A light module comprises a light unit, a heat transferring plate or a plurality of heat transferring pipes, and a plurality of heat dissipating fins. The heat transferring plate or heat transferring pipes are positioned on the bottom surface of the light unit to transfer heat generated by the light unit. When the heat transferring plate is used, the heat dissipating fins are arranged under the heat transferring plate and perpendicular to the bottom surface of the heat transferring plate. The heat dissipating fins have a recess for the accommodation of the heat transferring plate and the light unit. When the heat transferring pipes are used, the heat dissipating fins each contact the heat transferring pipes. Uniform heat dissipation is thus attained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light module, and more particularly to a light module having good heat dissipation properties.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fluorescent bulb, fluorescent tubes, or electric bulbs are used in traditional light devices as light source generators. In recent years, light-emitting diodes (LED) have been developed as light source generators. LED is a type of cold illumination and has the advantages of low power consumption, long device lifetime, no idling time, and quick response speed. In addition, since the LED also has the advantages of small size, suitability for mass production, and ease of fabrication as a tiny device or an array device, it has been widely applied in display apparatus and indicating lamps used in information, communication, consumer electronic products, and automotive industry, such as, cellular phones, as backlights of personal data assistants, outdoor traffic signal lamps or various outdoor displays, even as a components in the highly popular liquid crystal displays.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are each a cross section diagram illustratively showing a conventional LED module, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional LED module includes a substrate 10, a plurality of LED units 12 positioned above the substrate 10, and an encapsulating material layer 14 disposed on the LED unit 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional LED module includes a substrate 16, an insulating layer 18, a printed circuit board 20 positioned above the substrate 16, and a plurality of LED package bodies 22 disposed on the printed circuit board 20 and electrically connected to the printed circuit board 20. The LED package body 22 is constructed by forming the encapsulating material layer 24 via molding or sealant injection, and the entire LED module is then formed by aggregating each of the LED package bodies 22 on the substrate 16.
However, in conventional techniques for assembling light modules, such as the above mentioned LED modules, the substrate is generally a lead frame or a printed circuit board (PCB), and a plural LED chips are fixed onto the substrate, or a plurality of LED packages are combined, for forming a module or a light engine. The LED chips or package with the substrate only connect to heat dissipating fins for heat dissipation. Thus, uneven heat dissipation and local hot spots tend to occur. The resulting local high temperature will lead the LED to have disadvantages of a short lifetime, uneven color, or uneven light intensity.
Therefore, a novel light-emitting module having uniform heat dissipation for avoiding local hot spots is still needed.

Light module with combined heat transferring plate and heat transferring pipes


This invention relates to a process for making methanol and ethanol from carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The process includes contacting a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen with a catalyst system containing a ruthenium compound—and optionally, a chloride or bromide-containing compound—dispersed in a low-melting tetraorganophosphonium chloride or bromide salt under conditions effective to produce methanol and ethanol. The invention also relates to a process for making methanol and ethanol from carbon monoxide and water using the same catalyst system.

The conversion of either carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide into derivatives with a C—C bond is an important first step in developing technology for producing organic chemicals from these C1 feedstocks. Due to its low reactivity, carbon dioxide poses a particular challenge, yet an important one, to achieve efficient utilization of many carbon feedstocks in large-scale fuel or commodity chemical production. An emphasis on carbon dioxide utilization has inspired development of CO2-to-methanol technologies.
One approach uses promoted Cu/ZnO heterogeneous catalyst systems similar to current commercial methanol technologies. The reaction proceeds according to Equation (1) below:

Relevant to an understanding of such CO2 hydrogenation catalysis is the water-gas-shift (WGS) reaction according to Equation (2) below:

The WGS reaction is reversible and is catalyzed by many different transition metals. It is used on an industrial scale for hydrogen generation in ammonia and methanol synthesis. Such practice uses metal oxide catalysts in a two-step, high (T>350° C.) and low (210-240° C.) temperature, process. Homogeneous catalysts for the WGS reaction show significant activity at much lower temperatures (60-160° C.).
But it is the opposite reaction, referred to as the "reverse water-gas-shift" (RWGS) reaction, that is germane to CO2 hydrogenation. The RWGS reaction is considered the first step of the process depicted in Equation (1), i.e., the conversion of CO2 to CO. The CO is then hydrogenated to form methanol.
The CO2-to-methanol process according to Equation (1) accomplishes two chemical steps in a single reactor, with a single catalyst system: RWGS and methanol synthesis. The term "tandem catalysis" has been coined to describe such processes, and examples where both chemical steps are catalyzed by the same catalyst system are referred to as "concurrent tandem cataylsis."
In one aspect, the present invention aims to execute three chemical steps in a single unit operation and, thus, might be referred to as "double-tandem" catalysis: RWGS reaction; methanol synthesis; and methanol homologation to ethanol, all in a single step with the stoichiometry described in Equation (4) below:

Demanding aspects of "double-tandem" catalysis are that all three reactions should occur at generally the same conditions of temperature and pressure, the products of one reaction should be acceptable as reactants for the next (twice), and the promoters or co-catalysts for one reaction should not be poisons (or ideally, they would also be activators) for the subsequent reactions.
JP 3,614,449 B2 (Tominaga et al., 2004) discloses the conversion of carbon dioxide to ethanol using a ruthenium-cobalt-iodide catalyst system in a pyrrolidone or imidazolidinone solvent. JP '449, however, neither claims nor observes concurrent conversion of carbon monoxide feedstock. JP '449 also does not disclose using a molten salt as the reaction solvent.
In another aspect, the present invention aims to produce methanol and ethanol by reacting carbon monoxide with water.
The present invention addresses these as well as other objects, which will become apparent from the following description and the appending claims.

Production of methanol and ethanol from CO or CO


The flow of a hydraulic fluid caused by sliding movement of a piston is controlled through a sub-disk valve, a main disk valve and a disk valve to generate damping force. A coil is energized to urge a plunger in the valve closing direction against spring force from a spring, thereby adjusting the relief pressure of the disk valve and thus controlling the damping force. The pressure in a back-pressure chamber varies according to the relief pressure of the disk valve. Thus, the valve opening pressure of the main disk valve is also adjusted. An abrupt input is absorbed by relieving the pressure from the back-pressure chamber by deflection of the disk valve. Because "soft" damping force characteristics, which are often used, are maintained with a small electric current, the power consumption can be reduced. When there is a failure, the spring causes the small-diameter portion of the plunger to close ports, thereby switching the damping force to "hard" side and thus ensuring the steering stability.

The present invention relates to a damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber attached to a suspension system of a vehicle, for example, an automobile.
Hydraulic shock absorbers attached to suspension systems of automobiles or other vehicles include damping force control type hydraulic shock absorbers which are designed so that the level of damping force can be appropriately controlled in accordance with the road surface conditions, vehicle running conditions, etc. with a view to improving the ride quality and the steering stability.
In general, this type of hydraulic shock absorber includes a cylinder having a hydraulic fluid sealed therein. A piston, which has a piston rod connected thereto to constitute a piston assembly, is slidably fitted in the cylinder to divide the inside of the cylinder into two chambers. The piston assembly is provided with a main hydraulic fluid passage and a bypass passage, which provide communication between the two chambers in the cylinder. The main hydraulic fluid passage is provided with a damping force generating mechanism including an orifice and a disk valve. The bypass passage is provided with a damping force control valve for controlling the flow path area of the bypass passage.
When the bypass passage is opened through the damping force control valve, the flow resistance to the hydraulic fluid flowing between the two chambers in the cylinder is reduced, thereby reducing damping force. When the bypass passage is closed, the flow resistance between the two chambers is increased, thereby increasing damping force. Thus, damping force characteristics can be appropriately controlled by opening and closing the damping force control valve.
In the above-described damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber, in which damping force is controlled by changing the flow path area of the bypass passage, the damping force characteristics can be changed to a considerable extent in the low piston speed region because damping force in this region depends on the restriction by the orifice in the hydraulic fluid passage. However, the damping force characteristics cannot greatly be changed in the intermediate and high piston speed regions because in these regions damping force depends on the degree of opening of the damping force generating mechanism (disk valve, etc.) in the main hydraulic fluid passage.
To solve the above-described problem, Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication (KOKAI) No. 62-220728, for example, discloses a damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber in which a pressure chamber (pilot chamber) is formed at the back of a disk valve serving as a damping force generating mechanism in a main hydraulic fluid passage common to the extension and contraction sides, and the pressure chamber is communicated with a cylinder chamber on the upstream side of the disk valve through a fixed orifice and also communicated with a cylinder chamber on the downstream side of the disk valve through a variable orifice (flow control valve).
According to the above damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber, the flow path area of the passage between the two chambers in the cylinder is controlled by opening and closing the variable orifice, and the valve opening initial pressure of the disk valve can be varied by changing the pressure in the pressure chamber by the pressure loss in the variable orifice. Thus, it is possible to control orifice characteristics (in which damping force is approximately proportional to the square of the piston speed) and valve characteristics (in which damping force is approximately proportional to the piston speed), and hence possible to widen the control range for damping force characteristics.
There is another type of damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber in which damping force is controlled by opening and closing a damping force control valve according to the magnitude of energizing electric current using a solenoid actuator or the like. In this type of damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber, in general, the degree of opening of the damping force control valve is controlled by moving the valving element of the valve in the valve opening direction with thrust from the solenoid actuator against urging force from a spring member that constantly urges the valving element in the valve closing direction. Thus, when no electric current is supplied to the solenoid, the damping force control valve is closed. Therefore, in a case where the solenoid cannot be energized owing to a failure in the electric system or the like, the damping force characteristics are fixed to the "hard"0 side, and thus the steering stability of the vehicle can be ensured.
However, the above-described conventional damping force control type hydraulic shock absorbers suffer from the following problems.
In the damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication (KOKAI) No. 62-220728, damping force is controlled by the flow rate control through the variable orifice. Therefore, damping force actually generated changes according to the piston speed. For this reason, when there is an abrupt input due to thrusting-up force applied to the vehicle from the road surface, for example, damping force increases rapidly as the piston speed rises, and shock is transmitted to the vehicle body. This may cause the ride quality to be degraded. Moreover, the flow resistance of the variable orifice varies to a considerable extent according to the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid. Therefore, the effect of temperature changes on the damping force characteristics is unfavorably large. Accordingly, stable damping force characteristics cannot be obtained with the variable orifice.
The damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber in which the damping force control valve is opened by thrust from the solenoid actuator against urging force from the spring member involves the following problem. In general, "soft" damping force characteristics are often used under the normal running conditions of vehicles. Therefore, the frequency with which a large electric current is supplied to the solenoid to maintain the "soft" damping force characteristics is high. Accordingly, the power consumption increases, and the load on the solenoid is unfavorably heavy.

Damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber


An optical modulator includes: first and second optical waveguides formed of an electro-optic material film on a substrate so as to have a ridge shape and to be disposed adjacent to each other; a buffer layer covering at least the upper surfaces of the first and second optical waveguides; and first and second signal electrodes provided above the buffer layer. The first and second signal electrodes have, respectively, first and second lower layer parts opposite, respectively, to the first and second optical waveguides through the buffer layer; and first and second upper layer parts provided, respectively, above the first and second lower layer parts. Widths of the lower surfaces of the first and second lower layer parts are smaller than widths of the first and second upper layer parts.

Communication traffic has been remarkably increased with widespread Internet use, and optical fiber communication is becoming significantly important. The optical fiber communication is a technology that converts an electric signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal through an optical fiber and has wide bandwidth, low loss, and resistance to noise.
As a system for converting an electric signal into an optical signal, there are known a direct modulation system using a semiconductor laser and an external modulation system using an optical modulator. The direct modulation system does not require the optical modulator and is thus low in cost, but has a limitation in terms of high-speed modulation and, thus, the external modulation system is used for high-speed and long-distance applications.
As the optical modulator, a Mach-Zehnder optical modulator in which an optical waveguide is formed by Ti (titanium) diffusion in the vicinity of the surface of a lithium niobate single-crystal substrate has been put to practical use (see, e.g., Patent Document 1). The Mach-Zehnder optical modulator uses an optical waveguide (Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide) having a Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure that separates light emitted from one light source into two beams, makes the two beams pass through different paths, and then recombines the two beams to cause interference. Although high-speed optical modulators having a modulation speed of 40 Gb/s or higher are commercially available, they have a major drawback that the entire length thereof is as long as about 10 cm.
On the other hand, Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose a Mach-Zehnder optical modulator using a c-axis oriented lithium niobate film. The optical modulator using the lithium niobate film achieves significant reduction in size and driving voltage as compared with an optical modulator using the lithium niobate single-crystal substrate.
The cross-sectional structure of a conventional optical modulator 700 described in Patent Document 2 is illustrated in FIG. 12A. A pair of optical waveguides 22a and 22b of a lithium niobate film are formed on a sapphire substrate 21, and a signal electrode 24a and a ground electrode 24b are disposed above the optical waveguides 22a and 22b, respectively, through a buffer layer 23. The optical modulator 700 is of a so-called single drive type having one signal electrode 24a, and the signal electrode 24a and ground electrode 24b have a symmetrical structure, so that electric fields to be applied to the optical waveguides 22a and 22b are the same in magnitude and opposite in polarity, preventing the wavelength chirp of a modulated light from occurring. However, the area of the ground electrode 24b is small, preventing operation at high frequencies.
The cross-sectional structure of a conventional optical modulator 800 described in Patent Document 3 is illustrated in FIG. 12B. Two signal electrodes 24a1 and 24a2 are disposed above a pair of optical waveguides 22a and 22b of a lithium niobate film, respectively, through a buffer layer 23, and three ground electrodes 24c, 24d and 24e are disposed so as to be separated from the signal electrodes 24a1 and 24a2. When voltages same in magnitude and opposite in polarity are applied to the two signal electrodes 24a1 and 24a2, respectively, electric fields to be applied to the optical waveguides 22a and 22b become the same in magnitude and opposite in polarity, preventing the wavelength chirp of a modulated light from occurring. Further, the amount of the chirp can be adjusted by adjusting voltage to be applied to the pair of optical waveguides 22a and 22b. Furthermore, a sufficient area is ensured for the left and right ground electrodes 24c and 24d, allowing operation at high frequencies. However, the optical modulator 800 is of a dual drive type having two signal electrodes 24a1 and 24a2, complicating an electrode structure.


A method for fabrication a light emitting diode (LED) includes growing a crystalline LED structure on a growth substrate, forming alternating material layers on the LED structure to form a reflector on a back side opposite the growth substrate and depositing a stressor layer on the reflector. A handle substrate is adhered to the stressor layer. The LED structure is separated from the growth substrate using a spalling process to expose a front side of the LED structure.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to light emitting diode (LED) structures and methods, and more particularly to thin LEDs made by wafer splitting growth substrates employed in growing the LEDs.
2. Description of the Related Art
GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are becoming mainstream as they can provide emitted light wavelengths for general lighting applications, medical applications, etc. However, growth substrates on which LED structures are grown are expensive. In addition to substrate reuse, potentially superior performance of thin LED devices has been a main driving force for selecting thin LED structures over other LED types. For example, more effective heat dissipation strategies can be employed to improve the lifetime of thin LEDs. To improve the intensity of the emitted light in thin LEDs, distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR) and/or texturing of the starting substrate have been employed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Thin light emitting diode and fabrication method

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An aseptic storage tank includes a draught tube into which food product enters in use. By increasing and decreasing relative pressure in the headpiece of the tube the contents in the tube are forced into and out of the tank to keep the food product therein in motion.

This invention relates to aseptic processing systems and particularly to storage vessels.
In aseptic food processing it is necessary for viscous food products and in particular food products containing particulate matter to be maintained in homogeneous suspension especially before filling and packaging, and also before the food product is sterilized.
The food product, before filling, is conveniently stored in a vessel such as an aseptic tank. The food product is usually maintained in homogeneous suspension within an aseptic tank by mechanical agitation. This has the disadvantage that the mechanical agitation can damage the particulate matter which may thereby lose its integrity. Mechanical agitators are also inconvenient to clean. It is desirable to provide a relatively simple system and method of maintaining the food product in a storage vessel in homogeneous suspension, without damaging the food product.


