A waveguide apparatus includes a planar waveguide and at least one optical diffraction element (DOE) that provides a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and interior of the planar waveguide. A phase profile of the DOE may combine a linear diffraction grating with a circular lens, to shape a wave front and produce beams with desired focus. Waveguide apparati may be assembled to create multiple focal planes. The DOE may have a low diffraction efficiency, and planar waveguides may be transparent when viewed normally, allowing passage of light from an ambient environment (e.g., real world) useful in AR systems. Light may be returned for temporally sequentially passes through the planar waveguide. The DOE(s) may be fixed or may have dynamically adjustable characteristics. An optical coupler system may couple images to the waveguide apparatus from a projector, for instance a biaxially scanning cantilevered optical fiber tip.

A light field encompasses all the light rays at every point in space traveling in every direction. Light fields are considered four dimensional because every point in a three-dimensional space also has an associated direction, which is the fourth dimension.
Wearable three-dimensional displays may include a substrate guided optical device, also known as the light-guide optical element (LOE) system. Such devices are manufactured by, for example Lumus Ltd. However, these LOE systems only project a single depth plane, focused at infinity, with a spherical wave front curvature of zero.
One prior art system (Lumus) comprises multiple angle-dependent reflectors embedded in a waveguide to outcouple light from the face of the waveguide. Another prior art system (BAE) embeds a linear diffraction grating within the waveguide to change the angle of incident light propagating along the waveguide. By changing the angle of light beyond the threshold of TIR, the light escapes from one or more lateral faces of the waveguide. The linear diffraction grating has a low diffraction efficiency, so only a fraction of the light energy is directed out of the waveguide, each time the light encounters the linear diffraction grating. By outcoupling the light at multiple locations along the grating, the exit pupil of the display system is effectively increased.
A primary limitation of the prior art systems is that they only relay collimated images to the eyes (i.e., images at optical infinity). Collimated displays are adequate for many applications in avionics, where pilots are frequently focused upon very distant objects (e.g., distant terrain or other aircraft). However, for many other head-up or augmented reality applications, it is desirable to allow users to focus their eyes upon (i.e., "accommodate" to) objects closer than optical infinity.
The wearable 3D displays may be used for so called "virtual reality" or "augmented reality" experiences, wherein digitally reproduced images or portions thereof are presented to a user in a manner wherein they seem to be, or may be perceived as, real. A virtual reality, or "VR", scenario typically involves presentation of digital or virtual image information without transparency to other actual real-world visual input; an augmented reality, or "AR", scenario typically involves presentation of digital or virtual image information as an augmentation to visualization of the actual world around the user.
The U.S. patent applications listed above present systems and techniques to work with the visual configuration of a typical human to address various challenges in virtual reality and augmented reality applications. The design of these virtual reality and/or augmented reality systems (AR systems) presents numerous challenges, including the speed of the system in delivering virtual content, quality of virtual content, eye relief of the user, size and portability of the system, and other system and optical challenges.
The systems and techniques described herein are configured to work with the visual configuration of the typical human to address these challenges.

Optical system having a return planar waveguide


An information apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a viewpoint position measurement unit configured to measure a position of a viewpoint of an operator, an operation position measurement unit configured to measure a position of an operation unit operated by the operator, and a determination unit configured to determine a position and an orientation of a cursor to be displayed based on the position of the viewpoint and the position of the operation unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method for generating and displaying a virtual object in a virtual reality space or a mixed reality space.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, researches on mixed reality (MR) for achieving a seamless integration of a physical space with a virtual space have been actively made. An image display apparatus for presenting a mixed reality is, for example, an apparatus having a configuration below. Specifically, the apparatus displays an image formed by superimposing an image (for example, a virtual object generated by computer graphics or character information) in a virtual reality space generated depending on a position and an orientation of an imaging apparatus on an image in a physical space captured by the imaging apparatus such as a video camera. In such an apparatus, for example, a head-mounted display (HMD) can be used.
The image display apparatus can be implemented by an optical see-through method for displaying an image in a virtual reality space generated depending on a position and an orientation of a viewpoint of an operator on an optical see-through display mounted to the head of the operator.
Meanwhile, with the development of IT technology, tools for drawing letters or pictures conventionally implemented by media such as paper and pencils have been computerized. Further, tablet apparatuses that use a pointing device such as a pen enabling us to input information with a sense similar to writing down on paper, even in a virtual space have been developed. For example, instead of two-dimensional position measurement of the tip of a pen-type device in the conventional tablet apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-305306 discusses a technique for three-dimensionally measuring a pen tip. By the technique, the operation of the pen tip held by the operator himself/herself can be recognized in the height direction. By varying a scale of a cursor or display of shadow displayed in response to movement of the pen tip in the height direction, the position of the pen tip in the virtual space can be further clearly presented.
However, in the known methods, when the operator indicates a point in a virtual reality space or a mixed reality space using a cursor, the point indicated by the cursor may not be visually recognized.

Information processing apparatus for displaying virtual object and method thereof


A piezoelectric element is provided with a ceramic substrate including a first surface on which a groove is formed, and a first electrode formed on the first surface of the ceramic substrate and including a crossing part that extends over the groove. At least one void is formed between a bottom of the groove and the crossing part of the first electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to a piezoelectric element.
2. Description of Related Art
A piezoelectric element includes a ceramic substrate and electrodes formed on respective surfaces of the ceramic substrate. When an external force is applied to the ceramic substrate of the piezoelectric element, the ceramic substrate is strained and a voltage is generated between the electrodes (piezoelectric effect). Furthermore, when a voltage is applied between the electrodes of the piezoelectric element, an electric field is applied to the ceramic substrate to strain the ceramic substrate (inverse piezoelectric effect). Note that a piezoelectric element having a plurality of internal electrodes has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-72325.

Piezoelectric element with electrodes allowing substrate strain and method for manufacturing the same


The invention relates to a computerized method for processing a graph containing a set of nodes processing a graph containing a set of nodes, wherein forest of trees is provided corresponding to a directed acyclic graph containing a set of nodes, each of said nodes having a type chosen from a set of types; a depth for each node in said forest of trees is determined; in a breadth-first traversal manner, the depth and type of each node in said forest of trees is compared to a predefined matrix, said matrix defining for each depth and type combination one of the following actions to be carried out: no action, creating a new sub-tree, triggering exception handling.

Information technology (IT) and respective IT tools are needed to implement business processes. However, business process models on the one hand are mostly developed independently from IT design models for implementing these processes. Models known in the art for doing one of these tasks are e.g. the Service-Oriented Modeling and Architecture (SOMA) by International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., as a design model or Component Business Modeling (CBM) by International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., as a business analysis model. The successful use of such models typically requires a high effort in training as well as many years of experience.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,355 B1discloses a model and a system which can be used for specifying and implementing automation of business processes. The model can be used by both business process as well as the respective IT design to be developed for the business process and provides guidelines on how to map a business process.

Method for processing a graph containing a set of nodes


A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named xe2x80x98Duespotmarxe2x80x99, characterized by its inflorescences with pink and pale yellow bi-colored flower bracts; dark green-colored leaves with green-colored petioles; uniform and rounded plant habit; and excellent post-production longevity.

Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. cultivar Duespotmar.
The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., and hereinafter referred to by the name xe2x80x98Duespotmarxe2x80x99.
The new Poinsettia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Poinsettia cultivars with uniform plant habit and attractive flower bract coloration.
The new Poinsettia is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. cultivar HWD Spotlight, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,854. The new Poinsettia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within a population of plants of the cultivar HWD Spotlight in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany. The selection of this plant was based on its attractive flower bract coloration and uniform plant habit.
Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia by vegetative terminal cuttings taken at Rheinberg, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of xe2x80x98Duespotmarxe2x80x99. These characteristics in combination distinguish xe2x80x98Duespotmarxe2x80x99 as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Inflorescences with pink and pale yellow bi-colored flower bracts.
2. Dark green-colored leaves with green-colored petioles.
3. Uniform and rounded plant habit.
4. Excellent post-production longevity.
Compared to plants of the parent, the cultivar HWD Spotlight, plants of the new Poinsettia have darker green leaves, longer flower bract petioles, and fewer cyathia per corymb. In addition, plants of the new Poinsettia and the cultivar HWD Spotlight differ in flower bract coloration as plants of the cultivar HWD Spotlight have red-colored flower bracts.
Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the cultivar Marblestar, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,685. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Poinsettia differed from plants of the cultivar Marblestar in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Poinsettia were slightly shorter than plants of the cultivar Marblestar.
2. Plants of the new Poinsettia were more freely branching than plants of the cultivar Marblestar.
3. Plants of the new Poinsettia had smaller and darker green leaves than plants of the cultivar Marblestar.
4. Plants of the new Poinsettia had smaller flower bracts than plants of the cultivar Marblestar.
5. Plants of the new Poinsettia and the cultivar Marblestar differed in flower bract coloration as plants of the cultivar Marblestar had light red and light pink bi-colored flower bracts.


