GIAN Abondoned Patents Database

Disclosed is a process for introducing zinc into a water-containing component of the primary system of a nuclear power plant, in particular for preventing the deposition of radioactive cobalt and/or for reducing the possible susceptibility of materials in the component to corrosion. An effective level of zinc is introduced into the component as a dissolved zinc compound which is a zinc complex and/or metal zincate. c

A thermally actuated fluidic optical switching circuit that includes a heater substructure having heater resistors and thermally conductive regions associated with the heater resistors and configured to tailor the thermal characteristics of the heater substructure.

A fiber optic interconnection assembly is described. The assembly includes a network side and a customer side. Pivoting panels which can be locked in a closed position separate the network side from the customer side. The locking mechanism locks the pivoting panels in the closed position, thereby preventing unauthorized access to the network side. Incoming fibers enter the network side, wind through fiber troughs and connect to interconnection sites on the pivoting panels. Outgoing fibers enter the customer side, wind through fiber troughs and connect to the interconnection sites on the pivoting panels.

A camera with a retractable electronic flash assembly is provided with a cam member having a first cam face for moving the flash assembly and a second cam face for moving a flashtube in the flash assembly. The cam member is moved within a first moving range to move the flash assembly, and the cam member is moved within a second moving range to move the flashtube. Thus, a moving mechanism of the flash assembly and the flashtube can be simplified.

A fixing unit for a copying machine has a heating roller having a heating portion therein, and a press roller provided in rolling contact with the heating roller. The heating roller has a paper passing region which comes into contact with a copy medium of any size, and a paper non-passing region which does not come into contact with a copy sheet of any size. A fixing control unit for the fixing unit controls the heating portion such that a temperature of the paper passing region of the heating roller becomes a predetermined temperature, and controls image forming operation of an image forming unit and convey operation of sheet convey mechanism in accordance with a size of a copy sheet to be fed next, and a temperature of the paper non-passing region. Upon continuous image forming operation on a plurality of small-size copy sheets, when the temperature of the paper non-passing region of the heating roller becomes higher than usual, if image formation is to be successively performed on a small-size copy sheet, the image forming operation of the image forming unit and the convey operation of the convey mechanism are continued. If image formation is to be performed on a larger-size copy sheet, the image forming operation of the image forming unit and the convey operation of the convey mechanism are set in the standby state until the temperature of the heating roller decreases to a predetermined temperature.

A simultaneous developing/cleaning device includes a developer carrying member for carrying a layer of developer, the developer carrying member forming a developing zone where the layer of the developer is contacted to the developer carrying member and to an image bearing member carrying a latent image; and a charge application member for applying electric charge to the developer carried on the developer carrying member by electric discharge, the charge application member being provided upstream of the developing zone with respect to a moving direction of the developer carrying member.

A toner container for containing toner has a container main body portion, a container end portion, an aperture portion, and an extendable portion connecting the container main body portion and the container end portion. The extendable portion renders the portion capable of a relative rocking motion. The toner is discharged from the aperture portion by the relative rocking motion of the container main body portion and the container end portion.

A toner carrier is included in an image forming apparatus wherein the electrical resistance between a shaft of the toner carrier and a surface which covers the shaft is different depending on the polarity of the voltage applied between th shaft and the surface. A resistance characteristic is thereby obtained having a resistance that allows prescribed current to flow from the shaft side to the surface side and which makes current flow from the surface side to the shaft side difficult. This prevents leakage current being received from the surface of the photosensitive drum. The amount of charging up of the toner therefore does not drop and a prescribed amount of charging up can be maintained, which means that fog of the image background surface does not occur. Furthermore, because there is no voltage dependence at the toner carrier surface from the shaft side, stable image density can be achieved, enabling high image quality to be achieved.

A sensor, sensor disk, sensor measurement correction system, and method used in measuring a parameter in the refining zone. The sensor includes a spacer that spaces its sensing element from the disk. In one preferred embodiment, the spacer is made of an insulating material that insulates the sensing element from the thermal mass of the disk to prevent the thermal mass from affecting sensor measurement. The sensor includes a housing carried by the spacer that, in turn, carries the sensing element. Where the sensing element is a temperature sensing element, the housing is thermally conductive and the housing and spacer enclose the sensing element. Each sensor is disposed in the refining surface, preferably in its own separate bore in the disk and flush with or below axial refiner bar height. Signals from one or more sensors are processed by a processing device linked to a module containing calibration data that is applied to make sensor measurements more accurate. The module holds calibration data from sensors that are precalibrated before the sensor disk in which they are assembled is shipped, along with the module, to a fiber processing plant where the disk is installed in a refiner and the module connected to the processing device. In one preferred embodiment the sensor or sensors are carried by a sensor module that can be a removable segment of a refiner disk.

A system which provides real-time code coverage data on a memory monitored by the system, the code coverage data providing information regarding accesses to the monitored memory, the monitored memory being connected to address lines and data lines, the system comprising: a code coverage memory, the code coverage memory having address inputs and data inputs, wherein signals on the address lines connected to the monitored memory are received at the address inputs of said code coverage memory; and a code coverage control circuit for providing predetermined code coverage data to the data inputs of the code coverage memory. In a preferred embodiment, the code coverage memory is comprised of multiple locations, each of the locations having a predetermined width, and where the code coverage control circuit is adapted to provide predetermined code coverage data in real-time concurrently with the accesses to the monitored memory. The code coverage data is comprised of predetermined bit patterns providing information on the accesses to the monitored memory, where the predetermined bit patterns may be varied for different tests run through the monitored memory. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, the system is further comprised of: a trace memory, where the trace memory has address inputs and data inputs, and wherein signals on the address lines connected to the monitored memory are received at the data inputs of the code coverage memory for storage in the trace memory; and a trace control circuit in electrical communication with the address inputs of the trace memory, wherein the trace control circuit is adapted to output signals to the address inputs of the trace memory to change the location in the trace memory to which the signals on the address lines connected to the monitored memory are stored.

A bunk bed or a high rise (loft) bed framing system. The framing system incorporates interlocking tubular rails and posts for constructing the framing system. The tubular rails and posts are of varying diameters which fit into corner posts. The tubular rails and posts form an integrated ladder system and an integrated safety rail system when the framing system is assembled. The ladder system and the safety rail system provide added safety to the user while providing further stability, stiffness and durability to the framing system.

A mouth powered vacuum is provide with a cap with a lip at a lower end attached around a mouth of a bottle. The lip is made of a resilient material, so that it can be snapped on and off the bottle without twisting. A curved intake channel is connected between a side and a bottom of the cap. A flexible pickup tube is inserted into the intake channel at the side of the cap for being swept over objects to be picked up. A generally rigid mouth piece is integrally attached to the cap, and positioned sideward and upward for being sucked by a user. The angle between the mouthpiece and the bottle is selected to enable the bottle to be held comfortably when the mouthpiece is placed between the user's lips. A mouthpiece channel is connected between a distal end of the mouthpiece and the bottom of the cap. The inner end of the mouthpiece channel is enlarged relative to the outer end. A screen is positioned across the enlarged inner end of the mouthpiece channel for preventing the user from inhaling the objects. The screen is much larger than the outer end of the mouthpiece channel for improving airflow.

Door hinge with a locking device based on a field force, including a cylinder divided by a piston into working spaces that are filled with an operating medium whose viscosity can be changed by means of a field force. The working spaces are connected to one another by at least one flow connection that is subject to the influence of a field force generating element. The door hinge is designed as a pivot bearing, wherein the cylinder takes the form of a bearing eye and the piston takes the form of a rotary piston with at least one blade.

A zipper handle structure is formed of an attaching member to be swingably attached to a slider main portion of a zipper and having an opening and a side portion, a handle member having a through hole at one side, and a connecting member for connecting the attaching member and the handle member. The connecting member includes a first end portion with an engaging shaft, a second end portion with an engaging hole to be detachably engageable with the engaging shaft, and a center portion between the first and second end portions. When the connecting member connects the attaching member and the handle member, the first and second end portions are overlapped to engage the engaging shaft with the engaging hole, while the side portion of the attaching member is held between the first and second end portions adjacent the center portion and the engaging shaft is located in the through hole of the handle member. The handle member is swingably connected to the attaching member. In this structure, a user can easily exchange the handle member with a new one as desired, an attaching strength can be easily strengthened, and the shape and thickness of the handle member have no regulations.

The reliability of a gas pressure regulator is ensured through the use of the disclosed integrated crimp bias apparatus and method for biasing and crimping components of a diaphragm subassembly for the regulator. Omission of crimping of the components after biasing during forming of the diaphragm subassembly for the regulator is avoided by automatically locking at least one of the components of the subassembly in the apparatus before biasing and automatically releasing the locking only after crimping of the biased components. A pincerlike crimper of the apparatus includes a pair of pincers working on a pivot, each pincer having a handle to which a force can be applied and a grasping jaw for exerting a crimping pressure on the components. Grasping jaws each have two crimping elements which oppose respective ones of the crimping elements on the opposing grasping jaw during crimping. A fixture holds the components to be biased and crimp connected. The fixture and components held therein are moveable into and out of a position for crimping from an initial position thereof where biasing is performed.

An apparatus for perforating a cigarette comprises a torus-shaped body having an aperture therethrough and a pair of spring-loaded reciprocating pins disposed within respective bores oriented in linearly opposing relationship along a common diameter of the aperture. The reciprocating pins are pointed at their inward ends and are held in retracted positions with their respective bores until an external pressure, applied by the user's fingers, for example, is exerted on the distal ends of the reciprocating pins, causing them to move inward toward each other and to pierce the outer covering of a cigarette inserted within the aperture. The reciprocating pins may be operated together to simultaneously perforate opposite sides of the cigarette which is inserted within the aperture of the cigarette perforator.

An athletic shoe sole for a shoe has side portions with concavely rounded inner and outer surfaces, as viewed in at least a heel area and a midtarsal area of the shoe sole. The rounded surfaces increasing at least one of lateral and medial stability of the sole. The concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface located at the heel area extends substantially continuously through a sidemost part of the sole side. The rounded portion of the sole outer surface located at the midtarsal area extends up the sole side to at least a level corresponding to a lowest point of the sole inner surface. A midsole component of the shoe sole extends into the sidemost section of the sole side and also extends up the sole side to above a level corresponding to a lowest point of the sole inner surface. The concavely rounded portions of the sole midtarsal area are located at least at the sole lateral side. The sole outer surface of at least part of the midtarsal area is substantially convexly rounded, as viewed in a shoe sole sagittal plane.

The invention concerns a fire arm equipped with an enabling system which comprises a transmitter/receiver (6) of ultrasonic waves mounted on the fire arm, a unit (5) to be carried by the shooter, containing means (13) for sending back a signal transmitted to the latter by said transmitter/receiver (6) and a monitoring device (9) monitoring the signal received by the above-mentioned receiving part, controlling a device (10) which can prevent any firing. The enabling system contains a timer (7) which can measure the length of time between the transmission of a signal by the transmitter/receiver (6) and its reception by the latter, and a device (8) to calculate the distance covered by said signal, whereby the monitoring device (9) only makes it possible to fire when it recognizes the signal and when on top of that the above-mentioned distance is inferior to a certain limit.

An adjustable fishing sinker release enabling release of a sinker from a fishing line after a fish has been hooked includes a generally hollow housing member, open at both ends, bearing a hole proximate one end for attachment to a fishing line, and a release slot along one side for releasable capture of a sinker. A pin member is slidably engaged within the housing member, and includes a first leg portion that catches on the housing member and prevents disengagement, a loop portion for attachment of a fishing hook, and a second leg portion that selectively extends across and closes the slot on the one side of the housing member. When a fish strikes the fishing hook, the pin moves to the open position, opening the slot and releasing the sinker. The force required to move the pin may be easily and conveniently adjusted either at the time of manufacture or in the field to fit the intended catch.

A support structure for plants including a basket centered about a vertical axis, and a coconut fiber liner set within the basket to form a container for potting soil and plants placed therein, with the basket being arranged either to hang from an overhead position when being displayed, or to alternatively stand on the ground when the hanging of the basket is not desired.

A seal attached to a door frame for mating engagement with a door. The seal including a first side for sealing engagement with a door edge, and a second side for sealing engagement with the door outer surface. The seal moves relative to the door from the door open position, where the seal first side is disposed at a first spaced apart distance from the door frame edge surface; to the door closed position, where the door moves the seal first side closer to the door frame edge surface. The seal further moves relative to the door from the door open position, where the seal second side is not disposed adjacent to the door outer surface; to the door closed position where the seal second side is disposed adjacent to the door outer surface and in covering relation to the door outer surface.

A light seal for use with robotic equipment includes a window having a divider panel rotatably mounted therein. Flexible sealing flaps at the opposite sides of the window opening engage the divider panel when the divider panel is in a sealed position to provide a light seal between the edges of the divider panel and the edges of the window opening.

A fastener can be inserted into a narrow space behind a wall, and can be brought into contact with the back of the wall over a wide area to sufficiently reinforce the wall even when a bolt is tightened to securely fasten an object to the wall. The fastener has a block assembly including a plurality of blocks having two longitudinal ends and coupled together at the longitudinal ends in a single line. One of the blocks is formed with a threaded hole into which a bolt is adapted to be threaded and string holes. At least one string member is passed through the string holes. The block assembly has an arrangement for preventing each block from pivoting in a first direction from a straight position, in which the block assembly is arranged in a straight line, and allowing each block to pivot in a second direction opposite to the first direction from the straight position.

A coating with the ability to protect (1) the inside wall (i.e., lining) of a rocket engine combustion chamber and (2) parts of other apparatuses that utilize or are exposed to combustive or high-temperature environments. The novelty of this invention lies in the manner a protective coating is embedded into the lining.

A method and an apparatus for driving a hydraulic system of a construction machine, in particular a hydraulic excavator, having a plurality of control blocks which are fed via at least one pump each and each drive a plurality of hydraulically operated actuators of the construction machine. At least two control blocks are designed to drive the same actuator. The delivery capacity of the pump of the second control block can be connected up to the actuator via a delay element.

A specific type of hydraulic fan drive system is provided for engine drive machines, such as on road and off road machines, such as buses, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, and so on. The hydraulic fan drive systems turn a cooling fan (39) which provides airflow to cool the engine on such machines. This system uses a proportional pressure reducing valve (34) (or combination of valves providing a pressure reducing function) between the pump (12) and the fan motor (38). This valve (34) or (combination of valves) controls the pressure drop across the fan motor (38) based on a control signal from an electronic controller (50). The valve allows as little or as much flow to pass as is required to maintain this pressure drop at the load (the fan motor (38)).

Thermal machines are known in prior art. They generally differ considerably from the theoretically most advantageous engine in respect of pressure-volume cycles or have a complicated structure. The object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks and achieve a new type of thermal machine. The advantages of the invention include a nearly ideal phasing of pressure-volume cycles, built-in power regulation and insignificant mechanical losses. This is achieved by using inversely linked connecting rods (9), four-chamber cylinders and a crankshaft (7) provided with rolling contact bearings with insertable rolling elements.

Internal combustion engine with as exhaust pressure regulator (10) arranged in an exhaust conduit (5) for regulating the exhaust counter-pressure in the engine cylinders. Upstream of the exhaust pressure regulator, the exhaust conduit communicates via valve means (17) with the intake side of an air compressor (14) to make possible pre-charging of the compressor during engine braking.

A method (100) and system for actively controlling the temperature of engine (10) exhaust gas entering an aftertreatment device and thereby controlling undesirable emissions. Through control of the turbine blade position of a variable geometry turbocharger (16), the temperature of the exhaust gas entering the aftertreatment device is maintained within the operating temperature window for the device, and at the same time, achieves the fuel economy benefits associated with turbocharging.

An internal combustion engine having one or more parallel exhaust-driven turbochargers that each comprise an activatable delivery capacity adjusting unit for variable adjustment of the boost air delivery capacity with malfunction monitoring of each individual delivery capacity adjusting unit wherein, upon detection of a malfunction of a respective delivery capacity adjusting unit, a corresponding malfunction datum is emitted.

The process and the apparatus serve for the low-temperature fractionation of air in a rectification system that has at least one pressure column and one low-pressure column. Feed air is compressed to a first pressure p.sub.1 in a first compressor, purified in a purification stage, cooled and at least in part introduced into the pressure column. At least one liquid fraction from the pressure column is fed into the low-pressure column. A nitrogen-rich fraction from the low-pressure column is warmed and mixed with feed air. The warmed nitrogen-rich fraction is mixed with the feed air downstream of the feed air purification stage. The mixture of feed air and nitrogen-rich fraction is further compressed in a second compressor to a second pressure p.sub.2 which is higher than the first pressure p.sub.1.

A double-purpose earlobe ornament usable as stud and earring comfortable to wear comprises an earlobe-support 1 adapted to come in contact with the outer side 9 of the earlobe that is provided in the upper part of an ornamental piece 7, an earlobe-holder 6 adapted to elastically come in contact with a spot on the inner side of the earlobe corresponding to the earlobe-support 1 that is provided in the lower part of the ornamental piece 7 so as to be elastically turned upright, the earlobe-support 1 being shaped flat in the upper portion thereof and gently curved away from the outer side of the earlobe in the lower portion thereof and having an opening 5 extending over part or the whole of the gently curved portion, a piercing pin 3 provided at the back of the opening 5 so as to be rotatable when passed through the opening 5, the piercing pin 3 being adapted to pass through the earlobe-holder 6 turned upright and extend from the outer side to the inner side of the earlobe substantially at right angles to the earlobe-support 1 on coming in contact with the upper end of the opening 5.

Fused silica boules (19) having improved radial homogeneity are produced by controlling the air flow around the boule (19) during its formation. The boule is formed in a cup-like containment vessel (13) which collects silica particles from a plurality of burners (14). The containment vessel (13) rotates and oscillates relative to the burners (14) as the boule (19) is formed. The containment vessel (13) is bounded by a cup-like containment wall (22), and a shadow or air flow wall (130) is spaced apart from and surrounds the containment wall (22) forming a gap or air flow passage (175) therebetween. A radially-outwardly extending deflecting wedge portion (23) is formed at the upper extent of the containment wall (22) and at an outlet end of flow passage (175). An upwardly and outwardly tapered surface (131) at the upper end of the air flow wall (130) complements an upwardly and outwardly deflection surface (123) formed on the deflection wedge (23) to form a radially-outwardly and upwardly flow passage (176) for discharging the flow from passage (175). The radially-outwardly and upwardly directed flow passage (176) deflects air infiltrated through the passage (175) outwardly away from the boule (19) so as to reduce and minimize the effects of infiltrated air on the boule.

In a sensor comprising a housing, through which a medium to be examined is conducted, the housing includes at least two passive building components capable of oscillating and oscillator circuits of which each includes an amplifier component and a variable phase shifting component providing for a phase shift range sufficiently large to switch the oscillating components off while the amplifier component remains operating.

A method and apparatus for precise measurement of pressure dependence of head fly height using transitional thermal signals is disclosed. A slider is positioned relative to a rotating a disk having at least one laser bump. Calibration data is gathered by decreasing the pressure and measuring the fly height until a contact positive TA signal is detected. A non-contact negative TA signal is then normalized using the gathered calibration data. The TA signal amplitude may then be used to ascertain the fly height and pressure for a head.

An apparatus for carrying out a weight measurement in centrifuges for separating suspensions into their solid and liquid components comprises a machine housing, a drum rotatingly mounted in the machine housing and receiving the suspension, and a filler pipe leading into the drum for feeding the suspension into the drum. The machine housing is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis of rotation, and a force measuring element senses weight-dependent deflections of the machine housing occurring about the axis of rotation and originating from a different degree of filling of the drum with suspension or from a different dewatering of the solid suspension components, and the machine housing deflections are indicated on a measurement value indicator. A pipeline is provided for generating a positive pressure or a negative pressure in the drum. The line of application of the force generated in this pipeline on account of the positive pressure or the negative pressure is guided so as to intersect the axis of rotation of the machine housing, or a sensor is provided for sensing the pressure in the drum and correcting the measurement value indicator in dependence upon the pressure.

An apparatus and a method of rotatively empowering a harmonic drive transmission. The steps of the method include arranging a primary and a secondary cup-shaped flexspline co-axially within a rotatable rigid circular spline, and forming pivotable fingers in the secondary flexspline, biasing radially outwardly the pivotable fingers so as to contact and bias radially outwardly the primary flexspline in a sequential manner. The array of teeth between the primary flexspline and the circular spline engage one another to effect relative rotation therebetween. An array of piezo-electric elements is arranged in contact with the secondary flexspline and an adjacent non-rotating component. An electric current is sequenced through the piezo-electric elements to effect a dimensional change therein, thus to effect the biasing of the primary flexspline by the secondary flexspline.

Pliers contain two parallel operating jaws (3, 7) and two handles (1, 16) which can be pivoted relative to one another and one of which (1), in order to form a first plier unit (Z1 ), is connected fixedly to a first (3) of the operating jaws and another (16), in order to form a second plier unit (Z2), is connected in an articulated manner to a second (7) of the operating jaws, via a drive device (14), in order, during pivoting of the handles (1, 16), for the operating jaws (3, 7) to be moved towards one another or away from one another in an operating direction (A). It is possible to preset a rest position of the second plier unit (Z2) relative to the first plier unit (Z1 ) in the operating direction (A).

Clamp for screwed fastening member, including: a main body formed with an internal axial passage; a rod body connected with the main body; two clamping members each having a bottom clamping end, the clamping members being pivotally disposed on the main body and movable to open or close the clamping ends thereof; and a predetermined number of pressing member disposed between the clamping members and the main body for forcedly pressing the clamping members and making the clamping ends thereof extend into the passage and close to clamp an article. A screwed fastening member can be positioned in the main body and clamped by the clamping members, whereby the clamp can be rotated to drive and screw the screwed fastening member.

A dampening train of rollers in an offset printing press system for delivering dampening solution to a plate cylinder in which the dampening train of rollers is independent of and separate from an inking train of rollers which provide ink to the plate cylinder. The dampening train of rollers has at least four rollers including a dampening solution transfer roller, a dampening form roller, a single mechanically driven drive roller, and at least one rider roller. The plate cylinder engages with the single dampening form roller which transfers an even application of dampening solution to the plate cylinder. The mechanically driven drive roller is surrounded by the dampening form roller and the rider rollers which are positioned at the supply side of the drive roller between the transfer roller and the form roller. The rider rollers and the single dampening form roller engage the single mechanically driven drive roller at different locations about the circumferential surface of the drive roller such that the drive roller provides rotational movement of the rider rollers and the single dampening form roller independently of the inking train of rollers.

A method for etching a pad-printing cliche and printing an image therefrom on a golf ball comprising providing a film positive of an image; placing the film positive on a pad-printing cliche having a variable relief photocurable pre-polymer surface; curing the pre-polymer that is not blocked by the film positive; removing the film positive from the polymer surface; washing the pad-printing cliche for a first predetermined time sufficient to remove any uncured pre-polymer, such that the pad-printing cliche has the image etched into the pre-polymer surface, the etched image having a substantially homogeneous bottom surface that is free of protrusions formed by screens, normally required for variable relief material, heating the pre-polymer for a second predetermined time sufficient to fully dry the pre-polymer; further curing the pre-polymer exposed by the washing step; providing a golf ball having a dimpled surface; distributing a layer of ink over the etched image in the pad-printing cliche; providing a pad for transferring the ink from the pad-printing cliche to the dimpled surface; and transferring the image from the surface of the pad-printing cliche to the dimpled surface of the golf ball.

A projectile to be fired from a weapon barrel includes a projectile body and a plurality of stabilizing wings circumferentially distributed about a rearward portion of the projectile body. A pin pivotally attaches each stabilizing wing to the projectile body for pivotal motion about a pivot axis to assume a folded state and an outwardly pivoted, deployed state. In the folded state of the stabilizing wings the center of gravity of the respective stabilizing wings is at a greater radial distance from the longitudinal axis of the projectile body than the pivot axis. A gliding body is releasably mounted on each stabilizing wing. Each gliding body has a wing-shaped extension for contacting an inner surface of the barrel in the folded state of the stabilizing wings as the projectile travels in the barrel upon firing. In the deployed state of the stabilizing wings the wing-shaped extensions are exposed, during the flight of the projectile, to an air stream causing the gliding bodies to be stripped from the stabilizing wings.

A table frame for supporting cutting machine includes a foldable support frame and a tabletop frame having a connecting end portion pivotally connected with a top side of the foldable support frame. The foldable support frame includes two opposing pairs of leg frames each of which comprises a pair of first and second crossed legs pivotally connected together where the first and second crossed legs cross, and a stopper means for supporting between the first and second crossed legs of each of the two leg frames and limiting the inclination of each of the first and second crossed legs. Thereby, by pivotally rotating the connecting end portion, the tabletop frame can be lifted up to horizontally rest across the supporting bar or be dropped down to vertically overlap with the folded support frame. Accordingly, the table frame can be easily folded for storage and carriage and unfolded for supporting the cutting machine or other similar machines.

