All The Claims

1. A method for converting analog data to digital data, comprising the steps of:
operating an analog-to-digital data converter in a tracking mode to sample an input signal and in a convert mode to convert the sampled input signal after sampling to a digital signal; and
controlling with a controller the operation of the analog-to-digital data converter to operate in different track modes of operation by providing at least one step wherein the tracking mode of operation is controlled to initiate at a predetermined time to begin the sampling operation after a non tracking period wherein no sampling occurs and no conversion operation occurs.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analog-to digital data converter operates under the control of a data converter clock, wherein the convert mode operates over a predetermined number of clock cycles of the data converter clock.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of controlling comprises controlling the operation of the analog-to-digital data converter in the tracking mode to sample the input signal for a predetermined amount of time prior to the beginning of the convert mode of operation.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined amount of time comprises a predetermined number of clock cycles of the data converter clock.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the beginning of the tracking mode is controlled to operate in a plurality of different initiation modes controlled by external stimuli.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein one of the stimuli comprises the step of initiating the tracking mode in response to the setting of a data bit in a register which, when read in the set state, indicates the start of the tracking mode.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the convert mode of operation is initiated at the end of the predetermined time such that setting of the data bit causes operation in the convert mode.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein one of the stimuli comprises the step of initiating the tracking mode in response to an elapse of time determined by a timer, the elapse of which indicates the start of the tracking mode.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the convert mode of operation is initiated at the end of the predetermined time such that the elapse of time is the causative effect to initiate the convert mode of operation.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein, in one of the track modes operation, the beginning of the convert mode is controlled to operate in response to receipt an external convert start signal being in a first of two states and the tracking mode is controlled to operate when the convert start signal is in the other of the two states.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the convert mode operates in accordance with a SAR data conversion algorithm.
12. A method for converting analog data to digital data, comprising the steps of:
sampling an input signal onto an input of an analog-to-digital data converter in a tracking mode;
converting in a convert mode with the analog-to-digital data converter in accordance with a predetermined data conversion algorithm the sampled input signal, after sampling in the tracking mode, to a digital signal; and
controlling the tracking mode of operation to initiate the sampling operation at a predetermined time prior to and dependent upon the initiation of the convert mode of operation, which predetermined time is not defined by the end of a prior convert mode of operation.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the analog-to-digital data converter operates under the control of a data converter clock, wherein the convert mode operates over a predetermined number of clock cycles of the data converter clock.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of controlling comprises controlling the operation of the analog-to-digital data converter in the tracking mode to sample the input signal for a predetermined amount of time after initiation thereof.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined amount of time comprises a predetermined number of clock cycles of the data converter clock.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the beginning of the tracking mode is controlled to operate in a plurality of different initiation modes controlled by external stimuli.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein one of the stimuli comprises the step of initiating the tracking mode in response to the setting of a data bit in a register which, when read in the set state, indicates the start of the tracking mode.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the convert mode of operation is initiated at the end of the predetermined time such that setting of the data bit causes operation in the convert mode.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein one of the stimuli comprises the step of initiating the tracking mode in response to an elapse of time determined by a timer, the elapse of which indicates the start of the tracking mode.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the convert mode of operation is initiated at the end of the predetermined time such that the elapse of time is the causative effect to initiate the convert mode of operation.
21. The method of claim 12, wherein the convert mode operates in accordance with a SAR data conversion algorithm.

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 prosthetic spinous process, comprising:
a member, and
a plurality of crosslinking rods connected to the member at an angle relative to each other, wherein
the member comprising at least one opening therethrough.
2. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 1, wherein the crosslinking rods define a first plane, and the member defines a second plane.
3. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 2, wherein the first plane and the second plane are disposed at a second angle of 80 to 100 degrees relative to one another.
4. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 2, wherein the opening is disposed above or below the first plane.
5. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 1, further comprising an attachment selectively attached to each of the rods, each attachment being adapted to be attached to a posterior aspect of a spinal column.
6. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 1, wherein the angle of the rods relative to each other is 110 to 170 degrees.
7. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 3, wherein the second angle is 85 to 95 degrees.
8. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 3, wherein the second angle is 90 degrees.
9. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 2, wherein the opening in the member has an axis normal to the second plane.
10. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 1, wherein the crosslinking rods are cylindrical.
11. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 1, wherein the opening is adapted to allow one or more tensile elements to pass therethrough.
12. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 1, wherein the member has a parallelpiped, square, rectangular, ovoid, circular, or triangular shape.
13. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 1, wherein the member further comprises at least one compressible material in contact therewith.
14. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 1, wherein the member further comprises at least one second opening.
15. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 2, wherein the opening is disposed above the first plane.
16. The prosthetic spinous process of claim 2, wherein the opening is disposed below the first plane.
17. A method, which includes contacting the prosthetic spinous process of claim 1 with at least one part of a human body.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the contacting further comprises attaching the prosthetic spinous process to at least one bony part of a vertebral column.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the contacting further comprises attaching the prosthetic spinous process to at least one human vertebra selected from the group consisting of L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, S1, S2, S3, S4, or S5, or a combination thereof.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the contacting further comprises attaching the prosthetic spinous process to at least one bony part of a vertebral column with at least one pedicle screw.
