If we assume that images to be printed will consist of a combination of natural images and computer generated images, we would like the natural images to map to the closest printable colors, and the computer generated images to map to the saturated printer colors. Usually, we cannot tell the source of a color specification, so one algorithm must suffice for both conditions. A method to combine the two is presented. First, the printable colors are measured is some device independent color sapce, such as L*a*b*. Next, the range of colors from some reference color CRT, consisting of the colors from black to monitor saturates, and the colors between, then from saturates to white, and the colors between, are calculated. The saturates are assigned colors based on what printable color a user would like to get when the user asks for a saturated CRT color. A good coice would be the color space defined by CCIR 709, but any color space could be used. This gives us the printer's representation of the outer range of the color gamut of the CRT. Next, a table is generated which subsample all colors available to the specified color space. This table fills in entries within the color gamut of the target printer with the closest printable color. Colors out of the printer's gamut are represented by an averaging of the printable colors and of the outer range of colors assigned for the saturates. A requested color is converted to the reference color space, then looked up in the table, and the resulting color specification is sent to the printer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to color computer graphics and more particularly to color gamut mapping in which source device colors not reachable by a destination device are mapped to other colors that are reachable by the destination device.
2. State of the Art
Color matching algorithms are intended to present information on one medium so that it appears the same as when presented on a different medium. For Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) color displays, the CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) has established standards which allow all displays to present color in the same manner, even though different colors are used to generate the image. However, since printing is a subtractive process (CRTs using an additive process), it becomes difficult to tell a printer what amounts of its subtractive primaries to use to present the same color when told the additive primaries of the CRT.
Neugebauer, Electronics For Imaging, Kodak, and numerous others have attempted to convert from the color representation on a CRT to a color specification on a printer. The general consensus is that an interpolated table is an adequate method for converting from the CRT color space to the printer's color space. However, if one measures the colors available to a CRT and those available to a color printer, one finds that a small amount of colors which are printable cannot be displayed on the CRT, while many colors which may be displayed on the CRT cannot be printed, especially green, yellow, red, and magenta. The color range available to an imaging device is referred to as its color gamut, and this non-overlapping nature of the color gamuts between devices is known as gamut mismatch, and the colors which a source device can image but the destination device cannot image are known as out of gamut colors.
Conventionally, the general rule for mapping from a source device (such as a CRT) to a destination device (such as a color printer) is that all colors which are available to the destination device should print the source device's color as closely as possible; when printing out of gamut colors, hue angle, saturation, and lightness of the source device should be preserved as closely as possible.
However, when this algorithm is implemented, users do not like the results, especially when attempting to present monitor saturated colors such as yellow, green, red, and magenta. Usually, the yellow is the most objectionable, because most CRT yellows are more green than the printer's yellow. The result is that when saturated CRT yellow is requested, the color matching algorithm maps this color to white or a washed-out green. This typically isn't what the user had in mind when requesting saturated yellow, although this is a correct color science representation of that color.
Assuming that images to be printed will typically consist of a combination of natural images and computer generated images, ideally the natural images would map to the closest printable colors, and the computer generated images would map to the saturated printer colors. However, there is usually no way to tell the source of a color specification.
What is needed, then, is a method whereby natural images may be printed to match as closely as possible the color seen on a CRT while presenting saturated CRT colors as saturated printer colors.

Subjectively pleasing color gamut mapping in a color computer graphics system


An interactive projection system for outputting illuminated indicia upon a projection surface. A detection system is operable to detect both stationary and movable features. A control system is operable to determine the position of the stationary and movable features. A reflective device reflects light from a light source (natural and/or artificial) upon the projection surface as the illuminated indicia. A drive system moves the reflective device, thereby moving the illuminated indicia across the projection surface in response to control system thereby simulating the stationary feature on the projection surface as a physical boundary to the illuminated indicia and simulating the movable feature contacting the illuminated indicia.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
Generally, interactive games or interfaces are limited to use on TV, computer screens, or conventional (digital video projections) and perform best in dimmed light conditions of a living room. To date, daylight or direct sunlight has not yet been consequently explored for the use in display or entertainment systems. In most video game applications, for example, direct sunlight interferes with, rather than supports, video displays and (motion-sensing) systems. On one hand, this latent incompatibility of sunlight with the performance of interactive media systems promotes an indoor media culture. As a result, physical outdoor activities often conflict with video gaming activities. On the other hand, people who do want to use interactive media systems in outdoor environments, for example to play video games (e.g. location based street games) rely on small displays of mobile devices and/or wearable technology with which they often "screen" the physical environment out rather than to fully engage with it.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an interactive media experience that is not limited to indoor applications. Moreover, there exists a need to provide an interactive media experience that can naturally co-exist and augment the physical environment in which it is used to create an immersive location-based (or site-specific) interactive experience that is encumbered by any wearable technology. Furthermore, there exists a need to provide an interactive media experience that is capable of employing natural sunlight as the operable light source for the media experience. Still further, there exists a need to provide an interactive media experience that can be used in both sunlight and artificial light applications.
In accordance with the principles of the present teachings, an interactive projection system for outputting illuminated indicia upon a projection surface is provided having advantageous construction and method of use. A detection system is provided that is operable to detect both stationary and movable features. A control system is operable to determine the position of the stationary and movable features from sensors such as, but not limited to, imaging sensors and the position of the light source. A reflective device reflects light from a light source (natural and/or artificial) upon the projection surface as the illuminated indicia. A drive system moves the reflective device, thereby moving the illuminated indicia across the projection surface in response to control system thereby simulating the stationary feature on the projection surface as a physical boundary to the illuminated indicia and simulating the movable feature contacting the illuminated indicia.
In some embodiments of the present teachings, an interactive projection system is provided which enables one or more players to play a full body game, in which one or several moving sunlight reflections (or focused video or laser projections) serve as the target and the street or other outdoor/indoor surface serves as the screen. Through motion sensing technology, players, such as pedestrians or animals, can interact with the projected target as physical beings unencumbered by screens or controllers. The player can "contact" the projected target with their hands, feet, or the associated shadow cast by their body or limb. In some embodiments, the players can play with each other by bouncing it off the hands, feet, or associated shadow, and/or by bouncing it off either naturally occurring physical structures (curbs, road markings, or other delineations) or predefined artificial boundaries. In some embodiments, the interactive projection system is self-powered, such as via solar energy. In the case of solar-powered installation, the control system is also operable to determine the amount of power generation, consumption and storage, thus adjust operation time accordingly.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The Regents Of The University Of Michigan


High voltage direct current systems to connect direct current energy sources to an alternating current system. In one aspect, a system includes a plurality of direct current modules having variable direct current inputs; an inverter; and a direct current bus to connect the direct current modules to the inverter, where the bus is configured to operate at a nominal voltage higher than 100 volts and to operate within 10 percent of the nominal operating voltage.

Solar panels and other kinds of energy sources produce variable voltages, which, depending on the type of panel, may range anywhere from 10 to 100 volts (or even higher in some instances). It is known to the inventors that there are efforts to combine solar panels with a high-voltage bus (e.g., in the 200 to 600 volt range), which may be implemented via step-up converters that have an output voltage larger than its input voltage.
A discussion of some current DC-to-DC converter topologies can be found on the web site http://www.boostbuck.com/, which includes discussions of boost-buck switching converter, Cuk Converter, Coupled Inductor Cuk Converter, and Integrated Magnetics Cuk Converter. Other topologies for direct current voltage conversion include boost converter, buck converter, flyback converter, etc.
A boost converter typically includes at least two switches, such as a diode and a transistor, and at least one energy storage element, such as an inductor. The transistor is used to periodically connect the energy source directly to the energy storage element to store energy into the energy storage element; and the energy storage element causes the converter to output a voltage higher than its input DC voltage. Filters made of capacitors can be added to the output of the converter to reduce changes in its output voltage. The diode prevents the electric current in the output from flowing backwards.
However, one of the problems with existing direct current to direct current (DC-to-DC) converters is that in some cases their low efficiency may erase a good part of the gains made by using a high-voltage bus.
In a prior high-voltage system bus known to the inventors, inverters connected to photovoltaic systems operate in a wide input voltage range, such as between 250V to 600V or between 300V to 1000V, allowing for variations of the solar energy available and the resulting voltage swings. Operating a DC-to-AC inverter over such a wide range of input voltage reduces its efficiency and increases its cost.

