A lip-based speaker verification system for identifying a speaker using a modality of lip motions; wherein an identification key of the speaker comprising one or more passwords; wherein the one or more passwords are embedded into lip motions of the speaker; wherein the speaker is verified by underlying dynamic characteristics of the lip motions; and wherein the speaker is required to match the one or more passwords embedded in the lip motions with registered information in a database. That is, in the case where the target speaker saying the wrong password or even in the case where an impostor knowing and saying the correct password, the nonconformities will be detected and the authentications/accesses will be denied.

Speaker verification has received considerable attention in the community because of its attractable applications in financial transaction authentication, secure access, security protection, human-computer interfaces and other real-world applications. It aims at verifying a authenticating speaker's identity using pre-stored information within an access-controlled system and the speaker will be either accepted as a target speaker or rejected as an impostor under a certain matching criterion.
In general, speech not only conveys the linguistic information but also characterizes the speaker's identity, which can thus be utilized for speaker verification. Traditionally, the acoustic speech signals may be the most natural modality to achieve speaker verification. Although a purely acoustic-based speaker verification system is effective in its application domain, its performance would be degraded dramatically in the environment corrupted by the background noise or multiple talkers. Under the circumstances, as shown in FIG. 1, speaker verification system by taking into account some video information such as the still frames of face and temporal lip motions, has shown an improved performance over acoustic-only systems. Nevertheless, the access-controlled systems utilizing the still face images are very susceptible to the poor picture qualities, variations in pose or facial expressions, and are easily deceived by a face photograph placed in front of the camera as well. In recent years, speaker verification utilizing or fused with lip motions has received wide attention in the community. As a kind of behavior characteristics, the lip motions accompanying with the lip shape variations, tongue and teeth visibility, always contain rich and sufficient information to characterize the identity of a speaker. Nevertheless, the performances of the existing lip motion based speaker verification systems are far behind our expectation. The main reasons are two-fold: (1) The principal components of features representing each lip frame are not always sufficient to distinguish the biometric properties between different speakers; (2) The traditional lip motion modeling approaches, e.g. single Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), single Hidden Markov Model (HMM), are not capable of providing the optimal model descriptions to verify some hard-to-classify speakers. For instance, some lip motions between different speakers are so similar that the corresponding models learned from these conventional approaches are not so discriminative enough to differentiate these speakers. In strengthening the security capacity of speaker verification systems, some researchers attempted to adopt multi-modal expert fusion system by combining audio, lip motion sequence and face information to improve the robustness and overall verification performance. Nevertheless, the appropriate fusion between different modalities is extremely difficult meanwhile it may not be easy to carry out multi-modal experts synchronously in real-world applications.
From a practical viewpoint, the password protected biometric based speaker verification system will hold a double security to the system, where a speaker is not only verified by his or her natural biometric characteristics, but also required to match a specific password. Unfortunately, the acoustic signals with private password information are easily perceived and intercepted by the listeners nearby, while the still face images could not be embedded with a secure password phrase directly. In contrast, the lip motion password (simply called lip-password hereinafter) protected speaker verification system is able to hold the double security to the system. That is, the speaker will be verified by both of the lip-password and underlying behavior characteristics of lip motions simultaneously. In addition, such a system has at least four merits as follows: (1) The modality of lip motion is completely insensitive to the background noise; (2) The acquisition of lip motions is somewhat insusceptible to the distance; (3) Such a system can be used by a mute person; (4) Lip-password protected speaker verification system has its unique superiorities of silence and hidden property. Therefore, the development of an effective and efficient approach to realizing the lip-password based speaker verification becomes quite desirable.
FIG. 2 is a block/flow diagram illustrating apparatus/procedure for speaker registration phase within the lip-password based speaker verification system. An authorized speaker/user may, for example, silently utters his/her private password by facing a video camera connected to a computer processing system. Then, the video camera and computer processing system capture, process and analyze the recorded video sequence to obtain the desired lip-password sequence. According to the selected password style (separate: the lip-password can be segmented into several visibly distinguishable units of visual speech elements; non-separate: the lip-password cannot be easily divided into several visual speech elements), the system shall model/code the password sequence automatically such that a registered lip-password database can be established.
FIG. 3 is a block/flow diagram illustrating apparatus/procedure for speaker verification phase within the lip-password based speaker verification system. By facing a video camera connected to a computer processing system, an unknown speaker/user attempts to obtain an access by uttering a password sequence. Then, the video camera and computer processing system capture, process, and analyze the recorded video sequence (e.g., lip region localization, feature extraction, lip motion segmentation) to extract the interested lip-password sequence. According to the pre-registered lip-password sequence, the system shall make a decision based on the matching calculation result, i.e., lip motion matching and password information matching.
In previous applications of lip motion based speaker verification systems, e.g., T Wark, S. Sridharan, and V Chandran, "An approach to statistical lip modelling for speaker identification via chromatic feature extraction," in Proc. IEEE International Conference on Pattern Recognition, vol 1, 1998, pp. 123-125 vol. 1 and L. L. Mok, W H. Lau, S. H. Leung, S. L. Wang, and H. Yan, "Lip features selection with application to person authentication," in Proc. IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, vol 3, 2004, pp. iii-397-400 vol. 3, the authors generally proposed to take the whole utterance as the basic processing unit. Although different speakers may have different lip motion activities, some of these motions are so similar that it is very difficult to match them based on the global modeling methods, e.g., single GMM, and single HMM. These types of approach are usually designed to support a small vocabulary of utterances such as isolated words, digits and letters, but which may not be suitable to cover a little bit long utterance (e.g., a password). The main reason lies in that a large number of sample sequences have to be collected to train all possible models that may appear in the long speech. Furthermore, the design for lip-password protected system should be capable of detecting the target speaker saying the wrong password. Unfortunately, such a method of taking the whole utterance as the basic processing units is incompetent for this task. In fact, the lip-password utterance generally comprises of multiple subunits (i.e., the smallest visibly distinguishable unit of visual speech elements). These subunits indicate a short period of lip motions and always have diverse styles between different elements. Hence, to investigate more detailed lip motion characteristics, these subunits should be considered individually instead of being taking jointly (i.e., whole utterance).
In this document, we mainly focus on digital lip-password based speaker verification problem, i.e. the password composed of the digits from 0 to 9 only, although the underlying concept and the techniques are also applicable to non-digit lip-password as well. To this end, we firstly extract a group of representative visual features to characterize each lip frame, and then propose a simple but effective algorithm to segment the digital lip-password sequence into a small set of distinguishable subunits. Subsequently, we integrate HMMs with boosting learning framework associated with random subspace method (RSM) and data sharing scheme (DSS) to model the segmental sequence of the input subunit discriminatively so that a precise decision boundary is formulated for these subunits verification. Finally, the digital lip-password whether spoken by the target speaker with the pre-registered password or not is determined via all verification results of the subunits learned from multi-boosted HMMs. Experimental results have shown its efficacy.
Overview of Related Works
During the past decade, a few techniques such as neural Network (NN), GMM and HMM have been developed for lip motion based applications. In general, the successful achievement of lip motion based speaker verification lies in a closer investigation of the physical process of the corresponding lip motion activities, which always contain strong temporal correlations between the adjacent observed frames. Hence, among these methods, the HMM has been the most popular methodologies because its underlying state structure can successfully model the temporal variations in lip motion activities. The following paragraphs shall firstly review discrimination analysis in HMM-based speaker verification, and then overview the framework of HMM-based speaker verification and Adaboost learning.
Discrimination Analysis
To the best of our knowledge, the performance of the existing HMM-based speaker verification systems using lip motions is still far behind our expectations. The plausible reasons are two-fold: (1) The visual features extracted from the lip movements are not so discriminative enough for lip motion modeling and subsequent similarity measurement; (2) The learned lip motion models are not sufficient to well characterize the corresponding motion characteristics. For robust speaker verification, discriminative learning is still desired, which can be roughly made along two lines: discriminative feature selection and discriminative model learning.
Discriminative feature selection methods aiming at minimizing the classification loss will not only emphasize the informative features but also filter out the irrelevant features. Ertan et al. in H. E. Cetingul, Y. Yemez, E. Engin, and A. M. Tekalp, "Discriminative analysis of lip motion features for speaker identification and speech-reading," IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, vol 15, no. 10, pp. 2879-2891, 2006 adopted the strategy that the joint discrimination measure of any two features is less than the sum of their individual discrimination powers. Accordingly, they utilized the Bayesian technique to select the representative features of each frame discriminatively provided that the feature components are statistically independent. However, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to determine which single feature component has more discrimination power. Often, the feature components belonging to the same feature category are not statistically independent each other.
Discriminative model learning approaches featuring on parameter optimizations always achieve a better performance over non-discriminative learning approaches. In HMM, its parameters are normally estimated by Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE). Recently, some researchers have shown that the decision boundary obtained via discriminative parameters learning algorithms is usually superior than the decision boundary obtained from MLE. Typical methods include Maximum Mutual Information (MMI), conditional maximum likelihood (CML) and minimum classification error (MCE). These methods aiming at maximizing the conditional likelihood or minimizing the classification error usually achieved a better performance than MLE approach. Nevertheless, these methods cannot be implemented straightforwardly and are utilized for certain special tasks only.
However, the majority of the existing HMM-based speaker verification systems just adopt a fixed scheme of utilizing a single HMM for lip motion modeling and similarity measurement, which may not generate a good performance due to its limited discrimination power. Most recently, some multiple classifiers based systems trained on different data subsets or feature subsets have yielded a better result compared to a single classifier system. These classifier ensemble approaches are capable of generating more discrimination power to obtain the better classification result.
Among the existing ensemble algorithms, Adaboost is the most popular and effective learning methods. Different from the other traditional ensemble methods such as sum rule and majority vote, Adaboost aims at building a strong classifier by sequentially training and combining a group of weak classifiers in such a way that the later classifiers would focus more and more on hard-to-classify examples. Consequently, the mistakes made by the ensemble classifiers are reduced. Recently, some sequence modeling and classification methods, e.g., GMM, HMM, were successful in integrating with boosting learning framework to form a strong discriminative sequence learning approaches. Siu et aL in M. H. Siu, X. Yang, and H. Gish, "Discriminatively trained gmms for language classification using boosting methods," IEEE Transactions on Audio, Speech and Language Processing, vol 17, no. 1, pp. 187-197, 2009 have utilized boosting method to discriminatively train GMMs for language classification. Foo et aL in S. W Foo, Y Lian, and L. Dong, "Recognition of visual speech elements using adaptively boosted hidden markov models," IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, vol 14, no. 5, pp. 693-705, 2004 have employed adaptively boosted HMMs to achieve visual speech elements recognition. From their experimental results, it can be found that traditional single modeling and classification methods fail to identify some samples with less discrimination capability while the boosted modeling and classification approaches hold the promise of identifying these hard-to-classify examples. Inspired by these findings, we shall integrate HMMs with the boosting learning framework to verify some hard-to-classify lip-passwords accordingly.
Overview of HMM-based Speaker Verification
Let the video databases comprise a group of lip motions generated from both of the target speaker and imposters. Each lip motion contains a series of lip frame sequences. For the HMM of the eth lip motion, its model λe=(πe, Ae, Be), is built with N hidden states, denoted by Se={S1e, S2e, . . . , SNe}. Suppose λe is trained from the observed lip sequence Oe={o1e, o2e, . . . , olee} and emitted from a sequence of hidden states se={s1e, s2e, . . . slee}, sieεSe={S1e, S2e, . . . , SNe}, where le is the total number of frames. Let the output of an HMM take M discrete values from a finite symbol set Ve={v1e, v2e, . . . , vMe}. For an N-state-M-symbol HMM, the parameter details of the model λe are summarized as follows:                1. The initial distribution of the hidden states πe=[πi]1×N=[P(s1e=Sie)]1×N (1≦i≦N), where s1e is the first observed state in the state chain.        2. The state transition matrix Ae=[ai,j]N×N=[P(st+1e=Sje|ste=Sie)]N×N (1≦i, j≦N, 1≦t≦le), where st+1e and ste represent the states at the (t+1)th and tth frame, respectively.        3. The symbol emission matrix Be=[bj(k)]N×M=[P(vke at t|ste=Sje)]N×M (1≦j≦N, 1≦k≦M). It indicates the probability distribution of a symbol output vke conditioned on the state Sje at the tth frame.In general, a typical estimate of λe can be iteratively computed using Baum-Welch algorithm. The model obtained via this type of approach can better describe the dynamics of the input sequence. Meanwhile, such a method has the advantages of easy implementation and fast speedy convergence. Given the test observation sequence Os={o1s, o2s, . . . olss}, the goal of the speaker verification task is to find a decision in terms of computing the likelihood between the test sequence with the target speaker model λ(T) and imposter model λ(I). By adopting conditional independence assumptions between the observed variables, the likelihood of observation sequence conditioned on the specified model is computed as follows:
                                          P                                      (                                                O                  s                                |                                  λ                  i                                            )                                =                                    ∏                              t                =                1                                            l                s                                                                                P                                            (                                                      o                    t                    s                                    |                                      λ                    i                                                  )                                                    ,                              λ            i                    ∈                                    {                                                λ                                                        (                    T                    )                                                  ,                                  λ                                                        (                    I                    )                                                              }                        .                                              (        1        )            The likelihood score P(ots|λi) can be measured by means of forward-backward algorithm while its most probable path can be obtained via Viterbi decoding algorithm [27].
In general, the modality for HMM-based speaker verification can be regarded as a binary classification between the target speaker and impostor, which can be extensionally grouped into closed-set and open-set learning problem. In the closed-set case, the testing utterances of the speakers are recorded to be known, and the models of both the target-speaker and imposter can be learned during the training phase. Given a test observation sequence: Os={o1s, o2s, olss}, the classification for this type of speaker verification problem is performed based on the log likelihood ratio (LLR):
