Disclosed are systems and method for charging a fuel cell vehicle comprising a fuel cell, a rotating load, an energy storage, a contactor, a DC-DC converter, and a control unit. When charging of the energy storage is performed, the DC-DC converter connected to the energy storage is placed in a direct connection mode wherein the input voltage and the output voltage of the DC-DC converter are the same without voltage adjustment for directly charging regeneration electrical energy from a motor of the rotating load to the energy storage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle including a fuel cell capable of generating electrical energy by electrochemical reaction of a reactant gas and outputting the electrical energy to a rotating load, a rechargeable energy storage, a switching mechanism for electrically connecting the fuel cell to the rotating load and the energy storage or electrically disconnecting the fuel cell from the rotating load and the energy storage, and a DC-DC converter connected to the energy storage. Further, the present invention relates to a method of controlling the fuel cell vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fuel cell is a system that supplies a fuel gas (chiefly containing hydrogen) to an anode and supplies an oxygen-containing gas (chiefly containing oxygen) to a cathode to induce electrochemical reaction for generating DC electrical energy.
For example, a solid polymer fuel cell employs a polymer ion exchange membrane as an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is interposed between an anode and a cathode to form a membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched between separators to form a power generation cell. In use, generally, a predetermined number of power generation cells are stacked together to form a fuel cell stack.
The fuel cell can be mounted in a vehicle such as an automobile, and such a fuel cell vehicle is drawing great attention. Advantageously, the fuel cell vehicle can generate electrical energy efficiently without noxious emissions.
In the fuel cell vehicle, in order to assist the output responsiveness or the like of the fuel cell, a hybrid power supply system which additionally uses a energy storage such as a battery or a capacitor (electric double layer capacitor) is adopted. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-118981 discloses a direct power supply including a fuel cell. As shown in FIG. 10, a fuel cell 1 and a battery 2 are connected in parallel to an inverter 3. The electrical energy supplied to the inverter 3 is converted to three-phase alternating current (AC) electrical energy, and supplied to a synchronous motor 4. Thus, wheels 5L, 5R connected to the synchronous motor 4 are rotated.
A DC-DC converter 6 is provided between the battery 2 and the inverter 3. The DC-DC converter 6 is a DC voltage converter, having a function of adjusting the DC voltage inputted from the battery 2, and outputting the adjusted voltage to the inverter 3, and a function of adjusting the DC voltage inputted from the fuel cell 1 or the synchronous motor 4, and outputting the adjusted voltage to the battery 2.
According to the disclosure, the maximum output ratio between the fuel cell 1 and the battery 2 is determined such that the output of the fuel cell 1 falls within the range of 65% to 80% of the overall output. Thus, the loss in the DC-DC converter 6 is minimized, and it is possible to achieve high energy efficiency.
In the conventional technique, during discharging of the battery 2 (during running), the input of the DC-DC converter 6 is set on the side of the battery 2, and the output of the DC-DC converter 6 is set on the side of the inverter 3. The output voltage VPIN matches the output voltage VFC of the fuel cell 1.
During charging of the battery 2 (during regeneration), since the output current IGC of the fuel cell decreases, as shown in FIG. 11, the output voltage VFC of the fuel cell 1 increases, and the input voltage VPIN of the DC-DC converter 6 on the side of the inverter 3 also increases. Thus, in the DC-DC converter 6, in order to maintain the certain voltage difference between the output voltage VBATT on the side of the battery 2 and the input voltage VPIN on the side of the inverter 3, during power regeneration, switching operation is carried out continuously.
Therefore, the switching loss occurs in the DC-DC converter 6, and part of the regeneration energy is lost. Consequently, the fuel economy is degraded.

Systems and methods for charging a fuel cell vehicle


Systems and methods for generating electrical power using a solar power system comprising pressurized pipes for transporting liquid water. The pressurized pipes flow through solar collectors which concentrate sunlight on the water flowing through the pipes. The pressurization in the pipes allows the water flowing through the pipes to absorb large quantities of energy. The pressurized and heated water is then pumped to a heat exchanger coil where the thermal energy is released to produce steam for powering a steam turbine electrical generator. Thereafter, the water is returned to the solar collectors in a closed loop to repeat the process.

Large scale solar power plants utilizing concentrating solar power ("CSP") technology have been producing power for over thirty years. The Solar Electric Generating Systems ("SEGS") facilities in the Mojave Desert of California are a well-known example of solar power plants using such CSP technology. Other types of solar thermal power plants are in operation in various other areas of the World. CSP utilizes solar collectors comprising large mirrors, mirror arrays, or lenses, which concentrate solar energy upon a typically unpressurized pipe or tube that contains a heat transfer fluid. Synthetic or organic oils having a high boiling point or salts are used as the heat transfer fluid in a variety of power plant configurations. As an example, some of the SEGS facilities utilize Therminol® from Solutia, Inc. as the heat transfer fluid.
As the heat transfer fluid flows through the unpressurized pipe inside the solar collectors, the transfer fluid is heated by the incident sunlight. One or more pumps are situated along the pipe to pump the fluid through the solar collectors and towards a boiler with a heat exchanger coil. At the heat exchanger coil, the transfer fluid is used to heat water in the boiler to produce steam. The steam is then used for powering a steam driven engine that turns a generator to produce electricity. After the heat transfer fluid releases its thermal energy in the boiler, the heat transfer fluid is pumped back to the solar collectors to be heated again and the closed cycle continues.
A disadvantage of the use of oils as heat transfer fluids is that the fluid has a relatively low energy density. For example, Therminol® has an energy density of approximately 2100 joules per kilogram degree Celsius (J/kg° C.) whereas ordinary water has an energy density of approximately 4200 J/kg° C. This relatively low energy density for Therminol® means that it carries less thermal energy from the solar collectors to the heat exchanger coil than water thus resulting in a larger and more costly required set of heat transfer components.
Another disadvantage of synthetic heat transfer fluids is that they are often flammable. A fire at one of the SEGS plants could cause massive damage and could result in personally injury or death to power plant workers. As a result, care must be taken in handling the fluids to keep the fluids from overheating.
For these and other reasons, a number of solar power systems have been developed to produce steam directly from water rather than using a synthetic heat transfer fluid. Such systems—dubbed Direct Solar Steam generation ("MS") or Direct Steam Generation ("DSC")—distribute water through the unpressurized pipes in the solar collectors rather than distributing a synthetic heat transfer fluid. Because water has a much lower boiling point than a synthetic heat transfer fluid, the water will eventually turn to steam after being heated a sufficient amount. Thereafter, the steam is directed to a steam turbine for generating electricity.
Such DSG systems have their own drawbacks. The presence of steam in the pipes of the solar receivers reduces the efficiency of the collectors and receivers because steam has a significantly lower capacity to absorb heat than liquid water. Thus, the steam can carry less thermal energy towards the turbine than can pressurized water. Further, the use of a two-phase (water/steam) flow within the pipes of long linear solar receivers creates a condition known as the Ledinegg Instability. This phenomenon results in a boiling front as the water moves through the pipes and flashes over to steam. To compensate for this instability, an undesirable pressure drop must be introduced into the system. Finally, DSG systems are more sensitive to variations in solar flux density and changes in atmospheric conditions because the systems will not function properly unless the water in the solar collectors is sufficiently heated to flash over to steam at a required rate. Taken together, these drawbacks necessitate the use of larger, more expensive solar collectors to produce a required amount of steam to produce electricity. Therefore, such DSG systems may have little or no cost savings in comparison to traditional CSP systems containing synthetic heat transfer fluid.

Pressurized solar power system with sealed bubble pressurizer and control system


A valve security device for releasably securing a fluid flow valve in an inoperable position including an inner body adapted to be disposed about the valve actuator such that rotation of the inner body effects corresponding rotation of the actuator to open and close the valve and an outer body rotatably mounted about the inner body. A valve cap defining a secondary actuator is mounted on the outer body. An operating pin assembly is carried by the outer body which, in an extended position, operatively couples the outer body to the inner body such that the valve can be controlled by the secondary actuator. In a retracted position, the pin assembly uncouples the outer and inner bodies such that the outer body is freely rotatable on the inner body. A lock secures the operating pin assembly in the retracted position thereby releasably securing the valve in an inoperable position.

The present invention relates to valve security devices and, more particularly, to a device that is adaptable for use on a wide variety of fluid flow valves, both liquid and gas, to prevent access to the valve actuating key with varying degrees of security depending on the particular application.
Different levels of security are desirable in valve protection devices depending on the nature of the fluid flow line in which the valve is being used. For example, to provide a security device for a valve on a fire hydrant, it generally would be undesirable to employ a security device that could not be forcibly circumvented with conventional equipment such as a heavy-duty bolt cutter. If such a device was used and the only key that could unlock the device to provide access to the actuating key on the hydrant was lost or temporarily misplaced, firefighters could be prevented from accessing the water in a time of acute emergency. However, some form of locking or security device on fire hydrants is desirable in many areas, particularly in areas where the hydrants may be subject to malicious mischief and rural and farming areas where water may be in short supply and great demand. Such situations have led to increasing incidences of water theft. In such areas prone to water theft, some form of protective device that would provide greater security than a simple deterrent to mischief, yet still could be forcibly removed in an emergency, would be desirable. On other water lines which are not used for emergency applications such as firefighting, a greater degree of security would be desirable. Main water valves for residential housing is another example of where an economical yet efficient valve security device would be very desirable in order to prevent non-paying customers from simply disabling the lock typically placed on such valves by the water company with a simple hammer. In hazardous chemical lines and other applications, maximum security protection devices for the valves would be desired wherein the application of virtually any degree of force would still leave the valve disabled and inoperable. It would be highly desirable if a valve security device could be developed that would meet these different needs. Such a device would be readily adaptable for providing different levels of security for different applications. It would also be desirable if such a security device could be readily modified for use with different valve configurations. The present invention provides such a security device.


