In a copying machine 1 which is an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, an air fan 11 and an air duct 12 on the downstream side thereof are provided in a housing 10, to lead an air current to an opening 55a of an image forming unit 5 through the air duct 12. The opening 55a is for passing a light beam from a light irradiating unit 4, and is also used for blowing off air, to lead the air current to the photosensitive drum 51. A rib 10g is provided in the vicinity of the opening 55a in the housing 10, to efficiently guide the air current to the opening 55a without varying the air current. The air current disperses ozone or the like in an area surrounding the photosensitive drum 51.

The application is based on an application No. 11-107063 filed in Japan, the content of which is incorporated hereinto by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to image forming apparatuses such as an electrostatic copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer. More particularly, it relates to image forming apparatuses utilizing corona discharges for forming an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine is provided with a charging corona discharger for charging a photosensitive drum in order to produce an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. In the charging corona discharger, corona discharges are induced.
When the corona discharges are induced, ozone or a nitrogen oxide (NOx) is generated. The ozone or the like may degrade the photosensitive drum, resulting in the possibility that a good image cannot be formed.
In order to prevent the photosensitive drum from being degraded, it is considered that an ozone removing device is provided. For example, an air shielding plate provided in an area surrounding the photosensitive drum and suction means for sucking in air from the area surrounding the photosensitive drum, so that air including ozone can be sucked in and removed from the area surrounding the photosensitive drum (see JP-A-61-23168).
When the air shielding plate is provided, as described above, the size of the image forming apparatus is made large. Further, jam processing is difficult to perform. Accordingly, the construction of the apparatus becomes complicated. Further, air is sucked in from the whole area surrounding the photosensitive drum, so that the size of a fan for sucking in the air must be made large in order to efficiently remove the ozone.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and to provide an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently preventing a photosensitive drum from being degraded by ozone or the like in simple construction.
In the present invention, ozone or a nitrogen oxide generated when a charging corona discharger induces corona discharges in order to charge the surface of a photosensitive drum does not stay in an area surrounding the photosensitive drum. Therefore, the image forming apparatus is so constructed that an air current is formed toward the circumference of the photosensitive drum. The air current is formed by a mechanism comprising an air fan, an air duct, and preferably a guiding member.
When air flows into the area surrounding the photosensitive drum, and the air is further diffused into a housing from the area surrounding the photosensitive drum, to flow out of the housing, the ozone or the nitrogen oxide does not stay in the area surrounding the photosensitive drum.
Particularly, the ozone or the nitrogen oxide generated in the area surrounding the photosensitive drum can be removed from the area surrounding the photosensitive drum more easily than it is removed by suction.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Image forming apparatus with a housing diffusing ozone


This disclosure is related to the manufacture of melt blown coreless tubular nonwovens. Such manufacture includes a melt blowing apparatus to deposit fibers onto a rotating mandrel for forming a tubular nonwoven; a puller device to withdraw the tubular nonwoven from the mandrel; and a cutting device to cut the tubular nonwoven into cartridges of a desired length. The puller device has a pair of drive axles mounted on a gap-setting device, such as a scissor jack or its equivalent. Each drive axle includes one or more driven multi-directional puller wheels, which is formed of or surrounded by non-driven rollers. When the rollers engage the rotating tubular nonwoven, the tubular nonwoven is pulled axially and steadily from the mandrel without affecting the rotational motion of the tubular nonwoven. As a result, the tubular nonwovens have consistent dimensions and quality without damage to the inner or outer surfaces of the tube.

