An object of the present invention is to implement a bright liquid crystal display device having a high contrast ratio and a wide viewing angle. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention has: a number of data lines; gate lines formed so as to cross the number of data lines; a number of switching elements formed in locations where the number of data lines and the number of gate lines cross; a reflection area and a transmission area formed within each pixel; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between first and second substrates; a common electrode placed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer; and a pixel electrode placed between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and the common electrode has slits or protrusions, and the data lines overlap the slits in the common electrode or protrusions of the common electrode in the direction of normal to a surface of the first substrate in the configuration.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device.
(2) Related Art Statement
Display devices are a medium for transmitting information visually to people and play an important role for people and groups in the modern information society. The performance of liquid crystal display devices has significantly increased in recent years, and liquid crystal display devices have been adopted as display devices for cellular phones, personal computers and large screen televisions. Liquid crystal display devices are generally formed of a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight (illumination device) that is placed on the rear side of the liquid crystal display panel and illuminates the liquid crystal display panel with light. In the case where a color image is displayed, each pixel is formed of three sub-pixels that correspond to the three primary colors of red, blue and green, for example, and the sub-pixels that correspond to the respective colors are controlled independently so that various colors are reproduced.
Transflective liquid crystal display devices are used as the liquid crystal display devices in mobile devices, such as cellular phones, because they are compatible with various environments for illumination. Transflective liquid crystal display devices have a transmission area and a reflection area within each sub-pixel that forms the display area of the liquid crystal display panel. The transmission area allows a transmissive display to be gained by controlling the amount of transmitted light from the backlight. Meanwhile, reflective displays are gained by controlling the amount of reflected light from the outside in the reflection area. That is to say, transflective liquid crystal display devices primarily provide a transmissive display in a dark environment and a reflective display in a bright environment so that the visibility of display images can be secured, and thus it becomes possible to use the transflective liquid crystal display device in various environments for illumination.
A VA (vertical alignment) system is known as a system for gaining a transflective liquid crystal display device. This has a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between these transparent substrates, and a pair of circular polarizers, each of which is provided on the surface of the transparent substrate on the side opposite the liquid crystal layer, and the amount of transmitted light and reflected light is controlled by changing the state of polarization of light that enters into the liquid crystal layer so that an image is displayed. In conventional transflective liquid crystal display devices in a VA system, circular polarizers are used, and the performance of these circular polarizers determines the contrast ratio of the image.
In circular polarizers, a polarizer which functions to absorb a predetermined linearly polarized light component and allows linearly polarized light perpendicular to this component to transmit and a quarter-wave plate are layered on top of each other. In order to increase the performance of the circular polarizer, it becomes necessary to use a quarter-wave plate of which the wavelength dependency on retardation is small, and furthermore to layer the quarter-wave plate and the polarizer precisely on top of each other so that the slow axis of the quarter-wave plate and the absorption axis of the polarizer form a predetermined angle. In actual mass production, however, there is inconsistency in the retardation of the quarter-wave plate and the angle between the slow axis of the quarter-wave plate and the absorption axis of the polarizer, and therefore such a problem arises in that it is difficult to increase the contrast ratio on the transmissive display in transflective liquid crystal display devices having a circular polarizer. That is to say, a system that does not use a circular polarizer is desirable in order to increase the contrast ratio of the transmissive display in a transflective liquid crystal display device in a VA system.
Patent Document 1 describes a liquid crystal display device in a VA system that does not use a circular polarizer. This is provided with another polarization layer in addition to a pair of polarizers that form a liquid crystal display device so that the pixel electrodes and the metal reflective layer are coated. The pair of polarizers are placed in such a manner that the absorption axes are perpendicular to each other, and the absorption axis of the polarization layer coincides with the absorption axis of the polarizer provided on the backlight side. In this case, the transmissive display is of a so-called normally black type where it becomes black (dark) in the case where the driving voltage is zero and becomes bright when a driving voltage is applied. Meanwhile, a reflective display of a normally black type where it becomes a black (dark) display in the case where the driving voltage is zero and a bright display when a driving voltage is applied can be implemented in the same manner as the transmissive display by making the metal reflective layer connected to the pixel electrodes a reflection area. That is to say, a transflective liquid crystal display device in a VA system can be implemented without using a circular polarizer.
Here, Patent Document 1 describes that a TCF (thin crystal film) made by OPTIVA, Inc., is used as the material for the polarization layer. That is to say, a coating type material is used for the polarization layer.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2005-250430


The invention generally relates to surgically implantable supportive slings. More specifically, in various embodiments, the invention is directed to sling assemblies for pelvic floor repair that utilize one or more materials, attached without a mechanical fixation device, and related methods of use and fabrication.

Urinary incontinence affects over 13 million men and women of all ages in the United States. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) affects primarily women and is generally caused by two conditions—intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) and hypermobility. These conditions may occur independently or in combination. In ISD, the urinary sphincter valve, located within the urethra, fails to close (or "coapt") properly, causing urine to leak out of the urethra during stressful activity. Hypermobility is a condition in which the pelvic floor is distended, weakened, or damaged, causing the bladder neck and proximal urethra to rotate and descend in response to increases in intra-abdominal pressure (e.g., due to sneezing, coughing, straining, etc.). The result is that there is an insufficient response time to promote urethral closure and, consequently, urine leakage and/or flow results. Moreover, the condition of stress urinary incontinence is often compounded by the presence of untreated vaginal vault prolapse or other more serious pelvic floor disorders. Often, treatments of stress incontinence are made without treating the pelvic floor disorders, potentially leading to an early recurrence of the pelvic floor disorder.
Pelvic floor disorders are often treated using an implantable supportive sling. Such slings may be made from a variety of materials, and often incorporate two different types of material connected via mechanical fixation devices, such as staples and sutures. When one of the materials is a biologic material, the surgeon must suture the two materials together, a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. Eliminating the need for fixation devices and the need for suturing can reduce costs for producing and utilizing implantable slings.

Pelvic floor repair implants and methods


Provided is a method and apparatus for improved access to material via the World Wide Web Internet service. Web page URLs are stored as attribute-values of directory objects and Web page hyperlinks to those directory objects are provided together with access logic responsive to the hyperlinks for retrieving the URLs for use by a client. This indirect access to Web pages via hyperlinks to directories has significant advantages for Web page organization and facilitates more flexible methods of Web page access than the known use of hyperlinks which include URLs pointing directly to the target Web pages.

