A color determination unit divides an original image input from an image scanning unit into blocks, and determines whether or not each block is a color image area. The color determination unit determines whether the original is in color or monochrome in each of a plurality of set areas on the basis of the result of determination on the blocks included in that area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which stores an image of an original and outputs an entire area or partial area of the stored image of the original as a color image or a monochrome image.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of line sensor scanning devices using a CCD unit and writing devices using laser, there have been released digital copying machines which process digitalized image data. Aside from the copy function, digital copying machines implement a lot of functions such as a scanner function, printer function, and facsimile function, and are now called digital MFPs. MFPs have easy network access, and can transmit the image data stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like inside the apparatus to external devices over a network. MFPs can also receive and store image data from external devices through the network.
MFPs have a variety of uses in offices, and MFPs themselves have been diversified from small to large sizes accordingly. Examples include a small-sized MFP to be paired and installed with a PC so that the operator can easily use the functions of the copying machine, facsimile, printer, and scanner. A medium-sized MFP can be shared among a plurality of members in a department or section, with some productivity and functions such as sorting, punching, and stapling. A department that undertakes a company's copy-related activities in a centralized way, or a company that runs copy-related business itself, uses large-sized MFPs with high productivity, high quality, and high functionalities.
Such a variety of MFPs from small to large sizes have functions common to all classes and functions unique to the respective classes. For example, there is a high need for large-sized MFPs to have functions for postprocessing on plotted paper, such as punching, stapling, and folding, as well as functions for electronic filing concurrent with copying operations. In contrast, what is demanded of small-sized MFPs is the Internet FAX and PC-FAX capabilities, and functions such as high quality image printing on dedicated paper for personal use.
In such a diversified MFP market, it has heretofore been the case that systems having a set of functions needed for respective classes are constructed, sold, and provided. The importance of information values in business has already been recognized, and what is demanded of information communication is not just speed, accuracy, and reliability, but higher understandability and effectiveness as well. With communication technologies getting faster and more prevalent, memories larger in capacity, lower in cost, and smaller in size, and PCs higher in sophistication, there have been provided new functions for effective handling of information using digital data. The provision and implementation of the new functions has also been desired of MFPs which handle digital image data, a part of digital data.
As mentioned previously, MFP's "output" includes an output to paper like copying, and transmission of electronic data as with a scanner and FAX transmission. For electronic data transmission, the form of output varies depending on the intended use. For example, FAX uses a monochrome binary image data format. Scanners use RGB color image data or the like.
While the MFP can output image data through various output means, the individual output means have respective different output characteristics. For paper output, writing units have various characteristics. For scanner distribution, display units vary in characteristic and the like.
Now, one of the functions of the MFP is to identify whether the scanned document is in color or monochrome, make a monochrome output if the original is monochrome, and make a color output if the original is in color.
For example, whether the original is in color or monochrome is determined on the basis of image data that is obtained by pre-scanning the original. Subsequently, processing based on the result of determination whether the original is in color or monochrome is applied to image data that is obtained by fully scanning the original. Since the method includes scanning the original twice, the document scanning speed becomes substantially ½ or less, which has caused an adverse effect on the number of copies output per minute. In addition, there has been the inconvenience that if the original consists of a plurality of pages, a discrepancy can occur between the results of determination whether the original pages are in color or monochrome and the number of scanned pages when the document feeding unit comes to a halt due to paper jamming and the like.
Color image data and monochrome image data may be generated without a pre-scan, in parallel with scanning the original once (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-369012). To make a copy, a CMYK image is generated for output printing use. If the result of determination is monochrome, only the K signal is used to make a paper output, in which case the output image quality is lower than that of an image that is generated exclusively for monochrome output. If the CMYK image is generated in consideration of such K signal-based monochrome image output, then the image output as a color document has image quality lower than that of an image that is generated exclusively for color output. According to such a method, when transmitting the image data to a PC or the like, the color image is rendered into an RGB image and the monochrome image into a K image. There is thus a need to generate a color image and a monochrome image simultaneously if the color and monochrome output formats have nothing in common.
Recent MFPs are multi-input multi-output. Examples of the inputs include a scanner image, an image transferred over a network, and a digital camera image read from a PC card or the like. Examples of the outputs include paper printing, FAX transmission, and transmission of image data to a PC.
To make the foregoing multi-output of a single scanned image, some MFPs are configured to store the scanned image inside and make a determination whether the document is in color or monochrome at the time of scanning (as for a similar apparatus, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-088783). When outputting the stored image, the MFP applies processing corresponding to the result of color/monochrome document determination made at the time of document scanning to the image. Using the result of color/monochrome document determination obtained at the time of image scanning, however, it is not possible to expect an appropriate image output when the intended use of the image at the time of image storing differs from that of reuse time. An example is when an output area of the image different from assumed at the time of image storing is employed for the output.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-119589 discloses an image processing apparatus which inputs image data of an original by a single document scan, and simultaneously makes a determination whether the original is in color or monochrome (auto color select: ACS) on the basis of the image data. The apparatus retains the result of determination and the image data, and outputs the retained image data on the basis of the result of color/monochrome determination on the original retained. It is mentioned in the same patent document that the ACS area can be set independent of the size, position, and other factors of the original. It should be noted that the result of color/monochrome determination on the original, retained with the image is concerned only with the ACS area that is set at the scanning time. If the output image size is changed from the scanned image size, there is no guarantee that the result of determination stored can be simply used to produce an appropriate image output since the result of determination is not derived from an ACS area that is suited to the changed image size.
Japanese Patent No. 3015045 discloses a color copying apparatus in conjunction with an example of "continuous page copy" where two facing pages of a book are copied in page order. The color copying apparatus makes a color/monochrome determination on each of a plurality of areas to be copied, stores the results of determination, performs color copy processing on images in each area to be copied if the corresponding result of determination is "color," and performs monochrome copy processing if the corresponding result of determination is "monochrome." It is also mentioned in the same patent document that the apparatus is similarly applicable to a "continuous enlarged copy" where a single sheet of original is divided into a plurality of areas, and each of the areas is enlarged and copied so that the copy outputs are put together to produce a super enlargement copy. As a concrete method for color/monochrome determination, Japanese Patent No. 3015045 discloses the following example. The color copying apparatus performs the operation of scanning the original for each of the areas to be copied while making a chromatic/achromatic determination on the image signal pixel by pixel to count pixels that are determined to be chromatic. Having performed the operation on all the areas to be copied, the apparatus then performs the operation of determining whether each area to be copied is "color" or "monochrome": that is, "color" if the proportion of the number of pixels determined to be chromatic in that area with respect to the total number of pixels, or the number of pixels determined to be chromatic itself, exceeds a predetermined value, and "monochrome" if not. With a large number of areas to be copied, however, such a method is inefficient since the operation of scanning the original for each of the areas to be copied is repeated many times. In particular, when a plurality of areas to be copied overlap each other, the overlapping portions of the areas to be copied are inefficiently scanned for color/monochrome determination repeatedly. Moreover, there is a need that counters for counting the numbers of chromatic pixels in respective areas and retaining the count values until the final determination be prepared on a RAM or the like. The greater the number of areas to be copied is, the greater the memory area needs to be prepared on the RAM or the like for the sake of the area-specific counters. This contributes to an increase in circuit scale and cost (with regard to the problem related with the memory capacity, also see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-251835).
In view of the foregoing, a main object of the present invention is to improve the reusability of an image stored in an image processing apparatus such as an MFP which stores the image of an original and outputs an entire area or partial area of the stored image as a color image or a monochrome image. To achieve the main object, it is an object of the present invention to set various areas that overlap each other so that whether the original is in color or monochrome can be determined in each of the areas. Another object of the present invention is to allow highly accurate color determination, to allow area-by-area color determination with a small amount of processing even if the set areas increase in number and intricately overlap each other, and to reduce the memory necessary for color determination. Yet another object of the present invention is to automatically set areas appropriate for color determination on the basis of history information pertaining to user's image output and information on output sheets loaded in the apparatus.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer program product


A fluid supplying apparatus includes an inner tube having a plurality of holes for distributing a fluid supplied from a supply unit, and an outer tube arranged coaxially or non-coaxially with the inner tube to surround the inner tube and having a plurality of slots for injecting the fluid distributed therein from the holes to the outside. The outer tube substantially has the same length as the inner tube. The fluid supplying apparatus may be used for a thin film cleaning system or method.

