An improved optical disk labeling device includes a label holding dock containing a holding portion and an optical disk holding dock slidable on the holding portion. The holding portion has downward and upward tracks. The downward and upward tracks have two ends forming a first anchor portion and a second anchor portion that communicate with each other. Through an actuation member the optical disk holding dock can be anchored at a first position to receive a first depressing force so that the actuation member is moved along the downward track to hold the optical disk holding dock at a second position. At the second position the optical disk holding dock can receive a second depressing force so that the actuation member slides along the upward track and allows the optical disk holding dock to return to the first position.

Optical disk is a storage medium to store digital data. As optical disk burners become increasingly popular the chance of using the optical disk to store data also is greater. Whether an optical disk has data stored thereon is difficult to recognize from outside appearance. Hence users generally make marks on the optical disk for recognition. A common approach is making a mark through a mark pen or by bonding a label. However, the oil-based ink of the mark pen tends to damage the optical disk, and adding the label makes the weight of the optical disk unbalanced and could result in damage of the optical disk drive during high speed rotation.
At present most optical disks are labeled by optical disk labeling devices. U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,033 discloses a labeling device which includes a labeling circumferential flange, a rod for holding an optical disk, a piston and a compressed spring. The rod is held on the labeling circumferential flange. The compressed spring is held in the piston beneath the rod. When in use a label has the bonding surface facing upwards to be held flatly on the labeling circumferential flange; the optical disk is held on the rod with the bonding surface facing downwards; then the rod is depressed and sunk partially in the labeling circumferential flange to bond the label to the optical disk. After the depressing force is released, the compressed spring pushes the rod to its original position.
R.O.C. patent No. M306382 also discloses an optical disk labeling device which includes a base tray with a round post located thereon in the center, a label holding dock to hold a label, an optical disk holding dock which has a force applying portion and a loading portion with the force applying portion formed at a diameter smaller than the loading portion such that the loading portion can hold an optical disk thereon, a driving unit having a driving shaft, an actuation means and a compressed spring. The compressed spring is held in the driving shaft which has one end coupling with the optical disk holding dock and another end coupling on the round post so that the optical disk holding dock is movable up and down. The driving shaft has a gear rack at one side. The actuation means has a gear. The gear and the gear rack are engaged. When a depressing force is absent the optical disk holding dock is in a regular condition. When the optical disk holding dock is moved downwards under the force, the driving shaft transfers the force downward to the compressed spring. When the pressure is released, the compressed spring pushes the driving shaft to its original position, and the gear engaged with the gear rack reduces the bouncing speed of the driving shaft so that the optical disk holding dock is moved slowly to the regular position.
While the techniques and devices mentioned above can bond a label onto an optical disk, they consist of a great deal of components and cause higher production costs. Fabrication and assembly are more complex. Hence, production efficiency is lower.


A deformable mirror device includes a substrate; a plurality of electrodes provided on the substrate; a spacer disposed on the substrate; a support member disposed above the spacer and having an opening passing through from a first face of the support member facing to the substrate to a second face of the support member opposite from the first face; a deformable electrode film formed below the first face of the support member so as to be opposed to the electrodes with a distance and so as to cover the opening; an insulation film provided between the deformable electrode film and the support member; and a reflection film provided on a face of the deformable electrode film opposite from the electrodes so as to overlap the opening. The electrodes are electrically insulated each other by a plurality of grooves radially extending from a region which includes a position corresponding to a center of the opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a deformable mirror device having a surface shape deformable by electrostatic force, and an apparatus for observing retina of an eye using such a deformable mirror device.
2. Related Art
In general, the apparatus for observing retina of an eye is an apparatus which irradiates retina of an eye to be examined with illumination light and receives and detects its image through an retina image forming optical system by using an image pickup device (for example, a CCD camera). For detecting and preventing a disease concerning eyes, it is desirable that the detection accuracy and resolution are as high as possible. Since an eyeball is not an ideal lens having no aberration, however, the eyeball has a wavefront aberration which becomes a factor of lowering the detection precision and resolution.
Therefore, a deformable mirror device which can vary its surface shape on the basis of information supplied from a controller is provided between the image pickup device which detects the image of the retina and the retina of the eye to be examined. The image of the retina of the eye to be examined reflected by the deformable mirror device is led to a wavefront sensor (for example, the Shack Hartmann sensor) to detect wavefront aberration. A control device applies voltages to electrodes of the deformable mirror device so as to reduce or eliminate the wavefront aberration on the basis of the detected wavefront aberration and causes an electrostatic force to act upon the deformable mirror to deform it. Owing to this deformation, an image having no wavefront aberration is obtained by the image pickup device.
Deformable mirror devices having a shape deformable by electrostatic sucking force is known (see, for example, FIG. 2 in JP-A 02-101402 (KOKAI)). The deformable mirror device shown in FIG. 2 in JP-A 02-101402 (KOKAI) has a structure consisting of a fixed electrode film 12 formed on an insulative substrate 11, a spacer part 18 having an opening in the center disposed on the fixed electrode film 12, a reflection film 17, a movable electrode film 16 and a SiO2 insulation film 14 stacked on the spacer part 18 so as to cover the opening, and a silicon substrate 13 having an opening in the center disposed on the stacked film. Therefore, the stacked film consisting of the reflection film 17, the movable electrode film 16 and the SiO2 insulation film 14 makes up a membrane part having its peripheral part fixed by the spacer part 18 and the silicon substrate 13, whose central part is deformed by electrostatic force between the fixed electrode 12 and the movable electrode film 16.
For observing retina photoreceptor cells, it is necessary for the deformation of the membrane part to follow eyeball movements such as rotation and translation. Thus, the membrane part is required to have high dynamic characteristics. The deformable mirror device having the shape deformable by electrostatic sucking force has a structure in which the fixed electrode and the membrane part face each other via the spacer part.
Letting F be electrostatic sucking force, ε be the dielectric constant (=8.85×10−12 F/m) of air, S be an electrode area, g be an actual distance (gap) between the fixed electrode and the membrane part, x be a deflection amount of the membrane part, and V be an applied voltage, electrostatic force is given by the following equation (1).
                    F        =                              1            2                              ɛ                                S                                          (                                  g                  -                  x                                )                            2                                                      V            2                                              (        1        )
As the distance between the fixed electrode and the membrane part becomes smaller, the electrostatic sucking force becomes larger. If it is desired to drive the deformable mirror device by a low applied voltage, therefore, the distance must be very small.
In the meantime, the squeeze film effect that the time average pressure in a gap over one period becomes higher than that in the neighborhood by vibration in a relative vertical direction of the gap distance between two opposed faces is known. This squeeze film effect occurs between the fixed electrode and the membrane part and exerts a substantial influence upon the vibration characteristics of the membrane part. As a conventional method for reducing the viscosity coefficient C of the vibration system associated with the squeeze film effect, a measure has been taken by sealing the entire deformable mirror device including the fixed electrode and the membrane part in a reduced pressure environment. However, the reduced pressure sealing (reduced pressure packaging) requires a very high cost. and there is a problem that leak of the gas inside the sealing brings about defective products, resulting in a bad cost efficiency.

Deformable mirror device and apparatus for observing retina of eye using the same


A printing group of a printing machine is comprised of a pair of cylinders each having a circumference that corresponds essentially to a length of a section of a side to be printed. The effective generated surface of at least one of the cylinders comprises, at the most, one break in the circumferential direction. The surface forms, in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of adjacently arranged breaks which, when viewed in the circumferential direction, are arranged in a staggered manner with respect to each other.

