The light sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a multi-function light sensor that is equipped at low cost with both an ultraviolet light sensor and a visible light sensor and suppresses leak current between adjacent elements on the same substrate. The light sensor is equipped with a SOI substrate, formed from a silicon oxide insulating film and a silicon semiconductor layer made up from single crystal silicon, on a silicon substrate. Photodiodes PD1 and PD2 are formed on the silicon substrate, and a photodiode UV-PD, and main portions (source, drain and channel regions) of a MOSFET configuring a control circuit, are formed in the silicon semiconductor layer on the insulating film.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a multi-function light sensor.
2. Related Art
An illumination intensity sensor is a light sensor that detects illumination. Use can be made thereof, for example, for adjusting the brightness of a display, or switching light sources on or off, according to the peripheral illumination. Spectral sensitivity characteristics close to human spectral sensitivity is therefore required for illumination intensity sensors. Human spectral sensitivity can be represented as a relative spectral sensitivity curve having a peak between wavelengths of 500 nm and 600 nm.
Silicon photodiodes are most generally used for light receiving elements. The spectral sensitivity of silicon photodiodes generally has a peak at wavelengths of 600 nm to 700 nm, with sensitivity spreading out in a wide distribution to wavelengths from 300 nm to 1100 nm. Therefore when silicon photodiodes are used as illumination intensity sensors spectral sensitivity correction must be performed.
For example, one method of spectral sensitivity correction is, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, to prepare a standard silicon photodiode "PD1" and a photodiode with sensitivity on the infrared side "PD2", and to take the difference between the respective photoreceptor currents. Spectral sensitivity characteristics can be obtained that are close to human spectral sensitivity by calculating the difference of each of the photoreceptor currents, as shown in FIG. 20C.
As a method of element isolation (separation) between adjacent light receiving elements, a method is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2001-352094 to prevent occurrence of cross-talk due to leak current by forming a trench groove for element isolation after forming pn junctions. In order to address the same objective JP-A No. 2004-104084 proposes a configuration with a circuit interposed between an AF photodiode and an AE photodiode in a camera Auto Focus (AF) sensor installed with an Auto Exposure (AE) function.
In order to develop a multi-function light sensor at low cost, the present inventor has invented a light sensor device equipped with both an ultraviolet light sensor and a visible light sensor. An example of such a device is shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B. As shown in the figures, this device has a light receiving element "PD1" and a light receiving element "PD2" formed adjacent to each other on a silicon substrate as visible light sensors. As an ultraviolet sensor, a light receiving element "UV-PD" is formed in a semiconductor layer that is formed on the silicon substrate with an insulating film, such as a silicon oxide film etc., interposed between the silicon substrate and the semiconductor layer.
Namely, the ultraviolet light sensor is formed on a semiconductor layer of a so-called SOI structure. A light sensor device equipped with both an ultraviolet light sensor and visible light sensors can be obtained by fabricating the light receiving element PD1 and light receiving element PD2 on the same silicon substrate as the light receiving element UV-PD, with an insulating film interposed in this manner therebetween.
There is a need to simplify device structure and to suppress the chip surface area to a small amount, in particular when considering providing the above light sensor device at low cost. There is room for improvement with respect to these points in the light sensor device shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B. For example, the light receiving element PD1 and the light receiving element PD2 are formed adjacent to each other on the silicon substrate, however when the light receiving element PD1 and the light receiving element PD2 are formed adjacently in order to reduce the chip surface area, a problem arises in that a leak current flows between the adjacent light receiving element PD1 and light receiving element PD2 due to the silicon substrate being a semiconductor.
When a leak current flows between adjacent photodiodes, then dark current when there is no incident light cannot be measured. Namely, since the leak current flows irrespective of whether or not there is incident light, the light sensor becomes unable to fulfill its role of light detection. In practice therefore, a multi-function light sensor cannot be provided at low cost.
However, a structure in which a trench groove is formed in the silicon substrate, as in JP-A No. 2001-352094, cannot be adopted due to the limitation that the fabricating process would become complicated. In addition, a structure in which a transistor is disposed on the silicon substrate between the light receiving element PD1 and the light receiving element PD2 could be considered, as in JP-A No. 2004-104084, however, even if leak current between the light receiving element PD1 and the light receiving element PD2 is stopped, there is concern that leak current would occur between the transistor and the light receiving elements.


An automotive axle includes a housing including gears and a bath lubricating the gears, the bath including gear oil and about 0.1 to 5 wt. % secondary alcohol ethoxylate based on total weight of the bath such that during automotive operation at temperatures less than a threshold, reverse micelles form to trap air bubbles in the bath, emulsifying the bath, and at temperatures greater than the threshold, the reverse micelles dissipate.

The requirements for good fuel economy have become increasingly important in automotive manufacturing. To meet the requirements, different methods of improving fuel efficiency have been identified. For example, it has become increasingly popular in vehicle body manufacturing to lower the weight of the vehicle, improve the aerodynamics of the vehicles, or increase efficiency of the powertrain. Yet, there are many vehicular systems which contribute to lower fuel efficiency due to friction, driveline devices representing such systems.

Vehicular gear system friction reduction


The subject invention is an improved amusement park ride apparatus which is an adaptation of an upright vertical ferris wheel ride of the type that is rotated about a fixed axis, such invention being an up-right wheel structure having chairs thereon to hold riders as the wheel rotates in a vertical plane. The axle of rotation of the wheel is adapted to move horizontally along a horizontally disposed track, essentially back and forth between positions along such horizontally disposed track. In a further embodiment of the subject invention, the horizontal track up which the ferris wheel can move may be optionally mounted on a rotatable platform to yield a horizontal circular movement of the entire apparatus in addition to the foregoing reciprocal linear movement.

The subject invention relates to the general area of amusement park rides that are self-driven. In particular, the subject invention pertains to an improved adaptation of the ferris wheel, which is a conventional amusement park ride, and is an adaptation thereof.
This invention is adapted to provide an additional dimension or dimension of movement over and above the conventional movement of a vertical ferris wheel used as an amusement ride. Specifically, as is well known, the conventional ferris wheel amusement ride, or rides similar to the ferris wheel, is adapted to rotate while in a vertically upright plane, about a horizontally-fixed rotor. As is well known and which can be readily observed, the conventional ferris wheel apparatus is thus structured to rotate in a fixed vertical plane about a centrally disposed horizontal axle, which axle is disposed in a horizontal plane. As a result of this structural arrangement, the movement of the ferris wheel, as thus commonly known, is limited in its dimensional movement for rotation about a fixed axis in a fixed vertical plane. This latter aspect is well known in the pertinent art.
While a ferris wheel is indeed a thrill-inducing amusement ride for most people, there is always a constant quest to produce even more thrill-producing rides, with different and varying movements. In this latter respect, there is no amusement ride, of the nature of the basic overall ferris wheel movement, that has the added features of multiple dimensional movement which are in addition to the singular dimensional rotational movement described above. While many rides do produce certain multiple wheel moves about a horizontal axis and simultaneously rolls along a horizontal path. Moreover, there is no known amusement ride known by which the wheel also moves in a circular, horizontal plane over and above the foregoing described two movements.
This invention is adapted and conceived as an improved variation of a ferris wheel that will permit a ferris wheel, as known, to move in two or even three spatial dimensional movements. The following objects of the subject invention are directed accordingly.