A display board, panel, or wall section comprising a penetrating object permeable panel and a ferromagnetic apertured material, preferably a wire mesh, disposed on a surface of the permeable panel, the apertured material being exposed to view and being adapted to receive magnetic means for securing an item to be displayed on the display panel and further having an aperture size such that the permeable panel is adapted to receive a penetrating object, such as a tack, for securing an item to be displayed on the display panel through an aperture of the apertured material.

The present invention relates to a display board or panel, e.g., a wall panel attached to a surface or free standing, and in particular, to a display board or panel having multiple means for securing items to be displayed thereon. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a display board or panel having the capability of securing notes, memos and bulletins, etc., for example, by conventional tacks and pins, by magnetic means, and by tape or other fastening means and which also provides and retains a neat, ornamental, unblemished appearance.
Various types of bulletin or display boards or panels and devices are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,223, to Krapf, discloses a magnetic display panel which is made of a light, generally rigid cardboard or foamed cork core with laminations of non-perforated steel foil arranged thereon, over which paper sheets are secured to cover the outer surfaces of the steel foil.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,976, to Zambiasi, discloses a magnetic board for programming and statistical purposes. Each panel of the board consists of a metal sheet, wherein a grating is defined by two pluralities of equidistantly spaced parallel grooves. Magnetic signalling elements can be inserted into the grooves.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,723, to Tate, discloses a color changeable fabric wherein hollow strands of the fabric contain a liquid in which color coded micromagnets are dispersed.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,589,601, to Burnett, discloses a magnetic slate wherein erasable symbols may be made by use of a magnet.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,276, to Payne, discloses a bistable visual display device having a transparent front panel and a core honeycombed by an array of transversely extending non-intercommunicating duct-like cells partially filled with magnetic powder. To write on the board, it is tilted in an upright position and a magnetic stylus is drawn across its transparent front panel whereupon powder is shifted to the visible front portion of the cells along the path of the stylus.
A type of display board having a tack penetrable surface with limited magnetic capability is also known. In this known bulletin board, a tack permeable core is covered by a vinyl or paper covering between which is sandwiched a ferrous mesh. Glue is applied over the entire permeable core surface enabling the ferrous mesh and vinyl or paper covering to adhere to the base permeable core. The problem and limitation with this design is that the vinyl or paper and glue covering substantially reduces the magnetic attraction of a magnet to the glue covered ferrous mesh thereby minimizing its effectiveness, the resistance of the surface to insertion and application of tacks is increased, and furthermore, the esthetic outer surface appearance of the display board is not retained, the vinyl or paper surface being visibly damaged with each use requiring repeated resurfacing and reglueing to maintain an unsoiled appearance. This type of bulletin board or tack board is shown in Greensteel brochure 10100/GRD.

Display panel having dual securement means


A method comprising receiving a pulse generated in response to a transition of a head over a predetermined pattern on a storage medium, measuring a first amplitude of a power spectrum of the pulse at a first predetermined frequency and a second amplitude of the power spectrum of the pulse at respective second predetermined frequencies, and calculating a distance between the head and the storage medium based on a function of the first and second amplitudes.

In storage media systems, it is important to maintain the fly height of the head within a prescribed region. If the fly height is too great, the signals transmitted and read by the head will be too weak for accurate data storage and retrieval. If the fly height is too small, the head can physically contact the medium, causing physical damage to the medium and loss of the data stored on the medium.
Methods for detecting fly height generally employ a known pattern written on the storage medium. In response to the pattern, the head produces one or more pulses. One conventional method to detect fly height measures the peak amplitude of the pulse. Another conventional method is to measure the duration of the pulse, for example at its half-amplitude point. Still another method involves measuring the area under the pulse. These method are unreliable because the amplitude of the pulse, and the area under the pulse, are affected unpredictably by factors such as the gain of the storage system.

Detecting fly height of a head over a storage medium


A cable system and method including a cable or a microduct provided within the groove extending vertically into, but not through, a pavement. The cable has a central strength member, at least one buffer tube stranded around the central strength member, an outer jacket surrounding the buffer tube and central strength member, and at least one transmission element provided within said at least one buffer tube. Provided within the microduct is a microduct cable including at least one transmission element. A cable including a central strength member, at least one buffer tube stranded around the central strength member, an outer jacket surrounding the buffer tube and central strength member, and at least one transmission element provided within said at least one buffer tube. The cable has a longitudinal thermal expansion force due to a change in temperature from 20° C. to 70° C. of less than 305 lbs when constrained.

Fiber optic cables have been traditionally placed at a depth of 4 to 6 feet below the road surface in a conduit structure that involves excavation, refilling, and repairing of the road surface.
However, fiber optic cables have been recently installed within the pavement of a road in shallow grooves, or channels. These shallow grooves are typically about 2 to 6 inches deep. Fiber optic cables that are provided within a shallow groove in the pavement can be provided to individual customers at a lower cost than cables provided in deeper grooves.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,691 ("the '691 patent"), for example, is directed to a method for introducing a micro-cable into a shallow channel in the ground. However, the fiber optic cables of the '691 patent have not been designed specifically for use in the harsh pavement environment. Because shallow groove cables are provided within the pavement, the cables are subject to extreme temperatures caused by the pavement's exposure to the sun. Not only do these extreme temperatures cause the cable to rapidly degrade, but in addition, the high temperatures also can cause the cable to expand linearly. This expansion can cause the cable to press against the fill material, such as a sealant, provided in the groove above the cables. If the linearly expanding cable pushes against the fill material with a strong enough force, the cable can cause the fill material to push above the road's surface.


A distinct cultivar of Tiarella plant named xe2x80x98Pink Brushesxe2x80x99, characterized by its mounded plant habit; palmately lobed green leaves with dark purple centers that extend along the main veins with development; numerous light pink showy flowers arranged on dense racemes; and excellent garden performance.

Tiarella cordifolia.
xe2x80x98Pink Brushesxe2x80x99.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Tiarella plant, botanically known as Tiarella cordifolia and hereinafter referred to by the name xe2x80x98Pink Brushesxe2x80x99.
The new Tiarella is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Scottdale, Pa. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Tiarella cultivars having densely foliated plant habit, deeply lobed leaves, and showy and attractive flower and leaf coloration.
The new Tiarella was discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Scottdale, Pa., from seedling progeny from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 1995, of the Tiarella cultivar Braveheart, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Tiarella cultivar Spring Bronze, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Tiarella was selected by the Inventor in May, 1997. The selection of this plant was based on its desirable leaf shape and coloration.
Asexual reproduction of the new Tiarella by cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Scottdale, Pa., since August, 1997, has shown that the unique features of this new Tiarella are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
The cultivar Pink Brushes has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of xe2x80x98Pink Brushesxe2x80x99. These characteristics in combination distinguish xe2x80x98Pink Brushesxe2x80x99 as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Full and densely foliated; mounded plant habit.
2. Palmately lobed green leaves with dark purple centers that extend along the main veins with development.
3. Numerous light pink showy flowers arranged on dense racemes.
4. Excellent garden performance.
Plants of the new Tiarella differ from plants of the female parent, the cultivar Braveheart, in side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Scottdale, Pa. in the following characteristics:
1. Leaf surfaces of plants of the new Tiarella have dark purple centers that extend along the main veins whereas leaf surfaces of plants of the cultivar Braveheart have dark purple markings mostly along the main veins.
2. Plants of the new Tiarella have dense racemes whereas plants of the cultivar Braveheart have sparse racemes.
3. Flowers of plants of the new Tiarella are light pink in color whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar Braveheart are white in color.
4. Flowers of plants of the new Tiarella are longer-lasting than flowers of plants of the cultivar Braveheart.
Plants of the new Tiarella differ from plants of the male parent, the cultivar Spring Bronze, in side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Scottdale, Pa. in the following characteristics:
1. Young leaves of plants of the new Tiarella are green in color whereas young leaves of plants of the cultivar Spring Bronze are bronze in color.
2. Plants of the new Tiarella have dense racemes whereas plants of the cultivar Spring Bronze have sparse racemes.
3. Flowers of plants of the new Tiarella are longer-lasting than flowers of plants of the cultivar Spring Bronze.
Plants of the new Tiarella can be compared to plants of the cultivar Tiger Stripe, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Scottdale, Pa., plants of the new Tiarella differed from plants of the cultivar Tiger Stripe in the following characteristics:
1. Leaves of plants of the new Tiarella are palmately lobed whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Tiger Stripe are cordate and not lobed.
2. Leaf surfaces of plants of the new Tiarella have dark purple centers that extend along the main veins whereas leaf surfaces of plants of the cultivar Tiger Stripe have random and variable dark purple markings.
3. Plants of the new Tiarella have dense racemes whereas plants of the cultivar Tiger Stripe have sparse racemes.
4. Flowers of plants of the new Tiarella are longer-lasting than flowers of plants of the cultivar Tiger Stripe.
5. Flowers of plants of the new Tiarella are light pink in color whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar Tiger Stripe are white in color.
Plants of the new Tiarella can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Elizabeth Oliver, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Scottdale, Pa., plants of the new Tiarella differed from plants of the cultivar Elizabeth Oliver in the following characteristics:
1. Leaves of plants of the new Tiarella are darker green and larger than leaves of plants of the cultivar Elizabeth Olive.
2. Leaf surfaces of plants of the new Tiarella have smaller dark purple areas than leaf surfaces of plants of the cultivar Elizabeth Oliver.
3. Racemes of plants of the new Tiarella are taller than racemes of plants of the cultivar Elizabeth Oliver.


