Database management systems (DBMS) provide centralized structured information services to client programs. The data within a DBMS is defined, stored, and retrieved according to certain basic information storage patterns known as data models. For example, a DBMS using a hierarchal data model would relate data entities within it through a tree-like structure with each entity having a single “parent” entity (or no parent, for the “root” entity) and any number of “child” entities. This hierarchal data model is used in the popular XML data format and for XML databases.
The most common DBMS data model for sophisticated computerized information is the relational data model, which is used by relational database management system (RDBMS). Relational data can be understood as a set of two-dimensional data tables with rows representing data entities and columns representing entity properties. Rows typically have a key column that identifies each row or entity uniquely. These keys are most often a positive integer incremented with each subsequently inserted row. Because table rows may be identified solely through their keys, a row in table A can “relate” to a row in table B by including a column with a key from table B.
By using these row identifiers for relations between tables, all data for a row, other than the row identifier itself, does not need to be duplicated and may be stored only in its canonical table. For example, a table of customers may contain street address information. When referring to this customer, such as in a list of sales orders, only the customer row identifier is required, as described before; the customer address does not need to be duplicated within the customer portion of the sales order. One of the major advantages of these normalized intra-table relations is that the customer address may be modified by only changing its information in the customer table as there are no duplicate inclusions of the customer address (i.e. in the sales orders) to maintain.
Row identifiers are typically automatically generated by the RDBMS as a simple incrementing positive number such as 1, 2, 3, and so on. As these identifier sequence generators are distinct from the tables themselves, if two databases share the same types of tables and columns, the row identifiers may be different between the two databases despite having identical content. These differences can arise from the order, number, and deletion history of the table rows. For example, if three customers were added in opposite order in two databases, likely zero, but no more than one row would have identical row identifiers across the databases.
While an RDBMS provides benefits of reduced storage size, improved data consistency, and, for some operations, higher query performance, its data model is extremely dependent upon correct and consistent use of the row identifier keys. Since data duplication is reduced or even eliminated, if the correct row is not related through the row identifier, there is no recourse to recover the correct row by examination of included duplicate data. For example, a sales order would contain only the customer row identifier and not additional customer columns such as their name or street address which would allow cross-referencing. Furthermore, mistaken row identifiers have a high likelihood of not merely referring to missing rows in another table, but may relate extant, but incorrect rows.
A DBMS typically runs on a single server in a single location, although more esoteric varieties are sometimes transparently spread among locations. As a RDBMS contains two principle parts, (1) the data tables describing and defining the data structure, and (2) the data rows which conform to the model so described, a server may likewise be seen as both the defining container and the content so contained. While interaction between completely distinct databases (i.e. both the tables and the data are distinct) is possible, there are a number of situations where multiple RDBMS servers are operational with the same table definitions, though the data they hold may be the same or different. In these same-definition scenarios, there may be a need to transport data between the database servers.
One such scenario is representing a multitude of software installations through a multitude of database servers. For example, stores in multiple locations may all have the same sales-tracking software installed, but each have their own database server to track their local sales data. In this case, one may want to move partial data, such as a customer and their related records such as order history, from one installation to the server of another installation. Another scenario involves duplicating the same data in several different database servers, perhaps located in different regions, to allow continued availability and security. A third scenario is the use of data within one database server as the template for new data insertion in another server. A variation of this scenario is the use of such a template within the original database server.
From the aforementioned particulars about relational databases, there emerge four major difficulties in accomplishing the above transportation of tabularly identical data between and within an RDBMS:    (1) The transported data row identifier cannot be safely used in the new database due to collisions with existing identifiers and missing relations.    (2) The transported row may be the required relation or require relation with additional rows that should be transported as well. For example, transporting a product row may require supplier (relation to the product) or support history (relation from the product) rows.    (3) As the previous row identifier cannot be safely used, new row identifiers must be allocated as part of transportation.    (4) Given these new, different row identifiers, all necessary related data transported with the primary row must be re-related using the new row identifiers.
Because of these difficulties, transportation between relational databases is typically restricted to three scenarios, all limited in practice. These three limited scenarios are:    (1) A database may be completely duplicated or “cloned” into a second database. This is a destructive process in which all existing data in the second database must be completely erased. This is the typical technique by which a database is backed up and restored.    (2) A custom program may be written to collect the specific rows necessary and then insert them into the second database. This technique allows for partial data transport, but is entirely specific to the section of data, database, and intended application as it requires a unique program for each section of data transported and must be synchronously maintained to match any changes to the table definition or intention.    (3) In certain cases the data may be exported out to an intermediate format, such as CSV (Comma Separated Value) format, and then reimported. As the intermediate format typically lacks the full expression of relations and dependencies, this scenario is of limited use except for very simple data transportation such as for rows that are neither related to nor from which are related.
As these scenarios all demonstrate considerable restrictions of specificity, application, or scope, there presently exists no general solution for transportation of relational data, in particular for partial interrelated subsets of a RDBMS.


Recursive sequence recombination entails performing iterative cycles of recombination and screening or selection to “evolve” individual genes, whole plasmids or viruses, multigene clusters, or even whole genomes (Stemmer, Bio/Technology 13:549-553 (1995)). Such techniques do not require the extensive analysis and computation required by conventional methods for polypeptide engineering. Recursive sequence recombination allows the recombination of large numbers of mutations in a minimum number of selection cycles, in contrast to traditional, pairwise recombination events.
Thus, recursive sequence recombination (RSR) techniques provide particular advantages in that they provide recombination between mutations in any or all of these, thereby providing a very fast way of exploring the manner in which different combinations of mutations can affect a desired result.
In some instances, however, structural and/or functional information is available which, although not required for recursive sequence recombination, provides opportunities for modification of the technique. In other instances, selection and/or screening of a large number of recombinants can be costly or time-consuming. A further problem can be the manipulation of large nucleic acid molecules. The instant invention addresses these issues and others.


1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a pill dispenser. More particularly, this invention relates to a compartmentalized pill dispenser that is small enough to be carried with the user at all times, seals the pills against moisture and other degrading elements, protects the pills against vibration and is easy to use by an impaired person in an emergency situation.
2. Background Art
There are many instances where a person is required, due to illness, to carry medicine, such as pills and capsules, with them to be taken at prescribed times or upon the indication of need. An example of such a situation would be a person who has angina pectoris. In the case of an angina attack, an emergency arises due to deficient oxygenation of the heart muscles. This emergency requires an immediate dosage of nitroglycerin to be orally administered by the person affected. Since time is of the essence a person must, as of necessity, carry the pills on their person at all times and administer them immediately when an emergency situation arises. In such an emergency situation, a lapse of even a few minutes without administration of the medication could be harmful or even fatal.
It is conventional practice that persons who are required to carry pills with them at all times to keep these medications in their original containers. One drawback of this practice is that many such containers are bulky and are not easily carried in one's pockets. Another drawback that can result in dire consequences is that a person must first remove the cap of the container, remove the cotton stuffing and then single out a one small pill for ingestion. Often this problem is made more difficult if the person requiring the medicine has trembling or shaking hands or the container has a child-proof cap. Additionally, such an emergency situation may occur at night or while the victim is driving, or poor eyesight may make it particularly difficult for him or her to single out the tablet or pill and take it before their condition worsens. If the pills are spilled the user may not be able to find them in time to prevent harm.
It is also known for person's required to carry pills with them to employ a small container. For example, nitroglycerin tablets are often carried in a small tube with an inside diameter just larger than the pills themselves. Usually five to seven pills are stacked one on top of another in this tube. Unfortunately, these containers are known to fail such as when the cap which seals the tube becomes cross-threaded and stuck thereby making it difficult to remove the cap. Sometimes the pills are crushed by the cap if too many are loaded within the dispenser. If space is left to avoid this problem vibration of the pills increases. Vibration has been known to powderize the nitroglycerin pills to the point where they become jammed within the tube and cannot be extracted. Additionally, when the pills become powderized the dosage is then uncertain. Another problem with these tube dispenser is that like the larger bottles, the pills stacked within the tube can be easily spilled; this is especially true when the user is having some kind of attack. The dispenser is also difficult to load, especially for someone with poor sight, because it is often difficult to ascertain the number of pills within the container.
