A matrix-addressed electroluminescent display panel has lower electrodes and back electrodes orthogonally provided with each other through a luminescent layer and the like. A passivation layer is formed on the back electrodes on an opposite side of the lower electrodes with respect to the back electrodes, and back electrode leading members are formed on the passivation layer on an opposite side of the back electrodes with respect to the passivation layer to be electrically connected to the back electrodes. The lower electrodes have ends arranged on one side of a substrate, and the back electrode leading members are formed to have ends arranged on the same side of the substrate as the ends of the lower electrodes. Accordingly, terminals of the lower and back electrodes can be arranged on one side of the substrate, thereby preventing increase of the size of the display panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a matrix-addressed display device, such as an electroluminescent (EL) display device.
2. Related Arts
A typical matrix-addressed EL display device as shown in FIG. 11, has a glass substrate 1 on which a stack of lower electrodes 2, a first insulating layer 3, a luminescent layer 4, a second insulating layer 5, and upper electrodes (back electrodes) 6 are formed, in that order. The lower and back electrodes 2 and 6 are data electrodes and scanning electrodes, respectively, and are orthogonally disposed to each other. Each lower electrode 2 has a strip-like shape with a terminal 7a at an end thereof. Each back electrode 6 has a strip-like shape with a terminal 7b at an end thereof. The terminals 7a and 7b of the lower and back electrodes 2 and 6 are arranged on at least two side of the glass substrate 1.
The areas where the terminals 7a and 7b are formed cannot function as display areas. Therefore, forming the terminals 7a and 7b on multiple sides of the glass substrate 1 requires a larger size of the EL display device. To solve this problem, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-43995 proposes a matrix-addressed EL display device having through-holes, which are formed in non-intersecting portions between back electrodes and lower electrodes and which penetrate a luminescent layer and the like interposed to permit communication between the back electrodes and the lower electrodes. The EL display device further has lower electrode leading strips formed on the same plane as the back electrodes between the back electrodes adjacent to each other and electrically connected to the lower electrodes through the through-holes.
In the above-mentioned EL display device, however, forming the through-holes on the non-intersecting portions (non-pixel portions) between the lower and back electrodes gives rise to the following problems. For example, the manufacturing process becomes complicated, and the manufacturing costs are increased. In addition, because the lower electrode leading strips are formed between the back electrodes adjacent to each other, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient width lower electrode leading strips. Especially when the lower electrode leading strips are made of optically transparent material, the insufficient width of the lower electrode leading strips causes the problem that the wire resistance of each lower electrode leading strip increases.
Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2-91618 discloses a matrix-addressed liquid crystal display device in which one set of X and Y electrodes, corresponding to back and lower electrodes, are electrically connected to leading wires which extend from portions thereof, corresponding to non-pixel portions, in parallel with another of the sets of the X and Y electrodes. In this case, there is a problem that the leading wires have to be connected to the one of the sets of X and Y electrodes at the portions corresponding to non-pixel portions of the liquid crystal display, thereby restricting the widths of the one of the sets of X and Y electrodes.

Matrix-addressed electroluminescent display device panel with orthogonally provided upper and lower electrodes, passivation layers, and terminals on one side of substrate


An image recording apparatus includes an imaging section which images a subject to obtain imaging data. An image quality information acquiring section acquires a plurality of sets of information concerning image quality. An image quality information converting section converts the plurality of sets of information concerning the image quality acquired in the image quality information acquiring section into image processing parameters used in image processing of the imaging data. An image processing section performs image processing with respect to the imaging data based on the image processing parameters converted by the image quality information converting section. A recording section records in a recording medium the imaging data subjected to image processing in the image processing section, or records in the recording medium the imaging data which is not yet subjected to image processing in the image processing section and the plurality of sets of information concerning the image quality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, an image recording method, an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and an image processing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional digital cameras, there has been known a digital camera provided with a function which directly records imaging data which has not yet been subjected to image processing (such data will be referred to as raw data hereinafter) in a recording medium or the like. Raw data is obtained by simply converting an output from an imaging element into digital data without performing image processing. Therefore, if the raw data remains unchanged, it cannot be viewed or printed as an image. In this sense, it is premised that the raw data is subjected to image processing in an image processing application in a dedicated image processing apparatus or on a PC.
Usually, when performing image processing of the raw data in an image processing apparatus or the like, image quality information (e.g., white balance information) required for the image processing must be transmitted from a digital camera to an image processing apparatus. Specifically, for example, image quality information required for the image processing is recorded in header information of an image file having raw data, and this image file is transmitted to an image processing apparatus. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,624 proposes a technique which records an image signal from an imaging element without performing color conversion and also records a matrix calculation constant or the like which is used in a matrix calculation so that such a signal or constant can be used in reproduction of an image.

Image recording apparatus, image recording method, image processing apparatus, image processing method and image processing system


A downhill-ski training apparatus has a pair of like elongated ski beams each having a rear end carrying a respective foot pads and a front end connected to a stationary base at a swivel for movement of each the beams on the base about a respective vertical axis and a respective generally horizontal axis generally parallel to the respective beam so that each beam can be pivoted about its respective vertical axis from a center position with its rear end on a central region of a track to two flanking side positions with its rear end on side regions of the track. Respective elongated elastically extensible spring elements each have a rear end fixed to the rear end of the respective beam and a front end to the front side of the base and a middle part extending around a deflecting member that urges the beams toward the respective center positions and resists movement into the side positions with a force increasing as distance from the center position increases. Respective fixed-length links extend between a location offset on the respective beam from the respective horizontal and vertical axes and another end fixed to the base. The links are oriented such that on pivoting of the respective beams into the side positions the beams are tipped about their horizontal axes to an extent generally proportional to the angle of deflection from the respective center positions.

A downhill ski simulator is known which has a pair of footpads mounted at the rear ends of respective ski-like beams pivoted at their front ends about upright axes. The rear ends can ride on an arcuate track and springs urge the beams into a central parallel position. Thus the user, in order to simulate the side-to-side action of downhill skiing, stands on the pads and pushes the beams to one side and then the other against the resistance of the springs, strengthening the necessary muscle groups.
The main disadvantage of such devices is that they do not accurately simulate the movement and work of downhill skiing. The two ski beams are not capable of moving independently of each another and of pivoting about their own axes independently of each other like real skis. Neither do them meet the different levels of resistance that skis meet under actual downhill conditions, that is with the outer ski in a turn doing most of the work.
Thus a person training with such an apparatus can develop habits that will have to be unlearned once out on the slopes, and that might even make him or her a less able skier.


A cultivator includes an operation rod and at least one fixing seat. The operation rod includes a predetermined number of detachable rotary wheels at a predetermined position. The fixing seat is pivotally connected to the operation rod. A predetermined number of cultivating claws are pivoted on a circumferential portion of the fixing seat at a predetermined angle and position after being assembled. Through the rotary wheels or the cultivating claws, the cultivator is turned left and right or back and forth to loosen soil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cultivator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional gardening tool, such as a cultivator, a shovel, a digger or the like, provides a different function and use. Each tool has a specific use to provide a different effect.
However, each conventional gardening tool only provides a single effect. If the user needs to use different tools, he/she has to purchase various tools and to change the tools frequently. It is very inconvenient and ineffective to carry so many tools at a time.


A position adjusting mechanism, straddling a holding section for rotatably holding rollers and an opposed holding section for holding an opposed member disposed opposite to the rollers, wherein mutual positions between the holding section and the opposed holding section are adjusted, whereby mutual positions between the rollers and the opposed member are adjusted, the position adjusting mechanism including: a revolution sustainment structure provided at an end on one side in the longitudinal direction of the rollers and rotatably sustaining the opposed holding section with respect to the holding section; and a slide sustainment structure sustained at another end on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the rollers at two or more positions and sustaining the opposed holding section with respect to the holding section in a slidable manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a position adjusting mechanism for adjusting mutual positions of rollers and an opposed member which is opposed to the rollers, a process cartridge provided with the position adjusting mechanism, and an image forming apparatus provided with the process cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mechanism including a process unit described hereinbelow by which downsizing of the whole process unit and reduction in weight thereof can be realized is known. The process unit is for an image forming apparatus wherein a photoreceptor unit and a development unit are supported by supporting shafts in a swingable manner, and they are mounted detachably on a machine housing. An axis of a development roller provided on the development unit is inclined towards an inverse direction to that of flexure of the supporting shaft with respect to an axis of a photoreceptor drum provided on the photoreceptor unit in response to an amount of flexure of the supporting shaft derived from a driving torque acting on an input gear provided on the development unit from a drive gear provided on the machine housing, so that a degree of parallelization between the development roller and the photoreceptor drum is maintained at the time of image formation wherein the driving torque is transmitted to the input gear from the drive gear. As described above, a degree of parallelization between the development roller and the photoreceptor drum can be maintained without increasing rigidity of the supporting shaft. As a result, there is no need to use a supporting shaft having a large diameter in order to maintain rigidity, whereby downsizing and decrease in weight of the whole process unit can be realized (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-187005).
In a conventional mechanism, however, there is a problem in that it is difficult to stably maintain deviance between a development roller and a photoreceptor drum within a predetermined range with respect to dispersion of a driving torque. In addition, there is also a problem in that a conventional mechanism cannot cope with demands for increase in a volume of a toner containment part and simplification of a holding section with respect to a process cartridge provided in an image forming apparatus.