Even when vector data contains resolution dependent data, the vector data is generated at a resolution of quality without deterioration even if the vector data is output from any device on a network. When spooling the vector data, an MFP 1, receiving PDL data containing resolution information on a data processing resolution from a PC 2, analyzes the resolution information, and determines a processing resolution used at a time when an image forming device executes resolution dependent processing. After that, when the resolution dependent processing is necessary to generate the vector data, the MFP 1 executes the resolution dependent processing in accordance with the determined processing resolution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multifunction printing device which is to be connected to a network and has functions of an input/output device like a printer and scanning functions, and to an image forming system composed of the device.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, a lot of image input/output devices such as image scanners, digital multifunction machines and printers have come to be connected to a network. By using such an environment, a technology has been developed conventionally which copies images by outputting images, which are input with an image input device A, from an output device B on the network.
A function of making a copy by performing image input/output with the same device is called "local copy", and a function of making a copy by performing image input/output with different devices on the network is referred to as "remote copy".
The remote copy constitutes a base of the following techniques:
[i] Cluster copy that performs, when making a large number of copies, simultaneous print outputs by transferring images read with a single input device to a plurality of output devices; and
[ii] Proxy printing that outputs, when the printing device is in use for PDL printing or the like in a multifunction machine and the copying function of the multifunction machine cannot be used, to another single printer on the network using only the scanner function.
Using the functions of the remote copy, cluster copy and proxy printing makes it possible to consider all the individual input/output devices connected to the network as a single system as a whole, and to improve the productivity of the system in its entirety.
On the other hand, the original remote copy has the following problems because it converts images input with the input device into compressed bitmap data and transmits to the output device:
[1] Since the input device and output device have different color reproduction characteristics, color feeling varies depending on the output device.
[2] When the output device has a resolution (output resolution) higher than the input device, the output device cannot fulfill its performance.
[3] Images can be altered depending on the output device because of the difference in engine characteristics such as thin line reproducibility of the output device (for example, images input with the multifunction machine have been subjected to image processing assuming local printing).
[4] Because of the great data size of the transfer images, it takes a lot of transfer time on the network, thereby reducing the productivity.
To solve the problems, a technique has been developed recently which converts input images to vector data by applying a vectorizing technique and transmits it (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-23942). In addition, a technique has also been developed which converts input images to device independent color space data (common color space data) by applying a color matching (color conversion) technique and transmits it.
By converting the color space of the image data to the device independent color space on the input device side, and then by converting it to the output device dependent color space on the output device side again, the color matching between the input device and output device is made, and thus the foregoing problem [1] is solved.
In addition, vectorizing the bitmap data and transferring the vectorized bitmap data, and rasterizing the vector data received at the output device side in order to output rasterized vector data after converting to the bitmap image matching the output device will:
(a) Enable increasing the resolution up to the resolution of output device with less image deterioration, even if the input device has a resolution (data processing resolution) lower than the output device;
(b) Enable conversion considering the engine characteristics of the output device at a time of the rasterizing processing; and
(c) Reduce the data size as compared with the bitmap data, thereby being able to solve the foregoing problems [2], [3] and [4].
Accordingly, high image quality print output can be obtained regardless of the types of the input/output devices.
(First Problem)
On the other hand, when generating vector data by inputting PDL data, there are some cases where part of the vector data generated includes resolution dependent data according to the installation method of an application, printer driver and PDL interpreter. Thus, as for the generated vector data, which designates a low resolution device (output device) as a target, there are some cases where it includes resolution dependent low resolution data. In this case, it is impossible to obtain high definition (high resolution) print output, even if the vector data is output with a high resolution device (output device).
The following shows an example of the resolution dependent vector data.
(Linearization Processing)
When the vector data contained in the application data or PDL includes a curve, linearization processing is applied. In the linearization processing, resolution dependent processing is carried out in optimization processing after completing a linearization decision and linearization processing. Thus, the vector data after the linearization processing includes resolution dependent data.
The following shows an example of a conventional linearization processing.
A curve contained in the vector data is often a Bezier cubic curve. FIG. 1 shows an example of the linearization processing of a Bezier cubic curve.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the linearization processing of a Bezier cubic curve.
At S101, an input device divides a target Bezier cubic curve into two Bezier cubic curves.
As shown in FIG. 2, as for a Bezier cubic curve consisting of four control points C0, C1, C2 and C3, the Bezier cubic curve is divided into two Bezier cubic curves consisting of L0-L3 and R0-R3 obtained by the following equations:
      T    =                            C                                                              1                +                  C                                                              2                    2        ,                      L                                      0        =          C                                      0        ,                      L                                      1        =                            C                                                              0                +                  C                                                              1                    2        ,                      L                                      2        =                            L                                                              1                +        T            2        ,                      L                                      3        =                            L                                                              2                +                  R                                                              1                    2        ,                      R                                      0        =          L                                      3        ,                      R                                      1        =                  T        +                  R                                                              2                    2        ,                      R                                      2        =                            C                                                              2                +                  C                                                              3                    2        ,                      R                                      3        =          C                                      3
At S102, the input device makes a decision as to whether each Bezier cubic curve obtained by the division at S101 can be considered to be a linear curve (a straight line) or not.
The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows an example of a linearization decision algorithm.
As shown in FIG. 4, assume that the control points of the target Bezier cubic curve of the linearization decision are C0, C1, C2 and C3. Then assume that the vector from C0 to C3 is a vector d, the vector from C0 to C1 is a vector V1, and the vector from C3 to C2 is a vector V2.
In addition, assume that the x component of the vector V1 with respect to the vector d is V1x, and the y component thereof is V1y. Furthermore, assume that the x component of the vector V2 with respect to the vector d is V2x, and the y component thereof is V2y.
Besides, the magnitude of each vector is represented by | | such as |d| represents the magnitude of the vector d.
At S201, the input device compares |d| with predetermined flatness (threshold), and proceeds to S202 if |d| is less than the flatness, and to S203 if |d| is greater than the flatness.
At S202, the input device compares |V1| and |V2| with the flatness, and if both |V1| and |V2| are less than the flatness, it makes a decision that the linearization decision result is TRUE, that is, that the target Bezier cubic curve is a linear curve, and completes the processing. If |V1| or |V2| is equal to or greater than the flatness, it makes a decision that the linearization decision result is FALSE, that is, that the target Bezier cubic curve is a curve, and completes the processing.
At S203, the input device compares V1y and V2y with the flatness. As a result, if V1y or V2y is greater than the predetermined flatness (threshold), it makes a decision that the linearization decision result is FALSE and completes the processing. If both V1y and V2y are less than the flatness, it proceeds to S204.
At S204, the input device makes a decision by calculating (V1x−|d|) and (−V2x−|d|) as to whether the internal control points (C1 and C2), when they are mapped onto the vector d, fall outside or inside C0 and C3. If they fall inside, the input device makes the linearization decision result TRUE, and if they fall outside, it makes the linearization decision result FALSE, and completes the processing.
As for the flatness used in the linearization decision algorithm, since it is a value considering the resolution at rasterization, it becomes resolution dependent processing.
At S103, according to the decision result at S102, if the linearization decision result is TRUE, the input device proceeds to S104. On the other hand, if the linearization decision result is FALSE, it performs at S105 the linearization processing recursively on the Bezier cubic curve whose linearization decision result is FALSE.
At S104, the input device adds a line connecting the control points C0 and C3 of the Bezier cubic curve, which is decided as a linear curve, as a linear curve segment.
FIGS. 5A-5C show examples of the curve having undergone the linearization processing.
FIG. 5A shows a Bezier curve before the linearization processing. FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C show vectorized data passing through the linearization processing assigning 1200 dpi as a rasterizing target and 600 dpi as a rasterizing target. As is found from FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C, since the number of division of the Bezier cubic curve varies in accordance with the target resolution, the number of the linear curve segments generated varies. Thus, the vector data generated by vectorizing the bitmap data comes to include the resolution dependent data.
(Font Selecting Processing)
As for font data, the data corresponding to the output resolution has been prepared. Accordingly, at font selection, data selection considering an output target device is carried out. In addition, the outline data of the font data includes curve components, and the foregoing linearization processing is also applied to the font scaling processing. Accordingly, the outline data obtained by applying the linearization processing to the text region also becomes resolution dependent data.
(Second Problem)
Furthermore, when generating completely resolution free vector data, that is, vector data considering rendering at any desired resolution, the optimization processing in accordance with the resolution is difficult. If the optimization processing is impossible, the number of objects contained in the vector data increases. This will bring about an increase in the data size, and reduction in the processing rate at the rasterization.
The present invention is implemented to solve the foregoing problems. The present invention provides to generate the vector data at a resolution that will cause little deterioration in quality even if the vector data includes resolution dependent data and is output from any devices on a network. The present invention also provides to make optimization of the vector data while keeping the quality of little deterioration even if it is output from any devices on the network.

System which performs resolution-dependent vectorization of print data


A pneumatic tire having an enhanced cracking resistance at groove bottom, including at least one circumferential main groove 9 having such a sectional profile shape as including an axially inner wall portion 13, an inner arc portion 14 continuous with the inner wall portion 13, an axially outer wall portion 15 having a smaller length than the inner wall portion 13, an outer arc portion 16 continuous with outer wall portion 15, and a groove bottom portion 17 extending straight between the outer and inner arc portions while being inclined in a radially inward direction, in which the groove 9 has a maximum depth portion 18 on the tire equator side with respect to center position G1 of its width, and radius of curvature R1 of inner arc portion 14 and radius of curvature R2 of outer arc portion 16 satisfy the following relationships: R1≧0.6 mm and R2≧2×R1.

