An embodiment of the present invention includes a light emitting road boundary marking for activation upon road departure. The marker includes a photovoltaic cell unit mounted in a housing and having a photovoltaic cell plate and a battery. Further, a light emitting unit is mounted with the housing, and the light emitting unit has a light to be turned on and off based on electricity supplied from the photovoltaic cell unit and conditions of a control unit. The control unit includes a microphone to detect a soundwave generated by a wheel traveling over a rumble strip, a comparing circuit to substantially match the detected soundwave with a pre-programmed soundwave pattern, and a driver unit to activate the light emitting unit when the detected soundwave substantially matches the pre-programmed soundwave. Other embodiments may include a microprocessor, a transmitter and a receiver unit for relaying an activation signal to adjacent markers, a lamp flashing circuit, and switching circuits for roadway illumination lamps.

In order to decrease vehicular accidents caused by drivers inadvertently drifting out of the proper lane, the use of rumble strips has become commonplace. It is especially true along vast stretches of open freeway that rumble strips help to warn drivers if they mistakenly leave their lane and enter the shoulder of the roadway. The accidental drifting off of the roadway may be caused by a variety of factors, including poor weather conditions, distracted driving, and fatigue. When vehicle tires encounter the rumble strip, both a vibration and sound stimulus alert the driver to the error, but without a good frame of reference during night driving, an accident may still occur.
The sound of a vehicle's tire traveling over a rumble strip produces a distinct complex audio waveform. With this invention, the waveform has been electronically analyzed and the corresponding ratios of voltage levels, with respect to time, have been identified that are specific within the soundwave cycle of that of a vehicle tire traveling over a rumble strip. This information is used as a reference for which a comparing circuit is responsive and leads to activation of a roadside marking device. In the prior art, a microphone was adapted to respond to the general frequency range of the sound, but this brought about inaccuracies (i.e., falsely identifying the sound of engines or other typical traffic noise falling into that audio range). This invention overcomes the limitations in previous rumble strip audio responsive systems by using sound recognition technology to identify specific sound characteristics which then can trigger a roadside warning indicator. For even higher reliability, the comparing circuit also looks for repetitive triggering waveforms before activating a warning. Additionally, this device not only warns the errant driver of the vehicle drifting out of lane, but the roadside marker warning is visible to other drivers along the roadway and alerts them of the hazardous situation. With the embodiments of this invention containing a receiver/transmitter, networking amongst numerous roadside markers is also possible which can enhance the visibility of the warning indication by propagating it to adjacent markers placed along the roadway. The networking capability of this invention to relay information has additional safety benefits as well. By adjusting the comparing circuit's responsiveness, embodiments of this invention can visually alert drivers to other unsafe conditions, such as the presence of construction work zones, and assist in general navigation by providing roadway marking and illumination.

Light emitting road safety device with sound activation


A method of coding/decoding image information is derived to perform a boundary block merge of the macro blocks of the image information and copy the DCT coefficients of a block that is converted to an exterior block from a boundary one out of left-sided and upper-sided blocks for the use purpose in performing a prediction of the DCT coefficients of the block's sub blocks, thus enhancing the efficiency of a coding/decoding process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of coding/decoding image information and, more particularly, to a method of coding/decoding image information, which is derived to determine the DCT coefficients of a block that is converted to an exterior block from a boundary one during a boundary block merge by means of merged information, and to perform a prediction of the DCT coefficients of the peripheral blocks by using the determined DCT coefficients.
2. Discussion of Related Art
When each pixel of image signals is represented by digital data of predetermined bits (for example, 8-bit data, 16-bit data, etc.), information content becomes excessively increased to communicate through public networks, and great costs are required to send/receive the large information content by a network or store it in a memory such as CD-ROM, deteriorating image quality. It is thus necessary to compress image information so as to send/receive image information via the conventional networks with a cost reduction.
As shown in FIGS. 1A-1F, the image information, to be compressed, is divided into classes. A video sequence layer comprises a plurality of GOPs (Group of Pictures) (See. FIG. 1A) each of which has I, B, and P pictures (See. FIG. 1B). One picture has a plurality of slices (See. FIG. 1C). One slice has a plurality of macro blocks (See. FIG. 1D) each of which includes 16.times.16 pixels. Four luminance sub blocks B1-B4 and eight chrominance sub blocks B5-B12 make one macro block, and each sub block has 8.times.8 pixels.
FIG. 2 shows a picture of an object having a predetermined shape that is made up with macro blocks (16.times.16 pixels) to be used in an image coding. As shown in FIG. 2, the macro blocks are classified into three types: interior macro blocks 22 having only interior information of the object, exterior macro blocks 23 having no interior information, and boundary macro blocks 21 partly having interior information.
In an intra mode where an image coding technique is applied to the macro blocks in coding the source picture instead of error signals, the sub blocks (8.times.8) are transformed by a discrete cosine transformation, and DC coefficients are quantized and predicted. DC prediction may be accomplished by a no loss coding where the blocks and DPCMs are applied in zigzags, as shown in FIG. 3. The white block indicates an interior block, the gray one a boundary block, and the black one an exterior block.
To code a DC coefficient, the quantized DC coefficient DC.sub.-- B4 of the sub block B4 of the macro block MB1 that is adjacent to the sub block B of the macro block MB2 to be coded is defined as the predicted value DC.sub.-- P of the sub block B of the macro block MB2.
As shown in FIG. 4, with respect to a block X to be coded, the previous block A, the left upper-sided block B, and the upper-sided block C are designated. The absolute value of the vertical gradient for the DC coefficients of the previous and left upper-sided blocks A and B is compared with that of the horizontal gradient for the DC coefficients of the left upper-sided and upper-sided blocks B and C. If the former is less than the latter, the DC coefficient of the previous block A is defined as a DC pre-estimated value that will be used to code the DC coefficient of the current block X. If the former is larger than the latter, the DC coefficient of the upper-sided block C is used as a DC pre-estimated value for coding the DC coefficient of the current block X. The differential, to be coded, can be obtained by subtracting the DC pre-estimated value from the DC coefficient of the current block X.
As shown in FIG. 5, in order to pre-estimate an AC coefficient, the first row coefficient (from the upper-sided block C) or the first column coefficient (from the left-sided block A) of the previous block, determined in the same direction as the DC prediction in FIG. 4, is used as the first row or column coefficient of the current block X in a differential coding.
During the prediction of DC and AC coefficients as described above, the sub blocks positioned inside the object or on the boundary of the object in a macro block can be scanned and predicted, while those out of the object cannot be coded.
As shown in FIG. 6, each boundary macro block has three types of sub blocks, interior sub blocks 61, exterior sub blocks 63, and boundary sub blocks 62. Two boundary sub blocks 62 and 64 can be merged so as to enhance a coding efficiency.
However, after a BBM (Boundary Block Merge) technique, the boundary sub block 4 as shown in FIG. 7A becomes the exterior sub block in FIG. 7B.
With the BBM technique and prediction of DC and AC coefficients, there is no appropriate treatment for the sub blocks transformed from boundary sub blocks to exterior sub blocks. If these sub blocks are treated as boundary sub blocks, they will require an unnecessary process for discrete cosine transformation and cause a deterioration of image quality as well as data errors during a data transmission.

Method of coding/decoding image information

602-304 Hyundai 3 Cha Apt, 610 Kuui 3-dong, Kwangjin-ku


An electronic device to be loaded on an electronic equipment or an electronic component is mounted on a mount substrate, the mount substrate being made thin and flexible and having strong resistance to bending. An electronic device package including: a flexible substrate having a wiring pattern formed thereon; and an electronic device having a terminal formation face on which a connection terminal is provided, wherein the connection terminal is electrically connected directly or via a conductive member to the wiring pattern, and the terminal formation face is substantially aligned in a neutral plane of bending in a thickness direction of the electronic device package.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic device package and an electronic equipment.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-204230, filed Jul. 13, 2005, Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-327710, filed Nov. 11, 2004, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-327711, filed Nov. 11, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, starting with card-sized electronic equipment, various types of electronic equipment are becoming thinner and lighter. As electronic equipment become thinner and lighter, there is a demand for various types of electronic devices mounted thereon to be mounted in a thin state. Taking a silicon IC chip (semiconductor chip) as an example of an electronic device, it is recently becoming possible to cut away the rear face while it is in the silicon wafer state and form an ultra-thin IC chip having a thickness of less than 50 μm.
Conventional methods for electrically connecting such an electronic device to a substrate which it is mounted on include methods using anisotropic conductive materials (ACF and ACP) and methods using wire bonding (WB). However, in methods using anisotropic conductive materials, the anisotropic conductive material adds substantially 10 μm to 30 μm to the thickness, and accordingly increases the thickness of the electronic equipment and electronic components which the device is mounted on. Methods using wire boding require a space of more than 1 mm for extracting the wire, and consequently increase the thickness of the electronic equipment and electronic components which the device is mounted on.
Therefore, these conventional methods are insufficient for reducing the thickness and weight of the electronic equipment and their electronic components. In particular, when these methods are applied in the ultra-thin IC mentioned above, there is a danger that ultrasonic waves and pressure when connecting may destroy the ultra-thin IC chip and reduce the reliability of the connection.
Against such a background, conventional mounting methods have been proposed for using an elastic conductive member to electrically connect terminals and increase the reliability of the connection structure (see for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-230001).
However, the conventional mounting method described in the above Patent Application is not sufficiently resistant to bending of the electronic device package, and consequently has a problem of poor reliability when used repeatedly.
When the thickness of an IC chip is reduced to substantially 50 μm, in addition to the thickness of the chip itself, minute blemishes caused during the manufacturing process may damage the semiconductor chip. For these reasons, it is desirable to increase bend-resistance near the chip.