Additionally, many pill dispensers of the prior art do not protect the pills or tablets against moisture, light or other degrading effects. This is important as some medications are detrimentally affected by these environmental factors. For example, nitroglycerin degrades substantially when exposed to moisture or light and the pills are easily pulverized when exposed to vibration.
One attempt at resolving the access and spilling problems involved a pen-shaped dispenser, having an elongated hand-held core with a plurality of cavities adapted to contain pills or tablets. A sheath, open at both ends, surrounds the core which is slideable from a position covering all of the cavities to another position uncovering the cavities. A detent mechanism is employed between the sheath and the core for interrupting the sliding movement after each of the cavities is uncovered. For spatially orienting the tablet dispenser, and without the need to look at it, distinct physical touch indicia are fixed to the dispenser in lengthwise alignment with the tablet cavities. Although this pill dispenser resolved some of the problems associated with carrying pills on the person at all times, other persist. For instance, although the core and the sheath of the container are in close proximity to each other, there is not a water-tight seal between the core and the sheath of the container. This allows air and water to enter the dispenser and degrade the pills or tablets over time. Additionally, although the container is smaller than some of the prior art, its size is still substantial when considering its user would have to carry it with them constantly. Its length approximates that of a pen--on the order of six inches in length. In fact, the container purposely had an extension and pen clip such that the container could be carried in one's shirt pocket. Since women, and many men, usually do not place pens in any shirt pocket they might have, this would render the dispenser somewhat impractical for a person to carry with them.
To prevent the common pill dispenser problems, a better pill dispenser than is provided by the current technology is desirable. Ideally, this pill dispenser should be easy to use even when the user is in an impaired state. It should also be light-weight and small enough to take with one at all times. It should be able to dispense individual doses of medicine without the user having to touch them. Additionally, it should protect the pills from the effects of moisture, sunlight, air, and vibration. It is also necessary that the pill dispenser be made of materials that do not react with the pills thereby contaminating them.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope in which two or more kinds of adapters are individually detachably attachable to a distal end portion located at a distal end in an inserting direction of an insertion section.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, endoscopes are widely used in a medical field and an industrial field. With an endoscope used in the medical field, it is possible to, by inserting an elongated insertion section into a body cavity serving as a subject, observe an organ in the body cavity and perform various kinds of treatment using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument insert-through channel according to necessity.
With an endoscope used in the industrial field, it is possible to, by inserting an elongated insertion section into a jet engine, a pipe in a factory, or the like serving as an object, perform observation, various kinds of treatment, and the like of scratches, corrosion, and the like in the object.
A configuration is well known in which, in a distal end portion located on a distal end side in an inserting direction of an insertion section of an endoscope (hereinafter simply referred to as distal end side), an image pickup unit including an objective lens unit and an image pickup device such as a CCD is provided and an illumination unit or the like that illuminates an inside of an object is provided.
A configuration is also well known in which the objective lens unit and the illumination unit are provided in a known optical adapter (hereinafter simply referred to as adapter) detachably attachable to the distal end portion of the insertion section.
As the adapter, a direct-view adapter for observing a front in the inserting direction of the insertion section (hereinafter simply referred to as front) and a side-view adapter for observing a side different from the inserting direction are well known. The respective adapters are properly used according to observation targets and uses.
Further, a plurality of adapters having different visual field angles is present in each of the direct-view adapter and the side-view adapter. These adapters are also properly used according to observation targets and uses. Therefore, a plurality of kinds of adapters is individually detachably attachable to the distal end portion.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-313241 discloses a configuration in which, in a plurality of adapters detachably attachable to a distal end portion, identification resistors having different resistance values for each of the adapters are provided and, when an adapter is attached to the distal end portion, an identification resistor comes into contact with a terminal for resistor identification provided in the distal end portion and energizes the identification resistor, whereby a CPU electrically connected to the terminal via a lead wire in a control unit, to which an endoscope is connected, reads a resistance value and automatically detects a type of the adapter attached to the distal end portion from the resistance value.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-313241 also discloses a configuration in which, since it is difficult to reduce the adapter or the distal end portion in diameter if a light source such as a light emitting element is provided in the adapter or the distal end portion of an insertion section, the light source is provided in the control unit, a light guide that guides illumination light irradiated from the light source to a distal end face located at a distal end in an inserting direction of the distal end portion (hereinafter simply referred to as distal end) is inserted through the endoscope, the illumination light emitted from a distal end of the light guide is made incident in the adapter, and an illumination optical system that supplies the illumination light into an object is provided.
Incidentally, in general, the attachment of the adapter to the distal end portion including the configurations disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-313241 is performed by coating, with an inner circumference of a proximal end side in the inserting direction of the adapter (hereinafter simply referred to as proximal end side), an outer circumference of a mounting and detaching section located on a distal end side of the distal end portion and screwing, for example, with a male screw formed in the outer circumference of the mounting and detaching section, a female screw formed in an inner circumference of a stop ring extending from a proximal end in the inserting direction of the adapter (hereinafter simply referred to as proximal end) backward in the inserting direction (hereinafter simply referred to as backward).
In the distal end portion including the mounting and detaching section, built-in components such as the lens unit in the image pickup unit, the terminal functioning as a member for adapter identification explained above, the lead wire extending from the terminal, the light guide explained above, and various channels are provided.


In rolling bearings, the sliding tracks of the rolling elements must be hardened. In bearings with a double row of rolling elements, in particular with a double row of balls used in vehicle hub bearing units, induction hardening of the rolling tracks of the outer ring of the bearing is a particularly delicate operation. In fact, the presence of sharp edges between the two adjacent tracks implies risk of over-heating and cracking; on the other hand, if the heating power is decreased to avoid these risks, there is the risk of not achieving a hardening profile that is suitable in depth, extension or surface hardness of the hardened area.
Moreover, the induction heating devices, or more simply, inductors currently used, are bulky, difficult to construct and/or maintain and sometimes with a not entirely satisfactory reliability.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an injection apparatus; particularly an injection apparatus maintaining the nozzle and the injection gate at respective desired temperatures.
2. Background of the Invention
It has long been known that the temperature of a melt material is important to successful injection. This is particularly true when the melt material has a high melt temperature. For example, polyethylene terephthalate ("PET") is typically injected above 500.degree. F. A drop in the temperature of the melt material prior to reaching the injection cavity would lower the melt material temperature below that required for proper melt material flow causing less than ideal flow characteristics. These flow characteristics can cause deformed or defectively molded parts; particularly when injecting multilayer parts comprising very thin layers. Therefore, it is desirable to maintain the nozzle temperature at or above the temperature required to assure proper melt material flow as the melt material leaves the nozzle.
It is also known to maintain an injection cavity at a temperature relatively low compared to the temperature of the melt material to facilitate quick cooling of the melt material upon reaching the cavity. The colder the cavity temperature at the time the melt material is injected, the faster the melt material will solidify and allow removal of the solidified part from the cavity. Therefore, a relatively lower cavity temperature will decrease the overall cycle time for injection molding a part. Moreover, it is known that if the injection gate temperature exceeds the desired temperature of the melt material, `stringing` of the melt material will occur in the nozzle and gate area as the injected part is removed from the cavity after injection is complete. These `strings` either break off with the injected part and interfere with further processing of the part (e.g. blowmolding) or stay in the gate or cavity and cause a physical or aesthetic defect in subsequently injected parts.
For these reasons, it has been found desirable to prevent excessive heat transfer from the injection nozzle to the injection cavity. The melt material can thus be maintained at its appropriate temperature in both the nozzle and the cavity. Prior injection apparatuses were often designed to space a nozzle tip from an associated injection cavity during injection to leave a gap therebetween. It was thought that this gap would act as a thermal break between the nozzle and the cavity and allow the nozzle to operate at high temperatures while maintaining a relatively cool cavity. Unfortunately, the thermal break of this configuration could not be maintained at efficient cycle times. During the injection process, melt material would deviate from the injection path and flow into the gap between the nozzle and the cavity. The thermal break thus became a thermal bridge.