Systems to connect multiple direct current energy sources to an alternating current system


This invention relates to pigment compositions containing an organic pigment treated with a pigment derivative having the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein Q represents an organic pigment moiety;. X is O, S, or N--R.sup.1 ;. Y is N--R.sup.2, O, or a direct bond;. Z is --CO--, --Alk--, --Ar--, or chemically reasonable combinations thereof;. Alk is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkylene, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkenylene, or C.sub.4 -C.sub.5 alkadienylene, or substituted derivatives thereof;. Ar is arylene;. R.sup.1 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.16 aralkyl, or --CN; and. R.sup.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.16 aralkyl, or C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl;. with the provisos that. (1) the cyclic moiety represented by the formula ##STR2## must be a four- to seven-membered ring, (2) Z can contain a C.dbd.O group adjacent to the nitrogen atom of the Q--CH.sub.2 --N moiety only if Y is N--R.sup.2 or O, and. (3) X can be O only if Y is N--R.sup.2 or O.

This invention relates to pigment compositions obtained by treating organic pigments with cyclic amidomethyl, thioamidomethyl, and amidinomethyl pigment derivatives that impart improved rheological properties and dispersibility.
Many types of organic pigments are known and each can be prepared by one or more known methods. Typically, however, the initially formed crude compounds are unsuitable for use as pigments and must undergo one or more additional finishing steps to modify the particle size, particle shape, or crystal structure to achieve suitable pigmentary quality, rheological properties, and dispersibility.
Methods to improve rheological properties are known. For example, pigments can be treated with various additives, such as sulfonic acid and sulfonamide derivatives of various pigments. E.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,418,322, 3,446,641, 4,088,507, 4,310,359, and 5,368,641 and British Patents 1,544,839 and 2,009,205.
Other pigment derivatives have also been disclosed for use as pigment additives. For example, pyrazolylmethyl quinacridone derivatives are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,727. Substituted benzamidomethyl quinacridones and structurally related phthalimidomethyl and sulfo-benzimidomethyl quinacridones are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,635,981, 4,197,404, 4,256,507, 4,439,240, 4,455,173, 4,478,968, 4,541,872, 4,844,742, 4,895,949, 5,194,088, 5,264,032, 5,286,863, 5,424,429, 5,453,151, and 5,457,203. Analogous compounds in which a methylene bridging group is attached to a lactam ring nitrogen atom (i.e., (1-aza-2-oxocycloalkan-1-yl)methylquinacridones) are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,829. These patents, however, do not disclose the cyclic amido methyl, thioamidomethyl, and amidinomethyl pigment derivatives of the present invention.
It has now surprisingly been found that pigment compositions having excellent pigmentary quality and rheological properties can be obtained by treating organic pigments with certain pigment derivatives bearing one or more cyclic amidomethyl, thioamidomethyl, or amidinomethyl substituents. Such advantages are found even in comparison to phthalimidomethyl quinacridones.


A method for automatically setting a rendering parameter for a virtual endoscope for rendering images for virtual endoscopy, comprises deriving a data set corresponding to an inside view of a viewing frustum of the endoscope; calculating a histogram from the data set; correlating features of the histogram with known physical regions wherein the endoscope is situated; and selecting a transfer function positioned relative to the features of the histogram for providing image differentiation between respective rendered images of the physical regions in the images.

Virtual colonoscopy (VC) refers to a method of diagnosis based on computer simulation of standard, minimally invasive endoscopic procedures using patient specific three-dimensional (3D) anatomic data sets. Examples of current endoscopic procedures include bronchoscopy, sinusoscopy, upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, cardioscopy, and urethroscopy. VC visualization of non-invasively obtained patient specific anatomic structures avoids risks, such as perforation, infection, hemorrhage, and so forth, associated with real endoscopy, and provides the endoscopist with important information prior to performing an actual endoscopic examination. Such understanding can minimize procedural difficulties, decrease patient morbidity, enhance training and foster a better understanding of therapeutic results.
In virtual colonoscopy, 3D images are created from two-dimensional (2D) computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) data, for example, by volume rendering. Volume rendering, as such, is a known technique for interpreting volume data. Present-day CT and MRI scanners typically produce a set of cross-sectional images which, in combination, produce a set of volume data. These 3D images are created to simulate images coming from an actual endoscope, such as a fiber optic endoscope.
The computerized post-processing of imaging data from cross-sectional imaging modalities is presently of importance in the field of medicine
Typically, the Volume Rendering Technique (VRT) requires rendering settings that include a classification function that defines the visibility of materials present in the data set. The classification function is also referred to herein as a transfer function or rendering setting. It is generally assumed that different materials map to different intensity levels and therefore the classification function maps intensity levels to respective opacity values. Thus, the classification function essentially determines which voxel will be rendered, and which voxel will be invisible or "transparent"; a low opacity value results in a translucent or even invisible object while a high opacity value results in a clearly visible object. See, for example, the textbook "Virtual Endoscopy and Related 3D Techniques," edited by A. L. Baert; Springer, New York; 2001, 2002.
In many systems, this can be carried out interactively. A user can manipulate a simple transfer function such as, for example, trapezoid, and can see immediately the result. He can then adjust it until he gets the images desired. In some cases, this function can be extremely complicated, so that adjusting takes considerable time. If the relation of voxel value to tissue is known, such as for example in CT, where air, water, etc have known values, preset functions can be used. But in cases where the voxel values are not known, such as, for example, in MR, or CT with an unknown amount of contrast agent in the blood, the user has to adjust the transfer function to each individual case.
In the worst case, the user needs to adjust the transfer functions not only per case, but also depending on the location in the dataset where being looked at. An example would be virtual endoscopy of MR data. MR data is usually not homogeneous; the contrast varies at different locations. Unlike conventional 3D rendering that shows a body from the outside and therefore requires that the rendering parameters be adjusted globally, Virtual Endoscopy only shows very local parts of the body, such as, for example, the inside of a part of the colon, or the inside of an airway. Because the region that is rendered is local, the rendering parameters have to be adjusted to the local data in order to produce optimal quality.
Taosong He et al., in the article entitled Generation of Transfer Functions with Stochastic Search Techniques, IEEE 1996, propose a solution with 3 different quality criteria: maximizing first order image entropy, maximizing variance of pixels in final image, or maximizing edge energy in the final image. None of these criterions takes into account 3D features such as 3D surface normals or local properties of the input data (histogram).
Kindlmann G. L. in the article entitled Semi-Automatic Generation of Transfer Functions for Direct Volume Rendering Dissertation, Cornell University, 1999 proposes a technique to render material boundaries in volume dataset. In a first step, the data is analyzed by calculating first and second order derivatives. In a second step, the user has to select regions and decide what to render. Although this technique facilitates the creation of rendering parameters, it is not automatic in the sense that the user still has to adjust parameters and evaluate the quality visually.

Method and apparatus for automatic setting of rendering parameter for virtual endoscopy


A circuit configuration for switching current flow through an ignition coil, in which the switching process is able to be executed by at least one first transistor that is controllable by a control signal which is able to be supplied via a control signal input of the circuit configuration, and the control signal input is connected to at least one variable resistor.