A deformable optical device includes a reflection device having a first reflecting surface and a second surface, an actuator (e.g., an integrated circuit piezoelectric actuator) having a support device and moveable extensions extending therefrom, which are coupled to the second surface, and electrodes coupled to corresponding ones of the extensions. Wavefront aberrations are detected and used to generate a control signal. The extensions are moved based on the control signal. The movement deforms the reflecting surface to correct the aberrations in the wavefront.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to deformable optical devices.
2. Background Art
Light passing through an optical system can become distorted for various reasons. A lens, mirror, coatings thereon, or other devices in the optical system can: have imperfections, contaminants, or defects on their surface or within their structure. These together with thermal and other environmental factors including the ambient properties are sources of error in the light beam. Wavefront aberrations can lead to substantial degrading of the operation of an apparatus having the optical system.
For example, in photolithography where the state of the art requires nanometer level resolution, even small wavefront aberrations in the light beam can cause substantial errors in patterned devices. If these errors are outside of a tolerance budget, the devices will fail. Thus, optical elements within the photolithography systems must be manufactured to exacting tolerances and their environment tightly controlled.
Since practical limits exist in manufacturing tolerances and environmental control, some optical systems use deformable optics, such as deformable mirrors, to help compensate for wavefront aberrations. The deformable mirrors normally include an array of discrete actuators coupled between the mirror and a support. A measuring device (e.g., inline or offline) measures, either continuously or at the beginning of a cycle, the wavefront aberrations at one or more sections of the optical system. A control signal is then generated and transmitted to the actuators, which individually move an area of the deformable optic. The wavefront of the light beam reflecting from the deformed surface is adjusted to compensate for the aberration, and produce a substantially ideal wavefront.
One problem with the conventional deformable optics is that they use rather large actuators to move the optic. Based on the actuator's size and the size of the deformable optic, only a certain number of actuators (e.g., a certain density of actuators) can be coupled to the deformable optic, which limits the amount of fine correction. Density also directly correlates to the type of aberration that can be corrected, i.e., a lower density only allows for correction of lower order (e.g. lower spatial frequency) aberrations. Typical deformable optics can correct for only low order aberrations based on their low actuator density. However, sometimes higher order (e.g. higher spatial frequency) aberrations are necessary to correct. For example, sometimes wavefront aberrations are characterized using Standard Zernike polynomials, including higher orders. Conventional actuator densities cannot adequately correct for higher order terms.
Therefore, a deformable optic is needed that can correct for higher order terms of wavefront aberrations in an optical system.

Deformable mirror using piezoelectric actuators formed as an integrated circuit and method of use


Graininess and calorimetric values of color patches formed by an image generating system using dark and light colored recording agents are input to calculate equiluminance contours. Color density decomposition is then performed based on the calculated graininess and equiluminance contours.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing method and system. More specifically, the invention relates to an image processing method and system that performs optimal color density decomposition.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many different types of known data output systems such as word processors, personal computers, and facsimile devices. Among these known data output systems is an ink jet printer, which records text and images on a recording medium by discharging a colorant onto the recording medium. The performance of inkjet printers has been improved recently and these inkjet printers are capable of high quality recording of, not only text, but also color images.
An inkjet printer records intermediate tones of color by controlling the spatial distribution of ink dots discharged from printer heads. However, for regions with a low dot concentration, i.e., the highlights of the image, the dots appear grainy.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-059571 discloses a system for reducing the graininess of highlights by using light-colored ink (light cyan (Lc) and light magenta (Lm)) in addition to the basic four colors: cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K).
Specifically, cyan is separated into a light cyan (Lc) ink and a dark (regular) cyan (C) ink, a process referred to as 'color density decomposition.' Color density decomposition is based on empirical assumptions that "the lighter the background, the more the dark cyan stands out" and that "it is better to use light colored ink in the vicinity of the highlight." However, graininess of the printed images is not always reduced indicating that optimal color density decomposition has not been achieved.

Image processing for optimal color density decomposition based on calculated graininess and equiluminance contours


A method of manufacturing a data carrier from a support strip includes an overmoulding step, in which at least one support element of the support strip is overmoulded so as to obtain a data carrier body, and a microcircuit-connecting step, in which a microcircuit is electrically connected to the wiring pads of the data carrier body so as to obtain the data carrier.

FIG. 1 illustrates a method of manufacturing a plug that can be used in a cellular phone. Such a plug comprises a card body and a module. A module comprises a microcircuit and protective resin. The module is generally manufactured independently of the card body and tested separately. If the test is satisfactory, the module is embedded in the card body of an ISO card. The card body is then pre-cut in the format of a GSM plug. In a second testing step, the microcircuit is then tested again. This second test can also be carried out after the embedding but before the cutting. An ISO card provided with a pre-cut outline in the format of the plug is thus obtained. Before use, the plug is separated from the ISO card by the end user. Thus the GSM plugs are manufactured in a discontinuous manner.


This invention prevents the danger of falling of body temperature by making the blood temperature similar to the body temperature in the injection of Ringer's solution fluid or blood transfusion, and also alleviates the patient's pain and improves the speed at which Ringer's solution fluid or blood enters the body. The warming device is much cheaper than previously released products, and small and light in weight, and allows blood or solution fluids to flow most effectively by allowing sufficient time for heat transfer as a pack type. The operation is convenient and sanitary in its single usage only. The inventive purpose has the methods of utilizing the temperature sensor in adjusting temperature by utilizing them PTC heating element's resistance specialty against the temperature as well as temperature sensor.

Conventionally there are a medicine dosage method and an injecting method of injecting chemical material useful for a patient to the human body. The method of injecting the chemicals into the body of a patient, there are a hypodermic injection, an intramuscular injection, and an intravenous injection. Among them, the intravenous injection has been used for injecting injection fluid inside a blood vessel for a long time. For example, in the event of supplying blood in operation or injecting Ringer's solution fluid, the intravenous injection using an instillation injection set is used.
The Ringer's solution fluid is usually kept at lower temperature to prevent a decay or a generation of an alien substance. Blood is generally kept under a refrigerating state in order to prevent a generation of a harmful organism before a blood transfusion. Thus, the temperature of the Ringer's solution fluid or blood usually is kept under 20° C. when the Ringer's solution fluid or blood enters the human body. Therefore, when the Ringer's solution fluid or blood enters the human body, the temperature of the Ringer's solution fluid or transfused blood rises to the temperature of the human body since the body temperature usually is 37° C. In this case, the energy necessary for the temperature increase of the Ringer's solution fluid or blood is supplied by the patient's risen metabolism. Such thermic load causes the body temperature fallen and a coldness sensation point of skin is stimulated. That is, a transfusion of the Ringer's solution fluid or the blood transfusion may cause a sensation of cold pain to the patient or may be a mortal blow to life.
To solve such a problem, Patent No. 130926 of R.O.K disclosed a warmer for a medical treatment and a method therefor, in which the temperature of Ringer's solution fluid or blood was made matched with temperature of the human body before a transfusion into the body 1.
In Patent No. 130926 of R.O.K, in order to control the temperature of the Ringer's solution fluid, a tube is fixed onto an upper part of a panel, and on the upper part of the panel, a first cover is put, and the first cover is fixed to a vertical member through a use of a hinge. Further, a locking device is set in a vertical member confronted with the vertical member having a sticking of the hinge, and the first cover has a sticking of a second cover which contains heat shield material in the inside of an upper part thereof. Inside an overall square-shape container, the tube is inside-installed, and the tube provided inside the square container is warmed by a heating unit of the square container inside.
It is actually difficult to raise temperature of the short tube to a desired temperature and to control the desired temperature by the heating unit of the square container interior, where the warmer for the medical treatment should be warmed in lower temperature below 41.5° C. since a length of the tube in the inside of the square container is short. Even though the high temperature heating device, which may cause ill effects, is used, the device becomes complicated and expensive due to a use of more accurate electronic controlling system.
Furthermore, in a warmer using a conventional Ni—Cr heating element, a tube of Ringer's solution fluid is wound on the surface of the heating element made round, and above that, a cover is closed and locked by a locking device. Thus, whenever using that, there is an inconvenience and a complicated structure that the tube should be wound on the surface of the heating element, and the volume of the warmer must be large since the Ni—Cr heating element is utilized. Also its weight is over 2 kg, so heavy, and its price is high.

