1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of forming a fusion welded butt joint between thermosplastic pipe sections.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pipelines made of medium to high density polyethylene or similar thermoplastic material are commonly used for transporting natural gas or the like. While, upon original installation a joint may be made by applying heat direct to the ends of pipe sections to fuse them directly together to form a butt joint, in certain applications, as for instance in repairing pipe previously buried underground, the pipe is so restricted against movement that a direct butt joint cannot be made. This is because, when a section of replacement pipe is installed in close fitting relationship within a gap formed between the ends of the pipe left when a damaged section of pipe has been removed, there is insufficient space between the confronting pipe ends to receive a heating rod for melting the pipe to its molten, or fusing, temperature thereby achieving direct fusion. In these instances there have been efforts to joint the pipe sections together by a thermoplastic coupling collar which receives the pipe sections within its opposite ends. The collar incorporates a helical heating coil formed by continuous wraps of coil spaced longitudinally along the inner surface thereof. Energization of the coil raises the temperature of the interface between the coupling and the abutting pipe sections to its molten level to cause fusion. This type of fusion welded joint is characterized by a number of significant shortcomings.
More particularly, when the interface between the coupling collar and the pipe sections is heated to a molten state, the wraps or lops of the heating coil tend to float in the molten material frequently resulting in some becoming disposed in more closely spaced relationship than others. In the areas of the more closely spaced wraps there will be a concentration of heat while in the area of the wraps of greater spacing there will be an absence of heat resulting in an uneven temperature profile along the length of the heating coil. Oftentimes the location of the elevated temperature will be at the butt joint interface resulting in the pipe wall becoming more molten than the remainder of the length of collar. This results in the thermoplastic material forming the wall of the pipe adjacent the butt joint losing its structural rigidity causing it to deform or flow. As a consequence, the end portions of the pipe wall adjacent the butt joint will sag radially inwardly, and the tendency of the wraps, or loops, of the helical heating element to migrate toward the sagging area will be enhanced. The resulting concentration of heat at the butt joint compounds the sagging problem, accelerating the flow of molten material and the migration of the heating coil loops toward the butt joint area, all before the interface throughout the remainder of the collar has reached its fusion temperature. Since the heating coil must remain heated until fusion has been achieved between the collar and pipe sections for some distance from the pipe ends, the temperature in the sagging areas will continue to elevate creating "hot spots" where the thermoplastic pipe walls will become burned thus leading to deterioration of the structure of the plastic itself. These shortcomings are compounded by the fact that the pipe ends are frequently of an irregular cut thus leaving gaps of as much as 1/8 inch one one side or the other when the ends are abutted together for fusion. The amount of parent material required from the wall of the pipe to fill such gaps during fusion is limited thus frequently leading to the wall of the joint in that area being relatively thin thereby resulting in the section being heated to an even higher temperature during fusion. The fusion welded joint which develops under this method is imperfectly formed and susceptible to structural failure and gas leakage.
Attempts have been made in the prior art to solve the development of such "hot spot" heating adjacent the butt joint by employing two separate helical coils spaced apart on opposite sides of the butt joint to thus avoid applying heat directly to the interface of the pipe ends. This is a relatively expensive expedient which is not completely effective and leaves the unheated portion at the interface of the pipe ends unfushed and susceptible to subsequent entry of fluids under pressure between the pipe wall and sleeve, a condition which in use may create stress risers thus further deteriorating the joint.
Another prior art attempt to preserve the structural integrity of thermally fused pipe section end portions is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,928, issued Jan. 29, 1974 for a "Method of Forming a Lap Joint Between Tubular Articles of Thermoplastic Material". As its title indicates, the patented method is directed to a lap joint. It utilizes a reinforcing sleeve of a material having a melting temperature higher than that of the thermoplastic pipe. The sleeve is inserted into one pipe section end portion to support the joint area such that when the pipe is heated only to its fusion temperature, the insert will not melt and will afford support against radially inward sagging during the fusion welding step. However, since the method is limited to an insert of dissimilar material to lap joints which requires axial movement of the pipe sections to make the joint, it is not practical for use in pipe repair as described above. Furthermore, the method itself contemplates that the temperature will not reach the fusion temperature of the sleeves, thus having the disadvantage that material of the flange thereof will not be available to fill any spacing that may exist at any location around the circumference of the pipe ends.
Other efforts for a satisfactory joint include the construction of a piston style dynamic coupling as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,796 assigned to the assignee of this application. That coupling, which satisfactory for its intended purpose, is relatively expensive to manufacture and is not satisfactory for all applications.


The heat exchanger for vehicles disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. H1-61582 is achieved by forming a heat exchanger for engine cooling water, a heat exchanger for air conditioning and other heat exchangers as an integrated unit, with each heat exchanger provided with a core constituted of a plurality of tubes and fins secured in contact with the tubes and a tube plate that covers the ends of tubes belonging to two cores collectively. In addition, a groove is formed at the circumferential edge of the tube plate, and the bottom portion of the tank main body constituted of a synthetic resin is fitted and fastened through calking at the groove.
The radiator illustrated in FIG. 23(a) is a so-called down-flow radiator and assumes a structure similar to that described above. In more specific terms, this radiator 100 is provided with tank main bodies 102 and 103 constituted of a synthetic resin and disposed at the top and the bottom of a core main body 101 constituted of tubes 104 and fms 105 both constituted of aluminum alloy. As shown in FIG. 23(b), the tank main bodies 102 and 103 each have a flange portion 108 which is fitted via an o-ring at a groove 107 formed at the periphery of an end plate 106 to which ends of the tubes 104 are mounted and the tank main bodies 102 and 103 are each further fastened by using calking tabs 109 formed over specific intervals at the circumferential edge of the end plate 106.
It is to be noted that in FIG. 23(a) illustrating the radiator 100, reference number 110 indicates an intake pipe through which engine cooling water is guided into the upper tank main body 102 and reference number 111 indicates an outlet pipe through which the engine cooling water is discharged from the lower tank main body 103. In addition, a cooling water induction port 116, which is closed off by a cap 112 having a pressure valve, for instance, is provided at the upper tank main body 102. Inside the lower tank main body 103, an oil cooler is provided, and reference numbers 114 and 115 indicate intake/outlet pipes of the oil colors.
However, in the structure of the prior art described above, in which the tubes and the fins constituting the core are formed from aluminum alloy and the tank main bodies are formed from a synthetic resin, there is a problem in that they cannot be formed together. There is another problem in that the recyclability of the radiator itself is poor.
As a solution, a method achieved by forming the members constituting the tank portions with aluminum alloy and then the aluminum alloy tank portions are brazed together with the core in a furnace to achieve an integrated unit may be proposed. However, a problem occurs during the repair process implemented after the brazing process to repair any defective brazing occurring between the individual members constituting the tank portions by means such as torch brazing or the like that is, the brazed areas between the individual members are close to the tubes and fins, the tubes and fins become melted during the repair process.
In addition, while the oil cooler for cooling the automatic transmission oil (hereafter referred to as the A/T oil cooler) is mounted at the same time inside the outlet-side (lower) tank main body 103 in the radiator, if U-shaped tank plates are used, the intake/outlet pipes of the A/T oil cooler become a hindrance to the assembly work. Furthermore, while the intake/outlet pipes of the A/T oil cooler may be enclosed and brazed between the tank plates, this method poses problems in that the shapes in the vicinity of the insertion holes for the intake/outlet pipes are bound to become complicated and in that good brazing is not achieved for the intake/outlet pipes, the tank plates and the like.
An object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger with a structure that allows integrated brazing, that achieves an improvement in the assemblability in the mounting of the A/T oil cooler and also achieves good overall assemblability and good recyclability.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a voltage detecting device for detecting a voltage provided at a predetermined part of an object under measurement, and more particularly to a voltage detecting device utilizing the principle that the polarization of light passing through electro-optical material is changed by a voltage provided to that material
2. Background Information
A voltage detecting device for detecting, in a time resolution of sub-pico seconds, the voltage of an ultra-high-speed photo detector, semiconductor switch or high-speed electronic device is well known in the art.
In FIG. 6(a) is shown a perspective view of a voltage detecting device of the above-described type, which was disclosed by Janis A. Valdmanis et al, "IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics," Vol. QE-19, No. 4, pp. 664-667 (published in Apr. 1983). Shown in FIG. 6(b) and FIG. 6(c) are a top view and a front view of the voltage detecting device shown in FIG. 6(a).
In the voltage detecting device as shown in FIG. 6(a), an electro-optical material 50 of lithium tantalate (LiTaO.sub.3) is cut perpendicular to the C-axis, an aluminum strip line 52 is provided on a surface 51 of the electro-optical material 50 which is perpendicular to the C-axis, and a predetermined part of an object 53 under test is connected to the strip line 52.