An apparatus for forming an image with modulated image lights which are obtained by modulating an image light in accordance with image signals, including a reference pattern signal generation circuit, a comparator to compare image signals with a reference pattern signal so as to produce a pulse width modulation signal, and a circuit to shift the level of the image signal of either a maximum or minimum value to a level out of the amplitude of the reference pattern signal.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus which is structured in the manner that a light beam source is internally modulated corresponding to a pulse width modulation signal which is obtained corresponding to an image signal.
Generally, an image forming apparatus, such as a digital copying machine in which a laser beam is used, is composed of a scanner section 300, an image processing section 400 and a printer section 100 as shown in FIG. 5. (Refer to Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 157070/1987, or the like.) The scanner section 300 optically scans documents 200, and image information of the documents 200 is converted into an optical image. The optical image is supplied to the image processing section 400 and converted into an image signal, and at the same time, a predetermined image processing operation is conducted.
The image processing operation includes variable magnification processing, halftone processing, and inside-void processing, and in the case of a color copying machine, color ghost processing.
In the printer section 100, an image is recorded according to a digital image signal (pixel data) having predetermined bits formed in the image processing section 400.
FIG. 6 shows an example of the printer section 100. In this example, an electrophotographic printer having a photoreceptor drum therein is used, and also a laser beam is used for a light source by which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor drum.
In FIG. 6, pixel data (DATA) outputted from the image processing section 400 is supplied to a modulation circuit 110. In the modulation circuit 110, a pulse width modulation signal (SPWM) is formed according to the pixel data (DATA).
The pulse width modulation signal (SPWM) formed in the modulation circuit 110 is supplied to a semiconductor laser 931 (light source) through a laser drive circuit 932, and modulates internally laser beams. The laser drive circuit 932 is controlled by a control signal outputted from a timing circuit 933 so that the laser is driven only within a horizontal and vertical effective area by the laser drive circuit 932.
A signal showing a light amount of laser beams is fed back from a semiconductor laser 931 to the laser drive circuit 932, and the semiconductor laser is controlled so that its light amount becomes constant.
Laser beams outputted from the semiconductor laser 931 are supplied to a polygonal mirror 935 and deflected. A starting point of scanning of the laser beams, deflected by the polygonal mirror 935, is detected by an index sensor 936. The detection signal from the index sensor 936 is converted into a voltage signal by a current/voltage conversion amplifier 937, and then an index signal SI is formed. The index signal is supplied to a control means by which optical scanning timing of the scanner section 300 is controlled.
Numeral 934 is a drive circuit of a motor by which the polygonal mirror 935 is rotated, and ON and OFF signals for the circuit are supplied from the timing circuit 933.
FIG. 7 is an example of an image exposure system in which a laser beam spot is formed (a laser beam scanner).
Laser beams emitted from the semiconductor laser 931 are incident on the polygonal mirror 935 through mirrors 942 and 943. Laser beams are deflected by the polygonal mirror 935, and irradiate the surface of a photoreceptor drum 130 (a recording medium) through an f.theta. lens 944 by which a laser beam spot is formed so that the diameter of the beam can be a predetermined value.
Numerals 945 and 946 are cylindrical lenses for tilting angle compensation.
Then, laser beams scan the surface of the photoreceptor drum 130 at a predetermined speed in the predetermined direction a, and thereby exposure is conducted corresponding to the pixel data so that an electrostatic latent image is formed. Next, a toner which is charged reversely to the electrostatic latent image by a conventional structure, adheres to the electrostatic latent image and development is conducted. Then, a recording sheet is superposed onto the toner image, charged reversely to the toner image by a corona charger from the rear side of the recording sheet, and then the toner image is transferred onto the recording sheet. Further, the transferred toner image is fixed onto the recording sheet when the toner image is heated or pressed.
In the modulation circuit 110, a pulse width modulation signal (SPWM) is formed by the method disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 39974/1987.
That is, a digitalized image signal (pixel data) is converted into an analog signal, and when the converted signal is compared with a periodical pattern signal such as a triangle wave as shown in FIG. 8, the pulse width modulation signal (SPWM) having a pulse width corresponding to the image signal can be obtained.
In the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 39974/1987, fullscale amplitude of the image signal can be contained in an amplitude area of the pattern signal, and in the case where the pattern signal is compared with the image signal, a pulse width modulation signal having a predetermined pulse width can be obtained even when the amplitude of the image signal is maximum or minimum.
Accordingly, in the case where fluctuations caused by noises or the like are generated in the pulse width modulation, the laser can not be controlled to be positively turned off or turned on fully, when amplitude of the image signal is maximum or minimum. Therefore, noises are generated on white background and solid areas, so that image reproducibility is lowered, which is a problem.


In particular embodiments, method, apparatus and system for generating a doctor profile based on one or more parameters associated with the doctor treatment information, generating a patient dental profile based at least in part on a weighting of a plurality of orthodontic-related treatment parameters, and providing one or more doctor referrals based on the generated doctor profile and the generated orthodontic patient profile are provided.

The present disclosure is related generally to the field of orthodontics. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to methods and system for providing optimized patient referrals for orthodontic treatments.
A primary objective of orthodontics is to realign patients' teeth to positions where the teeth function optimally and have an aesthetic appearance. The goal of a doctor is to take the patient from their current condition ("initial" or "starting dentition") to a final condition ("treatment goal"). The result achieved is known as the "treatment outcome." There may be many ways to achieve the goal and these are known as "treatment options." The methodologies used by the doctor to get the patient to the goal are known as the "treatment plan."
Often times, doctors establish the goal as "ideal" and discontinue treatment when they are as close as they can possibly get to the ideal. However, more recently with the growing use of 3-D computer graphics software services and programs in dentistry, the doctor can actually establish a custom treatment goal specific to each individual patient, and this goal may be a limited treatment goal and not ideal in every component of the bite. This is important because if the doctor is able to achieve 100% of the intended limited goal, the treatment may still be deemed a success, whereas it may be possible that if the doctor only achieves 75% of a completely "ideal" treatment goal, the treatment might not be deemed a success even though the amount of measured improvement on an absolute scale in the latter situation might be higher than in the limited treatment situation.
Furthermore, it may be desirable to have available methods and systems for patients, doctors, and/or dental professionals to determine optimal orthodontic professional referrals. The dental professionals may be chosen based on numerous criteria including, but not limited to, initial patient dental parameters, patient treatment preference, treatment difficulty, treatment success rate, historical information related to the type of treatment performed, geographical location of the orthodontic professional, and the like.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to have methods and systems to provide optimized referrals of patients to dental professionals, either for prospective patients to self-refer themselves to dental professionals, or for dental professionals to refer prospective patients to other dental professionals.

System and method for providing optimized patient referrals


Oil supply device (130) for a compressor in a refrigerating system including a cylindrical piece (131) fixed to a lower end of a crankshaft (110) for rotating together with the crankshaft, a propeller (132) fitted inside of the piece for making oil to rise by a relative movement with the piece (131), and rotation prevention means (141) fitted to a bottom end of the propeller (132) for prevention of rotation of the propeller, thereby supplying an adequate amount of refrigerant oil even if the compressor, operative at a low, as well as a high speed, is operated at the low speed.

In general, the compressor in a refrigerating system compresses a working fluid passed through an evaporator in a refrigerator or an air conditioner, to supply refrigerant to a condenser. A system of a related art reciprocating type compressor will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1-3B. FIG. 1 illustrates an overall system of a related art reciprocating type compressor in a refrigerating system, schematically.
Referring to FIG. 1, the related art reciprocating type compressor is placed in a space enclosed by a lower shell 2 and an upper shell 1. The compressor is provided with a motor part for generating a rotating force as the motor part has a current applied thereto, a compression part for compressing the working fluid by the rotating force from the motor part, and an oil supply part for supplying refrigerant oil to reduce friction in a mechanical part and cool down the heated mechanical part. The motor part is provided with a stator 21 for receiving a current to generate an electromagnetic force, and a rotor 22 for generating a rotating force from the electromagnetic force of the stator. The compression part is provided with a connecting rod 31 for converting a rotating movement into a linear reciprocating movement, and a piston 32 in a cylinder block for compressing the working fluid by the connecting rod. The oil supply part is provided with a crankshaft 110 and an oil supply device 120, wherein the connecting rod 31 has one end pin coupled to an eccentric part 111 on a top of the crankshaft, and the other end pin coupled to the piston 32. Accordingly, the connecting rod 31 converts the rotating movement of the crankshaft to a linear movement of the piston.
There is an oil plate (not shown) at a lower part of the lower shell filled with refrigerant oil, with a lower end of the oil supply device 120 submerged in the refrigerant oil. There is a hermetic terminal 11 and a cluster 12 at one side of the lower shell 2 for connecting the stator 21 to an external power. The cluster 12 has a plurality of lead wires 13 branched from the stator 21 fixed by terminals (not shown), which are connected with a plurality of pins passed through the hermetic terminal 11.
The oil supply part will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2-3B. FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the oil supply part for the compressor in a refrigerating system, FIG. 3A illustrates a section of a piece press fit in a lower end of the crankshaft in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of the oil supply device in FIG. 2, an insert member fitted in the piece.
The oil supply part 100 is provided with a crankshaft 110 and an oil supply part 120. The crankshaft 110 has an eccentric part 111 fitted eccentric from a shaft center, a weight balance 112 under the eccentric part 111 for prevention of vibration during rotation, and a shaft part 113 having a refrigerant oil rising passage under the weight balance 112. There is an oil hole 113b in the middle of length of the shaft part 113 in communication with an outside of the shaft part 113, and a helical oil groove 113a along an outer circumference of the shaft part 113 extended from the oil hole 113b to the eccentric part 111 on top of the crankshaft. There is a drill hole 113c in communication with the oil hole 113b, formed lengthwise eccentric from an axis of the shaft part 113.
According to this, when the crankshaft is rotated, the refrigerant oil introduced into the drill hole 113c by a centrifugal force of the oil supply device 120 flows to the oil groove 113a through the oil hole 113b, and is sprayed onto a mechanical part as the refrigerant oil reaches the eccentric part 111 through the oil groove 113a. The refrigerant oil sprayed thus lubricates the compressor, and absorbs heat generated during operation of the compressor. This sprayed refrigerant oil prevents the compressor from suffering damage caused by a high temperature and friction.
There is a gas hole 113d in one side of the drill hole 113c opened in a point of a circumference of the shaft part 113 having a greatest distance to the drill hole 113c for discharging gas formed when the refrigerant oil is moved upward and outside of the crankshaft 110 as the oil supply part is rotated.
In the meantime, the oil supply device 120 for pumping the refrigerant oil by using the centrifugal force has a cylindrical piece 131 inserted in a lower end of the shaft part 113 of the crankshaft 110, and an insert member 122 fitted in the piece 131 for forming a rising passage of the refrigerant oil.
The foregoing oil supply device 120 in the lower end of the rotating crankshaft 110 rotates together with the crankshaft, when the refrigerant oil is pumped to the drill hole 113c as the refrigerant oil flows upward through the insert member in the oil supply device 120 by the centrifugal force, and, therefrom, to the oil groove 113a through the oil hole 113b. Then, the refrigerating oil lubricates a journal bearing (not shown) as the refrigerant oil flows upward along the oil groove 113a, and, at the end, moves up to the eccentric part 111 and is sprayed onto the mechanical part in the shell 1 and 2. The refrigerant oil sprayed thus is recovered by the oil plate at a lower part.
In the meantime, in order to reduce a power consumption of a refrigerating system, currently a pole changing, or BLDC motor, operative at a low speed, as well as at a high speed, is widely used as a compressor motor. However, the oil supply device provided for a high speed operation (approx. 3600 rpm) can not supply the refrigerant oil smoothly during a low speed operation (approx. 1800 rpm). That is, as the centrifugal force that is generated by the rotation of the oil supply device to move the refrigerant oil upward drops sharply when the compressor is operated at the low speed, the oil supply part can not supply the refrigerant oil, properly. Eventually, the compressor is involved in an excessive wear of the mechanical part, with a substantial reduction of lifetime of the compressor and an increased noise, as the compressor has a reduced performance of a heat dissipation, and reduced supply of the refrigerant oil.

