An information processor having a normal-operation mode in which coherence control is performed for making data in a cache memory of a processor identical to data in a main memory and a power-saving mode in which the coherence control is suppressed to lower the power consumption from power consumption in the normal-operation mode and entering the normal-operation mode when an input/output device accesses the main memory in the power-saving mode includes an attribute setting module for setting a device area of the main memory, accessed by the input/output device of the information processor to a non-cacheable attribute for exempting said device area from said coherence control even in the normal-operation mode; an operation mode setting module for allowing the input/output device to access the device area while keeping the operation mode of the information processor in the power-saving mode when the input/output device requests access to the device area in the power-saving mode.

The present invention relates to an information processor, program, storage medium, and control circuit and, in particular, to an information processor, program, storage medium, and control circuit that provides a power saving function.
In recent years, power saving technology for increasing battery-powered operating time of portable information processing terminals has been receiving attention. For instance, a technology that changes power consumption according to the amount of computation has been used. This is shown, for example, in the "Advanced Configuration and Power Interface Specification Revision 2.0a" (Mar. 31, 2002; Compaq Computer Corporation and four other companies).
A conventional information processing terminal including ACPI capabilities has a normal-operation mode in which coherence control is performed for making data in a processor cache memory identical to data in a main memory and a power-saving mode in which the coherence control is suppressed to lower power consumption from power consumption in normal-operation mode. However, when an input/output device accesses the main memory to perform bus master transfer, the information processing terminal cannot be placed in the power-saving mode because coherence between the cache memory and the main memory would be lost. To solve this problem, an information processor has been proposed that always operates in normal-operation mode. However, such an information processor has the problem of consuming a large amount of power. Another approach has been proposed that flashes a cache memory immediately before the information processor enters power-saving mode. However, this approach has the problem that the cache memory flashing takes long time (for example, a processor requires 80 to 400 microseconds).
It is, therefore, a purpose of the present invention to provide an information processor, program, storage medium, and control circuit that can solve these problems. The purpose is achieved by the combination of features set forth in the independent claims herein. The dependent claims define preferable, specific embodiments of the present invention.

Information processor with suppressed cache coherence in low power mode


Aspects of color of a halftoned image are controlled or adjusted. A method for adjustment can include determining a color description of a color of an area or window associated with a target halftoned pixel, determining a desired adjustment to the color associated with the target pixel, determining a color change value based on the desired adjustment and the color description associated with the target pixel, combining the color change value with at least one value of the target halftoned pixel, thereby generating at least one combined target pixel value and quantizing the at least one combined target pixel value. For instance error diffusion and/or rank-ordered error diffusion is used to perform the quantization. Color adjustments can be based on user preference and/or calibration compensations between original and target devices.

Presently disclosed embodiments are related to image color management, adjustment and/or control. Disclosed embodiments are directed to the color management of color halftoned or binary images. Embodiments are beneficially applied wherever image or pixel data is quantized to such an extent as to render traditional contone value-based corrections, compensations, calibrations and adjustments impractical or ineffective.
There are many applications where it is desirable to be able to adjust one or more aspects of the color of an image or image portion. For instance, a user or document processor operator may determine that it is desirable to adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, hue or color balance of an image. Where respective portions of a document are to be rendered on a plurality of print engines, it may be desirable to adjust one or more aspects of color of one or more of the respective document portions in order to maintain or control color consistency across the rendering space of multiple print engines. Also, uniformity variations can occur across the rendering space of a single print engine. In such instances, it may be desirable to adjust one or more aspects of color of an image or portions of an image in a spatially dependent manner across such a single print engine rendering space. Additionally, or alternatively, an image or image portion may be prepared for rendering on a first device having a first color response. Nevertheless, there may be a desire to render the image or image portion on the second device having a second color response. Alternatively, the characteristics of a rendering device may change overtime or due to environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. Therefore, the rendering device may have a second color response. In such circumstances, it is often desirable to adjust image data that was prepared for rendering with or on a first or original rendering device for rendering on a second or changed target device.
Image data is sometimes available in the form of continuous tone or contone data. For instance, in contone image data, colors are described in terms of two or more planes or separations. For example, the planes or separations may describe colorant densities or colorant amounts in a continuous range of from, for example, integer values from 0 to 255. The planes or separations may describe sensor readings of a scanned image in, for example, a red, green, blue (RGB) color space where numbers in a similar range describe an intensity of reflected light of each respective color. Alternatively, the planes or separations may describe a color in terms of a machine independent color space such as in terms of the industry standard L*a*b* color space or in terms of the tristimulus values of the CIE XYZ color space, or in terms of a printer color space, such as, for example, a cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK) color space.
Where image data is available in contone format, tone reproduction curves (TRCs) can be used to adjust pixel values to compensate for the characteristics or color response of a particular rendering device or marking engine. Additionally, or alternatively, values associated with particular planes or separations can be adjusted in accord with a user's color adjustment preference to control, for example, brightness, contrast, hue, saturation and other color parameters.
However, image descriptions are not always available in terms of contone values. Sometimes, image descriptions are only available in what is referred to as a binary or quantized format. Binary image description formats are useful because many rendering devices, such as, for example, marking engines, are limited to placing a mark or not placing a mark at any given pixel location. Binary image formats describe an image in terms of placing a mark or not placing a mark. Even where pixels are referred to as—high addressable—and are described with reference to more than two states or quantization levels, ultimately, high addressable quantization values describe binary states of a cluster of spots wherein each member of the cluster is either marked or unmarked.
These quantized or binary image descriptions are often generated by applying a halftoning or quantization process to an image described in terms of contone values, page description language and the like. Therefore, we refer to such binary or quantized image descriptions as halftoned.
A received halftoned image or image description may be the direct or indirect result of a halftoning process. For example, a rendered or printed halftoned image may be scanned. Even though the scanning process generates contone values, the scanned image data is binary or quantized in nature because the scanned image data will contain very few different quantization levels. For example, the quantization levels of the scanned image data will be near the extremes of the available contone range. For instance, the scanned image data of a halftoned or a rasterized image will contain only values near 0 and 255 (in an 8-bit system) with some intermediate values generated due to sensor/spot alignment issues and the like. All images having these binary or nearly binary characteristics are referred to herein as halftone images.
The limited gray-scale resolution with which pixels in a halftoned image describe desired lightness levels or shades of gray (or color) limits the usefulness of compensating TRCs for generating compensated values. For example, where a compensating TRC may be used to determine that a compensated value for a shade of gray represented by the number 100 might be a value of 103, a similar tone reproduction curve could not be used to determine a corrected value where an input value must select an output value from an available range of values of only 0 and 1, on and off, or full scale dark and full scale light. Therefore, it has not been possible or practical to use compensating TRCs and the like to compensate or adjust the color of halftoned images.
Nevertheless, there has been a desire to adjust or compensate images based on user preference and/or rendering device changes, in systems where image data is only available in a halftoned form.


There is provided methods, apparatus, and computer program products for implementing a KINSTLER maneuver for an exit vehicle that is departing from a rotating space vehicle such that the exit vehicle does not contact the space vehicle during departure. A composite spin axis of the space vehicle is determined, which defines a plurality of spin axis planes that contain the exit vehicle along the exit flight path. The spin rate of the rotating space vehicle is determined about the composite spin axis, and the exit vehicle is launched from the space vehicle, providing the exit vehicle with a departure velocity having a VS component. Lateral thrust is applied to provide a lateral acceleration, which provides a turn rate of the exit vehicle's VS component in the spin axis plane about the composite spin axis that is proportionate to the spin rate of the rotating space vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to space station exit vehicles, and more particularly, to maneuvering an exit vehicle that is departing from a rotating space vehicle so that the exit vehicle is prevented from contacting the rotating space vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Dimensionally extended space vehicles, such as space stations, occupied by humans are becoming increasingly common during the present age of space exploration. Space stations, such as the International Space Station (ISS), provide living areas and work areas, such as laboratories, for use by the people temporarily residing in the space station. Such crews of individuals often stay on the space station for months at a time as they perform experimental tests, collect astronomical data, and coordinate other activities. These space stations often include exit vehicles, or crew return vehicles, that may be used by the crew during emergencies to depart the space station to rendezvous with another space craft or to return safely to earth.
Space stations such as the ISS typically have a stationary, or static, orientation during normal operation of the space station. Under such conditions, an exit vehicle may safely depart from the space station without being contacted by the space station. However, an emergency situation may arise wherein the space station is rotating about one or more axes. Emergencies that may cause the space station to spin may include an impact by one or more foreign objects, venting of pressurized gases due to pressure vessel rupture or puncture, or failure of control mechanisms of the space station. This rotating of the space station complicates the departure of the exit vehicle because the rotating space station could possibly contact the exit vehicle during departure. Such contact could damage the exit vehicle and/or the space station and threaten the lives of the crew in the exit vehicle. Therefore, a need exists for a safe and reliable method of maneuvering the exit vehicle from a rotating space station so that the exit vehicle does not contact the space station.
In addition, exit vehicles contain only a limited amount of propellant such as rocket fuel, which is primarily reserved for movement of the exit vehicle subsequent to departure from the space station. Such movement of the space station may include a rendezvous with another spacecraft or reentry of the exit vehicle into the earth's atmosphere. Devices such as the orbital maneuvering system (OMS) thrusters or the reaction control system (RCS) thrusters require propellant to move and orient the exit vehicle. The OMS thrusters provide relatively large amounts of thrust for large movements of the exit vehicle, while the RCS thrusters provide smaller thrust for finer movement of the exit vehicle. Both sets of thrusters enable precise maneuvering of the exit vehicle and are supplied by the limited amount of propellant. Therefore, the method of maneuvering the exit vehicle safely away from the rotating space station would preferably use a small amount of propellant during departure so that propellant is preserved for reentry or other maneuvering of the exit vehicle subsequent to departure from the space station. Similar needs exist for alternative space vehicles that comprise exit vehicles for the crew.
Therefore, a need exists for a method of maneuvering an exit vehicle from a rotating space vehicle so that the exit vehicle does not contact the space vehicle. Such a maneuver would advantageously preserve propellant for subsequent maneuvering of the exit vehicle.

