A plant transportation system includes a vase and a sealant receptacle. The vase includes a mouth, a throat and a reservoir. The sealant receptacle is housed in the throat. The sealant receptacle closes the throat from allowing items therethrough except through the sealant receptacle. The sealant receptacle is configured to allow stems therethrough, and retentively hold sealant therein all around occupant stems from the top and from the bottom.

Vases commonly serve as the basis for horticultural arrangements. In addition to the vases, standard horticultural arrangements include not only plants therein, such as flowers, but also liquid therein, such as water, around their stems. By drawing liquid in the vases through their stems, the plants enjoy prolonged freshness.
Retailers commonly sell horticultural arrangements to consumers. According to one established supply chain, rather than sourcing the actual horticultural arrangements, the retailers source the vases and the plants, and then make the horticultural arrangements onsite. Many retailers source the plants from overseas or otherwise non-local growers. Likewise, after growing the plants, the growers feed the supply chain by shipping the plants to the retailers. To help the plants withstand shipment, the growers typically employ specialty "wet" packaging for the plants. In addition to accommodating the plants, the wet packaging includes liquid therein around their stems. In much the same way as horticultural arrangements, the plants enjoy prolonged freshness by drawing liquid in the wet packaging through their stems. However, because the wet packaging includes liquid therein, the plants must be shipped as wet goods. Moreover, because they source the plants to make the horticultural arrangements onsite, the retailers ultimately dispose of the wet packaging.
For both the growers whose businesses depend on shipping the plants, and the retailers whose businesses depend on making the horticultural arrangements, the supply chain is fragmented and inefficient. For instance, the growers only make profit on the plants, not the horticultural arrangements sold to the consumers. Moreover, before making profit on the plants, the growers must absorb the costs of not only growing the plants, but also employing the wet packaging, and shipping the plants as wet goods. Likewise, before making profit on the horticultural arrangements, the retailers must absorb the costs of not only sourcing the vases and the plants, but also disposing of the wet packaging, and making the horticultural arrangements onsite.

CONSULTING & OUTSOURCING GLOBAL NETWORK S.A.S.


According to some embodiments, digital sampling rate conversion is performed using a poly-phase filter and a polynomial interpolator.

When performing Digital Signal Processing (DSP) on a digital signal, it is often necessary to convert the sampling rate associated with the signal. For example, a signal associated with a source sampling rate (Fx) may need to be converted into a signal associated with a different, destination sampling rate (Fy).
Typically, the source sampling rate and the destination sampling rate are pre-determined and an appropriate Sampling Rate Conversion (SRC) structure is designed to perform the task. For example, a filter may be designed for a specific application that requires a particular sampling rate ratio (Fx/Fy).
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a traditional SRC structure 100. In this case, a source signal x[n] is associated with source sampling rate Fx. An interpolation 110 (i.e., up-sampling) by a factor of I is performed on the source signal. The interpolation 110 will also generally involve a low-pass filter 120 (e.g., an anti-aliasing filter). A decimation 130 (i.e., down-sampling) by a factor of D is then performed to create an output signal y[n] associated with a destination sampling rate Fy (where Fy equals I/D*Fx). The low-pass filter is designed to attenuate aliasing artifacts resulting from the up-sampling process and to band-limit the signal to avoid aliasing artifacts from decimation.
For example, converting a source sampling rate Fx by a factor of 1.5 can be achieved through interpolation 110 by a factor of three and then decimation 130 by a factor of two. This approach, however, can be inefficient when a conversion requires interpolation 110 and/or decimation 130 by a large factor. By way of example, a conversion from 48 Kilohertz (KHz) to 44.1 KHz requires interpolation 110 by a factor of 147 and then decimation 130 by a factor of 160. These types of substantial interpolation and/or decimation factors may also require impractically large filters in order to meet Nyquist requirements.
Another disadvantage with the traditional approach is that a filter must be designed for a specific pair of sampling rates. That is, a filter that is designed to convert a source signal with a sample rate of 48 KHz into a destination signal with a sampling rate of 44.1 KHz cannot be used for source and/or destination signals that have other sampling rates.

Digital sampling rate conversion using a poly-phase filter and a polynomial interpolator


A retrievable drill pipe screen is adapted for releasable connection within a drill pipe string. The screen has a planar support plate for connecting a perforated tubular screen body to a fish neck wherein the plane of the planar support plate is generally parallel to the axis of the screen body. The orientation of the planar support plate provides minimal resistance to fluid flowing into the screen body while also reducing vortex effects that cause wear of screen components. Preferably, a wear distributor sleeve is fit within the screen body for protecting against wear of the screen caused by fluid flow and a retaining rod can secure the bottom of the screen body to the fish neck in the event that a lower portion of the screen body becomes detached.

In the drilling of a subterranean rock formation, tubing such as a drill stem assembly or drill pipe string conducts drill mud or drilling fluids downhole to tools such as mud motors or a drill bit. Drilling fluids are circulated downhole through the tubing for a variety of purposes including carrying drill cuttings up an annulus about the tubing and to the surface for screening, reconditioning and recirculation. In drilling with coiled tubing, mud motors are powered by the flow of drilling fluids and are used to rotate the bit. In conventional rotary drilling, the drill pipe string is used to rotate the bit. In either case, there are one or more connections in which a screen can be installed to intercept debris and other oversize material carried by the drilling fluids which could interfere with the downhole tools. Ideally, a retrievable screen is used such that the screen may be occasionally removed, cleaned and reinstalled without having to extract the tubing from the hole.
A variety of retrievable drill pipe screens have been disclosed in the prior art. Some prior art screens are supported on a mounting collar that is sandwiched between interconnecting uphole pipe and downhole pipe of a drill pipe string. Such screens comprise a screen support ring that is adapted to releasably engage the mounting collar and from which a screening member depends downhole into the bore of the downhole pipe. Conventional means for enabling retrieval of the screen from the drill pipe string include a fish neck connected to the screen support ring and which extends uphole therefrom. The fish neck is engageable by a conventional overshot fishing tool for pulling the fish neck and screen free from the mounting collar. Sometimes the fish neck is connected to the screen support ring by leg support members that are welded to the fish neck and the support ring in a so-called "pyramid" or "spider leg" configuration. Alternatively, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,073, the fish neck may be connected to the screen by a bridging bar secured in transverse relationship to the screen support ring onto which the fish neck is centrally attached.
Applicant has found that such prior art means for attaching a fish neck to a screen may restrict flow of fluid into the screen and thereby impede the rate of flow of fluid down the drill stem. Furthermore, such restrictions do little to alleviate wear due to fluid flow conditions including vortices in the fluid flowing through the screen and also that due to pressure difference thereacross which accentuates wear. Wear can result in various failure modes including: of the screening member, of the attachment between the screening member and the screen support ring, and of the attachment between the fish neck and the support ring.
There is, therefore, a need in the art for an improved retrievable pipe screen.


An optical apparatus comprises an association device which operates a viewfinder in association with a movement of an image forming optical system. After the movement of the image forming optical system, the association device severs the association of the viewfinder with respect to a movement of the image forming optical system in a direction different from that of the first-mentioned movement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical apparatus such as a camera or the like and, more particularly, to an optical apparatus having an image forming optical system arranged to be capable of carrying out a magnification varying action and a focus adjusting action and a viewfinder arranged to display images at a magnifying rate which varies according to the magnification varying state of the image forming optical system.
2. Description of Related Art
In the field of the lens-shutter type cameras which are arranged to have viewfinder optical systems separately from photographing optical systems, it has recently become popular to arrange them to be equipped with zoom lens barrels. The cameras arranged in this manner are called zoom cameras in general. Each of such zoom cameras is arranged to cause the viewfinder optical system to vary its magnification in association with the magnification varying action of the photographing optical system.
Generally, the lens-shutter type cameras are desired, as a designing target, to be small in size, light in weight and low in manufacturing cost. To attain the designing target, for example, the following contrivances have been proposed.
(a) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. HEI 5-173223.
A viewfinder optical system is arranged to be moved by a lever which moves following the magnification varying action of a lens barrel of a photographing optical system.
(b) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. HEI 2-24613.
One and the same motor is arranged to be used for both focusing and zooming actions.
(c) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. SHO 64-84233.
One and the same motor is arranged to be used for focusing and zooming actions through a helical bar.
(d) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. SHO 61-259237.
A single cam groove in a zigzag shape is formed in a cam plate by connecting one end of each of a plurality of focusing cam grooves and a plurality of zooming cam grooves extending in respective different directions to one end of another. One and the same cam plate formed in this manner is arranged to be used for focusing and zooming actions which are alternately performed by a photographing optical system.
(e) Meanwhile, a camera has been commercialized, in which a viewfinder optical system is moved through a cam in association with a photographing optical system which alternately performs focusing and zooming actions according to a cam plate similar to the above-stated cam plate disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. SHO 61-259237. The action of the cam makes the viewfinder optical system stationary when the photographing optical system is performing the focusing action, and causes the viewfinder optical system to perform its magnification varying action in association with the photographing optical system when the photographing optical system performs its magnification varying action.
In the case of the camera mentioned in Paragraph (e) above, a cam follower of the photographing optical system moves alternately in a magnification varying area and a focus adjusting area of the cam, for example, when the position of the photographing optical system is moving from a telephoto end position toward a wide-angle end position. Accordingly, the size of an image obtained in the viewfinder continuously varies in the magnification varying area of the cam but does not vary in the focus adjusting area of the cam. Therefore, the image magnifying rate in the viewfinder comes to intermittently change. The intermittent change has presented a problem because it gives an unnatural, unpleasant impression to the operator of the camera who looks into the viewfinder.


