A simple method and apparatus for contactless rapid and inexpensive motion checking of flat objects, preferably of currency papers. The objects need not be identical in size, thickness, surface appearance, configuration nor deterioration. The checking is carried out by detecting of airflow oscillation under unexpected stoppage of testing object or air movement around the object especially on its front and back edges.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for assessing the motion of flat objects moved through a channel. In particular, the invention is related to such a method and apparatus where the measurement is based on the output of at least one anemometric sensor affected by the airflow associated with movement of the flat object.
Various conventional motion-checking methods are known in the art, e.g., methods of using electromechanical sensors (U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,103; U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,285; U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,778; U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,898, U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,928, etc.), ultrasound methods (U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,964; U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,591, etc.), methods of using piezoelectric sensors (U.S. Pat. No. 5400,012; U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,743 etc.,) capacitive and charge sensitive methods (U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,859, U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,281 etc.), methods of using microwave technique (U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,691, U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,158 etc.), methods of using pyroelectric sensors (U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,399; U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,025; U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,712 etc.), methods of using optical images (U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,455; U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,916; U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,379; U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,966; U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,886 etc.), and its computer processing (U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,136, U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,798; U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,203; U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,846 etc.), methods of using coherent lighting (U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,379; U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,777 etc.). It is difficult or expensive to use any of these methods for evaluating the movement of currency papers due to the changing,size, thickness, material, surface appearance, configuration and deterioration characteristics of currency paper. Currency paper, when moved through a channel, also has a significant vibration making the assessment more difficult.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,194 to Beerwerth et al., describes the thin film multipair thermopile sensor for multipurpose motion detector which is provided with diaphragms and/or focusing elements arranged so that a moving object focused images passes by the hot and cold junctions of the sensor element alternatively, causing a corresponding sensor output signal to be generated. However, this method needs a fixed lighting of testing objects and an extensive optical set for focusing a large object to the thermopile sensor.
It is known to include in paper transport arrangement, a paper jam detector (U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,744 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,589). An expensive array of optical sensors check the passageway for the absence of a paper sheet in the specified place at the specified point in time. However, all these detectors have a significant time delay between an actual paper jam and the detector identifying a paper jam.
Airflow detection using a previously heated anemometer is known (U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,872; U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,960; U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,380; U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,481; U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,099; U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,883; U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,915; U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,370; U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,105; U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,866; U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,215). However, the prior art detectors are complicated and designed for relative slow movement and cannot detect in real time, short weak airflow vibration typical of airflow vibration waves from leading and trailing edges of a banknote.
The present invention provides a contactless method of sensing the motion or unexpected stoppage of currency papers with arbitrary size, thickness and deterioration, by measurement of the airflow movement around moving currency paper or air movement associated with the unexpected stoppage thereof.
The present invention provides an apparatus for checking the currency paper motion including at least one sensor for real-time measurement of the speed changes of the airflow associated with the motion or unexpected stoppage of currency paper.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the apparatus contains at least two airflow sensors for measuring the instantaneous speed changes of the airflow associated with the currency paper.
In a further aspect of the invention, the apparatus contains a line of airflow sensors and the signals thereof are processed to provide real-time position information of currency paper edges.
In an aspect of the invention, the apparatus contains a two-dimensional matrix of airflow sensors for detecting the real-time position of currency paper in a transporting channel.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention, a low cost failsafe compact planar heat-loss airflow sensor for sensing changes in airflow is provided.
A preferred motion checking apparatus, according to the present invention, is inexpensive and easily incorporated into banknote validators.
The real-time information about currency paper motion is used to control currency transportation and to reduce paper jams in validity checking machines, including validators, banknote dispensers, and automated payment systems for receiving and dispensing of banknotes.
The present invention provides an improved contactless method and apparatus for rapid and inexpensive motion checking of flat objects by detecting of air turbulence around the object especially adjacent its front and back edges. The objects need not be identical in surface appearance, configuration and deterioration. The objects preferably may be of substantially any size or thickness and need not be less than some maximum size or within some narrow range of thickness.
A contactless method of checking the motion or unexpected stoppage of flat objects according to the present invention includes measuring the instantaneous cooling rate of a previously heated thin sensor wire or small bead thermistor located in the airflow associated with the moving test object.
All objects that move through an atmosphere cause a corresponding tight-fitting air movement. Thin end moving flat objects produce front and back shock waves that are distinguishable from the almost uniform airflow associated with the middle portion of the object. Unexpected stoppage of a flat object causes vibrations of airflow, especially when objects are thin like currency papers. These shock and vibration airwaves produce a change in airflow which cools the heated thin metal wire with a corresponding decrease of its resistance xcex94R. The corresponding voltage drop on this wire xcex94U=Ixc3x97xcex94R where I is a current through wire. When NTC thermistor is used one can get the corresponding voltage increase. Alternating component of this signal is practically independent of any surrounding quasi-steady airflow and temperature, whereby the voltage drop is indicative of the motion status of the object.
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for motion checking of flat object includes at least one heat-loss sensor located parallel to one side of a testing object with the sensor connected to a steady current source and amplifier which forms a signal proportional to the instantaneous rate of sensor cooling.
Further in accordance with preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heat-loss sensor is connected to an alternating voltage amplifier through derivation circuit. The preferred time constants of amplifier and derivation circuit are similar to typical flat object motion time along the wire or to flat object oscillation period under unexpected stoppage.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the said sensor includes a series of heat-loss elements connected sequentially and positioned at equal distances from one another and parallel to frontal edge of a testing object. To get the optimal time resolution of motion process optimal distance d between adjacent elements is less than d=3xcfx84xc3x97"ugr", where "ugr" is the rate of object movement, xcfx84xe2x80x94time constant of heated single sensing element.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heat-loss sensor includes a two-dimensional xe2x8axa5-type matrix of heat-loss elements connected sequentially in each dimension parallel and perpendicular to frontal edge of the testing object respectively, each one-dimensional line of sensors is connected to its own steady current source and amplifier, to form a sequence of pulses in accordance with the testing object motion.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the said sensor is a thin heat-loss sensing wire with a protective housing which accommodates a pulsed airflow under testing object unexpected stoppage.
Still further in accordance with preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus has a semi-closed box with slot for flat object transportation and an air compensation opening with the heat-loss sensing wire associated with the air compensation opening.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the planar heat-loss sensor is a thin mini PC-board with the heat-loss sensing wire alongside printed conductor on said PC-board verge, one sided ends of wire and printed conductor are connected together and another ends are connected to electric scheme such that currents in sensing wire and alongside conductor are equal and antiparallel.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the planar heat-loss sensor is a thin mini PC-board with two heat-loss sensing wires alongside to sharpened edge of mini PC-board, one sided ends of wires are connected together and another ends are connected to electric scheme such that currents in alongside wires are equal and antiparallel.
Further in accordance with preferred embodiment of the present invention, the needle-shaped heat-loss sensor is a thin hard metal stem with alongside heat-loss wire, one end of the stem is connected to wire and opposite stem and wire ends are connected to electric scheme through transition mini PC-board such that currents in alongside wire and stem are equal and antiparallel.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said sensor is a heat-loss small bead thermistor with thin protective coating.
Additionally in accordance with preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for checking the time variation of flat testing object momentary speed, including the measuring of difference between instantaneous cooling rates of heat-loss sensor coursed by (located in) the airflow of the testing object airflow and reference heat-lose sensor, placed into undisturbed air.
Additionally provided, in accordance with preferred embodiment of the present invention, is apparatus for checking the time variation of flat testing object momentary speed, including at least two heat-loss sensors each being connected to a steady current source and to differential channels of amplifier, one sensor is situated in the testing object airflow and the other sensor located in undisturbed air for compensation of surrounding temperature and quasi-steady airflow. Steady current sensor""s feeding permit to stabilise its temperature, so the method sensitivity practically independent from object speeds.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes at least one protective spacer between testing object and heat-loss sensing wire forming the cooling airflow according to movement rate of testing object.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for locating the flat object including the formation of the directional to testing object airflow through matrix of air jets with heat-loss sensor in each and measuring instantaneous cooling rates of each sensor coursed by airflow through free jets and jets screened by flat object. The instantaneous cooling rates of sensors screened by testing object is less in comparison with sensors situated in free jets so it is easy to determine the real-time location of testing object and its motion behavior.
Additionally provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is apparatus for determine the real-time location of testing object including excess air pressure source, at least one-sided air jets matrix with heat-loss sensor in each jets connected to corresponding steady current source and amplifier, forming the signal proportional to instantaneous rate of sensor cooling.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, all heat-loss sensor are connected sequentially to steady current source at that sensor ends are connected through corresponding analog multiplexer to differential inputs of amplifier which forming the output signal respectively to instantaneous cooling rate of sensor situated in permitted channel address.
In operation, the currency paper is moved across the heat-loss sensor with its xe2x80x9cnarrowxe2x80x9d height dimension as the leading edge. The front and back shock waves cause rapid cooling of heated sensor so its resistance quickly changes and we get corresponding voltage drop on this wire xcex94U. The variable component of said signals amplified by alternating current amplifier. Point in signals time appearance corresponding to moment of paper front and back edges passing by the sensor wire. If the length L of currency paper is known its average speed may be easy determined as "ugr"=L/xcex94t, where xcex94t is the time delay between front and back signals. When the heat-loss sensor consists of plurality of sensing elements connected sequentially and situated on equal distances d1 from one another parallel to frontal edge of currency paper the average speed is "ugr"1=d2/xcex94t2, where xcex94t2 is the time interval between adjacent pulses. In two-dimensional xe2x8axa5-type matrix elements connected sequentially parallel to frontal edge of testing object operates by described above manner. Connected sequentially sensing elements in orthogonal dimension perpendicular to frontal edge of testing object and situated on the equal distances d2 indicates the transverse shift of testing object with corresponding speed "ugr"xe2x8axa5=d2/xcex94t2, where xcex94t2 is the time interval between adjacent pulses from orthogonal sensor. Protective housing round sensor wire prevents it against damage and channeling the airflow to the wire according to testing object motion. The instantaneous cooling rate of heat-loss sensor placed into tight fitting to testing object airflow allows determining the time variation of flat testing object momentary speed. Unexpected stoppage of thin testing object sourses causes deformation and vibration of the object and changes in the airflow associated with the object. The heat-loss sensor detects these changes and produces a corresponding pulse (multi pulse) signal. The planar anemometric sensor has good mechanical durability, technological effectiveness and low cost. The heating current in single or doubles wire planar and needle-shaped sensors flows in opposite directions in alongside thin wire and hard conductor causes the magnetic repulsive force. On the other hand under heating the sensor wire undergoes the thermal extension. Said wire moves away from another conductor (printed or hard) or sensor wire and mini PC-board. So the sensor sensitivity and response speed significantly rises. The formation at least one sided multiunit airflow to testing object with heat-loses sensors in each air jet allows location of the object and allows determination of the motion behaviour thereof.


