There is provided a new and improved master manufacturing method, master, and optical body enabling more consistent production of optical bodies having a desired haze value, the master manufacturing method including: forming a first micro concave-convex structure, in which an average cycle of concavities and convexities is less than or equal to visible light wavelengths, on a surface of a base material body that includes at least a base material; forming an inorganic resist layer on the first micro concave-convex structure; forming, on the inorganic resist layer, an organic resist layer including an organic resist and filler particles distributed throughout the organic resist; and etching the organic resist layer and the inorganic resist layer to thereby superimpose and form on the surface of the base material a macro concave-convex structure and a second micro concave-convex structure.

Typically, with display devices such as televisions, and optical elements such as camera lenses, in order to reduce surface reflections and increase transmitted light, an anti-reflection treatment is performed on the light-incident surface. For example, one proposal for such an anti-reflection treatment is to laminate, onto the light-incident surface, an optical body on which is formed a micro concave-convex structure in which the average cycle of the concavities and convexities is less than or equal to the visible light wavelengths (such as a moth-eye structure, for example).
At the surface having such a micro concave-convex structure, a refractive index changes gradually with respect to incident light, and thus a steep change in refractive index, which causes reflection, does not occur. Accordingly, forming such a micro concave-convex structure on the light incident surface prevents reflection of incident light for a wide wavelength region.
Regarding the method of forming a micro concave-convex structure at the nanometer scale, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a method of performing dry etching by using island-shaped nanoparticles as a protective mask. Also, Patent Literature 2 and 3 disclose methods of using the anodic oxidation of an aluminum film to form a micro concave-convex structure having multiple sub-micrometer concavities in the aluminum film. Furthermore, Patent Literature 4 discloses a method of using electron-beam lithography to form a micro concave-convex structure in which the average cycle of the concavities and convexities is less than or equal to a certain wavelength.
In addition, Patent Literature 1 and 2 also disclose that it is possible to form a transfer product to which the micro concave-convex structure has been transferred by pressing a structure on which has been formed such a micro concave-convex structure into a resin or the like.
Note that regarding a method of treating a structure on which has been formed the micro concave-convex structure as a mold to form a transfer product to which the micro concave-convex structure has been transferred, for example, the technology disclosed in Patent Literature 5 below is also known. Specifically, Patent Literature 5 discloses that by pressing a roll-shaped mold, on the outer circumferential surface of which a fine pattern has been formed, into a film or the like while also rotating the mold, it is possible to transfer the fine pattern onto a film of large surface area.
Also, in recent years, even higher optical characteristics are being demanded of optical bodies. From such a perspective, with Patent Literature 2 to 4, the anti-reflection reflection function described above as well as an anti-glare function are conferred to an optical body. Specifically, with Patent Literature 2, there is prepared an aluminum film on the surface of which are distributed coarse crystal particles, and then anodic oxidation and etching are repeatedly performed on the aluminum film. With this arrangement, an aluminum film in which a micro concave-convex structure is superimposed onto the rough surface of the aluminum film is produced. Additionally, with Patent Literature 3 and 4, the surface of a substrate is roughened by a mechanical or chemical method, and a micro concave-convex structure is superimposed onto the rough surface. According to these technologies, an anti-glare function is realized by the rough surface formed on the substrate, while an anti-reflection function is realized by the micro concave-convex structure superimposed onto the rough surface.

Master manufacturing method, master, and optical body


A printable label assembly includes a printable label having an adhesive coating applied to a first surface thereof to facilitate attachment of the label to an article. The label is configured to receive a printed image on a second surface thereof. A removable backing is releasably attached to the adhesive coating and has at least three sections: a removable primary section releasably attached to a central portion of the adhesive coating of the label and being configured to be removed from the central portion to expose the central portion for attachment to the article; and a pair of removable handle sections releasably attached to outward portions of the adhesive coating of the label, the handle sections being configured to remain on the adhesive coating of the label after removal of the primary section to provide at least two handling points for manipulation by a user to assist the user in applying the label to the article.

Many consumers desire to apply labels or covers to articles in order to display information relating to the article or to provide an enhanced, decorative appearance to the article. For example, with the advent of writable optical disks, such as CD- and DVD-type optical disks, many consumers wish to apply information to a once-blank optical disk that lists or describes the files subsequently written to the optical disk. While it is generally possible to simply mark directly on the optical disk with a pen or other marking tool, many consumers would rather apply information to the optical disk in a more "finished" or professional manner. In addition, many consumers wish to add decorative features when applying information to an optical disk, such as artwork, photos, colorful highlights, etc.
Printable labels have been developed that allow consumers to print images to a label, for example with an ink-jet printer, and attach or adhere the printed label to an optical disk. Such labels are generally provided with a removable backing that covers and protects an adhesive coating applied to a back of the label to enable the label to be fed through a printer and receive a printed image. After printing the label, a consumer generally removes the backing to expose the adhesive and then attaches the adhesive, and thus the label, to the optical disk.
While relatively simple to use, such labels have proved disadvantageous in that once the backing is removed from the label, the entire adhesive coating is exposed and a consumer must attempt to properly align the label on the optical disk while the consumer's fingers are in contact with the adhesive coating. Contact between the consumer's fingers and the adhesive can compromise the integrity of the adhesive and can also make properly aligning the label relative to the optical disk difficult.
In addition to applying information or decoration to optical disks, many consumers also wish to customize and protect other articles, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, musical players such as MP3 players, etc. Covers have been developed for this purpose that allow a consumer to apply an overlay to the article in question to both protect the article and to add decorative and informational features to the article.
While such overlays have met with some commercial success, they have suffered from many of the problems inherent in printable optical disk covers. For example, once the adhesive on the article overlay is exposed, a user's fingers often contact the adhesive when attempting to align the overly with the article. Contact with the adhesive not only results in difficulty aligning the overly on the article, but the integrity of the adhesive can be compromised by dirt or oil on the user's fingers. In addition, such covers have not been known that wrap around the article from a front side to a back side, thereby improving adherence, while at the same time retaining visibility of branding information that may be present on the sides and/or back of the article.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A facsimile apparatus comprises an image scanner and a coder for image transmission, a decoder and a printer for image reception, and a modem and a network control unit for connection with a subscriber's line. These elements are connected to a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus. The presence/absence of printing paper is detected by a sensor. When the printing paper is absent, received image data is not supplied to the printer and instead is written in an image memory for performing a so-called substitute reception. The facsimile apparatus further comprises a dial number memory for storing a dial number of a predetermined facsimile apparatus, and a dialer for automatically dialing the dial number stored in the dial number memory. When the substitute reception is completed, the dial number stored in the dial number memory is dialed, and the image data stored in the image memory by the substitute reception is transferred to the predetermined facsimile apparatus and is printed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to an operation of the apparatus required when a recording paper has run out.
2. Description of the Related Art
A facsimile apparatus generally has a roll of recording paper. When the apparatus detects the fact that the recording paper has nearly run out, the apparatus does not receive an image data even if the apparatus is called, and instead supplies a transmission error message to the transmission side and also supplies a demand to an exchanger to open the line. Thus, the transmission/reception of image data is disabled. In this case, there occurs no problem if an operator on the reception side immediately finds that the recording paper runs short and supplies a new one. If the recording paper is not supplied, however, the transmission/reception of image data is kept disabled.
Under the situation, in order to prevent the disabling of transmission/reception due to the running short of recording paper when the operator is not present at the receiver side or does not find the lack of recording paper, there has been proposed a facsimile apparatus having a memory for storing the transmitted image data when the recording paper has run out before the reception of image data or when the recording paper becomes run out during the reception of image data, instead of printing the data on the recording paper. This function is called a substitute reception. The stored image data is read out and printed on the recording paper, when the recording paper is supplied to the apparatus.
In this type of apparatus, however, if the memory is filled with image data with the recording paper being not supplied to the apparatus, the same problem, as mentioned above, will occur. In general, the memory has a small capacity corresponding only to the image data of several pages; therefore, if the operator is not present at the receiving side, the memory is soon filled with data and the transmission/reception is disabled. Though it is possible to increase the capacity of the memory, this will incur an increase in manufacturing cost of the facsimile apparatus.

