A motorcycle drive device includes a shiftable transmission set up to transmit drive power which can be provided by an engine crankshaft toward a drivable wheel. The transmission includes an input shaft having a rotation axis when is displaceable to adjust a spacing between the rotation axes of a primary gearwheel on the transmission input shaft and a primary pinion transferring the drive power from the crankshaft. A transmission input shaft bearing supporting the transmission input shaft is arranged in a bearing plate that is rotatable relative to a housing of the transmission. The bearing plate includes an adjusting mechanism arranged to change the position of the bearing plate with respect to the transmission housing to adjust the axial spacing of the rotation axes.

The invention relates to a motorcycle drive device with adjustable backlash between two gear wheels. A motorcycle drive device having a transmission is known from DE 10 2013 214 949 A1.
Motorcycle internal combustion engines often have a high speed level as compared to internal combustion engines of automobiles. For similar attainable terminal velocities of both types of vehicle, this results in the need for a greater reduction in the motorcycle transmission. A first reduction stage of the motorcycle transmission is therefore arranged in the direction of the torque transmission between a crankshaft of the motorcycle internal combustion engine and a transmission input shaft and reduces the transmission input speed. The gear wheels participating in this reduction stage have steel as one component.
A housing surrounding the reduction stage and designed to support shafts consists of aluminum, or an aluminum alloy. Such a housing normally encompasses both the crankcase of the internal combustion engine and the transmission housing. The different materials (steel/aluminum) have different coefficients of thermal expansion, which results in a temperature dependency of the backlash, since gear wheels and housing expand differently. Based on this circumstance, gear pairs with slight meshing angle (α<20°) are usually employed for this meshing, since the backlash for these is less dependent on a change in the axial spacing. Moreover, devices are known from other applications on the motorcycle in which the backlash between two gear wheels is adjustable; DE 10 2013 214 949 A1 proposes a backlash equalizing device with an eccentric shaft for a camshaft drive mechanism.
One problem which the invention proposes to solve is to modify known drive devices of motorcycles so that a backlash of a gear pair is adjustable.
In the sense of the invention, a motorcycle drive device is taken to mean a drive device for a single-track motor vehicle, thus in particular a motorcycle, wherein this drive device is designed to provide drive power to overcome driving resistances. In the sense of the invention, an internal combustion engine is taken to mean a thermal engine which is designed to provide drive power. Preferably, such an internal combustion engine has a reciprocating piston design and can operate by the so-called Otto principle. Such an internal combustion engine comprises a so-called crankshaft in order to output the drive power.
In the sense of the invention, a shiftable transmission is taken to mean a mechanism for transmitting the drive power from the internal combustion engine in the direction of a drivable wheel, this transmission having a variable transmission ratio between a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft. Preferably, this shiftable transmission is designed as a gear transmission with a plurality of shifting stages which can change by discrete steps, and it is thus understood to be a speed changing transmission. Such different discrete transmission ratios of the shiftable transmission are known as so-called gears or shifting stages.
In the sense of the invention, a transmission housing is taken to mean a mechanism for receiving and supporting of transmission shafts of the shiftable transmission. Such a transmission housing is designed in particular to hold transmission fluid. Preferably, the transmission housing comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy as one component or it consists of one of these materials. Again preferably, the transmission housing is designed as a single piece with a crankcase of an internal combustion engine or preferably as a separate component from this.
In the sense of the invention, a transmission input shaft is taken to mean a transmission shaft of the shiftable transmission which is designed to receive the drive power from the internal combustion engine and supply it to the shiftable transmission. In terms of the torque transfer from the internal combustion engine to a drivable wheel, the transmission input shaft is the first transmission shaft of the shiftable transmission. Preferably, a primary gear wheel is arranged on the transmission input shaft and it can be connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner. Again preferably, the primary gear wheel stands in engagement with a primary pinion and this gear pair is designed to transfer drive power, which can be furnished by the internal combustion engine, to the transmission input shaft. Preferably, the primary pinion can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the power takeoff shaft of the internal combustion engine, preferably to its crankshaft. Again preferably, the primary pinion is arranged concentric to the power takeoff shaft of the internal combustion engine and the primary gear wheel is preferably arranged concentric to the transmission input shaft.
The primary pinion is in this case mounted rotatably about a primary pinion axis, and the primary gear wheel is mounted rotatably about a transmission input shaft axis. The transmission input shaft is rotatably mounted in a transmission input shaft bearing. The transmission input shaft bearing is arranged in a bearing plate. Preferably, the transmission input shaft is rotatably mounted in the transmission input shaft bearing and a further transmission input shaft bearing. Preferably, the distance between these two bearings is greater than 100 mm and less than 250 mm and preferably this distance is at least substantially 150 mm.
Preferably, at least one of the transmission input shaft bearings is designed as a roller bearing and preferably as a deep-groove ball bearing and especially preferably these two bearings (transmission input shaft bearing, further transmission input shaft bearing) are designed as deep-groove ball bearings. In particular, deep-groove ball bearings make possible slight skewing of the components being mounted in relation to a mounting axis. A slight skewing in the sense of the invention is understood to be a skewing in the range of a few angular minutes or less, preferably +/− 10 angular minutes or less, preferably +/− 7 angular minutes or less and especially preferably +/− 4 angular minutes or less. In particular, thanks to this tolerance of deep-groove ball bearings in regard to a skewing of the bearing axis it is possible for one of the transmission input shaft bearings to be immovable and the other to be received in the bearing plate for purposes of adjusting the axial spacing (primary pinion axis/transmission input shaft axis), without this negatively affecting a bearing service life. Studies have shown that an adjustability in the mentioned angle range results in a changing of the axial spacing of the primary pinion axis relative to the transmission input shaft axis in the range of several tenths of a millimeter.
Preferably, the primary gear wheel and the primary pinion have a slight meshing angle α. A slight meshing angle in the sense of the invention is taken to mean a meshing angle of less than 20°. Preferably, a slight meshing angle is chosen from a range which is preferably less than 20°, preferably less than 18° and especially preferably less than or equal to 16° and further preferably this range is greater than 10°, preferably greater than 13° and especially preferably greater than 15°. Especially with a meshing angle from the mentioned range it has been found that the adjustment range of the axial spacing of a few tenths of a millimeter is large enough to make possible an advantageous adjustment. Further, studies have shown that meshing angles larger than the mentioned range often result in a high sensitivity of the noise behavior of the gear wheels to manufacturing deviations, which is undesirable, and meshing angles which are smaller than the indicated range generally mean that the adjustment range for the axial spacing with a few tenths of a millimeter is too small.
In the sense of the invention, a bearing plate is understood to be a component designed to hold the transmission input shaft bearing and which can be connected to the transmission housing and can be displaced relative to it during the assembly process. Moreover, the transmission input shaft is arranged in this transmission input shaft bearing concentrically to the transmission input shaft axis and mounted rotatably with respect to the transmission housing, and the axial spacing of the primary pinion axis from the transmission input shaft axis can be adjusted thanks to the displacement of the bearing plate.
In the sense of the invention, a drivable wheel is taken to mean a wheel/tire combination which is designed to deliver the drive power furnished by the internal combustion engine onto a roadway surface; in the case of a motorcycle, this is generally the rear wheel, i.e., in particular, a rear wheel rim and a rear tire mounted on it. Preferably, the wheel/tire combination can be supplied with power from the shiftable transmission via a traction drive, especially via a chain drive or via a cardan drive.
