Binary gas mixture for welding using a laser beam of up to 8 kW, consisting of 60% to 80% nitrogen by volume, the remainder (up to 100%) being helium. Application of this gas mixture to the welding of steel, stainless steel or titanium.

The present invention relates to a gas mixture formed solely from helium and nitrogen and to its use in a laser welding process operating at a maximum power of 8 kW.
Laser beam welding is a very high-performance joining process as it makes it possible to obtain, at high speeds, very great penetration depths compared with other more conventional processes, such as plasma welding, MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding or TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding.
This is explained by the high power densities involved when focusing the laser beam by one or more mirrors or lenses in the joint plane of the workpieces to be welded, for example power densities that may exceed 106 W/cm2.
These high power densities cause considerable vaporization at the surface of the workpieces which, expanding to the outside, induces progressive cratering of the weld pool and results in the formation of a narrow and deep vapour capillary called a keyhole in the thickness of the plates, that is to say in the joint plane.
This capillary allows the energy of the laser beam to be directly deposited depthwise in the plate, as opposed to the more conventional welding processes in which the energy deposition is localized on the surface.
In this regard, the following documents may be cited: DE-A-2 713 904, DE-A-4 034 745, JP-A-01048692, JP-A-56122690, WO 97/34730, JP-A-01005692, DE-A-4 123 716, JP-A-02030389, US-A-4 871 897, JP-A-230389, JP-A-62104693, JP-A-15692, JP-A-15693, JP-A-15694, JP-A-220681, JP-A-220682, JP-A-220683, WO-A-88/01553, WO-A-98/14302, DE-A-3 619 513 and DE-A-3 934 920.
This capillary is formed from a metal vapour/metal vapour plasma mixture, the particular feature of which is that it absorbs the laser beam and therefore traps the energy within the actual capillary.
One of the problems with laser welding is the formation of a shielding gas plasma.
This is because the metal vapour plasma, by seeding the shielding gas with free electrons, may bring about the appearance of a shielding gas plasma which is prejudicial to the welding operation.
The incident laser beam may therefore be greatly disturbed by the shielding gas plasma.
The interaction of the shielding gas plasma with the laser beam may take various forms but it usually results in an effect whereby the incident laser beam is absorbed and/or diffracted and this may lead to a substantial reduction in the effective laser power density at the surface of the target, resulting in a reduction in the penetration depth, or even in a loss of coupling between the beam and the material and therefore a momentary interruption in the welding process.
The power density threshold at which the plasma appears depends on the ionization potential of the shielding gas used and is inversely proportional to the square of the wavelength of the laser beam.
Thus, it is very difficult to weld under pure argon with a CO2-type laser, whereas this operation may be carried out with very much less of a problem with a YAG-type laser.
In general, in CO2 laser welding, helium is used as shielding gas, this being a gas with a high ionization potential and making it possible to prevent the appearance of the shielding gas plasma, and to do so up to a laser power of at least 45 kW.
However, helium has the drawback of being an expensive gas and many laser users prefer to use other gases or gas mixtures that are less expensive than helium but which would nevertheless limit the appearance of the shielding gas plasma and therefore obtain welding results similar to those obtained with helium, but at a lower cost.
Thus, gas mixtures are commercially available that contain argon and helium, for example the gas mixture containing 30% helium by volume and the rest being argon, sold under the name LASAL(trademark) 2045 by L""Air Liquide(trademark), which make it possible to achieve substantially the same results as helium, for CO2 laser power levels below 5 kW and provided that the power densities generated are not too high, that is to say above about 2000 kW/cm2.
However, the problem that arises with this type of Ar/He mixture is that, for higher laser power densities, it is no longer suitable as the threshold at which the shielding gas plasma is created is then exceeded.
Moreover, it is also paramount for the weld penetration to be at least maintained, or even preferably increased, relative to the same laser welding process using helium.
Furthermore, yet another problem lies in the formation of NOx-type species, harmful to the welder, which must be kept as low as possible.
This is because the metal plasma temperatures, resulting from laser/material interactions as strong as those involved in laser welding, are conducive to the dissociation of nitrogen and oxygen molecules coming from air contamination and lead to the formation of harmful NOx-type species.
Consequently, to avoid or reduce the production of NOx-type species, it is essential to be able to reduce the temperature of the metal plasma resulting from laser welding.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a welding gas mixture based on nitrogen and a laser welding process using this gas, able to be used with a laser having a power of up to about 8 kW, which gas leads to the formation of a less hot metal plasma, with a total penetration from 5 to 10% greater than that obtained with the conventional gases used for such power levels, namely typically helium, depending on the power and the nitrogen content of the gas, and to a reduction in the formation of NOx compared with helium by itself.
The solution of the invention is therefore a binary gas mixture for welding using a laser beam consisting of 60% to 80% nitrogen by volume, the remainder (up to 100%) being helium.
Depending on the case, the gas of the invention may include one or more of the following technical features:
it contains less than 80% nitrogen by volume;
it contains less than 70% nitrogen by volume, preferably less than 68% nitrogen;
it less than 67% nitrogen, preferably less than 65% nitrogen.
According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a welding process using a laser beam having a power ranging up to 8 kW, in which a gas mixture according to the invention is used for welding steel, stainless steel or titanium workpieces.
Depending on the case, the process of the invention may include one or more of the following technical features:
the laser is of the CO2 type;
a welding operation is carried out to join two workpieces to be welded together with at least partial penetration, preferably full penetration;
a laser having a power from 0.5 to 7 kW, preferably between 4 and 6 kW, is used;
workpieces having a thickness ranging from 0.4 to 30 mm, preferably from 1 mm to 10 mm, are welded;
the workpieces are made of HYS (High Yield Strength) steel;
the workpieces to be welded have a zinc surface coating, particularly galvanized or electrogalvanized steel plates;
the workpieces to be welded are placed together and lap or butt welded, by backside welding or at an angle, and with or without a bevel;
the welding takes place with a single- or multiple-spot focal spot (impact);
the focal spot is circular or oblong;
the gas flow rate is between 5 l/min and 100 l/min and/or the pressure of the gas is between 1 and 5 bar; and
the nozzle delivering the gas is a lateral or axial nozzle having a diameter ranging from 3 to 30 mm.

Use of helium/nitrogen gas mixtures in up to 8kW laser welding

L""Air Liquide, Socixc3xa9txc3xa9 Anonyme {overscore (a)} Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l""Etude et l""Exploitation des Procxc3xa9dxc3xa9s Georges Claude


The invention relates to a semiconductor memory apparatus having at least one clock input contact for inputting an external clock signal, at least one clock output contact for outputting a data read clock signal for reading data stored in the semiconductor memory apparatus, at least one data contact for outputting data stored in the semiconductor memory apparatus, at least one phase adjustment device which is designed for approximately adjusting a phase of the data read clock signal on the basis of a phase of the external clock signal at least one phase difference test device which is designed for approximately detecting a phase difference between the phase of the data read clock signal and the phase of the external clock signal and for outputting a test result on the basis of the detected phase difference.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor memory apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory apparatuses in which stored data are read out at double data rate relative to an external, incoming clock signal are now widely used, particularly for high speed applications. In such "DDR-DRAMs", the phase or timing of the output data DQ is specified by a data read clock signal, which is conventionally called the DQS signal.
In this context, the phase of the data read clock signal DQS has its phase angle adjusted in relation to the input, external clock signal CLK using a phase adjustment device. The phase adjustment device is often a "DLL" (Delay Locked Loop) circuit which feeds a "clock tree" for supplying the semiconductor memory apparatus with an internal clock signal.
The phase angle of the data read clock signal DQS is subject to numerous different interfering effects which means that in some cases it does not match the nominally desired phase angle. For example, although the phase adjustment device, i.e., the DLL circuit, can compensate for slow variations in internal delays in the DLL circuit, brief fluctuations caused by voltage fluctuations, for example, cannot be equalized by the phase adjustment device.
The actual phase angle of the data read clock signal DQS in a DDR-DRAM therefore needs to be tested as part of a test in a semiconductor memory apparatus. In addition, it is conventionally necessary for a test apparatus to detect the data DQ which are output from the semiconductor memory apparatus, taking into account the phase angle of the data read clock signal DQS, which is called "source synchronous sampling".
However, testing the actual phase angle of the data read clock signal DQS and detecting the output data DQ by means of a test taking into account the phase angle of the data read clock signal DQS require complex high speed test tools which—if they are actually available—result in high costs.

Self test for the phase angle of the data read clock signal DQS


The invention provides a rapidly disintegrating tablet comprising an active ingredient, a water soluble, directly compressible carbohydrate, and a water soluble, directly compressible filler. Also provided is a method of producing a rapidly disintegrating tablet, which method comprises wet granulating a mixture comprising a directly compressible, water soluble carbohydrate, a directly compressible, water insoluble filler, a beneficial ingredient, and a solvent, and compressing the granulate to produce the tablet.

