Priority-based access systems and methods for shared communication media are provided. The priority and a corresponding weight of traffic to be transmitted on a shared communication medium are determined. This determination may be made, for example, before a first attempt to transmit the traffic, or before a subsequent traffic transmission attempt following an unsuccessful transmission attempt. The weight controls a rate of change of an exponential delay range limit factor in proportion to a number of attempts to transmit the traffic. The resultant weighted delay range limit factor is used to determine a range of delays from which a delay is selected. A transmission back-off time is then determined based on the selected delay.

In communication systems in which a communication medium is shared between multiple communication devices, each device should generally be able to access the shared communication medium in order to send traffic. For example, network devices in Ethernet networks use a Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) protocol to access a shared communication medium in the form of a bus. In the event that traffic from more than one device is sent to the bus at substantially the same time, a collision is detected and each device randomly selects an integral delay from a range of delays determined on the basis of a number of attempts that have been made to transmit the traffic. A back-off time interval is then calculated, and the traffic is re-transmitted after the back-off time has elapsed.
In this basic Ethernet protocol, however, there is no priority-based access control for the shared bus. All devices, also commonly referred to as stations or nodes, perform the same algorithm to access the bus and perform a back-off when a collision occurs. This makes it difficult to achieve relative or quantitative Quality-of-Service (QoS) guarantees among different devices or applications being executed on such devices.
Some currently known mechanisms for priority-based access to a shared Ethernet bus alter the delay or back-off interval calculation techniques or back-off algorithms. However, these mechanisms tend to over- or under-prioritize high priority traffic relative to low priority traffic, to such an extent that some of these mechanisms effectively reduce the priority of high priority traffic or explicitly pass or rotate medium access permission.
Other techniques provide for multiple re-transmissions without increasing a range from which back-off times are selected. This type of technique effectively defeats one primary purpose of backing off a communication medium after a failed transmission attempt, in that the probability of collision remains substantially the same for subsequent re-transmissions if a back-off time range is not increased at all.
Priority-based medium access control schemes have been proposed for wireless communication networks, in which the shared communication medium is the air. According to one such scheme, a Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanism controls access to the wireless medium. If the medium is busy, devices defer their own transmission until the end of a current transmission. After deferral, the devices back off exponentially with a random number of time intervals or slots in the range of 0 and a Contention Window (CW), and decrement a back-off counter only while the medium is idle. Once its back-off time has expired, a device starts transmission. Other devices retain their remaining back-off time until the end of current transmission, and when the medium becomes idle again, continue to decrement their back-off counters. As soon as its back-off counter reaches zero, a device can begin transmission. If a collision occurs, the CW is increased, and a new back-off procedure starts.
QoS support in one proposal for wireless networks is realized by the introduction of an Access Category (AC). Each device may have up to four ACs to support eight user priorities specified by a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) Tag. A mapping table maps VLAN priorities to ACs such that an AC with higher priority is assigned a shorter CW and thus in most cases, traffic associated with a higher-priority AC will be transmitted before lower-priority traffic. This is achieved by setting CW limits (CWmin and CWmax) to specified values. For further differentiation, a different inter frame space (IFS), according to AC, is also introduced. A device cannot start a CW when the shared communication medium becomes idle until the IFS expires. Table 1 below shows one example of different values of CW and IFS for each AC:
TABLE 1ACCWminCWmaxIFS0CWminCWmax21CWminCWmax12(Cwmin + 1)/2 − 1CWmin13(CWmin + 1)/4 − 1(Cwmin + 1)/2 − 11
A device selects a random back-off time based on a CW within the CW limits CWmin and CWmax. Back-off time is then calculated as Random(0, CW)*slot time, where slot time depends upon the physical characteristics of the medium. A back-off timer or counter is decremented each time the channel is sensed idle for one time slot. When the back-off timer or counter reaches zero, the device is ready to transmit.
While this approach supports priority-based access to a shared wireless medium, CW limits are not determined based on exponential limit factors. Unlike the CW limits used in this technique, exponential limit factors have relatively well understood characteristics and performance. The introduction of different IFSs further increases the complexity of this scheme.

Access systems and methods for a shared communication medium


An optical waveguide in the form of an optical fibre (10) having at least one longitudinally extending light guiding core region (11) composed at least in part of a polymeric material, a longitudinally extending core-surrounding region (12) composed of a polymeric material, and a plurality of light confining elements (15), such as, for example, channel-like holes, located within the core surrounding region. The light confining elements extend in the longitudinal direction of the core region and are distributed about the core region, and at least a majority of the light confining elements having a refractive index less than that of the polymeric material from which the core-surrounding region is composed. A preform for use in manufacture of the optical waveguide is also disclosed.

Polymer optical fibres are recognised as having potential application as low cost, broad bandwidth, easy-to-install waveguides. These features make them eminently suitable for use as relatively short length high speed data transmission lines, typically in local area network and residential signal transmission applications. Also, polymer optical fibres may be employed in the transmission of light at wavelength in the red and near infrared, this permitting the use of relatively cheap light sources.
Despite all of these potentially beneficial features, polymer optical fibres have not been produced at a significant commercial level. This is predominantly because of the need for large transverse optical intensity profiles ("spot sizes") and the consequential constraints imposed by existing fabrication techniques. Large spot size fibres are required in order to permit relatively simple couplings and connections, particularly in the context of the intended applications of polymer optical fibres.
A polymer optical fibre having a traditional step index may be drawn with a large spot size, this providing for inexpensive installation of the fibre. However, such a fibre exhibits very large intermodal dispersion.
Single mode polymer optical fibre is difficult to produce and, in any case, the very small mode-size limits application of the fibre.
The technology required to produce graded-index polymer optical fibres is very complex and the inherent cost of producing the fibres at a commercial level is prohibitive.
Viable large spot size, single mode polymer optical fibres have been found to be almost impossible to produce using known fabrication techniques.


The doors of railroad passenger cars swing inward and toward the front of the car when opened for entry or exit by the passenger. An automatic locking device is described which may be mounted on the exterior surface of the door close to its trailing edge. When the railroad car is in motion, the pressure of the relative wind on an air foil acts to rotate the locking device to a position that prevents the door from opening. When the train slows and stops, the relative wind decreases and the locking mechanism returns to it's original position permitting the door to be opened.

Drastic changes in the transportation industry have occurred in the past forty years. Passengers that formerly depended on the railroad for long distance transportation are now traveling by air and the personal automobile is used by those who must make shorter trip. The railroad today moves freight that is not handled by trucks. Car trains, observation cars and other promotions encourage travelers who are not in a particular hurry to "relax and take the train", but thc method of securing the doors on railroad passenger cars has not changed during these many years.
The passenger train remains a series of passenger cars pulled over the tracks by the locomotive one behind the other. Each passenger car has seats so accommodate passengers on both sides of the car and a vestibule at the front and rear of the car. Entry and exit from the car is provided by a door that opens into the vestibule. The door or doors may he at either end and on either side of the car.
Railroad car doors are mounted on hinges to the front door jam in a manner that permits the rear edge of the door to swing inwardly and forward into the vestibule. This hinge mounting prevents the door of a passenger car from opening toward the outside of the train.
Over the years a number of passengers have been killed or injured due to leaving the car while the train is in motion. Apparently passengers were exiting the car doors thinking they were entering the bathroom. These tragedies generally end up it litigation against the railroad. While this problem could be solved by having the conductor locking all doors with a key before the train is in motion and unlocking the doors after the train is stopped, this procedure would be extremely time consuming because of the number of doors and the distance between doors, disrupting the schedule and increasing the time taken to reach the destination.
My invention solves; these problems by automatically latching the doors that exit a passenger car when the car reaches a speed of 10-15 miles per hour. When the train stops, the lock is released.


A visualization system provides graphics for presentation on displays of multiple users who may be wearing head-mounted displays (HMDs). In an embodiment, the system determines that a first gaze direction of a first user is directed toward a first display. The system determines user inputs performed by the first user. The user inputs may be hands-free such as gestures of a hand or finger or voice commands. The system generates a graphical annotation using the user inputs. The system provides the graphical annotation to a first HMD for presentation to the first user. The system determines a second display paired to the first display. The system provides the graphical annotation to a second HMD for presentation to a second user looking at the second display. The displays may include a physical display or a virtual display, for example, in an augmented reality environment.

In conventional medical interventional and surgical suites, there are often considerations where one or more operators work in a sterile surgical field while other support personnel are stationed in a separate non-sterile area. The coordinated use of multiple medical systems, each of which having their own display monitors, presents obstacles to efficient use. For example, information displayed on the monitors is often duplicated between two or more different physical locations.
In some use cases, an operating physician must maintain sterility within the sterile field. During critical periods of a procedure, the operating physician may need to maintain both hands on medical instruments, e.g., catheters, guidewires, etc. The requirement of sterility may limit the number and type of medical information systems with which the operating physician can interact. The sterility requirement may also limit the interactivity of the medical information systems by requiring sterile bagging procedures. The requirement of maintaining both hands on medical instruments during critical periods of the procedure may preclude or interfere with the ability of personnel to use conventional medical information system interfaces.


Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods for preparing high optical density solutions of nanoplates, such as silver nanoplates or silver platelet nanoparticles, and to nanoparticles, solutions and substrates prepared by said methods. The process can include the addition of stabilizing agents (e.g., chemical or biological agents bound or otherwise linked to the nanoparticle surface) that stabilize the nanoparticle before, during, and/or after concentration, thereby allowing for the production of a stable, high optical density solution of silver nanoplates. The process can also include increasing the concentration of silver nanoplates within the solution, and thus increasing the solution optical density.

1. Field of the Invention
Various embodiments of the invention relate to methods for preparing high optical density solutions of silver platelet nanoparticles (e.g., nanoplates) and to nanoparticles, solutions and substrates prepared by said methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nanoparticles, including nanospheres, nanorods, nanowires, nanocubes, nanoplates, as well as other shapes can be synthesized from a range of materials. Nanoparticles made from metals including gold and silver have unique optical properties which can be tuned to interact with light throughout the electromagnetic spectrum due to the localized surface plasmon resonance supported by these nanomaterials. Technologies that take advantage of the unique optical properties of silver nanoparticles, (e.g., such as silver nanoplates), include, but are not limited to, diagnostic, photonic, medical, and obscurant technologies. A subset of these technologies including photothermal tumor ablation, hair removal, acne treatment, wound healing, and antimicrobial applications among others, may use solutions of nanoparticles with high optical densities. Silver platelet nanoparticles, which are also known as silver nanoplates or silver nanoprisms, are of particular interest for technologies that utilize nanoparticle optical properties due to their tunable spectral peaks and extremely high optical efficiencies. While methods to fabricate silver platelet nanoparticles via photoconversion (Jin et al. 2001; Jin et al. 2003), pH-controlled photoconversion (Xue 2007), thermal growth (Hao et al. 2004; Hao 2002; He 2008; Metraux 2005), templated growth (Hao et al. 2004; Hao 2002), and seed mediated growth (Aherne 2008; Chen; Carroll 2003; Chen; Carroll 2002, 2004; Chen et al. 2002; He 2008; Le Guevel 2009; Xiong et al. 2007) have been developed, these methods generate relatively dilute solutions with correspondingly low visible and near-infrared optical densities, (e.g., such as optical densities of less than 10 cm−1, such as 1-9 cm−1, 5-10 cm−1).