Oil supply device for compressor in refrigerating system


A latch assembly kit including a latching subassembly for mounting upon a movable closure element, an actuating assembly, a first elongate graspable handle, and a second elongate graspable handle. The latching subassembly has a latched state, wherein the latching subassembly releasably engages a strike element to maintain the movable closure element in a desired position relative to a support to which the movable closure element is attached, and a release state. The actuating assembly has a normal state and a release state. The actuating assembly causes the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into its release state as an incident of the actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state. The first elongate graspable handle has a first length and is releasably operatively connectable to at least one of the latching subassembly and actuating assembly to facilitate repositioning of the movable closure element upon which the latching subassembly is mounted. The second elongate graspable handle has a second length different than the first length and is releasably operatively connectable to at least one of the latching subassembly and actuating assembly in place of the first elongate graspable handle to facilitate repositioning of the movable closure element upon which the latching subassembly is mounted. The first and second elongate graspable handles can be selectively operatively connected to the at least one of the latching subassembly and actuating assembly to select a desired length of graspable handle, to facilitate repositioning of the movable closure element upon which the latching subassembly is mounted.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to latch assemblies for releasably maintaining movable closure elements in a desired position relative to a support therefor.
2. Background Art
Myriad designs for latch assemblies for maintaining movable closure elements in a desired position relative to a support upon which the movable closure element is mounted have been devised over the years. Different demands are placed upon these mechanisms depending upon their particular environment. However, designers of these latch assemblies universally consider and balance the following factors in their designs: 1) reliability; 2) holding capacity; 3) convenience of operation; 4) ease of manufacture; 5) ease of assembly; 6) versatility; and 7) cost. Certain of the above factors are competing in the design process and, generally, particular applications will dictate where compromises must be made. Ideally, one would optimize each of these design areas.
The agricultural and construction industries are ones in which rather severe demands are placed upon latch assemblies. Severe stresses are commonly placed on closure elements on cabs of tractors and the like. At the same time, convenience of actuation is a prime consideration, as when a hasty exit must be made from such a vehicle. This has lead to the use of squeeze-actuated assemblies of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,284. The squeeze actuator is integrated into a handle/bar which facilitates manipulation of the closure element as well as accessibility to the lever that is squeezed while gripping the bar to release the latch assembly to permit opening of the closure element. However, the latch assembly designs, of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,284, have tended towards the complicated. For example, the design shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,284 uses two separate, indirect mechanisms for moving a catch element through separate internal and external actuating assemblies on the closure element. This indirect actuation requires intermediate parts which may complicate the manufacturing process and increase associated costs. Indirect mechanisms, by their nature, introduce additional parts movement that could account for a field failure.
The bars on the latch assemblies, of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,284, commonly have a crimped end which is bolted to the associated closure element. The particular closure element generally dictates the optimal length for the bar. Consequently, there may be a requirement to inventory complete latch assemblies with different lengths of bar to meet various demands. Manufacturing costs associated with this type of latch assembly may be increased by reason of having to offer the latch assemblies with different lengths of bar integrated thereinto. Further, if manufacturing does not proceed on an as-needed basis, inventories must be set up to anticipate demand. To avoid shortages for latch assemblies with a particular bar length, excess inventory may have to be kept on hand. This potentially adds inconvenience and expense for the purveyors of this type of latch assembly.
Another problem with the above type of latch assemblies is that it may be a difficult or complicated process to integrate components into the bars. The bars are typically tubes with internal hollows within which some of the components are situated. Ideally, components are mounted within the tubular hollows to afford a compact design, yet without requiring intricate assembly processes which increase costs. This has led to the use of separable components which engage the bars to facilitate assembly. For example, as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,284, a significant number of components are assembled through the opening which receives the actuating handle. The actuating handle itself is a separate component that must be attached to the bar and adjusted on site. A relatively large number of component assembly steps may be required to manufacture this latch assembly.
Still further, this type of latch assembly is commonly operated using cables or rods to transmit the operating force from the actuating handle to the latching mechanism. The use of intermediate rods and cables may account for a less than positive force transmission between the actuating handle and the latching structure. This type of mechanism also generally requires the capability to effect adjustments of the position of the actuating handle relative to the latching mechanism for optimal performance and to accommodate variations in the structures on which the latching assemblies are mounted. The result is that these mechanisms may become relatively expensive to manufacture, complicated, less compact and streamlined than desired, and prone to failure. Further, this type of latch mechanism may be installed so that the operator components are exposed to the operation and unsightly.
The industry is constantly seeking out latch assemblies that are improved in one or more of the areas noted above.

Latch assembly for movable closure element


Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for utilizing parallel links to improve sub-network availability and latency performance for ATC traffic. An embodiment operates by receiving a generated message. The type of the generated message is determined, where the type is an air traffic control message or a non-air traffic control message. Based on the type of message, communication links are selected, where the communication links include parallel transmission links or a serial link. The method continues by copying the generated message and transmitting the copied message using the selected communication links. The method waits to receive an acknowledgement indicating receipt of the transmitted message. Upon identifying an acknowledgement, any of the copied messages not yet retransmitted are deleted.

Air Traffic Control (ATC) depends upon secure and reliable communications between ground-based controllers and aircraft in controlled and non-controlled airspace. In order to meet the needs of secure and reliable communication, the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) protocol and the Aeronautical Telecommunications Network Open Systems Interconnection (ATN OSI) protocol were designed in the ATC data communication protocol stacks, to name a few. The ACARS protocol utilizes various sub-networks, such as Very High Frequency Data Link-Mode 2 (VDL-Mode 2), Plain Old ACARS (POA or VDL Mode 0/A), ACARS over AVLC, Inmarsat (SATCOM), Iridium (SATCOM), and High Frequency Data Link (HFDL), that may be used to transmit the messages. Currently, the United States uses the ACARS based protocol, first deployed in 1978. Although there are many types of ACARS protocols available, the United States specifically uses the Future Air Navigation System (FANS) protocol. The FANS protocol provides a direct data communication link between the pilot in the aircraft and the air traffic controller at the ground-based controller.
In Europe, ATC data communication uses Link2000+, a type of ATN OSI protocol also known as ATN B1 implementation using solely the VDL Mode 2 sub-network. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) introduced the ATN OSI protocol around the year 2000, following the certification of FANS in 1995. There was a general belief that the newer ATN OSI was superior to the older FANS in terms of performance due to the advancements in technology. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration declared the FANS protocol would transition to the ATN OSI protocol in the United States. The FAA decided to implement this transition and wrote in the FAA Data Communications Program (DCP) documents comprising the Segment 1 (S1) Investment Analysis Readiness Decision (LARD), the S1 Initial Investment Decision (IID) and the S1 Final Investment Decision (FID) information pertaining to this transition. However, the assumption that ATN OSI would be superior to FANS has proved to be premature.
Today, ATN OSI over VDL Mode 2 is experiencing technical issues in Europe including provider aborts and long delays.
Provider aborts occur in a communication system when there may be a sustained loss of end-to-end connectivity, thus loss of availability. Even though these provider abort and long delay issues were observed some time ago, they did not receive substantial attention until relatively recently.
European Technical groups were formed to investigate the technical issues with the ATN OSI European data link. In 2014, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) released an investigation report on technical issues in the implementation of a European Rule of the ATN OSI over VDL Mode 2. EASA found the technical issues to be sufficiently critical that the European Commission decided to postpone the ATN OSI data link rule for 5 years, from 2015 to 2020. Given the complicated nature of the ATN OSI over VDL Mode 2 technical issues, whether they can be completely fixed or not is an open issue.
In addition to ATN OSI technical issues, the FANS customized protocol also suffers from delays associated with latency performance. In the ATN OSI network, provider aborts take place after a delay of longer than 6 minutes. In the FANS network, there is no provider abort mechanism, so FANS does not have a provider abort issue, however the FANS protocol employs a means to try other sub-networks, in series. FANS, therefore allows longer delays, which suits strategic planning but which makes it impractical for tactical operation. The performance issues in FANS and ATN OSI prevent them from replacing voice to become a primary ATC communication for time critical exchanges. Accordingly, there is a need for improvement in air traffic control communications availability and latency performance.
In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical or similar elements. Additionally, generally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

Performance-based link management communications


Disclosed is a plasticizer composition which comprises an ester-based plasticizer and an ether compound and exhibits improved workability and heat loss in proportion to content of the ether compound.