Other attempts to insulate an injection nozzle from a cavity have involved the use of nozzle inserts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,588 issued to Gellert and entitled "Hot Tip Seal" disclosed a seal (12) located between the nozzle and the injection gate to limit heat transfer therebetween. The seal (12) of Gellert resided substantially within the nozzle and extended outward therefrom to contact the cavity. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,179 issued to Gellert and entitled "Injection Molding Core Ring Gate System" disclosed a nozzle seal (76). The seal (76) of Gellert also resided substantially within the nozzle and extended outward therefrom to contact the cavity.
It has been found that movement of the various parts within an injection apparatus will result from thermal expansion as portions of the apparatus are heated from ambient temperature to the temperature necessary to inject a melt material. Different injection apparatuses accommodate this thermal expansion in different ways. It has been found that the thermal expansion of some injection apparatuses results in movement of the nozzle both along the longitudinal axis thereof and perpendicular to that longitudinal axis. In other words, it has been found that the nozzles of some apparatuses will elongate and shift laterally as the apparatus is heated. Seals that attached to the nozzle, such as those of the Gellert patents discussed above, break or deform due to this lateral nozzle movement. Such seals are therefore inapplicable to apparatuses experiencing this lateral nozzle movement.
It has also been found that many seals cannot withstand the high temperatures and pressures associated with injection; especially when the high temperatures are maintained for long periods of time. Many prior inserts degraded after prolonged exposure to high temperatures resulting in rupture or deformation of the inserts which allowed melt material to leak into the area between the nozzle and the cavity causing in a thermal bridge.
It has also been known to supply a cooling means to a cavity to remove the heat transferred from the nozzle or melt material to the cavity. Cooling ducts circulating coolants such as glycol were typically employed. However, the distance between the part void and the injection gate has heretofore limited the proximity of the cooling ducts to the injection gate.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fire extinguisher, and more particularly, to a fire extinguisher which is simple in structure and easy to operate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fire extinguisher having a cylinder filled with fire-extinguishing gas is constructed such that when a seal plate of the cylinder is manually or automatically broken at the outbreak of a fire, the fire-extinguishing gas is ejected from the cylinder to put out the fire. Many of conventional fire extinguishers contain component parts that are used in common in manual fire extinguishers and automatic fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers of this type are, however, disadvantageous in that they are complicated in structure, require a large number of parts, and are costly. Further, some fire extinguishers require complicated handling or involve a difficulty in accurately aiming at the origin of a fire, which hinders fire-fighting work or lessens the fire-extinguishing capability.
Also known is a fire extinguisher having a replaceable cylinder. In this type of fire extinguisher, the component parts thereof must be reset in their initial state when the cylinder is replaced; this often makes it difficult to smoothly load a new cylinder. If the cylinder cannot be smoothly replaced, then it is difficult to perform fire-fighting work using a plurality of cylinders successively replaced.


Not applicable
The present invention is directed to an OFDM/DMT digital communications system. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for synchronizing the clocks used in a transmitter and receiver of an OFDM/DMT digital communications system. The present invention is particularly applicable in multipoint OFDM/DMT digital communications systems.
Multi-point communications systems having a primary site that is coupled for communication with a plurality of secondary sites are known. One such communications system type is a cable telephony system. Cable telephony systems transmit and receive telephone call communications over the same cable transmission media as used to receive cable television signals and other cable services.
One cable telephony system currently deployed and in commercial use is the Cablespan 2300 system available from Tellabs, Inc. The Cablespan 2300 system uses a head end unit that includes a primary transmitter and primary receiver disposed at a primary site. The head end unit transmits and receives telephony data to and from a plurality of remote service units that are located at respective secondary sites. This communication scheme uses TDM QPSK modulation for the data communications and can accommodate approximately thirty phone calls within the 1.9 MHz bandwidth typically allocated for such communications.
As the number of cable telephony subscribers increases over time, the increased use will strain the limited bandwidth allocated to the cable telephony system. Generally stated, there are two potential solutions to this bandwidth allocation problem that may be used separately or in conjunction with one another. First, the bandwidth allocated to cable telephony communications may be increased. Second, the available bandwidth may be used more efficiently. It is often impractical to increase the bandwidth allocated to the cable telephony system given the competition between services for the total bandwidth available to the cable service provider. Therefore, it is preferable to use the allocated bandwidth in a more efficient manner. One way in which the assigned bandwidth may be used more efficiently is to use a modulation scheme that is capable of transmitting more information within a given bandwidth than the TDM QPSK modulation scheme presently employed.
The present inventors have recognized that OFDM/DMT modulation schemes may provide such an increase in transmitted information for a given bandwidth. Such systems, however, present a number of technical problems. One such problem is the determination of how one or more remote receivers are to synchronize their internal clocks and timing systems with the internal clock and timing system of a primary transmitter at a central site. A remote receiver must first synchronize its internal clock and timing system with the clock used by the primary transmitter to synthesize the transmitted signal before the remote receiver can properly demodulate the data that it receives. A further problem occurs in multipoint communication systems in which there are plural groups of remote transmitters that transmit data to a central transceiver. Each group of transmitters often has its transmissions frequency multiplexed with transmissions from other groups before being demultiplexed for receipt by the central transceiver. The resulting multiplexing/demultiplexing operations introduce frequency offsets for which compensation must be made if the receiver of the central transceiver is to properly extract the correct data from the signals that is receives. The present inventors have recognized the need for such upstream and downstream clock synchronization and have disclosed solutions to these problems.
In a communications system comprising a transmission medium, symbols are generated in a predetermined number of bins using at least a first timing signal. A reference signal also is generated by using said first timing signal. The symbols and said reference signal are transmitted across a transmission medium carried by a carrier signal. The generating the transmitting are preferably achieved with a transmitter. At a first point along the transmission medium, the carrier signal with a second signal are frequency multiplexed, preferably by a frequency multiplexer. The carrier signal and the second signal are transmitted to a second point on the transmission medium displaced from the first point. The carrier signal is frequency demultiplexed after the carrier signal and second signal have reached the second point, preferably by a demultiplexer. The demultiplexed carrier signal is frequency demodulated in response to the reference signal, preferably by a first demodulator. The symbols and the reference signal are demodulated in response to the frequency demodulated carrier signal, preferably by a second demodulator.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to integrated circuit semiconductor memory devices and associated methods. In particular, the present invention relates to a column select line (CSL) control for which the same signal controls the enable timing and the disable timing signals for synchronous random access memory devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Speed improvements in semiconductor memory devices, such as Dynamic RAMs and Static RAMs, have historically come from process and photolithography advances. More recent memory speed improvements, however, have resulted mainly from making changes to the base architecture. An example of fast RAM architecture is the synchronous architecture. One key advancement of the synchronous memories is their ability to synchronously burst data at a high-speed data rate. Additionally, in a system with a synchronous RAM, since data, addresses and control signals are latched into the memory in synchronism with the system's clock signal, the system's processor is able to perform other tasks freely until data is available after a known number of clock cycles. This architecture provides substantial advantages in memory operating performance.
In a typical semiconductor memory device, in order to write/read data into/from a specific memory cell in a memory device, the specific memory cell should be designated by a row address and a column address. When the specific memory cell is designated in a read/write operation, a charge distribution operation is performed with respect to data read out from the designated memory cell to a bit line, and the readout data is amplified by a sense amplifier. The amplified data is transmitted to an input/output line through an I/O gate circuit, and then is output from the memory chip via associated output circuits. The read operation of one-bit data stored in the specific memory cell is completed by the above-described process. The column decoder turns on the selected I/O gate by receiving and decoding the column address.