Silver nanoplate compositions and methods


A data processing apparatus and an external storage apparatus arranged to transmit data by using serial signals and capable of reducing the number of signal lines for use to transmit serial data. A CLK line, a control line and a DT line are arranged between a data processing apparatus and a memory card. The DT line is a line through which data and commands formed into serial signals are bidirectionally transmitted. A synchronizing signal is transmitted to the CLK line. A control signal is supplied from the data processing apparatus to the memory card through the control line. In a period of time in which the signal level of the control signal is a high level, data or a command is transmitted to the DT line. In a period of time in which the signal level of the control signal is a low level, a status signal is transmitted to the DT line from the memory card.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus, a data processing system and a data transmitting method for communicating data to an external storage apparatus by using a serial interface, and to an external storage apparatus adaptable to the data processing apparatus, the data processing system and the data transmitting method.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, a data processing apparatus, to which a memory card including a storage medium, such as a flush memory, is connected, has been known. A conventional data processing apparatus of the foregoing type and a memory card arranged to be connected to the data processing apparatus will now be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a data processing apparatus 100 includes a data processing block 101, a register 102, a host side serial interface circuit 103 and a host side controller 104. The memory card 110 includes a memory 111, a register 112, a card side serial interface circuit 113 and a card side controller 114.
The data processing block 101 of the data processing apparatus 100 reads data stored on the memory card 110 to subject read data to a variety of processes. Moreover, the data processing block 101 performs the variety of the data processes to generate data which will be written on the memory card 110. That is, the data processing block 101 serves as a data processing circuit for a variety of apparatuses of a type which uses the memory card 110.
The register 102 is a buffer between the data processing block 101 and the host side serial interface circuit 103. That is, when data is supplied from the data processing block 101 to the host side serial interface circuit 103, the data processing apparatus 100 temporarily stores data on the register 102, and then supplies data to the host side serial interface circuit 103. Similarly, the data processing apparatus 100 temporarily stores data in the register 102, and then supplies data to the data processing block 101 when data is supplied from the host side serial interface circuit 103 to the data processing block 101.
The host side serial interface circuit 103 converts data supplied from the data processing block 101 through the register 102 and a command supplied from the card side controller 114 into serial signals so as to supply the serial signals to the memory card 110. Moreover, the host side serial interface circuit 103 converts data of the serial signal and the command supplied from the memory card 110 into parallel signals so as to supply the parallel signals to the data processing block 101 and the card side controller 114.
The host side serial interface circuit 103 supplies a synchronizing signal (CLK) of data and the command and a chip-selection signal (CS) to the memory card 110. The host side serial interface circuit 103 acquires a busy signal (BUSY) and an interrupt signal (INTERRUPT) supplied from the memory card 110.
The host side controller 104 controls the data processing operation which is performed by the data processing block 101 and a data transmitting operation which is performed by the host side serial interface circuit 103. The host side controller 104 supplies a command, which is a control command for the memory card 110, to the memory card 110 through the register 112.
On the other hand, the memory 111 of the memory card 110 includes, for example, a flush memory, on which data supplied from the data processing block 101 is stored.
The register 112 is a buffer between the memory 111 and the card side serial interface circuit 113. That is, the memory card 110 temporarily stores data on the register 102, and then supplies data, which must be written, to the memory 111 when data supplied from the data processing apparatus 100 is written on the memory 111. Similarly, the memory card 110 temporarily stores data on the register 102, and then supplies data, which must be read, to the card side serial interface circuit 113 when the data processing apparatus 100 reads data from the memory 111. That is, the register 112 is a circuit having a function to serve as a page buffer for the flush memory.
The card side serial interface circuit 113 is controlled by the card side controller 114 in such a manner as to convert data of the parallel signal supplied from the memory 111 and the command supplied from the card side controller 114 into serial signals so as to supply the serial signals to the data processing apparatus 100. The card side serial interface circuit 113 converts data of the serial signal and the command supplied from the data processing apparatus 100 into parallel signals so as to supply the parallel signals to the memory 111 and the card side controller 114.
The card side serial interface circuit 113 acquires the synchronizing signal (CLK) of data and the command and the chip-selection signal (CS) from the data processing apparatus 100. The card side serial interface circuit 113 supplies the busy signal (BUSY) and the interrupt signal (INTERRUPT) to the data processing apparatus 100.
The card side controller 114 controls data storage, reading and erasing operations which are performed by the memory 111 in accordance with a command or the like supplied from the data processing apparatus 100. The card side controller 114 controls the data transmitting operation which is performed by the card side serial interface circuit 113. The host side controller 104 acquires, from the memory card 110, the busy signal and the interrupt signal which serve as status signals for the memory card 110.
An operation for transmitting data between the data processing apparatus 100 and the memory card 110 is performed through a transmission line arranged between the host side serial interface circuit 103 and the card side serial interface circuit 113.
Between the card side serial interface circuit 113 of the data processing apparatus 100 and the card side serial interface circuit 113 of the memory card 110, there are arranged five signal lines consisting of a CLK line, a CS line, a DT line, a BUSY line and an INT line.
The DT line is supplied with main data, that is, data processed by the data processing block 101 so as to be written on the memory 111 and data which must be written from the memory 111 so as to be supplied to the data processing block 101. Moreover, a command which is supplied from the data processing apparatus 100 to the memory card 110 and which serves as a control command and a command which is supplied from the memory card 110 to the data processing apparatus 100 are transmitted to the DT line. That is, main data and the command formed into serial signals are bidirectionally transmitted to the DT line.
A synchronizing signal of main data and the commands which are transmitted to the DT line is supplied from the data processing apparatus 100 to the memory card 110 through the CLK line.
The so-called chip select signal is supplied from the data processing apparatus 100 to the memory card 110 through the CS line. In a period of time in which the level of the chip select signal is high, a fact is indicated that main data, the commands and the synchronizing signals are effective.
The busy signal indicating that the memory card 110 is performing a process is transmitted to the BUSY line. When the memory card 110 is performing, for example, a writing process and an access which is made from the data processing apparatus 100 is inhibited, the busy signal is supplied from the memory card 110 to the data processing apparatus 100.
The interrupt signal indicating an interruption from the memory card 110 to the data processing apparatus 100 is supplied from the memory card 110 to the data processing apparatus 100 through the INT line.
The variety of the signals are transmitted through the above-mentioned transmitting lines in accordance with a time chart arranged as shown in FIG. 2. With reference to the time chart shown in FIG. 2, a process for reading data stored in the memory card 110 will now be described.
At time t11, the data processing apparatus 100 supplies the chip select signal to the memory card 110 through the CS line. In addition to the chip select signal, the data processing apparatus 100 supplies the synchronizing signal through the CLK line. When the memory card 110 has acquired the chip select signal, the memory card 110 prepares for acquiring a command which will be supplied from the data processing apparatus 100. When the data processing apparatus 100 has supplied the chip select signal, the data processing apparatus 100 supplies a reading command and its address to the memory card 110 through the DT line.
After the data processing apparatus 100 has supplied the reading command and the like, the data processing apparatus 100 interrupts the operation for supplying the command and the synchronizing signal at time t12. After the memory card 110 has acquired the command, the memory card 110 supplies the busy signal to the data processing apparatus 100 in order to perform the control in accordance with the supplied command. That is, the memory card 110 performs control to read main data at an instructed address from the memory 111 so as to supply main data to the register 112. At this time, the data processing apparatus 100 does not interrupt supply of the chip select signal.
When the memory card 110 has read and supplied main data to the register 112, the memory card 110 interrupts supply of the busy signal at time t13. That is, the memory card 110 communicates, to the data processing apparatus 100, a ready state in which a preparation for transmitting main data has been completed.
After the data processing apparatus 100 has detected interruption of supply of the busy signal, the data processing apparatus 100 makes a determination that the control which is performed in accordance with the command supplied from the memory card 110 has been completed. Thus, the data processing apparatus 100 supplies a synchronizing signal to the memory card 110 at time t14. Then, the memory card 110 transmits main data to the data processing apparatus 100 through the DT line.
After the memory card 110 has completed transmission of main data, the data processing apparatus 100 interrupts supply of the synchronizing signal and the chip select signal at time t15.
If the reading process and the like have changed the internal state of the memory card 110, at time t16, the memory card 110 supplies the interrupt signal indicating interruption to the data processing apparatus 100 through the INT line. When the interrupt signal has been supplied to the data processing apparatus 100, the data processing apparatus 100 supplies a predetermined command and the chip select signal to the memory card 110 in order to acquire a cause of this interruption from the memory card 110.
As described above, the data processing apparatus 100 has the DT line for transmitting main data and the commands, the CLK line for supplying the synchronizing signal, the CS line for supplying the chip select signal, the BUSY line for acquiring the busy signal and the INT line for acquiring the interrupt signal so as to communicate data to and from the memory card 110.
When size reduction of the memory card 110 which is the external storage apparatus is attempted, the number of signal lines arranged between the data processing apparatus 100 and the memory card 110 must be reduced.
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a data processing apparatus, an external storage apparatus, a data processing system and an external storage apparatus for use in the data transmitting method arranged to transmit data by using serial signals and capable of reducing the number of signal lines for transmitting serial data.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing apparatus including: a serial signal I/O block for communicating data to an external storage apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a control signal for controlling transmitting timing of data which is transmitted by the serial signal I/O block; and a synchronizing signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by the serial signal I/O block, wherein the serial signal I/O block transmits data in a period of time in which the control signal output block supplies the control signal to the external storage apparatus and acquires a status signal indicating a state of the operation of the external storage apparatus from the external storage apparatus in a period of time in which the control signal is not supplied from the control signal output block to the external storage apparatus.
The data processing apparatus has the structure that the serial signal I/O block acquires a status signal from the external storage apparatus in a period of time in which the serial signal I/O block does not supply the control signal so as to transmit both of data and the status signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an external storage apparatus including: a serial signal I/O block for communicating data to a data processing apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal input block for acquiring, from the data processing apparatus, a control signal for controlling transmitting timing of data which is transmitted by the serial signal I/O block; and a synchronizing signal input block for acquiring, from the data processing apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by the serial signal I/O block, wherein the serial signal I/O block transmits data in a period of time in which the control signal input block is supplied with the control signal and transmits a status signal indicating a state of the operation of the external storage apparatus in a period of time in which the control signal input block is not supplied with the control signal.
The external storage apparatus has the structure that the serial signal I/O block supplies a status signal to the data processing apparatus in a period of time in which the control signal is not supplied so as to transmit both of data and the status signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing system including: data processing means incorporating a host side serial signal I/O block for communicating data by using serial signals, a control signal output block for transmitting a control signal for controlling transmitting timing of data which is transmitted by the host side serial signal I/O block and data processing means for supplying a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by the host side serial signal I/O block; and external storage means incorporating an external serial signal I/O block for communicating data to the host side serial signal I/O block of the data processing means, a control signal input block for acquiring the control signal and a synchronizing signal input block for acquiring the synchronizing signal, wherein the host side serial signal I/O block and the external serial signal I/O block communicate data in a period of time in which the control signal is supplied and the external serial signal I/O block supplies, to the host side serial signal I/O block, a status signal indicating a state of the operation of the external storage means in a period of time in which the control signal is not supplied to the control signal input block.
The data processing system has the structure that the external serial signal I/O block supplies the serial signal to the data processing means in a period of time in which the external serial signal I/O block is not supplied with the control signal and acquires the status signal from the external storage means in a period of time in which the host side serial signal I/O block does not supply the control signal so as to transmit both of data and the status signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data transmitting method for communicating data between a data processing apparatus and an external storage apparatus for the data processing apparatus, including the steps of: generating a control signal for controlling data transmission timing; transmitting data in response to the control signal generated by the data processing apparatus; and transmitting a status signal indicating a state of the operation of the external storage apparatus in a period of time in which data transmission which is performed in response to the control signal is not performed.
The data transmitting method has the structure that the status signal indicating a state of the operation of the external storage apparatus is transmitted in a period of time in which data is not transmitted in response to the control signal so as to be transmit both of data and the status signal by one transmitting means.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing apparatus including: a serial signal I/O block for communicating data to an external storage apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is transmitted by the serial signal I/O block is switched and supplying the control signal to the external storage apparatus; and a synchronizing signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by the serial signal I/O block, wherein the serial signal I/O block, in response to the control signal, switches the contents of data which is transmitted.