In general, a plasticizer is prepared by esterification reaction between an acid and an alcohol. Examples of catalysts commonly used for esterification reaction include organometallic compounds including titanium compounds, tin compounds and the like, ion exchange resins, zeolite, heteropolyacids, sulfuric acid, para-toluene sulfonic acid and the like.
There are differences in reaction rate and production of by-products between these catalysts due to characteristics of the respective catalysts. An esterification reaction for plasticizer synthesis is performed using an optimal catalyst selected while taking these points into consideration. This catalyst is selected in view of reaction velocity as well as ease of removal and process stability during purification. In reality, solid catalysts have an advantage in that purification of products through simple filtering is simplified in the purification process and homogeneous catalysts have an advantage of an increased rate of reaction. However, esterification reaction is performed using optimal catalysts selected in consideration of all circumstances.
Recently, upon selection of catalysts, attempts to develop and apply catalysts capable of securing an eco-friendly preparation process are made and research associated therewith is underway.
Catalyst development focuses on increase in rate of reaction, minimization of by-products and simplification of purification processes. There is a need for continuous research, which secures optimal plasticizer synthesis conditions while increasing rate of reaction and preventing effects of by-products on product quality, when various catalysts are used.


A sublimation type thermal image transfer image receiving medium is composed of a substrate and a dye receiving layer formed thereon, and the substrate is composed of a first laminated sheet on which the dye receiving layer is provided and a second laminated sheet, with an elastic adhesive layer or a plastic adhesive layer being interposed between the first laminated sheet and the second laminated sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sublimation type thermal image transfer image receiving medium capable of receiving a dye from a thermal image transfer recording medium, to produce an image with high resolution using a printer which needs a large quantity of thermal energy, such as a sublimation type thermal image transfer printer.
2. Discussion of Background
A thermal image transfer recording system is carried out in such a manner that a thermal image transfer recording medium which comprises a dye-transfer layer containing a dye and/or pigment is superimposed upon an image receiving medium capable of receiving the dye caused to sublime from the dye-transfer layer of the recording medium or receiving the fused portion of the dye-transfer layer when the thermal image transfer recording medium is heated from the back side thereof. In particular, a sublimation-type thermal image transfer recording system can produce a full-color hard copy with an excellent half tone, so that it is greatly attracting public attention now.
In the conventional image receiving medium for us in the sublimation-type thermal image transfer recording system, a dye-receiving layer is formed on a substrate, which dye-receiving layer comprises a thermoplastic resin such as a polyester resin, which can be readily dyed with a heat-sublimable dye, and a releasant. However, the conventional image receiving medium employing a substrate of a single-layered type, such as a sheet of synthetic paper or a plastic film is easily curled when the thermal energy is applied thereto by using a thermal head in the course of thermal image transfer recording. As a result, the transporting performance of the image-receiving medium becomes unsatisfactory in the thermal image transfer recording apparatus.
To improve the transporting performance of the image-receiving medium in the recording apparatus, a three-layer laminated material prepared by laminating a sheet of synthetic paper, a sheet of cellulose fiber paper and a sheet of synthetic paper is used as a substrate of the image receiving medium as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 62-198497. The transporting performance of the image receiving medium thus obtained is improved because the curling problem is solved to some extent. However, the curling preventing effect in the aforementioned disclosure is not sufficient in practice when the image receiving medium is used in the latest high-speed thermal image transfer recording apparatus.
There is proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 63-107587 an image receiving medium for the purpose of forming a light transmitting original thereon for use with an OHP (overhead projector). This image receiving medium comprises a transparent substrate, a transparent image-receiving layer formed on the substrate and a release sheet such as a sheet of synthetic paper, a sheet of cellulose fiber paper or a synthetic resin sheet with a rough surface, formed on the back side of the substrate, opposite to the image-receiving layer with respect to the substrate. The above-mentioned release sheet can be released from the substrate after an image is thermally transferred to the image receiving medium or before the obtained image is projected using the OHP.
The curling of the above-mentioned image receiving medium can be decreased and the transporting performance thereof is improved due to attachment of the release sheet to the substrate. After the release sheet is peeled from the substrate, however, the curling is still a serious problem. Therefore, when the image-receiving medium is used as an image-receiving film for use with the OHP, handling is inconvenient and the projected image is distorted.
In addition, when the image-receiving layer of the image receiving medium comprises a resin such as vinyl chloride resin, the adhesion between the substrate and the image-receiving layer is poor, so that the image-receiving layer is easily peeled from the substrate.

Sublimation type thermal image transfer image receiving medium


A video data transmitter apparatus generates and transmits a multi-value amplitude modulation signal by performing a multi-value amplitude modulation of a plurality of N bits per one symbol according to video data of a video signal or a color signal constituting the video signal, or a brightness signal and a color-difference signal. A data separator portion separates the video data into first to N-th pixel data, a difference calculator portion calculates (N−1) pieces of predetermined difference information based on the separated first to N-th pixel data, and a multi-value amplitude modulator portion performs a multi-value modulation so that predetermined N-bit data corresponds to a multi-value signal level closest to an intermediate level having an intermediate value between a maximum level and a minimum level of the multi-value signal level of the multi-value amplitude modulation signal.

1. Technical Field
The technical field relates to a transmission technique of high-speed signal, and in particular, relates to a video data transmitter apparatus and a method therefor, and a video data receiver apparatus and a method therefor.
2. Description of Related Art
With high definition of video signals handled by AV apparatuses such as a television set or a recorder, an amount of data of the video signals increases, and therefore, a speed required for a data transmission among these apparatuses has been heightened. Therefore, it has been increasingly required to efficiently transmit large volumes of data within a limited bandwidth of a transmission line.
One of methods for transmitting more data with the transmission line of the limited bandwidth is a multi-value transmission. For example, in a multi-value amplitude modulation method of Patent Literature 1 of Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. JP2004-531909A, data of a plurality of bits are transmitted with one symbol by using voltage levels equal to or more than 4. For example, in the 4-value amplitude modulation method, a binary transmission is performed for one symbol, and therefore, the 4-value amplitude modulation method can transmit two times the amount of data of a binary transmission with the same bandwidth as that of the binary transmission, as compared with a case of the binary transmission. In this case, a case where non-compressed video data is transmitted using the 4-value amplitude modulation method will be described.
As illustrated in FIG. 25, video data constituting one frame is transmitted every horizontal line sequentially, normally from top to bottom, and data included in one line is transmitted sequentially from a pixel on the left of the one line. The data of each pixel is transmitted using one or a plurality of transmission lines. In case that the plurality of transmission lines are used, there is used such a method that one transmission line is allocated to each of R (red) signal, G (green) signal, and B (blue) signal, respectively, or that one transmission line is allocated to a brightness signal, and the other transmission line is allocated to a color-difference signal, etc. In this case, a case where data of each color signal included in one pixel is of 8-bit, where odd numbered bits are allocated to higher-order bit of the 4-value amplitude modulation signal, and where even numbered bits are allocated to low-order bit of the 4-value amplitude modulation signal will be described. A correspondence relationship between a multi-value signal level of a multi-value amplitude modulation signal and a value of pixel data to be inputted is set, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 26.
However, in a transmission system using the conventional multi-value amplitude modulation method as described above, it has been required to reduce signal errors.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Video data transmitter apparatus and video data receiver apparatus for transmission system using multi-value amplitude modulation

