An R-2R ladder resistor circuit including: plural first resistance elements, one end of each being connected to an input terminal; plural second resistance elements, one end of each being connected to a reference potential; plural third resistance elements, one end of each being connected to an output terminal; and plural switching connection sections that are each in correspondence relationships with the first resistance elements, the second resistance elements, and the third resistance elements, and that connect the input terminal and the output terminal according to a bit signal, wherein, according to the bit signal, each switching connection section switchably connects another end of the third resistance element to another end of the first resistance element or to another end of the second resistance element, among the first resistance element, the second resistance element, and the third resistance element corresponding thereto.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an R-2R ladder resistor circuit, a ladder resistor type D/A conversion circuit, and a semiconductor device.
Related Art
A digital/analog (D/A) conversion circuit, provided with an R-2R ladder resistor circuit, has been widely known. The R-2R ladder resistor circuit is a circuit in which a resistance element with a resistance value R and a resistance element with a resistance value 2R are connected in a ladder shape (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. S59-181821).
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a conventional D/A conversion circuit 100. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the D/A conversion circuit 100 is a ladder resistor type D/A conversion circuit including an R-2R ladder resistor circuit 102, and is provided with a reference potential input terminal TREF, bit signal input terminals T-1 to T-N, an operational amplifier A1, and an output terminal Tout.
The reference potential input terminal TREF is connected to a reference potential VREF. Respective bits BIT-1(MSB) to BIT-N(LSB) of a digital signal, which is defined by an N-bit, are input to the bit signal input terminals T-1 to T-N. Here, the MSB indicates the most significant bit, and the LSB indicates the least significant bit.
Resistance elements RB-1 to RB-N−1) and RA-(N+1) are connected in series in the R-2R ladder resistor circuit 102, the resistance element RB-1 is connected to the reference potential input terminal TREF, and the resistance element RA-(N+1) is connected to a ground potential. Each end of resistance elements RA-1 to RA-N is connected to each connection point among the resistance elements RB-1 to RB-(N−1) and RA-(N+1) connected in series, and each other end of the resistance elements RA-1 to RA-N is connected to each movable contact a of switches S-1 to S-N corresponding thereto. Each fixed contact b of the switches S-1 to S-N is connected commonly to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A1, and the other fixed contacts c are connected to the ground potential. Further, an output terminal of the operational amplifier A1 is connected to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A1 via a feedback resistance element Rf.
Here, each resistance value of the resistance elements RA-1 to RA-(N+1) is set to 20 kΩ, and each resistance value of the resistance elements RB-1 to RB-(N−1) and Rf is set to 10 kΩ.
However, in the R-2R ladder resistor circuit 102, the fixed contact b is directly connected to the operational amplifier A1, and thus, a feed through noise, generated in the switches S-1 to S-N in a case in which the switches S-1 to S-N operate, may degrad an output characteristic of the D/A conversion circuit 100. In addition, in a case in which the ground potential is changed to a reference potential as another potential, the reference potential is influenced by the feedthrough noise, since the fixed contact c is also directly connected to the ground potential, and as a result, the output characteristic of the D/A conversion circuit 100 may be degraded. In addition, in a case in which the reference potential is shared with another circuits different from the D/A conversion circuit 100, the other circuits, which commonly uses the reference potential, may also be influenced by the feedthrough noise.

R-2R ladder resistor circuit, ladder resistor type D/A conversion circuit, and semiconductor device


This invention provides an image processing apparatus that corrects an image blur by using a plurality of images acquired by image capturing means. The apparatus comprises: blur detection means that detects a blur amount between the plurality of images; image composition means that performs the composition of the plurality of images using the detected blur amount; acquisition means that acquires, based on a difference value between the plurality of images and a threshold value thereof, region data for separating the image into regions by changing the threshold value; and display means that selectably displays the region data for each threshold value.

A camera shake (hand shake) or the like at the time of photographing by a digital camera sometimes causes a blur in an image. In order to prevent such blur, it is preferable to photograph an image at a fast shutter speed. However, since the most appropriate shutter speed is determined based on the relations among a luminance of an object, a stop value, and sensitivity of the image capturing device, for instance, in a case where an object has a low luminance, there are cases that a slow shutter speed must be set in addition to a maximum stop value in order to secure a necessary light exposure. In this case, there are measures to prevent a blur: increase the sensitivity of the image capturing device, fix the camera by a tripod, photograph with a flash, and so on.
However, when an image is photographed with an increased sensitivity of the image capturing device, the photographed image will contain conspicuous noise. Moreover, photographing with a tripod will limit places of photographing. Further, photographing with a flash cannot adapt to a long-range object where the flash lamp cannot reach.
In view of these problems, a method of substantially securing a necessary exposure amount by photographing a plurality of images at short photographing intervals at a fast shutter speed and performing a composition of the plurality of photographed images has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-261526).
However, in the method of acquiring an appropriate-exposure image by the conventional plural-image compositions, a problem occurs when performing a composition of images in "slow-synchro" photographing.
The "slow-synchro" photographing is used, for instance, in a case of photographing a person in a night scene. It is designed as a measure for a case where the flash lamp reaches the person but does not reach the background, so that an intended photograph image cannot be captured. It enables to slow down the shutter speed in accordance with the lightness of the background, and in synchronization with the flash, the person and the background are captured.
FIGS. 17A to 17E are views explaining a compositions of plural-images in the slow-synchro photographing. FIGS. 17A to 17D show examples of plural pieces of images obtained in the slow-synchro photographing mode. FIG. 17A shows an image obtained with a flash, in which colors and lightness of the person are appropriate but the background is dark because of an underexposure. The images in FIGS. 17B to 17D are photographed with short exposure time without using a flash. Due to the short exposure time, all images are entirely dark. A composition of these four images produces the image in FIG. 17E. By superposing these four images, the background region can achieve appropriate lightness. However, as to the person region, despite the appropriate lightness achieved only in FIG. 17A, since image data in FIGS. 17B to 17D are superposed, appropriate colors and lightness are lost. As in this example, when the screen includes mixed regions whose appropriate exposures are different, it is necessary to perform different processing for each region.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


