There is provided a communication apparatus, adapted to be used as a user terminal, connected to a message communication system in which a plurality of user terminals are interconnected, the plurality of user terminals sharing virtual worlds and avatars (symbols) of users each operating an associated one of the user terminals, and messages are exchanged among the plurality of user terminals while creating an atmosphere such that as if one's own self enters the virtual world and has conversations. In the communication apparatus, the users (symbols) are classified into a plurality of categories, and action contents of the symbols are controlled in accordance with the categories. According to the communication apparatus, a symbol with a great deal of individuality is produced, so that a virtual world full of variety may be implemented.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus connected to a message communication system in which a plurality of user terminals are interconnected, and messages are exchanged among the plurality of user terminals. The communication apparatus is utilized in the form of such a user terminal.
Recently, there has been developed a message communication system referred to as a so-called chat system in which messages are exchanged between user terminals through a so-called personal computer communication and the like.
FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram of a message communication system comprising so-called servers and clients.
A plurality of user terminals, or a plurality of client computers 100.sub.-- 1, 100.sub.-- 2, . . . , 100.sub.-- n are connected through a communication network 200 to a host computer 300 which serves as a server, so as to exchange messages among the client computers 100.sub.-- 1, 100.sub.-- 2, . . . , 100.sub.-- n via the host computer 300.
In such a message communication system, there is known a system comprising a common virtual world when the system is viewed as a whole, and the client computers 100.sub.-- 1, 100.sub.-- 2, . . . , 100.sub.-- n having their own symbols referred to as so-called avatars, in which the client computer, who intends to have a message exchange or communication, displays on its display screen the virtual world and avatars or symbols of the clients entered the virtual world just as if a plurality of clients, who are of interest in communication, enter the virtual world and have conversations.
FIG. 17 is an illustration showing exemplarily a display image of a client computer in which the virtual world and symbols as mentioned above are displayed.
In a virtual world display area 111 of a display screen 110 illustrated in FIG. 17, four persons (symbols of four clients) are displayed, and the total five persons including one's own self enter the same scene (virtual space) in the virtual world. A message exchange is performed among these five persons (five client computers). In a message display area 112 of the display screen 110, there are displayed messages exchanged among those five persons entered (five client computers). A click of scroll buttons 113a and 113b with the use of a mouse (not illustrated) makes it possible to scroll the display content in the message display area 112.
Hitherto, according to the above-mentioned message communication system having the virtual world and the symbols each in the form of an avatar of an user on a common basis, the symbols are distinguished from one another by means of changing a picture of plotting for each user to identify the user or naming the symbols to specify the users. However, the symbols have parts of the same quality in the virtual world. Thus, it is difficult to show individuality of the symbol. This raises such a problem that the virtual world itself is also merely produced in the poor individuality.

Virtual reality space sharing system having self modifying avatars (symbols) in accordance to a category that the symbol belongs


A reverse vending machine, including: a chamber adapted to receive an object returned to the reverse vending machine; a plurality of cameras arranged around the perimeter of the chamber for viewing said object; a transparent or translucent plate arranged such that the cameras in use view the object obliquely through the transparent or translucent plate; and means adapted to couple light into the plate such that the light undergoes total internal reflection in the plate. Also, a method of detecting dirt in a reverse vending machine.

Systems for recycling of returnable containers, for example beverage containers, have been in place for many years as a means to prevent littering and conserve resources. Such systems were originally based on manual handling of returned containers by vendors, but the process has been made more efficient by the introduction of reverse vending machines which were able to accept empty containers, verify the authenticity of the container, and issue a receipt that can be exchanged for cash or used as payment in the store where the reverse vending machine is located.
Over the years reverse vending machines have been made more efficient and sophisticated. They are now typically able to handle a wide range of containers made from various materials, most often glass, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), steel and aluminum. A reverse vending machine is typically able to receive the containers, validate them based on shape and other physical characteristics as well as bar codes and other markings, and sort them based on material or type. Some machines are able to store reusable containers while containers that are only recycled for their material are crushed and stored separately. A reverse vending machine should be able to reject non-returnable containers, detect and handle fraud attempts and assign the proper deposit return value to a wide range of containers. At the same time a machine must be reliable and regular maintenance should not be work intensive or require frequent replacement of parts.
Consequently, there is a need for constant improvement of reverse vending machines in order to meet these challenges as well as new challenges resulting from for example introduction of new types of returnable containers, and more sophisticated fraud attempts.

Method and apparatus for detecting fraud attempts in reverse vending machines


The disclosed tag system is comprised of a plurality of split ring tags each having sufficient stiffness to normally retain its opposed end edges aligned, maintaining a gap therebetween smaller than a handle cross section, and having resilience and a shape memory to allow manual tag flexing so as to allow any tag to be fitted onto or remove it from the container handle. Each tag opening is irregular, being defined by first and second alternated contour edges on the split ring body, whereby the first contour edges, if continuous, would define a first large opening and the second contour edges, if continuous, would define a second opening smaller than the first opening. The second contoured edges is defined by projections suited to be flexed as needed to fit against the handle as the tag is positioned on the handle, making the tag useable on handles over a range of different sizes and shapes between the first and second openings.

Our earlier invention of the same title, to be issued on Nov. 16, 1993 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,176 from copending application filed Jan. 21, 1992 with Ser. No. 07/823,175, related to different tag structures suited to be removably secured to a container handle for providing visual identification under a preconceived code of the contents or beverage held within the container. These tag structures or system can be used in restaurants, cafeterias, or other food eating establishments to convey specific refill information to the server, even if the different possible beverages cannot be distinguished visually, and without any verbal communication from the customer.
The patented tag system utilized groups of separate tags, where all tags within any group were visually the same and where the tags of each group were visually distinct. Shapes, colors and/or markings of the tags provide for group distinctness. The container on which the tag system will be used is commonly a drinking cup or mug, where the handle is comprised as a closed loop defining a finger opening and having a cross-section comfortable for the finger gripping.
Each tag had an elongated narrow body shaped somewhat uniformly over substantially a full 360 degrees to separate end edges, defining a split ring enclosed tag opening, where each unflexed tag lies in a plane and presented its end edges aligned opposite but closely adjacent one another with a gap therebetween. The tag bodies are formed of a degradable paper, thin in the direction axially of the tag opening but yet providing sufficient stiffness and shape memory to hold any tag in and return it generally to its unflexed configuration, while yet offering sufficient resiliency to be flexed laterally to increase the gap and fit the tag onto or remove it from the container handle. The gap of the unflexed tag is smaller than the handle cross section, for trapping the tag on the container handle.
One drawback to this tag construction has been the compromise of selecting a singular tag size able to work with many different containers, be they drinking cups, mugs or pitchers, in order to hold down the inventory of different tags needed, while yet providing a viable identification system. Each split ring tag thus had an overall outer dimension and a smaller inner dimension sized to fit over a selected handle cross section, while allowing the tag when unflexed to return to the generally planar configuration with the end edges aligned and opposite one another. The same sized tag when fitted on any significantly smaller handle will dangle loosely.
It has been determined that a preferred tag-handle fit is somewhat snug, to provide that the tag when positioned initially on the handle will not shift freely along the handle while the person is holding the cup or mug and drinking from it.

Beverage identification tags for cup handles


A base station outputs first detection information representing a code of a reference signal and representing a mobile device that is determined, on the basis of transition of a status at the time of occurrence of disconnection of the radio link between the mobile device and the base station, to be capable of causing the collision, and second detection information representing a code of a reference signal and representing a mobile device that is determined, on the basis of occurrence of failure of reconnection of the radio link between the mobile device and the base station, to be capable of causing the collision. A collision detection device estimates that, when the code and the mobile device of the first detection information coincide with the code and the mobile device of the second detection information, the collision of the reference signal will be caused.

In a mobile communication network, such as a CDMA communication network or an LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication network, a plurality of radio base stations configure radio communication areas, respectively. Each of the base stations transmits a reference signal encoded by using a code assigned to each of the base stations (see JP11-308655A). A mobile device decodes the reference signal received from each of the plurality of base stations and identifies each of the base stations by identifying the code of the reference signal.
The number of the codes used by the base stations to encode the reference signal is limited, and the codes are reused in the mobile communication network. For this reason, there is a case where a plurality of base stations using the same code exist among the base stations included in the mobile communication network.
Usually, the code of each of the base stations is determined automatically or manually so as to prevent the radio communication areas of the base stations that use the same code from overlapping with each other. However, since the radio communication areas complicatedly overlap with each other, there is a high possibility that the radio communication areas of the base stations that use the same code will overlap with each other in a part of the areas. Further, there is also a possibility that the radio communication areas of the base stations that use the same code will overlap with each other due to human error.
Here, for example, a case is considered in which each of two base stations A and B that respectively configure radio communication areas adjacent to each other transmits a reference signal by using the same code. In this case, even when a mobile device moves from the radio communication area of base station A to the radio communication area of base station B, the code of the reference signal having the highest reception intensity is not changed. For this reason, the mobile device cannot recognize that it has moved from the radio communication area of base station A to the radio communication area of base station B. As a result, the mobile device is disposed to continue communication with base station A.
However, since the mobile device has actually moved into the radio communication area of base station B, the quality of communication with base station A has deteriorated, so that communication with base station A is disconnected. Here, assume that the phenomenon that causes communication disconnection to be generated in this way will be referred to as "collision" of a code of a radio reference signal.
In order to detect the collision of the code of the radio reference signal, work is performed in which, while an automobile, or the like, loaded with measuring instrument moves in the radio communication areas, reference signals transmitted from a plurality of base stations and received at measurement points are measured by using the measuring instrument, and in which the reference signal with the highest reception intensity is recorded for each of the measurement points. Then, "the collision of the code of the radio reference signal" is detected in such a manner that, on the basis of the recorded information, the position and shape of the radio communication area of each of the base stations on the map are recognized and formed into an image so as to be viewed by a person.


