A communication device for transmitting and receiving frames, which is capable of preventing an overflow of a buffer memory due to clock error even when the utilization factor of a transmission line is high. A frame holding section stores frames awaiting transmission. A transmission section sequentially takes out each frame from the frame holding section and outputs the frame to the transmission line, based on a control signal indicative of timing for transmitting the frame. A transmission control section initially outputs the control signal at a repetition period of T clocks (T≧2) and acquires the number of waiting frames in the frame holding section every N×T clocks (N≧2). When the number of waiting frames is equal to K (K≧1), the transmission control section makes some of transmission intervals shorter than T clocks to thereby output the control signal N+K times during next N×T clocks

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a communication device and a communication method, and more particularly to a communication device that receives and transmits frames asynchronously via a transmission line, and a communication method executed by the communication device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a case where data is transmitted and received between two terminal units via a network, data transmitted by one terminal unit is split into frames in a data link layer, and the frames are relayed to the other terminal unit by one or more other communication devices. The communication devices for relaying the frames are implemented e.g. by layer 2 switches.
In general, frame transmission and reception are performed asynchronously between the communication devices. More specifically, a communication device at a transmitting end and a communication device at a receiving end operate in accordance with respective independent clock signals, and hence the transmission of a frame and the reception of the same do not coincide in timing with each other. For this reason, each communication device is provided with a buffer memory for temporarily storing frames so as to accommodate the difference in timing between the transmission and reception of each frame (see e.g. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-200176). As the standard for an asynchronous network, there may be mentioned Ethernet®, for example.
However, in a case where the operating speed of a receiving-end communication device is lower than that of a transmitting-end communication device, if the utilization factor of a transmission line is high, there is a fear that an overflow of the buffer memory of the receiving-end communication device may be caused by queueing delay or stagnation of frames. To eliminate this fear, there has been proposed a method of controlling intervals at which frames are sent, by the transmitting-end communication device so as to prevent queueing delay or stagnation of frames at the receiving-end communication device (see e.g. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-271424). More specifically, the transmitting-end communication device transmits frames at proper intervals set in view of the operating speed of the receiving-end communication device. By thus taking into consideration the operating speed of each communication device and the bandwidth of each transmission line at the time of designing a network, it is possible to prevent queueing delay or stagnation of frames at a specific communication device.
By the way, an actual clock frequency of a communication device is not strictly identical to a theoretical clock frequency, because it is physically difficult to generate a clock signal at a frequency strictly identical to a theoretical value thereof. For example, according to the Ethernet standard, the clock has a tolerance of less than 100 ppm (Parts Per Million), i.e. less than 0.01%. Therefore, even if the operating speed of a transmitting-end communication device and that of a receiving-end communication device are theoretically identical to each other, actually, they are not strictly the same.
Conventional communication devices are not provided with any special measures for coping with clock error. Since the clock error is so minute (one clock per 10,000 clocks at the maximum), insofar as the utilization factor of a transmission line leaves room for the full utilization thereof, the queueing delay or stagnation of frames cannot be caused by clock error. However, in a network, such as a trunk network, in which the utilization factor of the transmission line is high, clock error presents a large problem. That is, if the operating speed of a receiving-end communication device becomes slower than that of a transmitting-end communication device due to clock error, frames in transmission queue at the receiving-end communication device progressively increase until an overflow of the memory buffer of the receiving-end communication device is caused.
The overflow of a memory buffer due to clock error cannot be prevented by the above-described technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-271424. This is because it is difficult to estimate clock error of each communication device when designing a network. Further, whenever there is a change in connecting relations between communication devices, there can be a change in communication devices suffering from queueing delay of frames or in the degree of queueing delay of frames. Furthermore, if the operating speed of a specific communication device is largely changed so as to eliminate queueing delay of frames, this increases frames in transmission queue at other communication devices.

Communication device and communication method


A method and device is for a multi-touch based correction of a handwriting sentence system. The method includes receiving touch inputs, generating interpreted input data as a function of the touch inputs, and displaying the interpreted input data on a display device. A request to correct a portion of the interpreted input data then switches to a correction mode. During the correction mode, a correction user interface is displayed on the display device, a gesture is received so setting data is determined as a function of a first disposition of the gesture, the setting data indicating a type of correction to be applied to the portion of the interpreted inputs, a correction data is determined as a function of a second disposition of the gesture, and the portion of the interpreted input data is corrected as a function of the touch input, the setting data, and the correction data.

An electronic device may be configured with a variety of input devices. For example, the electronic device may include a conventional data input device such as a keyboard. In another example, the input device may include a touch input receiving device such as a touch screen display or a touch pad that receives inputs for selected functionalities. In yet another example, the input device may include a specialized touch screen in which a stylus is required to receive inputs.
When the electronic device includes a touch input receiving device (e.g., touch screen display), it may be configured to further receive inputs such as those that are handwriting related (e.g., letters, numbers, etc.) when a keypad is not shown thereon. Conventional touch input receiving devices may include a sentence handwriting recognition system but it is impossible to achieve as high of an accuracy as a character handwriting system. The degradation in accuracy is usually caused by segmentation errors and/or indistinguishable characters. Conventional correction methods are often not natural and requires a deletion of wrong characters and subsequently inputting correct ones. Therefore, this process may substantially increase an amount of time required to obtain a sentence that is to be entered.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and device for providing an interface to make corrections in a sentence handwriting recognition system.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Method and device for a multi-touch based correction of a handwriting sentence system


A method and system for improving a search query process is provided. The method includes analyzing via a natural language classifier (NLC) circuit of a hardware device, a partial search phase entered in a search field of a graphical user interface with respect to a search query for specified subject matter. A subject based intent classification associated with the search query is determined and compared to intent based data of an intent data repository. In response, an autocomplete phrase associated with the subject based intent classification and the partial search phrase is generated and presented to a user via the graphical user interface.

Accurately predicting search parameters based on partial input from a user typically includes an inaccurate process with little flexibility. Analyzing current search parameters with respect past search parameters may include a complicated process that may be time consuming and require a large amount of resources. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome at least some of the deficiencies and limitations described herein above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


In a step of spinning a molten mesophase pitch in a process for manufacturing a pitch-type carbon fiber, the pitch is allowed to pass through an orifice and to be contracted once, is then expanded in an introduction port with a diameter greater than that of the orifice, and is then allowed to pass through an outlet pore formed at a collecting portion to spin the pitch. The pitch-type carbon fiber has a high elastic modulus in tension and high compressive strength.

Among pitch-type carbon fibers, carbon fibers using a mesophase pitch as a starting raw material have the advantage that products having an extremely high elastic modulus can be produced.
There have been even industrial products of pitch-type carbon fibers having an elastic modulus touching a level as high as 950 GPa which is almost equal to the theoretical elastic modulus of a graphite crystal in the direction of the axis A.
Pitch-type carbon fiber products with a tensile strength of a level of 3 to 4 GPa have also been commercially available. Also, pitch-type carbon fibers having the performance equal to that of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers representing the high strength carbon fibers have been available in recent years.
However, a composite material using the pitch-type carbon fiber has the problem that it has the compressive characteristics, especially, the compressive strength inferior to that of composite materials using the PAN-based carbon fibers. The practical properties, such as bending strength, of a composite material depend on the compressive strength of the carbon fiber. The pitch-type carbon fiber has a compressive strength lower than that of the PAN-based carbon fiber, which limits the application of the composite material using the pitch-type carbon fiber.
In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2-14023 proposes a method in which a pitch containing 5 to 40% of an optically anisotropic phase and having a viscosity of 100 Pa.s that is conspicuously high for the spinning of the pitch is spun to produce a carbon fiber and thereby to improve the compressive strength. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 3-816 discloses a method in which boron ions are injected into a pitch-type carbon fiber under vacuum to improve the compressive strength. These methods are extremely unique in operational conditions and require unpractical steps posing many drawbacks in the preparation of pitch-type carbon fibers industrially improved in the compressive strength.
Disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No.61-258024 is a method for producing a carbon fiber wherein a screen layer is attached to the end of an introduction port in the side of an outlet pore to pass a pitch through the screen layer and the outlet pore in this order thereby performing the spinning. However, industrial production using this method requires much labor and cost and also this method is yet insufficient to produce the compressive strength equal to that of the PAN-based carbon fiber.
In order to improve the compressive strength of a composite material while maintaining the rigidity of the carbon fiber, it is necessary to improve the compressive strength of the carbon fiber itself.