In an electron beam lithography method which irradiates a sample with an electron beam to draw a desired pattern on the sample, figure data representing the shape of an elemental figure, placement data representing placement information of the figure data, and dose data representing dose for each of areas which are obtained by dividing a drawing area which are smaller than the broadening of backscattering of an electron beam are independently stored in a memory as drawing data. On the basis of the drawing data, the figure data is divided into unit figures each of which has a predetermined shape and is smaller than a predetermined size. A represented point of each unit figure is calculated, a dose of an electron beam is obtained from the data set for an area in which the represented point is present, and the quantity of radiation is determined as dose for the unit figure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for and methods of drawing patterns using a charged particle beam. More specifically, the present invention relates to charged particle beam lithography apparatus and methods which make dose corrections in drawing patterns by the use of a charged particle beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
With conventional electron beam lithography apparatus employing a variable shaped electron beam, dose is controlled to make corrections to pattern proximity effects. With the conventional apparatus, in order to reduce the time required to transfer pattern drawing data from an external storage unit to a drawing control circuit and to save the resource of an internal storage unit, pattern drawing data is compressed by a method using such a data structure as described below.
Consider a case where group patterns 60, each composed of two elemental FIGS. 61 and 62, are arrayed in four rows and four columns as shown in FIG. 1. Drawing data is represented, as shown in FIG. 2, by a placement data group, a figure data group, and a dose control data group.
The figure data group contains a group of group patterns each of which is a collection of elemental figures each constructing a certain pattern. The figure data is a set of data describing the code which means a kind of figure, the irradiation position (X.sub.m, Y.sub.m), and the size (H.sub.m, W.sub.m) of each of elemental figures constructing a desired pattern.
The placement data group is placement information of the group patterns. The placement data for a group pattern i comprises a set of data on the positions (X.sub.xi, Y.sub.yi) of a reference point of placement, the repetition counts N.sub.xi, N.sub.yi (in the example of FIG. 1, N.sub.xi =N.sub.yi =4) of the group pattern, the repetition pitches P.sub.xi, P.sub.yi of the group pattern, the number Ni of elemental figures in the group pattern, the starting address PFi of the storage area storing the figure data, and the starting address PDi of the storage area storing dose control data for the figure data.
The dose control data group is a set of data describing the dose t.sub.m of each unit figure.
In the case where one group pattern is arranged repeatedly, the definition of figure data representing the group pattern, group pattern placement data, and dose control data for the figure data will be adequate. Thus, the use of the above method will permit compression of pattern drawing data.
With the above method, if the size of an elemental figure is larger than the broadening of the backscattering of an irradiation electron beam, the original elemental figure must be subdivided into elemental figures each of which is much smaller than the broadening of the backscattering, and dose control data must be described for each of the subdivided elemental figures. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A through 3C.
When, as shown in FIG. 3a, an electron beam falls on a point of irradiation 81, i.e., a point O, the range 81 of the distribution of backscattered electron will be within a circle with a radius of .sigma.(=3.sigma..sub.b) and with a center at the point O, where .sigma..sub.b represents the broadening of the backscattering. If, as shown in FIG. 3B, an another desired elemental FIG. 83 were drawn, with its dose controlled, within the circle 82, the total dose would differ from a predetermined amount. In order to perform drawing with the total dose controlled, it is necessary that, as shown in FIG. 3C, a unit FIG. 84 is much smaller than the circle, and the dose for the unit FIG. 84 is controlled taking into account the dose by backscattering caused in drawing other elemental figures within the circle 82.
As described above, when the size of an elemental figure constructing a pattern is large, the compression of drawing data, which is possible with the conventional method, is impossible and moreover an increase in the quantity of drawing data results. That is, a problem with the conventional method is that the compression of drawing data is insufficient in making dose corrections. In addition, insufficient data compression by the conventional method will make data transfer time long, decrease the operating ratio of an electron beam lithography apparatus and in its turn decrease its drawing throughput.
As described above, the conventional method of compression of drawing data cannot attain sufficient data compression in making corrections to proximity effect. Thus, the drawing data transfer time inevitably becomes long, which reduces the operating ratio of the charged particle beam drawing apparatus.
Techniques related to the present invention include T. Abe et al., "Representative Figure Method for Proximity Effect Correction," Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vo. 30, No. 3B, March, 1991, pp. 258-351, M. Parikh, "Correction to Proximity Effects in Electron Beam Lithography (I. Theory; pp. 4371, II. Implementation; pp. 4378 and III. Experiments; pp. 4383)," J. Appl. Phys. 50(6). June 1979, Y. Machida et al., Japanese Examined Publication, Feb. 23, 1988, T. Abe et al., "Proximity effect correction for high-voltage electron beam lithography," J. Appl. Phys. 65(11), 1 June 1989, and J. M. Pavkovich, "Proximity effect correction calculation by the integral equation approximate solution method," J. Vac. Technol. B4(1), January/February 1986.

Charged particle litography method and apparatus


A programmable cylinder, a system and a method change a velocity of a machine element within a compartment. A light detector within the compartment determines that the machine element is located at a first position or at a second position and/or is moving at a first velocity or at a second velocity. Switches determine that the machine element may be located at the first position or at the second position and/or is moving at the first velocity or at the second velocity. A microprocessor transmits a control signal to a transducer to alter an electrical current of the transducer to move valves of the compartment between an open position and a closed position. A compressed fluid within the interior of the compartment is changed via the valves. The machine element is accelerated and/or is decelerated to the first velocity or to the second velocity via the compressed fluid. A graphic user interface and/or a terminal accesses and controls the microprocessor and/or the transducer to move the machine element at the first velocity or at the second velocity within the compartment.

The present invention generally relates to a programmable cylinder, a system and a method for changing a velocity of a machine element within a cylinder. More specifically, the present invention relates to a programmable cylinder, a system and a method for changing a velocity of a machine element within a cylinder which may provide a compartment to detect a first position and/or a second position of a machine element within a compartment. A light source may be located within and/or may be adjacent to an interior of the compartment for transmitting light into the interior of the compartment. A light detector may measure, may detect and/or may identify an intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment which may not have been absorbed, may have been diffused and/or may have been attenuated by a surface of the compartment and/or of the machine element to determine the first position and/or the second position of the machine element. In an embodiment, a switch may be connected to the compartment at the first position and/or at the second position of the machine element within the compartment. The switch may be activated by and/or may be deactivated by the machine element to identify that the machine element is located at the first position and/or the second position within the interior of the compartment.
A microprocessor may be in communication with the light detector and/or the switch to determine, to detect and/or to identify that the machine element is located at the first position and/or at the second position within the interior of the compartment. The microprocessor may transmit a signal to a transducer which may be connected to one or more valves of the programmable cylinder. The transducer may open and/or may close one or more valves connected to the programmable cylinder to increase and/or to decrease an amount of compressed fluid within the interior of the compartment. With the machine element at the first position and/or at the second position, the microprocessor may increase and/or may decrease an electrical current of the transducer for opening and/or for closing one or more valves of the programmable cylinder. As a result, the microprocessor, the transducer and/or the valves may decelerate and/or may accelerate movement of the machine element within the interior of the compartment via the compressed fluid. A terminal and/or a graphic user interface may be connected to the microprocessor for accessing, for operating and/or for controlling the microprocessor and/or the transducer to open and/or to close one or more valves of the programmable cylinder. As a result, a user may decelerate and/or may accelerate the movement of the machine element within the interior of the compartment at the first position and/or at the second position of the machine element.
It is, of course, generally known to provide a cylinder having a machine element within an interior of the cylinder. The machine element moves within the interior of the cylinder from a first end of the cylinder to a second end of the cylinder. Traditionally, a switch may be connected to the first end and to the second end of the cylinder to detect and/or to determine that the machine element is adjacent to the first end or to the second end of the cylinder. The machine element must physically abut or must physically contact the switch to mechanically activate and/or to mechanically deactivate the switch to identify that the machine element is adjacent to the first end or to the second end of the cylinder.
A control box is connected to the switch at the first end and at the second end of the cylinder to determine that the machine element is adjacent to the first end or to the second end of the cylinder. The control box may determine a velocity of movement of the machine element within the interior of the cylinder which corresponds to an amount of time which elapses for the machine element to move from the first end to the second end of the cylinder. The control box may transmit a signal to a solenoid switch for increasing and/or for decreasing the velocity of movement of the machine element within the cylinder. As a result, the control box may increase or may decrease the amount of time which elapses for the machine element to move from the first end to the second end of the cylinder. The control box and/or the solenoid switch may only determine to decrease or to increase the velocity of movement of the machine element via the machine element activation and/or deactivation of the switch at the first end or at the second end of the cylinder. As a result, the control box only increases or only decreases the velocity of movement of the machine element when the machine element is adjacent to the first end and/or to the second end of the cylinder.
The control box is incapable of determining whether to increase and/or to decrease the velocity of movement of the machine element at one or more positions between the first end and the second end of the cylinder. As a result, the velocity of movement of the machine element may not be increased and/or may not be decreased at one or more positions between the first end and the second end of the cylinder. Moreover, the physical contact of the machine element and the switches at the first end and/or the second end of the cylinder may damage and/or may destroy the machine element within the interior of the compartment. Damage to and/or destruction of the machine element may prevent the machine element from moving between the first end and the second end of the cylinder. As a result, the cylinder may be inoperable from the damage and/or from the destruction of the machine element which may be caused by the physical contact with the switch at the first end and/or at the second end of the cylinder.
A need, therefore, exists for a programmable cylinder, a system and a method for changing a velocity of a machine element within a cylinder. Additionally, a need exists for a programmable cylinder, a system and a method for changing a velocity of a machine element within a cylinder which may not damage and/or may not destroy a machine element within an interior of a programmable cylinder. Further, a need exists for a programmable cylinder, a system and a method for changing a velocity of a machine element within a cylinder which may detect one or more positions of a machine element within an interior of a programmable cylinder between a first end and a second end of the programmable cylinder.
Still further, a need exists for a programmable cylinder, a system and a method for changing a velocity of a machine element within a cylinder which may detect a position of a machine element within an interior of a programmable cylinder without physically contacting the machine element. Moreover, a need exists for a programmable cylinder, a system and a method for changing a velocity of a machine element within a cylinder which may accelerate and/or may decelerate a machine element at one or more positions between a first end and a second end of a programmable cylinder. Furthermore, a need exists for a programmable cylinder, a system and a method for changing a velocity of a machine element within a cylinder which may open and/or may close valves connected to a programmable cylinder to accelerate and/or to decelerate a machine element at one or more positions between a first end and a second end of the programmable cylinder.

