A strander for generating a multi-strand cable including at least one pay-off station which is spaced radially from a common rotational axis along which the cable is formed. Each station includes a reel for paying-off a strand to be used in the cable, and each reel s disposed with its axis in a plane normal to a radial line from the common axis. Furthermore, each pay-off station includes a mechanism for causing the axis of the reel to rotate in the plane normal to the radial line. A stabilizer mechanism is provided for a flywheel disposed coaxially with the product reel, and a torque differential device is coupled to be driven by the reel and to drive the flywheel in a direction opposed to the rotational direction of the reel, wherein any change in the angular momentum of the reel is opposed by a change in the angular momentum of the flywheel.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates generally to cabling machines, or stranders, and more particularly to apparatus and a method for winding a plurality of conductor strands on a core strand to form a self-neutralized multi-strand cable, each strand being continuously free of any backtwist. The present invention finds particular utility in applications for winding small gauge or fragile strands, such as fiber optic strands. Of course, the present invention may be used with equal advantage in many other applications, such as insulated wire, steel wire, or other products requiring stranding without torsional twisting.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Stranded cables are well known and have been used in many applications for more than a century. For example, stranded wire cables are used for structural applications, such as bridges, for electrical applications, such as electrical transmission lines, and for communications applications, such as telecommunication transmission cables. Recently, stranded fiber optic cables also have been used for various applications, including telecommunication transmission lines.
Stranders also are well known. Generally, a strander winds together a plurality of strands to form a flexible multi-strand cable. In some cases, a plurality of strands, or conductors, are wound around a center or core strand. In other applications, individual conductor strands simply are wound about each other. The individual strands typically are fed to the strander from respective reels, or bobbins.
Known stranders generally are classified in one of two categories; rigid stranders and planetary stranders. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,396,522 (Biagini) and 3,727,390 (Schwarz) disclose rigid stranders that include a plurality of reels disposed radially on a disk-shaped platform. The disk-shaped platform is mounted on a cradle and arranged for rotation about a core strand, which is drawn therethrough on a common axis. In such rigid stranders, conductor strands are unwound or payed-off from individual reels, fed along the length of the cradle to a closing device, and layed on the core strand as it is drawn through the common axis of the disk-shaped platform and strander cradle. The windings of the stranded cable are generated by rotating the disk-shaped platform about the common axis as the core strand is drawn therethrough.
Other examples of stranders include tubular stranders and bow stranders. In a tubular strander, a bunch of strands are fed through a long pipe, which is turned to twist the strands. A bow strander comprises a plurality of bow members having their ends arranged on a common axis and their bodies bowed radially outward. In a bow strander, the strands are payed-off reels which are held in cradles, and the bows are arranged to allow the strands to skip over the reels for passage through a hub.
Although rigid stranders provide utility in a number of applications, they suffer a number of drawbacks. Bow stranders generally manipulate the strands extensively through small pulleys and are limited in the number of strands that can be twisted at one time. Moreover, all rigid stranders have a drawback in that they add a twist to each strand (known as a backtwist), as the strand is wound about the other strands to form the resultant cable. This backtwist stretches the strand and degrades the tensile and shear strength of the strand, as well as the resultant cable. For small or fragile strands, such as fiber optic strands, this degradation may cause the strands or cable to fail or break. Moreover, even if the fiber optic strands do not break, a backtwist may degrade the optical transmission efficiency of a fiber optic strand because twisting alters the physical continuity of the fiber walls, and causes clouding of the transmitted signal.
Planetary stranders provide a multi-strand cable in which the individual conductor strands in the cable do not have a backtwist. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,802,328 (Ritchie), 3,010,275 (Khartmann) and 3,058,867 (Plummer) disclose planetary stranders similar to the above-described rigid stranders, wherein individual conductor strands are fed from respective reels disposed radially on a disk-shaped platform, and wherein the disk-shaped platform is mounted on a cradle for rotation about the common axis of a core strand. However, in such planetary stranders, each reel is rotatably supported on the disk-shaped platform about an axis parallel to the common axis, such that for each revolution of the platform about the common axis, each reel also rotates one revolution about its parallel axis. In this manner, the strands are payed-off from the reels, fed along the length of the cradle to a closing device, and layed on the core strand to form a twist-neutralized multi-strand cable.
Although planetary stranders have utility in many applications, known planetary stranders also have certain drawbacks. One drawback is bowing of the conductor strands during the reel unwinding operation. That is, the conductor strands are payed-off from the reels and fed along the length of the strander cradle to a closing device, centrifugal force acts on the payed-out conductor strands. These forces cause the conductor strands to bow radially outward. At low rotational speeds, this effect may be inconsequential. However, radial bowing increases as the rotational speed and radial distance from the axis of rotation increases.
Bowing also may be caused by windage. Rotation of the conductor strands at a radius about the axis of rotation creates windage for the conductor strands. Windage forces cause the strands to bow in a direction opposite the direction of rotation. Thus, bowing due to windage also increases as the rotational speed or radius increases.
It is known to reduce bowing by increasing the tension in the conductor strands. However, increasing the tension increases the likelihood of breakage or degradation of the conductor strands or cable. This is particularly true for fiber optic strands, which are fragile and subject to degradation of transmission efficiency when stretched or bent through an angle beyond their minimum bend radius. In addition, in order to maintain a quality stranded cable having consistent winding characteristics, the tension in the strands must be controlled so that it remains substantially constant. Since tension from centrifugal and windage forces in known stranders varies directly with the rotational speed and distance from the axis of rotation, these stranders generally require complex tension control devices for maintaining a constant tension over a range of rotational speeds. This is particularly true for optical fibers, which generally have a limited acceptable tension range.
It also is known to decrease bowing due to windage by feeding the conductor strands through respective guides or pipes disposed between the reels and the closing device. However, this arrangement increases the weight and complexity of the strander. Also, the energy required for rotation increases because guides and pipes are subject to windage and to radial acceleration forces caused by the centrifugal force. Moreover, the strands continue to bow radially due to the centrifugal force, and thus are subject to degradation from friction and wear of the conductor strands against the guides or pipes.
The above described drawbacks of known planetary stranders undesirably limit production speed for twist neutralized multi-strand cable. Specifically, there is a trade-off between rotational speed (thus production speed) and product quality. That is, for example, a fiber optic strand will develop a "history" with each bend to which it is subjected, and the quality of the strand will degrade with each such bend. Known planetary stranders generally are limited to operational speeds in the range of 75 to 150 RPM, with a maximum speed of about 200 RPM.


An Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation (“APCI”) ion source is disclosed comprising a housing 14 having a corona discharge chamber 1, a reaction chamber 2 and a passage 6 connecting the corona discharge chamber 1 to the reaction chamber 2. Reagent ions are formed in the corona discharge chamber 1 and pass to the reaction chamber 2 via the passage 6. Analyte is sprayed into a heated tube 3. Low to moderately polar analyte molecules pass from the heated tube 3 into the reaction chamber 2 whereupon the analyte molecules are ionised by interacting with reagent ions. In contrast, highly polar analytes are ionised by thermal ionisation processes within the heated tube 3 and hence highly polar analyte ions pass into the reaction chamber 2. Analyte ions entering the reaction chamber 2 are substantially shielded from the effects of an electric field generated in the corona discharge chamber 1 as part of the process of generating reagent ions. The APCI ion source according to the preferred embodiment is able to optimally ionise a sample containing both low to moderately polar analytes and also highly polar analytes.