A bearing assembly is disclosed, which comprises at least two slidable fasteners interengaged with at least two bearing pieces such that the slidable fasteners have substantially unrestricted biaxial motion relative to one another. The bearing pieces are comprised of self-closable fastener film comprising a base sheet and a multiplicity of ribs projecting from the base sheet, wherein the flat side of the first bearing piece is attached to the flat side of the second bearing piece such that the ribs of the first bearing piece are not parallel relative to the ribs of the second bearing piece.

In current applications, motion of an assembly or substrate along one axis is typically provided by ball bearing slides, or by creating a hole in the assembly and sliding it along a suspended rod or wire. This simple type of motion can be created also by sliding two engaged lengths of reclosable fastener film relative to one another along the rib direction, such as the self-mating fasteners as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,128.
Self-mating fasteners, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,128, comprise a base sheet and a multiplicity of parallel, narrowly spaced, elastically deformable ribs with at least one flange projecting from a major surface of the base sheet. The width and spacing of ribs are chosen so that when the ribbed surface of the fastener is pressed against an identical ribbed surface, the ribs of one surface will be accommodated between the ribs of the other surface, and ribs on the two surfaces can deform and their flanges move past one another to interengage and hold the surfaces together.
Fasteners as described have a number of important advantages. These include convenient engagement at a desired level of pressure or force; resistance to disengagement, especially resistance to peel forces, which combines with low engagement force to provide a wide range of utilities; an advantageous self alignment when fasteners are brought into engagement with one another; high durability adapting the fasteners to repeated use; low manufacturing cost; and low inventory cost, given the need to stock only one product in the case of a self-mating fastener.
In view of the foregoing, one drawback of sliders based on reclosable mating fasteners is that motion is restricted to one direction. What is desired is means to introduce biaxial motion between two substrates using reclosable mating fasteners.


A heat slug includes a heat spreading member and a supporting member. The supporting member extends outwardly from the edge of the heat spreading member. The tips of the supporting member are formed with a plurality of contact portions, wherein each said contact portion has a bottom face inclined to the surface of the chip carrier art an angle of more that 5 degrees.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an element for semiconductor package and more particularly, to a heat slug and a semiconductor package.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nowadays, since the speed of a chip is more and more fast, it has been an important topic in the art to efficiently dissipate heat from the semiconductor package when the chip is operated at a high rate. A simple method of dissipating heat from the chip is to configure a heat slug on the semiconductor package.
Referring to FIG. 1, it illustrates a conventional semiconductor package 90 provided with a heat slug. The semiconductor package 90 includes a substrate 91, a chip 92, a die adhesive 93, a plurality of bonding wires 94, a heat slug 95 and a sealant 96. The chip 92 is bonded to the substrate 91 through the die adhesive 93. The bonding wires 94 are used to electrically connect the chip 92 to the substrate 91. The heat slug 95 is disposed above the chip 92 and adhered to the substrate 91 through an adhesive 97. The semiconductor package 90 is encapsulated with the sealant 96. The heat slug 95 has a heat spreading member 951 and a supporting member 952. The heat spreading member 951 is exposed from the sealant 96 to facilitate heat dissipation. The supporting member 952 extends downward from the edge of the heat spreading member 951 and the tip of the supporting member 952 is substantially parallel to the substrate 91. The tip of the supporting member 952 is adapted to support the heat slug 95 on the substrate 91 and adhered to the substrate 91.
However, when the adhesive 97 is used to attach the heat slug 95 to the substrate 91, the adhesive 97 is not usually cured immediately. In the meantime, if the heat slug 95 is subjected to an external side force or a shock, for example, when the substrate 91 along with the heat slug 95 is placed in a curing oven to cure the adhesive 97, the tip of the supporting member 952 is likely to have an offset.
The Taiwan Patent No. 494556, entitled "SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE WITH HEAT SLUG" discloses a method for preventing the heat slug from offset. The semiconductor package includes a substrate, a semiconductor chip, a heat slug and a sealant. The substrate at least has a first embedded portion. The semiconductor chip is disposed on the substrate. The heat slug has an outer exposed portion and an inner connecting portion. The inner connecting portion extends from the edge of the outer exposed portion and at least has a second embedded portion to have the heat slug positioned in place on the substrate. The sealant encapsulates the semiconductor chip and the inner connecting portion and the outer exposed portion is exposed from the sealant. Although the second embedded portion can be embedded in the first embedded portion to have the heat slug positioned in place on the substrate, it is required to modify the substrate in order to form an indentation on the substrate as the first embedded portion. Besides, the first embedded portion will occupy the space for circuit wiring on the substrate. This will increase the complexity in designing and manufacturing the substrate when the area of the substrate and the pitch of the wiring become gradually small.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a heat slug to solve the above-mentioned problems.

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


In an image forming apparatus, the overall length of a heat generating resistor is set longer than the width of a recording paper, which is the greatest of widths of standard size recording papers that can be used on the image forming apparatus. An electrical resistance of an edge area of the heat generating resistor per unit length is set smaller than that of a center area of the heat generating resistor. The position of a boundary between the center area and the edge area is set so that the position of the side edge of the recording paper whose width is the greatest exists within the edge area and so that if the recording paper having the second greatest width is fed by a one edge-aligned paper feeding method, the position of the side edge of a recording paper whose width is the greatest of the widths of the standard size recording papers that can be used on the image forming apparatus except the width of the recording paper that is the greatest thereof is set at a position within the center area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, which includes a heater having a heat generating resistor provided on a substrate thereof and a fixing film configured to rotate while being in contact with the heater, and configured to thermally fix a tone image formed on a recording paper by the heat from the heater applied via the fixing film onto a recording paper.
2. Description of the Related Art
A film type fixing unit has been widely used as a fixing unit of an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, which includes a heater having a heat generating resistor provided on a ceramic substrate, a film (flexible member) configured to move while being in contact with the heater, and a pressure roller configured to form a nip portion with the heater via the film.
A film type fixing unit thermally fixes a toner image formed on a recording paper onto the recording paper by pinching and conveying a recording paper bearing an unfixed toner image into a nip portion of the fixing unit and applying heat to the toner image on the recording paper. In the above-described fixing unit, the time taken from the start of supply of power to the heater to the timing at which the temperature of the heater reaches a fixable temperature is short. Accordingly, in a printer including the above-described fixing unit, the time taken from the timing of input of a printing command to the timing of output of the first image (a first print out time (FPOT)) is short. In addition, the power consumption of the printer consumed during waiting for a printing command is small.
In an image forming apparatus including the above-described film type fixing unit, when printing on a small size paper such as a postcard, whose width is smaller than a maximum printable recording paper width, the film type fixing unit may damage the film or the pressure roller if the temperature of the fixing unit is excessively raised because of the temperature rise in an area of the heater through which no recording paper passes (a non-paper-passage area) (i.e., if a phenomenon so-called "temperature rise of non-paper passage area" occurs).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-237084 discusses that if the magnitude of the heat generating quantity per unit length is reverse to the magnitude of the nip width in a longitudinal direction of the heater, then the temperature rise in the non-paper-passage area, which may occur when a small size paper is fed, can be effectively reduced.
Meanwhile, standard size papers of various sizes are used in different countries and regions. In North America, a letter (LTR) size paper (approximately 8.5×11 inches (≈216×279 mm)) is widely used. Accordingly, in North America, an image forming apparatus in which the width of the LTR size paper is set as the maximum printable recording paper width is used.
On the other hand, In Europe and Asia, an A4 size paper (210×297 mm), whose width is smaller than that of the LTR size paper, is widely used. Accordingly, in Europe and Asia, an image forming apparatus in which the width of the A4 size paper is set as the maximum printable recording paper width is used.
Under these circumstances, in order to achieve commonality of the type of an image forming apparatus to be distributed within various countries and regions and reduce the costs thereof, the image forming apparatus in which the size of the LTR size paper is set as the maximum printable recording paper width, which is used in North America, is also used in European and Asian countries and regions.
When printing is performed on an A4 size paper with an image forming apparatus adaptable to the LTR size paper, the temperature rise in non-paper passage areas may occur. The temperature may not exceed the heat resistant temperatures of the parts and components of the fixing unit if printing is executed at a conventional printing speed even when the temperature rise in non-paper passage areas occurs. However, in recent years, the heat capacity of a fixing unit has been decreased and the fixing unit has been configured to have a heat-insulated structure in order to save energy consumption, while the fixation temperature has been raised to increase the printing speed.
Accordingly, if the printing speed is set to a speed higher than the printing speed of a currently marketed image forming apparatus, if an A4 size paper is used for an image forming apparatus in which the size of the LTR size paper is set as the maximum printable recording paper width, the temperature of the non-paper-passage area may rise to a temperature higher than the heat resistance temperature of the part and components of the fixing unit.
The temperature rise in non-paper passage areas may become particularly serious in executing one edge-aligned paper passage, in which an A4 size paper is fed aligned with one edge of the paper passage area in a state in which a recording paper position regulation member of a paper cassette is set to the size of the LTR size paper. In this case, the film or the pressure roller may be damaged.
The one edge-aligned paper passage will be described in detail below. When setting a paper on a paper feed cassette, a user of the image forming apparatus sets two recording paper position regulation members, which are provided opposite each other, according to the size of the paper to be used to regulate both side edges of the paper in the lateral (widthwide) direction. By regulating the position of the paper in the widthwide direction, an image can be formed on an appropriate position on the paper.
FIG. 13 illustrates a positional relationship between the heater and the paper in the longitudinal direction and the widthwide direction.
In printing on an A4 size paper, the user sets the recording paper position regulation member to the position of the A4 size paper (to a position P2 in FIG. 13). Accordingly, the position of the paper in the widthwide direction is regulated. Thus, the edge of the A4 size paper is fed aligned to a position approximately 3 mm closer to the center of the surface of the heater compared to the position of passage of the edge of an LTR size paper P1. In this case also, the temperature of the non-paper-passage area of the heater may slightly rise, but the temperature may not be excessively raised to a high temperature at which the film or the pressure roller may be damaged.
However, in printing on an A4 size paper, if the user sets the recording paper position regulation member aligned to the size of an LTR size paper (at a position P3 or P4 in FIG. 13) by mistake and if the paper is fed in a state in which the side edge of the paper contacts either one of the two recording paper position regulation members, then the non-paper-passage area becomes large. Accordingly, in this case, the temperature of the heater may easily become very high.
In order to prevent the above-described phenomenon, it may be useful in reducing the temperature rise in non-paper passage areas to reduce the length of the heat generating resistor in the non-paper-passage area. However, if the length of the heat generating resistor in the non-paper-passage area is reduced to be very short, the fixing property on the edge of an LTR size paper may degrade.
In addition, by reducing the speed of conveyance of a recording paper (i.e., by taking a large distance between printing papers), the temperature rise in non-paper passage areas may be reduced. However, in this case, because the printing speed decreases, the convenience of users in European and Asian countries or regions, who often use an A4 size paper, may degrade.
The problem may occur not only in an image forming apparatus in which the size of the LTR size paper is set as the maximum printable standard size paper width but also in an image forming apparatus in which the size of a paper other than an LTR size paper is set as the maximum printable standard size paper width.
More specifically, the above-described problem may occur if printing on a ledger size paper (11×17 inches (≈279×432 mm)), which is often used in North American countries or regions, is executed with an image forming apparatus in which the size of an A3 size paper (297×420 mm), which is often used in European or Asian countries or regions, is set as the maximum printable standard size paper width.


