In a method to determine a selection vector that indicates a displacement of an image area from a first position in a first image to a second position in a second image, a set of prediction vectors and a set of test vectors are provided. Using selected test vectors, an image comparison is performed to supply an image comparison result for each selected test vector. The selected test vectors and at least one prediction vector are compared to provide at least one test vector comparison result for each selected test vector. The image comparison result and the at least one test vector comparison result are linked to provide at least one quality characteristic for each selected test vector. A ranking order is determined for these quality characteristics, where at least one test vector is selected as the displacement vector based on the ranking order determined.

The present invention relates in general to image processing and in particular to a method for determining a displacement vector in an image processing operation.
In image processing, displacement vectors or motion vectors function by a known approach to define a change in position of an object or image area from a first position within a first image to a second position within a second image.
The two images can be recorded temporally sequentially, thereby graphically representing a movement of the object or image area in a displayed image segment over time. In such cases, the motion vector serves, for example, to interpolate one or more intermediate images which reproduce the position of the object at one or more instants in time between the recording of the first and second images, for example, in the case of 50 Hz/100 Hz video conversion or when generating "artificial time expansions."
The two images can also be recorded simultaneously from first and second camera positions, where the displacement vector to be determined serves to generate an intermediate image which shows the object from another virtual cameral position which is located at a position different from the first and second camera positions.
FIG. 1 illustrates two images B1, B2, which may have been recorded in temporal succession or from different camera positions, having a first image area 1 at a first position P1 within the first image B1, and a second image area 2 at a second position P2 within the second image B2. For simplicity, the first and second image areas 1, 2 are represented as squares, the midpoints of which are identified by the positions P1, P2 within the image areas. The image areas may have any desired shape.
As FIG. 1 illustrates, the second image area 2 in the second image B2 results from a displacement of the first image area 1 of the first image B1 by a displacement vector vec. This displacement can be a function of time when the two images B1, B2 are recorded in succession and an object representing the first image area 1 moves within the examined image segment from the position P1 at the instant the first image B1 is recorded to the position 2 at the instant the second image B2 is recorded. This displacement of the two image areas 1, 2 within the displayed image segment can also be the result of the fact that the two images B1, B2 are recorded at the same instant but from different viewing angles.
One basic approach, known for determining this type of displacement vector for a given image area or object, is to divide the image into individual image areas and supply test vectors, each of which represents a possible displacement vector for the individual image areas. Using these test vectors, image comparisons are performed by which image information, for example, luminance values or chrominance values for the individual pixels of an examined image area in the first image, is compared with image information values for a second image area in the second image, where one selection vector each is used to displace the position of the second image area in the second image relative to the position of the first image area in the first image. Out of the various test vectors, the one or more selection vectors are chosen which provide the "best" comparison result, for which the best match is determined between the first and second image areas.
The quality of this method is a function of the selection vectors chosen since it is difficult from a practical view to perform an image comparison for all of the possible displacement vectors due to the need to keep the already high computational effort within certain limits. It is thus a fundamental goal of these methods to reduce the number of required image comparisons without accepting degradation of the result in the determination of the at least one selection vector.
A known method for reducing the effort/complexity is to utilize certain prior information in the selection of test vectors for a given image area, which information has been obtained, for example, in previous search steps for the given image area, or in search steps for an adjacent image area. This prior information results in a group of prediction vectors from which the test vectors are generated or selected. These prediction vectors, which were obtained using search steps for adjacent image areas or using previous search steps for the image areas examined, can be accepted as the test vector for the area of interest, and/or the test vectors can be generated from these prediction vectors by changing their length and/or direction according to a predetermined or random scheme, whereby in this last-named case the prediction vectors can change from search step to search step.
The selection vectors determined from the test vectors can be utilized as new prediction vectors during the subsequent search steps.
To illustrate this method, FIG. 2 provides a schematic view of a known vector search system which determines displacement vectors for individual image areas and which incorporates prediction vectors to determine a possible displacement vector, the prediction vectors containing results from previous search steps for the same image area, or results from search steps for adjacent image areas. The system comprises a test vector determination unit 10 to which a set of prediction vectors are supplied and which provides a set of test vectors from these prediction vectors. The provision of test vectors can be implemented by passing on unchanged some or all of the prediction vectors as test vectors. In addition, it is possible to modify some or all the prediction vectors according to a fixed or random scheme to generate the test vectors.
The test vectors are employed in an image comparison unit 20, connected to the output of the test vector determination unit 10, to perform image comparisons for the individual image areas, where, with reference to FIG. 1, one image area 1 from the first image B1 is always compared with an image area 2 from the second image B2, while from the second image B2 for each comparison that second image area is selected, the geometry of which matches the geometry of the first image area 1 and which area is displaced relative to the first image area 1 of the first image 1 by one of the selection vectors.
The results determined for the individual comparisons are supplied to a selection unit 30 which, based on the comparison results, selects at least one selection vector for which the best comparison result was determined out of the group of test vectors. The at least one vector selected based on the comparison results represents the actual displacement vector, or at least the most likely displacement vector, which maps the first image area 1 from the first image B1 onto the second image area 2 in the second image B2. In the determination of the comparison result, it is possible to evaluate the test vectors differently as a function of how they were generated. For example, it is possible in the image comparison to "penalize" the prediction vectors or test vectors determined based on the image comparisons for previous images, that is, to grade them lower than test vectors that were determined for adjacent image areas within the same image.
In this known method, the selection vectors are always a function of the prediction vectors. However, an appropriate utilization of these prediction vectors requires that the displacement of adjacent image areas, or the displacement of the image area of interest, does not undergo significant variations over time, since it must be ensured that the selection vectors determined from the prediction vectors also contain the actual displacement vector. Otherwise a considerable expansion in the number of selection vectors is required.
What is needed is an improved method for determining in image processing at least one selection vector which is in particular capable of taking into account rapid changes in the displacement vectors.

Method for determining a displacement vector in an image processing operation


The sharpening system for cutter blades for cutting flexible materials in automatic cutting machines comprises at least one sharpening element, and it also comprises a first sharpening module that includes at least one first sharpening element, and a second sharpening module that includes at least one second sharpening element.