A `network` of computers can be any number of computers that are able to exchange information with one another. The computers may be arranged in any configuration and may be located in the same room or in different countries, so long as there is some way to connect them together (for example, by telephone lines or other communication systems) so they can exchange information. Just as computers may be connected together to make up a network, networks may also be connected together through tools known as bridges and gateways. These tools allow a computer in one network to exchange information with a computer in another network.
The Internet is a network of networks having no single owner or controller and including large and small, public and private networks, and in which any connected computer running Internet Protocol software is, subject to security controls, capable of exchanging information with any other computer which is also connected to the Internet. This composite collection of networks which have agreed to connect to one another relies on no single transmission medium (for example, bidirectional communication can occur via satellite links, fiberoptic trunk lines, telephone lines, cable TV wires and local radio links).
The World Wide Web Internet service (`Web` hereafter) is a wide area information retrieval facility which provides access to an enormous quantity of network-accessible information. Information about the World Wide Web can be found in "Spinning the Web" by Andrew Ford (International Thomson Publishing, London 1995) and "The World Wide Web Unleashed" by John December and Neil Randall (SAMS Publishing, Indianapolis 1994). Use of the Web is growing at an explosive rate because of its combination of flexibility, portability and ease-of-use, coupled with interactive multimedia presentation capabilities. The Web allows any computer connected to the Internet and having the appropriate software and hardware configuration to retrieve any document that has been made publicly available anywhere on the Internet. The retrievable documents on the Web include `HyperMedia` documents--i.e. documents which may be text documents or other forms of media such as sounds and images and which may have links (`hyperlinks`--see below) to other documents. The format of such documents on the Web is a standard format in HTML (HyperText Markup Language), such that a document created on one operating system and hardware platform can be read by a user on any other platform that has an appropriate Web Browser (see below). HTML is associated with a specific communication protocol known as HyperText Transfer Protocol (http). Images may be stored in separate graphics files, for example in standard GIF or JPEG format, which are referenced in the HTML text for retrieval with the HTML text.
Users access this information using a `Web Browser`, (also referred to as a `Web Client Browser`), which is software installed on the user's computer and having facilities for serving or retrieving documents from a Web Server via the Internet. Currently available Web Browsers include WebExplorer(TM) from IBM Corporation, Netscape Navigator from Netscape Communications Corporation, Internet Explorer from Microsoft Corporation, and Mosaic from NCSA. Such Browsers understand HTML and other Web standard formats and can display or output files correctly in these formats. The Web is structured as pages or files which each have a particular Universal Resource Locator (or URL). The URL is a reference which denotes, amongst other things, both the server machine and the particular file or page on that machine. A user can type in particular URLs or jump from one page to an associated page by means of `hyperlinks`--that is, a word or symbol on a page can be associated with a URL for another page which is selectable to cause the Browser to send a request which retrieves, and then to display, the relevant page. The preferred user interface for such Browser selection is the graphical `point-and-click` interface (i.e. links are selected by moving a cursor to a particular word or symbol on display and then pressing a mouse button). The words, images and symbols having associated hyperlinks are identifiable by a user as "hot spots" (for example, the relevant text may be highlighted or underlined, or the cursor may change its appearance as it passes over the hot spots). There may be many pages resident on a single server, and associated hyperlinked pages may be located on different servers.
Web pages are thus well known to be identifiable through URLs, such as http://www.pc.ibm.com/data.htm. This example illustrates three components of the URL: "http" identifies the protocol to be used by a Web client browser for access to the page; "www.pc.ibm.com" identifies the target computer (this computer name is converted to its numeric-form Internet address); and "data.htm" identifies the page to be accessed on that computer. More complex examples having additional parameters are also possible, such that specific data may be passed from the client computer to the server computer in a URL specification.
In order to facilitate easy return to a particular Web page at a later time without having to retrace the original steps which led to discovery of the target Web page, URLs and associated descriptors (which by default are taken from the Web page, but are editable) can be saved as "bookmarks" at the client computer. Such a scheme is shown in FIG. 1, in which URLs and descriptors for specific Web pages 10 are stored as bookmarks 20 stored at a client computer system 30. User selection of such a bookmark at the client system initiates a request for downloading to the client system from a server system 40 of the respective Web page 10. The user can then select hyperlinks 50 within a downloaded Web page to access other Web pages of interest (which may be on other server computers as shown).
This scheme is commonplace and has proven extremely successful. However, it gives rise to a number of problems which affect both clients and servers.
From a client perspective:
a URL stored in a bookmark may not be valid when re-used (e.g. the Web page has been deleted prior to the attempted re-access); in this case the access fails and the user receives a generic failure message. It is not possible to supply the user with reasons for the Web page deletion or to provide alternative destinations of possible interest. PA0 a URL stored in a bookmark may identify a busy Web page; at the time of re-use access may not be possible because of the demands of other users. Unfortunately it is not possible to re-direct the browser to an alternative Web page (which could have been set up to contain identical information). PA0 re-organization of a Web site is difficult because of the desire to preserve the integrity of URLs previously used and stored as bookmarks in unknown clients. PA0 similarly, the embedded URLs in web pages mean that the movement of a web page requires hyperlinks in other pages to be updated to maintain the validity of the reference. PA0 lists of alternative URLs need to be provided on web pages to cope with expected demand for the content; this is especially true when the URLs point to files to be downloaded (URLs of the form "ftp:// . . . ", where the prefix now indicates the use of the file transfer protocol) because each user consumes considerable resources. Such lists are tiresome for users, take valuable page space, and do not provide effective load balancing across the multiple servers. PA0 Web pages within a site, or across sites, can be re-organized without invalidating directory-reference links stored in bookmarks; such links can be responded to intelligently even when the original target Web page has been deleted, or the client can be furnished with new links to content. PA0 an `intelligent` directory can furnish different indirect references to achieve effective load balancing. PA0 indirect access through a directory provides an additional level of access control, and this can be used to make the reference supplied from the directory object dependent upon the identity of the client. PA0 since the directory objects form an inventory of Web pages, Web page management is facilitated. PA0 the directory can store index data in association with Web page URLs, and access to the directory through a Web Browser supporting LDAP allows these index terms to be searched; this provides much richer access paths to required material, complementing the known hyperlink mechanism.
From a server perspective:

Management of and access to information and other material via the world wide web in an LDAP environment

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided is a hybrid construction machine capable of appropriate control of engine speed based on a total load torque, reduction in energy loss due to the power for auxiliary devices and efficient operation of the engine and the generator motor, including a hydraulic pump, a generator motor, an engine, and a control device. The control device includes a total load torque determination section determining a total load torque, the sum of load torques for the hydraulic pump and the generator motor, and an engine speed control section controlling the engine speed based on the total load torque. The engine speed control section performs a regulation control of increasing the engine speed as the total load torque decreases under a high load torque condition and performs an isochronous control of maintaining the engine speed at a constant target speed N2 under a low load torque condition.

The background art of the present invention will be described with reference to a hybrid excavator as an example.
A common hybrid excavator includes an engine, a hydraulic actuator, a hydraulic pump for driving the hydraulic actuator, a generator motor connected to the engine and operable to perform a generator action and a motor action, and an electric device to be charged with electric power generated by the generator action of the generator motor. The generator motor is driven by an electric power stored in the electric storage device to perform the motor action, assisting the engine at a proper time with the power generated by the motor action.
On the other hand, regardless of hybrid excavators or common hydraulic excavators, there is commonly known, as one mode of an engine speed control, a regulation control of changing the engine speed in response to a load torque, as disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2. The regulation control includes adjusting the fuel injection amount so as to change the engine speed between a target speed and a rated speed along a straight regulation line that is set inside an output characteristic line of the engine and slopes downward to the right at a constant angle.
In a hybrid excavator, a load on the engine includes not only a load by the hydraulic pump, but also a load by the generator motor during the power generation. Therefore, the control of the engine speed has to be performed based on a total load torque obtained by adding a load torque of the generator motor to a load torque of the pump. Applying the known technique regarding only a pump load as the engine load directly to a hybrid excavator could not allow the load to be accurately reflected, thus failing to perform basically appropriate control of the engine speed.
Besides, the known technique, where the engine speed is increased with decrease in the load torque, involves an increase in the power for auxiliary devices such as a fan and the like under a low load torque condition, which causes energy loss. Setting the target speed of the regulation characteristic lower, i.e., shifting the regulation line to a lower speed side, in order to reduce the energy loss, permits the increase in a load torque caused by the power generation of the generator motor to further decrease the engine speed in accordance with the regulation characteristic in which the engine speed decreases as the load torque increases. Thus involving an operation under the condition where fuel efficiency of the engine and power generation efficiency of the generator motor are poor makes the energy efficiency be deteriorated.

KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.


Apparatus for vacuum pumping an enclosed chamber includes a cryopump in gas communication with the chamber for removing gases by cryocondensation and cryotrapping and an auxiliary pumping device for removing gases that are difficult to remove by cryocondensation or cryotrapping. The cryopump does not contain a sorbent material for cryosorption. As a result, the potential for contamination by a sorbent material is eliminated. The auxiliary pumping device can comprise an ion pump or a turbomolecular vacuum pump. When an ion pump is used, the ion pump is inactivated during periods of high gas loading in the chamber. The vacuum pumping apparatus is particularly useful for vacuum pumping of a plasma vapor deposition chamber.