For example, systems for producing a film or roll type plate (hereinafter, referred to as a "thin film") having a film-type sheet with several micrometers or several ten micrometers, e.g., flooring films or various functional films, perform a cleaning process for removing impurities adhered to the surface of the roll-type thin film. In this film cleaning process, a cleaning fluid (e.g., liquid) is injected to the surface of the thin film to remove the impurities adhered to the surface of the thin film.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional thin film cleaning system. FIG. 2 is a graph showing a flow rate of a fluid corresponding to each hole of a nozzle tube in the system of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional thin film cleaning system 1 includes a fluid supplying apparatus 5 disposed in a cleaning bath 2 to be immersed in an immersion liquid 3 and capable of injecting a cleaning fluid so that impurities present in the surface (the upper and/or lower surface) of a thin film 4 which is successively moved while being immersed in the immersion liquid 3 stored in the cleaning bath 2.
The conventional fluid supplying apparatus 5 includes a supply tube 6 installed in the cleaning bath 2 to receive a cleaning fluid from the outside, and a nozzle tube 7 diverged vertically from the supply tube 6 to uniformly inject the cleaning fluid toward the thin film 4 with a predetermined pressure. The nozzle tube 7 is hollow with closed ends on both sides and has a plurality of holes 8 in a length direction. The thin film 4 is rolled on a plurality of rollers 9 and moves at a predetermined speed. The cleaning fluid injected from the holes 8 gives a predetermined pressure to the surface of the thin film 4 moving in association with the immersion liquid 3. This pressure is at the level allowing impurities present on the surface of the thin film 4 to be removed. In other words, the holes 8 formed in the nozzle tube 7 have a kind of nozzle function. Though FIG. 1 shows that the fluid supplying apparatus 5 is disposed above the thin film, the nozzle tube 7 may also be located only below the thin film 4 or both above and below the thin film 4.
However, in the conventional thin film cleaning system 1, since the diameter of the holes 8 for injecting a cleaning fluid is smaller than the diameter of the nozzle tube 7, the cleaning fluid supplied into the nozzle tube 7 from the supply tube 6 flows faster while passing through the holes 8. The increased flow rate of the cleaning fluid collides with the wall of the cleaning bath 2 and returns, and in this process, the flowing pattern of the fluid in the cleaning bath 2 gets complicated. Such a complicated flow pattern applies irregular pressure to the thin film 4 moving above or below the nozzle tube 7. If the pressure deviation increases, for example, the thin film 4 may fold or droop. This phenomenon, namely the fact that the thin film 4 progresses to the next process over the roller 9 in a state of being folded, may give a serious influence when the thin film 4 fractures.

Fluid supplying apparatus and system and method for cleaning thin film using the same


There is provided a method and system for determining if a head-mounted device for extended reality (XR) is correctly positioned on a user, and optionally performing a position correction procedure if the head-mounted device is determined to be incorrectly positioned on the user. Embodiments include: performing eye tracking by estimating, based on a first image of a first eye of the user, a position of a pupil in two dimensions; determining whether the estimated position of the pupil of the first eye is within a predetermined allowable area in the first image; and, if the determined position of the pupil of the first eye is inside the predetermined allowable area, concluding that the head-mounted device is correctly positioned on the user; or, if the determined position of the pupil of the first eye is outside the predetermined allowable area, concluding that the head-mounted device is incorrectly positioned on the user.

The performance of head-mounted devices such as virtual-reality (VR) headsets, augmented reality (AR) headsets, mixed reality (MR) headsets or other version of extended reality (XR) headset may be negatively affected if the head-mounted device is not properly mounted at the user's head. Also, even if a head-mounted device has initially been positioned correctly, the head-mounted device may be repositioned during use, for example due to slippage when the head of the user moves or rotates.
Since lenses or other optical equipment of the head-mounted device are typically optimized for a certain position relative to the user's eyes, a user wearing the head-mounted device incorrectly may experience problems that lead to an inferior visual experience. For example, if the head-mounted device is adapted to provide a three-dimensional (3D) experience to the user, this 3D experience may become distorted if the head-mounted device is incorrectly positioned on the user's head. A VR or MR experience provided by the head-mounted device may for example become less realistic, or virtual objects shown by an AR or MR headset may not fit into the real environment as well as they could have done. Any images shown to the user on a screen of the head-mounted device may further be experienced as blurry.
If the head-mounted device is equipped with eye tracking or gaze tracking functionality, the performance of such functionality may also be negatively affected if the head-mounted device is incorrectly positioned on the user's head, since the eye tracker or gaze tracker will not be able to see/detect the user's eyes, and hence the quality of any tracking signals will be poor.
There is a need to provide solutions to one or more of the identified problems.

Determination of position of a head-mounted device on a user


A shielding device such as for a primer fuse is disclosed. The shielding device is multi-layered, and combines the shielding affectivity of metal foil with electrically conductive adhesive and a dielectric film. Upon application of the shielding device, the primer in the base of the shell is shielded, yet an electrical connection can be made upon firing the pin to fire the round without requiring removal of the shielding device.

105 mm shells are in common use in tanks. One drawback of the primer mechanisms associated with these and similar shells is the ability of the enemy to jam the same. That is, the conventional primer mechanism includes an electrically charged firing pin that strikes the primer fuse and generates a spark. If the electrical current on the pin is jammed, no spark will be created and the tank will not fire, or the primer mechanism will operate improperly.
One solution to this problem is the use of foil tape as a bridge wire in a cross configuration on the base of the shell casing, covering the electro mechanical primer fuse. However, the tape must be removed either before or after the shell is loaded, thereby adding unacceptable time and motion to the firing sequence. In addition, the tape may short the fuse.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an effective means of shielding the electro mechanical primer fuse from radio frequency, electro magnetic interference, and electro static discharge which does not suffer from the drawbacks of the prior art.

EMI/RFI/ESD shield for electro-mechanical primer fuses


Provided is a cathode material for a lithium ion secondary battery that includes a composite grain formed of lithium iron silicate crystals or lithium manganese silicate crystals and a carbon material. The composite grain has a sea-islands structure in which the lithium iron silicate crystals or lithium manganese silicate crystals are scattered like islands in the carbon material, and the islands have an average value of circle-equivalent diameter of smaller than 15 nm.

Lithium ion secondary battery has lighter weight and larger capacity as compared with conventional lead secondary battery, nickel-cadmium secondary battery and so forth, and has widely been used as a power source for electronic devices such as mobile phone, notebook type personal computer and so forth. It has recently been used also as batteries for electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid car, pedelec and so forth.
The lithium ion secondary battery is basically composed of a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte, and a separator. As the anode, there has been used carbon, lithium titanate and so forth, which allow intercalation and deintercalation of metallic lithium or lithium ion. Meanwhile, a lithium salt and organic solvent or ionic liquid capable of dissolving the lithium salt have been used as the electrolyte. The separator is a component placed between the cathode and the anode so as to keep electrical isolation between the two while allowing the electrolyte to pass through the pores thereof, and is configured by using porous organic resin, glass fiber or the like.
The cathode (also referred to as "cathode layer", hereinafter) is generally configured by an active material which allows intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ion, an electrically conductive auxiliary which ensures an electric conduction path (electron conduction path) to a current collector, and a binder which binds the active material and the electrically conductive auxiliary.
The electrically conductive auxiliary is typically configured by using a carbon material such as acetylene black, carbon black, graphite or the like.
Examples of the active material generally used include metal oxides composed of lithium and transition metal(s) such as LiCoO2, LiNiO2, LiNi0.8Cu0.2O2 and LiMn2O4, and other known examples include LiMPO4, Li2MSiO4, LiMBO3 and derivatives obtained from these basic structures by element substitution or compositional change (simply referred to as "derivatives", hereinafter). Now, M mainly contains transition metal element (s) characterized by variable valency, such as Fe, Mn, Ni and Co.
The metal oxide is generally low in electron conductivity. Efforts have therefore been made on improving the electron conductivity of the cathode which uses the metal oxide as the active material, typically by mixing the metal oxide with the above-described electrically conductive auxiliary or by providing a carbon coating or by allowing carbon grain, carbon fiber or the like to adhere on the surface of the metal oxide (Patent Literatures 1 to 6 and Non-Patent Literature 1). In particular, the carbon coating on the surface of the metal oxide has been considered to be effective for the purpose of obtaining excellent battery characteristics.
Among the oxides described above, Li2MSiO4 represented by iron lithium silicate and manganese lithium silicate and derivatives thereof (they may generally be referred to as "lithium silicate" on occasions) are expected for their theoretically large capacity since they contain two lithium ions in the compositional formulae (Patent Literatures 7 to 9, Non-Patent Literature 2).

Cathode material for lithium ion secondary battery, cathode member, lithium ion secondary battery, and production method for said cathode material


The present invention relates to a generation system for converting compressed air in a passive main control room habitability system to energy when the main control room habitability system is activated during an accident scenario in a nuclear reactor power plant. The system includes a pressure regulator for reducing the pressure of the compressed air to produce reduced pressurized air, an eductor to deliver air to the control room, and piping to connect the tank to the pressure regulator and the eductor to allow the flow of compressed air therein. The generation system includes a mechanism positioned upstream of the eductor for receiving the reduced pressurized air from the pressure regulator and converting at least a portion of said reduced pressurized air into energy.

Various functions for generating electric power in a nuclear reactor power plant require two critical resources, i.e., water and power. For example, water is used for cooling the fuel inside of the reactor and the spent fuel pool, and power is employed for a variety of plant functions including pumping, valve actuations, instrumentation and plant monitoring. During an accident scenario, such as station blackout, or other event resulting in the loss of all AC power, it may be difficult to obtain and provide external resources to the nuclear plant site to cope with the accident. Therefore, it is beneficial for the plant site to have alternate means to produce power and provide cooling water during a loss of AC power scenario.
In general, the Main Control Room Habitability System (VES) in a nuclear reactor power plant is a passively powered system which uses air to provide ventilation, cooling and filtration of the control room's environment following an accident or other event involving a loss of all AC power. FIG. 1 shows schematically a VES system 10 in accordance with the prior art. Compressed air is stored in tank 2 and pressurized. Typically, air is stored at a maximum pressure of 4000 psi. A minimum pressure of the tank is 3333 psi, with air at 60° F. under normal conditions. Further, it is typical for VES systems to employ more than one tank to store the compressed air. For example, in some commercial nuclear reactor power plants, such as the Westinghouse AP1000 plant, 32 tanks are used with each tank having a free volume of about 46.1 ft3. A stream of compressed air 4 is passed from the tank 2 through a pressure regulator 6. The minimum inlet pressure of the pressure regulator 6 is 200 psi. The pressure regulator 6 reduces the pressure of the stream of compressed air 4 such that a stream of lower pressure compressed air 8, which has a volumetric flow rate of 65 SCFM, passes through the outlet 7, is fed to an eductor nozzle 11 and is used to power an eductor 9. The air pressure at the outlet 7 is reduced to an intermediate pressure. For the AP1000 plant, the intermediate pressure, i.e., the pressure of the stream of lower pressure compressed air 8, is 120 psi. The flow fed to the eductor nozzle 11 provides fresh air for the control room and the eductor 9 provides for a circulation of airflow within the control room space 13.
For the AP1000, the compressed air stored in a nuclear reactor power plant is sufficient to provide 65±5 SCFM to the main control room area for at least 72 hours following an accident or other event involving a loss of all AC power. This compressed air represents a significant amount of potential energy.
It is known in the art to employ various passively powered designs, such as the VES, to mitigate accident events in a nuclear reactor without operator intervention or off-site power. These passively powered designs emphasize safety features that rely on natural forces, such as pressurized gas, gravity flow, natural circulation flow, and convection, and do not rely on active components (such as, pumps, fans or diesel generators). Further, passive systems are designed to function without safety grade support systems (such as, AC power, component cooling water, service water, and HVAC).
It is desired to develop further passive features and mitigation strategies for use in nuclear reactor power plants. For example, it is desired to recover energy from nuclear plant processes for use during accident and other event sequences when resources may not be readily available. Accordingly, this invention provides systems and methods for extracting significant useful energy from the compressed air in the VES. This energy may be employed in the nuclear plant to cope with accident and other loss of AC power event sequences wherein the VES is activated.

Systems and methods for generating power employing VES air supply stored energy


Embodiments of a stack package may include an upper chip on a lower chip, a backside passivation layer covering the backside surface of the lower chip and having a thickness which is substantially equal to a height of the protrusion portion of a lower through via electrode, a backside bump substantially contacting the protrusion portion, and a front side bump electrically connected to a chip contact portion of the upper chip and physically and electrically connected to the backside bump. The backside passivation layer may include a first insulation layer provided over a sidewall of the protrusion portion and the backside surface of the lower chip. Embodiments of fabrication methods are also disclosed.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments relate to package technologies and, more particularly, to stack packages including through via electrodes and methods of manufacturing the same.
2. Related Art
Semiconductor devices employed in electronic systems may include various electronic circuit elements, and the electronic circuit elements may be integrated in and/or on a semiconductor substrate to constitute the semiconductor device (also, referred to as a semiconductor chip or a semiconductor die). Memory semiconductor chips may also be employed in the electronic systems. Before the semiconductor devices including the memory semiconductor chips are employed in the electronic systems, the semiconductor devices may be encapsulated to form a package. These semiconductor packages may be employed in the electronic systems, for example, computers, mobile systems or data storage media.
As the mobile systems such as smart phones become lighter and smaller, the semiconductor packages employed in the mobile systems have been continuously scaled down. In addition, large capacitive semiconductor packages are increasingly in demand with the development of multi-functional mobile systems. In connection with this, efforts have been directed to putting a plurality of semiconductor devices in a single package in order to provide the large capacitive semiconductor packages such as stack packages. Further, through silicon via (TSV) electrodes penetrating the semiconductor chip, have been proposed to electrically connect the semiconductor chips in a single stack package to each other.

Stack packages including diffusion barriers over sidewalls of through via electrodes and methods of manufacturing the same


Systems and methods for integration of a PET detector with a CT gantry are provided. One system includes an x-ray computed tomography (CT) gantry having a rotating portion and a stationary portion within a housing, and including a bore volume therethrough. The system also includes an x-ray source and an x-ray detector coupled to the rotating portion. The system further includes a positron emission tomography (PET) detector, wherein the PET detector is coupled to the stationary portion of the CT gantry, such that the PET detector extends at least partially into the CT gantry with at least a portion of the PET detector within the housing of the CT gantry.

Embodiments described herein generally relate to imaging systems, particularly to multi-modality imaging systems, such as positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) systems.
CT imaging systems typically include an x-ray source and a detector. In operation, the x-ray source and the detector are rotated around the object to be imaged such that an angle at which an x-ray beam intersects the object changes. A group of x-ray attenuation measurements, or projection data, from a detector at one gantry angle may be referred to as a "view." A set of views made at different gantry angles during one revolution of the x-ray source and detector may be referred to as a "scan." In an axial scan, projection data is processed to construct an image that corresponds to a two-dimensional cross-section or slice of an object being scanned.
PET imaging systems may scan objects to acquire image information using non-moving detectors. During operation of a PET imaging system, for example, a patient is initially injected with a radiopharmaceutical that emits positrons as the radiopharmaceutical decays. The emitted positrons travel a relatively short distance before the positrons encounter an electron, at which point an annihilation event occurs whereby the electron and positron are annihilated and converted into two gamma photons that are detected using scintillators, arranged in a ring within an annular gantry. Signals from the scintillators are then processed to produce an image.
It can be beneficial to utilize both CT and PET systems to scan a subject such as in known dual-modality imaging systems. Separate gantries are used in these dual-modality imaging systems. However, having two imaging detector gantries (in tandem) increases the footprint of the system and consequently a larger imaging room is needed. Further, newer CT detectors have an increasingly higher field of view, which increase the CT detector size. The larger CT detector in these dual-modality CT/PET systems results in the PET detector being displaced further along into the bore volume. Thus, the patient travels further into the bore volume, which can cause claustrophobia and general discomfort for certain patients. In addition, as a result of the increased travel length, the patient table has to be made stronger with additional reinforcements.
Some known dual-modality imaging systems attempt to reduce the distance between detectors of the different modalities. For example, some systems co-locate the PET detectors and the CT detectors on a common rotating portion of the gantry. However, it is not always desirable to rotate the PET ring. Other systems position the CT and PET detectors side by side and provide a moving patient platform. However, this arrangement increases the difficulty of co-registration and alignment.

Systems and methods for integration of a positron emission tomography (PET) detector with a computed-tomography (CT) gantry


Apparatus for generating trigger signals for a serial stream of bits which has continuously repeating patterns and which has been formed by serializing a plurality of parallel streams, for example, a maximal length PRBS. The apparatus operates by identifying with which parallel stream cycle a trigger signal should occur and with which bit of the parallel stream in that cycle the trigger signal should be associated. Embodiments constructed in accordance with the invention can operate mainly at the clock rate of the parallel streams, that is, the lower clock rate.