It is understood from the related art that, for the initiation of the combustion process of an internal combustion engine having externally supplied ignition, one may conduct an electric current through a primary coil having a low number of turns wound onto an iron core. The center conductor of a spark plug is connected to a second coil that is situated on the same iron core and has a larger number of turns. At the time of the intended ignition, the current flow through the primary coil is interrupted. This leads to the induction of a high voltage in the second coil, which discharges in a spark in the air gap of the spark plug.
In order to be able to control the time of the interruption of the current flow, and with that the ignition time, using an engine control device, it is provided in the related art that one should interrupt the current flow using at least one switching transistor. The switching transistor is switched by a control signal, in this instance, which is generated in the engine control unit in a control circuit. In this instance, the ignition time for each individual ignition is determined, for example, using a characteristics map stored in the engine control unit, as a function of the respective operating state of the internal combustion engine.
Frequently it is provided that the engine control, with the control circuit, is situated in the vehicle at a spatially different place from the ignition coil and the transistor assigned for switching the current flow. In this case, a cable connection is provided between the two components. Such a cable connection may have an error during the operation of the vehicle. The cable connection may be interrupted, for example. Besides that, the insulation of the cable connection may be damaged, which mostly leads to a short circuit. Both errors are easy to detect in the control circuit. In the case of an interruption in the cable connection, the electric current transmitted via the cable connection drops below a specifiable boundary value. In the case of a short circuit, the current on the connecting line rises above a specifiable boundary value. If the current flowing over the line is greater than the first boundary value, but lower than the second boundary value, there exists a normal operation of the line connection and the switching transistor. The two boundary values are therefore adjusted to the required control current of the switching transistor.
Starting from this related art, the problem arises that when a switching transistor is exchanged for an equally functioning, but not identical type, a different control current is required. If this control current is greater or less than the boundary values stored in the engine control unit, an error message is generated in the engine control unit, and the operation of the internal combustion engine becomes impossible.
Consequently, the present invention is based on the object of stating a circuit configuration for switching current flow through a coil, which is able to replace a multitude of functionally equal, but not identical circuit configurations, without having an error message generated in the engine control unit.
The object is attained, according to the present invention, by a circuit configuration for switching current flow through an ignition coil, in which the switching process is able to be executed by at least one first transistor that is controllable by a control signal which is able to be supplied via a control signal input of the circuit configuration, and the control signal input is connected to at least one variable resistor.
It is proposed, according to the present invention, to position a component having a variable electrical resistance at the control signal input of the circuit configuration, which is provided to accept a control signal that is generated in the engine control unit. Using this resistance element, the input current of the circuit configuration is able to be adjusted. In this way it is possible to set the input current to a specifiable setpoint value, so that the current supplied by the control circuit is able to be adjusted within limits within which the error monitoring of the control circuit does not report any error operation.
The variable resistance element may be situated both in series with the switching transistor, so that a specifiable voltage value drops off at the resistance element, and in parallel, so that a power loss is shunted to ground via the resistance element. In the one case, the input resistance of the circuit configuration is able to be increased by the variable resistance element beyond the input resistance of the switching transistor, and in the other case, the resistance is able to be reduced.
The switching transistor provided for switching the current flow through the ignition coil may, for instance, be a field-effect transistor or an IGBT. The use of a bipolar transistor is especially preferred. Furthermore, the circuit configuration may have additional components in order, for example, to detect an overvoltage at the ignition coil, an overcurrent or an over temperature of the at least one switching transistor, and in order to implement protective circuits which avoid the failure of these components.
In one refinement of the present invention, a measuring resistor is also provided in order to monitor the current flow through the variable resistance element. Using a regulating device that is occasionally provided, the measured actual value is able to be adjusted to a specifiable setpoint value by adjusting the variable resistance element in such a way that the circuit configuration takes up a specifiable input current. In this way, the input current is able to be held constant, even in response to a changing supply voltage. Changing supply voltages occur in motor vehicles particularly during the starting process, when the battery is stressed by the electrical starter, but the generator does not yet supply any charging voltage.
The variable resistance element may be switched either stepwise, or may be provided for the continuous changing of its resistance value. A continuous change is implementable particularly by using at least one transistor as resistance element. In this context, what may be involved is either the collector-emitter path of a bipolar transistor or the channel region of a field-effect transistor. The resistance of a collector-emitter path is able to be continuously influenced via the basic current applied. The resistance of a channel region is able to be influenced via the gate voltage applied. In order to implement a stepped switchover of the input resistance, at least one resistance element is able to be connected to the control signal input of the circuit configuration using a switch. A field-effect transistor or a bipolar transistor or a DIP switch is particularly suitable as an electric switch.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the circuit configuration proposed by the present invention is located in the same housing as the ignition coil and the ignition transformer. A compact component then comes about, which is able to be protected well from spray water and environmental influences, and which requires only one error-prone cable connection to the engine control unit for transmitting the control signal. The reliability may be increased further if the circuit configuration, proposed according to the present invention, is integrated monolithically on a single semiconductor substrate.
The present invention will be explained in greater detail below, in light of exemplary embodiments, which are partially shown in the attached figures.

Circuit configuration for switching current flow through an ignition coil


Apparatus and methods enabling the efficient and repeatable measurement of mobility performance of wireless data communications equipment are described. This is particularly useful for testing the impact of roaming of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) devices, such as clients, between their counterparts, such as access points. The apparatus and methods include controlled emulation of roaming by WLAN devices, using a set of WLAN tester units, by activating and deactivating instances of emulated devices on different tester units to simulate the physical translation of the actual WLAN devices in an environment. Simulation of increasing and decreasing distance during the roaming process is also rendered possible. This enables various mobility performance measurements to be made on WLAN devices in a repeatable manner, free from artifacts due to device manufacturing tolerances.

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) equipment, such as clients and Access Points (APs), operate in an environment where the APs are fixed in location, but the client devices may move about from place to place. Mobile client devices typically move from the coverage area of one AP to another, a function referred to as roaming. As a client moves away from an AP, the signal strength (and thus the signal quality) of its link to that AP decreases. If the distance becomes great enough, the client can no longer transfer data to that AP; the client must find a closer AP and connect to such closer AP. This process of disconnecting from one AP and reconnecting to another AP requires a significant amount of processing power, and often involves a substantial delay and possible loss of data. It is therefore of interest to quantify the mobility performance of WLAN devices, in terms of the amount of time required to roam between APs, and the wireless data lost thereby.
Further, if a large number of clients are simultaneously roaming within a WLAN system, a heavy load can result. For example, a WLAN system may be able to support the mobility of a single client, but may fail to adequately support the mobility of 100 clients. It is therefore of interest to quantify the mobility performance of WLAN devices in terms of the number of simultaneously roaming devices that can be supported.
Further, if many clients continue to roam for a long duration of time, a significant number of state changes may take place within the WLAN system. This in turn may cause stability or performance problems in the WLAN equipment. It is therefore of interest to quantify the mobility performance of WLAN devices in terms of the duration of time for which roaming can be carried out without problems.
Further, the process of disconnecting a client from one AP and reconnecting to another AP involves co-operative protocol transactions that must be supported by both the client and the two APs. If either the client or the AP fails to properly implement these protocol transactions, then the mobility performance of the entire WLAN system may be adversely affected. However, it is necessary to distinguish those performance issues that may be induced by clients, from those performance issues that may be induced by APs. It is therefore of interest to separately quantify the mobility performance of client devices and APs.
Heretofore, the measurement of the mobility performance of WLAN equipment has been performed by setting up three or more actual WLAN devices, at least one of which is a client device and at least two of which are AP devices; causing the WLAN client device or devices to roam between the AP devices; and then measuring mobility performance according to the desired metric.
One approach that has been implemented to date to carry out mobility performance measurements consists of placing real WLAN equipment (both real clients and real APs) within a large physical space, and then physically moving the devices in order to increase or decrease the distance between them. The mobility performance metrics may be quantified by observing the behavior of the WLAN clients and APs as the relative distances between them change. Unfortunately, this method requires a large floor space, is highly labor-intensive, subject to variations due to human error, and is prone to interference and external signals. Further, it is neither cost-effective nor repeatable. Still further, it is very difficult to predict or control the points in time when different clients may elect to roam, which renders the measurement process inaccurate, or otherwise error-prone.
Another approach that has been implemented to date consists of placing real WLAN equipment (again, real clients and real APs) into separate shielded chambers that are interconnected using variable RF attenuators. Increasing the amount of attenuation interposed between an AP and a client simulates an increase of distance between them. Conversely, decreasing the amount of attenuation simulates a decreasing distance between them. Therefore, by increasing the amount of attenuation between a client and a first AP, and simultaneously decreasing the amount of attenuation between the same client and a second AP, the client may be caused to roam from the first AP to the second AP. Mobility performance metrics may be quantified when the client roams. This approach avoids some of the problems of the first mentioned method. It can be automated, eliminates the issues of interference, and affords some degree of control of the point at which the actual roaming takes place. Nevertheless, it too suffers from severe limitations. The roaming sequences that may be implemented are highly constrained, due to the use of fixed physical topologies of attenuators to define the movement of clients; many roaming patterns cannot be emulated, or otherwise created, without being adversely impacted by RF coupling and leakage issues. The test setup is expensive and bulky, and does not scale to large numbers of clients and APs. Further, the approach suffers from unpredictable variations due to the manufacturing tolerances of the client and AP radio transceivers. Still further, such approach relies on the use of both clients and APs in the same test; as a consequence, the mobility performance of the clients cannot be separated from that of the APs, and the only measurements that can be made are relative ones, i.e., the performance of a specific client in conjunction with a specific AP.