A method for automatic dispensing of chlorine in swimming pools where a computer measures the pool water temperature, and an empirically derived table is used for the computer to select a temperature related volume unit figure for chlorine dispensing, which volume unit figure is adjusted according to a first step calibration of the chlorine dispensing device and a second step calibration according to the water volume of the existing pool.

In swimming pools and spas, hydrochlorine (also called "liquid chlorine" or "chlorine") is a chemical necessary for disinfection of the water and to prevent the growth of algae. Dispensing is necessary to maintain the free form level of chlorine between 1.0 parts per million (ppm) to 1.5 ppm. At this level chlorine will effectively disinfect the pool water and prevent growth of algae. Also, the water at this chlorine level is considered safe for pool users. It is important that the chlorine level should not exceed 2.0 ppm as this might cause rash on the skin and/or irritation in eyes.
Usually, chlorine is dispensed into a pool daily. Correct amounts of chlorine are dispensed manually or by a chlorine dispensing device like a metering pump. The chlorine ppm level in the pool water is measured by a chlorine testing kit. If the chlorine level is too high, the dispensing of chlorine is decreased. If the chlorine level is to low, the dispensing of chlorine is increased. A chlorine dispensing device such as a metering pump runs on a manually set timer. Said chlorine dispensing device is activated each day when the pump is started for circulating the pool water. By manually setting the timer, the pump will dispense more or less chlorine.
Some systems dispense chlorine by using a chlorine sensor in the pool water. In such cases the metering pump will be started and stopped by the sensor's set point switches. However, a chlorine sensor is expensive and requires repeated calibration by a technician using a signal generator.
Many variables determine how much chlorine is needed. When water is cold (i.e. 5 to 10.degree. C.) very little chlorine is required. With increasing temperature, biological activity increases. Increased sunlight adds to the biological activity and will break down the chlorine effect more rapidly. Heavy pool use increases the chlorine demand. Also, evaporation of chlorine is increased at higher water temperatures. Thus, a proper ppm level is maintained longer at lower water temperatures than at higher water temperatures. Consequently, at lower temperatures you can keep the chlorine ppm level in the lower range of the recommended level for a satisfactory result. At higher water temperatures the chlorine ppm level should be maintained within the higher recommended range in order to achieve a good result. Many factors determine the curve for adding chlorine. For instance, an approximate 35,000 gallon pool requires an addition of 0.14 gallons at 10.degree. C., 0.2 gallons at 15.degree. C., 0.3 gallons at 20.degree. C., 0.44 gallons at 25.degree. C., and 0.7 gallons at 30.degree. C.
Currently, one must experiment with testing the chlorine ppm level and accordingly determine how much chlorine must be added. During this experimentation, it is easy to exceed the safe chlorine level and, possibly, to cause unhealthy conditions. High water temperatures in summer time will take less than twenty-four hours for the chlorine ppm level to return to zero. If the amount of chlorine is not added prudently and regularly, conditions are enhanced for algae growth. In such a case you incur additional cost for special chemicals to control algae. You have manual work for pool cleaning. The filter must be dismantled and cleaned plus the old filter powder must be replaced. Most of the time a pool will not be in operation during the algae-killing operation.
Most pool owners do not successfully manage the chlorine dispensing effectively. For this reason pool maintenance firms are employed for water disinfection and algae control.

Method for automatic dispensing of hydrochlorine in swimming pool water


There is disclosed a diagnostic imaging agent which comprises a compound wherein at least one bifunctional ligand is chemically bonded to an amino group of amino oligosaccharide having the molecular weight of 500 to 2000 and having a reduction-treated reducing end of a sugar chain, or to an aldehyde group of a dialdehyde-oligosaccharide, at least one constituent monosaccharide of which is oxidation-cleaved, having the molecular weight of 500 to 2000 and having a reduction-treated reducing end of a sugar chain, and said ligand is coordinated with at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of metal ions having the atomic number of 21-29, 31, 32, 37-39, 42-44, 49 and 56-83.

Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid gadolinate (hereinafter abbreviated as "DTPA-Gd")JP-A 58-29718! which is widely used as a nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic agent is a typical example of monometal complexes and the effectiveness thereof as a diagnostic imaging agent in the brain or the spinal cord region has almost been established. However, the relaxivity of DTPA-Gd is lower than that of Gd itself, because Gd is chelated with DTPA. Therefore, there is a need for compensating for the lowered relaxivity with the increased dosage or the like. In addition, DTPA-Gd is rapidly excreted into the urine after administration Hiroki Yoshikawa et al., Gazoshindan, 6, 959-969, 1986!, and this is very disadvantageous for imaging of several parts of the body by reflecting them in blood stream (blood vessel distribution, blood stream distribution, distribution volume, permeation and the like in a lesion) with a single injection of the pharmaceutical. Further, such the rapid excretion also makes distribution properties of DTPA-Gd extremely disadvantageous.
In order to solve these problems, a diagnostic imaging agent obtained by chemically bonding a bifunctional ligand to an amino oligosaccharide and coordinating a metal ion thereto via this bifunctional ligand JP-A 5-97712!, and a diagnostic imaging agent obtained by chemically bonding at least one bifunctional ligand to a dialdehyde-saccharide wherein a plurality of D-glucose molecules are bonded and at least one constituent monosaccharide among them is oxidation-cleaved JP-A 5-25059! are developed. However, it was found that, when a raw material saccharide, an important component of these compounds, is left or reacted for a longer period of time, the intramolecular or intermolecular bonding of the saccharide, or peroxidation of the saccharide by an oxidizing agent occurs in an aqueous solution unless a reducing end of a sugar chain has been treated.