This invention relates to the generation of trigger signals for a serial stream of bits which has a continuously repeating pattern and which has been formed by serializing a plurality of parallel streams The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application to the generation of trigger signals for a class of serial streams known as maximal length Pseudo Random Binary Sequences' (hereinafter referred to as PRBS), which may be formed by serializing a plurality of parallel streams.
The bit rate of a serial stream formed as above is typically an order of magnitude higher than that of the parallel streams from which it is formed. Such serial 16 streams are used, for example, in the testing of high speed digital signal links. There is a need to provide a means of producing a trigger signal which is synchronized to the high rate serial stream and which occurs in the same position during each repeating pattern.
One way of producing such a trigger signal would be to sense a particular sequence of bits in the serial stream. This would require logic circuitry operating at the high (serial) rate, and would be complex.
An alternative is to try to sense a sequence of bits occurring in the parallel stream. This would not necessarily give one trigger signal for each repetition of the serial output pattern.


An improved fiber administration system and method of operation for a fiber distribution system. The fiber administration system contains at least one frame, wherein each frame contains a plurality of fiber distribution shelves. The different fiber distribution shelves contain numerous optical connector ports. The various optical connector ports are interconnected throughout the fiber distribution system with optical fibers. The optical fiber pass through numerous routing pathways on the frame as they travel between points on the frame. A plurality of lights are disposed on the frame proximate the different routing pathways. A controller is provided to selectively light some of the lights that correspond in position to one selected routing pathway, among the numerous possible routing pathways. The light thereby provides a visual indication of a specific routing path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the structure of optical fiber administration systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods of tracing the routing path of specific optical fibers from point-to-point within the optical fiber administration system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are many applications that utilize an optical fiber network to establish optical communications between a host digital terminal (HDT) at a central office and an optical network unit (ONU) at a remote location. Since a central office serves as the point of origin for the optical fibers in the optical fiber network, fiber administration systems are typically used at the central office to manage the flow of optical signals as they are directed to the various ONUs along the different optical fibers in the network.
In many fiber administration systems, as the optical fibers in a network enter the central office, they are directed into an optical distribution frame where the individual optical fibers are terminated in an organized manner. Such fiber administration systems are exemplified by the LGX(copyright) fiber administration system which is currently manufactured by Lucent Technologies of Murray Hill, N.J., the assignee herein. In such fiber administration systems, the optical distribution frames used at the central office are typically large structures that are arranged in parallel rows. Each optical distribution frame is commonly mounted between the floor and ceiling and only a few feet separate each row of frames.
Referring to FIG. 1, a typical prior art fiber administration system 10 is shown. The fiber administration system 10 contains at least one optical distribution frame 12. The optical distribution frame 12 is located at the central office of the telecommunications provider. The optical distribution frame 12 defines a plurality of bays 15, wherein each bay houses several fiber distribution shelves 14. On each of the fiber distribution shelves 14 are a plurality of optical connection ports that receive the ends of all of the individual optical fibers that enter the central office and are contained within the optical fiber network. By terminating each optical fiber at an optical connection port on one of the different fiber distribution shelves 14, the location of each optical is fiber becomes known within the overall assembly.
A fiber distribution system 10 may contain hundreds or thousands of optical connection ports. Accordingly, there can be hundreds or thousands of optical fibers that are routed between the various fiber distribution shelves 14. Within the confines of the optical distribution frame 12, space is limited. Accordingly, the routing of the various optical fibers is not done randomly. Rather, algorithms have been developed that inform a technician as to how to route a particular optical fiber so that no one routing track becomes over utilized. The algorithms are run by the systems controller 20 of the fiber administration system 10. As such, a technician can view the display screen 22 of the systems controller in order to see a desired routing path for any particular optical fiber.
In order to maintain the quality and integrity of the fiber administration system, the various optical fibers are periodically disconnected from the optical network and are connected to various types of test equipment. Additionally, as the fiber network grows, certain optical fibers get rerouted within the fiber administration system. It is often difficult for a technician to find a specific optical connection port in the hundreds of optical connection ports available in a fiber administration system. Accordingly, it is not uncommon for a technician to accidentally select the wrong optical connection port and disrupt an optical fiber pathway that should not have been disrupted.
In an attempt to assist a technician in finding a specific optical connection port, tracing systems have been developed that provide a visible indication as to the location of a targeted optical connection port. Such prior art tracing systems are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,675 to Leone, entitled Telecommunications Distribution Frame With Tracing. In such systems, a light is lit next to the optical connection port being targeted. A technician can see the light and is immediately led to the targeted optical connection port.
However, the use of line tracing systems only informs a technician as to the starting point and the ending point of a particular optical fiber in the fiber administration network. The tracing system does not indicate to the technician the routing path that the optical fiber takes when traveling between those points.
The routing algorithms run by the systems controller of the fiber administration system may produce highly complex routing schemes through the optical distribution frame. As a technician begins to run an optical fiber, that technician often does not remember the routing path plotted by the systems controller. Consequently, the technician must often recheck the plotted path. However, technicians often make mistakes when routing optical fibers. Accordingly, an optical fiber may not follow the specific routing path that the systems controller believes that optical fiber should follow. This leads to confusion in subsequent maintenance procedures, wherein a technician finds differences between the actual routing path of optical fibers and the preferred routing path of optical fibers recorded in the systems controller. Such disparities can lead to a technician accidentally disconnecting the wrong optical fiber and disrupting the wrong optical pathway within the fiber administration system.
A need therefore exists for an system and method that better identifies a specific optical fiber routing path in a fiber administration system to better assist a technician in routing optical fibers consistently with the routing pathways selected by the systems controller.
The present invention is an improved fiber administration system and method of operation for a fiber distribution system. The fiber administration system contains at least one frame, wherein each frame contains a plurality of fiber distribution shelves. The different fiber distribution shelves contain numerous optical connector ports. The various optical connector ports are interconnected throughout the fiber distribution system with optical fibers. The optical fiber pass through numerous routing pathways on the frame as they travel between paints on the frame.
A plurality of lights are disposed on the frame proximate the different routing pathways. A controller is provided to selectively light some of the lights that correspond in position to one selected routing pathway, among the numerous possible routing pathways. The lights thereby provide a visual indication of a specific routing path that is proper for any selected optical fiber used in the fiber administration system.

Fiber administration system having optical fiber route tracing capabilities


The positive electrode current collector for a manganese dry battery of the present invention comprises a carbon rod, and either one of a paraffin wax containing hydrocarbon whose molecular weight is 300 to 500 and a microcrystalline wax containing hydrocarbon whose molecular weight is 500 to 800, which is impregnated into the carbon rod, is characterized in that the endothermic amount of the paraffin wax or the microcrystalline wax obtained by differential scanning calorimetry up to 45° C. is not more than 1.0 J/g.

The carbon rod used as the positive electrode current collector for a manganese dry battery conventionally has a number of fine pores through which air can flow into the battery. In order to check the flow of air, the carbon rod is impregnated with wax. In the case of a high-density carbon rod, it can be impregnated with a small amount of paraffin wax having a low melting point.
Therefore, when an obtained dry battery is stored at e.g. 45° C. for evaluation, it becomes possible to reduce the melting of a sealing agent resulting from eluted paraffin, thereby keeping the sealing performance of the battery in a good condition.
However, streamlining including cost reduction requires the use of a low-density carbon rod, which demands a larger amount of paraffin with which to be impregnated because a low-density carbon rod is highly porous. This increases the amount of paraffin wax to elute during the storage at 45° C., thereby inducing the sealing agent to melt, with the problem of sealing failure.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a positive electrode current collector for a manganese dry battery which is freed from the above-mentioned problem and is capable of keeping the sealing performance of the battery in a good condition during high-temperature storage even with a low-density carbon rod.