Facsimile apparatus with data transfer function


In a method for correcting a luminance signal of a single-plate type color camera which is arranged to read out signals for three primary colors, red (R), green (G) and blue (B), by using a solid-state image sensor and to separate and take out the luminance signal and color difference signals, a correction circuit is used for correcting the luminance signal with a correction signal which is formed from the color difference signals, and the correction signal is formed by selecting one of the color difference signals which has the largest value among the color difference signals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a luminance signal correcting method for a single-plate type color camera having a solid-state image sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1(a) of the accompanying drawings is a block diagram showing by way of example the arrangement of the conventional signal-plate type color camera using a solid-state image sensor. FIG. 1(b) shows an example of color filter. Referring to these drawings, the solid-state image sensor 1 is, for example, a CCD. The filter is a striped-color separating filter as shown in FIG. 1(b) and is disposed in front of the image sensor 1. The image sensor 1 is thus arranged to produce signals for three primary colors, i.e., red (R), green (G) and blue (B). Sample-and-hold (S/H) circuits 2, 2a and 2b are arranged to sample and hold these three outputs of the image sensor 1 respectively at a timing which is as shown in FIG. 1(c). Reference numerals 3, 3a and 3b denote amplifiers. Clamp circuits 4, 4a and 4b are arranged to fix (clamp) a black level at a given potential. The camera further includes a gate circuit 5, low-pass filters (LPFs) 6, 6a, 6b and 6c; .gamma. correction circuits 7, 7a, 7b and 7c; a horizontal driving circuit 8; a vertical driving circuit 9; a timing generating circuit 10; an addition circuit 12; and subtraction circuits 13 and 14.
Color signals for the three primary colors R, G and B which are produced from the image sensor 1 and have their black levels clamped by the clamp circuits 4, 4a and 4b are supplied to the gate circuit 5. The gate circuit 5 is arranged to have gate pulses applied thereto by the timing generating circuit 10 as shown in FIG. 1(c) in accordance with the arrangement of the color filter provided at the image sensor 1. These gate pulses cause switches SW-R, SW-G and SW-B included in the gate circuit 5 to close in sequence to gate the color signals R, G and B by turns. A luminance signal Y.sub.1 of a high frequency band is formed by this gating action.
Meanwhile, the three primary color signals R, G and B are supplied to the LPFs 6, 6a and 6b to have their bands limited and are thus converted into color signals R.sub.L, G.sub.L and B.sub.L. The signals R.sub.L, G.sub.L and B.sub.L are supplied to the .gamma. correction circuits 7, 7a and 7b, which are arranged to .gamma.-correct them to be adjusted to the characteristic of a Braun tube in use. The .gamma.-corrected color signals R.sub.L.sup..gamma., B.sub.L.sup..gamma. and G.sub.L.sup..gamma. are added together by the addition circuit 12. The circuit 12 thus obtains a luminance signal Y.sub.L.sup..gamma. of a low frequency band. The subtraction circuits 13 and 14 are arranged to form color difference signals R.sub.L.sup..gamma. -Y.sub.L.sup..gamma. and B.sub.L.sup..gamma. -Y.sub.L.sup..gamma. by subtracting the luminance signal Y.sub.L.sup..gamma. from the color signals R.sub.L.sup..gamma. and B.sub.L.sup..gamma. respectively.
The luminance signal Y.sub.1 has its band limited by the LPF 6c and is .gamma.-corrected by the .gamma. correction circuit 7c and is produced from the circuit 7c as a luminance signal Y.sub.1.sup..gamma..
In the case of a three-tube type color camera using a camera tube and a three-plate type color camera using a solid-state image sensor, a luminance signal Y is obtained by adding together the three primary color signals R, G and B in a ratio expressed by the following formula (1) for the purpose of adjusting the luminance signal Y to the spectral sensitivity of the human eye: EQU Y=0.3 R.sup..gamma. +0.59 G.sup..gamma. +0.11 B.sup..gamma. ( 1)
In the case of the conventional single-plate type color camera of the kind described above, however, the luminance signal Y is formed by serially gating the color signals R, G and B by means of the gate circuit 5 for the purpose of enhancing the resolution. Therefore, this process is equivalent to that when the luminance signal Y is obtained by adding together the three primary color signals R, G and B in the ratio of 1:1:1. This can be expressed as follows: EQU Y=0.33 R+0.33 G+0.33 B (2)
With the luminance signal Y .gamma.-corrected, Formula (2) above becomes as follows: EQU Y.sup..gamma. =(0.33 R+0.33 G+0.33 B).sup..gamma. ( 3)
Further, the lower frequency band luminance signal component Y.sub.L.sup..gamma. for forming the color difference signals is obtained by adding together the band-limited and .gamma.-corrected color signal components R.sub.L.sup..gamma., G.sub.L.sup..gamma. and B.sub.L.sup..gamma. in accordance with the following formula (4) in the same manner as in the case of Formula (1): EQU Y.sub.L.sup..gamma. =0.3 R.sub.L.sup..gamma. +0.59 G.sub.L.sup..gamma. +0.11 B.sub.L.sup..gamma. (4)
In obtaining the original primary color signals R, G and B from the color difference signals R.sub.L.sup..gamma. -Y.sub.L.sup..gamma. and B.sub.L.sup..gamma. -Y.sub.L.sup..gamma. and the luminance signal Y.sup..gamma., the three-tube type and three-plate type color cameras are capable of reproducing colors with adequate fidelity as the luminance signal component Y.sub.L.sup..gamma. (Formula (4)) which is included in the color difference signals is of the same value as the luminance signal component Y (Formula (1)). In the case of the single-plate type color camera of the kind described in the foregoing, however, it is impossible to reproduce colors with adequate fidelity as the value of the luminance signal component Y.sub.L.sup..gamma. (Formula (4)) included in the color difference signals differs from that of the luminance signal Y.sup..gamma. (Formula (3)). In the case of a color such as red or blue that has a low illuminance signal level in Formula (1) in particular, the .gamma. correction brings each coefficient to a value 0.6 or thereabout and to a high signal level. As a result, the color becomes too bright when it is displayed by a monitor.


A clip comprises a pin, and a hollow bush adapted to receive the pin therein. The bush includes a flange and a bush body having an opening which is formed by partially cutting off a peripheral wall thereof and adapted to receive therein a pin shank in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the bush body. The bush body and the bush flange are adapted to be expanded in a radially outward direction of the bush body about a position opposed to the opening, in a hinged manner. The pin has a shank that includes a protruding portion which has a narrow region formed near a distal end of the pin shank, causing no expansion in an outer diameter of the bush body in the radially outward direction when the pin is in a non-fastened position, and a wide region adjacent to the bush flange, causing an expansion in the outer diameter of the bush body when the pin is in a fastened position.

The present invention relates to a plastic clip which comprises a pin, and a bush adapted to receive the pin therein and allow an outer diameter thereof to be expanded by pushing the pin into the bush, and more specifically to a plastic clip suitable for coupling an attachment component to a workpiece, such as a panel of an automobile body.
There has been known a plastic clip comprising a pin, and a bush having a hollow portion formed to receive the pin therein, wherein the pin has a shape formed to be received into the hollow portion of the bush and axially moved from a non-fastened position, causing no expansion in an outer diameter of the bush, to a fastened position, causing an expansion in the outer diameter of the bush by a pushing operation. For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication No 63-003513 (Patent Document 1) discloses a clip of the above type. This clip is designed such that, when a large-diameter portion of a pin is inserted into a bush by a pushing operation, a peripheral wall of the bush is expanded in a radially outward direction of the bush to allow a workpiece and an attachment component to be clamped between the expanded portion and a flange of the bush, so as to achieve a coupling between the workpiece and the attachment component. The clip disclosed in Patent Document 1 is designed to cope with an increase in total thickness of a workpiece and an attachment component to be coupled together, and to allow the pin to be moved within the bush from a fastened position to a non-fastened position, so as to facilitate detaching the clip.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-153113A (Patent Document 2) discloses another clip which comprises a bush having a peripheral wall formed with a large opening and a hollow portion formed along an axis thereof, and a pin having a head formed in a particular shape to serve as an expanding portion. When the expanding portion at the head of the pin is inserted into the bush by a pushing operation, the peripheral wall with the opening is expanded in a radially outward direction of the bush to allow a workpiece and an attachment component to be clamped between the expanded portion and a flange of the bush, so as to achieve a coupling between the workpiece and the attachment component. The clip disclosed in the Patent Document 2 is designed to allow the bush to be largely expanded so as to cope with an increase in diameter of a mounting hole.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-343528A (Patent Document 3) discloses yet another clip which comprises a bush having a peripheral wall formed to be partially cut off and a hollow portion formed along an axis thereof, and a pin adapted to be inserted into the hollow portion. When the pin is inserted into the bush by a pushing operation, the peripheral wall is expanded around the cutoff in a radially outward direction of the bush to allow a workpiece and an attachment component to be clamped between the expanded portion and a flange of the bush, so as to achieve a coupling between the workpiece and the attachment component.
The clip disclosed in Patent Document 1 is designed to expand an outer diameter of the bush over the entire longitudinal length of the bush, so as to cope with an increase in total thickness of a workpiece and an attachment component to be coupled together. Thus, it is necessary to have a relatively long bush, which is unfavorable in a situation where a fastened position has to be set in a narrow range in the longitudinal direction. In the clip disclosed in the Patent Document 2, the pin has the head formed in a particular shape, increasing the cost of forming the pin. Moreover, the pin and the bush in the clip disclosed in the Patent Document 2 are not designed to be pre-assembled to one another, and therefore a fastening operation has to be performed while paying attention to preventing the pin and the bush from separating from one another, resulting in poor operating efficiency. Further, as with the clip disclosed in Patent Document 1, this clip is designed to expand an outer diameter of the bush over the entire longitudinal length of the bush, and therefore it is necessary to have a relatively long bush, which is unfavorable in the situation where the fastened position has to be set in a narrow range in the longitudinal direction. The clip disclosed in the Patent Document 3 is not designed to largely and reliably expand an intended portion of the bush, and therefore deterioration in coupling force between the workpiece and the attachment component is likely. Moreover, due to difficulty in reliably expanding an intended portion of the bush, the clip disclosed in Patent Document 3 is required to have a relatively long bush, which is unfavorable in the situation where the fastened position has to be set in a narrow range in the longitudinal direction.