Electronic device package and electronic equipment


The subject matter disclosed herein relates to communication between a client and a server in a communications network. In one particular example, a server is selected from a plurality of servers to provide a resource and/or a service to a client.

In a typical client-server network topology, a client may receive a requested service and/or resource from anyone of several servers capable of providing the requested service and/or resource. A server is typically resource constrained and may be slow to respond to requests from a client if the server is already heavily loaded with other tasks and/or requests. Accordingly, load balancing techniques are typically applied to multiple servers to, for example, direct new requests for server resources to servers that are the least busy or occupied.
To facilitate load balancing among a cluster of servers, for example, a load monitor is typically deployed for routing requests for server resources to servers in the cluster that are least loaded. Here, such a load monitor may track metrics associated with servers to determine the extent to which they are occupied or busy. New requests are then typically routed to the server or servers in the cluster that are the least occupied. Such a system for load balancing among a plurality of servers in a cluster is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,039,916. Additionally, geographic load balancing systems are typically available to direct client requests to a geographically nearest server having sufficient resources available to provide a requested resource to a client. However, such geographic load balancing systems are typically costly and complex.

System and/or method for client-driven server load distribution


A semiconductor package using flip-chip mounting technique is disclosed. The semiconductor package includes: a semiconductor device provided with a plurality of first pads extending from the semiconductor device; a substrate provided with a plurality of second pads extending from the substrate at positions in registry with the location of the first pads of the semiconductor device; and an anisotropic conductive material interposed between the plurality of first pads and the plurality of second pads to electrically connect the first pads to associated second pads, the anisotropic conductive material positioned at discrete locations around the semiconductor device, thereby providing unobstructed clearance at desired locations between the semiconductor device and the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to semiconductor packages using flip-chip mounting techniques and, more particularly, to a semiconductor package in which a semiconductor device is mounted using both a flip-chip mounting technique and an anisotropic conductive material.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, micromachining techniques, for producing micro-optical elements, micro-optical sensors, micro-bio-chips, and micro-radio-communication devices, such as micro-mirrors, micro-lenses and micro-switches, using semiconductor device manufacturing processes, have been actively studied.
To use semiconductor devices, manufactured through the micromachining techniques, in practical applications, semiconductor packages must be manufactured.
Semiconductor packaging techniques are complex techniques which include a variety of steps for producing the semiconductor devices and the final products. In recent years, semiconductor packaging techniques have been quickly and highly developed such that one million or more cells can be integrated in a package. Particularly, non-memory semiconductor devices are highly developed such that the devices have a great number of I/O pins, a large die size, a great heat dissipation capacity, highly improved electrical functions, etc. However, the conventional semiconductor packaging techniques for packaging the non-memory semiconductor devices cannot keep pace with the rapid development of semiconductor devices.
The semiconductor packaging techniques are very important techniques which determine the operational performance, sizes, costs and operational reliability of final electronic products. Particularly, the semiconductor packaging techniques play a key role in the manufacture of recently developed electronic products which aim for high electronic performances, smallness/high density, low power consumption, multifunctionality, ultrahigh signal processing rates and permanent operational reliability of the products.
To meet the above-mentioned recent trends, a flip-chip bonding technique, which is a kind of technique for electrically connecting a semiconductor chip to a substrate, has been actively studied, proposed and used. However, a conventional flip-chip bonding technique must execute complicated bonding processes using solder, which include applying solder flux onto a substrate, arranging a chip having solder bumps relative to the substrate having surface electrodes, executing the reflow of solder bumps, removing remaining flux, and applying and hardening underfill, thus increasing the costs of final products.
Therefore, in an effort to simplify the complicated processes of the conventional flip-chip bonding techniques, a wafer-phase semiconductor packaging technique, in which a polymer material, functioning as both flux and underfill, is applied to a semiconductor wafer, has been actively studied and developed. Furthermore, a flip-chip bonding technique using a conductive adhesive, which is advantageous in that it can reduce production costs, provide microelectrode pitches, and can be environment-friendly because it does not use flux or lead, and in which processes are executed at low temperatures, has been actively studied and developed.
Conventional conductive material layers are classified into two types: anisotropic conductive material layers and isotropic conductive material layers. A conductive material layer comprises conductive particles, such as Ni, Au/polymer, or Ag particles, and a base resin, such as a thermosetting resin, thermoplastic resin, or blend type insulating resin produced by mixing the properties of the thermosetting resin and the thermoplastic resin.
FIG. 1A is a sectional view illustrating a conventional anisotropic conductive film. As shown in FIG. 1A, the conventional anisotropic conductive film 10 is a polymer resin-based film, with conductive particles 20 finely dispersed in the conductive film 10 to impart conductivity to the film. A releasing film 30 is attached to each surface of the anisotropic conductive film 10.
FIG. 1B is a sectional view illustrating a conventional flip-chip bonding technique for producing a semiconductor package using the anisotropic conductive film of FIG. 1A. As shown in the drawing, a first release film 30 is removed from one surface of the anisotropic conductive film 10 and the exposed surface of the anisotropic conductive film 10 is thermally compressed and adhered to a substrate 50. Thereafter, a second release film 30 is removed from the other surface of the anisotropic conductive film 10. An IC chip 40 having bumps 45 is placed on the exposed surface of the conductive film 10 such that the bumps 45 of the IC chip 40 are aligned with electrodes 55 of the substrate 50. Thereafter, the anisotropic conductive film 10, having the IC chip 40 and the substrate 50, is subjected to thermal compression, so that the conductive particles in the anisotropic conductive film are plastically deformed, thus mechanically and electrically coupling the bumps 45 to the electrodes 55.
However, to use the flip-chip bonding technique, which can produce semiconductor packages using anisotropic conductive films, in the process of producing a semiconductor device using a micromachining technique, it is required to solve some technical problems in advance.

Semiconductor package using flip-chip mounting technique


An integrated sensor apparatus of a vehicle is provided that includes a light emitter that is configured to emit a light having an area of a predetermined range or greater to a first region of a windshield. A light receiver is configured to receive the light emitted by the light emitter and reflected from the first region of the windshield and an external light incident from the exterior to the windshield. Further, a light guider is configured to be attached to the windshield to guide the light emitted by the light emitter to be reflected from the first region of the windshield and arrive at the light receiver. An image sensor is configured to sense a plurality of image patterns from the light reflected by the first region of the windshield and the external light incident into the windshield from the exterior.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated sensor apparatus and a method of a vehicle, and more particularly, to an integrated sensor apparatus implemented on a windshield.
Description of the Prior Art
A raindrop sensor that senses a raindrop state has been installed on vehicle windshields. The raindrop sensor is configured to sense the raindrop state (e.g., when rain contacts the windshield) by radiating light of a specific region and using an image of light reflected from the windshield. However, since the raindrop sensor according to the related art uses a point light, it has a substantially narrow raindrop sensing region on the windshield and it may be difficult to detect a thickness of water drop. In addition, an illumination sensor that senses an incident amount of external light to measure illumination has been installed on the windshield in the related art. However, when a plurality of sensors are disposed on the windshield of a vehicle, a sensor configuration becomes more complex and a manufacturing cost and other related costs increase.


When a captured image having the first aspect ratio is to be output, the first captured image obtained by imaging the first imaging range is output. When a captured image having the second aspect ratio smaller at the ratio of the length in one of the vertical and horizontal directions to the length in the other direction than the first aspect ratio is to be output, the second captured image with an imaging range in the one direction corresponding to the first imaging range is output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus which can transmit videos having different aspect ratios upon switching between them and a method of controlling the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in preset control for a monitoring camera, when changing a video having the first aspect ratio to a video having the second aspect ratio, aspect ratio switching is performed by a method like that shown in FIG. 4 or 5. The method shown in FIG. 4 changes the aspect ratio by clipping an image in a size of 4:3 from a video 401 captured in a size of 16:9. A video 402 captured in an aspect ratio of 4:3 becomes smaller in field angle than the video 401. In addition, the method shown in FIG. 5 changes the magnification of a video 501 captured in an aspect ratio of 16:9 to a video 502 having an aspect ratio of 4:3. This leads to distortion of the video itself.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-114461 discloses an arrangement configured to obtain a desired video by changing the magnification of a video at the time of preset control.
The related art disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-114461 cannot sometimes obtain any video in a desired range because of a change in field angle caused by zoom control.

