An integrated printing system is provided comprising a first image marking engine and a second image marking engine. The first and second image marking engines can be serially arranged with one another in a first operating mode. The first operating mode includes marking and passing of media to and from the first and second marking engines. A control system is provided for detecting a failure within one of the first and second image marking engines. A second operating mode is provided wherein the control system detects the failure and enables passing of the media through one of the first and second marking engines and marking of the media in another of the first and second marking engines when the failure is of a specified type.

The present exemplary embodiment relates to a plurality of image marking engines or image recording apparatuses providing a multifunctional and/or expandable printing system. It finds particular application in conjunction with integrated and/or serially configured printing modules consisting of several marking engines, each having the same or different printing capabilities, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiment is also amenable to other like applications.
Various apparatuses for recording images on sheets have heretofore been put into practical use. For example, there are copying apparatuses of the type in which the images of originals are recorded on sheets through a photosensitive medium or the like, and printers in which image information transformed into an electrical signal is reproduced as an image on a sheet by an impact system (the type system, the wire dot system or the like) or a non-impact system (the thermosensitive system, the ink jet system, the laser beam system or the like).
The marking engine of an electronic reprographic printing system is frequently an electrophotographic printing machine. In such a machine, a photoconductive belt is charged to a substantially uniform potential to sensitize the belt surface. The charged portion of the belt is thereafter selectively exposed. Exposure of the charged photoconductive belt or member dissipates the charge thereon in the irradiated areas. This records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member corresponding to the informational areas contained within the original document being reproduced. After the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photoconductive member, the latent image on the photoconductive member is subsequently transferred to a copy sheet. The copy sheet is heated to permanently affix the toner image thereto in image configuration.
Multi-color electrophotographic printing is substantially identical to the foregoing process of black and white printing. However, rather than forming a single latent image on the photoconductive surface, successive latent images corresponding to different colors are recorded thereon. Each single color electrostatic latent image is developed with toner of a color complementary thereto. This process is repeated a plurality of cycles for differently colored images and their respective complementarily colored toner. Each single color toner image is transferred to the copy sheet in superimposed registration with the prior toner image. This creates a multi-layered toner image on the copy sheet. Thereafter, the multi-layered toner image is permanently affixed to the copy sheet creating a color copy. The developer material may be a liquid or a powder material.
In the process of black and white printing, the copy sheet is advanced from an input tray to a path internal the electrophotographic printing machine where a toner image is transferred thereto and then to an output catch tray for subsequent removal therefrom by the machine operator. In the process of multi-color printing, the copy sheet moves from an input tray through a recirculating path internal the printing machine where a plurality of toner images is transferred thereto and then to an output catch tray for subsequent removal. With regard to multi-color printing, as one example, a sheet gripper secured to a transport receives the copy sheet and transports it in a recirculating path enabling the plurality of different color images to be transferred thereto. The sheet gripper grips one edge of the copy sheet and moves the sheet in a recirculating path so that accurate multi-pass color registration is achieved. In this way, magenta, cyan, yellow, and black toner images are transferred to the copy sheet in registration with one another.
Additionally, it is common practice to record images not only on one surface of the sheet, but also on both surfaces of a sheet. Copying or printing on both sides of a sheet decreases the number of sheets used from the viewpoint of saving of resources or filing space. In this regard as well, a system has been put into practical use whereby sheets having images recorded on a first surface thereof are once accumulated and after the recording on the first surface is completed, the accumulated sheets are then fed and images are recorded on a second surface thereof. However, this system is efficient when many sheets having a record of the same content are to be prepared, but is very inefficient when many sheets having different records on both surfaces thereof are to be prepared. That is, when pages 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . are to be prepared, odd pages, i.e. pages 1, 3, 5, . . . , must first be recorded on the first surface of the respective sheets, and then these sheets must be fed again and even pages 2, 4, 6, . . . must be recorded on the second surface of the respective sheets. If, during the second feeding, multiplex feeding or jam of sheets should occur, the combination of the front and back pages may become mixed, thereby necessitating recording be done over again from the beginning. To avoid this, recording may be effected on each sheet in such a manner that the front and back surfaces of each sheet provide the front and back pages, respectively, but this takes time for the refeeding of sheets and the efficiency is reduced. Also, in the prior art methods, the conveyance route of sheets has been complicated and further, the conveyance route has unavoidably involved the step of reversing sheets, and this has led to extremely low reliability of sheet conveyance.
Also, there exist further requirements to record two types of information on one surface of a sheet in superposed relationship. Particularly, recently, coloring has advanced in various fields and there is also a desire to mix, for example, color print with black print on one surface of a sheet. As a simple method for effecting a superposed relationship, there exists systems whereby recording is once effected in black, whereafter the developing device in the apparatus is changed from a black one to a color one, and recording is again effected on the same surface. This system requires an increase in time and labor.
Where two types of information are to be recorded on one surface of the same sheet in superposed relationship, sufficient care must be taken of the image position accuracy, otherwise the resultant copy may become very unsightly due to image misregistration or deviation from a predetermined image recording frame.
In recent years, the demand for even higher productivity and speed has been required of these image recording apparatuses. However, the respective systems have their own speed limits and if an attempt is made to provide higher speeds, numerous problems will occur and/or larger and more bulky apparatuses must be used to meet the higher speed demands. The larger and bulkier apparatuses, i.e. high speed printers, typically represent a very expensive and uneconomical apparatus. The expense of these apparatuses along with their inherent complexity can only be justified by the small percentage of extremely high volume printing customers.
In print systems having a serial tandem configuration where there are two marking engines connected together between, for example, a paper source and a finishing station if one engine experiences problems, then both engines are rendered inoperative until service arrives. Thus, utilization and run time are compromised.
The following applications, the disclosures of each being totally incorporated herein by reference are mentioned:
Application Ser. No. 11/212,367, filed Aug. 26, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by David G. Anderson, et al., and claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/631,651, filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled "TIGHTLY INTEGRATED PARALLEL PRINTING ARCHITECTURE MAKING USE OF COMBINED COLOR AND MONOCHROME ENGINES";
Application Ser. No. 11/235,979, filed Sep. 27, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by David G. Anderson, et al., and claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/631,918, filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE OPERATIONS FOR FINAL APPEARANCE AND PERMANENCE";
Application Ser. No. 11/235,979, filed Sep. 27, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by David G. Anderson, et al., and claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/631,921, filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE OPERATIONS FOR FINAL APPEARANCE AND PERMANENCE";
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/761,522, filed Jan. 21, 2004, entitled "HIGH RATE PRINT MERGING AND FINISHING SYSTEM FOR PARALLEL PRINTING," by Barry P. Mandel, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/785,211, filed Feb. 24, 2004, entitled "UNIVERSAL FLEXIBLE PLURAL PRINTER TO PLURAL FINISHER SHEET INTEGRATION SYSTEM," by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/881,619, filed Jun. 30, 2004, entitled "FLEXIBLE PAPER PATH USING MULTIDIRECTIONAL PATH MODULES," by Daniel G. Bobrow;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/917,676, filed Aug. 13, 2004, entitled "MULTIPLE OBJECT SOURCES CONTROLLED AND/OR SELECTED BASED ON A COMMON SENSOR," by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/917,768, filed Aug. 13, 2004, entitled "PARALLEL PRINTING ARCHITECTURE CONSISTING OF CONTAINERIZED IMAGE MARKING ENGINES AND MEDIA FEEDER MODULES," by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/924,106, filed Aug. 23, 2004, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM WITH HORIZONTAL HIGHWAY AND SINGLE PASS DUPLEX," by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/924,113, filed Aug. 23, 2004, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM WITH INVERTER DISPOSED FOR MEDIA VELOCITY BUFFERING AND REGISTRATION," by Joannes N. M. dejong, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/924,458, filed Aug. 23, 2004, entitled "PRINT SEQUENCE SCHEDULING FOR RELIABILITY," by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/924,459, filed Aug. 23, 2004, entitled "PARALLEL PRINTING ARCHITECTURE USING IMAGE MARKING ENGINE MODULES (as amended)," by Barry P. Mandel, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/933,556, filed Sep. 3, 2004, entitled "SUBSTRATE INVERTER SYSTEMS AND METHODS," by Stan A. Spencer, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/953,953, filed Sep. 29, 2004, entitled "CUSTOMIZED SET POINT CONTROL FOR OUTPUT STABILITY IN A TIPP ARCHITECTURE," by Charles A. Radulski, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/999,326, filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled "SEMI-AUTOMATIC IMAGE QUALITY ADJUSTMENT FOR MULTIPLE MARKING ENGINE SYSTEMS," by Robert E. Grace, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/999,450, filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled "ADDRESSABLE FUSING FOR AN INTEGRATED PRINTING SYSTEM," by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/000,158, filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled "GLOSSING SYSTEM FOR USE IN A TIPP ARCHITECTURE," by Bryan J. Roof;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/000,168, filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled "ADDRESSABLE FUSING AND HEATING METHODS AND APPARATUS," by David K. Biegelsen, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/000,258, filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled "GLOSSING SYSTEM FOR USE IN A TIPP ARCHITECTURE," by Bryan J. Roof;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/001,890, filed Dec. 2, 2004, entitled "HIGH RATE PRINT MERGING AND FINISHING SYSTEM FOR PARALLEL PRINTING," by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,283, issued Aug. 2, 2005, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,165, issued Oct. 25, 2005, entitled "HIGH PRINT RATE MERGING AND FINISHING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING," by Barry P. Mandel, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/051,817, filed Feb. 4, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEMS," by Steven R. Moore, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/069,020, filed Feb. 28, 2004, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEMS," by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/070,681, filed Mar. 2, 2005, entitled "GRAY BALANCE FOR A PRINTING SYSTEM OF MULTIPLE MARKING ENGINES," by R. Enrique Viturro, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/081,473, filed Mar. 16, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by Steven R. Moore;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/084,280, filed Mar. 18, 2005, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING UNIFORMITY IN IMAGES," by Howard Mizes;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/089,854, filed Mar. 25, 2005, entitled "SHEET REGISTRATION WITHIN A MEDIA INVERTER," by Robert A. Clark, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/090,498, filed Mar. 25, 2005, entitled "INVERTER WITH RETURN/BYPASS PAPER PATH," by Robert A. Clark;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/090,502, filed Mar. 25, 2005, entitled IMAGE QUALITY CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLE MARKING ENGINE SYSTEMS," by Michael C. Mongeon;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/093,229, filed Mar. 29, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by Paul C. Julien;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/095,872, filed Mar. 31, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by Paul C. Julien;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/094,864, filed Mar. 31, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by Jeremy C. deJong, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/095,378, filed Mar. 31, 2005, entitled "IMAGE ON PAPER REGISTRATION ALIGNMENT," by Steven R. Moore, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/094,998, filed Mar. 31, 2005, entitled "PARALLEL PRINTING ARCHITECTURE WITH PARALLEL HORIZONTAL PRINTING MODULES," by Steven R. Moore, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/102,899, filed Apr. 8, 2005, entitled "SYNCHRONIZATION IN A DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM," by Lara S. Crawford, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/102,910, filed Apr. 8, 2005, entitled "COORDINATION IN A DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM," by Lara S. Crawford, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/102,355, filed Apr. 8, 2005, entitled "COMMUNICATION IN A DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM," by Markus P. J. Fromherz, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/102,332, filed Apr. 8, 2005, entitled "ON-THE-FLY STATE SYNCHRONIZATION IN A DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM," by Haitham A. Hindi;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/109,558, filed Apr. 19, 2005, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING IMAGE REGISTRATION ERRORS," by Michael R. Furst, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/109,566, filed Apr. 19, 2005, entitled "MEDIA TRANSPORT SYSTEM," by Barry P. Mandel, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/109,996, filed Apr. 20, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEMS," by Michael C. Mongeon, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/115,766, Filed Apr. 27, 2005, entitled "IMAGE QUALITY ADJUSTMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM," by Robert E. Grace;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/122,420, filed May 5, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM AND SCHEDULING METHOD," by Austin L. Richards;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/136,821, filed May 25, 2005, entitled "AUTOMATED PROMOTION OF MONOCHROME JOBS FOR HLC PRODUCTION PRINTERS," by David C. Robinson;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/136,959, filed May 25, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEMS," by Kristine A. German, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/137,634, filed May 25, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/137,251, filed May 25, 2005, entitled "SCHEDULING SYSTEM," by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.;
U.S. C-I-P application Ser. No. 11/137,273, filed May 25, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by David G. Anderson, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/143,818, filed Jun. 2, 2005, entitled "INTER-SEPARATION DECORRELATOR," by Edul N. Dalal, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/146,665, filed Jun. 7, 2005, entitled "LOW COST ADJUSTMENT METHOD FOR PRINTING SYSTEMS," by Michael C. Mongeon;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/152,275, filed Jun. 14, 2005, entitled "WARM-UP OF MULTIPLE INTEGRATED MARKING ENGINES," by Bryan J. Roof, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/11/156,778, filed Jun. 20, 2005, entitled "PRINTING PLATFORM," by Joseph A. Swift;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/157,598, filed Jun. 21, 2005, entitled "METHOD OF ORDERING JOB QUEUE OF MARKING SYSTEMS," by Neil A. Frankel;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/166,460, filed Jun. 24, 2005, entitled "GLOSSING SUBSYSTEM FOR A PRINTING DEVICE," by Bryan J. Roof, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/166,763, filed Jun. 24, 2005, entitled "XEROGRAPHIC DEVICE STREAK FAILURE RECOVERY," by Bruce Thayer;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/166,581, filed Jun. 24, 2005, entitled "MIXED OUTPUT PRINT CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM," by Joseph H. Lang, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/166,961, filed Jun. 24, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM SHEET FEEDER," by Steven R. Moore;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/166,299, filed Jun. 24, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by Steven R. Moore;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/168,152, filed Jun. 28, 2005, entitled "ADDRESSABLE IRRADIATION OF IMAGES," by Kristine A. German, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/170,975, filed Jun. 30, 2005, entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING SCANNED PATCHES FOR USE IN IMAGING DEVICE CALIBRATION," by R. Victor Klassen;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/170,873, filed Jun. 30, 2005, entitled "COLOR CHARACTERIZATION OR CALIBRATION TARGETS WITH NOISE-DEPENDENT PATCH SIZE OR NUMBER," by R. Victor Klassen;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/170,845, filed Jun. 30, 2005, entitled "HIGH AVAILABILITY PRINTING SYSTEMS," by Meera Sampath, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/189,371, filed Jul. 26, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM," by Steven R. Moore, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/208,871, filed Aug. 22, 2005, entitled "MODULAR MARKING ARCHITECTURE FOR WIDE MEDIA PRINTING PLATFORM," by Edul N. Dalal, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/215,791, filed Aug. 30, 2005, entitled "CONSUMABLE SELECTION IN A PRINTING SYSTEM", by Hamby, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/222,260, filed Sep. 8, 2005, entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING BANDING COMPENSATION PARAMETERS IN PRINTING SYSTEMS", by Goodman, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/234,553, filed Sep. 23, 2005, entitled "MAXIMUM GAMUT STRATEGY FOR THE PRINTING SYSTEMS", by Michael C. Mongeon;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/234,468, filed Sep. 23, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM", by Hamby, et al.;
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/247,778, filed Oct. 11, 2005, entitled "PRINTING SYSTEM WITH BALANCED CONSUMABLE USAGE", by Radulski et al.

