A layered body includes a cover or skin layer, a cushion layer 82, and an adhesive layer. The skin layer is made from a cover or skin material. The cushion layer is made from a cushioning material. The adhesive layer is made from an adhesive and provided between the skin layer and the cushion layer. A portion of the skin layer located between valleys of the cushion layer and corresponding to a bottom portion of a concave portion has positive curvature in the side view. The bottom portion of the concave portion between the valleys in a surface of the cushioning layer on which the adhesive layer is provided has negative curvature or is flat in the side view.

In recent years, decorated products have been used in fields such as the automotive industry and the clothing industry.
As one of decoration methods, quilting plays an important role for displaying a three-dimensional effect, and especially for adding commercial value by enhancing designability of vehicle interior components, furniture or the like. For example, a prior art for producing vehicle seats with leather is as follows. First, leather (cow leather, or the like) tanned with chrome is prepared as a cover or skin material. The skin material is bonded to a cushioning material such as urethane foam with a thermoplastic adhesive sheet, or the skin material and the cushioning material are layered each other and sewed therearound. Then, the materials are sewed by a sewing machine in accordance with created designs. The cushioning material in the sewn portions is compressed and becomes thinner so that concave portions are formed. On the other hand, a portion surrounded by the sewn portions becomes a convex portion which has a three-dimensional effect since thickness of the cushioning material does not change in the surrounded portion. Diamond patterns or border patterns are often used as the three-dimensional designs.
For example, Patent Literature 1 (JP3037948B) discloses a method for making quilting using an adhesive. The method uses woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, leather, artificial leather, paper, or the like (a skin material), and a cushion (a cushioning material) such as urethane, sponge, synthetic cotton, palm lock as an intermediate layer which is disposed on the skin materials. An adhesive is injected from a bottom surface or an upper surface and cured by ultrasonic waves or high-frequency waves while the injected portion is compressed. Thereby, the upper layer, the intermediate layer and the bottom layer are bonded each other to form a concave portion. The quilting is made by performing the above process once or by continuously repeating the process.
Patent Literature 2 (JPH03-7436Y2) discloses waterproof quilt-like synthetic leather. In the synthetic leather, threads are arranged on a knitted surface in the form of seams using heat-shrink threads, and a urethane film is integrally coated on the knitted surface. In the coating film, concave portions are formed on the lines of the seams and stitch patterns are formed.

Layered body and method for producing same


A rack system is disclosed that includes a plurality of electrical modules (48), a frame (10) supporting the plurality of electrical modules (48) that includes a plurality of frame members (16, 18, 20, 22, 26, 38, 39, 40) and a plurality of locations (52) for supportably receiving one of the plurality of electrical modules (48), a first frame member (16) of the plurality of frame members including a first bore (68) for transporting a liquid along a length of the first frame member (16) and having a plurality of openings extending through the first frame member (16) between a sidewall of the bore (68) and an exterior surface of the frame member (68), and a plurality of first connectors (64) mounted in the plurality of openings, wherein one of the plurality of electrical modules (48) includes a cooling liquid pathway (84) and at least one second connector (86) providing access to the cooling liquid pathway (84) detachably engaging the first connector (64) to provide fluid communication between the first bore (68) and the cooling liquid pathway (84) when the one of the plurality of electrical modules (48) is mounted at one of the plurality of locations (52).

Electrical modules, which may comprise line replaceable modules (LRM's), may include internal cooling passages for carrying a cooling liquid, such as water, through the module. In use, these modules are connected to sources of cooling liquid and to power sources using a variety of hoses or pipes and wires.
Modules are sometimes mounted in a cabinet or on a rack with other LRM's. This arrangement is space-efficient, but concentrates many heat sources in a small, often enclosed, area, making it important that each module receives an adequate supply of cooling liquid. Mounting the modules in close proximity to each other, however, makes it difficult to connect and disconnect each module to a source of cooling liquid and/or power. It is therefore desirable to provide improved electrical modules and supports that allow for easy interconnection as well as systems of such modules and supports.

Electrical module and support therefor with integrated cooling


Crosstalk is eliminated in a transceiver which is operated in a frequency-division-multiplex full duplex mode. The technique is suitable in particular for what is referred to as software-defined telecommunications equipment. The frequency division multiplex transceiver has a baseband block, a transmit path and a receive path which respectively transmit and receive on different frequencies (full duplex mode). Furthermore, an auxiliary transmit path is provided which is connected to the receive path and which adds to the received signal a signal whose phase is shifted by 180° with respect to the phase of the crosstalk portion in the first receive path at the summation or superimposition point and which has the same frequency range as the transmit signal. The auxiliary transmit path is driven here, independently of the first transmit path, by the baseband block so as to minimize the crosstalk sensed by the baseband block.

The present invention relates to a frequency division multiplex transceiver and to a method for eliminating crosstalk in a frequency division multiplex transceiver.
When mobile radio devices are constructed, it is necessary to take measures to protect the RF stage against overloading by strong interference signals or other undesired signals. A potential source of interference signals is crosstalk which is generated by the transmit path of a transceiver when it is operated in what is referred to as the full-duplex-frequency division multiplex mode. If the crosstalk generated by the transmit path is very strong in this operating mode, the receive path of the transceiver cannot operate satisfactorily, in particular at relatively weak received signal levels.
On the other hand, in what is referred to as a software-defined mobile radio device or a similar telecommunications device, the RF stage covers a very wide frequency spectrum (for example in a range from several hundred megahertz as far as the gigahertz range). The reason for this is it is intended that in the future a mobile radio device should, if appropriate, also be capable of covering a plurality of standards (GSM, DECT, UMTS, etc.).
Furthermore, a software-defined mobile radio device permits the duplex spacing to be set in a variable and flexible way. For this reason, in this case crosstalk from the transmit path is a particularly critical point which needs to be dealt with.
Theoretically, as far as such elimination of the crosstalk generated by the transmit path is concerned, filter-like duplexers, bandpass filters or stopband filters can be used to reduce the crosstalk in the receive path. These concepts can, of course, also be used in software-defined telecommunications radio devices. However, in the aforesaid technologies the frequency band and the duplex spacing are permanently predefined. On the other hand, this is generally not the case in software-defined devices. This means that, for example, the filters or the duplexers, must be embodied so as to be tunable so that they can also be used with variable frequency bands or duplex spacings. Such tunable filters, duplexers or the like are, however, difficult to implement and are not available at present owing to the requirements made of the size, the weight, the energy consumption and the linearity of mobile radio devices or similar products.
In summary, there are therefore two basic problems which make it more difficult to eliminate the crosstalk:
a) large transmit/receive frequency range which has to be covered in particular by mobile radio devices which operate according to a plurality of standards (DECT, UMTS, GSM), and
b) the frequency dependence (frequency response) of the crosstalk within the transmission bandwidth itself.
A further known technology for reducing stray field influences is the analog elimination of crosstalk in the RF stage. According to this technology, part of the transmit power of the transmit path is branched off as an elimination signal and coupled into the receive path with a phase shift of 180° with respect to the transmit signal and with the same frequency as the transmit signal. To do this, a damping element and a phase shifter are provided. The necessary phase shift of 180° is however virtually impossible to obtain in the case of a frequency dependence (frequency response) of the crosstalk within the transmission bandwidth itself because the damping element and the phase shifter generally have a smooth transmission curve.

Frequency multiplex transmitter and method for eliminating crosstalk


Apparatuses and methods for washing a plurality of fluid samples are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a system for washing a plurality of fluid samples respectively located within a plurality of cuvettes includes a rotor configured to rotate the plurality of cuvettes about an axis, a traveler mechanism located beneath the rotor, the traveler mechanism configured to move a plurality of magnets parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor to position the plurality of magnets so that each cuvette of the plurality of cuvettes is located adjacent to at least one magnet of the plurality of magnets, and a wash system located above the rotor, the wash system configured to at least one of inject fluid into or aspirate fluid from the plurality of the cuvettes, while the plurality of magnets suspend magnetic particles located within each of the plurality of cuvettes.

Many immunochemistry analysis systems require that analyte molecules in a patient's biological sample (e.g. serum or plasma) attach to paramagnetic particles. Such systems require that magnets be positioned so that the paramagnetic particles can be localized and one or more washing steps can be performed to remove background signals associated with potential contaminants and interfering substances that may be present in samples.
The analyses performed by these systems, however, are relatively slow because the equipment required is bulky and it is difficult to both localize paramagnetic particles and wash a plurality of samples at the same time. There is accordingly a need for equipment that streamlines this process, that is, efficiently localizes the paramagnetic particles in a plurality of cuvettes so that the washing steps can be performed while the paramagnetic particles are localized.
Older systems have exhibited performance problems including unacceptably long collection times, beads failing to stay on the magnets during wash, and non-resuspendability of the beads in the next step—stronger magnets benefit the first and second of these, but impact the third. Thus a successful system must provide the best balance of magnet strength and duration of collection.

