The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that allows a reduction in a voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in an ion density (ID) in the liquid crystal layer to be suppressed and thereby addresses issues of faulty display such as white missing pixels, alignment inconsistencies, and burn-in. The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, having a feature of suppressing the reduction in a voltage holding ratio (VHR) and the increase in an ion density (ID) in a liquid crystal layer and thereby suppressing occurrence of faulty display such as burn-in, is particularly useful as VA-mode and PSVA-mode liquid crystal display devices for active-matrix driving and may be used for liquid crystal display devices such as a liquid crystal TV, a monitor, a mobile phone, and a smart phone.

Recently, liquid crystal display devices have been widely used in clocks, electronic calculators, various home appliances, measuring equipment, panels for automobiles, word processors, electronic personal organizers, printers, computers, TVs, and the like. Typical examples of the types of liquid crystal display include a TN (twisted nematic)-mode display, a SIN (super-twisted nematic)-mode display, a DS (dynamic light scattering)-mode display, a GH (guest-host)-mode display, an IPS (in-plane switching)-mode display, an OCB (optically compensated birefringence)-mode display, an ECB (electrically controlled birefringence)-mode display, a VA (vertical alignment)-mode display, a CSH (color super-homeotropic)-mode display, and a FLC (ferroelectric liquid crystal) display. There has been a shift in the driving method used from a conventional static driving to a multiplex driving, which has been commonly employed. Recently, passive-matrix LCDs and active-matrix (AM) LCDs, which are driven using a TFT (thin-film transistor), a TFD (thin-film diode), or the like, have been widely employed.
As shown in FIG. 1, a common liquid crystal display device includes two substrates (1) each including an alignment film (4); a transparent electrode layer (3a) serving as a common electrode and a color filter layer (2), which are interposed between one of the alignment film and the corresponding substrate; and a pixel electrode layer (3b) interposed between the other alignment film and the corresponding substrate. These substrates are arranged so that the alignment films face each other, and a liquid crystal layer (5) is held therebetween.
The color filter layer is constituted by a black matrix, a red-colored layer (B), a green-colored layer (G), a blue-colored layer (B), and, as needed, a yellow-colored layer (Y).
The amount of impurities in a liquid crystal material constituting the liquid crystal layer is strictly controlled because any impurities remaining in the liquid crystal material would greatly affect the electrical characteristics of the display device. It is known that a material constituting the alignment film also affects the electrical characteristics of the liquid crystal layer because any impurities remaining in the alignment film would migrate into the liquid crystal layer due to the direct contact of the alignment film with the liquid crystal layer. Thus, the characteristics of the liquid crystal display device due to impurities contained in an alignment film material is currently being studied.
On the other hand, a material of the color filter layer, such as an organic pigment, as well as an alignment film material, is also considered to affect the liquid crystal layer due to impurities contained therein. However, the direct effect of a material of the color filter layer on the liquid crystal layer has been considered to be very small compared with the effect of the alignment film material since the alignment film and the transparent electrode are interposed between the color filter layer and the liquid crystal layer. However, the thickness of the alignment film is generally 0.1 μm or less, and the thickness of the transparent electrode, which is a common electrode disposed on the color-filter-layer-side, is generally 0.5 μm or less even in the case where the thickness of the transparent electrode is set large in order to increase electric conductivity. Therefore, it cannot be said that the color filter layer and the liquid crystal layer are in an environment where they are completely isolated from each other, and the impurities contained in the color filter layer, which migrate via an alignment film and a transparent electrode, may cause a reduction in a voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in the ion density (ID) in the liquid crystal layer, which results in faulty display such as white missing pixels, alignment inconsistencies, and burn-in.
In order to address the faulty display caused by impurities contained in pigments constituting the color filter, a method (PTL 1) of controlling elution of the impurities into a liquid crystal by using a pigment such that the proportion of a substance extracted from the pigment with ethyl formate is set to be equal to or less than a specific value and a method (PTL 2) of controlling elution of the impurities into a liquid crystal by specifying a pigment contained in a blue colored layer have been studied. However, there is not a great difference between these methods and a method of simply reducing the amount of impurities contained in a pigment, and these methods provide unsatisfactory improvements in addressing the faulty display in the present situation in which progress has been made in purification techniques for pigments.
On the other hand, focusing on the relationship between organic impurities contained in the color filter and the liquid crystal composition, a method in which the degree of difficulty in dissolving the organic impurities in the liquid crystal layer is represented as a hydrophobicity parameter of liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer and the hydrophobicity parameter is controlled to be equal to or more than a predetermined value has been disclosed. Furthermore, based on the correlation between the hydrophobicity parameter and a —OCF3 group at the end of the liquid crystal molecule, a method (PTL 3) of preparing a liquid crystal composition including a certain proportion of a liquid crystal compound having a —OCF3 group at the end of the liquid crystal molecule has been disclosed.
However, the essence of the invention disclosed in the cited document is reducing the effect of impurities contained in a pigment on the liquid crystal layer and there was no study on the direct relationship between the structure of a coloring material, such as a dye or a pigment, used for a color filter and the structure of a liquid crystal material. Thus, the issue of faulty display of liquid crystal display devices, which are becoming more advanced, has not yet been addressed.


There is provided an information searching apparatus that can carry out proper searches with few missed search hits and few erroneous search hits. A word extracted from a document is registered in association with the document as index information for document search. A document corresponding to information relating to a requested search is searched by referring to the registered index information. An unknown word is extracted from the document being searched. A type of the document being searched is determined. It is determined whether the index information registering device is permitted or inhibited to register the unknown word extracted as the index information, according to the determined type of the document determined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information searching apparatus and method, an information searching program, and a storage medium storing the information searching program, and in particular to an information searching apparatus and method and an information searching program that search for a desired document among documents including multimedia information such as characters and images, and a storage medium storing the information searching program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known an information searching apparatus that uses a method called full-text search for searching for a desired document among a plurality of documents including multimedia information. In this apparatus, a desired search keyword or phrase, for example, is inputted as search information and documents including words or phrases that match the inputted search keyword or phrase are obtained from a stored group of documents.
To enable searches for information based on the contents of documents including document images, an apparatus constructed to perform character recognition on character image portions included in the document images and perform the full-text search based on character information obtained as a result of the character recognition has also been proposed.
However, there is the possibility that a document including character codes obtained as the result of character recognition (hereinafter referred to as a "character recognition processed document") includes misrecognized characters, so that in the case where a full-text search is performed using the same method as for a text that has not been subjected to the character recognition, there can be erroneous search hits where there is a match for characters that differ to those in the original document and an increase in the number of missed search hits.
For this reason, before a full-text search is carried out for a character recognition processed document, it is customary for a user to go through the character recognition processed document being searched, for misrecognized portions and correct the misrecognized portions one by one.
To dispense with such visual corrections, a method has been disclosed that selects, using a plurality of characters that are candidates for character recognition together with assumed values indicative of probability thereof, a plurality of candidate characters, and therefore reduces the number of missed search hits even for a character recognition processed document including erroneously recognized characters (Japanese Patent No. 2586372). That is, by carrying out a search including a plurality of character recognition candidate characters, it is possible to reduce the number of missed search hits.
However, there is the risk of a decrease in search accuracy, for example, in a case where a character string that should be recognized as "" ("monorail") has been misrecognized as "" as shown in FIG. 5, if a search is carried out for the character string "", the misrecognized character string "" matches and is therefore given as an erroneous search hit.
Also, in the case of a character recognition processed document comprised of only character codes obtained by character recognition, even if the above method is used, since information on other candidate characters is required during the character recognition process, so that favorable results cannot be expected and the problems of erroneous search hits and an increased number of missed searched hits remain.
On the other hand, an information searching apparatus using a word index has also been proposed. Such apparatus carries out morpheme analysis that looks not just at index information in character units but also collates or compares the characters with words that actually exist and registers extracted words as index information for document searching purposes. Compared to the information searching apparatus that searches in character units, this information searching apparatus that carries out a word search can avoid matches that extend over boundaries between words and the like, making it possible to improve the search accuracy. However, since in actuality it is not possible to record every word in a word dictionary, information searches carried out using such word index are not able to search for words not present in the dictionary and there can be missed search hits.