Programmable cylinder, system and method for changing velocity of a machine element within a cylinder


An image heating apparatus including a plurality of image heating devices, each of the plurality of image heating devices having: an image heating member that heats an image on a recording material; and a separation member that separates the recording material from the image heating member, wherein the recording material is caused to first pass through the image heating device on an upstream side with respect to a conveying direction of the recording material and then pass through the image heating device on a downstream side, and wherein the separation member of the image heating device on the upstream side and the separation member of the image heating device on the downstream side are different from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus that heats an image formed on a recording material in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, facsimile, or a printer.
And the present invention relates to a fixing apparatus that fixes an unfixed image formed on a recording material in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, facsimile, or a printer.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an image heating apparatus including multiple image heating means each having an image heating member that heats an image on a recording material and a separation member that separates the recording material from the image heating member, the image heating apparatus allowing the recording material to first pass through an image heating means on an upstream side with respect to a conveying direction of the recording material and then pass through an image heating means on a downstream side.
2. Related Background Art
Image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, which utilize an electrophotographic process includes an image heating apparatus that heats an image (unfixed developer image) formed on a sheet (recording material) through transfer or directly.
As the image heating apparatus, in recent years, image heating apparatuses including multiple image heating means are becoming popular with an increase in speed of paper passing and an improvement in image quality (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-258970, for instance).
Such an image heating apparatus has multiple image heating means arranged along a conveying direction of the recording material, the multiple image heating means including image heating members that contact a recording material, on which an unfixed image is borne, and heat the image. Image heating is performed by causing the recording material to pass through the multiple image heating means in succession.
Such an image heating apparatus including multiple image heating means has such a feature that, for instance, a recording material on which an unfixed image is borne, is caused to first pass through a first image heating means on the most upstream side in a conveying direction of the recording material for image heating and fixing and then pass through a second image heating means on an downstream side for image reheating. Generally, many of such image heating apparatuses are intended to ensure a certain degree of a fixation property at the first image heating means and to achieve high image quality (high gloss) at the second image heating means. In particular, the glossiness of an image is greatly influenced by the second image heating means on the downstream side in the recording material conveying direction.
In such an image heating apparatus as well, in order to enhance separation property at the time of image fixation onto a first surface and a second surface of a recording material, it is effective to provide a separation member for each image heating member.
Incidentally, while it is possible to significantly enhance the separation property by bringing a separation claw into abutment against the image heating member, there occurs a problem in that a surface of the image heating member is damaged by the separation claw. Also, while it is possible to alleviate the damage by reciprocating the abutment separation claw, the separation claw and an image surface rub against each other, causing the surface property of a heating roller to partially change, and therefore gloss unevenness occurs. Accordingly, the provision of the separation claw has both an advantage that the separation property is improved and a disadvantage that the gloss unevenness occurs.
In addition, when the separation member of the image heating means on the upstream side and the separation member of the image heating means on the downstream side have the same construction, the following problems occur.
The image heating means on the upstream side is required to ensure sufficient separation performance because an entirely unfixed image and the image heating member contact each other and a strong adhesive force occurs between fused toner and the image heating member. On the other hand, separation property at the time when an image heated once is re-heated is high as compared with the case of heating at the image heating means on the upstream side, so it is possible to ensure a sufficient separation property even when the separation performance is lowed as compared with that at the image heating means on the upstream side.
Meanwhile, it is known that the glossiness of an image greatly depends on the surface property of the heating member that contacts the image. Consequently, unevenness of the surface property of the heating member ascribable to the separation member significantly influences unevenness of the image glossiness. Therefore, the glossiness enhancing effect is reduced when multiple image heating means are provided.
Accordingly, when the separation structure of the image heating means on the upstream side is applied to the image heating means on the downstream side, it becomes necessary to shorten the replacement cycle for the image heating member for the sake of elimination of gloss unevenness.
In particular, the problems described above become serious when stable separation property is to be obtained at the time of image heating intended for color image fixation, an increase in speed, and high productivity.

Image heating apparatus and fixing apparatus


A mobile device for printing onto a print medium in a print direction, the print medium including first coded data that encodes first information, mobile device comprising: a first sensor for sensing the first coded data; processing means for decoding the coded data and extracting at least the first information; and a printhead for printing onto the print medium, wherein the printhead is controlled to print onto the print medium at least partially on the basis of the extracted first information, and printing commences prior to all of the first information being extracted.

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The Assignee has developed mobile phones, personal data assistants (PDAs) and other mobile telecommunication devices, with the ability to print hard copies of images or information stored or accessed by the device (see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,055, filed on Nov. 9, 1999) Likewise, the Assignee has also designed digital cameras with the ability to print captured images with an inbuilt printer (see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,750,901 filed on Jul. 10, 1998). As the prevalence of mobile telecommunications devices with digital cameras increases, the functionality of these devices is further enhanced by the ability to print hard copies.
As these devices are portable, they must be compact for user convenience. Accordingly, any printer incorporated into the device needs to maintain a small form factor. Also, the additional load on the battery should be as little as possible. Furthermore, the consumables (ink and paper etc) should be relatively inexpensive and simple to replenish. It is these factors that strongly influence the commercial success or otherwise of products of this type. With these basic design imperatives in mind, there are on-going efforts to improve and refine the functionality of these devices.
The Assignee of the present invention has also developed the Netpage system for enabling interaction with computer software using a printed interface and a proprietary stylus-shaped sensing device.
As described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,165, filed on Nov. 25, 2000 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/778,056, filed on Feb. 17, 2004, a Netpage pen captures, identifies and decodes tags of coded data printed onto a surface such as a page. In a preferred Netpage implementation, each tag encodes a position and an identity of the document. By decoding at least one of the tags and transmitting the position (or a refined version of the position, representing a higher resolution position of the pen) and identity referred to by the decoded tag, a remote computer can determine an action to perform. Such actions can include, for example, causing information to be saved remotely for subsequent retrieval, downloading of a webpage for printing or display via a computer, bill payment or even the performance of handwriting recognition based on a series of locations of the Netpage pen relative to the surface. These and other applications are described in many of the Netpage-related applications cross-referenced by the present application.
When printing onto a print medium, it is desirable to in some cases to read coded data prior to printing. In some cases, it is not that critical whether the coded data is read before, during or after printing. However, it would be desirable to provide a device that commences printing prior to determining all the information from sensed coded data.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mobile device that commences printing before reading all of the first coded data on a print medium


A processing system configured to sense an input object in a sensing region of a sensing device including a transmitter module coupled to a first transmitter electrode and a second transmitter electrode and configured to simultaneously apply a first transmitter signal to the first transmitter electrode and a second transmitter signal to the second transmitter electrode, wherein the first transmitter signal is based on a first one of a plurality of distinct codes and the second transmitter signal is based on a second one of the plurality of distinct codes. The processing system also includes a receiver module including receiver circuitry coupled to a first receiver electrode and configured to receive a first resulting signal with the first receiver electrode, the first resulting signal comprising effects corresponding to the first and second transmitter signals and a noise component. The processing system is configured to determine an estimate of the noise component using a third one of the plurality of distinct codes which is not associated with a transmitter signal.

Input devices including proximity sensor devices (also commonly called touchpads or touch sensor devices) are widely used in a variety of electronic systems. A proximity sensor device typically includes a sensing region, often demarked by a surface, in which the proximity sensor device determines the presence, location and/or motion of one or more input objects. Proximity sensor devices may be used to provide interfaces for the electronic system. For example, proximity sensor devices are often used as input devices for larger computing systems (such as opaque touchpads integrated in, or peripheral to, notebook or desktop computers). Proximity sensor devices are also often used in smaller computing systems (such as touch screens integrated in cellular phones).
Presently known capacitive sensing devices temporarily suspend the application of drive signals onto transmitter electrodes in order to estimate system noise. However, suppressing drive signals can degrade device performance. This can limit the flexibility and usability of the sensor device, and negatively impact the user experience. Thus, there exists a need for capacitive sensing devices that overcome these shortcomings.