A rudder, especially for water vessels, which in its one end is connected with the vessel's hull (1) and comprising a main rudder blade (3) and rudder flaps (5, 6) arranged to be turnable with respect to the main rudder blade (3). The new traits of the invention are that the main rudder blade (3) is arranged to be in a fixedly anchored centre position with respect to the hull (1), and having two or more rudder flaps (5, 6) mounted leading and trailing on the main rudder blade (3) and arranged to steering the vessel at high speeds, and that the main rudder blade (3) is arranged releasable from its fixedly anchored center position, and arranged to be turnable as a whole in the usual manner, especially for steering the vessel at lower speeds.

A poultry feeding system for a shed housing a flock of birds includes a female feeding line, a male feeding line, and a feed supply system which includes a weigh bin for supplying feed to the female feed line, and a weigh bin for supplying feed to the male feed line. An array of weighing cells for automatically weighing and identifying at least some of the individual birds of the flock, is arranged about the shed and data provided by the weighing cells is processed by first computer device to average the overall weight of the flock in the shed. Data from the first computer device is processed by second computer device to calculate the ration of feed for the shed for a predetermined time interval to maintain optimum productive weight of the birds. A control device activates the feeding system at a predetermined time to supply the determined ration of feed.

A fish feeding mechanism that disburses fish food within a fish tank in metered quantities, allowing fish the time to consume the food before it settles. The feeding mechanism is affixed to the inside of the fish tank by a suction cup or a suspension hook and comprises a food container whose top end is positioned above the water surface. The submerged surface end of the food container includes at least one food outlet that opens into the fish tank. Adjacent to the food container and also submerged inside the fish tank is a lift tube provided with an inlet port to allow water from the fish tank to enter, while a channel in the lift tube allows the water to enter the food container. An air line is inserted into the lift tube's inlet port and the compressed air therefrom flows from the mouth of the air line and enters the lift tube, causing air bubbles to rise to create an upward current of water.

In order to deter pest animals from certain areas, an unbaited, portable, wireless, capacitor powered animal repelling and training device is provided for pest control applications where the use of bait would be undesirable. This device is deployed such that pest animals attracted to the protected area by incidental attractants, such as shelter or garbage, will contact the electrodes, receive an electric shock and be frightened from the area. Pest animals will then continue to avoid the protected area because of a scarecrow effect provided by the presence of the device.

The retractable leash pack of the invention is a compartmentalized pack--made of typical back pack materials such as Nylon, webbing, mesh and VELCRO.RTM.--that fits securely to a retractable dog leash. The various compartments provide for carrying dog waste, waste disposal bags, treats, keys, wallets and other items. A user of the invention can walk her dog and carry necessary items in a single pack coupled to the leash. The compartments are typically closed and/or contained by various known methods, including via zippers, buttons, snaps, mesh pouches, and pockets. In one preferred aspect, one side of the pack has another compartment that expands to allow for convenient storage of dog waste, such as collected within waste disposal bags over time.

Discharge flow rate of an electric pump is controlled such that a temperature difference between a coolant temperature at a coolant outlet of an engine and a coolant temperature at a coolant inlet of the engine is maintained to be a predetermined value .DELTA.T. Accordingly, the discharge flow rate decreases as the engine load decreases. Therefore, the pump work is reduced, and the temperature distribution of the engine is reduced. Accordingly, the engine durability is improved while the thermal distortion of the engine is prevented and the fuel economy is improved.

A piston for internal combustion engines, capable of being manufactured easily and improving the durability of a combustion chamber, moved reciprocatingly in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, and provided in a top surface thereof with a combustion chamber formed by recessing the same top surface, and in an outer circumferential wall of the combustion chamber with a cooling cavity the inner diameter of a lower portion of an inner circumferential surface of which is set smaller than that of an upper portion thereof, wherein a cross-sectionally angular portion defined by an upper edge portion, at which the combustion chamber is opened in the interior of a cylinder, of an inner circumferential surface of the combustion chamber and a piston-top surface is chamfered greatly in conformity with the cross-sectional shape of the upper portion of the inner circumferential surface of the cooling cavity to such an extent that the thickness of an upper portion of an inner circumferential wall of the cooling cavity does not greatly vary.

In a fuel feed system for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, which system has at least a first injection valve, which is arranged in or on a cylinder head and to which fuel is fed under pressure for discharging directly into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, at least one further injection valve is provided in an engine intake passage to discharge, in certain operating ranges of the internal combustion engine, fuel into the intake passage of the internal combustion engine in addition to the discharge of the fuel of the first injection valve into the cylinder, and the first injection valve is designed for fuel injection volume lower than that required for full power operation of the engine.

Method and system for regulating the composition of an air/fuel stream supplied to an internal-combustion engine, comprise determining the mixture flow of the stream, the energy concentration of the air/fuel stream being measured and, from this, the desired mixture flow being determined and compared with the prevailing mixture flow and, if appropriate, correction of the air/fuel composition being carried out. Measuring the mixture strength may consist in the catalytic combustion of part of the mixture and determining the resulting temperature increase. The mixture flow can be determining by measuring the rotational speed of the engine and its inlet pressure and inlet temperature. Instead of comparing the determined and desired mixture flow, it is also possible to compare the prevailing and desired energy concentration and then to carry out a correction.

A rotating member is connected through a motor shaft to a motor provided in a housing of the body. A clip is composed of a first holding member and a second holding member, which are energized so that their respective ends are pressed against each other. The first holding member is attached to the end of the rotating member in the direction of the center of its rotating axis. When a switch is turned on in this condition, the rotation of the rotating member is transferred to the first holding member and the clip turns in a prescribed direction. Accordingly the hair held at the end of the clip is twisted at a designated speed in a prescribed direction.

A mass flow controller has a sensor section that generates an electrical signal, dependent on the measured flow rate. The controller sends a control signal to a magnetic field generating unit, dependent upon the actual flow rate and the desired flow rate, which in response, generates a magnetic flux in the direction of the fluid input to the fluid output through the body of the controller. This means that the magnetic flux is concurrent with the fluid flow within the mass flow controller body. The magnetic flux alters the position of a plunger button assembly, located between the bypass chamber and the fluid output, relative to an orifice plate to control the flow rate to obtain the desired output flow. By incorporating the proportional control valve within the mass flow controller body, the need for a separate and large valve section is eliminated, reducing the size and cost of the controller.

An adjustable jacket and method of covering an insulated conduit, the jacket having two parts which together form a cylindrical configuration over the insulated conduit. Overlapping flanges of the two parts equipped with grooves and ridges allow tightening of the two parts so that the jacket conforms to the underlying conduit having bends and curves.

A combination workpiece positioning, hold-down and anti-kickback device for a work table having a fence against which a workpiece is guided, includes a positioning member having an arcuate cam surface at one edge for engaging a side surface of a workpiece on the work table; an adjustment device for moving the positioning member in lengthwise and transverse directions relative to the workpiece and for locking the same thereat; a pivot pivotally mounting the positioning member to the adjustment device; a spring connected between the positioning member and the adjustment device for biasing the positioning member in a pivot direction into engagement with the side surface of the workpiece; a variable tensioning device for variably adjusting the biasing force of the spring; a hold-down member having a second arcuate cam surface at one edge for engaging an upper surface of the workpiece; an adjustment device for moving the hold-down member in lengthwise and vertical directions relative to the workpiece, and for locking the same thereat; a pivot pivotally mounting the hold-down member to the second adjustment device; a second spring connected between the hold-down member and the adjustment device for biasing the hold-down member in a second pivot direction into engagement with the upper surface of the workpiece; and a second variable tensioning device for variably adjusting the biasing force of the second spring.

A labeling machine includes a base with an upright cylinder integrally formed at the center thereof, a stopper detachably provided at a top end of the cylinder and a moving disk movable along the cylinder. When a compact disk is provided on the top end of the cylinder and retained by the stopper inserted into the top end of the cylinder, and a label is placed on the top surface of the moving disk, then the labeling machine is turned over, whereby the label is adhered to the compact disk.

Sweep apparatus may be easily secured to and removed from a tine by a pair of flex pins. The sweep includes a plate and a pair of side flanges extending downwardly from the plate through which the flex pins extend. An adapter shoe is used to secure the sweep to a tine, or a tine may directly include a pair of laterally extending bores against which the flanges of the sweep are disposed and through which the flex pins extend to secure the sweep to the tine without the adapter shoe.

A battery is disposed beneath a floor panel of a vehicle, and an intake duct for supplying air from within a passenger compartment extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle above one side of the floor panel, passing through the floor panel above the battery. An exhaust duct for exhausting air supplied to the battery extends in the longitudinal direction above the other side of the floor panel, passing through the floor panel above the battery. Air inside the passenger compartment is supplied to the battery via the intake duct so as to cool the battery. After cooling the battery, air of an elevated temperature is exhausted via the exhaust duct.

In the conventional elevator, there arise problems that there is no apparatus capable of reducing only radio-frequency components according to the characteristics of the rubber isolator and dealing with vertical vibration of the entire car, although it is possible to reduce the vibration descending along the rope while passing through the rubber isolator at the lower portion of the car. The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing vibration of an elevator capable of preventing vibration of the car by installing the dielectric fluid container whose rigidity varies according to the amount of power supply at the connection portion of the thimble rod at which the spring is elastically installed, thereby improving the level of ride comfort by relieving the passengers' unpleasant feelings due to the vibration occurred during the travelling of the elevator, which includes a thimble rod fixedly inserted through a cross head of the elevator car and counter weight, a spring installed at the inserted thimble rod, an dielectric fluid container installed between the cross head and the spring, a driving control unit for detecting the position of the car, a thimble rode control unit for controlling the amount of electric power supplied to the dielectric fluid container according to the position information obtained from the driving control unit, and a power supply unit for supplying the dielectric fluid container with electric power whose amount is controlled by the thimble rod control unit.

A portable terminal device, capable of improving the releasing property of fitting pieces of an upper case and a lower case at the time of disassembling the appliance, and lowering generation of deformation or crack of the main body by bend or twist while maintaining a sufficient fitting holding force. In the main body of the portable terminal device, a plurality of fitting pieces are provided each in an upper case and a lower case for holding and fixing with each other. The fitting pieces have a fitting horizontal surface to be substantially parallel for holding with each other when the upper case and the lower case are engaged. A part of the fitting horizontal surface of the fitting pieces of at least one of the upper case and the lower case has a fitting twisted surface twisted in the direction away from the fitting horizontal surface of the other fitting piece in the fitting pieces. In releasing the fitting pieces of the upper case and the lower case at the time of disassembling the main body in the portable terminal device having the configuration, the fitting piece without the fitting twisted surface is gradually released along the fitting twisted surface of the fitting piece having the fitting twisted surface.

A sealing cap for pressurized gas containers, in particular for 500 kg chlorine containers, has at least two, preferably four, retaining claws, which engage in an existing bead on the pressurized gas container and effect the sealing. The retaining claws are connected to the sealing cap via a rod having a mount, the rod, at the opposite end, having a screw thread with a lock nut. A seal of resistant material is advantageously guided in a groove of the sealing cap. Furthermore, the sealing cap may have a pressure gage, a discharge valve and handles.

A method for packaging a liquid filled container including the steps of providing a container, placing a capsule defining the cavity in the container, filling the container with a liquid, and allowing a gaseous exchange between the liquid and the cavity to provide a benefit to one of the capsule and the liquid. The invention also includes a method for providing retrievable payload in a liquid filled container that includes the steps of providing a capsule in a liquid filled container wherein the capsule has a cavity and is associated with the payload. The method further including the step of pressurizing the cavity. The present invention also includes a capsule having a body defining a cavity and an opening communicating with the cavity, a payload disposed in the cavity, sealing means for sealing the cavity which contains gas at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure when the cavity is sealed, and vent means for selectively venting the pressurized gas from the cavity. Other embodiments of the capsule include a cap engageable with the body at the opening and movable between a sealed position wherein the cap engages the body to seal the cavity and an open position providing access to the cavity. Connecting means and presentation means may also be included with the capsule for coupling the cap to the body when the cap is removed from the opening and for moving the payload toward the opening when the cap is in the open position, respectively.

A hinge configuration includes: a first member having a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces, wherein at least one of these surfaces is upwardly facing and at least one of these surfaces is downwardly facing, and wherein the hinge fingers are spaced apart along an axis of rotation and the surfaces of the hinge fingers are radially aligned along the axis of rotation; a second member having a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces, wherein at least one of these surfaces is upwardly facing and at least one of these surfaces is downwardly facing, and wherein the hinge fingers are spaced apart along the axis of rotation and the surfaces of the hinge fingers are radially aligned along the axis of rotation; and a pin including a shaft extending along the axis of rotation, an end head at one end of the shaft, and an intermediate head spaced apart from the end head and extending radially from the shaft. The shaft is in contact with and rotatable relative to the surfaces of the hinge fingers of the first and second members. One of the surfaces of the first member hinge fingers or the second member hinge fingers includes a recess that receives the intermediate head of the pin. In this configuration, the pin can be retained in the hinge fingers, thereby eliminating the need for an interference fit between the pin and the hinge fingers.

A closure for dispensing a viscous material such as mustard or ketchup from a container includes a threaded closure body having a dispensing orifice through which viscous material may flow during dispensing, and a collection space for collecting a volume of thin liquid that may form on top of the viscous material during storage. The collection space acts to intercept the thin liquid as the container is inverted to dispense the viscous material. As the material continues to be dispensed, the thin liquid is re-mixed into the material, thereby keeping the solid to liquid ratio of the material in the container relatively constant. A method of dispensing viscous material such as ketchup or mustard is also disclosed.

A dispensing device is adapted for release of a measured quantity of granular material. A base is generally disk-shaped. A stop is carried by an upper surface of the base, and is adjustably positionable so that when a container to be filled is moved into contact with the stop, that container is correctly positioned. A body is attached to a support ledge defined about the perimeter of the base. The body is generally cylindrical, and defines an interior cavity with access through a front opening and a circular top defining an off-center hole. A slide is supported by the top, and is manually movable between a loading position wherein a spring biasing the slide is stressed, and a dispensing position wherein the spring is relaxed. A slide enclosure is attached to the upper rim of the body portion. An input funnel provides a larger upper circular rim and a smaller lower circular rim which is concentric with the upper rim when viewed from the end. Short or long dispensing funnels may be attached a collar extending from the rim of the off-center hole in the top of the body. A canister containing powdered or granular material, may be attached with an inverted orientation to the upper rim of the input funnel.

The present invention has a single harness strap loop, which is placed diagonally across the body from one shoulder to the opposite hip, similar to bandoleer. At the hip an open hook is provided. This hooks on to the ring provided at the base of most power tools. A lanyard is attached to the harness at the back and has a clip at the other end. The clip also attaches to the ring on the power tool. The lanyard can be made of stretchable cord to reduce the jerk on the wearer if the tool falls. A clip is attached next to the hook to attach the harness to a belt or belt loop on the wearer to prevent rotation of the harness. The harness is adjustable to allow for sizing.

An adjustable cutting mechanism for mounting on an extruder. The cutting mechanism incorporates a square stock blade holder that is axially adjustable and holds a shortened cutting blade. The axial adjustment allows for uniform contact of the cutting mechanism blades with an associated extruder die surface. A shorter blade, along with the adjustability of the mechanism for contact with the die face, prevents deflection of the cutting blade and, thereby, insures the precise cutting action needed for the product to maintain shape integrity.

An improved tail fin assembly and method of attachment to a tactical missile capable of high performance motion. The tail fin is formed with a widened inner fin platform portion having a centrally disposed cavity formed by a pair of oppositely disposed walls inclined toward one another. An output control shaft extending from the missile includes a pair of oppositely disposed side walls inclined in a direction similar to the side walls of the cavity. When the tail fin is mounted on the output shaft, the end portion of the output shaft extends within the cavity until the side walls are confronting each other. A pair of fastening screws are advanced into aligned openings, drawing the inclined walls into surface contact to pre-load the tail fin assembly with preset tolerances.

This invention features a prone pilot's couch conformable to the front of the pilot's body, relieving his arms of the need to support the body; twist- and pull-handgrips placed to the sides of the pilot's body for convenient control-surface actuation; a helmet brace for positive-g flight maneuvers; passive shoulder braces which confine the chest to the pilot's couch in all flight attitudes, when forward exertion is applied by the legs; and channels conforming to three sides of the pilot's legs, having a lip or shelf which protrudes outward from a bracing area between the pilot's legs, for support during inverted flight maneuvers, forward exertion being applied by the legs.

A method of injecting a missile, having a solid fuel motor, into a satellite orbit. The method includes determining an along-track displacement and cross-track displacement with respect to the satellite orbit. The method also includes determining a velocity-to-be-gained for the satellite orbit, with respect to the current missile velocity. Along-track and cross-track wasting of the solid fuel motor are used to reach the satellite orbit, at the proper velocity for the satellite orbit, when the solid fuel motor burns out.

A portable sign stand comprising a base, at least one leg attached to the base at at least one attachment point, and a sign supporting member pivotally mounted to the base at a pivot point. The pivot point is disposed at a lower position on the base than all of the attachment points.

A compact toggle clamp has a frame defining a fixed jaw at one end and a bore adjacent to the other end in which is received a movable jaw assembly, including an internally threaded cylinder and a screw threadedly engaged in one end thereof and having an enlarge jaw head facing the fixed jaw. The movable jaw assembly moves between clamping and unclamping positions relative to the fixed jaw, being biased toward the unclamping position by a helical compression spring in the bore. Clamping of the movable jaw is effected by a lever mechanism including a clamp lever pivoted to the frame at a first pivot and coupled to the rear end of the cylinder by a link pivoted to the clamp lever at a second pivot and to the cylinder at a third pivot so that, in the clamping position, the three pivots are all substantially aligned along the axis of the cylinder. A release lever facilitates movement of the clamp lever from its clamping condition. The movable jaw assembly is always disposed between the fixed jaw and the first pivot and the lever mechanism does not move substantially beyond the end of the frame.

A preferred embodiment of the board game incorporates a carrying case which includes a base and a lid. The base preferably includes a wall extending upwardly from a periphery thereof, with the wall having first and second ends which are spaced from each other to form a first gap therebetween, with the first gap being sized and shaped for passing a die therethrough. A playing surface is arranged on the base with at least a portion of the playing surface preferably being formed of a flocked plastic material which provides deadening of sound produced by the die impacting the playing surface. Game pieces representative of baseball players and/or their equipment, i.e. bats, batting helmets, etc., also arc provided which arc adapted to be moved about the playing surface in accordance with rules of game play.

An inflatable seal system in a tool having opposed parts which are relatively movable together with the inflatable seal system therebetween. The inflatable seal system comprising a longitudinally extending seal cavity and a seal extending longitudinally along the seal cavity. The seal comprises an inflatable portion and an abutment portion for sealingly abutting against an opposing surface, wherein the inflatable portion remains in the seal cavity when the seal is deflated.

A truck assembly for a skateboard includes an axle housing, a base, and a kingpin connecting the axle housing and base. The kingpin holds the axle housing and a base surface of the base a predetermined distance apart. The truck further includes a turning mechanism between the axle housing and base, around the kingpin. The turning mechanism includes opposed cam surfaces that are angled along the axis of the kingpin and an elastomeric bushing so that rotating the axle housing about the kingpin pushes the cam surfaces apart, against the compression pressure of the elastomeric bushing. The truck assembly additionally includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the pressure against the bushing. The adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment surface on the base of the truck assembly with two or more adjustment points, each a different distance from the base surface along the direction of the kingpin. An adjustment ring surrounds the kingpin, between the base surface and the turning mechanism. The adjustment ring includes adjustment lobes that engage the adjustment surface on the base.

A snowboard binding includes a binding base having two side walls and having one or more front channels. A toe strap and an instep strap and a heel member are secured to the binding base. A toe member has one or more bottom ribs slidably engaging with the channels of the binding base for guiding the toe member to move relative to the binding base. The toe member has two side panels slidably engaged with the walls and adjustably secured to the toe member for adjusting the snowboard binding to different lengths and for attaching the boots of various sizes to the snowboard with the adjustable snowboard binding.

A carriage includes a carriage frame having a wheeled rear frame portion and a front wheel-carrying frame portion. The front wheel-carrying frame portion has a lowermost section that defines a vertical accommodating hole which extends in an axial direction. A front wheel unit includes a fork mounting member disposed rotatably in the accommodating hole and having a fork connecting portion that extends downwardly and outwardly of the accommodating hole, and a retaining portion opposite to the fork connecting portion in the axial direction. A fork unit has an upper end fixed to the fork connecting portion of the fork mounting member and co-rotatable therewith, and a lower end with a wheel mounted rotatably thereon about a horizontal axis. A locking member is provided on the lowermost section of the front wheel-carrying frame portion for retaining rotatably the retaining portion of the fork mounting member in the accommodating hole.

A computer work station including a user seat and a monitor supporting tray positioned in front of the seat, comprising a first chassis unit having a first base, an elongated seat supporting member, a first varying mechanism for varying the location of the seat along the seat supporting member between a relatively reclining position and a relatively upright position, a second chassis unit having a second base, an elongated monitor supporting member, a second varying mechanism for varying the location of the monitor supporting tray between an uppermost position and a lowermost position, and a coupling mechanism for coupling the seat to the monitor supporting tray so that displacement of the seat toward a relatively reclining position results in the displacement of the monitor supporting tray toward the uppermost position and displacement of the seat toward a relatively upright position results in the displacement of the monitor supporting tray toward the lowermost position.

A swivel apparatus is provided for a folding, beach chair. The apparatus includes a load-distributing platform configured like an inverted bowl with a bottom surface for stable engagement with sand and other unconsolidated soils. A swivel mechanism is secured atop the load-distributing platform. A carriage is secured atop the swivel mechanism and has a number of clips for selective fastening to the legs of a folding, beach chair.

A printer that includes a carriage, a first printhead mounted in the carriage, a second printhead printing black ink mounted in the carriage, and a third printhead mounted in the carriage, where the second printhead is between the first printhead and the third printhead. The printer further includes a print zone having left and right boundaries where text or another image is to be printed by black ink. The carriage scans such that the second printhead does not go beyond the left and right boundaries of the print zone. The leading one of the first or third printheads underprints the black ink. A trailing one of the first or third printheads overprints the black ink. Using this technique, the scanning distance is reduced by at least the width of two printheads, resulting in a 20% improvement in printing speed in one embodiment. Techniques for reducing hue shifts between adjacent print swaths are described.

A light assembly housing a light source is provided to be removably attachable to a radio unit designed to be removably attachable to a battery assembly. The light assembly may be positioned between the radio unit and battery assembly, and is capable of conducting power from the battery assembly to the radio unit.

A shoulder mounted flashlight holder provides for the hands free holding of a flashlight by the wearer thereof, enabling the wearer or user of the device to perform a task using both hands while keeping the area of interest illuminated. The present holder comprises a rigid, curved shoulder plate which extends over one shoulder and downwardly in front of and in back of the shoulder. The plate includes a spherical swivel base, providing for the adjustment of the aim of a flashlight secured thereto as desired. The plate is well padded for the comfort of the user, and includes forward and rearward extensions for the attachment of a torso encircling belt or strap, for securing the shoulder harness portion. The encircling belt extends from the rear portion of the shoulder harness, around the torso of the wearer to attach to another strap depending from the front of the shoulder harness. A flashlight is removably secured in a rigid channel, which is in turn adjustably secure to the spherical swivel base by a mating ball connection. The assembly may be locked in position as desired. The flashlight is secured in the channel by an elastomer fabric sleeve which fits securely about the body of the flashlight to hold it in place in the channel. The flashlight switch is readily operable through the resilient elastomer fabric material. The user secures the harness and belt over the shoulder and about the torso to secure a flashlight for hands free illumination of a task.

A Christmas light includes a socket having an upper opening, a pair of electrical wires extending outward from the bottom each including an upper end connected to a contact plate inside the socket, a vertical clamp on an outer periphery of the socket and a transverse slot in a top of the clamp, a base inserted into the upper opening of the socket having a lamp in the top, a pair of lead-in wires on the bottom engaged to the contact plates and an arcuate extension on an upper outer periphery including a straight vertical portion made engageable into a slit opening of the clamp. A transverse wire can be engaged within the transverse slot and a vertical wire can be engaged within the clamp so as to reticulate a neat right angled network of a light pattern without twisting the wires.

A Storage compartment, in particular a glove compartment, for a motor vehicle is provided. The storage compartment includes a compartment housing which has at least two sections, which are arranged one above the other and are separated from one another by a transverse wall, and a compartment opening on the front side allowing access to the sections. For the purpose, with little technical outlay, of sufficiently illuminating the sections lying one above the other, a downwardly shining lamp is arranged in the vicinity of the compartment opening in such a manner on the upper, transversely extending housing wall and at least one reflector is arranged in such a manner on the inside of the flap that in the swung-down position of the flap light from the lamp which impinges on the reflector is reflected into the depth of at least one lower section.