                                                                                LLR                                                        (                                          O                      s                                        )                                                  =                                  log                                                                              P                                                                    (                                                                              O                            s                                                    |                                                      λ                                                                                (                              T                              )                                                                                )                                                                                P                                                                    (                                                                              O                            s                                                    |                                                      λ                                                                                (                              I                              )                                                                                )                                                                                =                                  log                                                                                ∏                                                  t                          =                          1                                                                          l                          s                                                                                P                                                                          (                                                                                o                              t                              s                                                        |                                                          λ                                                                                (                                T                                )                                                                                )                                                                                ∏                                                  t                          =                          1                                                                          l                          s                                                                                P                                                                          (                                                                                o                              t                              s                                                        |                                                          λ                                                                                (                                I                                )                                                                                )                                                                                =                                                      ∑                                          t                      =                      1                                                              l                      s                                                                                [                                                                  log                                                                                P                                                                                (                                                                                o                                t                                s                                                            |                                                              λ                                                                                (                                  T                                  )                                                                                )                                                                                -                                              log                                                                                P                                                                                (                                                                                o                                t                                s                                                            |                                                              λ                                                                                (                                  I                                  )                                                                                )                                                                                ]                                                                                ifLLR                                      (                              O                s                            )                                ≥                      τ                                      :                                                                                accepted              .                                                                        Otherwise                                                  :                                                                                rejected              .                                                          (        2        )
In the open-set case, the imposters are recorded to be unknown. Hence, the imposter models could not be trained due to their arbitrariness. Given the observations that are recoded from unknown speakers, the task is to find whether it belongs to the target speaker registered in the database or not. Note that, in digital lip-password scenario, the utterance styles differing from the registered one are considered to be imposters even they come from the same speaker. Further, the frame length of the utterance may slightly change. Thereupon, this kind of verification problem is conducted based on normalized log likelihood (NLL):
                                                                                NLL                                                        (                                          O                      s                                        )                                                  =                                                      1                                          l                      s                                                                          log                                                                                P                                                              (                                                                        O                          s                                                |                                                  λ                                                                                (                            T                            )                                                                                )                                                                                =                                                      1                                          l                      s                                                                                ∑                                              t                        =                        1                                                                    l                        s                                                                                log                                                                                P                                                                                (                                                                                o                                t                                s                                                            |                                                              λ                                                                                (                                  T                                  )                                                                                )                                                                          .                                                                                ifNLL                                      (                              O                s                            )                                ≥                      τ                                      :                                                                                accepted              .                                                                        Otherwise                                                  :                                                                                rejected              .                                                          (        3        )            Overview of Adaboost Learning
Let us consider a two-class classification problem. Given a set of Nt labeled training samples (x1, y1), (x2, y2), . . . , (xNt, yNt), where yiε{1, −1} is the class label for the sample xiεn. Each training sample has a weight wi (distribution), which is assigned to get the uniform value initially. Let h(x) denote a decision stump (weaker classifier), which generates ±1 labels. The procedure of AdaBoost involves a series of boosting rounds R of weaker classifier learning and weight adjusting under a loss minimization framework, featuring on producing a decision rule as follows:
                                                        H              R                                                  (              x              )                                =                                    ∑                              m                =                1                            R                                                                  α                m                                                                            h                  m                                                                  (                  x                  )                                                                    ,                            (        4        )            where αm represents the vote (i.e. confidence) of the decision stump hm. In general, the optimal value of am is accomplished via minimizing an exponential loss function [23]:
                              Loss                                (                                          H                R                                                          (                x                )                                      )                          =                              ∑                          i              =              1                                      N              t                                                                    exp                                            (                                                      -                                          y                      i                                                                                H                      R                                                                                (                                              x                        i                                            )                                                                      )                                      .                                              (        5        )
Given the current ensemble classifier Hr−1 (x) and newly learned weak classifier hr (x) at r boosting round, the optimal coefficient αr for the ensemble classifier H (x)=Hr−1 (x)+αrhr(x) is the one which can lead to the minimum cost:
                              α          r                =                  arg                                              min              a                                                                  (                                  Loss                                                        (                                                                                H                                                      r                            -                            1                                                                                (                          x                          )                                                                    +                                              α                                                                                h                            r                                                                                (                            x                            )                                                                                )                                                  )                            .                                                          (        6        )
According to the optimization algorithm [28], let εr be the weighted training classification error, i.e.,
                              ɛ          r                =                              ∑                          i              =              1                                      N              t                                                                    w              i              r                        ·                                          [                                                                            h                      r                                                                                (                                              x                        i                                            )                                                        ≠                                      y                    i                                                  ]                            .                                                          (        7        )            The resultant αr and updated wi are formulated as:
                              α          r                =                              1            2                                          log                                      (                                                1                  -                                      ɛ                    r                                                                    ɛ                  r                                            )                                                          (        8        )                                          w          i                      r            +            1                          =                              w            i            r                    ·                                    exp                                            (                                                      -                                          y                      i                                                                                α                    r                                                                                h                      r                                                                                (                                              x                        i                                            )                                                                      )                                      .                                              (        9        )
Following this framework as depicted in FIG. 4, the weight for hard-to-classify examples is increased. Meanwhile, the updated weights also determine the probability of the examples being selected to form a novel training data set for subsequent component classifier. For instance, if a training sample is classified accurately, its chance of being selected again for the subsequent component classifier is reduced. Conversely, if the sample is not accurately classified, then its chance of being selected again is raised. By calling the component classifier several times (i.e., boosting rounds), as long as the training error of the component classifier is less than 0.5, the training error of the ensemble classifier will also decrease as the boosting round continues. In Adaboost, the individual classifiers are built in parallel and independent each other. Consequently, it will generate a strong classifier by linearly combining these component classifiers weighted by their votes through a sequence of optimization iterations.
In the prior arts, such as the U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,639, the United States Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0235870 and the U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,453, it is disclosed that lip information is incorporated to enhance access security. Nonetheless, these prior arts invariably require incorporating at least one other biometric modalities such as face, acoustical signals, voice-print, signature, fingerprint and retinal print, to achieve speaker verification, and often require more complicated procedures to achieve the security goals. To the best of our current knowledge, there is no known prior art that is based on one modality of lip motions but also at the same time embeds the private password information as a double security to the access-controlled system, where the speaker is not only verified by his or her underlying dynamic characteristics of lip motions, but also required to match a specific password embedded in the lip motion simultaneously.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for a lip-password based speaker verification approach that merely utilizes one modality of lip motions, in which the private password information is embedded into the lip motions synchronously. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus that guarantees that it maintains a double security to an access-controlled system, where the speaker is not only verified by his or her underlying dynamic characteristics of lip motions, but also required to match a specific password embedded in the lip motion simultaneously. That is, in the case where the target speaker saying the wrong password or even in the case where an impostor knowing and saying the correct password, the nonconformities will be detected and the authentications/accesses will be denied. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus that is not only easily implemented, but also generally comprises of at least four merits as follows: (1) The modality of lip motion is completely insensitive to the background noise; (2) The acquisition of lip motions is insusceptible to the distance; (3) Such a system is easily usable by a mute person; (4) The lip-password protected speaker verification system has its unique superiorities of silence and hidden property.
Citation or identification of any reference in this section or any other section of this document shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art for the present application.

Lip-password based speaker verification system


A photographic film loading method of loading photographic film at an apparatus which has a carrier for holding and conveying the film along a conveying path and which effects photometry of each frame image of the film at a predetermined position of the conveying path, comprising the steps of: spanning the photographic film between a supply reel and a winding reel; the carrier having a first portion disposed so as to be fixed at the apparatus and a second portion movable between a first position, at which the photographic film located on the conveying path is held between the first portion and the second portion, and a second position, which is withdrawn from the first position such that release of the holding of the photographic film between the first portion and the second portion is permitted, drawing-out an intermediate portion of the photographic film between the supply reel and the winding reel while the second portion is located at the second position, so as to locate the intermediate portion on the conveying path; and moving the second portion to the first position to hold the photographic film, thereby completing loading of the photographic film. Therefore, the photographic film can be loaded at the carrier without conveying a leader portion of the photographic film along the conveying path, and damage to the leader portion and jamming of the photographic film can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and to a film loading method and a film conveying apparatus which can be applied to an image reading apparatus and, more particularly, to a film loading method and a film conveying apparatus to which an elongate rolled photographic film which is prepared by joining a plurality of rolls of film together, is applied.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, each image on a photographic film is read by an image reading apparatus (scanner), and exposure correction data for the image is obtained by a video color analyzer and recorded on an LSI card or the like. In order to rapidly record a large amount of data, negative films of several rolls are joined in series by a splicer, and the resultant elongate negative film (i.e., the long strip formed by the plurality of rolls of films being spliced together) is rolled such that the emulsion surface thereof faces inward and the last frame of the negative film which was joined last serves as a drawing-out leader portion. The elongate rolled negative film thus prepared is set (loaded) at the scanner such that the leading end portion thereof (leader portion) is made to pass along a conveying path. Further, the elongate rolled negative film is transferred to subsequent processes in a rolled state, is subjected to a series of processings, and is finally cut by a cutter, thereby obtaining the respective negative films of each roll.
However, since the elongated photographic film applied to such an image reading apparatus has a rolled shape, jamming easily occurs because the leader portion is curled or bent. A portion at which jamming has occurred tends to become jammed again in the subsequent processes. In order to solve this drawback, several guides must be arranged on the conveying path. However, the guides complicate the structure around the conveying portion, and the apparatus cannot be made compact.
There are various manners of winding the rolled negative film (e.g., the front surface may face outward or inward, and winding may begin from the leading end or the trailing end). Therefore, a step of rewinding must be added in some cases to standardize the directions of the films in a predetermined process. For example, when printing is performed by a printer, the negative film must be wound such that the emulsion surface side of the film faces a predetermined side, e.g., the outer side, depending on the position of the light source arranged in the printer. However, negative films, which have been joined in series by a splicer and which are being used for reordering prints, are not subjected to a developing process. Therefore, the winding direction of such negative films when such negative films are supplied to the scanner is different from the winding direction of negative films which are subjected to simultaneous printing. Therefore, the winding direction of the rolled negative film for reordering and the winding direction of the rolled negative film for simultaneous printing are different. For this reason, a step of only rewinding the rolled negative film for simultaneous printing or for reordering must be added before the last step is finished. As a result, the throughput, or processability, of the negative film cannot be improved.
Japanese Patent Application No. 7-159624 is related art of the present application. Note that Japanese Patent Application No. 7-159624 is pending at the Japanese Patent Office, and is not publicly known at the time of filing of the present application.

Photographic film loading method, photographic film conveying apparatus, and image reading apparatus


The present invention provides a traveling operation device that is configured so that the speed-change lock mechanism shifts from the speed-change locked state to the unlocked state when the brake operation mechanism is operated. The present invention also provides a traveling operation device including a forward-side speed-change pedal and a rearward-side speed-change pedal for operating a traveling stepless speed-change device provided in a working vehicle, wherein the forward-side speed-change pedal and the rearward-side speed-change pedal are arranged spaced apart in a vehicle width direction so as to define a footrest region in between at one of left and right step boards in the working vehicle. The present invention also provides a working vehicle in which the driver's seat is exposed and which includes supporting members for supporting a pair of left and right mud-shield foot-guards arranged on a front side with the driver's seat as a reference and a width indicator lamp detachable mounted to at least one of the pair of left and right foot-guard supporting members so that a light-emitting portion of the width indicator lamp faces forward.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a traveling operation device including a speed-change operation mechanism for operating a stepless speed-change device, the speed-change operation mechanism being biased toward a neutral side, a speed-change lock mechanism that is manually operational to take a speed-change locked state for holding the speed-change operation mechanism at an voluntary speed-change position and an unlocked state of releasing the speed-change locked state, and a brake operation mechanism for operating a traveling brake device; a traveling operation device including a forward-side speed-change pedal and a rearward-side speed-change pedal for operating the traveling stepless speed-change device provided in a working vehicle; and a working vehicle in which a driver's seat is exposed.
2. Background of the Art
The traveling operation device including a speed-change operation mechanism for operating a stepless speed-change device, the speed-change operation mechanism being biased toward the neutral side; a speed-change lock mechanism that is manually operational to take a speed-change locked state for holding the speed-change operation mechanism at a voluntary speed-change position and an unlocked state of releasing the speed-change locked state; and a brake operation mechanism for operating a traveling brake device; the traveling operation device being configured so that the speed-change lock mechanism shifts from the speed-change locked state to the unlocked state by operation of another operation mechanism (e.g., press-down operation of a master brake pedal of a master brake operation mechanism including a pair of left and right brake pedals and the master brake pedal for simultaneously operating the pair of left and right brake pedals) arranged separately from the brake operation mechanism is conventionally known (see e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-247119).
However, in the traveling operation device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-247119, the speed-change locked state of the speed-change lock mechanism cannot be released other than by the operation mechanism provided separately from the brake operation mechanism, and the locked state cannot be released even by performing the press-down operation of the brake pedal in the brake operation mechanism when the speed-change lock mechanism is in the speed-change locked state.
Furthermore, in a traveling operation device including a forward-side speed-change pedal and a rearward-side speed-change pedal for operating a traveling stepless speed-change device in the working vehicle, if both of the forward-side and rearward-side speed-change pedals are arranged on one of either left or right step board of the working vehicle, it is difficult to secure a large space for placing a driver's foot on the step board on the one side, resulting in tending to deteriorate ride-on/off efficiency. Further, if operation members such as various operation levers are arranged on the step board on the one side, it becomes more difficult to secure the large space for placing the foot, resulting in lowering operationality.
There are working vehicles of one type (so-called working vehicle of no-cabin type) in which the driver's seat is exposed and working vehicles of another type (so-called working vehicle of cabin specification) in which a cabin enclosing the periphery of the driver's seat is provided. There has been proposed working vehicles including width indicator lamps for indicating a width of the vehicle by means of a light from a light-emitting portion and direction indicator lamps for indicating the left and right moving direction of the vehicle by means of the light from the light-emitting portion.
The conventional working vehicle in which the driver's seat is exposed and in which the width indicator lamp and the direction indicator lamp are provided is configured so that the width indicator lamp and the direction indicator lamp are arranged on the rear side with the driver's seat as a reference in a state where the light emitting portions thereof face forward (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-310159).
However, when a third person looks at the conventional working vehicle from the front or from the side with a distance, the lights from the width indicator lamp and the direction indicator lamp that are arranged on the rear side of the driver's seat in such a manner that the light emitting portions face forward are shielded by the driver or the vehicle main body. Consequently, it may be difficult for the third person to visibly recognize the light, and thus visibility of the third person with respect to the working vehicle tends to lower. Furthermore, for the driver, since the lights from the width indicator lamp and the direction indicator lamp arranged on the rear side of the vehicle with the driver's seat as the reference in such a manner that the light emitting portions face forward are irradiated from rearward to forward with the driver's seat as the reference, the light easily enters the eyes of the driver, in particular, the light appears bright for the driver if the width indicator lamp and the direction indicator lamp are arranged near the height of the eyes of the driver, whereby the rearward view of the driver (e.g., view in a case where the driver steers the working vehicle while looking rearward) tends to lower.

Traveling operation device and working vehicle


Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus for measuring hematocrit of flowing blood. The apparatus for measuring hematocrit of blood according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a body part provided with a blood inlet and a blood outlet; first and second electrodes disposed on both inner side walls of the body part so as to be opposite to each other; a third electrode disposed on the same side wall as a side wall on which the first electrode is disposed while maintaining a predetermined distance from the first electrode; a measurement unit measuring first impedance of blood between the first and second electrodes and second impedance of the blood between the first and third electrodes; and a calculation unit determining the hematocrit of blood using the first and second impedances.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring hematocrit of blood.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hematocrit (HCT) refers to a volume percent of red blood cells in blood, and more particularly, to a relative volume of red blood cells to a volume of blood. In the case of using the hematocrit, since it is possible to know a volume ratio between blood cell components and blood plasma components, information associated with an oxygen amount in blood such as information on anemia may be obtained.
According to the related art, hematocrit of blood is measured using various methods. As a relative simple measuring method, there is a centrifugation method. In the case in which injecting a blood sample in a glass capillary tube and rapidly rotating the glass capillary tube at a high speed, a red blood component in the blood is separated from plasma to form a layer. In this case, a height of the red blood cell layer with respect to the entire height of the blood sample in the capillary tube is measured, thereby obtaining hematocrit. However, in this method, a relatively long time is consumed to measure the hematocrit, and it is impossible to perform hematocrit measurement on flowing blood in real-time.
As another method, the hematocrit may be measured using a Coulter counter. The Coulter counter is a device for measuring a change in electric impedance shown when particles passes through a fine pore, and an average volume percent and the number of individual red cells may be measured using the Coulter counter. However, the Coulter counter is expensive and has a large volume, and it is difficult to carry the Coulter counter.
In the case of electrically measuring hematocrit of flowing blood using the Coulter counter, impedance of blood is changed according to a state of plasma and a change in flow rate, which causes a measuring error of hematocrit. Therefore, a method for measuring hematocrit capable of considering a flow rate as well as a change in a plasma state has been required.

Method and apparatus for measuring hematocrit of blood

GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A system and method for complete message delivery to a multi-mode communication device is presented. The communication device is adaptable to communicate with one or more carrier networks and one or more data networks. When a new message is received for the communication device, a message notification is sent to the device via a first network. The communication device parses the message notification and retrieves the complete message via a second network. Alternatively, the message notification may be delivered and the complete message may be retrieved via the same network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to multi-mode communication devices and more particularly relates to the delivery of complete messages to multi-mode devices over a combination of carrier networks ("WANs") and data networks ("LANs").
2. Related Art
Conventional wireless communication devices typically have separate information applications, such as an email application, that are hosted by the wireless device. New or updated information messages, such as email messages, are usually retrieved from a central information server at the instruction of the user. Additionally, the host wireless communication device may periodically wake up the target information application to prompt the application to contact the central information server and poll the server to see if new or updated information is available. These conventional methods of delivering information messages to wireless devices are inefficient and do not provide for real-time notification of new messages or updated information.
In order for a conventional wireless communication device to use a circuit switched IS95A/B CDMA or GPRS network for email and other wireless information retrieval, the communication device must be connected to the network. When connected, the communication device may poll an information server for updates to information or for the existence of new messages. Thus, a communication device is required to establish a connection just to check for updated information or new messages. If there are no new messages or there is no update, time and other valuable resources are wasted to execute the status check. In some instances, monetary charges may also apply.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method that overcomes these significant problems found in the conventional systems as described above.

Complete message delivery to multi-mode communication device


The present invention provides a loading and unloading apparatus comprising in mutual cooperation a conveyor device (3) adjacent a roller table (2), where said conveyor device and roller table are pivotably mounted on a carrying structure (5), which structure, in use is vertically extendable and retractable.

The present invention relates to a loading and unloading apparatus as well as a loading and unloading system comprising an apparatus as will be described below.
Although the inventive apparatus and loading and unloading system described in the present application may be utilised in a number of situations, the invention is especially advantageous for use in places where it is difficult to gain access or use other means for handling goods such as for example loading bays in aircrafts, boats, trains or other vehicles. That is to say that the invention is particularly advantageous for use in theses situations, but the inventive concept should not be limited as the invention may be used advantageously in other connections as well.
Within this application, loading and unloading of aircraft bays will be used as a descriptive example but again the invention is not limited for this use and does comprise a number of advantageous features which are applicable to a variety of environments.
Handling of goods, parcels, luggage and the like, hereafter referred to as items, can be a very demanding task for a number of reasons, depending especially on the situation at hand. Personnel loading or unloading such items often have to lift or in other ways manually handle the items, for example onto a conveyor, or carry the items to the conveyor in order for the conveyor to be able to transport the items into or out of storage. In storage facilities, such as warehouses, trucks and containers, although the work may be heavy, the position of the people carrying out the task may be relatively comfortable and, furthermore, wheeled vehicles such as fork lifts and the like may in some instances be used in order to carry and move the items about.
In other instances, especially in cargo holds of trains and in particular of air crafts, the space is extremely limited, whereby the personnel carrying out the transferral of items either from the conveying device into the tightly packaged cargo hold or vice versa often have to be in a rather uncomfortable situations lifting relatively heavy items such as luggage, packages and the like from a kneeling or severely bent-over position. This will eventually lead to injuries and is known to wear cargo personnel down. Furthermore introduction of legislation protecting workers against injuries caused by this type of work in a number of countries has escalated the demand for inventive solutions to this type of problems.
In order to alleviate these problems, a number of solutions have been proposed in the prior art. One of these solutions is the well-known flying carpet, which is installed at the bottom of the cargo hold such that, as an item of luggage or package is introduced into the cargo hold, the items are stacked to the appropriate height and the entire stack is slid on the flying carpet into its final position in the cargo hold. As cargo often is stacked in more layers, the personnel will still have to lift the item from the conveyor onto the stack on the flying carpet and push the stack into its final position in the hold. An additional disadvantage with the flying carpet is that, as it is permanently mounted inside the air craft, the extra weight and space taken up by the flying carpet will be a relatively costly installation for the air craft carrier in the long run.
Additionally, although the flying carpet might be helpful in transporting the items from the opening of the cargo bay to the position where the items will be stacked during transport, it still leaves some manual handling in that the items must be lifted from the conveyor belt into their final position in the stack or in the cargo hull as such.


A graphite material for a negative electrode is provided which can suppress capacity degradation due to repeated charging and discharging cycles, storage in a charged state, and floating charging.

Since a lithium ion secondary battery has a low weight and excellent input and output characteristics in comparison with a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, and a lead battery, which are secondary batteries in the related art, the lithium ion secondary battery is recently anticipated as a power source for electric cars or hybrid cars. In general, such a type of battery has a structure in which a positive electrode (cathode) including lithium which can be reversibly intercalated and a negative electrode (anode) formed of a carbon material face each other with a non-aqueous electrolyte interposed therebetween. Therefore, these batteries do not enter a dischargeable state when they are not assembled in a discharged state and then charged. Hereinafter, charging and discharging reactions will be described with reference to an example in which a positive electrode including lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), a negative electrode including a carbon material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution including a lithium salt as an electrolyte are used.
First, when a first charging cycle is performed, lithium included in the positive electrode is emitted to the electrolyte (Formula 1) and the positive electrode potential goes in the higher direction. In the negative electrode, lithium emitted from the positive electrode is occluded in the carbon material (Formula 2), and the negative electrode potential goes in the lower direction. In general, when the difference between the positive electrode potential and the negative electrode potential, that is, the battery voltage, reaches a predetermined value, the charging reaction is cut off. This value is called charging cutoff voltage. In the discharging reaction, lithium occluded in the negative electrode is emitted, the negative electrode potential goes in the higher direction, lithium is occluded in the positive electrode again, and the positive electrode potential goes in the lower direction. Similarly to the charging reaction, when the difference between the positive electrode potential and the negative electrode potential, that is, the battery voltage, reaches a predetermined value, the discharging reaction is cut off. This value is called discharging cutoff voltage. The total charging and discharging reaction formula is expressed by Formula 3. In the second cycle or the subsequent cycles thereto, lithium comes and goes between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to progress the charging and discharging reaction (cycle).