Rapidly disintegrating tablets are convenient delivery systems, which are designed to disintegrate rapidly upon contact with a fluid medium, which is typically an aqueous fluid medium. Orally disintegrating tablets are a class of rapidly disintegrating tablets, which are convenient oral delivery systems designed to disintegrate rapidly upon contact with aqueous fluids, e.g., water or saliva, to form a dispersion, which can be swallowed easily. Orally disintegrating tablets are particularly advantageous for patients, e.g., pediatric or aged patients, having difficulty swallowing conventional tablets or capsules, or for individuals who may not have difficulty swallowing, but may have an aversion to swallowing conventional tablets or capsules. Orally disintegrating tablets also are convenient under circumstances in which taking an oral dosage form with water may be inconvenient (e.g., while working or traveling).
Conventional rapidly disintegrating tablets are typically formed by compression (e.g., in a tablet press). It is desirable for such tablets to have sufficiently high hardness and sufficiently low friability to provide structural stability for transportation and storage. Low friability (which is measured based on the percent tablet weight loss after a certain number of revolutions in a friabilator) is desirable in that it is generally indicative of high tablet strength. High porosity of the tablet structure also is desirable in that it allows fluids (e.g., aqueous or bodily fluids, e.g., water or saliva) to be drawn or "wicked" from the external environment and into the interstices of the tablet structure, thereby promoting rapid and effective disintegration.
Rapidly disintegrating tablets have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,632 (Cousin et al.), which describes a tablet prepared by dry blending an active ingredient with a granulated carbohydrate, to form a composition, which is compressed, to form the tablet. Rapidly disintegrating tablets also have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,029 (Jain et al.), which describes a tablet prepared by compressing a blend of ingredients into a tablet. However, the process of forming the tablet described by Jain et al. requires relatively high compression forces (e.g., from 700 lbs. to 3800 lbs.). The high compression forces can result in a reduction in tablet porosity due to collapse of the void spaces during compression, thereby sacrificing the disintegration properties of the tablet.
As such, there exists a need for a conventional rapidly disintegrating tablet having sufficiently low friability and sufficiently high hardness, while maintaining high porosity of the tablet structure. The invention provides such a tablet. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.


The present invention is a method which erase information printed on a recording medium if necessary and thus reuse the recording medium, and includes 1) decolorable ink compositions which are not erased during the use but erased by a dye readily decolorable by a decolorant, 2) a decolorant composition including a thermal initiator or photoinitiator, and 3) a method for coating the decolorant and applying heat or irradiating UV to erase the dye. According to the present invention, it is possible to prepare various writing inks, and particularly, when applied to recording medium with a magnetic stripe as well as the general purpose papers, it is possible to reduce the production cost significantly, obtain a large import substitution effect of the magnetic ink all of which are imported, and largely reduce the environmental pollution.

With development of industries, an amount of use of papers including public relation medium as well as general documents tends to be drastically increased. Therefore, forests are destroyed as the supply of pulp which is raw material for the paper is increased and the problem due to global warming becomes serious.
An organic dye for showing the color of ink consists of a chromophore and an auxochrome. In general, examples for the chromophore include an azo group (—N═N—), a carbonyl group (>C═O), a nitro group (—NO2), a thiocarbonyl group (>C═S), a nitroso group (—N═O), an ethylene linkage (—C═C—) and a cyano group ((—C═N—), and examples for the auxochrome include an amino group (—NH2), a secondary amino group (—NHR), a tertiary amino group (—NR2), a hydroxyl group (—OH), a sulfone group (SO3), a carboxyl group (—COOH), a mercapto group (—SH), an alkoxy group (—OR) and a halide (—X). The auxochrome improves color strength and dyeability. This auxochrome also improves reactivity since it has a non-bonding electron.
One of a material which readily reacts with the dye and thus decolors the dye is a molecular reaction mechanism in which a bleaching agent (ion) freed from an acid reacts with the dye, and the other is an active oxygen mechanism in which a hydroxy radical (.OH), a peroxy radical (.OOH) or a superoxide radical (.O2—) reacts with the dye.
However, the above compounds oxidate a recording medium and decolor the color of the recording medium or damage the recording medium.
A more stable reaction mechanism which decolors the dye is a method using an organic compound which readily forms a radical by heat or light. These react with other organic compound to form high molecular material or react with the auxochrome of the dye to destroy the chromophore, thereby decoloring the dye. This reaction is a reaction mechanism named as a Dulux process, in which the dye is destroyed by readily reacting with a material readily generating the radical by the heat or light (Heinrich Zollinger, COLOR CHEMISTRY pp. 288-303, VCH (1971)).
Also, a rewritable marking material is used which is referred to as a Leuco dye and can repeatedly alternate between colored and decolored states as its molecular structure is transformed by the heat or light. The rewritable marking material refers a marking material in which an image is formed when energy is given, the image is maintained as it is when the energy is not given any more and the image is disappeared to be reusable when other energy is given. There are various rewritable marking materials and a thermally rewritable marking material is largely used.
This thermally rewritable marking material includes a high molecular/low molecular composite type, a high molecular type and a Leuco dye type. The Leuco dye type is one using color tone change, in which the Leuco dye of two-component dye systems is employed as a pigment and reaction of the dye with a decolorant is used. The Leuco dye which is generally used as a thermal transfer ink is widely used for the purpose of recording, and this thermally rewritable marking material is widely used as it has excellent resolution and stability. However, the thermally rewritable marking material has insufficient repetitivity and is gradually decolored by the heat or light. Therefore, the thermally rewritable marking material is not suitable for long-term storage documents.
In a more developed method for decoloring the dye, the dye is contained in a clathrate compound such as dextrin and a photo decolorant is chemically coupled to the outside thereof, which is used as an ink for toner of a laser beam printer. The aforementioned method has been continuously studied by R. S. Nohr team of Kimberly-Clark (U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,701, U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,843, U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,287, U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,471, U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,661, U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,661, U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,465, U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,200, U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,949, U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,073, U.S. Pat. No. 6,235,095 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,305).
Also, studies for the Leuco dye of the same structure are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,386, U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,115, U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,551 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,809.
The aforementioned method has a disadvantage that the color is gradually discolored in long-term storage as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,305 or lately suggested method. Also, the method is not able to be applied to liquid inks such as a printing ink, a ribbon ink, a Deskjet ink, inks for various writing instruments, other than the case that the ink is present in solid state such as the toner of the laser beam printer, since the inks are decolored during storage or use thereof as the dye and the decolorant are dissolved in solvent to react with each other.
In addition, although the clathrate compound is not dissolved in the solvent, the clathrate compound may be broken by friction with the recording medium upon recording. In the case of the ribbon ink, since the ink dyed in the ribbon is printed by a dot impact manner, the clathrate compound is broken to cause discoloration of the ribbon.
Particularly, as disclosed by the present applicant in Korean Patent No. 0536056, parking tickets or highway tickets may be exposed at a high temperature of 70 to 100° C. and sunlight and information printed thereon may thus be erased under sever condition. Therefore, although it is theoretically possible to prepare an ink for general purpose other than special purpose using the dye and the decolorant together, there are actually many problems.
Another method (JP1997-286979) has been suggested to provide a decoloring composition, in which an ink is prepared as a mixture with a photo-decolorant and an accelerator and a printed ink can be erased by irradiation of light. Although the patent insists that its ink is decolored only when ultra violet ray (UV) of a predetermined wavelength is irradiated, the patent does not give a specific description how the ink is not discolored by a photo-radical former when exposed to the sunlight during use. Therefore, the patent cannot give the scientific basis how the ink is not discolored during storage and use. Particularly, in a case that the recording medium is a paper, the dye component and hydroxyl group (—OH) in cellulose which constitutes the paper are chemically bonded with each other. Therefore, the ink is not readily erased and an afterimage may be remained on the paper.
Accordingly, although it is theoretically possible to prepare an ink for general purpose other than special purpose using the dye and the decolorant together, there are actually many problems.
Meanwhile, the paper is recycled by removing the ink printed thereon and then remanufacturing it as a recycled paper in a paper mill. However, there are disadvantages that the recycled paper has degraded quality and complex recycling process is required.
Therefore, so far, not only a general-purpose paper but also paper and recording medium including various pass cards which are specially printed and have high preparation cost are discarded after a single use. However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to use the recording medium several times or semi-permanently and thus an enormous economic effect can be expected.
Particularly, confidential papers which require to be kept in secret are generally shred or burned up. However, according to the present invention, the content recorded on the recording medium is readily erased and the recording medium can be reused since the printed ink itself is chemically decomposed. Particularly, a pass card or identification card having a magnetic stripe attached thereon is an expensive printed matter which is used in a large amount. However, it has to be burned up so far as it cannot be recycled and causes an environmental problem as the magnetic stripe is not decomposed after discarded. Therefore, repeated use of the paper with the magnetic stripe can largely reduce the environmental problem. Also, a large import substitution effect can be expected by the repeated use of the paper with the magnetic stripe since the material for the magnetic stripe is all imported.