A linearly arranged printing group is disclosed in DE 100 08 216 A1. A plane through the rotating shafts of the cylinders and the paper web form an obtuse angle. The cylinders are seated in guide devices in the lateral frame in a linearly movable manner.
A printing group is known from DE 198 03 809 A1. A forme cylinder has one printing plate in the circumferential direction on its circumference, and several printing plates in the longitudinal direction. A transfer cylinder working together with the forme cylinder has double the circumference and is embodied for having one printing blanket in the circumferential direction and two in the longitudinal direction which two printing blankets, however, are arranged offset from each other in the circumferential direction.
JP 10-071 694 discloses printing group cylinders with four grooves arranged next to each other and offset in the circumferential direction in respect to each other. The printing group cylinders have a so-called double circumference.
An arrangement for a joint-free printing press is known from CH 345 906. The joints of four dressings which are arranged next to each other on transfer cylinders of double circumference, and the joints of four dressings which are arranged next to each other on a forme cylinder, are arranged offset from each other.
A double printing group is known from DE 198 15 294 A1, wherein the rotating shafts of the printing group cylinders are arranged on one level. The cylinders have four times the width of a newspaper page, double width and a circumference of one height of a newspaper page. The transfer cylinders have endless sleeves, which can be laterally exchanged through openings in the lateral wall.
Printing group cylinders of single circumference are known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,073, which have an oscillation damper. In the case of wider printing presses, the forme cylinder has a double circumference and two printing plates arranged one behind the other. The grooves, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction next to each other and which receive the printing plates, are additionally offset in respect to each other in the circumferential direction.
A double printing group is known from DE 44 15 711 A1. For the purpose of improving the print quality, a plane which extends perpendicularly to the paper web is inclined by approximately 0° to 10° in relation to a plane connecting the two rotating shafts of the transfer cylinders.
JP 57-131 561 discloses a double printing group wherein the shafts of the printing group cylinders are arranged in one plane. The phases of the printing group cylinders are arranged with each other in such a way that grooves for fastening the dressings roll off on each other, and simultaneously on the two printing groups which are working together.
A double printing group is also disclosed in DE 34 12 812 C1. The cylinder shafts are arranged in a common plane, which extends inclined in relation to the web to be imprinted. The placement of the transfer cylinders against, or away from other cylinders takes place along an almost straight movement direction by the use of double eccentric cams.
EP 0 862 999 A2 discloses a double printing group with two transfer cylinders which are working together and which are seated in eccentric, or double eccentric bushings, for the purpose of being placed against or away from other cylinders. In another embodiment, the two transfer cylinders are seated on levers, which are seated eccentrically in respect to the forme cylinder shaft and are pivotable.
A double printing group, in which the shafts of the printing group cylinders are arranged in one plane, is known from EP 1 075 945 A1. Several printing group cylinders are seated in carriages and are embodied so that their distance from each other can be changed by the use of guide elements arranged in a support wall for the purpose of being placed against or away from other cylinders.
Printing group cylinders are known from DE 199 37 796 A1, which can be moved along a linear actuation path in order to place them against or away from each other. A drive motor, which is moved simultaneously with the cylinder, is assigned to each cylinder. Movement takes place in a direction extending parallel in respect to a common plane of the printing group cylinders.
For the purpose of the transfer cylinders in U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,071 being placed against or away from other cylinders, these transfer cylinders are seated in carriages.
These carriages are linearly displaceable in the lateral frame along parallel movement directions in linear guide elements having linear bearings.

Printing group including cylinders supported for movement


A system and method for quickly improving the accuracy of a speech recognition program. The system is based on a speech recognition program that automatically converts a pre-recorded audio file into a written text. The system parses the written text into segments, each of which is corrected by the system and saved in an individually retrievable manner in association with the computer. The standard speech files are saved towards improving accuracy in speech-to-text conversion by the speech recognition program. The system further includes facilities to repetitively establish an independent instance of the written text from the prerecorded audio file using the speech recognition program. This independent instance can then be broken into segments and each segment in said independent instance replaced with an individually retrievable saved corrected segment associated with that segment. In this manner, repetitive instruction of a speech recognition program can be facilitated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to computer speech recognition systems and, in particular, to a system and method for expediting the aural training of an automated speech recognition program.
2. Background Art
Speech recognition programs are well known in the art. While these programs are ultimately useful in automatically converting speech into text, many users are dissuaded from using these programs because they require each user to spend a significant amount of time training the system. Usually this training begins by having each user read a series of pre-selected materials for approximately 20 minutes. Then, as the user continues to use the program, as words are improperly transcribed the user is expected to stop and train the program as to the intended word thus advancing the ultimate accuracy of the acoustic model. Unfortunately, most professionals (doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers) and business executive are unwilling to spend the time developing the necessary acoustic model to truly benefit from the automated transcription.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system that offers expedited training of speech recognition programs. It is an associated object to provide a simplified means for providing verbatim text files for training the aural parameters (i.e. speech files, acoustic model and/or language model) of a speech recognition portion of the system. These and other objects will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the present drawings, specification and claims before them.
The present invention relates to a system for improving the accuracy of a speech recognition program. The system includes means for automatically converting a pre-recorded audio file into a written text. Means for parsing the written text into segments and for correcting each and every segment of the; written text. In a preferred embodiment, a human speech trainer is presented with the text and associated audio for each and every segment. Whether the human speech trainer ultimately modifies a segment or not, each segment (after an opportunity for correction, if necessary) is stored in an individually retrievable manner in association with the computer. The system further includes means for saving speech files associated with a substantially corrected written text and used by the speech recognition program towards improving accuracy in speech-to-text conversion.
The system finally includes means for repetitively establishing an independent instance of the written text from the pre-recorded audio file using the speech recognition program and for replacing each segment in the independent instance of the written text with the individually retrievable saved corrected segment associated therewith.
In one embodiment, the correcting means further includes means for highlighting likely errors in the written text. In such an embodiment, where the written text is at least temporarily synchronized to said pre-recorded audio file, the highlighting means further includes means for sequentially comparing a copy of the written text with a second written text resulting in a sequential list of unmatched words culled from the written text and means for incrementally searching for the current unmatched word contemporaneously within a first buffer associated with the speech recognition program containing the written text and a second buffer associated with a sequential list of possible errors. Such element further includes means for correcting the current unmatched word in the second buffer. In one embodiment, the correcting means includes means for displaying the current unmatched word in a manner substantially visually isolated from other text in the written text and means for playing a portion of said synchronized voice dictation recording from said first buffer associated with said current unmatched word.
The invention further involves a method for improving the accuracy of a speech recognition program operating on a computer comprising: (a) automatically converting a prerecorded audio file into a written text; (b) parsing the written text into segments; (c) correcting each and every segment of the written text; (d) saving the corrected segment in an individually retrievable manner; (e) saving speech files associated with a substantially corrected written text and used by the speech recognition program towards improving accuracy in speech-to-text conversion by the speech recognition program; (f) establishing an independent instance of the written text from the pre-recorded audio file using the speech recognition program; (g) replacing each segment in the independent instance of the written text with the individually retrievable saved corrected segment associated therewith; (h) saving speech files associated with the independent instance of the written text used by the speech recognition program towards improving accuracy in speech-to-text conversion by the speech recognition program; and (i) repeating steps (f) through (i) a predetermined number of times.

System and method for improving the accuracy of a speech recognition program through repetitive training


A fluid regulating microvalve assembly for use to control fluid flow to a fluid consuming electrode, such as an oxygen reduction electrode, in an electrochemical cell is proposed. The microvalve assembly includes a stationary valve body having an aperture and microactuators movable from a first closed aperture position to at least a second position where fluid is able to pass through the microvalve body aperture. These microactuators control the movement of spring-like shape-retaining interior aperture covers, which covers can be belleville springs or flat springs. The fluid regulating microvalve assembly can utilize cell potential or a separate source. The latter assembly can be located outside or inside the cell housing, for example between a fluid inlet aperture and the fluid consuming electrode. Using a printing process to deposit at least one of the layers is proposed for making the multilayer microvalve assembly for a fluid depolarized battery.