When the object 53 under test is an ultra-high-speed photo detector, for example, with a predetermined part of the photo detector connected to the strip line 52, a voltage pulse VP having a pulse width of the order of ten pico seconds outputted from photodetector 53 moves along the strip line 52 at a speed V.sub.O as shown in FIG. 6(c). As a result, an electric field E is applied to that part of the electro-optical material 50 which is just below the strip line 52 along which the voltage pulse VP moves. The refractive index of that part of material 50 is changed as a result of the electric field. Accordingly, referring to FIG. 6(b), when a linearly polarized light beam PB is applied to one side 54 of the electro-optical material 50 in such a manner that it forms an angle .theta. with the longitudinal axis A--A of the strip line 52, the speed component, V cos .theta., of the light beam PB taken along the axis A--A is equal to the speed V.sub.O of the voltage pulse VP. Thus, the light beam PB passes through the electro-optical material 50 following the refractive index change caused by the voltage pulse VP. The polarization of the light beam will be changed by the well known Pockels effect as it passes through material 50. The light beam will be outputted, as a transmitted light beam, from the opposite side 55 of the electro-optical material 50. If the change in polarization of the transmitted light beam can be detected, then the value of the voltage pulse VP moving along the strip 52 can be achieved without affecting the object under test.
In the voltage detecting device shown in FIG. 6(a), the light beam PB is applied to the electro-optical material 50 in such a manner that its speed component along the longitudinal axis of the strip line 52 is equal to the speed V.sub.O of the voltage pulse VP; that is, the light beam PB and the voltage pulse are allowed to interact with each other, so that the voltage is detected from the change in polarization of the light beam PB. In the voltage detecting device, as described above, the light beam PB is allowed to enter the electro-optical material 50 through one side 54 and to emerge from the opposite side 55. Therefore the optical beam PB and the voltage pulse interact with each other for the period of time T, which represents the time the light beam PB spends crossing the strip line 52. This relationship is given by the following formula: EQU T=W/(V sin .theta.) (1)
where W is the width of the strip line 52, and V is the speed of the light beam PB in the electro-optical material 50.
If the voltage pulse VP is of the order of several kilovolts (kV), the polarization of light beam PB will change to the extent that it can be detected, even if the period of time T is short. However, if the voltage pulse VP is lower than several kilo-volts, then it is necessary to increase the period of time T in order to detect the polarization of the light beam PB. Since the period of time T depends on the width W of the strip line 52, as is apparent from the above equation (1), the ability to design the voltage detecting device shown in FIGS. 6(a) and (b) to increase the period of time T, and to change the polarization of the light beam PB as required, is limited to the practical width W of strip line 52.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a voltage detecting device which can change the polarization of a light beam in an electro-optical material to the extent that it can be detected, to detect the voltage value of the voltage pulse with high accuracy.


Maintaining the shape and overall dimensions of the tire bead is critical for assembly and manufacture of high quality tires, however, conventional tire beads typically distort or deform during tire assembly and curing. Conventional bead insulation compositions typically have good bead wire adhesion and processability but do not maintain their shape and overall dimensions (i.e., geometry) in an uncured or green state. “Processability” is a term understood by those skilled in the art, and is typically indicated by scorch resistance, viscosity and the ability of the rubber composition to be used in bead forming equipment known to those skilled in the art.
Numerous solutions have been adopted by those skilled in the art in an attempt to overcome the problem of distortion and deformation of the shape and overall dimensions of conventional tire beads during tire manufacturing, yet each has associated disadvantages. One solution has been to precure the green tire beads so as to provide a tire bead which will maintain its bead geometry during tire manufacturing. Conventional tire beads are typically precured in an autoclave at 285° F. for 11 minutes. A disadvantage of precuring is that it raises manufacturing costs by adding an additional manufacturing step, raising energy costs and lowering tire bead manufacturing yields.
Two additional solutions, which also involve preprocessing steps, have been to wrap or staple tire beads. Wrapping the beads requires significant manpower and time, and, accordingly, significantly raises manufacturing costs. The disadvantages of stapling the bead are that special automatic equipment is required involving significant capital, increased operational complexity, lowered process yields, and, accordingly, also increased manufacturing times.
Tire manufacturing involves forcing two tire beads over the ends of a tire carcass. The tire carcass and conventional tire bead is then assembled with other tire components, such as the tread and side wall components, and then vulcanized. The tire bead must have dimensional integrity such that the tire bead can be placed over the tire carcass, and turned thereover, without distorting or deforming the tire bead.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,534 to Oshima et al., Pat. No. 4,540,744 to Oshima et al., Pat. No. 5,283,289 to Yamamoto et al., Pat. No. 5,098,941 to Tsuriya, and Pat. No. 3,715,266 to Winters et al. disclose conventional tire rubber compositions which contain uncrosslinked styrene butadiene rubber. In particular, the '744 patent to Oshima discloses a tire rubber composition containing a butadiene polymer with a branched polymer through a tin-carbon bond and a styrene butadiene rubber. The '289 patent to Yamamoto et al. discloses a fiber reinforced styrene butadiene containing rubber composition. The '941 patent to Tsuriya discloses a phenolic resin reinforced bead filler composition having a low amount of hexamine which reduces the amount of deterioration of the tire carcass. The '266 patent to Winters et al. discloses adding an adhesion component to conventional uncrosslinked styrene butadiene to improve the adhesion between the bead wire and the bead insulation composition. A disadvantage of these conventional tire rubber compositions is that they typically must be precured, cloth wrapped or stapled to maintain dimensional stability when used in making tire beads.
What is desired, therefore, is a bead insulation composition and tire bead that is dimensionally stable and that does not have to be preprocessed, but which provides sufficient bead wire adhesion and processability. Also desired is a method of manufacturing a tire using a dimensionally stable tire bead which exhibits sufficient bead wire adhesion and processability but which is not preprocessed, and a method of making a tire bead using a dimensionally stable bead insulation composition.


According to the related art, various application services may be enabled by inserting additional data into an image file.
As example of the related art, the following two patents are discussed below: U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,196 “Digital image storage method” (hereinafter referred to as related art 1) and U.S. Pat. No. 8,340,440 “Apparatus and method for inserting additional data into image file in electronic device” (hereinafter referred to as related art 2).
In the specification, for convenience of explanation, an image file having additional data inserted therein is referred to as a compound file.
In such a way, once the compound file is created, various application services may be enabled when the image file is played. For example, when the additional data is sound source data, a sound collected while the corresponding image file is captured or a sound harmonizing with the image file may be provided while the image file is played. Alternatively, various pieces of information or information obtaining sites (for example, a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link) relative to the image file may be provided.
On the other hand, in order to widely use a compound file, it becomes an important issue to rapidly determine whether a specific image file is a file having image data (e.g., an image file, a compound file having additional data, and the like) inserted therein. Furthermore, even when it is determined as a compound file, it may become an important issue to rapidly access additional data by a data processing device which processes the image file. In addition, wide usability of the compound file or compatibility between applications can be ensured by allowing the additional data to be easily inserted or removed.
However, the related art 1 discloses a method for confirming whether an image file is a compound file. For this, an End of Image (EOI) is compared with an End of File (EOF), and, when the EOF is larger than the EOI, (i.e., some data is further included behind image data), the image file is determined as the compound file. However, although the data processing device handling the image file can rapidly access the EOF, it takes a lot of time and work to determine the EOI. For example, according to a type of image file, there is a case where information for a location of the EOI exists in a header, but there is also a case where information for the location of the EOI does not exist in the header. In addition, although the header has the EOI information, a process is needed to search at least the header of the image file for information on the EOI. Accordingly, a lot of time and accesses are needed for determining whether the image file is a compound file, and accordingly a lot of time is to be taken to access the additional data by the data processing device.
Moreover, the related art 2 discloses that information for presence or absence of additional data is recorded in a header. This method is illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic structure of a compound file according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, a compound file 10 includes an image file and additional data 13 which is inserted into the image file. The image file includes a header 11 and image data 12. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the header 11 has important information recorded therein for handling the image file, such as a type of the image file, and information related to encoding and decoding. In addition, in the related art 2, the header 11 has information for presence of the additional data or a location of the additional data recorded therein. Accordingly, even in the related art 2, a long time may be taken to sequentially search the header 11 in order to confirm whether the image file is a compound file, that is, a longer time to be taken as a size of the header 11 becomes larger. Furthermore, when the presence of the additional data or an item related to the additional data is recorded in the header 11, there is a risk for losing information for the additional data when an event (e.g., re-encoding, resizing, changing of the image file, and the like) by which header information may be changed occurs, while the image file is handled by a data processing device. Moreover, in order to prevent this type of risk, the information on the additional data needs to be separately managed in occurrence of the event, which causes problems in wide usability or compatibility for various applications which handle corresponding compound files. In addition, there may also be a limitation of changing the header 11 when the additional data is further inserted or removed.
