The present disclosure discloses an internal and external clamping method and device of a thin-wall tubular part during rotary processing. A plurality of support blocks of this device are spaced to form an annular structure around the flange bush; the middle portion of each support block is provided with a through hole; a support claw is provided between every two support blocks, and the side surface of the support claw is provided with the through hole; a rotary shaft penetrates through the through holes in the support claws and the support blocks; and the plurality of support claws are spaced to form a support claw ring having the annular structure.

There is a kind of thin-wall tubular parts in the field of machining. The clamping method of the tubular parts during rotary processing is generally external clamping. When the clampable region of the tubular part is short, the tubular part will have a poor clamping effect and is easy to slip during the processing. Therefore, solid bars are often filled inside the tubular part to achieve internal and external clamping of the tubular part. However, when the diameter of the mouth portion of the tubular part is smaller than that of the middle portion of the same, this clamping method of filling with the solid bar is no longer applicable. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an effective internal and external clamping method and device to achieve, during the rotary processing, the clamping of a thin-wall tubular part with a short clampable region and a mouth portion smaller than the middle portion in diameter.

Internal and external clamping method and device of thin-wall tubular part during rotary processing


The present invention relates to a strain of Salmonella enteritidis 3934vac, which has been deleted the waaL gene to obtain a rough phenotype (3934vac DwaaL), the obtaining procedure and the oligos used with the objective of reducing toxicity and maintaining immunogenicity for its application as a vaccine. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a strain of Salmonella enteritidis 3934vac DwaaL, i.e. rough type, which has been modified to express the gene of the avian adenovirus type I fiber, in addition to the procedure for obtaining a Salmonella enteritidis 3034 vac DwaaL strain expressing an AvA-I fiber gene. The invention also comprises the development of a new, live, recombinant, effective and innocuous avian vaccine against the AvA-I virus developed via an insertion and integration process of AvA-I fiber genes in the chromosome of an attenuated and non-pathogenic strain of the bacterium Salmonella enteritidis.

A growth of 30% is expected in the poultry sector for the next 8 to 10 years; this growth is accompanied by successful health programs, which in turn depend on effective and safe vaccines. HCI/SHP (inclusion body hepatitis/hepatitis hydropericardium syndrome) is a disease that causes up to 50% mortality in affected birds and is a latent problem in Peru, because despite the vaccination there are still outbreaks, a problem that is not solved because the technology used for the elaboration of vaccines is the same for 20 years.
Recently, the techniques of genetic manipulation, added to the availability of bacterial genomes, the better knowledge of the mechanisms of pathogenesis and the immune response have allowed new approaches for the development of attenuated bacterial strains as vectors of heterologous genes. Thus, enteropathogenic bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, Vibrio cholerae, Yersinia enterocolitica or Bordetella pertussis have been used as effective vectors as vaccines. Of all of them, Salmonella spp has given the most promising results. Thus, vaccine vectors based on attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strains have been used to generate a protective immune response against viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens and as vehicle to carry anti-cancer treatments. In the specific case of birds, this type of vaccine has been evaluated as a gene vector for infectious bronchitis virus, avian influenza virus, avian reovirus and Clostridium perfringens. All these works agree with the fact that these vaccines were able to provoke a lasting protective immune response, besides being safe to avoid the risk of causing the disease. Considering the aspects mentioned above, there is a great support in the success that the development of a recombinant live vaccine against AvA-I using as a vector an attenuated SE strain would offer the poultry industry. These advantages can be summarized as follows: (1) severe attenuation through several processes of directed mutagenesis through a mechanism of allelic exchange that prevents reversion, do not introduce exogenous DNA and convert the resulting strain into a totally safe vaccine vector; (2) the amount of expression of the AvA-I antigen can be regulated by genetic manipulation; (3) it can be administered by oral inoculation; (4) it strongly stimulates the innate and adaptive immune system; and, (5) in turn, it would provide protection against SE. Although the development of vaccines using bacterial vectors has been and is currently the object of numerous investigations, to date there are no licensed commercial vaccines based on SE. Therefore, the development of this vaccine would set a good precedent in this area of research and development and would not have competition in national and international market.
The strain used in the present invention was isolated and described by Solano, C., Garcia, B. Valle, J., Berasain, C. Chigo J. M., Gamazo, C., & Lasa, I. Genetic Analysis of Salmonella enteritidis biofilm formation: Critical role of cellulose. Molecular Microbiology, 43(3), pp. 793-808. This study reports a new screening method based on the fluorescence of colonies on calcofluor agar plates to identify mutants of Salmonella enteritidis that are defective in biofilm formation. These results not only confirmed the requirement of genes already described for the modulation of multicellular behavior in Salmonella typhimurium and other species but also revealed new aspects of the biofilm formation process, such as new genetic elements named as bcsABZC and bcsEFG operons, necessary for the synthesis of an exopolysaccharide hydrolysable by cellulase. Non-polar mutations of the BcsC and bcsE genes, as well as complementation experiments, demonstrated that both operons are essential for cellulose biosynthesis in the LB and ATM media, both in S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium. This study also showed that the biofilm produced by S. enteritidis is composed of different components, suggesting that the composition and regulation of the biofilm depends on environmental conditions. In addition, the results suggest that cellulose is not involved in the virulence of S. enteritidis, although mutants deficient in the production of this polysaccharide were more sensitive to chlorine treatments, suggesting that cellulose production and the formation of biofilm would be an important factor in the survival of S. enteritidis on surfaces. In a later study, Solano C., Garcia, B., Latasa, C. Toledo-Arana, A. Zorraquino, V. Valle, Joan Casals, Enrique Pedroso and Iñigo Lasa. Genetic Reductionist Approach for Dissecting Individual roles of GGDEF proteins within the c-di-GMP signaling network in Salmonella. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106 (19, pp. 7997-8002. (2009) performed an ambitious genetic approach in which the 12 genes that encode proteins with enzymatic activity of diguanylate cyclase (DGC, proteins with GGDEF domain) were deleted in the same strain described above. These enzymes synthesize the secondary messenger c-di-GMP, a molecule whose involvement in key bacterial biological processes such as the formation of biofilms or virulence has been widely studied in numerous species. In the specific case of this strain of SE, the total depletion of c-di-GMP correlates with the loss of the capacity to form biofilms, a slight attenuation in a murine model and a greater sensitivity to extreme environmental conditions.
As a result of the genetic approach described above, patent document ES 2324084B1 describes the invention of a method that allows producing multiple modifications in the chromosome of Gram negative bacteria and strains of Salmonella deficient in synthesis of C-di-GMP obtained by it. Said invention also relates to two mutant strains of enteric Salmonella obtained by said method in which the twelve genes encoding proteins with GGDEF domain have been deleted (mutant ΔXII::Km and mutant ΔXII::Clo) and to the use thereof as expression vectors, immunotherapeutic agents and in metabolic studies.
Garcia Ona Enrique. "Análisis de una cepa avirulenta de Salmonella enteriditis para su use como vacuna viva atenuada. Universidad Pública de Navarra (2011), the Thesis: Analysis of an Avirulent Strain of Salmonella enteritidis for Use as Live Attenuated Vaccine, studied the potential of several derived strains included in document ES 2324084B1 for the development of a vaccine able to induce an immune response, decrease the colonization of organs and the release of Salmonella in feces in intensive pig farms. This work concluded that the candidate Salmonella strain for the development of a vaccine would be the strain known as S. Enteritidis 3934ΔXII*, which has deleted the 12 genes that encode proteins with GGDEF domain and carries an additional deletion in a chromosomal region that includes the transcriptional regulator RpoS. This strain is avirulent, has a diminished ability to survive in the environment and since it does not contain exogenous DNA, it would not be classified as GMO (genetically modified organism). Oral immunization assays using a murine infection model, revealed that immunization with a single dose of 107 ufc (Colony Forming Units) of this strain is capable of inducing a protective immune response against Salmonella infection, indicating that strain may be a suitable candidate for use as a live attenuated vaccine.
Latasa, C., Echeverz, M., Garcia, B., Gil, C., Garcia-ona, E., Burgui, S. Noelita Caseres, S. Hervás-Stubss., J. J., Lasarte, I. Lasarte., C. Solano Evaluation of Salmonella strain lacking the secondary messenger c-di-GMP and Rpos as a live oral vaccine. PLos ONE, 11(8), pp. 1-22 (2016) conducted the following study with the objective of constructing a new live attenuated Salmonella vaccine: first, the impact of the absence of cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) on the Salmonella virulence was analyzed. As previously mentioned, C-di-GMP is a secondary intracellular messenger that controls a wide range of bacterial processes, including the formation of biofilm and the synthesis of virulence factors, as well as modulating the innate immune response of the host through the STING receptors. The results described in this article showed that a multiple mutant of Salmonella, from whose genome the twelve genes encoding diguanylate cyclase proteins have been deleted and, as a consequence, cannot synthesize c-di-GMP, presents a moderate attenuation in a model of systemic murine infection. A further controlled mutation (unlike the S. enteritidis 3934ΔXII* strain, in which the loss of this sigma factor had resulted from a natural counter-selection) of the rpoS gene resulted in a synergistic attenuating effect, which led to a highly attenuated strain, called ΔXIII. This strain is sufficiently immunogenic to protect mice against an oral lethal attack of a virulent strain of S. typhimurium. The immunogenicity of ΔXIII depends both on the activation of the humoral and cellular response and is characterized by the production of opsonizing antibodies and the induction of significant levels of IFN-γ, TNF-A, IL-2, IL-17 and IL-10. ΔXIII is capable of forming biofilms and does not survive under desiccation conditions, which indicates that it could be easily removed from the environment. In addition, ΔXIII has DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) properties, which allow the differentiation of infected and vaccinated animals. In order to facilitate the terminology, the ΔXIII strain is also known as 3934vac.
Additionally, the paper of Kong Q., Yang, J., Liu, Q., Alamuri, P., Roland, K. L. & Curtiss, R. Effect of Deletion of Genes Involved in Lipopolysaccharide Core and O-antigen synthesis on virulence and Immunogenicity of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Infection and Immunity, 79(10), pp. 4227-4239. (2011), describes the effect of the elimination of the O-antigen and the sugars of the core in the virulence and immunogenicity of Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium. In this study, non-polar mutations by deletion were performed in the waaG (rfaG), waaL (rfaI), rfaH, waaJ (rfaJ), wbaP (rfbP), waaL (rfaL), or wzy (rfc) genes in a wild-type strain of S. typhimurium. After confirming the structure of the LPS, several properties in vitro and in vivo of each mutant were analyzed and all mutants showed a significant attenuation and lower invasion capacity compared to the wild-type parental strains when administered to BALB/c mice orally. In addition, the strains carrying a mutation in waaG and waaL were deficient in the colonization of the Peyer patches and liver, this deficiency being partially compensated after the intranasal administration of the mutant DwaaL. In the context of an attenuated vaccine strain supplying the pneumococcal antigen PspA, all mutations tested resulted in reduced immune responses against PspA and Salmonella antigens. These results indicate that non-reversible truncation of the outer core is not a viable option to develop a live oral Salmonella vaccine, whereas a wzy mutant, which retains one unit of the O-antigen, would be adequate to stimulate optimal protective immunity to homologous or heterologous antigens orally, intranasally or intraperitoneally.