The data processing apparatus has the structure that the contents of data which is transmitted in response to the control signal are switched so that the serial signal I/O block transmits data of a plurality of contents. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an external storage apparatus including: a serial signal I/O block for communicating data to a data processing apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal input block for acquiring, from the data processing apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is transmitted by the serial signal I/O block is switched; and a synchronizing signal input block for acquiring, from the data processing apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by the serial signal I/O block, wherein the serial signal I/O block, in response to the control signal, switches the contents of data which is transmitted.
The external storage apparatus has the structure that the contents of data which is transmitted in response to the control signal are switched so that the serial signal I/O block transmits data of a plurality of contents. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing system including: data processing means incorporating a host side serial signal I/O block for transmitting data by using serial signals, a control signal output block for generating a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is transmitted by the host side serial signal I/O block is switched and a synchronizing signal output block for transmitting a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by the host side serial signal I/O block so that the data processing means processes data; and external storage means incorporating an external serial signal I/O block for communicating data to the host side serial signal I/O block, a control signal input block for acquiring the control signal transmitted from the control signal output block, and a synchronizing signal input block for acquiring the synchronizing signal transmitted from the synchronizing signal output block, the external storage means being connected to the data processing means so as to store data which is processed by the data processing means, wherein the host side serial signal I/O block and the external serial signal I/O block switch the contents of data which is transmitted in response to the control signal.
The data processing system has the structure that the contents of data which is transmitted in response to the control signal are switched so that the host side serial signal I/O block and the external serial signal I/O block transmit data of a plurality of contents.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data transmitting method including the steps of: causing the data processing apparatus and the external storage apparatus to communicate data by using serial signals; causing the data processing apparatus to generate a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is transmitted is switched and to transmit the control signal to the external storage apparatus; and causing the data processing apparatus and the external storage apparatus to switch the contents of data which is transmitted in response to the control signal.
The data transmitting method according to the present invention has the structure that the contents of data which is transmitted in response to the control signal are switched so that the data processing apparatus and the external storage apparatus transmit data of a plurality of contents by one transmitting means.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing apparatus including: a serial signal I/O block for performing data communication to an external storage apparatus; a control signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated to the serial signal I/O block is switched; and a synchronizing signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated by the serial signal I/O block. The serial signal I/O block performs, by using serial signals, at least transmitting, to an external storage apparatus, data of a control command for controlling the operation of the external storage apparatus, receiving a status signal indicating a state of the operation of the external storage apparatus from the external storage apparatus, transmitting, to the external storage apparatus, data which is written on the external storage apparatus and receiving data read from the external storage apparatus.
The control signal output block makes the signal level of the control signal which is supplied to the external storage apparatus to be a predetermined level in accordance with data which is communicated by the serial signal I/O block. When the serial signal I/O block is receiving the status signal, the serial signal I/O block makes a determination that the status signal is a ready signal indicating a fact that the external storage apparatus is in a state for waiting input of a signal in a case where the status signal is a signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles. In other cases, the serial signal I/O block makes a determination that the status signal is a busy signal indicating a fact that the external storage apparatus is in a state in which the external storage apparatus does not receive an input of a signal.
The data processing apparatus has the structure that the signal level of the control signal which is supplied to the external storage apparatus in accordance with data which is communicated by the serial signal I/O block is made to be a predetermined level. The data processing apparatus has the structure that a determination is made that the status signal is the ready signal if the received status signal is a signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles. In other case, a determination is made that the status signal is the busy signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an external storage apparatus, the operation of which is controlled in accordance with data of a control command supplied from a data processing apparatus, on which data is written and from which data is read by the data processing apparatus, the external storage apparatus including: a serial signal I/O block for communicating data to the data processing apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal input block for receiving, from the data processing apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated to the serial signal I/O block is switched; and a synchronizing signal input block for receiving, from the data processing apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated to the serial signal I/O block. The serial signal I/O block performs at least receiving data of a control command from the data processing apparatus, transmitting, to the data processing apparatus, a status signal indicating a state of the operation, receiving, from the data processing apparatus, data which is written thereon and transmitting, to the data processing apparatus, data which is read therefrom by using serial signals.
The serial signal I/O block switches the contents of data which is communicated in response to the control signal, and transmits, as a status signal, a ready signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles when the state of the serial signal I/O block has been changed from a state in which the serial signal I/O block does not receive input of a signal from the data processing apparatus to a state in which the serial signal I/O block waits for input of a signal. The serial signal I/O block transmits a busy signal having a constant signal level as a status signal or pauses output of a signal when the external storage apparatus is performing a process in accordance with data of a control command and the external storage apparatus is in a state in which the external storage apparatus does not receive input of a signal from the data processing apparatus, and pauses output of a signal when an error has been made during receipt of data of a control command.
The external storage apparatus according to the present invention switches data which is connected by the serial signal I/O block in response to the control signal supplied from the data processing apparatus. When the external storage apparatus has been changed from a state in which the external storage apparatus does not receive input of a signal from the data processing apparatus to a state in which the external storage apparatus waits for the input of a signal, the external storage apparatus transmits a ready signal as the status signal, the ready signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles. When the external storage apparatus performs a process in accordance with data of a control command and thus the external storage apparatus does not receive the input of a signal from the data processing apparatus, the external storage apparatus transmits, as the status signal, a busy signal having a constant signal level or pauses the output of a signal. When an error has been made in a period in which the external storage apparatus receives data of a control command, the external storage apparatus pauses the output of a signal.
According to the present invention, there is provided a data processing system for communicating data between a data processing apparatus and an external storage apparatus.
In the data processing system, the data processing apparatus incorporates a host side serial signal I/O block for communicating data to the external storage apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated by the host side serial signal I/O block is switched; and a synchronizing signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated by the host side serial signal I/O block. The host side serial signal I/O block performs at least transmitting data of a control command for controlling the operation of the external storage apparatus, receiving a status signal indicating a state of the operation of the external storage apparatus, transmitting data which is written on the external storage apparatus and receiving data which is read from the external storage apparatus by using serial signals.
On the other hand, the external storage apparatus incorporates an external serial signal I/O block for communicating data to the data processing apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal input block for receiving, from the data processing apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated by the external serial signal I/O block is switched; and a synchronizing signal input block for receiving, from the data processing apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated by the external serial signal I/O block. The external serial signal I/O block performs at least receiving data of the control command, transmitting the status signal, receiving data which is written thereon and transmitting data which is read therefrom to and from the data processing apparatus by using serial signals.
The control signal output block of the data processing system makes the signal level of the control signal to be a predetermined level in accordance with data which is communicated between the host side serial signal I/O block and the external serial signal I/O block. When the state of the external serial signal I/O block has been changed from a state in which the external serial signal I/O block does not receive input of a signal from the data processing apparatus to a state in which the external serial signal I/O block waits for input of a signal, the external serial signal I/O block transmits, as a status signal, a ready signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles. The external serial signal I/O block transmits a busy signal having a constant signal level as a status signal or pauses output of a signal when the external storage apparatus is performing a process in accordance with data of a control command and the external storage apparatus is in a state in which the external storage apparatus does not receive input of a signal from the data processing apparatus, and pauses output of a signal when an error has been made during receipt of data of a control command.
The data processing system has the structure that the signal level of the control signal which is supplied to the external storage apparatus is made to be a predetermined level in accordance with data which is communicated between the host side serial signal I/O block and the external serial signal I/O block. When the external storage apparatus has been changed from a state in which the external storage apparatus does not receive the input of a signal to a state in which the external storage apparatus waits for the input of a signal, the ready signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles is transmitted from the external storage apparatus. When the external storage apparatus is performing a process in accordance with data of the control command and thus the external storage apparatus does not receive the input of a signal, the busy signal having a constant signal level is transmitted as the status signal from the external serial signal I/O block or the output of a signal from the external serial signal I/O block is paused. If an error is made when the external storage apparatus has received data of a control command, the output of a signal from the external serial signal I/O block is paused.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data transmitting method for communicating data between a data processing apparatus and an external storage apparatus.
In the data transmitting method according to the present invention, the data processing apparatus incorporates a host side serial signal I/O block for communicating data to the external storage apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated by the host side serial signal I/O block is switched, and a synchronizing signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated by the host side serial signal I/O block. The host side serial signal I/O block performs at least transmitting data of a control command for controlling the operation of the external storage apparatus, receiving a status signal indicating a state of the operation of the external storage apparatus, transmitting data which is written on the external storage apparatus and receiving data which is read from the external storage apparatus by using serial signals.
On the other hand, the external storage apparatus incorporates an external serial signal I/O block for communicating data to the data processing apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal input block for receiving, from the data processing apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated by the external serial signal I/O block is switched; and a synchronizing signal input block for receiving, from the data processing apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated by the external serial signal I/O block. The external serial signal I/O block performs at least receiving data of the control command, transmitting the status signal, receiving data which is written thereon and transmitting data which is read therefrom to and from the data processing apparatus by using serial signals.
The data transmitting method includes the steps of: making the signal level of the control signal which is transmitted from the control signal output block to be a predetermined level in accordance with data which is communicated between the host side serial signal I/O block and the external serial signal I/O block. When the state of the external serial signal I/O block has been changed from a state in which the external serial signal I/O block does not receive input of a signal from the data processing apparatus to a state in which the external serial signal I/O block waits for input of a signal, a ready signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles is transmitted from the external storage apparatus. When the external storage apparatus is performing a process in accordance with data of a control command and the external storage apparatus is in a state in which the external storage apparatus does not receive input of a signal from the data processing apparatus, a busy signal having a predetermined signal level is, as a status signal, transmitted from the external serial signal I/O block or the output of a signal from the external serial signal I/O block is paused. If an error is made when the external serial signal I/O block receives data of a control command, output of a signal from the external serial signal I/O block is paused.
The data transmitting method has the structure that the signal level of the control signal which is supplied to the external storage apparatus in accordance with data which is communicated between the host side serial signal I/O block and the external serial signal I/O block is made to be predetermined level. When the external storage apparatus has been changed from a state in which it does not receive supply of a signal from the data processing apparatus to a state in which the external storage apparatus waits for the supply of a signal, a ready signal having a signal level which is changed at predetermined cycles is transmitted from the external storage apparatus. When the external storage apparatus is in a state in which it is performing a process in accordance with data of a control command and thus it does not receive supply of a signal from the data processing apparatus, a busy signal having a constant signal level is, as a status signal, transmitted from the external serial signal I/O block or transmission of a signal from the external serial signal I/O block is interrupted. If an error is made when data of a control command is received by the external serial signal I/O block, transmission of a signal from the external serial signal I/O block is interrupted.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments described in conjunction with the attached drawings.