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


The gene encoding a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase has been isolated from bacteria and integrated into the genome of bacteria also expressing a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase, to yield an improved production process for 4HB-containing polyhydroxyalkanoates using transgenic organisms, including both bacteria and plants. The new pathways provide means for producing 4HB containing PHAs from cheap carbon sources such as sugars and fatty acids, in high yields, which are stable. Useful strains are obtaining by screening strains having integrated into their genomes a gene encoding a 4HB-CoA transferase and/or PHA synthase, for polymer production. Processes for polymer production use recombinant systems that can utilize cheap substrates. Systems are provided which can utilize amino acid degradation pathways, α-ketoglutarate, or succinate as substrate.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/773,916 filed Feb. 6, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/006,915 filed Nov. 9, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,589) which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/156,809 filed Sep. 18, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,262), which claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/059,373 filed Sep. 19, 1997, entitled Biological Systems for the Manufacture of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Polymers containing 4-Hydroxyacids by Gjalt W. Huisman, Frank A. Skraly, David P. Martin, and Oliver P. Peoples.
Poly [(R)-3-hydroxyalkanoates] (PHAs) are biodegradable and biocompatible thermoplastic materials, produced from renewable resources, with a broad range of industrial and biomedical applications (Williams and Peoples, 1996, CHEMTECH 26, 38–44). In recent years, what was viewed as a single polymer, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), has evolved into a broad class of polyesters with different monomer compositions and a wide range of physical properties. To date around one hundred different monomers have been incorporated into the PHA polymers (Steinbüchel and Valentin, 1995, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 128; 219–228). It has been useful to broadly divide the PHAs into two groups according to the length of their side chains and their pathways for biosynthesis. Those with short side chains, such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a homopolymer of R-3-hydroxybutyric acid units,—OCR1R2(CR3R4)nCO—                where: n is 0 or an integer and R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each selected from saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals; hal- and hydroxy-substituted radicals; hydroxy radicals; halogen radicals; nitrogen-substituted radicals; oxygen-substituted radicals; and hydrogen atoms,are crystalline thermoplastics, whereas PHAs with long side chains are more elastomeric. The former have been known for about seventy years (Lemoigne & Roukhelman, 1925), whereas the latter materials were first identified in the early 1980's (deSmet et al., 1983, J. Bacteriol., 154; 870–878). Before this designation, however, PHAs of microbial origin containing both (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid and one or more long side chain hydroxyacid units containing from five to sixteen carbon atoms had been identified (Steinbüchel and Wiese, 1992, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 37: 691–697; Valentin et al., 1992, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 36: 507–514; Valentin et al., 1994, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 40: 710–716; Lee et al., 1995, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 42: 901–909; Kato et al., 1996, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 45: 363–370; Abe et al., 1994, Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 16: 115–119; Valentin et al., 1996, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 46: 261–267; U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,331). A combination of the two biosynthetic pathways probably provide the hydroxyacid monomers. These latter copolymers can be referred to as PHB-co-HX. Useful examples of specific two-component copolymers include PHB-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate (Brandl et al., 1989, Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 11; 49–55; Amos and McInerey, 1991, Arch. Microbiol. 155: 103–106; Shiotani et al., 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,860). Chemical synthetic methods have also been used to prepare racemic PHB copolymers of this type for applications testing (WO 95/20614, WO 95/20615 and WO 96/20621).
Numerous microorganisms have the ability to accumulate intracellular reserves of PHA polymers. Since polyhydroxyalkanoates are natural thermoplastic polyesters, the majority of their applications are as replacements for petrochemical polymers currently in use for packaging and coating applications. The extensive range of physical properties of the PHA family of polymers, in addition to the broadening of performance obtainable by compounding and blending as traditionally performed in the polymer industry, provides a corresponding broad range of potential end-use applications. The PHAs can be produced in a wide variety of types depending on the hydroxyacid monomer composition (Steinbüchel and Valentin, 1995, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 128: 219–228). This wide range of polymer compositions reflects an equally wide range of polymer physical properties including: a range of melting temperatures from 40° C.–180° C., glass transition temperatures from −35 to 5° C., degrees of crystallinity of 0% to 80% coupled with the ability to control the rate of crystallization and elongation to break of 5 to 500%. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), for example, has characteristics similar to those of polypropylene while poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) (a copolymer of (R)-3-hydroxyoctanoate and (R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate) types behave more as elastomers and PHAs with longer side chains giving behavior closer to waxes. The PHAs can also be plasticized and blended with other polymers or agents. One particularly useful form is as a latex of PHA in water.
The monomer compositions also affect solubility in organic solvents allowing for a choice of a wide range of solvents. Copolymers of (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate and other hydroxyacid comonomers have significantly different solubility characteristics from those of the PHB homopolymer.
To date, PHAs have seen limited commercial availability with only the copolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) being available in significant quantities. This copolymer has been produced by fermentation of the bacterium Ralstonia eutropha (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus). Fermentation processes for other PHAs have been developed (Williams and Peoples, 1996, CHEMTECH 26: 38–44). Plant crops are also being genetically engineered to produce these polymers, and offer a cost structure in line with the vegetable oils and direct price competitiveness with petroleum based polymers (Williams and Peoples 1996, CHEMTECH 26: 38–44). More traditional polymer synthesis approaches have also been examined, including direct condensation and ring-opening polymerization of the corresponding lactones (Jesudason and Marchessault, 1994, Macromolecules 27: 2595–2602, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,286,842; 5,563,239; 5,516,883; 5,461,139; Canadian patent application 2,006,508).
Synthesis of PHA polymers containing the monomer 4-hydroxybutyrate (PHB4HB, Doi, Y. 1995, Macromol. Symp. 98, 585–599) or 4-hydroxyvalerate and 4-hydroxyhexanoate containing PHA polyesters have been described (Valentin et al., 1992, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 36: 507–514 and Valentin et al., 1994, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 40: 710–716). These polyesters have been manufactured using methods similar to that originally described for PHBV in which the microorganisms are fed a relatively expensive non-carbohydrate feedstock in order to force the incorporation of the monomer into the PHA polyester. For example, production of PHB4HB has been accomplished by feeding glucose and 4-hydroxybutyrate or substrate that is converted to 4-hydroxybutyrate to A. eutrophus (Kunioka, M., Nakamura, Y., and Doi, Y. 1988, Polym. Commun. 29: 174; Doi, Y., Segawa, A. and Kunioka, M. 1990, Int. J. Biol. Macromo. 12: 106; Nakamura, S., Doi, Y. and Scandola, M. 1992, Macromolecules 25: 423), A. latus (Hiramitsu, M., Koyama, N. and Doi, Y. 1993, Biotechnol. Lett. 15: 461), Pseudomonas acidovorans (Kimura, H., Yoshida, Y. and Doi, Y. 1992, Biotechnol. Lett. 14: 445) and Comomonas acidovorans (Saito, Y. and Doi, Y., 1994, Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 16: 18). Substrates that are converted to 4-hydroxybutyrate are 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 1,12-dodecanediol and 1,4-butyrolactone. The PHB4HB copolymers can be produced with a range of monomer compositions which again provides a range of polymer properties. In particular as the amount of 4HB increases above 10 wt. %, the melting temperature (Tm) decreases below 130° C. and the elongation to break increases above 400% (Saito, Y., Nakamura, S., Hiramitsu, M. and Doi, Y., 1996, Polym. Int. 39: 169).
The formation of 4HB containing polymers has also been studied with recombinant strains in studies aimed at improved PHB-4HB formation in Ralstonia eutropha or E. coli. Mutants of R eutropha H16 were selected that cannot use 4-hydroxybutyrate as a carbon source. When such mutants were tested for copolymer formation, up to 84% 4HB was incorporated into the accumulated PHA (Kitamura S and Y. Doi, 1994. in Biodegradable Plastics and Polyesters, 12, p. 373–378). By introducing additional copies of the phb genes, the accumulation of PHB-4HB was enhanced (Lee, Y.-H., Park, J.-S. and Huh, T.-L. 1997, Biotechnol. Lett. 19: 771–774).
It is desirable to develop more cost effective ways of producing PHAs containing 4HB by biological systems. Several factors are critical for economic production of PHA: substrate costs, fermentation time, and efficiency of downstream-processing. A general characteristic of the above described bacteria is that their growth rate is low, they are often difficult to break open and their amenity to genetic engineering is limited. Therefore, processes have been developed that improve the economics of PHA production by using transgenic organisms. Formation of PHB4HB was achieved in E. coli using the 4-hydroxybutyrate pathway from C. kluyveri (Hein, S., Söhling, B., Gottschalk, G., and Steinbuichel, A. 1997. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 153: 411–418). In these studies both the 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase and PHA synthase were plasmid encoded. Subsequent work showed that the 4-hydroxybutyrate pathway from C. kluyveri supports formation of PHB-4HB in E. coli up to 50% of the cell dry weight from glucose as sole carbon source, and where 2.8% of the monomers is 4HB. The 4HB monomer in these strains is most likely derived from succinate, an intermediate of the TCA cycle (Valentin, H. E. and Dennis, D. 1997. J. Biotechnol. 58: 33–38). These studies were based on Escherichia coli as recombinant production organisms and PHA biosynthetic genes from PHA producers such as R eutropha.
It is an object of the present invention to provide recombinant processes whereby additional genes can be introduced in transgenic PHB producers to create new strains that synthesize monomers, such as 4HB, for alternative PHAs.
A further object of the present invention is to provide techniques and procedures to stably engineer transgenic organisms that synthesize PHAs containing 4-hydroxybutyrate either as sole constituent or as co-monomer.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide screening systems for new 4-hydroxybutyryl CoA transferase encoding genes.
It is another object of the present invention to provide techniques and procedures to engineer new pathways in biological systems for the endogenous synthesis of alternative PHA monomers.