Electrochemical battery cells that use a fluid, such as oxygen or other gas(es), from outside the cell as an active material to produce electrical energy, such as air-depolarized, air-assisted and fuel cell battery cells, can be used to power a variety of electronic devices. For example, air containing oxygen enters into an air-depolarized or air-assisted cell, where it can be used as, or can recharge, the positive electrode active material. The oxygen reduction electrode promotes the reaction of the oxygen with the cell electrolyte and, ultimately the oxidation of the negative electrode active material with the oxygen. The material in the oxygen reduction electrode that promotes the reaction of oxygen with the electrolyte is often referred to as a catalyst. However, some materials used in oxygen reduction electrodes are not true catalysts because they can be at least partially reduced, particularly during periods of relatively high rate discharge. They can also be recharged by an outside power source.
One type of air-depolarized cell is a zinc/air cell. This type of cell uses zinc as the negative electrode active material and has an aqueous alkaline (e.g., KOH) electrolyte. Manganese oxides that can be used in zinc/air cell air electrodes are capable of electrochemical reduction in concert with oxidation of the negative electrode active material, particularly when the rate of diffusion of oxygen into the air electrode is insufficient. These manganese oxides can then be reoxidized by the oxygen during periods of lower rate discharge or rest. Some of these manganese dioxides as well as the zinc negative electrode material can be recharged by power supplied from outside the zinc air or fuel cell.
Another type of air-depolarized cell is a lithium/air cell. This type of cell uses lithium as the negative electrode active material and has an aqueous or a organic liquid or solid electrolyte. Manganese oxides that can be used in lithium/air cell electrodes are capable of electrochemical reduction in concert with oxidation of the negative electrode active material, particularly when the rate of diffusion of oxygen into the air electrode is insufficient. These manganese oxides can then be reoxidized by the oxygen during periods of lower rate discharge or rest.
Air-assisted cells are hybrid cells that contain consumable positive and negative electrode active materials as well as an oxygen reduction electrode. The positive electrode can sustain a high discharge rate for a significant period of time, but through the oxygen reduction electrode, oxygen can only partially but significantly recharge the positive electrode during periods of lower or no discharge, so oxygen can be used for a substantial portion of the total cell discharge capacity. This means the amount of positive electrode active material put into the cell can be reduced and the amount of negative electrode active material can be increased to increase the total cell capacity in the standard volume for each size cell. Examples of air-assisted cells are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,674 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,106.
An advantage of air-depolarized, air-assisted and fuel cells is their high energy density, since at least a portion of the active material of at least one of the electrodes comes from or is regenerated by a fluid (e.g., a gas) from outside the cell. For zinc air cells another advantage is that they can be recharged for a number of cycles depending on previous discharge history and recharging voltage and current characteristics.
A disadvantage of these cells is that the maximum discharge rates they are capable of can be limited by the rate at which oxygen can enter the oxygen reduction electrode. In the past, efforts have been made to increase the rate of oxygen entry into the oxygen reduction electrode and/or control the rate of entry of undesirable gases, such as carbon dioxide, that can cause wasteful reactions. The cell performance can also depend on the rate of water entry or loss, which in turn depends on the relative water vapor partial pressures outside and inside the cell. The reaction products and increased water can fill void space in the cell intended to accommodate the increased volume of discharge reaction products or dry the cell out, respectively. Examples of these approaches can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,558,828; 6,492,046; 5,795,667; 5,733,676; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0150814; and International Patent Publication No. WO 02/35641. However, changing the diffusion rate of one of these gases generally affects the others as well.
At higher discharge rates, it is more important to get sufficient oxygen into the oxygen reduction electrode, but during periods of lower discharge rates and periods of time when the cell is not in use, the importance of minimizing CO2 and water diffusion increases. To provide an increase in air flow into the cell only during periods of high rate discharge, fans have been used to force air into cells (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,575), but fans and controls for them can add cost and complexity to manufacturing, and fans, even micro fans, can take up valuable volume within individual cells, multiple cell battery packs and devices. They also increase the continuous parasitic current required.
Another approach that has been proposed is to use microvalves to control the amount of air entering the cells (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,947 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0186099).
Yet another approach has been to use a water impermeable membrane between an oxygen reduction electrode and the outside environment having flaps that can open and close as a result of a differential in air pressure, e.g., resulting from a consumption of oxygen when the battery is discharging (e.g., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0049508).
Additional approaches utilizing microvalves to control the amount of gas entering a cell are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,304,431; 5,449,569; 5,541,016; and 5,837,394; incorporated herein by reference, wherein the microvalves are formed utilizing a silicon or semiconductor substrate and etching, deposition and micromachining processes.
Microactuators are further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,969,938; 5,069,419; 5,271,597; and publications such as "Fluister: semiconductor microactuator" described in Instruments and Apparatus News (IAN), October 1993, p. 47, and Electronic Design, Nov. 1, 1993, p. 3.

Fluid regulating microvalve assembly for fluid consuming cells with spring-like shape-retaining aperture cover


Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for effectively measuring cholesterol using a small amount of blood. The apparatus for measuring cholesterol includes a cartridge where an upper case having a sample transferring membrane is movably coupled to a lower case having a sample measuring membrane; a cartridge accommodation unit configured to accommodate the cartridge therein; a memory configured to store therein setting information for sample measurement; and a controller configured to align the membranes of the upper case and the lower case with each other, by horizontally moving the lower case of the cartridge, according to the stored setting information, and configured to contact the membranes of the upper case and the lower case with each other, by vertically moving the upper case for sample transfer on each alignment position.

1. Field of the Invention
This specification relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring cholesterol, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for effectively measuring cholesterol using a small amount of blood.
2. Background of the Invention
As a population structure is changed into an aging society recently, concerns for health are increased. In such a situation, equipment of health diagnosis is highly required, and the equipment has a high possibility to be presented on a new market.
Generally, a patient's medical examination is performed by analyzing the patient's body fluid, and then by measuring the amount or concentration of a material (index material) included in the body fluid, the material related to the patient's health state such as disease or pregnancy. The index material is measured by extracting the patient's body fluid, and by performing a bio-chemical reaction such as an antigen-antibody reaction with respect to the index material. In the past, since an experimental drug or equipment requiring professional knowledge is used, high costs and longer time are required. Further, a patient should go to hospital for diagnosis. This may cause many restrictions to the patient.
In order to overcome such disadvantages, a point-of-care test (POCT) is being spotlighted. The POCT means a test for diagnosing a patient within a short time by immediately extracting a body fluid of the patient and analyzing the body fluid, on the spot where the patient is positioned.
The POCT is being widely used owing to its various advantages that a patient can perform self diagnosis in a simple manner, additional costs and time can be reduced, etc. Among such bio-chemical POCT items, cholesterol (TG, TC, HDL, LDL), blood sugar (Glucose) and a liver function (AST, ALT), etc. are much used. A biosensor for measuring such items is configured to perform its function using electrochemistry and optics (LED, PD).
An apparatus for measuring cholesterol applying optics (biosensor) uses a color-development reaction. In case of applying the biosensor using a color-development reaction, a solution itself may be used as a medium for moving or measuring fluid, or membranes may be used.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an apparatus for measuring cholesterol in accordance with the conventional art.
As shown in FIG. 1, a user may insert a cartridge 20 into a cartridge accommodation unit (not shown) of an apparatus for measuring cholesterol 10, and then may inject blood into the cartridge 20 through a blood injection opening 12. Alternatively, the user may firstly injects blood into the cartridge 20, and then may insert the cartridge 20 into the cartridge accommodation unit.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a detailed structure of a cartridge inserted into the apparatus for measuring cholesterol.
As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional cartridge 20 includes an upper case 1 having a filtering membrane 1a and a spreading membrane 1b, and a lower case 3 having spreading membranes 3a and reaction membranes 3b. End portions of the upper case 1 and the lower case 3 are fixed to each other by an elastic member 2.
The filtering membrane 1a serves to transfer serum by filtering red blood cells (RBCs) from blood injected through the blood injection opening 12 of the apparatus. The spreading membrane 1b serves to spread the transferred serum. Especially, the spreading membrane 1b of the upper case 1 is a moving path of fluid, and a length thereof is the same as a distance between two membranes positioned at two ends of the lower case 3.
FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a cholesterol measuring operation using an apparatus for measuring cholesterol in accordance with the conventional art.
As shown in FIG. 3, if the cartridge 20 is inserted into the cartridge accommodation unit (not shown) of the apparatus for measuring cholesterol 10 and then blood is put to the cartridge 20 through the blood injection opening 12, serum of the blood, obtained after red blood cells (RBCs) are filtered by the filtering membrane 1a, is transferred to the spreading membrane 1b. Then, if the cartridge 20 is vertically moved by a driving means, the spreading membrane 1b of the upper case contacts the three spreading membranes 3a. As a result, the serum is transferred to three reaction membranes 3b from the spreading membrane 1b, through the three spreading membranes 3a. Then, the cartridge 20 is moved to the original position by the driving means. Then, light is projected onto the reaction membranes 3b by an optical unit (LED, PD), thereby checking a color-development reaction of the reaction membranes 3b. As a result, three types of cholesterol items (TC, TG, HDL) are simultaneously measured. The measured cholesterol level is displayed on a display unit.
In case of simultaneously measuring three types of cholesterol items (TC, TG, HDL) in the conventional apparatus for measuring cholesterol, in order to transfer serum obtained after red blood cells (RBCs) are filtered from blood, to the reaction membranes 3b, a moving path of liquid (serum), i.e., the spreading membrane 1b should be provided.
However, if the moving path of liquid is implemented as the spreading membrane 1b, a dead volume, a phenomenon that the spreading membrane 1b includes a large amount of fluid by absorption and spread of the fluid while the fluid flows, is generated.
As a result, a minimized amount of fluid for measuring cholesterol is not uniformly transferred to the reaction membranes 3b, or a small amount of fluid is transferred to the reaction membranes 3b, resulting in inaccurate measurement result values. Further, a larger amount of fluid (blood) should be used for a more precise measurement result values.
In the conventional apparatus for measuring cholesterol, blood reactions and processes according to each step are not separated from each other, but cholesterol items are measured through consecutive reactions. This may degrade process efficiency due to remaining fluid, fluid loss, interference between processes, etc. Especially, when a consecutive reaction processor is consecutively used, efficiency and performance according to each reaction step cannot be monitored. This may cause a failure rate of the entire system to be increased, and may cause a difficulty in actively controlling each step for enhanced efficiency according to each reaction step.
Further, in most of point of care test (POCT) equipment such as the conventional apparatus for measuring cholesterol, blood is taken by an additional subsidiary device for blood collection. Then, the collected blood is injected into a cartridge. Using such two steps may cause a user's inconvenience.