Apparatuses and methods for suspending and washing the contents of a plurality of cuvettes


A paint pad allows a user to produce a unique finish to a surface without having to wear gloves. The pad includes a base having an upper surface and a lower surface. A painting medium, such as a sponge, chamois leather, chenille, loofah, synthetic foam or cloth, is connected to the lower surface of the base. A handle extends from the upper surface of the base. Preferably, the handle and base form a one piece structure made of polystyrene foam or a lightweight plastic. The handle and base have shapes and thicknesses for maximizing user control of over the painting medium and for preventing the user's hand from contacting the painting medium and the surface being painted. In one preferred embodiment, the base and handle are both circular, with the handle extending from a center of the base and with the diameter of the base being greater than the diameter of the handle. In other preferred embodiments, the handle and base are both generally rectangular, with the width of the handle being less than the width of the base. The present paint pad provides for even paint distribution, is long lasting and is economical. In preferred embodiments, the paint pad is packaged in a single paper or paperboard sheet having a front panel, a back panel and a middle panel connecting bottom edges of the front and back panels. The back panel includes a cutout region for receiving the handle of the paint pad.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/012,546, filed Feb. 29, 1996.
The present invention relates to decorating equipment for painting large and small areas.
Ragging and sponging are painting techniques for creating textured surfaces. Chamois, sponges and other mediums are used to apply paint in such a fashion that the paint is not uniformly applied onto the surface. Altering the pressure exerted and the direction in which the paint is applied results in a infinite variety of possible patterns. Nearly uniform impressions may be formed on the painted surface. Similar results are achieved by first painting a surface in the normal fashion using a brush or a roller and then using the chamois or other medium to disturb the uniform surface.
Handheld sponges and chamois are typically used to paint walls, ceilings, floors, furniture, table tops, pipes, trim, mirrors, glass, canvas, paper and objects of art. A major drawback associated with existing handheld implements is that they are difficult to grip. As a result, users experience a lack control. That lack of control restricts the user's ability to create a desirable uniform impression. Needs exist for handheld tools which increase user control throughout the painting process.
Existing handheld sponges and chamois are messy. Users' hands are in constant contact with the paint. While gloves may keep paint from contacting the user's hands, unintentional smudging and glove prints litter the painted surface and detract from the quality of the painting. That problem is exacerbated in situations where users repeatably change the color of the paint being used. Those problems are not eliminated when users wear gloves. Needs exist for handheld sponges and similar implements which keep users' hands away from the paint-carrying sponge or cloth during application and cleaning.


An antitheft apparatus includes a control section. When a status change from a closed state to an open state of a luggage door caused by regular means is detected in an arming state being ready to output an alarm, the control section shifts a status from the arming state to a disarmed state being not ready to output an alarm; when a status change from the open state to the closed state of the luggage door is detected in the disarmed state, the control section shifts the status from the disarmed state to the arming state after a predetermined length of preparatory period; and when an arming command to shift the status from the disarmed state to the arming state is given within the length of preparatory period, the control section shifts the status from the disarmed state to the arming state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antitheft apparatus for preventing an object to be protected against theft from being stolen.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional antitheft apparatuses is so designed as to function when its mode is set to an arming mode, i.e. an alert status where an antitheft function works. For example, in the case of an antitheft apparatus for a vehicle, the antitheft function works by means of a transmitter or the like when a user of the vehicle is leaving it. In the arming mode, an alarm is issued even when the user opens a trunk of the vehicle to get a baggage into or from the trunk. Accordingly, in the case where the user opens the trunk, for example, in order to get a baggage thereinto or therefrom, it is usual that the user once changes over the mode to a disarmed mode, i.e. a non-alert status where the antitheft function is suspended. And when the user desires to change over the mode to the arming mode again, the changeover thereto is carried out by operating the transmitter by the user after closing the trunk.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 4-78751 (1992) discloses a technique for eliminating such a user's troublesome operation of setting to the arming mode again. An antitheft apparatus for automobile disclosed in the publication is configured such that opening a trunk of an automobile in the arming mode by using a key causes the alert status to be temporarily released, that is, causes temporarily setting to the disarmed mode, and then closing the trunk effects automatically shifting to the alert status. It is thus not necessary to conduct a series of operations, namely, shifting the status to a non-alert status once for opening the trunk and then, shifting the status from the non-alert status to the alert status again subsequent to closure of the trunk, shift the status from the non-alert status to the alert status.
The above-described antitheft apparatus may be provided with a sensor of which output is influenced by a change of vehicle weight, an external force on the vehicle, and vibration of the vehicle. The sensor includes, for example, a vibration sensor for detecting a vibration of a vehicle body; an intrusion sensor for detecting an intrusion into a vehicle interior; and a sensor of which output changes in response to motion of an object placed in the vehicle interior attributable to a vibration generated by a change of vehicle weight, an external force and other causes. In the case where the antitheft apparatus is provided with a sensor as stated above, changing over to the arming mode immediately after closure of the trunk may possibly issue an error alarm because the vehicle body continues to vibrate for a short while even after the closure of the trunk. The conventional antitheft apparatus thus has a problem that a theft action cannot be precisely detected.
Further, the antitheft apparatus may be provided with a tilt sensor for detecting an inclined vehicle body angle. In this case, a vehicle body angle in a vehicle-parked state is set as a default angle. However, resetting of a default angle is necessary after getting a baggage into or from the trunk. Accordingly, in order to secure precise detection of a theft action, the user usually waits for the vehicle body to stop vibrating after the closure of the trunk and then carries out the reset of default angle.
In order to solve the problems described above, JP-A 4-78751 discloses a technique of an antitheft apparatus which is designed to effect automatic shifting to the arming mode after an elapse of a predetermined length of time following the closure of the trunk. This constitution allows the arming mode to be set after the halt of vibration following the closure of the trunk so that the error alarm due to the vibration of vehicle body can be prevented.
The sensor (which hereinafter may be collectively referred to as "security sensor") of which output is influenced by the vibration of vehicle, such as the tilt sensor, the vibration sensor, and the intrusion sensor, is frequently set as optional elements. The theft action may be thus detected through only an antitheft function which is not influenced by the vibration of vehicle, such as a door courtesy switch, a hood switch, or a trunk switch. In such a case, the setting of the arming mode immediately after the closure of the trunk poses no problem. In order to define timing of setting the arming mode after the closure of the trunk, there are two options: the first option is to preset either of an antitheft apparatus having the security sensor and an antitheft apparatus having no security sensor; and the second option is that only the antitheft apparatus having the security sensor is preset and during duration of a predetermined length of time following the closure of the trunk, a user needs to tolerate the disarmed mode. The first option requires manufacture of two antitheft apparatuses, thus resulting in increase of production cost. The second option cannot eliminate unnecessary disarmed mode for a predetermined length of time after the closure of the trunk, thus causing a problem with security for such a period.


Detection and diagnosis of injury and/or disease in a subject can be key to preventing irreversible damage and death. Methods of aiding detection and assessment of a disease or condition in a subject are which include assaying netrin-1 protein and/or nucleic acid in a test sample obtained from the subject. Methods of assessment of treatment of a disease or condition in a subject are provided which include assaying netrin-1 protein and/or nucleic acid in a test sample obtained from the subject. Disclosed methods allow for earlier detection of renal dysfunction compared to currently available technology.

Early detection and diagnosis of injury and/or disease in a subject can be key to preventing irreversible damage and death. In many cells, organs and systems, signs and symptoms which are currently accepted as indicative of injury and/or disease are not apparent until later than desirable, e.g. after symptoms negatively affect the subject, after irreversible damage has occurred, and/or after the disease has become widespread and difficult to treat.
For example, diagnosing renal dysfunction such as kidney injury early is key to appropriate treatment and prevention of irreversible damage to the kidney. Currently available assays for kidney injury are based on waste product accumulation in the blood, such as assays for creatinine and urea nitrogen in the blood of a subject suspected of having kidney injury. Diagnosis made based on measurement of these assays miss the therapeutic window for effective treatment of kidney injury.
The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasing world-wide, affecting about 6% of all hospitalized patients in whom it is an independent predictor of mortality and morbidity. In the critical care setting, the prevalence of AKI requiring dialysis is about 6%, with a mortality rate exceeding 60%. Once established, the treatment is largely supportive, at an annual cost surpassing $10 billion in the US alone.
The diagnosis of AKI currently depends on detection of reduced kidney function by the rise in serum creatinine concentration, which is a delayed and unreliable measure in the acute setting. Ironically, experimental studies have identified interventions that may prevent or treat AKI if instituted early in the disease process, well before the serum creatinine rises. The lack of early predictive biomarkers has impaired the use of such early treatments for AKI.
Methods and compositions to treat, accurately detect and diagnose pathological diseases and conditions are required.

Netrin-1 as a biomarker of injury and disease


A flow-regulating drip emitter, comprising a base that includes an inlet connector configured for connection to an upstream line with a water source; and a cover attached to the base, the cover including an outlet connector configured for connection to a downstream line. At least one of the cover or the base defines at least a first labyrinth passageway having a first resistance to water flow and a second labyrinth passageway having a second resistance to water flow different from the first resistance to water flow; and further wherein the base and the cover are structured so that movement of the cover in relation to the base connects the inlet connector to the outlet connector via only the first labyrinth passageway, and wherein further movement of the cover in relation to the base connects the inlet connector to the outlet connector via only the second labyrinth passageway.