Biological systems for manufacture of polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers containing 4-hydroxyacids


There is provided a frequency tunable laser system comprising a laser, frequency varying means arranged for varying an optical frequency output of the laser, an intensity sensor arranged for receiving light from the laser, and a processor arranged for controlling the frequency varying means for varying the optical frequency output of the laser and receiving an intensity signal from the intensity sensor for monitoring the intensity output of the laser. The frequency tunable laser system further comprises an external reflective surface, in use, fixedly arranged in a light path of the laser beam outside the laser cavity at a predefined distance from the second reflective surface along the light path of the laser beam to reflect part of the emitted laser beam back into the laser cavity. The processor is further arranged for processing the intensity signal and registering oscillations of the intensity output caused by interference of the reflected part of the laser beam in the cavity and responsive to a change in optical frequency and calculating the change in optical frequency output from the registered oscillations of the intensity output and predefined distance.

The present invention relates to the field of laser systems, in particular to a frequency tunable laser system for use in an optical measuring system. The present invention further relates to a method for tuning a frequency tunable laser system.
Optical measuring systems may be used to perform measurements of optical properties as a function of optical frequency. One example of an optical measuring system may employ an optical sensing element e.g. comprising a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) or ring resonator or Fabry-Perot sensor. Such an optical sensing element may exhibit a spectral signature that varies as a function of a physical parameter influencing the sensing element. In order to use the optical sensing element to quantify the physical parameter, a measurement of the spectral signature of the optical sensing element is desired.
Measuring the spectral signature of an optical sensing element may comprise probing the optical sensing element with a varying narrowband optical signal and recording the spectral response of the sensing element. The varying narrowband optical signal may be generated by passing a broadband optical signal through a narrowband scanning filter. Alternatively, the narrowband optical signal may be directly generated, e.g. by a tunable narrowband laser diode. In a scan, the optical frequency of the narrowband optical signal may be varied through a range of probing frequencies and a resulting response of the optical sensing element may be recorded. In order to accurately reconstruct the spectral signature of the sensing element, it is desired to measure and/or calculate the optical frequency of the narrowband optical signal, e.g. during the scan or afterwards.
US2005/0134861 discloses a method for determining optical wavelengths, such as the Bragg wavelengths of an FBG sensor array. Wavelength-swept light having a characteristic spectrum is swept over a bandwidth and is applied to an interference filter. The interference filter produces an optical spectrum having one or more reference peaks that are identifiable because of the characteristic spectrum. The optical spectrum is converted into electrical signals having at least one electrical signal that is identifiable because of the characteristic spectrum. The identifiable electrical signal is used by a signal processor as an absolute wavelength reference.
There is a desire for a frequency tunable laser system of simpler design.

Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO


A method is disclosed for controlling the operation of a low power radio platform that realizes the physical layer (PHY) with a software portion and an analog front end, the analog front end disposed between the DSP and an antenna, and realizes the MAC layer with a microcontroller unit (MCU). The DSP, analog front end and MCU are maintained in a low power mode of operation when not in data communication. When data communication is initiated, a hardware controller controls at least one hardware interface disposed between the DSP and the analog front end to initiate multiple time based tasks to transfer data to and from a buffer. During the execution of these tasks, the controller causes a task in the DSP to be initiated for processing of data in the buffers and, upon completion of at least one of the tasks, notifying the MCU of such. The controller controls the hardware interface to terminate operation when predetermined time based events have occurred. The MCU in at least one mode of operation thereof is operable to initiate the operation of the hardware controller and then convert to a low power mode of operation to await notification.

Embedded control and monitoring functionalities have found their way into most electronic devices and the associated applications. However, this creates significant data flow that must somehow be connected to a central data gathering site. Thus, the need for connectivity of these various applications has given an explosive rise to connectivity solutions. In the early days of network connectivity, the network mesh utilized a wired connection, since these allow power and the reliable transmission of signals from a controller to its peripherals. However, in certain situations, it is difficult to physically dispose a peripheral in the controller and the wiring issues become more complex. To this end, wireless technology has seen a rise as the obvious solution although it has its own set of challenges, i.e., propagation, interference, security, regulations, and others.
One of the first solutions to the wireless issue was the rise of the IEEE Std. 802.11 Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN). However, these WLANs are designed for high-end data networking. Among the system requirements of a WLAN are seamless roaming, messaging forwarding, longest possible range and capacity for a large population of devices. For some applications such as low data rate thermostats, etc., this would be overkill. Thus, other standards have come out for low data rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPAN), which are designed for low-cost and very low-power short range wireless communications. These WPANs are designed to function in the Personal Operating Space (POS), extending up to ten meters in all directions and covering the area around a person whether stationary or in motion.
WPANs are utilized to convey information in the general vicinity of a user, which requires transmitting over relatively short distances. They typically consist of a central controller like device which is termed a Full Function Device (FFD) and peripherals which are referred to as Reduced Function Devices (RFD). The FFDs are powered and have the ability to relay packets, monitor multiple RFDs, etc. By comparison, the RFDs are very power efficient and have only the ability to communicate with the FFD.
In general, the IEEE came out with the 802.15 working group as defining three classes of WPANs. These are differentiated by data rate, battery drain and Quality of Service (QoS). IEEE Std. 802.15.3 is designated for high-data rate WPANs which can be utilized for multimedia applications. IEEE Std. 802.15.1 has been designated for use with medium-rate WPANs. These are designed for applications such as cable replacements for consumer electronic devices centered on mobile phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) with a QoS suitable for voice applications. The last class of WPAN, the one that is the primary subject of this application, is the LR-WPAN class associated with the IEEE Std. 802.15.4. This is intended to serve applications enabled only by the low power end cost requirements not targeted to the other WPANs. These applications have a very low data rate and QoS that are typically not compatible with the higher data rate WPANs.
Typically, the IEEE 802 communication standards define a layered reference model that allows encapsulation of different levels of abstraction within a well defined functionality. 802.xx communication standards define only the bottom two layers of the International Standard Organization's (ISO's) Open System Connection (OSC) protocol reference model. These two layers are the physical (PHY) layer and the data link layer, which is the media access control (MAC) layer. Thereafter, additional layers are provided. These are the network layer and the application layer. These are referred to as the "upper layers." To define these upper layers, various alliances have been formed that define the application for the particular 802.xx. communication standard. In the case of 802.15.4, one of these alliances is the ZigBee alliance. This is an organization that has developed a low power layer ISO/OSI reference model. These can be used for various things such as wireless sensors. Thus, ZigBee is a standards-based network protocol supported solely by the ZigBee alliance that uses the transport services of the IEEE 802.15.4 network specification. The ZigBee alliance is responsible for the ZigBee standard, and the IEEE is responsible for the physical transport specification. The ZigBee alliance provides the network protocol that rides on the transport specification, i.e., hence the layering concept.
The IEEE 802.15.4 standard defines multiple PHYs which span across three license-free frequency bands. One PHY spans the 868\9 15 MHz frequency band and the other PHY is dedicated to the 2.4 GHz frequency band, the one most commonly used and the one which will be described herein. The 2.4 GHz frequency band supports a total of 16 channels, channels 11 to 26. The data rate of the 2.4 GHz band allows a maximum data rate of 250 kbps. In general, the PHY layer is the interface to the physical radio and the generation of a radio link. The responsibilities of the PHY include receiver energy detection, link quality indication and clear channel assessment, in addition to transmitting and receiving packets across the electromagnetic medium. The ability to "Sniff" the air for other nodes is also an important aspect of the ZigBee specification.
The MAC layer is the layer that controls what is happening on the radio link. This provides control of access to the radio channel and employs the services of CSMA-CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access-Collision Avoidance) to avoid collisions on the radio link. Network association and de-association are also duties that are handled by the MAC sublayer. Flow control, acknowledgement and retransmission of data packets, frame validation and network synchronization also falls in the domain of the MAC sub-layer. It is also the primary interface from the PHY to the upper application layers of the ZigBee application. It should be understood that ZigBee is just one application that utilizes the 802.15.4 transport standard and other applications could also be associated with that standard.
Low power RFDs have been developed to dispose the radio for the 2.4 GHz solution on a chip in the form of an offset-quadrature phase shift key (O-QPSK) modulation/demodulation scheme in conjunction with a PHY and a MAC. Typically, the application layer will be formed with the use of a second application layer chip. However, some single chip solutions have actually combined the PHY, MAC and at least a portion of the application layer onto a single chip to provide a single chip solution for a given alliance based application. The challenge to the designers of the single chip solution is to provide a low power radio, sufficient modulation/demodulation capability to handle the requirements of the 802.15.4 standard, in addition to the processing necessary to effectuate the MAC and application layers. In some applications, the MAC is constructed in hardware, as well as the PHY, with the application running mostly in software through the use of some type of microcontroller system.
The industry strives to develop single chip solutions for any type of application, if possible. One area that holds a great deal of promise is software-defined radio (SDR) concepts. The idea behind the SDR is to move the software as close to the antenna as possible. This can improve flexibility, adaptability and reduce the time-to-market. However, the ZigBee solution utilizing the 802.15.4 standard requires very low power operation. This low power operation can be at odds with the concept of a fully software-defined solution. The reason for this is that, as more functionality is moved over to the software side of the operation, the amount of processing power will increase. Processing power is directly correlated to power consumption, since the typical processing engine is a digital signal processor (DSP).
Another aspect associated with the ZigBee operation and its low power operation is the fact that it only operates a certain portion of the time. For example, the reduced function module (RFD) (the slave module) will only come on at certain times to "Sniff" the channel to determine if a transmission has occurred, which transmission is associated with a beacon signal. This requires the RFD to have fairly accurate timing information associated with it such that it can anticipate when a beacon signal will be transmitted with information. Thus, the RFD will turn on for a short period of time to Sniff the channel to determine if a packet is transmitted, process the packet if it exists and then turn off to wait for the next "window." During this time, it is not possible to Sniff multiple packets, as only a single packet may be transmitted on that beacon for a particular RFD. Thus, it is important that the radio portion of the RFD be turned on, stabilized and perform a synchronization operation with a received packet and be able to obtain the following data which is termed a "payload." Since there will not be another packet, after receipt of the packet, the radio will then turn off again. It must then have sufficient accuracy to only turn on when it anticipates another packet may be transmitted. It can be appreciated that the less time the radio is on and operating, the less power that will be consumed. If there is a 20% error in the time that the radio is required to be turned on due to timing considerations, this can significantly increase power. Thus, the need for accurate timing while the radio is off is important.