Apparatus and method for measuring cholesterol


A device for unlocking a door lock associated with a door handle mounted in order to slide in an aperture in the door between an inoperative position wherein the handle is flush with the door and an operative position wherein the handle projects from the door includes a cylinder supported by a holder directly or indirectly attached to the door. The cylinder is connected to an element for unlocking the lock via a part for moving the lock unlocking element, and the cylinder is mounted in the part in order to extend towards the handle at an angle to a direction normal to the door. In one form, the angle is sufficient to allow the cylinder to be introduced into the housing when the handle is in the operative position.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
It is known that when a motor vehicle is equipped with a door latch associated with a flush door handle, in particular a handle mounted so as to slide in an aperture of the door between a rest position in which the handle is flush with the door and a working position in which the handle is protruding relative to the door, there is generally provided a motorization ensuring the passage from the rest position to the working position after identification of the person trying to open the door.
When the motorization fails, regardless of the reason, one should be able to open the door manually. To this end, there is generally provided a key mechanism that opens on the door wall. However, this mechanism being only rarely or even never used, there is a risk of fouling preventing the manual opening of the door. In order to prevent this risk, the end of the cylinder is covered with a sliding flap or a small cover, but this only shifts the issue, the sliding flap or the small cover being subjected to bad weather.


The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and associated methods for generating energy by capturing and taking benefit of the energy generated by any quantity of air surfacing inside water. The apparatus includes a frame structure to which is rotatably mounted an upper drive wheel, a lower wheel, and a vertical fluid column container. An endless chain of gas capsule elements is mounted on the upper and lower wheels. This endless chain passes vertically up into and through the fluid column container through a seal port in the bottom of the container. As the endless chain of gas capsule elements passes vertically through the fluid in the container, fluid pressure on the elements due to the height of the column of fluid in the container produces a net buoyant force upward on the elements, causing them to rise, generating kinetic energy that turns the wheels.

1. Field
The present disclosure is related to the generation of electrical energy, and more particularly the conversion of kinetic energy in rising air bubbles through water into usable electrical energy.
2. General Background
Energy costs and concerns have highlighted the need for alternative and renewable energy sources. Recent research into different methods of producing energy involving the traditional uses of wind, water, and solar energy has been widespread, This reflects the major threats of climate change due to pollution, exhaustion of fossil fuels, and the environmental, social and political risks of fossil fuels.
One potential source of renewable energy is the kinetic energy created by rising air in water. Air rises in water because it is less dense than water, meaning that a given volume of air weighs less than the same volume of water. Water is nearly 1,000 times denser than air. Any object or substance that weighs less than the amount of fluid it displaces will float on that fluid.
Buoyancy is the upward force on an object produced by the surrounding fluid (i.e., a liquid or a gas) in which it is fully or partially immersed, due to the pressure difference of the fluid between the top and bottom of the object. The net upward buoyancy force is equal to the magnitude of the weight of fluid displaced by the body. This net force enables the object to float or at least to seem lighter.
Buoyancy provides an upward force on the object. The magnitude of this force is equal to the weight of the displaced fluid. The buoyancy of an object depends, therefore, only upon two factors: the object's volume, and the density of the surrounding fluid. The greater the object's volume and surrounding density of the fluid, the more buoyant force it will experience. If the buoyancy of an unrestrained and unpowered object exceeds its weight, it will tend to rise. An object whose weight exceeds its buoyancy will tend to sink. This buoyant force on air bubbles in water causes the air bubbles to rise to the surface.

Vertical fluid container with endless chain


A vehicle locating apparatus includes a first housing that is translucent and has an enclosed interior having an aperture therein for receiving a coupler that is adapted for removably attaching the first housing to a vehicle antenna. A light emitter assembly is mounted on the coupler and extends into the first housing. A first control is electrically coupled to the light emitter for selectively turning the light emitter on or off. A second housing is removably attachable to the vehicle. A sound emitter assembly is mounted in the second housing. A second control is electrically coupled to the sound emitter for selectively turning the sound emitter on or off. An actuator is adapted for selectively sending a remote signal to the first control or the second control so that a respective one of the light and sound emitters is turned on.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vehicle locating devices and more particularly pertains to a new vehicle locating device for aiding a person in the location of their vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of vehicle locating devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,701 describes a device that is attachable to an antenna and emits a flashing light when turned on to aid a person in finding their vehicle. Another type of vehicle locating device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,091 that also includes a device that is attachable to an antenna for providing an illuminated guide for locating a vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,368 is a similar device that is attachable to a vehicle and provides a light source when turned on for locating a vehicle.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that includes separate sound and light emitters for allowing a person to selectively elect which device to use. Each device preferably includes its own power supply to reduce the risk of overall power failure. The sound emitter allows for a person to located their vehicle in areas, such as a parking garage, where a light emitter may not be easily seen, whereas the light emitter may be used in areas of high ambient noise.


Electronic device (1) for charging and discharging a capacitor (10) from and to a power source (30). The electronic device is connectable to the capacitor and to the power source, and includes a first circuit (SI, D, R1, LI) for charging the capacitor and at least one second circuit (S2, D, R2, L2) for discharging the capacitor. The capacitor is connected to the first circuit in a charge line (31) and is connected to the second circuit in a discharge line (32). Both the charge line and discharge line are connectable to the power source. The first circuit is arranged as a first buck converter circuit and the at least one second circuit is arranged as a second buck converter circuit.

Harvesting energy from a electromechanical energy conversion system energy converter using Dielectric Elastomer (DE), as sort of Electro Active Polymer (EAP), requests for special way of charging and discharging the DE. Such an electromechanical energy conversion system using an EAP based device is for example disclosed in WO2010/146457, embodied as a wave energy converter.
Such an EAP based device can be considered as a variable capacitor of which the capacitance changes as a function of the amount of deformation exerted on a layer of EAP material.
As so far, some types of converters are built and tested. Usually they are boost step-up (for charging) and buck step-down (for discharging) converters. Because of electrical and conversion losses that occur special attention is paid to current shape during charging and discharging.
For discharging of the variable capacitor of the EAP based device at the moment it is contracted, buck (generally step-down) converters are used. A main reason is that the power sink/source, for example a battery, has lower voltage than the variable capacitor in the contracted state of the EAP based device.
A way of choosing a right topology for buck conversion in discharging function comes from different conditions. It is desirable to have buck conversion with low voltage switches, easy control of current, small inductor, low switching frequency, small losses and, of course, to keep the topology simple as much as possible in terms of hardware structure and control.
From the aspect of energy harvesting it is important to keep losses relatively small. Conversion losses will be minimal if an optimal way of charging and discharging is used, and this includes control of the current shape during charging and discharging of the variable capacitor of the EAP based device. Electrical losses will occur if there is a lot of current ripple, but avoiding this means that converter should work in CCM (Continuous Conduction Mode) and then switching losses will be increased because a higher switching frequency must be achieved. New SiC semiconductors, for example, have lower switching losses, so they seems to be reasonable choice for use in step-up converters and step-down converters.
Additionally, high current amplitudes are expected to produce higher electric losses due to the high series resistance of the EAP material. On the other hand, allowing only relatively low current amplitudes adversely affect the conversion efficiency by increase of the charging time of the EAP based device before a maximum electric field in the EAP based device is reached, which leads to higher conversion losses.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a charging/discharging circuit for an electromechanical energy conversion system and an electromechanical energy conversion system that overcomes the disadvantages from the prior art.

Charging/discharging circuit for electro active polymer based variable capacitor


An extensible binary mark-up language is disclosed that is compatible with existing XML standards yet provides significantly improved efficiencies for XML-based data storage and communications, particularly for narrow and low bandwidth communication media. A corresponding extensible non-binary mark-up language is also disclosed that is compatible with the XML standard. This dual-representation common message format (CMF) allows standard XML tools to be utilized in viewing and editing XML-based data and allows a CMF parser to be utilized to convert the XML formatted information into an extensible binary representation for actual communication through a medium or storage on a wide range of media. Advantages include a very compact, yet flexible and extensible binary data representation (CMF-B) for a corresponding extensible mark-up language (CMF-X), a data packaging scheme that allows for the effective transport of XML-based data over existing data channels, including narrow-bandwidth channels that utilize existing network protocols, and a CMF parser that allows for seamless conversion between CMF-B and CMF-X.

Transmitted information for current computer systems is often formatted using the extensible mark-up language (XML) standard. The XML standard provides a powerful and efficient language through which to communicate a wide range of data and information in a standard format that can be recognized across a wide variety of different computing platforms. As such, XML provides a flexible and common framework for improving compatibility of data transfer between systems. One significant disadvantage to XML, however, is that the XML standard was not designed for communication efficiency, which is needed in certain environments such as narrow or limited bandwidth channels. The relative inefficiency of communicating XML-formatted data, therefore, causes problems with devices such as cell phones, dial-up modems, and other low or narrow bandwidth systems.
FIG. 1 (prior art) provides a block for a prior art system in which XML formatted data is communicated through a network. Block 104 represents an XML formatted document, data or information that is to be communicated by one system to another through a network 102 and reconstructed or received as XML formatted document, data or information, as represented by block 106. The network 102 can be made up of any of a wide variety of communications systems and devices, both wired and wireless, that ultimately provide communication connectivity between two systems. As shown in FIG. 1, the defined technique for communicating this XML formatted document 104 is to represent the text as ASCII or Unicode data words, to transmit this ASCII or Unicode data from a first system through the network as represented by line 108, and to receive this ASCII or Unicode data from the network by a second system as represented by line 110.
The ASCII and Unicode standards are two well-known textual coding schemes for representing text characters as sets of binary bits. The ASCII standard provides an 8-bit data byte that represents a character set of 256 commonly used characters, including the alpha-numeric and punctuation symbols. The Unicode standard basically provides an extension of ASCII with similar encoding but additional 8-bit bytes representing additional characters for coverage of languages other than English to include Japanese, Chinese, and numerous other languages and lexicons. As with typical textual encoding schemes, ASCII and Unicode possess inherent inefficiencies in that they are limited in range and extension by their encoding scheme. For example, typical textual formats, such as ASCII, use fixed bit fields which are not easily extended. They are also extremely inefficient methods for the encoding of numbers in that each numerical digit as well as included decimal points each consume at least 8-bits. Additionally transmission systems typically use inflexible fixed bit messages or field groups. Changes to such formats are also time consuming and costly in terms of labor, shipping and installation. In addition, in fixed bit message or field grouping constructs many dependencies often exist between fields (e.g., separate accuracy, multiplier, unit, and overlay field indicators). To reduce bandwidth requirements to transmit typical binary encoded data, data is often manipulated in scale, units, etc. to reduce the total fixed bits for the transmission. The disadvantage is that this reduction in fixed bits typically results in loss of accuracy from the measurement initially generated by the producing device.
Previous efforts have existed to provide a binary XML content format. One such effort is called Wireless Application Protocol Binary XML (WBXML). This WBXML specification defines a compact binary representation of XML. This binary XML content format is designed to reduce the transmission size of XML documents, allowing more effective use of XML data on narrowband communication channels. The binary format is also designed to allow for compact transmission with no loss of functionality or semantic information. The format is designed to preserve the element structure of XML, allowing a browser to skip unknown elements or attributes. The binary format encodes the parsed physical form of an XML document, i.e., the structure and content of the document entities. Meta-information, including the document type definition and conditional sections, is removed when the document is converted to the binary format. Unfortunately, the WBXML content format does not adequately define a binary XML solution that achieves needed user and operational requirements. For example, the WBXML structure utilizes a number of less efficient or less extensible encoding approaches such as inclusion of null bytes to indicate the end of string values; inclusion of a string table in the binary transmission instance; and use of fixed tokenization with code spaces, code pages, and end tokens to replicate the textual structure of XML into the WBXML binary representation.
One other approach attempted to generate binary formatting through the tokenization of tags and attribute names, as described in published U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0046317A1, which is entitled "Method and System for Providing an XML Binary Format." The encoding approach described in this published application concentrates on the minimization of processing time and thus also utilizes a number of less space efficient or less extensible encoding methods and structures. Such undesirable methods and structures include a requirement for a pre-defined fixed set of tokens, inclusion of a length value to indicate the number of characters in all strings, and inclusion of END tokens.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Extensible binary mark-up language for efficient XML-based data communications and related systems and methods

L-3 Communicatins Integrated Systems L.P.


A micro optical switching device is provided, including a substrate, a first electrode disposed on a first surface of the substrate and including a first opening array including having a first plurality of openings, a second electrode disposed over the first electrode and including a second opening array including a plurality of second openings which do not overlap with the plurality of first openings, and a support member disposed on the substrate. The support member has a thickness greater than a distance from the first surface of the substrate to the second electrode and protrudes above the second electrode.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a micro optical switching device, an image display apparatus including the micro optical switching device, and a method of manufacturing the micro optical switching device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display apparatuses have advanced from conventional cathode ray tubes (CRTs) to flat panel display apparatuses such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), etc. A CRT display apparatus displays an image when electron beams collide with a fluorescent substance. As the size of a CRT display apparatus increases, a width of the CRT display apparatus increases as well and thus it is difficult to make a large display apparatus. To address this issue, a variety of flat panel display apparatuses have been developed.
In terms of an amount of power consumption of a flat panel display apparatus, although the size of display panels have continuously increased, the optical efficiency of display panels is very low. In particular, as the size of a pixel decreases, optical efficiency sharply decreases. Thus, there is a demand for the development of a micro optical switching device for a display apparatus that may improve optical efficiency with a simple process.

Micro optical switching device, image display apparatus including micro optical switching device, and method of manufacturing micro optical switching device


An electronic device may include a host device and a storage device which are connected in a universal flash storage standard, wherein the host device may include processing circuitry configured to process a submission queue (SQ) and a completion queue (CQ), wherein the SQ is a processing standby line of a command, and the CQ is a processing standby line of a response received from the storage device, transmit the command to the storage device, store a host command credit in a host command register, the host command credit indicating an estimated command accommodation limit of the storage device, store the response in a response slot, and store a host response credit in a host command register, the host command credit indicating a limit of the response slot.

The inventive concepts relate to an electronic device using a credit, and more particularly, to an electronic device using a credit, and an operation method of a host device and a storage device that interface with each other by using a credit.
A non-volatile memory may retain stored data even when power is turned off. Recently, storage devices including flash-based non-volatile memories such as an embedded multi-media card (eMMC), a universal flash storage (UFS), a solid-state drive (SSD), a memory card, or the like, have been widely used, and the storage devices are usefully used to store or move a large amount of data.
A data processing system including a storage device may be referred to as a storage system, and the storage system may include a host device and a storage device. The host device may be connected to the storage device through various interface standards, and data processing performance may be improved by reducing, during interface operations, overheads of data processing operations such as writing and reading, or the like.

Operating method of host device and storage device using credit


An air spring and a linear guide are used to boost the effectiveness of a leaf spring suspension system for a motor vehicle. The air spring mounts between the axle and the vehicle frame. The aft end of the leaf spring mounts to the linear guide to allow the leaf spring to move vertically as well as front and back while restricting side-to-side movement. The air spring and linear guide can be added during vehicle assembly or afterward from an aftermarket kit of parts.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the addition of a supplemental air spring and linear guide to a leaf spring suspension system for vehicles and a kit of parts for adapting vehicles after assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vehicles such as light trucks or sport utility vehicles generally have relatively large suspension travel for use over rough and unimproved surfaces. While such vehicles have found favor among the general public for recreational purposes, they are also widely used by construction firms, the military, and other users as well.
The two most important considerations in the suspension action of such vehicles are total travel or the amount of movement from full compression ("bump") to full extension ("droop"), and articulation. This total travel is the difference in travel extremes between diagonally opposite wheels or wheel assemblies at diagonally opposite corners of the vehicle. These characteristics are of critical importance in extreme conditions, as obviously a wheel and tire which is not in contact with the underlying surface, is incapable of providing any tractive force (acceleration, braking, and/or steering) to propel and control the vehicle.
As a result, manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers alike have attempted to develop various solutions for these travel and articulation problems. As suspension travel increases in any given vehicle, the problem of providing sufficient articulation becomes more critical. Greater suspension travel results in greater angularity in drive lines and axles relative to one another and to the vehicle frame, creating an even greater problem in avoiding binding somewhere in the system.
This is particularly true in vehicles with solid axle systems, where the suspension elements (springs and shock absorbers) are connected between an axle which extends across the vehicle and the vehicle chassis or frame. A large number of vehicles (particularly older vehicles) have solid axles (perhaps front and back) suspended by leaf springs, as this system has proven to be extremely durable and reliable.
While leaf spring suspensions have a long history of use, leaf spring suspensions are a static or fixed suspension system. Leaf springs are elongated members used as a flexible beam to support the weight of a motor vehicle. In the suspension system of a vehicle, leaf springs provide a simple, cost-effective, and easy to design suspension system. The leaf spring suspension system can provide support without assistance from other structural components acting in parallel to them. Leaf springs provide full support for the suspended structure in vertical directions and can also provide full support for the suspended structure in lateral and longitudinal directions.
The use of only leaf springs in a vehicle's suspension system to support the weight of the suspended structure, however, has disadvantages as compared to the use of other types of springs. Leaf spring assemblies are conventionally formed of a series of separate springs of different lengths, laminated together by a corresponding series of shackles or the like. As the aft ends of the spring are secured to the vehicle by lateral pivot bolts or pins, the aft ends maintain the angular orientation of the vehicle about their lateral pivot axes, while the center of the spring, which is bolted to the axle, is twisted to align with the lateral angle of the axle. This twisting alignment twists the spring assembly, with resulting binding and resistance to spring travel and movement. The twisting alignment also places severe shear forces at the ends of the spring-to-chassis attachment bolts, leading to their early failure. Leaf springs also weigh more than other types of springs with equivalent weight carrying capabilities. Many factors, such as weight carrying requirements, limitations in the length of leaf springs due to space constraints and fatigue strength of the leaf springs, often require that leaf springs have greater spring rates than is necessary for other types of springs. The greater spring rates can result in a harsher ride for the occupants and cargo of the vehicle and reduced life of the suspended structure.
Additionally, many known designs of suspension systems of vehicles include leaf-spring packs with multiple leaf springs stacked upon one another to provide the load carrying ability. One disadvantage of the use of leaf-spring packs is that friction between a leaf spring and the leaf springs positioned above and below causes hysteresis in the reaction of the leaf-spring pack to changing loads. This hysteresis has the same negative consequences for suspension systems as the negative consequences associated with increased spring rates.
Therefore, there is a need for a suspension system that increases spring rates of a leaf spring suspension system while avoiding the harsher ride and reduced life of the suspended structure. There is also a need for an adjustable suspension system that incorporates the advantages of the leaf spring system but is readily adjustable, such as for use with different weights and types of cargo or for hauling a heavy trailer. A further need is an aftermarket kit that can be added to motor vehicles with existing leaf spring suspension systems to increase the effectiveness of the leaf spring suspension system.

Air assist adaptation for leaf spring suspension systems


This disclosure relates to an electric submersible pump assembly to measure a density of a fluid in a wellbore. The ESP assembly includes a density meter having a diffuser with an interior volume defined by an inner surface, a rotatable rotor arranged in the interior volume, a measurement channel, and a sensor sub-assembly configured to measure pressures in the measurement channel. The rotor includes a rotor channel defined by a first face of a partition of the rotor and an interior wall of the rotor, extends from an inlet to an outlet. The inlet is arranged at a first radial distance from an axis and the outlet is arranged at a second radial distance from the axis, greater than the first radial distance. The measurement channel, defined by the inner surface of the diffuser and a second face of the partition, extends from the outlet to the inlet.

In hydrocarbon production, a producing well can produce both hydrocarbons and water. Knowing the ratio of water to hydrocarbons is important for determining a quantity of hydrocarbons a well produces, as well as running flow assurance calculations. Two types of measurement tools used to determine a downhole water content of a production flow are based on technology found in a gamma ray densitometer and a gradiomanometer. The gamma ray tool is based on the principle that the absorbance of gamma rays is inversely proportional to the density of the medium through which the gamma rays pass. Such a tool include a gamma ray source, a channel through which the fluid medium can flow through, and a gamma ray detector. The gradiomanometer is a device used to determine average fluid density by measuring the pressure difference between two pressure sensors. The pressure sensors are typically spaced (axially) about 0.6 m (2 feet) from each other.
In some instances, an electric submersible pump can be installed within a completed well to increase production rates.

Wellbore density meter using a rotor and diffuser


A bi-directional amplifier system comprises a 2xc3x972 interleaved channel separator optically coupled to both a first and a second bi-directional fiber optic communications line and an optical amplifier optically coupled to the 2xc3x972 interleaved channel separator. A method of bi-directional optical amplification comprises the steps of: (a) inputting a first plurality of optical channels from a first optical communications line to and a second plurality of optical channels from a second optical communications line to first port and a second port, respectively, of a 2xc3x972 interleaved channel separator; (b) outputting the first plurality and the second plurality of optical channels from a third port of the interleaved channel separator to the input of an optical amplifier; (c) outputting the first plurality and the second plurality of optical channels from the output of the optical amplifier to a fourth port of the interleaved channel separator; and (d) outputting the first plurality of optical channels to the second fiber optic communications line and the second plurality of optical channels to the first fiber optic communication s line from the interleaved channel separator.

