A read/write head is structurally significantly less complicated than optical reading devices, requires minimal or no optical alignment, capable of writing at higher track densities, and has better control of the data and servo tracks than conventional magnetic heads. The head is also capable of using an available heat source and a relatively weak magnetic field, such as 300 Oersteds, to write data on a data storage medium. The combination of a magnetic read sensor with a near field magneto-optical (MO) write element creates a hybrid read/write head capable of high density recording with a high signal to noise ratio. The integration of the MO write element can be accomplished by various alternative or complementary methods. One method is to mount a heat source, such as a laser or light source on a slider with minimal or no additional optical components. Another method is to form an optical channel (or waveguide) in the slider and/or in the magnetic write element for directing a laser beam onto a target spot on, or within the data storage medium. Since magneto-optical recording requires a magnetic field of a few hundred Oersteds, the head utilizes write poles of magnetic materials operated at a low magnetic field. This is a significant simplification over existing magnetic and MO read/write heads, since the track width of the data storage medium is defined by the laser beam width and not by the pole width. In a preferred embodiment, a giant magneto-resistive (GMR) element is selected as a read element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to data storage systems such as disk drives. This invention relates in particular to a read/write head for use in optical and magneto-optical data storage systems to enable hybrid transduction of data from, and to a storage medium. More specifically, the head allows the magnetic reading of data from the magnetic medium, and the magneto-optical or thermally assisted writing of data on the storage medium.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional magnetic storage system includes a magnetic head that has a slider element and a magnetic read/write element, and is coupled to a rotary actuator magnet and a voice coil assembly by a suspension and an actuator arm positioned over a surface of a spinning magnetic disk. In operation, a lift force is generated by the aerodynamic interaction between the magnetic head and the spinning magnetic disk. The lift force is opposed by equal and opposite spring forces applied by the suspension such that a predetermined flying height is maintained over a full radial stroke of the rotary actuator assembly above the surface of the spinning magnetic disk.
Flying head designs have been proposed for use with optical and magneto-optical (MO) storage technology. One motivation for using the magneto-optical technology stems from the availability of higher areal density with magneto-optical storage disks than magnetic storage disks. However, despite the historically higher areal storage density available for magneto-optical disks drives, the prior art magneto-optical disk drive volumetric storage capacity has generally not kept pace with the volumetric storage capacity of magnetic disk drives.
One limiting factor in conventional optical reading heads is the low signal to noise ratio exhibited by such heads at high data transfer rates, since the frequency dependence of laser notse is typically exponential.
Another limiting factor is that optical reading heads require extensive alignment of the optical components and their respective polarizations, rendering the design, manufacturing and assembly of optical heads significantly complex.
Another factor that limits writing (or recording) on a magnetic disk at high data transfer rates (or frequencies) using conventional magnetic heads is the required high magnetic field and field gradient. High magnetic fields are difficult to achieve, particularly with narrow tracks and miniaturized heads, because it is difficult to channel magnetic flux through such narrow structures, and further because the small pole structure is hard to define due to its large aspect ratio (height/width), usually greater than 2:1.
Therefore, there is still a long felt and still unsatisfied need for a read/write head that is structurally significantly less complicated than optical reading devices, that requires minimal or no optical alignment, that can write at higher track densities, and that has better control of the data and servo tracks than conventional magnetic heads. It would also be desirable for the head to be capable of using an available heat source and a relatively weak magnetic field, such as 300 Oersteds, to write data on a data storage medium.

Read/write head and method for magnetic reading and magneto-optical writing on a data storage medium


A leak detection system for a vehicle fuel tank includes a sensor that is responsive to a pressure within the fuel tank and that generates a pressure signal based thereon. A control module initiates an engine-off natural vacuum (EONV) test and determines a pressure change based on the pressure signal. The control module pauses the EONV test when the pressure change exceeds a pressure change threshold.

A vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes a fuel tank that stores liquid fuel such as gasoline, diesel, methanol or other fuels. The liquid fuel evaporates into fuel vapors that increase pressure within the fuel tank. Evaporation is caused by energy that is transferred to the fuel tank. Sources of energy include radiation (e.g. sun energy), convection and conduction. Increased vapor pressure in the fuel system may effect the rate that vapor fuel is released into the atmosphere through a leak in the fuel system. Vapor leak diagnostic systems attempt to diagnose vapor fuel leaks.
Typically, vapor leak detection systems abort when a sudden pressure spike is detected. In some cases, a sudden pressure change can be indicative of a refueling event and an abort of the vapor leak detection algorithm is proper. However, in other cases, an event such as a trunk slam, door slam or vehicle rocking can cause a rapid pressure change in the fuel tank. In such cases, aborting the leak detection test reduces the robustness of the test and increases the time it takes to detect a leak.

Leak detection system for a vehicle fuel tank


A method for increasing intestinal function is provided. The method comprising orally and/or enterally administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of insulin, thereby increasing intestinal function.