Chemical ionization involves the transfer of charged species from reagent ions to analyte molecules to produce analyte ions that can be subsequently mass analysed. The charged species most commonly formed in positive ion mode is the adduct between the analyte molecule and positive hydrogen ions (H+).
Chemical ionization conducted at atmospheric pressure is known as Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization ("APCI"). A sample containing analyte material is typically delivered to an Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization ion source as a solution. The solution containing the analyte is then sprayed into a heated tube through which a nebulising gas is also directed. The nebulising gas causes the sprayed solution to be nebulised into fine droplets which then impact the inner wall of the heated tube and are converted into the gas phase. As the solution is converted into the gas phase the analyte molecules become desolvated. Hot gas comprising mobile phase solvents, microdroplets and desolvated analyte molecules then exit the heated tube and expand towards a corona needle. The analyte molecules are then ionised by chemical ionization with reagent ions produced by a corona discharge in the presence of a reagent gas. In particular, analyte molecules are ionised by gas phase ion-molecule reactions between reagent ions and analyte molecules.
In this conventional arrangement, analytes that exit the heated tube in the form of neutral gaseous molecules, ions or charged micro-droplets directly pass the corona needle prior to entering the vacuum section of a mass spectrometer via an ion sampling orifice. Only a relatively small proportion of the analyte ions formed at atmospheric pressure are actually drawn through a small aperture into the vacuum system of the mass spectrometer for subsequent mass analysis
Reagent ions which transfer charged species to the analyte molecules to form analyte ions are produced as a result of a corona discharge in solvent vapour. The corona discharge is generated by applying a high voltage (e.g. 5 kV) to the tip of a sharp corona needle or pin.
Analyte molecules are ionised by gas phase ion-molecule reactions with reagent ions in the region between the corona tip and the ion sampling orifice. Analyte ions are therefore generated in the region of the corona discharge since this is also where the reagent ions are formed.
The majority of the gas exits the ion source via an exhaust port whilst a small proportion of the gas and analyte ions will be drawn through the ion sampling orifice into the vacuum system of the mass spectrometer for subsequent mass analysis.
Analyte samples which are low to moderately polar when analysed by Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation typically exhibit an increase in ion signal intensity as the voltage or current applied to the corona needle is increased. In contrast, highly polar or ionic analytes typically exhibit a decrease in ion signal intensity as the voltage or current applied to the corona needle is increased. Therefore, in order to achieve a sufficiently high ion signal intensity for highly polar or ionic analytes these analytes are conventionally generated using an ion source other than an Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation ion source, such as, for example, an Electrospray Ionisation ("ESI") ion source.
It is believed that in Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation ion sources highly polar or ionic analytes emerge from the outlet of the heated tube in the form of ions or charged micro-droplets before the analytes have had an opportunity to interact with reagent ions. As the corona needle is maintained at a relatively high positive potential (for positive ion analysis) an electric field is generated in the region of the corona needle. The electric field generated by the corona needle will tend to retard and disperse the already positively charged analyte ions or micro-droplets which exit the heated tube causing the analyte ions or charged analyte micro-droplets to become defocussed in the region of the ion sampling orifice. Accordingly, if the voltage or current applied to the corona needle is further increased then the positive analyte ions or micro-droplets will simply be retarded and dispersed to an even greater extent and hence even fewer analyte ions will pass through the ion sampling orifice into the main body of the mass spectrometer for subsequent mass analysis and detection. Accordingly, the ion signal intensity for highly polar or ionic analytes is significantly decreased as the corona current is increased.
It follows that the ion signal intensity for highly polar or ionic analytes is optimized when a relatively low current or voltage is applied to the corona needle. In contrast, the ion signal intensity for low to moderately polar analytes is optimized when a relatively high current or voltage is applied to the corona needle. This is because when a higher current or voltage is applied to the corona needle a higher number of reagent ions are generated in the region of the corona needle. The increased number of reagent ions interact with the analyte molecules and generate a higher number of analyte ions. As low to moderately polar analytes do not generally become charged before they exit the heated tube and approach the corona needle, the low to moderately polar analyte molecules are not retarded and dispersed by the electric field generated by the corona needle. Accordingly, as the current or voltage applied to the corona needle is increased a higher number of analyte ions are generated (due to the increased number of reagent ions produced) and these analyte ions pass through the ion sampling orifice for subsequent mass analysis and hence a greater ion signal intensity is detected.
It will be appreciated, therefore, that in order to analyse samples containing a mixture of both low to moderately polar analytes and also highly polar or ionic analytes using a conventional Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation ion source, that it is necessary to execute multiple sequential experimental runs in which different voltages or currents are applied to the corona needle of the ion source (e.g. a relatively low corona current is set in a first experimental run so that ionisation is optimised for highly polar analytes and a relatively high corona current is set in a second experimental run so that ionisation is optimised for low to moderately polar analytes). Executing multiple experimental runs whilst applying different voltages or currents to the corona needle yields multiple sets of data which together provide a relatively high ion signal intensity for each analyte in the sample irrespective of the polarities or ionic nature of the analytes in the sample. However, the requirement to repeat the data acquisition process whilst applying different voltages or currents to the corona needle increases both the sample analysis time and the sample consumption volume. This can be a particular problem especially when only very small amounts of sample are available for analysis and also when the sample supplied to the ion source is dynamically changing in a short period of time, for example in chromatography applications.
It is therefore desired to provide an improved ion source.


An apparatus includes an exterior portion, an interior portion, a first top, and a second top. The exterior portion includes an exterior wall, an exterior top end coupled to the exterior wall, and an exterior bottom closed end coupled to the exterior wall. The interior portion nests within the exterior portion and includes an interior wall having a geometry smaller than the exterior portion, an interior bottom closed end coupled to the interior wall, and an interior top end coupled to the interior wall opposite the interior bottom closed end. The first top closes the interior top end to form an interior space within the interior portion. The first top includes a first opening. The second top includes a second opening. The second top engages with the exterior bottom end in a stored position and engages with the exterior top end in a containing position.

It is recommended that a person drink at least 1.5 L of water a day. Many types of bottles exist to facilitate such a daily intake of water. However, such bottles are often very large and cumbersome to store or take on the go. Furthermore, such bottles often do not allow for hygienic sharing of water between persons, thereby encouraging transfer of germs and bacteria when shared.


A pull-out kitchen sprayer, comprising a central body that is accommodated within an outer enclosure whose shape is such as to require assembly with a particular orientation, the central body comprising a switching device with a slider and a rod provided with a flow control element and with actuation buttons at its two ends, the outer enclosure having facing openings that allow to access the buttons, one of the openings being formed so as to face the user.

The invention relates to a pull-out kitchen sprayer or shower head.
The great diffusion achieved by so-called kitchen sprayers or shower heads is known; such kitchen sprayers are connected to a flexible hose, so that they can be pulled out of faucets in order to reach distant positions within sinks, and convey water with the possibility to provide the outflow of the water as a central jet or as a peripheral jet by operating a switching device provided for this purpose.


A collaboration server comprising: a switch fabric; and a plurality of processing modules, each processing module including a CPU core; wherein the plurality of processing modules are interconnected via the switch fabric.

Improvements in smartphones, tablets and computers in recent years have led to an increased demand for flexibility when it comes to conference calls for the sharing of audio information, video information or other content such as remote desktop protocol packets. Collaboration servers provide freedom in the way that participants may communicate with one another to share audio, video and/or other information.
Cluster node servers for use with video conferencing systems are known. However, such systems suffer from poor performance, both in terms of performance per Watt and also in terms of performance per rack unit.
Multiprocessor (MP) servers are also known. However, such servers are cache coherent systems and therefore require special central processing units (CPUs) designed for cache coherence. These special CPUs are expensive which means that the MP servers themselves are also expensive. MP servers also suffer from poor power efficiency and so are expensive to run.


When using graphical diagrams, cutting and pasting operations may take advantage of predefined relationships to intelligently insert and remove items from the diagram. A text data model may be interpreted sequentially or hierarchically to construct various diagrams. Pasting operations will bring new data into the diagram and data model while conforming the new data to the diagram definition. Cutting operations may cause the data model and diagram to be healed to conform to the diagram definition.

a. Technical Field
The present invention pertains generally to cutting and pasting of objects in a computer system and specifically to cutting and pasting of objects with predefined graphical diagrams.
b. Description of the Background
Graphical representation of objects and ideas is often required in computer systems. Many software applications are able to represent data in a myriad of different forms, and many of those software applications allow a user to create graphical representations such as graphs, diagrams, and other visual representations. In some cases, relationally defined diagrams may be used for displaying data. Relationally defined diagrams may include definitions of objects and relationships within the diagram that enables a computer application to construct the graphical representation.
Problems may arise when items from one application are copied and pasted into a pre-defined relational diagram. An object taken from one application or diagram may not be appropriate for the diagram into which it is being placed. Further, problems may arise when cutting an object from a diagram affects relationships established between other objects.