An illuminator comprises: a printed board 9; light-emitting element bodies 23 mounted on this printed board 9 and each including a plurality of light-emitting elements which are different in wave length and which are formed integrally; a light guide 20 having a light guiding means for guiding light from these light-emitting element bodies 23 as light sources onto a predetermined surface; and a substantially rectangular liquid crystal display 19 held by this light guide 20 and for displaying characters, symbols, figures, etc. while being illuminated by the light guide means, wherein the plurality of light-emitting element bodies 23 are disposed at intervals along one side of this liquid crystal display 19 so as to face in one and the same direction.

A ceramic bearing ball capable of preventing irregular vibrations of, for example, a hard disk drive and having a high accuracy. The ceramic ball is characterized as having a sphericity of not more than 0.08 .mu.m, a surface roughness of not more than 0.012 .mu.m and a maximum surface pore size of 5 .mu.m.

A bearing assembly for a vehicle hub comprises rolling elements (9, 10) which are in rolling contact with at least one inner raceway (2) and outer raceway (1), of respectively an inner ring member and an outer ring member, one of which ring members comprises two bearing rings (3, 4) which are interconnected by means of a mounting sleeve (14) for preloading the rolling elements in axial direction between the raceways. The bearing rings (3, 4) are bonded to the sleeve (14) by means of glueing.

A method for developing a material having a photosensitive resin composition or a photosensitive lithographic printing original plate is disclosed, comprising developing a material having a plurality of photosensitive resin composition sheets in sequence with a developer or developing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate precursor with an alkaline developer, wherein the activity of developer is maintained by detecting the exhaustion of developer occurring with the development and passing a current between two electrodes through a developer according to the degree of exhaustion detected. Also disclosed is a development processing apparatus for use in the development of the material having a photosensitive resin composition or the photosensitive lithographic printing plate precursor

A tool and a method for adjusting a space between a printhead in a print cartridge and a platen in an ink jet printer are disclosed. The shape of the tool mimics the shape of a print cartridge. The tool is inserted into an aperture in a carriage in place of the print cartridge whose printhead is the closest to the platen, or, if all of the printheads are equally close to the platen, then the tool may be inserted in place of any of the print cartridges. The tool includes a thin flexible member that extends toward the platen. The length of the member is such that, when the tool is properly inserted into the aperture and contacts the platen, then the printhead to platen spacing at that point on the platen would be just equal to a minimum acceptable spacing between a printhead in the same aperture and the platen. Contact between the member of the tool and the platen is detected by listening for a scraping sound caused by such contact and/or watching for flexure of the member caused by such contact while moving the carriage laterally. Subsequently, the height of the carriage relative to the platen is gradually adjusted until no sound or flexure is detected as the carriage moves along the platen. Subsequently, the tool is removed and a print cartridge is inserted into the aperture so that printing may commence.

A sensor assembly for measuring the displacement or position of a movable member. The sensor assembly utilizes two or more smaller, less accurate sensors to perform the function of a single, more accurate larger sensor. The resolution of each of the smaller sensors is increased by configuring the sensor system such that the maximum travel of each sensor in a direction covers half or less of the travel of the moveable member being measured. Each sensor then moves in an opposite direction to return to its original position for the remainder of the travel of the movable member. Utilizing a cam follower system, two sensors generate a set of output signals at each position of the moveable member in a one-to-one correlation over the range of travel of the moveable member.

An adjustable bow lift apparatus for extending the overall height between the bed and bow cover on a cotton module truck during loading or unloading a cotton module, generally including a set of metal tubular frames, one for the top of each side wall, and pivotally attached a first distance from the further most end of each side wall. A set of actuators for each side of the frame for lifting and lowering the bow lift apparatus, each actuator is attached to the last side wall frame member of the truck, with the actuator extension arms pivotally attached at the lower frame on each side of the bow lift apparatus. A plurality of on board power devices may be adapted for rasing and lowering the adjustable bow lift apparatus during loading or unloading a cotton module, such as air, hydraulics or electrical. A first and second modified bow providing level in-line support of the canvas top on a module truck, attached a first and second distance from the further most end of the bow lift apparatus frame, and extending the width of the module truck bed, and attached to the opposing frame member. A set of guide arms attached to the lower frame of the bow lift apparatus, a first, second and third distance from further most end of the apparatus, and extending downward, on the outside of the module truck side walls, of a distance in length to ensure guidance and stability of the adjustable bow lift apparatus during raising and lowering of the apparatus.

A vibratory pump for transferring fluid is provided. The pump includes an oscillating hollow shaft connected to a motor. The shaft includes a plunger opposite the motor that has a number of openings through which the fluid may pass. The plunger engages a seating member disposed beneath the plunger to cut off fluid entering the plunger when the plunger is submerged. When the plunger disengages from the sealing member, a small vacuum is created which urges fluid into and through the plunger and shaft and onto a hose operably connected to an outlet end of the shaft.

A mold for a tire includes a device for easily releasing a pocket plate from a recess in a side wall ring. The device includes a rod movably disposed in a hole in the mold part that extends from an outer surface to adjacent the recess. The distal end of the rod includes a cam surface wherein movement of the rod causes the cam to press on the pocket plate to urge it from the recess.

Prophy head for a handpiece used in dentistry. The prophy head has a rotating shaft which holds a polishing member, a bearing for supporting the shaft, a housing for retaining the bearing, and a rotary dust control device which rotates with the shaft and prevents intrusion of contaminants. The dust control device has a surface extending radially outwardly from the shaft and downwardly beyond the lower end of the housing, and a surface in close proximity to the inner surface of the lower end of the housing.

An apparatus and method for the real-time, in-line testing of semiconductor wafers during the manufacturing process. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a probe assembly within a semiconductor wafer processing line. As each wafer passes adjacent the probe assembly, a source of modulated light, within the probe assembly, having a predetermined wavelength and frequency of modulation, impinges upon the wafer. A sensor in the probe assembly measures the surface photovoltage induced by the modulated light. A computer then uses the induced surface photovoltage to determine various electrical characteristics of the wafer.

An electrical connector comprises a plug connector body that has a pair of metal terminals disposed within a pair of laterally disposed terminal cavities and a unitary metal shorting clip disposed within a shorting clip cavity. The unitary metal shorting clip has a single, generally V-shaped cantilevered spring arm at one end that contacts the pair of metal terminals when the electrical connector is disconnected from a mating electrical connector. The shorting clip is retained within the plug connector body by a mounting portion engaging a support shelf within the shorting clip cavity. The support shelf includes a clip rest which pre-loads the shorting clip and limits the spring force of the spring arm which is lifted off the terminals by a cam of the mating electrical connector.

A cable connector for a cable with a plurality of insulated wires comprises a housing of insulating material accommodating a plurality of contacts to be connected to the wires, a mainly hollow hood connected to the housing and having a strain relief element to maintain the cable stationary with respect to the hood. The hood comprises first and second hood parts which can be interconnected. The strain relief element is adapted to surround at least partially the cable. The strain relief element is pressed on the cable by co-operation with one of the hood parts during interconnecting the first and second hood parts. Further, the strain relief element is fixed within the first and second hood parts by interconnecting these hood parts.

A carrier (10) comprises a body (12) and a pair of holes (14) which extend through the body (12) away from a face (16) against which a light emitting diode may be placed towards a pair of supports (18) over which respective lead wires of the light emitting diode may be bent thereby enabling a light emitting diode to simulate a wedge based lamp in allowing direct push contact of the filament lead wires with associated electrical circuitry.

A vessel (1) includes a relatively small sized turret (2) located near keel level. The upper part (3) of the turret wall is located below a level halfway between deck level (12) and keel level (7). Via a relatively small diameter product shaft (9), the product pipe (18) which connects to a riser (17) extends up to deck level (12). The lower part (6) of the turret wall extends along the height of the chain table (8), which is connected thereto via an axial and a radial bearing (23, 24). In this way the chain table (8) can adequately take up the bending moments exerted by the mooring chains (13) or cables. After use of the vessel (1) as a floating production storage and offloading vessel, the lower part (6) of the turret wall can be easily removed and the vessel (1) can be converted back to a transport tanker. Preferably the lower part (6) of the turret wall is releasably connected to the upper part (3) by means of releasable bolts (27) through the upper slide bearings (23) of the chain table (8).

A system of elements of plastic material intended for the composition, by frictional insertion, of static or dynamic constructions having a game of didactic purpose, which comprises two kinds of main system elements, from which the first kind of elements has the character of a substantially tubular spacer whose end portions form female coupling members having a symmetry of order eight, while the second kind of elements has the character of a connector formed by a thin flange provided on both sides with male coupling members complementary to the female coupling members of the elements of the first kind but having a symmetry of order four. Preferably, the male coupling members of the elements of the second kind comprise, on each side of the flange, four hollow cylindrical sleeves having circular cross section, and the female coupling members of the elements of the first kind are embodied by the shaping of the walls of the tubular elements, which walls are determined, in cross section, by eight circle arcs whose inner radius is equal to the outer radius of the cylindrical sleeves of the elements of the second kind.

A bottle rocket launcher is provided for rockets constructed for educational and entertainment purposes out of synthetic resin bottles used primarily for soft drinks. The rocket launcher includes a bottle plug for filling the bottle rocket with compressed gas such as air and guiding it as it exits the launcher, a release mechanism for initially retaining and then selectively releasing the rocket adjacent its nozzle, and a base. The release mechanism provides multiple hooks which grab a rim adjacent the nozzle, and selectively and simultaneously releases each of the hooks, whereby the upward force applied by the compressed gas against the liquid causes the hooks to slide off of the rim and permits the rocket to lift off of the launcher. The bottle plug is releasably connected to the release mechanism, while a gas delivery conduit remains connected to the bottle plug for inhibiting spillage of liquid from the bottle rocket until the bottle rocket is secured to the release mechanism and filled with compressed gas prior to launch.

A toy figure has a movable mouth coupled to an actuator in the belly area. A speech generator stores sound elements for an entire song, verse, or nursery rhyme. The speech generator is provided with a first track of sequenced sound elements (singing version) that form a song when sequentially generated, and a related second track of a like number of sequenced sound elements (humming version). Sound elements from the first and second tracks are interchangeable at any given point during sequential output thereof. A switch located in the mouth is connected to the speech generator to provide input as to the mouth position, i.e. open or closed. Squeezing the belly of the figure opens the mouth, changing the state of the switch and initiating an output sequence from the speech generator. When the mouth is open, the child is able to easily control the mouth position by varying the pressure on the belly actuator. The speech generator checks the state of the mouth switch at given intervals. If the speech generator senses that the mouth is closed, the speech generator switches tracks to begin output of the next corresponding "bumming" segment of the song. The speech generator continues to check the state of the switch, and if the switch is then reopened, the toy begins to sing again at the same point within the sequenced output.

Disclosed herein is a lapping machine for lapping a row bar having a plurality of head sliders. The lapping machine includes a lap plate for providing a lapping surface, a row tool having a work surface for pressing the row bar against the lapping surface, and a mechanism for operating the row tool so that a given pressure distribution is produced between the row bar and the lapping surface. The row tool has a plurality of holes arranged along the work surface. The mechanism includes a plurality of pivoted links each having a load point where a force having a direction perpendicular to the work surface is applied to the row tool in each of the holes. Each of the pivoted links further has a support point as the fulcrum and an effort point where a force having a direction substantially parallel to the work surface is received. The ratio of a distance between the load point and the support point to a distance between the effort point and the support point is substantially constant. With this configuration, the spacing between any adjacent ones of the holes of the row tool can be easily reduced to thereby improve a working accuracy.

Minute and uniform line marks can be formed on the surface of a glass substrate for a magnetic disk by pressing a tape planted with hairs against the substrate surface and causing it to run thereover while supplying suspension containing abrading particles and a solution which contains hydroxyl groups such as a KOH solution.

A joint body includes at least one loop package and collar bushings each having a bushing member and a first collar formed integrally thereon. The bushing members of the collar bushings are passed through the loop package, and the collars thereof axially support a first loop package side. A second collar axially supports a second loop package side and is axially joined with each bushing member. The collar bushing has at an end of the bushing member remote from the first collar a radial outer catching arrangement. A radial inner catching arrangement is provided on the second collar which forms a snap connection together with the radial outer catching arrangement. The loop package is at least partially embedded in a rubber elastic jacket.

A score counter includes a bar having two spheres on two ends thereof so as to fix the bar by engaging the two spheres with relative members. A plurality of retaining members each have a score marked therein and extend from an outside of the bar. A plurality of blocks are slidably mounted to the bar and each block is separated by the retaining members on the bar. The hole is sized that the user can move the block over the retaining members by force. The blocks on the bar are separated by the retaining members.

The present golf ball catching funnel is comprised of a horizontal frame, a funnel-shaped sheet suspended within the frame, and legs elevating the frame and sheet off the ground. The frame is adapted to be positioned against the front of a golf ball driving net for catching golf balls as they drop from the net. Detachable fasteners along a rear edge of the sheet secure the golf ball catching funnel against the driving net, and thus prevent the golf balls from falling between the catching funnel and the driving net. A resilient tube with a longitudinal split is clipped around a front edge of the frame for preventing the golf balls from rolling off as they bounce back from the driving net. A hole is provided in the sheet for directing the golf balls into a bucket below to stretch taut the sheet and generally smooth out any wrinkles and ripples which might prevent the golf balls from rolling toward said hole.

A rehabilitation and exercise device for facilitating and limiting motion and biomechanical forces along the horizontal and vertical axes in the saggital, frontal, and transverse planes of the human anatomy. The device consists of an elongated, substantially flat platform with somewhat rounded corners (24). The platform is made of a rigid material to prevent fracturing and bending and is further supported on the bottom surface by central support spines (30) and peripheral support spines (16). The platform provides a decreased slip top surface (10) by utilizing a recessed grid (20). The bottom surface of the platform (12) is configured with a larger diameter central platform attachment extension (28) and smaller diameter peripheral platform attachment extensions (32) which have internal recesses (14) configured at a predetermined set of points to accommodate rigid, somewhat rounded pegs (18) of varying shape and diameter. The peg attachments are secured to the bottom surface of the platform with a peg attachment insert screw (34) which rotates into a heilcoil (26) located in the internal recess. The platform allows specific facilitation or limitation of motion and biomechanical forces along the horizontal and vertical axes depending on the placement of human anatomy on the top surface (10) and peg size and placement on the bottom surface (12) of the platform.

A exercise machine for providing an efficient total body work out. The exercise machine includes a base. A first vertical column attached to the middle of base. A second vertical column attached to the base. A guide column extends vertically from the base between the first and second columns. A set of foot pedals attached adjacent to the second column. A first set of two elongate bars is mounted to the first column. A second set of two elongate bars is mounted to the first column. Two solid tubes extend diametrically from a mounting and bend toward each other to a parallel position. A first pulley is attached to an apex of the second column, and the second pulley is attached to the first column. A plurality of the weights is housed on the guide column. The weights are removably coupled to the guide column. An anchor is linked to the pulleys by a cable. The anchor is made up of a first disc and a second disc. The cable is secured to the first disc and slides through the second disc. The discs each have a bore therethrough. A plurality of pins, in sets of two, wherein a first pin remains motionless during movement of the apparatus and a second pin has movement in a direction parallel to the apparatus. The pins are located on the foot pedals, first set of elongate bars, and second set of elongate bars.

A method and a device for the intermittent or continuous measurement of portal blood pressure using a tamponade balloon inserted into the esophagus and stomach and a sensor positioned on the bridle, tamponade shaft or esophageal balloon. The tamponade balloons mounted over a tube are placed across the diaphragmatic hiatus and are gradually inflated through a lumen that runs from the balloons to a position that is external from the patient. The measured pressure within the tamponade is increased until the blood flow in the collateral portal veins that traverse the diaphragm are occluded. The cessation of the blood flow into the esophageal varices is signaled when the sensor identifies a change in diameter of the varices, a change in the color of the esophageal wall, or a change in velocity of blood flow. The measured tamponade pressure at the nadir of variceal blood flow is equivalent to portal blood pressure.

A biopsy needle with a conduit for receiving a hard biopsy sample and a fluid biopsy sample. The conduit has a first cross-sectional area. The biopsy needle has an end with a penetrating bit operable for coring the hard biopsy sample. The end has a second cross-sectional area less than the first cross-sectional area. Therefore, the hard biopsy sample has a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the second cross-sectional area A space is thus left between the hard biopsy sample and the conduit when the hard biopsy sample is received therein. The biopsy needle has a retainer located at an interior of the conduit for holding the cored hard biopsy sample within the conduit. The biopsy needle also has an aperture on a sidewall of the conduit for aspirating the fluid biopsy sample into the space.

Compositions of perfluorocarbons and methods of using these compositions for subcutaneous fat removal. A version of the composition also contains local anesthetic and/or vasoconstrictors. The composition is in association with a pharmacuetical carrier. The composition is for use in liposuction techniques. Also provided is a method for subcutaneous removal of lipid or fat cells from a patient using the composition.

A pressure swing adsorption cycle in which a regeneration phase is terminated by at least one final step in which a residual gas is withdrawn counter-current to the adsorber (1 to 3). A variable portion of the residual gas is recycled, representing from 0 to 30% of the flow of the purified gas product, into the impure gas to be treated, the rest of this residual gas constituting a purge. The duration of the cycle is reduced when this recycling is carried out, the more so as the recycle flow rate is the greater. The cycle has particular application in the production of hydrogen, helium or neon.

A single chamber processing apparatus employing a plurality of kinds of processing material to process a spinning substrate in a chamber and selectively recycle the remaining processing material. The processing apparatus comprises a grouping recovery device for selectively recycling the remaining processing material. Thus, a single chamber processing apparatus having multi-chamber functions is provided.

A method for creep cavity shrinkage and/or porosity reduction without applied stress. The thermal treatment is found to increase the rate of densification relative to isothermal annealing, allowing for more rapid recovery of desired theoretical density in a shorter time.

A heat treatment for hot or cold worked 725 corrosion resistant Ni-base alloys to increase the room temperature yield strength of the material to above about 140 ksi (965 MPa). The material is useful for oil patch and gas turbine applications. The process includes annealing the material at about 1825.degree. F. (996.degree. C.) for about 1.5-4 hours, age hardening the material at about 1400.degree. F. (760.degree. C.) for about 3.0 to 10.5 hours to precipitate double gamma prime, furnace cooling the material about 50.degree. F. (28.degree. C.) to 100.degree. F. (56.degree. C.) per hour and heat treating the material at about 1200.degree. F. (649.degree. C.) for about 4.0 to about 12.5 hours.

This substantially water-free method for preparing high density igniter granules involves uniformly coating fuel and oxidizer particulates dispersed in a non-solvent with a thermoplastic elastomer solution to produce coated igniter granules exhibiting substantially uniform size and shape distributions. The coated igniter granules are especially useful for waterless extrusion into igniters for automobile gas generating inflation devices, solid propellant rocket motors, and thrust decoys.

This invention is directed to method for improving the dry strength of a paper product using a single cationic dispersion polymer strength additive, wherein the cationic dispersion polymer is prepared by polymerizing in an aqueous solution of a polyvalent anionic salt in the presence of a dispersant: PA1 i. a cationic diallyl-N,N-disubstituted ammonium halide monomer of formula EQU (H.sub.2 C.dbd.CHCH.sub.2).sub.2 N.sup.+ R.sub.1 R.sub.2 X.sup.- PA1 wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl and X is an anionic counterion and PA1 ii. an acrylamide monomer of formula ##STR1## PA1 wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl; R.sup.5 is hydrogen or methyl and R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are independently hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl.

A process for preparing phthalides by PA1 I. reducing phthalic acid or phthalic acid derivatives, where the carboxyl groups may be replaced by units which can be derived from the carboxyl groups by a condensation reaction and where one or more of the hydrogens of the o-phenylene unit may be substituted by inert radicals, at a cathode in a undivided electrolytic cell and dissolved in an electrolyte, PA1 II. discharging the electrolyte from the electrolytic cell when the reaction has proceeded to the stage where the molar ratio (M), formed by the proportion of phthalide and the sum of the proportions of phthalide and phthalic acid of phthalic acid derivatives in the electrolyte, is from 0.8:1 to 0.995:1, and PA1 III. crystallizing the phthalides from the electrolyte and removing them from the mother liquor, if appropriate after distillative work-up of the electrolyte is described.

This invention concerns a method for the treatment of waste-water. This method includes reacting a polyamine and a multifunctional epoxide in waste-water composition that initially is in the form of an emulsion to form a reaction product that causes the emulsion to break into a water phase and an oil phase. The oil phase and water phase may thereafter be physically separated from one another as by dissolved air flotation or chemical precipitation.

In a process for forming a lower electrode of a cylindrical capacitor in a semiconductor memory, a polysilicon film is formed on an insulator film to cover an inner surface of a hole formed in the insulator film. An exposed surface of the polysilicon film is treated with a reaction accelerator which reacts with a positive photoresist to lower dissolubility of the positive photoresist to a developer liquid. The positive photoresist is deposited on the whole surface to fill up the hole. As a result, the positive photoresist filled up within the hole reacts with the reaction accelerator within the hole and becomes difficult to dissolve to the developer liquid even after the positive photoresist is exposed to light. The whole of the positive photoresist is exposed to light and then developed with the developer so that the positive photoresist remains only within the hole. The polysilicon film is etched back using the remaining positive photoresist as a mask, so that the polysilicon film on an upper surface of the insulator film is removed. Furthermore, the positive photoresist remaining within the hole is removed, and the insulator film is removed so that the polysilicon film remains in the form of a cylinder.

A transducer backing material includes a sticky epoxy resin containing tungsten particles and silver particles. A method of applying a backing material to a transducer includes pouring a mixture of epoxy resin, tungsten particles, and silver particles into a mold containing a layer of piezoelectric material, degassing the mixture, and curing the mixture at a pressure of approximately one atmosphere until the mixture dries.

Molten metal (6) in a furnace (5) and containing particles of solid material (not shown) in suspension is cast in moulds (1) conveyed continuously past the mould-filling station shown by a conveyor (4). To maintain the particles in suspension and keep the metal (6) homogeneous throughout the furnace (5), a paddle-wheel rotor (10) driven by a motor (13) keeps the molten metal in constant movement. A curved guide vane (14) is shaped, placed and oriented so as to divert some of the centrifugal flow from the rotor (10) towards the delivery tube (8) for the moulds (1), thus ensuring that the tube (8) is supplied with freshly-agitated metal.

A process for producing a production gas mixture comprising hydrogen, by thermocatalytic decomposition of an initial mixture which comprises at least one hydrocarbon, comprising the steps of: PA1 1 feeding the initial mixture to a system comprising, in succession, at least a first reaction zone R.sub.1 and a second reaction zone R.sub.2, each of the reaction zones including a catalyst, comprising a concentration of a metal, which is capable on contact with the hydrocarbon of forming carbon nanotubes, wherein the zones R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 : PA2 are separate within at least two different consecutive reactors or consecutive within the same reactor, and PA2 are subjected to at least one of an increasing temperature gradient and an increasing metal concentration gradient in the catalyst; PA1 2 reacting the initial mixture in the first catalytic reaction zone R.sub.1 to form a first intermediate mixture comprising an enhanced H.sub.2 concentration compared to the initial mixture; PA1 3 feeding the first intermediate mixture into the second catalytic reaction zone R.sub.2 through a line connecting the first and second reaction zones; PA1 4 reacting the first intermediate mixture in the second catalytic reaction zone R.sub.2 to form a second intermediate mixture or a final production product; PA1 5 optionally repeating the steps 3 and 4 with the second or additional intermediate mixtures in one or more additional reaction zones to obtain a final production product.

Methods for preventing or treating an antibody-mediated diease in a patient are presented, the methods comprising administration of a monoclonal antibody capable of binding to a human CD40 antigen located on the surface of a human B cell, wherein the binding of the antibody to the CD40 antigen prevents the growth or differentiation of the B cell. Monoclonal antibodies useful in these methods, and epitopes immunoreactive with such monoclonal antibodies are also presented.

This invention relates to the natural topical treatment of portions of skin of a person afflicted with psoriasis or other skin disorders such as dry skin, eczema, itchy skin, red skin, itchy eczema, inflamed skin, and/or cracked skin for the removal of itch and the restoration of the affected areas of skin to a normal condition. The natural treatment of a skin disorder initially involves formation of a natural ointment from the ingredients identified as chicken and hen herb; ruta herb; pure unsalted natural butter; and pure natural beeswax. The natural ointment is formed by combination of the ingredients which includes heating and stirring. The ointment is then applied twice daily to affected areas of skin until a natural cure of the skin disorder is obtained.

The present invention describes a method for germination activating spores of red Ganoderma lucidum to produce bioactive substances which has medicinal effects on patients with immunological disorders, cancer, AIDS, hepatitis, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, and can prevent or inhibit free radical oxidation and hepatotoxic effects. The method can be subdivided into three stages. At the first stage, a germination activation method is introduced which includes soaking the spores in a solution to induce germination, and placing the germination treated spores in a culture box to induce the synthesis of bioactive substances and softening of the cell walls of the spores. At the second stage, sporoderm-broken ganoderma spores are collected by treating the epispores with cell wall breaking enzymes and/or mechanical force. At the last stage, the bioactive substances are extracted from the sporoderm-broken spores by drying at low temperature followed by extraction.