The present invention relates to methods and formulations for increasing intestinal function, which may be used for treating short bowel syndrome.
Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is defined as an intestinal failure following the loss of intestinal length or competence below the minimal amount necessary for the absorption of nutrients and a normal nutritional status [Sigalet D L. Short bowel syndrome in infants and children: an overview. Semin Pediatr Surg 2001; 10:49-55; Vanderhoof J A. Short bowel syndrome. Neonat Gastroenterol 1996; 23:377-86; Booth I W, Lander A D. Short bowel syndrome. Bailliere's Clin Gastroenterol 1998; 12:739-72].
SBS typically follows resection of 50% or more of the small intestine and is associated with diarrhea, steatorrhea, dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, malabsorption and progressive malnutrition [Vanderhoof J A. Short bowel syndrome. Neonat Gastroenterol 1996; 23:377-86; Booth I W, Lander A D. Short bowel syndrome. Bailliere's Clin Gastroenterol 1998; 12:739-72]. SBS is a common problem in pediatric surgery and occurs in newborns and infants suffering from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), intestinal atresia and volvulus requiring massive intestinal resection. In adults, Crohn's disease, radiation enteritis and massive resections due to catastrophic mesenteric vascular events, intestinal obstruction, and trauma represent the more common causes of SBS [DiBaise J K, Young R J, Vanderhoof J A. Intestinal rehabilitation and the short bowel syndrome. Am J Gastroenterol 2004; 99:1386-95]. SBS remains a significant cause of infant morbidity and mortality despite the availability of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), advances in resuscitation, availability of potent antibiotics, and modern techniques of organ support [Coran A G, Spivak D, Teitelbaum D H. An analysis of the morbidity and mortality of short bowel syndrome in the pediatric age group. Eur J Pediatr Surg 1999; 9:228-30].
The key to survival after massive small bowel resection is the ability of the residual intestine to adapt. In this setting, adaptation means progressive recovery from intestinal failure throughout which the small bowel increases its absorptive surface area and its functional capacity in an attempt to meet the body's metabolic and growth needs [O'Brien D P, Nelson L A, Huang F S, Warner B W. Intestinal adaptation: structure, function, and regulation. Semin Pediatr Surg 2001; 10:56-64]. Intestinal adaptation constitutes the best option for patients with SBS. In humans, intestinal adaptation begins within 24-48 hours of resection and includes morphologic (structural adaptation) and functional changes (functional adaptation) of the residual bowel. Structural adaptation includes increasing bowel diameter and length, villi elongation, deepening of the crypts, and increasing the rate of enterocyte proliferation, finally resulting in increased absorptive surface area and in increased numbers of enterocytes. Functional adaptation entails modifications of the brush border membrane permeability and up-regulation of carrier-mediated transport, ultimately resulting in increased nutrient absorption by isolated enterocytes. Although intestinal transplantation (IT) has emerged as a feasible alternative in the treatment of children with SBS during the last two decades, intestinal adaptation remains the only chance for survival in a subset of these patients. Considerable research over many years has focused on the identification of those trophic factors that may promote bowel absorption after massive intestinal resection and provide a successful outcome in patients with SBS. These factors include nutrients and other luminal constituents, gastrointestinal secretions, hormones and peptide growth factors [O'Brien D P, Nelson L A, Huang F S, Warner B W. Intestinal adaptation: structure, function, and regulation. Semin Pediatr Surg 2001; 10:56-64].
Another area in which there has been a considerable research effort over the last four decades is intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. Restoration of blood flow following intestinal ischemia is necessary to maintain cell function and viability; however, the reintroduction of oxygen can initiate a cascade of events that exacerbates intestinal tissue injury. The mechanisms of intestinal injury following ischemia-reperfusion event include nonspecific damage induced by ischemia per se and damage caused by reperfusion. Intestinal ischemia induces intestinal mucosal cell death, which is attributed mainly to a reduction of oxygen supply relative to metabolic demands, depletion of cellular energy stores and accumulation of toxic metabolites. The reperfusion phase may significantly exacerbate ischemia-induced mucosal injury via the formation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species [Carden, D. L., Granger, D. N. J. Pathol., 2000, 190: 255; Granger, D. N., et al., Acta. Physiol. Scand. Suppl. 548: 47, 1986] and changes in lipid mediator synthesis [Tadros et al., Ann. Surg. 231: 566, 2000; Mangino et al., Cryobiology. 33: 404, 1996]. Additionally, an infiltration of intestinal wall by polymorphonuclear leucocytes and mast cells, which release the cytokines, growth factors, or other molecules leads to increased bowel permeability, gut barrier dysfunction, translocation of bacteria and bacterial products into the systemic circulation, causing multiple organ failure and death [Schoenberg et al., 1991, Gut, 32: 905; Yamamoto et al., 2001, J. Surj Research, 99:134].
Although necrosis is responsible for the intestinal cell death during the ischemic phase, apoptosis has recently been recognized to be a key phenomenon in enterocyte turnover and gut barrier function following IR insult [Noda et al., Am J Physiol, 1998, 274: G270]. Thus, reduction of apoptosis and stimulation of cell proliferation and differentiation following IR injury is a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
A number of nutrient substances have been evaluated in an attempt to maximize the adaptive response following IR injury and following resection of the small intestine. Diets high in glutamine, and high carbohydrate-low fat diets have been studied [Byrne, T. P., et al., 1995, Annals of Surgery 222(3):254-5; Scolapio, J. S. et al., 1997 Gastroenterology 113(4):1402-5; Sax, H., 1998, Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 26(2):123-8].
Formulas containing amino acids have been studied in an attempt to avoid intact protein irritability and digestion [Bines, J. F. et al., 1998, Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition 26(2):123-8]. Dietary restrictions of insoluble fiber, oxalates, and lactose have also been proposed [Lykins, T. S. et al., 1998, Journal of the American Dietetic Association 98(3):309-15] despite evidence that small amounts of lactose are tolerated [Marteau, P. M. et al., 1997, Nutrition 13(1):13-16]. Compositions comprising arachidonic acid and docosahexanoic acid have been proposed for improving the proliferative response during adaptation of the gastrointestinal tract for use in short bowel syndrome [U.S. Pat. Appl. 0010047036].
Hormones, such as growth hormone [Weiming et al., 2004, JPEN J Parenter Rectal-enteral Nutr. November-December; 28(6):377-81] and hormone related peptides (e.g., Glucagon-like peptide 2 and analogs thereof, U.S. Patent Application 0030162703) were shown to have a trophic effect on the intestine.
There is also a growing body of evidence suggesting that peptide growth factors may stimulate post-resection adaptive hyperplasia or improve intestinal recovery following intestinal ischemia. Peptide growth factors are divided into several families, including epidermal growth factor family, the transforming growth factor β family, the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family, and the fibroblast growth factor family. In addition, a smaller number of peptide growth factors without structural similarities of the described families have also been identified and include hepatocyte growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor.
The insulin-like growth factor family includes three peptides: insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). Several experimental studies have suggested that both IGF-I and IGF-II are involved in to modulation of growth and differentiation of normal small bowel [Laburthe M. et al., 1988, Am J Physiol; 254: G457-G462] and following massive small bowel resection [Ziegler T R, Mantell M P, Chow J C et al. (1996) Gut adaptation and the insulin-like growth factor system: regulation by glutamine and IGF-1 administration. Am J Physiol 271: G866-875].
Lemmey and co-workers have demonstrated a positive effect of IGF-1 on body weight gain and intestinal absorptive function [Lemmey A B., et al., 1991, Am J. Physiol. February, 260(2 Pt 1):E213-9; Lemmey A B., et al., 1994, Growth Factors, 10(4):243-521 following bowel resection in a rat model. IGF-1 was shown to stimulate cell proliferation, increase villus height and promote nutrient absorptive capacity in an animal model of SBS [Olanrewaju H et al., 1992, Am J Physiol, 263: E282-286]. Ileal IGF-I mRNA expression in rats rose nearly twofold during intestinal adaptation after bowel resection, which was augmented with IGF-I administration [Ziegler et al., 1996, Am J Physiol, 271: G866-G875]. EGF and IGF-1 were shown to increase substrate absorption after small bowel resection in rats, and this increase in absorption persists after cessation of administration of these growth factors [Lukish et al., 1996, Gastroenterology, 110(Suppl): A818].
However, animal experiments and clinical trials using the above agents are at present inconclusive and there remains a widely recognized need for an intestinal tissue growth promoting agent which may be administered orally for the therapeutic treatment of various intestinal disorders, intestinal ischemic damage, impaired growth or loss of intestinal length.
The current advocacy of insulin therapy regimens involves subcutaneous injections and intravenous administration, since like other polypeptides, insulin is destroyed in the acidic environment of the stomach and by digestive enzymes of the pancreas and small intestine. Furthermore, insulin treatment is typically aimed at increasing the level of insulin in the blood (such as for insulin dependent diabetes), where the epithelial surface of the intestine itself presents an effective barrier to the absorption of insulin [Sukhotnik et al., 2002, J Surg Res. December; 108(2):235-42].
Accumulative evidence suggests a role of insulin in the growth and development of the small intestine. For example, insulin receptors are present on the luminal and basolateral membranes of enterocytes [Buts J P, De Keyser N, Marandi S, Maernoudt A S, Sokal E M, Rahier J, Hermans D. Expression of insulin receptors and of 60-kDa receptor substrate in rat mature and immature enterocytes. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 273:G217-226, 1997)]. Additionally, insulin is present in human and pig colostrum and mature milk, substantiating its aforementioned potential role in small intestine growth and development.
Oral insulin was shown to possess a trophic effect on intestinal mucosa by stimulating ileal mass, mRNA and disaccharidase activity in the newborn miniature pig [Shulman et al., Pediatr Res. 1990 August; 28(2):171-512; Shulman R J, Tivey D R, Sunitha I, Dudley M A, Henning S J 1992. Effect of oral insulin on lactase activity, mRNA, and posttranscriptional processing in the newborn pig. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 14:166-172)]. In a recent clinical trial, the author has shown that enteral administration of insulin to preterm infants (26-29 weeks of gestational age) leads to a higher lactase activity and less feeding intolerance [Shulman R J, et al., Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed (2002); 88:F131-3].
Insulin was also shown to stimulate epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells in vitro [Raj N. K. Sharma C. P., 2003, J Biomater Appl January 17(3):183-96]. Insulin accelerates enterocyte proliferation in the intestinal mucosa of suckling mice [Malone et al., Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2003 December; 62(3):187-95] and increases enzymatic activity of the dissacharidases [Buts J P, Duranton B, De Keyser N, Sokal E M, Maernhout A S, Raul F, Marandi S. Premature stimulation of rat sucrase-isomaltase (SI) by exogenous insulin and the analog B-Asp10 is regulated by a receptor-mediated signal triggering SI gene transcription. Pediatr Res 1998; 43:585-91]. Furthermore, insulin-receptor densities are selectively associated with intestinal mucosa growth in neonatal calves [Kojima H. 1998, Assoc Am Physicians, May-June; 110(3):197-206].
Moreover, Buts et al. had demonstrated preferential localization of insulin binding sites to the intestinal crypt cells, regardless of the age of the animal [Buts J P, De Keyser N, Marandi S, Maernoudt A S, Sokal E M, Rahier J, et al. Expression of insulin receptors and of 60-kDa receptor substrate in rat mature and immature enterocytes. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol (1997); 273:G217-261
Thus, prior art studies suggest that insulin is highly active in promoting lactase activity, mRNA levels and ileal mass when administered to healthy preterm infants or animal models, but does not suggest oral or enteral administration of insulin for increasing intestinal function in non-healthy infants.
The present inventors have previously shown that physiological concentrations (i.e., about 100 μu in maternal milk and 700 μu in colostrum) of insulin formulated in infant formula can be used for the manufacture of formulas which are similar to human milk. Such formulas are expected to protect new born babies from the development of Type-1 diabetes and to improve development and maturation of infants intestine (U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,090).
To date oral administration of insulin (not included in infant formulas) has not been suggested for improving intestinal function humans weaned of infant formula or non-human animal subjects.