A multiple fluid feed system for, for example, a turbine engine, comprises a fuel tank, a fuel pump, and means for switching fuel flow from said pump between a return to tank condition and an engine supply condition. A starting fuel reservoir has a cylinder with a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. A piston in the cylinder is movable from a start position to a run condition in response to movement of the switching means from the return to tank condition to the engine supply condition. A supply of starting fuel is disposed in the reservoir and is biased out of the reservoir upon initial movement of the piston.

This invention relates generally to feed of multiple fluids and more particularly to an improved starting fuel reservoir for use in the fuel system disclosed in application Ser. No. 305,163 filed Feb. 2, 1989, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
There is a need for an improved multiple fluid fuel system that exhibits positive displacement of a starting fluid during turbine start-up and acceleration and uninhibited supply of run fuel thereafter. Such a multiple fluid fuel system preferably automatically purges the fuel lines of accumulated vapor and air, prior to engine rotation.


A negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery which is obtained by sintering under a non-oxidizing atmosphere, in the form of a layer on a surface of a metal foil current collector, an anode mix containing a binder and particles of active material containing silicon and/or a silicon alloy; the negative electrode being characterized in that the metal foil current corrector has projections and recesses on its surface, the projection is shaped to have a recurved side face portion that curves more outwardly as it extends closer to a distal end of the projection, and the binder penetrates into spaces defined by the recurved side face portions.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery, a method for fabrication thereof and a rechargeable lithium battery using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
As one of new types of rechargeable batteries having high power and high energy density, rechargeable lithium batteries have been recently utilized which are charged and discharged by the transfer of lithium ions through a nonaqueous electrolyte solution between the positive and negative electrodes.
The use of lithium-alloying materials, such as silicon materials, as a negative active material of such a rechargeable lithium battery has been studied. Silicon materials and other lithium-alloying materials however expand and shrink in volume when they store and release lithium. Accordingly, such active materials are pulverized or caused to fall off from the current collector upon charge-discharge cycling. This reduces the current-collecting capacity within the electrode and results in poor charge-discharge cycle characteristics, which have been problems.
In the attempt to solve the above-described problems, the present applicant has proposed a negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery (International Publication No. 02/21616). This negative electrode is obtained by depositing a layer of an anode mix, which contains a binder and particles of active material containing silicon and/or a silicon alloy, on a surface of a current collector and then sintering the deposit under the non-oxidizing atmosphere.
However, even such a negative electrode of a rechargeable lithium battery encounters an occasion where the layer of anode mix is delaminated from the current collector as the active material expands and shrinks during a charge-discharge reaction, resulting in the failure to obtain satisfactory charge-discharge cycle performance characteristics.

Negative electrode for rechargeable lithium battery and method for fabrication thereof


A method for numerical calculation related to fluids which is efficient and less liable to cause numerical diffusion and does not rely upon the functional form of an equation of state and hence can be used as a generalized numerical calculation method. A flux is divided into an advection part, a pressure-dependent part, and a dissipation part, according to physical properties thereof, to calculate a one-dimensional basic equation. A time evolution is executed on the advection part and the pressure-dependent part using an upwind difference type leap-frog difference method and a central difference type leap-frog difference method, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for numerical calculation related to fluids such as a compressible fluid, a program for causing a computer to execute the method, and a storage medium storing the program.
2. Description of the Related Art
A numerical analysis method for a compressible fluid in general is roughly classified into an analysis method which makes much of upwinding, and an analysis method which does not make much of upwinding and designs the grid system, instead.
Recently, as an efficient and stable analysis method for compressible fluids, an AUSM (Advection Upstream Splitting Method) scheme has been proposed (refer to M. S. Liu and C. J. Steffen, Jr: A New Flux Splitting Scheme, Journal of Computational Physics, 107, 23-39 (1993), for example). According to this AUSM scheme, the pressure that causes non-linearity is dealt with separately, and the ultrasonic speed is evaluated according to the functional form of an equation of state in order to carry out pressure evaluation according to the Mach number
On the other hand, as an analysis method which does not make much of upwinding, there have been proposed a central difference scheme (central scheme) (refer to H. Nessyahu, E. Tadmor, "Non-oscillatory central differencing for hyperbolic conservation laws" Journal of Computational Physics, 87, 408-463 (1990), for example), and the CE/SE scheme (refer to S. C. Chang "The Method of Space-Time Conservation Element and Solution Element—A New Approach for Solving the Navier-Stokes and Euler Equations" Journal of Computational Physics, 119, 295-324 (1995), for example). According to these schemes, a dual grid system is used to carry out calculation in the central difference scheme, and a plurality of grid systems are used to carry out calculation in the CE/SE scheme, since a conservation law in time and space is considered.
The AUSM scheme requires evaluation of the ultrasonic speed according to the functional form of the equation of state, and the central difference scheme and the CE/SE scheme require the use of a plurality of grid systems which have large calculating loads and are liable to cause numerical diffusion.

Method and apparatus for numerical calculation related to fluids, program for implementing the method, and storage medium storing the program


A tool for inserting and extracting pins of roller chains, comprising a body having a pair of teeth designed to engage two chain links to be connected or separated by insertion or extraction of a pin. The tool comprises a screw member which can be operated manually and which is provided with a punch designed to co-operate with a pin that is to be inserted or extracted. The tool comprises two retaining elements which can move between an inoperative position, in which the chain links can freely engage and disengage the teeth, and an operative position, in which the teeth block the chain links in a pre-set position with respect to the teeth (26).

The present invention relates to a tool for inserting and extracting pins of roller chains.
Tools of the above type are generally used for mounting a new chain on a bicycle or for varying the length of the chain, for example in the case in which the rear wheel of the bicycle is replaced with a wheel having a set of sprockets with a different number of teeth.
A chain tool of a known type is described in GB-B-912703. The described tool comprises a body which has a pair of teeth designed to engage the ends of two chain links that are to be connected or separated by inserting or extracting a pin. The body carries a screw member that can be operated manually and is provided with a punch, which, upon rotation of the screw member is forced into contact with one end of a pin that is to be inserted into the chain links engaged in the aforesaid teeth, or to be extracted from the said chain links.
A drawback of the chain tools according to the prior art lies in the fact that the user must manually hold the chain links in engagement with the teeth of the tool. This operation is very inconvenient in so far as the user must hold the tool with one hand, while with the other hand he acts on the screw member, which exerts the necessary pressure for inserting or extracting the pin. At the same time, with the hand that holds the tool, the user must press the chain links downwards, generally using a thumb. This operation proves inconvenient and does not afford any guarantee in terms of correct positioning of the chain links during insertion or extraction of the pin. In the case where insertion or extraction of the pin is carried out while the chain links are not properly positioned, there is the risk of damaging the holes of the links, with the consequent danger of weakening the chain and rendering it subject to failure due to stress.
With a view to overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks, the subject of the present invention is a tool for removing and inserting a pin in elements of a roller chain.
A tool for removing and inserting a pin in aligned elements of a roller chain. The tool has a generally xe2x80x9cUxe2x80x9d shaped body; an element receiver having a base, opposed sides and an opening opposite the base that define a cavity to receive the elements of the roller chain and position them in alignment, with at least one of the opposed sides having defining therein an aperture positioned adjacent to the opening, the element receiver being located on a first branch of the xe2x80x9cUxe2x80x9d; a movable press punch located on a second branch of the xe2x80x9cUxe2x80x9d and positioned for powered movement toward the channel defined by the aligned elements; and a locking element that closes the receiver opening to retains the elements of the roller chain in the receiver cavity.

