original glossy finish. Such scratching is especially undesirable when the coating is applied to a substrate that is intended to be transparent, e.g., glazing, cathode ray tube protective screens, enclosures for electronic instruments or the like. The accumulation of surface scratches on such articles causes the article to become hazy and decreases the optical transmission properties of the article. Such coatings also may have very high surface resistivity, which makes for very slow dissipation of static electric charge that may accumulate on the surface of the coated article. Hard, abrasion-resistant coatings have been prepared by polymerizing monomers having more than two polymerizable groups per monomer molecule to form highly cross-linked coated layers. However, such hard coatings are especially prone to have high surface resistivity.
Auxiliary anti-static coatings, sprayed onto the surface, have been used to alleviate the problem of retained static charge. However, such sprayed coatings are not permanent, but must be renewed from time to time. Accordingly, attempts have been made to provide permanent anti-static properties by increasing the intrinsic surface conductivity, i.e., decreasing the surface resistivity, by incorporating electrically conductive materials into the coatings. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,299, to Angelopoulos et al., discloses electrically conductive, scratch-resistant polymers incorporating conductive polymers. However, incorporation of other materials in significant amounts can tend to reduce the hardness of the coating and thereby its resistance to scratching.
Accordingly, a need has continued to exist for a hard, abrasion-resistant coating that has good static electricity dissipation properties, especially for use in coating transparent substrates.

Acrylate polymer abrasion and static resistant coating


A sense amplifier includes a reference signal providing unit and an internal sense amplification unit. The reference signal providing unit provides a reference bit line signal in response to a reference control signal. The internal sense amplification unit receives the reference bit line signal and data signals that correspond to the data. The received signals are provided through bit lines connected to the memory cell array. The internal sense amplification unit senses the received reference bit line signal and the data signals and amplifies the sensed signals. The sense amplifier senses data stored in memory cells connected to dummy bit lines of the outmost memory cell array of a semiconductor memory device such that the memory cells that are not used can be used. Accordingly, the design area and cost of the semiconductor memory device can be reduced.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, to a sense amplifier, a semiconductor memory device including the sense amplifier, and a data sensing method.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In a semiconductor memory device including a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), data stored in a memory cell is read by a sense amplifier connected to a bit line. The data stored in the memory cell is transferred to the sense amplifier through the bit line, amplified by the sense amplifier, and then output from the sense amplifier. In this manner, the data stored in the memory cell is read.
Bit lines and sense amplifiers are generally arranged according to a folded bit line structure or an open bit line structure. In the folded bit line structure, two bit lines in a pair are connected to the same memory cell array. In the open bit line structure, the two bit lines in a pair are respectively connected to different memory cell arrays.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional semiconductor memory device 100 including a plurality of memory cell arrays 110-1, 110-2, . . . and a plurality of sense amplifiers 130-1, 130-2, . . . . FIG. 2 is diagram explaining the folded bit line structure. FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining the open bit line structure.
Referring to FIG. 1, in the semiconductor memory device 100, the plurality of memory cell arrays 110-1, 110-2, . . . and the plurality of sense amplifiers 130-1, 130-2, . . . are arranged in an alternating pattern 150. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the memory cell arrays can be either blocks or banks.
Referring to FIG. 2, bit line pairs BL0 and /BL0, BL1 and /BL1, through BLN and /BLN are respectively connected to the memory cell arrays 110-1, 110-2, . . . in the folded bit line structure. Thus, the number of the memory cell arrays is equal to the number of the sense amplifiers in the semiconductor memory device 100.
Referring to FIG. 3, two bit lines in a pair, BL0 and /BL0, BL1 and /BL1, through BLN and /BLN, are respectively connected to neighboring memory cell arrays 110-1 and 110-2, for example, in the open bit line structure. Thus, the number of the memory cell arrays of the semiconductor memory device 100 is greater than the number of the sense amplifiers by one. A semiconductor memory device therefore requires one more memory cell array when it employs the open bit line structure compared to when it employs the folded bit line structure.
With the advancement of semiconductor memory device technology, the chip size of a semiconductor memory device is reduced and a process for designing the semiconductor memory device becomes more delicate. Accordingly, a bit line pitch becomes important in the design of a region where bit lines and sense amplifiers are arranged.
It can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 that the open bit line structure has a more desirable bit line pitch than the folded bit line structure. Thus, the open bit line structure is widely used to design a region where bit lines and sense amplifiers are arranged in the current semiconductor memory device.
However, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in the open bit line structure, as many as half the bit lines arranged in the outmost memory cell array are DUMMY hit lines and are not used in the semiconductor memory device 100. Thus, memory cells connected to the DUMMY bit lines become dummy cells that are not used.
In the case of the semiconductor memory device 100 illustrated in FIG. 3, when dummy cells of the rightmost memory cell array and the leftmost memory cell arrays are considered, memory cells corresponding to a single memory cell array are not used. Accordingly, the open bit line structure brings about large loss in the area and increased cost of a semiconductor memory device.

Sense amplifier, semiconductor memory device including the same, and data sensing method


A railcar safety lock incorporates a rectangular channel having an open top face and a pair of opposing open ends. An “L”-shaped bracket is pivotally secured within the channel. A pad lock aperture is secured within the channel adjacent a second open end opposite a first open end. The safety is configured to lockingly engage the bracket over a single lever railcar hand brake, thereby preventing the hand brake lever from being released.

Railroad trains throughout the United States have provided a crucial interconnected highway between many cities and states. The safe passage of freight cars and train engines alike are a high priority for local businesses, state agencies, and federal agencies. As such, all railroad freight cars are required to have one (1) or more hand brakes attached to them on at least one (1) end of the freight car.
Hand brakes are most often set and released manually by a railroad worker, or as seen more recently such hand brakes may be remotely attended to. The current protocol is that a railroad worker must examine each hand brake before attempting to begin moving. Unfortunately, railroad hand brakes are not tamper-proof and may not be effectively monitored at night or when the staff is not currently working.
A person who gains access to a rail car may also gain access to the rail car's hand brake. This would allow a scofflaw to tamper with the hand brake and potentially take control or sabotage operations of a train. If a freight car's brake is disengaged it is possible that it may roll off or even become a runaway car. Certain embodiments of such a railcar hand brake include a single lever arm. Thus, a device that prevents manipulation of a railcar hand brake by non-railroad personnel is needed.
Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in brake locking devices art. Among these are found in: U.S. Pat. No. 8,066,142 to Yin et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 1,100,646 to Barnes; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,138,795 to Saunders. These prior art references are representative of devices providing single lever hand brake locking systems for railcars.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. Thus, a need exists for a reliable railroad equipment locking system, and to avoid the above-mentioned problems.


A nuclear reactor plant is provided in which the reactor coolant system contains a dissolved solution of enriched boric acid. The boron-10 to boron-11 atomic isotope ratio of the enriched boric acid solution is greater than 19.8:80.2 at the start of the reactor core cycle. The nuclear reactor plant design provides for minimal mixing between the reactor coolant solution containing the enriched boric acid solution and the natural boric acid solution used during refueling operations.

A nuclear reactor must be provided with a system to control the reactor output. A number of ways of controlling the excess reactivity that is consciously designed into a nuclear power reactor core are known. These include the use of neutron absorbing control rods that can be inserted into or withdrawn from the reactor core, the adjustment of moderator temperature which changes the density and therefore both the fast neutron moderation and the thermal neutron absorption rates of the hydrogen in the light water coolant/moderator, and the use of solid and dissolved neutron absorbing poison materials incorporated either directly in the reactor core lattice (as burnable poison rods or fuel pellet coatings) or dissolved in the primary coolant/moderator as a "chemical shim". The chemical shim is commonly a boric acid solution. Systems employing such a boric acid solution for control of the nuclear reactor are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,889 to Loose and U.S. Pat. No. 3,666,626 to Gramer et al. These coolant systems utilize natural boric acid solutions, which contain a maximum boron-10 (B-10) to boron-11 (B-11) atomic ratio of 19.8:80.2.
The prior art has refined processes for concentrating the natural boric acid solutions used as chemical shims in reactor coolant systems. This concentration is necessary due to the need for a highly concentrated solution of neutron capturing compounds at the start of the reactor cycle and to compensate for the loss of B-10 material (nuclei) during the reactor cycle, and to minimize waste water streams containing radioactive wastes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,683 to an der School discloses an ion exchange system to reconcentrate a natural boric acid solution while also producing a dilute natural boric acid solution to control the reactivity in the reactor core. U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,390 to Brown et al. discloses a joint ion exchange and evaporative system to control the reactivity of the reactor core wherein the chemical shim is also natural boric acid. U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,390 also discloses how to load follow the reactor using a natural boric acid solution. These processes deal with "concentrating" a solution of natural boric acid, that is, they raise or lower the amount of natural boric acid in a solution, but do not disclose how to operate a nuclear reactor which utilizes "enriched" boric acid as the primary reactor coolant. The term "enriched" refers to a boric acid solution in which the B-10 to B-11 atomic ratio is above the naturally occurring ratio of 19.8:80.2.
It is known that the B-10 isotope is the only isotope in boron-based poisons that contributes materially to the absorption of excess thermal or near thermal neutrons in reactor configurations. This is due to its relatively large neutron capture cross section in the thermal range. Also, it is known that the presence of any of the boron-based poison compounds in a typical power generating nuclear reactor leads to known deleterious effects, such as corrosion and wear, on other material components of the reactor core and of the associated nuclear steam supply system. Therefore, it follows that marked advantages over the prior art reactor coolant systems containing a chemical shim could be obtained if the B-10 to B-11 isotope ratio could be raised, thereby allowing a significant reduction in the total quantity of the boron-based poison material in the primary reactor coolant system at all times during power operations. Such a system would allow for the control of the nuclear reactor and also would be less deleterious on the physical components constituting the nuclear reactor.