Composition of decolorable ink and decoloring method


The invention relates to an air bleed system comprising an air bleed port provided on an engine of an aircraft, an air supply pipe, a pressure sensor, a pressure relief valve mounted in said air supply pipe, characterized in that said pressure relief valve comprises: a valve body (11); a closure member (121) pivotally mounted in said air circulation duct; and an air discharge channel (13) passing through said valve body (11); at least one air discharge opening (15) formed on said upstream face of said closure member (121) and at least one air evacuation opening (19) which opens out to the outside of the air circulation duct.

An aircraft air conditioning system, and in general, any equipment of an aircraft operating from or with an air flow, is supplied with air, directly or indirectly, by an air bleed system comprising an air bleed port provided on a propulsion engine of the aircraft, an air bleed pipe suitable for conveying the bled air toward this equipment, a pressure sensor suitable for measuring the air pressure in said bleed pipe and/or in said air equipment and a pressure relief valve (better known as an "over pressure valve" or its acronym OPV) mounted in the air bleed pipe and configured to isolate the pipe air bleed when excess pressure is detected by the pressure sensor, in order to protect the equipment. According to certain variants, the air conditioning system does not have a pressure sensor and the OPV valve switches to the closed position under the action of a calibrated valve as soon as a pressure level is reached.
Closing the pressure relief valve generates an increase in pressure in the air bleed pipe, which must be relieved in order not to exceed the admissible pressure levels.
This pressure relief is generally carried out by relief valves, better known as a "Duct Vent Valve" or its acronym DVV. These relief valves are therefore configured to be able to discharge a portion of the air blocked in the bleed pipe upstream of the pressure relief valve when this air reaches a predetermined threshold.
One of the drawbacks of current solutions lies in the fact that it is necessary to control the relief valve independently of the pressure relief valve while the discharge threshold and the closing threshold of the pressure relief valve may be identical. In other words, the relief valve can be activated for a predetermined pressure level, which is the pressure level that can control the tilting of the pressure relief valve from an open position in which air can freely flow in the air bleed pipe to a closed position in which the valve prevents any air flow to the equipment arranged downstream of the valve.
In addition, the two systems being independent of one another, they are each, independently, likely to encounter a critical failure of the integrity of the air conditioning system which they equip.
The inventors have therefore sought to develop new equipment which can simultaneously perform an isolating function of a bleed pipe and an air discharge function.

Air sampling system equipped with an overpressure valve


A unique arrangement includes duplex receptacle outlet providing two voltages. A first power wire supplying a first voltage is connected to the receptacle supplying a higher voltage. A second power wire is connected to both receptacles, and a neutral wire is connected to the receptacle supplying a lower voltage. In this manner, a standard electrical outlet need only be modified such that the receptacle has its plug interface modified to receive a standard higher voltage.

This application relates to a duplex electrical receptacle that is uniquely configured to provide two levels of voltage power.
Electrical outlets are known, and are provided at various locations in most industrial and residential locations. One standard outlet type is a duplex electrical outlet, receiving two outlets for electrically powered items. These electrical outlets are typically wired to deliver 110 V at each of two plug receptacle locations.
Many machines require 220 V. Thus, separate receptacles or outlets provided with 220 V are also provided. Although 110 V and 220 V are the most common, other voltages are also known.
Some locations, such as a work area, etc. may require both 110 V and 220 V as options. As an example, in a work area, a worker may have certain tools or equipment, such as a room air conditioner, that require 220 V and others that require 110 V. Additionally, during new construction, it may not be known if 220 V or 110 V must be provided for certain appliance installations such as air conditioners or microwave ovens. Further, as can be appreciated, the receptacles 34 and 36 can be utilized simultaneously to provide both voltage levels simultaneously.
To date, to adequately supply the two voltage options, two separate receptacles, with two circuits and two circuit breakers, have typically been required, one connected to 220 V and one connected to 110 V. The duplicate receptacle installations increase both the labor and material costs of the construction.

Two-plug electrical outlet with dual voltage


A multi-core processor system includes a given configured to queue an interrupt process of a software interrupt request to the given core, and execute queued processes in the order of queuing at the given core; execute preferentially an interrupt process of a hardware interrupt request to the given core over a process under execution at the given core; determine whether the software interrupt request is a specific software interrupt request; and perform control to preferentially execute the interrupt process without queuing, upon determining that the software interrupt request is the specific software interrupt request.

Interrupt requests at a central processing unit (CPU) are roughly classified into hardware interrupt requests and software interrupt requests. A hardware interrupt request is an interrupt request that peripheral equipment of a CPU makes to the CPU. For example, when a user touches the touch screen of a cellular phone to carry out a fast forward operation during reproduction of a moving picture on the cellular phone, the touch screen makes a hardware interrupt request to the CPU. A software interrupt request is an interrupt request caused by a program under execution.
When a hardware interrupt request is made, the operating system (OS) running on the CPU saves a task under execution and immediately executes a hardware interrupt handler (interrupt process) for the hardware interrupt request. The hardware interrupt handler may call a software interrupt.
In a multi-core processor system, when a hardware interrupt request is made to a master CPU, the master CPU generates a software interrupt request, in which case a task that is interrupted by the software interrupt request may be assigned to a slave CPU. When such a task is assigned to the slave CPU, the slave CPU executes a software interrupt handler (interrupt process) for the software interrupt request through inter-processor interrupt communication.
For an example of such technology, refer to Takahashi, Hirokazu, et al, "Linux Kernel Kaidokushitsu 2.6", Softbank Creative Corp., Nov. 30, 2006, pp. 62-63.
Nonetheless, when a software interrupt request is generated through inter-processor interrupt communication, a software interrupt handler of the software interrupt request is placed in a ready-queue and awaits execution. In the ready-queue, processes are executed in their order of queuing. Consequently, a problem arises in that when numerous tasks are in the ready-queue, the start of execution of the software interrupt handler is delayed.
In other words, the time between the calling of the software interrupt handler and the start of execution of the software interrupt handler is longer than the time between the calling of the hardware interrupt handler and the start of execution of the hardware interrupt handler, resulting in a problem that the response of the software interrupt is slow.

Multi-core processor system, computer product, and control method for interrupt execution


An articulating table including a back rest section, a seat section, and an articulation mechanism that adjusts the position of at least the back rest section and the seat section to configure the table between the substantially flat table configuration and the chair configuration. The articulating table preferably includes a foot rest section, and at least one hinge that pivotally connects the foot rest section to the seat section so that the foot rest section is pivotable about the hinge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a table that also articulates to provide various sitting and/or reclining positions.
2. Description of Related Art
Various different tables are used in the massage and physical therapy services industry as well as in other medical services industry. Generally, such tables are provided with a cushioned surface for comfortably supporting the client or patient. One example table used in the massage and physical therapy services industry is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,965 to J. Riach which is assigned to the assignee of the present application. This reference discloses an improved collapsible folding massage table with four folding leg assemblies having improved folding and stabilizing features. The collapsible foldable table disclosed also includes integral hinges that hingedly attaches two table top sections and also include provisions for attaching members of the folding leg braces. U.S. Pat. No. D334,982 also assigned to the assignees of the present application discloses an ornamental design for a contoured top for a medical examination table.
Many services provided by therapists and other professionals are rendered with the client/patient in the seated position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,078 to L. Riach and assigned to the assignees of the present invention discloses a unitary, portable, foldable and adjustable therapy chair that is adjustable from a collapsed position to a plurality of erect positions. Such an adjustable chair allows the position of the client/patient to be adjusted. Another examples include dentist's chair which are typically in the reclined configuration so that the dentist rendering dental services can gain easy access to the patient's teeth while sitting down.
With many clients/patients, especially the elderly and the handicapped, laying down on a table can be difficult due to their physical limitations. In addition, getting in and out of a chair can also be difficult. These difficulties are compounded if the client/patient needs to be in both positions (laying down and sitting) during the course of receiving their services or treatment. Therefore, there exists an unfulfilled need for an articulating table that can be configured for use as a chair. There further exists an unfulfilled need for such an articulating table that facilitates ingress and egress.


Provided are a waveform analysis method and a waveform analysis device capable of preventing, in advance, a breakage accident during operation and preventing stoppage due to breakdown of machinery and performing efficient maintenance work by specifying a degraded part from among the parts that constitute the machinery. A waveform analysis device 30 is provided with; a signal analysis unit 31 for performing fast Fourier transform for a signal transmitted from a sensor 28 that detects a physical phenomenon in the machinery an impulse extraction unit 32 for extracting an impulse component from spectrum data generated by the signal analysis unit 31; a display unit 35 for displaying waveform data including the impulse component extracted by the impulse extraction unit 32; and a data editing unit 33 for editing, from data of a waveform including the impulse component displayed by the display unit 35, waveform data in a range selected via an input unit 36 by a worker, generating a graph displaying a frequency, a time, and the intensity of the impulse component, and displaying the graph on the display unit 35.