Cosmetic composition for topical application to the skin comprising a hydroxyalkyl cyclodextrin, salicylic acid or salicylic acid derivative and water. The compositions herein provide improved anti-acne/anti-inflammatory activity together with reduced skin irritation.

The invention is directed to medical devices having a drug-releasing coating and methods for making such coated devices. The coating permits timed or prolonged pharmacological activity on the surface of medical devices through a reservoir concept. Specifically, the coating comprises at least two layers: an outer layer containing at least one drug-ionic surfactant complex overlying a reservoir layer containing a polymer and the drug which is substantially free of an ionic surfactant. Upon exposure to body tissue of a medical device covered with such coating, the ionically bound drug in the outer layer is released into body fluid or tissue. Following release of such bound drug, the ionic surfactant binding sites in the outer layer are left vacant. To maintain the pharmacological activity after delivery of the ionically bound drug, additional amounts of the drug are embedded or incorporated in the reservoir layer in a manner which allows the drug, which is substantially free of ionic surfactants, to complex with the vacant binding sites of the ionic surfactant of the outer layer. As a result, the surface of the medical device is enriched with the drug to provide sustained pharmacological activity to prevent the adverse reaction due to the presence of the medical device. The invention is further directed to medical devices with stabilized drug-releasing coatings. The coatings are stabilized by exposure to a low energy, relatively non-penetrating energy source, e.g., gas plasma or an electron beam energy source.

Antimicrobial activity is imparted to the surface(s) of an apparatus or article by polymerizing tert-butylaminoethyl methacrylate in the presence of the apparatus or article by which adhesion of the polymer to the surface(s) is achieved. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the antimicrobial monomer is graft polymerized on the surface(s).

Coating compositions comprising an epoxy resin and a curative which is methylenedisalicylic acid and/or a methylendisalicylic acid ring-substituted homologue are found to cure at and produce a wrinkle finish at relatively low temperatures when a borontrifluoride:amine complex is used as the cure catalyst.

The invention relates to a thermochromic polymerizable mesogenic composition essentially consisting of: PA1 a) a component MA comprising at least one achiral polymerizable mesogenic compound comprising at least one polymerizable functional group, PA1 b) a component MB comprising at least one chiral polymerizable mesogenic compound comprising at least one polymerizable functional group, PA1 c) a photoinitiator, and PA1 d) optionally a dye component, to anisotropic polymers and polymer films with a chiral mesophase obtainable from said thermochromic polymerizable mesogenic composition and to the use of said thermochromic polymerizable mesogenic composition, anisotropic polymers and polymer films for optical information storage, photomasks, decorative pigments, cosmetics, security applications, active and passive optical elements such as polarizers or optical retarders, color filters, scattering displays, adhesives or synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties.

An article coated with a thermal barrier coating system, and method for preparation of a coated article. The article has a macro-segmented thermal barrier coating due to the presence of a pattern of three-dimensional features. The features may be a series of raised ribs formed on the substrate surface and being spaced from 0.05 inches to 0.30 apart. The ribs have a width W ranging from 0.005 inches to 0.02 inches, and a height R ranging from 25% to 100% of the thickness of the barrier coating. Alternately, the features may be a similar pattern of grooves formed in the surface of the substrate. Other embodiments provide segmentation by grooves or ribs in the bond coat or alternately grooves formed in the thermal barrier layer.

Formulations and a process are disclosed for chemically treating a surface of a product made from magnesium alloys. One formulation comprises an acid pickle comprising hydrofluoric acid and a binary alcohol and a second formulation comprises a conversion solution comprising nitric acid, permanganate, and ammonium acid difluoride. The process comprises degreasing the product with alkaline solution, rinsing the product with water, pickling the product with the acid pickle, rinsing the product with water, modifying the product using the modifying solution, rinsing the product with purified water, and drying the product by heating.

The present invention is directed to a method of forming a new material layer or region near an interface region of two dissimilar materials, and an optional third layer, wherein at least one of said dissimilar materials or optional third is capable of being heated by microwave energy. The method of the present invention includes a step of irradiating a structure containing at least two dissimilar materials and an optional third layer under conditions effective to form the new material layer in the structure. An apparatus for conducting the microwave heating as well as the structures formed from the method are also described herein.

This invention pertains to more sensitive and more stable electronic devices which can sense electrical and magnetic fields. The devices are characterized by InAs channels confined on both sides thereof by a wide band gap AlSb material; protective layers above the AlSb material; modulation doping above the AlSb material; and layers of the InAs channel material containing 1 to 99 mol percent antimony, with the channel material being deposited in the form of alternating monolayers of InSb and InAs, of a ternary mixture of InAsSb.

A silver halide photographic material has been provided, having in a layer arrangement at one or both sides of a subbed support, corresponding with a single-side coated or a double-side coated material respectively, one or more layer(s) comprising a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion, one or more protective antistress layer(s) and, optionally, an outermost afterlayer, wherein at least one of said layers, subbing layer(s) inclusive, further comprises means in order to provide, when conditioned at a relative humidity of at most 30%, an electrical resistance, measured as described in Research Disclosure June 1992, item 33840, of from 4.times.10.sup.9 .OMEGA./sq. up to 5.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA./sq. for the layer having the lowest resistance.

This invention relates to single nucleotide polymorphisms in the LTC.sub.4 synthase gene, EMBL accession no. U50136, particularly at one or more of positions 375, 815, 1003, 2169 and 2742. The invention also relates to methods and materials for analyzing allelic variation in the LTC.sub.4 synthase gene, and to the use of LTC.sub.4 synthase polymorphism in tie diagnosis and treatment of leukotriene mediated diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis.

The invention provides thdF polynucleotides encoding thdF polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing thdF polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.

A bacterial autoinducer and method for isolating and purifying a bacterial autoinducer from a sample comprising the steps of collecting a sample containing the autoinducer, fractionating the sample to isolate fractions corresponding to molecular weights of approximately 300-1500 Dalton, and eluting the isolate on an anion-exchange chromatographic column and selecting the faction containing the autoinducer.

Methods for transferring one or more proteins to a cell are disclosed. The protein or proteins to be transferred are in the form of a fusion protein, and contain at least one domain encoding for a protein or peptide having trans signaling and/or adhesion function. The fusion protein is transferred to a cell by binding to a lipidated protein, which has been incorporated into the cell membrane. Methods for using cells which have undergone protein transfer according to the present methods are also disclosed. This includes use in a cancer vaccine, use for treatment of cancer or autoimmune disease, and use in determining costimulator threshold levels.

In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cells each formed by one selection transistor and one memory transistor connected in series, the thickness of a first gate insulating layer of the selection transistor is smaller than the thickness of a second gate insulating layer of the memory transistor.

A buried layer of dopant is formed in a semiconductor by etching a series of trenches, then depositing dopant at the bottom of the trenches and diffusing until the dopant from different trenches meet to form a continuous layer. Depending on the material used to fill the trenches, the buried layer can be contacted or isolated. With this method, it becomes unnecessary to grow expensive epitaxial layers.

A method for forming a cell passes transistor in DRAM process disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a MOS structure, which can reduce junction leakage for P/N junction and increase the refreshes time capability. A method for DRAM fabrication comprises providing a semiconductor substrate having at least an isolation device therein. The isolation device defines an active area adjacent thereto on the semiconductor substrate. A first photoresist layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, which exposes the active area in a first direction. The first conductive ions are implanted to form a well region in the semiconductor substrate, and the second conductive ions are implanted to form a field implant region in the semiconductor substrate. The third conductive ions are implanted to form a punchthrough implant region in the semiconductor substrate. Then the first photoresist layer is removed, and a second photoresist layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The second photoresist layer exposes the active area in a second direction different from the first direction. The fourth conductive ions are implanted to form a threshold implant region, and then the second photoresist layer is removed.

Dents are formed on the silicon oxide film 3 formed on a silicon substrate 1; thereon are formed a barrier metal film 4 and a copper plating film 5 in this order. Then, chemical mechanical polishing is conducted for planarization. Polishing is conducted for a given time and, when the barrier metal film 4 has been exposed, a hydrofluoric acid-containing solution is fed. As the hydrofluoric acid-containing solution, a buffered hydrofluoric acid or the like is used.

The invention relates to a process for the production of shaped activated carbon by steam activation in an continuously operating rotary tunnel kiln, by continuously drying spherically preformed raw materials in a rotary tunnel dryer with 6-fold product turnover per kiln rotation, with a product temperature of from 250 to 300.degree. C. in the 50 to 80% kiln length range and a residence time of from 30 to 6O minutes by means of a hot gas in countercurrent, then, in an indirectly heated rotary tunnel kiln, which is subdivided into a carbonising zone and activating zone, continuously carbonising the material with 8-fold product turnover per kiln rotation and with a product temperature profile in the carbonising zone of from 850 to 900.degree. C. and a residence time of from 120 to 180 minutes, and activating the material with a product temperature profile in the activating zone of from 910 to 920.degree. C. and a residence time of from 480 to 720 minutes with the addition of steam in an inert-gas flow.

A lubricating oil for a flon refrigerant, containing a polyglycol compound having a kinematic viscosity at 40.degree. C. of at least 30 cSt, a viscosity index of at least 150 and a water content of not more than 200 ppm as a main component. The lubricating oil of the present invention has good stability in the presence of a flon refrigerant, does not cause the copper plating phenomenon and has good compatibility with not only flon-11 and flon-12 but also sparingly soluble refrigerants such as hydrogen-containing flon compounds and perfluoroalkane.

An improvement is described in all purpose liquid cleaning composition which are especially effective in the removal of oily and greasy soil containing a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a fatty acid, magnesium sulfate, methyl ethoxylated ester cosurfactant, a perfume, essential oil or water insoluble organic compound and water.

A compound and method for using the compound to reduce injury associated with ischemia and reperfusion of mammalian organs such as the heart. The compound may be administered as part of a preconditioning strategy which reduces the extent of injury and improves organ function following cessation and restoration of blood flow. The compound may be used in preparation for planned ischemia or in a prophylactic manner in anticipation of further ischemic events.

The invention relates to method for identifying prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, methods for determining metastatic potential of tumors, and to methods and compositions for inhibiting or preventing metastasis of cancers. In one aspect, the invention provides a method to determine metastatic potential of tumors, particularly prostatic tumors. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of identifying prostate cancer associated conditions, particularly prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. In these regards, the invention relate to determining protein or mRNA of effectors of arachidonic acid release, particularly uteroglobin protein or mRNA, to identify intermediate conditions such as PIN or to gauge metastatic potential of prostatic tumors. The invention also relates to methods and compositions that prevent or inhibit metastasis of cancers. In this regard, the invention particularly relates to methods and compositions that inhibit arachidonic acid, those that inhibit phospholipase A.sub.2. More particularly in this regard, the invention relates to uteroglobin or muteins, peptide analogs or mimetics of uteroglobin and lipocortins or muteins, peptide analogs, or mimetics of lipocortins that inhibit metastasis. Especially it relates to methods and compositions in which uteroglobins, particularly human uteroglobins, inhibit or prevent metastasis of cancer, particularly prostatic cancer.

This invention describes the new 17.alpha.-fluoroalkyl steroids of general formula I ##STR1## as well as their physiologically compatible salts with acids, and for --CO.sub.2 R.sup.9 radicals with R.sup.9 meaning hydrogen as well as their physiologically compatible salts with bases. The new compounds have an extraordinarily strong antigestagenic action and are suitable for the production of pharmaceutical preparations.

An assay for emetic activity among inhibitors of type 4 phosphodiesterase (PDE 4) is disclosed. The assay comprises: PA1 (A) administering to a test mammal an anesthetic compound in an amount sufficient to cause an anesthetic effect; PA1 (B) administering to the test mammal a test compound that has PDE 4 inhibitory activity; PA1 (C) observing the test mammal for changes in the anesthetic effect, and PA1 (D) correlating any change in the anesthetic effect observed in the anesthetized test mammal to a standard.

There are described a pesticidal composition which comprises, in variable quantities, the pesticidally active compound of the formula ##STR1## in free form or in the form of an agrochemically acceptable salt, and the pesticidally active compound of the formula ##STR2## in free form or in the form of an agrochemically acceptable salt, and at least one auxiliary, a combination of the active ingredients (A) and (B), a method of controlling pests, a process for the preparation of the composition, its use, plant propagation material treated with the composition, and the use of the compound of the formula (A) and the use of the compound of the formula (B) for the preparation of the composition.

The invention relates to novel compounds having pharmacological activity, processes for their preparation, to compositions containing them and to their use in the treatment of CNS disorders.

3-(Piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole derivatives bearing an optionally substituted phenyl moiety at the 2-position of the indole ring system and an alkyl or aryl-alkyl substituent on the nitrogen atom of the piperndine ring are selective antagonists of the human 5-HT.sub.2A receptor. ##STR1## They are therefore useful as pharmaceutical agents, especially in the treatment and/or prevention of adverse conditions of the central nervous system, including psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors useful in the treatment of non-cardiac chest pain or the treatment of symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

This invention relates to novel spiro compound derivatives of benzoisothiazolyl-urea and -thiourea and compositions thereof. These compounds are useful in the treatment of disease states mediated by the chemokine, Interleukin-8 (IL-8).

Selected bis-amino acid hydroxyethylamino sulfonamide compounds are effective as retroviral protease inhibitors, and in particular as inhibitors of HIV protease. The present invention relates to such retroviral protease inhibitors and, more particularly, relates to selected novel compounds, composition and method for inhibiting retroviral proteases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease, prophylactically preventing retroviral infection or the spread of a retrovirus, and treatment of a retroviral infection.

The invention provides compounds, compositions and methods for modulating the effects of LXR in a cell. The compounds and compositions are useful both as diagnostic indicators of LXR function and as pharmacologically active agents. The compounds and compositions find particular use in the treatment of disease states associated with cholesterol metabolism, particularly atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia.

The invention includes a method of increasing polymerization within a condensation polymer. A substantially dry condensation polymer material is provided. The material is exposed to radiation having a frequency less than microwave frequency for a time of at least about 0.5 hour to increase an amount of polymerization within the material. The invention also includes a method of treating a polyamide material. A polymeric polyamide material is provided and exposed to first radiation having a first power intensity. The material is then exposed to second radiation having a second power intensity. The first power intensity is higher than the second power intensity. Additionally, the invention includes an apparatus. The apparatus includes an inlet port through which a feed material enters the apparatus, and an outlet port through which the feed material passes out of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a feed material flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port, The flow path comprises at least two radio-frequency radiation reaction zones which comprise different power intensities of radio-frequency radiation relative to one another. The invention further comprises methods and apparatuses utilized for treatment and/or formation of nylon.

The present invention related to an improved coloration process for thermoplastic resins using a masterbatch containing pigments. The masterbatch composition is comprising a metallocene catalyzed resin as a carrier for the pigment, so as to improve the affinity between the thermoplastic resin and the pigment to provide a better dispersion.

This invention relates to new metallocenes with mixed substituents and enhanced activity, methods of producing metallocene compounds, and the use of metallocenamide halides for generating an active catalyst system for (co)polymerization reactions.

An electrophotographic photoconductor includes an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon containing as an effective component an aromatic polycarbonate resin having a structural unit of formula (I), two structural units of formulae (I) and (II), or a repeat unit of formula (III): ##STR1## wherein Ar.sup.1 to Ar.sup.7, Y, X, and n are as specified in the specification.

The present invention relates to the preparation of enzymatically degradable polymers, having repeating structural unit as shown hereinbelow: ##STR1## PA1 X--is selected from phenolic --OH of tyrosine, --OH of serine and threonine and --SH of cysteine PA1 Y--is pendant group selected from drug molecules containing carboxyl groups, PA1 R--is hydrogen, methyl or mixture of hydrogen and methyl on the individual molecule, PA1 n--is an integer from 0 to about 100, and PA1 m--is an integer from 0 to 10, the said process comprises the steps of reacting diester of poly (oxyalkylene glycol) and hydrochloride of trifunctional amino acid with a dicarboxylic acid in the presence of a condensing agent in a solvent at a temperature in the range of 0.degree. C. to room temperature for a period ranging between 1 hr to 24 hrs, neutralizing the hydrochloride salt by base, and reacting the free amino groups in the side chain of the polymer with the drug molecule containing carboxyl groups to obtain enzymatically degradable polymer.

Disclosed is a novel antimicrobial peptide, named parasin I, which is isolated from catfish. Catfish produce a strong antimicrobial peptide in the epithelial mucosal layer upon epidermal injury to protect against the invasion of microorganisms. It is 2000.4 Da in molecular mass and consist of 19 amino acid residues, represented by Lys-Gly-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gln-Gly-Gly-Lys-Val-Arg-Ala-Lys-Ala-Lys-Thr-Arg-Ser-Se r (SEQ ID NO: 1) Parasin I shows exceptionally potent antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of micrroorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungui, without any hemolytic activity. Its synthetic derivatives also have potent activity. Therefore, parasin I and its derivatives can be used as wound healing agent, trauma curing agent, mouthwash, eyewash, etc.

Methods are provide for determining the relative amounts of individual polynucleotides in a complex mixture. The polynucleotides, after fluorescent labeling, are contacted under hybridization conditions with an array having element disposed at discrete locations on a substrate. The elements comprise two or more distinct polynucleotides that are combined prior to arraying. The level of fluorescence associated with each element provides a measure of its relative amount in the mixture.

This invention relates to a process for the selective preparation of cis-2,6-dimethylpiperazine by reacting (i) a diisopropanolamine mixture comprising compounds having the formulas HN(CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.3).sub.2, HN(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 OH).sub.2, and HN(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 OH)(CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.3) or (ii) 1,2-diaminopropane with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.

There is provided a process for purification of N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester comprising the step of contacting impure N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester containing at least .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester as an impurity, with the mixed solvents having two layers of one layer given from at least one organic solvent which does not mix with water homogeneously and one layer of water to extract N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester in the organic solvent layer. In the present invention, the desired compound can be purified or recovered efficiently in a high yield without using burdensome steps or operations.

A process for preparing cyclopentanone and cyclopentene-1-carboxylic acid or an ester thereof of the formula I ##STR1## where R is hydrogen or an aliphatic radical having 1-6 carbon atoms or a cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic radical having 6-12 carbon atoms comprises heating a compound of the formula II EQU X--(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --COOR II where X is formyl or hydroxymethyl and R is defined as above, and/or a compound which is converted into a compound of the formula II by reaction with water or alcohols ROH under the reaction conditions to from 200 to 450.degree. C. in the gas or liquid phase in the presence of a heterogeneous oxidic catalyst.

A process for the production of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone diesters by aromatization of 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1,4-dione (4-oxoisophorone, ketoisophorone, KIP) with an acylating agent and an acidic soluble or insoluble catalyst, which process may be operated alternatively continuously or discontinuously. The process includes the following steps: a) a carboxylic anhydride having a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl residue is used as the acylating agent, b) after the reaction, a proportion of the resultant carboxylic acid is optionally removed by distillation, c) the reaction solution is cooled, d) the product which has crystallized out is separated and washed, and e) the filtrate is returned to step a).

A method for producing phenylenedioxydiacetic acids of high purity at high yield from crude phenylenedioxydiacetic acids which mainly contains phenylenedioxydiacetic acids represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## PA1 wherein, R represents a hologen, carboxyl group or hydrocarbon group having 1-4 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer from 0 to 3, PA1 wherein an alkaline aqueous solution of the crude phenylenedioxydiacetic acids is mixed with a mineral acid to precipitate the phenylenedioxydiacetic acids, PA1 wherein at least 10% by weight of the alkaline aqueous solution is mixed with a mineral acid at 0 to 50.degree. C.; and, after completion of the mixing, the temperature of the mixture is kept at 80 to 110.degree. C.

The present invention relates to a heat management structure within a chip package that allows for heat rejection away from a chip while addressing problems of thermal stresses caused by dissimilar thermal conductivities of a heat management structure and of creating a thermally unbalanced package due to disparate distribution of packaging plastic. In an embodiment of the present invention a package includes a chip, leads on the chip, a die attach, a downset, a packaging plastic, and an outer structure among others. The outer structure, downset, and die attach are together a substantially unitary article. Achieving a balanced package that substantially resists warpage and bowing during ordinary manufacture and ordinary use in the life of the package is accomplished by balancing packaging material width and the ability of the downset to resist warpage and bowing stresses. A substantial portion of the outer structure is exposed to the external part of the package in the surface which includes the packaging lower edge. Alternatively, the downset can include a part of the external boundary of the package such that exposure of the downset to the external portion of the package allows for additional heat rejection away from the chip in addition to the use of the outer structure.

Interconnections are made through a planar circuit by a monolithic short-circuited transmission path which extends from a circuit portion of the planar circuit to the opposite side. The opposite side is ground sufficiently to remove the short-circuiting plate, thereby separating the previously monolithic conductors, and exposing ends of the separated conductors of the transmission path. Connection is made between the exposed conductors of the transmission path and the registered contacts of a second planar circuit by means of electrically conductive, compliant fuzz buttons. The transmission path may be a coaxial path useful for RF.

A cross-connect cabinet for an underground telecommunication installation wherein the bundle of conductors electrically connecting the splice connector with a pivoted terminal field is so constructed and arranged to avoid bending the bundle of conductors across the longitudinal axis of the conductors in a manner likely to cause fatigue or other premature conductor failure during the opening and closing of the terminal field of the cross-connect cabinet.

Circuit and circuit carries include a dielectric substrate having a conductive layer mounted thereon. The conductive layer is patterned to define a plurality of spaced apart conductive elements. A static charge dissipative layer is in contact with and extending between at least two of the conductive elements. The static charge dissipative layer has a surface resistivity of between about 1.times.10.sup.5 and about 1.times.10.sup.10 ohms/.quadrature.. The static charge dissipative layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of diamond-like carbon, silicon nitride, boron nitride, boron trifluoride, silicon carbide and silicon dioxide. Circuits and circuit carriers according to the present invention allow static charges to be controllably and reliably dissipated from a surface of the circuit or circuit carrier such that the potential for damage from static discharge to electrical components connected to the circuit is reduced.

A device for controlling a breaker comprising a weight (48) provided in the vicinity of a releasing trigger (19) and an auxiliary spring (50 )for urging the weight (48) so that the weight (48)is in contact with the releasing trigger (19). An equivalent mass of the weight (48)is about one-third of an equivalent mass of the releasing trigger. When the releasing trigger (19)is in contact with a pin (45) of a releasing latch (18), the weight (48)rebounds but the releasing trigger (19)is settled without rebounding. By such a structure, the rebound of releasing latch and the releasing trigger is prevented when these are engaged, whereby a time for closing a circuit is shortened.

A system and apparatus for and method of fusing a wrap to a portion of a length of plastic-coated pipe are disclosed. The system comprises a thermoplastic piece shaped to conform to the portion of pipe, the piece including a heat-generating trace and the heat-generating trace including a plurality of trace leads thereon. The system further comprises a clamp for applying pressure to the piece in the vicinity of the heat-generating trace, the clamp including at least two compression bands, each of the compression bands including a plurality of power leads, each of the power leads corresponding to one of the trace leads. The power leads preferably automatically are placed into electrical contact with said trace leads when the clamp is applied over the thermoplastic piece. The piece can be used for a variety of purposes, including bundling multiple pipes together, maintaining an annular space between concentric pipes, maintaining an anode in contact with two pipes and affixing a patch or cover to one or more pipes.

A semiconductor structure includes at least one .alpha.-silicon carbide region and an electrically insulating region, e.g. made of an oxide layer, and an interface located between them. The selection of an .alpha.-silicon carbide polytype having a smaller energy gap than that of the 6H silicon carbide polytype for at least one region near the interface results in a high charge carrier mobility in this region.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate provided with a plurality of leads, a face-down semiconductor element provided on one surface of the substrate, a first stacked semiconductor element and a second stacked semiconductor element provided on another surface of the substrate and connected to the substrate by wires, and an extended wiring mechanism for connecting electrodes of the face-down semiconductor element and electrodes of the first and second semiconductor elements. The connected electrodes are equi-electrodes whose electrical characteristics are equal.

Environmental control and electric power are provided for a vehicle (12) carrying at least one gas turbine engine (14, 16) including a turbine (40,46) and a compressor (42,48); a stored energy device (28); a first turbine (64) powered by the stored energy device (28); an expansion turbine (60) for an air cooling cycle; and an electric generator (34) rotatably driven by the first turbine (64) and the expansion turbine (60). The electric generator (34) has a minimum operating speed required to generate acceptable electric power for the vehicle (12). The environmental control and electric power for the vehicle (12) are provided by a method including the steps of normally rotating the expansion turbine (60) with bleed air from the compressor (42,48) of the at least one gas turbine engine (14, 16) to generate temperature conditioned, pressurized air for the environmental control of the vehicle; driving the electric generator (34) above the minimum speed with the expansion turbine (60) to provide electric power for the vehicle (12); and, in the absence of sufficient power from the expansion turbine (60), maintaining the electric generator (34) above the minimum speed by powering the first turbine (64) with the stored energy device (28) to provide electric power for the vehicle (12).