Output apparatus for outputting a captured image based on an aspect ratio change, method of controlling output apparatus, and recording medium


The present invention describes a system, method and computer product program for computation of alarm time. The system includes an alarm device for generating an alarm. The system also includes an alarm application hosted on the alarm device for providing at least one user defined alarm condition. The system further includes an alarm engine for receiving the user defined alarm condition, initiating a probe to receive data from data sources, processing the received alarm conditions and the received data to compute the alarm time and next probe time repeating iteratively until the next probe time is greater than the computed alarm time. The system generates alarm at the computed alarm time when the next probe time becomes greater than the alarm time.

Generally, computing devices provide opportunity to the user to be connected to the outside world. The computing devices include the computer, stationary and mobile devices examples of which can be mobiles, PDAs, tablets, smartphones or other handheld devices. Nowadays a good amount of human population is using mobile devices. These mobile devices are very useful and used by wide range of users for various purposes. Apart from the computing usage the mobile devices are also being used to generate alarm based on time conditions. The mobile devices provide options like organizer and planners for the users to plan their activities and get alarmed appropriately. These gadgets are very useful for the users on the go.
Typically alarming systems used to generate alarm on the time parameter that was set by user. Some other alarm systems were developed which have the option to define alarm based on time, location or weather condition discretely and alarms are generated based on single condition. A type of alarm systems exist which gathers data from various information systems (like geographical positioning systems, weather information system, news feeds etc.) and correlate data in order to compute alarm time condition based on multiple conditions defined by the user. These existing alarm systems try to dynamically probe the external system for getting information about location and environmental condition and continuously consume network resource and device battery.
The challenges in the field of alarm systems have continued to increase with demands for more and better techniques having greater flexibility and reliability. In addition, with the wealth of information readily available nowadays, especially because of the internet, world wide web, and other data sources, and demand of decreasing the consumption of network resources and alarm system battery a need has arisen for a new system and method for alarming a user.
Hence, there is a need of a system, method and computer product program for computation of alarm time to address the aforementioned issues.

Methods for computing an alarm time and devices thereof


An electrostatic developer comprising a mixture of (1) a toner component containing image-forming particles, and (2) particles obtained by subjecting inorganic oxide or organic particles to a hydrophobic treatment with a dimethyl cyclopolysiloxane.

1 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrostatic toner useful for either laser printer and/or plain paper copier machines.
2 Description of the Background
Developing methods and associated toners for use in electrostatic development in electrophotography are known, and include for example, dual-component developing methods, which use as image-forming particles and larger carrier particles, and mono-component developing methods, which use a toner comprising only magnetic or non-magnetic image-forming particles, or with a small amount of additive particles. Such developing methods are described in Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4.sup.th ed., 9:261-275 (1994).
An image forming apparatus utilizing an electrophotographic method with toner is well known. In the image forming apparatus utilizing the electrophotographic method, images are generally formed onto a sheet of copy paper through the following processes.
After uniformly charging a photoconductor that serves as an image-holding body, images are exposed onto the surface of the charged photoconductor. Attenuating electrostatic charges during the exposure of light forms a latent image. Then the electrostatic latent images are visualized by developing with toner to form a toner image. The toner images are transferred onto a sheet of copy paper.
A laser printer, a LED printer and the like have been developed in recent years, wherein the image scanning part and the image output part are separated from each other. In these apparatuses, a reversed development method, i.e., the toner is made to adhere to the portions where the charge at the portions of the image exposure has been attenuated, is adopted (in contrast to the above, where toner is made to adhere to the portions where charge still remains in the normal development method).
Transfer of the image-forming particles to the non-image areas causes an undesirable phenomenon in view of image quality as a so-called "ghosting," in which are formed"memory images" normally formed during contact with the magnetic sleeve roller which is usually part of the toner cartridge assembly. Ghosting can be described as developed image-forming patterns on a latent image-retaining member which are electrostatically transferred to a transfer material such as paper. These images become visual and the image formed can either be lighter than the background formed by toner deposition or darker than the background formed by toner deposition. In instances where the "ghost" image is lighter than the background, this phenomena is known as "negative ghosting." In instances where the "ghost" image is darker than the background, this phenomenon is known as "positive ghosting."
If the ghost image (negative or positive type) is repeated several times on the transfer material (paper), this can usually be attributed to the photoconductor drum allowing a "memory defect" to occur. If, however, the ghost image appears only once on the transfer material (paper), this condition can be usually associated with the magnetic sleeve roller which cannot hold charge and therefore cannot establish the "memory" pattern. It is often possible to measure the distance between the ghost image to determine which component makes the largest contribution to this undesirable imaging issue. However, the actual electrostatic printer or copy machine characteristics, the toner "flowability," toner triboelectric charge properties as well as exponential memory decay times are all related to the "ghosting" phenomena.
Organo silanes and siloxanes have been disclosed in the prior art for various purposes in the field of electrophotography.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,039 discloses improved release agents which can be used at elevated temperatures without producing insoluble or undesirable products by gellation. The invention therein provides for a blend of non-phenol-functionalized poly(organosiloxane) fluid and phenol-functionalized poly(organosiloxane) fluid. The fluid is used as a release agent applied to the surface of the fuser member for fusing toner images to the receiving (paper). Octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane (OCTS) is disclosed as a starting material therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,453 discloses a wet-type development unit which:
A) uses a carrier liquid composed of petroleum based and silicon based oils and B) toner particles composed of a coloring agent and binder resin dispersed in the carrier liquid. Cyclic dimethyl polysiloxanes inclusive of OCTS are disclosed as useful therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,008 discloses toner fusing members with an outer layer comprising a melamine-cured polyurethane coating, with increased solvent and thermal resistance. The polyurethane may be obtained from a combination of various starting materials, which may include OCTS.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,722 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,815 disclose the manufacture of toners and the use of silicone oils and varnishes lor treating toner additives, such as hydrophobic silica fine powder.
However, none of the above-described prior art discloses or suggests the use of dimethyl cyclopolysiloxanes, such as OCTS, against ghosting.
The present invention describes toner composition(s), which are specifically formulated to avoid ghost images, which are likely associated with the magnetic sleeve roller assembly. Although the root cause of the phenomenon is not fully understood, as these ghost images appear, this is an undesirable phenomenon.

Electrostatic toner composition to enhance copy quality by rejection of ghosting and method of manufacturing same


Examples of methods for monitoring additive manufacturing by an electronic device are described herein. In some examples, a predicted thermal image is calculated for a layer. In some examples, a captured thermal image is obtained for the layer. In some examples, a risk score is calculated for the layer based on the predicted thermal image and the captured thermal image. In some examples, a mitigation operation is performed in response to determining that the risk score is outside of a threshold range.