Cryogenic vacuum pumps (cryopumps) are widely used in high vacuum applications. Cryopumps are based on the principle of removing gases from a vacuum chamber by having them lose kinetic energy and then binding the gases on cold surfaces inside the pump. Cryocondensation, cryosorption and cryotrapping are the basic mechanisms that can be involved in the operation of a cryopump. In cryocondensation, gas molecules are condensed on previously condensed gas molecules. Thick layers of condensate can be formed, thereby pumping large quantities of gas.
Gases that are difficult to condense at the normal operating temperatures of the cryopump can be pumped at higher temperatures by cryosorption. In this case, a sorbent material such as activated charcoal is attached to the cold surface. The binding energy between gas particles and the adsorbing particle is greater than the binding energy between the gas particles themselves, thereby causing gas particles that cannot be condensed to adhere to the sorbent material and thus be removed from the vacuum system. When several monolayers of adsorbed gas have been built up, the effect of the adsorbing surface is lost and gas can no longer be pumped.
Cryotrapping can also be used to pump gases that are difficult to condense. In this case, the sorbent material is an easily condensible gas. The sorbent gas is admitted into the pump, forming a condensate on the cold surface. The difficult to condense gas is admitted at the same time and is adsorbed on the newly formed surface of easily condensible gas. A mixed condensate is thus formed.
Cryopumps are widely used for applications where contamination by nonprocess gases such as hydrocarbons must be avoided. Cryopumps typically use a closed loop helium refrigerator. Refrigeration is produced in a first stage operating at 50.degree. K. to 80.degree. K. and a second stage operating at 10.degree. K. to 20.degree. K. Conducting metal surfaces called cryoarrays are attached to the refrigerator stages and are cooled by them. Easily condensed gases, such as water vapor, argon, nitrogen and oxygen, are pumped by cryocondensation on the first and second stage cryoarrays. However, the lowest temperature achievable in a refrigerator cooled cryopump is so high (about 10.degree. K.) that not all gases normally present in a vacuum system can be pumped by cryocondensation. The gases which are difficult to condense, such as hydrogen, helium and neon, must be pumped by cryosorption. For this purpose, a sorbent material such as activated charcoal is attached to the second stage cryoarray. Further, only relatively low amounts of gas can be pumped by cryosorption, as only a thin layer (up to about 5 monolayers) can be formed on the surfaces. To pump large amounts of gas, a large amount of sorbent material must be used in the pump.
Small particles of the activated charcoal can break off the surface of the cryoarray, migrate through the cryopump to the vacuum chamber and onto the surfaces of the product being processed in the system, thereby contaminating the product. The contamination problem is particularly acute in connection with small, complex circuits being developed today, when semiconductor wafers are processed in the vacuum chamber. Particles of almost any size, including very small and fine size particles, are likely to produce defects in modern microminiature devices on semiconductor wafers.
The use of ion pumps in conjunction with cryopumps to enhance cryopump performance is disclosed by J. E. deRijke, "Performance of a Cryopump Ion Pump System", Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, Vol. 15, No. 2, March/April 1978, pages 765-767. A standard cryopump with sorbent charcoal on the second stage and a standard noble gas ion pump were used to increase total pumping speed and total capacity of gas that can be pumped before regeneration was needed. The disclosed configuration did not address the problem of vacuum system contamination by charcoal particles.
A turbomolecular vacuum pump having a heat exchanger located in its suction port is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,648 issued May 22, 1990 to Okumura et al. The heat exchanger is connected to a refrigerator through a refrigerant pipe. The refrigerant is cooled from about -100.degree. C. to about -190.degree. C. and is used to condense water vapor.
Tests to measure the effect of cryotrapping of hydrogen by argon in a cryopump without the use of charcoal are described by R. C. Longsworth et al, "Cryopump Vacuum Recovery After Pumping Ar and H.sub.2 ", J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A, Vol. 9, No. 5, Sept./Oct. 1991, pp. 2768-2770.
A cryopump having sorption surfaces of reticulated vitreous carbon attached to the second pumping stage is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,791 issued Dec. 20, 1988 to Flegal et al.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for vacuum pumping an enclosed chamber.
It is another object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for vacuum pumping with a cryogenic vacuum pump wherein the potential for contamination of the vacuum chamber by a sorbent material is eliminated.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for vacuum pumping an enclosed chamber wherein a cryogenic vacuum pump is used with an auxiliary pumping device that removes gases which are difficult to remove by cryocondensation or cryotrapping.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for vacuum pumping a plasma vapor deposition chamber.

Methods and apparatus for cryogenic vacuum pumping with reduced contamination


A laser scanner having first and second scanning mirrors and a correction circuit that removes distortions caused by interaction between the scanning mirrors. Preferably, the first scanner mirror is an off-axis mirror that is positioned to produce a single, substantially invariant pupil on the second scanning mirror. Preferably the scanner uses a reflective beam expander to magnify an input laser beam received from a laser source. Preferably, the reflective beam expander is implemented using two spherical mirrors positioned to form the input laser beam into a Z-folded beam path. The folded beam path increases the distance between the laser source and the focusing lens, which results in a clear focused spot and does so using spherical mirrors which are much less expensive than the infrared lenses used in the prior art. The reflective beam expander is also wavelength insensitive. In one embodiment, the correction circuit employs analog elements to implement a quadratic approximation of the geometric distortions caused by interaction of the scanning axes. In another embodiment, the correction circuit employs programmable logic devices to create corrected mirror control signals based on correction values stored in digital memory units.

Laser scanners are currently being used for numerous applications, including electronic component marking, fine engraving, micro-assembly soldering and welding, scribing and various other repetitive production operations involving near infrared or far infrared lasers. Laser scanners employ optical elements, usually mirrors and lenses, to direct a laser beam at an object being scanned. The optical elements are programmable to allow the surface of the object to be scanned in two dimensions.
A typical prior art laser scanner is shown in FIG. 1. A laser source (not shown), typically a Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (YAG) laser or Carbon Dioxide (CO.sub.2) laser, supplies an input laser beam 10 to a refractive beam expander 11. The beam expander 11 typically uses a negative input lens 12 and a positive collimation lens 14 to magnify the input laser beam. The laser scanner includes two galvanometer-operated mirrors positioned along the optical axis, one mirror 16 deflecting the expanded beam in an X dimension and the other mirror 18 deflecting the beam in a Y dimension. A focusing lens 20 focuses the twice-deflected laser beam onto the object being scanned. The focusing lens typically is of flat field F.theta. type, having approximate proportionality between input field angle and image displacement.
Each mirror is controlled by a computer-driven servo that corrects for distortions in the system. Typically, the servo includes a microprocessor coupled to read-only memory (ROM) that stores a lookup table calibrated to provide correction values for every combination of mirror angles. The microprocessor is programmed with appropriate software that looks up the correction values for a given combination of mirror angles.
Several deficiencies exist in such prior art systems. One deficiency is that the system is overly complex, and therefore expensive, due to the large number of infrared lenses needed to implement the beam expander and the focusing lens. These infrared lenses must be anti-reflection coated and are usually changed for different laser wavelengths. A second deficiency is that the X and Y positioning is accomplished in axially spaced galvanometer-driven mirrors, causing pupil astigmatism with the imaging/focusing lens. The imaging/focusing lens and scanning mirrors have to be made larger to accommodate the axially shifting pupil. This causes optical inefficiencies and the use of more expensive infrared glass. The ill-defined optical pupil also causes optical distortions that must be removed with the ROM look up tables.
A third deficiency is that using software to obtain correction values suffers from speed limitations. The speed at which corrected mirror values can be presented to the mirrors is reduced because computer code is required to implement the software correction regardless of the, software algorithm employed. In a high performance scanning system such reduced speed provided by software correction schemes is unacceptable. Near real-time software correction is possible using plural microprocessors, but the additional microprocessor greatly increases the cost and complexity of the system.


There is disclosed an apparatus for monitoring and calculating the position and speed of a projectile as it is pitched over a target zone. A grid of infrared emitters aligned with respective infrared receivers are in continuous optical links until the ball passes an d cuts some of the links. Upon this cut, the position of the ball is stored in memory and the time of passage of the ball across the grid is recorded to later calculate the speed of the ball. The infrared grid is enclosed in a chamber to prevent interference of external light rays with the reception of the receivers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to systems for detecting and calculating the coordinates of a projectile in a target zone, and in particular to an apparatus for evaluating the position and speed of a ball.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The main aim of a baseball pitcher is to throw the ball at a high speed across the plate within the strike zone but in areas where hits occur less frequently. As a strategy, the pitcher attempts to avoid hits by changing frequently the velocity, and the position of the ball as it penetrates the strike zone. There is a need, therefore, for a training apparatus that can be used by a baseball pitcher to improve his performance in pitch delivery and placement. Radar guns have been used to measure the velocity of a pitched baseball but its use has had only minimal impact on the training of baseball pitchers since it cannot evaluate the accuracy of the throw.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,005 discloses an apparatus for detecting and computing the location of a pitched baseball. However, this apparatus needs a sophisticated program to identify the position of the ball upon reception or non-reception on sequentially activated emitters. Also, a large number of emitters and detectors are required to evaluate the balls position with proper accuracy.
Furthermore, no provision is made to avoid interference of external light with the signal transmitted by the emitters.