Process for manufacturing pitch-type carbon fiber


An oblong cantilevered support includes a pair of latitudinally spaced apart oblong resilient members connected by a pair of longitudinally spaced apart blocks. The longitudinal spacing between the blocks can be adjusted. One or both of the members can have a tapered profile causing the stiffness of the member to vary along its length. Adjusting the spacing between the blocks and/or sliding a variable stiffness member longitudinally with respect to the blocks can adjust the stiffness of the overall support. Each member can be made from a unitary piece of fiber composite material such as a carbon fiber infused polymer wherein the orientations of the fibers are varied to provide both bending and torsional strength and stiffness that varies along the length of the member. The tapered geometry can be formed by a pair of parallely spaced apart oblique trapezoidal truncated pyramids interconnected by a webbing strip.

Composite materials such as carbon fiber reinforced polymers have long been used to create structural elements due to their low weight and high stiffness/strength to bending moments along the oblong fibers' orientation.
U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/315,745, Malcolm, incorporated herein by reference, describes using a fiber reinforced composite material to make a sail batten. The cross-sectional geometry of the batten changes from the proximal end of the batten located near the mast to the opposite distal end near the trailing edge of the sail in order to vary the stiffness of the batten along its longitudinal length and to accommodate intermittent torsional loads.
One problem with such prior structural support members is that their stiffness is not adjustable. In situations such as vehicular leaf spring support of axles for example, adjusting resiliency parameters has been the realm of adjustable shock absorbers and other devices. However, such devices do not provide superior performance when there are large variations in static loads and wide ranges dynamic loads, and that provide torsional flexibility.
Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus which addresses one or more of the above identified inadequacies.

Adjustable stiffness cantilevered support


A document requesting unit (150) and a document suggestion unit is provided. The document requesting unit is configured for retrieving documents to assist a first user in a first clinical task on patient data of a first patient, the document requesting unit (150) comprising a context builder (157) configured to determine a first context (142) based on a description of the first clinical task and/or the patient data of the first patient, a database unit (152) configured to retrieve a document (122) selected by the user from an electronic document database (120), and a tagging unit (156) configured to tag the selected document (122) with the first context to enable a document suggestion unit (250) to suggest the selected document (122) during a second clinical task on patient data of a second patient. The document suggestion unit (250) is configured for suggesting a document to the user to assist the user in the second clinical task on patient data of the second patient, the document suggestion unit (250) comprising a context builder (157) configured to determine a second context (242) based on the second clinical task and/or the patient data of the second patient, a matching unit (254) configured to determine a match valuation between the second context and a tagged context of a candidate document (222) in the document database (120), and to suggest the candidate document to the user if the match valuation is high according to a suggestion function.

Significant amounts of information have to be consulted by clinicians to make informed decisions: patient information (e.g. observation and history) as well as reference information (e.g. norms). Furthermore, it is complex to work according to the latest medical evidence.
For example, radiologists or referring physicians may need to consult such most up-to-date external knowledge sources as reference materials, to make informed decisions on, image interpretations, lesion recognitions, treatment suggestions, and the like. Despite the aforementioned information needs, the time available to make a decision is limited.
In the paper "Process-based and context-sensitive information supply in medical care" by Oliver Koch, this situation is also acknowledged. According to Koch, physicians usually get access to information and knowledge by using medical information systems (clinical information systems, laboratory systems, medical practice management software etc.), local databases, e-resources or traditional print media.
Koch proposes a context-sensitive supply of additional information at the physicians' workplace, via a so-called 'Infobutton'. The infobutton automatically generates and sends queries to electronic health information resources (e-resources) using patient data extracted from the electronic medical record and context information that is captured from the interaction between a clinical user and a clinical information system. The information request includes particular context information. These are basically elementary patient attributes (age, gender), the physicians' actual activity (e.g. patient information review) and main search concept (e.g., lab parameters or diagnosis) and including additional qualifying attributes and information about the physicians' role and language.
The automatic querying of documents based on a current context has proven not to be entirely satisfactory for clinical users. Inevitably, some documents will be suggested even though they are irrelevant. In that case the information overflow is only aggravated rather than alleviated. Furthermore, documents might not be suggested even though they are relevant.
As will be discussed below, other points of the Koch's proposal may also be improved upon.

Document management system for a medical task


In an aspect of the present invention, methods and systems for providing an input device are disclosed. In an aspect of the present invention, the input device includes a symbol and a UV light source is provided to direct UV light on the symbol. The symbol includes an UV excitable compound. In an aspect of the invention, the UV light from the UV light source is directed onto the symbol with a light pipe. In operation, the UV light causes the symbol to glow so that the symbol is visible in a darkened environment.

The provision of symbols on an input device such as a keyboard is known. To allow for visibility of the symbols in a darker environment, some inputs devices include a backlight that illuminates the symbols and allows the user to determine which key, for example, provides the desired functionality. While a system of illuminating symbols is known and somewhat effective, some users may not prefer the look and the resultant effects of using such a system.


A target acquisition system for a photoelectric control unit which helps avoid interference problems due to optical and electrical noise. The system provides for the interpulse interval between light pulses transmitted by the photoelectric control unit to be varied in accordance with pseudo-random jitter factors during the target acquisition process. Noise which may be on frequency with the normal repetition rate of the photoelectric control unit is then eliminated from the detection process pursuant to synchronous detection procedures.

The present invention relates to photoelectric detectors and more particularly to photoelectric control units which periodically transmit light pulses and synchronously detect return pulses.
In the past photoelectric control units have been manufactured in a range of models each of which is suitable for a particular type of application environment. Furthermore, photoelectric control units have not been designed to provide the operator with much in the way of useful information about the unit's current settings or the conditions under which it is operating. Consequently, photoelectric control units have not had much flexibility for being used in different types of applications and have not been able to provide much information of the type the operator might, for example, use to align the unit. While some photoelectric control units have been designed to operate under microprocessor control these units have nevertheless not been designed to be especially user friendly or to offer the operator a wide range of operational settings suitable for different applications. Furthermore, most photoelectric control units have been susceptible to giving false signals due to electrical and optical noise occurring at the same frequency as the pulse repetition rate of the control unit itself. Such noise may be due to other photoelectric control units in the vicinity or simply due to other machinery having comparable operating frequencies. Nevertheless, when the noise is on frequency with the pulse repetition rate, ordinary pulse counting and synchronous detection techniques are not able to eliminate the noise problem. Additionally, most traditional photoelectric control units have not provided accurate measures of operating margin or reliable indications of overall operational stability. Operating margin has ordinarily been difficult to determine on account of the narrow voltage ranges over which most photoelectric control units operate and the difficulties with amplifier saturation which occur when such voltage ranges are exceeded. Satisfactory systems have not been developed for allowing a photoelectric control unit to determine its own operating margin in an accurate fashion over a broad range. Furthermore, even given measures of operating margin, the operational stability of a photoelectric control unit has been difficult to determine. Photoelectric control units can be affected by high noise levels in their operating environment which can degrade operational stability despite satisfactory levels of operating margin.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a photoelectric control unit having a user friendly operator interface which allows for operator control over a wide range of operational settings in a convenient and understandable fashion so that the unit can be adapted for use in a large number of different applications.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a photoelectric control unit having a target acquisition system which is immune to electrical and optical noise occurring on frequency with the repetition rate of the photoelectric control unit itself.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a photoelectric control unit which is capable of accurately measuring its own operating margin over a broad range of signal levels and providing a reliable indication of its operational stability as a function of operating margin and noise.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a photoelectric control unit in which the pulse repetition rate and operating range of the unit may be selected by the operator at the operating site through the use of a user friendly interface.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a photoelectric control unit which is flexible in Operation, provides useful information feedback to its operator, is otherwise reliable in operation and can be produced at a reasonable cost.

Process for reliably detecting the passage of a target object using a photoelectric control unit employing pseudo-random jitter factor pulses


The present invention provides a method for producing optically active flurbiprofen. The method of the present invention includes mixing racemic flurbiprofen and (S)- or (R)-3-methyl-2-phenylbutylamine in an organic solvent to produce a diastereomeric salt; and treating the diastereomeric salt with an acid in a second solvent. In the method of the present invention, flurbiprofen having a desired absolute configuration can be obtained very efficiently without repeating the procedure for optical resolution a plurality of times.