Hardware synchronizer for 802.15.4 radio to minimize processing power consumption


A protected querying technique involves creating shingles from a query and then fingerprinting the shingles. The documents to be queried are also shingled and then fingerprinted. The overlap between adjacent shingles for the query and the documents to be queried is different, there being less, or no overlap for the document shingles. The query fingerprint is compared to the fingerprints of the documents to be queried to determine whether there are any matches.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to searching documents. Searching for the occurrence of one or more words can currently be performed within documents using productivity software (e.g., a word processor, spreadsheet editor, presentation software, etc.), across documents using an operating system or computer system-wide searching application, as well as on the internet using a search engine. These search techniques typically require at least the search term(s) comprising the search query to be in plaintext form, and may require both the search term(s) as well as the document(s) being searched to be in plaintext form.
The rise of cloud-based data storage has renewed interest in protocols allowing private searching of encrypted or sensitive data in a public or untrusted environment. These protocols are known as Private Set Intersection (PSI) protocols, which are also referred to as Oblivious Keyword Search, or Private Information Retrieval. These techniques provide a blind search functionality to protect the plaintext of the original query from the database provider.
Many recent approaches to PSI involve protocols with a strict set of security assumptions. For example, many approaches require that the person making the query obtain no information about the provider's database beyond the results of the intersection between the query and the contents of the database. This can involve using an independent third party that restricts the set of legitimate queries to achieve these strict security requirements.

Protected indexing and querying of large sets of textual data


This invention implements a printed product capable of embedding a variety of information which are unrecognizable by human eyes in image lines included in a security line drawing without decreasing the artistic effect of printed image lines and authenticating the information on the basis of the Fourier-transformed pattern of the printed image lines. This invention provides an information authenticable printed product having a plurality of line drawings in which an image line includes a unit image line including a plurality of image lines arrayed in parallel along a normal direction, and the normal-direction intervals between the plurality of image lines in the unit image line are set in correspondence with information to be embedded, an authentication method, a method of embedding information in the printed product, and an authentication apparatus.

Anti-forgery/anti-alteration measures are important elements for the printed products of important documents including various kinds of certifications and securities such as stock certificates and bonds. To prevent forgery or alteration of such printed products, a method using, as a design, a figure containing many geometrical patterns and a method of visualizing an unrecognizable latent image by applying some means and effect to a printed product are mainly available.
A representative example of the former method uses a geometrical pattern such as background pattern, a guilloche design pattern, or a relief pattern which are widely used as a design of a securities printed product. In the anti-forgery/anti-alteration measures using a geometrical pattern, a pattern is formed by an aggregate of curved image lines (in the present invention, curved image lines include straight image lines) which fundamentally have a predetermined line width.
These patterns apply artistry to a printed product. The anti-forgery effect is enhanced by, e.g., extracting a pattern by photoengraving or using, in a pattern, colors which are hard to reproduce by a copy machine or complex curved image lines which generate moiré on a scanning line input/output of a copying machine or scanner. However, recently coming advanced photoengraving apparatuses or copying machines render the anti-forgery/anti-alteration measures ineffectual.
The present inventors have proposed the following techniques (1) and (2).
(1) The present inventors have filed an application of an anti-copy pattern forming method and a printed product (Japanese Patent Application No. 6-206140) characterized in that in an aggregate pattern of curved image lines, a portion having no latent image is expressed by a single image line while a portion having a latent image is expressed by at least two image lines. The total line width of the at least two image lines of the portion with a latent image equals the line width of the single image line of the portion having no latent image. The at least two image lines branch from the single image line of the portion without a latent image. The boundary line on the image lines between the portion without a latent image and the portion with a latent image is a straight line which almost perpendicularly crosses a straight line contacting a basic curve of the aggregate pattern of curved image lines at the intersection between the basic curve and the outline of the latent image.
(2) The present inventors have filed an application of a printed product (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-138879) in which in an aggregate pattern of curved image lines, a portion having no latent image is expressed by a solid line while a portion having a latent image is expressed by a periodically broken line. In one period of the periodically broken line of the portion with a latent image, including an actually printed image line portion and a non-image line portion where the image line breaks so no image line exists, the area of the non image line portion is added to that of the image line portion. The image line area ratio of the portion with a latent image and that of the portion without a latent image are the same in the same length in the curve direction.
There are provided an anti-copy pattern forming method and a printed product, which cause a printed product having a pattern according to (1) or (2) to apply an effect of preventing forgery and alteration by a copying machine to an aggregate pattern of curved image lines such as background pattern, a guilloche design pattern, or a relief pattern on important documents including various kinds of certifications and securities such as stock certificates and bonds which require anti-copy.
However, the anti-copy measure using the above-described technique (1) or (2) cannot be a sufficient anti-forgery measure any more because of advanced color copying machines and advanced DTP (DeskTop Publishing) technology.
To solve this problem, a machine read check method capable of a mass authenticity determination process at a high speed has been proposed. However, current machine read check methods of checking a printed product detect functional inks such as magnetic ink, infrared reflection/absorption ink, or fluorescent ink, or materials such as fibers, materials, and chemicals of printing media. These technologies are based on, e.g., specific electromagnetic waves imperceptible to a human and can be applied to only economically appropriate products from the viewpoint of production cost because many technologies depend on the material properties of printed products.
An example of a reading method without particularly considering the production cost of printed products is a method of optically reading a pattern on a printed product capable of using a printing material such as a general print ink. As relatively easy optical reading methods, OCR, OMR, barcode, and two-dimensional code are known. However, to use these optical reading methods for existing products, it is necessary to change the design and specifications.
These optical reading methods are popular in the market but insufficient as an anti-forgery/anti-alteration measure because any symbol is visible as a printed image line and may be decoded and altered.
There are a series of technologies generally called an electronic watermark, which are included in the optical reading methods and apply read information without changing the artistry of, e.g., a design. The electronic watermark is also called a concealed image or digital watermark. As a main application purpose, the electronic watermark embeds copyright information in a document file or a printed product thereof in an advanced copy technology or DTP technology.
The electronic watermark is said to be able to suppress degradation in frequency characteristic even in a replica. Recently, digital images distributed on the Internet often contain an electronic watermark for the purpose of copyright protection. The electronic watermark also takes effect even on a printed product and is often used in posters.
The electronic watermark can maximize its effect in a continuous tone (photo tone) pattern. A continuous tone (photo tone) pattern is multilevel image data and therefore has sufficient redundancy. Many techniques such as a pixel substitution type, pixel space using type, and quantization error diffusion type are proposed in addition to a frequency using type. There are also a lot of references and patent applications related to this technique which is one of the technologies that have received attention presently.
However, an aggregate pattern of curved image lines such as background pattern, a guilloche design pattern, or a relief pattern used in securities is basically a binary image. For this reason, the redundancy is low, and it is difficult to embed an electronic watermark. This poses problems of a low read signal strength and low read accuracy.
Hence, there is a demand for development of an anti-forgery/anti-alteration technology which is independent of the material properties of a printed product and serves as an effective technology of determining authenticity, by a machine reading method, a pattern having anti-forgery properties suitable for important documents including various kinds of certifications and securities such as stock certificates and bonds.