Apparatus for evaluating ball pitching performance


In a frame recording mode for shooting a moving image including the predetermined number of frames in one shot or an interval recording mode, if a time length available for recording a moving image becomes less than predetermined time, not the recordable time but the number of times capable of shooting a moving image including the predetermined number of frames is displayed as information about a remaining capacity of a recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that can perform shooting of a moving image.
2. Description of the Related Art
In imaging apparatuses that can shoot both of a moving image and a still image, some imaging apparatuses can change a unit for displaying remaining capacity from recordable time of moving images to the recordable number of still images when a shooting mode is changed from a moving image shooting mode to a still image shooting mode (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-299800). Moreover, in apparatuses that can shoot a moving image and a still image at the same time, some apparatuses can display both of remaining time and the recordable number of images (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-16490).
In the above mentioned conventional apparatuses, one of or both of the recordable time of moving images and the recordable number of still images are displayed. Accordingly, an issue shown below exists.
In some moving image shooting apparatuses, a technique for intermittently shooting the predetermined number of moving image frames and creating clay animation or a growth record of a plant is provided. In such moving image shooting apparatuses, in the intermittent recording of moving images, it is not possible to specifically check how many shots can be recorded while performing shooting.

Imaging apparatus capable of checking a remaining capacity for recording a moving image when a moving image of a predetermined number of frames is shot in one shot of moving image shooting


A minute structure for showing colors by reflection and interference of natural light includes a plurality of fin portions and a central portion for uniting the fin portions. The fin portions are aligned in a first direction and positioned such that the adjacent fin portions are spaced from each other so as to define therebetween a void space which is filled with air. Each fin portion has a first width defined in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction and a second width defined in the first direction. The void space has a third width which is defined in the first direction. The central portion has a fourth width defined in the second direction. The first width of each fin portion is three times or more larger than the fourth width of the central portion. The third width of the void space ranges from 0.02 .mu.m to 0.4 .mu.m. The second width of each fin portion is not less than 0.02 .mu.m. A refractive index of each fin portion ranges from 1.2 to 1.8. A maximum production error from a standard value with respect to the second width of each fin portion is not larger than 40%. Thus, the minute structure reflects ultraviolet rays and infrared rays and shows, for example, a bluish purple tint or a bluish green tint by reflection and interference of visible light rays.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a minute structure for showing colors by reflection and interference of natural light, which is used as fibers and chips for textiles and coatings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the field of coating for automobiles, aluminum powder has been proposed to show metallic color. Besides, mica chips or carbon fiber chips have been proposed to be used with a pigment, thereby showing, for example, pearlescent color. However, when the pigment is deteriorated by ultraviolet rays or infrared rays, tone of the coating is substantially damaged.
In view of this, there are some proposals concerning materials for showing colors by using interference of light. For example, SENI KIKAI GAKKAISI, Vol. 42, No. 2 (1989) discloses a laminated photo-controllable coloring film for showing colors by interference of light. This film is composed of one layer of molecular orientation anisotropic polymer film and two layers of polarizing films, or one polarizing film and one reflective film. However, it is difficult to form thin fibers or minute chips from this film and to control a dominant wavelength of a reflecting light.
JP-A-59-228042 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,459 disclose flat fibers of a woven fabric. These publications defines, for example, a cross sectional configuration of the flat fibers and the angle of inclination of the flat fibers relative to the surface of the fabric at portions other than formation points of the fabric. However, these publications fail to disclose, for example, a detailed cross sectional configuration of the flat fibers and refractive index of the same. Therefore, it is difficult to produce the fibers in an industrial scale. As another way to show colors by reflection and interference of light, it is theoretically possible to closely pack latex particles having a uniform particle size. However, it is difficult to fix the latex particles at certain predetermined positions. If the latex particles are displaced from the predetermined positions, desired colors can not be obtained.

Minute structure for showing colors by reflection and interference of natural light


A corrosion-resistant pump for propelling a fluid therethrough, the pump comprises a first magnet for providing a magnetic field. A motor is attached to the first magnet for rotating the magnet. A container is placed adjacent said first magnet for preventing the fluid contained therein from contacting the motor and the first magnet. A second magnet is disposed within the container and magnetically interacting with the first magnet which interaction, in turn, causes the second magnet to rotate simultaneously with rotation of the first magnet. The second magnet is coated with a ceramic magnetic material on its first portion and a bulk ceramic magnet attached to its second portion for preventing corrosion of the magnet and enhancing magnetic flux with the second magnet. A propeller is disposed within the container, and is attached to and simultaneously rotates with the second magnet for propelling the fluid through the container.

A corrosion-resistant, magnetic pump typically includes a propeller contained within a fluid containment cavity for permitting a liquid, typically a corrosion-inducing fluid, to be propelled into the pump, through the cavity and then out of the pump. The containment cavity prevents the exposure of the corrosion-inducing fluid to other components of the pump outside the containment cavity for extending the life of the pump.
A motor is positioned outside the containment cavity, and is attached to and rotates a drive magnet for providing a rotating magnetic field which passes through and into the containment cavity for inducing rotation to the propeller. A driven magnet, which is attached to the propeller, is positioned inside the containment cavity for receiving the rotating magnetic flux, in which the magnetic interaction causes the driven magnet to rotate simultaneously with the drive magnet. This, in turn, causes the propeller to rotate for propelling the fluid through the cavity. The drive and driven magnets are typically permanent magnets made of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) or samarium-cobalt (Sm-Co). Therefore, due to the fact that the driven magnet is exposed to the corrosion-inducing fluid, the driven magnet is typically coated with a corrosion-resistant, synthetic resin, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,289, for extending the life of the magnet.
Although the presently known and utilized pump is satisfactory, it is not without drawbacks. The magnetic coupling between the drive and driven magnets is inefficient because they are spaced apart due to the thickness of the wall of the containment cavity. This causes the motor to consume more power to compensate for this inefficiency
Consequently, a need exists for improvements in the construction and mode of operation of the pump so as to overcome the above-described drawbacks.


Provided is a method of the simulation construction for measurement of the control rod insertion time including a three-dimensional modeling operation of an inside wall of the nuclear reactor, a control rod, etc; a flow field configuration operation wherein the flow field is differentially configured by a variable grid system comprising variable cells which change the configuration and by an aligned grid system comprising fixed cells which maintains the configuration; a calculation operation of simulation estimated value for the insertion time by analyzing the thermal-hydraulic phenomenon using the three-dimensional CFD; and a cell change operation, wherein an error between the estimated value and the actual value is verified whether the error lies within the reference range, and, when the error exceeds the reference range, the size of the variable cell and/or of the size of the fixed cell is changed.

A control rod is a core component with a function of controlling core reactivity by changing the number of neutrons in a core while inserting a control rod into the core and retracting a control rod out of the core. In other words, as a component used with a purpose of controlling and halting the power of a nuclear reactor, the control rod is moved up and down by a control rod drive mechanism installed on the top portion of the nuclear reactor. After receiving a fall signal from the control rod drive mechanism, the control rod freely falls down to the nuclear reactor core with the gravity. The insertion time of a control rod absolutely needs evaluation for the safe operation of a nuclear reactor and satisfaction of the allowance requirements.
A conventional control rod insertion time is calculated using one-dimensional codes. The one-dimensional codes consider factors such as hydraulic resistance of a fluid, friction, and weight of a control rod assembly, but have a drawback of a big calculation error due to no consideration of three-dimensional hydraulic effects occurring inside a guide tube for guiding the control rod. Therefore, the conventional control rod insertion time has been conservatively evaluated by applying the high uncertainly of a value bigger than a real design. Under these circumstances the control rod insertion time may be much larger than measured time during the actual operation of the nuclear reactor.
Since the control rod insertion time is used to perform the operation of the nuclear reactor and the safety analysis evaluation, a practical value needs to be deduced with elimination of exaggerated conservatism. To evaluate the control rod insertion time similar to the actually measured value in the nuclear reactor, the thermal-hydraulic phenomenon having a three-dimensional, spatial distribution of factors such as the control rod, the nuclear reactor, the guide tube, and an impact absorption tube needs to be taken into consideration.

Simulation construction method for the measurement of control rod insertion time

KEPCO ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.