Described herein is a Förster (or fluorescence) resonance energy transfer (FRET) configuration with three energy transfer pathways between three luminescent components, where two of the energy transfer steps occur in sequence as a relay, and the first step of the relay is in competition with a third energy transfer process (energy transfer from the donor to the intermediary is in competition with energy transfer from the donor directly to the terminal acceptor).

Conventional Förster (or fluorescence) resonance energy transfer (FRET) configurations typically comprise two fluorescent dyes assembled into discrete pairs. Energy transfer is observed in a single step from the donor to the acceptor. This basic format is sufficient for many applications and is, by far, the most commonly reported in the scientific literature. Several commercial products (e.g., molecular beacons, TaqMan probes) also rely on discrete FRET pairs. More complex FRET configurations with multiple energy transfer steps have also been described, where energy is transferred from an initial donor to a terminal acceptor in n successive steps through n−1 intermediary dyes that act as both an acceptor (for the previous dye in the sequence) and donor (for the next dye in the sequence). The common feature of these configurations is that the FRET relays are designed to extend the range of energy transfer to distances greater than that allowed by the constraints of one-step FRET (i.e., >1.5-times the Förster distance, or typically >6 nm). As such, the configurations are typically linear, pseudo-linear, or otherwise comprise a sequential geometric arrangement where the excitation energy moves further out into space from its origin at the initial donor.

Concentric forster resonance energy transfer relay for the parallel detection of two bio/physicochemical process

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


The folding vehicle bed assembly includes a housing member that can be connected to a vertical support wall and a bed frame that can be stored within the housing member or extended for use. A movable support lever provides a first pivotal connection to the bed frame to enable the bed frame to rotate when moved from an operative horizontal position to a vertical storage position. A second pivotal connection is attached to the end of the bed frame adjacent to the vertical support wall and above the height of a mattress. A motor assembly is connected to the second pivotal connection to drive it parallel to the vertical support wall and to rotate the end of the bed frame about the second pivotal connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of recreational vehicles and trailers that can incorporate a folding bed and, more particularly, a combination folding bed with accessory furniture items that can be motor driven for storage in a minimal storage area.
2. Description of Related Art
Convertible furniture units have been subject to numerous innovations over a considerable period of time in an effort to provide an economic usage of space. Recreational vehicles and trailers have also attempted to maximize the living space that is available by including convertible tables, sofas, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,066 represents a proposal to provide a foldable bed for a trailer that could be manually stored. A triangular hinge member is designed to provide leverage to permit an initial rotation of a bed frame about a first pivot point and then a second pivot point is used to provide a second rotation of the bed into a vertical storage position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,195 discloses a convertible furniture unit that includes an upper platform in the form of a bed or a table and a lower platform that can be structured into a desk. The upper platform can be manually positioned, while the lower platform can be driven by motors mounted within the various components. A torsion bar can provide a spring force. Another example of a combination wardrobe and bed assembly can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,813.
Examples of motor driven folding beds can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,915,507, 2,038,410, and 2,067,136.
Finally, folding bed assemblies of general interest can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 463,221, 4,748,868, 1,224,738, 1,628,763, and 4,329,746.
The prior art is still seeking to optimize a folding bed assembly and the field of recreational vehicles is still seeking a folding bed assembly which is particularly adapted to be used in a vehicle that can be economically manufactured to ensure a safe and reliable convenience to the occupants.


Exemplary embodiments are directed to a controller unit for a switching device. The controller unit includes a body part and an operating axle, which is turnable between a closed position and an open position in relation to the body part and is functionally connectable to contacts of the switching device to change respective states of the contacts between the closed position and the open position. The controller also includes a control axle that is turned by a user between an off-position and an on-position in relation to the body part and is functionally connected to turn the operating axle. A tripping assembly is functionally connected to the operating axle such that the tripping event of the tripping assembly turns the operating axle from the closed position to the open position. Connecting means selectably connect the control axle to the tripping assembly.

A switching device is a device with contact means for selectively producing an open state and a closed state in an electric circuit. The open position of the contact means is arranged to produce the open state in the electric circuit, and the closed position of the contact means is arranged to produce the closed state of the electric circuit. The controller unit of the switching device typically includes a control axle arranged to be turned by a user and functionally connected to the contact means of the switching device to change states between the open position and the closed position. The controller unit can also be provided with a tripping assembly, which is functionally connected to the contact means of the switching device in such a manner that a tripping event of the tripping assembly is able to change the state of the contact means of the switching device from the closed position to the open position. The tripping assembly can be remotely controlled by an electric signal.
An example of a switching device provided with a remote tripping assembly is disclosed in European Patent 1053553 "Remote trip mechanism of a switch device".

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A delayed coker drumhead handling apparatus, which includes remotely operable trammel pivot apparatus to open and close the coke drum by moving the drumhead downwardly and laterally, such that the apparatus is especially suitable for use in areas of restricted clearance to the operating deck or otherwise confined space.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention is delayed coker drums, and more particularly a drumhead handling apparatus which is especially suitable for use with such drums, in view of the high pressures, high temperatures and dirty and hazardous conditions which prevail and the requirement of the drums for frequent and rapid opening.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many refineries recover valuable products from the heavy residual oil that remains after the normal refining operations are completed. This recovery process, known as delayed coking, produces valuable distillates and coke in a large vessel called a coke drum. Typically, coke drums are used in pairs and operated alternately. Thus, while one coke drum is being filled with the heated residual oil for a 16 to 24 hour cycle in which the volatile components are driven off for recovery elsewhere and the balance converted to coke, the other drum is being cooled and purged of the several hundred tons of coke formed during the previous recovery cycle. The operating conditions are quite severe. Normal operating pressure ranges from 40 to about 60 pounds per square inch and the feed input temperature is slightly over 900.degree. F. In addition, operating personnel may be exposed to finely divided coke particles, steam, hot water and noxious gases, when the drum is opened.
Coke recovery operations commence following a water quench step. Steam and water are introduced into the coke filled vessel to complete the recovery of volatiles and cool the mass of coke. At this point, the vessel is vented to atmospheric pressure and the top head (typically a 4-foot diameter flange) is unbolted and removed to enable placement of the hydraulic coke cutting apparatus. After the cooling water is drained from the vessel, the bottom head (typically a 7-foot-diameter flange) is unbolted and removed to allow the hydraulically cut (i.e., high pressure water jet) coke to fall out. A typical operating procedures manual will state: "Protective rain gear and face shields must be worn when deheading top and bottom coke drumheads".
In a typical delayed coker processing system, as described and illustrated in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,524, filed Jul. 29, 1988, entitled "Coke Drum Unheading Device", the first step in the current practice of removing coke involves placing a deheading cart under the drum, raising a flange support ram, with braces installed, and loosening some (up to one half) of the flange bolts by manual operation with an impact wrench. Following the water quench and drain, the remaining bolts are manually removed, braces are removed from the ram, the approximately 4-ton flange is lowered, and the cart, with flange resting thereon, is moved away.
The conventional coke drum deheading process is thus hazardous because of the required manual operations in conjunction with the drum, which holds a large quantity of coke that may be loose, and various amounts of hot water. In Antalffy, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,524, filed Jul. 29, 1988, entitled "Coke Drum Unheading Device", commonly assigned with this application, and in the paragraph entitled "Closure Apparatus Application Example" of U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,876 issued Sep. 17, 1991, entitled "Closure Apparatus for Pipes and Vessels", a system and process for removing the coke drumhead are described which provide an advantageous method of coke drum unheading in installations in which a relatively great amount of vertical space exists between the bottom of the drum and the floor. The drumhead is pivoted away from the drum by remote control means so that the drum may be opened without the need for human operators in the vicinity of the drumhead. There must be sufficient space between the bottom of the drum and the floor, however, to permit pivoting of the drumhead from the shut position to the fully opened position. In some delayed coker installations presently in use, the space between the bottom of the drum and the floor is as small as 4 1/2 to 5 feet, which is insufficient to permit pivoting of a drumhead of the type disclosed in pending application Ser. No. 5,098,524.
Thus, the need exists for a remote controlled coker unheading system that is suitable for use in installations where the distance between the drum and the floor is insufficient for pivoting of the drumhead.