System and methods are provided that facilitate integrated and seamless utilization of location data generated by multiple disparate positioning technologies adequate for outdoor or indoor positioning. Location data from multiple sources is selectively processed based on rules that account for availability, accuracy, cost, reliability of location data. At least one of the multiple sources is based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Rules can be operator specific or can be automatically generated based on historic location data or cost-benefit analysis. Processing of selected data includes formatting data according to a specific standard or protocol, or augmenting the data with metadata. Standardized data is conveyed through a communication link for utilization in various applications such as vendor applications for navigation or web-based services, as well as custom and development applications.

Advances in communications at the device and service level have made applications reliant on location based services, such as navigation systems, nearly ubiquitous in modern society. Technologies typically associated with the military, government, and large enterprise operations are now accessible to a substantial segment of consumers in multiple markets such as transportation, customer service, logistics, and healthcare. In view of such a market shift and proliferation of positioning services, multiple positioning technologies have been developed and refined, providing location data with various levels of accuracy and reliability that serve historic users as well as the newly added segments of consumers.
Such positioning technologies are generally adequate for specific environments, like outdoor environments in which the technologies generally operate in open-sky configurations, or indoor environments which typically require specific infrastructure for the technology to deliver location data. In addition, devices employed for navigation typically employ location data generated from a specific technology, being commonly limited to accessing location information in exclusively outdoor environments or indoor environments. Moreover, devices that utilize location information typically provide location data to specific applications commonly designed for a specific location service provider. Furthermore, location information delivered by typical devices is in general bound within a predetermined accuracy, degree of reliability, or trust level, and a cost which is usually dictated by the location service provider. Therefore there is a need in the art for the capability to utilize integrated location data in various applications, the location data originated from disparate technologies within disparate accuracies and associated costs.

Location based services platform using multiple sources including a radio frequency identification data source


A method includes, responsive to a power-up event at a data storage device that includes a memory, reading a flag stored at the data storage device and determining that the flag has a first value indicating that a reflow operation has not previously been detected at the memory. The method also includes, in response to determining that the flag has the first value, performing reflow detection at the memory. The method further includes, in response to the reflow detection indicating that the reflow operation has occurred, setting the flag to a second value.

Non-volatile data storage devices have enabled increased portability of data and software applications. As research and development in the field of data storage devices progresses, data storage devices are able to store increasingly larger amounts of data. A data storage device may be used as "embedded" memory of a portable computing device (e.g., mobile phone). The data storage device may be mounted to a circuit board of the portable computing device using reflow soldering. Prior to the reflow soldering, certain data may have been stored in the data storage device using a preloading process. In some situations, one or more blocks within the data storage device may be partially written (e.g., because the total amount of data written to the data storage device is not divisible by the block size of the data storage device). The partially written block(s) may include programmed word lines as well as unprogrammed word lines. Due to effects of heating caused by the reflow process, the unprogrammed word lines may exhibit poor data retention and threshold voltage shifting, as compared to other word lines. Thus, certain portions of the data storage device may have lower reliability than other portions of the data storage device.

Data storage device having reflow awareness


Cell motility and growth inhibitors, including compounds of the general structural formula

Cell shape change and motility are critical components in a wide range of biological processes in mammals, including embryonic development, tissue repair, angiogenesis, and immune system function. Cell shape change and motility also are involved in pathological events, such as cancer metastasis. While progress has been made in identifying components of signal transduction pathways leading to cell motility, a complete model of the mechanism is still lacking. The precise roles of many proteins implicated in these pathways are not yet elucidated, and a number of mechanisms that cells use for movement may exist.
Cell motility is dependent on regulated actin filament assembly, rearrangement, and disassembly. A large and growing number of proteins are known to regulate and modulate the state of the actin cytoskeleton, and some appear to have partly overlapping functions. For example, actin polymerization and filament assembly can be accomplished through de novo nucleation of new filaments by the Arp2/3 complex or through elongation of existing filaments at free barbed or fast-growing ends, generated by filament severing and/or regulated dissociation of bound barbed-end capping proteins (uncapping). Similarly, multiple routes exist for actin filament bundling, crosslinking, and disassembly (depolymerization).
In addition to these end-point mechanisms of actin dynamics, a number of different upstream signaling pathways leading to changes in the actin cytoskeleton and cell morphology and behavior have become apparent. The small Ras-related GTPases, e.g., Rac, Rho, and Cdc42, in particular, have been implicated in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and cell shape, and each plays a distinct and specialized role. Rho proteins are associated generally with formation of contractile actin/myosin bundles, stress fibers, and focal adhesions. Rac proteins particularly are associated with formation of lamellipodia (broad, sheet-like membrane protrusions at the leading edge in the direction of movement). Lamellipodial cell crawling resulting from activation of Rac proteins is considered to be the most prevalent form of animal cell motility. Cdc42 particularly is most associated with formation of filpodia (finger-like membrane protrusions) and the control of cell polarity. The Rho family small GTPases also have roles in other cellular processes, such as control of cell growth and cell-cell adhesion. In addition to these small GTPases, phosphoinositides and calcium are known to regulate actin dynamics and cell migration. However, a comprehensive understanding of the signaling cascades leading to cell motility and the relationship between these regulators remains elusive.
Progress in the art would be facilitated by the availability of effective inhibitors of cell motility. A number of compounds that target actin directly exist. The best known compounds are the cytochalasins, which are cell-permeable destabilizers of actin filaments, and phalloidin, which is a cell-impermeable stabilizer of actin filaments (J. A. Cooper, J. Cell Biol, 105 (1987)). In addition, latrunculins are cell-permeable disrupters of actin filaments (I. Spector, Science, 219, 493 (1983)). Jasplakinolide is a cell-permeable stabilizer of actin filaments (M. R. Bubb et al., Chem., 269, 14869 (1994)). A few compounds that target proteins upstream of the actin cytoskeleton are known, such as the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (M. Uehata et al., Nature, 389, 990 (1997), and myosin light chain kinase inhibitors, such as ML-g (M. Saitoh et al., Biochem. Biophys, Res. Commun., 140, 280 (1986)). Recently, a cyclic peptide dimer was discovered that inhibits the activity of N-WASP, a protein involved in Cdc42-mediated actin nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex (J. R. Peterson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 98, 10624 (2001)). Nevertheless, there is a dearth of available cell-permeable compounds that affect actin dynamics and cell motility by inhibiting specific components of signaling pathways to the actin cytoskeleton.
Presently, very few specific inhibitors of cell motility are available, even though a great potential exists for such drugs as a complement to existing anticancer therapies. Cell shape change and motility are involved at two rate-limiting steps in cancer progression: angiogenesis (i.e., blood vessel recruitment) and metastasis (i.e., spreading of a tumor from one location in the body to other locations). In combination with cell growth inhibitors, treatment with specific cell motility inhibitors has the potential to provide a more efficacious treatment of a cancer, analogous to the multiple drug approach for treatment of HIV infection and AIDS.
In particular, cell motility inhibitors have potential uses such as, but not limited to, (a) an anticancer drug targeting angiogenesis, (b) an anticancer drug targeting metastasis, and (c) an anticancer drug targeting cell growth.

Inhibitors of animal cell motility and growth

Abstract: and use of the cell motility and cell growth inhibitors, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof, as therapeutic agents, are disclosed.

The Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois


The apparatus has a light transmitting bulb for confining a discharge therein, a fill sealed within the light transmitting bulb and including a rare gas and a metal halide emitting a continuous spectrum by molecular radiation, and a discharge excitation source for applying electrical energy to the fill and for starting and sustaining an arc discharge, and the metal halide includes one kind of halide selected from the group consisting of an indium halide, a gallium halide, and a thallium halide, or a mixture thereof, and in that the light transmitting bulb has no electrodes exposed in discharge space and further this construction utilizes the continuous spectrum of molecular radiation of the metal halide and thereby achieves high color rendering properties and high luminous efficacy simultaneously without using mercury as the fill.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-intensity-discharge (HID) lamp in which a metal halide continuously emitting light by molecular radiation is sealed within a light transmitting bulb and light is produced by arc discharge, thereby achieving outstanding color rendering properties and high efficacy.
2. Related Art of the Invention
In recent years, HID lamps, and in particular, metal halide lamps, have been replacing halogen lamps as high-output point light sources in various applications including stage and television lighting and liquid-crystal video projector light sources because of their high efficacy and excellent color rendering properties. This type of lamp is also finding application in sports lighting for HDTV broadcasting, lighting in museums and art galleries, etc. by utilizing its excellent color rendering properties. Metal halide lamps, however, contain mercury as a fill in large quantities amounting to several tens of milligrams per cubic centimeter of content volume, and it is strongly desired to eliminate mercury from the viewpoint of environmental preservation.
Compared with electrode arc discharge lamp systems, electrodeless discharge lamp systems have the advantage that electromagnetic energy can be easily coupled to the fill and it is therefore easy to eliminate mercury from the fill used for light emission by discharge. Furthermore, since there are no electrodes within discharge space, blackening of bulb inner walls due to electrode evaporation does not occur. This significantly improves lamp life.
Non-mercury fills for prior art HID lamps will be described below by way of example. In the electrodeless discharge lamp disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 3-152852, xenon is used as a discharge gas, and LiI, NaI, TlI, InI, etc. as luminescent substances are sealed within the lamp, producing white light by combining monochromatic line spectra radiated from these luminescent substances. This prior art discloses as a discharge excitation means a means by inductively coupling RF energy.
In the high power lamp disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 6-132018 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,076), S.sub.2, Se.sub.2, etc. as luminescent substances are sealed within the lamp, and a greenish white light is produced from the continuous spectrum of molecular radiation. This prior art discloses a discharge excitation means utilizing microwave energy.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,777 discloses an invention relating to an electroded metal halide lamp that employs a fill belonging to a metal halide, such as indium iodide used in the present invention. In this prior art, the lamp is operated using electrical energy high enough to heat the electrodes nearly to their melting point in order to cause the metal halide, such as indium iodide, to discharge at high power.
However, the electrodeless discharge lamp disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 3-152852 has had the problem that if the proportions of Na and Tl that emit light in regions of high spectral luminous efficiency are increased to increase efficacy, color rendering properties degrades, and if the color rendering properties are to be enhanced, the efficacy has to be decreased. Another problem that has been pointed out is that indium and thallium iodides produce a continuous spectrum at high pressure with a resultant decrease in line spectral causing a color shift. Furthermore, the light characteristics produced by a combination of line spectra, such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 3-152852, have poor color reproducibility, and it is difficult to obtain satisfactory color rendering properties.
With the high power lamp disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 6-132018, even if the kind of gas and the conditions of the fill are changed, chromaticity is always displaced from the black body locus substantially toward green, and it is not possible to obtain a satisfactory white light. A method that can be considered to improve the color characteristics of the high power lamp in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 6-132018 is to add some kind of metal compound as a luminescent substance and thereby add a line spectrum to change the chromaticity. However, metal sulphides produced by reaction of the added metal compound with sulphur are often relatively stable and low in vapor pressure and are difficult to turn into a plasma. This has lead to the problem that the kinds of metals that can be added are limited, reducing freedom in light color design and making it difficult to improve color rendering properties. Furthermore, when the spectral characteristics of the emission is changed by adding a fill or by using a color temperature conversion filter, spectral emission intensity increases in regions, other than green, where spectral luminous efficiency is low, necessarily resulting in a decrease in efficacy.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,777, on the other hand, for lamp operation with electrodes and with non-mercury fills a considerable load is applied to the electrodes since the lamp is operated near the melting point of the electrodes. With this lamp design, therefore, rapid blackening of bulb inner walls occurs because of electrode evaporation, and a marked drop in lamp life is inevitable.

Electrodeless hid lamp and electrodeless hid lamp system using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A circuit for driving a wordline or group of wordlines in a floating-gate type EEPROM cell array includes a read-driver subcircuit for switching positive read voltages, a program-driver subcircuit for switching positive programming voltages and, optionally, a subcircuit for switching negative erasing voltages. The read-driver subcircuit may be constructed using relatively short-channel transistors for relatively high speed operation when connected to high-capacitance wordlines. On the other hand, the program-driver subcircuit may be constructed using relatively long-channel transistors and those long-channel transistors may be located on the memory chip remotely from the memory cells and from the read-driver circuit. P channel isolating transistors are used to isolate unused circuitry during operation. A voltage translator in the program-driver subcircuit has a transistor configuration that lessens the probability that the breakdown voltages of those transistors will be exceeded. A method for programming nonvolatile memory cell arrays is also disclosed.

This invention relates to circuitry for applying reading, programming and erasing voltages to the wordlines of nonvolatile memory arrays and, therefore, to the control gates of nonvolatile memory cells such as floating-gate-type, electrically erasable programmable read-only-memory (EEPROM) cells.
This application discloses and claims circuitry that is related to the wordline driver circuitry described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,941, issued Apr. 11, 1989; in U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,318, issued Apr. 18, 1989; and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/909,526, which is a continuation of 07/692,802, now abandoned, which is a continuation of abandoned 07/382,356, now abandoned, all of which are assigned to Texas Instruments Incorporated.
EEPROM arrays of the type used with the circuitry of this application are described, for example, in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/274,718, now abandoned, which is a continuation of 07/056,196, now abandoned, Ser. No. 07/494,051 (which is a continuation of 07/219,528, now abandoned, and which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,980 on May 21, 1991); and Ser. No. 07/494,042 (which is a continuation of 07/219,529, now abandoned, and which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,721 on Apr. 16, 1991) and Ser. No. 07/494,060 (which is a continuation of 07/219,530, now abandoned, and which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,307 on Apr. 30, 1991); each of those applications being assigned to Texas Instruments Incorporated. EEPROM arrays of the type described in the foregoing applications require circuitry that will switch as many as four different values of voltage to each wordline for the purposes of reading, programming and erasing information stored on the floating gates. One of those voltages, the erasing voltage, must be negative with respect to the array bitlines or cell source-drain regions.
The various EEPROM wordline voltages may be generated from the external supply voltage Vcc (approx. +5 V) using charge-pumped capacitors located on the memory chip. Circuits for switching from one positive voltage to a second positive voltage are well-known. For example, circuits for changing the wordline voltage from one value of positive voltage to another value of positive voltage, and even to reference voltage, have been used during the change from program mode to read mode of operation of electrically-programmable read-only-memories (EPROMs). However, in the case of EEPROMs, there is a need for improved circuits that will not only switch wordline reading and programming voltages, but that will also switch negative erasing voltages to a selected wordline. Switching of negative voltages presents a unique problem in that such circuits must be designed to prevent P-N junctions between the diffused areas and the substrate of such integrated circuits from becoming forward-biased during application of negative erase voltages.
In addition, there is a need for circuitry that will supply a third value of positive voltage to deselected wordlines during program mode operation and, therefore, that decreases the probability of disturbing the programmed status of deselected memory cells.
Generally, the field-effect transistors used to drive wordlines during programming and/or erasing of memory cells must have a longer channel length than that of the field-effect transistors used during reading of those memory cells. The longer channel-lengths are required to prevent "punch-through" between source and drain caused by the higher voltages used during programming and erasing. In general, transistors with longer channels have slower operating times than transistors with shorter channels. Because previous wordline driver circuits have used at least some of the same driver transistors for both read mode and for write and/or erase mode operations, the speed of operation during read mode operation has been limited by the required longer channel length of those same transistors.
Also generally, the field-effect transistors used to drive wordlines during programming and/or erasing of memory cells must have thicker gate insulation than that of the field-effect transistors used during reading of those memory cells. The thicker gate insulation is required to prevent "field-plate" or "gated-diode" electric-field breakdown between gate conductor and the substrate caused by the higher voltages used during programming and erasing.

Nonvolatile memory array wordline driver circuit with voltage translator circuit


An antenna may include a conductive material formed in a pattern on an antenna housing, where one end of the conductive material connects to a ground connection. The antenna may further include a tuning stub, having a length (l0), connected to the conductive material at a distance (d0) from the ground connection, where the distance (d0) tunes a resonance of the antenna.

In radio communications systems, data is transmitted via electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic waves are transmitted via antennas, with the carrier frequencies being in the frequency band (or bands) intended for the respective system. In addition to the requirement to restrict the dimensions of the antenna to fit into the small sizes of the mobile radio transmitting and receiving devices, there is also an increasing requirement for the capability to transmit and receive in multiple different frequency bands, thus, giving the mobile radio devices access to greater bandwidth.
Tunable antennas, therefore, are desirable given the current demand for bandwidth in today's mobile radio designs. A planar inverted F-type antenna (PIFA) is one example of a tunable antenna. A typical PIFA antenna may be tuned to have three resonances that correspond to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)/Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) bands. For example, a typical PIFA antenna may have a first resonance with a bandwidth from 824 MHz to 960 MHz at −6 dB (low band) and two other resonances with a bandwidth from 1710 MHz to 2170 MHz at −6 dB (mid and high bands). Each resonance in a PIFA antenna is set by the effective length of the current flow on the antenna pattern surface and can be expressed by:
                              L          +          W                =                              λ            air                                4                                                      ɛ                reff                                                                        Eqn        .                                                    (          1          )
where λ is the wavelength in air;                L+W is the two dimensional effective current flow on the antenna pattern; and        ∈reff is the effective dielectric constant, which can further be expressed by:
                              ɛ          reff                =                                                            ɛ                r                            +              1                        2                    +                                                                                ɛ                    r                                    -                  1                                2                                                          [                                  1                  +                                      12                                                              H                      W                                                                      ]                                                    -                              1                2                                                                        Eqn        .                                                    (          2          )
where ∈r is the dielectric constant of the antenna's substrate.
Tuning down (towards lower frequencies) the third high band resonance of a PIFA antenna can be done, but typically only by adding matching components that reduce the total efficiency of the antenna.