Tool for inserting and extracting pins of roller chains


A front panel assembly includes an inner cover plate having two first positioning pins, and a sliding door mechanism including a pair of slide rails each provided on a lateral side of the inner cover plate and having top and bottom ends. The first positioning pins are disposed intermediate of the pair of the slide rails. A door panel is slidable upward and downward along the slide rails, and has two second positioning pins. Two spring elements are disposed between the door panel and the inner cover plate. Each spring element has a first connecting end connected pivotally to a corresponding first positioning pin, and a second connecting end connected pivotally to a corresponding second positioning pin.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a front panel assembly of a computer housing, and more particularly to a front panel assembly having a sliding door mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
A computer mainframe is usually provided with a plurality of electrical port connectors, such as card readers, USB port connectors, earphone port connectors, microphone port connectors, etc. These port connectors are mostly provided on a front side of the housing to facilitate use the users. Further, the disk drive and the ON/OFF switch are also provided on the front side of the housing. Hence, the front side of the housing becomes a central area of operating interface, and the appearance of the housing is enhanced through the front panel. The front panel is formed with holes for accommodating different electrical port connectors, the disk drive, and the ON/OFF switch so that the operating interface of the housing is exposed and the remaining portion of the housing is covered by the front panel. The purpose of enhancing the appearance of the housing and protecting the components inside the housing can thus be achieved. However, when the port connectors are not in use, dust can easily accumulates therein. This may result in poor electrical contacts during use of the port connectors.
Some currently existing computer housings are provided with cover plates to overcome the aforesaid drawback. However, taking for example a frequently seen vertical type computer housing, a cover plate thereof is movable upward and downward to open and close positions, respectively, and is provided with a conventional sliding type mechanism including hook-and-groove structure to prevent the cover plate from sliding downward due to gravity. However, specific must be applied to engage or disengage the hook-and-groove structure, so that operation of the cover plate is not easy.

Front panel assembly having a sliding door mechanism


A device for grasping and lifting a lid handle of a vessel, such as a Dutch oven. The device securely attaches to the lid of a vessel due to a spring-like mechanism that acts in conjunction with two elongated rods. A grasping structure, such as a hook, is attached to one end of a longer rod and a cooperating stabilizing structure is connected to the end of a shorter rod. Both rods have handles for squeezing by the user. When the user squeezes the handles of the rods, the lid handle can be engaged with the hook. When the user releases the handles, the spring-like mechanism fully extends and pulls the hook away from the lid handle, while the stabilizing structure, such as a horseshoe, is forced firmly against the lid.

This invention pertains to devices designed for grasping and removing lids from vessels. This invention is specifically designed for grasping and stably removing the lid of a Dutch oven.
One way of cooking outdoors is by using a Dutch oven covered in charcoal or the burning embers from a campfire. A Dutch oven may be used to bake sourdough bread, stews, or a variety of meats. Depending on what is being cooked, the cooking process may last several hours.
A Dutch oven is typically made of cast iron, with a smooth bottom, and several short legs for raising it above the heat source. The lid of a Dutch oven usually has a lip or flange for keeping the charcoal on top. The lids are designed to be lifted while fully loaded with ash and coals. However, because of the heavy weight of a Dutch oven and the intense heat of the heat source, it is often difficult to remove the lid of the oven to inspect the cooking ingredients or to serve the food once it is cooked.
Many devices have attempted to accommodate the difficulties of cooking with a Dutch oven. However, in general, these devices have failed to accomplish the basic task of easily removing and maneuvering the very hot lid of a Dutch oven without endangering the cook or the food. Many of the devices are unsatisfactory because they are incapable of stabilizing the lid. In one instance, a device requires the user to synchronize the movements of two different rods. This requires the user to readjust the device each and every time the lid of the oven is moved or removed. The instability of these devices also creates the problem of the lid tipping over, which can cause the ashes or charcoal to fall into the food. Many of the devices are also inadequate because they do not enable the user to operate far enough away from the heat source to safely and conveniently maneuver the lid.
The device for lifting lids described herein overcomes the aforementioned problems associated with the prior art devices by enabling a user to firmly secure it to the lid of a cooking vessel. The present invention contains a simple, but clever, mechanism for creating constant tension between the device and the lid, even when the user lets go of the device.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a device that significantly contributes to the ease and operation of the lid of a cooking vessel such as a Dutch oven.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that in its rest position is securely attached to the lid of the Dutch oven. Another object is to provide a sure-proof way of stabilizing the lid so that it can be easily controlled and will not inadvertently be tipped while being lifted.
It is a further object of the invention that the device does not require any further adjustments or re-adjustments once it is positioned on the lid of the oven.
Another object of the invention is that it enables the user to safely remove a lid without risking harm from accidental burns.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the study of the following portions of this specification, the claims and the attached drawings.
The present invention is a device for grasping and lifting a lid of a vessel such as a Dutch oven. The body of the device is a pair of elongated rods, each with a handle for the user to hold. In the preferred embodiment the second rod has a smaller circumference than the first and passes freely through the inside of the first rod along a common axis. A stabilizing structure, such as a horseshoe, is attached to one end of the first rod and a grasping structure, such as a hook, is attached to an end of the second rod. A means for maintaining tension between the grasping structure and the stabilizing structure, such as a spring, is provided. The handles, stabilizing structure and grasping structure cooperate such that when the user releases the two handles, the extension of the tension means causes the hook to pull away from the lid, which forces the horseshoe firmly against the lid.


When a write command is issued, new data is written into a free physical block of a nonvolatile memory (110). Here, if data of the same logical block has been written already, the block is erased and a recording state is judged by a recording state judgment unit (126). A physical block is swapped according to the number of write processes performed. Thus, it is possible to effectively perform a swap without increasing the number of write processes in a particular area, thereby increasing the lifetime of a nonvolatile storage module.

A nonvolatile storage module having a rewritable nonvolatile memory, which is typified by a semiconductor memory card, has been increasingly demanded as a removable storage device. Although the semiconductor memory card is much more expensive than an optical disc or a tape media, due to small size, light weight, seismicity and convenience in handling, it is in great demand as a recording medium for portable devices such as digital still cameras and mobile phones. In recent years, with an increase in capacity of the semiconductor memory card, application of the memory card to an alternative device for a hard disc of a personal computer and recording media for a digital television has been considered.
The semiconductor memory card includes a flash memory as a nonvolatile main memory and a memory controller for controlling the memory. According to instructions for reading and writing from the access module of the digital still camera and the personal computer, the memory controller controls reading and writing with respect to the flash memory. Some non-removable nonvolatile storage modules are incorporated into the digital still camera and a portable audio equipment itself.
Since the flash memory requires a relatively long time to writing and erasing to and from a memory cell array as a storage unit, data in a plurality of memory cells can be collectively erased and written. Specifically, the flash memory includes a plurality of physical blocks and each physical block includes a plurality of pages. Erasure from the flash memory is performed in units of physical blocks and writing to the flash memory is performed in units of pages.
In recent years, in response to demands for larger capacity and lower costs, a multi-level NAND flash memory which can store information of two bits in one memory cell as one type of the flash memory has become a mainstream of the flash memory. In the multi-level NAND flash memory, it is difficult to ensure reliability of the memory cell and therefore, the number of times of rewriting is small. A conventional binary NAND flash memory has the guaranteed number of times of rewriting of 100 thousand and guaranteed data retention time of 10 years. The multi-level NAND flash memory has the guaranteed number of times of rewriting of 10 thousand or less and as shown in, for example, FIG. 1, trades off the number of times of rewriting for the data retention time.
The above-mentioned number of times of rewriting and data retention time are directly connected to the lifetime of the nonvolatile storage module such as the semiconductor memory card and lifetime of the nonvolatile storage system including the nonvolatile storage module.
To extend the lifetime as long as possible, the conventional flash memory employs an address management method called as wear leveling in which rewriting does not concentrate on a particular physical block. For example, in Patent document 1, in writing of data, the data is written to a free physical block as a free area. At this time, when old data corresponding to the logical address is stored, the old data stored in the physical block is erased and the physical block is managed as a free block. This way is figured out so as not to concentrate writing on the particular physical block. This is a method of writing data to the free area, holding the old data until completion of data writing and using the free area including a spare area for replacement of a bad block to perform wear leveling.
However, in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in Patent document 1, when the number of remaining free blocks becomes smaller, in a case where data at a certain logical address is rewritten many times, the data is frequently moved between the free block and physical block to which the data at the logical address is allocated. In other words, the number of times of rewriting of the certain physical block (hereinafter referred to as alternate processing) increases rapidly. This phenomenon is hereinafter referred to as "localization of alternate area".
To address this problem, for example, in a semiconductor disc device in Patent document 2, the number of times of rewriting of each physical block is held and data is swapped based on the number of times of rewriting. Specifically, in rewriting data (data X), a physical block (physical block A) which stores an old version of the data X therein is erased and rewritten. In a case where the number of times of rewriting of the physical block A is large, the data X is written to another physical block (physical block B) with the small number of times of rewriting. However, when data Y has been already stored in the physical block B, the original data X in the physical block A is erased and then, the data Y is moved to the physical block A. After that, new data X is written to the physical block B. In this manner, when the data X is updated thereafter, the physical block B is rewritten. As described above, dynamic wear leveling is achieved by performing swap between the physical blocks A and B based on the number of times of rewriting.    Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-263894    Patent document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1993-282880

