The present invention concerns a color image forming apparatus wherein toner images formed on a plurality of image carriers are primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer object, and then, are secondarily transferred onto a recording sheet. The color image-forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers; a plurality of latent image forming devices to form electrostatic latent images on the image carriers; a plurality of developing devices to develop the electrostatic latent images with toner to form visible toner images on the image carriers; an intermediate transfer member, a longitudinal direction of which is arranged at substantially a vertical direction, and onto which the toner images formed on the image carriers are sequentially transferred in such a manner that the toner images overlap relative to each other so as to form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer member; and a transferring device to transfer the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer sheet. The intermediate transfer member and the image carriers are integrated into a rack, and the rack is drawable in substantially a horizontal direction in respect to a mainframe of the color image-forming apparatus.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic system such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile machine, and in particular, to a color image forming apparatus wherein toner images formed on a plurality of image carriers by a plurality of image carriers, latent image forming means and developing means are primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer object, and then, are secondarily transferred onto a recording sheet.
In the case of a conventional color image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic system, there have been proposed various types of systems wherein a plurality of image forming sections are arranged in parallel in the conveyance direction, and toner images each being different from others in terms of color formed respectively on photoreceptor drums in image forming sections are successively transferred on a recording sheet held on a transfer belt.
There is also known a color image forming apparatus wherein a transfer drum around which a recording sheet fed from a sheet feeding section is wound is used in place of the transfer belt stated above. By transferring toner images visualized by developing means onto the recording sheet wound around the transfer drum successively, a full color image is formed on the recording sheet. After this, the recording sheet is separated from the transfer drum and is subjected to fixing of the toner image conducted by a fixing means to be ejected out.
Further, in another color image forming apparatus, there is also proposed a system wherein a plurality of image forming sections are arranged in parallel, toner images each being different from others in terms of color formed respectively on photoreceptor drums in image forming sections are successively transferred onto an intermediate transfer object for forming superposed primary transfer images, and the primary transfer images are transferred onto a recording sheet held on a conveyance belt.
A color image forming apparatus of a tandem type of this kind having a plurality of photoreceptors wherein a color image is formed through one turn of each of plural photoreceptors can output full color images at higher speed, compared with a color forming apparatus of a multi-rotation type wherein a color image is formed through plural turns of a single photoreceptor.
A plurality of photoreceptors and intermediate transfer objects need to be removed from an apparatus main body because of their maintenance and life-times. Therefore, the structure which makes it easy to remove a plurality of photoreceptors and intermediate transfer objects has been required by the color image forming apparatus of a tandem type.
Since a plurality of photoreceptors, intermediate transfer objects in particular, rotating means to rotate the intermediate transfer objects, and intermediate transfer units including primary transfer means have considerable mass, it has been difficult for a user to draw out plural photoreceptors from positions where the photoreceptors have been mounted in the apparatus main body, and to take out directly intermediate transfer units from positions where the intermediate transfer units have been mounted in the apparatus main body, because it has been difficult to apply the physical power. In particular, it is not easy to pull out the heavy unit horizontally toward the front side of the apparatus main body. Furthermore, a unit such as a photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer object is weak against an impact, and there is a risk that the unit becomes unusable if a part of the unit is touched while it is pulled out. A scratch caused by a shock not only affects images in image forming in a single color but also has possibility that a desired color cannot be reproduced in color image forming, and the scratch turns out to be a fatal defect for a color image forming apparatus.
On the other hand, when each member is provided with its own mechanism to take out each member without interference, a large number of taking-out mechanisms (for example, slide rail mechanisms) are needed. Each taking-out mechanism requires its strength that withstands the weight. This makes an entire apparatus to be large.
The more the mechanism to take out each member individually is increased, the more difficult the positional adjustment between members is. In an image forming apparatus having plural photoreceptors, in particular, it is necessary to conduct superposition of each color in extremely high accuracy. If mutual positional deviation is caused for each maintenance of a unit, it is not possible to reproduce the color desired by a user. Furthermore, an intermediate transfer object is a member on which color toner images each being of a different color are superposed, and relative positions of intermediate transfer objects for plural photoreceptor drums are required to be accurate.
Further, when a color image forming unit of this kind is provided on a copying machine, there are further caused problems. Since a document image reading apparatus is arranged on the upper portion of the copying machine, there is needed a complicated opening/closing mechanism which opens the document image reading apparatus from the upper portion of the apparatus main body. Each of the document image reading apparatus and the opening/closing mechanism has considerable mass, and how to handle them is a problem. If an impact is applied on the document image reading apparatus in the course of opening/closing operations, there are caused problems of difficulty in maintaining accuracy of optical members, parts damages and injures of an operators. Drawing out from the upper portion of the apparatus main body has the aforesaid problems, although it is easy for a user to apply the physical power.
In the image forming apparatus which forms images on both sides of a sheet, a sheet fed from the a sheet feeding means is subjected to transfer and fixing of toner images formed on an image carrier on the first surface of the sheet, and then is branched from the sheet ejection path to be conveyed to a reversing means provided on the lower or upper portion. The sheet thus conveyed is reversed up side down, and then, is made to join a sheet conveyance path again from a sheet feeding section. The sheet which has joined the sheet conveyance path is conveyed to the image carrier again so that a toner image may be transferred onto the second surface of the sheet.
As a method to form images on a sheet from inputted multi-color images, TOKKAIHEI No. 9-006083 discloses an image forming apparatus wherein a plurality of developing units are arranged in parallel on one side of an image carrier representing a belt arranged longitudinally, and a sheet ejection section is provided on the other side, and charging, writing of a latent image and developing are conducted in succession within one turn of one image carrier.
In an image forming apparatus for a color image, when an image carrier on which a toner image is formed and a developing unit are arranged in the longitudinal direction, if joining from the reversing means is conducted in the vicinity of the sheet feeding unit positioned at the lower portion, the image forming apparatus is made to be large in the longitudinal direction, which is a problem.
For example, FIG. 9 is an illustrative diagram of an image forming apparatus showing image forming flows to both sides of a sheet.
In FIG. 9, image forming apparatus 101 is provided with scanner section R, image carrier 110, scorotron charging unit 111, image writing means 112, developing unit 113, transfer means 115, fixing means H, sheet feeding section 117, bypass sheet feeding section 109, reversing means S and with sheet ejection tray T.
The scanner section R reads an image of a document set through an optical system. The image writing means 112 exposes image carrier 110 to light to form a latent image, based on the image read. The latent image formed on the image carrier 110 is developed by developing unit 113 to turn into toner.
On the other hand, the sheet feeding section 117 is provided with a plurality of sheet feeding units 117a-117d each housing therein sheets in a different size, and a sheet is fed out toward registration roller 141 through first sheet conveyance path P0 by sheet feeding roller 118a of the selected sheet feeding unit, for example, of sheet feeding unit 117a. The registration roller 141 starts rotating to convey the sheet so that the toner image formed on the image carrier 110 may be synchronized with the sheet.
The sheet conveyed to the registration roller 141 is superposed on the toner image formed on the image carrier 110, and thus, the toner image is transferred onto the sheet. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is sent to fixing means H to be fixed, and is ejected to sheet ejection tray T.
When transferring a toner image on the second surface of the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred onto the first surface thereof, the sheet on which the toner image has been formed is fed in second sheet conveyance path G.
On the second sheet conveyance path G, there is provided reversing means S that is equipped with a pair of switchback rollers 143 capable of rotating regularly and inversely and guide 148. The sheet which has been fed in is reversed inside out by switching of the sheet conveyance direction for the switchback rollers 143 c of the reversing means S and switching of the conveyance path of guide 148. The sheet thus reversed is sent to roller unit 118e by driving rollers 144 and 145 to join the first sheet conveyance path P0 representing a sheet conveyance path from the sheet feeding section. The sheet which has joined the first sheet conveyance path P0 is sent again to the registration roller 141, and then, is ejected to sheet ejection tray T after the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred onto the second surface of the sheet and fixed.
Namely, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when forming toner images on both sides of a sheet, the sheet on which a toner image has been transferred on the first surface thereof is reversed inside out by the reversing means, and is made to join the sheet conveyance path coming from the sheet feeding section, and after that, a toner image is transferred onto the second surface of the sheet.
From viewpoints of production cost and easiness of design for an image forming apparatus, the reversed sheet has been made to join the sheet conveyance path in the vicinity of a sheet feeding unit by a roller similar to that of the sheet feeding unit. For example, one sheet feeding unit among plural sheet feeding units has been removed to be used for the reversed sheet to join the conveyance path.
For this reason, when an image carrier on which a toner image is formed and a developing unit are arranged in the longitudinal direction, if joining from the reversing means is conducted in the vicinity of the sheet feeding unit positioned at the lower portion, the image forming apparatus is further made to be large in the longitudinal direction.
When the time for image forming on both sides of a sheet needs to be shortened, the conveyance time for conveying the reversed sheet to the vicinity of the sheet feeding section is a problem.
The invention has been achieved to solve the aforesaid problems, and an object of the invention is, in a color image forming apparatus having a plurality of photoreceptors and intermediate transfer units, to make operations for mounting the aforesaid members and image forming means such as developing means on an apparatus main body and operations for dismounting them from an apparatus main body to be easy and to make maintenance for them to be easy, and to realize prevention of troubles of each member, high accuracy of positions and down-sizing of the total apparatus.
Another object is to reduce a floor space of an apparatus and to reduce a height of an apparatus in the vertical direction, and thereby to realize down-sizing of the total apparatus.
Further object is to shorten the time for image forming on both sides of a sheet and to provide an image forming apparatus requiring less floor space.
The objects stated above are realized by either one of the following structures.
(1) A color image-forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image carriers; a plurality of latent image forming devices to form electrostatic latent images on the image carriers; a plurality of developing devices to develop the electrostatic latent images with toner to form visible toner images on the image carriers; an intermediate transfer member, a longitudinal direction of which is arranged at substantially a vertical direction, and onto which the toner images formed on the image carriers are sequentially transferred in such a manner that the toner images overlap relative to each other so as to form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer member; and a transferring device to transfer the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer sheet; wherein at least the intermediate transfer member and the image carriers are integrated into a rack, and the rack is drawable in substantially a horizontal direction in respect to a mainframe of the color image-forming apparatus.
(2) A color image-forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image carriers; a plurality of latent image forming devices to form electrostatic latent images on the image carriers; a plurality of developing devices to develop the electrostatic latent images with toner to form visible toner images on the image carriers; an intermediate transfer member to bear a color toner image formed by superimposing the toner images, which are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer member from the image carriers; and a transferring device to transfer the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer sheet; wherein at least the intermediate transfer member and the image carriers are integrated into a rack, and the rack is drawable in substantially a horizontal direction in respect to a mainframe of the color image-forming apparatus.
(3) A color image-forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image carriers; a plurality of latent image forming devices to form electrostatic latent images on the image carriers; a plurality of developing devices to develop the electrostatic latent images with toner to form visible toner images on the image carriers; an intermediate transfer member, a longitudinal direction of which is arranged at substantially a vertical direction, and onto which the toner images formed on the image carriers are sequentially transferred in such a manner that the toner images overlap relative to each other so as to form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer member; a sheet feeding section to store a transfer sheet and to feed the transfer sheet stored; a first sheet conveyance path, through which the transfer sheet, fed from the sheet feeding section, is conveyed to the intermediate transfer member; a transferring device to transfer the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet; a reversing device to reverse a front side back of the transfer sheet, onto a first surface of which the color toner image is already transferred; and a second sheet conveyance path, through which the transfer sheet, reversed by the reversing device, is conveyed to a confluent position with the first sheet conveyance path, so that the transfer sheet re-enters the first sheet conveyance path from the confluent position; wherein the confluent position, at which the second sheet conveyance path joins the first sheet conveyance path, is located at substantially a center of the sheet feeding section and at substantially a lower position of the image carriers.
(4) A color image-forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image carriers; a plurality of latent image forming devices to form electrostatic latent images on the image carriers; a plurality of developing devices to develop the electrostatic latent images with toner to form visible toner images on the image carriers; an intermediate transfer member, a longitudinal direction of which is arranged at substantially a vertical direction, and onto which the toner images formed on the image carriers are sequentially transferred in such a manner that the toner images overlap relative to each other so as to form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer member; a sheet feeding section to store a transfer sheet and to feed the transfer sheet stored; a first sheet conveyance path, through which the transfer sheet, fed from the sheet feeding section, is conveyed to the intermediate transfer member; and a transferring device to transfer the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet; wherein the intermediate transfer member is located at substantially a upper position of the sheet feeding section, and the transferring device is shaped in a roller and contacts a lower portion of the intermediate transfer member.