Data processing apparatus, external storage apparatus, data processing system and data transmitting method


An interlocking disc spring assembly includes a plurality of alternating interlocking first conically-shaped disc springs and second conically-shaped disc springs. The first disc spring includes a first radial inner portion and a first radial outer portion. The first radial inner portion defines a first opening therethrough and includes an upwardly-extending portion spaced from the first opening. The first radial outer portion includes a downwardly-depending portion. The second disc spring has a second radial inner portion and a second radial outer portion. The second radial inner portion defines a second opening therethrough and includes a downwardly-depending portion. The second radial outer portion of the second disc spring is receivable within the downwardly-depending portion of the first radial outer portion of the first disc spring when the first disc spring is stacked on the second disc spring. The downwardly-depending portion of the second radial inner portion of the second disc spring is receivable within the upwardly-extending portion of the first radial inner portion of the first disc spring when the second disc spring is stacked on the first disc spring. In another embodiment, an adjustable spacer may connect the inner portions of adjacent interlocking disc springs.

Disc springs, sometimes referred to as Belleville washers, are conical shaped washers which are designed to be loaded in an axial direction. Under high loads disc springs produce small deflections, as compared with other types of springs such as helical or coil springs.
Variable spring characteristics can be achieved by stacking a plurality of disc springs. A problem with stacking a plurality of disc springs is the need to maintain the plurality of disc springs in the stack when a force is applied axially on the stack.
There is a need for further disc spring configurations and adjustable disc spring assembly configurations.

Interlocking disc spring assemblies and adjustable interlocking disc spring assemblies


A light-emitting material includes a matrix section 12 and light-emitting sections 11 dispersed and buried in the matrix section. The matrix section 12 comprises a first material and the light-emitting sections comprise a second material showing a eutectic relationship with the first material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a light-emitting material containing a nano-phosphor, a light-emitting element using the same and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Related Background Art
Flat panel displays (FPD) realized by using phosphor thin films and phosphor powders having a light-emitting effect have been and are attracting attention. Flat panel displays include plasma displays (PDP), field emission displays (FED) and, electro-luminescent displays (ELD). Such phosphors that are used for displays of a specific type are required to match the characteristic features of the displays.
Phosphors that have been prepared are conventionally produced by adding one or more than one transition metals and/or one or more than one rare earth elements as luminescent center to oxides or sulfides as matrix. Examples of known phosphors for inorganic EL include ZnS:Mn, SrS:Ce,Eu, CaS:Eu, ZnS:Tb,F, CaS:Ce, SrS:Ce, CaGa2S4:Ce, BaAl2S4:Eu, Ga3O3:Eu, Y2O3:Eu, Zn2SiO4:Mn and ZnGa2O4:Mn. Examples of other phosphors that have been prepared include Y2O2S:Eu3+, Gd2O2S:Eu3+, YVO4:Eu3+, Y2O2S:Eu,Sm, SrTiO3:Pr, BaSi2Al2O8:Eu2+, BaMg2Al16O27:Eu2+, Y0.65Gd0.35BO3:Eu3+, La2O2S:Eu3+,Sm, Ba2SiO4:Eu2+, Zn(Ga,Al)2O4:Mn, Y3(Al,Ga)5O12:Tb, Y2SiO5:Tb, ZnS:Cu, Zn2SiO4:Mn, BaAl2Si2O8:Eu2+, BaMgAl14O23:Eu2+, Y2SiO5:Ce and ZnGa2O4:Mn.
Inorganic EL displays are among the displays that are attracting attention because polycrystalline inorganic phosphors can be used for them to provide a large display area with relative ease and they show an enhanced durability in the operating environment. Efforts for developing full color EL displays that utilize in organic EL have been paid in recent years although no highly efficient phosphor showing a high degree of color purity and a high luminance level has so far been obtained. Therefore, it is indispensable to develop a high performance phosphor in order to realize a full color inorganic EL display.
Meanwhile, the light-emitting characteristics of very small particles of semiconductors such as Si, Ge and II-VI compounds having a diameter not greater than tens of several nanometers that are attributable to the quantum size effect have been made clear in recent years. The quantum size effect is believed to be derived from the fact that very fine particles of semiconductors with nano-crystal structure have a band gap greater than that of bulk semiconductors. As a remarkable example, it has been observed that light emitted from CdSe semiconductor fine particles tends to show a shorter wavelength as the particle diameter is reduced. Additionally, light emitted from semiconductor fine particles shows a high luminance level because their light-emitting life is very short and not longer than 10 ns and light is absorbed and radiated in a very short period of time.
Very fine particles of semiconductors as described above can be produced in an aqueous solution (Journal of Physical Chemistry, B, Vol. 102, p. 8,360 (1998)). A technique for fixing very fine particles of a semiconductor generated in an aqueous solution to a solid matrix of a polymer has been proposed (Advanced Material, vol. 12, p. 1,103 (2000)). However, since polymers are poorly resistant to light and heat, the very fine particles fixed to polymers may easily become degraded.

Light-emitting material and light-emitting element


The invention makes the size of the apparent image of the display screen of the display screen larger than the real size. A flat optical magnifier such as a lens of the fresnel type is positioned in an optically enhancing location between the operator and the display screen so that the apparent image at the operator side of the magnifier is greater than the actual image that is present on the display screen. A mechanism is provided for a notebook type portable computer that is passive to a user, folds into the case when the display screen closes over the keyboard and positions a fresnel lens, coplanar with and at a fixed distance from the display screen, when the notebook computer is opened and remains at that fixed distance as the display screen moves to maximum travel.

In the development of computers, particularly of the types known in the art as laptop or notebooks efforts have been directed to providing as much computational capability as possible in as small and as light weight a package. The most efficient and physically rugged universal package that has evolved in the art is one in which the display screen portion is hinged on the portion of the keyboard away from the user; so that it can be positioned essentially vertical with respect to the keyboard when in use and can be folded down over the keyboard when not in use. With such a structure the area of the display screen is limited by the area dimensions of the overall package so that efficient use of every portion of the display screen will be taking on increasing importance.
Around the periphery of the display screen there is a border that takes up some of the area. Efforts to minimize the area occupied by the border around the display screen are somewhat limited in flexibility by the many stringent considerations associated with the liquid crystal display (LCD) technology employed in the display screens in these types of computers.
A developing problem in the portable computer art is that progress in display screens of the LCD type is approaching the point where the size of a quality display screen can become greater than the size usually considered for a portable computer. It will be of advantage in this art to be able to take advantage of size progress as it becomes available.

Self deploying magnifier for a portable computer display screen

International Business Machines Corporation


A novel and improved method for relieving hydrophobicity of peat moss, bark and rockwool used in horticultural media for plant propagation using an effective level of a composition consisting of certain copolymerized alkane oxides is described. A more effective method of delivering these materials based on a composition of hydrous, amorphous silica using the compositions of the present invention is described.