Information searching apparatus and method, information searching program, and storage medium storing the information searching program


A filtration system for filtering particulates from air. A plurality of point ionization sources are positioned in the proximity of the periphery of an air flow channel and being oriented to generate ions in the proximity of the air flow channel in a direction generally upstream from each respective one of the plurality of point ionization sources. A particulate collection surface is positioned within the air flow channel in a downstream direction from the plurality of point ionization sources. The particulate collection surface is electrostatically charged in an opposite direction with respect to ground than the electrical charge of the ions. An ion trap is positioned within the air flow channel between the plurality of ionization sources and the particulate collection surface. The ion trap is relatively electrically neutral as compared with the particulate collection surface and the ions.

This invention relates to air filtration systems using ionized air and, especially, to air cleaning systems using a plurality of point ionization sources in a room environment.
One type of prior art clean air filtration system employs an ionizer to create ions which attach themselves to dust and dirt particles. The charged particles are then collected such as in a filter or an electrostatic precipitator. The efficiency of such a system depends heavily on the effectiveness of the ionizer to create charged particles which can then be collected.
Traditionally, two types of ionizers have been used in clean air filtration systems (room purifiers) to enhance the performance of the filter used to collect dust and dirt particles.
One type of ionizer consists of a plurality of wires and ground plates. When a high voltage is applied to the plurality of wires, the electric field created between the wires and plates breaks down air molecules, creating large numbers of ions. The ions move to the ground plates at very high speed and collide with dust and dirt particles in the air, transferring electrostatic charges to the dust and dirt particles. These wire-plate type of ionizers are usually disposed upstream of a filter system to pre-charge dust and dirt particles for collection in the filter system. While an effective mechanism for charging particles, this type of ionizer is expensive to construct, requires a high operating current, making it expensive to operate, and is a potential safety hazard due to the very high voltages and high currents employed. This type of ionizer is commonly used in controlled air spaces such as furnace and air conditioning ducts.
Another type of ionizer, which is widely used in room air cleaners or purifiers, is a point ionizer. In a point ionizer, a high voltage, but a much lower current than is typically used in a wire-plate type ionizer, is applied to a point electrode or electrodes to create ions. Again, these ions charge particles of dust and dirt and thereby enhance the performance of a filter.
It is typical of these cleaners or purifiers for the point ionizers to be positioned at or near the exit of the air passing through the cleaners or purifiers. Typically, this is done to disperse ionized particles throughout the room. At least some of these ionized particles would then find their way back to the inlet of the cleaners or purifiers and aid in the operation of the cleaners or purifiers.
An example of an exit point ionizer is U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,642, Verity, Portable Air Cleaner Unit, which describes a portable air cleaner unit. An air mover such as a fan is disposed downstream of the main filter, and an exposed negative ion source is disposed downstream of the fan on the external surface of the air outlet. The main filter consists of fibers shredded from a non-carcinogenic plastic membrane which has been permanently electrostatically charged. The negative ion source ionizes the cleaned air as it leaves the cabinet.
Another example of an exit point ionizer is U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,009, Thompson et al, Portable Air Filter System, a portable air filter system for use in the home, offices, or other areas where it is desired to remove airborne particulate matter from the air. The air filter system includes an ionizer for supplying negative ions to the air exiting through the outlet. The ions charge foreign particles in the air. As a result, when the charged foreign particles are drawn into the inlet of the system, the particles are retained on the filter medium.
Still another example of an exit point ionizer U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,425, Huang, Air Purifier, which describes an air purifier having an extended and tapered discharging copper needle is electrically coupled to a high voltage generator contained within the purifier housing and produces negative ions. The discharging needle is pointed in contour and has an apex end located adjacent the air exit opening. The discharging needle extends in the direction of the passage of high pressure air from the purifier housing which allows the discharging needle to vibrate responsive to the high pressure air flow and increases the amount of negative ions mixed with the air passing from the purifier housing.
These exit ionizers are very effective at charging particles, and has much lower cost and little safety hazard. However, point ionizer systems typically are positioned at the air exit of the purifier, i.e., downstream of the filter. With exit air ionizers, charged particles are discharged into room air, and stay in the air for a significant amount of time before being re-circulated through the filter. As a result, a significant number of these charged particles are removed by other external surfaces such as walls, carpets, human bodies and furniture surfaces, instead of the filter.
Other ionizing filtration systems use point source ionizers at or near the air inlet to the filtration system. Typically, these filtration systems are designed to either disperse ions throughout the room, as do exit ionizers, or are designed to inject ions directly into the air stream within the air inlet of the filtration system.
An example of the type of air cleaning apparatus which diffuses ions throughout the room is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,614, Loreth et al, Air Cleaning Apparatus, which describes an air cleaning apparatus, especially for cleaning of room air. The device includes an ionizing device having a unipolar ion source formed by a corona discharge electrode, an electrostatic precipitator connected to a high-voltage source and having a flow-through passageway for air to be cleaned and two groups of electrode elements of one group being interleaved with and spaced from the electrode elements of the other group and arranged to be a potential different from that of the other group. While the corona discharge electrode is positioned near the air inlet to the apparatus, the corona discharge electrode is arranged such that the ions generated at the electrode can diffuse essentially freely away from the electrode and thereby diffuse substantially freely throughout the room in which the ionizing device is positioned. As such, the apparatus described in Loreth et al suffers from many of the same disadvantages as the exit ionizers discussed above.
Air filtration systems which are designed to inject ions directly into the air stream at or near the air inlet of the air filtration system or with the internal air stream of the filtration system typically do not achieve optimum efficiency in air cleaning. Typically, in these systems the number of ions generated and the ability of the ions generated to attach to particles of dust and dirt are limited both by the proximity of the ion generation source to the ion collector and by the limited length of time in which the ions have to attach to particles of dust and dirt in the air flow stream within the filtration system.
Thus, while many prior art systems exist which utilize ion generators, and which utilize point source ionizers, such prior art systems suffer numerous disadvantages as discussed above.
Some prior art air filtration systems utilize a centrifugal fan to move air through the filtration system. While such fans are efficient and are operational over a wide range of pressure drops, centrifugal fans are relatively noisy. As such, centrifugal fans suffer significant disadvantages for use in portable, room air filtration systems. Axial fans are considerably less noisy, deliver a uniform straight airflow and can be made very small but are very sensitive to pressure drops as such their use in filtration systems is limited.
In its several embodiments, the present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages of prior art air filtration systems. The air filtration system of the present invention achieves a significant improvement in operational efficiency without significantly suffering the disadvantages of contaminating an entire room with charged ions and thereby causing a significant amount of dust and dirt particles to accumulate elsewhere on surfaces within the room such as walls, furniture and even people. In some embodiments, the combination of a channel filter particulate collection surface and an axial fan allows the filtration system to operate with less noise and less power facilitating an ability to operate continually without attendant lowered air flow due to particulate build-up in conventional filter media, with or without ionization as a portable room air filtration system.
In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of point ionization sources are positioned in the proximity of the periphery of the air flow channel and being oriented to generate ions in the proximity of the air flow channel in a direction generally upstream from each respective one of the plurality of point ionization sources. A particulate collection surface is positioned within the air flow channel in a downstream direction from the plurality of point ionization sources. The particulate collection surface is electrostatically charged in an opposite direction with respect to ground than the electrical charge of the ions.
In another embodiment, a plurality of point ionization sources are positioned in the proximity of the periphery of the air flow channel and being oriented to generate ions in the proximity of the air flow channel in a direction generally upstream from each respective one of the plurality of point ionization sources. A particulate collection surface is positioned within the air flow channel in a downstream direction from the plurality of point ionization sources. The particulate collection surface is electrostatically charged in an opposite direction with respect to ground than the electrical charge of the ions. An ion trap is positioned within the air flow channel between the plurality of ionization sources and the particulate collection surface. The ion trap is relatively electrically neutral as compared with the particulate collection surface and the ions.
In a preferred embodiment, the major longitudinal axis of the ionization head is oriented in an orientation angle with respect to the upstream to downstream direction and wherein the orientation angle is not more than sixty degrees inward toward the air flow channel and not more than ninety degrees outward away from the air flow channel.
In a preferred embodiment, the filtration system of the present invention also comprises a plurality of flow channels, one of each of the plurality of flow channels at least partially surrounding at least a portion of each respective one of the plurality of point ionization sources.
In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the air flow which is downstream of the particulate collection surface is directed past the ionization head in a direction generally opposite to the upstream to downstream direction.
In a preferred embodiment, the portion of the air flow is directed through at least one of the plurality of flow channels.
In a preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of flow channels has a major longitudinal axis and wherein the major longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of flow channels is generally parallel to the major longitudinal axis of the ionization head.
In a preferred embodiment, the ionization head comprises a multi-point ionization head.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention further comprises a fan arranged for operative use with the air flow channel for moving the air in the upstream to downstream direction through the air flow channel.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a filtration system for filtering particulates from air flowing in an upstream to downstream direction in an air flow channel. A point ionization source is oriented to generate ions in the proximity of the air flow channel, the ions predominately having an electrical charge with respect to ground. A particulate collection surface is positioned within the air flow channel in a downstream direction from the point ionization source, the particulate collection surface being electrostatically charged in an opposite direction with respect to ground than the electrical charge of the ions. A portion of the air flow is directed.
In a preferred embodiment, the portion of the air flow directed past the ionization source in a direction generally opposite to the upstream to downstream direction is air flow which is downstream of the particulate collection surface.
In an alternative embodiment using an axial fan, a filtration system filters particulates from air flowing in an upstream to downstream direction in an air flow channel. A point ionization source, if used, is oriented to generate ions in the proximity of the air flow channel, the ions predominately having an electrical charge with respect to ground. A channel filter particulate collection surface is positioned within the air flow channel in a downstream direction from the optional point ionization source and electrostatically charged in an opposite direction with respect to ground than the electrical charge of the ions. An axial fan is arranged for operative use with the air flow channel for moving the air in the upstream to downstream direction through the air flow channel.
In a preferred embodiment, the axial fan is positioned within the air flow channel.