Drip irrigation systems have come into widespread use in the agricultural area. Drip irrigation systems supply water at a slow, controlled rate to the root zone of the particular plants being irrigated. Typically, drip irrigation is accomplished by providing a low volume water outlet at each plant that permits a limited dripping of water directly to the root zone of the particular plant. Because evaporation, runoff, overwatering, and watering beyond the root zone are eliminated, substantial water and nutrient savings are realized. In addition, drip irrigation reduces contaminants to the water table by enabling the farmer to supply only enough water and fertilizer to reach the plants, reducing excess water that would run off and contaminate the water table below.
Drip irrigation may be supplied by hoses having drip emitters built into the hose at manufacture. These are configured to cause a reduction in water pressure between the water in the hose, and water at an outlet of the emitter. Other systems have been developed in which a user may insert separately manufactured drip emitters into the hose at spaces that are more suited to the local environment and needs for irrigation. However, as the water travels along the hose away from the water source, the pressure of the water decreases. Thus, the water pressure at the beginning of the hose (near the water source) is greater than that at the far end of the hose. Because the drip rate of an emitter is a function of the water pressure, the drip rate at the beginning of the hose may tend to be greater than at the end of the hose. Other field conditions, such as elevation, also affect the pressure, and thus the drip rate, along the length of the hose. However, it is often desirable to have a relatively uniform drip rate along the length of the hose. Moreover, other varying field conditions, such as soil type and drainage, create a need to have different drip rates throughout the field to compensate for the different field conditions.
Thus there is a need in the field of drip irrigation for a versatile system that a user may adapt to the changing needs of the environment, and to the location of the emitter along the length of a hose, to create a desired drip flow profile. The present invention addresses these and other needs.


A method and a device for encoding a high frequency signal, and a method and a device for decoding a high frequency signal are provided, which relate to encoding and decoding technology. The method for encoding a high frequency signal includes: determining a signal class of a high frequency signal of a current frame; smoothing and scaling time envelopes of the high frequency signal of the current frame and obtaining time envelopes of the high frequency signal of the current frame that require to be encoded, if the high frequency signal of the current frame is a non-transient signal and a high frequency signal of the previous frame is a transient signal; and quantizing and encoding the time envelopes of the high frequency signal of the current frame that require to be encoded, and frequency information and signal class information of the high frequency signal of the current frame.

In a speech and audio encoding algorithm, due to the limit of the bit rate and characteristics of the hearing sense of human beings, low frequency information is always encoded with priority, and high frequency signal is discarded. With the development of the network, the limits to bandwidth get looser, and people have higher requirements on tone quality. The tone quality of signals can be well improved by increasing signal bandwidth, that is, by restoring the high frequency signal. When no bit or only a few bits are available, the bandwidth expansion technique is always used. The bandwidth expansion technique is a technique of expanding the speech and audio signal bandwidth range to improve the signal quality. In recent years, the bandwidth expansion technique has been developed quickly, and commercially applied in some fields. The bandwidth expansion algorithm in G.729.1 and the Spectral Band Replication (SBR) in the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) are two bandwidth expansion algorithms that are extensively used in speech and audio compression presently.
The high frequency signal can be classified into transient signal and non-transient signal. A transient signal refers to the signal of which the signal energy value in the time domain is subject to transient great changes. In an existing method for encoding a high frequency signal, when a high frequency signal is encoded, a transient signal and a non-transient signal can be encoded in different manners. But due to the development of the time-frequency transformation technique, the method for encoding a high frequency signal can no longer be compatible with the current time-frequency transformation technique. Therefore, the existing method for encoding a high frequency signal may degrade the performance of transient signals.
In an existing method for decoding a high frequency signal, a high frequency excitation spectrum is normalized according to the length of calculating a frequency envelope in encoder. As a result, the deviation of the characteristics of the restored high frequency signal from the characteristics of the actual high frequency signal is huge.

Method and device for encoding a high frequency signal, and method and device for decoding a high frequency signal


Simple polarization independent wavelength tuning components (filters) employ a filter element, such as a Fabry-Perot etalon element, which is such that light input thereto undergoes two element transitions with orthogonal polarization states before being output, in order to suppress polarization noise. The element may be mounted for rotation about a single axis. In one arrangement, two etalon filters (20, 21), are separated by a half wave plate (22) providing the necessary polarization rotation. The two etalon filters and the half wave plate comprise a single element rotatable about the single axis.

This invention relates to Fabry-Perot optical filters and in particular to the suppression of polarisation noise and crosstalk in Fabry-Perot wavelength tuning components.
To enhance the data carrying capacity of single mode optical fibre systems, wavelength multiplexing/demultiplexing techniques can be used. A specified wavelength can be separated from a multitude of channels at different wavelengths using wavelength selective components. One of a number of techniques is to position an interference filter (Fabry-Perot etalon) in front of each receiver. Each filter would pass only one wavelength out of all the wavelengths present in the system.
To obtain a large number of channels, the pass band of the filters would have to be very narrow. Typical channel spacings are 4 nm, implying that the filter is required to have a full width at half maximum of less than 1 nm. As indicated above, one method of producing suitable filters is to use Fabry-Perot etalons. The transmission wavelength of a Fabry-Perot etalon can be lowered by rotating the etalon (filter) away from normal incidence. This allows one filter to cover a range of wavelengths. The filter can either be pre-adjusted and set to a particular wavelength or can be used to actively "tune in" to any of the wavelengths available.
However, as a filter is rotated, the response of the filter varies, depending upon the state of polarisation of the incoming light. The two extremes of behaviour for a given angle of incidence .theta. of a light beam 2 to a filter 1 are for light polarised in the plane of incidence 3 and for light polarised normal to the plane of incidence 4 (FIG. 1a). The corresponding responses 3.sup.1 and 4.sup.1 of the filter are illustrated in FIG. 1B. The response of the filter to the two orthogonal polarisations will depend upon the absorption of the material used to make the filter. FIG. 2 shows the variation in insertion loss with peak transmission wavelength as the filter is rotated from 0.degree. to 30.degree. for a filter with no absorption (.alpha.=0/cm), whilst FIG. 3 shows the same curve for an absorption .alpha. of 15/cm. The results illustrated were obtained for a Fabry-Perot cavity of seven half wavelengths, each mirror being comprised of eleven layers.
The change in insertion loss as the filter is rotated is greater when absorption is present. As well as the insertion loss being different for the orthogonal polarisation, the peak transmission wavelengths differ. This has the effect of increasing the difference in transmission for the two orthogonal polarisations.
The difference in transmission at a particular wavelength is the polarisation noise. An example of this is illustrated in FIG. 4, where the difference in peak heights is less than the polarisation noise 5. FIG. 5 shows a graph of polarisation noise plotted against filter rotation angle for an absorption of 0/cm and 15/cm. A typical figure for the level of polarisation noise that can be tolerated by a system is 0.1 dB.
Another important factor when designing multiwavelength systems is the interchannel isolation or crosstalk. In order to obtain sufficient isolation between channels, it is necessary to have two filters in series. These factors imply that the level of polarisation noise that can be tolerated by each filter is 0.05 dB. As is apparent from FIG. 5, this restricts the tuning range of a non-absorbing filter to 14.degree., or 20 nm, whilst an absorbing filter is restricted to 5.degree., or 3 nm.
In our GB Patent Application GB 2 223 324 A, the two filters are set up so that they can be tuned by rotating them about orthogonal axes. The response is then independent of the polarisation. FIG. 6 shows this arrangement schematically. One filter 10 rotates about axis 11, whereas another filter 12 rotates about axis 13. FIG. 7 shows the response of such a filter with zero absorption. This filter can be tuned over 20 nm before polarisation noise limits the performance. With two orthogonal filters in series (curve 15), the insertion loss is constant over the first 20 nm and then starts to rise, i.e. polarisation noise is eliminated at the expense of insertion loss. The insertion loss is still only 0.7 dB when the filter has been tuned 50 nm away from the nominal wavelength. Therefore, the use of orthogonal filters has more than doubled the usable range of the filter. FIG. 8 shows the response (curve 16) of a similar filter which has an absorption of 15/cm. The tuning range of this basic two element filter was limited to 3 nm as indicated above, however, it is now possible to use this filter over 50 nm before the insertion loss begins to rise steeply. Thus in this case the use of orthogonal filters has increased the tuning range by almost a factor of 20.
An object of the present invention is to provide improved filter arrangements and in particular arrangements where it is not necessary separately to rotate two orthogonally mounted interference filters as was proposed in our prior GB patent application.


Ample spaces are secured on a rotating table frame, in front of and behind a control valve. A rotary working machine where a step is placed on a rotating table frame, at the front of the frame, and a control valve is placed below the step. The step has operation levers and pedals mounted on it. The control valve is connected to the operation levers and the pedals to perform drive control of a hydraulic actuator, and is placed at an incline so as to be high at the front and low at the rear.