For the changing of the position of the transmission input shaft and thus the transmission input shaft axis with respect to the primary pinion axis, the motorcycle drive device has an adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism is designed in particular to enable a changing of the position of the bearing plate with respect to the transmission housing. The adjustment movement which can be produced by the adjusting mechanism is designed so that the axial spacing between the primary pinion axis and the transmission input shaft axis is changed, at least in the region of the primary pinion and the primary gear wheel. In particular, this changeability of the axial spacing makes it possible to adjust this to a predetermined nominal value and thus an improved motorcycle drive device is conceivable.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the bearing plate can be connected to the transmission housing at a pivot point of the bearing plate about an axis of rotation of the bearing plate. Preferably, the bearing plate has a recess or preferably a raised section, in order to produce a positive locking with the transmission housing at the bearing plate pivot point. Preferably, the bearing plate can be connected to the transmission housing with a pin/bolt connection, preferably a pin or bolt which is designed to form this positive locking is formed as a single piece with the bearing plate or preferably with the transmission housing, and especially preferred is a connection pin or bolt designed as a separate component from the bearing plate and the transmission housing. Such a single-piece bolt or pin can be construed as raised regions. Preferably, the other respective component has a recess to receive this raised region. Preferably, the adjusting mechanism is arranged on a section of the bearing plate situated opposite the bearing plate pivot point. In particular, thanks to such an arrangement, especially low forces occur when moving the bearing plate relative to the transmission housing.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjusting mechanism for changing the position of the bearing plate comprises an eccentric mechanism with an eccentric shaft. Preferably, the eccentric mechanism can be connected to the transmission housing and to the bearing plate. Preferably the eccentric shaft is rotatably mounted about a first eccentric axis, stationary with respect to the transmission housing, for changing the axial spacing between the transmission input shaft axis and the primary pinion axis. Further preferably, a positive locking can be produced by means of the eccentric shaft between the bearing plate and this eccentric shaft and between the transmission housing and this eccentric shaft. Such eccentric mechanisms are known in themselves from the prior art and therefore an especially simple motorcycle drive device with adjustable bearing plate having such a mechanism is conceivable.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the eccentric shaft has a second eccentric axis. This second eccentric axis is offset with respect to the first eccentric axis, i.e., it is axially parallel to but radially spaced apart from it, as is customary for an eccentric shaft. Further preferably, this second eccentric axis is stationary with regard to the bearing plate and thus the bearing plate can move by a rotation of the eccentric shaft. In particular, a rotation of the eccentric shaft about the first eccentric axis results in the changing of the position of the bearing plate with respect to the transmission housing, in particular, a rotary or swiveling movement about the pivot point of the bearing plate. Preferably, a fixation element is arranged on the eccentric shaft; preferably, the eccentric shaft can be connected to a fixation element, and especially preferably the fixation element is formed as a single piece with the eccentric shaft.
Preferably, the fixation element has a fixation region. Further preferably, the fixation region is designed as a recess in the fixation element. Preferably, the fixation element can be secured by a fastening means to the transmission housing or preferably on the bearing plate. Preferably, the fixation region is designed to form a durable connection, preferably a durable positive locking or preferably frictional locking connection to the transmission housing/bearing plate. Preferably, the fastening means is designed as a screw, preferably a fastening screw. Preferably, a normal force can be applied by means of the fastening screw to the fixation element and consequently the fixation element is held by friction locking and especially immovably with respect to the transmission housing or the bearing plate.
In the sense of the invention, a durable connection is taken to mean a connection which continues to exist, i.e., durably exists, after the mounting of the motorcycle drive device and during its regular operation. A durable connection is to be distinguished especially as opposed to a temporary connection, such as one that is made in particular during or for an assembly process and which is removed once more after it is finished, i.e., it does not exist during the regular operation of the motorcycle drive device. An especially reliable connection of the eccentric shaft is made possible especially by means of such a durable connection of the eccentric shaft via the fixation region to the transmission housing and/or the bearing plate.
In one preferred embodiment, the fixation element has a detent region. Preferably, this detent region is designed to produce a temporary connection of the eccentric shaft to the transmission housing or preferably to the bearing plate. Preferably, the detent region has, for the making of this temporary connection, at least one recess, preferably 2 or more recesses. Preferably, the detent region is situated at a distance from the fixation region. Preferably, the detent region is designed to detain the fixation element with respect to the transmission housing/bearing plate in discrete positions, especially for the duration of an assembly process and not during regular operation.
Further preferably, this makes possible an adjusting of the axial spacing between the primary pinion axis and the transmission input shaft axis in discrete steps. Preferably, a detent element is provided for making the temporary connection. In particular, the adjustability of the axial spacing in discrete steps on the one hand provides an especially simple adjustment possibility, and on the other hand it is possible to check the adjustment at a later time, since in the event that the adjustment position lies between two discrete steps, an unplanned displacement of the bearing plate has occurred during the regular operation.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the motorcycle drive device has a further adjustable bearing plate, preferably of the above described kind. In an embodiment of the invention with only a single adjustable bearing plate, a skewing of the transmission input shaft axis relative to the primary pinion axis may occur due to a movement of the position of the bearing plate. This skewing may be explained in particular by the fact that the transmission input shaft can be mounted in the transmission by means of two transmission input shaft bearings, one of which is received in the bearing plate and can be shifted along with it, and the other of these bearings is fixed in the transmission housing.
The use of a second adjustable bearing plate, while on the one hand causing an increased cost for construction of the transmission housing, on the other hand makes it possible to displace the transmission input shaft axis axially parallel to the primary pinion axis. Preferably, for this, the further adjustable bearing plate has a further adjusting mechanism for changing the position of the further bearing plate with respect to the transmission housing. Preferably, one of the transmission input shaft bearings is arranged in the further adjustable bearing plate and the other transmission input shaft bearing is arranged in the adjustable bearing plate and thereby makes possible an axially parallel displacement of the transmission input shaft axis relative to the primary pinion axis.
According to the invention, a method is provided for adjusting a backlash with a motorcycle drive device of the above described kind. In such a method, first of all a starting backlash between the primary pinion and the primary gear wheel is detected. After this, this starting backlash is compared to a nominal backlash. These backlashes may be determined by indirect or direct measurement values/methods. After the starting backlash has been compared to the nominal backlash, a nominal position of the adjustable bearing plate with respect to the transmission housing is adjusted, based on this comparison, by means of the adjusting mechanism, wherein an actual backlash between the primary pinion and the primary gear wheel is formed. This actual backlash corresponds at least substantially to the nominal backlash which can be predetermined. An especially advantageous operating behavior of the motorcycle drive device is established in particular by such an adjusting of the actual backlash.
In one preferred embodiment of the method for adjusting the backlash, after the bearing plate has been brought into the nominal position with the adjusting mechanism, the fixation element is connected to the transmission housing with a detent element in the detent region. Preferably, the detent element is designed as a positive locking connector, preferably as a setting pin or preferably as a detent pin. This connection of the fixation element by means of the detent region and with the detent element can preferably produce a temporary connection between the eccentric shaft and the transmission housing/bearing plate, thus hindering a twisting of the eccentric shaft relative to the transmission housing for the assembly processes. In particular, thanks to this temporary connection, the bearing plate is temporarily held in the nominal position and further assembly steps can be performed. In particular, such a temporary connection makes possible an especially mistake-proof mounting of the motorcycle drive device. In another preferred embodiment, a positive locking connector also remains during regular operation of the motorcycle drive device and thereby in particular enables an especially secure fixation of the position of the fixation element.
In one preferred embodiment of the method for adjusting the backlash, the bearing plate preferably after being held in the nominal position by means of the detent element is connected to the transmission housing by further fastening means. Preferably, these further fastening means are designed as screws, preferably as further fastening screws. In particular, thanks to these further fastening means the bearing plate and thus the transmission input shaft are held durably in the same position relative to the transmission housing and a secure operation of the motorcycle drive device is made possible.
In one preferred embodiment of the method for adjusting the backlash, the fixation element is connected in the fixation region by means of a fastening means to the transmission housing or to the bearing plate. Preferably after this connecting, the detent element is removed; preferably the detent element may also be removed even before the fixation element is connected in the fixation region by means of the fastening means to the transmission housing. In particular, thanks to this connection with the fastening means, the fixation element is also held durably in its position, and thus a change in the position of the bearing plate with respect to the transmission housing is further prevented.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Motorcycle drive device with adjustable backlash