Therefore, a need exists for a compound file format, a compound file creating method, and a data storage device capable of rapidly confirming whether an image file is a compound file, rapidly accessing the additional data, and easily performing insertion or removal of the additional data.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid filtration, and particularly to a filtration system including a vessel containing a media through which a fluid is filtered. More particularly, the present invention relates to a distributor/collector system positioned within the vessel for directing the flow of fluid through the media bed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional distributor/collector systems are positioned in a vessel with the collector spaced-apart from the distributor and positioned downstream of the distributor. A typical distributor/collector system includes an upper header as part of the distributor and a lower header as part of the collector, each running generally transversely through the vessel and generally parallel to each other. Both the upper header and lower header include a series of laterals extending radially away from the header and generally in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vessel. In a typical distributor/collector system, a fluid (e.g. water, etc.) enters the vessel and flows down the upper header generally along a diameter of the vessel and then away from the upper header through the upper laterals. From there, the water flows through a media bed below the upper header and into the lower laterals below the media bed. The water then is collected by the lower laterals and carried back toward the center of the vessel to the lower header, which sits generally along a diameter of the vessel, like the upper header. Finally, the water flows down the lower header and exits the vessel on generally the same side of the vessel as it entered the vessel.
In conventional distributor/collector systems, the flow may not be uniform throughout the media bed. The time it takes water to flow through the system at certain points within the media bed may vary from the time it takes water to flow through the system at other points within the media bed. Water which flows out the upper laterals close to the upper header also flows into the lower laterals close to the lower header and, therefore, travels a shorter distance through the system than water which travels out the upper laterals at a distance away from the upper header and into the lower laterals at a point distant from the lower header. These various flow paths through a typical system create various levels of flow through the system. A distributor/collector apparatus that provides even flow throughout the system and, thus, a high distribution efficiency (the ratio between the lowest flow and highest flow that exits the distributor or enters the collector) would be welcomed by users of filtration systems utilizing such a distributor/collector.


After bituminous paving materials have been removed from a roadbed, they are hereafter referred to as recycled asphalt pavement or RAP.
It is generally known that the majority of existing roadways, both concrete and bituminous asphalt, undergo constant repair and surface overlay with new hot mix asphalt to achieve and maintain safe and comfortable high speed riding surfaces.
In recent years, new equipment has been introduced to the road paving industry in the form of pavement milling or grinding machines. The science of preparing an old roadbed base for new resurfacing is now commonly referred to as milling. Both state and Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies throughout the country have readily accepted the science of milling.
The milling of old road surfaces provides a number of advantages in preparing the old roadbed for resurfacing. Milling not only ensures a new, smooth and level base for the new hot mix overlay, but at the same time lowers the road bed height to maintain bridge deck clearances and curb and gutter depths. Grinding or milling is also beneficial in removing potholes, old cracks, joint seams, and ruts along with other surface damage that would quickly reappear in a new surface overlay if not repaired. With many of the state and Federal DOT agencies now requiring the milling of road surfaces before permitting new overlay, there is an increasing inventory of asphalt millings being generated. The piles of discarded asphalt millings are becoming problems for land use, aesthetics and the environment. Attempts at reuse have proven difficult.
Needs exist for new recycling methods and apparatus for asphalt paving millings.


Laser-processing of features (e.g., through-vias, blind vias, trenches, routs, kerfs, and other features) within one or more materials of a workpiece can be processed using parameters such as laser power, pulse repetition frequency (PRF), pulse energy, pulse width, bite size, and other parameters. In many laser processing applications, the speed or efficiency with which a feature is formed, and the quality of the feature ultimately formed, can be very sensitive to such processing parameters.
An example application in a compound motion laser processing machine is the processing of “rout” features: laser cut lines made up of sequential linear or circular arc segments. Traditionally, such processing is accomplished by moving the process beam at a constant velocity along a desired trajectory. For a given laser power and PRF, this provides a consistent fluence and bite size at the worksurface.
However, it is possible to exceed the dynamic limits (e.g., linear stage acceleration or velocity, or galvo scan field) of a compound motion system when processing routs. For certain rout velocities, for example, a rout that reverses direction can easily produce peak linear stage acceleration beyond the system's capability.


The invention relates to a method of transmitting or storing, over an interference affected channel, digital audio signals, wherein transmission errors are detected at the receiving end and corrected if necessary or masked, with the masking being effected in that the interfered-with signal section is muted or replaced by a signal preceding the interfered-with signal section in the same channel or by a synchronous, not interfered-with signal section of an adjacent channel. Such a method is disclosed in German Patent DE 3,638,922.C2.
In digital audio signal transmissions and storage, the received and read-out audio signals, if they contain bit errors, may either be not decodable at all or not decodable in part after all error detection and error correction methods have been exhausted. In that case, it is the custom to switch to a decoder for muting over a broad band in such a way that for a certain time period the entire signal is set at 0. In the case of digital audio signals transmitted by radio, this case occurs relatively frequently at the fringes of the reception area which is extremely annoying particularly in connection with mobile reception. The same applies for audio signal storage if the tape material or audio heads are worn to a degree that exceeds a tolerance value.
To reduce the annoying effect of missing signals in radio transmissions, German Patent DE 3,638,922.C2 discloses a mutual offset in time between the left and right stereo channels and, if there is an uncorrectable signal interference, placing the complementary stereo information transmitted at an earlier or later point in time instead of the interfered-with original information. Although the complementary stereo information is not identical with the associated, interfered-with original information, but is connected with it only by way of left-right correlation, such a substitution is acceptable in any case for a short period of time since direction and distance perception as well as the perception of spatial relationships are subject to a certain inertia in the human ear. However, if such a masking technique is employed for a longer period of time, the stereophonic impression is lost, since the masking always covers the full bandwidth of the interfered-with signal and therefore also replaces spectral signal components that did not suffer interference.
In contrast thereto, it is the object of the invention to provide, in a method of the above-mentioned type, a subjectively better masking of errors which permits better reconstruction of the interfered-with original audio event and, particularly also during longer use, maintains the stereophonic impression.
The above and other objects are accomplished according to the invention by the provision of a method of transmitting or storing, over an interference affected channel, digital audio signals that have been subjected to data reduction to result in a reduced data, digital audio signal that is present in at least one of the time domain and spectral domain, depending on source coding, the method comprising the steps of: detecting an interfered-with signal section in the reduced data, digital audio signal at a receiving end; and masking the interfered-with reduced data, digital audio signal section by one of (a) muting only interfered-with spectral values or subbands, or groups of spectral values or subbands in the signal section and (b) replacing only interfered-with spectral values or subbands, or groups of spectral values or subbands on the signal section with a signal component from the same channel or an adjacent channel including at least one of time domain sampled values, spectral domain sampled values, scale factors, and control information, depending on the source coding of the reduced data, digital audio signal.
The invention is based on the consideration of intentionally muting, repeating, estimating or replacing for a certain period of time only those spectral components of a complete audio signal that have actually experienced interference. The invention takes advantage of the fact that reduced data, digital audio signals (i.e., digital audio signals subjected to known data reduction processes) are present in the time and spectral domains, depending on whether they are subdivided into subbands (subband coding) or into spectral values (transformation coding). The following masking strategies can be employed:
1. Muting
With this masking strategy, only those spectral components of the interfered-with signal are muted which have actually been interfered with. Depending on the source coding method employed, these may be individual subbands or spectral values or groups of subbands or spectral values of a digital audio signal that has been subdivided into n subbands or spectral values, with n being a value equal to or greater than 1.
2. Repeating
With this masking strategy, components of the same channel signal are employed as substitutes for the interfered-with signal components, which hereinafter will be called xe2x80x9crepeating.xe2x80x9d Depending on the source coding method employed, the components to be repeated may be individual subbands or spectral values or groups of subbands or spectral values of a digital audio signal that has been subdivided into n subbands or spectral values, with n again being a value equal to or greater than 1. Again depending on the source coding method employed, these components may be composed of synchronous or spectral sample values as well as control informations or scale factors. The repetition may also be effected several times.
3. Left-Right Substitution
In this case, synchronous components of the audio signal that are present without interference or in processed form in the adjacent channel are employed as substitutes, which will hereinafter be called xe2x80x9cleft-right substitution.xe2x80x9d The components to be replaced may be, as in the case of repeating and depending on the source coding method employed, individual subbands or spectral values or groups of subbands or spectral values of an audio signal that has been subdivided into n subbands or spectral values, with n again being a value equal to or greater than 1. Again depending on the source coding method employed, these components may be composed of time domain or spectral domain sampled values as well as of control information or scale factors.
4. Estimating
With this masking strategy, not interfered-with or processed components of the same channel signal or of the signal from the adjacent channel are utilized by way of estimation (e.g. interpolation) to determine the components required to substitute interfered-with components. Due to the probability of combinations in the time domain or the spectral domain, a conclusion can be drawn from the use of non-interfered-with or processed spectrally or timely adjacent components of the same channel signal or of a signal from the adjacent channel as to the original content of interfered-with components that must be replaced. Depending on the source coding method employed, the components to be estimated may be individual subbands or spectral values or groups of subbands or spectral values of an audio signal that has been subdivided into n subbands or spectral values, with n here again being a value equal to or greater than 1. Again, depending on the source coding method employed, these components may be composed of time domain or spectral domain sampled values as well as of control informations or scale factors. Various methods for fading the signals in and/or out can be employed for the above-mentioned masking strategies. That means that the changeover from the not interfered-with component to the replaced or muted components and/or from the replaced or muted component to the not interfered-with component is made over a certain transition time and with a certain transition function so that sudden transitions are avoided.