The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire, more particularly to a pneumatic tire including a circumferential main groove having a cross sectional shape specified to reduce generation of cracks in the vicinity of the groove bottom.
FIG. 5 shows a partial cross sectional view of a tread portion in the vicinity of a circumferential groove of a conventional pneumatic tire, in which an imaginary line shows a cross sectional profile line of the groove just after vulcanization of the tire. In the tread portion of the pneumatic tire, a tensile strain generates in the vicinity of a bottom "b" of a circumferential groove "a" by shrinkage of a rubber due to lowering of temperature after the vulcanization. Such a strain will cause cracking at the groove bottom "b". In particular, cracking is easy to occur at arc-like corner portions "d" between the groove bottom "b" and groove walls "c", since the tensile strain largely acts on the corner portions "d".
Further, as shown in FIG. 5B. a shoulder land portion B1 located on a tread edge side to which a load is easy to apply during cornering, is generally formed into a larger size than a middle land portion B2. Therefore, the amount of rubber shrinkage mentioned above is larger at the shoulder portion, so cracking occurs more easily at an arc-like corner portion "do" located on the shoulder land portion B2 side.
In order to suppress such a cracking at the groove bottom, it is proposed to use a rubber having a high degree of swelling in the tread portion of the tire. However, the rubber having a high degree of swelling tends to deteriorate the rolling resistance and the steering stability of the tire, since the rubber hardness tends to decrease.
In order to improve the cracking resistance at grooves, JP-A-2006-027465 proposes a circumferential groove having a specific cross sectional shape.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic tire having an improved resistance to cracking which occurs at a groove bottom and in the vicinity thereof.
This and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter.


Neodymium and neodymium-iron alloys are obtained by electrolysis of a neodymium salt melt using magnetite as the anode material. The cathode is non-consumable or is made of iron to be consumed and form a neodymium-iron alloy. The electrolysis is preferably carried out under a protective atmosphere.

Metallic neodymium and neodymium-iron alloys, which currently find increasing use as materials for the manufacture of permanent magnets, e.g. the neodymium-iron-boron alloys discussed in German Patent Disclosure DE-OS 37 29 361, DRAXLER et al., can be made by electrolytic reduction of salt melts containing neodymium compounds. If it is desired to recover the neodymium-iron alloys, the electrolysis cell uses iron cathodes which are consumed to provide the iron.
In their 1968 report cross-referenced above, E. Morrice and co-authors suggest obtaining neodymium and neodymium-iron alloys under an inert atmosphere from a melt of 50 Mol-% lithium fluoride, 50 Mol-% neodymium fluoride, and neodymium oxide dissolved therein, using graphite anodes, and insoluble tungsten or molybdenum cathodes, or consumable iron cathodes.
Japanese Patent Application 02-004,994 (abstracted in Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 112, Abstract No. 225 539p, 1990) describes the electrolysis of melts of 65.9 weight-% (20 Mol-%) neodymium fluoride and 34.1 weight-% (80 Mol-%) lithium fluoride and of 2 weight-% neodymium oxide, 64.6 weight-% (20 Mol-%) neodymium fluoride and 33.4 weight-% (80 Mol-%) lithium fluoride with carbon anodes and carbon or iron cathodes. For consumption of the carbon powder generated during the electrolysis and floating to the melt surface, the melt is electrolyzed in an oxygen-containing atmosphere.
European Patent Application No. 0 177 233 B1 relates to the manufacture of neodymium-iron alloys by electrolysis of melts. Under a protective gas atmosphere, a melt or bath containing 35-76 weight-% neodymium fluoride, 20-60 weight-% lithium fluoride, 0-40 weight-% barium fluoride, and 0-20 weight-% calcium fluoride is electrolyzed with at least one carbon anode and at least one iron cathode. The neodymium separating out at the iron cathode reacts with the iron to form an alloy, and the resulting neodymium-iron alloy (which is fluid at the temperature of the bath) drops from the cathode into a container below. The electrolysis occurs at 770.degree.-950.degree. C. on application of direct current to the carbon anode with a current density of 0.05-0.60 A/cm.sup.2 and to the iron cathode with a current density of 0.50-55 A/cm.sup.2.
With progressively increasing duration of electrolysis, the carbon anodes, used in this conventional method, are eroded by oxidation, so that they must be continually adjusted, and replaced at regular intervals. The destruction of the anodes also contaminates both the molten bath, and the neodymium-iron alloys generated, with carbon and with any other impurities present in the anode material. Oxides and fluorides of the carbon escape into the atmosphere surrounding the electrolysis cell, and can raise environmental concerns.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anodes, for such an electrolysis method, which, compared to carbon anodes, are consumed less quickly and possess an improved chemical resistance to the molten baths. This will have the advantage of producing neodymium and neodymium-iron alloys of increased purity, which are needed in the manufacture of permanent magnet materials.

Method for obtaining neodymium or neodymium-iron alloy by electrolysis of melts containing neodymium compounds


A test system for a memory device includes: a chamber including at least one test socket column having a plurality of test sockets arranged in a first direction, wherein memory devices to be tested are in respective ones of the plurality of test sockets, a temperature adjusting apparatus configured to supply air into the chamber according to a temperature control signal to control a temperature of the chamber, a test device electrically connected to the test sockets and configured to test the memory devices, and a temperature controller configured to receive temperature information of the memory devices from temperature sensors of the memory devices and to output to the temperature adjusting apparatus the temperature control signal to compensate for a temperature difference between a detected temperature of the memory devices and a target temperature.

Example embodiments relate to a test chamber for a memory device, a test system for memory device having the same and a method of testing memory devices using the same. More particularly, example embodiments relate to a test chamber for a memory device that performs an aging test of memory devices such as SSDs, a test system for memory device having the same and a method of testing memory devices using the same.
An aging test of memory devices such as SSDs may include read and write test programs, and when the test is performed, the memory devices may be heated. Because the heating value of the memory device is different according to test entries, it may be required that the test programs are performed repeatedly under a same temperature condition.

Test chamber for memory device, test system for memory device having the same and method of testing memory devices using the same


An article of footwear may include an upper with a first size and an outsole with a second size that is different from the first size. A midsole of the article of footwear may be configured with an upper portion that fits the first size of the upper and a lower portion that fits the second size of the outsole.

The present invention relates to an article of footwear, and in particular to an article with an intermediate sized outsole.
Khalifa (U.S. patent application number 2008/018684) teaches an article of footwear for mass manufacture and assembled largely without stitching. Khalifa teaches an article of footwear with an upper made from a textile. The upper is attached to a sole including an outsole, a footbed insert, and a locking strip. The outsole contains openings configured to receive projections disposed on the locking strip. Further, all three portions of the sole include an opening to receive a locking plug. During assembly, the upper is attached to the locking strip, such as by gluing. The footbed is aligned with the outsole so that the openings configured to receive the locking plug align. The locking strip is snap fitted to the outsole so that the projections on the locking strip are received into the openings on the outsole and so that the openings for receiving the locking plug on the locking strip is aligned with the corresponding openings on the outsole and the footbed insert. Finally, the locking plug is inserted through the openings in the outsole, footbed, and locking plug.
The footbed may be provided as a half size smaller than the outsole or the same size as the outsole. This is done so that the half size can be accommodated without the need for a different outsole for each whole and half size.

Article of footwear with an intermediate sized outsole


An image output system is realized in which many operations are not required for the color reproduction. As a preprocessor of an output device 20 for reproducing an image, an image processing apparatus 100 is provided that comprises attribution decision portions 152 and 153 for deciding the attribution of input image D1, a color decision portion 151 for deciding whether the input image is an image within a color reproduction range or not, a color range change portion 120 for changing the color range of the input image when it is decided that the input image is not an image within the color reproduction range and a process contents switching portion 123 for switching the change contents of the color range in the color range change portion 120 in accordance with the decisions of the attribution decision portions 152 and 153.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 266560/1999 filed on Sep. 21, 1999, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for outputting an image by a printer or a display.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When printing out or displaying an image read by a color scanner or a computer graphics, a process is performed as necessary, in which colors of the image data are converted into colors within a color reproduction range that is unique to the output device. For example, there are a first color compression method and a second color compression method. In the first color compression method, a color range of the image data is compressed for every hue so as to meet the color reproduction range of the output device when the output device has a narrower color reproduction range or when the image data include data which are out of the color reproduction range of the output device. In the second color compression method, only the color which are out of the color reproduction range is converted into a similar color within the color reproduction range. A system that can use a different color compression method in accordance with a kind or the number of colors of the image is proposed in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 8-111786, for example.
In the first color compression method, there is a problem that since the color data of the entire image data are corrected, a process time becomes long though it is suitable for an image such as a full color image or a picture image in which a color gradation is important. In the second color compression method, there is a problem that since only the color which is out of the color reproduction range is compressed, though the process time is shortened, the color gradation is deteriorated. Therefore, a false contour is generated in the border of the compressed color which is out of the color reproduction range and other colors, resulting in a deterioration of the image quality. In addition, when instructing the image output, an operator has to assign the necessity of the color compression and to select the optimal process.
The object of the present invention is to realize an image output system in which many operations are not required for the color reproduction.
An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is used for receiving image data representing an image and for outputting the data to the output device that reproduces the image. The apparatus comprises an attribution controller for deciding attribution of the image in accordance with the received image data, a decision controller for deciding whether the color range of the image is within a color reproduction range of the output device in accordance with the received image data, a color correction controller for performing a correction on the received image data when the attribution controller has decided that the image is not within the color reproduction range so as to make the color range of the image within the color reproduction range and a switching controller for switching the contents of the correction in the color correction controller in accordance with the attribution that the attribution controller has decided.
An image processing method according to the present invention is used for receiving image data representing an image and for outputting the data to the output device that reproduces the image. The method comprises an attribution step of deciding attribution of the image in accordance with the received image data, a decision step of deciding whether the color range of the image is within a color reproduction range of the output device in accordance with the received image data, a color correction step of performing a correction on the received image data when the attribution step has decided that the image is not within the color reproduction range so as to make the color range of the image within the color reproduction range, and a switching step of switching the contents of the correction in the color correction step in accordance with the attribution that the attribution step has decided.