21. The method of claim 17, which further comprises stabilizing one or more segments of a vertebral column using the prosthetic spinous process
22. The method of claim 17, which further comprises arthrodesing one or more segments of a vertebral column using the prosthetic spinous process.
23. A method, which comprises one or more artificial ligaments, cushions, tensile elements, spinal reconstructive devices, posterior artificial ligaments, posterior dynamic systems, posterior arthrodesis stabilization systems, or a combination thereof to at least one part of a vertebral column with the prosthetic spinous process of claim 1.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the part comprises at least one human vertebra selected from the group including L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, S1, S2, S3, S4, or S5, or a combination thereof.

1. A drying device comprising:
a drying furnace having an inlet and an outlet;
a drying unit installed inside the drying furnace and for drying a to-be-dried object;
a plurality of upper and lower rolls, said plurality of upper rolls arranged at an internal top portion of the drying furnace and said plurality lower rolls arranged at a bottom portion of the drying furnace in which the top portion of the drying furnace is on an opposite side of a mid line of the drying furnace to the bottom portion of the drying furnace; and
a roll driver connected to the plurality of upper rolls to move the plurality of upper rollers toward the bottom portion or the upper portion of the drying furnace and connected to the plurality of lower rolls to move the plurality of lower rolls toward the upper portion or the bottom portion of the drying furnace,
wherein after the to-be-dried object is transferred from the inlet to the outlet, the roller driver moves the upper rolls toward the bottom portion of the drying furnace, moves the lower rolls toward the upper portion of the drying furnace.
2. The drying device of claim 1, further comprising a to-be-dried object connection unit installed outside the drying furnace, penetrating into the drying furnace from the outside of the drying furnace through the outlet to then linearly reciprocate between the outlet and the inlet, and connecting the to-be-dried object positioned inside the drying furnace to the outlet.
3. The drying device of claim 2, wherein the to-be-dried object connection unit transfers the to-be-dried object positioned inside the drying furnace from the inlet to the outlet along empty spaces between the plurality of upper and lower rolls.
4. The drying device of claim 2, further comprising a driving controller controlling driving of the roller driver and the to-be-dried object connection unit.
5. The drying device of claim 1, further comprising a to-be-dried object connection unit installed outside the drying furnace,
wherein the to-be-dried object connection unit comprises:
a driving member penetrating from the outside to the inside of the drying furnace through the outlet, linearly reciprocating between the outlet and the inlet and connecting the to-be-dried object positioned inside the drying furnace to the outlet; and
a connection member installed at a front end of the driving member and connecting and disconnecting the driving member and the to-be-dried object tofrom each other.
6. The drying device of claim 5, wherein the to-be-dried object connection unit transfers the to-be-dried object positioned inside the drying furnace from the inlet to the outlet along empty spaces between the plurality of upper and lower rolls.
7. The drying device of claim 5, wherein the driving member comprises:
a body; and
a variable-length part which is inserted or exited from the body and whose length is varied,
wherein the driving member includes one or more driving members.
8. The drying device of claim 7, wherein the variable-length part has a bar antenna shape.
9. The drying device of claim 5, wherein the connection member are tongs or clamps.
10. The drying device of claim 1, wherein the drying device an electrode plate drying device for a secondary battery.
11. A drying device comprising:
a drying furnace having an inlet and an outlet;
a drying unit installed inside the drying furnace and for drying a to-be-dried object;
a plurality of upper and lower rolls alternately arranged at internal top and bottom portions of the drying furnace, said top and bottom portions being on opposite sides of the drying furnace; and
a roll driver connected to the plurality of upper and lower rolls and moving the upper rolls upwardly toward the top portion and the lower rolls downwardly toward the bottom portion,
wherein when the to-be-dried object is transferred from the inlet to the outlet, the roller driver moves the upper rolls downwardly toward the bottom portion, moves the lower rolls upwardly toward the upper portion, or moves the upper rolls downwardly toward the bottom portion and the lower rolls upwardly toward the upper portion, and the upper and lower rollers are sequentially moved according to the transfer location of the to-be-dried object.
12. The drying device of claim 11, further comprising a to-be-dried object connection unit installed outside the drying furnace, penetrating into the drying furnace from the outside of the drying furnace through the outlet to then linearly reciprocate between the outlet and the inlet, and connecting the to-be-dried object positioned inside the drying furnace to the outlet.
13. The drying device of claim 12, wherein the to-be-dried object connection unit transfers the to-be-dried object positioned inside the drying furnace from the inlet to the outlet along empty spaces between the plurality of upper and lower rolls.
14. The drying device of claim 12, further comprising a driving controller controlling driving of the roller driver and the to-be-dried object connection unit, wherein the driving controller individually drives the plurality of upper and lower rolls sequentially from a roll adjacent to the inlet to a roll adjacent to the outlet according to the position of the transferred to-be-dried object.