Products normally used in the production of soiless mixes for greenhouse crop production are often water repellent (hydrophobic) in nature. The hydrophobic surface chemistry of these materials, particularly those from organic sources, is somewhat peculiar and does not relate well to other surfaces. Such components as sphagnum peat moss, hypnum peat moss, reed-sedge peat, composted bark and rockwool which are used in such growing mixes to increase their water holding capacity often become very difficult to wet defeating the purpose for which they were originally intended. The difficulty in wetting increases as the mix dries out normally in storage after preparation or when used to pre-fill pots and flats by the grower and stored for some time before use. This situation presents many problems to the grower as getting the mix evenly wetted is of paramount importance to the healthy growth of the plants or seeds which are grown in the mix. Without water the plants will die.
A possible answer to this problem is to add an appropriate surfactant to the mix to reduce surface tension between the applied water and the hydrophobic mix components. The use of materials currently in commerce is not entirely satisfactory. Relatively high rates of these materials are required to get good wetting properties of the mix and at such rates can be injurious to crop growth. Furthermore, the conventional dry formulations of these materials based on corn cob grits and vermiculite do not work well as the surfactant must first be dissolved from these carriers and bind to the hydrophobic surfaces of the peat, rockwool or bark before they become activated. Consequently, several waterings are normally required before they become active. Furthermore there is an environmental concern as the described compounds contain nonyl-phenol ethoxylates or other mono or di-alkyl phenol ethoxylates. The conjenors of such compounds are known to bioaccumulate in the biosphere with deleterious effects on fresh water crustaceans and their use has been banned in many countries.
The majority of the surfactants currently discovered and developed have been designed to give fast wetting as they are used as cleansers, soaps and detergents. The problem with greenhouse mixes is that fast wetting is not necessarily desirable as they would have to be applied with each watering. What is more desirable is rewetting of the peat or other substances following treatment with a surfactant giving residual activity.
Unfortunately many such surfactants can also have biological activity. They can, in fact, be detrimental to plant growth and many are actually fatal and can act as herbicides. Others have other biological activity and can cause death of insects. Many of these compounds we have previously tested were found to interfere with seedling growth. I have shown earlier that such materials act by disrupting membrane integrity as the hydrophobe bonds to the phospholipid Membrane of the cell wall. Others can act as plant growth regulators and while their use may be beneficial in achieving certain results they cause undesirable effects in greenhouse crop production.
Furthermore, if the selected surfactant is to remain active in the mix beyond the initial watering it is desirable that the hydrophobe of the surfactant bond tightly to the hydrophobic mix component and not leach out when plants are repeatedly watered.
In addition, it is highly desirable that such a surfactant be compatible with fertilizers and other water soluble chemical charge stocks used in preparation of the final horticultural mix.
Although such materials may be applied as a liquid it is also desirable that they may be presented in a dry formulation for ease of application and use by the grower. This creates an additional problem in that most carriers commonly used such as vermiculite, corn cob grits, clay and so forth also absorb the surfactant or tightly bind them to their surfaces making it necessary for the surfactant to first be dissolved from the carrier before it can become active.
Although there are over 4000 surfactants currently in commercial use the discovery of such a surfactant for use in soiless mixes such as root media is therefore not a trivial problem as it must meet certain specific and difficult criteria, namely:
(1) Be compatible with the surface chemistry of peat, rockwool and bark,
(2) Safe for plant growth, particularly seed germination and seedling growth,
(3) Bind tightly to mix components so that it is not leached from the matrix following watering and have residual activity for a full normal cropping season.
(4) Give not only fast initial wetting but also and more importantly rewetting after application to the mix components,
(5) Be compatible with fertilizers and other chemical components and
(6) Have ease of application and be effective in both a liquid and solid formulation.
Surprisingly we have found that certain surfactants belonging to the general class of polyoxyalkylenes meet conditions 1, 2, 3 and 4 and that specific formulations of some members of this class meet conditions 5 and 6. Furthermore, these materials are superior in all six respects to known products used for this utility and which are now commercially available.
Surfactants of this type are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,764,567, 3,086,118, 2,677,700 and 2,674,619. These patents teach us the preparation and use of such materials as surface active agents for use as cleansers and detergents and as wetting agents in the textile, rubber, paper, lacquer, leather and like industries but no mention is made of their use in soils or soiless horticultural media nor in their interaction with living organisms nor for general applications in the Agricultural or Horticultural industries. Furthermore, despite the age of these patents their use for such utilities is unknown.
To date, no correlation has been shown between a chemical structure of a particular class of surfactants and its phytotoxicity (in this case crop safety) to seed germination and plant growth. Indeed the converse is true with most surfactants known to be injurious to plants. This is not surprising as surfactants in general because of their solubilizing and dispersing nature will dissolve plant cuticles, interfere with plant membranes and generally disrupt membrane integrity in tender plant tissue as their hydrophobes will bond to such lipophyllic organs found in plants such as emerging roots, root hairs, radicles and hypocotyls. The discovery of such surfactants which will maintain good wetting properties in the surrounding media without interfering with plant growth is therefore surprising and unusual.

Method for decreasing hydrophobicity of peat, bark and rockwool in soilless mixes used for plant growth, promoting easier, faster and more even watering of such mixes without plant injury and providing activity for future watering


A product including a cryogenic container and an acoustic sensor positioned to sense the resonant frequency of the container and any liquid contents therein.

Cryogenic containers have unique insulation requirements and are commonly used for very low temperature storage. Some vehicle fuel cells use cryogenic containers to store fuel in fluid form at very low temperatures. Measuring the fluid level inside of a cryogenic container can be difficult as both the containers and their contents pose special challenges.


The invention provides novel colored toner and developer compositions containing polymeric colorants. Such compositions may contain poly(oxyalkylene) or poly(alkylester) substituted color chromophores which are attached to relatively long chained ologomers. The color toner and developer compositions of the invention resist color bleeding and aggregation, and may retain their color fidelity over extended time periods. Such color toner compositions are useful in color imaging systems. The invention provides novel compositions that can readily be formulated and manufactured using the polymeric or oligomeric colorants. The toners of the invention may contain charge control agents, thermoplastic resins, colorants, and additives.

Images may be formed on the surface of photoconductive materials by electrostatic processes. The electrophotographic imaging process involves producing a uniform electrostatic charge on a photoconductor, exposing it to a light and shadow image to dissipate the charge on the area, and then developing the resulting electrostatic latent image by depositing a finely divided electroscopic toner material. The toner material, or "toner" is electrically attracted to those areas of the photoreceptor which retain a charge, thereby forming a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image. The developed image would then be transferred to a substrate such as paper, and permanently affixed to the substrate by heat, pressure, solvent or over-coating treatment. In the case of obtaining a multicolor image, such as making a colored photocopy, an original is first subjected to exposure through a color separation filter, and the process is then repeated by the use of color toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, thereby forming a color image.
Toner materials may consist of binder resins, waxes or polyolefins, charge control agents, flow agents, pigments and/or dyes, and other additives. In a system in which a two-component developer is used, the toner particles may be employed in a mixture with solid carrier particles such as glass beads, iron powder or ferrite powder. The composition of toner and carrier is selected so that as a result of contact friction, the toner may experience a polarity reversal with respect to charge on the photoconductor layer. As a result of contact friction, the carrier electrostatically (triboelectrically) attracts the toner to its particle surfaces. This results in the transport of toner through a developing assembly and the feeding of the toner upon the photoconductive layer.
Dyes and pigments are suitable for some color toner applications. Such dyes and pigments may include organic dyes and pigments having relatively high tinting strength, good transparency, good thermal stability, and acceptable resin compatibility. Pigments may include: quinacridone, lithol rubine, rhodamine pigments for magenta, phthalocyanine blue pigments for cyan, and diarylide yellow pigments for yellow, among others.
There are problems and drawbacks when using pigments in toners. For example, a toner comprising an organic pigment that is insoluble in the resin may cause an undesirable decrease in the transparency or hue variation in the color of transmitted light. Improvements have been made to address this problem, including processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,153,345 and 5,437,949. However, the use of pigments in toners to achieve color reproductions continues to represent a significant challenge in the toner manufacturing industry.
One advantage of selecting organic dyes instead of pigments for color toners is that dyes may exhibit increased color fidelity. This may be due to the degree to which the dyes may be molecularly dispersed in a binder resin. To obtain a homogeneous dispersion, it may be necessary to build into such molecules substituting groups for enhancing compatibility with the resin. Unless the dye molecules are substantially fully compatible with the resins, these molecules may have a tendency to aggregate over time when subjected to heat, pressure and humidity. This may result in a loss of color fidelity. The low molecular weight of the dye molecules may cause high mobility of the dyes in the resin, resulting in undesirable bleeding of the dyes. Thus, the use of dyes in toner applications also may provide drawbacks and disadvantages.
There is continuing long felt need in the industry for toner compositions and toner processes that are capable of achieving a balance of relatively high resolution, low cost, reduced environmental risk, low levels of migration, reduced levels of bleeding, and more environmentally sound manufacturing processes. This invention addresses these needs in the industry.

Color toner and developer compositions and processes for making and using such compositions


A system and method for replacing a sealing arrangement of a grid coupling without removing or disturbing a mechanical connection of the coupling with driver and driven shafts connected to the coupling includes providing combined seal members having gasket seal portions that are integrally formed with radial seal portions and that are disposed between portions of the housing and the rotating seal group of the grid coupling.

Grid couplings are a known type of coupling used in applications such as rock and aggregate conveyors where both high torque levels and damping requirements are desired. Unlike other known coupling types, for example gear and disc couplings, grid couplings are uniquely configured to reduce vibration by as much as 30%, and to cushion shock loads, which protects and extends the life of driving and driven power transmission equipment.
A typical grid coupling includes two hubs, each having a series of teeth, which are installed in opposing relation. A grid spring element is meshed between the teeth to mechanically interconnect the two hubs. A cover, hereafter referred to as housing, is disposed around the grid spring to protect against contamination by debris and to enclose a lubricant that is used to lubricate the interfaces between the grid spring and the teeth.
One of the biggest, if not the biggest, limitation of grid couplings is their limited ability to accommodate misalignment. While great at damping vibration, grid couplings are not especially well configured to operate in the presence of parallel shaft misalignment that is more than a minimal angle, for example, about 0.5 degrees. Additionally, grid couplings require periodic cleaning and reapplication of lubrication, and replacement of seals and housing gaskets, which typically requires disassembly of the coupling and a laborious process to realign the coupling during reinstallation. For example, radial or O-ring seals disposed to seal a neck of each hub to the housing require removal of the hub for installation insofar as the seal is not sufficiently large to stretch over the teeth of the hub, which may also cut or otherwise damage the new seal during installation, and must be installed from the external end of the hub relative to the coupling. Reinstallation of the hubs onto the rotating shafts requires a careful realignment such that the parallel and angular shaft misalignment is within specifications, and is an especially time consuming process when a heated interference fit is used to couple the hubs onto the rotatable shafts.