Method and apparatus are provided for selectively tailoring electromagnetic fields, and in particular for providing rapidly vanishing magnetic far-fields for magnet arrays, coils and the like. The method involves selectively combining magnetic, coil or other arrays having fields that vanish as 1/r.sup.l to achieve and array having a selectively increase l value. Various techniques for achieving such combinations in one, two or three dimensions, and the arrays resulting from such combination are disclosed.

A small-sized motor includes a rotor, which, in turn, includes a shaft, a laminated core forming salient magnetic poles an odd number and mounted on the shaft, windings, each being wound around a plurality of salient magnetic poles, and a commutator mounted on the shaft. Each salient magnetic pole includes an arm portion and wing portions, which are integrated with ends of the arm portion and circumferentially extends symmetrically with respect to the arm portion. When core laminations of the laminated core each has a thickness u, the laminated core has a diameter D, and the wing portion has a thickness t as measured at its root in a radial direction, the thickness t falls within the range from 5.5% the core diameter D as an upper limit to the core-lamination thickness u as a lower limit. Thus, it becomes possible to solve a problem of a rotor having an odd number of poles in that vibration is likely to arise, to thereby suppress vibration, while maintaining a feature of the rotor that a large torque can be produced.

A motor for rotating a disk-shaped information recording medium for a disk drive apparatus which is capable of rotating a higher-capacity information recording medium and a relatively lower-capacity recording medium at different speeds. This motor includes a stator; a rotor that rotates with respect to the stator with a shaft as the center of rotation when a drive winding is energized; a bearing that is provided on the side of the stator and rotatably supports the shaft of the rotor; a dynamic pressure generation section for generating dynamic pressure by filling a fluid between the bearing and the shaft when the shaft is rotated above a predetermined speed; a judging member for judging whether the disk-shaped information recording medium that is attached to the rotor is a relatively lower-capacity medium or a higher-capacity medium; and a control section for supplying the drive winding of the stator with a drive signal for a first rotation speed when a judgment signal produced by the judging member indicates the relatively lower-capacity medium, and with a drive signal for a second rotation speed that is higher than the first rotation speed when the judgment signal indicates the higher-capacity medium.

A motor comprising two or more rotors (20, 30) rotated by means of a common power supply (6), each rotor (20, 30) having a plurality of poles (22, 32) and being associated with a stator (16, 26) having a plurality of poles (18, 28), wherein the arrangement of rotor poles (22, 32) and stator poles (18, 28) is different for each rotor 920, 30) so that the rotors (20, 30) rotate at different speeds when the common power supply (6) is applied.

A constant or variable flashlight includes a semi-conductor boost/buck controller electrically connected to an inductor. The controller is operable to cyclically charge the inductor and then cause the stored energy to be delivered to the flashlight lamp in cycles repeating at a rate between 10,000 and one million cycles per second. A photo-responsive feedback circuit connected to the controller is operable for modulating the current to the lamp in response to an imbalance between a standard potential and the feedback circuit. Arrangements are provided for selectively changing the brightness of the lamp necessary to produce a balance of potential between the standard potential and the feedback current.

A hand-controlled motor-driven oscillating device having an elongate casing, an electric motor having an output shaft, and an oscillating unit having an output shaft and being connected in drive terms to the output shaft of the electric motor. The electric motor and the oscillating motor and the oscillating unit are arranged in the casing in succession in a direction of the longitudinal access of the casing so as to form a grip section and an oscillating head section. The output shaft of the oscillating unit projects out of the casing. The grip section is connected to the oscillating head section so that the grip section can be pivoted, in terms of its angular position, with respect to the oscillating head section and the oscillating unit output shaft.

A frequency measurement test circuit includes a frequency divider, and a detection circuit. The frequency divider frequency-divides an input to be measured. The detection circuit outputs a signal of level set on the basis of a relationship in magnitude between the frequency of the signal frequency-divided by the frequency divider and that of a reference clock signal.

It is an object of the invention to provide a magnetic sensor and a current sensor that exhibit high performance at low costs. A magnetic sensor has a magnetic core (1) having a magnetic saturation property and a sensor coil (2) wound around the magnetic core (1). An end of a detection coil (20) is connected to an end of the sensor coil (2). The other end of the detection coil (20) is grounded. The magnetic sensor further comprises a drive circuit (3) and a detection circuit (4). The drive circuit (3) has a series resonance circuit part of which is made up of the sensor coil (2). To the sensor coil (2) the drive circuit (3) supplies a resonance current flowing into the series resonance circuit as an alternating current that allows the magnetic core (1) to reach a saturation region. The detection circuit (4) detects a magnetic field to be measured by detecting variations in resonance current flowing through the sensor coil (2).

A tunable radio frequency birdcage coil (30) is oriented vertically in a bore-type magnetic resonance apparatus. The birdcage coil (30) includes a pair of end rings (60, 62) disposed in parallel planes along a coil axis which is orthogonal to the main magnetic field. A plurality of rungs (64) electrically interconnect the end rings (60, 62) to form a generally cylindrical volume. The end rings (60, 62) and rungs (64) are mounted on a hinged (68) dielectric former (66). Conductive connectors (70) releasably fasten the end rings (60, 62) so that the coil (30) may be opened and closed to receive a portion of a subject to be examined. A conductive loop (80) is inductively coupled and positioned parallel to the end rings (60, 62). The conductive loop (80) is slidably adjustable along the coil axis for matching and tuning end-ring modes of the coil. The coil is oriented to provide a subject disposed therein with an open view for fMRI applications. Means for stimulating the visual senses (100) is mounted adjacent the examination region (14) to facilitate fMRI applications.

A testing apparatus and method for testing conductivity of electric pathways formed on a substrate, each pathway including a first wiring and a second wiring partially overlapping each other. The apparatus includes a first electric signal applier for applying a first electric signal having an electric parameter changing with time to an input portion of the first wiring, a first electrode facing a first portion of the second wiring, a second electrode facing a second portion of the second wiring, a second electric signal applier for applying to the second a electrode a second electric signal changing its electric parameter in the phase reverse to that of the first electric signal, and a monitor for monitoring the signal transmitted to the first electrode through its capacitive coupling.

A photoelectric conversion integrated circuit device for converting a light signal into a voltage signal has a photodiode that outputs a current in accordance with a light signal it receives, a current-to-voltage conversion circuit that outputs a voltage signal in accordance with a current signal it receives, and a test circuit that outputs a current and whose on/off state is controllable from the outside. At the output of the photodiode, two output terminals are provided, of which one is connected to the current-to-voltage conversion circuit and the other to the test circuit. This photoelectric conversion integrated circuit device allows a fault in the wiring between the photodiode and the current-to-voltage conversion circuit to be detected by feeding an input current to the current-to-voltage conversion circuit without shining light on the photodiode.

On the basis of a reception clock, a transmission clock and a self-running clock having higher frequency than that of the reception clock, the phases of the reception clock and the transmission clock are compared. The phase of the transmission clock is controlled on the basis of the phase comparison circuit for outputting the controlled transmission clock and a frequency division clock of the self-running clock.

A voice alert system 10 for use on bicycles and similar human-powered vehicles. When triggered by the user, it generates one or more safety alerts in the form of pre-established voice messages. It consists of a switch assembly connected to a random-access voice playback module, which in turn drives an amplifier and forward-facing speaker. These components are supported by a main housing and a speaker housing, which in turn are attached to the the host bicycle by means of a clamp assembly. The switch assembly includes at least one switch for producing a triggering signal. On receipt of the triggering signal, the voice playback module produces an electrical representation of a pre-established voice alert, which is amplified by the amplifier and projected by the speaker. Optionally, one or more additional switches are provided to trigger one or more additional voice alerts. The content of the voice alerts will typically be safety-related, such as "passing on your left", "passing on your right", etc., and will typically have humorous or entertaining accents or dialects to encourage use. One or more alerts may be pre-established at the factory; optionally, the voice playback module can be provided with a recording capability to allow the user to record his or her own alerts.

A refuge bay monitoring system including a radio system connected to a computer in an above-ground control room, and a controller connected to a radio system in a below-ground refuge bay or safe area for mine workers. The controller monitors the operation of equipment in the refuge bay and any doors to the refuge bay. The refuge bay radio system communicates with the radio system in the above-ground control room so the computer can monitor the refuge bay. The radio systems provide intercommunication for data and voice.

The invention relates to a device (10) for making an antitheft link between two objects, the device comprising an envelope (20) of heat-shrink plastics material whose walls are locally brought together along a common generator line (23) to form both a main compartment (24) which is open at both ends and which is designed to envelop one of the two objects to be connected together, and an auxiliary compartment in which an elongate pin is disposed. The device has a wall (31) provided on the other object (30) with a narrow longitudinal slot (32) formed therein that is open at one of its ends, said slot being dimensioned to enable the envelope to be inserted level with its common generator line (23) so that the elongate pin co-operates with the wall (31) to provide the link between said other object and the envelope which has been heat-shrunk on the first object, and to enable the inserted envelope (20) to be locked into place by means (36) closing the open end of the slot (32).

In an inversely quantizing method of determining an inverse quantization value Y from an original quantization index value X, scale conversion is performed to a quantization index value X1 as at least a part of the original quantization index value X to produce first and second values which indicate the quantization index value X1. Then, first and second tables are referred to based on the first and second values, to determine third and fourth values corresponding to the first and second values, respectively. Then, an inverse quantization value Y is determined from the third and fourth values.

Disclosed is an antenna of a wireless apparatus which comprises an antenna housing fixed on an outer upper part of the wireless apparatus main body; a feeding connector installed in a lower part of the antenna housing and electrically connected to a circuit built in the wireless apparatus main body; a helical antenna including a helical coil built in the antenna housing and electrically disconnected from the feeding connector; and a rod antenna moving up and down through the feeding connector and the helical antenna, wherein when the rod antenna is contracted into the wireless apparatus, the helical antenna is electrically connected to the feeding connector and the rod antenna is electrically disconnected from the feeding connector, and when the rod antenna is extended outside of the wireless apparatus, the rod antenna is electrically connected to the feeding connector and the helical antenna is electrically disconnected from the feeding connector.

An antenna device comprised of dielectric elements, the device having an array of parasitic director elements which coherently focuses energy across the parasitic array. The parasitic elements are spaced less than or equal to one wavelength from each other to provide the coherent focusing, with the array thereby acting like an artificial dielectric lens. An optimal spacing or elemental length might include one-eighth (1/8) to one-quarter (1/4) wavelength. A plurality of feed elements is associated with the array and provides incident energy thereon. Reflector elements might also be used to further reflect incident energy from a feed element back across the parasitic array. The various elements are switchably selectable via a switching network which might consist of diodes. The parasitic elements form a lens which provides the directionality of the antenna. The switching network, and associated antenna control, provides the ability to dynamically alter the directionality of the antenna without moving parts. A tuning circuit can be associated with each element, with the tuning circuit being used to make certain elements appear electrically longer. The elements will generally be manufactured to be the same. If the tuning circuit grounds a particular element, then it will function as a director element, and can add to the overall gain of the device. If the tuning circuit makes an element electrically longer, then the element will function as a reflector. This device is useful in various applications, including fixed wireless subscriber terminals, base station to remote platform transmissions, radar tracking, and moving platform transmissions.

A method enables measurement of the configuration of a pattern with irregularity in a wide surface region with a high accuracy and in a single operation. The surface inspecting method includes irradiating a measurement objective region with an illuminating light in an oblique direction thereto; forming an image of reflected light from the measurement objective region, the formed image of reflected light having points with luminance corresponding to the incident angle of the illuminating light at respective points on the measurement objective region picking up the formed image to collect luminance data of respective points in the measurement objective region; analyzing spatial frequencies of the luminance data with respect to positions in a desired direction to make a plurality of spatial frequency data; and extracting a desired frequency component from the plurality of spatial frequency data.

A method (100) and process (120) for extending the optical bandwidth of an optical signal splitter/amplifier (160) that includes optical amplifier material and an multi-mode interference splitter. A wider bandwidth is obtained by equalizing both the gain and noise figures for the splitter/amplifier (160) as a function of the perfect focus wavelength of the splitter and the amplified spontaneous emission spectra of the gain material. The peak wavelength of the semiconductor optical amplifier material is offset a distance from the perfect focus wavelength so that the net gain of the splitter/amplifier (160) is the semiconductor gain multiplied by the insertion loss of the splitter.

An interference filter (10, 30, 50, 70, 90, 110, 130, 150, or 190) filters selected wavelengths by dividing an input beam into two or more intermediate beams having different optical path lengths and by recombining the intermediate beams into an output beam that is modified by interference between the intermediate beams. An optical path length difference generator (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, or 200) varies the optical path lengths of the intermediate beams by changing the physical lengths of their paths or the refractive indices of the mediums in which they are conveyed. The optical path length generator (20) of one exemplary embodiment (10) includes a spacer plate (20) that is divided into elements (22 and 24) having different refractive indices for varying the optical path lengths of the intermediate beams. Another optical path length difference generator (140) is formed by a stack of partially reflective surfaces (144) that are spaced apart in the direction of beam propagation by at least one nominal wavelength for varying the physical path lengths between the intermediate beams.

A seed layer is provided for a pinning layer which increases the pinning field H.sub.PIN between a pinning layer and a pinned layer of a spin valve sensor. In an example the seed layer structure included a first seed layer of cobalt iron boron (CoFeB), a second seed layer of nickel manganese oxide (NiMnO) and a third seed layer of aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) with the first seed layer interfacing the pinning layer and the second seed layer being located between the first and third seed layers. A pinning field between the pinning and pinned layers was 600 Oe and the magnetoresistive coefficient of the spin valve sensor was 8.8%. The pinned layer can be a single pinned layer or an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure. If the pinned layer structure is a single pinned layer the cobalt iron boron (CoFeB) first seed layer provides a second significant function of at least partially counterbalancing the demagnetizing field from the pinned layer.

A capacitor module system is provided for creating a thrust force. The system includes a capacitor module provided with a first conductive element having a cylindrical geometry. The first conductive element can be a hollow cylinder or a solid cylinder. The capacitor module also includes a second conductive element axially spaced from the first conductive element and of smaller axial extent. The second conductive element can be a flat disk, a dome, or a conductive tip at the end of a dielectric rod. A dielectric element is disposed between the first conductive element and the second conductive element. The system also includes a high voltage source having first and second terminals connected respectively to the first and second conductive elements. The high voltage source applies a high voltage to the conductive elements of sufficient value to create a thrust force on the module inducing movement thereof.

A power-supply breaker apparatus of the present invention includes a fuse provided between a power supply and a load in an electric circuit, an apparatus main body for housing the fuse, a first bus bar whose one end is fixed to one fuse terminal of the fuse, a second bus bar having one end fixed to one of the power supply and the load, a plug housing chamber for housing the plug in the apparatus main body movably in a fitting/detaching direction, and a pair of plug side terminals which become conductive with each other in the plug. The other end of the first bus bar is extended so as to be composed as one terminal of the pair of main body side terminals, and the other end of the second bus bar is extended so as to be composed as the other terminal of the pair of main body side terminals. At least one of the first bus bar and the second bus bar is freely deflected in a direction crossing substantially perpendicularly to a fitting/detaching direction so that a distance between the pair of main body side terminals varies.

A housing for a module unit of a portable computer includes a surrounding wall member and a cover member. The surrounding wall member includes a rectangular surrounding wall, and a partition disposed in and spanning a rectangular area confined by the surrounding wall. The partition cooperates with the surrounding wall to form a first receiving space with a first open end, and a second receiving space with a second open end. The partition is formed with an opening for intercommunicating the first and second receiving spaces. The cover member is formed separately from and is mounted on the surrounding wall member at the first open end of the first receiving space to cover the first receiving space. The first receiving space is adapted to receive a circuit board therein. The second receiving space is adapted to receive the module unit therein. Electrical connection between the module unit and the circuit board can be established via an electrical conductor unit that is extended through the opening in the partition.

The present invention provides an encapsulant structure for retaining an electronic circuit having heat-generating components within a case that at least partially surrounds the electronic circuit. In one advantageous embodiment, the encapsulant structure provides for a thermally conductive insert to be located within the case proximate the heat-generating components. The insert increases the heat transfer efficiency from the electronic circuit to the case.

In order to reduce assembly cost for attaching the electronic module and to realize better protection of the circuit board in an electronic module for an electric motor operated drive unit, in particular, for an electric motor operated automobile window opener, including an electronic housing part, which can be attached to the housing of the drive unit, with a connector piece arranged thereon and a circuit board inserted in a mounting means the electronic housing part and having electric and/or electronic components, which circuit board is electrically connected to contact elements of the connector piece and to power leads fastened to the electronic housing part, with the power leads being provided with contact sections projecting from the electronic housing part, it is suggested that the electronic housing part be configured as a separate housing which has a housing interior which can be closed with a cover; that the circuit board be arranged completely in the housing interior; and that a second connector piece be arranged on the electronic housing part through which at least the contact sections of the power lead are brought out of the electronic housing part.

An input conversion unit converts serial data supplied from the exterior into parallel data. Each of the converted parallel data is respectively written into a plurality of memory cell areas. An output conversion unit converts parallel data constructed by data read from each memory cell area into serial data. An operational unit is activated during a testing mode so as to logically operate on the parallel data read from each memory cell area. By writing predetermined data into each memory cell area in advance, it is confirmed by a logic operation that correct data is stored in each memory cell area. The data can be checked simultaneously for the plurality of memory cell areas so that the operation test in the memory cell areas can be carried out at high speed. Besides, serial data accepted, twice per cycle of a data strobe signal, is converted into parallel data. Each of the converted parallel data is respectively written into a first memory cell area and a second memory cell area. Parallel data read from the first and second memory cell area is logically operated in a testing mode and the operation result is output at once in synchronization with the clock signal. Accordingly, the data can be checked simultaneously for the first and the second memory cell area so that the operation test in the memory cell areas can be carried out at high speed.

An apparatus for and a method of ensuring a proper read output level of a multi-port memory during a dual write operation, i.e., when the same memory location is being written to by at least two ports, are described. Upon an indication that at least two ports are being accessed, and that the address match between at least two ports has occurred, the read outputs of, e.g., a read/write port, are forced to a known voltage, i.e., a hard one or a hard zero. In one implementation of the present invention, a dynamic bolt-on circuit is provided to dynamically pull down the precharge signal upon a determination that a dual write condition has occurred to, e.g., force the outputs to hard zero. In another implementation of the present invention, a logic circuit is provided at the end of the output to mask the actual value of the output, and to provide a known voltage, e.g., ground or V.sub.DD, to entities external to the memory cell.

A timed medication container for sounding an alarm when medication needs to be taken. The timed medication container includes a bottle for housing medication. A cap for removably closing the bottle has a top wall. The top wall has a top surface. Control circuitry is fixedly mounted in the top wall of the cap. The control circuitry is adapted for tracking elapsing time, subtraction, and activation of an alarm. The control circuitry comprises a microprocessor. A display displays information from the control circuitry. The display is mounted on the control circuitry. A surface of the display is generally flush with the top surface of the top wall. The display is operationally coupled to the control circuitry. A plurality of bores is in the top wall of the cap. A button for programming the control circuitry is in each of the bores in the cap. Each of the buttons is fixedly coupled to the control circuitry.

A coding and/or decoding system includes: a code-word table for storing therein a plurality of code words, which are capable of being decoded both in forward and backward directions and which are formed so that delimiters of the code words are capable of being identified by a predetermined weight of the code words, so that the code words correspond to different source symbols; an encoder for selecting code words corresponding to inputted source symbols from the code-word table; and a synchronization interval setting part for preparing coded data every predetermined interval using the code words selected by the encoder and for inserting stuffing codes capable of being decoded in the backward direction. Thus, it is possible to decrease useless bit patterns to enhance the coding efficiency by smaller amounts of calculation and storage, and to decode variable length codes both in the forward and backward directions even if the synchronization interval is set every interval using the stuffing bits.

This invention is a guard for preventing the vandalism of the keypad of a telephone. If the telephone is a pay telephone, the invention further prevents, thus preventing entry into the telephone money box from the upper housing area. The telephone guard, composed of an upper housing guard and a keypad guard, is secured by high strength visible fasteners to the upper housing of a pay telephone. The upper housing guard and keypad guard are mated tightly to prevent vandals from prying off the keypad guard. The thickness of the keypad guard is greater than the throw length of the push buttons of the keypad. Thus, the force of a blow to the keypad will be absorbed by the front of the guard rather than the push buttons.

An optical fiber or electrical power cable with at least one electrochemical chemical analyte sensor which includes a conductive polymer which extends longitudinally along the length of the cable. The polymer has electrical properties which undergo a reversible change when in contact with a chemical analyte. The conductive polymer can be a conductive polymer composite including an immiscible polymer blend of at least two polymers and a conductive filler which is dispersed in one of the polymers of the blend through a multiple percolation process. The cable has a jacket and the sensor(s) are disposed outside the core in proximity to an inner or outer surface of the jacket, or as part of the jacket, and not energy coupled to any energy converging media in the cable, so that the presence of analytes in contact with the cable can be detected, the location along the longitudinal length of a cable where the cable is exposed to the analytes can be determined, penetration of the analytes into the cable occurs can be detected, whether damage has been caused to the cable by the analytes or otherwise can be determined and the identity of an analyte which is in contact with the cable can be determined.

A fiber optic cable is provided with a thermal shield which consists (proceeding outward from the cable) of a temperature insulating layer of a foam plastic such as polyethylene, a plastic film wrap such as aluminized nylon, a metallic braid such as tinned copper and an outer jacket of plastic as additional temperature insulation and to facilitate pulling the cable. The film wrap and outer jacket are optional. For further shielding a second layer of foam plastic may be positioned outside the first metallic braid followed by a second plastic film wrap, a second metallic braid and an outer plastic jacket. If the shielded cable is near a source of heat, such as a hot water pipe or an air conditioning duct, the fiber optic cable temperature is uniform throughout its cross-section. Without the thermal shield instability of the signals in different fibers may occur because of heat differential.

Disclosed is a single mode optical waveguide fiber designated for compensating for positive dispersion in optical telecommunications systems. A key characteristic of the invention is that the novel dispersion compensating waveguide, viz., a waveguide having large negative dispersion, contains no dopants, such as fluorine, which lower the refractive index of silica. A refractive index profile design which includes a high refractive index center segment (5) surrounded by a plurality of alternating high (6, 10, 13) and low refractive index segments, provides a dispersion compensation fiber which has the optical properties required for the system to be compensated without sacrificing bend resistance, increasing splicing loss, or elevating polarization mode dispersion.

A readily portable imaging system for use in the field and, more particularly, to an electronic camera and electronic printer housed and readily connectable with respect to each other in the field, and wherein the electronic printer comprises a photographic processing fluid spread system, for use with integral type self-processible film unit, by which the thickness of a layer of processing fluid is controlled and restricted in a uniform manner as the processing fluid is spread across preselected portions of the film unit, while the film unit is also simultaneously being exposed and advanced.

A charging member is disposed in contact with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and charges the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member electrostatically upon application of a voltage. The charging member has a conductive support, a base layer and a surface layer which are formed on the conductive support. The surface layer contains fluorine resin particles as a filler and a fluorine resin as a binder resin.

In a speech segment detection method, a sequence of speech samples is provided from an input speech signal and a sequence of feature vectors is provided from the speech samples, the feature vectors having respective speech power levels. A minimum speech power among the speech power levels in the feature vector sequence is detected. Normalized speech power levels are computed based on the speech power levels and the minimum speech power. Each of the normalized speech power levels is compared with a predetermined threshold value to detect speech segments in the input speech signal. Further, a speech recognition system and method and a computer-readable medium, using the speech segment detection method, are also disclosed.

A protective garment overlay apparatus includes a napkin portion having a first planar surface and a second planar surface. An attachment device is fixed to the napkin portion and includes a rigid yet manually deformable grip arm extending from the first planar surface. In operation, the grip arm is selectively deformed to secure the napkin portion to an anchoring element.

The invention provides a new type of swimming goggles, characterized in that: a binding frame is used for assembling the main lens frames. The binding frame includes left and right frame units and a nose bridge that combines the left and right frame units. On the left and right frame units near the nose bridge is at least one clasp unit. On the main frame unit corresponding to the clasp unit is a clasp piece. On one side of the left and right frame units away from the nose bridge is an assembling device, thus with the coordinative assembly of the clasp unit, the clasp piece and the assembling device, the main frame unit can be securely fastened onto the binding frame.

An apparatus is provided for selecting either potable water or seawater as flush water for marine sanitary toilets. The apparatus may be designed to be electrically or manually operated. Check valves and vaccum breaker prevent contamination or waste of the potable water supply.

A suspended bed canopy for suspending a canopy over a bed without supports being attached to and extending from the bed. The suspended bed canopy includes a suspension assembly comprising a plate member and a frame. The plate member has a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral edge extending therebetween. The top side has a plurality of bores therein. The frame generally has a length and width greater than a length and width of the plate member. The frame has an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of hanging means is insertable in the bores and removably hangs the plate from the ceiling. A panel is removably coupled to the plate and the frame such that the panel secures the plate to the frame.