Sensor device and method for estimating noise in a capacitive sensing device


The invention concerns a thermosetting resin composition, a cured film, a substrate with the cured film, and an electronic component, and the thermosetting resin composition contains polyester amide acid (A), epoxy compound (B) having a fluorene skeleton and epoxy curing agent (C).

A touch panel type input device in which a liquid crystal display device or an organic electroluminescence device is combined with a position detecting device has recently spread as an input device. The touch panel type input device is the input device in which, upon allowing a tip of a finger or a pen to bring into contact onto a display screen, a contact position thereon is detected. The touch panel type input device includes various detecting systems such as a resistance film system and a capacitive system.
For example, the capacitive system is of a system for detecting as a current change a capacitance change caused by contact of a fingertip or the like by using a device having a structure in which X and Y electrodes are arranged in matrix and are arranged on a glass substrate.
Upon forming the electrodes, a jumper is formed using ITO (indium tin oxide) or the like on overlap portions of the X and Y electrodes, in order to recognize an X-position and a Y-position, and a transparent insulating film is provided so as to avoid mutual contact of the X and Y electrodes. The transparent insulating film is required to satisfy a certain grade of hardness, high transparency, adhesion to glass or ITO, resistance to an ITO etching solution containing oxalic acid or the like that may be used upon forming the X and Y electrodes.
Moreover, an insulating overcoat is provided for the capacitive system touch panel in several cases, for example, in order to provide flattening over surfaces of the X and Y electrodes, or the like. The overcoat is required to satisfy degassing prevention, a certain grade of hardness, high transparency, and adhesion to glass or ITO, in addition to the flatness.
With regard to a high transparent insulation material that can be used in such a transparent insulating film or overcoat, various compositions have been examined so far.
For example, Patent literature No. 1 and Patent literature No. 2 disclose a resin composition containing a polyester amide acid having a specific structure, an epoxy resin, an epoxy curing agent and the like. However, no study has been made on adhesion of a cured film to be obtained from the composition to an ITO substrate, and resistance thereof to the ITO etching solution containing oxalic acid in all of the Patent literature.
Patent literature No. 3 discloses a curable composition containing an epoxy compound having a fluorene skeleton and a curing agent. However, no study has been made on transparency of a cured film to be obtained from the composition, adhesion thereof to glass or ITO and resistance thereof to the ITO etching solution containing oxalic acid in Patent literature No. 3.

Thermosetting resin composition, cured film, substrate with cured film, and electronic component


An image processing apparatus comprises an extractor for extracting a brightness component from image data; a scale converter for obtaining a distribution of the brightness component on relatively large scale; a brightness component improver for improving the distribution of the brightness component of the image data by using the brightness component and an output of the converter; and an image reproducer for reproducing the image data by using an output of the improver as a distribution of a brightness component of a new image, wherein the apparatus further comprises a face detector for detecting a face area from the image data, and the improver adjusts a degree of improvement by using a distribution of a brightness component of the face area being an output of the detector. Thus, it is possible to automatically adjust the degree of improvement of the luminance distribution according to the image data to be processed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing apparatus and method which improve a distribution of brightness of a digital image.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, as a method of taking a photograph of appropriate brightness, a method of measuring average luminance of a scene to be taken or photographed and then controlling shutter speed, an aperture value and the like based on the measured average luminance is known. Moreover, an exposure control method based on so-called evaluation photometry that a scene is first divided into predetermined areas, luminance of each of the divided areas is measured, the measured luminance is appropriately weighted with respect to each area, average luminance is then obtained based on the weighted values, and appropriate exposure is thus obtained with respect to the entire scene is known.
Incidentally, in a scene taken against light (also called a backlight scene) that the brightness of a main subject is remarkably dark as compared with that of its background, the main subject portion on a taken or photographed image is inevitably dark. Therefore, to take a photograph in which appropriate brightness can be secured even in case of a backlight scene, it is necessary at the moment of taking the photograph to preset exposure of a camera so that the subject is taken brightly as compared with a case of taking an average photograph. However, such an exposure correction operation is troublesome for a user, and moreover skill is required to appropriately set the exposure of the camera. Besides, in a digital image process to the image obtained by capturing the backlight scene, a process equivalent to the exposure correction operation can be performed. However, in any case, even if the exposure correction is appropriately performed with respect to the main subject, the background portion of the main subject adversely tends to become bright excessively.
In order to solve such a problem, it is necessary to obtain an image of appropriate brightness even in the backlight scene or the like that it is generally difficult to appropriately determine the brightness of the image.
Thus, to achieve this, in analog photographing technique, print of appropriate brightness can be obtained by performing so-called a dodging process in a darkroom. Therefore, it is desirable even in a digital image process to easily achieve a dodging process similar to that in the analog photographing technique.
For example, a method of achieving the dodging process is proposed by Daniel J. Jobson et al. in "A Multiscale Retinex for Bridging the Gap Between Color Images and the Human Observation of Scenes", IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON IMAGE PROCESSING, VOL. 6, NO. 7, July 1997 (hereinafter called prior art 1). In this method, a difference process between a component obtained by logarithmic transforming a digital image and a low-frequency component of the logarithmic-transformed component is performed to darken a bright component and brighten a dark component in a low-frequency area in the digital image, thereby achieving image improvement.
Besides, other methods of achieving the dodging process in the digital image process are proposed by Reinhard et al. in "Photographic Tone Reproduction for Digital Images", acm Transactions on Graphics, July 2002, Vol. 21, No. 3 (hereinafter called prior art 2), and Moroney "Local Color Correction Using Non-Linear Masking", IS&T/SID Eighth Color Imaging Conference (hereinafter called prior art 3). In each of these methods, a dodging-like effect is obtained in the digital image process by using a luminance component of a digital image and a low-frequency component thereof.
However, in such conventional methods, a degree of improvement in a case where large improvement is necessary with respect to the brightness of the main subject in the digital image to be processed is the same as that in a case where a little improvement is necessary with respect to the brightness of the main subject. Therefore, there is a problem that it is impossible to perform suitable improvement of the luminance distribution for the image data to be processed. This originates mainly in a fact that a purpose concerning how it is necessary to improve the luminance distribution in the image data to be processed is not clear.
Moreover, conventionally, when the conventional dodging method is applied to a case where the scene obtained by photographing and capturing the digital image to be processed is not the backlight scene, there is a problem that, although an effect of the correction is inferior, a processing time is long and costs for a memory or the like used in the process are unnecessarily high as compared with the case where the exposure correction is normally performed by the digital image process. In addition, even in the backlight scene, the necessity of brightness correction is not high with respect to an image other than the image in which particularly a person's face has been recorded darkly due to backlight.


A process for activating a hydroalkylation catalyst in a first state comprising an acid component and a hydrogenating metal component, including: (i) treatment at a temperature of at least 120° C. in the presence of hydrogen for a first duration to produce a catalyst in a second state having a first hydroalkylation activity; (ii) contacting the catalyst in the second state with an aromatic compound and hydrogen under a hydroalkylation condition effective to convert at least part of the aromatic compound to a cycloalkylaromatic compound and produce a catalyst in a third state; and (iii) treating the catalyst in the third state at a temperature of at least 160° C. in the presence of hydrogen but advantageously in the substantial absence of the aromatic compound for a third duration to produce an activated catalyst in a fourth state having a third hydroalkylation activity greater than the first hydroalkylation activity.