The carbon material used as the material for a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery is generally approximately classified into a graphite-based carbon material and an amorphous carbon material. The graphite-based carbon material has an advantage that the energy density per unit volume is higher than that of the amorphous carbon material. Therefore, the graphite-based carbon material is generally used as the material of a negative electrode in a lithium ion secondary battery for mobile phones or notebook computers requiring a compact structure and a large charging and discharging capacity. Graphite has a structure in which reticulated plane of carbon atoms are regularly laminated, and intercalation and deintercalation reactions of lithium ions progress in an edge portion of crystallites during charging and discharging.
As described above, such a type of battery is actively studied as a power storage device for vehicles, industry, and power supply infrastructure. When the batteries are used for these applications, very high reliability is required, compared with a case in which they are used for mobile phones or notebook computers. Here, reliability is a characteristic associated with the service life and can be said to be a storage characteristic. That is, reliability means a characteristic that charging and discharging capacity or internal resistance are not changed much (not degraded much) even when the charging and discharging cycles are repeated, even when the battery is stored in a charged state with a predetermined voltage, or even when the battery continues to be charged with a constant voltage (when floating-charged).
On the other hand, it is generally known that the service life characteristics of lithium ion secondary batteries having been used for mobile phones or notebook computers in the related art greatly depend on the material of the negative electrode. This is because it is not possible in principle to set the charging and discharging efficiencies of the positive electrode reaction (Formula 1) and the negative electrode reaction (Formula 2) to be completely equal to each other and the charging and discharging efficiency of the negative electrode is lower. Here, the charging and discharging efficiency means the ratio of dischargeable electric capacity to the electric capacity consumed in charging. Hereinafter, the reaction mechanism in which the service life characteristic degrades due to the low charging and discharging efficiency of the negative electrode reaction will be described in detail.
In the process of charging, as described above, lithium in the positive electrode is emitted (Formula 1) and is occluded in the negative electrode (Formula 2), but the electric capacity consumed in the charging is the same in the positive electrode reaction and the negative electrode reaction. However, since the charging and discharging efficiency is lower in the negative electrode, the discharging may be cut off in a state in which the amount of lithium emitted from the negative electrode is smaller than the amount of lithium which can be occluded in the positive electrode, that is, the amount of lithium occluded in the positive electrode before the charging, in the subsequent discharging reaction. This is because a part of the electric capacity consumed in the charging in the negative electrode is consumed in side reactions and competitive reactions but is not consumed in the reaction in which lithium is occluded, that is, the reaction in which lithium is occluded as the dischargeable capacity.
Since such charging and discharging reactions occur, the positive electrode potential in the discharging cutoff state goes to a side higher than the original potential before the charging and discharging reactions, and the negative electrode potential also goes to a side higher than the original potential before the charging and discharging reactions. This is because all lithium emitted in the charging process of the positive electrode is not occluded (is not returned) during the discharging, the potential has gone in the higher direction in the charging process cannot be returned to the original positive electrode potential by the amount corresponding to the difference in the charging and discharging efficiency between the positive electrode and the negative electrode even when it goes in the lower direction in the discharging process, and thus the discharging is cutoff at a potential higher than the original positive electrode potential. As described above, the discharging of a lithium ion secondary battery is completed when the battery voltage (that is, the difference between the positive electrode potential and the negative electrode potential) reaches a predetermined value (the discharging cutoff voltage). Accordingly, when the potential of the positive electrode at the time point of cutting off the discharging becomes higher, the potential of the negative electrode also goes in the higher direction by the same amount.
As described above, when such a type of battery repeats the charging and discharging cycles, there is a problem in that the capacity obtained within a predetermined voltage range (within the range of the discharging cutoff voltage and the charging cutoff voltage) degrades due to the change in operational range of the capacity of the positive and negative electrodes. The reaction mechanism of such a capacity degradation has been reported in academic societies (Non-Patent documents 1 and 2). The positive electrode potential and the negative electrode potential of which the operational ranges once changed are irreversible and cannot be returned to the original state, and the fact that there is no means for recovering the capacity makes this problem severe.
The reaction mechanism of capacity degradation occurring when the charging and discharging cycles are repeated is basically the same as the reaction mechanism of capacity degradation when a battery is stored in a charged state or the reaction mechanism of capacity degradation when the floating-charging is performed. First, when a battery is stored in a charged state, it is known that the capacity consumed in side reactions and competitive reactions occurring in the charged state, that is, the self-discharged capacity, is larger in the negative electrode than in the positive electrode and thus the operational ranges of capacity of the positive and negative electrodes are changed before and after storage, thereby causing the battery capacity after storage to degrade (Non-Patent document 3). Similarly to the difference in charging and discharging efficiency between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the difference in self-discharging rate between the positive electrode and the negative electrode in the charged state results from the fact that the rates of the side reactions and the competitive reactions occurring in the negative electrode in the charged state are similarly higher than the rates of the side reactions and the competitive reactions occurring in the positive electrode in the charged state.
When floating-charging is performed, the positive electrode potential and the negative electrode potential continue to be charged with predetermined potentials in the initial charging period. However, the current value (the leak current in the positive electrode) necessary for maintaining the positive electrode potential at the potential and the current value (the leak current in the negative electrode) necessary for maintaining the negative electrode potential at the potential are actually different from each other. Therefore, when the floating charging is performed, the leak current in the negative electrode is greater than the leak current in the positive electrode, and thus the negative electrode potential migrates in a direction in which the leak current decreases, that is, in the higher direction, and the positive electrode potential goes in a direction in which the leak current increases, that is in the higher direction. In this way, when the floating charging is performed, there is a problem in that the operational ranges of capacity of the positive electrode and the negative electrode are irreversibly changed and the battery capacity degrades.
A "raw coke composition obtained by coking a heavy oil composition through the use of a delayed coking process" is generally known as a raw material of the negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery. The delayed coking process is very suitable for mass-producing high-quality carbon materials, and various types of coke mass-products are produced through the use of this process. Graphite materials obtained through graphitization such that the crystallite size Lc(112) of the (112) diffraction line measured through the use of a wide-angle X-ray diffraction method is 4 nm or more are generally used as the graphite material of the negative electrode of the lithium ion secondary batteries (for example, see Patent document 1).
A graphite material obtained by pulverizing and classifying a raw coke composition so as to have a predetermined particle size distribution and performing a mechanochemical process on the product to cause crystals to highly develop at a temperature of 2800° C. or higher under an atmosphere of inert gas and a manufacturing method thereof are generally known (for example, see Patent document 2).
In Patent document 2, it is mentioned that the crystalline structure of the particle surface layer can be disturbed by pulverizing and classifying a raw coke composition and then performing the mechanochemical process (see Paragraph [0024] of Patent document 2). Since this disturbance of the crystalline structure remains as unorganized carbon even after the graphitization as the final process, the initial charging and discharging efficiency of the negative electrode can be improved (see Paragraph [0024] of Patent document 2), but there is a problem in that the reliability of the battery cannot be improved.
It has been reported that the crystalline structure of the surface of the graphite particles can be disturbed by applying a compressive shearing stress thereon using scale-like natural graphite as the negative electrode material of the battery (for example, see Non-Patent document 4). It has been reported that the disturbance of the crystalline structure of the graphite particle surface can improve the initial charging and discharging efficiency of the negative electrode (Paragraph of Patent document 2).
However, when mechanical energy based on a compressive shearing stress is applied to the graphite particles, the compressive shearing stress is applied to the particle surface to cut carbon-carbon bonds around the particle surface and to expose edge portions from the cut portions. Accordingly, it is thought that the graphite material in which many edge portions are exposed from the particle surfaces is obtained. In a lithium ion secondary battery using the graphite material as the negative electrode material, since the electrolyte in the edge portions exposed from the particle surfaces of the negative electrode is decomposed to increase the leak current in the negative electrode and to increase the difference from the leak current in the positive electrode, there is a problem in that the capacity retention rate (storage characteristics) is greatly lowered when the battery is held at high temperatures or normal temperatures for a long time.
In lithium ion secondary batteries manufactured using a graphite negative electrode with a highly crystalline structure, high electric capacity is obtained. However, when such a graphite material is used, it is said that a phenomenon in which an electrolyte is co-intercalated between graphite layers formed of reticulated plane with a high degree of parallelism from the edge portions of the crystallites and is then decomposed easily occurs at the same time as inserting lithium into the graphite crystals (Solvent Co-Intercalation Model of Besenhard, see Non-Patent document 5). The charging and discharging efficiency of the negative electrode is lowered by the side reactions and the competitive reactions due to the decomposition of the electrolyte between the graphite layers, thereby causing capacity degradation. It is also said that as the graphite crystals develop further, the solvent co-intercalation occurs more easily. Therefore, a technique of introducing disturbance of a crystalline structure into the particle surfaces through the use of the solvent co-intercalation so as to suppress the decomposition of the electrolyte has been reported. In Patent document 1, it is mentioned that the highly crystalline structure on the particle surfaces can be disturbed by pulverizing and classifying a raw coke composition and then performing the mechanochemical process. Since the introduced disturbance of the crystalline structure remains as an area having a low crystallinity even after the graphitization as the final process, it is mentioned that it is possible to improve the initial charging and discharging efficiency of the negative electrode (Paragraph [0024] of Patent document 2). However, it is thought that the disturbance of the crystalline structure introduced through the mechanochemical process is a so-called isotropic state in which crystallites of unorganized carbon are randomly oriented and many edge portions are exposed from the particle surfaces.
In general, in the edge portions of crystallites, plural dangling bonds, that is, many localized electrons of which valence electron bonds are not saturated and which are present without bonding opponents, are present. On the surface of the carbon material of the negative electrode, that is, in the interface between the electrolyte and the carbon material, in the charging process, it is thought that side reactions and competitive reactions due to the reductive decomposition of the electrolyte based on the catalytic action of the localized electrons occur in addition to the original charging reaction in which lithium is inserted into the graphite crystals, thereby lowering the charging and discharging efficiency of the negative electrode. That is, even when an area having a low crystallinity is introduced into the particle surfaces to suppress the decomposition of the electrolyte due to the solvent co-intercalation, the crystallites in the introduced areas having a low crystallinity are in the isotropic state and thus the edge portions are exposed from the surface to increase the reductive decomposition of the electrolyte, thereby causing the capacity degradation.
The inventors had an idea that the charging and discharging efficiency of the negative electrode can be improved and the storage characteristics of a lithium ion secondary battery can be improved, by employing a graphite material having a structure in which areas having a low crystallinity are introduced into the highly crystalline structure and having small exposure of crystallite edges from particle surfaces, and actively studied to reach the present invention.