Position adjusting mechanism, process cartridge provided therewith, and image forming apparatus provided therewith


An annular two-piece thrust washer for use between the end wall of a bearing cup and the axially outer ends of the bearings and trunnion of a universal joint assembly includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece is sized to be disposed between the axially outer ends of the bearings and the end wall of the bearing cup. In a preferred embodiment, a circumferential recess is formed at the junction between the radially inner surface and the axially outer surface of the first piece. The second piece of the thrust washer is sized to be disposed between the trunnion and the end wall of the bearing cup. When assembled, the second piece of the thrust washer is disposed within the first piece. The outer circumferential portion of the second piece extends into the circumferential recess of the first piece. A predetermined small clearance is provided between the first piece and the second piece which allows a limited amount of relative movement therebetween.

This invention relates in general to universal joint assemblies and in particular to an improved structure for a thrust washer for use between a bearing cup and a trunnion in a universal joint assembly.
Universal joints are well known devices which provide a driving connection between two members adapted to rotate about non-aligned axes of rotation. Universal joints are widely used between rotatable drive shaft sections in vehicle drive train systems. A typical universal joint includes a cross having a central body portion with four cylindrical trunnions extending outwardly therefrom. The trunnions are oriented in a single plane and extend at right angles relative to one another. A hollow cylindrical bearing cup having a cylindrical side wall and a circular end wall is mounted on the end of each of the trunnions. A plurality of bearings, such as needle bearings or roller bearings, are provided between the trunnion and the associated bearing cup to permit relative rotational movement therebetween. The bearing cups which are mounted on a first opposed pair of the trunnions can be connected to a first end yoke secured to an end of a first drive shaft section, while the bearing cups mounted on a second opposed pair of the trunnions can be connected to a second end yoke secured to an end of a second drive shaft section.
When the bearing cups are mounted on the opposed pair of trunnions, the end walls of the bearing cups are disposed adjacent to the axially outer ends of the trunnions and bearings. If the end walls of the bearing cups are fit tightly against the axially outer ends of the trunnions and bearings, friction between the surfaces during operation of the universal joint can generate heat and cause premature wear. If the bearing cups are fit loosely on the trunnions, the cross and trunnions can move back and forth within the opposed bearing cups during operation of the universal joint. This may create imbalance of the universal joint and generate undesirable noise and vibrations. Consequently, it is known to position thrust washers between the end walls of the bearing cups and the axially outer ends of the trunnions and bearings.
In the past, such thrust washers have been manufactured from a single annular piece of material having a first portion which engaged the axially outer end of the trunnion and a second portion which engaged the axially outer ends of the bearings. This structure performs well for most applications of universal joint assemblies. However, problems can occur when the universal joint assemblies are used in high speed, high angle, and low torque applications. In these situations,, the trunnion may become angled relative to the bearing cup and apply uneven pressure against the first portion of the thrust washer. When this occurs, one side of the first portion of the thrust washer is forced against the bearing cup, while the other side moves away from the bearing cup. Because the first and second portions of the thrust washer are formed as a single piece of material, the corresponding side of the second portion of the thrust washer also moves away from the bearing cup. When the bearings engage this side of the thrust washer, the thrust washer is subjected to significant wear and may eventually break apart. This can cause early failure of the bearing cup assembly. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a thrust washer for a universal joint assembly that avoids the potential problems occurring in high speed, high angle, and low torque applications.

Two-piece thrust washer for universal joint


Provided are a flexible and transparent carbon nano tube (CNT) thin film transistor using a degradable polymer substrate, and a display adapting the CNT thin film transistor. The polymer substrate is formed of a polymer material that is naturally degraded, and a CNT channel, where a semiconductive CNT is dispersed on a transparent organic material, is prepared on the polymer substrate. Source and drain electrodes, where a conductive CNT is ejected on a transparent organic material, are connected to both sides of the CNT channel. A gate, where a conductive CNT is dispersed on a transparent organic material, is disposed on or below the CNT channel, and a gate insulation layer including a transparent organic material is disposed between the CNT channel and the gate.

1. Field of the Invention
The example embodiments relate to a thin film transistor (TFT) using a conductive carbon nano tube (CNT) and a semiconductive CNT, and more particularly, to a flexible and transparent TFT.
2. Description of the Related Art
A thin film transistor (TFT) is an important semiconductor device that is essential in a display field, and studies are being performed on such a TFT as a core device in a flexible electronics field that has recently come into the spotlight.
Currently, a carbon nano tube (CNT) has an excellent charge transmission characteristic and a large aspect ratio, and thus has both high charge mobility and transparency by obtaining a plurality of charge transmission paths. Moreover, the CNT has excellent elasticity, and thus is electrically and mechanically stable to the bending. Accordingly, the CNT is noticed as an element of the TFT.
A flexible electronics field includes a paper display, a foldable display, etc. Since a display must be freely folded or rolled up, all devices used in the display must be flexible. An important and main device of such flexible devices is a TFT that is mainly prepared by using an organic material. An organic TFT has a low production cost and is flexible, but has remarkably low charge mobility and switching speed compared to a polycrystal silicon TFT, and thus is difficult to be applied to a device that requires high charge mobility and high switching speed. Also, since the organic TFT partially includes an opaque element, studies on maintaining a flexible and stable electric characteristic while having a transparent structure are required to be performed, so as to be applied to the paper display, or the like.
Meanwhile, the paper display and the foldable display use a flexible substrate that is formed of plastic. However, since the plastic is semi-permanent that is difficult to be naturally degraded, using the plastic in the flexible substrate may cause an environmental pollution.

Carbon nano tube thin film transistor and display adopting the same

Korea University Industrial & Academic Collaboration Foundation


An exemplary method of making a piston assembly may include providing a piston crown defining at least in part an upper combustion bowl surface. The piston crown includes at least one crown mating surface. The method further comprising moving the crown mating surface in proximity to a skirt mating surface defined by a piston skirt, wherein the crown and skirt cooperate to define a cooling gallery extending about a periphery of the crown. The method may further include bonding the crown and skirt together by initiating an electric current along a conductive path between the crown and skirt mating surfaces, the conductive path comprising at least one conductive material extending from the crown mating surface to the skirt mating surface.

The severe service conditions typical of internal combustion engines, e.g., diesel engines, generally require the pistons in such engines to be formed of a strong and durable material. To address these needs, the pistons used in diesel engines are often made of steel. Additionally, the extremely hot combustion chamber temperatures often require the pistons be cooled during engine operation. For example, a piston crown in a diesel engine may be cooled with an oil spray directed at the bottom of the crown and with an internal feature of the crown such as an oil gallery. The oil spray and oil circulating in the gallery may remove some of the excessive heat generated during engine operation.
To facilitate the construction of a piston assembly with an oil gallery in the piston crown, a two part piston is used in some diesel engines. The top piece, the crown, is the part of the piston exposed to the extremely hot combustion temperatures. The bottom piece, called the skirt, generally provides piston guidance within the cylinder. The crown or skirt may also provide a holder for the piston rings that interface with cylinder bore surfaces, such as ring grooves that receive the piston rings.
Current methods of joining a piston crown and skirt have inherent limitations. Vacuum brazing, for example, is a relatively expensive and time consuming process. Vacuum brazing requires the work piece be processed in a controlled environment.
Proper alignment of features on the crown and skirt is critical to proper engine performance. Tolerances for the finished piston feature alignment are typically in the tenths of millimeters, therefore, the tolerance for error in alignment of the crown and skirt in the blank is also extremely small. Thus, dynamic processes, such as friction welding, may be difficult to execute while meeting the exacting tolerances needed of the finished piston assembly. More specifically, friction welding typically involves spinning one of the two piston components being joined. Stopping the crown or skirt in the exact spot to correctly orient it with the other piece is generally difficult to accomplish.
Additionally, inconsistent weld thicknesses can also cause problems with the piston during operation. A weld that is too thick or too thin will cause the vertical or Z-dimension of the piston to be out of tolerance. Out of tolerance pistons may prematurely fail in service, or cause damage to engine components. The friction welding process does not add metal to the system to form the metallurgical bond between the two component pieces. Rather, metal from the pieces is sacrificed to from the bond between the two parts. This may cause the Z dimension of the two joined parts to change inconsistently, and may cause scrap, or premature failure of the engine components.
Some pistons have intricate, internal features that cannot be reached with standard welding techniques, and offset or asymmetrical features may not be easily formed in welding techniques. The clearances and access to these features are usually small and standard welding equipment cannot be used. The geometry and alignment requirements of the features internal to the crown eliminate friction welding as a feasible option to join piston components with intricate internal features.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved piston assembly and method of making the same that addresses the above problems.