An x-ray CT image processing method which carries out a statistical estimate in prior knowledge relating to the movement and the x-ray absorption coefficient of a measurement subject comprises: a step of hypothesizing that the measurement subject changes smoothly over time, and defining a first probability model (prior knowledge of the measurement subject over all times) relating to movement and a second probability model (projected image observation model over all times) relating to observation; and a step of carrying out a statistical estimate dependent on both the first probability model and the second probability model. The first probability model relating to the movement of the measurement subject and the second model relating to observation are defined as probability models with which statistical estimates are carried out at the outset, and motion and CT images are simultaneously estimated by carrying out induction based on the probability models.

An X-ray CT is a powerful technique capable of acquiring an internal structure in a noninvasive and nondestructive manner and is being used for a wide range of medical purposes and industrial purposes such as defect inspection. The X-ray CT has been used for reconstructing an internal structure (CT image) based on the assumption that an object targeted for acquisition of its internal structure is at a standstill. However, objects targeted for X-ray CT for medical purposes include hearts, blood vessels, lungs and infants that find difficulty in stopping their motions completely. Applying an X-ray CT algorithm assuming a standstill to such active objects like in a conventional way is known to generate false images called motion artifacts.
Cardiac diseases have been requested to be dealt with in Japan and countries except Japan: cardiac diseases such as cardiac infarction and cardiac angina have been the second leading cause for deaths in Japan and heart diseases have been the leading cause for deaths in the U.S. in these 10 years. Finding lesions of hearts in an early stage is considered to be one of the most effective countermeasures. Accordingly, reconstructing accurate CT images has especially been desired in the field of X-ray CT on hearts.
A technique of reducing motion artifacts conventionally suggested has been targeted mainly for hearts in terms of significance of its application. As an example, according to known prior-art 1 (see non-patent literature 1, for example) shown in FIG. 14 in the field of X-ray CT targeted for hearts, an imaging target is scanned at high speed to shorten imaging time, thereby reducing motion artifacts. According to known prior-art 2 (see non-patent literatures 2-4, for example) shown in FIG. 15, a CT image is reconstructed by synchronizing a cardiac phase based on an electrocardiogram. According to known prior-art 3 (see non-patent literatures 5-9, for example), a CT image is reconstructed by correcting a motion based on estimation of the motion of a heart.
A more intense X-ray leads to a higher SN ratio of a reconstructed image, resulting in a trade-off between reduction in a dose of exposure with an X-ray and the SN ratio. Techniques of acquiring a reconstructed image having an SN ratio substantially the same as conventional one with a lower dose of exposure with an X-ray include: a technique intended to enhance a resolution capable of acquiring an image of a higher resolution with an X-ray intensity and the number of captured images same as a conventional intensity and a conventional number; a technique intended to shorten imaging time capable of shortening imaging time by reducing the number of captured images with an X-ray intensity and a resolution same as a conventional intensity and a conventional resolution; a technique intended to reduce an exposure dose capable of reducing an exposure dose by reducing an X-ray intensity with a resolution same as a conventional resolution; a technique intended to remove noise capable of reducing noise in a reconstructed image with an X-ray intensity and a resolution same as a conventional intensity and a conventional resolution; a technique intended to enhance a contrast resolving power (indicating the number of applicable tones of a reconstructed image, specifically the accuracy of X-ray absorption coefficients) of the reconstructed image with an X-ray intensity and a resolution same as a conventional intensity and a conventional resolution.
The aforementioned conventional techniques are roughly divided into two: one that makes statistical estimation and one that does not perform statistical estimation. A filtered back projection (FBP; Filtered Back Projection) method forming the mainstream of an image reconstruction method is known as the conventional technique that does not perform statistical estimation. Projection images are obtained through the irradiation of X-ray to the imaging target from various directions.
According to the FBP image reconstruction method, the resultant projection images are projected in reverse directions to the irradiation direction in order to reconstruct an X-ray absorption image. In this reconstruction, the sinogram is filtered in a frequency range to remove blur.
Where multiple projection images such as CT images can be prepared by capturing images of an object targeted for imaging from different positions or angles, processing information about these projection images is known to enable reconstruction of a cross-sectional image of the original object. A MAP (maximum a posteriori) estimation method and a Bayesian estimation method are known as conventional techniques to perform statistical estimation belonging to image reconstruction methods of restoring a cross-sectional image of an original object using a projection image.
[Non-patent literature 1] H. I. Goldberg et al., "Evaluation of ultrafast CT scanning of the adult abdomen," Invest. Radiol., 24, 537-543, 1989.
[Non-patent literature 2] C. C. Morehouse et al., "Gated cardiac computed tomography with a motion phantom," Radiology 134, 134-137, 1980.
[Non-patent literature 3] P. M. Joseph and J. Whitley, "Experimental simulation evaluation of ECG-gated heart scans with a small number of views," Med. Phys. 10, 444-449, 1983.
[Non-patent literature 4] B. Ohnesorge et al., "Cardiac imaging by means of electrocardiographically gated multisection spiral CT: initial experience," Radiology 217, 564-571, 2000.
[Non-patent literature 5] C. J. Ritchie et al., "Correction of computed tomography motion artifacts using pixel specific back-projection," IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging 15, 333-342, 1996.
[Non-patent literature 6] G. Wang et al., "A knowledge-based cone-beam x-ray CT algorithm for dynamic volumetric cardiac imaging," Med Phys. 29(8), 1807-1822, 2002.
[Non-patent literature 7] K. Taguchi et al., "Toward time resolved cardiac CT images with patient dose reduction: image-based motion estimation", Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, 4, 2029-2032, 2006.
[Non-patent literature 8] AA. Isola et al., "Fully automatic nonrigid registration-based local motion estimation for motion-corrected iterative cardiac CT reconstruction," Med Phys. 37(3), 1093-1109 2010.
[Non-patent literature 9] AA. Isola et al., "Motion compensated iterative reconstruction of a region of interest in cardiac cone-beam CT" Comput. Med. Imag. Grap. 34(2), 149-159 2010.

Motion-tracking X-ray CT image processing method and motion-tracking X-ray CT image processing device

National University Corporation Kyoto University


A vent assembly has a base and a cover connected to the base. The cover moves between a closed and open position. A fan is optionally mounted for rotation in the base. A mechanism, including a strut system, raises and lowers the cover. The strut system is connected with the cover at two positions spaced from one another. When the cover is in its closed position, a retention force is provided by the strut system and is distributed about the cover.

In motor vehicles, such as motor coaches, that include a living area, it is desirable to have a vent assembly that enables the interior of the coach to vent to the outside. Ordinarily, a vent assembly is utilized that is capable of moving air either into or out of the interior of the motor coach. One such fan assembly is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,769 entitled "Roof Vent Fan Assembly".
When the motor coach is being driven, it is desirable to have the cover in a down position. However, it is also possible that the cover may be raised to enable the interior to vent. The above vent assembly includes an arm to raise and lower the cover between an open and closed position. The arm is directly connected to a bracket that is coupled with the cover.
The disclosure provides a strut system that connects with an arm and with the cover. The strut system provides two connecting positions to retain the cover onto the base. The system provides an over center retention force to maintain the cover on the base.


A method for providing custom printed surfaces on products such as sheets to a customer including providing to the customer a form comprising a master portion corresponding in size and shape to a surface to be printed and an identifying portion for accepting identifying information concerning the customer, having the customer apply identifying information to the identifying portion of the form and indicia of a desired type to the master portion of the form, using the master portion of the form with the applied indicia as a graphic master to prepare the printed surfaces which can be prepared by conventional printing means from the master, and using the identifying portion of the form as a label to send the custom printed products to the customer.

Using conventional known methods and forms for ordering custom printed products, particularly including sheets included in note pads that may have layers of repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive on portions of their rear surfaces, a customer typically indicates on the form a code for artwork selected from sample artworks in a book which the customer desires to have printed on the sheets, and/or manually prints on the form a message and/or name that customer wishes to have printed on the sheets. The printer of the sheets then lays out the artwork and prints the message on a master sheet. The master sheet is then typically attached to a master lay out board, after which the sheets are printed utilizing conventional printing methods which may include making a printing plate by which the sheets are printed, which printing plate may be either made directly from the lay out board or by photographing the lay out board.
While this approach is generally acceptable, the customer is limited to the artwork provided by the printer, and the styles of printed messages the printer is willing to prepare, and errors can occur when the artwork and message are laid out.