Diagnostic imaging agent with backbone with modified sugar chain end


A novel method of manufacturing collage puzzle pieces comprising the steps of: (a) providing a template in sheet form having a plurality of channels in the form of line perforations so as to define a plurality of puzzle pieces patterns, the channels being interrupted at selected locations so that at least one portion of each puzzle piece pattern is connected to at least one adjacent puzzle piece pattern; (b) mounting at least one selected graphic art object on an adhesive-coated substrate so as to form a workpiece; (c) assembling the workpiece and the template so that the template overlies the at least one graphic art object; (d) drawing a cutting blade along the full length of each channel defining a selected puzzle piece pattern so as to cut the underlying workpiece along lines conforming to the shape and location of the selected puzzle piece pattern, whereby to form a connected puzzle piece in the workpiece; (e) separating the template from the workpiece; (f) severing the connected puzzle piece from the workpiece; and (g) repeating steps (a) to (f) using the same template but workpieces that comprise different graphic arts objects, with each repetition of step (d) involving a different selected puzzle piece pattern, whereby a plurality of different puzzle pieces are formed. These puzzle pieces are combined to form a collage puzzle.

The making of collages is well known and involves the random placement of irregular shaped cut-outs of pictures, photographs, news headings and other graphic materials to create a "theme or story-board." The cut-outs are almost always handmade and without much regard for their individual shapes. These pieces are usually abutted to each other or are assembled together with irregular gaps between each piece. Modern day collages have advanced somewhat in sophistication through an expansion in available mediums and have become a largely recognized art form. However, the basic concept of construction with odd shaped ill fitting pieces to construct a "story board or theme" has not changed.
Puzzles differ from collages in that they are routinely constructed of precisely cut interlocking pieces that, when assembled, form a complete autogenous picture. Puzzles are generally constructed by stamping a single picture with a steel-rule die or using a continuous cutting saw, such as a jigsaw, to create varying numbers of interlocking puzzle pieces. Hand cutting of individual puzzle pieces is generally not employed, since it is more efficient to utilize die cutting or continuous cutting where the cutting motions that create the individual pieces simultaneously form the surrounding pieces, thus ensuring an exacting fit of the pieces. Only through creating the individual pieces with common separation lines to the surrounding pieces has it been possible to create the exacting shapes necessary to form interlocking pieces with enough circumferential intimacy so as not to detract from the quality of the picture when the puzzle is fully assembled.
More recent advances have resulted in the creation of intricate three dimensional puzzles (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,391 entitled "Three-Dimensional Jigsaw Puzzle") where the puzzle pieces when assembled form a three dimensional structure. Another advancement in the diversification of puzzles, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,295 entitled "Picture Puzzle Assembly", incorporates the use of a magnetic backing to allow the puzzle to be magnetically adhered to surfaces. However, as with conventional puzzles, these puzzles are made by die cutting or continuous saw-cutting the puzzle pieces from a single picture.
Hand-cutting of puzzle-shaped interlocking pieces from photographs and other graphic materials is currently possible through the use of scissors and other sharp cutting instruments by first drawing or tracing around a pre-existing puzzle piece. However, the accuracy of these methods is limited by the errors introduced during the sketching or transfer of the shape via tracing. The inaccuracies are further compounded by the errors introduced in attempting to cut the drawn or traced outline with scissors or other sharp instruments. Similarly, attempting to form an exact duplicate by cutting a photograph or other graphic material while it is firmly held against an existing puzzle piece is flawed, as clearances and allowances must be made for the thickness of the scissors blades or other sharp cutting surface while they cut against the edge of the puzzle piece. Again, this approach results in an ill-conforming finished part.

Photographs and other graphic materials custom cut into interlocking puzzle shapes to construct a collage- puzzle


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a roller, a driving shaft, a support shaft, a bearing portion, a contact member and a pivot shaft. The driving shaft is removably connected to one end of the roller and the support shaft is disposed at the other end of the roller in an axial direction. The pivot shaft is configured to pivotably support the contact member, and includes a rotating shaft disposed coaxially with an axis line of the roller and an eccentric portion extending toward the roller at a position on the other end side of the roller and eccentric from an axis line of the rotating shaft. The contact member is disposed in the eccentric portion. Distance from the axis line of the rotating shaft to the eccentric portion in a radial direction is larger than dimension of the support shaft in a radial direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus including rollers configured to convey sheets is known. In such an image forming apparatus, an outer peripheral surface of the roller is gradually worn out, and the worn roller may frequently cause failure in conveyance of the sheet.


A display panel comprises a plurality of arranged pixels of organic EL devices, each having a pair of electrodes and a luminescent layer containing an organic EL material and sandwiched between the electrodes. The plurality of arranged pixels include fluorescent pixels of organic EL devices formed by mainly using a fluorescent material and phosphorescent pixels of organic EL devices formed by mainly using a phosphorescent material. A display apparatus comprises a controller for controlling the display panel, including correcting the difference between the electroluminescent characteristics of the fluorescent pixels and those of the phosphorescent pixels.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a display panel and a display apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to a display panel comprising, a plurality of pixels formed by using organic electroluminescent devices (organic EL devices) and also to a display system comprising such a display panel.
2. Related Background Art
Organic EL devices are characterized by field luminescence of a thin film multilayer structure capable of emitting light to an enhanced degree of luminance. Organic EL devices can emit light highly efficiently if a low voltage is applied thereto particularly when the number of functional organic layers including at least a luminescent layer of an organic luminescent material is increased ("Applied Physics Letters," Vol. 51, 1987, p. 913; Vol. 65, 1989, p. 3610). Each device has a basic structure of anode/hole transport layer/luminescent layer (containing an organic luminescent material)/cathode. In the course of time, an alternative basic structure of anode/hole transport layer/luminescent layer/electron transport layer/cathode was proposed to further improve the efficiency. Meanwhile, efforts have been made to improve the emission efficiency by arranging a blocking layer between the luminescent layer and the electron transport layer for the purpose of blocking carriers passing through the luminescent layer or by arranging a metal thin film as electron injection layer between the cathode and the electron transport layer so that carriers may be injected with a low voltage.
In recent years, attention has been paid to luminescent devices including those made of an Ir complex to utilize the luminescence of triplet excitons showing a high occupancy ratio of 75% (single excitons being responsible for the remaining 25%) of electrons and holes injected from electrodes ("Applied Physics Letters," Vol. 75, 1999, p. 5). Fluorescence is used for luminescence caused by transition from an excited state of singlet, whereas phosphorescence is used for luminescence caused by transition from an excited state of triplet.
For example, the chemical compound having the structural formula shown below is an EL material Alq3 developed by C. W. Tang et al. of Kodak Co. and adapted to mainly use fluorescence. Alq3 emits green light and is adapted to produce fluorescence from a singlet state.

On the other hand, the compound having the structural formula shown below is an electroluminescent material Ir(ppy)3 that was developed by M. A. Baldo et al. of Princeton University and emits green light just as Alq3. It is adapted to produce phosphorescence from a triplet state and can provide efficiency several times greater than that of Alq3.

Organic EL devices such as those described above are adapted to field luminescence to an enhanced degree of luminance when an electric current flowing between electrodes or from a thin film transistor (to be referred simply as TFT hereinafter) is used. Therefore, they are expected to find applications in the field of high density display apparatus. Full-color thin film displays can be realized by using organic EL devices that are adapted to emit red, green and blue (RGB) lights.
While the devices of display apparatus that utilize fluorescence as described above show a low efficiency, they response quickly when they decrease light. Some of them (typically made of an electroluminescent material such as Alq3) show a light decreasing delay of about tens of several nano-seconds.
On the other hand, while the devices of display apparatus that utilize phosphorescence as described above show a high efficiency, some of them (typically made of an electroluminescent material such as Ir(ppy)3) show a light decreasing delay between about 0.8 micro-seconds and several milli-seconds.
The luminescence efficiency of a phosphorescent material can remarkably differ from that of a fluorescent material in the initial states because of the respective modes of energy transition of excitons.
In the case of electroluminescence attributable to phosphorescence, carriers are firstly excited to a state above the lowest excited state of singlet and the lowest excited state of triplet. Subsequently, an internal conversion from the lowest excited state of singlet to the lowest excited state of triplet takes place and carriers tend to go back to the ground state, emitting luminescence energy. On the other hand, in the case of electroluminescence attributable to fluorescence, while excitation occurs as in the case of electroluminescence attributable to phosphorescence, carriers that are excited to above the lowest excited state of triplet emit energy as heat. In view of the above described mechanisms of electroluminescence, it may be so concluded that electroluminescence attributable to phosphorescence and electroluminescence attributable to fluorescence differ from each other particularly in terms of service life and the difference of service life is caused by the difference of energy transition among molecules and the resultant difference in terms of emission of heat and morphological changes.
Thus, due to the difference of electroluminescent characteristics between fluorescent materials and phosphorescent materials, efforts have been paid to develop high luminance high quality display panels by arranging pixels made of a single or identical material, which may be a fluorescent material or a phosphorescent material, on the display panel. These days, display apparatus formed by using such display panels are required to perform better than ever.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Display panel with phosphorescent and fluorescent pixels


A simplex sequence controller for transmittal of output data is disclosed and includes a time base generator for generating a timing signal, a memory device having a plurality of addressable sequential storage locations for storing a sequence of data pattern with a plurality of output lines and a plurality of input address lines connected to the storage locations, along with an addressing apparatus connected to the memory device input address lines for directing access to predetermined storage locations at predetermined points in the data sequence, and address reset apparatus providing feedback from a first predetermined one of the output lines of the memory device to the addressing apparatus to direct access to a predetermined initial data sequence for output from the memory.