The production of cycloalkylaromatic compounds, such as cyclohexylbenzene, is a commercially important reaction since these compounds have utility as chemical feedstocks, solvents and industrial fluids.
Currently, the most common route for the production of phenol is the Hock process via cumene. This is a three-step process involving alkylation of benzene with propylene to produce cumene, followed by oxidation of the cumene to the corresponding hydroperoxide and then cleavage of the hydroperoxide to produce equimolar amounts of phenol and acetone. However, the world demand for phenol is growing more rapidly than that for acetone. In addition, the cost of propylene is likely to increase, due to a developing shortage of propylene. Thus, a process that does not require propylene as a feed and coproduces higher ketones, rather than acetone, may be an attractive alternative route to the production of phenol.
One such process involves the catalytic hydroalkylation of benzene to produce cyclohexylbenzene, followed by the oxidation of the cyclohexylbenzene (analogous to cumene oxidation) to cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide, which is then cleaved to produce phenol and cyclohexanone in substantially equimolar amounts.
An example of such a process is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,017, which discloses a method for the catalytic hydroalkylation of an aromatic hydrocarbon, such as benzene, to cyclohexylbenzene using a dual function catalyst followed by the conversion of the cyclohexylbenzene to cyclohexanone and phenol by air oxidation and acid decomposition. The dual function catalyst comprises a Group VIII metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel and palladium, and an acidic oxide support consisting essentially of a substantially alkali metal-free mixture of about 5 wt % to 60 wt % of a crystalline zeolite, such as zeolite Y, and about 95 wt % to 40 wt % of a silica-alumina cracking catalyst. The dual function catalyst is produced by impregnating the support with a solution of the desired hydrogenation metal(s) followed by calcining in an oxidizing atmosphere to convert the hydrogenating component to the oxide form. The catalyst is then reduced, by contact with hydrogen for, e.g., 4.0 hours at 900° F. (482° C.). The resultant catalyst is shown to exhibit benzene conversions of 26.3% to 35.1% at a reaction temperature of 174-183° C. and a hydrogen pressure of 500 psig.
A further process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,513 (hereinafter the '513 Patent), in which an aromatic hydrocarbon, such as benzene, is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a bifunctional catalyst which has both hydrogenation activity and alkylation activity. In particular, the catalyst comprises a metal having hydrogenation activity, such as palladium, and a crystalline inorganic oxide material having alkylation activity and an X-ray diffraction pattern including d-spacing maxima at 12.4±0.25, 6.9±0.15, 3.57±0.07, and 3.42±0.07 Angstrom. The crystalline inorganic oxide material may be composited with a binder or matrix. The catalyst is produced by impregnating the crystalline inorganic oxide material with an aqueous solution of a palladium salt and, then prior to employing the catalyst in a hydroalkylation reaction, treating the catalyst with 50 cc/min of flowing hydrogen for 2.0 hours at 300° C. and 1 atm pressure. Although not stated in the '513 Patent, this hydrogen treatment is employed to activate the catalyst by converting the palladium salt to a more active form of palladium.
Experience operating the process described in the '513 Patent has shown that the activated catalyst can convert about 34 wt % benzene in a single-pass through a fixed bed reactor nominally operating at 145° C., 165 psig (1138 kPa gauge) total pressure, 2.5 weight benzene/weight catalyst/hour weight-hourly space velocity (WHSV) with an H2/benzene feed molar ratio of 0.7. Thus, at least 60 wt % of the benzene remains unconverted after each pass of the benzene feed through the hydroalkylation reactor. There is significant interest in increasing the benzene conversion of the catalyst provided this can be achieved without reducing its cyclohexylbenzene selectivity.
According to the present invention, it has now been found that the aromatic conversion activity of hydroalkylation catalysts, such as those disclosed in the '513 Patent, can be improved, desirably without reduction in cycloalkylaromatic selectivity by subjecting the catalyst to a second hydrogen activation treatment after the catalyst is exposed to a hydroalkylation condition between the first and second hydrogen treatments.
In this respect, it is known that catalysts, particularly supported metal catalysts, are sometimes exposed to hydrogen treatments after being on stream in a catalytic reaction in order to restore their lost activity. Such treatments are often referred to in the art of catalysis as rejuvenation. Such treatments, however, at best restore catalytic activity, but do not increase it above the start of run activity levels. In fact, while such treatments can restore some of the lost activity, they often cannot restore the full start of run activity. Surprisingly, the currently disclosed treatment results in a different outcome, namely, the catalyst treated by the three-step activation process of the current disclosure has higher activity than can be achieved by the prior-art one-step activation process.

Activation and use of hydroalkylation catalysts


A vehicle tail light has a housing having a light source chamber and a light window delimiting one side of the light source chamber. A first light source provides a first signaling function and a second light source provides a second signaling function. The first and second light sources are mounted in the light source chamber remote from the light window. A first reflector, having a first horizontal reflection angle, and a second reflector, having a second horizontal reflection angle, are mounted in the housing opposite the light window. The first light source emits light being reflected at the first reflector onto the light window and passing through the light window to the exterior of the tail light. The second light source emits light being reflected at the second reflector onto the light window and passing through the light window to the exterior of the tail light. The second reflection angle is different from the first reflection angle.

The present invention relates to a signal light fixture, especially a tail light fixture of vehicles, especially motor vehicles, wherein the light fixture has a light source chamber in which at least one light source for a particular signaling function is mounted. The light beams of the light source are reflected at a reflector to a light window closing off the light source chamber and exit through the light window.
The light source chamber of such a tail light (disclosed in German patent document 195 14 424) is designed such that one or another light source can be mounted therein, as desired. For both light sources a lens is provided which is designed such that, depending on the light source, the required light distribution pattern is formed. When both light sources are to be used simultaneously, two of such light fixtures are required.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to embody the aforementioned signaling light fixture such that it can be used for different signaling functions.
This object is inventively solved in that in the light source chamber at least one second light source for a second signaling function is provided having correlated therewith a second reflector which reflects the light beams of the second light source by a different horizontal angle that is different than that of the first reflector.
In the inventive signaling light fixture (such as a tail light) two light sources are mounted in the light source chamber and fulfill different signaling functions. Each light source has correlated therewith a specific reflector. These reflectors are embodied such that the light beams emitted by the different light sources are reflected at different horizontal angles. This ensures that within a single light source chamber light sources can be mounted which have different functions. For example, one light source can be the backing up light and the other light source can be used, for example, as a fog light. It is thus no longer required to provide separate signaling light fixtures for these different signaling functions.
The object and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the inventive tail light;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a portion of the inventive tail light according to FIG. 1.

Reitter and Schefenacker GmbH and Co. KG


A method and apparatus for synchronizing a Viterbi detector to data frames corresponding to code words read from of a medium is provided. A timing pattern and a synchronization pattern is provided, the detector is synchronized to the synchronization pattern based upon the timing pattern, the detector is further synchronized to the data frame based upon the synchronization pattern