To simplify the complexity of the decoding operation in highly integrated memories, a column pre-decoder is typically provided to pre-decode the column address prior to the main decoding operation therefor. This column decoding scheme has been adopted in most high density memory devices.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional exemplary synchronous memory device. Referring to FIG. 1, an array 100 of memory cells is provided to store data. Word lines WL0-WLm and bit lines BL0-BLn coupled with the cells run along the rows and columns of the memory cell array 100, respectively. In the vicinity of the cell array 100, a row decoder 120 is provided for selectively driving the word lines WL0-WLm, and an input/output (I/O) gate circuit 140 for supporting the selective transmission of data from the bit lines BL0-BLn to a data I/O buffer 280, and vice versa. The I/O gate circuit 140 is controlled by column select lines CSL0-CSLn. Externally applied address signals A0-Ax including both column and row address signals are fed to an address buffer 160. The column address signals CA0-CAi among the address inputs are applied to a column pre-decoder 180.
A clock buffer 230 is suppled with an external clock signal XCLK and provides an internal PCLK synchronized with the external clock signal XCLK. A CSL enable control circuit 240 generates a CSL enable control clock signal PCSLE by the logical combination of the internal clock signal PCLK and a column address setting signal PYE from a timing control logic (not seen). The column pre-decoder 180 pre-decodes the column address signals CA0-CAi and generates pre-decoded address signals DCA0-DCAj.
The column pre-decoder 180 outputs the DCA0-DCAj signals under the control of the PCSLE signal from the CSL enable control circuit 240. Main decoding operation of the column address signals are then carried out by a column main-decoder 200. This decoder 200 generates decoded signals DCAB0-DCABk by decoding the DCA0-DCAj. The DCAB0-DCABk signals are provided to a column driver 220 which drives the column select lines CSL0-CSLn selectively in response to the DCAB0-DCABk signals. A CSL disable control circuit 260 generates a CSL disable control clock signal PCSLD by the logical combination of the internal clock signal PCLK and a normally logic-high signal PVCCH. The column driver 220 is disabled by the PCSLD signal from the CSL disable control circuit 260, and hence stops driving the column select lines CSL0-CSLn.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the constructions of the CSL enable and disable control circuits 240 and 260, respectively, in detail. Referring first to FIG. 2A, the CSL enable control circuit 240 includes a delay circuit formed by inverters IV1-IV4 ("first" delay circuit), a NAND gate G1, and an inverter IV5. The internal clock signal PCLK is provided to the delay circuit. The NAND gate G1 has one input applied with the delayed signal of the clock signal PCLK and the other input applied with the column address setting signal PYE. The output signal of the NAND gate G1 is output through the inverter IV5 as the CSL enable control clock signal PCSLE.
Referring to FIG. 2B, the CSL disable control circuit 260 includes a delay circuit formed by inverters IV6-IV8 ("second" delay circuit) and a NAND gate G2. The second delay circuit is also fed with the clock signal PCLK. This delay circuit has a smaller delay time than the first delay circuit. The output of the second delay circuit is supplied to one input of the NAND gate G2. The normally logic-high signals PVCCH is provide to the other input of the NAND gate G2. This gate G2 outputs the CSL disable control clock signal PCSLD.
FIG. 3 shows the detailed configuration of a unit circuit of the column pre-decoder 180. As shown in FIG. 3, the unit pre-decoder circuit 180' includes inverters IV31-IV49 and NAND gates G34-G49. The unit column pre-decoder circuit 180' is provided with three column address signals CA0-CA2 from the address buffer 160, and generates eight pre-decoded column address signals DCA0-DCA7. The CSL enable control clock signal PCSLE is commonly applied to the first inputs of the NAND gates G42-G49. The second inputs of the NAND gates G42-G49 are provided with the substantial pre-decoded column address signals, i.e., the output signals of the inverters IV34-IV41, respectively. When the PCSLE signal becomes high, the output signals of the inverter IV34-IV41 can be propagated to the inverters IV42-IV49 via the NAND gates G42-G49, respectively, and they are output as the pre-decoded column address signals DCA0-DCA7. The PCSLE signal should go high only after the completion of the pre-decoding operation with the inverters IV31-IV41 and the NAND gates G34-G41 in order to prevent pre-decoding errors.
FIG. 4 illustrates the detailed construction of unit circuits of the column main-decoder 200 and column driver 220, respectively. Referring to FIG. 4, the unit column main-decoder circuit 200' includes NAND gates G50-G57, and inverters IV50-IV57 corresponding to the NAND gates G50-G57, respectively. Each of the NAND gates G50-G57 has one input provided with a corresponding pre-decoded column address signal DCAy (where, y=0, 1, . . . , or 7) and the other input with a gate control signal GCS from a timing control logic (not shown). Each output signal of the NAND gates G50-G57 is provided as a finally decoded signal DCABy (where, y=0, 1, . . . , or 7) through the corresponding inverter IV50, IV51, . . . , or IV57.
The unit column driver circuit 220' includes inverters IV60-IV67, cascode inverters (sometimes called "dual gate inverters") 40-47, and inverting latches 60-67. Each of the cascode inverters 40-47 consists of two PMOS transistors (e.g., MP40a and MP40b) and one NMOS transistor (e.g., MN40), and each inverting latch (e.g., 60) is formed of two cross-coupled inverters (IV60a and IV60b). For each cascode inverter (e.g., 40), three transistors (MP40a, MP40b and MN40) have their source-drain paths coupled in series between a boosted supply voltage terminal VEXT and a ground voltage terminal GND. Each decoded column address signal (e.g., DCAB0) is applied to the gates of the corresponding pull-up and pull-down transistors (MP40a and MN40). The PCSLD signal from the CSL disable control circuit 260 is commonly fed to the gates of the switching transistors MP40b-MP47b of the respective cascode inverters 40-47 via the inverters IV60-IV67. Each inverting latch (e.g., 60) is coupled to the drain junction of the corresponding switching and pull-down transistors (MP60a and MN60).
The pre-decoding operation begins with the CSL disable control clock signal PCSLD of a high level. A pre-decoded column address signal of a high level (e.g., DCA0) can be transferred to the gate of the PMOS transistor MP40a as a decoded column address signal DCABO only when the gate control signal GCS remains at a high level. Namely, the GCS signal determines whether to propagate the DCA0-DCA7 signals through the unit column main-decoder circuit 200' or not. The decoded signal DCAB0 goes high when both DCA0 and GCS signals are high, so PMOS pull-up transistor MP40a turns off and NMOS pull-down transistor MN40 on. The high-level DCAB signal is latched by the inverting latch 60, so that a corresponding column select line CSL0 is driven high. After the PCSLD signal has gone low, the GCS signal also goes low. Accordingly, the pull-up transistor MP40a turns on and the pull-down transistor MN40 off, but the column select line CSL0 still remains high owing to the inverting latch 60. In this situation, when the PCSLD signal goes high again, the switching transistor MP40b turns on, so the CSL0 line is driven low.
As described above, the column select lines CSL0-CSLn are selectively activated by the column pre-decoder 180, but deactivated by separately controlling the column driver 220.
FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating read/write operations of the conventional synchronous memory device of FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 5, after a column address strobe signal CAS is activated low, in clock cycle T0, the CSL disable control clock signal PCSLD goes high in synchronism with the external clock signal XCLK (or the internal clock signal PCLK). After a predetermined time (i.e., Tm1) has elapsed, during which the first column address signals CA#0 (i.e., CA0-CAi) have reached the column pre-decoder 180, the CSL enable control clock signal PCSLE goes high in response to the activation of the column address setting signal PYE (see FIG. 2A). Of course, the PCSLE signal is also synchronized with the clock signal XCLK (or PCLK). A unit column pre-decoder circuit 180' pre-decodes the column address signals CA#0 (CA0-CA2) and generates the pre-decoded column address signals DCA#0 (DCA0-DCA7) of which only one is active and the others inactive. Here, assuming DCA0 signal is activated high, then a corresponding column select line CSL0 will be driven high by a unit column driver circuit 220'.
