A laminated structure fuel swirl element is employed, in which a strong swirl force flow is imparted to the fuel at a remote side against an injection hole and on the other hand, at a near side of the fuel injection hole, a weak swirl force is imparted to the fuel. A complex solid cone spray can be obtained, such a spray has a superior a dispersion characteristic by attracting small diameter droplets which are generated at an outer peripheral portion of the spray through a spray which is generated at a vicinity of a central portion of the spray and has a large velocity. In the spray characteristics in an electromagnetic system fuel injector of a direct injection gasoline engine, a complex solid cone spray can be obtained, as a result a good ignitability of the engine can be obtained by a spray having a small spreading angle by making strong an inertia force and a discharge amount of the unburned gas components of the combustion can be reduced by a spray having a short reaching distance and a large spreading angle by making weak the inertia force.

The present invention relates to a fuel injector and an internal combustion engine having a fuel injector and, in particularly to a fuel injector in which a fuel spray having a superior ignitability and a superior combustibility is formed and an internal combustion engine having a fuel injector.
The present invention relates a fuel injector for forming a complex fuel spray having a superior ignitability and a superior combustibility and an internal combustion engine having a fuel injector.
An inlet pipe fuel injection device has known, in such a fuel injection device the fuel is injected into an inlet pipe of an internal combustion engine and in addition to the above stated inlet pipe fuel injection device a direct fuel injection device has known, in such a fuel injection device the fuel is injected directly into a combustion chamber (a cylinder). Such a latter stated conventional direct fuel injection device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei 5-33,739.
As disclosed in the above stated Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei-5 33,739, it is difficult to mix homogeneously the fuel which has injected directly to the combustion chamber with the inhale air in the combustion chamber. Therefore, it is important to produce a promotion for atomizing the fuel which has injected directly to the combustion chamber.
To atomize the fuel, up to now an impartment of a swirling force with the fuel which is injected from a fuel injector has carried out. As shown in the above stated Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei-5 33,739, the direct fuel injection device having a means for imparting the swirling force against the fuel is disclosed.
Herein, the direct fuel injection device shown in the above stated Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei-5 33,739, the direct fuel injection device comprises an injection nozzle for injecting the fuel from an injection hole, a cylindrical shape cover having a bottom portion for constituting an air chamber at an outer side of the injection nozzle, a swirl chamber which is formed at a side of the bottom portion of the cover to communicate to the injection hole of the injection nozzle, and a check valve body which opens and closes the injection hole.
With the above stated conventional direct fuel injection device structure, the swirl chamber has an injection hole and this injection hole introduces the assist air from a tangential direction directing for an inner peripheral face of the swirl chamber from the air chamber which is constituted the cylindrical shape cover having the bottom portion. In accordance with the above stated assist air which is injected from the injection hole of the swirl chamber, the fuel for injecting to the injection hole of the injection nozzle can be imparted the swirl force.
Further, the injection hole and a passage for introducing the assist air from the air chamber to the swirl chamber are provided with two stages structure, namely the injection hole and the passage of the swirl chamber are provided at an upper direction and a lower direction (an axial direction of the check valve body) or an upstream side and at a downstream side of the check valve body. Each of the injection hole and the passage of the swirl chamber at the upper direction and the lower direction have the same structure.
However, in the above stated conventional direct fuel injection device, the check valve is arranged at a discharge side. Further, the swirl force impartment means is provided at a downstream side of a metering portion of the fuel but is not provided at an upstream side of the metering portion of the fuel.
As a result, after the fuel passes through the metering portion of the fuel without the impartment of the swirl force, the fuel is imparted first the swirl force at the downstream side of the metering portion of the fuel, namely the swirl force is imparted first the swirl force in the swirl chamber according to the assist air.
Accordingly, in the conventional direct fuel injection device structure shown in the above stated Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei-5 33,739, there is no idea about the impartment of the swirl force with the fuel using a fuel passage at the upstream of the metering portion of a valve body.
In the conventional technique including the above stated direct fuel injection device, it has promoted the atomization for the fuel and it has devised about spray direction of the fuel and a spreading of the fuel spray. However, as stated in hereinafter, there is not taken fully a consideration with respect to a spray shape of the fuel, a spray diameter of the fuel and a spray structure of the fuel in which both of the ignitability (a spark-in property) and the combustibility (a propagation of fire) are improved compatibly.
To attain the optimum property for the spray of the fuel which is injected from the fuel injector, it is necessary to consider at least following three characteristics.
First of all, the first characteristic is the fuel spray shape and factors for this fuel spray shape are a spreading angle and a reaching distance of the fuel. The second characteristic is a size of the spray fuel particle and it is necessary to lessen a number of a large spray fuel particle size as possible and to make an uniformity of a spray fuel particle size distribution. The third characteristic is a spray structure of the fuel and it is necessary to suit properly a spatial distribution of the fuel particle to be sprayed.
The inventors of the present invention have studied about the various experimentation analyses in which how these fuel spray characteristics relate to the combustion properties in the internal combustion engine.
As the results of the studies, they found out following facts, that is in a case where by making large the spreading angle of the spray of the fuel an inertia force of the fuel spray is made weak and then the reaching distance of the fuel spray is made short, it is effective to obtain the stability of the combustion. Further, on the other hand, by making small the spreading angle of the spray of the fuel the inertia force of the fuel spray is made strong and then the mixture air having a superior ignitability is generated, but it was ascertained clearly that it has a tendency in which the unburned gas components (HC, CO) of the fuel increase, etc.

Fuel injector and internal combustion engine having the same


An image forming apparatus includes an input unit that inputs print conditions; a search unit that searches for image forming apparatuses that can execute the print conditions; a display unit that displays icons of the found image forming apparatuses; a generating unit that generates a print job when an icon corresponding to one of the image forming apparatuses is operated; a sending unit that sends the print job to the one of the image forming apparatuses; and a management unit configured to manage progress situation information of print jobs. When an icon of a second image forming apparatus is operated after a print job is sent to a first image forming apparatus and before the first image forming apparatus completes the print job, print jobs are regenerated to distribute a remaining number of sheets between the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a device cooperation system, and a device cooperation method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are image forming apparatuses in which plural functions such as copying, scanning, printing, and fax transmission are accommodated in a single unit. With advanced CPU performances, larger memory capacities, faster communication technologies, and enhanced digital image technologies, the present image forming apparatus (MFP: multi-function peripheral) can function as more than a digital copier. For example, the MFP can transmit and receive data such as images and documents through a network and fax transmission, so that various usage formats and functions are provided in the user environment.
One of the usage formats of an MFP involves plural MFPs connected to a network that can cooperate with each other, so that processes can be distributed or entrusted among each other (device cooperation). For example, when performing high volume printing, a printing job of one MFP is distributed among the other MFPs connected to the network, so that the printing process can be completed within a short period of time. Furthermore, assuming that an MFP is not equipped with a particular function (for example, hole-punching or stapling), the MFP can search via the network for another MFP having that particular function, and entrust the found MFP to perform a process using the particular function.
However, in the conventional technology of device cooperation, although it is possible to cause all of the devices cooperating with each other to start or stop printing, it is not possible to individually control the print operation of each of the devices. For example, it is not possible to cause only one device to stop printing during a cooperative print operation and to perform another process, or to cause another device to join during the cooperative print operation.
Patent document 1 discloses a technology relevant to a printing system for facilitating operations of a user to make changes in a cooperative print operation. Specifically, icons corresponding to the image forming apparatuses performing cooperative printing are displayed on a screen image of the operation unit, and the icons are dragged and dropped to stop jobs of the image forming apparatuses corresponding to the icons.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-76004
According to patent document 1, icons corresponding to image forming apparatuses are displayed on a panel, and the icons are dragged and dropped, so that jobs of each of the image forming apparatuses corresponding to the icons are separately stopped. However, patent document 1 does not describe anything about separately controlling the operations of starting printing for each of the image forming apparatuses. Thus, there is still room for improvement in terms of controlling each of the devices in device cooperation.