A method and a device for preventing stoppage due to breakdown and a breakage accident during operation beforehand have been devised by finding deterioration of the part of a machinery.
Patent literature 1 discloses a determining means for transmitting a deterioration signal in case a detection value detected by a sensor provided on a robot is compared with and above a previously stored reference value, wherein the sensor detects a physical phenomenon such as a sound or vibrations generated by the robot, the deformation of a component or the like. In addition, a robot component deterioration detecting device with processing means for executing a required processing operation such as an alarm signal transmission, a robot operation stop or the like in response to the deterioration signal transmitted by the determining means is also disclosed.
The above technique made it possible to prevent stoppage due to breakdown of the robot and a breakage accident during operation beforehand. However, in order to detect the abnormality of the robot, in advance, a plurality of deterioration sounds need to be registered by measuring sounds when deterioration occurs at a particular place and on a particular cause. According to this method, it takes time to register the plurality of deterioration sounds after a new product is released, and therefore, it is difficult to detect the abnormality of the robot that has just been released.

Waveform analysis device and waveform analysis method


A composition for coating skin comprising shellac, ethanol, castor oil, ethyl cellulose and fumed silica or nano zinc oxide, wherein the composition forms a long lasting waterproof flexible film on skin. The composition may include different ingredients for different applications. In one embodiment, the composition includes pigment and/or dye and may be used to coat a skin blemish such that the skin blemish blends in with the surrounding skin. In another embodiment, the composition includes a sunscreen agent and may be used as a sunscreen. In yet another embodiment, the composition includes a therapeutic agent for treating a disorder of the skin.

Compositions for coating skin are known. Some are in the form of cosmetics for masking skin discoloration and skin blemishes, others are in the form of sunscreens for providing protection against the adverse effects of solar radiation, and yet others are in the form of skin care products for promoting healthy skin.
Some of the known skin coating compositions have the disadvantage that they are not long-lasting on the skin and may require frequent reapplication. Some compositions may be readily rubbed off the skin, whereas other compositions may be readily washed off the skin by way of sweat or when in contact with water.

Skin coating composition and uses thereof


A method, system and computer program product are provided to allow the status of components obtained through JMX queries to be loaded asynchronously in web content such that the status value of each component is displayed as soon as it becomes available, without having to wait for the completion of any other query.

Java Management Extensions (JMX) application programming interface (API) provides a means for asynchronously determining the status of system components (such as servers, applications, processes or other resources) in a Java Enterprise Edition (J2EE) server. The status monitoring API requires a user to perform complex queries in order to obtain the status and consequently, it is advantageous to provide a simple client which allows a user to visualize the status of large groups of components. Such a client may consist of a web page containing a series of images corresponding to the states of the various components.
JMX queries are executed asynchronously and may not be completed within any specific period of time. However, the content of a web page typically loads and displays serially. Thus, a JMX query may not begin until the previous query has been completed. Because some queries may take a long time to complete while other may take only a short time, a single, long-running query may block the completion and display of other, shorter queries.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art process 100 of monitoring the status of components. A user at a client device, such as a web-based administrative console 102, initiates JMX queries to determine the status of several server components 110 and 120. For clarity, only two components are illustrated; many more may be included in the system and the queries. The queries are first transmitted to a servlet 104 which processes the first query 106 to determine the status of the first server 110. The first server 110 responds after which the servlet 104 processes the second query 108 to determine the status of the second server 120. Only when the responses from all of the servers has been received by the servlet 104 does the servlet 104 provide them to the browser running in the client 102.
Moreover, the user may be interested in only a subset of the objects for which the status is presented or may be interested in information other than status, such as a simple list of application servers. If there are ten such servers and each JMX query takes up to three minutes to complete, the user may have to wait for as long as thirty minutes to see the results, even though the specific information desired by the user may be available almost immediately.
Consequently, a need remains for improving the efficiency with which monitoring information is provided to a user.

Tool for displaying JMX monitoring information

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention is a method of determining a color formula for matching a selected color, such that an electronic imaging device is calibrated , and at the same time or in a next step the selected color is measured with the aid of the electronic imaging device, then the measured color signals of the calibration colors are converted to the known calorimetric data and then the color signals of the measured selected color are converted to colorimetric data; and next, the color formula is determined that most closely matches the calculated colorimetric data of the measured selected color. The invention also determines a color formula for matching a selected color of textured materials; determines the color difference of a selected color compared to a standard color sample; and measures a specific attribute of the color appearance, the so-called texture.