In the next clock cycle T1, the PCSLD signal becomes high before the low-to-high transition of the PCSLE signal, so that the line CSL0 is deactivated. Next, after the second column address signals CA#1 (CA0-CA2) had reached the unit column pre-decoder circuit 180' and the time Tm1 has elapsed, when the CSL enable control clock signal PCSLE goes high again in response to the activation of the column address setting signal PYE. The unit column pre-decoder circuit 180' generates the second decoded column address signals DCA#1 (DCA0-DCA7). Here, assuming DCA1 signal is activated high, then a corresponding line CSL1 will be driven high by a unit column driver circuit 220'.
The other column select lines (such as CSL2 and CSL3) also will become activated and deactivated during next clock cycles (T2 and T3) in response to the other column address signals (such as CA#2 and CA#3) in the same manner as the above-mentioned.
In the above conventional memory device, the CSL enable control clock PCSLE should not go active until valid column address signals arrive at the pre-decoder 180 during each clock cycle Tc (where, c=0, 1, 2, . . . ). However, in the event the PCSLE signal goes high during a clock cycle (e.g., T1) before the valid column address signals CA#1 arrive at the column pre-decoder 180, owing to an insufficient delay time of Tm1, then the invalid column address signal CA#0 for the previous clock cycle T0 may be pre-decoded again by the corresponding column pre-decoder circuit 180' (refer to FIG. 3). Hence, the invalid decoded signal DCAB0 will be latched by the corresponding inverting latch 60 via the cascode inverter 40 (refer to FIG. 4). This leads to the activation of the column select line CSL0. Thereafter, when the valid decoded signal DCAB1 is activated by decoding the valid column address signals CA#1 and latched by a corresponding inverting latch 41 in cycle T1, the column select line CSL1 corresponding to the valid column address signals CA#1 also becomes active along with the invalid CSL0 line, causing an erroneous read/write operation. For the above reason, it is essential to ensure sufficient delay time Tm1 in the conventional memory device. This limits the memory access speed improvements.
In addition, according to the conventional memory device structure, a significant area penalty may result from the large reiterative layout area of the unit column driver circuit 220'.
Furthermore, since the pull-up and switching transistors MP40a-MP47a and MP40b-MP47b within the respective cascode inverters 40-47 provide current leakage paths together with the inverters IV60b-IV67b of the inverting latches 60-67 during power-up, the conventional device has large power-up current dissipation.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to producing maleic anhydride and more particularly to shaped catalyst structures containing catalytic material comprised of mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus which are useful for the production of maleic anhydride.
2. Background of the Invention
Various shapes for tablets of vanadium and phosphorus catalysts used in the production of maleic anhydride from butane have been described in the literature. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,283,307 and 5,168,090 describe catalyst tablets of various shapes that are used for the production of maleic anhydride.
One disadvantage of current tablet shapes is that they have relatively low side crush strengths. Side crush strength measures the weight or force needed to break a tablet. The side crush strength is important in catalyst manufacture since it directly impacts the durability of the catalyst during handling, shipment, and installation into a commercial reactor. With all other factors being equal, a catalyst tablet with a higher side crush strength is preferred to one with a lower crush strength.
Another disadvantage of current tablet shapes is that they have relatively high percent attrition. The percent attrition is a measurement (as detailed later) of the amount of catalyst lost to disintegration after subjected to a certain amount of wear and tear. The percent attrition is important in catalyst manufacture since it also directly impacts the durability of the catalyst during handling, shipment, and installation into a commercial reactor. With all other factors being equal, a catalyst tablet with a lower percent attrition is preferred to one with a higher percent attrition.
Catalyst tablets with lower crush strength and higher attrition tend to produce more broken catalyst tablets and more catalyst fines during handling, shipment, and installation into a commercial reactor. These broken catalyst pellets and catalyst fines create increased pressure drop in the commercial reactor tubes during normal operation and are thus undesirable.


The present invention relates generally to a feedforward amplifier for use mainly in the high-frequency band and, more particularly, to a feedforward amplifier of increased power efficiency.
FIG. 1 illustrates in block form a basic configuration of a feedforward amplifier. The feedforward amplifier comprises a distortion detector 13 made up of an amplifying transfer path 11 of a main amplifier (hereinafter referred to as a main amplifier path) and a first linear signal transfer path (hereinafter referred to as a first linear path) 12 and a distortion canceller or suppressor 16 made up of a second linear signal transfer path (hereinafter referred to as a second linear path) 14 and a distortion injection path 15. The main amplifier path 11 is formed by a series connection of a variable attenuator 21, a variable phase shifter 22 and a main amplifier 23. The first linear path 12 is formed by a series connection of a delay line 24 and a phase inverter 25. The second linear path 12 is formed by a delay line 26. The distortion injection path 15 is formed by a series connection of a variable attenuator 27, a variable phase shifter 28 and a auxiliary amplifier 29. The input into the feedforward amplifier is divided by a power divider 31 to the main amplifier path 11 containing the main amplifier 23 and the first linear path 12. A power combiner/divider 32 generates the sum of and the difference between signals from the main amplifier path 11 and the first linear path 12, and provides them to the second linear path 14 and the distortion injection path 15, respectively. The output from the feedforward amplifier is produced by a power combiner 33 which combines outputs from the second linear path 14 and the distortion injection path 15.
Accordingly, the feedforward amplifier detects a distortion component (a difference component) generated by the main amplifier 23 in the distortion detector 15 and, in the distortion canceller 16, regulates the phase and amplitude of the distortion component and injects it into the output signal from the main amplifier 23 provided via the second linear path 14, thereby canceling nonlinear distortion generated by the main amplifier 23. In general, the amount of nonlinear distortion cancelled by the feedforward amplifier depends on the regulation of the variable attenuator 21 and the variable phase shifter 22 of the distortion detector 13 and the variable attenuator 27, the variable phase shifter 28 and the auxiliary amplifier 29 of the distortion canceller 16. The accuracy of such regulation is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. 1-198809 entitled "Automatic Regulation Circuit for Feedforward Amplifier." For example, phase and amplitude deviations for achieving a distortion compression of 30 dB or more are .+-.2.degree. and .+-.0.3 dB, respectively. It can be said, therefore, that strict conditions are imposed on the balance and completeness of regulation of the transmission characteristics of the distortion detector 13 and the distortion canceller 16.
The feedforward amplifier compensates for the nonlinear distortion generated by the main amplifier 23. Accordingly, because of its circuit configuration the feedforward amplifier cannot theoretically compensate for nonlinear distortion by the auxiliary amplifier 29. Furthermore, because of the stringent condition on the balance of each of the above-mentioned two paths, linearity of input vs. output power performance is required of the auxiliary amplifier 29 of the conventional feedforward amplifier. To increase the linearity of the amplification circuit using a semiconductor amplifying device, it is customary in the prior art to use a Class A bias for the condition of operation to thereby make the saturation output voltage sufficiently larger than the peak voltage of the signal to be amplified.
In recent years there has been a growing demand for small, light and inexpensive radio equipment of lower-power consumption. The same is true of radio equipment using the feedforward amplifier. To reduce the power consumption of the feedforward amplifier, it is essential to increase the power efficiency of both of the main and auxiliary amplifiers. With the increased power efficiency of the both amplifiers, it is possible to reduce their cooling bodies and so on and hence achieve downsizing of radio equipment.
The power efficiency of the main amplifier can be enhanced as by a push-pull circuit which operates under Class B bias condition. The conventional feedforward amplifier is capable of compensating for the nonlinear distortion that occurs in the main amplifier. On the other hand, to increase the power efficiency of the auxiliary amplifier 29 inserted in the distortion injection path 15 of the feedforward amplifier, it is necessary, in general, that the semiconductor amplifying device forming the auxiliary amplifier be caused to operate under a Class B or C bias condition. The nonlinear distortion that results from such bias condition cannot theoretically be compensated for by the feedforward amplifier as referred to above. For these reasons, enhancement of the power efficiency of the auxiliary amplifier 29 gives rise to the problem of impairing the distortion compensating ability of the feedforward amplifier.