Graphite material for negative electrodes of lithium ion secondary battery, manufacturing method for said material, and lithium ion secondary battery using same

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a graphite material for a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery is provided in which an atomic ratio H/C of hydrogen atoms H and carbon atoms C in the raw coke composition is in a range of 0.30 to 0.50 and a microstrength of the raw coke composition is in a range of 7 wt % to 17 wt %.


A frame assembly for a motorized vehicle includes a vehicle body frame with an upper frame, a lower basket frame integrally attached to and extending downwardly from the upper frame, and an auxiliary frame which is separate from and operatively attached to the vehicle body frame. The upper frame includes a head pipe, a tubular main frame section attached to the head pipe, a pair of seat rails extending rearwardly in a divergent fashion from the main frame section, and a rear crossbar interconnecting the seat rails at rear portions thereof. The lower basket frame comprises left and right down tubes extending downwardly in a divergent fashion from the head pipe, a pair of left and right lower pipes extending rearwardly from lower ends of the respective down tubes, and a pair of medial frame sections extending between rear ends of the lower pipes and the seat rails. The auxiliary frame has a width substantially equal to a distance between the left and right lower pipes.

Conventionally, a variety of motorcycles have been sold and put to practical use (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. Sho 58-181687 (FIG. 2)).
FIG. 24 of the present application is a copy of FIG. 2 of Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. Sho 58-181687. As shown in FIG. 24, a small-type motorcycle has been known in which luggage can be mounted on the upper side of an upper frame 20 extending forwards from a seat 2, an auxiliary frame is extended forwards from the upper side of the upper frame 20 to be a front carrier 12, and accessories such as a head light 18 are attached to the front carrier 12.
In such a known construction as that shown in FIG. 24, in a medium- or larger-type motorcycle, the vehicle body extends in the front-rear direction, so that it is necessary to strengthen the vehicle body frame, in order to ensure that luggage can be mounted on the upper frame. In a low floor type vehicle represented by a motor scooter with a straddle portion, also, it is desired to provide the straddle portion with a luggage mount portion. On the other hand, customers demand a variety of frame shapes.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a motorcycle and an improved frame structure for a motorized vehicle. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a motorcycle and frame having a strengthened vehicle body frame in order to enhance the luggage mounting performance at a straddle portion and which can be made in a variety of main frame section shapes.

Motorized vehicle, and related frame structure


A refrigerator for discharging cool air from a door is disclosed. The refrigerator has an air curtain generating device and a door duct. The door duct is disposed in the door and combined with the device when the door is closed. When the door is closed, the cool air from the device is supplied into the cooling compartment through the door duct. Thus the degree of cooling in the cooling compartment can be maintained uniformly. When the door is opened, the air curtain for shutting off the opening of cooling compartment is generated by the device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a refrigerator for discharging cool air from a door by using an air curtain generating device, and more particularly to a refrigerator having a device for generating an air curtain for shutting off the opening of a cooling compartment when the door is opened and a door duct for supplying the cooling compartment with the cool air provided from the device when the door is closed.
2. Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional refrigerator, which shows a refrigerator having a device for generating an air curtain for shutting off the opening of a cooling compartment. The refrigerator has, as shown in FIG. 1, a cabinet 10 forming a freezing compartment 21 and a fresh food compartment 22 which are partitioned from each other by a wall 27, and a freezing compartment door 24 and a fresh food compartment door 25 which open/close the freezing compartment 21 and fresh food compartment 22, respectively. The doors 24, 25 are hingedly mounted on the cabinet 10.
A compressor 23 is installed in a lower rear part of the cabinet 10, and an evaporator 29 is installed in a rear part of the freezing compartment 21 for generating cool air by evaporating refrigerant supplied from the compressor 23. A cooling fan 19 for blowing the cool air generated by the evaporator 29 is installed at the upper side of the evaporator 29 so as to supply the freezing compartment 21 and the fresh food compartment 22 with the cool air.
A device 20 for generating an air curtain is provided in the upper side of the fresh food compartment 22. The air curtain generating device 20 comprises a cool air duct 13 provided in the upper side of the fresh food compartment 22, and a blowing fan 11 for blowing the cool air from the evaporator 29 into the cool air duct 13. The cool air duct 13 is formed with a cool air discharge port 15 at one end thereof which is opened downward at the area adjacent to an opening of the fresh food compartment 22. The cool air blown into the cool air duct 13 is discharged downward, by which the air curtain for shutting off the opening of the fresh food compartment 22 is generated.
In the fresh food compartment 22, a sensor (not shown) for sensing the opening/closing of the fresh food compartment door 25 is provided, and the blowing fan 11 is controlled to operate only when the opening of the door 25 is sensed by the sensor. Thus, the air curtain is generated only when the door 25 is opened so as to prevent leakage of the cool air through the opening of the fresh food compartment 22 when the door 25 is opened.
A plurality of cool air ports 16, 18 are formed at the rear surfaces of the freezing compartment 21 and the fresh food compartment 22. When the door 25 is closed, the cool air from the evaporator 29 is blown by the cooling fan 19 so as to be supplied into the freezing compartment 21 and the fresh food compartment 22, and accordingly the foodstuffs stored in the freezing compartment 21 and the fresh food compartment 22 are frozen and refrigerated, respectively.
However, in such a conventional refrigerator, although the leakage of the cool air is prevented by the air curtain, since the cool air in the area adjacent to the door 25 comes in contact with exterior air when the door 25 is opened and leaks through a gap between the door 25 and the cabinet 10 when the door 25 is closed, there is a problem that the temperature of the fresh food compartment 22 in the area adjacent to the door 25 may fall in comparison with the temperature at the other areas in the fresh food compartment 22. Furthermore, according to the tendency for the refrigerator to become larger in size, since the distribution of temperature in each area in the fresh food compartment 22 may become more uneven, the foodstuffs stored in the fresh food compartment 22 may be over cooled or under cooled.

Refrigerator for discharging cool air from a door by using an air curtain generating device


A processing system stores a special software known as the Cubemath software. The Cubemath software allows the processing system to process, analyze, and interpret a second set of seismic data relative to a first set of seismic data obtained from either a repeat seismic operation or a single seismic two processing method operation. A first set of 3D seismic data is collected at a particular location on the surface of the earth at time "t1", and a second set of 3D seismic data is collected at that same particular location on the surface of the earth (at a different time "t2" when the repeat seismic operation is being performed). The processing of the second set of seismic data relative to the first set of seismic data is accomplished by: selecting either a volume or a surface to represent the first set of seismic data, selecting either a volume or a surface or a trace or null to represent the second set of seismic data, selecting a specific mathematical operation, selecting a specific type of output (such as a volume output or a surface output), executing a run thereby performing the mathematical operation on the first set of seismic data and the second set of seismic data, and generating a set of data results on an output record medium presented to an operator in the form of the selected type of output.