Image forming apparatus, device cooperation system, and device cooperation method


An invention is provided for a CMP apparatus that enhances removal rate uniformity. The CMP apparatus includes a polishing belt disposed below a carrier head that is capable of applying a wafer to the polishing belt. Also included is a platen disposed below the polishing belt. The platen includes a circular shim section disposed on the top surface of the platen. The circular shim section is higher than the top surface of the platen. When using this configuration, increasing pressure to the backside of the polishing belt decreases the edge removal rate of the wafer. Conversely, decreasing pressure to the backside of the polishing belt increases the edge removal rate of the wafer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to chemical mechanical planarization apparatuses, and more particularly to methods and apparatuses for improved edge performance using an air bearing with a raised topography to constrain airflow under a wafer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the fabrication of semiconductor devices, there is a need to perform chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) operations. Typically, integrated circuit devices are in the form of multi-level structures. At the substrate level, transistor devices having diffusion regions are formed. In subsequent levels, interconnect metallization lines are patterned and electrically connected to the transistor devices to define the desired functional device. As is well known, patterned conductive layers are insulated from other conductive layers by dielectric materials, such as silicon dioxide. As more metallization levels and associated dielectric layers are formed, the need to planarize the dielectric material grows. Without planarization, fabrication of further metallization layers becomes substantially more difficult due to the variations in the surface topography. In other applications, metallization line patterns are formed in the dielectric material, and then, metal CMP operations are performed to remove excess material.
A chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system typically is utilized to polish a wafer as described above. A CMP system generally includes system components for handling and polishing the surface of a wafer. Such components can be, for example, a rotary polishing pad, an orbital polishing pad, or a linear belt polishing pad. The pad itself typically is made of a polyurethane material or polyurethane in conjunction with other materials such as, for example, a stainless steel belt. In operation, the belt pad is put in motion and a slurry material is applied and spread over the surface of the belt pad. Once the belt pad having slurry on it is moving at a desired rate, the wafer is lowered onto the surface of the belt pad. In this manner, wafer surface is substantially planarized. The wafer may then be cleaned in a wafer cleaning system.
FIG. 1A shows a linear polishing apparatus 10 typically utilized in a CMP system. The linear polishing apparatus 10 polishes away materials on a surface of a semiconductor wafer 16. The material being removed may be a substrate material of the wafer 16 or one or more layers formed on the wafer 16. Such a layer typically includes one or more of any type of material formed or present during a CMP process such as, for example, dielectric materials, silicon nitride, metals (e.g., aluminum and copper), metal alloys, semiconductor materials, etc. Generally, CMP may be utilized to polish the one or more of the layers on the wafer 16 to planarize a surface layer of the wafer 16.
The linear polishing apparatus 10 utilizes a polishing belt 12, which moves linearly with respect to the surface of the wafer 16. The belt 12 is a continuous belt. A motor typically drives the rollers so that the rotational motion of the rollers 20 causes the polishing belt 12 to be driven in a linear motion 22 with respect to the wafer 16.
A wafer carrier 18 holds the wafer 16, which is held in position by mechanical retaining ring and/or by vacuum. The wafer carrier positions the wafer atop the polishing belt 12 so that the surface of the wafer 16 comes in contact with a polishing surface of the polishing belt 12.
FIG. 1B shows a side view of the linear polishing apparatus 10. As discussed above in reference to FIG. 1A, the wafer carrier 18 holds the wafer 16 in position over the polishing belt 12 while applying pressure to the polishing belt. The polishing belt 12 is a continuous belt typically made up of a polymer material such as, for example, the IC 1000 made by Rodel, Inc. layered upon a supporting layer. The rollers 20 rotate, moving the polishing belt in the linear motion 22 with respect to the wafer 16. In one example, a fluid bearing platen 24 supports a section of the polishing belt under the region where the wafer 16 is applied. The platen 24 can then be used to apply fluid against the under surface of the supporting layer of the belt pad. The applied fluid thus forms a fluid bearing that creates a polishing pressure on the underside of the polishing belt 12 that is applied against the surface of the wafer 16.
The above described linear polishing apparatus 10 functions well for most CMP operations when used with a supported polishing belt 12, such as a stainless steel belt having a polymer material covering. However, more efficient polishing belts 12 are currently available that are not supported. Since supporting material, such as stainless steel, does not form part of an unsupported polishing belt 12, unsupported polishing belts 12 often are easier to ship, higher quality, and less expensive to construct. As a result, unsupported polishing belts 12 generally are desirable to use in linear polishing systems.
Unfortunately, current linear polishing apparatuses 10 often perform poorly when polishing copper layers using an unsupported polishing belt 12. For example, FIG. 1C is an illustration showing an edge of a wafer 16 having a copper layer. The exemplary wafer 16 edge includes a copper layer 50 disposed over a dielectric layer 52. As is well known in the art, a slight raised section 54 occurs on copper layers 50 near the edge of the wafer 16 because of the particular properties of copper. As a result, it is desirable to increase the removal rate of the polishing process near the edge of the wafer during planarization of copper layers 50 to planarize the raised section 54.
Prior art linear polishing apparatuses generally can achieve an increased removal rate along the edge of the wafer 16 using a supported polishing belt, as illustrated in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2A is a graph 200 showing a removal rate using a supported polishing belt as a function of the distance from the center to the edge of a wafer. When using a supported polishing belt, such as a stainless steel supported polishing belt, the removal rate at the edge of the wafer can be increased dramatically, as shown in graph 200. In particular, the removal rate can be increased at a wafer radius of about 90 mm, which is about the radius of the slight raised section, which occurs on copper layers near the edge of the wafer.
However, as discussed previously, more efficient polishing belts are currently available that are not supported. As a result, unsupported polishing belts generally are desirable to use in linear polishing systems. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, conventional linear polishing apparatuses often perform poorly when polishing copper layers using an unsupported polishing belt, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. FIG. 2B is a graph 250 showing removal rate using an unsupported polishing belt as a function of the distance from the center to the edge of a wafer. As shown in graph 250, when using an unsupported belt in a conventional linear polishing apparatus, the removal rate at a wafer radius of about 90 mm is still slow and does not increase significantly until about 95-97 mm, which is beyond the radius of the slight raised section in the copper layer 50. As a result, it is difficult to effectively polish a copper layer 50 using an unsupported belt in a conventional linear polishing apparatus.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an apparatus that allows effective polishing of copper layers using unsupported polishing belts.
Broadly speaking, the present invention fills these needs by providing an air bearing platen with a raised topography to constrain airflow under a wafer. The raised topography of the platen allows enhanced edge removal rate uniformity control when using an unsupported polishing belt. In one embodiment, a CMP apparatus for enhancing removal rate uniformity is disclosed. The CMP apparatus includes a polishing belt disposed below a carrier head that is capable of applying a wafer to the polishing belt. Also included is a platen disposed below the polishing belt. The platen includes a circular shim section disposed on the top surface of the platen. The circular shim section is higher than the top surface of the platen. When using this configuration, increasing pressure to the backside of the polishing belt decreases the edge removal rate of the wafer. Conversely, decreasing pressure to the backside of the polishing belt increases the edge removal rate of the wafer.
A raised topography platen for use in a CMP system is disclosed in an additional embodiment of the present invention. The raised topography platen has a top surface disposed below the polishing belt, and a circular shim section disposed on the top surface of the platen. As above, the circular shim section is higher than the top surface of the platen. In addition, the circular shim section is capable of contacting the backside of the polishing belt during a planarization operation. Optionally, fluid pressure apertures, which provide fluid pressure to the backside of the polishing belt, can be disposed in the top surface of the platen. In one aspect, fluid pressure can be provided only from fluid pressure apertures disposed within the circular shim section. In this case, a closed volume can be formed between the circular shim section, the top surface of the platen, and the backside of the polishing belt during a planarization operation. Also optionally, the circular shim section can be disposed on a circular shim mount, which can be capable of being removed from the platen. In this aspect, the circular shim section can be either incorporated into the circular shim mount, or capable of being removed from the circular shim mount.

Method and apparatus for an air bearing platen with raised topography


A method for managing a mobile communication system in which a base station and a mobile station communicate with each other, the method includes: stopping, among cells of a plurality of base stations, operation of a cell whose amount of use of communication is smaller than a reference value; and operating, among the cells of the plurality of base stations, a cell whose amount of use of communication is larger than the reference value using a high-order multi-input and multi-output configuration in which a plurality of antennas are used for transmission.

In a mobile communication system, a base station and a mobile station communicate with each other. The base station may have large coverage and a large throughput, for example, a large amount of data transferred in unit time. Therefore, for example, the output power of the base station in downlink may be set to be large. Because a control signal is transmitted even when the amount of use of communication, for example, the amount of data transferred is small, the output power may not become small.
The related art is discussed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-197107 and other publications.

Method of managing mobile communication system and monitoring control apparatus


A new cultivar of Dianthus plant named xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 that is characterized by compound mounding habit, strong vigor, yellow-green foliage and crimson flowers that bloom from May to September. In combination these traits set xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 apart from all other existing varieties of Dianthus known to the inventor.

