Author: claimsbot

1. In combination, a battery case and a battery terminal configured to be secured to a battery case comprising:
a terminal assembly extending along a main axis and including an insert having a threaded bore and an outer metal portion-having a base with an annular flange configured to engage an inner surface of the case;
a ring configured to be disposed over said terminal assembly; and
an anti-rotation system including a first set of angularly-spaced bosses with intervening slots formed on an outer surface of the case, a second set of angularly-spaced bosses with intervening slots on a first axial side of said ring facing said case and which are complementary with said first set of bosses and slots, and a set of recesses on a second axial side of said ring opposite said first axial side configured to receive portions of said terminal assembly.
2. A battery terminal configured to be secured to a battery case comprising:
a terminal assembly extending along a main axis and including a stainless steel insert having a threaded bore and an outer metal portion having a base with an annular flange configured to engage an inner surface of the case;
a ring configured to be disposed over said terminal assembly;
an anti-rotation system including a first set of angularly-spaced bosses with intervening slots formed on an outer surface of the case, a second set of angularly-spaced bosses with intervening slots on a first side of said ring facing said case and which are complementary with said first set of bosses and slots, and a set of recesses on a second side of said ring opposite said first side configured to receive portions of said terminal assembly;
a sealing system, said sealing system comprising,
an annular groove circumferentially-extending in said flange on a side configured to engage said inner surface of said case,
an elastomeric seal configured to be disposed in said groove to form a seal between said inner surface of said case and said terminal assembly; and
a sealant material comprising a hot melt material disposed between said first side of said ring and said case; and
communication means for allowing a fluid to communicate between an interior of said case and said groove, wherein said communication means comprises a plurality of radially oriented bores extending from a radially outer surface of said base of said terminal assembly to said groove.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A stent-graft comprising:
a first sinusoidal ring comprising a series of peaks and valleys;
a second diamond ring comprising a series of connected diamond shaped structures, a number of said connected diamond shaped structures of said second diamond ring being greater than a number of said valleys, a height of said first sinusoidal ring being greater than a height of said second diamond ring;
spring elements coupling said first sinusoidal ring to said second diamond ring, said spring elements being coupled to all of said valleys, wherein said first sinusoidal ring, said second diamond ring and said spring elements are integral; and
a graft material coupled to said second diamond ring only.
2. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein said stent comprises a memory metal.
3. The stent-graft of claim 2 wherein said memory metal comprises nickel titanium alloy.
4. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein said spring elements allow said first sinusoidal ring to be bent relative to said second diamond ring.
5. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein said spring elements are in a straight line pattern.
6. The stent-graft of claim 5 wherein said spring elements comprise straight connectors extending between said first sinusoidal ring and said second diamond ring.
7. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein said spring elements are in an S-pattern.
8. The stent-graft of claim 7 wherein said spring elements comprise two opposing bends extending between said first sinusoidal ring and said second diamond ring.
9. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein said spring elements are in a pattern of two S-patterns connected by a strut.
10. The stent-graft of claim 9 wherein said spring elements comprise:
first S-shaped connectors;
second S-shaped connectors; and
struts extending between said first S-shaped connectors and said second S-shaped connectors.
11. The stent-graft of claim 10 wherein said struts are straight struts.
12. The stent-graft of claim 10 wherein said struts are wave struts.
13. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein said spring elements are in a sinusoidal pattern.
14. The stent-graft of claim 13 wherein said spring elements comprise a series of opposing bends.
15. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein said spring elements are in an offset S-pattern.
16. The stent-graft of claim 15 wherein said spring elements comprise:
S-shaped structures; and
bent struts coupled to said S-shaped structures.
17. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein said spring elements are in a series S-pattern.
18. The stent-graft of claim 17 wherein said spring elements comprise a series of S-shaped structures.
19. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein there are three of said connected diamond shaped structures for every one of said valleys.
20. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein a ratio of said height of said first sinusoidal ring to said height of said second diamond ring is about 4:3.
21. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein a ratio of said height of said first sinusoidal ring to said height of said second diamond ring is about 25:18.
22. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein a ratio of said height of said first sinusoidal ring to said height of said second diamond ring is about 15:11.
23. The stent-graft of claim 1 wherein a ratio of said height of said first sinusoidal ring to said height of said second diamond ring is about 28:21.
24. A stent-graft comprising:
a first sinusoidal ring comprising a series of peaks and valleys;
a second diamond ring comprising a series of connected diamond shaped structures, a number of said connected diamond shaped structures of said second diamond ring being greater than a number of said valleys, a height of said first sinusoidal ring being greater than a height of said second diamond ring;
means for bending said first sinusoidal ring relative to said second diamond ring, said means for bending being coupled to all of said valleys, wherein said first sinusoidal ring, said second diamond ring and said means for bending are integral; and
a graft material coupled to said second diamond ring only.
