A wire dereeling assembly for the continuous removal of wire from adjacent reels of wire includes a frame assembly positioned above the reels and located substantially perpendicular to a centerline extending through the reel axis of each of the reels and a guide member slidably mounted to the frame member and operable between a first position substantially coaxial with the reel axis of one of the reels and a second position where the guide member is positioned substantially coaxial with the reel axis of the other adjacent reel.

The present invention relates to a wire transfer assembly which provides for the continuous and uninterrupted removal of wire from adjacently positioned wire spools or reels.
In applications such as, but not limited to robotic welding, welding wire is supplied to the welding station by continuously withdrawing and removing the welding wire from a wire coil or spool. Robotic welding stations utilize massive amounts of welding wire and the coils or spools may vary in size from 40 to 50 pounds up to and exceeding about 1,000 pounds. Accordingly, it is very desirable to have as a source of welding wire an assembly which permits the continuous and uninterrupted withdrawal of wire from a wire source which will eliminate the need for stopping the welding operation while the empty coil, reel or spool is removed and a subsequent coil of welding wire is positioned and coupled to supply the welding station. Such downtime is expensive and substantially reduces the efficiency of the welding operation, particularly when the welding station is associated with and part of a continuously running assembly line.
In order to overcome the problems of stopping and replacing the wire coil or spool in wire handling operations, it has been suggested that adjacent coils or spools of filament wire may be secured together by attaching the trailing wire end from one coil to the leading wire end of another coil. Thus, when the wire is fully removed from one spool, then the second spool provides an uninterrupted and continuous supply of wire. However, in applying such a system to robotic welding operations, it has not been possible to readily position a wire guide coaxially with respect to the coil axis of each of the supply coils of wire. One attempt at a solution to this problem has involved a complicated coil or spool support system which is employed to somehow tilt the spool and direct the imaginary coil axis of each of the spools of wire to a fixed eyelet. However, such assemblies are complex, expensive and unworkable in welding wire systems because of the size of the welding wire spools, space limitations and the requirement that the welding wire entering the wire guide not have distortion imparted therein where the wire is passed over the edges of the wire guide.
Accordingly, the alignment of the wire guide coaxially with the coil axis is very desirable and important in robotic welding because the removal of welding wire from the wire spool through the wire guide must be substantially free of back tension and must not impart a cast or otherwise alter the shape of the wire during removal of the welding wire from the spool. When a cast is imparted to the withdrawn welding wire, the resultant flip, arc outages, inconsistent feed and misalignment at the welding electrode of the welding machine result in inadequate and imprecise welding operations oftentimes resulting in discarding or reworking of expensive parts.
Additionally, such prior art payoff or wire removal assemblies generally include complicated take-off assemblies which include a flyer arm and an eyelet which revolves about the coil axis to remove the wire from the coil. Such rotatable arm assemblies complicate and increase the difficulties in maintaining alignment of the upper wire guide removal unit with respect to the coil axis, particularly when continuous wire withdrawal from adjacent spools is desired. Accordingly, such assemblies have not been acceptable in handling welding wire in robotic welding operations.


A PLL system (200) includes a clock sequence generator (190). Clock sequence generator (190) provides a clock that steps down from a fast frequency through several steps to a frequency of zero. This step-down non-linear digression of frequencies causes a counter (110) driving a tank circuit of a self-calibrating VCO to achieve lock at an extremely rapid rate. The PFD (150) generates an analog signal based on the phase and frequency relationship of the reference and feedback clock signals. The analog signal is compared against an upper and lower reference voltage in a threshold detect circuit (120) and the signals UP and DOWN are supplied to the counter (110). The counter (110) provides a count value that controls the resonant frequency generated by the tank circuit. The convergence speed of the PLL system (200) is accelerated by the effects of the step-down clock provided by the clock sequence generator (190).

The present invention relates, in general, to Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) devices and, more particularly, to the tuning of a digitally controlled Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) in a PLL.
Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs) are widely used for clock generation or synchronization in data local area networks, data storage applications, disc drives, microprocessors, and communication systems. The PLL in communication systems and computer systems generally includes a phase detector, a loop filter, a Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO), and a loop frequency divider. The phase detector receives a reference clock signal and a loop clock signal and provides a phase detect output signal that indicates the phase difference between the loop clock signal and the reference clock signal. The phase detect output signal is transferred to an input of the loop filter for generating a filtered signal to the VCO. The filtered signal provides a voltage to the VCO that adjusts the phase and frequency of the VCO output signal. The VCO output signal is typically scaled to a lower frequency by the loop frequency divider in generating the loop clock signal for the phase detector.
When the loop clock signal produced by the VCO is synchronized to the reference clock signal, these two signals have the desired phase-frequency relationship and the PLL is locked. If the loop clock signal and the reference clock signal are out of phase, the voltage generated by the phase detector is applied to the VCO for changing the capacitance value of a tank circuit and the resonant frequency at which the tank circuit oscillates. The dynamic adjustments to the voltage supplied to the VCO correct the frequency of the clock output signal to regain phase and frequency lock.
Typically, the capacitive and inductive components associated with the tank circuit vary over a range of values and component trimming is required to achieve the desired tuning of the VCO. Whether the capacitive and inductive components are integrated or discrete components, component tolerances are compensated through trimming which allows the voltage supplied by the phase detector a tuning range that is sufficient for the VCO to achieve phase lock for the PLL. The trimming adjusts the capacitive and/or inductive components to center the oscillator frequency. A limited operating supply voltage also limits the tuning range and necessitates component trimming, increasing the manufacturing cost due to additional steps and testing.
One method of trimming is to utilize an up/down counter in connection with a comparator for determining whether the tank circuit should be further tuned. The up/down counter can be controlled via its clock signal in addition to its up/down control bits. Typically, the phase detector drives the clock signal with a phase-differenced clock or, alternatively, an independent fixed frequency device may drive the clock of the up/down counter. Although these methods work for most applications, they fail to enable the VCO to tune to a frequency fast enough for some applications due to inherent problems caused by a fixed clock or a clock dependent on the phase detector. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a PLL device and a method for improving the tuning speed of the VCO by providing a better solution for driving the clock of the up/down counter for assisting the VCO to reach its lock in a specified time frame, especially when the initial frequency difference is large.

Step-down clock control and method for improving convergence for a digitally controlled self-calibrating VCO


A brush head (100) and a method of making a tuft spike (20) and a brush head with a plurality of tuft spikes. The brush head includes a matrix (30) having a plurality of receptacles (32) formed therein. A plurality of tuft spikes are each formed of a plurality of bristle strands (22) arranged in a tuft (21) having a free end (25) and a proximal end (23) inserted in a spike body (24). Each tuft spike is disposed in one of the receptacles of the matrix. A brush head neck (40) has a distal platen (42) that is connected to and at least partially encompassed in the matrix.

Brush heads used with manual and power toothbrushes commonly have bristle tufts anchored within the brush head. The bristle tufts may be anchored in place using anchor-free tufting (AFT). Retention elements may be used in anchor-free tufting to secure respective bristle tufts within the brush head. Each bristle tuft is inserted into the hollow interior of a retention element, and the bristles in the retention element are then secured to a backing, forming the tooth brush head. In some toothbrushes, the retention elements and at least part of respective bristle tufts may be overmolded with a flexible material (e.g., a matrix) that joins the brush head components together In some instances, the retention elements are not firmly secured to the backing of the brush head, such that the retention element and bristle tuft or tuft strands are loose within the brush head. In other instances, overmolding a matrix over bristles in a retention element may result in a failure mode in which extrusion of the matrix occurs out through the retention element and/or between the bristles.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method of securing the bristle tufts to the brush head using anchor-free tufting manufacturing methods, especially for use with power toothbrushes.