A pressure sensor is constructed to include a sensor housing formed of metal, and a connector housing mainly formed of synthetic resin. The connector housing includes a shoulder portion thereof in the form of a metal plate having an inner and an outer periphery thereof. On the shoulder portion, there is formed a juncture of the sensor and connector housing as a result of joining the sensor and connector housing by curling a projecting portion or one of two end portions of the sensor housing toward the shoulder portion. Wherein, the curling is performed under engagement of the sensor and connector housing therebetween, for assembling the pressure sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure sensor to be assembled by mutually engaging a sensor housing formed of metal, and a connector housing mainly formed of synthetic resin.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
One example of such a pressure sensor mentioned above, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 209115/1995, titled xe2x80x9cSEMI-CONDUCTOR TYPE PRESSURE SENSOR AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR,xe2x80x9d is generally known.
Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a section of a pressure sensor 900 constructed according to the conventional technology described in the above publication. As shown in FIG. 10, the conventional technology permits the pressure sensor 900 to be assembled by effecting so called caulking (i.e., curling) directly on a connector housing 1 (formed of synthetic resin) in which terminal pins 2a, 2b and the like have been insert-molded. The caulking is performed by curling a projecting portion or one of two end portions of a sensor housing 3 (formed of metal), resulting in juncture and fixed engagement of the connector and sensor housing 1, 3.
However, the conventional pressure sensor, which is to be assembled by the caulking performed directly on the connector housing 1, suffers from the following problems:
(Problem1)
When the caulking is performed for assembling the pressure sensor 900, the junction of the connector housing 1 formed of synthetic resin and the sensor housing 1, which junction means an abutment surface of the connector housing 1 on which the projecting portion or the one end portion of the connector housing 3 abuts, is subjected to an excessively large stress thereon, leading to a likelihood of undesired deformation or failure of the connector housing 1.
(Problem 2)
Since the connector housing 1 confines a fluid 13 of high-pressure in a fluid-tight manner, the junction of connector housing 1 with the sensor housing 3 is, in operation of the pressure sensor 900, subjected to a large compressive stress thereon, unexpectedly resulting in deformation or deflection of the connector housing 1 at the above junction thereof.
One of possible solutions to those problems is, for instance, to design the connector housing 1 so as to have an increased area for the junction of the connector housing 1. However, this solution would increase the total size of a pressure sensor, meaning that downsizing thereof would be prevented.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pressure sensor which is available even under high pressure and which is capable of being downsized.
This object indicated above may be achieved according to any one of the following modes of this invention. Each of these modes of the invention is numbered like the appended claims, and depends from the other mode or modes, where appropriate. This type of explanation about the present invention is for better understanding of some ones of a plurality of technical feats and a plurality of combinations thereof disclosed in this specification, and dose not mean that the plurality of technical features and the plurality of combinations in this specification are interpreted to encompass only the following modes of this invention:
(1) A pressure sensor including a sensor housing formed of metal, and a connector housing mainly formed of synthetic resin. The connector housing includes a shoulder portion thereof in the form of a metal plate having an inner and an outer periphery thereof, on which shoulder portion a juncture of the sensor and connector housing is formed as a result of joining the sensor and connector housing by curling a projecting portion or one of two end portions of the sensor housing toward the shoulder portion. Further, the curling is performed under engagement of the sensor and connector housing therebetween, for assembling the pressure sensor.
In the pressure sensor according to this mode (1), the shoulder portion of the connector housing functioning as the junction of the connector housing with the sensor housing is constructed by the metal plate. As a result, the strength of pressure resistance of the pressure sensor is increased, preventing the connector housing from being unexpectedly deformed or failed when manufactured. The increase in the strength of pressure resistance of the pressure sensor would also eliminate a likelihood of undesired deformation and deflection of the connector housing, leading to availability of the pressure sensor even in high-pressure environment.
In the pressure sensor according to this mode (1), the term xe2x80x9cconnector housingxe2x80x9d may be interpreted to mean a sub-housing of the pressure sensor for accommodating at least one external connector, and the term xe2x80x9csensor housingxe2x80x9d may be interpreted to mean another sub-housing of the pressure sensor for receiving a fluid, a pressure of which is to be measured by the pressure sensor. It is not indispensable in practicing the present invention, to configure the sensor housing to accommodate a pressure-sensitive element
In the pressure sensor according to this mode (1), the term xe2x80x9cinner periphery of the metal platexe2x80x9d can be called a xe2x80x9cthrough holexe2x80x9d for permitting a terminal pin to be passed therethrough.
(2) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (1), wherein the metal plate is generally shaped as a ring.
(3) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (1) or (2), wherein the sensor housing is coaxially fitted with the connector housing, wherein the metal plate includes one reference line intersecting a plane of the metal plate, and wherein the metal plate is fitted with the connector housing such that the connector housing extends substantially parallel to the reference line.
(4) The pressure sensor according to any one of the above modes (1)-(3), wherein the junction of the sensor and connector housing is located on an edge of the shoulder portion of the connector housing, which edge is formed so as to include, on a cross-section obtained by hypothetically cutting the shoulder portion by a reference plane perpendicular to a plane of the metal plate, at least one of a curved line, a straight line intersecting the plane of the metal plate, and a stepped line.
The pressure sensor according to this mode (4) would enable an area of a surface on which a contact of the shoulder portion of the connector with the sensor housing is performed, to be easily increased as compared with the case of a metal plate having a flat end face thereof. The increase in the contacting area contributes to even distribution of pressures acting on a portion of the connector housing which is contacted with one of two end faces of the metal plate, meaning that the strength of pressure resistance of the pressure sensor is improved.
(5) The pressure sensor according to any one of the above modes (1)-(4), wherein the connector housing is integrally formed together with the metal plate.
The pressure sensor according to this mode (5) would permit a reduction in the manufacturing time thereof, and would also permit close engagement between the metal plate and the remainder of the connector housing which is formed of synthetic resin. The close engagement between the metal plate and the remainder of the connector housing would, for example, facilitate to downsize the pressure sensor, and to increase the strength of the pressure resistance of the pressure sensor.
(6) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (5), wherein the connector housing is formed by a process in which the metal plate is inserted into a mold for molding the connector housing, prior to the molding, and then a mass of raw synthetic resin is fed into the mold and is thereafter hardened.
(7) The pressure sensor according to any one of the above modes (1)-(6), wherein the metal plate is fitted with the connector housing unremovably therefrom, by holing the metal plate by two opposing portions of the connector housing which cooperate to cause the metal plate to be interposed therebetween.
(8) The pressure sensor according to any one of the above modes (1)-(7), wherein the inner periphery of the metal plate is formed so as to extend, on a cross-section obtained by hypothetically cutting the metal plate by one reference plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which pressure to be measured by the pressure sensor acts therein, to form one closed line other than a true circle.
In the pressure sensor according to this mode (8), the inner periphery of the metal plate is formed so as to extend on the cross-section of the metal plate along the closed line other than a true circle. On the other hand, in general, a space formed in the inner periphery of the metal plate is intended for permitting at least one conductor to be passed through the inner periphery.
Therefore, the pressure sensor according to this mode (8) would permit the metal plate to be configured so as to avoid the inner periphery to have an excessive dimension, owing to the flexibility in shape of the cross-section of the inner periphery. The avoidance of the excessively increased size of the inner periphery permits an increase in area of a surface on which a contact of the metal plate with the remainder of the connector housing is performed. The increased contacting area leads to an increased seating area in which the remainder of the connector housing, formed of synthetic resin, is to be seated on a surface of the metal plate, and eventually leads to a reduced compressive stress acting on the synthetic resin. The reduced compressive stress permits the pressure sensor to be available even under high-pressure.
In the pressure sensor according to this mode (8), the acceptance of the closed line other than a true circle as the cross-sectional shape of the inner periphery would also permit the length of the closed line to be longer than the true circle.
On the other hand, there is formed an annular portion within a bearing part of the synthetic resin of the connector housing. The bearing part bears a shearing stress produced in operation of the pressure sensor, and the bearing part is, for example, located between the metal plate and the sensor housing. The annular portion extends substantially parallel to a direction in which the sharing stress acts within the bearing part of the connector housing.
To refer to the relationship in length between the closed line mentioned above, and a circumference of a transversal section of the annular portion mentioned above, the longer the closed line, the longer the circumference.
Additionally, the longer the above circumference of the transversal section of the annular portion, the smaller the sharing stress of the above bearing part of the connector housing. The small sharing stress eliminates a necessity to design the connector housing so as to have the bearing part of a longer dimension for reducing the sharing stress of the bearing part. The elimination of the necessity in designing dimension permits the bearing part to have a reduced thickness thereof, enabling the pressure sensor to be downsized.
(9) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (8), wherein the inner periphery of the metal plate includes at least one of a convex projecting from the true circle outwardly thereof, and a concave projecting from the true circle inwardly thereof.
(10) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (8) or (9), wherein the metal plate is fitted with the connector housing such that a space formed in the inner periphery of the metal plate is filled with the synthetic resin of the connector housing.
(11) The pressure sensor according to any one of the above modes (8)-(10), wherein the connector housing includes a connecting portion thereof with which a connector is to be connected, from which connecting portion at least one conductor extends passing through the inner periphery of the metal plate toward the sensor housing.
(12) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (11), wherein the inner periphery of the metal plate is configured to have a necessary and sufficient dimension permitting the at least one conductor to pass through the inner periphery of the metal plate.
(13) The pressure sensor according to any one of the above modes (1)-(12), wherein the metal plate is formed such that at least one of a continued groove, ridge and stepped portion extends along the entire circumferential length of at least one of the inner and outer periphery of the metal plate, with a corresponding portion of the connector housing fitted with the at least one of the continued groove, ridge and stepped portion.