Method and apparatus for wireless mobility measurements


A packaging assembly, and method of packaging a plurality of products, for economically and safely shipping and displaying a plurality of products. The packaging assembly includes a display stand, a plurality of display packs holding the plurality of products, and a shipping cover. The display stand is constructed from a single sheet of cardboard, and includes a rectangular base panel, a front panel having a gap for viewing, and two parallel side panels. Each side panel includes a plurality of slots that correspond with slots in the other side panel. Each display pack is an approximately planar assembly formed from front and rear portions of transparent, vacuum-molded plastic. The front and rear portions are each configured with a flange, the flanges each forming conforming notches allowing the two portions to be adjoined and heat sealed or glued together. The display pack includes a product chamber configured to hold the product, and further contains a product display card. The corresponding pairs of slots are configured to receive the display pack flanges to support and display the products in the product chamber. The display packs are inserted into succeeding corresponding pairs of the slots. The front and rear portions include frames configured to adjoin with the frames of adjacent display packs to provide structural support to each succeeding display pack. The display stand with the plurality of inserted display packs may be covered with a shipping cover to provide a structurally sound rectangular box suitable for shipping. The shipping cover is a conventional, five-sided, open-topped, rectangular box, having an opening that conforms to the shape and size of the base panel, allowing the shipping cover to be taped, along its opening, to the under side of the display stand's base panel.. In an alternate embodiment, the display stand includes an insert allowing two rows of display packs within the packaging assembly.

This invention relates generally to bulk packaging configured for both shipping and display and, more particularly, to a packaging assembly, and a related method, for economically and safely shipping and displaying a plurality of products.
Traditionally, products have been shipped in bulk from a manufacturer to a retailer in cartons containing protective packing material. Individual products were then removed from the cartons to be individually placed on a shelf or rack for display. For small, expensive and easily stolen products, the shelf or rack might be located within a secured display case to minimize the risk of theft.
This system of shipping and display is both costly and time consuming. The manufacturer must often pay relatively expensive initial packaging costs, particularly for items that are easily damaged by rough handling. The retailer must pay employees to individually place each product item on display in a manner that is both appealing to the customer and safe for the product. Furthermore, for small, expensive and easily stolen products, which are kept in secured display cases, the retailer must pay a sales person to attend to each customer wishing to inspect the products. These costs are typically passed along to the product's purchaser, who receives little benefit from them other than to receive a product that has safely survived the rigors of shipping. Thus, there is a continuing need for more economical means of safely and efficiently shipping and displaying products for sale.
It is known that small products may be packaged in comparatively large containers to deter theft. However, these containers require the use of large amounts of retail space, and the containers must be decorated and otherwise configured to appeal to consumers, adding to the total product packaging cost. Thus, some manufacturers have used smaller packaging, with an optional, transparent display pack, such as a blister pack, available at a retailer's request.
The display pack, which contains the product within its smaller packaging, typically is significantly larger than the small packaging, providing for increased deterrence of theft. Preferably, the display pack is configured with an appealing appearance to the customer, and it provides added safety in shipping. Commonly, the display pack is made from two vacuum-formed sheets of clear plastic, sealed around the edges, forming a chamber for holding the product. Such a display pack is relatively inexpensive, and it benefits from the appealing appearance of the small packaging, which is visible through the display pack. U.S. Design Pat. No. D 353,092, to Green, entitled "Blister Pack" discloses a transparent display pack assembly having several cavities for containing products.
It is also known to display products in their bulk shipping cartons. Commonly, a carton is either cut open, or torn open along a perforation, to reveal the products within the carton. If the shape of the product packaging is appropriate, such as for individual products in rectangular boxes, the products' containers may be neatly organized in rows within the carton. Such configurations, while reducing the effort necessary to stock shelves, may fail to offer significant shipping protections to delicate items. Furthermore, the displays sometimes suffer from a ragged appearance, potentially having visible cuts, tears and markings, both from shipping and from opening the carton.
Accordingly, there has existed a definite need for a packaging assembly for both economical and safe shipping and display of a plurality of products, and for a related method of shipping and displaying a plurality of products. The present invention satisfies these and other needs, and provides further related advantages.

Packaging assembly, and related method, for shipping and displaying a plurality of products


A new water based lubricant composition for cold impact extrusion of spark plug bodies or the like, said composition being free of lower molecular weight flammable aliphatic and alicyclic compounds and comprising: an alkaline soluble thermoplastic acrylic resin binder, polytetrafluoroethylene particulate powder material, an alkaline solubilizing agent to maintain the pH of the composition within the range of approximately 8 to 11, a thickening agent, a defoaming agent, and the balance water; and a novel process of cold forming of metal or steel parts.

This invention broadly relates to a new water based lubricant composition for cold impact forming of metal parts, such as spark plug bodies or the like; and, the invention also relates to a new process of cold forming metal parts wherein the lubricant composition can be uniquely removed from the formed metal parts at the end of the metal forming operation. The invention is considered to be broadly applicable to most types of cold forming operations, such as, cold extrusion, cold drawing, cold stamping, swaging, piercing and/or blanking of steel or metal parts.
In the past there have been significant problems, for example in the cold impact extrusion of spark plug bodies, wherein compositions of molybdenum disulfide in water were used as the lubricant coating for the metal bodies prior to the cold forming (i.e., cold impact extrusion) operation. The reasons underlying the problems were at least three-fold. First, the manufacturers have had problems from contamination by molybdenum disulfide dust in the plant work area and such contamination should desirably be eliminated. Second, the molybdenum disulfide lubricant coating was applied in a liquid bath. In this bath there were problems with the molybdenum disulfide pigment settling in the bath, and also, the liquid bath generally had to be maintained at a constant 160.degree. F. temperature which required a great deal of heat energy, and was expensive to maintain. Third, in terms of molybdenum disulfide lubricant removal, the finished and formed metal parts carried a burnished film of molybdenum disulfide which subsequently impeded welding and other operations, which are necessary follow up operations in connection with such metal parts. Therefore, the molybdenum disulfide had to be physically removed, either by etching or grit blasting. The cleaning represented a considerable cost (in time, energy and man power) to the manufacturer. The manufacturers have accordingly desired to eliminate all of the above problem areas.
Accordingly a main object of the present invention is to provide a new water based lubricant composition for cold forming of metal or steel parts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new water based lubricant composition which is particularly useful for cold impact extrusion of spark plug bodies.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new water based lubricant composition for cold forming of metal parts, and which enables a clean manufacturing operation to be carried out, while at the same time providing a lubricant composition which can be efficiently and economically removed from the parts at the conclusion of the metal forming operation.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel process of cold forming metal parts, such as steel spark plug bodies, and other steel or metal parts.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims.

New water based lubricant composition for cold impact extrusion of spark plug bodies or other metal parts and process


A bar code label scanning system comprises a light source for producing a light beam at a first wavelength which is swept across a bar code. Light from the bar code is passed through a filter for attenuating light scattered from said bar code to approximately a level of light emitted from a fluorescent ink, having an excitation wavelength equal to said first wavelength, in response to irradiation by said light beam. The filtered light is received and a signal representative of the amplitude of the filtered light is generated. The signal is decoded to provide a bit string encoded in said bar code.