Genus: Dianthus.
Species: xc3x97hybrida.
Denomination: Devon Xera.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of carnation that is grown for use as an ornamental landscape and container plant. The new cultivar is known botanically as Dianthusxc3x97hybrida and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99.
xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 is the product of a breeding program started by the inventor in 1980. The breeding program is not federally funded and is on going, conducted in a cultivated area of Houndspool, Dawlish, Devon, United Kingdom. The primary focus of the breeding program is to produce new cultivars of carnations that exhibit unique growth habit.
xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 was selected in 2000 in Devon, United Kingdom from a large group of open pollinated seedlings. The criteria by which the inventor selected xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 was strong, saturated crimson flower color, long flowering season, large sized flowers, vigorous growth and compact habit.
xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 is a hybrid plant that resulted from the open pollination of the female parent plant Dianthus xe2x80x98Neon Starxe2x80x99 (U.S. Plant Patent Allowed, Filed Feb. 7, 2002, application Ser. No. 10/071,058) and the male parent plant an unidentified cultivar of Dianthus. The closest comparison plant is Dianthus xe2x80x98Fusilierxe2x80x99 (unpatented) which exhibits small dull colored flowers and low vigor. xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 is distinguishable from xe2x80x98Fusilierxe2x80x99 by large, bright crimson flowers and strong vigor. xe2x80x98Neon Starxe2x80x99 exhibits purple flowers, prominently compact habit, short stems and grey-green leaves. xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 is distinguishable from xe2x80x98Neon Starxe2x80x99 by yellow-green foliage, crimson flowers, less compact habit, and longer stems.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 was first accomplished by the inventor in 2000 in a cultivated area of Houndspool, United Kingdom. The method of asexual propagation used was stem cuttings. Since that time the characteristics of the new cultivar have been determined stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations by vegetative propagation.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new Dianthus cultivar xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99. These traits in combination distinguish this cultivar from all other commercial varieties known to the inventor. xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions without however any difference in genotype.
1. Dianthus xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 exhibits a compact mounding growth habit.
2. Dianthus xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 exhibits large crimson flowers.
3. Dianthus xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 exhibits vigorous growth.
4. Dianthus xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 exhibits yellow-green foliage.
5. Dianthus xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 is 15-20 cm. in height and 10-15 cm in width.
6. Dianthus xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 is an evergreen perennial herb.
7. Dianthus xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 blooms from May to September.
8. Dianthus xe2x80x98Devon Xeraxe2x80x99 is hardy to minus 15xc2x0 Centigrade.


An example method performed by a processing system includes receiving a request from a first user to render an extended reality environment, wherein the request includes a definition of a first policy that governs user behavior within the extended reality environment, rendering the extended reality environment by presenting content contributed by at least one user in the extended reality environment, monitoring the extended reality environment to ensure that the rendering results in a compliance of the extended reality environment with the first policy, detecting that a portion of the content contributed by at least one other user of the extended reality environment results in the extended reality environment failing to comply with the first policy, and modifying a presentation of the portion of content in the extended reality environment in response to the detecting, wherein the modifying results in the compliance of the extended reality environment with the first policy.

Extended reality (XR) is an umbrella term for technologies that include real-and-virtual combined environments (e.g., virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, etc.) and human-machine interactions generated by computer technology and wearables. The various forms of XR can be used to make different types of media sessions, including gaming, video calling, film viewing, and the like, more immersive and/or more personalized.
To facilitate understanding, similar reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate elements that are common to the figures.

Policy definition and enforcement for extended reality media sessions


An ultrasonograph is provided wherein the decrease of the density of the stabilized microbubble contrast agent in a desired body target area can be inhibited, radiating ultrasonic energy required for satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio and sufficient frame rate, where an ultrasonic probe transmits an ultrasonic pulse acquired by superimposing higher harmonics including a second harmonic of the fundamental onto the fundamental wave, such as a maximum positive pressure enhanced waveform or a maximum negative pressure enhanced waveform, or an acoustic pressure rise enhanced waveform or an acoustic pressure fall enhanced waveform.

An ultrasonograph that transmits/receives an pulsed ultrasound to/from a living body and senses the inside of the living body is widely used in medical diagnosis. In fields of X-ray and MRI out of image diagnostic modalities, a contrast agent has been used for imaging of a circulatory system.
In the meantime, in ultrasonic diagnosis, a contrast agent has been not widely used, however, in a few years, a contrast agent made of formulation consists of microbubbles several micrometers in size stabilized in several methods begins to be widely used. The principle of contrast enhancing utilizes that a microbubble the diameter of which is approximately 1 micron oscillates with large amplitude resonanting with an ultrasonic wave of several MHz used for ultrasonic diagnosis, and as a result, the contrast enhancement is achieved by the improved reflection of ultrasonic wave.
The property of a contrast agent for X-ray and MRI are not affected by an irradiated electromagnetic wave or magnetic fields for imaging. However, a contrast agent made of stabilized microbubble formulation is collapsed and eliminated by an ultrasonic wave radiated for imaging and the performance of contrast may severely decrease. This prevents imaging with ultrasound intense and frequent enough to obtain acceptable signal-to-noise ratio while obtaining steady contrast enhancing effects with microbubble based contrast agent.
On the contrary, the phenomenon that microbubble is collapsed by ultrasound can be utilized to eliminate contrast agent in the region of interest at desired time to re-initialize the conditions for contrast enhancement. This can be also regarded as an unique advantage of microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agent over contrast agents for X-ray and MRI.
Ultrasonic energy per unit time is widely used as the simplest index for expressing the magnitude of an ultrasonic wave and generally referred to as ultrasonic intensity. Besides, recently, for a physical index showing the possibility of cavitation by an ultrasonic wave in water or in a living body, a mechanical index (MI) defined as an expression MI=(maximum negative pressure)/(square root of mean frequency) has been widely used.
Then, in an ultrasonic diagnostic system based upon prior art, a mode for lowering the magnitude of an ultrasonic wave expressed in above indexes and the frequency of radiation is equipped used when the density of a contrast agent in a living body, for example, in a desired living area is not to be decreased. However, problems that signal-to-noise ratio is not enough, or the temporal changes of the region of interest cannot be monitored arise due to low intensity of ultrasonic wave, or low frequency of radiation, respectively.
In the meantime, when re-initialize the contrast enhancement conditions by elimination of contrast agents in the region of interest in living body, achieved by exposing higher intensity ultrasound when required, ultrasound intensity and mechanical index should be in the safety range. This causes a problem that the re-initialization cannot be achieved within a period short enough to meet the requests of doctors or other medical staffs who operate the diagnostic system in the prior art.
For prior art related to the latter problem, technique for causing cavitation at low ultrasonic intensity in water or in a living body by a device that the second harmonic is superimposed on a fundamental wave and it is radiated and promoting acoustic chemical reaction is described in Journal of Chemical Physics (Vol. 100, p. 18784 to p. 18789), in Journal of Acoustical Society of America (Vol. 101, p. 569 to p. 577), in IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control (Vol. 43, p. 1054 to p. 1062).
However, it is technique for promoting cavitation and to solve the latter problem, a method of relating the promotion of cavitation to the breaking of a stabilized microbubble and methodology are required.


This invention relates to a suction head (10) for a vacuum cleaner and method of operation. The suction head (10) has a bottom surface (26) and one or more floor-engaging parts (36) adjacent to the bottom surface (26), an opening (24) in the bottom surface (26) and a rotatable brush (30) located at the opening (24). The suction head (10) has a front end (16) and a rear end (18), the front end (16) having a recess (22) in communication with the opening (24). A movable strip (42) is located in the recess (22), the movable strip (42) being movable between a first position and a second position, the bottom edge of the movable strip 4(2) being closer to the plane of the floor-engaging parts (36) in its first position than in its second position. At least one first element (54) is connected to the movable strip (42) and is able to project to the plane of the floor-engaging parts (36). At least one second element (56) is also connected to the movable strip (42), the second element(s) (56) being configured differently to the first element(s) (54), the second element(s) (56) being able to project to the plane of the floor-engaging parts (36) and being configured to move the movable strip (42) to a third position in use. The bottom edge of the movable strip (42) is closer to the plane of the floor-engaging parts (36) in its second position than in its third position. According to the method of operation, the movable strip (42) moves to its first position during backwards movement of the suction head (10) and to its third position during forwards movement of the suction head (10), the movable strip (42) moving to its third position in two stages.

Vacuum cleaners have a motor which typically drives an impeller to create a flow of air. The suction head of the vacuum cleaner has an opening in its bottom wall through which air can enter, the air carrying dirt and debris into the suction head. It is arranged that the air transports the dirt and debris by way of one or more airflow ducts within the suction head. The dirt and debris is transported through the duct(s) to a dirt-collection chamber. The air then passes through one or more filters before leaving the vacuum cleaner, the filters being arranged to trap the dirt and debris within the dirt-collection chamber for subsequent disposal.
The dirt-collection chamber can contain or comprise a disposable bag, the wall of the bag also acting as a filter. Alternatively, the dirt-collection chamber is a receptacle which can be removed from the vacuum cleaner, emptied, and re-installed into the vacuum cleaner for re-use.
Many vacuum cleaners have a rotatable brush located adjacent to the opening of the suction head. The brush is rotated and engages the surface which is being cleaned. The brush helps to dislodge dirt and debris from the surface which is then entrained in the air flow and transported to the dirt-collection chamber.
Many vacuum cleaners are mains powered, and the manufacturers of mains powered vacuum cleaners will often seek to maximise the electrical and suction power of their vacuum cleaners in an attempt to increase their marketability. Typically, the opening of the suction head is surrounded by a wall. The air is forced to pass underneath the wall and through the underlying carpet or the like whereby to dislodge dirt and debris from between the fibres of the carpet. As impellers are typically 10 to 40% efficient in use this is a relatively inefficient method of cleaning. In order to achieve higher impeller efficiencies, manufacturers have tended to develop faster spinning impellers creating higher suction. However, as it is air flow rather than suction which dislodges dirt and debris, such vacuum cleaners generally do not achieve improved dirt and debris collection efficiency. Manufacturers have therefore tended to quote electrical and suction power as an indicator of the effectiveness of their appliances rather than cleaning efficiency.
It is also known to provide battery-powered vacuum cleaners. Battery-powered vacuum cleaners employing this traditional approach cannot provide the suction power of a mains-powered vacuum cleaner without prejudicing the operating cycle of the vacuum cleaner, i.e. without unacceptably shortening the period between battery recharging, and therefore do not provide comparable cleaning performance.
Most domestic mains-powered vacuum cleaners fall into two broad classes. The first class is often referred to as cylinder vacuum cleaners. In cylinder vacuum cleaners the suction head is connected to an operating handle which in turn is connected to a flexible hose through which the dirt and debris pass on their way to the dirt-collection chamber. The dirt-collection chamber is located within a body which is separate from the suction head and which also contains the motor, the body having wheels or slides by which it may be pulled across the floor during the cleaning operation.
The second class is often referred to as upright vacuum cleaners. In upright vacuum cleaners the motor and dirt-collection chamber are carried by, or in some cases are integral with, the operating handle, so that the body containing the motor and the dirt-collection chamber typically lie above the suction head during the cleaning operation.
Battery-powered vacuum cleaners may adopt a somewhat different approach with the battery, motor, impeller and dirt-collection chamber all located in the suction head. The operating handle connected to the suction head is therefore used solely for maneuvering the suction head across the floor being cleaned.
Vacuum cleaner performance can vary considerably according to the surface being cleaned and the type of debris encountered. To collect larger debris the leading edge of the suction head should allow the debris to pass underneath and into the region of the opening. In contrast, in order to remove fine dirt and dust from floor crevices it is desirable to have all edges of the suction head seal to the surface being cleaned so that the airflow enters by way of the crevices, removing dust and debris as it flow therethrough.
Because battery-powered vacuum cleaners are more limited than mains-powered vacuum cleaners in the power of the motor they can employ, and are also limited in the capacity of the batteries they can utilise, they may employ other means to improve cleaning efficiency. A flexible cleaning strip is disclosed in GB patent 2 389 306 in relation to a battery-powered sweeper, although the cleaning strip could be adapted to a vacuum cleaner. The cleaning strip is located behind the opening in the suction head and can adopt a lowered position during forwards movement of the suction head, and a raised position during backwards movement of the suction head. During forwards movement the cleaning strip lies against the surface being cleaned and prevents fine dust passing underneath the trailing edge and being left behind. During backwards movement the cleaning strip is lifted away from the surface allowing fine dust and dirt to pass under the strip and into the region of the opening.
The suction head of the cylinder vacuum cleaner of U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,534 employs a flexible strip adjacent to the front of the suction head, the strip being deformed by the airflow to vary the gap between the front end of the suction head and the surface being cleaned.
The suction head of WO 97/15224 has two cleaning strips, one in front and one behind the opening in the suction head. A rocker mechanism is provided so that when the suction head is moving forwards the front cleaning strip is raised, whereas when the suction head is moving backwards the rear cleaning strip is raised. In each case a raised cleaning strip allows dirt and debris to pass under the cleaning strip into the region of the opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,534 also shows a bumper in the form of a resilient strip which surrounds the suction head and reduces the likelihood of impact damage to the suction head and to other articles. In common with many vacuum cleaner suction heads, at the front end of the suction head the bumper lies above a recess which communicates with the suction opening. The recess allows the suction head to pass over relatively large pieces of dirt and debris so that those pieces pass into the region of the opening where they can be lifted (by the rotating brush and/or the airflow) into the suction head.

Suction head for a vacuum cleaner and method of operation


As system and method are provided for communicating weather conditions to remote locations, such as inside of residential homes, offices, or businesses. In accordance with one embodiment, a modified smoke detector is provided having an integrated RF receiver for receiving message packets containing information that may be conveyed through its speaker, buzzer, or other sound-emanating device. In accordance with another embodiment, a system is provided. The system which may include a mechanism for detecting a weather condition, a wireless transmitter in communication with the mechanism for detecting a weather condition, wherein the wireless transmitter configured to receive a signal from the means for detecting a weather condition and transmit a corresponding signal via electromagnetic waves. The system may also include a receiver remotely located from the wireless transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the electromagnetic signal transmitted from the smoke detector. Finally, the system may include a sound-emanating device, and a sound control mechanism for controlling the sound-emanating device, wherein the sound control mechanism is responsive to the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver. In yet another embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes steps of: (1) determining that a weather condition (e.g., severe weather condition) exists, (2) transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal containing information about the weather condition, (3) receiving the RF signal with a RF receiver disposed in a smoke detector (or other device), and (4) sounding a buzzer (or other sound emanating device) in response to receiving the RF signal.

The present invention generally relates to weather alert systems, and more particularly to a system and method for signaling a weather alert condition to a residential environment.
Various systems exist for alerting people of severe or threatening weather conditions. One such system utilizes geographically-disperse outdoor sirens. When threatening weather conditions exist (or if the conditions are right for threatening weather), a signal is sent to these outdoor sirens in an appropriate geographic region, to sound these sirens. Systems of this type provide an effective alert to people who are in the general vicinity of one of the sirens. However, it has been observed that there are just not enough of these sirens to provide effective coverage. Indeed, depending upon the weather conditions at the time, the sound of these sirens may not travel very far at all. In addition, if nearby residents have closed the doors and windows of their houses, then the sound of the sirens (even if nearby) may not be heard inside. This shortcoming could be at least partially addressed by providing more of these sirens. However, such a measure would be expensive.
Other severe weather-alert prior art systems provide weather alerts by broadcasting signals over television and radio station channels. In these systems, regular radio and television programming may be interrupted in order to relay a weather condition alert. These types of systems, however, are effective only for those having their radios and/or televisions on at the time the weather alert is broadcast. Typically, in the late-night hours (when people are sleeping and their radios and televisions are turned off), these types of systems are not very effective at all.
Accordingly, there is a need and desire to provide an improved solution for alerting severe weather conditions to people in homes, businesses, and other residential environments.
Certain objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the advantages and novel features, the present invention is generally directed to a system and method for providing warning of severe or threatening weather that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, this warning is provided through the buzzer or alarm unit of a conventional (but modified) smoke detector. Indeed, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a modified smoke detector is provided having an integrated RF receiver for receiving message packets containing information that may be conveyed through its speaker, buzzer, or other sound-emanating device.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a system is provided for signaling weather conditions to remote locations, including residential houses. The system may include a mechanism for detecting a weather condition, a wireless transmitter in communication with the mechanism for detecting a weather condition, wherein the wireless transmitter configured to receive a signal from the means for detecting a weather condition and transmit a corresponding signal via electromagnetic waves. The system may also include a receiver remotely located from the wireless transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the electromagnetic signal transmitted from the smoke detector. Finally, the system may include a sound emanating device, and a sound control mechanism for controlling the sound emanating device, wherein the sound control mechanism is responsive to the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver.
In accordance with another aspect or embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for signaling a weather condition to a remote location, including a residential home. The method includes the steps of: (1) determining that a weather condition (e.g., severe weather condition) exists, (2) transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal containing information about the weather condition, (3) receiving the RF signal with a RF receiver disposed in a smoke detector (or other device), and (4) sounding a buzzer (or other sound emanating device) in response to receiving the RF signal.
In accordance with yet another aspect or embodiment of the invention, a novel smoke detector is provided comprising: a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive an RF signal that is encoded to include information about a weather condition, a sound emanating device, and a sound control mechanism for controlling the output of the sound emanating device in response to the received RF signal.

