The invention relates to a trolley comprising an element for holding and releasing a token, said element comprising a sensor that detects whether the trolley comprising the element for holding and releasing the token is pushed inside another trolley. If this is the case, the element for holding and releasing the token activates the immobilizer and releases the token. In order to use the trolley, a token must be inserted into the element for holding and releasing the token, thus deactivating the immobilizer.

Provided is a financial device, which comprises a medium entrance, a medium processing apparatus, and a control unit. A medium is deposited or withdrawn through the medium entrance. The medium processing apparatus processes the medium. The control unit controls the medium processing apparatus. The medium processing apparatus comprises a front guider, a rear guider behind the front guider, a pushing member pushing a medium disposed in a medium processing space, and a supporting guider supporting the medium in the medium processing space. The control unit controls an operation of the medium processing apparatus such that states of the front guider, the rear guider, the pushing member, and the supporting guider when moving of a medium is completed in the medium processing space to deposit the medium are the same as states of the front guider, the rear guider, the pushing member, and the supporting guider when moving of a medium is completed in the medium processing space to withdraw or return the medium.

A coin dispensing apparatus has a cabinet serving as an apparatus housing for the apparatus. The apparatus has a control means for controlling the apparatus. The apparatus further has a module for receiving, optionally validating and optionally sorting coins of different types and at least one dispenser for coins to be dispensed. The apparatus also comprises a filling compartment comprising a plurality of dispense locations. Each dispense location is adapted for receiving a portable coin receptacle for collecting dispensed coins from a specific dispenser. The apparatus is adapted to dispense a specific amount of coins under control of said control means to at least one portable coin receptacle at a specific dispense location in said filling compartment. The control means is adapted to only start the dispense operation at said specific dispense location if a portable coin receptacle is present at the location.

A paper sheet processing apparatus includes: an insertion slot through which a paper sheet is inserted; a sensor which detects insertion of the paper sheet; a traveling route through which the paper sheet is conveyed; a light emitting part which irradiates the traveling route with light; a light receiving part which receives light from the traveling route; a black calibration part which sets a reference value for the lowest brightness in a state that the emission of the light emitting part is ineffective; and an authenticity judgment processing part which judges an authenticity. The black calibration part can set the reference value before the authenticity judgment processing part judges the authenticity after the sensor detects the insertion of the paper sheet at every time when the paper sheet is inserted.

An apparatus for feeding a plurality of stacked currency bills into a currency handling device. The apparatus may comprise an input receptacle being configured to receive a plurality of stacked currency bills, the receptacle having a first side and a second opposing side, a front end, and an opposing back end. The apparatus further may comprise a first paddle rail disposed adjacent the first side and a first paddle assembly slidably coupled to the first paddle rail, the first paddle assembly having a portion configured to contact a stack of a plurality of bills residing in the input receptacle. The apparatus further may comprise a first resilient member coupled to the first paddle assembly, the first resilient member being configured to bias the first paddle assembly towards the front end of the receptacle, the first resilient member being configured to cause the first paddle assembly to move in a direction toward the front end of the input receptacle at a first average rate of speed when unrestrained and undamped. The apparatus further may comprise a first damping mechanism configured to slow the unrestrained, average rate of speed the first paddle assembly from the first average rate of speed to a second average rate of speed which is less the first average rate of speed.

In a money handling apparatus 10, an inlet 21 receives money of a plurality of different currencies. A control unit 40 controls a transport unit 31 such that the money is sorted and delivered from the transport unit 31 to the outlets 23, 24 and 25 based on a money recognition result by a recognition unit 32. The control unit 40 judges whether the currency having been recognized by the recognition unit 32 is assigned to any of the outlet 23, 24 and 25. When this happens, the control unit 40 transports the money to the assigned outlet. When the currency of the money having been recognized by the recognition unit 32 is not assigned to any of the outlet 23, 24 and 25, if there is an outlet to which no currency is assigned, the control unit 40 assigns and transports the money to that outlet.

Disclosed are an apparatus for setting a price for a multi-vending machine and a method thereof. The apparatus includes a price setting unit for inputting a price setting function, selecting a price setting column and inputting price information about the selected column; a control unit for controlling a price display of the selected column when the column is selected and the price information is input through the price setting unit; and a price display unit for displaying prices of products exhibited in a column according to a price display control of the control unit.

The invention relates to a device for sorting coins, the diameter and thickness of which are within predefined size ranges.

