A polyolefin blown or slot cast monolayer or multilayer stretch film useful as a trayed overwrap e.g. for fresh red meat includes at least three layers in the multilayer embodiment each of which contains an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer having a density below 0.915 g/cm.sup.3 and having a melting point of at least 90.degree. C. with at least one outer layer and preferably also the first outer layer or the core layer having a second ethylene alpha olefin copolymer having a melting point less than 80.degree. C. blended therein.

The present invention relates to polyolefin stretch films. In particular, the present invention relates to flexible films which may be used as a substitute for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) flexible films.
Poly(vinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic polymer which has been used extensively for many years to form articles, containers and films for industrial, commercial and consumer applications. Plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) has been used to make flexible films (hereinafter "PVC film") which have enjoyed great commercial success in both nonfood and food contact applications. In particular, PVC film is in widespread use as a food overwrap, e.g. for fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, sandwiches, food trays and especially for fresh red meats, processed meats and poultry. PVC film is also used to package frozen foods, baked goods, fresh fish, as institutional packaging for overwrapping both food and such nonfood items as glassware and eating utensils, and as pharmaceutical packaging, pallet wrapping, and even as a laminate film for book covers. PVC film is well known for its stretchability, cling, clarity, transparency, gloss, toughness, machinability, heat sealability, resiliency and low cost. PVC film is used for packaging foods on trays in which the film overwraps the food and is generally tacked or sealed to itself at the bottom of the tray by heat. PVC film used to package items such as fresh red meat also has the high oxygen permeability needed to develop the bright red color that fresh red meat forms when contacted with oxygen. In addition, these overwrapped trays use PVC film having excellent elastic recovery from deformations such as those caused by depressing a thumb or finger against an overwrapped cut of red meat, poultry or ground meat. The properties of PVC film are typically easily modified for particular applications by adjusting the film thickness, or the type or amount of plasticizers and additives such as antifog, antiblock or slip agents.
With all of the above advantages, the search for a polyolefin based, thermoplastic, flexible film which may act as a substitute or replacement for PVC film has been difficult. No monolayer film having an equivalent or superior combination of properties has been found. Several different polyolefin stretch films have been commercialized to varying degrees of success. Multilayer polyolefin films have come the closest to achieving a combination of physical properties which approximate those of PVC films. Such polyolefin multilayer films generally sell at a premium above the price of PVC film used for similar applications. A market has developed for chlorine-free films having a combination of properties similar to PVC film and which may act as a substitute for PVC films in various applications.
There have been prior efforts to identify a polyolefin thermoplastic film having an improved combination of elongation, elastic memory, heat sealability and puncture resistance. However, most thermoplastic polyolefin film packaging materials suitable for food contact have relatively poor combinations of properties particularly with respect to elasticity or elastic memory.
Another important film property for food tray overwrap applications is low permanent deformation, which is a measure of the film's increase in length after stretching and relaxation. More particularly, the permanent deformation test used herein is derived from ASTM D-621 and measures the percent increase in length of a film sample stretched 50% and then allowed to recover for 30 seconds. Lower percentage values reflect the greater ability of a film to recover after being stretched. In tray overwrap applications, good film recovery preserves package appearance and integrity following handling abuse. Perfect elastomers would have 0% permanent deformation. Plasticized PVC has 3-5% deformation, while polyolefins such as linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) generally have significantly higher permanent deformation, on the order of 6-15%. Thus, when a food wrapped in a poor deformation recovering material is poked by a consumer to test for freshness, the film does not immediately return to its former state and a deformed package having a depression caused by the finger poke results, which is aesthetically unpleasing.
Commercialized multilayer polyolefin stretch films are available under the trademarks Yuka Wrap from Mitsubishi and Aliprot from Crocco.
Yuka Wrap is described in four page brochure from Mitsubishi Petrochemical Co. Ltd. as an "environmentally sound/safe/non-PVC film" that has no plasticizer, yet provides ample extendibility and good restoration, a wide sealing range, well-balanced cling and slipperiness for use in high speed wrapping machines, and good optical properties.
Aliprot is described in a 13 page brochure from Crocco as "the recyclable film" which is polyolefin-based containing no chlorine and no plasticizers and which is suitable for food cling wrap applications. Aliprot film purportedly is suitable for use with automatic wrapping machines and has high puncture resistance and good printability.
Disadvantageously, both Yuka Wrap and Aliprot cling wrap films have poor elastic recovery from finger pokes when compared to PVC film.
It would be desirable to provide a multilayer, flexible, stretchable blown film having a combination of physical properties making it suitable as a substitute or replacement film for PVC film in food contact applications.
It would be advantageous for such film to be transparent, clear, have low haze and high gloss in combination with having a high degree of deformation recovery, rapid elastic recovery, good oxygen permeability which is sufficient to facilitate red bloom in fresh meat, heat sealability and good machinability.
One object of this invention is to provide an improved multilayer stretch film suitable for use as a trayed food overwrap material.
A further object is to provide such a stretch film in the form of three or more layers which has excellent puncture resistance and elastic recovery.
Another object is to provide a polyolefin-containing multiple layer stretch film having low permanent deformation.
Another object of this invention is to provide such a film which is capable of forming a sealed trayed food package as a stretch overwrap material.
Still another object is to provide such a film having high abuse resistance.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a film which may be used on automatic packaging machinery.
A further object of the invention is to provide a film in roll form which may easily be cut for use in packaging, particularly on automated equipment.
An additional object is to provide such a film which can be heat sealed as a stretch wrap material around a food-containing tray at low temperature and energy.
A further additional object of this invention is to provide an improved heat sealed food-containing tray package overwrapped by a film having good deformation recovery.
Another additional object of the invention is to provide a chlorine free, polyolefin stretch film that is substantially free of heat shrinkage at 90.degree. C., but having a combination of excellent extensibility, finger poke recovery, optical properties, and heat sealability.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a film which achieves one or more of the above objects and which may be made by a blown film or slotcast process.
These and other objects and advantages may be found in various embodiments of the present invention. It is not necessary that each and every object or advantage be found in all embodiments of the present invention. It is sufficient that the present invention may be advantageously employed.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.


An unmanned vehicle including a body and a frame structure extending from the body and supporting a plurality of propeller assemblies, each propeller assembly including at least one propeller and a corresponding motor with the motor housed in a watertight housing or coated and made corrosion resistant. The propellers comprise a first subset of propellers of the propeller assemblies and a second subset of propellers of the propeller assemblies which rotate in a plane positioned below a plane in which the first subset of propellers rotate, wherein said first and second subset of propellers are configured for independent operation of one another as the vehicle transitions from an air medium to a water medium.