25. A stent-graft comprising:
a first ring comprising a series of peaks and valleys;
a second ring comprising a series of connected diamond shaped structures, a number of said connected diamond shaped structures of said second ring being greater than a number of said valleys, a height of said first ring being greater than a height of said second ring;
spring elements coupling said first ring to said second ring, wherein said first ring, said second ring and said spring elements are integral; and
a graft material coupled to said second ring only.
26. The stent-graft of claim 25 wherein said first ring is a first sinusoidal ring.
27. The stent-graft of claim 26 wherein said second ring is a second diamond ring.
28. The stent-graft of claim 25 further comprising sutures coupling said graft material to said second ring.
29. A method comprising:
applying bending force to a stent-graft to bend a first ring of a stent of said stent-graft relative to a second ring of said stent, said applying causing spring elements between said first ring and said second ring to become distorted, wherein most of said bending occurs in said spring elements without collapse of said first ring and said second ring, wherein said first ring comprising a series of peaks and valleys and said second ring comprising a series of connected diamond shaved structures, a number of said connected diamond shaped structures of said second ring being greater than a number of said valleys, a height of said first ring being greater than a height of said second ring;
providing fixation above the renal arteries with said first ring; and
providing sealing at a proximal end of a graft material of said stent-graft with said second ring, said graft material coupled to said second ring only.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein said distorting comprises stretching a first spring element of said spring elements.
31. The method of claim 29 wherein said distorting comprises compressing a first spring element of said spring elements.
32. The method of claim 29 further comprising removing said bending force, said spring elements causing said stent-graft to return to a relaxed state of said stent-graft.

1. An apparatus for attaching a cable to a structure, comprising:
an elongated rod having a varying cross-section in a longitudinal direction;
first and second elongate sleeves, each having an expandable engagement member, mounted on said elongated rod in a first position to facilitate insertion of said expandable engagement member of said first sleeve in a hole defined by the structure and said expandable engagement member of said second sleeve in said first sleeve, said first and second sleeves capable of being axially translated along said elongated rod to a second position to facilitate a positive engagement of said expandable engagement member of said first sleeve within the hole wherein the elongated rod causes radial expansion of said expandable engagement member of said second sleeve within said first sleeve to facilitate a positive engagement of the expanded engagement member of the second sleeve with said first sleeve; and
at least one attachment element carried by at least one of said first and second sleeves, wherein said attachment element is adapted to be attached to the cable.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elongated rod comprises:
a first portion of a first cross-sectional shape; and
a second portion of a second cross-sectional shape larger than the first cross-sectional shape and disposed proximate to and displaced in the longitudinal direction from said first portion.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first portion is a first cylindrical portion and said second portion is a second cylindrical portion.
4. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein said elongated rod comprises a plurality of pairs of first and second portions.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said elongated rod further comprises a circumferential groove between the pairs of first and second portions.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of said elongate sleeves mounted on said elongated rod, each sleeve associated with a respective pair of first and second portions such that said sleeve loosely surrounds the first portion and the second portion while in the first position and engages the second portion while in the second position, thereby radially expanding said sleeve.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each expandable engagement member is capable of radially expanding as said sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position; and wherein at least one of said first and second elongate sleeves further comprises:
an annular member connected to said expandable engagement member for carrying said attachment element.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one tie member capable of attaching the cable to said attachment element.
9. An apparatus for attaching cables to a structure, comprising:
an elongated rod having a lengthwise cross-section of varying shape;
first and second elongate sleeves mounted on said elongated rod in a first position and capable of being axially translated along said elongated rod to a second position, said first sleeve comprising an expandable engagement member configured to expandedly engage within a hole defined by the structure in the second position and said second sleeve comprising an expandable engagement member configured to configured to radially expand within said first sleeve in the second position to facilitate a positive engagement of the expandable engagement member of said second sleeve with said first sleeve; and
a tie member capable of attaching the cable to at least one of said first and second sleeves.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said elongated rod comprises:
a first portion of a first cross-sectional shape; and
a second portion of a second cross-sectional shape larger than the first cross-sectional shape and disposed proximate to and displaced in the longitudinal direction from said first portion.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first portion is a first cylindrical portion and said second portion is a second cylindrical portion.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said elongated rod comprises a plurality of pairs of first and second portions.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said elongated rod further comprises a circumferential groove between the pairs of first and second portions.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each sleeve is associated with a respective pair of first and second portions such that said sleeve loosely surrounds the first portion and second portion while in the first position and engages the second portion while in the second position, thereby radially expanding said sleeve.
15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of said first and second elongate sleeves comprises:
an annular member connected to said expandable engagement member for carrying said tie member.
