Techniques for context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) coding with a reduced number of context coded and/or bypass coded bins are provided. Rather than using only truncated unary binarization for the syntax element representing the delta quantization parameter and context coding all of the resulting bins as in the prior art, a different binarization is used and only part of the resulting bins are context coded, thus reducing the worst case number of context coded bins for this syntax element. Further, binarization techniques for the syntax element representing the remaining actual value of a transform coefficient are provided that restrict the maximum codeword length of this syntax element to 32 bits or less, thus reducing the number of bypass coded bins for this syntax element over the prior art.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to context adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) of syntax elements in video coding.
Description of the Related Art
Video compression, i.e., video coding, is an essential enabler for digital video products as it enables the storage and transmission of digital video. In general, video compression techniques apply prediction, transformation, quantization, and entropy coding to sequential blocks of pixels in a video sequence to compress, i.e., encode, the video sequence. Video decompression techniques generally perform the inverse of these operations in reverse order to decompress, i.e., decode, a compressed video sequence.
Context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) is a form of entropy coding used in video encoding. CABAC is an inherently lossless compression technique notable for providing considerably better compression than most other encoding algorithms used in video encoding at the cost of increased complexity. In brief, CABAC has multiple probability modes for different contexts. It first converts all non-binary symbols to binary symbols referred to as bins. Then, for each bin, the coder selects which probability model to use, and uses information from nearby elements to optimize the probability estimate. Arithmetic coding is then applied to compress the data. The theory and operation of CABAC coding for H.264/AVC is defined in the International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) standard "Advanced video coding for generic audiovisual services" H.264, revision March 2005 or later, which is incorporated by reference herein. General principles are explained in "Context-Based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding in the H.264/AVC Video Compression Standard," Detlev Marpe, July 2003, which is incorporated by reference herein.
CABAC is a well known throughput bottleneck in video codec implementations (particularly on the decoder side) primarily due to data dependencies in context selection which make CABAC difficult to parallelize. In CABAC, bins can be either context coded or bypass coded. Bypass coded bins do not require context selection which allows these bins to be processed at a much high throughput than context coded bins. Thus, to improve the throughput of the CABAC, the number of context coded bins should be reduced. However, it is also desirable to reduce the number of bypass coded bins as the number of bypass coded bins are an order of magnitude larger than the number of context coded bins. In general, encoder and decoder hardware is designed for the worst case. Thus, it is important to reduce the worst case number of both context and bypass coded bins.

Reducing context coded and bypass coded bins to improve context adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) throughput


A dispersed ingredient having metal-oxygen bonds which is obtained by hydrolyzing a metal alkoxide in an organic solvent in the absence of an acid, a base, and/or a dispersion stabilizer, either with 0.5 to less than 1 mol of water per mol of the metal alkoxide or at −20° C. or lower with 1.0 to less than 2.0 mol of water per mol of the metal alkoxide. In the organic solvent, the dispersed ingredient is stably dispersed without aggregating. Use of the dispersed ingredient enables a thin metal oxide film and a homogeneous organic/inorganic composite to be produced at a temperature as low as 200° C. or below.

An organic-inorganic composite that an inorganic component is compounded in an organic polymer (which is sometimes called organic-inorganic hybrid or organic-inorganic composite polymer) has drawn attention as an industrial material with new properties that are both of the characters of the organic polymer and the inorganic component.
Particularly when an organic-inorganic composite is produced to be used for a plastic lens with a high refractive index, use of titanium oxide as the inorganic component is considered to be favorable.
An example of the organic-inorganic composite produced with a titanium oxide sol is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 8-157735 which describes a process for the preparation of an organic-inorganic composite polymer, characterized by hydrolysis and dehydration condensation of a metal alkoxide with an acid or a base as a catalyst in the presence of an organic monomer, followed by polymerization of an organic-inorganic composite containing the obtained metal oxide and the organic monomer.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 11-14949 describes a process for producing contact lenses by polymerization of a monomer mixture that contains Component A, a monomer composition containing at least a monomer and a metal oxide having optional organic groups and produced by hydrolysis and dehydration condensation of a metal alkoxide in the presence of the monomer, and Component B, a monomer capable of polyaddition or polycondensation with the monomer composition of Component A.
As processes for producing transparent, homogeneous metal oxide sols, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-298769 describes a process for the preparation of a metal oxide precursor sot, characterized in that water is added to the metal alkoxide at −20° C. or lower in a method for producing a metal oxide precursor sol by hydrolyzing and polymerizing one or more metal alkoxides.
It is known, as a process for forming a thin metal oxide film on the surface of a base plate by a sol-gel method, that a metal alkoxide used as a starting material is hydrolyzed and polymerized to prepare a metal oxide precursor sol and the obtained sol is coated on the surface of a base plate to form a thin film of the metal oxide gel on the surface of the plate, then the gel film is heated at an appropriate temperature. Of these methods, a preferable example is a process that an organic compound able to coordinate to multiple sites is added to stabilize a metal alkoxide so as to control the hydrolysis rate for producing a filmable sot, and the sot is used to form a film according the aforementioned method. Actual examples are that a β-diketone is effective for forming an alumina thin film using aluminum s-butoxide as a starting material [Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, 97, 369 (1989)]; and for forming a titania thin film using titanium isopropoxide as a starting material, 1,3-butan-diol is effective [Sumio Koshiba, Toyohashi University of Technology, Doctoral Thesis, March, 1993]; and a β-diketone is effective [Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, 97, 213 (1989)]. For forming a zirconia thin film using zirconium n-butoxide as a starting material, use of diethylene glycol is reported to be effective [Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, 95, 942 (1987)]. Furthermore, there are reports that use of β-diketones or alkanolamines is effective for the syntheses of composite oxides, such as PbTiO3 and Pb(Zr,Ti)O3, in Journal of American Ceramic Society, 74, 1407 (1991) and Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, 98, 745 (1990).
Processes for the preparation of oxide films that make use of hydrolyses of various inorganic salts, such as chlorides, sulfates, nitrates and ammonium salts, and aqua complexes are reported in Physics of Tin Film, 5, p 87 (1969), Academic Press. In addition, Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, 102, 200 (1994) describes use of indium nitrate and tin chloride, instead of a metal alkoxide, to prepare an In2O3—SnO2 sot as a composite oxide.
However, in either case of Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 8-157735 or 11-14949, a metal alkoxide is hydrolyzed and dehydration condensed with an acid or a base, and the solvent, water, acid or base is distilled out for bulk polymerization. It is difficult to completely remove the used water, acid or base. Therefore, a problem was the effect of these remaining substances on the polymerization reaction. Particularly when solution polymerization is carried out in an organic solvent, it is necessary to use an acid, a base or a dispersion stabilizer to make the product of the metal alkoxide hydrolysis existing stably in a solution. Therefore, a problem was that these inhibit the polymerization or give bad effects on the physical properties of the product. Furthermore, the said organic-inorganic composite prepared with a titanium oxide gel generally tends to have lower transmittance than that of inorganic-organic composites produced with other metal oxide gels. This fact suggests that titanium oxide aggregates at the stage of concentration following the hydrolysis and dehydration condensation.
The transparent, homogeneous metal oxide sols disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-298697 also have the same problem as those described above because the pH is in the acidic region.
According to the said process for stabilizing a metal alkoxide by adding a multidentate compound so as to control the hydrolysis rate of the metal alkoxide, a homogeneous sol for forming a film is easily prepared. However, many organic substances that are hard to decompose due to their high boiling points coexist in the sol or gel film. As a result, it is necessary to heat the gel film at a temperature as high as about 500° C. in order to remove the organic substances. Because of many organic substances remaining in the gel film, a heat treatment of the gel film greatly reduces the film weight. In other words, the removal of the organic substances from the gel film creates many pores in the film, being a cause of defects of the obtained thin metal oxide film. There was a problem that various characteristics of the metal oxide, such as mechanical, optical and electric, were not fully displayed. On the other hand, the removal of the pores in the film needs extra energy to make the thin film dense. As described above, the processes using metal salts are basically thermal decomposition methods that cause many problems in film qualities after heat treatment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for the preparation of a thin metal oxide film at a temperature as low as 200° C. or below, and a metal oxide sol suitable for producing a homogeneous organic-inorganic composite, as well as a thin metal oxide film and organic-inorganic composite that have various functions, particularly an organic-inorganic composite with a high refractive index and high transparency.

Process for preparing dispersed ingredient having metal-oxygen bonds


A valve assembly for liquid containers includes a base fixed on the water bottle and a connector unit which is connected to the base by a locking member. Each of the base and the connector unit includes a valve piece which is biased by a spring to seal the base and the connector unit respectively. When the connector unit is connected to the base, the two valve pieces push against to each other to compress the two respective springs so as to release the sealing status of both of the base and the connector unit. The connector unit includes a connection portion and a hose can be connected to the connection portion. The user can have the water in the bottle via the hose while the connection portion can be rotated 360 degrees.