Air filtration system using point ionization sources


A mold system for producing components of a turbine engine. The mold system may enable a configuration of a turbine engine component to be changed in less time than conventional systems. The mold system may include a mold formed from mold plates wherein at least one of the mold plates has at least one mold cavity configured to receive a ceramic insert and a ceramic insert positioned in the at least one mold cavity and including a core making cavity. The ceramic insert may be formed from a material having high compressive strength, good wear resistance, good corrosion resistance, good thermal conductivity, and high toughness, such as but not limited to, graphite partially or fully converted to silicon carbide, silicon carbide, graphite coated with silicon carbide, and other appropriate materials. The ceramic insert may also be formed with other near net shape processes, such as, reaction bonded metal oxides.

Typically, turbine airfoils usable in turbine engines include a plurality of internal cooling passages. These cooling passages are typically formed with a ceramic core. Ceramic cores are often formed with molding systems, such as those typically used in the plastics injection molding industry; however, for turbine parts more wear-resistant metal alloys are needed for the molding systems to withstand the abrasive ceramic slurries that are typically used to form the ceramic cores. The molding systems typically comprise mold plates and a cavity space within the mold plates. The mold cavity space defines the ceramic core shape, dimensions and features, including the complex cooling passages common to turbine airfoils.
Two general methods exist for making the mold cavities. The first method involves creating the cavity space by removing material from the mold plates. Because the mold plates are made from wear-resistant metal alloys, conventional machining of these plates is extremely difficult, expensive, time consuming, and is also limited to machining simple mold cavity geometries. Typically, non-conventional metal removing methods, such as electrical discharge machining (EDM) or chemical etching are needed to create the cavity space that forms the ceramic core.
The second method of creating the mold cavity shape involves the use of a metal insert that has an internal cavity shape. This metal insert is placed into a space machined into the mold plates. The approach allows the use of lower cost and easier to machine metals for the mold plates and limits the use of wear-resistant metal alloys to the metal inserts. However, as with the first method, this approach requires non-conventional, expensive and time consuming metal removal methods to create the cavity shape within the metal insert.
These two conventional methods of creating a ceramic core molding system typically take about sixteen to twenty weeks to complete. In an attempt to reduce lead-time and allow for design changes, less wear resistant and easier to machine alloys have been used as metal inserts. However, these materials have a very limited life due to their lower wear resistance and need to be replaced often, which adds extra cost to the ceramic core making process. Once the design changes are completed, an additional four to six weeks are needed to make the insert from a wear-resistant metal alloy. Therefore, a need exists for a more time efficient and lower cost process of producing a ceramic core usable in the production of a turbine airfoil.

Modular mold system with ceramic inserts


An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is featured by including: an endoscope which has a connector main body; an apparatus main body to which the connector main body can be detachably mounted; a closed space which, after the connector main body is mounted to the apparatus main body, is formed in exterior housings of the apparatus main body and the connector main body by being closed by the exterior housings; a heat generating portion which is provided in the closed space; and a fan which is provided in the closed space, and performs at least one of dissipation of heat of the heat generating portion to the closed space and transfer of heat in the atmosphere in the closed space to the exterior housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus including an apparatus main body and an endoscope having a connector main body which can be freely attached and detached to and from the apparatus main body.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, endoscope apparatuses have been widely used in medical fields and industrial fields. An endoscope apparatus used in a medical field is capable of observing an organ in a body cavity by inserting a thin and long insertion portion of an endoscope into the body cavity, and performing various medical treatments by using a treatment instrument inserted in a treatment instrument insertion channel as required.
Further, an endoscope apparatus used in an industrial field is capable of performing observation, various treatment, and the like, of damage, corrosion, and the like, of parts to be inspected by inserting a thin and long insertion portion of an endoscope into the inside of a jet engine, a pipe in a plant, and the like.
Therefore, the industrial endoscope apparatus is generally used in an outdoor working facility, a working facility in a plant, and the like. As the industrial endoscope apparatus, there are known, for example, a large-sized endoscope apparatus which has an insertion portion of 10 m in length, and a shoulder type small endoscope apparatus which has an insertion portion of 3 m in length and is excellent in portability.
The industrial endoscope apparatus is generally configured by an endoscope having a thin and long insertion portion at a distal end of which an image pickup unit, or the like, is arranged, and an apparatus main body to which the endoscope is connected. Further as the small industrial endoscope apparatus, there is also known an endoscope apparatus in which a light source, such as an LED, is arranged at a distal end thereof.
Further, in the apparatus main body, there are arranged various members for driving the endoscope, such as specifically, electrical components such as an image processing unit which drives an image pickup unit and performs processing on a subject image signal outputted from the image pickup unit, and a battery unit of the endoscope apparatus. For example, an electrical component arranged in the apparatus main body serves as a heat generating portion which generates heat when electric power is supplied.
Here, when the electrical component generates heat by the driving of the endoscope and is heated up to a certain fixed temperature or higher, not only is the atmosphere in the exterior housing excessively heated, but also the reliability of the electrical components is deteriorated. Specifically, such excessive heating may result in malfunction of the electrical components, internal destruction of the electrical components, or a short-circuit in the electrical components.
For this reason, the reliability of the electrical components is generally prevented from being deteriorated by such a way that a plurality of holes are provided in the exterior housing of the apparatus main body and cooling fans are respectively provided in correspondence with the plurality of holes in the apparatus main body, and that the atmosphere in the apparatus main body is cooled by using the fans for taking outside air into the apparatus main body through the plurality of holes serving as air inlet ports, and for discharging the atmosphere in the apparatus main body to the outside of the apparatus main body through the plurality of holes serving as air outlet ports.
Further, as described above, the industrial endoscope apparatus is generally used in an outdoor working facility, or a working facility in a plant, and the like. Therefore, when the plurality of holes are provided in the exterior housing, foreign matters, such as dust, in the outside air enter into the apparatus main body from the plurality of holes. When the foreign matters are deposited in the apparatus main body, ventilation between the air inlet port and the air outlet port becomes poor. Further, when the foreign matters are iron powder and the like, there may be a case where the insulating state of the electrical components is deteriorated, thereby causing a short circuit, and the like.
In view of the above described circumstances, there is proposed, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-283484, an endoscope apparatus configured such that dustproof filters are respectively provided near the plurality of holes in the apparatus main body in correspondence with the plurality of holes, together with a cooling fan, so as to trap, by the dustproof filters, foreign matters, such as dust, entering into the apparatus main body.


