A method converts an input image of noisy wrapped phases to an output image of absolute unwrapped phases. The noisy wrapped phases in the input image are represented as a set of re-wrapped phases and a set of phase shifts. The set of re-wrapped phases are partitioned into a first group and a second group. Integer differences between the phase shifts are optimized while holding the re-wrapped phases fixed. Then, the first group of re-wrapped phases are optimized, while holding the integer differences between the phase shifts, and the second group of re-wrapped phases fixed. The integer differences between the phase shifts are optimized again, while holding the re-wrapped phases fixed. Then, the second group of re-wrapped phases are optimized, while holding the integer differences between the phase shifts, and the first group of re-wrapped phases fixed. The optimizing steps are repeated until the re-wrapped phase converge. Then, the converged re-wrapped phases and integer differences between the phase shifts are output as an output image of absolute unwrapped phases.

The Two-Dimensional Phase-Unwrapping Problem
Two-dimensional phase-unwrapping is an important data-processing step in several important applications, including interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR), magnetic resonance imaging, optical interferometry, and adaptive optics. For an introduction, see D. C. Ghiglia and M. D. Pritt, "Two-Dimensional Phase Unwrapping: Theory, Procedures, and Software," John Wiley & Sons, 1998.
The phase-unwrapping problem arises when a set of "phases," which are continuous-valued variables, which can take on any real value, are only known modulo 2π radians, and it is desired to know the true absolute values of the phases. In the two-dimensional version of the phase-unwrapping problem, the phases are arranged in a two-dimensional, rectangular lattice. The rectangular lattice of all the phases is referred to herein as an "image" and one particular lattice point in the image will be referred to as a "pixel."
In many applications, the phases serve as a proxy for some other physical quantity, such as time delay, and can be used to infer some desired information. For example, in the interferometric SAR application, the phases indicate a relative time difference for two radar signals to return from a target. Knowing the geometry of the radar system, one can use the phases to infer a terrain elevation map. However, because the phases are only measured modulo 2π radians, the phases have to be "unwrapped" to recover a sensible terrain elevation map.
Phases are often measured in units of radians, but it is also possible, and sometimes more convenient, to measure them in units of cycles. For example, if a particular phase has a value of 4.5 cycles, it could equivalently be said to have a value of 4.5(2π) radians. The convention of measuring phases in units of cycles is used herein. Therefore, an unwrapped phase has a value that can be any real number of cycles, while a wrapped phase always has a value in the interval [0.0, 1.0). Note that this standard mathematical notation means that 0.0 and any number greater than 0.0 but less than 1.0 is a possible value, but 1.0 is not.
FIG. 1 shows an example of three images 101-103 of 12 pixels arranged in a 3×4 rectangle. In FIG. 1, the circles represent pixels, and the numbers the pixel values. Of course, images of practical interest are much larger. The image 101 contains the absolute phases. In the image 102, all the phases are "wrapped" by adding or subtracting an integral number of cycles so that the phases are within the interval [0.0, 1.0).
Noise
In practical systems where the phase-unwrapping problem arises, one must also deal with the fact that the measurements of the phases are nearly always corrupted by noise. In the image 103, some of the wrapped phase measurements are corrupted by noise. This is indicated by darkened circles.
Criteria for a Good Phase-Unwrapping Method
A good phase-unwrapping system should both remove noise and unwrap the phases to recover an image that is as close as possible to the image of the true absolute phases. The goal is to take as input a noisy phase-wrapped image, such as image 201, and return as output an unwrapped image 202. A sensible criterion for selecting among the possible output solution images is to select that image which is most probable. Of course, to determine the probability of any solution image, one needs a model that assigns probabilities to the unwrapped phase image 202, given the noisy wrapped phase image 201.
In many applications, the images are extremely large. It is not very unusual for the noisy and wrapped phase image to contain more than 100,000,000 pixels. To be practical for such problems, a phase-unwrapping method must therefore be very fast, and the time to produce the absolute phase image should scale linearly or nearly linearly with the number of pixels.
To summarize then, a good phase-unwrapping method should use a well-justified probabilistic model of phase images, and it should efficiently find the most probable or nearly most probable absolute phase image according to that probabilistic model.
Factor graphs
Probabilistic models can be represented using a bi-partite graph that is called a "factor graph," see F. R. Kschischang, B. J. Frey, and H.-A. Loeliger, "Factor Graphs and the Sum-Product Procedure," IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, vol. 47, pp. 498-519, February 2001. A factor graph contains two types of nodes, called "variable nodes" and "factor nodes." Variable nodes are only connected to factor nodes and vice-versa.
The variable nodes represent the variables of interest in a system, while the factor nodes represent local functions of the variables. When a variable node is connected to a factor node, it means that the corresponding variable is an argument of the corresponding local function.
A probabilistic model is represented by a factor graph according to the equation
                              p                                (                                          x                1                            ,                              x                2                            ,                              x                3                            ,              …                                                                        ,                              x                N                                      )                          =                              1            Z                                                        ∏                              a                =                1                            M                                                                                f                  a                                                                  (                                                            {                      x                      }                                        a                                    )                                            .                                                          (        1        )
In equation (1), it is assumed that there are N variables that are denoted by x1, x2, . . . xN, and M local functions that are denoted by ƒ1, ƒ2, . . . , ƒM. The variables that are the arguments of the function ƒa are denoted by {x}a. A normalization constant Z ensures that the sum of the probabilities of all possible configurations is one.
An alternative but equivalent way to interpret a factor graph is in terms of "costs," sometimes also called "energies," rather than local functions. In this interpretation, the overall probability is given by
                                          p                                      (                                                x                  1                                ,                                  x                  2                                ,                                  x                  3                                ,                …                                                                                ,                                  x                  N                                            )                                =                                    1              Z                                                  exp                                            (                                  -                                                            ∑                                              a                        =                        1                                            M                                                                                c                        a                                                                                (                                                                              {                            x                            }                                                    a                                                )                                                                                )                                                    ,                            (        2        )
where ca({x}a) is the cost for the variables {x}a to be in a given configuration, which is related to the local function ƒa({x}a) by an equationca({x}a)=−1n ƒa({x}a).
It is often more convenient and intuitive to describe factor graphs in terms of the "cost" formulation, because then all individual costs can be summed to obtain the total cost. A most probable configuration of the variables is the configuration with lowest total cost.
Prior Art Phase-Unwrapping Methods
A large number of prior-art methods for unwrapping noisy two-dimensional phase-wrapped images are known. However, few of the prior-art methods use a well-justified and explicit probabilistic model. Even fewer methods are capable of both unwrapping and de-noising phase images. The methods described herein are those that are relevant to the present invention.
The most similar prior-art method is the "ZπM" method described by J. M. B. Dias and J. M. N. Leitao, see J. M. B. Dias and J. M. N. Leitao, "The ZπM Procedure: A Method for Interferometric Image Reconstruction in SAR/SAS," IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, vol. 11, pp. 408-422, April 2002. The ZπM method uses an iterative approach. In each iteration, the method uses a discrete optimization step followed by a continuous optimization step.
The probabilistic model used in the ZπM method uses a cost function that is quadratic in the difference between the absolute phases of two neighboring pixels. The cost function used in the ZπM method also depends sinusoidally on a difference between the input phase and the re-wrapped value of the obtained absolute phase.
Because of the form of the cost function used in the ZπM method, neither the discrete nor the continuous optimization steps are easy to perform. Therefore, Dias et al. describe complicated approximation techniques to perform the optimization steps.
A very important problem with the probabilistic model used in the ZπM method is that it does not explicitly constrain the phase derivatives to satisfy an "irrotational" constraint. This constraint is also known as the zero-curl constraint, see Dias et al. at p. 411. Dias et al. state that "this constraint is indirectly enforced by the prior [probability]: if the referred rotational is not zero at some point this implies the presence of large phase differences . . . which are penalized by the prior [probability]." However, this justification for dropping a very important constraint is not satisfying, because the phase difference cost is supposed to reflect a different aspect of the problem, i.e., the "smoothness" of the underlying phase image, rather than the inherent hard constraint represented by the zero-curl constraint.
Another prior-art method is called the "minimum cost flow" (MCF) method, see Constantini, M., "A novel phase unwrapping method based on network programming," IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing. 36, pp. 813-821, 1998, incorporated herein by reference. The MCF method suffers from the very serious drawback that it cannot correct any noise in the phase images.

Method and system for determining unwrapped phases from noisy two-dimensional wrapped-phase images

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


Hot-curing epoxy resin compositions are disclosed which firstly are solid in a hardened state at room temperature and secondly form an adhesion-free surface and are impact-resistant and can have high glass transition temperatures, above, for example, 110° C. An exemplary hot-curing epoxy resin composition can form separate phases on hardening, a continuous phase being formed by epoxy resins. If the compositions include a blowing agent, they can have excellent suitability for production of foams, such as structural foams.