Delayed coker drumhead handling apparatus


A coordinate input device includes a housing containing a movable member, a resilient member formed of a coil spring, and first and second detectors for detecting the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member. The movable member in an initial position before a sliding operation faces a supporter of a first cover provided in the housing. When the movable member is slid in a certain direction, the resilient member is stretched in the certain direction and the first and second detectors detect the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member. When the sliding operation of the movable member is finished, a resilient force of the resilient member stretched in the certain direction forces the movable member to return automatically to the initial position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to coordinate input devices, and particularly, to a coordinate input device which allows desired input by sliding an operating part and which is suitable for, for example, personal computers, mobile phones, and video game units.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a conventional coordinate input device which can be operated by sliding an operating part to perform a desired input operation. Such a conventional coordinate input device is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-84916. The coordinate input device includes an upper casing 51 at the top portion of the device, and an insulative lower casing 52 which faces the upper casing 51 and is disposed below the upper casing 51.
The upper casing 51 is provided with a flat electrode section 51a, a shaft guide 51b, and a circular operation hole 51c. Specifically, the electrode section 51a extends around the outer periphery of the upper casing 51, and the shaft guide 51b protrudes from the central portion of the electrode section 51a. The circular operation hole 51c extends through the center of the shaft guide 51b.
Furthermore, a pair of caulkers 51d extends downward from two corresponding sides of the upper casing 51, i.e. at the left and the right of the drawing.
On the other hand, the lower casing 52 includes a cover 52a around the outer periphery of the lower casing 52, and a cavity 52b surrounded by the cover 52a. The cover 52a of the lower casing 52 is provided with a caulking protrusion 52c for caulking the upper casing 51. The caulking protrusion 52c extends to a predetermined height.
The central portion of a bottom plate 52d forming the cavity 52b is provided with a switch-holding section 52e which extends downward to a predetermined depth.
Furthermore, the bottom plate 52d is provided with a fixed electrode 53 which includes, for example, four equally-divided fan-shaped electrode components, i.e. first to fourth electrode components, in the circumferential direction of the bottom plate 52d.
The fixed electrode 53 further includes reeds 53a which are connected to the corresponding first to fourth electrode components. The reeds 53a extend toward the exterior of the cover 52a.
The bottom surface of the switch-holding section 52e of the lower casing 52 is provided with a switch circuit 54. The switch circuit 54 includes a circular central fixed-contact 54a and a peripheral fixed-contact 54b having, for example, a horseshoe shape and disposed distant from the central fixed-contact 54a.
The central fixed-contact 54a and the peripheral fixed-contact 54b are respectively connected with external terminals 54c and 54d which extend toward the exterior of the bottom plate 52d.
Furthermore, an operating shaft 55 extends through the shaft guide 51b of the upper casing 51. The operating shaft 55 includes an operating part 55a protruding upward and a flanged part 55b.
The operating shaft 55 further includes a supporting part 55c below the flanged part 55b and having a larger diameter than the operating part 55a, and a contact-pressing part 55d protruding downward from the center of the bottom surface of the supporting part 55c.
According to the operating shaft 55, the operating part 55a extends upward through the operation hole 51c of the upper casing 51, and the flanged part 55b is in contact with the inner surface of the shaft guide 51b. Thus, the operating shaft 55 is slidable in any horizontal direction, and moreover, can be pressed vertically.
The cavity 52b contains a toric-shaped movable electrode 56. The central portion of the movable electrode 56 is provided with a supporting hole 56a which engages with the supporting part 55c of the operating shaft 55.
Furthermore, the outer diameter of the movable electrode 56 is smaller than the inner diameter of the cavity 52b, such that a resilient member 57 is disposed in a space between the inner peripheral surface of the cavity 52b and the outer peripheral surface of the movable electrode 56.
The resilient member 57 is an O-shaped ring whose inner diameter is equal to or less than the diameter of the movable electrode 56. The cross section of the resilient member 57 is substantially oval.
Since the resilient member 57 is disposed in the space between the inner peripheral surface of the cavity 52b and the outer peripheral surface of the movable electrode 56, the biasing force of the resilient member 57 allows the movable electrode 56 to be positioned at the center of the cavity 52b.
Moreover, adjacent to each of the top and bottom surfaces of the movable electrode 56, an insulative sheet 58 is provided.
The switch-holding section 52e of the lower casing 52 contains a metallic contact 59 whose central portion is projected upward.
The metallic contact 59 in the switch-holding section 52e is in contact with the tip of the contact-pressing part 55d of the operating shaft 55, and the periphery of the metallic contact 59 is electrically in contact with the peripheral fixed-contact 54b of the switch circuit 54.
Referring to FIG. 14, the operation of such a conventional coordinate input device will now be described. Firstly, the operating shaft 55 is in the initial state. This initial state refers to a neutral state in which the movable electrode 56 and the operating shaft 55 are positioned at the center of the cavity 52b by the resilient force of the resilient member 57.
In the initial state, a controller (not shown in the drawings) is capable of determining the electrostatic capacitance generated between the electrode section 51a of the upper casing 51 and the electrode components of the fixed electrode 53 in the lower casing 52.
For example, when a horizontal force is applied to the operating shaft 55 in the initial state in a direction indicated by an arrow X, the movable electrode 56 slides toward the left of the drawing such that the left portion of the resilient member 57 is compressed and resiliently deformed.
Thus, the electrostatic capacitance between the fixed electrode 53 and the movable electrode 56 at the left side of the drawing increases from the initial value.
At the same time, the electrostatic capacitance between the fixed electrode 53 and the movable electrode 56 at the right side of the drawing decreases from the initial value.
When the controller detects such a change in electrostatic capacitance, a cursor on a display screen of, for example, a mobile phone (not shown in the drawings) can be moved to a desired position at the left side of the display screen.
When the cursor is shifted to the desired position and the operating shaft 55 is pressed vertically, the contact-pressing part 55d of the operating shaft 55 presses against the metallic contact 59.
Thus, the metallic contact 59 becomes resiliently deformed such that the tip of the deformed metallic contact 59 comes into contact with the central fixed-contact 54a. The metallic contact 59 thus electrically connects the central fixed-contact 54a and the peripheral fixed-contact 54b so as to switch the contact of the switch circuit 54.
For example, the switching of the contact of the switch circuit 54 can allow a message, corresponding to the position of the cursor on the display screen, to be opened.
Furthermore, when the horizontal force or the vertical force applied to the operating shaft 55 is released, the resilient force of the resilient member 57 or the resilient force of the metallic contact 59, respectively, forces the operating shaft 55 to return automatically to the neutral position, i.e. the initial state.
Such a conventional coordinate input device, however, is problematic in that the device is large in size. This is due to the fact that, for allowing the operating shaft 55 to slide by a large distance, the thickness, of the resilient member 57, whose cross section is substantially oval, must be made large so that the resilient member 57 can be deformed in cross section.
Moreover, a large operational force is required for sliding the operating shaft 55 so as to cross-sectionally deform the resilient member 57. Otherwise, the movable electrode 56 cannot be slid properly.
Consequently, this may cause problems for, for example, women and children since they may not be able to slide the operating shaft 55 by a large distance and thus may not be able to perform a desired coordinate input operation.


A nib for a stylus for use with a tablet and stylus computer. The nib provides a desired amount of firmness and friction between the stylus and a writing surface of the tablet and stylus computer. A nib substrate material approximates a desired nib-and-writing-surface firmness and a desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface. A secondary material is optionally added to the nib substrate material to alter the amount of friction between the stylus nib and the writing surface.