A bar code is a computer-readable code which represents information. One type of well-known bar code employs a series of parallel bars for encoding a bit string. Other types of bar codes include bar codes formatted as two dimensional matrices.
Bar codes may be read by bar code scanners. One well-known type of bar code scanner generally includes a laser light source, a photodetector, an amplifier, a filter and processing circuitry. In general terms, this type of bar code scanner operates by sweeping a laser beam across a bar code. The beam is swept, for example, by a rotating mirror such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,140 (Stephany), which is incorporated herein by reference for its teaching of means for sweeping a beam. Alternatively, one of the other known equivalent means for sweeping a beam may be employed. The light which is received by the photodetector during sweeping of the beam is analyzed to determine the bit string encoded in the bar code.
One well-known type of bar code, which will be referred to herein as a "standard" bar code, is comprised of dark and light bars of different widths. When a laser beam is swept across this type of bar code, the beam is mostly absorbed by the dark parts of the bar code and mostly scattered by the light parts of the bar code. Consequently, during the sweep, the photodetector receives some of the light from the laser beam which is scattered when the beam is directed toward the light parts of the bar code, and receives a relatively negligible amount of light from the laser beam when the beam is directed toward the dark parts of the bar code. The pattern of light received by the photodetector accordingly corresponds to the pattern of bars of the bar code.
The photodetector produces an analog signal which represents the light received during the sweep of the laser beam. This signal is provided to an amplifier which amplifies the signal. The amplified signal is provided to a filter, typically an analog band pass filter that is tuned to reduce primarily those components of the amplified electric signal which do not correspond to the scattered beam. The filtered signal then is provided to the processing circuitry (which can include a combination of analog and digital circuitry), which processes the signal to determine the bit string represented by the bar code.
A second, less common, type of bar code is printed using fluorescent ink. When the fluorescent ink is irradiated by light having a wavelength which is the excitation wavelength of the ink, the ink emits light within a known band of wavelengths which does not include the first wavelength. The fluorescent ink is generally only minimally visible to the human eye under normal lighting conditions. Depending upon the type of ink employed, the light emitted by the fluorescent ink may also be minimally visible or invisible to the human eye.
When fluorescent ink is used to print a bar code, the bar code is read by sweeping the bar code with a laser having a wavelength which is the excitation wavelength of the fluorescent ink. When the beam is swept across the bar code, the bar code emits light from the bars which are printed with the fluorescent ink, and does not emit light from the bars which are represented as blanks (not printed). The light received by the photodetector accordingly includes light scattered by the substrate and light emitted by the fluorescent ink, and therefore varies in amplitude with the pattern of light emitted by the fluorescent bar code.
Fluorescent bar codes have certain advantages over standard bar codes. For example, standard bar codes generally require a plain background which does not interfere with the bar code, and therefore generally must either be segregated from other printed matter or obstruct it. In contrast, a fluorescent bar code can placed anywhere on an object without altering the appearance of the object itself. This is useful for consumer products such as magazines where the visual appearance of the packaging is important. Fluorescent bar codes may also be placed on an object without obstructing other critical information on the object, such as the written address on a piece of mail.
One notable difference between standard and fluorescent bar codes is that they use opposite printing standards for representing "high" and "low" bits of the bar code. In a standard bar code, a light bar represents a high bit, while a dark bar (or printed bar, since standard bar codes are generally printed on relatively light surfaces) represents a low bit. Conversely, in a fluorescent bar code, a high bit is represented by a fluorescent (printed) bar, while a low bit is represented by an unprinted (and therefore non-fluorescent) bar.
There is presently one manner known in the art for reading both fluorescent and standard bar codes using a single reader. U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,304 (Berson et al.) discloses a bar code reader that is capable of reading a standard bar code and a bar code printed in fluorescent ink. The Berson system employs a standard laser beam for reading a standard bar code and an ultraviolet light source for exciting a fluorescent bar code to fluorescence as it is being scanned. The system further employs two separate receivers for receiving laser light scattered by the standard bar code and for receiving light emitted from the fluorescent bar code.

Method and apparatus for reading both of standard and fluorescent bar codes


A therapeutic electrode component includes a base plate having a first side and a second side having a conductive surface. A repository having an internal volume to releasably retain a conductive fluid is disposed on the first side of the base plate. A rupturable membrane is disposed between the internal volume of the repository and the conductive surface of the base plate. A coupling is disposed on the base plate that is configured to detachably engage a gas charge, whereby the gas charge is detachable from the coupling without causing destruction of the gas charge, to provide a hermetic seal with an outlet of the gas charge, and to provide fluid communication between the internal volume of the repository and the outlet of gas charge when the gas charge is engaged by the coupling. A retainer is configured to detachably secure the gas charge to the base plate.

The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods of delivering electrical therapy to a patient.
There are a wide variety of electronic and mechanical devices for monitoring and treating patients' medical conditions. In some examples, depending on the underlying medical condition being monitored or treated, medical devices such as cardiac monitors or defibrillators may be surgically implanted or externally connected to the patient. In some examples, physicians may use medical devices alone or in combination with drug therapies to treat conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias.
One of the deadliest cardiac arrhythmias is ventricular fibrillation, which occurs when normal, regular electrical impulses are replaced by irregular and rapid impulses, causing the heart muscle to stop normal contractions and to begin to quiver. Normal blood flow ceases, and organ damage or death can result in minutes if normal heart contractions are not restored. Because the victim has no perceptible warning of the impending fibrillation, death often occurs before the necessary medical assistance can arrive. Other cardiac arrhythmias can include excessively slow heart rates known as bradycardia or excessively fast heart rates known as tachycardia. Cardiac arrest can occur when a patient in which various arrhythmias of the heart, such as ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, pulseless electrical activity (PEA), and asystole (e.g., heart stops all electrical activity) result in the heart providing insufficient levels of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs for the support of life.
Cardiac arrest and other cardiac health ailments are a major cause of death worldwide. Various resuscitation efforts aim to maintain the body's circulatory and respiratory systems during cardiac arrest in an attempt to save the life of the patient. The sooner these resuscitation efforts begin, the better the patient's chances of survival. Implantable cardioverter/defibrillators (ICDs) or external defibrillators (such as manual defibrillators or automated external defibrillators (AEDs)) have significantly improved the ability to treat these otherwise life-threatening conditions. Such devices operate by applying corrective electrical pulses directly to the patient's heart. Ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia can be treated by an implanted or external defibrillator, for example, by providing a therapeutic shock to the heart in an attempt to restore normal rhythm. To treat conditions such as bradycardia, an implanted or external pacing device can provide pacing stimuli to the patient's heart until intrinsic cardiac electrical activity returns.
Example external cardiac monitoring and/or treatment devices include cardiac monitors, the ZOLL LifeVest® wearable cardioverter defibrillator available from ZOLL Medical Corporation, and the AED Plus also available from ZOLL Medical Corporation.
Some examples of cardiac monitoring and/or treatment devices include therapy electrodes that release conductive gel onto the skin of a subject prior to delivering electrical therapy to the subject to decrease electrical resistance between the therapy electrode and the subject. Such therapy electrodes have in the past been single use devices that would be replaced after each use with the older devices being discarded.


When a parameter for a numerical computation library is required, an optimum parameter reflecting a user policy is provided. A program calculates, based on a preset objective function, an optimum tuning parameter for executing a numerical computation library. The program reads the numerical computation library; reads the objective function; sets a user policy regarding speed performance and computational accuracy of the numerical computation library as plural policy parameters; reads, from preset execution histories of numerical computation libraries, execution histories of the numerical computation library; calculates, in a domain where the policy parameters are met and based on the execution histories having been read in, a tuning parameter for the numerical computation library by using the objective function; and outputs a calculation result of the objective function.

The present invention relates to automatically setting parameters for numerical computation software, and more particularly, to automatically setting parameters reflecting a user policy when using a numerical computation library.
Using a computer to perform numerical computation for mathematical programming, multivariable analysis, or statistical analysis enables sophisticated simulation. Using a numerical computation library such as a solver is a known approach for such numerical computation. In such an approach, parameters for a numerical computation library are selected and tuned to execute numerical computation meeting a user's purpose.
In a process of performing numerical computation, selecting parameters for a numerical model and tuning them may cause plural parameters to affect each other and lead to widely varying computation results depending on parameter settings. There are, however, many cases in which a user cannot afford to appropriately set all parameters manually. Hence, there have been known methods for automatically setting parameters (see JP-A No. 2004-178372, for example).
In the method described in JP-A No. 2004-178372, an evaluation function for evaluating setup parameters is set and used to obtain optimum setup parameters.

Program and/or method for calculating tuning parameters for numerical computation library


An embodiment of this document relates to an optical sheet and a liquid crystal display using the same. An optical sheet in accordance with an aspect of this document may comprise a base film, and a plurality of projections including at least one of lenticular lens or micro lens, positioned on one surface of the base film. The projection may comprise a first resin and a plurality of first beads, and about 1 to 10 parts by weight of the first bead based on 100 parts by weight of the first resin.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This document relates to an optical sheet and a liquid crystal display using the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
With the development of the information technology, the market of display devices, that is, connection media between users and information is expanded. In line with this trend, the use of a flat panel display (FPD), such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting diode (OLED), and a plasma display panel (PDP), is increased. Of them, a liquid crystal display, which can implement high resolutions, can be miniaturized and made and can have a large screen size, has been widely used.
A liquid crystal display is classified as a light-receiving type display device. This liquid crystal display can display an image using light received from a backlight unit disposed below a liquid crystal panel.
The backlight unit has a light source, an optical film layer, and so on in order to supply efficient light to the liquid crystal panel. Here, the optical film layer can has a diffusion sheet, an optical sheet, a protecting sheet and the like.
A plurality of sheets comprised of the optical film has a great change in the optical characteristics depending on requirements, structural conditions, etc. Here, a change in the optical characteristics of the optical film layer has an influence on the optical efficiency of the backlight unit and also the display quality of a liquid crystal display.
Accordingly, in order to improve the display quality of the liquid crystal display, it is necessary to continuously research the optical film layer related fields.

