A method and apparatus for automatic tuning of fuel injected engines includes an air-fuel ratio sensor, a load device for controlling engine RPM, a digital computer and a display device. The digital computer displays a plurality of throttle positions to an operator who sets the throttle of said engine to correspond to said display of throttle position. The digital computer varies the engine RPM over the operating range of the engine to determine corresponding map values for storage in an injector signal modifier.

The present invention relates to the automatic adjustment of the air-fuel ratio (AFR) of an electronic fuel injected vehicle/engine to a target value using a vehicle/engine load device, a fuel flow modifying apparatus and a programmed digital computer.
The function of an electronic fuel injection system is to control an engine""s air-fuel ratio to appropriate target specifications. In an engine that is operating under normal conditions, the air-fuel ratio should be controlled to remain within acceptable limits. Changing other engine operating conditions such as valve timing or the exhaust system design to enhance vehicle performance can alter the air-fuel ratio significantly. In order to optimize vehicle performance under these new engine operating conditions, the fuel flow to the engine must be modified to re-establish an appropriate target air-fuel ratio over the operating range of the vehicle.
After an engine reaches operating temperature, there are two primary variables that establish the operating condition, (1) the throttle position (as a function of percent open) and (2) the crankshaft speed in revolutions per minute (RPM).
Throttle position (expressed as a percentage of open) controls the flow of air into the engine by restricting intake air flow. At 0 percent throttle position the air flow is restricted sufficiently to keep the engine idling with no load. At 100 percent throttle position, the air flow restriction is at a minimum, thereby allowing the engine to develop maximum torque. Crankshaft speed (RPM) is directly related to the amount of air the engine pulls through the throttle body. The higher the RPM, the higher the air flow into the engine. The combination of throttle position and RPM determines the flow rate of air into the engine.
The electronic fuel injection system controls the fuel flow into the engine. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) is the part of the electronic fuel injection system that controls the fuel flow rate by applying the proper control signals to the fuel injectors. The fuel flow rate is based on a number of variables, two of which are throttle position and RPM. Typical engine control units do not allow adjustment of the internally stored fuel flow tables. However, as indicated above, adjustment of fuel flow may become necessary when performance enhancements are added to the vehicle/engine.
One type of fuel flow modifying apparatus is an injector signal modifier (ISM). Injector signal modifiers are available to modify the relationship of the engine control unit signals to the fuel injectors thus allowing the adjustment of fuel flow. When applied to a fuel-injected engine, an injector signal modifier needs to be calibrated or mapped to adjust fuel flow for a range of throttle positions and RPM. The calibration or mapping process is referred to as xe2x80x9ctuningxe2x80x9d the fuel injection system. An operator controls engine load, throttle position and RPM. The operator observes the air-fuel ratio (or some other parameter, such as oxygen (O2) in the exhaust, that is indicative of the air-fuel ratio) and adjusts the internally stored table (map) in the injector signal modifier. The procedure is repeated for all operating conditions, which results in a long and tedious fuel injector tuning operation.
In particular, the manual tuning of a fuel injection system in the prior art consists of setting the RPM of the engine to a fixed level, then advancing the throttle from one fixed position to the next. At each throttle position for the same engine RPM, the stored value in the corresponding cell of the injector signal modifier is adjusted by the operator to achieve the target air to fuel ratio.
The present invention is embodied in a method and apparatus for automatic tuning of fuel injected engines. In one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel injection system is tuned by holding the engine throttle in a first position and having a digital computer vary the engine RPM. For each value of engine RPM, the corresponding cell of the map is computed for storage in the injector signal modifier map. After all values of engine RPM had been attained, the operator is instructed by the digital computer to advance the throttle to a second position. While the throttle is in the second position the engine RPM is varied between lowest and highest values over the engine operating range. For each value of engine RPM (while at the second throttle position), the corresponding cell of the map is computed for storage in the injector signal modifier map. In such manner, for each value of throttle position and engine RPM, values for corresponding cells of the map are computed and stored in the injection signal modifier map to achieve fuel injection tuning.

Automatic tuning of fuel injected engines


An electrode for a plasma arc torch and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed, and wherein the electrode includes a copper holder having a lower end which mounts an emissive insert which acts as the cathode terminal for the arc during operation. Where the torch is used in an oxidizing atmosphere, the copper holder tends to oxidize, and the arc tends to attach to the oxidized copper rather than the insert, which results in the rapid destruction of the holder. To prevent this destruction, the present invention incorporates a sleeve of silver or other metal having a relatively high work function, and which is positioned to surround the insert and form an annular ring on the lower end surface of the holder and thus to surround the exposed end face of the emissive insert. The annular ring serves to prevent arcing from the copper holder, and so that the arc is maintained on the insert.