The power-supply efficiency of the feedforward amplifier can be expressed by the ratio between the output power of the feedforward amplifier and the power supplied thereto. For example, according to Toshio Nojima and Shouichi Narahashi, "Ultra-Low, Multi-Frequency Common Amplifier for Mobile Communications, --Self-Adjusting Feedforward Amplifier (SAFF-A)" Technical Report of Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers of Japan, RCS90-4, 1989, in the case where the saturation output power of the main amplifier is 100 W, the saturation output power of the auxiliary amplifier is 1/8 that of the main amplifier, GaAs-MESFETs are used as semiconductor amplifying devices for the main amplifier and the auxiliary amplifier, the drain voltage and current of the MESFET of the main amplifier are 12 V and 20 A, the drain voltage and current of the MESFET of the auxiliary amplifier are 12 V and 5 A and the both amplifiers are operated in a 1.5 GHz band under the Class A bias condition, the power supply to the feedforward amplifier is 300 W. If mean output power back off is set at 8 dB and the loss of the main amplifier output signal in the distortion canceller is ignored, then the feedforward amplifier output is approximately 15 W. Accordingly, the power-supply efficiency of the feedforward amplifier is in the range of between 15/300 and about 5%. Even in the case where a highly efficient amplification circuit such as a Class B push pull amplifier is used as the main amplifier and a Class A amplifier as the auxiliary amplifier, the power-supply efficiency is around 10% or less at the highest.
To achieve high power efficiency of a high-output power amplifier, there is described in W. H. Doherty, "A new high efficiency power amplifier for modulated waves," Pro. IRE, Vol. 24, No. 9, pp.1163-1182, September 1936 a method which employs a plurality of amplifiers of different saturated output voltages. This method is generally known under the name of Doherty method, which has been implemented, for example, in a medium-wave transmitting power amplifier for broadcasting stations. In the Doherty method, a saturation amplifier and a linear amplifier are connected in parallel. The saturation amplifier amplifies signals of mean power or thereabout and the linear amplifier amplifies signals of peak power. The Doherty method achieves high power efficiency amplification by means of the saturation amplifier, but because of the circuit configuration used, signals that ought to be input into the linear amplifier are also applied to the saturation amplifier--this raises the problem of nonlinear distortion. Moreover, the circuit configuration by this method is incapable of compensating for the nonlinear distortion caused by the saturation amplifier.
One method that has been proposed to further increase the powersupply efficiency of the feedforward amplifier is to set the output backoff (a difference between the saturated output power and the output power at the operating point) of the main amplifier at a small value. As is well-known in the art, however, the nonlinear distortion that can be compensated for by the feedforward amplifier is limited only to incompleteness of the linear region of the input/output power characteristic of the main amplifier. That is, in general, the feedforward amplifier cannot compensate for nonlinear distortion as by clipping in the saturation region of the input characteristic.


The invention relates to an apparatus for transmitting a movement between two components, which, as a function of a first, translational movement of a first coupling element to which a first component is coupled, produces a translational movement of a second coupling element to which a second component is coupled.
Such an apparatus is known from DE 195 24 636 C1, for example as an angled drive for a high-voltage power breaker. This document describes the capability to drive three switch poles of a three-pole high-voltage power breaker by means of a common drive via a drive linkage, with each switch pole being connected to the drive by means of a crank which, firstly, changes the direction of the drive movement, and secondly produces a step-up ratio.
In this document, the different initial positions of the individual cranks result in a time offset in the operation of the individual switch poles.
Each individual angled crank comprises a two-armed lever whose lever arms are at right angles to one another, with the ends of the lever arms forming coupling elements to which, firstly, a vertical switching rod and, secondly, the horizontal drive rod can be coupled as components. Any translational movement of the free end of the first lever arm, which is connected to the drive rod, results in a translational movement of the free end of the second lever arm, which is connected to the switching rod.
The described design results in the switch poles switching in a staggered manner one after the other in time.
The present invention is based on the object of providing an apparatus of the type mentioned initially, which allows a variable step-up ratio using simple means.
According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the first and the second coupling element are connected to one another, such that they can move, by means of a first rigid element, and in that the first coupling element is connected in a hinged manner to a first lever which is mounted at a first, fixed-position bearing point such that it can pivot, and in that the second coupling element is connected in a hinged manner to a second lever which is mounted at a second fixed-position bearing point such that it can pivot, and in that the first and the second bearing point are spaced apart from one another, and are located on opposite sides of the movement path of the first rigid element.
When a movement is being transmitted, the apparatus according to the invention results in the first and the second component, which are coupled to one another by the apparatus, each being moved at essentially the same speed in a first phase of the movement, in the movement travel of the second component lagging behind that of the first component in a second phase, and in the second component being accelerated in a third phase. When a movement is being transmitted in the opposite movement sense, the second component is first of all accelerated with respect to the first component and, after this, the second component is retarded in a corresponding manner.
Advantageous refinements of the inventions can be found in the dependent claims 2 to 7.
The fixed-position bearing points are advantageously each located in the plane of the movement paths of the rigid elements and of the coupling elements.
The coupling elements are each arranged in the end regions of the rigid elements and may be in the form of connecting bolts or of some other mechanical component, to which the various other parts such as the lever and rigid elements can be coupled. The coupling elements may also be in the form of a linkage.
The invention also relates to a high-voltage power breaker having a number of switch poles, at least two of which can be driven by a common drive, with at least one of the common driveable switch poles being connected to the drive by means of an apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5.
A high-voltage power breaker has an interrupter unit in each switch pole, in which interrupter unit two switching contacts are brought into conductive contact with one another, or are disconnected from one another. For this purpose, at least one switching contact can be driven by means of the drive.
Such a high-voltage power breaker can easily be adjusted, for use in a polyphase high-voltage system having an apparatus according to the invention, in such a manner that the individual switch poles have a specific time offset, during switching on, with regard to the making of the first conductive contact between the switching contacts, for example with a lead or lag of 3 milliseconds between one another in each case. In this way, the various switch poles can be operated at a respectively advantageous time, with regard to the respective phase of the polyphase alternating current to be switched on.
It is also possible to use a common drive to operate two of the switch poles simultaneously for capacitive switching, while the third switch pole is operated with a time offset of 5 milliseconds after them. The third switch pole is then connected to the common drive by means of an apparatus according to the invention. For such offset switching operations, the individual switch poles are relieved as well as possible of the load involved in controlled operation in synchronism with a mains system.


A typical carrying strap, for example, a carrying strap for a rifle, golf bag, is constructed with a strap of leather or canvas as the primary load-bearing member and a wider and thicker layer of foam or other suitable padding placed between the strap and the wearer's shoulder. A typical carrying strap sometimes tends to slip or roll from the shoulder. Anti-slip carrying straps are available on the market. The anti-slip carrying straps available on the market tend to prevent slip in one direction, e.g., lateral, but not in other directions, e.g., longitudinal. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for a pad that prevents the carrying strap from slipping off the shoulder.


Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a data collection technology that enables the storing and remote retrieval of data utilizing devices referred to as RFID tags, or transponders. An RFID transponder may comprise a silicon integrated circuit, or chip, and an antenna that enables the RFID transponder to receive and respond to radio frequency (RF) queries from an RFID transceiver, or reader. The RFID transponder may comprise memory, for example a random access memory (RAM) or an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), which enables storage of data. The data may comprise an electronic product code (EPC) that may be utilized to locate an item to which the RFID transponder is attached. For example, libraries may attach RFID transponders to books to enable the tracking of books that are checked out to library patrons. RFID transponders may be integrated into “smart cards” and/or into other electronic devices such as mobile phones. The RFID transponders may enable storage of account information that enables the holder of the smart card to purchase goods and services. The transponder may, for example, store a current balance that indicates a monetary value of goods and services that may be purchased with the transponder. The transponder holder may purchase goods and services by holding the transponder in the proximity of an RFID reader that retrieves account information from the smart card.