The present invention relates generally to styluses for use in interacting with a tablet-and-stylus computer. More particularly, the invention relates to various designs, and design considerations, of stylus nibs, also referred to as writing tips, for such styluses.
As used herein, the term Tablet PC refers to, by way of example, without limitation, a full-function xe2x80x9cMICROSOFTxe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cWINDOWSxe2x80x9d operating system-based personal computer incorporating various convenient and intuitive aspects of pencil and paper into a user""s interaction with a PC. Such Tablet PCs provide a very natural way to interact with a computer, namely, by writing on it, without sacrificing the power or utility of various xe2x80x9cWINDOWSxe2x80x9d operating systems and/or various xe2x80x9cWINDOWSxe2x80x9d operating system-based desktop applications. As will be apparent, Tablet PCs, as the term is used herein, are not limited to computers running a xe2x80x9cWINDOWSxe2x80x9d operating system. Instead, a Tablet PC, may run any other known, or later-developed, operating system.
Tablet PC""s are likely to become increasingly popular for a variety of reasons. For instance, in the context of taking notes during a meeting, a Tablet PC presents less of a barrier between individuals than does a laptop computer. In addition, Tablet PC""s allow for capturing of handwritten notes so that Tablet PC users are able to take notes in their own handwriting, in an unobtrusive manner similar to taking handwritten notes with a pen and paper. While providing the simplicity of pen and paper, Tablet PC""s have the potential to provide many features and benefits provided by word processors and other personal computer software, including sharing of notes among meeting participants in real-time during a meeting via a wireless communication link, for instance. Additional advantages over pen and paper include, but are not limited to the ability to search notes for particular words, including xe2x80x9cfuzzy finds,xe2x80x9d and the ability to input information in other ways including speaking and any other suitable means for inputting information.
Among other ways of entering textual information, Tablet PC users will often use a stylus, also referred to herein as a pen, to write on a display area of the Tablet PC. Such a pen or stylus may also be used as a pointing device directly on the screen or above the screen to make various in-air gestures.
Conventional pens or styluses, such as those commonly used with a Personal Digital Assistant, typically have a writing tip, also referred to herein as a nib, made of hard plastics. The interaction of such nibs to the writing surfaces on which they are commonly used is often undesirably hard, slippery, and noisy. Some conventional nibs, such as the DigitalWriter from A.T. Cross Company, are made of a soft polymer material. Even though the soft polymer nib is an improvement over a hard plastic nib, the interaction of a soft polymer nib is still undesirable on many writing surfaces.
Accordingly, there is a need for various nib designs that provide an improved xe2x80x9cpen and paperxe2x80x9d feel to a user that is interacting with a Tablet PC by writing on the display surface of the Tablet PC.
A nib for a stylus for use with a tablet and stylus computer overcomes the foregoing shortcomings of conventional styluses. In accordance with various inventive principles, a desired amount of firmness and friction between the stylus and a writing surface of the tablet and stylus computer is provided. Such an inventive nib may include a nib substrate material that approximates a desired nib-and-writing-surface firmness and a secondary material added to the nib substrate material to produce a desired amount of friction between the nib and the writing surface. The intended writing surface may be a liquid crystal display or a liquid crystal display overlay. The nib substrate material may be coated, over-molded, or impregnated with the secondary material.
The nib substrate material may be a porous material impregnated with a dry lubricant or Teflon. The nib substrate material could be nylon fiber optionally impregnated with Teflon. The nib substrate material could include a Teflon fiber and one or more additional types of fiber including Nylon, cellulose acetate, and/or polyester. The nib substrate material could include polyester, and the secondary material could include a fiber wrap, optionally including Teflon, surrounding the nib substrate material.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reviewing the following detailed description.

Stylus nibs for providing a pen-and-paper feel for use with a tablet-and-stylus computer


A redundantly printed security-enhanced document, printing method and system ensure the meaning of the information imparted by variable indicia printed by redundant printing on the document with removable scratch-off coatings. By printing the variable indicia with multiple colors, redundancy and integrity of the intended indicia is achieved. Additionally, inverted color indicia countermeasures to pinprick attacks are also disclosed. The redundantly printed document, methods and systems enhance the overall appearance of the redundantly printed document, and reduce possible consequences resulting from misprinted variable indicia. The resultant printed process color indicia maintains a grayscale equivalent level of a process color greater than or equal to the measured grayscale equivalent level of the substrate surface plus an additional contrast delta of 15%.

Lottery scratch-off or instant games have become a time-honored method of raising revenue for state and federal governments the world over. Indeed, the concept of hiding indicia information under a SOC has also been applied to numerous other products such as commercial contests, telephone card account numbers, gift cards, etc. Literally, billions of scratch-off products are printed every year where the Scratch-Off-Coatings (SOCs) are used to ensure that the product has not been previously used, played, or modified.
Typically, the indicia are printed using a specialized high-speed ink jet printer or imager with a water-soluble dye. Normally, the indicia are monochromatic black or in some cases red in color, but in all cases each type of indicia is imaged as a discrete spot color.
This use of single spot color indicia imaging has repeatedly proven to be problematic with traditional spot color inkjet heads partially clogging, such that a portion of the indicia prints while other portions do not. For example, in January 2015, a Roswell, New Mexico lottery player believed he won over $500,000 in an instant ticket key number match game. The lottery player believed that he was holding a winning ticket 100 (FIG. 1) because the key number match indicia was "1" and the lottery ticket misprint, due to clogged inkjet, made the intended indicia numbers of "18" and "13" to appeared to be two occurrences (101 and 102) of the winning key match number "1" (i.e., two $250,000 winners) with the intended second indicia digits barely appearing (101 and 102) on the ticket 100. A similar $500,000 misprint due to clogged inkjet heads occurred with the Florida Lottery (FIG. 2—110) with the ticket holders filing a lawsuit against the lottery after they were told their apparent winning ticket was a misprint. Again, in the case of the Florida Lottery, the misprinted ticket 110 displayed misprinted key match indicia 111, which when matched to game indicia 112 readily appeared to be a $500,000 winner. Indeed, there are many other documented cases (e.g., Wisconsin Lottery apparent $1,000 winning ticket) of instant ticket misprints due to clogged inkjet imager heads with some news media and attorneys claiming that the lottery or the ticket manufacturer should be forced to pay for the apparent misprinted prize value.
Some attempts to mitigate the problem of clogged lottery inkjet misprints have been attempted with the incorporation of detailed legal disclaimers, abbreviated captions of indicia, and the development of elaborate automated press monitoring systems—e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,400 (Duke). However, legal disclaimers do nothing to mitigate bad press resulting from misprinted lottery tickets and so far have not stopped lawsuits. Additionally, most players do not notice any indicia captions due to small size and abbreviated spelling—see FIG. 3 magnification of Florida ticket 110′ misprinted key match indicia 113 and associated caption 114. Automated press monitoring systems, while commendable in theory, have in practice proved to be both expensive and unreliable—e.g., the previously cited New Mexico Lottery misprinted ticket 100 of FIG. 1 and Florida Lottery misprinted ticket 110 of FIG. 2 were both printed with the support of an automatic press monitoring system as disclosed in the cited Duke patent.
To date, some state jurisdictions have attempted to pass legislation forcing lotteries or their ticket providers to pay out apparent prizes on misprinted tickets with comments like: "That's a real problem because people are throwing away tickets all the time that could very well be winning tickets if these misprints are out there . . . ." It is therefore highly desirable to develop techniques and methodologies for ensuring the redundancy and integrity of scratch-off ticket indicia. Ideally, these redundancy mechanisms would also provide added security against pin-prick attacks of instant tickets where a nefarious person attempts to identify winning indicia via a series of small holes on the SOC such that the attacked ticket still appears to be intact and unplayed to the untrained eye. Particularly, these redundancy and security techniques should enhance the aesthetics of the ticket or document rather than detracting from its appearance. The present invention essentially eliminates or solves problems of misprints or tampered tickets or other documents.

Instant ticket redundancy via multi-chromatic indicia


The present invention relates to a resin composition for forming an optical film, an optical film, and a polarizing plate, in which the resin composition for forming an optical film improves adhesion between an antiglare layer and a light-transmitting substrate film and enables the antiglare layer and the optical film to exhibit excellent optical properties such as appropriate haze, low gloss value, and excellent antiglare properties. The composition for forming an optical film is a resin composition for forming an optical film for forming an infiltration layer and an antiglare layer having surface irregularities on a light-transmitting substrate film, and comprises: a binder-forming compound including a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate-based compound having three or more functionalities, and a permeable compound having a hydrophilic functional group and a photo-curable functional group; two or more light-transmitting fine particles having a sub-micron (sub-μm) scale; and a permeable solvent capable of dissolving at least a part of the light-transmitting substrate film, wherein the binder-forming compound and the permeable solvent have a weight ratio of 1:0.04 or more.

In an image display device such as an organic light emitting diode (OELD) or a liquid crystal display (LCD), it is required to prevent a decrease in contrast due to a reflection of external light or a reflection of an image, and a deterioration of the visibility. For this purpose, in order to reduce a reflection of an image and a reflection of light by using scattering of light or optical interference, an optical laminated film such as an antireflection film is formed on the surface of the image display device.
For example, in a liquid crystal display or the like, an optical laminated film including an antiglare layer has been generally formed. Such an antiglare layer mainly includes a binder and fine particles contained in the binder, and these fine particles are usually formed so that a part thereof protrudes on the surface of the binder. That is, since the antiglare layer has surface irregularities due to fine particles protruding on the surface of the binder, it can control light scattering/light reflection, and the like to suppress deterioration of the visibility of the image display device.
However, since the optical film having the antiglare layer as described above is usually formed on the outermost surface of an image display device to control light scattering/light reflection, etc., it is often subjected to an impact from the outside. For this reason, mechanical properties such as excellent adhesion between the antiglare layer and the substrate film, and hardness are required.
However, in the case of previously known optical films, the adhesion and hardness were often not sufficient depending on the types of the substrate film and the binder. In addition, when attempting to secure the adhesion or hardness by changing the type of the binder or the like, the optical properties of the antiglare layer or the like are rather deteriorated, and thus the antiglare properties for controlling the light scattering/light reflection cannot be exhibited properly.