The present invention relates to a plasma arc torch, and more particularly to a novel electrode for use in a plasma arc torch and which has improved service life.
Plasma arc torches are commonly used for the working of metals, including cutting, welding, surface treatment, melting, and annealing. Such torches include an electrode which supports an arc which extends from the electrode to the workpiece in the transferred arc mode of operation. It is also conventional to surround the arc with a swirling vortex of gas, and in some torch designs it is conventional to also envelope the gas and arc with a swirling jet of water.
The electrode used in conventional torches of the described type typically comprises an elongate tubular member composed of a material of high thermal conductivity, such as copper or a copper alloy. The forward or discharge end of the tubular electrode includes a bottom end wall having an emissive insert embedded therein which supports the arc. The insert is composed of a material which has a relatively low work function, which is defined in the art as the potential step, measured in electron volts, which permits thermionic emission from the surface of a metal at a given temperature. In view of its low work function, the insert is thus capable of readily emitting electrons when an electrical potential is applied thereto, and commonly used insert materials include hafnium, zirconium, and tungsten.
A significant problem associated with torches of the described type is the short service life of the electrode, particularly when the torch is used with an oxidizing arc gas, such as oxygen or air. More particularly, the gas tends to rapidly oxidize the copper, and as the copper oxidizes, its work function falls. As a result, the oxidized copper which surrounds the insert begins to support the arc in preference to the insert. When this happens, the copper oxide and the supporting copper melt, resulting in the early destruction and failure of the electrode.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an electrode which is adapted for use in a plasma arc torch of the described type, and which is able to provide a significantly improved service life when the torch is used in an oxidizing atmosphere.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an efficient method of fabricating an electrode having the above characteristics.

Electrode for plasma arc torch and method of fabricating same


In a rotatable duct type shrouded rotating wing, permanent magnets are arranged in the outer periphery of a rotatable duct, rotor blades are connected to the inner periphery of the rotatable duct, the rotor blades having a rotatable support portion at about every 2.5 m to prevent deflection or distortion. The shroud and the rotatable duct are constantly in vertical contact with each other, and an appropriate horizontal spacing is provided between the inner periphery of the shroud and the outer periphery of the rotatable duct to permit expansion and contraction of the rotatable duct and the rotor blades. Accordingly, even if the shrouded rotating wing is of a large radius, is used in a horizontal orientation and undergoes a rapid change of direction mounted to a turntable, it always rotates stably to generate lift and thrust.

1. Field of Art
The present invention relates to a shrouded rotating wing having an opening of a size exceeding a radius of approximately 3 m and operating based on the principle of a linear motor driving.
2. Background Art
The mechanism of coupling output from a prime mover, such as a turbine positioned near the center of a rotating wing, to a central driving shaft for rotation of the blades, thereby obtaining lift or thrust, has heretofore been used frequently in helicopters and other rotorcrafts. However, the method of making a rotating wing rotate around a shaft defining the central axis of rotation requires a vast amount of energy and thus the efficiency has been low.
Japanese "Kokai" (laid-open application publications) 2001-097288 and H07-205897 disclose a shrouded rotating wing for use as a tail rotor of a single rotor type helicopter. This shrouded rotating wing can rotate blades efficiently and change the rotational speed freely by making a change from the conventional method of transferring power to the central shaft of rotation to a method of generating a driving force at the wing tips.
Kokai H07-205897 discloses a driving method based on a linear motor principle using shroud-side magnets and wing-tip magnets as means for generating a driving force at wing tips. As disclosed therein, the wing-tip magnets may be fitted into the shroud or allowed to float within a space near the shroud-side magnets. In one embodiment wherein the wing tip magnets are fitted into the shroud, neither a rotary shaft nor a hub for connecting the wing center portions of rotor blades is used and, in another such embodiment, the rotor blades are connected to a rotary shaft. However, if the wing tip magnets are fitted into the shroud and neither a rotary shaft nor a hub is used, when the shrouded rotating wing is of a large caliber and is used in a horizontal position, blades tend to fall off due to their own weight and the rotating wing cannot withstand a sudden change of direction. In the type using a rotary shaft to which the rotor blades are connected, no consideration is given to expansion and contraction of the rotor blades, so when the wing caliber is large, the wing tips fitted in the shroud are pulled strongly toward the center due to the weight of the rotor blades, e.g. at the time of parking, resulting in an increase in resistance to rotation. Even if the rotating wing can start to begin rotating, there is a great possibility that the rotating wing will become unrotatable because no consideration is given to expansion and contraction due to centrifugal force or heat. In the type wherein the wing tips are allowed to float near the intra-shroud magnets, due to deflection or distortion of the rotor blades during parking, the wing-tip magnets tend to fall and the gap between the intra-shroud magnets and the wing-tip magnets increases, making the generation of a driving force impossible. Thus, a shrouded rotating wing having a small radius of about 50 to 60 cm is practical when used in the vertical position, that is, when used as a tail rotor of a single rotor type, but it is very difficult to use a shrouded rotating wing of a large caliber in a horizontal orientation or where the blow-off direction is changed rapidly such as that in Japanese Patent Application 2003-290873.