The invention pertains to methods applying color measurement by means of an electronic imaging device. More particularly, the invention pertains to a method of determining a color formula for matching a selected color measured with an electronic imaging device. The invention is also directed to a method of determining a color formula for matching a selected color of a textured material measured with an electronic imaging device. Finally, the invention is directed to a method for checking a selected color measured with an electronic imaging device with a standard color sample.
It is well-known to measure selected colors with the aid of color meters, such as spectrophotometers and tri-stimulus meters . The measured signals may be used for the determination of a color formula. Thus U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,000 discloses measuring a selected color with the aid of a tri-stimulus color analyser and using the measured chromaticity data to search for a color formula in a databank. A series of articles by W. R. Cramer published in Fahrzeug+Karosserie, 9, 1997, 11-12, 1997, and 1-5, 1998, describes commercial applications of measuring a selected color with the aid of a spectrophotometer and using the measured spectral data to search for a color formula in a databank. Such methods are especially suitable for use at points of sale where paints have to be available in every color.
It is also possible to use the measured signals to check the selected color with a standard color sample. Such a method is currently used in the printing inks industry.
The human eye is highly sensitive to color differences. If a color is to be matched, it is essential that the measurement of the color be as accurate as possible. High measuring accuracy requires calibration. To this end there are fixed standards defining color in terms of standard values, so-called calorimetric data. Most common calorimetric data has been laid down by the Commision International de I""Eclairage (CIE), e.g., CIELab (L*ab, a*, b*), CIEXYZ (X, Y, Z), and CIELUV (L*uv, u*, v*). Spectral measuring data and tri-stimulus measuring data therefore have to be converted to colorimetric data if a spectrophotometer or a tri-stimulus meter is to be calibrated.
The drawback to spectrophotometers is that they are very delicate instruments. Hence a certain expertise is required on the part of the user which is not always available at the aforementioned points of sale. Moreover, spectrophotometers are expensive. A further drawback to spectrophotometers and tri-stimulus meters is that they cannot be used for measuring color appearance including texture of the material.
The invention pertains to a method of determining a color formula for matching a selected color measured with an electronic imaging device, which method comprises the following steps:
a) an electronic imaging device is calibrated by measuring the color signals of at least two calibration colors, the calorimetric data of each of the calibration colors being known;
b) at the same time or in a next step the selected color is measured with the aid of the electronic imaging device;
c) using a mathematical model, parameters are calculated for converting the measured color signals of the calibration colors to the known calorimetric data;
d) using the mathematical model and the calculated parameters, the color signals of the measured selected color are converted to calorimetric data; and
e) using a databank, the color formula is determined of which the colorimetric data most closely matches the calculated calorimetric data of the measured selected color.
The invention has the advantage that it is possible to make use of inexpensive consumer electronics. Consumer electronics often do not have the accurate settings required for specialist applications. The method according to the invention now makes it possible to utilise an inaccurate device for the determination of a color formula for matching a selected color and yet achieve a high level of measuring accuracy. In addition, the method can be performed easily by a non-specialist without him needing extensive training. The method according to the invention also makes it possible to measure a specific attribute of the color appearance, the so-called texture.
In the method according to the invention the term xe2x80x9celectronic imaging devicexe2x80x9d stands for all devices with which an electronic image can be recorded that can be processed with the aid of a computer. Examples of such electronic imaging devices are digital recording devices. Preferably, the electronic imaging device is a digital video camera, a digital camera, a flatbed scanner, a drum scanner, or a manually operated scanner. However, an analogue video camera coupled to a so-called frame grabber which converts the analogue signal to a digital image is also covered by the term xe2x80x9celectronic imaging device.xe2x80x9d Finally, the term xe2x80x9celectronic imaging devicexe2x80x9d also covers multi-spectral-imaging equipment and monochrome cameras with multiple color filters. Examples of flatbed scanners are the Hewlett Packard 3C, Hewlett Packard Scanjet lec, Sharp JX450, Agfa Focus Color, and Afga Arcus Plus. Examples of drum scanners are the Howtek D4000, Optronics Color Getter, and LeafScan 45. Examples of digital cameras are the Ricoh RDC 5000, Olympus C-2000Z, and Nikon Coolpix 950. Preferably, a digital camera is employed.
A minimum of two calibration colors is used, i.e. white and black. Optionally, use may be made of grey or neutral colors. For a more accurate conversion of the color signals of the selected color to calorimetric data preference is given to including calibration colors other than the neutral colors. The calibration colors may be selected at random. Preferably, use is made of calibration colors distributed over the entire calorimetric color space. More preferably, use is made of calibration colors distributed in the vicinity of the selected color.
In theory, the physical calibration pattern can comprise as many calibration colors as may be present within the image field of the electronic imaging device. The calibration colors are recorded on the pattern in the form of patches. In theory, the calibration patches may have the size of a single pixel. In that case the size of the measuring surface will be equal to the size of the calibration patch. Depending on the electronic imaging device employed, phenomena may occur which require the calibration patch to be bigger than a single pixel. Such phenomena include stability, non-linearity, distortions, reproducibility of positioning, and cross-talk. Generally speaking, between 2 and 1000 calibration colors may be present, preferably 10-500, more preferably 25-150.
Of course, the calibration patches need not be square. Nor do they have to be rectangular or regularly shaped. There is no need to separate the colors, i.e. the color is allowed to shift gradually.
The support on which the calibration patches are provided may be flat or curved. Preferably, the support is of uniform color, e.g., white or grey. A clear space may be left around a portion or all of the calibration patches so as to leave the support""s surface area visible. The uniform color of the support may also serve to measure and correct any spatial non-uniformity of the electronic imaging device.
Depending on the measuring accuracy required, it may be preferred to measure the calibration colors and the selected color simultaneously. In such cases the calibration pattern support may be provided with a recess, e.g., at the centre. Alternatively, a support may be selected which is smaller than the image field, so that the remaining image field can be used to record the selected color.
Also, within the framework of the present invention it is possible to calibrate beforehand in step a) using a calibration pattern with more than 10 colors, then in step b) carry out a black and white calibration and measure the selected color simultaneously. This combination of steps is useful in reducing the variation in brightness due to the influence of the light source.
Processing the recorded image, calculating the model parameters, and converting the measured color signals to colorimetric data is all done by means of computer software. The software indicates the position of the calibration pattern and, optionally, the object to be measured. The software also includes a table listing known colorimetric data for each calibration color and a mathematical model describing the correlation between the measured color signals and the calorimetric data. With the aid of the software the model parameters are calculated from the mathematical model. The software then goes on to use the mathematical model and the model parameters to convert the measured signals of the selected color to calorimetric data.
Colorimetric data may be exemplified by CIE systems such as Lab or XYZ. However, this term is not restricted to CIE systems. It may be possible to use user defined systems.
The mathematical model selected may be any model known to the skilled person. Examples are mentioned in H. R. Kang, Color Technology for Electronic Imaging Devices, SPIE Optical Engineering Press, 1997, chapters 3 and 11, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,472. The model may be non-linear or linear. One example of a non-linear model is a 2nd order polynomial having 10 parameters or a 3rd order polynomial having 20 parameters. Preferably, use is made of a linear model. More preferably, the linear model used has 4 model parameters.
One example of a linear model having 4 parameters is the following model, where the measured color signals of the calibration colors, in this case R, G, and B data, are converted to calorimetric data, in this case CIELab data:
Li*=c0+c1Ri+c2Gi+c3Bi,
ai*=d0+d1Ri+d2Gi+d3Bi,
bi*=e0+e1Ri+e2Gi+e3Bi,
wherein Ri, Gi, Bi, Li*, ai*, and bi* are the measured signals and the calorimetric data of calibration color i.
Linear regression is used to calculate the model parameters c0-c3, d0-d3, and e0-e3 from the measured RGB data and the known CIELab data of the calibration colors. These model parameters are used to convert the measured RGB data of the selected color to CIELab data.
One example of a non-linear 3rd order polynomial having 20 parameters is:
Li*=c0+c1Ri+c2Gixe2x88x92c3Bi
+c4Ri2+c5Gi2+c6
Bi2xe2x88x92c7RiGixe2x88x92c8Ri
Bi+c9GBi30 c10Ri3
+c11Gi3+c12Bi3+c13
Ri2Gi+c14Ri2Bi+c15
Gi2Ri+c16Gi2Bi+
c17Bi2Ri+c18Bi2Gi+c19RiGiBi
ai*=d0+d1Ri+d2Gixe2x88x92d3
Bi+d4Ri2+d5Gi2+d6
Bi2xe2x88x92d7RiGixe2x88x92d8RiBi+d9Gi
Bi+d10Ri3+d11Gi3+d12Bi3+d13
Ri2Gi+d14Ri2Bi+d15Gi2
Ri+d16Gi2Bi+d17Bi2Ri+d18
Bi2Gi+d19RiGiBi
bi*=e0+e1Ri+e2Gixe2x88x92e3
Bi+e4Ri2+e5Gi2+e6
Bi2xe2x88x92e7RiGixe2x88x92e8RiBi
+e9GiBi+e10
Ri3+e11Gi3+e12Bi3
+e13Ri2
Gi+e14Ri2Bi+e15Gi2
Ri+e16Gi2Bi+e17Bi2Ri
+e18
Bi2Gi+e19RiGiBi
Linear regression is used to calculate the model parameters c0-c19, d0-d19, and e0-e19 from the measured RGB data and the known CIELab data of the calibration colors. These model parameters are used to convert the measured RGB data of the selected color to CIELab data.
Notwithstanding the above, it is possible to lend greater weight to the calibration colors in the vicinity of the selected color when calculating the model parameters. In the case of the above example of a linear model having 4 parameters, this means that during the linear regression each calibration color is given a weighing factor based on the distance in the RGB color space between the calibration color in question and the selected color. In the linear regression procedure the following sum of squares is minimised:       ∑          i      =      1        n                        w        i                          (                              y            i                    -                                    y              ^                        i                          )              2
Written out, this sum is as follows:             ∑              i        =        1            n                                    (                                    L              i              *                        -                          c              0                        -                                          c                1                                                          R                i                                      -                                          c                2                                                          G                i                                      -                                          c                3                                                          B                i                                              )                2                                    (                                                    (                                                      R                    i                                    -                  R                                )                            2                        +                                          (                                                      G                    i                                    -                  G                                )                            2                        +                                          (                                                      B                    i                                    -                  B                                )                            2                                )                          -          2                                ∑              i        =        1            n                                    (                                    a              i              *                        -                          d              0                        -                                          d                1                                                          R                i                                      -                                          d                2                                                          G                i                                      -                                          d                3                                                          B                i                                              )                2                                    (                                                    (                                                      R                    i                                    -                  R                                )                            2                        +                                          (                                                      G                    i                                    -                  G                                )                            2                        +                                          (                                                      B                    i                                    -                  B                                )                            2                                )                          -          2                                ∑              i        =        1            n                                    (                                    b              i              *                        -                          e              0                        -                                          e                1                                                          R                i                                      -                                          e                2                                                          G                i                                      -                                          e                3                                                          B                i                                              )                2                                    (                                                    (                                                      R                    i                                    -                  R                                )                            2                        +                                          (                                                      G                    i                                    -                  G                                )                            2                        +                                          (                                                      B                    i                                    -                  B                                )                            2                                )                          -          2
wherein
n: is the number of calibration colors R, G, B: are the measured signals of the selected color
Alternatively, it is possible to use the calibration colors in the vicinity of the selected color for interpolation.
If so desired, grey balancing may be performed on the signals measured for black, white, and grey according to the formula R=G=B=f(L*) or a comparable value for L* in a different colorimetric system. Such grey balancing is described in H. R. Kang, Color Technology for Electronic Imaging Devices, SPIE Optical Engineering Press, 1997, chapter 11. Examples of algorithms suitable for use are:
Rig=f1+f2xc2x7Lig*
Rig=f1+f2xc2x7Lig*+f3xc2x7(Lig*)2
Rig=f1+f2xc2x7Lig*+f3xc2x7log(Lig*)
wherein Rig is the measured signal and Lig* is the calorimetric value of the white, grey, and black calibration colors.
Alternatively, if so desired, an offset correction of the measured data for black and white may be performed according to the following formula:
Rc=((Rxe2x88x92Rb)/(Rwxe2x88x92Rb))xc3x97255
Gc=((Gxe2x88x92Gb)/(Gwxe2x88x92Gb))xc3x97255
Bc=((Bxe2x88x92Bb)/(Bwxe2x88x92Bb))xc3x97255
wherein
Rc, Gc, Bc=the corrected signals for the selected color
R, G, B=the measured signals for the selected color
Rw, Gw, Bw=the measured signals for white
Rb, Gb, Bb=the measured signals for black In the final step of the method according to the invention a databank is used to determine a color formula having colorimetric data most closely matching the calculated calorimetric data of the measured selected color. One measure of the color difference between the color formula and the selected color is, e.g., the following mathematical algorithm:
xcex94E*ab={square root over (((xcex94L*)2+(xcex94a*)2+(xcex94b*)2))}
wherein
xcex94E*ab is the color difference according to CIE
xcex94L*=L *1xe2x88x92L*2
xcex94a*=a1 *xe2x88x92a2 *
xcex94b*=b1 *xe2x88x92b2 * 1=the calculated colorimetric data of the selected color 2=the calorimetric data of the color formula from the databank
The smaller the color difference xcex94Eab* is, the better the match between the selected color and the color formula will be.
Color formulas can be determined in a number of ways, i.e. by means of search procedures, calculations, or combinations of the two. For example, use may be made of a databank comprising color formulas having colorimetric data linked thereto. Using the calculated calorimetric data of the measured selected color, the most closely matching color formula can be found. Alternatively, it is possible to use a databank having color formulas with spectral data linked thereto. Known calculation methods can be used to calculate the calorimetric data of the color formulas and compare them. Also, a databank can be used in which the absorption and reflection data, the so-called K and S data, of pigments are stored. Using K and S data in combination with pigment concentrations makes it possible to calculate the color formula of which the colorimetric data most closely match the colorimetric data of the measured selected color. The methods in question have been described in detail in D. B. Judd et al., Color in Business, Science and Industry. It is possible to combine the aforesaid search and calculation methods.
Phenomena such as light source metamerism, angular metamerism, and texture will affect the color matching.
Light source metamerism is a phenomenon where under a single light source, e.g., daylight, the observed colors of two objects may be the same visually, while under some other light source, e.g., fluorescent light, the colors differ. This can be taken into account by measuring under two light sources with different emission spectra. In the method according to the invention, advantageous use is made of an electronic imaging device, with recordings being made of the selected color and the calibration colors under different light sources. The software needed to process different measurements of the same object is known to the skilled person.
Textured materials, such as metallic and pearlescent paints, are characterised in that the appearance of the color changes as the angle of observation and/or exposure angle changes (angular metamerism). For proper measurement of such colors it is therefore essential to determine the color at at least two different angles. In this process it is advantageous to make use of the method according to the invention. An electronic imaging device makes it possible to measure the color of an object in any one of the following ways or combinations thereof:
At least two recordings are made with the electronic imaging device while the object moves within the image field of the device;
At least two recordings are made with the electronic imaging device while the device moves vis-à-vis the object;
At least two recordings are made with the electronic imaging device while a light source is moved vis-à-vis the object; or
One recording is made with the electronic imaging device of a flat or curved section of the object when the device is able to discriminate in a single image between data at different angles.
The software required to process different measurements of the same object is known to the skilled person.
Another characteristic of materials, such as special effect paints, is texture. Texture can be defined as an arrangement of small areas having a specific color and/or shape. It was found that by using image processing methods known as such the texture of a special effect paint can be determined from recordings made with an electronic imaging device. One way of characterising texture is by means of texture parameters. Commercially available image processing packages, e.g., xe2x80x9cOptimas,xe2x80x9d make it possible to calculate such texture parameters using the recording. An example of such calculations is given below. Needless to say, said example should not be construed as limiting the present invention in any way.
The recording of the measured selected color is used to determine the average brightness. Selected are areas in the recording which have much higher than average brightness. If so desired, it can be determined which areas overlap or adjoin and to separate those areas using software. Each selected area has its circumference and surface area calculated. This gives the average circumference, the average surface area, and the accompanying standard deviations for the measured selected color. Optionally, calculations such as averaging and filtering pixels and/or pixel groups may also be included.
If so desired, the texture measurement can be calibrated by applying one or more rulers to the calibration pattern.
For matching textured materials such as special effect paint, the method according to the invention provides the possibility of linking the color formulas in a databank not only to colorimetric data but also to texture parameters or recordings from which texture parameters can be calculated. Using these parameters or recordings the color formula most closely matching the selected color also in terms of texture can be found in the databank. One example of an algorithm for finding the most closely matching color formula which is also closest to the selected color in terms of texture is as follows:
xcex94T={square root over (w1xcex94T12+w2xcex94T22+. . . +wixcex94Ti2)}
wherein
w1-i=weighing factors
T1-i=texture parameters
It is also possible to calculate an overall parameter, e.g. xcex94Q=f(xcex94E, xcex94T).
The method according to the invention can be applied at points of sale which have to be able to supply paint in any color desired. A color formula is made up of quantities of mixing colors, master paints and/or pigment pastes. Using the color formula, the paint can be prepared in a dispenser. In the car repair sector it is customary to employ a set of mixing colors standardised for color and color strength. These standardised mixing colors, usually about 40 different colors, are present at the points of sale. From this set of standardised mixing colors any color of paint desired can be made. In the DIY sector as well as the professional painting industry it is customary to use a set of master paints standardised for color which often consists of at least one white and/or one clear master color, i.e. a paint without pigment, optionally supplemented with master paints in a number of different colors, and pigment pastes standardised for color and color strength. From this set of master paints any color desired can be made by adding pigment pastes to the master paint.
The present invention can be used with advantage in the car repair industry. In that case, the method may be carried out as follows. The color of a car to be repaired is measured using an electronic imaging device. Prior to this or at the same time, a recording is made of a panel on which different calibration colors have been applied. The colorimetric data of the car""s color is calculated. Software is used to generate the color formula which after application will give a color identical to the color of the car to be repaired. The color formula is prepared in a dispenser and applied.
As stated above, it may be advantageous to perform the calibration colors measurement simultaneously with the measurement of the selected color. This is the case for instance in the car auto repair industry, where a measuring accuracy of a xcex94E*ab smaller than 1 is required. In that case the method can be carried out such that in one image both a section of the car and the panel with the calibration colors are measured. The process does not require that the calibration panel is actually positioned on the car. It may be mounted somewhere else, providing it is in the same image field as the car during the recording.
Optionally, other information may be provided to be recorded with the electronic imaging device. For example, when several patterns are used, a code may be provided on every pattern. When the method of the invention is used in the car industry, information may be provided with regard to the type of car, its year of manufacturing, and other relevant information. This information may be provided in the form of bar codes, dot codes, or alpha-numerical information. A space may be provided on the calibration pattern for this kind of information. However, it is also possible to provide this information at any other place in the body shop as long as it is in the same image field as the car.
Since it has now proved possible to also measure the texture of an object with an electronic imaging device, the invention also comprises a method of determining a color formula for matching a selected color of textured materials such as special effect paints in which
a) the selected color is measured with a spectrophotometer or tri-stimulus meter;
b) the texture of the selected color is measured with an electronic imaging device; and
c) the measured color and texture signals are used to determine, in a databank, the color formula of which the calorimetric data and the texture parameters most closely match those of the selected color.
It is well-known to use a spectrophotometer for measuring a selected color of a special effect paint and use the spectral measuring data to find the color formula most closely matching the selected color in a databank. Such databanks often will have a texture parameter linked to the color formula, i.e. coarseness, frequently expressed in a numerical range, such as from 0 to 10. This parameter is indicated by the user, who with the aid of swatches will determine the coarseness of the special effect paint at sight. Using a method according to the invention, it is now possible to determine the texture electronically, convert it to a coarseness value, and use this value to find a color formula in an existing databank which most closely matches the selected color.
Alternatively, of course, databanks can be adapted or new ones set up in which new texture parameters or recordings are linked to color formulas.
Since special effect paints are used primarily on cars, the above methods are preferably used in the car repair industry.
Finally, the invention pertains also to a method of determining the color difference of a selected color measured with an electronic imaging device compared to a standard color sample, which method comprises the following steps:
a) an electronic imaging device is calibrated by measuring the color signals of at least two calibration colors, the calorimetric data of each of the calibration colors being known;
b) at the same time or in a next step the selected color is measured with the aid of the electronic imaging device;
c) using a mathematical model, parameters are calculated for converting the measured color signals of the calibration colors to the known colorimetric data;
d) using the mathematical model and the calculated parameters, the color signals of the measured selected color are converted to colorimetric data; and
e) the calorimetric data of the selected color are compared to the calorimetric data of a standard color sample.
The calorimetric data of the standard color sample can be available in a software program. It is also possible to measure the standard color sample before, simultaneously, or after the measurement of the selected color. This method is preferably used in the printing inks industry.
All three methods of the present invention are not restricted to but are preferably used in the paint or printing inks industry.