Optical film having organic and inorganic particles of different sizes, and polarizing plate comprising same


Systems are disclosed herein that can capture image data reflecting real world objects and/or actions and convert this data into a format that, is usable in a virtual universe (VU). Thus, image data representing real world/actual objects and actions can be acquired, converted into virtual universe compatible data, sent to a VU server where the actions and objects can be associated with a virtual area or an avatar, and a recreation of the objects and actions can be displayed to a user in the VU. This allows a participant to customize activities and objects in the VU, and provide a unique “personality” for their avatar and their VU. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Operating in a virtual environment utilizing a computer is a pass-time that is gaining popularity. A virtual environment is an interactive simulated environment accessible by multiple users who can interact through an "online" interface using a network client. One deficiency with VUs is that the environment and items in the environment is not easily customized.
User friendliness of computers continues to be enhanced by better user interfaces. User interfaces for computers systems have evolved significantly since the personal computer (PC) first became widely available. Early PCs used rather primitive user input devices, where a single keyboard was the only human input mechanism. The vast improvement in microprocessors, available memory, and programming functionality have all contributed to the advancement of user interface designs and the development of user friendly graphic based operating systems and hardware.
One particular area of advancement in user interface technology pertains to surface computing technology. Surface computing allows any number of users to interact with a computer through an interactive surface. The computer can render a graphical user interface ('GUI') on the surface and multiple users may manipulate GUI displayed "objects" directly with their hands using multi-touch technology as opposed to using traditional input devices such as a mouse or a keyboard. In such a manner, the devices through which users provide input and receive output are merged into a single surface, which provide an intuitive and efficient mechanism for users to interact with the computer. As can be appreciated the combined software and hardware technology of the interactive surface can allow a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of natural motions, hand gestures, of physical objects.
As surface computing becomes more ubiquitous in everyday environments, advancements in how users interact with a surface computing device to efficiently perform tasks may show remarkable improvements over traditional input devices such as a keyboard and mouse. Such a system is commonly referred to as a multi-touch interactive system. Such a system can include a touch screen or touch tablet (touchpad) that recognizes multiple simultaneous touch points and typically has software to interpret such simultaneous touches. Such a system can also communicate with wireless devices such as Bluetooth compatible devices, devices equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and wireless cameras.
There are several detection technologies that may be utilized for detection of devices by a multi-touch interactive system. Optical-based and infrared based proximity detection techniques have been developed to recognize objects that are either in contact or proximate to the multi-touch surface. In addition object recognition sensors such as bar code readers have also been adapted to work with multi-touch surfaces.
With regard to virtual universes, users can inhabit and interact in the virtual environment via avatars, which can be two or three-dimensional graphical representations of human or non-human form. Alternately described, an avatar can be a graphical representation that a user selects for others to see while in the same virtual environment. An avatar can assume various graphical representations such as that of a human character, animal character, an icon, abstract personas, and so on.
Virtual environments have many different names. For example, a virtual environment can be referred to as a "metaverse,", "3D Internet", "virtual world", and so on referred to herein as a virtual universe (VU). Although there are many different types of virtual environments, there, are several features many VUs have in common. For example, many VUs have a shared space, which is a "universe," for many avatars to reside in as they concurrently participate in an activity. The VU avatars can traverse, inhabit, and interact with other avatars via 3-D graphics and landscapes. Thus, a VU can be populated by many thousands of residents or avatars. Often, the VU resembles aspects of the real world in terms of physics or physical laws, houses, and landscapes, etc.
An agent can be a user's account, upon which the user can build an avatar, and which is tied to the inventory of assets the user owns. A region can be a virtual area of and within the VU, typically residing on a single server. Assets, avatars, the environment, and anything visual can have UUIDs (unique universal identifier) that are associated with geometric data, among other data. The geometric data can be distributed to users as textual coordinates. Textures can be distributed to users as graphics files, which are placed within the boundaries of specified textual coordinates. Effects data can be rendered by the user's client according to the user's preferences and user's device capabilities. Lastly, socialization and/or community features allow and encourage the formation of social groups such as teams, guilds, clubs, cliques, housemates, neighborhoods, etc.
Residents can be personas or representations of the users of the VU, and residents can roam all about the virtual region by walking, driving, flying, or even by teleportation or transportation, which is essentially moving through space from one point to another in the VU, more or less instantaneously. The VU can also include things that do not presently exist in real life. An avatar can have a wide range of business and social experiences while interacting with the VU. Such business and social experiences are becoming more common and increasingly important in on-line VUs.
There are many different services that provide VUs via the World Wide Web. For example, Second Life, Entropia Universe, The Sims Online, There, and Red Light Center all provide some form of VU, and these service providers have trademark rights in such names. VUs can also, provide multiplayer online games such as EverQuest, Ultima Online, Lineage, or World of Warcraft, and likewise such service providers have trademarks in such name. One popular VU mentioned above available is "Second Life" (Second Life is a trademark of Linden Research in the United States, other countries, or both). The Second Life client program provides its users (referred to as residents) with tools to view, navigate, and modify the Second Life world and participate in its virtual economy. Second Life and other on-line VUs present a tremendous new outlet for both structured and unstructured virtual collaboration, gaming, exploration, advertising, and travel, as well as real-life simulations in virtual spaces.
Many VUs also have a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI can depict the VU or some form of "space" visually, ranging in style from 2D "cartoon" imagery to a more immersive 3D environment. In addition many virtual environments provide immediacy, interactivity, and persistence. Immediacy allows interactions between a user's avatar and the environment to take place in real time. Persistence provides a continuous environment regardless of whether individual users are logged in.
Interactivity with the environment allows users to alter, develop, build, or submit customized content to a limited degree. As stated above, the types of objects that an avatar can possess and the types of actions an avatar can carry out are limited. The ability to customize such objects, actions and gestures is also less than perfect. Furthermore, the graphical rendering of available objects, actions and gestures in the VU is limited.

Rendering of real world objects and interactions into a virtual universe

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention allows an application to access a local wireless access point to monitor the status of a mobile terminal. The status of the mobile terminal bears on the relative presence or location of the mobile terminal with respect to a local wireless access point or an ability of the mobile terminal to communicate via the local wireless access point. When the status bears on the ability of the mobile terminal to communicate with a local wireless access point, the status may relate to signal strengths, bit rates, or locations associated with the local wireless communications between the mobile terminal and the local wireless access point.

Given the extensive acceptance and flexibility of packet networks, there is a movement to support voice communications over packet networks, in addition to the various media applications that dominate packet-based communications. Access to these packet networks is often afforded through local wireless communications, such as communications using Bluetooth, the IEEE 802.11, and wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies. Local wireless access is generally provided through an appropriately configured access point, which is capable of supporting local wireless communications with a properly configured mobile terminal, which may take the form of a mobile telephone, personal digital assistant, or personal computer.
To facilitate local wireless communications, there are generally numerous local wireless access points spread throughout a geographic area that the mobile terminal may use to gain access to the packet network. As such, it is necessary to track the relative location of the mobile terminals or their ability to communicate with a particular local wireless access point, such that the mobile terminal may participate in communication sessions initiated by the mobile terminal or by a third party. As such, there is a need to determine whether the local wireless access points are supporting or can support local wireless communications with the mobile terminal, if another access point should be handling the communications, or if communications should be handed off to a cellular connection, separate from the local wireless access environment. These determinations often rely on the mobile terminal registering or unregistering with the packet network in association with the serving local wireless access point or its ability to establish communications with the packet network through a local wireless access point. Unfortunately, relying on the communication ability of the mobile terminal is problematic, because channel conditions may change quickly or the mobile terminal may move outside of a local wireless communication range in a fashion disrupting the ability of the mobile terminal to register, unregister, or otherwise provide information bearing on the ability of the mobile terminal to establish communications via the local wireless access point.
Accordingly, there is a need for a technique to monitor the status of a mobile terminal without relying on the ability of the mobile terminal to communicate with the packet network via a local wireless access point. The status of the mobile terminal may bear on the mobile terminal's location, presence within a local wireless communication zone, or communication information such as signal strengths, bit rates, or locations. There is a further need to provide the status information to applications used for communication sessions with the mobile terminal, such that communications with the mobile terminal may be more effectively and efficiently directed and controlled.

Monitoring mobile terminals via local wireless access points


A variety of methods, systems, devices and arrangements are implemented for use with motion capture. One such method is implemented for identifying salient points from three-dimensional image data. The method involves the execution of instructions on a computer system to generate a three-dimensional surface mesh from the three-dimensional image data. Lengths of possible paths from a plurality of points on the three-dimensional surface mesh to a common reference point are categorized. The categorized lengths of possible paths are used to identify a subset of the plurality of points as salient points.

Three-dimensional modeling of structures by a computer can be useful for a wide range of applications. Common applications relate to the generation of virtual structures to produce a visual display that depicts the structure. For example, video games often generate in-game characters using virtual models that recreate the motions of real-world actors, athletes, animals or other structures. Similar efforts are often undertaken for computer-generated characters in movies, television shows and other visual displays. The useful applications span areas as diverse as medicine, activity recognition, and entertainment. As robots become more commonplace in settings that include humans, they will need the ability to recognize human physical action.
Increasingly, virtual modeling is moving away from the creation of a cartoon style appearance to more of a photo-realistic display of the virtual sets and actors. It can still take a tremendous effort to create authentic virtual doubles of real-world actors. Creation of a model that captures the muscle, joint, neurological and other intricacies of the human body is a prohibitively difficult proposition due to the sheer number of factors involved. Thus, modeling of a person is often implemented using motion capture of a real-world person. While in recent years, algorithms have been proposed that capture full skeletal motion at near real-time frame rates, they mostly rely on multi-view camera systems and specially controlled recording conditions which limit their applicability. It remains one of the biggest challenges to capture human performances, i.e., motion and possibly dynamic geometry of actors in the real world in order to map them onto virtual doubles.