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A system may include a registration module to register the system with a server cluster and a resource collector module operatively connected to the registration module, the resource collector module to identify a list of resources for a container running on the server cluster. The system may also include a resource monitor module operatively connected to the resource collector module, the resource collector module to receive the list of resources for the container, monitor a resource in the list of resources for the container, and generate an event for the container and an event manager module operatively connected to the resource monitor module, the event manager to receive the event and determine a recovery action for the container.

Containers are an example of a deployment model for micro-service architecture approaches to application deployment. In computing environments, containers may be used to package code so an application may run reliably when moved between computing environments. Depending on the intended uses for applications running in the containers, the containers may be designed to provide high availability and allow load balancing thereby improving application availability within a computing environment, Containers may also be monitored to determine application functionality within the computing environment.

Determining and implementing recovery actions for containers to recover the containers from failures

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


Testing according to this invention allows functions of a first network which is accessible by other networks to be tested without requiring a separate simulator of the other network or interaction with the other networks. This capability is generally accomplished by utilizing a gateway node in the first network to loop-back a query originated in the first network so that it appears as though it originated from another network. The first network then processes the query and originates a reply to the query which is forwarded to the gateway node. Again, the gateway node loops back the reply to the node in the first network which originated the query. Receipt of the loopback reply at the first node provides an indication that the first network can properly respond to queries originated in another network corresponding to the test query.

This invention generally addresses testing and verification in a communication system having separate, but connected, networks that are connected together. More specifically, it addresses the testing of one network's ability to respond to queries received from another network in a telecommunication system.
With the increasing trend towards fully integrated global communication networks, standards and compatibility between linked communication networks is an important concern. The facilities and implementation of features provided by networks often differ. Standard protocols have been established to facilitate the transmission of signaling and data between networks. However, these standards do not insure that facilities in a first communication network will interpret and respond to a query received from a second network in a manner anticipated by the second network.
Each network should be tested and validated in accordance with the standards to be followed by a communication system prior to connection to the other networks in the system. Isolating a problem in a communication system having a plurality of interconnected networks can be a difficult task. In many situations, it is difficult to determine which network is causing the problem. Even if general protocols and formats are followed, problems can arise because various implementations in hardware and software by the networks can result in the same query or message being handled differently by different networks. Dissimilar interpretations of a standard protocol can also result in problems.
To facilitate testing, various types of simulators have been utilized to emulate the actions of other networks. In a communications network, simulators may consist of a computer which has been programmed to emulate actions and responses that an external environment would provide to the network or module under test. Ideally, it would be impossible to distinguish the simulator from the network or module being simulated. However, complexity, and hence cost, of simulators increase geometrically with increasing complexity of the environment being simulated. Thus, simulators that emulate an entire network are very complex, costly, and difficult to develop.
As communication systems become more open and allow networks to access more facilities in other networks, the need for testing and problem identification becomes critical. In order to minimize initial problems and quickly solve problems discovered after connection of a network to the system, it is desirable to isolate the network from the system for testing. It is also desirable to utilize as much of the real hardware and software capability of the network under test as possible so that differences between a testing environment and real network operation of the network are minimized. Thus, a need exists for the capability to test a first network's ability to interact with other networks while utilizing as much of the first network's actual hardware and software as possible and to perform such testing without interaction with the other networks or the need for a separate simulator to emulate the other networks.

Method and apparatus for permitting intranework testing of internetwork functions


The present invention relates to silver ink for printing a three dimensional microstructure and a 3D printing method using the same. The present invention provides a method for printing a 3-dimensional silver structure pattern, the method including: a step of providing a nozzle with liquid ink including capped silver nanoparticles and exhibiting Newtonian fluid behavior; a step of forming, at a predetermined point on a substrate, a meniscus of the liquid ink with ink extruded from the nozzle; a step of allowing the ink of the nozzle to be extruded by means of the surface tension of the meniscus while moving the nozzle along a path in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, in a direction parallel to the substrate, or according to a combination of said directions; and a step of forming a silver structure pattern corresponding to the movement path of the nozzle by evaporating a solvent from the extruded ink from the region closer to the substrate. The present invention can provide a 3D printing method based on direct ink printing that is suitable for application to 3D printing electronic technology.

A printed electronic technology has an advantage in that a desired shape is directly printed, so that a cheap circuit device may be rapidly manufactured on various substrates with a simple process, compared to the existing complex and high-cost photolithography.
In general, the printed electronic technology manufactures an electronic device by scanning, copying, and outputting a plane a two-dimensional (2D) object, the electric and electronic circuits tend to be more integrated with smaller devices on a flexible substrate. However, 2D high integration has already encountered physical and technical limitations, and in order to further improve the degree of integration, it is required to manufacture three-dimensional (3D) electric and electronic devices and circuits.
In relation to this, the existing 3D printing technology has an advantage in that it is possible to shape materials, such as an insulator including rubber, nylon, and plastic, metal, and metal including stainless steel, titanium, and silver, to a real-sized model, a prototype, a tool, a component, and the like based on 3D design data by an additive manufacturing method. However, the existing 3D printing technology, such as Fused Deposit Modelling (FDM), and Selective Laser Printing (SLS), has a limit to be applied to the printed electronic technology, in which a fine pattern needs to be implemented with various functional materials, due to process elements arising from a manufacturing method or a limit of a used raw material.
Recently, there is a growing interest in 3D printed electronics technology which combines a 3D printing method and a printed electronics technology. In the past, the printed electronics technology was limitedly applied to some regions, such as a circuit of a printed circuit board, a photomask of a semiconductor, and a color filter of a display, but has an expanded application range aimed at manufacturing a complete electronic product, as well as a 3D circuit element, only by 3D printing.
In order to implement the 3D printed electronics technology, there is a need for a technology for forming a 3D structure from various functional materials having conductivity or magnetism, and also development of ink and printing technique suitable for 3D printing.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,922,939 of Lewis et al., discloses silver ink including a short-chain capping agent adsorbed on the Ag particles and having a molecular weight of 10,000 or less, and a long-chain capping agent having a molecular weight of 25,000 or more. In the patent, the ink exhibits shear thinning representing a decrease in viscosity according to an increase in a shearing speed. Accordingly, in the patent, a 3D microstructure is formed by direct ink writing by using pressure extrusion.
However, the direct ink writing in the related art requires pressurization for discharging ink, and the ink is spread during the pressurization, so that there is a limit in resolution of a line width of a pattern.

Silver ink for 3D printing and 3D printing method using same

KOREA ELECTROTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A game apparatus generates control point data for forming a contour of each part of a character, generates a line model of a body being a line polygon model along the body on the basis of the control point data, then generates a line model of a foot being a line polygon model along a contour of one foot, and arranged at the back of the line model of the body Bd in a Z direction, and generates a mask model of the body being a transparent polygon model arranged at the back of the line model of the body in the Z direction and in front of the line model of the foot in the Z direction, and having the contour along the line of the body. Then, when the respective models are depicted with a Z comparison performed after depicting a background, the mask model of the body, the line model of the foot, the line model of the body are depicted in this order.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a game apparatus, a game program and a game system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a game apparatus, a game program and a game system which represents an object by a contour.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as an image processing apparatus of this kind, one disclosed in a non-patent document is known. In the related art, when a player depicts a picture on a touch screen with a pen, the picture starts to move within the screen.
(Non-Patent Document 1)    NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc., "Pac-Pix" (registered trademark), [online], [searched on May 25, 2010], the Internet <URL:http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/cs/list/pac-pix/index.php>
In the aforementioned related art, the picture moving within the screen is a simple graphic like a "Pac-Man" (registered trademark) (line drawing with few lines), through the graphic (part encircled with the line forming the graphic), a background at the back thereof is visible, and only simple movements, such as moving and changing directions can be represented.
Hereupon, it is conceivable that a character having the body and the feet is caused to appear in the screen, for example, and caused to move the body independent of the feet to thereby represent a complex movement, such as "walking". In addition, it is also conceivable that the feet is made invisible through the body (part encircled with a line forming it) with the feet at the back of the body (shows as if the feet are at the back of the body), whereby not a representation as a mere line but a representation true-to a contour can be made.
However, in the related art, handwriting is made on the touch screen, and therefore, it is difficult to generate a complex character. Furthermore, assuming that a character having the body and the feet can be generated, it is difficult to move the feet independent of the body. In addition, assuming that the feet are made invisible through the body with the feet at the back of the body, the background is also made invisible through the body, resulting in a loss of the feature of the line drawing such as transparency of the background.
On the other hand, when the transparency of the background is given priority, the feet is made visible through the body, but this may be a factor of making the player have uncomfortable feeling especially when an existing character is represented by a line drawing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Game apparatus, game program and game system


A greenhouse environment control system generates a CO2-enriched air which is supplied to a greenhouse at a controlled temperature suitable for plant growth. An absorption chiller reduces temperature of a CO2-containing stream of processed gasses from an engine. A mixing and blending unit maintains CO2 at an acceptable concentration for enhanced plant growth and human occupation. An HVAC system modulates temperature and positively pressurizes the greenhouse with the CO2-enriched air to reduce risk of contaminant intrusion. Misting further controls temperature. Retractable shades regulate light supplied to plants and solar gain.