Memory controller, nonvolatile storage module, access module and nonvolatile storage system


An improvement in the process for preparing an organometallic polymer having a main chain constituted of silicon and/or germanium or having a main chain constituted of a linkage including carbon and silicon or germanium and further having side chain constituted of organic substituting groups, such as alkyl or aryl group. The improved process comprises the step of dehalogenating an organosilane or organogermane halide in the presence of an alkali metal and a crown ether having 28 or less carbon atoms and 10 or less oxygen atoms, whereby the organosilane or organogermane halide is polymerized by condensation. The crown ether acts as a promotor, and preferable examples used in the process of the invention include 18-crown-6 and 12-crown-4. The molecular weight of the organometallic high polymer prepared by the process of the invention distributes within a relatively narrow range in the neighborhood of about 100,000, resulting in excellent moldability of the polymer. The polymerization step is completed within a short time with good yield. The organometallic polymers prepared by the process of the invention are well suited for use as precursors for silicon carbide, photo-resists, photo-initiators and photosensitive materials for electrophotography.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing organometallic polymers each having a main chain constituted of silicon and/or germanium or having a main chain constituted of a linkage of silicon or germanium in combination with carbon and further having a side chain constituted of an organic hydrocarbon residue. More particularly, it relates to novel processes for preparing such polyorganosilane compounds (also referred to as "organosilane polymers") and a polyorganogermane compounds (also referred to as "organogermane polymers").
2. Prior Art Statement
Linear polymers having silicon-silicon bonds ((R.sub.1 R.sub.2 Si).sub.n) attract increasing attention as they are applied for use as novel SiC precursors, new type photo-resists, photo-initiators and photosensitive materials for electrophotography. Details of the characteristics and functions of such polymers are disclosed, for example, by R. West, J. Organomet Chem., 300, 327 to 346 (1986), M. STOLKA et al., J. Polym. Sci., Part A, Polym. Chem. 25, 823 to 827 (1987) and M. STOLKA et al , U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,551, these prior publications being incorporated herein by reference.
As a process for synthesizing an organosilane or organogermane polymer having a main chain constituted of silicon or germanium or a main chain constituted of either one or both of silicon and germanium in combination with carbon, it has been known in the art a process wherein the objective polymer is produced by subjecting a dihalide of corresponding organic hydrocarbon to dehalogenating condensation by the use of an alkali metal, the reaction being represented by the following reaction formula of: ##STR1## wherein M is silicon or germanium, or a hydrocarbon residue having silicon or germanium; X is a halogen atom; and Y and Z each stands for an organic hydrocarbon residue. When a mixture of plural monomers is used in the reaction represented by the preceding reaction formula, a copolymer may be produced. Details of such reaction may be had by referring to P. Trefanas et al., Journal of Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry Edition, Vol. 23, pp 2099 to 2107 (1985), "Organogermane Homopolymers and Copolymers with Organosilanes", which will be incorporated herein as reference liternature.
However, the yield of a high polymer attainable by this known process is generally low, and particularly the yield of a high polymer which has a molecular weight of more than 100,000 and properties to be readily molded in a form of film or like materials is so low as less than 10%.

Process for preparing organometallic high polymer

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


Gas is supplied to a gas flow modulator having a tubular member with a gas flow passage extending through the tubular member. A slide member in the gas flow passage is axially slidable longitudinally along the passage. Springs within the tubular member in opposite directions on the slide member so as to resiliently bias the slide member towards a predetermined position in the gas flow passage. A flow constrictor means is fixedly positioned within the gas flow passage for constricting gas flow along the gas flow passage, the slide member and the flow constrictor means being shaped to cease the flow of gas along the gas flow passage upon displacement of the slide member in a first direction from the predetermined position by means of an electromagnetic induction coil extending around the exterior of the tubular member and in cooperation with a magnetic material forming at least part of the slide member or secured thereto. The gas flow modulator may be used in a water heating system where a temperature sensing means senses water temperature to in turn control a power source to the induction coil so as to regulate the burning of gas at a gas burner in communication with the gas flow modulator. The slide member is prevented from sticking in the tubular member by rectifying or modulating the power signal to the induction coil which causes the slide member to vibrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gas flow modulators and is useful particularly, but not exclusively, for regulating the gas supplies of heating appliances for domestic use and recreational vehicles.
2. Background Art
In the design and manufacture of gas appliances such as furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces and the like, it is often desirable to be able to regulate the flow of a gas to a burner in order to achieve certain desired operational parameters; for example, heat output, output air temperature and/or output water temperature.
In the past, flow control of gas to a burner has been limited to a status of either on or off and without an intermediate gas flow status. A problem with this type of system is that the object heated by the burner, typically a heat exchanger, experiences temperature extremes which in turn subject the same to thermal stresses so as to shorten its period of useful life. Additionally, this type of system fails to conserve energy in that heat loss occurs in the period of time when the gas is not flowing so as to allow the system to cool off rather than maintaining its proper temperature. The cooling off of the system may undershoot the desired low-end temperature, such undershooting representing an amount of heat loss which must then be offset by consumption of enough gas to re-heat the system to an acceptable temperature range. Also, the system may overshoot the desired high-end temperature during the period when the gas is flowing in order to raise the system to the desired temperature. Such undershooting and overshooting represent heat loss which must then be offset to adjust the system to an acceptable temperature range. Further, the range of environmental comfort is not enhanced but is rather deterred by a greater than desired temperature range occurring from over and under shootings.
Also in the past, regulation of the flow of a gas to a burner has sometimes been accomplished by mechanically closed loop systems, employing a sealed capillary tube containing a heat-expandable fluid which is used to sense the temperature at a predetermined location and to generate a control pressure, which in turn is used to cause a change of gas flow in a specially designed valve.
In the case of demand water heaters, a similar approach of mechanically adjustable valves has been used by sensing the pressure of input water by means of a diaphragm or other pressure-responsive device and generating a control pressure in a fluid which, in turn, is applied to a valve designed to adjust a gas flow to a desired value.
A problem with mechanically adjustable valves is the lack of the automatic adjustability known to electrically controlled systems. The development of electronic sensors and controllers for regulating gas flow to a burner requires a gas flow control function to be effected by the use of electrical signals, rather than mechanical, i.e. pneumatic, signals. Such electrically controlled gas flow valves must also be safeguarded from the potentially dangerous condition of the valve sticking and failing to adjust, which may cause heat loss, excess heat, or system failure in general.


Disclosed is a double-flow nozzle according to the present invention, the double-flow nozzle including: a body portion provided with a space portion defined at an inner side thereof; a first discharge pipe provided at the body portion and discharging a first fluid being supplied to the space portion; and a second discharge pipe discharging a second fluid while being in a state inserted into the first discharge pipe, wherein the first discharge pipe, in a state spaced apart by a predetermined gap from an outer surface of the second discharge pipe, includes a plurality of swirl-generating flow passages spaced apart by a predetermined interval from each other and arranged along a circumferential direction of the second discharge pipe.

In general, a double nozzle 10 provided with discharge ports for a solution or a gas composed of a double concentric structure as shown in FIGS. 6A-6B are structured to discharge a solution through a first discharge port 11 provided at an inner side and a gas or heterogeneous solutions through a second discharge port 12 provided at an outer side thereof.
The double nozzle 10 as described above is used to coat a granulated solution on a specific substrate or to manufacture nanostructures such as nanofibers.
However, the conventional double nozzle 10 has a limitation in preparing ultrafine particles such as nanoparticles because the area provided by the second discharge port 12 is relatively greater than an area provided by the first discharge port 11, an amount of scattering of particles due to the discharge of excessive amount of gas or solution increases, and, in the case of a low viscosity solution, it is difficult to finely control the flow rate.
For example, in manufacturing a nanofiber using a conventional double nozzle, there is a problem that a die swell phenomenon occurs when the polymer material is discharged through the first discharge port. In other words, polymer materials with high concentration and viscosity have viscoelastic properties and high surface tension, which expands the polymer material passing through narrow and long discharge pipes, thereby slowing down the discharge rate, and increasing the diameter of the nano-silk composing the nanofibers.
In addition, when high voltage applied to the polymer material does not overcome the surface tension of the polymer material due to drag force generated in the polymer material, there is a problem such that the polymer material is discharged in a form of droplets, thereby forming a non-uniform nanofiber web.
In order to solve the above problems, when the polymer material is discharged from the first discharge port, a physical method that may lower the surface tension of the polymer material by discharging compressed air from the second discharge port is used. Nevertheless, with the structure of the existing double nozzle, it is still not possible to prevent the phenomenon that the polymer material or the solution discharged from the first discharge port is scattered. Therefore, the conventional double nozzle has a limitation in that the polymer material or the solution cannot be accurately discharged in the predetermined discharge area.
Accordingly, the present applicant has proposed the present invention to solve the above problems, and there is a related art document entitled as "A manufacturing device and the method of preparing for the nanofibers" of Korean Patent No. 10-0864526.