Designers of RFID transponders are challenged with the tasks of increasing the range at which the transponder can communicate with the reader and improving the energy efficiency due to the limited power available to the transponder, all while keeping the transponder extremely small and inexpensive.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for pushing stacks or packs, particularly packs of tubular film sections, from a support, preferably from a pallet, on which said stacks or packs have been deposited in a plurality of layers, comprising a pusher, which is movably mounted in a frame and moved by a drive.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the manufacture of sacks, a tube-making apparatus is operated to eject tubular film sections at a rate which is much higher than the rate at which said tubular films can be processed by the succeeding end-forming machine. Even if a tube-making machine is succeeded by a plurality of end-forming machines it may be necessary to effect an intermediate storage of the tubular film sections which have been ejected by the tube-making machine and have been stacked to form packs. Such intermediate storage is usually effected by means of a storage belt conveyor. As such belt conveyors also have only a limited capacity it may be necessary to deposit packs of tubular film sections on pallets.
The packs of tubular film sections which have been deposited in a plurality of layers on pallets must be returned to the production process and the tubular film sections must be singled and then supplied to the end-forming machine.
Singling may be effected, e.g., by so-called rotary feeders, which comprise stack magazines to which the packs of tubular film sections are supplied. Such rotary feeder which serves to single the tubular film sections and comprises a conveyor for supplying the packs of tubular film sections and for introducing them into the stack magazine of the rotary feeder is known from Published German Application No. 30 46 280. The apparatus known from Published German Application No. 30 46 280 is also provided with a pusher, by which the packs of tubular film sections supplied by a storage belt conveyor are pushed onto the receiving end of the conveyor which forwards them to the stack magazine.
In apparatus of the kind disclosed in German Patent Specification No. 31 05 154 an intermediate storage of packs of tubular film sections is effected on carrying grates, which are vertically spaced apart to form a plurality of tiers, and said packs are pushed from such grates by means of a pusher onto a conveyor in case of need; the latter conveyor serves to return the packs of tubular film sections into the production process.
The known apparatus can only be used to push packs of tubular film sections from a conveyor or a storage location onto another storage location or a conveyor. But when storage space is no longer available for an intermediate storage of juxtaposed packs of tubular films, then it will be necessary to stack the packs of tubular film sections in a plurality of vertically spaced apart planes, for instance, on pallets. Thus far, the removal of packs of tubular film sections stacked, e.g., on pallets and the deposition of said packs on a conveyor for returning said packs to the production process had to be effected by hand.


1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of making measurements on and between existing objects located underwater. More particularly, the invention relates to controlling the drift of an inertial navigation system using a range and bearing image capture system such as a laser camera or similar sensors, to make measurements without the system being in contact with an underwater object or the seabed. The spatial relationship between the inertial navigation system and the underwater object is achieved by range and bearing measurements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Any motion of an object in space is composed at the microscopic level of two basic motions: micro-rotations and micro-linear motions. An inertial navigation system (hereinafter “INS”) measures these motions using gyroscopes (to sense angular motions) and accelerometers (to sense linear motions). The INS may measure rotations using the gyroscope and linear motions using the accelerometers at the high-speed microscopic level (typically 500 times per second). Even given this high sample rate, the INS is subject to error. Because of the imperfection of the accelerometers and gyroscopes, TNS navigation—when not controlled—is subject to a continuous drift that reaches about 0.8 miles per hour in a more accurate INS and several miles per hour in one that is less accurate.
This drift is especially problematic when the INS is used in underwater metrology i.e., the science of measuring accurately the position and orientation of objects and physical structures underwater (often on the seabed). The most common metrology consists in measuring the distance between the two flanges of a pipeline system that will receive the ends of a jumper or spool i.e. the hard, prefabricated connecting pipes that join a pipeline system (typically ending at a manifold) and a wellhead. The accurate measurement of distance between receptacles of the pipeline and the wellhead, to which each end of the jumper is to be attached, is crucial to ensure accurate manufacturing of the jumper. To that end, the exact distance between the pipeline receptacle and the wellhead receptacle, the difference in depth between them and the exact 3D orientation (heading, pitch and roll) of each receptacle must be accurately measured.
To correct for drift in underwater metrology, the INS navigation is sometimes corrected using an “aiding by zero velocity update”, or zupt method. The zupt is a period without motion where the INS is parked on some structure on the seabed: usually either one of the 2 receptacles that need to be measured. When the INS is parked for at least 15 seconds, the INS recalibrates and corrects any navigation drift from the knowledge that when there is no motion the readings of the accelerometers and gyroscopes must be caused by noise (pure erroneous measurements). The draw back of such a method is that it requires that the INS carried by a robot (such as a Remotely Operated Vehicle or “ROV”) or other vehicles or a diver, touches the flange or receptacle (actually: the INS rests on the receptacle for at least 15 seconds), potentially causing damage. Even worse, in order to measure accurately the position and orientation of those flanges, a mating system (stabbing guide) is often specially made and installed on or near the two flanges to perform these traditional metrologies which is cumbersome.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present method and device, control the drift of an INS used in underwater inertial metrology without touching any seabed structure, and therefore without the requirement for stabbing guides. Thereby the invention allows for “touchless” metrology.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a garden protector and more particularly pertains to a device which may be used to scare off animals from an area under protection without damage to such animal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of automatically activated water sprinklers is known in the prior art. More specifically, such devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of automatically turning the sprinkler on are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. Such devices are utilized primarily for watering a lawn or garden at preset times although U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,606 differs in that it turns a sprinkler system on when the humidity in the soil reaches a predetermined low point. Other devices operating off timers are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,074,468; 3,865,138; 3,669,352; and 3,599,669.
In this respect, the device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of turning a sprinkler on only when the need to scare off an intruder in a protected area exists. Such a device eliminates danger of injury to a child or animal such as may occur when other types of devices such as electric fences are used for area protection.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved sprinklers which can be used as protective devices. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a surgical stapling apparatus. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus that includes a mechanism for articulating a tool assembly.
2. Background of Related Art
Surgical fastening devices, such as surgical stapling apparatuses, are well known in the art. These devices typically include two elongated jaw members to capture or clamp tissue. One jaw member carries a staple cartridge that houses a plurality of staples arranged in at least two lateral rows while the other jaw member has an anvil that defines a surface for forming the staple legs as the staples are driven from the staple cartridge. For the most part, the stapling operation is effected by cam members that travel longitudinally through the staples cartridge, with the cam members actuating upon staple pushers to sequentially eject the staples from the staple cartridge. A knife may travel between the staple rows to longitudinally cut or open the stapled tissue between the rows of staples. Examples of this kind of instrument are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,079,606 and 3,490,675.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,591 also discloses a stapling apparatus with a pair row of staples on each side of the incision. The patent discloses a surgical stapler that has an upper jaw member and a lower jaw member. The upper jaw member includes a disposable cartridge while the lower jaw member contains a disposable anvil having a series of staple-closing depressions aligned with a plurality of staple-carrying grooves of the cartridge. In operation, a cam member translates through an elongated guide path between the two sets of staple-carrying grooves. Staple drive members are located within the grooves and are positioned in such a manner so as to effect ejection of the staples from the staple cartridge. Other examples of such stapling instruments are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,429,695 and 5,065,929.
Each of the instruments described hereinabove is designed for use in conventional surgical procedures wherein surgeons have direct manual access to the operative site. Endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures, however, are performed through a small incision or through a narrow cannula inserted through a small entrance wounds in the skin. To address the specific needs of endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedures, surgical stapling devices have been developed and are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,040,715; 5,312,023; 5,318,221; 5,326,013; 5,332,142; and 6,241,139.
Tyco Healthcare Group, LP, the assignee of the present application, has successfully manufactured and marketed endoscopic stapling instruments, such as the Multifire ENDO GIA™ 30, Multifire ENDO GIA™ 60 and Multifire ENDO TA™ 30 instruments, for a number of years. An articulating endoscopic stapler known as the ENDO GIA™ Universal stapler has also been marketed. Typically, these devices include an articulation mechanism having an articulation lever operatively engaged with a cam member having a stepped camming channel. Current stapling instruments allow manual operation of the articulation lever. These instruments have provided significant clinical benefits. Nonetheless, improvements to these instruments are still possible.