The term "melt blown" refers to fibers or a mat formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material (the "melt" or the "polymer melt") through a plurality of fine orifices as molten filaments into converging flows of high-speed heated gas. This process is described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 3,825,380; U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,241; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,476, all of which are incorporated by reference herein, as well as in numerous other publications. Generally speaking, the polymer is melted in an extruder and forced through a row of fine capillaries (also known as "orifices" or "nozzles" or "spinnerets") to produce molten filaments. The orifices are drilled through the apex of a sharp angled metal structure called the "die tip." Two adjacent parts known as "air plates" or "air blades" surround the die tip and define the gaps between them, which constitute the geometry of the "air knives".
High pressure and temperature air or gas (known as the "primary air") passes through the air knives. The pressure of the supplied primary air determines the blowing speed of the air knives. The air knives attenuate and agitate the molten filaments as they exit the orifices to reduce their diameters and to improve the molecular alignment of the polymer. By regulating the temperature and pressure of the primary air and those of the polymer melt, this arrangement is capable of producing fibers of different diameter sizes, from the sub-micron diameter range to macro fibers (with average diameters of greater than 40 microns). According to U.S. Pat. No. 3,825,380, the upper limit for the diameter of the melt blowing orifice is about 0.03 inches. Orifices of larger size may produce excessively large shots in the resulted nonwoven products. Melt-blown fibers are sufficiently continuous and self-bonding, when deposited onto a collecting surface.
One of the major uses of nonwoven fabrics or articles (often simply called "nonwovens") is for gas and liquid filtration. Melt-blown (MB) nonwovens are particularly suitable for such uses, because their micro-sized fibers and pores can trap even microscopic particles while still allowing flow to pass through the article. Melt-blown nonwovens meet stringent filtration requirements better than other nonwovens can, including spun bonded, air-laid, wet-laid, carded, needle-punched, and spun-laced nonwovens, as well as most glass or wood fiber mats.
In filtration applications, both planar mats and cylindrical tubular filters are common. The latter functions especially well in situations with tight space, large flow volume, or high flow pressure. The early tubular filters were made by rolling up nonwoven sheets and then cutting into a desired length. This method has been found to have some significant drawbacks.
First, this manufacturing approach requires numerous steps and pieces of equipment, including cutting off and recycling the two ends of the rolled-up tube. These discrete steps cannot be integrated into a continuous process flow. Predictably, the equipment, material, and labor costs are high. Additionally, the layered filter tubes have lower material utilization efficiency than that of a one-piece nonwoven tube of the same weight.
Secondly, the resulting rolled-up filter has deficiencies. For example, the layered tube has poor rigidity, and often requires a hard inner core to help withstand flow pressure. Incorporating such a core requires additional equipment, material, and costs. Moreover, seams are required to secure the inner and outer edges to the tube body, which can be problematic for some applications. Also, variations in the nonwoven sheets (such as variations in weight, thickness, porosity, and the like) result in variations in the final tubular product.
Lastly, this method is not suitable for making tubular filters with density-gradient walls, which are more popular in the industry due to their better filtration efficiency and longer service life.
Therefore, the filtration industry has enthusiastically pursued methods and equipment for making one-piece melt-blown (MB) tubes that are coreless and seamless. In this approach, a tubular nonwoven system 1 includes a melt-blowing die 101 that blows molten fibers 103 directly onto a rotating mandrel roll 102 to form a porous tubular nonwoven 104, as shown generically in FIG. 1. The distance between the die tip and the mandrel roll influences the tightness of the laid fibrous body. As the tube reaches the desired outer diameter, it is continuously withdrawn from the mandrel by a puller device 107 (as indicated by dashed lines, more details of which will be provided below). Downstream of the puller device 107, a motor-driven cutting device 105 (e.g., a flying knife or saw) is used to cut the moving tube 104 into nonwoven cartridges 106 of a desired length. The results are better products with low capital, labor, and waste.
Examples of such efforts to produce tubular melt-blown nonwovens may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,159; U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,738; U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,125; U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,576; U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,642; U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,335l; U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,232; U.S. Pat. No. 6,391,200; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,274. Some of these exemplary devices use a single die, while others use multiple dies.
It is well understood that there are numerous, sometimes conflicting, requirements to develop a satisfactory means of pulling the rotating tube off the mandrel continuously and steadily. Some of these requirements include:
a. The puller device should be economical to build, easy and safe to use.
b. The position and movement of the puller device should permit the safe and free movement of the tube-cutting knife or saw.
c. The puller device should be able to operate over a broad range of speeds and inner and outer tube diameters with quick and simple adaptation only, because tubular products are routinely made in many diameters, lengths, and wall thicknesses.
d. All melt-blown devices have a fluctuating and generally declining output rate, due to the gradual clogging of the melt filter, contamination of the nozzle, and possible fluctuation in the voltage received by the device. Therefore, the puller device's speed should be self-correcting or at least easily adjustable to maintain product consistency.
e. Physical damage to the inside or outside of the tubular cartridges should be avoided to preserve their functionality. Crushing, cuts, tears, scratches, punctures, fluid channeling, or loose fibers adversely affect the performance of the tubular cartridges. Cuts to the inside wall may be particularly destructive, as they cause filtrate leakage.
f. The rate of fiber mass being removed from the mandrel must match the rate of fiber deposition onto the mandrel, so that the resulting tube will have consistent weight and diameter. Slippage among the mandrel, the tube, and the puller device cannot be tolerated.
g. When the puller device pulls the tube off the mandrel, it must not fight against the rotational motion of the tube (as imparted by the mandrel). Rotational speed change or slippage between the tube and the mandrel may lead to uneven weight and dimension in the tubular cartridges, and such quality issues are difficult to detect and correct during production.
h. The puller device should maintain a firm and constant grip on the rotating tube, even as the latter's surface often has varied and changing properties including tube diameter, coefficient of friction, hardness, material's oily content, average fiber diameter, fuzziness, moisture, spray coatings, out-of-roundness, compaction treatment on tube wall, and the like. With conventional puller devices, tightening the grip is the only method of accommodating differences in nonwoven properties, which may interfere with the tube's rotational motion. Rotational retardation or slip, detectable or not, violates requirements "f" and "g" above.
i. To meet so many requirements simultaneously, the puller device's operation and control should be able to utilize modern automation technology to reduce manual labor and avoid errors and inaccuracy.
Currently, there are several types of puller devices in commercial use, which are widely apart in concept and design but none of which can be considered as satisfactory. The existing types of puller devices include devices with a rotating screw inside the tubular nonwoven; devices with rotating screws on the outside of the tubular nonwoven; devices with multiple canted rolls; devices with gears and pulling arms; and devices with canted rolls with detents, each of which is discussed below.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a tubular nonwoven system 200 having a first type of puller device 2 ("Type A"), which includes a rotating screw 207 inside a tubular nonwoven 204. Such a device is illustrated, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,576; U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,642; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,232.
A rotatable mandrel 202 functions as a collector surface for a melt-blowing die 201, which deposits molten fibers 203 onto the surface thereof. The rotatable mandrel 202 is driven at a first rotational speed Ω1 by a first motor "M". The first motor is connected to a first pulley 214 that is connected by a drive belt 213 to a second pulley 212, which is attached to the mandrel 202.
The rotatable screw 207 (having a slightly larger diameter than the outer diameter of the mandrel 202) is installed at the end of the mandrel 202. A shaft 208, which is positioned through the hollow mandrel 202, drives the screw 207 at a second rotational speed Ω2. The shaft 208 is turned at speed Ω2 by a third pulley 209, which is connected by a drive belt 211 to a fourth pulley 210. The fourth pulley 210 is operably connected to a second motor "M."
When the rotational speed Ω2 of the screw 207 is significantly (15% to 25%) faster than the rotational speed Ω1 of the mandrel 202, the screw thread cuts into the inner wall of the nonwoven tube 204 and pushes the tube 204 forward in an axial direction toward the cutting device 205. The cutting device 205 cuts the nonwoven tube 204 into tubular cartridges 206 of a desired length.
Although its mechanical system is complex and expensive, Type A pullers with inside screws (e.g., 2) are one of the most popular puller devices currently in use. One shortcoming associated with these types of puller devices 2 is that the rotating screw 207 cuts grooves into the inner wall of the nonwoven tube 204, and the resulting grooves may function as a continuous flow channel for filtrate and contaminants to escape under pressure. This concern is more serious when the flow pressure is high, the filtration requirement is stringent, or the filtrate is of high value.
Another limitation of Type A puller devices is the necessity to replace the complete set of the mandrel and screw each time a product change demands a different inner diameter. Such a requirement increases equipment and operational costs. All other types (discussed below) require only the mandrel to be replaced.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a tubular nonwoven system 300 having a second type of puller device 3 ("Type B"), which includes rotating screws 307 on the outside of the tubular nonwoven 304. Such a device is illustrated, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,576 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,232.
A melt-blowing die 301 deposits molten fibers 303 onto a rotating mandrel 302 to form a continuous tubular nonwoven 304. The puller device 3 includes multiple (usually three) screws 307 that are positioned around and against the outer surface of the tubular nonwoven 304. An endless drive belt 309 engages the screws 307, and a pulley wheel 308 is connected to a motor "M". A drive belt tensioner 310 may be used to ensure the appropriate tension on the drive belt 309. The puller device 3 advances the nonwoven tube 304 to a cutting device 305, which cuts the tube into individual nonwoven cartridges 306 of a desired length. The surface speed of the screws 307 is faster than that of the nonwoven tube 304, pushing it in an axial direction toward the cutting blade 305.
The three puller screws 307 cut multiple grooves on the outer wall of the nonwoven cartridge 306. Except for detracting from the appearance of the product, the screws 307 result in less harm than the cuts on the inner wall that are produced by the Type A puller (the inner screw type) discussed above. However, this system's hardware and operation are more complicated and difficult to use than Type A.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a tubular nonwoven system 400 having a third type of puller device 4 ("Type C"), which includes multiple canted rollers 407 that are driven and that are pressed against a newly formed tubular nonwoven 404. Such a device is illustrated, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,159; U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,738; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,335.
A melt-blowing die 401 deposits molten fibers 403 onto a rotating mandrel 402 to form the continuous tubular nonwoven 404. The rotatable mandrel 402 is driven at a first rotational speed Ω1 by a first motor "M". The puller device 4 includes multiple (usually three) canted rollers 407 that are positioned around and against the outer surface of the tube 404. The canted rollers 407 are driven by a second motor (not shown) at a second rotational speed Ω2. The nonwoven tube 404 is cut by a cutting device 405 into nonwoven cartridges 406 of a desired length.
By adjusting the angles between the axis of the mandrel and those of the canted rollers and by adjusting the speed differential between the surfaces of the tubular nonwoven and the canted rollers, an axial force component is produced that nudges the tube forward and off the mandrel, while the mandrel, the nonwoven tube, and the rollers are in rotational motion. It has been found that simultaneous adjustment of the angles, rotational speed, and compressive force of the rollers 407 is difficult to achieve and is impractical to automate by modern technology. As a result, although nonwoven manufacturers have used Type C puller devices commercially for the longest time, these manufacturers have found it hard to consistently obtain high product quality; and the off-quality ratio is high.
FIG. 8 illustrates a tubular nonwoven system 500 having a fourth type of puller device 5 ("Type D"), which includes gears 505 with puller arms 506. Such a device is illustrated, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,125.
In this system 500, a melt-blowing die 501 deposits molten fibers 503 onto a rotating mandrel 502 to form a continuous tubular nonwoven 504. The rotatable mandrel 502 is driven by a first motor "M". When the nonwoven tube 504 reaches a desired diameter on the mandrel 502, a puller device engages the nonwoven tube.
The puller device 5 includes two gears 505, which are attached to puller arms 506 and which are positioned around and against the outer surface of the tube 504. The gears 505 are rotatable, but not motor-driven. The puller arms 506 pull the nonwoven tube 504 from the mandrel 502 in an axial direction 507, so that the nonwoven tube 504 may be subsequently cut by a cutting device (not shown) into nonwoven cartridges of a desired length.
The Type D puller device is complicated to operate and, thus, has limited practical utility. Because the puller device itself is located in an area previously used for the cutting device, this system is incapable of working in continuous production.
FIGS. 9 through 11 illustrate a tubular nonwoven system 600 having a fifth type of puller device 6 ("Type E"), which includes a large canted wheel 607 with detents that engage the outer surface of a tubular nonwoven 604. Such a device is illustrated, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,274.
As with the previous melt-blowing systems, a melt-blowing die 601 deposits molten fibers 603 onto a rotating mandrel 602 to form a continuous nonwoven tube 604. The rotatable mandrel 602 is driven by a first motor "M". The canted wheel 607, which is driven by a second motor "M", includes multiple sharp detents on its outer periphery. The detents penetrate into the nonwoven tube 604 to pull the tube 604 from the mandrel 602 to a cutting device 605. The nonwoven tube 604 is cut by the cutting device 605 into nonwoven cartridges 606 of a desired length.
When the detents pierce the outer surface of the nonwoven tube 604, they pull the tube 604 in the direction of the rotational motion of the canted wheel 607. As a result, the detents leave permanent holes 608 in the outer surface of the nonwoven tube 604, which can impact the functionality of the nonwoven cartridge 606. Additionally, the pulling force of the canted wheel 607 may unwittingly cause rotational slippage between the nonwoven tube 604 and the mandrel 602.
Like the Type C puller device, the Type E puller device requires simultaneous adjustments to the speed, the slant angle, and the compression force of the canted wheel 607. Such multiple adjustments are difficult and imprecise. For this reason and because of the detent damage to the resulting product, these Type E systems have limited commercial applicability.
With these conventional puller devices, it has been observed that the forces of pull are imprecise and insufficient. When the puller devices engage the rotating nonwoven tube, they resist the tube's rotational motion with an undesirable and immeasurable torque, which often leads to inconsistency in product quality.
By using the performance criteria (a to i) listed above, the relative merits of each of the said types (A to E) are estimated below in TABLE 1. The requirements are rated on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the least satisfactory and 10 is the most satisfactory.
TABLE 1Performance characteristics of prior puller systemsManufacturing Requirements (rated on scale of 1-10)1 = least satisfactory, 10 = most satisfactoryPuller TypeabcdefghiA (inner screw)3103426458B (outer screws)4104436457C (canted rollers)2104354433D (gears and arms)5 15436753E (canted roll with 5106418385detents)
As observed, none of the puller types scores highly in all requirements. From this background, it is clear that there remains a need for a better puller device and method.

Melt-blowing apparatus with improved puller device for producing tubular nonwovens


Thin invention introduces a five-dimensional rasterization technique that uses a test based on triangle edges in order to obtain high efficiency. A compact formulation of five-dimensional edge equations is used to derive a conservative triangle edge versus tile test in five dimensions, expressed as an affine hyperplane.

