A method of controlling the switching of an optically addressable spatial light modulator (OASLM), to a first surface of which a write light signal is applied and to a second surface of which a read light signal is applied. The method comprises applying a bipolar switching waveform to control electrodes of the (OASLM) during each write cycle such that the leading pulse of the waveform applies a voltage across the (OASLM) which is in the photosensitive direction and the trailing pulse applies a voltage which is not in the photosensitive direction.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to optically addressable spatial light modulators and to a method and apparatus for driving optically addressable spatial light modulators. The present invention also relates to holographic displays comprising optically addressable spatial light modulators.
2. Description of the Art
It is well known that a three-dimensional image may be presented by forming an interference pattern or hologram on a planar surface. The three-dimensional image is visible when the hologram is appropriately illuminated. Recently, interest has grown in so-called computer generated holograms (CGHs) which offer the possibility of displaying high quality images, which need not be based upon real objects, with appropriate depth cues and without the need for viewing goggles. Interest is perhaps most intense in the medical and design fields where the need for realistic visualisation techniques is great. Typically, a computer generated hologram involves the generation of a matrix of data values (each data value corresponding to a light transmission level) which simulates the hologram which might otherwise be formed on a real planar surface. An important component of the CGH system is an optically addressed spatial light modulator (OASLM). This device comprises a photosensor layer, typically silicon (Si), and a liquid crystal (LC) layer with electrodes by which a voltage is applied across both layers. When a pattern of light of appropriate wavelength is incident onto the photosensor its resistance falls and allows most of the applied voltage to drop across the LC which is then switched in those areas which are illuminated A light beam incident on the front of the LC layer is then modulated by the LC and reflected from the Si (or from an incorporated mirror) in such a way that an image is presented to a viewer.
A holographic display system employing CGHs is described in GB2330471A and is further illustrated in FIG. 1. The illustrated approach is known as Active Tiling™, and involves the use of a relatively small Electrically Addressable Spatial Light Modulator (EASLM) 1 in combination with a relatively large Optically Addressable Spatial Light Modulator (OASLM) 2. The holographic matrix (CGH) is subdivided into a set of sub-holograms, with the data for each sub-hologram being passed in turn to the EASLM 1. The EASLM 1 is illuminated from one side with incoherent light 3. The OASLM 2 comprises a sheet of liquid crystal (in one example the liquid crystal is a bistable ferroelectric liquid crystal) which is switched from a first to a second state by a suitable voltage in the presence of incident light In one method, Guide optics 4, which may include a shutter, disposed between the EASIM 1 and the OASLM 2, cause the output of the BASLM 1 (i.e. light transmitted through the EASIM 1) to be stepped across the surface of the OASLM 2. The bistable nature of the OASLM liquid crystal means that the portion or "tile" 5 of the OASLM 2 onto which a sub-holographic image is projected and appropriate switching voltage applied, remembers  that image until such time as the OASLM is reset by the application of an electrical voltage. It will be appreciated that, when all of the component images have been written to the OASLM, the OASLM will have "stored" in it a replica of the complete holographic matrix. The image may be replayed by a coherent beam incident 6 on the LC. When the next holographic image is ready to be transferred to the OASLM a reset voltage is applied to remove the existing image from the OALSM and prepare it for loading the next image. The holographic display also typically comprises a large output lens, although this is not shown in FIG. 1.
The structure of a typical OASLM is illustrated in FIG. 2 and a simplified equivalent circuit is shown in FIG. 3. In this circuit the voltage is applied to the Si side of the device and the LC side is earthed. This convention will be followed throughout the following discussion. From left to right in FIG. 2, the layers are as follows; a first glass layer 1, an indium tin oxide layer 2 which forms a first transparent electrode, a silicon photosensor layer 3, a light blocking layer 4, a mirror 5, a first alignment layer 6 which may be formed by brushing a polyimide layer, a liquid crystal (LC) layer 7, a second alignment layer 8, a second indium tin oxide layer 9, and a second glass layer 10. A voltage source 11 is coupled to the two indium tin oxide layers 2, 9 in order to control the switching of the OASLM. The silicon-indium tin oxide layer junction acts as a diode; when a voltage of a first positive polarity is applied across the device this diode is forward biased and most of the voltage will be dropped across the LC layer 7, whilst when a voltage of a second, negative polarity is applied across the device, most of the voltage will be dropped across the silicon layer 3 unless write light is applied in which case the voltage will be dropped across the LC layer 7. The bias of the second polarity is referred to as the "photosensitive direction". When the bias is in the photosensitive direction and with no illumination, the voltage appearing across the LC layer 7, Vlc, is given by the capacitive division of the total voltage appearing across the OASLM:Vlc=CSi/(Clc+CSi),where CSi and Clc are the capacitances of the silicon and LC layers respectively. As charge is generated in the Si layer, so the voltage across the LC rises.
In the ideal case a Schottky barrier is formed in the OALSM by the silicon and indium-tin-oxide (ITO) transparent electrode. This gives behaviour some way between that of a photodiode and a photoconductor. If ohmic contacts are made then photoconductor behaviour results. The major problem with a pure photoconductor is the dark leakage current which is not sufficiently low to keep the voltage from dropping across the LC in a non-illuminated addressed state. A photodiode requires the deposition of p-doped, intrinsic and n-doped Si and is a complicated process. For a photodiode under reverse bias, when a photon is absorbed to produce an electron-hole pair in the Si, the hole and electron are separated and drift to the contacts. The blocking contacts stop the carriers so that once they are collected the response is complete. The photocurrent varies linearly with the light intensity over a wide range of intensities because one electron-hole pair is collected for each absorbed photon. With the application of a positive applied voltage the photodiode is forward biased so that all of the voltage should drop across the LC. The presence of a write light should not affect the state of the LC significantly, with a positive voltage applied. When a negative applied voltage is applied, the photodiode is reverse biased, blocking the current, so that ideally the voltage across the LC is unchanged. When a write light illuminates the photodiode a photocurrent charges the LC to a negative voltage and causes switching. This voltage is maintained across the LC until the drive voltage goes positive again.
For more details of the operating theory of spatial light modulators see, for example, "Spatial Light Modulator Technology, Materials, Devices and Applications", edited by U Efron, published by Marcel Dekker Inc. 1995 and "Optimisation of ferroelectric liquid crystal optically addressed spatial light modulator performance", Perennes F & Crossland W A, Opt. Eng. 36 (8) 2294-2301 (August 1997).
A typical voltage signal for controlling an OASLM is illustrated in FIG. 4. Prior to each write phase, a blanking pulse is applied to the device. The blanking pulse has a relatively large amplitude and duration and has a polarity in the opposite direction to the polarity of the photosensitive direction (i.e. positive). Typically, the whole device may be illuminated entirely with write light for the duration of the blanking pulse. The blanking pulse results in the molecules of the liquid crystal layer being oriented in a first direction. Each blanking pulse is followed by a write pulse which has a polarity in the photosensitive direction, the write pulse may be separated in time from the blanking pulse or may follow it immediately. There will usually be some means of DC balancing the blanking pulse and write pulse so that there is net zero DC, but this is not shown in the Figure. During a write pulse, the silicon side of the device is illuminated with the desired pattern. The result is that the applied voltage is dropped across the liquid crystal layer in those regions where the device is illuminated, causing the liquid crystal to switch to a second state. In non-illuminated regions of the device, the liquid crystal does not switch. The "switched" pattern in the liquid crystal is used to modulate a light beam incident on the liquid crystal side of the device.
Prior art drive waveforms are described in, for example "Optimisation of ferroelectric liquid crystal optically addressed spatial light modulator performance", Perennes F & Crossland W A, Opt. Eng. 36 (8) 2294-2301 (August 1997). In this example the erase pulse is immediately followed by a write pulse. This appears to be a simple bipolar pulse but it must be remembered that in fact it is two adjacent monopolar pulses of different polarity and different function, which may be separated in time. Applied Optics Vol. 31, No. 32, pp. 6859-6868, 10 Nov. 1992, describes both erase and write pulses which are bipolar. These may be applied with either polarity, i.e. leading part positive, training part negative, or vice versa, since the device used has ohmic contacts. The function of the bipolar pulse in this example is to maintain DC balance.
Whilst a write pulse having a polarity in the photosensitive direction will be most effective at switching illuminated areas of a device, there will be a tendency for non-illuminated areas to switch since they will receive a reduced voltage of the same polarity. Careful design of the write pulse (shape, amplitude and width) is therefore required in order to achieve maximum discrimination between switching of illuminated and non-illuminated regions. In addition, it is desirable to maximise the region of pulse amplitude-width space in which the device is operated in order to compensate for variations within the device, e.g. cell spacing, and in operating conditions, e.g. temperature. Furthermore it is desirable to maximise switching speed (minimise switching pulse width) in order that images may be updated rapidly, e.g. for frame sequential colour. The relative thicknesses of Si and LC layers also influence switching since this changes their capacitance and thus the proportion of voltage appearing across the LC due to capacitive division of voltage. These parameters will affect the switching characteristic of the OALSM although not that of the LC. All of these parameters need to be optimised.

