A numerical control system improves safety when asynchronously operating systems are operated as a single control unit. A machine control system outputs a command generated by interpreting a program with a command number assigned thereto, sends it to a collision detection system, and receives check result data therefrom, whereby when the number of commands for which check result data are obtained is more than or equal to a preset second threshold, a command number assigned to the check result data is output when it is determined that there is no probability of collision. When the result of a check on the probability of collision for a command received from a linkage data sending and receiving section is returned, the collision detection system returns check result data to the linkage data sending and receiving section by assigning a command number given to the checked command to the check result data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a numerical control system comprising a plurality of systems having their control periods different from one another.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a numerical control apparatus in recent years, there is one which includes a control system for controlling a machine as a main function of the numerical control apparatus, and an operating system for providing an input/output function to produce programs, to set parameters, and to set tool data for operation of a machine tool, wherein these systems function in association with each other as a numerical control system (see, for example, a first patent document: Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2002-108423).
In such a numerical control system, data transfer (sending and receiving) is carried out between the two systems. In the above-mentioned first patent document, a control unit for controlling the machine and a operation panel arranged outside of the control unit are electrically connected to each other, and if a processing request issued from the control unit is not received by the operation panel, it is assumed that abnormality occurs.
However, conventionally, a numerical control apparatus is provided with a collision prevention function to prevent collisions between parts of a machine, tools, jigs and materials by checking shape data thereof by means of a computer (see, for example, a second patent document: Japanese patent application laid-open No. H5-8,152).
Collision checks have been performed in the past by using the shapes in the two-dimensional plane of the machine parts, tools, jigs and materials, but in recent years, such checks are being made by using three-dimensional shape data (see, for example, a third patent document: Japanese patent application laid-open No. H9-230,918).
However, in the numerical control apparatus as described in the above-mentioned first patent document, whether the operation panel receives a signal is only used as a criterion for determination, so there is a problem that only a system malfunction can be determined.
In addition, in the above-mentioned numerical control system as described in the second patent document, the more precisely a real machine is tried to be expressed so as to perform collision detection with high accuracy by using three-dimensional shapes, the more processing time is required, and in that case, there will be a problem of inducing a system malfunction.
Further, if the system falls into a state in which a lot of processing time for collision detection is required in case where a tool and a material are in contact with each other, there is a problem that a work to be processed might be damaged or the tool might be broken.

Numerical control system including machine control system and collision detection system


A fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium transported to a fixing nip by applying pressure and heat to the recording medium. The fixing device includes an endless belt formed into a loop with both ends bonded together, the belt accommodating a heat source inside thereof, a pressing roller rotating in contact with the endless belt forming the fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing roller, and a fixed member provided inside a loop of the endless belt to press the endless belt against a pressing roller. A reinforcing member is bonded to the fixed member inside the loop of the endless belt to reinforce the fixed member. A reflector is provided to reflect light emitted from the heat source toward the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The reflector is held on the reinforcing member by either plastically or elastically deforming by itself.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a fixing device installed in an image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a copier, etc., and in particular to a fixing device capable of fixing a toner image onto a recording medium by applying heat and pressure thereto.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, as a toner image fixing device used in an image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a copier, etc., a heat roller-type fixing device is known. The heat roller-type fixing device generally includes a pair of rollers (e.g. a fixing roller and a pressing roller) each having an internal heat source, such as a halogen heater, etc. The pair of rollers rotates while heated and pressed against each other, forming a contact nip (e.g. a fixing-nip) therebetween. In such a system, a transfer medium bearing an un-fixed toner image thereon is conveyed through the fixing-nip (i.e., a contact nip) of the heat roller-type fixing device, so that the un-fixed toner image can melt and be fixed onto the transfer medium in the fixing-nip.
In recent years, in accordance with a growing demand for saving energy and shortening a waiting time in heating a fixing system, such as a warm-up time, a first time to print, etc., a so-called on-demand fixing unit is widely adopted, in which an endless belt is composed of a thin belt or film and the like instead of a heat roller to reduce a heat capacity of the fixing system as a whole, thereby improving effectiveness of heat transfer to the recording medium while greatly shortening the waiting time.
In a known example of this kind of fixing system, a fixed member (e.g., an opposed member) contacts an inner circumferential surface of a fixing belt sliding thereon and is pressed against a pressing roller via the fixing belt forming a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressing roller. The recording medium is conveyed to the fixing nip to fix the toner image borne on the recording medium onto the recording medium.
For example, JP-2002-108119-A discloses a technology in which a reflector reflects heat emanating from a halogen heater toward an opposite side of a film guide that guides and supports an endless film belt in a fixing nip formed on the endless film belt by pressing a pressing roller against the endless film belt as the belt travels in a prescribed direction through the nip. Accordingly, propagation of heat from a heat source can be given directionality by the reflector.
In such a conventional fixing device, however, when the reflector is to be deployed at a prescribed location relative to the above-described heat source, the reflector is generally fixed to a reinforcing member using a fastening member, such as a screw, etc. In addition, to fix the reflector with the screw, the reinforcing member is generally drilled and tapped as well, thereby incurring a cost increase due to these additional manufacturing processes.
Further, since the fastening member needs to be disposed in the constricted confines found inside the loop formed by the fixing belt so as not to interfere with other components, constricted layout of the components may be restricted or assembly complicated by the need to use a machine tool to attach the fastening member.

Fixing device, image forming apparatus with same, and method of assembling fixing device


A gullwing door that is mountable to a vehicle and that is capable of providing ballistics protection to occupants of the vehicle. The gullwing door includes an outer panel that is rotatably mountable to the vehicle at an upper edge of the outer panel and that is lined with a first protective shell, and an inner panel disposed adjacent to the outer panel that comprises a second protective shell. The inner panel is rotatably connected to the outer panel at an upper edge of the inner panel and the inner panel and the outer panel are capable of rotatably opening together or separately.