All of the above-mentioned masking strategies can be combined with one another if required.
In connection with the described masking strategies, the invention takes advantage of certain characteristics of the human sense of hearing. In the case of muting, repeating or estimating, the auditory characteristics with respect to timely and/or simultaneous masking thresholds are utilized to the extent that these masking measures remain substantially inaudible or hidden as long as they do not exceed a certain time, spectrum and level range.
In the case of the left-right substitution, advantage is taken of the fact that direction and distance perception as well as the perception of spatial relationships are subject to a certain inertia. This can be utilized to the extent that short-term changes in the display of directions and distances of sound sources and of a spatial impression remain inaudible if they are shorter than a certain length of time and do not occur too frequently. If these two conditions can be met, the correct application of the described masking strategies results in a substantial improvement over conventional, known masking techniques.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semipermeable membrane for separating ingredients of liquid mixture by selective permeation, and more specifically, it relates to a semipermeable composite membrane for the desalination of sea water, brackish water and selectively removing or recovering pollutant or useful materials from waste water causing public pollutions, for example, from dyeing process or from electrodepositing process, and thereby capable of contributing to the completeness of treatment of such waste water under a closed system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Asymmetric membranes prepared from cellullose acetate are known as the semipermeable membranes utilized industrially, for example, so-called "Loeb" type of those membranes as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,133,132 and 1,133,137. However, these membranes are poor in the resistivity to hydrolysis, bacterial attack and chemicals. Particularly, if tried to improve their permeability, their pressure resistance and durability are sacrificed, and accordingly they have not yet been put into practical use for a wide range of application although employed in a restricted field.
Extensive studies have been made for investigating a new material free from the drawbacks of the asymmetric cellulose acetate membranes mainly in U.S.A. and Japan, and those materials partially improved the foregoing drawbacks have been obtained, such as aromatic polyamide, polyamide hydrazide (U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,632), polyamide acid (Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-37282, U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,109), cross-linked polyamide acid (Japanese patent Publication No. 56-3769), polyimidazopyrrolone, polysulfonamide, polybenzimidazole, polybenzimidazolone and polyarylene oxide. However, none of them is superior to the cellulose acetate membrane with respect to the selective separation characteristic or permeability.
On the other hand, composite membranes comprising ultra-thin membrane which is substantially responsible to membrane performances and a microporous substrate for supporting the ultra-thin membrane have been developed as different type of semipermeable membrane from the "Loeb" type. In such composite membrane, it is possible to select the most optimum materials to each of the ultra-thin membrane and microporous substrate according to the purposes, and this can increase the degree of freedom for membrane fabrications. Another advantage of those composite membranes is said that they can be stored under the dry state different from the "Loeb" type membranes which must be stored always in a wet condition.
These composite membranes are classified into two types, that is, those comprising an ultrathin membrane and a microporous substrate coated with the ultrathin membrane directly and those comprising an ultrathin membrane, a microporous substrate and a gel layer intermediating between them. Example of the former are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,744,642 and 3,926,798, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-147106 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,344), U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,557,949 and 4,366,062 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-24303, and examples of the latter are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 49-133282 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,440), Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 55-49524 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,815 and 55-38164 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,012), PB Report No. 80-182090 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,387,024 and 4,559,139.
Those prior semipermeable composite membranes mentioned above, however, can not satisfy all of the desired properties required to the membranes, such as high solute rejection against both organic and inorganic materials dissolved in water, high water flux rate, durability such as heat resistance, chemical resistance, pressure resistance, chlorine resistance and hydrogen peroxide resistance.
The reverse osmosis is generally expected to be applied to various fields, such as, desalination represented by the conversion of sea water or brackish water into portable water, concentration or recovery of valuable materials, production of ultrapure water and separation of organic liquid mixture. Accordingly, the desired specific properties required to the reverse osmosis membrane would vary multifariously depending on its use and application. The important properties among them are selective permeability (solute rejection: Rej (%), water flux: Flux (m.sup.3 /m.sup.2.day)), durability (m-value relating to the change of flux with the lapse of time), pressure resistance, heat resistance, oxidation resistance, workable pH range, resistance to microorganism, durability for chemicals and solvent, storage stability, etc. The m-value mentioned above is represented by the formula log (Qt.sub.2 /Qt.sub.1)/log (t.sub.2 /t.sub.1) where t.sub.1 is an initial time and t.sub.2 is a time after a predetermined period and Qt.sub.1 and QT.sub.2 represent the flux at the time t.sub.1 and the time t.sub.2, respectively.
However, no asymmetric nor semipermeable composite membranes fulfilling all of these requirements has been developed at present. For example, the prior composite reverse osmosis membrane having an ultrathin membrane of cross-linked polyamide is said to show significant reduction of the flux with the lapse of operation period. While the desirable m-value for practical use of the reverse osmosis membrane is usually around -0.02, which corresponds to about 20% reduction of the flux during the operation of three years, any reverse osmosis membrane which has the m-value far from the above can not be considered useful from the viewpoint of efficiency and economization, even though its initial characteristics and properties are excellent and acceptable.
While on the other hand, the practical level of the solute rejection against organic material is usually required to be higher than 90%, representatively, against neutral, basic and acidic molecules such as isopropyl alcohol, ethylenediamine and acetic acid, no reverse osmosis membrane capable of fulfilling this requirement has been developed.
In addition, although some of the prior reverse osmosis membranes made of polyamide or cross-linked polyamide had been considered as chlorine resistant, their water flux is, in fact, usually reduced by about 20 to 30% or more after they are brought into contact with chlorine (refer to Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 29, 3369 (1984)), and the loss of the rejection and increase in the flux rate occur in an unrecoverable manner possibly due to the decomposition of polyamide upon contact with chlorine for a long period of operation or at high chlorine concentration.
A practically attractive reverese osmosis membrane should have the salt rejection of 99% or higher and water flux of 0.8 m.sup.3 /m.sup.2.day or greater under the condition of the applied pressure of 56 kg/cm.sup.2 and the feed saline water of 35,000 ppm in the case of sea water desalination, or the salt rejection of 99% or higher and water flux of 0.7 to 1.3 m.sup.3 /m.sup.2.day or greater under the conditions of the applied pressure of 15 to 30 kg/cm.sup.2 and the feed saline water of 1500 ppm in the case of brackish water desalination, in addition to a small reduction of water flux with the lapse of operation period, an improved rejection against organic materials and an oxidation resistance. The reverse osmosis membranes having been developed so far can only partially satisfy these requirements, and accordingly are subjected to various restrictions when put into practical use.
The object of the invention is to provide a semipermeable composite membrane of which ultra-thin membrane is made of specific cross-linked aromatic polyamide, having superior hydrophilicity, and high cross-linking density to improve especially the solute rejection against both inorganic and organic materials and water flux as well as the mechanical durability of the ultra-thin membrane.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the descriptions hereinafter.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to soil openers that use a disc assembly to open the soil prior to injection of a fertilizer or seed into the ground. More specifically, the present invention concerns a sectored disc assembly for use in such a soil opener, a removable disc sector of a sectored disc assembly, as well as a method of replacing a disc sector of a sectored disc assembly.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that farmers often use no-till planting techniques to produce all types of agricultural crops. Such no-till techniques minimize the disturbance to the soil and leaves the stubble, or organic matter from the previous crop, standing in the field. This, in turn, reduces water runoff in the field, thereby greatly reducing erosion of the top soil.
Typically, no-till planting involves using a rotatable disc soil opener to cut a furrow in the soil as it is pulled across a field, creating a small disturbed soil zone. Fertilizer, seeds, or both, are then injected into this disturbed soil zone, after which the furrow is closed. The closing of the furrow can be accomplished by naturally allowing the disturbed soil to flow back into the furrow, or by following the rotatable disc soil opener with a closing wheel designed to push soil into the disturbed soil zone and close the furrow. Often, the opening of the furrow, formation of the seed bed, injection of fertilizer, seed, or both, and closing of the furrow are accomplished in a single pass with a soil opener that includes a rotatable disc, an injector foot, and a closing wheel.
Conventional rotatable discs used in soil openers have been formed, most typically out of carbon steel, as single, annular bodies for rotation about a spindle on the soil opener. While this unitary construction has been satisfactory in some respects, such solid discs are very heavy components that can be difficult to handle and are often expensive to produce. As the rotatable disc component of a soil opener directly contacts the soil as the implement moves through a field, the disc is subject to considerable stress and is exposed to damage. Damage to a rotatable disc, often the result of transport, inexperienced or poor operators, or hitting a railroad track or rocks in the soil, requires replacement of the entire disc. Such disc replacement is expensive and time consuming, as the entire heavy disc must be removed from the soil opener, typically involving tedious disassembly of the entire supporting frame, and only then can an entire new disc be installed.