A printing system for printing mail pieces including at least one page having an address. The system includes a printer, a controller, and a feeder for selectively feeding an envelope or a cut sheet to the printer. The controller examines the text of each page to identify a destination address, and when the destination address is found prints it on an envelope for the mail piece. The system also has the capability to identify and print return addresses and the capability to print the envelope either before or after pages included in the mail piece.

The subject invention relates to a printing system. More particularly, it relates to a system for printing a mail piece which includes at least one printed sheet and an envelope printed with a destination address, and including a barcode.
As the United States Postal Service, together with the postal services of other countries around the world, moves towards automated mail handling in an effort to contain cost while processing an ever increasing amount of mail, automated equipment which sorts and processes mail on the basis of machine readable postal codes, such as the "zip code" used in the United States, plays an ever more significant role. In the United States, Postal Service regulations provide for a "Postnet" barcode which represents the five or nine digit zip code of the destination address in machine readable form.
Systems have been used or proposed to meet the need to produce mail pieces imprinted with the Postnet barcode, and to enable mailers to obtain the benefit of the discounts offered for such mail. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,907; to: Eisner et al; issued: Aug. 22, 1989. This patent discloses a system for printing envelopes with addresses including barcodes. The system is controlled by a computer which includes software for converting a zip code included in the address into barcode form and adding this barcode representation to the material to be printed on the envelope.
Another system for printing envelopes with addresses including barcode is disclosed in commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. #420,039; filed Mar. 12, 1990, which describes a system for printing mail pieces which includes a printer for printing sheets and envelope forms and a folder-sealer mechanism for folding the envelope form around the sheets to form a mail piece and a computer; based control system for controlling the printer and folder. In the system of this application, when an operator is creating a file of letters to be printed the operator may designate a selected field within each letter as containing the destination address. The system will then extract the information in this designated field and with it create a new page of material to be printed on the envelope form, and if the address within the designated field includes a zip code the system will add a corresponding barcode to the new page. The system then adds this new page to the file before the file is output. This system, however, requires specially developed software and hardware.
To date, despite extensive efforts, no system has been developed which is suitable for the small to medium size user, such as a small business or professional office; which has an existing system for generating mailings of a few to a few hundred mail pieces for printing by a conventional computer outprint printer, such as a laser printer.
Thus, it is an object of the subject invention to provide a system for printing mail pieces including sheets and envelopes which will be suitable for the small to medium volume user.

System for automatic printing of mail pieces


A lift pin 95 for dechucking a substrate 15 held to a chuck 50 by residual electrostatic charge, the substrate being processed in a plasma formed using RF currents, is described. The lift pin 95 comprises (a) a movable elongated member 110 having a tip 115 suitable for lifting and lowering the substrate 15 off the chuck 50, and capable of forming an electrically conductive path between the substrate 15 and a current sink 105. The electrically conductive path comprises at least one of the following: (1) a frequency selective filter capable of filtering RF currents flowing therethrough so that substantially no RF currents flow through the filter; or (2) a resistor having a resistance sufficiently elevated to reduce the voltage caused by RF currents flowing therethrough, by at least about 50%. The lift pin 95 allows the residual electrostatic charge in the substrate 15 to be discharged to the current sink 105 substantially without allowing RF currents, used to form a plasma in the process chamber and to attract the plasma to the substrate, from flowing to the current sink 105.

The present invention relates to lift pins used for dechucking substrates held by electrostatic chucks in process chambers.
In semiconductor processing, lift pins are used to lift and lower a semiconductor substrate onto a chuck that is used to hold the substrate in a process chamber. Typically, a robotic arm transports the substrate into an upper portion of the process chamber where the substrate is deposited on lift pins that extend upwardly through the chuck. The lift pins are then lowered into a lower portion of the process chamber to deposit the substrate on the chuck. Thereafter, the robotic arm is withdrawn from the chamber.
Electrostatic chucks are often used to electrostatically attract and hold the substrate in the process chamber during processing of the substrate. Electrostatic chucks are either monopolar or bipolar chucks. A monopolar electrostatic chuck has a single electrode which operates in conjunction with a plasma formed in the process chamber to accumulate opposing electrostatic charge in the substrate and the electrode. A bipolar chuck can be used in non-plasma processes, and typically includes two or more electrodes which are maintained at opposing electric potentials to induce opposing electrostatic charge in the electrodes and substrate. The opposing electrostatic charges in the substrate and the electrodes of the chuck cause the substrate to be electrostatically held to the chuck. Typically, the electrodes of the chuck are electrically biased with respect to the substrate by a DC voltage or a low frequency AC voltage. Also, typically, the plasma in the process chamber is formed by (i) inductive coupling by applying a high frequency RF current to an inductor coil wound around the chamber, (ii) capacitive coupling using process electrodes in the chamber, or (iii) both inductive and capacitive coupling.
After processing of the substrate, the DC voltage applied to the chuck electrode is terminated to release the substrate, and the lift pins are raised upward through holes in the chuck to lift the substrate off the chuck by pushing up against the substrate. The robotic arm is then reinserted below the substrate to withdraw the processed substrate from the chamber.
One problem with conventional lift pins arises when the lift pins attempt to lift the substrate off the chuck. Residual electrostatic charge in the substrate generates attractive electrostatic forces between the substrate and the chuck, that cause the substrate to adhere to the chuck, even when the voltage to the chuck is terminated. The upwardly pushing lift pins can damage or break the substrate. This problem is worse when the lift pins are made of ceramic material. The electrically insulative ceramic pins trap residual electrostatic charge in the substrate, causing the substrate to stick to the chuck as the lift pins are pushed against the substrate, resulting in damage or breakage of the substrate.
One solution is to use electrically grounded metal lift pins that allow the residual charge in the substrate to discharge through the lift pins. However, the metal pins also allow the high frequency RF currents used to generate the plasma in the chamber, and to attract the plasma to the substrate, to propagate through the metal pins and into the lower portion of the chamber. This results in plasma formation in the lower portion of the chamber, causing erosion of the metal parts therein, and wasting the power used to generate the plasma. Also, the plasma heats up the lower portion of the process chamber, and causes deposits to form on the components therein.
Therefore, there is a need for lift pins which allow discharging of residual electrostatic charge in a substrate to prevent damage or breakage of the substrate during dechucking of the substrate. It is further desirable for the lift pins to reduce propagation of the RF currents used to generate a plasma into the lower portion of the process chamber. The present invention satisfies these needs.


A color conversion section converts R-, G- and B-image signals input by the reading of a color image on an original to C-, M- and Y-color signals. A histogram producing means of an image processing section produces density histograms of the respective color signals on the basis of the converted C-, M- and Y-color signals. An original type determination means determines a type of the original on the basis of the histogram data signals. A colored background determination means determines a colored background on the basis of the histogram data signals. A background process presence/absence determination means determines whether a background process is to be executed or not, on the basis of an original type determination result signal and a colored background determination result signal. A CPU produces, when it is determined that the background process is to be executed, a background process table using the density histogram values of the respective color signals. A density adjustment means performs density adjustment of the respective color signals input from the color conversion section, on the basis of the background process table.