Color image forming apparatus with rack having detachable units


A novel process for sterilizing an article made from polymeric material by radiation sterilization. The article is enclosed in a gas impermeable package together with an oxygen absorber for a time sufficient to consume substantially all the oxygen in the package and the oxygen dissolved in the polymeric material. The article is prefereably intended for medical use and can contain a radiation sterilizable parenterally administerable preparation.

Sterilizing medical articles of polymeric materials can be performed by a number of methods, such as steam sterilization (autoclavation), radiation sterilization (electron beam (EB), .beta.- and .gamma.-radiation), ethylene oxide (EtO) and aqueous formaldehyde. Each method has its specific advantages and disadvantages and will be selected with respect to the chemical structure of the polymeric material. If the material is employed as a packaging material, the selection also depends on the characteristics of the enclosed goods.
A technical problem that requires especially careful consideration is the sterile packaging and storing of parenterally administerable fluids that both are sensitive to atmospheric oxygen during storage and incompatible with many polymeric materials and their additives.
In known manufacturing technologies, the most rigorous methods involve filling a bag with the medical fluid in the presence of an inert gas, sealing the bag and subjecting it to steam sterilization and thereafter placing it, still in an oxygen free atmosphere, with an oxygen absorber in an outer oxygen impermeable envelope. Such a process, as for example described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,400, is, however, both laborious and resource consuming.
Oxygen absorbers have previously been successfully used for the packaging of oxygen sensitive medical fluids like amino acid solutions and fat emulsions. The absorbers have been positioned between an inner medical container made from a gas pervious polymer material filled with the medical solution and an outer enclosing sheet made of an gas impermeable material. Such packages are disclosed by e.g. the European patent specifications EP-A-0 093 796 and EP-A-0 510 687.
Sterilization by irradiation is a desirable alternative method to heat sterilization, since it will provide a simpler and less costly manufacturing process. It is, however, a technique that must be carefully considered, because of the chemical and physical alterations that can be induced in the polymeric material in the presence of atmospheric oxygen.
EP-B-0 218 003 discloses a radiation sterilized medical device enclosed in a gas permeable bag which is irradiated with .gamma.-radiation and thereafter placed in a gas impermeable wrapping member together with a deoxidizing agent. Both residual oxygen and ozone resulting from the gamma radiation will thereby be absorbed and because the entry of oxygen from the external environment is almost completely prevented, an oxygen-free condition within the wrapping is obtained. The purpose of the technique disclosed in EP 0 218 003 is primarily to prevent the "gamma"-odour associated with ozone.
The British patent specification 1,230,950 describes a similar method of sterilizing material packaged together with an oxygen scavenger with .gamma.-radiation.
The sterilizing methods according to these patent specifications may, however, lead to the formation of undesired and potentially deleterious degradation products originating from free radicals of the polymeric material and the small amounts of dissolved oxygen that remains in the polymeric material during the .gamma.-irradiation. The activity of the highly reactive free radical containing molecules may to a certain degree pervade the original polymeric structure of the material by bond cleavage and macroradical formation, thereby making the material discoloured or changing its mechanical properties.
In theory, a layered polymeric material with adhered or built-in oxygen scavengers, as disclosed in the Japanese patent applications JP 61104974 and JP 63152570, may at least partially the problems of secondary effects originating from dissolved residual oxygen in the material. In practice, the .gamma.-radiation will cause local overheating in the material that leads to thermal oxidation that destroys the oxygen scavengers.
Much industrial effort has been devoted to the search for non-colouring radiation systems, especially for medical devices made of polypropen. The chemically aggressive radicals or products thereof may also damage sensible medical fluids stored in containers made of irradiated polymers. This tends to be especially disadvantageous when the fluids consist of sensitive amino acid solutions and/or lipid emulsions containing polyunsaturated fatty acids that are intended to be stored for a considerable time period.
The various methods for stabilizing polymers against such primary and secondary events of occurring in materials exposed to high-energy radiation include electron and ion scavenging, energy transfer processes, radical scavenging and acceleration of radical decay. Such methods are normally costly and do not always introduce processes and compounds that are compatible with sensible medical products. There is a very restricted knowledge of how such compounds may interfere with sensitive fluids during storage. Moreover, in the field of pharmaceuticals, there is a general desire from medical authorities that additives in any form shall be excluded from products on the market. Besides that, only a few additives have been found in practice to reduce the number of radicals generated in a polymer by a given .gamma.-radiation dose. Most of these additives are unacceptable for use, especially for medical articles, because of their intense yellow discoloration. Some of them may possibly accelerate post-.gamma.-degradation. Another approach has been to use an additive, not to prevent radical formation, but instead to speed the (hopefully harmless) decay of these radicals. This concept of radical "mobilization" has been clearly shown to speed radical decay, and to improve long-term stability in the case of polypropen. It has been shown that the decay of macroradicals formed from irradiation of polypropen under vacuum is accelerated by PE-waxes, atactic polypropen and hydrocarbon, in order of increasing effectiveness. None of these additives is, however, preventing the ion-electron reactions or deactivating excited states, as they are formed during the irradiation.
An important necessity for medical equipment to be .gamma.-sterilized is the substantially complete absence of contamination. This effectively eliminates all colour-forming antioxidants such as phenols (yellow-brown products) or aromatic amines (red-brown products) from plastic medical articles, see D. J. Carlsson et al. in Radiation Effects on Polymers Ed. by R. L. Clough et al., ACS Symposium Series 475,1991.
Hindered amines such as those based on 2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidine operate as antioxidants at ambient temperatures in light-stabilization packages. Furthermore they and their products are colourless or only very weakly absorbing. These aliphatic amines have been previously shown to function as stabilizers to post-.gamma.-irradiation oxidation of polyolefines, a phenomenon explained on page 433, Chapter 26 "Stabilization of polyolefines to Gamma Irradiation" in the above cited D. J. Carlsson et al.
The irradiated polyolefin will, due to the production of free radicals among other compounds form hydroperoxides, which may be decomposed under the formation of even more free radicals. Highly efficient stabilizer combinations might possibly suppress oxidation to the point where atypical hydroperoxide products dominate. Post-irradiation oxidation is largely dependent upon initiation by the slow thermal decomposition of the hydroperoxides. Hydroperoxide decomposition by an additive, such as hindered amines, will also prevent this oxidative degradation. However, in medical applications all such additives are generally avoided, since they tend to discolour the articles and may migrate from the material and consequently introduce a toxicity risk.