A document holding fixture for a vertical optical scanner. The fixture has a main body, a transparent panel, four linking bars, a document cover panel, and a document backing plate. The document holding fixture uses a simple four linking bar system to maintain a constant parallelism between the document cover panel and the surface of the transparent panel. Weight of the document cover panel provides necessary pressure to press a scan document firmly onto the glass surface of the transparent panel. To facilitate single hand document insertion, a stationing device is used to freeze the document cover panel when the panel reaches a horizontal position.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a document holding fixture. More particularly, the present invention relates to the document holding fixture for a vertical optical scanner.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional optical scanner is shown in FIG. 1. The optical scanner has a main body 100 and an upper lid 200. To scan a document 400, the document 400 is placed flat on a horizontal transparent panel 300. The upper lid 200 is lowered onto the document 400 before the document is scanned. However, this type of scanner needs to occupy a relatively large desk area and thus reduces workspace. Furthermore, a horizontal optical scanner is limited by document size.
An effective means of reducing area occupancy and increasing workspace is to design a vertical type of optical scanner. However, one major problem for producing a vertical optical scanner is the provision of an effective document holding fixture.


A package has a vessel formed with a rim and at least one rib together forming an upwardly open compartment having a periphery and an upwardly open pocket separated by the rim from the compartment and also having a periphery. This pocket is separated at a connecting location from the compartment by the rib. A foil covering the compartment and pocket engages the rim and web all around the compartment and all around the pocket and is formed with an endless weakened tear line running along and within the periphery of the compartment except at the location, along and within the periphery of the pocket except at the location, and over the rib at the location. This foil is subdivided by the rib into a tearout tab overlying the pocket and a tearout section overlying the compartment and the web has a full thickness web extending over the rib and interconnecting the tab and section. A bond secures the foil to the vessel along and immediately outside the tear line.

A standard easy-open package comprises a vessel having a flat rim and a cover foil that is bonded to the vessel at the rim. The vessel and foil together form one or more compartments that can contain respective foodstuffs, although it is within the scope of this invention for the package to contain other materials. Typically the vessel has upwardly projecting ribs that define the individual compartments and the foil is bonded to these ribs too. Both the vessel and the foil can be made of a metal, of a synthetic-resin, or of a laminate of both. A particularly advantageous system has a rigid plastic vessel to which is bonded a plastic-coated metallic foil, the bonding being done ultrasonically along bond lines running around the perimeters of the compartments. It is also of course possible to form the perimeter bond in a cold process, with an adhesive, or otherwise.
In order to remove the foil it is standard to provide it at one edge of the package with an outwardly projecting flap or tab that can be gripped by the user and pulled up away from the vessel. Such a system has the disadvantage that the manufacturer of the product must trade off a strong bond necessary to form a good hermetic seal that protects the contents and that stands up to shipping stresses against a weak bond that makes it possible to tear off the foil without using excessive force or destroying the entire package. Furthermore the outwardly projecting tearoff tab poses an inconvenience to boxing and handling the package, and often is damaged or otherwise rendered useless.
It is also known to form the cover foil with a tear line, that is a weakened strip typically formed by perforating the foil or reducing its thickness along the line, that runs around the compartment. In this case the user grips a portion of the tear-out portion that is bounded by this tear line and pulls it off the package. The problem with this system is that the foil is often poked down into the contents of the package as it is removed, making such removal messy and unsanitary. This problem can be partially solved by applying a second grip tab that is secured to the tearout section so it can be pulled up, but this extra element increases production costs too much for a throwaway item.


A display device includes a light source, a light guide plate through which light from the light source travels, an optical sheet providing an optical effect to light that exits the light guide plate, a display panel displaying an image upon receiving the light from the optical sheet, a frame in which the light guide plate and the optical sheet are arranged, and a fixing tape with which a peripheral edge of the optical sheet and a peripheral edge of the display panel or a peripheral edge of the frame and the peripheral edge of the display panel are bonded to each other. The fixing tape has a notched portion through which an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge of the fixing tape are communicated with each other.

As a conventional liquid crystal display device, for example, the device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-203444 is known. The liquid crystal display device includes a backlight, a liquid crystal panel illuminated by the backlight, a frame accommodating the backlight and the liquid crystal panel, a light-shielding adhesive tape with which the backlight is bonded to the frame and that prevents light from the backlight from leaking to surroundings, and a double-sided adhesive tape with which the liquid crystal panel is bonded to the frame. Using the double-sided adhesive tape, other than the light-shielding adhesive tape, which is used to bond the liquid crystal panel to the frame, makes it easy to replace the liquid crystal panel without damaging the backlight and the like.
In the liquid crystal display device, the light-shielding adhesive tape also functions to fix various types of optical films (optical sheets) arranged on the liquid crystal panel side of the backlight. The light-shielding adhesive tape and the double-sided adhesive tape with which the liquid crystal panel is bonded to the frame surround the gap between the optical sheet and the liquid crystal panel to form an enclosed space. Accordingly, when these members are bonded, the optical sheet may be deflected by an air-lock in the enclosed space, resulting in sticking to the liquid crystal panel. When the optical sheet contracts or expands due to some reason after being bonded, a similar trouble sometimes occurs. As a result, luminance unevenness occurs or a concentric stripe pattern called Newton's rings appears in the liquid crystal display device.
With a reduction in the thickness of a liquid crystal display device, the gap between an optical sheet and a liquid crystal panel further decreases. In addition, the optical sheet itself tends to decrease in thickness. Accordingly, such a problem may become more conspicuous.


A power converter including a printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of heat conductive layers configured to sink heat generated by the power converter electronics. Each of these heat conductive layers are comprised of thermally conductive material configured as planar sheets, each of these heat conductive layers being coupled to at least one wire to sink heat therefrom, such as via a wire of an input cable and/or output cable. Advantageously, a more compact power converter is realized having improved power output while operating within safety guidelines.

Power converters are typically used to power and/or recharge the batteries of portable electronic devices including notebook computers, PDA's, MP3 players, digital cameras, and wireless phones just to name a few. Some of the portable electronic devices are configured to require a significant amount of power, with some notebook computers now consuming up to 140 watts.
At the same time, portable electronic device users are demanding that these power converters be smaller and smaller. The miniaturization of these power supplies is constrained by the amount of heat generated during the power conversion, such as in a DC/DC converter, AC/DC converter, DC/AC converter, and an AC/AC converter. Improved efficiency of the power conversion is one way to reduce the heat generated by the power converter. More efficient heat transfer devices are also being designed to better sink generated heat and release it to the ambient. Heat fans and cooling fins are just some types of cooling designs to keep the power converter operating within safe limits, such as established by numerous safety agencies including UL Laboratories.

Power converter having multiple layer heat sinks


A saddle riding vehicle includes a swing arm in which front ends of arm sections and supporting a wheel are supported by a pivot shaft, and an electronic control suspension that is provided between the pivot shaft and the arm sections, that has a portion overlapping with the swing arm in side view of the vehicle and that includes a control valve section at an upper portion thereof. In the saddle riding vehicle, the control valve section is disposed on one lateral side in regard of the vehicle width direction of the upper portion of the suspension, and extends toward a vehicle width-directionally outer side from a side surface of the upper portion.