Three-dimensional (3D) solid parts may be produced from a digital model using additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing may be used in rapid prototyping, mold generation, mold master generation, and short-run manufacturing. Additive manufacturing involves the application of successive layers of build material. This is unlike traditional machining processes that often remove material to create the final part. In some additive manufacturing techniques, the build material may be cured or fused.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A sound reproducing apparatus includes a display unit, a board 22, a diaphragm panel 23, and an electroacoustic transducer 26. The display unit displays an image on a display surface. The board 22 is composed of a material which transmits visible light and arranged such that a first space is provided between the display surface of the display unit and the board 22. The diaphragm panel 23 is composed of a material which transmits visible light and arranged on the opposite side of the board 22 from the display unit such that a second space is provided between the board 22 and the diaphragm panel 23. The electroacoustic transducer 26 emits sound into the second space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sound reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to a sound reproducing apparatus having a display means and being capable of acoustically driving a transparent diaphragm panel.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, there has been devised a sound reproducing apparatus for reproducing sound from a display screen. For example, there exists a sound reproducing apparatus which causes a transparent diaphragm panel provided in front of a display screen to vibrate to emit sound. This sound reproducing apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG. 11.
FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of a television set having a conventional sound reproducing apparatus. In FIG. 11, the television set includes a cabinet 1, a cathode ray tube 2, a front panel 3, a driver 4, and sound slits 5. The front panel 3 is mounted in front of the cathode ray tube 2. The front panel 3 is composed of a material with high optical transmittance, such as glass or transparent acrylic. The driver 4 is an electromagnetic-type speaker and is directly connected to the back of the front panel 3. A plurality of sound slits 5 (four sound slits in FIG. 11) are provided around the perimeter of the cathode ray tube 2. The television set shown in FIG. 11 reproduces sound by a method of directly driving the transparent diaphragm panel by means of the driver 4.
The operation of the sound reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 11 will be described below. When an electrical signal is applied to the driver 4, the driver 4 causes vibration. Since the driver 4 is directly mounted to the front panel 3, the vibration caused by the driver 4 is mechanically transmitted to the front panel 3, causing the front panel 3 to vibrate. Specifically, if the electrical signal applied to the driver 4 is an audio signal, sound is reproduced from the front panel 3 mounted in front of the cathode ray tube 2. Since the front panel 3 is composed of a material with high optical transmittance, the front panel 3 does not degrade an image reproduced on the cathode ray tube 2. In this manner, the television set shown in FIG. 11 can simultaneously reproduce images and sounds.
If the volume of a space between the front panel 3 and the cathode ray tube 2 is small, the air pressure of the space will increase, whereby the limit of low-frequency sound reproduction in sound reproduction is increased. In order to prevent this problem, the sound slits 5 are provided. Specifically, sound coming from the back of the front panel 3 passes through the sound slits 5 and then is emitted into the cabinet 1. Thus, an increase in the air pressure of the space can be avoided by means of the sound slits 5.
While the sound reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 11 is used as a television set, there also exists a sound reproducing apparatus which can be used as a mobile telephone. Such a sound reproducing apparatus reproduces sound by causing an outer case which is directly mounted to the mobile telephone to vibrate by means of the driver. This sound reproducing apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG. 12.
FIG. 12 is an external view of a mobile telephone having a conventional sound reproducing apparatus. In FIG. 12, the mobile telephone includes an outer case 10, an antenna 11, a soundboard 12, a driver 13, and a display screen 14. The soundboard 12 is formed on the upper front of the outer case 10 such that the perimeter thereof is thin (not shown). The driver 13 is directly mounted to the back of the soundboard 12. The display screen 14 is provided on the front of the outer case 10 and below the soundboard 12.
The operation of the sound reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 12 will be described below. When an electrical signal is applied to the driver 13, the driver 13 causes vibration. The vibration caused by the driver 13 is directly transmitted to the soundboard 12 formed on the outer case 10, causing the soundboard 12 to vibrate, thereby reproducing sound.
In the sound reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 11, the driver 4 is mounted in a location around the perimeter of the front panel 3 so as not to block the display screen of the cathode ray tube 2. On the other hand, in a sound reproducing apparatus which employs a method for directly driving the font panel 3 by means of the driver 4, if the driver 4 is mounted in a location around the perimeter of the front panel 3, the quality of reproduced sound may be degraded.
Moreover, since the front panel 3 acts not only as a diaphragm panel for emitting sound but also as a protection panel for protecting the cathode ray tube 2, the front panel 3 requires moderate strength. Therefore, the front panel 3 needs to be configured to have a certain thickness. This increases the weight of the front panel 3, reducing the vibration of the front panel 3 brought about by the driver 4, resulting in a reduction in reproduced sound pressure. Thus, in the sound reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 11, the efficiency of the reproduced sound pressure with respect to the driver is very low as compared with that of conventional speakers.
The sound reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 12, on the hand, cannot be appropriately applied to recent mobile telephones in which larger display screens are highly demanded. Specifically, in the sound reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 12, the display screen 14 and the soundboard 12 are provided in different locations, which hinders the formation of a larger display screen 14 due to the presence of the soundboard 12. In addition, since the display screen 14 is provided in a different location from where sound is reproduced, the user cannot get the sense that the sound is being reproduced from the display screen 14.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Polysuccinimide and/or polyaspartate, copolymers of succinimide and aspartate and the polymers cross-linked with a diamine are demonstrated to be enhancement agents for the preparation of cementitious materials. The agents may be added to the dry cementitious mixture or the water which is added to form the cementitious material upon hardening. The enhancement agents improve the workability of the wet cementitious mixture, reduce slump loss during mixing, transport, and placement of the wet cementious mixture; and may provide extra strength upon hardening of the cementitious material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the use of polysuccinimide as an additive to cementitious materials that improves flowability during mixing and leads to improved strength on curing. In addition, polyaspartate alone, polyaspartate in combination with polysuccinimide, or a copolymer of aspartate and succinimide residues also are useful in cement for improved flowability over time and development of strength.
2. Discussion of the Background
Polysuccinimide is made commercially by thermal polymerization of maleic anhydride and ammonia and related precursor monomeric reactants that upon heating produce aspartic acid which then condenses to yield the polyimide. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,380 to Fujimoto and Teranishi, 1974; U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,461 to Boehmke, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,952 to Koskan and Meah, 1993; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,180 to Groth et al., 1994).
In addition, thermal polymerization of aspartic acid itself produces polysuccinimide. This is accomplished by use of the dry powder of aspartic acid alone (Schiff, 1898; U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,401 to Sikes, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,902 to Koskan et al., 1992) or in the presence of an acidic catalyst/solvent such as phosphoric acid (U.S. Pat. No. 3,052,655 to Fox and Harada, 1962; U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,797 to Jacquet et al., 1982; U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,020 to Kalota and Martin, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,868 to Freeman et al., 1995; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,813 to Charpenel and Lepage, 1996). ##STR1##
Typically, the synthesis of polyaspartic acid does involve polysuccinimide as an intermediate, which is then subjected to mild alkaline hydrolysis to produce polyaspartate, usually as the sodium salt. However, it also is possible to produce polyaspartate directly, without the intermediate polysuccinimide, by thermal polymerization of alkali salts of aspartate, such as monosodium aspartate (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/842,016 by Sikes and Japanese Kokai 08-169741. This publication is not prior art with respect to the invention disclosed and claimed herein). Similarly, sodium maleamic acid has been used to produce polyaspartate directly (U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,036 to Kroner et al., 1996). IL addition, mixtures of maleic acid, urea, and sodium carbonate were treated thermally to produce polyaspartate directly (U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,180 to Groth et al., 1996).
It is further possible to produce a mixed amide/imide copolymer of aspartic acid and succinimide either by use of temperatures that are too low to drive the reaction to completion (e.g., <140.degree. C., U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,461 to Boehmke, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,952 to Koskan and Meah, 1993) or by use of reaction times that are too short (e.g., <10 minutes at 180.degree. C., U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,004 to Groth et al., 1996). Finally, it is possible to produce a mixed amide/imide copolymer of aspartate and succinimide by thermal polymerization even at elevated temperature for extended reaction times by use of a reaction mixture of an alkali salt of aspartate such as monosodium aspartate and aspartic acid (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/842,016 by Sikes).
The hydrolysis of polysuccinimide to open the imide rings and produce polyaspartate is rate-dependent on the particle size of the polysuccinimide and proceeds over periods of minutes to hours at pH around 10 and temperatures around 80.degree. C. (Mosig, 1992; Mosig et al., 1997; Low et al., 1996). The hydrolysis may take more than 24 hours at pH 10, 25.degree. C. (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/596,439 by Sikes). Early kinetic analysis of the hydrolysis was interpreted to show that the reaction slowed as the ring-opening proceeded due to repulsion of polyanionic regions of polyaspartate with hydroxide ion (Hoagland and Fox, 1973), perhaps resulting in a mixed polymer of succinimide and aspartate residues. However, NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectra of reaction products later suggested that the ring-opening of individual polymer molecules proceeded rapidly to completion once begun such that there was only a set of completely ring-opened polyaspartate molecules along with a residual set of core, insoluble polysuccinimide particles that had yet to react with the alkaline, aqueous phase (Wolk et al., 1994). Whereas the polysuccinimide particles are hydrophobic and highly insoluble in water, the polyaspartate molecules are highly hydrophilic and will form aqueous solutions of up to 40% by weight.
The conversion of polysuccinimide to polyaspartate in mild, alkaline, aqueous solution in effect is a controlled release of soluble, polyanionic polymer from an insoluble hydrophobic particle. This is a useful reaction to occur within the environment of forming cementitious materials, which becomes alkaline as the cementitious mineral phases react with the mixing water to form the hydration products of set cement, which include Ca(OH).sub.2. The presence of both hydrophobic and polyanionic polymers in controlled amounts are known in the art to improve the properties of cementitious materials both during the forming stages and in the finished products.
For example, polymers that have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic character are useful in cement for dispersing the mineral particles during mixing, improving the flowability of the mix, and allowing reduction in the amount of water required to form the mix. At the same time, properties such as setting time, adhesion, and strength of the formed cementitious materials remained favorable or were improved (U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,869 to Kinoshita et al., 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,324 to Cerulli et al., 1994; U.S. Pat. No 5,432,212 to Honda et al., 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,289 to Yonezawa et al., 1995; and U.S. Pat. No. 5.494,516 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,681 to Josef et al., 1994, 1996). Monomeric constituents of the polymers of these references include, for example, alkylene oxide, napthalene sulfonate-formaldehyde, styrene, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, maleic anhydride, and methacrylate. Polysuccinimide itself has been reported to improve the flowability of Portland cement powder when mixed with water (Japanese Kokai 008-169741 to Harada et al.; this publication is not prior art with respect to the invention disclosed and claimed herein).
Thus, it would be useful if a single homopolymer could provide the improved flowability of a cement mixture provided by an hydrophobized polymer additive as well as the improved binding characteristics provided by polyanionic polymers within the cement mixture. It is here reported that polysuccinimide may be added to cementitious materials for the purposes of improving flowability during mixing, decreasing slump loss during transport and placement, and strengthening the formed product. The phrase, "cementitious materials", is meant to include: cement, a mixture of cement powder and water; mortar, a mixture of cement powder, fine aggregates, and water; and concrete, a mixture of cement powder, fine aggregates, and coarse aggregates; as well as any other combination of cement powder and other materials such as silica fame, fly ash, slag, and lime powder.
In the aqueous environment of freshly mixed cementitious materials, polysuccinimide is converted to polyaspartate. This provides both hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics to the interactions of the polymer with the hydrating cement phases during the period of mixing and setting.