Media pass through mode for multi-engine system


Disclosed herein are an X-ray imaging apparatus and a control method thereof in which a clear 3D volume of an object may be acquired when the 3D volume of the object is reconstructed from X-ray images acquired by radiating X-rays to the object. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes an image processing unit configured to acquire a plurality of X-ray images of an object from converted electrical signals, group the plurality of X-ray images into groups of X-ray images acquired from the same cardiac phase, and perform image reconstruction of each of the groups acquired as a result of the grouping.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an X-ray imaging apparatus and a control method thereof in which a clear 3D volume of an object may be acquired when the 3D volume of the object is reconstructed from X-ray images acquired by radiating X-rays to the object.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an X-ray imaging apparatus acquires an image of the inside of an object, such as a human body or an article, by radiating X-rays to the object. The X-ray imaging apparatus easily detects the internal structure of the object, and is thus used to detect abnormalities, such as lesions inside of a human body in a medical application, or to detect the internal structure of an article or a machine part. Further, the X-ray imaging apparatus may be used to check the inside of baggage in an airport.
Various types of X-ray imaging apparatuses are currently in use, including a digital radiography (DR) apparatus, a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, a full field digital mammography (FFDM) apparatus, etc.
Now, the operating principle of an X-ray imaging apparatus will be described. The X-ray imaging apparatus radiates X-rays to an object, such as a human body or an article, and then receives X-rays which are transmitted through the object or X-rays which are not transmitted through the object. The X-ray imaging apparatus converts the received X-rays into electrical signals, and reads out the converted electrical signals, thus generating X-ray images. The generated X-ray images are displayed through a display unit. Thereby, a user may detect the internal structure of the object.