OASLM and a method and apparatus for driving an OASLM


A network node is arranged to operate in a cell of a cellular communication system. The network node includes an interface towards the cellular communication system where the interface is arranged to receive paging information for an idle user equipment, UE, a paging handler arranged to determine a mode of power saving for the UE, and to determine timing for a wake-up signal based on the determined mode and the received paging information, and a transmitter arranged to transmit the wake-up signal at the determined timing. A method of the network node includes receiving paging information for an idle user equipment, UE, from the cellular communication system, determining a mode of power saving for the UE, determining timing for a wake-up signal based on the determined mode and the received paging information, and transmitting the wake-up signal at the determined timing.

In legacy 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specified Radio Access Technologies such as Long Term Evolution, a mobile terminal or User Equipment (UE) is either in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected mode where it continuously monitors if it is scheduled, or an idle mode where it periodically monitors a paging channel. The periodical monitoring is referred to as Discontinuous Reception (DRX). In LTE, there is provided DRX and an extended DRX (eDRX) which provides longer cycles of putting UE receiver in off-mode. These approaches enable for considerable energy savings in the UE.
Machine Type Communication (MTC) is expected to be an increasing application of cellular systems as those demonstrated above and future systems such as the one commonly referred to as 5G (from "5th Generation"). Here, further energy saving in idle mode is desired, which may enable very long operation of a UE without charging or battery change, up to several years. Such long operation times assume infrequent communication and very low energy consumption between the communication occasions. One approach is to only let the UE wake up when it intends to send something. However, communication may be desired to be initiated from network side. Thus, the UE still needs to monitor paging signals. It is therefore desired to provide approaches for further energy reduction in idle modes compared with for example only applying DRX and eDRX.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Method for determining timing of transmission, network node, and computer program


A method, system and apparatus for grouped radio controls. A grouped radio control can include a listing of elements, each element having a specified grouping. The grouped radio control also can include grouping logic programmed to insert elements into, delete elements from, and select elements within the listing. Finally, a grouped radio control can include a grouped radio control interface configured to accept interface events for processing in the grouping logic.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of graphical user interfaces and more particularly to the manipulation of a check list in a graphical user interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conventional graphical user interface (GUI) has been widely used for many years. The primary function of the GUI includes providing visual controls with which the end-user can interact with an underlying software application. Though the common GUI includes many stock visual controls, a select few visual controls can be combined to accommodate most computer-human interactions required by a software application.
For example, the static text box control can be used to present text to the end-user while an edit box can permit the user to provide textual input to the software application. A radio button control can provide for the exclusive selection of an element from among a field of elements, while a checklist box can provide for the non-exclusive selection of elements from among a field of elements. Notably, many visual controls can be combined to produce a composite visual control.
It is common for software applications to display multiple choice data and corresponding selections among the multiple choice data using radio buttons, check boxes or list boxes. Sometimes, however, a software application may need to display dynamically changing groups of multiple choice data and corresponding selections. In the latter circumstance, end users must be able to insert groups of choices, remove groups of choices, and edit choices within a group. Yet, the number of groups provided may also be large thereby requiring a scrolling mechanism enabling the user to see all of the groups.
In text-to-speech software applications, the problem of grouping multiple choices in a GUI can be particularly acute. Specifically, before building Concatenative Text-to-Speech (CTTS) Voice, which is a database containing pre-recorded segments of natural speech and used for concatenative synthesis, a pronunciation dictionary can be created containing all words from a training script. Yet, there may be multiple entries for a given word in the dictionary since words may have more than one pronunciation, e.g. "read" may be pronounced as "reed" or "red". The CTTS Voice building process typically can include a step where word pronunciations can be aligned to corresponding recordings. Accordingly, where multiple entries exist for a word, the closest matching word can be selected.
Unfortunately, the foregoing process is not always accurate and can require a manual override of the automated selection of a closest matching word. Thus, a highly desirable application to correct the selections made by the system would:
1) display all the words in a training script sentence
2) display all possible pronunciations for each word
3) display the automatically selected pronunciations for each word
4) enable user to select a different pronunciation
5) add a new pronunciation
6) delete invalid pronunciations
7) add a new word to the sentence (e.g. speaker unintentionally recorded an extra word)
8) delete a word from the sentence (e.g. speaker skipped a word in the recording)
Presently, it is common practice to use standard radio buttons and group controls to display multi-choice data and the current selection. However, it is very difficult to dynamically change, add and remove those controls from a grouping along with the data associated with the controls.

International Business Machines Corporation


A highly reliable semiconductor device suitable for miniaturization and high integration is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor, a first insulator over the first transistor, a second transistor over the first insulator, a second insulator over the second transistor, and a capacitor over the second insulator. The first insulator has a barrier property against oxygen and hydrogen. The second transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. The second insulator includes an oxygen-excess region. The capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a dielectric between the first electrode and the second electrode. The dielectric includes a third insulator having a barrier property against oxygen and hydrogen. The first insulator and the third insulator are in contact with each other on an outer edge of a region where the second transistor is located so that the second transistor and the second insulator are enclosed by the first insulator and the third insulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object, a method, or a manufacturing method. The present invention relates to a process, a machine, manufacture, or a composition of matter. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a light-emitting device, a display device, an electronic device, a lighting device, and a method for fabricating these devices. In particular, one embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device that includes, as a component, an LSI, a CPU, a power device mounted in a power circuit, a semiconductor integrated circuit including a memory, a thyristor, a converter, an image sensor, and the like. For example, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a light-emitting device utilizing an organic electroluminescence (hereinafter also referred to as EL) phenomenon, and a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device.
Note that one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above technical field.
In this specification, a semiconductor device generally means a device that can function by utilizing semiconductor characteristics. An electro-optical device, a semiconductor circuit, and an electronic device include a semiconductor device in some cases.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, semiconductor devices have been developed to be used mainly for an LSI, a CPU, or a memory. A CPU is an aggregation of semiconductor elements each provided with an electrode which is a connection terminal, which includes a semiconductor integrated circuit (including at least a transistor and a memory) separated from a semiconductor wafer.
A semiconductor circuit (IC chip) of an LSI, a CPU, a memory, or the like is mounted on a circuit board, for example, a printed wiring board, to be used as one of components of a variety of electronic devices.
A technique by which a transistor is formed using a semiconductor thin film formed over a substrate having an insulating surface has been attracting attention. The transistor is applied to a wide range of electronic devices such as an integrated circuit (IC) or an image display device (also simply referred to as a display device). A silicon-based semiconductor material is widely known as a material for a semiconductor thin film applicable to the transistor. As another material, an oxide semiconductor has been attracting attention.
It is known that a transistor including an oxide semiconductor has an extremely low leakage current in an off state. For example, a low-power-consumption CPU utilizing a characteristic of low leakage current of the transistor including an oxide semiconductor has been disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
A transistor including an oxide semiconductor is known to have a problem of low reliability because of high possibility of change in electric characteristics, although the transistor including an oxide semiconductor can be operated at higher speed than a transistor including amorphous silicon and can be manufactured more easily than a transistor including polycrystalline silicon. For example, the threshold voltage of the transistor is changed in some cases after a bias-temperature stress test (BT test).

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.


A method for enrolling a device in a secure network to which an information system is connected, the method comprising the steps, implemented by a trusted device connected to the secure network, of: a) receiving from a user terminal, distinct from the device to be enrolled, an authorization to connect to the device to be enrolled, b) generating cryptographic keys intended for the device to be enrolled to access the secure network, and c) transmitting the cryptographic keys to the device to be enrolled.