An electronic control unit (ECU) includes a flexible circuit substrate having a first partition interconnected to a third partition by a second, flexible partition. The electronic control unit further includes a rigidizer having a first partition interconnected to a third partition by a second partition. When the ECU is twice folded, the second, flexible partition of the circuit substrate assumes an approximate xe2x80x98Uxe2x80x99-shape, resulting in a reduced cracking and splitting rate than the prior art. In various embodiments of the present invention, the assumption of a xe2x80x98Uxe2x80x99-shaped fold in the second, flexible partition of the circuit substrate is facilitated by multiple apertures in a second rigidizer partition, by a depression in a second rigidizer partition, or by non-slidably affixing a first circuit substrate partition to a first rigidizer partition via a first adhesive and non-slidably affixing a third circuit substrate partition to a third rigidizer partition via a second adhesive.

The present invention relates generally to automotive electronic control units, and, in particular, to use of a flexible circuit that is bent in the assembly of an automotive electronic control unit.
Engine mounted electronic control units for automotive engines are disposed in a confined space in an environment subject to high ambient temperatures and extreme vibrations. Typically, in order to enhance thermal performance protect against engine vibrations, a printed circuit board that includes control circuitry is affixed to a rigidizer that may be bent to produce a reduced size module and that also functions as a heat spreader. For example, in a direct engine mount application where a Polybent(trademark) printed circuit board, that is a printed circuit board that has a flexible circuit that is bent, is used for packaging an electronic control unit, the printed circuit board is mounted to an aluminum rigidizer. The rigidizer provides mechanical support for the printed circuit board and assists in the dissipation of heat generated by components on the printed circuit board, which heat is conductively transferred from the components to the underlying rigidizer.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electronic control unit (ECU) 100 of the prior art is illustrated. FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective of an end view of electronic control unit 100. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of electronic control unit 100. Electronic control unit 100 includes a flexible printed circuit board 104, such as a Polybent(trademark) printed circuit board, that is affixed to a rigidizer 106 by use of a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape, or film, 202. Typically, circuit board 104 has a number of electronic components 102 mounted on the surface of the circuit board. Adhesive 202 is disposed between rigidizer 106 and printed circuit board 104 and functions to secure the printed circuit board to the rigidizer. After being secured to the rigidizer, the printed circuit board is essentially folded in half, resulting in a folded printed circuit board consisting of two main partitions 204, 208 facing each other and connected to each other by a xe2x80x98Wxe2x80x99-shaped, or serpentine, flexible circuit 206 with a radius of curvature 210 bend that is typically approximately 1 millimeter (mm). For example, circuit substrate 104 may be bent using a Polybent(trademark) process, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,738, the text of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
As the functionality of electronic control units has increased over time, the corresponding circuitry has become increasingly dense and complex. As a result, electronic control units have been migrating from the use of two-layer printed circuit boards, such as printed circuit board 104, to the use of four-layer printed circuit boards. One result of the manufacturing process of four-layer printed circuit boards is a thicker flexible circuit 206, even when the flexible circuit remains a two-layer circuit. Due to the thicker flexible circuit 206, flexible circuit boards are now known to crack and split when bent, resulting a control module that must be discarded. The discarded control modules result in excessive manufacturing costs and waste, especially since the printed circuit boards must be populated with components before being folded.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus for folding a printed circuit board that will not cause splitting and cracking of the flexible circuit.


A semiconductor light emitting device includes a light emitting layer sandwiched between two spacer layers. The difference between the net polarization in at least one of the spacer layers and the net polarization in the light emitting layer is less than in the device with conventional spacer layers, such as GaN spacer layers. The difference between the net polarization in at least one of the spacer layers and the net polarization in the light emitting layer is less than about 0.02 C/m2. In some embodiments, at least one of the spacer layers is a quaternary alloy of aluminum, indium, gallium, and nitrogen.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to III-nitride light emitting devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor light-emitting devices including light emitting diodes (LEDs), resonant cavity light emitting diodes (RCLEDs), vertical cavity laser diodes (VCSELs), and edge emitting lasers are among the most efficient light sources currently available. Materials systems currently of interest in the manufacture of high-brightness light emitting devices capable of operation across the visible spectrum include Group III-V semiconductors, particularly binary, ternary, and quaternary alloys of gallium, aluminum, indium, and nitrogen, also referred to as III-nitride materials. Typically, III-nitride light emitting devices are fabricated by epitaxially growing a stack of semiconductor layers of different compositions and dopant concentrations on a sapphire, silicon carbide, III-nitride, or other suitable substrate by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), or other epitaxial techniques. The stack often includes one or more n-type layers doped with, for example, Si, formed over the substrate, a light emitting or active region formed over the n-type layer or layers, and one or more p-type layers doped with, for example, Mg, formed over the active region. III-nitride devices formed on conductive substrates may have the p- and n-contacts formed on opposite sides of the device. Often, III-nitride devices are fabricated on insulating substrates, such as sapphire, with both contacts on the same side of the device. Such devices are mounted so light is extracted either through the contacts (known as an epitaxy-up device) or through a surface of the device opposite the contacts (known as a flip chip device).
The crystal layers in III-nitride devices are often grown as strained wurtzite crystals on lattice-mismatched substrates such as sapphire. Such crystals exhibit two types of polarization, spontaneous polarization, which arises from the difference of alloy composition between layers of different composition, and piezoelectric polarization, which arises due to the strain in the layers of the device. The total polarization in a layer is the sum of the spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization.
FIG. 1A is a sectional view schematically illustrating a typical conventional strained wurtzite nitride double heterostructure semiconductor, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,313. According to U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,313, the illustrated substrate layer 1 may be any material suitable for growing nitride semiconductors, including spinel (MgAl2O4), sapphire (Al2O3), SiC (including 6H, 4H, and 3C), ZnS, ZnO, GaAs, AlN and GaN. The substrate thickness typically ranges from 100 μm to 1 mm. A buffer layer 2 on the substrate 1 can be formed of AlN, GaN, AlGaN, InGaN or the like. The buffer layer facilitates possible lattice mismatches between the substrate 1 and an overlying conductive contact layer 3. However, the buffer layer 2 may be omitted if the substrate has a lattice constant approximately equal to that of the nitride semiconductor. The buffer layer 2 may also be omitted with some nitride growth techniques. Depending upon the material composition, the buffer layer energy bandgap may range from 2.1 eV to 6.2 eV, with a thickness of about 0.5 μm to 10 μm.
The n-type contact layer 3 is also typically formed from a nitride semiconductor, preferably GaN or InGaN with a thickness ranging from 0.5 μm to 5.0 μm, and a bandgap of approximately 3.4 eV for GaN and less for InGaN (depending upon the Indium concentration). A lower n-type or undoped cladding layer 4 on the conductive layer 3 conventionally comprises GaN or AlGaN, with a bandgap of 3.4 eV for GaN and greater for AlGaN (depending upon the Al concentration). Its thickness can range from 1 nm to 100 nm.
Nitride double heterostructures typically employ InGaN as an active region 5 over the lower cladding layer, with a thickness of 1 nm to 100 nm. The bandgap of this layer is typically 2.8 eV for blue emission, but may vary depending upon the Indium concentration. A top p-type or undoped cladding layer 6 over the active region is generally comprised of AlGaN or GaN, with a thickness and bandgap energy similar to that of the lower n-type cladding layer 4. A p-type GaN conductive contact layer 7 on the cladding layer 6 has an energy bandgap of about 3.4 eV and a thickness of about 10 nm to 500 nm. A polarization-induced sheet charge occurs at the interface between layers due to different constituent materials. Of particular concern for the operation of a light emitter are the polarization-induced sheet charges adjacent to the active region 5.
With the compound semiconductor illustrated in FIG. 1A, a negative polarization-induced sheet charge density σ1, with a magnitude such as 1013 electrons/cm2, is typically formed at the interface between the active region 5 and the lower cladding layer 4. A positive sheet charge density σ2 of similar magnitude is formed at the interface between the active region 5 and the upper cladding layer 6. The polarities of these charges depend upon the bonds of the crystal layers. In general, the density of a sheet charge will depend upon both a spontaneous factor arising from compositional differences between the two layers, and a piezoelectric strain arising from the lattice mismatch between the layers. For example, σ1 between an In0.2Ga0.8N active region 5 and a GaN cladding layer 4 is about 8.3×1012 electrons/cm2. This is due to the 20% Indium content in the In0.2Ga0.8N active region (spontaneous polarization), and the strain in that layer arising from the lattice mismatch with the underlying GaN layer (piezoelectric polarization).
FIG. 1B illustrates the energy bands corresponding to the device structure of FIG. 1A. When the device is operating, the naturally occurring polarization field generated by σ1 and σ2 reduces the efficiency in a number of ways. First, the dipole leads to a spatial separation (movement in the opposite direction) of electrons and holes within the region. As illustrated, holes in the valence band Ev are attracted to the negative sheet charge σ1 at one end of the active region 5, while electrons in the conduction band Ec are attracted to the positive sheet charge or σ2 at its other end. This spatial separation of free carriers lowers the probability of radiative recombination, reducing emission efficiency. Second, the energy barriers of the conduction and valence band quantum wells are reduced by quantization effects associated with the electric field. Thus, carriers below Ev and above Ec escape the well through the paths indicated by dashed lines A. Third, the presence of polarization-induced fields also leads to carrier overshoots, illustrated by carrier trajectories B, from the higher Ec level on the σ1 side of the active region to the lower Ec level on the σ2 side, and from the lower Ev level on the σ2 side of the active region to the higher Ev level on the σ1 side.