Methods applying color measurement by means of an electronic imaging device


A tape package providing a plurality of input and output portions each having a minimum pitch. The tape package includes a tape wiring substrate including first and second wirings, and a semiconductor chip mounted on the tape wiring substrate, and including a first edge, a first pad disposed adjacent to the first edge, and a second pad disposed to be farther spaced apart from the first edge than the first pad, where the first wiring is connected to a portion of the first pad that is spaced from the first edge by a first distance, and where the second wiring is connected to a portion of the second pad that is spaced from the first edge by a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The inventive concept relates to a tape package, and more particularly, to a tape package in which a semiconductor chip is mounted on a thin tape.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as flat panel display devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) have been developed, an industry of tape packages used as components of driver chips of display devices is also developing. The tape package uses a tape automated bonding (TAB) method using an input/output wiring pattern that is mounted on a tape wiring substrate by being directly attached to a printed circuit board (PCB) or a display panel.


A data sending method is provided. Media access control MAC payloads corresponding to a plurality of user equipment (UEs) are encapsulated in one MAC packet data unit PDU, where the MAC PDU includes a header, the MAC payloads and identification information of each UE in the plurality of UEs; and the header includes a plurality of subheaders, the plurality of subheaders is subheaders respectively corresponding to a MAC payload corresponding to each UE in the plurality of UEs, the MAC payload corresponding to each UE includes a MAC control element CE and/or a MAC service data unit SDU, and the identification information is used for identifying each UE. The MAC PDU is sent. Correspondingly, a data receiving method and apparatus are also provided. In the foregoing solutions, transmission of a MAC PDU during multi-user cooperated communication is implemented.