The cost associated with whole disc replacement can be disproportional to the amount of damage to the disc, such as when a single portion of the edge of the disc is damaged from hitting a rock. Additionally, the replacement of the whole disc results in considerable down time of the implement, as heavy components must be elevated out of the soil to facilitate removal of the disc to be replaced and installation of a new disc. The time requirement associated with such replacement adds to the cost and inconvenience of the periodic and necessary change out of rotatable discs.


The present invention relates generally to ventilation devices and methods and more particularly to a ventilation device suitable for mounting with a vehicle window for ventilation and exhaust of interior air and/or associated airborne impurities or contaminants.
There are two common methods that people use to ventilate a vehicle's interior. One method is to open the vehicle's windows when the vehicle is moving or parked. This method allows smoke, pet smells, and other foul odors to be ventilated to the outside atmosphere, while simultaneously allowing the fresh, outside air to enter the vehicle's cabin. There are, however, some disadvantages to opening the vehicle's windows for ventilation. First, the outside air may not be fresh and clean at all times. For example, the outside air may include rain, snow, pollen, bugs or any number of other outside contaminants, which will also enter the vehicle's cabin. Second, while the vehicle is in a parked position and left unattended, having the windows down may result in the vehicle's theft or vandalism. Third, if the windows are down while the vehicle is in motion, the vehicle's aerodynamic qualities will be affected significantly. Approximately 10% of the vehicle's fuel economy will be lost due to drag forces. Finally, if the windows are down while the vehicle is in motion, a significant noise is produced which will cause discomfort to the ordinary passenger. The passengers will be required to converse at a higher decibel and also be required to turn vehicle audio equipment to a louder setting.
Another method commonly used to ventilate the vehicle is to use the ventilation feature on the vehicle's control panel. This feature allows fresh air at a particular temperature to enter the vehicle's cabin. While the fan functions adequately in most situations, there are some scenarios where the fan still leaves behind undesirable odors. For example, some odors which have penetrated the seat's fabric are not capable of being removed by the fans. Instead, the high velocity air entering the vehicle's window, while the vehicle is moving at high speeds, is more suitable for removing these types of odors.
Various solutions have been proposed to resolve the problem of safe vehicle ventilation. One such solution proposes using a panel mountable between a window frame and a window. Although prior art devices allow air to exchange between the vehicle's exterior and its interior, only one of these prior art devices forcefully removes air from the vehicle's interior by creating a pressure differential between the vehicle's interior and its exterior. Forceful air removal increases the speed with which the vehicle's interior is ventilated and the obnoxious odors are removed. Several drawbacks exist in the current art which include, but are not limited to, requiring the mounting of a device between the window and the window frame, the window not being capable of fully closing, inefficient pressure differential along the device, and water leakage possibilities around the device.
What has been lacking, however, until the present invention, and what the industry long has sought, is a cabin exhaust device that has flexibility in its mounting, allows the windows to fully close when exhaust is not needed, creates a more efficient pressure differential throughout the device's length and prevents water leakage around the device.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to disclose and claim a cabin exhaust device for use in vehicles with retractable windows.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cabin exhaust device that facilitates the creation of a vacuum, or pressure differential, between the vehicle's interior and its exterior and along the entire length of the cabin exhaust device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cabin exhaust device that allows the windows to fully close while the cabin exhaust device is mounted.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cabin exhaust device that vents cabin heat and removes odors when the vehicle is either parked or in motion.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cabin exhaust device which keeps out dust, pollen, allergens, and other similar pollutants.
It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a cabin exhaust device which is easy to position and mount.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cabin exhaust device which can be mounted on the outside of the door frame or in an opening between the window panel and the window frame.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a cabin exhaust device which is inexpensive to manufacture.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cabin exhaust device which helps lower the temperature inside the cabin when the vehicle is stationary, thereby preventing the deterioration of adhesives within the vehicle, extend the life of plastics and other materials within the vehicle, and provide environmental safety to the vehicle's passengers by eliminating plastic and glue fumes as well as other contaminants that accumulate in the vehicle's cabin.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cabin exhaust device which provides cabin ventilation in a fuel efficient manner.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cabin exhaust device that prevents rain from entering the vehicle's cabin.
It will become apparent to one skilled in the art that the claimed subject matter as a whole, including the structure of the apparatus, and the cooperation of the elements of the apparatus, combine to result in the unexpected advantages and utilities of the present invention. The advantages and objects of the present invention and features of such a cabin exhaust device will become apparent to those skilled in the art when read in conjunction with the accompanying description, drawing figures, and appended claims.


The present invention relates to universal data output and, in particular, to providing a new data output method and a new raster image process for information apparatuses and output devices.
As described herein, information apparatuses refer generally to computing devices, which include both stationary computers and mobile computing devices (pervasive devices). Examples of such information apparatuses include, without limitation, desktop computers, laptop computers, networked computers, palmtop computers (hand-held computers), personal digital assistants (PDAs), Internet enabled mobile phones, smart phones, pagers, digital capturing devices (e.g., digital cameras and video cameras), Internet appliances, e-books, information pads, and digital or web pads. Output devices may include, without limitation, fax machines, printers, copiers, image and/or video display devices (e.g., televisions, monitors and projectors), and audio output devices.
For simplicity and convenience, hereafter, the following descriptions may refer to an output device as a printer and an output process as printing. However, it should be understood that the term printer and printing used in the discussion of present invention refer to one embodiment used as a specific example to simplify the description of the invention. The references to printer and printing used here are intended to be applied or extended to the larger scope and definition of output devices and should not be construed as restricting the scope and practice of present invention.
Fueled by an ever-increasing bandwidth, processing power, wireless mobile devices, and wireless software applications, millions of users are or will be creating, downloading, and transmitting content and information using their pervasive or mobile computing devices. As a result, there is a need to allow users to conveniently output content and information from their pervasive computing devices to any output device. As an example, people need to directly and conveniently output from their pervasive information apparatus, without depending on synchronizing with a stationary computer (e.g., desktop personal computer) for printing.
To illustrate, a mobile worker at an airport receiving e-mail in his hand-held computer may want to walk up to a nearby printer or fax machine to have his e-mail printed. In addition, the mobile worker may also want to print a copy of his to-do list, appointment book, business card, and his flight schedule from his mobile device. As another example, a user visiting an e-commerce site using his mobile device may want to print out transaction confirmation. In still another example, a user who takes a picture with a digital camera may want to easily print it out to a nearby printer. In any of the above cases, the mobile user may want to simply walk up to a printer and conveniently print a file (word processing document, PDF, HTML etc) that is stored on the mobile device or downloaded from a network (e.g., Internet, corporate network).
Conventionally, an output device (e.g., a printer) is connected to an information apparatus via a wired connection such as a cable line. A wireless connection is also possible by using, for example, radio communication or infrared communication. Regardless of wired or wireless connection, a user must first install in the information apparatus an output device driver (e.g., printer driver in the case the output device is a printer) corresponding to a particular output device model and make. Using a device-dependent or specific driver, the information apparatus may process output content or digital document into a specific output device's input requirements (e.g., printer input requirements). The output device's input requirements correspond to the type of input that the output device (e.g., a printer) understands. For example, a printer's input requirement may include printer specific input format (e.g., one or more of an image, graphics or text format or language). Therefore, an output data (or print data in the case the output device is a printer) herein refers to data that is acceptable for input to an associated output device. Examples of input requirements may include, without limitation, audio format, video format, file format, data format, encoding, language (e.g., page description language, markup language etc), instructions, protocols or data that can be understood or used by a particular output device make and model.
Input requirements may be based on proprietary or published standards or a combination of the two. An output device's input requirements are, therefore, in general, device dependent. Different output device models may have their own input requirements specified, designed or adopted by the output device manufacturer (e.g., the printer manufacturer) according to a specification for optimal operation. Consequently, different output devices usually require use of specific output device drivers (e.g., printer drivers) for accurate output (e.g., printing). Sometimes, instead of using a device driver (e.g., printer driver), the device driving feature may be included as part of an application software.
Installation of a device driver (e.g., printer driver) or application may be accomplished by, for example, manual installation using a CD or floppy disk supplied by the printer manufacturer. Or alternatively, a user may be able to download a particular driver or application from a network. For a home or office user, this installation process may take anywhere from several minutes to several hours depending on the type of driver and user's sophistication level with computing devices and networks. Even with plug-and-play driver installation, the user is still required to execute a multi-step process for each printer or output device.
This installation and configuration process adds a degree of complexity and work to end-users who may otherwise spend their time doing other productive or enjoyable work. Moreover, many unsophisticated users may be discouraged from adding new peripherals (e.g., printers, scanners, etc.) to their home computers or networks to avoid the inconvenience of installation and configuration. It is therefore desirable that an information apparatus can output to more than one output device without the inconvenience of installing multiple dedicated device dependent drivers.