Flurbiprofen is a substance used as an antiphlogistic analgetica in the field of medicament, and especially it is known that (S)-flurbiprofen has an excellent efficacy (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,981).
The flurbiprofen is generally produced in the form of a racemic compound. It is known that from the racemic compound, flurbiprofen having a high optical purity can be produced by an optical resolution method using, for example, an optically active amine compound (more specific example is α-phenylethylamine) as an optical resolution agent (e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 54-154724 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,638).
The above-described method using an optical resolution agent utilizes a difference in the physical properties between diastereomers, which are produced from a pair of enantiomer of a racemic flurbiprofen and another optically active substance.
However, with these methods, frequent resolution operations are necessary in order to improve the optical purity of flurbiprofen. For this reason, it was difficult to produce flurbiprofen having a desired optical purity efficiently.
When a racemic substance is subjected to optical resolution, a general rule is not known as to which antipode should be used as an optical resolution agent in order to selectively obtain a salt formed by the resolution agent and a desired enantiomer to provide a slightly soluble crystal. For this reason, in general, it is inevitable to repeat preliminary experiments many times in which various optical resolution agents are combined with various solvents with respect to a substance to be subjected to optical resolution. Therefore, it is very difficult to select a preferable optical resolution agent. Moreover, even if a relatively preferable optical resolution agent is specified in the above-described manner, it is necessary to perform resolution operations frequently. Therefore, there is a demand for development of a more efficient optical resolution method to increase the industrial productivity.

Process for producing optically active flurbiprofen


A moving body recognition apparatus which recognizes a shape and movement of an object moving in relation to an image input unit by extracting feature points, e.g. a peak of the object and a boundary of color, each in said images captured at a plurality of instants in time for observation by the image input unit. The moving body recognition apparatus comprises an image input unit for capturing images of an object as a moving body having a rotation, a feature point extraction unit for extracting feature points from the images inputted by the image input unit, a feature point storage unit for storing known position data of the extracted feature points, and a shape/movement recognition unit for calculating the actual positions and movements of the feature points of the object in the images by using the known position data of the extracted feature points outputted from the feature point storage unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a moving body recognition apparatus. A moving body recognition apparatus in many cases uses a TV camera as an image input unit receiving an image of an external object.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Image processing devices are used widely, e.g. for an FA (factory automation) inspection, an automatic monitoring device, and a visual sensor for an automatically operated vehicle, generally as devices capable of processing visual information as with a human being. There are potential demands for them and their research and development is actively conducted. Although an image processing device originally processed a still image as its object, recently it has put a greater emphasis on processing a moving image. Especially, those capable of recognizing a moving body have come to take a large share of all image processing devices.
A moving body recognition apparatus generally recognizes the shape of a moving body and its relative movement, when the image input unit of the moving body recognition apparatus is moving in relation to the object. That is, even if an object is not actually moving, when an image input unit of a moving body recognition apparatus moves, the moving body recognition apparatus recognizes the shape of the object standing still and the movement of the image input unit. For example, in a case of a visual sensor for an automatically operated vehicle, its image input unit is loaded on top of the vehicle, and the moving body recognition apparatus recognizes the environment in which the vehicle is running.
A moving body recognition apparatus must be compact and responsive. Compactness is critical, especially when a moving body recognition apparatus is loaded on a vehicle in its application to a visual sensor of an automatically operated vehicle. Responsiveness is crucial, because a realtime processing similar to a human vision is required.
A conventional moving body recognition device captures an object by two image input units. By establishing the correspondences between the feature points of the objects in the two images captured by the two image input units, the shape of the object is captured at every certain instant in time for observation by applying a principle of a triangulation, and then the movement of the object is calculated.
FIG. 1 shows a concept of a conventional moving body recognition apparatus.
A first image input unit 2 and a second image input unit 3 input images of an object 1 to a moving image recognition unit 4. The moving body recognition unit 4 detects feature points of an object 1 from the two images. By matching a same feature point between the two images, the position of a feature point is calculated by applying a principle of a triangulation. Here, a feature point refers to a point representing a particular part of the object 1. When there is a peak, an outline point or a pattern, a feature point may be a dot in a pattern or on a color boundary. The moving body recognition unit 4 calculates the movement of a feature point and the object 1 from a shift of the feature point in a time series. The moving body recognition apparatus outputs as a recognition result 5 the position and movement of a feature point and the movement of an object.
FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a conventional moving body recognition apparatus.
A first feature point extraction unit 6 extracts a feature point from an image inputted by the first image input unit 2 and supplies it to a feature point correspondence unit 8. Likewise, a second feature point extraction unit 7 extracts a feature point from an image inputted by the second image input unit 3 and supplies it to the feature point correspondence unit 8. The feature point correspondence unit 8 matches the same feature points from among the feature points extracted from the first feature point extraction unit 6 and the second feature point extraction unit 7.
A feature point position calculation unit 9 obtains the positions of feature points by relating the positions of the matched feature points with the positions of the first image input unit 2 and the second image input unit 3, and stores the result in a feature point position storage unit 10. The positions of feature points at plural instants in time for observation stored in the feature point position storage unit 10 are sent to an object movement calculation unit 11, which calculates the movement of an object and stores the result in an object movement storage unit 12.
However, a conventional moving body recognition apparatus as explained in the description of FIGS. 1 and 2 have the following problems.
(a) Because two feature point extraction units need to individually extract feature points extracted from two images captured respectively by two image input units, the process load for extracting a feature point is twice as much as that by using a single TV camera. PA1 (b) An additional process of matching features from two images captured differently is required. The feature point correspondence unit 8 is required as shown in FIG. 2. Because the positions of two image input units are different, they capture the object 1 differently. This makes it difficult to match feature points of the object 1. Hence, the feature point correspondence unit 8 requires a large workload for searching for corresponding feature points. (The closer the position of two image input units, the easier it is to make correspondences between feature points of an object, but the less accurate a recognition of the shape of an object becomes.)
Typically, processing in (b) is impossible when a feature point of an object captured by one image input unit cannot be captured by the other, where no correspondence between those feature points can be made.
FIG. 3 shows an example in which a conventional moving body recognition apparatus fails to establish correspondences between feature points captured by different image input units.
The object 1 has two feature points, for instance. However, there is a case in which both the first image input unit 2 and the second image input unit 3 can capture only one of the two feature points.


A line illumination device includes: a frame; a rod-shaped light-guiding member housed in the frame; a flexible substrate; and a light source that is provided on the flexible substrate and emits light to the light-guiding member. The flexible substrate is bent so that the light source is disposed at an end of the light-guiding member and that the flexible substrate is housed in the frame. Power is supplied to the light source through a wiring provided on the flexible substrate so that the light source emits light and the light-guiding member emits light in line-shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a line illumination device wherein light from a light source enters a light-guiding member and exits in a line shape, and to an image input apparatus for discriminating a bill by use of the line illumination device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image sensor has hitherto been used in equipment such as a facsimile, a scanner, or the like. A line illumination device is usually used for the image sensor.
JP-A-2001-357429 (FIG. 3) discloses a line illumination device of this type, in which an LED attached to a substrate is arranged on a side surface (an end) of a light-guiding member. JP-A-2003-60854 (FIG. 1) discloses a line illumination device in which a light-guiding member is housed by an upper cover and a lower cover, and a light source unit is attached to one end of the upper cover. JP-A-2004-64146 (FIG. 3) discloses a line illumination device, in which a light source module is attached to an end of a light-guiding member. Although JP-A-2003-60854 discloses the light-guiding member being housed by the covers, the following configuration is not disclosed. That is, not only a light-guiding member but also a light source (a light source unit or a light source module) and the like are housed in a cover or a frame. Specifically, a compact configuration in which a light-guiding member, a light source, and the like are housed in a frame is not disclosed.

Line illumination device and image input apparatus using the same


An anisotropic connector part (2) made of a rubber elastic element having a conductive part formed by orienting a desired place of a conductive medium by means of a magnetic force and an attaching part (4) having engaging parts (3) to be attached to electronic parts or a substrate are integrating into one place, thereby making it possible to easily perform attachment to the electronic parts or the substrate and also reduce a manufacturing cost and a mount space.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector used for electrical connection of electronic parts which are built into information equipments such as portable cellular telephones, personal handy phone systems (PHS), personal digital assistants (PDA), etc. and various electrical equipments such as audiovisual equipments, personal computers, etc.
2. Prior Art
Examples of electronic parts to be built into electronic equipments such as portable cellular telephones or the like includes microphones, speakers, receivers, vibrators, motors, cells, memory cards, etc. As a method for electrically connecting electrodes of the electronic parts with electrodes of a substrate, there have been employed a method for connecting these electrodes by soldering using lead wires, a method for connecting these electrodes via metal plate springs or spring pins, etc.
Moreover, there has been used a method for electrically connecting the electrodes of the electronic parts and electrodes of the substrate by inserting a compression-type elastic connector such as a connector wherein elastic conductive rubbers and insulating rubbers are laminated one after the other, a connector wherein metal thin wires are oriented in a conducting direction in an elastic insulating rubber, etc. between the electrodes of the electronic part and the electrodes of the substrate and compressing it therebetween at the time of mounting of a case.
Since the conventional connecting method of electrodes by soldering via lead wires requires that fine lead wires be soldered by manual work, the productivity lowers and the costs increase. Moreover, due to the lead wires, a larger space is required, and this does not meet the needs for miniaturization of equipments. Also, the conventional connecting method of electrodes via metal plate springs or spring pins requires a large space and does not meet the needs for miniaturization.
Moreover, as for the method for connecting with a substrate via the elastic connector such as a connector wherein elastic conductive rubbers and insulating rubbers are laminated one after the other, a connector wherein metal thin wires are oriented in a conducting direction in an elastic insulating rubber, etc. at the time of mounting of a case, fine works are needed for positioning conductive parts of the elastic connector to the electrodes of the electronic parts and the substrate, resulting in low productivity and cost increase.