A measurement section (1) performs a mass spectrometric analysis for each micro area within a measurement area on a sample. A dimension reduction processor (23) performs data processing by non-linear dimension reduction using manifold learning on mass spectrometric data for each micro area, to obtain, for each micro area, a set of data reduced to three dimensions from the dimensions corresponding to the number of mass-to-charge-ratio values. A display color determiner (24) determines a color for each of the points corresponding to the data of the micro areas after the dimension reduction, by arranging those points within a three-dimensional space having three axes representing the three dimensions, with three primary colors respectively assigned to the three axes. A segmentation image creator (25) creates a segmentation image corresponding to the measurement area or a partial area in the measurement area, by arranging, on two dimensions, pixels which respectively correspond to the points within the three-dimensional space, where each pixel has a color given to the point corresponding to the pixel and is located according to the position within the measurement area of the micro area corresponding to the point.

An imaging mass spectrometer disclosed in Patent Literature 1 or other related documents includes an ion source employing a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization method. This type of mass spectrometer allows a user to observe the morphology of the surface of a section of biological tissue or similar type of sample through an optical microscope, and collects mass spectrum data over a predetermined range of mass-to-charge ratios (strictly speaking, this should be called "m/z", although the term "mass-to-charge ratio" is used in this description according to common practices) for each of the micro areas which are set within a desired two-dimensional area on the sample. In another commonly known method for imaging mass spectrometry, as disclosed in Patent Literature 2 or other related documents, a sample collection method called "laser microdissection" is used to cut out a piece of sample from each of the micro areas which are set within a desired two-dimensional area on a target sample. A liquid sample is prepared from each piece of the target sample and supplied to a mass spectrometer to obtain mass spectrum data for each micro area.
In any case, an imaging mass spectrometer extracts, for example, the signal intensity value at the mass-to-charge ratio of an ion originating from a specific compound from mass spectrum data acquired for each micro area on a sample this type of data may hereinafter be called "MS imaging data"), and creates an image in which the extracted signal intensity values are arranged at the corresponding micro areas on the sample, to obtain an image showing the state of distribution of the specific compound (this type of image is hereinafter called "MS imaging graphic").
When the compound to be analyzed is previously known, or when the mass of the molecule of interest is previously known while the compound itself is unknown, it is possible to allow a user to specify the value of the mass-to-charge ratio corresponding to that compound or molecule, as described earlier, and display an MS imaging graphic which is of interest for the user. If the "similar image extraction" function provided in the mass spectrometry imaging data analysis software disclosed in Non Patent Literature 1 is used, it is possible, for example, to automatically search for a mass-to-charge ratio whose distribution is similar to the intensity distribution in the image of interest (i.e., an image previously acquired by a different imaging technique, such as a dye image or fluorescent image; or an MS imaging graphic previously acquired at a certain mass-to-charge ratio), as well as create and display an MS imaging graphic at that mass-to-charge ratio.
On the other hand, when the compound to be focused on is unknown or indeterminable, or when an image which should be referred to in the automatic search for the compound has not been obtained, it is necessary, for example, for an operator (user) to visually search MS imaging graphics for an image which draws the operator's interest. In normal cases, however, there are a considerable number of MS imaging graphics. It requires an extreme amount of time and labor for the operator to visually check each of those graphics. Furthermore, even when a considerable amount of task and labor is spent for such a task, omissions cannot be completely eliminated. Therefore, it is difficult to ensure a sufficient level of reliability of the analysis.
To address such a problem, the "image classification" function provided in the mass spectrometry imaging data analysis software disclosed in Non Patent Literature 1 can be used to classify a large number of MS imaging graphics into a plurality of clusters (groups). With such an automatic image classification, the software can provide the user with an average image for each cluster and information related to the mass-to-charge-ratio values included in that cluster. The user can refer to those items of information to find a cluster which draws the user's interest, and conduct a detailed search of the images in that cluster. Such a function reduces, to a certain extent, the workload on the user searching for an image.

Imaging mass spectrometer and method for imaging mass spectrometry


A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising transmitting ions and obtaining first mass spectral data and automatically determining during an acquisition whether the first mass spectral data suffers from saturation or is approaching saturation. If a determination is made during an acquisition that the first mass spectral data suffers from saturation or is approaching saturation then the method further comprises automatically changing or altering the intensity of ions which are detected by an ion detector and obtaining second mass spectral data. The method further comprises substituting one or more portions of the first mass spectral data with one or more corresponding portions of the second mass spectral data multiplied or scaled by an attenuation or scale factor and/or by an integer or other value so as to form a composite mass spectrum, wherein the composite mass spectrum comprises one or more ion peaks from the first mass spectral data and one or more ion peaks from the second mass spectral data.

The present invention relates to a method of mass spectrometry and a mass spectrometer. The preferred embodiment relates to a system for and method of acquiring mass spectral data and relates to extending the dynamic range of a mass spectrometer.
There are two main types of digitiser detection systems which are used in conjunction with Time of Flight mass spectrometers namely Analogue to Digital ("ADC") and Time to Digital ("TDC") detector systems.
In a TDC based detector system only the arrival time of an ion is recorded. Multiple ion arrivals at substantially the same time are not recorded. In a TDC based system there is a dead-time associated with the analogue peak width of arriving ions which limits the ion flux of a species that may be counted/corrected for without leading to errors in both intensity and temporal measurement.
In an ADC based detector system the analogue signal from an ion detector is digitised and signals arising from multiple ion arrivals are recorded. However, the digitiser has a limited number of bits available. For example, an 8 bit ADC has a minimum value of 0 and a maximum value of 255 that corresponds to a given full scale deflection ("FSD") of e.g. 1V. If a signal exceeds the maximum FSD then only a value of 255 is recorded.
It is known that at high ion arrival rates the intensity of the input analogue signal from an ion detector of an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyser may exceed the dynamic range of a digitising ADC. This saturation may lead to errors in both the final intensity and temporal measurement of the summed data (spectrum).
U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,197 (Micromass) discloses a method of increasing the dynamic range of a Time of Flight mass spectrometer by acquiring consecutive mass spectra wherein the ion intensity is attenuated in a first mass spectrum and is unattenuated in a second mass spectrum. Peaks or regions which have exceeded the dynamic range of the detection system in the second (unattenuated) mass spectrum are then replaced with corresponding data from the first (attenuated) mass spectrum. However, this known approach suffers from the problem that the duty cycle is permanently reduced.
GB-2483322 (Maier) discloses a method of acquiring multiple groups of mass spectra with a MALDI Time of Flight mass spectrometer, wherein the energy density of the laser spot is increased in discrete steps from group to group. A mass spectrum is obtained by replacing parts of a group mass spectrum which are subject to saturation by intensity extrapolations from mass spectra of groups acquired with lower energy densities in the laser spot.
US 2002/0063205 (Micromass) discloses providing a lens which is operated in a relatively high sensitivity mode. A control system switches the lens to operate in a relatively low sensitivity mode if a predefined mass peak in a mass spectrum is determined to be saturated or approaching saturation.
EP-1901332 (Micromass) discloses an ion beam attenuator wherein the degree of attenuation can be varied by varying a mark space ratio of the ion beam attenuator. The degree of attenuation of the ion beam attenuator may be increased when it is determined that one or more mass peaks in a mass spectrum are suffering from saturation or approaching saturation.
It is desired to provide an improved mass spectrometer and method of mass spectrometry.


The present disclosure provides an LED light bar, a light source module, and a display device. The LED bar comprises a substrate on which a light source component and an indicator light component are disposed. The light source module comprises the LED light bar. The display device comprises the light source module.

The indicator lights of the display are used to indicate the operating states of the display. At present, the indicator lights mostly adopt LEDs, and the indicator lights are usually set on the button board or the main board or on a separately set board and fixed under the display, so that the user can view the display status.