Optical sheet and liquid crystal display using the same


An occupant restraint air bag assembly includes an air bag having a base wall portion communicating with an inflator and an occupant contacting face wall for contact with the occupant upon inflation of the bag. The air bag also has an internal dividing wall which divides the air bag into a first chamber communicating directly with the inflator and a second chamber defined between the dividing wall and the occupant contacting face wall. A first opening in the dividing wall between the chambers communicate inflation gas from the first chamber to the second chamber to inflate the second chamber. A second opening in the dividing wall is normally closed by a vent flap which is operably connected to the occupant contacting face wall so that the inflation of the second chamber and resultant travel of the face wall toward the occupant and away from the dividing wall will move the valve flap to an open position by which the inflation gas is communicated into the second chamber through both the first opening and the second opening during the further inflation of the bag.

It is well known to provide an inflatable air bag for restraining a vehicle occupant. The air bag assembly includes a folded bag which is connected to a source of inflation gas. Release of the inflation gas into the air bag causes the bag to expand rapidly so that a face wall of the air bag is displaced toward contact with the occupant. It is well known to provide such air bags having internal walls which divide the air bag into various chambers and to provide openings in the walls to communicate inflation gas between the chambers. Prior patents have proposed various arrangements of check valves and pressure relief valves for selectively opening and closing the opening to control the communication of inflation gas between the chambers.
The present invention provides a new and improved air bag assembly in which the degree of opening and closing of the opening communicating between the air bag chambers is dependant upon the displacement of the air bag toward the fully deployed position.

Multi-chamber air bag with displacement responsive valve


In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for controlling a position of a bleed valve of a gas turbine engine. The onset of an off-load transient may be determined. Values representative of the turbine rotor inlet temperature and the exhaust outlet temperature may be determined. Also, the amount of time elapsed since the onset of the off-load transient may be determined. Three provisional bleed valve command positions may be determined based on value representative of the turbine rotor inlet temperature, the value representative of the exhaust outlet temperature, and the amount of time elapsed, respectively. The provisional bleed valve command position associated with the lowest relative value may be selected. Then, the bleed valve position may be adjusted to match the selected bleed valve command position.

Gas turbine engines (GTEs) convert potential energy associated with air and fuel into energy, primarily in the form of mechanical rotation and heat. A conventional GTE may include a compressor assembly, a combustor assembly, and a turbine assembly. During operation, air is drawn into and compressed within the compressor assembly. The combustor assembly receives the compressed air, supplies fuel thereto, and ignites and combusts the compressed fuel-air mixture. The combustion products are supplied to the turbine assembly and expanded to cause a turbine rotor to rotate, thereby producing rotational energy. The turbine assembly is typically coupled to the compressor assembly, which uses some rotational energy developed by the turbine to compress air. Further, a gas turbine engine may include a recuperator (or heat exchanger) to heat compressed air before it enters the combustor by recovering heat from the turbine exhaust. Even with such a heat exchange, the flow of compressed air reduces the temperature of the combustor assembly.
Fuel for combustion is provided by means of fuel injectors that provide both a main fuel stream and a pilot fuel stream. The main fuel stream comprises a leaner fuel-air mixture, and the pilot fuel stream comprises a richer fuel-air mixture. The main fuel stream burns more efficiently than the pilot fuel stream, producing a lower temperature flame with relatively low NOx emissions. The richer fuel-air mixture, directed to the combustor as the pilot fuel stream, bums at a higher temperature and serves to stabilize the combustion process at the cost of slightly increased NOx emissions.
Under certain conditions, a portion of the compressed air exiting the compressor assembly may be bled off before the compressed air is sent to the combustor section (and typically before such compressed air is heated by the recuperator). The compressed air bypassing the combustion process is known as bleed air, and the compressed air that is used in the combustion process is known as combustion air. Bleed air may be released by way of a bleed air valve (or bleed valve) controlled by the GTE's control system. There are various reasons for bleeding air before combustion including, for example, stabilizing combustion and controlling engine performance.
Rotation power generated by a GTE may be used to drive a load. For example, a GTE may be used to drive a power generator, and such a generator may generate large amounts (on the order of megawatts) of electrical energy, which may, for example, be provided to an electrical power grid (also known as a utility grid). A GTE driving a full (or otherwise substantial) load is considered to be in an "on-load" condition; a GTE driving no load (or a negligible load) is considered to be in an "off-load" condition; and a GTE driving a load substantially less than its full load is considered to be in a reduced load condition. Under certain circumstances, such as, if the utility grid goes offline or if the circuit breaker for the power generator is triggered, the load being driven by the GTE may drop substantially in a short period of time to an off-load or reduced load condition, perhaps to as low as 500 kilowatts or even 0 megawatts. This is known as an off-load transient. If the rotational power of the GTE is not reduced commensurate with the drop in load, the GTE may go into an overspeed state, creating potentially hazardous conditions that may damage the GTE and its surroundings.
In order to compensate for an off-load transient—and subsequent off-load or reduced load conditions—the total fuel supply to the combustor may be reduced and the ratio of pilot fuel to total fuel may be greatly increased. For example, when a GTE is driving a full load, the ratio of pilot fuel to total fuel may be approximately 2%. And, during an off-load transient, the pilot fuel ratio may increase to approximately 40%. This pilot fuel ratio increase is accomplished by both reducing the flow of main fuel into the combustor and by increasing the flow of pilot fuel. In order to avoid an overspeed state, the reduction in total fuel supply must occur rapidly in response to the commencement of an off-load transient. And in order to avoid combustion instability, the ratio change must occur rapidly in response to the commencement of an off-load transient. A high pilot fuel ratio may permit the GTE to continue to run with stable condition during the reduced load condition, thereby preventing a shut-down of the GTE. A shut-down of the GTE can be particularly problematic where a GTE located in a power plant is disconnected from the utility grid (for example, due to power transmission line failure). In such circumstances, a shut-down of the GTE could lead to a complete power supply black-out in the power plant in which the GTE is located.
The various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems of the prior art.

Bleed valve override schedule on off-load transients


Aqueous slurry compositions for use in loose-abrasive machining processes, particularly aqueous abrasive slurries for use in wire saw processes. These aqueous slurry compositions comprise abrasive particles uniformly and stably dispersed in lubricant, which comprises a combination of a vehicle and water, particularly PEG and water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to aqueous fluid compositions for use in forming abrasive slurries. The aqueous fluid compositions are useful for forming loose-abrasive machining slurries and, more particularly, wire saw slurries.
2. Background
Wire saws are extensively used to slice silicon for solar and electronics applications. They are also used for slicing a variety of other compound semiconductor materials including sapphire, GaAs, InP, and SiC, optical materials such as quartz glass and crystal, and hard and brittle materials such as ceramics.
A wire saw generally includes a plurality of wires oriented under tension. The wires are driven simultaneously as an abrasive slurry is supplied between the wires and workpiece. The workpiece is forced through the wires as the slurry acts to abrade the workpiece into a plurality of pieces. This method allows for the production of large numbers of sliced pieces of particular thickness, flatness, and surface smoothness.
During wire saw cutting, the wire does not do the cutting, but rather it acts to transport the abrasive slurry, which does the cutting. This type of process is called "loose-abrasive machining." Other examples of loose-abrasive machining include ultrasonic machining, water-jet cutting, and sandblasting.
The slurry is a suspension of abrasive particles in a fluid composition, also sometimes referred to as a "lubricant", "vehicle" or "carrier". As the abrasives, materials such as silicon carbide (SiC), diamond, and boron carbide (B4C) have been used. Nonaqueous slurries have been employed, wherein the fluid composition predominantly contains mineral oil in which the abrasives are dispersed at a ratio of about 1:1 based on weight. Water soluble slurries have also been employed, wherein the fluid composition predominantly contains a water soluble glycol (e.g., polyethylene glycol (PEG), ethylene glycol, and polyoxyethylene glycol) in which the abrasive particles are dispersed.
While mineral oil provides good lubricating and cutting properties, it possesses poor cooling performance. Further, because mineral oil is not water soluble, organic solvents and specialized detergents are required to clean the mineral oil from the cut pieces. Due to poor cooling performance, disposal restrictions, and post cleaning difficulties, alternatives to mineral oil are needed.
While glycols, such as PEG, offer some benefits over mineral oil, these materials are very costly and they present problems with the amounts and methods of disposal available. Further, glycols have high viscosities that lead to increased drag forces on the wafer. Such high drag forces can lead to breakage of cut pieces during thin slicing.
It would, thus, be highly desirable to develop improved fluid compositions for use in forming abrasive slurries, particularly wire saw slurries.