Positive electrode current collector and manganese dry battery using the same

Abstract: This enables the manganese dry battery employing the positive electrode current collector of the present invention to keep its sealing performance in a good condition during high-temperature storage even with the use of a low-density carbon rod.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention describes a multiple sample container for use in a method and apparatus for detecting microorganisms in a culture container. The container includes a block having a plurality of through holes for dividing the sample into a plurality of partial samples. Each partial sample has its own head space and its own sensor. The spacial array of partial samples is read out by a CCD camera and split into partial sample to generate a spacial array that results in a substantial reduction in the time to detection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple sample container for reducing the time to detection (TTD) of biological activity in blood cultures and for mycobacteria in body fluids.
2. Background Description
The presence of biologically active agents such as bacteria in a patient's body fluid, especially blood, is generally determined using blood culture vials. A small quantity of blood is injected through an enclosing rubber septum into a sterile vial containing a culture medium, and the vial is then incubated at 37.degree. C. and monitored for microorganism growth.
One of the techniques used to detect the presence of microorganisms includes visual inspection. Generally, visual inspection involves monitoring the turbidity or eventual color changes of the liquid suspension of blood and culture medium. Known instrumental methods detect changes in the carbon dioxide content of the culture bottles, which is a metabolic by-product of the bacterial growth. Monitoring the carbon dioxide content can be accomplished by methods well established in the art, such as radiochemical or infrared absorption at a carbon dioxide spectral line. Until now, these methods have required invasive procedures which result in the well-known problem of cross-contamination between different vials. It has also been proposed to detect microorganism growth in sealable containers by monitoring positive and/or negative pressure changes.
Recently, non-invasive methods have been developed involving chemical sensors disposed inside the vial. These sensors respond to changes in the carbon dioxide concentration by changing their color or by changing their fluorescence intensity. In known automated non-invasive blood culture systems, individual light sources, spectral excitation/emission filters, and photodetectors are arranged adjacent to each vial. This results in station sensitivity variations from one vial to the next. Additional problems are caused by the aging effects of the light sources, filters and photodetectors. Due to the fact that most known blood culture sensors generate only a moderate contrast ratio in the measured photocurrent during bacterial growth, extensive and time-consuming calibration procedures and sophisticated detection algorithms are required to operate these systems. In addition, flexible electrical cables are required to connect the individual sources and detectors with the rest of the instrument. With the large number of light sources, typically 240 or more per instrument, maintenance can become very cumbersome and expensive when individual sources start to fail.
The disadvantage of intensity-based sensor arrangements can be overcome by utilizing fluorescent sensors that change their lifetime. In this case, intensity measurement is replaced with time parameter measurement, and intensity changes have no impact on the sensor output signal. Many chemical sensor materials are known that change their fluorescence lifetime with changing oxygen concentration, pH, carbon dioxide concentration, or other chemical parameters.
The change in the sensor fluorescence lifetime is commonly monitored by applying the well-known phase shift method. In this method, the excitation light is intensity-modulated, which results in an intensity-modulated fluorescence emission that is phase-shifted relative to the excitation phase. The phase shift angle, .theta., is dependent on the fluorescence lifetime .tau., according to the equation. EQU tan.theta.=.omega..tau. (1)
where .omega.=2.pi.f is the circular light modulation frequency.
An inspection of equation (1) reveals that the phase shift method allows for maximum resolution, d.theta./dr, under the condition .omega..tau.=1. Unfortunately, almost all known pH- or carbon dioxide-sensitive fluorophores have decay times in the range 5 ns to 500 ps. In other words, light modulation frequencies, f=1/2.pi..tau., in the range 32 MHz to 320 MHz would be required.
It is possible to accomplish light intensity modulation at such high frequencies, but that requires acousto-optic or electro-optic modulators that are only efficient in combination with lasers. Moreover, detecting the modulated fluorescence light would require high-speed high-sensitivity photodetectors such as microchannel-plate photomultipliers, which are rather expensive. Consequently, all commercial automated blood culture systems are based on intensity monitoring, and none of them utilize time-resolved fluorescent carbon dioxide sensors.
Even if it would be possible to operate fluorescence lifetime-based sensors at low cost, all sample-related artifacts would remain. In particular, the so-called "blood-background effect" has to be mentioned which is a continuous but unpredictable change in the fluorescence intensity and/or lifetime due to the metabolism of the blood itself. Because the blood-background effect can depend on the donor, the growth medium, the blood volume, and other factors, it is very difficult or impossible to distinguish between blood-related and organism-related fluorescence changes. Consequently, the detection algorithms have to be "robust" which results in a relatively long time to detection.


A phosphor-containing cured silicone that is a cured silicone which has a structure represented by general formulae (1) and/or (2) and also has units selected from general formulae (3) and/or (4), the phosphor-containing cured silicone includes a phosphor and particles having units selected from general formulae (3) and/or (4):

A light emitting diode (LED) is characterized by low power consumption, long lifespan, aesthetics, etc., based on remarkable improvement of its luminous efficiency. Thus, its market is rapidly expanding for applications as a backlight for liquid crystal displays (LCDs) or a special lighting field. Also, due to an additional improvement of luminous efficiency, as it is characterized by the low environmental load as described above, a huge market is expected to be formed in a general lighting field in the future.
Meanwhile, since the emission spectrum of an LED is dependent on a semiconductor material forming an LED chip, a phosphor suitable for each chip has to be installed on the LED chip so as to achieve white light for LCD backlights or general lightings. More particularly, a method of installing a yellow phosphor on an LED chip emitting blue light, a method of installing red and green phosphors on a blue LED chip, and also a method of installing red, green and blue phosphors on an LED chip emitting ultraviolet rays have been proposed. However, a method of installing a yellow phosphor on a blue LED and a method of installing red and green phosphors on a blue phosphor are currently the most widely used from the viewpoints of the luminous efficiency and cost of the LED chip.
As one method of installing a phosphor on an LED chip, a method of forming a film on a chip using a polymer composition in which a phosphor is dispersed and then sealing the film with a silicone-based material having high transparency and good thermal resistance and lightfastness has been performed.

Phosphor-containing cured silicone, process for production of same, phosphor-containing silicone composition, precursor of the composition, sheet-shaped moldings, LED package, light-emitting device, and process for production of LED-mounted substrate

Abstract: wherein R1 to R3 are each a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group or a propyl group; X represents a methylene group, a dimethylene group or a trimethylene group, and may be the same or different; and R4 to R6 are each a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, and may be the same or different.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cured silicone in which a phosphor is uniformly dispersed, the cured silicone is characterized in that a silicone material has good thermal resistance and lightfastness. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a process for production of an LED-mounted substrate by which a plurality of LED elements can be continuously mounted in a batch manner.


The claimed embodiments provide methods, apparatuses and systems directed to storing write records in a hierarchical index which includes a root node with one or more stem nodes, each corresponding to respective data ranges of a data file. Write records are attached to the hierarchical index as leaf nodes with a possibility of being split into two or more leaf nodes if a write record traverses multiple data ranges. Additionally, the hierarchical index can conditionally grow based on a number of leaf nodes attached to a given stem node in the hierarchical index.

There are various reasons for logging writes made to a data file on a storage medium. One of those reasons is write monitor differencing. Write monitor differencing is a method for synchronizing and backing up data by making changes to a previous backup based on writes to the storage medium since the previous backup. As only the writes since the previous backup are required to perform a new backup, backup time is reduced.
Typically, write difference monitor log files are arranged as a series of write entries according to the respective time of each write. This serial arrangement introduces a number of issues. For example, if there are multiple writes to the same location then all but the latest write record to that location in the log file becomes redundant. Sorting out the previous write records from the log file can be problematic. Additionally, the log file can potentially become very large as the time between backups increases and that further compounds the aforementioned previous writes to the same location issue. A large log file size will also typically increase the time required to perform a backup since write monitor differencing is a sequential backup methodology.

Hierarchical index for enhanced storage of file changes


A local air duct directs a temperature-controlled stream of air across two perpendicular sets of interferometer beams which are used to measure the two dimension (X-Y) position of a precision stage in e.g. an optical lithography stepper or step and scan system, or in any other precision coordinate measuring machine. By thereby providing an additional single air flow which is azimuthally directed across both the X and Y direction interferometer beams, the precision of the interferometric measurement is maximized. In addition, a second flow of air is directed downwards from the local air duct, thus providing sufficient air circulation onto the stage when the stage is directly beneath the local duct, even though in that location the stage is otherwise blocked from receiving the main air flow through the chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to environmental controls in a system which includes an interferometer and more specifically to improved air circulation onto a precision stage or other movable object whose location is determined interferometrically.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Interferometers are well known for precise measurement of object location. One use of interferometers is in an optical lithography stepper or step and scan system which includes a precision motion XY stage (or stages) moving in two dimensions on a base. It is desirable to determine both the exact location of the stage in two dimensions, as well as (sometimes) the exact location of the optical projection lens which is located so as to focus an optical image onto the stage. These systems typically use two perpendicular sets of interferometer beams to measure the horizontal two dimensional position of the precision motion XY stage. With two interferometers on each axis, any rotation of the stage about a vertical axis (yawing) can be determined, as well as deviations of the stage's plane mirrors from planarity. The stage and interferometer system are enclosed in an environmental chamber containing a flow of highly filtered and temperature controlled air, to prevent particulates from settling on the semiconductor wafer or the reticle. The environmental chamber thus assists in maintaining the index of refraction of the air at a constant value by maintaining the air temperature constant. This helps to more accurately measure the stage position, since the interferometer measures the optical path length, which is the integral of the index of refraction of the air along the interferometer path length.
It is well known that if the air varies in temperature and therefore density and refractive index, any turbulence present mixes up these different contributions, leading to rapid changes in the interferometer optical path length and hence preventing precision measurement. Sources of temperature variation are heat sources within the environmental chamber, such as electronics, motors, and sensors, as well as the illumination used to expose the wafers.
One prior art approach to deal with this problem provides a flow of air from one end of the chamber to the other, with the air temperature maintained by conventional thermostatic control. The air is passed through a HEPA filter to eliminate particulates and is intended to provide a laminar air flow across the stage for particle control and temperature control. However this has been found to be inadequate for truly precision measurement due to the above-described problems of temperature instability and turbulence in the air flow.
Therefore it is desirable to improve the air circulation paths and also to better maintain the air at a constant temperature along both sets of interferometer beams.
In the prior art it is known to use two separate air ducts to provide temperature controlled air streams across each of the two perpendicular sets of interferometer beams (e.g. see Japanese Patent document No. 7-117371). It is also known alternatively to enclose the entire stage and interferometer beams in a local chamber (inside the main chamber) which provides a temperature controlled air stream over all interferometer beams (e.g. see U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,821). Disadvantageously, the separate air ducts fail to provide air flow across the entire interferometer path length because of physical interference from the projection lens, in the case of a photolithography machine. In addition, mixing of the air flow from the separate ducts and the large scale air flow across the chamber (still needed for particulate control) can reduce the separate ducts' performance. Also the air flows from the two separate ducts may interfere with one another. Moreover the (inner) local chamber occupies considerable space and hampers access to the stage and the interferometer system, thereby inhibiting maintenance.