Anisotropic electrical connector with attaching part and method for manufacturing the same


A method for individuating with high sensitivity and specificity ADA metabolites from dried blood spot. The method described herein can be used to extract Adenosine and Deoxyadenosine from a sample under conditions that permit concurrently extracting other metabolites, such as amino acids, free carnitine, or acylcarnitines. For example, harsh extraction conditions (such as extreme acidity and high temperature) can be avoided. The method can be used, along with other neonatal screenings, on blood samples and preferably on dried blood spots (Guthrie cards) and more preferably on Guthrie cards obtained in the II-IV day of life. The method is reliable and reproducible, easy to perform and gives a definitive response within a short time (1-2 days). One or more kit for use in the method.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure is related to a method and kit for determining metabolites on dried blood spot samples (like Guthrie cards), in particular said metabolites include also those due to a defect of adenosine deaminase (ADA) or purine-nucleoside phosphorilase (PNP) defect.
2. Discussion of the Background Art
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a group of severe disease which affect immune system. Infants with SCID are healthy at birth but die of recurrent severe infection in infancy unless adequate therapy is provided. Unfortunately, most infants with SCID are not identified in the preinfection period: the diagnosis is usually hypothesized when a severe infection occur. At that time, however, even though a correct therapeutic intervention is started, damages due to the severe infection (such meningitis, encephalitis, severe pneumonia) can already be present and permanent sequelae can be an important burden both for the patients and for the family and the society. SCID due to a defect of adenosine deaminase (ADA) or purine-nucleoside phosphorilase (PNP) is an inherited disorder of purine metabolism. Genetic deficiency of the purine salvage enzyme ADA results in varying degrees of immunodeficiency, ranging from neonatal onset severe combined immunodeficiency to late onset immunodeficiency which can determine severe compromission of lung function in adolescents or adults.
In its typical form, the absence of the enzyme ADA allow accumulation of toxic metabolites resulting on one side on severe defect of immune system and, on the other, on permanent damage of other organs and systems such as brain or liver. In these cases SCID-ADA is fatal within the first months of life if untreated and is associate with severe sequelae is treated late.
Late onset ADA-SCID have also been described. In these cases the patients experience severe recurrent infections and chronic lung disease during infancy or adolescence. Very similar are the clinical consequences of PNP defect.
In both cases hematopoietic stem cell transplant is curative, but dependent on a good donor match. Enzyme replacement therapy is available and determines the elimination of toxic metabolites and a good reconstitution of the immune system. Gene therapy is also an option for patients. In any case, whichever therapy is chosen, it should be started as soon as possible after birth in order to obtain good therapeutic effect. Therefore diagnostics methods which allow to make a sure diagnosis in the first days of life are extremely important.
Early diagnosis of ADA-deficiency is necessary because opportune therapies (stem-cell transplantation, enzyme replacement therapy) can be curative while the disease is rapidly fatal if not treated. Diagnosis can be made searching for ADA enzyme activity or for accumulation of metabolites due to ADA deficiency.
Evaluating ADA activity is complex and sometimes can give misleading results: actually a severe defect in ADA activity can be found in subject with an absolutely normal immune function, because variable residual ADA activity expressed in cells different from immune cells can be sufficient to maintain correct immune function. For this reason dosage of metabolites is absolutely mandatory to achieve the diagnosis of immunodeficiency due to ADA or PNP deficiency. Moreover dosage of metabolites allows to monitor the reduction of their toxic activity after starting enzyme replacement therapy.
Measurement of purine and pyrimidine metabolites presents complex problems for separations. Different methods for measurement are used in clinical practice, ranging from HPLC to thin-layer chromatography. Other methods include capillary electrophoresis and even reverse-phase HPLC with electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry.
However all these methods are applied on urine samples and are used when a clinical suspicion of immunodeficiency has already been formulated because of the onset of severe infections. This is a serious drawback of the methods, since affected infants should be diagnosed before onset of infections to maximize opportunity of life-saving treatment. Family history can help in performing and early diagnosis but data obtained in the USA show that only 18% affected patients have a positive family history. The number is probably even lower in Italy where most families have only one child. The use of mass spectrometry (MS) in clinical laboratories is very much increased on the outset of the 21th century. This development is obviously due to great advances in mass spectrometry applications in the last fifteen years. Mass spectrometry permits a very rapid measurement of different metabolites in different biological specimens using filter paper spots or directly in different biological fluids. Because of its high sensitivity, this technique can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of many analytes such as purines and pyrimidines, amino acids and acylcarnitines, homocysteine, orotic acid, succinylacetone etc., with appropriate internal standards.
MS is extensively used for analysis of metabolites from dried blood spots taken at birth (Guthrie-cards) but among the detected metabolites those due to ADA deficiency are not detected because the methods of extraction are not effective. The classical method commonly used for expanded newborn screening is performed by using a C1-3 linear or branched chain monoalcohol (preferably methanol) (Millington D S, et al. J Inherit Metab Dis. 1990; 13(3):321-4; Donald H. et al. Clin. Chem., November 2003; 49: 1797-1817; la Marca G, et al. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2003; 17(23):2688-92). Aim of the present disclosure is to provide an analytical method that could allow also the determination of purine and pyrimidine metabolites (including in particular ADA or PNP deficiency metabolites) along with the determination of other metabolites that are commonly determined for metabolites screening, especially those screening performed on dried blood spot taken at birth.

Method and kit for determining metabolites on dried blood spot samples


A method and apparatus for adjusting the alignment of an image forming device using two thermal heads, wherein the method includes the steps of (a) printing first and second predetermined patterns on the medium by using the first and second thermal heads, respectively, (b) detecting a distance difference of print positions between the first and second thermal heads by using the printed patterns, and (c), based on the detected distance difference, transforming image data printed by the thermal heads to adjust the alignment in subpixel units. Therefore, a distance difference of printing positions of the thermal heads can be compensated by detecting the distance difference between the printing positions of the thermal heads, and moving the target image data by the detected distance difference. As a result, the alignment of the thermal heads can be easily and accurately adjusted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming device using a thermal head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for adjusting the alignment of a thermal head of an image forming device.
2. Description of Related Art
A thermal printing device typically refers to an image forming device for applying heat to an ink ribbon contacting a medium to move the ink to the medium, or for applying heat from a thermal head to a medium, where an ink layer reacting with the heat develops a predetermined color.
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a typical thermal recording medium. The medium includes a base sheet 11 and ink layers provided on both sides of the base sheet 11, that is, first and second surfaces 10a and 10b, in predetermined colors. The ink layers are provided in different colors. For example, yellow (Y) and magenta (M) layers can be sequentially provided on the first surface 10a, and a cyan (C) layer can be provided on the second surface 10b. The base sheet 11 is preferably comprised of a transparent material. A reflective layer 13 is provided and reflects light from the first surface 10a to display color images.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a typical arrangement of an image forming device using a thermal head. The image forming device of FIG. 2 comprises a thermal head 100, a thermal head nozzle 110, a platen roller 120, and a moving unit 130. The moving unit 130 comprises a motor 140, a driving roller 150, a driven roller 160, and a medium sensor 170.
The thermal head 100 applies heat to a medium moved by the moving unit 130. The thermal head nozzle 110 provides ink required in printing to the platen roller 120. Here, the medium is interposed between the thermal head 100 and the platen roller 120. The platen roller 120 supports the medium to adsorb the ink, and rotates according to the movement of the medium.
The motor 140 is comprised of a driving source for supplying a target medium to the thermal head 100. The driving roller 150 rotates while engaged with the motor 140 to move the medium. The driven roller 160 also rotates while engaged with the driving roller 150 to assist in moving the medium. Here, the medium is interposed between the driving roller 150 and the driven roller 160. The media sensor 170 is provided to detect a position of the target medium.
However, when the heat is applied to the thermal recording medium shown in FIG. 1, by using two thermal heads to make a color print on the medium as shown in FIG. 3, a screen may not be printed in designed colors due to a distance difference between the two thermal heads and a difference of the moving path of the medium. In this case, there is a need to adjust the alignment to match the printing positions of the two thermal heads.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method for adjusting the alignment of multiple thermal heads, and for moving data to compensate for the printing positions of the thermal heads.