X-ray imaging apparatus and control method thereof


In a facsimile communication method for transmitting facsimile data to a reception terminal from a facsimile machine via a communication network, a transmission process in the facsimile machine includes the following steps: (a) a step of saving image data of an original to be transmitted as facsimile data in a storage; (b) a step of generating access information data for access to the image data, saved in the storage, from the reception terminal via the transmission network; (c) a step of sending the access information data to the reception terminal by an e-mail; and (d) a step of transmitting the image data in the storage to the reception terminal from the facsimile machine by a communication protocol of a point-to-point data transfer form upon reception of an access request for the image data from the reception terminal.

The present invention relates to a data communication method for communicating data of a large size, such as a still picture, a moving picture and audio data, via a networks and, more particularly, to a facsimile communication method and a facsimile machine, which transmit image data like facsimile data using an e-mail system over a network.
Recently, for the efficiency of works in an office, an information processing apparatuses provided in the office are connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) installed in the office. A facsimile machine receives facsimile data which has been sent via a public telecommunication network from another facsimile machine. This facsimile machine converts the received facsimile data to an e-mail for a personal destination and transmits this e-mail to an information processing terminal on the LAN to which the facsimile machine is connected.
Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-164645 discloses a facsimile communication system which performs such facsimile communications.
FIG. 29 schematically illustrates the facsimile communication system disclosed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-164645. A plurality of information processing terminals 182-1, 182-2 and 182-3 and a network connection type facsimile machine (NETFAX) 183 are connected to a LAN 181. The NETFAX 183 connects to an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network).
Another facsimile machine scans a transmission original to read the image data of the original. The image data read by this facsimile machine is sent to the information processing terminal 182-1 on the LAN via the ISDN 184. The facsimile machine transmits the image data via the ISDN 184 to the NETFAX 183 on the LAN with the telephone number of the NETFAX 183. At this time, the e-mail address of the information processing terminal 182-1 is set to a subaddress included in a number informing service provided by the ISDN and is transmitted simultaneously.
Upon reception of image data from the facsimile machine, the NETFAX 183 converts the received image data to the transmission format of an e-mail and sends it to the e-mail address of the information processing terminal 182-1 that has been input as the subaddress. In an existing e-mail system built on the LAN 181, an e-mail affixed with image data to be facsimiled is temporarily saved at a relay site or a reception site. That is, in the process of transmitting an e-mail (facsimile data including image data) to the information processing terminal 182-1 from the NETFAX 183, the e-mail including image data is temporarily saved at a relay site or a reception site on the network.
As facsimile data is image data read from a transmission original, however, it has a large data size. If facsimile data is color image data, the data size becomes larger. Facsimile data with a large data size has a problem of greatly using up the capacities of a relay site and a reception site.
In the case where the NETFAX 183 makes multi-casting of an e-mail of facsimile data to multiple information processing terminals on the network, the facsimile data which has a larger data size than an ordinary e-mail is transmitted to every site, there is a problem of increasing the traffic of the network.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile communication method and a facsimile communication machine, which can significantly suppress an increase in the traffic on a network by transmitting facsimile data via a LAN, WAN, Internet or other networks, or which do not use up the memory resource at a relay site and a reception site for an e-mail.
A facsimile communication method according to this invention which transmits facsimile data to a reception terminal from a facsimile machine via a communication network, a transmission process in the facsimile machine including the following steps:
(a) a step of saving image data of an original to be transmitted as facsimile data in a storage;
(b) a step of generating access information data for access to the image data, saved in the storage, from the reception terminal via the communication network;
(c) a step of sending the access information data to the reception terminal by an e-mail; and
(d) a step of transmitting the image data in the storage to the reception terminal from the facsimile machine by a communication protocol of a point-to-point data transfer form upon reception of an access request for the image data from the reception terminal.
A facsimile machine according to this invention acquires an e-mail address of a reception terminal, destined for the facsimile data, and saves image data of an original to be transmitted as facsimile data in a storage. Access information data for access to the image data, saved in the storage, from the reception terminal via the communication network is generated, and the access information data is sent to the e-mail address of the reception terminal by an e-mail. Upon reception of an access request for the image data from the reception terminal, the image data in the storage is transmitted to the reception terminal by a communication protocol of a point-to-point data transfer form.
According to this invention, only access information data for image data registered in a storage in a network is sent to a reception terminal by an e-mail, and image data is not sent directly to a transmission destination. Even in the case where large image data is transmitted to multiple destinations, therefore, it is unnecessary to send the same data to multiple sites so that the mail spools of destination sites are not occupied.
According to a facsimile communication method embodying this invention, a transmission process in a facsimile machine includes the following steps:
(a) a step of saving image data of an original to be transmitted as facsimile data in a server located on a network;
(b) a step of generating access information data for access to the image data, saved in the server, from the reception terminal via the communication network; and
(c) a step of sending the access information data to the reception terminal by an e-mail.
Further, a process in the server includes the following steps:
(d) a step of saving the image data received from the facsimile machine; and
(e) a step of transmitting the image data to the reception terminal by a communication protocol of a point-to-point data transfer form upon reception of an access request for the image data from the reception terminal.
A facsimile machine according to this invention acquires an e-mail address of a reception terminal on the communication network, and registers image data of an original to be transmitted as facsimile data in a server located on the communication network. Access information data for access to the image data, registered in the server, from the reception terminal via the communication network is generated, and the access information data is sent by e-mail to the e-mail address of the reception terminal. The server receives an access request sent out from the reception terminal and transmits the image data to the reception terminal by a communication protocol of a point-to-point data transfer form.
According to this invention, since it is unnecessary to register image data in a facsimile machine, a large-capacity hard disk can be removed from the facsimile machine so that the structure can be simplified.

Facsimile communication method and facsimile machine


A detector circuit, has a first diode, to an anode of which an AC signal is input and to which a constant voltage is supplied, a second diode, to an anode of which the constant voltage is supplied, and a difference current generation circuit, which generates the difference current between a first current flowing in the first diode and a second current flowing in the second diode.

A detector circuit is a circuit which detects the power of a high-frequency signal (RF signal) or other alternating current (AC) signal, and is for example used as a circuit to detect the output power of a power amplifier provided in a portable communication terminal or similar. A power detector circuit performs envelope detection of a high-frequency signal using for example a diode. Such a circuit applies the high-frequency signal to the diode, rectifies the voltage exceeding the diode threshold voltage and converts this into a current, and converts the rectified AC current signal into a direct current (DC) voltage signal using a resistor and a capacitor.
However, the threshold voltage of a normal diode varies due to the influence of temperature, so that use of a simple diode alone for power detection would result in fluctuation of the output level of the power detector circuit.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-142955 discusses a power detector which eliminates the influence of fluctuation of the diode threshold voltage. In this power detector, an input high-frequency signal is distributed to the anodes of two diodes, a bias current from a bias circuit is supplied to each of the diodes, a DC voltage is generated across a load resistor provided in parallel with the diodes, and the voltage which changes according to the high-frequency signal applied to the diodes is input to a differential amplifier via an inductor. The differential amplifier outputs the difference voltage of two voltages which change according to the high-frequency signal applied to each of the diodes.
The detector circuit discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-142955 computes the difference voltage of two voltages resulting from distribution of the high-frequency signal according to a power distribution ratio determined in advance, and so the output voltage of the differential amplifier is detected as the power level of the high-frequency signal, and even if the threshold voltages of the diodes vary due to temperature changes, the variation in the threshold voltages of the diodes are cancelled by the difference, so that the influence of variation of the threshold voltages is compensated.
However, the above-described power detector uses a differential amplifier. A differential amplifier has a voltage offset due to manufacturing variation, and so there is a limit to the precision of detection of a difference voltage. Further, the output common mode and gain which are characteristics of the differential amplifier tend to fluctuate with changes in the power supply voltage, so the precision of the detection tends to lower by power supply fluctuations.