Commercial greenhouses are high tech production facilities for vegetables and flowers. Heretofore, such greenhouses have been adapted for use in regions with cold winters and arid summers. In such climates, the greenhouse interior may be heated in winter months such as by using boilers, heat pumps, or heat transferred from hot engine exhaust. Such greenhouses may be cooled during hot summer months through evaporative cooling systems. One example of such a cooling system is a pad and fan, which draws dry outside air through a wet porous pad to cool the air via evaporative cooling. To work, the fan must continuously draw ambient air through the pad and exhaust the cooled air to the outside. Fogging and misting systems are also widely used to cool greenhouses in arid environments.
In warm humid environments, cooling systems that depend upon evaporation for cooling are marginally effective at best. When considering water evaporating into air, the wet-bulb temperature which takes both temperature and humidity into account is a measure of the potential for evaporative cooling. The amount of heat transfer depends on the evaporation rate, which depends on the temperature and humidity of the air. As humidity increases, the actual air temperature approaches the wet bulb temperature. The less the difference between the wet bulb and actual air temperature, the less the evaporative cooling effect. Thus, in hot humid climates, the evaporative cooling effect is typically insufficient to maintain a greenhouse at a temperature favorable to plant growth.
Photosynthesis depends on a series of external and internal factors. The internal factors are the characteristics of the leaf (structure, chlorophyll content), the accumulation of products assimilated in the chloroplasts of the leaves, the availability of water, mineral nutrients and enzymes, among others. Among the most relevant external factors are the radiation incident on the leaves (quantity and quality), temperature, the ambient humidity and the concentration of CO2 and oxygen in the surrounding air. Excessive heat and humidity, or insufficient CO2, are non-limiting examples of factors that may stifle photosynthesis.
The concentration of CO2 in ambient outside air commonly varies from 300 to 500 parts ppm or more by volume depending on the season, time of day and the proximity of CO2 producers such as combustion or composting, or CO2 absorbers such as plants or bodies of water. Plants growing in greenhouses, particularly sealed structures, can reduce CO2 levels to well below ambient levels, greatly reducing the rate of photosynthesis. Conversely, enriching the concentration of CO2 above ambient levels can significantly increase the rate of photosynthesis. Consequently, many commercial greenhouses include CO2 enrichment systems to augment photosynthesis. Such systems typically supply CO2 from storage vessels or as a product of combustion of carbon-based fuel. The ideal concentration depends on the crop, light intensity, temperature and the stage of crop growth. However, 1000 to 1200 ppm is considered effective for many flowers and vegetables, with some exceptions. At this level, worker exposure should fall far below the 5,000 ppm permissible exposure limit for an 8-hour shift (measured as a time weighted average), as set by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
In greenhouses with fan and pad evaporative cooling systems, it is difficult to maintain an elevated CO2 concentration, notwithstanding enrichment efforts. Such greenhouses continuously vent injected CO2 to the atmosphere. A vigorous stream of air must be maintained to provide cooling. The stream captures injected CO2. Venting releases it to the atmosphere with the air stream. This attenuates any benefit to photosynthesis while increasing production costs and compromising the outside environment.
An improved greenhouse climate control system that is capable of controlling temperature, providing heating and cooling as desired, and providing CO2 enrichment for optimal plant growth, in all ambient environments, including hot, cold, arid and humid, is needed. The invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems and solving one or more of the needs as set forth above.

Climate control system and method for a greenhouse


A frequency sweep circuit including: a pull-in verification wave generator for generating a verification signal for pull-in verification; a sweep wave generator for generating a frequency sweep signal; a first adder for adding an output from the pull-in verification wave generator and an output from the sweep wave generator; a correlation determining unit for receiving a phase difference signal representing a phase difference between a received carrier wave and a recovered carrier wave, and an output from the first adder, determining presence/absence of a correlation between the phase difference signal and the output, and outputting a control signal for controlling the sweep wave generator; a second adder for adding the output from the first adder to the phase difference signal; a digital-to-analog converter for receiving an output from the second adder; a loop filter for receiving an output from the digital-to-analog converter; and a voltage-controlled oscillator for receiving an output from the loop filter and generating the recovered carrier wave.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a frequency sweep circuit and, more particularly to, a frequency sweep circuit used in a multisymbol modulator/demodulator for transmitting a digital signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional carrier wave recovery system used in digital radio transmission.
Referring to FIG. 1, a modulated wave input from a signal input terminal IN is multiplied by a multiplier 1 with a recovered carrier wave output from a voltage-controlled oscillator 6. An unnecessary higher harmonic is removed by a low-pass filter 2 from an output signal from the multiplier 1, and the resultant signal serves as a demodulated baseband signal. Upon sampling and quantization, this signal is converted into a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter 3. From this digital signal, a phase difference detector 4 detects a phase difference between the carrier wave and the recovered carrier wave, and outputs a control signal in accordance with the difference. The control signal is smoothed by a loop filter 5 serving as a low-pass filter and serves as a carrier wave phase control signal for the voltage-controlled oscillator 6. An analog sweep unit 7 connected in an AC manner to the control signal is an analog oscillator using part of a positive feedback loop as an input/output terminal. The analog sweep unit 7 widens the phase locking range by oscillating a sweep signal when phase locking is stepped out on the basis of the state of the control signal, or it stops the oscillation in the phase-locked state.
In the conventional carrier wave recovery circuit described above, however, since the analog oscillator is used in the main part of the frequency sweep circuit, this circuit is difficult to be mounted in an IC, and the oscillation condition easily changes. Further, the conventional circuit has problems such as the limitation of the oscillation frequency and the amplitude.


A fixing unit thermally fixes a toner on a recording medium by a fixing member having a plurality of internal heaters and an outer peripheral surface, and a temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of the fixing member at a temperature detecting position. At least one first heater, of the heaters, receives power from a first power supply, and remaining second heaters receive power from a second power supply. One of the second heaters closest to the temperature detecting position is the same distance from the temperature detecting position as or is closer to the temperature detecting position than a first heater which is closest to the temperature detecting position.

This application claims the benefit of a Japanese Patent Application No.2003-098055 filed Apr. 1, 2003, in the Japanese Patent Office, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to fixing units and image forming apparatuses, and more particularly to a fixing unit having a battery for supplying power to a heater, an image forming apparatus having such a fixing unit, and a method of determining a temperature detecting position of a temperature sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, electrophotography type image forming apparatuses such as copying apparatuses, printers, facsimile apparatuses and composite apparatuses, form a toner image on a recording medium such as recording paper or sheet, and heat the toner image by passing the recording medium through a fixing unit so to fix the toner image on the recording medium.
In the fixing unit, power is supplied to a heater so that the heater heats a fixing member such as a roller and an endless belt. The toner image on the recording medium is heated when the fixing member, such as the roller and the endless belt, contacts the recording medium. Conventionally, the power to the heater is supplied from a commercial A.C. power supply. However, a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2002-174988 proposes a fixing unit which is designed so that the power to the heaters of the fixing unit is also supplied using a battery.
In other words, in a case where the fixing unit is started from a stopped state by turning ON a main power supply, for example, it takes time for the fixing unit to reach a usable state, and the fixing unit cannot be used for a waiting time until the usable state is reached. In order to reduce this waiting time, the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2002-174988 supplies power to the heaters of the proposed fixing unit by using both the commercial A.C. power supply and the battery, so as to rapidly heat the fixing member to a reload temperature.
But when starting this proposed fixing unit, even if the power supply to the heaters is controlled based on a temperature of the proposed fixing unit that is detected by a temperature sensor, the fixing member may actually be heated to a temperature which exceeds a set temperature. It is undesirable, however, for the temperature of the fixing member to exceed the set temperature.