Conventionally, in a rotary working machine such as power shovel, a rotating table frame is generally arranged on a traveling device, a working machine including a boom and arm and an attachment such as a bucket is attached to the front part of the rotating table frame, and an engine, a counter weight, and the like are arranged at the rear part of the rotating table frame. A step provided with an operation lever for hydraulic actuator operation, an operation pedal, and the like is arranged at the front part of the rotating table frame, and a control valve connected to the operation pedal and the like at the lower side of the step to perform drive control of the hydraulic actuator is arranged horizontally (see e.g., Patent Document 1).
However, in the rotary working machine as in the prior art, since the control valve is arranged on the rotating table frame in a horizontal state, the space at the front and the back of the control valve becomes narrow, and such portion cannot be effectively used. The distance between the control valve and the operation lever or the operation pedal becomes long, and the link mechanism for connecting the same has a complex configuration, whereby a great number of components are required and reduction in cost is difficult to achieve.    Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-20683


Systems and methods for processing textual messages which are integrated with one or more digital attachments is described. These systems and methods are useful in the electronic filing and processing of, for example, image data, and of textual data associated with the image data. One particular application of these systems and methods would be for the electronic filing and processing of dental x-rays with patient claim forms.

The present invention relates generally to an attachment integrated claims (AIC) system for preparing and processing forms with integrated attachments. More specifically, the present invention relates to an AIC system for preparing and processing digital insurance claims including Prior Approval Claim (PAC) Applications containing both a text form and an integrated digitized attachment. A method of operating a totally digital AIC system is also disclosed.
High administrative costs for filing and processing health insurance claims have been the bane of the health insurance industry from its inception. Over the years, many attempts have been made to develop a faster and more cost effective claims processing system. Three stages in this development effort are described in the following correspondingly numbered paragraphs.
(1) The original system involved hard copy paper claims only, with transmission and all processing done manually. Originally, an insurance claim was filed by the patient or the health care provider filling out a paper form. The completed paper form was then mailed to the insurance company. At the insurance company, the paper claim form went through a series of administrative steps, all the time remaining as a hard copy paper object. When a decision was made, the decision was written up and archived with the claim form; a hard copy was also sent to the patient and/or provider along with the payment.
(2) The first significant advancement resulted from the introduction of the mainframe computer. This allowed for electronic processing within a given insurance company, i.e., once the claim was on the computer inside the company, the paper form could be dispensed with. Computerization is a highly effective way of reducing administrative overhead in claims processing.
Thus, mainframe computers were purchased and installed internally at the insurance companies. Since these computers were intended for internal use only, each company thought only of its own needs and had its claims management software customized. While the claims management software for a number of insurance companies would be written in the same high-level programming language, e.g., COBOL, the similarity between software programs often ended there. There were many virtues to these early systems, primarily with respect to decreased administrative costs, but a major drawback was that the data for each "paper" claim had to be entered into the computer to form an electronic claim. This necessitated the manual transcription of exactly the same information that had been handwritten into the original paper claim before it was sent to the insurance company.
(3) The next advancement was the electronic filing of claim forms. This was made possible by the introduction of the personal computer and modem into the provider's office. The main purpose of this stage was to eliminate the manual re-entry of information into the insurance company mainframe.
The basic idea was to have the providers fill out an electronic claim form, instead of a paper claim form. This electronic form, which would be stored in the memory of their PCs, would then be transmitted, as a computer file, to the insurance company. It could then be integrated directly into the electronic claims processing system without the manual re-entry of data. Thus, the technology existed to produce a system that computerized the overall filing and processing of the insurance claim from the point of entry, the provider's office, to the final report of the claims adjuster.
Although the idea was straightforward, implementation was not. Two basic problems had to be overcome in order to create a viable system. First, the information contained in the electronic claim form had to be integrated into the claims processing software at the insurance company. Second, a majority of providers have to be able to interface with a majority of insurance companies, i.e., insurance company mainframe computers. However, because of the way computers had entered the insurance industry originally (stage #2), there was no industry-wide standard, i.e., the legacy mainframe computers of the different insurance companies were incompatible. This was true both with respect to the type of software used and with respect to the information that each company required on its claim form.
One attempt to deal with these problems was the creation, by a consortium of insurance companies, of the National Electronic Information Corporation (NEIC). NEIC's basic function is that of a clearinghouse. It interfaces between the insurance companies and the service providers. It also establishes rigid standards that must be met in order to transmit an electronic claim form to an insurance company. In practice, the service provider sends an electronic claim to a vendor, who performs a service such as screening of the form. The vendor then transmits the form to NEIC, which then re-transmits it to the patient's insurance company. Since it is a computer file, the information in the electronic claim form can then be entered directly into the company's mainframe claims processing system, without the manual re-entry of data, and then processed.
Thus, a coherent system was created that allows for the electronic filing, transmission, and processing of insurance claims. This system is employed by thousands of providers and hundreds of insurance companies.
NEIC was designed to act as a clearinghouse for claims that are 100% text and that conform to very restrictive formats. For claims that meet these conditions it functions well, resulting in substantial savings on administrative costs for the insurance companies. It has been estimated that going to this third stage system results in savings of as much as 60% in claims processing costs.
But there are many claims that do not meet these conditions. These would include claims that require additional text information that doesn't fit into the prescribed format and/or claims that require non-text information. In general, these are called "claims with attachments." "Attachments" are any additional information that must be sent with the "standard text claim form." This could include: pictures, graphs, additional text not allowed on the standard claim form, sound recordings, etc.
An example of such a claim would be the PAC (Prior Approval Claim), which may be alternately denoted as a "Pretreatment Claim". These are claims that are sent to the insurance carrier before a procedure is performed. For example, pretreatment claims are often required by dental insurance companies on any procedure over a specified amount, e.g., $200. The aspect of this type of claim which renders it incompatible with the present electronic claim processing system is that the insurance companies require that additional medical evidence be included, i.e., attached to, the text part of the claim form. In an exemplary case, the additional medical evidence is an x-ray.
The goal of the insurance company is to review the claim, i.e., both the text form and attachment, and to do so in a cost effective manner. The natural next stage in the development of claims processing systems is to attempt to computerized this process.
Scanners are now available that can digitize a dental x-ray, i.e., convert it into a computer file that can be viewed on a monitor. But transforming the medical evidence into digital form is not enough to facilitate electronic processing of claims with attachments. One must also take into consideration the existing claims processing infrastructure, i.e., the legacy infrastructure.
The difficulty with trying to include a digitized x-ray for processing with an electronic claim form, within the current infrastructure, is multifaceted. First, NEIC does not at the present time allow this type of information to be transmitted through NEIC to the insurance companies. Second, with the current system, the claims adjusters access claims information through terminals connected to mainframes. But there is the inherent problem of displaying images on mainframe computers. This is especially true of mainframe computers running software written in business programming languages such as COBOL. It might be thought that a solution to this problem would be to replace the terminal with a PC. Although many personal computers provide the graphics support needed to display the digitized x-ray, there are significant problems in interfacing a PC with a mainframe computer. For example, in order to interface with the mainframe computer, PCs often run terminal emulation software which permits the PC to act like a dedicated, dumb terminal attached to the mainframe computer. Terminal emulation software is notoriously lacking in graphics capability. And finally, getting a digitized x-ray from one provider to one insurance company is not all that is needed. Rather, what is really needed is an industry-wide system whereby a provider can interact with any insurance company. This results in a massive interfacing problem since there are multitudes of insurance companies using different legacy hardware systems and company unique software.
Each time a way has been found to more fully utilize computers in claims processing systems, the administrative costs associated with claims processing have gone down. However, in the area of "claims with attachments," no coherent industry-wide system exists that allows for the integrated filing, transmitting and processing of these claims electronically, i.e., via computers. Thus, when attachments are required, providers are forced to submit hard copy claim applications, while insurance companies labor under an administrative system that is a hybrid between a manual and an electronic system, i.e., a hybrid between stage #1 and stage #2. This hybrid system, which is described in greater detail below, is labor intensive, prone to problems, and slow. For providers, insurance companies, and patients, this is a time-consuming, costly and irritating process.
In short, there is at least one type of insurance claim that has not, until now, been able to avail itself of the third stage of computerization, as described above. In fact, there are even difficulties with the second stage. This group includes any claim whose "standard text form" must be accompanied by additional information that does not fit into this standard format, e.g., x-rays, EKGs, additional text information such as Operating Room Reports, etc. In general, these are referred to as "attachments." One primary example of this would be Prior Approvals for dental procedures. Prior Approval Claim (PAC) applications are those claims that are submitted for the purpose of receiving a predetermination of benefits from the insurance company for a procedure that hasn't as yet been performed.
In the area of Prior Approval Claims, the goals of the insurance companies are to validate the necessity of the procedure and to determine whether the patient's insurance policy obligates the insurance company to pay for such a procedure. This requires that the insurance company itself review the medical evidence. For an insurance company's in-house dentist, for example, to make this appraisal, the dentist is required to review both the "text form" and the accompanying x-ray of the patient. However, the presence of a film x-ray means that electronic claims methods cannot be implemented. The savings associated with electronic claim processing is not available with respect to Prior Approval Claim forms.