Form used for ordering custom printed products

Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company


A print job is received into a print engine having an image processor. A page of the print job is analyzed for a color gamut and for clear toner. For multi-pass print jobs, toner usage per pixel for each color of the color gamut and the clear toner is determined. Adjusted pixel values for the clear toner are calculated using a predetermined percentage. Adjusted pixel values for the color toner are calculated for each color of the color gamut based on the maximum toner limit. A first layer of the page is rendered using the adjusted pixel values. Then, the adjusted pixel values are scaled for clear toner usage based on the predetermined percentage for the clear toner on the first pass using a tone reproduction curve. Subsequent layers of the page are rendered in selected passes using only the scaled pixel values for clear toner usage.

Systems and methods herein generally relate to clear texturing, and more particularly, to clear texturing on a media substrate associated with a printing apparatus.
A substrate carries information in the form of images, graphics, and textual content. Oftentimes, the substrate carries additional information in the form of an identifier, such as an authenticating mark or a watermark. A first type of mark is selectively detectable. The mark is not viewable under casual inspection. Rather, a visual aid alters a viewing condition to make the mark viewable. An example of the first type of mark includes a fluorescent watermark. The fluorescent watermark may be made viewable when an illuminant alters a light condition used to control either toner or substrate reflection. A second type of mark is detectable under casual inspection. An example of the second type of mark may include a raised surface portion on the substrate. Another example may include an image rendered on the surface portion.
A colored or monochrome ink or toner is applied to the substrate to form the image. A lighter application of ink or toner is applied to the substrate as compared to a heavier application provided for the content. The lighter ink- or toner-application provides the mark with a generally washed out appearance. However, the image may still interfere with a viewer's ability to read the content also carried on the substrate. This difficulty is especially the case when a colored toner layer, used for the mark, is situated directly beneath the content layer. Accordingly, there is needed a new way of presenting marks. A mark is desired to include a generally transparent appearance. More particularly, a generally transparent mark is desired for casual inspection, whereby the mark includes a characteristic that makes it easily identifiable.
A use of clear toner on printed media sheets is becoming more diverse with newly discovered applications for using the clear toner as a way to achieve particular visible effects. For example, a layer of clear toner may provide the media sheet with a glossy appearance, or it may provide a textured image, that is supported on the media sheet, with a perceived third dimension. One aspect of using clear toner is an ability to produce certain effects while requiring less expensive manufacturing methods and substrate materials. As mentioned, texture is a desired visual effect that may be achieved using clear toner. For example, the use of clear toner on a generally uniform surface may provide the appearance of a third dimension when the toner (i.e., forming the image) is viewed relative to a blank region of the print media sheet. The reflective behavior of the clear toner may further contribute to the degree of the perceived dimension based on a reflection at select viewing angles. To further achieve a perceived textured surface having a noticeable tactile feel to a touch, the media sheet may be subjected to multiple passes through the image forming apparatus for building a clear toner layer having a certain pile height. Each pass may be used to render one coat of the clear toner layer. However, media sheet-degradation is associated with a conventional operation after a certain number of passes. The media sheet generally degrades as it is moved through a paper path. The media sheet may get caught in the paper path if the pile height of the clear toner layer is built too high. Accordingly, the caught media sheet may cause a jam to the image forming apparatus. The jam may decrease a production efficiency of the image forming apparatus if additional, queued print jobs are held until the jam is remedied and the apparatus is made operative again.
The current procedure for handling multiple pass clear is to RIP the page once. The color toner and clear toner are applied on the first pass. Clear toner only is applied on subsequent passes. In order to use 100% clear toner, the color planes are reduced to enable 100% on the clear plane. This leads to a chromatic deficiency on the color printing as compared to printing color without clear toner. What is needed is a system that enables optimal color printing on the first pass with optimal (100%) clear printing on subsequent passes.

System and method for optimal ink limiting on multi-pass clear jobs


A magnetic field modulation system for a cochlear implant: The magnetic field modulation system receives audible tones and processes the tones into radio frequency signals that are received by a radio frequency coil system. The radio frequency coil system has a transmitting coil and a receiving coil wound in a plurality of configurations. The transmitting coil is implanted in the ear canal wherein it receives processed radio frequency signals. The receiving coil is implanted into the middle ear wherein it receives the radio frequency signals from the transmitting coil. The receiving coil is hermetically sealed inside an enclosure wherein it receives and demodulates the radio frequency signal. Audio electrical signals are extracted from the demodulated radio frequency signal and delivered to the cochlea via an electrode. The audio electrical signals are received by the human brain via the nerves from the cochlea.

A transcanal cochlear implant is ideally suited for the profoundly deaf where conventional amplifying hearing aids are of limited or no value. That is to say, with maximum gain delivered by the most powerful hearing aids, these profoundly deaf individuals cannot hear sound and hence cannot discriminate and understand speech. In addition, an estimated 200–300 million people have various patterns of severe sensorineural hearing loss, which are imperfectly rehabilitated via hearing aids. An example of such is the so called "ski-sloped hearing loss," where there is near normal hearing in the low to middle frequency range, but the hearing drops out dramatically in the higher frequencies. For these types of hearing loss, amplification is ineffective because the cochlea cannot perform its transductive function of converting the mechanical energy of sound to the electrical current which is ultimately perceived as sound by the brain. The inner ear structures responsible for this transductive function are known as hair cells. The electrical currents which they produce in response to the mechanical stimulation by sound are known as cochlear microphonics. When these hair cells are sufficiently damaged as in the above mentioned scenarios no amount of amplification will be effective.
The cochlear implant is, in effect, a bionic ear in that it replaces the lost cochlear microphonic with an electrical current that is the precise analog of sound. Currently, United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has approved cochlear implants. The approved cochlear implant are so-called multichannel long electrode devices. They are expensive, highly complex devices that must be surgically introduced via a complicated and (for the average otolaryngologist) risky procedure under general anesthesia known as the facial recess mastoidectomy. The estimated cost of these cochlear implant systems, including surgery, anesthesia, hospital and programming fees is currently quite high. The hardware necessary to program these devices adds further to the high cost. The time to program the first map for these devices averages from four to twelve hours depending upon the age of the patient and other factors. The prohibitive price and impractical complexity deter accessibility to the vast majority of the global deaf population. Furthermore, the average otologist in the developing countries of the world typically does not have the sophistication, expertise and equipment to confidently undertake the facial recess mastoidectomy in order to introduce the internal component of the multichannel systems.
The most tragic irony of all is that the multichannel long electrode devices can destroy residual hearing when they are inserted into the cochlea. This well acknowledged fact makes these devices difficult to justify in very young infants where the precise degree of hearing loss is often in doubt. Furthermore, the electronics package and receiver coil for such a complex sound-processing scheme would not fit within the middle ear space.


A thermistor for surface mounting includes a first conductive terminal member, a case having a top opening, a planar thermistor element having electrodes on mutually opposite main surfaces thereof, and a second conductive terminal member having at one end thereof a planar cover part which is attached to the top part of the case. One end of the first terminal member is positioned inside the case and above its bottom member. The other ends of the first and second terminal members are positioned on the bottom surface of the case.

This invention relates to electronic apparatus for surface-mounting and surface mounting devices for such apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates, on one hand, to electronic apparatus adapted for surface mounting such as thermistors for controlling a current and, on the other hand, to surface mounting devices for such an electronic apparatus having a pair of electrodes on its upper and lower surfaces.
Consider, for example, a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor element as shown at 101 in FIG. 12, as an example of a planar ceramic electronic element having a pair of ohmic electrodes 101a and 101b on its lower and upper surfaces. The PTC element may be a disk with thickness 3 mm and diameter 6 -10 mm. A prior art method of mounting such an element to a printed circuit board was to provide connector electrodes (say, of silver) on the ohmic electrodes 101a and 101b, to attach lead lines to these connector electrodes and to attach the element to the circuit board through these lead lines. For providing compact apparatus, however, such elements are now mounted directly to the circuit board.
For this purpose, a printed circuit board 104 as shown in FIG. 12 with contact electrodes 104a and 104b may be provided, cream solder 103 may be applied over the circuit board electrode 104a before the element 101 is placed thereon, and its ohmic electrode 101a on the lower surface is connected to the contact electrode 104a by reflow soldering. Next, one end of an electro-conductive lead line 105 is soldered to the other electrode 101b on the upper surface of the element 101, the other end of the lead line 105 being soldered to the other contact electrode 104b. In FIG. 12, numeral 106 indicates the solder used for the attachment of the lead line 105.
Surface-mounted prior art elements of this kind have many problems. Firstly, two kinds of soldering are required for the mounting, the reflow soldering by which the element 101 is connected to the circuit board 104 and the soldering of the lead line 105 to the circuit board 104 and to the element 101. This makes the mounting a time-consuming process. Secondly, since it is not practically possible to simultaneously carry out the soldering of both electrodes 101a and 101b on the two principal surfaces of the element 101, the heat from the first soldering of the lower-surface electrode 101a affects adversely the soldering of the upper-surface electrode 101b. The situation would not change if the order of soldering were reversed, because the soldering characteristics of the electrode to be soldered later are adversely affected. Thirdly, since the ceramic element 101, which is sensitive to heat, is heated twice, micro-cracks are likely to be generated due to the thermal stress. Fourthly, since the element 101 generates heat when it is operated, the generated heat is directly transmitted to the circuit board 104 and through the circuit board 104 to other electronic elements which may be mounted thereon, adversely affecting their performance.