A conventional liquid container such as a water bottle or water bag for outdoor use generally includes a container with a base connected to the container and a hose is connected to the base so as to suck the water in the container. Once the hose is disengaged from the base, the container is not sealed so that water may flow out from the opening of the base. In other words, the users have to carry the water bottle together with the hose connected with the base, this is in convenient because the hose might be tangled by other objects. Besides, the hose is fixedly connected to the base so that during having the water via the hose, the hose cannot be twisted or the volume of water is reduced. A valve assembly that can still be sealed when the hose is separated from the base is needed.
The present invention intends to provide a valve assembly for a water bottle and includes a base and a connector unit wherein each of the base and the connector unit has a valve piece biased by a spring so as to seal the base and the connector unit respectively when the connector unit is separated from the base.


A high-lift airfoil embodying a combination of loading conventions in a single design specifically to reduce and control total pressure losses that occur in the flow channels between airfoils employed in turbomachinery applications is disclosed herein. The mixed-loading high-lift airfoil designs embody and exhibit the best total profile and secondary loss characteristics possessed by both aft-loaded airfoil and front-loaded airfoil conventions through controlling the development and interaction of boundary layers forming along the surfaces of the airfoils and the endwalls in such applications. The mixed-loading high-lift airfoil may be utilized in both rotating and non-rotating turbomachinery applications.

Turbomachinery applications generally employ one or more components containing rotating and/or non-rotating airfoils, for example, a compressor or a turbine. When testing the airfoils of such turbomachinery, engineers typically measure a loss of total pressure to gauge the airfoil's performance. Three well-known factors that engender total pressure loss in rows of turbomachinery airfoils are the behavior of the boundary layer along the airfoil surface, the behavior of the boundary layers along the inner and outer diameter end walls to which the airfoil is attached, and the interaction of the airfoil and endwall boundary layers with each other. Current industry practice recognizes the significance and impact of loss control but does not yet fully understand the underlying physics governing the generation of these losses.
A fundamental mechanism of the airfoil is to turn the fluid medium in which it is present. By doing so, the airfoil will develop a distribution of fluid pressure, or a pressure loading, over its surfaces. This distribution is highly dependent on the motion of the fluid near the airfoil surface as determined by the local airfoil geometry. Thus, it is possible to influence the pressure loading of the airfoil by means of airfoil design. Designs that favor placing the bulk of the pressure loading closer to the leading edge of the airfoil are commonly referred to as front-loaded airfoils. Similarly, designs that favor placing the bulk of the pressure loading closer to the trailing edge of the airfoil are commonly referred to as aft-loaded airfoils. The distribution of loading on an airfoil surface is commonly referred to as the loading convention of the airfoil, and members of the turbomachinery industry tend to favor one loading convention over another based on their own experiences and design philosophy.
For instance, most turbomachinery applications employ turbines and/or compressors equipped with airfoils possessing a loading convention distributed uniformly across the span of the airfoil, from root to tip, a practice which is standard within the industry. The airfoils may be positioned relative to one another in order to meet design requirements by varying the working medium fluid area of the passageway, that is, the minimum (or throat) area between two airfoils as measured by the integration along the airfoil span of a minimum distance line from the suction-side of one airfoil to the pressure side of an adjacent airfoil. However, repositioning the airfoils alone will ultimately not improve performance and reduce pressure losses due to the continued use of airfoils embodying standard loading conventions, that is, aft-loaded or front-loaded.
The spanwise distribution of the total pressure loss can be categorized into two distinct regions, each controlled by a separate mechanism. First, the total pressure loss near the middle portion of the airfoil away from the end walls, referred to as the airfoil profile loss, is highly dependent on the behavior of the airfoil surface boundary layer. It has been shown that front-loaded airfoils tend to generate less profile loss than does an aft-loaded airfoil. Likewise, the total pressure loss near the root and tip section of the airfoil close to the end walls, referred to as the secondary loss, is highly dependent on both the end wall boundary layer as well as the interaction of the end wall boundary layer with the airfoil surface boundary layer. It has been shown that aft-loaded airfoils tend to generate less secondary loss than do front-loaded airfoils.
In addition, the amount of loading generated by an airfoil is of interest. Generally, the load value of an airfoil may be expressed as a non-dimensional loading parameter known as the Zweifel load coefficient as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The Zweifel load coefficient is a ratio of the actual airfoil load to the ideal airfoil load.
The Zweifel load coefficient is calculated according to the following equation:
      Zweifel                          Load                          Coefficient    =      2              (              s                  B          x                    )                  cos      2                          α        2                          (                              tan                                                                                α              2                                +                                                    C                                  X                                                                                1                                                            C                                  X                                                                                2                                                                  tan                                                                                α              1                                      )
where                s is the airfoil pitchwise spacing;        BX is the airfoil axial chord length;        α1 is the airfoil inlet flow angle relative to an axial plane;        α2 is the airfoil exit flow angle relative to an axial plane;        CX1 is the airfoil inlet axial flow velocity; and        CX2 is the airfoil exit axial flow velocity.
For a given loading per row of airfoils, the loading per airfoil can be controlled by adjusting either or both the airfoil count or the airfoil size. For example, a reduction in either of these two parameters can reduce both weight and cost of the airfoil while in turn increasing the airfoil loading. However, increased airfoil loading may push the airfoil into an unfavorable operational regime with respect to increased airfoil secondary flow losses. For example, high-lift airfoils generally possess a Zweifel load coefficient of greater than 1.2. However, the use of high-lift airfoils for turbomachinery applications is typically avoided due to certain performance obstacles. It has been observed that turbomachinery utilizing high-lift airfoils may exhibit airfoil flow separation or undesirable boundary layer thickening as well as greater secondary losses.
One conventional airfoil design of the prior art achieved a Zweifel load coefficient of up to 1.16 by employing an airfoil having a mixed-loading convention. However, in order to achieve a Zweifel load coefficient greater than 1.16, the size of each airfoil had to be adjusted and/or the number of airfoils had to be changed.
Consequently, there exists a need for a high-lift airfoil design that reduces the total pressure loss by improving both the characteristics of the airfoil and end wall boundary layers, and by minimizing the interaction between the two boundary layers as compared to past mixed-loading airfoils designs.

Airfoil embodying mixed loading conventions


A projector type lamp of the present invention has a projection lens and a reflector, wherein the projection lens comprises a cylindrical lens portion which forms a center portion of the projection lens and whose vertical cross section has a curve when the projector type lamp is installed and aspherical lens portions which are halves of an aspherical lens and formed continuous to the respective right and left end portions of the cylindrical lens portion. The reflector is divided into four parts located in upper and lower sides and right and left sides thereof; an upper reflection surface, a lower reflection surface, a right reflection surface, and a left reflection surface, the four reflection surfaces being formed as curved surfaces on the basis of oval surfaces and combined together. Therefore, the shape and area of the projection lens can be changed without losing the characteristics of the projector type lamp, while there are problems for the prior projector type lamp of lacking visibility of the projector type lamp from a vehicle running in an opposite direction and a passenger and design freedom, the front shape of the projection lens to be selected being only relatively small circles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an illumination lamp such as a head lamp, a fog lamp or the like and, more specifically, to a lamp called "projector type lamp" which mainly comprises a reflector having two focal points, such as a rotary ellipsoid or a composite ellipsoid, a projection lens for projecting an image of a light source, which is positioned at a first focal point of the reflector, at a second focal point of the reflector, and a shade for controlling light distribution characteristics.
2. Background Art
FIG. 11 shows the configuration of a head lamp as an example of a projector type lamp 90 of the prior art. This projector type lamp 90 comprises a reflector 91 which is formed, for example, as a composite ellipsoid having first and second focal points, a light source 92 positioned at the first focal point, a shade 93 arranged in the vicinity of the second focal point, a projection lens 94 which is an aspherical convex lens having a focal point in the vicinity of the shade 93, and a housing, not shown, for holding these elements at predetermined locations.
Since the head lamp is configured as described above, rays of light from the light source 92 reflected by the reflector 91 are all converged into a light flux at the second focal point. At this point, since the shade 93 is arranged in the vicinity of the second focal point, substantially a lower half portion of the light flux is shaded and an upper half portion is inverted by the projection lens 94, enlarged and projected in an illumination direction to obtain light distribution characteristics for low beams which do not include upward rays.
However, in the above projector type lamp 90 of the prior art, since the projection lens 94 serves as a light emission surface at the time of lighting, the light emission area is smaller than those of lamps of other types which use a parabolic reflector and a cut lens, thereby deteriorating the visibility of the projector type lamp from a car running in an opposite direction or a passenger.
The projection lens 94 appears circular when seen from the front and only the projection lens 94 can be seen when it is installed on a vehicle. Therefore, any lamp provides the same impression. It is substantially impossible to produce a design difference according to the type of a vehicle, even if it is desired. Thus, the projector type lamp of the prior art has such a defect as lack of design freedom.
Further, since the projection lens 94 is smaller than those of the lamps of other types as described above, the heat of the light source 92 is concentrated on the projection lens 94, whereby the temperature of the projection lens 94 rises sharply. Therefore, a glass member must be used to provide heat resistance to the projection lens 94, thereby boosting costs and making it difficult to reduce the weight of the lamp. Solutions to these problems have been awaited.
As for design freedom described above, there has been proposed a method for forming a substantially oval projection lens by cutting end portions in a vertical direction of the projection lens 94 as shown in FIG. 12. In this case, the light emission area becomes much smaller at the time of lighting with the result of deteriorated visibility, a loss in the amount of light and the difficulty of arranging the shade 93. Thus, the formation of light distribution characteristics is restricted and the problems of the prior art cannot be solved.