With the rapid development of mobile communications technologies, mobile communications systems of various modes have come into being, for example, a global system of mobile communication (GSM) network, a general packet radio service (GPRS) network, a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) network, a CDMA2000 network, a time division-synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) network, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) network, and long term evolution (LTE) network. Such mobile communications systems not only provide voice communication services, but generally also provide data communication services. Therefore, users may upload and download various data by using the data communication services provided by such mobile communications systems.
However, all current communication means are used for sending or receiving data for a single user equipment (UE). Even if another enhanced communication means is used to improve reliability and/or throughput of data transmission of the user equipment, for example, in an LTE system, coordinated multipoint transmission/reception technology (CoMP) is used to improve the reliability of a user equipment at an edge of a cell, and carrier aggregation (CA) is used to improve the throughput of the cell, which is still an operation for a single user equipment. Once the channel condition of the user equipment deteriorates, the throughput and/or reliability of data transmission of the user equipment will drop abruptly.
This requires introduction of multi-user cooperated communication, i.e., data transmission between a base station and a first UE further requires forwarding through a second UE, which makes it possible to select an air interface path, thereby implementing multi-user diversity.
The prior art does not provide a solution how to transmit a media access control packet data unit (MAC PDU) of multi-user cooperated communication.


An apparatus and method are provided for machine learning method using a network of agents. The agents are arranged in a network with respective links between pairs of agents, and the links enabling the exchange information. Different agents can apply different reasoning paradigms corresponding to different approaches to machine learning and artificial intelligence. These disparate approaches are seamlessly integrated to aggregate decisions and learning performed using different approaches using an economics model in which a Nash equilibrium is reached through the exchange of information. Each agent selects which other agents to exchange information with by seeking to optimize preference, utility, and objective functions, and these function include how well the agents obtain an assigned goal subject to other desirable features and characteristics (e.g., enforcing diversity).

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have been applied to many different problems and technologies, but conventional approaches have several drawbacks limiting their impact. Whereas the great strength of AI technology is its coverage of nearly every aspect of intelligence, its great weakness is fragmentation. Most AI systems are designed and built from one paradigm. For example, the most well-known AI paradigm today is Deep Learning, a subset of machine learning, which itself is a subset of AI. In the Deep Learning paradigm, multi-layer artificial neural networks ("ANNs") are the most commonly used method, and backpropagation is the most common ANN learning method.
Backpropagation incorporates gradient descent over an error surface in a space defined by the weight matrix. That is, it calculates the gradient of a loss function. Thus, Deep Learning is not straightforwardly amenable to being combined with other AI paradigms, such as logic. The same can also be said of other machine learning methods. That is, they are fragmented such that combining them requires specialized considerations, which are often not robust.
Further, although machine learning methods are good at nuanced classification and prediction, they lack contextual capability and minimal reasoning ability. Conversely, symbolic methods are good at reasoning over defined problems, but have no learning capability and poor handling of uncertainty. If these approaches could be combined, the strengths of one paradigm might compensate for the deficiencies of the other, and vice versa. However, any system that endeavors to combine multiple paradigms requires a great deal of specialized labor to tailor the components, make them work together, and test the many combinations on desired outputs. Even then the result might not be robust to changes.
Unfortunately, conventional methods fail to provide a robust solution to the above challenges.

Model and pattern structure online unital learning: mapsoul


A valve opening and closing timing control apparatus includes a driving-side rotation member, a driven-side rotation member, a phase adjustment mechanism configured as a differential type reduction gear mechanism where an inner gear rotates about a rotation axis while revolving around an eccentric axis which is disposed parallel to the rotation axis in a state where a drive shaft fitted in the inner gear is driven to rotate about the rotation axis, a biasing member provided at an outer periphery of the drive shaft and applying a biasing force to mesh an external teeth portion of the inner gear with an internal teeth portion of the ring gear, and a restriction portion provided at the drive shaft to restrict a displacement of the inner gear in a direction where the inner gear is separated from the ring gear against the biasing force of the biasing member.

A known valve opening and closing timing control apparatus which specifies a relative rotation phase between a driving-side rotational member and a driven-side rotational member by a drive force of an electric actuator is disclosed, for example, in JP2008-038886A which is hereinafter referred to as Reference 1. Specifically, Reference 1 discloses a differential type reduction gear mechanism including a ring gear (an inner gear portion) arranged coaxially with a rotation axis, an inner gear (a planetary gear or a second gear member) arranged coaxially with an eccentric axis which is disposed in parallel to the rotation axis, and a drive shaft (a planetary career) internally fitted to the inner gear so that an external teeth portion of the inner gear is meshed with a part of an internal teeth portion of the ring gear.
The valve opening and closing timing control apparatus disclosed in Reference 1 further includes a biasing member (a spring member) at a position not matching or overlapping a position at which the external teeth portion of the inner gear is meshed with the internal teeth portion of the ring gear (i.e., not matching or overlapping an eccentric direction) in an outer periphery of the drive shaft. The biasing member applies a biasing force for meshing the external teeth portion of the inner gear with the internal teeth portion of the ring gear.
Further, in the valve opening and closing timing control apparatus disclosed in Reference 1, a recess portion (an accommodation portion) is provided at the outer periphery of the drive shaft so that a leaf spring constituting the spring member is fitted in the recess portion for exercising the biasing force.
According to the valve opening and closing timing control apparatus disclosed in Reference 1, the inner gear (the planetary gear or the second gear member) is supported at least at three portions including a portion at which an inner peripheral surface of a center bore of the inner gear and an elastic force application line intersect with each other, a portion at which the inner peripheral surface of the center bore of the inner gear and an outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft (the planetary career) make contact with each other, and a portion at which the inner gear and the ring gear (the inner gear portion) are meshed with each other.
With the aforementioned construction, even in a case where a cam fluctuation torque is transmitted to the valve opening and closing timing control apparatus, looseness of the inner gear is restrained so that generation of abnormal noise is inhibited. That is, according to the valve opening and closing timing control apparatus disclosed in Reference 1, the inner gear is supported at the three portions to stabilize the position or posture of the inner gear while a clearance at a meshed portion between the inner gear and the ring gear is also reduced to thereby restrain generation of abnormal noise and phase fluctuation.
At this time, in an assumed construction where the inner gear is arranged to be rotatable about the eccentric axis, the teeth portion of the inner gear and the teeth portion of the ring gear being meshed with each other in a state where a biasing force is applied in a direction where the teeth portions of the inner gear and the outer gear are meshed with each other, the aforementioned meshing state is maintained by the large biasing force. As a result, generation of abnormal noise is restrained and the phase fluctuation is also restrained.
Nevertheless, with the large biasing force, tooth surfaces of the inner gear and tooth surfaces of the ring gear make strong contact with each other to generate sliding resistance that may cause increase of rotation load. As a result, a response speed of the valve opening and closing timing control apparatus may be lowered.
A need thus exists for a valve opening and closing timing control apparatus which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

Valve opening and closing timing control apparatus


The present invention relates to an image sensor comprising a microlens array, and to a manufacturing method thereof. The method of the present invention includes gradually increasing the aluminum composition ratio of a compound semiconductor as the latter gradually gets farther from a substrate, to enable a microlens-forming layer to grow, and making the oxidation rate of the region adjacent to the substrate slower and the oxidation rate of the region farther from the substrate faster, making the interface between the oxidized region and the unoxidized region into a lens shape after the completion of oxidation. The thus-made lens is integrated into an image sensor. The present invention reduces costs for manufacturing image sensors in which a microlens is integrated, increases the signal-to-noise ratio and resolution of the image sensor, and achieves improved sensitivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sensor including a microlens array and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an image sensor including a microlens array and a method of manufacturing the same, by which a lens may be manufactured using a semiconductor material. The method enables a lens to be monolithic or hybrid integrated with an image sensor, which makes the image sensor have a high numerical aperture (NA), a subminiature, high-density, polygonal microlens array.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Generally, the improvement of signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), resolution, and sensitivity has become an important issue in developments of image sensors, particularly, high-performance infrared (IR) image sensors.
A main cause of a noise of an IR image sensor may be a dark current. Since the dark current is linearly proportional to the area of the photodetector, a photodetection region should be reduced to improve an SNR.
In addition, since the number of pixels per unit area should be increased to improve the resolution of an image sensor, the area of each pixel including a photodetection region should be reduced.
However, a reduction in the photodetection region may lead to a reduction in the amount of light received by a photodetector, which may bring about a reduction in the light reception efficiency of the photodetector, thus resulting in a drop in the sensitivity of the image sensor.
Thus, a microlens array including a plurality of microlenses may be formed on an image sensor. The microlens array, which may focus light incident to a pixel on a small photodetection region of the pixel, may function to effectively increase the amount of light incident to a photodetector even if the photodetection region is reduced.
Accordingly, many methods of manufacturing a microlens array integrated in an image sensor have been proposed thus far. A representative method of manufacturing an image sensor including a microlens array may include reflowing a polymer.
A method of reflowing polymer may include forming a transparent predeposition layer on a substrate including an image sensor, forming photoresist patterns for a plurality of microlenses on the transparent predeposition layer, and reflowing the photoresist patterns by heating. As a result, since the polymer tends to have a globular surface due to surface tension, a microlens array having a predetermined radius of curvature may be formed.
However, each of the microlenses formed using the above-described reflow method may have a naturally circular shape, and thus the fill factor of the microlens array (i.e., a ratio of the area of the microlens to that of a square unit pixel region or unit cell region of the microlens array) may be limited to 78% or lower.
That is, at least 22% of light incident to each of square pixels may be incident to a region where no microlens is formed. Accordingly, at least 22% of the light incident to each of the pixels may not be focused on the photodetection region but be lost without contributing to forming images.
Furthermore, since a method of manufacturing a microlens array using the reflow of a polymer was performed using surface tension, it was difficult to control the radius of curvature or focal distance of the microlens, which doesn't allow a high-density of microlens array.