Method, apparatus, and computer program product for safe exit maneuver from dimensionally extended rotating space vehicle


An electrode of an E-paper panel having a lattice structure, wherein an electric field concentrated on edge regions of the electrode is dispersed, and thus while driving a cell, charged particles are uniformly distributed over an entire region of the cell, thereby improving display performance. For this purpose, the E-paper panel includes a driving electrode integrally driven by a driving signal for driving a cell, a portion of the driving electrode corresponding to the cell region being partially removed according to a particular pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic paper (E-paper) panel, and particularly, to an E-paper panel capable of improving a cell displaying performance.
2. Background of the Related Art
Necessity of various display devices has led to a development of an electronic paper (referred to as 'E-paper') technology capable of providing clear images for a longer time using a smaller amount of driving power.
The E-paper technology is directed to displaying colors by electrostatically moving charged particles floating within a particular space using a rapid movement of micro particles by an electric field. Here, after the movement in any pole, the positions of the particles may not be changed even if a voltage is removed due to a memory effect. Accordingly, images may not be disappeared to thus obtain an effect that the images are likely printed on a paper with an ink. That is, the E-paper panel does not self-emit light but a visual fatigue thereby is extremely low to allow a user to comfortably view the images as if he reads a book. Also, the E-paper panel has a superior flexibility to thus be bent well and is formed to be very thin. Also, as aforementioned, once images are displayed, the images keep being displayed for a long time until the panel is reset. Accordingly, a power consumption thereof may be remarkably low to thus be popularly used as a portable display panel. In particular, a low fabricating cost according to simple processes and low-priced materials may allow a popularity of the E-paper panel.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a related art collisional charging type E-paper panel using dry particles. The related art collisional charging type E-paper panel has a simple structure in which walls 40 are positioned between lower and upper substrates 10 and 60 having transparent electrodes (i.e., Indium Tin Oxides (ITOs)) 20 and 70 thereon, respectively, which are coated with insulating layers 30 and 80, respectively, and plus-charged toner particles and minus-charged toner particles are positioned within spaces sectionalized (secured) by the walls 40.
The lower substrate 10 and the upper substrate 60 are not limited in their thickness. However, it should be considered that the thickness (i.e., several tens through several hundreds μm) of the actual wall 40 and sizes of the toner particles 50 are remarkably minute because the toner particles 50 should be moved by an electrostatic force. As compared to the thickness of each of the lower and upper substrates 10 and 60, the thickness of each electrode 20 and 70 is far thinner than that shown in the drawing. Also, it should also be considered that the thickness of each insulating layer 30 and 80 respectively coated on the electrodes 20 and 70 is also very thin.
An operational principle of the E-paper panel having such structure will now be explained. First, it is assumed that black toner particles are minus-charged and white toner particles are plus-charged (they may be charged vice versa). Upon applying a minus (−) voltage to the upper electrode 70 and a plus (+) voltage to the lower electrode 20, the plus-charged white toner particles move toward the upper substrate 60 by a coulomb force, while the minus-charged black toner particles move toward the lower substrate 10 thereby. The white toner particles 50 are positioned at a portion where the upper substrate 60 is positioned, and thus cells may be displayed as a white color when viewed from the exterior. On the other hand, upon applying the plus (+) voltage to the upper electrode 70 and the minus (−) voltage to the lower electrode 20, the minus-charged black toner particles move toward the upper substrate 60, while the plus-charged white toner particles move toward the lower substrate 10. Accordingly, cells may be displayed as the black color. Hence, after first applying a voltage to allow all the cells to be displayed as the white color, an opposite voltage to the voltage is applied to thus allow only desired cells to be displayed as the white color, thereby enabling a representation of pictures or characters.
FIGS. 2A through 2F are sectional views illustrating sequential steps of a fabricating process of the related art dry-type E-paper panel shown in FIG. 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the transparent lower electrode 20 and the insulating layer 30 are sequentially formed on the lower substrate 10. The E-paper panel uses a matrix structure as its basic electrode structure, and thus the lower electrode 20 may have the shape shown in a perspective view illustrated at the right side of the drawing. Such transparent electrodes are preferably formed of the ITO. The insulating layer 30 applied on the lower electrode 20 does not affect the cell driving although it is not disposed. However, the charged toner particles contact with the electrode 20 which causes a reduction of a memory effect when an electron mobility is generated. As a result, it may be difficult to maintain images for a long time. Therefore, the insulating layer 30 may preferably be applied accordingly.
As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the walls 40 are formed on the lower substrate 10. The wall 40 is simply used to divide a cell unit, and thus various materials such as polymer, inorganic materials, or the like can be used to form the wall 40. In general, the wall 40 can be constructed using such methods, namely, a photolithography method using a photoresist, a method using a photosensitive polymer, a laminating method using a previously-made material by cutting it, and the like. The cut material may be applied onto the previously-formed lower plate (including the lower substrate 10, the lower electrode 20 and the lower insulating layer 30) using ultraviolet (UV) adhesive and UV irradiation. A typical wall 40 may have a lattice structure as shown in the right perspective view in the drawing.
As illustrated in FIG. 2C, a corona discharge is used to inject the minus-charged toner particles 50 into the spaces divided by the walls 40 through a nozzle. At this time, a means for applying a positive voltage to the lower electrode 20 or applying a positive electric field to a lower portion of the lower substrate 10 may further be provided to thus allow the injected toner particles 50 to be easily moved into the spaces sectionalized by the walls 40. The toner particles 50 internally include additives for adjusting charging characteristics. When the toner particles 50 collide with one another, the charging characteristics are generated. Accordingly, although the toner particles 50 are minus-charged for the injection thereof, when a current is applied to the electrodes after completing the panel formation, the toner particles can find their own charging characteristics.
As illustrated in FIG. 2D, the toner particles 50a positioned at an upper portion of the wall 40 can be swept out using various methods. Most typically, the toner particles 50a on the upper portion of the wall 40 can be swept out by adhering them using a roller on which an adhesive is applied. Also, a separate mask is disposed on the wall 40 to inject the toner particles 50a into the spaces sectionalized by the walls 40, and thereafter the corresponding mask can be removed therefrom.
As illustrated in FIG. 2E, the transparent upper electrode 70 and the upper insulating layer 80 are sequentially formed on the upper substrate 60 using the same process as that for forming the lower plate in order to use them as an upper plate (i.e., including the upper substrate 60, the upper electrode 70 and the upper insulating layer 80). Here, the upper electrode 70 can have the same structure as shown in FIG. 2A, but it should be arranged to be orthogonal to the lower electrode 20.
As illustrated in FIG. 2F, the formed upper plate (i.e., the upper substrate 60, the upper electrode 70 and the upper insulating layer 80) is disposed on the walls 40 formed on the lower plate (i.e., the lower substrate, the lower electrode 20 and the lower insulating layer 30) to be then attached thereon. Thereafter, if necessary, the toner particles 50 are collided with one another by repeatedly applying an opposite voltage to each electrode, alternately. Accordingly, each toner particle 50 may be minus-charged or plus-charged.
The dry type E-paper panel has superior response time and processing facilitation as compared to a liquid type panel, but has inferior cell displaying performance and contrast characteristics.
FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view illustrating upper and lower electrodes and walls forming a display cell of the related art E-paper panel. According to this drawing, the structure of the electrodes forming one cell can be checked in three dimensions.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, it can be noted that each of the upper and lower electrodes 70 and 20 respectively positioned at the upper and lower portions of a cell sectionalized by the wall 40 can be formed of one conductor plate per one line. An individual electrode managing each line (i.e., a scan line or data line operated by a single signal) is formed of a single conductor plate which is thin and flat. Accordingly, an electric field generated by applying a high voltage is concentrated on edge portions of the conductor plate and weakened at the center portion thereof. Hence, while driving the cell, the toner particles within the cell is not positioned at the center portion of the electrode but rather positioned at the edge portions thereof, thereby degrading the contrast characteristics of the panel.
FIG. 4 illustrates an operational state of a cell using the electrode having the structure shown in FIG. 3. As illustrated therein, as the panel is driven, the toner particles of the corresponding cell vertically moves. Accordingly, the toner particles are moved toward both the edge portions of the electrode on which the electric field is concentrated more strongly. The toner particles are not then positioned at the center portion of the electrode along a formation path of the electrode as illustrated in the drawing, but rather aggregated densely onto certain zones of the edge portions. That is, the center portion of the cell which should be visually displayed as the toner color can not be represented with colors. As a result, the contrast characteristics are deteriorated and thereby quality of displayed images are drastically degraded.