Method and apparatus for adjusting alignment of image forming device


A printing system accurately prints proprietary marks and selected colors. A dictionary of recognizable patterns and defined colors corresponding to the proprietary marks and selected colors is linked to a user interface wherein a user may designate a location within a document and at least one of the proprietary marks with defined colors from an accessible menu. A processor associates the defined colors with the image at the specified location and generates a printer signal representative thereof. Alternatively, the processor includes a pattern recognizer for identifying recognizable patterns within a document. The patterns have a likeness to defined patterns within a pattern dictionary and can be converted to the defined patterns for display or imaging.

Image information, particularly printed black and white or color, is normally represented in gray level formats containing a large number of levels, e.g.: 256 levels for black and white and more than 16 million (256 cubed) levels of color. Such color levels are clearly not all printable by standard printers or displayable in electrical devices, and so some selection process is necessary to choose those limited number of available colors which are actually to be viewed.
Many well known commercial enterprises have proprietary marks which are commonly used as an identifier of most goods or services of the entity, and thus are almost universally included in all commercial materials and correspondence. Most such designations are registered trademarks. For example, the Xerox red pixelated design "X" (Trademark Registrations Nos. 2,077,700 and 2,078,823, Pantone® 032), the lined design IBM blue (Registration No. 1,205,090, Pantone® 3718) or the PEPSI® fanciful design (Registration No. 2,321,907) are "famous" marks and recognizable patterns. The specific colors are also very important and usually part of the corporate identity, and so should be accurately printed or displayed. For example, the PEPSI® red is a different red than the COCA COLA® red. The reason owners of such valuable designations are particularly concerned about the accurate display and printing of their marks, is because the imaging can occur over a variety of different systems and practiced by a variety of different clients and customers. A failure in accurate printing can dilute a mark's distinctive nature. Consistent accuracy in the imaging of such marks enhances the distinguishing nature of the mark and protects and maintains its integrity and value.
Printing systems are known where a customer can specify a location in an image for a particular pattern printed in a required color (see related pending application Ser. No. 09/221,996). Any such customer specification though, requires defined color space coordinates or a color name (e.g., Pantone®) or reference image as a recognizable pattern. Such systems are usually fairly accurate in guaranteeing the desired results, however, they are not practical enough for most commercial printing operations. There is a need for a system which can simplify the definition of desired registered colors for minimizing delays in the commercial printing environment where there is a stream of documents to be printed containing a variety of registered trademark patterns and colors.
To implement such a system, a print engine or system requires a means for conveniently storing an accessing definition of registered patterns and colors versus color space coordinates or Pantone® names and pattern names for identifying the accurate colors to be printed where such colors mostly will occur and what shape or pattern they will form. Importantly though, an interface must conveniently permit a user to designate when a proprietary color is to be imaged by identification of the mark in association with the appropriate pattern and color. The successful control of the tagging, tracking and guaranteeing of the desired color in a simple and convenient user interface is the subject of the present invention.

Accurate printing of proprietary mark patterns and colors


Valve actuating hand tools for inflating and deflating an air bag having a valve with a valve head and movable valve stem is disclosed. Each hand tool includes a first elongated member having a gripping portion at one end thereof and a valve head engaging member at an opposite end thereof. A second elongated member is pivotally coupled to the first elongated member with the second elongated member including a gripping portion at a first end thereof and a valve stem engaging member at an opposite end thereof. A spring is connected to the first and second elongated members to bias the valve head engaging member toward the valve stem engaging member. With the hand tool in an operative position, the valve head engaging member engages the valve head with the valve stem engaging member engaging the valve stem to position the valve in an open position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to valve actuating hand tools, more specifically, to hand tools for deflating and inflating air bags.
2. Background Information
In freight trailers, air bags are often utilized for stabilizing and protecting fragile loads, such as glass and the like. When used, at least one air bag is positioned at the rear of the trailer and must be removed prior to unloading the trailer. The customary method for removing an air bag is to deflate the air bag by slashing it and disposing of the air bag. This has been found to be particularly costly due to both the replacement cost of the air bag and the cost of disposing of the slashed air bag.
A typical air bag, when deflated, is about 4 feet by 8 feet and a standard opening in a freight trailer is about 100inches high. Each air bag includes a valve at one corner of the bag having a valve head and a movable self-sealing valve stem. A typical air bag is supplied from Shipper Paper Products, an ITW Company, of 1203 North Main Street, P.O. Box 69, Mount Pleasant, Tenn. 38374.
An object of the present invention is to develop hand tools for deflating and inflating air bags used for stabilizing and protecting loads in freight trailers. Such hand tools will allow for the reuse of air bags minimizing costs.
The prior art has developed a wide variety of specialized tools for actuating valves. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,660,745; 4,124,148; and 3,506,159 all disclose valve actuators adapted for actuating a nozzle on an aerosol can or the like. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,499,796 to Miller and 1,326,858 to Glasscock also disclose tools for specialized valve workpieces. Specifically, the Glasscock patent discloses a tool for removing valves from combustion engines and the Miller patent discloses a tool for opening a check valve positioned at the end of a hydraulic hose.
The highly specialized tools of the prior art are not particularly adapted for use with a valve on an air bag. The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide hand tools for quickly and easily deflating and inflating air bags for stabilizing and protecting loads in freight trailers. It is a further object of the present invention to provide hand tools which are easily positioned in an operative position on the valve of an air bag and maintain the operative position of the hand tool without user assistance.

Hand tool for inflating air bags for stabilizing and protecting loads in freight trailers


The system and method for preventing air leakage from the process side to the bearing side of a mill. The system includes a labyrinth seal ring comprising a series of knives defining first and second labyrinth paths from an air inlet to the process side and the bearing side of the system, respectively. The differences in the two paths such as provided by the number of knives used in each path creates a differential pressure drop which biases air from the air inlet to the process side. The labyrinth seal thus provides a reliable and superior method for reducing the potential for particulate in the process side of the mill from damaging the bearing system.

With the increase in environmental oversight, operators of power plants are pushing to discover new and better ways to remediate potential pollutants which are the byproducts of the power generation process. A variety of approaches have been developed for removal or mitigation of such byproducts resulting from coal fired power plants. One known approach is the use of dry sorbent injection (DSI) systems to reduce acid gas levels, such as such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfur trioxide (SO3), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and hydrochloric acid (HCl). DSI involves the addition of an alkaline material (such as sodium bicarbonate, hydrated lime, or trona) into various locations of the power plant system such that the acid gases react with the alkaline sorbents to form solid salts which are removed via a particulate control device.
While DSI is a cost effective control solution, it is not without its own processing challenges. For instance, certain sorbent materials are prone to clumping or agglomerization, while some sorbent materials (e.g., trona) are known to require milling in order to increase the surface area for absorption and to be more cost effective. For a variety of reasons (e.g., superior flow properties and predictability of particulate size), the use of on-site milling for certain sorbent particulate is preferred.
One particularly effective method of on-site milling is the use of an in-line mill using a pneumatictransport or conveying system, which provides a superior reduction of SO3 stack emissions when injecting trona. This approach, however, typically requires the use of a bearing assembly to support and facilitate the milling process. The use of a bearing assembly, in turn, creates problems in that the bearing assembly requires oil or similar lubricant for operation, but the nature of the in-line mill requires an operational clearance between the bearing assembly casing and the running surface (i.e., such that the shaft or similar moving components can rotate). Thus, the use of such milling system requires a bearing seal such that the lubricant is kept apart from the fluid of the milling area (and vice versa). A wide variety of seals are known for such processes.
One class of bearing seals are contacting seals, such a lip seal or more complex designs as in the case of a face/mechanical seal. Contacting bearing protectors such as lip seals often require lubrication at the contact points of rotational surfaces. In high shaft rotational speed applications, excessive heat can be created in absence of sufficient lubrication. Such a lubrication requirement can make this approach unacceptable for a milling system which requires high speed rotation of the shaft assembly.
By contrast, non-contacting bearing protectors can be of repeller or labyrinth configuration. A labyrinth seal may be composed of many grooves or knives so that the fluid has to pass through a long and difficult path to escape between the operating surfaces. Sometimes such knives exist on the outer and inner portion of the mating surface. These knives or grooves produce long characteristic path and pressure resistance which slows leakage. For labyrinth seals on a rotating shaft, a very small clearance must exist between the knife tips of the labyrinth and the running surface.
Unfortunately, in milling applications which require the processing of particulate in a pressurized fluid, the particulate often penetrates the close rotating clearances of conventional labyrinth seal technology, leading to blockage and rotational seizure. An air purge system can be used to overcome particulate entry, but skepticism has developed around the effectiveness of such an approach, since while some of the air acts to blow away the powder from the bearing seal entry point, air is also directed into the bearing chamber. The consistent injection of pressurized fluid or air proximate to the seal can force particulate and similar contaminants into the oil or other lubricant-based environment supporting the bearing assembly. Such an outcome can result in undue wear or premature replacement of the bearing assembly and/or replacement or failure of the mill, with the consequential degrading of the efficacy of the contaminant remediation process.
In other words, an in-line mill system needs to have a seal which minimizes or precludes leakage of pressurized fluid into the lubricant chamber of the bearing assembly, while at the same time preventing an excessive fluid or air pressure from the process side forcing particulate into the bearing assembly.
Thus, the present state of the art reflects a need for a system which reliably mills entrained particulate entrained in a pressurized fluid (such as sorbent particulate in a pneumatic conveyance system) in an in-line mill configuration without creating undue wear or buildup in the bearing assembly, as such wear may increase maintenance costs and failure risks and decrease the efficiency of the system.