Hot-curing epoxy resin adhesives have quite a long history of use as adhesives in bodyshell construction, and also in reinforcement elements or structural foams.
Known hot-curing epoxy resin adhesives are liquid, or at least paste-like, at room temperature, particularly where impact-resistant epoxy resin adhesives are involved. This can be disadvantageous when the composition has been applied and was intended to be dimensionally stable in storage prior to hardening. An additional disadvantage, alongside the specific disadvantage of change of shape during storage in the unhardened state, can be that mouldings here are also highly susceptible to dust problems, and this in turn can be attended by disadvantages in handling and in the adhesion of these mouldings. There is therefore great demand for solid-state hot-curing epoxy resin compositions which have an adhesion-free surface at room temperature.
There are known reinforcement elements which comprise a hot-curing epoxy resin composition which on exposure to heat give structural foam; an example has the trademark SikaReinforcer®. U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,470 B1 discloses by way of example a hot-curing, foamable sealing composition with a mixture of liquid epoxy resin and solid epoxy resin in the presence of from 5 to 20% by weight of a thermoplastic, such as polystyrene, and from 20 to 30% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer, such as SBS block copolymer. However, the high proportion of SBS block copolymer can markedly impair the mechanical properties of compositions of this type, such as the glass transition temperature, and adhesion properties.

Hot-curing epoxy resin compositions that can be used as bodyshell adhesive or structural foam


An exposure system is provided with a light emitting element array formed by a plurality of light emitting elements formed at the intersections of anodes and cathodes arranged in matrix so that a photosensitive material is exposed to an image formed on the light emitting element array. A method of driving the light emitting element array includes the steps of driving the light emitting elements in constant-current drive before and/or during an exposure period, measuring and storing in a memory means the anode voltage of each light emitting element at that time, and driving the light emitting elements in constant-voltage drive at a voltage equal to the measured anode voltage at least during beginning of the subsequent exposure periods.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of driving a light emitting element array such as an organic EL (electroluminescent) element array.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been known an exposure system which comprises a light emitting element array comprising a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged light emitting elements, such as organic EL elements, and a drive circuit which controls the light emitting time (light emitting pulse width) of each of the light emitting elements on the basis of an image data carrying thereon a gradation image and exposes a photosensitive material to an image formed on the light emitting element array on the basis of the image data. An example of such an exposure system is disclosed in U.S. patent Laid-Open No. 20010052926.
As a representative of the light emitting element array, there have been known those of a system so-called a simple matrix system where a light emitting element is formed at each intersection of anodes and cathodes disposed in a two-dimensional matrix and is driven with the anodes and cathodes employed as the scanning electrodes and the signal electrodes.
In the light emitting element array of the simple matrix system, one of the plurality of cathodes which are employed, for instance, as the scanning electrodes is connected to a grounding terminal in sequence to be provided with a ground potential and the plurality of anodes as the signal electrodes are selectively connected to a power source on the basis of image data. With this arrangement, current supplies to the light emitting elements formed at the intersections of one cathode and a plurality of anodes are controlled independently of each other, and emission and non-emission of the light emitting elements are controlled. This state is created in sequence for each cathode with selection and scan of the cathodes, and a two-dimensional image is formed on the light emitting element array. The photosensitive material can be exposed to a two-dimensional image by projecting the image onto the photosensitive material through an imaging optical system.
As the driving systems of such light emitting element arrays, there have been known a constant-voltage drive system where each of the light emitting elements is applied with a constant voltage and a constant-current drive system where each of the light emitting elements is applied with a constant current. The former is excellent in response but is poor in stability due to drop and fluctuation of the forward voltage by change with time of the environment of use or each light emitting element. Whereas the latter is substantially linear in the light emitting intensity versus the drive current, and excellent in stability. Accordingly, recently, the organic EL element array often employs the constant-current drive system.
However, when the constant-current drive system is employed for the light emitting element array of the simple matrix system, there has been known a problem that the rise-up characteristics are bad. The problem will be described in detail, hereinbelow.
The light emitting elements formed at the intersections of the anode and the cathode can be considered as elements comprising a light emitting portion having diode characteristics and a parasitic capacity connected in parallel to the light emitting portion. When such a light emitting element array is driven in the constant-current drive, supposing that the cathodes function as the scanning electrodes, the current should be supplied only to a light emitting element (a selected light emitting element) at the intersection of the selected cathode and the anode out of a plurality of light emitting elements formed on the anode. However due to existence of the parasitic capacity described above, all capacities of the light emitting elements formed on the anode are charged with the constant current when the scanning electrodes are switched and accordingly, it requires a long time for the light emitting element to emit light after its capacity is charged, which deteriorates the rise-up characteristics.
In view of this problem, there has been proposed, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,368, a method of improving the rise-up characteristics by providing a period for which the anode and the cathodes are kept at the same potential upon switching of the scanning electrodes so that the parasitic capacity of the selected light emitting element is charged to the cathode off voltage (the anode drive voltage-light emission threshold voltage: generally the anode drive voltage) through the parasitic capacities of the non-selected light emitting elements upon initiation of drive.
Further, there has been proposed, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,520, a method of improving the rise-up characteristics by providing a period for which all the anodes and the cathodes are short-circuited to the cathode off voltage source and by switching only the selected scanning electrode to the GND after the period to avoid the charge of the parasitic capacity of the selected light emitting element upon initiation of drive.
In the two approaches, the rise-up time is minimized when the cathode off voltage is equal to the anode voltage of the selected element upon drive. However the anode voltage of each light emitting element upon the constant-current drive is not always constant and the anode voltages of the light emitting elements in one array fluctuate according to the initial difference and/or the change with time of the light emitting elements. Further, the anode voltage can fluctuate according to the temperature conditions. Such fluctuation and/or difference of the anode voltage lead to fluctuation of the rise-up time.
When the cathode off voltage is higher than the anode voltage of the selected element upon drive, the light emission of the light emitting element is increased above the normal value for a while after initiation of constant current drive, whereas when the cathode off voltage is lower than the anode voltage of the selected element upon drive, the light emission of the light emitting element is reduced below the normal value for a while after initiation of constant current drive. Though the fluctuation in the light emission does not give rise to a significant problem when the light emitting element array is used as a display means, the fluctuation in the light emission causes deterioration of the quality the exposed image when the light emitting element array is used as an exposure head. Especially, the difference in the light emission between the elements causes a scoring unevenness extending in a sub-scanning direction to greatly deteriorate the quality of the exposed image when the exposure head and the photosensitive material are moved in the sub-scanning direction (sub-scanning).

Method of driving light emitting element array


There are provided a photocurable composition capable of being readily cured by irradiation of ultraviolet rays and a cured product of the photocurable composition, as well as a coating composition and a coating film obtained from the coating composition. The cured product exhibits a high refractive index, a less discoloration and an excellent transparency. The present invention relates to a photocurable composition comprising (A) an episulfide compound containing a thiirane ring; and (B) a photo-base generator represented by the general formula (1):

Plastic materials have been recently used as various optical materials because of light weight, high tenacity and easy-dyeability thereof. One of properties required for many optical materials is a high refractive index. As high refractive optical materials, there have been found a large number of episulfide compounds capable of providing optical materials having a refractive index of 1.7 or more (refer to JP 9-71580A, JP 9-110979A and JP 9-255781A). Most of these conventionally known episulfide compounds are heat-curing compounds and, therefore, extremely low in productivity and used only in limited applications. For this reason, it has been strongly demanded to provide photocurable materials which can be produced with a high productivity.
The methods for photocuring episulfide compounds are disclosed in WO 01/57113, JP 2002-047346A, JP 2002-105110, US 2003-0022956A and JP 2003-026806A. In these published patent documents, as initiators, there are disclosed radical generators, acid generators, base generators, etc. Since base catalysts exhibit a highest activity to polymerization of the episulfide compounds, it is considered that among these initiators, the base generators are most preferably used for photocuring the episulfide compounds. However, since studies on the photo-base generators are still short in history, base generators capable of exhibiting a practically usable activity have not been found until now. The photo-based generators are disclosed in "Chemical Industry", Vol. 50, pp. 592 to 600 (1999), "J. Polym. Sci. Part A", Vol. 39, pp. 1329 to 1341 (2001), etc.
Conventionally, the episulfide compounds are cast into a so-called mold and then polymerized and cured therein to obtain a cured product thereof. Owing to the remarkably high refractive index of these episulfide compounds, there is a strong demand for applying the episulfide compounds to coating materials for various substrates or films. However, since coating materials made of the episulfide compounds generally exhibit a poor wetting property to various substrates, it is difficult to stably form a thin film having a thickness of from several μm to several tens μm.
An object of the present invention is to provide photocurable compositions containing an episulfide compound capable of being readily cured by irradiation of ultraviolet rays and a high-refractive cured product obtained by irradiation of ultraviolet rays, as well as a coating material containing an episulfide compound capable of being readily cured by irradiation of ultraviolet rays and a high-refractive coating film obtained by irradiation of ultraviolet rays.