Computer numerical control cutting machines for cutting flexible multi-layer or single-layer materials need to sharpen the blades frequently during the execution of their functions.
The flexible materials to be cut, such as textile materials, composites, etc., require very sharp blades, given that, otherwise, they drag the material, leading to unwanted results.
For this reason, unlike other types of computer numerical control cutting machines, they need to incorporate sharpening systems designed to ensure that this sharpening function is executed frequently, such as from minutes to seconds, with variations based on the hardness, abrasion resistance, softness, melting temperature, etc. of each material when cut. This sharpening time can vary, and during this time the machine is not cutting anything, thereby reducing its productivity.
These computer numerical control cutting machines comprise a cutting head formed by an upper body and a lower body. The upper body of said cutting head houses the vibration module of the blade, the actuators, etc., while the lower body of said cutting head houses the rotary lower guide plate, the sharpening system (interchangeably on the lower or upper part of said lower body), etc.
The vibration module of the blade is mounted on a vertical mobile system that makes it possible to vary the height of the blade such that, while cutting, the blade is situated in a lower position inside the material to be cut, bringing the blade closer to the lower guide plate which presses against the materials that are being cut. Said rotary lower guide plate has a variable height depending on the thickness of the material to be cut. The vibration module is disposed on the upper body of the cutting head.
The function of the lower body is to guide the blade vertically in the direction of vibration, and it also accompanies and guides the blade in rotations from 0° to 360°, which are necessary to orient the blade in the direction of the profiles ordered by the computer numerical control system.
Said lower body guides and accompanies the blade, both vertically and in the rotations, but said movements are generated in the upper part (the upper part is the location of the actuators, which can be motors, pistons, etc., that generate the movements of the blade).
This lower part consists of a pressure rotary guide plate having a vertical movement that is independent from the movement of the blade. The blade passes through this rotary guide plate and enters the cutting area, where the flexible material to be cut is situated, free from attachments or guides.
The rotary guide plate rests with greater or lesser force on the material to be cut, which may or may not be compressed. The rotary guide plate is a crucial element, as it is the last mechanical assembly that accompanies and keeps the blade rigid before it penetrates the material to be cut, forming a true line of separation between the cutting head assembly and the material to be cut.
During the sharpening function, the blade has to exit the material and is released to ensure that the sharpening elements come into contact with the cutting edge thereof to thus interrupt the cutting function while the sharpening is performed. Said sharpening elements include, for example, flexible abrasive belts, active or passive grinding wheels, in different designs and abrasive materials, regardless of their arrangement.
The sharpening elements are often disposed in a predetermined fixed position on the cutting head, due to which the blade needs to rotate to find this sharpening position on one or both sides of the blade.
In other cases, the sharpening systems are rotary and inertial systems, due to which the blade is placed in a bi-directional rotary position when it exits the cutting material. In these cases, the abrasive elements remain suspended, and the entire lower body, along with the blade, rotates to allow inertial motion to put said abrasive elements in contact with the blade.
There are also other sharpening systems that rotate along with the blade, rather than having a predetermined fixed position. Thus, when blade exits the cutting area, it is sharpened without having to position itself for this purpose.
In these designs, the sharpening systems are situated on the lower body of the cutting head, either in the upper part (active sharpening systems) or in the lower rotary guide plate (passive sharpening systems).
In the active sharpening systems, the abrasive elements are in motion, and this movement results from an external mechanism activated by pulleys, pistons, electromagnets, etc., which transmit movement to these abrasive elements. Active sharpening provides the highest cutting quality.
There are also designs which provide passive sharpening mechanisms, i.e., the elements containing the abrasive material are not linked to any external movement. Their movement, in the case of mobile designs, comes from the friction between the blade and this sharpening element, usually grinding wheels in an arrangement that allows frictional rotation when both elements, grinding wheel and blade, come into contact.
Therefore, several conditions are required in order for the sharpening to be carried out: stopping the vectorial motion of the cutting machine, taking out the blade from the material being cut, contacting the sharpening element with the cutting element (blade), and a guiding system keeping the abrasive elements aligned with the blade.
These elements, in turn, determine the physical (cinematic) dimension and the productivity of cutting machines because the sharpening function is frequent and paramount. This dimension and weight affect the overall design of the machine: the performance of the motors, the strength of the supporting elements, maintenance costs, CO2 load, manufacturing, transportation and installation costs, etc. throughout the product lifecycle.
The sharpening systems that are mounted on the lower rotary guide plate, which are integral to the guide systems, are advantageous because they need shorter blades, which in turn decrease bending and weight resulting in a better cut and less expensive replacements, and they are sharpened practically as soon as the blade exits the material to be cut, providing faster sharpening and therefore better productivity.
There are two variants in the systems that are mounted on the lower rotary guide plate: rotary systems that rotate in a manner integral to the guide of the blade, which allow the blade to be sharpened directly when exiting, and systems that are situated outside of the plate, which have a fixed position and do not rotate in a manner integral to the guide of the blade, due to which they require the blade to rotate towards the sharpening elements after exiting the cutting material.
There is no other system on the market that can be mounted on the rotary plate guide and that provides active sharpening, that is, while the abrasive elements move. Therefore, they are systems that provide enhanced sharpening and stand out from the others, since a sharp blade implies faster cutting, less friction and therefore less temperature. In short, a more precise and cleaner cut.
There are also no active sharpening systems mounted on the outside of the plate, although these are less efficient because the blade cannot exit the material and be sharpened while exiting in real time regardless of the position (angle) of the blade and the rotary guide located inside the guide plate. In this case, the blade has to first exit the cutting material, and then rotate the angle to the fixed position toward which the sharpening system is oriented.
Another drawback of current sharpening systems, regardless of their design, is that they have no control over the exact position of the abrasive elements relative to the blade during sharpening, when the blade starts to wear out. These systems are currently activated by means of mechanisms that comprise pistons, motors and springs that serve to either activate or damp the impact of the abrasive element on the blade.
In short, they are systems that can be adjusted but are not dynamic, since they do not adapt their position to the wear of the blade in a precise manner but do so in an approximate manner, as described: the abrasive element approaches until it collides with the blade, with more or less force.
In addition, current systems are not modular, due to which it is impossible to modify the type of abrasive element for each occasion, nor to have a specific design for supporting said abrasive element, adapted to every occasion. It is important to note that each material requires an abrasive element and a suitable profile to obtain the best performance and sharpening quality. This has an effect on the cutting quality and also on productivity and replacement costs, since the sharpening frequency and therefore, the durability of the grinding wheel and the blade, varies.
These elements determine the efficiency and cutting precision that are fundamental in this type of computer numerical control cutting equipment.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sharpening system as an integral and simple solution to current sharpening systems, which makes it possible to incorporate an active sharpening system in the guide plate, either in the rotary area or on the outside, or symmetrically and interchangeably in the upper part of the lower body of the cutting head, as well as allowing the sharpening system to have a modular configuration for the abrasive elements based on application (abrasive drum (vacuum sharpening), disc (flat sharpening), abrasive belt, friction member, etc.), combining the two systems interchangeably and simultaneously such as: dynamic active rotary drum or disc systems or an active disc or drum system with a friction member or any combination of abrasive or sharpening elements.

Sharpening system for cutter blades for cutting flexible materials in automatic cutting machines

Abstract: It provides a sharpening system that offers an integral and simple solution to current sharpening systems by incorporating an active sharpening system in the guide plate, either in the rotary area or on the outside, or symmetrically in the upper part of the lower body of the cutting head, interchangeably.


A tool and a method for installing a seal in a fitting through which gas is flowing is disclosed. The tool has a sleeve with a first socket that receives and holds the seal, and a second socket, adjacent to the first, that receives the fitting. A shaft is axially movable within the sleeve and has a contact surface at one end engageable with the seal. The shaft has a conduit with an inlet in communication with the fitting and an outlet that vents to the atmosphere. The seal is loaded into the first socket, the second socket is engaged with the fitting, and the shaft is advanced to push the seal from the first socket into the fitting. Gas flowing through the fitting is conducted to the atmosphere by the conduit, preventing gas pressure build-up behind the seal.

Gases used in industrial processes, such as the manufacture of integrated circuits on silicon substrates, must be maintained at a high level of purity to ensure that they remain chemically active and furthermore do not contaminate the workpiece upon which they are used. The gases are often highly reactive and hazardous, and even minute amounts of moisture, oxygen or particles can have a significant adverse effect and are to be avoided.
The gases are stored in a compressed state in tanks, which have various valves, seals and fittings necessary to connect the tanks to other equipment that use the gases in the manufacturing processes. While the valves, seals and fittings are designed and manufactured to maintain the high degree of gas purity required, a challenge arises when coupling and uncoupling the fittings because there is the potential to introduce the aforementioned contaminants into the gases. This problem is effectively avoided by allowing a purge gas to flow from a fitting while it is disconnected, the purge gas effectively preventing moisture, oxygen or particles from entering the fitting and posing a contamination problem until the fitting is reconnected fluid-tight to another component.
The purge gas flow occurs at pressures between about 10 psi and 20 psi above atmospheric pressure. This relatively high pressure makes it difficult to manually install a seal in a fitting prior to attachment to a mating fitting. When the seal is seated manually it is difficult to keep the opening in the seal clear, as a finger or a thumb must apply force to the seal to properly seat it within the fitting. With the seal opening obstructed during seating, purge gas pressure builds up behind the seal, which often pops out of the fitting as a result of the purge gas pressure when the installing force is removed.
To further complicate the seal installation process, technicians often must wear bulky protective clothing due to the hazardous nature of the gases. The clothing includes gloves that prevent contamination of the seal and other hardware but also reduce tactile sensation and thus make it difficult to deftly handle the seals. Additionally, the fittings are often recessed within housings and are not visible when a seal is being installed. These complications result in lost seals, as seals are dropped during installation or ejected from the fitting due to purge gas pressure build-up, and cause significant lost time and added expense to the industrial process in which the gas is used. There is clearly a need for a tool and a method to facilitate installation of seals in fittings through which purge gas is flowing.