Aqueous fluid compositions for abrasive slurries, methods of production, and methods of use thereof


A system for synchronizing a first subsystem controlled by a changing frequency sweeping from a first frequency to a second frequency, with a second subsystem operating at a steady state second frequency. Trip plan parameters are calculated in advance to determine the phase relationship between the frequencies of the first subsystem and second subsystem in order to obtain synchronism at the end of the frequency sweep of the first subsystem. During the time in which the frequency of the first subsystem is sweeping from the first frequency to the second frequency, the phase locked system compares the actual phase difference with the trip plan phase difference and incrementally changes the sweep frequency in a manner so that phase lock is achieved when the first subsystem reaches a frequency substantially identical to that of the second subsystem.

There are many instances in which certain parameters, which may be dynamically changing with respect to each other, must be coordinated or synchronized at a particular point in time. Such situations may occur in both mechanical machines or electrical circuits. For example, two objects, such as airplanes, rockets or other moving objects may be desired to rendezvous at a certain point, where each object has a varying trajectory and/or velocity. In another example, electrical signals often require synchronization of one signal with another having a varying frequency.
In the mechanical example, the point and time of rendezvous can be calculated utilizing numerous algorithms and differential equations to define the end objectives. In the electrical example, fewer techniques are available for accomplishing the synchronization of the signals. Conventional phase-locked loops (PLL) are well adapted for creating an output frequency as a function of an input frequency. Such phase locked loops employ a phase detector, a low pass filter and a voltage controlled oscillator and a feedback loop. .In this type of phase-locked loop, any difference between the input and output signals generates an error signal which is self correcting by the loop to maintain correspondence between the input and output. However, conventional phase-locked loops operate optimally when the input frequency does not vary substantially, thereby maintaining control over the error signal. If the input signal varies significantly in frequency or phase, the accumulation of errors become too great, whereupon the circuit is not able to maintain an established phase relationship.
The problems noted above are particularly pronounced in particle accelerators when transferring a particle bunch from one accelerator to the other. It is well known that particle bunches can be accelerated by utilizing magnetic fields and an RF signal which increases in frequency to achieve particle bunch acceleration. The problem exists in synchronizing the frequency of one accelerator to the other when transferring a particle bunch therebetween. In other words, a particle bunch circulating with others in a particular location in one accelerator is required to be transferred at a particular location in the next accelerator. Preferably, it is desired to operate the receiving accelerator at a steady state RF frequency during transfer, and sweep or modulate the frequency of the first accelerator from f.sub.1 to f.sub.2 to accomplish acceleration, and also to synchronize the frequencies of both accelerators together during particle bunch transfer. The synchronization problem is also exacerbated in that synchronization of the frequencies must occur during the maximum magnetic field within the first accelerator.
It is well known that two schemes are generally available for achieving synchronous transfer of bunched particle beams from one accelerator to the other namely, phase-locking and phase-slippage schemes. In the phase-locking scheme, at a known time before injection to the next accelerator, the phase and frequencies of the accelerating machine are locked to the extraction frequency. The time required to phase-lock the two frequencies depends on the lattice parameters of the accelerating machine. In the phase-slippage scheme, at a predetermined time before transfer, the frequency of the accelerating machine is offset a few cycles relative to the extraction frequency. The phase of the accelerating frequency slips relative to the fixed frequency, resulting in several phase coincidence points of the reference wave which occur at a beat frequency equal to the offset frequency. One of the coincident points is used to trigger the synchronous transfer of the beam.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for a method and apparatus for obtaining and maintaining synchronization of parameters that vary with respect to each other. Another need exists for obtaining synchronization of a first frequency modulated signal with a second steady-state frequency signal, wherein the FM signal terminates with a frequency and phase equal to that of the steady-state frequency and phase.

Phase-locked loop with controlled phase slippage


A battery pack including a plurality of battery cells; a housing accommodating the plurality of battery cells; a connector coupled to the housing, at least a portion of the connector being exposed outside of the housing; and a sealing member coupled to the connector, the sealing member surrounding the exposed portion of the connector.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a battery pack.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a high-power battery pack using a nonaqueous electrolyte having a high energy density has been developed. The high-power battery pack may form a large-capacity battery pack by connecting a plurality of secondary batteries to be used for, e.g., motor drive of machines requiring a high power source such as hybrid electric vehicles.
The plurality of secondary batteries may be accommodated in a case to then constitute a battery pack. The case may have a connector that electrically connects the secondary batteries to an external device.


A flexible shaft has an inner shaft with a steel core wire and element wire groups which are formed by closely adhering a plurality of steel element wires into band shapes wound around the steel core wire by turns in reverse directions relative to each other. The plurality of element wire groups are formed in layers and in concentric sections. Lubricant is impregnated in clearances between the plurality of steel element wires.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a flexible shaft which transmits a torque under its freely bent condition.
2. Discussion of Relevant Art
A flexible shaft is generally used for various purposes such as a portable mowing machine, industrial machines or the like.
In a general shoulder type mowing machine, an end portion of a pipe 2 is fixed to an engine 1, as illustrated by FIG. 2. A cutter blade 3 is supported to the other end of the pipe 2. Two grips 8 for allowing an operator to hold the mowing machine and a band 9 to be carried on an operator's shoulder are secured onto an outer periphery of the pipe 2. A flexible shaft 5 is inserted in and through the pipe 2, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The flexible shaft 5 is composed of an inner shaft 6 and a liner tube 7 which covers an outer periphery of the inner shaft 6. The inner shaft 6 is connected to an output shaft (not shown) of the engine 1 at one end there of and connected to the cutter blade 3 at another end thereof. Both ends of the liner tube 7 are secured firmly so that they do not rotate together with the inner shaft 6. Accordingly, a torque of the output shaft of the engine 1 is transmitted to the cutter blade 3 through a clutch 4 and the inner shaft 6 of the flexible shaft 5. The liner tube 7 is manufactured in such a manner that an outer periphery of a spiral tube 11, which is formed of closely wound element wires made of steel, is covered by a braid 12; and an outer periphery of the braid 12 is covered by a coating 13 of rubber and vinyl etc.; as illustrated by FIG. 4. The coating 13 may be formed of an extruded liner made of synthetic resin.
In a back type mowing machine, the pipe 2 is installed only between the grip 8 and the cutter blade 3; and the flexible shaft 5 is exposed in a range between the engine 1 and the grip 8, as illustrated in FIG. 5 Consequently, the flexible shaft can be freely bent within the range between the engine 1 and the grip 8.
Generally, the inner shaft 6 is manufactured such that element wire groups, which are formed by closely adhering multiple steel element wires into band shapes, are wound around a steel core wire by turns in reverse directions and a plurality of layers of element wire groups having concentric sections are formed thereon. In assembling the flexible shaft 5, grease of about 10 grams, for example, is filled in the liner tube 7 as lubricant; and the inner shaft 6, an outer periphery of which is applied with grease of about 10 grams, for example, is inserted in the liner tube 7. In carrying out mowing work, the inner shaft 6 rotates in the fixed liner tube 7 at a rotation speed of about 7,000 to 8,000 rpm. However, since another end 2a of the pipe 2 is bent downward so that the cutter blade 3 is positioned in approximately parallel position with the ground surface under a condition where the operator holds the pipe 2, heat generation of the flexible shaft 5 increases in the other end 2a; and consequently, grease deteriorates. For this reason, it has been required for users to take out the inner shaft 6 from the liner tube 7 after every 50 operation hours, for example, to remove old grease, and insert the inner shaft 6 into the liner tube 7 while applying new grease onto the outer periphery of the inner shaft 6. Further, the conventional flexible shaft 5 exhibits a defect in durability because of its wear and tear which is inevitable due to wear of the inner shaft 6; notwithstanding the fact that the grease has been periodically replaced.
More particularly, in the back type mowing machine of FIG. 5, the above-mentioned problem becomes remarkable because the exposed part of the flexible shaft 5 is repeatedly and frequently bent.