An input clutch lubrication control apparatus for an automatic transmission, including an oil pump, a sleeve, an input shaft rotatably supported by the sleeve, an electromagnetic input clutch drivingly coupled with the input shaft upon being applied, first and second lubrication circuits fluidly communicating the electromagnetic input clutch with the oil pump, and a controller programmed to control the first and second lubrication circuits to regulate an amount of the lubricating oil fed to the electromagnetic input clutch. First lubrication circuit includes an annular space between the input shaft and the sleeve. Second lubrication circuit includes an axial bore of the input shaft.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling lubrication in an input clutch used in an automatic transmission, and specifically, to an apparatus for controlling lubrication in an electromagnetic input clutch.
In general, an automatic transmission of a continuously variable type (stepless transmission) or a non-continuously variable type (stepwise transmission) is so constructed as to receive rotation of an engine as a power source via a torque converter. The torque converter transmits the power between input and output elements by hydrodynamic force. The torque converter can perform smooth transmission of the power, but there will occur slippage between the input and output elements, causing decrease in fuel economy.
In order to eliminate the above-described disadvantage, there have been proposed automatic transmissions in which an input clutch constituted by an electromagnetic clutch or multiple-disc clutch is used in place of a torque converter. Japanese Patent Applications First Publications Nos. 10-78052 and 5-149418 disclose an automatic transmission including a multiple-disc clutch substituted for a torque converter. The multiple-disc clutch has a relatively large size, and requires such a complicated hydraulic circuit for controlling the clutch application as described in the latter of the earlier techniques. This results in enlarged size and complicated construction of the automatic transmission. In addition, if the multiple-disc clutch is substituted for the torque converter in the automatic transmission, a large change of the design of the automatic transmission must be required. Therefore, it is preferable to use the electromagnetic clutch rather than the multiple-disc clutch.
However, even when the electromagnetic clutch is used for the input clutch, it is required to apply the input clutch at a slipping state in order to prevent undesired shock from being caused upon the starting or speed-change operation of the automatic transmission. Accordingly, the electromagnetic input clutch must be lubricated.
The lubrication circuit of the electromagnetic input clutch includes an oil pump for pumping a lubricating oil from an oil source. The oil pump is disposed at the connection between a transmission casing and an input clutch housing. A control valve body is mounted to a lower portion of the transmission casing and adapted to control speed-change of the automatic transmission using the oil fed from the oil pump as a working medium. An excessive oil from the control valve body is utilized for lubricating the electromagnetic input clutch within the input clutch housing. The lubricating oil to be used for lubrication of the electromagnetic input clutch must be supplied from the central portion of the input clutch because the input clutch per se is a rotor. Therefore, the lubrication circuit cannot be formed at the outer periphery of the input clutch. For the reasons described above, the formation of the lubrication circuit tends to increase diameter of a transmission input shaft and radial dimension of the entire automatic transmission.
Further, if two lubrication circuits for the input clutch are arranged parallel to each other and selectively used for easy control of an amount of the lubricating oil, the above-described tendency will become more significant. There is a demand for providing the solution of the above problem.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for controlling lubrication in an input clutch of an automatic transmission, which is provided with two parallel lubrication circuits for the input clutch without increasing radial dimensions of a transmission input shaft and the automatic transmission and is capable of readily controlling an amount of a lubricating oil to be used for lubrication in the input clutch.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for lubricating an electromagnetic input clutch of an automatic transmission, which is capable of being constructed without substantially changing the design of the automatic transmission utilizing a torque converter.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input clutch lubrication control apparatus for au automatic transmission, comprising:
an oil pump discharging a lubricating oil;
a sleeve;
an input shaft having an axial bore, the input shaft rotatably supported by the sleeve;
an electromagnetic input clutch electromagnetically operated to be drivingly coupled with the input shaft upon being applied;
a first lubrication circuit feeding the lubricating oil discharged from the oil pump to the electromagnetic input clutch, the first lubrication circuit including a space between an outer circumferential surface of the input shaft and an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve; and
a second lubrication circuit feeding the lubricating oil discharged from the oil pump to the electromagnetic input clutch, the second lubrication circuit including the axial bore of the input shaft; and
a controller programmed to control the first and second lubrication circuits to regulate an amount of the lubricating oil fed to the electromagnetic input clutch.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input clutch lubrication control apparatus for au automatic transmission, comprising:
an oil pump discharging a lubricating oil;
a sleeve;
an input shaft rotatably received by the sleeve with a space therebetween, the input shaft having an axial bore;
an electromagnetic input clutch electromagnetically operated to be drivingly coupled with the input shaft upon being applied;
first lubrication passage means for fluidly communicating the electromagnetic input clutch with the oil pump through the space between the sleeve and the input shaft;
second lubrication passage means for fluidly communicating the electromagnetic input clutch with the oil pump through the axial bore of the input shaft; and
a controller programmed to control the first and second lubrication passage means depending on an operating state of the electromagnetic input clutch.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic transmission, comprising:
an oil pump discharging a lubricating oil;
a sleeve;
an input shaft rotatably supported by the sleeve;
an electromagnetic input clutch electromagnetically operated to be drivingly coupled with the input shaft upon being applied;
first and second lubrication circuits fluidly communicating the electromagnetic input clutch with the oil pump and arranged parallel to each other; and
a controller programmed to perform either one of a mono-circuit lubrication control in which the first lubrication circuit is used and a bi-circuit lubrication control in which the first and second lubrication circuits are used, depending on an operating state of the electromagnetic input clutch.

Input clutch lubrication control apparatus for an automatic transmission


The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a handle for a hand tool, the handle comprising a body portion and a gripping part that is provided at least partly on the body portion and intended for the user to grip when using the hand tool. In the method of the invention there is first fabricated the gripping part and it is set in a mould cavity, whereafter melt mass is cast into the mould cavity to provide the body portion such that the melt mass flows underneath the gripping part, whereby the gripping part is pressed against the wall of the mould cavity.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a handle for a hand tool.
Handles of hand tools are often made of two or more materials, or two or more interconnected portions. These handles generally comprise a rigid body portion and one or more surface portions provided thereon. The body portion is larger in size and of harder material and it constitutes the body of the handle whereto other portions of the hand tool are connected or connectable. The surface portion, in turn, is generally provided on the body portion as a surface layer that covers at least part of the body portion. The surface portion is smaller in size than the body portion and often also of softer material than the body portion. This surface portion may be, for instance, a gripping portion, the purpose of which is to provide a gripping area for the handle that the user grips when the hand tool is used in order for holding the hand tool. A gripping portion of this kind is generally of softer material than the body portion for added comfort in using the hand tool. A friction coefficient of the gripping portion may also be higher than that of the body portion. Alternatively, the surface layer may be a coloured layer or the like, whereby the handle or a portion thereof is provided with a desired colour or colours.
In accordance with prior art, handles of this kind, which consist of two or more materials or two or more portions, are generally manufactured by use of two-component injection moulding, multi-component injection moulding or other multi-component moulding. Generally, in the manufacturing process, there is first moulded a body portion for a handle, which is of harder material and larger in size, in a mould cavity of a first mould. After moulding the body portion, the body portion having solidified, it is transferred to a mould cavity of a second mould, where a surface portion is cast on the body portion. Thus, the difference between the mould cavities of the first and the second moulds is that the mould cavity of the first mould lacks the space required by the surface portion.
The generally known manufacturing process of a handle has a drawback that a body portion, which is large in size, has to be transferred between mouldings from a first mould to a second mould. It is cumbersome to transfer the body portion because of its dimensions and weight, and therefore it demands complicated arrangements. In addition, the importance of distortions occurring in connection with shrinkage and solidification will be emphasized in large pieces, whereby it becomes more difficult to fit the body portion inside the mould cavity of the second mould. To achieve a successful moulding of the surface portion, the mould cavity of the second mould should follow very closely the geometry of the body portion, which is problematic because of said distortions. In other words, said distortions are often impossible to predict, which leads to variations in quality.