In line mill assembly with labyrinth seal


An apparatus for automatically operating a sliding door of a transport container is provided. The apparatus includes a sliding door, a drive mechanism and a pneumatic motor. The drive mechanism is coupled to the sliding door and configured to allow movement of the sliding door. The pneumatic motor is coupled to the drive mechanism and is adapted to power the drive mechanism so that the sliding door moves in a first direction. A kit for retrofitting a motor assembly of a sliding door assembly mounted on a transport container, a trailer for transporting material having a sliding door assembly, and a system for transporting material having a sliding door assembly are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pneumatic operation of sliding doors in general, and in particular to apparatus for pneumatic operation of the sliding door assemblies used on transport containers, such as trailers or other vehicles.
2. Background
The use of trucks, tractor-trailers, railroad cars, etc. for transporting palletized or containerized materials and bulk particulate commodities is well known. The hauling boxes or transport containers used to hold the materials typically require movable gates or doors allowing for the ingress and egress of the material through discharge openings.
In the typical flat-bottom trailer, it is well known to provide doors that are vertically oriented in the closed position and that slide upward to an open position. For instance, a sectional-type sliding door for trucks or trailers may include a series of similar horizontal panels connected by hinges that allows pivoting between the panels. It is common to use such sectional-type doors at the rear end openings of trucks or trailers. Typically, the sides of the panels, or the hinge means between the panels, have rollers which run in vertical tracks at the sides of the opening and horizontal legs above the rear of the opening. In the typical flat-bottom trailer, these doors are opened and closed manually. Manual operated doors expose the operator to potential injuries. Moreover, manual operated doors are not amenable to partial opening in order to restrict flow of particulate matter through the discharge opening.
Similar to the section-type doors are sheet doors. Sheet doors have flexible door panels that, typically, are guided around rollers between the open and closed positions. Other known sliding doors include roller doors, which are made of multiple, relatively thin, horizontal slats. Rotation of a drum or roller located at the top of the door causes the roller door to wrap around (or unwrap from) the drum, thus opening (or closing) the door.
Flat-bottomed or hopper-type trailers capable of self-unloading bulk particulate and/or chunk material via a conveyor mechanism and having slidable gates for providing a variable size discharge opening during an initial opening stage are also known. Known mechanisms for sliding and/or pivoting the gate, or only a portion of the gate, include hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, cables attached to an electric winch or drum, or manual operation. In some instances, further opening the gate allows it to pivot, thereby providing an unrestricted discharge opening for unloading the contents from the box.
It is also known to provide movable gates for controlling the amount of particulate matter being discharged from pivoting or tilt-type transport containers, i.e., dump truck-type beds. Typically, the rear walls of such dump truck-type beds are fashioned as gates that pivot around pins located at the top of the rear wall. One known design for a tilt bed incorporates a rear wall having a movable gate that both slides and pivots. A pair of hydraulic rams, located on either side of the gate, slides the gate upward until a select height is reached, whereupon the gate may pivot completely open. In another known design, a lower portion of a pivotable gate is independently pivotable via hydraulic cylinders and a linkage mechanism.
Typically, piston/cylinder mechanisms, whether hydraulic or pneumatic, are bulky and heavy and, unlike motors, are not amenable to being retrofit. Further, all hydraulic drive mechanisms are not environmentally friendly, operating with potentially harmful hydraulic fluids. Even further, pressurized supplies of hydraulic fluid for operating the hydraulic cylinders are typically not transported with the transport container.
What is needed is an apparatus that is relatively lightweight, small, and environmentally friendly. Moreover, with respect to tractor-trailers, what is needed is an apparatus that is powered from existing pneumatic systems carried by the tractor. Additionally, there is a need to retrofit existing transport containers constructed with hydraulic or electric motors for raising or lowering sliding doors with pneumatically powered sliding door systems, where such retrofit is conducted with minimal reconstruction or replacement of the components of the existing conveyor systems.

Apparatus for pneumatic operation of transport container sliding door


In certain embodiments, there is provided a system including a display, a mounting groove disposed along a portion of the first display, and a mount position along the mounting groove. In these embodiments, the mount position includes an alignment structure disposed in the mounting groove and a fastener disposed in the mounting groove.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of the present invention that are described or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Personal computer systems generally include a computer chassis, a display, and some number of peripheral devices. The peripheral devices are typically mounted on a desktop or in the vicinity of the display. Unfortunately, the peripheral devices are generally independent from one another and the display. As a result, the desktop is cluttered with the various peripheral devices and the associate cables. The peripheral devices also may be disposed in undesirable positions or angles on the desktop due to limited space. For example, speakers, microphones, or web cameras may become entangled or blocked by other items on the desktop.

System for mounting devices to a display

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The network arrangement includes at least one common bus. An input member is connected to the common bus. An output member is connected to the common bus. The input member comprises at least one input contact defined with a unique identity. The output member comprises at least one output contact defined with a unique identity. The input member is adapted to receive an input signal through the at least one input contact. The output member is adapted to provide an output signal through the at least one output contact. The input member is arranged to generate an action signal transmitted over the buss from the input member to the output member. The action signal comprises an address corresponding to the unique identity of an output contact.