This relates to graphics processing and particularly to the graphical depiction of motion blur and depth of field.
Motion blur is an important visual effect that reduces temporal aliasing and makes moving content appear smoother. However, efficient rendering of motion blur in real-time three-dimensional graphics is nontrivial. In stochastic rasterization of motion blur, moving geometric primitives are sampled in both space and time, using a large set of samples to obtain high-quality motion-blurred images with low noise levels. For each of the sample positions, an inside test is executed to determine whether the moving primitive covers the sample. This overlap test in x, y and t space is generally more expensive than an inside test in traditional rasterizers.
Depth of field is an effect stemming from the finite aperture of a real camera, and makes out-of-focus objects appear blurry. In stochastic rasterization of depth of field, geometric primitives are sampled in both space and over the camera lens.
A stochastic rasterizer that supports simultaneous motion blur and depth of field executes visibility tests for each triangle in a five dimensional (5D) domain (x,y,u,v,t). This domain consists of spatial positions (x,y), lens coordinates (u,v) and time t. These visibility tests are computationally much more expensive than a single visibility test in standard 2D rasterization. Additionally, for each triangle, many (e.g. 16-64) such tests are executed per pixel to obtain images with low noise levels.

Sample culling based on linearized 5D edge equations


A medium conveying apparatus includes a floating sensor located on an upstream side of a first roller in the medium conveying direction to detect a floating of the medium placed on a medium tray, a skew sensor located on a downstream side of a second roller in the medium conveying direction to detect a skew of the medium conveyed by the second roller, and a processor to determine whether the floating of the medium has occurred based on an output signal from the floating sensor, determine whether the skew of the medium has occurred based on an output signal from the skew sensor, and determine that a conveyance abnormality of the medium has occurred when the processor determines that the floating of the medium has occurred and the processor determines that the skew of the medium has occurred.

A medium conveying apparatus such as a scanner has a function of separating and feeding a plurality of media. However, when the medium folded in two or the stapled media, etc., is conveyed with the function of separating and feeding the plurality of media enabled, the medium is not separated, and a conveyance abnormality such as a jam (paper jam) may occur.
The medium conveying apparatus needs to accurately determine whether or not a medium conveyance abnormality has occurred in order to stop the medium conveyance to prevent damaging to the medium when the medium conveyance abnormality occurs.
A feeding apparatus to determine a feeding abnormality of a sheet when an amount of deformation (bounce amount) of a fed sheet is equal to or more than a determination threshold value, is disclosed (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Kokai) No. 2016-169104). This feeding apparatus corrects the determination threshold value in accordance with a change in an oblique amount of a tip of the sheet.
An image reading apparatus including a jump detection unit to detect a jump of a document and a multi-feed detection unit to detect a multi-feed of the document, and determines whether or not a staple process is performed on the document based on the detection results of the jump detection unit and the multi-feed detection unit, is disclosed (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Kokai) No. 2017-147605).

Medium conveying apparatus for determining conveyance abnormality based on determination result of floating and skew of medium


A network real-time electricity monitoring system has at least one power line communicating and AC power monitoring device, a power line network device and a monitoring computer. The power line communicating and AC power monitoring device is connected to a power line of a corresponding target device to retrieve and transform statuses of an AC power in the power line into network packets and sends the network packets out through the power line. The power line network device is connected to the power line to retrieve the network packets and sends the network packets to a local monitoring computer or a remote monitoring computer based on Internet protocol address of the monitoring computer installed in the power line network device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electricity monitoring system, and more particularly to a network real-time electricity monitoring system.
2. Description of Related Art
Manufacturers cannot monitor statuses of the power consumption of the electric appliances that are used in users' places. The users send the electric appliances back to the manufacturer once the electric appliance has failure. The manufacturer then checks if the failure of the electric appliance is resulted from inside of the electric appliance or from the improper usage. Therefore, the manufacturers cannot actually realize how the users operate the electric appliances.
In addition, more people choose to live in buildings because the population increases. However, electric power consumption of public areas in a building is not easy to be divided equally to each inhabitant in the building. Therefore, it is a thorny problem to manage the power usage in the buildings.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a network real-time electricity monitoring system to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Network real-time electricity monitoring system


An audio data transmission system applied in a blade PC for connecting a main system unit of a PC blade with an external audio device is provided. The audio data transmission system comprises a peripheral agent device, a peripheral gateway and a connection management unit. The peripheral agent device is connected to the main system unit. The peripheral gateway is connected to the external audio device and is for providing an identification code. In response to the identification code, the connection management unit pairs the peripheral agent device with the peripheral gateway to establish a communication link between the peripheral agent device and the peripheral gateway for transmitting an audio data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an audio data transmission system, and more particularly to an audio data transmission system using blade PC system.
2. Description of the Related Art
According to conventional audio data transmission system applied in a blade PC system, the PC blade of the blade PC is connected to a peripheral audio device at a remote end via a cable such as register jack 45 (RJ45) network cable or optical fiber cable. By doing so, audio data can be transmitted between the PC blade and the peripheral audio device. However, conventional audio data transmission system has still several problems.
According to conventional audio data transmission system, commands and audio data are transmitted between a PC blade and a peripheral audio device via a cable. Such cable connection results in a higher connection cost to conventional audio data transmission system. Furthermore, in conventional audio data transmission system, the PC blade is matched with a corresponding peripheral audio device on a one-to-one basis. Therefore, conventional audio data transmission system can not transmit audio data between peripheral audio devices or between a PC blade and a non-corresponding peripheral audio device.

Audio data transmission system and audio data transmission method


Systems and methods for measuring the concentricity of golf balls using varying energy levels to gather and analyze data on concentricity.

Golf balls typically include a center or core and at least one cover layer. Manufacturers are continually refining processes to avoid center shift of multi-layer golf balls. For example, to make a dual core using compression molding, an inner core must be placed within two outer core shells in a mold press assembly and then the assembly is heated under pressure at a precise temperature for a predetermined period of time to allow for crosslinking. To make a dual core using injection molding or casting, the inner core is positioned in a mold (typically held in place with a retractable pin for injection molding and vacuum or suction for casting) and then the cover material is injected/poured into the closed mold and the holding mechanism is retracted/released. When done properly, the result is a golf ball with no substantive center shift. In contrast, variances in the manufacturing process may result in a golf ball with a certain degree of center shift.
Such lack of concentricity or centeredness of the golf ball layers may result in performance inadequacies. In fact, if the inner core of a dual core golf ball is just 40/1000 of an inch off-center, shot dispersion can increase. As a result, most manufacturers have some form of a quality check on the manufactured golf balls to determine whether they are within predefined tolerances. While the most common way to analyze concentricity is to cut a golf ball in half and measure the thickness of the outer layer at several points around the ball, there are ways to determine concentricity without cutting into or deconstructing the golf ball. For example, x-ray inspection may be used to image a golf ball and calculate concentricity.
In one method, an image of a control golf ball is taken and stored so that images of samples can be compared to the control. Any differences between the control image and the sample are used to determine the amount of error in the sample. However, this method is compromised if the control golf ball has any degree of center shift and/or is positioned incorrectly or moved during imaging.
In another method, a golf ball is x-rayed with a single energy x-ray selected so that the core and outer layer(s) can both be seen in the resulting image and the thickness of the outer layer(s) can be measured. But, the single energy x-rays typically causes the edges of the image to become distorted or less clear. In other words, the compromise in x-ray intensity to be able to discern both the core and layers outside of the core results in reduced contrast and definition. Indeed, the fact that the golf ball is a sphere presents inherent issues with any of the known imaging methods above. In fact, the geometry of the golf ball forces any x-rays to pass through the most material at the middle of the center and the least at the outer diameter, which results in an image that is darker toward the center. As such, any outer layers are difficult to discern with only one energy level, as shown generally in the dual core golf ball imaged in FIG. 1. Indeed, the golf ball 10 shown in FIG. 1, has a core 12, an outer core layer 14, and a cover layer 14, but the cover layer 14 cannot be seen in the image. In contrast, if the outer core layer or cover is formed from material that has high radiopacity, it will block the x-rays and the center will be harder to discern unless the x-ray energy is relatively high. At some point, the higher energy x-rays penetrate the outer diameter enough to make it hard to discern.
Multiple energy levels may be used to more clearly discern the components of a golf ball and calculate concentricity. For example, one method of calculating concentricity uses lower energy x-rays to capture a first image that allows location of the outside of the golf ball or outer core layer and higher energy x-rays to capture a second image that shows the core more clearly. While this optimizes the location measurement of each component in the golf balls and adds accuracy to the concentricity measurement, adjusting the kVp of the x-ray source between each image is inefficient and burdensome (especially if multiple attempts are necessary to achieve the appropriate contrast and definition for the various ball components).
In these known imaging methods, the golf ball can be doped to assist with cover detection. In fact, U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,937generally discloses a method for determining concentricity of a golf ball where the golf ball has a barium or bismuth doped boundary layer or cover such that the x-ray image is sufficiently enhanced to make the necessary measurements and calculations. However, doping may alter performance characteristics of the ball. In addition, metal markers may be used to assist with cover detection. In particular, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,928,140, metal markers, which are radiopaque, may be used to provide a clear and defined edge and reference point to measure core and layer dimensions of the golf ball and, thus, the concentricity of the golf ball, when using x-ray inspection. Essentially, because, as discussed above, the optimal x-ray intensity for clearly discerning the core and its edges is much higher than the x-ray intensity that allows clear edge definition of the cover or layers outside the core, the metal markers theoretically allow for one x-ray energy level to be used while still discerning both the core and outer layers. However, the use of metal markers complicates the imaging process at least from a materials handling standpoint. In addition, metal markers only allow for measurement at discrete locations around the ball or component
Accordingly, there remains a need for a system and method that measures concentricity of golf ball components and/or golf balls having single, dual or multi-cores. In addition, it would be advantageous to use such a system and method to allow for imaging of more than one golf ball or golf ball component at a time. The present invention is designed to meet this need.