Fixing unit having a plurality of heaters, image forming apparatus and method of determining temperature detecting position of temperature sensor


Disclosed is an apparatus and method for constructing and broadcasting a multi-screen broadcasting program by using a transport stream in a digital broadcasting, and for decoding the constructed transport stream to restore image and voice signals. The method includes the steps of analyzing a program access table (PAT) of broadcasting data to determine whether there are at least two image packets, performing signal decoding when the input broadcasting data is a single screen program having one image packet, performing a multi-decoding when the input broadcasting data is a multi-screen program having at least two image packets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to constructing and broadcasting a multi-screen broadcasting program using a transport stream in digital broadcasting, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for decoding the constructed transport stream to restore image and voice signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, digital broadcasting services have been provided through a broadcasting system based on ISO (International Organization for Standard)/IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 13818-1 and ISO/IEC 13818-2, which are international standards.
The ISO/IEC 13818-2 refers to MPEG-2 video data and is an international standard for compressing a moving image. The ISO/IEC 13818-1 is an international standard for multiplexing compressed image data, voice data, and additional data in a broadcasting transmission side. It also relates to demultiplexing this data in the broadcasting reception side, so as to transmit this data at one time. The additional data includes synchronization information for synchronizing the image data and voice data in the broadcasting reception side, e.g., information about a program, etc.
There are two types of MPEG-2 systems. One type is called a "program stream", which includes a single program as MPEG-1 system. The other type is called a "transport stream", which is designed to transmit bit streams and may include a plurality of programs.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a conventional broadcasting service system to provide a plurality of broadcasting content.
According to such conventional broadcasting service systems, as shown in FIG. 1, a broadcaster receives various digital broadcasting content, such as a news 101, a drama 102, and a football game 103, from a broadcasting content provider. Then, the broadcaster multiplexes the received digital broadcasting content through a multiplexer 11, and broadcasts the multiplexed content as a multi-program transport stream (MPTS) 100. In this case, the broadcasting of the contents is realized through a terrestrial wave, a satellite, a cable, etc.
A broadcasting splitter 12 in a subscriber side splits the broadcasted MPTS 100 into a plurality of single-program transport streams (SPTSs) 104-1 and 104-2 for each digital content. It then provides digital content 101 and 102 to subscribers according to the selection of each subscriber.
The MPTS 100, which is a broadcasting stream including a plurality of digital broadcasting content 101, 102, and 103, includes program ID (PID) information for each of the digital broadcasting content 101, 102, and 103 and the like. This enables, the digital broadcasting content 101, 102, and 103 to be split from each other through the broadcasting splitter 12 in the subscriber side.
Each digital broadcasting content is an SPTS, in which compressed image data, voice data, and additional data are included.
FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of an SPTS that includes image, voice, and data packets.
A transport stream for one broadcast is divided into image data 22 containing image information, audio data 24 containing audio information, and additional data 26 containing information relating to broadcasting and additional services. In addition, each data has a header 21, 23, or 25, in which information necessary for demultiplexing and decoding is recorded.
A transport stream header is added to the data structure shown in FIG. 2, thereby constructing and transmitting a transport stream. Herein, the procedure of constructing a transport stream has no direct relation with the present invention, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional transport stream receiving apparatus in a digital broadcasting system.
A conventional transport stream receiving apparatus in a digital broadcasting system includes a channel classifying decoder 31, a transport stream demultiplexer 32, a video decoder 33, an audio decoder 35, and a data processing unit 34. The channel classifying decoder 31 receives a multi-program transport stream (MPTS) and the channel selection information input by the user and transmits only a single-program transport stream (SPTS) of a selected channel to the transport stream demultiplexer 32. The transport stream demultiplexer 32 demultiplexes the received SPTS, and separately outputs an image packet, a voice packet, and a data packet, which have been included in the SPTS. The video decoder 33 decodes the image packet. The audio decoder 35 decodes the voice packet. The data processing unit 34 decodes the data packet and provides the video decoder 33 and audio decoder 35 with a clock pulse for synchronizing voice and image data.
The clock pulse from the data processing unit 34 provides the time periods required for the decoding operation of the video decoder 33 and audio decoder 35. Accordingly, it is used to synchronize the voice and the image data.
TABLE 1
Table 1 illustrates a program access table (PAT) and a program mapping table (PMT). It is used by a program demultiplexed by the transport stream demultiplexer 32 in the conventional transport stream receiving apparatus for the digital broadcasting system.
Referring to Table 1, the PAT informs that there is one program (program_number) in a transport stream transmitted through a selected channel. The program ID (PMT_PID) of a channel selected by the user is "0x0A0". The transport stream demultiplexer 32 analyzes the PMT_PID (e.g. "0x0A0") corresponding to an appointed program_number obtained by analyzing the PAT.
The transport stream demultiplexer 32 analyzes the PMT having the program ID (PMT_PID) of "0x0A0." The transport stream demultiplexer 32 obtains PID information of a basic stream, video information (SDTV class or HDTV class) (e.g. "0x0A1") and audio information (MPEG audio or AC-3 audio) (e.g. "0x0A5" representing MPEG audio in Table 1). These are actual components of a program and information about data (e.g. "0x00AA") if it is necessary. The transport stream demultiplexer 32 transmits video, audio, and data information according to information included in Table 1 to corresponding decoders (e.g. decoders 33, 34, and 35). The transmitted information is decoded at a predetermined time and is output to an exterior device. This allows a user to view the relevant program.
As described above, a transport stream based on Table 1 is configured with a program which includes one piece of video information, one piece of audio information, and data information.
Meanwhile, a transport stream may include a multi-screen, which will now be described with reference to Table 2.
TABLE 2
Table 2 illustrates a program access table (PAT) and a program mapping table (PMT). It is used by a program demultiplexed by the transport stream demultiplexer 32 of the conventional transport stream receiving apparatus. It can provide a multi-screen picture in a digital broadcasting system.
Referring to Table 2, the PAT informs that there is one program (program_number) in a transport stream transmitted through a selected channel. The program ID (PMT_PID) of the channel selected by the user is "0x0A0". The transport stream demultiplexer 32 analyzes the PMT_PID (e.g. "0x0A0") corresponding to an appointed program_number obtained by analyzing the PAT.
The transport stream demultiplexer 32 analyzes the PMT having the program ID (PMT_PID) of "0x0A0." The transport stream demultiplexer 32 obtains PID information of a basic stream, a plurality of video information (SDTV class or HDTV class) (e.g. "0x0A1", "0x0A2", "0x0A3", and "0x0A4") and audio information (MPEG audio, AC-3 audio, etc.) (e.g. "0x0A5" representing MPEG audio in Table 2). These are actual components of a program and information about data (e.g. "0x0AA") if it is necessary. The transport stream demultiplexer 32 transmits video, audio, and data information according to information included in Table 2 to corresponding decoders (e.g. decoders 33, 34, and 35). The transmitted information is decoded at a predetermined time and is output to an exterior device. This allows a user to view the relevant program.
However, in such conventional transport stream receiving apparatuses, a PMT must be analyzed in order to obtain information about a multi-screen. This is provided to improve the quality of a digital broadcasting service. Also it is impossible to control screen configuration based on priorities among a plurality of image information which form the multi-screen.

Apparatus for receiving transport stream to provide multi-screen and control method therefor

Maetan-Dong, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon-Si, Gyeonggi-do


An image forming apparatus includes a developer supplying roller for supplying to a predetermined print position a developer charged to predetermined polarity, and a print head provided in the print position and having electrode pairs which are respectively provided with developer passing holes, each pair including a first electrode and a second electrode connecting with each other, and being so adapted that the developer passing holes are opened or closed by control of an electric field between the first and second electrodes, on the basis of whether print dot data is sent in synchronization with a predetermined print clock signal. At a time when the print dot data is sent in synchronism with the print clock signal, the electric field is controlled such that the developer is attracted from the developer supplying roller to the first electrode. On the other hand, at a time when the print dot data is not sent in synchronism with the print clock signal, the electric field is controlled such that the developer is attracted from the first electrode to the developer supplying roller. Further, in the image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention, an ultrasonic vibration applying device is contemplated as applying ultrasonic vibration to the print head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as a printer and a copying machine and a method of controlling the image forming apparatuses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Examples of a printer conventionally known include one comprising a developer supplying roller 1 for supplying to a predetermined print position a developer T charged to predetermined polarity, for example, negatively charged, a print head 6 provided in the print position and having an electrode pair, which is provided with a developer passing hole 2, comprising an upper first electrode 3 and a lower second electrode 4 connecting with each other, and a paper feeding roller 7 for feeding paper P to the print position, and so adapted that the developer passing hole 2 is opened or closed in a potential manner by the control of the potentials of the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 on the basis of print dot data sent in synchronization with a predetermined print clock signal.
Although in the print head 6, a plurality of electrode pairs each comprising a first electrode 3 and a second electrode 4 are actually arranged in a matrix shape with an insulating substrate 5 being interposed therebetween and respectively provided with a plurality of developer passing holes 2, only one electrode pair comprising a first electrode 3 and a second electrode 4 is illustrated for convenience.
The first electrode 3 is grounded. A predetermined positive voltage V3 is applied to the paper feeding roller 7. Consider a case where the print dot data is printed. In this case, when V1 is taken as the potential of the first electrode 3 and V2 is taken as the potential of the second electrode 4, the potential V2 of the second electrode 4 is so controlled that V1<V2<V3. Consequently, a developer T passes through the developer passing hole 2 in the print head 6 from the developer supplying roller 1 and adheres to the paper P by an electric field formed by the first and second electrodes 3 and 4 as well as the paper feeding roller 7.
Consider a case where the print dot data is unprinted. In this case, the potential V2 of the second electrode 4 is so controlled that V1>V2. Consequently, the developer T is prevented from passing through the developer passing hole 2 in the print head 6 by an electric field formed by the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4.
In such a printer, the developer T is not sufficiently supplied to the developer passing hole 2. Accordingly, such an electric field that the developer T is attracted from the developer supplying roller 1 to the first electrode 3 has been conventionally always generated between the developer supplying roller 1 and the first electrode 3. More specifically, assuming that the developer T is negatively charged, the positive pole of a DC power supply 12 is connected to the first electrode 3 and the negative pole of the DC power supply 12 is connected to the developer supplying roller 1, as shown in FIG. 3.
If such an electric field that the developer T is attracted from the developer supplying roller 1 to the first electrode 3 is always generated between the developer supplying roller 1 and the first electrode 3, the developer T is sufficiently supplied to the developer passing hole 2. Since the developer T is also supplied to developer passing holes 2 other than the developer passing hole 2 corresponding to the print dot data which is printed, however, the developer passing holes 2 are clogged with the developer T.