A scissor type foldable hunting seat, comprising a pair of "U" shaped tubular members, each having a pair of vertical legs jointed by a horizontal fastening edge; both tubular members are coupled through their vertical legs; at least one of the vertical legs having a stop pin near its middle portion; a seat of flexible material grasped to the fastening edges of the tubular members; a weapon support arm having an upper vertical end and a "U" shaped horizontally bent lower end presenting two branches articulately fastened to the vertical legs of the tubular members and a horizontal connecting member which rests in the stop pin of the vertical leg to maintain the weapon support arm in a hunting position and allows to be folded when folding the seat; and a variable height weapon retaining fork coupled to the upper vertical end of the support arm.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention is related with a foldable scissor type hunting seat to support and/or hold a weapon, and more specifically, to a simplified arrangement to maintain the weapon support arm in a hunting position and allow to be folded when folding the seat.
B. Description of the Previous Art
In the scientific, sport or professional hunting, a fork pole driven in the ground has been used to face its branched end as a support aid for the weapon of the hunter. Such devices have the disadvantage of being more or less foreshortened to avoid annoyance impeding its height adjustment and rotation to stalk and hunt the game being a week support for the weapon and demanding continuous retaining by the hunter.
The hunting tripod is a variation of the fork pole having three legs serving as independent support, this results in an increment in weight and things to carry with.
To make the hunter's operation more comfortable, a series of hunting devices which can be plied, stored and easily carried away has been proposed to avoid the hunter to carry with heavy and annoying equipment.
Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,229 discloses a foldable hunting seat comprising a seat and a support arm having variable height weapon retaining means, to support and/or hold the weapon, articulately coupled to said seat, which is adapted to support and/or hold the weapon at an adjustable height without the need of a hunter to grasp it and allows to rotate the weapon.
Said foldable hunting seat includes a foldable fastening linkage for the support arm, comprising a pair of rods articulately coupled to each other and secured to the hunting seat and to the support arm, each having a lock recess and stops to allow a steady retention of said support arm when it is in an assembled position and be folded when folding the hunting seat.
This fastening linkage, however resulted in an increasing production cost of the hunting seat because of the separate manufacture of rods and machining of lock recesses and stops, as well as its incorporation in the hunting seat.
It was therefore highly desirable to provide a simplified arrangement by which said weapon support arm be articulately fastened to the hunting seat to be placed in a hunting position and folded when folding the seat.
To overcome those disadvantages and with the above needs in mind, Applicant has invented a new simplified arrangement to maintain the weapon support arm of the hunting seat in an assembled position and allow to be folded when folding the seat, by including at least a stop pin in at least one of the vertical legs of the hunting seat, and providing the support arm with a "U" shaped lower end presenting two branches articulately fastened to the vertical legs of the tubular members of the seat and a horizontal connecting member which rests in the stop pin of the vertical leg to maintain the weapon support arm in a hunting position and allows to be folded when folding the seat.

Av. San Angel No. 138, Col. Valle De San Angel, Sec. Jardin


This invention relates to an antimicrobial cleansing composition, especially one which provides synergistic anti-dandruff efficacy. This is achieved through a judicious combination of anti-dandruff agent zinc pyrithione and thymol in a composition comprising synthetic anionic surfactant.

The invention relates to hair care compositions. Hair care compositions generally provide cleansing or conditioning benefits or a combination of the two. Such compositions typically comprise one or more cleansing surfactants which generally aid in cleaning the hair and/or the scalp free of undesirable soil, particles, and fatty matter.
Additionally, anti-dandruff benefit has been provided through hair care compositions. Dandruff is an issue that affects many people globally. The condition is manifested by the shedding of clumps of dead skin cells from the scalp. These are white in colour and provide an aesthetically displeasing appearance. A factor that contributes to dandruff are certain members of the Malassezia yeasts. To combat these, anti-dandruff products have been developed in the form of hair cleansing shampoos. An example of a known anti-dandruff shampoo comprises sodium lauryl ether sulfate (an ethoxylated anionic surfactant) in combination with an anti-dandruff agent. Typical anti-dandruff agents used in hair care are metal pyrithione e.g zinc pyrithione (ZPTO), Octopirox® (piroctone olamine), azole antimicrobials (e.g. climbazole), selenium sulfide and combinations thereof.
While the problem of dandruff is mitigated to a large extent through use of the above actives in such shampoos, there is a need for enhancing the efficacy, so that not only is the implicated fungal agent minimized during the wash process but the regrowth of the fungi after the washing, is inhibited for a long time thereafter, thereby ensuring dandruff-free scalp and hair to the consumer on a sustained basis.
The present inventors have found that the above requirement is met by the synergistic action of a traditional antifungal agent zinc pyrithione in combination with a phenolic compound found in natural plant extract viz. thymol when they are compounded in a shampoo composition comprising synthetic anionic surfactant.
WO2004/006876 (Unilever) discloses a hair and/or scalp treatment composition comprising tulsi oil and a metal pyrithione, wherein the tulsi oil and the metal pyrithione are capable of exhibiting a synergistic antimicrobial activity.
WO2010/046238 (Unilever) discloses compositions comprising selected ingredients namely thymol and terpineol which have relatively fast antimicrobial action.
The above publications do not disclose the synergistic actives of the present invention and further do not disclose the inhibition of the anti-microbial activity for a long time after washing the hair/scalp with a shampoo composition.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide for a personal cleansing composition that not only exhibits enhanced anti-fungal efficacy but ensures inhibition in the growth of the microbes long after the washing process is complete.


The invention relates to an LED module (1), comprising: connections (2) for an LED array (3); a circuit (4) which is configured to constitute a load, preferably an effective power load, if during a starting phase a constant current or a constant voltage is applied to the LED module (1), and which is configured not to constitute a load when the starting phase has finished, wherein the circuit (4) is designed to constitute a variable-current load which effects a change in the power consumption of the LED module (1) according to at least one predetermined protocol effected.

Several approaches for presetting operational parameters for a connected LED module to an LED converter are already known from the prior art. This is necessary, for example, since different forward currents are required for different LED modules in order to illuminate the LED strings of the LED modules. Operational parameters are, for example, a required forward current or a setpoint or forward voltage to be applied.
One approach known from the prior art is to set the operational parameters to be set for the connected LED module at the LED converter via dip switches or resistors. Interaction with the LEO converter is required for this, however.
In another approach, configuration resistors are used on the LED module in order to preset the required operational parameters to the LED converter. For this purpose, however, firstly additional connections are required, and secondly interaction is again necessary.
It is also known to transmit the required operational parameters to the LED converter via a separate digital signal channel. However, additional components need to be installed for this and again interaction is required.
Finally, it is also known to assign an EPROM to the LED module, for example, from which the LED converter can determine information regarding the operational parameters to be set at the LED module.
The approaches known from the prior art all either require interaction with the LED converter or the LED module or require additional connections or components, however. As a result, the costs of the LED module and/or the LED converter are increased. In addition, more space is required for the components, which prevents a more compact design.
The object of the present invention consists in improving the known prior art, particularly as regards the abovementioned disadvantages. In particular, the object of the present invention consists in transmitting (reporting back) information regarding operational parameters of an LED module, for example, to an LED converter, without additional component parts or connections or interaction being necessary. It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce an LED module and an LED converter at less cost and to provide them with a more compact design.
The objects of the present invention are achieved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims develop the core concept of the invention in an advantageous manner.


A jet printing ink composition which results in reduced drop misdirection and missing nozzles is provided. The aqueous-based ink composition includes at least one colorant; a wetting agent; and a co-solvent comprising a substituted or unsubstituted lactam, an amide, or mixtures thereof.