III-nitride light emitting device with reduced polarization fields


A door for an airbag module having a housing, an inflatable cushion, the airbag module being adapted to be used in a vehicle having an instrument panel with an airbag module opening, the door having an inner surface and an outer surface adapted to match the instrument panel, comprising: a first member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the first member being movably secured to the airbag module for relative movement therebetween and remains secured to the module during deployment of the inflatable cushion; a pair of second members depending away from the inner surface of the door, the pair of second members each having an opening for receiving a guiding member depending away from the housing; wherein the configuration of the first member and the openings of the pair of second members allows the door of the airbag module to deploy in a first direction until the first member reaches a point of maximum movement in the first direction, wherein the door continues to deploy in a second direction that is defined by further movement of the guiding member in the opening.

Airbag modules or supplemental inflatable restraint systems have become common in modern automobiles. An airbag module typically comprises an inflatable cushion and an inflator within a housing. The module is installed in a desired position within the vehicle, such as the steering wheel, the dashboard, the seat, the A-pillar, and other locations. The inflatable cushion is stored in a folded position within the housing in fluid communication with the inflator. In response to an activation event or occurrence, a sensor or sensing device provides a signal for activating the inflator. The inflator then provides a supply of inflating gas to the cushion deploying it from the housing.
As more and more vehicles are equipped with airbag modules, other vehicle components have been modified to accommodate the use of such systems. For example, most passenger side airbag module systems are disposed within and behind an instrument panel, which extends across the width of a vehicle compartment. During assembly, a conventional instrument panel in a vehicle having a passenger side airbag module system requires a discrete door which covers an opening formed in the instrument panel for the air bag cushion to deploy through upon actuation of the airbag module system. This separate door is designed to open in response to the force of the expanding air bag cushion. In other words as the pressure in the air bag cushion increases, an internal force is generated within the cushion and as the air bag cushion expands with this force, the door selectively separates from a portion of the module and the instrument panel as the air bag cushion deploys while another portion of the door remains secured to the module during deployment.
Typically, the manufacture of an instrument panel involves forming an opening in the instrument panel proximate to the airbag module system. This opening is then covered by a separate deployable door of the airbag module, which is secured to the instrument panel and faces the occupants of the vehicle. Thus, the instrument panel itself is manufactured in view of the shape and size of the door and the door is separately manufactured and installed within the opening in the instrument panel.
Typically, the deployable doors of the passenger airbag module are secured within and to the opening of the instrument panel and the resulting force of the inflating airbag tears open a tear seam in the show surface of the door and/or a tear seam in the securing features adapted to secure the door to the instrument panel.


A powertrain has a planetary transmission with two simple planetary gearsets interconnected between an input shaft and an output shaft. The planetary gearsets are controlled to establish five forward speed and torque ratios and one reverse speed and torque ratio by selective engagement of three clutches and two brakes.

Planetary gear arrangements provide five forward speeds and a reverse speed and utilize either a compound planetary (intermeshing pinion gears) or three simple planetary gearsets. Both of these type of gear arrangements generally include six or more friction devices and are more complex and incorporate more cost than two simple planetary gearsets. The transmissions may incorporate fewer clutches and brakes if double transition shifting or nonsequential shifting is permitted.
The compound planetary and three simple planetary gearsets generally include six or more friction devices and are more complex and therefore incorporate more cost than two simple planetary gearsets.
Four speed planetary gear arrangements generally use two simple planetary gearsets. These transmissions will usually incorporate five friction devices to establish the four forward speeds and one reverse speed.

Multi-speed planetary power transmission


An apparatus for axially retaining a shaft comprises a shaft having an axis of rotation and an axially-affixed member having a bore therethrough coaxial with the shaft and having an inside diameter, the shaft passing through the bore. The apparatus also includes a retainer mounted about the shaft in a first groove, the retainer having an outside diameter larger than the diameter of the bore. The apparatus further comprises a retaining ring mounted about the shaft in a second groove, the retaining ring having a compressed outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the bore and an uncompressed outside diameter larger than the diameter of the bore. The first groove and the second groove are located on first and second axial sides of the member, respectively, and the retainer and the retaining ring cooperate to substantially prevent axial movement of the shaft with respect to the member. A method for assembling an apparatus having a shaft comprises placing a retaining ring about the shaft in a groove. The method further includes pushing the shaft through a bore of a member in a first axial direction with the retaining ring compressed to an outside diameter less than or equal to a diameter of the bore. Also, the method comprises continuing to push the shaft through the bore until the retaining ring emerges from the bore and expands sufficiently to prevent the shaft moving in the opposite axial direction from the first axial direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present relates to axial retention for the shaft of an apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a shaft of an apparatus, for example a rotating shaft, is to be affixed against axial movement, one known design uses a pair of retaining clips. Where the shaft passes through an axially-affixed member, such as a bearing, one retaining clip can be inserted in a groove of the shaft on one side of the bearing and the other retaining clip can be inserted in a groove on the other side of the bearing.
While such a design is certainly effective in axially affixing the shaft, the design has a shortcomings. The design allows only one clip to be placed on the shaft before the shaft is inserted through the bearing. Only then can the second clip be placed in its appointed groove in the shaft. However, once the shaft has been inserted through the bearing, the process of placing the second clip in its appointed groove can be difficult. This is especially true where there is not ready access to the side of the bearing where the second clip is to be placed on the shaft. The result can be a design which is very difficult to build or, at the worst, unmanufacturable.
Therefore, a design where a shaft can be affixed against axial movement in a manner which is more readily manufactured will provide advantages over the prior art.


A video recording/reproducing apparatus includes a first recording unit that records video information on a first recording medium, a second recording unit that records video information on a second recording medium, a remaining capacity detecting unit that detects a remaining capacity of the first recording medium, a recording controlling unit that controls transferring of the video information on the first recording medium to the second recording medium when the remaining capacity of the first recording medium is not greater than a first reference value (α), and a reproducing unit that reproduces the video information from the second and first recording media when it is recorded on the second and first recording media, respectively, and that sequentially reproduces the video information on the second and first recording media when part of the video information is recorded on the second recording medium and the rest is recorded on the first one.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video recording/reproducing apparatus and a video recording/reproducing method allowing use of a plurality of recording media at the same time.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, with progress of digital signal processing technology, digital information such as motion images, still images, audio can be encoded at high efficiency and recorded on small recording media or transmitted through communication media. Such a technology is applied to development of image capturing apparatuses capable of recording high quality images on recording media.
Types of recording media mainly include a tape medium such as a magnetic tape driven to travel in one direction, a disc medium such as an optical disc driven to rotate, and a memory medium such a semiconductor memory not requiring such a mechanical driving unit. Magnetic tapes had been mainly used as the recording media. However, recently, disc media or memory media are increasingly used instead of magnetic tapes. Generally, although memory media have less memory capacity than disc media, the memory media have a characteristic of excellent vibration resistance since they do not include a mechanical driving unit.
For example, for mobile image capturing apparatuses such as video camcorders, disc media are more advantageous in terms of a recordable time and an image quality. However, it is more reliable to use memory media. More specifically, users can capture images without worrying about the remaining recordable time with a video camcorder that employs a hard disc having a capacity of tens to hundreds gigabytes. However, if the video camcorder receives a strong impact, most of recorded data may be lost. On the other hand, a video camcorder employing a memory card having a capacity of tens to hundreds megabytes is used, it becomes easier to handle the video camcorder. However, it may be impossible to capture high quality images for hours.
In addition, there is a recordable optical disc for which a method called "write once" allowing recording of data in the same recording area only once is employed. Since this type of disc medium is not rewritable, a method for temporarily recording file management information on a part of the medium as intermediate data, and then recording the file management information at a proper location of the medium when a finalization operation is performed when stopping using the medium is employed for this type of disc medium. Such intermediate data not only reduces a capacity of the media but also imposes a restriction on file management, which thus undesirably decreases the convenience.
Additionally, there are image capturing apparatuses capable of utilizing a plurality of recording media at the same time. An image capturing apparatus capable of recording video data on both a magnetic tape (or an optical disc) and a memory card is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-142674.
However, known image capturing apparatuses capable of utilizing a plurality of recording media require users to be always aware of the recording medium on which the target video data is recorded. Thus, it is difficult to utilize such image capturing apparatuses.

