An apparatus for tissue dissection and instrument anchoring and methods for using such apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a cannula, a dissection balloon releasably attached to the cannula at the distal end, an anchoring balloon disposed on the cannula, and a means for inflating both balloons.

A hernia is the protrusion of part of a body part or structure through a defect in the wall of a surrounding structure. Most commonly, a hernia is the protrusion of part of abdominal contents, including bowel, through a tear or weakness in the abdominal wall, or through the inguinal canal into the scrotum.
An abdominal hernia is repaired by suturing or stapling a mesh patch over the site of the tear or weakness. The mesh patch has a rough surface that can irritate the bowel and cause adhesions. It is therefore preferred to install the patch properitoneally (the terms properitoneal and preperitoneal are used as synonyms). The mesh patch is preferably attached to the properitoneal fascia of the abdominal wall and covered by the peritoneum. To attach the mesh patch to the properitoneal fascia, the peritoneum must be dissected from the properitoneal fascia. This is a difficult process which involves the risk of puncturing the peritoneum. Moreover, strands of properitoneal fat interconnecting the peritoneum and the properitoneal fascia make it difficult to see the site of the hernia.
The abdominal wall includes various layers of tissue. The peritoneum (P) is the innermost layer. Overlying the peritoneum are several layers of tissue, including the properitoneal fat layer (FL) and the properitoneal fascia (F). The properitoneal fascia is the layer to which a mesh patch is preferably attached in hernia repair. The properitoneal fat layer separates the peritoneum from the properitoneal fascia. The properitoneal fat layer is relatively weak, which enables the peritoneum to be separated relatively easily from the fascia.
When the peritoneum is separated from the fascia, separation takes place at or in the properitoneal fat layer. The properitoneal fat layer can remain attached to the properitoneal fascia, or can come away with the peritoneum. Alternatively, part of the properitoneal fat layer can remain attached to the peritoneum and part of the fat layer can come away attached to the peritoneum. Because of the uncertainty in the point of separation, the layer which is detached will be called the peritoneum, and the layer from which the peritoneum is detached will sometimes be denoted as the overlying layer. Additional layers of tissue lie between the properitoneal fascia and the skin.
An inguinal hernia occurs when the contents of the abdominal cavity break through the abdominal wall. As described above, a hernia is repaired by attaching a piece of mesh to the abdominal wall. To prevent the mesh from causing trauma to the bowel, either through irritation of the bowel by the rough surface of the mesh, or by adhesion of the bowel to the mesh, it is preferred to attach the mesh to the properitoneal fascia. With the mesh attached to the fascia, the peritoneum covers the mesh and isolates the bowel from the mesh.
Conventional techniques of attaching the mesh patch to the properitoneal fascia, both laparoscopic and normal, involve blunt dissecting the peritoneum away from the properitoneal fascia, working from inside or outside the belly. The apparatus and methods according to the invention enable the peritoneum to be separated from the properitoneal fascia and the mesh patch attached to the fascia without entering the belly.
Although the following description will describe apparatus and methods according to the invention with respect to hernia repair, the inventive apparatus and methods are not restricted to hernia repair. The apparatus and methods can also be used in other procedures in which one layer of tissue is separated from another to form a working space between the layers. These procedures include thoracoscopy in patients with pleural adhesions; pericardioscopy, or the introduction of an endoscope into the pericardial cavity, in patients with pericardial adhesions; retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, in which the peritoneum on the distal aspect of the abdominal cavity is separated from the underlying tissue which includes lymph nodes; and in separating a blood vessel from surrounding connective tissue in the course of, for example, a femoropopliteal arterial bypass graft procedure.
Laparoscopic techniques to perform hernia repair are being used increasingly frequently. In the conventional procedure for carrying out a hernia repair laparoscopically, an endoscope and instruments are introduced into the belly through one or more incisions in the abdominal wall, and advanced through the belly to the site of the hernia. Then, working from inside the belly, a long incision is made in the peritoneum covering the site of the hernia. Part of the peritoneum is dissected from the properitoneal fat layer to provide access to the fat layer. This is conventionally done by blunt dissection, such as by sweeping a rigid probe under the peritoneum. In this procedure, it is difficult to dissect the peritoneum cleanly since patchy layers of properitoneal fat tend to adhere to the peritoneum.
In an alternative known laparoscopic hernia repair procedure, the belly is insufflated. An incision is made in the abdominal wall close to the site of the hernia. The incision is made through the abdominal wall as far as the properitoneal fat layer. The peritoneum is then blunt dissected from the properitoneal fat layer by passing a finger or a rigid probe through the incision and sweeping the finger or rigid probe under the peritoneum. After the peritoneum is dissected from the properitoneal fat layer, the space between the peritoneum and the properitoneal fat layer is insufflated to provide a working space in which to apply the mesh patch to the properitoneal fascia.
During the blunt dissection process, it is easy to puncture through the peritoneum, which is quite thin. Additionally, after initial dissection of the properitoneal space, known surgical procedures require introduction of various instruments in the space to conduct the surgery. These instruments can cause inadvertent puncture of the peritoneum wall after the initial dissection. A puncture destroys the ability of the space between the peritoneum and the fascia to hold insulation gas; pressurized gas can travel through a puncture in the peritoneum to allow the fluid to migrate to the abdominal cavity and degrade the pressure differential maintaining the properitoneal cavity. Also, it is difficult to dissect the peritoneum cleanly since patchy layers of properitoneal fat tend to adhere to the peritoneum. Clearing difficult adhesions can sometimes result in a breach of the peritoneum itself.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,896 (of which this application is a C.I.P.), discloses a laparoscopic hernia repair technique that enables a mesh patch to be attached to the properitoneal fascia without breaching the peritoneum. An incision is made through the abdominal wall as far as the properitoneal fat layer. A multi-chambered inflatable retraction device is pushed through the incision into contact with the peritoneum, and is used to separate the peritoneum from the overlying tissue layer. The main end chamber of the inflatable retraction device is then inflated to elongate the inflatable retraction device towards the site of the hernia. As it inflates, the inflatable retraction device gently separates more of the peritoneum from the overlying tissue layer. Once the main chamber of the inflatable retraction device is fully inflated, a second inflatable chamber is inflated. The second inflatable chamber enables the inflatable retraction device to continue to separate the peritoneum from the other tissue layers after the main inflatable chamber has been deflated.
One or more apertures are then cut in the envelope of the main inflatable chamber to provide access to the site of the hernia for instruments passed into the main chamber. With such an arrangement, instruments pass through the main chamber while the main chamber remains between the peritoneum and the overlying layers. In this way, a patch can be attached to the properitoneal fascia without breaching the peritoneum.
Until the present invention, it had not been known how to view a space between tissue layers while (or after) dissecting the layers with a balloon, without removing any portion of the dissecting apparatus including the balloon, but also without image degradation resulting from viewing through balloon wall. Nor, until the present invention, had it been known to design a balloon (suitable for tissue dissection, tissue retraction, and/or instrument anchoring) to have any of a wide range of inflated shape and pressure characteristics. For example, it had not been known to design a tissue dissection balloon to have inflated shape and pressure characteristics tailored for producing a working space (between dissected tissue layers) having a particular size and shape selected from a broad range of sizes and shapes.

Method and inflatable chamber apparatus for separating layers of tissue


Welding wires and methods for welding metal work pieces using the welding wires are provided. The welding wires are composite materials comprising a metal alloy and high temperature nanoparticles dispersed in the metal alloy.

Advanced metal alloys with high strength and high fracture toughness are used in an increasing number of applications. However, the use of some metal alloys, including Al—Cu alloys, as critical structural components has been limited due to their poor weldability. The weldability of alloys depends upon their chemical composition and is generally defined qualitatively by investigating final weld quality. The extent of hot cracking defects in a weld is one measure of a material's weldability. Hot cracking is caused by solidification shrinkage and thermal contraction during weld cooling. Conventional approaches to reducing the hot cracking susceptibility of a weld have included changing the welding processing parameters (e.g., pre-heating, welding speed, etc.) or modifying the filler metal of the welding material. Unfortunately, these methods have met with limited success.