Systems, devices, and methods provide mixed reality audio with environmental audio devices. A mixed reality device providing mixed reality content to a user has a mixed reality device position in an environment that includes a plurality of audio devices. A mixed reality audio element is determined, which is associated with the mixed reality content and which has a virtual source position with respect to the mixed reality device position within the environment. An audio device position of a particular audio device of the plurality of audio devices is determined, with respect to the mixed reality device position and the virtual source position within the environment. The particular audio device generates the mixed reality audio element to cause the user of the mixed reality device to perceive the mixed reality audio element as originating from the virtual source position within the environment.

Embodiments described herein relate to mixed reality, and in particular to providing mixed reality audio with environmental audio devices, and related systems, devices, and methods. Mixed reality experiences may increase enjoyment and immersion by providing audio content that accompanies visual content during the mixed reality experience. For example, a user using modified glasses or a mobile device (such as a mobile phone) may view virtual visual content alongside real-world content, so that the user perceives the visual content as being part of the real-world content. The audio capabilities of existing devices may not be sufficient to provide audio quality and effects that are suitable for mixed reality applications, which may detract from the immersive effect of the mixed reality experience and my decrease the enjoyment of the user.

Providing mixed reality audio with environmental audio devices, and related systems, devices, and methods


The purpose of the present invention is to provide a probiotic(s) which can activate an aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and can consequently prevent inflammatory damage in the digestive tract. The present invention relates to; a probiotic(s) capable of activating an AhR; an anti-inflammatory agent comprising the probiotic(s); an orally ingestible composition containing the anti-inflammatory agent; and a method for screening for the probiotic(s).

For the development of today's medicine, the discovery and application of an antibiotic(s) have been important. However, in recent years, problems with side effects of antibiotics and the emergence of multi-drug-resistant microbes due to mutation have been much discussed. The idea of a 'probiotic(s)' as opposed to an 'antibiotic(s)' has recently been widely recognized in society. A probiotic(s) means 'a useful microorganism that improves the bacterial flora in the gastrointestinal tract and can bring a beneficial effect to a host, and a growth-promoting substance therefor', and the idea has been born of such a probiotic(s) being used so as to act on the flora (bacterial flora) in the gastrointestinal tract (intraoral or enteric) and preventing or improving a disease while making the flora healthier.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor belonging to the bHLH-PAS family, appears to be expressed in most cells and tissue, and is known to activate the transcription of various genes by ligand binding. As a ligand for the AhR, a compound such as a dioxin or a polychlorinated biphenyl is known, but an endogenous ligand for the receptor is unknown.
The AhR in a state in which it is not bound to a ligand is inactive, and is present within cytoplasm being associated with a molecular chaperone such as Hsp90. When inactive AhR binds to a ligand, the molecular chaperone dissociates, and the activated AhR translocates into the nucleus. The AhR that has translocated into the nucleus is associated with a molecule called the ARNT (AhR Nucleus Translocator) to form a heterodimer, and interacts with an enhancer sequence called a xenobiotic responsive element (XRE) on DNA to thus activate the transcription of a downstream gene.
In recent years, it has been found that production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is promoted by activation of an AhR pathway (Non-Patent Document 1) and that PGE2 is involved in protection against gastrointestinal damage (Non-Patent Document 2). Trials have therefore been started to see whether protection from gastrointestinal damage is possible by promoting the production of PGE2 by AhR activation.
As one of the trials, it has been reported that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), which is known as an AhR ligand, suppresses the inflammatory response of ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) (Non-Patent Document 3). This report discloses that in a DSS-treated mouse to which TCDD had been administered, compared with one to which TCDD had not been administered, weight loss, shortening of the intestinal tract, inflammation score, and the production of inflammatory cytokines were significantly suppressed.

Composition for preventing inflammations


A grid pattern punch type multiaxis punch device is capable of simultaneously punching punched holes of the same shape showing different shapes for every location at each of the same positions in each of the areas defined in a work. Every time a work is moved in X-axis, Y-axis directions under its controlled state, a hammer holder is moved in a horizontal direction under its controlled state, a punch drive source (a servo motor) is driven under a state in which hammers are corresponded just above optional punches at the same positions in each group of units, each of the punches present at the same positions in the group of units is punched by each of the hammers, thereby the punch holes having the same shapes showing different shapes for every location are punched simultaneously at each of the same locations within each area defined in the work.

1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to a multiaxis punch device for use in performing a punch operation by a grid pattern punch system.
2. Description Of The Related Art
As the multiaxis punch device in the related art, there are provided a gang-die punch system and a grid pattern punch system. The gang-die punch system is comprised of a punch holding type for holding a plurality of punches and reciprocated through driving of the punch drive source and a die holder fixedly arranged against the reciprocating (punch) motion of the punch holding type, all the punch holes having the same shape to each other are punched at once in areas defined while being spaced apart on a vertical row and a lateral row of works moved under control in X-axis and Y-axis directions held in the work holding mechanism.
In turn, the grid pattern punch system is operated such that the punches are held at the punch holding die in the same pitch as that of the areas defined on the vertical and lateral rows of the works, and the punch holes having the same shape to each other are punched at the same positions in each of the areas of the work held by the work holding mechanism and moved under a controlled state in X-axis and Y-axis directions.
In the case of the aforesaid grid pattern punch system, a pitch of the punched holes can be set to a desired value as compared with that of the gang die punch system and so the grid pattern punch system is preferable for a fine punch operation where the punched holes are closely near to each other.
Further, the work such as a ceramics green sheet or the like is not only machined into an inductor (a product) requiring a plurality of punched holes having the same shape to each other, but also machined into a package (a product) requiring punched holes having a desired shape showing different shapes to each other or the like.
As described above, in the case that some punched holes having desired shape are to be punched for every location of the same position in the areas defined in the work, a plurality of multiaxis punch devices for the grid pattern punch system are manufactured and prepared, each of the multiaxis punch devices is provided with each of some punched holes of the desired shape in the same pitch as the area pitch, thereby the work is moved around each of the multiaxis punch devices so as to punch the punched holes having the desired shape for every location of the same position in each of the areas defined in the work or some monoaxis punch devices holding some punches having different shapes are arranged side by side, and the work is moved around each of the monoaxis punch devices to punch the punched holes having the desired shape for every locations of the same position of each of the areas defined in the work.
However, whatever type of the punch device may be used, the system for moving around the work has some problems in which not only the entire machine becomes large in size to occupy a space, but also its facility cost is substantially increased, and a moving distance of the work becomes quite long when the holes are punched, it takes much moving time and its productivity becomes remarkably deteriorated.
The present invention has been invented in view of the aforesaid circumstances found in the prior art and it is an object of the present invention to provide a multiaxis punch device of grid-pattern punch system in which some punched holes having the same shapes showing different shapes for every location can be punched simultaneously at each of the same positions in each of the areas defined in the work.
A technical means applied for resolving the aforesaid object is characterized in that a punch holder having many punches inserted, arranged and supported by some springs for their returning motion is arranged above a die holder for holding a die in such a way that the punch holder can be moved up and down;
a hammer holder provided with a hammer for striking against some punches is arranged above said punches and a punch drive source is mounted above the hammer holder;
said hammer is arranged at the hammer holder adjacent to each of the punches at the same positions of each of the groups of units with a desired number of punches of a predetermined same arranging pattern being applied as one group;
said hammer holder can be moved in a horizontal direction under its controlled state when said punch drive source is not driven, reciprocated with a driving force when said punch drive source is driven and the punches at the same positions in each of the group units can be punched by each of the hammers; and
a plurality of punches showing different shapes in each of said group units are contained and the punches at the same positions in each of the group units have the same shape to each other.
In this case, each of the punches at the same positions in each of the unit groups with a desired number of punches having said predetermined same arrangement pattern being applied as one group has the same pitch as the pitch between the areas defined in the work in each of the unit groups.
In addition, the punch of each of the unit groups includes punches having all different shapes and some of a plurality of punches having different shapes, and the remaining punches include both types of punches when they have a similar shape to each other.
In accordance with the aforesaid technical means, the hammer holder is moved in a horizontal direction under its controlled state every time the work is moved under its controlled state in X-axis and Y-axis directions, the punch drive source is driven under a state in which the hammer is corresponded just above the optional punches at the same positions in each of the unit groups, each of the punches present at the same positions in the unit groups is struck to cause the punched holes having the same shapes to be punched at the same positions in each of the areas defined in the work.
Further, since the punches in each of said unit groups include a plurality of punches having different shapes and the punches at the same positions in each of the unit groups have the same shape to each other, it is possible to perform a simultaneous punch of the punched holes having the same shape showing different shapes for every location at each of the same positions in each of the areas defined in the work.