Video recording/reproducing apparatus and video recording/reproducing method


A ball joint comprises a metallic stud bolt having a male screw on one end side and a spread portion on the other end side, a resin ball member of synthetic resin having a spherical portion covering the spread portion, and a ball seat of synthetic resin having a spherical recess in which the spherical portion is fitted for relative rotation and rocking motion. A nut is fitted on the male screw. A noncircular detent portion including serrations or the like is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the spread portion. A flange portion is formed integral with the stud bolt on the intermediate portion in the axial direction. The resin ball member has a cylindrical portion integral with it, and a dust cover fixing projection is formed integral with the cylindrical portion. An end portion of a dust cover is held between the projection and the flange portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ball joint used to connect two relatively moving parts for rotation and rocking motion and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A ball joint is described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 5-346114, for example. This ball joint is used to connect two relatively moving parts for rotation and rocking motion, at a joint between a stabilizer and a shock absorber or between the stabilizer and a suspension arm, in a vehicular suspension system, for example.
A conventional ball joint 100 shown in FIG. 9 comprises a metallic ball stud 101, a ball seat 102, etc. The ball stud 101 includes a shank portion 104, a spherical portion 105 on one end side of the shank portion, and a male screw 106 on the other end side of the shank portion. A nut 107 is screwed on the male screw 106. The ball stud 101 has a collar-shaped flange portion 110 on its intermediate portion in the axial direction. The nut 107 is tightened in a manner such that a mating member 111 is sandwiched between the flange portion 110 and the nut 107. The spherical portion 105 is fitted in a spherical recess 115 in the ball seat 102 so as to be freely slidable in the circumferential direction. Thus, the ball stud 101 can oscillate (or rock) with respect to the ball seat 102 and rotates around its axis at the same time.
The flange portion 110 may be formed integral with the shank portion 104 of the ball stud 101, as shown in FIG. 9, or fixed to the shank portion 104 by using fixing means, such as a nut independent of the shank portion 104 and screwed on the male screw 106, or a ring-shaped component press-fitted on the ball stud 101.
Conventionally, the shank portion 104 and the spherical portion 105 are formed integral with each other by forging or cutting work. In general, the sphericity and surface roughness of the spherical portion 105 both require high accuracy to ensure smooth rotation and oscillation of the ball stud 101.
Usually, a lubricant such as grease is applied to sliding surfaces 117 of the ball seat 102 and the spherical portion 105. A dust cover 120 is provided for preventing the lubricant from flowing out from between the sliding surfaces 117 and preventing dust or other foreign matter from penetrating into the gap between the surfaces 117 and wearing them. The dust cover 120 is formed of a flexible material such as rubber, and can flexibly follow the rotation and oscillation of the ball stud 101.
A circular hole 122 with a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the shank portion 104 is formed in an end portion 121 of the dust cover 120, and the shank portion 104 is passed through the hole 122, whereby the cover 120 is mounted on the ball stud 101. In this case, the end portion 121 is fixed and sealed in a manner such that the inner peripheral surface of the hole 122 is intimately in contact with the shank portion 104. The other end portion 124 of the dust cover 120 is fitted in a ring-shaped groove 125 in the outer peripheral portion of the ball seat 102. The end portion 124 is fixed and sealed in a manner such that it is retained on the ball seat 102 by means of the elasticity of the cover 120 itself or by using an auxiliary fixing member 126, such as a snap ring. In some cases, necessary sealing properties may be secured by fitting a rubber ring or the like on the dust cover 120 in a region near the hole 122 and supplementally tightening it.
In the conventional ball joint 100 having the dust cover 120 constructed in this manner, part of the dust cover 120 is strongly pulled by the elastic force of the cover 120 when the ball stud 101 is inclined at a wide angle around the spherical portion 105. As a result, the position of the end portion 121 of the dust cover 120 is shifted by the elastic limit of the cover 120, possibly causing penetration of dust or other foreign matter.
To avoid this, the shank portion 104 is provided with a projection 130 for fixing the dust cover 120, designed so that the end portion 121 of the cover 120 is held between the projection 130 and the flange portion 110. It is empirically known that the projection 130 is needed when the maximum rocking angle of the ball stud 101 with respect to the ball seat 102 exceeds 20.degree., and that the projection 130 has an effect if its height is about 1 mm or more.
As mentioned before, the ball stud 101 must include the shank portion 104 as a basic structure and the three projecting portions (i.e., spherical portion 105, flange portion 110, and dust cover fixing projection 130). Normally, the ball stud 101 is formed of steel or some other metal which ensures a necessary strength for a mechanical element. Since the spherical portion 105 of the ball stud 101 requires high accuracy, as mentioned before, that part of the ball stud 101 which ranges from the flange portion 110 to the spherical portion 105 is conventionally worked by machining such as cutting, and the surface of the spherical portion 105 is further burnished for higher accuracy. The machining requires much time and labor, thus entailing high manufacturing cost.
Cold forging is a prevailing method for manufacturing the ball stud 101 at low cost. In fabricating the ball stud 101 by the cold forging, at least two separate upsetting dies 140 and 141 are used in the manner shown in FIG. 10. The spherical portion 105 is formed by striking the material of the ball stud 101 by means of the dies 140 and 141. In this case, the forged ball stud 101 inevitably suffers a parting line 145 or a minute continuous projection extending in the circumferential direction of the spherical portion 105 along the respective mating faces of the dies 140 and 141. The parting line 145 shown in FIG. 11 is exaggerated in form.
In forming the flange portion 110, moreover, the ball stud 101 is forged under pressure applied thereto in its axial direction from above by means of the die 152 in a manner such that the spherical portion 105 is held between split dies 150 and 151, as shown in FIG. 12. Also in this case, the surface of the spherical portion 105 suffers a minute projection or parting line 155 extending along the respective mating faces of the left- and right-hand split dies 150 and 151. Alternatively, the spherical portion 105 may be formed after forming the flange portion 110 first. Since this method also requires use of similar split dies, a parting line is an unavoidable product.
The parting lines 145 and 155 worsen the sphericity of the spherical portion 105 and the sealing properties of the dust cover 120 at its opposite end portions 121 and 124. As a result, foreign matter gets into the gap between the respective sliding surfaces 117 of the spherical portion 105 and the ball seat 102, thereby wearing the sliding surfaces 117 wear extraordinarily, so that the ball joint cannot fulfill its function.
Although the parting lines 145 and 155 can be removed by cutting or burnishing work depending on the height of their projections, this machining work entails an increase in cost. The lateral split dies 150 and 151 shown in FIG. 12 cannot be attached to a conventional multistage parts forming machine. Inevitably, therefore, the flange portion 110 must be forged in a process separate from the process for forming the spherical portion 105 by means of the dies 140 and 141 shown in FIG. 10, thus resulting in higher cost.
In general, a low-profile projection, such as the dust cover fixing projection 130, cannot be forged on account of the relationship between the necessary forging pressure for the formation of the projection and the size and shape of a workpiece (ball stud 101). Conventionally, therefore, the small projection 130 is bound to be formed by cutting work by means of cutting tools, thus entailing an increase in cost.


A method for interleaving data frames, a forward error correcting device and a modulator including such a device, wherein each data frame to be interleaved is divided into a plurality of words, each containing the same amount of data bytes. An overhead extension is added to the words and additionally, the resulting codewords are applied to an interleave buffer (IB) to be written in matrix-shaped structure of memory cells included in the interleave buffer (IB). This matrix-shaped structure is filled column by column in such a way that each codeword occupies another column. Data bytes are read out of the matrix-shaped structure row by row, as a result of which the data frames are interleaved.

Such a method and equipment to perform such a method are already known in the art, e.g. from the contribution to assist the Standards Committee T1-Telecommunications with reference T1E1.4/95-075. This contribution is entitled `How to use ADSL for more than 8 Mbps data?`, and is filed by Orckit Communications Ltd. Therein, a method for interleaving data frames, called interleave data frames, is proposed which enables ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) transmission at bit rates higher than 8,16 Mbps. The proposed method is based on the insight that the specification in the draft American National Standard for Telecommunications on ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) published by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) in April 1995, limiting the interleave frame size to the length of one codeword limits the transmission rate to a maximum of 8,16 Mbps. This transmission rate limitation is avoided by optionally including more than one codeword in one interleave data frame. In the known method, as described in the last paragraph on page 2 of the above mentioned contribution, an interleave data frame contains two words, and in a first step is split into these two words which may have different lengths. Each of the words in a further step is extended with an overhead extension, called FEC redundancy in the already cited contribution. The overhead extensions added to words with different lengths can also have different lengths. The so obtained codewords, called Reed-Solomon codewords in the above cited contribution, are then joined to constitute an extended interleave data frame which is written in an interleave buffer whose memory cells are fixed in a matrix-shaped structure in such a way that each extended interleave data frame occupies one column in the matrix-shaped structure. Since successive Reed-Solomon codewords in the known method can have different lengths, the required flexibility for the overhead adding means in a forward error correction device which is enabled to perform the known method, renders this overhead adding means more complex. Furthermore, in the known solution, the number of columns of the matrix-shaped structure in the interleave buffer remains unchanged when compared to interleaving techniques which are in accordance with the specifications in the above cited draft ADSL Standard and wherein each interleave data frame contains thus only one codeword. As a result, the interleave depth and correction capability for burst errors remains unaffected.