A composite mattress is comprised of a rectangular intermediate base with four upper sidewalls extending vertically above the base adjacent the edges of the base forming an upper cavity, four lower sidewalls extending vertically below the base adjacent the edges of the base forming a lower cavity, a spring mattress comprised of a plurality of coil springs individually encased within material pockets positioned in the lower cavity below the base, an air mattress comprised of a plurality of adjustable air cell units formed with independent air cells positioned in the upper cavity above the base, and a cover encasing the entire composite mattress.

A method is provided for manufacturing common rails, such as a high-pressure fluid manifold or a block rail that may be use in an accumulator fluid injection system. The method includes providing a main tubular rail with a flow passage extending in an axial direction. A bottomed lower hole is formed generally transverse to the axial flow passage. A pressing force is applied to the bottomed lower hole to generate a residual compressive stress in a circumferential part of the end portion of the bottom hole. The bottom lower hole then is made to communicate with the flow passage in the main rail. Defects that may have been caused by the application of the pressing force then are cut off. The removal of the defects improves an internal pressure fatigue strength, achieves high durability and ensures freedom from leakage.

Disclosed is a scissor. The scissor comprises a pair of gripping sections integrally coupled with each other at one ends thereof; a pair of blade sections formed at the other ends of the pair of gripping sections, respectively; and a pair of safety plates securely fastened to outer surfaces of the pair of blade sections, respectively, for separating fabric or sheet material from the pair of blade sections.

An ornamental crystal ball having an integrally injection molded plastic spherical liquid container supported on a seat is provided. The spherical liquid container defines a cylindrical inner space for containing clear liquids and floating ornaments. A portion of the spherical liquid container surrounding an opening of the inner space extends outward by a short distance to form a diameter-reduced tubular neck portion. An innermost end of the inner space has a curved surface so that no sharp line or pointed angle would appear in the inner space. A bottom cap seals the neck portion and includes a bubble collector and a motor compartment. The bubble collector collects bubbles possibly appearing in the inner space and the motor compartment has a motor mounted therein to rotate blades in the liquid of the inner space to create dynamic views in the ornamental crystal ball.

A post plastic lens photographic slide mount made from a plastic slide mount includes a first and second plastic frame portions connected along an outer border with a pocket into which a photographic film slide can be inserted. A top plastic lens and a bottom plastic lens that can be introduced to the plastic slide mount. The plastic lenses can be added at the same time the photographic film slide is inserted into the plastic slide mount, or the lenses may be added after the plastic slide mount has been assembled. The lenses are held in place by a tongue and groove arrangement.

A combination fishing rod sheath and lure accessory bag are shown. The sheath is formed of a pliable fabric material and has an initially open interior for receiving a shaft portion of a fishing rod. A wrap-around closure formed integrally with the sheath is used to secure the sheath about the rod. A lure accessory bag attaches to the rod handle on the side of the side opposite the reel. A rigged lure can be received within the accessory bag interior and retained in the interior by closing a mating hook and loop type engageable closure. By turning the lure handle to take up any slack, the closure can be used to keep the line taunt at all times.

The invention concerns a feeder house (38) with a first conveyor (66) for the transport of harvested crop, a second conveyor arranged downstream of the first conveyor and a mounting arrangement (54) for the mounting of a header (74) to the feeder house. In order to attain an optimum transition of the harvested crop from the header (74) to the first conveyor (66), the mounting arrangement (54) is supported in bearings, free to pivot, relative to the feeder house (38) about an axis that is generally coaxial with the axis (64) of the first conveyor (66).

A foliage mowing apparatus and mowing reel assemblies include a plurality of helically shaped blades which are mounted circumferentially with respect to each other. Each blade has a chevron-type junction or apex lying within a radially extending plain which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the reel. Apexes of adjacent blades do not lie along the same radial plane. Instead, each apex is axially spaced from each of its adjacent apexes. With this structure, if a piece or blade of grass passes uncut through an apex area, a straight blade section follows immediately in order to cut or trim this piece or blade of grass.

A method and device for the production of core yarn (63), whereby a core yarn (12) is brought to a fiber slubbing (8) which has been refined in a drafting system before said slubbing is reinforced by twisting. The core yarn (12) is embedded in covering fibers. The fiber slubbing is compressed in a compacting device (22) after the core yarn (12) has been brought to the slubbing and before twisting occurs.

In the method for manufacturing a cable (CA1), the individual leads (AD1 through ADn) are supplied to a stranding apparatus (RE, RA) that produces a stranded bundle (SB1), whereby the material (MMA1) for the cable cladding (MA1) is applied onto the stranded bundle (SB1) produced in this way with an extruder head (EK1), and the stranding point for the stranding lies in the region of the extruder head (EK1). The individual leads (AD1 through ADn) are already brought into contact with the material (MMA1) for the cable cladding (MA1) when or before they have just been completely stranded to form the stranded bundle (SB1).

An integrated thermal and exhaust management unit for a vehicle comprises a housing defining a chamber and having an inlet through which engine exhaust gas flows. A fuel-fired heater is adjacent to the housing and is operable to heat the engine exhaust gas flowing through the chamber. A catalytic converter is adjacent to and in downstream flow communication with the chamber for catalyzing the engine exhaust gas flowing therethrough. An exhaust gas heat recovery unit is radially adjacent to and in downstream flow communication with the catalytic converter for exchanging exhaust gas heat to liquid heat for transferring to heat-requiring areas of the vehicle. A controller controls the operation of the management unit whereby the fuel-fired heater is powered if the catalyst temperature is less than a catalyst light-off temperature for efficient treatment of vehicle emissions. The exhaust gas heat recovery unit is only powered if the catalyst temperature is at or above the light-off temperature and there are heat-requiring areas in the vehicle.

In the apparatus for controlling a coasting air recirculation valve of the turbocharger of an internal combustion engine, the coasting air recirculation valve is arranged in the coasting air recirculation line bypassing a compressor in the intake duct, and the coasting air recirculation valve is controllable by way of the intake duct pressure on the downstream side of the throttle valve. In order to ensure defined opening and closing of the coasting air recirculation valve, an additional control pressure, with which the coasting air recirculation valve can be opened independently of the intake duct pressure, can be delivered to the coasting air recirculation valve.

Methods of hyperpolarizing a noble gas by spin-exchange optical pumping use an alkali metal hybrid comprising a primary alkali metal and an auxiliary alkali metal to effectuate spin transfer interaction among the primary alkali metal, the auxiliary alkali metal, and the noble gas.

A belt conveyor device for transporting cold foods capable of controlling the quality and sanitation of foods, without requiring the necessity of cooling a whole processing room and without being affected by an environmental temperature, by forming cooling spaces only in the food transporting spaces of a conveyor for processing and transporting cold foods. Wherein cold air outlets and cold air suction ports are provided on the right and left sides of the transporting spaces of the belt conveyor opposedly to each other across the belt conveyor, cooling parts are provided in spaces sandwiched between the upper and lower sides of the running belt, food transporting spaces on the surfaces of the belt conveyor in a working space are formed, by a cool air flow from the cold air outlets to the cold air suction ports, into the cooled spaces having temperatures equivalent to a food refrigerating temperature of approx. 10-C. or below which is lower than the temperature in the working space, and cool air is injected against the rear surface of the belt so as to cool the rear surface of the belt.

A roller leveller has an upper roller assembly 1 made of a plurality of taper rollers 7 each having a small diameter end with a collar 14 and a large diameter end, with the large diameter ends being set on a same side, and a lower assembly 2 made of a plurality of taper rollers 8 each having a small diameter end with a collar 15 and a large diameter end, with the large diameter ends being disposed on opposite sides of the large diameter ends of the taper rollers 7. The center axes of the upper and lower taper rollers 7 and 8 are inclined by a half-apex angle of the taper roller relative to a passing plane of a plate 50, and the upper and lower taper rollers are disposed in a zigzag way. A plate or coil plate 50 is passed between the upper and lower taper rollers to repetitively bend it and remove defective form.

A pressure testing apparatus for a cooling system of an internal combustion engine said pressure testing apparatus comprising a first air conduit (11), means (11A, 117A) for regulating air pressure associated with the first conduit (11) and an exhaust conduit (70, 120) in fluid communication with the first air conduit (11) for exhausting of coolant from the cooling system after use and selectively actuatable valve means (61, 116) controlling the flow of coolant from the first air conduit (11) into the exhaust conduit (70, 120), whereby, in use, pressurized air can be supplied to the cooling system to pressurize the cooling system to facilitate the detection of any fluid leaks present.

A tool primarily for use in stripping asphalt and wood shingles from a roof consisting of a blade, a body, and a handle. The blade has a wide forward portion with front serrate edge, transverse bends for rigidity, and primary fulcrum. The novel and unique front edge is curved to accommodate sags in the underlying roof and to facilitate insertion under shingles. The body is attached firmly to the blade and contains an upper portion to receive an elongated handle and an undercarriage curved in the vertical longitudinal plane providing a variable mechanical force ratio as the operator uses the tool to remove the roof shingles by vertical travel of the handle. For shingle removal, the front edge of the blade is slid or pushed under shingles and the handle lowered toward the roof surface. The prying action of the blade uses the primary fulcrum to provide optimal mechanical advantage during the initial travel of the elongated handle to break the grip of roofing nails or staples encountered by the leading serrate edge and, as downward motion of the handle continues, smoothly transition to the innovative secondary, variable fulcrum to complete nail or staple removal.

A novel method and apparatus for producing an endless flexible seamed belt using templates is disclosed. A first form of the template is a mask template with a template aperture in the form of a puzzle cut pattern to be used in combination with an excimer laser. The template is placed between the excimer laser source and the belt material to be cut. As the excimer laser traverses the width of the belt, the laser forms a puzzle cut pattern on the belt. A second form of the template is a punch and die having patterned edges in the form of a puzzle cut pattern with extremely small nodes and kerfs. The cutting tolerances of the patterned edges make it necessary to fix the punch with respect to the die so that there is no misalignment of the punch and die between cutting operations. This is accomplished by resiliently fixing the punch to the die, rather than having the punch attached to the force generating assembly as in normal punch and die assemblies. Belt material is positioned between a stock gap between the punch and die and the force generating assembly is activated to provide the cutting force. Once the belt material is cut, the cutting force is removed and the force generating assembly returns to its retracted position. Both types of templates result in very clean cuts without deformation or distortion.

A piston for use in the cylinder block of a hydraulic power unit. The piston has an elongated cylindrical body and one end terminating in a spherical surface. The piston is composed of a body and insert which are made from different materials, preferably metallic materials, and joined together. The piston body takes the form of a solid cylinder or a hollow cylindrical tube. The spherical surface takes the form of an internal spherical socket or an external spherical ball. The insert takes an elongated or abbreviated form providing for both open cavity and closed cavity piston configurations. The piston includes a conduit which traverses the body and insert, providing a path for pressurized fluid. The body and the insert are preferably formed by a metal injecting molding process utilizing a molding material comprised at the time of molding of a mixture of metallic grains and a binder. The body member and the insert are subjected to a debinding process whereupon the binder material is removed from the molding material and the components are sintered whereupon controlled shrinking occurs. The insert is adapted to terminate either in a spherical ball for attachment to a slipper element, or is comprised of a spherical socket adapted to receive a ball element attached to a slipper element.

A special ink consists of water and a humectant. A reusable paper includes a surface darkened by a water-insoluble material and a coating covering the darkened surface. The coating is made of a material that scatters light when dry and that becomes at least translucent when wetted by water. If the special ink is used to print on the reusable paper, the print will be visible for a limited period of time (e.g., half an hour). By the end of that time period, however, the special ink will have evaporated and the print will have disappeared completely from the reusable paper. The special ink may be applied to the reusable paper by an inkjet printer. An inkjet cartridge for such a printer includes a casing filled with the special ink.

Provided is a hull shape of a personal watercraft which can enhance speed performance, and still more, can also reduce rolling of a body. A bulging face 12 is formed on an outside part of a rear portion of a hull bottom 20 having a substantially V-shaped cross section and protrudes downward from an outside front face 20a positioned in front of the outside part. The bulging face 12 includes a fore part 13 inclined downward in the rearward direction, and a rear part 14 positioned above a virtual face A extended rearwardly from the fore part 13.

A vehicle bumper locator to be mounted to the existing license plate mounting holes of a vehicle. The bumper locator includes a horizontal frame member with openings that register with the license plate mounting holes. A bracket is pivotally attached to the frame near one end thereof. The bracket carries a resiliently mounted elongated rod that is movable between a vertical position visible to the driver, and a horizontal position extending parallel to the frame. Horizontal and vertical stops are attached to the frame and contact the bracket to limit its pivotal movement to a 90.degree. arc.

An automatic bird feeder and waterer includes both a food and a water reservoir therein, as well as dispensing areas for food and water supplied from the respective reservoirs. The water reservoir comprises a generally cylindrical container installed concentrically through the generally cylindrical food reservoir. The water outlet or dispensing portion is laterally offset by an upturned elbow, which also serves as the lowermost point of the assembly. The feed dispensers may include partial covers to preclude the feeding of larger non-flying animals (squirrels, etc.) therefrom. The device is supported by a rigid support extending downwardly from the elbow. The support column may be anchored in a massive block (concrete, etc.), which may in turn be placed in a decorative container (flowerpot or the like). The entire assembly may be constructed substantially from prefabricated plumbing or pipe components, particularly those formed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic material. The use of such PVC material allows either adhesive or mechanical fastening of components to one another during assembly of the device.

An animal holding facility with automatic evacuation system is disclosed, comprised of an otherwise conventional kennel. Installed inside of the kennel is an automatic fire/smoke/carbon dioxide detection system utilizing a plurality of smoke and/or fire and/or carbon monoxide sensors. An audible alarm activates upon triggering of the sensors. A common fire door open automatically and a hydraulic animal ejection means gently sweeps or guides the animal out of the kennel through the fire exits. A slide is located at the outside entrance to each fire exit. A cushioned pad is located on the bottom of each slide. A fenced-in area is located at the base of each slide, and is designed to retain the animals in a restricted area away from the fire or smoke or carbon monoxide.

A livestock free stall is provided, having a pair of vertically oriented posts held in fixed spaced relationship. Each of the posts has attached thereto in parallel spaced relationship upper and lower receiver tubes or posts with the receiver tubes or posts of each stanchion oriented in parallel spaced relationship to the corresponding upper and lower receiver tubes or posts of the other stanchions. A pair of rail loops, each having upper and lower ends, are then configured and sized for insertion into the upper and lower receiver tubes, or for receiving the upper and lower receiver posts, is then attached and fastened to the stanchion. A top rail interconnects the posts to form the completed free stall assembly.

To provide a multi-cylinder engine for a motorcycle, in which at least one of a plurality of engine valves provided in a cylinder head for each of combustion chambers corresponding to a plurality of cylinder bores arranged in the width direction of a body frame can be rested in a specific operational region by a hydraulic valve resting mechanism. A hydraulic control valve is provided for controlling the hydraulic pressure of working oil supplied to the valve resting mechanism and is mounted on the cylinder head. The length of the multi-cylinder engine along the width direction of the body frame is made as short as possible although the hydraulic control valve is mounted in the cylinder head. A hydraulic control valve is mounted on a side surface of a cylinder head to which a plurality of intake ports are opened along the longitudinal direction of a body frame.

A fastening element (1) such as a tensioning nut made of deep drawn steel sheet and having a threaded section (5) formed therein by rolling and on its outer peripheral surface (6), the fastening element comprises an integrally formed dog device (9) which starts from the end of the fastening element on which the threaded section (5) is arranged and comprises at least one tab-like section (7) which is bent over onto the outer peripheral surface (6) of the fastening element (1) which when viewed in axial direction, the tab-like section (7) may overlap the threaded section (5) at least partly, economic to manufacture and fulfills the requirements of light-weight construction and a particular advantage of the invention is that the dog device (9) has no influence on the threaded section (1).

A concrete saw for cutting concrete and other hard surfaces or substrates. The concrete saw includes a multispeed drive for transmitting power from the saw's engine to the saw's cutting blade. The multispeed drive includes a flexible belt for transmitting rotational energy from the drive shaft of the engine to the drive shaft for the blade, and a releasable tension device for placing tension on the belt and ensuring good engagement between the sprockets of the drive shafts. Upon release of the tension device, a user may move the belt to an alternate position on the sprockets and retension the belt, thereby providing a different drive ration and speed for the cutting blade at a constant engine speed.

A engine flushing apparatus for providing a convenient and easily portable complete apparatus for flushing the oil-lubricated portions of an engine. The engine flushing apparatus includes a solution tank for holding a solution. The solution tank comprises an upper opening and a substantially hollow interior. A suction conduit extends into the interior of the solution tank from the opening. A waste solution tank holds waste solution. The waste solution tank comprises an upper opening and a substantially hollow interior. A drain conduit extends into the interior of the waste solution tank from the opening. A pump circulates solution. The pump is in fluid communication with the suction conduit of the solution tank. An inlet conduit carries solution to the engine. The inlet conduit is adapted for connection to the oil fill opening of the engine. An outlet conduit carries solution away from the engine. The outlet conduit is connected to the oil drain opening of the engine. A transport cart carries the pump, solution and waste solution tanks.

A supportive walker includes a front frame, a rear frame with a connection bar connected thereto and a pair of retaining frames connected to the front frame so that the connection bar extends through the two passages of the two retaining frames. A safety device has an engaging portion and an urging device which is biased between the retaining frame and the engaging portion. The engaging portion is releasably engaged with the connection bar by operating the urging device. Therefore, the front frame and the rear frame are expanded or folded securely when the urging device is released. The connection bar of the rear frame is movable in the passages of the retaining frames when the urging device is pressed.

A pressure regulator body having an inlet port and and an outlet port having a pressure regulator valve disposed in said pressure regulator body, said valve being moveable between and open and a closed position and being responsive to open or close the valve based at least in part on a differential pressure between the pressure in the outlet port and the pressure in the inlet port. A chamber in the pressure regulator body on the outlet port side of the valve has a conduit extending from the outlet port into said chamber. This conduit has an inside and an outside and an open end which is spaced from the valve whereby flow through the conduit flowing will pull fluid from the chamber which is located radially outwardly from said conduit as well as allowing flow directly from the valve to the open end in the conduit. The effect of this arrangement is to quickly cause less flow to a fuel tank and more flow to an engine during a desired rapid acceleration of rpm of such engine. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, a control spring is disposed the chamber for biasing the valve toward the closed position thereof.

A blind having plural rudder cords each of which is formed of a pair of vertical strings and plural lateral strings joining the vertical strings together, and each of which is brought down from a head box in the vertical direction, and plural pieces of slats extending horizontally on the lateral strings of the rudder cords, retained in parallel with one another and adapted to be turned by the operations of the rudder cords, whereby the blind is opened and closed, comprising openings provided in the portions of each of the slats which are in the vicinity of the rudder cords, and drawing strings which are capable of being pulled up, and which are brought down from the head box along the rudder cords, inserted through the openings of the slats and made connectable at lower end portions thereof to the portions of either one of the respective pairs of vertical strings of the rudder cords which are in positions of an arbitrary height.

The invention relates to a heat exchanger of the crosscurrent type, through which at least two fluids flow, consisting of plates which are stacked one on the other between two cover plates and which are spaced from one another in regions and are in contact in regions, so that fluid paths are formed between them in a heat transfer region, and of inlet ducts and outlet ducts which are arranged laterally in duct regions and which are formed from inlet duct openings and outlet duct openings in the plates, at least one inlet duct and one outlet duct being fluidically connected to a group of fluid paths which are next but one. The object of the invention is to develop a heat exchanger of the type initially mentioned, in such a way that, while having at least the same operating reliability, it can be produced more efficiently and more cost-effectively and has a lower weight. In order to achieve this object, there is provision for the spacing of the plates to be carried out by means of shaped-out portions of the plates.

A system for use in a wellbore includes a tubing having an inner bore and flow switcher assembly. The flow switcher assembly including a first conduit coaxial with the tubing inner bore and a second conduit formed annularly around the first conduit. One of the first and second conduits is adapted to carry production fluid flow, and the other one of the first and second conduits is adapted to carry injection fluid flow. The flow switcher assembly includes ports in communication with the first and second conduits to enable cross-over flow. In addition, one or more valves may be provided to control fluid flow through the ports.

An assembly (72) including a brake (70), or a brake with guide wheel (69) combination centrally integrated within a levitating fluid caster. Assembly (72) levitates heavy loads upon a near frictionless pressurized fluid, and also controls stopping or guiding movement of loads.

In a transmission, an oil chamber is formed between one end of an input shaft and one end of an output shaft which ends are facing each other. A first oil guide is provided at the end of the input shaft such that the cylindrical portion of the first oil guide is positioned in a lubrication passage which is provided in the input shaft. In the same way, a second oil guide is provided a: the end of the output shaft such that the cylindrical portion is provided at the end of the output shaft such that the cylindrical portion of the second oil guide is positioned in a lubrication passage which is provided in the output shaft. In addition, the input shaft is provided with a release passage which opens to the outside of the input shaft while the output shaft is provided with a release passage which opens to the outside of the output shaft. With this arrangement, lubrication oil is supplied sufficiently to members such as bearings and gears which are disposed on these rotating shafts.

A mechanism is designed to effect a resistance and is formed of a support frame on which a braking wheel, an excited magnetic disk and an excited magnetic coil are mounted by a fastening shaft. The excited magnetic disk has an induction surface and a shaft seat over which the excited magnetic coil is fitted. The induction surface of the excited magnetic disk is provided along the fringe thereof with a plurality of magnetic poles serving as eddy current induction areas at the time when the excited magnetic disk and the braking wheel interact. The eddy current and the magnetic flux interact to effect a reverse rotation moment opposite in direction to the rotation of the braking wheel.

A device for treating a substrate in which the cagelike body of the device can be made smaller and in which the waiting time in the treatment parts and the workpiece exchange time can be shortened is achieved as follows: there are two cassette receiving parts, one exposure part and one alignment part arranged in two rows. Furthermore the alignment part and the first cassette receiving part are located in the direction in which a first arm and a second arm of a workpiece transport device extend. Moreover, the two treatment parts and a second cassette receiving part are arranged such that the distances between them are identical to the distance between the first arm and the second arm. The first arm and the second arm move in the Y-direction, are extended or retracted in the X-direction at the same time, and fix the workpiece by the workpiece holding parts which are located on their tips. The workpiece is removed from the cassette of the first cassette receiving part and transported to the treatment parts. The already treated workpiece is received into the cassette of the second cassette receiving part.

A multiple compartment, wheeled computer carrier and business case includes three separable compartments which are hinged together along their bottom edge one to the other with the center compartment for carriage of a personal computer and the side compartments comprising elements for carrying files and for carrying various other business items. The case is wheeled with a telescoping handle and further includes a carrier handle as well as a strap. A reinforcing gusset connecting the bottom of the separate compartments facilitates the security of the carrier case.

A beverage bottle with a twist of cap that includes a cap twisting structure molded into a bottom bottle surface thereof that is sized and shaped to gripping hold the twist off cap of another identical bottle. A peel off cover member is positioned over the cap twisting structure to protect it from contamination until it is used.

A slide-in unit for a baking oven with enameled guideways in oven muffle sidewall regions includes a tray with two opposite lateral supporting regions each respectively with a curled lateral edge region having at least one notch and a sliding clip clampingly secured in the edge region of the supporting regions, the clip protruding from the at least one notch and used as a sliding support for the tray. The slide-in unit can be, for example, a baking sheet. The invention also includes an improved support for a slide-in unit having two opposite lateral supporting regions each respectively with a downwardly curled lateral edge region having at least one notch for a baking oven with enameled guideways in the oven muffle sidewall regions. The improvement includes a sliding clip clampingly secured in an edge region of supporting regions of a slide-in unit, the clip protruding from notches of the edge region as a sliding support for the slide-in unit.

Closing device for a container, in particular a drinking glass, having a lid (2) adapted for pivoting about a pivotal axle (13), a fastening arrangement (3) for securing the pivotal axle (13) relative to the container, and a connector (4) connected to the lid (2) and the pivotal axle (13). The connector (4) is displaceable with respect to the pivotal axle (13), thereby permitting adjustment of the spacing between the pivotal axle (13) and the lid (2) in the direction of the connector (4).

A garden debris container for easy collection of garden debris. The garden debris container includes a housing. The housing has a bottom wall. A peripheral wall is coupled to and extends away from the bottom wall. The peripheral wall has free edge. A flange is coupled to the free edge of the peripheral wall. The flange extends in a direction generally away from the bottom wall.

The present invention discloses a method for dispensing scented coupons in a way that activates the scents as they are removed from a coupon dispenser. Incorporated into one section of the individual scented coupons is a microencapsulated scent. The dispenser comprises walls defining a cavity adapted to receive the stack of sheets, a rectangular flat top wall having an opening through which the sheets may be individually dispensed, a flat bottom wall having approximately the same dimensions as the flat top wall, with the flat bottom wall being approximately parallel to the flat top wall, and resilient means to push the stack of said sheets to the opening in the top wall of the dispenser. As individual, folded scented coupons are removed from the dispenser box, the coupon section having the microencapsulated scent is dragged across the scent release piece in the dispenser, thereby causing the microencapsules to break open allowing more of the scent of the coupons to be released.