Ink jet printers offer low cost and high quality printing options for a number of end uses including providing printed output from individual or networked computers. Typically, the printhead of an ink jet printer employs a resistor element in a chamber which is provided with a source of liquid ink from, for example, a reservoir such as an ink cartridge. Multiple resistor elements are arranged in a desired pattern on a nozzle plate to form the printhead, with each resistor element associated with a nozzle on the nozzle plate through which ink drops are expelled toward a print substrate.
In operation, a microprocessor controls signals sent to each resistor causing selected elements to be heated at appropriate times. This heating causes a bubble of ink to form in the chamber. The buildup of pressure expels the ink through the nozzle. By controlling the firing of the resistors, alphanumeric characters may be formed by the ink drops which strike the print substrate.
Ink jet inks are known to have stringent performance requirements including the need for a long shelf life, the ability not to dry and clog the nozzles when in the printhead, and yet also having the capability to dry quickly once printed onto paper or other substrates. As ink jet printing has advanced to achieve higher resolutions (i.e., more ink drops per inch) and higher print quality, the performance requirements for the jet inks have become even more critical. That is, the ink jet printer must be able to deliver a lower drop mass (i.e., smaller diameter drops) through a smaller diameter nozzle accurately and at a high frequency. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for ink jet inks capable of providing high print quality at high resolution and speed.


Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with set transparent network communication are described. In one embodiment, in response to receiving a listen signal from a listen requestor, where the listen signal contains a handle identifying a set of interfaces from which the listen requestor is configured to receive incoming network communications: a set of listening endpoints are opened, where a member of the set of listening endpoints is associated with a member of the set of interfaces. The handle is modified to produce a modified handle that identifies the set of listening endpoints. The modified handle facilitates set transparent communication between the listen requester and a member of the set of listening endpoints. The modified handle is provided to the listen requester.

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is a network layer (Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model) protocol for packet switched networks. IPv6 resolves shortcomings of the currently used Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4). For example, IPv6 has an increased 128 bit address space over IPv4's 32 bit address space. IPv6 also improves on IPv4 in routing and network auto-configuration. IPv6 and IPv4 are expected to coexist for several years during a transition from IPv4 to IPv6. To facilitate the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, some operating systems support a mechanism that allows IPv4 mapped addresses to function with the IPv6 addressing system and with the IPv6 networking API. Operating systems that support this mechanism can handle both IPv6 and IPv4 connection requests with a single listening socket.
However, some operating systems do not support the mechanism that facilitates the single listening socket. These systems may still support both IPv4 and IPv6 network communications separately, without the unified support described above. Therefore, to be able to handle both types of traffic, an application writer may be required to manage the two protocols separately. This may include opening two sockets, handling incoming connections from both sockets, managing blocking and concurrency issues, and so on. Systems without unified support may require that some applications be completely redesigned and/or rewritten if the application is intended to support both types of addressing systems. Further, as applications are now exposed to this platform specific behavior, additional design work may be required to deal with portability issues arising from having to write applications for different operating systems.


A scroll-type variable displacement compressor for use in an air conditioning system of a vehicle has a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll with a lowered minimum operating capacity. A cylinder is formed within an end plate of the fixed scroll and accommodates a capacity control mechanism and a plurality of pairs of bypass holes which penetrate the end plate of the fixed scroll and the cylinder perpendicularly. Via one of a pair of bypass holes, the cylinder communicates with a compression chamber enclosed by the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll, and via the other of the pair of bypass holes, the cylinder communicates with a low pressure chamber provided within rear portions of a compressor housing. One portion of the low pressure chamber is always open to the suction chamber. The communication between the cylinder and the low pressure chamber is controlled by the position of a piston slidably accommodated within the cylinder. When the thermal load for the air conditioning system is low, the piston retreats to the recessed position of the cylinder, opening the pairs of bypass holes. By providing the low pressure chamber, an extra branch path for returning refrigerant gas is formed, in addition to the conventional returning path. Thus, pressure loss from the compression chamber through the suction chamber is effectively reduced. As a result, the capacity control mechanism of the present invention increases the feed back of refrigerant gas from the compression chamber to the suction chamber. Thus, the capacity control mechanism of the present invention lowers the minimum operating capacity more than that of a conventional device, without any undesired increase in the size or weight of the compressor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scroll-type compressor with a variable displacement mechanism. More particularly, it relates to a scroll-type compressor with a variable displacement mechanism for which the minimum operating capacity is improved.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a method of returning a portion of refrigerant gas in the compression chamber to the suction chamber is known in the field of scroll-type compressors. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art conventional compressor 1' according to Japanese Patent Publication Hei 5-280476. In FIG. 1, the capacity control mechanism 600 is comprised of cylinder 510, which is formed within the end plate 501 of fixed scroll 500; a plurality of bypass holes 530, which allow compression chambers 520a, 520b to be in communication with the cylinder 510; a plunger 540, which can open or close bypass holes 530 sequentially; and a mechanism, which regulates the position of plunger 540 along the axis of the cylinder 510. The outermost one of bypass holes 530 permits cylinder 510 to be in communication with suction chamber 550. The mechanism that regulates the position of plunger 540 is comprised of control valve assembly 560, control pressure chamber 570, spring 580, and stopper 590. Control valve assembly 560 regulates the pressure in control pressure chamber 570, so as to increase that pressure when the thermal load for the air conditioning system is high, and decrease it when the thermal load is low. Accordingly, when the thermal load is high, plunger 540 is pushed in a radially outward direction within the compressor by the pressure in control pressure chamber 570, so that bypass holes 530 are closed sequentially. As a result, the return of the refrigerant gas from compression chambers 520a, 520b to suction chamber 550 is blocked, and the compressor operates at its maximum capacity. When the thermal load is low, the force exerted by spring 580 overcomes the counter force exerted by the pressure in control pressure chamber 570, and, therefore, plunger 540 is pushed in a radially inward direction within the compressor, so that bypass holes 530 open sequentially. As a result, the return of the refrigerant gas from compression chambers 520a, 520b to suction chamber 550 is allowed, and the capacity of the compressor is decreased automatically.
When the thermal load is very small, plunger 540 is in the most recessed position within cylinder 510, opening all bypass holes 530. In this state, part of the refrigerant gas in compression chamber 520a, for example, returns to suction chamber 550 via the path L1' as indicated in FIG. 1. The compressor is expected to operate at about its minimum capacity, for example, at about 25 percent of the full capacity of the compressor.
However, in a compressor according to the prior art, minimum operating capacity does not decrease to the 25 percent due to the prior art's design. The design impedes the compressor from going down to its expected lower limit of capacity, due to path resistance against the returning gas from compression chambers 520a, 520b to suction chamber 550. The path resistance is affected by various factors, such as the diameter of bypass holes 530, the cross-sectional area of cylinder 510, the length of the path, and the bendings of the path for the returning gas. This phenomenon of path resistance manifests itself as a large pressure loss which means that the pressure difference between the compression chamber, from which the returning gas departs, and the suction chamber, which receives the returning gas, is large. For a long time, it has been desired to reduce the pressure loss of returning gas in a capacity control mechanism in order to secure a sufficient quantity of returning gas and to realize the expected minimum capacity.
There are physical restrictions, however, that limit the ability to improve path resistance. For example, the diameter of the bypass holes may not be larger than the thickness of the spiral element 502 without causing undesired communication between neighboring compression chambers when the bypass holes are closed by plunger 540. Similarly, the cross-sectional diameter of cylinder 510 may not be any larger than the thickness of end plate 501 of fixed scroll 500. Moreover, if the thickness of the end plate 501 is increased for the purpose of providing a larger cross-sectional diameter of cylinder 510, the size in the axial direction of the compressor and weight of the compressor are undesirably increased.

Scroll-type compressor with variable displacement mechanism


A fast reference circuit having active feedback includes a bias supply circuit and a variable divider circuit connected by an active feedback path to the bias supply circuit, and a comparator circuit connected to the variable divider circuit, the bias supply circuit, and a reference node of the variable divider circuit. In one embodiment, a start-up circuit initially discharges a potential at the bias supply and comparator circuits, then initializes a reference voltage at the reference node at about zero volts to improve repeatability. In one embodiment, the variable voltage divider comprises an impendence that is trimmed based on a sheet resistance of a process used to fabricate the fast reference circuit, and further comprises a variable reference current circuit coupled to the impedance and configured to generate a current having a value based on a desired reference voltage and to conduct the current through the impedance, thereby generating the reference voltage associated therewith. The comparator circuit is configured to compare the bias supply voltage to the reference voltage, and drive the bias supply and the variable divider circuit in response to the comparison, thereby quickly stabilizing the reference voltage.