Photocurable composition and coating composition

Abstract: wherein Ar is phenyl, etc.; R is an alkyl group, etc.; —A+ is an ammonium ion; and X− is a borate anion, etc., and a coating composition comprising the photocurable composition and (C) a modified silicone oil, as well as a cured product and a coating film obtained from these compositions.


A first microprocessor controls the operation of a document conveying device, and a second microprocessor controls the operation of a copying device. A third microprocessor connected to the first and second microprocessors monitors the operation state of each of the first and second microprocessors. When an abnormality occurs in one of the first and second microprocessors, the third microprocessor determines an image forming operation controllable only by the other microprocessor. The third microprocessor makes the other microprocessor execute the determined image forming operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to image forming apparatuses, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having an abnormality monitoring circuit for monitoring the operation of a microprocessor which conducts processings for image forming operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, most image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers are provided with a microprocessor which controls image forming operation. Since a microprocessor sometimes becomes uncontrollable by the influence of noise, for example, various techniques have been suggested for preventing such states. There is an apparatus in which a timer called watchdog timer is connected to a microprocessor, and if the timer does not receive a restart signal from the microprocessor within a prescribed time period until the timer is up, a reset signal is transmitted to the microprocessor to reset the microprocessor, based on the determination that the microprocessor is in an uncontrollable state.
In such an apparatus as the watchdog timer described above which resets the microprocessor in an uncontrollable state to return it to its normal operation state, the microprocessor in the uncontrollable state is simply reset, and therefore, the history that the microprocessor has attained the uncontrollable state is not stored once the microprocessor is restarted and initiates a normal operation. Therefore, with a malfunctioning microprocessor, the image forming apparatus on the whole cannot be apparently distinguished from its normal state, and the malfunctioning microprocessor may continue to be inside the image forming apparatus, which degrades the reliability of the operation of the image forming apparatus.
Furthermore, conventionally, all microprocessors are instructed to stop controlling once an abnormality occurs in a single microprocessor and the image forming apparatus immediately stops operating once such an abnormality occurs. However, this is not efficient, because control by a normal microprocessor is also stopped in the timing in which another microprocessor is encountered with an abnormality.
It is an object of the invention to improve operation reliability in an image forming apparatus whose each image forming operation is controlled by a microprocessor.
Another object of the invention is to determine a low reliability microprocessor in an image forming apparatus whose each image forming operation is controlled by a plurality of microprocessors.
Yet another object of the invention is to permit efficient controlling operation making the best of normal microprocessors even if one microprocessor suffers from an abnormality, in an image forming apparatus whose each image forming operation is controlled by a plurality of microprocessors.
In order to achieve the above-described objects, an image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a microprocessor for conducting processings for image forming operation, and an abnormality monitoring circuit for monitoring the microprocessor and resetting the microprocessor by transmitting a reset signal to the microprocessor upon detecting an abnormality, wherein the abnormality monitoring circuit includes first storage means for storing how many times the abnormality monitoring circuit has transmitted the reset signal.
The image forming apparatus having the above-described structure is capable of storing the number of transmission of the reset signal, and therefore a low reliability microprocessor can readily be determined.
In order to achieve the above-described objects, an image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the invention includes first and second microprocessors which cooperate to control image forming operation, a monitoring circuit for monitoring the operation of the first and second microprocessors and transmitting a reset signal to a microprocessor with an abnormality and a third microprocessor, upon occurrence of an abnormality in any of the microprocessors, for determining an image forming operation controllable only by the other microprocessor and making the other microprocessor execute thus determined image operation.
The image forming apparatus having such a structure is capable of efficient controlling operation, because if one microprocessor suffers from an abnormality, an image forming operation controllable by the other microprocessor is continued. Furthermore, the image forming operation can readily be resumed after the microprocessor with the abnormality is restored.
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 improved monitoring system for operation of microprocessor controlling image forming operation


A speaker apparatus includes a generally cylindrically shaped, hollowed case, a drum membrane at a first end of the case; and an electrically powered speaker at a second end of the case. The speaker is preferably positioned to emit sound primarily away from the drum membrane. The drum membrane is preferably tunable, using a plurality of circumferentially positioned drum tuners.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to speakers. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved powered audio speaker that includes a cylindrically shaped case or housing having a speaker directing most of its sound toward one end of the case and a drum membrane mounted on the other end of the case. The drum membrane is tunable, so that a listener can obtain different sound effects by adjusting or tuning the drum membrane.
2. General Background of the Invention
Drums often have a drum membrane of some sort on one end. They are typically open on the other end.
The following table lists U.S. Patent Documents that are possibly relevant, and incorporated herein by reference.
TABLEPAT. NO.TITLEISSUE DATE3,553,339Drum-like musical instruments withJan. 5, 1971electrical pickups and circuitry3,659,032Percussion InstrumentApr. 25, 19724,168,646Electro-acoustically amplified drumSep. 25, 19794,570,522Electro-acoustically amplified drum andFeb. 18, 1986mounting bracket5,293,000Electronic percussion system simulatingMar. 8, 1994play and response of acoustical drum5,430,245Electroacoustical drumJul. 4, 19956,075,197Apparatus and method for providingJun. 13, 2000interactive drum lessons6,757,402Knockdown speakerJun. 29, 20046,815,602Electronic percussion instrument withNov. 9, 2004impact position - dependent variableresistive switch2004/0118269Electronic percussion instrument andJun. 24, 2004vibration detection apparatus2004/0211310Sound pickup device for percussionOct. 28, 2004instrument2005/0022655Real drum trigger monitor andFeb. 3, 2005amplified tone module
Custom hand-built subwoofer enclosures resembling drum shells in appearance are advertised at www.subtoms.com/index.html and at www.subtomix.com (these websites are incorporated herein by reference). The instructions for installing speaker elements in the enclosures include the following general description. "Note: Tightening and loosening tension rods will not tune your enclosure like a drum. Do not over-tighten the tension rods, which can cause damage to the enclosure's shell." This instruction indicates that these enclosures only resemble drum shells in appearance, not in function.


The present application provides a method and system for the characterization of properties of liquids, particularly petroleum and petroleum liquids. The method and system can be used to take measurements of the liquid directly in a storage container, without exposing the contents of the container to the external environment.

Several devices exist to characterize properties of liquids, such as petroleum and petroleum products, including density, vapour pressure, sulphur content, water and sediment content, viscosity and refractive index. However, users of these devices face numerous challenges for effective operation in the field. These devices do not feature effective integration between the sampling and measurement devices. Importantly, all of such devices typically require a sample preparation step that transfers liquid from a sampling container to the measuring device. This sample preparation step can introduce errors, and limits the overall accuracy of a measurement device to the care with which the operator has taken in the sampling step. As a result, only skilled operators can produce accurate measurements. Furthermore, sample preparation steps required in existing field instruments alter the integrity of the sample (e.g. by exposure to air during aliquoting, allowing light ends to evaporate and gas to dissolve) and therefore prevent samples from being easily stored for future testing in the event of a dispute or audit.
For example, any process during sampling or sample transfer that alters the external pressure on the liquid may also cause light fractions to phase separate and, therefore, may compromise the uniformity of the sample. Additionally, any sample transfer process that exposes the sample to the outside air could enable the contamination of the sample with air components (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, etc.). These components can interfere with a number of measurements. Current testing methods that process pressurized samples require transfer of the samples under pressure to the testing apparatus. This transfer is done either through the use of pressurized piston cylinders (e.g. floating piston cylinders or manual piston cylinders) to take the sample and transfer it into measuring equipment, or require back pressure a pressurized source of immiscible fluid (e.g. water or ethylene glycol) to push the sample into the measurement instrument under a maintained elevated pressure. Pressurized piston cylinders are large, heavy, expensive and very difficult to use because they require extensive cleaning and recharging with pressurized gas between every measurement. Pressurized transfer of liquid using back pressure from a fluid also requires significant heavy equipment and highly skilled operators to execute. Both techniques are incompatible with practical frequent field use.
There is a pressing need for a portable device that integrates representative sampling and accurate measurement into a single process, particularly one that does not require skilled operators or external sample manipulation in the field. There is also a pressing need for field testing equipment that is capable of performing non-destructive quality analysis on petroleum products.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.