Many handguns are capable of firing a bullet that can readily pass through the outer sheet metal and the inner decorative fabric covering the doors of a typical automobile and with sufficient momentum to injure or kill an individual who happens to be in the path of travel of that bullet. Thus, from a standpoint of safety, especially in areas of political unrest and in other volatile environments, it may be desirable to provide some level of armor or ballistic protection to protect occupants of the vehicle from weapons fire, fragmentation caused by explosions and other harm.
As is well known in the art, specially modified armored vehicles can be used to protect vehicle occupants from attack by weapons fire and/or fragmentation caused by explosions. These vehicles are typically utilized by police forces and other emergency services, such as fire and ambulance, which may come under attack, by military and peace keeping forces, and by those involved in security operations and charity work in volatile areas of the world. In addition, these vehicles may also be used by diplomats, politicians and other noteworthy and/or famous people worldwide to protect against kidnapping and/or assassination attempts, as well as other persons who may fear for their safety and desire protection from attacks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,311 to Madden, Jr., the subject matter of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes a removable bulletproof apparatus for a vehicle which includes a transparent panel that is secured to or disposed adjacent to a vehicle window and a flexible curtain that is secure to a bracket to which the bottom portion of the transparent panel is secured. The curtain may include a bottom flap or portion that may be pivoted down when the door is open to provide an essentially full length bulletproof shield.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,500 to Podvin, the subject matter of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety describes a bullet-proofing panel for attachment to the exterior door surface of an automobile comprising an outer polymeric skin having a contour corresponding to the contour of the sheet metal of the vehicle's door. The polymeric skin member defines a predetermined space or pocket therebetween which contains a barrier member capable of stopping bullets.
However, while various armoring or bullet-proofing arrangements have been developed for vehicles utilizing conventional doors, there remains a need in the art for an improved armoring and/or bullet-proofing apparatus for vehicles that utilize gullwing doors.
Gull-wing doors are doors that are hinged at the roof of the vehicle and thus open out and up. Similarly, scissor doors are typically hinged on the front pillar of the vehicle and also open in upward motion. On both gull-wing and scissor doors, the opening process is typically supported by pressurized cylinders so that the door does not close under its own weight.
Examples of automobiles with gull-wing doors including the 1950s Mercedes Benz 300SL and the 1980s DeLorean DMC-12. More recently, the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG and the Tesla Model X have also incorporated gullwing doors.
A typical gull-wing door has a one piece configuration that is hinged at the roof, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,658 to DeLorean, the subject matter of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The use of articulated gull-wing doors has also been suggested and examples of articulated gull-wing doors can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,918 to Hoffman, and in U.S. Pat. No. 8,449,015 to Brown et al., the subject matter of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In addition, DE 10200502133A1 to Volkswagen describes a vehicle door, including a gull-wing door, that is of a telescopic form and in which the lower region of the door is able to slide over the upper part of the door. An advantage of gull-wing doors is that when properly designed, they allow much better entrance/egress than conventional doors, thus more easily facilitating access for passengers as well as storage of wheelchairs and cargo.
One of the most common methods of armoring a vehicle is by adding steel plates where opaque armor is appropriate and adding laminated transparent armor within the window frames. However, because of the size and hinge design of gullwing doors, the addition of a steel plate, of sufficient thickness to withstand weapons fire, to the gullwing door can increase the weight of the door beyond the capabilities of the door open/close hinge mechanism. In addition, while there are many benefits to the large opening afforded by the gullwing door configuration with respect to entrance and egress of individuals into and out of the vehicle, when it comes to security, especially in a potentially hostile environment, the large door opening can also be a substantial safety liability.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved design for a gullwing door that takes advantage of the unique configuration of large opening of the gullwing door while at the same time improving upon the significant deficiencies of the door design in terms of both weight and security.


An improved backpack sprayer, comprising a supply tank, an expandable accumulator, a pump mechanism, an intake valve, a discharge valve, and a spray wand with a nozzle. The supply tank is designed to hold fluids, such as insecticides, herbicides, water sealants, etc. The expandable accumulator is preferably an elastomeric bladder, the function of which is to accumulate fluid from the supply tank under pressure. The volume of the bladder expands as pressurized fluid enters from the pump mechanism. As with most backpack sprayers, the pump mechanism is positioned adjacent to the bottom of the supply tank and is in fluid communication with the tank. The function of the pump mechanism is to pump fluid from the supply tank into the bladder. An intake valve, associated with an inlet opening of the bladder, enables a unidirectional flow of liquid from the pump to the bladder. Discharge of fluid from the bladder also occurs through the inlet opening upon the opening of a discharge valve. The discharge valve is normally closed to permit the bladder to accumulate a desired quantity of fluid. In the preferred embodiment, the discharge valve is hand-operated and located in a handle attached to a spray wand and nozzle. When the discharge valve is opened, the discharged fluid is directed from the accumulator and channeled through a hose, trigger handle, spray wand and spray nozzle.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to sprayer apparatus, and, more particularly to backpack or knapsack sprayers employing a pressure vessel or accumulator to produce a pressure source for discharging fluid at the spray nozzle.
2. Background Art
A conventional backpack sprayer includes a supply tank which is normally dimensioned to hold between two and five gallons of liquid, a manual lever pump, a pressure vessel or accumulator, a manual shut-off valve, and a spray wand with a nozzle. In operation, the pump draws discharge liquid from the supply tank and pumps it into the accumulator. Initially, the accumulator contains air at atmospheric pressure. As liquid is pumped into the accumulator, normally from its bottom, the air inside is compressed at the top of the vessel. The compressed air acts as a spring on the liquid and provides a pressure source for discharging the liquid. Once the liquid is discharged from the accumulator it is directed to a spray nozzle to effectuate a desired spray pattern. An example of a conventional backpack sprayer is one manufactured by D. B. Smith & Co., Inc., Utica, N.Y., under the brand name of FIELD KING.RTM.. In addition, conventional backpack sprayers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,853 to Wirz and U.S. Pat. No. 2,162,057 to Brandt et al.
In the operation of a conventional pressure vessel or accumulator, energy is stored in the compressed air until the liquid is allowed to be discharged from the accumulator. This method of storing energy is very inefficient because the air is heated when it is compressed. This heat is energy lost that cannot be recovered. The efficiency of the accumulator directly affects the utility of the sprayer. As the efficiency of the accumulator increases, the number of pump strokes necessary to produce a desired discharge pressure is decreases. Thus, an inefficient accumulator relates to operator fatigue and reduces the utility of the sprayer for many applications.
In a conventional compressed-air accumulator, the pressure exerted on the liquid does not remain constant as the volume of the liquid in the accumulator changes. This characteristic creates several problems. First, a higher accumulator pressure is required to achieve a given spray duration than would be necessary if the pressure source were constant. The higher the pressure, the more inefficient a fixed volume accumulator becomes. Thus, for long duration spray applications, the conventional backpack sprayer becomes very inefficient.
Second, a fixed volume accumulator produces a continuously decreasing discharge pressure as the liquid therein is being expelled. This results in non-uniform application of the liquid being sprayed. This performance is especially undesirable when chemicals, such as insecticides, herbicides or fungicides, are being sprayed. In many cases, non-uniform application leads to reapplication, and thus overuse and waste of the chemicals being sprayed.
Third, when the application requires a constant spray rate, a pressure regulator must be used with a conventional backpack sprayer. This component is relatively expensive considering the overall cost of a conventional backpack sprayer. The pressure regulator also reduces the efficiency of the sprayer.
All of these problems that are associated with a conventional backpack sprayers have existed for nearly 100 hundred years. Heretofore, no satisfactory solution to these problems have been proposed. The present invention has finally solved these long standing problems, and has accomplished this achievement by a simple and inexpensive modification to the conventional backpack sprayer design.

Backpack sprayer with an expandable accumulator chamber


A new and distinct cultivar of Neoregelia plant named ‘Freya’, characterized by its broad and outwardly arching growth habit; relatively broad leaves that are outwardly arching and recurved; glossy leaves that are greyed yellow in color with distinct medium and dark green-colored longitudinal stripes, dark green-colored margins and deep red-colored apices; upper (younger) leaves are mostly deep red in color; flower development is not required for red color development; and good interiorscape and landscape performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Neoregelia plant, botanically known as Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia hybrida 'Luxurians' X Neoregelia hybrida 'Passion'), and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Freya'.
The new Neoregelia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Princeton, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Neoregelia plants with uniquely colored leaves.
The new Neoregelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2009 in Princeton, Fla. of an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia carolinae, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia hybrida 'Luxurians' X Neoregelia hybrida 'Passion ', not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Neoregelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Princeton, Fla. in 2009.
Asexual reproduction of the new Neoregelia plant by offsets in a controlled environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2010, has shown that the unique features of this new Neoregelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A test photomask includes a first mask pattern and a second mask pattern formed at a center portion of the first mask pattern thereon. The first mask pattern is a pattern with light condensing effect and a nature in which an exposure-dose amount to a transfer object varies in dependence on a focus variation, which is a two-dimensional Fresnel zone pattern here.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photomask, a focus measurement apparatus and a focus measurement method, which are used for lithography when forming a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, patterns for semiconductor elements are demanded strict size precision. In a projecting aligner (hereinafter called the "aligner") used to form a pattern, which projects and exposes a mask pattern by way of reduction to form an image of the pattern on a semiconductor wafer, there arises a problem that the size of a resist pattern after development varies when an image-formed position, namely a focus position, shifts.
Hence, although it is preferable that the focus position of the aligner does not shift, the focus position varies in some degree in practice, requiring aligner management such that a shifted amount of the focus position of the aligner is measured at regular intervals to correct a difference in depth of focus. In addition, it is required that difference in the focus position when an actual product is formed by patterning is recognized and the difference is corrected for the next exposure.
A generally-used measurement method of the focus position is that measuring the sizes of the exposed patterns one by one while changing the focus. The focus position of an isolated residual pattern formed by a positive-type resist is obtained by making use of the fact that the size is the largest at the focus position.
Further, there is proposed a method specifying a defocus amount by measuring a positional difference amount varying in accordance with the focus variation by adding an assist pattern to a positional difference test mark, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-172600 (Patent document 1).
In the method measuring the size of the transferred pattern exposed by way of changing the focus, the focus position cannot be obtained by a single exposure, leaving a problem that the difference in the focus position when the pattern of a product is exposed cannot be obtained. Also, in the method of Patent document 1, the positional difference with respect to the focus variation is small, leaving a problem that the focus variation cannot be specified with high precision.