Intelligent part identification for use with scene characterization or motion capture

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A liquid crystal display panel defines a display area and a non-display surrounding the display area. The panel includes a color filter substrate and a thin film transistor array substrate opposite to the color filter substrate. The color filter substrate includes a first substrate and a black matrix on the first substrate. The black matrix is in the display area and extending to the non-display area. A gap is defined in the black matrix and in the non-display area. The gap extends to be a circle around the display area and divides the black matrix into two independent parts. The color filter substrate includes a second substrate and a metal ring on a side of the second substrate facing the thin film transistor array substrate. The metal ring surrounds the display area and aligns with the gap.

In the liquid crystal display technology, In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology utilizes a fringe electric field generated between the upper and lower electrodes on the thin film transistor array substrate to drive the liquid crystal molecules to rotate on a horizontal plane parallel to the thin film transistor array substrate. When the temperature of the liquid crystal display panel is high and there is a high potential on the thin film transistor array substrate, the black matrix layer of the liquid crystal display panel will have abnormal conductivity. As a result, an abnormal electric field may develop on the electrodes on the thin film transistor array substrate and the black matrix layer, thereby affecting the IPS parallel electric field, causing abnormal liquid crystal alignment in the display area and bright lines to appear on an edge of the display area of the liquid crystal display panel.
Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

Liquid crystal display panel having a color filter substrate with a metal ring and method for making same

Century Technology (Shenzhen) Corporation Limited


A removable gripping device for a container has two clamp-forming elements which are mounted to a gripping body, one of which can move longitudinally between an open position and a closed position; and movement elements which are designed to move the mobile element. According to the invention, the device also has locking devices which can move between an active position and a locking position in which they prevent the lever from rotating and moving from the retracted position to the deployed position thereof.

This invention relates to a removable gripping device for a container, particularly a secure removable handle for a pot or a pan.
A removable gripping device for a container of the type comprising two members forming a gripper mounted on a gripping body is known, in which one of the members forming the gripper is free to move in translation with respect to the gripping body, along a direction approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the gripping body between an open position and a closed position in which the members forming a gripper are adapted to grip an edge of the container, the removable gripping device comprising displacement means adapted to displacing members forming the gripper with respect to each other, said displacement means comprising a lever free to move in rotation with respect to the gripping body between an extended position and a retracted position in which the mobile member forming a gripper is in the closed position, and a transmission means extending between the lever and the mobile member forming a gripper adapted to displacing the mobile member forming a gripper in translation when the lever is pivoted, said displacement means being shaped such that the lever 7 is in a stable equilibrium position when it is in the extended position and when it is in the retracted position, and it passes through an intermediate unstable equilibrium position when it passes from one of these two stable equilibrium positions to the other.
Such removable gripping devices are described in patent applications FR 2 739 772 and FR 2 768 914.
In these known prior devices, when a sudden manipulation of a removable gripping device takes place, the devices forming a gripper may accidentally change from their closed position to their open position particularly if, when the members forming the gripper are in the closed position, the displacement means are close to the equilibrium position from which the members forming the gripper are brought towards their open position when the members forming the gripper are in the closed position, which means that there is a risk that the user would spill the contents of the container, possibly causing scalding.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,776 also describes a gripping device of the type mentioned above comprising locking means separate from the displacement means, free to move between an active position and a locked position in which they prevent the lever from accidentally rotating to its unstable equilibrium position. According to this document, the locking means are formed by a ball mounted free to slide on the gripping body and adapted so that it is partially housed in a cavity formed on the lever when the lever is in a closed position. Every time that the lever is deliberately pivoted in one direction or the other, the shape of the cavity and the force of the spring connecting the ball to the gripping body enable the ball to slide so that the ball moves into its active position. Obviously, these locking means are not capable of preventing the lever from opening in all cases, beyond a certain force applied to the lever.
Therefore the problem that arises is to make a removable gripping device according to which the members forming a gripper cannot accidentally move from their closed position to their open position, even under circumstances mentioned above, and are thus safer to use.


A transmission power control apparatus which reduces the number of steps required for adjustments of the transmission power control apparatus and performs transmission power control with high accuracy in a wide dynamic range. The apparatus has a first variable amplifying circuit (122) with the resolution of 1 dB and a second variable amplifying circuit (123) with the resolution of 0.1 dB, where a correction value calculating section (106) calculates a correction value to compensate for deterioration in the accuracy of transmission power caused by a change in environment due to frequency characteristics and temperature characteristics and another correction value to compensate for error in transmission power, a transmission power calculating section (107) calculates transmission power obtained by correcting with the correction value specified transmission power to output to a communicating party based on the received signal, and a first set value calculating section (108) and a second set value calculating section (109) calculate gain values to set on the first variable amplifying circuit (122) and second variable amplifying circuit (123) based on the corrected transmission power, respectively.

A radio communication apparatus needs to increase transmission power to transmit signals so as to enable a communicating party to receive the signals, but when the power is excessively increased, the radio communication apparatus interferes with radio communication apparatuses other than the communicating party. Therefore, by performing transmission power control, the power is adjusted to suitable transmission power whenever necessary.
In general, as described in Patent Document 1, a transmission power control apparatus uses a variable amplifying circuit with an analog control voltage as its input voltage. The variable amplifying circuit has the gain characteristic proportional to the analog control voltage generated by a D/A converter. However, when a wide dynamic range is required as in a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) scheme, it is difficult to maintain linearity of the input/output characteristic (control voltage-gain characteristic) over the entire voltage control range, which is described below with reference to drawings.
FIG. 1 is a graph showing the gain characteristic of a variable amplifying circuit with respect to the analog control voltage. As shown in the figure, in gain control with the analog voltage, the gain shows nonlinearity when the control voltage (DAC code) is low or high, and the control voltage-gain characteristic is not uniform over a wide dynamic range. Therefore, in a conventional transmission power control apparatus, the DAC code for arbitrary transmission power is stored in memory, and read out when necessary to control an amplification rate, and it is thereby possible to obtain accurate transmission power. In addition, the resolution of transmission power is determined by the resolution of the D/A converter and control sensitivity characteristics of the variable amplifying circuit.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI11-177444


Utilization of event drapery for visual aids, and similar purposes is facilitated by insertion of an intermediate support bar between vertically disposed and relatively spaced posts supported at their bottoms by base plates and secured at their tops by an upper support bar. A clamp, positionable and securable, at any one of a relatively infinite number of positions along each post, functions to secure support bar receivers in place which, in turn, receive respective ends of the intermediate support bar to facilitate disposition of the visual aid and further event drapery. A base plate supports a pair of vertical posts and facilitates positioning two sets of drapes back to back.

1. Field of the Application
This invention relates to space dividers and enhancers; and especially such dividers and enhancers which utilize uprights with horizontal supports disposed there between for positioning fabrics such as drapes, and/or other materials, to enhance the appearance of, or divide, a space and provide the same with one or more visual aids.
2. Description of Prior Art
It is often necessary to temporarily divide a space into a number of smaller spaces for trade show, conference, craft show and other similar purposes; or to reduce the size of the space to accommodate a function that does not require a space of the size then available or to decorate temporarily. Such space dividing is generally accomplished by the use of screens and/or space dividers which generally utilize vertically disposed posts or uprights; disposed in spaced relationships; supported at their lower ends by base plates, or the like; and positioned on the ground or floor; and secured together at their upper ends by hooked horizontal support bars. The resulting space between the uprights and under the upper support is filled by a panel or panels of material, which could include drapes or the like. Sand bags or similar weighted members are often used to stabilize and counterbalance the assembled space dividers. When the uprights are not tall enough, upright extensions may be attached to the top of the base upright.
Upper ends of the spaced uprights are usually secured in spaced relationship by upper supports, usually tubular or other shaped bars, with end caps that may carry hook ends for insertion and disposition in slots disposed at the upper end of the uprights or upright extensions. Additional slots may be formed at various spacings through the uprights for additional cross-supports but placement of such additional cross-supports are then limited to the location of the pre-formed slots. Alternatively, the height of the uprights are adjusted via telescopic pipe within a pipe.
Some examples of space dividers referred to above are shown in: U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,035 patented on Jun. 27, 1989 to O. Thompson for "Space Divider and Framing Members Therefor"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,737 patented on Oct. 28, 1997 to G. D. Shelpline for "Structural Connector Hub for Exhibit Booths"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,724 patented on Apr. 29, 2003 to R. A. Bigler for "Panel and Trade Show Booth Made Therefrom"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,118 patented on Mar. 30, 2004 to J. M. Nussdorf for "Portable Exhibition Frame Assembly". However, the respective openings, between the uprights and horizontal supports, for the above can only be filled in by panels of space dividing materials and would not also readily accommodate and position a visual aid or visual aids for subsequent use.
At times it is desirable to position a pair of space dividers in close proximity to each other. However, to do so as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,492 patented on Jul. 22, 1980 to G. E. Guebert, et al. for "Drapery Rod Clip" requires that a clip supported space divider drape be positioned over and clipped to the support rod of a rod supported space divider drape, which may be difficult and possibly damage the rod supported drape.