A port assembly for a marine vessel, including a lens element and three concentric stainless steel rings which are superimposed upon one another. A first of the rings includes a base portion forming an outer trim ring, a second portion which is generally parallel to the base portion and a sloping riser which defines an angle of between 105.degree. and 135.degree. with a base portion. The sloping riser also connects the base portion and the second portion. A second of the stainless steel stampings also includes a stepped cross-section with two risers and an intermediate potion connecting the two risers. The second of the risers also includes a sloped portion which is welded to the sloped portion of the sloped riser. A third stainless steel stamping, or clamping ring, is bolted to the intermediate portion of the second riser and, together with the base portion of the first ring, form a clamp for securing the port assembly to the wall of the vessel. The assembly also includes a hinge for pivotally mounting the lens element inwardly of the vessel's wall.

Cast aluminum hatch and port assemblies for marine vessels are well known. Such assemblies are commercially available from Pompanette, Inc., of Chalestown, N.H., the assignee of the present invention. Such assemblies are described in my co-pending applications entitled "Marine Hatch Assembly," Ser. No. 08/583,479, filed on Jan. 5, 1996, and "Improved Hatch Assembly for a Marine Vessel," Ser. No. 08/600,542, filed on Feb. 13, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,082 issued Oct. 14, 1997 which are assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Both applications are included herein in their entireties, by reference. Such assemblies typically include a cast aluminum alloy frame, an elastomeric gasket and a clear plastic cover. The cover is optically made of a clear or tinted LEXAN sheet, a product of General Electric, which is known for its high strength.
As used herein, port assemblies are differentiated from hatch assemblies by being installed in the side of a vessel, i.e., a generally vertical plane, while hatch assemblies are typically installed in a deck, i.e., in a generally horizontal surface. Furthermore port assemblies typically hinge inboard or inward while hatches open outward. In addition, port assemblies are typically provided to allow right and air to pass through the port assembly, while a hatch is commonly used for an individual and/or marine paraphernalia to pass through an opening in the deck.
Stainless steel port assemblies are also commercially available and frequently preferred for marine vessels which are used in salt water. However, such assemblies are relatively expensive and, at times, difficult to install. In addition, the commercially-available assemblies sometimes require excessive amounts of calking and may not readily fit a variety of boats, with sidewalls of different thicknesses.
It is presently believed that there may be a relatively large commercial market for an improved multi-piece stainless steel port assembly. Accordingly, a port assembly in accordance with the present invention has been developed which facilitates installation on a boat or yacht, provides sufficient flexibility to conform to the slight curvature of a hull or cabin wall, and which is competitively priced. In addition, port assemblies, in accordance with the present invention, are resistant to corrosion and present a pleasing appearance from the inside, as well as the outside, of the marine vessel. The assemblies also advantageously include an inset lens, are self-draining, reduce the need for caulking and are durable.


An elastic wave device includes a first unbalanced terminal, a second unbalanced terminal, a first balanced terminal, a second balanced terminal, a first filter part, and a second filter part. A phase of an electric signal transmitted from first unbalanced terminal to the first balanced terminal in the first filter part is different from a phase of an electric signal transmitted from the second unbalanced terminal to the first balanced terminal in the second filter part. A phase of an electric signal transmitted from the first unbalanced terminal to the second balanced terminal in the first filter part is different from a phase of an electric signal transmitted from the second unbalanced terminal to the second balanced terminal in the second filter part.

Recently, an elastic wave device including a plurality of high-frequency filters having different passbands has been used in, for example, a portable telephone. Filters whose frequency bands are near each other, for example, a filter having a passband of 1805 to 1880 MHz and a filter having a passband of 1930 to 1990 MHz are used. In such a case, a dual filter is used, which has a structure in which a balanced terminal is shared in order to share a circuit other than filters.
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a conventional elastic wave device 101. Elastic wave device 101 includes low band side filter 103 and high band side filter 104 on piezoelectric substrate 2 made of piezoelectric single crystal. Low band side filter 103 is an unbalance/balance conversion type filter having passing characteristics in a band whose center frequency is relatively low. High band side filter 104 is an unbalance/balance conversion type filter having passing characteristics in a band whose center frequency is relatively high. Low band side filter 103 is connected to unbalanced terminal 5 at an input side. High band side filter 104 is connected to unbalanced terminal 6 at an input side. Furthermore, low band side filter 103 and high band side filter 104 are connected and shared to balanced terminal 7 and balanced terminal 8 at the output side.
Low band side filter 103 has longitudinally coupled elastic wave filters (longitudinally coupled elastic wave resonators) 51 and 52. High band side filter 104 has longitudinally coupled elastic wave filters 53 and 54.
Longitudinally coupled elastic wave filter 51 includes IDTs (Inter Digital Transducers) 51a, 51b, and 51c. Longitudinally coupled elastic wave filter 52 includes IDTs 52a, 52b, and 52c. Longitudinally coupled elastic wave filter 53 includes IDTs 53a, 53b, and 53c. Longitudinally coupled elastic wave filter 54 includes IDT 54a, 54b, and 54c.
Phases of IDT 51a, IDT 51b, and IDT 51c of low band side filter 103 are the same as those of IDT 53a, IDT 53b, and IDT 53c of high band side filter 104. Furthermore, phases of IDT 52a, IDT 52b, and IDT 52c of low band side filter 103 are the same as those of IDT 54a, IDT 54b, and IDT 54c of high band side filter 104 (for example, PTL 1).

SKYWORKS PANASONIC FILTER SOLUTIONS JAPAN CO., LTD.


A single frame buffer system is provided for displaying pixels of differing types according to standard pixel information types. Memory receives the pixel information wherein the pixel associated with each item of pixel information is further associated with a control signal for indicating the pixel type of the associated pixel. Devices for interpreting each type of pixel information to provide pixel display information are provided. Based upon the pixel type control signal, the associated pixel information is interpreted by the correct interpretation device to provide the pixel display information. The different pixel types may be graphics pixels and video pixels. In this case the output of either graphics processing circuitry or the output of video processing circuitry is selected for display according to the control signal. This single frame buffer system is effective to provide one-to-one mapping between the received pixel information and displayed pixels. The pixel type control signal may also include a signal representative of the number of consecutive pixels of one of the two pixel types.