Enriched boron-10 boric acid control system for a nuclear reactor plant


A magnetic resonance spectrometer and a control apparatus for the magnetic resonance spectrometer based on an FPGA. The control apparatus includes a control unit and a conversion receiving unit. The control unit includes a clock source. A waveform generation unit and a signal receiving unit inside the control apparatus are synchronized by means of the same clock source. The control apparatus includes two working modes: a continuous wave mode and an impulse wave mode. The control apparatus can output a microwave signal which is modulated by any wave and has higher synchronism and time resolution.

The Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) technology is a spectra method for detecting unpaired electron characteristics in samples, which is widely applied in fields of chemistry, physics, material engineering, environment science, life science and medicine. An electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer used in paramagnetic resonance experiments normally operates in a pulse mode and a continuous wave mode.
In the electron paramagnetic resonance technology, a microwave signal in a continuous wave form or a pulse wave form is usually used to excite electron spin, and quantum state of the electron spin is measured by means of electronics readout. The microwave signals are mainly generated by an arbitrary waveform generator, a square wave generator and other necessary microwave devices, and the electronics readout is mainly performed by a data acquisition unit based on a high-speed analog-to-digital conversion technology.
The electronic paramagnetic resonance spectrometer having both the pulse mode and the continuous wave mode according to the conventional technology usually includes an arbitrary waveform generator, a square wave generator and a data acquisition unit, which operate independently and are separately controlled by host computer software. In this design, each of the components uses its own clock reference source and achieves synchronization through asynchronous triggering, resulting in poor synchronicity of the spectrometer. Therefore it is difficult to apply the spectrometer in applications requiring a higher temporal resolution. In addition, since the system includes a variety of devices, the system has a low integration degree and a high cost, and is complicated in both software and hardware, resulting in difficulties in debugging and maintenance.
Therefore, how to improve the temporal resolution and the integration degree of the paramagnetic resonance spectrometer and achieve high design flexibility is a difficult problem in the art.

Magnetic resonance spectrometer and control apparatus for magnetic resonance spectrometer based on FPGA

University of Science and Technology of China


A brake controller for a locomotive includes a train brake pipe, a locomotive brake pipe, a brake cylinder, a control valve and a relay valve. The first control input of the relay valve is selectively connected to one of the output of the control valve and the locomotive brake pipe; and the second control input of the relay valve is selectively connected to the locomotive brake pipe when the control valve output is a release signal. A first electro-pneumatic valve, when activated, causes the control valve to be a release signal. An electronic controller is connected to a first pressure transducer for the locomotive brake pipe, a lead/trail mode switch and the first electro-pneumatic valve; and activates the electro-pneumatic valve for brake release pressures in the locomotive brake pipe when the mode switch is in the trail mode.

The present system relates generally to brake control systems and more specifically to a brake controller for a trail locomotive in a two pipe brake system.
The air braking industry has a long established control scheme of transferring braking requirement from a Lead locomotive to a Trail locomotive through a single train brake pipe or multiple unit brake pipe known as the brake cylinder equalizing or locomotive brake pipe. This is referred to as a two pipe system. This is distinguished by a three pipe brake system which has a train brake pipe, a locomotive apply and release brake pipe and a locomotive activate brake pipe. The Trailing locomotive is manually set to respond to a two pipe system through devices located within its braking system. The Trail locomotive as set does not respond to its control valve for the application of braking effort. Instead, the Trail locomotive responds directly to pressure within the brake cylinder equalizing pipe, which is controlled by the Lead locomotive, for the application of braking effort. The Lead locomotive is manually set to control the two pipe system through devices located within its braking system. The Lead locomotive then controls pressure within the brake cylinder equalizing pipe, which is a summary or cumulative affect of automatic, independent and bail braking controls and commands at the Lead locomotive.
A requirement in the train braking industry is to boost the independent braking request by 160% of the commanded pressure within the brake cylinder equalizing pipe. However, the commanded pressure within the brake cylinder equalizing pipe is not to be boosted for the automatic braking command pressure. An example of a prior art brake system is illustrated in FIG. 1, which will be discussed in detail below. A limitation in the system of FIG. 1 is that it will not resume the 160% of independent brake application after a "bail" or independent brake release if the automatic braking signals a brake apply on the train brake pipe. The automatic brake must signal a brake release in the train brake pipe for the system to resume the 160% of independent brake application.
The present disclosure is a brake control for the Trail locomotive equipped with an electro-pneumatic braking control system that differentiates the independent (locomotive) braking from automatic (train) braking to determine whether to boost pressure by 160% or retain 100%.
A brake controller for a trail locomotive includes a train brake pipe, a locomotive brake pipe, a brake cylinder, a control valve being responsive to pressure in the train brake pipe to produce brake apply and brake release signals at an output, and a relay valve having first and second control inputs and having a source input and an exhaust input selectively connected to an output in response to the control inputs. The first control input is selectively connected to one of the output of the control valve and the locomotive brake pipe; and the second control input is selectively connected to the locomotive brake pipe when the control valve output is a release signal. A first pressure transducer is connected to the locomotive brake pipe. A mode switch having lead and trail modes is provided. A first electro-pneumatic valve is connected to the control valve which, when activated, causes the control valve to be a release signal. An electronic controller is connected to the first pressure transducer, the mode switch and the first electro-pneumatic valve, and activates the first electro-pneumatic valve for brake release pressures in the locomotive brake pipe when the mode switch is in the trail mode.
The control valve output remains as a release signal until a pressure is present in the train brake pipe which requires an increase brake apply signal by the control valve. A second electro-pneumatic valve may be provide which selectively connects the output of the control valve to the first control input of the relay valve. In such case, a second pressure transducer is connected to the train brake pipe. The electronic controller is connected to and controls the second electro-pneumatic valve to a) connect the output of the control valve to the first control input of the relay valve in the trail mode of the mode switch when pressure in the train brake pipe is below an emergency pressure and b) disconnect the control valve from the first control input of the relay valve in the trail mode of the mode switch when pressure in the train brake pipe is above an emergency pressure.
The first and second pneumatic valves may be dynamic brake interlock valves of an electro-pneumatic brake controller. Also a double check valve may be provided and has inputs connected to the output of the control valve and the locomotive pipe and an output connected to the first input of the relay valve.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings.


The present invention is an uncoated housing in which a molded product formed from a thermoplastic resin composition (D) containing 20-60% by mass of an acetone insoluble resin component (A), which contains a rubber component (a) with an average particle size of 0.05-0.3 μm and has a coefficient of linear expansion of 11×10−5-20.5×10−5, 40-80% by mass of an acetone soluble resin component (B) (here, (A)+(B)=100% by mass), and a colorant (C), with (1) the acetone soluble resin component (B) containing 6.0-45% by mass of an unsaturated nitrile monomer derived component and (2) 2-20% by mass of a component with a molecular weight of 70,000 or less by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements being contained in the acetone soluble resin component (B). On the basis of JIS K7105, the L* value for this uncoated housing is 13 or less, the luster 60-120%, and the haze value 30-90%.

Recently, housings for various products made of resins are required to have not only impact resistance but also high designability. There is tendency that luxurious enamel touch with a deep color tone is required particularly mainly for a household electrical appliance, a game machine, an interior material for a vehicle and the like. It has conventionally been difficult to attain designability with enamel touch by using merely a resin, and hence, a housing with enamel touch has been obtained by a method of coating a molded resin article or adhering a decoration film precedently designed as desired onto a housing (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).

Uncoated housing and method for manufacturing same


An exemplary fan includes a hub and an impeller. The hub is made of metal, and includes a flange. The impeller is made of plastic. The impeller is formed around the hub and has the flange embedded therein. A method for manufacturing the fan is also provided.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to fans such as those used in electronic devices, and more particularly to a fan with a metallic hub and a plastic impeller and a method for manufacturing such fan.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the ongoing development of the electronics industry, electronic components (such as central processing units) operate at higher speeds and higher frequencies than previously. The heat generated by such electronic components during operation is correspondingly increased. If the heat generated by an electronic component is not efficiently dissipated, the electronic component and even the host electronic device may malfunction or suffer damage. Therefore, the heat must be timely removed to keep the temperature of the electronic device within a safe range. Fans have been used in numerous electronic devices for providing forced airflow to dissipate the heat.
Generally, a fan comprises a hub and an impeller. A plurality of blades surrounds the impeller. The hub and the impeller can be made of a single piece of a desired kind of material. For example, the hub and the impeller can be made of metal, and formed by a punching method. However, the punching process is unable to achieve blades with complex shapes. The hub and the impeller can also be made of plastic, with the impeller being formed by an injection molding method. However, using plastic can not achieve blades with high strength. Alternatively, the hub and the impeller can be made of two different kinds of material individually, and then the hub and the impeller are assembled together with glue or fasteners. However, the process of assembly is complex, and the impeller can not achieve high strength at joints of the hub and the impeller.
What is needed, therefore, is a fan which can overcome the above-described shortcomings.