Nationwide, there are approximately 200,000 dental PACs filed per week. Roughly, for every PAC application there will be eventually a Final Payment Claim (FPC) submitted when the medical procedure is completed. It is estimated that the overall administrative cost is $25 per PAC form and $10 for the Final Payment Claim. It is also estimated that if a coherent electronic system could be implemented, it would reduce these administrative costs to $15 per PAC and $5 per Final Payment Claim. The savings could amount to as much as $3,000,000 per week collectively for the health care industry for dental PACs and FPCs alone.
An example of a hybrid system of claim processing currently in use will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B.
Referring first to FIG. 1, the U.S. Postal Service, denoted as 100, connects the service provider's office 200 with the insurance company 300. It will be appreciated that, since PAC form handling is entirely manual at location 200, the service provider's office is depicted as lacking computer equipment. In contrast, the insurance company typically has at least one mainframe computer 350 to which terminals 351, 352 on the respective reviewing dentist's desk 360 and claims adjuster's desk 370 are connected. It should also be noted that the mail room 320 is charged with a variety of tasks associated with the incoming and outgoing correspondence, as discussed in greater detail below.
As will be appreciated from FIG. 1, a paper PAC form is filled out by the patient and/or the provider and, along with the substantiating x-ray, is mailed to the patient's insurance company. Upon entering the mail room of the insurance company, the PAC form is assigned a document identification number (DIN) and the data from the PAC form is then entered into the company's mainframe computer. This same DIN is affixed to the x-ray. The x-ray is then manually delivered to the reviewing dentist.
By using the DIN on the x-ray, the reviewing dentist downloads, from the mainframe computer, the textual part of the patient's PAC application. The dentist makes a decision, records it in the memory of the mainframe computer, and has a hard copy of the Predetermination form posted back to the provider. Once the procedure has been completed, the provider's office completes the Predetermination form, or fills out a separate Final Payment Claim (FPC) form. This is then posted to the insurance company. A chronological, detailed, step-by-step description of the hybrid system will now be provided with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B.
During step S1, the dentist decides that a costly procedure is necessary for a patient whose insurance carrier requires prior approval for such treatment. During step S2, the dentist provides the patient with his diagnosis and gives the patient an estimate for performing the recommended procedure. The dentist then asks the patient to contact his insurance carrier, or plan administrator at work, to obtain the necessary PAC form. During step S3, the patient completes that portion of the PAC form that pertains to him, signs the form, and sends it to his provider.
After the PAC form arrives at the provider's office at step S4, one of the office personnel retrieves the patient's file and the PAC form at step S5, extracts the patient's x-ray, either the original, a copy of the original, or a second, previously taken x-ray, during step S6, and the PAC form is filled out entirely by hand, i.e., the information about the provider has to be entered every time a new PAC form is received, during step S7. Copies of the completed form are made and are placed in the patient's file during step S8. The envelope containing the PAC form is addressed to the appropriate insurance company at step S9. The form and the x-rays are placed in the envelope during step S10. An entry is made in both the patient's computer file (if the provider's office is equipped with one) and his hard copy file indicating that the PAC form has been sent during step S11 and, finally, during step S12, the envelope is mailed. See task T1 in FIG. 1.
The envelope meanders through the U.S. Postal Service 100 for several days at step S13 until the envelope finally arrives at the mail room 320 of the insurance company 300 at step S14. In the mail room, the envelope is opened (step S15), the data from the PAC form is entered into the insurance company's mainframe computer 350 and is given a Document Identification Number (DIN) that identifies the patient and the current claim application (step S16). See task T2 in FIG. 1. During step S17, the x-ray is labeled with the same DIN. It will be appreciated that the DIN on the x-ray and in the document now on the mainframe computer must be identical. It will also be appreciated that for some insurance companies, this manual processing is contracted to an outside agency, which would require several more steps, which steps will not be described further.
During step S18, the x-ray is manually forwarded to the reviewing dentist's area. See task T3 in FIG. 1. During step S19, the PAC form is transferred to a directory and waits to be read by a reviewing dentist.
During step S20, a group of x-rays arrives from the mail room at the reviewing dentist's area. A film x-ray is pulled out of the waiting pile by the dentist during step S21 and the reviewing dentist then accesses the "PAC form" directory during step S22 by, for example, reading the DIN from the x-ray and typing the DIN into the computer. The electronic PAC form corresponding to this x-ray is located in memory and downloaded to the reviewing dentist's monitor during step S23.
The procedure requested is read off the terminal monitor and the film x-ray is reviewed during step S24 and a determination is made during step S25. It will be appreciated that a determination refers to either an approval or a denial of the request. Assuming that the procedure is approved, a statement (or explanation) of benefits (EOB) is also generated. For the purposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that the procedure is approved; a denial would necessitate a parallel but alternative set of processing steps, which steps will not be further described. During step S26, the insurance company's Predetermination form is filled out either electronically or by hand. For an electronic Predetermination form, the form is saved to the memory of the insurance company's mainframe computer during step S27. The x-ray is returned to the mail room during step S28. See task T4 in FIG. 1.
Following approval, a paper copy of the Predetermination form is made during step S29. See task T5 in FIG. 1. An envelope is then addressed to the referring dentist and the Predetermination form is placed in the envelope during step S30. During step S31, the corresponding x-ray is matched with the Predetermination form and, during step S32, the corresponding x-rays are placed in the envelope. The envelope then goes back into the U.S. Postal System 100 during step S33. See task T6 in FIG. 1.
Some days later, the envelope finally arrives at the dentist's office 200 and is opened during step S34. The results are noted in both the patient's paper file and computer file during step S35, the x-rays are returned to the patient's paper file at step S36, and the patient is notified of the approval and a date is set for performing the approved treatment during step S37.
The treatment is completed during step S38 and the Final Payment Claim (FPC) form is filled out during step S39. It will be appreciated that the Final Payment Claim form, for many insurance companies, is merely a subsection of the Predetermination form generated in step S29 (See the paper denoted P* in FIG. 1.); alternatively, the Final Payment Claim form could be yet another form supplied by the insurance company.
The Final Payment Claim form is then sent back to the insurance company with a copy of the signed Predetermination form during step S40. See task T7 in FIG. 1. The Final Payment Claim form enters the mail room as a paper form and the final processing begins during step S41. It will be appreciated that the processing of the Final Claim Form typically requires making several entries in the information stored on the mainframe computer 350 and may require the preparation of one or more forms needed to authorize payment of the final claim. However, since an attachment is not normally associated with the Final Claim Form, additional discussion regarding disposition of the Final Claim Form within the insurance company will not be provided.
Thus, the hybrid system under discussion is one that starts in the provider's office when a patient is told that a PAC form is needed and continues until the procedure has been completed and a Final Payment Claim form has been submitted to the insurance company for payment. It will be appreciated that a myriad of problems and inefficiencies arise due to claim processing in accordance with the hybrid system. The principal problems are as follows:                1. All information needed to complete the PAC form has to be entered by hand. Moreover, all of the information on the PAC form is also manually transcribed in order to transfer the information from paper to the insurance company's mainframe computer. Both of these manual data entry process steps are time consuming, very costly, and prone to human error;        2. The x-ray film and the text form are put together and then separated several times during the overall claim processing;        3. The hybrid system requires that a hard copy of the x-ray be sent to the insurance company. Generally, this x-ray is returned to the provider. Moreover, the requirement that the dentist provide the x-ray typically means that a duplicate x-ray has to be made by the dentist, which increases the dentist's cost for the service. Oftentimes, the duplicate x-ray is of poor quality and cannot be read;        4. Because prior approval claim forms cannot be processed electronically, and because PAC forms make up half of all the claims that approximately 20,000 oral surgeons, periodontists, and orthodontists make each year, these 20,000 providers have no compelling reason to initiate electronic claims for Final Payment Claims;        5. The document identification number is affixed to the x-ray and the electronic text in two different processes, one physical and the other electronic. This leads to errors;        6. After the procedure has been completed, almost identical information may again have to be entered by hand in order to prepare the Final Payment Claim form;        7. While direct digital x-ray equipment is available, it is difficult to integrate a digital x-ray into the current hybrid claims processing system, i.e., these computerized images would first have to be transferred to film, which would, of course, negate the major advantage for using direct digital x-rays;        8. Some insurance companies would like to require that x-rays accompany all dental claims; they are prevented from doing so because of the high administrative overhead associated with handling hardcopy claims;        9. The patient has to obtain the PAC form from the insurance company or his employer. In either case, this causes the patient time, is an irritant, and imposes unnecessary delays on the delivery of medical care to the insured;        10. With the hybrid system, no prescreening of the PAC form for errors is performed before the PAC form goes to the insurance company; and        11. Provider information, i.e., the dentist's information, often has to be entered separately on each new PAC form that is submitted.
In summary, the current method for handling PAC applications is a hybrid system somewhere between a Stage 1, a totally paper-based manual processing system, and a Stage 2 internally computerized insurance company processing system. It is part electronic and part hard copy. Also, each form must be handled twice, once as a hard copy and once as an electronic copy. This is the source of a great many of the above described problems. Moreover, the current hybrid method is costly. The process starting at the provider's office, continuing through the insurance company and finally to the return of the Predetermination form to the provider has been estimated to cost $25. Furthermore, the whole process is filled with potential for error, frustration, wasted time and money.
The workflow for the filing and processing of a PAC form was described above with respect to the dental health insurance which was used, by way of example, to illustrate the circuitous process involved when a hard copy attachment is present. Other types of claims, or attachments, or different insurance companies might require slightly different steps. For example, instead of returning an attachment, as describe above, the attachment might need to be microfilmed and archived, or some of the information contained in the attachment itself might need to be entered into the mainframe. Regardless of these differences, there are similarities in the problems that arise in processing such claims.
The present invention was motivated by the desire to overcome the problems associated with the above-described hybrid system for processing "forms with attachments." The intent was to create a coherent system that allows for the electronic filing, transmission, and processing of these forms, e.g., claims. That is, a system that would create a Stage #3 level of computerization for "forms with attachments." More specifically, the present invention was motivated by the desire to eliminate, to the maximum extent possible, all processing steps described above which are in any way connected with the presence of a hard copy attachment.