Hitherto, in saddle riding vehicles, one in which a suspension unit is provided between a vehicle body and a swing arm has been known. The suspension unit includes a cushion unit in which a spring and a damper are provided integrally, the cushion unit is provided between the vehicle body and the swing arm, and is disposed such as to overlap with a pair of left and right arms of the swing arm in side view of the vehicle. Since the swing arm is swung vertically relative to the vehicle body, the swing arm is provided with a space secured for permitting movement while avoiding interference with the cushion unit.
In addition, an electronically controlled suspension unit in which the characteristics of the suspension are controlled electronically is provided with a reserve tank and an electronically controlled valve as functional sections at an upper portion of the cushion unit. Therefore, in the swing arm using the electronically controlled suspension unit, a space for permitting movement of the functional sections is secured in addition to the space for permitting movement of the cushion unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).


A tunnel excavation technique using a water jet. A water jet system includes a moving unit movable back and forth with respect to an area to be blasted for tunnel excavation, an articulated robot arm mounted on the moving unit, a water jet nozzle which ejects high-pressure water and an abrasive toward an area to be excavated, and a control unit which controls the moving unit, the articulated robot arm and the water jet nozzle. A free face having a predetermined depth is formed of the area to be excavated in the direction in which the tunnel is to be excavated using the water jet system. Since the blasting is performed after the free face is formed, blast vibration can be effectively restricted.

A blasting process using explosives is frequently carried out for construction and engineering operations, in particular, underground tunnel excavation. Although the blasting process has the merit of being capable of efficiently removing a rock base or other obstacles using the explosive power of the explosives, vibration and noise that are unavoidably produced upon blasting are propagated to the ground surface, having an adverse effect on buildings and a variety of other structures. In addition, although impact waves propagated from the source of explosion during the blasting process are significantly reduced depending on the distance, some of the energy generated at that time causes vibration (blast vibration) of the ground while being propagated in the form of elastic waves. When a building or subway facilities are present at a relatively close distance from the source of explosion, there is a possibility that a severe problem can be caused.
Technologies of the related art for reducing the above-described blast vibration are as follows. First, an excavation structure and method for blocking blast vibration using line drill holes disclosed in Korean Patent No. 0531985 proposed a technology of forming at least two rows of line drill holes around an area to be blasted in a rock base to be excavated such that the line drill holes of one row alternate with the line drill holes of the other row. In addition, a tunnel blasting method disclosed in Korean Patent No. 0599982 proposed a technology that uses large uncharged holes which are formed at a distance from the contour of a tunnel, crack guide holes which are disposed between the uncharged holes, and a plurality of expansion holes which are formed inward of the uncharged holes.
These preceding technologies share a commonality in that a plurality of holes which are formed in the direction in which the tunnel extends is used as a vibration reducing means. However, when a plurality of holes is formed, connecting areas are present between the holes. Blast vibration that is propagated through the connecting areas is not blocked. Therefore, the holes used in the preceding technologies are an imperfect vibration reducing means.
In addition, tunnel excavation methods of the related art leave a damage zone in an adjacent rock base portion due to blasting, thereby causing a danger of the tunnel collapsing (see FIG. 21). In particular, when blast force is excessive, a space exceeding a designed tunnel space is dug, thereby causing overbreak. In this case, a large amount of shotcrete must be poured into the vacant space, which is problematic. In contrast, when blast force is insufficient, underbreak occurs, and an additional operation using an excavator or a rock drill is required.
The tunnel excavation process of the related art involves forming a plurality of charge holes using a jumbo drill, charging the holes with explosives, and exploding the charged explosives. About one hundred charge holes are required for one blasting operation, and the operation of forming the charge holes is manually carried out by jumbo drill workers. Therefore, an improvement in the efficiency of the operation is required.
In general, in the tunnel excavation, a variety of front predictive methods of inspecting the status of a rock bed in the front area that is to be excavated in order to prevent the tunnel from collapsing or the like are being introduced. However, indirect inspection, such as the measurement of a resistance depending on the properties of the rock base, is carried out instead of substantial inspect. Therefore, these methods have low inspection reliability, and still have a danger in that the tunnel may collapse during excavation.

Excavation system using a water jet, and excavation method using the same

KAIST (KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY)


A switch with clock-gating control and a method for clock gating a switch are described herein. In one example, the method generally includes detecting a state of one or more input ports and a state of one or more output ports of the switch, determining whether the state of the one or more input ports and the state of the one or more output ports has been stable for a preset number of clock cycles, and gating the switch from a clock signal until the state of the one or more input ports or the state of the one or more output ports change upon determining the states have been stable for the preset number of the cycles.

Clock switching power typically amounts to more than 50% of the full operational power consumption of modern application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and clock gating is one of the major go-to techniques for dynamic power reduction in synchronous ASIC designs. Clock gating is achieved by driving a constant logical 0 or 1 value on the clock input signal of sequential integrated circuit (IC) components, for which a clock is not needed during certain periods of operation.
A common technique is to gate clocks to IC components when an on-chip global power management unit deems those IC components as functionally not necessary to the applications running. However, such a technique does not help save power when an IC component is in full operational mode. A more leaf level clock gating approach relies on the fact that IC components will be updated only when the input capture enable condition (i.e., a condition referred to as the enable condition) is met. Hence, those IC components do not need their input clock toggled when the enable condition is a logical 0.
Conventional techniques exploit this power saving opportunity by enabling synthesis tools to infer clock gating standard IC components on the clock path of sequential IC components. These clock gating IC components receive as inputs the clock and the enable signal and generate, as an output, a gated clock which is driven to the sequential IC components. Such techniques work well for sequential IC components that naturally have enable signals for other IC components (e.g., data path elements, FIFO (first in, first out) data arrays). However, control path sequential IC components, which constantly need to serve logic events, do not have enable signals and hence cannot be clock gated via inferring clock gate cells. Such control path sequential IC components can still make up for a significant portion of the total dynamic power in logic modules like switches/routers.

Activity-aware clock gating for switches


An apparatus and a method are provided for detecting N number of TX signals in a MIMO wireless communication system. The apparatus includes an RF processor, a channel estimator, and a signal detector. The RF processor converts signals, received through multiple antennas, into baseband signals. The channel estimator estimates channel information of the respective antennas by using the received signals. The signal detector arranges the baseband signals of the respective antennas on the basis of the channel information, calculates a threshold value of each stage, and selects symbols with a cumulative metric smaller than or equal to the threshold value as candidates at each stage, to detect a TX signal vector with N number of symbols.

Recently, a MIMO technique using multiple transmit and receive (TX/RX) antennas is attracting much attention as one of techniques to satisfy an increasing demand for high-speed and high-quality data transmission. Since the MIMO technique performs communication using multiple channels of multiple antennas, it can greatly increase the channel capacity in comparison with the case of using a single antenna. For example, if a transmitter and a receiver use M number of TX antennas and M number of RX antennas, the channels of the antennas are independent of one another, and the bandwidth and the total TX power are fixed, the average channel capacity increases M times in comparison with the case of using a single antenna.
A Vertical-Bell Labs Layered Space Time (V-BLAST) system is one of systems that are designed to transmit/receive different independent signals through multiple antennas in a MIMO wireless communication system. A Maximum Likelihood (ML) detection scheme is an example of a scheme that provides the optimal RX performance when different signals are transmitted through multiple antennas as in the V-BLAST system. However, since the computational complexity of the ML detection scheme increases exponentially with an increase in the modulation order and the number of TX antennas, the ML detection scheme is very difficult to implement in practice.
A QR Decomposition-M (QRD-M) detection scheme is one of schemes that have relatively low complexity while having a similar performance to the ML detection scheme. The QRD-M detection scheme uses the R matrix characteristics of a QR-decomposed channel matrix to arrange signals in a tree structure as illustrated in FIG. 1, and selects M number of candidates at each stage to detect a TX signal. In the tree structure, the number of stages is equal to the number of TX antennas and each candidate has as many sub candidates as the modulation order.
A receiver using the QRD-M detection scheme selects M number of candidates with the smallest cumulative metric at each stage, and expands as many as candidates as the modulation order at the next stage with regard to only the previously selected candidates. The receiver repeats this process until the last stage to detect the final signals of the respective antennas. Herein, if the value M is equal to the modulation order, the receiver searches all the paths in the tree, which is equivalent to the use of the ML detection scheme. Thus, the detection performance of the QRD-M detection scheme depends on the value M. In order for the QRD-M detection scheme to approach the ML detection scheme in performance, the receiver must set the value M close to the modulation order. However, the computational complexity of the QRD-M detection scheme increases with an increase in the value M, which causes difficulty in implementation. There is therefore a need in the art for techniques to provide a modified QRD-M detection scheme that has low computational complexity while having a similar performance to the ML detection scheme.