Photomask, focus measurement apparatus and focus measurement method


A system and method to support querying of a software object comprises a software object finder that can query a plurality of different databases using a plurality of queries in different query language. A matched data entity from the plurality of databases is mapped into one or more instances of the software object stored in a result set. The system also supports pre-fetching of related software objects of a software object from different databases into a cache using queries in different query languages.

A server-side application component can be utilized to encapsulate the business logic of an application. Here the server-side application component can be an instance of a programmable class (also referred to as class), which can be but is not limited to, a Java® bean, an Enterprise Java® Bean (EJB), an interface, a module, and other suitable concepts, and EJB will be used to illustrate the various embodiments of the invention in the following context. The instances of an EJB are created and managed at runtime by a container, which runs as part of an application server to provide enterprise applications with a high level of abstraction. An EJB can be customized at deployment time via a deployment descriptor, which allows the editing of both the structural and application assembly information about the EJB. An important type of EJB is the entity bean, which is a component that represents an object-oriented view of some entities stored in a persistent storage, such as a database, or entities that are implemented by an existing enterprise application. An EJB query component, such as an EJB Finder, can be deployed in the EJB to query a database using a query language, map and/or hydrate the matched data entities in the database to one or more EJB instances, and store them in a result set, which allows fast and easy access to the EJB instances. Here, the database can be a relational database, an Oracle Database, a MS SQL server, a DB2, and other suitable concepts.
EJB-QL was introduced as a standard query language to implement an EJB Finder. The chief advantage of EJB-QL is that it is a high-level, object query language that allows queries to be specified against an EJB object without requiring any knowledge of the underlying types of the databases or their Database Management Systems (DBMS). This makes the EJB Finder and EJB applications portable across different database products.
Since its introduction, however, EJB-QL has been proven to have the following disadvantages:                EJB-QL is not as expressive as SQL. EJB-QL represents a least common denominator that does not capture all of the features that different vendors have added to their databases over the years. For example, certain SQL queries cannot be expressed using EJB-QL. This often forces users to abandon EJB-QL or deters them from using it to begin with.        EJB-QL is different from SQL. While this is its main advantage as stated above, it is also a disadvantage because it requires EJB developers to learn a new query language. It will be difficult for developers to master multiple query languages efficiently, such as SQL, EJB-QL, etc.

Systems and methods for EJB finders using SQL


A method, system and computer program product for prioritizing responses to communications. Various metrics (e.g., the duration of time spent in creating the communication, the number of keystrokes used in creating the communication, the number of words used in creating the communication, the number of mistakes made and corrected in creating the communication, and the number of attachments to the communication) associated with creating a communication are recorded which are used to assess an effort provided by the author in creating the communication. A weighted priority to be associated with responses to the communication is determined based on these recorded metrics. The weighted priority is then assigned to responses to such a communication. In this manner, the responses to the created communication will be able to be prioritized based on the weighted priority thereby enabling the author to determine which responses are more important to read than other responses.

There are various means of communicating among people using computer-based technology. For example, one such means of communicating using computer-based technology includes electronic mail, commonly called e-mail, which is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients.
Another example of communicating using computer-based technology involves social networking. A social networking service is an online service, platform or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people (e.g., who share interests and/or activities). A social network service essentially consists of a representation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links and a variety of additional services. Most social network services are web based and provide means for users to interact over the Internet, such as by posting comments or status updates on the social network website.
In creating these communications (e.g., e-mails, posted comments on a social network website), the author may use a different amount of effort in creating these various communications. For example, the author may put a lot of effort (e.g., 30 minutes) in creating a particular e-mail communication to the Internal Revenue Service; whereas, the author may spend a few seconds with hardly any effort in posting a status update (e.g., currently having ice cream at the local ice cream shop) on a social network site. The author may deem responses to communications that required a lot of effort to construct as being more important to the author than responses to other communications that did not require as much effort from the author. However, there is not currently a means for prioritizing these responses based on the amount of effort the author used in constructing these communications. As a result, the author may receive a collection of responses to various communications that required various efforts in creating them but has no means of determining which responses are more important to the author than other responses.

Prioritizing responses to communications based on user's efforts in creating communications

International Business Machines Corporation


An intra-repetition exercise system which allows comparison of actual performance of intra-repetition exercise characteristics (2) to pre-established target performance of intra-repetition exercise characteristics (3) by an exerciser (1).