A start-up section is made up of an input transistor configured to receive at its gate a voltage at a node which varies with the magnitude of a current flowing in one branch of a current mirror in a reference voltage generation section, an inverter for reversing a drain voltage of the input transistor, an output transistor for supplying a start-up current to the reference voltage generation section in response to an output voltage from the inverter, and a current limit transistor serially connected to the input transistor. The current limit transistor receives a reduced gate-source voltage from the reference voltage generation section for limiting a flow of current in the input transistor upon completion of restarting the reference voltage generation section.

The present invention relates to a reference voltage generation circuit which finds applications in semiconductor integrated circuits and which includes a low power consumption start-up section for restarting a reference voltage generation section of the reference voltage generation circuit.
The reference voltage generation circuit is an important circuit having a variety of applications. A reference voltage generation circuit has been known in the art which has a reference voltage generation section for generating a reference voltage and a start-up section for restarting the reference voltage generation section. With such a configuration, even when the reference voltage generation section accidentally goes into the off state when the power is applied or due to influence of some kind caused by noise or the like, it is possible for the reference voltage generation section to restart and generate a normal reference voltage.
As long as the reference voltage generation section keeps operating normally, the start-up section stands by in the idle state, in other word the start-up section is not required to operate. However, if current continuously flows, in a steady-state manner, in the start-up section, this will introduce a problem that power consumption is greatly increased. U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,549 shows a solution to cope with the problem.
Accordingly, like the above-mentioned U.S. patent, an object of the present invention is to lower power consumption of a reference voltage generation circuit by reducing, after the reference voltage generation section is started up, stationary current flowing in the start-up section.
In order to achieve the object, the present invention employs the following start-up section configurations for use in reference voltage generation circuits comprising a reference voltage generation section having a current mirror and configured to generate a reference voltage and a start-up section for restarting the reference voltage generation section.
A first reference voltage generation circuit of the present invention is provided with a start-up section, the start-up section including an input transistor configured to receive at its gate a voltage at a node which varies with the magnitude of a current flowing in one branch of the current mirror in the reference voltage generation section, an inverter for reversing a drain voltage of the input transistor, an output transistor for supplying a start-up current to the reference voltage generation section in order to restart the reference voltage generation section in response to an output voltage from the inverter, and a current limit transistor serially connected to the input transistor in order to receive from the reference voltage generation section a reduced gate-source voltage upon completion of restarting the reference voltage generation section for limiting a flow of current in the input transistor.
A second reference voltage generation circuit of the present invention is provided with a start-up section, the start-up section including input transistor s of first and second polarities which receive at their respective gates a voltage at a node which varies with the magnitude of a current flowing in one branch of the current mirror in the reference voltage generation section and which are connected together drain to drain, and an output transistor for increasing a gate-source voltage common to two transistors together forming the current mirror in order to restart the reference voltage generation section in response to a voltage common to the drains of these input transistors of the first and second polarities.
A third reference voltage generation circuit of the present invention is provided with a start-up section, the start-up section including an input transistor configured to receive at its gate a voltage at a node which varies with the magnitude of a current flowing in one branch of the current mirror in the reference voltage generation section, an inverter for reversing a drain voltage of the input transistor, an output transistor for supplying a start-up current to the reference voltage generation section in order to restart the reference voltage generation section in response to an output voltage from the inverter, a switch serially connected to the input transistor in order to cut off a flow of current in the input transistor upon completion of restarting the reference voltage generation section, and a control transistor for receiving at its gate the same voltage as a voltage at the input transistor gate to shift an input voltage of the inverter, in order to cut off the start-up current which has been supplied from the output transistor upon completion of restarting the reference voltage generation section.
A fourth reference voltage generation circuit of the present invention is provided with a start-up section, the start-up section including an input transistor configured to receive at its gate a voltage at a node which varies with the magnitude of a current flowing in one branch of the current mirror in the reference voltage generation section, an inverter for reversing a drain voltage of the input transistor, an output transistor for supplying a start-up current to the reference voltage generation section in order to restart the reference voltage generation section in response to an output voltage from the inverter, a first switch for disconnecting the input transistor gate from the node in the reference voltage generation section upon completion of restarting the reference voltage generation section, a first control transistor for receiving at its gate the same voltage as a voltage which has been received at the input transistor gate to shift the input transistor gate voltage, in order to cut off a flow of current in the input transistor upon completion of restarting the reference voltage generation section, a second switch for disconnecting an input of the inverter from a drain of the input transistor upon completion of restarting the reference voltage generation section, and a second control transistor for receiving at its gate the same voltage as a voltage which has been received at the input transistor gate to shift an input voltage of the inverter, in order to cut off the start-up current which has been supplied from the output transistor upon completion of restarting the reference voltage generation section.
A fifth reference voltage generation circuit of the present invention is provided with a start-up section, the start-up section including a transistor for receiving at its gate a voltage at a node which varies with the magnitude of a current flowing in one branch of the current mirror in the reference voltage generation section, and for supplying a start-up current to the reference voltage generation section in order to restart the reference voltage generation section in response to the voltage. Further, a voltage lower than a power supply voltage of the reference voltage generation section is applied to a source of the transistor.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A staple removal tool includes an elongated handle mounting a U-shaped cover member supporting a U-shaped base member formed with a forwardly projecting staple lifter tongue. A crimping arm is pivoted on the base member for movement toward and away from the staple lifter tongue and is actuated by a hand lever located under the handle and pivotally secured at its forward end to the cover member. A spring loaded link member is attached at one end to the hand lever and at the opposite end to the crimping arm, whereby pivoting of the handle lever effects pivotal movement of the crimping arm. A crimping bar is secured to and spaced from the base member to receive the clamping arm between them. The staple lifter tongue engages under the bridge portion of a staple, such as a roofing staple, and leveraging of the handle pulls the staple from its wood anchor. If the staple breaks, or if only one leg pulls out of the wood, the upwardly projecting length of staples still anchored in wood is placed alongside the confronting sides of the tongue and crimping bar and the hand lever manipulated to pivot the clamping arm into the space between the tongue and crimping bar, whereby to bend the staple leg to U-shape around the clamping arm and secure it against release, allowing the handle to leverage the resistant leg out of the wood.

This invention relates to staple pullers, and more particularly to a tool for removing roofing and other construction type staples.
Roofing materials often are secured to roofs by staples of diverse widths and lengths and of relatively large gauge wire. When replacement of the roofing material is required, the existing material is removed by tools designed for the purpose. However, many random pieces of roofing material and staples remain attached to the roof.
Various tools have been devised heretofore for removing staples from wood and other materials. Exemplary of these are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,088,692 and 4,293,119. These and all other known tools are incapable of extracting those staples which have been broken or which leaves one of the staple legs retained in the wood while the other leg has been extracted.


The present invention introduces a “contextual icon” to an icon-driven interface in which a single icon represents a shortcut to a suite of computer applications. The icon is associated with a single main application that may be invoked if an operator double-clicks on it or enters some other predetermined quick launch command. The desktop icon also may be associated with a context menu that reveals ancillary applications or tools that are related to the suite and typically are used less frequently than the main menu. The context menu may be opened with an ancillary interaction command (example: right clicking on the icon) and, thereafter, an operator may browse through and select an application from the context menu that may be desired. In this way, the contextual icon management scheme reduces desktop clutter while maintaining a highly intuitive navigation scheme among related applications.

The present invention is directed to a management scheme for computers and graphical user interfaces ("GUI") therefor. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a scheme for managing a suite of related application under an icon driven, point-and-click interface.
Modern computer systems use graphical user interfaces and icons to permit operators to use various applications largely without training. When used with a pointer device such as a mouse or a touch screen, the icons permit operators simply to point and click on an icon to start a computer application. The Microsoft Windows line of operating systems for personal computers and the Palm operating system for personal digital assistants are popular examples of commercially available icon-driven user interfaces. When a new application is installed on a computer, an installation wizard typically manages installation and configuration of the software files themselves. The wizard often places a new icon on the computer's "desktop," a computer workspace that is displayed when there are no open applications that overlay it, and additional entries in a pull up taskbar that may be opened on user command.
Increasingly, modern computer applications include not just a single application but a suite of integrated applications that are highly related. In such a circumstance, application designers may expect that operators will work routinely with a primary application ("the main application") and invoke secondary applications less frequently. To provide intuitive access to operators, the application designers may desire to provide desktop access to the secondary applications as well as the main application. Of course, provision of separate desktop icons tends to clutter the desktop itself. Over time, desktop icons can become intermixed with those of other applications. Operators tend to lose track of icons for infrequently used applications and may not remember that they are to be used in conjunction with a main icon.
Current user interfaces permit operators to collect a plurality of related applications in a folder (which often corresponds to storage space on a computer's file system) and to represent the folder as an icon on the desktop. This scheme is cumbersome, however, because it requires operators to progress through a multi-step navigation process to reach both frequently-used and infrequently-used applications. To start a frequently-used application, an operator typically must double click on a folder icon, which opens a folder window. The operator must identify and double click on an icon representing the frequently-used application to start it. The same process must be followed to access and open infrequently-used applications. This scheme is disadvantageous because it prevents convenient access to frequently-used applications, which is why desktop icons are provided in the first place.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a desktop management scheme that creates intuitive links among related applications and preserved the convenience of icon-driven interfaces.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A braking device for an industrial truck, comprising an electromagnetic brake unit on a load-bearing wheel and/or driving motor, a brake pedal the position of which is detected by an electric position detector which generates an analog electric braking signal, and a brake control into which the analog braking signal in input and which generates a control signal to actuate the brake unit electromagnetically in response to the analog braking signal, characterized in that the area of the end position of the brake pedal has associated therewith a signal transmitter connected to the brake control which provides a first signal to the brake control when the brake pedal is within the range of response of the signal transmitter and the brake control generates a control signal for the brake unit that causes a hard stop.

A large number of industrial trucks are powered by a battery. This makes it possible to obtain a braking effect by operating the electric motor as a generator. However, this generally is insufficient. Therefore, it is known to arrange a brake, i.e. a brake disc or brake drum, on the shaft of the motor. It is common to configure such brakes as spring brakes in which an electromagnetic force is applied to keep the braking member out of engagement with the brake disc or brake drum and the spring performs the braking procedure when such electric activation is stopped. It is further known to support the actuation of the spring electromagnetically.
As an alternative or in addition, it is further known to provide one load-bearing wheel of the industrial truck with a brake. The brake can be actuated hydraulically as has been generally known for other vehicles for a long time. However, it is also imaginable to actuate the brake unit electromagnetically on a load-bearing wheel.
Efforts have been made for some time to actuate electromagnetic brake systems electrically. Therefore, the connection between a brake pedal and the brake unit, e.g. on the load-bearing wheel, is effected in an electric way. The brake pedal has associated therewith a potentiometer or comparable electric position detector which generates an electric braking signal, which is provided to a brake control, in dependence on the actuation path of the brake signal. The brake control, in turn, generates an control signal for actuating the brake unit in response to the braking signal.
If the operation of the position detector fails for certain reasons a braking procedure naturally will not come about when the brake pedal is actuated. Nevertheless, for safety reasons, it has to be ensured that the driver brings the industrial truck to a fast stop. When the electric supply breaks down, e.g. because of cable rupture or the like, care can be taken in the form of an emergency current supply that there is still sufficient energy at least for the braking procedure to be initiated. However, this cannot compensate for the breakdown of a position detector.
It is the object of the invention to provide a braking device for an industrial truck including an electric braking unit in which a braking procedure can be carried out even if the position detector breaks down.


Disclosed is a printing process employing a printing plate material obtained by providing, on a support, a coating solution for an image formation layer capable of forming an image by heating, the process comprising the steps of imagewise heating the printing plate material, and then carrying out printing supplying printing ink and a dampening solution to the heated printing plate material, wherein the acid base property of the coating solution is the reverse of that of the dampening solution.

The planographic printing plate material for CTP, which is inexpensive, can be easily handled, and has a printing ability comparable with that of a PS plate, is required accompanied with the digitization of printing data. Recently, a versatile thermal processless printing plate material, which can be applied to a printing press employing a direct imaging (DI) process without development by a special developing agent and which can be treated in the same manner as in PS plates, has been required.
As a thermal processless printing plate material, there is Thermo-Lite produced by Agfa Co., Ltd.
In a thermal processless printing plate material, an image is formed according to a recording method employing a thermal laser emitting light with infrared to near infrared wavelengths. The thermal processless type printing plate material employing this recording method is divided into two, an ablation type printing plate material, and a phase change type printing plate material.
Examples of the ablation type printing plate material include those disclosed in for example, Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 8-507727, 6-186750, 6-199064, 7-314934, 10-58636 and 10-244773. Examples of the phase change type printing plate material include those disclosed in for example, Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 11-240270. In the phase change type printing plate material, the hydrophilic layer contains hydrophobe precursor particles, which are not removed during printing, and the hydrophilic layer at exposed portions changes to be hydrophobic.
When an on-press development type planographic printing plate material as described above is used which does not require any special development before mounting on a printing press, an image formation layer at non-image portions of the printing plate material is transferred to printing paper sheets or to a dampening solution, whereby a printing plate is obtained. However, this process has mainly two problems to be solved.
One is that it is difficult to prevent lowering of durability of an image formation layer at image portions and lowering of printing durability, since it is necessary that the image formation layer have some degree of water affinity in order to remove rapidly an image formation layer at non-image portions from the printing plate.
A planographic printing plate material is required to have a plate inspection property for checking before printing whether or not a correct visible image is formed on a planographic printing plate material after imagewise exposure. A planographic printing plate material having such a plate inspection property comprises a colorant, and the colorant is released in a printing press during printing, resulting in contamination of the printing press. That is, the other problem is that a colorant or a color producing agent contained in a planographic printing plate material contaminates prints or a dampening solution.
As planographic printing plate materials requiring no development, there are ones disclosed in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 2003-25750, 2003-39840 and 2003-246155, in which the image formation layer contains a specific heat fusible polymer, whereby developability and printing durability are improved, and printing press contamination is minimized. However, there is neither disclosure nor suggestion in these documents of a visible image formation that employing a colorant, a visible image is formed after imagewise exposure.
A positive working planographic printing plate material comprising a layer to be rendered hydrophilic by heat and a method of preventing stain occurrence at non-image portions are disclosed in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 11-174685. However, there is no disclosure in this document of improvement in printing durability and visible image formation after exposure.
As a conventional technique for forming a visible image without contamination of a printing press and printed matter, there is a technique in which a colorless leuco dye is reacted with a developing agent to form a dye image. In order to secure a practically acceptable visible image, a large amount of the leuco dye is incorporated into an image formation layer, resulting in problem of lowering developability on a printing press. Further, the technique has a problem in that the leuco dye and developing agent in the image formation layer were incorporated into a dampening solution and reacted with each other therein, resulting in contamination of a printing press or printed matter.

Printing process and manufacturing process of printing plate material


A method for charging an intermediate circuit capacitor in a precharging unit includes charging the intermediate circuit capacitor via a current source and adjusting the supplied current in such a manner that a constant power loss is produced in the current source during the entire charging operation. A circuit arrangement includes a battery which is connected to a current source which is connected to an intermediate circuit capacitor via a switch. An adjusting circuit is arranged in parallel with the current source and can be used to adjust the current for charging the intermediate circuit capacitor. The current is adjusted in such a manner that a constant power loss is produced in the current source during the entire charging operation.

The present disclosure relates to a method for charging an intermediate-circuit capacitor and to a circuit arrangement for implementing the method.
The trend in the future development of battery systems, both for stationary applications such as wind power installations and for mobile applications such as in motor-vehicle technology, is toward new battery systems on which very high demands in terms of reliability are placed.
The background for said demands is that a failure of the battery can lead to a failure of the entire system. Thus, for example in the case of an electric vehicle, a failure of the traction battery can lead to a so-called "breakdown".
In the case of wind power installations, a failure of the battery can even lead to safety-related problems, since batteries are used here for example to protect the installation against impermissible operating states in the event of strong winds by adjusting the rotor blades.
In order to achieve the required power and energy data with the battery system, individual battery cells are connected in series and, in part, also in parallel.
In hybrid or electric vehicles, the battery is usually connected to the vehicle drive with two main contactors, when said vehicle is to be operated.
In the vehicle, there is also a so-called intermediate-circuit capacitor for cushioning voltage and current spikes.
However, said intermediate-circuit capacitor prohibits the two main contactors from being directly switched on, since in this case an extremely high current would flow through the contactors into the intermediate-circuit capacitor and could destroy the latter.
For this reason, according to the known prior art, a so-called precharging unit is used in the battery circuitry, which unit initially charges the intermediate-circuit capacitor with a limited current and the two main contactors are then only switched on once the intermediate-circuit capacitor has been charged.
The known prior art is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIG. 4 shows a typical circuit for charging the intermediate-circuit capacitor via a precharging resistor R. Here a so-called precharging relay is switched on and the intermediate-circuit capacitor is then charged via the precharging resistor R. After the desired intermediate-circuit voltage has been reached, the two main contactors are switched on.
A disadvantage of this solution is that a high current flows through the precharging unit at the start of the charging, said current decreasing exponentially over time and thus increasing the time until the main contactors are closed.
In order to reduce the switch-on time, the resistance value must be selected to be smaller, which directly results in higher power losses in the resistor and thus requires the use of a resistor which is larger in terms of volume, heavier and more expensive.
For this reason, a current source, as is shown in FIG. 5, is often used. A current source with a constant current leads to a constant gradient of the intermediate-circuit voltage during the charging operation.
However, in this connection it is disadvantageous that there is a high voltage across the current source at the start, that is to say when the intermediate-circuit capacitor is still discharged, which leads to a high power loss.
Since the charging operation usually takes a few 100 ms, the power components in the current source must be designed for said high power loss. However, use is not made of this dimensioning toward the end of the charging operation; a higher current could then flow here.
A circuit for charging batteries having a control system, through which the current is varied in order to ensure a constant power loss, is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,609.
Essential elements of the control system of the charging device are current sensor, voltage sensor and an amplifier coupled to the sensors.
DE 102006050529 A1 describes a circuit arrangement for combined insulation and contactor monitoring of the current supply of an electric drive. Two voltage-measuring devices are provided to measure a voltage excursion. The power electronics system arranged there as well contains an intermediate-circuit capacitor, which is charged with limited current.

Method and circuit arrangement for charging an intermediate circuit capacitor


A serial electrophotographic apparatus has a carriage which is translated in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which recording paper is transported, a processing part effects electrophotographic printing, and a fixing unit effects fixing, wherein a fixing roller is heated by an induction coil according to an induction heating process, and a current supplied to the induction coil is cut off by a temperature fuse being blown when the temperature of the induction coil rises above a predetermined level. The induction coil has a configuration including multiple flat winding layers serially connected together and wherein ends of the induction coil are led out from the center of the windings so that temperature rise is restrained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to serial electrophotographic apparatuses, and more particularly to a serial electrophotographic apparatus in which a latent image is formed on a recording drum, and toner is used to print a visible image on recording paper.
A demand for inexpensive and compact electrophotographic apparatuses has resulted in the development of serial electrophotographic printers. In electrophotographic printers, a carriage for carrying a printhead is capable of performing an electrophotographic process. In these electrophotographic printers, recording paper is transported in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the carriage is translated so that a transferring unit effects an image transfer onto the recording paper. A roller shaped fixing unit disposed ahead of the carriage in the direction of transportation effects fixing. In such a printer, safety measures must be taken against the heat generated within.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIGS. 1A and 1B show a construction of a conventional serial electrophotographic printer 11, FIG. 1A being a partial top view of the printer, and FIG. 1B being a cross-sectional view of a carriage.
The serial electrophotographic printer 11 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 61-152463. In the electrophotographic printer 11, a shaft 14 is disposed parallel with rollers 13a and 13b for transporting recording paper 12. A carriage 15 is driven by a motor (not shown) and guided by the shaft 14 to be movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the recording paper is transported. A fixing unit 16 longer than the width of the recording paper 12 is fixed ahead of the carriage 15 in the direction in which the recording paper is transported. The fixing unit 16 may be equipped with a halogen lamp as a heat source. A transferring unit 17 is disposed below the recording paper 12 to lie in the direction in which the carriage 15 is transported.
The carriage 15 carries an image carrying body (recording drum) 21 which is rotated at a peripheral speed synchronized with the movement of the carriage 15. The surface of the image carrying body 21 is uniformly charged by a charger 22 (a charging roller) 22, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by an exposer 23. The electrostatic latent image is made visible to become a toner image by a developing roller 26 which is formed adjacent to the image carrying body 21 and supplies toner 25 stored in a developing unit 24 to the image carrying body 21. Toner image formed on the image carrying body 21 is transferred to the recording paper 12 by the transferring unit 17 disposed opposite to the image carrying body 21, the recording paper 12 being led through a space between the image carrying body 21 and the transferring unit 17. The recording paper 12 is transported so that a part which has undergone a transferring process faces the fixing unit 16, whereupon the image is fixed.
Excessive increase in the temperature of the fixing unit 16 is usually prevented by disposing a temperature fuse or the like in the neighborhood of the heat source, and by stopping the power supply in the event of an excessive increase in the temperature.
The applicants proposed a serial electrophotographic printer in which the fixing unit is mounted in the carriage, and fixing is done by rotating a fixing roller in cooperation with the recording drum, and in which an induction heating coil provided separately is used as a means to heat the fixing roller in a non-contact manner (Japanese Patent Application No.5-217609).
Induction heating is a method whereby magnetic flux generated by the induction coil is applied to the fixing roller so that an eddy current generated within the fixing roller and an electric resistance of the fixing roller interact to produce heat. Since the coil is a conductive body, an eddy current is generated in the coil itself, resulting in a disadvantage that the induction coil itself is heated due to Joule heat generated by a high-frequency current that flows in the coil and the eddy current.
The high-frequency current supplied to the coil is usually large and the magnetic flux density in the induction coil disposed in a narrow space is high. Thus, the eddy current generated in the coil is large (heat becomes more intense toward the center of the coil, thus producing greater heat therein than at the ends). Hence, the heat produced in the induction coil itself becomes large, thus causing the temperature of the induction coil and the neighborhood thereof to rise. This rise in the temperature demands that some safety measures be taken.


A magnetic reproduction apparatus with a cross-talk reduction system that includes first and second magnetic heads, wherein the distance between the first magnetic head which has a plus azimuth angle and the second magnetic head which has a minus azimuth angle is provided so that the second head scans a track which is previously scanned by the first magnetic head. The apparatus also provides (i) a delaying circuit for delaying a first reproduction signal of the first magnetic head, (ii) a first filter for extracting a cross-talk component from an output of the delaying circuit, (iii) a second filter for extracting a cross-talk component from a second reproduction signal of the second magnetic head, (iv) a first adder for adding the second reproduction signal's cross-talk component which is inverted and the output of the delaying circuit, and (v) a second adder for adding the first reproduction signal's cross-talk component which is inverted and the second reproduction signal.

The present invention relates to a magnetic reproduction apparatus provided with a crosstalk reduction system for performing a magnetic reproducing operation with use of at least two magnetic heads.
In conventional magnetic reproduction apparatus, such as embodied in the form of a VTR or a DAT reproduction apparatus, a magnetic head scans a target recording track and also part of tracks adjacent thereto at the same time. This for the reason that, generally, the scanning width of the magnetic head is larger than the recording track. When the width of the magnetic head is set large in this way, the scanning of the target track can be attained even when the scanning position of the magnetic head is shifted to any one of the pair of the adjacent tracks.
FIG. 4 explains the scanning condition of a prior art ordinary magnetic head. As illustrated, a magnetic head 1 having a plus azimuth angle scans a track Ta recorded on a magnetic tape T with a plus azimuth angle. During the scanning operation, the magnetic head 1 also scans part of tracks Tb1 and Tb2 having minus azimuth angles and adjacent to the track Ta.
When the magnetic head 1 scans the tracks Tb1 and Tb2 having different azimuth angles, the magnetic head also reproduces, in addition to a main signal based on the track Ta, a subsignal (crosstalk component) based on the tracks Tb1 and Tb2. The crosstalk component, which is a noise component of the main signal, acts to reduce the S/N ratio of the main signal. An example of circuits for improving the S/N ratio is a crosstalk reduction circuit.
As an example of such conventional ordinary crosstalk reduction circuits, there is proposed a circuit which extracts crosstalk components from latest (based on the latest scanning track) and past reproduction signals, inverts one of polarities of this two types of crosstalk components for addition thereof to thereby realize reduction (cancellation) of the crosstalk components. In this connection, the past reproduction signal refers to a signal which corresponds to a past scanned track different from the latest scanning track.
Scanning different tracks, in general, produces different contents (waveforms) of their crosstalk components. That is, as mentioned above, even when the addition of two types of crosstalk components of different tracks, it has been difficult to sufficiently reduce (cancel) the crosstalk components. In other words, it has been impossible to realize sufficient improvement in the S/N ratio of a reproduction signal.

Magnetic reproduction apparatus provided with a cross talk reduction system


The present invention relates to a therapeutic preventive agent that includes an angiogenic factor gene (such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)) as its active ingredient, and the administration of such an agent into the targeted skin diseases-affected area.

The expression "angiogenic factor" refers to a growth factor that not only stimulates neovascularization and angiogenesis (initiated along with the activation of parent blood vessel endothelial cells) in vivo, but is also mitogenic for endothelial cells in vitro. Examples of angiogenic factors include HGF, VEGF, FGF, and HIF. The first therapeutic application of angiogenic factors was reported by Folkman et al. (N. Engl. J. Med. 285, 1182-1186 (1971)). In later studies, the use of recombinant angiogenic factors such as the FGF family (Science 257, 1401-1403 (1992); Nature 362, 844-846 (1993)) and VEGF was confirmed as promoting and/or accelerating development of the collateral circulatory tract in animal models of myocardial and hind limb ischemia (Circulation 90, II-228-II-234 (1994)). Furthermore, the present inventors discovered that HGF, like VEGF, functions as an endothelium-specific growth factor (J. Hypertens. 14, 1067-1072 (1996)).
HGF is a cytokine discovered to be a powerful growth-promoting factor for mature stem cells, and its gene has been cloned (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 122: 1450(1984); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 83: 6489(1986); FEBS Letters 22: 231(1987); Nature 342: 440-443(1989); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 87: 3200(1991)). HGF is a plasminogen-related and mesenchymer-derived pleiotropic growth factor, and is known to regulate cell growth and cell motility in various types of cells (Nature 342: 440-443(1989); Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 239: 639-644(1997); J. Biochem. Tokyo 119: 591-600(1996)). It is also an important factor in regulating blastogenesis and morphogenic processes during the regeneration of several organs. For example, HGF is a strong mitogen for epidermal cells such as hepatocytes and keratinocytes (Exp. Cell Res. 196:114-120(1991)). HGF stimulates angiogenesis, induces cell dissociation, and initiates endothelial cell movement (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 90: 1937-1941(1993); Gene Therapy 7: 417-427(2000)) Later studies revealed that HGF not only functions in vivo as a hepatic regeneration factor in the repair and regeneration of the damaged liver, but also has an angiogenic effect and plays an important role in the therapy for or prevention of ischemic and arterial diseases (Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol., 47 cell behavior 227-234(1993); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 90: 1937-1941(1993); Circulation 97: 381-390(1998)). There are reports that administration of HGF to rabbit hind limb ischemia models showed remarkable angiogenesis, improved blood flow, suppression of decrease in blood pressure, and improvement of ischemic symptoms. As a result of these reports, HGF is now considered to be expressed as an angiogenic factor and to function as such.
As its name indicates, HGF was discovered in the liver. However, it actually exists throughout the entire body and has a cell-proliferating action. The vigorous cell division that occurs around an injury to repair the wound is also due to the action of HGF. The dermatology team at Juntendo University discovered that HGF is also a hair growth factor. HGF promotes hair growth by promoting division of hair matrix cells. Administration of HGF to hair matrix cells on scalps which show progressed androgen-related hair thinning is likely to regenerate thick hair.
Furthermore, HGF-induced angiogenesis in rat hearts with non-infarcted and infarcted myocardium (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 8474-8478(1993)), and in rat corneas (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 1937-1941(1993)) has been found in vivo.
Thus, HGF has a multitude of functions, not least of which is its function as an angiogenic factor. Various attempts have been made to utilize HGF in pharmaceutical agents, however, HGF's half-life in the blood has made this a problem. HGF's short half-life of about ten minutes makes maintenance of its blood concentration difficult. Thus, translocation of an effective HGF dose to an affected area is problematic.
VEGF is a dimeric glycoprotein that is mitogenic for endothelial cells and can enhance vascular permeability. VEGF's mitogenic effect is direct and specific to endothelial cells (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 161, 851-858(1989)).
HIF promotes the production of erythrocytes and stimulates angiogenesis and erythropoietin (which increases oxygen supplied to the entire body). HIF is also the main transcription factor in the transcriptional activation of VEGF (which increases local oxygen supply), VEGF's receptor, and the genes for various enzymes involved in the glycolytic pathway (which provides resistance to cells by synthesizing ATP in anoxic conditions). HIF-1 is a heterodimer comprising HIF-1α and HIF-1β. HIF-1β (also called Arnt) also forms a heterodimer with the Ah receptor (which is associated with the metabolism of foreign substances such as dioxin) to function in the transcriptional regulation of drug-metabolizing enzyme genes.
In general, gene therapy can be used to treat various recovered clinical diseases (Science 256: 808-813(1992); Anal. Biochem. 162: 156-159(1987)). Selection of an appropriate vector for gene transfer is particularly important for successful gene therapy. Viruses, adenoviruses in particular, have been the preferred vectors for gene transfer. However, viral vectors are potentially dangerous when viral infection-associated toxicity, lowered immunity, and mutagenic or carcinogenic effects are considered. An example of an alternative method for gene transfer is the HVJ-liposome-mediated method, which has been reported to be effective in vivo. This method uses liposomes in combination with a viral envelope, and shows hardly any toxicity (Science 243: 375-378(1989); Anal. NY Acad. Sci. 772: 126-139(1995)). It has been successfully used for in vivo gene transfer into tissues including the liver, kidney, vascular wall, heart, and brain (Gene Therapy 7: 417-427(2000); Science 243: 375-378(1989); Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 186: 129-134(1992); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 90: 8474-8478(1993); Am. J. Physiol. 271(Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 40): R1212-R1220(1996)).
Wound healing comprises a succession of events including inflammation, angiogenesis, matrix synthesis, and collagen deposition, leading to re-endothelization, angiogenesis, and formation of granulation tissues (Clark R A F, "Overview and General Consideration of Wound Repair. The Molecular and Cellular Biology of Wound Repair." Plenum Press. New York (1996)3-50; Annu. Rev. Med. 46: 467-481(1995); J. Pathol. 178: 5-10(1996)). These healing processes are regulated by a number of mitogens and chemotactic factors, including growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) However, few studies have focused on the effect of HGF on wound healing (Gastroenterology 113: 1858-1872(1997)).
Although there are several reports on the transfer of genes such as IGF, PDGF, and EGF into wounds (Gene Therapy 6: 1015-1020(1999) Lab. Invest. 80: 151-158(2000); J. Invest. Dermatol. 112: 297-302(1999); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91: 12188-12192(1994)) none of these reports focus on the quantitative and qualitative changes in the number of factors involved in wound healing, or on histopathological effects after HGF gene transfer.
Re-epithilization of a wound occurs by translocation of keratinocytes from the edges of the wound toward its center. In vitro, HGF enhances proliferation, cell growth, and DNA synthesis in keratinocytes cultured under physiological Ca2+ conditions (Exp. Cell Res. 196: 114-120 (1991)). Furthermore, due to enhanced cell turnover, HGF has been found to promote epithelial wound resealing in T84 intestinal monolayers (J. Clin. Invest. 93:2056-2065(1994)). In vivo administration of recombinant HGF has been found to promote regeneration of epithelial cells in rat kidneys damaged by anti-tumor agents (Gene Therapy 7: 417-427(2000)). However, in gastric ulcers produced in rats by cryoinjury, subcutaneous administration of recombinant HGF had no effect on the ulcer-healing rate, despite the increase of human HGF concentration in the serum. Epithelial cell proliferation increased in the borders of the ulcers eight to 15 days after cryoinjury (Gastroenterology 113: 1858-1872(1997)).
Transient upregulation of TGF-β expression is an important event in wound healing. TGF-β stimulates fibroblasts to produce matrix proteins, matrix protease inhibitors and integrin receptors, thereby modulating matrix formation and intercellular interactions at the wound site (Rokerts A B, Aporn M B: "Transforming growth factor-β. The Molecular and Cellular Biology of Wound Repair" Second Edition, by Clark R A F (Plenum Press. New York, 1996, 275-308)). Abnormal regulation and sustained overexpression of TGF-β1 would presumably contribute to an enhancement of tissue fibrosis, because increased expression of TGF-β1 mRNA has been reported in tissues of patients with cutaneous fibrosis (for example, hypertrophic scars and keloids) (Am. J. Pathol. 152: 485-493(1998)). Furthermore, TGF-β neutralizing antibodies not only reduced the cells in the wound granulation tissue of an adult wound, but also improved the architecture of the neodermis (Lancet 339: 213-214(1992)).
Proteinaceous formulations are generally administered intravenously. HGF has been administered in ischemic disease models both intravenously and intra-arterially (Circulation 97: 381-390(1998)). Such intravenous or intra-arterial administrations of HGF to animal models have revealed HGF's effectiveness on ischemic or arterial diseases. However, as yet, no conclusion has been reached with regard to a specific and effective method for administration, effective dose, and such. This is particularly so in the case of the HGF protein, due to the above-mentioned problems with half-life and transfer to the affected area. Thus, to date there has been no conclusion regarding an effective method of administration, effective dose, etc.

Method of treating skin wounds with vectors encoding hepatocyte growth factor


A soundings monitoring system for a vehicle includes a first camera capturing a fist imaging surface, a second camera capturing a second imaging surface, and a monitor for displaying a first image of the first imaging surface and a second image of the second imaging surface. A standard point is specified relative to the vehicle, the first image and the second image are synthesized and displayed on the monitor so that a coordinate position of the standard point in an expanded imaging surface from the first imaging surface and a coordinate position of the standard point in the second imaging surface match each other, and an imaginary line including the standard point and extending over the first image and the second image is displayed on the monitor in such a manner that the imaginary line is superimposed on the synthesized image of the first image and the second image.

At a time of driving a vehicle, it is necessary to confirm surroundings of the vehicle including the right and left directions of the vehicle in addition to a driving direction. It has been known that a blind spot for a drive may exist when the driver perceives vehicle surroundings by a side mirror or a back mirror mounted on a vehicle. Especially for a beginner driver, a driving through the alley with buildings on both sides, a passing by an oncoming car on the small road, and the like may be a great stress. Thus, a camera for capturing an area of the blind spot is mounted on a vehicle and displays that captured image on a monitor, thereby assisting perception of vehicle surroundings.
For example, according to JP2001-39232A, a right camera for capturing a front right side of a vehicle and a left camera for capturing a front left side of a vehicle are mounted on a vehicle. The captured images by the right camera and the left camera are displayed simultaneously on a monitor, beg arranged in parallel on right and left sides, respectively. In such a surroundings monitoring system for a vehicle, both areas of the front right side and the front left side of the vehicle can be perceived only by one monitor screen. However, as is easily understood from FIG. 1 of JP2001-39232A, when an image of a vehicle passing from the left side to the right side is captured by the cameras, the vehicle appears, first, on a left half portion of the monitor screen, as moving from a top left to a bottom right and then, suddenly, on a right half portion of the monitor screen, as moving from a bottom left to a top right. Thus, a movement of the vehicle passing as a surrounding object is unnatural and may cause a difference in direction and depth between the images from the right and left cameras, which may lead to difficulty in perception of surroundings by a driver.
In order to solve the aforementioned problem, according to JP2005-178508A, a camera provided at a vehicle captures vehicle surroundings while moving, and the captured image is sequentially displayed in response to an image captured area on a display device with a curved display screen in a state in which an image capturing direction corresponds to the display screen. In such a surroundings monitoring system, it is easy for a driver or a user to intuitively recognize a direction and a distance. However, expensive components such as a moving mechanism of a camera, an image processing unit for synchronizing the movement of the camera and a display on the curved screen, and the monitor with a curved surface are required, which may be a large issue for a manufacturing cost and a maintenance cost.
According to the surroundings monitoring system using a camera mounted on a vehicle, a driver seated on a vehicle seat perceives a blind spot through captured images by multiple cameras mounted on different locations of a vehicle. In this case, it is important to reduce differences in a direction and a distance among the captured images by these cameras. If a standard point as an important indicator at a time of the vehicle in motion can be captured by each camera, the standard point can be used as a target for synthesizing images, thereby reducing the differences in a direction and a distance among the captured images. However, an arrangement of the cameras that can capture the standard point is very difficult when considering various restrictions of mountings.
Thus, a need exists for a surroundings monitoring system for a vehicle with a simple configuration that can appropriately synthesize images obtained from imaging surfaces of multiple cameras mounted at different locations on a vehicle even if a standard point as an important indicator at a time of a vehicle in motion cannot be captured by all cameras so that a difference in direction and depth among the images captured by the respective cameras can be reduced when monitoring with the synthesized image.

Surroundings monitoring system for a vehicle


The present invention provides a chemically amplified resist composition comprising:                a resin (A) which contains no fluorine atom and a structural unit (a1) having an acid-labile group in a side chain,        a resin (B) which contains a structural unit (b2) having a fluorine-containing group in a side chain and at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of a structural unit (b1) having an acid-labile group, a structural unit (b3) having a hydroxyl group and a structural unit (b4) having a lactone structure in a side chain, and        an acid generator, wherein the content of the structural unit (b1) based on the total units of the resin (B) is less than 10 mol %.

A chemically amplified positive resist composition is used for semiconductor microfabrication.
In semiconductor microfabrication, especially, in liquid immersion lithography process, it is desirable to suppress the formation of defect.
It has been known that one of big problems in liquid immersion lithography process is defect caused by residual fluid droplets on the resist film (e.g. C. V. Peski et al., "Film pulling and meniscus instability as a cause of residual fluid droplets", Presentation at the 2nd International Symposium on Immersion Lithography, September, 2005, and D. Gil et al., "The Role of Evaporation in Defect Formation in Immersion Lithography", Presentation at the 2nd International Symposium on Immersion Lithography, September, 2005). The defect is the specific one in liquid immersion lithography and the defect is formed by conducting post-exposure baking of the resist film on which fluid droplets was remained.
It has been known that number of the defect caused by residual fluid droplets on the resist film is associated with the receding contact angle of the resist film and it is possible to suppress the formation of the defect caused by residual fluid droplets on the resist film by using the resist composition forming the resist film having higher receding contact angle (e.g. K. Nakano et al., "Defectivity data taken with a full-field immersion exposure tool", Presentation at the 2nd International Symposium on Immersion Lithography, September, 2005).
US 2007/0218401 A1 discloses a chemically amplified resist composition comprising: a resin (A) which contains no fluorine atom and a structural unit (a1) having an acid-labile group in a side chain, a resin (B) which contains a structural unit (b2) having a fluorine-containing group in a side chain and at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of a structural unit (b1) having an acid-labile group, a structural unit (b3) having a hydroxyl group and a structural unit (b4) having a lactone structure in a side chain, and an acid generator. US 2007/0218401 A1 also discloses that the content of the structural unit (b1) based on the total units of the resin (B) is 10 to 80 mol %.

Chemically amplified positive resist composition


This invention relates to coating compositions including one or more resins having amino-reactive groups; one or more polyamine curing agents; and one or more aminourethanes. The aminourethanes can be reaction products of (i) oligomeric or polymeric compounds which contain at least one, preferably two or more terminal 2-oxo-1,3-dioxolane groups (cyclic carbonate groups), and (ii) amines containing at least one primary, preferably two or more primary and, if desired, also secondary and tertiary amino groups. The ratios of equivalents of C1):C2) typically is from 1:1 to 1:10, preferably from 1:1.05 to 1:5 and particularly preferably from 1:1.1 to 1:2, and the end product preferably contains one or more free primary amino groups. The composition further may contain, if desired, pigments, fillers, one or more organic solvents, water and conventional additives.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to liquid two-component coating compositions based on amino-reactive resins, polyamine curing agents and aminourethanes. The coating compositions are useful in the coating of a wide variety of articles, especially in industrial coatings, automotive finishing and the coating of automotive components.
2. Description of Related Art
Because of environmental regulations, which are becoming more and more stringent, aqueous systems are gaining increasing importance for use in coating articles. In terms of their properties, they must be measured against conventional, i.e. solvent-containing systems. In this context, water-dilutable epoxy resin systems have gained importance among cold-curing water-based coating systems. These two-component systems have outstanding properties. The following positive properties are to be emphasized: little or no solvent content, not a fire hazard, little or no odor, ease of processing, low degree of sensitivity toward moist substrates, good drying and rapid through-hardening, excellent adhesion to most substrates, very good intercoat adhesion, good protection of metals against corrosion, and easy cleaning of equipment directly after use.
Nonionically dispersed epoxy resin systems, as described in DE-A 3 643 751, together with aqueous amine-based curing agents specified in EP-A 0 000 605, exhibit these outstanding properties and can therefore be used in a versatile manner as coating compositions. The disclosure of these documents and all other documents mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. A disadvantage of these systems, however, is that they do not produce defect-free surfaces in certain applications.
EP-A 0 523 610 describes aqueous two-component systems based on epoxy/amines, which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantage by the addition of water-soluble or water-dilutable polyurethane resins. The system described in this document also brings about a high surface quality. These systems are intended to be used primarily in automotive refinishing. The disadvantage of these coatings, which are in particular fillers and primers, however, is that they have an inadequate sandability after a short drying time. Such systems are in general much too soft and, because of the pronounced thermoplasticity, after a short time the sand paper exerts a severe effect and the surface is damaged.
EP-A 0 234 395 describes aminourethane resins which are obtained by reacting carbonates with compounds having primary amino groups and further basic groups. Because of the incorporation of, for example, partially blocked polyisocyanates, these resins may be self-curing. However, it also is possible to add to the aminourethanes a curing agent which is conventional for coating systems which crosslink by means of external agents, for example, blocked polyisocyanates, p-hydroxy esters of at least difunctional polycarboxylic acids, transesterification curing agents or Michael addition products. The aminourethanes are preferably employed, after at least partial neutralization, as resins for electrodeposition coating. There is only a very general indication that the aminourethane resins can also be employed in, preferably nonaqueous, coating systems containing epoxy resin. More precise details of the composition, use and properties of these coating systems are not given.

Liquid two-component coating compositions


A sheet feed shaft is provided wherein mutually opposed spike-shape projections are formed throughout the whole surface of a metallic rod.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet feed shaft to be used for feeding paper for example in a printing machine or in a printer for an office machine or for the feed of sheet such as a film in an overhead projector or the like, as well as an apparatus and method for manufacturing the sheet feed shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
As to a sheet feed shaft to be used for the feed of paper in for example a printing machine or a printer for an office machine, as well as an apparatus and method for manufacturing the sheet feed shaft, the applicant in the present case has already proposed a sheet feed shaft and an apparatus and method for manufacturing the same in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10(1998)-203675 in which spike-shape projections are formed on the surface of a metallic rod.
More particularly, in the proposed sheet feed shaft manufacturing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6, a V block 512 installed on a base 511 is used as a support base for supporting a metallic rod 51 as a workpiece, and the metallic rod 51 is lifted by a lifter 513 installed on the base 511. A collar 514 is wound round the metallic rod 51 to avoid direct contact of the metallic rod 51 with the lifter 513. A stock removing frame 515 is erected on the base 511 to prevent the metallic rod 51 after processing from being lifted in an engaged state with perforating edges 528 of a punch 524.
A split gear 517 is integrally mounted on a holding bush 516 which supports one end of the metallic rod 51, and is in mesh with a drive gear 519 of a stepping motor 518. The holding bush 516 is fixed to the metallic rod 51 with a screw 520. With power of an air cylinder (not shown) or the like, a tip end of a detent member 512 is engaged with the split gear 517.
A motor cylinder 522 is a multi-point positioning member whose tip end is put in abutment against one end of the metallic rod 51 through a magnet tip 523. A punch unit 524 is moved up and down by a press. A pair of perforating members 525 and 526 are fixed to the punch unit 524 with use of clamping means 527.
As shown in FIG. 7, stripe-shape arranged perforating edges 528 are formed in mutually opposed one surfaces of the pair of perforating members 525 and 526. The perforating members 525 and 526 are secured to the punch unit 524 by inserting the clamping means 527 into holes 529. As shown in FIG. 8, the pair of perforating members 525 and 526 are opposed to each other on the surface of the metallic rod 51 while maintaining a space settled previously corresponding to an outside diameter of the metallic rod 51. Likewise, the perforating edges 528 are opposed to each other on the surface of the metallic rod 51.
In the apparatus of such a structure, the punch unit 524 is moved up and down by a press, whereby the perforating edges 528 prick the surface of the metallic rod 51 in a successive manner to form spike-shape projections in an orderly arranged state and in directions contrary to each other.
In the conventional sheet feed shaft manufacturing apparatus, however, a support base for supporting the metallic rod 51 as a shaft body is needed. Besides, the V block 512 as the support base has a pair of support portions 512A for supporting the metallic rod 51, so that projections cannot be formed on the surface portions of the metallic rod 51 corresponding to the support portions 512A. Thus, portions free of projections remain on the metallic rod 51, that is, it is impossible to form projections throughout the whole surface of the shaft. Such an inconvenience can be avoided by processing the projections-free portions again through the same process as above to form projections. In this case, however, there arises an inconvenience such that the projections already formed are crushed by the support portions 512A. Thus, it is extremely difficult to form projections throughout the whole surface of the metallic rod 51.
Moreover, in the above conventional manufacturing apparatus, perforating edges 528 are provided on only the upper side and only the upper side of perforating edges 528 cut into the surface of the metallic rod 51 in a successive manner, going around the outer periphery of the metallic rod 51 to form a group of projections, thus giving rise to the problem that a long processing time is required.
Further, when the sheet feed shaft machined by the conventional manufacturing apparatus is applied to a printing machine and the size of sheet to be fed is changed, projections are not symmetric with respect to the newly-fed sheet, so that a non-uniform force is exerted on the sheet feed, giving rise to such an inconvenience as the sheet being fed in a distorted state.
More particularly, according to a certain change-over method for changing the sheet size from one to another, it is not determined unambiguously to which position of the shaft the sheet corresponds, so there occurs a case where projections are not symmetric right and left with respect to the sheet, thus resulting in that the sheet feeding force becomes non-uniform and the sheet being fed is distorted.

Abstract: A rotational angle of a metallic rod (1) is controlled to form a plurality of spike-shape portions whose bristled directions are opposite to each other while supporting the metallic rod at both ends thereof and a pair of punch units (24) each having a pair of perforating edges (28) arranged orderly in an axial direction of the metallic rod (1) are reciprocated with respect to a circumferential surface of the metallic rod (1) simultaneously from both sides of the metallic rod to perforate the circumferential surface of the metallic rod, the metallic rod being allowed to rotate step by step in a successive manner during the perforating work.

Kabushiki Kaisha Tsukada Nezi Seisakusho


An eye-refreshing agent, the raw materials of which include mung bean germs, eucalyptus leaves, mint leaves, clove leaves, camphor leaves and borneol. The plant cells thereof are respectively subjected to crushing, low-temperature freezing and centrifugation and sound membrane separation to prepare a water-soluble preparation. The preparation can prevent and alleviate visual fatigue and accelerate metabolism of the eye skin cells, and also has the effect of alleviating and improving eye bags and eye pseudo-wrinkles caused by eye fatigue.

Over the past decade, with the fast-paced development of social life and the widespread use of networks, the time that people use eyes has increased a lot, especially persons who surf the Internet, IT industry practitioners, drivers of coach buses and long-distance trucks as well as current students and the like. Because the time that they attentively use eyes has prolonged, visual fatigue has become a major factor affecting eye health. Currently, the number of netizen in the world has increased progressively in many folds every year. The number of netizen only in China has already been more than 300 million. A netizen surfs the Internet for about eight hours on average everyday. In addition to the netizen, now administrative staffs in China have already entered an era of working with a computer called automation office. The daily period of time of working online is more than four hours on average. Eye fatigue frequently affects work efficiency and leads to an eye disease. Moreover, the time that a driver of long-distance transport drives continuously more than four hours on average, and sometimes even more than 6 hours, thus serious accidents caused by eye visual fatigue occur frequently. For elderly, the phenomena such as physiological dry, astringent, ghosting, and blurred vision and so on of eyes caused by a prolonged use of eyes and other functional organic causes, and the phenomena such as physiological dry, astringent and the like appearing in the aging eye also severely affect their body health and life quality.
The visual fatigue of eyes mainly results from the eye fatigue and the eye skin cell fatigue, direct results of both of which cause the visual fatigue of eyes. The visual fatigue of the eyes most directly takes the form of dry eyes, swelling, ghosting, blurred vision and dark circles. In severe case, the phenomena such as increased eye bags, decreased vision, increased eye wrinkles and so on would occur. In the past, these problems were mainly solved by using eye drops to increase moisture of eyes, which however cannot address fundamentally the problem of eye skin cell fatigue and the phenomena such as physiological dryness and astringent of eyes that many elderly suffer from for long-term at the same time.
Currently, drugs for treating dry eyes are mainly eye drops and moisturizing-eye liquid and the like at home and abroad. The eye drops are mainly an antibiotics drug. Although having anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, the eye drops cannot play a role in alleviating visual fatigue of eyes. However, a product like the moisturizing-eye liquid is mainly a drug such as humectant, which has a moisturizing effect on eyes, but cannot alleviate visual fatigue.
Although ophthalmic drugs currently available on the market have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and moisturizing effects, there is no such a drug that can take into account the problems of alleviating the visual fatigue and eye cloudy caused by the prolonged use of eyes.

Eye-refreshing agent to eliminate and alleviate eye fatigue and discomfort