The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising automatic sheet supply means for automatically supplying a sheet in an automatic mode, manual sheet insertion means for supplying a manually inserted sheet in a manual mode, first detection means capable of detecting the sheet supplied by the automatic sheet supply means and the sheet supplied by the manual sheet insertion means, second detection means disposed at a downstream side of the first detection means and capable of detecting the sheet, and control means for controlling the supply of the sheet to effect the switching between the automatic mode and the manual mode on the basis of the detection by the first detection means and to effect the pre-feed of the sheet on the basis of the detection by the second detection means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus used with an image forming system such as a copying machine, laser beam printer and the like.
2. Related Background Art
In the past, as shown in FIG. 21, there has been proposed an image forming system wherein sheets can be automatically supplied from a sheet supply cassette 6 and also can be supplied manually from a manual sheet supply tray 22. In such a conventional image forming system, when the sheet P is supplied automatically, the sheet fed from the sheet supply cassette 6 by a sheet supply roller 10 is fed along a guide G1 by means of a feed roller 11 to reach a photosensitive drum 15 through a space between a lower guide G2 and an upper guide G3.
On the other hand, when the sheet is supplied by the manual sheet insertion, the sheet P set on the manual sheet supply tray 22 is fed to the photosensitive drum 15 through the space between the lower and upper guides G2, G3. Incidentally, the reference numerals 13a, 13b, 13c denote sub-rollers which cooperate with the feed roller to pinch the sheet therebetween for feeding the sheet.
A sensor 20 is disposed at a junction between an automatic sheet feeding path and a manual sheet feeding path. In case of the automatic sheet supply, the sensor 20 serves to register or synchronize the sheet supplied from the sheet supply cassette 6 and a copy timing of the photosensitive drum 15. In case of the manual sheet insertion, the sensor 20 serves to switch an automatic sheet supply mode to a manual sheet insertion mode when the sensor detects the manually inserted sheet P, and to synchronize the manually inserted sheet P with the copy timing of the photosensitive drum 15.
In the above-mentioned conventional image forming system, both in the case of the automatic sheet supply and in the case of the manual sheet insertion, when the sheet P is detected by the sensor 20, the feed roller 11 is stopped to interrupt the feeding of the sheet temporarily. Thereafter, when the copy timing is established, the feed roller is rotated again to send the sheet to the photosensitive drum 15. For example, in a laser beam printer, a data signal sent from a host computer is changed to an image formation signal by a signal processing means, and a laser scanner unit emits a laser beam on the basis of the image formation signal to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image, which is then transferred onto a sheet. Now, the sheet P supplied from the sheet supply cassette 6 and the manually inserted sheet P from the manual sheet supply tray 22 is stopped temporality when they are detected by the sensor 20, and are waiting at the stopped position, until the data signal is changed to the signal formation signal by the image processing means. Thus, when a distance between the waiting position and a transfer position was long, it took a long time to feed the sheet from the waiting position to the transfer position, thereby extending the print time. Particularly, in a copying machine or a printer, it has been desired to shorten to the image formation time. Therefore, it is important to reduce the sheet feeding time.


A method of reducing shutter-lag in a camera image sensor may include maintaining a sensor output image to have a low resolution in a preview mode of a camera image sensor; changing a resolution of the sensor output image from a low resolution to a high resolution in response to a capture preparation signal to change an operation mode of the camera image sensor from a preview mode to a capture preparation mode, the low resolution being a resolution equal to or below a reference resolution, the high resolution being a resolution above the reference resolution; and capturing the sensor output image in response to a capture signal in the capture preparation mode of the camera image sensor.

1. Technical Field
Example embodiments relate generally to an electric device (e.g., a mobile device). More particularly, example embodiments of the inventive concepts relate to a mobile device having a camera module.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile device may include a camera module according to a mobile convergence tendency. Generally, a shutter-lag may indicate a delay between a timing at which a user presses (e.g., triggers) a shutter and a timing at which an image is actually captured. Hence, a shutter-lag may be an important evaluation factor for evaluating a performance of a camera module. For example, with respect to a camera module having a long shutter-lag, a user may not accurately obtain an image of the moment that the user wants.
In order to decrease a shutter-lag, a conventional camera module may maintain a sensor output image to have a user setting capture size even in a preview mode. In this case, since the sensor output image has a high resolution in a preview mode, the conventional camera module may consume unnecessary power thereby. Accordingly, a trade-off relation may exist between a length of shutter-lag and an amount of unnecessary power consumption in the conventional camera module.