Warmer for medical treatment and its control method


A novel medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially for ameliorating dyskinesia, comprising as an active ingredient selenoprotein P and/or a peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments derived from said protein is provided. The novel medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially for ameliorating dyskinesia, according to the present invention is suitably applicable to diseases with decrease in motor function.

Neural diseases, where cell death or cellular degeneration of the cells consisting of the nervous system such as neurocytes or glia cells are involved, include cerebrovascular disorders including cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, multi-infarct dementia, Binswanger type leukoencephalopathy, and chronic subdural hematoma; autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and collagen disease; neurodegenerative diseases including spinocerebellar degeneration, Shy-Drager syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer disease, Pick disease, Huntington chorea, Parkinson disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, epilepsy, and Prion disease; dementia or dysbasia associated with aging, or traumatic injury of spinal chord or cerebral disorders due to traffic accident. Among most of these diseases is commonly observed decrease in motor function (dyskinesia).
Dyskinesia includes muscular disorders, neural disorders, and disorders in bones and joints. Among these, central neural disorders leading to dyskinesia is classified according to the regions suffered into cerebral (frontal lobe), cerebellar, vestibular (labyrinth), and spinal dyskinesia.
Cerebral dyskinesia is caused by disorder in cerebral cortex, especially the frontal lobe, and can be observed in case of cerebrovascular lesion, cerebral atrophy, trauma, tumor, Pick disease, and chronic subdural hematoma. It exhibits atactic abasia and decrease in mental function.
Cerebellar dyskinesia is a significant symptom associated with, for instance, cerebellar disorders such as cerebellar tumor, vascular disorders, degenerative disorders, cerebellar atrophy, or deformity. Lesions in the vermis induce trunk ataxia, exhibits astasia-abasia, and gluteus maximus gait, yields difficulty in maintaining posture and position with disorder in balance. On the other hand, disorders in the cerebellar hemisphere exhibit abnormality of tonus in limb muscles and decrease in myotony and are accompanied by maldispositional gait towards the affected lateral direction, incoordination, wrong indication in finger-finger test or finger-nose test, dysmetria, Holmes-Stewart phenomenon, as well as intention tremor and cerebellar speech (scanning, explosive).
Vestibular (labyrinth) ataxia is caused by vestibular malfunctions and most of its cause is supposed to be the presence of, or sequela from, otological disorders in the internal ear, including, for instance, Ménière disease, sudden deafness, disorders in the balance-related nerves due to drug poisoning such as streptomycin or kanamycin, trauma, syphilis, acoustic trauma hearing loss, otosclerosis, and otitis interna (and its sequela).
In case of spinal dyskinesia, also called ataxia of posterior funiculus, disorders in posterior column of spinal cord lead to disorders in bathyesthesia, i.e. positional sensibility, articular sensibility and sensibility of grasp, resulting in ataxia. It is markedly observed in Friedreich's ataxia, subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord, locomotor ataxia, and the like.
These neurodegenerative diseases with dyskinesia are deeply related with cell death or cell degeneration of the neurocytes in their pathological conditions. For example, in case of poly(glutamic acid) disease, observed in Huntington disease, spinocerebellar degeneration (Machado-Joseph disease, Friedreich's ataxia, etc.) or myotonic dystrophy, or Alzheimer disease, cell death or cell degeneration of the neurocytes due to intracellular accumulation of abnormal proteins is observed. For motor neuronal disorders, typically amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, its cause is thought to be cell death of the neurocytes due to generation of free radicals or excessive accumulation of glutamic acid, increase in intracellular calcium ion level, or generation of NO. In case of Parkinson disease, its principal cause is thought to be degeneration of dopaminergic neurocytes in the stratum compacta of substantia nigra.
As the aging process proceeds, man's physical function continually deteriorates. As a morphological basis of the aging process, organs exhibit atrophy (i.e. decrease in weight). For example, the proceedings of the aging process render the brain atrophic, in its extremity resulting in gait disability or dementia. From histopathological point of view, there are observed degeneration or drop-off of the neurocytes, senile plaques, or change in Alzheimer fibril. Cell death or cellular degeneration of the nervous system is supposed to be induced by oxidative stress such as free radicals or glycation. It is also reported that biochemical observation of the brain autopsy revealed decrease in neurotransmitters, especially disturbance of cholinergic neurons, but the cause still remains to be elucidated.
Even if under healthy conditions, a man can fall into gait disability through injury of the spinal cord or the brain by, for instance, traffic accident. When a strong external pressure is applied in case of accidents, dislocation fracture of the spinal column occurs to press the spinal cord or to cause fractural injury in the spinal cord, resulting in injury of the spinal cord. Other causes include radiation burn, incised wound, or stab wound. It can also occur in case where wound is unobservable in bone as is often seen in hyperextension injury of the cervical vertebrae in which detrition and pressure lesion of the spinal cord is observed with marked hemorrhage and edema in parenchyma of the spinal cord. Its clinical symptom includes incomplete or complete systemic paralysis.
Autoimmune diseases are also sometimes accompanied by dyskinesia. Immune system ordinarily acts as a protective mechanism of the living body against a substance foreign and harmful to the host that invades from the environment into the living body. However, the system may sometimes act unfavorably against the living body. When this results in pathological conditions, it is called autoimmune diseases. Diseases exhibiting dyskinesia due to the autoimmune reaction include, for example, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Among these, multiple sclerosis, a kind of demyelination diseases, is characterized by the presence of a variety of demyelination nests of various sizes dispersed within the white matter of the central nervous system with varied lesions of old and new. The lesions are preferentially observed in the white matter such as the periphery of the lateral ventricle, the optic nerve, the brain stem or the spinal cord. Histologically, it is a disease where oligodendrocytes, engaged in formation of medullary sheath, are injured and a large number of oligodendrocytes are observed to have undertaken apoptosis in the lesions. The demyelination nests exhibit at early stage inflammatory infiltration of the cells, which are subsequently consolidated upon replacement with glial fiber at chronic stage. Its clinical symptoms include a various combination of symptoms such as optic neuritis, multiple vision, ocular motor disturbance such as nystagmus, spastic paralysis, painful tonic seizure, Lhermitte syndrome, ataxia, mogilalia and vesicorectal disturbance, where remission is often observed.
In case of cerebrovascular disorders, ischemic conditions in the brain induced by various causes such as cerebral infarction or intracerebral hemorrhage bring about oxygen lack and nutritional disturbance to the cells and tissues in the ischemic region. The oxygen lack first provides with functional impairment via blockage of ATP production, then leads to degeneration, necrosis or atrophy. Specifically, decrease in oxygen and glucose provisions due to ischemia triggers generation of free radicals, excess accumulation of glutamic acid, increase in intracellular calcium ion level, and enhancement of NO production, eventually resulting in death of neurocytes. The ischemic disturbance depends on the duration of ischemia such that the longer the duration of ischemia is, the more exacerbated the reperfusion injury becomes. With these reasons, cell death or cellular degeneration of neurocytes can be the cause of dyskinesia.
As stated above, neurodegenerative diseases with dyskinesia exhibit cell death or cellular degeneration of neurocytes as a common pathology although they may include various diseases. Therefore, any substance that may inhibit or ameliorate cell death or cellular degeneration of neurocytes would be considered to be an effective medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially dyskinesia. At present, for ameliorating these symptoms, a variety of medical drugs have been proposed, including, for example, a substance that prevents or controls oxidative disturbance in oxidases in the living body such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, or glutathione peroxidase, as well as clinically used medicaments such as trimetazidine hydrochloride, a medicament for treating ischemic heart disease; sodium oxagrel, thromboxane synthetase inhibitor; ifenprodil tartrate, a medicament for improving cerebral circulation and metabolism; and nizofenone fumarate, a medicament for improving ischemic encephalopathy. However, these medicaments cannot entirely inhibit dyskinesia.
As such, little medicament is known for effectively ameliorating symptoms in dyskinesia associated with cell death or cellular degeneration of neurocytes and hence symptomatic treatment has principally been employed. Thus, for instance, a medicament for treating Parkinson disease is used for parkinsonism such as tremor in hands, or an autonomic drug for autonomic symptoms such as orthostatic hypotension. Accordingly, for ameliorating dyskinesia induced by cell death or cellular degeneration of neurocytes, a substance is desired that can inhibit cell death or cellular degeneration generated under disadvantageous conditions for the neurocytes, especially a substance that can elevate anti-oxidative capacity of the cells.
The explanation mentioned above is described by reference to "Why cells die due to ischemia" by Kunio Tagawa, Kyoritsu Publishers Co., Ltd.; "Handbook of stroke" by Keiji Sano, I.P.C.; "Current Diagnosis and Treatment", CD-ROM, Igaku-Shoin Ltd.; "Grand Medical Dictionary", CD-ROM, Nanzando Co., Ltd.; "Up-to-date Grand Medical Dicitionary", CD-ROM, 2nd Ed., Ishiyaku Publishers, Inc.; and "Apoptosis and Diseases", Ed. by Yoshikuni Mizuno, Iyaku (Medicine and Drug) Journal Co., Ltd.