In a side door collision detecting system for a vehicle, an internal pressure sensor detects a door internal pressure of a side door of the vehicle. The internal pressure sensor outputs an internal pressure signal based on the door internal pressure, and the internal pressure sensor is installed in an interior space of the side door. A physical value sensor detects a physical value and outputs a physical value signal based on the physical value. The physical value sensor is installed in the interior space of the side door. A collision determining circuit determines whether the side collision occurs based on the internal pressure signal and the physical value signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a side door collision detecting system for detecting collision to a side door of the vehicle and relates to an occupant protecting system, which protects an occupant of the vehicle when the collision occurs.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication H2-249740 discloses a system that inflates a side airbag when the system detects a collision of a subject to a side door of a vehicle by use of a pressure sensor installed in an interior enclosed space (air tank) of the side door of a vehicle. Hereinafter, the above-described system is named as a pressure based side door collision detecting system.
Also, a well-known method includes a safing sensor (impact sensor), which has a semiconductor acceleration sensor or a reed switch installed on a pillar of the vehicle or a floor of the vehicle. The safing sensor detects an impact of a side collision by use of the semiconductor acceleration sensor or the reed switch, which detects an impact force generated when the pillar or the floor is deformed, so as to inflate the side door airbag. Hereinafter the above-described method is named as an impact force based side collision detecting method.
The above pressure based side door collision detecting system advantageously detects any side collision, which takes place at any part of the side door, by use of the pressure sensor (door internal pressure sensor) installed in the enclosed space inside the side door. Also, the above impact force based side collision detecting method advantageously detects non-side collision, which does not take place on the side door, because the deformation of the pillar or the floor due to the non-side collision is detected in this method.
It is preferable to determine the side collision based on a logical conjunction of an output signal supplied by the door internal pressure sensor and an output signal supplied by the impact sensor, which detects the deformation of the pillar or the floor, in order to limit a faulty determination of the side door collision. Here, the faulty determination may be made due to an increased door internal pressure, which is not based on the side door collision, or due to the deformation of the pillar or the floor, which is not based on the side door collision. Thus, a degree of accuracy in detecting the side door collision is advantageously increased. For example, the collision may be detected based on the deformation of the pillar or the floor, and the collision location may be identified as the side door based on an increase of the door internal pressure. Also, even when the side door is strongly closed and the impact sensor outputs a large signal, the faulty determination of the side collision may be limited because the door internal pressure may not change very much at this time.
However, in the above combination system, the impact sensor installed on the pillar or the floor may disadvantageously output a small signal when a pole, which has a small collision area, such as a trolley pole or a stand, collides with an easily deformable side door. Also, the impact sensor installed on the pillar or the floor may be located away from the side door, which is the collision location. Thus, the deformation may take time to be transmitted to the impact sensor, and an attenuated signal due to the transmission may deteriorate a sensitivity of the impact detection.
The above conventional airbag inflating system for the side door collision and other airbag inflating systems have been desired to limit the faulty inflation of the airbag also to accurately detect the side collision to the side door without delay.

Side door collision detecting system and occupant protecting system


A well plunger system for the production of natural gas is described. The well plunger system includes a closed loop controller for the production of natural gas. The well plunger system includes a plunger tube positioned within a casing of a gas well, a tubing line connected to the plunger tube, a plunger moveable within the plunger tube, a plunger sensor for detecting the presence of the plunger, a valve connected to the tubing line and to the general gas distribution system including a sales line and a gas flow meter, a differential pressure sensor positioned in the sales line, a motor for operating the valve, a first pressure sensor positioned in the tubing line and a second pressure sensor positioned in the sales line. The controller opens the valve based on an open pressure difference which is the difference between the pressure of gas in the tubing line and the pressure of gas in the sales line. The controller adjusts the open pressure difference used for each cycle of operation based on the calculated speed of the plunger during the previous cycle of operation versus a target speed. During gas production, the controller maintains the differential pressure of the gas in the sales line within a high differential pressure range, until the pressure in the gas is insufficient. The controller closed the valve when the differential pressure of the gas in the sales line falls below a low differential pressure limit. The low differential pressure limit is adjusted by the controller to prevent excessive plunger speeds.

In a well plunger system of a type utilizing the present invention, the primary focus is on the production of natural gas ("gas"), but the invention is also applicable to well plunger systems where the primary focus is on oil production. Accordingly, the invention is described in association with a well plunger system producing natural gas but the scope of the invention is not limited to such a system. To begin gas production, a well is bored into the earth to facilitate the removal of gas. In many gas wells the relatively low rate of gas flowing into the well is insufficient to expel oil and water that leak into the well. This unwanted oil and water must be removed from the well, otherwise gas production will effectively cease. Plunger systems powered by the force of the gas pressure itself have been used in an attempt to address this problem.
In a typical well plunger system, the well is sealed off from the outside world with a valve and a cylindrical casing in the well. A sales line connects the valve to the remainder of the gas distribution system and a sales meter is connected to the sales line for measuring amount of gas that has passed through the sales line. An opening at the bottom of the casing permits gas to enter the interior of the casing. Closing the valve has the effect of allowing pressure inside the casing to increase. A tube extends from the valve to near the bottom of the casing. A plunger is positioned at or near the bottom of the tube. After a fixed amount of time has past, or after the casing pressure has exceeded a particular threshold value, the valve is automatically opened and the plunger is forced upward due to the built up pressure inside the casing. Ideally, opening of the valve in this manner allows the gas, as well as any oil and water, to be forced up the plunger tube inside the casing by the plunger. As long as the valve is open, more gas, and in many instances oil and water, flow into the plunger tubing below the plunger. Once the plunger reaches the top of the plunger tube, gas flows through or past the plunger into a line. After a fixed amount of time has past, or after the casing pressure has fallen below a particular threshold value, the valve is closed and the plunger returns back down the tubing to a rest position at or near the bottom of the tube.
In known well plunger systems a controller senses the gas pressure in the casing and opens the valve when the pressure exceeds a fixed value or a fixed amount of time has past. These known well plunger systems have a number of problems in the production of natural gas. If a controller blindly opens the valve when the casing pressure is deemed sufficient, or after a fixed amount of time has past since the last cycle, the valve may either be opened too early or too late in the cycle to optimize gas production. If the valve is opened too early, the pressure in the casing is insufficient to force the plunger to completely lift the water and oil out of the well. If this continues it can result in the well becoming filled ("logged") with oil and water and shutting down ("logging off"). In this case, gas production continues to decrease until it ceases, causing an interruption in gas production and a corresponding loss of revenues derived from that well. It is desirable to prevent the logging off of wells.
In the situation where the valve is opened too late, excessive pressures can build up behind the plunger, forcefully impacting the plunger against the top of the casing and potentially causing damage. Even if no damage is done, waiting too long between opening the valve after each cycle means less gas is produced from the well, again resulting in a corresponding loss of revenues derived from that well. In addition, when excessive pressure builds in the casing, the corresponding pressure differential between the tubing line pressure and the sales line pressure becomes great. In this situation when the valve is opened and the plunger rises at high speeds, the gas flow in the sales line exceeds the maximum measurable by the sales meter. Of course, there is a corresponding loss of revenues derived from the well when quantities of gas flow from the well into the sales line without being registered on the sales meter. Accordingly, it is desirable to optimize the amount of time that is allowed to pass between intervals of opening the valve.
Another problem with known well plunger systems is their inability to modify operation to compensate for the variability of the well's ability to produce natural gas over long periods of time or changes in the sales line pressure. Thus, the characteristics of even a once perfectly tuned system change over great lengths of time, causing the interval between opening the valve to be less than optimal. Accordingly, it is desirable to control a well plunger system in a manner that compensates for changing characteristics of the well such as variability in the well's ability to produce natural gas and variations in sales line pressure.
Yet another problem with known well plunger systems is their inability to adjust the gas flow rate in view of excessive tubing line pressure. Even after the initial rush of gas past the sales meter without detection due to a high build up of pressure in the tubing line causing an excessive pressure differential between the tubing line pressure and the sales line pressure, if the tubing line pressure is very high the gas flow rate past the sales meter exceeds the maximum measurable by the meter. Again this situation results in a loss of revenue from the well. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a well plunger system that adjusts the gas flow rate to compensate for high tubing line pressure.