Multi-energy x-ray system and method for golf ball inspection


In a method which heats a layer including nickel and titanium on a SiC substrate (1) to form a nickel silicide layer (4) including titanium carbide, the layer including nickel and titanium is formed by vapor deposition or sputtering. The nickel silicide layer (4) is heated at a temperature that is equal to or higher than 1100° C. and equal to or less than 1350° C. to generate the layer including nickel and titanium. At that time, the rate of temperature increase is equal to greater than 10° C./minute and equal to or less than 1350° C./minute and a heating duration is equal to or more than 0 minute and equal to or less than 120 minutes. These heating conditions make it possible to obtain a homogeneous rear surface electrode (8) for a SiC semiconductor device which has sufficiently low rear surface contact resistance.

In a semiconductor device which has been used as a power device, silicon has been mainly used as the semiconductor material. Silicon carbide (SiC), which is a semiconductor with a wider band gap than silicon, has good physical properties, such as thermal conductivity that is three times more than silicon, a maximum electric field intensity that is ten times more than silicon, and an electron drift speed that is two times more than silicon. In recent years, various institutes have conducted active research on applications of a power device which has a high dielectric breakdown voltage and low loss and can operate at a high temperature. A vertical semiconductor device including a rear surface electrode which has a low-resistance ohmic electrode on the rear surface side has been mainly used as the structure of the power device. Various materials and structures have been used for the rear surface electrode. As one of the materials and structures, for example, a laminate of a titanium layer, a nickel layer, and a silver layer (for example, see the following Patent Document 1) or a laminate of a titanium layer, a nickel layer, and a gold layer (for example, see the following Patent Document 2) has been proposed.
In a vertical semiconductor device using SiC which is typified by a Schottky barrier diode, a method has been used which forms a nickel layer on a SiC substrate, heats the nickel layer to form a nickel silicide layer, and forms an ohmic contact between the SiC substrate and the nickel silicide layer (for example, see the following Patent Documents 1 and 2).
As a method of forming the ohmic electrode, a method has been proposed which forms a laminate of a plurality of metal (Ni, Ti, and Al) layers on a SiC substrate and heats the laminate at a temperature of 700° C. to 1100° C. In the method, ohmic characteristics are obtained at, most preferably, a temperature of 800° C. (for example, see the following Patent Document 3). In addition, a technique has been proposed which radiates a laser beam to the rear surface of a SiC substrate to form an ohmic electrode in a low-temperature process (for example, see the following Patent Document 4).

SiC semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same


A support for a video camera comprising a seat, a vertical support frame on one side of the seat, an arm rest on the vertical camera support frame, and an elongated, adjustable boom extending outward from the vertical camera support. The boom is pivotally attached to the support frame to allow side-to-side movement and includes a centrally positioned elbow joint to allow vertical adjustment of the distal end of the boom. The boom includes a telescoping segment to adjust its length. The boom has a handle at the distal end. The handle includes a camera mount on its upper surface. The handle is attached to the boom by a ball and socket joint that allows full range of movement of the handle.

The use of hand held video recording cameras has increased dramatically in recent years. Video recording cameras come in many styles and formats including VHS format video recorder, digital video recorders, and recently, cameras that record directly to digital videodiscs. Such cameras, whatever the format, generally are referred to as "camcorders".
Although the size and weight of camcorders have been reduced in recent years, it can be inconvenient and tiring for the user to hold the camera while recording, particularly if recording a lengthy event, such as a wedding, graduation, sporting event or other such event. The user can suffer from arm fatigue and movement results in an uneven or shaky picture. Generally, for longer events, the user supports the camcorder on a convention camera tripod. However, these devices are not without drawbacks. They can be cumbersome to carry and set up, they don't readily fit in seating areas, such as bleachers or church pews, and they usually require the user to stand and bend over the camera, which can be tiring and uncomfortable.
It would be beneficial, therefore, to have a video recording camera support that allows the user to sit in a comfortable position and record events. It also would be beneficial to have such a support device that can be placed or positioned in a seating area with limited space, such as a church pew or bleacher seats. Moreover, it would be beneficial to have such a support device that allows a full range of movement of the camera.


A memory access control system is disclosed. In this system, a CPU, a low speed memory, a high speed memory and direct memory access controller (DMAC) are connected to a system bus. A high speed memory is connected through a local bus to the CPU. A control circuit is connected to the local bus, the system bus and the high speed memory. A bidirectional buffer is connected to the local and system buses. When the CPU accesses the high speed memory, the control circuit addresses the high speed memory and disables the buffer. As a result, data can directly be transferred between the CPU and the high speed memory. When the CPU accesses the low speed memory, the control circuit drives the system bus according to a protocol of the system bus, thereby to address the low speed memory and enables the buffer. As a result, data can be transferred between the CPU and the low speed memory, via a route of the local bus, the buffer and the system bus. When the DMAC accesses the high speed memory, the control circuit addresses the high speed memory and enables the buffer according to the system bus protocol. As a result, data can be transferred between the DMAC and the high speed memory, through a route of the local bus, the buffer, and the system bus. When the DMAC accesses the low speed memory, the control circuit disables the high speed memory and the buffer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a relatively small size data processing system, and more particularly to a memory access control system in use with a relatively small size data processing system.
2. Description of the Related Fields
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a relatively small size data processing system such as a personal computer. In the configuration of FIG. 1, memory 33 is connected to system bus 35. CPU 31 accesses to memory 33, via system bus 35. Such access system is called a system-bus memory access system.
There is another proposal of a memory access system in which CPU 41 accesses memory 42 through dedicated local bus 47, as shown in FIG. 2. This type of the access system can make a high speed access to memory 42, because there is no bothering of competitive acquisition of the bus line. The memory access system using the local bus is called a local-bus memory access system.
In the architecture of the data processing system configured as shown in FIG. 1, the memory access by CPU 31 and the memory access by direct memory access controller (DMAC) 32 are in the same level, with respect to system bus 35. Therefore, even if memory 33 per se is operable at a high speed, the control of system bus 35 limits increase of the access speed when high speed memory 33 is accessed.
In the data processing system configured as shown in FIG. 2, DMAC 43 is allowed to access only low speed memory 44 coupled with system bus 46. In other words, it cannot access high speed memory 42. DMAC 43 controls mainly the data transfer between low speed memory 44 and input/output (I/0) device 45. The access speed of DMAC 43 is limited by the operation speed of I/0 device 45. Therefore, even if DMAC 43 accesses low speed memory 44, it does not damage an operation speed of the system in any way. Since high speed memory 42 is directly accessed by CPU 41, the performance of high speed memory 43 per se, and that of CPU 41 as well can be fully utilized.
As the result of recent rapid development of semiconductor technology, the operation speed of CPU and memory has been increased. With increase of the operation speed, disadvantages of the architecture of the system-bus memory access system have been more distinguished. A possible measure for this is to employ the architecture of the local-bus memory access system. However, this measure will encounter the problem inherent in this architecture that DMAC 43 cannot directly access high speed memory 42. A software approach may solve this problem. Specifically, a memory address space of CPU 41 is divided into an address space accessible by DMAC 43 and an address space inaccessible by the same. The software does not access to high speed memory 42.
The software approach, however, involves a problem "There is a danger that a software based on the system-bus system architecture does not run in the local-bus system architecture". In other words, the software based on the system-bus system architecture is not compatible with that based on the local-bus system architecture.

Memory access control system for use with a relatively small size data processing system


A system and method for assessment of risk involved in transfer of passengers into or out of a vehicle at a particular transfer location. The assessment may utilize environmental data and dynamic data to estimate a risk level for the passengers. If the estimated risk level is not lower than a threshold, a revised transfer location may be found and assessed.

Commercial passenger vehicles transport passengers between a starting location and a destination. Passengers must transfer into the commercial passenger vehicle at the beginning of a trip and must transfer out at the end of the trip. Transfers into and out of the commercial passenger vehicle may occur within uncontrolled environments, and as such may be subjected to potentially dangerous or inconvenient conditions.