In general, an intra-repetition exercise system which allows comparison of actual performance of intra-repetition exercise characteristics to pre-established target performance of intra-repetition exercise characteristics by an exerciser. In specific, an intra-repetition exercise system which compares a pre-established target performance of intra-repetition speed of an exercise to actual performance of intra-repetition speed of an exercise.
Conventional exercise is typically performed as repetitions of anatomical movement by an exerciser to affect or assess physical condition. Each repetition of anatomical movement can be typically broken down into two phases (although certain exercises may comprise additional discrete phases). A first phase in which a portion of the exerciser's anatomy travels a distance away from a first location along an exercise travel path and a second phase in which that portion of the exerciser's anatomy travels to return to the first location, whether along the same exercise travel path or a different exercise travel path, each of the travel paths of the equal or unequal distance, to complete a repetition of anatomical movement for the exercise which may be referred to as an exercise repetition.
An amount of force can act directly or indirectly on the exerciser's anatomy to assist or resist travel of the exerciser's anatomy, in part or in whole, in either of the first phase or the second phase, or both the first phase and the second phase, or any increment, portion, or duration of time of an exercise repetition. As to certain exercise repetitions, the amount of force which acts to assist or resist travel of the exerciser's anatomy may remain consistent through out the first phase and the second phase, while as to other exercise repetitions it may variably adjust between the first phase and the second phase or within the first phase or the second phase. The level and application of the amount of force (whether consistent or variable) may further be dependent on numerous factors which may include without limitation the phase of the exercise repetition, the direction of travel within the phase of the exercise repetition, the location of the exerciser's anatomy in the exercise travel path of the exercise repetition, the amount of force generated by the exerciser's anatomy in the direction of travel in the exercise travel path, the amount of mass or weight opposed by the exerciser's exertion of force, the condition of the exerciser's anatomy (whether in whole or in part) exercised during the exercise repetition, or the evaluation, assessment, or other analysis parameters utilized to characterize the condition of the exerciser's anatomy (whether in whole or in part), or the like.
The exercise repetition also occurs in a time duration which may be fixed or variable and as between the first phase of an exercise repetition and the second phase of an exercise repetition the phases may be of equal or unequal time duration. Similarly, any increment of travel of the exerciser's anatomy in the travel path of the first phase of an exercise repetition or the second phase of an exercise repetition can occur in a time duration which may be fixed or variable. The time duration in which an exercise repetition, a phase of an exercise repetition, or any increment of travel of the exerciser's anatomy along the travel path of a phase of an exercise repetition, occurs may be further dependent on, adjusted in relation to, or adjusted by a factor which relates to, the amount of force acting on the exerciser's anatomy, in whole or in part, to assist or resist travel of the exerciser's anatomy, as above-described.
The exercise repetition can further include a conventional exercise device responsive to the exerciser or exerciser's anatomy, whether in whole or in part. The conventional exercise device can act to characterize the exercise repetition by establishing the direction and distance of the exercise travel path along which the exerciser's anatomy can travel and the amount of force which assists or resists travel of the exerciser's anatomy along the exercise travel path in both the first phase and second phase of the exercise repetition.
A wide variety of conventional exercise devices exist which allow the exerciser to select an amount of weight in a weight stack made responsive to the travel of the exerciser's anatomy in the exercise travel path of the first phase and of the second phase of the exercise repetition through a system of levers, pulleys, and other mechanical hardware which correspondingly elevates and lowers the amount of weight selected. These conventional weight stack exercise devices can further include a weight sensor for determining the number weights lifted and the direction of travel of the weights as described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,632 to Greenberg et al.
As conventional exercise devices evolved, adjustable hydraulic pistons and cylinders have been included to make a variably adjustable amount of resistive force responsive to the exerciser's anatomy in the travel path of the exercise repetition as describe for example by U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,726 to Wilson and European Patent Application No. 0,135,346 to Wu. Other conventional exercise devices also include drive mechanisms which provide isokinetic exercise reciprocating between concentric and eccentric modes as described by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,919,418 to Miller and U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,672 to Brown et al.
These above-identified conventional exercise devices may further include a computer which allows the exerciser to further control the operation of these various exercise devices to select or adjust exercise protocols or programs. For example, exercise information generated from each exercise session can be stored to allow the exerciser to select an exercise protocol from those previously performed as described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,774. Similarly, stored exercise information from each exercise session can be used to provide the exerciser with a new exercise protocol for the next exercise session as described by U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,091 to Abelbeck et al. Alternately, as described by U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,007 to Gordon, a plurality of different measurements can be input to a computer to generate a customized exercise program for the exerciser.
The exercise information generated during each exercise session can also be processed by the computer to provide the exerciser with feedback about the percentage of total exercise effort achieved. As described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,266 to Sweeney a running machine provides a display of an oval track representing current position and percentage completion of effort. Similarly, exercise total repetitions completed can be graphically displayed as a proportional piece of a total scale provided, or the actual elapsed time duration can be graphically displayed as a proportional piece of total time duration, or both, as described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,183.
Actual overall exercise pace can also be displayed relative to a target overall exercise pace as described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,084 in which a fictitious competitor icon represents the overall target pace and a second icon represents the exerciser's prior overall pace. When the exerciser's overall pace is slower or more faster than the overall prior target pace, the exerciser icon moves behind or ahead of the target icon. Another pace device provides a pacing signal on a monitor screen and the exerciser follows the pacing signal to duplicate his previous performance as described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,795.
As can be understood from the above-description, it appears that a variety of conventional exercise devices teach provision of feedback to the exerciser of prior exercise performance to allow the selection or generation of subsequent exercise protocols or to provide pacing of an overall exercise session. Surprisingly, however, it appears that no conventional exercise device teaches the provision of feedback concerning intra-repetition performance by the exerciser (whether discrete from or combined with feed back concerning inter-repetition or overall performance). Even though the first phase and the second phase of a single exercise repetition, as described above, can be and has become increasingly complex to achieve, enhance, or assess the benefit of certain anatomical movements of the exerciser in the first phase or in the second phase of a single exercise repetition, or both, and even though these complex intra-repetition exercise characteristics may have been reduced to application by certain conventional exercise devices, some of which are above-described, there appears that no exercise device that teaches pre-establishing target performance of intra-repetition exercise characteristics or determining actual performance of intra-repetition exercise characteristics, or comparison of pre-established target performance of intra-repetition exercise characteristics to actual performance of intra-repetition exercise characteristics (discrete or apart from inter-repetition or overall exercise characteristics) by the exerciser.
Specifically, with respect to conventional exercise devices (including without limitation conventional rehabilitation or muscle condition assessment exercise devices) responsive to travel of an exerciser's anatomy, in whole or in part, to assess or affect physical condition there appears to be no conventional exercise device which teaches acquisition of intra-repetition exercise characteristics of either the first phase or second phase (or additional phases as may be defined for the travel path of the exercise), or both (or all), of an exercise repetition by a memory element of a computer; or teaches retrieval of intra-repetition characteristics of either the first phase or the second phase, or both, of an exercise repetition prior performed by an exerciser from a memory element of a computer; or teaches analysis, assessment, or graphically display of the intra-repetition characteristics of the first phase or the second phase, or both, of an exercise repetition to an exerciser; or teaches graphically displaying intra-repetition characteristics discrete to the first phase or the second phase, or both, of an exercise repetition as an exerciser performs the exercise repetition; or teaches comparing intra-repetition characteristics (whether input to or acquired by a memory element of a computer during prior performance by an exerciser) of the first phase or the second phase, or both, of an exercise repetition to the intra-repetition characteristics of the first phase or the second phase, or both, of an exercise repetition performed by an exerciser; or teaches a graphical display of prior stored intra-repetition characteristics of the first phase or the second phase, or both, of an exercise repetition compared to a second display of intra-repetition characteristics of the first phase or the second phase, or both, of an exercise repetition as performed by an exerciser; or teaches a graphical display to allow comparison of an intra-repetition target pace and an exerciser's performed intra-repetition pace, whether after the exercise has been performed or as the exercise is being performed, in real time, or otherwise.
Additionally, with respect to conventional exercise devices (or more specifically conventional rehabilitation exercise or assessment devices) responsive to travel of an exerciser's anatomy, in whole or in part, to assess or affect physical condition there appears to be no teaching of a breath pacer or any device to pace breathing which generates or otherwise provides a breath in indicia (an indicator to breath in) or a breath out indicia (an indicator to breath out) (or any manner of indicia) sensorially perceivable to the exerciser by sight, sound, touch, or otherwise, which allows the exerciser to compare actual breathing in and breathing out during performance of an exercise to a pre-established breathing target pace. In particular, there appears to be no conventional exercise device which teaches provision of a breath in indicia coupled to a pre-established target duration of the first phase of an exercise and providing a breath out indicia coupled to a pre-established target duration of the second phase of an exercise (or the breath out indicia coupled to the pre-established target duration of the first phase of exercise and the breath in indicia coupled to the pre-established target duration of the second phase of the exercise).
To address the unresolved problems of conventional exercise devices above-described with regard to performing and assessing intra-repetition characteristics of one or more repetitions of an exercise in correspondence to the pre-established target performance of at least one intra-repetition exercise characteristic of an exercise to affect physical condition, or provide physical rehabilitation or other medical treatment to an exerciser, the instant invention provides numerous and varied exercise devices which allow analysis and storage of intra-repetition characteristics of exercise and of breathing for the preparation of exercise protocols, breathing protocols, or both independently or in combination, which can be compared by the exerciser, another person, or by application of software programs, against actual intra-repetition performance of the first phase and the second phase of an exercise.

Exercise intra-repetition assessment system


A method for decreasing the inflammation associated with a chronic inflammatory intestinal condition in a patient is provided wherein the patient is administered an effective amount of a differentiating agent.