In addition, conventional output or printing methods may pose significantly higher challenges and difficulties for mobile device users than for home and office users. The requirement for pre-installation of a device-dependent driver diminishes the benefit and concept of mobile (pervasive) computing and output. For example, a mobile user may want to print or output e-mail, PowerPoint® presentation documents, web pages, or other documents at an airport, gas station, convenience store, kiosk, hotel, conference room, office, home, etc. It is highly unlikely that the user would find at any of these locations a printer of the same make and model as is at the user's base station. As a consequence, under the conventional printing method, the user would have to install and configure a printer driver each time at each such remote location before printing. It is usually not a viable option given the hundreds, or even thousands of printer models in use, and the limited storage, memory space, and processing power of the information apparatus.
Moreover, the user may not want to be bothered with looking for a driver or downloading it and installing it just to print out or display one page of email at the airport. This is certainly an undesirable and discouraging process to promote pervasive or mobile computing. Therefore, a more convenient printing method is needed in support of the pervasive computing paradigm where a user can simply walk up to an output device (e.g., printer or display device) and easily output a digital document without having to install or pre-install a particular output device driver (e.g., printer driver).
Another challenge for mobile users is that many mobile information apparatuses have limited memory space, processing capacity and power. These limitations are more apparent for small and low-cost mobile devices including, for example, PDAs, mobile phones, screen phones, pagers, e-books, Internet Pads, Internet appliances etc. Limited memory space poses difficulties in installing and running large or complex printer or device drivers, not to mention multiple drivers for a variety of printers and output devices. Slow processing speed and limited power supply create difficulties driving an output device. For example, processing or converting a digital document into output data by a small mobile information apparatus may be so slow that it is not suitable for productive output. Intensive processing may also drain or consume power or battery resources. Therefore, a method is needed so that a small mobile device, with limited processing capabilities, can still reasonably output content to various output devices.
To output or render content (e.g. digital document) to an output device, a raster image processing (RIP) operation on the content is usually required. RIP operation can be computationally intensive and may include (1) a rasterization operation, (2) a color space conversion, and (3) a halftoning operation. RIP may also include other operations such as scaling, segmentation, color matching, color correction, GCR (Grey component replacement), Black generation, image enhancement compression/decompression, encoding/decoding, encryption/decryption GCR, image enhancement among others.
Rasterization operation in RIP involves converting objects and descriptions (e.g. graphics, text etc) included in the content into an image form suitable for output. Rasterization may include additional operations such as scaling and interpolation operations for matching a specific output size and resolution. Color space conversion in RIP includes converting an input color space description into a suitable color space required for rendering at an output device (e.g. RGB to CMYK conversion). Digital halftoning is an imaging technique for rendering continuous tone images using fewer luminance and chrominance levels. Halftoning operations such as error diffusion can be computationally intensive and are included when the output device's bit depth (e.g. bits per pixel) is smaller than the input raster image bit depth.
Conventionally, RIP operations are included either in an information apparatus, or as part of an output device or output system (e.g. in a printer controller). FIG. 1A illustrates a flow diagram of a conventional data output method 102 in which RIP 110 is implemented in the information apparatus. Output devices that do not include a printer controller to perform complex RIP operations, such as a lower-cost, lower speed inkjet printer, normally employ data output method 102. In data output method 102, an information apparatus obtains content (e.g. a digital document) in step 100 for rendering or output at an output device. The information apparatus may includes an application (e.g. device driver), which implements RIP operation 110. The information apparatus generates an output data in step 120 and transmits the output data to the output device in step 130 for rendering. The output data relating to the content is in an acceptable form (e.g. in an appropriate output size and resolution) to the output engine (e.g. display engine, printer engine etc.) included in the output device. The output data in a conventional output method 102 is usually device dependent.
One drawback for the data output method 102 of FIG. 1A is that the information apparatus performs most if not the entire raster image processing operations 110 required for output. The RIP operations may require intensive computation. Many information apparatus such as mobile information device might have insufficient computing power and/or memory to carry out at an acceptable speed the RIP operations 110 required in an output process.
Another drawback for the conventional data output method 102 of FIG. 1A is that the generated output data is device dependent and therefore is typically not very portable to other output devices. As a result, the information apparatus may need to install multiple applications or device drivers for multiple output devices, which may further complicate its feasibility for use in information apparatuses with limited memory, storage and processing power.
FIG. 1B illustrates a flow diagram of another conventional data output method 104 in which the RIP is implemented in an output device. An example of an output device that implements process 104 is a high-speed laser printer which includes a printer controller for performing RIP operations and an output engine (e.g. printer engine) for rendering content. Printer controller may be internally installed or externally connected to an output device (printer in this example). In data output method 104, an information apparatus obtains content for output in step 100 and generates in step 160 an output data or print data for transmitting to the output device in step 170. Print data includes information related to the content and is usually encoded in a page description language (PDL) such as PostScript and PCL etc. In step 180, the printer receives the output data or print data (in a PDL). In step 190, a printer controller included in the printer interprets the PDL, performs RIP operations, and generates a printer-engine print data that is in a form acceptable to the printer engine (e.g. a raster image in an appropriate output size, bit depth, color space and resolution). In step 150 the printer engine renders the content with the printer-engine print data.
It will be understood that a reference to print data or output data including a language, such as PDL, should be interpreted as meaning that the print data or output data is encoded using that language. Correspondingly, a reference to a data output process generating a language, such as PDL, should be interpreted as meaning that the data output process encodes data using that language.
There are many drawbacks in the conventional data output method 104 shown in FIG. 1B. These drawbacks are especially apparent for mobile computing devices with limited processing power and memory. One such drawback is that the output data or print data, which include a page description language (PDL) such as PostScript or PCL, can be very complex. Generating complex PDL may increase memory and processing requirements for an information apparatus. Furthermore, interpreting, decoding and then raster image processing complex PDL can increase computation, decrease printing speed, and increase the cost of the output device or its printer controller.
Another drawback is that the output data that includes PDL can creates a very large file size that would increase memory and storage requirements for the information apparatus, the output device and/or the printer controller etc. Large file size may also increase the bandwidth required in the communication link between the information apparatus and the output device.
Finally, to rasterize text in an output device, a printer controller may need to include multiple fonts. When a special font or international characters is not included or missing in the printer controller, the rendering or output can potentially become inaccurate or inconsistent.


A cis-4-fluoro-L-proline derivative can be prepared from a trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline derivative through fluorination of its hydroxyl group at the 4-position. However, conventional fluorination techniques have posed various problems, as explained below.
The first method for fluorination is a method which uses diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST). This method provides a target product in good yield, but is unsuitable for industrial use because DAST is highly toxic and less heat stable, as well as being explosive and expensive (Luc Demange et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 39, 1169 (1998)).
The second method is a method in which the hydroxyl group at the 4-position is converted into a leaving group and then into a fluoro group (G. Giardina et al., Synlett, 1, 55 (1995)). This method is of limited practical use because the yield of a target product is reduced as a result of olefin generation caused by β-elimination of the leaving group.
The third method is a method which uses N,N-diethyl-N-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropyl)amine (hereinafter referred to as “Ishikawa reagent”). This method is considered to be excellent in that it has a reduced risk of explosion, is available at low cost and enables the introduction of a fluoro group in a single step. However, there is a problem of reduced yield of a target compound because hydrogen fluoride generated during the reaction causes not only erosion of reaction vessels, but also decomposition of starting materials and reaction products. Moreover, particularly in the case of using a urethane-type protecting group which is widely used as a protecting group for an amino group in an α-amino acid, this protecting group will be easily decomposed by the action of hydrogen fluoride and hence requires the limited reaction conditions (e.g., at low temperature over a long period of time), thus failing to produce satisfactory results in terms of yield, etc.


This invention relates generally to golfing, and more particularly to golf ball retrieving and extracting devices that fit or attach to golf clubs.
Normally, at the completion of each hole golfers must bend over to remove a golf ball from the cup. Also, oftentimes during play golfers may have to bend over numerous times to remove golf balls from hazards, such as grass or water. Although bending over is usually not a problem for the young golfer, it can be a strenuous and virtually impossible task for the elderly, anyone with back problems, arthritis, or a handicapped golfer. Thus, there is a need for a device that will extract golf balls from such locations without requiring the golfer to bend over.
Furthermore, such a ball extracting device must be convenient and easy to use as usually a golfer carries only the putter in hand at the end of the hole or, if not a that hole, the golfer carries another club and is separated from the golf bag. Therefore, it is necessary to have such a device that is built into the putter or club which, at the same time, does not effect the playing characteristics of the putter or club.