Risk-based assessment of passenger transfer


An anti-seize composition which is non-flowable and dimensionally stable at temperatures greater than about 120° F. and dispensable at room temperature without the application of heat is provided. The composition includes a solid anti-seize lubricant, such as of metallic copper, metallic nickel, metallic aluminum, metallic lead, metallic zinc, graphite, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium fluoride, calcium stearate, lithium, molybdenum disulfide, boron nitride, barium sulfate. or combinations thereof. The anti-seize lubricant is dispersed in a carrier which is a solid at about room temperature. The carrier includes a grease with an ASTM D 217 penetration at 25° C. from about 200 to about 400 mm, a matrix material, and a naphthenic petroleum oil having a viscosity of less than about 300 SUS at 100° F. and having an API gravity at 60° F. from about 23 to about 25. The matrix material is a polymeric material. Optionally, a refined petroleum wax may also be included.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lubricant compositions useful for preventing seizing of threaded fasteners. More particularly, the present invention relates to anti-seize lubricant compositions in non-flowable or solid form, which can be packaged in a convenient pocket-sized applicator dispenser.
2. Brief Description of Related Technology
U.S. Patent No. 5,498,351 (Heffling) claims a process for making anti-seize lubricant compositions, and sets forth compositions of this type which include naphthenic oil, lubricating grease, graphite, silicon fluid, and metal flake/oil suspension (65% aluminum flake and 35% oil). The compositions described are not in a solid form, but are generally formed as paste-like consistencies and are typically applied by dipping or brushing techniques.
Henkel Loctite Corporation has sold many flowable anti-seize lubricant compositions. For instance, C5-A Copper Anti-Seize is a suspension of copper and graphite in a high-quality grease, which protects metal parts from rust, corrosion, galling, and seizing at temperatures to 1800° F. (982° C.), and tested to MIL(PRF)-A-907-E; Nickel Anti-Seize is a copper-free product, recommended for stainless steel and other metal fittings to prevent corrosion, seizing, and galling in harsh, chemical environments, and temperatures to 2400° F. (1315° C.); Moly Paste is a low friction product, which lubricates press fits, protects during break-in and under high static loads up to 750° F. (400° C.); Silver Grade Anti-Seize is a temperature-resistant, petroleum-based inert lubricant compound fortified with graphite and metallic flake, which will not evaporate or harden in extreme cold or heat and is for use in assemblies up to 1600° F. (871° C.); Heavy Duty, Anti-Seize is a metal free product, which provides excellent lubricity, outstanding lubrication to all metals including stainless steel, aluminum, and soft metals up to 2400° F. (1315° C.,), Marine Grade Anti-Seize is formulated to protect assemblies exposed directly or indirectly to fresh and salt water; Marine Grade Anti-Seize works well in high humidity conditions, and has excellent lubricity, superior water wash-out and water spray resistance, and prevents galvanic corrosion, protects in temperatures from −29° C. to 1315° C., (−20° F. to 2400° F.); Graphite-50 Anti-Seize is an electrically conductive, non-metallic product, which is temperature resistant up to 900° F. (482° C.); Moly-50 Anti-Seize is a thread lubricant, which is temperature resistant to 750° F. (400° C.) and provides excellent lubricity; Zinc Anti-Seize protects aluminum and ferrous surfaces from seizure and corrosion up to 750° F. (400° C.); Food Grade Anti-Seize prevents seizure, galling, and friction in stainless steel and other metal parts up to 750° F. (400° C.); N-1000 High Purity Anti-Seize is a copper-based product, which is suitable for long-term, stainless steel applications and high-nickel, alloy bolting; N-5000 High Purity Anti-Seize is a nickel-based product, which lubricates and protects Class 1, 2 and 3 power plant hardware and is recommended for highly corrosive environments to 2400° F. (1315° C.); High Performance N-5000 High Purity Anti-Seize is also a nickel-based product, which provides maximum lubricating and anti-seize properties for Class 1, 2 and 3 power plant hardware. Temperature resistant to 2400° F. (1315° C.); N-7000 High Purity Anti-Seize is a metal-free product which provides high levels of purity and excellent lubricating properties for Class 1, 2
Other commercial anti-seize formulations in semi-solid form are available. For example, AS-201 Stick is a semi-solid anti-seize formulation offered by Dyna Systems, Dallas, Tex. This product is offered in a twist-up holder, but is a relatively soft semi-solid which retards retractability back into the container. Furthermore, the product is described as having storage and handling limitation of less than about 120° F. Kar Products of Des Plaines, Ill., markets a Kar Anti-Seize Stick. The stick is made from aluminum complex grease, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, aluminum powder and copper powder. The stick is a hard wax-based formulation, which is not typically amenable to good spreadability over substrate surfaces. Hard waxes also tend to crumble or crack, which also causes poor spreadability.
There is a need for an anti-seize composition in solid form having sufficient spreadability to evenly coat substrate surfaces while having dimensional stability to be stored and retractably dispensed from a container. More particularly, there is a need in the art for a non-flowable anti-seize formulation having dimensional stability up to and exceeding 120° F. so that it may be used in a variety of industrial settings.


This invention is related to a method whereby scar formation in the drainage fistula and subconjunctival bleb created during and after glaucoma surgery using a prostaglandin subtype A or J.

This is a U.S. National Phase Application Under 35 USC 371 and applicant herewith claims the benefit of priority of PCT/SE00/00357 filed Feb. 23, 2000, which was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English and Application No. 9900672-8 filed in Sweden on Feb. 25, 1999.
The present invention is related to a method whereby scar formation in the drainage fistula and subconjunctival bleb created during glaucoma surgery can be prevented. The invention is also related to a composition used for prevention of scar formation in the drainage fistula and subconjunctival bleb after glaucoma surgery.
Glaucoma is an eye disorder characterized by increased intraocular pressure, excavation of the optic nerve head, and gradual loss of visual field. An abnormally high intraocular pressure is commonly known to be detrimental to the eye, and there are clear indications that in glaucoma the intraocular pressure is the most important factor causing degenerative changes in the retina and the optic nerve head. The exact pathophysiological mechanism of open angle glaucoma is, however, still unknowns. Unless treated glaucoma may lead to blindness, the course of the disease typically being slow with progressive loss of vision.
The intraocular pressure is determined by the rate of production and drainage of aqueous humor in the anterior part of the eye. The aqueous humor is produced by the ciliary processes behind the iris. It then flows through the pupil into the anterior chamber, and normally exits the eye through the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm""s canal. However, in open angle glaucoma the resistance to outflow of aqueous humor is increased which causes the intraocular pressure to raise. The intraocular pressure in humans is normally around 12-21 mmHg. At higher pressures there is an increased risk that the eye may be damaged. In one particular form of glaucoma, namely low tension glaucoma, damage may, however, occur at intraocular pressures regarded to be within the normal physiological range. The opposite situation is also known i.e. some individuals may exhibit abnormally high intraocular pressure without any manifest defects in the visual field or optic nerve head. Such conditions usually are referred to as ocular hypertension.
Glaucoma treatment can be given by means of drugs, laser or surgery. Usually surgery is employed only when drug and laser treatments no longer are sufficiently effective. A relatively new medical treatment of glaucoma comprises the use of prostaglandins, which are administered topically on the eye, and reduce the intraocular pressure by enhancing the outflow of aqueous humor. Two such prostaglandin-based glaucoma drugs are currently being marketed in many countries, i.e. latanoprost (Xalatan(copyright)) and isopropyl unoprostone (Rescula(copyright)), and are extensively used clinically. The use of prostaglandins and derivatives is described in several patents and patent applications e.g. U.S. Pat No. 4,599,353 (Bito), U.S. Pat No. 4,952,581 (Bito), WO89/03384 (Sternschantz and Resul), WO 96/09055 (Sternschantz and Resul), EP 170258 (Cooper), EP 253094 (Goh) and EP 308135 (Ueno). In addition to these patents and patent applications a large number of new patent applications have been filed during the last years. Common for all these patents and patent applications is that they describe the use of prostaglandins for reduction of the intraocular pressure without surgery.
The prostaglandins are fatty acids usually derived from the precursors eicosatrienoic, eicosatetracnoic and eicosapentaenoic acid through metabolic steps involving oxygenation. Naturally occuring prostaglandins typically have the general structure presented below:
The prostaglandins accordingly carry a cyclopentane ring to which two carbon chains attach, the upper chain usually being called the alpha chain and the lower chain usually being called the omega chain. The prostaglandins are classified in subgroups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J, depending on the structure and the substituents in the cyclopentane ring. The prostaglandins of particular interest in the present invention belong to the subgroups A and J, and their cyclopentane ring configuration is presented below:
The alpha chain is a 7 carbon carboxy-terminated aliphatic chain whereas the omega chain is an 8 carbon methyl-terminated aliphatic chain. Depending on the number of double bonds in these chains, subscripts of 1 to 3 are given. In prostaglandins with subscript 1, e.g. PGA1, the double bond is situated between carbons 13 and 14 in the omega chain. In prostaglandins with subscript 2,e.g. PGJ2, an additional double bond is situated between carbons 5 and 6 in the alpha chain, and finally in prostaglandins with subscript 3, a third double bond is situated between carbons 17 and 18 in the omega chain. All naturally occuring prostaglandins furthermore carry a hydroxyl group on carbon 15.
Many different techniques have been described for glaucoma surgery. However, all techniques aim at creating a small drainage fistula for the aqueous humor to exit the eye in the vicinity of the trabecular meshwork. Thus the aqueous humor can bypass the trabecular meshwork tissue at Schlemm""s canal that usually is clogged in open angle glaucoma. The fluid is directed into a filtration bleb beneath the conjunctiva outside the eye. The most commonly practiced operation technique is called trabeculectomy and usually results in satisfactory pressure lowering of the eye. A very common complication, however, is formation of scar tissue in the filtration bleb, which reduces the drainage capacity of the filtration system created by surgery. The scar formation is mainly due to the proliferation and increased activity of fibroblasts. Consequently the intraocular pressure with time starts to return to pathological levels. Usually the scarring occurs several months Lo yews after surgery, and the use of antimitotic agents such as 5-fluorouracil and Mitomycin C during surgery improves the surgical results. However, Mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil are very toxic compounds with a narrow therapeutic index, and difficult to use clinically. Late complications such as conjunctival holes may ensue after the use of e.g. Mitomycin C. Thus there is a need for better and safer drugs to be used as a complement to the surgical procedure to prevent the scarring of the filtration system created by surgery.
The above problems associated with glaucoma surgery are now solved by the present invention as defined in the attached claims, hereby incorporated by reference. The invention is based on the unexpected finding that prostaglandins of type A and J may be highly effective in preventing scar formation that typically occurs after glaucoma surgery, and that the compositions comprising these compounds and the methods described have advantages over the compositions and methods hitherto known.