Method for manufacturing a hand tool handle, and a hand tool handle


According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an electrically conductive and grounded frame, an image forming unit, a print head, a holder that supports the print head, an electrically conductive urging member between the print head and the holder for urging the print head toward the image forming unit, and an electrically conductive arm extending from the urging member and electrically connected to the urging member. The arm floats when the print head moves away from the image forming unit and is electrically connected to the frame when the print head contacts the image forming unit.

In an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus, a technique for exposing a photoconductive drum of an image forming unit by an exposure apparatus having a print head, attaching a developer such as toner to the photoconductive drum, and transferring the developer to a sheet such as paper is known.
When cleaning the print head or replacing the image forming unit, the print head is at a position separated from the image forming unit. When image formation is performed, the print head is in contact with the image forming unit and is at a predetermined position with respect to the image forming unit.

Image forming apparatus that prevents a load from being generated


Method and apparatus are disclosed for damping the resonance frequency in a microphone. The method and apparatus of the invention involve providing an elastomeric frame to support the backplate. The elastomeric frame forms a substantially air tight seal around the backplate. A hole is formed in the backplate and a cover having an opening therein is placed over the hole in the backplate. The frequency response of the microphone may then be controlled by precisely controlling the size, shape, and/or location of the opening in the cover overlaying the hole. The cover may also serve as an electrical contact to other components in the microphone.

A conventional listening device such as a hearing aid includes, among other things, a microphone and a receiver. The microphone receives sound waves and converts the sound waves to an audio signal. The audio signal is then processed (e.g., amplified) and provided to the receiver. The receiver converts the processed audio signal into an acoustic signal and subsequently broadcasts the acoustic signal to the user.
The microphone generally has a rigid, electrically charged backplate and a moveable metallic diaphragm. The diaphragm divides the inner volume of the microphone into a front volume and a rear volume. Sound waves enter the microphone via a sound inlet and pass into the front volume. The air vibrations created by the entering sound waves cause the metallic diaphragm to move, thereby inducing an electric signal in the electrically charged backplate corresponding to the sound waves. The electric signal is then processed by audio processing circuitry connected to the charged backplate and converted into an audio signal.
For certain applications, including hearing aids and other listening devices, it is desirable to dampen the resonance frequency of the microphone system. One way to dampen the frequency response is to increase the inertance presented to the sound waves entering the microphone by placing an obstruction near the sound inlet in the front volume. Common types of obstructions include a damping screen made of a grid-like mesh material placed over the sound inlet, a shaped embossment or structure formed or placed inside the housing of the microphone near the sound inlet, and the like.
A damping screen, however, can become clogged as debris and foreign material accumulate on its surface. As the dampening screen becomes increasingly clogged, the microphone's frequency response may depart from the specification. A shaped structure can also become less effective as debris accumulates, since the shaped structure depends on its shape to create the desired dampening effect. If the accumulated debris alters the shape of the shaped structure, the microphone's frequency response will be altered. In both of the above cases, the accumulation of debris, such as dust, hairspray, pollen, and other particles, may adversely affect the frequency response of the microphone and may even cause it to malfunction.
Unlike the front volume, the rear volume is typically sealed off and largely impervious to debris. Therefore, some microphones place the damping mechanism in the rear volume to avoid debris accumulation. These microphones use a damping frame between the diaphragm and the backplate to dampen the frequency response. The damping frame has inner slits cut into its opposing edges that, together with the backplate, define apertures through which air may escape from the area between the diaphragm and the backplate to the rest of the rear volume. The escaping air results in a damping of the frequency response of the microphone. An example of such a microphone may be found in commonly-owned U.S. Published Application No. 20030063768 to Cornelius et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The dimensions of the inner slits in the above microphones have to be very precise in order to achieve the desired level of escaping air for damping purposes. Also, the damping frame is normally made of a stiff or rigid material, usually plastic or Kapton®. Moreover, a hole is sometimes punched through the backplate to facilitate handling during assembly of the microphone. This hole has to be subsequently filled (e.g., with adhesive or similar material) in order to prevent air from escaping through the hole. Accordingly, what is needed is an improved way to control the frequency response of the microphone.


The present invention relates generally to a shredder waste leveler and a shredder waste compactor. Specifically, this invention discloses a shredder waste leveler which levels shredder waste as it accumulates in the shredder base. In addition, this invention discloses a shredder waste compactor which compacts shredded material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a shredder waste leveler and a shredder waste compactor. Specifically, this invention discloses a shredder waste leveler which levels shredder waste as it accumulates in the shredder base. In addition, this invention discloses a shredder waste compactor which compacts shredded material.
2. Background Information
With increased privacy concerns, shredders have become an integral part in both homes and businesses. Though originally used to destroy paper products, shredders are now used to shred other forms of media that hold information, such as compact discs. In addition, credit cards and other plastic products are commonly shredded.
Conventional shredders have a waste basket or base for collecting material that is shredded. Shredders also have full bin detectors which detect when a base is full of shredded material. Without a full bin detector, a shredder is prone to jam when full because shredded material will not fall freely into the base, or previously shredded material may feed upwards into the shredding mechanism.
Shredded material typically accumulates in a mound shape resulting in the full bin detector going off prior to the entire bin actually being full. Accordingly, the present invention discloses various shredder waste leveler and compactor configurations which increase the amount of material that the base can hold prior to the full bin detector going off.
One preferred embodiment of the claimed invention discloses a foot pedal with a pedal arm. As the foot pedal is depressed the pedal arm redistributes and levels the shredded material. Another preferred embodiment of the claimed invention discloses a foot pedal connected to a compacting arm. In this embodiment, as the foot pedal is depressed, the compacting arm presses down and compacts the shredded material.
From the preceding descriptions, it is apparent that the devices currently being used have significant disadvantages and/or limitations. Thus, important aspects of the technology used in the field of invention remain amenable to useful refinement.

Shredder with waste leveler and compactor


Systems, methods, and computer program products related to transaction application security are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, application nodes are randomly selected for requiring re-authentication of a user traversing nodes of the application. These and other embodiments are more fully disclosed herein.

The disclosure relates generally to authentication, and more particularly, to systems and methods for use in authenticating a user of a transaction application.
In transaction processing, a critical issue is authentication—how does a service or transaction provider know whether a certain user accessing a service and performing actions at a certain site is who the user claims to be. In many instances, the conventional method of using the combination of a login and password alone may not be satisfactory. Many solutions have been proposed for the problem of authentication, however many of them encounter an imbalance between usability vs. security—they are either not secure enough, or, when security is enhanced to satisfactory levels, they are cumbersome and expensive to deploy and operate.
Therefore, a need exists for an authentication system and method that overcomes the disadvantages described above with conventional authentication systems and methods.


A power detection circuit is provided. The power detection circuit includes a comparator circuit operative to generate an output signal in response to an input signal. The output signal is configured to change from a first value to a second value in response to the input signal attaining a first threshold value. The output signal is configured to change from the second value to the first value in response to the input signal subsequently attaining a second threshold value. A current limiting circuit is connected to the comparator circuit and operative to limit a leakage current of the comparator circuit.

It is often desirable to detect flow of power to a circuit such as in an on-chip power to reduce or prevent interface leakage in a dual power system. For example, a power detector can be configured to detect the voltage level of an input power. When the voltage level is higher than a certain threshold, the power detector outputs a specific logic state to indicate that the power is on. When the voltage is lower than a certain threshold, the power detector outputs another logic state to indicate that the power is off.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A Battery Management System (BMS) includes a sensing unit and a Micro Control Unit (MCU). The sensing unit measures a battery current, a battery voltage, and a battery temperature. The MCU determines a State of Charge (SOC) reset point based on the measured battery current and voltage. The BMS determines a battery overcharge state using a current integration result after the SOC reset point is reached. The MCU includes an SOC calculator and a full charge determining unit. The SOC calculator transmits a present current integration value upon detecting the SOC reset point. The full charge determining unit receives the present current integration value, integrates the current using the measured battery current, and determines that the battery is being overcharged when the current integration value reaches a predetermined battery rating capacity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Battery Management System (BMS). More particularly, the present invention relates to a BMS used in a vehicle using electrical energy.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vehicles with an internal combustion engine using gasoline or diesel fuel have caused serious air pollution. Accordingly, efforts have recently been made for developing electric or hybrid vehicles to reduce air pollution.
An electric vehicle uses a battery motor operating by electrical energy output by a battery. Since the electric vehicle mainly uses a battery formed by one battery pack including a plurality of rechargeable/dischargeable secondary cells, there is merit in that it produces no emission gases and less noise.
A hybrid vehicle commonly refers to a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle that uses gasoline to power an internal-combustion engine and a battery to power an electric motor. Recently, hybrid vehicles using an internal-combustion engine and fuel cells and hybrid vehicles using a battery and fuel cells have been developed. The fuel cells directly obtain electrical energy by generating a chemical reaction while hydrogen and oxygen are continuously provided.
Since battery performance directly affects a vehicle using electrical energy, it is necessary for each battery cell to have exceptional performance. Also, it is necessary to provide a Battery Management System (BMS) to measure a voltage and a current of the battery pack to efficiently manage charging and discharging operations of each battery cell.
However, since a battery voltage and a threshold voltage range are compared to determine a battery overcharge, a battery may be continuously overcharged when a battery voltage detecting circuit has an error.