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for processing a color image read from an original, for example, in an image forming apparatus such as a digital color copying machine for forming a copy image of a color image, and also to an image forming apparatus such as a digital color copying machine using this image processing apparatus.
Generally speaking, there are various types of originals to be copied, and it is not necessarily ideal to reproduce an image of an original with high fidelity, depending on the purpose of use of the reproduced image. For example, in the case of an original such as newspaper or a notebook, on which the density of a background image is high, if the background image with high density is reproduced with high fidelity, the contrast of character image portions lowers and the copied image becomes very difficult to read.
Besides, where there are images on both sides of a thin paper sheet such as a paper sheet of a magazine, the image on the back side of the sheet is seen through. In such a case, if the image on the front side is copied, the image on the back side is copied together, and a phenomenon called "back-side copying" occurs.
Accordingly, where newspaper, a notebook or a magazine is to be copied, the density of copying is manually adjusted in normal cases so as to reduce the background image or the possibility of back-side copying.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-83166, for instance, discloses that a histogram is produced from input image data to calculate white and black reference values, and the density of the input image data is adjusted based on the white and black reference values, whereby the background image is eliminated or the density of thin character images is increased.
In addition, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-187266 discloses that a background density level is calculated from input R-, G- and B-image data, and a density conversion table is prepared based on the background density level, whereby the density of the input image data is converted. Thereby, the background density adjustment, including elimination of background, is performed so that character images may not become difficult to read even if the background density is decreased.
In the case of color copying, however, a background image on an original, if it has a special significance (e.g. a map), should be left as such. In the case of such a colored background image, it is very difficult to determine whether the background image should be left or not.
In the above-mentioned Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-187266, the density conversion table is prepared from the R-, G- and B-image data to adjust the density. In normal cases, in an image forming apparatus such as a digital color copying machine, color-separated images of respective color components, which are obtained by a conventional subtractive color mixing method, i.e. four color image signals of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K), are used for image formation. In the case of color copying, high-quality ground processing cannot be performed on the basis of R-, G- and B-image data.
In the case of an original including a photograph, if elimination of background or back-side copying is effected for the entire image, the density of the photograph, which requires high-fidelity density reproduction, lowers. It is necessary, in particular, to prevent the photograph area from being subjected to the process for elimination of background or back-side copying. It is thus very difficult to determine whether the background processing should be carried out or not, depending on the type of an original, e.g. depending on whether an original includes a character or a photograph.

Image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus


A reclosable plastic bag has a bottom, sides, and a mouth and has a reclosable zipper for opening and resealing the plastic bag mouth. Heat seals are placed at each end of the zipper and each heat seal has an aperture therethrough and may form a pair of protruding hanging tabs. A protruding center tab extends from each side of said bag above the zipper and extending above the mouth of the bag such that each tab can be grabbed for opening the reclosable zipper. A method of making a reclosable zipper bag includes the steps of making a plastic bag having bottom, sides, and a mouth and having a reclosable zipper for opening and resealing the plastic bag mouth and heat sealing each end of the plastic bag zipper to seal the two sides together and punching an aperture in each of the heat seals and then cutting a protruding center tab in the plastic bag and forming an aperture through the center tab to form a reclosable plastic bag which is easily opened and resealed and has supporting tabs.

The present invention relates to reclosable plastic bags and especially to a reclosable plastic bag which is easily opened and resealed and which is easy to store.
Reclosable plastic bags are well known and are generally formed of plastic, such as polyethylene, having a bottom and sides with an open mouth which is closed by a resealing zipper. Zippers are typically plastic strips, one side having a sized and shaped groove extending the length thereof and the other side having a protruding rib which is pushed into the groove on the opposite side to provide a seal between the sides covering the mouth of the bag. The bags can thereby be repeatedly opened and closed.
Many prior art patents deal with reclosable plastic bags and include various types of profiles designed to be opened and closed repeatedly. The prior art bags, however, sometimes are difficult to open and reclose and are sometimes cumbersome to store.
Prior art reclosable plastic bags can be seen in the Bruno et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,884, for a reclosable plastic bag with easy open and easy reclose profiles which has male and female interlocking profiles designed to be easily opened and closed. This bag includes within the mating profiles a selective non-engaging section such that the profiles can not interlock at that section to permit a user to more easily open the bag when the separating action of the profiles is initiated at the non-engaging section. The non-engaging section also permits air to escape as the bag and profiles are pressed together to close the bag. The VanErden et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,316, is a reclosable bag having an outer reclosable zipper-type closure and an inner non-reclosable closure. A nonreclosable closure can be opened and the bag then resealed with the outer reclosable zipper. The Van Erden U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,734, is a sealed system for block cheese which uses a flexible film doubled along one edge with the end seals joining the ends of the film and a reclosable zipper along the other remaining edge. The zipper is longer than the space between the end seals so that as the zipper is opened, a mouth is formed sufficiently large to allow for insertion and removal of a block. At the ends of the zippers are spot seal joining layers of film. The enclosed Ausnit U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,244, is an easy open and reclosable plastic bag in which the zipper portion has a frictional surface for applying local force of opposing directions parallel to a rib and groove to cause a curl in the interlocked rib and groove to cause them to separate by relatively sliding the rib and groove axially relative to each other. The Tilman et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,629, is a system for producing a non-compatible zipper film having spot seals at each end of the zipper portion. The May U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,230, is a double header package having a tear bead and provides a hanging hole. The Cox U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,752, is a reclosable storage bag which permits manual evacuation of air from the bag and provides a rough surface gripping pad on one end of the mouth opening of the bag.
In contrast, the present invention is for a reclosable plastic bag which provides integrated heat seals for sealing each of the ends of the zipper so that they easily align for reclosing the bags while at the same time using the heat seals to punch apertures therethrough for hanging the bag and also has center non-attached tabs on each side of the opening of the bag for easily grasping the tabs to open the bag. The center tabs also have an aperture therethrough for hanging the bag.


In a handheld mobile phone (10) having a detachable battery pack (20) which can be removably mounted to a body (11) of the handheld mobile phone, the detachable battery pack has a memory card receiving recess (22) for removably receiving a body of a memory card (30), and the body of the handheld mobile phone has a plurality of contacts (15) which are brought into electrical contact with contact terminals (31) of the memory card mounted to the detachable battery pack when the detachable battery pack is mounted to the body of the handheld mobile phone.

The present invention relates to a handheld mobile phone capable of utilizing an exchangeable memory card, and more specifically to a handheld mobile phone capable of utilizing an exchangeable memory card, which can be mounted on a detachable battery pack.
Some of prior art handheld mobile phones have a memory card detachable to a body of the handheld mobile phone and the function of recording a conversation in the memory card and reproducing the conversation recorded in the memory card, so that it is possible to save a dilatory handwork for memorizing the summary of the conversation or for pressing a key pad for calling (For example, JP-A-2000-032169).
However, in order to use the memory card, it is necessary to provide a connector having a guide for fitting the memory card within a body of the handheld mobile phone, on a printed circuit board mounted within the body of the handheld mobile phone. As a result, a substantial area is consumed on the printed circuit board, and a dead space occurs.
In addition, the connector is required to have a housing for pushing terminals of the memory card to the connector, with the result that it is difficult to thin the body of the handheld mobile phone.

Handheld mobile phone with a detachable battery pack


The invention features dental compositions containing a basic filler that has been surface-treated with a strong acid to increase the shelf life of the composition.

The restoration of dental structures, including caries, decayed dentin, or decayed enamel, is often accomplished by the sequential application of a dental adhesive followed by a dental material (e.g., a restorative material) to the relevant dental structures. Similarly, adhesives are also used in the bonding of dental materials (e.g., orthodontic appliances, generally utilizing an orthodontic adhesive) to a dental structure. Often various pretreatment processes are used to promote the bonding of dental adhesives to dentin or enamel. Typically, such pretreatment steps include etching using, for example, inorganic or organic acids, followed by priming to improve the bonding between the tooth structure and the overlying adhesive.
Whether for application of dental restoratives (e.g., cured or uncured composites such as glass ionomer cements, modified glass ionomer cements, etc.; fillings; sealants; inlays; onlays; crowns; bridges; etc.) or orthodontic appliances to a dental structure surface, the etchants, primers, and adhesives are typically applied in a step-wise fashion. Often between such steps, one or more rinsing and drying steps are used. As a result, dental restoration and the application of orthodontic appliances typically involve multi-step procedures.
In order to reduce the complexity, difficulty, and time required to perform such procedures, recent efforts have been made to combine two or more of these steps together in a single step by providing compositions that perform multiple functions. For example, efforts have been made to develop self-etching adhesives, i.e., adhesive compositions in which a single composition is able to perform the etching, priming, and adhesive functions in a single step. One of the problems associated with the development of suitable self-etching adhesive formulations is that the combinations of components typically used in such compositions are not always stable, which can lead to reduced shelf life of the composition. Consequently, there is a need for a means to provide self-etching adhesive compositions that have sufficient stability and shelf life to be useful in the typical dental and/or orthodontic practice.