Many types of equipment and processes require apparatus to control their operation so that they perform steps in predetermined sequences. To effect the control of these steps various types of controllers have been used, ranging from simple mechanical devices up to microprocessor driven process control systems. Where electronic control is required, a microprocessor based system is very capable, providing for programmable control sequences of any desired complexity. However, where the control sequences are comparatively simple, the cost of the microprocessor and the ancillary equipment needed for its operation can be excessively expensive for the application. Further, the flexible control of a microprocessor requires that it execute a number of operational cycles to effect the steps in a control sequence, thus rendering the microprocessor slower, as well as more expensive, than is desirable.
What is needed is a sequence controller that is simpler in construction and operation, and therefore less expensive than the conventional microprocessor based controllers, but which have the capability of commanding any of several sets of operational sequences.


A sealed, flexible plastic sheet bag for storing liquids that is penetrable by a spiked connector through a spike channel fitting. The spike channel fitting is sealed between a pair of folds on one side of the bag so that the inside port of the channel is adjacent to the folded plastic sheet. The spike is inserted through the channel of the spike channel fitting and punctures the plastic sheet to tap the bag to remove the liquid. Leakage is prevented by both the seal between the plastic sheet and the spike and the seal between the bag and the spike channel fitting.

There is an increasing popularity in liquid packaging systems that utilize a penetrable container and a spiked outlet connector. The container may be of a semi-rigid cardboard or a flexible plastic sheet. The spiked outlet is typically a tap that penetrates and seals against the cardboard or plastic sheet wall of the container. These systems have a wide variety of uses, ranging from the aseptic packaging of ordinary food such as fruit juice, packaging enteral food and packaging pharmaceutical preparations such as fluids for intravenous or peritoneal delivery.
Among the advantages of these systems are their light weight, low cost and simple operation. Further, in the case of the plastic sheet containers, the containers can be transported in an empty and collapsed condition in a very small space and then filled prior to use. After use, the container can again be collapsed and then disposed of in a small space. The plastic sheet containers also lend themselves to sterile packaging using automated fabricating and filling machines that are known in the art.
A principal disadvantage to such systems is the occasional difficulty and expense of obtaining access to the liquid that is packaged in them. Access is typically obtained through a spiked connector that is especially designed for that purpose. The spiked connector may cost more than the container itself. It is usually not reusable, due to concerns of sterility or sanitation. Further, the spiked connector may not always seal perfectly against the wall of the container, thereby allowing the connection to leak. While the seal can be improved using rubber based materials in the container wall, such materials may have insufficient strength or resistance to light degradation or may be difficult to sterilize or to manufacture using heat sealing techniques.
An example of a spiked connector used in tapping semi-rigid aseptic cardboard packages is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,500 by Rautsola for Enternal Nutrient Delivery System. The Rautsola device includes a spike to penetrate the container wall, a liquid passageway through the spike, a make-up air passageway through the spike and a set of threads on the outer circumference of the spike to engage and seal against the container wall. An improvement over this concept is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,349 by Rautsola for Aseptic Package Tap. In the later Rautsola patent, the spike threads as a means for engaging and sealing against the container wall are replaced with a cam arrangement that cooperates with a sleeve that is axially compressible and radially expandable to engage and seal against the punctured hole of the wall. The later Rautsola patent avoids the need to thread the spike into the container. The Rautsola devices are designed primarily for use with semi-rigid cardboard containers, and not for use with flexible plastic sheet containers.
An example of a system for use with flexible plastic sheet container is in U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,999 by Hjertman et al. The Hjertman patent discloses an adhesive fitting that can be attached to the exterior surface of the plastic sheet. A point slidably mounted in the fitting and surrounded by a tubular sleeve pierces the plastic sheet, and then the point is withdrawn while the sleeve remains in the plastic sheet so that liquid can flow through the sleeve. Unless the Hjertman device is adhered perfectly to the sheet, it will leak liquid. Also, the device appears somewhat complicated and expensive to manufacture.
Other devices exist for tapping a flexible plastic sheet container, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,640,425 by Cabernoch, U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,971 by Ashley, and 4,830,205 by Hammond. The Cabernoch and Hammond patents are for containers with a sealable gusset to form a pocket to store an attached nursing nipple. The Ashley patent is for a container having a sealable pocket to contain an attached frangible seal that can be pierced by a needle. Each of these devices require a perfect seal between the fitting and the plastic sheet to prevent any leaking.


A signal suppression filter (22) that inhibits high-frequency signals contained in power voltage and a signal separation filter (23) that prevents transmission of the high-frequency signals are provided in series on power lines (21A), (21B) connected to a power input terminal (T1), and a common-mode signal detection circuit (25) and a normal-mode signal detection circuit (26) are provided separately from each other. While bi-directionally blocking transmission of a high-frequency signal (noise) between the power supply and the device to be measured by the signal suppression filter (22) and the signal separation filter (23), the common mode signal and the normal mode signal generated in the device to be measured (3) and entering through a power output terminal (T2) are detecting separately. The analysis of the cause of occurrence of a high-frequency signal produced in the device to be measured (3) is facilitated, and proper noise countermeasure may be taken.

Recently, a large number of electric devices have been used in homes or companies, and along with this, a problem of adverse influence of electro-magnetic interference (EMI) noise on other electronic devices arises. Such EMI noise is largely classified into two types. One is conducted interference transmitted through a power line and another is radiated interference directly radiated from devices. As one of methods for evaluating the conducted interference of them, a noise terminal voltage test is given. The test is for measuring high-frequency noise signal voltage induced in a power voltage terminal of an electric device.
Various countries have established strict standards on the noise terminal voltage. For example, there are standards such as CISPR (International Special Committee on Radio Interference) as an international standard, FCC (Federal Communications Commission) in the United States, and VCCI (Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Information Technology) in Japan. For example, CISPR22 defines a strict standard value for a wide frequency band of 150 kHz to 30 MHz. In accordance with this, it has been performed that a measuring device for the noise terminal voltage as shown in FIG. 18 has been set in a radio wave anechoic chamber to measure conformity to standards.
FIG. 18 shows a noise-terminal-voltage measuring system used for measurement of conformity to standards. In the system, power voltage from commercial power is supplied to a simulated power circuit network 101C in a measuring device 101 via a power cable 100C (here, a pair of power lines and a ground line are shown by a single thick-line), and in turn supplied to a device to be measured 102 via power lines 101A, 101B and a ground line 101G. Noise generated by the device to be measured 102 is measured by a spectrum analyzer 103. The simulated power circuit network 101C is inserted between the device to be measured 102 and a power source. The network 101C is for supplying power while keeping impedance seen from a power terminal of the device to be measured 102 to a defined value (50 to 150 Ω), and isolating a measuring circuit from external noise at a power source side, which is a signal detector indispensable for accurately detecting a noise signal generated in the device to be measured 102.
The measuring device 101 has a switch 101S, and can selectively measure noise at a power line 101A side or noise at a power line 101B side by changing the switch 101S.
FIG. 19 shows an example of a specific circuit of the measuring device 101. The circuit is described, for example, in a connection diagram of the simulated power circuit network KNW-242C manufactured by KYORITSU CORP.
The measuring device 101 has a power input terminal J1, power output terminal J2, and signal output terminal J3. A simulated power circuit network 101C is provided on power lines 101A, 101B between the power input terminal J1 and the power output terminal J2. The simulated power circuit network 101C has inductance elements L1 and L3 connected in series inserted into the power line 101A, and inductance elements L2 and L4 connected in series inserted into the power line 101B.
The inductance element L1 is connected to ground at a side of the power input terminal J1 via a resistor R1 and via a capacitor C1 and a resistor R3 connected in series. A connection point between the inductance elements L1 and L3 is connected to ground via a capacitor C3 and a resistor R5 connected in series, and the inductance element L3 is connected to ground at a side of the power output terminal J2 via a capacitor C5 and a resistor R7 connected in series.
The inductance element L2 is connected to ground at a side of the power input terminal J1 via a resistor R2 and via a capacitor C2 and a resistor R4 connected in series. A connection point between the inductance elements L2 and L4 is connected to ground via a capacitor C4 and a resistor R6 connected in series, and the inductance element L4 is connected to ground at a side of the power output terminal J2 via a capacitor C6 and a resistor R8 connected in series.
A connection point P1 between the capacitor C5 and the resistor R7 and a connection point P2 between the capacitor C6 and the resistor R8 are connected to the switch 101S, and one of noise signals from the connection points P1, P2 appears at a signal output terminal J3, and the other is connected to ground in response to change of the switch 101S.
In the simulated power circuit network 101C, when the power line 101A is noted, an LC filter including the inductance elements L1, L3 and the capacitors C1, C3 is configured, and when the power line 101B is noted, an LC filter including the inductance elements L2, L4 and the capacitors C2, C4 is configured. The LC filters are configured in a manner that they exhibit high impedance to both noise signals from the power input terminal J1 and from the power output terminal J2, thereby while they transmit low-frequency AC voltage, the power input terminal J1 is isolated from the power output terminal J2 with respect to a high-frequency noise signal.
An air-core coil, which is configured without inserting a core into a coil, is used for the inductance elements L1, L3 and the inductance elements L2, L4 in order to make a frequency characteristic to be flat to a high frequency band (that is, in order to enable signal separation independently of frequencies). This is because if the coil has the core, a signal separation characteristic has frequency dependence.
From the consideration of recent social environment about noise, the following points are given.    1) Energy saving by a top runner method is promoted.    2) Harmonic distortion in a power line becomes problematic; therefore a countermeasure circuit for harmonics is generally mounted.    3) Power for some home electric appliances including plasma display tend to be significantly increased.    4) In addition to information devices, home electric appliances are generally controlled by a microprocessor.    5) In addition to a noise problem due to rotational electric devices such as an electric tool, a problem of switching noise is actualized in a lighting fixture, an air conditioner and the like because of introduction of inverter control.
In this way, recently noise generated by the electric devices tends to increase particularly due to increase in switching control of a power source of a device, increase in number of primary phase control circuit, and furthermore multiplexing of a switching circuit. Therefore, to examine whether the noise meets the standard, necessity of measurement of the noise terminal voltage using the measuring system as shown in FIG. 18 is increased larger and larger.
Such noise terminal voltage includes a common mode (noise) signal and a normal mode (noise) signal. The common mode signal is transmitted over two conductive lines (for example, a pair of power lines) in the same phase, and the normal mode signal is transmitted by two conductive lines and generates potential difference between the two conductive lines. In many cases, amplitude or a frequency band of each mode of the signals varies depending on a circuit configuration of an electric device as a measuring object.
However, while the measuring device as shown in FIG. 18 takes the noise terminal voltage as the measuring object, it measures the common mode signal and the normal mode signal together (in a mixed manner). Therefore, signals may not be separated to be measured for each mode, and therefore the amount of information is insufficient for detail and accurate cause analysis of noise, consequently countermeasure for noise need to be performed with trial and error. Therefore, there has been a drawback that long experience and much time and effort are necessary for the countermeasure for noise; consequently development cost is increased in developing a new electric product.