Juridical Foundation the Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute


A direct current (DC) power distribution system is provided for an aircraft. The system includes a DC system bus configured to carry electrical power from a source of electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads. The electrical loads are onboard the aircraft. The DC system bus includes a load side. The system includes a plurality of power converter modules that are electrically coupled in series to the DC system bus on the load side of the DC system bus. The power converter modules are configured to be electrically attached to corresponding sub-sets of the electrical loads. At least one of the power converter modules is configured to be short circuited in response to a fault such that the at least one power converter module does not supply electrical power to the corresponding subset of the electrical loads.

Many types of aircraft, such as aerostats, fixed wing aircraft, powered lift aircraft, and rotorcraft, include power distribution systems for distributing electrical power to various electrical loads onboard the aircraft. The demand for electrical power provided by power distribution systems onboard aircraft continues to increase. The increased demand may be based on an increased number of electrical loads and/or an increase in the amount of electrical power consumed by electrical loads onboard the aircraft. For example, electrical starter-generators, electrically powered environmental control and pressurization systems, electrically actuated flight controls, electrical engine and flight management systems, and electrical anti-ice and de-ice systems are electrical loads that have been added relatively recently onboard aircraft. New electrical loads have also been added to passenger aircraft to increase comfort standards and/or to provide the passengers with more entertainment and/or other services. Moreover, as electrical loads become more advanced, for example to include more features and/or capability, the electrical loads consume a greater amount of electrical power.
At least some known aircraft include alternating current (AC) power distribution systems that distribute AC power to the various electrical loads onboard the aircraft. However AC power distribution systems are not without disadvantages. For example, many of the electrical loads onboard an aircraft, if not a majority, are direct current (DC) loads that are configured to operate using DC. Accordingly, power conversion stages must be provided at each DC load to convert the AC power provided by the AC power distribution system to DC power that can be used by the DC load. However, the power conversion stages provided at each of the DC loads to convert from AC power to DC power increase the weight, size, and number of components of the power distribution system. Moreover, the power conversion stages provided at each of the DC loads to convert from AC power to DC power may decrease the reliability and/or maintainability of the power distribution system.

System and method for power distribution


A module for an optical device being provided with a wiring substrate having a conductive wiring patterned thereon, a solid-state image sensor, a DSP for controlling the operation of the solid-state image sensor and processing a signal outputted from the same, and a lens holder being placed opposite to the solid-state image sensor and having a function of an optical path demarcating unit for demarcating the optical path to the solid-state image sensor, wherein a transparent cover bonded to the surface of the solid-state image sensor is joined to the lens holder at a joint portion. It is unnecessary to provide a focus adjuster for matching the optical distance between the lens and the solid-state image sensor with the focal length of the lens.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a module for an optical device suitable for a camera module and the like for capturing an image of an object, and to a manufacturing method therefor.
2. Description of Related Art
A portable electronic apparatus such as a cellular phone or the like has recently been equipped with a camera function, so that a module for an optical device such as a camera module has been developed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-182270).
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a section of a conventional module for an optical device. Reference numeral 30 denotes a wiring substrate 30 which has conductive wirings 31 patterned on its surface (both surfaces). The conductive wirings 31 formed on both surfaces of the wiring substrate 30 are appropriately connected to each other within the wiring substrate 30. A DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 32 is die-bonded to one side (a surface on which a lens 37 described later is placed: this surface will be hereinafter referred to as an upper surface) of the wiring substrate 30. Each connecting terminal of the DSP 32 is electrically connected to the conductive wiring 31 by a bonding wire 32w. Bonded on the upper surface of the DSP 32 is a spacer 33 that is a sheet-shaped insulative adhesive. A solid-state image sensor 34 is die-bonded on the upper surface of the spacer 33. Each connecting terminal of the solid-state image sensor 34 is electrically connected to the conductive wiring 31 by a bonding wire 34w.
Reference numeral 37 denotes an objective lens which is held at the inner peripheral portion of a focus adjuster 36. The focus adjuster 36 is provided at the inner peripheral portion close to the upper end portion of a lens holder main body 35. The lens holder main body 35 is formed such that its lower end portion is widened rather than its upper end portion. The widened lower end portion of the lens holder main body 35 is bonded to the peripheral portion of the wiring substrate 30. The focus adjuster 36 is threaded at its outer periphery, and the lens holder main body 35 is also threaded at its inner periphery close to its upper end portion. The threaded outer periphery of the focus adjuster 36 is screwed onto the threaded inner periphery close to the upper end portion of the lens holder main body 35. Accordingly, it is configured such that pivotable rotation of the focus adjuster 36 changes the mutual position, i.e., the distance between the lens 37 and the solid-state image sensor 34. It is noted that the lens holder main body 35 and the focus adjuster 36 form a lens holder for holding the lens 37. Specifically, the lens 37 is positioned by the lens holder (lens holder main body 35, focus adjuster 36) with (the surface of) the wiring substrate 30 defined as a positioning reference. Bonded to the lens holder main body 35 is an optical filter 38 that is subject to filtering treatment for cutting infrared rays in incident ray.
There may be a case where the size (especially the size in the thickness direction) of the wiring substrate 30 has a warp, distortion or the like due to variations in production, even if it is within the range of the specification value. Even after the lens holder main body 35 is bonded, such warp or distortion is present on the wiring substrate 30. Specifically, upon positioning the lens 37, there may be the case where the optical distance between the lens 37 and the solid-state image sensor 34 does not agree with the focal length f of the lens 37 due to the warp or the like on (the surface of) the wiring substrate 30 that is a positioning reference. In this case, the optical distance between the lens 37 and the solid-state image sensor 34 is required to be adjusted so as to agree with the focal length f of the lens 37. In other words, the optical distance between the lens 37 and the solid-state image sensor 34 is required to be adjusted so as to agree with the focal length f of the lens 37 by pivotably rotating the focus adjuster 36. Accordingly, the module for an optical device is finally completed by adjusting the relative position of the focus adjuster 36 to the lens holder main body 35.
FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 are schematic views each showing a section for explaining a problem of a conventional module for an optical device. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a case where the center portion of the wiring substrate 30 is formed into a convex shape toward the lens 37. Although the parallel relationship between the lens 37 and the wiring substrate 30 is maintained, the peripheral portion of the wiring substrate 30 is warped toward the direction apart from the lens 37, compared to its center portion. Therefore, the lens holder main body 35 whose widened lower end portion is bonded to the peripheral portion of the wiring substrate 30 is downwardly moved (in the direction apart from the lens 37) with respect to the center portion of the wiring substrate 30. This means that the positioning reference for the lens 37 is moved downward. Specifically, the optical distance between the lens 37 and the solid-state image sensor 34 becomes f−Δf (Δf is an amount of deformation of the wiring substrate 30 at the peripheral portion with respect to the center portion in the thickness direction), that is different from the focal length f of the lens 37. Accordingly, it is required to agree the solid-state image sensor 34 with the position of the focal length f of the lens 37 by performing an adjustment corresponding to the deformation amount Δf with the focus adjuster 36, i.e., by performing an adjustment for separating the solid-state image sensor 34 from the lens 37, in the state shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a case where the center portion of the wiring substrate 30 is formed into a concave shape toward the lens 37. Although the parallel relationship between the lens 37 and the wiring substrate 30 is maintained, the peripheral portion of the wiring substrate 30 comes close to the lens 37, compared to its center portion. Therefore, the lens holder main body 35 whose widened lower end portion is bonded to the peripheral portion of the wiring substrate 30 is upwardly moved (in the direction of coming close to the lens 37) with respect to the center portion of the wiring substrate 30. This means that the positioning reference for the lens 37 is moved upward. Specifically, the optical distance between the lens 37 and the solid-state image sensor 34 becomes f+Δf (Δf is an amount of deformation of the wiring substrate 30 at the peripheral portion with respect to the center portion in the thickness direction), that is different from the focal length f of the lens 37. Accordingly, it is required to agree the solid-state image sensor 34 with the position of the focal length f of the lens 37 by performing an adjustment corresponding to the deformation amount Δf with the focus adjuster 36, i.e., by performing an adjustment for making the solid-state image sensor 34 close to the lens 37, in the state shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a case where the plate thickness of the wiring substrate 30 is not uniform. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the thickness is great at the right-side end portion (right end in the figure) of the wiring substrate 30, while the thickness is small at the left-side end portion (left end in the figure) thereof. Assuming that the plane shape of the wiring substrate 30 is a rectangular, each side having approximately 10 mm, and the difference of the thickness between at the opposing ends of the wiring substrate 30 is ±0.01 mm in case where the thickness of the wiring substrate 30 is different at the opposing ends. Even if the thickness itself of the wiring substrate 30 is within the specification, the lens holder main body 35 and the focus adjuster 36 are fixed so as to be inclined with respect to the surface (plane) of the solid-state image sensor 34 when the lens holder main body 35 is bonded to the wiring substrate 30. When the lens holder main body 35 and the focus adjuster 36 are fixed so as to be inclined with respect to the surface of the solid-state image sensor 34, a deviation of an angle θ occurs between the optical axis of the lens 37 and the vertical axis of the solid-state image sensor 34, thereby incapable of correctly projecting an image of a subject onto the solid-state image sensor 34.
As described above, in the conventional optical device module, (the surface of) the wiring substrate 30 is defined as the positioning reference for the lens and the lens holder (optical path demarcating unit, focus adjuster) is bonded to the wiring substrate 30. Therefore, there may be the case where the optical distance between the lens 37 and the solid-state image sensor 34 does not agree with the focal length of the lens 37 due to variations in production such as warp or distortion on the wiring substrate 30 and, further, there is a problem that the optical axis of the lens 37 and the vertical axis of (the surface of) the solid-state image sensor 34 do not agree with each other. Therefore, an adjusting process is inevitable for matching the optical distance between the lens 37 and the solid-state image sensor 34 with the focal length of the lens 37 for each module for an optical device. In this adjusting process, an expensive system for the adjustment and a skilled worker are necessary and, further, a time required for the adjusting process is far from short. Moreover, the lens holder has to have a function of two mechanism elements of the optical path demarcating unit and the focus adjuster; therefore, it is difficult to achieve a small-sized lens holder in terms of its structure. Additionally, a mass-production is difficult since the lens holder is a mechanism element, whereby the percentage of the material cost in the production cost is high, thereby entailing an increased production cost.