Dental compositions with surface-treated filler for shelf stability


A substrate processing equipment comprises two pod supporting stages and two independently operable pod door openers. Each pod supporting stage is capable of placing thereon a pod for containing substrates therein. Each pod door openers having means for permitting access to the substrates inside the pod placed on a corresponding pod supporting stage.

In a semiconductor processing equipment such as a batch-type vertical apparatus for performing a diffusion or a CVD process, semiconductor wafers are loaded into and unloaded from the apparatus while being kept in cassettes. Two kinds of carriers have been conventionally used. One is a box-shaped cassette having a pair of openings on two opposite sides and the other is a box-shaped FOUP (front opening unified pod; hereinafter, pod) having an opening on one side thereof with a pod door removably mounted thereon.
In the semiconductor processing equipment using the pod as the carrier, the wafers can be kept protected from contaminations of ambient atmosphere while being transferred since the pod containing the wafers is airtightly closed. Accordingly, the degree of cleanliness required for a clean room of the semiconductor processing equipment may be lowered, which in turn reduces cost for the maintenance of the clean room. For such reasons, the pod is gaining popularity as the carrier in the semiconductor processing equipment recently.
The semiconductor processing equipment using the pod as the wafer carrier is provided with a pod door opener for remaining and restoring the pod door. One example of such conventional pod door opener is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,386, wherein the pod door opener is disposed on a wafer loading port and equipped with a closure capable of frictionally engaging with a door of the pod located on the wafer loading port. The pod can be uncovered by lowering down the closure while the closure engages with the door.
However, since the conventional semiconductor processing equipment is provided with only a single wafer loading port, the lead time required in preparing wafers for an actual process increases due to replacement of a pod on the wafer loading port with another, which in turn lengthens the overall processing time of the semiconductor manufacturing process, thereby reducing the throughput thereof.
Another equipment having a multi-stage pod door system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,324. Since, however, the pod doors of the equipment are simultaneously opened as a single unit by a vertical actuator, the lead time may not be reduced and the height of the equipment increases.

Dual loading port semiconductor processing equipment


A measurement system includes an illumination unit, imaging unit, acquisition unit and correction unit. A measurement target is irradiated with illumination light. The imaging unit captures an image of light reflected by or transmitted through the measurement target. The acquisition unit acquires positional relationship information representing a positional relationship between the illumination unit and the measurement target and between the imaging unit and the measurement target. The correction unit corrects a luminance of at least one of the illumination light emitted by the illumination unit and the captured image based on the positional relationship information in such a way as to correct a luminance change of the measurement target image, wherein at least two of the measurement target, the illumination unit, and the imaging unit are variable in spatial position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a measurement system, an image correction method, and a computer program. More specifically, the present invention is applicable to a system performing three-dimensional measurement based on captured images.
2. Description of the Related Art
The three-dimensional measurement is a technique playing an important role in the machine vision field. A conventional three-dimensional measurement method includes capturing an image of a pattern projection image with a camera, for example, by irradiating a measurement target with two-dimensional pattern light. The conventional three-dimensional measurement method further includes obtaining measurement target distance information by performing a computer-based analysis on a captured two-dimensional image based on the periodicity of the two-dimensional pattern.
The distance information represents the distance of the measurement target in the depth direction, such as the distance between the measurement target and the camera, or surface undulation. Information relating to the measurement target in the width direction or the height direction can be obtained based on the captured two-dimensional image. Therefore, at this moment, it is feasible to obtain three-dimensional space information.
The conventional three-dimensional measurement method further includes performing three-dimensional model fitting based on the captured two-dimensional image, the distance information, and preliminarily stored model information of the measurement target, to acquire measurement information (e.g., position, orientation, and three-dimensional shape) relating to the measurement target.
A method using two-dimensional pattern light to obtain the distance information relating to the measurement target in the depth direction is generally referred to as a pattern projection method. In general, the pattern projection method includes irradiating a measurement target with edge pattern or sine wave pattern light.
The edge pattern is a discrete pattern including binary (e.g., monochrome) gradational stripes that are regularly and continuously arranged. The sine wave pattern is a continuous pattern that expresses gradational sine waves that continuously vary in gradation.
If a measurement target is irradiated with two-dimensional pattern light, the discontinuity or distortion of the pattern depending on the surface undulation or the shape of the measurement target can be observed. In the case of using the edge pattern light, the discontinuity corresponds to an edge positional deviation. In the case of using the sine wave pattern light, the distortion corresponds to a phase deviation.
In the case of using the edge pattern light, the principle of triangulation is usable to estimate the distance of a measurement target in the depth direction based on an edge positional deviation. Therefore, the accuracy of edge recognition for accurately recognizing an edge position has influence on the accuracy of the distance of the measurement target in the depth direction.
Similarly, in the case of using the sine wave pattern light, the principle of triangulation is usable to estimate the distance of a measurement target in the depth direction based on a phase deviation. Therefore, the accuracy of gradation recognition for accurately recognizing a phase (i.e., gradation) has influence on the accuracy of the distance of the measurement target in the depth direction.
In the edge recognition, an edge position can be recognized based on a luminance difference in the binary gradation or a luminance change process. It can be regarded that the luminance continuously varies in a transitional area where the gradation of an edge portion reverses. An unintended luminance change of two-dimensional pattern light randomly changes the route of the above-described transitional luminance change or the position where the gradation saturates.
Therefore, an unintended luminance change (luminance unevenness) of two-dimensional pattern light may occur and the generated luminance change may decrease the accuracy of the edge recognition. Similarly, the luminance change (luminance unevenness) of two-dimensional pattern light may decrease the accuracy of the gradation recognition.
As discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-242020, there is a conventional technique capable of suppressing the above-described luminance change (luminance unevenness) of a two-dimensional pattern. When an illumination device is placed obliquely on one side of a surface to be inspected, the intensity of reflection light and a charge-coupled device (CCD) output do not become uniform even if the surface to be inspected is a uniform surface.
To solve this problem, the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-242020 changes an emission intensity ratio of illumination light based on a distance ratio of both ends of the surface to be inspected relative to a light emission face of the illumination device.
However, according to the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-242020, the setup position of the illumination device is variable relative to the surface to be inspected, while the position of a CCD camera is fixed in position relative to the surface to be inspected.
As described above, according to the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-242020, the CCD camera is fixed in position and, therefore, that technique is not robust against the lack in light quantity or deterioration of image, which may derive from occlusion or the spatial position of the illumination device.
Similarly, due to its inherent configuration, the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-242020 cannot correct a luminance change derived from the positional relationship in an imaging system, although it is effective to correct a luminance change derived from the positional relationship in an illumination system.

Measurement system, image correction method, and computer program


A monolythic surge suppressor includes a power source, an inductor coil, and a load in series with one another and in parallel with at least a first varistor. The first varistor and the inductance coil are formed into a single unitary laminated assembly having at least first and second terminations connected thereto. A second varistor can be connected in parallel with the first varistor and is connected to a third termination.