An image analysis embodiment comprises subsampling a digital image by a subsample factor related to a first anomaly size scale, thereby generating a subsampled image, smoothing the subsampled image to generate a smoothed image, determining a minimum negative second derivative for each pixel in the smoothed image, determining each pixel having a convex down curvature based on a negative minimum negative second derivative value for the respective pixel, joining each eight-neighbor connected pixels having convex down curvature to identify each initial anomaly area, selecting the initial anomaly areas having strongest convex down curvatures based on a respective maximum negative second derivative for each of the initial anomaly areas, extracting one or more classification features for each selected anomaly area, and classifying the selected anomaly areas based on the extracted one or more classification features.

Radiologists use radiographic images such as mammograms to detect and pinpoint suspicious lesions in a patient as early as possible, e.g., before a disease is readily detectable by other, intrusive methods. As such, there is real benefit to the radiologist being able to locate, based on imagery, extremely faint lesions and precursors. Large masses of relatively dense tissue are one signature of concern. Although some masses can appear quite prominent in a radiographic image, various factors including occlusion/partial occlusion by other natural structure, appearance in a structurally "busy" portion of the image, sometimes coupled with radiologist fatigue, may make some masses hard to detect upon visual inspection.
Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) algorithms have been developed to assist radiologists in locating potential lesions in a radiographic image. CAD algorithms operate within a computer on a digital representation of the mammogram set for a patient. The digital representation can be the original or processed sensor data, when the mammograms are captured by a digital sensor, or a scanned version of a traditional film-based mammogram set. An "image," as used herein, is assumed to be at least two-dimensional data in a suitable digital representation for presentation to CAD algorithms, without distinction to the capture mechanism originally used to capture patient information. The CAD algorithms search the image for objects matching a signature of interest, and alert the radiologist when a signature of interest is found.
Classification of anomalies may be performed using a probability density function (PDF) that describes the relative likelihood of observing any given sample value of a random variable. The integral of a PDF over all possible values is 1; the integral of a PDF over a subset of the random variable's range expresses the probability that a drawn sample of a random variable will fall within that range.
PDFs that can be expressed by a closed-form equation are generally well understood, and many applications for such PDFs have been developed. On the other hand, the practical estimation of a PDF for a complex multidimensional random variable, particularly one with an unknown and possibly irregular distribution in each dimension, and/or long, sparsely populated tails, has in large part eluded researchers. In the area of pattern and image recognition, for instance, many researchers have abandoned PDF approaches and concentrated on known solvable alternatives, such as Neural Networks and linear discriminant functions, due to the practical difficulties in applying a PDF approach.

Malignant mass detection and classification in radiographic images


An electronic apparatus and a method of controlling the electronic apparatus are provided. The method includes: receiving a voice command; and if the voice command is a first voice start command, changing a mode of the electronic apparatus to a first voice task mode in which the electronic apparatus is controlled according to further voice input, and if the voice command is a second voice start command, changing the mode of the electronic apparatus to a second voice task mode in which the electronic apparatus is controlled according to the further voice input received via an external apparatus which operates with the electronic apparatus. Therefore, providing efficiency and flexibility in controlling the electronic apparatus by using a microphone of the electronic apparatus or a microphone of the external apparatus.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments generally relate to an electronic apparatus and a method of controlling the electronic apparatus, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus which is controlled according to a user voice input through a voice input unit, and a method of controlling the electronic apparatus using a voice input.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent technological developments increased supply of various types of electronic apparatuses. In particular, various types of electronic apparatuses including a TV have been used in consumer homes. The functions of these electronic apparatuses have gradually expanded according to requests of users. For example, a TV can connect to the Internet to support an Internet service. Also, a user views a larger number of digital broadcast channels through the TV.
Therefore, various input methods for efficiently using various functions of an electronic apparatus are required. For example, an input method using a remote controller, an input method using a mouse, an input method using a touch pad, etc. are applied to the electronic apparatus.
However, it is difficult to efficiently use the various functions of the electronic apparatus by using only this simple method. For example, if all functions of the electronic apparatus are realized to be controlled through only a remote controller, increasing the number of buttons of the remote controller is inevitable. In this case, it is not easy for an average user to learn how to use the remote controller and a chance of pressing a wrong button increases. Also, according to a method of displaying various menus on a screen to assist a user to search for and select a corresponding menu, the user is to check a complicated menu tree in order to select a desired menu which may be difficult and confusing to a user.
Therefore, a technology using voice recognition has been developed to further conveniently and intuitively control an electronic apparatus. Examples of a method of controlling an electronic apparatus by using voice recognition include a method of controlling an electronic apparatus by using a microphone of the electronic apparatus and a method of controlling an electronic apparatus by using a microphone of an external apparatus (e.g., a remote controller) which operates with the electronic apparatus.
However, if an electronic apparatus simultaneously uses two voice input methods, a user may not know which microphone to use to control the electronic apparatus. Also, since functions of the electronic apparatus controlled by using the two voice input methods are different from each other, different user interfaces (UIs) are to be provided to the user.
In addition, a voice of the user is not always correctly recognized due to the limitations in a voice recognition technology. Moreover, an error may occur in voice recognition due to the surroundings or an unskilled operation. Accordingly, a method of showing a user such a voice recognition error is required.

Electronic apparatus and method of controlling electronic apparatus


A buoyancy vehicle apparatus includes a water or liquid source, such as a water tank, and a buoyant mass in communication with an electrical generator. The buoyant mass is lifted from a lower level to a higher level to store energy. The mass is stored at the predetermined height and released to travel downward when the electricity is needed. After the mass is released and pulled down by gravity, it will drive the generator to produce electricity. The system can store this energy with no loss in power over a long period of time.

The market for electricity is continually looking for ways to bring electrical supply and demand together to make their operations more efficient. For example, Utility companies try to maximize and align peak and off-peak supply and demand of energy with the production of energy from power plants. These discrepancies in supply and demand have led to the need for efficient energy storage systems that can level out the differences.
In addition, scientists continually attempt to produce renewable energy sources that are efficient, such as solar energy and wind energy. These sources can produce electricity at sporadically, but often lack the consistent output desired over a period of time. For example, solar energy devices can generate electricity during daylight hours when such light is available, but they have trouble meeting energy demand overnight or during periods when sunlight is not available to the solar cells. Moreover, wind energy produces power only if the wind is blowing, which can make it difficult to control when enough power will be provided to a grid. A reliable energy storage system is desired to stabilize these two renewable energy sources by leveling the energy required for the grid and moving excess energy to a storage facility.

Buoyancy vehicle apparatus to create electrical power


A computerized learning approach that enables a user to improve their performance on multiple-choice exams is disclosed. Although the learning approach includes various aspects and implementations, in general, the invention forces test-takers to practice their examination skills and subject matter knowledge in a systematic way. The systematic way forces the users to follow a proven problem-solving approach designed to improve their performance. The invention provides important performance feedback to user's, for example, elapsed time per question and percentage of correctly answered questions. The invention can also pinpoint for the user the substantive areas of the exam which the user is either weak or strong. Further, the invention is able to assist the user in predicting his/her eventual score.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computerized learning approach, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for improving performance on multiple-choice exams.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multiple-choice examinations are very common today. These examinations typically test a set of predetermined subject areas and are usually time limited. One's performance on these exams is very important.
The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is a particular multiple-choice exam for which this invention was developed. The MBE is a rigorous multiple-choice examination which tests six substantive areas of law in a time limited manner. The MBE forms a significant portion of the bar examination for most of the states in the United States. The ability of the test-takers to achieve a passing score on this portion of the bar examination is critical. It is the difference between being able to practice law in a particular state, and not. Consequently, those who desire to pass the bar examination spend a great deal of time studying for the MBE.
Known study approaches make use of written materials and rely on a user's discipline and drive to keep them working. Several bar review courses provide potential examinees with workbooks which provide several hundred practice questions that the user can work through as he/she sees fit. At the back of these workbooks are contained answers and explanations for the questions.
A major problem with these known and traditional approaches is that they do not, and cannot, force the user to study in a consistent, systematic and effective way. As a result, users typically study in a haphazard way which varies with their mood, desire and drive. The danger with these conventional approaches is that user's tend not to develop a consistent problem-solving approach, but instead develop and utilize inefficient and undesirable study habits. Another serious problem is that users also tend not to fully understand a question, and why one answer choice is correct, while the other answer choices are incorrect.
Thus, there is a need for a system which offers greater efficiency and effectiveness by requiring the user to study in a consistent and systematic way.