Apparatus and method for detecting signal based on QR-decomposition in multiple input multiple output wireless communication system

ICU Research and Industrial Cooperation Group


A packet data processing device for a mobile communication system. A base station includes a channel status information receiver for receiving channel status information for a forward channel from a mobile station; a supplemental channel transmission controller for determining a bit rate of the mobile station according to the channel status information, a supplemental channel transmitter for transmitting data to the mobile station at the bit rate determined by the supplemental channel transmission controller; and a rate indicator transmitter for generating a rate indicator having information about the determined bit rate and transmitting the generated rate indicator to the mobile station. The mobile station includes a channel status measurer for detecting power of a signal received over a pilot channel to measure channel status; a channel status information transmitter for generating channel status information according to the measured channel status and transmitting the channel status information to a base station; and a supplemental channel receiver for detecting a bit rate of data transmitted at a variable rate from the base station and receiving data at the detected bit rate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile radio communication system, and in particular, to a method for processing data by varying the power and bit rate according to a channel condition between a base station and a mobile station and the required quality of service (QoS).
2. Description of the Related Art
The IS-95 standard supports a real-time voice data service which is called a circuit service. Circuit services can be viewed as a special case of packet services in the sense that dedicated traffic and control channels are typically assigned to the mobile station for extended periods of time during circuit service sessions. This will lead to less efficient use of the air interface capacity. However, some delay sensitive services such as video applications require a dedicated channel for the duration of the call. The circuit service may be characterized in that it sends input circuit data consecutively. In contrast to the IS-95 standard, a mobile communication system based on the IMT-2000 standard, supporting a high bit rate, can provide a packet data service for large quantity data, such as a moving picture and an image, using a supplemental channel. The packet data is transmitted as inconsecutive burst data, whereas the circuit data based on the IS-95 standard is transmitted as consecutive voice data. Further, for the packet data service defined by the IMT-2000 standard, it is required to maximize throughput while satisfying various bit rates required by users. In contrast, in the IS-95, for the voice server, it is required to provide a uniform service to all the users irrespective of the channel condition. To satisfy the IS-95 uniform service requirement, the system allocates higher power to a mobile station under a bad channel condition. However, such a method cannot be used to maximize the data throughout for the packet data service.
When the consecutive data processing method for the circuit service is applied to the packet service which transmits data inconsecutively, it is difficult to maximize a bit rate of the packet data, thus causing a decrease in data processing efficiency and channel efficiency.
In addition, the aforementioned data processing problem occurs even during a handoff. That is, a handoff method in an existing mobile communication system providing the circuit service combines or selects the same data transmitted simultaneously from at least two mobile stations concerned in the handoff. When this handoff method is applied to the packet service, it is difficult to adaptively optimize a bit rate according to the channel condition, thus causing a reduction in packet throughput. Therefore, to provide a packet data service, the data transmission method and the handoff method should be redesigned to satisfy transmission characteristics of the packet data. In particular, there is required a new method for allocating power of the forward link to a mobile station and establishing a data path passing through the base station.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a data processing method for packet data communication in a mobile communication system, in which a mobile station estimates a channel condition using a signal transmitted from a base station and transmits channel status information to the base station, and the base station then allocates higher power for a mobile station in a good channel condition depending on the channel status information and transmits data to the mobile station with the allocated power.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a data processing method for packet data communication in a mobile communication system, in which a mobile station estimates a channel condition using a signal transmitted from a base station and transmits channel status information to the base station, and the base station then transmits data to a mobile station in a good channel condition at a higher bit rate depending on the channel status information.
It is further another object of the present invention to provide a data processing method for packet data communication, wherein a mobile station transmits channel status information to a base station, and receives data with rate indicator that the base station has transmitted in response to the channel status information, so as to rapidly adapts to a variable bit rate.
It is still further another object of the present invention to provide a data processing method for packet data communication in a mobile communication system, wherein a mobile station determines a bit rate and power depending on a weighting factor corresponding to the type of service data.
It is still further another object of the present invention to provide a data processing method for packet data communication in a mobile communication system, wherein to maximize throughput of packet data during a handoff, a base station controller transmits divided different data to base stations concerned in the handoff, and the base stations receive channel status information and transmit packet data to a mobile station only when a channel is in a good condition.
It is still further another object of the present invention to provide a data processing method for packet data communication in a mobile communication system, wherein to maximize throughput of packet data during a handoff, a base station controller transmits the same data to base stations concerned in the handoff and the base stations receive channel status information and transmit packet data to a mobile station only when a channel is in a good condition.
In order to accomplish the above objects, there is provided a packet data processing device for a mobile communication system. A base station includes a channel status information receiver for receiving channel status information for a forward channel from a mobile station; a supplemental channel transmission controller for determining a bit rate of the mobile station according to the channel status information, a supplemental channel transmitter for transmitting data to the mobile station at the bit rate determined by the supplemental channel transmission controller; and a rate indicator transmitter for generating a rate indicator having information about the determined bit rate and transmitting the generated rate indicator to the mobile station. The mobile station includes a channel status measurer for detecting power of a signal received over a pilot channel to measure channel status; a channel status information transmitter for generating channel status information according to the measured channel status and transmitting the channel status information to a base station; and a supplemental channel receiver for detecting a bit rate of data transmitted at a variable rate from the base station and receiving data at the detected bit rate.

Processing packet data in mobile communication system


One endoscopic surgical tool is used in conjunction with a laser that is powered through a small diameter laser power tube. The tool includes a bendable, rigid tube having a lumen sufficiently larger than the laser power tube such that upon application of an axial, inboard directed force, the laser power tube is axially compressed within the lumen of the bendable tube. The tool further includes a coupling tube which provides suction through the lumen of the bendable, rigid tube. Further enhancements of this tool include an axial movable, soft touch casing surrounding the tube. The tool may include a handle at the proximal end of the tube and a branch coupler and second bendable, rigid tube with suction control valves for the primary bendable tube and the branch bendable tube. Another endoscopic tool is an endoscope that includes a palm sized enclosure at a proximal end region of a stem of the endoscopic, a form-fitted palm rest attached to the bottom of the enclosure and flow control valves controlling suction and irrigation. These flow control valves have operator interface controls protruding from the top of the palm sized enclosure such that the endoscope is configured as having trumpet-like controls. Further enhancements of the endoscope include a suction control valve that is biased closed and an operator interface control that is biased upward such that the surgeon/operator variably controls the flow of the suction dependent upon the depression of the operator interface control.

The present invention relates to endoscopic surgical tools.
Endoscopic tools are presently used in certain types of surgery, and particularly sinus surgery. In use, the surgeon inserts an endoscope into the sinus of a patient in order to view the microscopic operating field with an optical, electronic viewing system. That opto-electronic system includes an optical sensor positioned at a distal end of the stem of an endoscope. The image captured by the optical sensor is optically and electronically transferred and enhanced by electronics and is viewed by the surgeon on a monitor.
One type of endoscope is made by Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation of Rosemont, Ill. This endoscope has an elongated, hollow stem, an enclosure at a proximal end of the stem opposite the distal end and a camera port extending opposite the stem from the enclosure. On the top side of the enclosure, finger holes or a finger ring are provided for insertion of the surgeon's fingers. At the bottom of the enclosure is a stiff spring control valve interface, configured as a depressible valve control, which controls the flow of irrigation fluid injected through the stem and out from the distal end of the stem. Also, the Wolf endoscope includes continuous suction through the stem and out a suction port disposed in the enclosure. Irrigation is provided via an irrigation port in the enclosure. The irrigation port and the suction port are fluidly coupled to the stem within the enclosure.
Endoscopic surgery is sometimes used to clear and remove polyps and growths and debris from the sinus cavities of a patient. Sometimes, a consumable tip laser is inserted into the sinus that burns away the polyps or other nasal obstructions.