Several formats have been presented for storing pixel data in video subsystems. One approach is providing twenty-four bits of red, green, blue (RGB) information per pixel. This approach yields the maximum color space required for video at the cost of three bytes per pixel. Depending on the number of pixels in the video subsystem, the copy/scale operation could be over-burdened by this.
A second approach is a compromise with the twenty-four bit system. This approach is based on sixteen bits of RGB information per pixel. Systems of this nature require fewer bytes for the copy/scale operation but have the disadvantage of less color depth. Additionally, since the intensity and color information are encoded in the R, G and B components of the pixel, this approach does not take advantage sensitivity of the human eye to intensity and its insensitivity to color saturation. Other sixteen bit systems have also been proposed in which the pixels are encoded in a YUV format such as 6, 5, 5 and 8, 4, 4. Although these systems are somewhat better than the sixteen bit RGB approach, the sixteen bit YUV format does not performance as well as twenty bit systems.
Eight bit color lookup tables provide a third approach to this problem. The color lookup table method uses eight bits per pixel as an index into a color map that typically has twenty bits of color space. This approach has the advantages of low byte count while providing twenty bit color space. However, there are only two hundred fifty-six colors available on the screen in this approach and image quality may be somewhat poor.
Dithering techniques that use adjacent pixels to provide additional colors have been demonstrated to have excellent image quality even for still images. However, these dithering techniques often require complicated algorithms and specialized palette entries in a digital-to-analog converter as well as almost exclusive use of a color lookup table. The overhead of running the dithering algorithm must be added to the copy/scale operation.
Motion video in some prior art systems is displayed in a 4:1:1 format referred to as the nine bit format. The 4:1:1 notation indicates that there are four Y samples horizontally for each UV sample and four Y samples vertically for each UV sample. If each sample is eight bits then a four by four block of pixels uses eighteen bytes of information or nine bits per pixel. Although image quality is good for motion video the nine bit format may be unacceptable for the display of high quality stills. In addition, the nine bit format does not integrate well with graphics subsystems. Other variations of the YUV subsampled approach include an eight bit format.
Systems integrating a graphics subsystem display buffer with a video subsystem display buffer generally fall into two categories. The two types of approaches are known as: (1) single active frame buffer architecture and (2) dual frame buffer architecture. The single active frame buffer architecture is the most straight forward approach and consists of a single graphics controller, a single digital-to-analog converter and a single frame buffer. In its simplest form, the single active frame buffer architecture represents each pixel on the display using bits in a display buffer which are consistent in their format regardless of the meaning of pixel on the display.
Thus, graphics pixels and video pixels are indistinguishable in the memory of the frame buffer. However, the single active frame buffer architecture graphics/video system, or the single active frame buffer architecture visual system, does not address the requirements of the video subsystem very well. Full screen motion video on the single active frame buffer architecture visual system requires updating every pixel in the display buffer thirty times a second.
In a typical system the display may be on the order of 1280 bits by one kilobyte by eight bits, Even without the burden of writing over thirty megabytes per second to the display buffer, eight bit video by itself does not provide the require video quality. Thus the single active frame buffer architecture system may either expand to sixteen bits per pixel or implement the eight bit YUV subsampled technique. Since sixteen bits per pixel yields over sixty megabytes per second into the frame buffer, it is an unacceptable alternative. A further disadvantage of this single frame buffer architecture is the need for redundant frame memory. This is caused by the need to store both a graphics pixel and a video pixel for at least a portion of the display.
The second category of architecture which integrates video and graphics is the dual frame buffer architecture. The dual frame buffer architecture visual system involves mixing two otherwise free-standing single frame buffer systems at the analog back end with a high-speed analog switch. Since the video and graphics subsystems are both single frame buffer designs each one can make the necessary tradeoffs in spatial resolution and pixel depth almost independently of the other subsystem. Dual frame buffer architecture visual systems also include the feature of being loosely-coupled. Since the only connection of the two subsystems is in the final output stage, the two subsystems may be on different buses within the system. The fact that the dual frame buffer architecture video subsystem is loosely-coupled to the graphics subsystem is usually the major reason such systems, which have significant disadvantages, are typically employed.
Dual frame buffer architecture designs typically operate in a mode that has the video subsystem genlocked to the graphics subsystem. Genlocking requires that both subsystems start to display their first pixel at the same time. If both subsystems run at the same horizontal line frequency with the same number of lines, then mixing of the two separate pixel streams may be performed with predictable results.
Since both pixel streams run at the same time, the process may be thought of as having video pixels underlaying the graphics pixels. If a determination is made not to show a graphics pixel, then the video information underlaying it shows through. In dual frame buffer architecture designs, it is not necessary for the two subsystems to have the same number of horizontal pixels. As an example, some known systems may have three hundred fifty-two video pixels underneath one thousand twenty-four graphics pixels.
The decision whether to show the video information or graphics information at each pixel position in dual frame buffer architecture visual systems is typically made on a pixel by pixel basis in the graphics subsystem. A technique often used is chroma keying. Chroma keying involves detecting a predetermined color in the graphics digital pixel stream or a predetermined color entry in a color lookup table and selecting either graphics or video accordingly. Another approach detects black in the graphics analog pixel stream because black is the easiest graphics level to detect. This approach is referred to as black detect. In either case, keying information is used to control the high speed analog switch and the task of integrating video and graphics on the display is reduced to painting the keying color in the graphics display wherever video pixels are to be displayed.
There are several disadvantages to dual frame buffer architecture visual systems. The goal of high integration is often complicated by the requirement that there be two separate, free standing subsystems. The cost of having duplicate digital-to-analog converters, display buffers, and cathode ray tube controllers may be significant. The difficulty of genlocking the pixel streams and the cost of the high-speed analog switch are two more disadvantages. In addition, placing the analog switch in the graphics path has detrimental effects on the quality of the graphics display. This becomes a greater problem as the spatial resolution and/or line rate of the graphics subsystem increases. A further disadvantage of the dual frame buffer architecture is the same as that found in the single active frame buffer architecture, the need for redundant frame memory. This is caused by the need to store both a graphics pixel and a video pixel for at least a fraction of the display. For both the single active frame buffer and the dual frame buffer the two pixels are sent to either-a digital multiplexor or an analog multiplexor and a decision is made on which is displayed.
Digital-to-analog converters within these visual frame buffer architectures are important high performance components. The digital-to-analog converters of these architectures may accept YUV color information and the RGB color information simultaneously to provide chroma keying according to the received color information. In prior art chroma keying systems a decision is made for each pixel of a visual display whether to display a pixel representative of the YUV color value or a pixel representative of the RGB color value. The RGB value within a chroma keying system is typically provided by the graphic subsystem. The YUV value within a chroma keying system is typically provided by a video subsystem. Because the digital-to-analog converters required to select between pixels are such high performance devices the use of two of them rather than one adds a significant cost to a system.
In many of these conventional chroma keying systems the determination regarding which pixel is displayed is based upon the RGB color value and in a single display image there may be a mixture of pixels including both YUV pixels and RGB pixels. Thus it will be understood that each pixel displayed using conventional chroma keying systems is either entirely a video pixel or entirely a graphics pixel. Chroma keying merely determines which to select and provides for the display of one or the other.
"Visual Frame Buffer Architecture", U.S. patent application Ser. No. 870,564, filed by Lippincott, and incorporated by reference herein, teaches a color lookup table method which addresses many of the problems of prior art systems. In the Lippincott method an apparatus for processing visual data is provided with storage for storing a bit plane of visual data in a one format which may, for example, be RGB. A graphics controller is coupled to the storage by a data bus, and a graphics controller and the storage are coupled through a storage bus. Further storage is provided for a second bit plane of visual data in another format different from the first format. The second format may, for example, be YUV. The further storage is coupled to the graphics controller by a data bus. The second storage is also coupled to the graphics controller through the storage bus.
The method taught by Lippincott merges a pixel stream of visual data stored on the first storage and visual data stored on the further storage using only a single digital-to-analog converter. The merged pixel stream is then displayed. A disadvantage of this type of frame buffer architecture is the need for redundant frame memory. This is caused by the need to store both a graphics pixel and a video pixel for at least a fraction of the display.

Frame buffer for storing graphics and video data


The present invention provides a birefringent film that hardly generates cracks even when the film is exposed under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment for a long period of time. The birefringent film of the present invention is a film containing, as a major component, a lyotropic liquid crystalline polycyclic compound containing an acenaphtho[1,2-b]quinoxaline derivative unit in a molecular structure and having a molecular weight of 500 or higher. The birefringent film of the present invention preferably has a refractive index ellipsoid showing a relationship of nx≧nz>ny, and more preferably has an in-plane birefringence of 0.01 or higher at the wavelength of 590 nm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a birefringent film that is suitable as an optical member of an image display device, as well as to a polycyclic compound, a coating liquid, and the like that are used as a material for forming the birefringent film.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal displaying device is a device that displays characters and images by using an electrooptical property of a liquid crystal molecule. As an optical member that is used in an image display device such as a liquid crystal displaying device, there are known a polarizing element that can pick up a specific polarized light and a birefringent film that causes a predetermined retardation. Here, the polarizing element is also referred to as a polarizer, a polarizing film, or the like. The birefringent film is also referred to as a retardation film, an optical compensating layer, or the like.
For the birefringent film, a polymer film, a film containing a liquid crystalline compound, or the like is generally used.
Conventionally, a birefringent film using a lyotropic liquid crystalline compound is known. Such a lyotropic liquid crystalline compound exhibits a liquid crystalline phase in a solution state. Therefore, a thin coated film as compared with a polymer film (namely, a thin birefringent film) can be formed by preparing a coating liquid containing the above-described liquid crystalline compound into a liquid crystalline phase and applying this coating liquid onto a suitable base material, followed by drying (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-241434).

Birefringent film, polycyclic compound, coating liquid, and image display device


An image communication apparatus comprises a connection unit for connecting an external terminal, an image communication unit for conducting image communication, a switching unit for selectively connecting a line to said connection unit and said image communication unit, a first detection unit for detecting a calling signal from said line, a second detection unit for detecting a signal relating to the image communication, a third detection unit for detecting a signal relating to data communication, and a control unit for controlling said switching unit in response to the detection by said first, second and third detection units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus capable of switching a line to an external image processing terminal.
2. Related Background Art
A system which allows the use of a facsimile apparatus as a modem of an external information processing terminal (computer) and the data communication by the external information processing terminal through the facsimile apparatus has been known. In this case, it is necessary to arrange the modem for the facsimile communication to operate as the modem for the computer communication.
A personal computer in which a modem for the data communication is built in has been known. On the other hand, a conventional facsimile apparatus is provided with a terminal for connecting a conventional telephone set or an automatic answering recording telephone set and the facsimile apparatus selectively switches a line to the telephone set or the facsimile apparatus.
It has thus been contemplated to connect a computer having a modem for the data communication with a terminal for connecting a telephone set in a facsimile apparatus and set the facsimile apparatus to a manual receive mode or a speech mode to connect the line to the computer in order to attain the data communication by the computer.
However, in the prior art facsimile apparatus, only a mechanism to selectively switch one line to the speech by the external telephone set and the facsimile communication by the facsimile apparatus is provided and proper automatic switching of the data communication by the computer and the facsimile communication is not attained even if the computer is connected instead of the external telephone set.

Image communication apparatus capable of switching line to external information processing terminal


A film transport gear mechanism is mounted on an upper portion of an internal body frame of a camera, and held rotatably from the top by a gear holding plate (51). The gear holding plate is integrally formed with a finder frame (50) that holds a viewfinder optical system, light emitting and receiving sections (48, 49) of an autofocus device and a photometry device (54) thereon. A slit (75) is formed between the gear holding plate and the finder frame, so the gear holding plate and the finder frame are interconnected merely through narrow connecting portions (76, 77). Warps and deformations in the gear holding plate are absorbed into the silt and not transmitted to the finder frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compact camera, and more particularly to an improvement in the camera that reduces the number of parts of the camera and makes the camera more compact and low cost, without damaging the performance of the camera.
2. Background Arts
Reducing both the manufacturing cost and the size of the compact camera has been continually searched for. For this purpose, devices for uniting components of the camera to reduce the number of parts and the number of manufacturing processes have conventionally been developed. When uniting any components, functions of these components and the requisite accuracy are taken into consideration. For example, concerning light emitting and receiving sections of an autofocus device, or a viewfinder optical system, as they require accuracy in positioning, elements of these components are mounted in an integral frame to constitute an united finder assembly. Then, the finder assembly is attached to the top of an internal body frame of the camera.
On the other hand, a gear mechanism for rotating a spool of a film cartridge and a gear holding plate for holding gears of this mechanism rotatably from the top are usually disposed in the vicinity of the finder assembly. Accordingly, it is preferable to form the gear holding plate integrally with the frame of the finder assembly, for the sake of reducing the number of parts and the assembling processes. However, the gear holding plate tends to be deformed by the driving force transmitted from the gear mechanism. Where the gear holding plate is integrated with the frame of the finder assembly, the deformation of the gear holding plate results deviating the light emitting or receiving section of the autofocus device or the finder optical system.
In order to prevent such deviations, a camera disclosed in JPA 10-312014 suggests securing an integral frame member to an internal body frame of the camera body, at a border portion of a gear holding plate portion to a finder frame portion, by means of a screw. Thereby the deformation of the gear holding plate portion is not transmitted to the finder frame portion, which prevents deviation of the elements mounted in the finder frame portion, including the light emitting and receiving sections and the finder optical system.
However, since the gear holding plate portion of this prior art is warped by the screwing, and the warp in the gear holding plate portion is transmitted to the finder frame portion, the elements mounted in the finder frame portion can deviate from their proper positions. Moreover, because vibrations of the gear holding plate portion, which are generated from the movement of the gear mechanism, are transmitted to the finder frame portion, the accuracy of the autofocus device will be lowered if the range finding operation is carried out while the gear mechanism is being activated to wind up the photo filmstrip.
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a compact camera, wherein a finder frame and a gear holding plate are formed as an integral part to reduce the number of parts of the camera and thus make the camera more compact and low cost, but the influence of deformations, warps and vibrations in the gear holding plate onto the finder frame is sufficiently eliminated.
To achieve the above and other objects, a camera of the present invention comprises a finder frame holding a finder optical system and at least light emitting and receiving sections of an autofocus device; a gear holding plate formed integrally with the finder frame, the gear holding plate holding gears of a film transport gear mechanism rotatably; and a slit formed between the finder frame and the gear holding plate.
The film transport gear mechanism is disposed on an upper portion of an internal body frame of the camera, with top ends of the gears held by the gear holding plate. It is preferable to secure the finder frame and the gear holding plate to the internal body frame of the camera by screws on opposite sides of the slit.


A system and method for preparing a virtual three-dimensional representation of a first portion of a bone. The method may comprise obtaining, from a first orientation with respect to the first portion of the bone, first image data of the first portion of the bone and obtaining, from a second, different orientation with respect to the first portion of the bone, second image data of the first portion of the bone. A three-dimensional (3D) virtual representation of the first portion of the bone may be generated. The 3D virtual representation of the first portion of the bone may be displayed. The displayed 3D virtual representation may have an orientation, determined using at least the difference between the first and second orientations from which the first and second image data were obtained.

Computer assisted surgery systems (CAS systems) or image guided surgery systems that are provided with a computer and a position measurement device in order to measure the position of surgical instruments, devices and a body portion of the patient are often used to perform minimally invasive surgery. Computer assisted surgery systems (CAS-systems) are disclosed e.g. in EP 0 359 773 to Schlöndorff, U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,454 to Buchholz and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,886 Delp. CAS systems may comprise a memory means to store medical images such as e.g. X-rays, computertomographs or MR images (magnetic resonance images). Thereby the medical images may be gathered pre-operatively or intraoperatively.
Computer assisted orthopaedic surgery systems include a) CT based systems, which may use a preoperative CT (Computertomogram) of a bone or bone fragment to establish a three-dimensional anatomical model that is referenced with the intraoperative respective bone or bone fragment through landmark based or surface based registration or matching; b) CT based and fluoroscopy systems, which use the same method as CT based systems to establish a three-dimensional anatomical model, whereby the preoperative CT of a bone or bone fragment is registered or matched to the intraoperative respective bone or bone fragment through using a surface model of the bone or bone fragment and its projections in the planes of the fluoroscopic images; and c) fluoroscopy based systems, which use calibrated fluoroscopes to generate undistorted images of a bone or bone fragment and virtual geometric representations of the projection of surgical tools.
A method of generating tomographic images of a body using penetrating radiation is known from EP 1004272 to Lin. This known method comprises the steps of a) cycling the radiation source among a plurality of positions relative to the region of interest of the body such that radiation from the radiation source passing through each of a plurality of focal planes, which are parallel to the detector plane and within the region of interest, impinge upon the detector plane superimposed and offset from each other; b) shifting the electronic views for a first selected focal plane, such that the radiation which passes through each incremental element of the first selected focal plane contributes to a common pixel of the electronic views; and c) finally, summing the electronic views such that the pixels of each electronic view corresponding to the incremental element on the first selected focal plane are summed to generate a slice image taken through the first selected focal plane.
Known methods have the disadvantage that CT-scanning delivers cross-sectional images of the patient body whereas fluoroscopic X-ray images deliver two-dimensional images and, therefore, many X-ray images are required in several parallel planes and under several different angles of the radiation source to obtain a three-dimensional model.
The present invention provides a virtual three-dimensional representation of a bone or bone fragment, which representation may be based on two-dimensional images such as fluoroscopic images. Accordingly, the present invention may advantageously allow representations with reduced radiation exposure to the patient and less invasive surgical operations.

Method for establishing a three-dimensional representation of a bone from image data


A medical instrument assembly and robotic medical system are provided. The assembly comprises a shaft, a tool carried by the distal end of the shaft for performing a medical procedure on a patient, a controllably bendable section associated with shaft and disposed proximal to the tool, an actuation element extending within the shaft and along the bendable section for controlling actuation of the tool, another actuation element configured for actuating the bendable section, and means for decoupling motion at the bendable sections from the tool actuation. The system comprises the assembly, a user interface configured for generating commands, a drive unit coupled to the actuating element and the other actuating element, and an electric controller configured, in response to the commands, for directing the drive unit to move the actuating elements to actuate the tool and drive the other actuating element to bend the bendable section.

Various types of instruments are used to perform surgical procedures on living subjects such as human patients. Typically, in the past, the surgeon held the instrument and inserted it into the patient to an internal surgical site. The surgeon then manually manipulated the instrument to perform the operation at the site. These instruments have been used to perform a number of surgical procedures including holding a needle to suture a region of the surgical site, cutting tissue, and grasping tissue and blood vessels.
Recently, some have proposed using telerobotic surgical systems to perform certain surgical procedures. With these systems, the surgeon sits at a master station remotely located from the patient and surgical instrument, and controls the movements of the surgical instrument with an input device. In some systems, the surgeon manipulates the input device with one or both hands, and the instrument replicates the hand and finger movements of the surgeon. Because these replicated movements can be quite complex, the surgical instrument is controlled to move with multiple degrees-of-freedom.

Robotically controlled medical instrument


An oxygen concentration sensor having excellent sealing performance between a lead wire and a lead wire insertion hole includes a sensor element disposed insertedly into a housing, protective covers disposed at an end portion of the housing, lead wires inserted into the protective covers, and an elastic insulating member disposed inside the protective covers and having a lead wire insertion hole for inserting the lead wires. The lead wire insertion hole in the elastic insulating member has a rib protruding in the radial direction. The elastic insulating member is caulked and fixed by the protective covers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oxygen concentration sensor employed for air/fuel ratio control or the like of an automobile engine.
2. Description of Related Art
An oxygen concentration sensor as described below has been conventionally installed in an exhaust pipe or the like composing part of the exhaust system of an automobile engine to control an air/fuel ratio of the automobile engine.
An oxygen concentration sensor generally includes a sensor element inserted into a housing, a protective cover disposed at an end portion of the housing, a lead wire inserted into the protective cover, and an elastic insulating member disposed inside the protective cover and also having a lead wire insertion hole for receiving the lead wire. The lead wire inserted into the lead wire insertion hole is sealed and fixed into the above-described lead wire insertion hole by caulking it to the protective cover in the radial direction (see, e.g., Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Hei 2-60864).
Recently, however, the fixing position of the above-described oxygen concentration sensor has been varied. For instance, it has been frequently installed at the downstream side of the exhaust pipe. In this case, the oxygen concentration sensor is splashed with water thrown out by a tire or the like during the driving of an vehicle or it may be doused in puddles. If water enters the inside of the oxygen concentration sensor due to dousing or splashing of water, it causes disorders and malfunctions such as deterioration of an output of the oxygen concentration sensor and cracks of the sensor element due to the dousing or splashing of water.
In recent years, moreover, the number of oxygen concentration sensors having a built-in heater in addition to taking out a grounding lead, and laminated oxygen concentration sensors having a two-cell type sensing element including many lead wires has been increasing. Since a large number of the lead wires are disposed inside the protective cover in these oxygen concentration sensors, a larger quantity of lead wire insertion holes have to be disposed in the elastic insulating member.
In the elastic insulating member having the above-described multiple lead wire insertion holes, numerous thin and a thick portions are disposed in close proximity to one another. In such a situation, when a lead wire is inserted into the above-described elastic insulating member and the protective cover is caulked to seal and fix the lead wire on the elastic insulating member, compression stress imposed on the elastic insulating member by caulking the protective cover is concentrated on a thin portion of the elastic insulating member such as an easily deformed portion between the lead wire insertion hole and the outer periphery of the elastic insulating member, so that the compression stress in that portion is increased. On the other hand, the stress in a thick portion such as a central portion of the above-specified elastic insulating member is decreased.
In short, compression stress imposed on each portion in the above-described elastic insulating member may not be even. Accordingly, the oxygen concentration sensor including the elastic insulating member having many lead wire insertion holes has insufficient sealing performance on a contact surface between the lead wires and the lead wire insertion holes. In this case, when the oxygen concentration sensor is splashed with water, the water may easily go into the interior of the oxygen concentration sensor through the above-described lead wire insertion holes.
Furthermore, compression stress imposed on each portion is in an uneven state on the elastic insulating member having many lead wire insertion holes as described above. When such an elastic insulating member is exposed to high ambient temperatures, a large amount of compression stress is imposed on it; thus, a portion thereof is deformed to a great extent and also loses its elasticity and wears out, so that portions in such a state can no longer seal between the lead wire insertion holes and the lead wires.
When an oxygen concentration sensor as described above is employed for controlling an air/fuel ratio in an engine, the exterior temperature of the oxygen concentration sensor comes from radiant heat from the exhaust pipe or the like having high temperature exhaust gas passing therethrough. In the above environment, a problem in which the elastic insulating member looses elasticity in such a high temperature environment is apt to happen more than ever before.


A molding machine including a base frame assembly and a clamping mechanism and an injection mechanism provided on the base frame assembly. The clamping mechanism includes a stationary platen carrying a stationary mold; a movable platen arranged movably relative to the stationary platen and carrying a movable mold; a rear platen disposed at a location opposite to the stationary platen about the movable platen; a tie bar tying the stationary platen and the rear platen with each other; a drive section for applying a drive force to the movable platen so as to move the movable platen relative to the stationary platen; and a platen support movably supporting the movable platen on the base frame assembly. The base frame assembly includes a first base frame supporting a first mass including the stationary platen, and a second base frame supporting a second mass including the movable platen, among the components of the molding machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a molding machine and, more particularly, to an improvement of a base frame for supporting a stationary platen and a movable platen each carrying a mold in the molding machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a clamping mechanism of a molding machine (e.g., an injection molding machine), it is generally required that, when the molds are to be opened or closed by the travel of a movable platen relative to a stationary platen (i.e., a mold clamping or opening operation), a movable mold attached to the movable platen is accurately moved, in translation or parallel displacement, relative to a stationary mold attached to the stationary platen. In other words, it is necessary to move the movable platen while maintaining a predetermined parallelism (or a parallel positional correlation) between the stationary mold and the movable mold. If the parallelism is disturbed, the smoothness of the opening/closing motion of the molds may be deteriorated, molding defects may be caused due to an inaccurate clamping, or the molds may be damaged due to an irregular clamping pressure.
Conventionally, in order to accurately move, in translation or parallel displacement, the movable mold relative to the stationary mold, it is known that a platen support formed from a motion facilitating element, such as a slide plate, a roller or a linear guide, is attached to the bottom of the movable platen and is placed in a movable manner on the supporting surface of a base frame of the molding machine, so that the weight of the movable platen is borne on the base frame while the movable platen is moved along the support surface of the base frame. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-262884 (JP9-262884A) discloses an injection molding machine in which a pair of linear guide units (i.e., platen supports), provided on a base frame, guide and support a movable platen on the base frame. Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-225979 (JP9-225979A) discloses an injection molding machine, in which first and second linear guide mechanisms (i.e., platen supports) possessing jointly a pair of guide rails provided on a base frame, guide and support a stationary platen and a movable platen, respectively, in a movable manner on the base frame.
Also, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2696706 (JP2696706B2) discloses a clamping mechanism of an injection molding machine, in which a slide mechanism (i.e., a platen support), composed of a guide channel provided on a base frame and a rib provided on the bottom face of the movable platen, guide and support the movable platen on the base frame. Also, Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication (Kokoku) No. 6-39960 (JP6-39960Y2) discloses a clamping mechanism of a molding machine, in which a tie bar tying a stationary platen to a rear platen guides and supports a movable platen, while a support unit (i.e., a platen support) slidable or rollable on the supporting surface of a base frame is attached to the bottom of the movable platen in such a manner as to be shiftable relative to the movable platen by a predetermined distance in a height direction, so that the support unit supports the weight of the movable platen in an auxiliary manner.
Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-280275 (JP2000-280275A) discloses an injection molding machine including an intermediate mold arranged between a stationary mold and a movable mold, in which a slide guide is provided, as means similar to a platen support, on a tie bar for preventing the intermediate mold cantilevered on a stationary platen or a movable platen from being lowered due to its own weight.
The base frame of the molding machine is liable to be bent due to its own weight as well as the weight of components mounted on the base frame, such as a movable mold, a stationary mold, a rear platen, and so on. The bending or flexure generated in the base frame may affect the parallelism between the stationary mold and the movable mold, i.e., the parallelism between the stationary platen and the movable platen, even when the above-described platen support is used. In other words, the parallelism between the stationary platen and the movable platen depends on the rigidity or stiffness of the base frame. However, if the rigidity of the base frame is increased to such a degree that the parallelism between the stationary platen and the movable platen can be maintained in a high accuracy, the production cost of the molding machine may, as a result, rise.
As a solution for ensuring the rigidity of a base frame in the molding machine, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-323453 (JP7-323453A) discloses a clamping mechanism of a molding machine, in which a set plate having a desired rigidity is supported on the top plate of a base frame in a three-point or four-point suspension system, and a movable platen and a rear platen are secured on the set plate. The rigidity of the set plate is selected as such a degree that any influence of the weight of the clamping mechanism over the parallelism between the stationary platen and the rear platen can be eliminated. In this arrangement, the base frame may still be bent due to the weight of the set plate and components supported thereon, so that it is difficult to stably ensure the accuracy of the translation or parallel displacement of the movable platen.


A digital modulator capable of obtaining a high FM modulation index and reducing the quantization noise without increasing the sampling frequency of an A/D converter of input voice. A phase variation .phi.(Ts) of the digital data (Ts is the sampling period) produced on the basis of the output from the A/D converter is divided by a predetermined integer N (N>1) by a divider, and is fed to an integrator. The integrator integrates the divided phase variation .phi.(Ts)/N for every time interval Ts/N, thereby producing a phase component .phi.(t) of the complex envelope of the modulation signal. The phase component .phi.(t) is resolved into cosine and sine components at the time interval Ts/N. The cosine and sine signals are D/A converted into analog signals which are quadrature modulated by a quadrature modulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital angular modulator for obtaining from an input analog or digital signal an angular-modulated signal, such as a frequency-modulated (FM modulated) signal, a frequency-shift keying (FSK modulated) signal, and a phase-shift keying (PSK modulated) signal.
2. Description of the Background Art
A digital FM modulator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,705 to Hiramatsu et al. entitled "FM MODULATOR". Prior to the FM modulator, another type of digital FM modulator as shown in FIG. 1 was disclosed in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 56-152359 (1981). The two types of FM modulator share an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 5 and the main structure from an integrator 8 to digital-to-analog (D/A) converters 10 and a quadrature modulator 11. The chief difference between the two types is that although the Hiramatsu et al. FM modulator integrally performs the D/A conversion and the quadrature modulation, the FM modulator of '359 publication separately carries out the D/A conversion and the quadrature conversion.
In FIGS. 1A and 1B, an analog input signal (modulation signal) is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 5 at a sampling period Ts. The digital signal is fed through a digital waveform processor 6 to the integrator 8 which integrates the output of the digital waveform processor 6 to produce the phase component of the complex envelope of the modulation signal. The output of the integrator 8 is divided into quadrature (cosine and sine) components by a complex envelope generator 9. The cosine and sine components are D/A converted into analog signals by the D/A converters 10-1 and 10-2, and quadrature modulated by the quadrature modulator 11, thus generating an FM modulated signal. It is well known that an FM modulator can be structured by an integrator and a PM modulator (see, for example, page 331 of "COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING", by J. G. Proakis, et al. Prentice Hall, 1994), and thus the quadrature modulator 11 functions as a PM modulator in this system. The more detailed structure and operation of the FM modulator will become apparent later in the description of embodiments.
The quadrature FM modulator has an advantage that it can achieve stable modulation index and produce an accurate FM signal without adjustment because it obtains the instantaneous phase of the modulation signal by the digital processing. In addition, the FM modulator is effective to obtain a quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK modulated) signal with a single modulator by shifting the analog modulation signal or digital data by .pi./4.
The quadrature FM modulator as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, however, has the following problems:
(1) To reduce the sampling noise and quantization noise involved in the A/D conversion of the modulation signal by the A/D converter 5, the sampling frequency of the A/D converter 5 must be set higher to increase the bits of the quantization. PA1 (2) In converting the digital signals representing the complex envelope output from the complex envelope generator 9 to the analog signals by the D/A converters 10-1 and 10-2, the phase variation of the complex envelope increases with the modulation factor. To reduce the error of the phase variation, the sampling frequency of the A/D converter 5 must be increased so as to decrease the instantaneous phase variation per sampling period.

Angular modulator with a phase variation divided and integrated


The present invention relates to the storage and recharging of peripheral devices within a computer. In one exemplary embodiment the invention relates to an expandable computer mouse that may be stored and recharged in a port, such as a PCMCIA slot, of a portable computing device.

Portable computers have recently exceeded desktop computers in their popularity. Laptop (notebook) and tablet style computers may be found in the work environment, at home or used during travel, perhaps as a result of their advantages, particularly when equipped with wireless communicating technology. Advantages such as low power consumption, long battery life, small size, low weight and communicability make the portable computer available to nearly everyone everywhere. One potential downside of these devices is their interface with peripheral devices. Often the portable computer must be accompanied by a carrying case which may be used to store a variety of peripheral devices, such as a mouse, power cord, dongles, USB cables, etc.
While text input may still occur through a keyboard, non-text input and selection, via cursor movement such as by pointing and clicking, has continuously evolved. Initially these functions were performed with the keyboard. Then the wired, mechanical mouse was introduced, followed by track balls and joysticks. As the size of personal computers has been reduced and laptops were introduced, "track pads" and "eraser-head" pointing devices were introduced. At first tethered to the laptop by a restrictive cable, wireless technology has allowed the mouse to now be operated freely in the vicinity of the computer.
Originally, the mechanical mouse included a captured moving ball and encoder wherein movement of the ball generated an x, y directional signal to control the cursor. More recently, the optical mouse has been developed which may not be quite as dependent on a planar resting surface. Originally, optical mouse technology bounced a focused beam of light off a highly reflective mouse pad (surface) to a sensor. The mouse pad included a grid of dark lines which interrupted the light beam. The interruption caused a sensor to send a signal to the computer to trigger cursor movement. A current type of optical mouse uses a relatively small camera to take as may as 1,500 pictures per second. A light-emitting diode (LED) bounces light off a work surface into a complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. The sensor sends each image to a digital signal processor (DSP) which is able to detect changes in pattern in the images. Based on the changes in pattern over a sequence of images, the DSP determines how far the mouse has moved and sends the coordinates to the computer which moves the cursor based on the coordinates received from the mouse. An optical mouse may therefore provide improved tracking resolution, is devoid of moving parts and may be suitable for use on a variety of different surfaces.
Accordingly, within the computer industry, there is a continuing need to improve the general interaction of peripheral devices, such as a mouse, with the host computer. Such improvements may center on expanding the use of a computer port, the identification of special ports or the development of other unique interface protocols. Such improvements may also center on the peripheral device geometry and mechanical functionality and/or optical functionality (e.g., adopting a first configuration when engaging with the computer and a second, more functional and ergonomically pleasing configuration when utilized by the consumer). The peripheral devices may include any electronic device capable of uploading or downloading of information, or even a stand-alone electronic device that may uniquely rely on the computer for storage and/or charging.

Peripheral devices for portable computer


A system and method for converting continuous data streams received over a persistent communication connection (e.g., for Telnet) into discrete requests that may be issued over non-persistent connections (e.g., via HTTP). An application is served from a J2EE-compliant application server, to clients operating a variety of communication protocols (e.g., HTTP, Telnet). The application is developed according to a single application model, but can be served to heterogeneous clients. The application communicates via a request/response format (e.g., HTTP), thereby requiring clients communicating via other formats or protocols (e.g., Telnet) to connect to the application via one or more other components of the application server. Illustratively, the application server includes a Telnet resource adapter for maintaining persistent communication connections with Telnet clients, and an EJB (Enterprise Java Bean) configured to discretize continuous Telnet data streams into discrete application requests.

This invention relates generally to the field of computer systems. More particularly, a system and method are provided for enabling an application server to serve an enterprise application over multiple protocols, such as telnet and HTTP.
Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) provide information infrastructures for an enterprise. Example EISs include an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as the Oracle E-Business Suite, a mainframe transaction processing system, a relational database system, and so on.
The J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA) facilitates integration of application servers with heterogeneous Enterprise Information Systems. JCA defines System-level Contracts that encapsulate important requirements for effective and scalable integration with EISs, such as connection management and pooling, transaction management to support transactions internal to an EIS and across multiple EISs, error logging and tracing, and a security framework enabling both container-managed and component-managed sign-on.
The EIS side of a System-level Contract is implemented in a Resource Adapter, which is specific to an underlying EIS. A Resource Adapter is a system-level software driver used by an application server (e.g., a J2EE application server) or an application client to communicate and operate with an EIS. While a Resource Adapter is specific to the EIS it represents, it is not specific to a particular application server and can therefore be reused across J2EE application servers.
JCA offers System-level Contracts (e.g., Message Inflow, Transaction Inflow) that specifically support asynchronous message delivery between EISs and application servers, from a wide range of message providers. Thus, JCA applications can benefit from simplified bi-directional communications with EISs.
Applications in the context of application servers are typically developed for a specific client communication protocol. For example, a warehouse or retailer may employ an application server to serve a legacy application, using the telnet protocol, for inventory control, shipping and/or other purposes. Employees may operate telnet-based client devices, which are relatively cheap and easy to operate. The client devices employ a terminal emulation program that provides a simple character-based user interface to its user and communicates with the application server using the telnet protocol. The legacy application may have been in use for a long period of time, and may work reliably with the relatively old devices.
However, newer, more powerful devices offering richer graphical user interfaces such as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) browsers are available, many of which are able to support embedded peripherals (e.g., digital camera, printer, RFID scanner) that older, telnet-based, devices cannot.
And, due to the availability of powerful HTML browsers for desktop use, application servers have been enhanced to serve HTML applications over HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol)—such an application may be referred to as a web application. At the same time, standards bodies such as the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) and JCP (Java Community Process) have pushed many standards to promote the adoption of new technologies to improve the quality of web applications.
An application developed to be served to one type of client device via one communication protocol generally cannot simultaneously be served to devices employing other protocols. Thus, the legacy warehouse or retailer application above could not be served by the same application server to an HTML client over HTTP, just as a web application cannot be served to a telnet client.
To operate multiple types of devices in one application environment would require substantial redundancy—multiple application models, applications, server management procedures, installation procedures, etc. Thus, one application server would be deployed to serve the application to the telnet devices, while a separate application server would serve the application to HTTP devices.
An organization may naturally desire to upgrade its older devices or evolve its legacy application to add capabilities, but will want to avoid the inefficiency inherent in such redundancy. The organization may therefore wish to perform the upgrade in a phased manner, so as to continue using older client devices as long as possible and not lose its investment in the older technology. But, to facilitate this phased approach, the application server must be able to serve an application in multiple formats (e.g., telnet and HTTP).
Telnet-based clients use persistent connections, and can send a continuous stream of data to the server. There is no concept of a "complete request" from a device's telnet emulator. In contrast, HTTP-based clients generally use non-persistent connections, sending discrete requests via HTTP and receiving discrete responses. The request serves as a complete collection of information that the application server can process. Thus, an application server configured to serve an application using a request/response-type format (e.g., via HTTP) could not serve incompatible clients (e.g., telnet clients).
Currently, there is no easy way for a single application server operating with an EIS to serve one application to multiple devices configured for different types of service (e.g., telnet, HTTP). The current approach is to use different application servers, which makes it difficult to have a single application development model and to re-use a single application on telnet-based and HTTP-based devices.

System and method for discretization of client-server interactions


A motion sensor in the form of an angular rate sensor and a method of making a sensor are provided and includes a support substrate and a silicon sensing ring supported by the substrate and having a flexive resonance. Drive electrodes apply electrostatic force on the ring to cause the ring to resonate. Sensing electrodes sense a change in capacitance indicative of vibration modes of resonance of the ring so as to sense motion. A plurality of silicon support rings connect the substrate to the ring. The support rings are located at an angle to substantially match a modulus of elasticity of the silicon, such as about 22.5 degrees and 67.5 degrees, with respect to the crystalline orientation of the silicon.

Motion sensors, such as angular rate sensors, are commonly employed in various applications to sense motion, such as angular rate. Sensors such as these are commonly manufactured as microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices using conventional micromachining techniques. Typically, a MEMS sensor may employ an electrically conductive micromachined plate of metal or silicon as a sensing element. Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,450,751; 5,547,093 and 5,872,313.
Sensors of the type described above are capable of extremely precise measurements. However, conventional sensors may suffer various drawbacks which may include mismatches in the resonant frequency between primary and secondary flexure nodes at the sensor element, and may suffer from relatively high mass and performance limitations. Another drawback of some conventional sensors is undesirable sensitivity to vibration. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide for a motion sensor and method of manufacturing a sensor that overcomes drawbacks of the prior art.

Method for manufacturing a sensor device


An apparatus for manufacturing multilayer articles, comprising a first feeder for feeding a band made of textile material, a punching device arranged downstream of the first feeder to form slots in the band, a second feeder for feeding a strip of textile material arranged downstream of the punching device to arrange the strip so as to cover the slots, a sewing apparatus arranged downstream of the second feeder to fix the strip onto the band so as to cover the slots and provide a multilayer article, and a traction assembly arranged downstream of the sewing apparatus to actuate the advancement of the article through the sewing apparatus toward a collection unit.

As is known, mattresses comprise an upper multilayer sheet and a lower sheet, the edges of which are mutually connected by a perimetric band, forming the case of the mattress, in which an insert is accommodated which is constituted by a cage of cylindrical spiral springs or by a panel of expanded plastic material which has elastic properties.
To allow internal ventilation of the mattress, the perimetric band of the case is provided with slots.
European Patent Application No. 07114821.7 filed Aug. 23, 2007 in the name of this same Applicant discloses a band for the perimetric closure of mattresses in which a strip of breathable textile material is arranged so as to cover the ventilation slots.

Apparatus for manufacturing multilayer articles


N-hydroxy-4-{5-[4-(5-isopropyl-2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)phenoxy]pentoxy} benzamidine 2 ethansulfonic acid salt, a process for the preparation thereof, a pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating osteoporosis, bone fractures or allergic inflammatory diseases, comprising the same, and an oral formulation for preventing and treating osteoporosis, bone fractures or allergic inflammatory diseases, comprising the same are described.

N-hydroxy-4-{5-[4-(5-isopropyl-2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)phenoxy]pentoxy}benzamidine has excellent efficacy in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis (Korean Patent No. 10-454767), in the treatment of bone fractures (Korean Patent No. 10-639041), and in the treatment and prevention of allergic inflammatory diseases (Korean Patent No. 10-682199).
It is generally known to those skilled in the art that active ingredients used in pharmaceutical compositions must be highly soluble in water or an aqueous solution of a broad range of pH values. However, since N-hydroxy-4-{5-[4-(5-isopropyl-2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)phenoxy]pentoxy}benzamidine has low solubility, its salt forms having high solubility need to be developed to increase bioavailability of the compound.
Accordingly, the present inventors have developed an N-hydroxy-4-{5-[4-(5-isopropyl-2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)phenoxy]pentoxy}benzamidine 2 methansulfonic acid salt, which is highly soluble and stable (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2006-57511).

N-hydroxy-4-{5-[4-(5-isopropyl-2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl) phenoxy]pentoxy} benzamidine 2 ethansulfonic acid salt, process for the preparation thereof and pharmaceutical composition comprising the same