Flexible shaft having element wire groups and lubricant therebetween


A load conveyance device composed of:                a load supporting device having a through hole passing in a gravity direction, and        a fluid supplying device to supply a fluid into the through hole,                    wherein when load is dropped into the through hole from a top of the through hole, the load is supported under a floating condition by a force of the fluid in the through hole, and when the load is not supported by change of the force of the fluid, the load is dropped from a lower end of the through hole to an outside.

The present invention relates to a conveyance apparatus, conveyance system and conveyance method, which are suitable to convey a load which must be conveyed without being touched, such as a molding material.
Concerning conveyance technology for conveying a molding material such as an optical element material which is used for forming a lens, well known is one which touches and absorbs the optical element material, and conveys it to molding dies, using an absorbing pad made of Teflon or a heat-resistant rubber mounted on a conveying arm. The optical element material is heat-softened by a means such as infrared lamps arranged around the molding dies. After molding, the optical element material is absorbed by the absorbing pad and collected.
In this case, if the optical element material is heat-softened during conveyance, it is possible to shorten the molding time, however the optical element material must be conveyed under a fused condition, and accordingly, there is a problem that the above-mentioned touching and absorbing method is not suitable for conveyance of the fused optical element material. Further, concerning a method to convey the fused optical element material mounted on a conveyance member having a built-in heater, there are problems that fusion bonding between the conveyance member and the optical element material must be prevented, and still further, there is the problem of uneven heating. Concerning these problems, TOKKAIHEI 8-133758 discloses a technology by which the optical element material can be conveyed without coming into contact with the conveyance means.
According to the technology disclosed in the above mentioned TOKKAIHEI, though it is possible to hold the optical element material in a floating condition by a hot air blast which jets out from the bottom of a funnel-formed holding device, there is the problem how to throw the material into the molding dies. FIGS. 12 and 13 show the structure of the above-mentioned disclosure. The disclosed holding device holds optical element material 1 by holding sections 317a, 317b, 319a, and 319b which are hinged on pivots 318a and 318b so that holding sections 317a and 317b, and 319a and 319b are separated, whereby, optical element material 1, supported in a floating condition, drops down into the molding dies. This however requires a structure in which holding sections 317a, 317b, 319a, and 319b can pivot and are adjustable, which results in a large sized device, further the molding apparatus requires space wherein each holding section can move, resulting in a large molding apparatus. Yet further, if the rotating speeds are slightly different of the two pivoting holding sections, the optical element material is subjected to a momentary one-sided force, so that it cannot drop down vertically, by which the essential accuracy at the predetermined position is inadequate.

Conveyance apparatus, conveyance system, and conveyance method


An organic light emitting display panel includes a display unit at crossing regions of scan lines and data lines, the display unit including a plurality of pixels configured to display different colors, the pixels being arranged in a pattern; a test circuit configured to apply a test signal to the plurality of pixels, the test circuit being coupled to one end of the data lines; and an auxiliary line adjacent to a plurality of signal lines for supplying the test signal to the test circuit and coupled to at least one of the plurality of signal lines.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting display panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting display panel uses organic light emitting diodes, which are self-light emitting diodes, to display an image. Because the organic light emitting display panel has excellent luminance and color purity, it has drawn attention as a next-generation display device.
The organic light emitting display device includes a plurality of red pixels, green pixels, and blue pixels, and thereby displays various color images.
When such organic light emitting display devices are manufactured, the organic light emitting display devices are tested in panel units or sheet units in order to improve the test efficiency so that a plurality of organic light emitting display panels are concurrently tested in a mother substrate state before scribing.
At this time, when a test signal is supplied to a test line, the testing may not be efficiently performed due to a waveform distortion caused by a voltage drop (IR drop) and a signal delay (RC delay).


Reliable and quick adjustment of, for example, a print start position is achieved through accurate recognition of the positional relationship between a medium and a reference position used when printing. As regards performing printing by forming dots on a medium using a movable print head, the print head is moved by a first set amount from a reference position used when printing and it prints a first reference pattern on the medium, a position of an edge of the medium on the reference position side in the direction of movement of the print head is detected, and the print head is moved to a position that is apart by a second set amount from the position of the edge that has been detected and it prints a second reference pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to printing methods, computer-readable media, printing apparatuses, printing systems, and patterns for correction.
2. Description of the Related Art
So-called serial printers print desired patterns (for example, figures or characters) by applying pressure to liquid ink to eject the liquid ink from nozzles, or sublimating solid-state ink, to form dots on a medium.
Media (such as print paper) of various sizes are used in serial printers, and thus it is necessary to adjust the print position (print range) according to the size of the medium. Conventionally, various methods for this have been proposed.
Incidentally, with serial printers, various patterns are printed as print heads are scanned in a main-scanning direction and the medium is moved in the sub-scanning direction by a paper feed roller. As for the print start position in the main-scanning direction, a position that is apart from a reference position (the so-called "mechanical reference position"), which serves as a reference, by a predetermined distance (normally, the position corresponding to an edge of the print member) is taken as the print start position.
Therefore, if the reference position mentioned above is deviated from the set position on the design, then deviation occurs in the print start position in the main-scanning direction.

Printing method, computer-readable medium, printing apparatus, printing system, and pattern for correction


A strips peeling off apparatus and a carrying conveyor are disposed on a body of a machine for transplanting seedlings. A series of pots is taken out from a multiple series of pots 1 placed on the body through a pair of guide plates by pulling two strips with a pair of taking-out rollers through the pair of guide members toward the front side of the body to expose the seedlings with soil exposed from the pots of the series of pots. The seedlings with soil are carried toward the rear end side at the same velocity as the velocity of the body by clamping the root block portion of the seedling with a first conveyor, and subsequently, with a second conveyor, by clamping the leaf portions of the seedlings to carry the seedlings toward the rear side of the body into a planting groove formed by an opener mounted below the body.

1. Field of Invention This invention relates to a machine of the type placed on the ground which holds seedlings grown in a series of pots and transplants them onto a field. The series of pots are formed by two strips of paper bonded together using a water soluble paste thereby forming the pots therebetween at a given pitch and linked together.
2. Description of Related Art
A series of pots, for example, are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 58-11817 and 4-79612. The pots are initially, during non-use, pressed flat together, and prior to use are arranged in a series to form a honeycomb of like pots, which are accommodated in a box filled with soil and sown. This allows many seedlings to be grown concentrically. According to this seedling growing method using a series of pots, every seedling is grown in a pot independently so as to avoid the entanglement of roots between the seedlings. In addition, the water soluble paste deteriorates a given number of days after the seedlings are planted and begin growing, but allow the seedlings to be drawn out in a row from the overlapped series of pots filled with soil so that the seedlings can be transplanted continuously.
In general, the seedlings grown using a series of pots are transplanted with the pots remaining linked together, and conventionally, a transplanting machine has been developed for this exclusive use. For example, the transplanting machines described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 5-308822 and 8-89028 comprises a body provided at its rear end, opposite to an advancing direction, with an opener for making a groove for transplanting. The body comprises a simple structure having a potted seedlings placing section for receiving the above-discussed series of pots, a potted seedlings guide section for guiding a series of pots drawn out in a row from the potted seedlings placing section and a seedlings feeding section for feeding seedlings from the potted seedlings guide section onto the field. Due merely to the moving of the body on the field, the potted seedlings are fed continuously into the groove formed by the opener to easily transplant the seedlings.
However, multiple series of pots are formed with series of pots overlapping each other with the pitch between the pots limited to the length of a connection portion (piece) of a pot, i.e. a side of a pot. Thus, when using a planting machine described in the above-mentioned publications, the pitch between seedlings is limited to the length of the piece, so that if that pitch is too small, the machine has to be resigned.
Further, for instance, in the case of Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-61886, a transplanting machine is described in which a row of seedling pots is clamped by a pair of rotary transplantation bars and is separated from the following seedling pot by cutting the connection piece therebetween to transplant the separated seedling pot into the groove. While the pitch between seedlings can be changed, the transplanting machine itself becomes complicated and large-scaled and can not be used simply.
Furthermore, for instance, in the case of Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 7-123869, in order to extend the connection piece, a plurality of cuts are provided in the side of the pot or in the connection piece, or in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 1-205687, the connection piece is made longer than a side of the pot and folded along the length of the side of the pot to which it is attached using a water-soluble paste, thereby when transplanting the pitch is extended. However, in either case there have been the following problems. For instance in the former case, during transplanting, the connection piece is apt to be separated unintentionally due to the resistance against the taking out force, while in the latter case, the manufacture of a series of pots is complicated and the manufacturing cost is high.