Method of eliminating a shutter-lag, camera module, and mobile device having the same


The power cord assembly preferably includes an electrical outlet socket adapted to electrically coupled to the existing power source. The electrical outlet socket may have a first group of electro-conductive plates statically affixed to an outer surface thereof. A power cord is also provided, which remains physically spaced from the electrical outlet socket. An adaptor may be removably coupled directly to the power cord. Such an adaptor preferably has a second group of electro-conductive plates statically affixed to an outer surface thereof. The present invention further includes a mechanism for continuously transmitting an electric current from the electrical outlet socket through the adaptor and to the power cord while the first and second groups of electro-conductive plates are abutted against each other. The adaptor remains intermediately positioned between the electrical outlet socket and the power cord during continuous transmission of the electric current to the power cord.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to power cords and, more particularly, to a power cord quick disconnect assembly for providing users with a convenient means of quickly and easily disconnecting a power cord from a wall mounted electrical socket.
2. Prior Art
An appliance coupler enables the connection and disconnection at will, of a cord to an appliance or other equipment and it consists of two parts: a connector and an appliance inlet. Often the connector takes the form of a plug while the appliance inlet takes the form of a socket. Typically the cord is intended to deliver electrical power such as AC or DC current to the appliance. Alternatively, a cord may be intended to serve as the conductor for the transmission of data.
It is common that where an electrical connection is effected by utilization of a plug and socket, the combination must be capable of being connected and disconnected by the plug being inserted and withdrawn from the socket with the use of no more than a strength or force which may be easily exerted by unaided manual effort. The minimum force required to disconnect the plug and socket may be referred to as the withdrawal force. The withdrawal force is exerted by way of a pull force which is a force applied to the plug and socket combination which tends to separate the connection.
Notwithstanding the ease by which a plug may be disconnected from a socket, there may be situations such as when the apparatus is operating where the plug is required to withstand a pull force that is significantly greater than the withdrawal force. These otherwise conflicting requirements may be satisfied by the provision of a retaining component that operates independently of the retaining effect achieved by the otherwise unaided plug and socket combination.
Generally, the plug and corresponding socket are configured to slidably engage one another, the socket having slots to a depth of at least the length of the pins. The pins may protrude from a support structure or be integral with the support structure. The pins may be constructed from a conductor, such as metal or some combination of support structure having a conductive component. The slots are generally housed within a structure having insulating properties.
Generally there is a frictional retaining force between the pins and their corresponding slots. In addition, in some plug and socket arrangements, the housing of each of the respective plug and socket provides a frictional retaining force. This frictional retaining force will tend to oppose a pull force and thus contribute to the level of withdrawal force required to cause a disconnection to the plug and socket.
A problem with the known arrangements for retaining the connectors and appliance inlet together is that the withdrawal force is either too low to satisfy some operation situations in that the connector disconnects from the appliance inlet when subject to pull forces that are often encountered in the operating environment. Alternatively, the withdrawal force is so high that physical damage may result to the connector and appliance inlet before the connector disconnects from the appliance inlet.
For example, in the case where a screw is used to hold the connector and appliance inlet together, other parts of the connector and appliance inlet may break before the screw disengages. Where such an arrangement to be used for power cables, it may be that live wires break or become exposed to the environment before the screw disengages or the appliance may be otherwise damaged.
As a further undesirable consequence, the connector may separate from the attached power cord or the appliance inlet may separate from the rest of the appliance. In each instance the separation of components may cause short circuits or even live electrical leads to be exposed to the environment thereby giving rise to a situation where further appliance damage, electrocution, arcing and ignition of fire may occur. Further, the power cord, connector, appliance inlet or retaining device may become damaged and rendered in a condition that would be unsuitable for further use.
Accordingly, a need remains for a power cord quick-disconnect assembly in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing an assembly that is convenient and easy to use, is durable yet lightweight in design, is versatile in its applications, and provides a convenient means of disconnecting a power cord from a power outlet.

Power cord quick disconnect assembly and associated method


An apparatus for providing a signal to indicate liquid level above a pre-determined level in a container. The apparatus includes a device for defining a fixed reference level. An alarm unit having an alarm and an alarm actuator is connected to the defining device. A float is connected to the alarm unit and rests on the surface of the liquid. The float actuates the alarm actuator to activate the alarm when the surface of the liquid reaches the pre-determined level.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for sounding an alarm when the liquid level in a container reaches a pre-determined level.
2. Background
There are many instances where a container is required to be filled to a pre-determined level with a liquid such as water. One such instance is that of filling a bathtub with water.
Many bathtubs include a hot water valve, a cold water valve and a faucet for directing hot and cold water into the tub. To fill the tub one normally adjusts the hot and cold water valves to obtain a desired flow rate and temperature of water flowing from the faucet. Many people simply set the hot and cold water valves and leave the water to fill the tub unattended. Depending upon the size of the tub and the flow rate of the water from the faucet, a considerable amount of time may pass before the water level in the tub reaches a desired level. During this time the person waiting for the water in the tub to reach an appropriate level may forget that water is running in the tub or may be distracted by other activities.
The water level in the tub may go unnoticed and approach the top portion of the tub. The water level may rise above the sides of the tub and excess water will overflow from the tub.
There is often no warning that water in the tub is about to overflow and the water from the faucet is only shut off after the overflow of water is noticed. By that time, considerable water damage may occur. To prevent this damage, an apparatus is required to issue a signal when the water level in the tub reaches a pre-determined level. One can then be reminded that the water has filled the tub to the pre-determined level and the water can be shut off before overflowing the tub.
Many bathtubs have an overflow outlet disposed near the top portion of the tub to drain off water when the water level is too high. However, depending upon the flow rate of water from the faucet and the flow rate of water from the drain, the drain may not be able to keep up with the flow from the faucet and the net effect may be that the tub continues to be filled and the water level continues to rise.