A dispenser for dispensing shaving cream or other aerosol dispensed products from cans having different heights and diameters. The device can be easily mounted on a wall or retained on a counter for easy dispensing of the can's contents through the use of only one finger. The device provides a simple mechanical dispensing member which can accommodate cans of a given diameter and different heights and can also accommodate cans having a shorter height and wider diameter, and which is configured so that each specific can is brought into alignment so that its dispensing nozzle is aligned with the dispensing peg on the transverse handle.

An improved lifting assembly for removing contents from containers consistent with mechanized containerizing operations are disclosed. The lifting assembly of the present invention comprises a support plate for lifting contents coupled to the top of a container by a connector.

A pouch attachable to a garment to store objects of credit card length and width has a container with front and back walls fixed to each other along bottom and opposite side edges to define a compartment sized to receive and hold, in a substantially immobile condition, several of the objects when they are stacked face-to-face and inserted through an open top edge of the container. Mating pieces of hook-and-loop material seal the open top edge to secure the objects in the container. A strap fixed at one of its ends to a back face of the container back wall proximate one of its edges extends across the container back face to its free end at a point proximate another of its edges. A segment of hook-and loop material is fixed along its entire length to the entire length of the front face of the strap. A mating segment of hook-and-loop material is fixed along its entire length to the back face of the container back wall between the fixed end of the strap and the point at the free end of the strap. When the segments of hook-and-loop material are mated with a segment of the garment disposed between a portion of their lengths, the container is immobilized in relation to the garment The container side edges are preferably arcuate so as to approximately conform to cleavage between a woman's breasts and further immobilize the pouch when it is used between the cups of a woman's bra.

A shape memory alloy actuator assembly for a fuel injector, having a small package integral design, wherein the response times of the shape memory alloy element is decreased to less than about 1 millisecond by forced, convective heat transfer from the SMA element or elements. The forced, convective heat transfer is provided by the circulation of fluid across the SMA element by a metering orifice plate, which directs a fluid flow across the SMA element so as to maximize the area of contact between the fuel and the SMA element, regardless of whether the fuel injection valve is opened or closed. Use of forced convective heat transfer in accordance with the present invention allows greater power input levels than previously possible without resulting in an over-temperature condition of the SMA alloy, as well as constant response times. Actuator production costs are reduced by 40%, whereby side fame rails of the actuator are eliminated, and the spacer and the orifice plate are incorporated into a second wafer, which is bonded to the first wafer, which includes SMA material and a valve seal island.

A thermal insulation structure for satellites comprises a layer of an open-pore polyimide foam applied to the surface of the bearing structure of the satellite.

A deployment method unfurls a plurality of flat panels interconnected by rotating hinges into a predetermined curved surface such as a spherical enclosure for use as a solar panel sphere or as any other arbitrary curved surface, for example, as a curved geodetic tent for terrestrial recreational use. Internal supporting struts and interconnecting panel frames and hinges are inflated during unfurling to automatically form the curved surface.

A control method and improved equatorial-normal body-stabilized spacecraft that operates in an inclined orbit. The control method controls pointing of payloads (communication antennas and instruments) and solar arrays disposed on the spacecraft. The method controls the spacecraft to provide Earth-pointing payloads and sun-pointing solar arrays so that the spacecraft body and solar arrays each rotate only around a single axis, a pitch axis of the spacecraft.

A valance assembly (10) for a merchandising fixture (11) includes a bracket (15) positioned at both longitudinal ends of the valance assembly (10) and adapted to be connected to the fixture (11). An arm (16) is pivotally carried by each bracket (15), and a panel (39) extends between the arms (16). The panel (39) is formed with a nose (40) at one lateral edge thereof and an attachment assembly (41) along the other lateral edge thereof. The longitudinal edges of the nose (40) and the attachment assembly (41) are received in a hollowed-out area (29) formed in each of the arms (16), and the panel (39) is connected to the arms (16) at that location. Each bracket (15) includes a flexible arm (26) having a notch (27) therein. Each arm (16) includes a cam surface (35) having a lug (36) formed thereon. When the arms (16) are pivoted relative to the brackets (15) to move the panel (39) from a generally vertical orientation to a generally horizontal orientation, the cam surface (35) deflects the flexible arms (26) until the lug (36) is received in the notch (27) which thereby holds the panel (39) in the horizontal orientation.

A wire pulling tool for threading a wire through a wall or partition includes an elongate shank having a threaded end adapted to engage the end of a wire such as a cable or other type of electrical wire and a tapered end having a head ending in a point. The tool is especially adapted for structures having inner and outer walls. Once the wire is engaged the tool is pushed through a hole in the wall to the other side. The wire may then be pulled through the wall by pulling on the tool.

A fascia installation tool and method therefore is provided for installing fascia boards. The tool comprises a flat plate adapted to be mounted to a beam. The flat plate has an upper edge aligned with an upper surface of a beam and a front edge aligned to a front surface of a beam. An L-shaped plate has a first leg mounted to the flat plate with the first leg extending forwardly and downwardly parallel to the upper edge and a second leg extending upwardly and forwardly at a right angle from the first leg. The second leg, the first leg and the front edge form a cradle adapted to receive a fascia board therein. The cradle aligns the top of the fascia board to an upper surface of a beam.

A singulator for feeding documents one at a time onto the transport of a processing machine. The singulator includes a pick-off means and a stripper means for preventing multi-feeds of documents. The stripper means is comprised of two independent stripper assemblies which are mounted one above the other. Each assembly is comprised of an arm which is rotatably mounted to the machine at one end and which has a means at the other end for engaging any multi-fed documents. Each stripper assembly has basically the same structure except the arm of one stripper assembly is shorter than the arm of the other assembly whereby the assemblies contact a multi-fed document at different points.

A skateboard folding structure is provided having an upper connecting member (31) pivotally joined to a lower connecting member (32). The upper connecting member (31) is formed on a lower end of a handle member (21). The lower connecting member (32) is received within a skateboard frame member (11). A quick release connector (4) releasably clamps the upper connecting member (31) and selectively prevents rotation of the handle member (21) about skateboard frame member (11).

A motorized sunshade for selectively raising and lowering a sun screen on the windshield of an automobile. The sunshade comprises a battery-operated motor that is mounted with a sun screen, wherein the sun screen may be lowered or raised with respect to the windshield by actuating the motor. A pair of tracks are provided to secure the sun screen flush against the windshield.

A frame assembly (11) and child reception member (12, 112) such as a child reception nacelle or seat with a mutual removable fastening device. The fastening device has controllable hooking members (21, 23) which are arranged on the reception member (12, 112) to engage corresponding fixed hooking members (22) on the frame (11).

An emergency brake backup system is achieved by selectively interconnecting the air suspension as an additional reservoir to the air brake system. That is, if the charging system or primary reservoir fails, compressed air in the air spring reservoirs is used as an energy source to supply the pressurized air required for brake function. This can be achieved with minor modification to existing tractor and trailer brake systems that employ air suspension assemblies.

A tissue roll dispenser apparatus is provided for attachment to a tissue roll holder which includes a first spindle end receiver and a second spindle end receiver. The tissue roll dispenser apparatus includes a plurality of tissue rolls to be used in succession. The tissue roll dispenser apparatus includes a first support plug assembly for engagement with the first spindle end receiver and for receiving a first spindle end of a roll spindle. A second support plug assembly engages with the second spindle end receiver and receives a second spindle end of the roll spindle. A first housing extension is connected to the first support plug assembly, and a second housing extension is connected to the second support plug assembly. A tissue roll retention housing, which includes a first housing wall, is connected to the first housing extension. A second housing wall is connected to the second housing extension, and a housing floor extends between the first housing wall and the second housing wall. An uplift spring assembly is retained in the tissue roll retention housing. Stop members are connected to the first and second housing walls. Each of the first support plug assembly and the second support plug assembly includes a plug member reception groove in a respective housing extension.

A bristled scraper cleaning system for cleaning a scraper, which has removed ink residue from wipers following an inkjet printhead wiping routine where the residue was first removed from the printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism, has a reservoir filled with an ink solvent. A pair of bristle brushes are soaked in the ink solvent bath, then rotated to scrub ink residue from the scraper. Following this scrubbing routine, the scrapers are now ready for a fresh scraping routine, and the brushes are returned to the solvent bath to dissolve ink residue from the bristles. A method of cleaning an inkjet printhead, along with an inkjet printing mechanism having such a bristled scraper cleaning system, are also provided.

A portable vanity having an inverted U-shaped light bar frame with two spaced upright side light bars and a top horizontal light bar bridging and respectively hingedly connected at opposite ends to upper ends of the side light bars whereby the side bars hinge inwardly toward each other. The two side light bars and the top light bar are each comprised of two end to end light bar segment hinged together between segments whereby each segmented light bar folds inwardly at their segment hinge toward the inside of the U-shaped frame such that the frame collapses with the bar segments sequentially adjacent each other in parallel alignment. A securing mechanism is provided for securing the light bar segment hinge connections from hinge movement when the frame is fully assembled in its open position in its inverted U-shaped configuration. The light bar segments include electric light bulb sockets wired for energization of electric bulbs to be inserted in the sockets.

A double lamp table or floor lamp lighting system has a pair of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) arranged vertically with a reflective septum in between. By selectively turning on one or both of the CFLs, down lighting, up lighting, or both up and down lighting is produced. The control system can also vary the light intensity from each CFL. The reflective septum insures that almost all the light produced by each lamp will be directed into the desired light distribution pattern which is selected and easily changed by the user. Planar compact fluorescent lamps, e.g. circular CFLs, particularly oriented horizontally, are preferable. CFLs provide energy efficiency. The lighting system may be designed for the home, hospitality, office or other environments.

A method and system for condensing and collecting electromagnetic radiation comprised generally of a radiation source, a reflector and a target is disclosed. The reflector has a reflecting surface for reflecting the radiation from the source which is in the shape of a cut out portion of an ellipsoid. The reflector surface has a substantially ellipsoidal curvature which is concave relative to both the target and the source, and which has a major axis, a minor axis, and a first and second focal points. The system of the present invention redirects radiation emitted from the source, located near the first focal point of the ellipsoid, to produce a magnified image of the source at the target, located near the second focal point of the ellipsoid. To acheive this spot size magnification, the ellipsoidal reflector surface comprises a portion of an ellipsoid which lies between the major and minor axes of the ellipsoid. The method disclosed comprises producing a magnified image of the source at the target by redirecting magnification emitted from a source with reflector having a concave surface shaped substantially of an ellipsoid.

Simultaneous bidirectional transmission type LD/PD module having a substrate, a signal transmitting part mounted on the substrate, a signal receiving part formed on the substrate, an end of a fiber communicating with a base station, a light waveguide coupling the fiber to the transmitting part and the receiving part, a filter separating the receiving signal light from the transmitting signal light and a resin mold package containing the substrate, the transmitting part, the receiving part, the filter and the lead frame. The receiving part is electromagnetically shielded with multihole metal members from the noise generated by the transmitting part. The resin penetrates through the holes and fully covers the receiving part.

A plurality of pens or other marking implements is provided. They are set forth as a minimum of two, but by the simple technique of altering the reservoirs, the colors can be substituted almost infinitely. There are two for each implement, and these can be multiplied in two by changing the ink devices. Other changes can be made by duplicating the implements or writing pens, which come in pluralities of two. Adjacent pairs are locked together by shaping of the base, and the pens can be duplicated in initial savings by the colors chosen, and the number of pens can be duplicated depending upon the shape of the devices which are made to be interlinked by joining of the bases, and by the self-return of the base station from which the pens originate, the pens being joined to the base station by flexible links of indeterminate length.

An escutcheon and vehicle console assembly characterized by an assembly arrangement wherein resilient locking tabs serve to facilitate locking and disengagable cooperation between an escutcheon and console and prevent rattling of the escutcheon relative to the console.

A pivot bearing comprises a shaped bar having an outer circumferential surface provided with two oppositely arranged, longitudinally extending notches, and a sleeve arranged on the shaped bar and having an externally cylindrical surface and an inner circumferential surface facing the outer circumferential surface of the shaped bar and provided with two oppositely arranged longitudinally extending notches. The longitudinally extending notches of the shaped bar are in alignment with the longitudinally extending notches of the sleeve to form two pairs of notches, and cylindrical pins are arranged in the two pairs of notches.

A fastening system is provided for fastening a first structural component to a second structural component for use especially in the motor vehicle industry, which has at least one fastening screw, a corresponding first preassembly thread on the first structural component, in which the fastening screw is fastened after the preassembly and a fastening thread on the first structural component or the second structural component for fixing the first structural component to the second structural component by the fastening screw, whereby this screw, after fixing, is fastened in the associated fastening thread, whereby the fastening screw has at least one front threaded area arranged on the free end of the screw shank and a second area adjacent to the screw head, whereby this is provided with a plastic coating, into which a thread corresponding to the preassembly thread is incorporated only when the fastening screw is screwed into the preassembly thread.

The present invention relates to a wall block for use in a segmental retaining wall system. The wall block comprises an interior face for forming an interior surface of a segmental retaining wall, an exterior face for forming an exterior surface of the segmental retaining wall, first and second sides that extend from the exterior face to the interior face, and a top surface and a bottom surface. Further provided in the wall block is a channel defined by a front wall, a rear wall, and an arcuate bottom surface. The channel extends across one of the faces and surfaces.

An assembly and associated system for assuring that one or more freight or cargo carrying pallets are secured to a supporting surface in the cargo or storage area of an aircraft. The assembly including a plurality of spaced apart tracks fixedly mounted to the supporting surface, and disposed in underlying, supporting relation to the pallets. A plurality of locking assemblies, are provided and structured to removably but lockingly engage the tracks at strategic positions immediately adjacent peripheral portions of the pallets. Each of the locking assemblies are selectively oriented into a locked position which retains and lockingly secures the pallets in a preferred position relative to the plurality of tracks on which they are disposed. A switching assembly is provided and includes a plurality of proximity switches disposed in the tracks in spaced apart relation along the respective lengths thereof, the switching assembly also including an activating member secured to each of the locking assemblies, and disposable in activating relation to at least one switch when the locking assemblies are in the locked position. An indicator assembly is thereby activated, such that the location of each locking assembly, as well as the orientation thereof in a locked position is clearly indicated, thereby eliminating the possibility of one or more pallets being loaded on an aircraft in an unsecured manner.

A gas compression apparatus and method according to which a compression cylinder is connected between two heads, and gas is introduced into at least one header and into the cylinder. A piston is reciprocated in the cylinder with a stroke corresponding to the length of the cylinder to compress the gas after which the compressed gas is discharged from the cylinder. If the cylinder bore becomes damaged or wears out, or if it is desired to change the stroke length of the piston, the cylinder can easily be replaced by disconnecting it from the heads and installing another cylinder between the heads.

In a variable displacement compressor that draws, compresses, and discharges refrigerant gas, the displacement is adjusted by varying the inclination of a cam plate in accordance with the difference between the pressure in a crank chamber and the pressure in cylinder bores. A pressurizing passage connects the crank chamber to a discharge passage. A bleed passage connects the crank chamber to a suction chamber. A displacement control valve is externally controlled and varies the pressure in the crank chamber by adjusting the opening size of either the pressurizing passage or the bleed passage. A suction control valve closes a duct between the suction chamber and an evaporator when the pressure in the crank chamber exceeds a predetermined level to prevent an excessively high pressure in the crank chamber.

A scroll-type compressor having a fixed scroll and a movable scroll. The fixed scroll includes a fixed base plate and a fixed volute wall extending from the fixed base plate. The movable scroll includes a movable base plate and a movable volute wall extending from the movable base plate. The movable volute wall has a distal end surface that faces the fixed base plate. A passage is formed through the movable volute wall and the movable base plate from the distal end surface. The passage reduces the area of the distal end surface of the movable volute wall, on which pressure is applied. This reduces the thrust load applied to the movable scroll and makes the compressor more reliable.

A molding element for equipping a mold for molding a rubber tread, composed of at least two molding parts provided with lateral walls and end walls joining the lateral walls, the lateral walls being intended to mold in the rubber tread main walls defining a cutout, the main walls being connected by at least one rubber connecting element. In the molding position, the molding parts of the molding element are arranged such that one wall of a molding part is in contact with at least one wall of another molding part, the geometries of the walls of the molding parts being functionally arranged to form at least one orifice permitting the passage of the rubber for molding a connecting element. At least one of the molding parts is mounted to be mobile relative to the molding part with which it defines at least one orifice, such that, under the action of the demolding forces, the mobile part is displaced relative to the other to create a passage sufficient to permit the molded connecting element(s) to pass and thus to permit demolding of the rubber tread in a single operation without breaking the connecting elements.

A molding element for a mold for molding a tread, intended to mold in this tread an incision of circular shape around an axis XX', the main opposing walls of which are connected by a plurality of connecting bridges of rubber mix. This molding element includes two molding parts, each formed by a support extended by at least one molding blade. At least one of the molding parts has a support extended by a blade which is at least partially helical around the axis XX' and mounted freely in rotation around XX' relative to the other molding part. The blades of the molding parts cooperate to define a plurality of orifices intended for molding the connecting bridges. The molding element is characterized in that the molding blades of a first molding part are provided with passages arranged so as to permit the engagement by sliding of the molding blades of the second molding part within the passages to form the molding element in the molding configuration, and in that the support of the second molding part is mounted so as to be mobile in translation relative to the first molding part.

A block member is selectively positioned on a dental impression tray with an outer engagement surface of the block member in engagement with the tray portion defining a lingual recess to block entry of plaster or other casting material into the lingual recess.

A holder for the securing of an electrified sun visor at a vehicle has a mount for a securing arm of the sun visor and mounting means for mounting the holder at the vehicle. The holder serves for the connection of a vehicle-side wiring harness to a conductor.

A connector for use with fabric, such as when formed into a garment, employs a first connector secured to the fabric and a second mating connector associated with an external device. The connectors, when joined, pass electrical signals such as audio or data signals between the external device and the garment.

A system and method of establishing an electrical connection between first and second circuit boards includes the use of a multi-function fastener. The fastener is inserted between the circuit boards and serves to physically connect the circuit boards to each other and to a support or base. The fastener bears against conductive edge portions of the first and second circuit boards to also establish electrical conductivity between the circuit boards. Fasteners may be provided to communicate a grounding voltage, as well as, a power supply voltage. By providing a series of circuit boards and fasteners, it is possible to establish common ground and power supply voltage levels in multi-circuit board assemblies, without providing separate ground and power supply bars.

A switching receptacle connector comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of substantially same pairs of switch contacts retained within the housing. The housing defines a longitudinal mating opening for extension of a mating plug terminal and a plurality of receiving slots in communication with the mating opening for receiving the corresponding switch contacts. Each pair of contacts includes a first contact and a second contact. Each first contact has a first soldering section, a first retaining section for engaging with the housing, and an abutting section for abutting against the corresponding second contacts. Each second contact forms a second soldering section, a second retaining section for engaging with the housing, and a mating section for contacting with a mating plug terminal. The mating section of each second contact is configured to conform the configuration of the mating plug terminal thereby providing a good electrical contact therebetween. The engagement between the first and second contacts can occur before the mating plug terminal is inserted into the mating opening of the housing. Or, the engagement therebetween can occur after the insertion of the mating plug terminal.

A medical connector apparatus that includes: (1) a first mating connector having a first conductive portion, (2) a second mating connector having a second conductive portion for electrically coupling to the first conductive portion, and (3) a housing unit with an interior chamber housing the second mating connector. In one embodiment of the invention, two apertures extend between the interior chamber and the housing unit's exterior. In another embodiment of the invention, the first mating connector further has a wiping portion for cleaning a portion of the second mating connector adjacent to the second conductive portion. In still another embodiment of the invention, the housing chamber further has a light source positioned near the aperture through which the first mating member enters to electrically couple the first and second conductive portions. In this embodiment, the first mating connector has a light covering portion for covering the light source when the first and second conductive portions couple. The embodiments of the medical connector apparatus described above can serve as electrode connectors for all types of defibrillators.

A jumper cable system allows a person to jump start one vehicle from another vehicle without coming into the proximity of either vehicles' batteries. The jumper cable system has a pair of receptacles each attached to one of the vehicles remote of the vehicle's battery, and each having a first pin electrically connected to respective vehicle's positive battery terminal and a second pin electrically connected to the respective vehicle's negative battery terminal (or ground to the chassis). A pair of plugs each receive an end of a first jumper cable and a second jumper cable, Each plug has a first opening that removably receives the first pin and a second opening that removably receives the second pin of one of the receptacles.

A modular bare die socket assembly for attaching a plurality of miniature semiconductor dice to a substrate. The socket assembly is comprised of a plurality of two-sided plates joined vertically in a horizontal stack, wherein each plate has a die socket for the removable insertion of a bare semiconductor die. A multi-layer interconnect lead tape has a plurality of lithographically formed leads bent on one end to form nodes for attachment to bond pads on the removably inserted semiconductor die, and having opposing ends connectable to the substrate.

A cable connector combination wherein the cable has an electrically conductive core and an extra-thick insulating sheath. There is a terminal fitting which includes a wire barrel and an insulator barrel. The former grips the exposed length of bare wire core and the latter grips a reduced diameter portion of the sheath. The exposed length is formed by stripping the insulation completely from one end, and the reduced diameter portion of the sheath is formed by stripping part of the insulation from the cable, preferably at a point adjacent the exposed length. The reduced diameter is the same as the outer diameter of a normal sized cable and, therefore, will fit easily and readily into the standard insulator barrel. Thus, no special fittings are required, and the abrasion-resistant cables can be handled along with all of the others. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

The amphibious robot mine locator may be used in water-based and land-based environments to locate mines and other hazards. In a water-based environment a diver controls movement of the amphibious robot mine locator. In a land-based environment movement of the mine locator is via remote control. Mine locator includes a pair of oppositely rotating propellers which propel the mine locator through the water with a ruder being provided to control the direction of movement of amphibious robot mine locator as it travels through the water. There is also a control panel which includes the controls for allowing the diver to steer amphibious robot mine locator and control the depth of mine locator. When amphibious robot mine locator switches to a land-based mode of operation, the propellers function as wheels rotating in the same direction to move amphibious robot mine locator along a programmed path to continue its search for mines and other obstacles and hazards. The amphibious robot mine locator also has a pair of air operated pulsating blisters which allow for essentially frictionless movement across the grounds surface irregardless of the shape of the surface. Each blister has a contact surface located on its underside which is fabricated from a material which is flexible and has a hard surface that will not scratch, such as TEFLON. The flexibility of the contact surface of each blister allows the blister to travel over irregular shaped objects such as rocks since the contact surface conforms to the shape of the irregular shaped object.

A candy holder-toy that includes a housing which contains a piece of rigid candy therein. A push rod passes into the housing for forcing the piece of candy from the housing for consumption. The housing can be formed as a rocket ship having fins which make the rocket ship appear more realistic.

A sound generator used in a cycle having a main body for a child to ride is disclosed. The sound generator includes a lever, a device for defining an original position of the lever relative to the main body and urging the lever to return to the original position after being swung away therefrom, and a sounder adapted to be actuated by the lever. The lever has a first end and a second end, and is formed with a pad at the first end for the child to recline thereagainst and is pivotally connected to the main body of the cycle at the second end.

Disclosed is a chemical mechanical polishing("CMP") apparatus. The present invention provides a CMP apparatus having a rotatable wafer holder in which a wafer is fixed. At a bottom of the wafer holder, a pair of driving roller is arranged and the respective rollers are rotated by motors. A polishing wire is winded between the respective driving rollers, the polishing wire is stuck to the wafer fixed at the wafer holder and the polishing wire moves in a linear reciprocal movement. Meanwhile, guide-rollers for providing tension with the polishing wire are arranged at outer portions of the respective driving rollers thereby winding both ends of the polishing wire at the respective guide-rollers. Further, a height adjusting member for is arranged at bottom portions of the polishing wire thereby adjusting the height of the polishing wire owing to a rise of the height adjusting member.

An electronic game apparatus requiring skill in which one or more players individually attempt to outmaneuver the game apparatus on a time limit and motion or presence sensing detecting basis. Each player starts a play cycle of an electronic circuit within the game apparatus by manually pressing a start button on the housing. The player then has a preselected first period of time, e.g. five seconds, during which the presence sensor is deactivated to distance himself sufficiently from the game apparatus so that his presence would not be sensed by the motion detector of the apparatus at the end of the first time period. At the end of the first time period, the presence sensor is activated and the player has a certain second time period, e.g. ten seconds, to stealthfully reapproach the game apparatus without his or her presence being detected and to disarm the game apparatus by pressing a stop button or area of the housing. The player therefore loses if either the motion sensor is triggered or the second time period runs before the disarming stop button is depressed by the player. All forms of presence sensors, including optical motion detectors, sound detectors, infrared sensors and the like are within the intended scope of this invention.