Electronic apparatus and surface mounting devices therefor


A method and system for interfacing a digital device with an interactive display surface (IDS) is presented. The IDS detects the digital device when it is brought into proximity, and attempts to identify the device. The IDS communicates with the device, and displays interactive representations of information stored on the device.

Portable digital computing devices are becoming increasingly pervasive in modern culture. Such devices, including mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable mp3 players, digital cameras and camcorders, and portable video game players, allow their users to carry tremendous amounts of digital information on their person with very little inconvenience. These devices are often optimized for portability, placing great emphasis on small form factors and low power consumption.
In achieving these design features, sacrifices in terms of usability have been made. Displays on such devices are often very small, when they are even present. Easy functionality is typically limited to a very few select features accessed through several primary buttons, while less frequently used options are buried deep within menus and submenus, accessed by navigating menus on the tiny integrated display. Additionally, these devices typically offer only one method of access to the user's stored digital data: digital cameras allow the user to view the picture you took on the tiny embedded LCD screen; mp3 players will allow the user to play a stored song; and a PDA will allow the user to view a compressed view of his or her schedule for the day.
Often the sole method available to a user for accessing his digital data is by connecting the device directly to a computer, and using specialized software to interface with the device, move the data to the computer. There are undesirable limitations inherent in this solution, however. In order to make use of the data, it often must be copied to the computer itself, which leaves the user's data in multiple locations. Interfacing with the computer may require a dedicated piece of software or hardware, which limits where the user can make use of his data. And some devices do not even offer this limited option to their users; data that enters such a device is inaccessible, beyond the tools built into the device itself.
Moreover, having access to his or her data only via a single desktop computer has negative implications for the utility of these devices in a social context. A user may wish to share a digital picture with a friend, but cannot do so immediately or in a social setting; he or she must return to their base computer and forward it to their friend some other time. The user might want to let a friend listen to a new song, but would be limited to handing over their mp3 player and headphones; two people cannot listen at once via a pair of earphones. Two friends might want to play a game together, but sharing a single PDA is impractical.
Some means to allow user to use, share, and manipulate content stored on an electronic device, as well as to more easily access functionality of, or appropriate to, their device is desirable.

Method and system for interfacing a digital device with an interactive display surface


An image motion vector sensor is provided which includes a motion vector sense section in which an input signal of an image plane is subdivided into a plurality of sense domains so as to compute a motion vector of an image in each of the domains, a motion vector decision section for judging validity of the motion vector in each domain so as to decide a motion vector of an entire image plane, a vector reliability density decision section for producing a coefficient which is a function of the density with respect to time of a signal proportional to the number of the domains judged to be valid, and a control section for controlling a magnitude of the motion vector of the entire image plane based on an output from the vector reliability density decision section.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image motion vector sensor for sensing an amount of displacement or movement of an image.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A conventional sensor for sensing a motion vector of an image has been described, for example, in the JP-A-61-269475.
FIG. 9 illustratively shows the image motion vector sensor, which comprises a first latch 1, a representative point memory 2, a second latch 3, a correlation device 4, an address controller 5, an address switch circuit 6, a cumulative adder 7, a correlation retrieval circuit 8, a correlation validity decision circuit 9, and a decision circuit 10.
A description will now be given of an image motion vector sensor employing the conventional correlation computing device configured as above.
First, a motion vector of an image will be described. FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C respectively show an image displayed at a point of time and an image developed after a field or frame. When an image undergoes a translational displacement as above due to a movement of an imaging device or the like, the amount of the translational displacement of the image as indicated by an arrow in a FIG. 8C is represented by a vector, which is called a motion vector.
Next, a method for sensing the image motion vector will be described.
A so-called representative point matching method is most commonly employed so as to sense a motion vector. According to the representative point matching method, first, as shown in FIG. 10A, an entire image plane is divided into a plurality of sense domains (6 domains are illustrated), and each sense domain is further divided into a plurality of motion vector sense regions (9 regions are illustrated), each of the regions having a representative point in it. FIG. 10B shows a motion vector sense region including a representative point and pixels around the representative point.
Then, the image motion vectors are sensed in respective sense domains by finding, with the correlation calculation between the image data of the previous an the present field (or frame), the location of a pixel in the present field (or frame) to which an image has displaced from the location of the representative point in the previous field (or frame) the image having been located. Finally, a single motion vector representing an entire image plane is decided amongst the motion vectors sensed in respective sense domains.
Referring to FIGs. 10A and 10B, a further detailed description of the representative point matching method will be given.
First, an absolute difference between the image data S.sub.n-1 (X.sub.k, Y.sub.k) of the representative point at a coordinate (X.sub.k, Y.sub.k) in the (n-1)th field (or frame) and the image data S.sub.n (X.sub.k+i, Y.sub.k+j) of a pixel at a coordinate (X.sub.k+i, Y.sub.k+j) around the representative point within the k-th moving vector sense region in the n-th field (or frame) is calculated, where k is the serial number for appointing a representative point, i and j are coordinate differences between the representative point and the pixel of attention, where the variable range of i and j correspond to the range within which a motion vector is sensed, and n denotes discrete time. The above difference calculation is performed between the representative point and each of the surrounding pixels in the respective motion vector sense regions. Then, the absolute differences, calculated for each pixel at the location having the same coordinate values on the relative coordinates fixed to the representative point in the respective motion vector sense regions, are added together. In the case of FIG. 10A, as there are 9 representative points, the above cumulative addition is carried out for 9 absolute difference data on each pixel. This cumulative addition results in a set of correlation values P(i, j), the number of which equals to the number of pixels included in one motion vector sense region.
The arithmetic operations described above can be written in the following formula: EQU P(i,j)=.SIGMA..vertline.S.sub.n-1 (X.sub.k, Y.sub.k)-S.sub.n (X.sub.k+i, Y.sub.k+j) .vertline. (1)
where .SIGMA. indicates a summation operation within the variable range of suffix number k, which varies from 1 to the number of the representative points in one sense domain, 9 in the case of FIG. 10A.
The correlation values P(i, j) are thus obtained, and a small P(i, j) value indicates a high correlation, a high P(i, j) value a low correlation. Since the input signals are of the two pictures the one of which has resulted from a translational displacement of the other, there is only one state in which these two pictures can overlap each other. The overlapping state of the two pictures is sensed by finding the coordinate (i, j) where P(i, j) has a minimum value. Then, the image motion vector is given as the coordinate value (i, j). Accordingly, the motion vector is determined with the following operation: EQU V(i, j)=(i, j) for min{P(i, j)} (2)
where "min" denotes an operator for selecting the minimum.
A method for sensing the motion vector with above mentioned arithmetic operations is called the representative point matching method, by which a method vector for each domain is sensed.
Next, referring to FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B, a description will be given of an image motion vector sensor employing the conventional correlation computing device.
Image data at the respective representative points in a field or frame are fetched into a first latch 1 in response to a timing pulse LP1 so as to be written at an appropriate timing in the representative point memory 2 at addresses associated with the respective representative points. Thereafter, in the subsequent field or frame, the system computes correlation between image data at respective pixels in a motion vector sense regions associated with the respective representative points and the image data at the representative points of the previous field beforehand stored in the representative point memory 2, thereby sending the result to the cumulative adder 7. The cumulative adder 7 adds together the correlation data which are associated with the same coordinate positions with the representative point set as a reference in respective motion vector sense regions. When the cumulative addition of the above data is completed for all motion vector sense regions, the correlation retrieval circuit 8 checks the cumulative values kept in the cumulative adder 7 to decide a position where the correlation develops a highest value. That is, with the position of the representative point set as the reference, the position (address) of the highest correlation value is obtained as a motion vector Furthermore, based on a distribution (a mean value, a minimum value, a maximum value, a gradient, or the like) of the correlation values around the representative point, the correlation validity decision circuit 9 judges to decide whether or not the motion vector attained from the correlation computation is valid.
Above-mentioned sensing of image motion vectors and decision of correlation validity are, as shown in FIG. 10A, carried out for a plurality of sense domains, and result in, for every image plane, a plurality of motion vectors which are decided to be valid.
And, amongst valid motion vectors sensed, a single motion vector that represents an entire image plane is decided by a judge circuit 10. In order to make the above decision, a method which is often employed is that a mean value with respect to the valid motion vectors sensed in one image plane or a median of the valid motion vectors is construed as the motion vector representing an entire image plane.
Since the operation above is carried out for each field or frame, in order for the system to save image data of a representative point in the subsequent field or frame while conducting the correlation computation, where is disposed the first latch 1. Moreover, the second latch 3 is used to keep image data at the representative point while correlation is being established between image data at a representative point in the previous field or frame and image data around the representative point in the present field or frame.
In a portion enclosed with broken lines of FIG. 9, a portion in which a motion vector is sensed through the correlation computation constitute a motion vector sense section 11, whereas a portion in which a motion vector representing an entire image plane is obtained by use of motion vectors attained in respective sense domains and correlation information of the vectors attained by the motion vector sense section 11 forms a first vector decision section 12.
In the constitution above, however, depending on a state of the input image signal, the number of sense domains in which the vector can be sensed varies. In the worst case, the motion vector is rarely sensed, and in other case, the motion vector can be sensed or cannot be sensed such that the output motion vectors are only sporadically generated. This leads to a problem that the sensed motion vectors are discontinuous with respect to time.