Printed product, printed product detection method and detection apparatus, and authentication method and authentication apparatus

National Printing Bureau, Incorporated Administrative Agency


A pacing lead for implantation in the pericardial space includes an elongated lead body, a compression fixation element, and at least one electrode on either the lead body or the fixation element. The fixation element defines a resilient structure, and is positioned and dimensioned so that when the lead is disposed in the pericardial space, the resilient fixation element is compressed between the parietal and visceral pericardium, thereby biasing the electrode against the myocardium and providing positional stabilization to the lead. Further positional stability may be provided mechanically with structures enabling the application of adhesive or with fixation screw or tine elements.

As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the human heart 30 is contained in the mediastinum 32 within a conical sac of serous membrane called the pericardium 34. There are generally two layers to pericardium 34; the fibrous pericardium 35 and the serous pericardium 36. The fibrous pericardium 35 is a superficial layer comprising dense connective tissue and it encloses serous pericardium 36. The serous pericardium 36 itself has two layers. The layer adjacent the fibrous pericardium is the parietal layer 37 and the layer next to the heart is the visceral layer 38, also known as the epicardium. Between the parietal 37 and visceral 38 layers exists a small cavity known as the pericardial space 39. This pericardial space may be void or partially filled with a lubricious fluid 39a.
Pacing of the heart is usually achieved by pacing leads introduced transvenously. In some cases, however, the chamber of the heart or a specific location on the chamber of the heart is not accessible using a transvenous approach and must be placed surgically.
Leads placed on the surface of the heart, such as in contact with the visceral pericardium, require a method of fixation to keep them in place. In the prior art, pacing the epicardium is usually accomplished via a screw in lead placed surgically.
To pace the epicardium, a pacing lead is positioned with one or more electrodes in contact with the visceral pericardium. For effective pacing, electrodes on the pacing lead must be in constant electrical conductive contact with the surface of the visceral pericardium. Conductivity is most preferably sufficient so as to enable a pacing voltage of 3 volts or less, although for various reasons, prior art leads often develop much higher pacing thresholds.
To accomplish constant contact, different pacing lead configurations have been previously used to assist in the placement and retention of the pacing lead in the desired position. These prior leads, however, all have certain drawbacks making them not entirely satisfactory. For example they require placement through the parietal pericardium either surgically or percutaneously. They are usually screwed into place and frequently develop high thresholds. Other leads have been developed which employ a helical structure oriented along the longitudinal axis of the lead. The helical structure exerts a lateral biasing force against the walls of the space to assist in fixation of the lead. These prior helical leads, however, are sometimes difficult to stabilize and may be prone to "overturn" or rotate about the longitudinal axis of the lead when in place, thereby interrupting electrical contact of the electrodes.
The present inventor has recognized that prior art leads and fixation methods that do not employ screws or suture are not entirely suitable for placement in the pericardial space through the pericardium (surgical or percutaneously). Further, the present inventor recognizes that prior art leads, fixation and stabilization methods are not entirely suitable for leads introduced into the pericardial space through the venous system. Hence, there is still a need for a lead and passive fixation method assuring stable pacing from the epicardial surface whether introduced transvenously through the coronary venous microcirculation or through the wall of a chamber of the heart or through the fibrous pericardium. Because the general problems discussed above have not been addressed by conventional pacing leads, there is a current need for pacing leads addressing the problems and deficiencies inherent with the prior designs.

Pacing lead and method for pacing in the pericardial space


A developing device includes: a developer containing a toner and a carrier; a first transporting member placed at an opening portion of a developer vessel used for housing the developer; a second transporting member that faces the first transporting member with a first area interposed therebetween, and also faces an electrostatic latent image-supporting member with a second area interposed therebetween; a first electric-field-forming unit that forms a first electric field between the first transporting member and the second transporting member; and a second electric-field-forming unit that forms a second electric field between the second transporting member and the electrostatic latent image-supporting member. An image-forming apparatus includes the above-mentioned developing device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system and a developing device used for such an image-forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
With respect to developing systems used for the image-forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system, a mono-component developing system using only toner as a main component of a developer and a two-component developing system using a toner and a carrier as main components of a developer have been known.
A developing device of the mono-component developing system is provided with a toner supporting member that supports toner thereon and transports the toner and a toner-regulating blade that is made contact with the toner supporting face of the toner supporting member. Upon passing through the contact position with the toner-regulating blade, the toner, supported on the toner supporting member, is made friction-contact with the toner-regulating blade to be formed into a thin film, and also charged to a predetermined polarity. In this manner, since the mono-component developing device carries out a toner-charging process through the friction-contact with the toner-regulating blade, the resulting advantage is that the structure is simple, small, and inexpensive. Moreover, since only the toner layer having an upper limit value of 10+several micron meters in thickness is formed on the toner supporting member, the toner supporting member and the photosensitive member can be designed with a fine gap maintained therebetween, and consequently, a high toner transporting speed can be achieved by setting a strong electric-field so that high image quality with high precision can be obtained. However, toner degradation tends to occur due to a high stress in the regulating portion, and the quantity of charge of toner tends to be lowered in endurance use. Moreover, the charge-applying property to the toner is lowered by contamination of the toner-regulating blade and the surface of the toner supporting member due to the toner and external additives to cause problems of fogging and the like, with the result that it becomes difficult to prolong the service life of the developing device.
Since the developing device of the two-component developing system charges the toner and the carrier to predetermined polarities by making them in friction-contact with each other, the stress to be applied to the toner is smaller in comparison with that of the mono-component developing device. Since the surface area of the carrier is larger in comparison with that of the toner, the carrier is less vulnerable to contamination due to adhesion of the toner. However, the length of a magnetic brush formed on a developer supporting member by the carrier is 20 to 50 times thicker than the thickness of the toner layer on the toner supporting member of the mono-component developing system, and the magnetic brush becomes uneven from the microscopic viewpoint. As a result, inevitably, a weaker electric field needs to be set in comparison with that of the mono-component developing system by taking into consideration prevention of leak or the like, and at least one portion of the magnetic brush needs to be made in contact with the photosensitive member. Consequently, since the toner transporting speed becomes slower, and since scraping off of the toner image on the photosensitive member by the carrier occurs, the image quality becomes inferior to that of the mono-component developing system.
As a developing system that adopts the advantages of the two developing systems, a hybrid developing system has been proposed in which an electric field is formed between a transporting roller (first transporting member) on which a developer charged by the two-component developing system is held and a developing roller (second transporting member), and only the toner is consequently separated to form a toner layer on the developing roller so that a mono-component developing process is carried out (Japanese Patent-Application Laid-Open No. 2003-15380). In this developing system, at an opposing portion between the developing roller and the transporting roller, only the toner is selectively supplied from the transporting roller to the developing roller, and residual toner is recovered from the developing roller to the transporting roller. This system makes it possible to achieve both of the long service life of the apparatus and high image quality. In this system, however, at the opposing portion between the developing roller and the transporting roller, the toner supplying and recovering processes become insufficient to cause a new problem in that the toner layer on the developing roller is not sufficiently reset. For this reason, an image memory occurs due to differences in the toner amounts per unit area between the new and previous toner layers on the developing roller as well as in the quantities of charge in the toner. This problem is caused by difficulty in achieving the two directly-opposed functions that, while a new toner is being supplied from the transporting roller to the developing roller, residual toner on the developing roller after the developing process has to be recovered by the developer on the transporting roller, at an area close to the transporting roller and the developing roller. In the case when the toner supply is preferentially set so as to provide high quality images, high speed and the like of the apparatus, the occurrence of image memory becomes particularly conspicuous. For example, in an attempt to meet the recent trend of high charge quantity per unit mass so as to achieve a small size of the toner and also meet demands in the market for high quality image, when the adhering strength (mirror image strength) to the developing roller is increased, or when the toner amount of supply to the developing area per unit time is increased so as to meet the demands for high speed, the recovering property is lowered, with the result that the occurrence of image memory tends to become conspicuous. In contrast, when the toner supply is insufficient, the image density consequently becomes insufficient.
The present invention is to provide a hybrid developing device and an image-forming apparatus that can produce images in which a sufficient image density is achieved and the occurrence of image memory is sufficiently prevented, for a long period.

Developing device and image forming apparatus equipped with the same

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.