A foldable skibob includes a frame with a steering column journalled in a forward steering column bearing. A first pivot configuration is attached to the steering column and a front ski is articulated at the first pivot configuration. A second pivot configuration is attached at the rear end and a rear ski is articulated at the second pivot configuration. A first spring support supports the first pivot configuration against the steering column, and a second spring support supports the second pivot configuration against the rear end of the frame. A support element is provided at one of the first and second spring supports against which a respective pivot configuration rests when the skibob is in an operational condition. The support element is pivotable away from the support element towards a center region of the frame between the front end and the rear end for folding the skibob.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to skibobs. Skibobs have frames which, in principle, are similar to bicycle frames with a seat and a forward steering column with a handlebar. The skibob slides on short skis, including a steerable forward ski and a rear ski.
Prior art skibobs of the above-mentioned kind are relatively bulky devices which cannot be easily handled, particularly For transporting them. Skibobs do not fit into automobile trunks and public transportation vehicles are also not generally equipped to handle prior art skibobs. Furthermore, most ski resorts disallow skibobs to be carried on chair lifts and T-bars. Finally, increasing popularity of smaller gondolas (2-8 persons) have made transporting skibobs in ski resorts even more difficult.


An electronic throttle control apparatus includes: a motor; a throttle valve which is driven by the motor to open and close; a throttle sensor for detecting an actual opening angle of the throttle valve. This electronic throttle control apparatus is arranged to control an opening angle of the throttle valve by driving the motor so that the actual opening angle detected by the throttle sensor becomes a target opening angle, the apparatus further includes a fully closing stopper, and an abutting determination unit for determining whether the throttle valve abuts against the fully closing stopper. The abutting determination unit is arranged to determine whether the throttle valve abuts against the fully closing stopper based on a determination condition preset with respect to each one of a plurality of duty ratio ranges.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electronically controlled throttle apparatus for controlling intake air volume of an internal-combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional electronic throttle control apparatus includes a throttle body forming an intake passage, a throttle valve for opening and closing the intake passage, a motor for driving the throttle valve, and a throttle sensor for detecting an actual opening angle of the throttle valve. Rotation of the motor is transmitted to the throttle valve by way of a reduction mechanism, driving (opening or closing) the throttle valve, and the actual opening angle of the throttle valve detected by the throttle sensor is so controlled as to be a target opening angle.
This kind of electronic throttle control apparatus, for example, learns a fully closed position of the throttle valve as a reference position, and controls the opening angle of the throttle valve, based on the learned fully closed position.
When the fully closed position is to be learned, abutting against the fully closing stopper is determined. To control the opening angle of throttle valve with a high degree of precision, therefore, a high-precision determination of abutting against the fully closing stopper is required. In the abutting determination, it is detected that the throttle valve has hit the fully closing stopper (the fully closed position) when a duty ratio has become larger than a predetermined threshold value. (JP2005-171915A)
The electronic throttle control apparatus is arranged to set a control opening lower limit which is larger than a control reference opening angle by a predetermined opening angle (for example, about 0.5 deg.), so that the opening angle of the throttle valve may not become smaller than this control opening lower limit.
Learning of the fully closed position is determined depending on the condition of an accelerator position or a battery voltage before an engine starts. For some reason, however, the fully closed position may not be learned before the engine starts. Accordingly, a new electronic throttle control apparatus has been proposed for learning the fully closed position not only before but also after start of the engine. In this electronic throttle control apparatus, when the throttle valve abuts against the fully closing stopper, this position is adopted to be learned and updated as the actual fully closed position (JP 7-269406(1995)A).
In the conventional throttle control apparatus, however, abutting of the throttle valve against the fully closing stopper may not be detected accurately. For example, when the material of gear units and others for composing a throttle system is a resin or the like, abutting against the fully closing stopper may not be detected accurately. That is, when the gear unit or the like is made of resin or the like, the amount of distortion or the dimension of components of the gear unit may largely change depending on the ambient temperature when the throttle valve abuts against the fully closing stopper. Thus, even if a duty ratio is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the throttle valve may sometimes abut against the fully closing stopper.
As a recent trend for improving fuel economy or efficiency or others, the idling speed is set to a lower level. Further, there is an increasing demand for controlling the opening angle of the throttle valve until the throttle valve abuts against the fully closing stopper. Such circumstances increase the need for detecting the abutting position of the throttle valve against the fully closing stopper more accurately. This is because if abutting against the fully closing stopper is not detected accurately, the motor is driven continuously in order to close the throttle valve even though the throttle valve actually abuts against the fully closing stopper, resulting in an overloaded motor. Accordingly, the motor performance may drop or the motor may be broken down.
In a conventional electronic throttle control apparatus, moreover, an idling speed may not be lowered to a target speed or may be increased too high, so that a desired idling speed may not be maintained. The reason is as follows. Due to problems in an assembling precision of the throttle control apparatus or temperature characteristics of the throttle sensor, a control reference opening angle (a learned fully closed angle) and an actual (mechanical) fully closed angle may not coincide perfectly (that is, an error may occur).
Specifically, if the control reference opening angle becomes larger than the actual fully closed angle, when a target opening angle smaller than the control opening lower limit is calculated, the idling speed may not be lowered to the target rotating speed. If the control reference opening angle is smaller than the actual fully closed angle, when a target opening angle smaller than the actual fully opening angle is calculated, the throttle valve abuts against the fully closing stopper. When this abutting is detected, the control reference opening angle is changed to the actual throttle valve opening angle during the abutting determination. However, the control reference opening angle is correspondingly increased. Accordingly, the target opening angle calculated based on the control reference opening angle also becomes large, thereby increasing the idling speed.


Described embodiments include apparatus that includes a catheter and a tip electrode, at a distal end of the catheter, shaped to define a plurality of microelectrode apertures. The apparatus further includes at least one printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within a lumen of the catheter, and a plurality of microelectrodes coupled to the PCB and at least partly situated within the microelectrode apertures, the PCB being configured to carry signals from the microelectrodes. Other embodiments are also described.

In some ablation procedures, a catheter is inserted into a heart, and an ablation electrode at the distal end of the catheter is used to deliver an ablating signal to the tissue.
US Patent Application Publication 2013/0030426, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,743,932 on Aug. 18, 2020, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a catheter adapted for ablation having multiple dedicated irrigation tubings to supply fluid to their respective electrode or set of electrodes. The tubings provide parallel flow pathways through the catheter where irrigation fluid is delivered to irrigated tip and/or ring electrodes which can accomplish uni-polar or bi-polar ablation. Such separate and dedicated fluid pathways allow fluid to be delivered to the corresponding electrode or set of electrodes at different flow rates. An integrated ablation system using such catheter has an ablation energy source and an irrigation pump with multiple pump heads that can operate independently of each other. An integrated irrigation tubing set is included to extend between the fluid source and the catheter, with each pump head being able to act on a different tubing that delivers fluid to a different electrode or set of electrodes.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,147,486, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a catheter or lead having a flexible printed circuit for conveying signals and/or energy. Each trace may be in electrical connection with one or more external electrical contacts. More specifically, each trace is typically electrically connected to a single contact. The traces and contacts may assist in diagnosis and/or detection of bio-electrical signals emitted by organs, and may transmit such signals to a connector or diagnostic device affixed to the catheter. The external electrical contacts may detect bioelectric energy or may deliver electrical or thermal energy to a target site.
PCT Application Publication WO 2014/124231, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a flex-PCB catheter device that is configured to be inserted into a body lumen. The flex-PCB catheter comprises an elongate shaft, an expandable assembly, a flexible printed circuit board (flex-PCB) substrate, a plurality of electronic components and a plurality of communication paths. The elongate shaft comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The expandable assembly is configured to transition from a radially compact state to a radially expanded state. The plurality of electronic elements are coupled to the flex-PCB substrate and are configured to receive and/or transmit an electric signal. The plurality of communication paths are positioned on and/or within the flex-PCB substrate. The communication paths selectively couple the plurality of electronic elements to a plurality of electrical contacts configured to electrically connect to an electronic module configured to process the electrical signal. The flex-PCB substrate can have multiple layers, including one or more metallic layers. Acoustic matching elements and conductive traces can be includes in the flex-PCB substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,529,476, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a medical probe, including a flexible insertion tube, having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity of a patient and which is configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity. The probe further includes a sensor tube of an elastic material, contained inside the distal end of the insertion tube and configured to deform in response to forces exerted by the tissue on the distal end. The probe also includes a plurality of strain gauges fixedly attached to a surface of the sensor tube at different, respective locations and configured to generate respective signals in response to deformations of the sensor tube.

Ablation catheter with a flexible printed circuit board


This invention is directed to continuous polyester filaments in tufted form for composing quality carpets having a pleasing appearance. The carpets are formed by use of continuous polyester filaments comprising polyethylene terephthalate resin having at least 85 mol % of ethylene terephthalate. The filament is completed by being placed in a curling stuffing box and applying a flow of heated air.