Statement of the Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for designing and operating a remote unmanned vehicle in multiple mediums. Specifically an unmanned vehicle is disclosed capable of operating in both air and underwater so that the transition between air and water is seamless.
Description of the Related Art
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are well known in the art. UAVs can be fixed wing aircraft, resembling conventional human piloted airplanes, or may be rotorcraft using propellers similar to conventional human piloted helicopters. Typical UAVs are remotely controlled by humans, although some may be semi or fully autonomous. A presently popular UAV design involves a frame with a number of propellers, typically between four and eight. A UAV with four propellers is also referred to as a quadcopter. A UAV with six propellers is also referred to as a hexacopter. A UAV with eight propellers is also referred to as an octacopter.
Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are also well known in the art. As with UAVs, UUVs are typically remotely operated by a human but can also be semi or fully autonomous. Conventional UUVs resemble a human operated submarine.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY


Improved soil release agents for granular laundry detergents, typically used at levels as low as about 1% of a fully-formulated anionic surfactant-containing granular detergent, are reaction products of transesterifying and oligomerizing mixtures of monomers having the functions MO.sub.3 SC.sub.6 H.sub.4 C(O)--, M'O.sub.3 SC.sub.6 H.sub.3 {C(O)O--}.sub.2, --(O)CC.sub.6 H.sub.4 C(O)-- and --OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O-- wherein M and M' are independently selected from lithium, potassium and sodium, more preferably sodium; said mixtures having mole ratio of MO.sub.3 SC.sub.6 H.sub.4 C(O)-- to --(O)CC.sub.6 H.sub.4 C(O)-- of from about 0.2:1 to about 1.4:1, mole ratio of MO.sub.3 SC.sub.6 H.sub.4 C(O)-- to M'O.sub.3 SC.sub.6 H.sub.3 {C(O)O--}.sub.2 of from about 0.67:1 to about 20:1 and mole ratio of MO.sub.3 SC.sub.6 H.sub.4 C(O)-- to --OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O-- of from about 0.007:1 to about 0.51:1 and being substantially free from monomers of formula HOROH wherein R is propylene or higher alkyl.

"Soil release" herein is produced when fabrics, especially fabrics having a synthetic fiber component, are laundered in an aqueous bath in a domestic or institutional setting wherein the aqueous bath comprises at least one surfactant and a certain specific kind of oligomeric ester, typically at low levels such as five to a few tens of parts per million.
Soil release is especially pronounced on polyester fabrics. It is quite distinct from the usual cleaning effect of laundry detergent surfactants and builders, especially in that one or both of the following occur: (a) marked improvement in the release of oily soils from soiled fabrics over that which would be obtained using a surfactants and/or builder alone; and (b) multiwash effect, e.g., fabrics repetitively laundered tending to be cleaned progressively more easily over two, three or four wash-wear cycles.
Soil release in an aqueous laundry context is rather different from industrial finishing of yarns and fibers, warp-sizing and the like in terms of the general kinds of s.r.a. compositions which work best. This may be a consequence of some substantial differences in the process conditions. In any event, laundry s.r.a.'s of the type herein are typically applied to fabrics in washing-machines, with appreciable concentrations of soil as well as aqueous surfactant and builder present. The s.r.a. typically deposits to only a limited extent on the fabrics. In contrast, industrial finishing is commonly done in highly controllable process equipment, such as padders. Typically the textile is clean, and the concentration of cleaning agents (if any) tends to be low, at least at the stage at which it is desired to exhaust a soil release treatment onto a textile substrate.
Just as there are technical differences between laundering and industrial finishing, so too are there discernible differences between laundry detergent formula types such as granular, liquid, gel, paste-form, and dryer-added types of laundry detergent formulae. Formulators in the detergent arts are acutely aware of the problem that various forms of detergent compositions have their own built-in formulation constraints. For example, solid-formulated detergents need ingredients generally capable of dispersing or dissolving in aqueous laundry baths, while liquid formulae commonly need ingredients which are freely mixable without excessive chemical or physical interaction such as phase changes or precipitation.
In addition to differences between detergent formula types capable of affecting choice of soil release agent, it is part of the discovery leading to the present invention that soil release agents are not all equal in terms of their ability to function satisfactorily in the presence of anionic detergent surfactants. Indeed, anionic detergent surfactants tend to inhibit the function of soil release agents.
Whereas the foregoing background describes some of the principal ways in which laundry soil release agents are thought to work and points to some of the differences between laundry and industrial s.r.a. applications, it is not intended to limit "soil release" or "s.r.a." as applied herein to any particular theory of operation: it is fully in accordance with the present invention that under appropriate conditions of s.r.a. use as further described hereinafter, benefits over those mentioned hereinabove, even quite different from them, may also be obtained.
In general, materials capable of the above-outlined laundry "soil release" and which do not have as their primary function surfactancy, detergent building, industrial durable finishing or the like are termed "soil release agents" (s.r.a.) herein.
Set against this technical backdrop, the instant invention has to do with improving laundry-type s.r.a.'s, especially in light of the above-identified need for improved s.r.a.'s for working in the presence of granular laundry detergents containing anionic detergent surfactants. Moreover, the invention is specifically concerned with chemically modifying certain anionic oligomeric esters to act more effectively as soil release agents in granular laundry detergent formulae, as distinct from industrial finishes and liquid, gel, paste-form, or dryer-added substrate types of laundry detergent formulae.
Such preoccupations take into consideration that the consumer of laundry detergents, indeed the public at large, still uses large quantities of anionic surfactant-containing granular laundry detergents (despite the growing use of liquids) and is continually demanding improvements in their formulation, environmental compatibility, cleaning, soil release effectiveness and convenience (especially compactness of form) without desiring to see embodied in the cost of granular laundry detergent products too high a cost of improvement.

Soil release agents for granular laundry detergents


In one example, a pipe machining apparatus is provided and includes a frame, a tool carrier coupled to and rotatable relative to the frame, a first machining apparatus including a first tool support and a first tool supported by the first tool support and a second machining apparatus including a bridge member, a second tool support supported by the bridge member, and a second tool supported by the second tool support. The first tool is configured to perform a first machining operation and the second tool is configured to perform a second machining operation different than the first machining operation. The first machining apparatus and the second machining apparatus are interchangeably couplable to and rotatable with the tool carrier.

A variety of different types of pipe machining apparatuses exist to perform various machining processes on pipes. One such process includes cutting pipes and another process includes machining or resurfacing flanges (also known as flange facing). Individuals must purchase separate machines to perform the separate machining processes, which can become expensive if numerous machines must be purchased. Additionally, a first pipe machining apparatus must be coupled to the pipe or flange to perform a first machining process, the first pipe machining apparatus must be removed after completion of the first machining process, and then the second pipe machining apparatus must be assembled and coupled to the pipe or flange to perform a second machining process. All of this set-up, assembly and disassembly is time consuming and wasteful.
Furthermore, conventional flange facing machines have limited travel distances, thereby limiting the size of a flange that may be machined and/or limiting the amount of a flange that may be machined. In some instances, flange facing machines must be unassembled and reassembled in a different configuration just to complete a single machining process. For example, ring-type joints have grooves defined in opposite surfaces of opposing pipe flanges. These grooves require both edges or surfaces of the groove to be machined. Conventional machines must be assembled to machine one edge or surface of the groove, disassembled and reassembled in a different configuration to machine the other edge or surface of the groove. Furthermore, an individual may be required to purchase a variety of machining apparatuses in order to machine a wide range of flange sizes. This is an expensive endeavor.

Systems, apparatuses and methods of machining pipes and/or pipe flanges


The therapeutic footrest is designed for use while sitting on a toilet seat. The footrest is in the form of a stool having a planar shaped front leg and a planar shaped rear leg that support a horizontally oriented top wall member. A pair of longitudinally spaced apertures are formed in the top surface of the top wall member and a pair of reflex point massage rollers are mounted on shafts in the respective spaced apertures.