Image motion vector sensor for sensing image displacement amount

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


There is provided a cut resistant yarn comprising a blend of first and second staple fibers, wherein, the first staple fibers are polymer-fibers, each first staple fiber comprising a polymer body encasing a hard component, said hard component being a plurality of hard fibers, said hard fibers having an average diameter of at most 25 microns; and the second staple fibers are different to the first staple fibers, wherein the weight ratio of the first to second staple polymer-fibers is from 1:99 to 99:1.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a cut resistant yarn comprising staple fibers, a process for making the yarn, products comprising the yarn, and a process for making the products.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cut resistant products, such as garments, comprising cut resistant yarns are known. When in the form of garments such products are typically intended to protect a wearer from being cut, and may be used by persons working in for example the meat industry, the metal industry and the wood industry. Cut resistance can be usefully applied to all types of garments, especially those used as workwear and/or sportswear garments. Examples of garments that can be usefully adapted to be cut resistant include gloves, aprons, shirts, vests, jackets, trousers, cuffs, sleeves, overalls, sportsuits such as iceskating or cycling suits etc.
Cut resistant yarns are known and include yarns containing filaments of aramid, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMwPE) or polybenzoxazole. WO2008/046746, the content of which document is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a cut resistant yarn comprising a hard component in the form of a plurality of hard fibers having an average diameter of at most 25 micron. It is discussed therein that cut-resistant garments can be usefully made from the yarns.
Currently available cut resistant garments suffer the problem that they can be uncomfortable to wear, and more seriously can reduce freedom of movement, e.g. dexterity when wearing gloves, due to unacceptable weight and/or flexibility at desired cut resistance levels. It is very important that a garment have good wear comfort, since wearers may have to wear the garments for considerable periods of time while maintaining high levels of productivity. If a garment is not comfortable then wearers tend to suffer fatigue and may even refrain from donning such a protective garment, thus leading to higher accident risks.
WO2010/089410 discusses a cut resistant composite yarn and products, e.g. garments, comprising such a yarn. An embodiment of the composite yarn comprises an elastic filament wrapped in a cut resistant yarn to form a sheath around the elastic filament.
Although such yarns and products offer excellent wearer comfort and freedom of movement, it remains desirable to provide further yarns and garments that offer adequate cut resistance while showing good comfort levels.

Yarn, a process for making the yarn, and products containing the yarn


The invention comprises a method of monitoring, analyzing and managing mechanical press usage. The method of this form of the current invention includes the steps of: monitoring vibration severity, including vibration severity zone; monitoring tipping moment severity; monitoring press repair information, including die repair information; monitoring press maintenance information, including die maintenance information; monitoring press applied load; and analyzing the effect of vibration severity, tipping moment severity, press repair, press maintenance and applied load to determine necessary press modifications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mechanical presses and, more particularly to a method and apparatus for determining optimal press usage and for making repair and/or replacement recommendations as well as continued usage recommendations based upon the analysis performed for a manufacturing facility. Press usage analysis includes analysis of die load, tipping moment, vibration severity, die chipping and/or press die repair or maintenance information. The usage recommendations will lead to greater productivity within a plant site, as well as, press and machine longevity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional press machines employ a tooling apparatus in the form of a die assembly to shape a workpiece, such as in a stamping or drawing operation. The die assembly particularly includes a lower die attached to a non-moveable bed or bolster and an upper die or punch attached to a reciprocating slide. The upper and lower dies, which are installed in opposing spaced apart relation to one another, cooperate during press machine operation to mutually engage the workpiece at respective sides thereof to thereby effect the desired forming activity.
Repeated stamping operations of a mechanical press cause die wear. The ability to accurately predict die wear or to predict operating conditions which indicate the propensity for increased die wear is advantageous in that press down time for die replacement or reconditioning can be predicted or even potentially diverted by proactive early corrective intervention. The ability to predict die wear allows the operator of a mechanical press to better plan times for die replacement or to intervene with corrective actions, so that productivity loss is not experienced. Further, the ability to predict die wear is advantageous in that press down time associated with die maintenance can be minimized. To accurately predict die wear, tipping moment severity must be accounted for. Since die wear is useful in increasing productivity, tipping moment severity forms a part of the analysis system of the present invention.
A press applies force to a workpiece so that the workpiece (i.e. stock material) acquires the desired formation corresponding to the die set being utilized. Systems for monitoring press operating reliability assist the press owner in evaluating the impact of certain die/load applications on the reliability of the press being monitored. Monitoring systems include systems which utilize contact load sensors to monitor the peak load being developed within certain components of the press machine during a slide stroke of the press. Known methods of monitoring peak loads utilize a strain gage or other transducer which is mounted on the press and which directly measures a value of applied load. Monitoring load exerted on load bearing members during a slide stroke of a mechanical press allows press and die applications to be adjusted when monitored peak load values are outside an acceptable range. Load values not only provide valuable press adjustment information, but also provide valuable use severity information.
Most mechanical systems, including mechanical presses, have a certain operational lifetime based upon their material of construction, their structure, and the level of use which they experience. Use experienced by a mechanical device can be measured by many indicators, such as time of use and severity of use. Many factors may contribute to the severity of use of a mechanical device. The severity of use of a mechanical press can be measured in many ways including, for example, vibration severity experienced during press operation, tipping moment severity experienced during press operation, applied load, dynamic parallelism, and whether the press has been run with a chipped die in place.
What is needed in the art is an implementation methodology to monitor and evaluate mechanical presses in use which combines all of the above-mentioned indicators of use severity.
What is further needed in the art is a method and apparatus which can be utilized to measure the use severity of mechanical presses in operation and which will be effective in establishing which presses could experience increased use severity and which presses should be run at a decreased level of use severity.
Further, this methodology will also identify which presses and applications can be operated at greater productivity with optimized operating conditions.
The present invention is directed to improve upon the ability to accurately monitor and evaluate mechanical presses used within facilities and to provide a systematic method for solving a multitude of mechanical press problems at once.
The invention, in one form thereof, comprises a method of monitoring, analyzing and managing mechanical press usage. The method of this form of the current invention includes the steps of: monitoring vibration severity, including vibration severity zone; monitoring tipping moment severity; monitoring press repair information, including die repair information; monitoring press maintenance information, including die maintenance information; monitoring press applied load; and analyzing the effect of vibration severity, tipping moment severity, press repair, press maintenance and applied load to determine necessary press modifications.
In one form of the current invention, tipping moment severity is monitored by attaching a load sensor to the bed of a running press or connecting sensors to the slide connections, uprights, or dies. A computational device is communicatively connected to the sensor and is operative to compute and measure tipping moment severity of the running press based upon the sensed load value and methods for computing moments. Other sensors may measure load versus time, or right versus left type forces. The computational device can be, for example, a microprocessor.
The invention, in another form thereof, includes a means for measuring die life risk condition based upon tipping moment severity. Die life risk condition provides another useful measure of pressure severity. One or more load sensors are attached to the bed, connections or other locations of a running press and a computational device which stores a unique tipping moment severity chart for the running press, a plurality of tipping moment severity factors which correspond to zones of tipping moment severity on the tipping moment severity chart and a plurality of zone of criticality factors which correspond to the zones of criticality on the tipping moment severity chart is provided. The computational device receives the load values sensed from the load sensors and uses means to compute tipping moments based upon the sensed load values. The computational device also utilizes the tipping moment severity chart, the tipping moment severity factors, the zone of criticality factors, and the measured tipping moment to compute a measure of die life risk condition. Load may also be computed based upon theoretical load analysis as described below.
An advantage of the present invention is the ability to lessen the tipping moment of the die so as to decrease die chipping, die repair and die maintenance.
Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to increase production by decreasing the use severity of particular applications, or increasing the maximum severity capability of the press which is then better able to handle such an increased use severity. Press Applications may be transferred to an alternate press better suited for utilization of that particular press application.
A further advantage of the present invention is the ability to effectively increase mechanical press production while keeping the impact of press use severity to a minimum.