The present invention relates to continuous polyester filaments in tufted form available for composing quality carpets featuring incomparable uniformity of appearance.
Reflecting significant growth of synthetic filaments in these years, a variety of synthetic filaments have established overwhelming share in the composition of modern carpets by replacing traditional woolen carpets. From the viewpoint of physical and performance characteristics, these synthetic filaments are more suited for the composition of carpets than conventional woolen carpets, and yet, costwise advantage over wool accounts for the sharply increased share of those synthetic filaments in the production of carpet today. In particular, total output of polyester filaments has achieved an extremely high level, and yet, by virtue of decreased production cost and quite satisfactory hand, polyester filaments entertain vast potentials for the composition of carpets.
By virtue of similarity to wool, synthetic staple fibers have long been made available for the composition of carpets. Those carpets composed of these synthetic staple fibers make littile difference from wool, thus providing much advantage.
On the other hand, from the viewpoint of productive efficiency, any of those conventional methods of manufacturing synthetic filaments available for composing carpets is by no means reasonable. Concretely, originally, synthetic fibers are produced in the state of continuous filaments, production of staple fibers results in costwise disadvantage because it compulsorily involves additional processes including cutting and spinning operations.
When manufacturing yarns from continuous synthetic filaments for the composition of carpets, manufacturers are obliged to provide those synthetic yarns with curling process. This is because a large amount of synthetic yarns are needed when producing a carpet by applying those synthetic yarns devoid of curled effect, and yet, because of insufficient bulkiness of tufted yarns, such a large amount of synthetic yarns are needed. Furthermore, those tufted yarns merely contain poor cushioning property and resiliency.
On the other hand, although the curling process for continuous synthetic filaments can be executed at inexpensive cost, those carpets composed of curled continuous synthetic filaments often generate specific defect that is rarely formed on those carpets composed of spun yarns. In particular, this defect is frequently generated in tufted carpets. Concretely, those domains containing varied luster and shades streakily appear in parallel with the running direction of needles.
On the other hand, by virtue of satisfactory mechanical property, durability, hand, and shade characteristic, and yet, owing to relatively low cost, polyester filaments and yarns are usefully made available for a wide variety of clothes and industrial goods.
Availing of distinctly satisfactory processability of polyester filaments and yarns, synthetic-fiber manufacturers have successfully improved quality of polyester filamets and yarns to be compatible with a wide variety of uses, thus gradually strengthening competitive potentials against all other synthetic fibers available today.
Polyester filaments proved to be quite satisfactory in quality for the composition of carpets. On the other hand, since polyester filaments contain such a specific gravity more than that of nylon or polypropylene or natural fiber like wool available for composing carpets, polyester filaments are slightly short of covering property when being made available for the superficial yarns of carpets.
To solve this problem, conventionally, the amount of superficial yarns is increased on condition that low-price polyester filaments are made available.
In order to provide sufficient covering property, manufacturers of polyester filaments available for composing carpets follow up improvement of covering property by deforming circular section of polyester filaments, method of contracting the process for deforming circular section of polyester filaments, and also a method of implementing these processes by achieving cost reduction. Not only for rationalizing production method, but the scope of cost reduction also involves saving of man-power and further decrease of the price of raw material. Nevertheless, actually, production of polyester fiber is underway at an accelerated operating efficiency, and yet, production of polyester fiber on a large package basis is also underway at a faster operating efficiency. In consequence, actually, further promotion of man-power saving can no longer yield substantial effect of cost reduction. Likewise, since the scope of the production of polyester fiber has fully been expanded today, even though the production scope may be expanded furthermore, it is quite difficult for all the concerned to sharply decrease the price of raw material below the present level. Furthermore, all the concerned can hardly orient the direction to follow up development of novel methods to achieve further cost reduction.
Recently, those plastic debris collected from scrap of molded products attract attention of the concerned. Relative to sharp growth of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film and bottles in these years, a vast amount of plastic debris can potentially be procured for recycled use. Nevertheless, there are a wide variety of collectable plastic debris, and yet, quality of collectable plastic debris is noticeably variable. Therefore, unless selectively collecting a single kind of plastic debris, these collectable plastic debris cannot be made available for those objects subject to dyeing process. In particular, those plastic debris are not taken to be ideal for the raw material for composing filaments like bulky continuous filaments (BCF) containing curled property.
Even though collected debris of polyethylene terephthalate molded products may slightly incur transmutation of quality on the way of collection, owing to satisfactory fiber-forming property, it is not probable that production of filaments involves difficulty. On the other hand, conventionally, a variety of metamorphosing processes are applied to polyethylene terephthalate resin in order to improve film-forming property and molding property, and therefore, when transforming collected plastic debris into filaments, a variety of undesired properties are generated. For example, in order to facilitate molding operation, a substantial amount of diethylene glycol (GED) is copolymerized with resin available for executing a blow-molding process. Therefore, even when the blow-molded resin is transformed into filaments, the yeilded filaments incur yellowing symptom or sharply lowered lightfastness on exposure to light. In order to eliminate toxicity of aldehyde, it is imperative for such resin available for composing beverage/food bottles to minimize residual content of aldehyde. Therefore, it is preferred to use such resin containing a substantial amount terminal radical of carboxyl rather than the one containing a substantial amount of terminal radical of glycol that easily generates aldehyde. Nevertheless, after transforming collected resin into fibers, carboxylic terminal radical promotes thermal ageing effect.
On the other hand, since regenerated polyester resin is subject to re-melting process on the way of collecting process, the melted polyester resin is easily transmuted to result in the lowered limiting value of viscosity and the increased amount of carboxylic terminal radicals, thus eventually degrading own physical properties of the regenerated polyester resin.
In particular, the lowered limiting value of viscosity degrades tensile strength of fibers. When the regenerated polyester filaments are introduced for composing carpets incurring strong friction, carpet yarns quickly turn into fibrils during service. Once those fibrils are generated, dust easily deposits on the surface of the carpet to quickly stain the whole surface, and yet, these fibrils diminish depth of dyed shades to visually misgive users as though lightfastness is lowered.
It has long been pointed out that conventional carpets build more amount of static electricity in human bodies walking on the carpet than that is generated by other materials laid on floor. Since air-conditioning system has extensively been made available in modern life, the indoor environment tends to be short of moisture content, and thus, generation of static electricity is critical problem to solve. To properly solve this problem, a variety of useful methods have been introduced, for example, an art to coat the surface of component yarns with conductive resin and an art of blending conductive fibers with those component fibers composing a carpet, or the like. Although any of these useful methods proved to be quite effective, introduction of these methods raises the production cost of carpets, and yet, generally speaking, the effect of preventing static charge from occurence is not durable.

Continuous polyester filaments available for composing carpets


A liquid ejecting head includes a reservoir forming substrate provided with a reservoir serving as a common liquid chamber; in which at least a portion of a wall surface of the reservoir is an inclined surface, a lower side of the reservoir in a vertical direction is provided with a lower portion of which a width is wider than an upper portion of the reservoir in the vertical direction thanks to the inclined surface, a compliance portion which absorbs pressure of the reservoir is disposed at an area which faces the lower portion and has a shape corresponding to the lower portion, and the reservoir communicates with an upper portion of each of the pressure generating chambers in the vertical direction rather than a lower portion of each of pressure generating chambers.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting device which eject liquid from nozzle orifices thereof, and more particularly to an ink-jet recording head and an ink-jet recording device which ejects ink as the liquid.
2. Related Art
As an ink-jet recording head which is an example of a liquid ejecting head, for example, JP-A-2004-042559 (pages 6 to 8 and FIGS. 1-2) discloses a structure including an actuator unit provided with piezoelectric elements and pressure generating chambers, and a channel unit provided with a nozzle plate having nozzle orifices which discharge ink by communicating the pressure generating chambers and a reservoir-formed substrate provided with a reservoir serving as a common ink chamber of the pressure generating chambers.
JP-A-2007-76093 discloses an ink-jet head having a compliance substrate which is provided with a compliance portion which deforms by change of inside pressure of a reservoir at the bottom side of a reservoir-formed substrate.
JP-A-2002-1953 discloses a structure of an ink-jet recording head in which a width of channels is gradually decreased in a direction in which liquid flows.
The reservoir of the ink-jet recording head is structured in a manner of preventing bubbles from staying in the reservoir by increasing speed of flow of liquid at an area where bubbles are likely to be generated by decreasing a width of the reservoir in a direction which is perpendicular to a parallel arrangement direction in which the pressure generating chambers of the reservoir are arranged since bubbles are more actively generated as the speed of flow of ink is lowered.
However, the change of inside pressure of each of the pressure chambers is absorbed by a compliance portion defined by a width of an area which communicates with the pressure generating chambers of the reservoir in a direction which is perpendicular to the parallel arrangement direction of the pressure generating chambers. Accordingly, if the width in the direction perpendicular to the parallel arrangement direction of the pressure generating chambers of the reservoir is decreased, it is impossible for the pressure generating chambers communicating with the area having the decreased width to obtain good ink discharge characteristic.
The above-mentioned problems also encounters in the structure which is disclosed in JP-A-2007-76093 and in which the compliance portion is disposed at the bottom side of the reservoir formed substrate. JP-A-2002-1953 discloses the ink-jet recording head having the structure in which the width of the channel is gradually decreased in the liquid flowing direction but never mention about the compliance portion and the bubbles so that it was impossible to solve the above-mentioned problems.
The above-mentioned problems encounter in liquid ejecting heads which eject liquid other than ink besides the ink-jet recording head.

Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting device


A condenser or aspheric lens comprising a condenser body having an aspheric section with a dome-shaped surface terminating in a circumferential perimeter and a sloping condenser surface extending from the circumferential perimeter outwardly and away from the aspheric section. A mirror assembly having a housing, an outer mirror assembly supported by the housing, and an inner mirror engaged to the outer mirror assembly. A method for capturing peripheral light rays from a light source. After a light member is illuminated to produce light rays, a portion of the light rays pass directly through the aspheric section of the condenser and a portion of the light rays are reflected off of an inner concave mirror surface for passage through the aspheric section of the condenser. A remaining portion of the light rays are reflected off of an outer peripheral mirror for passage through the condenser, preferably through a sloping condenser surface of the condenser.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to a Kohler illumination. More specifically, the present invention provides a mirror assembly and method for producing an improved Kohler illumination.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Kohler illumination has frequently been used in a projecting optical system since it has conventionally given an image having a uniform illumination intensity. One example of such projecting optical system employing Kohler illumination system is a system for projecting images in an overhead projector.
An overhead projector includes a concave mirror, an illumination device as a light source, and an aspheric lens or a condenser. The aspheric lens or condenser is designed to have a much shorter focal length than is possible with a spherical glass lens of equal diameter and equal spherical aberration. It has one aspheric surface only, the other surface being either plano, spherical convex, or spherical concave. A correctly formed aspheric lens surface exactly cancels the spherical aberration that would otherwise be present in an optical system, or reduces both spherical aberration and coma to insignificance, in which case the system is conventional said to be aplanatic. Thus and as is well known, more energy can be concentrated into a small area, such as the entrance pupil of a projection lens system, or the sensitive area of a detector, than would otherwise be possible. Without the aspheric surface, marginal rays (which enter or exit the lens near its edge) may be severely aberrated and fail to contribute to the illumination of the desired target. The aspheric surface puts marginal rays on-target, and allows the potential collecting area of the system to be fully utilized. However, not all rays produced by the light source are reflected by the concave mirror for passage through the condenser. A substantial amount of light rays from the light source by-pass the concave mirror and are lost as is illustrated in the following U.S. patents which were discovered in the patentability investigation:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,122--titled: ADJUSTABLE LIGHT DIFFUSER FOR AN OPTICAL PROJECTION SYSTEM, Hutchison, III PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,150--titled: PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REALIZING KOHLER'S PRINCIPLE OF ILLUMINATION, Stankewitz PA1 U.S. PAT. No. 4,386,830--titled: INCIDENT LIGHT, BRIGHT-FIELD KOHLER ILLUMINATING DEVICE, Stankewitz et al PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,431--titled: ZOOM LENS SYSTEM FOR USE IN AN IMAGE PROJECTING APPARATUS WITH KOHLER ILLUMINATION, Ueda PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,615--titled: ZOOM LENS SYSTEM FOR USE IN AN IMAGE PROJECTING APPARATUS WITH KUM. / 0 /HLER ILLUMINATION, Ueda PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,373--titled: IMAGE READING APPARATUS, Ueda PA1 a) disposing a condenser against a housing supporting a mirror assembly with a light assembly supported by the housing and including a light member; PA1 b) illuminating the light member to produce light rays, a portion of which directly passes through an aspheric section of the condenser without being reflected, leaving a first residual light ray portion and a second residual light ray portion; PA1 c) reflecting the first residual light ray portion for passage through the aspheric section of the condenser; and PA1 d) reflecting the second residual light ray portion for passage through the condenser, preferably through a sloping condenser surface of the condenser.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,122 to Hutchison, III, teaches an adjustable light diffuser for an optical projection system. The diffuser is disclosed as comprising a support frame which supports a plurality of thin metallic wires which are partly suspended from frame. The plurality of metallic wires forms a spider web-like support means for adjustable screens which are similar to house hold screens.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,150 to Stankewitz discloses a process and apparatus for automatically realizing Kohler's principle of illumination in microscopes having a variable magnification system as well as an illumination system. FIG. 1 in this patent illustrates illumination in accordance of the Kohler principles wherein a source of light is reproduced by a collector condenser represented by a lens in an intermediate image plane and imaged by way of a mirror and optical system in a focal plane of a condenser assembly which consist of lenses and. In order to adjust the amount of light and the beam path within the entire optical system, a variable diaphragm is provided as best shown in FIG. 1. The diaphragm is arranged for adjusting the aperture and is placed in the focal plane of the condenser assembly or in the intermediate image of plane.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,830 to Stankewitz et al teaches an incident light, bright-field Kohler illuminating device for microscopes which reflect an illuminating beam into one half of the pupil of a microscope objective. The illuminating device comprises a diaphragm, a variable aperture diaphragm which is displaceable perpendicular to the optical axis, a condenser lens, a deflecting mirror, a polarizing filter, a field lens, and a beam deflecting optical element.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,615 to Ueda teaches a zoom lens system for use in an image projecting apparatus with the Kohler illumination. The beam lens system is taught as a comprising a first lens group and a second lens group. Both the first lens group and the second lens group are movable along an optical axis for zooming. An aperture stop is disposed between the first and second lens groups and. The aperture stop may be independently moved alone the optical axis so is to make the pupil position at the reduction side substantially invariable in an operation of zooming.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,431 to Ueda also relates to a zoom lens system for use in image projection apparatus with the Kohler illumination. This patent teaches an aperture stop which is movable relative to the movement of a first lens group and a second lens group in an operation zooming so is to make a pupil position of the zoom lens system at a reduction side invariable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,373 to Ueda teaches an image reading apparatus for reading images recorded on light-transmitting film by means of a linear sensor array. The apparatus comprises an image reader having a plurality of reading elements arrayed in the main scanning direction. The apparatus also includes a light source and condenser elements having power characteristics such that the point of convergence recedes in accordance with the separation of the light rays from an optical access. The apparatus further comprises a projector for projecting a field image illuminated by the light source on the image reader. A drive member is provided for moving the pupil of the projector on an optical axis.
Therefore, what is needed and what has been invented is a system and method for capturing essentially all of the light rays produced by a light source for passage through a condenser or aspheric lens. What is more particularly needed and what has been invented is a mirror assembly including a condenser and method for capturing a substantial amount of light rays from a light source for passage through a condenser or aspheric lens for producing an improved Kohler illumination.


A cylinder including a control slide supported in a piston in a cylinder. The control slide is supported in a slide guide, the slide guide is supported in a valve housing with a play. The provision of the play has the advantage that deformation of the valve housing has no influence on a gap between the control slide and the slide guide. The proposed cylinder is intended in particular for use as a shock absorber for vehicles.

The invention relates to a cylinder having a valve device with a control slide.
A cylinder having two work chambers and a hydraulic connection connecting the two work chambers is known. A valve device having a control slide is located in the course of the hydraulic connection. The control slide is supported in a housing. For proper function of the valve device, it is necessary for a very narrow gap to be present between the control slide and the housing. Forces acting upon the housing can deform the housing. The deformation of the housing may be greater than the gap, so that seizing between the control slide and the housing can occur.

Cylinder including a control valve between separate work chambers


A lens system particularly suitable for low light, high speed applications has a primary mirror (31, 51) having a spherical reflecting surface and a secondary mirror (37, 52) having a spherical reflecting surface arranged to receive light reflected from the primary mirror. Both mirrors have the same center of curvature. The lens system includes image relay lens (47, 56) and a transfer lens (35, 55) arranged to image the center of curvature to a location at the center of the aperture stop (43, 57) of the image relay lens. This relay lens may include a spherical mirror located so that its center of curvature is coincident with the center of the aperture stop, thus creating a singular optical center of curvature for the whole lens system. The relay lens may include a meniscus corrector lens (33, 41, 42) which is located close to the aperture stop and which is also concentric with the common center of curvature. The size of the meniscus corrector lens is much smaller than the diameter of the lens system as a whole, conferring significant advantages of costs and ease of fabrication.