Such an IED device may be a computer device intervening for example in a transformer substation of the carrier, of a distributor, or of a customer (consumer or producer). More generally, it can be any type of device such as a "smart" meter, or a user terminal (TU), a smartphone-type of business telephone for industrial or tertiary use, or other. More particularly, here an IED device refers to an industrial device to which a limited trust level is granted. Typically, this type of device does not have the intrinsic capabilities necessary for enrollment with the high level of security required by certain fields of business.
Such devices require cryptographic components needed to connect to the secure network of an information system of a company, for example such as a company operating said electricity distribution network. More generally, the term "Company" is used below to designate any user entity for which a new IED device is intended and is to be enrolled in order to be able to communicate via its secure network.
One can then plan to designate a secure network entity, such as a router or more particularly a secure gateway of the network, to manage the exchanges necessary for the IED to obtain the cryptographic components enabling it to connect to the secure network.
More generally, in order to communicate securely (authenticity, integrity, confidentiality) with the centralized information system IS, the IEDs can go through such a local device (said secure gateway) dedicated to securing this critical link. This device is a highly secure access control device designated by the acronym "HSACD" and can therefore be a network device enabling perimeter protection (firewall, encrypted tunnel) near a component of an industrial IS, or the secure interconnection between different components of the industrial IS. In addition to these perimeter security mechanisms, the HSACD can offer "proximity" security services to the business systems they protect, such as the centralization and correlation of log files or cryptographic services.
However, to do this, communications between the IEDs and the HSACD must also be secure, possibly with a lower level of security. The IEDs themselves must therefore have cryptographic components (keys, certificates) to secure this communication with the HSACD.
However, there is a first problem relating to the fact that, when the IEDs leave the factory of a supplier, they are generally not considered by the Company to have a high trust level (in particular under the assumption that the IEDs may include cryptographic components from another trust domain, such as that of the supplier). These IEDs therefore cannot communicate with any devices of the Company. It is then necessary to "enroll" the IEDs before they can communicate with the Company network, enrolling them either with the IS or even with the HSACD. In particular, it is advisable prior to any communication to deliver cryptographic components to the IED in a controlled process allowing the devices to be inserted into the trust domain of the Company, and otherwise to limit as much as possible the "penetration" of an unenrolled IED into the Company's trust domain.
Another problem is that the IEDs may not have the computing resources needed to generate robust keys.
The disclosed embodiments improve this situation.

Enrollment of a device in a secure network


A removably attachable, multifunctional accessory for a utensil such as a kitchen knife is provided comprising a base with at least one cavity, one or more magnets inserted and secured within cavity, and a wing protruding from the base. The wing is shaped in such a fashion as to have minimal effect on normal cutting behavior, and provides several benefits to the user, such as providing means for more easily and accurately guiding piles of cut food around and off a cutting surface, providing means to quickly and more safely remove food remnants stuck to the blade of the knife, and providing means to hold the knife in an upright position.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to knife accessories, particularly to a removably attachable accessory that is used in conjunction with a knife or other utensil to help make food preparation faster, easier, safer, and cleaner.
2. Prior Art
During the process of cutting food into smaller pieces with a kitchen knife and cutting surface such as a cutting board, several problems arise. Firstly, cut-up food often needs to be moved around and off of the board into a container, such as a cooking pot, storage container, or dish. Usually a kitchen knife is used to move the food, however, as a pile of cut-up food is pushed with a knife blade, pieces of food dissipate along the blade instead of staying in a complete pile, because a knife's blade is necessarily straight. This requires multiple scraping movements in multiple directions to effectively move the cut-up food. Additionally, some of the cut-up food ends up where it is not desired, for example on a table, countertop, stove, and floor.
A second problem is removing food remnants stuck to a knife blade after cutting. People often remove the food remnants by running their fingers along the sides of the blade, which is dangerous, and deposits food particles, oils, and residue onto the user's fingers, causing them to smell like the food they are cutting, and may also be detrimental to their health, for example with bacteria from raw meats or irritating oils from onions or peppers, which may cause infection or painful irritation.
Lastly, when a knife is placed down on a surface after cutting food, residue may be transferred from the blade to the surface, requiring extra cleanup. Because the knife is resting on its side, it may be difficult to pick up quickly for subsequent use, since it requires certain dexterity to pick up a knife that is resting on its side. This adds unnecessary time and effort to the food preparation process.
Several products address these problems. Some are scoopers for carrying cut-up food to a container, for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,056, to Daniele. They require the user to scrape food into the device with their hand or knife, and often require scraping the inside of the scoop to remove food remnants stuck inside it.
Japanese patent publication number JP2006130278 to Shunichi discloses a squeegee attached to a knife blade, whereby "it becomes possible to rub off from a cutting board more quickly to accuracy" into a bowl. The Shunichi device has several flaws that make it ineffective for the task it aims to perform. For example, it doesn't allow the user to cut or move food with a knife at a natural angle, since a right-handed user will often hold a knife and slice food at an acute angle on the right hand side, between the knife blade and the cutting surface (it is similar for left-handed users on the left-hand side of a knife blade). This is shown in FIG. 1 which shows a back view of a knife 50 cutting through a vegetable such as a cucumber 64, illustrating how a right-handed person would likely cut food with a knife at an acute cutting angle 68 between the right side of knife blade 54 and a cutting surface 62. FIG. 2A illustrates a back view of FIG. 5, a magnetic version, of the Shunichi device 100 attached to knife 50 creating a right-angle between cutting surface 62 and knife blade 54, thereby preventing a user from cutting at a natural, acute angle.
Additionally, there is nothing in the Shunichi invention to prevent it from traveling upwards on a knife blade during cutting and scraping, therefore it will likely be pushed upwards during use, creating a gap 104 between the device and the cutting surface 62, as shown in FIG. 2B, therefore missing some food during corralling. The upward pressure may also cause the device to be pulled off the knife entirely. An external magnet may not be dishwasher safe, and food particles may get caught between the magnet and the device, creating an unsanitary condition, and the magnet may eventually fall off or get pulled off the device. Further, the front bottom corner of the squeegee may catch on the board, which will at best create difficult movement for the user, at worst may cause the device to be pulled off the knife entirely. Additionally, the device won't stay flush with the bottom edge of the knife. The Shunichi application does not mention scraping food off a knife by sliding the device along a blade, nor is it suited for such use, from a practical and safety perspective. Finally, the Shunichi application does not mention using the device to hold a knife upright, nor would it work effectively in that manner.
Some devices address the problem of cut-up food sticking to a knife blade. Santoku knives have scalloped release patterns on their blades to aid the release of thin slices of food sticking to the blade after slicing. Japanese patent publication JP2002000970 to Isao teaches a guide member that is magnetically attached to the blade of a kitchen knife. This device, however, may get in the way of slicing certain foods, and may be inadvertently pushed upwards on the blade during use. The application does not mention sliding the device along a blade to remove food remnants, nor does it provide a safe and efficient means to do so.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,491,623 to Pitchur shows a device used to keep a knife blade off a surface. It would, however, adversely affect cutting food with the knife while it was attached. While the prior art patents provide for some functions related to the problems associated with food preparation, none of these patents take all of the criteria into consideration and provide a single accessory which will provide a useful and convenient accessory for knives.


A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, including a shaft member and an elastic layer therearound, for developing operation while contacting an image bearing member with a peripheral speed difference; a toner supplying roller contactable to the developing roller; a regulating member, contactable to the developing roller, wherein a length of the regulating member is shorter than that of the developing roller; and a cleaning blade, contactable to the image bearing member. The developing roller has a region capable of carrying the toner regulated by the regulating member and a region, outside thereof, both of which regions are contactable to the image bearing member, wherein the cleaning blade extends over the regions when the cleaning blade is contacted to the image bearing member. The shaft member has an outer diameter in a region outside a first contact region between the regulating member and the developing roller, and an outer diameter in a second contact region between the toner supplying roller and the developing roller wherein the former outer diameter is smaller than the latter outer diameter.

There have been known image forming apparatuses which use a developing method of the so-called contact type, that is, image forming apparatuses which form an electrostatic latent image on their rotatable image bearing member, and develop the electrostatic latent image by placing their development roller in contact with the peripheral surface of the image bearing member. It is possible that the usage of the developing method of the contact type will damage the peripheral surface of an image bearing member. Therefore, in order to prevent the peripheral surface of an image bearing member from being damaged by a development roller, many image forming apparatuses, which use the developing method of the contact type, employ an elastic development roller, which comprises: a metallic core; and an elastic surface layer which covers the entirety of the peripheral surface of the metallic core. The elastic development roller, however, suffers from the following problem. That is, the elastic surface layer of an elastic development roller is in contact with the peripheral surface of an image bearing member, and therefore, is gradually shaved by the peripheral surface of the image bearing member. Thus, the fine particles which result from the shaving of the peripheral surface of the elastic layer of a development roller travel to the cleaning edge of a cleaning blade, causing thereby the cleaning blade to shudder, chatter, and/or lap, which in turn generates abnormal sounds, makes the peripheral surface of the image bearing member unsatisfactorily cleaned, and/or causes the like problem. In other words, as the peripheral surface of a development roller is shaved by the peripheral surface of a photosensitive member, it becomes difficult for the image forming apparatus to output images which are satisfactory to users. In terms of the lengthwise direction of a development roller, it is likely to be across the end portions (portions which are not supplied with toner) that the elastic layer of a development roller is shaved. Thus, there have been proposed various arts for minimizing the amount by which the elastic layer of the development roller of an image forming apparatus which uses a developing method of the contact type is shaved. Some of these arts have been disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Applications S52-143831, and H01-191880 (Patent Documents 1 and 2, respectively).
The above-mentioned prior arts, however, suffer from the following problems. That is, according to these arts, in order to prevent the elastic layer of a development roller from being shaved, the elastic layer is to be uniformly increased in hardness across the entirety in terms of the lengthwise direction of the development roller. However, the increase in the hardness of the elastic layer of a development roller increases the amount of the pressure to which the toner on the peripheral surface of the elastic layer of the development roller is subjected, which in turn accelerates toner deterioration. Toner deterioration causes an image forming apparatus to output unsatisfactory images, in particular, foggy images.
According to the art disclosed in the second patent document, the elastic layer is formed of foamed material, and the entirety of its peripheral surface is covered with a piece of seamless tube. This art also is problematic in that it substantially increases a development roller in manufacture cost.