There is provided a cash handling system capable of reliably storing sales proceeds and the like stored in a cash settlement apparatus into a cash accounting apparatus. A cash management system 1 includes a cash settlement apparatus 11, a cash accounting apparatus 21 and the cash transport cassette 30. The cash settlement apparatus 11 and the cash accounting apparatus 21 have reading units 157, 257, respectively, which are configured to read out cassette ID information from a memory unit 35 of the cash transport cassette 30. In addition, the cash management system 1 further includes: a management unit 26 having a depositing judgment unit 26A configured to judge whether cash in the cash settlement apparatus 11 to be received by the cash transport cassette 30 can be deposited into the cash accounting apparatus 21 or not; a guide apparatus configured to guide information from the management unit 26; and a comparison unit 27 configured to compare the cassette ID information read out by the reading unit 257 of the cash accounting apparatus 21 and the information from the management unit 26.

A cover for the gap in an automobile automatic gear shift assembly is presented. The gap cover is formed from a single molded housing with inward pointing fibrillations. These fibrillations act as fingers to cover the hole created when the multi position mechanism is moved from one position to another. The fibrillations are assisted back to their original position through (1) physical properties of the advanced polymeric substance used to mold the housing and (2) through the interactions of assisting tabs formed on the back side of the fibrillations, which act as springs.

A top cover for use in a disk drive apparatus includes a plate made of a metal and a gasket fixed to the plate. The gasket is made of an elastomer. A surface of the plate includes a fixing region to which the gasket is closely adhered. The fixing region includes a plurality of ridges and in plan view a plurality of filamentous projections extending from each of the plurality of ridges. The plurality of ridges are arranged in the fixing region to increase a surface area of the fixing region. The plurality of ridges and the plurality of filamentous projections extending from each ridge are distributed over the fixing region.

An apparatus includes a rotatable shaft having a shaft surface and a first seal disposed in a sealing engagement with the shaft surface. At least a second seal is disposed in a first position relative to the rotatable shaft where the second seal is not in sealing engagement with the shaft surface and is movable to a second position relative to the rotatable shaft where the second seal is in sealing engagement with the shaft surface.

Apparatus and methods for temporarily sealing a pipe including apparatus and methods for creating a temporary airtight seal at the open end of a pipe in a plumbing or refrigeration system. One such apparatus includes a body, grommet, washer, and a nut. Multiple airtight seals are created including a first primary seal between an exterior of the pipe and the grommet and a secondary seal between the open end of the pipe and the washer. The grommet does not require teeth and the apparatus does not require adhesive, sealant, or any other type of similar materials. Use of the apparatus and methods greatly minimizes and/or eliminates the potential for marring or otherwise distorting the open end of the pipe, thereby facilitating reuse of same.

An actuatable wellbore isolation assembly comprising a housing generally defining an axial flowbore and comprising a mandrel portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, a radially expandable isolating member positioned circumferentially about a portion of the housing, a sliding sleeve circumferentially positioned about a portion of the mandrel of the cylindrical housing, the sliding sleeve being movable from, a first position in which the sliding sleeve retains the expandable isolating member in a narrower non-expanded conformation to a second position in which the sliding sleeve does not retain the expandable isolating member in the narrower non-expanded conformation, and an actuator assemblage configured to selectively allow movement of the sliding sleeve from the first position to the second position.

An apparatus, system and method for sealing an electrical submersible pump assembly are described. An electric submersible pump (ESP) system for pumping solid-laden fluid comprises a thrust chamber of an ESP seal section, the thrust chamber sealed from well fluid on a downstream side by a stationary sand barrier and on an upstream side by a mechanical seal, the thrust chamber further comprising, a rotatable shaft extending axially through the thrust chamber, a head tubularly encasing the thrust chamber and threadedly coupled to a centrifugal pump intake, and a diamond-coated hydrodynamic bearing set inside the thrust chamber, wherein well fluid enters and exits the chamber through cross-drilled apertures in the head of the chamber, and wherein the well fluid forms a hydrodynamic film between the bearing set.

A side seal for a linear guide apparatus including a guide rail, a slider, and a plurality of rolling elements includes seal members formed of different materials, a holder plate and covers. Both seal members have recesses formed in a first face of a base and fitted with a protrusion of the holder plate. Both seal members have respective lips directed in opposite directions separated from each other. A tip of the lip of the first seal member is formed to have a shape in plane contact with the face of the guide rail. A tip of the lip of the second seal member is formed to have a shape in line contact with the face of the guide rail.