A variable-speed coring tool kit for coring vegetables and fruits is provided which includes a decorative stand for charging and removably storing a decorative handle of a coring tool until needed for use. The tool handle and stand together form a decorative display. The tool handle is hollow and has an exterior surface constructed to resemble an oblong vegetable. The handle houses an implement locking mechanism, a three-speed D.C. motor and a rechargeable battery for powering the motor. The stand includes a compartment for receiving a battery charger and a retractable reel of electric cord. Cavities are formed in the stand for receiving the coring tool handle and various coring implements to be used with the coring tool.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to battery-powered coring tools, and more specifically to a coring tool kit having a rechargeable battery-powered variable-speed coring tool and a recharging stand with a compartment for storing and recharging the coring tool and a compartment for storing additional coring utensils for various coring tasks.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of hand-held battery-powered coring tools is well known in the prior art. They are generally known for making the task of coring vegetables and fruit easier and less time consuming than using hand-held implements to manually carve out the cores of vegetables and fruits.
Coring tools of the prior art can be manually manipulated or powered by electricity. U.S. Pat. No. 3,164,183, issued Jan. 5, 1965 to J. S. Kirkpatrick, shows an electric paring and coring device. A socket is provided on the top of a casing for removably supporting the device for easy access. The casing houses a transformer and a reel of electrical cord to supply power to the device and allowing the device to be readily moved from the casing when it is desired to be used. The device of Kirkpatrick can be run on D.C. or A.C. voltage. For the D.C. version, Kirkpatrick teaches a battery-powered unit with a stand for recharging the batteries.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,875, issued Dec. 29, 1998 to Dolah, also teaches the added convenience of making coring devices battery powered. Dolah further teaches making the coring implement detachable from the device so that different coring implements and brush attachments can be used on the device for coring vegetables and fruits with different textures, or for cleaning out items such as baby bottles, toilets, etc. A rechargeable battery is housed within the handle of the device with the motor to rotate the coring implements and attachments.
In addition, Dolah, teaches using coring implements of various sizes and shapes for fruits and vegetables having different sizes and degrees of softness. Dolah also teaches the use of one motor speed for all the coring and cleaning tasks.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a variable-speed coring tool kit solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
The present invention provides a decorative tool kit for coring vegetables and fruits. The kit includes a coring tool with a decorative handle for grasping when coring vegetables, a plurality of variously sized and shaped coring implements separately attachable to the coring tool, and a decorative stand for charging and removably storing the decorative coring tool until needed for use. The decorative stand also includes a compartment for inconspicuously storing the plurality of coring implements. The tool and stand together form a decorative display. Preferably, the display is in the form of a basket of vegetables, but may be any sort of ornate decoration suitable for a room where the coring tool is put to use, such as a flower or fruit basket for the kitchen of a home.
The ornate handle of the tool is hollow. Preferably, the hollow handle has an exterior surface constructed to resemble an oblong vegetable, piece of fruit or other object. The stand is preferably in the form of a decorative basket of vegetables, fruit or other objects so that the handle and stand are complementary and make the coring tool kit inconspicuously appear as an decorative display for the kitchen or other room of a home. The tool handle and stand are preferably formed from a durable synthetic resin material but may be formed of any suitable material.
The stand also includes an inner compartment operatively receiving a retractable electric cord. The inner compartment also operatively receives a battery charger for charging the battery power supply of the tool. The cord is wound on a retractable reel for convenient storage within the display.
The battery charger unit has a charging prong protruding outwardly from the base of a first open cavity provided in the stand for recharging of the power source (rechargeable battery) within the tool handle. The stand also includes a second covered cavity for receiving and storing an assortment of coring utensils or other attachments used with the coring tool. The coring utensils and/or other variously sized and shaped attachments are securable at their attachment ends into an extension of the shaft of a three speed D.C. motor received within the interior cavity of the handle. Each utensil is formed with a blade having a beveled edge for cutting away the flesh of the vegetable it is designed for use on. An annular protrusion encircles the stem in an area adjacent to the second end of the stem for cooperating with an arm of a locking mechanism fixedly mounted within the handle to removably secure the utensil in the handle for rotation with the motor shaft.
Additional coring utensils may be provided which differ in size. Utensils may also be provided which are scoop-like in construction, i.e. in the form of a spoon or bowl for making fruit balls.
Switch position indicia and the sliding switch handle are provided on the outer surface of the tool handle. Pushbutton or other type switches are also suitable for use on the bottom of the tool handle for controlling the motor. The switch may also be placed so as to be accessible through the outer wall of the handle.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a portable coring tool with utensils for coring different vegetables.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a coring tool with a variable speed motor for rotating the coring utensils at speeds appropriate for the different stages of the coring process of certain vegetables.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a portable battery-powered coring tool that rotates at a slower speed when more control is required during coring, such as when the coring task is nearly finished and only small amounts remain to be cored out.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a portable battery-powered coring tool that rotates at a faster speed when more power required, such as when the coring process is started.
It is additional an object of the invention to provide a handy rechargeable portable coring tool and a charging stand for storing the handle and recharging the handle battery when necessary.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a portable coring which, when stored within the charging stand, inconspicuously appears as a part of a decorative display for any room in a home where the tool is put to use.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.