Polysuccinimide and polyaspartate as additives to cementitious materials


An image forming apparatus has a main body for performing image forming operations. A document reader is above the main body and can displace between closing and opening postures. A coupling has a first end rotatably coupled to the main body and a second end coupled to the document reader for movement between a first posture to support the document reader in the opening posture and a second posture when the document reader is closed. A guiding surface at the document reader guides movement of the second end of the coupling. A stopper is supported for rotation between an interfering posture to interfere with the second end of the coupling and a freeing posture to free the second end. The second end is pushed into an escaping recess of the guiding surface by the stopper when the stopper is displaced from the interfering posture to the freeing posture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a document reader openably and closably attached relative to an upper surface of an apparatus main body or a composite apparatus formed by combining two apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus 100 as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C has been conventionally known. It should be noted that, in FIGS. 7A to 7C, only essential parts as prior art to be compared with the present invention are shown by omitting unnecessary members in order to facilitate the description. Further, in FIGS. 7A to 7C, X-X directions and Y-Y directions are referred to as transverse directions and forward and backward directions, respectively, wherein −X direction is leftward direction, +X direction rightward direction, −Y direction forward direction and +Y direction backward direction.
This image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a box-shaped apparatus main body 101 in which various devices for image formation such as a photoconductive drum and a developing device are mounted, and a document reader 102 attached displaceably relative to an opening in an upper surface of the apparatus main body 101 between a closing posture S1 (see FIG. 7A) and an opening posture S2 (see FIG. 7B) by rotating about a transversely extending supporting shaft 103.
The document reader 102 is a heavy article internally provided with an unillustrated contact glass which a document surface faces, an unillustrated light source for emitting a light to the document surface, a plurality of unillustrated mirrors for introducing a reflected light from the document surface to a CCD, and an unillustrated moving mechanism for moving the light source and the mirrors. Such a document reader 102 is made openable and closable so that the interior of the apparatus main body 101 can be inspected by opening the document reader 102 and unillustrated developing devices are detached and attached for replacement.
A pair of left and right coupling arms 104 are disposed between the apparatus main body 101 and the document reader 102. A bottom end portion of each coupling arm 104 is supported rotatably about a transversely extending supporting shaft 104a, whereas an upper end portion 104b thereof is movable along a corresponding guiding groove 105 formed in a bottom surface of the document reader 102 while being so guided as not to come out. Accordingly, the respective coupling arms 104 turn about the supporting shafts 104a and the upper end portions 104b thereof are moved back and forth along the corresponding guiding grooves 105 by opening and closing the document reader 102.
A pair of left and right stoppers 106 are provided to keep the document reader 102 in the opening posture S2. When the upper end portions 104b of the coupling arms 104 are moved from the front end portions of the guiding grooves 105 and passed the stoppers 106 to set the document reader 102 in the opening posture S2, their upper end portions 104b are stopped by these stoppers 106 as shown in FIG. 7B. The coupling arms 104 are prevented from turning in clockwise direction about the supporting shafts 104a by the stoppers 106, whereby the document reader 102 can be kept in the opening posture S2.
The stoppers 106 are supported rotatably about vertical shafts 106a provided at specified positions inward of the coupling arms 104 on the bottom surface of the document reader 102. When the coupling arms 104 pass the stoppers 106 to set the document reader 102 in the opening posture S2, the stoppers 106 come to rest on protuberances 106b projecting from the bottom surface of the document reader 102 to be stopped. Accordingly, the stoppers 106 do not rotate even if the upper end portions 104b of the coupling arms 104 push the stoppers 106 forward. Thus, the document reader 102 can be kept in the opening posture S2.
An operating lever 107 for rotating such stoppers 106 toward the corresponding coupling arms 104 about the vertical shafts 106a is provided at the front side of the document reader 102. If this operating lever 107 is operated, for example, to right, the outer ends of the respective stoppers 106 are rotated toward the coupling arms 104 about the vertical shafts 106a. Then, the stoppers 106 are moved to such positions (retracted positions) as not to be interfered with by the coupling arms 104 after temporarily pushing the coupling arms 104 backward as shown in FIG. 7C.
The pair of coupling arms 104 are made rotatable in clockwise direction about the supporting shafts 104a by operating the operating lever 107 to move the stoppers 106 to the retracted positions. Thus, the document reader 102 can be displaced from the opening posture S2 to the closing posture S1 shown in FIG. 7A.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-62326 discloses an image forming apparatus provided with an apparatus main body constructed to enable an image forming operation, and a document reader attached openably and closably relative to the apparatus main body. However, this publication discloses nothing corresponding to the above stoppers.
In the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, upon returning the document reader 102 set in the opening posture S2 to the closing posture S1, the stoppers 106 have to be rotated in clockwise and counterclockwise directions about the vertical shafts 106a by operating the operating lever 107, the oblique coupling arms 104 have to be pushed in a direction toward their upright positions, and the document reader 102 has to be temporarily lifted up via the coupling arms 104.
However, it is quite difficult to lift the heavy document reader 102 only by operating the operating lever 107. Accordingly, upon closing the document reader 102, a user has been performing a cumbersome operation of moving the operating lever 107 by one hand while lifting a front end of the document reader 102 by the other hand.

Image reading apparatus and image composite apparatus having a document reader openably and closably attached to an upper part of the apparatus


A line monitor comprising: an optical signal input section for permitting an optical signal to be input; optical signal output means for outputting an optical signal; a fiber grating including a section with a periodically varied refractive index, the optical signal, which has entered the section with a periodically varied refractive index, in its component with a predetermined specific wavelength being reflected while the remaining component of the optical signal is output from the optical signal output means; first optical signal withdrawal means for allowing the optical signal in its component with a specific wavelength to withdraw into the outside of the fiber grating; and photoelectric conversion means for converting the optical signal in its component with a specific wavelength taken out from the first optical signal withdrawal means to an electric signal. The section with a periodically varied refractive index is provided so as to incline against the central axis of the fiber grating, and the optical signal in its component with a specific wavelength is radiated from the side face of the fiber grating to take out the optical signal in its component with a specific wavelength. A plurality of the fiber gratings and a plurality of the first optical signal withdrawal sections corresponding respectively to the fiber gratings may be provided. This constitution can realize a small-size line monitor with low coupling loss. An optical amplification apparatus using this line monitor is also disclosed.

A conventional line monitor comprises two optical fibers disposed opposite to each other, lenses for optically coupling the optical fibers to each other, a reflecting mirror disposed between the lenses, a lens for receiving light reflected from the reflecting mirror, and a photodetector for receiving light from the lens.
Light output from one optical fiber is brought to parallel beams by means of the lens, and a part thereof is vertically reflected by means of the reflecting mirror disposed at an angle of 45.degree. to the direction of advance with the remaining component being passed through the mirror. The transmitted light is focused by means of the lens and coupled to the other optical fiber.
On the other hand, the reflected light is focused by means of the lens and coupled to the photodetector.
In the conventional optical line monitor, however, there is a disadvantage in that, since the branching film does not have the wavelength selectivity, when an optical signal containing a noise light with a wavelength different from that of the contemplated optical signal enters the line monitor, the noise light is also branched, often making it impossible to precisely monitor only the contemplated optical signal. An additional disadvantage of the conventional optical line monitor is such that when a plurality of optical signals in a wavelength multiplexed state are input, the optical signals with different wavelengths cannot be monitored separately from each other. Further, since the number of optical parts constituting the line monitor is large, it is difficult to reduce the size of the line monitor. Furthermore, the coupling loss is disadvantageously large because the optical signal goes out from an optical fiber into air and then again is introduced into the optical fiber.

Optical line monitor and optical amplification apparatus using same


A medical apparatus according to an embodiment includes control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to: acquire a three-dimensional cumulative dose distribution of an object; set a treatment target site by treatment accompanied with X-ray irradiation to the object; and determine an X-ray irradiating direction for performing the X-ray irradiation based on the three-dimensional cumulative dose distribution and the treatment target site.

In recent years, a dose tracking system (DTS) has been developed that visualizes a cumulative dose (exposed dose) due to radiation irradiation, when performing a treatment on the treated region while irradiating the region including the treated region of the patient. This system displays, sequentially (in real time), the cumulative dose totalized from the start of the radiation irradiating manipulation to the present time.
As a procedure of a treatment accompanied with the X-ray irradiation, treatment of arteriovenous malformation (AVM), carotid artery stenting (CAS), coiling corresponding to unruptured cerebral artery aneurysm, coronary artery percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) and the like can be mentioned.
The planning apparatus of the prior art can determine the X-ray irradiating direction in consideration of the cumulative dose of the patient using the DTS at the time of treatment planning.