The prior art contains many devices designed to fulfill the above needs, but none does it like the present invention. The most pertinent patents concerning golf ball retrievers or extractors that attach to the handle-grip end of a golf club are as follows:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No.: Inventor: Date of Patent: ______________________________________ 5,004,240 Tsukamoto April 2, 1991 4,787,632 Nigrelli, et al. Nov. 29, 1988 3,318,628 White May 9, 1967 3,401,970 Russell Sept. 17, 1968 3,462,184 Russell Aug. 19, 1969 2,833,584 McEvoy May 6, 1958 2,801,875 McEvoy Aug. 6, 1957 802,264 Brown Oct. 17, 1905 3,698,720 Gudmundsen Oct. 17, 1972 3,273,927 Carlson Sept. 20, 1966 3,239,264 DuPont March 25, 1964 4,687,204 Lempio Aug. 18, 1987 1,380,526 Carpenter June 7, 1921 1,674,294 O'Rourke June 19, 1928 2,523,942 Ciambriello Sept. 26, 1950 2,750,222 Borah June 12, 1956 ______________________________________
The Tsukamoto patent shows an extractor will ball-retrieving prongs built into the grip handle. Unfortunately, the latter device requires that the golf club handle be modified so that a spring and other mechanical components can be placed therein to operate the retrieving prongs. The Nigrelli, et al. patent shows claw-clamp type retrievers that attach to the end of a club handle. The White patent shows another prong-like retriever built into the handle grip operable by a push button extension. The two Russel patents show other prong-like retrievers that attach to the end of a handle or which are built into the handle grip extension. The two McEvoy patents also show palm retrievers that are removably attachable to the handle by different means. The remainder of the above patents show various golf ball retrievers that fit by a collar over the end of the golf club or are incorporated within the handle grip itself.
Unlike the golf ball retrievers or extractors in the prior art that are attached to the handle end of the golf club, the present invention is an integral part of the grip itself and thus requires no modification of an existing golf club. Furthermore, unlike inventions in the prior art the present invention has no moving parts. The present invention discloses an extractor which is a circular module having an opening on the top end which holds a ball when it is pushed downward on the ball. The present extractor has one or more finger holes around the extractor to enable the ball to be released from the extractor by use of the golfer's fingers. One embodiment of the present invention has an entire grip that fits over the golf club shaft and replaces the preexisting grip on the golf club. Another embodiment is designed to fit over a preexisting grip. Finally, a third embodiment attaches just over the tip of the grip itself. All of the embodiments require no modification to existing golf clubs and have no impact upon putting or playing performance.


Description of the Prior Art
This invention, in its preferred form, relates to welding fixture for welding sleeves to a fuel grid and to a method for assembling and locating the sleeves relative to the grid. More particularly, the invention relates to the apparatus, and the attendant method, for locating a grid on a fixture, and for locating sleeves on the grid, through use of the fixture. As herein used, the word "fixture" includes both a plate having abutments and locating pins, and independent pegs.
There have been provided nuclear fuel bundle assemblies which include a matrix of nuclear fuel rods which are arrayed in rows and columns and held in such configuration by a plurality of fuel rod grids. These grids are formed of straps which are slotted so that the straps mate, one strap entering into the slot of the outer strap at each point of intersection. Control rods are included at selected positions within the array of nuclear fuel rods. These control rods are received in guide sleeves which are welded to the grid. More particularly, there has been provided in the past a construction in which the straps forming the grid had edges which were substantially in a common plane, and a plurality of guide sleeves were provided, each seated on four straps defining a common cell. The outside diameter of the cylindrical guide sleeve was such as to permit the base of the cylindrical guide sleeve to rest upon the edges of four straps forming a single cell, it being understood that guide sleeves were provided only at spaced cells, and not at adjacent cells.
To assemble the guide sleeve to the grid, the guide sleeves were butt welded onto the straps forming the particular cell at the upper edge of each of the four straps. This procedure required that the grid, after assembly, be machined to insure that the edges of the four straps forming the particular cell to which the cylindrical sleeve was to be welded lay as closely as possible in a common plane, and this required a fabrication step known as "spot facing". The "spot facing" step was time consuming and costly, requiring the use of a suitable machine and fixtures, as well as the expenditure of a workman's time. The requirement for relatively great precision in the location of the strap edges is based on the fact that if a gap greater than 0.005 inches remains between the sleeve and the edge of the grid strap, the weld which is effected may well be defective in that the fused metal will not extend entirely beneath that portion of the base of the cylindrical sleeve which is intended to engage the upper edge of the grip strap; the occurrence of a gap will result in either lack of welding or no welding, either of which is unsatisfactory.
Welding fixtures and methods have been heretofore provided, involving the provision of so called "chills" generally in the nature of pins which extended into cells and which positioned sleeves on the grid, for welding. These fixtures have not proven satisfactory, particularly in connection with the utilization of laser welding for welding the sleeves to the grid straps.


Physical media can be provided with a purchase of a computer system. The physical media can allow a user to restore the computer system to the factory defaults if there is a problem with the computer system. The physical media can also be used to perform data recovery. However, physical media can be expensive and unreliable. The physical media can be faulty due to a manufacturing process problem or may not be supported by the disk drive used to read the physical media. Furthermore, the physical media is a fixed size which limits the amount of information that can be stored in the physical media. Moreover, the physical media is read-only so it cannot be updated or upgraded by the user. For example, if a user upgrades the operating system on the computer system and needs to restore the computer system, the physical media would restore the computer system to the originally installed operating system (factory default), rather than the upgraded version. If a user wanted to restore to the updated or upgraded version of the operating system, the user would be required to obtain a new physical media corresponding to the upgraded or updated version of the operating system or download and install the updates.


In recent years, with gradual exhaustion of non-renewable resources, such as oil, and increasingly severe environmental damages, more and more attentions are paid on new energy vehicles. As the key role of the new energy vehicle, power battery has obtained increasingly higher attention nowadays.
However, during running of the power battery, there are many uncontrollable and extremely bad situations which may cause short circuit inside the battery. The short circuit may produce a lot of heat, which may damage the battery or harm the users, thus reduce the safety and reliability of the power battery. Accordingly, a safe and reliable battery is in need in this field.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device that can have power consumption reduced.
2. Description of the Background Art
Semiconductor devices incorporated in various equipments have the scale of integration increased in order to reduce the size of the device and to integrate much more powerful logic. Increase in the integration density will result in a great number of elements operating inside to raise the heat. Therefore, reducing power consumption is an important factor. For example, in a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), there is a great demand for reducing the power consumption as a result of increase in the number of elements according to increase in the storage capacity.
A DRAM as a conventional semiconductor memory device will be described in detail hereinafter. A DRAM includes an intermediate potential generation circuit for generating precharge potential for a bit line, a timer circuit for carrying out a self refresh operation, and an internal high voltage circuit for generating high potential to be provided to a word line drive circuit.
An intermediate potential generation circuit will first be described. An example of an intermediate potential generation circuit is disclosed in IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuit, Vol. SC-22, No. 5, October 1987, pp. 861-867. FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram showing a structure of a conventional intermediate potential generation circuit thereof.
Referring to FIG. 25, an intermediate potential generation circuit includes transistors Q101-Q103 which are n type MOSFETS, transistors Q104-Q106 which are p type MOSFETs, and resistors R101-R104.
FIG. 26 schematically shows a structure of the intermediate potential generation circuit of FIG. 25 on a p type substrate. Referring to FIG. 26, the intermediate potential generation circuit includes a p type substrate 111, an n type well 112, transistors Q11-Q106, and resistors R101-R104. In FIG. 26, components corresponding to those of FIG. 25 have the same reference characters denoted.
An operation of the intermediate potential generation circuit will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26.
The resistance of resistors R101 and R102 equal each other. Also, the resistance of resistors R103 and R104 equal each other. The resistance of resistors R101-R104 is several m.OMEGA., which is high resistance. Therefore, the current flowing in transistors Q101, Q102, Q104 and Q105 is reduced, and these transistors conduct lightly. Therefore, the gate-source potential of transistor Q101, Q102, Q104 and Q105 is equal to the threshold voltage of each transistor.
According to the above-described structure, the potential of nodes N1 and N3 is approximately V.sub.CC /2 (V.sub.CC is the power supply voltage). Therefore, the potential of node N2 becomes V.sub.CC /2+V.sub.TH101 (V.sub.TH101 is the threshold voltage of transistor Q101), and the potential of node N4 is approximately V.sub.CC /2-.vertline.V.sub.TH105 .vertline. (V.sub.TH105 is the threshold voltage of transistor Q105). When the potential of an output signal V.sub.sg is lower than V.sub.CC /2+V.sub.TH101 -V.sub.TH103 (V.sub.TH103 is the threshold voltage of transistor Q103), transistor Q103 conducts, whereby the potential of output signal V.sub.sg rises. When the potential of output signal V.sub.sg is higher than V.sub.CC /2-.vertline.V.sub.TH105 .vertline.+.vertline.V.sub.TH106 .vertline. (V.sub.TH106 is the threshold voltage of transistor Q106), transistor Q106 conducts, whereby the potential of output signal V.sub.sg falls. By the above-described operation, the potential of output signal V.sub.sg becomes approximately V.sub.CC /2.