Methods of processing digital data and images


A dual comb electrode structure with spacing for increasing a driving angle of a micro mirror provided by MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical system) structure and a microscanner adopting the same are provided. The dual comb electrode structure includes: a mirror unit for reflecting light; a plurality of movable comb electrodes protruded in both sides of the mirror unit; and a plurality of upper and lower static comb electrodes formed above and below the movable comb electrode so as to be alternated with the plurality of movable comb electrodes formed in both sides of the mirror unit, wherein a spacing between the upper static comb electrode and the movable comb electrode is different from a spacing between the lower static comb electrode and the movable comb electrode.

1. Field of the Disclosure
An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a dual comb electrode structure with spacing for increasing a driving angle of a microscanner and the microscanner adopting the same, and more particularly to a dual comb electrode structure with spacing for increasing a driving angle of a micro mirror provided by MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical system) structure and a microscanner adopting the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a microscanner for deflecting laser beam in a projection TV or the like, a micro actuator with MEMS structure using electrostatic effects by means of comb-type electrode structure is used. FIG. 1 is a perspective view exemplarily showing such a conventional microscanner. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional microscanner includes, for example, a mirror unit 1 suspended above a substrate 5 made of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer or the like, a support 6 for supporting both ends of the mirror unit 1, a torsion spring 2 connected between the mirror unit 1 and the support 6 to support seesaw movement of the mirror unit 1, a plurality of movable comb electrodes 3 vertically formed in both sides of the mirror unit 1, and a plurality of static comb electrodes 4 vertically formed on the substrate 5 so as to be alternated with the movable comb electrodes 3.
FIG. 2A is a sectional view for illustrating operation of the conventional microscanner configured as mentioned above. In the microscanner shown in FIG. 1, a predetermined voltage is applied to the movable comb electrodes 3 at both sides of the mirror unit 1, and positive and negative voltages are respectively applied to the static comb electrodes corresponding to the movable comb electrodes 3 at both sides of the mirror unit 1. For example, V voltage is applied to a left static comb electrode 4a, −V voltage is applied to a right static comb electrode 4b, and V1 voltage is applied to both left and right movable comb electrodes 3a and 3b. And then, a voltage difference between the left movable comb electrode 3b and the left static comb electrode 4a (V−V1) is different from a voltage difference between the right movable comb electrode 3b and the right static comb electrode 4b (V+V1), so the mirror unit 1 becomes inclined to one side by an electrostatic force as shown in FIG. 2A. The mirror unit 1 is restored by means of its own restoring force using the modulus of elasticity of the torsion spring 2. Thus, the mirror unit 1 may be periodically moved at predetermined driving angle and driving speed (or, a driving frequency) by suitably adjusting the voltage V1 applied to the movable comb electrodes 3.
Meanwhile, in order to realize an image on a screen by a laser image projection device such as a projection TV, a microscanner should scan laser beams at a very high speed. Since the driving frequency is in inverse proportion to weight, the mirror unit 1 is generally reduced to a size of about 1 mm and a thickness of about 70 μm to decrease the weight. Since the mirror unit 1 has a reduced size as above, a diameter of laser beam reflected by the mirror unit 1 is also reduced. However, if the beam diameter of the laser beam is reduced, the laser beam may be diffused at edges of the screen. This phenomenon is apt to cause deterioration of resolution of the laser image projection device.
Thus, in order to enhance resolution of the laser image projection device, it is required to increase the size of the mirror unit 1 so that a laser beam with larger beam diameter may be reflected or to increase a driving angle of the mirror unit 1. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2B, upper static comb electrodes 7a and 7b are added in the upper portion of the mirror unit 1 so as to double a driving force, which also doubles the driving angle.
However, if the size of the mirror unit 1 is increased, its weight is also increased to deteriorate a driving speed of the microscanner. In addition, there is also a limit in increasing a driving angle of the mirror unit 1. It is because, if the movable comb electrodes 3 at both sides of the mirror unit 1 are completely put into the static comb electrodes 4, driving force is not generated any more and the mirror unit 1 is thus not rotated any more. In this case, in order to increase a driving angle, it is required to increase the heights of the movable comb electrodes 3 and the static comb electrodes 4 so that an angle at which both kinds of electrodes are completely overlapped becomes larger. Thus, in order to increase a driving angle, the thickness of the mirror unit 1 should be increased, which also causes increase of weight of the mirror unit 1.

Dual comb electrode structure with spacing for increasing a driving angle of a microscanner, and the microscanner adopting the same


Client software stores an identifier corresponding to memory configuration data of interest and causes a software interrupt that requests a memory configuration read function. An interrupt read function handler then reads the data of interest responsive to the identifier and returns the data of interest. The client software may include, for example, BIOS firmware or application software executing in real or protected mode. The memory configuration information may be stored in a hidden I/O or MMIO register device. In such an embodiment, the interrupt handler may enable access to the hidden I/O or MMIO register device prior to reading the data of interest and disable access to the hidden I/O or MMIO register device afterwards.

The term "memory configuration information" ("MCI") refers generally to operational aspects of the dynamic random access memory ("DRAM") and related devices that are installed in a computer to provide the main memory resource of the computer. Such aspects could include, for example, the amount of memory installed, page sizes allowed during memory accesses, timing constraints to be observed when operating the DRAM devices, and other information.
A variety of systems executing on the computer may need to access memory configuration information at various times. For example, application software may need to access memory configuration information to make it available to a user during troubleshooting or testing of the computer. And basic input/output services ("BIOS") firmware, after setting the memory configuration information early in the boot process, may need to access the information later in the boot process.
Typically, memory configuration information is stored in one of the integrated circuit chips that comprise the "chipset" on the computer's motherboard.

Providing access to memory configuration information in a computer

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.


An electric control device for a latch includes a mounting seat having including a first compartment and a second compartment. An electric locking device includes a bracket securely mounted in the second compartment and a driving member securely mounted to the bracket. The driving member for actuating the locking member is coupled with a locking member. The locking member includes a stop portion having a protrusive end abutting a first face of the bracket without interfering with movement of the locking member. A locking cap device is pivotably connected to the mounting seat and is received in the first compartment. The locking cap device includes an inner side having a first protrusion corresponding to the stop portion. When the stop portion is located on a rotational path of the first protrusion, the locking cap device is not pivotable from a closure position to a non-closure position.

The present invention relates to an electric control device for a latch and, more particularly, to a modularized latch control device that can be assembled into one of a plurality of different modes for cooperating with different types of latch devices that can be locked or unlocked by the electric control device.
An electric control device for a latch mounted on a door frame can be assembled into three types according to the latch device to be applied, thereby matching with a known cylindrical latch device or a known box type latch device. The electric control device includes a locking cap device which cannot be opened when in a locking position, preventing disengagement of the cylindrical latch device or the box type latch device to thereby avoid opening of the door. When the locking cap device is unlocked, the door can be pushed open by pushing the locking cap device without retracting the latch of the cylindrical latch device or the box type latch device. The electric control device generally relies on movement of a locking member to determine locking or unlocking of the locking cap device. The locking cap device cannot be pushed open when stopped by or engaged with the locking cap device. However, when the door is forcibly pushed for opening purposes while the locking cap device is locked, a torque imparted to the locking cap device is transmitted to the locking member, such that the locking member is liable to deform. Furthermore, a shaft of a driving device for actuating the locking member is apt to deform or damage due to shear force.


An attachment apparatus which can be detachably mounted to a self-propelled vehicle, such as a skid-steer front end loader. The apparatus includes a frame which can be attached to the lift arms of the front end loader, and an axially rotatable work implement. The work implement may be positioned in at least two dimensions with respect to the frame by hydraulic cylinders. Secondary hydraulic lines which extend from each of the hydraulic cylinders, and a primary hydraulic line are hydraulically joined by a manifold. Electrically actuated valves connected to the manifold selectively provide communication between the primary hydraulic line and one of the secondary hydraulic lines to thereby control movement of the apparatus in each of the available dimensions. The control system requires that only one set of hydraulic cables be connected to the hydraulic pressure source of the vehicle, which simplifies attachment and removal of the apparatus, and provides safer operation, and reduced manufacturing costs.