In Japanese Kokai 2001-097288, the principle of an electric motor (basically the same as the principle of a linear motor) is enlarged by mounting a rectifier on a rotary shaft whereby an electric current converted to an alternating voltage by the rectifier is conducted from the wing tips onto a ring, through the rotor blades, to energize electromagnetic coils including an iron core which are embedded in the ring, thereby affording a driving force. Therefore, the ring and the blade tips are fixed together, and when the blades expand or contract to a larger extent than the estimated 3˜5 mm, the operation of the rotating wing becomes difficult. Besides, since the coils through which an electric current flows to generate a magnetic force are embedded together with an iron core into the ring, it is presumed that the ring itself will produce heat. When these influences are taken into account, even if the rotating wing is used in a vertical position as illustrated in the drawings of Kokai 2001-097288, the diameter of 1 to 1.2 m (radius 50˜60 cm) estimated by the inventor is considered to be the limit for size capable of being manufactured.
As reported in Japanese Patent Application 2002-383031 and Kokai 2001-097288, the length of each rotor blade changes due to centrifugal force or a change in temperature. When the rotating wing is about 0.5 to 0.6 m (50 to 60 cm) in radius and is used in a vertical position, as a tail rotor (Kokai 2001-097288 and H07-205897), a change in length, even when estimated to be maximum, is about 0.6% of the rotor blade length, i.e., 0.003 to 0.004 m (3 to 4 mm). Thus, the change is within the single digit range of millimeters and therefore can be absorbed by an outer projection or the like of the ring as in Kokai 2001-097288. However, when the rotating wing is used horizontally as a main rotor, the influence of deflection or distortion of the rotor blades is added to that of the centrifugal force and the temperature change, and during parking, a decrease in projection radius of about 2% is observed in the direction opposite to the direction of the centrifugal force. When the radius of the main motor is 5 m, the expansion caused by centrifugal force, for example, is about 0.03 m (3 cm) and the decrease in projection radius due to deflection or distortion is as large as about 0.1 m (10 cm), with the total being 0.13 m (13 cm) which is on the order of ten-odd centimeters. Thus, in the methods disclosed in Kokai 2001-097288 and H07-205897, it is extremely difficult to maintain an appropriate gap between the magnets which create the driving force and it has so far been impossible to adopt the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application 2003-290873.
In Japanese application 2002-383031, in order to absorb deflection and distortion of the rotor blades which can cause a change in radius of gyration reaching ten-odd centimeters, and to thereby keep the gap between the shroud-side magnets and the rotor blade wing-tip magnets at an appropriate value, allowing the linear motor driving principle to be exhibited in a stable manner, an electromechanical device is installed within each rotor blade. However, the weight of the rotor blades is increased and the structure is complicated, resulting in an increase in the number of parts and fear of an increase in the number of failure generating factors. Moreover, the wing tips are each independent, so when a load is imposed on a certain specific rotor blade, the dispersion of the load is insufficient and the load of its wing tip imposed on the shroud becomes large. Particularly, when the rotating wing is put on a single-shaft turntable and attached to a flying body as in Japanese Patent Application 2003-290873, abnormal forces are generated against the shroud at two positions, one of which is the nearest to and the other remotest from a side wall of the flying body, by a gyro effect. Even if such portions are strengthened, the service life may be extremely shortened or the portions in question may be damaged.
A shrouded rotating wing based on the driving principle of a linear motor or a shrouded rotating wing based on the principle of an electric motor is simple in structure and light in weight when it is of a small caliber and is used vertically. However, when a shrouded rotating wing of a large caliber is used horizontally, it may become difficult keep an appropriate gap between the driving force generating electromagnets and permanent magnets, due to deflection or distortion induced by centrifugal force, heat, or due to the weight of its rotor blades, or the rotation of the rotatable portion may become difficult due to compression caused by expansion or contraction of its rotor blades, for example. Further, if an attempt is made to keep the gap between electromagnets and permanent magnets appropriate with use of an electromechanical device, not only does the structure become complicated, but also the weight of rotor blades, etc. is increased. Although there is no problem when a shrouded rotating wing is used without a sudden change in direction, in the case of a large caliber used in a horizontal direction, a strong force based on a gyro effect is developed against the shroud if the direction is changed suddenly.