A timer circuit for a self refresh operation will be described hereinafter. A refresh operation must be carried out periodically since a DRAM is a volatile memory. Lengthening the period of a refresh operation will reduce power consumption thereof, to allow reduction of power consumption in the device. In a conventional timer circuit, a refresh operation is carried out when the potential held in a memory cell becomes lower than a predetermined level. An example of such a timer circuit is disclosed in IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 26, No. 11, November 1991, pp. 1556-1562. FIG. 27 shows a structure of this conventional timer circuit.
Referring to FIG. 27, a timer circuit includes a differential amplifier 121, an S-R flipflop 122, a delay circuit 123, a transistor Q111 which is an n type MOSFET, a capacitor 124 of a memory cell, and an n type diffusion layer 125.
FIGS. 28A(1) to 28B(B) are timing chart showing the operation of the timer circuit of FIG. 27.
An operation of the timer circuit will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28A(1) to 28B(B). When the potential V.sub.N in capacitor 124 becomes lower than a reference potential V.sub.REF at time t.sub.1, S-R flipflop 122 is set to render the level of an output signal .phi..sub.E to a H level (logical high). Output signal .phi..sub.E of S-R flipflop 122 is delayed for a predetermined time, and then applied to a reset terminal R of S-R flipflop 122. As a result, a reset signal R attains a H level. This causes S-R flipflop 122 to be reset, whereby output signal .phi..sub.E attains a L level (logical low). A refresh operation is carried while output signal .phi..sub.E attains a H level, whereby transistor Q111 attains a conductive state, and the potential of capacitor 124 of a memory cell is maintained at V.sub.CC. Then, when output signal .phi..sub.E attains a L level, transistor Q111 is rendered non-conductive, whereby the holding voltage V.sub.N of capacitor 124 is gradually reduced by leakage current. When holding voltage V.sub.N of capacitor 124 becomes lower than reference voltage V.sub.REF, an operation similar to that of the above-described operation is repeated. Thus, a refresh operation is carried out at a predetermined period.
An internal high voltage circuit will be described. FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a structure of a conventional internal high voltage circuit. Referring to FIG. 29, an internal high voltage circuit includes a first detector 132, a second detector 132, a third detector 133, a first oscillator 134, a second oscillator 135, a small pump 136, a large pump 137, a RAS pump 138, and an AND gate G101 and an inverter G102.
When high voltage V.sub.PP supplied to a word line driver 139 becomes lower than a predetermined potential, first detector 131 provides an output signal .phi..sub.E1 of a H level to first oscillator 134. First oscillator 134 oscillates while output signal .phi..sub.E1, attains a H level, and provides an oscillation signal to small pump 136. Small pump 136 responds to this oscillation signal to provide high voltage V.sub.PP to word line driver 139 at a standby state.
When the high voltage supplied to word line driver 139 becomes lower than a predetermined potential, second detector 132 provides an output signal .phi..sub.E2 of H level to second oscillator 135. Second oscillator 135 oscillates when output signal .phi..sub.E2 attains a H level, and provides an oscillation signal to large pump 137. Large pump 137 responds to this oscillation signal to rapidly increase high voltage V.sub.PP supplied to word line driver 139.
When high voltage V.sub.PP supplied to word line driver 139 becomes lower than a predetermined potential, third detector 133 provides an output signal .phi..sub.E3 of a H level to AND gate G101. AND gate G101 takes the logical product of output signal .phi..sub.E3 and an inverted signal of a row address strobe signal /RAS ("/" implies a low-active signal) to provide an output signal to RAS pump 138. AND gate G101 provides an output signal when row address strobe signal /RAS attains a L level, whereby the semiconductor device operates to raise the word line to high voltage V.sub.PP.
The first detector shown in FIG. 29 will be described with reference to FIG. 30 showing a circuit diagram thereof.
Referring to FIG. 30, a first detector includes transistors Q121-Q124 which are p type MOSFETs, and transistors Q125 and Q126 which are n type MOSFETs.
High voltage V.sub.PP provided to the first detector is reduced by a threshold voltage .sub.TH of each transistor, i.e., by 3V.sup.TH, by transistors Q121-Q123. Therefore, an output signal .phi..sub.E1 of a H level is output when high voltage V.sub.PP becomes lower than V.sub.CC +3V.sub.TH.
The second detector of FIG. 29 will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 31 showing a circuit diagram thereof.
Referring to FIG. 31, a second detector includes transistors Q131-Q133 which are p type MOSFETs, and transistors Q134 and Q135 which are n type MOSFETs.
High voltage V.sub.PP provided to the second detector is reduced by a threshold voltage V.sub.TH of each transistor, i.e. 2V.sup.TH, by transistors Q131 and Q132. Therefore, the second detector provides an output signal .phi..sub.E2 of a H level when high voltage V.sub.PP becomes lower than V.sub.CC +2V.sub.TH. The third detector of FIG. 29 has a structure similar to that of the second detector of FIG. 31, and also operates in a similar manner thereof.
The first oscillator of FIG. 29 will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 32 showing a circuit diagram thereof.
Referring to FIG. 32, a first oscillator includes transistors Q141-Q148 which are p type MOSFETs, and transistors Q149-Q156 which are n type MOSFETs. C101-C103 shown in FIG. 20 are the parasitic capacitance of each portion.
Because transistor Q141 has a long channel length, current flowing in transistor Q149 is limited to a current value of I.sub.1. Transistor Q149 and transistors Q150, Q152, Q154 and Q156 form a current mirror, so that current flowing through transistors Q143, Q145, Q147, Q152, Q154 and Q156 is limited to the value of I.sub.1. Therefore, the delay time of each inverter formed by each of these transistors becomes 3C/I.sub.1 where each capacitance of parasitic capacitances C101-C103 is C.
When V.sub.CC /2+V.sub.TH101 -V.sub.TH103 >V.sub.sg =V.sub.CC /2, and V.sub.CC /2-.vertline.V.sub.TH105 .vertline.+.vertline.V.sub.TH106 .vertline.<V.sub.sg =V.sub.CC /2, i.e. V.sub.TH101 >V.sub.H103, and .vertline.V.sub.TH105 .vertline.>.vertline.V.sub.TH106 .vertline. in the intermediate potential generation circuit of FIG. 25, a through current flows in transistors Q103 and Q106 at the time of standby since transistors Q103 and Q106 both conduct when the potential of output signal V.sub.sg is stable at V.sub.CC /2. There was a problem that the power consumption of the device was increased due to this through current.
In the timer circuit of FIG. 27, the period of a refresh operation is T.sub.1, at low temperature as shown in FIG. 28(a), and is T.sub.2 at high temperature as shown in FIG. 28(b) because leakage current of capacitor 124 increases at high temperature.
The timer circuit shown in FIG. 27 had problems set forth in the following. A phenomenon called soft error is seen in a DRAM. More specifically, .alpha. particles emitted from the package or the like cause the generated electrons to be captured in an n type diffusion layer 125 of a memory cell, whereby information in the memory cell is destroyed. Therefore, soft error easily occurs when the holding voltage V.sub.N becomes not higher than the lowest holding voltage V.sub.REF required for proper operation of a readout circuit of a memory cell by a predetermined value of .DELTA.V. As a result, when the level of holding voltage V.sub.REF is equal at both the high and low temperature, the time period having a high probability of generating soft error is d.sub.1, and d.sub.2 at a low temperature and a high temperature, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B. Therefore, there was a problem that the possibility of soft error occurrence is increased at low temperature.
In the first and second detectors shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, a through current is conducted to increase power consumption since all transistors Q124, Q126, Q133 and Q135 become conductive when the level of output signals .phi..sup.E1 and .phi..sub.E2 change.
In the third detector shown in FIG. 31, the time required for pulling the potential of the node between transistorS Q132 and Q134 from a H level to a L level is several .mu.s. An operation of a DRAM occurs at the minimum of every 90 ns, for example. Therefore, a word line is driven several ten times during the transition of the third director from an off state to an on state, resulting in reduction of the level of high voltage V.sub.PP of word line driver 139. FIGS. 33(a) to 33(b) are diagrams for describing the change in the level of high voltage V.sub.PP, with respect to output signal .phi..sub.E3 of the third director. It is appreciated from FIG. 33(a) to 33(b) that the level of high voltage V.sub.PP is gradually reduced according to each transition of row address strobe signal /RAS when output signal .phi..sub.E3 attains a L level. Therefore, a conventional third detector is set so that sufficient current is conducted to transistor Q134 in order to rapidly pull down the potential of the node between transistors Q132 and Q134 rapidly to a L level from a H level. Thus, there was a problem that power consumption is increased during standby.
In the first oscillator of FIG. 32, the delay time of 3C/I.sub.1 is reduced due to increase of current I.sub.1 flowing in transistor Q141 in response to increase of power supply potential V.sub.CC. This causes the oscillation frequency of the first oscillator to be increased to shorten the operation cycle. Thus, there was a problem that power consumption of the device is increased.