In a method for adjusting parameters of impedance control, an overshoot amount allowable value is set as an allowable maximum value of an overshoot amount of a time response of a force feedback from a force sensor provided for an end effector of a robot manipulator, and a setting time allowable value is set as an allowable maximum value of a setting time of the time response of the force feedback. A viscosity parameter with which the setting time is shortest is calculated while fixing the inertia parameter. An overshoot amount adjustment value and a setting time adjustment value which are obtained from a result of the calculating of the viscosity parameter are compared with the overshoot amount allowable value and the setting time allowable value, respectively, to determine whether a repeating process is finished or continued.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for adjusting parameters of impedance control.
2. Discussion of the Background
There is a widely known technique that, in the case of executing a contact work such as mating by using an industrial robot, a force sensor is attached to an end effector or a wrist part of a robot manipulator, and force control using information of the force sensor is performed. As a force control method, for example, impedance control is easily used.
In the impedance control, feedback control is performed so that a response of a position when an external force acts on an end effector is obtained according to desired inertia, viscosity, and rigidity characteristics. By the control, a force generated when workpieces (objects to be worked) come into contact with each other at the time of a mating operation is passed off, and a positional error can be absorbed. However, if the parameters such as inertia, viscosity, and rigidity are improper, it may take an extremely long time to execute the operation. There is a case that a control system becomes unstable (oscillates) at the time of contact and the operation cannot be performed. Consequently, the parameters of the impedance control have to be properly adjusted.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-277162 discloses a technique of adjusting parameters of the impedance control.
In the publication, an adjustment worker (teacher) adjusts behavior designation parameters of weight (heavy and light) and hardness (hard and soft) by a button operation while recognizing a force response on a display unit and, based on the behavior designation parameters, adjusts impedance parameters by the fuzzy inference.

Method for adjusting parameters of impedance control


A device for covering a trunk of a motor vehicle, the device comprises a trunk lid movable relative to a body of the vehicle, a force transmission unit for driving the movement of the trunk lid, a fastening element for releasably securing the trunk lid in a closed state of the trunk lid, wherein the force transmission unit drives the movement of the trunk lid, and wherein the force transmission unit drives the movement of the fastening element between an open and a closed state, wherein the fastening element is connected by a link gear mechanism to the force transmission unit, and wherein the link gear mechanism, in a closed state of the fastening element, is disposed in an over-center position.

The present invention relates to a device for covering a trunk of a motor vehicle, in particular to a device comprising a trunk lid movable relative to a body of the vehicle, a force transmission unit for driving the movement of the trunk lid, and a fastening means for releasably securing the trunk lid in a closed state of the trunk lid.
In modern-day automotive construction, especially the building of convertibles, there is an increasing call for automatic swing-open cover elements to be provided for the body. Of particular importance in this regard is a simple and robust construction which can be cheaply produced in large batch quantities and works reliably over a long service life.
German patent DE 199 10 763 C1 describes a device for opening and closing a tailgate, in which the tailgate can be swiveled open and shut by means of a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder being mounted over a long hole, so that a pickoff of a movement of the hydraulic cylinder in the long hole by means of Bowden cables is used to actuate a lock of the tailgate, indirectly through the hydraulic cylinder. Such a mechanism is not very robust, is complex and is prone to breakdown, at least over a long service life.
DE 299 16 003 U1 describes as fastening means of a trunk cover for a motor vehicle a lock element having a catch hook which, in a closed position of the cover configured as a lid part, embraces a bolt fixed to the body and, in this way, releasably secures the lid part. The catch hook is actuated by a pull-and-push linkage, which acts upon a lever close to the catch hook in order to rotate the catch hook about its axis. The linkage thus acts with the lever in the style of a link rod for the fastening means. The linkage is drive-connected by means of a bolt guided in a keyhole connecting link and forming the end region of a piston rod of a force transmission unit configured as a drive means. However, the drive does not act directly upon the linkage, but only indirectly, via the guidance of the bolt in the long hole of the keyhole connecting link. A drawback is that the coupling between the force transmission unit and the fastening means comprises a large number of individual parts. Also disadvantageous is the fact that the guidance of the bolt in the long hole of the keyhole connecting link is susceptible to wear and prone to noise generation. Another drawback is that forces which act upon the lid part from outside are conveyed directly to the force transmission unit and can damage this. The described coupling between the force transmission unit and the fasting means comprises a lot of single elements and is applicable only for specific configuration, which renders an upgrading of arbitrary trunk lids difficult to accomplish. Referred to as a further lock is a keyhole connecting link having a neck region and a widened head region in which the bolt of the piston rod of the drive member is guided, which keyhole connecting link cannot be used to secure the lid part releasably to the body.
German utility model DE 299 16 002 U1 describes a trunk lid, configured as a lid part, for covering a trunk of a motor vehicle, the lid part being able to be brought, by means of a force transmission unit configured as a drive member, especially by means of a hydraulic cylinder, into two different opening positions, a multi-bar arrangement having four parts, especially four links of a four-bar mechanism, being assigned to a front end region of the lid part. For the securement of the lid part, a locking element is provided, which is configured as a mechanical lock integrated into the hydraulic cylinder. The lock integrated into the hydraulic cylinder is not, however, connected to the lock by a link connection. A drawback with this is that external forces acting upon the secured lid part are transmitted directly to the hydraulic cylinder and can hence damage the mechanism as a whole or the hydraulic cylinder. A lock which is configured in the style of a pivot latch and is operatively connected to the drive member secures the four parts, especially the four mutually coupled links of a multi-bar mechanism, in order to allow a first open position. The lock is not designed to secure the lid part on the body, since the lid part can be opened even when the lock is closed.
German patent application DE 36 26 747 A1 describes, as a baggage compartment cover being used as a trunk lid, which can be secured to a body by means of a fastening means, the fastening means comprising a body-fixed closing part, the web of which is gripped by a fork-like companion closing part fastened to the baggage compartment cover. A force transmission unit is formed as a piston rod of a push-out tool configured as a hydraulic cylinder. The push-out tool acts via a continuation and a bearing journal directly upon a two-armed clamping lever, the U-shaped end of which forms the companion closing part. Between the fastening means and the force transmission unit, a direct action of the force transmission unit both upon the fastening means and upon the trunk lid is possible without the need for a link gear mechanism.
German patent DE 195 16 876 C1 describes a supporting frame configured as a trunk lid, which can be transferred by means of a drive of a force transmission unit, which drive is configured as a hydraulic cylinder, into a fastening position in which the supporting frame can be releasably secured by means of a fastening means configured as a snap fastening, which comprises a pivot latch fastening and a fastening stud part cooperating therewith. The hydraulic cylinder acts directly upon the supporting frame, a cable pull being provided at a foot of the hydraulic cylinder as a coupling with a trip lever of the pivot latch fastening. A cable pull is provided as a connection between the fastening means and the force transmission unit. A drawback with the cable pull is that this is not very robust and is susceptible to wear in the course of lengthy operation. The foot of the hydraulic cylinder is guided by means of a bolt in a long hole, whereby the cable pull is attached to the bolt. When the hydraulic cylinder is actuated, first the bolt is shifted along the long hole to one end thereof and is fixed by spring elements at the first end of the long hole. In a second step, upon further linear movement of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder, the trunk lid can be moved. It is a drawback that a portion of the movement of the hydraulic cylinder is need to merely actuate the locking means, which necessitates that a comparatively long hydraulic cylinder has to be provided. As a further drawback, a voluminous hydraulic cylinder has to be used. Furthermore, it is not ensured that forced acting on the trunk lid are transmitted to the hydraulic cylinder. It is a still further disadvantage, that the hydraulic cylinder is secured only be means of the spring elements; as a consequence, the arrangement is prone to malfunction. Finally, the arrangement comprises a multitude of elements and requires a long hole, rendering the arrangement difficult to upgrade for a given trunk lid.