Method and composition for prevention of scar formation in glaucoma filtration bleb and drainage fistula


A camera mount includes a hosting device including a flat surface for mounting a camera including a user interface. A first connector is located on the flat surface such that the first connector mates to a complementary connector located on the camera. The user interface of the camera also functions as the user interface of the hosting device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to digital cameras and more particularly to docked digital camera that becomes a user interface (UI) for a hosting device.
2. Description of Related Art
A digital camera records and stores photographic images in digital form that can be fed to a personal computer (PC) as the impressions are recorded or stored in the camera for later loading into the PC. Generally, a number of cables must be plugged into or unplugged from the camera when transferring photos from the camera to the PC, charging batteries located within the camera, or connecting an AC power source to the camera.
It is well-known to mount both conventional and digital cameras on a camera tripod and/or other similar well-known camera mount. Conventional camera mounts include a threaded screw on a mounting surface. Conventional and digital cameras include an industry standard threaded mounting hole located on a bottom surface of the camera. The threads of the mounting hole match the threads of the screw on the mounting surface of the camera mount.
Digital cameras may also include a liquid crystal display (LCD) built into the camera that conveys information to a user with respect to the operation of the camera, such as how many more images are capable of being taken and stored by the camera. Other digital cameras include an LCD built into the back of the camera capable of displaying, in color, the images recorded and stored in the camera. The LCD screen may also be used as a viewfinder and allows a user to see what a picture will look like before it is taken. The LCD also allows a user to look at photos already taken and stored within the camera.
Digital cameras use solid-state memory flash cards to store images. These flash cards are typically nonremovable memory chips embedded within the camera. More commonly, digital cameras store photos on a removable card that is used to transfer files to the computer. These cards, which can range in size from 4 to 256 MB, come in two primary configurations—CompactFlash and SmartMedia. Additionally, some newer cameras accept the CompactFlash drives, which provides up to 1 GB of storage space for data. However, a card reader or adapter is required to read files into the PC which must be connected to the PC's small computer systems interface (SCSI) or USB (universal serial bus) port if a card slot is not built into the PC. Smart Media cards store a maximum of 64 megabytes, but they easily download on a reader that connects to the PC's floppy disk drive. Once the card is placed in the reader, the PC's transfer software is launched to transfer the photos from the camera. The camera is connected to the PC in order to transfer photos from the camera to the PC. Some digital cameras can output photos directly to a floppy disk or via cable to a PC.
Digital cameras consume a great deal of battery power. Many digital cameras can be plugged in for stationary use, and some run off external battery packs. When a digital camera is connected, or docked, to a PC, its color display is generally turned off and unusable. When a digital camera is un-docked, its LCD display consumes too much power to be left on for any length of time. When the digital camera is in use, it is suggested that the camera's LCD display be turned off to conserve battery power for taking and storing photo images.
Once images are transferred from the digital camera to the PC, they may be printed into a hard copy using a color printer. The software for the camera allows the images to be viewed on the PC. Images may be saved to a floppy disk or the hard drive. Images can be saved in a specific graphic file format, e.g., gif or jpg for Web publishing, pcx or bmp for paper publishing. A graphics program, such as Paint Shop Pro, may be used to edit the images. Once loaded into the PC, the images may be transferred or "burned" to a Compact Disk (CD) using a CD Writer.
However, many steps are involved in transferring images from a digital camera to the PC. This process is further complicated by the fact that in order to print the images or transfer the images to a CD, the images must first be transferred to a PC. In order to transfer images from the digital camera to the PC, it is necessary to hook the camera up to the PC using various cables. If digital photos are taken using a tripod or other mounting surface, it is first necessary to detach the camera from the surface in order to connect the camera to cables from the PC. This is a time-consuming and inefficient process. Additionally, as stated above, the LCD of a digital camera is a heavy drain on the camera's batteries. If a user wishes to use the LCD of the digital camera while the camera is in use, the drain on the batteries limits the number of photos the camera may take during use. Also, if a user is taking digital photos using a tripod or other camera mount, the user may be in a location away from the user's PC. Even if a user were to download digital photos to a portable notebook computer, the user must still disconnect the digital camera from the camera mount to connect the camera to the notebook computer.
In information technology, a user interface (UI) is everything designed into an information device with which a human being may interact—including display screen, keyboard, mouse, light pen, the appearance of a desktop, illuminated characters, help messages, and how an application program or a Web site invites interaction and responds to it. Devices attached to a PC or notebook (for example, Printers or CD Writers) tend to have very limited UIs which may include an online/offline button or a graphical message on an LCD (for example, a "paper jam" or "out of paper" message). These attached devices primarily depend on the UI of a PC or notebook computer for instructions with respect to which operation to execute (for example, print an image or copy a particular image to a CD). The attempt to print images taken by a digital camera, or transfer images from the digital camera to a CD via CD-writer, results in a tangle of cables and devices where, at a minimum, the digital camera must be connected to the PC which is itself connected to the Photoprinter, CD-writer or similar device that uses images taken by the digital camera. A need exists for a simplified method of downloading and using images taken by a digital camera.

Camera docking solution provides a user interface for printers, CD writers and other devices

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Provided is inorganic polarizing plate, including in order of reciting: a substrate transparent to light in a bandwidth used; a first dielectric layer; a plurality of linear metal layers; a plurality of linear second dielectric layers; and a plurality of linear light absorbing layers, wherein the plurality of linear metal layers are arranged on the first dielectric layer at intervals shorter than a wavelength of the light, the plurality of linear second dielectric layers are arranged on the plurality of linear metal layers, respectively, the plurality of linear light absorbing layers are arranged on the plurality of linear second dielectric layers, respectively, and the inorganic polarizing plate includes a water repelling layer at peripheral ends of the inorganic polarizing plate at which longer-direction ends of the linear metal layers are present, to cover longer-direction ends of the linear metal layers, linear second dielectric layers, and linear light absorbing layers.

Polarizing plates configured to pass only light or waves polarized in a specific direction are used in, for example, liquid crystal displays.
As the polarizing plates, often used are polarizing films obtained by adsorbing iodine compounds to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films and subjecting the films to stretch orientation to develop a dichroic property for absorption of visible light. The polarizing films are interposed between transparent films of, for example, triacetyl cellulose (TAC) in order to secure mechanical strength, heat resistance, and humidity resistance, and further have hard coatings on the transparent films for protection from, for example, scratches and stain adhesion.
Of light components incident to the polarizing films, polarized light components that do not pass through the polarizing films are absorbed in the polarizing films and radiated to the outside of the polarizing films as heat. Therefore, when the polarizing films are irradiated with strong light, there is a problem that the temperatures of the polarizing films rise due to heat generation to degrade the polarizing property. The cause of this problem is essentially the heat resistance of the organic materials. Therefore, fundamental resolution of this problem is difficult.
Hence, as polarizing plates that can be used at places where the polarizing plates are required to have a high heat resistance, wire grid polarizing plates formed completely of inorganic materials are being studied. The wire grid polarizing plates have structures in which wire grids of fine metal wires having cycles equal to or shorter than the wavelengths of light are formed on the surfaces of the substrates (see, e.g., PTL 1).
In regard of the wire grid polarizing plates, liquid stains that adhere to the grid peripheral ends diffuse in the concaves in the wire grids due to capillary actions caused by the convexes and concaves in the grid structures, to degrade the optical properties of the wire grid polarizing plates.
Hence, the following polarizer is proposed (see, e.g., PTL 2). The polarizer has a first surface that is bordered at a peripheral portion, and includes a standard region and a rib-corrected region. The standard region has ribs having standard properties. The standard region is configured to polarize incident light. The rib-corrected region is provided between at least a portion of the standard region and the peripheral portion and along at least a portion of the peripheral portion of the substrate. The rib-corrected region has corrected ribs that are corrected to have properties different from the standard properties such that the capillary action in the rib-corrected region becomes substantially smaller than the capillary action in the standard region.
With a difference in the level of the capillary action between the corrected ribs and the ribs, this polarizer is intended to prevent intrusion of liquid stains into the ribs.
However, this proposed technique needs to produce the ribs and the corrected ribs, leading to a complicated production process. In addition, because the corrected ribs also have a capillary action, there is a problem that intrusion of liquid stains into the ribs through the corrected ribs cannot completely be prevented.


