A method for producing a heterocyclic compound represented by general formula (2) from a heterocyclic compound represented by general formula (1) (in the formulae, X1 represents a halogen atom; each of Y1 and Y2 independently represents an oxygen atom, sulfur atom, or selenium atom; each of R1 and R2 independently represents a substituent; m and n respectively represent the number of substituents R1 and R2, each of m and n representing an integer of 0-4; and when m and n are 2 or higher, R1 and R2 may be the same or different and may bond to each other to form an optionally substituted ring).

In recent years, organic electronic devices have drawn increasing attention. The reasons are that they have flexibility, are applicable to a large area, and make it feasible to employ a low-cost, high-speed printing process in manufacturing of electronic devices. The typical organic electronic devices include organic EL elements, organic solar cell elements, organic photoelectric conversion elements and organic transistor elements. Organic EL elements intend to be applied to flat panel displays, and have been applied to mobile phone displays through TVs and the like. Organic EL elements with higher functionality have been continuously developed. Organic solar cell elements have been used as flexible, low-cost energy sources, and organic transistor elements have been applied to flexible displays and low-cost IC's. Research and development thereof have been aggressively carried out.
In developing these organic electronic devices, it is very important to develop organic semiconductor materials constituting the devices. Acene organic semiconductors such as pentacene have been investigated as an organic transistor material. Heterocyclic compounds such as heteroacene compounds, in particular the compounds containing sulfur or selenium atoms, have been also investigated. Among them, benzothieno-benzothiophenes (e.g., DPh-BTBT and alkyl BTBT), dinaphtho-thienothiophenes (DNTT) and the like have been developed as high-performance materials with stability in atmosphere and have been proposed as compounds with excellent semiconductor characteristics and stability in comparison with pentacene (Patent Literatures 1 to 3 and Non Patent Literatures 1 to 3). Regarding methods of manufacturing these useful compounds, there are many reports. However, the methods are not satisfactory due to unsatisfactory yields and the difficulty in producing a compound with an asymmetrical structure at a high yield. Further improvement in the manufacturing method is desired.
Conventionally, many methods have been tried to synthesize [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (hereinafter abbreviated as BTBT).
Regarding a method of synthesizing BTBT, Patent Literature 4 discloses a method of synthesizing BTBT by a reaction between α,α-dichlorotoluene and sulfur. However, a compound having a dichloromethyl group generally has many problems in availability and storage stability. Patent Literature 4 and Patent Literature 5 disclose a method of synthesizing BTBT from α,α,α-trichlorotoluene, but the method causes a very low yield of 12% and thus is not practicable. Thereafter, a synthesis method represented by the following reaction formula 1 has been developed and known. However, the method has a problem of very high production cost due to the long reaction path (Patent Literature 6).

A method of producing the compound comprising the steps of reacting 2,2′-dibromodiphenylacetylene with tert-butyl lithium at extremely low temperatures and then adding sulfur thereto has been developed. However, tert-butyl lithium, used in the method, reacts with moisture in the air to take fire. The method therefore has problems in safety and industrial applicability (Patent Literature 7 and Non Patent Literature 4).
Patent Literature 8 describes a method of synthesizing BTBT comprising diazotization of 2,7-diamino BTBT, a starting material, and diazo decomposition of the diazo BTBT. However, the synthesis of 2,7-diamino BTBT (in the reaction formula 1, R═NH2) requires several reaction steps. Use of 2,7-diamino BTBT as a starting material therefore causes high cost and inefficient manufacturing methods.
BTBT may be fused with a benzene ring. As such a fused compound, for instance, dinaphtho[2,3-b:2′,3′-f]thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (hereinafter abbreviated as DNTT) has been known.
It has been reported that this compound has excellent characteristics as organic semiconductor. There is therefore need to establish an industrial method of manufacturing DNTT derivatives.
Patent Literature 9 and Non Patent Literatures 3 and 5 describe a method of synthesizing DNTT through the following reaction scheme.

The synthesis method, however, has various problems: (1) in Step 1, use of dimethyl disulfide, i.e. a malodorous substance; (2) in Step 1, use of n-butyl lithium, i.e. a water prohibitive substance; (3) in Step 3, a large amount of iodine and the like are required and reaction efficiency is extremely low; and (4) by-products such as methyl iodide, i.e. a deleterious substance are generated, which cause environmental problems.
In view of the foregoing, it is extremely difficult to industrially produce BTBT derivatives (including DNTT derivatives). Further improved manufacturing methods have been therefore investigated.
Patent Literature 10 discloses a method of synthesizing BTBT wherein an aromatic aldehyde is used as a starting material, and in Patent Literature 11 discloses a method of synthesizing BTBT wherein a halogeno-aromatic aldehyde is used as a starting material. These methods allow BTBT derivatives (including DNTT derivatives) to be synthesized in one step from an aromatic aldehyde (refer to the following reaction formula 3).

Patent Literature 12 discloses a method of synthesizing BTBT from stilbene derivatives. This method allows stilbene derivatives having various substituents to be employed as a starting material, and allows a sulfur atom to be selectively introduced to the position of a leaving group X of a stilbene derivative, thereby determining the condensation position. Consequently, BTBT derivatives (including DNTT derivatives) can be relatively easily synthesized at a high yield (refer to the following reaction formula 4).

Further, Patent Literature 13 and Non Patent Literature 6 disclose that BTBT derivatives can be produced by intramolecular cyclization reaction of a precursor obtained by Stille coupling with an acid, and dealkylation of the obtained alkyl intermediate (refer to the following reaction formula 5). However, these methods cause high cost to produce the intermediate and also have the problem that producible compounds are limited

As described above, it can be easily presumed that BTBT derivatives (including DNTT derivatives) are a group of compounds having excellent characteristics. Industrial manufacturing methods thereof still are being investigated.


Polymers and copolymers are derived from substituted macrocyclic metal chelators. These polymers may be cross-linked, and are typically insoluble in most solvents. The metal complexes of these polymers exhibit the useful catalytic activity of the monomers. The polymers are advantageously prepared by reacting a polybasic nucleophile with the substituted macrocyclic metal chelator. Copolymers of the macrocyclic metal chelators with other polyfunctional monomers are also formed by reaction with suitable polybasic nucleophiles. Suitable macrocyclic metal chelators for use as monomers in accordance with the present invention have at least one leaving group substituent which is labile for aromatic nucleophilic substitution and at least one electronegative (or electron-withdrawing) substituent.