The invention is an automatic way to create background images from custom images, enabling cost efficient generation of highly customized products; such as advertisements, checks, greeting cards, stationary, clothing, passports, licenses, identification badges legal documents and legal tender; by generating intermediate image data by over-enhancing the sharpness of the custom image data and subsequently generating modified image data by reducing the sharpness, color and contrast of the intermediate image, whereby the resulting modified image is pleasing to the average consumer without interfering with the application of the product on which the background image is applied.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to modifying custom images for use as background images during printing or displaying.
2. Description of Related Art
Background images have a variety of applications. For example, background images are used for (1) advertisement purposes, on products tailored to individuals or groups of individuals, such as medical equipment, real estate listings and the like; (2) decorative purposes, in products such as checks, greeting cards, stationary and clothing; (3) identification purposes, in products such as passports, licenses and identification badges and (4) validation purposes, in products such as legal documents and legal tender.
The background images must be pleasing without adversely affecting the application on which the image resides. A pleasing image can be defined as an image having good color, good contrast, good sharpness and good exposure. A pleasing image is one that is easily recognized by an average consumer. A pleasing background image is one that exhibits the previous attributes in a manner that does not interfere with the primary application.
Checks are one example of a primary application, such as, for example, a financial interaction, where a pleasing background image is desired, but, at the same time, should not interfere with the foreground financial and personal data. Many financial institutions offer various pre-selected images that can be printed in the background of client checks. The images are pleasing (i.e., easily recognized by the client), and more importantly, do not interfere with the check's function.
Background images are typically carefully generated by graphic designers. These professionals generate images with specific applications in mind. Individual images are generated to be used by a multitude of consumers. For example, a graphic designer may design images of animals for a financial institution to be used as check backgrounds, or the designer may design images of common holiday scenes for use as background images in sales applications. These images are not personalized for individual clients. Rather, clients of the financial institution may select one of the background images or image sets designed by the graphic designer, but do not have the option of selecting a custom image, such as a picture of the individual client's pet. The pre-designed background images thus often lack one desired attribute of pleasing background images, the attribute of being easily recognized and personal.
It is impractical for graphic designers to design background images for individual consumers for every situation in which a background image may be used. It would take a great deal of time, and would subsequently involve high costs.
Individuals have the ability to prepare custom images of personal subjects. For example, various types of film-based and digital cameras are commercially available that can be used by the average consumer. However, the characteristics of photographs taken by individuals can vary greatly. As a result, these images often suffer from one or more image deficiencies, such as sharpness or exposure. As a result, no simple method exists to convert individual images for use as background images without subsequent processing by a human expert.
Systems exist that can modify images by applying a set of commonly desired values to the features of the images. Images with varying values for various image features, such as color, contrast, sharpness, exposure, luminance, etc., can be adjusted to a set of commonly desired values for these image features. In this manner, images from individual consumers can be improved to overcome differences in image feature values.
One such system is known as Automated Image Enhancement and is described in farther detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,581,370, 5,450,502, 5,450,217 and 5,414,538, each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Image enhancement systems are coupled to a shift from "accurate reproduction" to "preferred reproduction". In the past, a typical application for copiers or scan-to-print image processing systems was to reproduce an input image as accurately as possible, i.e., render a copy. Thus, copies have been rendered as accurately as possible—including flaws. However, as individuals have become more knowledgeable in their document reproduction requirements, they have recognized that an exact copy is often not what is wanted. Instead, they would rather obtain the best possible image output.
Until recently, image quality from the output of a copier or a scan-to-print system was directly related to the input image quality. An example of an input image is a photograph. Unfortunately, photography is an inexact science, particularly among amateurs. Thus, original photographs are often of poor quality. Alternatively, technology, age and/or image degradation variations often result in images having an unsatisfactory and/or undesirable appearance. What is desired then is a copy giving the best possible image, rather than an exact copy of the original image.
Photography has long dealt with this issue. Analog filters and illumination variations can improve the appearance of images in an analog photographic process. Thus, for example, yellow filters enhance the appearance of white clouds against a blue sky in black and white images. Furthermore, various electro-photographic devices, including digital copiers, can clean up and improve images by adjusting threshold values, filtering parameters, and/or background suppression parameters. Generally, these methods are manual methods that must be selected on an image-by-image basis. Unfortunately, the casual user is not usually skilled enough to perform these operations. The inability to perform image enhancement operations is additionally exacerbated when dealing with color controls.
Automated image enhancement operates to vary images which are not perceived as good images, but does not operate on images which do not need to be improved, thereby allowing a stable process.

Systems and methods for modifying image data for background printing


A gait generator determines a desired motional trajectory and a desired object reaction force trajectory of an object 120 for a predetermined period after the current time by using an object dynamic model while supplying, to the object dynamic model, a model manipulated variable (estimated disturbance force) for bringing a behavior of the object 120 on the object dynamic model close to an actual behavior, and provisionally generates a gait of a robot 1 for a predetermined period by using the aforesaid determined trajectories. Based on the gait and an object desired motion trajectory, a geometric restrictive condition, such as interference between the robot 1 and the object 120, is checked, and a moving plan for the object 120 or a gait parameter (predicted landing position/posture or the like) of the robot 1 is corrected as appropriate according to a result of the check, so as to generate a gait of the robot 1. Thus, a desired gait that satisfies a predetermined geometric restrictive condition related to the interference between the robot 1 and an object is generated by reflecting an actual environmental condition in real time while carrying out the operational control of the robot 1.

When causing a legged mobile robot, such as a bipedal mobile robot, to perform an operation of, for example, moving a certain object by pushing, the robot is subjected not only to a floor reaction force from a floor with which a distal portion of a leg body thereof is in contact but also to a reaction force from the object. The reaction force received by the robot from the object as described above will be referred to as an object reaction force in the present description.
As a technology for generating a gait of a robot in a state wherein an object reaction force is acting on a legged mobile robot, or for carrying out motion control, there has been known a technology disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-230485 by the inventor of the present application (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1). According to the technology, a desired gait is generated such that a dynamic balance condition in which a component (horizontal component), excluding a vertical component, of a moment produced about a desired ZMP (a desired floor reaction force central point) by a resultant force of an inertial force produced due to a motion of a robot and the gravity and an object reaction force acting on the robot is zero (a floor reaction force acting on the desired floor reaction force central point and the aforesaid resultant force are balanced with each other) is satisfied, and the motions of the robot are controlled so that the desired gait is followed. Furthermore, according to the technology, even if an external force acting on the robot turns into an unexpected external force (even if a difference between a desired external force and an actual external force increases to a certain extent), a desired gait of the robot is adjusted such that a position of the center of gravity of the robot is balanced to a position of the center of gravity that makes it possible to maintain the dynamic balance of the robot.
Further, as a technology for simulating the behaviors of a bipedal mobile robot (humanoid robot), there has been known a technology disclosed in Scholarly Journal of the Robotics Society of Japan/Vol. 19/No. 1, pp. 28˜36, 2001/"Virtual Robot Platform" (hereinafter referred to as Non-Patent Document 1).
Meanwhile, when generating a desired gait of a robot for performing an operation of moving an object, generally, environmental conditions (the configuration of a floor, a frictional force condition, etc.) for moving the object are assumed, and then the basic parameters for generating a gait that define, for example, the trajectory of an object reaction force (a time series pattern), the motion trajectory of the object (the time series pattern of the movement position/posture of the object), and the motion trajectory of a distal portion of each leg body of the robot are determined on the basis of a plan for moving the object (such as a plan that specifies the timing and the method for moving the object). Then, by using the determined parameters, a desired gait of the robot is generated such that a dynamic restrictive condition (e.g., a condition that a ZMP satisfying the aforesaid dynamic balance condition lies within a ground contact surface of the robot) is satisfied under the aforesaid assumed environmental condition.
In this case, if the moving plan or the parameters for generating a gait are inappropriate, then a desired gait that fails to satisfy a geometric restrictive condition, such as the one in which the body of the robot does not bump against an object or in which an arm body of the robot to be engaged with the object does not exceed a movable range, may be inconveniently generated.
Hence, a solution is conceivable in which, for example, a desired gait is generated while simulating behaviors of a robot thereby to check whether a geometric restrictive condition is satisfied by applying the technology shown in the aforesaid Non-Patent Document 1 to the technology shown in the aforesaid Patent Document 1.
However, the technology shown in the aforesaid Non-Patent Document 1 is adapted to simulate (predict) a behavior of a robot on the assumption of a certain environmental condition, so that if an actual environmental condition differs from an assumed environmental condition (this situation frequently occurs), then a situation in which a generated desired gait actually fails to satisfy the aforesaid geometric restrictive condition frequently takes place.
The present invention has been made in view of the background described above, and it is an object of the invention to provide a gait generator of a legged mobile robot that is capable of generating a desired gait that makes it possible to satisfy a predetermined geometric restrictive condition related to the interference or the like between the robot and an object by reflecting an actual environmental condition in real time while controlling a motion of the robot.


A penetrating tool system for providing a penetration action in a workpiece. The system including a penetrating element and a basic displacement element for establishing a basic displacement between the workpiece and the penetrating element during which basic displacement the penetrating action is provided. An auxiliary displacement element for imparting to the penetrating element an auxiliary reciprocating displacement superimposed on the basic displacement during the penetration action. The auxiliary reciprocating displacement has a frequency and amplitude which are substantially invariant in time, independent of reactions of the workpiece to penetration, the frequency of the auxiliary reciprocating displacement being substantially greater than a frequency of the basic displacement. The tool system further including a balancing element for generating a force in the system substantially in line with counterbalancing inertial loads and reactions in the system set up by the auxiliary reciprocating displacement, the force being directed substantially in line with the auxiliary reciprocating displacement and in the direction opposite thereto.