According to one embodiment, a display device includes an insulating substrate including a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a circuit board mounted on the first surface, a supporting member adhered to the insulating substrate on the second surface, and an antistatic layer located between the insulating substrate and the supporting member.

In recent years, sheet-like displays using flexible substrates have been developed for commercialization. Sheet-like displays have been drawing attention as lightweight and flat displays. The display panel of each sheet-like display comprises a flexible insulating layer. For example, a PI film (a polyimide precursor solution film coated with a solution containing a polyimide precursor) is used for the insulating layer. In the process for manufacturing the display panel, the insulating layer is formed on a glass substrate used as a base member.
In a process for forming a plurality of display panels using a substrate, the substrate is separated from an insulating layer.
When the substrate is removed from the insulating layer, the insulating layer might be electrically charged, or a foreign substance might be electrostatically adsorbed to the insulating layer.
In a step for separating the substrate from the insulating layer, the insulating layer is removed from the substrate with laser light. To cause laser light to reach the insulating layer, the substrate is subjected to dry cleaning using a brush before laser irradiation. After the dry cleaning, the substrate chip is separated from the insulating layer.
In the step of dry cleaning using a brush and the step for removing the substrate from the insulating layer as described above, the insulating layer might be electrically charged.
If the insulating layer is electrically charged, a foreign substance might be adsorbed to the insulating layer. In addition, electrostatic discharge (ESD) failure might be caused. If ESD failure is caused, the switching elements or capacitive elements of the display panel may be destroyed.


Illumination control methods and apparatuses and various devices having a photographing function are disclosed. An example illumination control method comprises: determining a to-be-adjusted region that needs optical parameter adjustment in a photograph framing image; determining, according to light source modulation information carried in received imaging rays corresponding to the to-be-adjusted region, at least one external light source that needs to be illumination controlled; determining illumination control instruction information of the to-be-adjusted region; and sending the illumination control instruction information to the at least one external light source determined, so as to instruct the at least one external light source to perform at least one optical adjustment according to the illumination control instruction information. Imaging quality and photographing effect can be improved thereby.

At present, photographing technologies are becoming increasingly popular. Many people select to record details of life by photographing and also have an increasingly higher requirement for a photographing effect.
Some devices having a photographing function, such as a camera and a mobile terminal having a camera, improve a photographing effect in an environment with poor light by means of, for example, in-building a flash lamp or disposing a light-compensating lamp beside a camera.
However, because a level of improvement in a photographing effect that is brought about by self adjustment capability of a photographing device is inevitably limited, how to assist to improve a photographing effect by using other methods has been drawing high attention of more and more researchers.

Illumination control methods and apparatuses and devices having photographing function


Computer-implemented method and system for optimizing a finite element mesh. Computing devices are configured to calculate a quality score for at least one original element in a finite element mesh based upon two or more quality attributes simultaneously. A quality score for at least one substitute element for the original element is calculated based upon the two or more quality attributes. If one or more substitute element(s) have a quality score that is better than the quality score of the original element(s), the original element(s) is/are replaced with the substitute element(s) having the best quality score. A quality score may be calculated for each of a plurality of combinations of one or more substitute elements. Input may be provided specifying at least one quality threshold value for comparing the two or more element quality parameters (skew, warp, aspect ratio, etc.).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for cleaning or otherwise enhancing the quality of finite element meshes.
2. Background Art
One method for cleaning a finite element mesh is known as the paver cleanup method developed at Sandia National Laboratories. This method focuses on the valence of finite element mesh elements—the number of element edges that include a node or the number of mesh elements around a node. Because the paver mesh comprises all quad elements, the goal of the cleanup algorithm is to generate as many nodes as possible having a valence of 4.
The first step in the paver cleanup method is, for each node in the mesh, to compute the node valence and the valence of all nodes in the ring around it. This series of numbers is searched through a library of approximately 150 known patterns. When a match is found, encoded instructions associated with the matching pattern specify a change in the mesh to reduce the number of nodes that do not have a valence of 4. The changed modes are then smoothed.
The second step involves smoothing the entire mesh. The third step involves, for each element in the mesh, measuring the angles of each element. If angle any is extreme, an edge is rotated with a neighbor element. In other words, elements on either side of an edge are removed and replaced with two new elements with a different edge position.
Although the paver cleanup method may be effective at controlling/correcting node valence, the method does not necessarily generate elements having a better overall quality. The present invention is an alternative to the paver and other prior art methodologies for cleaning or otherwise optimizing finite element meshes.

Method and system for optimizing a finite element mesh


A remote control console or operator's station includes a proportional travel control joystick that effects continuous changes in machine travel speed through movement of the joystick away from a central-biased position, a sensor that measures progressively changing positions of the joystick, and an electronic controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and the joystick. The electronic controller is programmed to perform a closed loop control including mapping the progressively changing positions of the joystick to corresponding desired machine travel speeds, and adjusting the speeds of an engine used to propel the machine and the amounts of service braking used to slow the machine to achieve desired machine travel speeds.

Some earth moving machines, for example dozers, motor graders, wheel loaders, and snow plows, have a front-mounted work tool such as a blade, bucket, or plow for pushing or carrying material. These work tools can be tilted about a first horizontal axis that is generally perpendicular to the work tool (i.e., aligned with a travel direction), pitched about a second horizontal axis that is generally parallel to the work tool, and lifted relative to a ground surface. Tilting can be accomplished by extending a hydraulic cylinder located at a first side of the work tool, while simultaneously retracting a hydraulic cylinder located at an opposing side of the work tool. Pitching can be accomplished by extending or retracting both hydraulic cylinders in the same direction at the same time. Lifting of the work tool can be accomplished through extension of a separate lift cylinder. Existing hydraulic systems utilize different combinations of input devices to regulate the tilting, pitching, and lifting operations. Primary operator inputs for mobile vehicle motion include transmission direction (forward, neutral, or reverse), transmission speed setting, steering direction and magnitude, engine speed, and application of service brakes. Because there are multiple inputs to be controlled, these inputs generally require an operator of the machine to use both hands and both feet. In some existing dozers the transmission direction, transmission speed setting, and steering direction and magnitude are combined into a left-hand joystick. With a high idle machine such as a dozer, a right food pedal is often used to decelerate the engine speed from high idle toward a fully decelerated engine speed when slowing down the travel speed of the machine. A left foot pedal is often used in conjunction with the right foot pedal, with the left foot pedal controlling the service brakes for the machine.
When a machine is being remotely controlled, such as by a portable console which is hand-held or supported by a body harness, or at a remote operator station, in some implementations there may be two joysticks, with the left joystick being used for control of transmission speed settings and steering, and the right joystick being used for control of a blade or other work tool. With a remote control console the operator must control all functions of the machine with two hands and no foot pedals. The left joystick may have two or more control axes, with a left-right axis being used for steering direction and magnitude, and a front-back axis being used to set transmission direction. The joystick may also have a vertical axis about which it can be rotated, with rotation of the joystick about the vertical axis resulting in changes to the transmission speed settings. Conventional remote control consoles may include fingertip-controlled paddles that are used by the operator in place of a decelerator foot pedal and a service brake foot pedal. An exemplary remote control system for a work machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,428,791 to Carlsson, issued on Apr. 23, 2013 (the '791 patent). Specifically, the '791 patent discloses a remote control system for a machine, with the system including at least one control stick or joystick and a number of buttons, levers, and/or knobs for operating the different travel and working functions of the machine.
Although the remote control system of the '791 patent includes joysticks and other input devices having different functions in different modes, the '791 does not disclose a control system that enables proportional travel control of a machine by movement of a joystick without the use of foot pedals, wherein movement of the joystick results in continuously progressive control of engine speed and automatic braking mapped to a desired travel speed for the machine.
The remote control console or operator's station of the present disclosure addresses one or more of the needs set forth above and/or other problems of the prior art.