Battery management system (BMS) and driving method thereof


A moving image Vd consists of a plurality of frames F1–F12. A scene change SC of the moving image Vd is detected according to change in each frame regarding to brightness information of image, and the plurality of frames are divided into frame groups FG1 (F1–F8) and FG2 (F9–F12) each having substantially the same scene at the scene change as a boundary. Then, with respect to the frame group FG1, every three frames, F1, F4, F7 are sampled to execute scene determination, and a most frequent scene is determined as a common scene of the frame group. Consequently, scene determination results for sufficiently scene-changed frames F4, F7 interposed between frames F1, F12 of both ends of the frame group FG1 can be utilized, so that it is possible to determine the common scene with high accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a moving image processing technique and, in particular, to improvement in a scene determination technique in moving images.
2. Description of the Background Art
In a conventional moving processing, there is known a method in which a scene change in a moving image is determined by detecting a change in brightness or the like for every frame constituting the moving image, and a common scene characteristic which is a common moving image characteristic among a frame group having substantially the same scene from that scene change to the next scene change is determined.
Then, on the basis of a correction parameter corresponding to the common scene characteristic, image correction is executed for the frame group by one operation, thereby making the moving processing more efficient and appropriate.
In the above moving image processing, the common scene characteristic is determined on the basis of only the scene determination with respect to a frame directly after a scene change, however, the frame directly after a scene change is not always sufficiently scene changed, so that the determination accuracy of common scene characteristic is often poor.
On the other hand, in a conventional moving image correction, first a change in brightness or the like is detected for every frame image (hereinafter, simply referred to as "frame") constituting the moving image as a preliminary processing, whereby a scene change in the moving image is detected. Then, a frame group from that scene change to the next scene change is regarded as a frame group representing substantially the same scene, and a common scene characteristic as a scene characteristic which is common among the frame group is determined. To be more specific, a characteristic of a scene represented by a frame directly after a scene change is determined, and the result of determination is defined as a common scene characteristic.
After that, a correction parameter corresponding to the common scene characteristic is determined, and on the basis of the correction parameter, the same image correction is executed on the frame group. In this way, moving image correction is made more efficient and appropriate.
By the way, in determination of a scene characteristic represented by a frame (hereinafter, referred to as "scene determination"), there is a case that it is preferred to determine as indiscriminable because reliability of the determination result is poor. In such a case, it becomes impossible to determine a common scene characteristic and a correction parameter, so that it becomes necessary to take such measures of, for example, executing correction of a frame group that is indiscriminable by using a correction parameter used for correction of a preceding frame group.
Also, scene determination with respect to a frame is almost the same as a scene determination executed in correction of a static image, and measures in the case of indiscriminable should be taken not only for moving images but also for static images.

Image processing apparatus, method, and program for processing a moving image


A device for patterning structures on a substrate includes an imaging device having a scanning tip, a light emitting device, and a space around the scanning tip. The space comprises a vapor of a material which is suitable for Chemical Vapor Deposition onto the substrate when decomposed. The light emitting device is adapted to emit a light beam, which has an intensity not capable to decompose the vapor, onto the scanning tip in such a way that an electromagnetic field induced by the light beam near the scanning tip is high enough to decompose the vapor.

Usually substrates are patterned by the use of lithography. Using this technique the smallest patterns that can be produced are restricted by the resolution of the lithography, namely the wavelength of light emitted by a light source used and the smallest dimensions of the patterning of the photoresist used in the lithography. The smallest dimensions which can be produced by the known 157 nm lithography technology are about 50 nm. However, the effort for achieving this dimension is enormous and thus is only payable when used in patterning substrates in rather big quantities.
Due to this reason, patterning of structures of dimensions less than 100 nm is conventionally achieved with e-beam lithography or focused electron or ion beam technique, since light sources, which can produce light with a wavelength of less than 100 nm, and corresponding photoresists are not available right now. Focused electron beams (FEBs), focused ion beams (FIBs) as well as laser beams and scanning tunneling microscope (STM) probes offer unique advantages over classical resist based processes. Among these are in situ depositions of metals or dielectrics as well as selective etching. Usually, a substrate on which the structures shall be patterned is scanned with an STM and then the substrate is targeted with a focused electron beam or ion beam. All techniques, except laser beams, have resolution capable for nm-sized deposition, i.e. nm-sized dimensions of the produced structures.
The FEB and FIB are usually very expensive. The basic process employed in all the above mentioned techniques is a local Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) process at the position of the beam, although the decomposition of the vapour varies strongly with the nature of the input energy. Beside the high costs, a further drawback of the depicted methods is that the substrate has to be conductive or at least some portions of the substrate have to be conductive so that it is possible to start the patterning of the substrate when an STM is used. This imposes a great restriction onto the substrates that can be used.
Another drawback of the above-mentioned approach is that, while scanning the substrate is performed with a low current density, high current densities have to be applied in order to produce an electron or ion beam. Therefore, it is only possible to operate the patterning process in a switching manner, i.e. at one time the scanning is performed with a low current density and at another time the electron beam or ion beam is generated for patterning the substrate. This leads to the problem that after the substrate is scanned, the scanned areas to be patterned have to be found again.
Further, the generation of the electron beam or ion beam is performed in a pulsed operation, since with usually used STMs the necessary high current densities are not achievable in a constant operation. Furthermore, due to the pulsed operation with the high current densities the tip of the microscope wears out quickly.
An alternative technique to define structures in dimensions less than 100 nm is a so-called nanostencil approach. According to this approach, an aperture in a cantilever of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) tip is used as a stencil mask in conjunction with a Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) process. A drawback of this approach is the usage of the PVD that only has a limited operational possibility.
Another method for exposing a photoresist is the usage of a metalized tip of an AFM to enhance the electromagnetic field. According to this method an external light source is used to illuminate a metalized tip with a low intensity UV-light that is not capable to cause photo-conversion. The low intensity UV-light is then enhanced via plasmon resonance to an electromagnetic field of an intensity that is high enough to cause the photo-conversion. Only in the close proximity of the AFM tip the intensity is high enough to convert the photoresist.

Device and method for patterning structures on a substrate

International Business Machines Corporation


An aqueous polymer structured detergent liquid composition comprising: (i) a surfactant system comprising surfactant and alkaline material present as surfactant salts and/or as free base, (ii) optionally, 0.01 wt % or more suspended particles, (iii) optionally, 3 wt % or more polymer that reduces the composition viscosity at 20 s−1, and (iv) at least 0.05 wt % of a suspending system comprising copolymer formed by the addition polymerization of: (A) 0.1 to 5 wt % of a first monomer consisting of an ethylenically unsaturated diacid of formula (I): HOOC—CR1═CR2—COOH or an unsaturated cyclic anhydride precursor of such an ethylenically unsaturated diacid, the anhydride having formula (II) where R1 and R2 are individually selected from H, C1-C3 alkyl, phenyl, chlorine and bromine; (B) 15 to 60 wt % of a second ethylenically unsaturated monoacidic monomer consisting of (meth)acrylic acid; (C) 30 to 70 wt % of a third ethylenically unsaturated monomer consisting of C1-C8 alkyl ester of (meth)acrylic acid; (D) 1 to 25 wt %, of a fourth ethylenically unsaturated monomer, consisting of surfmer of formula (III) wherein each R3 and R4 are each independently selected from H, methyl, —C(═O)OH, or —C(═O)OR5; R5 is a C1-C30 alkyl; T is —CH2C(═O)O—, —C(═O)O—, —O—, —CH2O—, —NHC(═O)NH—, —C(═O)NH—, —Ar—(CE2)2-NHC(═O)O—, —Ar—(CE2)2-NHC(═O)NH—, or —CH2CH2NHC(═O)—; Ar is divalent aryl; E is H or methyl; z is 0 or 1; k is an integer in the range of 0 to 30; and m is 0 or 1; with the proviso that when k is 0, m is 0, and when k is in the range of 1 to 30; m is 1; (R6O)n is polyoxyalkylene, which is a homopolymer, a random copolymer, or a block copolymer of C2-C4-oxyalkylene units, wherein R6 is C2H4, C3H6, C4H8, or a mixture thereof, and n is an integer in the range of 5 to 250; Y is —R6O—, —R6—, —C(═O)—, —C(═O)NH—, ═R6NHC(═O)NH—, or —C(═O)NHC(═O)—; and R7 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl selected from the group consisting of C8-C40 linear alkyl, C8-C40 branched alkyl, C8-C40 carbocyclic alkyl, C2-C40 alkyl-substituted, phenyl, aryl-substituted C2-C40 alkyl, and C8-C80 complex ester; wherein the R7 alkyl group optionally comprises one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, and halogen; and (E) 0.005 to 5 wt %, of a cross linking agent, for introducing branching and controlling molecular weight, the cross linking monomer comprising polyfunctional units carrying multiple reactive functionalization groups selected from the group consisting of vinyl, allyl and functional mixtures thereof.