The present invention relates to a monolythic surge suppressor.
Surge suppressors have been known in the art for protecting sensitive circuits from the damaging effects of voltage surges. These prior surge suppressors contain separate electrical components which include varistors and inductors. These varistors and inductors are usually incorporated as separate components within an electrical circuit.
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved surge suppressor.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a surge suppressor which is miniaturized in comparison to prior art surge suppressors.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a surge suppressor which is incorporated into a single component rather than separate components as in prior devices.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a surge suppressor which is surface mountable as a single component.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a surge suppressor which can be assembled by printing techniques, utilizing a plurality of laminated printed layers.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a surge suppressor which combines two varistors and an inductor in a single monolythic surface mountable form.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a varistor which provides flexibility in the manner in which it can be assembled to achieve the desired characteristics of the varistors and the inductor contained within the device.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a surge suppressor which is economical to manufacture, durable in use, and efficient in operation.


A battery is provided comprising an aluminum anode, an alkali aqueous solon of controlled concentration and temperature and a second electrode operates with high anode efficiency.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an aluminum based battery and more particularly to an aluminum based battery having a controlled concentration of alkaline electrolyte wherein discharge rate is low and the anode efficiency is high. Presently, a high power density primary battery based on aluminum and silver oxide alkaline half cells provide sufficient energy for vehicle propulsion. The major advantage of this electrochemical system is the extraordinary current densities, on the order of 1600 mA/cm, which are readily achieved. These high current densities are indicative of facile electron transfer in both the anodic and the cathodic redox couples. The high densities in the alkaline aluminum/silver oxide cathodic couple may be attributed to the anomalous solid phase mobility of Ag.sup.+. Unlike other cations, the silver cation travels rapidly not only through the liquid phase but also through the solid phase of its salts. Therefore, as AgO is reduced, Ag.sup.+ can continually travel to the electrode interface, preventing surface passivation and permitting continuous facile electron transfer.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Prior to the present invention, it had been demonstrated that the aluminum-silver oxide battery was capable of operating with aluminum efficiencies above 90 percent during discharge at current densities in the range of 500 to above 1500 milliamps per square centimeter using sodium or potassium hydroxide electrolytes at above 70.degree. C. and at concentrations above 4 molar. However, under those same operating conditions, aluminum efficiencies drop to less than 50 percent when the current density was lowered into the range of 30 milliamps per square centimeter. Certain underwater vehicles require high energy density batteries capable of operating at very low to very high drain rates (30 to 1500 milliamps per square centimeter). The aluminum and silver oxide battery system would be a useful energy source for such vehicles only if its energy density at low rates could be improved. The corollary requirement was that it must operate with high aluminum efficiencies (low corrosion rates) at low current densities, otherwise corrosion of the aluminum produces excessive gas and reduces the energy density by using excessive electrolyte and aluminum.
Examples of aluminum based alkaline batteries are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,953,239; 4,107,406 and 4,150,204.
It would be desirable to provide an aluminum based battery capable of producing high voltages and operating at high efficiencies when functioning at low discharge rates.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An improved structure of a cotton bud head is disclosed. The cotton bud head comprises a storage tube for the containing of cosmetics and a brush head for the application of cosmetics, characterized in that the body of the cotton bud head is made from silica gel material by ejection molding and the bottom section of the cotton bud head is covered by an inner and outer seat made from a plastic material and the silica gel hollow storage tube inserted with a guiding rod such that the two ends of the guiding tube are formed into a conic head to guide the flow of cosmetic to provide fixed amount and evenly flow of cosmetic to the external end face of the silica gel for application.

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to head structure of a cotton bud, and in particular, an improved structure of a cotton bud head made from a silica gel and having a central through hole and a guiding rod such that liquid cosmetic can be evenly flown to the cotton bud head for application.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
FIGS. 5 and 6 show conventional cotton bud head structure having a cotton head body 20 made from a plastic molded feeding tube 21 and a securing seat 22 covered with a cotton fabric 23 or a directly mounted fabric such that the entire cotton bud structure contains cosmetic fluid.
The driving mechanism at the lower section of the tube body squeezes out the content to the feeding tube 21 and then to the tube mouth section. When the cotton fabric 23 is wet with cosmetic, it is not easy to control the amount of cosmetic to be applied and therefore evenly applying of cosmetic is difficult. Further, the cotton fabric 23 is easily dislocated and the cosmetic on the fabric 23 is hardens after a period of time.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structure of a cotton bud head, which can mitigate the above drawback.


In one embodiment of the invention, a circuit arrangement is provided. The circuit arrangement includes a plurality of differential amplifiers, coupled in parallel, including at least a first differential amplifier and a second differential amplifier. Each differential amplifier includes an adjustable current control circuit coupled to limit a tail current passing through the differential amplifier.

A difference comparator is a circuit that accepts inputs and determines a difference between them. Typical difference comparators take two inputs and return a signal indicating which of the signals is higher. Many circuits use difference comparators, such as analog to digital converters (ADC) or transceiver circuits.
Difference comparators are commonly used in communications systems to communicate signals between different circuits. For noise-immunity reasons, most communication standards utilize differential signaling. In differential signaling, data is transmitted in the form of a differential voltage across two nodes.
An ideal difference comparator amplifies only the voltage difference between two inputs. Voltages common to both inputs are ideally rejected. However, due to differing communication standards the common mode voltage utilized by various transmitters can vary widely between different transmitters. For example, some standards pick a high common mode voltage ranging, for example, between 700 mV and 1300 mV. Some standards, on the other hand, pick a low common mode voltage ranging, for example, between 145 mV and 350 mV. Transceiver circuits operating according to other standards output common mode voltages between 500 mV and 700 mV when operating in AC-coupled environments. In order to accommodate these various differential transmission circuits, a flexible receiver design needs to be able to accept any common mode voltage between the ground (0 mV) and the termination voltage (about 1200 mV).
One or more embodiments of the present invention may address one or more of the above issues.

Differential comparator circuit having a wide common mode input range


Operation of a double-line printing key, and selection of an upper printing line or a lower printing line causes the indication of subsequent input character data to follow either an upper printing line mark or a lower printing line mark, for example, on an LCD. When a printing key is operated, the character data following the upper printing line mark are stored in a first arrangement memory, and the data following the lower printing line mark are stored in a second arrangement memory. When the number of characters to be printed in the upper line is different from the number of characters to be printed in the lower line, space data are inserted into the printing line (upper or lower) which has the lesser number of characters so that the length of the upper printing line and the lower printing line become the same. Then, characters are printed on the upper and lower lines of the printing tape based on the data stored in the first and the second arrangement memories so that characters in the lower printing line are directly below characters in the upper printing line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape printing device, and more particularly, to a tape printing device that can print characters in each of a plurality of printing lines which are made by dividing the printing area across the width of the printing medium tape.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore, a number of proposals have been made regarding improvements in small-size tape printers that print desired character strings along a printing tape which is, for example, about 10 mm wide. A tape printer proposed by the applicant of the present application, and disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 1-152070 is capable of printing full size and double size characters, and of selectively printing full size characters either in center printing mode or in lower-side printing mode. In center printing mode, the tape printer prints full size characters at the center of the tape (across its width); in lower-side printing mode, the tape printer prints the characters on the lower-side of the tape (across its width).
In many instances, for example, the tape printer is used to print a title, or information regarding the contents of a given file, onto a printing tape, the printed tape being adhered (pasted) onto an appropriate position of a casing of the file.
However, this conventional printing device is only capable of changing printing position between the center printing mode, wherein characters are printed at the center of the printing tape, and the lower printing mode, wherein characters are printed on the lower side of the printing tape. Therefore, the number of characters which can be printed within a certain predefined length of the tape (the length of the tape is usually defined and limited by the size of a particular pasting position on the file) is restricted to the number of characters which can be printed across the predefined length of the tape. (That is, the total number of characters which can be printed equals the tape length divided by the character width.) Thus the number of characters which can be printed on a length of tape is a function of the pasting position size and the width of characters.
Even if the printing device is capable of printing in an upper printing mode, wherein characters are printed on the upper side of the printing tape, the same problem exists because characters printed in the upper printing mode and characters printed in the lower printing mode are not printed so that characters of the lower line are printed directly below characters of the upper line.