Module for optical device, and manufacturing method therefor


A method of making a construction material luminous in response to ultraviolet rays. An inorganic material containing an ultraviolet luminous substance can be used as pigment after formed into gravelish, sandy or fragmentary material and, thus, a sufficient amount of luminance thereof can be ensured over long years while being prevented from deterioration with time of pigment. In particular, when using as inorganic materials ores containing ultraviolet luminous substance which is obtainable at a low price, pigment can be prepared at a low cost and patterned and decorated construction materials can also be manufactured at a low cost. Further, with the use of a large number of small pieces containing ultraviolet luminous substances as a pattern composing pieces, patterns complicated in shape and various in color can easily be produced on the surface of a construction material.

Construction materials, such as concrete blocks and tiles, which can be used as flooring material or walling material for buildings, houses and other various structures have been used in a number of forms. In one of the forms, a paint containing an organic pigment which comprises a substance luminous with ultraviolet rays or the like is blown to the surface of the construction material to provide a pattern or decoration for attracting attention.
However, such patterned or decorated construction materials have problems yet to be solved, as follows.
First, the pattern or decoration is formed of a paint containing an organic pigment and, therefore, is deteriorated rapidly with time. Thus, periodic repainting has been necessary.
Secondly, the organic pigment comprising an ultraviolet luminous substance is very expensive and is limited in the amount thereof used. Therefore, it has been impossible to obtain a satisfactory luminous effect.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method of making a luminous construction material by which the above-mentioned problems can be solved.

Method of making luminous construction material


The invention provides a method and means of predicting, in near real-time, the detailed chemical composition of major streams in a refinery, including those downstream from the crude distillation column. The dynamically updated feed characterizations can be derived in near real time from an assay database of current crude diet, RTO information about upstream refinery units and various analyzer inputs. The chemical compositions of each stream are stored and updated in a plant wide database. A broad range of property calculations can be ascertained, either automatically or on demand, from the compositional information. An application permits users, such as operations, planning and engineering personnel, to access the database directly or indirectly (e.g., on line). This information is then used by each user to further optimize the operation of a given refinery unit and/or the plant as a whole.

1.1 Field
The field of the invention is apparatuses and methods for predicting the composition and properties of streams in a petroleum refinery. More particularly, the invention is directed to apparatuses and methods for generating on-line, near real-time, dynamically updated predictions of the composition and properties of a given stream.
1.2 Description of Related Art
Crude oil, or petroleum, is a complex multi-component mixture of various hydrocarbons and compounds containing nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Most crude oil also contains minor amounts of nickel and vanadium.
The exact chemical composition of a given crude oil will vary significantly depending on its point of origin. As a result, the chemical and physical properties of crude oil vary. Crude oil itself is rarely used as a fuel because (a) its properties are too variable and (b) its properties do not meet the specifications of most furnaces, boilers and engines. Processing crude oil into more useful fuels and other petroleum based products is relatively complex and refinery operations vary greatly. However, at a high level, a number of commonalities exist. First, in a typical refinery, crude oil purchased on the open market is stored and commingled in storage tanks until processing. Thus, the initial crude oil feed is often a mixture of different crude oils. Second, the feed is heated on its way to an atmospheric distillation unit (a.k.a. atmospheric pipestill or "APS"). A typical APS tower, or column, comprises a series of trays, liquid side draws, pump arounds, and a condenser. The APS tower distills the feed at atmospheric pressure and separates the feed into fractions, or cuts, each cut being equivalent in boiling range to one desired product, e.g., gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, light gas oil (LGO), heavy gas oil (HGO) and residue. Third, each fraction, or cut, is removed as a stream through a liquid side draw in the APS tower. The streams removed from the APS tower through the liquid side draws can be sold as finished products or blended with other streams and/or further processed to increase economic value. For example, high boiling APS products such as kerosene, LGO, HGO and residue can be converted into lower boiling products such as gasoline by subjecting the streams to further distillation in a vacuum pipestill (VPS) followed by thermal cracking and/or catalytic cracking in a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit.
Alternatively or in addition, catalytic reforming, isomerization, alkylation, polymerization, hydrogenation, and various other operations and combinations thereof can be used to upgrade streams into higher value products.
Based on supply and demand, the value of any given petroleum product will change on a daily basis. Furthermore, different crude oils and intermediate streams, because of their composition, are better suited to make different products. Finally, the pressures, temperatures and flow rates that are ideally suited to successfully process each stream in a refinery process vary depending on the composition of the stream. Refineries are constantly seeking better ways to optimize the operation of each unit in the process to better achieve the optimal balance between the amount and value of petroleum products produced and the production expenses incurred.
In the petrochemical industry, extremely detailed analyses of feed and product materials (assays) are often utilized for making business decisions, for planning, controlling and optimizing operations and for certifying products. Chief among these analyses is the crude assay. When a crude oil is assayed, it is distilled in two steps. A method such as ASTM D2892 (see Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volumes 5.01-5.03, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pa.) can be used to isolate distillate cuts boiling below approximately 650° F. (343° C.). The residue from this distillation is further distilled using a method such as ASTM D5236 to produce distillate cuts covering the range from 650° F. to approximately 1000-1054° F. (343° C. to 538-568° C.) and a vacuum residue cut. At a minimum, cuts corresponding to typical products or unit feeds are typically isolated that include following: liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) at initial boiling point to 68° F. (20° C.); light straight run naphtha (LSR) at 68° F. to 155° F. (20° C. to 68.3° C.); heavy straight run naphtha (HSR) at 155° F. to 350° F. (68.3° C. to 176.7° C.), kerosene at 350° F. to 500° F. (176.7° C. to 260° C.), diesel at 500° F. to 650° F. (260° C. to 343.3° C.), vacuum gas oil at 650° F. to 1000° F. (343.3° C. to 537.8° C.); and vacuum residue at 1000° F. to 1054° F. (537.8° C. to 567.8° C.). Each distillate cut is then analyzed for elemental, molecular, physical and/or performance properties. The specific analyses conducted depend on the typical disposition of the cut. Example analyses are known in the art and extensively discussed and tabulated in, inter alia, U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,166.
Depending on the intended use of the crude assay data, different organizations will employ different assay strategies. For compositional and process modeling, extremely detailed analyses, mapping thousands of molecules, may be employed. For example, the high detail hydrocarbon analysis (HDHA) method described by Jacob, Quann, Sanchez and Wells (Oil and Gas Journal, Jul. 6, 1998) can be employed.
A detailed crude assay using a process, such as HDHA, costs many thousands of dollars and takes weeks to complete. As a result, the assay data used for making business decisions, and for planning, controlling and optimizing operations, is seldom from the cargoes currently being bought, sold or processed but rather historical data for "representative" past cargoes.
More recently, Exxon Mobil Corporation's virtual assay technology has dramatically lowered the time and expense to obtain a detailed crude assay to a few hours and a few hundred dollars. Virtual assay compares spectral data to a library of historical spectra and other information and is described, inter alia, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,116 issued Dec. 9, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The crude assay data will typically be stored in an electronic database where it can be mathematically manipulated to estimate crude qualities for any desired distillation range. For example, commercial crude assay libraries are available from Haverly Systems Inc. and HPI Consultants Inc.—both of which provide tools for manipulating the data, as does Aspentech Inc. Assay data is published by Crude Quality Inc., by Shell Oil Company and by Statoil. The property versus distillation temperature data is typically fit to smooth curves that can then be used to estimate the property for any desired distillation cut.
The on-line optimum operation of the crude distillation column, blending units, and downstream process units can result in significant economic benefits. A real time optimization (RTO) system, which runs on an on-line process control computer and automatically calculates and implements the optimization results, can be used to keep each phase of the plant operation close to the economic optimum. The cornerstone of any successful RTO system is feed characterization information and the process models upon which the calculations are based. Accuracy of the process models must be sufficient to predict the actual process interactions and constraints.
Unfortunately, effective on-line RTO of crude distillation columns requires the lumping of detailed assay feed characterizations into boiling point cuts. In other words, there are about 10,000 or so different molecular species in crude oil. The model used in the RTO of the crude distillation column is unable to include all of these species. As a result, a major simplification is made. The species are grouped together into "cuts." Each cut has a specific boiling point range. Thus, for example, all of the molecular species whose boiling point lies between 330° F. (165.6° C.) and 350° F. (176.7° C.) might be combined together into a single component known as a 340° F. (171.1° C.). This greatly reduces the number of species needed in the crude distillation column RTO. It also gives a component breakdown that is "good enough" for the crude distillation column RTO as the crude distillation column is mostly concerned with the boiling points of the components that it processes.
Therefore, detailed assay feed characterizations are unavailable to downstream RTO applications—which rely instead on static feed reference characterizations that are then tuned to current bulk properties and product yields. In other words, a static representative feed is characterized for a given downstream unit and then used as the reference for all feeds to the unit. The downstream RTO systems then tunes the static feed as needed to match current measured bulk properties, yields, or operating conditions. This static feed reference characterization, because it is not based on updated feed characterization information, often leads to sub-optimal solutions and non-robust behavior. This is becoming a problem as refineries struggle to meet stricter environmental laws and regulations governing fuel components such as sulfur.
It would be desirable to develop more dynamically updated feed characterizations for downstream process and blending RTO systems. This would permit enhanced optimization of refining processes.