It would be desirable to provide an improved articulation mechanism for a surgical stapling apparatus. It would also be desirable to provide an articulation mechanism capable of being operated either manually or electromechanically.
Accordingly, it is an object of this disclosure to provide an improved articulation mechanism that articulates the tool assembly of a surgical stapling apparatus by electromechanical means. It also the object of this disclosure to provide an improved articulation mechanism that will allow a user to articulate with minimal effort and with only one hand the tool assembly of a surgical stapling instrument.
Another object of the disclosure is to provide an articulation mechanism capable of very accurate and fine position adjustment at a speed that can be easily controlled by a variable speed switch.
Still another object of the disclosure is to provide an articulation mechanism with a manual override for additional reliability and safety.


Semiconductor memory devices are typically classified into volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices. Volatile memory devices are subdivided into dynamic random-access memories (DRAMs) and static random access memories (SRAMs). Non-volatile memory types include erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMS) and electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs). EEPROMs are increasingly used in system programming that requires continuous update or auxiliary memory devices. Particularly, flash EEPROMs are advantageous as mass storage devices because their integration density is high compared with conventional EEPROMs.
Frequently, it would be convenient to be able to mix integrated circuit device types, such as EEPROMs and other memory devices, and bipolar integrated circuits, such as NPN transistors, onto a single integrated circuit chip. However, due to the inherently low breakdown voltage (approximately 10 volts) of typical wells used in BiCMOS technology and the need for a high programming voltage of an EEPROM memory device (approximately 14 volts), there has been no simple and economical way to integrate these two device types into a single integrated circuit. Previously, the problem has been avoided in the art by using additional masks to create high-voltage wells for EEPROMS.


Electro-luminance displays have been developed for a wide variety of devices, such as cell phones. In particular, active-matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) displays with amorphous silicon (a-Si), poly-silicon, organic, or other driving backplane have become more attractive clue to advantages, such as feasible flexible displays, its low cost fabrication, high resolution, and a wide viewing angle.
An AMOLED display includes an array of rows and columns of pixels, each having an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and backplane electronics arranged in the array of rows and columns. Since the OLED is a current driven device, the pixel circuit of the AMOLED should be capable of providing an accurate and constant drive current
There is a need to provide a method and system that is capable of providing constant brightness with high accuracy and reducing the effect of the aging of the pixel circuit and the instability of backplane and a light emitting device.


This invention relates generally to pinball games and, more particularly, relates to an improved ball trough for such games.
Pinball games typically consist of an inclined playfield supporting a plurality of play features such as targets, bumpers, and the like. Disposed on the playfield are a pair of flippers which are used to direct a ball at selected game features for scoring points. Play usually begins with the ball positioned in the shooter lane where the player manipulates a spring loaded plunger to propel the ball onto the playfield. Play continues until the ball drains from the playfield via a drain hole which is normally located behind the flippers to capture balls which have been misplayed. Located in the playfield, out of sight of the player, is a ball trough which extends from the drain hole to the shooter lane for transporting balls therebetween.
An example of a prior art ball trough may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,243 to Eddy et al. which is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. The ball trough disclosed therein consists of a generally U-shaped channel that is mounted to the underside of the playfield and extends between the drain hole and the shooter lane. The bottom surface of the channel is inclined relative to the horizontal such that a ball entering the drain hole will roll under the force of gravity toward the shooter lane. When activated, a solenoid plunger will kick the ball adjacent the shooter lane up through an aperature in the playfield and into the shooter lane. A series of optical switches are also mounted on the channel and arranged such that each switch will detect the presence or absence of each ball in the queue. In this embodiment, the kicker must supply enough force to the ball to elevate the ball back to the level of the playfield.
While this embodiment is useful in achieving its purpose, it has been noticed that the procedure used to elevate the ball into the shooter lane generates a vibrational force large enough to shake the entire structure. These vibrational forces have been known to causes some of the optical switches associated with the channel to become displaced. As mentioned, these optical switches are used by the microprocessor to asses playing conditions whereby any failure or misalignment of the optical switches will cause a resulting failure in the game control. Therefore, a need exists for providing an improved ball trough capable of moving the ball into the shooter lane without the jolting associated with currently employed kicker mechanisms.
As a result of these exising needs, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lifting mechanism whereby balls may be smoothly carried from the ball trough to the shooter lane.


The invention involves a floating oil barrier for the purpose of containing oil or similar materials in water. It is comprised of larger floating partial cells and are made of waterproof materials. Smaller partial cells that are submerged in the water are made of untreated or hydrophilic materials, producing stabilizing effects of the barrier's position, wherein the partial cells are comprised of glass fibers or glass fiber mats and a flexible tube that encases them. They are joined to one another via a traction cable.
With larger oil tanker vessels being developed, environmental danger posed by maritime oil spills is also continuously increasing. In recent years, oil disasters have resulted in entire coastlines becoming severely polluted and marine life in the endangered areas being destroyed to such an extent that these large ships are being burdened with greater and greater charges. For this reason, efforts have been made to build multiband tankers, in an attempt to make it more difficult for oil spills to occur. In the end, however, in addition to the associated production problems, such measures cannot prevent oil from escaping if a ship sinks. One method, known in the art from FR-PS 2 646 189, calls for waterproofed mineral fibers to be blown onto the surface of the water. The oil is supposed to settle onto these fibers, so that the bulk can then be picked up as a whole and disposed of. The fibers are waterproofed with silicone oil, and, because they are short, can be hindered from sinking. Contamination and pollution of the sea bed is thus such a problem that mineral fibers of this type are not used. In another method, known in the art from GB-PS 1 235 463, oil on top of the water is to be adsorbed onto inorganic fibers, with the fibers being treated beforehand with a water-repellent material. As a result, the fibers float on top of the oil and cause the oil to settle on them; the oil is then removed by burning off the fibers. The burning off of the oil adsorbed by the fibers is not economically feasible and causes considerable environmental damage. In addition, too little space is available for storage of the fibers, which are simply to be sprayed onto the water. DE-PS 41 40 247 contains the recommendation that waterproofed glass wool materials be joined together to form a barrier, with the glass fibers being inserted into a perforated flexible tube. The oil can enter the tube through the perforations, thus entering the glass wool where the oil is adequately adsorbed and held until the barrier can be removed from the water and disposed of. The disadvantage of this method is that the oil adsorber, or the barrier, floats on the surface of the water. When waves hit the barrier, the oil cannot be kept from splashing back out. Accordingly, DE-OS 43 01 761 or DE-OS 43 25 806 recommends that a multisection oil adsorber be employed, in which one cell is coated with waterproofed material and the others, which lie below this one, are coated with non-waterproofed material. The upper partial cell, coated with waterproofed glass fiber material, floats on top of the water and can absorb oil, while the lower, or several lower, partial cells are submerged in the water, as they more or less attract the water due to their particular formation. They act as a kind of centerboard that effectively prevents the oil from flowing through when waves hit the barrier. Integrated into the joined partial cells is a traction cable, via which the barrier can be maneuvered. In particular, this makes it possible to pull the barrier, which borders a correspondingly large oil slick, back to the ship, thereby continuously skimming off the oil floating on the water or binding this oil using suitable glass fiber mats. Under strong winds, however, when this type of oil barrier is hauled in, it too cannot stop the collected oil from splashing over the barrier and then back into the unprotected marine area, that is, onto the surface of the water. To some extent, eddies also form, which in the end even lead to the oil being pushed under the centerboard, and from there into the oil-free section of the water.
It is thus the object of the invention to create an oil barrier which, in strong winds and especially when it is being hauled in, will prevent the oily water from spilling, and thereby will also prevent the oil from passing below the centerboard.