Presently, there are no commercial devices, which directly can be used in applications for controlling a number of devices in one or several spaces and specially allow a central control over a backbone control bus.
The available programmable units, e.g. for distributed I/O via a PLC, must be provided with additional fuses for each individual group and output circuit breakers to manage the consumer load. Moreover, these solutions require profound knowledge from the system architectures.
When controlling, for example analogues or serial signals, usually specially adapted devices are used. The information representation is normally limited since only few instruments can be coupled to the same signal. If additional signals are required, signal converters, amplifiers, etc. must be employed. If a signal must be scaled, more expensive apparatuses are needed.
The traditional installations use separate switching and fusing. Using distributed I/O units with output circuit breakers demands much more installation work, which consequently increases the interest of employing this technique. Moreover, the cost of the system usually makes it unbeneficial for small applications, which results in limited systems.
In applications where the output current is monitored, for example when the condition of a light bulb or the like is checked, usually a simple monitoring of an active output and keeping the current within a predetermined level is performed. If the light is on, then it will consume a specific amount of current, and if the current level is not correct then the light bulb is defected.
In applications, in which detector outputs are monitored in different points special dedicated detectors are arranged. It is also possible to read analogue/serial signals in a number of points without using signal converters or amplifiers. In addition, it is possible to convert the signals to adapt the measurement result from, for example a non-analogues detector to the used apparatuses. However, the adjustment for scaling with the aim of obtaining minimum/maximum values from a detector and displaying the minimum/maximum value on an instrument is usually eliminated. As an alternative, a non-liner instrument can be provided to compensate the incorrect signal received from a non-linear sensor.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment according to the known technique. The system 10 comprises a number of central units 11 arranged in compartments 12a–12n. To each central unit 11 a power supply line 13 is connected. Each central unit 11 is connected to a switching arrangement 14 and supplies the devices (not shown) connected to each switching arrangement with power, preferably down (or up) transformed current/voltage. Each switching arrangement is connected to a controller unit 15, such as a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The PLC 15 controls the switching arrangement by sending control signals to the same, which connects or breaks the circuit including the controlled devices. Each PLC receives inputs from the controlled devices or other detectors, based on which input signals the devices can be controlled. The PLCs are controlled and programmed through a computer (PC) 16.
Other techniques are known. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,966, for example, a transmitter end stage for a data transmission system comprising at least one control unit and data transmission lines, especially for a CAN bus system having at least one CAN controller and one CAN bus (CB) is proposed, characterized by the fact that the individual circuit elements of transmitter end stage are integrated monolithically. As a result of the special layout and its circuit-design arrangement of the individual elements of the transmitter end stage, the effects of malfunctions, for example of short circuits of the data lines to ground or to the supply voltages, are reduced to a minimum.
As a result of the special choice of pre-drivers, minimum delay times are achieved, so that signals can be transmitted at a higher data rate.
WO 99/14643 discloses a loom control system in which a CAN bus, or other bus system, is extended by a daisy chain. After the loom has been switched on, or after a number of machine conditions, there is an initial automatic configuration of the internal and external units for the bus, and then the start is released for the daisy chain to be used for the configuration and, selectively, also as a trigger line. Fixed addresses are established for the operation of the units with the same function or to be bought in. The units with the same function have a group address for a multiple function, and each unit is assigned an additional number.
The international application no. WO 94/24618 relates to a centralized control logic device for a plurality of elements to be controlled. The device comprises a central controller having two input/output lines for transmitting and receiving data messages comprising an address, a control input means, a plurality of repeaters having first and second input/output terminals and by-pass input/output means. The repeaters are connected in series and form a ring control circuit with both ends connected to respective input/output lines and controllable automatic addressing units connecting by-pass input/output means to the elements to be controlled. The device may be used for controlling the various components.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,642 a method is disclosed for the operation of a data processing system for motor vehicles including at least two computers and a line connecting the computers for the transmission of messages. An embodiment is provided which describes in detail the interface between the individual computers and the line linking the computers, and with the aid of which a controller-coupling is realized in the vehicle.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,830, a method and system is provided for assigning addresses to input/output (I/O) devices in a control network, and for verifying addresses assigned to the I/O devices. The system comprises a logic controller providing memory into which a connectivity map may be programmed. The connectivity map defines a specific expected address for each I/O device in the system. The logic controller further provides an external controller bus and logic for downloading the connectivity map to an I/O bus manager connected to the logic controller via the external controller bus. The I/O bus manager provides logic for assigning the specific addresses to the I/O devices. Network nodes connect the I/O bus manager to I/O cluster units in the system, each network node including a multiplexer for multiplexing output signals from the I/O bus manager and a demultiplexer for demultiplexing input signals from the I/O cluster units, the multiplexing/demultiplexing functions provided by a controller area network (CAN) integrated circuit. Each I/O cluster unit includes a multiplexer for multiplexing input signals from the I/O devices and a demultiplexer for demultiplexing output signals from its associated network node, the multiplexing/demultiplexing functions again provided by a controller area network (CAN) integrated circuit. Each I/O cluster unit provides means for manually requesting address assignments and a visual indication of addresses so assigned. Each I/O cluster unit also provides means to manually reject the address assigned to it by the I/O bus manager if the assigned address is not the expected address for the I/O cluster processor defined in the connectivity map.
None of above described documents provide for solutions according to the present invention.


A vehicle is provided having an adjustable seating assembly comprising one or more members. One member of the seating assembly can be adjusted to provide a backrest to a straddle type seat of the vehicle. As such, when a carrier bed having an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, the one member can optionally be used to provide a wall portion of the carrier bed. The one member can also be adjusted to provide an extension to the straddle type seat. As such, when an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, the one member can optionally be used to at least partially cover a segment of the accessory platform. When an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, an additional member of the seating assembly can be adjusted to provide a backrest to one or more of the straddle type seat or an extended straddle type seat. The additional member can also be adjusted to form a segment of the accessory platform.

Recreational and utility vehicles are becoming increasingly popular as a mode of transportation, particularly for various types of off-road activities. Seating systems for supporting people in a sitting position on such vehicles, for example, on ATVs, are well-known. Most systems generally involve a straddle type seat being secured to a frame structure. In some cases, the systems also include a generally vertical backrest immediately aft of the seat for additional comfort for the rider. Such vehicles are sometimes additionally equipped with a carrier bed of some type. In some cases, such carrier beds are integrally mounted at the rear of the vehicle, and specifically located rearward of the seat. The carrier beds generally include a horizontally disposed supporting area that is used in carrying various items, such as packages, containers, and/or other cargo.
Conventional straddle type seats on recreational and utility vehicles generally hold a fixed number of people. Most commonly, the seats function in supporting only a single person. However, vehicle seats that support two people are also known. Typically, two-person seating systems are designed with an elongated bench portion of the straddle type seat so as to support one person in front of the other. If a backrest is provided with such two-person seating systems, the backrest is generally located for use by the person in the rear position, so that the person in the front position must rely on the person in the rear position for back support.
It has been desirable on vehicles to have the option of supporting two people on a single seat, especially when dealing with a relatively small vehicle where space and weight capacity are limited. However, a vehicle with a conventional two-person seating system may be uncomfortable, inconvenient, or even dangerous for a single person to operate, due to the greater length of the bench and the absence of a properly positioned backrest. Additionally, when a single person occupies a two-person seat, the excess space taken up by the elongated seat is generally wasted. Further, it is more difficult to adapt the vehicle for other purposes, for example, carrying cargo with a carrier bed or storage rack, without increasing the general size of the vehicle. Embodiments of the invention can be used to generally overcome the above shortcomings as well as others.