Fan with metallic hub and plastic impeller and method for manufacturing such fan


A socket holder with a built in locking mechanism that is user controlled and activated by a push button which controls internal locking mechanisms which allow this socket holder to securely store and transport sockets mounted to a main socket holder body. This socket holder can hold multiples of sockets to the main socket holder body, releasing them only when desired by the user with the push of the push button that controls the internal mechanisms which release the sockets from the main socket holder body. This socket holder is designed to organize and securely lock the sockets onto the main socket holder body in a way that is dependable and easy to use.

The field of endeavor being discussed relates to tools and equipment that use "sockets" such as mechanics sockets in automobile repairs, aircraft and machinery. Even more particular to the actual "holders of these sockets".
The "socket holder" being very important as these sockets come in a multiple of different sizes and a multiple of different connecting drive sizes. This makes the need for a reliable holder with this new locking mechanism a feature and a necessity that has not been previously there for the user and the lack of it not being there the cause of much frustration, confusion and wasted time looking for these many different sockets while working on jobs requiring use of these sockets.
With many different size sockets with their different drive sizes not being kept in decent order with a secure and reliable way has been the reason for much confusion and wasted time. (Example) ¼″ ⅜″ ½″ ¾″ 1″ and above drive sizes for sockets, with each size drive of a socket having many working size ends that go onto each set. This is why it is very important to have a secure, easy to use socket holder with designated spaces for each socket on a lockable socket storage holder device.
Again the background of the invention comes from the need of: NOT having a strong and secure way to easily lock mount and dismount tool sockets onto a socket holder in a reliable, easy to use kind of way for use and transport of said sockets.
In the past the previous way of carrying these tool sockets for many people was to just put them in a box or a bag, making these sockets very hard to access easily and quickly, and causing great frustration for many when looking for said sockets when they were needed on any particular job where a socket or a multiple of different size sockets was needed.
For the most part it seemed the only time a set of sockets was in order and easy to find was when they just came in the box or in the shipping container from the manufacturer of these said sockets.
Using this secure and lockable socket holder device will maintain these sockets in their organized holding spaces on the socket holder dependably.
Keeping these different size drive and sized sockets sockets in their respective holder spaces securely and dependably according to their ascending or descending size order will enable quick and easy access to them when they needed.


A method of preventing null formation is performed on a phase shifted photomask including a clear quartz substrate, dark chrome feature features, and alternating clear phase shifters raised from the substrate. The phase shifter features are terminated in a transmissive, optically clear edge. To prevent null formation and consequent formation of stringers on the surface of the integrated circuit, the substantially vertical edge of the optically clear end of the phase shifter is tapered. The slope at any point along the tapered edge between the photomask substrate and the phase shifter is set to an angle, typically less than forty-five degrees, shallow enough that the point spread function does not produce an image. The point spread function of the imaging system spreads out the null, which is therefore not printed into the photoresist layer on the integrated circuit. The tapered edge of the phase shifter is created by either discrete or continuous etching methods. Both methods create the phase shifter and tapered edges simultaneously and are compatible with photomasks having either additive or subtractive type phase shifters.

This invention relates generally to phase shifted photomasks, and more particularly to a method for preventing undesirable null formation when the pattern on the phase shifted mask is transferred to the surface of an integrated circuit.
Phase shifting is a technique known in the art of photolithography to enhance the contrast of images printed onto the surface of an integrated circuit. Phase shifted photomasks are useful for allowing feature sizes of the printed images to be reduced below 0.5 .mu.m. A conventional and phase shifted photomask is shown in FIG. 1A. The conventional photomask includes a clear substrate 10 typically fabricated out of quartz, and a plurality of dark features 12 typically fabricated out of chrome. The dark features 12 represent metal runs, transistor contacts, transistor active areas, as well as all other patterned areas for a specific layer of the integrated circuit. The phase shifted photomask also includes substrate 10 and dark features 12, but in addition includes a number of additional clear phase shifting features 14 (also known simply as "phase shifters".) The phase shifters 14 are an extra patterned layer of transmissive material on the surface of the photomask. As light propagates through the substrate 10 and the extra phase shifters 14, its wavelength is reduced from that in air by the refractive indexes of the substrate 10 and the phase shifter 14, respectively. The optical phase difference, .theta., between two beams of light traveling through the phase shifted and non-phase shifted portions of the photomask is equal to: EQU .theta.=2.pi.a(n-1)/.lambda.,
wherein "n" is the refractive index and "a" is the thickness of the phase shifter 14. Usually, a phase shift of .pi. is desirable such that: EQU a=.lambda./(2(n-1)).
The phase shift can be any odd number of .pi., i.e. (2m+1).pi., where m=0,1,2, . . . . Phase shifting of the two beams is relative, but for simplicity of describing structure and operation, the raised area of the photomask is usually referred to as the phase shifter.
The phase shifted photomask in FIG. 1A is known as "alternating phase shifting" wherein pairs of closely packed dark features 12 contain a raised phase shifter 14. Separating each pair of dark features 12 is a non-phase shifted area of the photomask substrate 10. The operation of the alternating phase shifted photomask, contrasted with the operation of a conventional photomask, is shown in FIGS. 1B-1D. In sequence, the figures show the electric field on the mask, the electric field on the wafer, and the intensity on the wafer. The "-1" amplitude created by the phase shifters 14 effectively reduces the spatial frequency of the electric field so that it is less inhibited by the lens transfer function of the imaging system used and forms a higher-contrast amplitude image at the wafer plane. When the electric field is recorded by the photoresist, only the intensity that is proportional to the square of the electric field amplitude is recorded, resulting in doubling of the reduced spatial frequency, i.e. restoring to the spatial frequency of the original object but producing an image of much higher contrast. In addition to the reduction of spatial frequency, the electric field is forced to pass through zero to -1. Thus, edge contrast is improved. Therefore, the alternating phase shifting system benefits from the reduction of spatial frequencies as well as enhancement of the edge contrast.
Two types of alternating phase shifted photomasks are shown in FIGS. 2A-2B. FIG. 2A shows an "additive" phase shifted photomask in which the phase shifters 14 are a patterned layer of transmissive material as described above. FIG. 2B shows a "subtractive" phase shifted photomask in which the phase shifters 14A are formed by etching portions of the substrate 10. Thus, in the subtractive photomask, the unetched portions of the substrate 10 form the phase shifters 14. Although formed by different methods, the operation of the additive and subtractive photomasks is equivalent.
The alternating phase shifting technique works only as long as there are a number of pairs of closely packed dark features 12 on the photomask. As shown in FIG. 3, phase shifters 14 associated with pairs of dark features 12 must be eventually terminated. The phase shifters 14 are terminated because the dark features 12 are themselves terminated, change direction, are unconnected to other features on the photomask, or otherwise change topology. A phase shifter 14 is typically terminated in a transmissive end 16, resulting in a transmissive, optical clear edge. The optically clear edge 18 is shown in FIG. 4. The optically clear edge 18 results in a null, which produces a "stringer" or undesirable dark feature on the integrated circuit. Referring back to FIG. 3, the stringer is printed generally along the thin lines designating the end 16 of phase shifter 14. FIG. 4 only shows the termination of the phase shifter 14 due to the termination of the dark features 12. It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the optically clear edge 18 and resulting stringers can occur in numerous other configurations.
The performance of a prior art phase shifted photomask is shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. The electric field produced by a conventional phase shifted photomask is shown in FIG. 5A. Although the edge 18 of the phase shifter is optically clear, the phase shifted light passing through the phase shifter passes through zero electric field. The light from the imaging system does not pass through the phase shifter exactly at the edge 18. The square of the electric field is shown in FIG. 5B, wherein the square generally has a value of 1, but is equal to zero at the location of edge 18. The intensity on the wafer is shown in FIG. 5C. The electric field on the photomask passes through a narrow zone of zero electric field, which is spread out due to the "point spread function" of the optical imaging system. However, the intensity is still relatively narrowly focused and is printed as an actual feature by the photoresist layer on the integrated circuit.
Accordingly, a need remains for a method of removing undesirable null formation in a phase shifted photomask while retaining the benefits of phase shifting.

Method of preventing null formation in phase shifted photomasks


The control cluster has a spider constituted by a hub connectable to a drive shaft. Fins radiate from a bottom portion of the hub and provided with vertical fingers distributed in a regular array. It also includes rods provided with plugs that are releasably fixed to the fingers. The fins, their fingers, and at least the bottom portion of the hub constituting a single-piece part obtained by molding or by electro-machining.

The present invention relates to control clusters for a nuclear reactor, each cluster comprising a spider made of a hub fitted with drive shaft fastening means and with fins radiating from a bottom portion of the hub and provided with parallel vertical fingers distributed in a regular array, together with rods provided with plugs fixed removably to the fingers.
At present, control clusters of this type include sixteen fins. Each fin carries a finger at its end. Every other fin also has an intermediate finger. Thus, the cluster includes twenty-four absorbent rods.
Spiders are presently constituted as welded assemblies. The fins are put into place around the hub and brazed. The brazing operation is lengthy and difficult when seeking to avoid any positioning error of the rods and to avoid any deformation due to thermal effects.
In most cases, the fingers are fixed to the fins by respective tenon-and-mortise connections: the end portion of each fin constitutes a tenon which is engaged in a slot of the associated finger. That connection is finished off by brazing. When this solution is adopted, it is impossible to provide a vertical hole passing through the finger, and consequently the plugs of the rods must be fixed in blind holes in the portions of the fingers located beneath the level of the fins. That solution has turned out to be not very satisfactory. French Patent No. 2,599,884 describes a solution that makes it possible to make the rods removable. It is complex and gives the rod assembly a secured connection with the spider. Such a connection is liable to impede sliding of the rods in the guide tubes of an assembly that is to receive the cluster.