The present invention relates generally to information storage systems and, more particularly, to detection of data retrieved from storage in such systems
Digital data magnetic recording, or storage and retrieval, systems store digital data by recording same in a moving magnetic media layer using a storage, or xe2x80x9cwritexe2x80x9d, electrical current-to-magnetic field transducer, or xe2x80x9cheadxe2x80x9d, positioned immediately adjacent thereto. The data is stored or written to the magnetic media by switching the direction of flow in an otherwise substantially constant magnitude write current that is established in coil windings in the write transducer in accordance with the data. Each write current direction transition results in a reversal of the magnetization direction, in that portion of the magnetic media just then passing by the transducer during this directional switching of the current flow, with respect to the magnetization direction in that media induced by the previous in the opposite direction. In one recording scheme, often termed non-return-to-zero inverted (NRZI), each magnetization direction reversal occurring over a short portion of the magnetic media moving past the transducer represents a binary number system digit xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, and the lack of any such reversals in that portion represents a binary digit xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d.
Recovery of such recorded digital data is accomplished through positioning a retrieval, or xe2x80x9creadxe2x80x9d magnetic field-to-voltage transducer, (which may be the same as the storage transducer if both of these transducers rely on inductive coupling between the media fields and the transducer) or xe2x80x9cheadxe2x80x9d, is positioned to have the magnetic media, containing previously stored data, pass thereby. Such passing by of the media adjacent to the transducer permits the flux accompanying the magnetization reversal regions in that media either to induce a corresponding voltage pulse in forming an analog output read signal for that retrieval transducer or, alternatively, change a transducer circuit parameter to thereby provide such an output signal voltage pulse. In the coding scheme described above, each such voltage pulse in the read transducer output signal due to the reversal of magnetization directions between adjacent media portions is taken to represent a binary digit xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, and the absence of such a pulse in corresponding media portions is taken to represent a binary digit xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d.
Digital data magnetic recording systems have used peak detection methods for the detection of such voltage pulses in the retrieved analog signal as the basis for digitizing this signal. Such methods are based on determining which peaks in that signal exceed a selected threshold to determine that a binary digit xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d related pulse occurred in the retrieved signal, and also use the times between those voltage pulses to reconstruct the timing information used in the preceding recording operation in which the data were stored in the magnetic media as described above. The analog retrieved signal is provided to a phase-locked loop forming a controlled oscillator, or a phase-locked oscillator or synchronizer, which produces an output timing signal, or xe2x80x9cclockxe2x80x9d signal, from the positions of the detected peaks in this analog retrieved signals Absolute time is not used in operating the data retrieval system portion since the speed of the magnetic media varies over time during both the storage operation and the retrieval operation to result in nonuniform time intervals, or nonuniform multiples thereof, occurring between the voltage pulses in the analog retrieved signal.
There is always a desire in magnetic recording systems to devote less of the magnetic media along a track therein to the storage of a bit to thereby permit increasing the density of the bits stored. The use of peak detection places a limit on the density of bits along a track because increasing that density beyond some point will lead to too much intersymbol interference which in turn leads to errors in the recovery of data using such peak detection methods. Because of this limit, recent increases in bit density along a track in a magnetic media have come with the acceptance of a controlled, or known, amount of intersymbol interference which, since known, allows detection of the pulses involved despite this interference. The read transducer analog output signal generated from the binary bits or symbols stored in the magnetic media is sampled with the resulting samples being converted to digital data, and the samples are taken at a rate which leads to more than one sample per pulse rather than the single sample per pulse which would be sufficient for peak detection if sampling was used therewith. Since each individual sample reflects only part of the pulse response, this process used in a system results in referring to such a system as a partial response system.
A digital data magnetic recording system typically comprises a bandpass data retrieval channel in that it is unable to transmit very low frequencies, and in that it has an upper frequency beyond which its transmission is also quite limited, and is often termed a Lorentzian channel in view of the resulting response to an isolated pulse. Thus, the channel, including any equalizer therein, should exhibit in passing a stream of data pulses therethrough a spectral characteristic having spectral nulls at zero frequency and at a frequency equal to half the symbol rate or pulse rate. Channels having an impulse response characteristic of the form (1xe2x88x92D) (1+D)k for such a stream have been found to provide such nulls but at the cost of accepting a substantial amount of intersymbol interference leading to the description of the channel as a xe2x80x9cpartial response system.xe2x80x9d Here, D is the unit delay operator, or D=ejxcfx89T where T is the bit period and kxe2x89xa7I for the characteristic described. Such channel response characteristics have integer coefficients resulting in the sampled channel output symbols also having only integer values.
Although there are a number of possible alternative partial response system arrangements, there is substantial value in choosing a channel characteristic of the above form that has the smallest value for n that is possible for the data to be transmitted in the channel. Increasing the value of n leads to increased intersymbol interference resulting in more output symbol values thereby reducing the signal-to noise ratio and increasing the necessary detector complexity and performance requirements. The simplest partial response system with the desired characteristics results from k being set equal to one to yield a channel characteristic of (1xe2x88x92D) (1+D)=1xe2x88x92D2 that is known as a class 4 partial response system, and has been typically used previously in magnetic digital data recording Systems. Such a response is obtained by providing an overall channel and filter response equal to that of the sum of two opposite polarity Nyquist channel impulse responses separated in time by two sample intervals. Such an arrangement will lead to a filter analog output signal from which ideally can be obtained three alternative possible output symbol sample values of xe2x88x921, 0 and 1 for an input signal based on binary recorded data if sampled at appropriate instants.
A range of lineal bit representation densities along a track in the magnetic media, leading to a range of data pulse rates for retrieved data, can be accommodated by providing an equalizer in the channel suited to the density chosen. Such an equalizer operates by changing the effective channel characteristic as to keep the output symbol samples at the proper integer values. However, as the lineal density is increased along the tracks in the magnetic media a point is reached where the noise enhancement provided by the equalizer becomes unacceptable. This situation, along with other considerations, requires going to a greater value for n for further density increases to allow a reduction in the transmittals at frequency values.
The next higher values for k are 2 and 3, and these values are appropriate at significantly higher user densities, i.e. when pw50/Tuser is at 2.4 or above where pw50 is the pulse width in time for an isolated magnetic pulse between its half peak amplitude values, and Tuser is the time per user bit which is equal to the bit time T divided by R, the code rate for any modulation code being used. When k 2, the channel is referred to as an extended class 4 partial response system which is usually written as E2PR4. When k=3, the channel is usually written as E2PR4. A read transducer analog output signal provided through any kind of a data retrieval channel is subject to containing errors therein as a result due to noise, timing errors, gain errors, channel asymmetries and the like encountered in the course of retrieval. As opposed to attempting to determine individually the value represented by every pulse in the read signal as in peak detection, maximum likelihood detection of sequences of such samples is used instead involving estimating which of several possible transmitted symbol sequences caused the received sample sequence. This determination is typically based on finding the minimum mean squared error between these received samples and each of the possible symbol sequences that may have generated these samples, and then choosing that symbol sequence giving the smallest such error.
The detection process over time for a channel receiving data can be illustrated by a multiple state trellis diagram showing the possible sequence of detection system states resulting from transitions therebetween that can evolve over time. States are shown in the diagram after each corresponding sample interval and the transitions between these states which can occur on obtaining the next data symbol after the subsequent sample interval are shown leading to the next states. Each transition is represented by an arrow, or branch, usually with a pair of values in parentheses adjacent thereto showing a possible next expected data sample after being in the preceding state, and the corresponding data output symbol value on the right. Such a trellis diagram is shown assuming the detection system was initially in some state and is depicted for a sequence of samples of arbitrary length, often for the length of a code word or block, the diagram having each sample interval marked below the corresponding states the system could be in at that instant. A sequence of contiguous branches from the beginning to the end is a path through the diagram corresponding to a possible input sequence of data symbol values.
There will be some correct state sequence, or path, through the trellis diagram representing the detection process for the data symbol sequence recovered from storage in the magnetic media, and there will be a state sequence, or path, through the trellis diagram reflecting the selections of the detection system using the Viterbi algorithm. Due to conditions in the retrieval channel, errors can occur from time to time as indicated above so that these two paths in the trellis diagram will correspondingly separate and thereafter merge together again. Each of such occurrences is termed an error event of a length depending on how many states occur between such a separation and the subsequent remerging of the paths.
Such a trellis diagram representing a detector is usually based on coded sequences of data which may represent multiple codings of that data for different purposes. Modulation coding is usually used because such use can compensate for shortcomings of the channel such as nonlinearities present therein or to aid the operation of the detection system such as aiding the recovery of a clocking signal from the retrieved data to be used in coordinating the retrieval system. In addition, such coding can provide increased distances between code words to aid the data retrieval process typically by eliminating the most common error events. Analysis of an equalized channel having initially retrieved signals introduced into a Lorentzian channel subject to white, Gaussian noise all passed through a low pass filter to an equalizer and a sampler shows the smallest distance, and so most common, error events is the failure to detect data sequences that are stored in the magnetic media as three or more consecutive magnetization direction transitions, i.e. three or more stored consecutive digital binary values of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d.
Codes have been devised that eliminate such error events both for E2PR4 and E2PR4 equalized channels. Use of such codes in a magnetic data storage and retrieval system has often been found to also require use of a Viterbi algorithm based periodically time-varying characteristic data detector for which the characterizing trellis will have selected state transition edges omitted or added as a function of time to reduce the possibilities of errors occurring in the detection process. At higher data retrieval rates possible in an E2PR4 equalized channel, there are advantages in using a radix-4 detector. In this circumstance in which consecutive pairs of channel samples are received by the detector with the members of each pair processed concurrently by that detector. Such a radix-4 detector, (providing detection processing for consecutive pairs of samples of the data retrieval channel equalized analog signal) has each branch in the detector trellis representation being representative of two such samples (noiseless) and the state transition result for the corresponding two channel input bit values. The use of a Viterbi algorithm based periodically time-varying characteristic radix-4 detector leads to not only needing to have a time-varying detector operated with proper timing with respect to the code blocks but also with proper phasing with respect to each sample pair member. Hence, a synchronizer is desirable for operation of the detector which enables the detector to start in a known state at a selected time with respect to the timing cycle used in its periodic variation and to be in phase with the data samples.
A method and apparatus for synchronizing a Viterbi detector to data frames corresponding to code words read from a medium is provided. The method includes providing a timing pattern, providing a synchronization pattern, synchronizing the detector based upon the timing pattern; and synchronizing the detector to the data frame based upon the synchronization pattern.