Apparatus and process for closed loop control of well plunger systems


An exhaust gas processing device (16) intermittently introduces anode off-gas from a fuel cell (12). The exhaust processing device (16) discharges the anode off-gas after diluting it with dilution gas. The exhaust gas processing device (16) includes a dilution container (25) and a partition plate (28), which divide the interior of the dilution container (25) into a first chamber (26) and a second chamber (27). The partition plate (28) has a clearance (29), which connects the first chamber (26) and the second chamber (27) to each other. The exhaust gas processing device (16) includes a discharge portion (32) provided in the first chamber (26), a dilution gas inlet portion (30) provided in the first chamber (26), and an anode off-gas inlet portion (31) provided in the second chamber (27).

Fuel cells have recently been drawing attention as power sources that restrain global warming caused by exhaust gas, and some types of fuel cells have been put to practical use. A fuel cell generates electric energy by reacting hydrogen with oxygen. Instead of directly using oxygen as a cathode, a typical fuel cell system supplies air to a cathode to use oxygen in the air. Some of the water and nitrogen generated at the cathode move from the cathode to the anode by passing through an electrolyte membrane. That is, reverse diffusion occurs. Thus, if the fuel cell continues operating, the concentration of water and nitrogen at the anode increases. When the concentration of water and nitrogen at the anode surpasses a certain level, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell is reduced. To prevent or restrain this, an anode purge is typically executed for discharging water and nitrogen that has accumulated in the anode. If anode off-gas is directly released to the atmosphere when performing the anode purge, the hydrogen concentration in the exhaust gas is too high. Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 each disclose an exhaust gas processing device that dilutes anode off-gas with cathode off-gas before discharging, so as to lower the hydrogen gas concentration in the exhaust gas.
FIG. 15 illustrates the exhaust gas processing device disclosed in Patent Document 1. The exhaust gas processing device of FIG. 15 includes a dilution container 51, an anode off-gas inlet passage 52, a dilution gas passage 57, a dilution gas release hole 58, a gas mixture discharge hole 59, a partition plate 53, and a communication gas passage 56. The axis of the dilution container 51 extends substantially horizontally. The anode off-gas inlet passage 52 has an anode off-gas release hole 52a for releasing anode off-gas into the dilution container 51. The dilution gas passage 57, through which dilution gas flows, extends through the dilution container 51 along the bottom. The dilution gas release hole 58 releases dilution gas that has flowed through the dilution gas passage 57 into the dilution container 51. The gas mixture discharge hole 59 causes the dilution gas passage 57 to discharge gas mixture, which is formed by mixing anode off-gas and dilution gas in the dilution container 51. The partition plate 53 is arranged to be substantially vertical in the dilution container 51, so as to divide the interior of the dilution container 51 into an upstream chamber 54 and a downstream chamber 55. The communication gas passage 56 connects the upstream chamber 54 to the downstream chamber 55. The anode off-gas release hole 52a is formed to release anode off-gas toward the partition plate 53.
FIG. 16 illustrates the exhaust gas processing device disclosed in Patent Document 2. The exhaust gas processing device of FIG. 16 includes a hydrogen inlet port 60, a retention container 61, a hydrogen discharge port 62, a dry air inlet portion 63, a first blocking body 64, a second blocking body 65, a coupling arm 66, an anode off-gas pipe 67, an urging weight 68, and a dilution gas pipe 69. The retention container 61 has a retention chamber 61a. The hydrogen inlet port 60 of the anode off-gas pipe 67 introduces anode off-gas containing hydrogen discharged from the anode of a fuel cell into the retention chamber 61a, so that the gas stays in the retention chamber 61a. Hydrogen retained in the retention chamber 61a is discharged to the dilution gas pipe 69 through the hydrogen discharge port 62, and diluted with cathode off-gas, serving as dilution gas. The hydrogen is then discharged to the outside. Unless anode off-gas is introduced through the hydrogen inlet port 60 into the retention chamber 61a, dry air is introduced into the retention chamber 61a through the dry air inlet portion 63.
The first blocking body 64 limits the introduction of hydrogen through the hydrogen inlet port 60 into the retention chamber 61a. The second blocking body 65 restricts discharge of hydrogen through the retention chamber 61a through the hydrogen discharge port 62. When hydrogen is introduced through the hydrogen inlet port 60 to the retention chamber 61a, the coupling arm 66 causes the first blocking body 64 to operate together with the second blocking body 65, so that hydrogen in the retention chamber 61a is not discharged through the hydrogen discharge port 62. A center portion of the coupling arm 66 is pivotably supported by the dilution gas pipe 69 with a shaft member 66c and a base 66d. The coupling arm 66 has a slightly widened L-shape when viewed from the side. That is, the coupling arm 66 includes a first arm 66a on the upstream side of the flow of hydrogen and a second arm 66b on the downstream side.
The angle between the first arm 66a and the second arm 66b is set to such an angle that the second blocking body 65 opens the hydrogen discharge port 62 when the first blocking body 64 closes the hydrogen inlet port 60, and that the second blocking body 65 closes the hydrogen discharge port 62 when the first blocking body 64 opens the hydrogen inlet port 60. The urging weight 68 is fixed to an upstream end of the first arm 66a. The own weight of the urging weight 68 urges the first blocking body 64 to close the hydrogen inlet port 60 via the first arm 66a. The mass (weight) of the urging weight 68 is set such that, during hydrogen purging, hydrogen that has reached the upstream surface of the first blocking body 64 through the anode off-gas pipe 67 pushes the first blocking body 64 toward the retention chamber 61a, so as to allow the hydrogen inlet port 60 to be opened.
When anode off-gas is introduced into the retention chamber 61a of the exhaust gas processing device of FIG. 16, the second blocking body 65 closes the hydrogen discharge port 62. When the second blocking body 65 is arranged at the open position to discharge anode off-gas in the retention chamber 61a to the hydrogen discharge port 62, the first blocking body 64 closes the hydrogen inlet port 60. Therefore, high concentration of hydrogen is prevented from being discharged during the anode purge. However, the exhaust gas processing device of FIG. 16 has a complicated structure. Further, the maintenance for allowing the first blocking body 64 and the second blocking body 65 to move smoothly, or rotate smoothly, is troublesome.
Unlike the exhaust gas processing device of FIG. 16, the exhaust gas processing device of FIG. 15 requires no structure for preventing anode off-gas from being introduced into the upstream chamber 54, and no structure for preventing gas from being released through the dilution gas release hole 58. However, in the structure shown in FIG. 15, the dilution gas release hole 58, which introduces dilution gas into the upstream chamber 54, and the gas mixture discharge hole 59, which discharges diluted anode off-gas from the downstream chamber 55, are holes formed in the single dilution gas passage 57. Therefore, it is difficult to properly adjust the amount of dilution gas introduced into the upstream chamber 54 and the amount of gas discharged from the downstream chamber 55. Anode off-gas and dilution gas are introduced into the upstream chamber 54, which is defined by the partition plate 53. Thus, anode off-gas during anode purge can be moved along the flow of dilution gas introduced into the upstream chamber 54. That is, a high proportion of the anode off-gas is insufficiently diffused in the upstream chamber 54, moved to the downstream chamber 55 with dilution gas, and discharged through the gas mixture discharge hole 59. In other words, the hydrogen concentration can be temporarily raised during the anode purge.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-31998    Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-344470