Prediction of stream composition and properties in near real time

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


Oxazinobenzazole derivatives represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, which may be the same or different, each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 jointly form, in conjunction with the two adjacent carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring having at least two nitrogen atoms and optionally having one or more heteroatom(s) selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom and a nitrogen atom; and m is an integer of 0 or 1, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the present invention are useful as antispasmodic medicaments.

As the smooth-muscle relaxants, are known two types of drugs: those acting upon the contractile system, and those acting upon the relaxing system. As typical examples of the former type, may be mentioned various blockers with the excitatory, chemical transmitter receptor and calcium antagonists, and as those of the latter type, may be mentioned stimulants with the inhibitory, chemical transmitter receptor and nitrate drugs (nitric acid esters).
Recently, drugs which relax smooth muscles by activating the K.sup.+ channels have been reported as new smooth muscle relaxants.
The K.sup.+ channels in thick arteries (such as coronary and cerebral arteries) and in the tracheal smooth muscles are more rapidly and powerfully activated, compared with those in general excitatory tissues, thus functioning to prevent excessive excitation of these tissues (maintenance of the inside diameters of these arteries). However, once their physiological functions are damaged, these K.sup.+ channels suffer from electrical excitation similarly to general excitatory tissues, thus locally generating high contractile tension (spasm). The spasm generated in the coronary artery, the cerebral artery and bronchial smooth muscles are said to cause diseases such as angina pectoris, cerebrovascular diseases and asthma, and K.sup.+ channel activating agents are considered to be useful for the treatment and prevention of these diseases.
As compounds having K.sup.+ channel opening activity are known 4-(2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-3-ol derivatives disclosed in JP-A-58-67683 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"). The compounds of this invention are novel oxazinobenzazole derivatives which are different from the above compounds in structure and exhibit more powerful action of activating the K+channels.


An image processing apparatus for encrypting a profile for color matching, generates a table which stores change information of the profile, changes data in the profile on the basis of the generated table, and encrypts the table by a predetermined algorithm.

In recent years, color printers which can implement color matching processes using profiles recommended by ICC (International Color Consortium) (ICC profiles) or the like have prevailed. In such printers, by executing a color matching process corresponding to an object to be drawn, preferable color reproduction can always be realized.
Note that the color matching technique realizes preferable color reproduction in a given device by mutually converting image data between device-independent color spaces and device-dependent color spaces using a profile, which stores color conversion characteristics corresponding to a device that forms a printing system as a file.
An ICC profile required to realize the aforementioned color matching process is often transferred to a remote place via a network such as the Internet or the like. However, since the data structure of the ICC profile is open to the public, internal data or the like may be tampered with when the profile is used via the network or the like, resulting in poor security. In order to provide illegibility to data itself, no optimal measure is available under existing circumstances.

Image processing apparatus, control method thereof, and image processing system


An information processing apparatus according to this invention acquires function restriction information used to restrict the use of functions of an image processing apparatus. The apparatus acquires job log data of a job which is processed using the functions of the image processing apparatus. The apparatus changes the acquired function restriction information. The apparatus calculates a cost incurred upon using the functions of the image processing apparatus within a designated period, based on unit price information indicating the unit prices of the resources consumed upon using the functions of the image processing apparatus, the job log data, and the changed function restriction information. The apparatus outputs the calculation result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for calculating the cost incurred when functions of an image processing apparatus are used under restrictions imposed on the function, a method thereof and a program thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, copying machines have not only a function of copying documents, but also a plurality of different functions such as a function of printing print jobs from external clients, a function of digitally externally sending scanned documents using an e-mail or file transfer function, and the like. Such copying machine is called an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral).
The MFP has gained more functions, while a problem in terms of information management such as a high risk for information leakage due to possibility of externally sending scanned information or the like is posed. Although this is an old problem, since the cost of paper sheets and toners increases with increasing number of printed pages, a demand has arisen for restricting printable pages for each user.
To solve these problems, some solutions have already been proposed.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-134136 proposes a method of managing users using IDs, and restricting functions, resources, and times which are available for respective IDs.
Also, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-248576 proposes a peripheral device managing system which includes peripheral devices, and an information processing apparatus such as a PC or the like which is connected to the peripheral devices via a network. In this system, log information that includes the ID of the user who uses each peripheral device, print setting information (double-sided, single-sided), and discharged sheet count information is stored in a log information storage unit. In this proposal, the information processing apparatus collects and tabulates respective pieces of log information stored in the peripheral devices, and calculates and displays the difference between the number of sheets all printed in the double-sided mode and the actual number of discharged sheets based on the log information and a reduction ratio based on the difference.
However, the aforementioned prior arts cannot determine an actual cost reduction amount and cannot estimate a cost reduction amount in the future as a result of restrictions imposed on functions (to be simply referred to as function restrictions hereinafter). For this reason, it becomes difficult to change the function restrictions, and users often continue to use the system without changing the function restrictions.
However, since the amount of printing changes depending on the season, a season with a larger amount of printing may require extra function restrictions to further reduce the cost, and a season with a smaller amount of printing may result in a low cost constraint effect.

Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program thereof


An electrically insulated gas chromatograph assembly suitable for high temperature operation in a miniaturized, low power, low thermal mass gas chromatograph instrument is provided. The gas chromatograph (GC) assembly includes a metal capillary GC column (152) having a ceramic fiber insulating layer (156) wrapped about an outer surface thereof. Heater wire (160) is similarly wrapped with a ceramic fiber electrical insulating layer (158). Resistive temperature device (RTD) wire (154) is positioned contiguous an outer surface of insulating layer (156). The composite assembly including insulated capillary GC column (152), insulated heater wire (160), and RTD wire (154), are bound together by applying thereto a spiral wrapped ceramic fiber insulating layer (162).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of gas chromatography (GC), and more particularly, is directed to an apparatus and method for fabricating electrically insulated gas chromatograph components for use in gas chromatograph instruments.
The subject invention is further directed to the integration of a plurality of electrically insulated gas chromatograph component members into a gas chromatograph assembly. Of particular importance is that the gas chromatograph assemblies fabricated in accordance with the subject invention find applications in miniaturized, low thermal mass gas chromatography instruments that operate at very high temperatures.
2. Prior Art
In the known prior art systems, integration of miniature heating elements with GC columns has proven to be the most successful approach for achieving miniaturized, low thermal mass, temperature-programmable GC instruments. This approach includes: resistively-heated metal-coated columns; resistively-heated metal-walled columns; small heater plates; internal heater wire; external heater wire; resistively-heated tubing jackets; and, a resistively-heated element with a column in a sheath.
For a resistive-heating element, which runs the length of the column, including the use of the column wall as a heater, special care must be taken to prevent the occurrence of electrical shorts between the resistive-heating element or component member and other conductive components in the GC assembly along the full length of the heating element. Due to the very long lengths of such component member, for example, on the order of 15-30 meters or more, electrical shorts are a constant problem when the component members are packaged and coiled together as an assembly for deployment in the GC instrument. Typically, in the prior art, wire component members are provided with an enamel or other polymeric electrical insulation layer coated or otherwise formed thereover to prevent such electrical shorting. For instance, a coating of high temperature polymer such as polyimide has been provided in some prior art systems.
The aforementioned problem of electrical short formation in the GC column assemblies is exacerbated by the inclusion therein of additional metallic elements, that are coupled to the assembly, for sensing temperature in the assembly for feedback temperature control.
Although it is possible to use the heating element itself as a temperature sensing element, such has proven impractical since the heating element must sense very small resistance changes, for example, on the order of 400 parts per million per degree centigrade (xc2x0 C.), while at the same time introducing a sufficiently small resistance for the element to function as a heater. Thus, it is standard practice to provide an additional temperature sensor in the assembly which can take the form of a high resistance wire such as platinum, which provides a reproducible substantially linear resistance change with temperature. The co-location of this additional sensing wire or resistance temperature device (RTD) with the heating element or wire provides an adequate solution in one respect since the RTD wire integrates and averages the temperature along the length of the column, however, close placement of the RTD wire with the heating element or wire frequently results in the further occurrence of electrical short formation between these elements and a corresponding failure of the temperature control process.
The problem of electrical short formation is especially acute at the upper end of the standard temperature programming ranges at which capillary GC analytic columns now operate. Typical temperature ranges extending between 250-300xc2x0 C. are necessary for effective GC analysis, and further, new column materials are offering even higher temperature operation, in excess of 400xc2x0 C., for extended performance. Most wire insulations, which soften between 100xc2x0 C. and 200xc2x0 C., provide inadequate protection from electrical short formation. Further, only the xe2x80x9chigh temperaturexe2x80x9d enamel insulations are stable to 250xc2x0 C., however, even these insulations fail to offer extended life above 250xc2x0 C., and thus fail to meet temperature requirements in the GC assemblies.
The breakdown of these various insulations at the higher operating temperatures of the capillary column is intensified by the fact that the local temperatures required at the heating element or wire surface typically significantly exceed the required average GC component operating temperatures, since significant thermal conduction and convective losses occur through heating element or wire contact with other components in the GC assembly and the air. Stated otherwise, the heating wire typically runs at a much higher temperature than the average required operating temperature of the GC assembly. This is especially true during the step of temperature programming of the assembly when the heating wire is dissipating the power required to raise the average temperature of the column and other components to a predetermined target temperature. Since the heater wire runs xe2x80x9chotterxe2x80x9d than the surrounding components, in order to preserve the integrity of the wire insulation, the maximum average temperature for programming of prior art GC assemblies must be set at a significantly lower level than the temperature at which the integrity of the wire insulation begins to fail or break down. Fast temperature programming of the GC assembly further worsens this problem as insulations on heater wires are easily and quickly destroyed in efforts to rapidly heat other GC components. For example, electrical shorting between enamel insulated heater and RTD wires has been a known problem with prior art tubular jacketed GC assemblies since these assemblies were introduced. With typical RTD control circuits, electrical shorts between the heater and sensor wires may lead to runaway heating conditions.
In addition to the inclusion of both metal heater wires and RTD sensor wires into the GC assembly, another current trend is to further include capillary GC columns made of a metal composition. These metal or steel capillary columns exhibit a robustness exceeding that inherent in the fused silica capillary GC columns, thus, such robust columns are of special interest for use in ruggedized instruments such as field portable GC instruments.
Due to the aforementioned problems associated with electrical shorting between heater wires and RTD wires, it has not previously been practical or indeed advisable to introduce steel capillary GC columns into wire-heated GC assemblies unless the maximum operating temperatures and temperature programming rates are kept sufficiently low so as to protect the integrity of the electrical insulation layers. Even in such limited and conservative operational circumstances, the likelihood that electrical shorts will form is still large since typical polyimide wire insulation coating is only a few thousandths of an inch thick, even for supposed xe2x80x9cheavyxe2x80x9d coating xe2x80x9cbuilds.xe2x80x9d This structural limitation provides insufficient insulation integrity under numerous common situations which leads to frequent electrical shorting. For instance, the insulation films are so thin that manufacturing defects affecting the thickness of the insulation, stress experienced in the insulation during handling of the GC instrument components, bending of the insulation, brittleness of the coating due to age and repetitive cyclic heating, all contribute to insulation layer failures and consequent operational shorting of the metal GC columns with the other metal components. Thus, the commercially available wire insulations have not been found to meet the operational requirements of the various GC assemblies and their applications. Further intensifying these problems is the fact that due to the much greater thermal mass of steel capillary GC columns, as compared to the quartz or silica GC columns, more power is required to perform temperature programming which, as discussed previously, generates higher surface temperatures for the variety of heating elements included in the assembly.
In practice, the failure of the polyimide coated heater wire is demonstrable. Such failure occurs even when the polyimide coating is specified as a xe2x80x9cquadxe2x80x9d build, that is, a thick coating, rated to survive 1,000 hours at 300xc2x0 C. The coating quickly fails due to the high local temperatures required at the wire surface to meet overall 300xc2x0 C. GC temperature program requirements, as described above.
In view of the numerous shortcomings of the prior art systems, it is an object of the subject invention to provide an apparatus and method for fabricating an electrically insulated gas chromatograph component member, and an assembly of such component members suitable for use in miniature low thermal mass gas chromatograph instruments operating at high temperatures.
It is a further object of the subject invention to fabricate electrically insulated gas chromatograph assemblies wherein small heaters and heated components required for gas chromatograph operation are provided in a compact, closely coupled arrangement thus facilitating their integration into miniature gas chromatograph instruments.
Another object of the subject invention is to apply electrical insulating layers to the surfaces of various gas chromatograph component members, where the electrical insulating layers maintain their electrical insulating integrity at high temperature operation, while at simultaneously providing adequate thermal conduction between the various integrated, closely coupled, gas chromatograph component members present in the assembly.
Another object of the subject invention is to render practical the use of metallic component members, such as steel capillary gas chromatograph columns in miniature gas chromatograph assemblies or instruments.
In accordance with the subject invention, a method is provided for applying an electrical insulating layer to the surface of a gas chromatograph (GC) component member. The method includes providing at least one elongate GC component member extending in a predetermined direction, and providing at least one dispensing mechanism for dispensing a plurality of fibers therefrom. As the elongate GC component member is progressively advanced along the predetermined direction, the dispensing mechanism is rotatively displaced about the progressively advancing GC component member. Responsive to this rotative displacement, the dispensing mechanism dispenses the plurality of fibers therefrom which are progressively wound around the outer surface of the GC component member.
A gas chromatograph (GC) column assembly fabricated in accordance with the subject invention includes a first GC component member which has a first ceramic roving insulation layer wrapped about the exterior surface of the first GC component member. A second GC component member adjacently displaced from the first GC component member, where the first GC component member is a capillary GC analytic column member, and the second GC component member is a heating wire.

Electrically insulated gas chromatograph assembly and method of fabricating same


An image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus configured to form an image according to first setting information that is set to a first user; a second image forming apparatus configured to form an image according to second setting information that is set to a second user; and an administration apparatus that holds the first setting information and the second setting information and administers the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus according to the first setting information and the second setting information thus held. The administration apparatus includes a determining unit configured to determine whether a substitute apparatus for the first image forming apparatus is necessary; and an information setting unit configured to obtain the first setting information according to a determination result of the determining unit, and add the first setting information to the second setting information.

The present invention relates to an image forming system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming system capable of switching to a substitute image forming apparatus when a current image forming apparatus that is currently used becomes an unusable state due to malfunction and the like.
A conventional image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatus connected through a network. In the conventional image forming system, when a specific image forming apparatus becomes unusable due to malfunction and the like, another image forming apparatus is substituted. For example, in the conventional image forming system disclosed in Patent Reference, setting information is obtained from an image forming apparatus that becomes unusable, and the setting information is set in another image forming apparatus that is substituted. Accordingly, a user who is using the image forming apparatus that becomes unusable is able to use another image forming apparatus that is substituted.
Patent Reference: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-72514
In the conventional image forming system disclosed in Patent Reference, however, the setting information with regard to communication of the image forming apparatus that becomes unusable is set in the image forming apparatus that is substituted. Accordingly, it is necessary to add another image forming apparatus that is substituted.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system, an image forming system capable of solving the problems of the conventional image forming system.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.