Voltage and current reference circuits find many applications in electronic circuits including Flash and other types of electronic memory device applications. The bandgap reference circuit is a common circuit solution for supplying a voltage or current reference for such applications. FIG. 1 is a prior art bandgap circuit 100 and operates generally as follows. P1 and P2 act as a standard MOS current mirror providing current to Q1 and Q2, which are configured as a bipolar current mirror. Q1 and Q2 are sized differently; therefore, although they conduct the same current, they have different current densities. Therefore, there will be a difference in their Vbe voltages and the difference will be reflected in the current through R1. VREF is a voltage reference that is a function of the current through R2 and the base-emitter voltage Vbe of Q3. Since the current through R2 is mirrored from P1 it is seen that the current through P3 is a function of ΔVbe between Q1 and Q2 and R1. Therefore, VREF is a function of the ΔVbe between Q1 and Q2, the ratio in resistor values R1 and R2, and Vbe of Q3. The current mirror insures equal collector currents IC an saturation currents IS through Q1 and Q2. Note that Q1 is n times bigger than Q2, thus:ΔVbe=VBE,Q2−VBE,Q1=VTln(IC/IS)−VTln(IC/nIS)=k(T/q)ln(n).ΔVbe exhibits a positive temperature coefficient (+TC). If the positive temperature coefficient of ΔVbe is combined with VBE,Q3, which has a negative temperature coefficient (−TC), along with the correct weighting ratios of R1 and R2, VREF will have approximately a zero temperature coefficient, and VREF will be independent of temperature. This ratio is determined by taking the equation for VREF that incorporates all temperature dependencies, differentiating with respect to temperature, and setting the equation equal to zero. For example, from FIG. 1, we can calculate VREF as:VREF=VBE,Q3+R2(mIC)=VBE,Q3+R2(m ΔVbe/R1)=VBE,Q3+m(R2/R1)ln(n)kT/q and:  (1)∂VREF/∂T=∂Vbe/∂T+m(R2/R1)ln(n)k/q   (2)As discussed, to have a reference that is substantially independent of temperature, equation (2) should be zero, or:∂VREF/∂T=∂Vbe/∂T+m(R2/R1)ln(n)k/q=0   (2)′If we assume a typical value of positive temperature coefficient for ∂Vbe/∂T:∂Vbe/∂T=−1.5 mV/°KWhen this value is substituted into equation 2′, and solved for VREF, a new value for VREF is obtained having a zero temperature coefficient, where:VREF=1.25VThis is well known by those skilled in the art of bandgap reference circuits.
The above explanation of prior art circuit 100 of FIG. 1 assumes that the gain-bandwidth product of the reference circuit. temperature, operation speeds, and manufacturing tolerances remain within limited bounds. However, in many cases, this is not a valid assumption. Often, integrated circuits must operate, for example, combinations of high speeds, extreme temperatures, extreme process corners, and low voltages. Under some of these conditions, the gain-bandwidth product of the reference circuit may be inadequate.
Additionally, as device densities and speed requirements continue to increase, the speed requirement of the reference circuit may need to increase to keep pace with the remainder of the circuit, including a reference circuit used to supply, for example, the reference voltage for a word line or a voltage booster of a memory circuit. Further, as supply voltage levels decrease due to these higher density architectures, device speed requirements may be increasingly difficult to obtain, particularly at low supply voltage and reference levels, and at low operating currents over wide operating temperatures. These issues are particularly evident during read operations at low power supply voltages (Vcc's) wherein the read margin decreases, resulting in an inaccurate read at low supply voltages. In Flash devices, typically, the smaller the read margin at low Vcc's may be due to a reduced reference voltage at low Vcc.
It should also be noted that in the typical bandgap reference circuit of FIG. 1, the current mirror is usually in the cascode form to reduce the variation of VREF with respect to the supply voltage VCC. The particular arrangement of bandgap voltage reference of FIG. 1, however, can not be used directly for the high speed circuits being considered, because of reduction in the gain-bandwidth product of the reference at higher speeds and low power supply voltages. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a means of compensation that reduces the negative effects of a low VCC supply voltage applied to a reference voltage circuit operating at high speeds and low power supply and reference levels, while accommodating a wide range of temperature and process variations.

Method to provide a higher reference voltage at a lower power supply in flash memory devices


An image forming apparatus registers a Web application provided by a server. When receiving an instruction to select the registered Web application, the image forming apparatus acquires information for performing the Web application in response to the received selection instruction, and stores the information as cache information. When receiving an instruction to cancel the registration of the Web application, the image forming apparatus cancels the registration of the Web application in response to the received instruction, and deletes the cache information corresponding to the Web application in which the registration is cancelled in the stored pieces of cache information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system, particularly to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system for being able to utilize an application in which a Web browser is used.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known an image forming system including an image forming apparatus (such as an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) including a scanner function, a facsimile function, a printer function, a data communication function, and a server function, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a printer, and the like) and a Web server that provides a Web application. In the image forming system, the Web application provided by the Web server can be utilized using the image forming apparatus by accessing the Web server from the image forming apparatus.
In some image forming apparatuses of the image forming system, the Web application that is frequently utilized in utilized Web applications can be registered in the image forming apparatus. In the image forming apparatus, the Web application can easily be utilized by registering the Web application. The Web application and cache information on the Web application are stored in the image forming apparatus, which allows the Web application to be quickly utilized. Additionally, a traffic of a network constituting the image forming system can be reduced in utilizing the Web application.
During the use of the Web application, the image forming apparatus acquires data utilized when using the Web application (for example, document data or image data of a Web page) from the Web server similarly to a usual browse of the Web page. At this point, the acquired data is stored as the cache information in the image forming apparatus. Since then, in the case that the image forming apparatus accesses the same Web page, the cache information is utilized when the stored cache information can be utilized, the Web page relating to the Web application is displayed to enable the Web application to be utilized.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-110216 discloses a server-based computing system, in which an important degree of a frequently-browsed URL is assigned to give a priority in each Web page and the cache information on the Web page having the low priority is deleted when a domain of a cache memory needs to be ensured.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-070373 discloses a communication apparatus, in which application software is received and executed for the purpose of trial use and information on the application software, which is stored in a nonvolatile memory, is deleted after Web browser software is executed.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. H11-316727 discloses a security system in which data of a security target is deleted from a disk cache when a WWW browser software is ended.
Conventionally, unless the cache information on the Web application is deleted in accordance with a manual manipulation of a user, the cache information is retained in the image forming apparatus for an indefinite time or a predetermined time. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus in which the Web application can be registered, the cache information remains retained even if the registration of the Web application retained in the image forming apparatus is cancelled.
When the unnecessary cache information remains retained, a free space is reduced in a storage (such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a memory) of the image forming apparatus. For example, it is necessary to use the storage having a large capacity in order to store necessary information as much as possible. However, the use of the storage having the large capacity increases production cost of the image forming apparatus. The capacity of the storage can be ensured when the unnecessary cache information is intentionally deleted. However, necessity of an explicit deletion manipulation increases a manipulation burden of the user. The capacity of the storage can be ensured when the cache information is deleted in a short time irrespective of the cache information. However, in this case, it is necessary to acquire the cache information from the Web server again when the Web application that remains registered is utilized next time. Therefore, convenience is degraded during the use of the Web application.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 2009-110216, 2009-070373, and H11-316727 disclose no effective countermeasure against the problem of the cache information associated with the cancel of the registration of the Web application.

Image forming apparatus for being able to utilize application in which Web browser is used

KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


Disclosed are a method and apparatus for sending a communication to destination client devices. The communication has two message sets: an address set containing an address list and a content set containing content. Both the address set and the content set include one or more messages. The address list includes at least one address for each destination client device. Example content types are text, hyperlinks, web pages, audio, images, and video. Each message of both message sets may be sent separately to a network entity, such as a short message service center. When both message sets are received at the network entity, the network entity may correlate the address set with the content set and responsively send the content to each address in the address list.

Short messaging service ("SMS") is a very popular method of transferring data to and from wireless devices. SMS provides a mechanism for transmitting short alphanumeric messages to and from wireless devices. Currently, alphanumeric messages up to 160 characters can be supported.
A wireless network may provide a short message service center (SMSC) which acts as a store and forward system for short messages. The store and forward function provides a method of sending short messages to their destination recipient or storing those messages if the recipient is unavailable to receive them. This store and forward function can generally be distinguished from the real-time delivery requirements of voice calls, although SMS messages may be delivered in real time.
The SMSC can send messages to or from a functional entity known as a short message entity (SME). The SME is an entity that can receive or send short messages. The SME is often an application entity that resides on a mobile station. Alternatively, the SME can reside on another entity in a wireless or fixed network. Typically, the SME can be arranged to compose, store, dispose of, act upon, display and/or otherwise manage short messages. The SME may also perform signaling functions to support other delivery features; such as mobile station location and status queries, and mapping of destination addresses.

Intelligent short message service transmission


A method and system for processing an incoming call during a call-in-progress utilizes a communication station for detecting the incoming call from a new caller to a subscriber telephony device. The communication station determines whether the subscriber telephony device is busy on a call with a first telephony device. An adjunct processor then determines interruption information about the first telephony device which identifies whether or not the call-in-progress with the first telephony device can be interrupted. The adjunct processor then generates a corresponding signal for receipt by the communication station based on whether or not the call-in-progress with the first telephony device can be interrupted by the new caller.

Interrupting calls-in-progress utilizing call waiting features are well known in the art. Call waiting enables a party busy on another call to learn about an incoming call and gives the called party the opportunity to interrupt the ongoing call to accept the incoming call. While call waiting is a useful feature which enables a called party to discontinue lesser important telephone calls in favor of emergency or important calls, subscribers to a call waiting service may be annoyed by unwanted calls since typical call waiting features signal the called party with only a beep, or tone, to indicate another call is waiting. Furthermore, the original caller or called party may become annoyed when a new caller attempts to interrupt the current call-in-progress.
Intelligent call waiting, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,269 issued to Eisdorfer, addresses this problem by allowing a caller to determine ahead of time who may interrupt their calls-in-progress. If an authorized caller is trying to reach the subscriber while the subscriber is busy on another call, the subscriber will receive a notification, such as a beep, indicating that an authorized caller is trying to interrupt the current call-in-progress.
However, there may be certain individuals that the subscriber would never want to be interrupted, no matter who is trying to call the subscriber. For these individuals, the only way for the subscriber to suspend call-waiting is to enter a special code, e.g., *70, before making the call. However, if the individual initiates the call to the subscriber, the subscriber has no option of disabling call-waiting.
Thus, there exists a need for allowing a subscriber to prioritize his/her call-waiting features while communicating with predetermined individuals regardless of who initiated the call, i.e. establish a priority call-waiting capability.

Method and system for processing incoming calls during calls-in-progress


A parallel process execution method that allocates CPU time to parallel processes at any desired ratios. The method sets a time allocation ratio to determine how much of a given cycle period should be allocated for execution of a parallel program. Process switching is then performed in accordance with the time allocation ratio set to the parallel program. More specifically, parallel processes produced from a parallel program are each assigned to a plurality of processors, and those parallel processes are started simultaneously on the processors. When the time elapsed since the start of the parallel processes has reached a point that corresponds to the time allocation ratio that has been set to the parallel program, the execution of the assigned parallel processes is stopped simultaneously on the plurality of processors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a parallel process execution method, a multiprocessor computer, a parallel process execution program, and a storage medium storing that program. More particularly, the present invention relates to a parallel process execution method that executes parallel processes and other processes in a time-shared manner, a multiprocessor computer to perform that method, a parallel process execution program to make a computer perform that method, and a storage medium storing that program.
2. Description of the Related Art
A computer composed of a plurality of processors (multiprocessor computer) can execute a single program with a plurality of processors in a parallel fashion. Programs that can be executed in parallel will hereafter be called parallel programs. To execute a parallel program, a plurality of parallel processes are produced from it, which can run concurrently with each other. Those parallel processes produced are given to different processors for parallel execution. The processors accomplish a series of processing tasks encoded in the parallel program, exchanging data with each other. Here we use the term "process" to refer to a unit task containing at least one thread. By the term "processors," we mean processing elements which are known as, for example, central processing unit (CPU) or micro processing units (MPU). In the rest of this section, we use the term "CPU" to refer to such processing elements for reasons of expediency.
Parallel processes have some checkpoints at which each process communicate, or synchronize, with other related processes by exchanging data. Think of two CPUs executing parallel processes that involve each other's data. These two CPUs first proceed on their own until they reach a checkpoint and become ready to exchange their data. If one process has reached the checkpoint earlier than the other, the CPU of that process has to wait until the peer process also reaches the checkpoint. This situation of the former CPU is referred to as the synchronization wait state.
Besides the synchronization wait, data processing on a CPU involves other types of wait times such as those related to input/output (I/O) operations. If those CPU wait times can be used to execute other processes, it will contribute positively to the efficiency of the entire system. This idea is actually implemented in the following way: each CPU is configured to operate in time sharing mode, and when the current process on a CPU has entered a wait state, some other process is assigned to that CPU. This additional process may be a parallel process or a non-parallel process that is supposed to run on a single CPU.
Consider that, since one parallel process has reached a checkpoint for data exchange with a peer process, the CPU is now running some other process using the synchronization wait period that follows. It could happen in this situation that the CPU is still engaged in that extra process even if the peer parallel process has also reached the checkpoint, and if this is the case, the peer CPU has to wait for synchronization. Such synchronization wait times would cause a reduction in the efficiency of the computer system.
To address the above issue, a process scheduling method is disclosed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-74150 (1998), in which a time-sharing computer system is configured to cause all constituent CPUs to start and stop parallel processes and other processes simultaneously at predetermined unit intervals (called "phase"). That is, the CPUs execute a plurality of parallel processes produced from a certain parallel program, stating and stopping them all at the same time. While synchronization wait times may arise in the course of parallel processes, the disclosed method keeps their time length equal to that in the case without time sharing. As a result, it minimizes the amount of waiting time for synchronization between parallel processes constituting a parallel program, thus preventing the system's efficiency from decreasing.
Meanwhile, some kinds of computer processes require that their turnaround time (the time from start to complete) be guaranteed. One example of such processes is weather data analysis. This process has to analyze a huge amount of weather data in a limited time frame, i.e., a predetermined time before scheduled delivery of a new piece of weather forecast information.
The process scheduling method proposed in the above-mentioned publication, however, is unable to provide guaranteed turnaround time for each parallel program because of its fixed-length phase. For example, there may be such a parallel program that would need 50 percent of the computation power of a multiprocessor computer to ensure its required turnaround time. The above-described process scheduling method can only allocate one phase (e.g., 10 percent) of time resources to that parallel program and thus is unable to guarantee the turnaround time.

Parallel process execution method and multiprocessor computer


A dew or frost point hygrometer wherein a reflective surface, which is cooled by a cryogenic source and held at the dew or frost point-temperature by a servo control, reflects light from a light source to a light detector. Very low concentrations of moisture or frost which condense on the reflective surface are measured very rapidly as a change in light reflected from that surface. No re-calibration is needed throughout its exceedingly wide moisture measurement range of from about 1 ppb to about 30 ppm within a temperature range of from about -110.degree. C. to about 30.degree. C.

a. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to hygrometer apparatus which includes electrical circuitry to measure moisture condensed as dew or frost on a chilled mirror which is cooled by a cryogenic source, and to the method of using the same. More particularly, the invention concerns an apparatus and method for very fast and accurate measurement of moisture in a gas over a wide range of dew or frost point temperatures and gas pressures.
b. Description of the Prior Art
Hygrometry, the measurement of moisture in gases, has always been important to industrial processes and atmospheric research, but recently the importance of such measurements has increased. As microelectronic feature sizes move into the submicrometer realm and super critical fluid extraction based on high-purity carbon dioxide becomes the accepted method for environmental and pharmaceutical extraction, the low parts-per-billion (ppb) moisture range is becoming the maximum acceptable level for moisture and other contaminants in specialty gases.
The aerospace industry has similar moisture contaminant standards for space station systems. Atmospheric moisture measurements are important to understanding the role moisture plays in the chemistry of global warming and ozone depletion.
There has been a continuing effort to increase the sensitivity, accuracy and response time of moisture analyzers, and especially performance of the dew point or frost point chilled mirror hygrometers, to meet these challenges.
As is explained in Bisberg U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,356, dew point hygrometers are frequently used to determine the moisture content of a gas sample. Typically a mirror is exposed to the gas sample and cooled to the dew or frost point temperature of the gas. Formation of dew or frost on the mirror is detected by means of a light source and a light sensitive detector responsive to light reflected from the mirror. The detector develops an error signal which is used to control the current to a thermoelectric cooler attached to the mirror, to maintain a predetermined thickness of condensate on the mirror surface. A temperature measuring device attached to the mirror is employed for measuring the temperature of the mirror, thus indicating the dew or frost point of the gas sample. In this reference, the mirror, optics, and electrical circuit constitutes a thermo-optical servo system which functions to maintain a constant reflectance at the mirror surface, hence a condensate equilibrium at the dew or frost point temperature. Its operation is based upon the principle that an equilibrium exists between the water vapor pressure in the atmosphere and a water/ice surface at a unique temperature, the dew/frost-point temperature.
Most hygrometers employ two light sources and two photodetectors as coordinated pairs to reduce the effects of temperature on source brightness and/or detector efficiency. One pair provides an output which is proportional to the light which is specularly reflected from the mirror. The other pair, provides a reference output which is used to correct for temperature-caused changes.
The most common prior art method for cooling the mirror is thermoelectric, by means of a Peltier junction, which lowers the surface temperature as a function of applied voltage. Peltier junctions, however, become rapidly less efficient at lower temperatures, and achieving very low frost points requires massive multistage systems which consume exponentially larger amounts of power as the frost point decreases. With the Peltier junction, it becomes impractical to achieve frost point temperatures much below about -80.degree. C. Further, as frost point temperature becomes lower, the response time of thermoelectrically cooled hygrometer becomes very slow.
Industrial chilled mirror hygrometers commonly utilize thermoelectric cooled mirrors. However, their limited measurement range and slow response makes them less desirable for real-time on line monitoring of moisture levels, especially in the critical area of semiconductor manufacturing.
Cryogenic cooling of the hygrometer mirror as compared to thermoelectric cooling, allows operation to much lower moisture levels, with much faster response time. Cryogenically chilled mirror hygrometers have been developed by Cambridge Systems Inc, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and others. The cryogenic hygrometers use a cryogen, such as liquid nitrogen or freely boiling Freon 13 chlorofluorocarbon coolant, as the heat sink. In these instruments, generally, a mirror is thermally connected to a cryogenic heat sink by means of a thermo-conductive rod. An electrically resistive coil wound around the thermo-conductive rod provides heating to raise the temperature of the mirror to the dew or frost point. In all of these prior art cryogenic instruments, the thermo-conductive rod is attached to the mirror at one end, and is immersed directly into the cryogen at the other end of the rod. To maintain performance at all levels of cryogen, the rod is inserted horizontally into the cryogen container, most typically a dewar, near the bottom of the container. This requires a container with an orifice created in its body, a complex and costly procedure since the dewar cryogen container typically comprises two nested and spaced apart shells, with the space between them being evacuated to obtain the maximum thermal insulation. Thus, in making a penetrated dewar, the vacuum seal must be broken, an opening formed through both shells, the space between the shells evacuated and resealed. A further complication in the resulting system is the loss of cryogen efficiency due to thermal losses caused by the stem penetration through the dewar. Furthermore, the prior art fixed thermal transfer arrangement, in which a mirror is thermally connected to a cryogenic heat sink by means of a thermo-conductive rod, allows only a limited temperature measurement range over which the instrument can operate in an optimum manner.
In the above noted prior art cryogenic instruments, control of condensation on the mirror is accomplished by a control circuit in which the input voltage corresponds to the moisture condensate level, and in which the output voltage to the heating coil controls the mirror temperature. This is known as a Type Zero proportional control circuit which responds to condensation level (proportional) and the rate of change of condensation (lead). Because it is relatively simple, and because the physical parameters involved vary over the operation range, such a Type Zero proportional control circuit is able to provide effective control over only a limited moisture measurement range. Outside of that range, it becomes slow or subject to oscillation.
Because of these thermal and circuit limitations, the prior art cryogenic instruments have been able to operate only at relatively low frost points, typically below -10.degree. C. For airborne research at high altitude, this is acceptable. However, these prior art instruments are not capable of functioning accurately and efficiently in the wider temperature ranges needed to meet modern industrial demands.


In order to create a process and a device for the monitoring and control of the flow of material in a hospital it is provided for the units generating the flow of material to each be provided with their own individual identification, for this individual identification to be read at various transit stations in the hospital, the read data of the individual identification and the transit stations to be fed to a central monitoring and control unit, stored and/or processed in it and for monitoring signals or control signals controlling the flow of material to be generated as a function of the stored and/or processed data.

The invention relates to a process for the monitoring and control of the flow of material in a hospital.
During operation of a hospital, a large number of articles, for example surgical instruments and apparatus, must be transported through various transit stations, for example cleaning, sorting, making up of sets, operating theater, sterilization, etc. The control of this enormous flow of material is extremely complicated and often leads in practice to errors, as well; it is, in particular, difficult to control losses.

Process and device for the monitoring and control of the flow of material in a hospital


Disclosed herein are systems and methods related to a wireless tracking system: The wireless tracking system having a plurality of beacons, each of the plurality of beacons having at least one antenna and at least one power source. When the at least one antenna is supplied with power via the power source, a local ping is transmitted from the beacon. A wireless tracking device then receives the ping via its own antenna. Once the wireless tracking device has received a locational ping from at least two of the plurality of beacons, it can then calculate a direct connection path between the at least to beacons. Based on this known path, the wireless tracking device can then determine a distance between the wireless tracking device and connection path. Based on the determined distance, the wireless tracking device may then issue a corrective measure.

The location information of individuals and devices may be important in a variety of settings. For example, a company or organization may wish to track their employees and/or important assets. Tracking location information can be used for a variety of purposes, for example, safety, security, efficiency, etc.
Although tracking has many uses, some illustrative embodiments discussed herein are specifically directed toward tracking animals (e.g., pets, such as dogs). Most dogs, especially larger breeds, may require a lot of physical activity (e.g., jogging, playing fetch, etc.). As the general population has become more urban and suburban, it has become increasingly difficult to provide the necessary space for these larger pets to exercise.
Many suburban homeowners have turned to underground and/or wireless invisible fence containment systems. In general, most currently available pet containment systems work in much the same way. They create a containment boundary (e.g., via an underground wire or determined wireless signal strength) and issue a corrective action if a pet gets close to or crosses the containment boundary. Generally, a device is worn on a dog's collar that emits an audio and/or physical (e.g., vibration, electrical, etc.) stimulus as the corrective action. When combined with training, these stimuli help condition the dog to remain within the containment area.
Underground containment systems have been in existence since the early 1970's and remain the most prevalent solution. Today, underground solutions come in a variety of packages, from professionally installed, including dog training, to do-it-yourself systems. Both underground and wireless systems have their advantages and disadvantages as discussed herein.

Enhanced location tracking using ultra-wideband


A control circuit controls the power supply to an electric motor and, comprises a power transistor NM of the NMOS type and a power transistor PM of the PMOS type arranged between two supply terminals VCC and GND, their intermediate node forming an output coupled to a coil Ei of the motor. The well B of the transistor PM is coupled to supply terminal VCC via an isolation diode ID, which has its anode connected to supply terminal VCC and has its cathode connected to the well B. The isolation diode ID ensures that the coil Ei is not short-circuited by the parasitic drain-well diode D of the transistor PM in case of a sudden power failure.

The present invention relates to a control circuit intended to control the flow of a current through a coil of an electric motor in order to produce a magnetic field which sets the motor into motion, said coil being coupled to an output terminal of the circuit, which circuit is arranged between a positive supply terminal and a negative supply terminal and comprises:
a power transistor of the NMOS type arranged between the negative supply terminal and the output terminal, and PA1 a power transistor of the PMOS type arranged between the output terminal and the positive supply terminal, said transistor being implanted in a well with an N-type diffusion, which is electrically coupled to the positive supply terminal, the conduction of the power transistors of the PMOS type and of the NMOS type being controlled by complementary signals.
Such control circuits are generally used for the control of devices utilizing information storage discs, particularly hard discs for information processing equipment. These devices usually have a first motor, which serves to impart a rotary movement to the disc, and a second motor, which serves to move an arm carrying one or more heads for reading/writing information from the surface of the disc. Each motor has input terminals, called supply terminals, which are coupled to coils intended to produce a magnetic field by means of which the motor can be driven. Each of the supply terminals is coupled to the output terminal of a control circuit. In the event of a sudden power failure, i.e. when the positive supply voltage becomes zero while the device is in operation, the rotor of the first motor continues to rotate, driven by its kinetic energy, and produces an electromotive force across the supply terminals of this motor, which then operates as a generator. This electromotive force, which takes the place of the supply voltage of the second motor, should allow the motor to move the arm towards a disc zone, called parking zone, which has been provided to allow the arm to be parked there without damage being caused to the read/write heads.
However, it has been found that the PN junction existing between the drain of a PMOS power transistor and the well in which this transistor is implanted forms a parasitic diode. When the voltage on the positive supply terminal is zero, the well being usually coupled to the source, which itself is coupled to this positive supply terminal, said parasitic diode short-circuits the motor terminal to which it is coupled via the output terminal of the control circuit, thereby allowing a substantial leakage current to flow directly to a terminal at zero potential. This prevents the electromotive force produced by the first motor from being used for energizing the second motor. Various solutions have been proposed to solve this problem, which essentially comprise the insertion of a power component by means of which the leakage current between the source of the PMOS transistor and the positive supply terminal can be blocked in one direction. For example, in the solution described in the publication ISBN 3-540-60332-8 "Smart Power ICs" by SGS-Thomson, a power diode has its cathode coupled to the source of the PMOS transistor and has its anode coupled to the positive supply terminal. This solution has two major drawbacks: such a power component is expensive and a substantial voltage drop is produced across it. Indeed, the value of the supply voltage in the normal mode of operation is currently of the order of 5 V and constantly much development effort is deployed to reduce this value with a dual general purpose of saving energy and reducing the size of electronic circuits. Since a voltage drop of the order of 0.5 V is produced across the power diode in a most advantageous case where the diode is of the Schottky type, this diode reduces the useful power supplied to the motor and, consequently, the energy efficiency of the device by at least 10%, which adverse effect of the power diode on the efficiency is bound to increase as the value of the supply voltage decreases.