Nuclear reactor control cluster having removable rods

Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires


A method and apparatus for producing a fastener product having a multiplicity of fastener elements extending from a sheet-form material. Molten resin is extruded through an extrusion nozzle and gas is introduced into the resin within the extruder to provide an interrupted flow of resin from the nozzle to deposit discrete regions of molten resin onto the sheet-form material. The discrete regions of molten resin are spread apart along a longitudinal direction of the sheet-form material. The molten resin is permanently bonded to the sheet-form material, and a multiplicity of fastener elements are molded from each discrete region of resin.

It is advantageous to form islands or discrete regions of resin on a substrate or sheet-form material, such as in the production of fastener products by continuous mold-rolling methods, such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/725,819 filed by Provost et al., for example.
Improved methods of generating discrete doses of molten resin are desired, such as for application to substrates, for the formation of fasteners and other products.

Forming discrete regions of molten resin


Structure is provided for joining and bonding together two halves of a plastic upper body member which in turn are joined and bonded to a fiber reinforced lower member to comprise a monocoque vehicle assembly. The joint designs facilitate side-to-side and fore-and-aft alignment for quick and easy assembly of the upper body member to the lower member. Spacer surfaces are provided for controlling adhesive reservoirs between adjoining surfaces to facilitate positive bonding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lower and upper body structures for a vehicle, and more specifically to a three-piece monocoque body assembly for use in small vehicles, such as lawn and garden tractors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lawn and garden ride-on vehicles utilize a main frame that is typically manufactured from many individual pieces. Those pieces have traditionally been made of metal to withstand the various loads and deflections encountered by the vehicle. The pieces are either cut and/or stamped and then welded or bolted together. Subsequently, some type of body enclosure is attached to the main frame to cover the mechanical components, such as the engine, wheels, control linkages and battery.
The expenses associated with the materials, and the manufacturing and assembly operations in producing vehicle frames and bodies is substantial and, therefore, some manufacturers have utilized alternative materials, including fiber reinforced plastics.
To obtain the stiffness needed to withstand the types of loads and deflections associated with vehicle operation, metal frame members have been used as skeletal supports with the plastic panels which may be bonded together then being bolted to the metal members. Subsequently, other plastic panels are bolted or bonded to the first panels to complete the vehicle and its body structure.
Some fiber reinforced plastic vehicle bodies have also been made without the use of a metal skeletal structure. Accordingly, the panels are relatively rigid and bonding of the panels into a vehicle structure requires tight tolerances and careful assembly procedures to assure that the bonded joints have the desired dimensions and appropriate strength.


A mechanical arm mechanism for moving a table or similar board type work surface in an arcuate path from a stored position to one or more user positions at various selected elevations and angles of inclination. The mechanism uses at least one set of spaced apart arms each of which has one end pivotally attached to a respective fixed pivot point on a support member and the opposite end pivotally attached to a respective movable pivot point on the bottom or back side of a board member with the lengths between the fixed pivot points, the moveable pivot points and the arms forming the sides of a trapezoid which sides change their relative angular orientation as the table or board is moved in its arcuate path of travel.

There are many and various types of mechanical arm mechanisms in the art and conventionally each is specific to a particular motion problem. Many of these comprise parallel arms or links which must remain parallel throughout the motion excursion while others comprise link-and-cam arrangements which compensate for possible interference between the links as they are moved from one position to an alternative position. Most of these prior art mechanisms must function in a limited way to move a table or like-type board surface from a first initial position to a second alternative user position and the same configuration of arm mechanism may not be reconfigured to other applications which effect a change in both of the initial and alternative user positions.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a mechanical arm mechanism which may be applied to many and various types of applications.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of determining the various and multiple parameters which comprise a mechanical arm mechanism such that a table or like-type board surface may be moved from an initial position to an alternative user position, and this, irrespective of the selected alternative user position and not being constrained by parallel arm motion.
A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical arm configuration which may comprise a two-arm configuration, a three-arm configuration or multiples of these such as to move various sized board surfaces from an initial vertical position to any other alternative position selected by the user.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical arm mechanism wherein the various and multiple parameters of the mechanism are preselected such as to provide a particular board surface motion exhibiting multiple alternative user positions and/or board angles.
These and other objects of the invention will become more fully apparent as the description proceeds in the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

Mechanical arm mechanism for movably supporting a multi-position work surface


An in-line system uses a simple static emulsifier to thoroughly mix salt-containing fuel oil with water, thereby to draw the salt from the fuel oil into the water preferentially, and then the de-salted fuel oil is separated from the salt-containing water.

This invention is concerned with a simple, low-cost system for de-salting fuel oil, particularly biodiesel, supplied to gas turbine engines, particularly marine gas turbine engines of the type used in propulsion systems for ships.
In response to rising costs and environmental concerns associated with traditional fossil fuels, fuel-dependent industries are turning to biodiesel to power gas turbine engines. In the implementation of a biodiesel program, it became apparent that salinity found in biodiesel is a significant problem. Salinity reduces the lifespan of gas turbine engines. The normal lifespan of a gas turbine engine burning fuel with an optimal level of salinity of less than 0.1 ppm is 25,000 hours. When the salinity is increased to 0.2 ppm, the maximum concentration for commercial use, the lifespan is reduced by 50%, and at 0.7 ppm there is a 90% reduction in lifespan.
Early in the program of using biodiesel to power marine gas turbine engines, it was discovered that the salinity level of fuel intended for use was in the range of 5-11.5 ppm, which is unacceptable. Such high salinity content renders the fuel unsuitable for use by gas turbine engines.
While processes exist in the prior art for de-salting fuel oil, they are expensive and impractical for use in de-salting fuel to power marine gas turbine engines. Such engines burning 100% biodiesel (a 99.9% biodiesel, 0.1% palm oil blend mix) require an optimal level of salinity of less than 0.1 ppm. The present invention provides a biodiesel fuel having the required characteristics.

In-line system for de-salting diesel oil supplied to gas turbine engines


A sewing machine that is capable of sewing an embroidery pattern on a work cloth includes a storage device that stores embroidery data to identify a shape of the embroidery pattern and reference line data to identify a pattern position and a pattern angle. The sewing machine also includes an imaging device that captures an image of the work cloth onto which a marker is affixed, and a detection device that detects a marker position and a marker angle based on information of the image captured by the imaging device. The sewing machine further includes a conversion device that converts the embroidery data based on the pattern position, the pattern angle, the marker position, and the marker angle. The sewing machine further includes a sewing control device that controls sewing of the embroidery pattern based on the embroidery data obtained after conversion.

The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine and a computer-readable medium storing a program that controls the sewing machine. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a sewing machine that can easily determine a sewing position and a sewing angle of an embroidery pattern to sew the pattern, and a computer-readable medium storing a program that controls the sewing machine.
Conventionally, when sewing an embroidery pattern selected by a user to a predetermined position on a work cloth with a sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing, the user may have to operate an eight-directional key to thereby move an embroidery frame holding the work cloth to adjust a needle drop point coincides with the predetermined position. Also, when the user desires to change a sewing angle at which the embroidery pattern is to be sewn on the work cloth, the user may have to operate a rotation key to thereby rotate a preset angle for the embroidery pattern.
In contrast, a sewing machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,182, for example, reads a sewing designation mark drawn beforehand on a work cloth that is attached to an embroidery frame, obtains at least one of a position and a direction for sewing an embroidery pattern on the work cloth on the basis of image data of the sewing designation mark, and edit embroidery data of the embroidery pattern in accordance with at least one of the obtained position and direction. In the case of position adjustment to the sewing designation mark, the center point of an outline of the embroidery pattern is used. In the case of direction adjustment to the sewing specification mark, a direction of the embroidery pattern is used. After the pattern data is edited, the sewing machine sews embroidery based on the post-edit pattern data.