An engine oil filter has an upper cap and a lower case or plate, which are engageable with each other through a projecting portion and a groove portion. In one mode, the projecting portion is inserted into a first longitudinal groove wall and moved along a contact surface of a first skewed groove wall, whereby the cap and the case are moved and fitted together in an axial direction. As axial movement caused by relative rotation between the cap and the case takes place, an O-ring is tightly fitted therebetween at a fixed seal position. This engagement process applies no excessive force to the O-ring so that a sealed state of high reliability is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filter using an exchangeable filter element. The filter can be used as a spin-on oil filter for, for example, filtrating impurities or the like mixed in lubrication oil for an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of Related Art
An exchangeable element type filter heretofore known is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. 6-85007. In this filter construction, a filter casing is divided into two sections, and a projecting portion (an engaging projection) on one side is inserted into a groove portion (an engaging groove) on the other side so that rotation thereof causes connection of the casing to provide an assembly.
The aforementioned filter construction comprises a longitudinal groove having an axial direction aligned with the inserting direction and a subsequent lateral rotational direction at a right angle to the axial direction. An O-ring as a seal member is disposed on the removable portion, and an excessive force is applied to the O-ring when the casing parts are taken apart or connected. Accordingly, there is a disadvantage because since the O-ring is hard to be inserted and tends to be twisted, its sealing property is impaired, and the operating characteristics are not good.
Further, there is another disadvantage because in this filter construction, the engaging projection and grove shapes are easily moved in a rotational direction and in an axial direction after being mounted on the vehicle, and thus the casing becomes loosened and tends to be disengaged.


A method is provided for fulfilling a pair trade request and includes the steps of receiving a plurality of pair trade requests; executing a transaction for a first portion of one of the plurality of pair trade requests and matching a second portion of the one of the plurality of pair trade requests against another of the plurality of pair trade requests.

The following invention relates to a system and method for trading securities and, in particular, for a system and method of trading securities in pairs.
A recognized strategy for trading securities is known as pair-trading. Pair-trading is a non-directional investment strategy in which the investor identifies two securities having similar characteristics and the securities are currently trading at a price relationship that is out of their historical trading range. The investor exploits the price relationship between the securities by buying the undervalued security while short-selling the overvalued security. Because pair-trading is a market-neutral strategy, it is a particularly desirable strategy for investing in volatile markets.
One context in which pair trading is useful is where an investor desires to take advantage of an arbitrage opportunity resulting from a merger between two companies. For example, Company A has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Company T in which case Company T shareholders will receive 0.5 shares of Company A stock for each share of Company T stock they own. The investor desires to capture the "spread" between the offered consideration (0.5 shares of A) and the price of T stock. To do this, the investor buys shares in T stock and sells shares of A stock.
For instance, if stock T is trading at $28 per share and stock A is trading at $60 per share, then the investor may execute a trade for 200,000 spreads by buying 200,000 shares of T stock and selling 100,000 shares of A stock. After the merger takes place, the investor will cover the short position in stock A with the 100,000 shares of A stock the investors receives in exchange of the 200,000 shares the investor held of stock T. Thus, by executing the pair trade, the investor locks in a $400,000 profit (assuming that the merger goes through). The process of executing a pair trade thus includes executing individual trades directed to each leg of the pair trade request. An example of a system for executing trades for filling a pair trade request is the Quantex system from ITG [(http://www.itginc.comproducts/quantex/quantex.html)] of 380 Madison Avenue New York, N.Y. 10017.
A challenge in implementing a pair trade is to find a counterparty for a particular position an investor desires to establish while minimizing "leg risk." Typically, a large pair trade is performed "off the market" as a private transaction negotiated by a financial institution that services large clients. For example, if an investor desires to execute a pair trade betting that a proposed merger between two companies will go through, the investor would approach a financial institution seeking an investor that is willing to bet against the merger. The financial institution then acts as an intermediary between the two investors in which the investors establish equal and opposite positions in the stock of the proposed merger partners thereby completing the pair trade. Thus by matching two pair trade requests so that the transactions associated with each of the pair trade legs are executed simultaneously, neither investor is exposed to leg risk that would otherwise result for the period of time between execution of the first leg and the second leg of the pair trade.
There are numerous drawbacks associated with the prevalent pair-trading practice. First, pair-trading is typically limited to clients of large financial institutions that have the ability to identify suitable counterparties for a particular pair trade. This is especially the case when the pair trade involves a large amount of stock or illiquid stocks in which the only way to execute the trade and minimize leg risk is via an "off the market" transaction negotiated by a financial institution. Also, because a pair-trade is typically negotiated by the parties with a financial institution as an intermediary, the process is often slow and inefficient. Furthermore, pair-trading under current practice is generally best suited for large clients seeking to establish large positions thereby providing the financial institutions with the economic incentive to execute the transaction. Smaller clients, however, must rely on the markets for executing pair trades, which is unsuitable for illiquid stocks and also results in increased leg risk.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system and method for trading securities in pairs.


A wall switch (12) includes a face plate body (14) containing an aperture (20) and wall projections (22, 23, 24) carrying an actuator rocker (30) with a board (40) carrying switch contacts (58) momentarily closed by the rocker to effect a closure of circuits carried on the board and interconnected to a cable (88) through terminals in a connector (44) carried on the board and a connector (80) carried by the cable.

In intelligent wiring systems used for light frame structures such as houses and buildings under three stories, switches are employed which do not directly switch the power required by devices such as lights and switched outlets and the like. Rather, low level signals are generated which can be detected by the central or local controller for the system which in turn can operate solid state power switches, or relays, or solenoids to effect power switching. Switches frequently operate in several different modes and frequently require electronic components having parameters to provide pulses of desirable characteristics; capacitors, resistors, diodes and display lamps. This calls for an assembly of elements located at a given switch point which can lead to numerous small components, switches, connectors, fasteners and anchors and face plates and the like, as well as brackets and boxes which all must be properly assembled to provide a proper function. This in turn adds a cost and installation complexity for the craftsmen which is undesirable and can lead to delays and mistakes in installing intelligent wiring.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a switch for intelligent wiring of buildings wherein the various elements required are preassembled as a single handleable unit. It is yet a further object to provide a novel switch structure incorporated into the necessary decorative face plate of the switch utilizing the plastic material of the face plate to support switch elements. It is still a further object to provide a face plate incorporating switch elements and simple, conventional components for use in an intelligent switching function.


An elastomeric flange lining is provided for the metal flange of a pipe, the flange lining being structured with an annular channel with allows lateral movement of the elastomeric material of the flange lining when the flange lining is subjected to high compression forces, such as when two pipes are joined together end-to-end at their respective pipe flanges. The design of the flange lining and manner in which the flange lining is produced prevents outward bulging of elastomeric material into the interior of the pipe when subjected to compression forces. A flange mold for forming the flange lining is disclosed, and the method of making the flange lining is also disclosed.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the formation of elastomeric pipe linings, and specifically relates to the formation of elastomeric flange linings for the flanges of such pipes.
2. Statement of the Art
Metal pipe and valve fittings are widely used in many industries as conduits for fluid materials, including liquids and gases. In some industries, such as mining, paper and pulp, and wastewater treatment, fluids containing abrasive solids or corrosive chemicals are transported through vast systems of piping. Because the abrasive solids or corrosive chemicals can damage and deteriorate the inner surface of metal pipes and valves, the pipe and valves are lined with elastomeric materials which are highly resistant to chemical or abrasive corrosion, thereby protecting the inner surface and integrity of the pipe and valve fittings. The technology for lining such pipes and valves is well know.
Lined pipe and valves are typically joined end-to-end to form extensive fluid transport pathways. An inherent problem occurs at the joining of pipe and valves, however, in that the pipe linings of adjacently and co-axially joined pipes must seat tightly against each other and within very small tolerances or the fluid flowing through the pipes will wear on the lining and will seep through the space left between the adjacent linings. Failure of the lining then occurs. The lining will degrade and eventually the lining may delaminate or peel away from the inner surface of the metal pipe. Leakage at the pipe joint results.
In an effort to alleviate such problems, an elastomeric gasket may be positioned between the joined pipes. However, failure can occur in the area of the gasket for the same reasons stated with respect to joined pipe linings. That is, bulging of the elastomeric lining in proximity to the gasket, when the gasket is under compression, exposes the bulging lining to wear and degradation. Infiltration of fluid into any spaces left between the gasket and the adjoining pipe linings on either side of the gasket can lead to erosion and failure of the gasket.
Another means of sealing pipe joints at the adjoining linings has been to extend the elastomeric lining over the flanges at the ends of the pipes to act as a unitary gasket fitting. While an elastomeric flange lining provides a seal of greater integrity, a secondary problem occurs when the adjacent pipes are connected coaxially end-to-end. Specifically, the compression of one elastomeric flange lining against an adjacent elastomeric flange lining when the pipes are bolted together causes the elastomeric material to bulge inwardly toward the interior of the pipe. When abrasive materials or corrosive chemicals flowing through the pipe system encounter the bulge of elastomeric lining at the joining of two pipe linings, the bulge becomes worn and deteriorated, leading to failure of the lining.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide elastomeric flange linings for pipes and valves which do not bulge inwardly toward the interior of the pipe under compression exerted on the flange linings when adjacent pipes are coaxially joined.