A recumbent bicycle that has a short main frame, a small front wheel, a hub and crank that is in close proximity of the steering tube, and an aesthetically designed and integrally mounted shock absorber seat.

Previous bicycle designs are generally of two general types: (1) A "traditional" upright design (where the rider is generally upright and leaning forward toward the handlebars) this is utilized in a number of configurations, including racing bikes, touring bikes, mountain bikes, and portable bikes (although generally these have different types of frames); and (2) recumbent bicycles, where the operator sits in a generally lower and more reclined position than that employed in traditional bicycles. A recumbent bicycle primarily enhances rider comfort and aerodynamic efficiency. For the casual user, it has a safer feeling, lowered head position, with hands and feet in front of and protecting rider's body in the event of a fall. Further, the possibilities for enclosure of this type of bicycle make it effective as a commuter vehicle in rainy weather. The improved recumbent bicycle is constructed in such a manner as to further optimize portability, maneuverability, aesthetic design, engineering practicality and simplicity of manufacture.
Although introduced to the riding public in the 1930's, the recumbent bicycle has not yet been successful commercially. Two varieties of recumbents have dominated the effort, of which one (variety A) generally consists of a long multitube frame with the crank assembly placed low down and rearward from the steering tube (head tube ) 10"-14" to allow the crank arms to clear the back of the front wheel when the bicycle is being pedaled. Although the overall look of this configuration is that of a "chopper" motorcycle and thus attractive from a marketing point of view, it also results in a long turning radius (low maneuverability) and high costs and weight.
A second variety (B) places the crank assembly 12" to 14" in front of the steering tube in a generally higher position so that when pedaled the heels of the rider's feet clear the front of the front wheel. The shorter turning radius, lighter weight and lower cost bike that results is advantageous (it is similar to a traditional bicycle) but this is negated by the unattractive appearance of the crank set and sprocket sticking well out in front of the front wheel.
The present invention comprises an improved recumbent bicycle that will offer some of these inherent advantages of a traditional bicycle, and recumbent variety B (as above), such as maneuverability, light weight, and portability plus the attractive look of the "chopper" motorcycle as in recumbent variety A, combined with the basic advantages inherent in the recumbent bicycle of comfort and aerodynamic efficiency.


A method of making metal nanostructures having a nanometer size in at least one dimension includes preparing an aqueous solution comprising a cation of a first metal and an anion, and mixing commercial elemental powder particles of an elemental second metal having a greater reduction potential than the first metal with the aqueous solution in an amount that reacts and dissolves all of the second metal and precipitates the first metal as metal nanostructures. The temperature and concentration of the aqueous solution and the selection of the anions and the second metal are chosen to produce metal nanostructures of a desired shape, for example ribbons, wires, flowers, rods, spheres, hollow spheres, scrolls, tubes, sheets, hexagonal sheets, rice, cones, dendrites, or particles.

Metal nanomaterials have attracted considerable interest because of their unique size- and shape-dependent chemical and physical properties, as well as their potential applications in catalysis, information storage, electrochemical devices, and biological and chemical sensing. These small, metal-containing materials have been formed in various shapes such as wires or spheres. They are said to be nanomaterials and to have nanostructures where they have at least one dimension of interest of about one hundred nanometers or less. Such useful nanostructures have generally contained relatively expensive metals such as the noble metals, rare earth group metals, magnetic metals, and the like. And, as reported in the literature, the nanostructures have been made by complicated and sometimes low-yield processes. For example, most existing methods for synthesizing such materials focus on template or surfactant processes, electrochemical depositions, and sol-gel approaches. However, such methods require that either the template/surfactant/substrate be thoroughly removed for purifying the product or the reaction be conducted at elevated temperatures. There remains a need for simpler methods of producing metal nanostructures and for producing them in relatively large quantities.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Making metal and bimetal nanostructures with controlled morphology


A pattern forming apparatus which forms a pattern of an electroconductive liquid on a printing medium includes a pattern forming substrate having an insulating substrate, a plurality of electrodes arranged on the insulating substrate, and an insulating layer which covers the electrodes, an electric potential controller which selectively applies an electric potential to the electrodes, and a transferring mechanism which transfers the pattern by bringing the electroconductive liquid formed as a predetermined pattern on the insulating layer, in contact with the printing medium. Accordingly, it is possible to form a fine pattern at a low cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pattern forming apparatus which includes a pattern forming substrate, on a surface of which a predetermined pattern is formed, and a pattern forming method in which a predetermined pattern of an electroconductive liquid is formed on a printing medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ink-jet printer which includes an ink-jet head which jets an ink, and inside of which, a plurality of ink channels including nozzles which jet the ink, and pressure chambers which communicate with the nozzles is formed, and piezoelectric actuators are arranged at a position facing the pressure chambers respectively is available. In such ink-jet printer, each of the actuators is connected to a driver IC. Moreover, when each of the actuators are driven based on a driving signal which is output from the driver IC, a volume of the corresponding pressure chamber is changed, and a jetting energy is imparted to the ink in the pressure chamber. Accordingly, the ink is jetted from the nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber.
In recent years, due to an improvement in a printing speed and a printing quality, a degree of integration of the actuator in the ink-jet printer mentioned above, is becoming higher year by year. With this, it is necessary to make small a pitch of a wiring which connects electrodes on the actuator and terminals of the driver IC. Consequently, forming of a wiring pattern of a small (fine) pitch at a low cost has been sought.
In FIG. 5 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-163499, a method (an ink-jet method) of forming a wiring pattern on a substrate by jetting from an ink-jet printer, an electroconductive ink which is a material for forming wires has been disclosed as a technology for forming a wiring pattern at a low cost.

Pattern forming apparatus and pattern forming method


A lumber unscrambler and conveyor having first and second rigid units mounted at an incline on a support structure. Each unit has a plurality of spaced apart parallel plates in series along the incline and parallel thereto. The plates on the respective first and second units are interleaved in alternate relation. The plates have an upper article supporting surface and a leading edge generally transverse to the incline. The leading edge of plates proximate the in-feed end are of greater depth than those further along the path toward the out-feed end. The units are supported on the support structure to move relative thereto and one another. The units are driven in synchronized out of phase relation reciprocating along the inclined path. A hopper at the in-feed end receives and holds a supply of lumber pieces of selected dimension and as the plates reciprocate they move pieces of the lumber from the hopper to the out-feed end discharging normally only a single stick one after another.

It is common practice to-day to manufacture finger joint lumber as it reduces waste and provides a good product. As an example long lengths (40 feet or more) of 2″×4″ or 2″×3″ lumber are made by joining end-to-end a number of short lengths. The short lengths may vary in length from about 18 inches to about 7 feet. The long lengths (i.e. 40 feet or more) are then cut to exact lengths and which may for example be the length required for selected jobs. Wall studs for example in house construction are normally shorter than the conventional 8 foot length commonly available at a lumber yard. Each 8 foot length therefore must be cut at the job site resulting in considerable waste. Manufacturing to exact length not only reduces wastage at the job site but also eliminates a cutting step for the contractor. Also any left over pieces at the mill can be reprocessed.
During finger jointing each piece to be joined to another must have "V" notches cut in the ends thereof. This requires placing the pieces to be joined one stick at a time one after another on a conveyor that feeds the pieces to the finger jointing assembly line. An apparatus capable of receiving and holding numerous pieces to be finger jointed and then delivering therefrom one at a time (i.e. singulating) to the infeed end of the finger jointing assembly line speeds up the process and reduces the manual labor required.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,729, issued Oct. 4, 1994, Inventor Maurice J Brisson, discloses an apparatus for unscrambling and moving logs up an inclined path. The path has a direction transverse to the length of the logs and the logs rest in notches in vertically disposed, parallel, horizontally spaced apart, plates. In the patented apparatus the logs have to be longer than the spacing between the plates and thus is limited in that respect. First and second groups of such plates are reciprocated in an out of phase relation causing the logs to move one notch at a time. The two groups of plates are connected to a rigid support frame by link members. Some of the plates are interconnected by horizontal plates while others are not.
There is debris associated with log conveying that includes pieces of bark, chips and the like. In the above patented apparatus this debris falls between the vertically disposed plates dropping into the drive mechanism below or alternatively slides down a plate that joins together two adjacent plates and accumulates in hard to get at piles at the front of the apparatus.
Other patents on this subject are as follows:
Canadian Patents                2,319,330 Issued Feb. 12, 2002        2,271,931 Issued Dec. 28, 1999        2,270,484 Issued Oct. 17, 2000        2,105,219 Issued May 14, 1996 (corresponds to above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,157)        2,074,645 Issued Aug. 29, 1995 (Corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,729).
The above Canadian Patent 2,319,330 discloses two groups of overlapping platforms that reciprocate along inclined paths in an out of phase relation. Each platform has a leading edge and when the leading edges of the two groups are closely adjacent an article on the face of one platform in one group transfers to the face of a platform in the other group.
The forgoing references disclose the use of link arms to mount the movable assemblies on the support structure—see 2,074,646 and 2,105,219 or linear slide bearings—see 2,270,484, 2,271,931 and 2,319,330. The latter patent also discloses having the platforms sufficiently close as to be capable of moving debris along with the articles.
The forgoing references are not concerned with singulating pieces of lumber.
Lumber pieces are rectangular and of specific dimensions and therefor they need special consideration not applicable to unscrambling and handling of round logs.
Also the prior art is not concerned with the infeed to the apparatus nor details of construction of the infeed end of the apparatus.
In the patented apparatus the depth of the leading edge of each is of the same.