Process cartridge and image forming apparatus


The present invention relates to a scientific ruler incorporated with a concave lens and a convex lens which may be dismantled from the ruler and aligned with each other to compose as a telescope. The concave lens or convex lens may be replaced by a compass. A protractor is provided around the periphery of the concave lens. An inclined plane is formed at either one or both ends of the ruler capable of refracting the sunlight into a rainbow spectrum. Further, a comb and a thermometer are provided. In addition to various mathematic and equal signs and undulate edge there are more space area for indicating name of the user and adhering stickers.

This invention relates to a scientific ruler, particularly to a scientific ruler having multiple functions for practical use and educational purposes.
Conventionally, the ruler is marked with metric and British scales on respective sides. Except for measuring the length and drawing the line a general ruler has no other function. In view of this a kind of functional ruler is provided with stencil holes having various geometric shapes such as square, circular, triangle and the like, as well as various symbols, such as plus, minus, multiplication and division signs. But there are no practical scientific rulers for enhancing educational effect so far.

No. 8, 4F., Mansfield Industrial Centre, Hong Yip Str.


A wireless terminal device performs first, second, and third scans in sequence to detect wireless access points; stores base station information on the detected wireless access points in a storing unit; sets a disappearance flag in base station information that correspond to a wireless access point that was detected in the first scan and not in the second scan; sets a reappearance flag in base station information that correspond to a wireless access point that was not detected in the second scan and was detected in the third scan; identifies a wireless base station corresponding to base station information in which the disappearance flag and the reappearance flag are set; and displays information on the wireless base station identified on a display unit.

The present invention relates to a wireless terminal device, a communication method, and a computer-readable recording medium.
In 802.11, which is approved as a wireless LAN standard by IEEE, a physical layer and a MAC layer are defined. The MAC layer is a subset of a data link layer that is positioned above the physical layer in an IP-based network.
After its initial standardization, IEEE802.11 has undergone standardization of IEEE802.11b (a maximum of 11 Mbps) and IEEE802.11g (a maximum of 54 Mbps) which are high-speed wireless LANs that use 2.4 GHz band as well as IEEE802.11a (a maximum of 54 Mbps) which is a high-speed wireless LAN using 5 GHz band, and is now widely and generally available. In addition, standardization of IEEE802.11n for realizing a high throughput of 100 Mbps or higher is under consideration.
The network topology of IEEE802.11 is of two types: an ad-hoc network and an infrastructure network. An ad-hoc network is a network configuration that consists of two or more wireless terminal stations called stations (STA), which communicate with each other in a peer-to-peer manner.
On the other hand, an infrastructure network is a Basic Service Set (BSS) network that consists of a wireless base station called a wireless access point and one or more wireless terminal stations that connect to the wireless access point. Typically, the wireless access point is connected with a network. Thus, the wireless terminal stations can communicate with a communication device on the network via a wireless access point with which a connection relation has been established.
To have a wireless terminal station connected to a wireless access point, a user is required to make connection settings with the wireless access point and the wireless terminal station. For the wireless access point, a Service Set ID (SSID) of that access point and security information should be set. Here, the security information is an encryption method and secret information, may be a WEP key, for example. The SSID and security information of the wireless access point are also set on the wireless terminal station.
Because making such connection setting is difficult for "non-techie" users, some wireless access points have a SSID and security information already set at the time of sale and indicate the values thereof in their manual or on their housing.
Also, some wireless terminal stations receive a beacon transmitted from a wireless access point and display the SSID of the wireless access point, availability of security setting, received signal strength, connection condition and the like in the form of icons. When a number of wireless access points exist near a wireless terminal station of this type and the wireless terminal station receives beacons from those wireless access points, it displays icons corresponding to the respective wireless access points.
When the user selects an icon corresponding to an access point to which the user wants to connect from among displayed SSIDs, the wireless terminal starts establishment of connection with the wireless access point having that SSID and displays a wireless LAN setting screen as necessary. Connection setting is completed by the user inputting necessary information, such as security information (e.g., a WEP key), on the setting screen.
As described, wireless LAN systems are known that allow even users unfamiliar with computing techniques to easily make connection settings by preparing means for setting that are based on a Graphical User Interface (GUI) using icons.
In a wireless LAN system, a user may encounter a problem of becoming unable to perform communication on a wireless terminal station that was initially functioning normally. As this problem can result from various causes such as a failure of the wireless terminal station or a failure of the wireless access point, the user has to check various pieces of information to find out the cause of the problem. The cause of such a problem is tracked down in the following procedure, for example.
Step 1: check whether the wireless terminal station is receiving radiowave from the wireless access point. For example, it is checked whether an icon for the wireless access point to which connection should be established is being displayed on the wireless terminal station.
Step 2: check whether settings relating to a wireless LAN between the wireless terminal station and the wireless access point are correct. For example, it is checked whether connection can be established by clicking an icon.
Step 3: check IP-related settings of the wireless terminal station. For example, it is checked whether the IP address of a wireless interface has been set.
Step 4: check IP-related settings between the wireless terminal station and the wireless access point. For example, IP connectivity with the wireless access point is checked using Ping command or the like.
Step 5: check functions of the wireless access point relating to IP transfer and functions of individual applications on the wireless terminal station. For example, activate a Web browser to see whether a desired Web page can be displayed or activate mailing software to see whether mail transmission/reception is possible.
Through such tracking down, any step that is not normally functioning is detected. It shows that there is a problem at a point corresponding to such a step.
In addition to being performed by the user him/herself, such tracking down of the cause of a trouble as described above may be performed by the user calling a help desk for the wireless terminal station, wireless access point, or an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to find out the cause of the problem according to instructions from an operator there. The procedure of tracking down in this case is basically the same as the above-described one.
There are also known wireless communication devices that present a user with the cause of a failure based on information resulting from scanning of a wireless terminal station. For example, if a wireless communication device of this type does not receive a beacon including SSID that is set on the wireless terminal station, it estimates that "outside coverage area" is the cause of the failure (see JP-A 2006-33251 (KOKAI), for instance). A method has been also proposed that observes received signal strength from wireless access points in order to solve a connection failure of a wireless terminal station (see JP-A 2007-134748 (KOKAI), for instance).
As mentioned above, when there is a trouble associated with communication on a wireless terminal station, the user is required to identify the cause of the trouble by taking several steps. Steps of the procedure for identifying the cause include the necessity to check if a wireless access point to which connection should be established is displayed on the wireless terminal station or not, as described in step 1 above.
However, when a wireless LAN system is used in an apartment house, for example, a wireless access point may be installed by a resident of a neighboring room or a room below or above the user's room. In such a case, such wireless access points in neighborhood are displayed on the user's wireless terminal station in addition to the one installed by the user.
In such a case, the user needs to find the wireless access point the user has installed from a number of wireless access points displayed. A wireless access point has to be identified by a SSID that is set for each wireless access point, but the following problem can arise in this case.
To save users from making settings, wireless access points are sometimes sold with a SSID already set. That is to say, a SSID has been set by a wireless access point manufacture instead of being set by the user. In such a situation, when multiple wireless access points from the same manufacture are displayed on a wireless terminal station, the user cannot identify the one he/she installed.
Or even when the user sets a SSID by himself, the user may forget the SSID. The problem of being unable to identify a wireless access point also arises in that case as described above.
Or when a wireless access point installed by the user is in stealth mode, its SSID is not displayed on a wireless terminal station. Stealth mode refers to a mode in which a wireless access point transmits a beacon that does not indicate the SSID of the wireless access point.
Furthermore, when a configuration that installs a large number of wireless access points to secure a large area within which wireless terminal stations can make connection is adopted, such as in an office, it is impossible to identify which one of wireless access points displayed on a wireless terminal station represents a certain wireless access point.
Conventional wireless communication devices cannot solve such problems that arise when a SSID is not known as described above because they require presetting of a SSID on a wireless terminal station. Furthermore, in an environment in which a plurality of wireless access points are installed, it is impossible to identify from which wireless access point radiowave being observed by a wireless terminal station is physically transmitted.

Wireless terminal device, communication method, and computer-readable recording medium


An apparatus and a method for using a Secure Removable Media (SRM) in Digital Rights Management (DRM) are provided. The method for using the SRM in Digital Rights Management (DRM) includes determining, at a plurality of content service providers, an SRM usage rule and providing the determination to a trust authority using an eXtensible Markup Language (XML); receiving messages comprising the SRM usage rule from the content service providers and sending the messages to an apparatus together with an electronic signature; and receiving the messages comprising the SRM usage rule and changing an operation of the apparatus according to requirements of at least one content service provider. Thus, various content business models can be realized.

Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology prevents unauthorized distribution and copying of digital contents, allows only legitimate users to use the content, and manages the digital content copyright using a charging service.
Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) DRM, which is widely used as the de facto standard of the DRM technology, is standardized by an OMA standard body. The OMA DRM standard specifications provide that contents are encrypted, a key used for the encryption is packaged in the form of a Rights Object (RO), and the key is safely transmitted to a device such as mobile phone. After the start of the OMA DRM version 1.0 in 2002, the OMA DRM version 2.0 was released in 2006, and the OMA DRM version 2.1 was released in 2007. Secure Removable Media (SRM) standard version 1.0, which extends the DRM technology not only to the mobile phones but also to external memories such as memory card and smart card, was released in 2008. The SRM 1.0 standard is the extension of the OMA DRM 2.0 and has functions including Device to SRM Move which transfers the RO from the device to the memory card or the smart card, SRM to Device Move which transfers the RO from the memory card or the smart card to the device, and Local Rights Consumption which plays contents using the RO stored to the memory card or the smart card at the device.
Starting from the OMA DRM 2.0, the content encryption key is managed according to a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) scheme. The PKI scheme, which makes use of powerful asymmetric key encryption such as an RSA encryption algorithm, is treated as the notably safe key management system. Disadvantageously, the PKI demands a system in which a powerful trust authority, such as the government, issues and manages the key.
The OMA DRM 2.0 functions to protect a protocol message carrying the RO from a service provider or the content provider to the device, to protect the content encryption key, to package the RO, to encrypt and package the contents, and to support a sharing technique of the RO between devices.
FIG. 1 depicts relations between a trust authority, a content provider or a service provider, and a device in the DRM system.
Referring to FIG. 1, the trust authority 100, which is called a Certification Authority (CA), issues the key to the service provider 110 or the device 120, and distributes the key to key users. When the user holding the key is compromised and the authorized use of the key is impossible, the trust authority 100 manages the key management system by revoking the key.
The problem with the PKI system adopting the OMA DRM 2.0 is that the OMA does not manage the trust authority. The OMA merely develops the technical standards. Accordingly, it is necessary to manage the key used in the OMA DRM by a trust authority of international reliability. In response to this, Content Management License Administrator (CMLA) was formed by Samsung Electronics, Nokia, Intel, and Panasonic in 2004, which is the PKI trust authority for the OMA DRM 2.0.
The CMLA operates a server which distributes and manages the PKI keys to the multimedia service provider, the content provider, and the device provider, who adopt the OMA DRM 2.0 technology. The system implementing the OMA DRM 2.0 standard can offer complete multimedia content services by receiving and installing the key of the CMLA.
External memories or smart cards do not have their own independent power source or network connection because of their mechanical feature, and always depend on the function of the device. In addition, external memories or smart cards, which can be easily attached and detached to and from the device, are highly likely to suffer from physical communication disconnection during communication.
Based on the characteristics of the SRM as discussed above, the SRM standard entrusts the trust authority with the determination of some of the functions. However, neither the OMA nor the trust authority considers technical details.

Apparatus and method for using secure removable media (SRM) in digital rights management


A method for detecting the transition between different materials in semiconductor structures during alternating etching and covering steps for anisotropic depthwise etching of defined patterns performed using a plasma. Provision is made for ascertaining, by way of an intensity measurement of at least one specific substance contained in the plasma, the beginning of each etching step by the fact that a characteristic threshold is reached, this also being achievable by way of an external synchronization signal which indicates the beginning and end of each etching step; for then, when the threshold value is reached, starting a delay time which is longer than the course of a first concentration maximum; for a second concentration maximum then to be ascertained after the delay time has elapsed; and for the second concentration maxima of the etching steps to be monitored as to whether they exceed or fall below the predefined value, in order to detect a material transition.

German Patent No. 42 41 045 describes a plasma etching process for silicon in which a Teflon-like protective film is applied onto the side walls of etched structures, and in a subsequent inherently isotropic etching step the silicon is etched down with fluorine radicals. By removal of the overlying side wall protective film, subsequent transport downward, and redeposition during the individual etching steps, the newly produced side wall sections are always protected from the next etching attack, resulting in a smooth side wall. If layers of different materials are present in a semiconductor structure, etching must often be performed through one layer down to the layer lying below it; i.e. the etching operation is performed until a new layer begins, and then stopped. For example, if the upper layer is made of silicon and the layer lying below it of silicon dioxide, it is usual to use an optical spectroscopy method to stop the etching process after the silicon layer has been etched through and directly after the silicon dioxide layer has been reached. The optical method involves examining the strength of the plasma emission in terms of a specific substance, by way of its characteristic emission wavelength(s). During the etching of silicon as defined in German Patent No. 42 41 045, a relatively large quantity of fluorine radicals is consumed in the etching reaction, i.e. the concentration of fluorine radicals in the plasma is relatively low. At the same time gaseous reaction products such as SiF.sub.2, SiF.sub.3, SiFP.sub.4, etc., which in turn exhibit a characteristic emission, are produced. When etching reaches the dielectric intermediate layer, i.e. the silicon dioxide layer, the result is more or less an etching stoppage, since the etching operation proceeds much more slowly in silicon dioxide than in silicon. Because of this etching stoppage, the fluorine consumption decreases, and the quantity of free fluorine in the plasma rises correspondingly. This is detected in the optical measurement by a corresponding light emission at characteristic wavelengths. The slowing of the etching process when the silicon dioxide layer is reached moreover causes the SiF.sub.x concentration to decline, so that its light emission at characteristic wavelengths decreases, and emission of oxygen from the silicon dioxide takes place at its characteristic wavelengths. These effects can also be sensed with the optical measurement method. Using the aforementioned optical method, it is thus possible to terminate the etching process or continue it with modified parameters. This is necessary because uncontrolled overetching results in an undesired etching profile, for example in incipient etching of the vertical side walls, so that undercutting of the mask occurs with pattern loss. The originally achieved accuracy thus no longer exists, and pockets can form at the dielectric interface (between silicon and silicon dioxide).

Method for detecting the transition between different materials in semiconductor structures


A free weight system for collecting and transmitting exercise related data from a free weight device includes a free weight handle assembly having a gripping portion and a weight receiving portion, one or more weight plates positionable on the weight receiving portions, and a data collecting mechanism at least partially enclosed within an internal cavity of the free weight handle assembly. The data collecting mechanism includes a weight identification mechanism that identifies the weight of the one or more weight plates.

Free weight devices, including for example dumbbells, barbells, curl bars, and the like are well known in the art and are widely used as part of many weight-based exercise sessions. Free weight devices may allow a user to secure a desired amount of weight to the free weight bar. Exercise sessions using free weight devices often involve performing a number of repetitive movements while holding the weight bar. Exercise sessions using free weight devices often require an individual to track the number of repetitive movements (or "repetitions") that are required to complete the session. Form and technique are very important in order to ensure that the proper muscle groups are targeted and to avoid injury.
Mechanisms exist that assist individuals in keeping a correct count of the number of repetitions performed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,048, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0135264, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0204255, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0069722, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0112771 each disclose devices that track and measure movements, such as repetitions performed, and transmit this information to an external computing device. These devices may be integrated into an article of clothing worn by an individual, such as a glove, or affixed to a part of an exercise device, such as a weight plate or a free weight handle assembly. Integrating these mechanisms into an article of clothing that is worn by an individual or affixing these mechanisms to an outer surface of an exercise device may cause an interference with the individual's exercise session. For example, the device may preclude the individual from gripping the exercise device in a desired location. In addition, the device may limit an individual's range of movement.
Also, these devices, whether integrated into an article that is worn by an individual or affixed to an outer surface of an exercise device, may track and measure movement that is unrelated to the exercise session. For example, a mechanism that is affixed to a weight plate on a free weight device may track movement of the plate relative to the bar. Specifically, the plate may rotate relative to the bar during an exercise session. This rotation may create errors in the data collected.