A Huffman decoder includes a storage module, a receiving module, and a determining module. The storage module stores a target path corresponding to a rare path. The receiving module receives a codeword in a source data stream and acquires corresponding path data for the codeword. The determining module compares the path data and the target path, and determines the codeword as the rare code when the path data and the target path are the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a decoding technique, and more particularly to a technique for optimizing efficiency of Huffman decoding.
2. Description of the Related Art
Huffman coding is a prevalent data compression technique in modern multimedia systems. A principle concept of the Huffman coding is that, the coding corresponding to a source symbol is determined according to an estimated probability of the occurrence of each source symbol in a stream of symbols to be compressed—a source symbol with higher probability of occurrence is given a shorter code, while another source symbol with lower probability of occurrence is given a longer code. A relationship between symbols and corresponding codes can be observed in a Huffman tree. Each coded codeword comprises a path data for indicating where the symbol corresponding to the codeword locates in the Huffman tree. A receiving end system then decodes received data according to the known Huffman tree.
Using an arbitrary prior art Huffman tree in FIG. 1 as an example, each leaf node, depicted as a block at a lowest terminal, denotes a symbol, and a code corresponding to each symbol is marked along a path between a root node and the leaf node. In this example, the code of a symbol 1 is 000, the code of a symbol 0 is 001, the code of a symbol 2 is 01, and so forth.
Under certain circumstances, to simplify the hierarchical structure of the Huffman tree, a coding system defines a plurality of source symbols having lower probabilities of occurrence as rare codes, and incorporates the rare codes in a single symbol (the symbol 0 is to be taken as an example below). In the prior art, each time a codeword is received, the decoding system searches bit by bit, from top to bottom, from the root node of the Huffman tree according to the path data of the codeword until the leaf node corresponding to the path data is identified. Supposing the symbol of the identified leaf node is 0, the decoder then performs a rare code decoding procedure on the codeword to retrieve the source symbol. Conversely, supposing the codeword is not a rare code, the decoding system directly regards the symbol identified according to the path data as a decoded result.
However, it remains a drawback in the prior art that, the decoding system is unable to determine whether a codeword is a rare code until fully tracking to a leaf node to identify that the codeword is corresponding to the symbol 0. The process for determining whether a codeword is a rare code is particularly time consuming for a Huffman tree having large or complicated hierarchies.

Huffman decoder and decoding method thereof


To prevent a handover ping-pong effect between base-station in WiMAX-compliant networks, a priority level is assigned to the trigger causes for handover, and the prioritized causes are coded. Then codes are subdivided into a first class of unrestricted handovers and a second class of restricted handovers. The first class includes the highest priority handovers. The second class includes a subset of handovers with a high or normal priority intended for optimizing resources. Outside this subset the second class also includes handovers for power budget having a normal priority level. When an outgoing handover is decided, the actual serving BS permits or selectively suppresses the Handover Request to the target BS when the latter corresponds to the preceding serving BS for that mobile. The selection mechanism operates on the second class of restricted handovers, during a penalty time triggered by the occurrence of handover causes included in the second class subset.

1. Field
The embodiments discussed herein relate to broadband wireless telecommunication networks, and in particular to a method for a preventing ping pong handover effect in mobile WiMAX networks. References indicated with and used acronyms are reported at the end of the description.
More particularly, the embodiments apply to a Mobile Wireless Broadband Access network conforming to IEEE std 802.16-2004 as amended by IEEE 802.16e-2005 and corrected by IEEE 802.16-2004 Corrigendum 2. The embodiments can be extended also to Mobile Wireless Broadband Access network conforming to IEEE 802.16 Rev2. The present embodiments apply as well to the WiMAX Forum specifications (i.e. Stage 2 and Stage 3 specifications).
2. Description of the Related Art
As reported in the WiMAX Forum, Mobile WiMAX is a broadband wireless solution that enables convergence of mobile and fixed broadband networks through a common wide area broadband radio access technology and flexible network architecture. The Mobile WiMAX Air Interface adopts Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) for improved multi-path performance in non-line-of-sight environments. Scalable OFDMA (SOFDMA) is introduced in the IEEE 802.16e Amendment to support scalable channel bandwidths from 1.25 to 20 MHz.
FIG. 1, that will be discussed later on, shows the reference architecture for a WiMAX network. In its essentiality, we see a mobile station (MS) wirelessly connected to a base station BS1 through R1 interface. The MS, because of various causes, can request the network to handover the user's connection from an actual radio channel to another of a different cell (or the same cell). The BS can trigger a handover procedure due to several reasons, either in reply to a MS request or autonomously (e.g. for radio channel quality, traffic load conditions, resource status). Some triggering causes require immediate handover execution (imperative handover), otherwise call drops or severe interference can occur. Other triggering causes do not require immediate execution but are intended for optimisation purposes only: e.g. for individual radio link optimisation (power budget handover) or for network resource optimisation (handover for load balancing criteria, etc). In the second case the target BS may immediately trigger handover back to the previous serving BS because the previous serving BS may provide better radio channel conditions. Such a back and forth can be iterated many times before it is stopped (generally at the expiration of a counting), giving rise to the so called "Ping-pong" effect that may cause system instability, a call drop increase, and QoS degradation due to unnecessary increase of handover events
At the present stage of WiMAX standardization, even when looking for the nearest cellular technologies, the teaching is always to inhibit ping-pong handovers independently of their typology. Additional interference is introduced by this way of proceeding, as also those handovers that should be useful to do will be prevented, i.e. power budget handovers repeatedly commanded between the two BSs because the mobile is really going back and forth between the two cells.
In addition, WiMAX, GSM, and W CDMA, in order to reduce system instabilities, adopt hysteresis margins for handover. An effect of hysteresis margins is to prevent the MS from connecting immediately with the most suitable cell, reducing, in this way, the ping pong effect. The larger the hysteresis, the lower the system performance, as the MS remains for a longer time connected with a suboptimal cell. Large hysteresis values are actually particularly harmful in low frequency reuse systems, such as WiMAX, due to additional interference generated on close neighbouring cells.

Method for preventing ping-pong handover effect in mobile WiMAX networks


A method converts an aircraft takeoff trim setting that would be a function of several parameters to a value that is a function of CG position only. In this way, it is possible to create a direct simple equivalence between Stabilizer angle and CG. The equivalent CG can be presented in real time to the pilot.

Aircraft commonly have controls that enable the pilot to "trim" the pitch, i.e., the "nose up"/"nose down" attitude of an aircraft. A "nose up" pitch generally means the aircraft is increasing in altitude, whereas a "nose down" pitch generally means the aircraft is decreasing in altitude. Keeping the aircraft's pitch in a neutral attitude when the controls are in a neutral position is typically desirable.
One way to do this is to "trim" the pitch based on the current airspeed, thrust and other factors so the neutral position of the yoke or other inceptor provides level flight with no moment forcing the nose up or down. Trimming neutralizes the force required to keep control surfaces in a specific position. A properly trimmed aircraft relieves the pressure on the elevator control, or the force the pilot must exert to keep the plane level. Using the natural stability of the airplane in combination with the pitch trim can permit much smoother flight control and reduced pilot workload.
Most aircraft have a pitch trim control that sets a "nose up", "nose down" or neutral pitch when the yoke (which typically controls the elevator and/or other pitch control surface) is in its neutral position. In small aircraft, pitch trimming is usually accomplished by means of moveable trim tabs on the elevator control surfaces which are controlled by a trim wheel or other trim control in the cockpit. For example, rotating the tab downward develops an upward lift on the trim tab, which rotates the elevator up to a desired trim angle. With proper adjustment of the trim tab, the elevator moves to the required trim angle for the desired speed, and the force on the control stick required to maintain desired pitch attitude goes to zero. In larger aircraft, pitch trimming is often performed by a processor operating a motor to control the angle/position of the horizontal stabilizer, to which the elevator is attached (see FIG. 1).
While pitch trim can be adjusted after the aircraft is underway, it is often set at takeoff to establish a nose up/nose down bias to account for where the center of gravity (CG) of the aircraft is located. In this context, "CG" means the average location of the center of gravity of the aircraft (i.e., the center of mass of the overall airplane)—which has a particular known location for an empty airplane but can vary with amount of fuel, passenger/cargo loading and other factors.


A system that may be utilized for sending and locking electronic communications is provided. The system allows a user to send an electronic communication that is locked, for example, encrypted, hidden, or otherwise made unviewable by the system to form a locked communication. The locked communication can be formed by associating a game with the electronic communication and requiring that a recipient play the game and satisfy an objective of the game before the electronic communication is “unlocked” or made viewable and displayed for the recipient. The locked communications can be sent to multiple recipients or to groups and can provide opportunities for competitive or cooperative play between users. Promotions, coupons, incentives, coupons, and marketing materials can be sent as locked messages and require or incentivize engagement by users.