Precision stage interferometer system with local single air duct


An overvoltage protector circuit for telecommunication equipments is disclosed. The protector circuit includes a gas discharge tube connected to a communication line for passing any harmful surge currents appearing in the line to ground. A degradation detector circuit is arranged to detect any degradation of the gas discharge tube, the detector circuit comprises a reference gas discharge tube with a higher breakdown voltage than the supervised gas discharge tube and an alarm circuit loop connected to an alarm system. The alarm system is arranged to detect when current is breaking through the reference gas discharge tube and to initiate a degradation alarm.

Telecommunication equipment connected to exposed metallic communication lines is in most cases protected against destructive overvoltages caused by e.g. lightning. The overvoltage protectors must have a high surge current capability, and they are not allowed to have any electrical properties that can disturb the communication signals on the lines. The only overvoltage protection component that fulfils both requirements is the gas discharge tube, which is used in many overvoltage protection circuits for telecommunication equipment. In particular gas discharge tubes are used as overvoltage protectors on high speed communication lines because they do not affect or change transmission characteristics of the lines. The reason is the very low capacitance and very high isolation resistance of a gas discharge tube when compared to semiconductor type protectors.
One known problem with gas discharge tubes is, however that they when exposed to repeated overvoltage transients, degrade and finally stops working. The degradation appear as a gradually increasing break down voltage, which finally becomes so high that the gas discharge tube stops functioning as an overvoltage protector, and starts behaving like an open circuit with a very high resistance, about 1000 Mohm, connected between the signal line and ground. The telecommunication equipment is now unprotected against overvoltages, and since an open circuit does not disturb the communication line, there is no indication that anything is wrong with the overvoltage protection until the telecommunication equipment is destroyed by overvoltages.
This degradation is impossible to measure while the overvoltage protector is connected to the communication line, since the high test voltage would cause communication errors on the line, and if the gas discharge tube is broken and does not spark over, the high test voltage could even cause damages in the communications equipment connected to the line.
One way of limiting the problem mentioned above is to perform regular maintenance and physically remove all gas discharge tube from the communication lines and test them with a special high voltage gas discharge tube tester at least once a year.
Another way is to measure the breakdown voltage of the gas discharge tube during the voltage transients that are caused by lightning, and let the detector set an alarm if breakdown voltage exceeds a set level. In this case, the measurement does not cause any additional disturbances in the communication, since the communication is disturbed by the naturally occurring transients anyway. However, since a gas discharge tube has a breakdown voltage that is dependent on the dv/dt of the overvoltage transient (how fast the voltage rises), the detector must adjust the breakdown voltage alarm level upwards for a fast dv/dt and downwards for a slow dv/dt.
A more practical solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,283, in which a detector is connected to the overvoltage protector circuit in order to detect when the overvoltage protector has degraded so much that it will fail to work as intended. The detector includes a high voltage gas discharge tube and a fuse connected in parallel with the protector gas discharge tube and to ground. The idea is that the detector gas discharge tube is selected to have such a high breakdown voltage that it only sparks over when the protector gas discharge tube has been degraded to a certain level.
When that occurs, an alarm circuit is activated to announce that the protector gas discharge tube needs to be exchanged. The circuit is arranged so that one pole of the alarm output port is connected through the high voltage gas discharge tube to the communication line on which overvoltage transients occurs. When the high voltage gas discharge tube sparks over for the first time, the fuse will be blown, and an overvoltage transient will be passed to the alarm output port. So far the solution works well but after the fuse has blown, the alarm output port is still connected to the communication line. Since overvoltages often come in series new ones can pass from the line and out through the alarm output port to the external alarm central and cause damage.

Overvoltage protector circuit and a detector circuit for supervising such a protector circuit


A saddle includes a saddle body, a foam, a covering, and two elastic bodies. The saddle body is made of a hard elastic material and is coated with the foam. The foam is coated with the covering. The saddle body has two accommodating holes formed therethrough and located at two positions in the saddle body under a portion of the covering, on which portion a user normally sits. The elastic bodies are made of a soft elastic material and are retained within the accommodating holes in such a manner that the top ends of the elastic bodies extend from the accommodating holes. Accordingly, the elastic bodies can absorb the shock of two portions of the foam, which two portions are located above the elastic bodies. The saddle body has two retaining units so that the elastic bodies can be retained on the saddle body.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a saddle for a bicycle, more particularly to a saddle which has an improved shock absorbing effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional saddle includes a saddle body (10), a foam (20), a covering (30) and two elastic bodies (40). The saddle body (10) is made of a hard elastic material and is coated with the foam (20). The elastic bodies (40) are made of a soft elastic material and are mounted securely on the foam (20) and are located at two positions in the foam (20) under a portion of the covering (30), on which portion a user normally sits. Normally, the foam (20) is made of a hard sponge, while the elastic bodies (40) are made of rubber.
Referring to FIG. 2, as the user sits on the saddle, the elastic bodies (40) are depressed to form concave upper surfaces (shown in phantom lines). Because the elastic bodies (40) are supported on the hard saddle body (10), shock is felt at the upper surface of the saddle, thereby causing discomfort when the saddle is in use.


To provide a retroreflective material which has high utilization efficiency of light and which can give a reflected light to various color tones: the retroreflective material in accordance with the present invention, which comprises synthesizing an incident light by giving a phase contrast to a part of the incident light, and emphasizing a light component of specific wavelength region by interference and returning a colored light that the color tone is different from the incident light to the incident direction of the light, and to provide a hologram reconstructor which reflect the light to the almost the same direction as the incident direction, when the linear light that has regular directionality is irradiated, and which comprises graphic design function, decorating function and high forgery prevention property by using said retroreflective material as the hologram reconstructor: the retroreflective reconstructor in accordance with the present invention laminates said retroreflective material and a hologram reconstructor which reconstructs a three-dimensional image by laminating a hologram reconstructor and a reflective layer.

A retroreflective material is used for a traffic sign for identifying at night, clothes or the like. When a beam of light such as headlights of automobile is irradiated, a returned light can be emitted to almost the incident direction of the light even in the case where the beam of light is entered with respect to the retroreflective material at a little angle.
Namely, in the so-called specular reflection, a reflected light returns to the incident direction except that the beam of light enters perpendicular with respect to the specular surface, because the reflected light is generated in order that an angle of incidence and an angle of reflection becomes about the same.
Thereupon, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Sho 63-38902 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Hei 8-60627, the so-called retroreflective material is used in general. Namely, the retroreflective material can return the light to almost the incident direction even when the incident light enters at a little angle, by arranging a microsphere whose particle diameter is approximately 30 to 80 .mu.m and which have relatively high refraction index, onto a light reflective layer such as a metallic film.
Said retroreflective material is excellent in the point that the returning ratio to the incident direction is high, even when the light is entered at a little angle. However, the retroreflective is the same with the specular reflector in the point that the light, which is the same color tone with the incident light, is returned.
Therefore, a method for coloring the portion that the light goes through, with pigments or dyes which have high transparency, has been adopted to color this retroreflective material so far.
For example, a method for coloring an aluminium-evaporated film that is existed in a lower part of a glass microsphere or a method for coloring a glass microsphere itself, has been used. As the coloring agents, isoindolinone, copper chloride phthalocyanine, phthalocyanine, anthraquinone, thioindigo, or the like has been used. Also, as mentioned in Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication Sho 58-55024, a method for using a mica which have high reflectance as the reflective layer and mixing thereto a transparent coloring agent.
However, utilization efficiency of light is low and it is inevitable that chroma or lightness is lowered, because the light of a specific wavelength among the incident light is absorbed and a color is developed by its complementary color in the color developing mechanism of the conventional coloring agent. Also, it is necessary to use the coloring agent of high transparency to maintain utilization efficiency of light after coloring. Consequently, the coloring agents to be used are extremely limited. Further, the applications are also limited because there are the problems that light stability and heat stability of the coloring agents are bad. Furthermore, since the coloring agents to be used are limited, it is too much difficult to provide the retroreflective material with high graphical design function under the present circumstances.