Tape printing device for printing a plurality of printing lines across the width of a tape


A plug-type connector for connecting end portions of a pair of FFCs extending in parallel to each other. The connecter is provided with: a holder having a placing frame provided on the surface and backside thereof with a pair of placing faces on which the end portions of the pair of FFCs are respectively placed; and a fixing member capable of fixing the end portions of the FFCs to the corresponding placing faces of the holder. The fixing member includes: an annular portion which defines an insertion hole into which the placing frame of the holder with the end portions of the FFCs placed on the corresponding placing faces, can be inserted together with the FFCs; and engagement portions which are engageable with corresponding engaged portions of the holder when the annular portion is brought toward the holder with the pair of FFCs previously inserted into the insertion hole of the annular portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plug-type connector for connecting an FFC (Flexible Flat Cable), and an electric connector comprising such a plug-type connector.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) in the form of a flexible printed circuit board is connected to a base board by connecting a plug-type connector connected to an end of the FPC, to a receptacle-type base connector fixed to the base board.
For example, in a plug-type connector disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-329619 (1999), a plug housing is formed by a pair of mutually divided sandwiching members, which are connected to each other with an end of an FPC held by and between these sandwiching members. A fixing pin at one sandwiching member passes through a through-hole formed in the FPC at its widthwise intermediate position. This fixing pin is fitted to the other sandwiching member such that the FPC is securely held in the plug housing.
Generally, an FFC is smaller in the degree of freedom as to the conductor layout as compared with an FPC. Accordingly, it is difficult to form, in the FFC at its widthwise intermediate position, a through-hole or the like for a fixing pin as mentioned above. That is, the plug-type connector disclosed in the above-mentioned Publication can hardly be applied to FFC connection.
If the plug-type connector disclosed in the above-mentioned Publication is applied to FFC connection with no fixing pin used, this involves the likelihood that the FFC is unstably held due to variations of dimensional precision and combination precision of the sandwiching members, and the like.
On the other hand, there is desired a connector capable of collectively connecting a plurality of FFCs.

Plug-type connector and electric connector comprising the same


An improvement in drug-eluting stents, and method of their making, are disclosed. The surface of a metal stent is roughened to have a surface roughness of at least about 20 μin (0.5 μm) and a surface roughness range of between about 300-700 μin (7.5-17.5 μm). The roughened stent surface is covered with a polymer-free coating of a limus drug, to a coating thickness greater than the range of surface roughness of the roughened stent surface.

Complications such as restenosis are a recurring problem in patients who have received artherosclerosis therapy in the form of medical procedures such as percutaneous translumenal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Restenosis is commonly treated by a procedure known as stenting, where a medical device is surgically implanted in the affected artery to prevent it from occluding post procedure.
A stent is typically cylindrical in shape and is usually made from a biocompatible metal, such as cobalt chromium or surgical steel. Most stents are collapsible and are delivered to the occluded artery via a translumenal catheter. The stent is affixed to the catheter and can be either self expanding or expanded by inflation of a balloon inside the stent that is then removed with the catheter once the stent is in place.
Complications that can arise from stent therapy include restenosis and thrombosis. In an effort to overcome these complications, stents may contain a layer or coating of an anti-restenosis drug that is released in a controlled fashion at the stent-implantation site. Typically, the drug is contained in a permanent or bioerodable polymer carrier, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,981 issued to Hunter entitled "Anti-angiogenic Compositions and Methods of Use." Examples of typical therapies that are proposed to be delivered in this manner are antiproliferatives, anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory agents and immunosuppressive agents, although there are many other chemical and biological agents also mentioned in the patent literature. It has been suggested that the polymer carrier with drug may be covered by a porous biodegradable layer that serves to regulate controlled release of the drug into the body, as disclosed for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,774,278 and 6,730,064.
More recently, stents in which an anti-restenosis drug is carried in channels, grooves or pores for release in "polymer-free" i.e. pure-drug form have been proposed. Alternatively, stents having roughened surface intended to anchor a drug layer on the surface of the stent, for release in pure-drug form have been proposed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,805,898 and 6,918,927. None of these patents show or suggest that with particular classes of anti-restenosis compounds, it is possible to enhance the anti-restenosis activity of the compounds by selection of surface roughness features within certain ranges on the stent surface.
In light of the complications associated with stent therapy, it would be desirable to develop a stent having at least one roughened or textured surface for increased surface area, which can be manufactured in such a way as to maximize structural integrity, drug loading capacity, and ability to deliver drug to the vessel wall in a therapeutically enhanced way, as evidenced by a reduced risk of rate of occurrence or extent of restenosis following stent placement at the site of vascular injury.

Drug delivery endovascular stent and method of use


An apparatus for correcting convergence and geometry errors in a display device re-maps the positioning of pixels in a video signal based on predetermined convergence and geometry errors in a display device. The apparatus includes counters for determining the intended horizontal and vertical positions of the pixels, a memory having stored therein the actual horizontal and vertical positions of pixels in the display device, and a frame buffer coupled to the counters and the memory for selectively delaying the pixels in the video signal, such that when outputted, the pixels form an image on the display device without the convergence and geometry errors.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to display devices, and in particular, to projection television receivers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Projection television receivers enable the formation of large displays economically. These projection television receivers typically include three projection tubes formed by cathode ray tubes which are arranged in a horizontal plane. The images from these projection tubes are then focused to form a single image on a display screen. Typically, the center one of these three projection tubes is in registry with the screen. However, the outer two tubes form trapezoidal images on the display screen which need to be corrected such that they are in convergence with the image from the center projection tube. Furthermore, even the image from the center tube may not form a correct geometry image and, as such, needs to be corrected.
To this end, projection television receivers include convergence correction circuits in which the horizontal and vertical deflection signals to each of the three projection tubes are adjusted such that convergence and geometry errors are corrected. The adjustment of these circuits is tedious and involves an operator determining, by eye, whether the adjustments are proper.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus that electronically re-maps the pixels in a video signal such that convergence and geometry errors are compensated.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus that corrects for convergence and geometry errors without, or in addition to, modifying the horizontal and vertical scanning signals.
The above objects are achieved in an apparatus for correcting convergence and geometry errors in display devices comprising an input for receiving a digital video signal; means for determining intended horizontal and a vertical addresses for each pixel in said video signal; means for generating actual addresses for each pixel corresponding to an actual horizontal and vertical location in a displayed image, said actual horizontal and vertical location being based on a particular display device; and means coupled to said input, said determining means and said generating means for storing the pixels in the digital video signal and for outputting said pixels at an appropriate time whereby errors between said intended and actual addresses are corrected.
The subject invention recognizes that certain convergence and geometry errors are inherent in, for example, projection television receivers and are repeatable unless corrected. By measuring and storing these errors, the positioning of the pixels in a video signal, i.e., the time when each pixel is outputted, may be adjusted such that in the resulting image, these errors are compensated. The apparatus applies geometric pre-distortion to a digital video signal in order to compensate for distortion in the display device.

Method and apparatus for correcting convergence and geometry errors in display devices


A system, method, and computer program product for a flashless optical network unit (ONU) in a Passive Optical Network (PON) are provided herein. The method includes the steps of synchronizing on a downstream signal of an optical line terminal (OLT), receiving a first software from the OLT for its operation on a reserved downstream channel of the OLT, and storing the received first software in a volatile memory. The ONU does not pre-store the first software in a non-volatile memory.