A method of playing a game in which a library contains a plurality of events depicted in a series of sequential, non-identical images identified as a first image, a second image, etc. A first image selected from the plurality of first images in the library is displayed in a frame, such as a frame on a video monitor. Likewise, a selected one of the second images from the plurality of second images in the library is displayed in a second frame. If the images displayed in the frames sequentially depict the first and second images of the event, then a winning condition is achieved. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

The present invention is directed to an improved multi-layer golf ball comprising a core, an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The inner cover layer is comprised of a high acid ionomer or ionomer blend which may or may not include a filler such as zinc-stearate. The outer cover layer is comprised of a soft, very low modulus ionomer or ionomer blend, or a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer such as polyurethane, polyester or polyesteramide. The resulting multi-layered golf ball of the present invention provides for enhanced distance without sacrificing playability or durability when compared to known multi-layer golf balls.

A transmission control system can reduce degradation of engine characteristics upon shifting operation and can reduce a load on the side of a clutch and a transmission due to delay of response. The transmission control system includes an engine generating a driving force, a transmission having a plurality of gear positions for transmitting the driving force developed by the engine to driving wheels, a clutch for connecting said engine and said transmission, engine control means for controlling the engine, transmission control unit for switching gear positions of the transmission, and clutch control unit for controlling disengagement and engagement of the clutch. The transmission control system further includes an electric motor connected to a drive shaft of the engine and capable of performing regenerating operation, and motor control unit for controlling said electric motor for driving the electric motor for generating a driving force or for performing regenerating operation. The motor control unit transmits said driving force to the driving wheel upon shifting operation by the transmission and performs regenerating portion by an energy from the driving wheels.

An adjustable grip device comprises two handles, two links, a restraining member, and an elastic member. The handles are pivoted together such that the handles are capable of moving inward or outward in a predetermined range. The links are pivoted at one end thereof with the midsegment of the handles and are pivoted with each other at other end thereof by a middle pivot. The restraining member is disposed on the pivoting end of the handles. The elastic member is connected at one end thereof with the middle pivot, and at other end thereof with the restraining member. The restraining member is capable of restraining various portions of the elastic member. The restrained portion of the elastic member is incapable of deforming.

A penis erection stabilizer adapted for mounting on the base of a male penis. The penis stabilizer is designed to apply harmless pressure around the circumference of the penis base. The stabilizer helps trap a blood supply in the penis for creating and maintaining a bigger, longer lasting natural erection during sexual intercourse. The stabilizer includes an outer ring, a concentric smaller inner ring and a latex sheath. The latex sheath connects the two rings. The outer ring and smaller inner ring are also made of latex. One end of the sheath is attached to an inner circumference of the outer ring. An opposite end of the sheath is attached to an inner circumference of the inner ring. In operation, the user of the stabilizer removes the item from an air tight package. The outer and inner ring are then stretched over the head of the penis and along the length of the penis. The smaller inner ring is then placed next to the base of the penis and next to the torso with the outer ring disposed around the inner ring. The inner ring with added pressure from the outer ring provide a necessary pressure to contain the blood supply in the penis, thus helping insure a natural erection. Also, the inner ring can be unrolled from a portion of the sheath for placing the inner ring next to the upper ring.

In order to provide a medical imaging method and apparatus and ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus in which the utility for a user is improved, a display area 904 open to the user is provided in the display screen for the medical image 902, and an external input image is displayed in the display area 904.

The method of the invention controls an ultrasound system to produce one or more images that indicate a rate of perfusion of a region of interest (ROI) of an area of anatomy. The method initially introduces a contrast agent into the ROI and derives, at a first time, an ultrasound image of the ROI. That image is processed to identify regions of the ROI that include the contrast agent. Thereafter, a first attribute, such as a color, is assigned to the region of the ROI that is identified as including the contrast agent. The ROI is again imaged after a discrete time interval and a second attribute (i.e., a second color) is assigned to identified regions of the ROI that include the contrast agent but have not previously had an attribute assigned thereto. This process is repeated a number of times, with each successive region of the ROI that manifests contrast agent being assigned a still different attribute. An image of the ROI is then displayed, with each of the attributes indicated thereon, that enables the user to determine, from the progression of the attributes across the image, the rate and type of re-perfusion that occurs in the ROI.

An adaptive screening tool for hearing loss for use over the internet. The test is part of a web-based system which providing hearing related information and health services. The system allows users of the internet located anywhere in the world to perform a screening test in the privacy of their own homes or offices. The test is performed well above the threshold level of the user, and screens users for their ability to detect small changes in intensity within bursts of sound delivered to the user through headphones. Users are given a first or preliminary test to establish a base intensity. Then, after the base intensity is established, a second test for hearing loss is presented. The second test asks the user to identify which of a plurality of similar sounds, or stimuli, is different from the others because it has a short duration deviation embedded in it. The deviation or differentiating characteristic may be: a) an increase or decrease in at least a portion of one in a plurality of similar sounds, and/or b) an increase or decrease in the frequency or pitch of at least a portion of one in a plurality of similar sounds and/or c) an increase or decrease in the duration of one of a plurality of similar sounds. The series of sounds, one of which contains a differentiating characteristic, may be designed so that the differentiating characteristic is detectable only by persons with certain kinds of hearing losses. Alternatively or in combination, such additional groups or series of sounds in which one sound of a plurality of similar sounds in the series is capable of being identified only by persons with normal hearing. Based upon the user's score on the screening tests, the user may be directed to a source for further information on how to deal with partial hearing loss.

a massaging apparatus (1) having a suction chamber (17) and having a pump (41) for the generation of a partial vacuum in the suction chamber (17) the pump (41) is mounted on a support (9) of the massaging apparatus (1) with the aid of elastic mounts (64, 65) and first noise reduction means (70) have been provided upstream of an inlet (50) of the pump (41) and second noise reduction means (71) have been provided downstream of an outlet (51) of the pump (41).

A pelvic bracing system having a first hip plate connected with respect to a second hip plate. The first hip plate and the second hip plate are laterally and/or rotationally adjustable with respect to a posterior panel to properly fit a posterior pelvic region of a patient. The first hip plate and the second hip plate are laterally and/or rotationally adjustable with respect to an anterior panel to properly fit an anterior pelvic region of the patient.

A medical device for treating intravascular restenosis of a patient, the medical device comprising a catheter shaft and an inner catheter, the inner catheter having a deployable wire assembly arrangement, wherein the deployable wire assembly arrangement comprises a plurality of preshaped expandable metallic basket members at the distal end of the inner catheter adapted to contact a pre-implanted stent and to apply RF current to the tissues for therapeutic purposes through a wire guide shaft. Alternately, a plurality of expandable metallic basket members are secured to the distal section of the catheter shaft for contacting a pre-implanted stent of the patient through a wire guide shaft.

The present invention relates to dye mixtures comprising one or more disazo dyes conforming to the formula (1) and one or more monoazo dyes corforming to the formula (2) ##STR1## wherein the variables are described in the specification.

It is to provide an apparatus for producing a thin film, a process for producing a thin film and a guide roller, in which an arc resistant property is provided, and the film formation can be stably conducted with preventing damage of the thin film thus formed. In an apparatus for producing a thin film, such as a plasma CVD apparatus, comprising a vacuum chamber, means for generating a plasma in the vacuum chamber, means for introducing a gas to the vacuum chamber, and a guide roller for running a material to be treated by winding and supporting in the vacuum chamber, an outer peripheral surface of the guide roller in contact and sliding with the material to be treated comprises an electric conductor on both end parts in a width direction of the guide roller, and an electric insulator on a central part thereof.

A megasonic plating technique employs a submerged megasonic transducer array (22) to create a ridge (38) of electrolyte that extends upward above a plating tray (12). A chuck (40) holds the substrate (42) so the face to be plated is oriented downwards. A controlled power supply (32) for the megasonic transducer array (22) energizes selected transducer cells (36) to create the ridge (38) of electrolyte and cause it to move or walk across the face of the substrate. This technique avoids need for drive mechanisms for either the tray (12) or the chuck (40). A annular anode element (24) may be positioned above the transducer array, and may be a consumable anode. This technique may be used for electroplating, electroless plating, or for other wet chemistry techniques such as planing or etching.

A residence (13) discharges its waste water into a septic tank (10). A pump (18) draws waste from the tank's liquid layer and feeds it to a distiller (22) as distiller feed. The distiller (22) divides the distiller feed into distillate and distiller residue. The distiller residue is returned to the septic tank (10), whereas the distillate is reused or discharged into a leach field. In either case, the adverse environmental effects of leach-field use are largely eliminated.

To provide performance particularly in handling supercritical extraction systems, a specially designed pump includes a cam-driven, single-plunger with a cam having a profile that enables the pumping system to avoid destructive reverse torque on the cam, gear train and drive motor after the cam passes top dead center. The plunger includes a seal having one side in contact with the supercritical fluid and a mechanism for supporting and aligning the piston on the other side of the seal to maintain the piston in alignment. The piston drive has Hertzian contact with the piston. The fluid volume leaving the pump is determined by measuring only pressure or other parameters related to flow and movement of the plunger. Measurement of the fluid volume leaving the pump is useful for recording or indicating the flow rate while the pump is operating.

There are provided mesoporous silica materials containing in their pores stabilized clusters of silicon atoms, of size 2 nanometers or less, and capable of photoluminescence to emit fast photons. They are prepared by chemical vapour deposition of silicon or a silicon precursor such as disilane, under soft conditions such as temperature of 100-150.degree. C., into the mesopores of silicate films which have mesoporous channels prepared by growth of the films using a template to control their sizes, but without removing the template residues from the films prior to the chemical vapour deposition. The template residues serve to limit the size of the silicon clusters which conform. The use of the soft conditions on CVD retains the template residues in an intact, substantially unchanged form. The resultant films have clusters of silicon, of 2 nanometer size or less, anchored to the mesopores, and air stable, so that they can be used in optoelectronic devices in conjunction with standard silicon semiconductors.

A method for making a resilient material includes providing a particulate polymer, discrete pieces of foam and a plasticizer. The polymer, foam pieces and plasticizer are mixed and disposed in a mold. The mold is heated to cause melting of the polymer without melting of the foam. After coating of the melted polymer, a heterogeneous resilient cushion is formed with gelated polymer surrounding the discrete foam pieces.

A method of making electret fibers, which method comprises the steps of: PA1 blending a polymeric material with a fluorochemical additive compound; PA1 extruding the blend at a temperature maintained below 290.degree. C. to form extruded fibers; and PA1 annealing and charging the extruded fibers; PA1 wherein the polymeric material and extrusion conditions are selected such that the resulting fibers have a level of extractable hydrocarbon material that is less than about 3.0 weight percent based on the weight of the fibers.

It is possible to recover gallium and indium efficiently and at a low cost from solutions containing traces of gallium and indium. In particular, jarosite is produced by performing a specific treatment on a solution obtained by a two-stage neutralization treatment during the zinc leached residue treatment step of wet zinc refining, or on another solution containing traces of gallium and indium; the gallium and indium are separated and concentrated; an alkali is added to the jarosite; and the gallium is separated and concentrated by leaching. Calcium hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide is optionally added to the jarosite leached solution to perform purifying, sulfuric acid is added to the purified solution, neutralization is performed, basic gallium sulfate is precipitated, the precipitate is subjected to alkali leaching, and the gallium in the leached solution is electrolytically extracted, yielding metallic gallium.

A method and composition for treating a patient suffering from a disease, disorder or condition and associated pain include the administration to the patient of a therapeutically effective amount of a neurotoxin selected from a group consisting of Botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

The present intention relates to an implant for the controlled release of at least one pharmaceutically active principle comprising a core containing at least one active principle and a sheath surrounding said core, wherein said sheath is composed of at least one polymeric film applied around said core. It also relates to a process for the preparation of such an implant, characterised by the production of a core containing at least one active principle, preparation of at least one polymeric film, application of the polymeric film(s) around said core by juxtaposition and/or superposition thereof, and sterilisation of the implant thus obtained.

The present invention provides a method for eliciting an onset hastened analgesic and anti-inflammatory response and combating nausea in acute migraine attacks. This method comprises administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising more than one active ingredient, wherein said more than one active ingredient consist essentially of: PA1 (i) domperidone or an analogue thereof in an amount sufficient to hasten the onset of the analgesic and anti-inflammatory response and to combat nausea in an acute migraine attack, and PA1 (ii) a NSAID, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pure (-) or pure (+) optical isomeric form thereof in an analgesically and anti-inflammatory effective amount, wherein said NSAID is selected from the group consisting of proprionic acid derivatives, acetic acid derivatives, fenamic acid derivatives, biphenylcarboxylic acid derivatives and oxicams.

A method of constructing a resilient surface layer of particles bound together and to a base surface comprises uniformly dropping dry rubber particles from a moving apparatus and spraying the particles with a liquid, water based, latex binder as the particles are dropping, the apparatus comprises a movable vehicle with a particulate spreading assembly comprising a hopper with a controlled orifice, and a spray system with an array of nozzles directed to intersect the path of the particles after leaving the hopper and before the particles reach the base surface.

A multi-layer plastic preform 14 with an inner layer 28 that is extrusion blow molded from a resin having an intrinsic viscosity greater than 0.90, and an outer layer 44 that is injection molded around the inner layer from a resin having an intrinsic viscosity that is at least 0.10 less than the intrinsic viscosity of the inner layer. The inner layer 28 is no greater than 20% (preferably no greater than 15%) by weight of the total weight of the preform and the outer layer 44 is at least 80% (preferably at least 85%) by weight of the total weight of the preform.

Disclosed is an optical recording layer in which the microaperture for reproducing optical near-field light is controllable so as to read out the optical near-field signals with stability by keeping the signal-reproducing head at a height safe from crashing with the recording medium even when the recording marks are smaller than 100 nm. The optical recording medium is a layered body comprising: (a) a transparent substrate; (b) a first protective layer formed on the substrate; (c) an optically or thermally active layer, which is capable of reversibly generating a micro-aperture by application of light or heat, formed on the first protective layer; (d) a second protective layer, which is under a compressive stress of 200 MPa to 1 GPa, formed on the active layer; (e) an optical recording layer formed on the second protective layer; and (f) a third protective layer formed on the optical recording layer.

A magneto-optical recording medium is disclosed with which magneto-optical recording is performed by a magnetic-field modulation method and which enables stable recording characteristics to be realized even if the intensity of the recording magnetic field is somewhat changed. When a magneto-optical recording medium incorporating a signal recording layer made of TbFeCoCr and arranged such that a magneto-optical recording operation is performed with respect to the signal recording layer by the magnetic-field modulation method is manufactured, the signal recording layer is formed such that the total quantity of Tb and Cr contained in the signal recording layer is 24.+-.1 at %. After the signal recording layer has been formed, exposure to stem by 30.times.10.sup.-6 Torr.multidot.sec to 10000.times.10.sup.-6 Torr.multidot.sec or exposure to oxygen by 10.times.10.sup.-6 Torr.multidot.sec to 50.times.10.sup.-6 Torr.multidot.sec is performed to oxidize the surface of the signal recording layer.

A rechargeable lithium battery has a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The active material of the positive or negative electrode is tungsten complex sulfide, either with or without addition of lithium thereto. The tungsten complex sulfide contains tungsten, sulfur and at least one transition metal selected from Cu, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni, and has substantially the same crystal structure as WS.sub.2.

A main pattern region is projected to a substrate to be exposed while a defective portion including a defect generated in the main pattern region of an original mask is masked. Thereafter, a spare pattern corresponding to the defective portion is further projected on the substrate. In this manner, it is possible to prevent the defect of the main pattern region of the original mask from being transferred to the substrate. The pattern accuracy of the repair portion is the same as that of the exposed portion from the original mask. Therefore, the repair can be made with a high accuracy. Furthermore, it is possible to repair the defect produced at a pattern edge portion with a high accuracy without limitations given by a conventional repair technique.

Improved dissolution inhibition resists for use in microlithography are disclosed herein. These resists are comprised of phenolic base resin(s) having increased inhibitability and which are suitable for use in resist formulations for microlithography and semiconductor applications.

An improved, aqueous base developable, high resolution photoresist composition for use in deep UV and compatable with high base strength aqueous developers is disclosed. The composition of the present invention comprises of a phenolic functional methacrylate polymer resin, a crosslinker selected from glycoluril derivatives capable of reacting with there resins under acid catalysis, a photoacid generator and an organic solvent. The composition of the present invention is particularly useful for production of negative tone images of high resolution (less than 0.125 micrometer).

An image forming method is disclosed, comprising the steps of processing image data or setting an exposure condition so that an image size is enlarged or reduced, imagewise exposing a photothermographic material to laser to form an image enlarged or reduced based on the processed image data or the set exposure condition, and subjecting the exposed photothermographic material to thermal development, in which the photothermographic material comprises an organic silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent, and a contrast increasing agent or a quaternary onium salt.

The present invention relates to a protein which is induced in the course of the soaking of mature seeds of plants belonging to species of the families chenopodiaceae, compositae, labiatae and cucurbitraceae, and to its use as a molecular marker of a seed soaking process.

A method is provided for producing a library of mutagenized polynucleotides from a target sequence comprising (a) taking a sample comprising: (i) a target sequence including a section to be mutagenized, (ii) a library of first primers where the first primers include a first fixed sequence and a first unknown sequence 3' to the first fixed sequence, the first unknown sequence varying within the library of first primers, and (iii) a library of second primers where the second primer include a second fixed sequence that differs from the first fixed sequence, and a second unknown sequence 3' to the second fixed sequence, the second unknown sequence varying within the library of second primers; (b) performing one or more cycles of primer extension amplification on the sample in the presence of at least one polymerase such that a member of the library of the first primers is extended relative to the target sequence; and (c) performing one or more additional cycles of primer extension amplification on the sample such that a member of the library of the second primers is extended relative to the first primer that was extended in step (b) to form the library of mutagenized polynucleotides.

The gene for hypocretin (orexin) receptor 1 (HCRTR1), which is associated with narcolepsy, is disclosed. Also described are methods of diagnosis of narcolepsy, pharmaceutical compositions comprising nucleic acids comprising the HCRTR1 gene, as well as methods of therapy of narcolepsy.

Process and separating means for the production of a thin film solar module (10) comprising a plurality of solar cells (11) arranged side-by-side on a common substrate (12), which are produced by employing a plurality of layer deposition steps and layer separating steps during the course of cell production and which are electrically interconnected with one another, wherein after the application of a first contact layer (14) on substrate (12) and the cell-wise separation thereof a pn double layer (16) is applied on a contact layer and, thereafter, is mechanically separated in that a scraping cutting tool serving as separating means scrapes, by a relative movement to the coated substrate, a cell structure into said pn double layer, wherein said cutting tool slides, preferably without being raised or rotated, with a plane sliding surface of a flattened tip on said first contact layer (14) which has a higher hardness than said pn double layer (16).

A lower capacitor electrode is formed on an interlayer dielectric, and then a resultant specimen is subjected to reduction and thermal nitriding in an ammonia gas atmosphere in a deposition chamber wherein pressure has been reduced to a range from 533 Pa to 1333 Pa. A silicon nitride film is then formed on the lower electrode and the interlayer dielectric. A time for carrying out the reduction and thermal nitriding is longer than a film thickness saturation time of the silicon nitride film formed on the interlayer dielectric.

The invention provides a method for forming a metal nitride film by depositing a metal oxide film on the substrate and exposing the metal oxide film to a nitrating gas to densify the metal oxide and form a metal nitride film. The metal oxide film is deposited by the decomposition of a chemical vapor deposition precursor. The nitrating step comprises exposing the metal oxide film to a thermally or plasma enhanced nitrating gas preferably comprising nitrogen, oxygen, and anunonia. The invention also provides a process for forming a liner/barrier scheme for a metallization stack by forming a metal nitride layer over the substrate by the densification of a metal oxide layer by a nitrating gas depositing a metal liner layer. Optionally, a metal liner layer may be deposited over substrate prior to the metal nitride layer to form a metal/metal nitride liner/barrier scheme. The invention firer provides a process to form a microelectronic device comprising forming a first electrode, forming a metal nitride layer over the first electrode by densifying a metal oxide layer by a nitrating gas to form a metal nitride layer, depositing a dielectric layer over the metal nitride layer, and forming a second electrode over the dielectric layer. Alternatively, the metal nitride film may comprise the first and second electrodes.

The present invention relates to a capacitor in a semiconductor device and a fabricating method thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of forming a storage electrode of a capacitor in a semiconductor device and a fabricating method thereof which provide a sufficient electric charge capacitance for a highly-integrated memory device and which reduces the step difference between cell and peripheral areas. In preferred embodiments, the storage electrode has a plurality of hemispherical protruding parts, and an electrically conductive layer formed on the protruding parts. The electrically conductive layer prevents the formation of an oxide layer between the storage electrode and a dielectric layer formed over the storage electrode.

The present invention includes a DRAM technology compatible non-volatile, reprogrammable switch formed according to an DRAM optimized process flow. The non-volatile, reprogrammable switch includes a non-volatile memory cell. The non-volatile memory cell includes a first metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) formed in a semiconductor substrate. A capacitor is formed in a subsequent layer above the first MOSFET and is separated from the MOSFET by an insulator layer. A vertical electrical via couples a bottom plate of the capacitor through the insulator layer to a gate of first MOSFET. A second MOSFET is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The gate of the first MOSFET also serves as a gate of the second MOSFET. Additional MOSFETs can be combined in a similar fashion with the non-volatile cell to create a new, powerful logic cell that is smaller and more robust than conventional circuit solutions. The present invention includes applications such as a very size efficient address decode tree, data routing device, or other applications such as used in DRAM redundancy schemes. Methods for forming and using the present invention are also included. The need for intervening sense amps normally required to read the status of a non-volatile memory cell (e.g. an EEPROM cell) and communicate this to additional logic that would then in turn control the status of one or more switches is eliminated. Thus, the requirements of low power densely packed integrated circuits is realized for smaller, portable microprocessor devices.

A semiconductor device in which parasitic resistance of source/drain regions can be reduced than the parasitic resistance of the drain region, and manufacturing method thereof, can be obtained. In the semiconductor device, inactivating ions are implanted only to the source region of the semiconductor layer, so as to damage the crystal near the surface of the semiconductor layer, whereby siliciding reaction is promoted. Therefore, in the source region, a titanium silicide film which is thicker can be formed.

A method for forming semiconductor devices is disclosed. The method of the present invention includes providing a semiconductor substrate, followed by forming shallow trench isolation (STI) process, and then a dummy gate is formed by silicon nitride layer which is deposited and defined. With appropriate wet etching, this dummy poly can be removed. After local punch-through implantation, reverse offset spacer is formed to reduce Cgd (capacitance is between gate and drain) and poly-CD (critical dimension). Polysilicon is deposited followed by polysilicon CMP. After thick Ti-salicidation, the usual CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) processes are proceeded.

A unique bond-ply structure and associated processes for processing of the bond-ply structure and for joining together circuit layer pairs which makes it possible to create a bond-ply having raised structures of conductive material which compensate for shrinkage during sintering thus creating a stress-free and void-free electrically conductive junction between layer-pairs in an interconnect.

Disclosed are compositions useful for removing antireflective compositions from a substrate. Also disclosed are methods of removing antireflective compositions from a substrate using such compositions.

In a method of producing a lever arm with a tip for a scanning microscope wherein, in a wafer including a tip, a piezo-resistive resistance is implanted by means of C-MOS, a metallic layer is first deposited on the wafer, a photo lacquer layer is then deposited on the metallic layer, which photo lacquer layer is then structured, the metallic layer is etched away according to the structuring provided by the etching, and the wafer is bombarded by ions thereby implanting ions in the areas of the wafer from which the metallic layer was etched away and the metallic layer is then fully removed by a wet chemical process.

An improvement is described in all purpose liquid cleaning composition which are especially effective in the removal of oily and greasy soil containing a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a fatty acid, magnesium sulfate, methyl ethoxylated ester cosurfactant, a perfume, essential oil or water insoluble organic compound and water.

Anticonvulsant derivatives useful in treating cluster headaches are disclosed.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of treating a mammal having a solid tumor, the method comprising: PA0 a) administering to the mammal an effective amount of 3-ainino-1,2,4-benzotriazine 1,4-dioxide; PA0 b) administering to the mammal an effective amount of paclitaxel; and PA0 c) administering to the mammal an effective amount of a platinum complex. The method provides unexpected synergistic efficacy. The invention further provides a kit for treatment of a mammalian tumor comprising 3-amino-1,2,-benzotriazine 1,4-dioxide, paclitaxel and a platinum complex.

A polymer composition useful for controlling the formation, growth and/or agglomeration of clathrate hydrate comprising two different polymers, designated Polymer x and Polymer y respectively, characterized in that Polymer x is a material whose In(WBF) is greater than that of Polymer y, which satisfy the following conditions: a) In(WBF) of x-In(WBF) of y is greater than 3 and b) the Synergism Index is greater than 0.05.