An adjustable blocking arrangement for electronic hardware or computer racks, for preventing the undesired leakage of air through rack spaces not filled with hardware. An airflow control device is provided comprising a flexible web and a magazine adapted to receive the part of the flexible web that is not deployed. The device is adapted such that a length of the web may be deployed to sealingly block a space in the rack that is not filled with hardware modules, to prevent the flow of air through the space. The device may comprising a detection system adapted to detect the space in the rack that is not filled with hardware modules, and a processing system adapted to receive a signal from the detection system, and as a function of the signal to automatically deploy or retract the flexible web so as to sealingly block the space.

A muffler is capable of stably supporting the catalytic converter in a muffler box with a pair of partitions. The muffler box includes first and second box halves joined together with open surfaces thereof abutting each other, and first and second partition plates interposed between the first and second box halves and overlapping each other to separate inside of the muffler box into first and second silencing chambers and define a third silencing chamber between the first and second partition plates, one end opening of a cylindrical holding tube housing and holding the catalytic converter is connected to the exhaust inlet pipe, the pair of partition plates support the holding tube in such a way as to wrap an outer peripheral surface thereof, and another end opening of the holding tube is communicated with the exhaust outlet pipe through the first, second, and third silencing chambers in this order.

An image forming apparatus includes a drive source configured to drive a member for forming an image on a recording material, a frame of the image forming apparatus including a planar portion on which the drive source is mounted, wherein a plurality of through holes is formed on the entire planar portion of the frame, and a sheet member configured to cover at least a portion of the plurality of through holes.

A sound suppressor device for an air drying unit of a compressed-air supply system having a sound suppressor housing on which is arranged an inlet opening for the supply of condensate-laden compressed air to be discharged from the air drying unit and at least one outlet opening for the discharge of the condensate-laden compressed air to the outside, wherein the inlet opening issues into at least one pre-chamber of the sound suppressor housing, which pre-chamber issues into post-chambers which are connected in parallel and which are arranged around a heating rod arranged centrally in the sound suppressor housing.

Embodiments of a firearm suppressor are disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, the firearm suppressor can include a housing. The housing can include an outer surface, an inner cavity, and an attachment mechanism that attaches the housing to a barrel of a firearm. The inner cavity can accommodate a baffle. The firearm suppressor also can include a lighting attachment. The lighting attachment can include a power source and a lighting mechanism.

A multi-reel, line-handling apparatus can include a housing, a shaft located within the housing, the shaft defining a shaft axis, a first reel located within the housing, the first reel rotatably mounted to the shaft about a first reel axis angled with respect to the shaft axis, and a second reel located within the housing, the second reel rotatably mounted to the shaft about a second reel axis angled with respect to the shaft axis. The first reel and the second reel can be rotatable with respect to the housing about the shaft axis.

The present invention relates to an aquarium cleaning apparatus, systems and methods for removing debris from the aquarium, and in particular, a self-contained cleaning apparatus that utilizes a siphon effect created by pouring water in an aquarium tank and/or pulling water out of an aquarium tank, such as via a vacuum. In a preferred embodiment, the siphon operation occurs because of the difference between the water level of the aquarium tank and the vertical height of a spout attached to the top of a vertical tube. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to immerse their hands in the aquarium water to operate the cleaning device.

The present invention provides treatment apparatus, a fluid application device and methods of removing and applying fluid and relates particularly but not exclusively to an apparatus and method suitable for applying fluid to an elongate object such as a bovine teat or the like and to removing excess fluid. The device includes a holder (28) having a first end (58) and a second end (62) and an interior edge (54) defining a first opening, the first end having a second opening (56); a lower portion (70); and a cassette (30) for insertion into the second opening (56) and including a wiping device (32) having a wiping material (82, 84, 86) extending radially inwardly and extending at least partially across the first opening.

An advancement system for an in ovo injection apparatus is provided. Such an advancement system is configured to advance an egg carrier carrying a plurality of avian eggs to an injection assembly. The advancement system includes a guide assembly configured to receive the egg carrier and provide support thereto during advancement of the egg carrier. A manual advancement device slidingly engages the guide assembly such that the manual advancement device is movable along the guide assembly. The manual advancement device is capable of interacting with a trailing end of the egg carrier to advance the egg carrier to an injection position. At least one stop is positioned to interact with the manual advancement device during advancement of the egg carrier so as to prevent progression of the manual advancement device beneath the injection assembly, thereby locating the egg carrier at the injection position. An associated method is also provided.

The “Microcosm Terrestrial and Aquatic Landscape Habitat” is a Main Basin Pond 4 surrounded on three sides by artificial rock, “Miniature Mountains” 3 a, 3 b, 3 c or Natural Looking Imitation Rocks. The fourth, front side has no “Miniature Mountains” or Natural Looking Imitation Rocks to enclose the Main Basin Pond. Instead, here I adhere on a Pane of Glass 2 a to the imitation rock surface using Silicon Sealant 2 b or other sealants 2 c: A pond-aquarium hybrid! The “Miniature Mountains” are higher than the water level in the Main Basin Pond. On the top or sides of the “Miniature Mountains” is an Upper Pool 5. Water in the Main Basin Pond is circulated up to the Upper Pool using a Submersible; Electric, Aquatic, Pump 8. From the Upper Pool, the Water then flows down a Water Course to the Waterfalls and back to the Main Basin Pond to oxygenate the water.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a glove (100) from a conveyor (200) characterized by: a camera (10); a pick-up assembly (20) comprising a pair of inner grippers (21) and two pairs of outer grippers (22); a pair of sensors (30); a robotic arm (40) mounted with the pick-up assembly (20); a processor. The present invention also relates to a method for transferring a glove (100) from a conveyor (200), characterized by the steps of: locating a cuff (101) of the glove (100) on the conveyor (200) by capturing an image on the conveyor with a camera (10) and analyzing the image with a processor; using a robotic arm (40) to move a pick-up assembly (20) to the located cuff (101); gripping the cuff (101) with a pair of inner grippers (21) of the pick-up assembly (20) and lifting the glove (100) by retracting the pair of inner grippers (21); detecting the glove (100) position by using a pair of sensors (30); opening the glove (100) by grabbing and sliding apart the two pairs of outer grippers (22); shifting the glove (100) towards a workstation (300) by using the robotic arm (40); transferring the glove (100) to the workstation (300) by engaging the glove (100) to the workstation (300).

A hanger may be used for supporting a garment. The hanger may include a hook, a medium connected to the hook, a first branch, a second branch, a third branch, and a fourth branch. The first branch may be connected through the medium to the hook and oriented according to a first direction. The second branch may be connected through the medium to the hook and oriented according to a second direction. The third branch may be coplanar with both the first branch and the hook, disposed between the first branch and the hook, connected to the medium, and oriented according to a third direction different from the first direction. The fourth branch may be connected to the medium and oriented according to a fourth direction different from the second direction, wherein the medium may be disposed between the third branch and the fourth branch.

An applicator for applying compression stockings and bandages to the limb of a user. The applicator includes a rigid tubular body, an open top with a rim, an open base and a passageway between the base and top. The applicator includes two or more longitudinal slots in the side wall of the tubular body for use in loading. An anterior notch allows an ergonomic application of the stocking and loading. The applicator may be formed in two parts for variation of its internal dimension. It preferably includes a foot arch. The applicator may be adapted for removal of the stocking. The invention extends to a method of donning and removing a compression stocking.

A frame for facilitating storage, transport, stacking and organizing garments includes four panels linearly aligned and connected by folds or creases. The rear panel has two flaps extending transversely. The frame is integrated with a shirt when folding such that the front panel positions the front of the shirt on the front of the folded frame. The flaps extend across the front of the shirt and detachably engage to secure the shirt in a semi-rigid state having a cuboid shape. The cuboid shape is maintained by the frame and facilitates stacking, organizing, transport and storage.

An apparatus used to store and/or display garments, such as brassieres, is provided. The device includes a first semispherical cup, a second semispherical cup, and a connecting member. The connecting member is used to interconnect the first and second cups. The connecting member allows for the spacing between the first and second cups to be adjusted. Also provided are methods of using the apparatus to store and/or display garments.

A garment folding apparatus includes a planar center panel having a length and a width, the width being less than the length. The center panel is configured to fold in a lengthwise direction. The apparatus further includes a planar left side panel joined by a hinge to the center panel. The apparatus further includes a planar right side panel joined by a hinge to the center panel on a side opposite to the left side panel. The left side panel and the right side panel each comprise raised handle portions on an outer edge thereof. When the left side panel and the right side panel are folded onto the center panel, the handle portions fit into corresponding notches formed in side edges of the second portion of the center panel and corresponding notches formed in inner side edges of the left side panel and the right side panel.