System and method for signaling a weather alert condition to a residential environment


A method and apparatus for presenting navigational information for a mobile device. The mobile device is configured to determine its location, for example via GPS. One or more input images and navigational information are obtained. The input images may be obtained, for example, via a camera. One or more output images are generated by processing the input images to integrate the obtained navigational information. Processing of the input images includes recognizing one or more objects in the input images. The recognized objects may be indicative of navigational instructions, for example, a navigation route.

Mobile devices such as hand-held GPS units and in-vehicle GPS units have been developed for providing navigation guidance. Wireless communication-enabled mobile devices such as GPS-enabled cellular telephones, smart phones, handheld PDAs and the like have also been equipped with navigation functionality for providing navigation guidance. These devices are configured to determine the location of the mobile device, to allow a user to specify a destination and to provide navigational information for traversing a route from the current location to the specified destination.
Navigational information, such as turn-by-turn route guidance instructions, are typically presented to the user either visually on a display, audibly via a speaker, or both. Typically, the navigational information is presented as directional arrows on maps showing the user's current location, text displayed on the mobile device screen and as audio alerts such as "turn left now". The user is required to correlate the information provided with the observed environment, potentially resulting in delays and errors.
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

Method, device and system for presenting navigational information


A transmission control method includes generating, by a first device, transmission control information, and sending the transmission control information to the second device. The transmission control information includes resource indication information, compression indication, and first indication. The resource indication information indicates a transmission resource allocated by the first device to a second device. The transmission resource includes at least two symbols. The compression indication indicates a numerology of a specific symbol in the transmission resource. The specific symbol includes at least an end symbol or a second symbol. The end symbol is the last symbol in the transmission resource. The second symbol is a symbol in the transmission resource and is used for transmitting only a demodulation reference signal or a long training field. The second symbol includes at least one symbol. The first indication indicates a numerology of a symbol in the transmission resource other than the specific symbol.

In some approaches, an allocated physical layer transmission resource is required to be exactly padded fully with data transmitted from a media access control (MAC) layer to a physical layer. In some cellular communications systems, a resource block pair (RB pair) is used as a smallest transmission unit at a physical layer, and all RB pairs need to be fully padded with data transmitted from a MAC layer to a physical layer. Because a size of data that needs to be transmitted at an upper layer is indefinite, when an allocated transmission resource cannot be fully padded with to-be-transmitted data, a redundancy part needs to be added at an end of the to-be-transmitted data at the MAC layer.
In a fifth-generation (5-Generation, 5G) mobile communications new radio (new radio, NR) system based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), on the one hand, a resource mini-slot (mini-slot) is used as a basic unit for resource scheduling, and a quantity of symbols that need to be padded is far greater than a quantity of symbols that need to be padded in the conventional communications system. This causes a more severe resource waste brought by padding at a MAC layer. On the other hand, ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC) data transmission in NR needs to be completed in a time as short as possible. For a same data volume, shorter transmission duration results in higher frequency domain bandwidth that is required. Consequently, each OFDM symbol corresponds to more resource elements (REs). To ensure that all physical layer OFDM symbols are fully padded with MAC data, more redundant data needs to be used for padding.
Therefore, a transmission control method is urgently needed to resolve a problem that much redundant data is used for padding at a MAC layer during data transmission in an OFDM system including a 5G NR system.

Transmission control method and apparatus


This invention is to propose a technique of producing a printed wiring board having an excellent adhesion property between an electroless plated film and an electrolytic plated film constituting a conductor circuit through a semi-additive process without causing the peeling of a plating resist and is a printed wiring board comprising conductor circuits formed on a roughened surface of an insulating layer, in which the conductor circuit is constituted with an electroless plated film at the side of the insulating layer and an electrolytic plated film at the opposite side and the electroless plated film located at the side of the insulating layer is formed so as to follow to the roughened surface of the insulating layer. This printed wiring board is produced by a semi-additive method wherein the electroless plated film is formed on the roughened surface of the insulating layer so as to follow to the roughened surface of the insulating layer.

This invention relates to a multilayer printed wiring board and a method of producing the same, and more particularly it proposes a technique wherein a multilayer printed wiring board having an excellent adhesion property between electroless plated film and electrolytic plated film constituting a conductor circuit is produced by a semi-additive process without causing the peeling of a plating resist.
The semi-additive process is a method wherein a surface of an insulating layer is first subjected to am electroless plating, and a plating resist is formed, and an electrolytic plating is conducted by flowing current to the electroless plated film corresponding to a portion not forming the plating resist, and the electroless plated film beneath the plating resist is dissolved and removed by an etching treatment to from a conductor circuit consisting of the electroless plated film and the electrolytic plated film.
In the production method of the printed wiring board by the semi-additive process, however, when oxide film or fats and oils adheres onto the surface of the electroless plated film, if the electrolytic plated film is formed on the surface of the electroless plated film, the peeling or the like is apt to be caused at the boundary face therebetween. Particularly, the peeling is considerably caused through heat cycle, thermal shock and the like.
In the conventional semi-additive process, the surface of the electroless plated film is smooth, so that when the plating resist is formed on the surface of the electroless plated film, it is easily peeled off and there is a problem of causing short-circuit between conductor patterns.
For this end, such a problem can be solved by roughening the surface of the insulating layer and following the electroless plated film to the roughened surface.
However, if it is intended to follow the electroless plated film to the roughened surface of the insulating layer, it is required to hardly form the plated film in recess portions of the roughened surface. Because, when the plated film is simply precipitated in these recess portions, the roughened surface becomes flat.
As such an electroless plating, there is an electroless copper plating using EDTA. For example, there is Build Copper (trade name, made by Okuno Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) as disclosed in JP-A-11-68308.
When the multilayer printed wiring board is produced by using such a plating, if the diameter of theviahole is not more than 90 xcexcm, the wiring breakage is observed in the viahole portion.
The invention is to solve the aforementioned problems inherent to the semi-additive process. A main object of the invention is to provide a multilayer printed wiring board capable of controlling the peeling produced at the boundary face between the electroless plated film and the electrolytic plated film constituting the conductor circuit by the semi-additive process through heat cycle or thermal shock to completely prevent the wiring breakage in the viahole portion.
Another object of the invention is to propose a technique capable of surely preventing the peeling of the plating resist at the production step of the printed wiring board by the semi-additive process.
The inventors have made various studies in order to achieve the above objects and discovered that the occurrence of such a wiring breakage is surprisingly caused due to the following mechanism.
When the electroless plated film is precipitated so as to follow to the roughened surface of the insulating layer, since such an electroless plated film hardly precipitates in the recess portions of the roughened surface, it is natural that the precipitation of the plated film hardly occurs in the inside of the viahole.
Particularly, there has been discovered a quite surprising fact that this tendency becomes conspicuous when the average diameter of the viahole is not more than 90 xcexcm and the thickness of the electroless plated film formed on of the surface portion of the interlaminar resin insulating layer is less than 50% of the thickness of the electroless plated film at the bottom of the viahole.
At such a state, the electrolytic plated film is not precipitated or the viahole is peeled off to lower the connection reliability of the viahole portion.
Now, the inventors have further studied and found that the precipitation rate of the electroless plated film is adjusted to not more than 2 xcexcm/hour, whereby the electroless plated film can be followed to the roughened surface of the insulating layer and at the same time the thickness of the electroless plated film at the bottom of theviahole can be adjusted to 50xcx9c100% of that of the electroless plated film formed on the interlaminar resin insulating layer surface and as a result, the invention has been accomplished.
The method of adjusting the precipitation rate of the electroless plated film to not more than 2 xcexcm/hour is not particularly restricted. For example, there are a method of adjusting the temperature of the plating solution to not higher than 50xc2x0 C., a method of using a tartrate as a complex agent for the plating, and the like. The invention will be described in detail below.
The invention lies in a multilayer printed wiring board comprising a substrate provided with inner conductor circuits, an interlaminar resin insulating layer formed thereon and outer conductor circuits and viaholes formed in the interlaminar resin insulating layer, characterized in that a roughened surface is formed on the surface of the interlaminar resin insulating layer, the outer conductor circuit is comprised of an electroless plated film formed following to the roughened surface and an electrolytic plated film formed on the electroless plated film and the viahole has an average diameter of not more than 90 xcexcm, and a thickness of the electroless plated film at the bottom of theviahole is 50xcx9c100% of a thickness of the electroless plated film at the surface of the interlaminar resin insulating layer.
Further, the invention lies in a method of producing a multilayer printed wiring board, which comprises forming an interlaminar resin insulating layer on a substrate provided with inner conductor circuits, forming an opening having an average diameter of not more than 90 xcexcm in the interlaminar resin insulating layer, roughening the surface of the interlaminar resin insulating layer, subjecting to an electroless plating to form an electroless plated film so as to follow to the roughened surface on the surface of the interlaminar resin insulating layer, and at the same time subjecting the inside of the opening to an electroless plating to adjust a thickness of the electroless plated film at the bottom of aviahole to 50xcx9c100% of a thickness of the electroless plated film on the surface of the interlaminar resin insulating layer, forming a plating resist, subjecting portions not forming the plating resist to an electrolytic plating, removing the plating resist, and removing the electroless plated film beneath the plating resist through etching to form an outer conductor circuit and viaholes comprised of the electroless plated film and the electrolytic plated film.