Colored light retroreflective material and retroreflective hologram reconstructor using the same


A simulated electrophoretic trace is prepared by first obtaining an input file containing an input base sequence comprising a string of letters (A, C, G and/or T) in an order corresponding to the input base sequence, and then modifying the input file using one or more functions to take into account perturbations associated with (1) changes in peak intensity as a function of base number; (2) peak shape as a function of base number; (3) peak skew; (4) spacing between peaks; (5) background; (6) noise; (7) spectral cross-talk; (8) instrumental effects and/or (9) gel electrophoresis effects to produce a modified file representing a simulated electrophoretic trace. The method may be performed using a specially adapted apparatus.

This application relates to a method and an apparatus for simulation electrophoretic traces, particularly of the type generated by DNA sequencers. Electrophoretic traces generated by DNA sequencers routinely differ substantially from the theoretical pattern. The technique of automated DNA sequencing on denaturing polyacrylamide gels involves a complicated sequence of chemical, electrophoretic, and detection steps. At minimum, the following steps are required: (1) preparation of the sequencing template; (2) conduct of the sequencing reactions; (3) separation of the sequencing reaction products (DNA fragments) on a denaturing polyacrylamide gel; (4) excitation of the fluorescently-labeled DNA fragments, (5) detection of fluorescence emissions from the DNA fragments, and (6) analysis of the detector's data stream, to produce a called base-sequence. At each step in this path, distortions and errors can arise, which may lead to degradation of the collected data, or to biases or errors in the base-called sequence. It is challenging to identify, evaluate, and mitigate experimentally against all the potentially degradative or biasing influences on the determination of a DNA sequence. The common approach to these perturbations has been to manipulate the experimental data traces to adjust them to something that is closer to theoretical pattern. For example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,916,747 and 5,853,979, which are incorporated herein by reference, describe methodologies for normalization and alignment of DNA sequencing traces.
The goal of the present invention is to describe an electrophoretic trace simulation (ETS) method and apparatus that can help in this task.


A computer-implemented method for deduplicating data is disclosed. The method may include identifying a request to transfer data from a client in a deduplication system to a server in the deduplication system. The method may also include determining, based at least in part on performance of the deduplication system, whether to deduplicate the data before transferring the data from the client to the server. The method may further include performing the following, the order of which is based on the determination: deduplicating the data and transferring the data from the client to the server. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Data deduplication may reduce the amount of storage space used in a single-instance data storage system by detecting and preventing redundant copies of data from being stored to the single-instance data storage system. For example, data deduplication is often used to reduce the amount of storage space needed to maintain backups of an organization's data.
Data deduplication involves identifying redundant copies of the same data. Because of the processing requirements involved in comparing each incoming unit of data with each unit of data that is already stored in a single-instance data storage system, redundant copy identification is usually performed by generating and comparing smaller data signatures ("fingerprints") of each data unit instead of comparing the data units themselves. The detection of redundant copies generally involves generation of a new fingerprint for each unit of data to be stored to the single-instance data storage system and comparison of the new fingerprint to existing fingerprints of data units already stored by the single-instance data storage system. If the new fingerprint matches an existing fingerprint, a copy of the unit of data is likely already stored in the single-instance data storage system.
Existing data deduplication techniques often consume significant computing resources, especially for single-instance data storage systems storing large amounts of data. For example, client-side deduplication techniques, in which data is hashed on the client and only non-redundant data is sent to the server, may require a significant amount of client memory and/or processing resources. In order to reduce client-side resource consumption, server-side deduplication may be implemented, in which all data is transferred to the server, where the data is hashed and only non-redundant data is stored to a single-instance data storage system. However, server-side deduplication may consume a significant amount of network bandwidth and server memory and/or processing resources.
Traditional deduplication systems typically implement either client-side deduplication or server-side deduplication. Unfortunately, choosing between client- and server-side deduplication may be difficult because the performance of both processes can be unpredictable. For example, the performance of both processes may vary based on, among other factors, client load (e.g., other applications may run concurrently with deduplication), server load (e.g., multiple data streams may be concurrently ingested by the server), network load (e.g., concurrent network traffic), and/or the type (e.g., redundant or non-redundant) of data being deduplicated. Therefore, one deduplication process may or may not outperform the other in any given situation.

Systems and methods for deduplicating data based on performance of a deduplication system


A 3D profile measurement method includes: forming structured light having a sinusoidal intensity pattern by forcing light to pass through a grating filter and an objective lens; acquiring a structured illumination image of a measurement object by photographing the measurement object with the structured light projected thereon at predetermined intervals in a height direction of the measurement object and a uniform illumination image of the measurement object is acquired by photographing the measurement object under illumination with general light rather than the structured light; generating a Hi-Lo image by using the structured illumination image and the uniform illumination image at each height of the measurement object; extracting height-specific intensity of respective pixels in the plural Hi-Lo images; and generating a 3D profile of the measurement object based on the obtained surface position.

With the development of micro- and nanotechnology, there is increasing demand for measurement of the surface shape of a fine structure.
Surface shape measurement methods may be divided into contact and non-contact measurement methods based on the type of measurement. Thereamong, the non-contact measurement method is an optical measurement method using light, and causes less physical damage to a specimen while allowing faster measurement than the contact measurement method and thus is widely used throughout the industry.
Various types of microscopes have been developed to realize such ultrahigh resolution imaging. In particular, some microscopes adopt a method of maximizing the number of distinguishable image pixels by increasing the resolution of an image sensor, such as CCD/CMOS, a method of minimizing chromatic aberration generated by a lens such as an aspherical lens, and a method of increasing resolution by correcting an image acquired by an image sensor through digital processing.
Recently, there has been proposed a composite 3D image acquisition apparatus that acquires plural images and performs digital post-processing of the plural images. Examples of a method employed by such an image acquisition apparatus may include a high dynamic range (HDR) technique that acquires plural images under different exposures, followed by digital post-processing to improve optical depth, a structured illumination modulation (SIM) technique that acquires multiple pattern images having different phase contrasts by imparting a predetermined pattern to light incident on a measurement object, followed by comparison between the pattern images to improve resolution.
What the HDR technique and the SIM technique have in common is that plural images having certain characteristics imparted thereto are first acquired and then a single image having improved resolution is acquired through digital processing. However, the HDR technique has a problem in that it takes a relatively long time to acquire plural mages, and the SIM technique has problems of high cost and low image processing speed due to sequential acquisition of plural images despite the advantage of allowing acquisition of a high-resolution 3D image.

INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, DANKOOK UNIVERSITY


An optical-pickup hologram element has six regions on an x-y plane, divided as follows: the first region with a first line (an x-axis) and a second line that connects points (−xa, 0) and (−xb, yb); the second region with the first and second lines and a third line connecting points (xa, 0) and (xb, yb); the third region with the first and third lines; the fourth region with the first line and a fourth line connecting the point (xa, 0) and a point (xb, −yb); the fifth region with the first and fourth lines and a fifth line connecting the point (−xa, 0) and a point (−xb, −yb); and the sixth region with the first and fifth lines (xa<xb and −xb<−xa). The second and fifth, and the other regions are given astigmatism at different angles to the second line.