An EL lamp having a higher luminescence efficiency and a process for manufacturing the same are provided. The EL element includes an aluminum foil having at least one specularly polished surface, an anodized oxide film formed on the specularly polished surface of the aluminum foil, a light emitting EL layer formed directly on the film, and a transparent electrode formed on the light emitting EL layer. The process for manufacturing an EL lamp includes the steps of polishing specularly at least one of the surfaces of an aluminum foil, forming an anodized oxide film on the specularly polished surface of the aluminum foil, and forming directly on the aluminum oxide film a light emitting EL layer and a transparent electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an EL (electroluminescence) lamp, and more particularly, to an EL lamp having a high luminescence efficiency adapted for use in liquid crystal displays (LCD) and the like, and a process for production of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, electronic devices have been intensively required to be lightweight, of a thin type, and workable at low voltages, thereby consuming less electric energy (workable with any electric cells), and LCDs (liquid crystal displays) have been increasingly utilized as displays. Since LCDs themselves do not generate light, back up or back lights made of EL lamps have been used in order to improve visual perceptivity of LCDs.
Such light sources have been demanded to be of a thin form, lightweight and inexpensive. EL lamps can be made as thin plane luminescence sources having a lower power consumption as compared with, for example, luminescent discharge tubes and incandescent lamps. Especially, the demand of being "thinner" is more significant in double side light emitting EL lamps.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an example off the prior art EL elements. On back electrode 101 made of aluminum foil formed insulating resin layer 107. This resin layer 107 may be produced by dissolving an organic resin having a high dielectric constant (referred to as binder hereunder) in a solvent. dispersing powdery barium titanate in the solution to produce an ink-like dispersion which is applied onto back electrode 101, by a printing method or the like and dried. On this insulating resin layer 107 are formed light emitting EL layer 103 and transparent electrode 104. Light emitting EL layer 103 may be produced by dispersing a phosphor powder in a similar binder as described above to produce an ink-like dispersion which is applied and then dried. Similarly, transparent electrode 104 may be produced by dispersing an ITO (indium tin oxide) powder in a similar binder to produce an ink-like dispersion which applied and then dried. Leads 105 are attached to and extended from back electrode 101 and the transparent electrode 104, and the bulk body is packaged with a film having a high moisture-proofing property to complete an EL element.
Barium titanate has a high dielectric constant. Even with a barium titanate layer formed between electrodes, therefore, a reduction in voltage due to the barium titanate is small. For this reason, it is possible to apply a sufficient voltage onto the light emitting EL layer, whereby a higher brightness can be easily achieved.
In order to form a barium titanate layer on the surface of an aluminum layer, however, a coating step and the like must be conducted so that a reduction in the thickness of the insulating layer is limited. Moreover, there is a difficulty that uneven coating produced in the applying step may cause a so-called "repellence" or "repulsion" resulting in uneven luminescence.
In order to overcome such difficulties as above, an attempt has been proposed to coat the surface of the aluminum foil with an alumite film, by which the aforementioned barium titanate layer can be replaced.
Japanese Patent KOKAI (Laid-open) No. Sho 64-10597 discloses a field luminescence tube with an aluminum foil back electrode which was produced by anodizing an aluminum foil, one of the surfaces of which was subjected to an alumite forming treatment to produce an insulating layer.
Japanese Patent KOKAI (Laid-open) No. Hei 1-209693 discloses an aluminum laminate for use in dispersion-type electroluminescence panels comprising an aluminum foil having an alumite layer and a white coat layer formed thereon.
Japanese Patent KOKAI (Laid-open) No. Hei 1-225097 discloses a dispersion-type EL lamp comprising an aluminum foil, the surface of which is anodized to produce a porous oxide surface film.
These techniques employ as insulating layers an alumite film which is produced on the surface of an aluminum foil for the back electrode by subjecting the foil to alumite forming treatment.
The alumite film on the surface of an aluminum foil can be produced more inexpensively than the barium titanate insulating layers, and is capable of producing EL elements having an equivalent luminescence efficiency and brightness. Moreover, the aluminum foil coated with alumite film is excellent adhesion or binding property.
FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of one of the prior art double side light emitting EL elements. The double side light emitting EL lamp was fabricated by adhering the back sides of two identical single side light emitting EL elements with each other with a common electrode being disposed between and connected to both the back sides.
Each single side light emitting EL lamp comprises back electrode 110 of an aluminum foil having insulating resin layer 117 formed thereon. Insulating resin layer 117 may be produced by dissolving an organic resin having a high dielectric constant (referred to as binder hereafter) in a solvent, dispersing powdery barium titanate in the solution to produce an ink-like dispersion which is applied onto back electrode 110 by a printing method or the like and dried.
On insulating resin layer 117 are formed light-emitting EL layer 113 and transparent electrode 114. Light-emitting EL layer 113 may be similarly produced by dispersing a fluorescent powder in a binder and mixing to produce an ink-like dispersion which is applied onto insulating layer 117 by a printing method or the like and then dried.
Similarly, transparent electrode 114 may be produced by dispersing an ITO (indium tin oxide) powder in a binder to produce an ink-like dispersion which is applied by a printing technique onto light emitting EL lamp 113 and then dried. Alternatively, a transparent electrode film comprising a polyester film having ITO vapor-deposited may be used as transparent electrode 114.
Common electrode lead 115 is attached to and extended from both back electrodes 110, and electrode leads 116 are attached to and extended from transparent electrodes 114, respectively.
The main element body is packaged with a film having a high moisture-proofing property (not shown)to complete an EL element.
The alumite processing which has been also employed for a long time in treatment of the surfaces of aluminum sashes and aluminum foils is one of techniques of forming porous films having a thickness of 6 .mu.m to several hundred microns by conducting anodic oxidation in an acidic aqueous solution such as an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid.
The alumite layers produced by such techniques have a relatively low breakdown voltage or strength and exhibit a higher leakage current as the field intensity is increased. Therefore, the use of the alumite layers in EL elements may lower breakdown strengths of the elements, so that their luminescence efficiencies are not allowed to rise, because a higher electric field must be applied for increasing luminous intensity, if necessary.


A method for operating a multi-core processor system, wherein different of a program are each executed simultaneously by a different respective processor core of the multi-core processor system includes inserting a breakpoint in a first of the threads for interrupting the first processor core and instead executing an exception handling routine. At least one processor core to be additionally interrupted is determined with the exception handling routine on the basis of an association matrix, and an inter-processor interrupt (IPI) is sent to the at least one processor core by the exception handling routine in order to interrupt the at least one processor core.

The invention relates to a method for operating a multicore processor system, by means of which different threads (program parts or program paths) of a program are executed by a plurality of processor cores of the multicore processor system at the same time, each processor core executing a different one of the threads. The invention also includes a multicore processor system having a debugging device for analyzing the program. Finally, the invention also includes a computer program product which can be used to enhance a conventional multicore processor system in the sense of the method according to the invention.
In order to provide so-called "true" multitasking, a computer may comprise a plurality of processors or else one processor having more than one processor core. Such an arrangement comprising a plurality of processors and/or a plurality of processor cores inside a processor is referred to as a multicore processor system here. Such a multicore processor system is used to execute individual program parts (threads), which can be executed independently of one another, in a truly parallel manner, that is to say at the same time. Programs which internally consist of a plurality of threads can be distributed among virtually any desired number of such processor cores, with the result that more than only one thread is always active.
However, many such programs constructed in this manner have hitherto often been executed only on so-called single-core processor systems. Only pseudo-multitasking can be provided by a single-core processor system. In this case, the individual threads of a program are executed in rapid alternation in succession, with the result that there is no true temporal parallelism. If such a program is now executed on a multicore processor system, this may result in completely new error patterns if the program is not correctly structured at all points for a multicore processor system.
Error searching is called debugging (error=bug). The structure of a debugger generally consists of two parts: the frontend, which provides the programmer with various possibilities for controlling error analysis, and the backend, which then looks after the execution of these control commands while the frontend continues without being influenced. These two units (frontend and backend) are themselves programs and can also run on computers other than the multicore processor system, which is widespread, in particular, in the field of embedded systems.
So-called debug probes are an additional possible form of implementation of a backend unit. This hardware circuit processes debug commands or debug instructions from the frontend and forwards them to the multicore processor system via special hardware debug interfaces. An example of such a debugging system emerges from the JTAG standard (Joint Test Action Group, IEEE standard 1149.1). In this case, the processor cores can be individually addressed in multicore processor systems.
Debugging generally provides two important mechanisms which stop a running program, that is to say interrupt the execution of the program on a processor core. The program is either stopped from the outside or a breakpoint was previously set in the program code of the program, which breakpoint stops the program when the program counter of the relevant processor core reaches this point irrespective of the thread in which the program is currently situated. There are then substantially also two possibilities for how the program is continued. Either only an individual command in the current thread is executed (single step) and the processor is then interrupted again or the program is continued in full (continue command), which may again result in thread changes.
In single-core processor systems, the entire processor stops, that is to say the program per se is not executed any further, in the case of both interruption possibilities, thus ensuring that all threads and therefore all data in the program which describe the current program state are exactly in the state which is present when the one thread stops. In the case of continuation by means of a single-step command, only those program data which are changed by the current thread by means of the one program step likewise change.
All of this no longer applies to multicore processor systems, with the result that some problems arise in order to stop the program in a consistent state and in order to be able to draw reliable conclusions on possible causes of errors from the program data. This is because, if the threads of the program are distributed among a plurality of processor cores and the execution of a thread is then interrupted because the thread runs onto a breakpoint, only this one processor core also initially stops, while all other processor cores and therefore also the other threads of the program continue, that is to say are executed further by the other processor cores. In order to prevent continuation, a debugger must also stop the other processor cores after detecting a program interruption in one processor core. The following mechanism is used for this purpose. If a thread runs onto a breakpoint, exception handling is triggered in the processor core affected, that is to say a so-called exception handling routine is processed by the processor core affected. This routine reports the event to the backend of the debugger which in turn forwards the event to the frontend. The frontend has the corresponding information relating to the threads and the processor cores, with the result that it can likewise stop the processor cores on which the other threads of the same program are running by means of a command to the backend.
However, this process lasts for the order of magnitude of milliseconds, which may result in the program to be analyzed already being very much further in some threads than it was at the time of the interruption at the breakpoint in the one thread. Entirely different threads may likewise be active in the meantime and threads may even have ended. This applies, in particular, since modern processors have clock frequencies in the Gigahertz range, with the result that approximately 1 million commands are executed per millisecond. Therefore, no consistent indication of the program data in the program upon reaching a breakpoint can be established in this way. Furthermore, it is also unknown what is actually supposed to happen in a multicore processor system in the event of a single-step command. Does only the one thread which caused the interruption continue for one program step or are all threads which are currently active on the other processor cores likewise supposed to be executed further by one program step?

Multicore processor system having an error analysis function