Polynucleotide sequencing generates multiple reads of a polynucleotide molecule. Many or all of the reads contain errors. Trace reconstruction takes multiple reads generated by a polynucleotide sequencer and uses those multiple reads to reconstruct accurately the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide molecule. Some reads may contain errors that cannot be corrected. Thus, there may be reads that can be used throughout their entire length and other reads that have indeterminant errors which cannot be corrected. Rather than discarding the entire read when an indeterminant error is found, the portion of the read with the error is skipped and the sequence of the read following the error is used to reconstruct the trace. The amount of the read skipped is determined by the location of subsequence after the error that matches a consensus sequence of the other reads. Analysis resumes at a location determined by the location of the match.

Much of the world's data today is stored on magnetic and optical media. Tape technology has recently seen significant density improvements with single tape cartridges storing 185 TB and is the densest form of storage available commercially today, at about 10 GB/mm3. Recent research reported the feasibility of optical discs capable of storing 1PB, yielding a density of about 100 GB/mm3. Despite this improvement, storing a zettabyte (270 bytes or a billion terabytes) of data would still take many millions of units, and use significant physical space. But storage density is only one aspect of storage media; durability is also important. Rotating disks are rated for 3-5 years, and tape is rated for 10-30 years. Long-term archival storage requires data refreshes, both to replace faulty units and to refresh technology.
Demand for data storage is growing exponentially, but the capacity of existing storage media is not keeping up. Polymers of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) are capable of storing information at high density. The theoretical density limit is 1 exabyte/mm3 (109 GB/mm3). Less than 100 grams of DNA could store all the human-made data in the world today. DNA is also long lasting, with an observed half-life of over 500 years under certain storage conditions. Thus, DNA is appealing as an information storage technology because of its high information density and longevity. A further advantage of DNA as a storage media is its continued relevance. Operating systems and standards for storage media will change, potentially making data on older storage systems inaccessible. But DNA-based storage has the benefit of eternal relevance: as long as there is DNA-based life, there will be strong reasons to maintain technology that is able to read and manipulate DNA.
Although it has advantages, a DNA storage system must overcome several challenges. For example, DNA synthesis, degradation during storage, and sequencing are all potential sources of errors. Thus, a DNA sequence output by a sequencer may be different from the DNA sequence originally provided to an oligonucleotide synthesizer.

Trace reconstruction from reads with indeterminant errors


A single chip direct conversion transceiver that includes a substrate on which a mixer unit and a local oscillator are provided as a circuit, and a positive hole formed between the mixer unit and the local oscillator and filled with a conductive plug to block signal leakage. A shield ground surface is formed above the substrate and blocks signal leakage occurring when the signals received through the antenna are input into the mixer and signal leakage occurring when the reference signal is input into the mixer from the local oscillator. A first interconnection is formed above the shield ground surface and connects the mixer unit and the local oscillator. Dielectric layers are formed between the substrate and the shield ground surface and on the shield ground surface to cover the first interconnection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a direct conversion transceiver, and more particularly, to a direct conversion transceiver for reducing DC offset.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although the size, power consumption, and costs of a current portable radio terminal are remarkably reduced compared to the early stage of development thereof, there is still the need to further reduce the size, power consumption, and costs of the current portable radio terminal and to manufacture a portable radio terminal having a better quality.
A direct conversion architecture is a structure from which an image rejection filter is removed. The number of components used in the direct conversion architecture is reduced such that the size and power consumption of the portable radio terminal are reduced.
However, in order to apply such a direct conversion architecture to a portable radio terminal, a problem occurs during mixing that creates a DC offset. Further, it is difficult to distinguish such a DC offset from an actual signal, and the DC offset causes an amplifier provided at a next stage of a mixer to saturate.
In order to solve the above-described DC offset problem, several methods have been suggested, and a new method is currently under development. FIGS. 1 and 2 each illustrate an example of a method for reducing a DC offset in a conventional direct conversion transceiver.
Referring to FIG. 1, signals received through an antenna 10 are amplified by a first amplifier 12 and are mixed with a reference signal generated in a local oscillator 34 by first and second mixers 14 and 16. In this procedure, carrier signals are eliminated from the signals. When the signals, which are output from the first and second mixers 14 and 16 and from which the carrier signals have been eliminated, go through first and second low pass filters (LPFs) 18 and 20, high frequency components are eliminated. Signals output from the first and second LPFs 18 and 20 are amplified by second and third amplifiers 26 and 30. Reference numeral 36 denotes a phase shifter for shifting the phase of the reference signal generated in the local oscillator 34 by 90 degrees.
Referring to FIG. 3, due to substrate coupling and bond wire coupling, oscillator signal leakage 50 occurs when a reference signal cos WLOt is input into the first mixer 14 from a local oscillator (not shown). In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 4, due to substrate coupling and bond wire coupling, large interference leakage 52 occurs when the first amplifier 12 amplifies the signals received through the antenna 10. Leakage signals are self-mixed with a reference signal generated from the local oscillator, for example, as shown in Equation 1, and as a result, a DC offset occurs.
                              cos                                                                          w            LO                              t          ×          cos                                                                          w            LO                              t                =                              1            +                          cos                                                                                2                                            w                LO                                          t                                2                                    (        1        )
The DC offset corresponding to ½ in Equation 1 causes the second amplifier 26, which is provided at a next stage of the first mixer 14, to saturate. In addition, the DC offset becomes irregular when signals are irradiated by the antenna 10, are reflected, and are received again. Additionally, it is difficult to distinguish the DC offset from the signals actually received.
In order to eliminate such a DC offset, the prior art illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a first capacitor 22 between the first LPF 18 and the second amplifier 26 and a second capacitor between the second LPF 20 and the third amplifier 30. However, in the prior art, the volume of the first and second capacitors 22 and 24 is large, and additional grounds 28 and 32 for charge and discharge are needed. As a result, the size of the circuit is increased, and it is difficult to produce it as a single chip IC. In addition, an application thereof is defined by time division multiple access (TDMA).
FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional direct conversion receiver as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-open No. He 3-220823. More specifically, FIG. 2 illustrates a method of eliminating the above-described DC offset by a negative feedback loop. The negative feedback loop comprises a first analog to digital converter (A/D) converter 40 placed between a second amplifier 26 and a data processing circuit 44, a second A/D converter 42 placed between a third amplifier 30 and the data processing circuit 44, a first digital to analog (D/A) converter 46 placed between a first mixer 14 and the data processing circuit 44, for converting a predetermined digital signal output from the data processing circuit 44 into an analog signal and feeding back the analog signal to the first mixer 14, and a second D/A converter 48 placed between a second mixer 16 and the data processing circuit 44, for converting the predetermined digital signal into an analog signal and feeding back the analog signal to the second mixer 16. However, by use of a closed loop, a loop convergence time is restricted. As a result, like in a portable radio terminal, it is difficult to use the direct conversion receiver in a device having a short time slot.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,728 discloses a direct conversion receiver with a delta-sigma modulator and a switch capable of canceling a DC offset voltage in real-time. However, because a switching time is required, an application of the direct conversion receiver is defined by time division multiple access (TDMA), and the size of a circuit is increased.

Single chip direct conversion transceiver for reducing DC offset and method of manufacturing the same


Exemplary techniques for tuning the effective capacitance provided by an embedded capacitor are disclosed. The techniques may be realized by modifying one or more conductive features of one or more vias connected to the embedded capacitor to adjust the capacitance contributed by the one or more vias. One technique preferably includes altering the conductive surface area of a pad of one or more vias to which the embedded capacitor is electrically connected to increase or decrease the contributed capacitance. Another technique provides for bore drilling or tap drilling one or more vias connected to the embedded capacitor to increase the surface area of plated interior surfaces of the vias, thereby increasing their capacitive effect. An additional technique includes forming a number of vias having various capacitive effects and electrically connecting the embedded capacitor to one or more of these vias to increase the capacitance.

Capacitors formed within, or "embedded" in, multilayer circuit boards often are beneficially used in addition to or in place of discrete surface mount (SMT) capacitors. Discrete capacitors frequently introduce undesirable inductance from the vias and solder joints used to connect the discrete capacitors to the circuit. Discrete capacitors also consume the circuit board's surface area, preventing the connection of other surface devices. In contrast, embedded capacitors frequently exhibit less inductance than surface capacitors because of their proximity to the driver and receiver and due to their lack of solder joints and extra vias. Further, because they are embedded in inner layers of the circuit board, surface area is freed for use by other surface mount devices.
For all of their benefits over discrete capacitors, the capacitive values of embedded capacitors often are not as consistent as those of discrete capacitors. While discrete capacitors may be manufactured to have a predictable capacitance with slight variation, embedded capacitors often have unpredictable capacitances resulting from the circuit board manufacturing processes. This problem is compounded once the embedded capacitor is laminated inside the substrate of the circuit board because conventional capacitance tuning techniques typically cannot be employed. As a result, when a circuit board having an embedded capacitor with inadequate capacitance is detected, conventional techniques typically call for adjusting the nominal capacitance by adding a surface mount capacitor in parallel, thereby introducing the undesirable effects of discrete capacitors. Conventional techniques, however, do not provide for an efficient way to decrease the capacitance of an embedded capacitor having excessive capacitance in a laminated circuit board. For such modification to take place using conventional techniques, the discrete capacitor typically would be placed in series with the embedded and, as such, would necessitate the inclusion of connecting pads on the board that are shorted together. The short is usually provided using a discrete zero ohm or low ohm resistor which would introduce the undesirable effects of discrete components noted above. Consequently, the circuit board typically is either used in its present condition, often to ill effect, or it is discarded.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide techniques for tuning embedded capacitors that overcome the above-described inadequacies and shortcomings in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Method for tuning an embedded capacitor in a multilayer circuit board


Embodiments of the application provide a communications method and apparatus. A target cell is determined based on measurement results of N measured cells and a preset value when there is a first cell satisfying a report trigger condition. A measurement result of the target cell is sent to a base station. A terminal may not only send the measurement result of the cell satisfying the trigger condition to the base station, but also send a measurement result of another cell to the base station. In this way, a quantity of cells that can be selected during determining of handover can be increased, to help the base station select a suitable cell for the terminal.

In some cases, a cell (which is referred to as a "serving cell" for short below) providing a service for a terminal needs to be changed from one cell to another cell. Specifically, a base station sends a measurement configuration to the terminal. The terminal may measure the cell according to the measurement configuration, and determine, based on a trigger condition, whether to report a measurement result. When a measurement result of a cell satisfies the trigger condition, the terminal may send the measurement result of the cell to the base station. The base station makes a decision based on the measurement result reported by the terminal, to determine whether to change the serving cell of the terminal from one cell to another cell.
However, in some cases, a cell that first triggers reporting of a measurement result may not be a suitable cell. Therefore, a cell that is selected by the base station and to which the terminal needs to be handed over may not be a suitable cell. Therefore, the current technical solution may cause a problem that the terminal cannot be handed over to a suitable cell in a handover process.

Measurement report triggering method and apparatus


There is disclosed an electrically insulating device in the form of a sleeve (12) for a downhole tool, for electrically insulating a first threaded electrically conductive member in the form of an anchor sub (16) from a second threaded electrically conductive member in the form of an insulated sub (18).

Measurement while drilling (MWD) techniques have been developed in the field of oil and gas well drilling to provide accurate information concerning operating conditions within an oil/gas borehole and to reduce rig down-time.
Various different approaches have been developed in this field. The first and simplest is a form of earth signalling, where a length of drill pipe is considered to be a "lossy" coaxial wire extending to surface. This method relies upon the earth having a finite resistance to support an electromagnetic field and consequently, this method is limited by the particular types of rock in which the borehole is drilled.
A second approach was developed using the drill pipe as a dipole aerial, treating the system as a very low frequency (VLF) radio system. Physical constraints, particularly the wavelength of the signal compared to the limited space in a borehole, impart severe practical difficulties in this approach.
In the 1970's, mud-pulse technology was developed, which enabled details of a wide variety of borehole conditions, such as depth, temperature and pressure to be transmitted to surface. However, this method has two significant limitations. Firstly, it relies upon a column of fluid and treating this fluid as having a limited compressibility, otherwise the signal is quickly "damped" to extinction. Secondly, the data transmission rate, even in relatively incompressible fluids is limited for any significant depth of borehole.
Over the last few years, MWD has extended to logging whilst drilling (LWD), where additional sensors are located at the bottom of a drill pipe, to measure parameters indicative of the rock type being drilled. This has created a need for higher data transmission rates, which cannot be met by mud-pulse telemetry.
The most significant change in the drilling industry in recent years has been the advent of air/foam replacing conventional drilling muds in drilling techniques. This technique has advantages in particular situations, for example, where the producing formation is fragile and over-pressure from "heavy" fluid columns can cause significant damage. Also, this can cause large volumes of the expensive drilling mud to be lost in the formation, which then has to be produced out of the well before oil/gas can be recovered.
Accordingly, there has been a return to the earth signalling approach where higher data transmission rates are obtainable. In this technique, an electromagnetic field is generated downhole in a drill string. This requires an insulated gap to be provided in the string. Current techniques include coating a sub with a thin coating of a ceramic material. This method is expensive, and the coating itself is costly, difficult to apply, and susceptible to damage, particularly on thread crests, when the sub is made-up to a tool/string. Also, the coating cannot be readily inspected for integrity, and cannot be refurbished or easily replaced.
It is amongst the objects of embodiments of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the foregoing disadvantages. In particular, it is amongst the objects of embodiments of the present invention to provide an electrically insulating device, an improved electrically insulated downhole assembly and a corresponding method which can be used in improved MWD techniques.

Abstract: An assembly (10) including the sleeve (12) has particular use in measurement while drilling (MWD)/logging while drilling (LWD) procedures. In one embodiment, a third member in the form of a threaded electrically conductive sleeve sub (20) is coupled to the insulated sub by a second sleeve (14), to create an insulated gap between the anchor and sleeve subs (16, 20).


An ultra-hard carbon film is formed by the uniaxial compression of thin films of graphene. The graphene films are two or three layers thick (2-L or 3-L). High pressure compression forms a diamond-like film and provides improved properties to the coated substrates.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the formation of ultra-hard carbon films. The quest for materials with exceptional mechanical properties is the focus of major efforts since the beginning of civilization. Carbon can form different types of materials, exhibiting a variety of exceptional properties, from diamond to graphite, and more recently fullerenes, nanotubes, and graphene. Sintering materials with a stiffness and hardness equal or superior to those of diamond is an ongoing challenge. Thus, for both scientific and technological reasons, the transformation of graphite into diamond remains one of the most fascinating and studied solid-to-solid phase transitions in materials science. Recently, experimental and theoretical efforts have been directed to study the transformation of multi-layer graphene into a diamond-like structure, as induced by chemical functionalization of the graphene layers. Despite recent successes, the experimental proof that such atomically-thin diamond-like films indeed exhibit mechanical properties similar to those of diamond remains, unfortunately, missing.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Ultra-hard carbon film from epitaxial two-layer graphene

Research Foundation of the City University of New York


An image processing apparatus includes an input unit that accepts input data, a detecting unit that detects line information from the input data, the line information indicating color information about a line included in the input data, color information about the background of the line, the width of the line, and a converting unit that converts the line information based on a contrast integrated value and the difference between the color information about the background and the color information about the line, the contrast integrated value being determined by the color information about the background, the color information about the line, and the width of the line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application generally relates to image processing and, more particularly, to an image processing apparatus, method, and storage medium, and a technology for performing a halftoning process on a line-containing image with high reproducibility.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are electrophotographic printers and inkjet printers that have been known as image output apparatuses that form images on recording media. In those image output apparatuses, the number of tone levels that can be output is often smaller than the number of tone levels in input digital image data. Therefore, a representation method involving area coverage modulation is used as a method of expressing shadings in an output image. Area coverage modulation is a method of expressing shadings by varying the proportion of the colorant applied area on a recording medium. Methods involving area coverage modulation are roughly classified into AM (amplitude modulation) screening and FM (frequency modulation) screening.
In AM screening, halftone dots are formed by spatially gathering and arranging minute dots, and shadings are expressed by varying the sizes of the halftone dots. In FM screening, on the other hand, minute dots are spatially scattered at random, and shadings are expressed by varying the density of the minute dots. In an image subjected to such screening, discontinuities might appear in fine lines. Fine line discontinuities are phenomena that occur when halftone dots for screening interfere with fine lines. In view of this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-300206 discloses a method of performing correction on a pre-screen-processing image to be input to a screen processing unit, using a gamma correction LUT specially designed for linear regions. By this method, the tonal values in the linear regions included in an image are corrected to be darker, so that fine line discontinuities due to screen processing can be corrected.
By the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-300206, the tonal values in the linear regions in a pre-screen-processing image are corrected. As a result, the width of each line in an image that is output from an image output apparatus might appear greater than a desired width.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium


A speed reduction device including an overrunning clutch has a drive shaft having an eccentric ring and an inner gear plate disposed to be rotatable relative to the eccentric ring. The gear plate has a plurality of teeth and engagement holes. The device further has fixing pins fixed to the housing in engagement with the engagement holes of the inner gear plate to restrict rotation of the inner gear plate to thereby allow swinging of the gear plate, an outer ring disposed around the inner gear plate and connected to a driven shaft and a torque transmitting member which engages the teeth of the inner gear plate to transmit torque from the inner gear plate to the outer ring. The torque transmitting member is arranged to disengage the teeth of the inner gear plate by centrifugal force when the outer ring rotates at a speed higher than a threshold value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a speed reduction device having an overrunning clutch and, particularly, a vehicular rotary machine which has a starting motor or a starter-generator.
2. Description of the Related Art
A common starter motor for a vehicle has an overrunning clutch disposed between the pinion shaft and the driving shaft of the motor to prevent over-run of the starter motor when an engine starts and the starter motor is driven by the engine. A speed reduction device is sometimes employed in the starter motor to reduce the size of the starter motor and also to increase the engine starting torque. For this purpose, an eccentric-gear speed-reduction device, which is composed of a drive shaft having an eccentric ring and an internal gear in mesh with the eccentric gear and provides a large speed reduction ratio has been proposed.
The above-described starter motor, however, needs a complicated structure to combine a shaft, bearings, the starter motor, the overrunning clutch and the speed reduction device, resulting in a bulky rotary machine.

Speed reduction device having overrunning clutch


Scanning probe techniques based on the measurement of impedance spectroscopy using a conductive an SPM tip is provided and applied to the study of local transport properties, especially at a grain boundary. The contributions of the grain boundaries and tip-surface interaction can be distinguished based on the analysis of the equivalent circuit. The technique is applicable for both the spatially resolved study of transport mechanisms of polycrystalline semiconductors and the tip-surface contact quality. A piezoresponse force microscopy technique yields quantitative information about local non-linear dielectric properties and higher order electromechanical coupled of ferroelectrics.

The present invention(s) relate to measurement apparatus and methods, and more particularly to scanning probe microscopy apparatus and methods.
The fundamental understanding of nanoscale phenomena as well as its exploitation in device applications requires access to local properties. In recent years, a number of scanning probe based techniques, including scanning surface potential microscopy (SSPM), scanning spreading resistance microscopy (SSRM), and scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM), have been developed to access microscopic transport properties of nanoscale structures. (See S. V. Kalinin and D. A. Bonnell, in Scanning Probe Microscopy and Spectroscopy: Theory, Techniques and Applications, ed. D. A. Bonnell (Wiley VCH, New York, 2000, p. 205)). As processing of nanostructures becomes more sophisticated, there may be the potential to utilize complex materials such as nonlinear electronic, ferro and piezo electric, and ferromagnetic compounds.
In many complex materials multiple physical parameters are strongly coupled so that the complexity often takes on the form of nonlinear response to external excitations. For example, polycrystalline oxides and semiconductors exhibit non linear electrical behavior and capacitive coupling that are exploited in positive temperature coefficient of resistance, thermistors and varistors, and in solar cells. Nonlinear electro-mechanical properties in organic and inorganic ferroelectrics are used in memory devices and passive circuitry.
The incorporation of these and other materials at nanoscale dimensions has motivated the development of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques and like techniques that access nonlinear properties. Conventional SPM techniques may be used for imaging and measuring various local properties of surfaces or materials on a small scale. SPM techniques typically work by measuring a local property—including mechanical properties such as height, electrical properties such as capacitance or impedance, magnetic properties, electrostriction, piezoelectric effect, or ferroelectric effect—with a probe tip placed very close to the sample. Often, the microscope raster-scans a probe over the sample while measuring the particular local property.
For example, in atomic force microscopy (AFM), a small tip on the end of a cantilever is moved across a surface. A vertical deflection of the cantilever by repulsive forces (in contact mode) indicates local height.
Also, piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) is an SPM technique in which periodic bias is applied to a conductive tip in contact with a surface. The bias results in periodic surface displacement due to inverse piezoelectric effect or electrostriction of a ferroelectric surface. Mapping of the amplitude and phase of the displacement provides information of ferroelectric domain structures.
Various SPM tips having a conductive coating are commercially available from various suppliers. For any SPM mode, in which the tip is in contact with the surface, a conductive coating can be degraded due to mechanical wear or high current density in the tip-surface junction. (See P. Eyben, M. Xu, N. Duhayon, T. Clarysse, S. Callewaert, W. Vandervorst, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 20, 471 (2002))

Scanning probe microscopy apparatus and techniques

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A motor packing and mounting mechanism for a motor in a no larger than medium-sized appliance, such as wet and dry vacuum cleaner, a water aspirator, a water pump, or a humidifier, includes a motor seat supporting a motor in a housing so that the motor is axially disposed between the housing and the motor seat. At least one isolating cover is located inside the housing. A motor chamber for receiving the motor is defined among the housing, the motor seat, and the isolating cover. An axial mating clearance is defined between the isolating cover and the motor seat. A first seal is located and axially-mated in the axial mating clearance, the first seal having an elastic supporting portion. A cross section of the elastic supporting portion has a door-shaped structure, with the elastic supporting portion defining an opening facing an axial direction of the motor.

An electric motor is commonly known as a motor, which refers to an electromagnetic device for converting or transmitting electrical energy according to the law of electromagnetic induction, and mainly functions to generate a driving torque as a power source of an appliance or various machines.
The mounting of the motor in the appliance needs to consider two aspects: one is fixing of the motor, which needs to prevent the start-up following rotation of the series-excited motor, so that the motor is fixed during normal operation; and the other is sealing, which prevents liquid such as water from entering a motor chamber during the use of the appliance to cause damage to the motor. In particular, small and medium-sized appliances of water sucking types have higher requirements for water proofing of motors. In the prior art, motors in such appliances are generally sealed and fixed by soft seals on the upper and lower sides, which achieve axial crimping fixation on the motors, so the sealing effect on the motors depends on the axial pressing force. Generally, in order to fix a motor firmly, the axial pressure is often large, and the soft seals lose elasticity after being pressed and cannot absorb the vibration of the motor during operation, so the noise is large; in addition, the large axial pressure easily causes damage to the soft seals, resulting in bad effects such as seal failure.
In the prior art, the sealing structures of motors in small and medium-sized appliances such as wet and dry vacuum cleaners are relatively simple, and are all simply sealed by axial pressure seals, so the waterproof performance is poor. The sealing effect depends entirely on the amount of axial pressure, and the sealing performance is inversely proportional to the noise absorption capability of the seals under pressure, that is, if the better the sealing performance is, the worse noise the reduction capability is.

Packing and mounting mechanism for electric motor in small and medium-sized appliances

SKYBEST ELECTRIC APPLIANCE (SUZHOU) CO., LTD.


An article of footwear has a molded outsole which contains a resilient midsole located in the cavity of the outsole and a footbed cover which has a stretch material layer affixed to the outsole and provides a stretch zone. The stretch zone allows the footbed cover to work in conjunction with the resilient midsole to absorb shock upon heel strike or other compression of the midsole to increase comfort. Preferably, the midsole has sections of different hardness in the heel area and the forefoot area.

There are many different shoe types, ranging from closed shoes, to slides and clogs, to sandals, and with heel heights ranging from no heel to 4 inches or more. A common issue confronted by a shoe designer is the tradeoffs between cost and comfort and durability and style. For example, a shoe sole that is soft and resilient will typically have poor durability. Accordingly, over the years, different shoe constructions have been developed that provide different degrees of cost and comfort and durability and style. These developments in shoe constructions, along with developments in materials which are lighter and more resilient than traditional materials, have expanded the range of potential footwear constructions over the years and provided consumers with a much greater choice than was available 100 years ago. Nevertheless, the fundamental considerations of low cost, durability, and end-user comfort continue to inspire new developments.
A typical construction for a women's slide or sandal may include a durable molded rubber or plastic outsole shell forming a cavity and a resilient midsole that is molded or glued into the cavity. A footbed liner (which may include an insole pad) is located above the midsole and attached to the outsole and/or midsole. A disadvantage of this typical design is that the designer has a limited ability to design both comfort and durability into the shoe. If the designer selects a very soft, resilient foam for the midsole, it is likely to quickly degrade, making the shoes unusable. If the designer selects a firmer foam for the midsole, the shoe will be less comfortable underfoot.
There is a desire for a footwear construction that overcomes the limitations of the prior art and provides a shoe that has provides a better combination of cost and comfort and durability and style.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Footwear with elastic footbed cover and soft foam footbed


A chromogenic window panel assembly, and a chromogenic skylight each includes an outer panel and a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal. A chromogenic light pipe includes a light harvesting member and a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal. A chromogenic vehicle sunroof, a chromogenic aircraft window assembly, and a chromogenic window assembly each includes a panel having a particular panel contour corresponding to a surface contour and a chromogenic panel having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal. A chromogenic block includes two panels and a chromogenic panel having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to chromogenic panels, such as glass windows, for vehicular and architectural use, and more particularly, to a chromogenic assembly for use in a vehicle""s sunroof. In addition, the invention pertains to chromogenic skylights, architectural blocks and window assemblies. Further, the present invention pertains to chromogenic light pipes and chromogenic aircraft windows. The present invention also pertains to boat or other marine application windows.
2. Related Background Art
A variety of technologies exist for producing chromogenic members. xe2x80x9cChromogenic devicesxe2x80x9d, as used herein, is employed as commonly known in the art. Examples of these chromogenic devices include electrochromic devices, photochromic devices, liquid crystal devices, user-controllable-photochromic devices, polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal devices, and suspended particle devices.
The term xe2x80x9cuser-controllablexe2x80x9d is used in the sense that the appearance of a chromogenic device can be regulated. Photochromic devices, because their coloration is a function of light intensity are not directly xe2x80x9cuser-controllablexe2x80x9d. However, systems incorporating such photochromic devices can be designed in which users can regulate such devices. For the purposes of this application, those systems would also be considered xe2x80x9cuser-controllablexe2x80x9d.
For example, electrochromic devices are discussed by N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal in xe2x80x9cAutomotive Applications of Chromogenic Materialsxe2x80x9d, Large Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devices for Transmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granqvist, Eds., Optical Engineering Press, Bellingham, Wash.(1989), the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, and by D. V. Varaprasad, H. R. Habibi, N. R. Lynam and P. Desaraju in U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,407, entitled xe2x80x9cMethod of Reducing Leakage Current in Electrochemichromic Solutions Based Thereonxe2x80x9d, U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,690, entitled xe2x80x9cRearview Mirror Control Circuitxe2x80x9d, U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,768, entitled xe2x80x9cAutomatic Rearview Mirror With Filtered Light Sensorsxe2x80x9d. Other pertinent references include N. R. Lynam, xe2x80x9cElectrochromic Automotive Day/Night Mirrorsxe2x80x9d, SAE Technical Paper Series, 87036 (1987); N. R. Lynam, xe2x80x9cSmart Windows for Automobilesxe2x80x9d, SAE Technical Paper Series, 900419 (1990); C. M. Lampert, xe2x80x9cElectrochromic Devices and Devices for Energy Efficient Windowsxe2x80x9d, Solar Energy Materials, 11, 1-27 (1984); Japanese Patent Document No. JP 58-20729 (Kamimori); U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,941 (Deb); U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,832 (Castellion); U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,152 (Giglia); U.S. Pat. No. Re. 30,835 (Giglia); U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,000 (Kamimori); U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,090 (Uchikawa); U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,619 (Kamimori); U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,566 (Tukude); U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,879 (Lynam); U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,112 (Lynam) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,674 (Lynam), U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,406 (Lynam), U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,012 (Lynam), U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,647 (Lynam) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,014 (Lynam, et al.), the contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Electrochromic panels are also discussed by Sapers, S. P., et al. in xe2x80x9cMonolithic Solid-State Electrochromic Coatings for Window Applicationsxe2x80x9d, Proceedings of the Society of Vacuum Coaters Conference (1996), with regard to devices of the type shown in FIG. 1E. Devices comparable to that shown in FIG. 1E, and having photovoltaic layers for self-biasing operation are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,037, entitled xe2x80x9cElectrochromic-Photovoltaic Film for Light-Sensitive Control of Optical Transmittancexe2x80x9d.
Other references of interest include U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,411, entitled xe2x80x9cElectrochromic Variable Transmission Glazing, U.K. Patent No. 2,268,595, entitled xe2x80x9cElectrochromic Cellxe2x80x9d, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Appln. No. 63-106731, entitled xe2x80x9cDimmer Bodyxe2x80x9d, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Appln. No. 63-106730, entitled xe2x80x9cDimmer Bodyxe2x80x9d, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,643, entitled xe2x80x9cElectrochemichromic Sunroofxe2x80x9d. Also pertinent is PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US 97/05791, entitled xe2x80x9cElectrochromic Devicesxe2x80x9d, which pertains to electrochromic devices that can vary the transmission or reflection of electromagnetic radiation by applying an electrical stimulus to an EC device. This is done using a selective ion transport layer in combination with an electrolyte having at least one redox active material to provide a high-performance device. Photochromic devices are discussed by N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal in xe2x80x9cAutomotive Applications of Chromogenic Materialsxe2x80x9d, Large Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devices for Transmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granqvist, Eds., Optical Engineering Press, Bellingham, Wash. (1989).
Also suitable for use in this invention are liquid crystal devices such as those described by N. Basturk and J. Grupp in xe2x80x9cLiquid Crystal Guest-Host Devices and Their Use as Light Shuttersxe2x80x9d, Larqe Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devices for Transmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. g. Granqvist, Eds., Optical Engineering Press, Bellingham, Wash. (1989).
User-controllable-photochromic devices (UCPC) are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,626, entitled xe2x80x9cNovel Photochromic Devicesxe2x80x9d, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal (PDLC) devices are described by N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal, xe2x80x9cAutomotive Applications of Chromogenic Materialsxe2x80x9d, Large Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devices for Transmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granqvist, Eds., Optical Engineering Press, Bellingham, Wash. (1989).
Suspended particle devices are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,365, entitled xe2x80x9cLight Valve for Controlling the Transmission of Radiation Comprising a Cell and a Stabilized Liquid Suspensionxe2x80x9d (Saxe), the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
The general control of chromogenic devices is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,690, entitled xe2x80x9cRearview Mirror Control Circuitxe2x80x9d, U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,768, entitled xe2x80x9cAutomatic Rearview Mirror With Filtered Light Sensorsxe2x80x9d, U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,718, entitled xe2x80x9cElectrochromic Elements and Methods of Manufacturing and Driving the Samexe2x80x9d, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,898, entitled xe2x80x9cFault Tolerant Drive Circuit for Electrochromic Mirror Systemxe2x80x9d, and the disclosure of those references is incorporated by reference herein.
The phenomenon of prolonged coloration of chromogenic devices is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,673, entitled xe2x80x9cProlonged Coloration Electrochromic Assemblyxe2x80x9d, U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,317, entitled xe2x80x9cElectrochromic Device Capable of Prolonged Colorationxe2x80x9d, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,578, entitled xe2x80x9cElectrochromic Device Capable of Prolonged Colorationxe2x80x9d. The disclosure of those references is incorporated by reference herein.
FIGS. 1A through 1E depict typical examples of electrochromic devices, while FIGS. 1F through 1H show other types of chromogenic devices.
For example, FIG. 1A depicts a layered EC device which includes a substrate 101, transparent conductor 103, electrochromic (redox) medium 105, transparent conductor 103xe2x80x2 and substrate 101xe2x80x2.
FIG. 1B illustrates a layered EC device which includes a substrate 101, transparent conductor 103, EC layer 107, electrolyte (redox medium) 109, transparent conductor 103xe2x80x2 and substrate 101xe2x80x2.
FIG. 1C shows another layered EC device having a substrate 101, transparent conductor 103, EC layer 107, ion-selective transport layer 111, electrolyte (redox medium) 109, transparent conductor 103xe2x80x2 and substrate 101xe2x80x2.
Still another such EC device is shown in FIG. 1D. This device includes a substrate 101, transparent conductor 103, EC layer 107, electrolyte 113, counterelectrode 115, transparent conductor 103xe2x80x2 and substrate 101xe2x80x2.
FIG. 1E shows an EC device having a substrate 101, transparent conductor 103, EC layer 107, electrolyte (ion-conductive layer) 117, counterelectrode 115 and transparent conductor 103xe2x80x2.
A typical liquid crystal or PDLC device is shown in FIG. 1F; this device includes a substrate 201, transparent conductor 203, liquid crystal or PDLC medium 205, transparent conductor 203xe2x80x2 and substrate 201xe2x80x2.
Another example of a typical liquid crystal device is depicted in FIG. 1G. The device includes a polarizer 207, substrate 201, transparent conductor 203, alignment layer 209, liquid crystal medium 205, alignment layer 209xe2x80x2, transparent conductor 203xe2x80x2, substrate 201xe2x80x2 and polarizer 207xe2x80x2.
An example of a UCPC device is shown in FIG. 1H, and this device contains a substrate 201, transparent conductor 203, chromogenic layer 211, electrolyte (redox) medium 210, transparent conductor 203xe2x80x2, light-sensitive electrode 213 and substrate 201xe2x80x2.
FIG. 1I shows a typical photochromic device. It includes a substrate 301, photochromic medium 303 and substrate 301xe2x80x2.
FIG. 1J shows another typical photochromic device. The device has a substrate 301 and photochromic layer 303.
Yet another typical photochromic device is shown in FIG. 1K; this consists of a photochromic substrate 305. Since these chromogenic devices are themselves known to those skilled in the art, a detailed explanation of their manner of construction and operation is not believed to be necessary.
Vehicular sunroofs have become an increasingly popular automotive option in recent years. These devices provide the vehicle occupants with a feeling of open-air driving, increase air circulation through the passenger compartment, and add a sporty appearance to the vehicle. The typical automobile sunroof constitutes a glass panel which allows occupants to have an open view through the roof of the vehicle even when the sunroof is itself closed.
While in many ways desirable, sunroofs affect the interior design of automobiles. Many vehicles include, at least as an option, an overhead console for the storage of sunglasses and other items and vehicle accessories such as garage door opening transmitters, overhead lights, and compass displays. Typically, a vehicle with a sunroof has only a relatively small area between the windshield and the forward edge of the sunroof opening for such an overhead console. This space is undesirably small, however, and offers much less room than that is found in the larger overhead consoles available in vehicles without a sunroof.
Glass sunroofs transmit a great deal of heat and light, particularly under sunny conditions or in warm climates. For example, it has been found that the interior temperature of a vehicle parked in the sun for two hours can exceed 167xc2x0 F. (xe2x80x9cSolar Ventilates, Recharges Vehiclexe2x80x9d, Photonics Spectra, Vol. 25, p. 20 (1991)). This causes overheating of the interior of the vehicle. Such overheating can be a serious problem, because recently-required changes in the types of refrigerants which can be used in automotive air conditioning systems reduce the cooling ability and so cause the vehicles to cool more slowly. Therefore, the flow of heat through the glass portions of the car has become an increasingly important concern for car designers.
High solar light levels also may fill the car with ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation. Visible radiation causes glare which is undesirable because at the least, it constitutes an annoyance to the occupants. Also, ultraviolet radiation may bleach or discolor the vehicle""s interior. The incoming infrared radiation leads to heat buildup with consequent occupant discomfort and deterioration of interior cabin materials.
Chromogenic technology such as electrochromic technology has been described in the prior art as having the potential for application to automotive sunroofs. Many electrochromic systems effectively block the transmission of infrared radiation in their darkened state. Thus, electrochromic elements will effectively prevent solar heat gain in vehicles and will provide the user with dynamic control of the transmissive properties of the glass roof. Sunroof designs may feature glass sunroofs with both electric tilt and slide functions.
In designing a chromogenic sunroof, it may be preferable to integrate the electronics which control the coloring and bleaching of the device with those which control the slide and tilt mechanisms. This would permit greater ease of installation, a more compact unit, and reduce the likelihood of failure.
According to the prior art, chromogenic glass panels, if used for a sunroof, are installed directly in the roof opening. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,722, entitled xe2x80x9cVariable Opacity, Maximally Transverse Retracting Sunroof Systemxe2x80x9d, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,816, entitled xe2x80x9cElectrochromic Element Comprising an Organic Oxidative Color-Forming Layer and an Inorganic Reductive Color-Forming Layerxe2x80x9d. One issue of concern in such designs is that the chromogenic elements are exposed to environmental factors such as direct ultraviolet (xe2x80x9cUVxe2x80x9d) light, temperature fluctuations and extremes, rain and dust. Such chromogenic elements also can be struck by debris kicked up on the road, i.e., gravel and rocks, and so could be damaged. In addition, from the standpoint of manufacturing efficiency, economy and customer satisfaction, it is difficult to make chromogenic components having the same shape as existing sunroofs, which have curvatures matching the contours of the vehicles in which the sunroofs are installed. Hence, most chromogenic devices such as laminate-type electrochromic devices involve a construction comprising glass substrates sandwiching a chromogenic medium (such as an electrochromic medium). It is more economical and manufacturable to fabricate flat panels of area larger than about one square foot or thereabout. By sandwiching the chromogenic medium between two flat panels, this obviates the need for precision bending and matching of two curved panels. The term contour as used herein means a non-flat surface, i.e., a curved surface. For example, the outer skin of a vehicle such as the outer skin of the vehicle roof is typically contoured such that it is non-flat and is curved and is frequently of compound and complex curvature (here, xe2x80x9ccontouredxe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9ccurvedxe2x80x9d). Furthermore, retrofitting by installing chromogenic panels in existing sunroofs without altering the car appearance is quite complicated. Similar problems would also be encountered with aircraft windows.
Light pipes are frequently used in buildings to harness exterior light and direct the light to the interior of the building. The light may be diffusely delivered. Light pipes are similar to skylights insofar as they both use natural light to brighten a room. However, skylights are often more difficult and expensive to install in a retrofit situation than light pipes.
The main element of a light pipe is a circular tube, typically of metal. The inside surface may be coated with a reflective mirror finish. The tube which is typically 3-6 feet in length and extends through the roof where it is covered by a clear cover, typically an acrylic dome. A small reflector located inside or outside the tube can help direct light down the tube. Inside, the tube ends at the ceiling surface, where it is typically covered with a diffuser that spreads light across the interior area. Since the reflective tubing may be fitted between ceiling joists, thereby avoiding major construction, they represent an inexpensive retrofit option.
The use of light pipes decreases the reliance on other forms of artificial lighting and hence reduces energy bills. However, light pipes have mainly been installed in areas such as hallways and bathrooms, where the presence of very bright light throughout daylight hours is not detrimental. Light pipes could have wider application if there existed a means to selectively darken the light pipe when bright lighting was not desired. Such control of the light output of light pipes can lead to installation of light pipes in other areas such as, for example, bedrooms, conference rooms, theatres, multimedia rooms, multipurpose rooms, and offices.
One method to control the light output of light pipes is to install shades or screens which could be used to cover the light pipe to achieve relative darkness. However this method has several drawbacks such as a narrow selectivity range of brightness intensity, a difficulty in reaching a shade at roof height, and a poor aesthetic appearance.
Such problems with conventional light pipes are addressed by the present invention by providing an electrochromic panel which is fabricated for insertion in a light pipe. The electrochromic panel of the present invention could be selectively darkened to achieve any number of levels of brightness in the room. The panel could be controlled from a wall switch mounted near the unit. These and other advantages will be described in the embodiments described below.
The invention described below addresses all the above issues by providing more flexibility for glazing design, and particularly for automotive glazing, aircraft windows, and interior design. The present invention also provides novel methods and structures for making chromogenic sunroofs as well as other glazing structures for both vehicular and architectural use, such as building skylights, architectural glass blocks, light pipes, car windows, aircraft windows, boat windows, marine applications, and building windows.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a chromogenic sunroof assembly which is composed of at least one outer non-chromogenic panel and one inner chromogenic panel. In constructing such a chromogenic sunroof assembly, any of the aforementioned chromogenic technologies could be used, and the preferred devices are those where a user can exercise control over the transmissive properties of the panel, such as electrochromic (EC), liquid-crystal (LC), polymer-dispersed-liquid crystal (PDLC), suspended particle devices, and user-controllable-photochromic devices (UCPC) devices. Of these devices, EC is preferred, followed by UCPC.
A further object of this invention is to provide a sunroof with an inner chromogenic panel and outer panels, the inner chromogenic panel being electrochromic in nature.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a chromogenic sunroof in which the outer panel of the sunroof is contiguous with the outer skin of the vehicle roof, and which outer panel is curved and shaped to suit the vehicle""s appearance, whereas the inner, chromogenic panel is flat. This means that a flat chromogenic inner panel can be used, and only the outer panel, which serves a protective function, need be specially designed to match the contours of the vehicle roof.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a dual inner chromogenic panel design. A single outer panel is shaped to meet design requirements and is combined with one or more flat chromogenic panels that constitute the inner panels. The optical properties of these inner chromogenic panels can be individually controlled.
A further object of this invention is to provide a thermal break (barrier) between the outer and the inner panels of a chromogenic assembly. A thermal break can include any one of a gas-filled volume (such as with air, inert gas such as nitrogen, argon, krypton, sulfur hexafluoride), an evacuated volume such as a volume of a partial vacuum, an aerogel-filled volume, a xerogel-filled volume or an equivalent.
An additional object of the invention is to provide an ultraviolet barrier between the outer and the inner panels of multi-panel chromogenic assembly.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi-panel chromogenic sunroof with at least two inner panels which are separated by a roof console.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a sunroof assembly having a transparent outer panel.
It is a further object of the present invention to construct an existing standard sunroof with chromogenic panel(s).
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a movable chromogenic sunroof assembly which is powered throughout its range of movement.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a movable chromogenic sunroof assembly which sunroof offers both tilt and slide operations.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a chromogenic sunroof which is integrated with various sensors to provide for automatic operation.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a chromogenic aircraft window assembly which is composed of at least one outer non-chromogenic panel and one inner chromogenic panel. In constructing such a chromogenic aircraft window assembly, any of the aforementioned chromogenic technologies could be used, and the preferred devices are those where a user can exercise control over the transmissive properties of the panel, such as electrochromic (EC), liquid-crystal (LC), polymer-dispersed-liquid crystal (PDLC), suspended particle devices, and user-controllable-photochromic devices (UCPC) devices. Of these devices, EC is preferred, followed by UCPC.
A further object of this invention is to provide a aircraft window with an inner chromogenic panel and outer panels, the inner chromogenic panel being electrochromic in nature.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a chromogenic aircraft window in which the outer panel of the aircraft window is contiguous with the outer skin of the aircraft, and which outer panel is curved and shaped to suit the aircraft""s appearance and performance requirements, whereas the inner, chromogenic panel is flat. This means that a flat chromogenic inner panel can be used, and only the outer panel, which serves a protective and aerodynamic function, need be specially designed to match the contours of the aircraft body.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a chromogenic aircraft window in which the outer panel of the aircraft window is contiguous with the outer skin of the aircraft, and which outer panel is curved and shaped to suit the aircraft""s appearance and performance requirements, and which an inner panel is curved and shaped to suit the aircraft interior""s appearance, whereas the intermediate, chromogenic panel is flat. This means that a flat chromogenic inner panel can be used, and only the inner panel, which serves a protective function, and the outer panel which serves a pressure sealing function, need be specially designed to match the contours of the aircraft body.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an aircraft window assembly having a transparent outer panel.
It is a further object of the present invention to construct an existing standard aircraft window with chromogenic panel(s).
Still another object of this invention is to provide a skylight with an outer panel and at least one inner chromogenic panel which may optionally include a UV barrier or film disposed between two panels of the skylight.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a skylight with a volume enclosed by an outer panel and at least one inner chromogenic panel wherein the enclosed volume is in communication with a desiccant effective to prevent moisture condensation in the enclosed volume.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a skylight with an outer panel and at least one inner chromogenic panel rotatably movable effective to allow drainage of moisture condensation from a volume enclosed by the outer panel and at least one inner chromogenic panel.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a skylight with an outer panel, at least one inner chromogenic panel, and a diffuser panel effective to diffuse light transmitted through the skylight.
Another object of this invention is to provide a block suitable for architectural use where the inner panel is chromogenic or the chromogenic panel is disposed on the inside of the block. Optionally, a UV barrier or film disposed between two elements of the block can be provided.
An object of the present invention is to provide a light pipe with an outer panel and at least one inner chromogenic panel which may optionally include a diffuser effective to diffuse light conducted through the light pipe.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a light pipe with an outer panel, at least one inner chromogenic panel, and an artificial light source effective to emit light from the light pipe.
These objects are at least in part accomplished by a chromogenic window panel assembly for installation in a surface having a contour, and which includes a chromogenic member optionally having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, and an outer panel disposed proximate to the chromogenic member. This outer panel is dimensioned and disposed so as to overlap at least a substantial part of the chromogenic member, and has a contour corresponding to that of the surface. A user can supply the applied signal to the chromogenic member.
To further achieve these goals, a chromogenic vehicle sunroof for installation in a contoured vehicle surface has been invented, and includes a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, a driver for supplying the applied signal to the chromogenic member, and an outer panel disposed proximate to the chromogenic member. The outer panel is dimensioned and disposed to overlap at least a substantial part of the chromogenic member, and the outer panel has a predetermined panel contour corresponding to the vehicle surface contour.
So too, a chromogenic window assembly for installation in a contoured surface is disclosed which contains a chromogenic panel having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, a protective panel disposed in relation to the chromogenic panel, this protective panel having a panel contour corresponding to the surface contour, and a connecting member to which both the chromogenic panel and protective panel are joined.
In furtherance of these objects, this application teaches a chromogenic window panel having at least one of a first sensor positioned proximate to an outer panel so as to measure an amount of radiation which has come from outside and passed through that outer panel, this first sensor outputting a first signal in response thereto, and a second sensor positioned proximate to a chromogenic member so as to measure an amount of radiation which has first passed through the outer panel and then passed through the chromogenic member. This second sensor outputs a second signal in response thereto. This window panel assembly may include a controller which generates the applied signal and applies the same to the chromogenic material so as to regulate the optical property of the chromogenic member.
If desired, the controller can receive at least one of the first signal output from the first sensor and the second signal from the second sensor and generate the applied signal in accordance therewith.
Still another aspect of this invention is a chromogenic vehicle sunroof for installation in a contoured vehicle surface, having at least one chromogenic member with an optical property that varies according to an applied signal, an outer panel proximate to the chromogenic member, this outer panel being dimensioned and disposed to overlap at least a substantial part of the chromogenic member, and a-trim member having at least one opening, the opening corresponding in both position and shape to the position and shape of the chromogenic member, with a predetermined contour corresponding to the vehicle surface contour. The trim member overlaps and conceals at least a portion of the chromogenic member.
Another aspect of this invention pertains to a chromogenic vehicle sunroof to be installed in a vehicle roof surface having a surface contour. This sunroof includes a chromogenic member having first and second chromogenic panels, each chromogenic panel having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, a position and a shape, and an outer panel disposed proximate to the chromogenic panels, this outer panel being dimensioned and disposed so as to overlap at least a substantial part of the chromogenic panels, and having a predetermined contour corresponding to the surface contour. A first control means controls the first chromogenic panel by varying the applied signal, and a second control means controls the second chromogenic panel by varying the applied signal. Each control means is preferentially accessible to a different occupant of said vehicle.
A further aspect of this invention relates to a chromogenic block which includes first and second panels, and a chromogenic member with an optical property that varies according to an applied signal, the chromogenic member being disposed between the first and second panels. By varying the optical property of the chromogenic member, the amount of radiation passing between the first and second panels can be regulated. The chromogenic member can be selected from the group consisting of electrochromic devices, photochromic devices, liquid crystal devices, user-controllable-photochromic devices, polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal devices, and suspended particle devices.
The preferred devices are those for which users can exercise control over the devices"" transmissive properties. The most preferred devices are EC and then UCPC.
In a further refinement, the chromogenic window panel includes a layer of a material disposed upon at least one of the chromogenic member and outer panel. In some cases, the layer of material changes an optical property or a physical property of the chromogenic window panel.
The term xe2x80x9coptical propertyxe2x80x9d is used in a very general manner, and includes a material""s ability to transmit infrared, visible, and/or ultraviolet radiation.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a chromogenic window panel assembly to be installed in a surface having a surface contour comprises a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, and an outer panel disposed proximate to the chromogenic member, the outer panel being dimensioned and disposed so as to overlap at least a substantial part of the chromogenic member, and having a panel contour corresponding to the surface contour.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a chromogenic vehicle sunroof to be installed in a vehicle roof, the roof having a surface contour, comprises a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, and an outer panel disposed proximate to the chromogenic member, the outer panel being dimensioned and disposed so as to overlap at least a substantial part of the chromogenic member, the outer panel having a predetermined panel contour corresponding to the surface contour.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a chromogenic window assembly to be installed in a surface having a surface contour comprises a chromogenic panel having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, a protective panel disposed in relation to the chromogenic panel, the protective panel having a protective panel contour corresponding to the surface contour, and a connecting member to which both the chromogenic panel and the protective panel are joined.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a chromogenic vehicle sunroof to be installed in a vehicle surface having a surface contour comprises at least one of a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, a position and a shape, an outer panel disposed proximate to the chromogenic member, the outer panel being dimensioned and disposed so as to overlap at least a substantial part of the chromogenic member, and having a predetermined contour corresponding to the surface contour, and a trim member having at least one opening, the opening corresponding in both a position and a shape to the position and the shape of the chromogenic member, wherein the trim member overlaps and conceals at least a portion of the chromogenic member.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a chromogenic block comprises a first panel, a second panel wherein at least one of the first and second panels has a curved surface, and a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, the chromogenic member being disposed between the first panel and the second panel, wherein by varying the optical property of the chromogenic member, an amount of radiation passing between the first panel and the second panel can be regulated.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a chromogenic vehicle sunroof to be installed in a vehicle roof surface having a surface contour comprises a chromogenic member comprising a first chromogenic panel and a second chromogenic panel, each the chromogenic panel having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, and a position and a shape, an outer panel disposed proximate to the chromogenic panels, the outer panel being dimensioned and disposed so as to overlap at least a substantial part of the chromogenic panels, and having a predetermined contour corresponding to the surface contour, a first control means for controlling the first chromogenic panel by varying the applied signal, and a second control means for controlling the second chromogenic panel by varying the applied signal, wherein each the control means is preferentially accessible to a different occupant of the vehicle.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a chromogenic skylight comprises a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, and an outer panel disposed proximate to the chromogenic member, the outer panel being dimensioned and disposed so as to overlap at least a substantial part of the chromogenic member.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a chromogenic light pipe comprises a hollow member having a first end and a second end, a light harvesting member effective to cause light to travel from the first end towards the second end, and a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, the chromogenic member disposed effective to affect the light traveling from the first end towards the second end.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a chromogenic aircraft window to be installed in an aircraft, the aircraft having a surface contour, the chromogenic aircraft window comprises a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal, and an outer panel proximate to the chromogenic member, the outer panel being dimensioned and at a position so as to overlap at least a substantial part of the chromogenic member, the outer panel having a predetermined panel contour corresponding to the surface contour.
Briefly stated, a chromogenic window panel assembly, and a chromogenic skylight each includes an outer panel and a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal. A chromogenic light pipe includes a light harvesting member and a chromogenic member having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal. A chromogenic vehicle sunroof, a chromogenic aircraft window assembly, and a chromogenic window assembly each includes a panel having a particular panel contour corresponding to a surface contour and a chromogenic panel having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal. A chromogenic block includes two panels and a chromogenic panel having an optical property which varies according to an applied signal.

Chromogenic window assembly construction and other chromogenic devices


A device for positioning a slidable crib rail including a sliding rail having an upper and a lower locating hole, and an upper and a lower arresting block located closer to an end of the sliding rail than the upper and the lower locating hole respectively. The device also includes a moving member for positioning the crib rail along the sliding rail. This moving member includes a control member having a retaining device retaining the moving member in the locating holes of the sliding rail, and a movable plate having a first position for biasing the retaining means in a position in which the retaining means cannot retain the moving member in the locating holes and a second position which does not influence the retaining means. The upper arresting block of the sliding rail is situated to move the movable plate from its second position to its first position, and the lower arresting block of the sliding rail is situated for moving the movable member from its first position to its second position. Thus, the slidable crib rail can be positioned downwards with upward movement from an adult using only one hand, but not with downward pressure exerted by an infant.

The present invention relates generally to a crib, and more particularly to a slidable crib rail.
In general, a conventional crib has a crib frame which comprises four high sides and a bottom board. In order to safeguard the baby in the crib, while allowing easy removal of the baby, one of the four high sides of the crib can slide upwards or downwards. Typically, the slidable side of the crib is provided respectively at both ends thereof with a snap-type retaining block having a slanted surface capable of being retained by the notches of two guide rods located at both ends of the slidable side of the crib. The retaining block can be pressed in order to disengage the slanted surface thereof from the notches of the guide rod, thereby enabling the slidable side of the crib to be moved upwards or downwards. The process of sliding the slidable side of the conventional crib into position as described above must be carried out with both hands, which can result in injuries and is inconvenient.


The invention concerns a tamper-evident padlock and padlock combination. The padlock (10) has a moulded plastics lock body (14) which includes an open-ended passage (22) and an opening (26) spaced from the passage. There is also a hasp (16) which has first and second spaced apart legs (32, 34). An end (32.1) of the first leg can be located in the passage through a first end thereof while the end of the second leg can be located simultaneously in the opening. The end of the first leg in the passage can then be engaged by a breakable seal (20) which is inserted into the passage through the opposite end of the passage, in order to lock the hasp relative to the lock body. The padlock combination (12) comprises the padlock (10) and the seal (20) in combination.

THIS invention relates to a padlock.
A known padlock marketed under the name ENVOSEAL has a lock body of multi-part, moulded plastics construction and a metal hasp which is generally U-shaped. A first leg of the hasp is held captive in the lock body in such a manner that the hasp can pivot and slide relative to the lock body between respective open and closed positions. When the hasp is in a closed position the end of its second leg locates in an opening in the lock body and a transverse hole in the first leg aligns with a transverse hole in the lock body. A frangible plastic seal is clipped to the lock body such that a part of the seal locates in the aligned holes. This prevents pivotal movement of the hasp from the closed to the open position until such time as the seal is broken and removed. Breakage of the seal Indicates that the lock has been tampered with.
Padlocks of this kind are used in many different applications where a tamper-evident seal is required. One example is in airline trolleys used to store duty free goods, alcoholic beverages and the like. Typically, the padlock in such an application is used to lock the door or drawer of the trolley in a closed position.
A drawback of the known padlock described above is that it is expensive to manufacture, partly because individually moulded plastic components have to be assembled about the metal hasp and then connected to one another to hold the hasp leg captive. Another drawback is that the design of the padlock dictates that it must have a fairly substantial thickness. For economy of space and packing airline trolleys have a recess to receive the installed lock but this is often too shallow to accommodate the known lock fully. As a result the lock projects from the trolley and can either present an obstruction or itself be impacted on and possibly damaged.


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises includes providing a substrate with a surface, forming an isolating layer on part of the surface, and forming a first semiconductor portion and spaced therefrom a second semiconductor portion on the surface of the substrate. The isolating layer is interposed between a side surface of the first semiconductor portion and a side surface of the second semiconductor portion which face each other. The method further includes forming a first side isolation layer on the side surface of the first semiconductor portion.

In the field of, for example, voltage conversion in the DC/DC computing market, the demands are constantly growing with respect to power switches. Until now, drivers and controller chips used, for example, in buck converters typically include discrete field-effect transistors (FET). However, also in high-current applications (as for example for currents comprising 5-100 A/phase or between 20-40 A/phase) the integration is constantly increasing. Apart from additional features such as current sense or temperature sense, logic circuitry or whole output stages of gate drivers may be integrated in power stages of field-effect transistors.
Therefore, there is a demand in silicon technology to provide at low cost a high integration while ensuring a secure isolation maintaining the reliability of the circuitry.

Semiconductor device with isolating layer on side and bottom surfaces


The invention relates to a film transport and release device for a photographic camera comprising a body part that pulls out and slides in parallel to the film transport direction in relation to the camera body, where in the pulled-out position of the body part the camera is ready to take a picture. Furthermore, a film transport wheel for a perforated film strip is provided. The body part has a toothed rack which is assigned a toothed wheel mounted permanently on a driving arbor arranged in axially movable and non-rotatable manner in the film transport wheel. Here the toothed wheel is movable by means of the release into its ready-to-mesh position in relation to the toothed rack and is kept in this position after operation of the release until the film strip has been transported one picture field further.

A film transport and shutter operating device is known from the German patent 26 21 437; this is operated by means of a handle movable back and forth in the film transport direction. For film transport purposes, however, an expensively designed transmission is required that comprises a retaining pawl-controlled slider and several toothed wheels and levers.
When manufacturing cameras of very simple design, so-called single-use cameras, transmissions of that complexity cannot be used for cost reasons.

Film transport and release device for a photographic camera


A method for forwarding operands directly between instructions operates in a computer central processing unit. Values for registers, condition codes, stack locations and memory storage locations are routed directly from the program instructions or microcode that alter them to the instructions that use those operands. Instructions that have received all needed operands are started and their resulting output operands are forwarded to other instructions. With direct forwarding of operands, normal locations for operands may often be skipped so that simpler designs can be employed in constructing the operand storage for register files and stacks. Operands receiving newer values never appear in program-visible locations if the prior values were forwarded to all instructions that might need them and those receiving instructions are completed. In executing program loops, loop-dependent variables are identified. A method is shown whereby multiple loop-dependent operands are computed substantially simultaneously. In favorable circumstances multiple iterations of one or more loops are executed in parallel. The number of iterations is computed and then governs the number of loop iterations executed. Storage of results in architected, generally available areas is avoided where operands are no longer needed after loop iteration execution.

This invention relates to computers and computer system central processing units especially as to methods and apparatus for the forwarding of operands between instructions and for prediction and out-of-order execution of instructions.
1. Description of the Prior Art
A typical computer includes a register file, a memory and cache unit, an input-output unit and multiple instruction execution units. A number of strategies have been used to increase the speed of program execution in computer systems. Instruction execution is usually carried out in a pipeline wherein a portion of the work of each instruction is accomplished in each of the stages. Within the past few years, many computer systems have employed multiple pipelines (superscalar) so that more than one instruction can be started at each basic cycle of the processing unit. Because conditional branch instructions are encountered with great frequency in typical computer programs, much design effort has concentrated on predicting the directions that branching instructions will take prior to their actual execution so that a longer stream of instructions can be readied and fed to the multiple execution units. A prediction mechanism that guesses wrong can cause a stall in the feeding of instructions to the execution pipelines and a consequent fall-off in performance. A problem in designing superscalar computers is that the instructions to be executed in parallel may depend on each other. When one instruction needs the results from another instruction which has not yet completed, the computer system must detect this dependency and arrange for the dependent instruction to wait for that result and then resume or start execution. This operation increases the complexity of the logic used to govern instruction flow. Some computer systems can execute instructions out-of-order. If an instruction is blocked because a needed operand is not yet available, then some instruction occurring after that in program order but that is not blocked will be started. Such out-of-order execution can also mask the effects of having to wait for slow actions such as accessing the main memory. But out-of-order execution increases the complexity of the logic. Out-of-order execution may be accompanied by means for retiring instructions (materializing their results) in program order as is done in the Intel P6.
FIG. 1A shows the organization of a modern superscalar processor from the prior art. In that processor, instructions are fetched by the instruction fetch unit 103 through the bus interface 102 and are decoded by the instruction decode unit 104. The fetch 103 and decode 104 units operate in program order. Decoded instructions are sent to the register alias table 106 where logical register references are converted to physical register references. The resulting instructions are a pool of instructions stored in the reorder buffer 105 which is implemented as a content-addressable memory. The reservation station 107 selects operations from the instruction pool in the reorder buffer 105 depending on their status. If an operation has all its operands ready and an execution (pipeline) unit of the correct type is available, then the operation is removed from the reorder buffer and sent to the available execution unit 112, 113. Operation of the reservation station and execution pipelines is an out-of-order process based on dataflow (operand availability) constraints and resource (execution unit) availability without regard to original ordering of the program. This means that the processor can make forward progress and be doing useful work even while some instructions are awaiting the delivery of operands from memory or from execution units. The reservation station unit 107 will look 20 to 30 instructions ahead in the reorder buffer (105) to find instructions that can be executed. Results of instruction execution are sent to the reorder and retirement unit 114 where they await retirement of their predecessor instructions in program order.
To effectively process instructions well ahead of the current program (retirement) counter, superscalar processors such as shown in FIG. 1A must guess the directions of many future conditional branch instructions. Such branch predictions can be made with a high degree of accuracy but the cumulative accuracy falls off markedly as the number of consecutive branches that must be correctly guessed increases. If the directions of two consecutive branches are each guessed with 90% accuracy then the correct direction through both branches is only 81% accurate.
Another performance improvement strategy has been to pack multiple instructions into long packets of instructions and then to fetch and execute these instructions in parallel. This `very long instruction word` (VLIW) approach leaves the determination of which instructions will be executed together to a specialize compiler program. The necessity of recompiling means that old programs cannot easily exploit very-long-instruction-width architectures. VLIW machines are also limited to executing a single instruction stream.
A third approach allows operands to flow among instructions. Any instruction which has all of its input operands available is stare as soon as the operands become ready and an execution unit becomes available. This data flow technique will lead to high degrees of parallelism as a large number of operands could be flowing through a system triggering large numbers of instruction executions at nearly the same time. Data flow computers have required the use of special computer languages that can express intended data flows. The need for special, data flow languages and compilers severely limits the usefulness of data flow computers. In the MOVE architecture Corporaal & Mulder explain a data-triggered scheme where operands trigger execution of receiving instructions. Their architecture should provide increased parallelism but requires special compiler programs which must discover the operand flows when programs are compiled. These programs will encode at least some of the data flows without requiring programmers to use special data flow languages. However, existing programs for prior architectures cannot be run on MOVE machines.
A problem in prior art computer microarchitectures is to discover those instructions that are independent of each other and that can be executed together. Determining the independence of pairs of instructions in the prior art requires a number of comparisons that grows much faster than the number of instructions that might be considered for concurrent execution. Increasing the size of the `window` of instructions being considered for execution requires more than a linear increase in hardware resources when using prior art computer architectures. For the most part, such expensive comparisons are not needed when the method of the present invention is used to map operand flows. Instructions will be started as soon as their operands are ready.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

Method and apparatus for annotating operands in a computer system with source instruction identifiers


Nozzle arrangement (10) of a vacuum cleaning device (100) for cleaning a surface (20), comprising: —a nozzle housing (28); —a brush (12) rotatable about a brush axis (14), said brush (12) being provided with flexible microfiber brush elements (16) having tip portions (18) for contacting the surface to be cleaned (20) and picking up dirt and liquid particles (22, 24) from the surface to be cleaned (20) during the rotation of the brush (12); —a drive means for rotating the brush (12); —a single squeegee element (32) for wiping dirt and liquid particles (22, 24) across or off the surface to be cleaned (20) by contacting said surface (20) with its free end (33), wherein said squeegee element (32) extends along a longitudinal direction (48), which is arranged substantially parallel to the brush axis (14), and is attached with its fixed end (33) to the bottom side (30) of the nozzle housing (28) on a side of the brush (12) where the brush elements (16) enter the nozzle housing (28) during the rotation of the brush (12).

Hard floor cleaning these days is done by first vacuuming the floor, followed by mopping it. Vacuuming removes the coarse dirt, while mopping removes the stains. From the state of the art many appliances, especially targeting the professional cleaning sector, are known that claim to vacuum and mop in one go. Appliances for the professional cleaning sector are usually specialized for big areas and perfectly flat floors. They rely on hard brushes and suction power to get water and dirt from the floor. Appliances for home use often use a combination of a hard brush and a squeegee nozzle. Like the appliances for the professional cleaning sector these products use the brush to remove stains from the floor and the squeegee in combination with an under-pressure to lift the dirt from the floor.
Said squeegee elements are usually realized by a flexible rubber lip that is attached to the bottom of the cleaning device and merely glides over the surface to be cleaned thereby pushing or wiping dirt particles and liquid across or off the surface to be cleaned. An under-pressure, usually generated by a vacuum aggregate, is used to ingest the collected dirt particles and liquid.
A squeegee that may be used in cleaning systems is, for example, known from US 20030028995 A1. A vacuum cleaner of the prior art that uses a combination of a rotating brush and a squeegee is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,682 A. This vacuum cleaner comprises a self-adjusting wiper strip assembly that automatically adjusts for the type of floor surface on which the vacuum cleaner is being used. The assembly used therein requires a high suction power in order to receive a satisfactory cleaning result. The brush which is used in this vacuum cleaner is an agitator (also denoted as adjutator) with stiff brush hairs to agitate the floor, e.g. a carpet. These stiff hairs show a rather good scrubbing effect, which enable to use the brush particularly for removing stains. However, the performance on drying the floor is rather low, since such an agitator is not able to lift liquid from the floor.
Vacuum and mop in one go devices known from the prior art often use brush elements that are actively sprayed with water or a cleaning rinse in order to improve the removal of stains. Such devices usually use a double squeegee element having two squeegees that are arranged on one side of the brush, as this is exemplarily shown in the attached FIG. 15. An additional vacuum source generates a suction in a channel between said double squeegee arrangement in order to remove the cleaning water from the floor again.
However, in order to remove the actively sprayed cleaning water from the floor again these devices always have to be moved in a forward direction in which the brush is, seen in the direction of the device movement, located in front of the double squeegee arrangement. Moving the device in an opposite backward direction would leave the floor wet, since the cleaning water, which is dispersed with the brush, is not removed by the squeegees in this backward stroke.
To get a good cleaning result in a forward as well as in a backward stroke of the device known cleaning devices are therefore provided with a double squeegee nozzle at both sides of the brush. U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,233 A shows a device of this type. Even though such double squeegee arrangements on both sides of the brush show good cleaning results, the nozzle of these devices become fairly bulky. This again results in a non-satisfying, limited work capability. Especially in household appliances where often narrow corners need to be cleaned, such bulky nozzles are, due to their limited liberty of action, uncomfortable to use.
Besides that, the use of double squeegee arrangements as shown in the attached FIG. 15 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,233 A has several further disadvantages. Due to the constant contact of the squeegees with the floor during the movement of the device, such double squeegees may generate a high scratch load to the floor. Especially when the double squeegee arrangements are used on each side of the brush, this will lead to an increased risk of inducing scratches on the floor. Furthermore, such squeegee arrangements include the disadvantage that they are not open for coarse dirt like e.g. hairs or peanuts, since coarse dirt is often entangled within the squeegees or is pushed away from the squeegees, and is thus not able to enter the suction inlet. Apart from that such double squeegee nozzles are hard to clean and do not have the ability to clean themselves.
Independent of the type of wet cleaning device it is one of the major challenges to obtain a uniform cleaning behavior independent of the movement direction of the nozzle. Especially in single-brush-single-squeegee solutions of the prior art this is, however, not the case. If the nozzle is moved in the forward direction in which the brush is, seen in the direction of the device movement, located in front of the squeegee, the squeegee more or less wipes off all liquid from the floor. Hence, a good drying effect is achieved. If the nozzle is, however, moved in the opposite backward direction the floor is most of the times left wet, since the cleaning water, which is dispersed with the brush, is not removed from the squeegee in this backward stroke. For a single-brush-single-squeegee solution this results in the fact that a delicate balance between the drying performance of the rotating brush and the drying performance of the squeegee is required.
Besides this problem the squeegee itself needs to be extremely abrasion and chemically resistant to maintain the initial performance over the lifetime of the appliance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,828 A discloses a heated wiper blade with a conductive elastomer body and a pair of electrodes along each side of the body.
Applicant's non-prepublished applications WO/2013/027140 and WO/2013/027164 describe cleaning devices comprising a brush and a squeegee element.

Nozzle arrangement with brush and squeegee


A scanning system includes a scanner mirror driven in a substantially linear pivoting movement by a galvanometer excited with a substantially sawtooth current waveform, the mirror directing a pilot beam in a scanning movement along a photographic film located upon a diffraction grid which forms a part of a holder of the film. The film is transparent to the pilot beam, and is encircled by a frame defining a window for viewing the film. The grid is composed of a repeating sequence of groups of rulings oriented in different directions resulting in correspondingly different directions of the diffracted beam, upon illumination of the grid by the pilot beam. An array of detectors detects the direction of the diffracted beam, which is employed as a feedback signal to accurately locate the pilot beam, to provide fine position data of the pilot beam. One or more data beams for either writing or reading image data upon the film are also scanned by the mirror concurrently with the scanning of the pilot beam for accurate positioning of each write (or read) beam. Blind scanning, with location based on galvanometer current, is employed near an edge of a scan line wherein the diffraction grid may not be illuminated by the pilot beam. Circuitry responsive to transitions between diffracted beams during a scanning of the pilot beam across the grid withholds timing pulses during instances of possible jitter for improved printing and reading of the film.

This invention relates to the scanner for optically scanning a subject such as an electro-optic scanner of a photographic film for imprinting image data on the film and, more particularly, to the use of an optical diffraction grating disposed on a holder of the film for increased accuracy in positioning an optical beam upon the film.
One form of electro-optic scanner employs a scanning mirror which directs a beam of light to a subject, such as a photographic film, and scans the beam across the film by a pivoting motion of the mirror. Accurate scanning of the subject requires knowledge of the beam location on the subject during all parts of the beam scan.
The typical scanner may be employed for reading an image of the subject, such as a photographic image, and for storing data in a digital memory at locations corresponding to the beam positions. Alternatively, the scanner may be employed in a writing mode for writing pixels of image data from locations within a memory to corresponding locations on a photographic film. In both cases, knowledge of beam location may be obtained from the mirror pivot angle or from an electric current which drives a motor, such as a galvanometer, to pivot the mirror.
A problem arises in that there may be an error in determination of beam location based on a knowledge of the motor current due to the dynamic behavior of the mirror. For example, the beam may be one or more pixels ahead or behind of a presumed beam location, particularly in a scanning system employing very high resolution. As a result, errors and/or image degradation may occur during either a reading or a writing of image data.

Scanner with combined predictive and diffractive feedback control of beam position