15. The drying device of claim 11, further comprising a to-be-dried object connection unit installed outside the drying furnace,
wherein the to-be-dried object connection unit comprises:
a driving member penetrating from the outside to the inside of the drying furnace through the outlet, linearly reciprocating between the outlet and the inlet and connecting the to-be-dried object positioned inside the drying furnace to the outlet; and
a connection member installed at a front end of the driving member and connecting and disconnecting the driving member and the to-be-dried object tofrom each other.
16. The drying device of claim 15, wherein the to-be-dried object connection unit transfers the to-be-dried object positioned inside the drying furnace from the inlet to the outlet along empty spaces between the plurality of upper and lower rolls.
17. The drying device of claim 15, wherein the driving member comprises:
a body; and
a variable-length part which is inserted or exited from the body and whose length is altered,
wherein the driving member includes one or more driving members.
18. The drying device of claim 17, wherein the variable-length part is a bar antenna shape.
19. The drying device of claim 15, wherein the connection member are tongs or clamps.
20. The drying device of claim 11, wherein the drying device an electrode plate drying device for a secondary battery.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A film comprising:
a first layer comprising one or more polyamides; and
a second layer comprising one or more polyamides, wherein the second layer has a melting point of at least about 210 C.;
wherein:
the film has first and second opposite outer surfaces and the first layer forms the first outer surface of the film; and
the film is capable of forming a water-containing package by providing two 4 inch by 6 inch sheets of the film each having four perimeter sides, placing the sheets in superimposed, coextensive arrangement having the first layers of the films in contact with each other, heat sealing three perimeter sides of the sheets together using a -inch wide sealing bar at a temperature of 290 F., a dwell time of 0.5 seconds, and a sealing pressure of 40 psig to form an open pouch having heat seals along three of the four perimeter sides, filling the open pouch with 100 milliliters of distilled water at a temperature of 73 F., heat sealing the fourth perimeter sides of the sheets together under the same conditions as used to seal the three perimeter sides to form a closed package having a heat seal along the fourth perimeter side and containing the water, where the seal strength of the heat seals is at least 1 poundinch after the closed, water-containing package has been exposed to three hours in a conventional oven at 400 F. (air temperature).
2. The film of claim 1 wherein the sealing bar has a temperature of 300 F.
3. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer has a melting point and the melting point of the second layer is at least about 20 F. greater than the melting point of the first layer.
4. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises at least two polyamides.
5. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer has a glass transition temperature of less than about 120 C. measured at a 50% relative humidity.
6. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises at least 70% by weight of the first layer of a blend comprising one or more polyamides having a melting point of at least about 210 C. and one or more polyamides having a melting point of less than about 210 C.
7. The film of claim 6 wherein the blend comprises at least about 50% by weight of the blend of the one or more polyamides having a melting point of less than about 210 C.
8. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises at least 20% amorphous polyamide by weight of the first layer.
9. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises at least about 80% of one or more polyamides by weight of the first layer.
10. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises less than about 50% of the total thickness of the film.
11. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises two or more polyamides selected from nylon-6, nylon-6,6, nylon-6,66,10, nylon-6,12, and nylon-6,I6,T.
12. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises nylon-6, nylon-6,66,10, and nylon-6,I6,T.
13. The film of claim 1 wherein the second layer comprises at least about 50% of the total thickness of the film.
14. The film of claim 1 wherein the second layer comprises at least about 80% of one or more polyamides by weight of the second layer.
15. The film of claim 1 wherein the second layer comprises one or more polyamides selected from nylon-6, nylon-6,6, and nylon-66,6.
16. The film of claim 1 wherein the second layer forms the second outer surface of the film.
17. The film of claim 1 wherein the film is capable of forming a heat seal having a seal strength of at least about 4 lbf-in where the heat seal is formed by heat sealing the first layers of two sheets of the film together using a -inch wide sealing bar at a temperature of 300 F., a dwell time of 0.5 seconds, and a sealing pressure of 40 psig.
18. The film of claim 1 wherein the haze of the film after two hours of exposure to air temperature of 400 F. in a conventional oven is less than about 20%.
19. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises one or more heat stabilizers.
20. The film of claim 1 wherein the film comprises less than about 20% of polyolefin by weight of the film.
21. The film of claim 1 wherein the film is substantially free of polyolefin.
22. The film of claim 1 wherein the film comprises less than about 20% polyester by weight of the film.
23. The film of claim 1 wherein the film is substantially free of polyester.
24. A packaged food comprising:
a food; and
a package enclosing the food, wherein the package comprises the film of claim 1.
25. The film of claim 1 wherein the film comprises a third layer comprising ethylenevinyl alcohol.
26. The film of claim 1 wherein the first layer consists essentially of one or more polyamides.
27. The film of claim 1 wherein the melting point of the first layer is less than about 220 C.
28. The film of claim 1 wherein the film has an oxygen transmission rate of no more than about 150 cubic centimeters (at standard temperature and pressure) per square meter per day per 1 atmosphere of oxygen pressure differential measured at 0% relative humidity and 23 C.
29. The film of claim 1 wherein the film comprises at least about 70 weight % polyamide by weight of the film.
30. A method of heating a food comprising:
providing a food enclosed in a package comprising the film of claim 1;
placing the food enclosed in the package in an oven; and
activating the oven to heat the food enclosed in the package to a desired level.