The present invention relates to polymers and copolymers of macrocyclic metal chelators, such as porphyrins and phthalocyanines, to methods for the preparation thereof and to the use of metal complexes thereof as catalysts for reactions in solution or vapor phase.
The broad class of compounds known as macrocyclic metal chelators embraces many compounds which have substantial utility for a wide variety of chemical applications. For example, tetraphenyl porphyrins which are betasubstituted by halogen and/or bear electronegative substituents on the phenyl are known as catalysts in a variety of oxidative reactions. For example, iron(III) substituted porphyrins have been studied as catalysts for epoxidations using pentafluoroiodosylbenzene. (Traylor, T. G. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 107:5537 (1985)]. The use of an iron tetrakis (2,6-dichlorophenyl)octabromoporphyrin complex as a stable catalyst of high turnover catalytic hydroxylations has also been reported [Traylor T. G. and Tsuchiya, T., Inorg. Chem. 26:1338 (1987)].
U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,941 to Dolphin et al., the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a class of transition metal porphyrin complexes which are useful in the oxidation of lignin and lignin-model compounds, the conversion of alkanes to alcohols and the conversion of alkenes to epoxides. Of particular interest to Dolphin et al. are the water soluble compounds (i.e., compounds which are substituted with water-solubilizing electronegative groups).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,784 to Shelnutt, the entire disclosure of which is also incorporated by reference, describes a process for the oxidation of hydrocarbons using molecular oxygen in a catalytic cycle driven by an artificial photosynthesis system which mimics the cytochrome P.sub.450 reaction to oxidize alkanes and olefins. The system includes a tin(IV) or antimony(V) porphyrin photosynthesizer and an iron or manganese porphyrin hydrocarbon-oxidation catalyst. The preferred hydrocarbon-oxidation catalyst is Fe tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin chloride.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,774,356 and 4,904,745 to Inoue et al., the entire disclosures of which are also incorporated by reference, describe the polymerization of alkylene oxides in the presence of a reaction product of an aluminum porphyrin complex and an active hydrogen-containing compound. The aluminum porphyrin complex is suitably prepared by reacting an organoaluminum compound with a porphyrin compound. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,565,845 and 4,665,134 to Inoue et al. (also incorporated by reference herein) describe the use of aluminum porphyrin complexes as catalysts for producing block copolymers having a narrow molecular weight distribution.
A major disadvantage of the soluble porphyrins hereinbefore described is the necessity to separate the porphyrins from the reaction mixture. Accordingly, it would be useful to provide the catalytic activity of the known porphyrin complexes in a solid form.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,998 to Neckers et al. describes a method of preparing a polymer-bound photosensitizing catalyst for use in heterogeneous catalysis of photosensitized chemical reactions, which comprises forming a mixture of a polymeric material having attached thereto an available leaving group capable of being displaced in a nucleophilic displacement reaction and a photosensitizing catalytic compound containing in its molecule a nucleophile which is capable of displacing the leaving group on the polymer. Among the photosensitizers mentioned in the patent is hemin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,062 to Naarmann et al. describes a process for applying a layer of an electrically conductive polymer to carbon fibers, filaments or sheet-like structures. A solution of a sulfonic acid of a phthalocyanine or porphyrin is applied to the carbon structures and dried, so that the carbon structures are coated with a layer of the sulfonic acid. The coated material is then used as the anode in a solution which contains a 5-membered heterocycle, and the monomers are anodically polymerized. The resultant products are described as exhibiting thermal stability and good electrical conductivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,188 to Shepherd describes a method for supporting metalloporphyrins on microporous polybenzimidazole articles. The polybenzimidazoles are treated with a strong base to produce an anionized material, which is then mixed with a solution of a metalloporphyrin salt to produce a microporous polybenzimidazole metalloporphyrin complex. The products are described as useful in the selective oxidation of alkanes, olefins and aromatic compounds, as well as in the separation of oxygen from a gas stream.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,514 to Langford et al. describes a composite photocatalyst for treatment of refractory waste, comprising particles of a wide band gap semiconductor material coated with a polymer film capable of absorbing a refractory waste. The film comprises a pyridine-containing polymer and a divalent metal porphyrin or metal phthalocyanine dye which is molecularly dispersed throughout the film and chemically bonded to the pyridine-containing polymer. In a preferred embodiment, the film comprises polyvinylpyridine or a copolymer of vinylpyridine with styrene blended with a cationic ionomer to form a cationic film which incorporates the porphyrin or phthalocyanine at cationic sites, with the polyvinylpyridine or copolymer being available for coordination.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,454 and 4,957,615 to Ushizawa et al. describe oxygen sensors comprising an electrically conductive substrate directly coated with an electrolytic oxidative polymeric membrane containing an aryl-substituted porphyrin compound or a metal complex thereof. The aryl-substituted porphyrin bears on the aryl groups thereof a substituent group (preferably, in the ortho- and/or parapositions) which participates at the time of electrolytic oxidative polymerization.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,442 to Narang et al. describes tetraketoneporphyrin monomers and methods for the preparation thereof, as well as polymers prepared by reacting the tetraketone monomers with a tetraamine-substituted aromatic moiety having at least one aromatic ring. The polymers are described to be useful as liquid crystals and in non-linear optical devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,800 to Lonsdale et al. describes thin film composite membranes comprising a microporous polymeric membrane support and an ultrathin membrane which comprises the interfacial polymerization reaction product of monomers that are mutually reactive in a condensation reaction, at least one of the monomers being a porphyrin or phthalocyanine. The resultant asymmetric membranes are described as particularly well-suited for use in artificial photosynthesis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,907 to Beratan describes highly conjugated organic polymers with "defects" introduced into the polymer chain to enhance the hyperpolarizability of the molecules. The polymers comprise a chain of alternating single and double bonds or a chain of alternating single and triple bonds, and are characterized by the presence of a moiety in the chain which donates or accepts electrons. In Table 2, there is described a hypothetical molecule comprising repeating units consisting of a porphyrin/quinone donor/acceptor pair flanked by vinyl moieties. No teaching or suggestion is provided as to how such a hypothetical molecule might be prepared.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,956 to Ford et al. describes polymer latexes comprising colloidal suspensions of charged polymer particles containing charged metal complexes prepared from charged polymer colloids by ion exchange. The metal may be complexed by a porphyrin or phthalocyanine.
Recently, Kojima et al. described a dehydration reaction of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) with hemin to prepare a hemin-PMAA anhydride. The PMAA was reported as bearing up to 1.8 mol% of porphyrin rings. The results of oxygen absorption experiments suggested that the hemin-PMAA product could act as an oxygen absorber [Kojima, T. et al., J. Polym. Sci. Part C: Polymer Letters 28:129 (1990)].
Kadish et al. describe a reaction product of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphine [(TF.sub.5 PP)H.sub.2 ] and cobalt acetate in dimethylformamide, in which they speculate that fluorine in a para-position on one or more of the phenyl substituents had been replaced by a --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 group [Kadish et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 112:8364-8368 (1990)]. The authors speculate that the amine was generated in the course of decomposition of dimethyiformamide used as a solvent and may have replaced a fluorine atom on one or more phenyl rings of the TF.sub.5 pp complex via aromatic nucleophilic substitution.
Kellman and coworkers have described phase transfer catalyzed substitutions and polymerizations of hexafluorobenzene and 4,4'-dichlorodiphenylsulfone with various phenols, bisphenols and bisthiophenols via nucleophilic replacement reactions using 18-crown-6 ether as a catalyst [Keliman et al., Polymer Preprints 21:164-165 (1980); Keliman et al., Polymer Preprints 22:383-384 (1981); Gerbi et al., Polymer Preprints 22:385-386 (1981); Gerbi et al., Polymer Preprints 22:387-388 (1981)]. It is reported that in the absence of 18-crown-6 ether, polymerization does not occur.
It is an object of the present invention to provide novel compositions of matter which exhibit the same utilities as the heretofore-known macrocyclic metal chelators, but which are generally insoluble in the most commonly-used solvents, and methods for the preparation and use thereof.
It is a particular object of the present invention to provide novel catalysts based upon particular types of known macrocyclic metal chelators, such as porphyrins and phthalocyanines, which are useful in the catalysis of reactions in the liquid and vapor phases, as well as methods for the preparation and use thereof.

Polymers of macrocyclic metal chelators and methods for the preparation and use thereof


A headrest assembly having a bracket mount affixed to an upper portion of a seatback frame and at least one headrest bun supporting tube pivotally secured to the bracket mount. A spring biased cam is pivotally secured to the bracket mount and, in a normally biased position, engages an underside projection of a selected one of the supporting tubes, the cam also having an outwardly projecting pin. At least one wheel shaped component is rotatably mounted to an exterior of the bracket mount in proximity to the cam, the wheel having an outer circumferential location which, upon being rotated, contacts the projecting pin causing the cam to pivot in a downward unseating direction from the supporting tube, triggering release of the headrest and supporting tubes in a forwardly rotating and dump position.

The prior art is well documented with headrest dump and rewind assemblies. A first example of this is the pivoting headrest design of U.S. Pat. No. 8,511,751, to Bruck, which discloses a pair of upwardly projecting supports associated with a vehicle seatback and terminating in a pair of spaced apart sectors. A headrest bun supporting frame is pivotally secured to the sectors and includes a pair of elongated and side extending structural supports and a lower interconnecting housing. A widthwise extending bar is disposed relative to the housing, opposite extending ends of which engage the sectors at a first upright position and seat within channels in the side supports. The bar is biased in a first engaging direction against the sectors and, upon being displaced in a reverse direction, causes its ends to unseat from the sectors and the bun to rotate about the sectors to a dump position.
US 2009/0184555, to Yetukuri, discloses a head restraint actuation system including a head restraint positionable in an upright and folded position. Repositioning of the head restraint is accomplished through the action of a head restraint actuator. The head restraint actuator is in communication with the head restraint. An actuating cable system includes a cable that is in communication with the head restraint actuator and a user operated handle. User initiated movement of the handle causes movement of the cable thereby causing the head restraint to be positioned in the folded position. The activation system is able to simultaneously actuate a plurality of head restraints.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,422,280, to Brockman, teaches a foldable headrest assembly for a seat including a pair of posts engaged with an upper portion of the seat and a frame rotatably supported by the posts. A latch is moveably supported by the frame and includes a release pin. A release mechanism is coupled to the latch for moving the latch from a locked position preventing rotation of the frame relative to the posts to an unlocked position allowing rotation of the frame relative to the posts. The assembly further includes an inertia lock rotatably coupled to the frame. The inertia lock defines a stop slot corresponding to the release pin. In response to deceleration of the frame, e.g., resulting from a collision of the vehicle, the inertia lock rotates to a triggered position whereby the stop slot receives the release pin and limits movement of the release pin thereby maintaining the latch in the locked position.
US 2005/0067874, to Kamrath, teaches a headrest attached to a seatback automatically pivotal to a stowed position as the seatback is folded forward and so that the seatback may lay flat when folded. When the seatback is returned to the upright position, the headrest returns to its original extended position.
US 2010/0117432, to Lutzka, teaches a pivoting headrest assembly including a bracket supported upon a seatback frame. A headrest support secures a bun and is pivotally secured to the bracket in a forward biased direction. A rotating sector is supported upon the bracket and is pivotally slaved to the headrest support. A cam is pivotally supported upon the bracket and biased in a first direction to abut the sector in an upright design position established by the headrest support. A contact portion extends from a location of the cam offset from its pivotal connection to the bracket. A lever is independently rotated and coaxially supported relative to the rotating sector in a first biased direction. The lever is actuated against the bias to engage the contact portion, with continued actuation causing the cam to pivotally disengage from the rotating sector, whereupon the headrest support and bun pivotally actuates to a forward dump position.
Finally, US 2008/0100118, to Young, teaches a dynamic headrest having the capability to move forwardly during an accident or other suitable condition so as to limit injuries to an occupant's head. The headrest optionally includes an actuator configured to move the headrest forwardly in response to rotary motion of a rotary member.

Headrest dump assembly integrated into a seatback


A highly extendable and retractable dual elastic hose comprises a tubular inner fluid conduit made of an elastomeric material and an elastic tubular outer sleeve of interwoven webbing made out of braided strands of textile yarns wherein embedded a plurality of evenly distributed highly elastic rubber strings extending horizontally along its longitudinal length. The inner tube is secured to the tubular outer sleeve only at an inlet coupler and an outlet coupler. Both the inner tube member and the outer tube sleeve can automatically expand longitudinally up to five times its unexpanded or contracted length resulting from pressurized fluid within the hose. To provide a linearly extendable and retractable dual elastic hose constructed with elastic materials both in the inner tube and the outer sleeve, it shows advantages of an improvement in expandable ratio of the outer sleeve and a reduction of strain forces required for the inner elastic tube to elongate the outer sleeve. A prolonged service life of the dual elastic hose is expected due to an effective reduction of frictional contacts and frictional resistance between the internal wall of the outer sleeve and the outer wall of the inner tube from less relative movements a lubricant layer between the two walls.

Hoses are popular tools with homeowners for transporting water from a conventional household spigot to where it is needed. It is necessary in some circumstances to move the hoses around while operating them to spray water for the purposes of car washing, housekeeping or garden watering etc. After they are used conventional hoses are normally carried or dragged back to their place of storage and they are stored on a reel or coiled up upon themselves and laid on a flat surface. Long hoses may be heavy and cumbersome to manipulate and put through for many users and they present some storage issues like kinks and knots with conventional reels and hooks arrangements.
It is known in the art that extendable and retractable hoses can provide certain benefits, namely their lightness in weight and convenience in use, relative to conventional fixed length ones. However, they are also associated with some drawbacks particularly when the extending and retracting forces are initiated solely by the expansion or relaxation of the inner elastic tube upon the pressure of water or the release of water pressure within the hose. For example, prior art extendable and retractable hoses often use friction resistant woven fabric jacket to protect the inner elastic tube from abrasive damages on rough surfaces like concrete, asphalt, and brick. The conventional reinforcement jackets adopted to provide structural supports are made of non-elastic based materials which inevitably constrain in a process of conducting a longitudinal extension to potential limits of the hoses with regard to the extension limit of the elastic inner tube. Another problem with a non-elastic reinforcement jacket housing an elastic inner tube as configured in conventional extendable hoses lies in the universal existence of frictional contacts and accordingly introduced frictional resistance between the internal wall of the outer jacket and the outer wall of the inner tube during stretching, elongating and retracting of the hose.
The second problem can be partially mitigated by applying a lubricant between the inner elastic tube and the non-elastic reinforcement jacket to lower frictional resistance and lessen wear at the inner elastic tube when frictional contacts occur and therefore partially reduce damages to the exterior of the inner tube and promote a longer service life of the extendable hose. However, there is still a need in the art for a novice hose concept, preferably one which uses solely an elastic inner tube to provide extending forces, to address the aforementioned problems such as, the longitudinal extension limitation of a hose resulting from non-elasticity of a reinforcement fabric jacket and the friction induced hose failure due to inevitable and universal existence of frictional contacts between an inner elastic tube and a reinforcement jacket.


An image forming apparatus transmits a log thereof relating to a status detected thereby to a log collection server, and sets a storage period of each transmitted log in the log collection server. The image forming apparatus acquires a total amount of logs thereof stored in the log collection server and a storage period of each log from the log collection server, and deletes the log thereof stored in the log collection server based on the storage period of each log before transmitting a log if a sum total including the total amount and a total amount of logs to be transmitted reaches an upper limit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to log transmission control of an image forming apparatus connected to a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
A system for transmitting various logs stored inside an image forming apparatus to a log collection server and promptly checking the logs by accessing the log collection server from a remote place has recently been developed.
Herein, the log is, for example, an image log dealt with by a system such as a security monitoring system, and a sequence log for detecting a problem of a device. These logs are managed on the log collection server.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-253025 discusses a system in which a certain elapsed-time log (e.g., 30-day-old log) is deleted since a hard disk on a server has a capacity limit.
Development of such a system is expected to advance further over the next years.
However, there are cases where a large amount of sequence logs are generated within a short time (within a few days), for example, due to abnormality of an image forming apparatus. In such a case, if logs are continuously transmitted to a log collection server, a hard disk capacity of the log collection server is compressed. (In other words, deletion of a certain elapsed-time log may not be enough for its recovery.)
Moreover, there are cases where data in the log collection server needs to be deleted when a volume of log data stored in the log collection server reaches a certain size. In such a case, there is a possibility that an important log may be deleted simultaneously.

Image forming apparatus, control method for image forming apparatus, and storage medium


The invention relates to a layer arrangement and a wafer level package comprising the layer arrangement, and in particular, the layer arrangement comprises a getter layer and further comprises a sacrificial layer. The wafer level package may be used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) packaging at a vacuum level of about 10 mTorr or less such as close to 1 mTorr (i.e. MEMS vacuum packaging).

MEMS vacuum packaging, the technology for providing gas-tightness enclosure with an internal tiny cavity, has been a key technology for various MEMS devices and systems. Vacuum packaging protects micro devices and systems from external environments and allows easy handling. The stability of pressure is very important to ensure the dynamic performance of MEMS devices. Wafer level MEMS packaging is recently gaining momentum since it provides a practical pathway for cost reduction as the yield and volume increase. Keeping the vacuum environment in MEMS wafer level packages is really a technical challenge because of the high volume to surface ratio.
Pressure level is a key parameter for the quality of the MEMS devices. The pressure deterioration within a micro cavity is strongly related to the leakage of the packaging structure and the outgassing phenomena. Ultra-high vacuum conditions, such as 10 mTorr or less, for the MEMS packaging can be achieved using the getter technology. This technology utilizes the unique property of getter materials to sorb the residual gases trapped in the device during the manufacturing process and maintains the pressure at a very low level for the required lifetime by limiting the gas flux.
Metals such as zirconium (Zr), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta) and yttrium (Y) used in the getters are capable of dissolving their own chemically formed oxides, nitrides and carbides in the solid-state form at elevated temperatures. For example, Zr has a better gettering capability compared to Ti since the gettering effect of pure Ti is very low due to oxidation and other contamination. As a result, commercial getters are primarily Zr-based alloys which can seclude a vacuum level of about 1 mTorr. Nevertheless, Zr powders have high activity and are easily flammable and explosive.
Therefore, there remains a need to provide for alternative getter technology for use MEMS devices to overcome the above problem.

Layer arrangement and a wafer level package comprising the layer arrangement

Agency for Science, Technology and Research


A method and control unit in a vehicle for estimating a stretch of a road based on a set of tracks of another vehicle, when driving the vehicle along the road in a driving direction to a destination. The method comprises: detecting a set of tracks of the other vehicle, on the road; estimating the geographical position of the detected set of tracks; comparing the estimated geographical position of the detected set of tracks with map data; rejecting the detected set of tracks when it exits the road or when situated in a driving lane in a direction opposite to the driving direction; and otherwise estimating the stretch of the road based on the set of tracks.

Recently developed vehicles may follow a road or traffic lane by detecting road markings and using them for positioning the vehicle on the road laterally, when the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle or a manned vehicle driving in auto pilot mode.
The vehicle may comprise a means for transportation navigating on a road such as e.g. a truck, a car, a motorcycle, a trailer, a bus, a bike, a terrain vehicle, a tractor or other similar manned or unmanned means of conveyance.
In case the vehicle has a driver, a Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system may alert the driver when a road marking line is crossed.
Such warning system typically comprises a camera detecting road markings on the road and by image recognition, a distance to the road markings may be calculated. When the distance is approaching zero, possibly in addition to a safety margin, an alert may be outputted to alert the driver.
However, road marking lines are often worn out due to heavy traffic and insufficient road maintenance. Further, road markings are often covered by snow and ice (winter), leaves (autumn), water, sand, dirt (rest of the year), making it hard or even impossible to discover any road markings at all. Sometimes no road markings have been painted at all, or only an insufficient amount of them.
Document US20080291276 illustrates a method for determining the stretch of the road by detecting road side barriers and combining this information with detecting wheel tracks of other vehicles.
However, all roads do not have road side barriers, at least not on all the route. Nothing is stated in the document how to navigate then. Neither is it discussed how an autonomous vehicle may navigate.
Documents US20140081573, US20110060478 and US20100098290 demonstrate methods for detecting tire tracks with sensors/cameras and thereby determine the road condition. However, nothing is stated concerning using detected tire tracks for any other purposes. Neither is it discussed how an autonomous vehicle may navigate.
Document JP4654796 describes a method for keeping a vehicle within a traffic lane by detecting tire tracks of other vehicles on the road. However, nothing is stated concerning how to distinct tire tracks to follow from tire tracks not to follow, e.g. a vehicle that has driven of the road, has made a U-turn, etc. Neither is it discussed how an autonomous vehicle may navigate.
It appears that further development is required for providing a navigation system for a vehicle, which will follow a road to a destination, in particular for an autonomous vehicle.

Method and control unit in a vehicle for estimating a stretch of a road based on a set of tracks of another vehicle


The invention provides a transceiver circuit for communication that enhances the operation frequency of a synchronous digital circuit up to the maximum frequency of a flip-flop and inhibits the occurrence of jitters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit for communication that are synchronized with a clock and execute data signal processing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, to increase data communications traffic, the enhancement of the data rate of a communication system is demanded and high-speed performance is essential for an element circuit of the system. Particularly, concerning a circuit for optical communication, to utilize the very high speed transmission characteristic of an optical fiber to the maximum, the enhancement of the operating speed is strongly demanded.
Factors which limit a data rate will be described below. To transmit at precise timing, a circuit for communication is operated in synchronization with an external reference clock. In transmitting, a data waveform is shaped using a clock signal and data is transmitted, and in receiving, data is decided using the clock signal extracted from a received data waveform. As a clock signal determines the transmission of data and the timing of receiving, the maximum frequency of the clock signal determines a maximum operation frequency required in a communication circuit as it is.
That is, as the clock signal has the highest frequency component in the circuit for communication, the upper limit of the operation frequency of its clock signal processing circuit is required to exceed at least the frequency of the clock signal. In a high frequency, the upper limit of the operation frequency of the clock signal processing circuit is determined under the effect of the characteristics of devices forming the circuit and a wire parasitic element. In case a clock signal equal to or exceeding the operating frequency is input to the clock signal processing circuit, the amplitude of the clock signal decreases and therefore, an error occurs in the operation of a circuit of a synchronous type such as a flip-flop. Therefore, the maximum operation frequency of the clock signal processing circuit is an important element that determines the operation frequency of the circuit for communication.
In such a circuit for optical communication, a system in which a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit respectively formed using a circuit of a synchronous type are connected via an optical fiber as shown in FIG. 2 is known. (For example, see FIG. 1 in a non-patent document 1. It is hereinafter called a conventional type example 1.)
As shown in FIG. 2, parallel data signals and a clock signal are input to the transmitter circuit TRM. A multiplexer (MUX) 30 is a circuit for time-division multiplexing the parallel data signals to a serial data signal. "m" pieces of parallel data signals can be multiplexed to a serial data signal of a data rate of f1 b/s at a data rate f1/m b/s. In this case, "m" is the power of 2 and FIG. 2 shows a case of "m=4". The multiplexed data signal is converted to an optical signal via an electrical/optical converter composed of a laser diode 40, a modulator 41 and a driver 42.
The optical signal input to the receiver circuit RCV via an optical fiber 33 is converted and amplified to an electrical signal by a photo diode 31, a preamplifier 32 and a main amplifier 35. This signal is demultiplexed, one is input to a decision circuit 36 and the other is input to a clock extracting circuit 2a. The clock extracting circuit 2a is a circuit for recovering the clock signal based upon the data signal. The decision circuit 36 decides and outputs a code of data at precise timing using the recovered clock signal and inputs it to a demultiplexer (DEMUX) circuit 34. The demultiplexer circuit 34 demultiplexes and outputs the serial data signal of the data rate of f1 b/s to the "m" pieces of parallel data signals at the data rate of f1/m b/s using a clock signal acquired by dividing the recovered clock signal into a frequency f1/2 Hz in a frequency divider 20. According to this configuration, "m" pieces of data signals of the data rate of f1/m b/s which can be easily processed in an electrical circuit can be transmitted simultaneously and in parallel on one optical fiber. In FIG. 2, an external clock having a frequency of 5 GHz is input to the transmitter having a data rate of 10 Gb/s.
In case a circuit for communication is actually applied to an optical transmission system, it is strongly demanded to reduce the jitter of an output waveform and to retime so as to possibly reduce a communication error. Therefore, a master-slave-D flip-flop MS for retiming is arranged next to the output of the multiplexer MUX as shown in FIG. 3 (For example, see FIG. 1 in a non-patent document 2. It is herein after called a conventional type example 2), and a clock signal having a frequency of f1 Hz is input to data of the data rate of f1 b/s so as to shape its waveform.
A clock signal having the frequency of f1 Hz is also input to the receiver circuit so as to drive the decision circuit 36 and a waveform is precisely reshaped. In FIG. 3, a reference number M denotes a master of the master-slave D flip-flop and S denotes a slave of the master-slave D flip-flop. A reference number 20a denotes a frequency divider, 23 denotes a data output buffer circuit, 24 denotes a phase shifter circuit that enables the phasing of a clock signal so that the clock signal is input at a suitable time slot, 25 denotes a clock buffer circuit, and T1 and T2 denote a control signal input terminal for controlling a phase.
Operation using a clock having the frequency of f1 Hz at the data rate of f1 b/s is called full rate operation. In not only the configuration of the transmitter circuit shown in FIG. 2 but the configuration of a circuit shown in FIG. 4 (For example, see FIG. 16 in the non-patent document 1. It is hereinafter called a conventional type example 3), a clock signal having a frequency of 20 GHz is also input to data of a data rate of 40 Gb/s in a receiver circuit RCV. As described above, the operation of the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit using a clock signal having the frequency of f1/2 Hz at the data rate of f1 b/s is called half rate operation.
[Non-Patent Document 1]
pp. 347 to 383 of "Si and SiGe BIPOLAR ICs for 10 TO 40 Gb/s OPTICAL-FIBER TDM LINKS" written by H.-M. REIN and published in 1998 by World Scientific Publishing Company in Vol. 9, No. 2 of International Journal of High Speed Electronics and Systems
[Non-Patent Document 2]
pp. 129 to 132 of Vol. 30 of "A 12-Gb/s Si Bipolar 4:1-Multiplexer IC for SDH Systems" written by Z. H. Lao, et al. and published in 1995 in Vol. 30, No. 2 of IEEE Journal of Solid-state Circuits

Receiver circuit and transmitter circuit

Abstract: A clock signal synchronized with data at f1/n Hz is converted by a multiplier so that the signal has a frequency of “n” times so as to use the clock signal for triggering a flip-flop the operation frequency of which is f1 b/s in the synchronous digital circuit. The multiplier is arranged in the vicinity of the flip-flop triggered by the clock signal of f1 Hz so as to avoid the effect of the deterioration of the operation frequency by interconnect capacitance.

Abstract: The maximum operation frequency of the transceiver circuit determined based upon the operating frequency of the synchronous digital circuit can be enhanced up to the maximum operation frequency of the flip-flop. As a margin can be produced in designing a frequency band of a clock signal processing circuit, the reduction of power consumption, the reduction of phase noise and the extension of a control frequency range can be realized.


A process for the production of bis(silylorganyl)-polysulphanes of the formula EQU (R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 SiR.sup.4).sub.2 S.sub.x (I). in which. R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 : can be identical or different from each other, and are branched and unbranched alkyl and/or is an alkoxy groups with 1 to 8 cations, wherein at least one alkoxy group is present, aryl residues, in particular phenyl, toluyl, benzyl; PA1 R.sup.4 : means a divalent alkylidene residue having a chain length of 1-8 C atoms, or PA1 --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --(n=1 to 4); PA1 by reacting haloalkylalkoxysilanes or PA1 with a polysulphide of the formula EQU M.sub.2 S.sub.x (III).. haloalkoxysilanes of the formula EQU R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 SiR.sup.4 X (II). In a first stage of the reaction, dehydrated polysulphide is obtained by reacting a sulphide hydrate containing water of crystallization with sulphur under a vacuum at a temperature of 60.degree. to 300.degree. C.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of polysulphide silanes using an inorganic polysulphide produced in a novel manner. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of producing inorganic polysulphides.
The use of bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulphane combined with silicas having an elevated surface area in order to improve the properties of automotive tires, such as abrasion, wet skidding resistance and rolling resistance is prior art which has been documented in numerous patent applications. The difunctional silane here in the above compound acts as a bridge between the hydrophilic inorganic filler, silica, and the hydrophobic organic polymer, wherein a strong covalent bond is formed between the filler and the polymer.
The silylalkylpolysulphanes are essentially produced by nucleophilic substitution on chloroalkylsilanes with anionic polysulphides produced by various methods. Such a process was first described in German patent DE 2141159, but this document gives no information relating to the production of the nucleophilic polysulphide. However, production of the nucleophilic polysulphide is the critical part of the process which gives rise to silylalkylpolysulphanes.
Some patents have described the use of hydrogen sulphides to produce the precursor polysulphide. The German patent DE 2542534 accordingly proposes a method for the production of bis(silylalkyl)polysulphanes in which the polysulphide is formed in situ from hydrogen sulphide and sulphur in alcohol. Hydrogen sulphide is liberated in this process and must be disposed of by suitable measures. This disposal entails additional, economically undesirable, capital costs for an industrial plant. While liberation of hydrogen sulphide may indeed be suppressed by adding alkoxides (German patents DE 2712866 and German published application DE-OS 3311340), this approach is disadvantageous for technical and economic reasons.
Firstly, the anhydrous hydrogen sulphide required for performance of this process must be obtained in a preceding process stage, for example by a reaction between alkoxides and hydrogen sulphide (c.f. U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,739). Hydrogen sulphide, being a highly toxic gas, constitutes a considerable safety hazard, which must be minimized at some cost by suitable technical measures. Furthermore, most alkoxides have only limited storage stability, so entailing continuous in situ production. This additional starting product thus considerably increases the production costs of the desired bis(silylalkyl)polysulphanes.
One possibility for producing the nucleophilic polysulphide is to react sulphide with sulphur. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,405,985 and 5,468,893 and application EP-A 694552 propose processes which obtain the corresponding polysulphide in an aqueous solution from sulphides and sulphur and react it with haloalkylsilanes in a two-phase system by phase transfer catalysis to yield polysulphanes. In this method, the phase transfer catalyst remains in the product thereby exerting an as yet unexplained influence on the applicational properties of the bis(silylalkyl)polysulphanes. Furthermore, due to the known susceptibility to hydrolysis of the alkoxysilanes used, the products are distinguished, as may be expected, by poor storage stability, thereby further restricting the customer's processing options. For these reasons, two-phase synthesis with a polysulphide produced in an aqueous solution is clearly not an acceptable approach.
There are thus reasons for using anhydrous polysulphide for the reaction between inorganic polysulphide and alkoxysilane. The problem then arises that anhydrous sulphides are not commercially available.
Japanese published patent application JP 7-228588 proposes two processes for the production of a polysulphide to solve this problem. In the first process, a hydrous sodium sulphide is dissolved in a solvent mixture and the water of crystallization present therein is removed by azeotropic distillation of the solvent. In the second method, once drying has been performed under a vacuum, the sodium sulphide is reacted with sulphur in anhydrous ethanol.
Very long reaction times of 5 hours are required for synthesis of polysulphides from sulphides and sulphur in boiling alcohol. This is substantially because sodium sulphide and sulphur have only very limited solubility in the solvents used. Diffusion of the two reactants towards each other thus becomes a determining factor for the rate of reaction. Were the proposed process scaled up to the industrial scale, it is to be suspected that this reaction time would be still longer.
However, with regard to increasing the space/time yield and thus for ensuring better utilization of capital investment, it is necessary to shorten the reaction time in order to achieve an economically viable reaction. The sodium polysulphide is furthermore obtained in the form of alcoholic solutions/dispersions. This proves to be very disadvantageous if further processing and production are not performed on the same site.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to avoid the prior art problems and to provide a process which yields a dehydrated, solid product with shorter reaction times.

Process for the production of bis (silyorganyl) polysulphanes


Securing mechanisms are employed in known plug connections, which have components designed in a complicated way, the manufacture and assembly of which entails high cost and which result in bulky plug connectors. The plug connection in accordance with the invention is designed in such a way that a securing ring (18) formed in one piece on a second part (11) has stop shoulders (29) which, for securing the plug connection, grip, stationary detents (46) of a first part (41). The securing ring (18) has the shape of a convexly closed polygon (24), the corner points (26) of which have a reduced wall thickness in comparison with the polygon lines (27). The polygon lines (27) can be kinked at the corner points (26) by means of squeezing pressure forces acting on the securing ring (18), which allows the disconnection of the securing of the plug connection. This results in a plug connection of low mass which can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner. This plug connection is preferably employed in motor vehicles which are subject to oscillation increases during operation.

In electrical plug connections consisting of a first part and a second part adapted to the first and formed as a connecting part, it is known to provide catches which prevent the unintentional disconnection of the plug connection.
As a rule, these catches are formed as resilient elements such as springs, hooks and the like, which grip locking elements from behind.
In case of great mechanical stress of this plug connection, for example in a plug connection installed in a motor vehicle, it is necessary to form the elements required for these catches stronger, so that disconnection of the plug connection, due to the considerable mechanical stresses on the plug connection during operation of the motor vehicle, is prevented.
An electrical plug connection with a U-shaped securing spring made of wire and seated on a connecting part, which grips a detent of a first part inserted in the connecting part, is known from German Patent Disclosure DE-35 31 925 C2, HAKE, published 19 MAR. 1987. The securing spring is a complicated bent component of spring wire having two spring legs, each one of the spring legs forming a two-armed lever, and securing sections with a support section and a manipulation section being formed on the levers.
A component of this type is encumbered with many interdependent tolerances and, in a bendable part, the wire diameter of which is relatively large in comparison with the individual bending sections and for this reason is very stiff per se, this results in high production costs because of complicated tools and large testing expenditures. To prevent lasting deformations which would lead to widening of the U-shape of the spring and would endanger locking, the spring must be guided through support grooves in the connection housing.
This expensive embodiment of the connecting housing prevents the economical manufacture of the plug connection.


An integrally mounted control point node for use in an audio distribution system and including a control processor for receiving command signals and providing audio control signals to response thereto; a command signal generator for producing the command signals in response to activation by a user of the system; a terminal for receiving a plurality of audio signals; an audio signal tuner for receiving the control signals and the audio signals; an amplifier receiving an output signal from the tuner and the control signals from the control processor; and a speaker terminal for transmitting the output signal to a speaker.

The present invention relates generally to the residential and the commercial premise distributed audio industries and, more particularly, to audio, video and control systems for multiple room home or office facilities.
Currently, most audio distribution systems consist of a central control processor, amplifiers, matrix switches, sources, speakers, and keypads (further referenced here as Control Point Nodes). All of these components installed together comprise an audio distribution system. Typically in these systems sources, such as CD players, Music Servers, Satellite tuners, AM/FM tuners, tape decks, etc. . . . are centrally located and connected to a matrix switch via analog or digital signals. The signals are then routed to centrally located or remotely located amplifiers. The signal is amplified and then the signals are routed to the speakers for transduction within the installation spaces. In many of these installation systems the matrix switch and multiple amplifiers can create what is known as a multi source to multi room system. Thus, content from different sources can be reproduced in different rooms at the same time, and or the same source can be reproduced in all rooms.
The typical way a user would control the source such as channel up, down or next track, as well as controlling the acoustical properties in the room such as volume and tone is via a small control point node. These control point nodes are typically wall mounted so that the control surface and display (if designed) are easily accessible by the user. These control point nodes can be installed within a single gang, or multiple gangs, or in some cases larger than standard electrical boxes.
Examples of such prior audio systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,803,728; 6,501,389; and, 6,389,139; and PCT/AU98/00647.
A significant disadvantage of currently available multi-room systems is their use of a fixed number of inputs available with external tuner source components. A building or large estate with twenty or more rooms equipped to reproduce sound requires a matrix switch capable of at least 20 inputs and outputs and 20 source component radio tuners to allow every room the ability to tune in a different station.
The object of this invention therefore, is to provide in every room of a multi-room facility an integrated wall mounted control point node which allows a user to receive a particular audio input selected from a variety of available sources.

Audio distribution system with local integrally wall mounted control point nodes


A cathode active material capable of further improving chemical stability, a method of manufacturing the cathode active material, and a battery using the cathode active material are provided. The cathode includes a cathode active material in which a coating layer made of a compound including Li, at least one selected from Ni and Mg, and O is arranged on complex oxide particles represented by Li1+xCo1−yMyO2−z, where M is at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, B, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Sn, W, Zr, Y, Nb, Ca and Sr, and the values of x, y and z are within a range of −0.10≦x≦0.10, 0≦y<0.50 and −0.10≦z≦0.20, respectively. A surface layer made of an oxide including at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Ti, Si, Mg and Zr is formed on the coating layer.

The present application relates to a cathode active material which includes a complex oxide including lithium (Li) and cobalt (Co), a method of manufacturing the cathode active material, and a battery using the cathode active material.
In recent years, according to the widespread use of portable devices such as video cameras and laptop computers, small-sized high-capacity secondary batteries have been in increasing demand. Currently-used secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries using an alkali electrolytic solution; however, in the nickel-cadmium batteries, the battery voltage is as low as 1.2 V, so it is difficult to improve the energy density. Therefore, a so-called lithium metal secondary battery using lithium metal having specific gravity of 0.534 which is the lightest among the simple substances of solids, an extremely base potential, and the highest current capacity per unit mass among metal anode materials has been developed. However, in the lithium metal secondary battery, as the lithium metal secondary battery is charged and discharged, lithium is grown into a dendrite form in an anode, thereby there are some issues such as a decline in cycle characteristics and the occurrence of an internal short circuit due to lithium penetrating through a separator. Therefore, a secondary battery using a carbon material such as coke for an anode and repeating charge and discharge by inserting and extracting alkali metal ions has been developed, and the deterioration of the anode due to charge and discharge is reduced (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. S62-90863).
On the other hand, as a cathode active material capable of obtaining a battery voltage of approximately 4 V, transition metal chalcogenides including alkali metal are known. Among them, a complex oxide such as lithium cobalt oxide or lithium nickel oxide holds great promise in terms of a high potential, stability and long life, and in particular, lithium cobalt oxide has a high potential, so it is expected that the energy density will be improved by increasing a charge voltage.
However, when the charge voltage is increased, an oxidation atmosphere near a cathode is enhanced, thereby an electrolyte is easily deteriorated due to oxidative decomposition, or cobalt is easily eluted from the cathode. As a result, charge-discharge efficiency declines, and cycle characteristics or high temperature characteristics decline, so it is difficult to increase the charge voltage.
As a related-art technique for improving the stability of the cathode active material, a technique of forming a coating layer on surfaces of complex oxide particles is known. Moreover, as a method of forming a coating layer, a technique of coating surfaces of complex oxide particles with a metal hydroxide, and then performing a heat treatment is known (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. H9-265985 and H11-71114).
However, when complex oxide particles are covered with a metal hydroxide, and then heated, particles are easily sintered, thereby particles are easily bonded. As a result, when an electrical conductor or the like is mixed at the time of forming a cathode, a bonded part and particles are ruptured or cracked to cause the separation of a coating layer or expose fracture surfaces of the particles. Such fracture surfaces have very high activity, compared to a surface formed at the time of firing, so the deteriorative reaction of an electrolytic solution and a cathode active material easily occurs.

Cathode active material, method of manufacturing the same, and battery


A method and system for identifying casting includes writers for applying unique identification indicia to the inside and outside of a molding core package. The identification indicia and at least one operating parameter associated with the molding process, such as day, time, melt temperature, melt composition, or other operating variables are tracked and recorded by a molding controller such that castings having a particular characteristic may be identified after the molding process has been completed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for uniquely identifying castings in serial production, for tracking operating parameters associated with a molding process, and for recording sensed values of such parameters for each individual casting produced by a casting process.
2. Background Information
High volume production of castings used, for example, in automotive engines, typically involves molding by means of sand core packages. According to common practice, each sand core package is assembled from pre-made cores which are filled with melt, cooled, and further processed. Additional processing may include, for example, thermal reclamation of the core sand. Although it is desirable to uniquely identify castings for quality control and other reasons, efforts to provide such identification have generally not been successful in the context of high volume casting operations. One common practice has been to apply a tag or date code to molds, such that the date and a particular work shift are provided in raised relief in the finished product. Unfortunately, in high-volume production, thousands of parts may be made in a single shift, and problems associated with the casting process could necessitate scrapage and/or recall of all the parts produced in a given shift, for that matter, a plurality of shifts. It is desirable, therefore, to have the capability of associating or recording data pertaining to a casting process with each particular cast workpiece. In this manner, if it is determined subsequently that one or more cast workpieces were molded at a time when process parameters were out of specification, the affected castings may be identified with specificity.
The inventors of the present invention have fortuitously devised a system and method for providing unique identification of each casting produced in a foundry, while at the same time providing a system and method for tying each casting to and recording with the casting a plurality of operating parameters associated with the casting process. Thus, as noted above, if imperfect parts or workpieces are produced by the casting process because one or more of the operating parameters drifts out of acceptable limits, the affected parts may be readily identified by doing a search of a memory storage device situated within a molding controller, which will have data sets corresponding to the unique identification for each particular casting, coupled with recorded values for various parameters associated with the molding process.
It is an advantage of the present invention that a system according to this invention may be used to control casting inventories and to provide field service for castings, because each casting will be uniquely identified and the characteristics of the casting process pertaining to each particular casting will be readily ascertainable.
Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to the reader of this specification.

System for identifying castings and for tracking casting process parameters


This device is presented as a bulkhead doorway attached to a wall structure, such as a sunroom or an enclosed pool; this device connects the interior space to the outside; and with this device a user can completely clean, rinse and clear the floor surface of the enclosure.

When flushing a floor surface that is only enclosed by a screen-walled structure, one must manage a water stream and debris. The debris is sometimes swept, but often captured by water using a hose or pressure washer. Currently, users must direct accumulated debris and a growing puddle of water toward the one opening in the walled structure—the door that people use for access and egress to the space.
Again, one door is usually available in a given screened enclosure. This is usually 35 to 70 feet from the furthest floor space in the enclosure.
Consider also that debris in a screened enclosure has settled on the screen and is washed down by rain, thus it has a very fine particle size. The debris can also include pet hair, plant leaves, potting soil, and trash left by people which is larger and difficult to move. While clearing the deck (such as pressure washing) one must manage the complex debris pile for example, for 35-70 feet. This is extremely time-consuming for the user.
Currently, some add-on doorways are commonly designed for pets. The doorway in many patent disclosures is on the screen door itself. The present invention is specifically designed for installation with a low profile, at the floor level, and specifically designed to accommodate deck flushing activity. The present invention channels and allows water to exit at a high velocity without being tied to a door location.
Other key distinctions include operation of pet doors by animals. Animals provide a relatively sizeable and strong operating element. Further, a pet door must work for exit and entrance. These systems do not contemplate the unique needs of a deck flushing procedure. For example, water must be carefully directed. This direction applies to getting water to the doorway, through the doorway and out of the doorway. In addition, one must consider the base rail when routing water and debris.
What is needed is a way to improve the cleaning of an enclosed floor, that is self-closing and operates in one direction, that can be attached as a structural part of the walls of a walled structure.

Device for flushing decks in an enclosed area


An apparatus for adjusting vehicle height, the apparatus being disposed between a vehicle body and a wheel assembly, the apparatus including a first suspension coil spring adapted to be connected to the vehicle body, a second suspension coil spring adapted to be connected to the wheel assembly, the second suspension coil spring being different in diameter from the first suspension coil spring and arranged in serial relation to the first suspension coil spring in an axial direction thereof, and an actuator substantially disposed within an inside space defined by the first and second suspension coil springs. The actuator is operative to axially move one of the first and second suspension coil springs relative to the other thereof.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting height of a vehicle body, which is useable in a vehicle suspension.
Japanese Patent Application First Publication No. 7-253135 shows a hydropneumatic cylinder acting as a shock absorber in a vehicle suspension. The hydropneumatic cylinder includes a sleeve and a stepping motor axially driving the sleeve. The stepping motor is arranged upward of a suspension unit.


Method and apparatus for analyzing a substance in a container, the method comprising the steps of: disposing antenna means (3) at a predetermined geometrical distance (L) from a container portion (13); transmitting a signal from said antenna means through a surface portion (12) of the substance towards said container portion; receiving a first reflected signal in said antenna means from said container portion; determining a geometrical distance (L1) from the surface portion to the container portion; varying the frequency of the transmitted signal to determine a first phase displacement between the transmitted signal and the first reflected signal; determining an optical distance from the surface portion to the container portion based on the first phase displacement; and determining the index of refraction (nt) of said substance based on the optical and geometrical from the surface portion to the container portion.

It is often of interest to analyse a substance disposed in a container in order to gain knowledge of a particular characteristic of the substance. Examples of such characteristics include material composition, and relative content of a certain material. In many situations, a contact free analysis method which does not require taking of substance samples is preferable. The reason for this may be that the substance as such is hazardous or reactive to contact detector devices, or that the substance itself may be contaminated by contact from probes or other devices. Furthermore, the characteristic sought for in the substance may vary from point to point in the bulk or along a surface of the substance, and it is therefore desirable to have an analysis method which is capable of probing larger portions of the substance in a container, for gaining knowledge of e.g. an average parameter value of a certain characteristic representative of the entire substance as a whole.
Changes in the pattern of electromagnetic wave fronts represent the most sensitive probes in physics. Electromagnetic waves may penetrate media of varying physical properties, changing its amplitude and phase in a way which is specific to the content of the media. Thus, continuum radiation will be affected when penetrating a media in the sense that the amplitude will be attenuated and the propagation velocity will change, resulting in a sudden change of phase in the interface surface. The radio band is of particular interest in that here waves can penetrate deeper into dusty areas and penetrate through materials which are opaque to visual light.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,706, issued to the inventor of the present invention, discloses a method for measuring the position of a metallurgical melt surface in a furnace or the like, where a metal portion of the melt is covered by a slag layer. The method includes providing a signal generator for generating signals at a plurality of frequencies over a frequency band, and providing an antenna for receiving the signals generated by the signal generator and for transmitting radio waves at the plurality of frequencies over the frequency band. The antenna is disposed adjacent the metallurgical melt, transmitting the radio waves from the antenna toward the metallurgical melt, at the plurality of frequencies over the frequency band. The transmitted radio waves are reflected in the upper surface of the slag layer and in the surface of the metal portion. The antenna thus receives reflected images of the transmitted radio waves from those surfaces, and means are provided for determining a phase displacement between the transmitted radio waves and the received reflected images of the transmitted radio waves, transforming the determined phase displacement from a frequency to a time plane, and determining from the time plane transform a position of the metal portion and the slag layer. This way, a measurement of the amount of metal present in the furnace can be obtained.

Method for analysing a substance in a container


A method of producing a gas-barrier laminated member having a gas-barrier layer formed by crosslinking the carboxyl groups of a polycarboxylic acid polymer with multivalent metal ions. The method comprises forming a layer (A) containing an alkaline compound of a multivalent metal on at least one surface of a plastic base material, applying a solution (b) obtained by dissolving a polycarboxylic acid polymer in a solvent containing at least water onto the layer (A) that contains the alkaline compound of the multivalent metal, and removing the solvent by a heat treatment so that a metal-ionically crosslinked structure is formed with the multivalent metal ions among the carboxyl groups in the solution (b). The gas-barrier laminated member has excellent adhesion to the base material, gas-barrier property, retort resistance and flexibility, and is efficiently produced by only being heated at a low temperature for a short period of time through a decreased number of simplified steps.

A variety of gas-barrier members have heretofore been proposed and, particularly, a polyvinylidene chloride, a polyacrylonitrile and an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer have been known as gas-barrier resins. From the environmental problems, however, it is a tendency to refrain from using the polyvinylidene chloride and the polyacrylonitrile. The ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, on the other hand, permits the gas-barrier property to vary much depending upon the humidity; i.e., the gas-barrier property decreases under highly humid conditions.
In order to solve the above problems, there have been proposed a gas-barrier resin composition in which a polycarboxylic acid polymer is reacted with a crosslinking agent having 2 to 4 functional groups that react with the carboxyl groups and with metal ions having a valency of two or more so that the polycarboxylic acid polymer forms crosslinked portions due to the crosslinking agent and, further, forms the crosslinked portions due to the metal ions having the valency or two or more, the weight ratio of the polycarboxylic acid polymer and the crosslinking agent being 99.9/0.1 to 65/35 (patent document 1), and a gas-barrier film having a gas-barrier coating formed on at least one surface of a thermoplastic resin film, the coating being formed from a polyacrylic acid crosslinked with a crosslinking agent which contains an epoxy compound having not less than 3 epoxy groups per a molecule, and the crosslinking agent being contained in an amount of 1 to 100 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the polyacrylic acid (patent document 2).
The gas-barrier materials disclosed in the above patent documents 1 and 2 must be crosslinked to a high degree through the heating at a high temperature of not lower than 150° C. or conducted for a long period of time and, therefore, greatly affect the plastic substrate and, besides, require the dipping treatment or the spray treatment for conducting the ionic crosslinking with metal ions, deteriorating productivity and consuming large amounts of energy and water. Besides, these gas-barrier materials fail to satisfy the requirements of flexibility and retort resistance.
There has, further, been proposed a gas-barrier laminated film which enables dry-firing to be effected at a relatively low temperature, the gas-barrier laminated film comprising a layer (a) formed from a coating solution (A) containing a polycarboxylic acid polymer without heat treatment and a layer (b) formed from a coating solution (B) containing a water-soluble multivalent metal salt and an aqueous resin, the layer (a) formed from the coating solution (A) and the layer (b) formed from the coating solution (B) forming at least a pair of lamination units neighboring each other (patent document 3).
Patent document 1: JP-A-2003-171419
Patent document 2: JP-A-2002-240207
Patent document 3: JP-A-2007-313758

Method of producing gas-barrier laminated member


An image forming apparatus is provided that can adjust an inclination deviation even after a laser scanner unit and a photosensitive drum are embedded. A CPU 601 selects at least two screen angles from among screen angles, and generates image signals corresponding to the respective selected at least two screen angles, based on these angles. The CPU 601 causes light emitting elements to emit light beams at different emission timings with reference to a timing on which a BD 803 detects the light beam, based on a generated image signal, thereby forming latent images of test images on a photosensitive drum. The latent images formed on the photosensitive drum are developed, and test images are formed on a recording medium.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses, such as a copier, a laser beam printer and a facsimile, and particularly to image forming apparatuses that form an image using a plurality of laser beams.
Description of the Related Art
To realize high speed image forming and high image quality, image forming apparatuses that include a multi-laser light source provided with a plurality of light emitting elements emitting laser beams have been increasing in the market. The image forming apparatus using the multi-laser light source can form an image at high speed, and output an image with high quality.
Some multi-laser light sources include a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in series at prescribed intervals. The light emitting elements are disposed such that different positions on a photosensitive member in the rotational direction of the photosensitive member are exposed to laser beams emitted from the respective light emitting elements. In a recent image forming apparatus, to form an image with a high resolution, the multi-laser light source is rotationally adjusted when the apparatus is assembled. This adjustment allows exposure position intervals (exposure spot intervals) of laser light in the rotational direction of the photosensitive member to be in conformity with the resolution of the image forming apparatus.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-13434 discloses that positional deviations of exposure spots created by laser beams in the main scanning direction in which the laser beams scan a photosensitive member are corrected by adjusting light emission timing of each laser. The light emission timing is adjusted depending on an optical property of scanning light from a laser scanner unit (optical scanning unit; hereinafter, called "LSU") that includes a multi-laser light source provided with a plurality of light emitting elements. The deviations of pixels due to positional deviations of exposure spots of respective laser beams in the main scanning direction are corrected. This correction can suppress the relative deviation of pixels formed by the respective laser beams in the sub-scanning direction, which is the rotational direction of the photosensitive member. Expensive dedicated components, such as a sensor capable of responding at high speed and a focusing lens, are required to realize the invention of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-13434. Accordingly, adoption of such a configuration in every image forming apparatus causes a problem of cost. Thus, in a conventional art, when an LSU is manufactured, the optical property of scanning light is measured using a measurement jig simulating an ideal position of the photosensitive drum, and an adjustment value for light emission timing of each laser, which is derived from the measurement result, is recorded in a ROM. In an actual use, the image forming apparatus reads the adjustment value from the ROM, adjusts the light emission timing, and forms an image.
Each of the LSU and the photosensitive drum is installed at prescribed positions in the image forming apparatus. In the case of adjusting the positional deviations of exposure spots based on the laser emission timings of the respective lasers as with Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-13434, the LSU embedded in the image forming apparatus cannot be adjusted correctly unless the relative positions of the embedded LSU and the photosensitive drum are ideal. In the case where the light emission timings cannot be adjusted correctly, an exposure spot row is inclined from the sub-scanning direction at a prescribed angle; this inclination is called inclination deviation. In a recent multi-laser that has a number of lasers, the distance between the opposite ends of plurally arranged lasers is large. Accordingly, adverse effects of the inclination deviation are large. For correct adjustment of laser light emission timing, an electric adjustment method is inexpensive. However, in this method, writing adjustment factors and magnification adjustment factors coexist as much as the number of lasers. Accordingly, adjustment cannot easily be performed.
In view of these conventional problems, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can adjust an inclination deviation even after an LSU and a photosensitive member are embedded.


A fixing belt for fixing the toner image on a recording medium includes an electroformed nickel endless belt body. The belt body exhibits hardness higher at the rear surface than at the front surface after heated at 350° C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing belt comprising an electroformed nickel endless belt body, used in a fixing section of an image-forming apparatus such a facsimile or a laser beam printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known in the art, a belt fixing system using an endless fixing belt (an endless belt or an endless film) in place of a fixing roller is employed in an image-forming apparatus in compliance with the demands for the miniaturization and the energy saving of the image-forming apparatus and for the increased speed in the printing and copying operation. The fixing belt is thin, and therefore can substantially directly heat the toner image on the recording medium by the heating from the inside the thin fixing belt only through the thin belt and fix the toner image. Accordingly, the fixing belt is advantageous in that it can shorten the waiting time after the turning on of the power source.
Use of an endless nickel belt prepared by electroforming as a belt body of the fixing belt is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Disclosure (Kokai) No. 2002-148975. This patent document teaches that an endless nickel belt containing 0.01 to 0.1 mass % of carbon is prepared by the electroforming. Also, Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 2003-57981 discloses a belt fixing system using a halogen lamp as a heating source.
However, the conventional fixing belt having an electroformed nickel belt body fails to exhibit a sufficient resistance to thermal fatigue at high temperatures, and is poor in its durability. More specifically, in the case of the belt fixing system, the rear surface of the belt body of the fixing belt is deteriorated by heat so as to generate cracks, leading to the problem that the belt body is broken.

Fixing belt having higher hardness at a rear surface than at a front surface


A device for manual replacement and transport of a roller (1) of a copying machine, for example, which makes it easier and safer for service, replacement and transport of hot, heavy and large rollers. There is provided a protective container (5) which can be slipped over a roller (1), which has been released in the machine, and its carrying apparatus. The roller (1) can be removed from the bearing points (L1, L2) of the machine with the protective container (5) using its carrying apparatus which project out of the protective container, and can be inserted into the bearing points. Carrying handles for the carrying apparatus, enable the roller to be guided into slotted openings and, can be radially inserted into bearing points, and can be removed from them. A transport container (6) into which the protective container (5) provided with the roller (1) can be manually inserted and removed.

The invention relates to a device for manual replacement and transport of a roller of a copying machine or an electrophotographic printer.
Copying machines known in the form of copiers in which a roller is replaceable and transportable for service purposes. The roller can be equipped with a carrying apparatus, in which it can turn freely around its center axis. The copier for its part has rollers for routing through and delivering a toner image-bearing recording medium in the form of a sheet or strip, which rollers can be operated in rotation in an adjoining, axially parallel arrangement in the bearing points of the machine, and are supported by their axial ends. A manually activated device is provided for releasing the rollers in their bearing points and for separating the rollers in the radial direction for purposes of removing them from their hearing points and inserting them into their bearing points.
EP-0 000 631 B1 discloses a copier in which the fixing unit for toner image-bearing sheets of paper can be removed laterally from the copier for service purposes and has a manually actuated swiveling lever system for release of the fixer/heating roller. The fixing/heating roller, for replacement and carrying, has a carrying device in the form of a single U-shaped carrying handle which is located rigidly on a U-shaped holding frame spaced in the middle between the axial ends of the fixing/heating roller and radially to the center axis of the roller. The U-shaped holding frame on its free U-leg ends has one bearing each for one of the axial ends of the roller in which it can be freely turned. Moreover the holding frame on the outside on its free U-leg ends has cube-shaped, separate bearing blocks which are connected rigidly to the leg ends and by which the fixing/heating roller can be inserted into the U-shaped bearing points of the fixing unit and removed.
The problem of this disclosed embodiment is that when using large, heavy fixing/heating rollers, for purposes of improving fixing quality, it is difficult to replace and carry the fixing/heating roller without jamming and damaging by a single carrying handle. Further, removing a hot fixing/heating roller and placing it in the transport container is difficult without endangering the service personnel and damaging the roller.
Therefore the object of the invention is to provide a device which makes it safer and easier to carry out customer service of the machine, especially replacement and transport of hot, heavy and large rollers, and moreover has a simple, compact, economical structure. The object is achieved by a device including a protective container which can be preferably slipped over a roller which has been released in the device and its carrying apparatus. The roller can then be removed from the bearing points of the device for example with the protective container slipped on by its carrying apparatus which project out of the protective container and can be placed again into the bearing points.
The object is achieved as claimed in the invention with a device as claimed in claim 1 by there being a protective container which can be preferably slipped over a roller which has been released in the device and its carrying means. The roller can then be removed from the bearing points of the device for example with the protective container slipped on by its carrying means which project out of the protective container and can be placed again into the bearing points.
Advantageously the protective container has an essentially U-shaped cross sectional profile with an inside cavity for holding a roller which has a diameter which is larger than one outside diameter of the roller. Accordingly, in the protective container which has been slipped onto the carrying apparatus of the roller, there is no contact between the protective container and the roller. The protective container has recesses in its container wall for holding the carrying apparatus of the roller which has an inside width, which compared to the assigned outside diameter of the carrying apparatus, is predetermined such that the protective container with its recesses can be placed on the carrying apparatus by clamping. There is, moreover, a transport container in which the protective container provided with the roller can be manually inserted and removed. In the transport container there is provided a device for securing the protective container and the roller.
Feasibly there is moreover a transport container in which the protective container provided with the roller can be manually inserted and removed, in the transport container there being means for securing the protective container and the roller.
The invention moreover relates to a copying machine or an electrophotographic printer with an replaceable roller which has on its two axial ends one carrying handle at a time as the carrying apparatus. The roller can be guided by the carry handle into essentially slotted openings which run radially from the outside periphery to the center axis of the bearing points, and which are located on the bearing points of the machine, can be radially inserted into the bearing points, and can be removed from them. Accordingly, it is possible to safely remove the roller from the copier without the danger of injury.
Advantageously, on the one hand the carrying handles are arranged centered to the axial center axis on the ends of the roller. The carrying handles of the roller project axially beyond the bearing points of the device and beyond the protective container. At least one of the two carrying handles of the roller has an arrangement for axial and radial centering and guiding of the roller in its bearing points in the machine. At least one of the two carrying handles of the roller has a guide on the roller for axial and radial centering and guidance of a protective container which may be present.

Device for manual replacement and transport of the roller of a copying machine or an electrophotographic printer


The cage comprises a metal support framework and plastic panels that define trays for containing live-poultry. Horizontal floor panels of the trays are domed and slitted to prevent pooling of water. Vertical fence panels are formed as open lattice boxes, combining good containment with good ventilation. Openable doors for the trays have a double-detent camming action, whereby the doors snap to open or snap to closed, whichever is closer. The cage is lifted on/off a truck with a fork lift.

Such cages are traditionally arranged, for handling around the farm, and lifting on and off the truck, by a fork lift. On the truck the cages are stacked typically two high, the weight of the upper cage resting on the lower cage.
The birds are in the cages for no more than a few hours, but still the losses in the traditional conventional cages are higher than they should be. The birds can be injured and damaged from hard physical contact with the walls and floors of the cages. In the traditional cage designs, there are projections and sharp edges, inherent in the design thereof, which can also damage the birds.
Another type of injury can happen when water forms pools on the floor or tray of the cage. The water may be excrement or precipitation water. In cold weather, the water freezes, and the birds can become trapped as a result of their feet being frozen to the floor, and injuries can follow especially when the birds are jostled upon being extracted from the cage.
When the components of the cage with which the birds make prolonged contact (e.g the floor of the cage) are metal, the temperature thereof can become so hot—or so cold—that simple direct contact leads to physical injury to the birds.
On the transport truck, the cages may be jerked and bounced around. All too often, unfortunately, with the traditional designs, not only does this injure the birds, but also it can damage the cages. (Often, the worst violence occurs when the cages are being moved around an uneven farmyard on a fork lift.) So, it is common for the farmer to have to spend time repairing (re-welding, usually) the cracked and broken frameworks of the cages.
Also, the traditional cages also have not been particularly designed to safeguard the birds, and to keep them from being injured as they are flung violently against the components of the cage. Other things that can lead to distress of the birds, such as lack of ventilation, proper drainage, ease of cleaning, etc, have not been given due attention in the traditional designs. The traditional cages have not been designed to maximise the safety and comfort of the birds; it is recognised that, by paying attention to these aspects, losses due to birds being killed and injured during transport can be significantly reduced. Also, it is not uncommon for the cage doors of traditional cages to open accidentally during transport, and for the birds inside to be lost.
It is an aim of the present invention to alleviate these problems. In the invention, much of the framework is bolted. Bolted joints are inherently pre-stressed by the tightness of the bolts, which makes such joints much more able to absorb bending and other stresses that can arise from the rough and abusive treatment meted out to transport cages in the farm-to-market context.
A poultry transport cage of the kind as described herein, as a structure, does not have the typical fragility associated with traditional live-poultry cages, of course, any cage can be damaged, but the freedom from constant need for small running repairs, due to the overall general robustness of the new manner of construction, is very marked. Also, in the new design, if components do get damaged, they can be unbolted, and either easily repaired, or easily replaced. For example, a careless handler might run a lift fork into one of the plastic fences; the plastic fence then must be removed and replaced, but it easily can be, as will be described.


An inducer of cytotoxic T cells comprising as an active ingredient a protein which comprises the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as that shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, or a peptide derived from the protein above is provided.

It is known that the cell mediated immunity, particularly a cytotoxic T cell (hereinafter, referred to as "CTL") plays a significant role in vivo rejection of tumor cells or viral infection cells. CTLs recognize a complex between a tumor antigen peptide and a major histocompatibility complex class I antigen, i.e., MHC class I antigen, which is referred to as "HLA antigen" in the case of human, on the cell surface of tumor cells, and attack and kill the cells.
Tumor antigen peptides are generated through the intracellular processing of intracellularly synthesized proteins specific for tumors (tumor antigen proteins) and degradated by proteases. The resultant tumor antigen peptides form a complex with MHC class I antigens (HLA antigens) in endoplasmic reticulum and transported to the cell surface where said complex is presented as an antigen. CTLs, when recognize the complex presented as an antigen, exhibit the anti-tumor effects through cytotoxic action or production of lymphokines. As a consequence of elucidation of a series of such actions, a therapy of tumor patients has become available, wherein a tumor antigen protein or peptide is administered as an immunotherapeutic agent, i.e., cancer vaccine, thereby enhancing tumor-specific CTLs in the patient.
Typical examples of tumor antigen proteins include those described in Immunity, 10: 281, 1999, Table 1. Specific examples include melanosome antigens such as melanocyte tissue specific proteins, for instance, gp100 (J. Exp. Med., 179:1005, 1994), MART-1 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 91:3515, 1994) and melanosome proteins such as tyrosinase (J. Exp. Med., 178:489, 1993). Examples of tumor antigen proteins other than melanoma include HER2/neu (J. Exp. Med., 181: 2109, 1995), CEA (J. Natl. Cancer. Inst., 87: 982, 1995), and PSA (J. Natl. Cancer. Inst., 89: 293, 1997), etc. However, tumor antigen proteins broadly applicable to cancers (tumors) including sarcomas such as osteosarcoma have not been reported yet.
Papillomavirus binding factor (PBF, GenBank data base Accession No. AF263928) has been identified as a factor recognizing the E2 binding site of papillomavirus (Virology 293, 103-117, 2002). However, nothing has been known about the relationships between the PBF and tumors.


An infrared (IR) security system and method is disclosed comprising two or more IR cameras directed upon a common surveillance area. Locations of the cameras and their optical fields of view are pre-established and stored in a central computer database. Computer programs harmonize the information into a 3D grid. The camera processors perform image processing on the surveillance area to detect moving objects. Object angular position, size, aspect ratio, and radiometric intensity are simultaneously transmitted to the central computer. The grid position, physical size, and inherent electro-magnetic contrast of the objects are computed. These IR signatures are then compared to the target definitions in the database of IR signatures on pre-defined threats. Alarm criteria can be based on object size, location, and movement over time. When a threat is determined, the user is notified by text message, image or video.

Security systems using infrared (IR) cameras have been successfully employed for many years. When the first images produced in total darkness were demonstrated, the application as a night vision security device was obvious to all. This ability to see at night under unlighted conditions has proved quite useful. Early systems were based upon a single camera, and the detection capability was good. They became more effective when they were combined with a trained operator to interpret the image scene. The recent trend has been toward greater automation of these systems using artificial intelligence; and employing expensive high-resolution cameras to provide greater image detail to analyze potential threats.
Today, IR security systems employ image-processing software to automatically detect targets. These sophisticated algorithms discriminate between true and false targets by combining low-resolution motion detection with high-resolution shape recognition. High-resolution IR cameras are very expensive and cost prohibitive for many applications. The results have been good, but needed improvements in false alarm detection have been disappointing. In spite of the progress, these techniques are too expensive and have been unable to replace the human operator.
Security systems using IR technology are powerful because of their ability to detect humans (i.e. warm blooded objects), but they can be fooled by false detections, clutter, or naturally occurring events in the image scene. Performance is further reduced by decreased sensitivity resulting from climatic conditions (i.e. fog, rain, snow, dust, etc.) or excessive range to their targets.
The key to an effective security detection system is measured by two criteria: (1) the probability of detection of a true target when present, and (2) the frequency of false alarms of the system when a true target was not present. The perfect system is 100% probability for (1) and 0% occurrence for (2). One approach has been to make the definition of a target of interest broad enough to ensure all true targets are detected (100%) and to develop algorithms to detect false targets while retaining the true targets. Elaborate sets of spatial, motion, location, and image feature recognition techniques have been tried, and some are in use today. However, there remains much room for improvement.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a clear and long felt need for an IR security system and method that achieves the high-resolution threat discrimination of newer, more expensive IR cameras from less costly, low-resolution IR cameras, while avoiding false alarms due to clutter. Such robust and inexpensive target detection would allow the threat criteria to be expanded into behavioral observations and activities unattainable by current systems. Full automation, resulting in elimination of a dedicated human operator while maintaining high detection probabilities with low false alarm rates, is a need yet to be satisfied.