Device and method for processing exhaust gas from fuel cell


A device for managing heating energy from a probe comprises a sleeve including a lumen sized to receive the probe therein, the sleeve defining a first window which, when the sleeve is in a desired position, faces target tissue to which the probe is to deliver energy and a shield element protecting non-target tissue from energy emanating from the surgical probe, the shield element being formed of one of a material reflecting energy delivered by the probe and a material absorbing energy delivered by the probe in combination with a positioning element which, when the sleeve is in the desired position, contacts an anatomical structure to position the sleeve relative to the target tissue.

Many medical conditions are treated by applying heat to necrose or shrink tissue. A surgical probe is generally used to apply heating energy to the target tissue. However, in many cases energy is also applied to non-targeted tissue. This energy is not only wasted, it may also damage tissue while providing no therapeutic benefit.

Device and method for shielding the urethra and bladder


A new hyart-fylts letter envelope and display for providing an alternate form of stationary instead of greeting cards. The inventive device includes an envelope sheet having a display region, and a plurality of flap regions located around the outer perimeter of the display region. A fold line is extended between each flap portion and the display region. The flap regions of the envelope sheet are folded along the fold lines over the inner surface of the envelope sheet such that the display region is substantially covered by flap regions. A plurality of detachably attached writing sheets for writing messages on are located on and coupled to the inner surface of the envelope sheet within the display region such that the plurality of writing sheets are substantially covered by the flap regions when the flap regions are folded over the inner surface of the envelope sheet. The outer surface of the envelope sheet has indicia and images displayed thereon located within the display region of the envelope sheet. A fastener functions as fastening means for fastening the flap regions together when the flap regions of the envelope sheet are folded over the display region of the envelope sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to letter envelope and displays and more particularly pertains to a new hyart-fylts letter envelope and display for providing an alternate form of stationary instead of greeting cards.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of letter envelope and displays is known in the prior art. More specifically, letter envelope and displays heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art letter envelope and displays include U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,241; U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,490; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 322,455; U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,726; U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,878; U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,662; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 285,454.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new hyart-fylts letter envelope and display. The inventive device includes an envelope sheet having a display region, and a plurality of flap regions located around the outer perimeter of the display region. A fold line is extended between each flap portion and the display region. The flap regions of the envelope sheet are folded along the fold lines over the inner surface of the envelope sheet such that the display region is substantially covered by flap regions. A plurality of detachably attached writing sheets for writing messages on are located on and coupled to the inner surface of the envelope sheet within the display region such that the plurality of writing sheets are substantially covered by the flap regions when the flap regions are folded over the inner surface of the envelope sheet. The outer surface of the envelope sheet has indicia and images displayed thereon located within the display region of the envelope sheet. A fastener functions as fastening means for fastening the flap regions together when the flap regions of the envelope sheet are folded over the display region of the envelope sheet.
In these respects, the hyart-fylts letter envelope and display according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing an alternate form of stationary instead of greeting cards.


Methods and apparatus for use in repairing an atrioventricular valve in a patient are provided. The methods comprise accessing the patient's atrioventricular valve percutaneously, securing a fastening mechanism to a valve leaflet, and coupling the valve leaflet, while the patient's heart remains beating, to at least one of a ventricular wall adjacent the atrioventricular valve, a papillary muscle, at least one valve chordae, and a valve annulus to facilitate reducing leakage through the valve.

This invention relates generally to medical methods and apparatus, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for the endovascular or minimally invasive surgical repair of atrioventricular valves of the heart, including the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve.
The heart includes four valves that direct blood through the two sides of the heart. The mitral valve lies between the left atrium and the left ventricle and controls the flow of blood into the left side of the heart. The valve includes two leaflets, an anterior leaflet and a posterior leaflet, that close during systole. The leaflets are passive in that they open and close in response to pressure induced to the leaflets by the pumping of the heart. More specifically, during a normal cycle of heart contraction (systole), the mitral valve functions as a check valve to prevent the flow of oxygenated blood back into the left atrium. In this manner, oxygenated blood is pumped into the aorta through the aortic valve.
Occasionally, the mitral valve is formed abnormally through a congenital condition. More often, however, the mitral valve degenerates with age. Among the problems that can develop is mitral valve regurgitation in which the mitral valve leaflets become unable to close properly during systole, thus enabling leakage to flow through the mitral valve during systole. Over time, regurgitation of the mitral valve can adversely affect cardiac function and may compromise a patient's quality of life and/or life-span.
Mitral valve regurgitation can result from a number of different mechanical defects in the mitral valve. For example, the valve leaflets, the valve chordae which connect the leaflets to the papillary muscles, or the papillary muscles themselves may become damaged or otherwise dysfunctional. Moreover, the valve annulus may become damaged or weakened and may limit the ability of the mitral valve to close adequately during systole.
Known treatments for mitral valve regurgitation commonly rely on valve replacement or annuloplasty, or strengthening of the mitral valve through surgical repairs and/or implanting a mechanical structure within the mitral valve. For example, the most prevalent and widely accepted known techniques to correct mitral valve regurgitation, repair the mitral valve via open heart surgery. During such an invasive surgical procedure, it is known to suture adjacent segments of the opposed valve leaflets together in a procedure known as a "bow-tie" or "edge-to-edge" surgical technique. Although each of the afore-mentioned treatments can be effective, generally known treatments rely on open heart surgery wherein the patient's chest is opened and the patient's heart is stopped while the patient is place on a cardiopulmonary bypass. The need to open the patient's chest and to place the patient on a cardiopulmonary bypass creates inherent risks that may be traumatic to the patient.
Percutaneously treatments are less invasive than the treatments mentioned above, but such treatments may be less effective and more difficult to effect repair because of the limited amount of space in and around the mitral valve in which to maneuver a repair device or devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,875,224 to Grimes describes a percutaneous mitral valve repair method in which the opposed leaflets are each immobilized to enable the two leaflets to be fastened together. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,6290,534 to St. Goar et al. describes a plurality of embodiments for use in endovascular repair of cardiac valves in which, in each embodiment, both leaflets are grasped and held firmly in position prior to permanent treatment. However, grasping both leaflets while the patient's heart is beating may be a time-consuming and laborious task that demands a coordinated effort on the part of the surgical team. Moreover, to facilitate grasping both leaflets percutaneously may require that the patient's heart be temporarily stopped or slowed by drugs or other techniques. Slowing and/or stopping the patient's heart during surgery may increase the risks to the patient.