Neoplastic disease is characterized by inappropriate cell proliferation relative to the rate of differentiation. A variety of agents which can induce transformed cells to express characteristics of a differentiated state and cease proliferating have been identified for use in the treatment of human cancers. Such agents include relatively simple polar/apolar compounds, retinoic acid and its derivatives, vitamin D.sub.3 and its derivatives, tumor promoters, inhibitors of RNA or DNA synthesis including several agents used as cytotoxic therapy for cancers, growth factors, such as hematopoietic-cell growth factors, proteases, and hormones. The basic defect in cancers involves an imbalance in the relationship between proliferation of precursor cells and the differentiation of these cells. Differentiation factors can normalize the relationship of proliferation to differentiation. Consideration of a use for differentiating factors in the treatment of human cancers is based largely upon in vitro studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of these agents in inducing a wide variety of transformed cell lines to differentiate and stop growing. The successful treatment of human acute promyelocytic leukemia by retinoic acid established that cytodifferentiation therapy may have utility in the treatment of human malignancies. The clinical evaluation of additional differentiating agents has begun more recently.
Butyric acid has been shown to induce cytodifferentiation in vitro in a wide variety of neoplastic cells. Chen, Z. and Brutman, T. R. Cancer Res. 1994, 54:3494-3499. The potential utility of this agent as an antineoplastic has been limited, however, by the apparent difficulty in achieving effective concentrations of butyric acid in vivo. Chen and Brutman studied the effect of the prodrugs monobutyrin and tributyrin in vitro in inducing differentiation of human myeloid leukemia HL60 cells and murine erythroleukemia cells. Butyric acid, monobutyrin and tributyrin all induced erythroid differentiation of erythroleukemia. However, on a molar basis tributyrin was 3- to 4-fold more potent than butyric acid, whereas monobutyrin was much less potent than butyric acid. Based upon these experiments, it was suggested that tributyrin may be a promising candidate as a prodrug of butyric acid, either as a sole agent or in combination with other agents, for cytodifferentiation therapy of human leukemia and other malignancies and possibly for patients with .beta.-hemoglobinopathies. Chen, Z. and Brutman, T. R. Cancer Res. 1994, 54:3494-3499.
Another differentiating agent, sodium phenylacetate, has been evaluated as an alternative to cytotoxic chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer. Phenylacetate has been demonstrated to promote maturation of various human leukemic cell lines. In addition, its use has been suggested in the treatment of prostate cancer. Samid et al. J. Clin. Invest. 1993, 91:2288-2295. Phenylacetate has been demonstrated to suppress tumor growth and promote differentiation in experimental models. Thibault et al. Can. Res. 1994, 54:1690-1694. It has also been shown that sodium phenylacetate and its precursor, sodium 4-phenylbutyrate, enhance fetal hemoglobin production in cultured erythroid progenitor derived from normal donors and patients with sickle cell anemia and .beta.-thalassemia.
There is also increasing evidence to suggest that 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D.sub.3 (1,25-(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3), or calcitrol, has important physiological effects on growth and differentiation in a variety of malignant and nonmalignant cell types. One of the earliest demonstrations of the antiproliferative effects of 1,25-(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 was with the HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line. Treatment with physiological doses of 1,25(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 suppressed cell growth and induced monocytic differentiation. Similar growth-inhibiting and differentiation-inducing effects have been demonstrated in vitro in other cell types including normal human bone cells, and in malignant cell lines derived from breast, malignant melanoma, histiocytic lymphoma and colon carcinoma. Halline et al. Endocrinology 1994, 134(4):1710-1717.
Differentiating agents such as 1,25(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 and analogs thereof, have also been used in the treatment of diseases related to disordered epidermal differentiation. In addition to producing vitamin D, epidermal cells (keratinocytes) make 1,25(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3, contain 1,25(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3, and respond to 1,25(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 with changes in proliferation and differentiation. Bikle, D. D. and Pillai, S. Endocrine Reviews 1993, 14(1):3-19. 1,25(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 has been found to inhibit IL-1.alpha. induced IL-8 production and mRNA expression in keratinocytes, fibroblasts and PBMC, but not in endothelial cells. Larsen et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1991, 176(3) 1020-1026. Calcipotriol is a vitamin D.sub.3 analog which also inhibits cell proliferation and enhances cell differentiation. Calcipotriol has pharmacodynamic properties similar to those of calcitriol, the active metabolite of vitamin D.sub.3. In several in vitro models both calcipotriol and calcitriol inhibit cell proliferation and enhance cell differentiation. Both drugs reduce cell numbers, total DNA content and incorporation of radiolabeled thymidine into DNA and increase the number of human keratinocytes with cornified envelopes and activity of enzyme-caused, protein crosslinking in the envelopes. In patients with psoriasis, calcipotriol also reduces dermal proliferation and enhances differentiation in lesional skin. Murdoch, D. and Clissold, S. P. Drugs 1992, 43(3):415-429.
It has now been found that differentiating agents are also useful in the treatment of intestinal inflammatory diseases. Differentiating agents which alter the state of proliferation and ultimately the differentiation of colonic epithelial cells reduce the inflammation associated with intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

Differentiating agents for the treatment of inflammatory intestinal diseases

Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A single-crystal graphene sheet includes a polycyclic aromatic molecule wherein a plurality of carbon atoms are covalently bound to each other, the single-crystal graphene sheet comprising between about 1 layer to about 300 layers; and wherein a peak ratio of a Raman D band intensity to a Raman G band intensity is equal to or less than 0.2. Also described is a method for preparing a single-crystal graphene sheet, the method includes forming a catalyst layer, which includes a single-crystal graphitizing metal catalyst sheet; disposing a carbonaceous material on the catalyst layer; and heat-treating the catalyst layer and the carbonaceous material in at least one of an inert atmosphere and a reducing atmosphere. Also described is a transparent electrode including a single-crystal graphene sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to a single-crystal graphene sheet and a process of preparing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, graphite is a stack of two-dimensional graphene sheets formed from a planar array of carbon atoms bonded to form hexagonal structures. Recently, testing of graphene sheets revealed beneficial properties of single or multiple-layered graphene sheets. One beneficial property of graphene is that electrons flow in an entirely unhindered fashion in a graphene sheet, which is to say that the electrons flow at the velocity of light in a vacuum. In addition, graphene sheets exhibit an unusual half-integer quantum Hall effect for both electrons and holes.
The electron mobility of conventional graphene sheets is about 20,000 to 50,000 cm2/Vs.
In some applications carbon nanotubes can be used as a conductor. However, carbon nanotubes are expensive due to low yields during synthesis and purification processes. Also single wall carbon nanotubes exhibit different metallic and semiconducting characteristics according to their chirality and diameter. Furthermore, single wall carbon nanotubes having identical semiconducting characteristics have different band gap energies depending on their chirality and diameter. Thus, single wall carbon nanotubes are preferably separated from each other in order to obtain the desired semiconducting or metallic properties. However, separating single wall carbon nanotubes can be problematic.
On the other hand, it is advantageous to use graphene sheets in a device, because graphene sheets can be engineered to exhibit the desired electrical characteristics by arranging the graphene sheets so that their crystallographic orientation is in a selected direction since the electrical characteristics of graphene depend on crystallographic orientation. It is envisaged that the characteristics of graphene sheets can be applied to future carbonaceous electrical devices or carbonaceous electromagnetic devices.
Graphene sheets can be prepared using a micromechanical method or by SiC thermal decomposition. According to the micromechanical method, a graphene sheet can be separated from graphite attached to the surface of Scotch™ tape by attaching the tape to a graphite sample and detaching the tape. In this case, the separated graphene sheet does not include a uniform number of layers, and the ripped portions do not have a uniform shape. Furthermore, a large-sized graphene sheet cannot be prepared using the micromechanical method. Meanwhile, in SiC thermal decomposition, a SiC single crystal is heated to remove Si by decomposition of the SiC on the surface thereof, the residual carbon then forming a graphene sheet. However, the SiC single crystal material used as a starting material in SiC thermal decomposition is very expensive, and formation of a large-sized graphene sheet can be problematic.
Accordingly, a process to economically and reproducibly prepare a large-size graphene sheet that has the desired electrical properties is needed.