The present invention relates to optical amplifiers within wavelength division multiplexed optical communications systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical amplifier system and a method for optical amplification within a wavelength division multiplexed optical communications system wherein a first plurality of optical signal channels propagate in a first direction and a second plurality of optical signal channels that are interleaved with the first plurality propagate in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
Fiber optic communication systems are becoming increasingly popular for data transmission due to their high speed and high data capacity capabilities. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is used in such fiber optic communication systems to transfer a relatively large amount of data at a high speed. In wavelength division multiplexing, multiple information-carrying signals, each signal comprising light of a specific restricted wavelength range, may be transmitted along the same optical fiber.
In this document, the individual information-carrying lights of a WDM system are referred to as either xe2x80x9csignalsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cchannels.xe2x80x9d The totality of multiple combined signals in a wavelength-division multiplexed optical fiber, optical line or optical system, wherein each signal is of a different wavelength range, is herein referred to as either a xe2x80x9ccomposite optical signalxe2x80x9d or simply as a xe2x80x9cplurality of optical channelsxe2x80x9d. Each information-carrying channel actually comprises light of a certain range of physical wavelengths within a band. However, for simplicity, an individual channel is often referenced to a single wavelength, xcex, at the nominal center of the band. A plurality of such channels (i.e., a composite optical signal) are often denoted by a set of indexed wavelengths, such as xe2x80x9cxcex1-xcexnxe2x80x9d, or xe2x80x9cxcex1, xcex2, xcex3, . . . xe2x80x9d, etc.
Strictly speaking, a multiplexer is an apparatus which combines separate channels into a single wavelength division multiplexed composite optical signal and a de-multiplexer is an apparatus that separates a composite optical signal into one or more subsets of component channels. However, since many multiplexers and de-multiplexers ordinarily operate in either sense, the single term xe2x80x9cmultiplexerxe2x80x9d is usually utilized to described either type of apparatus. Because of the nature of the present invention, however, the precise usage of the terms multiplexer and de-multiplexer is adhered to in this documentxe2x80x94that is, as used in this document, a xe2x80x9cmultiplexerxe2x80x9d (MUX) combines channels but does not operate in the reverse sense so as to separate channels and a xe2x80x9cde-multiplexerxe2x80x9d (DEMUX) separates channels but does not operate in the reverse sense so as to combine channels. An apparatus which can perform either channel separation or channel combining is referred to in this document as a xe2x80x9cchannel separatorxe2x80x9d.
As the terms are used in this document, either a multiplexer or a channel separator may perform an interleaving function and either a de-multiplexer or a channel separator may perform a de-interleaving operation. An interleaving operation occurs when a first composite optical signal comprising a first plurality of optical channels is multiplexed together with a second composite optical signal comprising a second plurality of optical channels, wherein the first plurality of channels and the second plurality of channels are interleaved with one another. It is to be understood that the above stipulation that xe2x80x9cthe first plurality of channels and the second plurality of channels are interleaved with one anotherxe2x80x9d means that the wavelengths (or frequencies) of the first plurality of optical channels are interleaved with the wavelengths (or frequencies) of the second plurality of optical channels. A de-interleaving operation is the opposite of an interleaving operation. Multiplexers, de-multiplexers and channel separators that perform interleaving or de-interleaving operations are herein referred to as interleaved channel multiplexers, interleaved channel de-multiplexers and interleaved channel separators.
An apparatus that performs a de-multiplexing operation is referred to herein as an xe2x80x9cmxc3x97n de-multiplexerxe2x80x9d where m is an integer representing the number of input ports, n is an integer representing the number of output ports and nxe2x89xa7m. An apparatus that performs a multiplexing operation is referred to herein as an xe2x80x9cjxc3x97k multiplexerxe2x80x9d where j is an integer representing the number of input ports, k is an integer representing the number of output ports and jxe2x89xa7k. Channel separator apparatuses are referred to herein as an xe2x80x9cixc3x97j channel separatorxe2x80x9d apparatuses where i is an integer representing the number of a first logical or physical group of ports, and j is an integer representing the number of a second logical or physical group of ports, wherein optical signals may propagate between the first and second groups but not between one port and another within an individual group.
It is desirable, within many fiber optic wavelength division multiplexed optical communications systems, for optical signals to be transmitted bi-directionallyxe2x80x94that is, such that one or more first optical signals comprising a first wavelength or a first plurality of wavelengths are propagated in one direction whilst one or more second optical signals comprising either a second wavelength or a second plurality of wavelenghs are propagated in the opposite direction. Where optical signals propagate within a long transmission line, it is frequently necessary to amplify the bidirectional signals at intermediate points. Since the construction of most optical amplifiers only permits unidirectional optical transmission through the amplifier, it is thus necessary to interrupt the transmission path, route the two counter-propagating signals unidirectionally through the optical amplifier, and then return them to the transmission path to continue in their original, opposite directions of propagation. The temporary conversion of the counter-propagating signals into a combined unidirectional signal through the optical amplifier enables a single amplifier to be used, thereby saving expense and avoiding differences of amplification.
A prior-art bi-directional amplifier apparatus of this type is illustrated in FIG. 1. The prior-art apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a series of wavelength-selective devices 10, 12, 14 and 16, each having four ports designated P1, P2, P3 and P4, respectively. Each device comprises two graded-index one quarter pitch lenses disposed end-to-end with an optical bandpass filter sandwiched between their juxtaposed ends. Reference numbers utilized in FIG. 1 have the suffix xe2x80x9cLxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cRxe2x80x9d to identify whether it is at the right hand side or the left hand side, as shown. Thus, the left hand lenses of devices 10, 12, 14 and 16 are designated 10L, 12L, 14L and 16L, respectively, and the right hand lenses are designated 10R, 12R, 14R and 16R, respectively. The lenses are arranged so that light beams from each first port P1 will be collimated by the left-hand lens to illuminate substantially the whole of the corresponding bandpass filter and refocussed by the right-hand lens to couple into the opposite port P4xe2x80x94and vice versa. Likewise, light beams from the second port P2 will be collimated as they pass through the filter and refocussed to couple into the opposite third port P3xe2x80x94and vice versa. Where the collimated light beams from one port are reflected by the filter, they will be refocussed by the same lens but couple to the adjacent port.
Whereas the lenses are identical, each of the bandpass filters, designated 10F, 12F, 14F and 16F, respectively, will transmit a different band of wavelengths. The passbands of the bandpass filters 10F, 12F, 14F and 16F are designated xcex92, xcex94, xcex96 and xcex9N, respectively. Each bandpass filter will pass light beams having a wavelength within its passband to couple to the opposite port and reflect light beams having a wavelength outside its passband so that they couple to the adjacent port. Light which passes through or is reflected from the optical band pass filter at the proper angle is refocused by the lens to a point sufficiently small to transfer the light from the lens couples into the fiber with minimum loss.
The first port P1 and the third port P3 of the first device 10 are connected to respective ends of first and second sections 18L and 18R of an optical fiber transmission line. The transmission line supports propagation of two groups of wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals, one in each direction. In the drawing, even-numbered optical signals, designated as xcex2 through xcexN, propagate from right to left in the transmission line and odd-numbered optical signals xcex1 through xcexM propagate from left to right. It should be noted that optical signal xcex2 will have a wavelength within the passband xcex2 of filter 10F, optical signal xcex4 will have a wavelength within the passband xcex4 of filter 12F, and so on. The four devices 10, 12, 14 and 16 are xe2x80x9cchainedxe2x80x9d in that the second and fourth ports P2 and P4 of each of the first three devices 10, 12 and 14 are connected to the first and third ports P1 and P3, respectively, of the succeeding device. The second port P2 and fourth port P4 of the final device 16, however, are connected to the input port IN and output port OUT, respectively, of a unidirectional optical amplifier or other signal treatment equipment 20. The interconnections 22 between the various ports of the components may be optical fiber or any other suitable means.
In operation, the chain of four port devices 10-16 extract the two groups of WDM signals from the respective optical fiber sections 18L and 18R, and convert them into a single unidirectional set of signals which is supplied to the input port IN of the amplifier 20. When the unidirectional set of signals leave the output port OUT of the amplifier 20, the chain of devices convert them back into the original two groups of WDM signals and return each group to the other of the optical fiber sections 18L and 18R to continue propagating along the transmission line in the original direction.
Although the prior-art apparatus shown in FIG. 1 appears to be capable of performing its intended function, it possesses several drawbacks as a result of the potentially large number of optical filters and other components which must be utilized. The number of filters required in the prior-art apparatus 100 (FIG. 1) is equivalent to the number of channels in the set of channelsxe2x80x94of the two counter-propagating setsxe2x80x94with the lesser number of channels. The potentially large number of filters utilized in the apparatus 100 leads to un-necessary complexity and bulk and to fabrication inefficiency and high fabrication cost. Since each optical signal interacts withxe2x80x94that is, passes through or is reflected fromxe2x80x94each filter twice in its passage through the apparatus 100, the insertion loss may be great if several filters are utilized. Further, each one of the plurality of filters 10F, 12F, 14F, etc. must be pre-selected for optical performance characteristics, since each filter operates independently of all the others. Finally, filters of the type comprising the apparatus 100 are generally not available for inter-channel spacings less than approximately 100 GHz. This precludes the use of the prior-art apparatus for utilization with optical communications systems comprising more densely spaced channels.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved bi-directional optical amplifier system. Such a system should have a minimal number of channel separation and re-combining stages so as to yield improved optical throughput, reduced size and less costly, more efficient fabrication than the conventional filter-based apparatus. Preferably, the improved apparatus should be capable of operating with inter-channel spacing of less than 100 GHz.
Accordingly, to address the above-described needs and drawbacks of the prior-art, an improved bi-directional optical amplifier system and a method for bi-directional optical amplification are herein disclosed. In a first embodiment, a bi-directional amplifier system in accordance with the present invention comprises a 2xc3x972 interleaved channel separator optically coupled to both a first and a second bi-directional fiber optic communications line and an optical amplifier optically coupled to the 2xc3x972 interleaved channel separator. A second embodiment of a bi-directional amplifier system in accordance with the present invention comprises a first and a second 1xc3x972 interleaved channel separator optically coupled to a first and a second bi-directional fiber optic communications line, respectively, an optically isolating 2xc3x971 interleaved channel multiplexer and an optically isolating 1xc3x972 interleaved channel de-multiplexer optically coupled to both of the 1xc3x972 interleaved channel separators and an optical amplifier optically coupled to both the optically isolating 2xc3x971 interleaved channel multiplexer and to the optically isolating 1xc3x972 interleaved channel de-multiplexer.
An interleaved channel separator suitable for use within a bi-directional amplifier system in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of ports, at least one of a first lens optically coupled to at least a first of the plurality of ports, at least one of a second lens optically coupled to at least a second of the plurality of ports, a polarization beam splitter optically coupled to the lenses and at least two nonlinear interferometers optically coupled to the polarization beam splitter. One form of an optically isolating interleaved multiplexer or de-multiplexer suitable for use within a bi-directional amplifier system in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of polarizing optical ports, a first and a second polarization beam splitter, a first non-reciprocal optical rotator and a first reciprocal optical rotator optically coupled between the first and the second polarization beam splitters, a second non-reciprocal optical rotator and a second reciprocal optical rotator optically coupled to the second polarization beam splitter, and a non-linear interferometer optically coupled to the second polarization beam splitter.
A method of bi-directional optical amplification of in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) inputting a first plurality of optical channels from a first optical communications line to a first port and inputting a second plurality of optical channels from a second optical communications line to a second port of a 2xc3x972 interleaved channel separator; (b) outputting the first plurality and the second plurality of optical channels from a third port of the 2xc3x972 interleaved channel separator to the input of an optical amplifier; (c) outputting the first plurality and the second plurality of optical channels from the output of the optical amplifier to a fourth port of the 2xc3x972 interleaved channel separator; and (d) outputting the first plurality of optical channels to the second fiber optic communications line from the second port of the 2xc3x972 interleaved channel separator and outputting the second plurality of optical channels from the first port of the 2xc3x972 interleaved channel separator to the first fiber optic communications line.