An image processing apparatus includes processors which output first and second image data from input image data. The second image data is applied halftone processing of a higher resolution than halftone processing applied to the first image data. The image processing includes a unit configured to decide a mixing ratio of a pixel using a value based on a sum of an error of the pixel and a change amount of a pixel value at that pixel; and a mixing unit configured to mix pixel values of the first image data and the second image data according to the mixing ratios. When the value based on the sum is increased, the mixing ratio of the second image data decided by the decision unit remains the same or is increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing technique for suppressing image quality deterioration caused by halftone processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an image based on data processed by a personal computer (PC) is popularly printed on a printing material. Note that the number of tones of each pixel which can be expressed by a printing apparatus is normally smaller than the number of tones of each pixel which can be expressed by a PC. When image data is output to such printing apparatus, halftone processing for converting multi-tone image data into image data of a smaller number of tones is executed. As one halftone processing, an ordered dither method which decides an output value (quantized value) by periodically repeated comparison between a threshold and input value is known. As is known, the ordered dither method causes image quality deterioration corresponding to a difference between the threshold and a spatial frequency when an input image includes frequency components close to the spatial frequency corresponding to a period of the threshold. More specifically, jaggy of characters, disconnection of thin lines, interference fringes (moiré) with an input image, and the like are generated, and image quality deterioration which lowers an apparent resolution of an output image is caused.
In order to suppress such image quality deterioration, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-155632 has proposed a technique for suppressing image quality deterioration by replacing a portion with a large error value by the ordered dither method in an image by data by another halftone processing method. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-044449 has proposed a technique for deciding a weighting coefficient based on a size of an edge in image data, and deciding a pixel value to be output from pixel values of two halftone processes having different frequency components in accordance with the decided weighting coefficient. More specifically, as for a pixel having an edge larger than those of neighboring pixels, a weighting coefficient of the halftone process having a high frequency component is increased. Thus, a resolution of an edge portion which cannot be reproduced by the halftone process having a low frequency component is maintained.
Since the arrangement of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-155632 performs correction using the periodic component of the threshold of the ordered dither method, when an image to be printed changes at a period shorter than that of the threshold used in the ordered dither method, its shape cannot be maintained. By contrast, the arrangement of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-044449 performs correction of a deterioration portion while keeping a resolution of an image to be printed. However, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a developing agent image of a certain pixel may often vary due to the influences of neighboring pixels, and the arrangement of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-044449 cannot stably reproduce a shape of an edge portion.

Image processing apparatus for executing halftone processing, image processing system, image processing method, program product, and computer-readable storage medium


A programmable strength output buffer intended for use within the address register of a memory module such as a registered DIMM (RDIMM). The output signals of an array of such buffers drive respective output lines that are connected to the address or control pins of several RAM chips. The programmable buffers vary the strength of at least some of the output signals in response to a configuration control signal, such that the output signals can be optimized for the loads to which they will be connected.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of memory modules, and particularly to the output buffers of Registered Dual-Inline Memory Module (RDIMM) address registers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dual-Inline Memory Modules (DIMMs) are the industry-standard platform on which random access memory (RAM) is provided for digital computers. Each DIMM is a printed-circuit board that contains a number of individual RAM integrated circuits (ICs) or "chips." One variety of DIMM, called a registered DIMM (RDIMM), contains an address register that acts as an electrical buffer, distributing received memory address bits to each of the RDIMM RAM chips. RDIMMs are provided in a variety of configurations, each of which is referred to as a "raw card". Each raw card type, as well as RAM chip and address register component, has an associated set of specifications, promulgated by the industry-supported JEDEC Solid State Technology Association international standards body. A multitude of raw card configurations exist due to the need to support different RDIMM memory capacities, as well as to support RAM chips with different internal designs, as driven by proprietary expedients that may be unique to a RAM manufacturer or manufacturing process.
One JEDEC specification details an address register that may be used on several different raw cards. One raw card type contains 9 RAM chips whose address pins are wired together in a network spanning the physical width of the RDIMM; an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 1a. The other raw card types contain 18 RAM chips that are subdivided according to their placement on the RDIMM. Depending upon the logical functionality of each address bit, the address pins of the RAM chips may be wired together in groups of 4, 5, 8, or 10, in wiring networks spanning only half the physical width of the RDIMM; an exemplary embodiment of this RDIMM configuration is shown in FIG. 1b.
To support these different raw card configurations, the address register contains an array of 28 output buffers and 28 corresponding output pins that may be organized in one of two ways. A configuration control bit applied to the address register selects between the two array deployments. As shown in FIG. 1a, the array may be organized as a 1:1 fanout array, in which 25 address bits applied as inputs are distributed to 25 of the 28 output buffers (only one buffer is shown) in 1:1 correspondence. This arrangement is specified for the raw card configuration of 9 DRAM chips wired together. Alternately, as shown in FIG. 1b, the array may be organized as a 1:2 fanout array. In this case, the array is split into two sub-arrays of 14 output buffers, denoted "A" and "B" (only two buffers are shown), with 14 address bits applied as inputs fanning out to 28 output pins through both the A and B sub-arrays. This arrangement is specified for any of the raw cards containing 18 DRAM chips, in order to support the divided wiring arrangement of the 18 chips. In order to support the 25-28 address bits required for JEDEC-standard DDR2 RDIMMs, two registers are used on an RDIMM when using registers in 1:2 fanout mode. A second configuration control bit is used to distinguish the two registers according to the specific DRAMs to which they are wired.
Conventionally, the output buffers have a unique fixed output "strength": each buffer produces a characteristic output current and transient slew rate when driving a standardized electrical load. The output strength is engineered ad hoc for either a specific raw card configuration, or an electrical approximation that represents the mathematical average of relevant electrical dimensions of all the possible raw card configurations for which the register is intended. Address register output signal integrity degrades when the number of DRAM input pins, and/or the dimension of the wire network driven by an output buffer, differs from that for which it was designed. Signal integrity degradation can take the form of ringing, overshoot, and/or pulse reflections, all of which reduce system reliability, and impose limits on operating speed as the frequency-dependence of the actual output load amplifies the electrical loading at higher operating speed.

Programmable strength output buffer for RDIMM address register


A system and method for matching spot colors in a PDL document with actual printed output is disclosed. A pre-press workflow application identifies spot colors in a PDL document and creates a table of potential substitute color tiles, each having color characteristics similar to the original spot color. These tiles are then printed in a “swatch page” of numerically assigned colors and reviewed by the user for potential selection over the original spot color values. A substitute color may then be selected from the swatch page and the pre-assigned numerical value for the selected color tile input into the workflow application. The PDL document is then altered to record the color change. The resulting printed document more closely matches the desired spot color and the process can be repeated for any print environment to allow for more consistent printing results and lower print job costs.