Image forming apparatus and method of controlling image forming apparatus


A femoral hip implant includes a first end, a second end, and a collar with a porous surface, all fabricated from a single piece of material. The entire area of the collar is porous, and the collar elastically deflects under load to promote bone ingrowth.

There are two primary methods of fixation for femoral hip implants in total hip replacement. The first method utilizes bone cement to bond the femoral hip implant to the surrounding bone. The second method relies on a press fit between the femoral hip implant and the bone to promote long term stability. Such press fit implants are commonly tapered to resist post-operative subsidence into the bone canal, and can include porous surfaces to promote bone ingrowth. Many press fit implants also include a collar that rests on the calcar area of the femur, acting to restrain subsidence and allow load sharing between the bone and the implant.

Hip stem prosthesis with a porous collar to allow for bone ingrowth


A friction damped brake drum for reducing vibrations in a brake drum.

Motor vehicle brake components are commonly subjected to vibrations during the course of normal operation. Among other potential adverse affects, these vibrations may result in noise that gets transmitted into the vehicle's passenger compartment and beyond. For example, the occurrence of both low and high frequency vibrations in one or more brake components oftentimes results in a particular noise that is heard and felt by a driver while braking. Thus, in various applications, reducing brake component vibrations may be helpful in improving, among others, driver comfort and overall performance of the brake component.


An image processing device that, even when a degradation model differs from a real degradation process of an obtained low-resolution image, generates a high-resolution image while restricting noises from occurring due to differences between the degradation model and the real degradation process. The image processing device includes: an enlargement interpolation unit generating a first high-resolution image that is higher in resolution than the low-resolution image; a super resolution processing unit generating, from the low-resolution image, a second high-resolution image; a feature generating unit generating features by using the low-resolution image; a difference calculating unit calculating difference values between values of pixels; an adjustment unit calculating corrected difference values by correcting the difference values by using the features; and a combination unit generating a third high-resolution image by adding corrected difference values to values of corresponding pixels in the first high-resolution image.

1.Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image processing technology for generating a high-resolution image from a low-resolution image.
2.Background Art
As a method for generating a high-resolution image from a low-resolution image, the super resolution technology has been proposed. For example, Non-Patent Literature 1, discloses a representative method of the super resolution technology. According to Non-Patent Literature 1, Equation 1 shown below is defined to represent relation between a plurality of low-resolution images and a high-resolution image, and the high-resolution image is generated by solving the Equation 1. To solve Equation 1, iterative processing using the gradient method or the like is performed, and the calculation is repeatedly performed until the error becomes constant.
                    I        =                                            1                              σ                2                                                                                ∑                                  i                  =                  0                                                  N                                      l                    -                    1                                                                                [                                                                                b                                                                                (                                                                                x                                i                                                            ,                                                              y                                i                                                                                )                                                                          T                                            ·                      h                                        -                                          f                      i                                                        ]                                2                                              +                      a                                                                                                            C                    T                                    ·                  h                                                            2                                                          (                  Equation                                                              1                )
In the above equation, h is a vector representation of a high-resolution image, σ is a noise deviation of an observed value, b(xi, yi) is a vector representation of a PSF (Point Spread Function) kernel corresponding to a position (xi, yi), C is a matrix representing prior information of the high-resolution image, and α is a constraint parameter representing the strength of the constraint. Also, Nl is the total number of pixels constituting a plurality of low-resolution images.
In conventional super resolution technologies, based on an assumption that a low-resolution image is a result of a high-resolution image having been degraded for some reason, the relation between a target high-resolution image and a low-resolution image is described in an equation, and the target high-resolution image is obtained by solving the equation. In obtaining an excellent high-resolution image, the equation as a degradation model plays a vital role, and how to create a degradation model of a low-resolution image based on an assumed degradation process is a key to the super resolution technology.
When the degradation model differs from the real degradation process of the low-resolution image, a noise is included in the obtained high-resolution image due to the difference between the degradation model and the real degradation process. Non-Patent Literature 2 discloses a super resolution technology that enhances the robustness by adding a member representing a system noise into the degradation model, other than the members representing noises occurring in the process of inputting the image such as the PSF and the like. According to the technology of Non-Patent Literature 2, a degradation model such as Equation 2 is defined, and a high-resolution image is generated by solving this equation.Yk=DkHkcamFkHkatmX+Vk k=l, . . . ,N  (Equation 2)
In Equation 2, X is an input image, Hatm is an atmospheric blur, Fk is a degradation caused by A/D conversion, Hcam is a camera blur, Dk is a degradation caused by downsampling, and Vk is a system noise. In Equation 2, the degradation including the system noise is modeled. Thus the equation provides robustness with regard to noises other than the noises of the regular image degradation.

Image processing device and image processing method generating a high-resolution image from a low-resolution image

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA


The present invention relates to provide a protein group binding to keratin which is the major component of body hair, or genes encoding the same, particularly to keratin-associated proteins (KAP) which bind specifically and strongly to hair keratin or genes encoding the same. The base sequence of eurochromtic region of approximately 33.5 Mb of human chromosome 21 was determined, a dot-matrix analysis of the base sequence of the long arm region of chromosome 21 (21q22.3) was carried out, homology search was made to low frequency repetitive sequences and 16 KAP genes being expressed only in hair root cells were found. Moreover, the high frequency repetitive sequences present in the sequence spanning for approximately 1 Mb between CLDN8 gene and TIAM1 gene in the long arm region of chromosome 21(21q22.11) were masked, the presence or absence of short low frequency repetitive sequence was searched, and 22 KAP genes were found. Moreover, a group of functional peptide was designed from the above mentioned KAPs.

Human hair fiber is produced in the hair follicles, which are composed of different particular epithelium and connective tissues and are one of the most active tissues in human body. It is well known that hair fiber is composed mainly of keratin-intermediate filaments (KIFs) and keratin-associated protein (KAPs), that KIFs are further classified into Type I and Type II, and forms a gene cluster on human chromosome 12 and 17 (Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 48, 148–151, 1988, Exp. Cell Res. 220, 357–362, 1995, Mol. Cell. Biol. 8, 722–736, 1988, Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 77, 169–174, 1997, Hum. Genet. 82, 109–112, 1989, Cytogenet. CellGenet. 57, 33–38, 1991, Genomics 24, 502–508, 1994). On the other hand, from the studies of animal other than human, it is reported that KAPs (keratin-associated protein) play a role as matrix embedding the space between KIFs and they are roughly classified into 3 groups based on their amino acid composition, that is ultra-high sulfur protein (cysteine content 30% or more), high sulfur protein (cysteine content 30% or less), and high Glycine/Tyrosine protein (glycine and tyrosine content 35–60%). As for KAPs, many cDNA are isolated from mice, rats, rabbits, sheep and the like, and for the present, proteins belonging to 17 sub-families have been identified (Powell, B. C., and Rogers, G. E. The role of keratin proteins and their genes in the growth, structure and properties of hair. In Formation and structure of human hair (ed. Jolles, P., Zahn, H., and Hocker, H.), pp. 59–148, Birkhauser Verlag, Basel., 1997; Genomics 54, 437–442, 1998; J. Invest. Dermatol. 111, 128–132, 1998; J. Invest. Dermatol. 111, 804–809, 1998; Mech. Dev. 86, 193–196, 1999; Development 128, 1547–1558, 2001; J. Biol. Chem. 276, 19440–19451, 2001). On the contrary, studies on human KAP have just begun.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.