The invention relates to a footrest and more particularly to a therapeutic footrest that is used by a person sitting on a toilet.
The user of a conventional toilet is generally seated in a chair-like position, with the femur portion of each leg extending approximately horizontal, and the lower portion of the person's leg downward therefrom. Such conventional toilet position is unnatural, in comparison with the squatting position used by primates in the wild, by person's in primitive societies and in other situaions where seat-type toilets are unavailable. In the natural, squatting position, the femurs are extended or canted upward, with a resulting body which properly aligns the intestines, and allows the right use of gravity and abdominal tension, while relieving strain on sphincter muscles. Precipitation or aggravation of diseases of the urinary, lower digestive and intestional tracks may be attributed to the unnatural position during waste eliminaton caused by use of conventional toilets.
There have been previous attempts to design footstools for use by persons sitting on a toilet. One example is illustrated in the Seale, U.S. Pat. No. 1,938,867. His device has separate footrests that are supported by upright frames that are structurally connected to each other. Another footrest structure is illustrated by the Finlay, U.S. Pat. No. 2,250,060. He again uses separate footrests that are supported by their own legs and which have a connecting member between the rear legs. The Oliver, U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,725 and the Hodroski, U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,846, illustrate separate footrests for each foot that have a box like configuration.
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel therapeutic footrest for use while sitting on a toilet that allows the user to assume a squatting position that allows the thighs to support their abdominal wall.
It is another object of the invention to provide a novel therapeutic footrest for use while sitting on a toilet that promotes natural reflex movement and complete evacuation.
It is another object of the invention to provide a novel therapeutic footrest for use while sitting on a toilet that allows the evacuation reflex to be stimulated by massaging reflex zones on the bottom of the feet.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a novel therapeutic footrest for use while sitting on a toilet that is economical to manufacture and market.


A digital audio synchronous player includes a memory, a first reading circuit, a second reading circuit, a word clock signal generating circuit, and synchronizing signal generating circuit. The memory stores audio data having a plurality of words which represent digitally recorded audio signals, together with data relating to recording conditions. The first reading circuit reads out said audio data stored in said memory. The second reading circuit reads out said data relating to recording conditions stored in said memory. The word clock signal generating circuit generates a word clock signal each time a number of words of said audio data read by said first reading circuit reaches a value determined based on said data relating to recording conditions read by said second reading circuit. The synchronizing signal generating circuit generates a synchronizing signal based on said word clock signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital audio synchronous player which digitally records and/or plays back audio signals and particularly relates to a digital audio synchronous player which generates a synchronizing signal and conducts synchronous playback based on this synchronizing signal.
2. Prior Art
Conventional digital audio recorders/players respectively have their own master clocks, each of which generates a clock (a clock signal) corresponding to fixed sampling frequency Fs (for example, 48 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 32 kHz, and the like), and conduct recording and playback of musical tones (audio signals) and the like based on the generation periods of these clocks.
However, there are slight deviations among the clock-generation-timings of the master clocks. These deviations are produced by external causes such as temperature variations, not only among different-type players, but also among the same-type players.
When a plurality of conventional digital audio synchronous players using such master clocks simultaneously play back musical tones, because of deviations among their playback speeds, it is difficult to accurately conduct simultaneous playback among the plurality of conventional digital audio synchronous players.
Technology was conventionally known in which time codes were stored with audio data, and synchronous playback was conducted based on these time codes. This technology will be explained, for example, using a case in which the synchronous play of two players is conducted.
First, as shown in FIG. 3, two digital audio players are connected to a synchronizer, and during playback, time codes are read out with the audio data in each player. The synchronizer uses the time code read out from one player as a standard, and governs the reading speed of the other player so that the time code of the other player is in agreement. By means of this, synchronization can be conducted so that the playback speeds of the two players are in agreement. That is to say, one player is used as a master, while the other player is used as a slave.
Furthermore, the synchronous playback among the digital audio players and MIDI sequencers (instruments having the MIDI) is fundamentally identical to that given above. However, the synchronous playback of the MIDI sequencers has been considered only between the MIDI sequencers themselves, it is necessary to provide, as shown in FIG. 4, in place of the synchronizer described above, an interface which reads the master time code and converts this time code to a MIDI clock. The "MIDI" means "Musical Instrument Digital Interface".
In the two methods described above, it is necessary to provide a special track for the storing of time codes which is separate from the track which stores audio data. However, when this is intended as a storage medium, the special track for the time code is a completely wasted region, so that there was a problem in that, with respect to digital audio recorders/players, the number of tracks capable of recording was reduced by the number of special tracks for the time codes.


The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria, in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optics cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; wherein the walls are angled to allow for better coating and better striations of the light. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optics cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer, wherein the optics cup also has a floor in the shape of an inverted arch.

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria, in biological samples such as urine. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optics cup or cuvette having a tapered surface. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in a sample processor and the optics cup or cuvette in an optical analyzer, wherein the optics cup also has a floor in the shape of an inverted arch.


The present invention is directed to laundry detergent compositions comprising a semi-polar nonionic surfactant and a cyclic amine based polymer. Such compositions provide good cleaning performance together with excellent fabric care benefits.

It is well known that alternating cycles of using and laundering fabrics and textiles, such as articles of worn clothing and apparel, will inevitably adversely affect the appearance and integrity of the fabric and textile items so used and laundered. Fabrics and textiles simply wear out over time and with use. Laundering of fabrics and textiles is necessary to remove soils and stains which accumulate therein and thereon during ordinary use. However, the laundering operation itself, over many cycles, can accentuate and contribute to the deterioration of the integrity and the appearance of such fabrics and textiles.
Deterioration of fabric integrity and appearance can manifest itself in several ways Short fibers are dislodged from woven and knit fabric/textile structures by the mechanical action of laundering. These dislodged fibers may form lint, fuzz or "pills" which are visible on the surface of fabrics and diminish the appearance of newness of the fabric. Further, repeated laundering of fabrics and textiles, especially with bleach-containing laundry products, can remove dye from fabrics and textiles and impart a faded, worn out appearance as a result of diminished color intensity, and in many cases, as a result of changes in hues or shades of color.
Given the foregoing, several materials which could be added to laundry detergent products that would associate themselves with the fibers of the fabrics and textiles laundered using such detergent products and thereby reduce or minimize the tendency of the laundered fabric/textiles to deteriorate in appearance, have been identified in the art. Examples of such materials are cationic softening surfactants, cyclic amine based polymers, dye transfer inhibitors, chelating agents, crystal growth inhibitors.
However, it has been found that the fabric care cationic cyclic amine based polymers are not highly compatible with the high levels of anionic surfactants usually formulated within the conventional laundry detergent compositions. It has been found further that those anionic surfactants significantly decrease the efficiency of such cyclic amine based compounds. Such high levels of anionic surfactants are generally used to provide good cleaning properties. Therefore, in order to formulate compositions with such cationic cyclic amine based polymers, detergent compositions have been formulated without anionic surfactants but with nonionic surfactants. However, it has been found that detergent compositions with a high level of nonionic surfactants do not provide the same cleaning performance as comparable high level of anionic surfactants and are more difficult to formulate, especially at high electrolyte content.
In view of the above, the object of the present invention is therefore to formulate a laundry detergent composition which provide excellent cleaning properties together with excellent fabric care benefits. It has been surprisingly found that the combination of a semi-polar nonionic surfactant with the above mentioned cationic cyclic amine based polymer provide both excellent cleaning properties together with excellent fabric care benefits.
It has been further found that the combination of the semi-polar nonionic surfactants with the cyclic amine based polymers, of the present invention provide good dye transfer inhibition and antifading.
Furthermore, it has been found that that the compositions of the present invention demonstrate high physical stability when formulated in a liquid form.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Laundry detergent compositions with fabric care


A variable current trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) for an ultrasound device is described. The TIA may be coupled to an ultrasonic transducer to amplify an output signal of the ultrasonic transducer representing an ultrasound signal received by the ultrasonic transducer. During acquisition of the ultrasound signal by the ultrasonic transducer, one or more current sources in the TIA may be varied.