Using a single vehicle with multiple removable attachment devices to perform a variety of ground working functions is more cost effective than using separate specialized machines for each function. Thus, several devices for attachment to a self-propelled vehicle, including cold planers and rock wheels, have been developed. These attachments are powered by connecting them to the vehicle's hydraulic power source.
Some cold planers, such as the AP 400 Series II offered by DigTec of Columbia, S.C., are capable of providing hydraulic control for side shift, depth and tilt adjustments. Each of these adjustments is controlled by separate hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic circuits. Thus, there are three separate hydraulic control mechanisms accessible to the operator to control such a cold planer. In the AP Series II by DigTec, three levers are provided outside the cab of the vehicle in front of the operator. This is undesirable as the operator must reach out from the protective confines of the cab to activate the controls. Furthermore, the presence of six (6) hydraulic cables, two for each positioning hydraulic cylinder, proximate the control levers increases the potential for injury to the operator from accidental rupture or contact with the cables, which can, under normal operation, reach temperatures of over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, excessive time is required to connect and disconnect the six hydraulic cables from the vehicle each time a different attachment is mounted to the vehicle. Thus, it is desirable to provide a hydraulic control system for movement in many dimensions, such as tilt, side shift and depth, which reduces the potential for injury to the operator. The planer positioning hydraulic controls of the DigTec planer are also hand-actuated. Since both hands of an operator are usually occupied by the vehicle movement controls, the operator cannot simultaneously control the vehicle movement and adjust the position of the cold planer with the hydraulic positioning controls. Furthermore, it is desireable to limit the number of hydraulic systems or subsystems required to provide such control in order to reduce manufacturing cost and the number of parts that might break down.
The pavement planing machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,713 has both tilt adjustment and a side shift adjustment for a cold planer which is mountable to a skid-steer front end loader. Control for both adjustments is accomplished by using a single hydraulic cylinder actuable by a foot pedal in the vehicle cab. However, this planing machine does not allow for hydraulic depth control of the machine, nor are multiple hydraulic cylinders operated by a single hydraulic circuit.

Removable hydraulic apparatus with electric control for multiple positioning hydraulic cylinders


In a red-eye detection/retouch apparatus, a first area extraction unit receives an image including a red eye and a signal representing a small area including the red eye and designated by a user and extracts a first area including the red eye. A first pixel selection unit detects the reddest pixel from the first area and outputs coordinate values and color information of the pixel. A determination unit determines whether the other red eye is present on the basis of the signal representing the small area and the coordinate values of the reddest pixel. The determination unit outputs an instruction signal for extracting a second area where the other red eye is present upon determining that the other red eye is present. A second area extraction unit receives the instruction signal and extracts the second area from the first area. A second pixel selection unit detects the reddest pixel from the second area and outputs coordinate values and color information of the pixel. An area expansion unit receives the coordinate values and color information of the pixels and the first area, detects a red-eye area by area expansion, and outputs the red-eye area. An image synthesis unit receives the red-eye area and the image including the red eye and outputs an image whose red-eye area has been corrected to a natural pupil color.

The present invention relates to a high-quality portrait image forming apparatus for obtaining a more natural portrait image from a portrait image and, more particularly, to a red-eye detection/retouch apparatus for correcting a portrait image including red pupils photographed in use of a flashbulb to a portrait image having a more natural pupil color.
When the periphery of a target object is dark, and a person is to be photographed with a camera using a flashbulb, the pupil portions of eyes are often photographed as red eyes. When the periphery is dark, the pupil of the eye is open. The flashlight is reflected by the retina through the pupil and reaches the camera, resulting in such an unnatural image. Particularly, along with recent size reduction of cameras, the optical axis of the photographing lens approaches that of the flashbulb, and the red-eye phenomenon tends to easily occur.
In a "prevention of red-eye effect at flashlight photography" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 52-80120, only the flashbulb is caused to emit light in advance immediately before the photographing operation to contract the pupils, thereby preventing the red-eye phenomenon in the photographing operation. However, this method may give a sense of incompatibility to the object person or largely consume the battery.
In an "electric camera" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-192681, flashlight photographing and normal photographing are continuously performed to detect and remove a reflection component due to the flashlight. However, when the object person is moving, a positional shift may be generated between the two photographed images, or the reflection component cannot be effectively detected because the normally photographed image is dark.
In an "image processor" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-224271 which uses information representing the presence/absence of use of a flashbulb, the focal length information of the photographing lens, distance information between the photographing lens and the electronic flash light-emitting portion in the photographing operation, these pieces of information must be acquired and transmitted to the image processing unit in the photographing operation. However, a camera having such a function is not general and therefore is not effective. Accordingly, red-eye detection/retouch apparatuses for detecting photographed red eyes and correcting the red eyes to a natural color tone of the eyes are conventionally proposed and used.
FIG. 2 shows an input image signal 1 including a red eye as an example of an input image. On this input image, assume that the pupil at the central portion of each eye is red. Two examples of a conventional "pink-eye effect position detector" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-258732 will be described below.
As the first example, an apparatus having the following function is described in the above prior art. The color image of a color film which has undergone development is picked up to obtain a film image. At least one of the low chroma part and the low illuminance part of the film image is extracted, thereby extracting an area including a black eye. In addition, an area including the face is extracted by extracting a skin color part from the film image. Similarly, a pink-eye area is extracted by extracting a red color part from the film image. The pink-eye area is automatically detected under a condition that the pink-eye area (pink eye) exists in the black area (pupil) in the skin color part (face). In the embodiment of this prior art, the unit for detecting the face and pupil area is realized by threshold processing, and the unit for detecting the pink-eye area in the pupil in the face is realized by a combination of area expansion and AND. An embodiment in which the area is selected considering that the face or eye has an almost elliptical shape is also described in this prior art.
As the second example, an apparatus having the following function is described in the prior art. As in the above-described conventional apparatus, the user designates a point in the pink-eye area of a color film image by using a coordinate designation unit such as a touch panel, thereby acquiring color information of the designated point. Pink-eye area detection is realized by extracting an area having a color close to the color information by threshold processing.
Two examples of a conventional red-eye detection/retouch apparatus based on a "pink-eye effect retouch system" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-350914 will be described below.
As the first example, an apparatus having the following function is described in this prior art. The image of a negative color film which has undergone development is converted into a film image by a scanner. Thereafter, colors in the film image are subjected to threshold processing, thereby detecting a pink-eye area. After the contour line of the detected area is extracted, the density distribution of pixels on an x axis (horizontal line) passing the center of gravity (x.sub.0,Y.sub.0) of the contour line is checked, as shown in FIG. 3A. When x1 and x4 corresponding to an iris edge 2 are detected, as shown in FIG. 3B, a pink-eye area is finally determined, thereby realizing pink-eye area detection. Reference numeral 3 denotes a pupil as a pink-eye portion.
This conventional apparatus performs pink-eye detection processing for the entire frame. The performance of pink-eye detection processing is poor, and detection often fails. For this reason, the original pink-eye area may not be detected, or an area other than the pink-eye area may be detected as a pink-eye area. To solve this problem, the second example having the following function is described in the prior art. The user designates a small area including a pink eye shown in FIG. 4 using a touch panel or the like as a pink-eye designation area 4. The above processing is performed only for the pink-eye designation area. With this arrangement, an apparatus for preventing detection failures is realized without increasing the work load to the user.
In a "red-eye effect correcting device" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-13274 as well, the user designates an area where two red eyes exist, as shown in FIG. 5, using a touch panel or the like. Thereafter, threshold processing is performed on the basis of the average chromaticity of the area, thus realizing recd-eye area detection.
The conventional processing of automatically detecting the pink- or red-eye area uses threshold processing based on colors or the shape of an area which has been detected by the threshold processing. A technique applied to the entire frame is not practical because of its low detection accuracy, as is known. On the other hand, the method of causing the user to designate a point in the red-eye area increases the work load to the user in designation because the red-eye area is very small on the image. The compromise idea of these two methods, i.e., the method of causing the user to designate a small area including red eyes is effective because the work load to the user is small, and detection failures can be suppressed. In this conventional method, however, red-eye detection processing for the entire frame is only simply applied to the specific area, and the shape information of the area given by the user or position information of the detected red-eye area is not positively used. For this reason, it can hardly be said that detection errors can be sufficiently reduced, and a further improvement is required.