Adjustable seating assemblies for vehicles


A solid state image sensing device is composed of a second conductive type well area 33, a photoelectric conversion area 40, a ring shaped gate electrode 35, a transfer gate electrode 41, a second conductive type drain area 38, a second conductive type source area 36, and a first conductive type source neighborhood area 37.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid state image sensing device, and manufacturing and driving methods thereof, particularly, relates to a solid state image sensing device provided with an amplifying element having a ring shaped gate electrode in each pixel and manufacturing and driving methods thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Solid state image sensing devices are divided broadly into two types: the one is a charge coupled device (CCD) and the other is a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. The CCD out of the two types of solid state image sensing devices transfers an electric charge, which is obtained through photoelectric conversion process by a photo diode, outside a pixel. The electric charge is converted into a voltage signal and amplified, and then outputted outside the CCD chip.
On the other hand, in the case of a CMOS image sensor, the CCD image sensor converts an electric charge, which is obtained through the photoelectric conversion process by a photo diode, into an electrical signal such as a voltage signal and a current signal in a pixel, and then the electrical signal is outputted outside the pixel. Almost all CMOS image sensors are provided with a transistor for amplifying in each pixel. Consequently, a CMOS image sensor is often provided with more than three transistors in one pixel. A lot of space of one pixel is devoted to these transistors, so that a CMOS image sensor is said to be disadvantageous to miniaturization in comparison with a CCD.
In this connection, a type of image sensor having only one or two transistors in one pixel has been developed. A transistor provided in such a type of image sensor is characterized by having a ring shaped gate electrode. Generally, diffusion in the middle of the ring of the ring shaped gate electrode functions as a source of the transistor. However, the diffusion is isolated from other diffusion by the ring shaped gate electrode, so that configuration of the transistor enables to be simplified. In this regard, such a type of image sensor should be categorized as one type of CMOS image sensor as far as the image sensor is provided with a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) for amplifying in each pixel.
The most typical example of such an image sensor is a solid state image sensing device called the CMD (Charge Modulation Device), which was disclosed in the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 60-206063/1985.
FIG. 32 is a cross sectional view of the solid state image sensing device called the CMD according to the first prior art. In FIG. 32, the conventional solid state image sensing device is composed of a p−-type substrate 501, an n−-type epitaxial layer 502 that is grown with constituting a channel area on the p-type substrate 501, an n+-type circular source diffusion layer 503 that is formed by adding n-type impurities into the n−-type epitaxial layer 502, an n+-type drain diffusion layer 504 that is concentrically formed with completely surrounding the n+-type circular source diffusion layer 503, a source electrode 505, and a drain electrode 506, wherein the source electrode 505 and the drain electrode 506 is made from aluminum and jointed to the n+-type circular source diffusion layer 503 and the n+-type drain diffusion layer 504 respectively.
Further, a p-type gate area 507 is formed on the surface of the n−-type epitaxial layer 502 through a process such as the ion implantation method so as to cove over the n+-type source diffusion layer 503 and the n+-type drain diffusion layer 504.
Furthermore, a concentric insulative gate is formed by providing a gate electrode 509 made from a transparent conductive material on the surface of the n−-type epitaxial layer 503 between the n+-type circular source diffusion layer 503 and the n+-type drain diffusion layer 504 with sandwiching a gate insulative film 508 so as to completely surround the n+-type circular source diffusion layer 503.
In the CMD having the above-mentioned configuration, a depletion layer is formed by applying certain voltage to the gate electrode 509, and conducted to be a light receiving section, that is, a so-called photo gate type light receiving element, which is simple in configuration such that one transistor combines a light receiving element with an amplifying element. Electric charges pooled right under the gate electrode 509 make threshold voltage of the transistor change by the substrate effect, make an output voltage of the source change, and result in an electrical signal. A hole is discharged to the substrate when a high voltage is applied to the source electrode 505 and the gate electrode 509 after the electrical signal is read out.
However, the photo gate type light receiving element mentioned above is weak in sensitivity in comparison with an buried photo diode that is commonly used in a CCD because light is absorbed while the light passes through the gate electrode 509.
Further, there exists a problem such that noise easily occurs in an interfacial area of the gate insulative film 508 although the gate area 107 as a p-well directly contacts with the interfacial area of the gate insulative film 508.
Furthermore, there exists another problem such that generated electric charges are evenly distributed over the gate electrode 509 by this configuration, and resulting in degrading efficiency of converting an electric charge into voltage.
In order to improve the problems, the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 11-195778/1999 disclosed a solid state image sensing device. The solid state image sensing device is in the configuration that is provided with not only a light receiving diode and an insulative gate type field effect transistor (FET) sharing a well area but also a concentrated buried layer (carrier pocket), which is provided adjacent to a source diffusion area in the well area under a channel area of the FET.
FIG. 33 is a cross sectional view of the solid state image sensing device according to the second prior art disclosed in the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 11-195778/1999. In FIG. 33, the solid state image sensing device is a ring shaped MOSFET, which is provided with an n-well 612 that is formed on the surface of a p+-type substrate 611, an buried p-well 613 that is formed in the n-well 612, a ring shaped gate electrode 614 that is formed on the buried p-well 613, an n+-type drain diffusion layer 615 that is also formed on the buried p-well 613 so as to surround the outer circumferential area of the gate electrode 614, and an n+-type source diffusion layer 616 that is formed in the middle of the ring shaped gate electrode 614.
In this configuration, the buried p-well 613, which is provided under the n+-type drain diffusion layer 615 of the ring shaped MOSFET, is conducted to be an buried photo diode. Then, a p+ area (hereinafter referred to as carrier pocket) 617 is formed in an area adjacent to the n+-type source diffusion layer 616 of the MOSFET as a highly concentrated buried layer of which concentration of p-type impurity is increased. By this configuration, since an electric potential of the carrier pocket 617 is the lowest in the buried p-well 613, a hole generated by incident light in the buried photo diode provided under the n+-type drain diffusion layer 615 moves inside the buried p-well 613, and is concentrated in the carrier pocket 617. Consequently, voltage of an area adjacent to the source increases and threshold of the MOSFET decreases, so that change of the threshold results in an electrical signal. Holes concentrated in the carrier pocket 617 are discharged by applying a high voltage across a wiring 618 for the source electrode 616 and another wiring 619 for the gate electrode 614 after the electrical signal is read out.
As mentioned above, in the conventional solid state image sensing device, all electric charges generated by incident light move through a substrate as the buried p-well 613 without passing over the surface of the substrate in which noise easily occurs. Therefore, the conventional solid state image sensing device is characterized by low noise.
Further, generated electric charges are concentrated in the neighborhood of the source diffusion layer 616, so that the conventional solid state image sensing device is also characterized in that efficiency of converting an electric charge into voltage increases more.
The solid state image sensing devices disclosed in the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications Nos. 60-206063/1985 and 11-195778/1999 adopt a so-called electric rolling shutter imaging system. The electric rolling shutter imaging system is such an imaging system that imaging time is shifted at each line or by each pixel. Such a rolling shutter imaging system causes a problem such that a picture being imaged is distorted when imaging a moving object or panning a camera. Consequently, a so-called frame shutter or global shutter imaging system in which time information is aligned at whole pixels is desirable for the imaging system. In the case of a CCD, electric charges generated by photo diodes in whole pixels are simultaneously transferred to a transfer path of the CCD, so that the frame shutter is accomplished.
The Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 10-41493/1998 has disclosed the solid state image sensing device, which was provided with the ring shaped gate electrode and realized the frame shutter.
FIG. 34 is a cross sectional view of the solid state image sensing device according to the third prior art disclosed in the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 11-195778/1999. In FIG. 34, the solid state image sensing device is provided with a p-type substrate 721, an n-type semiconductor area (hereinafter referred to as n-well) 722 that is formed on the p-type substrate 721, a p-type semiconductor area 723 that is formed on a part of the n-well 722 constituting a unit pixel, and an n+-type semiconductor area 724 in highly concentrated form that is formed on the p-type semiconductor area 723, wherein these n+-type semiconductor area 724, p-type semiconductor area 723 and n-well 722 constitute a light receiving section that is called a photo diode sensor. The p-type semiconductor area 723 is equivalent to an area in where a signal charge generated by the photoelectric conversion is accumulated.
Further, a p-type semiconductor area 725 is formed on a part of the n-well 722 that constitutes a unit pixel, and then a ring shaped gate electrode 727 is formed above the surface of the p-type semiconductor area 725 with sandwiching a gate insulative film 726.
Furthermore, an n+-type source area 728 and an n+-type drain area 729 is formed in the p-type semiconductor area 725, wherein the n+-type source area 728 is formed in an area disposed right under the center portion of the ring shaped gate electrode 727, and wherein the n+-type drain area 729 is formed in another area corresponding to the outer peripheral area of the ring shaped gate electrode 727. Then the source electrode 731 is formed above the n+-type source area 728 with sandwiching the gate insulative film 726. Consequently, a CMOS transistor for reading out signals is formed, wherein the p-type semiconductor area 725 provided right under the gate electrode 727 functions as a signal charge accumulating section.
In addition thereto, a transfer gate electrode 730 is formed on the gate insulative film 726 in an area, which is allocated between the light receiving section and the CMOS transistor, above the n+-type semiconductor area 724.
As mentioned above, the conventional solid state image sensing device according to the third prior art shown in FIG. 34 is added with one transfer gate electrode 730, which is allocated in the area between the buried photo diode as the light receiving section and the ring shaped gate electrode 727. The conventional solid state image sensing device transfers signal charges, which are obtained through the photoelectric conversion in the light receiving section and accumulated in the p-type semiconductor area 723, to the p-type semiconductor area 725 disposed under the ring shaped gate electrode 727 by means of the transfer gate electrode 730 simultaneously with respect to whole pixels. Consequently, the frame shutter is accomplished. The conventional solid state image sensing device shown in FIG. 34 is identical to the conventional CMD according to the second prior art shown in FIG. 33 as far as the not buried p-type semiconductor area 725 spreads over whole area disposed under the ring shaped gate electrode 727.
The conventional solid state image sensing devices having the conventional ring shaped gate electrode resulted in following problems.
In the case of the conventional solid state image sensing device according to the second prior art disclosed in the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 11-195778/1999, as shown in FIG. 33, the carrier pocket 617 is constituted by providing a p+-area in the buried p-well 613, so that the p+-area is inevitably led to be excessively high in concentration. Consequently, voltage for resetting an electric charge in the carrier pocket 617 becomes higher. High voltage as high as 7 to 8 volts, for example, is essential. Since high voltage is essential to be applied as mentioned above, power consumption increases, and resulting in a problem such that a booster circuit is necessary to be provided.
In order to decrease the resetting voltage, it has only to reduce p+ concentration of the carrier pocket 617. However, it is impossible, in principle, to reduce the p+ concentration of the carrier pocket 617 lower than concentration of the buried p-well 613.
Further, an effect of concentrating electric charges is degraded otherwise the p+ concentration of the carrier pocket 617 is sufficiently higher than that of the p-well 613. Consequently, it should be understood that there exists restriction for designating a range of p+ concentration of the carrier pocket 617.
On the other hand, for the purpose of realizing the frame shutter, it just has to provide one transfer gate electrode as the same manner as the conventional solid state image sensing device according to the third prior art disclosed in the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 10-41493/1998 shown in FIG. 34. However, the configuration of the transistor having the ring shaped gate electrode is identical to that of the conventional CMD according to the second prior art disclosed in the Japanese publication of unexamined patent applications No. 11-195778/1999, and the p-well is provided in whole area disposed under the ring shaped gate electrode, so that concentrating electric charges in the source area is disabled. Consequently, there exists a problem such that efficiency of converting an electric charge into voltage is degraded.

Solid state image sensing device and manufacturing and driving methods thereof