Device for covering a trunk of a motor vehicle


Active script can be provided with content to be displayed on a computing device to determine whether advertising, intended to be displayed with the content, is actually displayed by the computing device. The script can examine various aspects of the code used to render the content, to determine whether ad-blocking software is blocking the ad or something is otherwise preventing the advertising from being displayed. Information about the visibility of the advertising can be sent to a location such as a logging service, which can store the data until such time as the data is to be retrieved and processed, such as to determine an extent to which client devices are blocking ads to be displayed with content.

Users are increasingly utilizing computing devices to access various types of content. Oftentimes the content is provided at little or no cost to the user, with a provider of the content obtaining monetization through the display of one or more advertisements along with the content. As advertising can negatively impact the user experience in at least some cases, users have increasingly utilized what is commonly referred to as "ad blocking" software to minimize the presence of advertising on Web pages or other displays of content. Ad blocking software can prevent an ad from being requested or loaded, or can at least prevent the ad from being visible to the user. Such functionality can impact the ad-based revenue of the provider, and can impact the advertiser attempting to display that ad as well. Content providers, advertisers, and other such entities can benefit from obtaining information about the prevalence of ad-blocking software among users accessing the content. Conventional approaches, however, do not provide a way for such an entity to readily determine whether a client device, under the control of a remote user, is using ad-blocking software to prevent the display of advertising.

Obtaining metrics for client-side display of content


The present invention provides for a system an method of monitoring the status of a plurality of medical devices connected to a central computer or server using a wired or wireless network, and displaying information representative of the status of the medical devices to a user on a display screen using both graphics and text. The system is also capable of determining when a condition or alarm warranting notification of the care giver to correct the condition exists, and displaying information about the condition or alarm on the display, including associating a warning graphic or icon representative of the condition or alarm with an icon representing a specific medical device or portion of a medical device. The system includes a rules data base and decision engine that may be used to determine the existence of conditions that require notification to the care giver.

The delivery of therapy and the collection of patient data from bedside equipment, laboratory equipment and institutional information systems has become more integrated with the advent of more capable and reliable computer networks, faster and larger storage media, and the miniaturization of computer processors and memory. This technology has resulted in the inclusion of computer processors or microprocessors and memory in a wide variety of medical equipment. Inclusion of communications capability allows the processors and memory in the medical equipment to be tied into ward, department and institution wide networks. These networks allow for the exchange of information between various institutional information systems and individual medical devices. The devices may be therapy delivery devices, such as infusion pumps, or they may be vital signs measurement and data collection devices, including both bedside monitors and laboratory equipment.
As the complexity of therapeutic medication delivery has increased, one problem that has arisen is that there are more opportunities for error. Many different systems have been proposed to address the frequency of the medication error, such as the system described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0169636 entitled "System and Method for Managing Patient Care" by Eggers, the subject matter of which is intended to be, and is, incorporated into and is a part of the subject matter of this provisional patent application.
One problem that occurs with systems having many client medical devices is that it is necessary to ensure that the memory of the various devices on the system are updated frequently enough so that the devices have access to up-to-date patient information, therapeutic information, rule sets and patient specific medication guidelines. Until recently, it has been necessary for servers to poll each device connected to a network to determine if the device was connected to the network, and to then send the device any updated information. Such polling is resource and time intensive, and may decrease the efficiency and speed of the entire network.
This problem is particularly difficult where the medical devices utilize a media other than a hard wired network, such as a wireless network, or the internet. In these systems, individual medical devices may call the server through an access point of the wireless network, or over the internet, using either a dial-up, cable, DSL or wireless connection. In such systems, there is a potential security problem in that the networks are essentially wide open to requests for communication that come from an external source. The system must determine whether the communication request is coming from a secure medical device, or some un-secure source which should be prevented from establishing communication with the server.
Another problem that occurs in a busy medical institution is that as new systems are brought on line, they must compete for scarce space within the institution. Until recently, however, while technology has existed to allow medical devices to be operated in a remote and/or mobile fashion, capable of being moved throughout an institution, and then connecting to an institution's network using wired or wireless access points, the servers connected to the network commonly had to be permanently located in one area of the institution. Even where the servers could be moved, such movement typically required shutting down the system, disconnecting the server from the network, and then reconnecting the server at the new location. Such relocation typically requires relocation and reconfiguration of other network resources, such as hard wiring or optical cabling and routers.
In an increasing number of clinical settings, it is becoming desirable to network multiple medical devices, such as infusion pumps and vital signs monitors, so that they may be remotely monitored by clinic personnel. For example, pharmacists, nurses, physicians, biomedical technicians, and others may have a need to be able to monitor the status of medical infusion pumps or monitors in the clinics. Each may have a different reason for monitoring the medical devices, yet all may need to see their status. To reduce patient disturbance and to increase efficiency for the various clinic personnel, it would be desirable for all infusion pumps to be operatively connected through some type of network, either hard wired or wireless. The present invention fulfills these and other needs.

System and method for network monitoring of multiple medical devices


A temporary guard rail assembly for scaffolding has a first clamping assembly engaging the horizontal member of scaffolding, a second clamping member engaging an adjacent vertical member of the scaffolding, an adjustable arm assembly connecting the first and second clamping assemblies, and a guard rail support extending vertically from the first clamping assembly. The first and second clamping assemblies are fastened to the respective members of the scaffolding to provide, vertically extending guard rail supports above the uppermost members of the scaffolding. Guard rails are positioned on the supports and provide fall protection for workers prior to their moving to the top most level of the scaffolding

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of scaffolding and, in particular, to means providing a fall safety rail on the top most level of scaffolding prior to complete assembly of and after complete disassembly of that level.
2. The Prior Art
In typical scaffold constructions, two spaced apart upright members are secured in proper upright position on base members and held in place by side cross braces. Guard rails are attached between the uprights on the outward side of the scaffolding, the side away from a building. Floor boards are extended between the uprights so that workmen can stand on and work on the stable, elevated temporary flooring. However, it has been found that workers can, for one reason or another, fall through unprotected spaces between the floor, cross braces, and uprights. For this reason OSHA, a federal regulatory and safety agency has imposed many regulations on the industry to require suitable fall protection on the scaffolding. While it is fairly easy to hang guard rails on erected portions of scaffolding, it is practically impossible to provide guard rails on the next uppermost level to be erected with the structures and equipment currently available in the industry.
A typical state of the art scaffolding assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,914. Construction scaffolding of this type is standardized in the industry and comprises pairs of laterally spaced apart inverted U-shaped uprights each having a work facing rear side and an outwardly facing front side. The uprights are secured in an upstanding position by cross brace assemblies interconnecting the pairs of uprights on both the front and rear sides. Floor boards, which are either wooden or metal planks, are secured between the uprights to provide a temporary walking and standing platform.
Building scaffolding has long been considered to be a hazardous occupation and many safety devices have been proposed to assure that workmen will not fall from the scaffolding. There is, however, an inherent problem in building scaffolding in how to provide fall prevention means at the top of scaffolding before the workmen get up on that level to complete the assembly thereof
The most often proposed solution to this problem is to provide safety harnesses for the workmen. But this raises the problem of what to attach the safety harness to. Generally such harnesses are attached to something above the workmen so as to limit the distance they may fall. However, if there is no structure adjacent to the scaffolding, then this is not a viable solution. This leaves only the possibility of tieing to the scaffolding. This, however, is not a good solution since a falling workman would build up significant velocity in falling, prior to being restrained, and this would cause problems in arresting the fall. Further, a workman would not be likely to fall straight down off the edge of the scaffolding but fall outward away from the scaffolding. This would create components of force perpendicular to the vertical surface of the scaffolding, tending to pull the scaffolding down, as well as causing the workman to swing into the scaffolding at the end of this fall, possibly causing further injury by contact with the scaffolding.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,997 discloses a guard rail support assembly which is attached beneath a scaffolding platform. One end of the assembly extends beyond the lateral edge of the platform and has an upright post pivotally attached thereto. When the assembly is positions on the platform, the upright post is rotated to an upright position, locked in place, and guard rail suspended therefrom.
The present invention proposes a solution to this problem by providing a temporary guard rail assembly which can be erected from below to provide a guard rail already in place before a workman rises to the uppermost level to complete the scaffolding.
The present invention relates to temporary guard rails used, for example, in scaffolding in the construction industry, and more particularly to a temporary guard rail assembly which can be elevated to and secured above the upper most level of scaffolding prior to assembly of the scaffolding at that level. In a similar fashion, the subject temporary guard rail assembly would be the last portions of scaffolding removed as the scaffolding is disassembled, and the removal of this temporary guard rail would be accomplished from the next successive lower level.