In the pressure sensor according to this mode (13), the metal plate is so formed as to have a projecting circumferential portion thereof in relation to a portion of the metal plate adjacent to the projecting circumferential portion, due to the presence of the at least one of the continued groove, ridge and stepped portion of the metal plate. The projecting circumferential portion of the metal plate can be tightly interposed by two portions of the connector housing opposing to each other in a direction in which pressure to be measured by the pressure sensor acts therein, together with of a portion of the connector housing which is integrally formed with the above two opposing portions and which is adjacent to the projecting circumferential portion of the metal plate in a direction intersecting the above acting direction of pressure to be measured.
On the other hand, the amount of shrinkage of an object made of synthetic resin is larger than that of an object made of metal, in general.
Consequently, in the pressure sensor according to this mode (13), at least in the event where the above projecting circumferential portion of the metal plate is disposed at the proximity of the sensor housing, the amount of a sink of a portion of the connector housing adjacent to one of two end faces of the metal plate which is closer to the sensor housing than the other end face would be reduced, after the connector housing has been integrally formed in the presence of the metal plate. Wherein, the sink, which occurs due to an increase in shrinkage of the synthetic resin with a drop in the temperature of the synthetic resin, causes a gap between the one end face of the metal plate and the adjacent portion of the connector housing.
Owing to this fact, when the pressure sensor according to this mode (13) is installed in a vehicle or the like, fatigue of a metal component of the connector housing (e.g., a bonding wire for bonding a pressure-sensitive element and a conductor both disposed within the connector housing), which fatigue is to result from vibration of the connector housing due to the gap between the one end face of the metal plate and the adjacent portion of the connector housing, would be eliminated, leading to an improvement in reliability and durability of the pressure sensor.
(14) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (13), wherein the connector housing is integrally formed together with the metal plate, and wherein the at least one of the continued groove, ridge and stepped portion of the metal plate is disposed at the proximity of one of two end faces of the metal plate which is closer to the sensor housing than the other end face.
(15) A pressure sensor including a sensor housing formed of metal, and a connector housing mainly formed of synthetic resin. The connector housing includes a shoulder portion thereof in the form of a metal plate having an inner and an outer periphery thereof, on which shoulder portion the connector housing is engaged with the sensor housing, for assembling the pressure sensor. Further, a junction of the sensor and connector housing is located on an edge of the shoulder portion of the connector housing, which edge is formed so as to include, on a cross-section obtained by hypothetically cutting the shoulder portion by a reference plane perpendicular to a plane of the metal plate, at least one of a curved line, a straight line intersecting the plane of the metal plate, and a stepped line.
Wherein a junction of the sensor and connector housing is located on an edge of the shoulder portion of the connector housing, which edge is formed so as to include, on a cross-section obtained by hypothetically cutting the shoulder portion by a reference plane perpendicular to a plane of the metal plate, at least one of a curved line, a straight line intersecting the plane of the metal plate, and a stepped line.
The pressure sensor according to this mode (15) would enable an area of a surface on which a contact of the shoulder portion of the connector with the sensor housing is performed, to be easily increased as compared with the case of a metal plate having a flat end face thereof. The increase in the contacting area contributes to even distribution of pressures acting on a portion of the connector housing which is contacted with one of two end faces of the metal plate, meaning that the strength of pressure resistance of the pressure sensor is improved.
(16) A pressure sensor including a sensor housing formed of metal, and a connector housing mainly formed of synthetic resin. The connector housing includes a shoulder portion thereof in the form of a metal plate having an inner and an outer periphery thereof, on which shoulder portion the connector housing is engaged with the sensor housing, for assembling the pressure sensor. Further, the connector housing is integrally formed together with the metal plate.
The pressure sensor according to this mode (16) would permit a reduction in the manufacturing time thereof; and would also permit close engagement between the metal plate and the remainder of the connector housing which is formed of synthetic resin. The close engagement between the metal plate and the remainder of the connector housing would, for example, facilitate to downsize the pressure sensor, and to increase the strength of the pressure resistance of the pressure sensor.
(17) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (16), wherein the connector housing is formed by a process in which the metal plate is inserted into a mold for molding the connector housing prior to the molding, and then a mass of raw synthetic resin is fed into the mold and is thereafter hardened.
(18) A pressure sensor including, a sensor housing formed of metal, and a connector housing mainly formed of synthetic resin. The connector housing includes a shoulder portion thereof in the form of a metal plate having an inner and an outer periphery thereof, on which shoulder portion the connector housing is engaged with the sensor housing, for assembling the pressure sensor. Further, the inner periphery of the metal plate is formed so as to extend, on a cross-section obtained by hypothetically cutting the metal plate by one reference plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which pressure to be measured by the pressure sensor acts therein, to form one closed line other than a true circle.
In the pressure sensor according to this mode (18), the inner periphery of the metal plate is formed so as to extend on the cross-section of the metal plate along the closed line other than a true circle. On the other hand, in general, a space formed in the inner periphery of the metal plate is intended for permitting at least one conductor to be passed through the inner periphery.
Therefore, the pressure sensor according to this mode (18) would permit the metal plate to be configured so as to avoid the inner periphery to have an excessive dimension, owing to the flexibility in shape of the cross-section of the inner periphery. The avoidance of the excessively increased size of the inner periphery permits an increase in area of a surface on which a contact of the metal plate with the remainder of the connector housing is performed. The increased contacting area leads to an increased seating area in which the remainder of the connector housing, formed of synthetic resin, is to be seated on a surface of the metal plate, and eventually leads to a reduced compressive stress acting on the synthetic resin. The reduced compressive stress permits the pressure sensor to be available even under high-pressure.
In the pressure sensor according to this mode (18), the acceptance of the closed line other than a true circle as the cross-sectional shape of the inner periphery would also permit the length of the closed line to be longer than the true circle.
On the other hand, there is formed an annular portion within a bearing part of the synthetic resin of the connector housing. The bearing part bears a shearing stress produced in operation, and the bearing part is, for example, located between the metal plate and the sensor housing. The annular portion extends substantially parallel to a direction in which the sharing stress acts within the bearing part of the connector housing.
To refer to the relationship in length between the closed line mentioned above, and a circumference of a transversal section of the annular portion mentioned above, the longer the closed line, the longer the circumference.
Additionally, the longer the above circumference of the transversal section of the annular portion, the smaller the sharing stress of the above bearing part of the connector housing. The small sharing stress eliminates a necessity to design the connector housing so as to have the bearing part of a longer dimension for reducing the sharing stress of the bearing part. The elimination of the necessity in designing dimension permits the bearing part to have a reduced thickness thereof, enabling the pressure sensor to be downsized.
(19) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (18), wherein the inner periphery of the metal plate includes at least one of a convex projecting from the true circle outwardly thereof, and a concave projecting from the true circle inwardly thereof.
(20) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (18) or (19), wherein the metal plate is fitted with the connector housing such that a space formed in the inner periphery of the metal plate is filled with the synthetic resin of the connector housing.
(21) The pressure sensor according to any one of the above modes (18)-(20), wherein the connector housing includes a connecting portion thereof with which a connector is to be connected, from which connecting portion at least one conductor extends passing through the inner periphery of the metal plate toward the sensor housing.
(22) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (21), wherein the inner periphery of the metal plate is configured to have a necessary and sufficient dimension permitting the at least one conductor to pass through the inner periphery of the metal plate.
(23) A pressure sensor including a sensor housing formed of metal, and a connector housing mainly formed of synthetic resin. The connector housing includes a shoulder portion thereof in the form of a metal plate having an inner and an outer periphery thereof, on which shoulder portion the connector housing is engaged with the sensor housing, for assembling the pressure sensor. Further, the metal plate is formed such that at least one of a continued groove, ridge and stepped portion extends along the entire circumferential length of at least one of the inner and outer periphery of the metal plate, with a corresponding portion of the connector housing fitted with the at least one of the continued groove, ridge and stepped portion.
In the pressure sensor according to this mode (23), the metal plate is so formed as to have a projecting circumferential portion thereof in relation to a portion of the metal plate adjacent to the projecting circumferential portion, due to the presence of the at least one of the continued groove, ridge and stepped portion of the metal plate. The projecting circumferential portion of the metal plate can be tightly interposed by two portions of the connector housing opposing to each other in a direction in which pressure to be measured by the pressure sensor acts therein, together with a portion of the connector housing which is integrally formed with the above two opposing portions and which is adjacent to the projecting circumferential portion of the metal plate in a direction intersecting the above acting direction of pressure to be measured.
On the other hand, the amount of shrinkage of an object made of synthetic resin is larger than that of an object made of metal, in general.
Consequently, in the pressure sensor according to this mode (23), at least in the event where the above projecting circumferential portion of the metal plate is disposed at the proximity of the sensor housing, the amount of a sink of a portion of the connector housing adjacent to one of two end faces of the metal plate which is closer to the sensor housing than the other end face would be reduced, after the connector housing has been integrally formed in the presence of the metal plate. Wherein, the sink, which occurs due to an increase in shrinkage of the synthetic resin with a drop in the temperature of the synthetic resin, causes a gap between the one end face of the metal plate and the adjacent portion of the connector housing.
Owing to this fact, when the pressure sensor according to this mode (23) is installed in a vehicle or the like, fatigue of a metal component of the connector housing (e.g., a bonding wire for bonding a pressure-sensitive element and a conductor both disposed within the connector housing), which fatigue is to result from vibration of the connector housing due to the gap between the one end face of the metal plate and the adjacent portion of the connector housing, would be eliminated, leading to an improvement in reliability and durability of the pressure sensor.
(24) The pressure sensor according to the above mode (23), wherein the connector housing is integrally formed together with the metal plate, and wherein the at least one of the continued groove, ridge and stepped portion of the metal plate is disposed at the proximity of one of two end faces of the metal plate which is closer to the sensor housing than the other end face.