An electromagnetic isolation apparatus for an electronic device such as a portable telephone is provided which includes first and second shield cases and elastic members such as rubber cushions. The first and second shield cases are disposed within a casing of the electronic device to surround at least part of both surfaces of a printed circuit board mounted within the electronic device. The elastic members are interposed between an inner wall of the casing of the electronic device and an outer surface of the first shield case and between the inner wall of the casing and an outer surface of the second shield case to produce elastic pressures urging the first and second shield cases into conductive engagement with the printed circuit board.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electromagnetic isolation apparatus for electronic equipment such as a portable telephone, a cordless telephone, or a selective calling receiver which is designed to prevent undesired electromagnetic waves or noise from entering or leaking out of the electronic equipment.
2. Background Art
FIG. 5 shows a radio terminal unit having a conventional isolation structure which includes a shield case 1, a control circuit substrate 2, a radio circuit substrate 4 having mounted thereon radio communication circuit components 3 such as a transmitter and a receiver, a printed grounding conductor 5, and grounding terminals 6.
The control circuit substrate 2 has mounted thereon control circuit components and is attached to an upper wall of the shielding case 1. The shield case 1 is made of a molded resin case coated or plated with metal. The radio circuit substrate 4 is attached to the bottom of the shield case 1. This type of isolation structure is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent First Publication No. 4-215500.
The printed grounding conductor 5 is formed on the radio circuit substrate 4 and is connected to the shield case 1 through the grounding terminals 6. Each of the grounding terminals 6 has an elastically deformable conductive strip 7 engaging an inner wall of the shield case 1. Such a structure is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model First Publication No. 62-160599.
The above isolation structure, however, has the following drawback. The substrates 2 and 4 are both thin, and the shield case 1 is made from resin material so that they are subject to set or deformation. The attachment of the deformed substrate 2 or 4 to the shield case 1 will develop clearances therebetween through which undesired electromagnetic waves enter or leak out. In order to avoid this drawback, the prior art just made it necessary to manufacture the substrates 2 and 4 and the shield case 1 with high accuracy, but such an approach results in an increase in manufacturing cost.
The elastically deformable conductive strips 7 of the grounding terminals 6 disposed between the radio circuit substrate 4 and the shield case 1 urge the substrate 4 to move away from the shield case 1, thereby increasing the clearance between the substrate 4 and the shield case 1. This causes more undesired electromagnetic waves to enter or leak out through the clearance, leading to malfunctions of, for example, the electronic components 3 or external circuits placed near the radio terminal unit.
The above isolation structure also uses two printed circuit boards; the control circuit substrate 2 and the radio circuit substrate 4, for improving the isolation performance. This type of printed circuit board is usually passed through a reflowing heater to mount thereon a plurality of electronic components. Different shapes of printed circuit boards encounter the difficulty in passing through the same heater, thus requiring use of printed circuit boards of the same size or different reflowing heaters one for each printed circuit board. This results in an increase in design limitation or investment in plants and equipment.

Isolation apparatus for electronic equipment

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A clock generation system generates and distributes sinusoidal signals. Also, the clock lines are configured and shielded in a novel manner so as to provide the same overall propagation characteristics for the clock signals in all the lines, and to minimize the effects of cross-talk and electromagnetic interference.