The main feature of the handkerchief valet is that it continually maintains the handkerchief in the same shape and height in the upper exterior left side chest pocket of a suit coat or sports coat or jacket as originally positioned.

The invention named above as the handkerchief valet (hv) and presented herein, is associated with the clothing and wearing apparel field. More specifically, the handkerchief valet is an item used to improve and maintain the neat appearance of the handkerchief folds protruding outward from the upper left side exterior chest pocket of a suit or sports coat or jacket. Most well-groomed persons finds it necessary to insert a color coordinated attire matching handkerchief in the upper left side chest pocket.
The problem heretofore has been that the handkerchief does not maintain its shape and height in the pocket as positioned. Over time, the handkerchief looses its shape and height and is no longer flattering or disappears inside of the pocket altogether. The handkerchief valet provides a remedy for the disheveled and disappearing handkerchief in the chest pocket.


The systems and methods for a twisted pair transceiver with correlation detection includes a transceiver system operating on a cable. The transceiver system includes a receiver to obtain one or more data samples related to one or more encoded data symbols. The transceiver system further includes a first correlation filter to generate a first correlation output based on the one or more data samples, and a second correlation filter to generate a second correlation output based on the one or more data samples. The transceiver system further includes a detector. The detector compares the first correlation output with the second correlation output, generates an output data bit based on a comparison result, and sends the output data bit for data decoding.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the inventors hereof, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted to be prior art against the present disclosure.
Physical transceivers that operate on a single twisted wire pair cable is a new application of LANs in the IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) standard. The single pair cable conveys signals from one transceiver to another via a dual duplex channel. The IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) Working Group has two active task forces in this area addressing 1 Gigabit and 100 Megabits over a single twisted pair cable, i.e., 1000BASE-T1 and 100BASE-T1. As a transceiver can operate at multiple rates, two devices connected by a cable can negotiate a commonly supported rate for both devices to operate on.
Transceiver performance in a single twisted pair application can be impaired by multiple sources of degradation. First the single twisted pair may be used to convey a voltage across the differential pairs along the length of the cable, e.g., the power over differential line (PoDL). The PoDL system requires a scheme to block the direct current (DC) voltage source from the transceiver. PoDL can also introduce significant noise at low frequencies into the transmission system that can degrade transceiver performance. A high pass network or isolation device such as capacitors or a magnetic transformer can be used to isolate the transceiver from the DC voltage supplied to the differential wire pair. The isolation device may attenuate low frequency signals between the transceiver and the differential wire pair. An example can be a first order high pass filter (HPF) at the cutoff frequency of 10 MHz. In a system using PoDL with the 10 MHz HPF, the communication channel is no longer suitable to implement typical baseband line codes such as Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) or IEEE 802.3 Clause 73 differential Manchester encoding (DME) with a conventional receiver architecture, because significant low frequency energy can be lost. Data recovery can thus be difficult and system bit error performance is degraded.
Second, the system can be impaired by multiple broadband noise sources such as thermal noise, which is typically modelled as additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN).
Third, the system can be impaired by radio frequency narrow band interferers (NBI), which can couple onto the twisted pair and appear as an undesired signal at the receiver in addition to the desired signal and AWGN. The NBI is typically modeled as a sine wave. The levels of NBI in the single twisted pair transceiver application can be significant, relative to the transmit signal of the transceiver. For example, a NBI signal of 200 mV can occur to a 1V nominal transmit level.
Fourth, the twisted pair cable itself may attenuate higher frequencies and distort the transmitted signal introducing inter-symbol interference (ISI) at the receiving transceiver.

Systems and methods for a twisted pair transceiver with correlation detection


A device for preventing rotation of a segment of nozzle guide vanes assembly in a form of an annulus sector housed inside an annular casing of a turbo machine with interposing of a heat shield sheet between an internal wall of the casing and an external wall of the segment of nozzle guide vanes assembly, the device including a rotation-proofing peg fitted both into a notch formed in the segment of nozzle guide vanes assembly and in a housing formed in the casing, the heat shield sheet including a tab resting against the rotation-proofing peg. A surface portion radially between the tab and the internal wall of the casing forms an end stop in event of a possible radial movement of the heat shield sheet while the turbo machine is in operation.

A gas turbine engine such as used in aeronautics includes an upstream inlet through which air is sucked in and then compressed by being guided through the compressor stages. The compressed air is introduced into a combustion chamber, the fuel also being admitted into said combustion chamber and mixed with the air and combustion taking place in said chamber. The hot combustion gases are expanded in the different turbine stages, one of which is generally a high pressure stage directly downstream of the chamber and which receives the gases at the highest temperature compatible with the behavior of the materials. After said first expansion, the gases are expanded again by being guided through the so-called low pressure turbine stages. One turbine stage includes a wheel of distributors upstream of a turbine runner.
A distributor wheel with axial flow includes a plurality of blades arranged radially with regard to the axis of the machine connecting a ring-shaped element radially inside and a ring-shaped element radially outside; the assembly forms a ring-shaped vein facing the runner blades of a turbine wheel. The runner is itself made up of blades which extend radially from the rim of a disk or a moving drum about a rotational axis. The blades are traversed in an axial manner by the engine gases. In this way, the low pressure section of an engine generally includes several turbine stages.
The distributor wheels are segmented into a plurality of sectors which are distributed around the axis of the machine, each segment being formed by a plurality of blades between two ring sectors. Each segment is mounted inside the casing of the turbine by the ring sector radially outside. Said latter includes a retaining means upstream and a retaining means downstream. Said means, for example, are ring-shaped rails which are provided in the inside wall of the casing on which support surfaces, which are arranged on the ring sectors of the distributor segments, come to bear. The assembly is arranged so as to allow the relative expansion of the distributor with regard to the casing which is a function of the variations of the working of the machine. On account of the axial symmetry of the distributor wheels and of the tangential stresses resulting from the gaseous flow which traverses them, it is necessary to provide means for blocking the sectors from rotating.
Patent FR 2 743 603 in the name of SNECMA describes a method of assembling such distributor segments inside a casing. The distributor segments include a peripheral outside rib, at right angles to the axis of the distributor, resting by way of faces, one radially outside, the other downstream, on corresponding faces of the inside wall of the casing. Clamps, formed by the turbine ring downstream of said level, hold the segments and keep them in position against the radial movements. A protrusion on the upstream face of the rib of each segment includes a notch in which a rotation-proofing peg is housed. Said peg is made up by a head which is housed in said notch and a rod which is slid into a radial bore of the wall of the casing. In this way, said peg prevents any rotational movement of the distributor segment about the axis of said latter.
So as to protect the wall of the casing against radiant heat produced by the distributor segments, a sheet is provided interposed between the segment and the inside wall of the casing. Said heat shield sheet bears upstream against a radial surface portion which is arranged in the inside wall of the casing. The upstream edge of the shield sheet is curved radially toward the inside in order to form a pin which also bears on an upstream edge of the segment and participates in the holding of said segment against the upstream rail of the casing. Downstream the shield sheet includes an indentation with a tab in the bottom of the indentation which bears against the rotation-proofing peg of the segment. The tab is in effect wedged in a fine groove of the peg.
Said assembly provides complete satisfaction as regards holding the distributor inside the casing and protecting it thermally.
However, it has been observed that the sheet was likely to release itself from its contact with the rotation-proofing peg, the tab coming out of the bearing groove provided on the peg. By not being retained against the peg, the downstream part of the sheet, where the tab is located, is able to go and rub against the inside face of the wall of the casing, and scratch the same. It would be desirable to eliminate said risk of wear on the casing.