Phones and other communication devices can be used for various forms of communication. As one example, phones or other communication devices may be used for text messaging or texting, i.e., a text message can be sent from one phone to another. Many people, especially younger generations, grow up with mobile phones and spend a significant amount of time communicating with others on their phones and using various applications. Social media has been popular, but identity fatigue and a shift from "broadcast" behavior of some social media sites is pushing people away from social media sites in search of more private and/or personal means of communicating and sending messages or information to each other.
Text messaging or texting may include composing and sending brief, electronic messages between two or more phones or other fixed or portable communication devices over a network (e.g., a telephone network). Messaging and/or text messaging may refer, for example, to using the Short Message Service (SMS) or sending messages containing image, video, and sound content (sometimes known as multimedia messaging service "MMS" messages). Text messaging or texting can involve use some or all 26 letters of the alphabet and 10 numerals, e.g., alpha-numeric messages. The sender of a text message is sometimes called a texter. A "text" or "text message" may refer to the message sent. Group messaging or group texting, which involves more than two people in a messaging exchange or conversation, can also be used. Messaging may be used for delivering digital content, such as pictures, videos, news, logos, ringtones, and/or financial information.
Text messages or texts can be used for a variety of purposes, e.g., for communication, for entertainment, to share photographs or other media, for interaction with automated systems (for example, to order products or services, or to participate in contests), for marketing/advertising (for example, to notify users about promotions, coupons, deadlines, etc.). Text messaging can be used as a substitute for voice calls in situations where voice communication is impossible or undesirable. Some text messages (e.g., SMS) can also be used for the remote controlling of other devices (e.g., appliances). A Flash SMS can appears directly on the main screen of a phone or device without user interaction and may not be automatically stored in the inbox, and can be used in cases of emergency (e.g. fire alarm) or confidentiality (e.g. one-time password). Text-service websites may allow registered users to receive text messages when new items become available and/or when items go on sale.
Text messages/texts, or other messages can be sent in a variety of ways. For example, once a message is typed, it can travel through radio waves to a control channel. The control channel is a pathway that allows communication between a phone and cell phone tower, including sending and receiving calls, data packets, messages, etc. A short message service center (SMSC) or other service center may be a section of a wireless service that can store, forward, and receives data and messages. A message may travel through a control channel and arrive at an SMSC or other service center to be stored and/or sent to a recipient's phone. The SMSC or other service center can store messages when they cannot be delivered (e.g., if the recipient's cell phone is off).
As another example, data can travel from a phone or other communication device to a phone tower or antenna (e.g., a 4G LTE antenna on top of a cellular site). The cellular site may process the data, then send it over a telecomm fiber optic cable to a Mobile Switching Center ("MSC"). The MSC can process the data and send it (e.g., via fiber optic) to the carrier's IMS Core, where more data processing can happen and where an app to handle the data may be selected. The data can then be sent from the MSC to a cellular site, then to the antenna, and finally to the receiving phone or communication device.
Gateway providers (e.g., SMS gateway providers) can be used to facilitate messaging traffic between businesses and subscribers or device users. Gateway providers may be responsible for carrying various messages (e.g., mission critical messages), enterprise communications, content delivery, entertainment services, etc. Gateway providers can provide gateway-to-mobile (Mobile Terminated—MT) services and/or supply mobile-to-gateway (text-in or Mobile Originated/MO services). Some may operate text-in services on shortcodes or mobile number ranges, and others may use lower-cost geographic text-in numbers.
There is still room for text messaging and other communication to evolve, improve, do new things, reach more people, and allow interaction and communication in new ways, e.g., to form new types of messages and messaging. There is a need for improving messaging and ways of communicating between phones and mobile communication devices. Further, standard text messages or texts are not locked or encrypted and may be read immediately upon receipt by the recipient. However, in some instances, it may be beneficial or desirable to hide, lock, or encrypt a message to prevent viewing before the message is unlocked or steps have been taken to view the message. This can be for added security, for timing reasons, for challenges, for contests, for entertainment, for other reasons, or for a combination of these or other reasons. Locking or hiding a message until a game, puzzle, or some form of entertainment is completed may be a fun new way to interact and communicate with other people. For example, a game might be utilized to add entertainment, education, enjoyment, pleasure, spontaneity, exercise, recreation, education, leisure activities, contexts, and more. Games might also be used as artistic expressions. A computer game and/or video game may be an electronic or microprocessor controlled game. Computers and/or other electronic media can create virtual tools that may be utilized to play the game. Computer and/or video games may utilize one or more input devices, such as a button, a combination of buttons, remote or joystick, touchscreen, etc. Additionally, computer and/or video games may utilize a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, touchscreen, controller or any other motion sensitive tool. There is a need for better gaming platforms, e.g., that do not require downloading the games. There is a need for a mobile engagement platform that seamlessly intertwines messaging and gaming in a single experience, and that can also intertwine brand interaction.
Various systems, devices/apparatuses, methods, etc. are described herein that provide messaging and other communication services and combine them with games to address the needs, issues, and goals discussed above and other needs and goals described herein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for encryption of communications with video games


A control device for a vehicular drive apparatus, includes: a torque converter having a pump wheel, a turbine wheel and a stator wheel rotatably disposed between the turbine wheel and the pump wheel; an electric motor operative to drive and/or apply a brake to the stator wheel; a first connecting/disconnecting means operable to connect/disconnect the electric motor and the stator wheel to and from each other; a second connecting/disconnecting means operable to connect/disconnect the electric motor and an output shaft to and from each other; and mode switching means for switching a first mode in which the first connecting/disconnecting means is held in a connecting state to allow the electric motor to control a rotating state of the stator wheel and a second mode in which the second connecting/disconnecting means is held in a connecting state to enable the electric motor to perform power running and regeneration, depending on a running condition of a vehicle.

A torque converter has heretofore been known as having a pump wheel, a turbine wheel and a stator wheel rotatably disposed between the turbine wheel and the pump wheel. With the torque converter of such a related art, the stator wheel is connected to a non-rotating member via a one-way clutch with no provision of variable displacement characteristic. In general, the torque converter has a fluid characteristic that needs to have a high capacity (capacity coefficient) with high directivity for fuel consumption. With such a related art structure, the fluid characteristic is uniquely determined with shapes of the pump wheel, the turbine wheel and the stator wheel. Therefore, the torque converter exhibits identical fluid characteristics regardless of running patterns, resulting in limitations in improving fuel economy performance and power performance at once.
As disclosed in Patent Publication 1, on the contrary, a proposal has been made to provide a variable displacement type torque converter with a structure incorporating brake means between the turbine wheel and the non-rotating member, under which brake torque of the braking means is adjusted to allow the capacity to be variable. With such a structure, adjusting brake torque of the braking means results in a capability of varying a torque ratio and a capacity coefficient of the torque converter in a continuously variable mode or in a multi-stage mode. This enables an optimum torque ratio and capacity coefficient to be determined depending on a driving condition and a running condition, resulting in an increase in running performance of a vehicle.    [Patent Publication 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1-169170
With the variable displacement type torque converter of such a related art, however, the stator wheel was merely controlled in rotation within a range of a negative rotating direction opposite to a rotating direction of the pump wheel, resulting in limitations in an upper limit value of torque ratios and a lower limit value of the capacity coefficient that could be obtained with such a structure. Accordingly, the torque ratio of the torque converter could not be necessarily and adequately increased to vary the capacity coefficient to a lower level depending on the driving condition and the running condition, resulting in a difficulty of adequately increasing power performance of the vehicle.

Control device for vehicular drive apparatus


An turn detection system is configured to determine headings or a course of a vehicle over a period of time and evaluate whether the vehicle has registered a turn based on these headings/course. In some arrangements, upon detecting a turn, sensor data may be collected to determine one or more characteristics or attributes of the turn. Such data may indicate a loss event associated with the turn and be used to calculate a probability or risk of loss given the various characteristics of the turn. These probabilities may further be applied to determine various costs and premiums.

Current navigation systems generally determine a vehicle's position and plot those positions against a predefined map. Accordingly, some existing navigation systems determine when a vehicle turns onto a new path/road based on the position of the vehicle rather than a determination of the vehicle's heading or course or any other characteristics of the turn. Moreover, in some instances, certain types of vehicle movements, or particular characteristics thereof, may have a high correlation with other events such as accidents, traffic violations and the like. However, current systems do not generate such correlations nor are they configured in a predictive manner.


An adjustable platform support assembly is provided for supporting a computer input device such as a keyboard, mouse or the like. Each support platform (40,50) is directly attached to a length of flexible gooseneck shaft (30,32) which, in turn, is attached to a coupling assembly (20). The coupling assembly is particularly designed to provide secure attachment to an arm of (12,14) of a chair (10). The assembly enables a computer operator to swivel and/or recline in the chair without having to readjust the platform position.