A sliced specimen preparing apparatus prepares a sliced specimen by slicing a surface of a specimen block in which a specimen is embedded in an embedding-substance. The apparatus includes: a cutter configured to slice the surface of the specimen block; a surface exposure determination unit configured to determine whether or not the area of a specimen portion on the surface of the specimen block is sufficient for the preparation of the sliced specimen; and a specimen block transporting unit configured to transport the specimen block between the surface exposure determination unit and the cutter. The surface exposure determination unit includes a humidifying unit configured to humidify the surface of the specimen block; an irradiating unit configured to irradiate the surface of the specimen block with light; an imaging unit configured to receive reflected light from the humidified surface of the specimen block which is irradiated from the irradiating unit to acquire image data; an image data processing unit configured to discriminate the specimen portion on the surface of the specimen block from the embedding-substance portion based on the image data acquired by the imaging unit; and a controller configured to control the imaging unit, the irradiating unit, and the image data processing unit, and to determine whether or not the area of the specimen portion on the surface of the specimen block, the specimen portion being acquired by the image data processing unit, is sufficient for the preparation of the sliced specimen.

A microtome has been widely known as a device for preparing a sliced specimen used for physical and chemical specimen analysis, microscopic observation of biological specimens, and the like. The microtome slices a surface of a specimen block, which is obtained by embedding a biological specimen or the like in an embedding-substance such as paraffin, with a cutter to prepare a slice.
The slice prepared by use of the microtome is, for example, collected in a bath filled with a extending liquid such as water or hot water with a blush or paper to be extended out and then, is stuck to a slide glass with an adhesive liquid (for example, water). Alternatively, the slice is placed directly on the slide glass to which an adhesive is applied, and is extended out by heating of the slide glass and is stuck to the slide glass. With evaporation of the adhesive liquid, the slice stuck to the slide glass is tightly fixed to the slide glass, and is used as a sliced specimen for tissue observation.
When the surface of the specimen block is sliced to form the slice, for effective tissue observation, a specimen portion needs to be sufficiently present on the surface of the specimen block from which the slice is cut out. Thus, generally, the specimen block is roughly cut by a predetermined thickness and then, is sliced for acquiring the slice for tissue observation. Roughly cutting the surface of the specimen block before slicing for tissue observation is referred to as surface exposure.
To resolve inclination of the surface of the specimen block with respect to a cutting surface of a cutter, there have proposed a method and a device that use a floodlight projection part and line sensor, which are arranged along the thickness of the specimen block, and incline the surface of the specimen block such that the amount of light that the line sensor receives becomes maximum, and perform surface exposure of the specimen block at this position as described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2008-76251. The surface exposure in this case serves to match the inclination angle of the surface of the specimen block with the cutting surface of the cutter, and is the same as the surface exposure in this application in a broad sense: "to acquire the surface for slicing for tissue observation", but is different from the surface exposure in this application in a narrow sense: "to acquire the surface for effective tissue observation".


A lighting assembly with a lamp housing and a component housing which have corresponding mechanical connectors for releasably attaching the housings to one another and which have corresponding electrical connectors for releasably providing electrical connection between the housings. The lamp housing has a lamp frame, at least one lamp socket for receiving at least one lamp and lamp wiring for supplying power to the at least one lamp. The lamp housing has an electrical connector operably attached to the lamp wiring. The lamp housing further has a mechanical connector. Mounted to the component housing are electrical control components, electrical ballast and a power supply socket. The component housing has an electrical connector operable to releasably connect with the electrical connector of the lamp housing. The component housing has a mechanical connector operable to releasably attach to the mechanical connector of the lamp housing.

Typically, light assemblies include electrical ballast, electrical control gear and a lamp (or lamps). The ballast and control components are not located in a housing which is easily separable from a lamp housing. Thus, when a light assembly breaks or ceases working, the user or an electrician must disassemble the light assembly and replace the broken components, such as an electrical filter, a control switch or the ballast, individually. The process is time consuming and requires an expert since wiring configurations vary depending on the type of ballast and controls. Repair and replacement of ballast components is complicated by the fact that ballast manufacturers' products are sometimes wired differently.
Lighting assemblies are provided in various configurations. For example, a lighting assembly may have a standard ballast with instant start, 20% THD maximum, running on 120 Volts. Various configurations run on 120, 240 or 277 Volts, or may be a euro configuration running on 0.50 Hertz. The THD maximums are variable from configuration to configuration, for example, at 2%, 10% or 20% maximum THD. Configurations may also include dimmer controls, which may be analog voltage controlled or digitally controlled dimmers or ballasts. Currently, changing a lighting assembly configuration is complicated and typically requires an electrician. For example, changing from a non-dimming lighting arrangement to a dimming arrangement requires wiring dimming controls into the lighting assembly. Changing the dimming controls requires removing the installed dimmer and re-wiring a new dimmer and/or changing the lamp wiring. Any change in dimming arrangement, from analog to digital, for example, requires similar re-wiring.
Suppliers of lighting assemblies are required to repair or change each assembly on-site or must have the entire lighting assembly, including the lamp frame, shipped for repair or replacement. Shipping of the entire lighting assembly is costly and time consuming. Further, suppliers are required to purchase parts in lots, maintain stocks and then assemble the parts in response to customer orders. Again, re-wiring and replacement of parts is time-consuming and costly.
A need exists for a lighting assembly which allows for easily and quickly replacing broken or non-functioning electrical components. A need also exists for easily and quickly changing the lighting configuration of a lighting assembly. A need exists for reducing the time necessary to respond to repair and replacement orders and to reduce shipping costs and times.

Lighting assembly with releasably attachable lamp and component housings


A connector includes multiple probes and a first insulator part and a second insulator part joined to cover the probes. Each of the probes has a monolithic structure of a single bent metal plate. Each of the probes includes an end part configured to come into contact with an electrode terminal; a spring part having a meandering shape and connected to the end part; a housing part bent to enclose the spring part; and a bent part provided between the spring part and the housing part. The end parts of the probes are at least partially projecting outward from first openings provided in the first insulator part, and the bent parts of the probes are at least partially projecting outward from second openings provided in the second insulator part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector, a probe, and a method of manufacturing a probe.
2. Description of the Related Art
In manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuits, a measuring apparatus is used for measuring the electric characteristics of semiconductor integrated circuits formed on a wafer. Such a measuring apparatus performs electrical measurements by electrically connecting probes and electrode pads or electrode terminals formed on the wafer by bringing the probes into direct contact with the electrode pads or electrode terminals.
Probes called coil spring probes are commonly used as such probes. The coil spring probe contains a coil spring inside a tubular cylindrical body. One end of the coil spring forms the contact terminal of the probe to come into contact with an electrode pad or an electrode terminal formed on the wafer. The other end of the coil spring is electrically connected to the measuring apparatus. Regarding the coil spring probe, the coil spring is provided in the cylindrical body to allow the contact terminal of the probe to be extended or compressed, so that the electrical contact with the electrode pad or electrode terminal is ensured.
Using two or more of such probes, it is possible to manufacture a connector for establishing an electrical connection.
For related art, reference may be made to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2007-24664 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2007-71699.

Connector, probe, and method of manufacturing probe


A laminating machine and process for applying an optically clear adhesive film to a glass substrate includes a porous belt assembly with a plurality of vacuum pumps. The vacuum pumps define different, separately adjustable vacuum zones on the surface of the porous belt. The porous belt is driven linearly so that an optically clear adhesive does not move relative to the porous belt, but does move relative to the table, allowing the adhesive to be controlled to a compressive, neutral, or tensile state while being nip-rolled to the substrate. Since there is no motion of the film relative to the belt, scratching, stretch elongation, dimensional errors, and other slip induced damage is eliminated.