Pressure sensor constructed by joining two housings with ring-like metal plate interposed therebetween


A retroillumination image photographing apparatus of a crystalline lens in which an eye to be examined is projected by illumination light, and a crystalline lens is retroillumination with reflected light at an fundus of the illumination light, which includes: an alignment apparatus which aligns a photographing optical system of the retroillumination image photographing apparatus with a predetermined region of an eye to be examined; a storage apparatus which stores the position of the photographing optical system aligned by the alignment apparatus; and origin computing means which computes a specific region of the eye to be examined as an origin of an image pickup position of said photographing optical system based on the positional information of the storage apparatus; and detecting means which detects movement quantity of the image pickup position of the photographing optical system; and a display apparatus which displays the image pickup position of the photographing optical system based on the detection result of the detecting apparatus.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for observing and examining lens opacity in human eyes, and more particularly to a retroillumination image photographing apparatus which is capable of obtaining a useful image of the lens.
A retroillumination image photographing apparatus in which an eye to be examined is projected to a light and the crystalline lens is retroilluminated with reflection at the fundus, thereby enabling it to observe the state of opacity in the crystalline lens has been heretofore well known.
In such a conventional retroillumination image photographing apparatus, alignment is performed by moving the apparatus main body in a longitudinal direction so as to photograph a position where an opacity area appears most clearly when the lens opacity is photographed.
With a conventional apparatus, however, it has not been possible to know exactly how deep the photographing position exists in the crystalline lens.
As a result, it has not been unable to photograph always at the same depth even for the same patient, which has interfered with the follow-up of chronological change in the progress of a cataract. Namely, there has been such a problem that pertinent evaluation cannot be made unless an error of the position of a photographed crystalline lens is taken into consideration when an opacity area is obtained repeatedly from the retroillumination image, thus being impossible to grasp a delicate change.
Further, the opacity areas are different depending on the types of cataract, and pertinent diagnosis such as on either nuclear cataract or cortical cataract (an opacity area exists in the cortex on the side of an iris or a vitreous body) could not be made.
Furthermore, it has not been possible to know the extent of opacity exactly even if a photograph is performed while changing the depth position.

Apparatus for photographic retroillumination image on eyeground


Anodic deburring or brightening of steel articles is carried out in an alkaline solution containing, per liter of the solution, at least 200 grams of water, at least 300 grams of polyhydric alcohol and at least 200 grams of alkali sulphamate.

This invention relates to a method of deburring and/or polishing a steel article. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of deburring and/or polishing a steel article which comprises subjecting said article as the anode to the action of a direct current in an electrolyte containing, in addition to one or more electrolytically active (that is, ionizable) constituents, at least one polyhydric alcohol for controlling the viscosity of the bath. The method involves the use of a bath voltage (that is, a voltage between the anode and the cathode) in the range of 4 to 25 volts and a current density in the range of 2 to 50 amperes per square decimeter.
A deburring method of the kind above set out is required to produce a satisfactory burr removing action while removing as little material as possible from the even areas of the article. In electrolytic polishing (also referred to as electrolytic brightening), some slight removal of material from the surface of the article is, of course, unavoidable. The articles treated should present a uniform and attractive appearance throughout their surface, with no remaining roughness.
The practical applicability of the method and the total costs of the treatment very much depend on the extent to which various practical desiderata can be satisfied. The time required for the treatment of an article should be short. The useful life of the bath solution should be long. The bath temperature required should not be undesirably high, preferably not substantially in excess of room temperature. The bath as well as the vapours given off thereby should not be poisonous or otherwise constitute a health hazard. Spent bath liguids should be disposable simply and cheaply.
Known methods of the general kind above specified entail the use of baths containing substantial proportions of one or more strong acids. Baths of this kind, being strongly erosive and dangerous, require a well-trained personnel as well as shops equipped with facilities for the exhausting and neutralizing of the escaping vapours. Also, the useful life of the baths is comparatively short.
The present invention has for its general object to provide a method of the kind above specified and a bath composition therefor, which have improved properties in at least some of the respects above referred to. A more special object is the provision of a method and an electrolyte bath therefor which require a minimum of safety measures and which can be handled by personnel having no or little special training. Still another object is the provision of a bath which has a long useful life and, when spent, can be disposed of easily.