A novel machine learning-based network analytics, troubleshoot, and self-healing system identifies and locates sources of data network problems autonomously within an entire end-to-end network topology of a network operator, while not necessitating human diagnosis of the data network problems. This system uniquely embeds a smart universal telemetry (SUT) as a quality-of-experience (QoE) parameter collection agent in intermediary transport-level network equipment and each end-user modem, which in turn enables on-demand collection of robust diagnostic data from all end-user modems and intermediary transport level nodes in a data network. By executing a machine learning (ML)-based artificial intelligence (AI) analytical module in a cloud-computing resource, the system then achieves autonomous identification and source pinpointing of network problems, and even self-repairs some machine-identified data network problems autonomously through remote software updates performed intelligently by the ML-based AI analytical module, if physical replacement of a network equipment is unnecessary to resolve such problems.

The present invention generally relates to one or more electronic systems for data network problem identifications and repairs. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention relate to autonomous machine-determined network analytics, troubleshoot, and self-healing systems that utilize artificial intelligence with a machine learning feedback loop for continuous refinements and improvements to network problem identifications and autonomous repair processes. Furthermore, various embodiments of the present invention also relate to methods of operating such autonomous machine-determined network analytics, troubleshoot, and self-healing systems.
Today's Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecommunication operators confront a daunting task of resolving persistent cases of various data network service interruptions, congestions, and equipment failures in their vast data networks and service areas. Data network service interruptions, spotty connections, unintended throughput reductions, and sudden equipment failures adversely impact a subscriber's "quality of experience" (QoE), which is an end user-oriented metric of the quality of communication experience through a particular data network. Because low QoE satisfaction rates are positively correlated to customer churn and defection rates, many ISPs and telecommunication operators typically allocate a large team of support personnel dedicated to network problem troubleshooting and a correspondingly-large operating budget for such human-staffed troubleshoot tasks.
Unfortunately, conventional computerized network problem diagnostic solutions utilized by ISPs and telecommunication operators require significant human staff interventions in trial-and-error manualized troubleshooting processes, because conventional network diagnostic tools are typically only capable of detecting a limited number of problems at intermediary broadband nodes and major network access points. For example, conventional broadband diagnostic methods utilize static and regular time-interval for data collection and are limited to using remote protocols such as TR-069 and TR183, which restrict data collection to each protocol's specifications. The types of network health data specified by TR-069 and TR183 protocol standards, which may be transmitted to a network operator at regular time intervals, are insufficient to provide a complete real-time topology of the health of various network nodes, let alone the health of individual on-premise customer network equipment.
In the current state of the art in resolving customer complaints for alleged network problems, it is customary to use trial-and-error and process-by-elimination methods by a human repair staff, who is tasked with probing various network nodes and customer on-premise equipment in a manualized and time-consuming process until a culprit is identified. In many instances, this manualized and time-consuming process for identifying and resolving network problems and customer QoE complaints involves misplaced or repeated visits by a repairman to alleged sources of network problems.
Such inefficient and manualized data network troubleshooting procedures inherently cause a significant time lag between a customer's initial complaint and a satisfactory resolution to the alleged network problem, which in turn impacts the overall QoE metric more negatively. This also implies that under the current state of the art for network troubleshooting, any short-staffed network operators for repair personnel are likely to score low on QoE measures. Furthermore, the manualized data network troubleshooting procedures in the current state of the art necessitate high costs of human staffing and labor, due to the time-consuming and inefficient nature of human-driven trial-and-error and process-by-elimination methods employed by the field staff.
Therefore, it may be desirable to devise a novel electronic system for identifying and locating sources or causes of data network problems autonomously within an entire end-to-end network topology of a network operator, while not necessitating human diagnosis of the data network problems.
Furthermore, it may also be desirable to devise a novel electronic system that autonomously heals data network-related problems within an entire end-to-end network topology of a network operator, whenever situations merit software-based automated network repairs.
In addition, it may also be desirable to devise a method for operating a novel electronic system for identifying, locating, and self-healing sources or causes of data network problems autonomously within an entire end-to-end network topology of a network operator, while not necessitating human diagnosis of the data network problems.

Machine learning-based network analytics, troubleshoot, and self- healing system and method


An apparatus allowing double-leaved side wiring or saddle wiring of copied sheets of paper performs the following process for forming an image on a two-page spread. In accordance with the direction of the document set on the apparatus, whether or not the image formed on the document should be divided and turned to an image of a two-page spread is determined. When a two-page spread image is to be formed, a blank page is inserted to the images to be printed on the sheets, or the order of images to be printed is exchanged. Thus an image is properly formed on a two-page spread.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more specifically, to an image forming apparatus by which an image can be formed on two-page spread, i.e., over both sides of a binding portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus having a bookbinding function has been known, for the purpose of binding output images. Specially, in a digital copying machine or a printer which stores images and forms images on sheets of paper allows image formation for bookbinding employing saddle wiring or double-leaved side wiring.
Saddle wiring refers to a method of bookbinding in which sheets of paper are stacked, the sheets are folded at the center, and the sheets are stitched at the center for bookbinding. Image formation for bookbinding employing saddle wiring by a digital copying machine or a printer is performed in the following manner. For example, assume that original documents having the size of A4 fed in transverse direction are to be copied and bound. In the bookbinding, one page has the size of A4. Two images each having the size of A4 are formed on each surface of a sheet having the size of A3 and fed in longitudinal direction. Namely, a total of four images are formed on the sheet, and the sheets are stacked, folded at the center and stitched at the center. Here, transverse feeding direction refers to the feeding direction in which longer side of the document or the sheet is at a right angle to the direction of conveying. The longitudinal feeding direction refers to a direction in which the shorter side of the document or the sheet is at a right angle to the conveying direction. Method of image formation for saddle wiring is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,611.
The double-leaved side wiring refers to a method of binding in which a sheet is folded into two at the center, the folded sheets are stacked, and open ends of the stacked sheets are stitched. Image formation for bookbinding employing double-leaved side wiring by a digital copying machine or a printer is performed in the following manner. For example, assume that documents having the size of A4 and fed in the transverse direction are to be copied and bound. One page of the book has the size of A4. Two images each having the size of A4 are formed on one surface of a sheet having the size of A3, which sheet is folded into two at the center. Such folded sheets are stacked and stitched at the open end portion of the sheets.
Therefore, in either of the saddle wiring and double-leaved side wiring, one image is formed on the left side and one image is formed on the right side of one surface of the sheet. Therefore, a sheet having such size that allows formation of two-page spread image is desired. For example, when a document having A4 size and fed in the transverse direction is to be copied, it is desirable to use a sheet having the size of A3 and to feed this sheet in the longitudinal direction.
A sheet of an appropriate size is not generally available when a document fed in longitudinal direction is to be copied. When two pages of a document fed in the longitudinal direction are to be copied on a sheet having the size of A3 and fed in the longitudinal direction, using the space of A4 size in the transverse direction as one page, the image should be reduced so that it can be copied within one page or the image should be rotated. However, when the image is reduced to be within one page, the image becomes too small, which is not preferable for the reader. When the image is rotated so that the image in the longitudinal direction is set in the transverse direction, it is not preferable either for the reader, as the original direction is changed.
A method of image formation without reduction of image size or change in direction has been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 4-149461. In this proposed method, a document having a spread, that is, an image extending over both sides of a binding portion, or an image of a document fed in the longitudinal direction is divided or enlarged and divided, and copied separately onto two pages. In bookbinding copies including such an image divided, or enlarged and divided in the above described manner, it is possible that the image which should be placed on both sides of the binding portion, that is, continuously over two pages is not on both sides of the binding portion but separated in the front and back pages, dependent on the position of the pages on which the image is formed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,611 discloses a method of bookbinding which prevents the divided image from being placed separately on a front and back pages and ensures the divided image to appear on both sides of the binding portion, in two-page spread. According to this method, a portion corresponding to the first page of the sheet is made blank and copying operation is started from an even-numbered page. However, according to this method, it is not possible to form an image on the first page. Further, this method cannot be applied when documents fed in the longitudinal direction and documents fed in the transverse direction are mixed.