Rotatable duct type shrouded rotating wing


A method and system for improving the reliability of a system, such as a software system, is disclosed. “Service measurements” that are routinely measured and monitored in connection with the operation of systems (e.g., QOS (Quality Of Service) measurements) are utilized in the reliability architecture of the system. Service measurements include a number of alternative data types, such as transactions completed, messages received, messages sent, calls completed, bytes transmitted, jobs processed, etc. Any operations of the system that are typically monitored for other purposes can be utilized in the reliability architecture of the present invention. Most systems track these types of statistics as, for example, part of their billing procedures or part of their performance bench-marking or QOS processes. Since these statistics are already kept, it is very simple to analyze the statistics to create the historical signatures, and then monitor the statistics of the currently operating system to perform the signature checking process.

The world today is inundated with systems that assist humans in almost every aspect of their lives. The term "system" is defined by Webster's as "a regularly interacting or interdependent group of items forming a unified whole." Security systems protect buildings from intruders; traffic control systems control the flow of traffic on roads and highways; navigation systems assist operators in navigation of something as simple as an automobile to something as complex as the space shuttle; price look-up systems help us move more quickly through a grocery store check-out line; computer systems frequently run all of the above-mentioned systems.
A prime example of systems requiring high degrees of reliability are telecommunications systems. Telecommunications switching and transmission systems consist of multiple processing elements, must support fast transport and signaling applications, and perform complex tasks such as protocol conversion and signaling. Due to the complexity of the tasks performed by such systems and the need for error-free communications, particularly at very high speeds, "almost perfect" availability is practically required. To achieve this high level of availability, it would be optimal to adopt in these systems methods and techniques that assure detection of silent failures before they occur, and based on trends that are available for a particular system. However, prior art detection schemes do not provide adequate measures for achieving this high level of system availability.
Because there is such a great reliance on the correct operation of systems in our daily lives, the traditional approach towards designing a highly reliable system (e.g., one that is available to operate 99.99% of the time) has been to build redundancy into the architecture and to design a sufficiently rich set of failure diagnostic tools so that the redundancy can be utilized to recover from simple failures. The benefit of redundancy is only realized, however, when the system is able to detect a failure in the system and successfully "promote" (put into operation) a redundant system element (referred to herein as a "Standby Unit" or "SU") to take the place of a failed primary system element (referred to herein as an "Active Unit" or "AU"). Systems employing this technique are sometimes referred to as "active-standby systems." An "active-active" system is similar, except that in an active-active system, there are two active units, each performing their own tasks, and upon failure of one of the active units, the other one takes on the tasks of the first one.
In practice, it is not possible to guarantee that failure diagnostic tools will detect 100% of all unit failures. The reality is that some failure modes cannot be detected without human observation, and the coverage of failure diagnostic tools will typically be somewhat less than 100%. The percentage of unit failures that are covered by system failure diagnostic tools is termed the "coverage factor". Coverage is a concept that applies to both hardware and software related failures.
Experience has shown that as a product evolves through multiple releases, coverage on the order of 95% can be achieved. However, coverage can be considerably lower in early releases of a product. A good example is the evolution of a software system and the software-related failures connected therewith. With software related failures, field experience with the product (e.g., actual use by consumers) is necessary to achieve high coverage. Failures that escape (i.e., are not identified by) system failure diagnostic tools are called "silent failures." Silent failures require human observation to be detected and human intervention to be corrected. Human observation can come in the form of routine system checks by conscientious technicians or, in the worst case, by customer complaints indicating that the system is not working. Human intervention can come in the form of sending a technician to a facility to investigate the system up close or in the form of software debugging by a programmer. The recovery duration from silent failures is therefore highly variable. When a system experiences a silent failure, prolonged down time can occur, and prolonged down time can translate to huge monetary and operational losses for both the system operators/sellers and for the users of the system.
It would be beneficial to reduce the time it takes to detect silent failures in systems of all kinds. However, prior art mechanisms for reducing the time required to detect silent failures are inadequate.

Method, system and computer program product for improving system reliability


A method for covalently bonding an analyte sensitive dye compound to an additon-cure silicone is disclosed. The method includes a first step of functionalizing the dye compound to provide a linker arm with an isolated multiple bond. A second step includes hydrosilylating the functionalized dye with polymethylhydrosiloxane. The resulting compound is cross-linked with vinyl-terminated polysiloxane in a third and final step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to the measurement of concentrations of analytes in a fluid or gaseous mixture, and more specifically, to a method for making an improved oxygen-sensing optode in which the indicator substance is covalently bonded onto a matrix.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fiber-optic based oxygen sensing apparatus have proliferated over the years due to their numerous applications in the medical, chemical and environmental fields. Many oxygen sensors rely on the phenomenon of fluorescence quenching as a means for determining the presence of oxygen in a liquid or gaseous mixture. Fluorescence quenching has been a widely used approach for such devices due to the high sensitivity that can be achieved. Systems and instruments implementing fluorescence quenching techniques utilize an encapsulated oxygen-quenchable fluorescence dye that is placed within a gas permeable matrix usually made from a polymer or similar substance. The dye/matrix, called a sensor element or optode, can be applied to the tip of an optical fiber using well-known techniques in the art. A light source with appropriate filtering system provides a select wavelength of light which propagates down the optical fiber and excites the dye. The fluorescence signal, induced by the excitation energy, travels back down the same optical fiber and is collected by a photodetector. The intensity of the fluorescence of the dye, which is a function of the oxygen level in the sample, can be transduced into a partial pressure of oxygen.
While many sensor elements have been developed for use with oxygen measuring devices, there are inherent problems associated with them that are detrimental to the accuracy of the measurements. For example, it is sometimes a difficult task to immobilize the fluorescent dye in a gas permeable matrix because of the chemical and/or physical incompatibility between the dye and matrix. Many of the more widely used oxygen fluorescent dyes are polynuclear aromatic compounds which, because of their high degree of symmetry, usually have low solubility in organic materials. As a result, the fluorescent dyes have a tendency to leach through the permeable matrix into the solution or gas mixture that is being tested.
Various approaches for creating an operable sensor element include absorbing the dye on inorganic or organic solid supports and dispersing the dye in the matrix by way of organic solvents. Many of these techniques still have serious drawbacks if the dye is chemically incompatible with the polymer matrix. These dyes still have a tendency to leach out, particularly when in contact with a sample that includes a substance that has similar properties as the dye/polymer matrix. Unfortunately, such substances include blood proteins and many organic solvents, which are often the samples being tested. As a result of the leaching of the dye during use, the sensing element may have to be continuously replaced to ensure the accuracy of oxygen measurements. Moreover, symmetrical dye molecules that are free to move within a polymer matrix tend to agglomerate which results in changes in fluorescent properties.
Accordingly, those concerned with the development and use of oxygen sensing devices have long recognized the need for an improved method for creating a sensor element that will not leach when placed in the sample solution or during storage and will not suffer dye agglomeration over time. Preferably, the improved method should produce a dye/matrix that can be readily affixed to the end of an optical fiber or other similar device in a single step. Moreover, the sensor made according to the method should be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and should provide accurate oxygen measurements.