Field
The present application relates to ultrasound devices having an amplifier for amplifying received ultrasound signals.
Related Art
Ultrasound probes often include one or more ultrasound sensors which sense ultrasound signals and produce corresponding electrical signals. The electrical signals are processed in the analog or digital domain. Sometimes, ultrasound images are generated from the processed electrical signals.

Trans-impedance amplifier for ultrasound device and related apparatus and methods


A fuse for use in an integrated circuit includes a dielectric layer into which a trench or void is etched defined by a top opening and a bottom floor. The trench includes at least one undercut which forms an overhang in the dielectric layer partially shielding the bottom floor. A second or barrier layer deposited onto the dielectric layer is interrupted or non-continuous at the undercut. A third, or electrically conductive layer, is electrically continuous over the fuse. A weak spot in the third layer exists in the lack of structural support by the second layer at the interruption. A further weak spot in the third layer exists in the electrical isolation of the conductor layer, i.e. no leakage current through the barrier layer, at the interruption.

The invention relates to the art of semiconductor manufacture. It finds specific application for fuses within an integrated circuit and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present invention is also amenable to PROM-type devices, trimming resistors and other like devices.
Fuses have long been important circuit elements. While fuses are generally used for circuit protection and fire prevention, in integrated circuits they are also used as a means of calibration, programming and providing data security. For example, fuses can be used for trimming or calibrating certain parameters in a circuit, or for recording information by selectively blowing fuse elements in an array, or for preventing information stored in a memory device from being accessed. Whether the fuse exists for circuit protection or to achieve certain operating parameters the fuses are designed to change state under certain conditions. Indeed, one way to change state is a to blow a fuse. This is accomplished by applying a sufficiently high current through the fuse. The heating that results causes the conductor to melt or vaporize. In this way, the fuse is transformed from its conductive state to a blown, or open circuit state.
The conductors used to fabricate fuses on integrated circuits are made of layers of conductive metal, typically aluminum or aluminum compound. For reasons unrelated to fusing, the aluminum layer is deposited over a barrier layer typically comprising titanium and/or a titanium compound . Unfortunately, the addition of titanium has an adverse effect on fuse reliability. The adverse effect is caused by the high melting point of titanium as compared to the aluminum bulk conductor layer. Thus, when current levels are applied to the metal stack which should effect a blown fuse, sometimes portions of the barrier layer remain. This remaining portion of the barrier provides a conductive path around the xe2x80x98blownxe2x80x99 fuse. In other words, current levels that do melt the bulk conductor sometimes do not completely melt the barrier layer. This partial path undesirably allows a current path, defeating the intended open circuit.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a technique for manufacturing a more reliable fuse, using existing methods of applying the metal stack.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved method and apparatus fuse overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a circuit element which interrupts electrical conductivity in a portion of a circuit includes a first layer providing adhesion for the circuit element. A trench is also provided in the first layer and a second layer, overlaying the first layer, has an interruption in the trench. A third layer including electrically conductive material, overlays the second layer.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the trench defines a volume in the first layer bounded by an opening in the first layer, an undercut area in communication with the opening, and a bottom floor. The bottom floor is larger than the opening in the first layer.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the first layer includes an overhang which shields the portion of the bottom floor of the trench.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the circuit element further includes a weak spot in the third layer adjacent to the interruption.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the weak spot includes an area of reduced mechanical strength resulting from a lack of structural support by the second layer in the area of the interruption.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the weak spot includes an area of reduced mechanical strength in the third layer resulting from crystalographic changes within the third layer in the trench.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the second layer includes conductive material, and the weak spot includes an area where electrical communication is only provided through the third layer.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, in an integrated circuit fuse including an electrical conductor having a reduced cross sectional area in a first preweakened area, the fuse includes: an undercut trench on top of a dielectric layer, and a second preweakened area in the electrical conductor adjacent to the trench.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the fuse further includes a barrier layer applied to the dielectric layer with at least one gap. The electrical conductor is applied over the barrier layer and over the gap so as to create a fuse with a second preweakened area being adjacent to the gap.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the barrier layer includes a layer of titanium or a titanium compound and the electrical conductor includes a layer of aluminum or an aluminum compound.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the fuse further includes a barrier layer disposed between the dielectric layer and the metal layer, where the barrier layer has a discontinuity in the void.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the weak point includes a mechanical weakness from the discontinuity in the barrier layer.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the weak point includes an electrical weakness from the discontinuity of the barrier layer in the neck down region of the metal layer adjacent to the void.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the void includes an undercut which shields a portion of the bottom floor by an overhanging edge of the top opening during application of the barrier layer. The overhanging edge establishes the discontinuity in the barrier layer.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the undercut includes an acute angle between a side wall and the bottom floor of the dielectric.

Preweakened on chip metal fuse using dielectric trenches for barrier layer isolation


An automatic photographic developing machine has easily detachable top turn guides each provided with a locking mechanism that allows any incompletely set top turn guide to be pushed to an accurate set position and locked. The top turn guides are detachably mounted between handles provided at tops of racks hung in treating tanks. Each top turn guide has a support piece to be supported on top surfaces of the handles, and a pair of front and rear control pieces. Each control piece has a protrusion. The handles are formed with recesses. Each top turn guide is inserted between a pair of adjacent handles with the control pieces deformed inwardly by gripping them from opposite sides. The control pieces are released with the support piece supported on the top surfaces of the handles to let the protrusions engage in the recesses. The top turn guide is thus locked in position. Even if a top turn guide is incompletely set, it is pressed down by a pusher provided on a top cover to its predetermined set position with high accuracy by closing the top cover.