The following description, given in order to clarify, the primary and secondary events taking place in polymers during, and after radiation sterilization, is based on the teachings by D. J. Carlsson et al. in Radiation Effects on Polymers Ed. by R. L. Clough et al., ACS Symposium Series 475, 1991, which hereby is incorporated by reference.
The primary radiation process appearing from irradiation of polymers can produce a number of different reactions, such as crosslinking, backbone scission and hydrogen evolution. Various chemical products can result from the occurrence of the complex cascade of events such as reactions (1)-(6) below, which are typical of gamma-irradiation. ##STR1##
At room temperature, the ion-electron recombination occurs quickly enough to give highly excited states (P*) and cations. At low temperatures (<-100.degree. C.), ejected electrons may be trapped in the polymer matrix. The excited states dissipate some of their excess energy by bond scission to give free radicals. The scission of C--H bonds is favoured over C--C backbone scission.
Secondary reactions in irradiated polymers appear when the free radicals produced in reactions (5) and (6), above, lead to the formation of chemical products, commonly associated with radiation effects. The combination of macro-alkyl radicals or their addition to unsaturated sites leads to chain branching and/or crosslinking. Hydrogen atoms mainly abstract from the polymer chain to give molecular hydrogen and fresh macroalkyl radicals (reaction (7)). ##STR2## In some polymers, main chain scission is followed by monomer elimination. Macroradical combination results in crosslink formation (reaction (8)). ##STR3## Unsaturation is a major product from irradiated polyolefins and is believed to result from migration of radical sites by an inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen atom transfer until two sites come together. Unsaturated products with conjugated double bonds resulting from radiation can have an undesired discoloured appearance. ##STR4##
In the absence of oxygen, the net result of irradiation is the composite result of reactions (5)-(9) so that crosslinked gel or a degradation of molecular weight results. The behaviour of various polymers irradiated in the absence of oxygen may be generalized into those which crosslink during irradiation; polyethylene, poly(methyl acrylate), poly(acrylic acid), polystyrene) and those which degrade (poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(.alpha.-methylstyrene), poly(butene-2). Polypropen undergoes both scission and crosslinking. Crosslinking increases the stiffness of plastics and can render them inextensible. Poly(olefin sulphones) have been shown to be exceptionally sensitive to .gamma.- or electron-beam radiation and can be used as short-wavelength photoresists. Chain scission also leads to embrittlement, but the effect of direct, radiation-induced scission in commodity polymers is normally minor compared with oxidative chain scission.
Because of its biradical nature, O.sub.2 reacts at close to the encounter frequency with carbon-centred radicals to give peroxyl radicals, by reaction (10). A relatively slow hydrogen abstraction from the polymer matrix by the peroxyl radicals, reaction (11), completes a cycle of reactions which cause the progressive oxidation of the polymer. ##STR5## The first molecular product, the hydroperoxide group, is thermally unstable and cleaves readily at the O--O linkage to give a pair of radicals and so leads to a branching, thermal oxidation during storage after irradiation. This effect is of major concern when sterilizing medical equipment, implants, etc. by .gamma.-radiation.
The loss of physical properties in many polymers containing aliphatic backbone substituents results from the .beta.-scission of alkoxyl radicals, reaction (12). The alkoxyl radicals are formed by hydroperoxide decomposition. ##STR6## They are also formed in the complex self-reaction of peroxyl radicals which may terminate the radicals. Elongation at break has been shown to be appreciably more sensitive to degradation than tensile strength.
The radiation sensitivity of polymeric materials is generally affected by impurities, additives, dose rate, sample thickness and morphology. For example, the highly oriented, chain-extended morphology in highly drawn PE fibres is much more .gamma.-irradiation-resistant than the usual melt-quenched semicrystalline morphology. This results both from restricted O.sub.2 diffusion and effects on radical decay rates. It is therefore complicated to predict the marked effect of the dose rate.
It is the primary object of the present invention to reduce the secondary processes appearing in polymeric material during and after sterilizing dosages of .gamma.-irradiation due to the presence of oxygen. It is of especial advantage to be able to eliminate the discolouring and the physical changes and degradation of polymeric materials that frequently appears after the use of conventional sterilization techniques.
A purpose with the present invention is also to obtain a safe and reproducible sterilization of sensitive medical objects without being dependent on expensive methods like evacuating air and introducing inert gases and steam sterilisation.

Process for sterilization by radiation and by the use of an oxygen absorber, a container and a medical article sterilized by the process


The present invention discloses a seat belt sash in the form of a decorative strip of acetate or like fabric which has a satin finish on its front surface and a pressure sensitive adhesive on its rear surface which is covered with a protective peel-off backing strip. The sash is affixed to the shoulder strap of an automotive seat belt with the decorative surface of the sash facing outwardly in view of the public. The sash has a printed message, pattern, or solid color thereon and serves to encourage the use of seat belts by automotive drivers and passengers while simultaneously allowing the user to present his message to the public. The seat belt sash is made to specific dimensions, i.e. width and thickness, to insure interference free use of the seat belt.

The present invention is directed to a decorative sash which is to be secured or affixed to the outer surface of the shoulder strap of an automotive seat belt.
More specifically, the sash is secured to the outer surface of the shoulder strap in such a manner as to allow the outer surface of the sash to be exposed. The sash is provided on its rear side with a peel-off strip thus exposing an adhesive layer which provides the means by which applicants' novel sash is secured to the seat belt shoulder strap.
In today's race for expressions of individualism through the individual's automobile, there have been many forms of personal attempts to express their preferences. These expressions have boasted alumni messages, football team preference, home state messages and many other similar messages for which individuals have a fondness or personal association therewith and wish to make these preferences known to the public at-large. These various messages come in a variety of forms such as bumper stickers or decals applied to the windows of their vehicles.
We are all familiar with the various messages presented to us in the form of "vanity" license plates. The subject of the instant invention is another form of such public expression and is attainable at a fraction of the cost of these "vanity plates".
Since people spend a great deal of time in their cars, they tend to treat their car as an extension of their personality. In addition to the types of cars they drive, people often add personalizations, as indicated above, to express their beliefs, associations, and tastes to other drivers of the motoring public. The seat belt sash will allow car owners to further decorate their vehicles with statements, patterns, or just a plain sash of a solid or striped color suitable to the user. The sash is made from a fabric, which is preferably acetate with a satin finish. This particular material is preferred to make the seat belt resemble the sash worn by beauty contestants to denote the geographical area they represent.
In addition to being a decorative item, the seat belt sash also serves as a strong encouragement for drivers and passengers to wear their seat belts. By having some sort of personal statement on the seat belt, drivers are encouraged to "buckle-up" their seat belts in order to display their personal message to other motorists and passengers thus promoting safety through seat belt wearing.