Mechanical device productivity improvement with usage analysis, management, and implementation methodology for manufacturing facility


The subject invention discloses a novel method of providing a binary electrolyte-solvent solution in a solid battery system. A first component of this binary electrolyte solvent system is provided by a material which acts as a plasticizer in the formation of a solid polymeric matrix (separator), composite cathode and/or composite anode, and which also acts as an electrolyte solvent in the completed electrochemical cell. The second component of the binary electrolyte solvent system is an electrolyte solvent, which generally carries the electrolyte salt into the electrolytic cell precursor. The first and second components of the binary electrolyte solvent system mix within the electrolytic cell, dispersing the electrolyte salt throughout the binary electrolyte solvent system. The addition of the electrolyte salt to the electrolytic cell precursor acts to activate the cell precursor, and to form a functional electrolytic cell or battery system.

Electrolytic cells containing an anode, a cathode, and a solvent-containing electrolyte are known in the art. One trend in battery technology is toward nonaqueous lithium electrochemical cells. Such cells typically included an anode of metallic lithium, a lithium electrolyte prepared from a lithium salt dissolved in one or more organic solvents, and a cathode of an electrochemical active material, typically a chalcogenide of a transition metal. More recently, insertion compounds have replaced metallic lithium in the anode.
These solid, secondary battery typically comprises several solid, secondary electrolytic cells in which the current from each of the cells is accumulated by a conventional current collector so that the total current generated by the battery is roughly the sum of the current generated from each of the individual electrolytic cells employed in the battery.
During discharge, lithium ions from the anode pass through the liquid electrolyte to the electrochemically active material of the cathode, where the ions are taken up with the simultaneous release of electrical energy. During charging, the flow of ions is reversed so that lithium ions pass from the electrochemically active cathode material through the electrolyte and are plated back onto the lithium anode.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,000, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses the formation of electrolytic cell electrodes and electrolyte film/separator elements. The electrodes and electrolyte film/separator elements use a combination of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) copolymer matrix and a compatible organic solvent plasticizer to provide battery component layers, each in the form of a flexible, self-supporting film.
An electrolytic cell precursor, such as a rechargeable battery cell precursor, is constructed by means of the lamination of electrode and electrolyte film cell elements which are individually prepared. Each of the electrodes and the electrolyte film/separator is formed individually, for example by coating, extrusion, or otherwise, from compositions including the copolymer materials and a plasticizer. The materials are then laminated, as shown in FIG. 1.
In the construction of a lithium-ion battery, for example, a copper grid may comprise the anodic current collector 110. An anode (negative electrode) membrane 112 is formed by providing an anodic material dispersed in a copolymer matrix. For example, the anodic material and the copolymer matrix can be provided in a carrier liquid, which is then volatilized to provide the dried anode membrane 112. The anode membrane 112 is positioned adjacent the anodic current collector 110.
An electrolyte film/separator membrane 114 is formed as a sheet of a copolymeric matrix solution and a plasticizer solvent. The electrolyte film/separator membrane 114 is placed adjacent the anode membrane 112.
A cathode (positive electrode) membrane 116 is similarly formed by providing a cathodic material dispersed in a copolymer matrix. For example, the cathodic material and the copolymer matrix can be provided in a carrier liquid, which is then volatilized to provide the dried cathode membrane 116. The cathode membrane 116 is then overlaid upon the electrolyte film/separator membrane layer 114, and a cathodic current collector 118 is laid upon the cathode membrane.
The assembly is then heated under pressure to provide heat-fused bonding between the plasticized copolymer matrix components and the collector grids. A unitary flexible battery precursor structure is thus produced.
An extraction process of the prior art is graphically represented in FIGS. 2a-2c. During processing of the battery precursor 220, a large quantity of a homogeneously distributed compatible organic solvent plasticizer 222 is present in the solid polymeric matrix, as represented in FIG. 2a. Prior to activation of the battery, however, the organic solvent 222 is removed, as represented in FIG. 2b. This is generally accomplished using an extracting solvent (not shown) such as diethyl ether or hexane, which selectively extracts the plasticizer without significantly affecting the copolymer matrix. This produces a "dry" battery precursor 224 substantially free of plasticizer and which does not include any electrolyte solvent or salt. As represented in FIG. 2c, an electrolyte solvent and electrolyte salt solution 226 is imbibed into the "dry" battery copolymer membrane structure to yield a functional battery system 228.
This prior art extraction requires the use of hazardous chemicals, such as ether or hexane, to produce the "dry" electrolytic cell precursor, which is then activated by introduction of electrolyte solution (electrolyte solvent and electrolyte salt) to form the electrolytic cell.
An alternate prior art method of forming an electrolytic cell, i.e., a displacement method, is graphically represented in FIGS. 3a and 3b. As represented in FIG. 3a, a large quantity of a homogeneously distributed plasticizer 322 is present in the solid polymer matrix of the battery precursor 320. Rather than extracting this plasticizer 322, as discussed above, the plasticizer is instead displaced by an electrolyte solution 326. Displacement of the plasticizer 322 by the electrolyte solution 326 is stated to be virtually complete, as represented in FIG. 3b.
However, it has been found that complete removal of the plasticizer is not obtained using either the extraction or the displacement methods of the prior art. In a preferred embodiment of the prior art, using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the plasticizer, it is necessary to completely remove all traces of the plasticizer. THF has relatively poor electrochemical stability, such that the presence of even minor amounts of THF or similar electrochemically unstable components can "poison" the battery, causing poor cycling of the battery and a shortened battery life.
In view of the above shortcomings associated with the prior art, there is a need for solid state electrochemical devices that are capable of providing improved manufacturing parameters, and improved battery performance.


A method for detecting and attenuating inhalation noise in a communication system coupled to a pressurized air delivery system, the method including the steps of: generating an inhalation noise model (912, 1012) based on inhalation noise; receiving an input signal (802) that includes inhalation noise; comparing (810) the input signal to the noise model to obtain a similarity measure; determining (854) a gain factor based on the similarity measure; and modifying (852) the input signal based on the gain factor, wherein the inhalation noise in the input signal is attenuated based on the gain factor.