Automated prepress workflow systems have changed the way prepress operations occur by performing a variety of prepress operations in a digitized file with a computer system. In the past, manually altering physical documents or document representations was the norm. Modern workflow systems are now implemented in software and can perform a greater variety of operations on a digital document prior to producing it with a printing device. For example, a prepress workflow system may scale, rotate or otherwise manipulate an image that is included in a document, format text into a particular font, size, color, language or orientation, or the like. However, as document preparation software applications have become more sophisticated, workflow software systems have focused increasingly on managing printing efficiencies so that the cost of printing a document may be known ahead of executing a print job. This also allows for the estimation of the cost of a prepress workflow and printing operation to be known so that a profitable business model may be realized. This is especially important for color print jobs that use relatively expensive color inks and toners. Such workflow efficiencies have, by and large, allowed for the successful advent of digital print shops. Example prepress workflow or workflow related systems include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,133 to Bloomquist et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,983 to Ito et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,380,951 to Petchenkine et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,396 to Benson et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,483,524 to Petchenkine et al, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Page description language ("PDL") based documents use languages such as Printer Command Language ("PCL"), PostScript ("PS"), and Portable Document Format ("PDF") to control how PDL documents are printed on a printing device. In order to produce a finished sheet, the printing device interprets the data contained in the PDL file, renders objects within the data into bitmaps, and after all objects for the sheet are rendered, prints the sheet. Typically, the printing device includes a raster image processor or "RIP" that renders objects within the PDL file into bitmaps which are transferred to a print engine within the printing device. The print engine then renders the image onto some form of output media.
Workflow systems take advantage of the above described printing process in a PDL file by allowing operations to be performed on the PDL document just prior to printing (i.e. "pre-press"), such as, soft-proofing (i.e., displaying an exemplary digital rendering of one or more pages of a PDL document on a computer screen, display or other image-based system), adjusting the Pill file for various types of print media, controlling the printing output device to which a PDL document will be output, controlling the time and priority of pending printing jobs, arranging various pages in a PDL file to achieve a proper sequence or position of each page relative to other pages (herein referred to as "imposition" or "imposition processing"), and correcting colors so that the printed colors closely match computer display colors for the document prior to the document being submitted to a printing device for printing.
However, faithful reproduction of colors has always been a focus and challenge to the print industry. As is known, each reproduction device has its own color space, or "gamut" within which it can reproduce colors. When an image moves from one device to another, image colors may change because each device interprets color values according to its own color space. For example, it is impossible for all the colors viewed on a monitor to be identically matched in a printed output from a desktop printer. A printer operates in a cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (i.e. black) (hereinafter "CMYK") color space, and a monitor operates in a red, green, blue (hereinafter "RGB") color space. Their "gamuts" are different. Some colors produced by inks cannot be displayed on a monitor, and some colors that can be displayed on a monitor cannot be reproduced using inks on paper. Hence, the physical reality of color reproduction between computer systems, between ink based printing devices, and between color laser devices is greatly complicated. Nevertheless, workflow systems are designed to attempt to compensate for such physical differences.
Within any color PDL document, some colored sections in the document may use a color selected by the document creator called a "spot color." A spot color is any color generated by an ink that is printed using a single pass or run through a printing device. The color can be any color, even non-standard offset colors such as metallic, fluorescent, or preprocessed colors. There are various methods to incorporate sophisticated patterns of spot colors in a final prepress work, and many software applications such as Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and QuarkXPress can generate spot colors as additional "channels" in a PDL document to attempt to maintain consistency of printed document output. Some applications can also utilize spot colors in special layered printing effects such as feathered edges or dissolve effects.
For print devices that do not use special inks, the only option to reproduce a PDL document that calls for a spot color is to attempt to reproduce that color using a "process color." In other words, the printer attempts to reproduce the spot color with a combination of colors in accordance with processing instructions built into the printer. However, the matching of color output of a spot color in a PDL document with printing devices that cannot provide the special ink of a spot color is complicated and troublesome, even beyond the technical differences in gamut between a computer monitor and a familiar printing device. And, quite often, the finished output of a document printed on a printing device will vary depending on a number of shifting variables, such as, for example, environmental influences like temperature, humidity, and elevation, variations in output media, and differences in toner or ink sources—all potentially leading to unsatisfactory print results. Added to these factors is the complexity that in most cases digital documents such as a PDF digital document print with different colors than what its creator viewed on a computer monitor. As mentioned above, this variation in color is due to the inherently different technologies used in representing color on computer monitors versus a printer. Because of the differences in how colors are shown, and because of the above described printing variances, no direct mathematical correlation exists between colors as presented on a computer monitor and colors printed through a print device.
Therefore, what is needed is a pre-process system for correcting spot colors in a PDL document so that the color output of a computer display and the color output of a printed device would be better matched, and so that the printed result would yield a consistently satisfactory color document.

System and method for spot color correction


LED chips including an LED layer or layers capable of emitting light of a first wavelength, a light conversion layer on the LED capable of converting at least a portion of the light of a first wavelength to light of a second wavelength, and a filter layer therebetween that is transmissive to light of a first wavelength and reflective to light of a second wavelength. The filter layer may prevent at least some of the light of a second wavelength from entering the LED layer or layers, where it may be subject to various optical losses, such as internal reflection and absorption. LED chips may also include multiple filter and light conversion layers. Methods of fabrication are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to light emitting diodes with light filters and methods of manufacturing thereof.
Solid state light emitting devices, such as inorganic or organic Light Emitting Diodes (LED or LEDs), convert energy to light and are widely used for many applications. As known to those having skill in the art, inorganic solid state devices generally include one or more active regions of semiconductor material sandwiched between oppositely doped regions. When a bias is applied across the doped regions, electron-hole recombination events occur to generate light and in turn, light is emitted from the active region in omnidirectional paths and from all surfaces of the LED. Conventional LEDs may incorporate reflectors and/or mirror surfaces to direct the emitted light in a desired direction.
The color or wavelength emitted by an LED is largely dependent on the materials from which it is formed and its resulting materials properties, such as the bandgap of the active region. These colors or wavelengths include red, yellow, green, and blue in the visible spectrum as well as the ultraviolet (UV) portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is often desirable to incorporate phosphor into a light emitting diode, to enhance the emitted light in a particular wavelength and/or to convert at least some of the light to another wavelength. As used herein, the term "phosphor" is used generically for any photoluminescent material. The phosphor may be located anywhere within the LED device and may be formed using many techniques.
For example, phosphor may be coated inside and/or outside a dome-shaped shell that covers the device and/or included within the shell itself. The phosphor may be located remotely from the light emitting die or it may be coated or deposited on the die itself. These techniques may include electrophorectic deposition, stencil printing, spin or spray coating, etc. Other techniques may include a phosphor dispense, where a drop of material, such as epoxy, silicone encapsulant, etc., that contains phosphor therein, may be placed on the die and cured to form a shell over the die. This technique may be referred to as a "glob top". In other techniques, the drop of material that contains phosphor may be placed on the die and the phosphor may be allowed to settle on the die. This technique may be referred to as "remote settling".
It is often desirable to configure a light emitting device to emit white light. As used herein, the term "white light" is used in a general sense and includes light that different individuals or detectors may perceive as having a slight tint toward, for example, yellow or blue. Conventional LED devices may combine a yellow phosphor on a blue LED to achieve white light. Some of the blue light emitted from the LED passes through the phosphor without being converted and some of the emitted blue light is down-converted to yellow. The combinations of blue light and yellow light that escape the light emitting device provide visible white light output.

Light emitting diodes with light filters


The earth's magnetic field has not been mined as a source of energy for electric vehicles. With average field strength of 0.5×10−4 Tesla around the world it is easy to understand why it has been overlooked. A disruptive technology is needed to mine the earth's magnetic field for powering electric vehicles. Such a technology, graphene, is now at an early stage of development with excellent properties in the form of high conductivity, low resistivity sheets that are durable, light weight, and low cost. Electrical properties of multiple sheets of graphene provide a significant multiplier to earth's weak magnetic field yielding a feasible source of ecologically clean power for electric vehicles. Graphene based EcoCharge systems can be mounted on a vehicles drive shaft and axles putting graphene in motion to mine the earth's magnetic field. Estimates show that EcoCharge can generate 15.1 kW at 60 mph while weighing only 10 oz.

Nature provides many resources that can be used to reduce dependence on coal, oil and gas for powering our homes, offices, factories, and modes of transportation. Solar and wind power have been the most used natural resources to supplement coal, oil, and gas for powering homes, offices, and factories. Prototypes for gathering energy from waves and tides have also been constructed and are being evaluated as a supplement to coal, oil, and gas as well. Solar powered photovoltaic (PV) cells have shown the most promise when it comes to providing power for transportation and seemingly are a good fit with current electric car technology.
Attempts have been made to develop experimental, lightweight, single rider, PV powered autos for various contests. Recently, the Tokai Challenger, from Tokai University in Japan, has been a top performer at the World Solar Challenge.1 It uses a 1.8 kilowatt (kW) PV array. To utilize this technology for a four passenger car travelling at freeway speeds of 67 miles per hour (mph) requires a total of approximately 9 kW.1 There is not enough surface area on a typical four passenger car (facing the sun) to provide 9 kW. At best, a PV array could be most efficiently used to charge an onboard battery from a stationary charging station when the car is not in use. 1T. Murphy, "Do the Math. A Solar-Powered Car?" https://physics.ucsd.edc/do-the-math/2011/11/a-solar-powered-car/
There is another natural resource that has not been mined as an alternate source of energy: the earth's magnetic field. With average field strength approximately 0.5×10−4 Tesla (T) around the world, it is easy to see why this resource has been overlooked. If a system to mine the earth's magnetic field is developed to power an electrical car using moving electrical wire for example, even the most efficient aluminum wire requires an impractical length to generate a small amount of power at a usable voltage. As good as the electrical properties of aluminum wire are, they are not sufficient for this application. It is clear that a disruptive technology is needed to mine the earth's magnetic field for powering cars, trucks and other vehicles.
Such a disruptive technology, graphene,2 is now at an early stage of development. Graphene has excellent electrical properties in the form of high conductivity and low resistivity, is extremely strong and durable, and is relatively inexpensive. It is now being produced in sheets3 large enough to be used for EcoCharge. In addition, MIT is setting up an industrial scale graphene printing press in its graphene lab.4 The unique feature of graphene for mining the earth's magnetic field is its ability to conduct electricity in low resistivity, two-dimensional sheets. In effect, graphene is a two-dimensional "wire" that will generate current proportional to its resistivity, area, and orientation and motion with respect to the earth's magnetic field. As will be shown below, these properties provide a significant multiplier to earth's weak magnetic field yielding a feasible source of ecologically clean electric power for many types of electric vehicles. 2The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, "Scientific Background on the Nobel Prize in Physics 2010," Kungl. Vetenskaps-Akademien, 5 October 2010.3 http://www.graphene-info.com/sony-developed-new-r2r-method-make-graphene-produced-100-meter-long-sheet4 http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/mit-setting-up-industrial-scale-graphene-printing-press.php

Ecocharge system with layered graphene sheets for generating EMF from the earth's magnetic field to power electric vehicles


A disclosed instrument cluster includes dial gauges with an illuminated pointer including light reflecting features for uniformly distributing light within the pointer. The light deflecting structure directs light toward tip of the pointer by reflecting the light of each of the first and second sides. The light deflecting structure provides the desired distribution of luminescence by directing light toward the sides surfaces of the pointer.