Solid state imaging arrays (ccds, CIDS, etc) have now become the sensors of choice in many applications.
Some CCD devices have been successfully fabricated with over 10.sup.6 operating pixels, each having dimensions <10 .mu.m square. A good example is the Kodak Megapixel device, having 1035.times.1320 pixels of 6.8 .mu.m square in a 7.times.9 mm array. Being planar, geometrically accurate (to the limit of microlithography technology) and with a high quantum efficiency in the visible and near-infrared spectral domains, such devices have the potential to be virtually perfect image detectors.
For the purpose of low-light-level imaging or astrography with CCD devices, the instrument designer's problem is to find an optical system with a matching performance, not only in exceptional resolution and distortion characteristics, but also in speed so as to achieve the highest possible information acquisition rate. When aperture diameters exceed 150 mm, the homogeneity of optical glass becomes an intrusive problem and design solutions usually reduce to catoptric or catadioptric systems which generally require only one refractive component of the full aperture diameter.
Few such systems exist which combine the characteristics of high speed (eg. faster than f/4) and high--and uniform--resolution to the dimensional limit required by CCD pixel structures. If, to these notional constraints, there are added such pragmatic aspects as ease of fabrication and moderate tolerances, the list of suitable designs tends toward zero length.
The top of the list is occupied by the Schmidt camera and its variations; however, as design parameters tend towards higher speed and uniform flattened field resolution, the limitations of the full-aperture aspheric corrector become evident in the form of more difficult and expensive fabrication, significant residual sphero-chromatic aberration and obliquity effects.
Maksutov camera designs also suffer from problems associated with their massive full-aperture thick meniscus corrector component; to such an extent that the advantage of smaller obliquity effects is overridden by sphero-chromatism as the design speed is increased.
An additional obstacle which some low-light-level designs must surmount is the need to accommodate a cryostat for the CCD. Ideally this requires that the focus be accessible externally, which in turn implies a Cassegrain system, or at least a folded format.
This invention is an optical design which is novel in its assembly of known techniques into a format that fits a previously unoccupied area of the speed/diameter relationship. Furthermore, it is a high speed, optical system of economic construction.

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Zealand


A spread code sequence generator generates a spread code sequence with the frequency of a synthesizer, and then outputs the spread code sequence to a multiplier. The multiplier outputs a spread signal obtained by multiplying a data sequence by the spread code sequence to an impulse generator. The impulse generator generates an impulse signal of very fine impulses that corresponds to 0s/1s of the spread signal. The impulse signal is outputted to a band pass filter, where a predetermined range of the impulse signal is extracted. The output of the band pass filter is fed to a subtracter and a delay circuit. The delay circuit delays the delayed signal by a predetermined period. The delayed signal is outputted to the subtracter. The subtracter subtracts the delayed signal from the output of the band pass filter. A signal obtained by such subtraction processing is transmitted as a transmission signal via an antenna.

The present invention relates to a radio transmitting apparatus and a radio receiving apparatus used in a digital radio communication system.
With the recent spread of mobile communication apparatus such as portable telephones and pages, there has been an explosive increase in the number of users of such mobile communication apparatus. On the other hand, there is a limit to frequency resources available to radio communication, and therefore it is becoming extremely difficult to allocate a frequency band not used by existing radio systems when introducing a new radio communication system.
As new radio technology that enables effective use of frequency resources to deal with such a situation, an ultra wide band (UWB) transmission system has recently been drawing attention. Basically, the ultra wide band transmission system makes baseband transmission using a signal formed of a pulse train having a very small pulse width (for example 1 ns (nanosecond) or less). A bandwidth occupied by the ultra wide band transmission system is a bandwidth on the order of GHz such that a value obtained by dividing the occupied bandwidth by a central frequency (for example 1 GHz to 10 GHz) of the occupied bandwidth is substantially one. The bandwidth is extremely wide as compared with bandwidths used by the so-called W-CDMA system and cdma2000 system, and wireless LANs using SS (Spread Spectrum) and OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing).
In addition, the ultra wide band transmission system has a characteristic of low signal power density, and thus has an advantage in that the ultra wide band transmission method does not readily cause interference with another radio system. The ultra wide band transmission system is therefore expected to become a technology whose band can be overlaid on frequency bands used by existing radio systems. Furthermore, because of its wide band, the ultra wide band transmission system is considered to be promising as an ultrahigh-speed radio transmission technology at a level of 100 Mbps for application to a personal area network (PAN).
The ultra wide band (UWB) radio transmission has a characteristic of low signal power density, and thus has an advantage in that the ultra wide band radio transmission does not readily undergo or cause interference. Furthermore, because of its wide band, the ultra wide band radio transmission is considered to be promising as an ultrahigh-speed radio transmission technology at a level of 100 Mbps for application to a personal area network (PAN).
As a modulation system used in the ultra wide band transmission system, there is pulse position modulation (PPM) that uses a signal obtained by slightly shifting the timing of pulse generation forward and backward to express 0/1 information, as described in Japanese Translation of PCT for Patent No. Hei 10-508725 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,125, for example. In addition, as another modulation system, bi-phase modulation that expresses 0/1 information by changes in the phase of pulses has been proposed.
Supposing that a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus of the ultra wide band transmission system using the above bi-phase modulation are formed using a pulse generator, the following configurations may be considered, for example.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a transmitting apparatus using such an ultra wide band transmission system. FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E are diagrams showing signal waveforms in parts of the transmitting apparatus shown in FIG. 5. FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D are diagrams showing signal spectra in the transmitting apparatus shown in FIG. 5.
A spread code sequence generator 502 generates a spread code sequence SG502 (FIG. 6B) with the frequency of a synthesizer 501, and then outputs the spread code sequence SG502 to a multiplier 503. The multiplier 503 multiplies a data sequence SG501 (FIG. 6A and FIG. 7A) by the spread code sequence SG502 to form a spread signal SG503 (FIG. 6C and FIG. 7B), and outputs the spread signal SG503 to an impulse generator 504.
The impulse generator 504 generates an impulse signal SG504 (FIG. 6D and FIG. 7C) of very fine impulses of 100 ps, for example, which signal corresponds to 0s/1s of the spread signal SG503. The impulse signal SG504 is outputted to a band-pass filter 505, where a predetermined range, for example a range of 3.0 to 5.0 GHz of the impulse signal SG504 is extracted. The impulse signal SG504 is thereby converted into a transmission signal SG505 (FIG. 6E and FIG. 7D), and then transmitted as SG505 via an antenna 506.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a receiving apparatus using the ultra wide band transmission system. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing correlation characteristics in main parts of a timing synchronization circuit having a configuration of a so-called DLL (Delay Lock Loop) in the receiving apparatus shown in FIG. 8.
A radio signal is received by an antenna 801. A band-pass filter 802 removes an undesired component from the received signal, and then outputs the resulting received signal to multipliers 803, 805, and 807.
A spread code sequence generator 811 generates a spread code sequence (spread code sequence identical with the spread code sequence used in the transmitting apparatus shown in FIG. 5) with the frequency of a synthesizer 815, and then outputs the spread code sequence to an impulse generator 812. The impulse generator 812 generates impulses, superimposes the spread code sequence outputted from the spread code sequence generator 811 on the impulses, and then outputs the result to delay circuits 813, 814 and the multiplier 807.
The delay circuit 814 delays the impulses having the spread code sequence superimposed thereon by a ½ pulse width, and then outputs the result to the multiplier 803. The delay circuit 813 delays the impulses having the spread code sequence superimposed thereon by one pulse width, and then outputs the result to the multiplier 805.
Hence, the multiplier 803 multiplies the received signal by the impulses having the spread code sequence superimposed thereon for demodulating transmitted data, to thereby perform despreading processing. The multiplier 807 multiplies the received signal by the impulses having the spread code sequence superimposed thereon in timing a ½ pulse width ahead of the output of the delay circuit 814, to thereby perform despreading processing. The multiplier 805 multiplies the received signal by the impulses having the spread code sequence superimposed thereon in timing a ½ pulse width behind the output of the delay circuit 814, to thereby perform despreading processing.
A result of the multiplication of the multiplier 803 is outputted to an integrator 804, integrated by the integrator 804, and then outputted as received data. A result of the multiplication of the multiplier 805 is outputted to an integrator 806, integrated by the integrator 806, and then outputted to a difference unit 809 (902 in FIG. 9). A result of the multiplication of the multiplier 807 is outputted to an integrator 808, integrated by the integrator 808, and then outputted to the difference unit 809 (901 in FIG. 9).
The difference unit 809 obtains a difference (903 in FIG. 9: solid line) between the output of the integrator 806 and the output of the integrator 808, and then outputs the difference to a loop filter 810. As is understood from FIG. 9, the output (axis of ordinates) linearly responds to phase displacement (axis of abscissas). Specifically, the output has a characteristic showing an S-shaped curve based on a reception timing offset.
Thus, an output (difference) obtained by filtering the difference by the loop filter 810 is fed back to the synthesizer 815. When the characteristic shown in FIG. 9 indicates no reception timing offset, for example, a zero is outputted; when reception timing is offset forward or backward, a positive or negative value is outputted as a timing offset signal. Such a circuit is referred to as a timing synchronization circuit (DLL: Delay Lock Loop).
The synthesizer 815 effects control such that when the output of the loop filter 810 is positive, the phase of the spread code sequence being generated is delayed slightly, and when the output of the loop filter 810 is negative, the phase of the spread code sequence being generated is advanced slightly. Thus, the output (difference) of the loop filter 810 becomes zero, and the spread code sequence and pulses having the received signal superimposed thereon supplied to the multiplier 803 are brought in phase with each other, whereby the despread output of the multiplier 803 is maximized.
However, the ultra wide band (UWB) radio transmission uses a frequency band of 3 GHz to 6 GHz. Although the ultra wide band (UWB) radio transmission does not use a frequency band of 2 GHz and lower, which band is used by many other systems, a wireless LAN system such as IEEE 802.11a uses 5 GHz. Even in an application to PAN, the frequencies used by the ultra wide band (UWB) radio transmission and the wireless LAN system conflict with each other in the same area, and therefore the ultra wide band (UWB) radio transmission and the wireless LAN system cause interference with each other or undergo interference from each other.
Because of its ultra wide band, the UWB radio transmission undergoes a considerably low level of interference. Supposing that the other system is used in substantially the same area, when a transmitter of the 5-GHz wireless LAN system is situated in the close vicinity of a UWB receiver or when a UWB transmitter is situated in the close vicinity of a receiver of the 5-GHz wireless LAN system, the level of interference may exceed a tolerable range, thereby greatly degrade receiving quality and render reception impossible.
As a method for solving this problem, there is WO01/93445 (applicant: XTREMESPECTRUM). According to this invention, when presence of another narrow-band system (ex. 5 GHz wireless LAN) is detected, the band is removed by using a filter circuit. However, the method has a problem in that the structure of the removal filter is complex. In addition, only the structure of a receiver for removing interference received from another system is disclosed, and no consideration is given from a viewpoint of preventing the causing of interference with the other system.