A method and apparatus for pyrolytic destruction of polymer products including whole vehicle vulcanised rubber tires is disclosed. The apparatus 111 has a reaction chamber 153 into which a tire can be placed, and immersed for pyrolytic decomposition in a molten alloy of zinc with a minor proportion of aluminium. The apparatus 111 has a heated reservoir 155 in which the alloy is maintained in a molten state, and from where it can be transferred to the reaction chamber 153 to immerse the tire. Fluid hydrocarbon byproducts are drawn off for condensation and recovery, and solid zinc sulphides are also recovered. Where steel belted tires are processed, carbon and steel residues are also recovered.

This invention presents a versatile and continuous drying technology that utilizes controlled heat combined with forced air supply for drying a feedstock. The dryer virtually divided top-down into different zones, each having definite heated air distribution rate to secure desired condition for drying of the feedstock. The heat source of the dryer is waste heat, either provided by the feedstock itself through exothermic heat generated by the feedstock or reclaimed waste heat or solar heat. The discharge system of the dryer is a fail-safe discharge system, which ensures equal residence time for the feedstock through all the zones. The synergic interaction of all these components along with recycling the heat through an efficient use of heat exchangers, optimized control of airflow rate and feedstock resident time, purifying the exhaust air and condensing the outlet vapor empowers the technology to function with minimum energy, minimum processing time, minimum environmental foot-print, minimum cost and with minimum operational cost.

An apparatus for producing proof prints on which the correctness of page impositions can be checked comprises a stand configured to receive a roll of paper. A first printer and a second printer are provided for printing pages on the front side and the rear side, respectively, of a paper web fed from the paper roll. An optical sensor is arranged between the first printer and the second printer. The optical sensor is configured to detect the position of an alignment mark which has been printed by the first printer on the front side of the paper. A control unit modifies the spatial relationship between the rear side of the paper and what is printed on the rear side of the paper depending on the detected position of the alignment mark. This can be accomplished either by electronically modifying the second pages as such, or by mechanically modifying the paper position with respect to a printing head contained in the second printer.

The invention relates to a marking and/or scanning head comprising a plurality of receiving spaces in which individual marking and/or sensing devices can be arranged for marking and/or scanning an object, wherein the receiving spaces are arranged in at least two sub-arrays, wherein at least one sub-array is movable and/or rotatable with regard to at least one other sub-array. The invention further relates to a marking and/or scanning apparatus and a method for operating a marking and/or scanning head or apparatus.

A method of transferring a transfer foil having an image forming layer through a transfer gap of a printing press under a foil cycle timing control that is selectively changeable such that it can be turned on, turned off, or is adjustable in its frequency and period of operation as a function of operating parameters of the press.

A data storage system, having a data processor operable to convert digital data signals into ink dot patterns, and a data processor operable to receive the ink dot patterns and convert them into digital signals, the system having at least one print media receiving carrier or panel, a printing member operable to deposit ink dot patterns in a print medium on the carrier panel, and a print media reader operable to read the ink dot patterns and create data signals there from, and a method of storing and retrieving data.

Printers, methods, and apparatus to filter imaging oil are disclosed. An example apparatus to filter imaging oil, includes adjacent electrodes and a switching circuit. The example switching circuit selectively generates an electrostatic field between the adjacent electrodes to cause particles suspended in the imaging oil between the adjacent electrodes to adhere to at least one of the adjacent electrodes, and generates an alternating electric field between the adjacent electrodes to cause the particles to be detached from the adjacent electrodes.

An apparatus and method for positioning and aligning one or more pre-punched printing plates on a cylinder for imaging a plate in a computer-to-plate drum imaging device. The apparatus includes an imaging cylinder and a registration device connectable to the cylinder. The apparatus includes at least one groove and one pair of register pins, with a first register pin in a fixed position, and a second register pin movable in the groove to a second position, and collinear with the first register pin in the axial direction of the cylinder, arranged such that when connected to the cylinder, the registration device allows a plurality of pre-punched printing plates with variable widths to be positioned and aligned on the cylinder with simplicity.

Apparatus and method for applying a water-based emulsion of silicone fluid to a printed web required to be cooled, such that evaporative cooling of the web is promoted in addition to coating of said web with a silicone material. Water evaporated following the application of the silicone fluid to the web is recovered by condensation on the applicator(s) and reapplied to the web, thus economizing the amount of silicone fluid mixture necessary to provide both cooling and enhanced slip characteristics necessary for further handling and processing of the web. The condensation step is effected by containing the evaporated water from the web within a compact enclosure enveloping both the applicator(s) and the web, and optionally chilling said applicator(s) with a cooling medium, preferably water, by means of said cooling medium flowing through at least one of the applicators. In certain embodiments, in addition to condensing the evaporated water, the airborne silicone mist created in the coating step is captured and is returned to the fluid applicator.