Frame synchronization for viterbi detector


Coupled coil systems and methods are disclosed in which transmitter and receiver inductors, or coils, are coupled in a configuration for wirelessly transferring power among them. In preferred implementations, power may be transmitted and received using temporarily paired coupled coils. One preferred aspect of the invention is that the coils are not permanently affixed in physical proximity to one another, but can be moved and/or interchanged, and that the coils may be used to transmit or receive power based on their real-time relationships to other coils.

Portable electronics apparatus commonly requires a portable power storage device such as a battery or battery pack to supply power for operation. When the batteries are discharged, they must be recharged again in order for the apparatus to resume operation. Wireless power transfer presents a convenient way to charge power storage devices without the need for a wired power connection. However, a device may also need to be recharged when a wired power base station is not available. In these situations, it is desirable to have a portable wireless charging capability. Existing wireless power transmission systems utilize coupled inductor coils to transfer power from a charging coil to a receiving coil. Some of the systems known in the art also transmit data as well as power. Typically such systems use a dedicated power transmission coil, or set of coils on a primary charger side. One or more dedicated receiving coils are provided in association with each battery on a secondary side. Among the problems with such systems is the requirement of providing compatible charging stations in numbers proportional to the number of batteries to be charged.
Due to these and other problems and potential problems, improved coupled inductor power transceiver systems would be useful and advantageous contributions to the arts.


A coating composition and a method of coating with said composition, with the composition comprising a coating especially suited for sealing metal joints and metal roofs that comprises from about 10% to about 20% of a thermoplastic resin, from about 1.5% to about 3% of a plasticizer, from about 10% to about 20% of a synthetic thermo-plastic rubber, and from about 5% to about 20% of a free flowing silica-alumina glass ceramic filler.

Particularly throughout the Midwest, metal roofed buildings and buildings with metal joints have become very common from uses in agricultural and other industries. These buildings, while lightweight and inexpensive to build, do have certain problems from the standpoint of satisfactory weathering, especially in the severe weather extremes of the Midwest. Particularly, in a single year they are subjected to unusually hot temperatures, extreme cold temperatures, and high degrees of moisture. Such metal buildings are therefore susceptible to rusting and corrosion. The buildings are therefore in need of protective coatings on their surfaces, especially at the joints and on the roof.
In the past, joint sealing compositions and roof coverings for metal roofs have been of two particular types, namely, elastomeric latex systems and asphaltic systems. Latex systems have the disadvantage of very poor adhesion, and at the same time they require extensive and time consuming preparation in order for proper application. Because of the extensive time required for proper preparation for application, these steps are often skipped when using elastomeric latexes. As a result the latex is often placed on the metal without proper preparation, thus, increasing the risk of poor adhesion. As a result elastomeric latex compositions especially for roof and metal joint sealing have no been widely accepted.
The other type of system commonly used system is asphaltic emulsions. Asphalt, while less expensive, proves not to be thermally stable under the drastic weather extremes of the Midwest. Thus, it tends to crack in the winter time, and tends to become less viscous and run in the summertime. As a result, it too has significant deficiencies as an effective metal sealant and metal roofing composition.
Yet another problem exists with both asphaltic compositions and latex compositions. This is in regard to their use in treating currently existing metal coverings. That is to say, it often happens that existing roofing compositions and joint sealers, when they become cracked and weathered, need themselves to be covered over. Thus, a good composition is one which will not only adhere to metal, but which can be applied over existing, but unsatisfactory roofing and joint sealing compositions.
The rubberized roofing composition and rubberized seam compound of the composition of the present invention satisfy each of the above needs. In particular, the composition of the present invention has needed flexibility, tensile strength, and adhesion to withstand the expansion and contraction encountered at seams, joints, and penetrations. Also, the composition of the present invention has excellent adhesion to metals, including aluminum, galvanized steel, and painted surfaces, and at the same time, resists cracking and peeling. Compositions of the present invention are also compatible with reinforcing materials such as polyester mesh, can be easily applied using either a troll or a caulking style loader and, because of the coaction of the combination of four later listed critical ingredients, adequately perform in the severe weather extremes of the Midwest.
The composition which achieves all of the above advantages, as well as others, will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows hereinafter.


A maneuvering member for selectively attaching an actuating rotary member to a head portion of a drilling assembly. The maneuvering member includes a frame having an axial-symmetrical tubular portion internally delimited by a cylindrical mantle. The frame includes a first end that selectively interfaces with the actuating rotary member, and a second end provided with an alignment member for interfacing with a corresponding alignment member of the head portion of the drilling assembly. Hydraulically actuated blocking means is positioned at the second end and includes a pin that is actuated by a hydraulic fluid in a radially movable manner with respect to the frame at the second end. The pin is actuated between a back position in which the pin is arranged flush with the cylindrical mantle, and a forward position in which the pin projects inside the cylindrical mantel to selectively release/secure the head portion of the drilling assembly.

In the field of soil drilling for boring cylindrical holes for piles, the use is well known of machines equipped with a drilling unit provided with an axial-symmetrical drilling assembly. The drilling assembly is axially delimited by a casing shoe provided with a circular toothing in end position; through rotation, the toothing allows the casing shoe, and, more in general, the drilling assembly, to be put progressively deeper in the ground for boring the hole. The drilling units comprise a rotary actuator carried by a guide oriented according to the drilling direction, usually vertically, and an axial-symmetrical manoeuvring member interfacing the actuator with the drilling assembly, that may comprise only the casing shoe or also joining pipes for joining the casing shoe to the manoeuvring member, that are coaxially coupled to one another and to the casing shoe. It should be noted that drilling operations may be also performed by using machines by different manufacturers, each of which is provided with a drilling unit equipped with a coupling member manufactured according to non-standardized procedures, and therefore, in principle, different from one another. In particular, the manoeuvring members usually have a hollow tubular portion, used to house coaxially a rotary drilling tool, and are coupled to the respective actuator by means of a hinge coupling; namely, the manoeuvring members have, in a respective upper portion, two diameter holes housing a diameter axis that is centrally engaged by the drive shaft of the actuator, which drives the manoeuvring member, and therefore the drilling assembly connected thereto, into rotation. Usually, the manoeuvring members are manufactured without the upper portion, which is later welded to the tubular portion. It is easily to understand that this constructive solution is particularly onerous as regards times and costs necessary to adapt a manoeuvring member to the drilling unit to which it should be coupled, and, thus, it significantly limits the field of use thereof.
Moreover, the manoeuvring member and the drilling assembly are coupled by coupling at least one radial pin, carried in end position by the manoeuvring member, just above a respective free "female" edge, to a corresponding hole provided in a "male" portion provided at the top in the upper element of the drilling assembly. Obviously, each pin can centre the corresponding hole thanks to the presence of centering members at the interface between the upper element of the drilling assembly that ensure that the coupling is coaxial and the angular reference is correct.
Each pin is carried by a cylindrical support and is actuated between a blocking position and a releasing position of the corresponding hole of the "male" portion of the upper element of the drilling assembly, thus causing a radial movement forward, in a helix-like manner, through a lever transverse to the rotation axis of the pin. In this way, each pin is so controlled as to engage or release radially the upper element of the drilling assembly and to drive it into rotation with the actuator or to free it, leaving it ready for the elongation or the disassembly, once the drilling depth has been achieved.
The coupling pins are usually four at 90°, and it is easily understood that the operations for coupling the pins to and releasing them from the drilling assembly require the operator to be in front of each pin and to actuate the respective lever both to couple the manoeuvring member to, and to release it from, the drilling assembly.
In view of the above description it would be desirable to have available a manoeuvring member that, in addition to allow limiting and possibly overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art, defines a new standard for the use of soil drilling tools.