This invention relates to an automatic photographic developing machine for developing photosensitive material such as photographic paper or film by passing it through different kinds of treating solutions in treating tanks.
As shown in FIG. 8, a typical conventional automatic developing machine has a plurality of treating tanks 61 arranged in a developing box 60 in a row. A photosensitive material A is fed through the treating solutions in the tanks 61 from the tank at one end of the row toward the tank at the other end of the row. A rack 62 is inserted in each treating tank 61 to guide photosensitive material A. An inlet guide 63 is provided at the inlet of the treating tank 61 provided near the inlet end of the developing box 60 to guide the photosensitive material A inserted into the developing box 60 into the first rack 62.
Also, top turn guides 64 are provided above and between the adjacent racks 62 to guide the photosensitive material A coming out of each rack 62 into the next rack 62.
Each rack 62 has a feed mechanism 65 for feeding photosensitive material A. If the material A is a film, the feed mechanism 65 comprises a plurality of sprockets adapted to engage square holes formed in a leader to which the leading end of the film is connected. If the photosensitive material is a sheet of photographic paper, the feed mechanism comprises a pair of feed rollers for sandwiching the photographic paper. The feed rollers or the sprockets are rotated in one direction by an external driving means.
Such an automatic developing machine is soiled gradually with use. Thus, it has to be cleaned periodically or whenever necessary. To facilitate cleaning and in order that any photosensitive material A that may get stuck in the developing machine easily can be removed therefrom, the racks 62, the inlet guide 63 and the top turn guides 64 are detachably mounted so as to be lifted upward by opening a top cover 66 of the developing box 60.
More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the racks 62 are simply hung in the treating tanks 61, while the inlet guide 63 and the top turn guides 64 have upper support pieces 68 and 69 supported on the top surfaces of handles 67 provided at the tops of the racks 62. By turning knobs 70 rotatably mounted on the handles 67, the inlet guide 63 and the top turn guides 64 are pressed down.
One shortcoming of this conventional automatic developing machine is that it is troublesome to mount or dismount the inlet guide 63 and the top turn guides 64 because, for this purpose, all the knobs 70 have to be turned. Another problem is that an operator tends to frequently forget to lock a knob 70 or two. Also, if the inlet guide 63 or any top turn guide 64 is set incompletely, it is impossible to turn the corresponding knob 70. Thus, any incompletely set inlet guide or top turn guide has to be removed and set again, which is extremely troublesome.
An object of this invention is to provide an automatic photographic developing machine having a locking means that locks the inlet guide and the top turn guides simultaneously when they are set in position, and a means that can move any of the inlet guide and top turn guides that is set incompletely to a completely set position by closing the top cover.

Automatic photographic developing machine


A fire barrier aeration device intended to ensure free exchange of air between two spaces separated by a wall which is equipped therewith and to break the passage of gas through the wall, when fire breaks out in one of the spaces, comprises at least one body (10) made of a refractory material intended to be disposed in an orifice of the wall. The body is passed through by an aeration passage (17) at the end of which, emerging on a face of the body which is turned in the direction from where the fire may come, there is disposed an element (21) made of an intumescent material which in the absence of fire leaves a portion of the cross section of the aeration passage (17) free and which is at least partially surrounded by a flexible material (22) for guiding and confining the inflation of the intumescent material (21) in the aeration passage (17) in order to make the material completely block the passage in the case of fire.

The present invention relates to protection against the propagation of fire between zones separated by a wall and between which free exchange of air must be produced in normal situations and more particularly relates to a fire barrier device which can be mounted in the separating wall of the aforementioned zones.
Fire barrier protections in particular for electrical power cables are ensured by means of fire barrier sheaths made of leaktight products.
Such cables release by the Joule effect a quantity of heat which causes heating in their bulk.
The temperature reached by a cable after stabilisation is linked to the efficiency of the fire barrier protective sheath.
It is therefore necessary to produce a fire barrier device which, while ensuring in the case of fire the required protection, that is to say a fire barrier function for a predetermined period of time, allows in normal operating conditions dissipation of the heat released by the Joule effect which is sufficient to guarantee correct behaviour of the protected cables over time.
The ventilation of electrical power cables inside their protective jacket or sheath has hitherto been ensured either by a dynamics system called a "strap-type shutter", or by a protection device provided with an opening which is not blockable in the case of outbreak of fire.
The strap-type shutter has the following drawbacks:
The complexity of its construction requires it to be produced partly in a unitary manner, to requirements, on site; PA1 it is subject to risks of premature closure by mechanical breaking of the strap with a heat-meltable fuse when the protected cables are in use; PA1 it is difficult to reopen after the fire; PA1 it is difficult to fit with precision with respect to surrounding equipment because of its large bulk caused by the presence of the strap and of a cover which is to be held open under normal operating conditions.

Fire barrier aeration device with static elements


Pulse compensation is disclosed for electronic devices capable of producing a pulse output signal suitable for therapeutic purposes with pulse compensation being automatically provided upon sensing of a change in the conditions being monitored. The electronic device, which preferably includes a micro-computer, has externally accessible pulse width and intensity controls for determining the width and amplitude of pulses then being delivered. Upon each sensing of a change in a monitored condition capable of causing user discomfort or possible injury, the intensity of the pulses then being delivered is quickly reduced and then gradually increased toward the full intensity requested by the intensity control. Pulse compensation is also provided when the pulse width is varied by the pulse width control to thereby automatically cause a corresponding change in the range of intensities of the pulses then delivered, based upon a nerve fiber strength-duration curve of the pulses, to thereby maintain the stimulation capability of the pulses substantially constant at a percentage of intensity as determined by the intensity control.

Electronic devices capable of providing a pulse output signal for therapeutic purposes are now well known, and such devices are known, for example, to include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulating (TENS) devices and muscle stimulating devices. It is also well known that such devices commonly include externally accessible controls for effecting parameter changes, including changes in pulse width and intensity of the delivered pulses (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,347).
Conventional TENS and muscle stimulator devices commonly use constant current feedback to regulate the charge per pulse. The feedback signal, representing the peak current, is compared with the reference voltage to establish the height of the rectangular pulses, and the reference voltage is usually derived from a variable control device, such as a potentiometer, which serves to control the stimulation intensity. In other words, stimulation amplitude is commonly controlled by varying the peak current of the rectangular current pulses.
It has been found that, at least with respect to TENS devices and muscle stimulator devices, that large pulse widths are useful for short term stimulation since they are more comfortable to the user than narrow pulse width for the stimulation of large muscles. Conversely, narrow pulse widths are more comfortable to the user for stimulating small muscle groups, and narrow pulse widths are particularly well suited for use for long term stimulation which often occurs, for example, in effective stimulation by a TENS unit.
It is usually necessary, or at least desirable, that the pulse width be tuned (i.e., varied) while using the unit. However, since the charge per pulse varies directly with the pulse width, unless the peak current is also adjusted whenever the pulse width is changed, the charge per pulse will also change.
Since stimulation intensities perceived by a user are approximately proportional to the delivered charge per pulse, a wide pulse will acquire a large amount of charge when the intensity control is moved only slightly in the intensity increase direction. Conversely, when the pulse width is narrow, changing the peak current a small amount, by moving the intensity control in the intensity increase direction, will produce a small amount of increase in the charge per pulse. Since pulse width affects the sensitivity of the intensity control where both are utilized in a device, using a pulse width, for example, of greater than about 200 microseconds, causes conventional amplitude controls to become overly sensitive. As a result, pulse widths greater than about 200 microseconds are difficult to control with an ordinary potentiometer-type amplitude, or intensity, control.
In addition, the pulse width of the pulses being delivered sometimes causes confusion with respect to the amount of charge being delivered, or at least perceived to be delivered. For example, if the pulse is 100 ma peak and 200 microseconds wide, the pulse contains 20 microcoulombs charge. While such a charge would normally be too strong to be tolerated with small electrodes such as are commonly used with TENS units, for example, such a charge could easily and safely be tolerated with comfort if sufficiently large electrodes are utilized (i.e., the area of application is made sufficiently greater).
It was therefore found that if the intensity was increased as the pulse width was decreased, and if the intensity was decreased as the pulse width was increased, the charge delivered by the pulses can be controlled to produce a more constant level of stimulation. A strength-duration curve to effect this end was suggested in connection with a diagnostic apparatus (see, U.S. Pat. No. 2,808,826), and has also been suggested for use in connection with TENS units (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,431,002 and 4,453,548). In addition, such a curve has been suggested for use in connection with mechanical coupling of pulse width and amplitude controls in a stimulator (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,063), such a curve has been suggested for use in connection with scanning output parameters through predetermined ranges to periodically achieve optimum stimulating currents (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,151), and such a curve has also been suggested for use in conjunction with strength-duration-rate modulation in a TENS device (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,368).
It has also been heretofore suggested that the intensity of the delivered output pulses can be controlled, and gradual increase in such intensity is utilized, for example, in the NuWave.RTM. TENS unit now being sold by the assignee of this invention.
Thus, while pulse compensation has heretofore been suggested in connection with therapeutic-type devices, improvements and/or additions to such devices could further improve such devices.