Methods and apparatus for atrioventricular valve repair


A microwave oven includes a power cord for supplying electrical power to electrical components of the oven. Wires of the cord are connected to a first set of terminals of a switch mounted on a main body of the oven. Electrical power is conducted from the first set of terminals to a second set of terminals of the switch by means of conductors carried by an outer panel of the oven that can be removed from the main body. The second set of terminals are connected to electrical components of the oven. When the outer panel is removed from the main body, the first set of terminals is disconnected from the second set of terminals, and an electrically insulative cover is spring biased to a position covering the sets of terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microwave oven and, in particular, to a power supply cut-off apparatus by which an input power supply can be automatically cut off when an outer panel is separated in a state of an electric cord still being plugged in an outlet under repair.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional microwave oven, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a main body and a removable outer panel 50. The main body comprises a cooking chamber 60, a front panel 20, a back panel 30, and a base panel 40, a turn table 70 rotatively disposed on a floor of the cooking chamber 60, a door for opening and closing an opening of the cooking chamber 60, and a control unit 90 for establishing cooking function modes or for operating a magnetron (not shown), or the like.
In order to drive the microwave oven thus constructed, when a door-open button at the control unit 90 is pressed in a state of an electric cord 100 still in an outlet, the door 80 is opened to light a lamp in the cooking chamber 60.
At this time, food is placed on the turntable 70 disposed on the floor of the cooking chamber 60, the door 80 is closed, desired cooking time and cooking menu and the like are input by the control unit 90, and a start button is pressed. Then the turntable 70 is rotated in one direction as a high frequency of 2,450 MHz is generated according to an oscillating operation of a magnetron (not shown) to thereafter be dispersed in the cooking chamber 60.
The high frequency dispersed in the cooking chamber 60 is reflected from metal walls therein and is radiated to the food on the turntable 70 to thereby heat the food.
However, there is a problem in the conventional microwave oven thus constructed in that an electric shock to a worker can happen because there is no safety measure to automatically cut off the power supply applied to the microwave oven when the outer panel 50 is separated while the electric cord 100 is still in the outlet during repair or maintenance of the product.

Power supply cut-off apparatus of a microwave oven


The invention relates to an inductive thermal plasma torch comprising a confinement tube that comprises, longitudinally in relation to the tube, metal fingers which are insulated from each other, an ignition device that comprises an igniter (4) and an igniter support (1, 3), the purpose of the igniter (4) being to initiate a discharge in the plasma of the torch, the support having an electrically conductive end (1) which is connected to the electrical earth (2) of the plant and another, electrically insulating, end (3) which carries the igniter, the ignition device also comprising an electrically conductive connection (5) connecting the igniter (4) to the electrically conductive end (1) of the support so that the igniter is able to initiate the discharge in the plasma, the electrically conductive connection (5) having a section that is sufficiently narrow to limit the intensity of the current capable of passing through the igniter (4) in order to avoid electrical arcing by capacitive discharge between the ignition device and another part of the torch.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of inductive thermal plasma torches and more precisely to the field of so-called "cold cage" torches.
2. Description of Related Art
An inductive thermal plasma torch uses a plasma gas, for example filtered or reconstituted air, which is injected at the base of the torch, it being possible for the reagents to be injected either at the base of the torch or at the tip of the torch. Compared with a conventional torch, having a water-cooled quartz chamber, the maximum output of which is approximately 150 kW, a cold-cage torch enables outputs of from 500 kW to 1 MW or thereabouts to be obtained. In addition, the life of a cold-cage torch is superior to that of a conventional quartz torch. The cold-cage torch has a confinement tube essentially composed of conductive confinement fingers that extend longitudinally in relation to the tube and are advantageously made of metal material, for example copper. The fingers are soldered at the base of the torch and are separated from one another by an insulating material, for example silica, in order to avoid the flow of induced currents in the confinement tube. The wall of the confinement tube is cooled, each finger preferably being cooled by an individual water circuit. The torch unit (torch base and confinement tube) is electrically insulated from the electrical ground of the whole plant that employs the torch, the said whole plant being, for example, a plasma recharge plant which uses silica particles of a primary preform to produce a fibre-optic final preform therefrom. When the torch is initiated, the plasma gas used is preferably not air, because the electric field required would be too great for direct initiation. Initiation is preferably carried out using an argon-type gas, which requires a smaller electric field and does not present a safety problem. However, the plasma obtained with argon is very short, because argon is a monoatomic gas. For that reason, once initiation is complete the argon is replaced, for example by air which, being an essentially diatomic gas, enables a longer and thus more effective plasma to be obtained for heating the preform, this longer plasma exhibiting an outer zone of appreciably higher energy than that of argon and allowing better thermal exchange with the preform.
The conventional ignition devices will not be suitable for cold-cage torches. Indeed conventional ignition devices will cause violent electrical arcs and destruction of certain parts or certain components of the cold-cage torch, or will be totally ineffective.
In a cold-cage torch, as in a conventional quartz torch, the electromagnetic field does not allow spontaneous ionisation of the plasma gas, which is why thermal or electrical initiation is necessary. A number of prior art ignition devices that enable initiation of a conventional quartz torch will be considered below.
According to a first prior art, the ignition device enabling initiation to be carried out is a Tesla coil. Coronas are created inside the torch and are converted to thermal plasma. However the Tesla coil creates an electric field that can pass through only a single thickness of an electrically transparent wall, such as, for example, the quartz wall of a conventional quartz torch. This ignition device has the drawback of being limited to conventional quartz torches, made of quartz and having a single thickness, that is to say, low-output torches.
According to a second prior art, the ignition is carried out by the generation of an electric arc, enabling the generation of coronas which will be converted to thermal plasma. Two ignition devices allow that outcome. The first ignition device is formed by two graphite electrodes connected to a power supply. Given that the use of graphite electrodes is complex and difficult, this first ignition device is complex and difficult and therefore cannot readily be used industrially. The second ignition device is formed by a coil of which the ends are opposite to each other and form a point discharge. A difference in potential is hence created between, on the one hand, one of the electrodes which is located at the end of the coil and, on the other hand, the other electrode which is linear and which passes through the interior of the coil. This second ignition device is either able to effect initiation of the plasma provided that a very high power is applied which, when the ends are well-shaped in the form of a point, may destroy the torch by the violence of the ignition or, when the ends are blunted and have become rounded, it may no longer function correctly and no longer cause initiation at all, which rapidly and inevitably occurs after several ignition attempts. This second device is consequently not very practical, especially for industrial applications.
According to a third prior art, the initiation is effected using cold plasma at low pressure. At low pressure, argon plasma is initiated spontaneously under the effect of a high-voltage and high-frequency electric field. Then, the vacuum is broken, and the temperature, the pressure and the power increase so as to be returned to the usual conditions of thermal plasma. This type of ignition device, however, requires a narrow chamber in which, for example, the movements of the primary preform which is being recharged may be so effected that the chemical reaction takes place in a controlled atmosphere. This third prior art, which proposes an actual "reactor", is far too complex; it is unusable and oversized in relation to the need of the application, which is concerned merely with a "single flame" in the surrounding atmosphere.
According to a fourth prior art, the ignition device is formed by a refractory rod, for example made of graphite or molybdenum, inserted into the torch, which is then heated by induction so as to emit "thermal" electrons which will ionise the argon and thus initiate the discharge. For a conventional quartz torch, if the arm supporting the rod is electrically conductive, for example metallic, hence if the rod is connected to the electrical earth of the plant as a whole, initiation is effected under good conditions; conversely, if the arm supporting the rod is insulating, hence if the rod is of floating potential, insulated from the remainder of the plant, the initiation is achieved less effectively.
If it is desired, for a cold-cage torch, to use an ignition device according to the fourth prior art, the following two problems arise: either the arm supporting the rod is conductive, for example metallic, in which case the rod is connected to the electrical ground of the whole, and the initiation is effected but an electric arc is produced which damages the torch; or the arm supporting the rod is insulating, in which case the rod is insulated from the rest of the plant and then there is no initiation at all. On the one hand the essentially metal confinement tube appears to block the electric field of the inductor. On the other hand, the insulation between the fingers constituting the confinement tube prevents the flow of induced electric currents. Too little output, whether in the form of induced electric field or in the form of flow of induced currents, is therefore available in the torch and initiation is not successful.
There is known according to FIG. 3 of the American patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,751 a graphite rod 52 which is connected to the electrical ground (see lines 4–9, column 6), but that rod does not form part of the ignition device; it bas a totally different function which is that, during transition from the argon plasma to the nitrogen plasma, it enables degradation of the form of the plasma to be avoided (see lines 46–54, column 5 and lines 18–20, column 60).
There is known according to FIG. 1 of American patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,296 a rod Lb which is connected to the electrical ground, but no detail is given about the nature of the electric connection Lc connecting it to the electrical ground.