Method for bonding an analyte-sensitive dye compound to an addition-cure silicone


A game apparatus, when receiving an input of an input character by a user, obtains and displays option character strings corresponding to the input character. The option character strings displayed here are option character strings that are connectable to a word preceding the input character. Displayed as the option character strings in this manner are only character strings, each of which does not form an inappropriate expression when connected to the word preceding or following the input character. When the user has selected an option character string from these option character strings, the game apparatus determines the option character string to be a fixed character string, and displays and stores the fixed character string.

Conventionally, there is a known apparatus that allows a user inputting a sentence thereinto to input the sentence efficiently with reduced input operations. When the user inputs a word or the like into the apparatus, the apparatus obtains and displays, as input options (hereinafter, referred to as "connection option character strings"), words or the like that can immediately follow the inputted word or the like. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-334499 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses a character string input apparatus that is capable of, when a user inputs characters "jinkou" (in Japanese hiragana characters), displaying options "jinkou" (in Japanese kanji characters meaning "population") and "jinkou" (in Japanese kanji characters meaning "artificial") into which the inputted characters "jinkou" can be converted (hereinafter, referred to as "conversion options"), and at the same time, displaying "mitsudo" (in Japanese kanji characters meaning "density") and "zouka" (in Japanese kanji characters meaning "increase") as connection option character strings corresponding to "jinkou" (in Japanese kanji characters meaning "population"), and displaying "zouki" (in Japanese kanji characters meaning "organ") and "chinou" (in Japanese kanji characters meaning "intelligence") as connection option character strings corresponding to "jinkou" (in Japanese kanji characters meaning "artificial"). The character string input apparatus allows the user to select one of the conversion options and one of the connection option character strings. In this manner, the user can input character strings corresponding to the inputted characters.
To be specific, if "jinkou" ("population") and "jinkou" ("artificial") are displayed and the user selects one of them, for example, "jinkou" ("population"), then "mitsudo" and "zouka" are displayed as connection option character strings corresponding to "jinkou" ("population"). By selecting one of them, for example, "zouka", the user can fixedly input, into the character string input apparatus, "jinkou zouka" corresponding to the inputted "jinkou".
Patent Document 1 discloses a plurality of different methods for extracting connection option character strings. For example, one of the methods uses a table in which whether or not two words (a conversion option and a connection option character string) are connectable to each other is written.
As described above, in the conventional technique, it is determined whether or not a conversion option for an input character is connectable to any connection option character strings. Accordingly, the character string input apparatus displays only connection option character strings connectable to the conversion option for the input character. The character string input apparatus can receive an input for fixing only such a connection option character string.
However, the conventional technique merely determines whether or not the conversion option for the input character is connectable to any connection option character strings. Therefore, there is a case where a character string that forms an inappropriate expression when connected to a word that is displayed at a position preceding or following the input character, is fixedly inputted. For example, assume a case where the user inputs "shika" (in hiragana) so as to immediately follow "uma" (in kanji) in the display, and also assume in this case that the conventional technique displays, for example, "shika" (in kanji) as a conversion option for the inputted "shika" (in hiragana) and "no ko" as a connection option character string corresponding to the conversion option "shika" (in kanj). Here, if the user selects and fixedly inputs "shika no ko" that corresponds to the input characters "shika", then "shika no ko" is connected to the immediately preceding "uma". Accordingly, a combination of "uma", "shika", and "no ko", which means "stupid kid" in Japanese, is fixedly inputted. In this manner, an inappropriate expression is inputted.
Therefore, a feature of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention is to provide a computer readable storage medium having stored therein an input program capable of effectively preventing a character string, the character string forming an inappropriate expression when connected to a word either preceding or following an input character, from being fixedly inputted, and to provide a system and an input method capable of doing the same.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned feature, in a first aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a program stored in a computer readable storage medium causes a computer of an information processing apparatus that includes storage means for storing an option character string database that defines a combination of at least one character and at least one option character string corresponding to the at least one character, to function as character input reception means, first output means, option character string obtaining means, first preceding/following identification means, fixed character string determination means, and second output means. The character input reception means receives an input of a character by a user. The first output means outputs, as an unfixed character, the character received by the character input reception means. The option character string obtaining means obtains, from the option character string database, at least one option character string as a respective at least one first option character string that corresponds to the unfixed character. The first preceding/following identification means identifies at least one of a character string preceding the unfixed character and a character string following the unfixed character. The fixed character string determination means determines, among the at least one first option character string, a first option character string to be a fixed character string, the first option character string satisfying a predetermined condition for a character string to be connectable to the at least one of the character strings, which has been identified by the first preceding/following identification means. The second output means outputs the fixed character string.
According to the above configuration, among the at least one first option character string obtained by the option character string obtaining means, a first option character string connectable to at least one of the character string preceding the unfixed character and the character string following the unfixed character is determined to be a fixed character string. As a result, a first option character string, whose meaning becomes inappropriate when interpreted in combination with the character string preceding the input character and/or the character string following the input character, can be effectively prevented from being determined to be a fixed character string.
In a second aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the program stored in the computer readable storage medium further causes the computer to function as selection input reception means. In the second aspect, the selection input reception means receives an operation which the user performs for selecting a second option character string. The fixed character string determination means obtains, from the at least one first option character string obtained by the option character string obtaining means, at least one first option character string satisfying the predetermined condition, as a respective at least one second option character string. When the selection input reception means has received the operation of selecting a second option character string from the at least one obtained second option character string, the fixed character string determination means determines the second option character string to be a fixed character string.
According to the above configuration, among the at least one first option character string obtained by the option character string obtaining means, at least one first option character string connectable to at least one of the character string preceding the unfixed character and the character string following the unfixed character is obtained as a respective at least one second option character string. Among the at least one second option character string, a second option character string selected by the user is determined to be a fixed character string. In this manner, only a first option character string (or strings) connectable to at least one of the character string preceding the unfixed character and the character string following the unfixed character is determined to be a second option character string (or strings) selectable by the user. Therefore, a first option character string, whose meaning becomes inappropriate when interpreted in combination with the character string preceding the input character and/or the character string following the input character, can be effectively prevented from being determined to be a fixed character string.
In a third aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the program stored in the computer readable storage medium further causes the computer to function as selection input reception means. In the third aspect, the selection input reception means receives an operation which the user performs for selecting a first option character string. When the selection input reception means has received the operation of selecting a first option character string from the at least one first option character string obtained by the option character string obtaining means, the fixed character string determination means determines whether or not the selected first option character string satisfies the predetermined condition. Only when the selected first option character string satisfies the predetermined condition, the fixed character string determination means determines the selected first option character string to be a fixed character string.
According to the above configuration, the first option character string selected by the user is, only when connectable to at least one of the character string preceding the unfixed character and the character string following the unfixed character, determined to be a fixed character string. Therefore, a first option character string, whose meaning becomes inappropriate when interpreted in combination with the character string preceding the input character and/or the character string following the input character, is not determined to be a fixed character string. Thus, such a first option character string can be effectively prevented from being inputted as a fixed character string.
According to the program stored in the computer readable storage medium, in a fourth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention based on the second aspect, the fixed character string determination means determines, when the selection input reception means has received the operation of selecting a second option character string from the at least one obtained second option character string, whether or not the selected second option character string satisfies the predetermined condition. Only when the selected second option character string satisfies the predetermined condition, the fixed character string determination means determines the selected second option character string to be a fixed character string.
According to the above configuration, only a first option character string (or strings) connectable to at least one of the character string preceding the unfixed character and the character string following the unfixed character is determined to be a second option character string (or strings) selectable by the user. In addition, only a second option character string connectable to at least one of the character string preceding the unfixed character and the character string following the unfixed character is determined to be a fixed character string. Therefore, a first option character string, whose meaning becomes inappropriate when interpreted in combination with the character string preceding the input character and/or the input character string following the input character, can be more effectively prevented from being inputted as a fixed character string.
According to the program stored in the computer readable storage medium, in a fifth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the first preceding/following identification means identifies both the character string preceding the unfixed character and the character string following the unfixed character. The fixed character string determination means obtains, from the at least one first option character string obtained by the option character string obtaining means, the at least one first option character string satisfying the predetermined condition, as the respective at least one second option character string, the predetermined condition being a condition to be connectable to the character string that precedes the unfixed character and that has been identified by the first preceding/following identification means. Also, the fixed character string determination means determines whether or not the selected second option character string satisfies the predetermined condition that is a condition to be connectable to the character string that follows the unfixed character and that has been identified by the first preceding/following identification means. Only when the selected second option character string satisfies the predetermined condition, the fixed character string determination means determines the selected second option character string to be a fixed character string.
According to the above configuration, among the at least one first option character string obtained by the option character string obtaining means, only a first option character string (or strings) connectable to the character string preceding the input character is obtained as a second option character string (or strings). This configuration allows a greater variety of first option character strings to be obtained as second option character strings selectable by the user, as compared to the configuration in which a first option character string (or strings) connectable to both the character string preceding the input character and the character string following the input character is obtained as a second option character string (or strings). Only when a second option character string selected by the user is connectable to the character string whose sequence number is larger by 1 than that of the input character, the selected second option character string is determined to be a fixed character string. Accordingly, only a second option character string connectable to both the character string preceding the input character and the character string following the input character can be determined to be a fixed character string while a great variety of options are provided to the user by obtaining a great variety of second option character strings.
In a sixth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the program stored in the computer readable storage medium further causes the computer to function as second output means. The second output means outputs the at least one second option character string obtained by the fixed character string determination means. This configuration makes it possible to notify the user of the at least one selectable second option character string.
In a seventh aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the program stored in the computer readable storage medium further causes the computer to function as deletion instruction reception means, second preceding/following identification means, connection determination means, and state change means. The deletion instruction reception means receives, from the user, an instruction to delete the fixed character string. The second preceding/following identification means identifies a character string preceding the fixed character string to be deleted and a character string following the fixed character string to be deleted. The connection determination means determines whether or not the character string preceding the fixed character string to be deleted and the character string following the fixed character string to be deleted, both of which have been identified by the second preceding/following identification means, are connectable to each other. When the connection determination means determines that the character strings preceding and following the fixed character string to be deleted are connectable to each other, the state change means changes the fixed character string to be deleted into an unfixed character.
According to the above configuration, whether or not the character string preceding the fixed character string to be deleted and the character string following the fixed character string to be deleted are identified, and it is determined whether or not these character strings are connectable to each other. When it is determined that these character strings are connectable to each other, the fixed character string to be deleted is changed into an unfixed character. Accordingly, by employing a configuration in which, for example, a deletion of a fixed character string is impossible but only a deletion of an unfixed character is possible, the fixed character string to be deleted can be deleted only when the character string preceding the fixed character string to be deleted and the character string following the fixed character string to be deleted are connectable to each other. Consequently, the following situation can be effectively prevented: a character string preceding a fixed character string to be deleted and a character string following the fixed character string to be deleted are, even though not connectable to each other, connected due to a deletion of the fixed character string to be deleted.
According to the program stored in the computer readable storage medium, in an eighth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the option character string obtaining means obtains, from the option character string database, at least one first option character string corresponding to the unfixed character that has been changed by the state change means. According to the above configuration, among the at least one first option character string corresponding to the unfixed character that has been changed, a first option character string can be fixedly inputted.
According to the program stored in the computer readable storage medium, in a ninth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when it is determined that the character string preceding the fixed character string to be deleted and the character string following the fixed character string to be deleted are not connectable to each other, the connection determination means determines, as a connectable character string, a character string located at a rearmost position among character strings that precede the fixed character string to be deleted and that are connectable to the character string following the fixed character string to be deleted. The state change means changes all character strings present between the connectable character string and the character string following the fixed character string to be deleted, into unfixed characters.
According to the above configuration, all the fixed character strings of which the sequence number is smaller than that of the fixed character string to be deleted and which are not connectable to the character string immediately following the fixed character string to be deleted, i.e., all the character strings present between the character string immediately following the fixed character string to be deleted and the character string (connectable character string) connectable to the character string immediately following the fixed character string to be deleted, are changed into an unfixed state. In this manner, the following situation can be effectively prevented: two character strings that are not connectable to each other are, due to a deletion of the fixed character string to be deleted, successively arranged as fixed character strings.