Examples of such penetrating tool systems are cutting machines of differing types such as saws, drills, sewing machines, planers, shearing mechanisms or the like. These systems can be incorporated in hand-held or portable tools or in fixed machine tools. With all such known systems, there is imparted to the penetrating tool or to the workpiece with respect to the tool, a basic displacement which can be linear or rotational or a combination thereof, and which can be uni-directional or reciprocating and by virtue of which in all these cases a penetration action is provided. Thus, for example, a hand saw has imparted to it a reciprocating linear basic displacement, and this is also the case with the needle of a sewing machine.
In most cases, however, with known penetrating tool systems, the penetration of the tool into the workpiece involves a significant energy consumption (and consequent heat generation) as well as in many cases the generation of waste (possibly contaminating) material such as sawdust or the like.
Thus, for example, most hand-held power drills for drilling in concrete or the like involve the use of a hammer or impact mechanism which, in addition to involving a high degree of energy consumption, also includes relatively expensive components which have to be frequently replaced.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved penetrating tool system wherein the above-referred-to disadvantages and drawbacks are substantially reduced and overcome.


A head suspension assembly including a load beam having a rigid region, a mounting region on a proximal end of the load beam, and a flexure on a distal end of the load beam. The flexure has a read/write head attachment region for supporting a read/write head on the distal end of the load beam. Deformation of the head suspension assembly displaces the head attachment region. A strain transducer circuit that acts as a strain gauge is mounted on the head suspension assembly. The resistance of the transducer circuit varies with strain in the circuit, which, in turn, varies with displacement of the read/write head. The magnitude of resistance change of the transducer circuit indicates the magnitude of head off-neutral motion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to suspensions for supporting read/write heads over recording media. In particular, the present invention relates to a head suspension assembly with a strain transducer circuit thereon for detecting motion of the head suspension assembly out of a neutral position.
2. Description of the Related Art
Information storage devices typically include a read/write head for reading and/or writing data onto a storage medium such as a magnetic disk within a rigid disk drive. An actuator mechanism driven by a servo control is used to position the head at specific radial locations or tracks on the magnetic disk. Both linear and rotary type actuators are well known in the art. Between the actuator and the head, a head suspension is required to support the head in proper orientation relative to the disk surface.
The head suspension carries the read/write head so that the head can "fly" over the surface of the rigid disk while the disk is spinning. The head is typically located on a head slider having an aerodynamic design so that the head slider flies on an air bearing generated by the spinning disk. The combination of the head slider and the head suspension is referred to as a head suspension assembly. The head suspension includes a load beam which has a radius or spring section, a rigid region, and a flexure. The flexure is a spring or gimballing connection typically included between the head slider and the rigid section of the load beam so that the head slider can move in the pitch and roll directions of the head to accommodate fluctuations of the disk surface. The mounting region of the load beam is typically attached to an actuator arm which supports the suspension assembly over the rotating disk. A base of the actuator arm is coupled to an actuator.
When no external forces (with the exception of gravity) are acting on the head suspension assembly to deform it in any way, it is in a "neutral un-loaded" state. When the head is flying over the spinning surface of a disk, and is acted upon only by the force of the air bearing generated by the spinning disk, the head suspension assembly is in a "neutral loaded" state. However, the head suspension assembly can experience deformations that cause motion of the head away from either the neutral loaded or neutral un-loaded positions.
One way these deformations can occur involves a head suspension's tendency to bend and twist in a number of different modes, known as resonant frequencies, when driven back and forth at certain rates. Any such bending or twisting of a suspension can cause the position of the head to deviate from its neutral loaded or neutral un-loaded position.
Common bending and twisting modes of suspensions are generally known and discussed, for example, in the Yumura et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,208 and the Hatch et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,734. Modes which result in lateral or transverse motion (also known as off-track motion) of the head slider are particularly detrimental since this motion causes the head slider to move from the desired track on the disk toward an adjacent track. The three primary modes which produce this transverse motion are known as the sway, first torsion, and second torsion modes. The sway mode is a lateral bending mode in which the suspension bends in a transverse direction along its entire length. The first and second torsion modes are twisting modes during which the suspension twists about a rotational axis which extends along the length of the suspension.
Deformations of the suspension can also be caused by a secondary-actuation or microactuation device designed to move the head relative to the remainder of the head suspension assembly. Such a microactuation device is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/457,432 filed Jun. 6, 1995 by Jurgenson et al. for a Head Suspension with Tracking Microactuator now U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,188.
Whether generated by motion during resonant modes, a secondary actuation device, or other causes, it can be useful to monitor motion of the head away from a neutral loaded or neutral un-loaded position, that is, read/write head off-neutral motion. Information about head off-neutral motion caused by undesirable resonant vibrations can be used to actively damp such vibrations. Further, monitoring of the displacement of the head caused by a first actuator can be important to correct placement of the head by a second actuator.

Head suspension with resonance feedback transducer


Techniques are described for multicarrier multiple access wireless transmission, e.g. orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) transmissions, over frequency selective fading channels. The techniques are designed to maintain constant modulus transmissions for uplink while effectively mitigating intersymbol interference. Specifically, the techniques utilize non-redundant unitary precoding across OFDMA subcarriers to maintain constant modulus transmissions for uplink communications. For example, the techniques involve precoding a block of information symbols and assigning a different subcarrier for each symbol of the block. The subcarriers are selected to be equi-spaced and may be selected, for example, from a phase-shift keying constellation. The number of symbols per block is equal to the number of subcarriers assigned per user. Importantly, even with multiple subcarriers per user, the techniques enable constant modulus transmissions for uplink. Consequently, the techniques may achieve high power and bandwidth efficiency as well as improved performance over conventional OFDMA and GMC-CDMA transmissions.

In wireless mobile communications, a channel that couples a transmitter to a receiver is often time-varying due to relative transmitter-receiver motion and multipath propagation. Such a time-variation is commonly referred to as fading and may severely impair system performance. When a data rate for the system is high in relation to channel bandwidth, multipath propagation may become frequency-selective and cause intersymbol interference (ISI). By implementing inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) and cyclic prefix (CP) insertion at the transmitter, together with CP removal and FFT processing at the receiver, orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) converts frequency-selective ISI channels into a set of parallel flat fading subchannels. Each subchannel can subsequently be equalized with significantly reduced complexity. As a result, OFDM has found widespread applications in digital subscriber lines (DSL), digital audio/video broadcasting (DAB/DVB), and wireless local area networking (LAN) standards, including IEEE802.11a and Hiperlan/2.
Being OFDM's counterpart for multi-user communications, orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) inherits OFDM's ability to effectively mitigate ISI that arises when high-rate transmission propagate through time dispersive or frequency selective channels. Originally proposed for cable TV networks, OFDMA is now being considered for IEEE 802.16a, ETSI Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRAN), and multi-user satellite communications.
In its simplest form, each OFDMA user transmits information symbols using one complex exponential or subcarrier that retains orthogonality with other users' subcarriers when passing through multipath fading channels. As a result, multi-user interference (MUI) can be suppressed deterministically, regardless of the underlying ISI channels. In uplink applications, this one-carrier-per-user access scheme is also power efficient because each user maintains a constant modulus transmission. However, the performance of OFDMA can be significantly reduced when a user-specific channel exhibits deep fades or nulls at the information-bearing subcarrier. Error-control coding and/or frequency hopping are usually employed to rubustify performance against channel fades. Alternatively, multiple subcarriers can be assigned per user to support high data rate applications at the expense of non-constant modulus signaling. However, the multicarrier OFDMA scheme reduces efficiency of the power amplification stage at the transmitter.

Bandwidth and power efficient multicarrier multiple access


A mechanical apparatus including a combustion engine, a conduit for transporting an exhaust stream away from the engine, a first catalytic NOx storage and conversion region disposed along the conduit, and a second catalytic NOx storage and conversion region disposed along the conduit at a location downstream from the first catalytic NOx storage and conversion region is disclosed. Each of the first catalytic NOx storage and conversion region and the second catalytic NOx storage and conversion region includes at least one catalytic metal configured to convert NOx to NO2 when the engine is supplied a lean air/fuel mixture, and at least one NOx adsorbing compound configured to adsorb NO2 for storage when the engine is supplied a lean air/fuel mixture, and wherein the one of the first and the second catalytic NOx storage and conversion regions has a lower concentration of catalytic metal than the other of the first and second catalytic NOx storage and conversion regions.

Lean-burning engines, or engines that run on an air/fuel mixture with a stoichiometrically greater amount of air than fuel, can offer improved fuel economy relative to engines configured to run on stoichiometric air/fuel mixtures.
However, lean-burning engines also may pose various disadvantages. For example, burning a lean air/fuel mixture may decrease the reduction of nitrogen oxides (collectively referred to as "NOx") in a conventional three-way catalytic converter.
Various mechanisms have been developed to reduce NOx emissions in lean-burning engines. One mechanism is a catalyst known as a NOx trap. The NOx trap is a catalytic device typically positioned downstream of a catalytic converter in an emissions system, and is configured to retain NOx when the engine is running a lean air/fuel mixture for eventual reduction and regeneration when the engine runs a more rich air/fuel mixture.
A typical NOx trap includes one or more precious metals, such as platinum, rhodium, and/or palladium, to convert NOx in an emissions stream to NO2, and an alkali or alkaline metal oxide, such as barium or calcium oxides, to which NO2 adsorbs as a nitrate when the engine is running a lean air/fuel mixture. The engine can then be configured to periodically run a richer air/fuel mixture. The nitrates decompose under these conditions, releasing the NOx which then reacts with the carbon monoxide, hydrogen gas and various hydrocarbons in the exhaust over the precious metal to form N2, thus decreasing the NOx emissions and regenerating the trap.
The use of a NOx trap can substantially reduce NOx emissions from a lean-burning engine. However, during high load conditions, an engine is typically operated at a stoichiometric air/fuel mixture. Under such operating conditions, some hydrocarbons, CO and NOx may reach the NOx trap and be converted to CO2, H2O and N2 at the NOx trap precious metal sites. These conversions are exothermic processes that can age the NOx trap, thereby causing a reduction in NOx storage capacity.
The NOx storage and conversion performance of a NOx trap typically improves with increasing platinum loading at temperatures between 200 and 400° C., particularly after thermal aging. Above 400° C., the influence of the noble metal concentration decreases because the rate of NOx oxidation increases. At these higher temperatures, the NOx storage performance is limited more by the amount of NOx storage sites, which is a function of the volume of the trap. This encourages the use of large NOx trap volumes with high platinum levels in order to provide good NOx storage performance at both low and high temperatures. However, this may increase the cost of the emissions treatment system.

Mechanical apparatus having a catalytic NO


An electronic device is disclosed. In addition, various embodiments identified through the specification are possible. The electronic device includes a display, a processor, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to display, when a video supporting a plurality of orientation regions is played, a screen of a first orientation region among the plurality of orientation regions and a first text corresponding to a voice of a first speaker in the screen, and display, in response to a user input of selecting a voice of a second speaker located in a second orientation region, a screen of the second orientation region.

An electronic device (e.g., a smart phone, a computer device, or a virtual reality (VR) device) may play multimedia such as a photo, a video, a music, a game, or a broadcast. The electronic device may play a 360 video that supports a viewing angle of 360 degrees. Through the 360 video, the electronic device may provide an experience in which a user of the electronic device may identify not only an object located in a specific orientation region but also an object located in all orientation regions.

Device and method for visually displaying speaker's voice in 360-degree video


A reversible thermosensitive recording medium includes a reversible thermosensitive recording layer including a matrix resin and an organic low-molecular-weight material dispersed in the matrix resin, of which transparency is reversibly changeable depending upon the temperature thereof, and having (1) a transparentizing upper-limit temperature of 125xc2x0 C. or more, (2) a temperature difference of 20xc2x0 C. or less between said transparentizing upper-limit temperature and an opaqueness initiation lower-limit temperature, and (3) a transparentizing initiation temperature of less than 95xc2x0 C., and a method of recording and erasing images, using the recording medium, a method of producing the recording medium, and the application thereof a card, a label, writable or rewritable disk cartridge, disk and tape cassette are proposed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reversible thermosensitive recording medium, more particularly to a reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprising a reversible thermosensitive recording layer of which transparency or color tone is reversibly changeable depending upon the temperature thereof, thereby recording information therein and erasing recorded information therefrom repeatedly as desired. The reversible thermosensitive recording may be used in information recording devices in any form, for instance, in the form of a card, a disk, a label, or a disk cartridge. The present invention also relates to a method of producing the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium. The present invention also relates to a method of image formation and erasure, using the reversible thermosensitive recording medium. The present invention furthermore relates to an apparatus for performing the above method of image formation and erasure, using the reversible thermosensitive recording medium.
2. Discussion of Background
Recently attention has been paid to a reversible thermosensitive recording material capable of temporarily recording images therein and erasing the same therefrom when such images become unnecessary. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 55-154198, there are conventionally known reversible thermosensitive recording materials in which an organic low-molecular-weight material such as a higher fatty acid is dispersed in a matrix resin such as a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer.
However, such a conventional reversible thermosensitive recording material has a shortcoming that a temperature range in which the recording material exhibits light transmission or transparency characteristics or is in a transparent state (hereinafter referred to as the transparentizing temperature width) is as narrow as 2 to 4xc2x0 C., so that it is difficult to control the temperature for performing such image formation while utilizing the properties of reversibly becoming light shielding or opaque or milky white.
With this shortcoming of the above reversible thermosensitive recording material taken into consideration, the inventors of the present invention previously facilitated image erasure (making images transparent) by using a mixture of a higher fatty acid and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid to broaden the transparentizing temperature width to about 20xc2x0 C. as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 2-1363 and 3-2089. This method, however, has a shortcoming that the erasure cannot be sufficiently facilitated when the ambient temperature largely changes or when the heat application time for the erasure is short.
In order to improve such erasability, it is proposed to broaden the transparentizing temperature width by using a mixture of (a) a higher ketone or a fatty acid ester having a lower melting point than those of higher fatty acids, and (b) an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or a saturated aliphatic bisamide as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 4-366682, 5-294062 and 6-255247. This method is capable of broadening the transparentizing temperature width and accordingly capable of improving the erasability. However, due to the use of the higher ketone or fatty acid ester having a lower melting point than those of higher fatty acids, the transparentizing temperature width is situated in a low temperature range, so that this method has a shortcoming that the formed opaque or milky white images formed are erased when the ambient temperature is high.
In order to improve the erasability of the image without lowering the heat resistance thereof, it has been proposed to shift the transparentizing temperature width to a high temperature side by using a mixture of (a) a low-molecular-weight compound having a low melting point and (b) an alicyclic dicarboxylic acid having a melting point of about 200xc2x0 C. which is significantly higher than the melting points of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 5-139053, 6-48024 and 6-48025, or by using a mixture of (a) a low-molecular-weight compound having a low melting point and (bxe2x80x2) a low-molecular compound having a steroid skeleton having a melting point near to 200xc2x0 C. (as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 8-20167 and 8-282131). These recording media are capable of improving the erasability while maintaining the heat resistance of the image, but has the shortcomings that the temperature difference between a transparentizing upper-limit temperature and an opaqueness initiation lower-limit temperature is so large that a significantly large amount of energy is required for the formation of milky white images, and that the durability of the media is lowered while in repeated use, with the surface of the recording media scratched, and the opaqueness of the image lowered in the course of the repetition of image printing and erasure.
When a large amount of energy is required for the image formation, a thermal head""s pulse application time is required to be lengthened since there is a limit to a voltage that can be applied to the thermal head from a power source, or the recording speed be lowered. Furthermore, when the amount of energy applied to the thermal head is increased, the life of the thermal head is shortened. Thus, when the amount of energy required for the image formation is increased, the applied energy has adverse effects on an apparatus using the reversible thermosensitive recording medium. In this case, it is considered that the high opaqueness initiation temperature is caused by the use of a low-molecular weight compound having an excessively high melting point.
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a reversible thermosensitive recording medium with an extended transparentizing temperature width, while maintaining the capability of producing images with high heat resistance, and with high repeated use durability, which is capable of producing images with high contrast and erasing the same with high erasability even when the ambient temperature varies.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium.
A third object of the present invention is to provide an information recording device utilizing the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a method of recording images in any of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention and the above-mentioned information recording medium or erasing recorded images therefrom.
The first object of the present invention can be achieved by a reversible thermosensitive recording medium which comprises a reversible thermosensitive recording layer comprising a matrix resin and an organic low-molecular-weight material dispersed in the matrix resin, of which transparency is reversibly changeable depending upon the temperature thereof, with the reversible thermosensitive recording medium having (1) a transparentizing upper-limit temperature of 125xc2x0 C. or more, (2) a temperature difference of 20xc2x0 C. or less between the transparentizing upper-limit temperature and an opaqueness initiation lower-limit temperature, and (3) a transparentizing initiation temperature of less than 95xc2x0 C.
It is preferable that the reversible thermosensitive recording medium further have a transparentizing temperature range of 30xc2x0 C. or more.
It is also preferable that the transparentizing upper-limit temperature of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium be 130xc2x0 C. or more.
It is preferable that in the reversible thermosensitive recording medium, the temperature difference between the transparentizing upper-limit temperature and the opaqueness initiation lower-limit temperature be 15xc2x0 C. or less.
The first object of the present invention can also be achieved by a reversible thermosensitive recording medium which comprises a reversible thermosensitive recording layer formed thereon comprising a matrix resin and an organic low-molecular-weight material dispersed in the matrix resin, of which transparency is reversibly changeable depending upon the temperature thereof, the organic low-molecular-weight material comprising a mixture of at least one straight chain hydrocarbon compound (A) comprising at least one bond selected from the group consisting of amide bond, urea bond and sulfonyl bond, and at least one carboxyl group, and having a melting point of 130xc2x0 C. or more, and at least one straight chain hydrocarbon compound (B) having a melting point which is lower by at least 30xc2x0 C. than the melting point of the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (A).
In the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium, it is preferable that the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (B) have a melting point of less than 100xc2x0 C.
In the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium, it is also preferable that the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (B) have a melting point of 50xc2x0 C. or more.
In the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium, it is preferable that the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (B) and the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (A) be mixed in a mixing ratio by parts by weight of 98:2 to 10:90.
In the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium, it is preferable that as the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (A), a straight chain hydrocarbon compound comprising an amide bond and a carboxyl group be used.
In the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium, it is preferable that as the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (A), a straight chain hydrocarbon compound of general formula (1) be used:
HOOCxe2x80x94(CH2)n-Xxe2x80x94(CH2)m-Yxe2x80x94(CH2)n-COOHxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
wherein 1xe2x89xa6nxe2x89xa626, 1xe2x89xa6mxe2x89xa626, and X and Y each independently represent CONH or NHCO, but do not have an identical structure at the same time.
It is also preferable that in the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium, a straight chain hydrocarbon compound comprising a urea bond and a carboxyl group be used as the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (A).
It is also preferable that in the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium, a straight chain hydrocarbon compound comprising a sulfonyl bond and a carboxyl group be used as the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (A).
In the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium, it is preferable that as the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (A), a straight chain hydrocarbon compound of general formula (2) be used:
CH3xe2x80x94(CH2)n-Zxe2x80x94(CH2)m-COOHxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
wherein 0xe2x89xa6nxe2x89xa625, 1xe2x89xa6mxe2x89xa626, and Z represents NHCONH or SO2.
In the above reversible thermosensitive recording medium, it is preferable that the organic low-molecular-weight material further comprise at least one straight chain hydrocarbon compound (C) in the mixture, having a melting point which is higher by at least 10xc2x0 C. than that of the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (B) and is lower by at least 10xc2x0 C. than that of the straight chain hydrocarbon compound (A).
The second object of the present invention can be achieved by a method of producing a reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprising a support, and a reversible thermosensitive recording layer formed thereon comprising a matrix resin and an organic low-molecular-weight material dispersed in the matrix resin, of which transparency is reversibly changeable depending upon the temperature thereof, comprising the steps of:
coating a dispersion on the support, the dispersion comprising a solvent, the matrix resin and the organic low-molecular-weight material comprising an organic low-molecular-weight compound having a melting point of 130xc2x0 C. or more, which organic low-molecular-weight material is dispersed in the form of a solid in the matrix resin, and
drying the dispersion with application of heat thereto so as to dissolve the organic low-molecular-weight material in the solvent when heat is applied thereto, thereby forming the reversible thermosensitive recording layer on the support.
In the above method, it is preferable that the organic low-molecular-weight material dispersed in the dispersion have a solubility of 0.5% or more in the solvent at a temperature at which the dispersion coated on the support is dried with application of heat thereto.
In the above method, it is also preferable that the organic low-molecular-weight material dispersed in the dispersion have a solubility of less than 0.5% in the solvent at room temperature.
The second object of the present invention can also be achieved by a method of producing a reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprising a support, and a reversible thermosensitive recording layer formed thereon comprising a matrix resin and an organic low-molecular-weight material dispersed in the matrix resin, of which transparency is reversibly changeable depending upon the temperature thereof, comprising the steps of:
coating a dispersion on the support, the dispersion comprising a solvent, the matrix resin and the organic low-molecular-weight material comprising at least one organic low-molecular-weight compound and an organic low-molecular-weight compound having a melting point of 130xc2x0 C. or more, which organic low-molecular-weight materials are dispersed in the form of a solid in the matrix resin, and
drying the dispersion with application of heat thereto at a temperature which is lower than the highest melting point of the melting points of the organic low-molecular-weight materials, and then at a temperature which is not lower than the highest melting point of the melting points of the organic low-molecular-weight materials, thereby forming the reversible thermosensitive recording layer on the support.
The third object of the present invention can be achieved by a card comprising a reversible thermosensitive recording portion which comprises the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention, and an information memory portion.
In the above card, the information memory portion may comprise at least one element selected from the group consisting of a magnetic recording layer, IC and an optical memory.
The above-mentioned card may further comprise a support and a magnetic recording layer which is provided on one side of the support, and the reversible thermosensitive recording portion is provided on a back side of the support opposite to the magnetic layer.
In the above-mentioned card, the reversible thermosensitive recording portion may further comprise a portion in which an image can be irreversibly printed, or which comprises such irreversibly printed image.
The third object of the present invention can also be achieved by a reversible thermosensitive recording label comprising:
a support,
a reversible thermosensitive recording portion which comprises the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention, and
an adhesive or tacky layer on a back side of the support opposite to the reversible thermosensitive recording layer of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium.
In the above-mentioned reversible thermosensitive recording label, the reversible thermosensitive recording portion may further comprise a portion in which an image can be irreversibly printed, or which comprises such irreversibly printed image.
The third object of the present invention can also be achieved by a disk cartridge comprising:
a cartridge,
a writable or rewritable disk in which information to be recorded therein is writable or rewritable, which writable or rewritable disk is built in the cartridge, and
a reversible thermosensitive display portion which comprises the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention or the above-mentioned reversible thermosensitive recording label, which reversible thermosensitive display portion is provided on the surface of the cartridge.
In the above-mentioned disk cartridge, the reversible thermosensitive recording portion may further comprise a portion in which an image can be irreversibly printed, or which comprises such irreversibly printed image.
The third object of the present invention can also be achieved by a disk comprising:
a writable or rewritable disk in which information to be recorded therein is writable or rewritable, and
a reversible thermosensitive display portion which comprises the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention or the above-mentioned reversible thermosensitive recording label, which reversible thermosensitive display portion is provided on the surface of the writable or rewritable disk.
In the above-mentioned disk, the reversible thermosensitive recording portion may further comprise a portion in which an image can be irreversibly printed, or which comprises such irreversibly printed image.
The third object of the present invention can also be achieved by a tape cassette comprising:
a cassette member,
a writable or rewritable tape member in which information to be recorded therein is writable or rewritable, disposed in the cassette member, and
a reversible thermosensitive display portion which comprises the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention or the above-mentioned reversible thermosensitive recording label, which reversible thermosensitive display portion is provided on the surface of the tape cassette.
In the above-mentioned tape cassette, the reversible thermosensitive recording portion may further comprise a portion in which an image can be irreversibly printed, or which comprises such irreversibly printed image.
The fourth object of the present invention can be achieved by a method of recording images or erasing recorded images with application of heat to one of recording media selected from the group consisting of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium, the card, the reversible thermosensitive recording label, the disk cartridge, the disk, and the tape cassette mentioned above.
In the above-mentioned method, the application of heat for erasing recorded images may be carried out, using a ceramic heater.
In the above method, it is preferable that the ceramic heater be set at a temperature of 110xc2x0 C. or more for the application of heat for erasing recorded images.
In the above method, the application of heat for recording or erasing recorded images may be carried out, using a thermal head.
When the thermal head is used, the thermal head may apply heat to any of the above-mentioned recording media for erasing recorded images and also for recording images thereon in an overwriting manner.

Reversible thermosensitive recording medium, method of producing the medium, information recording devices using the medium, and image formation and erasing method using the medium


A virtual profilograph is disclosed that can provide measurements indicative of the ride quality of a roadway as the road is being constructed. As a result, a more timely, less costly indication of the ride quality of a roadway is obtained as compared to prior methods. In a first embodiment a Global Navigation Satellite System antenna is attached to a vehicle. When the vehicle travels over a roadway, measurements of the position of the antenna are recorded at different times. A profile of the roadway is created by measuring the elevation of the antenna as a function of the distance traveled from a starting point. In another embodiment, tilt sensors are used to measure the slope of the roadway and the tilt of the vehicle so that a precise orientation of the vehicle and, hence, the contours of the roadway, can be determined.

The present invention relates generally to machines for road paving operations and, more particularly, to assessing the quality of a paved road surface using Global Navigation Satellite Systems.
Methods of designing and paving/surfacing streets, highways and other such roadways, and the equipment used in such paving operations, are extremely well known. For example, in one such method, an asphalt mixture is spread on a properly graded and prepared surface and the mixture is then compacted using, for example, an asphalt compactor. The terms asphalt compactor, roller and roller machine are used interchangeably herein. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many different types of paving/surfacing operations suitable for different circumstances.
One key assessment of finished roadways is the quality of ride that is experienced by a vehicle as it passes over the roadway. Profilographs, which are well-known in the art, are typically used after construction of a roadway is completed as one method of measuring ride quality. A profilograph is a measurement device that is passed over a roadway to detect the presence and severity of bumps and dips in order to generate a longitudinal profile of the roadway. FIG. 1 shows a prior art profilograph 100 useful for this purpose. Referring to that figure, profilograph 100 has a frame 102 which is, for example, a lightweight aluminum frame. Exemplary profilograph 100 has a length L of 25 feet. Frame 102 is supported above roadway 109 by wheel assemblies 101 and is adapted to be towed behind a vehicle in direction 110. Measurement wheel 108 is attached to arm 107 which, in turn, is attached to mounting box 104 mounted to frame 102 in a way that permits arm 107 and, hence, wheel 108, to move vertically to follow the contour of road 109 as the wheel passes over the road. Measurement wheel and/or arm 107 is connected to recording device 103 via cable 106 and flexible shaft 105. As wheel 108 moves up and down vertically, i.e. over bumps and into dips in a roadway as the profilograph is towed, cable 106 shortens and lengthens, respectively and flexible shaft 105 rotates in relationship to the rotation of wheel 108. Recording device 103 records the variations in the length of cable 106 as a function of the rotation of wheel 108 and compares the vertical position of wheel 108 to the known, fixed position of wheel assemblies 101. Since the number of rotations of wheel 108 are directly proportional to the distance traveled by the profilograph, recording device 103 can accurately record the relative position of wheel 108 with respect to the wheel assemblies 101 in order to determine any fast elevation changes within the length of the profilograph 100 that may function to degrade ride quality. These elevation changes experienced along roadway 109 can then be plotted as a function of the distance from a starting point of the profilograph in order to generate a longitudinal profile of that roadway. Recording device 103 may be an analog device with a physical pen connected to cable 106. In such a case, the pen moves proportionately with the change in length of cable 106 and records the dips and bumps on a roll of paper that is scrolled relative to the pen at a speed proportional to the rotational velocity of wheel 108. Alternatively, recording device 103 may be a digital computing device that records roadway profile information in digital memory. In either case, the result is a profile or graph of a roadway showing any fast elevation changes as a function of distance traveled which can effect the ride quality of a vehicle passing over that roadway.
Other variations on profilographs have also been used. For example, profilographs that are shorter in length have been developed that are useful at higher speeds than the profilograph of FIG. 1, which is limited to relatively slow speeds. Additionally, laser ranging devices have also been used in profilographs, herein referred to as laser profilographs. Laser profilographs typically consist of one or more laser devices attached to a vehicle. The laser is pointed at the roadway as the vehicle moves and one or more sensors measure, for example, the time the light energy emitted from the laser takes to travel from the laser device to the sensor, thus allowing a measurement of the distance from the laser to the ground. The longer the light energy takes to travel from the laser device, be reflected by the road and reach the sensor, the greater the distance above the ground the laser device/sensor are located. The speed of the vehicle is recorded while the distance measurements are taken and this information is transmitted to a computer, which records the information in order to create a profile of the roadway.

Virtual profilograph for road surface quality assessment


A temperature controlled gravimetric moisture analyzer (20) is used to control the temperature of a sample material (24) while determining moisture content of the sample material (24). The moisture analyzer (20) includes a thermally conductive sample holder (22) having an emissive surface (44). A high precision force balance (30) is coupled to the sample holder (22) for weighing the sample material (24). A heater (26) encloses the sample material. An air temperature sensor (38) is configured to produce an air temperature signal (54). An infrared temperature sensor is configured to detect infrared emissions from the emissive surface (44) to produce a sample temperature signal (60) representative of the temperature of the sample material (24). A controller receives the air and sample temperature signals (54, 60) and controls the heater (26) in response to the signals.

Determination of moisture (or volatile) content in materials is of such importance in so many fields that a wide variety of devices and analytical methods are used. One method for measuring moisture content in solids and non-volatile liquids is thermal gravimetric. In a thermal gravimetric system, a small sample of material is weighed and then the material is dried by the application of heat thereto and re-weighed after drying. Any difference in weight is indicative of the moisture content.
In one conventional thermal gravimetric moisture analyzer, the sample material is placed on a sample holder which is attached to a high precision scale, and enclosed by an electrically heated chamber. The temperature of the air in the chamber is measured and controlled to a selected value. The selected value is the temperature at which the volatiles in the sample material should be successfully driven off without allowing the sample material to burn. It is assumed that the temperature of the sample material correlates to the air temperature, hence when the air temperature is at the selected value, it is presumed that the sample material is also at the selected value. Following the heating process, the resulting loss of sample weight is automatically determined and displayed.
The electrical heater of the prior art moisture analyzer generates heat energy that has a convective component and a radiative component. The convective component is the heat energy that the sample receives from the movement of the warmed air in the chamber. The radiative component is the heat energy that the sample receives by absorption of infrared radiation emitted from the electrical heater. A problem with this conventional electrical heater is that air does not receive a significant amount of heat energy by absorption of infrared radiation. Thus, the air temperature measurement is primarily a measure of the convective component of the heat energy, not a combined measure of both the convective and radiative components of the heat energy such as that imparted on the sample material. Hence, the air temperature measurement is not an accurate representation of the actual sample temperature.
Furthermore, heating elements of different moisture analyzers have varying levels of radiative emissions. Thus, the radiative component of heat energy may not be consistent between heaters and even from one test time to the next. In addition, radiative absorptivity of the sample material varies from material to material. The radiative absorptivity is the amount of heat that a sample material absorbs from the radiative component of the heat energy generated by the moisture analyzer. Due to these above variations, the sample material temperature cannot be reliably correlated to the measured air temperature.
Unreliable correlation leads to variations in the amount of volatiles lost by the sample material and the rate at which the volatiles are driven off from test to test and from system to system. For example, when the air temperature reaches the selected value, the radiative component of the heat energy may cause the sample temperature to be higher than the air temperature, thus the sample material may undesirably burn and lose hydrocarbons as well as volatiles so that the weight loss is inaccurately high. Whereas, during a different test of the same type of sample material, the radiative component of the heat energy differ from the previous test so that the results from the previous test cannot be correlated with the later test to prevent the excess heating of the sample material and the resulting loss of hydrocarbons.
To circumvent the problems associated with the variability of the radiative component of the heat generated by the electrical heater, other prior art gravimetric moisture analyzer systems utilize a microwave oven to dry a sample material. The microwave heated moisture analyzer solves the problems associated with the electrically heated moisture analyzer because there are no convective and radiative components of heat energy such as that generated by an electrically heated moisture analyzer. As is known in the art, microwave radiation is absorbed by water and polar organic molecules, causing an increase in the molecular motion. Due to the absorption of radiation energy, the water and polar solvents are collectively heated and removed through vaporization and volatilization.
Air temperature inside the microwave oven is not used to control the microwave oven to a preselected value, since microwave heating does not involve the convection of heat energy. Rather, the microwave oven is configured to dry the sample material for a preselected time. The drying time is preselected, based on factors such as the sample size, the magnetron capabilities of the microwave, expected time to achieve volatile loss, and other factors which may be determined by experimentation.
A problem with the microwave heated moisture analyzer is that if the sample is heated for too long of a duration, the microwave radiation may produce hot spots in the sample material which could decompose or destroy part of the sample being tested. Furthermore, since the preselected drying time is determined by experimentation, drying time does not automatically adapt to individual variability of the sample material, such as a higher than normal moisture level in the sample material, unexpected volatile loss, variability of sample size, and so forth. Thus, use of the microwave heated moisture analyzer also introduces inaccuracies into the data.
To gain more accurate and reliable drying of the sample material, it is desirable to directly measure the temperature of the sample material. Unfortunately, in either of the prior art moisture analyzers, it is not possible to directly contact the sample material to obtain a measure of the sample temperature because such direct contact may interfere with the high precision weighing process.

Temperature controlled gravimetric moisture analyzer and method therefor


System and method for using automated 3D scans to diagnose the mechanical status of substantially intact vehicles. One or more processor controlled 3D scanners utilize optical and other methods to assess the exposed surfaces of various vehicle components. Computer vision and other computerized pattern recognition techniques then compare the 3D scanner output versus a reference computer database of these various vehicle components in various normal and malfunctioning states. Those components judged to be aberrant are flagged. These flagged components can be reported to the vehicle users, as well as various insurance or repair entities. In some embodiments, the 3D scans can be performed using time-of-flight cameras, and optionally infrared, stereoscopic, and even audio sensors attached to the processor controlled arm of a mobile robot. Much of the subsequent data analysis and management can be done using remote Internet servers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of systems and methods for automated vehicle problem diagnosis and maintenance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern vehicles, such as automobiles, typically have a variety of built in sensors, as well as various microcontrollers, microprocessors (processors) designed to detect a variety of different problems. These sensors can detect problems such as improper fuel/air mixes, alternator problems, overheating, low oil or water levels, improper tire pressure, low brake fluid, and other types of component malfunctions.
Nonetheless, there remain many situations where such built-in sensors fail to detect various types of worn or damaged vehicle components. To compensate for this problem, automobile users, for example, are often instructed to bring their vehicles in for maintenance inspections at various standard intervals (e.g. every 5,000 miles). During these maintenance inspections, a human mechanic will visually inspect various portions of the vehicle, such as the engine and suspension. The mechanic will, for example, visually note various engine problems such as cracked or broken radiator hoses, worn belts (e.g. fan belts, alternator belts), as well as note various suspension problems such as broken or slipped leaf springs, leaking steering racks, and the like.
These prior art inspections are thus done manually. They tended to rely heavily upon the ability of the mechanic to look at the exposed surfaces of various vehicle components, and detect problems by eye.
Although the most vehicle inspections are done manually, a few automated methods of inspecting vehicle components, or vehicle related components, are also known in the art. For example, McAlfee et. al., in US patent publication 2012/0290259, disclosed a portable optical metrology inspection station and method of operation. In this disclosure, parts (which could be isolated vehicle components) were placed in a cabinet, and a multi-axis robotic arm moved the part while the part was scanned by an optical metrology scanner. Computer software then analyzed the geometric dimensions of the isolated part versus a 3D CAD model.
By contrast, Yang et. al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,683 taught a non-contact measuring apparatus and method for the section profile of a tire, which is another type of isolated vehicle component. In this approach, the 3D profile of automobile tires was determined by using a robotic hand to move a slit-ray generator and camera in multiple axes over the surface of a tire, thus determining the tire section profile shape.
Other prior art, such as Chinese patent CN 203125521U teaches 3D scanning for automobile assembly line inspection. Easterly, U.S. Pat. No. 8,443,301 teaches reporting on vehicle problems using a three dimensional visual interface, but fails to teach automated inspection methods.
In different but related art, Nagle, et. al., in U.S. Pat. No. 8,405,837, disclosed a system and method for inspecting rail road track surfaces using optical wavelength filtering. He taught projecting a laser beam at the rail road track surface, receiving reflected light using a camera, and using a processor to analyze the railroad track bed for deviations in proper crosstie placement.
Modern 3D scanning technology now enables automated sensors to acquire a large amount of sophisticated information regarding the shape and status of various 3D objects. Such sensors include, for example, time-of-flight cameras. Time of flight 3D scanning cameras and methods are described in detail in Hansard, Lee, Choi, and Horaud, "Time-of-Flight Cameras: Principles, Methods, and Applications" (2012). Springer, ISBN 978-1-4471-4657-5. Other types of non-contact 3D scanning methods include triangulation type 3D scanners, structured light scanners, stereoscopic 3D scanners, and the like.
Additionally, modern computer vision automated analysis methods, using modern computer processors and algorithms, has now developed to the point where automated image recognition and inspection methods are now capable of relatively sophisticated analysis. Such methods are discussed in detail in Prince, "Computer Vision: Models, Learning, and Inference" (2012), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1107011793. Other discussion can also be found in Hartley, "Multiple View Geometry in Computer Vision" (2004), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0521540513; as well as Bishop, "Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning" (2007), Springer, ISBN 978-0387310732; Szeliski, "Computer Vision: Algorithms and Applications (Texts in Computer Science) (2010), ISBN 978-1848829343, and the like.
Additionally, modern robotic systems are now capable of very precise automated control and positioning. Such robotic positioning methods are discussed in Jazar, "Theory of Applied Robotics: Kinematics, Dynamics, and Control (2nd Edition)" (2010), Springer ISBN 978-1441917492, and elsewhere.

System and method of automated 3D scanning for vehicle maintenance


The disclosure relates to a plastic row divider assembly with a frame for a corn head on a combine. The invention consists of several center divider assemblies surrounded by a pair of end divider assemblies. A center divider assembly consists of a narrow island shield supported by a narrow island shield sub-assembly. Pivotially attached to the narrow island shield sub-assembly is a narrow point shield sub-assembly. The narrow island shield sub-assembly is pivotially attached to the row unit frame. Affixed to the narrow point shield sub-assembly is a narrow point shield. An end divider assembly consists of an end island shield supported by an end island shield support sub-assembly. The end island shield support sub-assembly is pivotially affixed to the end frame. An end point shield is supported by an end island shield sub assembly. The sub-assembly is pivotially affixed to the row unit. The end point shield and narrow point shield heights may be altered. The dividers are designed to allow an unobstructed view of the row unit processing equipment when lifted.

1. Field of Art
This invention relates to the improvement of machines used in the harvesting of corn. More particularly, it relates to a crop row divider assembly on a corn head.
2. Description of Prior Art
Mechanical harvesting of corn has taken place for decades. However, efforts continue to make corn harvest operations more efficient and effective. A corn harvester generally includes a corn head which removes the ears from the stalks. The ear of corn is then fed into a separator or thresher which separates the grains of corn from all other materials. A corn head actually consists of several row assemblies, one for each row which is being harvested in a single pass over the field. In order to ensure a smooth flow of corn and to protect the equipment under the corn head assembly there are several conically shaped dividers affixed to the corn head. Each divider passes between two rows of corn. Typically each divider covers a pair of stalkrolls, stripper plates, gathering chains and gear boxes. Besides protecting this processing equipment, a well-designed row divider will ensure a smooth flow of corn crop into the corn head. A good divider will also prevent corn loss. As the corn head moves forward, the corn plants in each row enter the channel for processing by the corn head and thresher.
Currently, there are several drawbacks to existing row dividers used on existing corn heads. First, friction between the corn and row divider can either slow the speed of the corn entering the corn head or damage the corn. This requires that the farmer operate the combine or harvester at slower speeds. Second, most row dividers are of a complex design. This complexity increases their weight and maintenance costs. Third, most dividers are difficult to raise or lower. Raising the dividers allow for the easy maintenance of the processing equipment or the easy transport the corn head. Because of the their length, most dividers need to be folded in order to allow the corn head to be effectively transported from field to field. Fourth, in the prior art, when the dividers are raised, the processing equipment beneath the divider is partially obstructed. This makes maintenance more difficult to accomplish. Fifth, metal dividers rust or bend, effecting the flow of crop into the corn head. Sixth, the color on a metal divider can chip off making it difficult for the operator to correctly position the row divider between the rows of corn. Finally, in colder weather moisture will freeze to a metal divider and cause parts of the cornstalk to adhere to the divider.
The prior art illustrates these and additional difficulties. U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,682 discloses an agricultural attachment for harvesting agricultural products arranged in rows. This corn head uses a metal row divider which is capable of being tipped to allow for easier maintenance and transport. The divider hood is raised and the divider tip is pointed towards the ground. It is only possible to gain partial access to a single set of processing equipment. The access dilemma is quite noticeable when an entire row of dividers are raised. In that situation it is very difficult to gain access to the processing equipment located beneath the divider. The metal divider also results in a heavier, more complex corn head.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,467 discloses a row divider with a flexible plastic sheath. The divider consists of two sub-frames covered by a flexible plastic sheath. The sub-frames may be expanded or contracted depending on the size of the gap between corn rows. The frames are designed to stretch or contract the plastic sheath. As a result, the frames are complex and add weight and maintenance complexity to the row dividers. Additionally, no provision has been made for the transport of the corn head or if maintenance is needed on the processing equipment located beneath the divider.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,309 ('309) discloses a plastic crop divider for a row crop header. The '309 divider consists of a semiconical portion and a semicylindrical portion. Each portion consists of a double walled plastic shield and is hinged to the corn head frame. This divider has several drawbacks. The greatest drawback is the lack of any frame within the shields. The double walled structure is subject to bending moments when it is being pushed through the corn field. This bending moment is especially acute in the end dividers and semiconical portions. The disclosure attempts to overcome this deficiency by injecting foam into region between the double walls of the shield (col. 5, 16-30). Because of the double wall construction, the semiconical shield lacks support at the base. To overcome this problem, the base is heavily reinforced. This increases the weight of the entire shield. This creates further design drawbacks. First, the semiconical portion can be lifted, but cannot be moved entirely out of the way. This results in the divider always covering or partially covering the processing equipment making maintenance more complicated. Second, both the semicylindrical and heavy semiconical portions must be lifted so as to prepare for maintenance or transport.
Consequently, the need exists for a light-weight, durable crop row divider which is also easy to move for maintenance or transport.

Plastic divider assembly with frame for a corn head


A tool for centering and aligning a clutch assembly of a motor vehicle during clutch installation and removal, comprising a tripartite elongated cylindrical shaft having a threaded section at a first end of the shaft, a generally smooth cylindrical section at a second end of the shaft for mating with a pilot bearing of a crankshaft of the vehicle, and a splined section therebetween for mating with a splined throughbore of a clutch disc; and, a hollow cylindrical housing, open at one end, and having a flat circular plate at its other end, the plate having a throughbore therein to receive the threaded section of the shaft, the housing operatively arranged to surround the splined section of the shaft when the threaded section passes through the throughbore, with the open end in position to contact a surface of the clutch disc; and, a nut operatively arranged to be threaded onto the threaded section and into contact with the flat circular plate to force the open end of the housing into contact with the surface of the clutch disc, and thereafter to force the smooth cylindrical section out of mating engagement with the pilot bearing to facilitate removal of the tool from the clutch assembly.

The present invention relates to a tool for installing and removing a clutch in a vehicle.
A conventional motor vehicle clutch assembly comprises a flywheel which is coupled to and driven by an engine crankshaft, a clutch disc having a splined hub axially movable on splines provided at one end of a gearbox shaft which is coaxial with the engine crankshaft, and a pressure plate attached to and rotatable with the flywheel. The pressure plate includes a strong spring which biases a friction face of the clutch disc in engagement with a corresponding friction face on the pressure plate and/or on the flywheel when the clutch is engaged, so that the clutch disc transmits drive from the drive shaft to the gearbox. When the clutch is disengaged, the spring pressure is reduced to allow the clutch disc lining to separate from the surfaces with which it is in contact. When the clutch is disengaged, the gearbox input shaft can rotate independently of the drive shaft and the gearbox is disengaged from the engine.
When installing and/or removing a clutch, it is necessary to maintain axial alignment of the flywheel, clutch disc and pressure plate, as well as radial alignment of the flywheel and pressure plate.


A self-cleaning water filter system for removing particulate matter from water by producing scouring effect which pulls debris or particles off from a filter element when a fluid flow is produced across the filter element. The self-cleaning water filter system has a filter housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and an internal cavity. A water inlet tube, an exit tube and a water supply line are adapted to be connected to the filter housing. The filter element is positioned within the filter housing and can have a cylindrical or rectangular configuration. A pressure vessel is in fluid communication with the internal cavity of the filter housing. A pressurizable flexible chamber adapted to expand and contract due to the pressure in the filter housing is positioned inside the pressure vessel. At least one perforated flow tube is positioned in the filter housing adjacent to the filter element and in fluid communication with the pressure vessel.

1. Field of the Invention
The self-cleaning water filter system has particular utility in connection with removing particulate matter from drinking water using a back flushable filter system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Self-cleaning water filter systems are desirable filtering drinking water and for providing an affective way to removing particulate matter from drinking water while at the same time provide an efficient and easy system to clean the filter system.
The use of water filters is known in the prior art. For example: U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,661; U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,792; U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,539; U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,924; U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,824; U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,249; U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,764; U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,305; and Great Britain Patent Number 2,354,185.
Cartridge type water filters have been used in the past for filtering water in households, building and community systems. Many of these cartridges are designed to filter and collect unwanted particles, such as chlorine, bacteria and other particles that are harmful and sometimes bad tasting. The quantity of particulate material collected on the filter cartridge is directly proportional to the pressure drop and flow rate. The only alternative up to now is either have the expense to buy a new filter cartridge or purchase filtered drinking water in bottles or containers. There exists, therefore, a continuing need for further improvements in fluid filter devices having a self-cleaning filter element. There further exists the need to have a relatively simple and reliable manner of back washing filter elements and reusing thus, avoiding this cost of cartridge replacement or purchasing drinking water.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a self-cleaning water filter system that allows removing particulate matter from drinking water using a back flushable filter.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved self-cleaning water filter system that can be used for removing particulate matter from drinking water using a back flushable filter. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the self-cleaning water filter system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of removing particulate matter from drinking water using a back flushable filter.


The present invention provides an email management method, apparatus and terminal device, wherein the method comprises: receiving an email, and judging whether said email is attached with an attachment; if said email is attached with an attachment, extracting attachment information of said email, and saving said attachment information. The solution of the present invention improves the efficiency of email searching, and makes it more convenient for the user to perform searching.

The present invention relates to an email management technology, and specially, refers to an email management method, apparatus and terminal device.
Most of the businessmen in modern society receive a large number of emails (such as hundreds of emails) at work every day. However, in the existing email receiving and management system (e.g., the Outlook or email management modules of mobile terminal devices like mobile phones that receive and manage emails), most users physically save emails in disk storages of computers or mobile terminals after receiving the emails. Especially for the emails with attachments, files of the attachments are physically saved in the storage disk as well. In this way, excessive files are saved in the disk storages. As the time passes by, the users can't remember clearly the location where the files are saved, and they usually cannot find the needed files that are received. When a user need to check the attachment file(s) of a certain email, the files received or sent earlier are searched for by the email management system. While searching, it may be needed to input necessary keywords, such as sender, receiving time and so on, in the searching field of the email management system. The email management system needs to search in a relatively large range, which makes the user need to wait a very long time for data searching and thus makes the searching efficiency relatively low.
In the process of implementing the present invention, the inventor finds that there are at least the following problems in the prior art:
The efficiency of email searching is low and the searching is not convenient in the existing email management system.

Email management method, apparatus and terminal device


A vehicle computer system has an audio entertainment system implemented in a logic unit and audio digital signal processor (DSP) independent from the host CPU. The audio entertainment system employs a set of ping/pong buffers and direct memory access (DMA) circuits to transfer data between different audio devices. Audio data is exchanged using a mapping overlay technique, in which the DMA circuits for two audio devices read and write to the same memory buffer. The computer system provides an audio manager API (application program interface) to enable applications running on the computer to control the various audio sources without knowing the hardware and implementation details of the underlying sound system. Different audio devices and their drivers control different functionality of the audio system, such as equalization, volume controls and surround sound decoding. The audio manager API transfers calls made by the applications to the appropriate device driver(s). The computer system also is supports a speech recognition system. Speech utterances are picked up by a microphone and sampled at an internal sampling rate. However, the speech recognition system employs a lower sampling rate. The computer system converts microphone data from the higher internal sampling rate to the desired sampling rate by piggybacking the microphone data on command/message streams to an SPI (serial peripheral interface) of the audio DSP. The DSP performs normal low-pass filtering and down sampling on the data stream and then uses the SPI to send out the microphone data at the lower sampling rate.

Modern vehicles are typically equipped with several independent electronic systems. For instance, most modern vehicles have a sound system and a security system. Most late model vehicles are also constructed with a diagnostic system that analyzes performance of the vehicle's engine, transmission and fuel system, and other components (1996 or later for OBD II, 1993 or later for OBD I). In some recent models, vehicles are being equipped with a navigation system that incorporates a global positioning system (GPS) receiver to receive signals from a satellite network for computing coordinates that locate the vehicle over the surface of the earth with regard to longitude, latitude, and altitude. Cellular communications systems have also been added to vehicles. These communications systems enable the vehicle driver or occupant to transact telephone calls from their vehicle.
While these various electronics systems have proven useful to vehicle users, there is a drawback in that the systems are unrelated and incompatible. Each system employs separate proprietary dedicated processors or ASICs (application specific integrated circuits) which execute incompatible proprietary software. If a vehicle owner would like to add a security system to his/her vehicle, the owner must purchase an entire security system from one of the vendors and have it customarily installed. There is no way to add security functionality to an existing electronics system, such as the navigation system or the sound system.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/564,586 entitled "Vehicle Computer System," which was filed on Nov. 29, 1995 in the names of Richard D. Beckert, Mark M. Moeller, and William Wong, describes a vehicle computer system that is capable of integrating these diverse and separate systems as well as offering a general purpose computing platform that allows for easy expandability. The vehicle computer system provides an open hardware architecture and supports an open platform operating system. The open platform operating system supports multiple different applications that can be supplied by a software vendor. For instance, the operating system can support applications pertaining to entertainment, navigation, communications, security, diagnostics, and others. In the preferred implementation, the operating system is a multitasking operating system capable of concurrently running multiple applications.
This invention is directed to the audio entertainment system implemented by the vehicle computer system.

Vehicle computer system with audio entertainment system