Method and apparatus for improving performance on multiple-choice exams


A method and apparatus for converting a color representation of an image to a grayscale representation are disclosed. For a color image, a location of each color within a device-independent color space is initially determined. Then, a color difference of each color is determined by applying an appropriate perceptual-based color difference model according to its determined location within the device-independent color space. Next, the determined color difference of each color is normalized under a predetermined range. The normalized color differences are mapped to an output range of an output device.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to color mapping techniques in general, and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for converting a color representation of an image to a grayscale representation.
2. Description of Related Art
Quite often, color graphical objects, such as pie charts and bar charts, need to be converted to monochrome prints. The term "monochrome" refers to a single color of predominantly the same hue, and the most common example is grayscale. Color to grayscale conversion is an important conversion for both monochrome and color printers.
Typically, color can be described by lightness, chroma and hue. The most common method of performing color to grayscale conversion is to use a device independent color space, such as CIElab color space, as the intermediate color space to discard the chroma and hue information, and only the lightness information are converted to grayscale. Such conversion is essentially a lightness mapping. However, the well-known Kelmholtz-Kohlrausch effect indicates that at the same lightness level, the perceived lightness increases with increasing saturation. Thus, one drawback of the lightness mapping approach is that the perceived color differences in the original colors are not faithfully represented in the output. In other words, colors with large hue differences but small lightness differences will be indistinguishable in the output even though they were quite distinguishable in the input. As a result, a pie chart having red, green, yellow, etc. could show up a gray circle after the color to grayscale conversion.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide an improved method and apparatus for converting a color representation of an image to a grayscale representation while retaining the discriminability of the original colors.

Method and apparatus for converting a color representation of an image to a grayscale representation


A digital face bow system for capturing a patient's dento-facial characteristics by acquiring and registering data defining the tilt or slant of the occlusal or incisal plane of a patient's teeth in three planes of space in relation to the cranium, head and/or face. The system includes a substrate adapted to support bite registration material, and a digital multiple axis inclinometer coupled to the substrate for registering the orientation of the occlusal or incisal plane, where the midline of the patient's horizontal-facial plane is registered. An adjustable mounting platform is adapted to receive the substrate and replicate the inclination registered by the digital multiple axis inclinometer.

Diagnostic information gathered early on from a patient is vitally important to the ultimate outcome of orthodontic and orthognathic procedures, treating conditions such as mal-alignment and jaw disorders, and in making dental prostheses and restorations. Indirect restorations, such as crowns, are typically fabricated outside of the patient's mouth. Usually an initial process step, such as making an impression of the patient's maxillary arch is necessary to make a maxillary model. If the maxillary model is not properly oriented to the patient's face at the time the diagnostic information is gathered, then a technician cannot design the teeth with the patient's face/smile in mind. If the existing maxillary teeth alone are used and the maxilla is canted or the teeth offset (i.e. with respect to the face/cranium) the quality of any resulting restoration may be adversely compromised.
Presently available face bow devices are used to analyze a patient's occlusion with reference to their cranium, head and/or face from both an esthetic and functional point of view. The objective is to allow dentists to replicate the orientation of the patient's teeth with reference to their cranium, head and/or face in three planes on an articulator.
There are many face bow systems available, but they have many drawbacks as they are complex, time consuming, and uncomfortable for the patient. Further, they are costly to use and frustrating for most dental clinicians to work with. One such system, called the dento-facial analyzer, simplified the face bow process significantly. However, it features a bite fork with gripping wings that are difficult to manipulate in three dimensions. Such manipulation is often done while dental impression or bite registration material is setting while being held in the patient's mouth, adding further difficulty and discomfort to the process.
As a result, dentists often avoid using face bows because they are awkward to use by the dentist, unpleasant for the patient and prone to error. At the same time it is often essential in order to properly predict functional and esthetic outcomes. Past devices have been designed to use certain facial landmarks to determine bite plane orientation, (i.e. pupillary eye line (horizontal reference plane), tip of the nose (sagittal mid-plane), Frankfort-horizontal, etc.) Unfortunately, both such hard and soft tissue landmarks are inherently asymmetrical and do not reflect the true relationship of the facial features to the jaw. Moreover, if only those landmarks are utilized in determining the orientation of the desired occlusal or incisal plane, numerous esthetic and functional problems, including an undesirable occlusal or incisal plane, a slanted maxillary mid-line and gingival line may result. While landmarks are important, they should be treated as guidelines. It is believed that all those analog devices can confuse the ability to assess the symmetry of the face.
In an advance over known face bow systems, the present invention minimizes the amount of extra-oral mechanical-analog equipment, allowing the clinician and the patient to orient the patient's head into a desirably natural and, consequently, level position, with reference to both vertical and horizontal planes, at which point the digital orientation of the maxillary incisal and occlusal planes can be captured with a push of a button. In other cases it is not even necessary to move the patient's head. Further, the present invention will integrate quite easily into existing impression procedures which are used ubiquitously. In addition to every study model receiving a name and accompanying data, the dental professional will also receive a set of digital coordinates for use should the dentist need to relate the orientation of dentition to the face or cranium on an articulator. This information can accompany the models to a dental lab. There is no need for unwieldy analog face bows to accompany models. Further, the presently disclosed method does not require manipulation of external analog devices while impression material is setting. Virtually all analog manipulation is achieved indirectly (i.e. patient need not be present) with a mounting platform that can quickly replicate the maxillary incisal and occlusal planes in 3 dimensions and permit study casts to be transferred to any articulator the dentist or dental lab technician may be using. Alternatively, the digital information can be used with other digital systems and processes such as CAD CAM, digital impression techniques and 3D printing.


There is disclosed a hand-held portable labeler that enables the label web supply to be quickly threaded into the labeler. The path of the carrier web for the labels from the nip of the print head and platen roll, about the delaminator, into the nip between the platen roll and a pressure roll, and out of the labeler is short and the pressure roll is widely separable from the platen roll to facilitate threading.

1. Field
The embodiments of the invention relate to the field of hand-held portable labelers.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The following documents are made of record: U.S. Des. Pat. No. D486,512; U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,228; U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,669; U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,800; U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,259; U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,121; U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,249; U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,666; U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,407; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/333,845 filed Jan. 18, 2006.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An approach is provided for conducting transactions via an audio token base payment system. An audio payment manager receives a request, at a device, for payment to a merchant, the request including a password. In response, the audio payment manager retrieves a personal identification number from a user of the device, an identifier associated with the user, a session code, or a combination thereof. The audio payment manager then generates an audio token at the device based, at least in part, on the password, the personal identification number, the identifier associated with the user, the session code, or the combination thereof, and causes, at least in part, conveyance of the audio token to the merchant to initiate the payment.

Service providers (e.g., wireless and cellular services) and device manufacturers are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling network services and advancing the underlying technologies. One area of interest has been the development of automated payments using, for instance, mobile devices or other user devices as alternative methods of payment. For example, instead of paying with cash, check, or credit cards, a consumer can use a mobile phone to pay for a wide range of services and digital or hard goods. It is noted, however, that many of these approaches to mobile payment systems often require additional hardware (e.g., near field communication (NFC) tags and readers) or network resources (e.g., cellular bandwidth) to operate. Accordingly, service providers and device manufacturers face significant technical challenges to enabling automated payments using existing user device and other equipment.

Method and apparatus for providing automated payment with an audio token


A thermal fuse includes a resilient coil portion with a turn of at least 360.degree.. Two spring arms have two upper portions connected to and integrally formed with two ends of the coil portion, and two lower portions extending from the upper portions and formed with two contact locations for connection to two circuit contacts of the circuit board. At least one of the contact locations is to be soldered on the circuit board. During the connection of the contact locations to the circuit contacts, the lower portions are kept in a tensed state by moving the contact locations toward each other so as to generate a biasing force to bias the lower portions away from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a thermal fuse for fixing on a circuit board, more particularly to a thermal fuse with a resilient coil portion connected to two spring arms for soldering onto contacts of the circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a thermal fuse disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,295 is cut from a spring strip that is bent to form a spring clip 10 which includes two spring arms 11,12 interconnected by an M-shaped bending section 13. The tension-free form of the spring clip 10 shown in FIG. 2 has two solder supports 14,15 to be soldered to the corresponding solder contacts 21,22 (see FIG. 3) of a circuit board. Referring to FIG. 3, pressure is exerted on the bending section 13 from two sides via bending punches A, B so that the spring clip 10 is deformed from the shape indicated by the solid lines 16 to the shape indicated by the broken lines 17. The spring arms 11,12 are thus pre-stressed. When the fuse is triggered in that the solder on the solder contact 21 melts, the spring arm 11 is detached from the circuit board, and the pre-stressed spring arms 11,12 assume their original shape, whereas the bending section 13 remains in the deformed shape, as indicated by the dotted lines 18, thereby protecting the components on the circuit board against damage due to thermal overload.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the bending section 13 is deformed in the direction of the arrow C via a bending punch after soldering onto the solder contacts 21,22, so that the pre-stress phase having the shape 17' (indicated in broken lines) arises. When the fuse responses, the solder support 14 moves away from the solder contact 21, and the fuse assumes the shape 18' shown in dotted lines.
However, the fuse made from the spring strip has a relatively large size and is not suited for use on a relatively small circuit board. In addition, there is verdigris formed on the fuse to result in elastic fatigue of the spring clip 10. As such, the spring arm 11 cannot depart from the solder contact 21 rapidly when the solder thereon melts, thereby affecting adversely the efficiency of the fuse.

Thermal fuse for fixing on a circuit board


A process for analyzing elements and mass ratios of elements of a tissue includes approximating the tissue having unknown elements and mass ratios of the unknown elements thereof using the data of the medical image corresponding to a tissue having known elements and mass ratios of the known elements thereof. A method for establishing a geometric model based on a medical image includes: reading data of the medical image; defining a type of a tissue according to a conversion relationship between the data of the medical image and tissue types or according to the process; determining a quantity of tissue clusters of the tissue; defining a tissue density of the tissue by a conversion relationship between the data of the medical image and density values; establishing a 3D coding matrix with information about the tissue and the density; and generating the geometric model.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
As atomics moves ahead, such radiotherapy as Cobalt-60, linear accelerators and electron beams has been one of major means to cancer therapy. However, conventional photon or electron therapy has been undergone physical restrictions of radioactive rays; for example, many normal tissues on a beam path will be damaged as tumor cells are destroyed. On the other hand, sensitivity of tumor cells to the radioactive rays differs greatly, so in most cases, conventional radiotherapy falls short of treatment effectiveness on radioresistant malignant tumors (such as glioblastoma multiforme and melanoma).
For the purpose of reducing radiation damage to the normal tissue surrounding a tumor site, target therapy in chemotherapy has been employed in the radiotherapy. While for high-radioresistant tumor cells, radiation sources with high RBE (relative biological effectiveness) including such as proton, heavy particle and neutron capture therapy have also developed. Among them, the neutron capture therapy combines the target therapy with the RBE, such as the boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). By virtue of specific grouping of boronated pharmaceuticals in the tumor cells and precise neutron beam regulation, BNCT is provided as a better cancer therapy choice than conventional radiotherapy.
BNCT takes advantage that the boron (10B)-containing pharmaceuticals have high neutron capture cross section and produces 4He and 7Li heavy charged particles through 10B(n,α)7Li neutron capture and nuclear fission reaction. The total range of the two particles approximately amounts to a cell size. Therefore, radiation damage to living organisms may be restricted at the cells' level. When the boronated pharmaceuticals are gathered in the tumor cells selectively, only the tumor cells will be destroyed locally with a proper neutron source on the premise of having no major normal tissue damage.
Three-dimensional model is widely used in scientific experiment analysis, scientific experiment simulation field. For example, in the field of nuclear radiation and protection, in order to simulate the dose absorbed by the living organisms under certain radiation conditions, it is often necessary to process the medical image by using computer technology to establish an accurate lattice model required by Monte Carlo software and combine with the software for simulation calculations.
At present, the Monte Carlo method is a tool that can accurately simulate the collision trajectory and energy distribution of the nuclear particle in the three-dimensional space of the irradiated target. The combination of the Monte Carlo method with a complex three-dimensional human anatomy model represents a leap forward of simulation in computer technology. In diagnostic radiographic examination, accurate human organ dose assessment is very beneficial for radiation therapy. At present around the world, a variety of human models have been successfully established and combined with Monte Carlo simulation program to evaluate the accuracy of the human body's absorbed dose in the radiation environment. It is a prerequisite for Monte Carlo simulation to successfully transform the three-dimensional anatomical model of human body into geometric description required by Monte Carlo program. It is also the hot and difficult point of Monte Carlo simulation in the world at present.
Medical image such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT) can provide detailed tissue geometry information for human body features, providing data basis for physical modeling of human internal structures. Wherein, taking computed tomography as an example, the CT image data is converted into a voxel phantom model similar to the human anatomy, thereby simulating the migration history of the radiation and the action on the human tissues to calculate the radiation absorbed dose. Therefore, when given the elements composition of the voxel phantom, they are as close as possible to the actual situation of the patient, so as to obtain the closest result to the real situation in the simulation calculation. However, the current definition of materials for voxel phantom is generally defined by that a fixed-range of CT values corresponds to a tissue of fixed elements composition ratio, as described in a literature published by Vanderstraeten et al. in 2007 (described in more details thereinafter), CT value=−100˜20 corresponds to fat, and CT value=20˜100 corresponds to muscle. However, the human body tissues should be composed of specific elements mass ratio instead of the fixed elements mass ratio in a single interval. It should be seen that there are still considerable room for improvement in the current common voxel phantom component definition method.
Therefore, it is necessary to propose a method for analyzing elements mass ratio of a tissue and a method for establishing a geometric model including the analysis method based on medical image to improve the accuracy of the treatment plan.

Method for analyzing elements and mass ratios of elements of tissue and method for establishing geometric model based on medical image


The invention concerns a tool head for shaping machine designed to machine the side segments of tree trunks. The tool head has a rotationally driven main body (1) with several groups of chipper blades (2, 3) round its circumference. The front chipper blade (2) in each group and a front-mounted finishing tool, e.g. a segment (4) of a circular-saw blade, are mounted on a common tool carrier (5). The tool carrier (5) is detachably attached to the tool-head main body (1) and is held in place by clamps (16). If, as a result of wear, it becomes necessary to replace a tool, the tool carrier is replaced after the clamp (16) has been loosened.

The invention relates to a toolhead for a profile machining tool for machining the lateral segments of logs having a rotationally-driven toolhead main body with a plurality of chopping teeth groups on its periphery and at least one planing tool on its face, wherein each group of chopping teeth exhibits at least one chopping tooth on the face.
Profile machining tools of this type are known (e.g. DE 3038566 C2). They remove lateral segments from logs that are unworked or evened on two sides, wherein the chopping teeth of the toolhead produce product chips. A planing tool mounted on the face of the toolhead and often comprising circular saw segments, a circular saw ring, or planing teeth finishes the surface generated on the log. The planing tool can be placed so that it cuts before or after the adjacent chopping tooth, designated here as a "face chopping tooth." Preceding planing teeth prevent any cracks originated from the face chopping tooth from extending down into the remaining wooden surface. Succeeding planing teeth finish the relatively uneven wooden surface generated by the face chopping teeth.
Due to the unavoidable wear, the planing teeth and chopping teeth must be replaced regularly. The relatively long associated downtime is a major disadvantage of such toolheads.
One known toolhead of this type (DE 28 50 263 A1) uses a replaceable planing tool fastened to the toolhead main body. However, the chopping teeth and especially the wear-prone face chopping teeth must still be replaced individually.
Thus, it is the object of the invention to configure the toolhead of the type cited in the beginning such that the downtimes necessitated by unavoidable tool wear are greatly reduced.

Gebruder Linck Maschinenfabrik "Gatterlinck"GmbH & Co. KG


Disclosed are an undercover for vehicles with high elasticity and rigidity and a method of manufacturing the same. The undercover for vehicles with high elasticity and rigidity may include a needle-punched nonwoven fabric having a multi-layer structure of felt layers including a first PET fiber and a low-melting-point PET fiber, and each of the felt layers may have improved tensile strength and have optimized fiber alignment, to thereby improve the binding between fibers, mechanical rigidity and elasticity, as well as to reduce the weight of components, improve durability and secure harmlessness and inline workability.

In the related art, an undercover is mounted on the bottom of a vehicle, and functions to protect components including an engine and a transmission installed in the underside of the vehicle. The undercover also functions to prevent foreign matter from entering the vehicle through the bottom of the vehicle while driving. In addition, the undercover plays an important role in absorbing and blocking noise generated from the vehicle, particularly, an engine and a transmission, and thereby preventing the noise from being transmitted to the outside of the vehicle.
Conventional materials for undercovers include materials such as polypropylene and glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites. However, these materials have drawbacks of low fuel efficiency and poor NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) performance because of the excessively high weight thereof. In particular, the glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites have associated problems of glass fiber dust and the disadvantage of low durability against external impacts.
In order to solve these problems in the technical field, polyethylene terephthalate materials has been applied to manufacturing the undercovers. However, such polyethylene terephthalate materials have less flexural rigidity than that of the conventional materials, and thus need to be made more rigid in order to improve inline workability.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is provided only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Undercover for vehicles having high elasticity and rigidity and method for manufacturing the same


A pinch roll and shear combination for use in a mill, such as a reversing hot strip mill. The pinch roll and shear combination includes a stationary frame provided with a rotatably mounted lower roll and stationary lower blade adjacent the lower roll. A rectilinearly movable carriage is mounted on the frame with a piston for moving the carriage. An upper roll is rotatably mounted on the carriage and cooperates with the lower roll to form a pinch roll. An upper blade assembly is mounted on the carriage and cooperates with the lower blade to form a shear.

This invention relates to a pinch roll and shear combination for use in rolling mills, specifically for use with coilers on hot strip reversing mills.
In conventional continuous hot mills, a shear is located between the roughing stand or stands and the finishing train. When a hot reversing mill is employed in lieu of the continuous mill or the finishing train, a shear is likewise positioned well upstream of the hot reversing mill. With the advent of the use of coiler furnaces in conjunction with hot reversing mills, the location of the upstream shear has remained constant, with the upstream coiler furnace being downstream of the shear.
However, various advantages have been found for providing shears between a coiler and a roll stand, for example, the strip can be additionally trimmed at its leading and trailing ends after the finishing passes by the roll stand. The shear unit has been positioned on the pass line adjacent a pinch roll unit which precedes a coiler, as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,497,191 and 4,494,395.
Pinch rolls are used in a number of ways on steel processing lines to control speed of travel or tension of steel strip. One such use is in conjunction with coilers. Examples of such pinch rollers are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,497,191; 3,613,426; 4,430,874 and 4,522,050.
These prior art devices provide bulky, cumbersome machines for pinch rolling and shearing of material being worked upon. The object of the present invention is to provide a compact, economical and efficient pinch roll and shear combination.


A combined stripe of a magnetoresistive (MR) film and domain control stripe layers can be formed below a photoresist film on the surface of a substratum. An insulating base layer is then formed to extend over the surface of the substratum. The insulating base layer is allowed to cover over the photoresist film, the magnetoresistive film and the domain control stripe layers on the substratum. When the photoresist film is removed, the insulating base layer remains on the substratum. The insulating base layer keeps contacting the side surface of the magnetoresistive film. The magnetoresistive film can be kept covered with the insulating base layer at the side surface during a subsequent etching process. Any chemical reaction can be avoided between the magnetoresistive film and the etching gas employed in the etching process. The resulting magnetoresistive head element is allowed to exhibit an ideal characteristic in the magnetoresistive effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetoresistive (MR) head element utilized to read magnetic information data out of a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, and the like. The invention also relates to a method of making the same magnetoresistive head element.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Registration No. 2933916, for example, a conventional giant magnetoresistive (GMR) head element is proposed to include a pair of conductive lead layers covering over a magnetoresistive film, such as a spin valve film, at the tip ends, respectively. The method of making the conventional GMR head element is in general designed to include a step of forming the spin valve film and hard or soft magnetic stripe layers, corresponding to domain control stripe layers, on a substrate such as a wafer. A conductive material layer is then formed to uniformly spread over the spin valve film and the magnetic stripe layers. The conductive lead layers are shaped out of the thus formed conductive material layer. A reactive ion etching (RIE) process or the like is in general employed to form the conductive lead layers in this manner.
The present inventors have revealed that the GMR head element, thus formed with the RIE process, cannot accurately read magnetic information data out of a magnetic recording medium. In other words, the GMR head element tends to fail in discriminating magnetic binary data at a higher accuracy.

Method of making magnetoresistive head element


A pretensioning apparatus for a vehicular safety restraint, which includes a housing; a tube extending from the housing and defining an inner surface; a piston disposed within the tube in close proximity to the inner surface of the tube; a linkage connected at a first end to the piston and having a second end which is adapted for connection to a safety restraint; and a lock member having at least a portion thereof disposed between the piston and the inner surface of the tube, the lock member being configured and dimensioned such that upon application of a force to the piston in a first direction, the lock member permits free movement of the piston in the first direction and upon application of a force to the piston in a second direction being reverse to the first direction, the lock member biases against the inner wall of the tube to prevent movement of the piston in the second direction.

The present disclosure relates to vehicle restraint systems and more particularly to vehicle safety restraint pretensioning mechanisms which reduce slack in seat belts during impact.
With existing passenger vehicle restraint systems seat belts are provided with retractors which facilitate deployment and rewinding of the seat belt webbing in order to accommodate the individual using the system at any given time. Such retractors are also normally provided with locking features to lock the webbing based upon a predetermined operating parameter of either the seat belt webbing or the vehicle itself. For example, such systems will lock the webbing in the event of exceeding a predetermined acceleration of the belt or upon exceeding a predetermined rate of change in vehicle speed.
Another feature present in many vehicle restraint systems is a pretensioner mechanism. Such pretensioners commonly utilize a pyrotechnic device which detonates upon occurrence of predetermined parameters that define a triggering incident, e.g., impact of the vehicle with an object or another vehicle. Detonation of the pyrotechnic device initiates a rewinding of the seat belt webbing or a pull-down of the seat belt buckle a predetermined amount in the early stages of the triggering incident. This pretensioning of the seat belt webbing reduces the possible forward motion of an occupant during the triggering incident to reduce injury to the seat belt occupant which may otherwise result from impact with portions of the vehicle.
Upon detonation of the pyrotechnic device in such pretensioner mechanisms, extremely hot combustion gases are discharged to create the necessary pressure to drive a piston. A continuing need is always present for ways in which to reduce any undesirable side effects of these gases. For example, the scorching of any working parts which happen to be located in the flow path of the gases is such an undesirable side-effect.
In the past, seat belt pretensioning devices for buckles have been provided with wedges in attempts to maintain the pretension load. However, one disadvantage of such previous pretensioners is that they have been largely unsuccessful in maintaining a high percentage of the pretension load. These previous wedges were subject to unsatisfactory amounts of slippage in the strap system.
A need also exists for a pretensioning mechanism which effectively pretensions the seat belt webbing in the event of a triggering incident and which maintains a high percentage of the pretensioning load throughout the whole accident which triggered the pretensioner.

Apparatus for pretensioning a vehicular seat belt


A computer program product, comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method is described for transferring and displaying data over a network. The method includes maintaining, with a computer, a connection between a client application and a server application. The client application is included with a plurality of clients to operate in the network. The server application is included with a plurality of information servers. The method also includes providing, with a computer, access to the plurality of information servers via a streaming server that includes a plurality of processors. The method further includes providing, with the plurality of processors, non-buffered, substantially real-time streaming data to the plurality of clients upon requests from the plurality of clients.

This application relates generally to software, signals, apparatus and methods involved in transferring and display of non-buffered streaming data over a network and, in particular, to software, signals, systems, apparatus, and methods for transferring data over the Internet where the data is obtained from multiple servers of various types, and more particularly related to software, signals, systems, apparatus, and methods utilizing a browser based desktop framework based on open standards and associated user configurable components.
Networks, especially the Internet, are often utilized to obtain or provide information to a user that is remote from the location where the data is stored. However, many current systems and apparatus may not operate as efficiently as they could and are constrained by a single database for the information that is provided. Additionally, most so-called streaming data consists of files that must be buffered when the file is "streamed" to a requester. Furthermore, the same files are "streamed" to multiple users with very little room to customize the data stream for each user.

Computer program product capable of implementing a method of data transfer for providing non-buffered, real-time streaming data to users


A diode laser array made from a plurality of linear laser diode array assemblies affixed and in good thermal communication with bodies containing micro-heatpipes. Assemblies are stacked in a vertical manner to form two dimensional arrays. Each assembly is connected electrically and mechanically to adjacent assemblies to form the final assembly. In one embodiment the bodies are arranged in a vertical stairstep manner such that radiation from an upper assembly stimulates emission in adjacent lower assemblies thereby achieving frequency locking. In another embodiment said micro-heatpipe containing second bodies are fabricated from materials with a coefficient of thermal expansion closely matching with a coefficient of thermal expansion closely matching that of the laser diode array subassemblies. In another embodiment the assemblies form the evaporator of a second heatpipe device cooling means.

The application of an electrical current to certain semiconductor diodes doped so as to contain a pn-junction produces electromagnetic radiation. The energy supplied is converted into the radiant energy emitted to the outside and into heat energy consumed in heating the device itself. One of the main heat sources is non-radiative recombination, i.e. the process in which the energy of the recombining electron-hole pair is transformed into phonons. Another heating effect is reabsorption of the radiation generated in the active region. These and other heating effects not only reduce the efficiency of the device but also, by increasing the temperature inside the device, adversely affect the properties of the emitted radiation beam thereby deteriorating the operating characteristics of the device. The parameters of the radiation beam such as the radiation power, the near-field and far-field patterns, and the spectral characteristics strongly depend upon the heat generation process and on the efficiency with which this heat is dissipated. In addition, the electrical characteristics of the device such as the current-voltage characteristic curve are negatively affected, the useable output power is degraded and reliability/lifetime is reduced by increases in the device junction temperature.
Multiple laser diodes are fabricated onto a single substrate into a linear laser diode array. To control the type and number of spatial modes the laser diode will emit, the electrical current and lasing emission are confined to a narrow stripe geometry. Multiple stripes are combined into a linear array, sometimes called a bar. In order to achieve high radiation intensity levels it is desirable to stack these bars into two dimensional arrays. This becomes important, for example, in the pumping of solid state lasers. In order to obtain high optical power levels, it is desirable to stack these linear diode array bars in close proximity into two dimensional array structures. Such structures, however, have to possess means for waste heat removal, mechanical integrity and electrical interconnection. The problem that this invention addresses is that of obtaining the maximum stacking density of linear laser diode array bars while at the same time removing sufficient waste heat such that the operation of the laser diodes is not adversely affected.
It is also desirable that the temperature along each bar be uniform so that each stripe of the bar can be operated phase locked. It is also desirable that the semiconductor bar and the heatsink onto which it is mounted have thermal coefficients of expansion which are closely matched to minimize thermal stress. Thermal stresses cause an undesirable shift in wavelength of the emitted radiation and can damage the linear laser diode array bar.
Among other applications, laser diodes provide a near ideal radiation source for pumping solid-state lasers. They combine very high brightness, high efficiency, monochromaticity and compact size. One of the most important problems in semiconductor laser design is realizing the potential of laser diodes and achieving maximum cw output power without locally overheating in the active regions.
Cooling techniques to avoid this problem have included forced air or liquid cooled radiators, micro-channel heat sinks through which cooling liquids are forced, copper heatsinks, diamond heatsinks, diamond coated copper heatsinks, silicon heatsinks, thermoelectric coolers, impingement coolers, cryogenic refrigerators and liquid nitrogen dewars. Examples of placing thermally conductive materials between laser diode bars in a two dimensional array can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,716,568 to Scifres and Harnagle, 4,454,602 to Smith and 4,393,393 to Allen. Each of these mounts a single laser diode array bar per heatsink due to the limited heat carrying capacity of the materials used. Other approaches separate the laser diodes so that they can be cooled individually and then attempt to combine their radiation via fiber optic bundles.
Each of these approaches has its limitations and none has been able to remove sufficient waste heat from between laser diode arrays to permit true CW (continuous) operation, although "quasi-CW" operation is often claimed, the term "quasi" meaning that the repetition rate is high enough to look continuous to the human eye. This thermal problem is the most serious problem facing the application of laser diode arrays to a wide variety of high-intensity applications.
These inventions are dependent upon using heatsink metals with a high thermal conductivity, e.g. copper and aluminium. Unfortunately, metals with a high thermal conductivity also have high thermal coefficients of expansion (CTE) relative to that of the laser diode substrate. This difference in CTE between substrate and heatsink results in thermal stresses which degrade the optical properties and induce damage into the laser diode substrate. What is required is a high thermal conductivity heatsink with a CTE closely matching the laser diode materials.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,634 to Miyake heat is conducted away from between a two dimensional array of laser diode bars by interleaved heatsink strips, similar to those described under the patents referenced above, that conduct heat away from the laser diode array bars to the evaporator of a distant heatpipe, i.e. the laser diodes are not mounted directly onto the heatpipe.
Heatpipes are devices that are able to carry very large heatfluxes by utilizing the heat of vaporization of a fluid. A specified amount of the fluid is sealed within an elongated enclosure with the heat flux entering at one end, termed the evaporator, causing evaporation of the fluid. The resulting vapor phase travels the length of the enclosure and condenses on the cooler opposite end of the enclosure where the heat of condensation is removed to the outside. The liquid phase is returned to the evaporator end by capillary action via either arteries contained within the enclosure walls or via a fine mesh wick structure lining the walls of the enclosure.
Cotter's original proposal for micro-heatpipes involved simple channels formed by anisotropic etchants. Although others have subsequently improved upon Cotter's fabrication methodology, none have been able to fabricate the kinds of complex structures required to obtain good heat-transfer performance in sizes small enough to place between laser diode array bars. "Micro" was defined by Cotter to be a heat pipe so small that the mean curvature of the vapor-liquid interface is comparable in magnitude to the reciprocal of the hydraulic radius of the total flow channel. In practice, this translates into an enclosure with an internal vapor space channel with an approximate diameter of 100 to 500 micro-meters.
Although the concept of micro-heatpipes has been discussed in the literature and many attempts have been made to fabricate them, no one has been able to fabricate them with sufficiently small dimensions necessary to classify it as "micro" and with the cross-sectional design necessary to enable it to remove sufficient heat from between laser diode arrays to solve the problem described above. In fact, most if not all designs remain crude multi-sided channels in which the capillary pumping is done in the interstices, e.g. in the corners of triangles, squares or distorted squares.
These designs suffer from many limitations, the most serious being entrainment in which droplets of the unprotected liquid in the corners of the structure are ripped from the liquid surface and returned to the condenser end causing the evaporator end of the micro-heatpipe to dryout and fail. It is important to protect the liquid phase of the fluid by artery design, for example by protecting the artery with a re-entrant groove. This is difficult to do in a heatpipe that is small enough in diameter to be placed between two laser diode arrays so that high optical power levels are achieved.


An exercise apparatus includes a clamping means for securing the apparatus to a conventional door, at least one elastic resistance band and a flexible resistance harness. The resistance harness includes a pair of arm slings made of a thin, relatively wide fabric material formed in a closed loop and defining an opening therethrough. The resistance harness further includes a connecting strap made of a thin, relatively narrow fabric material and having opposed ends. The opposed ends of the connecting strap are attached to the pair of arm slings such that the arm slings are connected by the connecting strap. The resistance harness further includes a chest strap made of a thin, relatively narrow fabric material and having opposed ends. The opposed ends of the chest strap are attached to the pair of arm slings opposite the connecting strap. The exercise apparatus is compact and lightweight and thus is convenient for individuals who travel frequently to use, transport and store. In a preferred method of using the exercise apparatus, a user extends the upper arms through the arm slings of the resistance harness and pulls the resistance harness using the abdominal muscles in the direction of the pelvis while bowing the lower back outwardly to extend the resistance band. Thus, the spine is elongated and all of the abdominal muscle groups are contracted without placing undue stress on the muscles in the lower back.

Situps have long been a popular exercise for strengthening and toning the abdominal muscles. Typically, a person performing a situp lies with the back and feet on a flat surface, and with the knees bent. The person then lifts the head and shoulders in the direction of the knees using the abdominal muscles. The hands may be placed behind the head with the elbows forward so that the elbows touch the knees when the head and shoulders are lifted. The conventional situp, however, places undue stress on the muscles in the lower back, causing discomfort during the exercise and often resulting in an injury.
As a result, the "crunch" style of situp has become a popular alternative to the conventional situp. Crunches are performed in the same manner as conventional situps except that the head and shoulders are lifted only a limited distance so that less range of motion is required by the muscles in the lower back. Accordingly, the undue stress placed on the muscles in the lower back is not eliminated, but only reduced. In addition, crunches do not optimize the exercise benefit received by the abdominal muscles. In particular, the exercise benefit is lost which is obtained by pulling the weight of the head and shoulders the additional distance in the direction of the knees.
A number of weight and "fitness" apparatus have been developed recently for exercising the abdominal muscles. These apparatus, however, for the most part reproduce the same range of motion as the situp and the crunch. Namely, the resistance produced by the apparatus is concentrated in the lower back and the upper body of the person using the apparatus. One such exercise apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,089 issued Mar. 24, 1992 to Harrington et al. The Harrington exercise apparatus includes a triangular frame for mounting a bed on which the body of the user is supported, knee posts for supporting the knees of the user, and foot posts for receiving the feet and ankles of the user. The frame acts as a fulcrum so that the bed pivots about a transverse axis to permit the user to perform situps with the head elevated above the feet. Accordingly, the user obtains the exercise benefit of the full range of motion of a conventional situp without having to overcome the force of gravity to raise the upper body above the elevation of the feet and knees. Although the Harrington exercise apparatus alleviates a portion of the undue stress placed on the muscles in the lower back, it does not permit the exercise to benefit all of the abdominal muscle groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,052 issued Jun. 9, 1992 to Evans discloses an abdominal exercise apparatus that develops the abdominal muscles through their entire ranges of motion. The objective of the apparatus is to develop the abdominal muscles not only through contraction, but through increased elongation as well. The apparatus includes a convex arch which engages the upper lumbar and lower thoracic spine in the area of the lower back of the user. The arch permits the user's spine to be supported while allowing the spine to bow outwardly the range that occurs in a normal standing posture. The apparatus further includes an adjustable knee retainer that restrains upward movement of the knees so that the lower back maintains contact with the arch. Accordingly, the range of motion experienced during the situp is increased so that the abdominal muscles are elongated as well as contracted during the exercise. Although the Evans apparatus alleviates a portion of the undue stress placed on the muscles in the lower back and increases the exercise benefit obtained by the muscles in the lower back, it does not permit the exercise to significantly benefit all of the abdominal muscle groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,435 issued Jul. 12, 1994 to Ricks discloses an exercise apparatus for building stronger stomach muscles. The apparatus includes a pair of foot rests for anchoring the feet of the user in a vertical or inclined orientation. The foot rests immobilize the feet of the user while the user performs a conventional situp. Accordingly, the exercise benefit obtained by the abdominal muscles is somewhat increased by the additional resistance provided by the foot rests. However, the Ricks exercise apparatus places undue stress on the muscles in the lower back, and only some of the abdominal muscles obtain an increased exercise benefit (i.e. the muscles utilized in performing a conventional situp).
Each of the above exercise apparatus place undue stress on the muscles in the lower back and do not permit the exercise to benefit all of the abdominal muscle groups optimally. It is apparent that an exercise apparatus that overcomes one or more of the limitations of the exercise apparatus described above would be advantageous. In particular, it would be advantageous to provide an exercise apparatus which permits the exercise to benefit all of the abdominal muscle groups optimally, and which does not place undue stress on the muscles in the lower back of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,118, issued Jun. 16, 1998, to Conner provides an exercise apparatus which permits the exercise to benefit all of the abdominal muscle groups in contraction and does not place undue stress on the muscles in the lower back of the user. The Conner exercise apparatus includes clamping means for securing the apparatus to a vertical surface, at least one elongate, elastic resistance band having opposed ends, one of the opposed ends of the resistance band attached to the clamping means, and a generally triangular resistance harness. The resistance harness includes attachment means for attaching the resistance harness to the other of the opposed ends of the resistance band, an elongate, rigid, resistance bar having opposed ends and a pair of flexible connecting straps, each strap having a first end secured to the resistance bar and a second end secured to the attachment means.
A preferred embodiment of the clamping means of the Conner exercise apparatus includes a U-shaped bracket for temporarily securing the apparatus to a conventional door between the top edge of the door and the portion of the door frame commonly termed the header. Thus, the Conner exercise apparatus may be used anywhere, such as the home and office, that a conventional door and door frame are available. The elongate, rigid, resistance bar, however, limits the portability of the apparatus. In particular, although the Conner exercise apparatus may be easily relocated, it is not well suited for use by individuals who travel using commercial air transportation. In this era in which airlines severely limit the size and weight of baggage, it is essential that an exercise apparatus utilized by individuals who travel frequently be compact and lightweight.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an exercise apparatus which permits the exercise to benefit all of the abdominal muscles groups.
It is another object of the invention to provide an exercise apparatus which does not place undue stress of the muscles in the lower back of the user.
It is another, and more particular, object of the invention to provide an exercise apparatus which causes all of the abdominal muscle groups to contract in the direction of the posterior side of the user's body.
It is another object of the invention to provide an exercise apparatus which is compact and lightweight, and thus is convenient for individuals who travel frequently to use, transport and store.
The invention disclosed and shown in the accompanying figures provides such an exercise apparatus including additional features which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Portable apparatus for exercising abdominal muscles


Disclosed is an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising an insulating support and provided thereon, a conductive layer, an intermediate layer and a photosensitive layer, wherein said conductive layer has a work function W (eV), said intermediate layer has an ionization potential Ip (eV) and a relationship between the work function W (eV) and the ionization potential Ip (eV) satisfies Formula 1: EQU Ip>W+0.5. Formula 1

Heretofore, as a photosensitive material for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, inorganic photoconductive material such as selenium, selenium alloys, zinc oxide and sulfurized cadmium have mainly been employed.
Recently, organic photosensitive materials which can be selected those suitable for its purpose such as high productivity, non-polluting and inexpensive cost and targeted performances have come to be used. Among them, a function-separation type photoreceotr which is a combination of a charge generating material and a charge transparting material can noticeably improve sensitivity which had been a shortcoming of photoreceptors using organic photoconductive materials. Therefore, it is specifically noted.
However, if the above-mentioned function-separation type high sensitivity photoreceptor is applied to a so-called Carlson process, the surface charge is reduced due to charge injecting from the conductive layer. Namely, together with reduction of charge property, charge maintaining property deteriorates. In addition, after repeated use, the above-mentioned properties tend to be further deteriorated. Accordingly, uneven density and fogging occur on the image. In the case of reversal development, background contamination occurs. Due to repeated using and using for a long time, the problems commonly becomes worse.
Therefore, in order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, various studies to provide a means wherein an intermediate layer is provided between a conductive layer and a photosensitive layer have heretofore been proposed. For example, an intermediate layer employing a nylon resin, a vinylacetic acid resin, a polyvinyl alcohol resin, a resin wherein aluminum oxide was dispersed and a resin wherein tin Oxide have been studied. In addition, recently, ceramic-containing intermediate layers using an organic metal compound and a silane coupling agent have also been developed.
However, even if the above-mentioned intermediate layer was adopted, when a combination with the conductive layer is not appropriate, due to initial and repeated use, reduction of conductivity, increase of dark decay rate and the occurrence of fogging after using for a long period were observed so that it was shown that solution of the problems is not sufficient.
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a electrostatic image forming material which plays an important role in producing an electrostatic latent image and in a developing process (typically, an electrophotographic photoreceptor. Hereinafter, it may be referred to as a photoreceptor) is necessary. In a transferring process which transfers the prepared toner image onto plain paper, a transferring material or an intermediate transferring material is necessary.
In order to execute their function, the electrostatic image forming material, the transferring material or the intermediate transferring material must move in prescribed timing and at a prescribed speed while not changing the interval and pressure condition with chargers, exposure devices, developing devices, charge-eliminating device or the cleaning devices, which are located around them. For repeated use, when one cycle of an image forming process is completed, they must return to the initial position for the next image forming cycle. In order to carry out the series of movements smoothly, and in order to use expensive member such as the photoreceptor more effectively, in apparatus for a practical use, the photoreceptor (electrostatic latent image forming material), the transferring material and the intermediate transferring material are almost cylindrical (drum-shaped). As a substance used therefor, metal material such as aluminum is generally used.
On the other hand, plastic is considered to be a preferable material since it is light and its cost is inexpensive. However, it is not easy to manufacture electrostatic latent image forming cylinder with high accuracy and with high effectiveness in terms of industrial setting. The major factor was that a method to manufacture a 30-200 mm diameter cylindrical subtrate simply at high accuracy could not be discovered. Therefore, accuracy had to be maintained by cutting and abrading the surface thereof after manufacturing the cylindrical subtrate, resulting in reduction of producibility and at an increase of cost. In addition, there was another shortcoming in that it is weak to heat and most solvent. In addition to accuracy on the surface of the subtrate, deformation due to stress and aging has also become a problem.
However, in the case of the image forming apparatus constituted of image exposing from inside of the photoreceptor as detailed later, the cylindrical subtrate of electrostatic latent image forming material must be transparent against light for exposure. Therefore, metals cannot be used as a material for a subtrate.
In addition, it is necessary to provide a transparent layer having conductivity on a cylindrical substrate which is also an insulating material. As a typical technology to provide conductivity, a method to deposit or spatter metal such as aluminum or ITO (Indium tin oxide) or other metal oxides and a method to disperse powdered metal and metal oxide fine particles in a resin and cause it in an ink state for coating are employed. However, the former method results in deformation wherein dimensional accuracy of the cylindrical subtrate due to heat is lost and increase in cost, and the latter method results in an increase of the number of processes and modification of the production facility.
Accordingly, though an image forming method wherein an image is exposed to light from inside is excellent as an apparatus, it was actually difficult to be come into practice.
A first object of the present invention is to provide an excellent electrophotographic photoreceptor having no reduction of electrification property between the initial cycle and after repeated use, no reduction of charge maintaining property, no occurrence of fogging, and an image forming method and an apparatus using the same.
A second object is to provide a cylindrical subtrate for an image forming apparatus, having a conductive layer on its surface, which can be manufactured effectively in an industrial setting, which has high surface accuracy, overall strength and which has sufficiently high transparency as necessary and a method for manufacturing therefor and an electrophotographic photoreceptor and an image forming apparatus using the same.