A housingless roll stand has a pair of work roils supported between bearing chocks for rotation about parallel axes. The bearing chocks are mechanically engaged by nuts which in turn are threadedly engaged by opposite hand screw segments on spindles. The spindles serve both to effect symmetrical roll parting adjustments, and to provide a short stress path loop for absorbing roll separating forces during rolling. The nuts and associated adjusting spindles are separable from the bearing chocks, thus enabling them to remain as permanent on line fixtures when making roll changes.

1. Field of the Invention
This inventions relates generally to rolling mills, and is concerned in particular with so-called "housingless" roll stands where the roll separating forces are absorbed by threaded spindles which extend between the bearing chocks of the work rolls.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the conventional housingless roll stand, the work rolls are supported between bearing chocks for rotation about parallel axes. The bearing chocks include integral nuts which are threadedly engaged by opposite hand screw segments on spindles extending between adjacent bearing chocks of the respective work rolls. The spindles serve both to effect symmetrical roll parting adjustments, and to provide a short stress path loop for absorbing roll separating forces during rolling.
Typically, spare roll package assemblies are maintained off line for quick interchangeability when the mill is down for maintenance. Because the nuts and adjusting spindles are integrally associated with their respective bearing chocks, a multiplicity of nuts and adjusting spindles are required to outfit not only the on line roll packages, but also the off line spares. This translates into a high and extremely burdensome capital investment.


A cache system for a storage device includes a solid state drive (SSD), a random access memory (RAM), and a cache control device. The cache control device is configured to: retrieve data from the storage device in response to a request to read data from the storage device, store at least some of the data in one or both of (i) the SSD and (ii) the RAM, when storing the at least some of the data to the RAM, write to the RAM non-sequentially with respect to a memory space of the RAM, and when storing the at least some of the data in the SSD, write to the SSD sequentially with respect to a memory space of the SSD. The cache control device comprises an SSD interface device configured to allocate memory for storing data in the SSD sequentially with respect to the memory space of the SSD.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Solid state drives (SSDs) are data storage devices that utilize integrated circuit memory to store data. Unlike magnetic and optical disk drives, SSDs do not employ any moving mechanical components. Many SSDs use flash memory, which retains data without power. Other SSDs utilize random-access memory (RAM). RAM-based SSDs may employ separate power sources, such as batteries, to maintain data after power loss.
One limitation of flash memory is that, after a bit has been set to logic zero, the bit can only be reset to logic one by "erasing" an entire block in which the bit is located, where the block includes many kilobytes of data. In other words, in order to re-write a byte of data, many kilobytes of data must first be erased. Erasing a block typically involves setting all bits in the block to logic one. With a freshly erased block, any location within that block can then be programmed.
Another limitation of flash memory is that flash memory degrades after a number of program-erase (P/E) cycles. Some commercially available flash devices are guaranteed to withstand around 100,000 P/E cycles, but then wear begins to deteriorate the integrity of the flash device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An erroneous bit determining circuit and a method are provided. The method includes: respectively performing a Hamming operation for an information symbol having an even weight and an information symbol having an odd weight to acquire a check symbol configured for the information symbol having an even weight and a check symbol configured for the information symbol having an odd weight; and respectively generating corresponding code words based on the information symbol having an even weight, the information symbol having an odd weight and the check symbols configured therefor. In this way, information symbols having the same number of bits are corrected without increasing the number of check symbol bits, and thus symbol transmission rate is improved.

Error correcting code is an important fault-tolerant computing technology, and is extensively applied in communication and computer systems, which greatly enhances reliability of the system.
Traditional error correcting coding theories are all based on assumption of symmetric errors. For example, in a communication system, a 0→1 error may be caused, or a 1→0 error may be caused. In the memory of an integrated circuit, for example, in a one time programmable (OTP) memory, data of each bit in the device is defaulted to be 0, and the data of the corresponding bit is changed from the default value 0 to 1 by means of charge and discharge and the like, or changed from 1 to the default value 0. In the memory, the data of each bit may be subject to the 0→1 or 1→0 error.
In the prior art, since the code word of the [7,4] Hamming code has a maximum of 7 bits and the check symbol has only 3 bits, if the [7,4] Hamming code needs to be applied to an OTP memory implementing 8-bit storage, a 1-bit check symbol needs to be added based on the current [7,4] Hamming code. As a result, the symbol transmission rate is low.

Code word generating method, erroneous bit determining method, and circuits thereof


A new family of superconducting materials with critical temperature up to 55 K have recently been discovered, comprising a crystal structure with atomic layers of iron and arsenic alternating with atomic layers of rare-earth oxide or alkaline earth. The present invention identifies structures for integrated circuit elements (including Josephson junctions) in these and related materials. These superconducting circuit elements will operate at a higher temperature than low-temperature superconductors such as niobium, and may be easier to manufacture than prior-art high-temperature superconductors based on copper-oxides.