A tread element (314) is located between the axially outer end of the lugs of the tread and lateral tread edge (310) of the tire (300). The tread elements (314) provide a flexing action for breaking the soil bond or adhesion to the tread of the tire. The tread elements (314) are not located in the discharge path but are adjacent to the discharge area in order to eject or remove soil, mud, sand etc., therefrom.

The present invention relates generally to pneumatic tires and more specifically to pneumatic tires designed to be used primarily off-the-road, and even more specifically as agricultural (farm) tires or tractor tires. Still more specifically the invention relates a tread having good soil cleaning characteristics especially in the removal of mud.
Pneumatic tires designed primarily for off-the road use often feature an "open" tread pattern with a lower net-to-gross ratio than tires intended for highway use. For example the net-to-gross ratio of off-the-road or agricultural tires can range from 25% to 40% as compared to about 60-75% for on the road tires.
Off-the-road or agricultural tires also commonly feature axially extending tread lugs which cut into the loose ground surface and an inner tread surface, the area between the protruding tread lugs, which usually contacts the ground surface. In normal operation, the lugs cut into the loose ground surface and provide a means for axial traction and lateral stability while the inner tread surface provides flotation and supports the weight of the vehicle. In a tire designed for a more conventional highway application, the area of the inner tread surface between the protruding tread lugs is not meant to contact the road surface.
In that these tires are capable of being used on a variety of surfaces, such as mud, sand, compacted soil, gravel, etc. the foreign matter or soil must be "cleaned", removed, from between the lugs, otherwise the axial traction and lateral stability will be reduced. In other words, if the grooves, the area between the lugs, becomes compacted or filled during a rotation of the tire by soil and it is not removed during the next rotation, the traction for subsequent tire rotations will be reduced. This may then result in the tractor or vehicle becoming immobile.
In order to enhance the cleaning or removal of soil or other debris from the tread, attempts have been made to place cleaning elements between the lugs, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,030,998 to Jensen. The cleaning elements extend along the axial or lateral extent of the lugs and appear to be as tall as the lugs themselves. It is believed that this attempt to solve the problem of cleaning focuses on the wrong area of the tread. Rather, it is believed that the area between the lugs should remain as free and clear of obstruction as possible while placing the cleaning element at the discharge area of the tire, ie the lateral edges of the tread. In other words, if the area adjacent to the lateral edges of the tread remain open, the soil will be able to be discharged from between the lugs as it is channeled therefrom. The placing of objects, or ribs, such as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,030,998 is believed to hinder the natural flow or discharge of the soil.


A fuel cell including at least a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), a pipe, a pump and a linkage arrangement is provided. The MEA includes an anode layer, a cathode layer and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The pump is adapted to drive a fluid flowing in the pipe to provide fuel for the anode layer. The linkage arrangement includes a first blade, at least a second blade and a connecting element. The first blade is disposed inside the pipe and located on a flowing path of the fluid, and the fluid is adapted to drive the first blade to rotate. The second blade is disposed outside the pipe, and the connecting element is adapted to connect the first blade and the second blade so that the first blade drives the second blade to rotate to bring air to flow through the cathode layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell and more particularly to proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC).
2. Description of Related Art
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), and the MEA includes a proton exchange membrane (PEM) and two electrode layers. The two electrode layers include an anode layer and a cathode layer. Furthermore, the two electrode layers are disposed on each side of the PEM. Fuel (such as methanol or hydrogen) for the anode layer reacts with a catalyst to generate hydrogen ions and electrons. The hydrogen ions pass through the PEM to the cathode layer, and the electrons pass through a circuit to the cathode layer. Next, the hydrogen ions and electrons react with the catalyst and oxygen in the cathode layer to generate water. Meanwhile, the traveling of the electrons forms a usable electric current.
It should be noted that the conventional fuel cell generally uses a fan or a pump to continuously transport anode reactant (such as methanol or hydrogen) to the surface of the anode layer and cathode reactant (such as oxygen) to the surface of the cathode layer respectively. As a result, the fuel cell is able to generate electricity continuously. However, because the fan and the pump consume some of the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell, the actual output energy from the fuel cell is lower. Furthermore, the fan and the pump are driven by electricity; the reliability and life span thereof are lower so that overall reliability and life span of the fuel cell are affected.
In addition, the rotating speeds of the fan and the pump have to be carefully controlled through a control element so as to match the amount of electrical power produced by the fuel cell. Consequently, a rather complicated circuit control of the conventional fuel cell is required.


A puller for removing the scored portion from "easy open" beverage cans which can be positioned on the finger of the user and has a hook portion for engaging the ring on the can top.

This invention relates to the art of removing pull tops from beverage cans, food cans and the like, and particularly relates to those "easy open" cans that have scored openings and a pull tab attached thereto which is normally grasped between the fingers of the user and pulled toward the rim of the can to affect removal of the scored portion.
It is well known that the pull off portion of can tops may have sharp edges on both the removable tab and the remaining portion of the can, and often it is difficult for the user to remove the tab portion from the can because of lack of strength, and/or improperly scored tops, etc. Many taverns utilize metal cans to dispense beer and soda, and, contrary to most of the world, in the United States a substantial portion of the beverages sold over the counter are sold in cans, and most of these cans have some sort of "easy open" top. It is a common complaint of bartenders and persons who must open numerous cans, including campers who utilize food from cans with pull top openers, that these tabs often break finger nails or cause cuts, etc., on the fingers of the user.
In opening a conventional pull top can, the user must grasp a ring between two fingers and pull the ring toward the rim of the can. This requires considerable strength in the fingers and does not enable the user to utilize the heavier arm muscles. It also requires that the fingers be in close proximity to the metal which sometimes causes cuts to the hand of the user.


The present invention relates to an elevator group control method of controlling a plurality of elevator cars servicing for a plurality of floors, including the steps of applying fuzzy rule groups to a hall call when such a call occurs, and selecting an optimum elevator car with a fuzzy inference applied, and assigning a call to the car. A plurality of fuzzy rule groups are successively applied according to respective priority orders previously given to the fuzzy rule groups. In such successive application, only when there is at least one car, excluding the car whose assignment aptitude is optimum, which has the difference in the assignment aptitude value for the current rule group, from that of an optimum car, of not greater than a predetermined threshold value, a subsequent rule group is applied.