In WO09153184, a low dosage or concentrated aqueous laundry detergent liquid is used to reduce the amount of chemicals per wash. This is achieved, without loss of detergency, by reduction of the amount of surfactant used per wash and use, in its place, of highly weight efficient enzymes and polymers to boost detergency on everyday dirt and stains. Preferred compositions use enzymes and combinations of high levels of ethoxylated polyethyleneimine polymer and polyester soil release polymer.
Low dosage compositions formulated this way are suitable for laundry and hard surface cleaning applications. Both the removal of the surfactant and the use of cleaning polymers like ethoxylated polyethylene imine and polyester soil release polymers cause a drop in viscosity of the liquid. We have found that consumers desire that the pour viscosity of a concentrated liquid should be at least as high as a conventional dilute liquid and possibly even higher so that they have a reason to believe that the liquid contains the same cleaning power as a higher dosage detergent liquid with higher surfactant levels and possibly without such high levels of viscosity reducing polymer additives.
It is also desirable to be able to include particulate materials into such liquid detergent compositions, for example encapsulated perfume or visual cues. Advantageously, the liquid should have rheology that provides a yield stress (also known as critical stress) so that the particles remain stably suspended and dispersed and yet the composition may be poured from a bottle or dispensed by a suitable spray or pump mechanism.
Crosslinked hydrophobically modified copolymers are exemplified in US2004 063855 (Rohm and Haas) and where such a polymer was used at 1.5 wt % with a specified clay and 22.3 wt % mixed surfactant. It is stated that the composition synergistically increases the low shear (e.g., suspending or stabilizing) viscosity significantly while having little effect on the mid-shear (pouring) viscosity. We have found that these types of acrylates copolymers give an undesirably high pour viscosity if they are used at a high enough level to provide a suspending rheology. Alternative prior art copolymers do provide the shear thinning behaviour required for suspending but do not on their own provide the pour viscosity that is desired by consumers. This can lead to the need to use a second rheology modifying material in conjunction with the acrylate copolymer. This is an unwanted complication.
It is an object of the present invention to provide detergent compositions with an alternative copolymer that increases the pour viscosity while providing the required rheology for suspending. The increase in pour viscosity is useful to counteract the effect of inclusion of certain polymers that have the effect of reducing the pour viscosity of the composition. The copolymers may be utilised in compositions comprising linear alkyl benzene sulphonate anionic surfactant which is the workhorse surfactant found in most laundry and dish wash compositions.

Polymer structured aqueous detergent compositions


A solid state laser beam scanning system having a single crystal silicon deflection and scanning mirror integrated with a laser diode. By combining the techniques of deep reactive ion etching of silicon with solder bump bonding techniques, completed and tested laser diodes are integrated with silicon substrates supporting micro-electro-mechanical systems layers.

The present invention relates generally to the field of laser beam scanning systems, and more particularly to micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) for laser beam scanning. Miniature laser beam scanning systems are important for applications such as barcode scanning, machine vision and, most importantly, xerographic printing. The use of MEMS to replace standard raster output scanning (ROS) in xerographic print engines allows simplification of printing systems by eliminating macroscopic mechanical components and replacing them with large arrays of scanning elements. Advanced computation and control algorithms are used in managing the large arrays of scanning elements.
Such MEMS based printing systems are entirely solid state, reducing complexity, and allowing increased functionality, including compensation of errors or failures in the scanner elements. An important step in constructing solid state scanning systems is integrating the semiconductor light emitter directly with MEMS actuators to gain the desired optical system simplification. Integrated scanners, which have lasers and scanning mirrors in the same structure, have been demonstrated using manual placement of laser chips onto MEMS wafers with micromachined alignment parts and adhesives by L. Y. Lin et al in Applied Physics Letters, 66, p. 2946, 1995 and by M. J. Daneman et al in Photonics Technology Letters, 8(3), p. 396, 1996. However, current techniques do not allow wafer-scale integration of the light-emitter and MEMS device.
In accordance with the present invention a laser beam scanner consisting of a single crystal silicon (SCS) deflection and scanning mirror is integrated with a laser diode or light emitting diode. By combining methods of deep reactive ion etching (deep RIE) of silicon with solder bump bonding methods, completed and tested laser diodes are integrated with silicon (Si) or silicon on insulator (SOI) substrates supporting MEMS layers. Details of creating a torsional mirror and actuating it magnetically or electrostatically are detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,790 by Neukermans and Slater which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Using solder bump bonding methods, completed and tested laser diodes are bonded to silicon MEMS built using a typical surface and bulk micromachining processes. Because of the deep RIE recesses, the laser diode solder bumps can be passively aligned to those on the host substrate. In addition, the deep RIE recesses allow nearly coplanar laser chip and Si surfaces to be made. The use of the SCS layer of an SOI wafer, rather than the polysilicon film provides for the introduction of very flat and smooth mirrors and high reliability torsion bars. The device is easily scalable to arrays of lasers and scanning mirrors on a single wafer.
Integration of the scanner and light source eliminates the need for external, manual positioning of light sources and scanning mirrors. Simplified and more cost effective post-processing steps such as interconnect metallization can be realized because the use of an etched recess results in nearly planar surfaces. In addition, pick and place technologies commonly used for multi-chip module assembly can be adapted for wafer scale assembly and bonding of light sources to the carrier substrate. With such commercial systems, bare die can be placed with accuracy better than .+-.30 .mu.m.
Thus, the present invention allows the integration of completed and tested light emitting devices directly with the MEMS actuators to gain the desired simplification of the optical system needed to realize solid state scanning systems.

Method and apparatus for an integrated laser beam scanner


The foot switch includes a pedal, an output command signal generating section generating, when the pedal is operated, an output command signal commanding an apparatus main body having a function of producing active output to produce active output, a communication section performing communication with the apparatus main body, a transmit power adjusting section adjusting transmit power of the output command signal in the communication section, and a storage battery supplying electric power to the output command signal generating section, the communication section and the transmit power adjusting section. The transmit power adjusting section adjusts the transmit power on the basis of a signal indicative of receiving-condition of the output command signal in the apparatus main body, the signal transmitted from the apparatus main body and received by the communication section.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a foot switch which transmits a signal for commanding generation of active output to an apparatus main body having a function of generating active output, and relates to an output system including such a foot switch and an apparatus main body.
2. Related Art
One example of such an output system is an ultrasonic surgical system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 05-023347. An apparatus main body of this ultrasonic surgical system includes a main unit for generating drive signals (high frequency voltage signals). A handpiece having a probe at a tip thereof and gripped by the operator is electrically connected to the main unit through a cable. The handpiece includes therein an ultrasonic transducer which converts the drive signals into mechanical vibration (ultrasonic band signals). The ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted to the probe while being amplified. A water supply/suction path is provided in the handpiece and the probe. The system is so arranged that when the water supply/suction path is connected to a water supply/suction device, water supply/suction treatment can be effected through an opening formed at an end face of the probe and its vicinity.
More specifically, treatment can be performed by destroying and emulsifying tissues such as of liver parenchyma while performing perfusion through the opening formed in the ultrasonically vibrating probe, and by sucking/removing the debris together with the superfusate through the supply/suction path. An electric knife system may be used together with such an ultrasonic surgical system. Hemostatic treatment or the like can be effected by connecting the electric knife to the handpiece to make a high frequency output through the handpiece of the electric knife.
Since the treatment device including the handpiece or an electric knife is gripped by the operator during surgery, it is appropriate that on/off operation of the treatment device is performed through a foot switch except for a case where a pinpoint operation is particularly required (for example, when hemostatic treatment is performed by the electric knife). That is because, since depressing a switch for a long time with fingers to keep a treatment device in an on-state is a great burden to the operator, employing a foot switch which enables the operator to keep depressing the switch by the operator's weight is desirable from an ergonomical point of view.
It is to be noted that in order to enable selection from among different output types, for example, selection between water supply operation and suction operation, a plurality of pedals are generally disposed in a foot switch. Afoot switch is required to have an excellent user-interface design so that the operator can readily distinguish the plurality of pedals.
A foot switch is typically electrically connected to an apparatus main body through a cable to transmit the operational statuses of the foot switch pedals to the apparatus main body through the cable. When using a plurality of different output systems in surgical operation (e.g., when using an ultrasonic surgical system and an electric knife system), a plurality of foot switches are used. The plurality of foot switches are placed close to the operator's feet, and used while there locations are permutated depending on the progress of the surgical operation. In such a case, however, the cables of the plurality of the foot switches sometimes tangle with each other, which significantly lowers the operator's convenience since appropriate locations of the foot switches cannot be ensured. Particularly, in advanced manipulation in which the operator often keeps moving around the operating table during a surgical operation, since the locations of the foot switches are required to be changed following the operator's movement even in a particular case, the chance of the occurrences of the cable tangling increases that much.
In order to prevent surgical operation from stopping due to such tangling of cables, it is known as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,388, for example, to transfer the operational statuses of the pedals of a foot switch to an apparatus main body by means of radio communication. The foot switch in the surgical system described in the '388 patent incorporates a battery as a power source, and is arranged such that a warning is displayed in a display device at an appropriate time, so as to prevent interruption of a surgical operation by the low output voltage of the battery resulting from electrical discharge of the battery. The foot switch is also provided with an auxiliary battery.
Here, in the case of transferring the operational statuses of a foot switch pedal to an apparatus main body by radio communication, the required transmit power of radio signals depends on the use environment of use of the surgical system. For example, if noise caused by the use of an electric knife, and affecting the radio signals is at a high level, or the foot switch is distant from the apparatus main body, or there is an electromagnetic obstacle, the transmit power of radio signals should be made large. Contrarily, if the noise is at a low level, or the foot switch is close to the apparatus main body, or there is not any electromagnetic obstacle, it is satisfactory possible to transfer the operational statuses of the foot switch pedal to the apparatus main body even if the transmit power of the radio signals is relatively low.
However, in such a surgical system in which the operational status of the foot switch pedal is transferred to the apparatus main body by radio communication, transmit power of radio signals has to be set at a comparatively high level, so that the communication between the foot switch and the apparatus main body can be maintained even when there occurs a change in the use environment of the surgical system. Accordingly, the period during which the foot switch can be used, i.e. the period during which power can be supplied by a battery, is reduced. In the surgical system described in the '388 patent, the period during which the foot switch is usable can be extended by incorporating an auxiliary battery in the foot switch. However, the incorporation of such an auxiliary battery causes the size and weight of the foot switch to increase, and thus a problem of poor portability is also an issue.