Mold for forming elastomeric flange linings for pipes


An image display system including a first image display apparatus, a second image display apparatus and an image processing apparatus is provided. When the first image display apparatus and the second image display apparatus each display a partial image of an image to be displayed, the first image display apparatus and the second image display apparatus each display the partial image based on a feature of the entirety of the image to be displayed.

Conventionally, as an apparatus that displays/projects images, a projector that projects an image generated by a liquid crystal panel onto a screen is known. There is a technique for displaying a single image on a large screen using a plurality of such projectors (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-286772). FIG. 13 shows an example of a configuration for projecting a single image using a plurality of projectors. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 1301 indicates an image splitter, 1302 to 1305 indicate projectors, and 1306 to 1309 indicate projected images projected by the projectors 1302 to 1305. The projected images 1306 to 1309 are combined so that a single image is displayed. By using a plurality of projectors, it is possible to project high resolution large-screen images as compared to the case of using one projector.
Also, for image display apparatuses such as projectors and television sets, a technique called dynamic gamma correction for executing an optimal tone correction process for each video scene has been devised (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-317250). This is a technique in which correction is performed on input data according to the pixel distribution in each scene and the magnitude of changes between scenes so as to visually optimize each scene image.
In the case where one projector is used, by performing a scene adaptive process such as dynamic gamma correction described above, optimal correction can be performed. However, in the case where an image is projected using a plurality of projectors as in Patent Document 1, a situation may sometimes occur in which it is not possible to perform an appropriate process on the entire image. This will be described with reference to FIG. 13 and FIGS. 14A to 14D.
In FIG. 13, the original image is divided by the splitter 1301 and input to the projectors. Each projector analyzes only an image that it will project, and performs a scene adaptive process such as dynamic gamma correction. Each projector first calculates a luminance histogram of the input image for the scene adaptive process. Examples of luminance histograms are shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B.
FIG. 14A shows an example of a luminance histogram of the image 1306 projected by the projector 1302. FIG. 14B shows an example of a luminance histogram of the image 1309 projected by the projector 1304. The projector 1302 determines gamma characteristics thereof based on the luminance histogram shown in FIG. 14A. In the case of the luminance histogram of FIG. 14A, for example, the distribution concentrates on a high luminance portion, and therefore gamma characteristics are determined such that tones in the high luminance portion are expressed. An example of the gamma characteristics is shown in FIG. 14C. Likewise, the projector 1304 determines gamma characteristics thereof based on the luminance histogram shown in FIG. 14B. In the case of the luminance histogram of FIG. 14B, the distribution concentrates on a low luminance portion, and therefore gamma characteristics are determined such that tones in the low luminance portion are expressed. An example of the gamma characteristics is shown in FIG. 14D.
As described above, in the case where each projector performs a scene adaptive process by analyzing only a divided image output from the splitter 1301, a situation occurs in which different correction processes are applied because gamma characteristics vary within one image (1306 to 1309), which results in an unnatural tone balance in the entire image.

Image display system, image processing apparatus and control method thereof


Data is received that comprises a full model for a physical object having a rotating part and a stationary part. The physical object includes fields coupled between the rotating part and the stationary part. A mesh is then generated for a portion of the physical object that includes a rotating mesh and a stationary mesh. Thereafter, a partial simulation model is created based on the full model and the mesh. Coupling relationships are established for the fields between the rotating mesh and the stationary mesh in the partial simulation model. The fields are then solved based on the coupling relationship of the partial simulation model. Thereafter, fields of the full model can be recovered based on the solved fields. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Transient finite element analysis (FEA) coupled with driven circuits is a useful design tool for electrical machine design as it takes into account geometric complexity, high local magnetic saturation, induced eddy currents, dynamic core loss and mechanical movement with a desirable accuracy. However, the transient numerical field simulation for electrical machines normally involves many time steps to calculate saturation, eddy currents, slotting effects and rotor movement in time and space. As a result, modeling an electric machine requires a huge amount of computational undertaking, especially in three dimensions.

Partial simulation model creation, simulation and post-processing for rotational machines


A dye composition, comprising (A) at least one disazo dye selected from the formula (I) or (II),

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dye compositions, and more particularly to black or navy blue reactive dye compositions.
2. Description of Related Art
The reactive dyestuffs are used for dyeing or printing cellulose fibers or cellulose containing fibers particularly need for high quality such as the properties of leveling, reproducibility, solubility, fastness etc.
Current market dyeing with reactive dyestuff is much related to the product quality as well as economical dyeing techniques. However, the conventional reactive dye stuffs are short of good build-up and easy wash-off properties as well as low nylon stain. Therefore, to improve dyeing properties of dye stuffs, particularly novel reactive dyestuffs that are applicable for the industrial use is demanding.
A novel dye composition with high build-up, and excellent fixation with cellulose as well as able to easily wash off the unfixed dyes is needed.

Abstract: wherein R, R1, R2, D1 and D2 are defined as in the specification; and (B) a diazo dye of the formula (III),

Abstract: wherein (R9)0˜2, (R10)0˜2, Q1 and Q2 are defined as in the specification. These dye compositions have high fixation and good build-up. They are distinguished also by high washing off and low nylon staining and they are suitable for dyeing and printing of materials containing either cellulose fibers, such as cotton, artificial cotton, linen, and artificial linen, or polyamide fibers, such as wool, silk, and nylon etc. Dyed materials with excellent properties can be obtained, showing especially outstanding performance in washing off, levelness, build-up, wet fastness and light fastness.


A media shelving unit comprising a base for supporting a media storage case; a plurality of dividers extending upwardly from the base, the plurality of dividers defining at least two channels; wherein the channels are at different orientations with respect to each other.

DVDs are currently the most popular source of media used to watch movies. A DVD is usually kept within an associated media storage case that shows a representation of the movie that is located on the DVD. People can therefore easily identify what movie is located on the DVD without the need to play the DVD.
Most retail outlets display DVD cases on shelving so that people are able to easily recognise the DVD they wish to purchase or hire. The DVD cases are often placed on a flat shelf adjacent to each other. The shelving allows different orientations of the DVD cases to be chosen by a person so as to highlight a particular DVD case for purchase or hire purposes.
However, if the DVD cases are not carefully placed on the shelving, an adjacent case can block a person's view of the DVD case that a person is searching for to purchase or hire. Further, a cluster of DVD cases can often become aesthetically unappealing as they may be located in different orientations and spacing on the shelving. Still further, the DVD cases may be easily knocked over as the width of the DVD cases is relatively small compared to their height and therefore when they are placed on flat shelving they are unstable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,588 attempts to solve these problems by providing shelving that has a series of spaced dividers that extend upward and at regular spaced intervals along the length of the shelving. Cases are located between two respective dividers to hold the cases in a desired location. Hence, the cases are spaced in an orderly fashion without adjacent cases impeding a person's view of any other cases. Further, the cases cannot be easily knocked over as they are held in position by the spacers.
The shelving described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,588 is very effective in providing specified spacing and holding. However, it does not allow for different orientations of the cases as allowed by traditional shelving.


A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders allows for an operating state of the internal combustion engine to be switched over as quickly as possible following the receipt of a switchover request. For this purpose, at least one intake or exhaust valve of a cylinder is switched off or at least one switched-off intake or exhaust valve of the cylinder is switched on again in at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine in response to the switchover request.

In so-called half engine operation, half of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine do not participate in the combustion process by having their intake and exhaust valves as well as their fuel injection switched off, which compared to full engine operation, in which the intake and exhaust valves as well as the fuel injection of all cylinders are activated, allows for fuel savings. The intake and exhaust valves are generally also referred to as gas-exchange valves. The times at which the gas-exchange valves may be deactivated or activated are limited by the base circle of the camshaft operating the respective gas-exchange valve, since the corresponding gas-exchange valve is in the powerless rest state only on the base circle of the camshaft. Half engine operation is possible only in a limited operating range of the internal combustion engine. FIG. 2 shows the operating range of half engine operation shaded in a diagram of the engine torque Md plotted against the engine speed nmot. Half engine operation is accordingly possible only in an operating range in which for engine speed nmot: nmot1≦nmot≦nmot2. Furthermore, half engine operation is possible only in an operating range of the internal combustion engine, in which for engine torque Md of the internal combustion engine: 0 ≦Md ≦Md1. In this instance, nmot1 represents a first engine speed threshold, nmot2 a second engine speed threshold and Md1 an engine torque threshold. Within the operating range limited by the mentioned threshold values as represented in a shaded manner in FIG. 2, the internal combustion engine may be operated in half engine operation, outside of this operating range in full engine operation. In a transition of the operating state of the internal combustion engine from the operating range of full engine operation into the operating range of half engine operation shown in a shaded manner in FIG. 2, a switchover request is produced, in response to which the intake and exhaust valves of half of the cylinders are switched off and the fuel supply associated with these cylinders is deactivated. If conversely a transition is made from the operating range of half engine operation into the operating range of full engine operation, then a switchover request is produced, in response to which all of the switched-off intake and exhaust valves are switched on again and the fuel supply associated with the corresponding cylinders is activated again.

Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders