Lens aberration in an objective lens for recording and reproducing optical information, which is composed of a molded aspherical single lens, is inhibited while at the same time good lens productivity is attained. Also attained are excellent optical properties and high production efficiency in a mold processing step and a press molding step conducted to manufacture the lens. To this end there is provided an objective lens 1 having a convex aspherical surface formed at a first surface and a numerical aperture NA which satisfies the condition NA≧0.8. It is preferable to have an aspherical surface also at the second surface. A molding material that was premolded to a prescribed shape and is in a heated and softened state is press molded by using a pair of upper and lower molds having opposing molding surfaces, a molding surface shape is transferred by using a spherical molding material with a radius r and pressing the molding material between a pair of upper and lower molds, and the paraxial curvature radius R of the convex aspherical surface satisfies the following relation r/R≦1.35.

The present invention relates to an objective lens used for at least recording or reproducing high-density optical recording medium such as the so-called optical disks. In particular, the present invention relates to an objective lens for recording and reproducing high-density optical information using a short wavelength light source and manufacturing method therefor.
CD (compact disks) that have been widely used as optical recording medium are employed mainly in a numerical aperture range of 0.45–0.5. Furthermore, DVD (digital versatile disks) conduct optical information recording in a numerical aperture (NA) range of 0.6–0.65 by using a light source with a wavelength of 650–780 nm.
However, as a need for increased capacity has been generated, a demand arose for high-density optical information recording medium capable of recording with a higher recording density and optical systems for such recording and reproduction. Accordingly a demand for higher NA was created in the field of objective lenses used for such applications, that is, in the optical systems for recording and reproducing with such high-density optical information recording media.
Laid open Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-324673 describes an objective lens for use in optical systems for recording and reproducing high-density optical information recording media, this lens being advantageously suitable for high-density recording and reproduction devices with a numerical aperture NA of 0.75 or larger and a light source wavelength of about 400 nm.
Further, this prior art document describes an aspherical single-lens objective lens with an axial length thickness d1 and a focal distance f satisfying the following condition1.1≦d1/f≦3,or a lens in which an Abbe number νd, refractive index n at a usage wavelength, and a paraxial curvature radius r1 at the light source side satisfy the following conditions:
1.2 ≦ d1/f ≦ 2.3f/νd ≦ 0.0601.40 ≦ n1.40 ≦ n < 1.850.40 ≦ r1/(n × f) ≦ 0.70.
Further, Laid-open Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-156579 suggested a biaspherical lens with a numerical aperture NA of 0.7 or more and a central thickness of the lens larger than the focal distance as an objective lens suitable for such transition to increased density.
In large-capacity optical disks of the next generation, a wavelength close to 400 nm which is shorter than that of the conventional technology has to be used as a light source wavelength for increasing the recording density. In this case, for example, a blue-violet semiconductor laser is needed as a light source and an aspherical lens with a numerical aperture NA of 0.8 or larger is required as an objective lens.
In single-lens objective lenses for optical disks, a certain correlation exists between the off-axis aberration, eccentricity tolerance, or chromatic aberration and the lens thickness. In the conventional objective lenses for CD or DVD, the range of lens thickness which is allowed by the required aberration is comparatively wide owing to the range of values of the numerical aperture NA thereof. This is why it was possible to conduct lens design and determine lens thickness based exclusively on physical limitations such as working distance and lens weight. However, in single-lens objective lenses for large-capacity optical disks, the aberration tends to increase due to higher NA. A range of lens thickness that can be selected to obtain sufficient optical performance, that is, to reduce the aberration to below the prescribed range, is limited. As a result, in single-lens objective lenses for higher NA, the effective lens thickness becomes larger with respect to a focal distance than that of the objective lenses for conventional CD or DVD.
If the lens thickness thus increases, the volume of the lens material increases accordingly. Thus, the radius r of the premolded optical material which is used as the lens material, for example, the radius of a spherical preform, becomes larger. The resultant problem is that if the radius r exceeds the paraxial curvature radius R (almost equal to paraxial curvature radius R of the lens that will be molded) of the molding surface in the mold, the desired lens surface accuracy is difficult to obtain.
For example, with such lenses, if the curvature radius R of the molding surface of the mold is less than the curvature radius r of the molding material that was premolded prior to molding, that is, the preform (for example, a glass preform composed of glass), when a lens having a convex surface is molded by a mold press molding process, then a preform with a curvature radius larger than that of the concave molding surface of the mold will be disposed at this molding surface during press molding.
If press molding is to be conducted in this state, then an atmosphere gas such as air or the prescribed gas will be confined between the molding surface and the preform. If molding is then conducted without releasing this gas, the described lens surface accuracy will not be attained. For example, a recess will be formed in the molded lens.
With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the present invention to provide an objective lens which makes it possible to inhibit the aberration in an objective lens for optical information recording and reproduction, which is composed of a molded aspherical single lens, while attaining at the same time good lens productivity, and also to ensure excellent optical properties and to obtain a high production efficiency in a mold processing step conducted to process the molding surface of the mold and in press molding of a lens manufacture step, and also to provide a method for the manufacture of such a lens.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the manufacture of an objective lens by which, in particular, molding is effectively prevented from being conducted in a state in which a gas is confined between the preform and the mold and a lens with a high surface accuracy can be molded.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the manufacture of an objective lens by which, in particular, productivity can be further increased and the off-axis aberration and chromatic aberration can be further improved.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for the manufacture of an objective lens which is advantageously suitable in particular for a lens of an infinite system with respect to at least a standard wavelength.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for the manufacture of an objective lens by which, in particular, a working distance is ensured, and the off-axis view angle aberration, chromatic aberration, and also the increase in the lens weight can be effectively inhibited.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for the manufacture of an objective lens by which, in particular, the process of assembling an optical pickup using such a lens can be further facilitated.
It is object of the present invention to provide a method for the manufacture of an objective lens by which, in particular, a high refractive power can be obtained without drastically increasing the curvature of the lens curved surface, precision processing of the molding surface of the mold can be conducted comparatively easily, the chromatic aberration can be effectively reduced, and a mold material can be easily selected.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lens with a high surface accuracy, such that molding is effectively prevented from being conducted in a state in which a gas is confined between the preform and the mold.

Objective lens and method for manufacture thereof


An on-die termination circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus can comprise a comparing block for comparing a reference voltage with a code voltage corresponding to a code and outputting a comparison signal, a counting block for changing the code based on the comparison signal, and controlling block for controlling the counting block based on a match result of previous and current values of the comparison signal.

1. Technical Field
The disclosures herein relate to a semiconductor memory apparatus and, more particularly, to an on-die termination circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus.
2. Related Art
Generally, when one bus line having a first impedance meets with another bus line having a second impedance different from the first impedance, a signal loss occurs due to the impedance mismatch. An impedance matching operation can be performed to prevent the signal loss. Such an impedance matching operation is called "On-Die Termination."
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional on-die termination circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first D/A converter 10, a first comparator 20, a first counter 30, a second D/A converter 40, a second comparator 50, a second counter 60, a pulse generator 70, a first register 80 and a second resistor 90.
The first D/A converter 10 outputs a first voltage VCOMP_P, which corresponds to a first code (PCODE<0:4>), in response to an enable signal (EN). The first comparator 20 compares the first voltage VCOMP_P with a reference voltage VREF in response to a first pulse (CPOUTP<0:1>) and then outputs a first comparison result signal (COMP_OUTP). The level of the reference voltage VREF can be VDDQ/2. VDDQ is an external power source used for data I/O. The first counter 30 up or down counts the first code (PCODE<0:4>) according to a first count pulse (CNT_PULSEP) so as to correspond to the first comparison result signal (COMP_OUTP). The first register 80 stores the first code (PCODE<0:4>) in response to a code storage pulse (2nd_COMP). The second D/A converter 40 outputs a second voltage VCOMP_N, which corresponds to a second code (NCODE<0:4>), in response to the enable signal (EN).
The second comparator 50 compares the second voltage VCOMP_N with the reference voltage VREF in response to a second pulse (CPOUTN<0:1>) to output a second comparison result signal (COMP-OUTN). In similar to the first counter 30, the second counter 60 also up or down counts the second code (NCODE<0:4>) according to a second count pulse (CNT_PULSEN), so as to correspond to the second comparison result signal (COMP-OUTN). The second register 90 stores the second code (NCODE<0:4>) in response to the code storage pulse (2nd_COMP). The pulse generator 70 generates the first pulse (CPOUTP<0:1>), the second pulse (CPOUTN<0:1>), the first count pulse (CNT_PULSEP), the second count pulse (CNT_PULSEN) and the code storage pulse (2nd_COMP) in response to the enable signal (EN).
The operation of a conventional on-die termination circuit will be described below referring to FIGS. 1 and 2. First, the pulse generator 70 generates the first pulse (CPOUTP<0>) and the second pulse (CPOUTN<0>) after a predetermined time of t1 from the activation of the enable signal (EN).
Then, the first comparator 20 compares the first voltage VCOMP_P with the reference voltage VREF in response to the first pulse (CPOUTP<0>), and the second comparator 50 compares the second voltage VCOMP_N with the reference voltage VREF in response to the second pulse (CPOUTN<0>).
After a predetermined time of t1+t2, the pulse generator 70 generates the first pulse (CPOUTP<1>) and the second pulse (CPOUTN<1>).
The first comparator 20 outputs the first comparison result signal (COMP_OUTP) in response to the first pulse (CPOUTP<1>), and the second comparator 50 outputs the second comparison result signal (COMP-OUTN) in response to the second pulse (CPOUTN<1>). After a predetermined time of t1+t2+t3, the pulse generator 70 generates the first count pulse (CNT_PULSEP) and the second count pulse (CNT_PULSEN).
The first counter 30 counts the first code (PCODE<0:4>) up or down, using first count pulse (CNT_PULSEP) in response to the first comparison result signal (COMP_OUTP). The second counter 60 also counts the second code (NCODE<0:4>) up or down, using the second count pulse (CNT_PULSEN) in response to the second comparison result signal (COMP-OUTN). The pulse generator 70 generates the code storage pulse (2nd_COMP) at the start of the second code counting operation and the code storage pulse (2nd_COMP) is deactivated at the termination of the second code counting operation.
The first register 80 stores the first code (PCODE<0:4>) outputted from the first counter 30 and the second register 90 stores the second code (NCODE<0:4>) outputted from the second counter 60 according to the deactivation of the code storage pulse (2nd_COMP). Thus, the on-die termination operation has been finished.
However, as shown in FIG. 3, in the conventional on-die termination circuit, since there exists an offset voltage VOS in the first comparator 20 and the second comparator 50, the level of the reference voltage VREF can be VDDQ/2±VOS. Thus, the first comparison result signal (COMP_OUTP) or the second comparison result signal (COMP_OUTN) can be changed in a high or low level according to the level change of the reference voltage VREF. That is, the first comparison result signal (COMP_OUTP) or the second comparison result signal (COMP_OUTN) can be output with an abnormal value.
If the change value of the first comparison result signal (COMP_OUTP) or the second comparison result signal (COMP_OUTN) for an LSB (Least Significant Bit) code value has a voltage level of VLSB, then the value of the first comparison result signal (COMP_OUTP) or the second comparison result signal (COMP_OUTN) performs a final control has three levels between the maximum value of VDDQ/2+VOS+VLSB and the minimum value of VDDQ/2-VOS-VLSB.
As described above, a conventional on-die termination circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus has a problem in that a result value produced by the comparison of a voltage according to a code and a reference voltage is not fixed due to an internal offset voltage and is changed at the start and due to termination timings of an on-die termination operation so that a final on-die termination code value can have an erroneous value. If the code value is continuously changed into an erroneous value, then the impedance of a circuitry using the code value, for example, a driver, is also continuously changed to an erroneous value.

Apparatus and method for calibrating on-die termination in semiconductor memory device


The present disclosure relates to a base station and a method for Operation and Maintenance, OaM, communication in a communication system. The base station comprises a first interface configured to communicate with a core network, including OaM communication, and a second interface configured for OaM communication. The second interface is arranged to communicate wirelessly with the core network via another base station. The base station and the method facilitates troubleshooting remote management problems in OaM communication.

Management of a base station in a cellular communication network, from another location than where the base station is physically located, can presently be provided through a network interface also used for payload and control signalling, or through a dedicated management interface, in the base station. This is often called "remote management" and the interface provided and employed in the base station for remote management will in the following be referred to as "remote management interface". To be able to enable an interface for remote management of a base station, typically a number of measures are required that potentially can go wrong and thus effectively prevent any remote management of the base station.
Typically, the only way to re-connect to a base station that due to an error has not been able to activate its remote management interface is to physically visit the base station and restart or reconfigure the same. This of course is time consuming, labour intensive and therefore expensive, which is a drawback.
Hence, there is a need to overcome at least the drawback mentioned above.

Base station and method for remote management in a cellular communication network


A mattress including a stretchable flame-retardant textile cap incorporating a top panel of flame retardant material operatively connected to a stitch-bonded flame retardant textile skirting with machine direction stretch and recovery properties disposed over a resilient mattress core to provided flame barrier protection to the mattress core.

It is known to provide mattresses with stretchable flame barrier fabric positioned between a resilient mattress core and a decorative textile covering. In one approach, prior flame barrier panels have been formed from non-woven materials of fleece construction incorporating inherently flame-retardant fiber constituents either alone or blended with other fibrous constituents. By way of example only, and not limitation, such prior flame barrier materials have been formed from flame resistant (i.e. "FR") materials such as: (i) flame retardant rayon alone; (ii) flame retardant rayon blended with para-aramid fibers; (iii) flame retardant rayon blended with para-aramid fibers and polyester; and (iv) other fibers or blends having flame retardant properties including modacrylic, wool, meta-aramid and the like.
While the prior known flame barrier materials provide good flame blocking and insulation character, they typically have limited capacity to stretch and recover. This limitation may be particularly problematic with respect to mattresses which incorporate core materials such as latex foam, polyurethane foam and the like that undergo substantial localized deformation during use.
One approach used to address the lack of stretch and recovery in flame barrier panel materials has been to encapsulate the mattress foam core in a knit sock structure formed from flame retardant yarns ("FR Socks"). FR Socks are typically circular knitted tubular fabrics formed from materials such as covered fiberglass yarn, bare fiberglass, modacrylic, FR rayon or other kinds of fire-resistant yarns. During the mattress assembly process, the FR Sock is installed by pulling the tubular fabric over the entire mattress core. The open ends of the FR Sock tube are then closed with a sewing machine using a fire-resistant sewing thread such as Kevlar thread or an equivalent. After the FR Sock is in place around the core, the outer cover of the mattress is then installed over the "socked" mattress core. The outer cover is usually made up of a decorative ticking fabric on the top surface and edge borders of the mattress. In a typical exemplary construction, a filler cloth is used on the bottom side of the sewn cover assembly with a zipper fastener sewn into the filler cloth to conveniently close the cover over the socked mattress core. Of course, other cover arrangements may likewise be used.
One advantage of FR socks is that unlike most other FR solutions, they have excellent stretch and adequate recovery properties such that they do not impede the cushioning and comfort properties supplied by the mattress core. This lack of cushioning impediment may be particularly important at the top surface of a mattress where foam panels may be present to enhance user comfort.
Although FR socks may provide satisfactory performance when correctly installed, they are also very easy to overstretch and distort during installation and can sometimes cause tight areas on the mattress thereby restricting local foam deformation. Another significant disadvantage of FR Socks is that they are cumbersome and time consuming to install during mattress assembly, so incurring unnecessary high labor costs to the mattress assembler. In addition, the use of fiberglass yarns creates a potential for skin irritation for factory workers who handle the FR socks and potentially for users who sleep on the mattresses.
FR caps have been used as an alternative to FR socks. Prior FR caps are typically formed from tubular FR sock material that is slit open to create an open width fabric. A "cap" or "fitted sheet" is then made from this material using a fire-resistant sewing thread. A deficiency of current FR caps is that the slit circular knit material is extremely difficult to handle during cutting and sewing. Specifically, such material tends to distort and curl very easily. A further disadvantage of FR caps formed from slit FR socks is that an elasticated tape or equivalent must be sewn to the bottom open side of the cap or fitted sheet to secure the cap onto the mattress core. The complexity and cost of converting FR sock material into FR caps has greatly limited the use of FR caps in the mattress industry. In addition, although the attached elastic band on these prior caps allows the gathering of the FR sock fabric around the mattress core, the resulting cap does not truly conform to the mattress core and, thus, it is not truly "form fitting". This form fitting can be improved with the undersizing of the pattern of said caps for the mattresses, but this serves to overstretch and distort areas in the cap, especially at the corners and edges of the mattress so leading to aforementioned stretch restriction and compromised FR protection.
Due to the deficiencies in the known art, there is a continuing need for an improved FR covering for a resilient mattress core that will conform better to the mattress core and not impede the cushioning and comfort properties supplied by the mattress core.

Mattress with flame barrier cap and related method


A method for substituting at least one high quality position measurement of an object taken before an interrupting event with a set of upgraded low quality position measurements of the object provided by the same source of measurements after the interrupting event. The method comprises the following steps: (A) obtaining at least one high quality position measurement of the object provided by a source of measurements before the interrupting event; (B) saving at least one high quality position measurement of the object; (C) if at least one position measurement of the object provided by source of measurements after the interrupting event is of substantially high quality, using at least one position measurement of substantially high quality of the object for navigation purposes of the object; and (D) if each position measurement of the object provided by the source of measurements after the interrupting event is of low quality, and if there is not at least one restoration event; then upgrading at least one position measurement of the object by using an upgrade algorithm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of position measurements, and more specifically, is in the field of improving the quality of position measurements.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In the prior art, there are several methods of improving quality of position measurements by performing the operations of filtering and/or smoothing of obtained position measurements. The prior art also discusses different ways of improving measurements by performing sensor fusion, that is by combining a number of measurements performed by a plurality of sensors in order to obtain a higher quality position measurement as compared with a position measurement obtained by a single sensor. For instance, the well known in the art Kalman filter significantly increases the accuracy of Global Position System (GPS) position measurements by combining Global Position System (GPS) measurements and the Inertial Navigation System (INS) measurements.
However, the prior art methods of improving the quality of position measurements do not teach how to improve the quality of position measurements of an object in a situation when a previously available source of high quality position measurements significantly degrades and becomes a source of low quality position measurements after an interrupting event have occurred.

Method for substituting at least one high quality position measurement taken before an interrupting event with a set of upgraded low quality position measurements provided by the same source of measurements after the interrupting event


Separating the physical sheets outputted from a shared users printer, especially, a facsimile receiver, into separate job sets for separate designed recipients, and notifying the recipients, with an independent "mailboxing" job sorting accessory unit, not requiring any electronic connection to the printer, controlled solely by physical job cover sheets outputted by the printer at the same output in advance of the other sheets of the job, which cover sheets variably encoded with simply and uncritically marked areas indicative of an assigned bin number and the job sheet count. The unit sequentially takes the printer output sheets and feeds them through a sheet input with optical sensing connecting with a control for detecting the marked area encoding of the cover sheet and determining if it corresponds to an assigned bin number, for feeding the subsequent output sheets of the designated sheet count to a designated bin subsequent to such a detection; and for feeding output sheets to another output sheet collection bin if no such encoding is detected. The disclosed unit also desirably has bin locking for restricting access to individual bins with electrical unlocking of a bin in response to entry of a bin access code. The remote recipient notification is an integral automatic bin recipient messaging (telephoning) of the pre-designated bin-holder with a recorded message telling that bin-holder is receiving or has received a job in his or her designated bin, by automatically dialing telephone numbers preprogrammed and maintained in non-volatile memory for designated bins, so that only the bin number and not the telephone number need be indicated on the controlling cover sheet.

By way of background, various types of facsimile or facsimile controls, including facsimile readable encoded job cover sheets, are known in the art. The following patent disclosures and products are noted as examples:
Of pioneer interest re facsimile coding methods is Xerox Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,443, issued Apr. 25, 1978, to Gorham, et al., filed May 3, 1977. It shows cover sheets (called address cards) with a distinctive leading and trailing edge border (on both sides) bar coding pattern 84, detectable upon feeding into the facsimile transmitter scanner, which cover sheets can be marked [encoded] with telephone numbers also read by the fax transmitting unit, to automatically place facsimile sending telephone calls for the subsequently automatically fed sheets. FIG. 5A and Col. 8 indicates that "each row of the instruction field 85 is preceded by another distinctive bar code 86 . . . ". [A column of black squares is shown for 86.]
The recently announced Xerox Corporation developed "PaperWorks".TM. product utilizes a special encoded fine pattern of special marks ("glyphs"), electronically recognized as such using PC computer software by the facsimile electronic image receiver. ["PaperWorks".TM. and information thereon is commercially available by calling 1-800-432-9329.] It was initially configured to operate on a conventional personal computer having a conventional internal fax card and a modem, electronic mail system or other network connection to telecommunications, and running "Windows".TM. software. A "PaperWorks".TM. fax form carries a coded identification region which, upon scanning, may be decoded by an appropriate processing system. This coded identification allows the system to determine which of several different pre-stored forms the received form is, and what its page layout is. From this, the system can also extract the necessary user-entered information from the form to facilitate processing. An important feature of the "PaperWorks".TM. system is the use of data defining a control sheet image to provide information in accordance with which operations are performed on data defining a sequence of images [data defining images, not actual physical sheets of a medium]. For example, the control sheet image can include information indicating a designation to which the fax server then transmits data defining said sequence of images.
For example, "PaperWorks".TM. can respond to a fax transmission of a form that has checkable boxes, each needing only one mark to indicate desired recipients of a requested fax transmission. In other words, a user can mark check-boxes on a cover sheet form to indicate the recipients to whom a fax transmission is requested, where those recipients facsimile numbers were previously programmed in the PC in a recipients index. The form can alternatively or also include plural check boxes that are plurally marked with a recipient's entire fax telephone number. More specifically, when the special form is transmitted to the user's fax server (the user's PC with a fax card and "PaperWorks".TM. software), the fax server can cause fax transmissions to the indicated recipients. The fax server can do this by decoding machine readable marks on the form to obtain an identifier of the form; using the form identifier to retrieve a pre-stored form description; using the form description to determine which parts of the form are fields with check boxes that could indicate recipients; analyzing the contents of each recipient's check box to see whether it is marked; and then making the requested fax transmission to each recipient whose check box is marked. The last steps involves PC auto-dialing of telephone numbers of other faxes directed from marked indicia on the faxed "smart" "stored document distribution form," which form can be faxed from a PC receiver, as further described below. (Or, the set of forms could be carried around by the user, obviating the first step of retrieving a starter form.) The PC fax card dials a fax number, either read from a form or previously stored in the PC's fax card memory.
If a user's fax server receives a fax transmission of a document that is not preceded by a "PaperWorks".TM. form, the fax server treats the document as ordinary fax mail. That is, if a document is sent to the PC without a cover form, the PC will normally route the fax image as a document into the PC electronic inmailbox, thereafter alerting the user of new mail. An icon on the PC screen display may be modified to indicate that such fax mail has been received, and list these documents when the user requests a listing of fax mail. The user can then display or print the document.
To further describe "PaperWorks".TM. system (PW), capabilities by example, a remote user with access only to a fax machine may, simply by faxing a blank sheet to his or her own PC (which has been appropriately programmed to run upon receipt of an instruction from its fax card) start the system. The PC's "PaperWorks".TM. (PW) software can interpret the faxed blank sheet as a request by the user for a starter form. PW then creates a starter form by assembling instruction fields and user selectable items within those fields, and organizes the form according to a form description language. The particular layout of the starter form is stored, along with an identifier, such as a number. The identifier is added to the form layout as coded indicia ("glyphs"). PW dials back the remote user's fax machine telephone number (acquired through system handshaking or user-entered, as appropriate) and faxes back the form. Here, the remote user's fax machine functions as a printer. The remote user may then request by fax from his or her PC further forms allowing him or her to retrieve, store, distribute or delete documents in his or her PC. Assume he or she selects the "retrieve" option, by checking on the starter form a list of retrievable items desired. he or she dials her PC again, and faxes to it the now marked-up starter form. The PC identifies the received document as a form and finds and decodes the glyphs, obtaining the form identifier therefrom. With this information, and the page description language, the PC is able to determine what the remote user wants next-in this example a retrieve list form. This form is constructed and faxed back to the remote user in a manner similar to that described above. Now, in this example, suppose the remote user receives handout documents at a remote meeting and wishes to fax them back to his or her home office. As above, the remote user obtains a starter form by fax from his or her PC, and indicates on it that he or she wants to store documents. The form can also have a region which allows he or she to "name" the document being stored with a handwritten file name. This allows naming or labeling of a document without requiring access to any keyboard (OCR/OMR need not be performed on this handwritten file name). The remote user then faxes this form as a cover sheet for and with the handouts to his or her PC. The PW software causes the handouts to be stored as an image file in the PC with the associated handwritten file name. The remote user may also wish to distribute these handouts to others. This is facilitated by a PW form which allows the remote user to indicate thereon a document stored on his or her PC and to indicate fax destinations for that document. Each such form carries an identifier of itself and also user modifiable fields for allowing a user to cause one or more actions to occur based on marks imparted on the form. The receiving computer's software interprets and acts upon them.
Further noted in this regard is Xerox Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,980, issued Oct. 29, 1991 to W. A. L. Johnson, et al, entitled "Form Utilizing Encoded Indications for Form Field Processing", disclosing a facsimile transmittable form carrying a layout description of itself in coded data, markable boxes, and, optionally, instructions to a processor on how to process the form. Also, Xerox Corporation U.S. application Ser. No. 07/855,987 [D/91582] "Method and System For Labeling A Document For Storage, Manipulation, and Retrieval"; U.S. application Ser. No. 07/856,107 (D/92127) of Walter A. L. Johnson et al., filed Mar. 20, 1992, entitled "Techniques for Automatic Form Creation by Combining Partial Operations"; and U.S. application Ser. No. 07/854,520 (D/92165) of Walter A. L. Johnson et al., filed Mar. 20, 1992, entitled "Using a Form to Request Automatic Form Creation." The Xerox "Telecopier 495".TM. product used a marked "sense" sheet to implement its security provisions.
Turning to other facsimile control systems, U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,326, filed Jun. 26, 1990, issued May 19, 1992 to Burgess et al., and assigned to Hewlett Packard Company states, e.g., in part, in its Abstract: "A fax message transmitted by a facsimile transmitter includes bar coded headers in its first page. At least one of these headers contains the name of an addressee that is also a user on a network. A fax server receiving the incoming fax message inspects the first page of the incoming facsimile to locate the bar coded headers. If a TO: header is found it is used to determine the corresponding E-mail address, and the fax is automatically routed as E-mail on the network to the addressee . . . The fax server or some other application running on a computer served by the network may be the addressee . . . "
U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,779 to Yuji Hikawa, issued Sep. 24, 1991 to Fuji Xerox, is on a generalized job control sheet, utilizing a special encoded fine, critical, pattern of special marks which must be electronically recognized and read comprising (necessarily pre-printed) line drawings with a certain low correlative angle to longitudinal and transverse directions of the sheet, with the appearance of a varied pattern fine slash marks of two alternating angles. Said U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,779 is of particular interest in that it provides for single marking of a "FAX Number" "Registered Name" indicated area on the control sheet, and also two "Number of Copies" area selections from a column thereof. This job sheet is apparently for an input image scanner for either a printer or a facsimile system, although the latter is only briefly noted.
Another Fax coding related patent is U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,333, issued Jan. 9, 1990 to Paul and David Baran, assigned to Interfax, and its pending reissue and art therein. It indicates in its Abstract that "the remote facsimile transmitter user marks paper selector sheet form [sic] using a pencil or pen" . . . for selective retrieval of text and graphics. Another such patent is U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,563 to Harrington, discussed below. Also, Japanese Laid Open No. 63-242060 laid open Oct. 7, 1988.
The "User Handbook, Version 3.01" .COPYRGT.1988, for the Xerox, "FaxMaster 21" product, indicates that it can automatically load hours of multi-page, multi-destination, facsimile transmission documents, and send them all with a few simple keystrokes, and can retrieve document from multiple locations, print them at the hub, store them on disk for later printout, or forward them to other facsimile terminals [automated store and forward]. It provides electronic mail capability by storing documents for retrieval by remote network users. It provides confidential [electronic] mailboxes, enabling secure document reception for only authorized personnel. It utilizes a personal computer with software, and can use remote touch-tone telephone access to the hub unit.
EP Publication No. 0 354 703 A2 published Feb. 14, 1990 by Canon for Sato, et al., based on Japanese Application Nos. 193232991/88, 2236261/88 and 3129261/88, discloses a multi-functional information processing apparatus with an image scanner, telephone or facsimile function and performing facsimile or regular calling in accordance with key word searches. It can also be controlled by a business card reader (image scanner) reading telephone numbers on regular business cards.
Xerox Disclosure Journal, (XDJ) publication, Vol. 13, No. 4, page 193, July/August, 1988, by R. M. Johnson, entitled "Flash Mail", states, in its entirety: "A receiver of an unattended telecopier is constructed so that received mail grouped according to zip code could have the address printed on the reverse side of the message sheet. The receiver has duplexing capability. The sheet is then automatically folded and sealed with a weak adhesive. The letter then passes through a postage meter and is then sorted and delivered. The weak adhesive enables the letter to be readily opened without tearing."
Of particular interest, especially re voice telephone notification to recipients of fax messages, is U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,718 to T. Sueyoshi, assigned to Fuji Photo Film Co. It refers to facsimile correspondence containing codes for telephone numbers, and sensors in the receiving equipment for reading these telephone codes. This patent also notes in Col. 1 that facsimile systems can include in-house line systems. Said U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,718 in column 1, line 60 et seq., states that: "A first object of this invention is to provide an equipment which is attached to a facsimile receiver and which identifies, upon receipt of a piece of correspondence through a facsimile system . . . the telephone number of the ultimate addressee of the arrived piece of correspondence, connects a line with the identified telephone receiver, and sends a recorded message to the identified telephone receiver, thereby informing the ultimate addressee of the arrived piece of correspondence, of the arrival of a facsimile correspondence."FIG. 1 and Cols. 3-4 generally verbally indicate that an OCR or mark sensor [not disclosed?] can read or sense on the arrived facsimile correspondence the number of an ultimate address if it is in a specific location or with a special prefix or suffix signal [not disclosed?]. Col. 4 further states that an endless tape recorder transmits a recorded message including a notice of the arrival of correspondence at the facsimile receiver. However, note that for said U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,718, a sender of a fax sheet would need to put down the recipient's entire phone number on the sheet. A memory unit is used for temporarily storing the phone number indicated an the incoming fax, but that memory is apparently erased for receiving new phone numbers after the recipient is called. This equipment is apparently only for one-time telephone notification per facsimile message.
Although not part of a facsimile system, it is reported that a feature of an "Octel System 200" voice mail system is called "outcall notification" and may be as follows: when one receives a message on his voice mail system that telephone system dials your pager number to alert you that you have a message. One's voice mail box number and pager number are both dedicated. Also, of course, manually, for many years, a Western Union operator would call a person to let them know that their telegram came in.
Job control sheets for printer control-bar code printed copy sheets readable by an image input scanner for a printer to control printer operations-are known, for example, from Xerox Corporation U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,602,776 by York; 4,970,554 (D/87351C) by Rourke; 4,757,348 by Rourke et al; FX U.S. 5,126,858; and Eastman Kodak Corporation 4,987,447. Hand-marked copier job control sheets, with bar code identifiers, fed as and with documents to be imaged, are disclosed in Xerox Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,528, issued Feb. 3, 1981 to R. B. Sahay.
Of course, it is known to read optical or magnetically readable printed marks on a sheet itself (as opposed to cover sheets) for other sorting functions and purposes, such as for checks or deposit slips, old IBM punchcards and their multi-bin sorters, machines sorting physical (Post Office) mail by zip code, bar code label readers for product or invoice sorting, U.S. patents now printed with bar codes on their first page, and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,005 to Burger et al. (AM Corp.) discloses a method of controlling a reprography machine [offset plate printer] wherein a code is formed along at least one edge of a master. The code contains instructions as to a number of copies to be made from each master and a manner in which the copies are to be distributed. A computer apparatus which is responsive to the code is provided for carrying out the instructions. See, e.g., FIGS. 2 and 3.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,012 to Verderber et al. discloses a header sheet for use with an automatic image communication transmissions system, (facsimile). The header sheet includes a peripheral border 11 of regularly spaced hash marks on both its front and back faces to identify the sheet as a header sheet. A data area of the header sheet comprises two basic portions: a first sender identification area 20, and a second addressee identification area 30. The data areas are coded by their positions in a raster scan for interpretation by the communication system to control a transmission operation. The data areas comprises a number of defined oval areas 51 to be marked by a user with pen or pencil, in accordance with information intended. See FIG. 1. The header sheet is scanned by a scanner at the transmission end before transmission.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,563 to Harrington discloses a data processing form for providing control information to apparatus, such as facsimile machines, having a scanner. The form has darkened areas which establish a row and column format with an elongate edge mark for each row. The edge marks extend to the edge of the form. Areas to be filled in by a user are defined using some of the darkened areas. The form format minimizes software needed for circuitry used to process information obtained from the form.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,101 to Schonfeld et al. (Sperry Corp.) discloses a duplex laser printer which prints discrete bar type codes on copy sheets in process for pagination control information.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,354 to Priddy et al. is only of background interest as disclosing one type of optically machine readable binary code.
Of particular background interest, job separation "mailboxes" per se, broadly speaking, are known in the art. A printer mailboxing system with locking bins is further noted below-the Xerox Corporation EPO application No. 0 241 273 published Oct. 14, 1987. Unlocked or open bin copier or printer "mailbox" art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,074 issued Mar. 24, 1992 to B. P. Mandel, et al., by Xerox Corporation. See especially FIG. 4 and its description. In particular, it discloses automatic copier or printer output stacking of plural sets of pre-stapled, precollated, plural sheet copy sets into selected "mailbox" bins, i.e., more than one job set per bin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,790, issued Jul. 18, 1989 to M. Ito (Minolta) is of interest as showing a copier document feeder with plural input and output bins or trays for different document jobs, maintaining job segregation.
Automatically stacking more than one unstapled copy set into sorter bins, with set offsetting, by bin side-shifting for increased bin capacity, is described in the Xerox Disclosure Journal Vol. 14, No. 1, January/February 1989, p. 29, and Sharp patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,924. Copier output tray side-shifting for set offsetting is well known, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,059. In-bin set tampers, another way of providing set offsetting, are disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,044,625, 3,860,127; 4,134,672; 4,477,218; 4,480,825; 4,616,821; and 4,925,172, and art cited therein.
The use of otherwise conventional existing sorters for [unlocked] printer output sorters or "mailboxes", and printer "mailboxing" in general, is discussed in Col. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,434 issued Jun. 27, 1989 to F. Lawrence, et al, by Gradco Systems Inc.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,892 issued Aug. 16, 1988 to H. Tanaka, et al.. A modular unit sorter is generally indicated in Col. 1 to be for sharing a printer with a plurality of users, sorting and compiling copies by user, in Seiko Epson Corporation EPO Application 0 399 565 by Shigeru Sawada, et al, published Nov. 28, 1990. Printer products observed with integral open sorter bins [the bin selection system is not known] include the Canon NP-9030 sold for several years with a sorter option; the Kyocera F-2010 and F-3010 laser printers with their 5 bin sorter option (1988?); and Oce van der Grinten Corporation's recently commercially displayed "6750" and "6800" printers configurable with either 20 or 40 bin optional programmable sorter/mailboxes. "Mailboxing" by bar-coded tape which is taping together output sets of a printer output is mentioned in the paragraph bridging pages 25-26, by Murray O. Meetze, for the same assignee, filed Dec. 16, 1991, as U.S. Ser. Nos. 07/808,241 and 07/808,133.
The term "mailbox", as used herein, as noted, refers to handling or sorting physical or hard copy sheets, not electronic images or documents, which are much easier to manipulate. A "mailbox" may more specifically, as in the example herein, refer to temporarily or permanently assigning a unique and predetermined electronic address to respective ones of plural bins of sorter-like equipment for a copier, printer or facsimile machine output, and enabling a particular user's output of one or more jobs to be directed into one or more selected bins so assigned. It may or may not include means for locking the bins and unlocking access thereto, as indicated above and as in the example herein. It may or may not additionally include a bin assignment scheme wherein each bin has an associated LCD or other type of display with the appropriate user name or label displayed, and/or a common or central display, as in the example herein, and/or wherein jobs are placed in more than one available bin if needed, i.e., if the sheet stacking capacity of one assigned bin is exceeded. A mailbox for a laser or other electronic page input printer may desirably stack precollated sets of sheets into a selected bin, rather than additionally or alternatively functioning as a normal collator or sorter, since the electronic printer can normally more easily reorder and recirculate the pages being copied to copy them in precollated order rather than making plural directly sequential copies of each page requiring post-collation in a sorter or collator.
The problem of keeping shared (networked) printer job outputs from becoming mixed up, or accidentally removed by others, is serious enough that some users have for several years placed manual mailboxes, like Post Office boxes, adjacent the printer, with the boxes labeled with different user names, for manual job sorting. Likewise, for shared hard copy facsimile machines.
A desirable additional feature for mailboxing systems is to staple or otherwise bind, fasten or finish the sheets of each job together, so that plural finished sets are removable as such from the user's bin(s), maintained neatly stacked and separated from other jobs by being fastened. This can be done by pre-compiling and stapling sets before they are placed into designated mailbox bins, as in the above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,074 to Mandel. Alternatively, it could be done by using in-bin stapling, which is well know for sorters, e.g., Xerox Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,408 to L. Leiter et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,207 to Bains; U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,748 to Looney; U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,191 to Stemmle; U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,310 to Cooper; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,171 to Kramer, et al.. Also, Xerox Corporation R/84007 U.K. 2 173 483-A GB published Oct. 15, 1986 by Denis Stemmle; and R/81011 U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,191 issued Aug. 18, 1987 and published in the EPO as 0198970-A1 on 29.10.86. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,550 issued Apr. 11, 1978 to R. Pal. Other Xerox Corporation patents include Snellman et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,241 and Hamlin et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,185 on edge jogging and glue binding sets in a sorter or collator and/or stapling of the post-collated copy sets.
Another desirable "mailboxing" feature is secured bins. Prior art on lockable and unlockable copier or printer bins or mail boxes for the output sheets thereof includes the above-cited EPO application No. 0 241 273 by Xerox Corporation published Oct. 14, 1987, [D/86031 EP], entitled "Limited Access Reproducing Machine Bins", disclosing a reproducing machine with lockable and unlockable bins which can be selected by the user for receiving copy sheets, precollated or uncollated. It teaches alternatively remote user or laser printer input, with copy bin lock boxes, and central computer display bin electrical bin unlocking entry and control usable herewith. Further as to bin locking, U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,356 entitled "Word Processor-Controlled Printer Output Bin Lock Box", issued Sep. 11, 1984, to Datapoint Corp., by D. Davis, et al., discloses a lockbox insertable and removable from an output bin. A security door is closed to allow removal of the box. U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,660 entitled "Word Processor Controlled Printer Output Scanner Mechanism", also issued Mar. 20, 1984 to Datapoint Corp., discloses a scanning mechanism for scanning individualized output bins collecting laser printer output for determining each bins availability, the degree of fullness, and whether or not a lockbox is positioned in the bin. U.S. Defensive Publication No. T102,102 entitled "Access Controlled Copier" Published Aug. 3, 1982 by Albert Bolle, et. al., discloses sorter bins which can be locked to the user by means of a badge reader or the like. The user-entered identification data is entered and recorded on the first copy which is delivered to the locked sorter bin or bins. IBM Corp. U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,579 entitled "Information Transmitting and Receiving Station Utilizing a Copier-Printer" issued Nov. 8, 1983 discloses a secured mailbox located at the bottom of the collator. Xerox Corporation reportedly provided modified copier sorters with locked bins for at least the U.S. State Department many years ago.
Among examples of keyboard or keypad enterable electronic security systems in general are U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,504; 5,014,049; and 5,021,776.
Additionally noted is the Ricoh FAX4000L facsimile machine, which describes in its literature the following feature called "Confidential Transmission": "If the other end has memory and the confidential reception feature, you can use confidential transmission. The other end can only print the message after they enter the terminal programmed password . . . . For extra security, you can specify the password for the message. This personal password will override the password that the other terminal user has previously stored in their machine, which would normally be used for printing confidential messages. Coordinate with the receiver operator before using this feature. This feature works if the receiver is using a recent Ricoh [only?] memory facsimile terminal."
On another optional or desirable feature, art relating to sorter bin assignment schemes wherein the bins have an associated LCD or the like type of visual display includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,594 to Davis; U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,660 to Tomkins et al noted above; U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,419 to Takahashi, et al.; and U.S. Defensive Publication T102,102 to Bolle et al., noted above. Also, Fuji Xerox Corp. FX-10475 Japanese Application No. S 59-55424, filed Apr. 17, 1984 and published on Nov. 6, 1985 as Koksi No. 60-167054.
On another optional or desirable feature, the control and operation of multi-bin sheet collators or sorters to use or group more than one adjacent bin when the number of sheets in a copy set will exceed the capacity of a single bin is known, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,485, the immediately above-cited Takahashi et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,419, or U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,581, and various above and other references. There were also commercially available for many years sorters in which bins were addressable by punched card or paper tape controls. Said U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,419 is also of interest as showing individual pivotal bin gates, which gates also have another surface normally providing a "ski" or baffle for holding sheets against the sorter transport belt as they move past the array of bins until they reach the selected bin (see especially FIG. 3 thereof).
When a sorter unit is to be alternatively used for, or converted to use for, a printer mailbox unit, it may be desirable to increase the available sheet stacking space between bin trays or shelves to increase bin capacity. Moving or removing sorter bin shelves for doubling or tripling the number of multiple copies which a particular bin can receive is taught for a sorter per se in U.S. Pat. No. 3,907,279 issued Sep. 23, 1975 to J. H. Erwin by AM Corp. See especially Col. 3. Doing so for different numbers of copies or documents to different users in preprogrammed bin sequences is suggested in Col. 1.
A sorter or collator modular unit description which indicates that it can accept copy sheets inputted from either of two opposite sides thereof from a copier or printer, with or without inversion for face up or face down output, and other typical sorter options or modes, such as noncollated top bin only stacking or progressive bins sort stacking of identical copies, is in U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,937 issued Feb. 1, 1972 to L. J. Schulz, et al. [3M]. However, it appears from the further description in Col. 8 thereof that the one said side entrance 14 will always invent the input, and the other side 13 entrance will always not invert the input, so that this unit would not actually be interchangeably usable with all left or right end outputs. Mita U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,768 is noted re selectable right or left hand printer output. Xerox Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,904 issued Feb. 18, 1975 to D. J. Stemmle shows inserting sheets into a set of sorter bins from either side thereof for simplex or duplex copies. i.e., with or without inversion, but all copies enter that unit from one side of the sorter module.
As to usable specific hardware components of the subject apparatus, it will be appreciated that, as is normally the case, some such specific hardware components are known per se in other apparatus or applications. For example, various commercially available stand-alone, self-controlled modular sorter units are known for sorting the output of xerographic copiers or printers. Examples include above-cited art and its references. One commercial example is cited and disclosed in the embodiment example hereinbelow. In particular, for examples of sheet feeding side registration systems and hardware, noted are Xerox Corporation U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,487,407; 4,411,418; 4,621,801; 4,744,555; 4,809,968; 4,919,318, and 5,065,998.
In the description herein the term "sheet" or "hard copy" refers to a usually flimsy sheet of paper, plastic, or other such conventional individual physical image substrate, and not to electronic images. Related, e.g., page order, plural sheets, documents or copies can be referred to as a "set" or "job". A "job" may also refer to one or more documents or sets of documents beings sent to or received by a particular addressee or designee. The term "document", unfortunately, unless defined, is used ambiguously in the art by others to refer to either a single page or multi-page set or job, especially (but not always) as that which being transmitted or copied. "Original" is more specifically used for the latter. "Facsimile", or the common abbreviation "Fax", often refers to conventionally telecommunicated image data, in particular, documents facsimiled via a telephone system in accordance with CCITT Standards, and equipment therefor. However, for claim purposes herein, "facsimile" can also encompass "electronic mail" and/or system or network interconnected printers, networked with remote terminals and/or scanners, and remote printers, or the like, unless indicated otherwise. Plural mode (multi-function) combined normal printing and facsimile message receiver printing capability printers are known, and examples thereof are cited near the end of this specification. Facsimile can be sent and received by "fax cards" in PC's (personal computers) as well as with conventional stand-alone facsimile machines. The term "printer" encompasses hard copy output from various input sources, including facsimile, and conventionally refers to electronic document images input, versus a light-lens copier to which physical originals must be brought to be directly fed and imaged. The term "electronic mail" also has various broad meanings, and can include transmission by either external telephone lines, and/or shared internal networks using optical fiber, twisted wire pairs, coaxial cable, wireless transmissions, or other networking media, or combinations thereof, of documents for electronic remote terminal displays and/or printer hardcopy printouts, to any of the numerous addresses designated in the transmitted document.
The presently disclosed apparatus may be readily operated and controlled in a conventional manner with conventional control systems. It is well known in general and preferable to program and execute such control functions and logic with conventional software instructions for conventional microprocessors. This is taught by the various patents and various commercial facsimile machines, copiers and sorters. Such software may of course vary depending on the particular function and the particular software system and the particular microprocessor or microcomputer system being utilized, but will be available to or readily programmable by those skilled in the applicable arts without undue experimentation from either verbal functional descriptions, such as those provided herein, or prior knowledge of those functions which are conventional, together with general knowledge in the software and computer arts. Controls may alternatively be provided utilizing various other known or suitable hard-wired logic or switching systems.
All references cited in this specification, and their references, are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features, and/or technical background.
Various of the above-mentioned and further features and advantages will be apparent from the specific apparatus and its operation described in the example(s) below, as well as the claims. Thus, the present invention will be better understood from this description of an embodiment thereof, including the drawing figures (approximately to scale) wherein:

Automatic facsimile output recipient telephoning system


A pneumatic tire 1 having improved uniformity and durability and including a toroidal carcass 6 extending from a tread portion 2 to each of bead cores 5 in bead portions 4 through sidewall portions 3, a belt layer 7 disposed radially outward of the carcass 6 in the tread portion 2, and a cushion rubber 9 having an approximately triangular cross section disposed between the carcass 6 and each of axial edge portions 7E of the belt layer 7, and a method for producing the same, wherein the cushion rubber 9 is made from a strip laminated body formed by circumferentially and spirally winding a first ribbon-like unvulcanized rubber strip and a second ribbon-like unvulcanized rubber strip having a different composition from that of the first rubber strip.

The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having an improved durability, a method for producing the same, and a cushion rubber suitable for use in the pneumatic tire.
Pneumatic tires are generally provided with cushion rubbers between a carcass and each of axial edge portions of a belt layer, as disclosed in JP-A-2002-160508 and JP-B-3370282. The cushion rubbers have an adequate flexibility and serve to ease a strain in the vicinity of the axially edge portions of the belt layer which are largely deformed at the time of running under load.
In general, a cushion rubber has been formed by continuously extruding a rubber compound into a ribbon-like cushion rubber "b" having an approximately triangular cross section, as shown in FIG. 9(A), from a die of an extruder, cutting the extruded cushion rubber "b" to a length corresponding the circumferential length of a tire and, as shown in FIG. 9(C), annularly winding the cut cushion rubber "b" on the outer surface of a carcass ply (not shown) wound around a cylindrical forming drum D. FIG. 9(B) shows a side view of the cut cushion rubber "b" whose both ends b1 and b2 in the circumferential direction of a tire are diagonally cut in the same direction into a tapered form.
The tapered both ends b1 and b2 are jointed so that the thickness t1 of a joint portion J becomes identical with the thickness t2 of the remaining portion, but it is not easy to form a joint portion J having exactly the same thickness as that of the remaining portion. Thus, such a joint portion J having a different thickness may deteriorate the uniformity of a tire. Further, in case of heavy duty tires used for trucks and buses, since the tires are used under conditions of high load and high inner pressure, a strain is easy to concentrate particularly at the joint portion J having a different thickness of the cushion rubber. Therefore, such a joint portion J may cause deterioration of the durability of tires.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic tire having no disadvantages caused by joint portion of the cushion rubber.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire having improved uniformity and durability by forming a cushion rubber having no joint portion J.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a pneumatic tire which can eliminate the disadvantages caused by joint portion of the cushion rubber.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter.

Pneumatic tire with cushion rubber and method for producing the same


A refrigerator with at least one openable door has a hinge at a pivoting edge of the door allowing the door to open about the pivoting edge. A water dispenser, positioned on the door, has a paddle which is moved horizontally by a user to cause water to be dispensed. The paddle engages a toggle that is attached to the dispenser housing, causing the toggle to rotate into engagement with a microswitch. The microswitch is mounted on a user interface control board which communicates with a power supply electronic control board. The power supply control board operates a water dispenser solenoid valve to cause water to flow to the dispenser when the toggle engages the microswitch. An endcap is secured to an edge of the door adjacent to the pivoting edge. A first conduit extends from the water dispenser to an end within the endcap. A second conduit extends from within the cabinet to an end exterior of the cabinet and within the endcap. An end connector is provided to receive the ends of the first and second conduits. The hinge is movable from the pivoting edge of the door to an opposite edge of the door. The second conduit is arranged to exit from either adjacent one corner or adjacent an opposite corner of the cabinet to be adjacent to the pivoting edge. The two conduits are joinable within the endcap at the end connector to form a continuous conduit.

Refrigerators with in-door water dispensers are known in which the dispenser is accessible from an exterior of the refrigerator, and is able to selectively dispense chilled liquid water or ice. In order to permit the dispenser to work, a water conduit must extend from the refrigerator cabinet to the door. Typically this is done with a conduit that is routed along an area close to a hinged side of the pivotally openable door so that the conduit will not be readily visible or exposed to a great degree when the door is opened.
Refrigerator doors may be attached to the cabinet in either a right-hand opening position, with the hinge arranged along the right edge of the door, or a left-hand opening position, with the hinge arranged along the left edge of the door. In order to switch a refrigerator door from a right-hand opening position to a left-hand opening position, when an in-door water dispenser is present, the routing of the water supply conduit, and usually control or power wires, must be changed. This usually requires that the door interior be opened up so that the in-door dispenser may be accessed to allow disconnection of the conduit and wiring at the dispenser. This may involve a substantial effort on the part of an appliance owner, and could result in the improper reassembly of the door.
It would be an improvement in the art if there were an arrangement provided which would permit changing the swing of a door without requiring that the interior of the door be opened, and which would permit all changes to be performed from the front of the appliance.

In-door water dispenser with door reversibility


A method of predicting sheet formability at a microscale level includes the steps of providing a grid pattern on a test sheet, bulging the test sheet to a hemispherical shape until a crack is initiated on the surface of the test sheet, detecting the initiation of the crack, acquiring two images of the surface adjacent to the crack and calculating surface strains on the test sheet.

The increasing demand for microparts and products has prompted the industry to focus on more efficient ways to better supply such consumables. This continuous demand is pushed by consumers as well as industries that are relying more on smaller products with diverse applications. Metal forming processes are well known for displaying high productivity and better material utilization. Applying these forming technologies on the microscale level is significant for achieving parts with intricate geometries and configurations, which is an essential issue in such a scale, especially when high precision and tight tolerances are dominant factors.
To date, investigations of size effects on totality and formability in microforming applications are generally limited to tensile tests of thin sheets and few micro deep drawing and micro bulge forming studies. Formability during tensile tests has been simply characterized by elongation until failure. For the biaxial experiments, limiting drawing ratio and maximum bulge height have been used to characterize the formability during micro deep drawing and micro bulge forming respectively. This limited formability analysis is not sufficient to understand the size effect, which are known as the effects of miniaturization on microforming processes, on deformation and formability at the microscale. More detailed analysis of strain distributions and limiting strains during microforming of thin sheets is needed to be able to predict deformability limits for thin sheets and minimize trial and error runs that are conventionally performed to master the know-how of a micro-metal forming process. The consequences of such prediction are better optimization of process parameters and a reduced overall manufacturing cost.
In order to conduct the specified analysis, testing apparatus and equipment that will accommodate microscale testing is needed. Microscale testing by conventional testing equipment cannot demonstrate the degree of precision nor account for the effect which is considered minor at the macroscale level: such as friction which has proven to increase drastically as process miniaturization is increased. Forming limit diagrams (FLDs) are an effective tool for studying the formability of sheet metals at different strain conditions. The present invention relates to an integrated approach for investigating size effects and the formability of thin sheets for microforming applications.

Method and apparatus for characterizing microscale formability of thin sheet materials

University of Kentucky Research Foundation


A photoelectric conversion device (10) includes a first conductivity type first semiconductor region (10a) located in a pixel region (11), a second conductivity type second semiconductor region (12) provided in the first semiconductor region (10a), for storing a signal charge, interconnecting portions (13 and 14) for connecting the second semiconductor region (12) with a circuit element provided outside the pixel region (11), and an organic film (16) which is provided above a portion located in the pixel region (11) in the interconnecting portions (13 and 14) through an insulating protective film (15) and held at a predetermined potential. The organic film (16) is made of a thermoplastic polyimide resin containing one of a conductive particle and a conductive fiber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoelectric conversion device and an image sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
As for an example of photoelectric conversion device, there is known a structure as described in, for example, JP 2000-311997 A, which includes a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type located in a pixel region, a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type provided in the first semiconductor region for storing a signal charge, a interconnecting portion for connecting the second semiconductor region with a circuit element provided outside the pixel region, and an electrical conductor which is provided above a portion located in the pixel region in the interconnecting portion through an insulating protective film and held at a predetermined potential. In such a structure, a photodiode serving as a light receiving element is formed by a semiconductor PN junction in the pixel region.
Providing the electrical conductor enables, for example, shielding of noise from the outside of the photoelectric conversion device to the interconnecting portion, reducing the electrical influence of the noise on the interconnecting portion. The electrical conductor is made of a metal material such as aluminum, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, or titanium.
Since the electrical conductor is, however, made of the metal material according to the conventional photoelectric conversion device, a pattern made of two metal materials for two layers, one for an interconnecting line of the interconnecting portion and the other for the electrical conductor, is provided in the photoelectric conversion device, making it difficult to reduce a manufacturing steps and resulting cost thereof.
During a process for manufacturing the photoelectric conversion device, for example, a conductive contaminant may be stuck to an upper surface of the interconnecting portion. Presence of a parasitic capacitance caused between the interconnecting portion and the conductive contaminant in parallel to a capacitance of the photodiode increases an effective capacitance of the photodiode, which reduces the sensitivity thereof. The sensitivity is represented by a voltage generated by charges stored in the photodiode and is inversely proportional to the effective capacitance of the photodiode.

Photoelectric conversion device and image sensor


In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a positive-displacement pump, in particular a vane cell pump, having a pump element, in particular a rotor, which is situated within a contour ring and rotatable between two side surfaces where a limited coating is located on at least one of the side surfaces.

The present invention relates to a positive-displacement pump, in particular a vane cell pump, having a pump element, in particular a rotor, which is situated within a contour ring and rotatable between two side surfaces which are provided with a coating. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a coated side surface of a preliminarily described positive-displacement pump.
Positive-displacement pumps, vane cell pumps in particular, of the generic type are known. They have a rotor which rotates between two housing side surfaces or side plates within a contour ring which is also referred to as a stroke ring. The rotor is pivoted and has radial slots into which vanes are displaceably inserted. The rotor, the stroke ring, and the housing side surfaces or side plates delimit between two adjacent vanes a displacer space whose volume changes when the rotor is caused to rotate. This results in a volume increase on the intake side of the vane cell pump which causes an intake of a working medium into the respective displacer space, and a volume decrease on the delivery side which causes conveyance of the working medium out of the respective displacer space. Corresponding to the rotary motion of the rotor, an intake section and a delivery section are formed, the intake section being situated in the area of increasing volumes and the delivery section in the area of decreasing volumes. The intake section is linked to an intake connector of the vane cell pump and the delivery section is linked to a delivery connector. Friction may occur during operation on the contact surfaces between the rotor and the housing side surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,380 discloses a vane pump where a contour or cam ring is between two sides provided by a cover and a pressure plate. U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,380 is hereby incorporated by reference herein. U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,716 discloses a vane pump with a contour ring is provided between two pressure plates forming the sides.


The invention provides novel methods for selecting an optimal diet and exercise regimen for a patient based on the consideration of several factors, including low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) subclass levels. Furthermore, the invention provides novel methods for treating a patient with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or at risk of developing CVD through selection of an optimal diet and exercise regimen, based on the measurement of risk factors, including LDL and HDL subclass levels.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the fields of medicine and physiology, and especially to cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatment and prevention. In particular, the invention relates to a method for selecting an optimal diet and exercise regimen based, at least in part, on a low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) subclass (sometimes also referred to as "subfraction") determination.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), principally heart disease and stroke, is the nation's leading killer of both men and women among all racial and ethnic groups. In particular, heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States, accounting for more than 40% of all deaths. About 950,000 Americans die of heart disease or stroke each year, which amounts to one death every 33 seconds. Looking at only deaths due to heart disease or stroke, however, understates the health effects of these two conditions: about 61 million Americans live with the effects of stroke or heart disease; heart disease is a leading cause of disability among working adults; stroke alone accounts for the disability of more than 1 million Americans; and almost 6 million hospitalizations each year are due to heart disease or stroke. Moreover, the economic effects of heart disease and stroke on the U.S. health care system grows larger as the population ages. In 2001, for example, the estimated cost of CVD was $298 billion, including health care expenditures and lost productivity.
Several behavioral risk factors (e.g., obesity and physical inactivity) and preventive practices (e.g., weight loss) are associated with the development of CVD. Obesity is associated with high rates of CVD deaths, especially sudden death among men and congestive heart failure among women. The high death rate might occur largely as a consequence of the influence of obesity on blood pressure, blood lipid levels, and the onset of diabetes; however, some studies indicate that obesity is also an independent risk factor for CVD. Physical inactivity has also been shown to be a major risk factor for heart disease. Additional evidence shows an association between regular moderate-intensity physical activity and the lowering of several other risk factors for CVD, including blood lipid levels, resting blood pressure among persons with borderline hypertension, body composition and overweight and glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Weight control, meanwhile, is a first step in the control of mild hypertension hyperlipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance and might eliminate the necessity of lifelong drug therapy for these conditions. Efforts to control weight generally have not been effective; however, researchers have demonstrated recently the effectiveness of combined programs of behavior modification of diet and exercise (Jeffery R W (1995) Obesity Research 3(suppl.):283s–288s; Brownell K D (1986) Annu Rev Public Health 7:521). Moreover, therapeutic approaches to weight control that emphasize increased physical activity have other benefits in addition to increasing caloric expenditure (Powell K E et al. (1987) Annu Rev Public Health 8:253).
Although it has been known for some time that an appropriate diet and exercise regimen may be useful in the prevention and treatment of CVD, there remains a need for methods of selecting an optimal diet and exercise regimen that may be used in the treatment and prevention of CVD. In particular, there is a need in the art for methods for selecting an optimal diet and exercise regimen based on the evaluation of risk factors such as LDL and HDL subclass levels. The present invention provides such methods.

Method for selecting an optimal diet and exercise regimen based on LDL and HDL subclass determination


A trackside device for closing hopper doors (14) has an eccentrically rotatable wheel (18). The wheel (18) rotates upon contacting a hopper door (14) to move it inward to a closed position. In a preferred embodiment, two devices are positioned on opposite sides of a railroad track to simultaneously close doors (14) on both sides of the hopper car.

The trackside closure devices for bottom and side discharge and railway hopper cars have gone through substantial development over the years. Several devices have used rotating closure members for engaging a fitting on the hopper door. Peterson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,101, discloses a trackside closure device which uses a rotating mechanism having three radially-spaced actuating arms to close bottom doors on moving hopper cars. The arms have ball-ends which are resiliently mounted to absorb shock, and the ball-ends engage a socket on the car door to force the door closed before the receiving socket opens to allow disengagement of the actuating arm. The arms must be carefully indexed to provide for proper positioning of the arm for accurate engagement of the socket on the next hopper door.
Green et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,956, discloses a modification of the Peterson closure mechanism. The Green mechanism includes a single rotating actuating arm adapted to engage a socket in the doors of a hopper car as they move along a track adjacent to the closure mechanism. Again, the actuating arm has an engaging member located at its end. The engaging member is resiliently mounted (telescoping) in the actuating arm to allow for substantial compression of the actuating arm. After closing the hopper car door, the actuating arm is released from the socket, the arm maintains a compressed configuration, an electric motor returns the actuating arm in the compressed configuration toward an indexed position to wait for the next door, the actuating arm is extended to full length, and arrives at the indexing position. Because the actuating arm completes the closure process at a point removed from the indexing position, there is a time delay during which the arm resets. This time delay can limit the speed at which the train can move during the closure operation.
Both the Peterson and Green et al. references require careful control of the relative position of the end of the actuating arm and the socket on the hopper car door to ensure proper cooperation of the device in closing the door. Further, these devices are susceptible to deformation of the actuating arms which would impair the ability of the end to be accurately positioned with respect to the hopper car door and in the telescoping arrangement within the arm itself. In addition, the Green device requires an electric motor to return the actuating arm to the indexed position, and the recovery time required to reposition the arm may limit the train's speed during the operation. Therefore, more durable and simple closure mechanisms are required which have essentially no recovery time.
Miller et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,412, discloses a trackside closing arrangement for railway hopper cars including a pair of pneumatic tires and wheels mounted on a pivot arm. The tires rotate in an essentially horizontal plane and are inter-connected and mounted concentrically on the pivot arm at trackside to contact and close hopper doors on railway cars. Unlike the Peterson and Green references, the closure devices of Miller et al. do not appear to be capable of projecting into or underneath a hopper car to close a door. Therefore, the hopper doors of Miller et al. project outward from the car to contact the closure device. In addition, a pair of closure mechanisms positioned on opposite sides of a railroad tack are linked to provide coordinated movement and maintain contact with a swaying hopper car.
Railway hopper cars are often utilized in unit train operations. Such trains consist entirely of hoppers carrying coal or other comminuted materials which are dumped downwardly through the tracks into a suitable bin arrangement when the train arrives at its destination. A recent development in such unit trains is disclosed in Kieres, U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,710. Kieres discloses a segmented railway car which can be 500 feet long. The end of each segment is supported by wheel-containing truck means. The railroad car of Kieres includes a plurality of side discharge openings closed by swinging doors. These doors close on sills and can be wholly within the region defined by the vertical side walls of the car. In order to close these doors, it may be necessary that a closure device extend into or underneath a hopper car.
Trackside hopper car door closing mechanisms have addressed the interaction between the mechanism and car door in several ways. One way has been the "ball and socket" arrangement of Peterson and Green. This arrangement requires controlled relative positioning between the mechanism and a socket on the car door. In addition, the socket must be capable of releasing the ball end of the actuator arm flawlessly. The "ball and socket" type of closure mechanism is susceptible to damage and misalignment. Further, Green requires an electric motor to return the actuating arm to an indexed position. In an attempt to avoid the problems inherent in the "ball and socket" arrangement, Miller utilizes a pair of rotating pneumatic tires which contact modified hopper car doors. However, this arrangement requires that the hopper car doors be moved to project beyond the car body. This is necessary as the Miller device does not appear capable of projecting into or under a hopper car.
Therefore, a new trackside door closure device is needed which (1) is versatile and can operate with hopper car doors which project beyond a car body or which can itself project into or under a hopper car, (2) is durable and resilient resisting permanent deformation and misalignment, (3) which returns to an indexed or ready position before a newly closed hopper door moves from vicinity of the mechanism to be ready for the next open door and (4) which does not require electrical energization means.

Trackside door closing device for railway hopper cars


A chemical warfare agent decontamination solution made up of about 20% of a quaternary ammonium complex containing benzyltrimethylammoniumchloride and benzyltriethylammonium chloride and about 20% by weight of an oxidizer, dissolved in a solvent, such as water or glycol, is provided. This solution is a noncorrosive, nontoxic, nonflammable decontaminant, which may also be used to neutralize organophosphorus agricultural chemicals.

Methods for decontamination of chemical warfare agents, which include a variety of organophosphorus and organosulfur compounds, are known in the art. However, these known methods use compositions which have certain undesirable properties, including corrosiveness, flammability and toxicity. For example, hypochlorite formulations are very corrosive and toxic. Additionally, many decontaminants degrade upon exposure to water and carbon dioxide, requiring that these solutions be prepared and used the same day they are needed. Further, application of the hypochlorite decontaminant often requires substantial scrubbing for removal and destruction of the chemical warfare agent, a procedure which limits its use.
One decontaminant, Decontamination Solution 2 (DS2), is useful against a variety of agents and contains 70% diethylenetriamine, 28% ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and 2% sodium hydroxide. However, DS2 will spontaneously ignite upon contact with hypochlorites and hypochlorite-based decontaminants. Further, DS2 may cause corrosion to aluminum, cadmium, tin, and zinc after prolonged contact, and softens and removes paint.
A need exists for a chemical warfare agent decontamination solution which is noncorrosive, nontoxic, nonflammable, and environmentally safe.

Chemical warfare agent decontamination solution

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An apparatus for generating pulses includes: (a) A delay unit having an input delay locus for receiving a delay unit input signal and an output delay locus for presenting an output delay signal. The delay unit output signal is delayed by a delay interval with respect to the input delay signal. (B) A latch coupled with the delay unit to selectively keep the delay unit input signal at at least one predetermined signal level.

The present invention is directed to pulse generating apparatuses. Pulse generation is an important function for many electrical devices and products. Pulses are used for many purposes including, by way of example and not by way of limitation, driving pulse width modulation circuitry. Pulses provided must be of predictable and consistent duration and period to provide a reliable timing circuit or modulating circuit or other feature of a product using the pulses.
Some prior art pulse generating apparatuses used long chains of series-connected delay units, known as delay chains, to establish desired delay intervals for generating pulses. However, in today's products there is a trend toward requiring smaller more compact circuitry and minimizing die space or "real estate" required by a circuit or apparatus is a design objective of increasing importance. One response has been to use a feed forward circuit arrangement by which a delay chain is used twice. By such an arrangement a single delay chain is established on a die and is used twice so that greater delays may be realized in a circuit using less die space than was required by earlier circuits not employing a feed forward technique.
A problem with such prior art devices has been floating nodes (see FIG. 1). Reliance on capacitance alone at a node to maintain circuit values such as a predetermined voltage is not reliable because without actively maintaining the desired value at the node, the charge will bleed off. Today's circuitry operates at sufficiently fast speeds that there is insufficient capacity at circuit nodes to maintain the desired logic values (e.g., voltage values) without driving the node. The circuit nodes cannot reliably maintain the required circuit values and, as a consequence, the circuit performance is also unreliable. This unreliability may be manifested, for example, in spurious pulses or truncated pulses from unpredictable coupling with a node. Said another way, unpredictable coupling with a node or unpredictable charging or discharging of a node in a circuit may cause the circuit to generate pulses having unpredictable shape or duration or other unpredictable characteristics.
There is a need for an apparatus and method for generating pulses that is compact and involves no floating nodes.

Apparatus and method for generating pulses


A route setting method for use in a navigation system for navigating a movable body is provided with a process area setting process of setting a process area, which corresponds to a present position of the movable body, includes a plurality of route points and has a size based on a performance of a recovery route searching process, in case that the present position of the movable body does not exist on a set route from an original departure point to a final destination point. The set route includes the route points and is set in advance. The route setting method is also provided with: a route point searching process of searching a closest route point, which is the closest to the final destination point among the route points on a boundary of or within the set process area; and the recovery route searching process of searching a recovery route from the present position of the movable body to the searched closest route point.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a route setting method of and a route setting apparatus for setting a route so as to speedily reach a destination set in advance, for use in a navigation system.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a so-called navigation apparatus, which displays a map including a position where a movable body in various kinds such as an automobile, an airplane, a ship etc., is currently located, and further superimposes a position mark indicating a position of the movable body at the currently located position on the displayed map, so as to perform a route guidance or navigation to the destination on the basis of the display. Among the navigation apparatuses, as on-vehicle navigation apparatuses which are mounted on vehicles or auto-mobiles, there is a self-sustained or built-in type navigation apparatus and a GPS (Global Positioning System) type navigation apparatus as rough categories.
The former is a navigation apparatus, which obtains a moving direction and a moving distance of the movable body by use of a speed sensor, an angular speed sensor etc. equipped in or built in the pertinent vehicle, adds them with respect to a standard position so as to calculate the present position, and displays the present position mark and the corresponding map on the display picture plane on the basis of the calculated present position.
On the other hand, the latter is a navigation apparatus, which receives electric waves from a plurality of GPS satellites launched in the space, calculates the present position of the movable body by means of a 3-dimensional measuring method or a 2-dimensional measuring method on the basis of the electric wave reception results, and displays the present position mark and the corresponding map on the display picture plane on the basis of the calculated present position.
Further, there is an on-vehicle navigation apparatus provided with both functions of the above described self-sustained type and GPS type.
According to the above explained navigation apparatus, since the user (e.g. the driver) can grasp the present position of the self vehicle and the map in the vicinity of the present position in association with each other, it is possible to reach a destination without losing his or her way even in an area where the user has never experienced.
Further, the on-vehicle navigation apparatus may have a so-called route setting function to calculate, when an original departure point and a final destination point are inputted by the user in advance, the shortest route including a plurality of route points from the original departure point to the final destination point on the basis of these inputted points, and to superimpose the calculated shortest route on the map displayed on the picture plane.
However, in the above explained route setting function, it may happen a case that the most convenient route for the user cannot bealways calculated ordisplayedas various traffic regulations such as one way traffic etc. and the road grids become complicated, which is a problem.
For example, when the movable body is deviated from the set shortest route for some reason, as a first method according to the above mentioned route setting function, a predetermined process area around the present position of the movable body as a center is set. Then, the route point, which is the closest to the present position of the movable body among the set route points within the predetermined process area, is searched, and the route is set again from the present position of the movable body so as to return or recover to the set shortest route via this searched route point. On the other hand, as a second method according to the above mentioned route setting function, setting of the shortest route itself from the present position of the movable body to the final destination point is performed again.
However, according to the above mentioned first method to recover from the deviation, in case that the distance from the route point, which is the closest to the present position of the movable body, to the final destination point is longer than the distance from the present position of the movable body to the final destination point, if the movable body is recovered onto the set shortest route via the searched route point, which is the closest to the present position of the movable body, the newly set route becomes a detour as the route to the final destination point, which is a problem. Further, according to the above mentioned second method to recover from the deviation, in case that the distance from the present position of the movable body to the final destination point is rather long, it takes a relatively long time duration to newly set the shortest route, and the movable body cannot be moved during that time duration, which is another problem. In summary, when the movable body is deviated from the shortest route, there is such a problem that the arrival to the final destination point is considerably delayed as a result of these, according to the above explained route setting function
On the other hand, according to the above explained route setting function, in case that the user intends to return to the original departure point in the middle of traveling on the set shortest route, the original departure point and the final destination point on the set shortest route are simply reverted to each other. And that, the route order of the route points along the set shortest route are also reverted, and the advance direction is also reverted while the set shortest route itself is not changed. However, because of a traffic regulations such as one way traffic etc. and a new traffic jam due to the reversion of the advance direction etc., it may happen a case that this reverted originally set shortest route is not the shortest route anymore to return fastest to the original departure point, which is another problem.

Route setting method and apparatus in navigation system, and program storage device readable by the apparatus