16. A method for attaching a cable to a structure, comprising:
providing an elongated rod having a varying cross-section in a longitudinal direction and first and second elongate sleeves capable of being axially translated along the elongated rod, the first sleeve having an expandable engagement member;
inserting said expandable engagement member of the first sleeve into a hole defined by the structure;
translating the first and second sleeves axially along the elongated rod to facilitate positive engagement of the expandable engagement member of the first sleeve within the hole wherein the elongated rod causes radial expansion of an expandable engagement member of the second sleeve within the first sleeve to facilitate a positive engagement of the second sleeve with the first sleeve; and
attaching at least one cable to at least one of the first and second sleeves.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising mounting the first and second sleeves upon the elongated rod in a first position prior to inserting said expandable engagement member of the first sleeve into the hole defined by the structure.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein translating the first and second sleeves axially along the elongated rod comprises expanding said expandable engagement member of the first sleeve within the hole.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein attaching at least one cable to at least one of the first and second sleeves comprises encircling at least one cable and an attachment element carried by the sleeve with a tie member.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method comprising: determining a memory read reference level based on program threshold voltage levels of a group of history cells associated with a group of memory cells belonging to a non-volatile memory cell array, reading said memory cells of said array using said memory read reference level, wherein said determinining comprises reading said group of history cells with respect to at least one of a set of possible multiple history read reference levels; and selecting a memory read reference level according to said reading history cells.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said history read reference level is equal to said memory read reference level.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said history read reference level is not equal to said memory read reference level.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said non-equality depends on a predetermined margin to be maintained between readout of said group of history cells and the readout of its associated said memory array cells.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said the number of history read reference levels is different than the number of memory read reference levels.
6. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising having read reference cells and activating word lines of said history cells at a different level than word lines of said read reference cells.
7. The method according to claim 1 and comprising having said group of history cells pass substantially the same events at substantially the same conditions as said associated memory cells.
8. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the quantity of cells in said group of history cells approaches the quantity of said associated memory cells.
9. The method according to claim 7 and wherein said events comprise programming and erasing and wherein said conditions comprise timing of said programming and said erasing.
10. The method according to claim 9 and wherein said erasing is performed on subgroups of said memory array cells.
11. The method according to claim 9 and wherein said timing is adjusted so that a time lapse between said events experienced by said history cells matches a second time lapse between said events experienced by said associated memory cells.
12. The method according to claim 1 and wherein said history cells and said memory cells are NROM (nitride read only memory) cells.
13. The method according to claim 1 and wherein said history cells and said memory cells are NROM cells operated in one of the following modes: a one bit per cell mode, a dual bit per cell mode, and a multilevel mode.
14. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising programming at least one said history cell and at least one of its said associated memory cells within a short time span of each other.
15. A method according to claim 1 and also comprising changing a programming verify level for programming said array after said memory read reference level has changed.
16. The method according to claim 15 and wherein said programming verify level is returned to its initial level after an erase operation is performed on said array.
17. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising establishing said history read reference levels within the range of a distribution of said program threshold voltage levels interior to a statistically noisy edge of said distribution where the lowest program threshold level occurs.
18. The method according to claim 17 and wherein said history read reference level is the Xth lowest program threshold voltage level in said distribution.
19. The method according to claim 18 and wherein X is 8.
20. The method according to claim 1 and comprising changing a programming verify level for programming said array after said memory read reference level has changed.
21. An array of non-volatile memory cells comprising: a first multiplicity of array cells, divided into groups; a second multiplicity of history cells, divided into groups, each group being associated with and matched to one group of said array cells; a first plurality of history read reference cells for reading said groups of history cells each said history read reference cell defining a different history read reference level; and a second plurality of memory read reference cells for reading said groups of memory cells, each said memory read reference cell defining a different read reference level.
22. The array according to claim 21 and wherein each said group of history cells is one history cell in a row of said memory cells with which it associated.
23. The array according to claim 21 and wherein each said group of history cells is one row of cells above a plurality of rows of said memory cells with which it associated.
24. The array according to claim 21 and wherein each said group of history cells is located near said memory cells with which it associated.
25. The array according to claim 21 and wherein said second plurality of memory read reference cells is one larger than said first plurality of history read reference cells.
26. The array according to claim 21 and wherein said history cells and said memory cells are NROM (nitride read only memory) cells.
27. The array according to claim 21 and wherein said history cells and said memory cells are NROM cells operated in one of the following modes: a one bit per cell mode, a dual bit per cell mode, and a multilevel mode.
28. The array according to claim 21 and wherein each said group of history cells passes substantially the same events at substantially the same conditions as its associated group of memory cells.
29. The array according to claim 21 and wherein the quantity of cells in each said group of history cells approaches the quantity of its said associated memory cells.
30. The array according to claim 21 and wherein each said group of array cells is partitioned into subgroups during erase operations.