Personal computers are becoming more and more common in both home and work environments. Such systems typically employ a keyboard, mouse and/or other data entry devices. Due to space constraints on the desk top, it is often difficult to locate the keyboard thereon. Furthermore, many computer operators do not prefer to locate the keyboard on the desk top because it is uncomfortable to address the keyboard. For example, computer operators often complain of hand, wrist, back and neck discomfort during data entry.
In response to the aforementioned problems, various mechanical assemblies have been developed for supporting data input devices, such as keyboards, at locations other than the desk top. Conventionally, such assemblies have been designed to be mechanically fastened to the underside of a desk or table top, and include a retractable keyboard support tray. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,836,560 and 5,839,373 are representative of typical retractable keyboard support assemblies. In each of the aforementioned representative patents, the disclosed assemblies are provided with means for adjusting the position and/or orientation of the keyboard support in an effort to reduce operator discomfort during data entry. In particular, the disclosed assemblies enable the user to adjust the keyboard position and/or orientation based upon the seated position of the user. However, these structures have inherent drawbacks. Significantly, the fixed position of the keyboard support relative to the desk or table requires the operator to repeatedly readjust the keyboard support position and/or orientation upon shifting the position and/or orientation of the user's chair. Furthermore, the aforementioned support structures are intended to be permanently installed at a single computer station using complicated, multi-component mounting hardware. Consequently, the mechanical fastening means required for attaching the aforementioned structures to the desk severely restrict their portability.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,306 addresses the portability limitation of the aforementioned structures by incorporating a conventional clamp assembly specifically designed for manual attachment to a desk or table top. However, the structure disclosed in the '306 patent does not overcome the former limitation; namely, the attachment of the keyboard support platform to the desk or table requires that the user reposition and/or reorient the support platform upon altering the position and/or orientation of the user's chair.
Accordingly, there is a recognized need for an improved support structure for computer data input devices which overcomes the aforementioned limitations of conventional support structures.

Adjustable support apparatus for a computer data input device


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that provide for unambiguous mapping between downlink control channel transmissions, downlink shared channel transmissions, and uplink acknowledgment feedback resources. The uplink acknowledgment feedback resource may be located within a same transmission time interval (TTI). A base station may configure codebook-based acknowledgment resources from a user equipment (UE), and feedback delay values may be associated with time domain resources of the downlink shared channel transmissions. In some examples, feedback delay values may be associated with particular search spaces or monitoring occasions of the downlink control channel transmissions that include resource allocations for the downlink shared channel transmissions. A UE using codebook-based acknowledgment feedback resources may thus unambiguously identify uplink resources that are to be used for transmitting the uplink acknowledgment feedback.

The following relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to acknowledgment feedback techniques in wireless communications.
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
Wireless communications systems may implement control messages (e.g., PDCCH messages transmitted by a base station) to grant upcoming resources for data transmissions (e.g., where the data transmissions are sent over a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)). If a UE receives and successfully decodes a PDCCH message, the UE may then receive and decode a data transmission in the data resources indicated by the PDCCH message, and transmit acknowledgment feedback to the base station to indicate successful or unsuccessful receipt of the data transmission. However, if the UE fails to receive or decode the PDCCH transmission indicating the PDSCH resources, the UE may not even attempt to receive the data transmission and not transmit the acknowledgment feedback. Such a lack of feedback may indicate to the base station that the PDCCH transmission was not received at the UE. In some cases uplink acknowledgment resources may not be explicitly assigned to a UE, and the UE may determine such resources through a codebook that maps uplink acknowledgment feedback resources to downlink transmissions based on downlink resources used for the downlink data transmission.

Acknowledgment feedback techniques in wireless communications


Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and a device for updating a port index in a multi-device system, and a multi-device system. The method includes: detecting whether a device ID of a device is changed in a multi-device system, where the detecting is performed by comparing device IDs of each device in the multi-device system before and after the detection; and for a device whose device ID is changed in the system, updating a port index of the device according to the device ID after the change, where the port index is used to acquire configuration data of the port. The embodiments of the present invention solve the problem of failing to find correct port configuration data by using the port index because the device ID is changed.

A device ID (identifier) is used to identify a member device in a multi-device system. One typical multi-device system is a stacking system. Stacking refers to combining multiple switching devices supporting a stacking feature and having the same hardware structure together to logically form a switching device.
The stacking system, where each switching device is referred to as a member switching device, specifically includes one master switching device and one or more slave switching devices. The master switching device is responsible for assigning device IDs to all member switching devices including the master switching device itself. A configuration file containing the device IDs and all or partial port configuration data is stored in the master switching device. The master switching device manages the entire stacking system according to the configuration file.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of device IDs and corresponding ports in a stacking system, where the stacking system includes nine devices, which respectively are device 1, device 2, . . . , and device 9. Each device has multiple ports and each port has a port number. FIG. 1 also shows a port 2 of the device 9. When configuration information of a port is configured or acquired, the device ID and specific port number are used as a port index.
When a new device is added to and an existing device is removed from the stacking system, the device IDs of member devices in the system are changed. In such cases, if the corresponding relationship between the port configuration data and device ID of the device stored in the configuration database in the master device is not updated in time, the port configuration data cannot be indexed according to the device ID. For example, if the device ID of a device is changed from 9 to 8, when searching for the port configuration data according to the port index generated by the device ID 8 and port 2, either no corresponding configuration is found (assume that no device is set with an device ID 8 before), or the configuration of the port 2 of the original device 8 is found which is not the configuration of the port 2 of the device itself.
In summary, when a device ID is changed, a port index formed by the device ID and a port number cannot be used to correctly acquire port configuration data.

Method and device for updating port index, and multi-device system


An electric power tool of the present invention includes a motor used as a drive source housed in a dual-separated type housing and includes a bearing support member that covers the outer circumferential surface of a bearing of the motor and supports the bearing from outside in the radial direction, and is configured such that the bearing and one end of the bearing support member in the axial direction are inserted in a tool component disposed coaxially, and a protruding portion that is the other end of the bearing support member and axially protrudes from the tool component is supported by receiving portions of a pair of housing parts.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power tool configured such that a motor used as a drive source is housed in a dual-separated type housing of the electric power tool.
Description of the Related Art
An existing electric power tool relating to the present invention is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-295773.
The electric power tool disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-295773 is an impact driver and includes a dual-separated type housing, as shown in FIG. 5.
The housing includes a substantially cylindrical housing body and a grip configured to protrude downward from the housing body. Further, a motor used as a drive source of the impact driver is housed at the rear portion of the housing body. As shown in FIG. 9, the motor includes a stator 105 and a rotator 107, and a rotary shaft 108 of the rotator 107 is supported by a front bearing 109f and a rear bearing 109b. Further, a disk-shaped fan 106 is fixed on the rotary shaft 108 between the rotator 107 and the rear bearing 109b. The rear bearing 109b is configured to be supported from outside in the radial direction by a receiving portion (not shown) of the dual-separated housing.


There is provided a high-strength steel tube having excellent chemical conversion treatability and excellent formability and a method for manufacturing the high-strength steel tube. More specifically, in processing a mother steel sheet containing, on the basis of mass percent, 0.05% or more C, more than 0.7% Si, and 0.8% or more Mn into a pipe shape, the sum total of absolute circumferential surface strains each applied in individual process steps of the processing is 5% or more as nominal strain. A welded steel tube thus manufactured using a steel sheet even containing more than 0.7% Si can have excellent chemical conversion treatability without mechanical grinding or chemical pickling treatment.