Good, reliable communications among personnel engaged in hazardous environmental activities, such as fire fighting, are essential for accomplishing their missions while maintaining their own health and safety. Working conditions may require the use of a pressurized air delivery system such as, for instance, a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) mask and air delivery system, a Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) mask and air delivery system, or an aircraft oxygen mask system. However, even while personnel are using such pressurized air delivery systems, it is desirable that good, reliable communications be maintained and personnel health and safety be effectively monitored.
FIG. 1 illustrates a simple block diagram of a prior art system 100 that includes a pressurized air delivery system 110 coupled to a communication system 130. The pressurized air delivery system typically includes: a breathing mask 112, such as a SCBA mask; an air cylinder (not shown); a regulator 118; and a high pressure hose 120 connecting the regulator 118 to the air cylinder. Depending upon the type of air delivery system 110 being used, the system 110 may provide protection to a user by, for example: providing the user with clean breathing air; keeping harmful toxins from reaching the user's lungs; protecting the user's lungs from being burned by superheated air inside of a burning structure; protecting the user's lungs from water; and providing protection to the user from facial and respiratory burns. Moreover, in general the mask is considered a pressure demand breathing system because air is typically only supplied when the mask wearer inhales.
Communication system 130 typically includes a conventional microphone 132 that is designed to record the speech of the mask wearer and that may be mounted inside the mask, outside and attached to the mask, or held in the hand over a voicemitter port on the mask 112. Communication system 130 further includes a communication unit 134 such as a two-way radio that the mask wearer can use to communicate her speech, for example, to other communication units. The mask microphone device 132 may be connected directly to the radio 134 or through an intermediary electronic processing device 138. This connection may be through a conventional wire cable (e.g., 136), or could be done wirelessly using a conventional RF, infrared, or ultrasonic short-range transmitter/receiver system. The intermediary electronic processing device 138 may be implemented, for instance, as a digital signal processor and may contain interface electronics, audio amplifiers, and battery power for the device and for the mask microphone.
There are some shortcomings associated with the use of systems such as system 100. These limitations will be described, for ease of illustration, by reference to the block diagram of FIG. 2, which illustrates the mask-to-radio audio path of system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. Speech input 210 (e.g., Si(f)) from the lips enters the mask (e.g. a SCBA mask), which has an acoustic transfer function 220 (e.g., MSK(f)) that is characterized by acoustic resonances and nulls. These resonances and nulls are due to the mask cavity volume and reflections of the sound from internal mask surfaces. These effects characterized by the transfer function MSK(f) distort the input speech waveform Si(f) and alter its spectral content. Another sound source is noise 230 generated from the breathing equipment (e.g. regulator inhalation noise) that also enters the mask and is affected by MSK(f). Another transfer function 240 (e.g., NPk(f)) accounts for the fact that the noise is generated from a slightly different location in the mask than that of the speech. The speech and noise S(ƒ) are converted from acoustical energy to an electronic signal by a microphone which has its own transfer function 250 (e.g., MIC(f)). The microphone signal then typically passes through an audio amplifier and other circuitry, which also has a transfer function 260 (e.g., MAA(f)). An output signal 270 (e.g., So(f))from MAA(f) may then be input into a radio for further processing and transmission.
Returning to the shortcomings of systems such as system 100, an example of such a shortcoming relates to the generation by these systems of loud acoustic noises as part of their operation. More specifically, these noises can significantly degrade the quality of communications, especially when used with electronic systems such as radios. One such noise that is a prominent audio artifact introduced by a pressurized air delivery system, like a SCBA system, is regulator inhalation noise, which is illustrated in FIG. 2 as box 230.
The regulator inhalation noise occurs as a broadband noise burst occurring every time the mask wearer inhales. Negative pressure in the mask causes the air regulator valve to open, allowing high-pressure air to enter the mask and producing a loud hissing sound. This noise is picked up by the mask communications system microphone along with ensuing speech, and has about the same energy as the speech. The inhalation noise generally does not mask the speech since it typically occurs only upon inhalation. However, it can cause problems—examples of which are described as follows. For example, the inhalation noise can trigger VOX (voice-operated switch) circuits, thereby opening and occupying radio channels and potentially interfering with other speakers on the same radio channel. Moreover, in communication systems that use digital radios, the inhalation noise can trigger VAD (Voice Activity Detector) algorithms causing noise estimate confusion in noise suppression algorithms farther down the radio signal processing chain. In addition, the inhalation noise is, in general, annoying to a listener.
A second shortcoming of systems such as system 100 is described below. These systems use masks that typically encompass the nose and mouth, or the entire face. The air system mask forms an enclosed air cavity of fixed geometry that exhibits a particular set of acoustic resonances and anti-resonances (nulls) that are a function of mask volume and internal reflective surface geometries, and that alters the spectral properties of speech produced within the mask. More specifically, in characterizing the air mask audio path (FIG. 2), the most challenging part of the system is the acoustic transfer function (220) from the speaker's lips to the mask microphone. These spectral distortions can significantly degrade the performance of attached speech communication systems, especially systems using parametric digital codecs that are not optimized to handle corrupted speech. Acoustic mask distortion has been shown to affect communication system quality and intelligibility, especially when parametric digital codecs are involved. Generally, aside from the inhalation noise, the air system effects causing the largest loss of speech quality appear to be due to the poor acoustics of the mask.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a measured spectral magnitude response inside the mask (320) and at the mask microphone output (310) and a calculated combined transfer function (330) for the mask, microphone, and microphone amplifier. These particular data were obtained using a SCBA mask mounted on a head and torso simulator. The acoustic excitation consisted of a 3 Hz–10 KHz swept sine wave driving an artificial mouth simulator. As FIG. 3 illustrates, the spectrum is significantly attenuated at frequencies below 500 Hz and above 4.0 KHz, mostly due to a preamp band pass filter in the microphone, and contains a number of strong spectral peaks and notches in the significant speech pass band region between 50 and 4.0 KHz. These spectral peaks and notches are generally caused by reflections inside the mask that cause comb filtering, and by cavity resonance conditions. The significant spectral peaking and notching modulate the speech pitch components and formants as they move back and forth through the pass band, resulting in degraded quality and distorted speech. It may be desirable to determine a transfer function or transfer functions characterizing such a system with such transfer functions being used to define an equalization system to reduce speech distortion.
A number of proven techniques exist to adaptively determine a system transfer function and equalize a transmission channel. One effective method to determine a system transfer function is to use a broadband reference signal to excite the system and determine the system parameters. A problem in estimating the transfer function of many speech transmission environments is that a suitable broadband excitation signal is not readily available. One common approach is to use the long-term average speech spectrum as a reference. However, adaptation time using this reference can take a long time, particularly if the speech input is sparse. In addition, the long-term speech spectrum can vary considerably for and among individuals in public service activities that frequently involve shouting and emotional stress that can alter the speech spectrum considerably.
Another shortcoming associated with systems such as system 100 is the lack of more efficient methods and apparatus for measuring certain parameters of the mask wearer including, for example, biometric parameters. Measurement of such parameters of individuals working in hazardous environments, who may be using systems such as system 100, is important for monitoring the safety and performance of those individuals. For example, measurements of the individual's respiration rate and air consumption are important parameters that characterize his work-load, physiological fitness, stress level, and consumption of the stored air supply (i.e. available working time). Conventional methods of measuring respiration involve the use of chest impedance plethysmography or airflow temperature measurements using a thermistor sensor. However, getting reliable measurements, using these conventional methods, from individuals working in physically demanding environments such as firefighting is more difficult due to intense physical movement that can cause displacement of body-mounted sensors and artifacts typically used to take the measurements.
Thus, there exists a need for methods and apparatus for effectively detecting and attenuating inhalation noise, equalizing speech (i.e., removing distortion effects), and measuring parameters associated with users in a system that includes a pressurized air delivery system coupled to a communication system.

Method for detecting and attenuating inhalation noise in a communication system


An accessory unit (2) for a sewing machine (1) for automatically sewing pieces of ribbon material (20) onto a sewing material (5), has a hollow guide shaft (23) with a longitudinal slot (24) to guide the ribbon material (20). A needle (25) is used as an advance feed mechanism and can be inserted through the slot (24) into the ribbon material (20) which passes through the guide shaft (23), by means of which the ribbon material (20) can be advanced in the longitudinal direction of the guide shaft (23). The accessory unit (2) can be swivelled around a vertical axis (x) by at least 90.degree. relative to the sewing machine (1).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an accessory unit for a sewing machine which automatically sews pieces of ribbon material, in particular channelling strips, onto the sewing material in the correct position, wherein the sewing machine has a sewing head, a sewing needle which is guided therein and a presser foot, and wherein the accessory unit comprises a ribbon dispenser, a ribbon-guidance mechanism with a ribbon cutter along its length and a feed advance mechanism for the ribbon or severed pieces of ribbon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An accessory unit of this type is known from DE-A-35 34 988. In this accessory unit the ribbon guidance mechanism and advance feed mechanism are formed jointly by an arrangement of a number of pairs of rollers of which at least one pair can be driven. The disadvantage of this accessory unit is that the ribbon guidance and advance feed mechanisms require on the one hand a relatively large amount of space for installation, and on the other are relatively complicated with respect to mechanical parts, whereby breakdowns can quite easily occur.
A further accessory unit for a sewing machine is known from DE-A-36 42 863.9 which is similarly designed for the application of ribbon materials. This accessory unit has a guide shaft with a small window on one side which can be slightly tilted around an axis horizontal to the sewing machine and which serves as a guidance mechanism. A motor-driven frictional wheel passes through this window into the inside of the shaft which either picks up the ribbon material and transports it further or is raised therefrom depending on the shaft's inclination. The unit displays a sewing or pressure foot independent of the guidance shaft which is a trough-shaped curved continuation of the shaft, with an intermediate space with no guidance, whose top surface is covered by an elastic tongue. The disadvantage of this accessory unit is that it too requires a large amount of installation space and is technically very complicated.
A further accessory unit of the type first mentioned is known from DE-A-37 02 747. In this accessory unit the ribbon conveyor is formed by a roller-driven continuous belt which essentially extends along a guide chute and the cutting device is arranged in the belt's direction of movement between the continuous belt and a second belt conveyor. The disadvantage of this accessory unit is that the belt conveyor requires a very high mechanical outlay and is subject to high wear and tear. Furthermore, during the operation of these types of belt conveyors there is slippage between the continuous belt and the ribbon to be conveyed which prevents an exact advance feed.
And finally, a further accessory unit for a sewing machine is known from DE-A-37 05 703 which is essentially formed by a vertically-moving shuttle with a ribbon take-up which is limited by gripping fingers. This accessory unit is designed especially for installation in the bed of a sewing machine or a work plate so as to feed a ribbon or section of ribbon to the underside of the sewing material. The installation of the accessory unit at the sewing head of a sewing machine is practically impossible since this unit has a very high horizontal working radius and requires a great deal of space for movement.

Accessory unit for a sewing machine for automatically sewing pieces of ribbon material onto a sewing material