An improved process is provided for making stitchbonded elastic fabrics more economically. The improvements involve stitching with an elastic thread having a high residual stretch, overfeeding fibrous web to the stitchbonding machine and removing the resultant product under low tension.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for making an elastic stitchbonded fabric by multi-needle stitching a nonbonded or lightly bonded fibrous layer with elastic yarns. More particularly, the invention concerns an improvement in such a process wherein the elastic stitching yarns enter the needles with high residual stretch. The process provides more economical, stretchable fabrics, particularly suited for use in elasticized portions of diapers, cuffs, waistbands, bandages, and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Processes are known for making stretchable stitchbonded nonwoven fabrics by multi-needle stitching of a fibrous layer with elastic yarn. Several of my earlier patents disclose such processes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,321 describes such stitching of a plexifilamentary polyethylene sheet (e.g., Tyvek.RTM.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,128 discloses such stitching of other fibrous layers; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,238 describes such stitching of a substantially nonbonded web and then contracting the stitched fabric to less than half its original area.
To produce a highly stretchable stitchbonded fabric by a process of my earlier patents generally required that the stitched fabric be allowed to contract extensively immediately after the stitching step. The contraction was caused by the retractive power of the elastic stitching yarns. Although my earlier processes produced stitchbonded fabrics suitable for a variety of uses, reductions in fabric cost were desired. The cost per unit area of elastic fabrics produced by my earlier processes were in direct proportion to the area contraction the fabric experienced immediately after stitching. Thus fabrics with high post-stitching contraction had high costs per unit area.
In the past, stitchbonding with elastic yarns usually was not performed with accurately controlled tensions on (a) fibrous layers fed to the stitchbonding machine, (b) elastic yarns fed to the stitching needles and (c) stitched fabrics leaving the machine. Generally, the stitchbonding machines were operated with high tensions on each of these components. In addition, the elastic yarns were subjected to increase tension by the action of the stitching needles of the stitchbonding machine. Accordingly, the yarns arrived at the stitching needles with high elongations and were inserted into the fibrous layer very little residual stretch remaining in the yarns. The elongation of the stitched yarn usually was quite close to its break elongation. For example, in accordance with the processes described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,238, the elastic yarns were fed to the stitchbonding machine with an elongation of 100 to 250%, and then further stretched by the action of the stitching needles. The high elongation and low residual stretch of the elastic yarns in the stitched fabric were evident from the large contraction the stitchbonded fabric experienced as it left the stitching machine, even though a high wind-up tension was applied to the exiting fabric, and from the inability of the resultant fabrics to be stretched much beyond its original stitched dimensions. In Example 2 of the patent, a maximum extension to 20% beyond the original length of the fibrous layer was disclosed; all other examples disclosed fabrics that could not be stretched beyond their original stitched length. The high tensions and retractive forces in the stitching yarns of the earlier processes resulted in contractions of the stitched fabric to less than 40% and sometimes to than less than 20% of their original stitched dimensions. It was only after the contraction that the fabrics could be stretched significantly.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved process for making an elastic stitchbonded fabric which does not require a large contraction of the fabric immediately after stitching in order to achieve elastic stretchability.


A substantial gain in the properties of conventional FeCrAlY is achieved by adding RuAl to a melt of the conventional material. The resultant composition has a use temperature above the melting point of nickel base superalloys and has good strength and ductility properties to permit its use as a high temperature structural material.

The present invention relates generally to alloys formed for structural use at high temperatures. More particularly, it relates to an iron-base structural alloy having a novel ruthenium content and adapted to use at high temperatures. It is known that jet engines operate more efficiently at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures. Increase in the operating temperature of an engine can give the engine itself higher performance characteristics. One of the great difficulties in achieving higher operating temperatures in jet engines and in other gas turbines is the lack of materials for the building of engines which can tolerate such high temperatures.
Engines are presently built with nickel-base alloys and more particular nickel-based superalloys which display high strength at high temperatures. However, for more advanced engines the temperature of the materials themselves would be above the temperature at which the conventional nickel-base superalloys will be molten.
Again, one of the basic problems of increasing the operating temperature of engines is that of finding materials which have suitable combination of properties for use at the higher temperatures. The temperatures of structural components in the hottest sections of such engines are envisioned to range from about 1250.degree. C. (2300.degree. F.) to temperatures which are reached when stoichiometric ratios of gas and air are burned. As noted above, such temperatures are above the melting point of presently used nickel-base superalloys. Because of the distinct advantages in the operating at such elevated temperatures, efforts have been made to find alloys from which structural components for use at such temperatures can be formed. If such engines can be built, there is a reward of a greater thrust to weight ratio possible as an improvement over present designs.
Numerous metallic systems have been investigated to determine the hottest temperature at which components of higher temperature jet engines can be employed as structural members. It is known that efforts have been expended to develop ceramic systems for use in the hottest components of such engines. The ceramic systems have the advantage of low density thus increasing the thrust to weight ratio, but they suffer from a lack of, or a lower order of, ductility. The metallic systems which have been studied for such applications include metal matrix composites as well as low density intermediate phases and intermetallic compounds. However, none of these compositions have been found to provide the combination of properties which are needed for structural use in the very high temperature engines.

Ruthenium bearing iron base high temperature structural alloys


The present disclosure relates to an asymmetric illumination lens and an illumination system implementing at least one such lens, for example for illuminating a stadium play field.

In the field of stadium illumination, asymmetric optics, such as reflectors, have been used for some years. The purpose of using asymmetric optics in stadiums is to minimize and control glare and light spillage while still maintaining a uniform light distribution all over the play field.
Asymmetric illumination lenses have also been known in the field of street light illumination for around 10 years. These asymmetric lenses are formed to uniformly distribute light intensity on a target area, such as on a road. Further, these asymmetric lenses are formed to distribute light along the road and to limit the light as much as possible across the road. As a consequence, the light is typically uniformly distributed in a pattern resembling a rectangle having a ratio of 4:1 with its longest side along the road.
The purpose of street lamps with asymmetric lenses is to illuminate a street as uniformly as possible and as much as possible along the street to limit the amount of light poles along the street. Further, the light should not be distributed to other areas, in particular to avoid light being distributed across the street to avoid illumination of for example houses on the other side of the street. An example of light distribution from street lamps employing asymmetric lenses is shown in FIG. 1.
Thus, asymmetric illumination lenses used in the field of street light illumination are not compatible with illumination lenses used in the field of stadium play field illumination where light is distributed across the play field.
However, to control the light distribution on a stadium play field, several solutions do exist that implement various types of lenses in all sorts of different shaped illumination systems.
Such solutions are nevertheless not effective. Some solutions may require several different optical components to be manufactured, several different systems to be assembled and finally to be set up in various different configurations along or above the stadium play field. Other solutions may produce a high amount of light pollution.
Accordingly, there is a need for improvement of illumination lenses and illumination systems to be used for illuminating stadium play fields.


A toner having: a peak temperature before fixation T1a of about 40° C. or more; and a peak temperature after fixation T1b that is lower than T1a by from about 10° C. to about 35° C.: T1a being a peak temperature of an endothermic peak occurring at the lowest temperature in a range of from 0° C. to 100° C. and obtained at a first warming-up step of a differential scanning calorimetry measurement that uses a toner before fixation as a sample; T1b being a peak temperature of an endothermic peak occurring at the lowest temperature within a range of from 0° C. to 100° C. and obtained at a first warming-up step of a differential scanning calorimetry measurement that uses a toner after fixation as a sample; and the toner after fixation being contained in a fixed image transferred from a transferring member and fixed on a recording medium, a maximum width of an image defect formed after conducting a folding test of the fixed image being 0.30 mm or less.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a toner for development of an electrostatic image, an electrostatic image developer, a toner cartridge, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Art
Methods of visualizing image information via an electrostatic image, such as an electrophotographic method, have been employed in various fields. In the electrophotographic method, an electrostatic image is formed on a photoreceptor through processes of charging and exposing to light, and is visualized by developing with a developer containing a toner, transferring and fixing.
The toner mentioned above is generally composed of toner matrix particles containing a binder resin, a colorant, a releasing agent, a charge control agent and the like, which are formed into particles by a kneading pulverizing method, a suspension polymerization method, an emulsion aggregation method, a dissolution suspension method, or the like; and an auxiliary agent that is added to the surface of the toner matrix particles, such as inorganic metal oxide particles of silica, titania, alumina or the like, and inorganic/organic particles that are optionally added to aid cleaning capacity or polishing capacity of the photoreceptor. Further, with both black and white printing and full color printing, a toner usable with oil-less fixing devices in which oil is not supplied to a fixing roll, serving as a fixing member, has been widely used.
In the aforementioned electrophotographic process, various kinds of mechanical stresses are applied. Therefore, to stably maintain the functions of the toner, it is necessary to suppress exposure of a releasing agent to the surface of the toner and, further, it is necessary to enhance surface hardness and fixing ability of the toner itself in order to improve mechanical strength and maintain sufficient chargeability. Additionally, in response to the demand for high image quality, the size of the toner has been remarkably reduced in order to realize a highly precise image in an image formation process.
However, simply reducing the size of the toner without changes to conventional particle size or shape distribution results in toner particles having minute sizes or deformed shapes, which could cause problems such as contamination of a carrier or a photoreceptor with the toner, scattering of the toner, or attachment of the toner to a fixing roll rather than a recording medium. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve both of high image quality and high reliability. Consequently, there is a demand for a toner having both particles of reduced size and narrower particle size distribution or shape distribution.
Further, there has been a demand for a technique by which a toner may be fixed with less energy in order to reduce energy consumption of a copier or a printer, and therefore a toner for electrophotography that can be fixed at lower temperature has been strongly desired.
As a means for reducing the fixing temperature of the toner, a technique of lowering a glass transition temperature (Tg) of a resin for a toner is widely employed. However, if the glass transition temperature is too low, aggregation of toner powder (blocking) may easily occur or storability of the toner formed on a fixed image may be lost. Therefore, the glass transition temperature has to be about 50° C. at lowest, in practical use.
The use of polyester resin as a binder resin has been attempted due to its superior low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storability, in place of styrene and acrylic resins that have been widely used as binder resins. However, there is a problem with polyester resins that dispersibility of a releasing agent (wax) in the polyester resin is poor and the mixture tends to pulverize at an interface of the binder resin and the releasing agent, thereby causing degradation of toner powder characteristics or charging characteristics due to the exposed releasing agent on the toner surface. Moreover, even in a wet method including aggregation and coalescence processes, there has been a problem that degradation of toner powder characteristics or charging characteristics is caused by the releasing agent that tends to be exposed on the toner surface, or detach from toner particles, at the time of coalescence process carried out with heat.

Toner for development of electrostatic image, electrostatic image developer, toner cartridge, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus


A laundry appliance having a perforated rotatable drum for spin dehydrating a wet textile load, an electric motor for providing an accelerating force which in use causes the drum to rotate, load sensors for detecting any static dynamic imbalance in the rotation of the drum, and a controller which receives inputs from the load sensors and is programmed to, in a spin-up phase, energize said electric motor so as to evenly distribute the load within the drum and thereby minimize any static or dynamic imbalance when the drum rotates.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system for balancing the load in a horizontal axis washing machine.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
Conventional horizontal axis washing machines involve a final spin cycle to extract as much water from washed articles as possible to reduce drying time. However, the requirement of a high spin speed is at odds with quiet operation. At the beginning of a spin cycle the wash load can be quite severely unbalanced, so that when the machine tries to accelerate, noise and vibrations result.
The means that washing machine designers have employed so far to cater for imbalance in the load, is typically to suspend the internal assembly on springs and dampers in order to isolate its vibration. The difficulty is that these suspension assemblies never isolate the vibration completely. As the machine ages, they deteriorate and the problem gets worse. Also, these suspension assemblies require significant internal clearance, and so valuable load capacity is lost when designing a machine to standard outside dimensions. Further, because the internal assembly must still withstand the forces due to the imbalance, considerable extra costs result.
The ideal approach is to eliminate the problem at its source, for which there are various solutions. The first possibility is to ensure that the wash load is evenly distributed prior to spinning. This is an effective solution but it is extremely difficult to achieve in practice. Therefore while steps can be taken to reduce the degree of imbalance that must be catered for, it is not possible to eliminate it sufficiently to ignore it thereafter. Another approach is to determine the size and nature of the load imbalance, and add an imbalance that exactly counteracts the load imbalance.
Methods of compensating for imbalance in horizontal axis washing machines have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,660 (Pellerin et al.), European Patent 856604 (Fagor, S. Coop). These disclosures relate to the use of three axially orientated chambers running the length of the drum, displaced evenly around the periphery of the drum. When individually filled with water in the appropriate amounts, the chamber can be used to approximately correct imbalances in the axis of rotation.
In our published PCT application WO 00/39382 we described a balancing system for washing machines that compensates for both static and dynamic imbalance. That system is sufficiently accurate that the traditional suspension can be dispensed with.
However, even with that system a load may be sufficiently unbalanced at the early part of the spin cycle that it is not possible to adequately compensate for the imbalance using the active balancing system. Also, different wash items have different water holding properties. As water is extracted in the spin cycle this can lead to a changing imbalance during the spin cycle. Water additions to the balance chambers are not reversible during the spin cycle, so rebalancing leads to an ongoing accumulation until the fill capacity is reached. In combination with a poor initial imbalance, this can lead to occasional inability to reach full spin speed. This in turn requires a fairly strictly controlled initial imbalance, which may in turn require many distribution attempts at the commencement of a spin cycle.


A method and apparatus for the variable rate coding of a speech signal. An input speech signal is classified and an appropriate coding mode is selected based on this classification. For each classification, the coding mode that achieves the lowest bit rate with an acceptable quality of speech reproduction is selected. Low average bit rates are achieved by only employing high fidelity modes (i.e., high bit rate, broadly applicable to different types of speech) during portions of the speech where this fidelity is required for acceptable output. Lower bit rate modes are used during portions of speech where these modes produce acceptable output. Input speech signal is classified into active and inactive regions. Active regions are further classified into voiced, unvoiced, and transient regions. Various coding modes are applied to active speech, depending upon the required level of fidelity. Coding modes may be utilized according to the strengths and weaknesses of each particular mode. The apparatus dynamically switches between these modes as the properties of the speech signal vary with time. And where appropriate, regions of speech are modeled as pseudo-random noise, resulting in a significantly lower bit rate. This coding is used in a dynamic fashion whenever unvoiced speech or background noise is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the coding of speech signals. Specifically, the present invention relates to classifying speech signals and employing one of a plurality of coding modes based on the classification.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many communication systems today transmit voice as a digital signal, particularly long distance and digital radio telephone applications. The performance of these systems depends, in part, on accurately representing the voice signal with a minimum number of bits. Transmitting speech simply by sampling and digitizing requires a data rate on the order of 64 kilobits per second (kbps) to achieve the speech quality of a conventional analog telephone. However, coding techniques are available that significantly reduce the data rate required for satisfactory speech reproduction.
The term "vocoder" typically refers to devices that compress voiced speech by extracting parameters based on a model of human speech generation. Vocoders include an encoder and a decoder. The encoder analyzes the incoming speech and extracts the relevant parameters. The decoder synthesizes the speech using the parameters that it receives from the encoder via a transmission channel. The speech signal is often divided into frames of data and block processed by the vocoder.
Vocoders built around linear-prediction-based time domain coding schemes far exceed in number all other types of coders. These techniques extract correlated elements from the speech signal and encode only the uncorrelated elements. The basic linear predictive filter predicts the current sample as a linear combination of past samples. An example of a coding algorithm of this particular class is described in the paper "A 4.8 kbps Code Excited Linear Predictive Coder," by Thomas E. Tremain et al., Proceedings of the Mobile Satellite Conference, 1988.
These coding schemes compress the digitized speech signal into a low bit rate signal by removing all of the natural redundancies (i. e., correlated elements) inherent in speech. Speech typically exhibits short term redundancies resulting from the mechanical action of the lips and tongue, and long term redundancies resulting from the vibration of the vocal cords. Linear predictive schemes model these operations as filters, remove the redundancies, and then model the resulting residual signal as white gaussian noise. Linear predictive coders therefore achieve a reduced bit rate by transmitting filter coefficients and quantized noise rather than a full bandwidth speech signal.
However, even these reduced bit rates often exceed the available bandwidth where the speech signal must either propagate a long distance (e.g., ground to satellite) or coexist with many other signals in a crowded channel. A need therefore exists for an improved coding scheme which achieves a lower bit rate than linear predictive schemes.


Techniques are provided for request modification for web security challenge. Data corresponding to a web page request by a client computing device for a web page is received. The web page comprises web code that allows a user to submit a request to initiate a web transaction with a web server system. Challenge code is generated that determines one or more values that are a valid solution to a challenge. The challenge code is provided for integrated code to be served in response to the web page request. The integrated code comprises the challenge code and modified web code that adds one or more parameters for the valid solution to the request. A particular request is received to initiate the web transaction. It is determined that the one or more parameter values are not a valid solution. In response, the web server system is prevented from processing the particular request.

One type of security risk faced by businesses and other entities operating on the internet is the possibility that attackers may target their online presences, and disrupt their capabilities to deliver online services. A common form of attack in this regard is known as a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, which is generally an attack that aims to make a server or other network resource unavailable to its intended users. DoS attacks are often carried out by botnets that have infiltrated many different network endpoints (e.g., client computing devices), and that exploit the endpoints to simultaneously flood a target server with thousands, or even millions, of communication requests. The extreme volume of requests can overload the ability of the server to respond to legitimate web traffic, or can at least impair the server's response time to such a degree that it becomes effectively non-responsive. In some cases, DoS attacks can be particularly effective by flooding a target server with requests to initiate web transactions that are known to be computationally expensive. For example, e-commerce websites often allow users to maintain a shopping cart of items that they may purchase. Adding and removing items from a cart can be computationally expensive due to significant backend processing performed by the server before a response is generated. Some attackers have exploited the shopping cart, and other expensive transactions, to carry out successful DoS attacks. The consequences of DoS attacks can be significant for targets of the attack, who may suffer financial loss as a result of the attack (e.g., from lost sales that would have occurred while its online services were unavailable), and who may even be harmed in the longer-term after an attack has occurred due to negative perceptions of the target's services as insecure or unreliable.