A piezoelectric snap action switch for connecting at least two conductive elements via first and second upwardly convex snap action plates disposed in an overlapping manner with respect to each other and respectively connected to the respective conductors. A piezoelectric polymer film with electrodes on respective surfaces thereof is disposed between the snap action plates so that upon depression of the snap action plates the piezoelectric polymer film is caused to extend or contract along a surface thereof so as to conduct an electrical signal between the electrodes on its respective surfaces. The electrical signal is then conducted between the conductors via the electrodes by electrically coupling the electrodes to the snap action plates. The resulting structure is quite rigid so that the switch is virtually insensitive to vibration, and because of the plural snap action plates, metal lead attachment is greatly facilitated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a piezoelectric film switch, and more particularly, to a non-contact piezoelectric snap action switch for use in a keyboard, keypad and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Snap action switches are generally well-known. A conventional snap action switch conducts upon mechanical contact between a metal snap action plate (or snap disc) 10 and metal pins (or conductors on a printed circuit board) 12 as shown in FIG. 1. In such a snap action switch, switch closure is recognized by detecting an electrical short between pin (1) or pin (2) and pin (3). Contact occurs when a sufficient force F is applied to the push-button 14 to cause the metal snap action plate 10 to invert within housing 16 so as to contact pin (3). Pins (1)-(3) are usually connected to other circuitry so that a signal indicative of switch closure can be passed along for further processing.
However, the circuit of FIG. 1 has several disadvantages. Namely, mechanical contact between the metal snap action plate 10 and the pin 3 is unreliable because of the collection of moisture and dirt between the contact points. In addition, further processing circuitry is often required to correct for the effects of "contact bounce". To avoid such problems with mechanical snap action switches, non-contact switches have been proposed.
As described by Ben H. Carlisle in "Piezoelectric Plastics Promise New Sensors", Machine Design (Oct. 23, 1986), pp. 105-110, piezoelectric films have been found to be particularly suited for use in non-contact switches. Piezoelectric film is a flexible, lightweight, tough plastic film which is typically formed of a polarized homopolymer of vinylidene fluoride (e.g., polyvinylidene fluoride or "PVDF"). Piezoelectric film is adaptable to diverse applications because of its piezoelectric nature, whereby a voltage is produced upon mechanical deformation of the piezoelectric element. KYNAR.RTM. piezoelectric film, available from ATOCHEM North America, Inc. (ATOCHEM), is one example of a suitable piezoelectric film.
It is well-known that when a working voltage is applied to the electrodes of a piezoelectric film it will elongate or contract, depending on the polarity of the applied voltage. If the piezoelectric film is exposed to an alternating voltage, it will elongate and contract as the polarity changes. Moreover, it is also well-known that when a external force is applied to the film (e.g., compressive or tensile strain) the film develops a proportionate open circuit voltage. Exposure to a reciprocating force results in a corresponding alternating electrical voltage signal across the piezoelectric film.
For most applications, a piezoelectric film switch can be made by laminating a piezoelectric film to one surface of a thin, flat spring. When a stress is applied to the film, such as by deflecting the spring, a voltage pulse is provided. A "snap action" piezoelectric switch of this type is described by Fanshawe in U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,899, for example. In such a switch, the amplitude of the voltage pulse of the piezoelectric film switch is directly proportional to the magnitude of the applied stress, and hence to the resulting strain. Also, since the applied stress acts upon the film's cross-section, deforming the film by stretching its length will maximize the stress and, therefore the resulting output voltage. These characteristics of the piezoelectric switch render it quite practical for use as a switching element in a keyboard, keypad and the like. Further examples of switches including piezoelectric films are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,117 to Quilliam et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,441 to Kroeger, Jr., et al: U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,485 to Yoshida et al and U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,471 to Yoshida et al. See also copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/429,381, entitled "Dual Direction Switch."
Piezoelectric film switches have distinct advantages over conventional mechanical switches in that they are not susceptible to malfunction by contaminants such as dirt, moisture and abrasive dust. Also, since a piezoelectric film switch operates essentially by developing a charge within the film and transferring that charge to the film's outer electrodes, no mechanical closure or opening is required to make or break an electrical contact. Moreover, unlike membrane keyboards which radiate high frequencies during an electronic scan, piezoelectric film switches operate at low current and generate minimal RF levels. Piezoelectric film switches also do not experience "contact bounce" and therefore greatly simplify circuit design.
Additional information relating to the structure, properties, applications and fabrication of piezoelectric film switches, as well as piezoelectric films in general, can be found in the KYNAR.RTM. Piezo Film Technical Manual (1987), which is available from ATOCHEM. That manual is incorporated herein by reference.
Previous attempts also have been made to incorporate the above-mentioned benefits of a piezoelectric film switch into a snap action type switch. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,195, Kolm et al disclose a piezoelectric snap actuator including a piezoelectric element and a snap action device for exerting a force in opposition to the piezoelectric element. The snap action device has a predetermined reaction force that must be overcome by the applied force of the piezoelectric element to cause the snap action. For this purpose, an electric field is applied to the piezoelectric element to enable it to generate an opposing force in excess of the reaction force of the snap action device and to store energy in the snap action device necessary to enable occurrence of the snap action.
However, the device of Kolm et al is ineffective for converting a mechanical action into an input signal because it instead converts an electrical signal into a mechanical action. In other words, the snap action switch of Kolm et al operates by applying voltage pulses to the piezoelectric element until the snap action device changes state. On the other hand, when a snap action switch is used as an input device, a mechanical force is applied to the snap action device until the piezoelectric element generates a signal indicating that the snap action device has been depressed by a user. The present invention is of the latter type.
A piezoelectric switch of the latter type has been disclosed by Ohigashi et al in U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,637. Ohigashi et al describe a switch containing a convex elastic plate made of a copper-beryllium alloy which is mounted on a substrate containing an aperture. A piezoelectric film having electrodes on both sides thereof is adhered to the convex plate above the aperture so that when a force is applied downwardly on the combination of the convex plate and the piezoelectric film the convex disc flexes to create the snap action. The snap 15 action of the convex plate thereby induces strain in the piezoelectric film to produce an output voltage. The switch may be further simplified by forming the piezoelectric film to have a snap action characteristic so that the piezoelectric film itself forms the key switch.
Switches of the type disclosed by Ohigashi et al are particularly useful as key switches because the switch provides a predetermined output for a predetermined strain velocity by prohibiting an output signal from being generated unless sufficient force is applied to the key switch by an operator's finger. In other words, only when the elastic plate of Ohigashi et al is sufficiently strained by an operator's finger will a pulse signal having a predetermined value and form be generated by the piezoelectric film through its layer electrodes. Also, since the elastic plate exerts a snap action, just after the input force or the enforced strain reaches the predetermined value, the strain increases considerably instantaneously. Then, upon removal of the input force, the elastic plate returns to its original state.
However, the piezoelectric switch disclosed by Ohigashi et al has several problems. Namely, because the piezoelectric film of the switch is directly responsive to an externally applied force, the piezoelectric film may be subject to wear, adversely affecting the switch's durability. In addition, it is difficult to attach external electrical conductors to the switch due to the lack of reliability of connection of metal conductors to the piezoelectric film. Moreover, when a vibrational force is detected by the switch of Ohigashi et al, the piezoelectric film is subjected to stress or strain which may inadvertently cause an output signal to be generated. Such vibration induced signals may cause spurious output signals from the keypad and hence spurious input signals to the responsive circuitry.
As a result of the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art, there has been a long-felt need to provide a more rigid piezoelectric snap action switch which is not affected by vibration and which may be readily connected to metallic conductors.


Sampled sound data is compressed with a vector quantizing technique and then transmitted via a communication line. Received sound data is decoded, compressed with an ADPCM technique, and then stored into a memory. In response to a request for reproduction, the ADPCM sound data is read out, decoded, and then sounded. As another example, in a karaoke device, sample sound data is supplied after being compressed with the vector quantizing technique, in addition to MIDI-form music performance data. A music sound is reproduced on the basis of the MIDI-form music performance data, and at the same time a sound is reproduced by decoding the vector-quantized sound data. As another example, in a karaoke device, data obtained by compressing sampled sound data with the vector quantizing technique is mixed with data obtained by compressing sampled data with the ADPCM technique, and in reproduction, a predetermined decoding process is executed after identifying with which of technique is compressed data to be reproduced. As still another example, in a game device, sampled sound data, of human voice, effect sound, etc. are prestored after being compressed with the vector quantizing technique, so that in accordance with progression of a game, the data are read out and decoded for reproductive sounding.