Temporary guard rail assembly for scaffolding


A video signal processor for improving a detection precision of Y motion and C motion, preventing erroneous judgment, and preventing deterioration of image quality without being influenced by the band of the luminance signal or the phase of a sub-carrier of chroma. The processor includes a provisional 3D Y/C separation motion detection circuit, extracting Y signals of a current frame and a past frame based on composite video signals of three adjacent lines of the current frame and the past frame, detecting Y motion in accordance with a difference of Y signals of the current frame and the past frame by a Y motion detection unit, outputting a Y motion detection signal MVDy, detecting C motion by a C motion detection unit based on Y signals of three adjacent lines in the current frame, outputting a C motion detection signal MVDc, and selecting, according to the motion detection signals MVDy and MVDc, the difference of the C signals separated from the current frame and the past frame or a predetermined value 0 to generate a C motion coefficient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video signal processor for detecting motion by using a composite video signal, more particularly relates to a video signal processor for detecting motion by analyzing a video signal obtained by a so-called three-dimensionally Y/C separated (luminance signal and color signal separated) video signal and improving the precision of motion detection and a TV receiver using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A composite video signal, that is, a composite color video signal, includes a luminance signal, a carrier color signal, and a synchronization signal. A TV receiver separates the luminance signal (Y signal) and the carrier color signal (C signal) from the received composite video signal (hereinafter, referred to as "Y/C separation") to reproduce the color video signal.
Advances in semiconductor integrated circuits have resulted in TV receivers being given built-in line memories for storing video signals in line units and frame memories for storing video signals in frame units. For this reason, the method of performing Y/C separation by comb filters utilizing correlation of luminance signals and carrier color signals between adjacent lines and frames is generally employed.
In the NTSC system of composite video signals, the phases of carrier color signals of composite video signals of adjacent horizontal scan periods are inverse. By utilizing this property, Y/C separation can be realized by a logical operation between video data of the adjacent horizontal scan periods. With this method, however, if there is no correlation between the video signals of adjacent horizontal scan periods, error arises in the result of the Y/C separation, carrier color signal components remain in the separated Y signals, and so-called dot interference occurs, so there is a possibility of deterioration of the image quality. Further, there is also a possibility of the level of the separated carrier color signals being lowered and the reproduced signals ending up deteriorating.
To deal with this problem, the method of monitoring vertical correlation among three adjacent lines and detecting characteristics of pictures of the video signals has been proposed. Among lines having vertical correlation, Y/C separation is carried out by band pass filters in the vertical direction, that is, line comb filters, to reproduce the luminance signals and the color signals. On the other hand, when there is no vertical correlation between the adjacent lines, so-called adaptive two-dimensional comb filters for performing Y/C separation using band pass filters in the horizontal direction in place of the line comb filters to reproduce the luminance signals and the color signals has been proposed. As another method of Y/C separation, use can be also made of so-called motion adaptive three-dimensional comb filters for performing Y/C separation for portions judged to have motion in a field of a video signal by two-dimensional comb filters, extracting a difference signal of the composite video signals in one frame, that is, a C signal, by the frame comb filters for a still portion, and further subtracting the C signal from the composite video signals to thereby generate the Y signals. In the motion adaptive three-dimensional comb filters, it is necessary to correctly detect motion from the composite video signals.
FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of an example of a video signal processor for detecting motion by using composite video signals of three adjacent lines between two continuous frames. As illustrated, this video signal processor detects motion of the luminance signals (Y motion) and motion of the carrier color signals (C motion) based on video signals CVHc0, CVHc1, and CVHc2 of three adjacent lines in the composite video signals of one current frame and video signals CVHp0, CVHp1, and CVHp2 of three adjacent lines in one past frame and outputs a motion coefficient MVC based on the results of the detection.
As shown in FIG. 12, this video signal processor has comb filters 10 and 20, a Y motion detection circuit 30, and a C motion detection circuit 40. Below, an explanation will be given of these components.
The comb filter 10 receives the video signals CVHc0, CVHc1, and CVHc2 of three adjacent lines in the current frame, performs Y/C separation, and outputs a Y signal Ycur and a color signal Ccur of three lines' worth of video signals in the current frame.
The comb filter 20 receives the video signals CVHp0, CVHp1, and CVHp2 of three adjacent lines in one past frame, performs Y/C separation, and outputs a Y signal Ypst and a color signal Cpst of these three lines' worth of video signals in the past frame.
The Y motion detection circuit 30 calculates a difference between the Y signals Ycur and Ypst generated by the three-line comb filters 10 and 20 of the current frame and the past frame and outputs the amount of the difference as the amount of motion. Further, the level of a high frequency component (color component) generated by the three-line comb filter is judged by a C level judgment circuit 32. When the result of the judgment is that the level of the C component is large, the amount of difference of the Y signal is output through a low pass filter 33 to a Y motion coefficient generation circuit 34, while when it is that the level of the C component is small, the amount of difference of the Y signal is output as it is to the Y motion coefficient generation circuit 34. This is because, in a picture where there is no correlation of sub carriers in the vertical direction (color sub-carrier waves), for example, color horizontal lines or oblique lines, due to the phase relationship of the chroma (color signals), the sub-carrier components remain in the Y signals of the outputs of the three-line comb filters, and a difference of the Y signals is generated also in a still image. If the difference is judged as an amount of motion as it is, a portion of a still image will be erroneously decided as a moving picture portion. In order to suppress the influence of the sub-carriers, the Y motion detection circuit 30 limits the band of the difference of the Y signals by the low pass filter 33. The Y motion coefficient generation circuit 34 receives the judgment result of a vertical edge judgment circuit 35, converts it to its absolute value, performs coring, eliminates isolated dots, adjusts the gain, and outputs a Y motion coefficient MVCy.
In the C motion detection circuit 40, a chroma correlation detector 41 detects the horizontal correlation of the sub-carriers of chroma or the correlation between lines. An amount of motion is generated in an oblique line in the same way as Y motion detection. Therefore, when both of horizontal correlation of the sub-carriers of chroma and correlation between lines are detected, these differences are calculated using the color signals Ccur and Cpst of the current frame and the past frame output by the comb filters 10 and 20. On the other hand, when there is no correlation, the color signals Ccur and Cpst are replaced by 0. Then, a difference calculation circuit 42 calculates the difference of the color signals Ccur and Cpst. The output of the difference calculation circuit 42 is converted to an absolute value, subjected to coring, and adjusted in gain in the C motion coefficient generation circuit 43. The result is output as a C motion coefficient MVCc.
In this way, in the C motion detection circuit 40, by taking the difference of the color signals separated from the composite video signals between frames, in the case of a moving picture having motion, the noncorrelated portion shifts and can be extracted as the amount of motion.
This related art is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-46726 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-191385.
Summarizing the problems to be solved by the invention, in the above video signal processor of the related art, in the high frequency band of colored luminance signals, the sensitivity of the Y motion detection becomes low. As a result, an afterimage of the Y high frequency band appears. Since the C motion detection takes the difference of the absolute values of the sub-carriers, in a portion where the phase of the color is shifted by 180°, the amount of motion of the color is detected as 0 and it is erroneously judged as a still portion without motion. As a result, there is the disadvantage that the motion of only color having no luminance difference cannot be detected, the afterimage of the color or the sub-carrier of chroma leaks into the Y signals by the three-dimensional Y/C separation due to the erroneous judgment of the motion detection, and so-called dot interference of the display of a dot image occurs.
In the above conventional motion detection, provisional Y/C separation is carried out by the output of the three-line comb filter. The difference among these frames is defined as the amount of motion, so it is easily judged that a still image of a horizontal line or oblique line in which the correlation of chroma is lost among lines has motion. In order to avoid this, when it is judged that there is color, this is passed through the low pass filter. As a result, however, the sensitivity of the motion detection is lowered in the high frequency band of the Y signals. Conversely, when trying to detect up to the high frequency band of the Y signals, it is judged that there is motion in the high frequency band of an oblique line, so there is a problem that the portion of a still image flickers.
Further, as explained above, by taking the difference of absolute values of the sub-carriers by the C motion detection, motion of color having a phase of the carrier color signal shifted by 180° is no longer detected. As a result, it becomes impossible to detect motion of only color having no luminance difference, and dot interference occurs due to the erroneous judgment of the motion detection.
Furthermore, in the conventional motion detection, since the calculation of the amount of motion is replaced by 0 according to the presence of the correlation of chroma, in the C motion detection of a still image of an image pattern in which the Y signal has correlation like chroma at an oblique line near the colored sub-carrier frequency fsc, one frame has correlation, and the other frame does not have correlation, so erroneous judgment that the still image has motion is carried out. As a result, an oblique line of the still image is separated by the line comb filter, and deterioration of the band of the Y signal occurs.

Video signal processor and TV receiver using the same