Direct dry film lamination uses polarizer film lamination systems to apply optically clear adhesive (OCA) to glass and liquid crystal displays (LCDs) as a preparatory step for vacuum and pressure steps. Polarizer film lamination systems are not designed for thick and compliant materials such as OCA, for direct contact with fragile surface films, or for devices that are very sensitive to non-uniform surface loads (for example LCDs and resistive touchscreens). Compliant materials are stretched out of specified dimensions, fragile surfaces can be scratched, and sensitive devices can be damaged or permanently deformed. Thin substrates can be stressed during OCA application, even fracturing when released from the vacuum table. Existing systems are also not designed for state flexible displays with direct roll-to-rigid lamination.
Existing solutions are directed to adjusting the polarizer laminator, manually setting up for special needs with "band-aid" fixes such as extra strips of material for leading edge nips, fixing gel strips to the vacuum table to control nip force, not roll laminating certain items such as microsheet glass and resistive touchscreen fronts, and under-sizing OCA in the roll direction to compensate for dimensional change due to stretching. All these solutions leave internal stress in the display stack which can deform the finished device, and can require several trials to identify necessary mechanical settings.
Film laminators used in display manufacturing hold the substrate in place with vacuum. Flexible films are manually aligned to mechanical datums. Once the flexible material is located, vacuum is used to hold it in place while the datums are retracted. When the process is applied to OCA, depending on the thickness of the OCA and operator force, the adhesive edge sticks to the datums and skews the material. With both items loaded on the tables, the rigid substrate table flips and the flexible material table translates under the rigid substrate table and positions itself to nip and roll the flexible material to the rigid substrate. The table tilts and a roller extends up to pinch the flexible material against the rigid substrate, then translates so that the flexible material is pulled up the flexible vacuum table, past the roller, being pressed onto the rigid substrate.
Because of the vertical pressure in the nip/crush at the lamination start, very sensitive LCD cells can be damaged in the process, or the OCA can be permanently deformed, creating a crush zone that may cause defects at the vacuum press step. The tension involved in rolling the flexible material causes problems if pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) or films are rolled to the front of resistive touchscreens as the top sheet forms a "wave" that is locked in and causes a short such that the touchscreen is unusable. Such processes are operable for thin film lamination (less than 0.010 inches or about 0.25 millimeters), but are not for thick materials.


A system comprises a medical instrument including a nozzle and a lens. The system further comprises a valve configured to control provision of a pressurized fluid. The system further comprises a valve control mechanism and a control system. The control system is configured to determine, based on a position of the medical instrument within a patient anatomy, whether an obstruction is on a surface of the lens. The control system is further configured to, based on a determination that the obstruction is on the surface of the lens, instruct the valve control mechanism to open the valve to release a flow of the pressurized fluid through the nozzle and over the surface of the lens.

Minimally invasive medical techniques are intended to reduce the amount of tissue that is damaged during medical procedures, thereby reducing patient recovery time, discomfort, and harmful side effects. Such minimally invasive techniques may be performed through natural orifices in a patient anatomy or through one or more surgical incisions. Clinicians may insert medical tools through these natural orifices or incisions to reach a target tissue location. Medical tools include instruments such as therapeutic instruments, diagnostic instruments, and surgical instruments. To reach the target tissue location, a minimally invasive medical tool may navigate natural or surgically created passageways in anatomical systems such as the lungs, the colon, the intestines, the kidneys, the heart, the circulatory system, or the like.
Minimally invasive medical procedures may rely upon visualization systems to find a target location and perform various operations. Particularly, a visualization system may help a minimally invasive medical instrument navigate natural or surgically created passageways in anatomical systems to reach the target tissue location. For example, the visualization system may help guide the minimally invasive medical instrument through natural passageways in the lungs, the colon, the intestines, the kidneys, the heart, the circulatory system, or the like. Some minimally invasive medical instruments may be teleoperated or otherwise computer-assisted.
During navigation of the medical instrument, or during an operation performed by the medical instrument, the lens of the visualization system may become obstructed or clouded by patient tissue or fluids. Such obstructions can make navigation or operation more difficult. Thus, it is desirable to clean the lens of the visualization system in a manner that is safe for the patient.

Systems and methods for cleaning an endoscopic instrument


The present invention discloses an improved oxidation process using carbon nitride nanotubes as metal free catalyst and molecular O2 as the oxidant to obtain desired adipic acid and other oxygenated hydrocarbons with improved conversion and selectivity.

Selective oxidation of hydrocarbons is an important process in the chemical industry, as it helps in the production of many useful chemicals like alcohols, aldehydes and carboxylic acids. Though there were innumerable numbers of publications/patents that deal with this area, it still remains a very important research challenge as many processes need green chemical routes and cost effective manufacturing. As a result, there is a drive to develop green and efficient processes for the oxyfunctionalization of hydrocarbons. Usually; efficient activation of an alkane requires precious metal catalysts and strong oxidizing agents (HNO3, TBHP, and H2O2). Currently, partial oxidation processes are conducted either in gas phase or liquid phase using homogeneous/heterogeneous catalysts. Since molecular oxygen is cheap and abundant, it is the most practicable oxidant for partial oxidation processes. But, most of the heterogeneous catalyst based processes offer poor selectivity to the desired product when molecular oxygen is used as oxidant. Large quantities of energy are needed to separate the desired product from unwanted side products, leading to not only waste generation but also inefficient use of starting materials. Hence, achieving desired product selectivity remains an important task.
Adipic acid (AA) is an important selective oxidation product that is obtained from cyclohexane. Major part of AA produced is used as a precursor for the synthesis of Nylon-6,6. In addition, AA is widely used for the production of polyesters, polyurethane resins, plasticizers in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB). Present day processes for AA involve multiple steps and also use highly corrosive acids. Thus, developing novel, clean and green routes for AA production is an important research theme.
The current industrial process for AA production is based on the catalytic oxidation of a mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone which is referred as KA oil (Ketone/alcohol). The KA oil in turn is obtained on partial oxidation of cyclohexane. Further oxidation of the KA oil to adipic acid is performed using 50-65% HNO3 as oxidant in the presence of Cu (II) and ammonium metavanadate as catalysts. The selectivity to adipic acid based on KA oil is very high yielding only small quantities of glutaric acid as by-product. But, main drawback of nitric acid oxidation process is the stoichiometric reduction of HNO3 to NOx in the form of greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). The amount of N2O produced is around 300 kg per tonne of adipic acid, which also depends on the amount of catalyst and composition of the KA oil used.
In addition to the commercial process, there are alternative routes for producing AA. For example, AA can be obtained by direct oxidation of cyclohexene using hydrogen peroxide using a phase transfer catalyst. It can also be prepared by dimerization of methyl acrylate, carbonylation of butadiene and by bio catalytic fermentation of glucose. The oxidation of KA oil also can be carried out with oxygen as the oxidant, in place of nitric acid, using catalytic amounts of Co and Mn acetate, at 70-80° C. in acetic acid as solvent. However, acetic acid as solvent poses severe corrosion problems, particularly when combined with the Mn and Co salts. Moreover, most of these approaches results in poor selectivity (30-50%) towards the desired product. In addition, use of soluble homogeneous catalysts leads to its leaching during the course of the reaction, hampering recycling of the catalysts.
Nitrogen doped carbons were reported to have diverse applications in catalysis, particularly as electro catalysts, photo catalysts and as heterogeneous catalysts. Nitrogen containing carbons have received greater attention for oxyfuctionalization of hydrocarbons, as they are able to activate oxygen molecules without the assistance of any metals.
Article titled "Metal-free activation of dioxygen by graphene/g-C3N4 nanocomposites: functional dyads for selective oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons" by X H Li et al. published in J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133 (21), pp 8074-8077 reports graphene sheet/polymeric carbon nitride nanocomposite (GSCN) functions as a metal-free catalyst to activate O2 for the selective oxidation of secondary C—H bonds of cyclohexane. By fine-tuning the weight ratio of graphene and carbon nitride components, GSCN offers good conversion and high selectivity to corresponding ketones. Besides its high stability, this catalyst also exhibits high chemoselectivity for secondary C—H bonds of various saturated alkanes and, therefore, should be useful in overcoming challenges confronted by metal-mediated catalysis.
Article titled "Boron- and fluorine-containing mesoporous carbon nitride polymers: metal-free catalysts for cyclohexane oxidation" by Y Wang et al. published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Volume 49, Issue 19, pages 3356-3359, Apr. 26, 2010 reports N-doped carbon materials can catalyze the oxidation of cyclohexane (CyH) with H2O2 as an oxidizing agent to produce the KA oil with >99% selectivity. The boron- and fluorine-enriched carbon nitride polymeric semiconductor synthesized by a facile one-step process using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate as a soft template. The resulting materials show an advantageous "morel-like" mesopore structure (see picture) with narrow pore size distribution and good photoactivity under visible light. These materials are also good catalysts for the selective oxidation of cyclohexane.
Article titled "Nitrogen-, phosphorous- and boron-doped carbon nanotubes as catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of cyclohexane" by Y Cao et al. published in Carbon, Volume 57, June 2013, Pages 433-442 reports nitrogen-, phosphorous- and boron-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs, P-CNTs and B-CNTs) prepared by a chemical vapor deposition method using xylene as carbon source and aniline-NH3, triphenyl phosphine and triethyl borate as nitrogen, phosphorous and boron precursors, respectively. N- and P-CNTs are active for the oxidation of cyclohexane in the liquid phase with molecular oxygen as oxidant. The highest mass-normalized activity, 761 mmolg-1 h-1, achieved over N-CNTs synthesized from aniline in an NH3 atmosphere, while the highest surface-area-normalized activity, 28 mmolm-2 h-1, was observed over P-CNTs. B-doping does not improve the activity of CNTs. The effect of the number of nitrogen functionalities and defects was investigated to reveal the structure—activity relationship of the doped CNTs.
Article titled "Graphite as a highly efficient and stable catalyst for the production of lactones" by Y F Li et al. published in Carbon, Volume 55, April 2013, Pages 269-275 reports that the carbon materials carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphite, and activated carbon tested as metal-free catalysts. They showed excellent activity and selectivity in the Baeyer-Villiger (B-V) oxidation of cyclohexanone at room temperature using dioxygen (O2) as oxidant and benzaldehyde as sacrificial agent. Among them graphite found to be the most suitable for the formation of lactones from cyclic ketones, showing good recyclability and reusability. The use of the metal-free catalysts enables a green process for the production of lactones from ketones under mild reactions.
Article titled "Solvent-free and metal-free oxidation of toluene using O2 and g-C3N4 with Nanopores: Nanostructure Boosts the Catalytic Selectivity" by X H Li published in ACS Catal., 2012, 2 (10), pp 2082-2086 reports solvent-free oxidation of the primary C—H bonds in toluene to benzaldehyde has been achieved by using the metal-free catalyst g-C3N4 and O2. It is the nanostructure of g-C3N4 that boosts the high selectivity by tuning the homogeneous oxidation to hetergeneous oxidation and capturing all free .O2— radicals to effectively suppress the over oxidation of aldehydes.
Article titled "Selective catalysis of the aerobic oxidation of cyclohexane in the liquid phase by carbon nanotubes" by H Yu et al. published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Volume 50, Issue 17, pages 3978-3982, Apr. 18, 2011 reports Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) catalyze the aerobic oxidation of cyclohexane into cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, and adipic acid with excellent activity and controllable selectivity. Nitrogen doped multi walled carbon nano tubes as catalysts gave higher yields of AA compared to gold catalysts. For instance, at 125° C. and 15 bar of O2 pressure, 45% cyclohexane conversion with 60% AA selectivity was observed.
However, high cost of the catalysts and requirement of solvent are the main drawbacks of these above catalysts. Therefore, there is need to develop a green process and a catalyst for the selective oxidation with improved yields.