According to the program stored in the computer readable storage medium, in a tenth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the fixed character string determination means has determined one of the at least one first option character string to be a fixed character string, the option character string obtaining means obtains, from the option character string database, at least one option character string as a respective at least one third option character string that corresponds to the fixed character string. According to this configuration, when a fixed character string is determined, at least one option character string corresponding to the fixed character string is obtained without requiring the user to input a character. This reduces the character inputting operations performed by the user.
According to the program stored in the computer readable storage medium in an eleventh aspect, the fixed character string determination means determines, among the at least one third option character string, a third option character string to be a fixed character string, the third option character string satisfying the predetermined condition for a character string to be connectable to the at least one of the character strings, which has been identified by the first preceding/following identification means. According to this configuration, a third option character string, whose meaning becomes inappropriate when interpreted in combination with a fixed character string, can be effectively prevented from being fixedly inputted.
The program stored in the computer readable storage medium, in a twelfth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention further causes the computer to function as transmission instruction input reception means and transmission means. The transmission instruction input reception means receives an instruction to transmit the character inputted by the user to another information processing apparatus. When the transmission instruction input reception means has received the instruction, the transmission means transmits, to said another information processing apparatus, transmission data that contains text that only includes the fixed character string. According to this configuration, text transmitted to said another information processing apparatus only includes a fixed character string, i.e., a fixedly inputted character string. Consequently, a character in an unfixed state, which may constitute an inappropriate expression, can be effectively prevented from being transmitted to said another information processing apparatus.
According to the program stored in the computer readable storage medium, in a thirteenth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the character input reception means causes the storage means to store the received character as an unfixed character. The first output means outputs the unfixed character stored in the storage means. Further, in the thirteenth aspect, the program further causes the computer to function as first deletion means. When the transmission instruction input reception means has received the instruction, the first deletion means deletes the unfixed character from the storage means prior to transmitting the transmission data. According to this configuration, a character in an unfixed state, which may constitute an inappropriate expression, can be more effectively prevented from being transmitted to said another information processing apparatus.
According to the program stored in the computer readable storage medium, in a fourteenth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the first output means displays a marker in a predetermined display area of display means of the information processing apparatus, and, at a time of outputting the unfixed character, displays the unfixed character at a position relative to a display position of the marker in the predetermined display area. The character input reception means receives an input of an instruction to change the display position of the marker. Further, in the fourteenth aspect, the program further causes the computer to function as second deletion means. When the character input reception means has received the input of the instruction to change the display position of the marker, the second deletion means deletes the unfixed character from the predetermined display area. Here, when an instruction to change the display position of the marker is provided, it is highly likely that the user wishes to input a character string which is different from a character string inputted before the instruction to change the display position of the marker has been provided. Therefore, when an instruction to change the display position of the marker is provided, an unfixed character stored before the instruction to change the display position of the marker has been provided is determined to be a character of no use and deleted from the display area.
According to the program stored in the computer readable storage medium, in a fifteenth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the fixed character string determination means performs a fixed character string determination process for determining the fixed character string, only when the selection input reception means has received the operation for selecting a second option character string. According to this configuration, a character inputted by the user cannot be directly determined to be a fixed character string. Only a second option character string can be determined to be a fixed character string. Therefore, a character string that is an inappropriate expression is not fixedly inputted unless the at least one obtained second option character string includes the character string that is an inappropriate expression.
In a sixteenth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a system includes storage means, character input reception means, first output means, option character string obtaining means, first preceding/following identification means, fixed character string determination means, and second output means. The storage means stores an option character string database that defines a combination of at least one character and at least one option character string corresponding to the at least one character. The character input reception means receives an input of a character by a user. The first output means outputs, as an unfixed character, the character received by the character input reception means. The option character string obtaining means obtains, from the option character string database, at least one option character string as a respective at least one first option character string that corresponds to the unfixed character. The first preceding/following identification means identifies at least one of a character string preceding the unfixed character and a character string following the unfixed character. The fixed character string determination means determines, among the at least one first option character string, a first option character string to be a fixed character string, the first option character string satisfying a predetermined condition for a character string to be connectable to the at least one of the character strings, which has been identified by the first preceding/following identification means. The second output means outputs the fixed character string.
Note that, the "system" of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be structured as a single apparatus, or structured with a plurality of apparatuses. For example, the system may include only one input apparatus, and the input apparatus may include the storage means, the character input reception means, the first output means, the option character string obtaining means, the first preceding/following identification means, the fixed character string determination means, and the second output means. Alternatively, the system may include a server and an input apparatus. The server may include some of the storage means, the character input reception means, the first output means, the option character string obtaining means, the first preceding/following identification means, the fixed character string determination means, and the second output means, and the input apparatus may include the others.
In a seventeenth aspect of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an input method includes a storing step, a character input reception step, a first output step, an option character string obtaining step, a first preceding/following identifying step, a fixed character string determining step, and a second output step. The storing step is a step of storing an option character string database that defines a combination of at least one character and at least one option character string corresponding to the at least one character. The character input reception step is a step of receiving an input of a character by a user. The first output step is a step of outputting, as an unfixed character, the character received at the character input reception step. The option character string obtaining step is a step of obtaining, from the option character string database, at least one option character string as a respective at least one first option character string that corresponds to the unfixed character. The first preceding/following identifying step is a step of identifying at least one of a character string preceding the unfixed character and a character string following the unfixed character. The fixed character string determining step is a step of determining, among the at least one first option character string, a first option character string to be a fixed character string, the first option character string satisfying a predetermined condition for a character string to be connectable to the at least one of the character strings, which has been identified at the first preceding/following identifying step. The second output step is a step of outputting the fixed character string.
The above-described system and method of the sixteenth and seventeenth aspects each provide the same functions and effects as those provided by the computer readable storage medium of the first aspect.
According to the computer readable storage medium, system, or method of the above first to seventeenth aspects, among the at least one first option character string that is extracted from the option character string database and that corresponds to the input character, only a first option character string that is connectable to at least one of the character string preceding the unfixed character and the character string following the unfixed character is fixedly inputted. Therefore, an option character string, whose meaning becomes inappropriate when interpreted in combination with the character string preceding the input character and/or the character string following the input character, can be effectively prevented from being fixedly inputted.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Techniques for facilitating inputs to input device