The present invention relates to an optical pickup for recording/reproducing information on/from an optical disc, especially, provided with a hologram element.
A known optical pickup is provided with a hologram element in accordance with an astigmatism method, aiming for both of focus error detection and compactness as well as high reliability.
Another known optical pickup is provided with two laser sources with different wavelengths for two types of optical disc with different recording densities, such as, CD and DVD. This type of optical disc is generally provided with a laser source dedicated for DVD that is an optical disc of high recording density used at shorter wavelength than CD and another laser source dedicated for CD, the former laser source being located on the optical axis of an objective lens, the latter being located in the vicinity of the former.
A still another known optical pickup is used for recording/reproducing information on/from an optical disc with two information recording layers, such as dual-layered DVD.
Discussed below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are problems that occur: when a known optical pickup having a hologram element in accordance with the astigmatism method is provided with two types of laser source; and when such a known optical pickup is used for reproduction of an optical disc having two information recording layers.
FIG. 1 shows schematic illustration of a positional relationship between a known optical pickup, and an objective lens and an optical disc. In detail, (a) and (b) of FIG. 1 are sectional views illustrating reproduction of a DVD and a CD, respectively. A sectional view in (c) of FIG. 1 illustrates reproduction of a dual-layered DVD, in detail, from the information recording layer closer to laser sources.
FIG. 2 shows schematic illustration of a hologram section in the known optical pickup. In detail, (a) and (b) of FIG. 2 are plan views illustrating a beam on a hologram section, returned from a DVD and a CD, respectively, in reproduction. A plan view in (c) of FIG. 2 illustrates a beam on a hologram section, returned from a dual-layered DVD, in detail, from the information recording layer closer to laser sources.
FIG. 3 shows schematic illustration of a light receiving section in the known optical pickup. In detail, (a) and (b) of FIG. 3 are plan views illustrating a beam on a light receiving section, returned from a DVD and a CD, respectively, in reproduction, and after diffracted when passing through a hologram section. A plan view in (c) FIG. 3 illustrates a beam on a light receiving section, returned from a dual-layered DVD, in detail, from the information recording layer closer to laser sources, and after diffracted when passing through a hologram section.
As shown in FIG. 1, a known optical pickup 100 is provided with a laser source 101 for DVD use, a laser source 102 for CD use, a hologram element 103 having a hologram section 120, a collimator lens 104, and a photo receptor 105 having a light receiving section 130.
The laser source 101 for DVD use is located on the optical axis of an objective lens 200. The laser source 102 for CD use is located in the vicinity of the laser source 101 for DVD use. The distance between the hot spots of the laser sources 101 and 102 is 100 μm or more depending on the structure of the two laser sources.
As shown in FIG. 2, the hologram section 120 has six hologram zones 121 to 126. Chain double dashed lines in (a), (b) and (c) of FIG. 2 indicate tracks of optical discs D1, D2 and D3, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 3, the light receiving section 130 has four light receiving zones 131 to 134.
Discussed below first is a problem related to the two types of laser source used in the known optical pickup 100.
In reproduction of a DVD, an optical disc D1 in (a) of FIG. 1, as shown in (a) of FIG. 2, a beam spot Lb111 of a return beam Lb101 from the optical disc D1 is located in the center region of the hologram section 120. This is because the laser source 101 for DVD use is located on the optical axis of the objective lens 200, as shown in (a) of FIG. 1.
The return beam Lb101 is diffracted when passing through each of the six hologram sections 121 to 126. The diffracted return beam Lb101 then reaches the photoreceptor 130, as shown in (a) of FIG. 1.
Beam areas 141 to 146 on the photoreceptor 130, shown in (a) of FIG. 3, are particular regions on which the return beam Lb101 reaches after diffracted when passing through the hologram sections 121 to 126 in (a) of FIG. 2.
The beam areas 141 to 146, shown in (a) of FIG. 3, correspond to the hologram sections 121 to 126, shown in (a) of FIG. 2, respectively.
In reproduction of a CD, an optical disc D2 in (b) of FIG. 1, as shown in (b) of FIG. 2, a beam spot Lb112 of a return beam Lb102 from the optical disc D2 is shifted from the center of the hologram section 120. This is because the laser source 102 for CD use is shifted from the optical axis of the objective lens 200, as shown in (b) of FIG. 2. The center OLb112 of the beam spot Lb112 is located in a zone different from the hologram zones 122 and 125.
The return beam Lb102 is diffracted when passing through each of the six hologram sections 121 to 126. The diffracted return beam Lb102 then reaches the photoreceptor 130, as shown in (b) of FIG. 1.
Beam areas 151 to 156 on the photoreceptor 130, shown in (b) of FIG. 3, are particular regions on which the return beam Lb 102 reaches after diffracted when passing through the hologram sections 121 to 126 in (b) of FIG. 2.
The beam areas 151 to 156, shown in (b) of FIG. 3, correspond to the hologram sections 121 to 126, shown in (b) of FIG. 2, respectively.
As shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 3, the beam areas 155 and 152 in CD-reproduction are smaller than the beam areas 145 and 142 in DVD-reproduction, in the light receiving zones 131 and 132. The size of the beam areas corresponds to the amount of light of the beam spot Lb111 in (a) of FIG. 2 and of the beam spot Lb112 in (b) of FIG. 2, on the light receiving zones 131 and 132. Thus, in (b) of FIG. 3, the light receiving zones 131 and 132 receive a smaller amount of light due to the smaller beam areas 155 and 152, resulting in that the photo receptor 105 having these light receiving zones 131 and 132 exhibits lower focus-servo error detection sensitivity in CD-reproduction.
The locations of beam areas on the light receiving section 130 depend on the positional accuracy of optical components in optical pickup assembly.
Broken lines in (a) of FIG. 3 indicate shifted beam areas 145 and 142, in DVD-reproduction, due to inaccurate locations of optical components in optical pickup assembly. Likewise, broken lines in (b) of FIG. 3 indicate shifted beam areas 155 and 152, in CD-reproduction, due to inaccurate locations of optical components in optical pickup assembly.
As shown in (a) of FIG. 3, the shifted beam areas 145 and 142 indicated by the broken lines have a shorter length of superposition with a split line x130 of the light receiving section 130 than the beam areas 145 and 142 (indicated by solid lines) with no shifting. This results in lower focus-servo error detection sensitivity of the photo receptor 105 in DVD-reproduction, for the same reason as discussed above.
Moreover, As shown in (b) of FIG. 3, the shifted beam areas 155 and 152 indicated by the broken lines have a shorter length of superposition with the split line x130 of the light receiving section 130 than the beam areas 155 and 152 (indicated by solid lines) with no shifting, which is much shorter than the shifted beam areas 145 and 142 in (a) of FIG. 3. This results in further lower focus-servo error detection sensitivity of the photo receptor 105 in CD-reproduction, for the same reason as discussed above.
Such lower focus-servo error detection sensitivity could cause delay in tracking of a fluctuating optical disc by the objective lens 104 in recording/reproduction in FIG. 1, which causes a lot of jitters in recorded/reproduced signals or tracking errors.
Discussed next is a problem concerning reproduction of a dual-layered optical disc, such as, a dual-layered DVD, in the known optical pickup 100.
As shown in (c) of FIG. 1, an optical disc D3, such as a dual-layered DVD, has two information recording layers d3a and d3b.
In reproduction of the information recording layer d3a of the optical disc D3, closer to the optical pickup 100, a beam spot Lb113 of a return beam Lb103 from the information recording layer d3a is located in the center region of the hologram section 120, as shown in (c) of FIG. 2. The center region of the hologram section 120 is a zone with astigmatism applied for focus error detection.
During the reproduction of the information recording layer d3a of the optical disc D3, a return beam Lb104 from the information recording layer d3b not undergoing reproduction also reaches the hologram section 120. The return beam Lb104 is an unwanted beam but forms a beam spot Lb114, as indicated by a small solid-line circle in (c) of FIG. 2.
The unwanted return beam Lb104 is diffracted when passing through each of the six hologram sections 121 to 126. The diffracted return beam Lb104 then reaches the photoreceptor 130, as shown in (c) of FIG. 1.
The unwanted return beam Lb104 reaches beam areas 161 to 166, shown in (c) of FIG. 3, after undergoing diffraction by each of the six hologram sections 121 to 126. The beam areas 161 to 166 are the regions on the photoreceptor 130 and the neighboring regions.
The beam areas 161 to 166, shown in (c) of FIG. 3, correspond to the hologram sections 121 to 126, shown in (c) of FIG. 2, respectively.
Tracking, while the return beam Lb103 and the unwanted return beam Lb104 are reaching the hologram regions 121 to 126, causes the beam spot Lb114 of the unwanted beam Lb104 being shifted left and right while crossing split lines A120 and B120. This is indicated by a small broken-line arcs that surround the small solid-line circle (that indicates the beam spot Lb114) in (c) of FIG. 2.
The shift of the beam spot Lb114 of the unwanted return beam Lb104 discussed above results in out-of-focus and the distribution of beam areas 161 to 166, as shown in (c) of FIG. 3.
It is understood from (c) of FIG. 3 that the sum of the beam areas 161 to 166, that is the sum of the amount of light on the beam areas 161 to 166, is different among the light receiving zones 131 to 134. This means that the amount of light of the unwanted return beam Lb104 is different among the light receiving zones 131 to 134, which further means that the influence of the unwanted return beam Lb104 on the light sensitivity of the light receiving zones 131 to 134 is different among the light receiving zones. This results in noises being added to a focus-error detection signal in the photo receptor 105, which causes out-of-focus recording/reproduction with a lot of jitters in recorded/reproduced signals.