Foot switch and output system having foot switch


An elevated drive-in hunting blind for use by a hunter while seated on an all-terrain vehicle (“ATV”) includes a primary enclosure having a floor, a roof, and opposed side walls, the primary enclosure having a end wall extending between distal edges of the side walls and defining an open end opposite the end wall. A door is pivotally coupled to a proximal edge of a respective side wall and selectively movable between an open and closed configurations allowing or preventing the ATV to enter the primary enclosure, respectively. A shooting window adjacent the roof is defined by one of the door, end wall, or side walls. The primary enclosure is mounted atop and supported by a framework having a plurality of legs. A ramp extends at an angle between the floor adjacent the open end and the ground, the ramp facilitating entry or exit of the ATV.

This invention relates generally to hunting blinds and, more particularly, to a hunting blind that is elevated above a ground surface and configured with a ramp to selectively receive an all-terrain vehicle ("ATV") therein and so that a hunter may shoot at game while sitting on the ATV inside the blind.
A hunting blind is a structure that enables a hunter to remain undetected by game being hunted, whether the game is an animal such as deer or birds such as ducks. A hunting blind also provides a limited amount of shelter from weather elements such as rain, snow, or bitterly cold wind. Some hunting blinds are elevated on a support framework or lodged in a tree so as to increase the hunter's ability to clearly see the hunted game from a distance and elevated vantage point.
Hunting blinds are often situated back in a wilderness environment a significant distance from a road. In such an instance, a hunter is faced with having to walk a distance from the nearest road to the hunting blind while carrying hunting supplies. However, the hunter may choose to ride an all-terrain vehicle ("ATV") into the woods which alleviates some of the burden of a long walk and hauling hunting gear. However, the hunter is then faced with the disadvantage of leaving the ATV exposed which may cause detection by the game to be hunted or simply leave the ATV exposed to weather elements for an extended period of time.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have an elevated drive-in hunting blind having a ramp and configured to receive an ATV therein. Further, it would be desirable to have an elevated drive-in hunting blind that makes an ATV undetectable by game being hunted and that shelters the ATV from weather elements. In addition, it would be desirable to have an elevated drive-in hunting blind that selectively includes a primary enclosure configured to receive the ATV and an auxiliary enclosure mounted atop the primary enclosure that enables a hunter to view game from a higher elevation.


In a first type, there is provided, inside an inner tube of a twin-tube type of damper, a pressurizing chamber to be defined by a free piston which is slidably fit onto an outer surface of a rod. A fluid pressure from an outside pressure source is supplied to the pressurizing chamber to push down a damper piston via the free piston to thereby forcibly contract the damper. In a second type, there is provided inside an inner tube a cylinder which is slidably fit onto an outer surface of a rod, and a piston mounted on the rod is inserted into the cylinder. A fluid pressure from the pressure source is supplied to the pressurizing chamber inside the cylinder to push down the rod via the piston to thereby forcibly contract the damper. In a third type, a rod is slidably inserted into a partition wall in an intermediate portion of a damper main body of a mono-tube type of damper. A free piston which is prevented by a stopper member from dropping out of position downwards is slidably mounted onto an outer surface of a rod portion below the partition wall. A fluid pressure from a pressure source is supplied to a pressurizing chamber to be defined between the partition wall and the free piston. The rod is pushed down via the free piston and the stopper member to thereby forcibly contract the damper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydraulic damper for a vehicle such as a motor vehicle which has a function of controlling (or adjusting) a height of the vehicle as well as its rolling rigidity (i.e., the rigidity with which the vehicle is rolled about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle).
2. Description of the Related Art
As a hydraulic damper for a vehicle, there has hitherto been known a twin-tube type and a mono-tube type. The twin-tube type of hydraulic damper is provided with an outer tube, an inner tube, and a rod provided at its lower end with a damper piston which is equipped with a valve mechanism. An oil chamber for inserting thereinto the damper piston is provided inside the inner tube. A reserve chamber which is in fluid flow communication with the oil chamber is provided between the outer tube and the inner tube.
The mono-tube type of hydraulic damper is provided with a cylindrical damper main body and a rod having mounted on a lower end thereof a damper piston which is equipped with a valve mechanism. An oil chamber into which the damper piston is inserted is provided inside the damper main body.
In order to improve the moving performance at the time of high-speed running, it becomes necessary to lower the vehicle height and to increase the rolling rigidity. Here, if the hydraulic damper is forcibly pushed and contracted, it becomes possible to lower the vehicle height and also to increase the rolling rigidity by regulating the lifting of the vehicle body on the side of the inner wheel at the time of cornering.
In view of the above-described points, the present invention has an object of providing such a hydraulic damper for a vehicle as will be able to be forcibly pushed and contracted by a hydraulic pressure from an outside pressure source.


A solar sanitary dryer bag to be used for drying and exterminating tiny worms and insects existing in a mattress or the like, characterized by having an opening for vacuuming the bag and having a black layer therein for effectively absorbing the solar heat.

This invention relates to a solar dryer for mattresses, mats, comforters, quilts and the like this invention more particularly relates to a solar sanitary dryer that can exterminate tiny worms and insects such as lice and mites that commonly exist in mattresses, mats, comforters, quilts and the like, and which may be harmful to and/or cause diseases among the users.
Various techniques and devices have hitherto been proposed for solar drying and/or sanitizing mattresses, mats, comforters and/or quilts, such as a solar dryer comprising a black fabric bag. A comforter, for instance, is put in the bag, which is then placed in the sun to be heated to exterminate tiny worms and insects such as lice and mites which are often seen existing in comforters and the like.
However, when such a bag and a comforter therein are placed on a roof, for example, for solar sanitary drying, the solar heat will not be evenly distributed throughout the comforter, usually resulting in the outer portion of the comforter getting heated first, then after a while the middle portion of the comforter is heated to some extent, while the innermost portion of the comforter will remain cool. As a result, a large portion of the tiny worms and insects in the comforter will be able to gradually move to the cooler portions of the comforter and eventually survive the deadly heat near the surface of the comforter.
In addition, the stuffed material inside a comforter or the like is usually made very porous to give the comforter or the like a soft feeling and elasticity, as well as good thermal insulation. Therefore, it will take considerable time for all of the stuffed material to get heated high enough to exterminate tiny worms and insects therein, thus giving time to the worms and insects to evacuate safely to the cooler places, resulting in poor performance in the sanitation of the comforter or the like.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solar sanitary dryer for mattresses, mats, comforters, quilts and the like that can more reliably and quickly exterminate all tiny worms and insects such as lice and mites which commonly exist therein.