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Request modification for web security challenge


It is to provide a pharmaceutical composition which is different from an existing therapeutic agent of an adult disease, of a biochemical reaction-inhibiting type, and which action mechanism is to improve the basal metabolism, wherein the composition has no side effects, and does not generate drug resistance against adult disease; and a method for preventing/treating an adult disease by using the same. It is to provide a composition for preventing/ameliorating an adult disease such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, impaired liver function, renal failure, adiposity, erectile dysfunction, menopausal disorder, shoulder discomfort, and low back pain, comprising 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), its derivative, or salt thereof, preferably comprising ALA, its derivative, or salt thereof, and an iron compound such as sodium ferrous citrate, iron sodium citrate and iron ammonium citrate; a food or food material for preventing/ameliorating an adult disease comprising the composition; and a method for using the composition for preparing an agent for preventing/ameliorating an adult disease.

Adult disease is a generic expression for disease and pathology including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, impaired liver function, renal failure, adiposity, erectile dysfunction, menopausal disorder, shoulder discomfort, and low back pain. Formerly, it was thought that these diseases developed with aging. However, recently, it has been revealed that lifestyle habits for a long time are strongly associated with the onset as a so-called lifestyle-related disease. It is believed that the onset and development mechanism of each disease are associated with each other, and the state wherein hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes is combined with adiposity is called specifically metabolic syndrome, to which caution is raised. However, there is no particular therapeutic agent, treatment method, preventative agent or preventing method for it. The present situation is that the medical staffs or patients are unnecessarily confused.
Adult diseases decrease significantly the quality of patient's life, and there is a risk of complications. Particularly, the number of patients is rapidly increasing in developed countries. While number of medicines for preventing/ameliorating an adult disease has been developed, each of them is an agent for ameliorating individual symptom, such as lowering blood glucose level of diabetes, lowering blood pressure, or lowering cholesterol levels, and the action mechanism is mostly the inhibition of a particular enzyme, etc.
For example, concerning diabetes, currently most of the diabetes is a so-called type II diabetes, being insulin resistant, and agents for inhibiting glucose metabolism or agents for suppressing absorption from foods have been developed. It is said that these inhibitors or agents for suppressing absorption are exerting a certain effect. However, as the radical cause of diabetes onset is a diminished ability to absorb sugar into cells, it is thought that an approach of suppressing furnishing sugar to cells or blood is not an essential solution, leading to decrease of life activation of the patient.
Concerning hyperlipidemia, health foods targeting suppression of fat absorption or agents inhibiting cholesterol metabolism (i.e. statin agents) are fulfilling market needs. However, it is known that while statin agents etc. decrease significantly cholesterol in the body that is said to be associated with arterial sclerosis, they suppress supply of ubiquinone etc. associated with basal metabolism at the same time. It is reported that risks of cardiac infarct are immunologically decreased in some degree, while the onset ratio of cancer increases thereby increasing mortal ratio, which is an issue.
Concerning hypertension, antihypertensives lowering blood pressure with various inhibitors are sold additionally to the traditional calcium antagonists, and are forming a huge market. However, it is merely a symptomatic treatment which is not an approach to remove basic causes. Regarding antihypertensives, effectiveness of the administration is discussed concerning their immunological effectiveness or side effects.
Concerning impaired liver function, it is known that interferon treatment exhibits an effect for viral liver dysfunction. However, there is no effective means for a general decrease of liver function which is non-viral, and presently people are relying on nutritional supplements or folk medicine. It is empirically known that bear gall (Kumanoi) which was developed from Chinese herbal medicine has a certain effect, but the action mechanism as well as active ingredients is not specified. Many health foods are sold saying that freshwater clam or turmeric is effective, while the effect is not demonstrated. Further, an agent for improving liver function comprising sodium protoporphyrin as main ingredient has been used from a long time ago, but it is said that its effect is not sufficient, and photolesion is known as a side effect.
Concerning renal failure, dialysis is frequently performed during the treatment. However, it is to conduct renal function artificially, which is a prime example of a symptomatic treatment, not related with improvement of renal function. At present, for the improvement of renal function people are relying on nutritional supplements or folk medicine, as in the case of liver. Further, dialysis is the biggest cause of medical cost increase.
Adiposity is abominated as being the principal cause of all adult diseases. However, there is no suitable medicine, and dietary health foods suppressing absorption or digestion, or exercises are recommended, which are forming a giant market, causing not only financial but also mental burden. By taking the same amount of meal, a person gets certainly more weight with advancing age, compared to when young. This is not because absorption or digestion increases with advancing age, neither lack of exercise is the main cause, but it is because the basal metabolism is decreased. No approach to resolve adiposity by improving basal metabolism is known.
Concerning erectile dysfunction, an effective medicine called Viagra has been developed, which has improved life of many patients afflicted with erectile dysfunction. However, its action mechanism is dilation of blood vessels, and administration of Viagra leads physical erectile. However, the erection is not accompanied by an original emotion, and there is a risk of inducing cardiac diseases. Also in this field, folk medicines such as viper, rhinoceros horn, seal, or turtle are widely known. However, these folk medicines have no scientific nature, and rather many examples affecting health are known. Specifically, no basic approach focusing on the phenomenon that erection is weakened with advancing age is known.
Concerning menopausal disorder, generally, it is said to encompass malaise or depression induced by hormone imbalance in women after menopause. However, recently, it is known that menopausal disorder develops also in men, exhibiting symptoms including malaise and depression, similarly as women. When the case is severe, a treatment method comprising supplementing hormone is performed to men and women, which is effective. However, in case of women, a long time administration may increase risks of breast cancer or uterus cancer, or risks of cardiac infarct or cerebral stroke, which is an issue. In case of men, increase of risks of prostate cancer is an issue.
Concerning tension including shoulder discomfort and low back pain, although accurately it is not a disease but a symptom, there are many people suffering from shoulder discomfort and low back pain with advancing age. Treatment including acupuncture, jujutsu, massage, spa treatment etc; and medicines including poultice are forming a big business. There are many causes of tension such as shoulder discomfort and low back pain, of which stagnation of blood flow can be exemplified as one of main causes. Existing treatment and medicines are focusing on the improvement of blood flow. It is clear that no effective solution has been yet found out even though various means are proposed, from the fact that there are many people who are suffering from these symptoms with advancing age.
In the above, current status of adult diseases, and actual condition of therapeutic agents or treatment methods have been briefly explained. Generally, it can be said that decrease of basal metabolism with advancing age is the common cause or remote cause of adult diseases. It can be redefined to be remaining glucose or fat in blood caused by decrease of basal metabolism, leakage of active oxygen caused by impaired energy production system, and accumulation of gene defect caused thereby. Therefore, the basic treatment or prevention of adult diseases is related to how to keep the basal metabolism in a good state. However, as already stated, western medicine is an approach to treat with a biochemical inhibitor, which is merely a symptomatic treatment and not a radical treatment. Oriental medicine and traditional medicine have a basic idea that it is important to keep the fundamental basal metabolism, while specific solutions are within the range of breathing maneuver, body exercise, and use of traditional herbs, which effect is not sufficient.
In such conditions, development of a really effective therapeutic agent, treating method, preventive agent, and preventive method of adult diseases aiming to improve basal metabolism, with a scientific support and not being a merely symptomatic treatment is awaited.
On the other hand, ALA is known as an intermediate of pigment biosynthesis pathway, widely present in animals, plants, and bacteria, and is generally biosynthesized by 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase, from succinyl CoA and glycine. ALA itself does not have a photosensitization activity, but it is said to induce protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) via pigment biosynthesis pathway. Since it has been reported that by applying ALA and irradiating light, skin cancer can be treated (see for example, non-patent document 1), many methods for diagnosing and treating lesions of various sites using ALA have been reported. For example, an agent for diagnosing and treating tumors is prepared which has been developed from the fact that when ALA, its derivative, or salts thereof (hereinafter also referred to as "ALAs") is administered in the body, PpIX which is said to have tumor affinity is biosynthesized, and that when PpIX accumulated in tumor cells is irradiated with light, surrounding oxygen molecules are photoexcited, and that the resulting singlet oxygen has a cytotoxic effect due to its strong oxidative power (see for example patent documents 1 to 3).
Further, in bladder, it is known that it is possible to detect bladder cancer, by filling bladder with a radiosensitizing solution comprising ALAs via urethra, irradiating light after a certain time, and observing fluorescence with a microscope (see for example non patent document 2). Further, a hair restorer comprising an iron compound and one or more compounds selected from 5-aminolevulinic acid, its salt, or ester derivative thereof, as an active ingredient (see for example patent document 4), or an agent for preventing and ameliorating dry skin (see for example see patent document 5) has been proposed.

Prophylactic/ameliorating agent for adult diseases comprising 5-aminolevulinic acid, derivative of 5-aminolevulinic acid, or salt of 5-aminolevulinic acid or the derivative of 5-aminolevulinic acid as active ingredient