A firmware update method and apparatus of a set-top box for a digital broadcast system is provided. A firmware update method of a set-top box for a digital broadcast system includes determining whether a newly received Code Version Table (CVT) following a public CVT which has been previously received and stored is the public CVT or a filtering CVT; and updating, when the newly received CVG is the filtering CVT, the firmware of the set-top box with a filtering firmware indicated by the filtering CVT.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to digital broadcast systems and, in particular, to a firmware update method and apparatus of a set-top box in a digital broadcast system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital broadcast systems are classified into digital terrestrial broadcast systems, digital satellite broadcast systems, and cable digital broadcast systems depending on the transmission medium. One feature of these mediums is that program data is transmitted on each channel using high compression based on the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) encoding standard. Programs of a plurality of channels are multiplexed in a highly efficient manner based on the high-efficiency digital modulation scheme per channel. For this reason, digital broadcast systems can broadcast several dozen or even hundreds of channels without a plurality of repeaters that are required in analog broadcast systems.
Typically, a digital cable broadcast system includes a head end which transmits digital broadcast signals and processes the data uploaded by subscribers, and a set-top box which converts the digital signals transmitted by the head end to analog signals and accesses the original audio and video signals.
In such a digital broadcast system, cable System Operators (SOs) provide subscribers with cable TV programs, content, and other data that is produced by the SOs or supplied from production companies, such that subscribers access programs and other data of the SOs selectively.
In most digital broadcast systems, the MPEG-2 standard is adopted as the video and audio compression scheme along with the Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) scheme for highly efficient data transmission using limited transmission bandwidth.
The set-top box is a device that decodes the digitalized broadcast and management information transmitted by the head-end of the local cable TV company in order to receive cable TV or cable modem service, and transfers the decoded analog signals to the TV. The set-top box receives the broadcast and management information from the head-end. The head-end may include a digital broadcast server (Audio/Video Server), a Service Information Server for providing broadcast channel information, and a Conditional Access Server.
The set-top box can receive a firmware update periodically from the head-end to upgrade its firmware.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a firmware update procedure in a conventional set-top box.
Referring to FIG. 1, the set-top box boots up in step 101 and receives a public Code Version Table (CVT), which is the CVT carrying information regarding the firmware for all set-top boxes, in step 103. It is assumed that the public CVT contains information instructing the firmware update of the set-top box to the firmware 1. Upon receipt of the public CVT, the set-top box updates its firmware to firmware 1 indicated by the public CVT in step 105 and reboots to load the updated firmware in step 107. It is assumed that, after rebooting, the set-top box receives a filtering CVT, which is the CVT carrying information on firmware targeted to a specific set-top box, which contains information instructing firmware update of the set-top box to firmware 2 in step 109. If the filtering CVT is received in step 109, the set-top box updates its firmware to firmware 2 indicated by the filtering CVT in step 111 and returns to step 101 so as to reboot in order to apply the updated firmware.
After the reboot, the set-top box repeats steps 103 to 111. As a consequence, the set-top box enters an infinite loop of updating the firmware and rebooting.
In the case in which only the public CVT is received, the set-top box can update its firmware with the public CVT without a problem because the filtering CVT is ignored.
However, when both the public CVT and the set-top box-specific filtering CVT are received, the firmware update is performed twice in sequential order.
For example, if the public CVT indicating that firmware AAA is received, the set-top box updates its firmware with firmware AAA. The updated firmware AAA is not updated repeatedly with the firmware AAA of the same public CVT. However, if the filtering CVT indicating a firmware BBB is received, the set-top box updates its firmware to firmware BBB. In this case, the set-top box can receive the public CVT so as to update its firmware to the firmware AAA again.
In this manner, if both the public CVT and the filtering CVT are received, the conventional set-top box updates its firmware with the public and filtering CVTs alternately so as to repeat rebooting to update is the firmware, resulting in an infinite loop.

Firmware update method and apparatus of set-top box for digital broadcast system


A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing vessel capable of being vacuum evacuated; a first electrode disposed in the processing vessel in a state electrically floating via an insulating member or a space; a second electrode, arranged in the processing vessel to face and be in parallel to the first electrode with a specific interval, supporting a substrate to be processed; a processing gas supply unit for supplying a desired processing gas into a processing space surrounded by the first electrode, the second electrode and a sidewall of the processing vessel; and a first radio frequency power supply unit for applying a first radio frequency power to the second electrode to generate a plasma of the processing gas in the processing space. An electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the processing vessel is set such that a desired plasma density distribution is obtained for the generated plasma.

In a manufacturing process of semiconductor devices or flat panel displays (FPDs), a plasma is used to perform a processing, such as etching, deposition, oxidation, sputtering or the like, so as to obtain a good reaction of a processing gas at a relatively low temperature. Conventionally, a capacitively coupled type plasma apparatus has been widely employed as a single-wafer plasma processing apparatus, especially, as a single-wafer plasma etching apparatus.
Generally, in the capacitively coupled plasma processing apparatus, an upper electrode and a lower electrode are disposed to face each other in parallel in a vacuum processing chamber, a substrate to be processed (a semiconductor wafer, a glass substrate or the like) is mounted on the upper electrode, and a radio frequency voltage is applied to either one of the upper and the lower electrode. Electrons are accelerated by an electric field formed by the radio frequency voltage to collide with a processing gas.
As a result of ionization by the collision between the electrons and the processing gas, a plasma is generated, and a desired microprocessing (for example, etching) is performed on the surface of the substrate by radicals or ions in the plasma. At this time, the electrode to which the radio frequency voltage is applied is connected with a radio frequency power supply via a blocking capacitor in a matching unit and thus serves as a cathode. A cathode coupling method in which the radio frequency voltage is applied to the lower electrode, serving as the cathode, for supporting the substrate enables an anisotropic etching by substantially vertically attracting ions in the plasma to the substrate with a self-bias voltage generated in the lower electrode (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
(Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. H6-283474 & U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,522
In the conventional capacitively coupled plasma processing apparatus, an anode electrode to which no radio frequency power is applied is grounded. Typically, since the processing vessel is made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel and is frame-grounded, the anode electrode can be set to be at a ground potential via the processing vessel. For this reason, in case of a cathode coupling arrangement, the upper electrode serving as the anode electrode is built in the ceiling of the processing vessel to form a single body therewith, or the ceiling of the processing vessel itself is used as the upper electrode.
With a recent trend of miniaturization of design rules for the manufacturing process, a high-density plasma is required to be available at a low pressure for a plasma processing. In the capacitively coupled plasma processing apparatus as described above, the frequency of the radio frequency power tends to be gradually increased and a frequency of 40 MHz or greater is standardly used in recent years. However, if the frequency of the radio frequency power becomes high, a radio frequency current is made to be concentrated on a central portion of the electrode, so that a density of a plasma generated in a processing space between two electrodes becomes higher at the central portion of the electrode than that at the edge portion thereof. As a result, there occurs a problem that an in-surface uniformity of the process is considerably deteriorated.

Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method


A light bulb that is with glass envelope having light transmission of a wavelength only up to 700 nm has an incandescent filament enclosed in a glass envelope that transmits substantially no detectable amount of light of a wave length greater than 700 nanometers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of incandescent lamps. More particularly, the present invention is in the field of incandescent lamps or light bulbs which are used in conjunction with night vision equipment.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Night vision equipment used for military or like purposes electronically enhances infra red (ir) radiation to form images which are viewed by military or like personnel. Frequently, if not most commonly, personnel who use night vision equipment are occupying vehicles or aircraft. However, normal or regular incandescent light bulbs utilized for illuminating instrument panels or the like of vehicles and aircraft are not compatible with the use of night vision equipment. This is because normal or regular incandescent light bulbs emit substantial radiation in the infra red range. Consequently, if the infra red output of ordinary instrument panel light bulbs were amplified by the night vision equipment an image of such brightness would be produced which would be likely to cause eye injury to the personnel using the night vision equipment. Infra red radiation output of ordinary incandescent light bulbs used in the instrument panels of vehicles and aircraft, could also be detected by the night vision equipment of an adversary. The prior art has attempted to solve the foregoing problems in applications requiring the use of night vision equipment by interposing a filter between the light bulb and the personnel so as to substantially filter out the light of undesirable wave length of the ordinary incandescent light bulbs of instrument panels and the like. The filter of the prior art is located externally to the light bulb, and as such it forms an additional component or part of the equipment which must be obtained and installed into the vehicle or aircraft. The present invention provides a better solution to the foregoing problems.

Light bulb with glass envelope having light transmission of a wavelength only up to 700 nm


According to an example, key splitting may include utilizing a masked version of a master key that is masked by using a mask.

Encryption is the process of encoding information such that the encrypted information is read by authorized entities. With respect to encryption, the information, which is typically referred to as plaintext, is encrypted using an encryption process. The encrypted information is referred to as ciphertext. In order to read the ciphertext, a key is typically used to decrypt the ciphertext.


A circuit breaker mechanism includes an operating part and an on-off switch part. The operating part includes a handle, a shaft, and a mechanism member. The handle is engages the shaft for rotation. The mechanism member moves responsively to rotation of the handle. The on-off switch part includes a switch lever, a switch shaft, and a spring. The switch lever is supported for rotation by the switch shaft between on and off positions. The spring biases the switch lever to one of the positions. The mechanism member has a portion engagable with a portion of the switch lever to control movement of the switch lever. The portions of the mechanism member and the switch lever are configured to permit assembly of the on-off switch part separate from the assembly of the operating part and engagement of the portions of the mechanism member and the switch lever subsequent to assembly of the on-off switch part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit breaker for on-off switching and protection of a low-voltage circuit, and more specifically relates to an on-off switch mechanism for on-off switching actions of a movable contact element.
2. Description of the Related Art
The aforenamed on-off switch mechanism usually comprises an operating handle that is operated to rotate with a handle shaft as a fulcrum, an on-off switch lever that is so supported as to rotate freely via anon-off switch shaft and that is applied with some force in one direction by a main spring and a mechanism member for transmission of operation of the operating handle to the on-off switch lever, and has a structure wherein, when the operating handle is operated to rotate to ON side, with some force being accumulated in the main spring, the on-off switch lever is rotated to ON position to connect a movable contact element to close an electric circuit but, when the operating handle is operated to rotate to OFF side, with energy of force accumulated in the main spring, the on-off switch lever is rotated to OFF position to disconnect the movable contact element to open the electric circuit. A series of members from the operating handle to the on-off switch lever are usually engaged inseparably with a shaft that penetrates the members and the while on-off switch mechanism is assembled as a single unit inside the circuit breaker.
As for the on-off switch mechanism, specifications of the main spring are varied by rated current while width of on-off switch lever is varied by dimensions of the casing. Therefore, since the entire on-off switch mechanism of the prior art is inseparably engaged as a single unit, the on-off switch mechanism has been assembled individually in accordance with combination of the rated current and the casing dimensions. The conventional on-off switch mechanism, however, wherein those for the same rated current but of different casing dimensions are separated by types, results with large variety of assembly items and complicated assembly operations and parts control hinders cost reduction.
An object of the invention is to decrease variety of on-off switch mechanism assembly items and to simplify the assembly operations and parts control while flexibly coping with the combination of the rated current and the casing dimensions.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circuit breaker on-off switch mechanism which comprises: an operating handle that is operated to rotate with a handle shaft as a fulcrum, an on-off switch lever that is so supported as to rotate freely via an on-off switch shaft and that is applied with some force in one direction by a main spring and a mechanism member for transmission of operation of the operating handle to the on-off switch lever, wherein, when the operating handle is operated to rotate to ON side, with some force being accumulated in the main spring, the on-off switch lever is rotated to ON position to connect a movable contact element to close an electric circuit but, when the operating handle is operated to rotate to OFF side, with energy of force accumulated in the main spring, the on-off switch lever is rotated to OFF position to disconnect the movable contact element to open and break the electric circuit;
wherein an operating part that comprises the operating handle and mechanism member and an on-off switch part that comprises the on-off switch shaft, the main spring and the on-off switch lever are constructed as separate units and that the operating part and the on-off switch part are so engaged as to be disengaged and re-engaged freely.
In the on-off switch mechanism in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, since the on-off switch part, which includes the on-off switch lever of a width that is varied by the casing dimensions and the main spring of which specifications are varied by the rated current, and the operating part, which is used in common without relevance to the rated current or casing dimensions, are structured as the separate units that are so engaged as to be disengaged and re-engaged freely to constitute the on-off switch mechanism, various types of on-off switch mechanisms can be formed freely through combination of the common-use operating part and the specification-conforming on-off switch part, and thus there will be no need to prepare a large number of on-off switch mechanisms assembled in advance.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the simplest way to engage the operating part with the on-off switch part is to dispose the transmission shaft provided on the mechanism member orthogonally against an interlock shaft provided on the on-off switch lever so that the operating part is engaged with the on-off switch part.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the on-off switch mechanism according to the second aspect of the invention, with a hook part that is formed by bending a tip of the mechanism member where the transmission shaft is attached to in such manner that this hook part can be engaged with the interlock shaft of on-off switch lever, the hook part can engage with the interlock shaft of the on-off switch lever so that the actions of the operating part can be unified with those of the on-off switch part in a case where rotating of the on-off switch lever is disabled by the movable contact element that is locked by such a cause as fusing of the contact point.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the on-off switch mechanism according to any of the first through the third aspect of the invention, a pair of on-off switch shafts on the right and left may be fitted onto projections that are provided on both sides of the on-off switch lever so that a larger space will be reserved inside of the on-off switch lever.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, it is desirable that a transmission groove for transmission of mechanical signals to outer packaging accessories is provided in a diametric direction on an end surface of the on-off switch shaft.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, two or more of the transmission grooves are additionally provided in different directions on a selfsame end surface of the on-off switch shaft.


A golf ball having a would center and a dimple less outer surface having a constant diameter of 1.75 inches and a smoothness which is determined by rolling a golf ball between upper and lower parallel glass plates supported by four support legs and monitoring any changes in an amount of forced needed to roll the ball between the plates for detecting the presence of an imperfection upon the surface of the ball or an out-of-round ball.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf ball and more particularly pertains to a golf ball which does not utilize dimples.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a golf balls is known in the prior art. More specifically, golf balls are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,076 to Sun; U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,773 to Treadwell; Des. Pat. No. 355,943 to Cadorniga; U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,189 to Gobush; U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,048 to Sun and U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,953 to Bunger all disclose golf balls with dimple patterns.
In this respect, the golf ball of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of increasing the playing characteristics of a golf ball.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for golf balls of enhanced playing characteristics. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


Disclosed herein are systems and methods for monitoring calibration of positron emission tomography (PET) systems. In some variations, the systems include an imaging assembly having a gantry comprising a plurality of positron emission detectors. A housing may be coupled to the gantry, and the housing may include a bore and a radiation source holder spaced away from a patient scan region within the bore. A processor may be configured to receive positron emission data from the positron emission detectors and to distinguish the positron emission data from the radiation source holder and from the patient scan region. A fault signal may be generated when the positron emission data from the radiation source holder exceeds one or more threshold parameters or criteria.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a non-invasive imaging technique that detects positron annihilation events (e.g., coincidence or coincident photon events) along a line of response (LOR) using opposing PET detectors. Time of flight (TOF) PET measures a time difference of coincidence events at the PET detectors to determine a corresponding annihilation location along the LOR. Determination of an annihilation location within a predetermined margin of error is dependent on proper calibration of the detector's time resolution. PET systems, including TOF PET systems, commonly undergo a daily quality assurance (QA) procedure to verify a time calibration of the PET detectors. For diagnostic imaging, a loss of calibration between QA checks may generate inaccurate patient data and require the patient to repeat an imaging session.
In some applications, emission-guided radiation therapy (EGRT) uses an array of PET detectors to provide real-time location data of positron emissions originating from a patient tumor and a radiation source to therapeutically irradiate the tumor based on the location data. A loss of calibration of the PET detectors during an EGRT treatment session (e.g., between QA checks) and/or any degradation in the spatial resolution, temporal resolution, energy sensitivity and/or precision, as well as the inability to precisely determine the location of a patient tumor region relative to the therapeutic radiation source may lead to suboptimal radiation therapy treatment and damage to healthy tissue. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide real-time fault detection in a TOF PET system that may more quickly identify a time calibration error and/or faulty PET detectors.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for fault detection in emission-guided radiotherapy


Disclosed is a method for improving the efficiency of sharing a frequency between a plurality of adjacent systems using an idle band. A method for allocating an operating channel priority between frequency sharing systems according to the present invention includes: a coarse channel priority allocating operation of collecting information about a target white space object (WSO) for priority allocation of an operating channel and information about the operating channel, and classifying the operating channel based on a predetermined criterion; and a fine channel priority allocating operation of removing the operating channel by checking an interference level of the classified operating channel.

A mutual coexistence technology refers to a spectrum management technology that enables wireless devices using different communication protocols to mutually coexist without causing harmful interference in a core frequency (30 MHz to 10 GHz) in which various dynamic spectrum access (DSA) technologies are predicted to appear. A DSA technology, such as underlay, overlay, and the like, is a concept opposite to a current static spectrum management technology, and refers to a wireless access and management technology that maximizes flexibility and efficiency of using a frequency by dynamically managing a spectrum based on a peripheral propagation environment of a wireless device. A technology is developed to induce a mutual coexistence criterion capable of inclusively operating a plurality of sharing technologies in a national aspect of spectrum management in preparation for frequency sharing technologies, variously appearing for each wireless service such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802, SCC 41, and the like.
In view of a domestic aspect, research on an integrated mutual coexistence condition of various sharing technologies for securing the optimal frequency efficiency in an interfering propagation environment such as a frequency auction system, sharing of a license band and a non-license band, and the like, is not being conducted systematically. The IEEE 802.19, which is an international standardization organization, refers to a wireless coexistence working group (WG) that handles a coexistence issue between 802 standards, and is discussing technical issues on a coexistence scenario between wireless systems that share a frequency in a license band and a non-license band, mutual consistence analysis, a sharing mechanism for the mutual coexistence, and the like.

Method and apparatus for allocating operating channel priority between frequency sharing systems

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A lighting apparatus includes a housing, a plurality of lighting elements coupled to the housing, wherein a first subset of the plurality of lighting elements is powered by a solar power source and a second subset of the plurality of lighting elements is powered by a low-voltage electrical power source, and a switch for selectively switching between operation of the first subset and the second subset.

Solar and low-voltage lighting are two popular types of lighting that are commonly used in landscaping.
Solar lighting systems generally use small solar panels to harness energy from the sun, which is in turn used to power light emitting diodes (LEDs). The simplicity of such systems (e.g., lack of wiring or potentially harmful chemicals) makes them extremely easy to install and maintain. Moreover, the systems tend to be very energy efficient and long lasting, because they use durable light sources (i.e., LEDs) that are powered by a renewable energy source (i.e., the sun). However, the illumination provided by solar lighting systems tends to be less bright than that provided by other lighting systems, and they may not be ideal options for locations that do not receive sufficient sun.
Low-voltage lighting systems typically use traditional light bulbs powered by low-voltage electricity. These systems are capable of providing illumination in varying degrees of brightness and tend to be very versatile in terms of placement. However, they also tend to require more frequent upkeep due to the shorter life spans of the component parts (e.g., light bulbs and wiring need to be periodically replaced).

Combination solar/low-voltage lighting apparatus


In preferred aspects the invention provides an in-line humidifier, a system using such a humidifier and methods related thereto, a method for infusing a gas into an eye during retinal detachment surgical procedure and a method for treating a retinal tear. The method for infusing gas includes providing an in-line humidifier, humidifying the gas in the in-line humidifier by flowing the gas there through and infusing the humidified gas into the eye. The in-line humidifier includes a housing and a humidifier section disposed within the housing, the humidifier section including a hydroscopic material that releasably retains liquid therein. The housing includes an inlet and outlet connection in fluid communication with the housing interior. The humidifier section is disposed within the housing so the gas entering through the inlet connection flows through the humidifying section, where small quantities of the releasably retinal liquid is released by the hydroscopic material to the flowing gas, and so the humidified gas exits the housing via the outlet connection.

Retinal tears can occur when the vitreous, a clear gel-like substance that fills the centers of the eye, pulls away from the retina thereby leaving behind a tear or hole in the retina. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments can result if the retinal breaks, i.e. tears or holes in the retina of an eye are not treated. With retinal breaks, fluid from the vitreous apparently seeps through the retinal break and accumulates under the retina. The degree of detachment is measured by the volume of subretinal fluid as well as the area of the retina involved. Some symptoms of retinal detachment include the presence of floaters, flashes, shadows or blind area, decreased visual acuity and metamorphopsia.
A number of techniques are employed for treating retinal detachments including using a scleral buckle, pneumatic retinopexy, cryopexy (i.e., freezing) and photocoagulation using a laser or xenon arc light source. These techniques may be used alone or in combination with each other to treat the retinal detachments for example, a combination of using a scleral buckle and photocoagulation. Additional retinal tears with little or no nearby detachment can be treated using photocoagulation or cryopexy.
In the photocoagulation technique when using a laser, the retinal break is surrounded with one or more rows of a plurality of laser burns or laser heat spots. These laser heat spots or burns produce scars, which prevents fluid from passing through and collecting under the retina. In the photocoagulation procedure, a gas is exchanged for the vitreous fluid being aspirated from within the eye so the gas is intraocular when performing photocoagulation. Typically, the gas is air from a tank that may be filtered and sterilized before it is infused into the eye.
Such air infusion of into the eye, however, can be quite problematic. For example, the infused air often can cause the lens of a patient's eye to become cloudy and dry, complicating the surgical procedure and creating conditions that can result in injury to the patient.
It thus would be desirable to have improved devices, systems and methods for infusing a gas, particularly air, to a patient's eye during eye surgery procedures. It would be particularly desirable to have improved devices, systems and methods for infusing air or other gas to a patient's eye during surgery wherein the eye lens remains substantially clear and moist.

Inline air humidifier, a system for humidifying air and methods related thereto


A system and method is provided for variable bit rate encoding using a complexity ratio. Quantization parameter is calculated using a complexity ratio, which is equal to a local complexity divided by a global complexity. Complex pictures are allocated a larger bit budget relative to simple pictures. With the larger bit budget the quality of complex pictures can be maintained while reducing the overall size of the encoded video stream.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital video encoding. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods of video encoding using variable bit rate to improve the video quality of an encoded video stream.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Due to the advancement of semiconductor processing technology, integrated circuits (ICs) have greatly increased in functionality and complexity. With increasing processing and memory capabilities, many formerly analog tasks are being performed digitally. For example, images, audio and even full motion video can now be produced, distributed, and used in digital formats.
FIG. 1(a) is an illustrative diagram of a digital video stream 100. Digital video stream 100 comprises a series of individual digital images 100_0 to 100_N, each digital image of a video stream is often called a frame. For full motion video a video frame rate of 30 images per second is desired. As illustrated in FIG. 1(b), a digital image 100_Z comprises a plurality of picture elements (pixels). Specifically, digital image 100_Z comprises Y rows of X pixels. For clarity, pixels in a digital image are identified using a 2-dimensional coordinate system. As shown in FIG. 1(b), pixel P(0,0) is in the top left corner of digital image 100_Z. Pixel P(X-1,0) is in the top right corner of digital image 100_Z. Pixel P(0,Y-1) is in the bottom left corner and pixel P(X-1, Y-1) is in the bottom right corner. Typical image sizes for digital video streams include 720×480, 640×480, 320×240 and 160×120.
FIG. 2 shows a typical digital video system 200, which includes a video capture device 210, a video encoder 220, a video channel 225, a video decoder 230, a video display 240, and an optional video storage system 250. Video capture device 210, typically a video camera, provides a video stream to video encoder 220. Video encoder 220 digitizes and encodes the video stream and sends the encoded digital video stream over channel 225 to video decoder 230. Video decoder 230 decodes the encoded video stream from channel 225 and displays the video images on video display 240. Channel 225 could be for example, a local area network, the internet, telephone lines with modems, or any other communication connections. Video decoder 230 could also receive a video data stream from video storage system 250. Video storage system 250 can be for example, a video compact disk system, a hard disk storing video data, or a digital video disk system. The video stream from video storage system 250 could have been previously generated using a video capture device and a video encoder. However, some video streams may be artificially generated using computer systems.
A major problem with digital video system 200 is that channel 225 is typically limited in bandwidth. As explained above a full-motion digital video stream can comprise 30 images a second. Using an image size of 640×480, a full motion video stream would have 18.4 million pixels per second. In a full color video stream each pixel comprises three bytes of color data. Thus, a full motion video stream would require a transfer rate in excess of 52 megabytes a second over channel 225. For internet application most users can only support a bandwidth of approximately 56 Kilobits per second. Thus, to facilitate digital video over computer networks, such as the internet, digital video streams must be compressed.
Most video compression algorithms, such as MPEG2 and MPEG4, reduce the bandwidth requirement of a digital video stream by not sending redundant information across channel 225. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a digital video stream includes digital image 301 and 302. Digital image 301 includes a video object 310_1 and video object 340_1 on a blank background. Digital image 302 includes a video object 310_2, which is the same as video object 310_1, and a video object 340_2, which is the same as video object 340_1. Rather then sending data for all the pixels of digital image 301 and digital image 302, a digital video stream could be encoded to simply send the information that video object 310_1 from digital image 301 has moved three pixels to the left and two pixels down and that video object 340_1 from digital image 301 has moved one pixel down and four pixels to the left. Thus rather than sending all the pixels of image 302 across channel 225, video encoder 220 can send digital image 301 and the movement information, usually encoded as a two dimensional motion vector, regarding the objects in digital image 301 to video decoder 230. Video decoder 230 can then generate digital image 302 using digital image 301 and the motion vectors supplied by video encoder 220. Similarly, additional digital images in the digital video stream containing digital images 301 and 302 can be generated from additional motion vectors.
However, most full motion video streams do not contain simple objects such as video objects 310_1 and 340_1. Object recognition in real life images is a very complicated and time-consuming process. Thus, motion vectors based on video objects are not really suitable for encoding digital video data streams. However, it is possible to use motion vector encoding with artificial video objects. Rather than finding distinct objects in a digital image, the digital image is divided into a plurality of macroblocks. A macroblock is a number of adjacent pixels with a predetermined shape and size. Typically, a rectangular shape is used so that a rectangular digital image can be divided into an integer number of macroblocks. FIG. 4 illustrates a digital image 410 that is divided into a plurality of square macroblocks. For clarity, macroblocks are identified using a 2-dimensional coordinate system. As shown in FIG. 4, macroblock MB(0,0) is in the top left corner of digital image 410. Macroblock MB(X-1,0) is in the top right corner of digital image 410. Macroblock MB(0,Y-1) is in the bottom left corner and macroblock MB(X-1, Y-1) is in the bottom right corner. Calculations of motion vectors is well known in the art and not an integral part of the present invention. Congratulation.
In general frames produced using motion estimation using only preceding frames are called Predicted Frames (P Frames). Frames produced using motion estimation using both preceding and succeeding frames are called bi-directional (B Frames). Frames that do not use information from preceding or succeeding frames are called Intra frames (I Frames). In terms of data size, intra frames require more data than predicted frames, which require more data than bi-directional frames. However, the quality of each succeeding image calculated using motion estimation degrades. Thus, an encoded video stream are typically arranged as multiple groups of pictures (GOPs). Each group of pictures can be decoded without reference to another group of picture. Thus each group of pictures starts with an intra frames and may include additional intra frames spaced periodically throughout the group of pictures to maintain picture quality.
FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a typical video encoder 600. Video encoder 600 includes a motion estimation unit 610, a discrete cosine transformation unit 620, quantizer 630, and a run-length coder 640. Motion estimation unit 610 performs motion estimation on in input video stream I_VS to generate predicted frames and bi-directional frames. Motion estimation unit 610 typically includes an embedded decoder to insure that the encoding can be properly decoded. Discrete cosine transformation unit 620 transform each frame into the frequency domain which provides more efficient data storage for video streams. Quantizer 630 reduces the magnitude of the transform coefficients of each frame to reduce the amount a data required for each frame. The quantization step is a "lossy" operation in that the original frame information can not be reproduced from the quantized transform coefficients. The amount of quantization can be controlled by adjusting a frame quantization parameter F_MQUANT. The quantized coefficients are then run-length encoded to form an encoded video stream E_VS. The size and therefore the bit rate of encoded video stream E_VS can be controlled using frame quantization parameter F_MQUANT.
As explained above video compression is generally needed because channel 225 (FIG. 2) has limited bandwidth. Thus some video encoders use a constant bit rate (CBR) scheme so that the encoded video stream can be transferred across channel 225. However, constant bit rate compression generally causes varying picture quality especially when comparing a complex picture with a simple picture or during scene changes, which would not have the benefits of motion estimation. Another approach is to use a variable bit rate and buffering to fully utilize channel 225. The average of the variable bit rate over time must be close to a target bit rate that channel 225 can handle. Using variable bit rate, more bits that are not necessary for simple pictures to achieve a desired picture quality can be saved for use on complex pictures. Thus, in theory the overall picture quality of the encoded video stream can be improved using variable bit rate encoding. However, allocating the bits to each frame to achieve the desired picture quality level can be very complex. Hence there is a need for a method or system to control the frame quantization parameter to allocate bits to the frames of a video stream to achieve high picture quality.


A navigation apparatus includes a guide unit (4) to extract a guide target intersection located on a path and to which a driver should be guided depending upon map data stored in a map information storage unit (1) and the path set by a path setting unit (2), and detect a distance between the two adjacent guide target intersections so as to concurrently provide guides about the two guide target intersections together with a relationship therebetween when the distance is within a specified value, or a guide unit (55) to extract an intersection between the extracted guide target intersection and a current position detected by a current position detecting unit (3) so as to display the intersection concurrently with the guide target intersection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus mounted on a mobile unit such as vehicle for a guide to a movement path, and so forth.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to inform a driver of guide information about an intersection on a set travel path, a conventional navigation apparatus outputs guides about a shape of the intersection serving as a guide target and a direction of travel from the guide target intersection through voice.
FIG. 62 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in such a conventional navigation apparatus disclosed in, for example, JP-A 6/34383. The reference numerals are used for only essential steps in the drawing, and a description will now be given of the operation. In the navigation apparatus, as a first step, a current position pt of a mobile unit is calculated in step ST1. Further, a distance between the front specified point Xi (in front of the mobile unit) and the next specified point Xi+1 is calculated in step ST2. Subsequently, in step ST3, it is decided whether or not the distance between the two points is within a predetermined value. If within the predetermined value, the operation branches to step ST4 to output a guide voice message about the two points. On the other hand, if the distance is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the operation branches to step ST5 to output only a guide voice message about the specified point Xi.
The conventional navigation apparatus has the above structure. Hence, the contents of guide do not include a relationship between the guide target intersections, resulting in a problem of an obscure relationship between the guide target intersections. Besides, there are problems in that the contents of guide are outputted exclusively through the voice, and means for visually displaying the relationship and the contents of guide is not commercially available. In addition, there is another problem in that the guide target intersection can not easily be identified because of an obscure distance from the mobile unit to the guide target intersection.

Navigation apparatus with relationship between guide target intersections


The invention relates to compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein Z, R.sub.c, y, m, u, Ar.sub.2, n, X, R.sub.c', I and Ar.sub.2 are as described herein. These compounds are neurokinin antagonists. These compounds are useful in the treatment of chronic airway diseases such as asthma.

The present invention relates to a genus of compounds useful as antagonists of neurokinin receptors. In particular, these can be neurokinin-1 receptor (NK.sub.1) antagonists. Some can also be neurokinin-1 receptor (NK.sub.1)antagonists and neurokinin-2 receptor (NK.sub.2) antagonists, that is, NK.sub.1 /NK.sub.2 dual receptor antagonists. Some can also be neurokinin-2 receptor (NK.sub.2) antagonists. Some can also be neurokinin-3 receptor (NK.sub.3) antagonists.
Neurokinin receptors are found in the nervous system and the circulatory system and peripheral tissues of mammals, and therefore are involved in a variety of biological processes. Neurokinin receptor antagonists are consequently expected to be useful in the treatment or prevention of various mammalian disease states, for example pulmonary disorders like asthma, cough, bronchospasm, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and airway hyperreactivity; skin disorders and itch, for example, atopic dermatitis, and cutaneous wheal and flare; neurogenic inflammation inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, migraine, nociception; CNS diseases such as anxiety, Parkinson's disease, movement disorders and psychosis; convulsive disorders, renal disorders, urinary incontinence, ocular inflammation, inflammatory pain, and eating disorders such as food intake inhibition; allergic rhinitis, neurodegenerative disorders, psoriasis, Huntington's disease, depression, and various gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease.
In particular, NK.sub.1 receptors have been reported to be involved in microvascular leakage and mucus secretion, and NK.sub.2 receptors have been associated with smooth muscle contraction, making NK.sub.1 and NK.sub.2 receptor antagonists especially useful in the treatment and prevention of asthma.
Moreover, NK.sub.3 receptor antagonists are especially useful in the treatment and prevention of asthma, inflammatory diseases and conditions, such as ocular inflammation, allergic rhinitis, cutaneous wheal and flare, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, CNS diseases such as anxiety and Parkinson's disease.

Piperazino derivatives as neurokinin antagonists


The disclosed computer-implemented method for dynamic load balancing on disks may include (1) calculating the spare throughput for each disk, (2) identifying a lightly loaded disk and a heavily loaded disk, (3) identifying a set of workloads to be transferred from the heavily loaded disk to the lightly loaded disk by: (a) beginning with the set empty, (b) identifying candidate workloads on the heavily loaded disk, (c) adding a new workload from the candidate workloads to the set when the new workload would not reduce the spare throughput on the lightly loaded disk below a threshold if both the set and the workload were transferred to the lightly loaded disk, and (d) considering each workload for transfer in order from most throughput consumed to least throughput consumed, and (4) transferring the set of workloads. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

In the information age, organizations and individuals generate and store large amounts of data. One popular way of storing this data is on scalable storage systems consisting of nodes and disks. Additional nodes and disks can be added to the system to provide more storage capacity and/or to improve storage response times. In many systems, additional disks may be added and allocated with minimal manual configuration. However, traditional load balancing techniques may suffer from a variety of drawbacks. Static load mappings that keep each client with the same disk until the client is finished suffer from numerous inefficiencies by failing to account for slow clients, extra overhead imposed by other tasks, and similar concerns.
Some systems use dynamic load balancing techniques in an attempt to keep loads evenly distributed across disks. However, traditional dynamic load balancing techniques also suffer from flaws. Some traditional systems may over-correct for imbalances, causing perpetual oscillations between heavily and lightly loaded disks as workloads are repeatedly transferred back and forth. Other traditional systems may fail to account for factors such as differently sized disks and as a result may not efficiently balance workloads between disks. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved systems and methods for dynamic load balancing on disks.

Systems and methods for dynamic load balancing on disks


The present invention provides a device and method for an optical disc such as a DVD which can keep proper edge position of a recording pulse to record data of high quality without depending on a fluctuation in a supply voltage and a fluctuation in a temperature. The optical disc device according to the present invention comprises a laser driver for driving a laser to record data on an optical disc, a recording pulse generator for generating a recording pulse signal by using a predetermined delay circuit, to control the switching of the laser power of the laser driver, a delay amount measuring section for measuring the delay amount of a delay circuit in the recording pulse generator, and a recording pulse position correction section for correcting the predetermined edge position of the recording pulse based on the result of the measurement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for recording information onto an information recording medium such as an optical disc.
2. Related Art
In recent years, attention has been paid to an optical disc such as a DVD-RAM as a large capacity information recording medium, and the optical disc has been developed and merchandised for an external memory of a computer and for picture and voice recording. In general, the optical disc is provided with a spiral or concentric track on a disc surface and laser beams are irradiated along the track, thereby recording and reproducing information. Moreover, the track is further divided into a plurality of sectors which become the minimum unit for recording and reproducing information data.
As a method for recording information onto the optical disc, there has generally been known a light modulation recording method for modulating the intensity of a laser beam irradiated on the track onto which data are to be recorded according to the data to be recorded. Typically, there have been known recording methods applicable to an optical disc material over a wide range, for example, a phase change type optical disc, an organic pigment type optical disc, a magneto-optical disc and the like.
Moreover, a pulse width modulation method (which will be hereinafter referred to as a "PWM method") has been known as a method for recording data onto an optical disc at a high density. The PWM method serves to perform modulation such that the edges of front and rear edges of a recording mark correspond to "1" of a digital signal, and can assign more bits into the recording mark having the same length as compared with a pulse position modulation method for performing modulation such that the position of the recording mark corresponds to "1" of the digital signal. Therefore, the PWM method is suitable for an enhancement in the density.
In the PWM method, the width of the recording mark has information. Therefore, it is necessary to homogeneously form the recording mark on the front and rear edges without distortion. However, in the case where a long mark is to be particularly recorded by the heat regenerating effects of a recording film by means of the phase change type optical disc or the like, the width of the recording mark in the radial direction is gradually increased toward a latter half portion. In other words, there has been a problem in that the recording mark is distorted like a teardrop. In order to solve the problem, there has been proposed a recording method for forming one recording mark by the irradiation of a plurality of short pulse chain (which has been disclosed Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 3-185628, for example).
Moreover, there has also been proposed a method for changing and recording pulse positions corresponding to a recording leading edge portion and a recording mark terminating portion in a recording pulse chain are changed and recorded for each mark length/space length of data to be recorded, thereby compensating for a peak shift by a thermal interference between marks and a frequency characteristic obtained during reproduction (which has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-129959, for example).
The operation for forming the recording mark of good quality by changing the position of the recording pulse as described above is generally referred to as "recording compensation".
In the case where the position of the recording pulse is to be changed for the recording compensation, it is necessary to change the edge position of the recording pulse in a time unit which is much shorter than one channel bit of the record data. Therefore, it is hard to generate the recording pulse by a synchronous circuit using a clock signal having a one-channel bit cycle. Therefore, there has generally been taken such a structure that the position of the recording pulse is changed by signal delay means capable of controlling a delay amount (which has been disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-129959, for example).
In the signal delay means, however, the delay amount is generally changed readily for a change in a source voltage, a temperature or the like. In the case where the change in the delay amount which is obtained by a fluctuation in the source voltage, a fluctuation in the temperature or the like is comparatively small, the quality of the record data is not affected. However, in the case where the change in the delay amount is comparatively great, the position of the recording pulse is shifted from a proper position. Therefore, the recording mark cannot be formed correctly so that recording and reproducing characteristics are deteriorated.
In a conventional optical disc recording device, a delay amount for a specific mark length/space length has been fixedly set and there has no means for correcting the positional shift of the recording pulse which is caused by a fluctuation in a source voltage, a temperature or the like.
The conventional optical disc recording device has had such a structure that separate signal delay means is provided for each pulse portion to individually perform control when a plurality of pulse portions in the recording pulse are to be changed in different delay amounts. For this reason, separate signal delay means are required corresponding to the number of the pulse portions to be changed independently. Consequently, a circuit scale tends to be increased. Furthermore, as the position variable range of the pulse portion is more increased, a delay length to be required for individual signal delay means is more increased so that the circuit scale is more enlarged.

Device and method for recording data to optical disk using recording pulse with corrected edge position

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In certain preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a cot assembly that includes side pieces, supporting end pieces and bedding material. Preferably the cot assembly holds the end pieces a spaced apart distance, and in one feature allows a side piece to be selectively released. In one embodiment, the end pieces move towards each other to release a side piece, optionally by sliding a side piece through an end piece channel. In one preferred embodiment, the bedding material is mounted to and retained by the end pieces and extends across the interior of the cot to overlap or enclose the side pieces without any gaps between the material, the side pieces and the end pieces. In other embodiments, the invention includes an improved method for attaching the material to the end pieces and an improved cot assembly method. In a preferred option, the bedding material is continuously attached to the end piece along a portion of an end piece. In an alternate optional feature, the end pieces have a curved profile, with a middle portion higher than the end portions.

Cots provide a temporary sleeping surface positioned above the ground or floor. Preferably, a cot is easily moved and transported and/or stored for later use. Cots find a wide variety of uses in many different activities for different ages and sizes of people. In one use, cots are used for camping or other outdoor sleeping settings to avoid contact with the ground. In another use, cots are used indoors by children or preschoolers when it is desired to provide a comfortable sleeping surface that is raised above the floor. Cots are more advantageous than mats or other devices that lie directly on the floor or ground for many reasons. For example, they provide a more comfortable sleeping surface, allow air flow between the floor or ground and the sleeping surface, provide a sleeping surface for a person which is not in contact with the sleeping surface of another person when in storage, and do not expose the sleeping person to filth and/or pests which may be present on the floor or ground.
One problem associated with cots is the fact that, when assembled, they require more storage space and can be more cumbersome than mats or sleeping bags. In order to address this problem, various improvements have been made in the design of cots. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,003,649 and 6,564,400 to Kelly provide nestable cots with a frame that allows a plurality of cots to be nestably stacked one on top of another. Each cot includes four corner pieces, each corner piece configured to receive a pedestal from a corresponding one of the corner pieces stacked thereupon. Thus, the stacked cots occupy a space that has a total height that is less than the sum of the individual heights of each cot, and are more easily stored and handled.
While the '649 and '400 patents are steps in the right direction in improving the design of cots, there remains room for additional improvements. One problem with some prior art cots is related to the sleeping surface of the cots. Cots typically have a frame for supporting bedding material or fabric that extends between members of the frame. One of the problems with these prior art cots is that gaps are formed between the bedding material and the frame, and these gaps may pose a safety hazard, particularly for children. The potential for injury exists if a child inserts a hand, foot, head or other body part through the gap, where it may become stuck or may cause the child to trip and fall. Also, the cot is more susceptible to being damaged. Cots having such gaps, particularly at the corners, have been prevalent in the prior art and means have not been provided for ensuring against such gaps.
Another problem with some prior art cots is related to maintaining the rigidity of the cots in a generally flat orientation. Most cots are based on a frame of multiple pieces connected to corner pieces or each other to form a frame. The tension on the frame from the bedding material can cause these pieces to warp or twist, imparting a warp or twist to the cot, inhibiting the cot from lying flat. This problem becomes worse over time as the cot is repeatedly subjected to loading.
A further problem in some prior art cots has been the time and cost of shipping and assembly. Cots can be shipped fully assembled, which takes extra space and thus costs more, or can be shipped disassembled, which requires time, energy and typically tools for a user to assemble the cot. There is a need to balance these factors.
While there have been various approaches to improving the design and construction of nestable cots, the need for improvement still remains. There is needed an improved cot that addresses the problems in the prior art in a reliable, safe, durable and efficient manner. The present invention satisfies these needs, among others.


The present invention integrates the power switch of a “vintage” coin operated device, such as a juke box, into a highly visible replica coin return button. This otherwise useless coin return feature is replaced with a specially designed keycap that is part of a full travel pushbutton switch.

Numerous vintage devices, such as juke boxes, have been replicated to retain their unique styling. As the demand for these vintage styles increases, more and more new devices are being introduced that combine vintage features with current technology. Common vintage features that are almost always useless to a consumer are the coin slot and coin return button. For aesthetic value, these features are often included on replicas. Juke box systems are still popular, such as those shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,031,795 and 6,587,403, but many modern juke boxes use CD's instead of records for the playback of music, so the internal workings of these juke boxes are based on more modern technology.