The present invention provides a method for producing .beta.-methylnaphthalene from an inexpensive and easily available feed oil. According to the invention, highly pure .beta.-methylnaphthalene adequate for industrial use can be mass-produced at reduced costs. The method comprises catalytic hydrodealkylation of a feed oil containing an alkyl naphthalene having at least two methyl groups in the presence of a catalyst having at least one metal species of selected from the group consisting of vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), rhodium (Rh), platinum (Pt), iridium (Ir), and compounds of these metals as an active component and a carrier therefor containing at least one of alumina and silica as its primary component, with a hydrogen partial pressure of 1 to 50 kgf/cm.sup.2, at a temperature of 450.degree. C. to 650.degree. C., and for a contact time of 3 to 35 seconds. The method of the invention is excellent in that it affords .beta.-methylnaphthalene of a chemical grade with a high yield.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a catalytic hydrodealkylation method for producing .beta.-methylnaphthalene, and more particularly to a method for producing .beta.-methylnaphthalene of a chemical grade with a high yield from a feed oil containing an alkyl naphthalene having at least two methyl groups.
2. Related Art
.beta.-Methylnaphthalene is a compound having a boiling point of 241.1.degree. C. and a melting point of 34.4.degree. C. At room temperature, it is a colorless solid in the form of crystals. It has conventionally been obtained, by means of being separated through crystallization operation from fractions having a boiling point around 240.degree. C. of coal tar. Alternatively, it has been produced through vapor phase methylation reaction of naphthalene with methyl chloride, or through reduction of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone.
Recently, .beta.-methylnaphthalene has become more noticeable and valuable as a starting material for producing polyesters in commercial base. However, conventional methods for producing .beta.-methylnaphthalene, including separation from coal tar cannot supply it with sufficient amounts to comply with its demand. Moreover, .beta.-methylnaphthalene prepared by such conventional methods is not satisfactory in terms of purity for industrial use.
In the other words, it is not technically and economically practicable to implement mass-production of .beta.-methylnaphthalene of a chemical grade, i.e., .beta.-methylnaphthalene having a purity of not less than 97-98% and containing reduced amounts of such non-hydrocarbon impurities as nitrogen, and sulfur by means of conventional experimental approaches for producing .beta.-methylnaphthalene.
Accordingly, a new process applicable to industrial production of .beta.-methylnaphthalene is necessary to comply with the requirements of supplying it at low costs.
It is also noted that, since .beta.-methylnaphthalene was previously not demanded in great amounts as an industrial starting material, attempts to produce .beta.-methylnaphthalene industrially have not attracted much attention to date. As a result, no attempts other than those experimental approaches mentioned above have been made for developing a new method for producing .beta.-methylnaphthalene, especially that of chemical grade.
The present inventors searched an inexpensive feed oil which is readily available in petroleum and petrochemical industries and is replaceable for coal tar which has conventionally been used, and noticed an intermediate product obtained through various kinds of refining processes of a crude oil, particularly an intermediate fraction having a high content of naphthalene compounds, which is generated in catalytic-cracking heavy fractions of a crude oil to produce a gasoline stock.
The present inventors attempted to separate and collect .beta.-methylnaphthalene directly from the intermediate fraction, and concluded that it has been technically difficult to obtain .beta.-methylnaphthalene of a high grade having high purity and containing reduced amounts of non-hydrocarbon compounds such as sulfur-containing compounds and nitrogen-containing compounds, i.e., so-called .beta.-methylnaphthalene of a chemical grade. This is firstly because such an intermediate fraction contains too small a ratio of .beta.-methylnaphthalene against the whole naphthalene compounds to obtain it industrially, and secondly because, as shown in a gas chromatography chart of FIG. 2A, an intermediate fraction contains multi-fractional hydrocarbon components, including not only .beta.-methylnaphthalene but also significant amounts of a variety of hydrocarbons having boiling points close to the boiling point of .beta.-methylnaphthalene, as well as non-hydrocarbon impurities such as sulfur-containing compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds, etc.
Therefore, separation of .beta.-methylnaphthalene from the intermediate fraction is technically very difficult and is not economically practicable.
In the course of research, the present inventors found out that .beta.-methylnaphthalene was able to be effectively mass-produced with a significant reduction in the amount of impurities contained in .beta.-methylnaphthalene product by catalytic hydrodealkylating of a feed oil containing alkyl naphthalenes such as the above-mentioned intermediate fraction. The present inventors conducted further research to conclude that this approach enables the conversion of a feed oil into an product oil containing an elevated content of .beta.-methylnaphthalene and having such distillation properties that allow easy separation of .beta.-methylnaphthalene of a high grade and that the approach is economically quite advantageous and attractive.
The present inventors examined known hydrodealkylation processes for alkyl aromatic compounds such as those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) Nos. 206686/1990, 298347/1990, and 304033/1990, to evaluate those applicabilities to .beta.-methylnaphthalene production and found that these conventional hydrodealkylation processes are not applicable to the production of methylnaphthalenes having a specific methyl group, particularly .beta.-methylnaphthalene, although these methods are capable of producing naphthalenes by complete dealkylation.
By the way, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 206686/1990, "Hydrodealkylation Process" has been filed to U.S. Patent Office and allowed as U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,480 dated Jul. 21, 1992, providing a process for catalytic hydrodealkylation of a feed oil having alkylaromatic hydrocarbons, wherein a two-column apparatus, one column for the catalytic hydrodealkylation and the other column for regeneration of the catalyst, is used, which comprises conducting the hydrodealkylation of a feed oil in a first column under the presence of a fluidized bed of a catalyst comprising substantially spherical particles having a weight mean diameter of 25 to 250 .mu.m, an apparent density of 0.3 to 1.5 g/cm.sup.3, a pore volume of 0.10 to 1.5 cm.sup.3 /g under the conditions maintained for the hydrodealkylation in the column of a total pressure of 2 to 30 kg/cm.sup.2, a hydrogen partial pressure of 1.5 to 20 kg/cm.sup.2 and a temperature of 350.degree. to 700.degree. C.
The invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 298347/1990, "Hydrodealkylation Process" has been filed to U.S. Patent Office and allowed as U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,574 dated Oct. 1, 1991, providing a process for catalytic hydrodealkylation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons which comprises contacting an alkylaromatic compound under a hydrogen partial pressure of 1 to 50 kg/cm.sup.2 and at a temperature of 450.degree. to 700.degree. C. with a catalyst which comprises porous alumina particles with coke deposited thereon in the pores, said alumina particles having a pore volume of 0.1 to 1.5 cm.sup.3 /g and a specific surface area of 5 to 500 m.sup.2 /g, the quantity of said coke being 1 to 30% by weight of said alumina particles, and the pore volume and the specific surface area of said catalyst being 0.05 to 1.5 cm.sup.3 /g and 1 to 500 m.sup.2 /g, respectively.
Japanese Patent Application No. 304033/1990 has disclosed a process for catalytic hydrodealkylation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons which comprises contacting an alkylaromatic compound at a temperature of 450.degree. to 680.degree. C. under the presence of hydrogen with a catalyst which comprises vanadium (V) carried by alumina particles.

Method for producing .beta.-methylnaphthalene

Fuji Oil Company Limited and Petroleum Energy Center


A digital radiotelephone system requiring a transfer of communication from a source base-site (200) in a source cell (100) to a selected one target base-site in a target cell. A source base-site (200) in the source cell (100) provides a first and a second threshold and measures the received signal strength of a mobile unit (225) communicating to the source base-site (200). When the measured signal strength at the source base-site (200) falls below the first threshold, the source base-site (200) initiates a handoff to target base-sites located by the mobile unit (225). The target base-sites measure the received signal strength of the mobile unit (225) and a target base-site is selected. The source base-site (200) is notified of the selected target base-site and hands off communication of the mobile unit (225) to the selected target base-site when the previously measured signal strength at the source base-site (200) falls below the second threshold.

In cellular radiotelephone systems, handoff of a mobile is required to maintain communication to the mobile as it moves from cell to cell in the system. Handoff can be defined as the process of transferring a call in progress from one RF coverage area to another in coordination with the movement of the mobile. It is also the process whereby a call is transferred to another channel within a RF coverage area because of interference within the coverage area. The process of handing off a call in progress is one of the most delicately balanced functions related to cellular radiotelephone systems because it requires a high level of coordination among the various system processing elements to ensure successful operation. Failure to hand a call off at the proper time generally results in a reduction in the call quantity, interference with neighboring coverage areas and even the undesired termination of the call.
Current analog cellular radiotelephone systems require that the system continuously monitor the quality of every call which is operational on the system. The system must recognize when the quality of a call falls below a predetermined threshold in a particular coverage area and must also determine what other coverage area can satisfactorily handle the call. Once a more suitable coverage area is identified, the system sends instructions to the mobile directing it to another channel. The mobile confirms that it is leaving its current channel, tunes to the new channel, synchronizes to the new channel and begins transmitting thereby confirming that it has arrived on the new channel.
In digital cellular radiotelephone systems, the procedure is modified somewhat in that the mobile is capable of measuring other channels as instructed by the system as well as its current channel and also that the mobile reports this information back to the system. These measurements consist of signal strength only and are relative as the measured results are likely to vary considerably due to varying environmental conditions. Because of this and because the mobile cannot determine if the measurement is that of an interferer or the correct channel, the system must scan for the mobile in the cell selected by the mobile.
Although in digital cellular communications systems the mobile is capable of measuring other channels and reporting back to the system, the scan the target cells perform still occurs after the quality of the call has fallen below a predetermined handoff level in a particular coverage area. Thus, by using the mobile to determine target cell candidates, the number of candidate target cells is decreased but no improvement on call quality during handoff is made.
Thus, a need exists for a handoff procedure which will initialize the handoff procedure before the predetermined handoff threshold.

Radiotelephone system incorporating two thresholds for handoff