Method for interleaving data frames, forward error correcting device and modulator including such a device


The disclosure relates to a drive arrangement for a flap of a motor vehicle, comprising a linear drive for producing drive movements and comprising a transmission arrangement, which is coupled to said linear drive, for transmitting the drive movements, a compensating arrangement being provided which couples two drive elements of the drive arrangement to each other in terms of drive, and, when a limit load between the two drive elements is exceeded, the compensating arrangement permitting a guided compensating movement between the two drive elements. It is proposed that the transmission arrangement provides the compensating arrangement.

Motorized flap arrangements are increasingly used in motor vehicles within the context of increasing convenience. They serve for adjusting flaps between an open position and a closed position (e.g. WO 2014 037 468 A1). The term "flap" should be understood broadly here and comprises tailgates, rear lids, engine hoods, doors, in particular side doors, or the like.
The known drive arrangement (DE 10 2014 100 125 A1), on which the disclosure is based, serves for adjusting the tailgate of a motor vehicle. It has a linear drive which is configured as a spindle drive and is arranged to the side of a rear window. The spindle drive is coupled via a transmission arrangement to the tailgate, on the one hand, and to the motor vehicle body, on the other hand, and therefore the drive movements are transmitted to the flap for the adjustment thereof. The spindle drive has a drive motor and a spindle/spindle-nut transmission downstream of the drive motor. Furthermore, a compensating arrangement is connected between drive motor and spindle/spindle-nut transmission, in the form of an overload clutch which, in the event of an overload, permits a compensating movement between two clutch elements, which are in engagement with each other in a claw-like manner, and therefore damage to drive components in the event of an overload is avoided. To this extent, the known drive arrangement exhibits a high level of operating safety even in the event of an overload. However, the mechanical realization of the overload clutch is complicated and not very flexible in a structural respect since said overload clutch is integrated in the spindle drive.
The known drive arrangement furthermore shows a measure for increasing the operating safety in respect of an inadvertent, gravity-induced adjustment of the flap. Specifically, a helical spring arrangement is connected between the two drive connections of the spindle/spindle-nut transmission, said helical spring arrangement at least opposing a gravity-induced, undesirable adjustment of the flap. Here too, the mechanical realization turns out to be complicated and not very flexible since the required spring arrangement is integrated in the spindle drive. As a result, although the known drive arrangement permits an extremely high level of operating safety, this is achieved, however, at the expense of a complicated mechanical realization and in particular a high outlay for the formation of variants.

Drive arrangement for a flap of a motor vehicle

Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg


A cuboid wafer container consists of a top bucket and a bottom bucket. The top bucket further consists of a square bucket and a cylindrical bucket, the same does the bottom bucket. The cylindrical bucket and the square bucket are connected through cushion to absorb vibration for protect the wafers from being damaged by the vibration. The wafer container according to the invention can be opened and sealed without screwing the buckets, so that damages occurred on the surfaces of wafers is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an equipment for semiconductor fabrication, and more particularly, to a wafer container for storing integrated circuit wafers.
2. Description of Related Art
For an average semiconductor fabrication, hundreds of integrated circuits consisting of tiny solid-state electronic devices are built on a wafer. Since the tiny solid-state electronic devices are easily damaged by slight scratches on the wafer or the abnormal vibration of the wafer. Hence, it is an important task to design a container that ensures that the wafers and the devices thereon are not damaged during the steps of storing, shipping, and retrieving wafers.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a perspective diagram of a conventional wafer container, the container consists of a cap 110 and a bucket 130, wherein the bucket 130 is used to contain wafers, and the cap 110 is used to seal the wafer container. While proceeding storing wafers, wafers are put into the bucket 130 first, and then, the bucket 130 and the wafers therein is screwed into the cap 110 to seal the container, as shown in FIG. 1B. The slit 120 on the bucket 130 is used for checking the status of the stored wafers, storing and retrieving wafers.
However, the conventional wafer container is not able to provide enough protection to the wafers therein during the sealing, and shipping. For example, screwing the cap 130 tends toward damaging the surface of wafers. It is also difficult to set the cylindrical wafer container still during shipping. The wafers is only surrounded by the wafer container without cushion of any kinds, so wafers can be damaged by the vibration generated during shipping.

Wafer container for storing integrated circuit wafers


A computer-implemented method for providing application manifest information may include analyzing source code of a software application. The method may also include detecting that the source code is programmed to access a computer resource and determining a security implication of the source code being programmed to access the computer resource. Determining the security implication may include providing a notification of the security implication of the source code to a developer of the source code. Determining the security implication may also include providing information about the security implication in an application manifest. Systems and computer-readable-media for creating and editing application manifests are also disclosed.

Over the next decade, computer security programs may continue to transition from primarily blacklist-based anti-malware solutions to whitelist-based solutions. Whitelist-based solutions may allow whitelisted software applications to run while blocking all other applications. However, whitelist-based solutions may not block all malicious code from executing. For example, a publisher may provide legitimate software for a period of time in order to gain trust and have the software whitelisted. The publisher may then introduce malicious code into the whitelisted software. As another example, a malicious developer in a trusted software company may introduce malware in a whitelisted program.
Traditional behavior-monitoring systems may provide some protection against malware in whitelisted software. Behavior-monitoring systems may monitor a software application and attempt to block malicious actions of the application. However, most traditional behavior-monitoring systems do not effectively evaluate and control the behavior of software applications.
Traditional behavior-monitoring systems may be ineffective because they may lack the information needed to determine whether a software application is acting maliciously. Behavior-monitoring systems may use generalized rules to monitor applications, but they may be unable to determine whether an application should be allowed to access a particular file or network resource.
Behavior-monitoring systems may attempt to analyze an application and determine all of the normal activities performed by the application. The behavior-monitoring systems may then prevent abnormal activity. However, analyzing most applications may result in a broad list of actions and may not provide the monitoring system with information that will allow effective behavior monitoring. For example, malicious activities may be treated as normal activities and may not be blocked.

Methods and systems for providing application manifest information


An electrosurgical generator is disclosed. The electrosurgical generator includes a power supply for generating a DC voltage. The electrosurgical generator also includes a first parallel inductor-capacitor circuit being driven by a first signal at a first predetermined frequency and a second parallel inductor-capacitor inductor-capacitor circuit driven by a second signal at the first predetermined frequency phase shifted 180°. The electrosurgical generator further includes a series inductor-capacitor resonant circuit operably connected in series with a primary winding of a transformer. The first and second parallel inductor-capacitor circuits are operably connected to the transformer, such that the first inductor-capacitor circuit generates a positive half sine wave and the second inductor-capacitor circuit generates a 180° phase-shifted positive half sine wave to generate a full sine wave in a secondary winding of the transformer.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to electrosurgical systems and, more specifically, to a system for delivering high power radiofrequency energy using multiple resonant inductor-capacitor (LC) networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrosurgery involves application of high radio frequency (RF) electrical energy to a surgical site to cut, ablate, or coagulate tissue. In monopolar electrosurgery, a source or active electrode delivers radio frequency energy from the electrosurgical generator to the tissue and a return electrode carries the current back to the generator. In monopolar electrosurgery, the source electrode is typically part of the surgical instrument held by the surgeon and applied to the tissue to be treated. A patient return electrode is placed remotely from the active electrode to carry the current back to the generator.
Ablation is a monopolar procedure which is particularly useful in the field of neurosurgery, where one or more RF ablation needle electrodes (usually of elongated cylindrical geometry) are inserted into a living body. A typical form of such needle electrodes incorporates an insulated sheath from which an exposed (uninsulated) tip extends. When an RF voltage is provided between the reference electrode and the inserted ablation electrode, RF current flows from the needle electrode through the body. Typically, the current density is very high near the tip of the needle electrode, which heats and destroys the adjacent tissue.
In bipolar electrosurgery, one of the electrodes of the hand-held instrument functions as the active electrode and the other as the return electrode. The return electrode is placed in close proximity to the active (current supplying) electrode such that an electrical circuit is formed between the two electrodes (e.g., electrosurgical forceps). In this manner, the applied electrical current is limited to the body tissue positioned between the electrodes. When the electrodes are sufficiently separated from one another, the electrical circuit is open and thus inadvertent contact of body tissue with either of the separated electrodes does not cause current to flow.
In electrosurgery, RF energy must be generated having sufficient frequency, so that the RF energy may be used to cut, coagulate, etc., tissue by sustaining tissue thermal heating for prolonged periods of time. Current state of the art electrosurgical generators do not provide sufficiently powerful RF energy for prescribed periods of time or they do so in an inefficient manner. Therefore there is a need for an electrosurgical generator which can generate high amounts electrosurgical energy in an efficient manner.

System and method for generating radio frequency energy


An electrical apparatus for visually indicating phase sequence, phase asymmetry and presence of three phases of an AC network comprising two transistors connected by their emitters to a first voltage terminal of the three phase network, the bases of the transistors being connected through diodes to a first voltage terminal and through crosscoupled phase shifting means to two other terminals of the three phase network. The collectors of the transistors are connected through resistors, light emitting diodes and diodes to two other voltage terminals and the emitters of the two transistors are connected through two other light emitting diodes to the first voltage terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrical apparatus for detecting relationships in three phase AC networks and more particularly to an apparatus for determining phase sequence and detecting presence of all three phases in AC networks.
2. Background Art
The correct phase sequence is very important for three phase devices connected to an AC network because it determines the direction of rotation of asynchronous motors. Incorrect phase sequence would cause a backward rotation of such motors.
It may also happen, e.g., in complicated switchboards that the same phase can be connected twice instead of the third phase or even the zero wire can be connected instead of one phase.
Another important thing is to determine voltage differences between the three phases.
So, it is very important to determine the phase sequence, the presence of all three phases and their magnitude when different devices, e.g., main and subsidiary switchboards, motors, etc., are connected to an AC network. Measuring of these relationships are determined, in most cases, in the field. An apparatus for measuring or determining these relationships should be light, easy to carry and, last but not least, inexpensive.
Various devices are known for determining the correct phase sequence, presence of all three phases and voltage differences. Control devices for determining phase sequence contain small asynchronous motors, control devices with different lamps and induction measuring instruments, e.g., voltmeters.
The fundamental disadvantage of many of the above mentioned devices is caused by their large dimensions, resulting in only limited use in the field. Devices containing neon lamps have only a limited range of measurable voltages.
A device for indicating reverse phase sequence or single phase is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,137 issued Jul. 27, 1971 which uses a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) connected by its main current path between at least two phases of a measured polyphase network. In the case of a correct phase sequence, the SCR is switched on and the current flowing through it switches a relay. In the case of a reverse phase sequence, the SCR is not switched on as the firing circuit does not send a firing signal to the control electrode of the SCR. The disadvantage of this device is the need of a firing circuit and a relay indicating the correct phase sequence. The device is therefore rather bulky, complicated and expensive.
Another device called "Waveform Crossing Detector" is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,461 issued Jan. 22, 1985. This device detects a pair of waveforms of a three phase AC supply and includes a pair of opto-couplers driven by respective transistors acting as actual crossing detectors. The transistors are driven by different phase sequences of a three phase network. Final signals are processed in logical circuits. The disadvantage of such device is that a stabilized power supply for feeding the logical circuits is necessary, causing large dimensions and higher price.
Another device for testing multiphase outlet with visual indication of phase energization, phase rotation and supply voltage is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,532 issued Dec. 5, 1989. This device is intended for continuous measuring of an AC network as used in explosive and inflammable areas, e.g., in underground mines. The device, according to this invention, uses neon lamps indicating presence of each phase of a three phase AC system and the phase rotation direction. The device typically includes means to alter the safe handling voltage level from AC to DC and a voltmeter into which this direct current is applied. The voltage between phases is indicated by the voltmeter. As already mentioned above, this device is usually intended for purposes of continuous stationary measurements and not for measurements when a new or repaired AC device is connected to an AC three phase network where compact and small measuring apparatus are desired.

Electrical apparatus for detecting relationships in three phase AC networks


An secured fax adapter apparatus uses a relay circuit to selectively couple a G3 fax to a secured line via a secured telephone unit (STU). The G3 fax can alternatively be coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) via a PSTN port. The secured fax adapter has an enhanced DAA having a controller, a fax communication circuit, a current limited off hook detection circuit, a relay circuit for selectively coupling the external device ports, and a ring generation circuit for producing a square wave for ring generation. In one embodiment, the current-limited off-hook detection circuit uses a symmetrical network of transistors coupled to diodes to limit the current drawn by a load. In another embodiment, the relay circuit has four relays for selectively coupling the G3 fax to the fax communication circuit, the STU to the PSTN, the G3 fax to the PSTN, or the STU to the fax communication circuit. The relay circuit has an additional relay for coupling the off-hook detection circuit to the fax communication circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to facsimile (fax) devices and more particularly to fax adapter devices and methods of operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Certain conventional fax machines transmit and receive non-secured data using group 3 (G3) fax protocol over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Certain other fax machines transmit and receive secured data over a secured network using a secure protocol such as Secured Telephone Unit (STU) protocol. In recent years, the cost of G3 fax machines has decreased and conventional G3 fax machines have proliferated. These conventional G3 fax machines however, cannot interface directly with an STU. In certain instances, it is desirable to couple a conventional G3 fax to a secured network via an STU. In these instances, secure fax adapters are used for coupling a conventional G3 fax to an STU.
Secure fax adapters conventionally use a Data Access Arrangement (DAA) to perform several Telephone Central Office (TCO) functions including off-hook detection and ring generation. Conventional DAA off-hook detection circuits measure a voltage drop across a load to arrive at an on- or off-hook decision. Conventional off-hook detection circuits do not adequately current limit to protect defective or incompatible devices coupled to the secure fax adapter. Additionally, some conventional off-hook detection circuits have a diode in the sensing signal path which has the undesirable effect of introducing distortion to the sensing signal.
Ring generation is another TCO function typically performed by a secure fax adapter DAA. The DAA of some conventional adapters use a transformer to generate a sinusoid for ring generation. Use of a transformer, however, is undesirable due to the added cost, weight and size.
Thus, there is a need for a low cost, light weight and compact secured fax adapter having an enhanced DAA with improved ring generation and off-hook detection and providing increased flexibility in operating configuration.


A ceramic discharge vessel for a high-intensity discharge lamp includes a hollow body and two capillaries attached to the body. The capillaries have respective electrodes therein, where portions of the electrodes inside the body are spaced from each other and have longitudinal axes that are not coplanar. That is, in contrast to the prior art where the longitudinal axes are coplanar, the capillaries herein are moved (in effect, rotated) to positions in which a first plane defined by a longitudinal axis of one capillary and a first point where a second capillary is attached to the body is intersected by a longitudinal axis of the second capillary only at the first point.

The present invention is directed to a ceramic discharge vessel for a high-intensity discharge lamp, and more particularly to a single-ended discharge vessel with electrodes that diverge from each other so that a discharge arc is confined to tips of the electrodes.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional illustration of a single-ended discharge vessel of the prior art. The discharge vessel 10 includes a ceramic body 12, two capillaries 14 extending from a same side of body 12 (e.g., extending from a common hemisphere), and two electrodes 16 that are each in a different one of the two capillaries 14. The longitudinal axes of the capillaries 14 and the electrodes 16 are all in a common plane of the drawing sheet. European Patent Application 1 111 654 describes discharge vessels of this type. Capillaries 14 and electrodes 16 extend from the same side of body 12 to reduce the overall size of the discharge vessel compared to double-ended discharge vessels that have two capillaries that extend collinearly from opposite sides of the body.
One of the problems with this side-by-side arrangement of electrodes is that an arc discharge between the electrodes can walk down the electrodes toward the wall of the discharge vessel and damage the ceramic. To discourage this, the electrodes are angled apart so that they diverge from each other thereby making the tips of the electrodes the closest two points between the electrodes inside the discharge vessel. The electrodes 16 in FIG. 1 diverge from each other within the common plane to attempt to confine the arc discharge between electrodes 16 to electrode tips 18.
The amount of divergence of electrodes 16 from each other can be confined to a relatively small angular range (up to about 12°) in discharge vessels in which the distal ends of capillaries 14 do not project beyond an edge of body 12, as illustrated by the dashed lines E in FIG. 1. It would be desirable to increase this angular range while keeping the distal ends of capillaries 14 confined within the edge of body 12.
Further, it would be desirable to offer an attractive alternative arrangement of the capillaries to create an additional option for reducing the overall size of the discharge vessel.

Single-ended discharge vessel with diverging electrodes


A disposable barrel dental impression syringe having a rotatable malleable needle cannula. A disposable barrel is fitted with a malleable needle cannula that is seated to permit easy rotation thereof. A handle is threaded onto the open end of the barrel. A plunger is fitted through the handle and barrel forming a syringe for the extrusion of dental impression material. The needle cannula is positioned within the discharge end of the barrel in such a way to permit easy rotation, yet prevent pushing or pulling the needle cannula through the discharge end of the barrel. This permits exact positioning of the needle cannula for placement of dental impression material. Additionally, only the barrel portion of the syringe being disposable, the precision and feel of a high quality impression syringe is maintained.

Dental impression material is used in many dental procedures in order to obtain an accurate impression of the mouth and teeth of a patient. Typically, the impression material used is initially able to be syringed for placement around the teeth and mouth, and then cures into a rubber-like material. An accurate impression of the teeth and gums is thereby obtained and used for the manufacture of customized dental devices. Typically, the dental impression material is syringed through a standard bulk syringe having a stainless steel barrel and hub attached thereto. Within the hub is placed a disposable tip. Most of the impression material is contained within the stainless steel barrel and only a small portion of the impression material is contained within the disposable tip. While this delivery system accomplished the goal of the placement of impression material, these devices have not lent themselves to convenient and efficient use by the dentist. These impression syringes have to be disassembled and scrubbed carefully in order to remove all of the cured impression material. This is a time consuming and tedious process. Additionally, a portion of the syringe barrel necessarily entering the patient's mouth would have to be disinfected in order to prevent cross-contamination between patients.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved dental impression syringe that is easy and convenient to use for the dentist that will eliminate the potential for cross-contamination.

Disposable barrel dental impression material syringe