Single crystalline graphene sheet and process of preparing the same


This invention provides a light scanning photoelectric switch with which various settings of the light scanning photoelectric switch such as setting of a protection area can be easily set. The light scanning photoelectric switch includes: a display unit having a display screen that displays information including at least one of a status of a safety function of the light scanning photoelectric switch, and information of a failure status; and an operating unit provided in vicinity of the display unit, and for switching the information displayed in the display screen to different one of the safety signal, the result of the determination, setting contents of the light scanning photoelectric switch, the status of the safety function of the light scanning photoelectric switch, and the information of the failure status.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light scanning photoelectric switch.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been proposed a scanning device that detects, using light such as laser, whether or not an object is present within a predetermined area that has been previously set (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-310890 (Abstract), Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-175390 (FIG. 1), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,669 (FIG. 4)).
A light scanning photoelectric switch is a so-called safety scanner or safety laser scanner, and scans over a detection area with light such as laser, receives the scanning light that has been reflected within the detection area, measures a distance to an object based on a difference between a light projecting timing and a light receiving timing, that is, a time difference and a known speed of light, specifies a position of the object based on a distance in each predetermined direction, outputs a safety signal indicating that a function of the device is either enabled or disabled, and disables the function of the device as needed.
As an alternative way of sensing an object without using the light scanning photoelectric switch, utilizing a mat switch or providing a light curtain in a horizontal direction can be conceivable.
A mat switch, for example, detects an approach of a worker and the like by the worker stepping on the mat switch. When using such a mat switch, a position at which the mat switch is placed is a detection area, and this can be recognized at a glance. Accordingly, it is possible to intuitively determine whether or not the mat switch is placed at a correct position. Further, similarly for a light curtain, it is also possible to intuitively determine a position for placing the light curtain based on positions at which light is projected and received.
However, such a mat switch or a light curtain has a fixed detection area which depends on a shape of an individual product, and it is necessary to prepare a number of products of different shapes, which is inconvenient for a user.
Therefore, employment of a light scanning photoelectric switch, with which setting of an area for detecting a position of an object (protection area) can be arbitrarily changed, instead of a mat switch or the like, has been proposed. However, the setting itself is complicated because an additional setting device such as a personal computer (PC) is required in order to set the protection area, installation of the light scanning photoelectric switch is difficult compared to mat switches or light curtains that practically do not require setting of the detection area.
On the other hand, in order to allow a minimum necessary setting without connecting to the PC, it is necessary to provide a display screen of a certain degree of size which displays setting contents of the protection area and a status of safety functions and failures. Further, an operating unit capable of switching the setting and display contents is also necessary. Such a display screen and an operating unit can increase a size of the photoelectric switch.


A route determination support device enables target point to be navigated according to ratsnest with respect to reliable outline route, thus causing wiring to be formed approximately for the route which is intended by the operator finally. The route determination support device (ratsnest display device) consists of a singularity point position calculator for calculating the singularity point representing inputted outline route, a singularity point storage unit for storing therein the singularity point calculated by the singularity point position calculator, and a target point calculator for selecting a point with the most shortest distance from among the calculated distances as the target point, while calculating distance between the position of the stored singularity point and the present position in the inputted wiring operation.