An improved toothbrush which allows the user to brush the teeth and gums simultaneously while using a minimal forward and backward arm stroke, and minimize the time required for dental hygiene. The invention consists of three brushes, one inner and two outer sets of bristles. The outer brushes are designed to fit over the upper and lower gum area to clean, stimulate, and massage the entire gum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of cleaning devices, and more particularly relates to a new and improved automatic cleaning device having an improved electromechanical characteristics for cleaning, polishing, and scrubbing. In the preferred embodiment a toothbrush is adapted in such a way as to clean the top portion of the gum area, scrub and polish the teeth, and clean the bottom gum area simultaneously.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Currently, there are various cleaning devices available on the open market. These devices are earmarked for either cleaning, polishing or massaging the oral cavity primarily the gums. These devices have included bristles, and brushes which effect a cleaning and polishing to creases, crevices, and hard to reach areas. Many are powered devices which have bristles in the same plane which rotate to impart a cleaning action.
Such prior powered bristles, for example are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,795 to Crawford et al. wherein the individual bristle tufts rotate back and forth by a gearing action. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,723 to Lustig et al. has the bristles rotate about their axis in the same plane and further includes a reservoir for dispensing a dental spray.
Braun et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,287 discloses a fountain toothbrush having a reservoir in its handle for dispensing toothpaste to the bristles. The cleaning action is imparted by the user's hand movements. Cannarella, U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,870 also discloses a device for dispensing a paste and cleaning fluids.
In a more traditional approach Davis, Deutsch, and Vireno, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,908,509, 2,214,407, and 3,535,047 respectively disclose dental cleaning brushes having bristles in opposite planes. These devices contemplate the hand movement of the user to impart the cleaning action. Klupt, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,866 discloses a toothbrush having an electromechanical paste delivery system. While Greenhouse U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,298 discloses a manual paste delivery system for the toothbrush.
An alternative method of dental hygiene is the use of liquid jet devices, these devices draw fluid from a reservoir and direct fine sprays to a small dental area. These clean and provide some gum stimulation, however these devices are cumbersome, messy to use, and attack only small surfaces at a time. Additionally, they are not considered portable or suitable for travel.
It is therefore an object of this novel invention to provide a portable multi functional dental hygiene device to clean the teeth, stimulate the gums, and dispense a dental paste. Another object of this invention is to provide an electromechanical device to clean and polish teeth while simultaneously cleaning and massaging the gums.
Another object of the invention is to provide a dental hygiene tool which allows persons with arthritic limbs and disabilities to effect dental hygiene with a minimum of movement.
A further object of the invention is to provide a dental cleaning device suitable for travel and stimulate the gums.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the novel invention. The objects and advantages of the method may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the novel invention a device having three spaced apart heads and a toothpaste compartment in the handle, a toothpaste delivery system, and diamond shaped equi-length bristles. The outer row of bristles bend inwardly, while the inner row of bristles are straight. The bristles effectively clean the teeth and stimulate the gums.


A retention system for a wear member may have a flange having a mounting slot defined between a first inner wall and a second inner wall, which are parallel to an axis. The retention system may also have a first retention member having a first through hole, and a second retention member having a second through hole. The retention system may additionally have a fastener configured to be received in the first and second through holes. The fastener may be configured to move the first retention member and the second retention member in opposite directions along the axis. The retention system may be configured such that movement of the retention members along the axis exerts forces on the first and second inner walls perpendicular to the axis.

Earth-working machines, such as, for example, excavators, wheel loaders, hydraulic mining shovels, cable shovels, bucket wheels, bulldozers, and draglines, are generally used for digging or ripping into the earth or rock and/or moving loosened work material from one place to another at a worksite. These earth-working machines include various earth-working implements, such as a bucket or a blade, for excavating or moving the work material. These implements can be subjected to extreme wear from the abrasion and impacts experienced during the earth-working applications.
To protect these implements against wear, and thereby prolong the useful life of the implements, various ground engaging tools, such as teeth, edge protectors, and other wear members, can be provided to the earth-working implements in the areas where the most damaging abrasions and impacts occur. These ground engaging tools are removably attached to the implements using retention systems, so that worn or damaged ground engaging tools can be readily removed and replaced with new ground engaging tools.
One such retention system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,696 that issued to Cornelius on Aug. 2, 1994 ("the '696 patent"). The '696 patent discloses a protector for a work tool that includes a pair of openings that align with a transverse hole in the work tool. A pin is inserted through the aligned holes to retain the protector in place on the work tool.
The retention system of the '696 patent may have some drawbacks. For example, the retention system requires a hole in the work tool, which may negatively affect the strength of the work tool. In addition, this type of retention system may limit a wear member to being installed at only one position on the work tool (i.e., the position where the openings in the wear member align with the hole in the work tool). The transverse pin does not allow relative movement (e.g., pull-back movement onto the work tool) during installation, since the holes must be aligned before the pin can be inserted. Relative movement, such as, pull-back movement during installation, may allow a wear member to adapt to various sizes and shapes of work tools, such as those caused by wear over time, manufacturing tolerances, etc.
Further, while some current wear member retention systems may allow for pull-back movement during installation, they may also be less than optimal. In one example, a threaded retention bolt may be threadably inserted through a portion of a wear member and through a member attached to a work tool. The retention bolt may be aligned parallel to a side surface of the work tool and perpendicular to a protected edge of the work tool, such that tightening of the retention bolt may cause the wear member to pull back onto the protected edge. While this type of retention system may allow relative movement during installation, it may also be susceptible to a few problems. In particular, alignment of the retention bolt to be perpendicular to the protected edge may more easily allow the retention bolt to work loose during operation. Force applied against the protected edge tends to release tension on the retention bolt, allowing the retention bolt to work loose. Therefore, this type of retention system may not be ideal for holding a wear member tightly in place over the useful lifetime of the wear member. In addition, retention bolts in general are often uncovered on an exterior of a wear member, and are thus exposed to damage during use.
The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems of the prior art.


The present invention relates to a hinge joint mechanism. The hinge joint mechanism comprises a fixed component including a plurality of curved portions and at least one straight portion; a movable component including a plurality of curved portions and a plurality of straight portions; said hinge joint mechanism provides a relative rotation between the two surfaces of the hinge joints to rotate the movable component by a desired amount relative to the fixed component. The hinge joint mechanism of the invention provides a proper sealing in the joints to avoid liquid or any such kind of material to move across it.

Various types of Hinge Joints have been developed in the art. They provide a simple, efficient method of allowing two or more components to move about one another in a designated manner. Their simple construction and efficient performance, makes the hinge joints to be found in many everyday products, building structures, vehicles, and complex systems.
Perhaps the most common or well-known type of hinged joints comprises a movable member, such as a door or a lid, coupled to a stationary base or receiver capable of receiving the movable member and allowing the movable member to come to rest within the base or receiver. This fitting incorporates a hole to receive a pin therein which is affixed to a lock bar. The ends of the lock bar bend inwardly to press against the frame and the door for door locking purposes.
Moreover such pin based hinge joints fail to provide proper sealing in the joints to make them completely intact with each other.
Profiled hinged joints are also known in the art. Said joints have fixed member and movable member that is capable of partially rotating in the slot of the fixed member as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,345. The fixed member is having a hollow circular bead portion connected to the flange. This invention also does not restrict assembly/disassembly in non-axial directions.
The bead member is partially surrounded by a shell which protrudes from the flange. The gap between the shell and the bead member forms a slot in which the movable member rotates around the bead member. Said design does not provide any sealing properties as the slot in which the movable part rotates is not enclosed structure preventing leakage.
Moreover, other similar kinds of hinge joints fail to gain widespread acceptance either because of their relatively complicated nature, their appearance or inability to provide the necessary degree of desired protection.