The present invention relates generally to a sound reproducing device and sound reproducing method by which compressed sound waveform data is transferred and a receiving end decodes and audibly reproduces the sound waveform data. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sound reproducing device and sound reproducing method which use different sound-waveform-data compressing techniques between a case where a sound needs to be generated in real time and a case where a sound need not be generated in real time.
The present invention also relates to a sound reproducing technique for use in karaoke or the like which is characterized by an improved data compressing technique to compress sampled sound or sound waveform data for subsequent storage.
The present invention also relates to a sound reproducing technique for use in karaoke or the like which allows any one or more of different data compressing techniques to be selectively employed when sampled sound or sound waveform data is to be used in compressed data form.
The present invention also relates to a game device which is capable of providing a sound or waveform data, to be audibly reproduced in accordance with progression of a game program, in compressed data form.
Among a variety of conventionally known music reproducing devices are "karaoke" devices. The karaoke device, in its simplest form, used to reproduce a selected music piece from a magnetic tape that has prerecorded thereon the music piece in the form of analog signals. However, with the developments in electronic technology, magnetic tapes have almost been replaced by CDs (Compact Disks) or LDs (Laser Disks), so that analog signals to be recorded thereon have been replaced by digital signals and data to be recorded with the digital signals have come to include various additional information, such as image data and lyrics data, accompanying the fundamental music piece data.
Recently, in place of CDs or LDs, communication-type karaoke devices have come to be widely used at a rapid speed. Such communication-type karaoke devices may be generally classified into two types: the non-accumulating type where a set of data on a music piece (i.e., music piece data) to be reproduced is received via a communication line each time the music piece is selected for reproduction; and the accumulating type where each set of music piece data received via the communication line is accumulatively stored in an internal storage device (hard disk device) of the karaoke device in such a manner that a particular one of the accumulated sets of music piece data is read out from the storage device each time it is selected. At present, the accumulating type karaoke devices are more popular than the non-accumulating type karaoke devices in terms of the communicating cost.
In most of these communication-type karaoke devices, there are employed latest or newest data compressing and communicating techniques with a view to minimizing a total data quantity of music piece data per music piece to thereby achieve a minimized communicating time (and hence communicating cost) and minimized necessary storage space. In other words, the communication-type karaoke devices are not satisfactory in terms of the required communicating cost and communicating time if they use conventional PCM data (i.e., data obtained by sampling the whole of a music piece) exactly the way they are recorded on a CD or LD. Thus, in the conventional communication-type karaoke devices, performance-related data, contained in the music piece data, are converted or coded into data conforming to the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standards (hereinafter referred to as "MIDI data"), and also human voice sounds as in a back chorus, which are difficult to code into MIDI data, are PCM-coded to be expressed in a data-compressed code form. Typically, an ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation) form has been conventionally used as the data-compressed code form. This can reduce a total data quantity of music piece data per music piece, to thereby effectively save communicating time and storage capacity.
Although in the compressed data form, the ADPCM data are still far greater in total data quantity than the MIDI data and thus would occupy a great part (about two-thirds) of the available storage capacity in the karaoke device, which has been one of the main factors that limit the number of music piece data accumulable in the storage device of the karaoke device. This would also considerably limit a reduction in the time and cost necessary for communication of the music piece data.
Further, conventionally-known electronic game devices are designed to allow a game to progress and perform music, visually display images and audibly generate sounds (such as human voices and effect sounds) in accordance with the progression of the game, by sequentially executing a program for the body of the game and also sequentially reading out additional data, such as BGM (Background Music) data, image data and sound data, relating to the game.
However, with game devices equipped with no CD-ROM drive, i.e., game devices of a type where a ROM cartridge is removably attached, the game program and minimally necessary additional data must be pre-written in the ROM, which are absolutely essential to the progression of the game and can never be abridged. The BGM data, which are formed of data conforming to the MIDI standards, do not require a great storage space, and hence abridging the BGM data would not substantially save storage capacity. In contrast, the sound data are less frequently used in the progressing game and can be replaced by character data for visual display as character images, although they are greater in total data quantity than the BGM data; thus, the sound data may often be partly abridged without adversely influencing the progression of the game.
Therefore, in today's game devices and the like using such a ROM cartridge, the minimally necessary sound data are stored into a limited area of the cartridge only after the essential game program, image data and BGM data have been written in the cartridge. So, in the game devices of the type where the sound data are stored in such a ROM cartridge, the ADPCM technique is employed, as a means to compress the sound data, in order to minimize a necessary storage space for the sound data. This data compressing technique permits a significant reduction in the total data quantity of the sound data, so that the sound data can be stored in the ROM cartridge or the like in sufficient quantities to highly enhance musical effects during the progression of the game.
However, with recent game software, the program for the game body and image data are getting increasingly large in size, which would inevitably limit the storage area, in the ROM cartridge, to be used for the BGM data and sound data. Thus, the ADPCM data, which, although in compressed data form, are much greater in total data quantity that the MIDI data, have to be further abridged by being converted into character data, with the result that only the minimally necessary sound data can be stored in the ROM cartridge. This would present the problem that a total quantity of the sound data storable in the ROM cartridge can not be significantly increased even though the sound data are compressed by the ADPCM compressing technique.

Audio recompression from higher rates for karaoke, video games, and other applications


A laser apparatus of the present invention has a first laser oscillator that emits a first laser beam; a passive fiber that is a double-clad fiber that transmits the first laser beam through a core; and a second laser oscillator that emits a second laser beam that is coupled into inner cladding of the passive fiber. Additionally, a laser materials processing apparatus of the present invention is provided with the laser apparatus; and an irradiation optical system having a collimating lens and a condenser lens.

In recent years, in a field of materials processing with high-power lasers, attention is paid to processing by a laser apparatus using an optical fiber to which rare earth elements are doped. The laser emits a wavelength of 1 μm band, and an optical-fiber delivery is possible unlike CO2 laser used in the related art. Additionally, since this laser can be focused to a smaller spot than CO2 laser, it is suitable for high-speed processing or fine micro processing, such as cutting, welding, or the like. Regarding this laser apparatus, there are already a number of well-known techniques (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
An example of a laser materials processing apparatus 100 of the related art is schematically shown in FIG. 13. The laser materials processing apparatus 100 is generally constituted by a laser apparatus 101, an optical fiber 122, and an irradiation optical system (a collimating lens 105 and a condenser lens 106). A laser beam 104, which is generated in the laser apparatus 101, is guided and transmitted through the optical fiber 122, and exits the emitting end 103, passes through the collimating lens 105 and the condenser lens 106, and reaches an irradiation point α on a workpiece 107.
A related-art example of the above laser apparatus 101 is shown in FIG. 14. The laser apparatus 101 is generally constituted by an active fiber 120 that is a double-clad fiber in which rare earth elements are doped to a parent material of a core, fiber Bragg gratings (hereinafter abbreviated as FBGs) 121 that are formed near both ends of this active fiber 120 to act as mirrors of laser resonators, a multi-coupler 123, a plurality of semiconductor laser beam sources 126, and an optical fiber 122 that is connected to the active fiber 120 via a connecting point 129.
The double-clad fiber is an optical fiber having double claddings around a core. In the related art, the double-clad fiber is used as a laser medium by doping rare earth elements or the like to the parent material of the core. Inner cladding has two kinds of actions. One action confines the light within the core. The other action confines pumping light that pumps the laser medium within the core. Outer cladding has an action that confines the pumping light.
The pumping light emitted from the plurality of semiconductor laser beam sources 126 is coupled into the inner cladding of the active fiber 120 via the optical fiber 125 and the multi-coupler 123. The laser beam generated in the core of the active fiber 120 is amplified while going back and forth between both the FBGs 121, and a portion thereof is taken out from one FBG 121 (FBG 121 on the right of the plane of the sheet). This laser beam is coupled into the optical fiber 122 located downstream of the connecting point 129, and is emitted to exterior space from an output end 103. In addition, a passive optical fiber for transmission with single-layer cladding is used as the optical fiber 122 located downstream of the connecting point 129. As described above, the laser apparatus of the configuration using an active fiber as the laser medium is referred to as a fiber laser.
The power density distribution at a cross-section of the optical fiber 122 may be a single mode close to a Gaussian shape or a multi-mode close to a top-hat shape.
A laser beam of an output of 2 kW or more is used for macro processing referred to as cutting of steel of a thickness of 1 mm or more. The single mode output in these region causes, the large optical loss due to nonlinear effects such as stimulated Brillouin scattering or Raman scattering within the core of the optical fiber. Therefore, the distance by which fiber transmission is allowed is limited to about several meters. Thus, in the laser materials processing apparatus, generally, a fiber laser of a multi-mode where a larger fiber transmission distance is secured is used.
The power density distribution of the laser beam at the irradiation point α is an image of the outlet (the emitting end 103 of the laser apparatus 101) of the optical fiber 122, formed by an irradiation optical system including the collimating lens 105 and the condenser lens 106. In the case of the fiber laser where the power density distribution in the optical fiber 122 being multi-mode, the power density distribution at the irradiation point α becomes a substantially uniform top-hat shape, as shown in FIG. 15, which is uniform and almost the same distribution within the optical fiber 122. In addition, in FIG. 15, X represents the distance from the center O of a laser beam at the irradiation point α, and I represents the power density of the laser beam.

Laser apparatus and laser materials processing apparatus provided with same

NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION