Disclosed is a gas sensor for controlling a concentration of oxygen and/or measuring NOx by allowing a current to flow through an ion-conductive member for conducting oxygen ion, by the aid of a current supply circuit, wherein the current, which is outputted from the current supply circuit, has a pulse waveform (current signal) having a constant crest value, and the current supply circuit comprises a rectangular wave-generating circuit for controlling a frequency of the current signal on the basis of an electromotive force generated in the ion-conductive member to which the current signal is supplied. Accordingly, it is possible to highly accurately measure the predetermined gas component while scarcely being affected by the electric noise or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas sensor and a method for controlling the same for measuring oxides such as NO, NO2, SO2, CO2, and H2O contained in, for example, atmospheric air and exhaust gas discharged from vehicles or automobiles, and inflammable gases such as CO and CnHm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an oxygen sensor is widely known, for measuring a specified gas component, for example, oxygen, in which the voltage or the current is controlled to apply it to an oxygen pump based on the use of an oxygen ion-conductive member composed of a solid electrolyte of ZrO2 so that oxygen is pumped in or pumped out under a predetermined diffusion resistance to measure a limiting current obtained during this process (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 8-271476).
Another sensor is also known, in which a proton pump is constructed by using an oxygen-proton ion-conductive member so that the limiting current is measured on the basis of the same principle as that used in the oxygen sensor to measure H2 and H2O.
A NOx sensor 200 as shown in FIG. 15 is also known, which is used to measure, for example, NOx as a specified gas component.
The NOx sensor 200 is operated as follows. That is, a measurement gas is introduced into a first hollow space 204 via a first diffusion rate-determining section 202. A first oxygen-pumping means 212, which is constructed by an inner pumping electrode 206, an oxygen ion-conductive member 210, and an outer pumping electrode 208, is used to pump out or pump in oxygen contained in the measurement gas in such a degree that the measurement gas is not decomposed. Subsequently, the measurement gas is introduced into a second hollow space 216 via a second diffusion rate-determining section 214. A second oxygen-pumping means 226, which is constructed by a measurement gas-decomposing electrode 218 arranged in the second hollow space 216, an oxygen ion-conductive member 220, and a reference electrode 224 arranged in a reference air section 222, is used to pump out oxygen which is produced by decomposition effected by the catalytic action of the measurement gas-decomposing electrode 218. The sensor measures the value of current which is required to pump out the oxygen.
In other words, the foregoing gas sensors are operated such that the specified gas component is detected by using the ionic current, and the concentration of the predetermined gas is ensured in the internal space of the sensor by controlling the ionic current value.
However, the gas sensors as described above are disadvantageous as follows. That is, when the concentration of the measurement gas is low, the pumping current is decreased. As a result, it is difficult to perform the detection in some cases, and the accuracy is greatly deteriorated by the external electric noise in other cases.
For example, in the case of the NOx sensor 200 shown in FIG. 15, when the NOx concentration in the measurement gas is 10 ppm, the signal level is in a degree of about 0.05 μA. As a result, it is difficult to perform the detection. Further, it is feared that the measurement accuracy is greatly deteriorated due to the external electric noise.
In order to accurately control the oxygen concentration in the second hollow space 216, the present applicant has suggested a NOx sensor 250 as shown in FIG. 16. The NOx sensor 250 comprises an auxiliary pump 252 which is provided for the second hollow space 216. The controlled oxygen concentration in the first hollow space 204 is corrected so that the current, which flows through the auxiliary pump 252, is constant (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-113484 and European Patent Publication No. 0 807 818 A2).
In the case of the NOx sensor 250, the auxiliary pumping current is not more than several μA which is small. Therefore, it has been revealed that the controlled oxygen concentration in the second hollow space 216 cannot be corrected at the desire of a user in some cases.
On the other hand, in the case of the sensors as described above, the limiting current is utilized to control the concentration of the gas component and measure the concentration thereof. Therefore, if the limiting current value is changed, the output is changed. In this context, for example, the limiting current value involves dispersion among individual sensors. At present, in order to correct the dispersion among individual sensors, a shunt resistor is provided, or a voltage divider resistor is provided.
FIG. 17 shows an arrangement of such a countermeasure. When the current, which flows to an oxygen pump 260, is detected by using a current-detecting resistor Ra, the current supply from a variable power source 262 to the oxygen pump 260 is shunted by the aid of an adjusting resistor Rb (shunt resistor).
For example, when the gas sensor has a large limiting current, the shunt resistor Rb is decreased so that the amount of shunt is increased. Thus, the amount of current, which is detected by the current-detecting resistor Ra, is decreased to be a predetermined value. On the contrary, when the gas sensor has a small limiting current, the amount of shunt is decreased so that the current, which is detected by the current-detecting resistor Ra, is adjusted to be the predetermined value.
Another method is also available such that the voltage, which is generated between the both terminals of the current-detecting resistor Ra, is subjected to voltage division by using a voltage divider circuit to obtain a predetermined output voltage.
However, when the foregoing methods (the shunt resistor system and the voltage divider resistor system) are adopted, one extra lead wire is required, in accordance with which it is necessary to use a multiple terminal connector system for connecting the control circuit and the sensor, resulting in a problem concerning the cost.

Gas sensor and method for controlling the same


The present invention relates generally to medical methods and systems used to restore the angle of His and treat hiatal hernias and other conditions of the lower esophagus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system that allows fixation of the distal esophagus and fundus of the stomach directly to the diaphragmatic crus muscle. The present invention provides a method where the diaphragmatic crus muscle is identified and precisely located from within and through the gastrointestinal lumen followed by the placement of a translumenal anchor which connects and secures the esophagus and stomach to the diaphragmatic crus muscle. This procedure reduces the hiatal hernia, restores the normal anatomy and treats conditions associated with the lower esophagus.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical methods and apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for restoring the angle of His and treating and stabilizing hiatal hernias.
Hiatal hernias (also referred to as a hiatus hernia) result when the diaphragm muscle, in particular the diaphragmatic crus, loosens and can no longer firmly hold the esophagus and stomach in their normal position. The esophagus and stomach are able to move in the cranial direction resulting in the stomach being herniated above the diaphragm and into the thoracic cavity. When the hiatal hernia occurs, the esophagus and fundus move upward creating an obtuse angle which facilitates recurrent reflux. The correct configuration at the angle of His is an acute angle which prevents reflux. Hiatal hernias also reposition the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) away from the diaphragmatic crus muscle resulting in a weakening of this structure. Further decrease in LES tone and a shortened LES segment is more likely to result in acid reflux.
A common complication and symptom of hiatal hernia is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Reflux occurs when the gastroesophageal valve does not close tightly enough or relaxes at the wrong time. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as heartburn, acid stomach, or reflux esophagitis, is a common disorder that affects people worldwide. More than 40% of Americans experience typical heartburn on a regular basis, and 10% suffer from heartburn at least once per day. Acid suppressive medication may address occasional or minor GERD; however, reflux often persists despite drug therapy.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease that is untreated over a long period of time can lead to complications, such as esophageal ulcers or perforations. Another common complication is scar tissue that blocks the movement of swallowed food and drink through the esophagus. This condition is called esophageal stricture. Esophageal reflux may also cause less common symptoms, such as hoarseness or chronic cough, and sometimes provokes conditions such as asthma. Overall, at least 19 million American adults experience GERD, making it one of the most common medical conditions. Chronic or severe GERD may cause esophagitis, esophageal stricture and/or Barrett's esophagus.
Medication, open surgical procedures and endoscopic techniques are known for treating GERD. Additionally, and of particular interest to the present invention, a variety of minimally invasive protocols have been developed to treat reflux disease. For example, methods have been developed for creating plications (i.e. folds or tucks) using tissue fasteners in the cardia of the stomach to form a flap of tissue that acts as an anti-reflux valve.
Current minimally invasive treatment protocols suffer from at least three shortcomings. First, creating tissue plications in the cardia of the stomach does not necessarily result in proper reconfiguration of the angle of His or the lower esophageal sphincter which prevents regurgitation of the stomach contents into the esophagus. Second, these plications do not secure the esophagus or stomach or significantly reduce the hiatal hernia. Third, attachment of the tissue fasteners to the tissue of the stomach are unstable and tend to migrate.
For these reasons, it is desirable to provide improved methods and systems for restoring the angle of His and treating hiatal hernias and other conditions by attaching a portion of the lower esophageal wall to the fundus of the stomach and the diaphragmatic crus muscle.
2. Background Art
Minimally invasive methods for treating GERD and related conditions are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,153,314, 6,835,200, 6,821,285 and 6,773,441 as well as U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007/0129738, 2007/0112363 and 2007/0088373. Additional U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,232,445, 7,120,498, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007/0142884, 2007/0038232, 2006/0282087, 2006/0015125 and 2005/0277957. Methods to identify internal structures via ultrasound are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,081,993 and 5,993,393, for example.

Methods and systems for treating hiatal hernias


High image quality is maintained even on front and rear ends of a printing medium where deterioration in the image quality is more likely to occur due to reduction in conveyance accuracy of the printing medium. In printing on the front and rear ends, the printing medium being not supported by both conveying means respectively placed upstream and downstream of a printing point in a printing medium conveying direction, a print swath of a printing head and the amount of conveying a printing medium are reduced. Moreover, the reducing print swath and the reducing conveyance amount are designed to be decreased in the cases of selecting a printing medium for high-quality printing as well as a monochrome print mode where image distortion caused by deviation of ink-landing positions is more noticeable due to a small number of colors of ink to be used and low coverage thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet printing apparatus and a printing method of applying ink as a printing agent to a printing medium to form an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
In these days, OA (Office Automation) equipment such as personal computers and word processors have come into wide use and various printing apparatuses have been provided to print information outputted from this equipment on different types of printing media. In particular, ink jet printing apparatuses have various advantageous points such as low noise, low running cost, small structure, relatively easy realization of color printing and the like, and thereby, such printing apparatuses have been used by a wide range of users. Particularly, in recent years, there has been a growing demand for outputting an image taken by a digital camera with the quality equivalent to that of silver-salt photographs. In response to such demand, printing methods to which various devices are applied have been put into practice. In addition, for instance, there have been commercialized and widespread apparatuses capable of printing without margins (hereinafter referred to as a marginless print) on edge portions, such as front and a rear end portions, of the printing medium. However, regarding the front and rear end portions of the printing medium, conveyance accuracy of the printing medium tends to be deteriorated due to the structures of the printing apparatuses. In order to solve such a problem, there have been already provided ink jet printing apparatuses in which a special printing method is adopted for printing on the front and rear end portions of the printing medium. A specific structure of "printing on the front and rear end portions" will be briefly described, below.
(Regarding Printing on Front and Rear End Portions)
Generally, there is a tendency that an image is distorted when the image is printed on the front or the rear end portion of the printing medium. This problem is caused mainly by a state in which the printing medium is separated from a part of plural rollers conveying the printing medium with supporting front and rear portions the printing medium. The following will specifically explain the aforementioned state by using the drawings.
FIG. 41 is a view schematically showing a printing head, a printing medium, and a conveyance mechanism which conveys the printing medium when the central portion of the printing medium is printed. In FIG. 41, a conveying roller M3060 is positioned upstream in a conveying direction, and two paper discharging rollers M3100 and M3110 are positioned downstream. The conveying roller M3060 and the paper discharging rollers M3100 and M3110 work respectively in cooperation with a pinch roller M3070 and two spurs M3120 and M3120. In other words, three nip portions are formed, and a printing medium P is held in the nip portions to be conveyed.
Reference numeral H1000 indicates a printing head cartridge including a printing head in which a plurality of printing elements for ejecting ink are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the direction parallel to the conveying direction shown in FIG. 41.
The printing head cartridge H1000 ejects ink from each of the printing elements while the printing head cartridge H1000 is moving for scan in the direction perpendicular to the figure. Thereby, an image is formed on a region of the printing medium P positioned between the conveying roller M3060 and the paper discharging rollers M3100. The print scan by the printing head cartridge H1000 and the conveyance operation of the printing medium P by three pairs of rollers are alternatively repeated, so that an image is sequentially formed on the printing medium P.
FIG. 42 is a view illustrating a state in which a print operation goes forward from the state shown in FIG. 41 and a print is made on a portion in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the printing medium P. The printing medium P is already separated from the conveying roller M3060 and is conveyed by rotation of only the paper discharging rollers M3100 and M3110.
Generally, in many cases, there are slight differences in a roller diameter and conveyance accuracy between the conveying roller M3060 and the paper discharging rollers M3100 and M3110, because of differences in main functions between these rollers. The main function of the conveying roller M3060 is to position the printing medium at an appropriate position relative to the printing head for every print scan. Accordingly, the conveying roller M3060 has a roller having a diameter large enough to perform the conveyance operation with desired accuracy. In contrast to this, the main function of the paper discharging rollers M3100 and M3110 is to discharge, without failure, the printing medium on which the print has been made. Accordingly, in many cases, their roller diameters are smaller than that of the conveying roller M3060 and their conveyance accuracy of the printing media is inferior to that of the conveying roller M3060. Therefore, the state in which the conveyance accuracy is deteriorated occurs in a region printed between the time when the rear end portion of the printing medium P moves from the conveying roller M3060 and the time when the print on the rearmost end thereof is finished, as compared with the previously printed region. Under this state, if the conveyance amount is insufficient, a so-called "black line" sometimes appears by overlapping, with each other, adjacent image forming portions printed by two successive print scans. Conversely, if the conveyance amount is too large, a so-called "white line" appears by making a distance between the adjacent image forming portions printed by the two successive print scans. Depending on an image to be printed, this causes a non-negligible adverse effect upon the image.
Moreover, an adverse effect is also caused on the image when both end portions of the printing medium are not held. When the rear end portion of the printing medium P moves from the conveying roller M3060, the distance between the printing head and the printing medium (hereinafter referred to as head-to-paper distance) is varied to no small extent, and thereafter becomes unstable. The printing head cartridge H1000 performs the print scans while ejecting ink at timing corresponding to a predetermined head-to-paper distance which is maintained by the front and rear rollers. Then, ink ejected at appropriate timing forms dots on the printing medium and the dots are arranged at a suitable pitch to thereby form an image. Accordingly, if the head-to-paper distance varies during printing, or if a variation in the head-to-paper distance within a print swath is large, positions of the dots on the printing medium become unstable. For this reason, the adverse effect such as generation of the white line, the black line, or a granular impression on an image occurs on the image.
The aforementioned problem of the head-to-paper distance occurs when the print is made on the front end portion of the printing medium as in the case of making the print on the rear end portion thereof.
FIG. 43 is a view illustrating a state in which a print is made on a portion in the vicinity of the front end portion of the printing medium P. Under this state, the printing medium P is held only by the conveying roller M3060 and pinch roller M3070, which are positioned upstream, and thus conveyed. In other words, in the case where the print is made on the front end portion, the paper discharging rollers M3100 and M3110 are not involved in the conveyance of printing medium P. It can be said that the printing medium is conveyed with higher accuracy as compared with the state in which the print is made on the portion in the vicinity of the rear end portion illustrated in FIG. 42. However, the problem of the head-to-paper distance caused by the state in which the front end portion of the printing medium P is not held occurs as in the state shown in FIG. 42. Namely, the position accuracy of dots on the printing medium becomes unstable as compared with that of the print on the central portion of the printing medium (state in FIG. 41), whereby causing deterioration in image quality such as generation of the white line, the black line or the granular impression.
The following measures are taken against the aforementioned adverse effects on the image, which occur at the time of printing on the front and rear end portions of a printing medium, particularly in a serial-type printing apparatus designed in placing importance on the image quality (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-103584). Specifically, this is a method in which a print swath (that is, a range of the printing elements assigned to be involved for printing in an array of the printing elements actually ejecting the ink) of a printing head is reduced and in which the amount of conveying a printing medium is reduced in conjunction with the reduction in the print swath, when the print is made on the front and rear end portions. The print swath of the printing head is reduced, thereby making it possible to suppress variations in the head-to-paper distance within the print swath. In this case, particularly, execution of multi-pass print to be described later exerts an effect to suppress generation of the granular impression. Even when the conveyance accuracy is deteriorated, conveyance errors can be reduced by decreasing the amount of conveying the printing medium. Moreover, in combination with reduction in the pitch between portions where adjacent image forming portions printed by two successive print scans are connected, the method also exerts an effect to make the white line and the black line less noticeable. In addition, if the multi-pass print is combined, the effect can be more enhanced and the effect to suppress the generation of the granular impression can be also expected. This is because, in the multi-pass print, an image is formed by performing the print scans of multiple times on the same area of the printing medium.
Furthermore, the similar measures are taken in an ink jet printing apparatus which adopts an interlace printing method. In the interlace printing method, by using a printing head in a form having lower density of arrays of printing elements than density of printing, printing an image is completed by performing print scans of multiple times to interpolate the density of printing in the vertical scan direction. That is, the number of printing elements which actually eject ink is reduced only in printing on the front and rear end portions, and in conjunction with this reduction, the amount of conveying the printing medium is adjusted.
However, the inventors of the present invention recognized that it is difficult to suppress both the reduction of image quality and the reduction of printing speed where a reduction ratio of the print swath is uniformly set for printing on the front and rear end portions of the printing medium, regardless of conditions selected for printing. Concrete examples thereof will be described below.
Here, the conditions selected for printing include a condition related to an image print mode and a condition related to a printing medium to be used.
In recent years, with a widespread use of digital cameras, there is also a need for printing with the image quality comparable to that of silver-salt photographs by means of an ink jet printing apparatus capable of outputting a shot image onto a printing medium, such as paper or the like, easily in home-use environment. To that end, recently, there is a case in which a print is made by using six colors of ink including low color density ink such as light cyan ink and light magenta ink in addition to the ink of conventionally used four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, in order to attempt enhancement of the image quality in print results of images of color toned photographs.
Recently, digital cameras of single-lens reflex type digital cameras are marketed at relatively low prices, and ink jet printing apparatuses are therefore used for printing images of monochrome toned photographs as well as the images of color toned photographs. In the print of an image of the monochrome toned photograph, cyan ink (or magenta ink) and yellow ink are used for correcting color tone, in addition to black ink that serves as a basic tone of the monochrome image. Moreover, in order to lessen a granular impression in halftone, it is put into practice to add gray tone thereto by using light cyan and yellow inks. Namely, in the case of printing the image of the monochrome toned photograph, enhancement of the image quality thereof is attempted by making multi-color printing with a plurality of chromatic colors in addition to black as an achromatic color.
An attempt has been also made to improve the image quality by mounting, on the apparatus, a plurality of inks of achromatic colors (gray ink or the like) with different densities, instead of these multiple chromatic colors, and by making a print using the plurality of inks of achromatic colors with different densities (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-177150. Moreover, products are known in which such a print can be made (Photosmart 7960 manufactured by Hewlett Packard, and PM-4000PX manufactured by Seiko Epson).
By contrast, in some cases, all gradations covering from a highlight portion to a maximum print density portion are printed by using ink only of a single color (for example, black ink in a monochrome photo tone image) which can output the maximum print density of the color of a basic tone. In such cases, particularly in a halftone portion, the deviation in dot-landing positions is noticeable. For example, contrast in a monochrome image print is higher than that in a color image print, since, in the monochrome image print, dots of black ink are printed on a white print medium. A portion where dots are locally concentrated due to the deviation of the dot-landing positions tends to become noticeable due to appearance of the black line or the like.
The deviation in the landing positions of dots is caused by variations in nozzle configurations generated in manufacturing processing of ink jet print heads and noise components such as vibration of the apparatus during printing.
As symbolized by the case where an image is printed by using ink of a single color, the deviation of dot-landing positions tends to be more noticeable in the halftone portion as the number of colors of ink used becomes less. The reason will be described as follows.
In general, there is a tendency that the larger number of colors of ink is used, the larger amount of the ink in total is applied to a predetermined area on the printing medium. This results in an increase in ink coverage on the surface of the printing medium. Conversely, there is a tendency that the smaller number of colors of ink is used, the less amount of the ink in total is applied to the predetermined area on the printing medium. This results in a decrease in ink coverage thereon. The deviation of dot-landing positions in higher ink coverage does not affect so much the image quality. If the deviation of dot-landing positions occurs in low ink coverage, however, the image quality is appreciably affected. This is because of the following reason. Specifically, in the case of the low ink coverage, the color of the printing medium itself is more likely to be seen in a larger portion, as compared with the case of the high ink coverage. Accordingly, the deviation of dot-landing positions cyclically varies appearance of the color of the printing medium itself.
Moreover, in the case of the monochrome images, the deviation in dot landing positions becomes even more noticeable because of a higher contrast between the color of black ink and the color of the print medium, in addition to the originally low ink coverage caused by printing with only the black ink. In addition, the conveyance accuracy of the printing medium is deteriorated in printing on the front and rear end portions of the printing medium, as mentioned above. As a result, the adverse effects such as generation of the white line, the black line, or granular impression on the image are outstandingly noticeable. This problem cannot be solved by uniformly reducing the print swath of the printing head for printing on the front and rear end portions.
Furthermore, in actual, properties of the printing media have an influence on the degree of the conveyance accuracy and that of variations in the head-to-paper distance when the printing medium is supported and conveyed only by a roller positioned either upstream or downstream in the conveying direction. Depending on the properties, each of the printing media have differences, from another printing medium, in thickness of the printing media, stiffness thereof, roughness thereof, presence or absence of an ink absorbing layer, the properties of the ink absorbing layer and the like. Accordingly, depending on the type of the printing medium, a coefficient of friction between the printing medium and the roller as well as degrees of curvature caused in the front and rear end portions of the printing medium are different from those of another printing medium.
For this reason, in the case where the print swath and the amount of conveying the printing medium are uniformly set for printing on the front and rear end portions of the printing medium, the following phenomena may occur. In some case, deterioration in the image quality, which may occur in printing on printing the front and rear end portions of a certain type of printing medium, can be effectively suppressed by use of the above-mentioned method. In another case, however, this method may not be effective for another type of printing medium.
Furthermore, when the print swath of the printing head is narrowed to reduce the amount of conveying the printing medium, a time required for making a print on one printing medium is increased accordingly. In the conventional controlling method, since the print swath and the amount of conveying the printing medium are uniformly set for printing the front and rear end portions of the printing medium, a user request cannot be satisfied in some cases. For example, there may be a case in which the user desires to make a print with priority placed on printing quality even if some amount of time is required, while there may be a case in which the user desires to make a print with priority placed on printing speed.
As described in the foregoing, where a reduction ratio of the print swath is uniformly set for printing on the front and rear end portions of the printing medium, regardless of conditions selected for printing, it is difficult to suppress both the reduction of image quality and the reduction of printing speed. Moreover, there is a case in which a user request cannot be satisfied.

Ink jet printing apparatus and printing method


A video encoding apparatus that predictive-encodes an encoding target image included in an encoding target video. The apparatus includes a prediction device that predicts the encoding target image with reference to a previously-encoded picture as a reference picture and determines first reference information which indicates a first reference region as a reference destination; a second reference information determination device that determines, from reference information used when the first reference region was predictive-encoded, second reference information which indicates a second reference region as another reference destination for the encoding target image; and a predicted image generation device that generates a predicted image based on the second reference information, or both the first reference information and the second reference information.

In general video encoding, spatial and temporal continuity of each object is utilized to divide each video frame into blocks as units to be processed. A video signal of each block is spatially or temporally predicted, and prediction information, that indicates utilized prediction method, and a prediction residual are encoded, which considerably improves the encoding efficiency in comparison with a case of encoding the video signal itself. In addition, conventional two-dimensional video encoding performs intra prediction that predicts an encoding target signal with reference to previously-encoded blocks in the current frame; and inter-frame prediction that predicts the encoding target signal based on motion compensation or the like with reference to a previously-encoded frame.
Below, multi-view video encoding will be explained. The multi-view video encoding encodes a plurality of videos, which were obtained by photographing the same scene by a plurality of cameras, with high encoding efficiency by utilizing the redundancy between the videos. Non-Patent Document 1 explains the multi-view video encoding in detail.
In addition to the prediction method used in general video encoding, the multi-view video encoding utilizes (i) inter-view (or inter-viewpoint) prediction that predicts an encoding target signal based on disparity compensation with reference to a previously-encoded video from another viewpoint, (ii) inter-view residual prediction that predicts an encoding target signal by means of inter-frame prediction and predicts a residual signal for the above prediction with reference to a residual signal at the time of encoding of a previously-encoded video from another viewpoint. In the multi-view video encoding as MVC (Multiview Video Coding), the inter-view prediction is treated as inter prediction together with inter-frame prediction, where for B-pictures, bidirectional prediction which employs interpolation utilizing two or more predicted images may be performed to produce a predicted image. As described above, in the multi-view video encoding, the bidirectional prediction utilizing both the inter-frame prediction and the inter-view prediction is applied to pictures to which the both predictions can be applied.
When the inter-frame prediction is performed, it is necessary to obtain reference information such as a reference picture index or a motion vector which indicates a reference (destination). Generally, the reference information is encoded as prediction information and is multiplexed with corresponding video. In order to reduce the amount of code for the relevant information, the reference information may be predicted by using a certain method.
In a direct mode as a generally known method, previously-encoded prediction information, which was used when encoding a peripheral block of the encoding target image, is obtained and determined to be reference information utilized in the prediction of the encoding target image. In a merge mode as another known method, prediction information items of peripheral blocks are listed as a candidate list, and an identifier utilized to identify a target block, for which the prediction information is retrieved from the list, is encoded.
In addition to such a method to determine the predicted value for the reference information, motion vector prediction or the like is known as a method to encoded a difference between the predicted value and actual reference information and multiplex the difference together with the relevant video.
Additionally, the multi-view video encoding has a method known as inter-view motion prediction in which the encoding target image and a region (which corresponds to the encoding target image) on a picture from another viewpoint use common reference information. Non-Patent Document 2 describes the multi-view video encoding in detail.
Residual prediction is another known method. This method reduces the amount of code for the prediction residual by utilizing a phenomenon that when two images which correlate closely with each other are individually subjected to predictive encoding, their prediction residuals also correlate closely with each other. Non-Patent Document 3 describes the multi-view video encoding in detail.
In the inter-view residual prediction employed in the multi-view video encoding, for a region that corresponds to the encoding target image and belongs to video from another viewpoint, a prediction residual signal obtained when encoding this region is subtracted from a prediction residual signal of the encoding target, so as to reduce the energy of the residual signal and improve the encoding efficiency.
In an example method for obtaining the corresponding relationship between different viewpoints, if a previously-encoded peripheral block was encoded by disparity compensation prediction, a disparity vector therefore is utilized to determine a region from another viewpoint, which corresponds to the encoding target block. The disparity vector obtained in this method is called a "neighboring block based disparity vector (NBDV)".
When the inter-frame prediction is applied to B-pictures, the inter-view residual prediction is used as a separate method for residuals.
In the present specification "image" denotes one frame or static image of video (moving image), and thus "video" is a set of a plurality of frames (images).

Video encoding apparatus and method, and video decoding apparatus and method

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION


A noise reduction structure for a vehicle driveshaft assembly insures that each of the interior chambers of the driveshaft tube is properly vented during use. The noise reduction structure is a solid member having a predetermined length and a cross sectional shape which corresponds generally to the cross sectional shape of the driveshaft tube. Preferably, the noise reduction structure has an outer diameter which is approximately equal to, or slightly larger than, the inner diameter of the driveshaft tube. As such, the noise reduction structure engages the inner surface of the driveshaft tube in a light press fit relationship. Each noise reduction structure has a passageway, groove, or other opening formed therein which extends axially throughout its length. In a preferred embodiment, an axially-extending groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the noise reduction structure. The groove provides for free air flow from one end of the noise reduction structure to the other, thereby insuring that each of the interior chambers of the driveshaft tube is properly vented during use.

This invention relates in general to noise reduction structures for use in vehicle driveshaft assemblies. In particular, this invention relates an improved noise reduction structure that has a passageway or other opening formed therethrough for providing a vent between a vent opening formed in an end fitting secured to one end of a driveshaft tube and interior chambers defined within the driveshaft tube when the noise reduction structure is disposed therein.
Torque transmitting shafts are widely used for transferring rotational power between a source of rotational power and a rotatably driven mechanism. An example of a torque transmitting shaft is a driveshaft tube used in a vehicle driveshaft assembly. The driveshaft assembly transmits rotational power from a source, such as an engine, to a driven component, such as a pair of wheels. A typical vehicle driveshaft assembly includes a hollow cylindrical driveshaft tube having an end fitting secured to each end thereof. Usually, the end fittings are embodied as end yokes which are adapted to cooperate with respective universal joints. For example, a driveshaft assembly of this general type is often used to provide a rotatable driving connection between the output shaft of a vehicle transmission and an input shaft of an axle assembly for rotatably driving the vehicle wheels. Traditionally, driveshaft tubes were made from steel. More recently, aluminum driveshafts have been developed because of their lighter weight.
One problem encountered by all types of driveshaft assemblies is their tendency to produce and transmit sound while transferring the power of the engine to the axle assembly. It is known that any mechanical body has a natural resonant frequency. This natural resonant frequency is an inherent characteristic of the mechanical body and is based upon many factors, including its composition, size and shape. The natural resonant frequency is made up of many sub-frequencies, often referred to as harmonics. As the vehicle is operated through its normal speed range (i.e. from 0 mph to about 80 mph), the rotational velocity of the driveshaft assembly changes (i.e. from 0 rpm to about 5000 rpm). As the rotational velocity of the driveshaft changes, it passes through the harmonic frequencies of the body's resonant frequency. When the rotational velocity of the driveshaft passes through these harmonic frequencies, vibration and noise may be amplified since the two frequencies are synchronized and the rotational energy of the driveshaft is converted into vibration and noise. This noise can be undesirable to passengers riding in the vehicle. Thus, it would be advantageous to deaden or reduce the sound produced by a vehicle driveshaft assembly in order to provide the passengers with a more quiet and comfortable ride.
Various attempts have been made to deaden the sound produced by vehicle driveshaft tubes. One general direction that many of these attempts have followed is to place a noise absorbing/deadening structure within the driveshaft. For example, one attempt involves disposing a hollow cylindrical cardboard insert inside an aluminum driveshaft tube to deaden the sound. However, the cardboard insert required external rubber ribs to prevent it from sliding inside the aluminum driveshaft tube. As a result, the cardboard insert is relatively complicated and expensive to employ. It is also known to place a solid noise reduction structure within the driveshaft tube to absorb noise and vibration. A typical noise reduction structure is a generally cylindrical member having a predetermined length which is disposed within a driveshaft tube in a press fit relationship with the inner surface of the driveshaft tube. Typically, the noise reduction structure is positioned within the driveshaft tube at a location where the amplitude of a standing wave caused by the reflection of the sound waves back and forth along the driveshaft tube is at its maximum value. If more than one noise reduction structure is disposed therein, the first noise reduction structure is located a certain distance inward from one of the ends of the driveshaft tube and the remaining noise reduction structures are then spaced apart, typically at equal intervals. As noted previously, the typical driveshaft assembly further includes an end fitting secured to each end of the driveshaft tube.
In any hollow driveshaft assembly, air can become trapped within its internal space when the two end fittings are secured to the hollow driveshaft tube. In the past, this space was vented by forming a vent opening in one of the two end fittings secured to the opposite ends of the driveshaft tube. The vent opening prevents an undesirable vacuum or pressure from occurring within the driveshaft tube. However, the use of one or more solid noise reduction structures within the driveshaft tube prevents some of the internal spaces from being vented through the vent opening. If a noise reduction structure is disposed within the driveshaft tube, the interior of the driveshaft tube is divided into two chambers, one of which is vented and one of which is not. Similarly, if multiple noise reduction structures are disposed therein, the interior of the driveshaft tube is divided into several chambers, with only one of these chambers being vented. While a vent opening could be formed through each of the end fittings, it is preferable to avoid the time and expense involved with such an additional manufacturing step. In addition, this step would not fully vent the interior of the driveshaft tube if two or more noise reduction structures are disposed therein. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved noise reduction structure that insures that each of the interior chambers of the driveshaft tube is properly vented during use.

Driveshaft assembly with vented noise reduction structure


A method of manufacturing a phosphor screen for a flickerless cathode ray tube comprising the steps of forming red and green phosphor layers on a panel for a cathode ray tube on which a black matrix is formed, forming a blue phosphor layer on said panel on which a black matrix is formed by coating the blue phosphor slurry and drying and forming a double phosphor layer by coating an ultraviolet phosphor slurry on said blue phosphor layer and drying, is provided.

A conventional shadow-mask CRT uses three electron beams deflected by a deflection coil. The beams traverse a perforated metal mask (shadow-mask) before impinging on a selected phosphor screen material. The selected phosphor formed on the inner surface of the screen comprises of a pattern of red, green and blue phosphors and a black matrix ("BM") which is formed between the phosphors. The three electron beams which pass through the shadow-mask converge on the screen and each beam impinges on one of the red, green and blue phosphors.
Generally, a process for forming a phosphor screen comprises first coating a photoresist on the inner surface of a panel. The photoresist is dried by heat or other means and exposed to UV rays irradiated through mask slots. The exposed panel is washed and developed to remove the unexposed photoresist and then dried.
A black matrix material is coated on the panel on which the photoresist-coated portion is regularly patterned. Thereafter, the panel is etched to produce the BM layer. Red, green and blue phosphors are sequentially coated on portions on which BM dots do not exist to produce a phosphor screen. As shown in FIG. 1, red, green, and blue phosphors individually exist in a conventional CRT. Various chemical elements having various decay time characteristics are conventionally used as red, green and blue phosphors. In particular, ZnS:Ag,CI and ZnS:Ag,AI phosphors are used as blue phosphor, and it takes 100-200 .mu.s for the blue phosphor to be decayed to have 10% luminescence compared to its full luminescence (10% decay time). Generally, in a CRT, the scanning speed of an electron beam scanning line to scan the blue phosphor is about 16 ms. As shown above, the decay time for a conventional blue phosphor is very short compared to the scanning speed of an electron beam scanning line in a conventional CRT, and as a result a flickering phenomena occurs. Due to the flickering phenomenon, a person who watches TV or a monitor may feel eye fatigue.

Phosphor screen for a flickerless cathode ray tube and a process for preparing the same


The VoSmart (a Variable Orifice/ Selective Monitored Artificial Recharge Throttle) Valve is a disclosed and the preferred embodiment of a hydraulically actuated flow control device that permits the calibrated throttling of water used in Artificial Storage and Recovery (ASR), Salt Water Barrier, Dedicated Recharge and Injection Wells to prevent the free cascading of water and thereby eliminate the entrainment of air which may cause air fouling, bio-fouling, and calcite formation with the resultant reduction in permeability of the aquifer. Wherein the VoSmart Valve includes a fixed tubular member which is selectively mounted in one of three ways: 1) to the lower end of the pump column, below the pump with a check valve/strainer mounted below the unit, a co-generation/recharge feature, 2) to the lower end of the pump column, and above the check valve and submersible pump and 3) To the lower end of the drop pipe, with a blind flange connected to the bottom end of the valve, a dedicated recharge well application. The inner member contains fixed flow control openings which an outer upwardly based flow regulating tubular member is axially moved with double acting hydraulic actuator to adjust the flow through the flow control openings. The axial position of the valve is controlled by a double acting hydraulic actuator built into the unit and completed through small stainless steel tubes to a hydraulic flow control valve and a hydraulic pump.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is generally directed to flow control devices for use in water wells and in particularly to a downhole flow controller for use in recharge, injection and aquifer storage recovery wells wherein the VoSmart (a Variable Orifice Selective Monitored Artificial Recharge Throttle) Valve continuously regulates the flow of water during periods of recharging. During recharging the water in the column or drop pipe is controlled to prevent air from being entrained or trapped in the fluid flow and carried into the aquifer. Entrained air can adversely effect the recharge efforts, through air-fouling, bio-fouling and calcite formation, by blocking the flow of water into the aquifer.
2. History of the Invention.
Many Water Districts and Communities have realized the need and value of maintaining the water level and storage capacity of the aquifers that provide their drinking water. Further due to the high demand and to the variability of supply and demand, it is logical that an adequate reserve capacity of the water storage facilities be maintained to provide for extended peak demands, droughts and explosive growths in new customers. Reserve storage capacity to provide for these events in capital facilities is prohibitively expensive to construct and more difficult to justify, therefor capital facilities typically lag behind demand.
In an effort to reduce these capital facility costs, Water Resource Engineers have become interested in the concept of replacing or storing large volumes (banking) of treated water in aquifers during periods of the year when both water and facility capacity are available to supply water required to recharge aquifers. The concept replacing the water pumped from the aquifer or seasonal storage is called Aquifer Storage Recovery or ASR. This scenario is an alternative to conventional expansion of water supply, treatment, distribution and storage capital facilities is quite cost effective in areas where it is technically feasible. In general a well based system or one that is partially well based is a system that the wells can be used for both recharge and recovery. In recovery the water may require only disinfection. Recharge wells may be through existing wells or through dedicated recharge wells.
In addition to reduction in facilities expansion costs, other advantages favor recharge technology. In coastal areas reduced levels in aquifer water may permit the intrusion of salt water which can result in the destruction of the fresh water supply. In these areas, a mound of recharged fresh water is placed, through balanced flow control, in the aquifer forming a uniform curtain or barrier between the salt water and the fresh water, effectively preventing salt water intrusion. At times this volume of water can be used to meet seasonal peak demands.
Such storage and water resource techniques have proven extremely advantageous and cost effective in areas where declining ground water levels have reduced or left wells nearly non-productive.
An other application of this type of device is the use in ground water remediation. In areas where existing ground water supplies are threatened or have been contaminated flow control devices are effective in managing an effective program. Once the water is extracted and treated this type of flow control device is able to balance the flow in a series of recharge wells to provide a uniform curtain of water, placing the water in the aquifer evenly and uniformly.
Well recharging is also effective where substantial reserves are necessary to improve system reliability in the event of a catastrophic loss of a primary water supply or in communities where strategically located reserves are required to insure an adequate balance in system flows during peak demand.
Although there are obvious benefits to obtained from recharging existing production water wells or in constructing new water storage recovery wells, in many applications problems have been encountered with air entrapment in the recharge water causing air binding of the aquifer. Air binding effectively decreases the permeability of the aquifer thereby decreasing the effectiveness of the recharging operations. Such air entrapment most is most frequently encountered in areas or localities where one or more of three conditions exist. These conditions may be encountered when; 1. the recharge water must drop a considerable distance from the well head to the static water level; 2. When the recharge flow is relatively low and; 3. Where the specific capacity of the well is relatively high. The foregoing conditions have resulted in the cascading of water in the column or drop pipe thereby entrapping large quantities of air which is carried into the well and outwardly into the aquifer. The entrapped air can effectively plug or seal the aquifer, a condition known as air fouling, resulting in substantially lower permeability and storage capacity. The answer to mitigating this problem is to pump the well thereby restoring a portion of the lost capacity.
There have been flow control devices developed by the oil and gas industry, such controllers are not suitable for use in controlling cascading in recharge, injection or aquifer storage recovery wells. One alternative used to mitigate the air entrainment involves the use of multiple small injection tubes to place the water in the aquifer. Such alternative is possible in wells using large diameter well casing and well screens. This system is costly and generally not suitable for retrofitting existing wells.


An applying material extruding container includes a leading tube and a pipe member inserted into the leading tube so as to be slidable in the axial line direction of the leading tube relative to the leading tube. In the initial state, the front end of the pipe member is located at a position displaced backward a predetermined distance from the front end of the leading tube, and the applying material is filled from in the pipe hole of the pipe member to in the tube hole of the leading tube. The inner surface of the region of the tube hole extends straight in the axial line direction. In the applying material extruding container, when the container main body and the control tube are relatively rotated in one/the other direction, by the screwing action of the first screw part, the pipe member is made to move forward/backward together with the applying material.

As a conventional applying material extruding container, the container described in Patent Literature 1 is known. The applying material extruding container described in Patent Literature 1 includes a leading tube forming a tubular shape and having a discharge port (opening) at the tip thereof, and a pipe member inserted into the leading tube so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the leading tube relative to the leading tube and filled with an applying material, wherein the applying material moves forward or moves backward together with the pipe member relative to the leading tube by the relative rotation in one direction or in other direction between the front and rear sections of the container, and the applying material is made to move forward relative to the leading tube and the pipe member by a further relative rotation in one direction between the front and rear sections of the container.


A composition for servicing a borehole in a subterranean formation by removing a filter cake along a wall of the borehole includes a biopolymer, the composition including a carrier fluid effective to act as a transport medium; an enzymatic breaker having activity to degrade the biopolymer in the filter cake upon contact with the filter cake so as to break up the biopolymer for removal; and an enzyme inhibitor effective to slow down the activity of the enzymatic breaker; where the composition may exclude the biopolymer. A method of servicing a borehole includes contacting the filter cake with the composition; degrading the biopolymer with the enzymatic breaker to produce degraded biopolymer; slowing down the degrading activity of the breaker with the enzyme inhibitor sufficiently that the degrading comprises degrading biopolymer along a length of the wall of the borehole; and removing the filter cake from the wall of the borehole.

Natural resources such as gas, oil, and water residing in a subterranean formation or zone are usually recovered by drilling a borehole down to the subterranean formation while circulating a drilling fluid in the borehole. During the drilling operation, a drilling fluid, also referred to as drilling mud, is conventionally circulated through the borehole as the borehole is drilled. The drilling mud aids in the drilling operation, for example, by removing cuttings from the borehole, (e.g., by suspending cuttings for return to the surface), controlling pressures within the subterranean formation, sealing permeable and/or semi-permeable portions of the subterranean formation, stabilizing the subterranean formation, cooling and lubricating the drilling apparatus, and facilitating completion operations.
As the drilling mud is circulated through the borehole, solid components of the drilling mud are deposited on the surfaces of the borehole in a layer known as a "filter cake," thus inhibiting the loss of mud or other borehole fluids to the formation during the drilling and/or other servicing operations. The composition of the filter cake varies with the drilling fluid and may include a biopolymer such as starch, cellulose, guar gum, and derivatives thereof, which acts as a viscosifier or a fluid loss control additive; and a bridging agent such as calcium carbonate to aid in preventing or reducing loss of drilling fluid into the formation.
Prior to production, the filter cake is removed to allow the unimpeded flow of natural resources into the borehole from the formation. A need exists to remove the filter cake efficiently and uniformly at a wide range of temperatures while minimizing damage to the formation or the borehole. To do so, a filter cake breaker may be used to degrade the biopolymer in the filter cake and thus aid in the removal of the filter cake. While working temperatures of most wells may be from 100° F. (20° C.) or lower to 200° F. (90° C.) or more, conventional acidic filter cake breakers may work less efficiently with slower removal rates at working temperatures less than 150° F. (65° C.), typical of shallower wells and colder climates. Further, use of strong acids to remove the filter cake may result in damage to the formation and corrosion to equipment.
Enzymes can hydrolyze the biopolymer that occur in filter cakes very efficiently at lower temperatures and with minimal corrosion risk. However, the enzymes tend to act too fast, resulting in uneven removal of the biopolymer of the filter cake along the borehole, premature breakthrough, and leak-off of treatment fluids into the formation. Enzymes have been used as breakers for fracturing fluids to break the viscosifying gels after the viscosifier gels are used in placing proppant in formations. Encapsulation of the enzyme can slow the hydrolysis in fracturing fluids, in which the enzyme capsules are dispersed and stabilized by a viscosifying agent, but this technique is not suitable for breaker fluids, which use brine and lack the viscosity to suspend the enzyme capsules evenly, resulting in capsule aggregation and uneven breaking and premature breakthrough.

Removing filter cake with delayed enzymatic breakers


A centrifugal analysis system includes a driving device, a carrying device, a number of cassettes, and an optical sensor device. The carrying device includes a tray disposed on the driving device, a number of limitation mechanisms disposed at the tray. The cassettes are detachably disposed at the tray and respectively and correspond to the limitation mechanisms. When the driving device drives the carrying device to rotate, the optical sensor circularly detects the cassettes in sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a centrifugal analysis system and an analysis method thereof, and in particular to a centrifugal analysis system having a number of cassettes and an analysis method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional centrifugal analysis system, only one single cassette is operated in the conventional centrifugal analysis system at a given time, and thus only one kind of specimen in the cassette can be inspected. When another specimen needs to be inspected, another operation is under taken to inspect a new cassette with the new specimen by replacing the previously inspected cassette. In other words, the conventional centrifugal analysis system cannot inspect a number of specimens at the same time, and thus the inspection of a number of specimens takes a lot of time, and is not convenient.

Centrifugal analysis system and analysis method thereof


A system for indicating the level of a liquid in a container is operable with either an analog type liquid level sensor producing an output signal which varies linearly in magnitude with the level of liquid, or a digital liquid level sensor producing a cyclic pulse width modulated signal which varies in duration according to the liquid level. One or the other type sensor is connected to an analog wire and a microprocessor is programmed to detect positive and negative going edges of pulses on the wire and generate values representing the duration of the pulses. If pulse edges are detected, the microprocessor uses the generated values representing the duration of the pulses to access a conversion table and obtain a multi-bit value for energizing the display. If no pulse edges are detected, the magnitude of the signal on the analog wire is converted to an equivalent digital value which is applied to a second conversion table to derive a multi-bit value for energizing the display. The liquid may be a fuel and the container may be the fuel tank of a vehicle.

Sensors using analog technology for determining the level of fuel in a vehicle fuel tank have long been known. These sensors may employ a variation in resistance, capacitance, etc. with fuel level to develop an analog output signal having a magnitude proportional to the level of fuel in the tank. The signal may be applied to the coil of a visual fuel level indicator to displace a pointer over a dial or it may be converted to a digital value for driving a numeric or a bar graph display. In the case where a variation in resistance is employed to develop the output signal, the variation in resistance may be obtained by using a float element which floats on the surface of the fuel and selectively closes switches to change the resistance in the sensor circuit as the fuel level changes. A typical fuel gauge of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,673.
More recently, sensors employing digital technology have been developed. These sensors have no moving parts and produce a cyclic pulse width modulated signal indicating the level of fuel in the tank. The digital type sensor will function with a dial and pointer type indicator because the pointer driving coil of the indicator averages the pulse width modulated signal. However, the digital sensor and analog sensor output signals must be processed differently in order to develop an output signal for driving a numeric or a bar graph display.
Since the pulse type sensors have no moving parts and are generally more reliable than sensors employing analog technology, it is desirable to use them on newly produced vehicles and as replacement sensors on older vehicles. Also, it is desirable that the two types of sensors be interchangeable so that, in the event of sensor failure, either type may be used as a replacement part depending on availability. These options are available only if the controller which processes the signals for numeric or bar graph display is capable of automatically recognizing which type of sensor is currently installed on a vehicle.

Automatic recognition of different types of liquid level sensors


A packaging process is disclosed. The process comprises the step of providing a bag. The bag includes a plurality of flexible panels including a first panel, a second panel and a third panel, the plurality of panels being disposed in stacked relation to one another with the second panel between the first panel and the third panel, and connected to one another to form a first pocket between the first panel and the second panel and a second pocket between the second panel and the third panel. The process further comprises the steps of: filling the first pocket with a first fertilizer product and the second pocket with a second fertilizer product; and sealing the first pocket and sealing the second pocket. A package produced by the process is also disclosed.

Plant nutrients can be classified as primary plant nutrients (sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium); secondary plant nutrients (sources of calcium, magnesium and sulfur); and micronutrients (such as copper, zinc, boron, iron, manganese, molybdenum and the like). Such nutrients are often made available for sale in the form of water-soluble granular fertilizers. The granular fertilizers can be dissolved in water and delivered to plants for uptake, such as occurs in greenhouse operations. Alternatively, they can be broadcast over a field, in which event, they will solubilize over time by exposure to rainfall and other precipitation, for uptake by nearby crops.
As is well known in the art, many granular fertilizers, and particularly those containing relatively high levels of the secondary plant nutrients calcium and/or magnesium, have a tendency to cake and clump when stored for any significant period of time. If this occurs, and the material is intended for broadcast spreading, it is necessary for the user to crush or otherwise break up the material prior to use. Even if the material is intended for dissolution, it is commonplace for a preparatory crushing operation to be employed, to speed solubilization. This is inconvenient, and can require users to possess crushing equipment.
To avoid the need for preparatory crushing operations, it is known for fertilizer manufacturers to provide the fertilizer in a two-part form, to enhance storage-stability.
For example, it is known for fertilizer manufacturers to provide a fertilizer first part, composed largely of primary plant nutrients and micronutrients, and a fertilizer second part, composed largely of secondary plant nutrients containing calcium and/or magnesium. Sometimes the first part and the second part are vended in separate bags, for mixing shortly prior to use. This "two-bag system" avoids the potential for clumping, since the calcium and/or magnesium compounds of the second part are isolated from the phosphorus-containing first part until use. However, this system increases the likelihood of misapplication. It is also known to package the second part in a bag which itself is contained in a bag which holds the first part. This "bag-in-bag system" renders misapplication relatively unlikely. However, this latter system is relatively inconvenient to use, since the user must open the outer bag; find, remove and open the inner bag; and mix the contents of the bags together prior to use. Additionally, production of bag-in-bag systems of the prior art is relatively labour intensive.

Packaging process for granular material and package produced thereby


A fastener driving device is disclosed. The device includes a fastener depletion sensing system that is constructed and arranged to allow normal operation of a power system contained within the device so long as a supply of fasteners provided by a magazine assembly is such that more than a predetermined number of fasteners are in a feed track and/or a drive track within the device. The fastener depletion sensing system is operable when the predetermined number of fasteners in the feed and/or the drive track is reached to provide a tactile indication to the user that the predetermined number of fasteners has been reached, and permitting the user to either cease further operation following the indication or complete the operation following the indication.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to fastener driving devices and more particularly to power operated fastener driving devices having a system for avoiding the problems associated with dry firing.
2. Description of Related Art
Fastener driving devices of the power operated variety can be either pneumatically operated, electrically operated or internal combustion operated. Such devices involve the expenditure of energy at a level which makes it important that each operation constitutes a desired operation for driving a fastener into a workpiece. Much of the available energy is used up in the driving action itself. Consequently, when the device is operated without a fastener in the drive track to be driven, all of the energy normally provided to effect the driving action must be absorbed by the piston hitting the rubber bumper at the end of the drive stroke of the fastener driver. Where a dry firing of this type takes place after each fastener supply provided by the magazine assembly is exhausted, considerable damage and wear to the bumper and intimately related components, as well as damage to the workpiece, can occur. In recognition of this damage possibility, many power operated fastener driving devices have been equipped with some sort of dry firing prevention mechanism.
One example of a dry firing prevention mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,622. Essentially, dry firing is prevented by sensing fastener depletion and locking out the contact trip assembly in its extended position in response to a depletion signal or movement by the sensor. While arrangements of this type effectively reduce dry fire related component damage, experience has shown that other areas of possible damage are brought into being. The contact trip element when in its extended position is intentionally located so that it is the first structure to be engaged with another structure by the user in normal operation. This location makes it susceptible to being either deliberately or accidentally engaged when the depletion system has locked the contact trip element in its extended position The result is that with lockout depletion sensing systems of the prior art, damage to the contact trip assembly sometimes takes place which would not otherwise take place in the absence of the lockout depletion sensing system. There is still a need for a depletion sensing system which can effectively protect not only components susceptible to dry fire damage, but the contact trip assembly as well.


An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a charger, a detection unit, and a determination unit. The charger charges the photoconductor. The detection unit detects an actual charging potential of the photoconductor after the photoconductor is charged by the charger. The determination unit determines one of a plurality of causes related to a charging abnormality of the photoconductor based on a relationship between a standard charging potential of the photoconductor to be obtained by charging by the charger and a charging potential detected by the detection unit.

There is known an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which an electrostatic latent image is formed by partially exposing a photoconductive surface of a photoconductor uniformly charged by a charger according to an image and the electrostatic latent image is visualized by developing the electrostatic latent image.
In such a type of the image forming apparatus, since the photoconductor and the charger deteriorate with use, the photoconductor and the charger are recommended to be replaced before the image quality is significantly affected. Then, in such a type of the image forming apparatus, a state of the deterioration of the photoconductor and the charger is estimated based on the number of images formed.
However, the actual defect is not detected, and the cause cannot be determined.

Image forming apparatus and method for determining a cause of deterioration


An active retinal implant (10) to be implanted into an eye has an array (16) of stimulation elements (17) that emit stimulation signals to cells of the retina, wherein the stimulation elements (17) are designed as radiation-emitting elements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active retinal implant to be implanted into an eye, with an array of stimulation elements that emit stimulation signals to cells of the retina.
2. Related Prior Art
By way of example, such a retinal implant has been disclosed in WO 2005/000395 A1.
The known retinal implant serves to counteract a loss of vision due to degenerations of the retina. Here, the basic idea is to implant into the eye of a patient a microelectronic stimulation chip that replaces the lost vision by electrical excitation of neurons.
In doing so, there are two different approaches as to how such retinal prostheses can be designed.
The subretinal approach described in WO 2005/000395 A1, mentioned at the outset, and in e.g. EP 0 460 320 A2 uses a stimulation chip, implanted into the subretinal space between the outer retina and the pigment epithelium of the retina, that converts ambient light, impinging on an array of photodiodes integrated in the stimulation chip, into electrical stimulation signals for neurons. These stimulation signals actuate an array of stimulation electrodes, which stimulate the neurons of the retina with spatially resolved electrical stimulation signals corresponding to the image information "seen" by the array of photodiodes.
Thus, this retinal implant stimulates the remaining, intact neurons of the degenerated retina, that is to say horizontal cells, bipolar cells, amacrine cells and possibly ganglion cells as well. The visual image incident on the array of photodiodes or more-complex elements is, in the process, on the stimulation chip converted into an electrical stimulation pattern. This stimulation pattern then leads to the electrical stimulation of neurons, by means of which the stimulation is then guided to the ganglion cells in the inner retina and, from there, led into the visual cortex via the optic nerve. In other words, the subretinal approach utilizes the natural interconnection of the previously present and now degenerated or lost photoreceptors with the ganglion cells in order to supply the visual cortex with nerve impulses, which correspond to the seen image, in a conventional fashion. Thus, the known implant is a replacement for the lost photoreceptors and it, like the latter, converts image information into electrical stimulation patterns.
In contrast thereto, the epiretinal approach utilizes a device, consisting of an extra-ocular and an intra-ocular part, which communicate with one another in a suitable fashion. The extra-ocular part comprises a camera and a microelectronic circuit for coding captured light, that is to say the image information, and transmitting it to the intra-ocular part as a stimulation pattern. The intra-ocular part comprises an array of stimulation electrodes, which contacts neurons of the inner retina and thus directly electrically stimulates the ganglion cells situated there.
A large number of publications disclose that the transmission of the electrical stimulation signals from the stimulation electrodes to the contacted cells, required in these implants, requires particular attention. This is because the coupling between a stimulation electrode and the contacted tissue is capacitive and so only transient signals can be used for electrical stimulation. This capacitive coupling is based on the fact that a capacitance (Helmholtz double layer) is formed in the eye at the boundary between the electrode and electrolyte as a result of the electrode polarization. Against this background, the stimulation signals are transmitted as pulses.
In the subretinal implant as per WO 2005/000395, mentioned at the outset, the incident light is therefore converted into voltage pulses with a pulse length of approximately 500 microseconds and a pulse spacing of preferably 50 milliseconds, such that a repetition frequency of 20 Hz results, which was found to be sufficient for flicker-free vision. In doing so, the pulse spacing moreover is sufficient to restore the electrode polarization completely.
WO 2007/128404 A1 deals with the question as to how the perception can be further improved by a suitable choice of pulse length and repetition frequency of the electrical stimulation signals. Starting from experimental findings using implanted subretinal implants, it proposes to subdivide the multiplicity of stimulation electrodes into at least two groups of stimulation electrodes, which are actuated over time, one after another, in order to emit stimulation signals.
Thus, the seen image is not imaged as a whole on the stimulation electrodes with a high repetition frequency; rather, the image is decomposed, so to speak, into at least two partial images, which are alternately "switched-through" at a lower repetition frequency to the stimulation electrodes.
By way of example, if four partial images, each with a repetition frequency of 5 Hz, are emitted as stimulation signals from, in each case, a quarter of the stimulation electrodes, a new (partial) image in the form of stimulation signals, that is to say pulses, is nevertheless emitted to the cells of the retina by the stimulation electrodes, respectively with a partial image frequency of 20 Hz.
This may slightly reduce the spatial resolution, but the image repetition frequency of 20 Hz required for physiologically flicker-free vision is achieved.
Depending on the number and local "density" of the stimulation electrodes, it is also possible to use a larger number of partial images in the process, provided that the desired spatial resolution is achieved as a result of this. In the case of a larger number of partial images, the repetition frequency of the individual partial images can then be further reduced, wherein, nevertheless, a new partial image in the form of a pattern of stimulation pulses is emitted every 50 milliseconds, i.e. with an image repetition frequency of 20 Hz.
A further problem in the known retinal implants is the energy supply of the stimulation chip.
That is to say, the energy for generating the electrical stimulation signals cannot be obtained from the incident useful light itself, even in subretinal implants, and so additional external energy is required. Here, this external energy is either obtained from additional invisible light irradiated into the eye, coupled in from the outside by means of e.g. a coil, or conducted by a wire led into the eye.
The implant known from WO 2005/000395 A1 is supplied with electrical energy, without the need for wires, by irradiated IR light or inductively coupled RF energy, wherein information for controlling the implant may be contained in this external energy supplied from the outside.
However, since wireless retinal implants for human applications that have a satisfactory quality are not currently available, at the moment use is made of not only epiretinal but also subretinal implants, which are supplied with the required external energy by wires.
WO 2007/121901 A1 describes e.g. a subretinal retinal implant, in which the external energy and control signals are guided by a wire to the stimulation chip implanted in the eye. Here, the wire is applied and fixed to the sclera of the eye in order to avoid forces on the implant.
Since, on the one hand, integrated circuits operated with DC voltage are generally available on the implants and, on the other hand, there is little space on the implants themselves, most known implants are directly supplied with DC voltage. That is to say that, in the case of AC voltage supply, the rectifiers required on the implant would need too much space and also could not be implemented in integrated circuits in a technically expedient fashion, in particular due to the required smoothing capacitors.
However, in the long run, the wired transmission of DC voltage leads to electrolytic decomposition processes in the tissue surrounding the wire and so this method of supplying implants with external energy is also unsatisfactory.
Therefore, WO 2008/037362 A2 proposes to supply the implant with at least one substantially rectangular electrical AC voltage that, averaged over time, is at least almost without a DC voltage component in relation to the tissue mass. In the process, the potential level can be selected such that, averaged over time, the supply voltage is at least almost without a DC voltage component. This, at least to a large extent, avoids the bothersome electrolytic decomposition processes.
Despite the above-described promising approaches for solving the substantial technological problems in the context of epiretinal and, in particular, subretinal retinal implants, the currently available retinal implants do not yet satisfy possibly all requirements for comprehensive and satisfactory patient care.
Furthermore, it still remains to be investigated whether the epiretinal and/or subretinal approach is suitable for all patients suffering from visual impairment as a result of losing their natural photoreceptors, as is the case in retinits pigmentosa or in age-dependent macular degeneration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,996A discloses a different retinal implant approach using a first layer of photodiodes that convert incident ambient light into electrical signals. These electrical signals control light emitting elements that emit optical signals that are received by a second layer of photodiodes. These second photodiodes convert the optical signals into electrical stimulation signals that are used to stimulate cells of the retina.
By this, an optical attenuator is provided that ensures that the level of the electrical stimulation signals is not such that they damage the retina. It is also disclosed to use only one layer of photodiodes that directly emit electrical stimulation asignals to retinal cells.
A recently expanding alternative to implanting a retinal implant of the type described thus far consists of a genetic treatment of patients suffering from a loss of their natural photoreceptors. In this approach, using genetic-engineering methods, light sensitive cytoplasmic channels are introduced into the still-present neurons of blind or visually impaired people, such that the electrical activity of the neurons can be modulated by irradiation with light, which causes a perception of light.
This approach is based on reports from different scientific groups, who used different derivatives of rhodopsin, usually found in bacteria, to control, by irradiation with light, ion channels in the cytoplasmic membrane of neurons in respect of the opening probability thereof. The transmembrane ion channels modified in this fashion could be introduced into different cell types of the retina, such as ganglion cells and bipolar cells, in which the modulation of the electrical activity leads to light perception in the visual centres.
In doing so, also rhodopsin derivatives with different spectral sensitivity were used for generating channels, which, introduced into ON bipolar cells or OFF bipolar cells by transgenic techniques, permit a separate actuation of the brightness coding ON bipolar cells and the darkness coding OFF bipolar cells as a result of different spectral light stimulation.
However, the light intensity required in order to be able to use light to modulate the electrical activity of neurons equipped with these rhodopsin-controlled channels is several orders of magnitudes greater than the light intensity required for the activation of the natural photoreceptors, i.e. the rods and cones; see Lagali et al.: "Light-activated channels targeted to ON bipolar cells restore visual function in retinal degeneration", Nature Neuroscience, volume 11, number 6, June 2008, pages 667-675, with further references therein.
Lagali et al. report that when using neuromodulators, genetically coded in this fashion, in ON bipolar cells at a light intensity of at least 1015 photons cm−2 s−1, light perception was noted in the ON path of the retina even when photoreceptors were absent. It should be noted at this point that 2.5×1015 photons cm−2 s−1 at 500 nm correspond to approximately 1 mW cm−2.
Comparable values were determined for ganglion cells. By contrast, the minimum intensities for rods and cones are only 106 photons cm−2 s−1 and 1010 photons cm−2s−1, respectively.
Even if it seems possible to increase the light sensitivity of rhodopsin-controlled channels by up to three orders of magnitude, the sensitivity of the rods and cones will not be achievable under any circumstances, not even approximately, because the other cells of the retina, which are made light sensitive by rhodopsin, lack the particular amplifying mechanisms of the rods and cones.


A system for controlling the exterior lighting of a motor vehicle has a switch unit having a rotary switch which can be rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise to sequentially activate a plurality of operating modes of the vehicle lights. The rotary switch is a continuously adjustable rotary encoder, and a plurality of indicator lights are arranged around the rotary encoder, each of the operating modes is respectively assigned a mode indicator light. The operating mode selected by the rotary encoder is displayed by the corresponding indicator light. The rotary encoder has a plurality of latched positions that correspond to the plurality of indicator lights.

Light switch units for controlling the exterior lights of motor vehicles are frequently embodied as rotary switches. Such a rotary switch can be actuated to select from available modes of the exterior lights, for example the modes "OFF", "headlight ON", "parking light", "side light", and "automatic" or "AUTO." An "AUTO" mode refers to the vehicle lights being automatically switched on and off as a function of the ambient brightness.
The rotary switch is typically latched or locked mechanically in the respectively selected position. However, in practice this can lead to the exterior lights remaining unintentionally switched on after the vehicle is exited. Furthermore, a situation can occur in which the headlights are not switched on in situations in which they are required or remain unnecessarily switched on in other situations. Such situations may occur, in particular, in vehicles with LED daytime running light with a comparatively high light output, in which situations the driver is possibly given the impression, owing to the LEDs, that the dipped headlight is switched on.
Future Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) automobile regulatory standards may require automatic switching on and off of the vehicle headlights as a function of the current ambient brightness conditions. Furthermore, at any time manual activation or deactivation must be possible, for example, in situations in which the light sensor is not functionally capable. In this context, the problem occurs that in the case of a switch with respectively latched or locked switching positions there is no possibility of activating the vehicle headlights independently of the respectively selected light switch position. If, for example, the auto light is selected, it is difficult for the user to understand how the vehicle headlight can be switched off.
The scenarios described above either result in reduced vehicle availability (owing to a discharged battery), increased safety risks, increased fuel consumption, increased CO2 emissions or failure to comply with future regulatory requirements.
DE 10 2009 000 536 A1 discloses a modular light switch unit for controlling lighting groups for a motor vehicle, in which light switch unit all the operator controls are embodied as pushbutton keys, wherein a main pushbutton key for switching the headlight on and off, which is enlarged compared to the other pushbutton keys, is surrounded by the other relatively small pushbutton keys. Using such pushbutton keys, which in contrast to conventional rotary, rocking or latching keys do not latch in a position which predefines an operating position of the assigned lighting mode, is intended to ensure that, for example when switching on the ignition of the motor vehicle, the control is operated in the "auto light" mode with the side light or headlight switched on as a function of the ambient light.
EP 1 074 429 B1 discloses a light switch unit, in which a rotary switch and at least two pressure switches, which are arranged essentially diametrically with respect to the rotary switch, are provided in order to form a direct relationship between the spatial arrangement and the function of the switches.
DE 10 2007 063 420 A1 discloses a method for switching off assistance light functions of motor vehicles, such as, for example, the rain light and the freeway light, in which selected assistance light functions (such as, for example, the tunnel detection system and the dusk detection system) remain activated.
WO 2006/084536 A1 discloses a method for activating headlights of a motor vehicle, in which method a manual mode with manual activation of the headlights by means of a selector lever and an automatic mode for activating the headlights on the basis of an exterior lighting situation are provided, wherein in the automatic mode an override possibility is provided, with the result that the headlights can be changed into the corresponding lighting state by manual activation of the selector lever independently of the exterior lighting situation.

System for controlling exterior lighting of a motor vehicle


Disclosed are process for contacting a protein containing material with one or more wet-mill streams. The protein content of the protein containing material is increased.

For over 100 years corn wet milling has been used to separate corn kernels into products such as starch, protein, fiber and oil. Corn wet milling is a two stage process: (a) a steeping process to soften the corn kernel and to facilitate the next step; (b) a wet milling process resulting in purified starch and different co-products such as oil, fiber, and protein. In general, starch recoveries are between 90 to 96%. The remainder of the starch is found in the different co-products.
US patent 2003/0070673 to Liaw et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,144,087 and 4,244,748 to Chwalek et al., EP patent 0 506 233 to Chie-Ying, U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,631 to Freeman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,705 to Johann et al., Patent WO 93/12667 to Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,651 to Keim, WO patent 02/067698 to Kvist et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,773,076 and 5,968,585 to Liaw et al. relate to wet-milling processes that produce various products.

Protein concentrate and an aqueous stream containing water-soluble carbohydrates


Placing tables 28, film adhering tables 27 and connector mounting tables 24 are individually formed and rearranged so as to conform to a desired wiring path. A plurality of wires 11 are linearly placed in parallel with each other on each placing table 28, and a wire length adjusting tool 14 formed with steps 15 with a specified inclination is brought into contact with the wires 11 to push them down, thereby setting different loosened lengths for the respective wires 11. Films 12 are adhered to the linear portions of the wires 11 to hold the different loosened lengths unchanged.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a wiring harness, a method for producing a wiring harness and a wiring harness producing apparatus. The wiring harness may be used in internal wiring of office automation (OA) equipment, a home electric appliance or an automotive vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
A known wiring harness for electrical connection in an OA equipment, a home electric appliance or an automotive vehicle has a plurality of wires 1 bundled as shown in FIG. 16 for connecting a CPU, a display device and a variety of switches. Jigs (not shown) for holding a connector 3 and the wires 1 are arranged on a flat plate in accordance with an actual arrangement of the wiring harness. The wires 1 are arranged in accordance with the jigs, and an adhesion tape 2 for protection is wound around the bundle of wires 1. The taped wire bundle then is covered with a casing to be held in a specified configuration, and the cased wire bundle is mounted to conform to a wiring path inside an OA equipment, a home electric appliance or an automotive vehicle. However, according to this prior art, it takes a large amount of time to wind the adhesive tape 2 after arranging the wire bundle, thereby lowering work efficiency.
In view of the problem of the above described prior art, there are frequently used flat cables having a multitude of conductors. One example is a flexible print cable (FPC) in which a pattern of conductive paths 4 is printed on a flexible base film 5 which is then overlaid with a cover film 6, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. However, in the case of a complicated wiring harness having curved conductive paths 4, an etching mask is applied for each pattern in a production process, and after the patterns are formed in a large base film Dk, a patterned portion is punched and cut off as shown in FIG. 18. Thus, large apparatuses such as an etching apparatus and a cutting apparatus are required. Further, the use of the large base film Dk necessitates a large work space, leading to a poor space efficiency.
FIG. 19 shows another known method which includes linearly arranging a plurality of strip-like conductors 1 in parallel with each other, laying films 5, 6 on the opposite sides of the conductors 1, and folding the thus obtained flat cable according to a wiring path. According to this method, the apparatuses required for the prior art of FIGS. 17 and 18 can be dispensed with. However, in the wiring harness obtained according to the prior art of FIG. 19, folded portions 7 may be damaged or a portion between the folded portions 7 may be deformed in such a three-dimensional manner to part from the remaining parts of the wiring harness due to the elastic restoration of the folded portions 7 as shown in FIG. 20. This presents a problem that the configuration of the wiring harness cannot stably conform to the wiring path.
The respective conductors 1 may accurately be arranged along the wiring path into a corresponding configuration and at specified intervals. However, this requires a large amount of time for aligning the configuration of the conductors 1, leading to a poor time efficiency. Further, since a large film corresponding to the wiring path is required, the problem of the prior art of FIGS. 17 and 18 is left unsolved.
It is also necessary to easily cope with a design change of a wiring harness while solving the above problems. Particularly, in the case of the second prior art, the large apparatuses are forced to be changed to cope with a design change of a wiring harness, considerably increasing production cost.
An object of the present invention is to provide a wiring harness, a method for producing a wiring harness and a wiring harness producing apparatus having or allowing for a simple construction of the apparatus, which is capable of easily producing a wiring harness without folding or bending and easily coping with a design change.

Wiring harness a method for producing a wiring harness and a wiring harness producing apparatus