The subject matter of the present invention relates to a seismic data interpretation method and apparatus, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for operating on pairs of data obtained from either a repeat seismic operation or for operating on pairs of attributes derived from a single seismic operation performed on the earth's surface where the pairs of data are representative of characteristics of the earth's formation and generating an output record medium from which the characteristics of the earth formation may be determined.
Seismic data is obtained by measuring and recording the data during a "3D seismic operation" performed using a set of geophones situated on the surface of the earth.
A "seismic operation" in general is performed by detonating an explosive energy source at the surface of the earth and, using a set of geophones, measuring a set of sound wave vibrations emerging at the earth's surface but displaced by a plurality of distances (x, x+50 feet, x+100 feet, etc) from the location of the explosive energy source. This set of emerging sound vibrations, produced during the "seismic operation", may be called "2D" seismic data because, in our example, the sound vibrations are propagating in the x-z plane.
However, in reality, the sound vibrations are propagating in three dimensions, that is, the vibrations are propagating along the x, y, and z axes. As a result, the emerging seismic data, emerging from the earth's surface near the set of geophones, should more properly be called "3D" seismic data.
During a seismic operation, the sound vibrations from the explosive energy source will propagate downwardly into the earth, reflect off various earth layers (such as rock layers or sand shale), and propagate upwardly to the earth surface. As a result, the strength of each sound vibration reflecting off an earth layer is a function of the impedence of the earth layer within the earth. Consequently, the 3D seismic data recorded by the geophones at the earth's surface represents a set of characteristics of the earth's formation located within the earth and situated below the set of geophones.
Recall that the aforementioned "3D" seismic data is generated and recorded by the geophones when the 3D seismic operation is performed at the earth's surface, the 3D seismic data representing a set of sound vibrations propagating in three dimensions within the earth (that is, along the x, y, and z axes). However, there is a fourth dimension that should be considered as well which would result in the generation and recordation, by the set of geophones, of "4D" seismic data. That fourth dimension is called "time", or "t". As a result, the four dimensions would be (x, y, z, and t), where x is the horizontal distance, y is the transverse distance, z is the reflection time, and t is the elapsed time.
The 4D seismic data is generated and recorded by the geophones when a "repeat seismic operation" is performed at the surface of the earth. A "repeat seismic operation" is performed in the following manner: performing a 3D seismic operation at a location of the earth's surface at time "t1", and then, at a later time "t2", performing another 3D seismic operation at the same location of the earth's surface at time "t2". If the earth layers, located within the earth below the set of geophones, have changed in any manner (e.g., the new presence of oil, gas, or fluid content), the 3D seismic data emerging from the earth at time "t2" will be different from the 3D seismic data which emerged from the earth at time "t1".
As a result of the performance of the "repeat seismic" operation, two (2) sets of seismic data are measured by the set of geophones: a first set of the seismic data measured by the geophones during time "t1", and a second set of the seismic data measured by the geophones during time "t2".
There is an alternate method practiced for generating the two sets of seismic data. During a single 3D seismic operation, a single set of seismic data is measured by the set of geophones and derived from the 3D seismic operation. However, that single set of seismic data is later processed in two different ways. As a result of the two different ways of processing the single set of seismic data, a pair of attributes are obtained, that is, the two (2) sets of seismic data comprising a first set of seismic data and a second set of seismic data are obtained. This alternate method of generating the two sets of seismic data is hereinafter called the "single seismic two processing method operation".
In addition, multiple data sets can be recorded at the same time, but measuring different types of wave propagation, such as compressional and shear waves. These can be considered a single data set processed two ways.
However, when the first and second sets of seismic data, representative of characteristics of an earth formation, are measured and recorded or otherwise obtained, a processing system located within a workstation should analyze or interpret the first and second sets of seismic data to determine the characteristics of the earth formation situated below the set of geophones at the earth's surface. The processing system must include a special software package (hereinafter called "Cubemath software") which is specifically designed to analyze or interpret the first and second sets of seismic data that were obtained from either the "repeat seismic operation" or the "single seismic two processing method operation". However, heretofore, there existed no such special software package.
As a result, a need exists for a special software package (known as the "Cubemath software") which, when stored in a workstation processing system, will allow the processing system to analyze and interpret the first and second sets of seismic data obtained from either the repeat seismic operation or the single seismic two processing method operation for the purpose of determining the characteristics of the earth formation located below a set of geophones situated at the earth's surface.

Method and apparatus for processing at least two seismic data sets during a step to derive a third data set

GeoQuest, a division of Schlumberger Technology Corporation


A dryer is configured to remove static electricity during a drying process. The dryer includes a drum rotatable within a cabinet. The drum is configured to receive laundry. A steam generator generates and exhausts steam into the drum. A steam diffuser uniformly diffuses the steam within the drum. A ventilation system ventilates air within the drum.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a dyer, and particularly to a dryer with a steam generator that is configured to remove static electricity and a method for controlling the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, dryers are home appliances that are widely used to dry laundry. Recently, dryers with additional functions have been under development.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional dryer. The conventional dryer includes a cabinet 10, a drying drum 20, a heater 34, a blower 32 and a motor (not shown). The cabinet 10 defines an exterior housing of the conventional dryer. The drum 20 has a cylindrical shape. The drum 20 is mounted within the cabinet 10 to introduce laundry therein. The heater 34 heats air and the blower 32 ventilates the heated air into the drum 20. The motor (not shown) rotates the drum 20.
An opening 22, formed in a front surface of the cabinet 10, communicates with an inside of the drum 20. A door 40 is coupled to the front surface of the cabinet 10 to open and close the opening 22.
During a drying process, the drum 20 rotates in a clockwise/counter-clockwise direction and air heated by the heater 34 is supplied to the drum 20 by the blower 32 to dry the laundry inside the drum 20.
However, during the drying cycle, static electricity may be generated on the dried laundry by friction between the laundry and drum 20. Thus, a user may experience discomfort or an unpleasant feeling when he/she wears a piece of dried laundry.

Dryer and method for controlling the same


Concepts and technologies are described herein for touch interactions with a drawing application. In accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, user devices can obtain drawing data generated by a web-based drawing application and can display a drawing by rendering the data in one or more UIs. The user device can interpret touch gestures at a touch sensitive display used to present the UIs and can interpret the touch gestures as corresponding to one or more commands for modifying the UIs. According to various embodiments, the user device can interpret the touch gestures by determining if the touch gestures intersect an object in the drawing and other behavior associated with the touch gesture such as movement, subsequent touches, and whether or not an object intersected was selected when the touch gesture was commenced.

Drawing applications are sometimes used by businesses and consumers to generate drawings and diagrams for various purposes. For example, drawing applications may be used to generate flowcharts, organization charts, block diagrams, or the like for various business purposes. Drawing applications also can be used to generate complex drawings such as architectural drawings, three-dimensional objects, layouts, or the like.
In many instances, users rely upon natively executed drawing programs to create drawings. Users may upload the generated drawings to collaboration sites or share the drawings with other entities via email, websites, or the like. Because drawings applications often require extensive computing power, however, users generally are unable to create drawings at remote locations. Instead, users often take photographs or sketches of these remote locations and return to a home or business to generate the drawings using the natively executed drawing programs.
While web-based drawing programs are available, these drawing programs often provide only rudimentary functionality. Additionally, these drawing programs may be difficult to interact with mobile devices. In particular, users may be required to type commands or use cursors to place and/or move objects within drawings, and users may be unable to interact with drawings using touch interfaces, as such devices may or may not be supported.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.

Touch interactions with a drawing application