Turbo machine with a device for preventing a segment of nozzle guide vanes assembly from rotating in a casing; rotation-proofing peg


The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for the application of a treatment medium to the intrauterine cavity of a female. The method includes the steps of introducing a first pressurizable chamber within a intrauterine cavity of a female; introducing a second pressurizable chamber readily outwardly of the first pressurizable chamber; filling the first pressurizable chamber with a treatment medium; and filling the outer pressurizable chamber with a pressurizable fluid, so as to affect discharge of the treatment medium from the innermost first pressurizable chamber over an extended period of time. The method includes the step of introducing the treatment medium into the first pressurizable chamber through an elongated catheter. The treatment medium may be comprised of a medicament or of spermatozoa for insemination of the female.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to dispensing instruments and methods for introducing treatment material and fluid-like material into the uterus and canals of the fallopian tubes, and more particularly to a method in apparatus for the effecting of insemination. This
2. Prior Art
Specific delivery and application of a treatment medium such as spermatozoa, to an intrauterine locus, particularly for the successful insemination of an egg thereat, is an intended yet illusive goal of many in the medical field. Successful fertilization requires the maturation of spermatozoa in their transit through the uterus and oviducts to the ovum. The goal of the fertilization process, is to promote changes in the female reproductive tract and increase the ability of sperm to penetrate the egg, this effect being called capacitation.
The likelihood of such fertilization occurs, by the successful delivery of the spermatozoa and its association with the extracellular coating of the oval called the zone pellucid. Once a successful motile spermatozoon has fused with the egg membrane, fertilization has been completed. For this to occur, however, millions of spermatozoa must be successfully released so that one of them reaches the egg at the optimum time. This time window for such spermatozoa within the uterus, from introduction to fertilization, may extend in range over a twenty-four to a sixty hour period.
One approach for delivering material into the female uterus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,328 to Bolduc et al. This patent shows a dispensing instrument utilizing a balloon which is inflated within the uterus. A piston and cylinder arrangement has a duct that extends through the balloon, which feeds the material to the uterus. The material is delivered over a short period of time and the balloon and probe are readily withdrawn thereafter. A further concept to Bolduc, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,188 with a complicated housing and injector assembly with a conduit path through a balloon for treatment of a female uterus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,025 to Cassou et al, discloses an insemination apparatus for animals, utilizing a flexible injector probe, having a plurality of expandable balloons one of each end thereof to facilitate injection of semen from a reservoir tube into the vaginal cavity of the animal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,377 to Levine et al, shows a device for accessing and introducing fluids into the female uterus. This device uses several spaced-apart balloons to securely couple the shaft to the uterus, adjusting to the length of the cervical canal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,584 to Zink et al, shows an apparatus for establishing access to the uterus and fallopian tubes of a female. An anchoring tube on the end of a flexible catheter is first inserted within the uterus. After such anchoring is completed, the elongated second catheter is arranged to extend through the first catheter and balloon and into the fallopian tubes. Injection of treatment into those fallopian tubes is thereby accomplished.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,654 to Smith et al, shows an arrangement for time-released delivery of a preparation into a uterine cavity. An osmotic pump is placed within the vagina of the female, having a delivery tube extending within the uterus. An anchoring balloon is disposed about the delivery tube within the uterus and is pressurized through a port which is pressurized through the vagina. Osmotic pressure gradually builds up within the osmotic chamber to pressurize an inner chamber to deliver material from the vagina to within the uterus through the delivery tube.
It is an object of the present invention, to overcome the limitations and objections of the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention, to provide a unique method and apparatus for treatment of a mammalian uterus, in a safe and comfortable manner over an extended period of time, for optimization of the intended results.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention, to provide a method and apparatus for the fertilization of a human or animal female wherein unnecessary medical procedures are eliminated.


There is provided an image recording apparatus including an image-capturing section that captures an image of the observed person, an observation result input section that inputs a result of the observation done by the observer, an input detecting section that detects the input of the observation result by the observation result input section, and an image storing control section that stores the image of the observed person which is captured by the image-capturing section when the input detecting section detects the input of the observation result.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, an image recording method and an image recording program. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, an image recording method and an image recording program for assisting an observer who observes an observed person.
2. Related Art
A filing system for medical images has been proposed which records thereon an image of a patient (i.e. an observed person) which is captured when an observer diagnoses the patient, in association with patient information (information which identifies the patient and indicates the status of the patient), test information (a date, a time and a location where a test is conducted), and test result information (a result of the diagnosis, findings and the like) (see Patent Document 1, for example). According to such a filing system, the patient information and the like is used as a search key to search for the image of the observed person. In addition, a medical image diagnosis apparatus has been proposed (see Patent Document 2, for example). According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, when an image of an observed person is being captured and an examining doctor judges that the image being captured is necessary for making a diagnosis (key image), the image is recorded on a memory in association with information indicating that the image is a key image and image-capturing information (direction in which the image is captured and the like) by the examining doctor who manipulates a switch of the diagnosis apparatus. Here, when a diagnosis is made, the key image is displayed.
[Patent Document 1] Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-73615
[Patent Document 2] Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-109509
According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, however, the image captured can not be maintained in association with a search key which can identify a time at which the observer pays attention to a particular area of the observed person while the observer observes the observed person. According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, an image can be captured only when a person who makes a diagnosis of an observed person looks at the observed person. However, an image of the observed person which may be captured while the person who makes a diagnosis does not look at the observed person is also useful in making a diagnosis. The invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 can not capture an image of the observed person while the person who makes a diagnosis does not look at the observed person.
In view of the above, an advantage of some embodiments of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus, an image recording method and an image recording program which can solve the above-mentioned problems. This advantage is achieved by combining the features recited in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further effective specific example of the present invention.

Image recording apparatus, image recording method and image recording program


A video recorder connected to an external device such as a printer or a personal computer. The video recorder comprises a tuner for receiving a television program and program information corresponding to the television program, a recording medium for recording the television program and the program information received by the tuner, a remote controller, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor generates a label image based on the television program selected by the user with the remote controller, the program information corresponding to the television program, and the data which the user has input in the video recorder. And then the microprocessor sends the generated label image to the external device such as the printer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video recorder, and a printing system including a video recorder.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a television program recorded by a video recorder such as a hard disk drive recorder is frequently dubbed to a disk such as a DVD-R (digital versatile disk recordable). When dubbing, a user sometimes makes a printer print on the disk cover label and the disk label (hereinafter collectively called "the label") the image including a television program title and the cast of the program. Thus, a user can recognize the television program recorded on the disk only by seeing the label.
In the field of the above kind of technology, Japanese laid-open patent publication 2003-134447 discloses a video recorder which automatically generates a image for the label (hereinafter, referred to as "label image") by using a template corresponding to the content of the television program, and sends the image to a printer.
However, the above described video recorder has the problem that cannot reflect in the label image the data which a user has input in the video recorder. Therefore, if a user wants to reflect in the label image the data which a user has input in the video recorder, a user has to not only make the video recorder send the label image generated in the video recorder to a PC (personal computer), but also enter the same data as those input in the video recorder so that the PC can reflect the data in the label image. This method takes a lot of trouble in editing the label image.
Meanwhile, in order to save the effort in editing and generating the label image, many users want to generate the label image using the program information such as an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) corresponding to the television program recorded in the video recorder.
However, the video recorder disclosed in the Japanese laid-open patent publication 2003-134447 cannot reflect the program information in the label image.

Video recorder and printing system including video recorder


Methods, non-transitory machine readable media, and computing devices that facilitate demultiplexing services over ports are disclosed. With this technology, a request is received via a connection over one or more communication networks. The request includes payload data and a port number. At least a portion of the payload data is analyzed to determine one of a set of protocols associated with the port number. A service is then bound to the connection based on the determined one of the set of protocols. The service is configured to interpret the request. This technology advantageously allows the use of multiple protocols for a port number in a manner that is compatible with existing protocols and does not require any client-side code or coordination.

Active initiators of network traffic, including client devices, utilize port numbers to indicate a particular service to be used by listeners, including server devices, to interpret or process the network traffic. Many well-known port numbers are available and reserved for public use, such as port 80, which is used for HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) for transmitting web content, and port 25, which is used for Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) for e-mail routing between mail servers. In these examples, the application layer protocol (i.e., HTTP or SMTP) utilizes an underlying transport layer protocol of the Internet Protocol (IP) suite, such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), for example.
Accordingly, client devices can include 16-bit unsigned port numbers in headers of packets associated with a TCP data stream to identify receiving application end-points or services on server devices. While other types of port numbers are available, including registered and dynamic or private, well-known port numbers are assigned by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). It is generally difficult to obtain and reserve a port number from the IANA or other similar agencies, and the number of available port numbers is scarce.
In particular, the process for obtaining a reserved port number for a particular service is cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming. Additionally, firewall devices in communication networks allow only a particular number of specified port numbers to be used for incoming connections. Accordingly, existing firewall devices would have to be reconfigured to allow communications to services associated with newly-allocated port numbers in order to prevent associated network traffic from being blocked.

Methods for demultiplexing services over ports and devices thereof