An instrument cluster includes a plurality of gauges for communicating information indicative of a vehicle operating condition. Each gauge can include a pointer assembly that rotates relative to a plurality of markings that provides a measurement of a vehicle operating condition such as vehicle speed. The vehicle instrument cluster is visible to an operator of a vehicle and is an integral part of the vehicle aesthetic appearance.
In some instances it is desired to provide an illuminated pointer to further highlight the operating condition and provide a desired appearance. Disadvantageously, a pointer can include spots of greater illumination that detract for the desired illuminated pointer appearance and can vary in brightness depending on a radial position.
Accordingly, it is desirable to design and develop an illuminated pointer with uniform illumination regardless of radial position.


The automobile sun visor with built-in air freshener box has a sun visor body with a hollow container mounted in a recess therein so as to be incorporated in the sun visor body with its upper edges near the surface of the visor body. The hollow container has opposing lateral guideways close to opposing upper edges of the container and is provided with a cover slidably mounted in the lateral guideways. The guideways have extensions extending beyond the container sufficiently to allow for a major portion of the cover to be received in the extensions when the container is opened. The hollow container may also be provided with a number of outwardly directed projecting members which hold an air freshener element and the cover may be provided with holes for emission of a fragrance. Structural reinforcement structure is provided for maintaining an appropriate solidity and rigidity of the extensions of the guideways. The structure reinforcement structure may be rails associated with the guideways and a cross wall connecting the rails.

The object of the invention is a box for housing an air freshener element with a solid support, forming part of the structure of the sun visors with which automobiles are usually equipped. The broad possibilities of incorporating more or less complex ancillary, complementary items that aid in driving or make the stay inside the vehicle more comfortable and pleasant, are already known. The present invention relates precisely to a novel embodiment which is original in design, conception and functionality based on a box which may be incorporated in sun visor structures, with a special novel functionality and utility.
The use in automobiles of aromatic chemicals directed to neutralizing both the characteristic smells of new vehicles and those generated in normal use is well known. The means used hithertofore for this purpose consisted basically of solid or liquid aromatic substances in many forms and on many carriers, which are placed inside the vehicle, either by attachment to the bodywork by adhesives or simply hanging them in more or less accessible or totally inadequate places as far as the occupants' security is concerned. Nevertheless, the inventor is not aware of any prior reference to devices of like or similar features to those of the present invention.

Automobile sun visor with built-in air freshener box


A database server may perform reach potential analysis for a local segment, or a target audience, of a data set. The local segment may include user devices which share a specific, common attribute. The database server may calculate similarities and correlations between a first data set for a user and a second data set from a data provider. The database server may calculate a reach index using the second data set from the data provider to determine whether user devices are likely to join the local segment by taking on the specific attribute which defines the local segment. Using the data set from the data provider, the database server may determine a reach potential within the first data set, outside of the first data set, or both.

A cloud platform (i.e., a computing platform for cloud computing) may be employed by many users to store, manage, and process data using a shared network of remote servers. Users may develop applications on the cloud platform to handle the storage, management, and processing of data. In some cases, the cloud platform may utilize a multi-tenant database system. Users may access the cloud platform using various user devices (e.g., desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, or other computing systems, etc.).
In one example, the cloud platform may support customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. This may include support for sales, service, marketing, community, analytics, applications, and the Internet of Things. A user may utilize the cloud platform to help manage contacts of the user. For example, managing contacts of the user may include analyzing data, storing and preparing communications, and tracking opportunities and sales.
A cloud platform may determine patterns or correlations between various data sets and display the results to a user. The cloud platform may perform the analysis based on features, attributes, or sources of the data sets to determine results and correlations across the data sets that are meaningful to a user. Systems where analysts select which attributes or features of a data set should be observed may fail to capture useful information, for example due to human biases, as these systems may fail to perform analysis beyond the selected attributes or features.

Correlating user device attribute groups


Provided is a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack, wherein a means for reducing the concentration of unreacted alcohol is disposed on the cathode exhaust gas side. This means comprises in particular an additional electrochemical cell, to which a voltage is applied and which at least partially converts the unreacted alcohol into CO2 and hydrogen or water by way of an electrochemical reduction reaction. Since the concentration of unreacted alcohol is generally low, the loss of power required for the additional reduction reaction does not result in any notable impairment of the efficiency of the fuel cell stack. The invention is thus not limited to direct-methanol fuel cells, but may also be similarly applied to high-temperature fuel cells, and particularly to high-temperature PEM fuel cells, in which the additional electrochemical cell disposed on the cathode exhaust gas side is advantageously able to convert the residual CO.

A direct-alcohol fuel cell comprises a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode. The cathode is fed an oxidizing agent, for example in the form of air, and the anode is fed an alcohol fuel, for example in the form of a methanol-water mixture.
In order to achieve high electric output, a plurality of fuel cells are generally electrically and mechanically connected to each other by connecting elements (bipolar plates). This creates electrically series-connected fuel cells that are stacked on top of each other, which are referred to as a fuel cell stack. They comprise the bipolar plates and electrode-electrolyte units.
In a direct-methanol fuel cell, the fuel is added in the form of a methanol-water mixture. The depleted, which is to say partially reacted, methanol-water mixture, is removed from the anode regions in order to recycle the fuel on the anode side. It is known that during the electrochemical reaction, not only protons, but also non-negligible quantities of water and alcohol, which in this case is methanol, always migrate through the membrane onto the cathode side. This unreacted methanol would usually arrive at the exhaust, together with the resulting water that is created at the cathode, by way of the cathode exhaust gas line, which of course should be prevented.
Thus, according to the state of the art, as an alternative, a catalytic burner is disposed downstream of a direct-alcohol fuel cell stack on the cathode exhaust gas side, the object of this burner being to burn the organic constituents from the cathode exhaust gas by way of the residual oxygen.
The disadvantage is that, for reasons having to do with energy, direct-methanol fuel cell stacks are nowadays operated at a temperature between 70 and 80° C. The air that exists as part of the process on the cathode side is generally saturated with water vapor. In addition, the oxygen that is used as an oxidizing agent is usually consumed during the electrochemical reaction in the fuel cells. Thus, depending on the operating parameters, the remaining oxygen content amounts to just a few percent, or even less, in the cathode exhaust gas. As a result, the residual oxygen content is hardly sufficient for the catalytic combustion.
As another alternative for reducing alcohol emissions from a direct-alcohol fuel cell, a catalytic reaction in the exhaust gas collector line, on the cathode side, has been proposed in the literature, as has a porous layer coated with a catalyst, which brings about the reaction of unreacted alcohol, inside a cathode region of each fuel cell.
Likewise known is the alternative of firstly directing the cathode exhaust gas flows, individually, or as a collective exhaust gas flow, to an anode region of an additional or identical fuel cell, and then electrochemically reacting the unreacted alcohol there. Accordingly, this configuration has only one common discharge port for the exhaust gas from the anode region.

Exhaust gas purification system for a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack


A trim element such as a door pilaster or frieze board, for attachment to a building wall, having front and back longitudinal faces, first and second longitudinal edges, and a longitudinal groove in the first edge. A mounting bracket for the wall has a forward strip that extends laterally and is selectively friction fit into the groove, a back strip that extends laterally on the back face of the element, and a connecting web between the forward and back strip that is flush with the first edge when the forward strip is fully inserted in the groove. A mounting flange for the wall extends laterally from the back face of the element, beyond the second longitudinal edge, and has a longitudinal channel along the second edge with a width that is effective to receive an edge of wall siding.

The present invention relates to building construction and in particular to the framing of doors, windows, and other wall penetration, as well as to door mantles, door pilasters, frieze boards, and corner posts, all of which can be considered building trim.
Many residential and some commercial buildings have a clapboard type siding of wood, aluminum, or vinyl, which during construction or renovation must be trimmed to accommodate a wall penetration where a window box or the like is mounted, or otherwise must abut another type of building trim.
In one example a frame is secured to the wall and surrounds a window box, to provide both a visual enhancement to the window as well as an interface for a clean transition with the siding that surrounds the wall penetration. In another example, a mantle is secured to a wall portion above a door and two pilasters are secured to the wall on either side of the door. An oblique frieze board is often attached to a wall immediately below and following the angle of a roof overhang, with or without a horizontal frieze board spanning a wall between the bottom edges of the roof overhangs. Other frieze boards can be provided at or immediately above the building foundation. Corner posts are usually provided to cover the junction of two walls. Whether such trim is fabricated from wood or plastic, conventional installation includes driving nails or screws through the trim into the wall.