Output pulse compensation for therapeutic-type electronic devices


An apparatus includes a first substrate; and a second substrate coupled to the first substrate, characterized in that, to control formation of a segregated phase domain structure within a chemical reaction product by controlling an amount of a constituent of a precursor that is present per unit surface area, at least one member selected from the group consisting of the first substrate and the second substrate defines a substantially regularly periodically varying relief with respect to basal spatial location.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to the field of materials. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to methods of controlling formation of a segregated phase domain structure within a chemical reaction product, compositions of matter including such a segregated phase domain structure, and machinery having a complex tool relief for making such compositions.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Prior art copper indium selenide based photovoltaics, sometimes called CIS based PV, are known to those skilled in the art of solar cells. CuInSe is the most reliable and best-performing thin film material for generating electricity from sunlight. A concern with this technology is that raw material supply constraints are going to arise in the future as the production of CIS PV increases. For instance, indium does not occur naturally in high concentration ores. Typically, indium is obtained from the discarded tailings of zinc ores. As the production of CIS PV approaches the large scale range of from approximately 10 gigawatts/year to approximately 100 gigawatts/year, indium supply constraints will become manifest. These supply constraints will lead to increased costs. Further, as the production of CIS PV increases, other raw material supply constraints will also emerge. What is required is a solution that reduces the amount of raw materials needed per watt of generating capacity in CIS PV thin films.
One approach to reducing the amount of raw materials needed is to reduce the thickness of the CIS PV thin film material. The inherent absorption coefficient of CIS is very high (i.e., approximately 105 cm−1). This means that most of the incident light energy can be absorbed with a very thin film of CIS. The use of a back surface reflector can further reduce the thickness necessary to absorb most of the incident light energy. While prior art CIS PV products are typically at least about 2 microns thick, it is important to appreciate that 0.25 microns is theoretically sufficient for a CIS PV thin film located on a back surface reflector to absorb most the incident light energy. What is also required is a solution that produces thinner CIS PV thin films.
Meanwhile, field assisted simultaneous synthesis and transfer technology has been developed that is directly applicable to the manufacture of thinner CIS PV films. Various aspects of this field assisted simultaneous synthesis and transfer technology (which aspects may or may not be used together in combination) are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,736,986; 6,881,647; 6,787,012; 6,559,372; 6,500,733; 6,797,874; 6,720,239; and 6,593,213.
An advantage of field assisted simultaneous synthesis and transfer technology is that it works better as the precursor stack becomes thinner. For instance, the vapor pressure of selenium in a CIS based reaction product layer is a function of temperature. The pressure needed to contain the selenium is a function of the temperature required for the process reaction. It is important to appreciate that the voltage, if utilized, to achieve a desired pressure goes down as the thickness goes down. As the required voltage is reduced, the physical demands on the system (e.g., stress on the dielectric) go down. Therefore, as the precursor stack is made thinner, the voltage needed to generate a given pressure goes down; which reduces stress on the dielectric (for instance a release layer), thereby expanding the scope of materials that can be utilized as a dielectric.
Another advantage of field assisted simultaneous synthesis and transfer technology is that it enables a lower thermal budget. The lower thermal budget is a result of higher speed of the field assisted simultaneous synthesis and transfer technology compared to alternative approaches such as (physical or chemical) vapor deposition. In addition to the time and energy savings provided by the field assisted simultaneous synthesis and transfer technology, the quality of the resulting products can also be improved. For instance, in the case of manufacturing CIS based PV, the lower thermal budget enabled by the use of field assisted simultaneous synthesis and transfer technology leads to the reduction of undesirable reactions, such as between selenium and molybdenum at the interface between the CIS absorber and the back side metal contact. The reduction of this undesirable reaction results in reduced tarnishing which in-turn results in higher back surface reflectivity.
Recently, it has been demonstrated that CIS thin films made by conventional techniques contain domains resulting from fluctuations in chemical composition(1-2, 5). Undesirable recombination of charge carriers takes place at the boundaries between the nanodomains within such a CIS based PV absorber. Therefore, what is also required is a solution to controlling, and ideally optimizing, the boundaries between, these nanodomains with varying chemical compositions.
Heretofore, the requirements of reduced raw materials requirements, reduced thickness and controlled boundaries between nanodomains referred to above have not been fully met. What is, therefore, needed is a solution that simultaneously solves all of these problems.

Apparatus for making controlled segregated phase domain structures


A method is described for diagnosing errors within a production environment software platform that is arranged to process transaction messages and to store transaction history data related to processed transactions in a production database. The stored transaction history data comprises transaction objects that have been generated as the production environment software platform processes transaction messages. The method comprises detecting an error in a series of transaction messages processed by the production environment software platform, receiving the transaction history from the production database, the transaction history comprising a plurality of transaction objects, and configuring a development environment software platform to match the configuration of the production environment software platform at the start of the transaction history. The method further comprises running the development environment software platform with the received transaction history, and running a log file module to determine a source for the detected error.

One of the most common and time-consuming difficulties in software development is testing and debugging; yet testing and debugging code is an essential part of the process as it ensures that the product is working as intended. However, it is possible for bugs to be present in the production environment, which contains live data, even once the code has been through a significant amount of testing and debugging.
Debugging code that has entered the production environment is a nuisance for developers, production support and quality assurance. Although many bugs and issues can nevertheless be identified through detailed analysis of the code, it is not always sufficient or even possible to do so. For example, time-sensitive issues related to deadlock on a database—a state in which each member of a group of actions is waiting for another member to release a lock—and time-sensitive message volumes that affect threading models are particularly difficult to debug.
Current techniques for dealing with errors that occur in the production environment include logging, analysing all behaviours, reproducing the error, and running through the code itself. Often the developer relies on user feedback on the usability of the software. Current approaches therefore do not provide a way of debugging and testing code that is causing a production issue to ensure a fluid consumer experience when transactions are rejected or declined.
Therefore there is scope for improvement on current approaches.
The present disclosure has been devised to mitigate or overcome at least some of the above-mentioned problems.

Method for replicating production behaviours in a development environment


A pixel structure including a first pixel unit, a second pixel unit, a first insulating layer, and a common electrode is provided. The first and second pixel units are disposed on a substrate, and includes a first drain and a first pixel electrode, and a second drain and a second pixel electrode, respectively. The first insulating layer covers the first and second drains. The first and second pixel electrodes are disposed on the first insulating layer, and the first insulating layer has first and second contact holes uncovering the first and second drains, respectively. The common electrode is disposed on the first insulating layer, and is electrically insulated from the first and second pixel electrodes, and has a common opening. When projected onto the substrate, the first and second contact holes are disposed within a region of the common opening.