In recent years, from the standpoint of global environmental protection, efforts have been made to reduce the weight of automotive bodies and improve the mileage of automobiles. The improvement in the mileage of automobiles has also been required by law. Recently, efforts have been made to use high-strength materials as the materials for automotive body to reduce the weight of automobiles by gauge down (thickness reduction). Furthermore, improvement in the stiffness of members using a closed-cross-section structure is under study. In response to the improvement in the stiffness of automotive members, high-strength steel tubes began to be used.
As in steel sheets, such high-strength steel tubes are essentially required to be easy to process and have excellent chemical conversion treatability. In general, high-strength steel tubes are basically designed to contain 0.7% by mass or more Si to achieve both high strength and excellent formability. However, the inclusion of Si is inevitably accompanied with a marked deterioration in chemical conversion treatability. The mechanism of deterioration in the chemical conversion treatability of steel materials having a high Si content is known to some extent as described below.
In steel materials containing Si, an oxide mainly composed of Si is concentrated on a surface layer of the steel material (other equivalent expressions, such as a Si-based oxide, a Si-containing oxide, a Si oxide, and a Si group oxide, mean the same oxide; unless otherwise specified, these are collectively referred to as an oxide mainly composed of Si). An oxide mainly composed of Si prevents Fe in a base steel material from uniformly dissolving as Fe2+ and inhibits the formation of iron-zinc phosphate crystals (Zn2Fe(PO4)2.4H2O) in the anode reaction and cathode reaction during chemical conversion treatment. Thus, dense and fine iron-zinc phosphate crystals cannot be formed on the steel material. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the chemical conversion treatment of high-Si steel results in the formation of iron-zinc phosphate crystals having coarse and sparse iron-zinc phosphate crystal-free areas (hereinafter referred to as crystal-free areas). In contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the chemical conversion treatment of mild steel having a low Si content (JIS-SPCC-grade steel sheets) forms very dense iron-zinc phosphate crystals.
In cold-rolled steel sheets, pickling of a hot-rolled steel sheet before cold rolling can partly remove an oxide mainly composed of Si. However, in cold-rolled steel sheets subjected to an annealing process, such as continuous annealing or batch annealing, after cold rolling, an oxide mainly composed of Si is again inevitably concentrated on a surface layer in a furnace even at a very low dew point. Thus, cold-rolled steel sheets also often have poor chemical conversion treatability. Furthermore, in the annealing process, gradual variations in the environment within the furnace, variations in the components of steel, or variations in manufacturing conditions often result in variations in the distribution of an oxide mainly composed of Si from one coil to another in the longitudinal and width directions of the coil. In the formation of an oxide mainly composed of Si, variations in the components of steel, variations in manufacturing conditions, and the like intricately interact with one another. It is therefore difficult to manage these influencing factors to control chemical conversion treatability.
Thus, the surfaces of steel sheets manufactured have hitherto been ground in a mechanical process or dissolved in a chemical process, such as pickling, to remove an oxide mainly composed of Si that inhibits chemical conversion. For example, PTL 1 describes a method for manufacturing high-tensile steel sheets with a high Si content having excellent phosphate coating treatability. This method includes annealing in an atmosphere in which the oxygen partial pressure is controlled within a particular range, quenching in a particular temperature range, grinding of the surface, and pickling to remove an oxide film.
PTL 3 describes a method for manufacturing high-strength cold-rolled steel sheets having excellent chemical conversion treatability. This method includes softening and annealing of cold-rolled steel sheets having a (Si content)/(Mn content) of 0.4 or more in an atmosphere at a dew point in the range of −20° C. to 0° C. such that the fraction of surface coverage of a Si group oxide is 20% or less and the equivalent circular diameter of the Si group oxide is 5 μm or less, water quenching, tempering, and immersion in hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid for pickling.
PTL 12 describes a method for manufacturing high-strength electric-resistance-welded steel tubes having excellent chemical conversion treatability. This method includes hot-rolling and pickling of a steel sheet having a composition of Si: 0.5% by mass or less, Mn: 1.5% by mass or less, and P: 0.05% by mass or less to remove an outer surface layer and an inner surface layer, cold rolling at a cold-rolling reduction in the range of 10% to 60%, and electric-resistance welding (ERW) of both ends of the cold-rolled steel strip in the width direction to form a welded steel tube.
However, grinding or pickling requires a large number of man-hours, and it is difficult to completely remove an oxide mainly composed of Si. Furthermore, an oxide mainly composed of Si is glass and consequently does not dissolve in a common acid, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. Furthermore, since an oxide mainly composed of Si cannot be selectively removed by pickling, a base steel sheet must be significantly dissolved to remove the oxide mainly composed of Si.
PTL 2 describes a method for treating a steel surface, which includes immersion of a steel material in a mixed acid of sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid at a sulfate ion concentration and a hydrogen fluoride concentration in particular ranges and subsequent immersion of the steel material in hydrochloric acid at a chloride ion concentration in a particular range. Although pickling in a fluorinated acid type agent can completely remove an oxide mainly composed of Si, use of the fluorinated acid type agent may somewhat increase the degree of danger.
PTLs 4 to 8 describe a technique for improving chemical conversion treatability by forming a Si—Mn composite oxide easily soluble in an acid while preventing the formation of a slightly soluble oxide mainly composed of Si.
PTL 4 describes a multiphase steel sheet having excellent coating adhesion in which the Si and Mn contents are controlled so as to satisfy a Si/Mn ratio of 0.4 or less, there are 10 or more fine Mn—Si composite oxide particles containing 0.5% by mass or more (Mn—Si) on a surface layer (an area 2 μm in depth and 10 μm in length), and an oxide mainly composed of Si accounts for 10% or less of the surface length of the steel sheet.
PTL 5 describes a multiphase high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet having excellent coating adhesion in which the Si and Mn contents are controlled so as to satisfy a Si/Mn ratio of 0.4 or less, there are 10/100 μm2 or more fine Mn—Si composite oxide having a Mn/Si ratio of 0.5 or more, the fraction of surface coverage of an oxide mainly composed of Si is 10% or less, and there is no crack having a size in a predetermined range.
PTL 6 describes a multiphase high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet having excellent strength-elongation balance, that is, a high elongation/strength ratio, wherein the Si and Mn contents are controlled so as to satisfy a Si/Mn ratio of 0.4 or less, there are 10/100 pre or more fine Mn—Si composite oxide having a Mn/Si ratio of 0.5 or more, the fraction of surface coverage of an oxide mainly composed of Si is 10% or less, and the tensile strength is 390 MPa or more.
PTL 7 describes a high-strength steel sheet having excellent coating adhesion in which the average distance between the starting points of Si- and/or Mn-containing oxide stemming from a surface of the steel sheet in the depth direction in a network-like or hair-root-like manner is 5 μm or more, and the total length of the oxide is 10 μm/(12 μm in depth×20 μm in width) or less.
PTL 8 describes a Si—Mn oxide multiphase high-strength steel sheet having excellent coating adhesion in which the Si and Mn contents are controlled so as to satisfy a Si/Mn ratio of 0.4 or less, there are 10/100 μm2 or more fine Si—Mn oxide on the surface, and the fraction of surface coverage of an oxide mainly composed of Si is 10% or less.
Although a Si—Mn composite oxide adversely affects chemical conversion treatability as with an oxide mainly composed of Si, the Si—Mn composite oxide easily dissolves in an acid. In the techniques described in PTLs 4 to 8, therefore, a Si—Mn composite oxide is intended to be removed by "in-line pickling", which is often provided in the production lines of cold-rolled steel sheets.
However, in the techniques described in PTLs 4 to 8, since the Mn content depends on the Si content, there is a problem of a limited degree of freedom in the design of steel components. There is also a problem that improvement in chemical conversion treatability is often limited.
It is known that zinc phosphate treatment for use in mechanical lubrication, which can be used in combination with a lubricant to facilitate plastic working, can be subjected to shot blasting as pretreatment to improve chemical conversion treatability. For example, PTL 9 describes a method for forming a conversion coating on a surface. The method includes ejecting a zinc phosphate chemical conversion treatment liquid to which silica sand has been added against the surface to clean the surface and then ejecting the zinc phosphate chemical conversion treatment liquid. It is assumed that the mechanism by which shot blasting before chemical conversion treatment can improve chemical conversion treatability is due to the mechanochemical activation of a surface by shot blasting (see NPL 1). However, leaving a shot-blasted surface to stand in the air or annealing a shot-blasted surface reduces the mechanochemical activity of the surface, failing to achieve a desired improvement in chemical conversion treatability.
Even when shot blasting is employed as pretreatment of coating, in consideration of actual physical distribution, a considerable amount of time elapses from the shot blasting to coating in the manufacture of steel sheets and steel tubes. In practical terms, therefore, the effects of improving chemical conversion treatability are markedly reduced and are not thought to be significant. The employment of continuous in-line shot blasting to reduce the time elapsed from shot blasting to coating requires considerable costs and therefore has a low degree of realizability.
PTL 10 describes a high-tensile hot-rolled steel sheet having excellent chemical conversion treatability and corrosion resistance, wherein the steel sheet contains 0.5% to 2.5% by mass Si and contains C and Ti such that C and Ti satisfy a particular relationship, the average grain diameter is 3.0 μm or less, and the surface roughness is controlled to 1.5 μm or less as an arithmetical mean roughness Ra. In accordance with the technique described in PTL 10, the small crystal grain diameter and the smooth surface result in a marked improvement in chemical conversion treatability.
NPL 2 has reported that the surface roughness of a steel sheet does not significantly affect chemical conversion treatability at Ra in the range of 0.5 to 1.7 μm, PPI in the range of 110 to 250, or Wz in the range of 1 to 8 μm.
PTL 11 describes a method for manufacturing cold-rolled steel sheets that can effectively improve phosphate treatability without impairing the press formability of the steel sheets. The method includes annealing of a steel sheet containing 0.01% by mass or less C, 0.01% by mass or less N, and Ti and skin pass rolling at a rolling reduction of 0.8% or more and 5% or less. In accordance with PTL 11, the chemical conversion treatability is saturated at a rolling reduction of 2.7% or more in the skin pass rolling.