Selective aerobic oxidations using carbon nitride nanotubes

COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTIAL RESEARCH


Disclosed is a substrate conveyance device, comprising: a carrying platform, configured to support a substrate; a conveying mechanism, disposed below the carrying platform and configured to convey the carrying platform; and oppositely disposed guiding mechanisms, disposed on both sides of the carrying platform in a conveying direction, respectively. First magnetic field generators are disposed on both sides of the carrying platform in the conveying direction, and the guiding mechanism includes second magnetic field generators adjacent to the first magnetic field generators and disposed oppositely to the first magnetic field generators, respectively, such that the first magnetic field generator and the second magnetic field generator which are adjacent to each other have the same polarity. The substrate conveyance device is suitable for conveying various display substrates, especially the substrate having a large size.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a substrate conveyance device in the related art, and FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view showing the substrate conveyance device in the related art. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the production process of the display panel, rollers (or cylinders) are generally used as the power conveying mechanism 1 to convey the substrate 10. Further, in order to convey the substrate 10 in a specific direction, a plurality of guide rollers 2 are usually disposed on both sides in a forward direction of the substrate 10.
However, the substrate 10 being conveyed may come into contact with the conveying mechanism 1 or the guide roller 2 to generate friction. The friction of the substrate 10 with the conveying mechanism 1 or the guide roller 2 may generate particles. In the case of a large-sized display panel, since the large-sized display panel has a large self-weight, a weight of carrying platform becomes larger. In this regard, the frictional force generated by the substrate 10 in relation to the conveying mechanism 1 or the guide roller 2 is also relatively large, thereby generating more particles. These particles are more likely to fall into a region of the substrate 10 close to the guide roller 2 (as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2), thereby affecting the quality of the display panel.

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A hearing device is activated by operating the hearing device in an operating mode in a first phase after supplying energy to internal circuitry of the hearing device, by operating the hearing device in a reduced operating mode in a second phase and by operating the hearing device in a selectable operating mode in a third phase. Thereby, the hearing device user can examine a correct functioning of the hearing device before its insertion into the ear. In addition, the hearing device can thereafter be inserted without that a feedback signal is generated.

Hearing devices are usually activated and run in a normal operating mode after a battery has been inserted into its battery chamber. This procedure is somewhat awkward for the hearing device user because he or she has to insert the device in the ear while it is generating a loud feedback signal.
Therefore, it has been proposed to incorporate a delay circuitry into the hearing device in order to postpone the activation of the normal operating mode. Such a hearing device is disclosed in DE-195 26 175 C1.
While using the known hearing device, the user does not know whether his hearing device functions properly after having inserted a battery.
An objective of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawback.


The present invention provides a hologram apparatus for recording interference fringes formed from reference light and signal light optically spatially modulated by a spatial light modulator on a hologram recording material or picking up an image of reproduction signal light produced by irradiating illumination reproduction light on the hologram recording material by means of an image pickup device to obtain a reproduction image signal. The hologram apparatus includes a matching data acquisition section, an arithmetic operation section, and a positioning control section. The matching data acquisition section directly picks up an image of the signal light optically spatially modulated with a pixel matching pattern displayed on the spatial light modulator by means of the image pickup device to obtain a reproduction image signal. The arithmetic operation section performs predetermined arithmetic operation using a luminance value of the reproduction image signal. The positioning control section moves a relative position between the image pickup device and the spatial light modulator in response to a result of the arithmetic operation of the arithmetic operation section.

This invention relates to a hologram apparatus for recording and reproducing data into and from a holographic memory, and more particularly to a positioning method for a spatial light modulator and an image pickup device for positioning the spatial light modulator and the image sensor on the pixel level.
In recent years, holographic techniques have been and are being developed rapidly in order to achieve practical use of holographic memories to which attention is paid as a strong storage candidate competent with next-generation and next-next-generation optical disks. A hologram recording and reproduction system, which makes use of a hologram technique to perform recording and reproduction of a large amount of data is disclosed, for example, in "Holographic data storage", IBM J. RES DEVELOP, Vol. 44, No. 3, May, 2000.
According to the hologram storage recording and reproduction system (hologram apparatus), a coherent laser beam is split into signal light and reference light, and the signal light is intensity modulated with recording data by a spatial light modulator (SLM). The modulated signal light is condensed on a hologram recording medium (hologram recording material). Thereupon, since also the reference light is irradiated on the hologram recording medium, the signal light and the reference light interfere with each other, and interference fringes formed by the interference are recorded as fine density patterns in the recording medium.
In order to reproduce the data recorded in the hologram recording medium, illumination reproduction light same as the reference light is introduced at an angle equal to that of the reference light to the hologram recording medium. Thereupon, the data are reproduced as diffraction light (reproduction signal light) corresponding to the interference fringes recorded in the hologram recording medium. The reproduction signal light is condensed on an image sensor such as a CCD+CMOS image sensor and retrieved as bit patterns into an image pickup device. The received light signal obtained by the image pickup device is analyzed and reproduced as data.

Hologram apparatus, positioning method for spatial light modulator and image pickup device, and hologram recording material


Page description language data are imposed according to entered imposition information. The imposed page description language data are converted into raster-format data by an RIP process. Page data depending on a plurality of page areas are clipped from the raster-format data. The clipped page data are mapped onto respective model areas corresponding to the page areas on a determined three-dimensional shape model thereby to generate three-dimensional preview data of a print. A three-dimensional preview image of the print is displayed based on the three-dimensional preview data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus, an image editing method, and a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the CTP (Computer To Plate) technology for directly producing printing plates from electronic data without the need for any intermediate mediums and processes has been in widespread use in the printing and platemaking field. There have been proposed various proofreading assistance tools for performing an efficient proofreading process using electronic data for CTP.
The proofreading process includes a task for confirming print presentation forms in which prints are presented. Specific print presentation forms to be confirmed include layout, imposition, page folding, page trimming position, etc. In order to facilitate the confirming task, various efforts have been made for displaying printing data images in view of those print presentation forms.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-302518 discloses an apparatus and method for combining a template image which shows page folding details with printing data image into a preview image and displaying the preview image. The publication states that the displayed preview image allows the operator to confirm beforehand the layout of printed images on folded pages.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-102614 discloses an apparatus and method for displaying a preview of a layout of printing data images and an output form thereof. The publication states that the displayed preview reflects various printing functions.
After the operator has completed a proofreading process, the operator is required in some cases to ask the client for approval before proceeding to a next printing process. At this time, the client visually checks a proof printed on a proof press to determine whether to go ahead with the printing process or not. There is a potential need for confirmation of a proof in a state that is as close to a final print as possible.
The apparatus and methods disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-302518 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-102614 mainly serve to simply confirm imposition and page folding in particular, and do not use actual printing data (block copy data). According to the disclosed apparatus and methods, therefore, the proof tends to deviate from the final print. The disclosed apparatus and methods do not lend themselves to final confirmation of other forms including layout and page trimming.

Image editing apparatus, image editing method, and recording medium