The present invention relates to a route determination support device, a route determination supporting method and a storage medium storing therein a program for executing method thereof, and a printed substrate wiring method. More to particularly, this invention relates to a route determination support device capable of recognizing thoroughly the direction of movement from the present position of the user, and to a storage medium storing therein a program for executing supporting method of the route determination wherein the route determination support device is utilized as a wiring design supporting mean on the occasion of wiring working of a printed substrate.
Formerly, for instance, the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 5-242202 discloses xe2x80x9cWiring Design Support Devicexe2x80x9d and the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 7-296019 discloses xe2x80x9cWiring Route Determination Systemxe2x80x9d. These device and system are capable of being utilized as the wiring design supporting means on the occasion of implementation of wiring working of the printed substrate by the worker.
In the above-described prior art, there is an area on a printed substrate, where wiring has been completed. When degree of congestion of the area is high, it is necessary to perform wiring while avoiding the area. It is required to support wiring while avoiding such the area. In order to support the wiring, when the operator selects a start point of the wiring, it causes a route connecting the selected start point with the end of line of the wiring to be shown. Thus, it causes provisional outline route to be shown. Such the provisional outline route can be thought that it enables the wiring to be performed efficiently because such the outline route is calculated in consideration of state of whole printed substrate.
There is described the outline route. As shown in FIG. 1, the whole printed substrate is divided into a matrix-shaped frame shape. It causes an area of avoiding the wiring to be decided when the degree of congestion of such area is high. It is considered that efficient wiring is possible. It is considered the area with the matrix-shaped frame unit except for the above-described area with high degree of congestion. It is calculated whether or not the efficient wiring becomes possible without the congestion if the wiring passes through which position. Thus, the outline route is a global wiring route represented above described matter. One example of the outline route decided in such a way as above procedure is shown in FIG. 2.
Further, a ratsnest is always displayed. The ratsnest connects a point where the operator implements wiring operation actuary with the end point. The operator operates while moving. The operator can refer to the ratsnest on the display. The ratsnest is displayed on the display in answer to course of the operation. Thus the operator can recognize position direction of the end point by referring to the ratsnest. The operator saves his trouble of searching the end point on the display. The route for the end point is shown without time for searching the end point.
However, there is the problem that time is required in order to refer to the outline route again by the operator when the outline route is out of display screen while being turned away the practical wiring route from the out line route once. When the operator implements wiring operation practically, as shown in FIG. 3, the display screen displays the operating point while magnifying the neighborhood of the operating point so that the neighborhood of the point of the wiring operation becomes clear.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention, in order to overcome the above-mentioned problem, to provide a route determination support device, a storage medium storing therein a program for executing a route determination supporting method, and a printed substrate wiring method while employing the route determination support device. Such route determination support device enables ratsnest to be displayed such that progressing direction of wiring is capable of being recognized by the operator although both of the start point and the end point are not shown within the screen displayed on the occasion of implementing the wiring operation of the printed substrate mainly, and enables the ratsnest which is changed dynamically to be displayed during the wiring operation. Because, in the halfway through the practical wiring operation, it is required that it causes deviation direction from the recommended outline route to be recognized visually on the display screen.
It is another object of the present invention, to provide a route determination support device, and a storage medium storing therein a program for executing a route determination supporting method. Such the route determination support device enables ratsnest to be displayed in order to be capable of recognizing progressing direction from the present position of the user. The ratsnest displayed on the display screen of the route determination support device is changed dynamically so that the direction can be recognized when guide of operating direction from the present operating point is required for the user.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above mentioned object, there is provided a route determination support device which comprises an input unit for inputting information for determining the route, a singularity point position calculator for searching position of a singularity point with direction switching property of the route, a singularity point storage unit for storing therein data of the singularity point calculated by the singularity point position calculator, a target point calculator for selecting a point with the shortest distance from among calculated distances as a target point while calculating distance between the position of the singularity point stored in the singularity point storage unit and a present position utilizing priority of wiring order determined beforehand, and an output unit for displaying ratsnest concerning progress and/or result of route determination operation.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein target point calculator extracts at least one target point whose angle between newly progressing direction of the route and original progressing direction of the route is more than certain threshold value as the singularity point from outline route displayed on a screen of the output unit.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein target point calculator selects a point at which progressing direction of the outline route changes into vertical direction with respect to plane of wiring route as the singularity point.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein the target point calculator extracts the target point from among the singularity points on the basis of result of multiplying coefficients in accordance with given order to respective singularity points from start point side of the outline route by distance between the present point and respective singularity point in every singularity point.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, wherein the coefficients is coefficient which increases in accordance with given order with respect to respective singularity points.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein the target point calculator extracts one and/or a plurality of target point from the singularity points with small value from among the results obtained by multiplying the coefficient by distance between the present point and respective singularity points in every singularity point.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein the given order in every respective singularity point is updated in such a way that in every time when the present point approaches within prescribed distance from the target point, it causes the singularity point positioned at the side of end point of the outline route by one to be starting point.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, which further comprises a passing through point acquisition means for acquiring the passing through point of the outline route displayed on a screen to be ideal route, a singularity point calculation means for calculating at least one singularity point on the basis of prescribed condition from among the acquired passing through points, a distance calculation means for calculating distance between the calculated singularity points and the present point whose position is movable on the screen, a multiplying means for multiplying the coefficient in accordance with order which is given to respective singularity points from the starting point side of the outline route on the outline route by the distance calculated by the distance calculation means, a target point established means for calculating at least one target point from among the singularity point on the basis of the result of the multiplication, and a display means for displaying a straight line for connecting at least one target point established previously with the present point.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, which further comprises a passing through point acquisition means for acquiring the passing through point on matrix-shaped frame dividing the whole printed wiring substrate according to displayed outline route on the screen to be ideal route, a singularity point calculation means for calculating at least one singularity point on the basis of prescribed condition from among the acquired passing through points, a distance calculation means for calculating distance between the calculated singularity point and an operation point to be a pointed end place of a wiring operation, a multiplying means for multiplying the coefficient in accordance with order which is given to respective singularity points from the starting point side of the outline route on the outline route by the distance calculated by the distance calculation means, a target point established means for calculating at least one target point from among the singularity point on the basis of the result of the multiplication, and a display means for displaying a straight line for connecting at least one target point established previously with the present point.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein singularity point calculation means extracts at least one target point whose angle between newly progressing direction of the route and original progressing direction of the route is more than certain threshold value as the singularity point from outline route displayed on a screen of the output unit.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein singularity point calculation means selects a point at which progressing direction of the outline route changes into vertical direction with respect to plane of wiring route as the singularity point.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein the target point calculation means extracts the target point from among the singularity points on the basis of result of multiplying coefficients in accordance with given order to respective singularity points from start point side of the outline route by distance between the present point and respective singularity point in every singularity point.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein said coefficients is coefficient which increases in accordance with given order with respect to respective singularity points.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein the singularity point calculation means extracts one and/or a plurality of target point from the singularity points with small value from among the results obtained by multiplying said coefficient by distance between the present point and respective singularity points in every singularity point.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fourteenth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein the given order in every respective singularity point is updated in such a way that in every time when the present point approaches within prescribed distance from the target point, it causes the singularity point positioned at the side of end point of the outline route by one to be starting point.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein the singularity point calculation means causes the position in which wiring for changing layer through a via (through hole) on the outline route to be a singularity point.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein one passing through point is taken to be xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d, and a passing through point positioned at the starting point side by one with respect to the passing through point to be the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d on the outline route is taken to be xe2x80x9cprevxe2x80x9d, further a passing through point positioned at the end point side by one with respect to the passing through point to be the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d on the outline route is taken to be xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d, and wherein there is further provided a first judgement means for judging whether or not angle between original direction of route connecting the xe2x80x9cprevxe2x80x9d with the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d and new direction of route connecting the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d with the xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d is more than the prescribed value, wherein when the first judgement means judges that the angle between original direction of route connecting the xe2x80x9cprevxe2x80x9d with the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d and new direction of route connecting the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d with the xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d is more than the prescribed value, the singularity point calculation means calculates the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d as the singularity point.
According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the seventeenth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, which further comprises a second judgement means for judging whether or not a layer in which the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d exists and a layer in which the xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d are the same layers, wherein when the second judgement means judges that the layer in which the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d exists differs from the layer in which the xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d exists, the singularity calculation means calculates the singularity point on the route connecting the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d with the xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d.
According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the eighteenth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, which further comprises a third judgement means for judging whether or not a first end point and a second end point are already wired when a plurality of end points of the wiring operation exist on the printed wiring substrate, a fourth judgement means, when the third judgement means judges that the already wired wiring exists, for judging whether or not a T-character wiring from the starting point is capable of being performed at position which the via (through hole) on said already wired wiring with respect to the already wired wiring, and/or is capable of being performed in any position on the already wired wiring, and a fifth judgement means, when the fourth judgement means judges that the T-character wiring is possible in the position where the via (through hole) on the already wired wiring exists, for judging whether or not the target point calculated by the target point calculation means from the T-character outline route displayed on the screen to be ideal route exists within prescribed distance determined beforehand from the position of the via (through hole), wherein when the fifth judgement means judges that the target point exists within the prescribed distance from the position of the via, the display means displays new outline route for executing connection at position of the via.
According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the nineteenth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein when the fifth judgement means judges that the target point does not exist within the prescribed distance from the position of the via, the display means displays new outline route having a target point existing within the prescribed distance from the position of another via on said already wired wiring.
According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, which further comprises a sixth judgement means for judging whether or not the target point calculated from the T-character outline route by the target point calculation means exists within the prescribed distance from a spot positioned in the most nearest place to the starting point on the already wired wiring when the fourth judgement means judges that the T-character wiring is capable of being performed in any position on the already wired wiring, wherein when the sixth judgement means judges that the target point exists within the prescribed distance from the spot, the display means displays new outline route for the sake of connection at the spot.
According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-first aspect, there is provided a route determination support device, wherein when the sixth judgement means judges that the target point does not exist within the prescribed distance from the spot, the display means displays new outline wiring which has a target point existing within the prescribed distance from the already wired wiring.