An ink jet chamber communicates with an ink reservoir through an opening in a diaphragm plate. The chamber also includes a nozzle through which ink may be ejected on demand. A mass, such as a ball, is reciprocally driven into the diaphragm plate. The ball, upon striking the diaphragm, closes the chamber opening, pressurizing the ink in the chamber to eject a droplet from the nozzle. The ball is driven by a printer driver wire to which it may be attached. Large arrays may be constructed.

This invention relates to printheads preferably used with drop on demand ink jet printers. Present drop on demand printing devices make use of a variety of mechanisms to generate ink droplets. Some devices use remote solenoid valves to feed nozzles through a length of tubing, others use solenoid valves directly operating at the nozzles or solenoids operating valves at the nozzles connected via rigid or flexible cables. These valve systems generally produce larger drops that are suitable for large character printers typically used to print on cardboard boxes, etc.
There are a number of drawbacks encountered with such devices, particularly when remotely located solenoid valves are employed. These include low frequency response due to slow valve action causing long filaments of fluid (ink) to be ejected from the nozzle; the high cost of the valves and assorted control problems due to the ingestion of air into the nozzle, all of which cause drop marking errors. Finally, such systems require relatively large amounts of power to actuate the valve drivers.
Valves that operate directly at the nozzle or by means of a flexible cable or rod have shown poor reliability. In addition, manufacturing costs have been high and low frequency response is also found in such devices.
Another type of drop on demand printer produces relatively small characters, for example, document printers. These devices use the surface tension of the orifice as the valving mechanism. Surface tension at the orifice (nozzle) provides the necessary valving after droplet ejection. It absorbs the recoil of the ink drop momentum to stop the ink from leaking and holds the fluid at the orifice while the ink chamber is being refilled. To accomplish this result, however, the orifice used must be small (usually below 60 microns) and the surface tension of the fluid must be high. This small orifice approach precludes the use of these devices for producing large drops and, consequently, large character printing.
The present invention, although suitable for producing small drops and small characters, has a particular advantage with respect to large character printing. Because high surface tension pressure is not required, the size of the orifices can be larger and therefore capable of producing larger drops. Furthermore, these larger orifices can easily be closely spaced to form a single nozzle; the drops from such individual orifices combine to form an even larger drop.
Other advantages of the present invention over prior art include a relatively high frequency response (greater than 500 drops/sec); and positive, locally generated, pressure pulses rather than a remote pressure source assuring better control and fewer operating problems.
Finally, the present invention is susceptible of a lowcost construction employing a series of plates permitting inexpensive photo-etch fabrications, and diffusion bonding joining.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to obtain the benefits of these advantages over the known art.

Impact-valve printhead for ink jet printing