Field of the Invention
The embodiments presented herein generally relate to passive optical networks (PONs) and more specifically to flashless optical network units.
Background Art
In order to keep pace with increasing Internet traffic, network operators have widely deployed optical fibers and optical transmission equipment, substantially increasing the capacity of backbone networks. A corresponding increase in network access capacity is also needed to meet the increasing bandwidth demand of end users for triple play services, including Internet protocol (IP) video, high-speed data, and packet voice. Even with broadband solutions, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable modem (CM), the limited bandwidth offered by current access networks still presents a severe bottleneck in delivering large bandwidth to end users. Among different competing technologies, passive optical networks (PONs) are one of the best candidates for next-generation access networks. With the large bandwidth of optical fibers, PONs can accommodate broadband voice, data, and video traffic simultaneously. Furthermore, PONs can be built with existing protocols, such as Ethernet and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), which facilitate interoperability between PONs and other network equipment.
Where the demand from users for bandwidth is rapidly increasing, optical transmission systems, where subscriber traffic is transmitted using optical networks, are being installed to serve this demand. These networks are typically referred to as fiber-to the-curb (FTTC), fiber-to-the building (FTTB), fiber-to-the premises (FTTP), or fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). Each such network provides access from a central office (CO) to a building, or a home, via optical fibers installed near or up to the subscribers' locations. As the transmission bandwidth of such an optical cable is much greater than the bandwidth actually required by each subscriber, a Passive Optical Network (PON), shared between a plurality of subscribers through a splitter, was developed.
Typically, PONs are used in the "first mile" of the network, which provides connectivity between the service provider's central offices and the premises of the customers. The "first mile" is generally a logical point-to-multipoint network, where a central office serves a number of customers. For example, a PON can adopt a tree topology, wherein one trunk fiber couples the central office to a passive optical splitter/combiner. Through a number of branch fibers, the passive optical splitter/combiner divides and distributes downstream optical signals to customers and combines upstream optical signals from customers. Other topologies are also possible, including ring and mesh topologies. Transmissions within a PON are typically performed between an optical line terminal (OLT) and optical network units (ONUs). The OLT controls channel connection, management, and maintenance, and generally resides in the central office. The OLT provides an interface between the PON and a metro backbone, which can be an external network belonging to, for example, an Internet service provider (ISP) or a local exchange carrier. The ONU terminates the PON and presents the native service interfaces to the end users, and can reside in the customer premises and the ONU couples to the customer's network through customer-premises equipment (CPE). As used herein, the term "downstream" refers to the transfer of information in a direction from an OLT to an ONU. The term "upstream" refers to the transfer of information in a direction from the ONUs to an OLT.
In typical PONs, an ONU stores software for its operation in a large non-volatile memory. The large non-volatile memory is not cost, power, or area effective in the design of ONUs, especially compact ONUs. Furthermore, software upgrade in conventional systems occur when an ONU downloads software from the OLT or when the OLT upgrades the software for each ONU on a point-to-point basis. This current method to upgrade software is slow and consumes significant OLT resources.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers may indicate identical or functionally similar elements.


A dental implement is disclosed that uses a conventional tank of pressurized medical grade nitrogen, a flow control box downstream from it that receives input from a standard dentist's handpiece airflow control, a mixing chamber that holds the abrasive and includes a secondary nitrogen flow line that will "fluff up" the abrasive when sufficient gas flow is allowed to pass through it, thus entraining the abrasive within the nitrogen flow, and a handpiece that has a directing nozzle for application of the flow on a specific worksite with a fiber optic bundle having a replaceable, resilient light transmissive tip to direct light on the worksite.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dental implements. More specifically, it relates to a dental implement that uses pressurized medical grade nitrogen to impel granules of aluminum oxide entrained in the nitrogen flow for use in preparing a tooth for receiving a filling or composite restoration.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A new trend in dentistry is to replace the conventional, well known drill with a high velocity stream of gas having entrained particles within it. This allows for removal of the decayed area or old filling in or on the tooth's surface without heat or shock, and in many cases, without the use of anesthetics. Additionally, the surface is roughened during the process, which promotes better bonding with the composite material. One of the drawbacks of other intraoral air abrasive devices is their prohibitive cost. With the overhead burden on dentists already being extraordinarily high, this precludes many practitioners from obtaining them.
There have been a great many patents issued that relate to the present invention, and they will be discussed hereinafter, grouped according to the general thrust of their subject material.
The first group are the patents that deal specifically with entrained particles in a stream having a dental application.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,626,841, issued on Dec. 14, 1971 to Zvi Harry Schachter there is disclosed an abrasive propellant apparatus. The mixing chamber of the device has a length of tubing having a threaded end. There is a cap having a flowable material inlet orifice at the base of the tube proximate the flexible conduit that connects the nozzle to the mixing chamber. This is an extraoral device that would be used for lab work. U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,298 issued on Jul. 17, 1990 to Mark Fernwood et al. discloses a rear reservoir micro sandblaster. In this invention, the body of the device has a pulverant material supply tube and a compressed air supply line. The compressed air supply tube is compressed by a pinch lever and, if this lever is depressed to allow the air to flow, a vacuum is created in the vortex chamber proximate the nozzle, which draws the pulverant material from the reservoir to the vortex chamber to mix with the gas, and thus be propelled out the nozzle. In contradistinction to the present invention, the Fernwood et al. device is primarily an extraoral device that, when used intraorally, is utilized for the repair of fixed prosthetics.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,972,123 and 3,882,638 issued, respectively, on Aug. 3, 1976 and May 13, 1975, both to Robert B. Black there is disclosed air-abrasive prophylaxis equipment. Centrally disposed within the abrasive mixing device is a receptacle to receive the gasses, containing ports to mix the abrasive and the air as it is passed through. The abrasive laden gas is then directed through a controlling pinch valve to the hand piece.
Next is U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,571 issued on Nov. 20, 1979 to Ben J. Gallant. In this document, a method for cleaning teeth using water soluble abrasive particles is disclosed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,871 issued on Jul. 29, 1980 to Carter H. Arnold, there is disclosed a method and apparatus for cleaning teeth. The method disclosed involves water soluble halite pellets entrained within a liquid stream.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,582 issued on Dec. 11, 1984 to George E. Warrin there is disclosed a dental cleaning system wherein a stream of soluble abrasive powder entrained in a stream of air is surrounded by a water spray curtain and directed at the surface of a tooth to clean the same.
The second group of patents are related to entrained abrasives in an air flow. These patents are listed below but will not be discussed in detail.
______________________________________ PAT. NO. INVENTOR DATE OF ISSUE ______________________________________ 3,163,963 Racine Caron January 5, 1965 3,618,263 Per Torsten Weijsenburg November 9, 1971 4,090,334 Benedict Kurowski May 23, 1978 4,708,534 Ben J. Gallant November 24, 1987 4,733,503 Ben J. Gallant et al. March 29, 1988 4,893,440 Ben J. Gallant et al. June 16, 1990 DE 2314294 Robert B. Black October 18, 1973 ______________________________________
The next group of patents relate to tubal flow shutoff mechanisms. First is U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,483 issued to Thomas D. Baxter on Sep. 18, 1973. This control valve has a pair of ports that drive a piston connected to a cam member. When the piston travels, the attached camming member drives one of the two valve closure members towards the other, crimping the flexible conduit that lies between them.
Another tube flow shutoff device is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,897 issued on Jan. 13, 1987 to Ben J. Gallant. In this patent, a plunger cuts off the flow in the tube. The plunger is driven by a cylinder and piston arrangement that, in turn, is driven by compressed air or the like.
Another group of patents relevant to the present invention are those dealing with fiber optics associated with dental handpieces. First of these is U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,924 issued on Feb. 18, 1992 to Gary Woodward. This discloses a dental headpiece hose that with a plurality of inner components to provide drive air, an exhaust line, chip air, and coolant water. The hose also contains a fiber optic bundle for lighting the working area.
The other patent in this group is U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,418 issued on Mar. 17, 1992 to Ronald G. Coss. The device has a special channel within it to carry a fiber optic bundle for lighting the work area.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,067,765 issued on Dec. 11, 1962 to Robert H. Aymer et al. discloses a foot control for dental accessories.
And lastly, an American Dental Laser (ADL) brochure delineating the advantages of this type of device is enclosed. Unlike the present invention, the ADL device utilizes compressed air from the dentist's existing supply and further compresses this air to achieve a cutting level.
The present invention allows the practitioner to simply detach the standard air driven drill from the existing airflow control means and plug the air transport hose, with its conventional four hole connector, into the control unit of the instant invention for nitrogen flow control purposes. The present invention also allows for more inexpensive construction in that the pressures being generated at points along the gas flow and abrasive entraining route never exceed 170 PSI.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.