The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can reduce the power consumption of the display device composed by liquid crystal in personal computers or word processors, and which is constructed such that the image display will not cut off when a user uses it. The liquid crystal device comprises a power source 109, a central processor 101, a liquid crystal display 107, a display image generator 103, a first image display storage 104, a display image data controller 106, an electric power consumption mode switch 108 and an external input 110. In this arrangement, the display image data controller 106 comprises a second image display storage 208 and, in the normal power consumption mode, displays the display image data generated by the display image generator 103 on the liquid crystal display 107 via the first image display storage 104, and in the low power consumption mode, which is set up by operating the electric power consumption mode switch, displays the display image data stored in the second image display storage 208 on the liquid crystal display 107.

Use of lap-top or notebook type personal computers or word-processors, etc., is being developed widely because of their portability. However, there is a common problem with compact type personal computers, that is, the electric power consumption. More specifically, these kinds of personal computers or word-processors, etc., use batteries as a portable power source, but these batteries allow the machine to operate normally for only two to five hours.
To deal with this, there are various measures taken for reducing the electric power consumption in this kind of personal computer.
One example for this measure is that if data is not input from the keyboard for a predetermined time, the operation of the CPU is stopped automatically and the display is turned off so as to reduce the electric power consumption. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a display device equipped with this kind of automatic display stop system together with a central processing unit (to be referred to as CPU hereinafter). Here, a display portion comprises a display controller or display image generating means 103 connected to a CPU 101 through a bus line 102, a first image display memory means 104 including a video memory (to be called a VRAM) and a liquid crystal display device (LCD) 107. A T1 measurement circuit 111 starts to measure a constant period of time T1 by means of a counter at the time an interrupt signal INTR 121 input into the CPU 101 changes from high level to low level. If the measurement circuit has finished counting the predetermined time from the count start without receiving a next interrupt signal, the circuit generates a count-up signal 113. With this, a display cut-off circuit 122, in accordance with the count-up signal 113 sent from the T1 measurement circuit 111, sets a signal 114 to high level to cut off the display. In other words, the measurement circuit 111 and the display cut-off circuit 122 constitute an electric power consumption mode switching means 108. Accordingly, the transmission of LCD data 115 and LCD drive signals 116 to a LCD is stopped. A display drive circuit 123, synchronized with the INTR 121 set to a high level after the display cut-off or in the course of counting, sets a signal 112 to high level, resets the counting and causes a signal 114 to be set to low level to operate the display. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 109 and 110 denote a power source and an external input means such as a keyboard, etc., respectively.
The conventional automatic display cut-off system, however, has a problem that if input has not been made for a predetermined period of time, the display is turned off, even when a user is looking at the display.
The present invention is to solve the problem and provide a personal computer or word-processor with which a user can take time to think, and which still prevents battery consumption.


A computer cord storing and transporting organizer pouch and system for securing and organizing computer associated equipment such as cords, connectors, lines, power cord and transformer, internet cable, computer mouse and security cable, the pouch being of adequate size to be easily carried while affixed to any laptop or notebook computer, the pouch having pockets of similar size so that any piece of associated equipment can be stored within any pocket, the pouch being of adequate size to be inserted into a computer carrying case while affixed to the computer, the pockets of the pouch having access holes for cords, lines and cables to extend, the pockets and access holes sized and located to create an efficient interface between pouch and computer which allows permanent connection and convenient transportation in addition to reducing set-up and tear down time, tangle, loss of components and damage to accessories.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new cord storage, organizing and transporting pouch and system for use in conjunction with a laptop or notebook computer and standard computer carrying cases and bags.
2. Background of the Invention
In recent years, "laptop," "notebook," and similar compact computers have become extremely popular. Computer users have found that they may transport such computers, along with vital operating peripherals, connectors, converters, and similar equipment (such cords, lines, power supply, mouse, security cable, and other equipment may be referred to herein collectively as the computer "associated equipment"), to establish a temporary, but functional, office virtually anywhere. Laptops and notebooks are also used effectively in more usual office environments as a computer user's only computer.
One problem with traveling with a laptop computer, however, is the transportation of associated equipment. Some computer users may decide to carry the laptop in a large, cumbersome and heavy computer carrying case that often includes pockets for carrying associated equipment. The pockets are simply places to store, and provide no assurance that associated equipment will not be left behind after use, or lost during travel.
Another problem with traveling with a laptop computer, however, is some computer users decide not to use carrying cases because it may be heavy due to other items also being stored within it. Therefore, the computer user often elects to not use the carrying case but transport associated equipment on top of the laptop computer. The associated equipment must be arranged on the top, protective surface of the openable monitor portion of the computer, and be transported in a very stable horizontal orientation in order for associated equipment not to fall off the computer surface onto the ground and become tangled or lost. Some computer users even coil the associated equipment and temporarily place them into their pant pockets or purse.
Another problem with traveling with a laptop computer that is accompanied by a computer connector organizing pack is that the pack which contains associated equipment is separate from the laptop requiring that the computer user carry two separate entities, the laptop and the cord pack. The computer user either packs both of them into a large, cumbersome and heavy carrying case which becomes even heavier, or attempts to carry each entity in separate hands or attempts to carry both entities with one hand. For the later scenario, it is difficult for one hand to accommodate the combined thickness of the laptop computer and cord pack especially for people with small hands.
Another problem associated with laptop carrying cases or packs is that the entities are specifically designed with designated compartments thereby limiting cord length and compromising the universal application of the device. The size and shape of pockets and routing channels require that the computer user install specific associated equipment into pre-determined compartments with specific volumes thereby preventing the user from deciding which compartment will store associated equipment in addition to the limiting the amount of associated equipment that can be stored within it.
Another problem with traveling with a laptop computer is the bulk of associated equipment. Since a user does not know the location of a power source or telephone jack prior to setup, or where a power source and telephone jack will lie in relation to the jacks in the laptop, long cords are often supplied to fit all possible configurations, and additional space is required to store and manage the longer cords.
3. Description of the Prior Art
The use of cord storage and dispensing organizers for cords and computer equipment of various designs and configurations is known in the prior art. Such designs include:
Akins et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,001 discloses a cover for a laptop or notebook computer. As evident by the claims disclosure the device is intended to protect the computer. The claims do not include storage pockets. This device acts as a protective glove to minimize scratches and damage to a laptop or notebook computer and is designed to specific manufacturer model dimensions. The glove encompasses the top openable portion of the computer and also the base. The openable and base gloves are pivotally attached as an assembly. Since the glove encompasses the entire computer it must be designed specific to each and every manufacturer model for length, width, height of both base and monitor portions in addition to requiring precise cut-outs to provide access to associated equipment connections at the base, around the monitor, keys, fan, power button and other significant features. As evident within table 1, the glove must be tailored to fit many different models and does not provide flexibility for future variants nor a universal design or construction strategy. This device provides storage pockets for pencils, floppy and CD ROM disks and provides a pocket to store the power supply cord but none of the pockets are included within the claims. It does not include pockets of adequate volume to store other vital associated equipment required to set-up the computer as an operating workstation at different locations. It does not provide storage pockets for internet cable, mouse assembly and security cable. Although it specifies that the glove includes a pocket for storing the power supply cord, it does not state nor pictorially indicate that sufficient volume is provided to also store the transformer portion of the power supply cord which typically measures at least 1 inch wide by 2 inches tall by 6 inches in length. This device does not provide a means of maintaining associated connections to the base connectors. Even though the device provides a power supply cord pocket, it does not provide a design feature such as an access hole within the pocket which allows the power supply cord to be routed through and stay connected to the power supply connection to the computer.
Alves U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,865 discloses a flexible protective case for disk or tape drive units. It is not a protective case for laptop or notebook computers. It is not affixed to a laptop or notebook computer and does not provide a means for maintaining associated equipment connections to the laptop or notebook computer while it is being carried. It does not provide the means to store vital associated equipment required to set-up the laptop or notebook computer as an operating workstation at different locations.
McCarthy et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,961 is a computer cord storage and dispensing organizer and system. It is a book-like carrying case that is transported as a separate entity from the laptop or notebook computer.
While the devices disclosed in the aforementioned patents satisfy their objectives, only U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,961 describes a device for carrying, storing and organizing vital associated equipment including power cord transformer assembly, internet cable and mouse assembly but no security cable. It is a system for reducing setup and packing time, reducing space and bulk during travel and use, organizing computer cords and eliminating tangle and mess and facilitating cord and connector management, and ensures that all associated equipment is included in packing and moving a computer while no associated equipment is misplaced or damaged.
However, the present invention significantly departs from pre-existing designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides the user with a means for accomplishing all of the above tasks in a single unit which is designed to be affixed to the laptop or notebook computer. By using the invention disclosed herein, the user thereby gains the highly desirable abilities to move a computer quickly and efficiently, to set up and maintain a computer with minimum disarray and confusion, and to reduce the risk of damage or loss of components which might make the computer inoperable.

Computer equipment storing and transporting organizer system