Apparatus are provided for manipulating various internal tissue and organ structures of a patient incident to a variety of medical procedures. Organ or tissue manipulation is obtained through the use of one or more radially displaceable members such as balloons, expandable sponges, and various other resilient members that can be positioned about at least a portion of the periphery of a generally elongated tubular member that is insertable into the interior of the body of a patient through a portal or similar aperture formed in the body surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to surgical instruments and procedures, and more particularly to surgical instruments for manipulating various tissue and organ structures such as cranial, uterine, pelvic and abdominal structures during the course of a surgical procedure. More particularly, the invention relates to surgical instruments and procedures for manipulating such organ and tissue structures from a position remote from the organ or tissue structure to be manipulated.
2. Description of the Related Art
Oftentimes during the course of a surgical procedure involving the cranial, uterine, pelvic or abdominal cavities of a patient, the need arises to manipulate various tissue and organ structures in order to better visualize the surgical field, separate adhering tissues, and displace healthy tissue from tissue to be treated incident to the surgical procedure. The need and demand for remotely controllable tissue and organ manipulating devices has increase significantly since the advent of remotely controllable fiber optic imaging systems. Surgical procedures such as exploratory knee surgery and certain gynecological procedures which only a few years ago had required relatively large incisions to be made into the respective portions of a patient's knee or abdomen now can be performed by relatively simple, remotely manipulable surgical implements which can be inserted in relatively small surgical incisions formed in the body of a patient, thereby reducing trauma to the patient and greatly diminishing patient recovery time. In view of the success that has been obtained from such surgical procedures, physicians have been anxious to expand these techniques into other types of surgical and diagnostic procedures. However, prior to the development of the subject invention, their efforts have been frustrated. For example, it would be advantageous to be able to collect tissue and/or fluid samples from remote, interior portions of the body without having to subject the patient to general anesthesia incident to conventional surgical procedures and the complications that can arise therefrom. It would further be advantageous to have a single, multifunctional manipulating instrument readily adaptable for use with a variety of different surgical implements for tissue piercing, sample collection, grasping, and manipulation.
Accordingly, it is an object of the subject invention to provide a universal, multi-purpose surgical instrument for remotely manipulating various internal structures such as cranial, uterine, pelvic and abdominal structures.
Another object of the subject invention is to provide a surgical instrument for remotely manipulating cranial, uterine, pelvic and abdominal structures during surgical procedures such as laparoscopy, hysterosalpingography, hysteroscopy, hysterectomy, endometrial tissue destruction, removal of myomas, correction of dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB), and other known procedures typically performed by conventional surgical techniques.
Yet a further object of the subject invention is to provide a surgical instrument for remotely manipulating cranial, uterine, pelvic and abdominal structures that permits for the use of accessory devices such as plug devices and tissue-collecting sponges.
Yet a further object of the subject invention is to provide a remotely operable surgical instrument for manipulating cranial, uterine, pelvic and abdominal structures that provides for the insertion of a variety of different surgical devices of varying size through a passage defined by the surgical instrument.
Yet still a further object of the subject invention is to provide a surgical instrument for manipulating cranial, uterine, pelvic and abdominal structures that is easy to use and manipulate, interchangeable with other devices, of uncomplicated construction, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Multifunctional manipulating instrument for various surgical procedures


A cushion construction method is provided whereby a resilient polymeric foam core is covered with an intermediate flexible non-woven fabric which is adhered to the foam by mechanical force with the ends of the intermediate fabric urged into slits formed in the polymeric core. A conventional decorative outer fabric is sewed or otherwise attached over the intermediate fabric to complete the cushion construction. The completed cushion is lightweight and requires no adhesives or solvents in its method of manufacture.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention herein ,pertains to furniture cushions and a method of making the same and particularly to a laminated cushion construction having a resilient core with an intermediate flexible non-woven fabric layer surrounding the core and covered with an outer woven fabric.
1. Description of the Prior Art And Objectives of the Invention
Manufacturing processes of cushions and related items have for many years employed synthetic polymeric foams such as polyurethane having a density of from one to five pounds per cubic foot to provide the necessary comfort, resiliency and durability required for sofas, chairs and other articles. More recently, cushion laminates have been utilized in which a resilient foam core is wrapped or covered with a protective intermediate layer to which a decorative outer fabric cover is applied. It is conventional to attach the intermediate layer which may consist of a relatively thin non-woven material or otherwise to the foam core by sewing or by the use of various solvent containing adhesives. Sewing of the laminate to the foam core is time consuming, expensive and is difficult to learn due to the different material used and the difference in sizes of the laminates and foam cores. During application of adhesives and during the drying stages, the adhesive solvents are released into the atmosphere, providing potential environmental damage and more recently, violations of certain safety and health laws and regulations. The adhesives employed have maintained the intermediate layer to the resilient core adequately and have prevented movement or slippage between the intermediate layer and polyurethane foam or other polymeric core, Recently, cushion manufacturers have had to take added precautions and sometimes have had to purchase solvent collecting equipment when using adhesives due to new environmental and safety regulations which generally increase production costs and diminish profits.
With the aforesaid disadvantages of conventional cushion construction methods, it is one objective of the present invention to provide a new method of cushion construction which eliminates the need of sewing the laminate to the foam core and of solvent containing adhesives and special solvent evaporation equipment to handle the same.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a cushion construction and method which will tightly adhere a flexible layer to a resilient polymeric foam core without increasing the manufacturer's costs.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a cushion construction and method which employs a mechanical bond to maintain the integrity between an intermediate flexible layer and a resilient inner core as the ends of the flexible layer are frictionally held in slits placed in the resilient core.
Various other objectives and attributes of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as more details of the invention unfold below.


A method, system, and apparatus for video coding and decoding with embedded motion information are disclosed. Image data is associated with basis functions and motion data. A method of identifying one or more basis functions which are representative of image data and associating the basis function with the motion data. A method or receiving information indicative of a basis function and of motion data and determining a motion vector based on the motion data. A system where portions of an image representative of basis functions are further associated with motion data at an encoder and then communicated to a decoder. A decoder produces at least portions of a predicted image using basis functions parameters and motion data.

Digital video services, such as transmitting digital video information over wireless transmission networks, digital satellite services, streaming video over the internet, delivering video content to personal digital assistants or cellular phones, etc., are increasing in popularity. Increasingly, digital video compression and decompression techniques may be implemented that balance visual fidelity with compression. levels to allow efficient transmission and storage of digital video content. Techniques that more resourcefully generate and/or convey motion information may help improve transmission efficiencies.


A connecting device and a robot having a cover on a first connector half unit, usually covering first electrodes and turning so that first electrodes come out of electrode projection holes when a second connector half unit is pushed against said first connector half unit, resulting in a state wherein said first electrodes are covered up when said first and second connector units are not connected. Consequently electrical reliability and safety can be remarkably improved.

This invention relates to a connecting device and a robot, and is suitably applied to a connector for electrically connecting a robot having a built-in secondary battery and an exclusive charger.
There has been a connector 1 of this type as shown in FIG. 11, comprising a connector half unit 3 having a plurality of projecting electrode terminals 2 and another connector half unit 5 having electrodes (pad) 4 corresponding respectively to each electrode terminal 2.
When using the connector 1 in a robot comprising a four-leg walking pet robot performing specific actions in accordance with directions from the user, the surrounding environment and an exclusive battery charger, the first connector 3 and the second connector 5 are placed in order to engage with the pet robot and the battery charger respectively.
In this pet robot, connecting the pet robot to the battery charger causes the first and second connectors 3,5 to thrust into each other, whereby each terminal 2 of the first connector half unit 3 comes into contact with corresponding terminal 4 of the second connector (half unit) 5, succeeding in the electrical connection of the pet robot and the batter charger.
Thus constructed, the connector 1 is, however, prone to have a problem of low reliability in electrical connectivity of the first and second connectors 3, 5, because the terminal 2 of the first connector 3 is always projected and exposed outside, it is easy to get dirty and broken.
Moreover, accordingly, in the case where the terminal of the first connector 3 is always projected and exposed outside, there has been a problem of low safety; the user has had a danger of getting electrical shocks and injuries, touching the terminal 2 of the first connector 3.
The present invention has been done considering those problems and is intended to offer a connecting device and a robot capable of improving electrical connectivity and safety. To obviate such problems according to this invention a cover is provided for connecting means comprising a first connector having a first terminal and a second connector having a second terminal corresponding to said first terminal. The first connector is provided with terminal projection slits corresponding to said first electrode terminals and a cover which usually covers the first terminals. When the second connector is pushed against the first connector, however, this cover turns so that the first electrode terminals may come out of the slits. As a result, with this connecting device, when the first and second connectors are not in contact with each other, the first electrode terminals are covered by the cover, whereby the first electrode terminals are prevented from getting dirty or broken, resulting from the user touching them, and the user is fully protected from electrical shocks and harm beforehand. Consequently the electrical reliability and safety can be substantially increased.
Also, according to this invention, in a robot comprising charging means incorporating the first electrode having the first terminals and the second connector having the second terminals corresponding to the first terminals, the first connector is provided with a set of terminal projection slits corresponding to the first terminals and a cover, which usually covers the first terminals and turns so that the first terminals may thrust out of the terminal projection slits when the second connector is pushed against the first connector.
As a result, with this robot, since the first electrode is covered by the cover when the robot is not connected to the charger, the first electrode terminals are prevented from getting dirty or broken, possibly resulting from the user touching them, and the user is surely protected from electrical shocks and harm beforehand. Consequently the electrical reliability and safety are substantially increased.