Multilayer printed-circuit board and method of manufacture


A method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a thermionic reactor over a wide range of operating power, including a thermionic reactor having a plurality of integral cesium reservoirs, a honeycomb material disposed about the reactor which has a plurality of separated cavities, a solid sheath disposed about the honeycomb material and having an opening therein communicating with the honeycomb material and cavities thereof, and a shell disposed about the sheath for creating a coolant annulus therewith so that the coolant in the annulus may fill the cavities and permit nucleate boiling during the operation of the reactor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device to control the temperature of a thermionic reactor over a wide range of operating temperatures. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and device for controlling nucleate boiling heat transfer between a cesium reservoir of a thermionic reactor and forced coolant flow within a thermionic reactor.
2. Description of the Related Art
The efficient operation of thermionic reactors has been an area of investigation. A conventional thermionic reactor converts the thermal energy of admitted electrons in a cesium plasma directly into electrical energy. The efficient operation of thermionic reactors with integral cesium reservoirs is partly dependent upon establishing and maintaining the reservoir temperature at an optimum value. However, it is difficult to maintain the optimum temperature over a wide range of thermal power levels when the coolant temperature is significantly lower than the reservoir temperature.
In the typical thermionic reactor, a significant coolant flow rate is required to limit the coolant temperature increase. Variations in bulk coolant temperature are created as the coolant picks up waste heat from successive convertors in the course of flowing from the inlet to the outlet of the reactor. This temperature increase may cause the convertors to operate at less than optimum temperatures, thus decreasing the overall efficiency of the plant.
To counter this problem, heat pipes have been used which accomplish heat transfer by phase change of the liquid. In a heat pipe, the heat input end of the heat pipe serves as an evaporator, with the heat causing the liquid to change to vapor. The vapor travels through a large open portion of the heat pipe, the center of which usually is devoid of any structure. The opposite end of the heat pipe is a condenser, which is cooled to condense the vapor and remove heat. The condensate is pumped back to the evaporator end via capillary induced flow in a porous structure. Heat pipes are characterized by a capillary induced flow feature.
Another concept is through the use of a material called K-MAX. K-MAX is described in "K-MAX: A Material with Exceptional Heat Transfer Properties", written by N. S. Rasor and J. L. Desplat in the Proceedings of the 24.sup.th Intersociety of Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, held in Washington, D.C., in August, 1989, the disclosure which is hereby incorporated by reference. K-MAX is similar to a heat pipe, in that it utilizes a capillary induced flow to return a condensate to a heated surface. It consists of a solid bi-porous material that employs two phase flow for heat transfer. The material has large interconnected pores, forming vapor transport channels, imbedded in a continuous liquid-soaked porous matrix, with much smaller interconnected pores forming liquid transport channels. The material may be formed into any shape, and can bear mechanical loads. In operation, heat is absorbed on the hot side of K-MAX by vaporization of liquid from small pores. The vapor flows through the large pores, condenses on the cold side, and the liquid returns to the hot side by wicking through the small pores.
The disadvantages of these two techniques is a required use of capillary induced flow, which is often too complex to implement. Thus, there is a need in the art for a heat transfer device which does not require capillary induced flow capability. Further, there is a need in the art for more efficiently maintaining the temperature of a thermionic convertor, regardless of the local bulk coolant temperature.

Thermionic converter temperature controller

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


Disclosed is a stereoscopic image display device which detects movement of moving viewers from among multiple viewers and enables the multiple viewers to observe a stereoscopic image even if the moving viewers change positions, the stereoscopic image display device includes a display panel corresponding to one switchable region to emit two-dimensional images, the number of which is more than the number of N views (N being a natural number over 3), a switchable panel located on the display panel to convert the two-dimensional images into three-dimensional images and to emit the three-dimensional images when voltage is applied thereto, a detection unit to detect movement of moving viewers from among multiple views and final positions of the moving viewers, and a control unit to output a control signal to shift the views of the two-dimensional images according to the movement and the final positions of the moving viewers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display device, and more particularly, to a stereoscopic image display device which enables multiple viewers to observe a stereoscopic image without use of glasses, and particularly to observe the stereoscopic image through detection of movement of the viewers even when the viewers change positions.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
These days, it is expected that services to achieve high speed data transmission to be established based on high speed data communication networks are developed from a simply listening and speaking service, such as a current phone, toward a watching and listening service, i.e., a multimedia service through a digital terminal processing character, voice, and image data at high speed, and is expected to be eventually developed toward a hyperspace-type real three-dimensional data communication service, i.e., a realistically and three-dimensionally watching, feeling, and enjoying service beyond time and space.
In general, three-dimensional stereoscopic imagery is achieved based upon the principle of stereo vision through two eyes. Since there is an interval of approximately 65 mm, between two eyes, the left eye and the right eye perceive slightly different images due to the positional difference between the two eyes. Such an image difference due to the positional difference therebetween is referred to as binocular disparity.
A three-dimensional stereoscopic image display device enables the left eye to observe only an image corresponding to the left eye and the right eye to observe only an image corresponding to the right eye using the binocular disparity, thus enabling a viewer to feel three-dimensional effect. That is, the left/right eyes respectively observe different two-dimensional images, and when the two images are transferred to a brain through retinas, the brain correctly combines the two images and reproduces depth perception and realism of an original three-dimensional image. Such ability is usually referred to as stereography (stereoscopy), and a display device to which stereography is applied is referred to as a stereoscopic image display device.
Stereoscopic image display devices are divided into a glasses type and an autostereoscopic type according to whether or not glasses are required. Further, autostereoscopic type display devices are divided into a lenticular type and a switchable panel type according to shapes of structures implementing three-dimensional images.
A lenticular type stereoscopic image display device includes a semi-cylindrical lenticular sheet attached to a display panel and thus implements a stereoscopic image. A switchable panel type stereoscopic image display device includes a switchable panel provided on a display panel emitting two-dimensional images to convert the two-dimensional images into a three-dimensional image and thus implements a stereoscopic image. Switchable panel type stereoscopic image display devices are divided into a switchable barrier type and a switchable liquid crystal lens type.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a general switchable barrier type stereoscopic image display device.
As shown in FIG. 1, a barrier 10 and a slit 15 are alternately arranged in front of a display panel 5 having right eye image information R and left eye image information L corresponding to a right eye RE and a left eye LE of a viewer, and thus the right eye image information R is input to the right eye RE of the viewer and the left eye image information L is input to the left eye LE of the viewer through the slit 15. As described above, a region in which the right eye image information R is input to the right eye RE of the viewer and the left eye image information L is input to the left eye LE of the viewer is referred to as an ortho-stereoscopic region.
In case of the above general switchable barrier type stereoscopic image display device having two views (disparity), even if a viewer moves slightly, the viewer moves to an inverse-stereoscopic region in which the left eye image information L is input to the right eye RE of the viewer and the right eye image information R is input to the left eye LE of the viewer, and thus cannot observe the stereoscopic image.


An arrangement for fluorescence microscopic examination of specimens includes: a fluorescence microscope; an illumination device that includes: a housing including an interface configured to optically couple the housing and the fluorescence microscope; a plurality of light-emitting diodes disposed in the housing; a respective collector disposed downstream of each of the light emitting diodes and configured to generate a directed light flux; and at least one dichroic splitter disposed in the housing, the at least one splitter and the light-emitting diodes being spatially disposed with respect to one another so that the directed light fluxes are combinable via the at least one splitter into a common illumination beam path directed onto the interface; and a logical control device common to the fluorescence microscope and the illumination device.

Fluorescence microscopy plays a major role as a diagnostic tool in many natural-science disciplines. The fundamental principle of fluorescence microscopy is to irradiate a sample with short-wave excitation radiation whereupon the sample itself, or a fluorescing dye with which the sample is stained, emits longer-wave fluorescent light (primary or secondary fluorescence) upon excitation with the short-wave excitation radiation. For fluorescence microscopy, secondary fluorescence is generally used to visualize certain specimen structures of stained preparations. Using fluorescence microscopy it is possible, for example, to identify pathogens, localize genes or determine genetic changes in DNA that is being examined, or visualize protein formation in cells.
A particular examination method using specific fluorescing dyes (so-called fluorochromes) is available depending on the application. Excitation using UV light for the "DAPI" dye, blue light for the "FITC" dye, or green light for the "Texas Red" or "rhodamine" dyes is, for example typical. Typical excitation frequencies are in the ultraviolet and visible spectral region.
Short-arc lamps filled with mercury or xenon, or halogen lamps, are normally used as light sources in the illumination systems for fluorescence microscopes. The light sources are most frequently located in a separate lamp housing that is adapted to the microscope. The aforementioned light sources possess a substantially continuous spectrum (UV to IR) that is interspersed with characteristic lines of high intensity. The spectral region appropriate for excitation of a fluorochrome can be selected from the spectral region of the light source by means of various (exchangeable) dielectric filters, called excitation filters. The bandwidth of the excitation filters is typically approximately 10 to 30 nm.
It is typical to work with different fluorescence filter systems (so-called filter blocks or filter cubes) so that different stains in a preparation can be visualized. These fluorescence filter systems comprise a mutually coordinated combination of an excitation filter, a dichroic splitter, and a blocking filter. The dichroic splitter reflects the excitation radiation to the preparation, but is transparent to the fluorescent light emitted from the preparation. The blocking filter shields the preparation from scattered excitation light that enters the objective. It possesses very high transparency, however, for the specific fluorescent radiation. The various fluorescence filters are usually located on a changing device that is embodied, for example, as a slider or carousel. Operation occurs manually and/or in motorized fashion.
Disadvantages of the aforesaid lamps of hitherto usual fluorescent illumination systems are low efficiency (since of the approximately 100 W of electrical power, only a few milliwatts reach the sample in the selected spectral region) and the troublesome heat evolution resulting therefrom. Lastly, the service life of the lamps is limited to a few hundred hours.
Very recently, light-emitting diodes or LEDs have been proposed and offered on the market as light sources for fluorescence microscopes.
DE 20 2004 010 121 U1, for example, describes a light source for an incident-light fluorescence microscope that comprises a high-power LED that emits blue light (460 to 480 nm). An arrangement having a single LED does not, however, meet the usual requirements of a routine or research laboratory.
An arrangement for fluorescent illumination is described in the Japanese application having the publication number JP 2005-321453; here the light of a light-emitting diode is conveyed via a collector lens into a fluorescence filter system and from there onto a specimen. The fluorescent light emitted from the specimen is directed via a blocking filter onto a CCD detector and/or an eyepiece. Also, this arrangement with a single LED cannot meet the requirements imposed here. The corresponding EP 1 593 996 A2 describes an expansion of this system to two light-emitting diodes, whose light fluxes are combined via a dichroic splitter and conveyed to a fluorescence filter system.
A fluorescence microscope in which lasers are used as light sources is described in the Japanese application having the publication number JP 07-333516. Here the light of two lasers is directed via dichroic splitters into a common illumination beam path. The fluorescent light emitted from the specimen is likewise conveyed through the same dichroic splitter to corresponding photodetectors. With this device, the specimen can be illuminated simultaneously with two excitation wavelengths, and the two resulting fluorescence wavelengths can be detected separately. A sequential excitation with different wavelengths is not possible when the lasers are operated continuously.
DE 103 14 125 B4 describes an LED light source arrangement for specimen illumination for fluorescence-microscopy applications, in which arrangement multiple diodes are arranged on a turntable; by rotation of the turntable about an axis at the center of the turntable, a specific diode can be selected and positioned in front of a light exit opening. Located at the light exit opening is a collimator optical system that couples the emitted light of the diode into the illumination beam path of the fluorescence microscope. Each light-emitting diode is joined to the turntable via a Peltier element to dissipate heat, and a retainer.
A disadvantage of this known LED light source arrangement is that changing to a different wavelength is associated with a mechanical movement of the turntable carrying the diodes. A change of wavelengths therefore takes a relatively long time and is associated with vibration and noise because of the mechanical movement. Because the diodes require good cooling, Peltier elements and/or correspondingly large masses are necessary in the receiving apparatus. In addition, electrical leads to the LEDs and to the Peltier elements on the turntable are problematic (wiper contacts or limited rotation range).
Lastly, the company COOLLED offers a light source in which multiple diodes are coupled in parallel in a liquid light guide. The three colors can be adjusted independently as to their intensity. Disadvantages of this illumination system are principally its size and weight. The liquid light guide furthermore generates light losses and light fluctuations, and requires an additional adapter to permit connection to usual lamp interfaces of the microscopes.
From DE 196 24 087 A1 furthermore an illumination apparatus for generating light having a high beam power level and large bandwidth is described. For this purpose, multiple single-point light sources, such as light-emitting diodes, that each emit light in a preferred direction, are spatially arranged with respect to one another by means of a holding device in such a way that the single-point light sources emit their light in at least two different directions; an optical device in the form of a reflector is provided, which device modifies the characteristics of the light emitted from the single-point light sources in such a way that it directs the radiated light in a predetermined direction. If the light sources have different wavelengths, a homogeneous color mixture of the light having different wavelengths can be achieved by corresponding configuration of the reflector as a diffuser. The conformation of the illumination apparatus proposed therein can resemble that of a usual halogen radiator. In an embodiment, the light emitted from multiple light-emitting diodes strikes a reflector, by which it is directed homogeneously onto the exit opening of the reflector and additionally color-mixed and collimated, so that the viewer can no longer detect the fact that the light derives originally from individual light-emitting diodes. The specific problems and requirements of an illumination device for fluorescence-microscopy examinations are not discussed in this document.
The long service life (several thousand hours) of LEDs, their rapid operability with no need for warm-up time, and the stable radiation power output, sufficient for fluorescence excitation, in a specific wavelength region having full widths at half maximum of approximately 20 to 50 nm, are advantages that make LED-based illumination systems for fluorescence microscopes superior to conventional systems.

Fluorescence microscope having an illumination device


Here invented are efficient road vehicles having special aerodynamic shapes, with stabilizing provisions that enable aerodynamic efficiency. It is a vehicle that is configured to include a carriage part that encloses a driver and passenger riding in tandem. This car width is for persons seated in single file, enabling a narrow width that makes a body shaped like an airship practical, where that shape is characterized by a very low drag coefficient in free flow conditions. This body is elevated on struts above a wheel system to enable such free flow aerodynamic conditions, thus, the drag coefficient of the airship is made applicable to this road vehicle. The wheel system includes wheels on each side of the vehicle that are arranged in horizontal columns, to which the struts are attached. The horizontal columns act as individual aerodynamic entities that function independently of the carriage aerodynamic operation. Because this car has both low frontal area and low drag coefficient it will require minimal energy for high speed operation.