According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing of a processing for inputting information for determining the route by a input means, a processing for searching position of a singularity point with direction switching property of the route by a singularity point position calculator, a processing for storing therein data of the singularity point calculated by the singularity point position calculator by a singularity point storage unit, a processing for selecting a point with the shortest distance from among calculated distances as a target point while calculating distance between the position of the singularity point stored in the singularity point storage unit and a present position utilizing priority of wiring order determined beforehand a target point calculator, and a processing for displaying ratsnest concerning progress and/or result of route determination operation by an output unit.
According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-third aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, wherein there is provided processing of extracting at least one target point whose angle between newly progressing direction of the route and original progressing direction of the route is more than certain threshold value as the singularity point from outline route displayed on a screen of the output unit by means of target point calculator.
According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-third aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, wherein there is provided processing of selecting a point at which progressing direction of the outline route changes into vertical direction with respect to plane of wiring route as the singularity point by means of target point calculator.
According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-third aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, wherein there is provided processing of extracting the target point from among the singularity points on the basis of result of multiplying coefficients in accordance with given order to respective singularity points from start point side of the outline route by distance between the present point and respective singularity point in every singularity point by means of the target point calculator.
According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-sixth aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, wherein the coefficients increase in accordance with the given order with respect to respective singularity points.
According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-seventh aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, wherein there is provided processing of extracting one and/or a plurality of target points from the singularity points with small value from among the results obtained by multiplying the coefficients by the distance between the present point and respective singularity points in every singularity point by means of the target point calculator.
According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-third aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, wherein the given order in every respective singularity point is updated in such a way that in every time when the present point approaches within prescribed distance from the target point, it causes the singularity point positioned at the side of end point of the outline route by one to be starting point.
According to a thirty aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-third aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of a processing for acquiring the passing through point of the outline route displayed on a screen to be ideal route by means of a passing through point acquisition means, a processing for calculating at least one singularity point on the basis of prescribed condition from among the acquired passing through points by means of a singularity point calculation means, a processing for calculating distance between the calculated singularity points and the present point whose position is movable on the screen by means of a distance calculation means, a processing for multiplying the coefficient in accordance with order which is given to respective singularity points from the starting point side of the outline route on the outline route by the distance calculated by the distance calculation means, a processing for calculating at least one target point from among the singularity point on the basis of the result of the multiplication by means of a target point established means, and a processing for displaying a straight line for connecting at least one target point established previously with the present point by means of a display means.
According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-third aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of a processing for acquiring the passing through point on matrix-shaped frame dividing the whole printed wiring substrate according to displayed outline route on the screen to be ideal route by means of a passing through point acquisition means, a processing for calculating at least one singularity point on the basis of prescribed condition from among the acquired passing through points by means of a singularity point calculation means, a processing for calculating distance between the calculated singularity point and an operation point to be a pointed end place of a wiring operation by means of a distance calculation means, a processing for multiplying the coefficient in accordance with order which is given to respective singularity points from the starting point side of the outline route on the outline route by the distance calculated by the distance calculation means, a processing for calculating at least one target point from among the singularity point on the basis of the result of the multiplication by means of a target point established means, and a processing for displaying a straight line for connecting at least one target point established previously with the present point by means of a display means.
According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, in the thirty aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of extracting at least one target point whose angle between newly progressing direction of the route and original progressing direction of the route is more than certain threshold value as the singularity point from outline route displayed on a screen of the output unit by means of singularity point calculation means.
According to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-third aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of selecting a point at which progressing direction of the outline route changes into vertical direction with respect to plane of wiring route as the singularity point by means of the singularity point calculation means.
According to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the thirty aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of extracting the target point from among the singularity points on the basis of result of multiplying coefficients in accordance with given order to respective singularity points from start point side of the outline route by distance between the present point and respective singularity point in every singularity point by means of the target point calculation means.
According to a thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the thirty-fourth aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, wherein the coefficients is coefficient which increases in accordance with given order with respect to respective singularity points.
According to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the thirty aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of extracting one and/or a plurality of target point from the singularity points with small value from among the results obtained by multiplying the coefficient by distance between said present point and respective singularity points in every singularity point by means of said singularity point calculation means.
According to a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-third aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, wherein the given order in every respective singularity point is updated in such a way that in every time when the present point approaches within prescribed distance from the target point, it causes the singularity point positioned at the side of end point of the outline route by one to be starting point.
According to a thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the thirty aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of causing the position in which wiring for changing layer through a via (through hole) on the outline route to be a singularity point by means of the singularity point calculation means.
According to a thirty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the thirty aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, wherein one passing through point is taken to be xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d, and a passing through point positioned at the starting point side by one with respect to the passing through point to be the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d on the outline route is taken to be xe2x80x9cprevxe2x80x9d, further a passing through point positioned at the end point side by one with respect to the passing through point to be the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d on the outline route is taken to be xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d, and wherein there is further provided a first judgement means for judging whether or not angle between original direction of route connecting the xe2x80x9cprevxe2x80x9d with the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d and new direction of route connecting the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d with the xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d is more than the prescribed value, wherein when the first judgement means judges that the angle between original direction of route connecting the xe2x80x9cprevxe2x80x9d with the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d and new direction of route connecting the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d with the xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d is more than the prescribed value, the singularity point calculation means calculates the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d as the singularity point.
According to a fortieth aspect of the present invention, in the thirty-ninth aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of a processing for judging whether or not a layer in which the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d exists and a layer in which the xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d are the same layers by means of a second judgement means, wherein when the second judgement means judges that the layer in which the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d exists differs from the layer in which the xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d exists, the singularity calculation means calculates the singularity point on the route connecting the xe2x80x9ccurrentxe2x80x9d with the xe2x80x9cnextxe2x80x9d.
According to a forty-first aspect of the present invention, in the forty aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of a processing for judging whether or not a first end point and a second end point are already wired when a plurality of end points of the wiring operation exist on the printed wiring substrate by means of a third judgement means, a processing for judging whether or not a T-character wiring from the starting point is capable of being performed at position which the via (through hole) on the already wired wiring with respect to the already wired wiring, and/or is capable of being performed in any position on the already wired wiring by means of a fourth judgement means, when the third judgement means judges that the already wired wiring exists, and a processing for judging whether or not the target point calculated by the target point calculation means from the T-character outline route displayed on the screen to be ideal route exists within prescribed distance determined beforehand from the position of the via (through hole) by means of a fifth judgement means, when the fourth judgement means judges that the T-character wiring is possible in the position where the via (through hole) on the already wired wiring exists, wherein when the fifth judgement means judges that the target point exists within the prescribed distance from the position of the via, the display means displays new outline route for executing connection at position of the via.
According to a forty-second aspect of the present invention, in the forty-first aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, wherein when the fifth judgement means judges that the target point does not exist within the prescribed distance from the position of the via, the display means displays new outline route having a target point existing within the prescribed distance from the position of another via on the already wired wiring.
According to a forty-third aspect of the present invention, in the forty aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of a processing for judging whether or not the target point calculated from the T-character outline route by the target point calculation means exists within the prescribed distance from a spot positioned in the most nearest place to the starting point on the already wired wiring when the fourth judgement means judges that the T-character wiring is capable of being performed in any position on the already wired wiring by means of a sixth judgement means, wherein when the sixth judgement means judges that the target point exists within the prescribed distance from the spot, the display means displays new outline route for the sake of connection at said spot.
According to a forty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the forty-third aspect, there is provided a storage medium storing therein a program for executing processing, which further comprises the processing of a processing for judging that the target point does not exist within the prescribed distance from the spot, the display means displays new outline wiring which has a target point existing within the prescribed distance from the already wired wiring.
According to a forty-fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printed substrate wiring method which comprises the steps of a step for inputting information for determining the route by a input means, a step for searching position of a singularity point with direction switching property of the route by a singularity point position calculator, a step for storing therein data of the singularity point calculated by the singularity point position calculator by a singularity point storage unit, a step for selecting a point with the shortest distance from among calculated distances as a target point while calculating distance between the position of the singularity point stored in the singularity point storage unit and a present position utilizing priority of wiring order determined beforehand a target point calculator, and a step for displaying ratsnest concerning progress and/or result of route determination operation by an output unit.
According to a forty-sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printed substrate wiring method which further comprises the step of extracting at least one target point whose angle between newly progressing direction of the route and original progressing direction of the route is more than certain threshold value as the singularity point from outline route displayed on a screen of the output unit by means of target point calculator.
According to a forty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the forty-fifth aspect there is provided a printed substrate wiring method which further comprises the step of selecting a point at which progressing direction of the outline route changes into vertical direction with respect to plane of wiring route as the singularity point by means of target point calculator.
According to a forty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the forty-fifth aspect there is provided a printed substrate wiring method which further comprises the step of extracting the target point from among the singularity points on the basis of result of multiplying coefficients in accordance with given order to respective singularity points from start point side of the outline route by distance between the present point and respective singularity point in every singularity point by means of the target point calculator.
According to a forty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the forty-eighth aspect there is provided a printed substrate wiring method, wherein said coefficients increase in accordance with the given order with respect to respective singularity points.
According to a fiftieth aspect of the present invention, in the forty-ninth aspect there is provided a printed substrate wiring method which further comprises the step of extracting one and/or a plurality of target points from the singularity points with small value from among the results obtained by multiplying the coefficients by the distance between the present point and respective singularity points in every singularity point by means of the target point calculator.

Route determination support device, route determination support method and storage medium storing therein program for executing method thereof, and printed substrate wiring method