1. Field of the Art
The present invention relates to elevator group control method and apparatus.
2. Background of the Art
In elevator group control, assignment control using evaluation functions prevails in this age.
According to such control, each time a hall call occurs, numerical calculations are made for each elevator car with the use of evaluation functions in order to find an optimum elevator car to which such a call is to be assigned. The call is then assigned to the car having the largest or smallest value out of the values thus calculated. According to this method, an advanced group control may be achieved by suitably combining a variety of evaluation functions with the use of parameters.
However, conventional control systems employ constant evaluation functions and parameters. It is therefore difficult for such system to express sophisticated knowledge which experts would use to make a judgment. Accordingly, conventional methods do not always meet the requirements of diversified in-building traffic which varies from time to time.
To achieve a more advanced group control, a proposal has been made of a hall call assignment control by an expert system with the use of fuzzy inference.
In this control method, a variety of evaluation indexes relating to waiting time for a hall call, the probabilities of a long waiting time, the probability of first car arrival, etc., as well as assignment aptitude of car, are expressed in terms of fuzzy variables. Values to such variables are assigned using fuzzy sets: (1) L--(Large), (2) M--(Medium), (3) S--(Small), (4) VG--(Very Good), (5) G--(Good) and (6) VB--(Very Bad). In rule groups, suitable call-assignment methods are expressed in the IF-THEN fuzzy conditional statements. With the use of such rule groups, an optimum car may be selected and assigned based on the degree of conformance of each car for each rule. This control method is now described in more detail in the following.
Consideration is now made on a rule group including the following three rules with the use of evaluation indexes of F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 only for simplification of the description:
Rule (1)
IF F.sub.1 (j)=L,
THEN A(j)=VG PA1 IF F.sub.1 (j)=M AND F.sub.2 (j)=M, PA1 THEN A(j)=G PA1 IF F.sub.1 (j)=S OR F.sub.2 (j)=L, PA1 THEN A(j)=VB PA1 where PA1 F.sub.1L : F.sub.1 is large; PA1 F.sub.1M : F.sub.1 is medium; and PA1 F.sub.1S : F.sub.1 is small. PA1 F.sub.2L : F.sub.2 is large; PA1 F.sub.2M : F.sub.2 is medium; and PA1 F.sub.2S : F.sub.2 is small. PA1 A.sub.VG : The assignment aptitude is very good; PA1 A.sub.G : The assignment aptitude is good; and PA1 A.sub.VB : The assignment aptitude is very bad. PA1 IF F.sub.1 =L AND F.sub.2 =L; and PA1 IF F.sub.1 =L OR F.sub.2 =L. PA1 (1) a knowledge base unit storing a plurality of pre-determined rule groups to which priority orders are respectively given; PA1 (2) a rule set selecting unit for successively selecting the rule groups according to the priority orders thereof; PA1 (3) an evaluation index calculation unit for executing calculations of evaluation indexes, based on a traffic information signal, when a hall call occurs; PA1 (4) a fuzzy inference unit for obtaining the degree of conformance of each elevator car for each rule, from evaluation indexes and membership functions, and for obtaining, based on the degree of conformance thus obtained, the assignment aptitude value of each car for each rule group; and PA1 (5) an assignment aptitude evaluation unit for advancing, by a single step, the selection operation of the rule set selecting unit at the time only when there is at least one car, excluding the car whose assignment aptitude value is optimum, which has the difference in assignment aptitude value to the current rule group, from that of an optimum car, of not greater than a predetermined threshold value, and for stopping the selection operation of the rule set selecting unit when the differences in assignment aptitude values between a car whose value is optimum and that of all other cars are greater than a predetermined threshold value, thereby to provide an assignment signal for selecting the car whose assignment aptitude value is optimum, and assigning a call to the car.
Rule (2)
Rule (3)
F.sub.1 (j): Value of the evaluation index F.sub.1 when a call is assigned to elevator car j (fuzzy variable) PA2 F.sub.2 (j): Value of the evaluation index F.sub.2 when a call is assigned to elevator car j (fuzzy variable) PA2 A(j): Assignment aptitude of the elevator car j (fuzzy variable) PA2 L: Large PA2 M: Medium PA2 S: Small PA2 VG: Very good PA2 G: Good PA2 VB: Very bad PA2 AND: Logical product PA2 OR: Logical sum
Accordingly, the Rule (1) represents that, when a call is assigned to elevator car j, the assignment aptitude of car j is very good if F.sub.1 is large. The Rule (2) represents that, when a call is assigned to car j, the assignment aptitude of car j is good if F.sub.1 is medium and F.sub.2 is medium. The Rule (3) represents that, when a call is assigned to elevator car j, the assignment aptitude of car j is very bad if F.sub.1 is small or F.sub.2 is large.
First, the degree of conformance for each rule is obtained for each car. Based on the values thus obtained, a car with the optimum assignment aptitude is selected. The degree of conformance of each car for each rule is obtained from fuzzy variables corresponding to each evaluation index with the use of membership functions shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 (a) shows membership functions representing the following fuzzy sets:
Likewise, FIG. 3 (b) shows membership functions representing the following fuzzy sets:
FIG. 3 (c) shows membership functions representing the following fuzzy sets:
FIG. 4 shows procedures of obtaining the assignment aptitude value of an elevator car for the above-stated rules.
For example, when Rule (1) is applied to elevator car j, the degree of conformance thereof is calculated in the following manner.
First, F.sub.1 (j), or F.sub.1 where a call is tentatively assigned to car j, is calculated. Then, the attribute degree of the F.sub.1 (j) thus calculated to the fuzzy set representing that F.sub.1 is great, is obtained from the membership function F.sub.1L. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), this degree is 0.9 in this example. Accordingly, the assignment aptitude degree of car j for Rule (1) is obtained by multiplying the function A.sub.VG by 0.9, as shown in FIG. 4 (b).
Likewise, the degree of conformance of car j for Rule (2) is obtained in the following manner.
Based on the logical product of (i) the attribute degree of F.sub.1 (j) to the fuzzy set representing that F.sub.1 is medium, i.e., 0.9 as shown in FIG. 4 (c), and (ii) the attribute degree of F.sub.2 (j) to the fuzzy set representing that F.sub.2 is medium, i.e., 0.4 as shown in FIG. 4 (d), the smaller value or 0.4 is selected as the degree of conformance. Accordingly, the assignment aptitude degree of car j for Rule (2) is obtained by multiplying the function A.sub.G by 0.4, as shown in FIG. 4 (e).
Likewise, the degree of conformance of car j for Rule (3) is obtained in the following manner.
Based on the logical sum of (i) the attribute degree of F.sub.1 (j) to the fuzzy set representing that F.sub.1 is small, i.e., 0.3 as shown as shown in FIG. 4 (f), or (ii) the attribute degree of F.sub.2 (j) to the fuzzy set representing that F.sub.2 is large, i.e., 0.8 as shown in FIG. 4 (g), the greater value or 0.8 is selected as the degree of conformance. Accordingly, the assignment aptitude degree of car j for Rule (3) is obtained by multiplying the function A.sub.VG by 0.8, as shown in FIG. 4 (h).
As shown in FIG. 4 (i), the logical sum of FIG. 4 (b), (e), and (h) represents the assignment aptitude degree of car j for Rules (1) to (3), and the center of gravity of the graph shown in FIG. 4 (i) represents the assignment aptitude value of car j to the abovestated rules.
According to the above procedures, the assignment aptitude values of all elevator cars to the rules are obtained. The call is assigned to the car having the best assignment aptitude value (in this example, the car whose center of gravity of the graph in FIG. 4 (i) is located at the leftmost position).
According to the call assignment method using the fuzzy inference, the knowledge of experts may be readily incorporated in the control system by suitably setting the membership functions, the contents of the rules and the number of rules. This enables a delicate group control of elevators conforming to requirements of the building.
However, such a call assignment method using the fuzzy inference presents following problems.
For example, when two sets that F.sub.1 is large and F.sub.2 is large, are used as conditions, the rule may be expressed in the following two manners:
When the rule is expressed with the use of AND i.e., logical product, the same evaluation is made for both cases where F.sub.1 is large and F.sub.2 is small and where F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are both small. On the other hand, when the rule is expressed with the use of OR i.e., logical sum, the same evaluation is made for both cases where F.sub.1 is large and F.sub.2 is small and where F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are both large. Thus, there is no difference in evaluation between these cases.
To avoid such a problem, it is required to prepare additional rules of other combinations of F.sub.1 with F.sub.2. However, increase in the number of evaluation indexes results in increase in the combinations thereof, and it is difficult to express, as rules, all necessary combinations of all evaluation indexes. Further, a failure to write necessary rules may be involved. If a number of rules are prepared, this produces rules for which no evaluation would be required dependent on the status of calls and elevator cars. Even in such case, calculations are made for all rules, resulting in a waste of time.

Method and apparatus for controlling a group of elevators using fuzzy rules


A fast and highly practical photoinduced switching liquid crystal device is provided.

Relevant art of the present invention is disclosed in the following literatures.
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(3) T. Ikeda, T. Sasaki, K. Ichimura, Nature, 361, 428 (1993).
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(6) L. Komitov, K. Ichimura, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., in press
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(8) E. Santamato, Y. R. Shen, "Liquid Crystals for Nonlinear Optical Studies" in the book "Handbook of Liquid Crystal Research" Oxford University Press, New York, 1997.
(9) C. Ruslim, L. Komitov, Y. Matsuzawa, K. Ichimura, Jap. J. Appl. Phys., 39, L104 (2000).
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Liquid crystal is a very highly anisotropic material and has optical properties which can be very easily changed in accordance with various external factors such as electric and magnetic fields, mechanical flow, temperature, and light. In addition to the electro-optic effects, optically induced reorientation of the alignment of liquid crystal has drawn strong interest due to its potential for different device implementations in photonics. In general, there are two possible methods for affecting the alignment of liquid crystal by light so as to change light transmittance thereof. One of such methods is a way to use direct interaction between light and liquid crystal molecules, as is the photoexcited Fredericks transition, and the other method is an indirect photoexcitation method in which surface or bulk liquid crystal properties are changed by light.
The photoexcited Fredericks transition is caused by giant optical nonlinearity of liquid crystal and has drawn strong interest for these 20 years. In this case, when light imposes a direct and rotational torque on liquid crystal molecules, reorientation of the alignment thereof occurs in a predetermined direction. The direction in which the liquid crystal is aligned depends on various experimental conditions such as an alignment direction of liquid crystal before illumination, the thickness of a cell, and light intensity.
In recent years, photoinduced reorientation of the alignment of azobenzene liquid crystal was reported which is caused by the change in bulk or surface properties thereof resulting from photoexcitation.
A subject which is most closely related to the study carried out by the inventors of the present invention is a photoinduced anchoring transition of dichroic azobenzene liquid crystal that occurs resulting from the modulation of macroscopic surface anchoring conditions induced by the change in molecular shape during a photoisomerization process. That is, when the concentration of the azobenzene molecules adheres to the solid surface exceeds a certain level, the macroscopic alignment of liquid crystal is changed from the planar alignment to the homeotropic alignment. That is, as reported by the inventors of the present invention, after being transformed from trans-isomers to cis-isomers by photoisomerization, the azobenzene molecules are more likely to adhere selectively to a solid surface, and as a result, the anchoring conditions for the liquid crystal are changed. The reason for this is understood that since the molecular shape and the direction of molecular electron dipole moment of the trans-isomer are significantly different from those of the cis-isomer, a large polarity resulting from a bent molecular shape of the cis-isomer enhances the adsorption properties of the azobenzene molecules to the solid surface.
However, the modulation (photoregulation of the anchoring) of the surface anchoring conditions caused by photoexcitation is a continuous process, and hence it is not appropriate that this phenomenon itself is used as the principle of a light switching device. In fact, even before the transformation from the planar alignment to the homeotropic alignment caused by photoexcitation is observed, the continuous change in anchoring intensity, which depends on the light exposure time, can be clearly grasped by the change in voltage when the threshold voltage of the electric field induced Fredericks transformation is measured.

Photoinduced switching liquid crystal device utilizing photoisomerization

Abstract: In the photoinduced switching liquid crystal device, in-plane switching of an optical anisotropic axis of dichroic nematic liquid crystal is performed at a high speed by light.