Image sensor comprising a digital-alloy microlens array integrated with sensor array, and manufacturing method thereof


The invention describes a ski binding (1), with guide elements (8, 9) which can be mounted or pre-fitted on a ski (3) in the binding longitudinal direction (10), for a front and a rear jaw body (4, 5). A first coupling element (15) is connected to the front jaw body (4) and a second coupling element (16) is connected to the rear jaw body (5). Mutually facing end portions (17, 18) of these coupling elements (15, 16) co-operate with a positioning and fixing mechanism (14) disposed between the jaw bodies (4, 5) in order to adjust and retain the jaw body (4, 5) as necessary. An overlap width (19) between the two coupling elements (15, 16) can be varied to make an individual adjustment for different jaw distances (12). At least one coupling element (15, 16) is provided with at least two mutually parallel rows (21, 22, 23) of positioning elements (20), and these positioning element-rows (21, 22, 23) are disposed offset from one another in the binding longitudinal direction (10). An offset distance (24) between adjacent rows (21, 22; 22, 23) of positioning elements (20) represents a step dimension for an overlap step width between the coupling elements (15, 16).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a ski binding with guide elements which can be mounted or re-fitted on a ski oriented in the binding longitudinal direction for a front and a rear jaw body, of the type specified in claim 1.
2. Prior Art
Binding manufacturers, hire shops and users have long sought means of adjusting a ski binding or adapting a ski biding to respective shoe sizes rapidly and comfortably. On this subject, reference may be made to the ski binding disclosed in patent specification DE 35 23 058 A1. It describes a ski binding with an adjusting mechanism provided in one of the jaw bodies, in particular the front jaw, by means of which the entire jaw unit comprising both jaw bodies can be fixed in different positions in the ski longitudinal direction on the one hand and the jaw distance can also be adjusted to the respective shoe sizes by means of this adjusting mechanism on the other hand. Accordingly, the heel jaw is coupled with the adjusting mechanism in the front jaw body by means of a strip-shaped connecting element. The disadvantage of this is that the adjusting mechanism in the front jaw must be made to a larger volume and the operating lever for the adjusting mechanism has to be moved into two different positions in order to be able to change the jaw distance or in order to be able to set the relative position of the binding unit with respect to the ski. This means that the user or operator of the ski has to concentrate more.
Patent specification DE 41 35 899 A1 discloses a ski binding, in which the two jaw bodies for retaining the toe-end and heel-end terminal portion of the sports shoe are accommodated and guided in longitudinal guides. Disposed between the front and the rear jaw body is a length adjusting mechanism for individually adjusting the jaw distance. The embodiments of the length adjusting mechanisms described enable either a synchronous coupled movement to be defined between two strip-shaped connecting elements to the jaw bodies or, alternatively, enable the jaw bodies to be moved independently of one another. A longitudinal positioning mechanism for this central length adjusting mechanism positions the length adjusting mechanism in at least one relative position by reference to the ski longitudinal direction. In the case of the embodiments where the two jaw bodies can be moved relative to the ski in the uncoupled state, small steps or toothed strips with relatively fine toothing are needed to enable small adjustment step widths for the jaw bodies.
Patent specification DE 100 39 816 A1 also discloses a ski binding, the jaw bodies of which are fitted so that they can be adjusted in longitudinal guides permanently secured to the ski if necessary. In this instance, mutually facing strip-shaped or strap-like connecting elements on each of the two jaw bodies co-operate with a positioning and fixing mechanism for the connecting elements disposed between the longitudinal guides. Complementary teeth on the mutually facing end portions of the connecting elements which can be moved into engagement with one another are intended to assist the process of fixing the respective distance needed between the two jaw bodies and prevent slipping as far as possible. In order to obtain sufficiently small adjustment step widths, fine teeth are provided with small tooth-to-tooth distances. In one alternative embodiment, it is proposed that an integral connecting element be provided between the jaw bodies and, by means of several orifices spaced at a distance apart from one another in the integral connecting element in the binding longitudinal direction in combination with a matching projection on the central positioning and fixing mechanism, the unit comprising the front jaw body, the integral connecting element and the rear jaw body can be positioned on a stepped basis by reference to the ski and binding longitudinal direction. However, the finely spaced teeth used to obtain small adjustment step widths make it difficult to adjust the jaw body to the respective desired positions.

Ski binding with a positioning and fixing mechanism for the jaw bodies


A developer supply container and an electrophotography imaging apparatus using the developer supply container, relating to the field of electronic imaging apparatuses. The developer supply container comprising an accommodating cylinder and a feeding member is provided in the accommodating cylinder, wherein an outer surface of the accommodating cylinder is provided with a driving receiving portion. The developer supply container is further provided with a housing located at an end of the accommodating cylinder, the housing is provided with a powder outlet. A first storage portion is provided at an end of the feeding member close to the housing, a second storage portion in communication with the first storage portion is provided in the housing, the second storage portion is in communication with the powder outlet, and the second storage portion is provided with a stirring device therein.

An electrophotography imaging apparatus usually comprises an image processing unit and a developer supply container which detachably arranged in the image processing unit. The developer supply container contains developer (toners) such as toner, which develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the image processing unit to form a visible image on media such as paper. As the developer is consumable, it needs to be constantly replenished into the electrophotography imaging apparatus, but the developer unit which detachably installs into the electrophotography imaging equipment usually only contains a certain amount of developer, therefore, the developer supply container needs to be replaced frequently.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are respectively an exploded view and a sectional view of an existing developer supply container which detachably arranged in the image processing unit, the developer supply container 100 contains an accommodating portion for accommodating developer, further contains a feeding portion 120, the feeding portion 120 is used to feed developer in accommodating portion 120 with its own rotation, the developer supply container 100 further comprising a discharge portion 130, which comprises a discharge outlet 131 for allowing the developer accommodated by the accommodating portion 120 to be discharged, and the developer supply container 100 further comprising a pump portion 140, the pump portion 140 acts on the discharge portion 130 and comprising a volume that changes with repeated movement, and the developer supply container 100 further comprise a drive receiving portion 111, which is for receiving a rotational force from the developer replenishing device to rotate the accommodating portion 110, the developer supply container further comprises a drive converting portion 150, which is used to converting the rotational force received by the drive receiving portion 111 into a force to operate the pump portion 140.
In particular, the pump portion 140 is retractable and this retraction is sufficient to change the internal pressure of the developer supply container 100 by changing the volume. The drive converting portion 150 drives the pump portion 140 to perform axial expansion movement, which drives the internal air pressure of the developer supply container 100 to change between positive and negative pressure repeatedly. Under the action of the positive pressure of the pump portion 140, the developer flows out of the discharge outlet 131 and enters the developer unit. When the pump portion 140 returns to its original state, the negative pressure drives the developer inside the developer supply container 100, to keep the internal developer maintain a fluffy state, preventing the developer from forming a mass that is not easy to discharge from the discharge outlet 131.
However, the pump portion 140 has a volume that changes with repeated movements to change the internal pressure of the developer supply container 100, and during the return of the pump portion 140 to its original state, there is a negative pressure that draws the developer back, causing the developer to be not supplied smoothly.
Thus, some existing developer supply containers are equipped with a blast cavity, a wind wheel is set in the blast cavity, and the wind wheel is equipped with multiple blades, when the developer supply component rotates, the wind wheel also rotates, and through the rotation of the wind wheel, airflow is further formed, and the airflow drives the developer flow which keeps the developer in a fluffy state. And some other developer supply containers are equipped with a discharge cavity at the upstream end of the powder outlet, spiral-shaped transmission components are installed in the discharge outlet, through the transmission components, the developer is stirred to keep the developer maintain a fluffy state. As both of the above two solutions do not require a pump portion, so the problem of the developer to be not supplied smoothly can be prevented and can keep the developer maintain a fluffy state.
However, since the above-mentioned solutions do not require a pump portion, the transfer volume of the developer is affected resulting in a small transfer volume reduction after each rotation of the developer feeding component, which affects the quality of the developed image and leads to the lighter color of the text, patterns formed on the paper.

Developer supply container and electrophotography imaging apparatus