Thin-film devices based on superconducting materials have demonstrated superior performance for many applications. However, they will function properly only at deep cryogenic temperatures, below the critical temperature Tc of the given superconducting material. Conventional low-temperature superconductors (LTS) have been known for almost 100 years, and thin-film circuits based on the metallic element niobium (Nb) can be built around active devices known as Josephson junctions (JJ). These junctions form the basis for active superconducting electronic elements, both analog and digital. More specifically, large numbers of JJs can be integrated together using an ultra-fast circuit low-power technology known as RSFQ (rapid-single-flux-quantum) logic, which has provided digital integrated circuits (ICs) that are clocked at 100 GHz or more. However, these Nb-based circuits require cooling to below Tc=9 K to function. This is technologically feasible using closed-cycle refrigerators known as cryocoolers, but operation at higher temperatures would tend to have improved power efficiency and easier system packaging.
LTS Nb circuits are comprised of polycrystalline thin films, fabricated on an ambient-temperature substrate by sputtering techniques and patterned into ICs. The structure typically includes several superconducting wiring layers, separated by thick insulating layers. It also include Josephson junctions (JJs), typically comprised of an SIS tunnel-junction trilayer, with a thin insulator I (of order 1 nm thick) separating two superconducting S layers. This permits weak electronic tunneling between the two superconducting layers that may be modulated by magnetic field or voltage.
In 1986 and 1987, a new class of "high-temperature superconducting" (HTS) materials was discovered, based on a crystal structure with parallel copper-oxide (cuprate) planes. The most practical material of this class is YBa2Cu3O7 (also known as YBCO), with Tc=92 K. Unfortunately, conduction in YBCO and related cuprate materials is highly anisotropic, with severe problems conducting across grain boundaries. For this reason, practical IC processes require multi-layer thin films that are highly epitaxial with few grain boundaries or other defects, and are practically single crystals. That, combined with the high fabrication temperatures (>700° C.) needed to assure crystalline quality, makes device fabrication difficult. While simple RSFQ circuits operating at high speeds have been demonstrated in the laboratory, it has proven very difficult to develop a reliable IC process for YBCO.
An SIS structure for YBCO is not compatible with the high-temperature processing, since the barrier is too thin to maintain its integrity. An alternative JJ structure in the prior art is SNS, where N refers to a non-superconducting resistive material, which may be from 10 to 100 nm thick, depending on the material. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,973. For YBCO superconductors, SNS junctions have been made with horizontal ramp-edge structures, due to the anisotropy of conduction in the cuprate films. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,600. However, it has been difficult to develop a uniform process for YBCO JJs compatible with high-density ICs.
Researchers have continued to search for alternative materials that may exhibit superconductivity at relatively high temperatures (perhaps even exceeding the cuprates), but may also be easier to fabricate and process. Very recently, a material was fabricated having a crystal structure shown in FIG. 1A, comprised of atomic layers of iron-arsenic (FeAs) alternating with atomic layers of rare-earth oxides, with composition such as LaFeAsO. Superconductivity in this compound with Tc=26 K was first reported by Kamihara at the end of February 2008, by partially substituting fluorine for oxygen to "dope" the material with carriers. Y. Kamihara, et al., "Iron-Based Layered Superconductor La[O1-xFx]FeAs (x=0.05-0.12) with Tc=26 K", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (11), 3296-3297, Feb. 23, 2008. pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jacsat/2008/130/ill/abs/ja800073m.html (expressly incorporated herein by reference). Subsequent research in China in March and April (Ren, et al.) verified these findings and achieved T, up to 55 K by substitution of another rare-earth element samarium (Sm) for lanthanum (La). Z. A. Ren, et al., "Novel Superconductivity and Phase Diagram in the Iron-based Arsenic-oxides RFeAsO1-δ (R=rare earth metal) without F-Doping", preprint submitted on Apr. 16, 2008. arxiv.org/abs/0804.2582, published in Europhysics Letters, vol. 83, p. 17002, July 2008 (expressly incorporated herein by reference). Within this application, all these materials are collectively identified as RFAO, where R refers to one of the rare-earth elements (as described further below). Research exploring further substitutions that may increase Tc even further are continuing worldwide.
It is believed that the superconductivity is associated with conduction in the parallel Fe layers, which would be expected to exhibit anisotropic behavior, similar to that in YBCO and related cuprates. It is somewhat surprising that the superconductivity is associated with Fe atoms, since it is well known in the prior art that Fe atoms are generally magnetic, and that magnetic atoms generally degrade superconductivity.
Following the initial series of discoveries, several other closely related families of superconductors were discovered. The initial RFAO materials are sometimes referred to as "1111" compounds, for the ideal stoichiometries of the crystal structure. Another family is identified as "122", with ideal structure AeFe2As2, with Ae refers to alkaline earth atoms such as Ba, Sr, and Ca. See, for example, M. Rotter, et al., "Superconductivity at 38 K in the Iron Arsenide (Ba1-xKx)Fe2As2", Physical Review Letters, vol. 101, p. 107006, September 2008 (expressly incorporated herein by reference). Again, this consists of FeAs layers, separated by Ae layers (see FIG. 1B). These 122 materials exhibit a superconducting critical temperature as high as 38 K, and generally need to be doped by substitution, either of alkalai atoms (K, Na) on the Ae site (for hole doping) or of Co atoms on the Fe site (for electron doping). There is also a "111" family with general formula AFeAs, with A an alkali atom (Li or Na), with Tc up to 25 K. See, for example, C. W. Chu, et al., "Synthesis and characterization of LiFeAs and NaFeAs", arxiv.org/abs/0902.0806, submitted February 2009 (expressly incorporated herein by reference). In all cases, the superconductivity seems to be associated with the Fe layers.
While the RFAO (1111) materials still exhibit the highest values of Tc of the FeAs families (around 56 K as of April 2009), the other families of materials may still be of interest if they offer advantages in materials processing or other properties such as device reproducibility.
Finally, another family of superconductors that may be closely related to the FeAs compounds has recently been reported, based on FeSe, where other chalcogenides (S and Te) may be substituted on the Se site. Although the superconducting critical temperatures of these materials at ambient pressure are modest (˜10 K), large hydrostatic pressure has been shown to cause Tc to increase to as high as 37 K. See S. Margadonna, et al., "Pressure evolution of low-temperature crystal structure of 37 K Tc FeSe superconductor", arxiv.org/abs/0903.2204, Mar. 12, 2009 (expressly incorporated herein by reference). If the high-pressure phase can be stabilized in thin film form, this material may also be practical for superconducting devices.
Most FeAs superconducting samples heretofore reported are comprised of compressed polycrstalline powders, or of very small single crystals, which are not optimized for electronic applications. However, a superconducting thin film of FeAs compounds prepared by pulsed-laser deposition was very recently reported. See H. Hiramatsu, et al., "Superconductivity in Epitaxial Thin Films of Co-Doped SrFe2As2 with Bilayered FeAs Structures and their Magnetic Anisotropy", Applied Physics Express, vol. 1, p. 101702, September 2008 (expressly incorporated herein by reference). Pulsed laser deposition was used early in the development of cuprate superconducting materials (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,761), but eventually found to be unsuitable for superconducting device manufacturing due to embedded particulates and difficulties in uniformity and scaling.

Superconducting integrated circuit technology using iron-arsenic compounds


A concealed antenna system (16) for a motor vehicle (10) including a first antenna element (18) mounted on a first window (20), or panel, of the vehicle and at least a second antenna element (30) mounted on a second window (19), or panel, of the vehicle. The first antenna element (18) includes a conductive line (22) and a conductive loop (26) connected to one another. The first and second antenna elements are connected to one another in series by a wire (32) between the loop (26) on the first antenna element (18) and a conductive portion of the second antenna element (30).