1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to motor vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aerodynamic efficiency is a high priority in design of air vehicles. In design of automobiles it ranks below a list of requirement that conflict with efficiency, some of which are rarely questioned. Such are requirements for two front seats, ease of implementation, and fashion conformity. When energy is inexpensive and inexhaustible, such requirements are not a problem. Technological innovations, for example electric drive systems capable of regenerative braking, are interesting curiosities. Adequate motivation for significant innovation is lacking and key decision makers need have no understanding of innovative possibilities. Thus, when the energy equation is significantly changed, the world wide motor vehicle industry is ill equipped to adapt effectively. In such a world, minor improvements pass for important progress. Useful principles, if not completely forgotten, are poorly understood.
A basic concept in aerodynamics is that of drag coefficient. At any given speed the actual drag force is proportional to the product of projected frontal area and the drag coefficient value. While the drag coefficient value is a function of Reynolds number, for vehicle sizes and speeds of interest that drag coefficient value is reasonably constant. An effort to reduce the width of cars by eliminating the right front seat, as in Bullis, application Ser. No. 11/064,301, Feb. 23, 2005 accomplished a significant reduction in projected frontal area. Further aerodynamic drag force reduction depends on reduction of drag coefficient.
The ideal airship shape is available from the history of aerodynamic research. Prior to developing the modern airplane wing shape, Prandtl and his students at his Gottingen University laboratory in Germany, with cooperating American researchers, studied the aerodynamics of airships. Such vehicles were of great interest in 1906, their use continuing through WWII. A typical airship shape was developed that was roughly a cylinder with tapered ends, this being a body of revolution about an axis aligned with the flight direction. Prandtl showed that drag force due to accelerative effects could be almost eliminated by a refined taper function. Only a small viscous drag then remains. Wind tunnel test results are available that can be scaled to dimensions appropriate for the automobile. In spite of this background, very little of this technology has been used in the design of road vehicle.
It appears that a large impediment to progress in this regard is the nearly universal requirement for seating arrangements that include, at least, two front seats. Therefore, to enclose two adults seated in such front seats in a body of revolution requires that such a body be about six feet in diameter. Thus, the attempt in the 1930 era to utilize the airship resulted in a car known as the Dymaxion. This example is said to have achieved improved gas mileage for its day, but nothing like what might be expected for a body of revolution somewhat similar to the ideal airship known to Prandtl. A significant difference was that it was not significantly elevated above the ground. Given that stability of this vehicle was a concern, that limitation seems inescapable.
The kind of thinking ingrained in the process of automobile design is illustrated in a Mercedes Benz press release that discusses development of an automobile based on a nearly ideal aerodynamic body form. They utilized the shape of an unusual looking fish known as the box-fish known for low hydrodynamic drag. The initial test model was shaped like that fish and wind tunnel tests showed it to be subject to extremely low air drag. It is not noted in the release, but having width approximately equal to height means that this functions much like a body of revolution. They do discuss the effect of testing at a significant separation distance from the ground, such that free flow aerodynamic conditions are maintained. While they measured extremely low drag in free flow conditions, when more realistic conditions were represented, by testing in proximity to the ground, they suffered a 50% penalty in drag coefficient. They further indicate that adding other features necessary for a realistic car, as well as the provision for operation close to the ground, causes a degradation of drag resistance of more than 200% relative to the ideal body test results in free flow conditions. Such features included wheel wells that provide for wheel steering and suspension devices. The inability of these experts to achieve better results can be attributed to their ground rule, as stated by the press release, that the vehicle width required for seating two persons was six feet. Apparently, a single wide car is inconceivable, at least for major production auto makers. Thus, they are barred from realization of the accumulating advantages of such an arrangement, where a reduction in projected frontal area, closer adherence to the ideal shape, and practicality of elevating such a shape are realizable measures to improve efficiency. The wide form naturally leads to a flat bottomed form which further exacerbates the degradation in drag coefficient caused by proximity to the ground. While this development effort achieved a significant improvement in aerodynamic efficiency, it came far short of the level of performance originally suggested by the box-fish ideal shape. This development process thus illustrates the requirements and assumptions that are a basic part of the present day automotive design process.
A practical rule for achieving an approximation of free flow conditions can be postulated based on a ground separation requirement related to the frontal projected area, where this rule stipulates an elevation sufficient for achieving a significant practical performance advantage. For bodies of revolution and for rectangular shapes having width greater than height, an approximate elevation standard is one half of the square root of the projected frontal area. Applying this rule to a six foot wide body of revolution car, where two people can ride side-by-side, leads to an overall car height of over eight feet. This would obviously not appeal to car designers.
It might be supposed that a narrow car would have been considered by the Mercedes-Benz project team that worked on the box fish shape, were a practical way to stabilize such a car available. The previous invention that might have been useful in this concept work, U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,061 Bullis 2008, was not available at that time.
Faced with these realities, the nearly universal choice has been to give up on the ideal body form and any attempt at elevation. In fact, most designs go in the opposite direction. Efforts to make cars economical usually result in a very low vehicle body height that is spaced as close as possible to the ground. The designs usually direct air flow over, and to the sides of, the car. At least this ends up with low and wide car that is naturally stable. The obvious drawback of significantly uncomfortable seating and unpleasant height of eye has never been widely accepted by car buyers. The automotive industry has, thus, failed to show a development path capable of addressing present fuel efficiency concerns.
An exception is suggested by a developmental vehicle called the Aptera, which appears to the published description to be a very lightweight vehicle, probably less than a large motorcycle; with an extremely wide wheel base, apparently about as wide as that of a large truck. This is reported to be an aerodynamic shape designed by an optimizing, finite element computer code, where the coefficient of drag seems to be nearly ideal. Inspection of the published information seems to show a ground clearance that allows some increase of air flow under the vehicle, compared to typical cars. This ground clearance, together with the body shape, appears to be working to minimize ground surface effect, whether or not this was an intention of the designers or a determination made by the optimizing computer code. The vehicle is still very low overall, and this appears to be at the expense of rider comfort, where two adults are said to be riding side by side, with very little headroom. Since there is no provision for stabilization beyond weight in the vehicle body and the wide wheel base, it is important that the overall height be as low as possible. Given that it carries two adults side by side, this vehicle is a remarkable achievement in aerodynamic design. It shows the potential for shape refinement of the finite element method.
There have been some attempts to produce a narrow car with seating width for only one person. The Stanley Steamer race car of 1885 was for a single person and it was built with some meaningful consideration of aerodynamic performance. However, its open cockpit and exposed driver prevented most of the intended low drag effect. The cycle cars of the 1910 era were also narrow, but aerodynamic shape was not a significant part of these designs. Cars were produced in the 1950 era with single wide seating, such as the Messerschmitt, which also was very carefully shaped for aerodynamic effect, but this also was very low to the ground. Designing a car with an elevated body on a conventional wheel base would require addition of significant, low placed weight to achieve a stable vehicle. However, gas mileage goals have always tended to encourage car designs that were light weight, especially where the usual propulsion machinery had no capability to recapture kinetic energy by use of regenerative braking. Rolling resistance due to friction in tires and drive train apparatus further discourages heavy vehicles. Consequently, there could be little incentive in the past to create a car having an elevated body.
A high and narrow vehicle, where persons were seated singly or in tandem, was discussed in Bullis, application Ser. No. 11/064,301, Feb. 23, 2005 (hereby incorporated by reference). That invention focused on providing a method of stabilizing such a vehicle using an articulated vehicle arrangement that was a two frame system, having a stabilizer part that was connected to a carriage part with a two axis articulated joint. A streamlined version was also included in this disclosure. A body is said to be streamlined where that body has a controlled contour where stream line convergence is fairly rapid and stream line divergence is very gradual, where a stream line is an imaginary line which is, at the instant of observation, tangent to the velocity vector at every point through which it passes. However, in this arrangement it was necessary for the stabilizer rear wheels to pass under the carriage part and the necessary clearance for this was increased by the need for carriage pitch hinging action. This meant a trade-off had to be made between overall vehicle height and a desire for an uninterrupted aerodynamic carriage surface. It was also necessary for the forward part of the carriage to allow clearance for pitching. This limited shaping possibilities. Further, this disclosure did not provide for an aerodynamic carriage entity that operated independently of the stabilizer part. Neither did it provide for an aerodynamically integrated carriage and stabilizer. Also, this prior disclosure showed the streamlined version as vertically elongated, with its lowest point raised above the ground only high enough to give reasonable clearance of uneven surfaces, with no provision for air flow under the vehicle.
With these limitations, the degree of aerodynamic refinement represented in that prior disclosure was not clearly superior to that of conventional automobiles. Thus the fuel economy improvement was based only on the greatly reduced width. Almost doubling of gas mileage was expected. Although widespread public acceptance of this breakthrough requires rearrangement of the way people sit in cars, this expected improvement in gas mileage is expected to strongly motivate such changes.
However, there remains strong motivation for even further improvement. It is reasonable to expect that the entire world population will increasingly insist on participating in a life style that includes the ability to move about quickly, safely, and comfortably. As life styles are transformed, energy conservation, pollution, and global warming problems will be exacerbated. A major part of the solution to these problems could be a large reduction in the amount of energy needed for transportation. While it is well known that public transportation holds promise in that regard, it is clear that most people prefer distributed living that tends to be inconsistent with practical public transportation systems. It is here assumed that a solution that preserves the fast personal car, with its associated time efficiency and flexibility, will be much more readily accepted.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.