A method for preparing a lenticular guide roll for use in a lenticular printing run. The method comprises providing a printing roll of a printing press and a first piece of lenticular media. The first piece of lenticular printing substrate has a pitch which is substantially identical to a second lenticular printing substrate to be used in the lenticular printing run. The, method further comprises attaching the first piece of lenticular printing substrate to the printing roll to allow the maneuvering of the second lenticular printing substrate by the printing roll in the printing press.

Methods and structures are disclosed to minimize the presence of vapor clouding in the path between an energy (e.g., radiation) source and the dampening fluid layer in a variable data lithography system. Also disclosed are conditions for optimizing vaporization of regions of the dampening fluid layer for a given laser source power. Conditions are also disclosed for minimizing re-condensation of vaporized dampening fluid onto the patterned dampening fluid layer. Accordingly, a reduction in the power required for, and an increase in the reproducibility of, patterning of a dampening fluid layer over a reimageable surface in a variable data lithography system are disclosed.

The invention relates to a method of aligning magnetic flakes, which includes: coating a substrate with a carrier having the flakes dispersed therein, moving the substrate in a magnetic field so as to align the flakes along force lines of the magnetic field in the absence of an effect from a solidifying means, and at least partially solidifying the carrier using a solidifying means while further moving the substrate in the magnetic field so as to secure the magnetic flakes in the carrier while the magnetic field maintains alignment of the magnetic flakes. An apparatus is provided, which has a belt for moving a substrate along a magnet assembly for aligning magnetic flakes. The apparatus also includes a solidifying means, such as a UV- or e-beam source, and a cover above a portion of the magnet assembly for protecting the flakes from the effect of the solidifying means.

A contact printing system is disclosed. A gravure cylinder having a plurality of discrete cells having an aspect ratio of at least about 25:1 disposed upon an outer surface thereof. A first portion of a first fluid and a second portion of a second fluid are disposed from a respective channel disposed internal to the gravure cylinder.

The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for preparing a printing form from a precursor, particularly a method and apparatus for preparing the printing form by thermally treating a photosensitive precursor having a photopolymerizable layer. The method and apparatus includes heating the photosensitive precursor to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of the layer to liquefy, contacting the precursor with a development medium to remove the liquefied material, and supporting a development medium with a core member adjacent an exterior surface of the photosensitive precursor, wherein a compressible collar of a closed-cell foam having a Poisson's ratio of less than 0.4 is disposed between the core member and the development medium.

Systems and methods for applying customer-specific labels to an unprinted or non-displayed side of printed products.

An equalizer circuit includes an phase-to-phase connectors including an phase-to-phase capacitor and four phase-to-phase switches, four output buffers, and control signal generation circuitry. One terminal of each phase-to-phase switches is connected to one of four connection paths on which four conversion signals being different in phase by 90° are input. The other one terminal of each phase-to-phase switches is connected to the phase-to-phase capacitor. Each output buffer is connected to one of the four connection paths and outputs an output signal. The control signal generation circuitry outputs control signals to control turning-on/off of the respective four phase-to-phase switches. A closing of the first, second, third, and fourth phase-to-phase switches are started from any one of phase-to-phase switches in one of a first ascending circulation and a first descending circulation based on the 4-phase control signals.

A semiconductor apparatus includes a pattern conversion circuit configured to generate conversion data in response to a monitoring enable signal, pattern select signals and parallel input data; a transmission circuit configured to output the conversion data as serial data in response to a plurality of clocks; a reception circuit configured to output the serial data as parallel output data in synchronization with the plurality of clocks; and a monitoring circuit configured to generate a result signal in response to the plurality of clocks, clock select signals and the serial data.

A transmission apparatus and transmitting method for signaling parameters of a preamble, and a reception apparatus and receiving method for decoding the preamble. The transmitting method includes generating, using processing circuitry of a transmission apparatus, a bootstrap symbol based on the parameters of the preamble. The bootstrap symbol is prefixed to a frame that includes the preamble using the circuitry. The bootstrap symbol is selected from a plurality of patterns. Further, the plurality of patterns represent at least a subset of predetermined combinations of the parameters of the preamble including an FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) size, a guard interval, a frequency domain displacement component of a SPP (Scattered Pilot Pattern) and a L1 mode.