A conventional digital computer includes various components or "modules," such as a central processing unit ("CPU"), main memories, and an input/output ("I/O") unit, which are all interconnected for transferring signals therebetween by a common bus. For synchronous operation, the computer modules receive clock signals to control the timing of their operations. The clock signals synchronize, for example, the transfer and reception of data and other signals between the computer modules.
The computer typically employs digital clock signals, i.e., trains of rectangular pulses. The digital clock signals are characterized by a pulse rate or periodicity at the desired clock frequency of, e.g., about 58 mega-Hertz ("MHz"). Typically, at such radio-frequencies, the pulses have rapid rise times in the nanosecond range.
For proper operation of the computer, the clock signal received by each module should have the same phase as that of each of the other clock signals received by the other modules, and should not have significant levels of distortion (e.g., wave shape distortion). A phase difference in the received clock signals is called "clock skew." Where clock skew is present, modules on the bus can require corresponding additional time to latch onto data and other signals sent over the bus, thus decreasing the maximum bus speed. Extreme levels of clock skew can have even more pernicious effects on computer performance; for example, system components may be unable to receive and decode data and other signals sent over the bus.
To ensure that the clock signals have as nearly identical phases as possible at the respective modules, the computer typically generates the clock signals centrally and distributes them over clock lines of the bus to receiver circuits of the computer modules. In each clock receiver circuit, the incoming clock signal is amplified, any distortion in the rectangular shape of the pulses is removed, and the clock signals are replicated into multiple copies for use by various circuits within the module.
Generally speaking, known high-performance clock generating systems that distribute multiple clock signals to computer modules for precise synchronization of their operation use time-delay adjustments to compensate for clock skew at the receiver ends of the system. The use of such time-delay adjustments can be costly in terms of design, implementation, and overhead. Moreover, clock skew can be difficult to predict, and therefore it is difficult to provide the proper amount of time-delay adjustment at the receiver end.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a technique for preventing the introduction of clock skew in the first place, i.e., during the generation and distribution of the clock signals.

Sinusoidal radio-frequency clock distribution system for synchronization of a computer system


An intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method comprising the steps of: forming first an image on an intermediate transfer medium by heating a melt-type thermal transfer recording medium with a heating head, and transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium onto an image receptor pressed against the intermediate transfer medium, wherein an image of a heat-meltable colored ink is formed on an image receptor by said intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method and a transparent heat-meltable ink is then transferred on the image receptor to cover a region thereof including the image of the colored ink by said intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method. The method provides a lustrous image on a paper sheet and an image with high light transmittance on an OHP sheet.

The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method.
The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method is a method wherein a melt-type thermal transfer recording medium is used to form first an image on an intermediate transfer medium according to image signals, and the image obtained on the intermediate transfer medium is then transferred onto an image receptor.
The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method is an image formation method wherein an intermediate transfer printer such as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 is used. In FIGS. 1 and 2, numeral 10 denotes a rotatable intermediate transfer drum and numeral 20 denotes a rotatable intermediate transfer belt. Numeral 11 denotes a recording part which is arranged so. that a thermal transfer recording medium 12 can be pressed against the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20 with a heating head 13. In recording, the recording medium 12 is moved in the direction indicated by an arrow as the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20 rotates. Numeral 14 denotes a transfer part which is arranged so that an image receptor 15 can be pressed against the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20 with a pressing roller 16. In transferring, the image receptor 15 is moved in the direction indicated by an arrow.
The thermal transfer recording medium 12 is heated with the heating head 13 so as to selectively soften or melt portions of the colored ink thereof, which are transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20 as an intermediate transfer medium. While the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20 and the recording medium 12 are thus moved in the directions indicated by the arrows, respectively, the colored ink is transferred onto the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20, thereby forming an ink image 17 thereon. As the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20 rotates, the ink image 17 is moved to the transfer part 14, pressed against the image receptor 15 there, and transferred onto the image receptor 15 to form a final ink image 18 thereon.
According to such an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method, the ink of the recording medium which is heated with the heating head 13 is transferred onto a smooth surface of the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20. Hence, the problem involved in a common thermal transfer method of the type that unclear transferred images are likely to be formed on an image receptor paper of which the surface is poor in smoothness-is overcome. Further, according to the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method, ink images 17 on the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20 are transferred onto the image receptor 15 by pressing thereagainst under a large pressure with the pressing roller 16. Hence, the quality of the thus obtained images is not subject so much to the superficial conditions of the image receptor.
In the aforesaid intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording medium, the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20 is formed of a material of releasing properties such as silicone resin or rubber, fluorine-containing resin or rubber, or the like to facilitate release of the ink image 17 therefrom. Further, when the ink image 17 formed on the intermediate transfer drum 10 or intermediate transfer belt 20 is transferred onto the image receptor 15, it is necessary that the ink is in a softened or molten state. Therefore, a means is usually adopted wherein a heater is contained in the intermediate transfer drum 10 intermediate transfer belt 20, or the pressing roller 16 to heat the ink into a softened or molten state.
However, the aforesaid intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method involves two problems: (1) when the image receptor is a paper sheet, a lusterless image is obtained on the paper sheet and (2) when the image receptor is an OHP sheet (transparent sheet for an overhead projector), the image obtained on the OHP sheet is low in light transmittance and therefore the projection of the imprinted OHP sheet by means of an OHP provides a dull projected image.
In view of the problems of the foregoing prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method which is capable of providing a lustrous image on a paper sheet as an image receptor and providing an image with high light transmittance on an OHP sheet as an image receptor, resulting in a clear or vivid projected image.
This and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter.

Intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method