Methods and formulations for increasing intestinal function

Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.


A method is disclosed for collecting geographic data during game play. A game scenario includes an activity for the game player to perform. The game player may be given an incentive within the context of the game for performing the activity. The incentive may be of non-monetary, monetary or in-game value. Performing the activity within the context of the game directly or indirectly results in the generation of data that is collected and used for the purpose of updating, adding to or supplementing a geographic database.

The present invention relates to collecting geographic data and more particularly, the present invention relates to a process and system that collects geographic data using game play.
Collecting information for a geographic database is a significant task. Not only is the initial collection of data a significant undertaking, but a geographic database needs to be updated on a regular basis. For example, new streets are constructed, street names change, traffic lights are installed, and turn restrictions are added to existing roads. Further, new businesses open, locations of business change, hours of operation change, etc. Also, new levels of detail may be added about geographic features that are already represented in an existing geographic database. For example, an existing geographic database for roads may be enhanced with information about lane widths, shoulder sizes, lane barriers, address ranges, sidewalks, bicycles paths, etc. Thus, there exists a need to continue to collect information for a geographic database.
Methods for collecting data for geographic databases are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,047,234 and 6,816,784, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. According to one embodiment described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,234, navigation systems are installed in a plurality of vehicles that are operated for various purposes. As an example, the vehicles may be used by persons for routine, everyday activities, such as commuting, shopping, and so on. These vehicles are also used passively as probes to collect geographic data as the vehicles are driven for these various other purposes. The navigation systems in these vehicles may also provide navigation-related features to the drivers and/or passengers of the vehicles in which they are installed, or alternatively, the navigation systems may serve only to collect geographic data as the vehicles in which they are installed are driven. The geographic data collected by the plurality of vehicles are gathered together, analyzed, and used to update or refine a master geographic database. Copies of the master geographic database, or database products derived from the master copy, can then be distributed back to the navigation systems installed in the plurality of vehicles.
According to one embodiment described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,816,784, positioning equipment is installed in each of a plurality of vehicles that are operated for making deliveries. Geographic data is collected that relates the delivery vehicle positions to the addresses associated with the deliveries.
The embodiments described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,047,234 and 6,816,784 afford useful advantages. However, there still exists room for further improvements relating to collection of data for a geographic database.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Geographic data collection using game play


An assembly for treating a sample in a liquid medium, in particular a biological material, includes an essentially static permanently active module, closed off by a chamber from the outside. The assembly includes a disposable outer container holding the sample to be treated, for example an inoculum of a cell culture. The disposable outer container can be connected to the main outlet of a treatment circuit. Another disposable outer container is provided for analyzing the nucleic fraction obtained in the treatment circuit. This container can be connected to the main outlet of the treatment circuit and comprises various reagents and means for analyzing the nucleic fraction. Constituents of the assembly can act as a heat source when connected to an electrical current.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the treatment of a sample in a liquid medium, in particular an aqueous medium, to release and separate a predetermined fraction of interest in said sample. In particular, but solely by way of nonlimiting example, the invention relates to the treatment of a biological material, for example a cellular material, to release and separate a constituent or predetermined fraction, of subcellular or intracellular nature, of the sample that is treated, for example a nucleic or proteinic fraction. By way of introduction to the present invention, and in order to explain it, it will hereafter be described and defined with reference to the analysis, detection, concentration or separation of a nucleic fraction in a biological sample, for example a cellular material comprising said intended nucleic fraction, in order to identify it and/or quantify it.
2. Technical Background
The subject of the present invention is an assembly for treating a sample, said assembly being sterilizable and making it possible to avoid, on the one hand any contamination of the constituent or the predetermined fraction to be analyzed, due to the prior treatment of a different sample, and on the other hand any contamination by various external sources which may, in particular, subsequently vitiate the analysis.
As regards the treatment of nucleic fractions or constituents, an object of this type is particularly important, it being known in practice that many analyses of nucleic material are interfered with or vitiated, when using the same analysis equipment, on the one hand by remnants or residues of the sample treated beforehand, and on the other hand by the existence of nucleic "pollutants" in the immediate vicinity of the analysis equipment. The analysis of nucleic fractions or constituents consequently imposes constraints, in particular operation under particularly stringent conditions, in order to avoid any parasitic contamination of the constituent or fraction to be analyzed.

Assembly for treating a sample in a liquid medium, in particular a biological material


A telecommunications cable includes a plurality of twisted pairs of insulated conductors. The plurality of twisted pairs of insulated conductors extends substantially along a longitudinal axis of the telecommunications cable. In addition, the telecommunications cable includes a separator. The separator separates each twisted pair of insulated conductor of the plurality of twisted pairs of insulated conductors. Moreover, the telecommunications cable includes a first layer. The first layer surrounds the separator and the plurality of twisted pairs of insulated conductors along a length of the telecommunications cable. The separator is I-shaped filler. The separator is made of low smoke zero halogen material or MDPE. The first layer is made of low smoke zero halogen material, polyethylene or poly vinyl chloride. The first layer has a thickness in a range of about 0.4 millimeter-2.5 millimeters.

With the advent of technology in the area of computers and internet, the demand for the cables capable of transmitting data at higher speed has also increased. Nowadays, various data cables are utilized for communication applications which are compliant with high performance data standards. One such type of data cables is a Category 6A U/UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cables. The UTP cables are easy to handle, install, terminate and use. Typically, these UTP cables include multiple twisted pairs of insulated conductors. In addition, these UTP cables include filler or a separator. Typically, the shape of the filler may be cross type filler. The filler or separator forms four regions for disposing the twisted pair of insulated conductors. Specifically, each twisted pair of insulated conductor is disposed in a corresponding region formed by the separator such that each pair of conductor is isolated from another. Moreover, the prior art cable designs include a jacket. The jacket surrounds the filler and the insulated conductors. The filler provides protection against near end crosstalk between the pairs of insulated conductors in the data cable.
In one of the prior art with patent number U.S. Pat. No. 8,030,571 B2, a telecommunications cable is provided. The telecommunications cable includes four twisted pairs of insulated conductors. In addition, the telecommunications cable includes a separator configured to provide four quadrants in the telecommunications cable. The four twisted pairs of insulated conductors are individually disposed within the four quadrants of the separator. Moreover, the telecommunications cable includes a cable jacket. The cable jacket surrounds the four twisted pairs of insulated conductors and the separator along the length of the telecommunications cable. In addition, the separator includes a central portion, a first side portion and a second side portion. The central portion is shorter in size than the first side portion and the second side portion. Further, the separator includes a first horizontal portion and a second horizontal cross portion. The first horizontal portion and the second horizontal cross portion are perpendicular to the central portion. However, the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal cross portion are staggered or offset or dislocated from each other. Furthermore, the separator is made of a material having a material with a dielectric constant substantially the same to a dielectric constant of material used for insulation of the conductor.
In light of the above stated discussion, there exists a need for a telecommunications cable which overcomes the drawbacks of conventionally known telecommunications cable.


An electric vehicle includes: an electric motor; an inverter that supplies electric power to the electric motor; and a cooling system that cools at least one of the electric motor and the inverter, the cooling system having: a main coolant passage configured to circulate a coolant through a radiator and at least one of the electric motor and the inverter; a bypass coolant passage, connected to the main coolant passage, that bypasses at least one of the electric motor and the inverter; and a controller configured to switch from the main coolant passage to the bypass coolant passage when a main switch of the vehicle provided at a driver's seat is turned off while the electric vehicle is travelling, and to switch from the bypass coolant passage to the main coolant passage when the main switch is then turned on.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electric vehicle, such as a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle, that has an electric motor for driving wheels.
2. Description of Related Art
Electric vehicles, unlike common engine vehicles, are equipped with an electric system that handles large current and that includes, for example, an electric motor for driving wheels, a high-capacity and high-voltage battery, an inverter that converts direct-current power from the battery into alternating-current power that is suitable to drive the electric motor, etc. Therefore, the electric vehicles are provided with various safety measures for the electric system and measures against defects in the system, which are not provided for the engine vehicles.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-216833 (JP 2007-216833 A) discloses a technology that prevents an event in conjunction with a hybrid vehicle in which while the hybrid vehicle is traveling, an engine stop signal is input to a control device, and the engine is forced to stop, so that large current flows via the electric motor and the amount of discharge from the main battery exceeds the upper limit, and as a result, the service life of the battery shortens.


The invention relates to systems and or methodologies for enabling cooperative coexistence of multiple time synchronization applications in handheld devices. More particularly, a time component that maintains a time value for a computing device, and a time synchronization component that interfaces with one or more communication entities, and selects one of the communication entities to set the time value in the computing device based on a set of criteria.

Mobile communication and computing technologies have experienced significant growth over the past several years. This growth has lead to mobile computing systems of increased sophistication and complexity. Additionally, the increased sophistication has allowed mobile computing devices to have a plurality of communication options. Mobile communication devices can connect to and communicate with wide area networks, wireless local area networks, global positioning satellites, proprietary synchronization applications, and various internet protocols.
This increased connectivity has allowed mobile computing devices to exchange information and data with a plurality of sources and applications. Processes that were one relegated to execution on larger and more expensive computers can now be shared across distributed networks. However, the increased connectivity can also lead to conflicts when multiple sources attempt to update data values on the computing device with conflicting data values.
Conflicts resulting from inconsistent data values can disrupt applications and processes executing on a computing device. Such disruptions can result in costly and inefficient downtime, glitches, and errors. Currently, mobile communication/computing devices may only allow one source to update a particular data value in order to avoid conflicts. However, it would be desirable to have a system and/or methodology of allowing, disallowing, or prioritizing the ability of multiple sources to update, set or otherwise synchronize one or more data values in a mobile computing/communication device.

Cooperative coexistence of multiple time synchronization applications


A digital printing apparatus comprising a developing roller (102) and an image carrying roller (101); the developing roller (102) being arranged to transfer liquid toner (107) onto the image carrying roller (101) in accordance with a charge pattern; an upstream charger (111) upstream of an area (108) of rotational contact between the developing roller (102) and the image carrying roller (101); a downstream discharger (112, 122, 132) downstream of the area (108); a sensor (200) downstream of the area (108) to detect a property representative of the charge of a liquid toner residue; and a controller (210) to receive sensor data from the sensor (200) and to provide a control signal to control the downstream discharger.

Digital printing apparatus using liquid toner are known from US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0249990. The known digital printing apparatus comprises a feed roller, a developing roller, developing roller cleaning means, and an image carrying roller; the feed roller being arranged to transfer a quantity of liquid toner from a reservoir onto the developing roller; and the developing roller being arranged to transfer a portion of the quantity of liquid toner onto the image carrying roller in accordance with a charge pattern sustained on a surface of the image carrying roller.
In digital printing systems of this kind, it is necessary to remove the liquid toner residue that remains on the surface of the developing roller after contact with the imaging roller (typically a roller with a photoconductive surface, adapted to carry a latent image formed by a pattern of charges on that surface). The removal of this residue is quite challenging.
European Patent Application Publication No. 2685320 in the name of the Applicant describes the use of an oscillating electric field arranged to substantially decompactify the chargeable imaging particles in a liquid toner residue on a developing roller, prior to or during its mechanical removal.
In the digital printing apparatus according to the aforementioned US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0249990, an upstream corona charger is arranged opposite to a surface of the developing roller downstream of the area of its rotational contact with the feed roller and upstream of the area of its rotational contact with the image carrying roller, and a downstream corona discharger is arranged opposite to a surface of the developing roller downstream of the area of its rotational contact with the image carrying roller and upstream of the area of its rotational contact with the developing roller cleaning means. The downstream corona discharger applies charges which are of a polarity opposite to that of charges applied by the upstream corona charger to impart a force to toner particles that are flocculated or agglutinated to remain on the surface of the developing roller by the upstream corona charger. It is alleged that the resulting force acts in a direction in which the toner particles come off the surface of the developing roller, and it is claimed that this results in easier removal of the residual toner from the surface of the developing roller.
It has been found, however, that the arrangement of US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0249990 does not always lead to optimal removal of the residual liquid toner.

Digital printing system with improved toner removal


An insulating shield plate (1) divides a room of an electrolysis bath (2) into an anode chamber (13) and a cathode chamber (14). An anode (5) is disposed in the anode chamber (13), and a cathode (6), metallic waste (7) and heater (4) are disposed in the cathode chamber (14). An electrolyte (3) stored in the electrolysis bath (2) flows in a circulation path from a circulating pump (10) through a circulating line (12) and filter (11) to return the electrolysis bath (2). An exhaust gas processing device 9 is connected to the electrolysis bath (2). When a voltage is supplied to the anode (5) and cathode (6), a surface of the metallic waste (7) is charged in a positive polarity to dissolve a base metal of the metallic waste (7). Further, a cylindrical anode (33) is arranged in an electrolyte (32) in an electrolysis bath (31), and a cylindrical metal (34) as a metallic waste is arranged in the cylindrical anode (33). After a bar-shaped cathode (35) is arranged in the cylindrical metal (34), a DC voltage is supplied to the cylindrical anode (33) and the bar-shaped cathode (35). At this time, the system may be constructed in that oxygen occurs by charging in a positive polarity in an inner surface of the cylindrical metal (34) and the base metal of the cylindrical shape is dissolved.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for decontaminating a radioactive metallic waste for the purpose of reducing the radioactivity occurring during operation, outage for inspection and decommission of the nuclear facilities and included in a metallic waste, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for decontaminating a radioactive metallic waste for the purpose of reducing the radioactivity included in a metallic waste having shapes of a pipe, plate and the like.
Various methods are provided for completely decontaminating the radioactivity included in a radioactive metallic waste and occurring during operation of the nuclear power establishment, at an outage for inspection of the nuclear facilities and at decommissioning the waste. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 62-46297 and No. 60-186799 disclose an electrolysis decontamination using acid and neutral salt (chloride) solution, which have been developed and utilized.
The electrolysis decontamination is effective with respect to the metallic waste having a comparatively simple shape such as a plate, cylindrical object and the like. A system of the electrolysis decontamination, comprises an anode as a metallic waste, and a cathode arranged in front of a surface to be decontaminated on the metallic waste as the anode, in which a direct voltage is supplied between the metallic waste (anode) and the cathode to polish a base metal on the surface to be decontaminated, thereby decontaminating the radioactivity from the metallic waste.
The electrolysis decontamination mentioned above, however, has the problems as follows:
i) Since the contamination remains behind a connection portion between the metallic waste and the anode because the connection portion is not dissolved, it is necessary to change the manner of holding the anode to decontaminate again so as to complicate the decontamination; PA1 ii) When large scale device and apparatus are decontaminated, since a current value becomes large in proportion to a surface area, it is necessary to provide an anode clamper under the consideration of a contact area. Accordingly, it is also necessary to frequently change the anode clamper to match the shape with the device and apparatus; and PA1 iii) When large number of device and apparatus are treated, since it is necessary to change the manner of holding the anode and to change the anode clamper, it is possible for an operator to receive an increased exposure. PA1 an electrolysis bath having a predetermined shape and filled up by an electrolyte which has predetermined component, density and temperature for performing the electrolysis; PA1 an anode arranged in the electrolysis bath with a predetermined shape and charged in a positive polarity by a direct current (DC) voltage supplied from a DC power source; and PA1 a cathode arranged in the electrolysis bath with a predetermined shape and charged in a negative polarity by the DC voltage supplied from the DC power source: PA1 wherein the predetermined shape of at least any of electrodes of the anode and cathode is formed in correspondence with the predetermined shape of the metallic waste which is set in the electrolysis bath. PA1 an insulating shield plate for dividing a room of the electrolysis bath into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, and the insulating shield plate which is set in a U-shape along three inner wall surfaces of the electrolysis bath. PA1 the insulating shield plate is a vessel having an opening at an upper portion thereof; PA1 the anode is arranged at a bottom portion of the electrolysis bath; PA1 the cathode is arranged at a bottom portion of the electrolysis bath; PA1 the metallic waste is supported by an insulation supporting member; and PA1 the insulation supporting member is arranged at the bottom of the electrolysis bath having the opening at the upper portion and has a plurality of holes each of which opens in a mesh-shaped for passing through the electrolyte. PA1 the insulation supporting member is comprised of a basket which has an opening at an upper portion thereof, and stores the metallic waste therein. PA1 the cathode is comprised of a rectangular pipe or a bar-shaped body, and moves with keeping a constant interval against the metallic waste by a driving mechanism. PA1 the cathode is comprised of a blind cathode which is formed by connecting a plurality of rectangular pipes or bar-shaped bodies by a flexible cable, the blind cathode which has an insulating elastic body for allowing a water passing therethrough. PA1 any one of electrodes of two kinds of the anode and the cathode for electrolysis has a cylindrical shape along the outer shape of the metallic waste having a curved portion, and the other of the electrodes is formed in a bar-shaped in correspondence with an inner shape of the metallic waste. PA1 an electrolysis bath; PA1 a cylindrical anode which is arranged in the electrolyte in the electrolysis bath; PA1 a cylindrical metallic waste which is arranged in the cylindrical anode; PA1 a bar-shaped cathode which is arranged in the cylindrical metallic waste; and PA1 a direct current power source for connecting the cylindrical anode and the bar-shaped cathode. PA1 an electrolysis bath; PA1 a cylindrical insulating shield body which is arranged in the electrolyte in the electrolysis bath; PA1 a cylindrical anode which is arranged on an inner wall of the cylindrical insulating shield body; PA1 a cylindrical cathode which is arranged on an outer wall of the cylindrical insulating shield body; PA1 a cylindrical metallic waste which is arranged in the cylindrical anode; and PA1 a direct current power source for connecting the cylindrical anode and the bar-shaped cathode. PA1 insulating discs each having an opening are arranged at the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical insulating shield body. PA1 an electrolysis bath; PA1 an insulating shield vessel which is arranged in the electrolysis bath and has an opening at the upper portion thereof; PA1 a cathode which is arranged at the bottom of the electrolysis bath; PA1 an anode which is arranged at the bottom of the insulating shield vessel; PA1 a supporting vessel which is arranged in the insulating shield vessel to keep a metallic waste and has an opening at the upper portion thereof: wherein PA1 the supporting vessel has a side surface formed of insulating material, and a bottom portion formed of metal material, and PA1 the side surface of the supporting vessel has a plurality of holes for allowing the electrolyte therethrough. PA1 an electric circuit is configured in the manner that the DC voltage is supplied between the anode and the cathode for charging in a negative polarity the metal material at the bottom portion of the supporting vessel facing to the anode, and for charging in a positive polarity an upper surface of the metallic waste kept by the supporting vessel. PA1 a step of filling up the electrolyte having predetermined component, density and temperature into an electrolysis bath having a predetermined shape for performing the electrolysis; PA1 a step of setting the metallic waste at a predetermined position between a pair of electrodes including an anode and cathode and corresponding to the shape of the metallic waste; and PA1 a step of supplying a direct current (DC) voltage from a DC power source to the pair of electrodes to charge in a positive polarity to any one of the pair of electrodes to be the anode and to charge in a negative polarity to the other of the pair of electrodes to be the cathode for performing the electrolyte, thereby dissolving the base metal of the metallic waste. PA1 a step of dividing a room in the electrolysis bath into an insulating shield plate into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber; PA1 a step of setting an anode in the anode chamber; PA1 a step of setting a cathode and the metallic waste in the cathode chamber; PA1 a step of supplying the DC voltage to the anode and cathode from the DC power source connected to the anode and cathode, respectively; and PA1 a step of charging in a positive polarity to a decontamination surface of the metallic waste facing to the cathode. PA1 when entire of both surfaces of the metallic waste are contaminated by the radioactivity, a polarity of the DC power source is converted to change the anode to a cathode and the cathode to an anode so as to dissolve the other surface of the metallic waste. PA1 a step of using inorganic acid as the electrolyte; PA1 a step of supplying the DC voltage to the pair of electrodes; PA1 a step of reducing and destroying a passive or oxide layer on the predetermined surface of the metallic waste facing to the cathode by charging in a negative polarity to the other surface of the predetermined surface; and PA1 a step of stopping a supply of the DC voltage and dissolving the base metal of the metallic waste by using acid force of the inorganic acid. PA1 a dissolution of the base metal and a reduction and destruction of the passive or oxide layer are repeated by alternatively inverting a polarity of the DC power source. PA1 a step of setting a cylindrical anode in the electrolyte; PA1 a step of setting a cylindrical metallic waste in the cylindrical anode; PA1 a step of setting a bar-shaped cathode in the cylindrical metallic waste; PA1 a step of supplying the DC voltage from the DC power source to a portion between the cylindrical anode and the bar-shaped cathode; and PA1 a step of charging in a positive polarity to an inner surface of the cylindrical metallic waste and in negative polarity to an outer surface of the cylindrical metallic waste, thereby dissolving the inner surface of a base metal of the metallic waste. PA1 when both of the inner surface and the outer surface of the cylindrical metallic waste are contaminated, a cathode of the DC power source is inverted to an anode, and an anode of the DC power source is inverted to a cathode, thereby dissolving the outer surface of the cylindrical metallic waste. PA1 a dissolution of the base metal of the inner surface of the cylindrical metallic waste and a reduction and destruction of the oxide layer formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical metallic waste are repeated by alternatively inverting a polarity of the DC power source. PA1 a step of setting a cylindrical insulating shield body in the electrolyte; PA1 a step of setting a cylindrical anode on an inner wall of the cylindrical insulating shield body, PA1 a step of setting a cylindrical cathode on an outer wall of the cylindrical insulating shield body; PA1 a step of setting a cylindrical metallic waste in the cylindrical anode; PA1 a step of connecting the DC power source to the cylindrical anode and the cylindrical cathode; PA1 a step of supplying the DC voltage from the DC power source to the cylindrical anode and cylindrical cathode; and PA1 a step of charging in a negative polarity to an outer surface of the cylindrical metallic waste and in a positive polarity to an inner surface of the cylindrical metallic waste, thereby dissolving a base metal at an inner surface of the cylindrical metallic waste. PA1 when both of the inner surface and the outer surface of the cylindrical metallic waste are contaminated, a cathode of the DC power source is inverted to an anode, and an anode of the DC power source is inverted to a cathode, thereby dissolving the outer surface of the cylindrical metallic waste. PA1 a dissolution of the base metal of the inner surface of the cylindrical metallic waste and a reduction and destruction of the oxide layer formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical metallic waste are repeated by alternatively inverting a polarity of the DC power source.
A related patent application has been filed at the JPO as a Japanese patent application laid-open No. 5-297192, and No. 6-242295 for decontaminating the radioactivity of the metallic waste by using a bipolar electrolytic with non-contact. The present invention provides higher function and high performance than the previous method.

Apparatus for electrochemical decontamination of radioactive metallic waste


Listeners to media programs provide feedback to creators or other entities associated with the media programs in the form of one or more spoken utterances. When a listener to a media program speaks one or more words to a microphone or other system, the words are captured and processed to determine an emotion of the listener, or to determine whether the words include any objectionable content. Data including the spoken words is captured and stored, and presented to the creator of the media program. Notifications of the utterances are provided to the creator, who may identify one of the utterances, and include the utterance in the media program, or invite the listener who provided the utterances to participate in the media program.

Not long after the advent of the commercial radio industry in the United States, "talk" radio shows began to emerge as an attractive and engaging platform for communication. In talk radio, hosts speak directly to listeners, typically on a casual or informal basis, to convey information or express opinions on various topics. By the 1940s, call-in (or "phone-in") radio shows allowed listeners to contact a radio station, typically by telephone, and to participate in a radio show. Over time, call-in radio shows enabled users to provide information or express their opinions, which may coincide or conflict with those of a host, to request a musical selection to be played by the host, or to otherwise participate in the radio show in any other manner.
While a call-in radio format is both valuable and effective for many reasons, the format is subject to a number of limitations. First, producing a call-in radio show typically requires additional telephone systems or services, and personnel, to receive telephone calls from listeners, and to coordinate connecting the listeners with the hosts while the radio show is on the air. Next, call-in radio shows are commonly subject to the limitations of such systems or services to connect listeners to hosts. For example, where many listeners are interested in connecting with a radio show by telephone, such as to request a song, or to respond to a promotion, a host must typically select a listener from a numbered or ranked list of listeners who call into the radio show, e.g., "caller number five," and connect with that selected listener, without connecting with or contacting any of the listeners that preceded or followed the selected listener in the numbered or ranked list. Moreover, producers of radio shows are currently unable to determine or predict an emotional state of a listener who intends to participate in a radio show, or to determine whether that listener intends to share objectionable content (e.g., obscene, indecent, profane or divisive words or other content) with the host or other listeners of the radio show, until that listener ultimately appears on the air.

Receiving voice samples from listeners of media programs


A universal capping system seals the printhead of either a single-chamber or a multi-chamber style inkjet cartridge, such as a black ink cartridge or a multi-color ink cartridge installed in an inkjet printing mechanism. In an imaging inkjet cartridge system, the normal single-chamber black cartridge for printing text is replaced with a multi-chamber imaging cartridge. Some imaging cartridges carry ink formulations having reduced colorant concentrations, which, when used in conjunction with a full color cartridge carrying full colorant concentrations of color inks, provides near photographic image quality, as well as crisp black text and line art. The printing mechanism is provided with a universal capping system, including several banks of flexible sealing sublips, capable of sealing either style cartridge when installed. One sublip has an asymmetrical cross section selected to control the direction of bending. The cap is spring-biased to push the sealing lips into engagement with the installed printhead.

Inkjet printing mechanisms use pens which shoot drops of liquid colorant, referred to generally herein as "ink," onto a page. Each pen has a printhead formed with very small nozzles through which the ink drops are fired. To print an image, the printhead is propelled back and forth across the page, shooting drops of ink in a desired pattern as it moves. The particular ink ejection mechanism within the printhead may take on a variety of different forms known to those skilled in the art, such as those using piezo-electric or thermal printhead technology. For instance, two earlier thermal ink ejection mechanisms are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,278,584 and 4,683,481. In a thermal system, a barrier layer containing ink channels and vaporization chambers is located between a nozzle orifice plate and a substrate layer. This substrate layer typically contains linear arrays of heater elements, such as resistors, which are energized to heat ink within the vaporization chambers. Upon heating, an ink droplet is ejected from a nozzle associated with the energized resistor. By selectively energizing the resistors as the printhead moves across the page, the ink is expelled in a pattern on the print media to form a desired image (e.g., picture, chart or text).
To clean and protect the printhead, typically a "service station" mechanism is mounted within the printer chassis so the printhead can be moved over the station for maintenance. For storage, or during non-printing periods, the service stations usually include a capping system which substantially seals the printhead nozzles from contaminants and drying. Some caps are also designed to facilitate priming, such as by being connected to a pumping unit that draws a vacuum on the printhead. During operation, clogs in the printhead are periodically cleared by firing a number of drops of ink through each of the nozzles in a process known as "spitting," with the waste ink being collected in a "spittoon" reservoir portion of the service station. After spitting, uncapping, or occasionally during printing, most service stations have an elastomeric wiper that wipes the printhead surface to remove ink residue, as well as any paper dust or other debris that has collected on the printhead.
To improve the clarity and contrast of the printed image, recent research has focused on improving the ink itself. To provide faster, more waterfast printing with darker blacks and more vivid colors, pigment based inks have been developed. These pigment based inks have a higher solid content than the earlier dye based inks, which results in a higher optical density for the new inks. Both types of ink dry quickly, which allows inkjet printing mechanisms to form high quality images on readily available and economical plain paper.
Early inkjet printers used a single monochromatic pen, typically carrying black ink. Later generations of inkjet printing mechanisms used a black pen which was interchangeable with a tri-color pen, typically one carrying the colors of cyan, magenta and yellow within a single cartridge. The tri-color pen was capable of printing a "process" or "composite" black image, by depositing a drop of cyan, a drop of magenta, and a drop of yellow ink all at the same location. Unfortunately, images printed with the composite black usually had rough edges, and the overall image, even the color portions, often had a non-black hue or cast, depending for instance, upon the type of paper used.
The next generation of printers further enhanced the images by using a dual pen system. These dual pen printers provided a black pen along with a tri-color pen, both of which were mounted in a single carriage. These dual pen devices had the ability to print crisp, clear black text while providing full color images. As another answer to the dissatisfaction with the composite black images, a quad pen printing mechanism was developed. These quad pen printers carried four cartridges in a single carriage. Quad pen plotters were also developed, some of which carried four cartridges, one in each of four carriages. These quad printing mechanisms had a first pen carrying black ink, a second pen carrying cyan ink, a third pen carrying magenta ink, and a fourth pen carrying yellow ink.
Unfortunately, both the quad pen printers and the dual pen printers produced images, such as photographic images, which had a "grainy" appearance. For example, when printing a light colored portion of an image, such as a flesh tone, yellow dots were printed and lightly interspersed with magenta dots. When viewed at a distance, these magenta dots provided a flesh tone appearance; however, upon closer inspection the magenta dots were quite visible, giving the image an undesirable grainy appearance. This grainy appearance was similar to the graininess seen in newspaper photographs, or in photos taken using the wrong speed ("ASA" or "ISO" rating) of photographic film in low light conditions.
Indeed, inkjet printing mechanisms are known as "binary drop devices" because they form images by either placing a drop of ink on the print medium or by not firing. Not firing a droplet leaves either the print medium, or a previously printed drop(s), exposed to view. Unfortunately, such binary drop devices give inherently grainy images due to the visual "step" between the "drop on" and "drop off" regions. Worse yet, the larger the drops printed, the more grainy the resulting image appears, whether printing color or gray-scale images.
These earlier inkjet printers provided crisp black text and bright vivid graphics and charts, yet they failed to provide images of near photographic type quality, such as portraits, scenic landscapes, and other natural appearing images. Other devices have been used to provide high quality images, such as continuous tone devices some of which use a dye sublimation processes. Unfortunately, these continuous tone devices are expensive, and very unlikely to be viable within the small office and home printer markets, which currently sell printers to consumers within the range of $200-$1,000 dollars.
Another printing system, known as an imaging printing system has been proposed. Using a basic dual pen printer, typically constructed for a monochrome (e.g. black) cartridge and a tri-color (e.g. cyan, magenta, yellow) cartridge, the monochrome cartridge is replaced with a tri-chamber "imaging cartridge." While the normally installed tri-color cartridge carries full colorant concentrations of inks, the imaging cartridge typically carries ink formulations having reduced colorant concentrations. For instance, the imaging cartridge may contain reduced colorant concentrations of cyan and magenta, and either a full or a reduced concentration of black ink. Of course, pens containing other color and concentration combinations may also be interchanged with the monochrome cartridge. For instance, two full color cartridges may be installed if extensive color graphics are being printed, such as for business charts. However, one true beauty of the imaging system is realized when the reduced colorant concentrations are used in the imaging cartridge in combination with a full color concentration cartridge. By interspersing droplets of reduced colorant concentration with droplets of the full colorant concentrations, the resulting images have a near photographic quality.
Unfortunately, in a dual pen inkjet printer, this ability to interchange the monochrome and multi-cartridges presents a unique set of problems when it comes to servicing of both types of cartridges. FIG. 13 is a sectional bottom view of a first prior art capping system, shown in cross section sealing the orifice plate of a multi-chamber tri-color pen P1, while FIG. 14 is a sectional rear elevational view taken along line 14--14 of FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is a sectional bottom view of a second prior art capping system, shown in cross section sealing the orifice plate of a monochrome black pen P2. FIG. 16 is a sectional rear elevational view taken along line 16--16 of FIG. 15. The color pen P1 has a silicon orifice or nozzle plate S1 that defines three sets of nozzles A, B and C (each aligned in a pair of linear nozzle arrays), as shown in FIG. 13. The black pen P2 has a silicon orifice or nozzle plate S2 that defines one set of nozzles D, aligned in two linear arrays, as shown in FIG. 15.
As shown in FIGS. 13-16, these previous designs have used two different methods of capping the color and black printheads, based on the printhead geometry. In these figures, the silicon nozzle plates S1, S2 are attached by encapsulant beads E to a portion of an electrical flex circuit F1 for pen P1, and flex circuit F2 for pen P2. The flex circuits F1, F2 deliver firing signals to energize the printhead resistors which are associated with each nozzle in sets A-C, D. An energized resistor heats the ink until a droplet is ejected from the nozzle associated with the energized resistor.
As can be seen in FIGS. 14 and 16, the encapsulant beads E project beyond the outer surface of the nozzle silicon S1, S2. In the past, separate caps have been used to seal the black pen P1 and the color pen P2, with each cap avoiding the encapsulant bead regions. FIGS. 13 and 14 show a prior art color cap G sealing along the outer surface of the flex circuit F1, surrounding both the silicon S1 and the encapsulant beads E. FIGS. 15 and 16 show a prior art black cap H surrounding the nozzles D, and sealed directly against the silicon S2, between the encapsulant beads E.
Unfortunately, these prior art cap designs G and H were not interchangeable. The black cap H could not seal the color pen P1 against the silicon S1 because there is not enough room between the nozzle groups A, B, C and the encapsulant beads E to seat the cap H. Conversely, the color cap G could not seal the black pen P2 around the exterior of the silicon S2 because toward an interconnect side I of pen P2, there is a hollowed-out or notched region N where there is no flex circuit or plastic with which to form a seal. In other words, for the black pen P2 the sealing surface along the interconnect side I ends abruptly almost at the edge of the silicon S2.
As a further complication to interchangeably sealing both the black and tri-chamber pens, their orifice plates differ in their distance, here in elevation, from the print media. For instance, a black pen may be on the order of 0.6 mm (millimeters) closer to the print media than a tri-color pen. These differences in pen-to-media spacing enhance the print quality but complicate the problem of trying to seal both pens with the same cap. Using a conventional cap, such as G or H, to seal the color pen (farthest from the media) with an adequate force would result in too great a force when the same cap was used to seal the black pen. Sealing the black pen with such a great force may cause the elastomeric cap lips to buckle and perhaps to take a permanent set, which would then fail to seal a color pen when installed. Conversely, using the correct capping force for the black pen (closest to the media), would result in a cap would not even touch the color pen when installed.
One other earlier capping system, is currently commercially available in the DeskJet.RTM. 850C and DeskJet.RTM. 855C model color inkjet printers, sold by the Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto, Calif. The black and tri-color cartridges used in these printers have a different design than the cartridges illustrated herein, so different challenges were encountered in designing suitable capping systems. The capping system in these earlier printers used a multiple sealing lip system to seal along the length of (parallel to) the encapsulant beads, not across (perpendicular to) the beads which is the challenge faced here. That is, in this earlier design the multiple sealing lips were parallel to the encapsulant beads to accommodate for manufacturing tolerance accumulation, so at least one of the multiple lips would land in a suitable location on the silicon to form a seal.
To solve the dilemma of sealing two different style printheads, of course two different caps could be installed in a service station, one for accommodating each type of pen when installed in the printer. However, such a two cap system is cumbersome, requiring extra physical space within the printer, which leads to a larger product that many consumers find undesirable. Moreover, such a two cap system, one for accommodating each type of pen, unfortunately increases the cost of the resultant printer, by requiring extra parts and assembly steps. Thus, it is desirable to have a universal capping system which is capable of sealing both monochrome and multi-chamber printheads.

Universal cap for different style inkjet printheads


To raise a form overlay print processing efficiency of an output job which is inputted and a form raster image which is generated from form data and to remarkably improve a throughput, when the form data that is derived from a host computer is registered into an RAM 19 or the like, the form data which is overlappingly used by a CPU 12 is discriminated, and overlapped processes such as registration of the font data, generation of the form raster image-based on the form data, deletion of the form data, and the like are skipped.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a print control apparatus for performing a printing process by overlaying predetermined form data and print information which is inputted, a form data processing method of the print control apparatus, and a storage medium in which a computer readable program has been stored.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, in case of printing by overlaying certain data (hereinafter, referred to as form data) to a job of a plurality of pages (hereinafter, such a print is called an overlay print), a printer driver in a host computer for controlling a function to overlay and print by a printer has been proposed.
The form overlay function using the form data is a function for registering form data comprising a macro as a number into the printer (macro registration) and designating the registration number by a page using the registered form data (macro execution).
Hitherto, there are two specifications as such a form overlay function using the macro data.
First, in the first specification, in one job, a plurality of macros are first registered in a lump, a designation of the registration number as a macro execution and a raster development of the macro are subsequently performed on a page unit basis, and a deletion of the form data (deletion of the macros) is executed at the end of a job.
In the second specification, the macros are registered on a page unit basis, the raster development is performed by the macro execution, and the macros are deleted.
In LIPS language (registered trademark by Canon Inc.), as mentioned above, the above two specifications are supported and are switched in accordance with a using method. For example, when a form file of xe2x80x9c*.ls4xe2x80x9d is selected from a setting sheet of a property of a printer driver, commands are generated by the first specification. In case of printing from an application, for example, xe2x80x9cFormcraft Pro. (registered trademark by Canon Inc.)xe2x80x9d having the form overlay function, commands are generated in the second specification.
As disclosed in JP-A-10-285421 (Japanese Patent Application No. 09-286969), there is a printer driver having a function for, in case of printing, automatically discriminating a color processing mode such that a color print/monochromatic print is performed on a page unit basis or a job unit basis.
To control the conventional overlay printing function from a host computer, although it is sufficient to transfer form data only once, a drawing process of the form data is necessary every page on the printer side, so that there are problems such that a load increases more and an advantage due to the mere reduction of the overlap transfer time of the form data cannot be effected and enough performance cannot be derived.
It is generally considered according to the printer that the macro deletion is performed at the end of the job, so that in case of performing the macro deletion in the second specification, there is a printer such that a process of next data is not performed until waiting for a paper ejection of the current page. In a printer for performing the printing process on a job unit basis, it depends on a low throughput based on the specification of the printer in which after waiting for the paper ejection at the end of the job, a data analysis of a next job is executed.
For example, in the current overlay printing function, since a color mode (color/mono) of the overlay form data which is formed is unconditionally determined, if the color mode of the data to be printed differs from the color mode of the overlay form data to be overlaid, the overlay print cannot be performed.
Therefore, in the case where the overlay print is performed in a color processing mode automatic discriminating process for automatically discriminating the color/mono mode on a page unit basis, there is a situation such that the print is stopped at a page in which the color mode of the data to be printed and the color mode of the overlay form data to be overlaid are different and the overlay print cannot be performed for all of the data. Thus, the user obtains an unexpected print result.
The invention is made to solve the foregoing problems and it is the first object of the invention to provide an information processing apparatus having a printer driver such that when using an overlay function of a printing apparatus, in the case where a form cache can be used in the printing apparatus, by generating commands by skipping overlap processes such as registration of form data, generation of a form raster image based on the form data, deletion of the form data, and the like, a printing process of a high throughput is controlled and to provide an information processing method of such an information processing apparatus and a storage medium in which a computer readable program has been stored.
The second object of the invention is to provide a print control apparatus such that when an overlay function is used on the basis of form data which is obtained from a data processing apparatus, by skipping the overlap processes such as registration of the form data, generation of a form raster image based on the form data, deletion of the form data, and the like, the overlapped vain data processes at the time of a form overlay printing process using the same form data which is derived from the data processing apparatus are eliminated, and a throughput can be remarkably improved and to provide a form data processing method for such print control apparatus and a storage medium in which a computer readable program has been stored.
The third object of the invention is to provide a print control apparatus such that when form data which is obtained from a data processing apparatus is registered, by identifying the form data which is overlappingly used over a plurality of pages and by skipping the overlap processes such as registration of the form data, generation of a form raster image based on the form data, deletion of the form data, and the like, the overlapped vain data processes at the time of a form overlay printing process using the same form data which is derived from the data processing apparatus are eliminated, a form overlay print processing efficiency of an output job that is inputted and the form raster image that is generated from the form data is raised, and a throughput can be remarkably improved and to provide a form data processing method for such print control apparatus and a storage medium in which a computer readable program has been stored.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus which communicates with a data processing apparatus through a predetermined communication medium and can analyze an output job that is received, comprising: registering means for registering a plurality of form data which is transferred from the data processing apparatus into a memory; generating means for analyzing the form data registered in the memory by the registering means and generating a form raster image which is form-overlaid to each page of the output job; deleting means for deleting the form data registered in the memory by the registering means; setting means for setting the number of holding pages to be held in the memory every form data when each form data is registered into the memory; designating means for designating the form data which is used from the form data registered in the memory; and control means for skipping the registration of the same form data which is used by continuous pages into the memory by the registering means and the deletion of the registered same form data from the memory by the deleting means except for the designation of the form data by the designating means until the number of holding pages set by the setting means exceeds the number of print output pages.
According to a second aspect of the invention, the print control apparatus comprises: discriminating means for discriminating whether the same form data as the form data that is designated by the designating means has already been registered in the memory or not; and skip designating means for, when it is determined by the discriminating means that the same form data has already been registered in the memory, performing a skip designation to sequentially skip the registration of the same form data that is used in the continuous pages into the memory and the deletion of the registered same form data from the memory except for the designation of the form data by the designating means, wherein the control means skips the registration of the same form data that is used in the continuous pages into the memory by the registering means and the deletion of the registered same form data from the memory by the deleting means on the basis of the skip designating state by the skip designating means.
According to a third aspect of the invention, the print control apparatus has registration control means for downloading a plurality of form data accumulated in a specific area that is designated in memory resources at the time of the transfer of the form data from the data processing apparatus when a power source is turned on and for registering them into the memory.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a print control apparatus which communicates with a data processing apparatus through a predetermined communication medium and can analyze a page job or an output job that is received, comprising: registering means for registering color or monochromatic form data which is transferred from the data processing apparatus into a memory; generating means for analyzing the color or monochromatic form data registered in the memory by the registering means and generating a form raster image which is form-overlaid to each page of the output job; discriminating means for discriminating whether a color mode in the output job or page job coincides with a color mode of the form data or not before the raster image is generated by the generating means; changing means for changing a discrimination unit about the color mode by the discriminating means from a page unit to a job unit; and control means for controlling a form overlay print executing state on the basis of a discrimination result by the discriminating means.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus which communicates with a print control apparatus through a predetermined communication medium and generates a job to be transmitted, comprising: discriminating means for discriminating whether a form raster image of form data which is used in the job has been held in the print control apparatus or not; and command issue control means for skipping a form execution command to execute a process to raster-generate the form data to the form raster image in the case where the form raster image has been held in the print control apparatus and issuing a form designation command.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the information processing apparatus further comprises obtaining means for obtaining information from the print control apparatus.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, when information showing that the print control apparatus can hold the form raster image is obtained by the obtaining means, the discrimination by the discriminating means is performed.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention, when information showing that the print control apparatus cannot hold the form raster image is obtained by the obtaining means, the command issue control means issues a form execution command to execute a process to raster-generate the form data into the form raster image.
According to the ninth aspect of the invention, when the page in which the form data to be used in the job should be executed is processed, if the form data has been executed in the previous page, the discriminating means determines that the form raster image of the form data has been held in the print control apparatus.
According to a tenth aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus which communicates with a print control apparatus through a predetermined communication medium and can generate a job to be transmitted, comprising: auto color mode instructing means for discriminating a color used in print data constructing the job on a page unit basis and instructing an auto color mode to allow a color processing mode in the print control apparatus to be decided on a page unit basis; overlay instructing means for instructing a form overlay print; and control means for allowing the auto color mode by the auto color mode instructing means to be determined as a color processing mode on a job unit basis in the case where the form overlay print is instructed by the overlay instructing means.
According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, the information processing apparatus further comprises generating means for generating the print data in accordance with a print request.
According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, the information processing apparatus further has: discriminating means for discriminating whether a color mode of the print data coincides with a color mode of the form data or not in the case where the form overlay print is instructed by the overlay instructing means and the print data is generated by the generating means; and control means for controlling whether the generating process of the print data by the generating means is continued or interrupted on the basis of a discrimination result by the discriminating means.
Further another aspect of the invention is applied to a method of realizing the above construction and a storage medium in which a computer readable program has been stored.