Conventional fixed mast antennas mounted to and extending from vehicle bodies have generally been known to provide adequate gain for receiving radio signals. However, these antennas have drawbacks in that they are generally unsightly and also are vulnerable to bending and breakage. Concealed antennas, on the other hand, do not have the drawbacks associated with the conventional antennas in that typically they are flush mounted directly to a glass panel or an isolated section of sheet metal in the vehicle.
Nonetheless, concealed antennas do generally encounter a problem in that they are generally configured small in order to fit onto a particular window or body panel. This can be particularly true for some vehicles in that there may only be a very few small panels, such as windows or isolated body panels, available given the shape of the particular vehicle. Thus, these surfaces may be small relative to the wavelengths of the signals one wishes to receive. For example, signals in the AM frequency band. For these antennas, then, a concern arises with having good reception in the AM frequency band because of a lack of low frequency gain due to the small size of the antenna. To account for this, the systems generally require the use of an AM amplifier module to get sufficient gain to overcome cable and mismatch losses and still have an adequate signal.
While some have attempted to overcome this concern by mounting concealed antennas on multiple surfaces of the vehicle, they are generally more complex than desirable or require other amplification, filtering or switching components to provide enough gain for an adequate signal in the frequency ranges desired.
Thus, a simple, concealed antenna system is desired that will provide adequate gain for both high and low frequencies, with the flexibility to configure the system for various vehicle designs.


A nozzle for dispensing fluids with suspended solid particulates without experiencing permanent partial or total clogging is provided. The nozzle is made from a elastomeric material and has a dome-shaped tip. The dome-shaped tip has a slit that provides an elongated orifice which generates a fan-type spray pattern while allowing solid particulates to pass through the nozzle without permanent clogging. The slit is normally maintained closed at rest and provides precompression and shut-off functions. Several versions of the nozzle are described, such as a one-piece nozzle and a nozzle insert. Additionally, the nozzle can be attached to a manually actuated pump device and be used as a spray delivery system.

It has been the objective of many fluid dispensing systems to deliver fluid products in the form of a spray. Such a delivery system is one of the most effective in terms of producing a relatively uniform coating of fluid on a target surface. When a consumer product can be applied in an atomized spray form, the consumer can perceive tangible benefits such as reduced usage of product, reduced messiness in the application of the product, and less opportunity for contamination. Manually actuated, hand holdable, pump spray delivery systems are convenient for household consumers to use and are preferred by such users since they can be held with one hand while the atomized spray is directed toward the target surface. Thus, the development of such spray delivery systems having a nozzle which can deliver a wide range of products, such as hair sprays, cosmetics, vegetable oils, and the like, in an atomized spray has significant commercial value.
A common problem with pump spray delivery systems is that solid particles individually or in agglomerated groups can cause clogging of the small passages in the nozzles. It is therefore desirable to have a nozzle capable of clearing the clog itself. Such a nozzle could contain a separate cleaning mechanism, but such mechanisms typically require some separate action on the part of the user or the incorporation of extra parts. Ideally, it is desirable that a nozzle be designed wherein at the onset of clogging, the nozzle initiates a self cleaning action.
Another problem associated with many pump spray delivery systems is startup and shutoff of the fluid product spray during the beginning and end of an actuation cycle. When hydraulic pressure and flow rate are building up or tapering off, most nozzles tend to poorly disperse the product or tend to eject the product in a slow moving concentrated stream. This results in messiness and product waste, as well as being inconvenient to the user. One way to solve this problem is by utilizing a nozzle which is normally maintained closed and that requires a minimum hydraulic pressure in order to open. Such a precompression function not only provides the additional benefit of preventing product flow prematurely through the nozzle, but can also avoid inadvertent dispensing due to differential pressures between the inside and outside of the container. Such a nozzle can thus serve as a shipping seal. Unfortunately, a normally closed nozzle can also prevent or inhibit priming of the pump. Therefore, a nozzle that provides a balance between shutoff and priming can be very beneficial by providing enhanced reliability as well as improved performance.
Some liquid dispensing nozzles designed for industrial use have attempted to resolve some of the aforementioned problems by utilizing a deformable outlet to achieve the goal of self cleaning without extra parts or mechanisms. U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,102 issued to Meyer discloses, for example, a deformable nozzle that produces a concentrated stream of liquid, not an atomized spray. While some other industrial nozzles produce atomized sprays, most do so by utilizing rigid nozzles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,963 issued to Ballu discloses, for example, an elastically deformable nozzle having a discharge opening that is normally open wherein the geometry of the exit region is adjusted by a movable rigid retaining collar. Such a nozzle, however, is not fully self cleaning since the geometry is controlled by the rigid restraining collar.
Another sprayer designed for industrial use in spraying anti-coking substances is disclosed in USSR Inventor's Certificate SU 1729602 A1. This sprayer, for example, includes a nozzle made of an elastic material having spherical inner and outer surfaces and a slot-shaped exit orifice. The inner and outer spherical surfaces of the nozzle are concentric and the ratio of the diameter of the inner spherical surface of the nozzle to the square of the thickness of its wall is from 3.0 to 3.7. One problem with this type sprayer is that it produces streams of liquids and not an atomized spray. U.S. Pat. No. 3,286,931 issued to Webb, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,471 issued to Baumgarten et al., disclose, for example, normally closed, self cleaning orifices that are also designed to produce concentrated streams of liquid and not an atomized spray. Unfortunately, none of these aforementioned pump spray packages have provisions for quick shut off of the product stream, well defined atomized spray patterns, or allow for priming of manually actuated pumps.
Some other dispensing systems for consumer products utilize simple flexible diaphragms with center cut slits. Such an atomizer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,223 issued to Lewiecki which specifies that it is for use with aerosol products. Such an atomizer has been tested using a manually actuated pump with a viscous vegetable oil. When tested in this manner, the Lewiecki atomizer resists clogging and closes when at rest, but the resulting spray pattern is poorly atomized and, as a result, the fluid product is poorly distributed on the target surface. Thus, a nozzle with a pump spray delivery system capable of dispersing a solids laden fluid into a fan shaped atomized spray pattern that also provides a balance between shutoff and priming is not disclosed in the art and would be very beneficial.

Fan spray nozzles having elastomeric dome-shaped tips


An input data alignment circuit includes a data sampler, a frequency divider, a polarity determination block, and a data alignment block. The data sampler provides a data sequence based on data serially input according to a data strobe signal. The frequency divider generates a data alignment signal based on a divided frequency of the data strobe signal. The polarity determination block determines a polarity of the data alignment signal and provides a control signal based on the determined polarity. The data alignment block aligns the data sequence in parallel according to data alignment signal and control signal and generates output data.

1. Field
One or more embodiments described herein relate to storing data.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of semiconductor memory devices have been developed. Over the years, these devices have increased in terms of their integration and operating speed. For example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) has been used as a cache memory of a central processing unit (CPU) because of its integration scale and fast data writing or reading speeds. DRAMs have been used for this purpose even though they are volatile memories, e.g., ones in which stored data is lost when powered off.
A synchronous semiconductor memory device processes data using a clock signal. In order to increase bandwidth, a synchronous semiconductor memory device may operate in a double data rate (DDR) mode. In this mode, data is processed at rising and falling edges of the clock signal. A DDR memory device may therefore double bandwidth without increasing clock signal frequency. A DDR memory device may be controlled by a memory controller, which communicates with the DDR memory device and which may control transmission or reception of data in DDR mode.

Input data alignment circuit and semiconductor device including the same