A Head-mount Display (HMD) is a display worn on a human body. The head-mount display is a small-sized display in which a lens assembly is disposed at a position very close to the eyes so that a user can view through this display, therefore achieving an effect similar to that of watching a large-sized display located some distance away. Generally speaking, manners of viewing via a display include a double-eye manner and a single-eye manner, and the size of the display varies in accordance with different watching manners. To develop a head-mount display that meets the requirements of being thin, light, and close to the eyes, a pixel size needs to be further reduced to improve the resolution of the display, so as to achieve the purpose of reducing the size of the display. However, because of the limitation of the manufacturing process, a conductive structure in pixels may be short-circuited as gaps become smaller, making it difficult to implement a high-resolution pixel design.


An image processing apparatus includes: an image input section through which a two-dimensional image signal is input; an image converting section which receives the image signal output from the image input section and generates and outputs a left eye image and a right eye image for realizing stereopsis; and an image output section which outputs the left eye image and the right eye image output from the image converting section. The image converting section extracts a spatial characteristic amount of the input image signal, generates at least one of the left eye image and the right eye image through an image conversion process in which the characteristic amount is applied, and performs the image conversion process of a different type according to a comparison result of distance information of a preset region unit in the input image signal and a predetermined threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and a program, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and a program which performs image conversion for a two-dimensional image to generate a binocular disparity image corresponding to stereopsis.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, a variety of proposals has been made for apparatuses and methods which convert a two-dimensional image into a binocular disparity image corresponding to stereopsis. The binocular disparity image generated on the basis of the two-dimensional image includes a pair of a left eye image, which is observed by the left eye, and a right eye image, which is observed by the right eye. As the binocular disparity image including the pair of the left eye image and the right eye image is displayed through a display apparatus which can separate the binocular disparity image into the left eye image and the right eye image to respectively provide the separated images to the left eye and the right eye of an observer, the observer can perceive the images as a three-dimensional image.
Such an image generation or display process is disclosed in the following related art techniques.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-107562 discloses an image processing configuration for a dynamic image moving horizontally. Specifically, according to this configuration, an original image is output as one of a left eye image and a right eye image, and an image delayed in a field unit is output as the other thereof. Through such an image output control, an object moving in the horizontal direction is perceived as being in front of the background.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-30806 discloses an apparatus in which a left eye image and a right eye image are shifted from each other by a preset amount in the horizontal direction for a still image or an image having a small movement and thus the image is perceived as floated.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-51812 discloses a technique in which an image is divided into a plurality of disparity calculation regions, a pseudo-depth is calculated from a characteristic amount of the image in each region, and a left eye image and a right eye image are horizontally shifted in the opposite directions on the basis of the depth.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-209614 discloses a technique similar to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No, 10-51812, which while changing, on the basis of a delay amount calculated from a characteristic amount of an image, the horizontal delay amount of a left eye image and a right eye image, limits the horizontal delay amount to prevent a retinal image difference from occurring any more than is necessary, thereby preventing a degree of fatigue of the eyes.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-151534 discloses a technique in which characteristic amounts of upper and lower portions of an image are calculated, and the synthesis ratio of a plurality of scene structures indicating preset depth information is adjusted, to thereby express the image as a combination having a simplified structure.
However, the related art techniques as described above have the following problems.
In the image conversion apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-107562, preferable stereopsis can be provided for only an object moving at a constant speed in the horizontal direction. In an image including a plurality of moving objects or complex movements, the binocular disparity is not correctly set, and thus the objects are arranged in unnatural positions or the retinal image difference becomes excessively large. Thus, stereopsis may not be formed.
Further, the image conversion apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-30806 provides only the shift of the entire screen for the still image or the image having a small movement, but has great difficulty in expressing the anteroposterior relation of the objects in the image.
In the image conversion apparatuses as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 10-51812 and 2000-209614, the pseudo-depth is estimated from the characteristic amounts of the image, but since the estimation is based on such an assumption that the sharpness, luminance and saturation of the object in the front of the screen are high, the estimation is not necessarily performed in a correct manner. Thus, an incorrect retinal image difference is given to the object having the incorrect depth estimation, thereby resulting in the arrangement in an incorrect position.
The image conversion apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-151534 is configured to allow the structure of the image to be adapted for a simple and limitative structure and suppresses generation of unnatural depth. However, all the related art techniques as described above have the following common problem. That is, a relatively large retinal image difference is generated in the generated binocular disparity image, and the binocular disparity image is three dimensionally displayed using a three-dimensional display apparatus. In general, such a three-dimensional display apparatus is used that the image is observed using special glasses for stereopsis, such as a passive eyeglass-type in which an image is divided through a polarization filter, or a color filter to be observed by the left eye and the right eye or an active eyeglass type in which an image is temporally divided from side to side through a liquid crystal shutter.
When viewing the binocular disparity image having the large retinal image difference, an observer can perceive the stereoscopic effect depending on the retinal image difference with such glasses for stereopsis. However, when viewing the screen without the glasses, the observer comes to view double images in which the left eye image and the right eye image overlap with each other by a large amount and does not view the images as a normal two-dimensional image. That is, the image converted through these related art image conversion apparatuses can be viewed only with the glasses.
Further, the large retinal image difference may affect fatigue of the observer. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-194602 discloses that in a case where the left eye image and the right eye image are each shifted by a large amount, a discrepancy occurs between control of the angle of convergence and adjustment of the lens in a view direction in the real world, so that the discrepancy leads to fatigue in stereopsis using the binocular disparity.
Further, in the image conversion apparatuses as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 10-51812, 2000-209614 and 2005-151534, the pseudo-depth is estimated from the image, but it is difficult to detect a detailed depth from a single image. For example, in the case of minute structures such as branches of trees, electric cables or hairs, the depth estimation is not easy. Thus, it is difficult to obtain the stereoscopic effect for minute objects.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program


A covering device of an opening of a building includes two parallel rails, a shading member, a main member, and two adjusting units. Each rail has a first side and a second side. The main member is between the rails and is connected to an end of the shading member. The main member has two coupling members to engage the rails at the first sides thereof. The adjusting unit has a stop member to be moved between a first position and a second position. The stop member touches the second side of the rail while the stop member is moved to the first position, and is off the second side of the rail while the stop member is moved to the second position.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a covering, and more particularly to a covering device of an opening of a building, and a coupling module of the covering device.
2. Description of Related Art
A building usually has lots of openings to be an entrance of a room or the building or for ventilation. A glass window usually is mounted in the opening for ventilation, and a window covering is mounted in the opening for shading the window. The conventional window covering is fixed to the wall. Sometime, the window covering has to be taken off for maintaining or cleaning. It is a hard job to take the conventional window covering off the wall.


A processor (e.g. utilizing an operating system and/or circuitry) may access physical memory by paging, where a page is the smallest partition of memory mapped by the processor from a virtual address to a physical address. An application program executing on the processor addresses a virtual address space so that the application program may be unaware of physical memory paging mechanisms. A memory control layer manages physical memory space in units of sub-blocks, wherein a sub-blocks is smaller than a size of the page. Multiple virtual address blocks may be mapped to the same physical page in memory. A sub-block can be moved from a page (e.g. from one physical memory to a second physical memory) without moving other sub-blocks within the page in a manner that is transparent to the application program.