High-strength steel tube having excellent chemical conversion treatability and excellent formability and method for manufacturing the same


A frame assembly made from modular components includes a first frame member, a tubular post member with a work opening in its side wall to permit the post interior to be fixed to the frame exterior, and a second frame member axially mountable over the post. A spring button extending through aligned apertures in the tubular post and second frame members releasably locks the second frame member to the post. A method for constructing a product from a frame assembly includes defining a work opening in a tubular post wall, fixing the post interior to the exterior of a frame member by working through the opening, mounting a tubular frame member axially onto the post and releasably locking it to the post by way of a spring button positioned within the post. A stand made from the frame assembly may include lower and upper frame subassemblies joined by tubular column members extending between the subassemblies and onto respective opposed lower and upper tubular posts attached thereto.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to modular furniture and, more particularly, to a modular frame assembly and method for making same.
2. Background Art
The production of tubular metal furniture, such as shelving, stands, racks and the like, is well known and desirable. Tubular furniture of this type is strong and light and can be aesthetically pleasing when made of chrome, polished aluminum or similar material.
However, the manufacture of such furniture presents a number of problems. Presently, most of these items are constructed from relatively large pieces of round or square tubing which are permanently assembled, as by welding, at the factory. After the pieces are fixed together, the manufacturer will clean or buff the joints between the parts to provide a suitable appearance. Thereafter, the manufacturer will apply some sort of finish to the product as by plating, painting or polishing. Since the unit must be cleaned and finished as a complete unit, the finishing process is not easily accomplished, particularly, where the assembled unit is relatively complex. Further, this method of construction does not allow the product to be disassembled for shipping, does not allow the product to be easily packed in boxes, and does not allow the manufacturer or the end user to customize the product for a particular customer's order or for a special use.

Modular frame assembly and method for making same


A wastewater treatment washer compactor system having in-channel motorized screen for installation in an influent channel and removal of screenings from the influent stream; at least one washer and at least one compactor for washing and dewatering the screenings; and system control means for coordinating and controlling the motor speed of the motorized screen, the washing cycle time and processing rate of the washer(s), and the compacting rate of the compactor(s).

The present invention relates generally to wastewater screenings and filtering devices, and more particularly to a computer controlled washer/compactor apparatus that automatically and precisely controls the processing rate of collecting screenings from a wastewater stream, conveying the screenings into a washer and washing them of organic material, compacting and dewatering the screenings in a compactor, and finally conveying the dewatered screenings into a solid waste container for transport to a waste disposal site or treatment facility.
An influent stream at a wastewater treatment plant contains all kinds of suspended and floating solid material (screenings): condoms, tampons, cigarettes, sticks and leaves, paper, and virtually every other small rubber, wood, and plastic consumer item manufactured by man. As they mix with sewage influent, the suspended solids become coated with dissolved or semidissolved organic material, including human and animal waste. A typical first phase in the treatment of waste water in a waste water treatment facility involves the separation and removal of such course screenings from the influent stream. The materials are captured on screens or racks having openings sized for the kinds of screenings in the environment. The captured screenings are then transported and treated in a variety of ways, generally involving washing and compacting the screenings and returning free captured water to the stream. The compacted screenings are then generally transported to a site for disposal either in the land, ocean, or atmosphere, or may be recycled or composted.
Barring mechanical problems, such operations customarily continue day and night without interruption. However, screenings volume and influent flow rate varies dramatically according to the type of waste flow, the season, weather conditions, local urbanization, and so forth.
The prior art reveals that systems currently in use have several limitations and are vulnerable under high load conditions. The prior art systems generally employ a combination washer/compactor with side-by-side screw press operations, or, alternatively, a screw press washer agitator alongside a hydraulic compactor. The systems are costly and prone to frequent mechanical breakdowns resulting in significant system downtime. Because an influent stream cannot be allowed to back up, this results in periodic ineffectual removal of waste solids from waste water treatment systems. Furthermore, when either one of the system components (washer or compactor) fails or requires maintenance, the entire system must be shut down. Further still, the combination washer/compactor systems limit placement options and usually entail location of the washer/compactor in proximity to a screenings conveyor or waste container. Finally, the prior art systems do not automatically control the processing rate for screenings when the flow rate of the influent stream is unusually high or low.
The waste water treatment system washer compactor of the present invention addresses these limitations in the prior art and provides a flexible, cost-effective solution that ensures continuous system operation.
The waste water treatment system washer compactor of the present invention incorporates several novel features. Notably, the system includes level sensors positioned on the upstream and downstream side of the screen. The sensors are used to determine the difference in height of the water between the upstream and downstream sides of the in-channel screen. This difference is an indication of the capacity of the system to collect and process the screenings: a high level differential indicates the system is under strain and must increase processing speed or employ auxiliary units; a low level is an indication of efficient processing. A microprocessor or a PLC receives the signals produced by the level sensors and, in turn, generates an output signal to either slow or speed up the screen, the washers, and/or the compactor to ensure an optimum load on the system components. In multiple component systems, the system logic can also select among the system components where to deliver screenings for optimal processing efficiency. For instance in a system employing two washers and two compactors and a single in-channel screen, the system can identify a washer compactor combination in use or out of service and deliver screenings to the other combination.
Screenings captured by the in-channel screen are dumped into a washer where high pressure water (150 psi) is sprayed through an array of nozzles is used to break-up the fecal matter and other organic material while the solids are agitated and exposed to the pressure spray. In the case of the present invention, the agitation is effected by a shaftless screw. Unlike prior art designs, many with relatively low pressure spray apparatus, the present system includes a booster pump that boosts plant-supplied water to 150 psi, thereby ensuring effective impact cleaning of the screenings.
When the was cycle is complete, shaftless screw augers material into a discharge outlet and into a novel compactor, which comprises a second shaftless screw housed within a tube. Water is then drained from the washer by means of perforated plates at the bottom of the washer tank. A slide gate is opened to drain water from the tank and after draining is closed for filling. The gate has bristles that clean any solid material that may be caught in the perforations of the drain plate.
The compactor can be oriented horizontally or nearly vertically and can be up to 60 feet in length. As material is augured, it forms a plug in a dewatering box, where the pressure on the plug is maintained by a hydraulically or pneumatically operated pinch valve that will maintain a constant pressure on the screenings as water is xe2x80x9cpressedxe2x80x9d from the solids as it compacts. The pinch valve comprises a variable restrictive orifice which allows screenings to pass while simultaneously exerting sufficient pressure to foster the formation of a dewatering plug. Dewatered, compacted screenings are discharged through the pinch valve and into a suitable receptacle.
Unlike prior art systems, the present invention utilizes stand alone or discrete washer and compactor systems. This permits the systems to be positioned at multiple angles relative to one another and further permits removal and maintenance of the systems separately.

Waste water treatment washer compactor system


A fluid pump has at least one impeller blade which is rotatable about an axis of rotation and conveys a fluid in operation. The fluid pump has a support device which supports the at least one impeller blade in at least one support region. The support device is changeable between a first state in which the at least one impeller blade is radially compressed and a second state in which the at least one impeller is radially expanded. The at least one impeller blade extends at least partly radially inwardly with respect to the axis of rotation from the at least one support region in the radially expanded state of the blade.

The invention is in the field of mechanical engineering, in particular micromechanics, and addresses fluid pumps which work with rotating impeller blades and are particularly configured for use in areas which are difficult to access.
Pumps of this type can be used, for example, in the medical field and can also have particularly small construction shapes for this purpose.
A special application of micropumps is, for example, the assistance for the pump force of the human heart. Pumps used in this area are usually introduced into the body through blood vessels and are optionally operated in a chamber of the heart.
A plurality of such pumps have already become known which have different constructional shapes. An axial flow pump has become known, from WO 98/53864, and equally from EP 1 738 783 A1, which in each case has a rotor in the form of a rigid shaft, said rotor being provided with impeller blades and said shaft being outwardly journalled in a stator. The drive can be directly integrated into the stator and the rotor as an electromagnetic drive.
Pumps of this type have the disadvantage that they have a large diameter in relation to the pumping capacity and can hardly be introduced through a blood vessel.
In contrast to this, a rotor is known from WO 03/013745 A2 which has a smaller diameter in a compressed state than in an expanded state and which has an expandable rotor blade which expands in operation by the fluid counterpressure of the blood.
Other rotors which have become known likewise have impeller blades which are expandable for operation, for example by joints or by elastic deformability of the impeller blades.
A particular problem in this respect is that the impeller blades are usually fastened to a central neck and are rotationally drivable and also movably pivotable from this; that the impeller blades thus have to be flexible, but have a certain stiffness or a restriction in its movability, on the other hand, to exert the required pressure onto the fluid for conveying.

Fluid pump having at least one impeller blade and a support device