Radio transmitting apparatus, radio receiving apparatus, radio transmitting method, and radio receiving method


An air bag apparatus for side crash, includes an acceleration sensor, an inflater and an air bag. The acceleration sensor detects acceleration in a side direction larger than a predetermined value to generate a detection signal. The inflater generates a gas in response to the detection signal. The air bag is folded initially, and expands with the gas. The air bag includes a main section and a protrusion section which is provided at a tip portion of the main section such that an inner space of the protrusion section is connected with an inner space of the main section. The protrusion section has at least one opening from which the gas is spouted. The air bag further includes at least one partition provided in an inner space of the air bag.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bag apparatus, and more particularly, to an air bag apparatus for side crash.
2. Description of the Related Art
An air bag apparatus is provided for a car to protect the body of a rider like a driver or a passenger. As the air bag apparatuses for the car, an air bag apparatus for head-on collision and an air bag apparatus for side crash are known. The air bag apparatus for side crash is provided between a center pillar or a door and the rider to protect the body of the rider, especially, the chest of the rider.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air bag apparatus for side crash is composed of an air bag 102 whose proximal end is stuck to a side section 101 of a seat and which expands due to gas inflation by an inflater 103 in case of side crash at a moment. As shown in FIG. 2, the air bag is folded and embedded in the side section 101 of the seat before the expansion. However, if the side direction acceleration sensor operates, the inflater 103 operates to supply a high-pressure gas into the air bag 102 at a moment. As a result, the air bag 102 expands in the direction shown by an arrow a, between the chest of the rider and the sidepiece 104 of the car to protect the body of the rider.
In such an air bag apparatus for side crash, the air bag expands rapidly at the expansion start stage, and expands gradually at the stage in which the body of the rider receives protection power from the air bag. Especially, it is desirable for the air bag shrink at that time. Such an air bag apparatus for side crash is described in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 8-268213: a first conventional example). In the first conventional example, holes are opened on the middle portion of the air bag. However, because there is fear that the holes receive any damage when expanding, a perimeter of the hole is reinforced. Thus, the reinforcement effect around the hole is excellent. In the first conventional example, the reinforcement effect is achieved by the formation of the protrusion. Such a protrusion is folded and the protrusion is pushed into the inner space of the air bag. In the first conventional example, the expansion is rapid at the expansion start stage and contraction is carried out at the expansion end stage. Also, it is important that the air bag apparatus for side crash expands to a predetermined final shape at a moment in the narrow space between the rider and the side body of the car.
Another air bag apparatus is known in the Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2000-85517A: a second conventional example) in which the proximal end of an air bag is formed with a hard member to extend and expand smoothly in a front direction. The 3-dimensional final shape of the air bag in the expansion is determined through sewing a combination of a plurality of sheets of cloth. The expansion of the air bag and the final shape depend strongly on the inner pressure and the shape of the plurality of sheets of cloth rather than the external force. Especially, the final shape of the air bag is determined based on the initial shape.
The effort to make the final shape good is shown in FIG. 3. In the air bag apparatus for side crash shown in FIG. 3, by limiting the expansion width W in the direction perpendicular to the side surface of the air bag 105 within a predetermined value, the shape on the expansion way is controlled. To make such limitation effective, an inner forming section (an inner side panel) 106 of the air bag and an outer forming section (an outer side panel) 107 are linked by suspenders or hanging bands 108 which are formed inside the air bag. By limiting the length of the suspenders or hanging bands 108 in the perpendicular direction, the above-mentioned width W on the expansion way can be determined. In this way, the width W can be limited in some degree but the angle of the suspender 108 in the perpendicular direction is instable. Such instability makes the width W in the perpendicular direction instable.
In conjunction with the above description, an air bag apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 5-238347). In this reference, the air bag apparatus is installed in a side door. The length of a hanging belt is longer than the length of a sewing portion.


A method of stopping a printing operation in a facsimile system includes detecting a ring signal, receiving image data to be printed in the printing operation after detecting the ring signal, and stopping the printing operation and displaying an error message when the image data is determined to contain a predetermined number of consecutive black data lines. The predetermined number of consecutive black data lines represent a length on a recording sheet that is greater than or equal to a selected millimeters.

The present invention relates to a process and device for stopping a printing operation upon reception of abnormal image data in a facsimile telecommunications system, and more particularly, to a process and device for stopping a printing operation upon reception of a predetermined number of consecutive black data lines.
Generally, a facsimile telecommunications system receives image data by executing a system protocol after a ring signal has been detected, or by scanning a document upon input of a copy key. Protocol sets rules for the interaction of transmission and reception of units of telecommunications equipment, that are usually implemented through the programming of the data terminal equipment involved rather than being built into the hardware. In a plain paper facsimile system dedicated to printing image data onto cut sheets of a printable medium such as paper, a developing unit including an expendable organic photosensitive OPC drum, and a toner hopper supplying toner are designed to be exchanged when depleted to a point of use in excess of a predetermined limit of usage. After the image data is received, an operation for printing the image data is executed. With a plain paper facsimile, a consumable developing unit is often utilized. This developing unit typically includes an organic photoconductive (OPC) drum and a toner hopper for storing toner. After the developing unit is used to generate a given number of printed sheets, it should be exchanged for a new one so that proper printing operations can be continued.
When by mistake a user erroneously transmits a document with an upside down orientation from a facsimile telecommunications unit, and the back surface of the document exhibits a color of a given degree of darkness, the receiving facsimile will interpret and print the received image data as a continuous stream of black image data (i.e., all lines are composed of black dots). Accordingly, the receiving facsimile expends a large quantity of toner in order to print the black image data. We have found that since the developing unit should be exchanged after a given amount of use, these types of situations are particularly troublesome in terms of unnecessarily useless toner depletion. Moreover, when an expended developing unit is continually used in a facsimile system employing a thermal print head (TPH), a problem arises in that the thermal print head (TPH) becomes overheated, thereby causing damage to the facsimile system.
Another problem that occurs in facsimile telecommunications systems from transmission of telecommunications data attributible to an upside down sheet of paper is the unnecessary consumption of sheets of paper. One recent effort that attempts to addresses the issue of paper conservation is U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,421 entitled Facsimile Apparatus issued to Uetama et al. In Uetama et al. '421, when blank line data representative of a predetermined number of blank lines (i.e., the entire line is composed of white dots) is received successively, then printing control means produces an output omitting the blank line data. As a result, the blank line data, which may represent margins or the like, is omitted in printing. While this type of conventional art is useful for conserving recording sheets in a facsimile telecommunications system, we note that it fails to address the problem of unnecessary toner consumption.

Method of stopping a printing operation upon reception of abnormal image data in a facsimile