Sewing machine and computer-readable medium storing sewing machine control program


A driving circuit of an electro-optical device that includes scanning lines divided into two or more groups and two or more common electrodes that correspond to the two or more groups of scanning lines. The driving circuit includes a data line driving circuit and a common signal supply circuit. The driving circuit divides one field of one of the pixels into sub-fields and applies the one of the pixels with on or off voltages during the sub-fields to achieve a desired gray-scale level. During one specific sub-field, the data line driving circuit supplies a data signal of an off voltage regardless of the gray-scale level for the pixel. After the specific sub-field ends, the common signal supply circuit switches a voltage applied to a common electrode of that corresponds to the group of scanning lines that includes the selected scanning line.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technology for performing a gray scale in such a manner that one field is divided into a plurality of sub-fields and pixels are caused to enter an on state or an off state in each sub-field.
2. Related Art
When the grayshade is performed in an electro-optical device that uses display elements, such as liquid crystal capacitors, in pixels, the following technology has been suggested as a substitute for a voltage modulation method. That is, there has been suggested a technology for performing halftone display in such a manner that one field is divided into a plurality of sub-fields and then the pixels (liquid crystal capacitors) are caused to enter an on state or an off state in each divided sub-field to thereby change the percentage of a time period during which the pixels are caused to enter an on state or an off state within the one field, which is described in JP-A-2003-114661. On the other hand, each liquid crystal capacitor is configured so that a liquid crystal is held between a common electrode and a pixel electrode. In order to suppress the voltage amplitude of a data line (source line), it has been suggested that the common electrode is alternately switched between a low-level voltage and a high-level voltage, which is described in JP-A-62-49399.
However, in a case where driving is performed in such a manner that one field is divided into a plurality of sub-fields, when a technology for alternately switching the voltage of the common electrode is employed, there occurs a problem such as a deterioration in contrast ratio or a decrease in the number of addressable gray-scale levels. An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a technology, or the like, for improving a deterioration in contrast ratio or a decrease in the number of addressable gray-scale levels when driving is performed in such a manner that one field is divided into a plurality of sub-fields and the voltage of the common electrode is alternately switched.


Systems and methods for improved thermophotonic imaging are provided in which both amplitude and phase image information is obtained with a high signal to noise ratio and depth-resolved capabilities. Image data obtained from an imaging camera is dynamically averaged and subsequently processed to extract amplitude and/or phase image data. The system may be configured for a wide range of imaging modalities, including single frequency modulation (thermophotonic lock-in imaging), Thermal-Wave Radar imaging or Thermophotonic Radar imaging involving chirp modulation, and Binary Phase Coded Modulation. Such imaging modalities may find application in many diverse areas, including non-destructive testing and biomedical diagnostic imaging including the imaging of teeth and monitoring changes in the tooth over time which are due to pathology such as dental caries or erosion.

This invention relates to systems and methods of non-destructive subsurface imaging. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods for thermophotonic imaging.
Thermographic and thermophotonic imaging methods have found widespread use in applications such as non-destructive testing of various materials and biomedical diagnostic imaging. While numerous methods have been developed and described in the literature, most solutions proposed to date have relied on methods involving single frequency analysis of amplitude and phase images. Such methods, while well suited for some specific applications, often fail in applications that demand higher sensitivity. Another disadvantage of known thermographic and thermophotonic imaging methods is the use of low speed imaging techniques, which can place significant limitations on depth and/or spatial resolution.
Accordingly, despite the existence of a number of thermographic and thermophotonic imaging modalities, there remains a need for imaging solutions that deliver higher sensitivity, lower detection limit, increased speed, and improved depth resolution. In industrial quality control, there is a need for fast and reliable monitoring of substrate integrity and process-induced defects during manufacturing and component reliability testing, for example in identifying subsurface cracks and delaminations in automotive and aerospace components and surface coatings, respectively. In oral health care, there is a need to have an imaging system that can image an entire tooth surface or group of teeth so as to provide the oral health care provider with the location of dental caries or defects in teeth and or dental materials.
As compared to conventional thermographic imaging, which monitors contrast due to thermal and/or mechanical property inhomogeneities of materials (thermographic contrast), thermophotonic imaging, in addition to thermographic contrast, involves amplified contrast due to optical property inhomogeneities. Both modalities are based on the generation and detection of (photo)thermal waves in a sample.

Systems and methods for thermophotonic dynamic imaging


A laminate design is provided and includes a substrate formed to define through-holes, an initially uncured pre-preg laminate disposed proximate to the substrate and an initially uncured pre-preg staple. The staple includes a main member and legs extending from the main member and being disposable with the legs extending through the through-holes to pierce the laminate. The staple is co-curable with the laminate.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to composite staples and, more particularly, to co-cured composite staples for a composite design.
In various applications across many industries and technologies, there is often limited structural strength between plies or laminate designs with a skin the plies or laminate designs are attached to. This issue may be particularly noticeable in, for example, "L" or "T" shaped section frames.
Previously, the issues of limited structural strength between plies or laminate designs with the attached skin have been addressed by the use of metallic nails or procured tows of fiber to stick areas together. These solutions helped to increase shear strengths but loads leading to flat-wise pull-off remain low.


An electrical connector assembly comprises a plug connector half 1 and receptacle connector halves 5 and 9, including a receptacle connector half 5 with power transmission contacts and a receptacle connector half 9 without any power transmission contact. These receptacle connector halves are alternatively used in correspondence with the application. The receptacle connector half 5 with power transmission contacts is provided with two polar receptacle contacts 70 for power transmission in a receptacle housing 50. These receptacle contacts 70 for power transmission are brought into contact with plug contacts 30 for power transmission when the plug connector half 1 and the receptacle connector half 5 are intermated. On the other hand, the receptacle connector half 9 without any power transmission contacts is provided with accommodation spaces 57 in a receptacle housing 50'. These accommodation spaces accommodate said plug contacts 30 for power transmission when the plug connector half 1 and the receptacle connector half 9 are intermated.

Generally, laptop computers are designed with a connector, through which an external storage device such as FD drive and CD-ROM drive can be removably connected. In many cases, such laptop computers are also equipped with a rechargeable battery (i.e., a battery pack) for use as a power source. Therefore, the laptop computers need a connector with a plurality of electrical contacts, which is to be used for signal transmission with an external device, and a connector with electrical contacts for power transmission which require a larger capacity than those used for signal transmission, to allow current flow.
There is a yet sophisticated design of laptop computer which houses an attachment, i.e, an external device, a battery pack, etc. in the main body of the laptop computer. There is such type of laptop computer which enables alternative or exchangeable connection of an attachment, instead of allowing a plurality of attachments to be housed in the main body. In this way, the size of the laptop computer can be minimized for portability. In this design, each attachment is constructed with the same outside dimensions, and a receptive space for the insertion of an attachment is provided in the main body of the computer. A connector is provided in this receptive space to enable the removable connection of the attachment to the computer, such that the user can operate the laptop computer comfortably with a right attachment for his current need just by inserting or exchanging the attachment accordingly.
Such attachments include an external memory device, which does not require contacts for power transmission, and a battery pack, which requires electrical contacts that allow current flow. When the laptop computer is constructed in the above mentioned design to enable exchangeable insertion of attachment devices, electrical connectors, one connector for signal transmission and the other for power transmission (e.g., in two rows, one above the other), are provided at different locations in the receptive space.
Lately, the laptop computers have undergone further miniaturization, and it is becoming difficult to provide a plurality of electrical connectors in the receptive space. This has lead to a design of universal electrical connector, in which a single connector provided in the receptive space of the laptop computer is used both as signal connector and power connector, thus enabling the removable and exchangeable connection of an attachment in accordance with the present need. However, the electrical contacts of this type of connector are arranged in a special way. For example, two electrical contacts for power transmission are provided at the lateral ends of a row of electrical contacts for signal transmission.
In this type of connector, the single design of connector is used commonly for various attachments, even the attachments which do not require power supply are equipped with electrical contacts designed for power transmission. As far as the cost of the connector is concerned, it is unwise to provide such unnecessary contacts, and it is also disadvantageous in pricing the attachments.

Connector assembly with alternate housings with and without power contacts


A method of increasing the survival of animals and aquatic species susceptible to birnavirus infection by treating them before, during and/or after birnavirus exposure, with a chemical compound capable of inhibiting viral replication. A method of treating aquatic species to increase their survival in the presence of a virus, particularly an aquatic birnavirus, and to increase the yield of farmed fish susceptible to viral infection. The present invention provides methods for increasing survival of virally-exposed aquatic animals by administering therapeutically effective amounts of aminoghycoside compounds to aquatic animals susceptible to birnavirus infection and/or IPNV infection, particularly in fish such as salmonoid species, which are easily exposed to IPNV. The present invention also provides methods for increasing survival of virally-exposed animals by administering therapeutically effective amounts of aminoghycoside compounds to farmed animals susceptible to birnavirus infection and/or IBDV infection, particularly in poultry such as chickens, which are exposed to IBDV.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to treating organisms, particularly aquatic organisms susceptible to a virus, such as an aquatic birnavirus infection, by administering compounds that increase the survival the subjects when exposed to or infected with an virus. The invention is directed to a prophylactic/therapeutic method for increasing the survival of aquatic species, particularly fish populations, that may be or are infected with a virus such as an aquatic birnavirus, and more particularly to a composition for the prevention and treatment of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) in fish comprising isoxazol compounds and/or aminoglycoside compounds. The invention is also directed to a prophylactic/therapeutic method for increasing the survival of animal species, particularly poultry and pig populations, that may be or are infected with a virus such as a birnavirus, ortomixovirus, picomavirus and to a composition for the prevention and treatment of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in poultry comprising isoxazol compounds and/or aminoglycoside compounds.
2. Background
It is estimated that fish diseases cost twenty to thirty cents for each dollar spent rearing fish in the United States. Although fish pathogens include fungal, protozoan, and bacterial agents, it is the viral diseases that most concern fish farmers, hatchery managers, and scientists because they are largely uncontrollable. Fish are susceptible to a variety of viral infections and diseases. Such viruses include IPNV, pillar cell necrosis virus (PCNV), infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV), shrimp white spot virus (WSV), Taura syndrome virus (TSV), hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV), infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV), as well as others in the following families: Birnaviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Iridoviridae, Reoviridae, Ortomixovirus, and Picomavirus. For example, aquatic birnaviruses infect over 63 marine and fresh water organisms such as fish, shrimp and other crustaceans, oysters and other mollusks. The aquatic birnavirus, IPNV, is the causative agent of pancreatic disease in fish. Other birnaviridae species are known, such as IBDV, tellina virus and oyster virus.
IPNV and IBDV are members of the Birnaviridae family. They are an unenveloped icosahedric virus of approximately 60 nm in diameter with a genome consisting of two segments of double-stranded RNA.
Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) is a contagious viral disease in a variety of aquatic animals. In fish, IPNV causes morbidity and mortality in rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, Pacific salmon, brook trout and other salmonids, especially fry, smolt and juvenile stages. IPNV is capable of infecting a number of different hosts and has a worldwide presence. Pilcher et al., Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 7:287 (1980), the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety. IPNV has been isolated in a variety of aquatic animal species throughout the world, including various trout and salmon species, carp, perch, pike, eels, char, mollusks and crustaceans. Examples of species of fish and crustaceans/shellfish from which IPNV and viruses similar to IPNV have been isolated is found in Table 1. For example, IPNV has been found in such aquatic animals as Atlantic Salmon, fanned rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, wild flounder Rhombosolea tapirina, cod Pseudophycis sp., spiked dogfish Squalus megalops and ling Genypterus blacodes. Crane et al., Dis. Aquat. Organ. 43:1 (2000). IPNV has been isolated from salmonid and non-salmonid species of fish that lack pathogenic symptoms.
Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is also a contagious viral disease in a variety of birds. IBDV affects the bursa of Fabricius, an organ that produces lymphocytes that help protect birds against disease and illness. IBDV attacks the bursa, killing lymphoid cells and suppressing the birds' immune systems. Clinical symptoms of IBDV include diarrhea, weight depression, paleness, and lameness. These symptoms result in increased condemnations of bird carcasses, above average mortality, and poor feed conversion and weight gain. IBDV causes serious problems for commercial poultry producers throughout the world, costing millions of dollars annually in production losses and treatment costs, and amounting to over a hundred million dollars in losses each year worldwide. IBDV is able to rapidly produce mutated viruses, called variant strains, that are resistant to vaccines.
TABLE 1Species of Fish and Crustaceans/Shellfish From Which1PNV and Viruses Similar to 1PNV Have Been IsolatedScientific NameCommon Name (English or Spanish)SalmonRuch° huchoDanube SalmonOncorhynchus gorbuschaPink SalmonOncorhynchus ketaChum SalmonOncorhynchus kisutchCoho SalmonOncorhynchus masouCherry SalmonOncorhynchus mykissRainbow TroutOncorhynchus nerkaSockeye SalmonOncorhynchus rhodurusAmago salmonOncorhynchus tshawytschaChinook SalmonSalmo clarkiCutthroat troutSalmo gairdneriRainbow troutSalmo salarAtlantic SalmonSalvelinus alpinusArctic charrSalvelinus namaycushLake troutSalvelinus pluviusJapanese chare, white spottedThymalus thymalusGraylingAdditional FishAbramis braxaBreamAlosa aestivalisBlucback herringAlosa sapidissimaAmerican shadAnguilla anguillaEuropean eelAnguilla japonicaJapanese eelBarbus barbusBarbelBlicca djoerknaSilver breamBrachydanio rerioZebra danioBrevoortia tyrannusAtlantic menhadenCarassius auratusGoldfishCarassius carassiusCrucion carpCatostomus commersoniWhite suckerChondrostoma nasusSheapCobitis sp.Spined loachCyprinus carpioCarpDicentrarchus labraxBass (sea bass)Esox luciusNorthern pikeEsox niserChain pickerelLampetra fluviatilusRiver LampreyLeistomus xanthurusSpotLeuciscus rutilusRoachMenidia menidiaAtlantic SilversideMorone saxatilisStriped BassOxyeleotris matmoratusMarble GlobyParalichthys lethostismaSouthern flounderPerca fluviatilisRedfin PerchPeudorasbora parvaGobioPhoxinus phoxinusMinnowScardinius arythophthalmusLeuciscoScophtalrnus rnaximusTurbotSeriola quinquerodiataJapanese Amber JackSolea soleaCommon soleStizostedion vitreum vitreumPungent ThroatSymphysodon discusTilapia mossambicaAucunTrinectes maculatusShellfish/CrustaceansCarcinus masnasShore CrabCrassostrea gigasJapanese oysterCrassostrea virginicaEastern oysterLittorina littoreaCommon periwinkleMercenaria mercenariaHard clamMvtilus edulisCommon musselOstrea edulisNative oysterPatella vulgataCommon limpetPenasus japonicusTellina tenuisThin tellis
In survivors of an IPNV epizootic, the virus persists and can cause severe growth retardation in the individual fish that exhibit virus persistence. McKnight et al., Br. Vet. J. 132: 76 (1976). In smolts, IPNV produces considerable necrosis or inflammation of the pancreas. Acute disease has been reported primarily in a limited number of salmonid species, such as trout and salmon. Many of these species are of great economic importance. Because mortality can be as high as 90 percent, an IPNV outbreak in a hatchery can be an economic disaster. Pilcher et al., Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 7:287 (1980).
The most susceptible age for 1PNV infection in fish is in young fish, especially those that are two- to four-month old, in which such infections result in high mortality. Wolf et al., U.S. Dept. Int. Bur. Sport Fish and Wildlife Fish Disease Leaflet 1:14 (1966); Frantsi et al, J. Wildlife Dis. 7:249 (1971). In trout, IPNV usually attacks young fry about five to six weeks after their first feeding. IPNV is known to affect fish in their first year in salt water and to spread rapidly in farmed fish held in sea cages. Affected fish are thin, anorexic and lethargic with a tendency to congregate in cage corners and to fail to maintain a horizontal position. Ferguson et al., J. Fish Dis. 9:95 (1986). The affected fish are darker than usual, have slightly bulging eyes and often have swollen bellies. At the beginning of an outbreak, large numbers of slow, dark fry are seen up against water outflows, and fish are seen "shivering" near the surface. The shivering results from a characteristic symptom of the disease, a violent whirling form of swimming in which the fish rotate about their long axis. If the internal anatomy of the affected fish is examined, a characteristic white mucus is seen in the stomach. The pancreas appears to be the primary target organ for the virus. McKnight et al., Br. Vet. J. 132:76 (1976).
After an IPNV outbreak, the surviving fish generally become carriers of the virus. Fish that carry the virus are a serious problem for the aquaculture industry because the only control method currently available for eliminating the virus in carrier fish is complete destruction of these fish. Several factors appear to influence the severity of infection and the subsequent establishment of the carrier state. These factors include age, species, and water temperature. Surviving carriers shed infectious IPNV for the remainder of their lifetime, which is detectable in their fecal matter and sex products. Billi et al., J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 26:1459 (1969); Yamamoto, Can. J. Micro. 21:1343 (1975); and Reno et al., J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 33:1451 (1978).
The persistence of the virus in carrier fish appears to be the result of continued virus production by a small number of infected cells in certain organs. Hedrick, Ph.D. Thesis, "Persistent Infections of Salmonid Cell Lines With Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus: A Model for the Carrier State in Trout," Oregon State University, 1980. For IPNV, there are at least 9 type strains of Serogroup A and 4 other representative strains of Serotype A1. IPNV Serotype A1 is the predominant aquatic birnavirus and IPNV serotype in the United States. The family Birnaviridae describes and classifies a group of viruses, birnaviruses, which carry a bisegmented double-stranded RNA genome as their prominent characteristic; the two segments are called segment A and B. The RNA is enclosed in a non-enveloped icosahedral capsid, about 60 nm in diameter, which is arranged as a single shell. The two main representatives of this virus family are the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus of fish (IPNV) and the causative agent of infectious bursa] disease of chickens (IBDV). The RNA of both IPNV and IBDV is covalently linked to a high molecular weight polypeptide, which is approximately 100 kDa. Birnaviruses have at least four structural proteins: named VP1, VP2, VP3 and VP4. The sequence of VP1, VP2, VP3 and VP4 allowed the construction of the genomic map of both IPNV and IBDV. See Dobos, P., The molecular biology of IPNV, Ann. Rev. Fish Diseases, 5:25-54 (1995).
The IPNV viral genome is contained within a non-enveloped icosahedral capsid that is approximately 60 nm in diameter. The larger "A" segment has a molecular weight of 2.5×106 Daltons (Da) and encodes at least three proteins. Their order in the genome, from the N (5′) terminus, is p(VP2) (approximately 54 kDa, major capsid protein); 7 2 (NS) (an approximately 27.5 kDa nonstructural protein having proteolytic activity); and y 1 (VP3) (an approximately 31 kDa minor capsid protein. Chang et al., Can. J. Microbiol. 24:19 (1978); Huang et al., J. Virol. 60:1002 (1986). These proteins are encoded on a single mRNA within the infected cell. Mertens et al., Nature 297:243 (1982). Genome segment A of IPNV contains the a large open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 106 kDa polyprotein, which has the structure: NH2-preVP2-VP4 protease-VP3-COOH. The polyprotein is cotranslationally cleaved by a virus-encoded protease, to generate preVP2 (pVP2) and VP3. The VP2 is further cleaved during viral maturation to produce VP2. Genome segment A contains an additional small ORF, which overlaps the amino terminus of the polyprotein ORF and is in a different reading frame. This small ORF encodes a 17 kDa arginine-rich minor polypeptide, which can be detected in IPNV infected cells. The product of genome segment B is a minor internal polypeptide VP 1. VP 1 is the putative virion-associated RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. VP1 is present in the virions in two forms: (1) as a free polypeptide and (2) as a genome-linked protein (VPg).
The genomic maps established for IBDV are similar to the IPNV genomic map described above, which indicates that the their genomic organization is characteristic of birnaviruses in general. Thus, the unique features of birnaviruses are: (i) a genome segment A is both structurally and functionally bicistronic; (ii) production of a polyprotein that is cleaved by a virus-encoded protease; and (iii) the presence of a genome-linked protein (VPg). Furthermore, both genome segment A and genome segment B contain noncoding regions of considerable size at both of their ends. These noncoding sequences may be important for polymerase recognition, translation initiation and possibly genome packing. In addition, segment A from IPNV contains inverted terminal repeats of 14 nucleotides, which are similar to those reported for segment A of IBDV. See Encyclop. Vir., Ed. R. G. Webster and A. Granosf, Academic Press (1995) at 143-149.
A few antiviral compounds used to treat human viruses have been tested for their ability to block IPNV infection in vitro. They are: virazole (Sayan et al., J. Fish Dis. 3:437 (1980); ribavirin, pyrazofurin and EICAR (5-ethynyl-1-13-ribofuranosylimidazole-carboxamide) (Migus et al., J. Gen. Virol. 47:47 (1980); Jashes et al., Antiviral Res. 29:309 (1996)). Although ribavirin was shown to inhibit IPNV replication in vitro, it had no efficacy in vivo. Migus et al., J. Gen Virol. 47:47 (1980). When EICAR was given to rainbow trout and Coho salmon fry on the first day after the fry were experimentally infected with IPNV, fewer deaths occurred among the infected fry. Moya et al., Antiviral Res. 48: 125 (2000).
In vivo assays establish the ability of the candidate compound to inhibit viral replication in vivo and/or improve morbidity and mortality. This was shown for ribavirin, which efficiently inhibits IPNV replication in vitro, yet not in vivo. Migus et al., supra (1980); Sayan et al., J. Fish. Dis. 3: 437 (1980).
In order to decrease the prevalence of disease and increase the yields of farmed fish, a considerable number of antibiotics and chemicals are used to treat the water during fish farming. Examples of such antibiotics and chemicals are listed in Table 2.
TABLE 2Chemicals Administered in Fish FarmingAcetic acidAcriflavineBacitracinLimeSodium cyanateChloramphenicolChlorotetracyclineSodium ChlorideDibromidedichlorinethyldimethyl phosphatePotassium Dichromate (Potassium Bichromate)Di-n-butyl tin oxideDimetridazoleGentamicinGriseofulvinHydroxyl methyl pyridinelodosphoresphorus 1.7% activitySodium hypochorite 130%IsoniacideKanamicineLevamisoleNalidixic acidNeomycinOrganophosphatesOxitetracyclineSulfaguanidineSulfamerazineTetracyclineTrimetoprimGreen malachiteGentian VioletVitamin C(by English or Spanish Name)Dibromideethylene dipirididileneEritromicineHexaclorinebenzene isomer"Febantel" FenotiacineFlumeuineOxoline acidPotassium PermanganatePraziquantelAmmonium quaternary saltChloride toluene sulfonic sodium
Other than the destruction of infected stocks and the decontamination of hatchery facilities, there is no current treatment comprising an isoxazol compound and/or an aminoglycoside compound to combat viral infections in an aquaculture setting that is capable of increasing the survival of aquatic animals susceptible to the viral infection. There is also a need for methods and compositions comprising isoxazol compounds and/or aminoglycoside compounds that can be administered prior to, during, and for periods of time after the susceptible species is exposed to a virus. Further, there is a need for a treatment to combat a virus in an aquaculture setting that employs an isoxazol compound and/or an aminoglycoside compound that is stable in solution. Also, there is no current aquatic food composition containing a isoxazol compound that is capable of increasing the survival of aquatic animals susceptible to a viral infection before, during, and for periods of time after the susceptible species is exposed to the virus. Accordingly, there remains a need for a method of increasing the survival of aquatic animals exposed to or infected with a virus where the method includes administering an isoxazol compound and/or an aminoglycoside compound. Hence, there is a need for a method of administering an isoxazol compound and/or an aminoglycoside compound to animals, including aquatic animals, susceptible to a viral infection in order to increase their survival when exposed to or infected with a virus.
Other than the destruction of infected stocks and the decontamination of hatchery facilities, there is no current treatment to combat IPNV in an aquaculture setting that is capable of increasing the survival of aquatic animals susceptible to IPNV infection. Also, there is no current treatment to combat IBDV in manner that is capable of increasing the survival of animals susceptible to IBDV infection. There is also a need for methods and compounds that can be administered prior to, during, and for periods of time after the susceptible species are exposed to IPNV or IBDV. Further, there is no current treatment to combat IPNV in an aquaculture setting that employs a compound that is stable in solution, particularly an isoxazol compound. Also, there is no current aquatic food composition containing a compound capable of increasing the survival of aquatic animals susceptible to IPNV infection before, during, and for periods of time after the susceptible species is exposed to IPNV. Also, there is no current food composition containing a compound capable of increasing the survival of animals susceptible to IBDV infection before, during, and for periods of time after the susceptible species is exposed to IBDV. Accordingly, there is a great need for a method of increasing the survival of animals, including aquatic animals, exposed to or infected with IPNV and IBDV, despite the need for such methods. Hence, there is a need for a method of administering a compound to aquatic animals susceptible to IPNV infection that will increase their survival when exposed to or infected with IPNV. Further, there is a need for a method of administering a compound to animals susceptible to IBDV infection that will increase their survival when exposed to or infected with IBDV.

Method for increasing the survival of aquatic and other animals exposed to an aquatic virus, birnavirus or other RNA virus and composition for such methods


A wagon features a plastic body, bolster and handle. The bolster is pivotally mounted to the bottom of the wagon body and receives an axle to which the front wheels are attached. The rear wheels are mounted to the bottom under the back portion of the wagon. The bolster features a number of spaced prongs, each of which includes an aperture. Some of the apertures are surrounded by channels including arcuate surfaces. The wagon handle features a number of spaced fingers, each of which includes an aperture. Some of the apertures are surrounded by bosses featuring circumferential walls. The fingers of the handle are placed between the prongs of the bolster with the bosses positioned within the channels so that the boss circumferential walls engage the channel arcuate surfaces as the wagon is pulled by its handle. A hinge pin is received through the handle and bolster apertures so that the handle and bolster are joined in a hinged fashion.

This invention relates in general to wagons, and more particularly, to an improved arrangement for attaching a handle to a wagon constructed of plastic.
Wagons are used by adults to move and carry things and are also used by children as toys. A wagon typically includes a body that is supported upon rolling wheels. A typical wagon also includes a handle for pulling and steering the wagon. The handle has two ends, the first of which features a hand grip. The second end of the handle connects to the wagon in a hinged fashion.
The body of a wagon typically includes a platform surrounded by front, rear and side walls. Wagon bodies have traditionally been constructed of metal or wood or combinations thereof. Recently, however, wagon bodies have been constructed from molded plastic, such as high density polyethylene or some similar material. Such wagons are becoming increasingly popular because of their light weight, durability, corrosion resistance, and lower manufacturing cost.
Often, with traditional steel and/or wood bodied wagons, the front wheels and handle of the wagon are attached to a bolster that is pivotally connected to the bottom of the wagon body. With such an arrangement, the hinged handle may be pivoted between a position whereby the wagon may be pulled and steered and a position whereby a child riding in the wagon may steer the wagon, such as when being pushed or coasting down a hill. Such a configuration has been recently applied to plastic-bodied wagons. Further weight, strength and cost benefits occur if the handle and bolster are also constructed from plastic.
A number of plastic-body wagon designs do not feature bolsters. An example of such a wagon is presented in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,617 to Pasin et al. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wagon of the Pasin et al. ""617 patent features a plastic body, indicated in general at 10, with prongs 12a, 12b and 12c formed upon the exterior surface of its front 13. The handle 14 of the wagon is also constructed of plastic and features a pair of fingers 16a and 16b that are positioned between the prongs 12a, 12b and 12c of the wagon body in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. A metal rod or hinge pin 18 secures the handle fingers to the wagon body prongs in a hinged fashion. The front wheels of the wagon, indicated at 22a and 22b, are pivotally connected to the wagon body 10 by swiveling front axles 24a and 24b.
While plastic wagons, such as the ones described above, offer advantages over metal or wood wagons, there is an issue of wear that occurs at the connection between the plastic handle and plastic wagon body or bolster. As described with reference to the wagon of the Pasin et al. ""617 patent, the plastic handle of a wagon is typically secured to the plastic wagon body or bolster with a metal pin. More specifically, the wagon handle is essentially hollow with apertures formed through its walls. The plastic body or bolster is also essentially hollow and has apertures formed through its walls that align with the apertures formed in the handle when the two components are assembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The metal pin passes through the aligned apertures of the handle and body or bolster so that the handle is secured to the body or bolster in a hinged fashion.
When the wagon is pulled, however, the bolster or body and handle are urged apart so that the metal pin is forced against the edges of the apertures of each. As a result, the portions of the thin plastic walls surrounding the apertures are strained. The reoccurring forces and resulting strain may cause the apertures to eventually stretch so as to become elongated. This results in significant and undesirable play in the hinged connection between the handle and body or bolster. In some instances, the stretching may be so severe that the plastic surrounding any of the apertures actually tears.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement for connecting a handle to a plastic-bodied wagon that minimizes or eliminates stretching of the plastic surrounding the handle and/or body or bolster connecting apertures.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement for connecting a handle to a plastic-bodied wagon that eliminates tearing of the plastic surrounding handle and/or body or bolster connecting apertures.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wagon with a durable and secure handle attachment arrangement.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wagon with a handle attachment arrangement that offers ease of assembly.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wagon with a handle attachment arrangement that is economical to manufacture.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the remaining portion of this specification.
The present invention is directed to a wagon having a plastic body supported upon a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels. A plastic bolster is pivotally attached to the bottom of the wagon and receives the axle upon which the front wheels are mounted. The bolster is equipped with a number of spaced prongs, each having an aperture formed therein with some of the apertures surrounded by channels including arcuate surfaces.
The wagon also features a plastic handle having a number of spaced fingers with apertures formed therein. Bosses surround some of the apertures and feature circumferential walls. The fingers of the handle are inserted between the prongs of the bolster so that the finger bosses enter the prong channels until the circumferential walls of the bosses engage the arcuate surfaces of the channels. With the handle and bolster thus configured, the apertures of the handle fingers align with the apertures of the bolster prongs. A hinge pin is inserted through the aligned apertures so that a hinge is formed permitting the handle to rotate with respect to the bolster. When the handle of the wagon is pulled, forces are distributed over the interface between the boss circumferential walls and the channel arcuate surfaces. As a result, the stress exerted by the hinge pin on the plastic surrounding the apertures is significantly reduced. The arrangement of the present invention may also be implemented with a wagon that has the handle directly attached to the front of the wagon body.
The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and accompanying drawings, provide a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention.

Wagon with improved handle attachment arrangement


Instruments for use in endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery include a cannula having a diameter suitable for passage in the carpal tunnel, a diametrically narrowing open tip to facilitate entry into the carpal tunnel and a matted interior surface to maximize visual clarity of the carpal tunnel display, an obturator having a diameter suitable for passage in the cannula end, a plow shaped tip which laterally shifts tendons and nerves from its path as the tip is passed in the carpal tunnel and a sway-back portion proximate the tip which maximizes the efficiency of the tip as it plows through the carpal tunnel tendons and nerves and a rasp having a rod of diameter suitable for passage in the cannula, a roughened face on an upwardly tapering trapezoidal cross-section tip for guiding penetration of the tip through the longitudinal slot in the cannula but limiting penetration of the tip therethrough, and a bend in the rod so that the roughened face of the tip is in substantially flush alignment with the ligaments when the tip is external of the cannula. Using these instruments, endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery is an approximately half-hour procedure requiring two one centimeter incisions. Resistance to passage of the instruments and the possibility of damage to tendons and nerves is reduced in comparison to known instruments. The resulting recovery period is in a range of two to three weeks. This smaller mass passed through the confines of the carpal tunnel and further compressing the median nerve results in markedly reduced post-surgical complaints.

This invention relates generally to endoscopic surgery and more particularly concerns instruments used in carpal tunnel endoscopic surgery.
Surgery to decompress the carpal tunnel and therefore the pressure on the median nerve has been known for many decades. The longest known procedure typically involves an incision ranging from two to five inches in length and requiring as much as six weeks to heal. Since the introduction of endoscopic surgery, the procedure involves only one or two relatively small incisions, resulting in significantly faster recovery. However, existing endoscopic instruments produce new and unanticipated problems. Such instruments, when forced into the carpal tunnel as a step in the surgical procedure before decompression, result in new postoperative complaints of pain or numbness, especially in the middle and ring fingers, in a high percentage of existing endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery patients. It is estimated that fifteen to twenty percent of carpal tunnel surgery patients proffer such complaints after use of these known instruments.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide instruments specifically suited to carpal tunnel endoscopic surgery. It is also an object of this invention to provide a carpal tunnel cannula of diameter suited for insertion into the carpal tunnel. Another object of this invention is to provide a cannula having a diametrically narrowing tip to facilitate its passage into the carpal tunnel. A further object of this invention is to provide a cannula having a matted interior surface to enhance visual display of the surgical area. Another object of this invention is to provide an obturator having a plow shaped tip facilitating passage of the obturator tip in the carpal tunnel. In another object of this invention is to provide a rasp specifically suited for manipulation in a carpal tunnel cannula. It is also an object of this invention to provide a rasp configured to guide its roughened surface through the cannula slot to the ligament to be treated. Another object of this invention is to provide a rasp configured so as to limit the distance to which the roughened surface may be radially extended through the cannula slot. And it is an object of this invention to provide a rasp configured to permit longitudinal alignment of the roughened surface with the ligament to be treated.


A memory card includes a memory cell, a connector, a controller, and firmware. The memory cell can switch between a plurality of states. The connector can be connected to an external device and exchange signals including commands and data with the external device. The controller exchanges signals with the connector, analyzes a received signal, and accesses the memory cell to record, retrieve or modify data based on the analysis result. The firmware is located within the controller, controls the operation of the controller, and can be set to a test mode or a user mode. When the firmware receives a test command from the external device and the firmware is set to the test mode, the firmware performs a defect test on the memory cell and transmits the result of the defect test to the external device through the connector.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to a memory card, and more particularly, to a memory card having a built-in self-test (BIST) function.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Due to advancements in the communication industry, large-capacity memory cards such as moviNAND are being made available to the general public. The moviNAND is an embedded NAND flash memory that uses a Secure Digital (SD)/MultiMediaCard (MMC) interface protocol. Large-capacity memory, such as a moviNAND, may include defects due to its high integration density. Therefore, the entire region of the large-capacity memory may need to be tested to determine whether the memory is defective before the memory is shipped.
A device can be tested using a built-in self-test (BIST) circuit. The BIST circuit includes a test vector that can test the device and a circuit that compares output values of the device. The BIST circuit identifies whether a desired value is output from the device when the test vector is input to the device as a test and outputs information about whether the device has passed or failed the test. A testing method that makes use of a BIST circuit uses a small number of pins and may reduce testing costs. The BIST circuit may be used to test logic circuits or memory cards.
As compared to a small-capacity memory card, a large-capacity memory card may require a larger testing time, which can lead to increased test equipment investment costs and test processing times.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An applicator for a feminine hygiene product is provided. The applicator includes a barrel portion, a grip portion, and a plunger. The barrel portion can be rotatably connected to the grip portion, wherein the barrel portion is adapted to rotate relative to the grip portion. Also provided is a method for orienting a feminine hygiene product within a vagina.

Feminine hygiene products, such as tampons and pessaries, are generally used by women within the vagina for feminine needs, such as, e.g., to absorb menstrual or other body exudates, for pelvic support, and/or for other feminine needs. Such feminine hygiene products can be inserted into the vagina digitally, such as, e.g., by using a finger, or can be inserted into the vagina by using an applicator.
It is a common misconception that the vagina is shaped like a cylindrical tube. In actuality, the vagina is a pocket that is irregular in shape. When not distended by a foreign object, the vagina may resemble a pear shape in appearance when viewed from the coronal or front view of the female anatomy. From the sagittal or side view, the vagina is a long, thin muscular structure. Menstrual fluid typically enters the vagina through the cervix, which is generally located near the top of the vagina where the vagina is widest.
Currently available catamenial tampons are typically in the form of a circular cylinder prior to insertion in the vagina. Such tampons are generally formed from pledgets larger in size than the vaginal orifice. The pledgets are compressed to a smaller, cylindrical form with a circular cross-sectional shape in order to facilitate insertion into the vagina via the relatively narrow introitus. As fluid is absorbed from the vagina, these tampons are intended to re-expand toward their original pre-compressed size to eventually effectively cover the vaginal cavity against fluid leakage or bypass; however, such tampons can fail to re-expand sufficiently or fast enough to provide good coverage and thus can fail to provide sufficient leakage protection. As a result, menstrual fluid can bypass the tampon and leak outside the user's body.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a tampon with non-uniform expansion, such as, e.g., improved expansion characteristics in the width direction. Tampons having improved expansion in the width direction can be difficult to orient within the vagina such that the area of greatest expansion will correspond to the width of the vagina. For example, current applicators are generally opaque and circular in cross-sectional shape and thus can hide the tampon and any potential orientation, making it invisible to the user. As such, the user typically would have no indication that orientation is possible.
Even if an applicator having a non-circular cross-sectional shape were provided, the user can often be unaware that orientation of the applicator and/or tampon can affect performance. A logical orientation for a non-circular applicator is parallel to the external genitalia or labia, such that the larger width of the applicator runs front to back of the body. The vagina, however, transitions from the introitus within the body such that its larger dimension runs side to side. As a result, the logical orientation of an applicator according to the external genitalia would position the tampon with its area of greatest expansion perpendicular to the width of the vagina instead of aligned with the width of the vagina, as intended.
As such, it would be desirable to provide an applicator for properly orienting a feminine hygiene product within the vagina of a user.