The present invention is related to computer systems, and in particular to techniques for virtual memory mapping for efficient memory usage.
Conventional computer systems generally use a range of memory and storage options, from the fast and expensive to the slow and inexpensive. A typical system may have a limited amount of fast/expensive memory (e.g., DRAM) and a relatively larger amount of slow/inexpensive memory (e.g., hard disk). In some systems the fast memory is used like a cache, where only data currently in use by an application is kept in the fast memory. When the application needs to work on a different chunk of data, data can be moved out of the fast memory to the slow memory and a new data chunk can be brought into the fast memory.
In one conventional approach for managing memory, applications are aware of different types of memories and manage the movement of data between different types of memory. Each application typically keeps only a limited amount of data in the fast memory, with other data kept in the slow memory. Each application includes memory management logic to ensure that the fast memory is used only as needed, and unneeded data is moved to slow memory. The memory management is thus non-transparent to the applications and tends to complicate applications. Further, this approach may also result in less than optimal use of memory, because applications that share memory may not have a global view of the need and usage of memory by other applications.
To keep applications simple, a second approach using virtual memory allows for managing memory in a manner that is transparent to applications. Each application addresses a virtual memory space so that the real location of data (whether it is in the fast memory or the slow memory) may be hidden from the application. From the application's perspective, the application is allocated a set of virtual addresses and always references the same virtual address for data, and thus does not need not be aware of where the data actually resides in the system. Hence, data can be moved by other mechanisms between the various types of memory, based on need, without applications needing to manage or even know the physical location of the data.
Generally, conventional processors support virtual memory using fixed block (page) sizes, such as 4 KB pages. Typically, virtual memory is allocated to applications such that a minimum allocated block size is the same as the page size of the processor. For example, if a system employs different types of memory and uses a processor that supports 4 KB pages, then the smallest unit of memory that is allocated from any of the memories is 4 KB if application transparency is to be maintained, even if the application needs less than 4 KB of data. For example, if an application needs a smaller block of memory, say 512 B, then a 4 KB chunk of memory is allocated for the block so that application transparency is maintained. However, making the minimum allocated block size the same as the page size of the processor potentially wastes available memory and restricts the minimum allocated block size by an application to the page size of the processor.

Virtual memory mapping for efficient memory usage


The present invention, generally speaking, provides a broad-based solution for acquisition, processing and distribution of media objects including pictures (images), movies, videos, graphics, sound clips, etc via the Internet or the like. And specifically, it is a solution to such systems for use in applications wherein there are multiple originators of media objects that will be viewed in multiple web sites having different viewing requirements. A browser-based prepare and post tool prepares and submits media objects from inside a standard browser to a remote server. A Media Acquisition, Processing and Distribution (MAPD) system receives these media objects, processes them to meet specific requirements, and delivers them for integration into remote databases. MAPD system services include media object submission, processing, hosting and mirroring. The hosting service delivers a media object URL to a remote database, allowing the media object to be requested and served by the media object server. The mirroring service delivers the actual media object to multi-point remote databases to be stored and served by the customer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the acquisition, processing and distribution of media objects on the Internet and, more particularly, to such systems for use in applications wherein there are multiple originators of media objects that will be viewed in multiple web sites having different viewing requirements.
2. State of the Art
Much of the phenomenal success of the Web is attributable to its graphical nature. Literally, a picture is worth a thousand words. The capture of digital images has become routine, using digital cameras (still and video) and scanners. Nevertheless, although the handling of images by Web site creators has achieved a high degree of automation, for the average user manipulating and sharing digital images over the Internet remains a cumbersome and daunting process. Piecemeal solutions that have been devised for handling digital images require a level of sophistication that is beyond that of the ordinary user. Additionally, where automated solutions do not exist, time consuming and error-prone human and manual intervention are required to manipulate or share images. Such manual intervention for transferring a digital image may include, for example, first downloading a FTP program, then installing it, then running it and connecting it to an FTP server by typing the server name in the connection dialog, then navigating to the proper subdirectory, selecting the files to be uploaded, making sure that the program is in binary transfer mode, then sending the files. For the average user, such an involved process is a disadvantage.
Additionally, as technologies advance and casual users begin to experiment with other image types, such as streaming video, 3D objects, slide shows, movies, and accompanying sound files, the processes required to share these rich media types on the Internet becomes exponentially more complicated and prohibitive. As the realization of the Internet as an interactive, content rich medium becomes more and more a reality, the need for enabling the acquisition and distribution of rich content and media on the Internet will become the gating factor to its long-term success.
Once specific application of handling media over the Internet is in the real-estate market. It has been reported that over 25% of prospective residential home-buyers use the Internet as a means for locating properties of potential interest. There are many web sites dedicated to this purpose, including major real estate portals (e.g., Realtor.com and HomeAdvisor), national and regional brokerages, and individual realtor or broker web sites, to name a few. To be effective, these sites must provide rich visual content in the form of images of the properties listed. The image content can take the form of a single still image, multiple still images, slide shows comprised of a sequence of still images, immersive images (360 degree views), and video tours. These images can also have audio associated with them. The term media object is used generically herein to refer to all types of such images, including audio and graphic objects.
While anyone can access the Internet through a browser, getting images posted to the Internet is a complicated process generally requiring a high degree of technical proficiency and specialized software tools. It is even more difficult when the media objects are of multiple types (still images, immersive images, video, etc.) and are created by different originators. For example, a real estate listing might include an image captured by a multiple listing service photographer, an immersive image captured by a professional photographer, and multiple still images taken by the real estate agent herself. Add to this the fact that all of these media objects need to be displayed on multiple web sites that will have different viewing requirements. For example, a national real estate portal may only accept still images of a certain size and quality, say 300.times.200 pixels at a jpeg compression setting of 60%, while an agent=s individual web site may require a 390.times.260 pixel representation of the images at a different quality setting. Additionally, different browser versions have different viewing requirements for certain media object types. It is apparent that the problems associated with acquiring media objects from multiple sources and distributing them in the required form to multiple destination web sites are complex.
There are web sites today that offer a subset of this functionality specifically in the on line photo sharing market. These sites allow users to store their personal photographs, display them in a thumbnail or larger view and invite family and friends to view the pictures. These photo sharing sites let users upload digital pictures directly or have film processed and then posted to the web site. The purpose of these sites is to accommodate image uploads from many users within a proprietary system and where the image destination is intended to stay within that system.
The present invention teaches a Media Acquisition, Processing and Distribution (MAPD) system that solves many of the problems of handling media over the internet such as encountered in the real-estate market and photo sharing market. The Media Acquisition, Processing and Distribution (MAPD) system of the present invention has three major components: (1) media acquisition, (2) media processing and (3) media distribution (via hosting or mirroring). The purpose of the MAPD system is to enable multiple users without computer expertise to easily submit media objects that after appropriate processing in accordance with pre-defined requirements, are viewable on multiple web sites.
The MAPD system of the present invention specifically handles image upload within an open system and that system is designed to process and distribute media objects outside of itself, to be viewed in multiple web sites having different viewing requirements such as desired in the real-estate market. Additionally, the system of the present invention is designed such that the proprietary systems used in the photo sharing sites are unique to each web site and are not designed to be deployed across several web sites, markets or partners. Finally, the MAPD system of the present invention is designed to be used by varying and different web sites across many markets and partners. One important aspect of the MAPD system is its API or abstraction layer that specifically allows multiple web sites to integrate the MAPD system functionality.

Media acquisition, processing and distribution system for the internet