Light-emitting diode light bar, light source module and display device


A switching device is provided in which a substrate on which switch components are arranged, a resilient sheet arranged on this substrate and a button arranged on the resilient sheet are stored in a predetermined case such that the surface of the button is exposed, and the switch components are operated by being pressed by the button; on the periphery of the button are provided a plurality of columnar projections whose ends are approximately spherical (or tapered depressions) in the direction approximately at right angles to an upper surface pressing the button, and on the surface of the case in contact with the button are provided a plurality of tapered depressions (or columnar projections whose ends are approximately spherical) which engage with the columnar projections (or tapered depressions) of the button. Accordingly, the switching device which can be easily assembled is obtained, including an operational button which returns to a predetermined position in a hole with the release after pushed down.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a push-button switching device suitably applied to electronic equipment such as a mobile phone unit, and relates to a portable terminal device including the switching device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, in electronic equipment such as a mobile phone unit, a switching device used for moving a cursor and inputting characters such as a dial number has a structure in which a button that is a component made of resin and is pressed by a user's finger and an insulating rubber component provided with a protrusion functioning as a pusher for operating the switching device on a wiring substrate are stuck and fixed, and upon pushing the upper surface of the button that is a resin component exposed on the upper surface of a casing of the mobile phone unit, the contact of a switch is made to close by pressing a protrusion (pusher) of a rubber component provided thereunder.
FIGS. 1 to 3 schematically show a switch structure of buttons arranged and used for character-inputting, dial numbers and the like.
FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A to 2C show an example of a structure of a switching device in an operational button portion in a mobile phone unit, and FIG. 1 shows a button operational portion in an assembled state. FIGS. 2A to 2C are figures showing in an exploded manner the button operational portion shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 2A shows an upper case provided with buttons; FIG. 2B shows buttons arranged and fixed onto a resilient sheet; and FIG. 2C shows a wiring substrate having contacts installed in a lower case. Further, FIGS. 3A and 3B are figures explaining the operation of the switching device shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 3A is a schematic sectional diagram before pushing a button; and FIG. 3B is a schematic sectional diagram after pushing the button.
In FIG. 1, a plurality of push-buttons 50 are disposed as an operational button portion in a mobile phone unit; a plurality of switching devices are arranged in a casing including an upper case 51 and a lower case 52; and the upper surfaces 50-1 (refer to FIG. 2B) of the push-buttons 50 functioning as an operational portion for operating the switching devices are exposed from the upper case 51.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the upper case 51 is formed by molding plastic or the like and is provided with approximately rectangular holes 51a through which the upper surfaces 50-1 of the plurality of push-buttons 50 can be exposed.
The button 50 is, for example, made of plastic resin whose upper part is transparent, and has the shape of approximately a rectangular parallelepiped, the upper surface 50-1 of which is similar to and smaller than the hole 51a in the upper case 51 as shown in FIG. 2B; and stepped differences are integrally provided on two opposing side surfaces on the side of a bottom surface 50-2 of this approximately rectangular parallelepiped such that the button 50 may not fall off the hole 51a. Further, a plurality of the buttons 50 are arranged on a resilient sheet 53 that is an insulating rubber component. In addition, characters such as the kana and alphabet and numerals are displayed on the surfaces of these buttons 50 by means of printing, stamping, and the like.
This resilient sheet 53 is made by molding insulating, resilient silicon rubber or the like and is a pliable thin sheet, the back surface 53-2 of which is provided with pushers 53-3, . . . , and as shown in FIG. 2B, the buttons 50 are arranged on the front surface 53-1 of the resilient sheet 53, being fixed with adhesive 53a.
On this occasion, the pushers 53-3 which approximately correspond to the centers of the bottom surfaces 50-2 of the buttons 50 are provided on the back surface 53-2 of the resilient sheet 53. Further, on the resilient sheet 53, the buttons 50 are arranged and fixed with an intended space, so that when fitted into the upper case 51 shown in FIG. 2A, the upper parts of the buttons 50 and the sidewalls of the holes 51a will not interfere with each other.
Further, on the back surface 53-2 side of the resilient sheet 53 is placed a wiring substrate 54 fixed to the side of the lower case 52, as shown in FIG. 2C. This wiring substrate 54 is made of a thin printed-wiring board, flexible wiring board and the like, and on the upper surface 54-1 are provided contacts 54a in such positions as correspond to the pushers 53-3 on the back surface 53-2 of the resilient sheet 53.
As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3A, the contacts 54a are, for example, ones in which a plurality of dome components 55 formed of metal thin plates are provided on the wiring substrate 54; annular conductive pads 54c are formed on the upper surface 54-1 of the wiring substrate 54 and circular pads 54d formed in the centers of the conductive pads 54c, and the circular peripheries of the dome components 55 are disposed to virtually touch the whole circumference of the annular conductive pads 54c. Further, virtually the whole of the upper surface 54-1 of the substrate 54 is covered with an insulating film not shown in the figure so as to fix the dome components 55.
As regards the assembly of a button operational portion, with the resilient sheet 53 to which the push-buttons 50 are stuck as shown in FIG. 2B, having been installed in the lower case 52 to which the wiring substrate 54 is fixed as shown in FIG. 2C, the upper case 51 shown in FIG. 2A is laid from above so that the buttons 50 will be exposed from the holes 51a of the case 51; and these upper and lower cases 51 and 52 are fixed with adhesive, screws, and the like.
On this occasion, as shown in FIG. 3A, the buttons 50, the resilient sheet 53 and the wiring substrate 54 having the dome components 55, installed between the upper case 51 and the lower case 52, are assembled without vertical rattling.
In addition, in order for the resilient sheet 53 and the wiring substrate 54 not to be misaligned with respect to the upper case 51 and the lower case 52 in the assembly or the operation of the buttons 50, the resilient sheet 53, the wiring substrate 54, the upper case 51 and the lower case 52 are provided with a projection 53-4, a hole 54-2, a depression 51-2 and a protrusion 52-1 respectively, and the projection 53-4 and the hole 54-2 are made to engage with the depression 51-2 and the protrusion 52-1 respectively as shown, for example, in FIG. 3A.
Regarding the operation of a switching device constructed in this manner, the state shown in FIG. 3A in which the push-button 50 has not been pushed down changes into the state shown in FIG. 3B by pushing down the button 50, the resilient sheet 53 changes the shape thereof and bends in a downward direction when pushed by the push-button 50, and the pusher 53-3 pushes down the top of the dome component 55 to be deformed. Further by pressing the inside surface of the top of the dome component 55 against the circular pad 54d of the wiring substrate 54, the annular conductive pad 54c and the circular pad 54d are electrically connected to close the contact, and a sensation of clicking at the time of deforming the dome component 55 is felt by a finger used for the operation.
Further, when the force pushing down the push-button 50 is released, the state of FIG. 3B returns to the original state shown in FIG. 3A with the restoring force of the dome component 55 and the resilient sheet 53.
In addition, as this kind of a switching device in a mobile phone unit, an example is disclosed in Patent Literature 1.
[Patent Literature 1] Published Japanese Patent Application No. 6-309992 (page. 2, FIG. 4)

Switching device and portable terminal device

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan, Inc.


Disclosed is an image super-resolution method, which includes: acquiring and amplifying an image to be processed, and extracting a scaling feature from the amplified image, to obtain a first image to be processed; sending the first image to be processed to a residual network, for the residual network outputting a corrected second image to be processed; and restoring the second image to be processed to generate a restored image, and outputting the restored image. The present disclosure further provides an image super-resolution device and a computer readable storage medium.

Nowadays, high-resolution display screens has been widely used in home audio and video equipments and mobile devices, as people are of increasingly demanding of high-quality images or videos. High-quality images or videos help people to obtain more abundant and accurate information, and resolution is an important factor for judging the quality of images. However, in many cases, the resolution of the captured image is lower due to the limitation of the performances of external machines and the influences of shooting conditions, the blurred image cannot meet the requirements of practical application. Therefore, it is imperative to improve the image resolution. Although the most direct way to improve the image resolution is to improve the hardware configuration, the image resolution which is also called as super-resolution technology is usually improved through the software method, as improving the hardware configuration is costly and limited by the physical condition.
Super-resolution image reconstruction can generate high-quality and high-resolution images through a set of low-quality and low-resolution images or a motion sequence. With the development of artificial intelligence, technicians can get super-resolution single frame based on depth convolution neural network, making great progress in super-resolution technology of single frame.
At present, super-resolution image reconstruction has been widely used in real life, such as, high-definition television, medical images, satellite images, security detection, microscopic imaging, virtual reality, etc. As to the field of digital television, super-resolution image reconstruction which can convert digital television signals into high-definition television signals is an extremely important application, for effectively improving video clarity. Super-resolution image reconstruction follows the principle of "deeper network, better effect". However, due to the deepening of the network, technology adopting SRResNet network structure has defects such as too many parameters, slow gradient convergence, difficult training, a decrease in real-time rate, etc. The classical ResNet model uses batch normalization method to converge the gradient and speed up the training process. However, batch normalization may lead to excessive computational overhead with the deepening of the depth of the network, and the features may be standardized in the light of its principle. As such, batch normalization is not suitable for super-resolution applications. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a processing method different from batch normalization to reduce computational overhead and speed up the convergence rate. Additionally, the classic ResNet model does not mention how to realize super-resolution technology with different magnification rates. Since the magnification rate of the resolution in TV applications is fixed, the classic ResNet model cannot be well adapted to TV applications.
The contents above are only intended to assist in understanding the technical solution of the present disclosure, but not to represent the related art.

Image super-resolution method, image super-resolution device, and computer readable storage medium

SHENZHEN SKYWORTH-RGB ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.