Image forming apparatus allowing appropriate formation of an image on two-page spread


There is described a piston for an axial piston machine with which the skirt surface (12) of the piston shaft (15) has, at its forward end region (Y) which transforms into the piston end face (11) and/or at its rear end region (X) lying towards the piston head, a bevel (16; 18; 19; 21) with continuously varied radiuses of curvature.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a piston for a hydrostatic piston machine, in particular of swash plate construction having a cylinder drum, axial cylinder bores arranged therein, and a swash plate on which the pistons are supported. The pistons consist of a piston shaft with a piston end face and a cylindrical skirt surface moving back and forth in the cylinder bore, and a piston head supported on the swash plate.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Such pistons for axial piston machines are known for example from DE-A 23 20 554 and DE-A 36 09 892. At least the end regions of the cylindrical skirt surface towards the end pressure surface of these pistons are chamfered or rounded for various reasons. It is known to the skilled person that with such machines the piston play and the kinematics of such machines inevitably lead to a changing oblique positioning of the piston in the cylinder bore, which brings about increased friction and wear, in particular in the case of soft cylinder material, e.g. bronze. During the piston movement there arises at the wall of the cylinder bore a chafing effect due to the end edges of the piston/skirt surface. So that no chafing effect arises during the piston movement at the wall of the cylinder bore, the cylinder bores are in this region partially recessed. In order to reduce the wear of the walls of the cylinder, with the pistons according to DE A 23 20 554 the inner end section of the piston is bevelled towards the end pressure surface. With this configuration with bevelling (chamfering) wear still occurs in the absence of a recessing of the wall of the cylinder bore, at the entry and exit point of the piston shaft, since the bevelling has edges of its own.
It has been determined that these edges of the bevelling, or also edges chamfered with uniform, small radius of curvature, do not avoid the mentioned chafing effect. This chafing effect prevents the build up of the leakage oil lubrication film needed to discharge the heat of friction, and tends to jamming of the pistons in the cylinder bores (drawer effect).

Piston for a hydrostatic axial piston machine


An amusement system and method for a new toy vehicle that provides speed and unexpected actions, at least in the context of the toy vehicle paradigm. An apparatus includes a wheeled toy vehicle having a motive system coupled to a chassis wherein the chassis includes a bottom surface nearest a rolling surface over which the motive system moves the chassis; and a launching system disposed in an aperture defined in the bottom surface, the launching system including an ejecting system, coupled to the chassis and to the motive system, for holding a ramp within the aperture and for dispensing the ramp between the bottom surface and the rolling surface while the motive system moves the chassis; wherein the ramp launches the chassis above the rolling surface when the motive system moves the chassis onto and over the ramp after the ramp is dispensed from the aperture.

This patent application relates generally to toy vehicles and more specifically to a toy vehicle that includes an integrated launching system.
Amusement devices, like toys, are popular with children and young adults. A particular category of toy that is popular is the toy vehicle. There have been many different variations of these toys well-known in the prior art. Toy manufacturers are always looking for novel features included with these toys. Desirable features include speed and unexpected actions that can thrill these users.
What is needed is a new toy vehicle design and method that provides speed and unexpected actions, at least in the context of the toy vehicle paradigm.

Toy wheeled vehicle including launching system


A pressure vessel for storage of a pressurized fluid is provided. The pressure vessel includes a composite layer having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines an internal cavity. The pressure vessel further includes at least one pressure relief device in fluid communication with the internal cavity. At least one thermally conductive element is continuously wound on the outer surface of the composite layer and adapted to carry load and transport heat from a heat source adjacent the composite layer to the at least one pressure relief device. A method for producing the pressure vessel is also provided.

A fuel cell system has been proposed as a clean, efficient and environmentally responsible power source for electric vehicles and various other applications. One type of fuel cell system employs a proton exchange membrane (PEM) to catalytically react a hydrogen fuel and an oxidant to generate electricity. Typically, the fuel cell system has more than one fuel cell including an anode and a cathode with the PEM therebetween. The anode receives hydrogen gas and the cathode receives oxygen, typically from air. The hydrogen gas is ionized in the anode to generate free hydrogen ions and electrons. The hydrogen ions pass through the PEM to the cathode. The hydrogen ions react with the oxygen and the electrons in the cathode to generate water. The electrons from the anode cannot pass through the PEM, and are instead directed through an electric load, such as a vehicle, to perform work before being sent to the cathode. Many fuels cells may be combined in a fuel cell stack within the fuel cell system to generate a desired quantity of power.
The fuel cell power system can include a reformer or processor that converts a liquid fuel, such as alcohols (e.g., methanol or ethanol), hydrocarbons (e.g., gasoline), and/or mixtures thereof, such as blends of ethanol/methanol and gasoline, to the hydrogen gas for the fuel cell stack. More typically, the hydrogen gas employed as a fuel in the fuel cell system is processed separately from the vehicle and stored. The hydrogen gas is transferred to a high pressure vessel or container on the vehicle to supply the desired hydrogen gas to the onboard fuel cell stack as needed.
High pressure vessels are typically classified into one of four types: a Type I vessel having an all-metal construction; a Type II having a metal-lined construction with a fiber hoop wrap for reinforcement; a Type III having a metal-lined construction with a complete fiber reinforcement wrap; and a Type IV having a plastic-lined construction with a complete fiber reinforcement wrap. As disclosed by Immel in U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,554, hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, the Type IV pressure vessel contemplated in the industry for storage of hydrogen gas is generally cylindrical in shape to provide the desired integrity, and includes an outer structural wall and an inner liner defining a container chamber therein. A Type V vessel having a liner-less composite construction has also been contemplated in the art.
High pressure vessels containing a compressed hydrogen gas must have a desired mechanical stability and integrity that militates against a rupture or bursting of the pressure vessel from the internal pressure. It is also typically desirable to make the pressure vessels on vehicles lightweight so as not to significantly affect the weight requirements of the vehicle. The current trend in the industry is to employ the Type IV pressure vessel for storing the compressed hydrogen gas on the vehicle.
Known high pressure vessels include at least one thermally activated safety valve or pressure relief device (PRD). The PRD is located at a boss at an end of the high pressure vessel that houses various valves, pressure regulators, piping connectors, excess flow limiters, etc. for allowing the pressure vessel to be filled with the compressed hydrogen gas. The PRD may also be located at another opening in the pressure vessel, though the PRD generally is disposed at one or both ends of the pressure vessel. The PRD is useful when the pressure vessel is exposed to high temperatures. More than one PRD may be used where high temperatures might occur at a localized area apart from the location of the single PRD.
It is known that a localized heat source not adjacent an end of the pressure vessel with the PRD may not be detected by the PRD due to the low thermal conductivity of the composite materials forming the pressure vessel. A state of the art solution to this problem is to employ a heat pipe to transfer heat from the area of the pressure vessel adjacent the localized heat source. A heat pipe does not cover the entire surface of the pressure vessel, however. Other known designs use an additional insulating layer to reduce heat flux into the pressure vessel. The additional insulating layer only delays the rupture of the pressure vessel, however, and is therefore undesirable.
Pressure vessel systems with heat conducting layers for transferring heat from anywhere on the pressure vessel to the PRD are also described in U.S. Appn. Pub. No. 2008/0066805 to Winter et al., hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The known heat conducting layers include heat conducting mesh wrapped around and outside of the pressure vessel, and heat conducting strips connected to the PRD that extend along the pressure vessel. Heat conducting sheets, foils, and layers wrapped all around an outside of the pressure vessel are also known.
There is a continuing need for a pressure vessel that is effective in transporting heat from localized heat sources to the PRD, and facilitates the use of a single PRD instead of multiple PRDs. Desirably, the pressure vessel is provided with an additional protective layer that carries a portion of the load across the pressure vessel, militates against the need for an additional stone shield, and is more cost effective than present pressure vessel designs.


In one embodiment, a node in a communication network receives a label switched path (LSP) request and in response, the node determines at least two equal cost paths, each path having one or more path-nodes. The node may then further determine a total bandwidth-based transition value for each path of the at least two equal cost paths and selects the path having a lower total transition value. Once selected, the node may establish the requested LSP over the selected path.

Communication networks control how information, e.g., data, is transmitted from a source (e.g., a root or source node) to a specified destination (e.g., a destination node) via various communication protocols. For example, one protocol—multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)—defines a label-switched path (LSP) from the source node through various network nodes to the destination node. The LSP may be defined based on a forwarding equivalent class (FEC) and as the data is forwarded to various nodes in the MPLS network, the label is switched.
For some network routing applications, particular routing protocols can be optimized according to various techniques. For example, for a communication network such as an optical transport network (OTN), data can be routed using LSPs optimized according to routing techniques such as shortest path first (SPF) or constrained shortest path first (CSPF). Notably, OTNs generally include a set of Optical Network Elements (ONEs) connected by optical fiber links that are able to provide functionality of transport, multiplexing, switching, management, supervision and survivability of optical channels carrying information or data packets (e.g., via optical signals). However, even these optimized routing techniques can sometimes yield multiple equal cost paths. Typically, an arbitrary tiebreaker path selection technique is used to select one of these multiple equal cost paths. However, such an arbitrary tiebreaker path selection technique can yield inefficient and poor usage of network resources, and can potentially block subsequent traffic demand requests for the selected path.

Enhanced path selection scheme for equal cost paths in communication networks