In some embodiments, a temperature measuring apparatus is provided with a light receiving portion having a plurality of light receiving units for measuring heat quantity of divided temperature detecting area in a noncontact manner, a thermal sensor for detecting temperature of each of the plurality of light receiving units, a calculation portion for calculating a temperature of each of the divided temperature detecting areas based on the temperature obtained by the thermal sensor and the relative temperature difference obtained by the light receiving portion, a correction information holding portion for holding correction information on known reference temperature of the temperature detecting area and its corresponding calculated result outputted from the calculation portion obtained when heat quantity of the temperature detecting area is set to the reference temperature, and a correction portion for correcting the calculated result of the calculation portion based on the correction information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature correction processing device for use in a temperature measuring apparatus for measuring temperatures of, for example, human beings or objects by detecting heat ray images of, e.g., far infrared rays irradiated from the human beings or objects. It also related to a temperature measuring apparatus equipped with the temperature correction processing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following description sets forth the inventor's knowledge of related art and problems therein and should not be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art.
As a temperature measuring apparatus, a two-dimensional thermopile array has been used for detecting temperatures of objects to be measured. The two-dimensional thermopile is constituted by a plurality of thermopiles combined lengthwise and crosswise so that the amount of thermal changes in a certain detecting area can be measured. The thermopile is made by combining a plurality of thermocouples to increase the output voltage. For example, conventionally, such a two-dimensional thermopile array has been installed on a ceiling plane of a microwave oven as a temperature measuring apparatus for measuring the temperature of an object to be heated in the microwave oven in a non-contact manner.
Concretely, as disclosed by Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-355853, in a microwave oven, a turn table is set as a temperature measuring area of a two-dimensional thermopile array so that the temperature distribution of an object placed on the turn table can be measured by the two-dimensional thermopile array.
The technique using the aforementioned two-dimensional thermopile array can also be applied to a means for detecting existence of a human body. For example, an illuminating lamp having a built-in two-dimensional thermopile array for detecting a human body has been proposed. A thermopile can also be used for detecting occurrence of fire or existence of human bodies based on the thermal change amount. Among other things, in recent years, a thermopile has been greatly expected to be used in fire alarms and/or security devices for detecting, e.g., human bodies (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-223282).
However, the aforementioned background technique had the following drawbacks. That is, the temperature information of an object disposed in the detecting area is obtained by adding the temperature of the thermopile itself to a relative temperature difference between the temperature of the detecting area and that of the thermopile. The temperature of the thermopile itself is detected by a thermistor as a thermal sensor, and the relative temperature difference is detected by the thermopile.
In manufacturing such thermopiles and thermistors, however, manufacturing dispersion may occur, resulting in different characteristics, which in turn may cause measuring errors. Even if thermopiles and thermistors have uniform accuracy, during the assembling steps, errors may occur, which also results in different characteristics. Thus, it was very difficult to obtain a temperature measuring apparatus having measurement accuracy falling within a predetermined range.
Furthermore, if a strict selection test is performed to secure uniform accuracy, a number of products will be deemed as defective products, resulting in an increased sales price. In other words, it was difficult to provide a temperature measuring apparatus with high accuracy at low cost.
The description herein of advantages and disadvantages of various features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed in other publications is in no way intended to limit the present invention. For example, certain features of the preferred embodiments of the invention may be capable of overcoming certain disadvantages and/or providing certain advantages, such as, e.g., disadvantages and/or advantages discussed herein, while retaining some or all of the features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed therein.

Temperature measuring apparatus, and temperature correction processing device


A power unit includes: a rotation plate 62 that is fixed to an end of a shift drum 50, includes a plurality of recessed portions 63, and rotates together with the shift drum 50; a shift lever 66 that engages with the rotation plate 62; a shift shaft 74 fixed to the shift lever 66; a support shaft 76 disposed substantially in parallel with the shift drum 50; a stopper lever 78 rotatably supported by the support shaft 76; and a stopper roller 88 that is provided in the stopper lever 78 and engages with the recessed portion 63 of the rotation plate 62. When viewed in an axial direction of the shift shaft 74, the stopper lever 78 is disposed to intersect a first line segment A that connects a center 74C of the shift shaft 74 and a center 62C of the rotation plate 62 to each other.

A "shift drum type" transmission is often conventionally used in a straddle-type vehicle, for example. A shift drum type transmission includes a plurality of first gears provided on a main shaft, and a plurality of second gears provided on a drive shaft. The first and second gears include movable gears that are movable axially. The shift drum type transmission further includes a shift fork that axially moves the movable gears, and a shift drum provided with a groove with which the shift fork engages. The shift drum is connected to a shift shaft via a gear change mechanism. Upon rotation of the shift shaft, the shift drum rotates. Upon rotation of the shift drum, the shift fork moves along the groove. With the movement of the shift fork, the movable gears move axially. As a result, a combination of the first and second gears, which intermesh with each other and to which a torque is transmitted, is changed, thus changing a transmission gear ratio between the main shaft and the drive shaft.
The gear change mechanism includes a shift lever fixed to the shift shaft, and a rotation plate fixed to an end of the shift drum. The shift lever is arranged to be engageable with the rotation plate. Upon rotation of the shift lever with the rotation of the shift shaft, the rotation plate receives a force from the shift lever and thus rotates. The shift drum rotates with the rotation of the rotation plate. As a result, a speed change is performed.
The gear change mechanism further includes a stopper lever that holds the rotation plate at a suitable position. The stopper lever is rotatably supported by a support shaft. The stopper lever is provided with a stopper roller. An outer peripheral surface of the rotation plate is provided with a plurality of recessed portions. The stopper roller engages with the recessed portion, thus restricting rotation of the rotation plate from the suitable position and holding the rotation plate at the suitable position.
In order to restrict the rotation of the rotation plate, the stopper roller has to be pressed against the recessed portion. As a member that applies a force to press the stopper roller against the recessed portion, JP 2004-116545 A discloses a torsion spring attached to a support shaft for a stopper lever. The torsion spring is wound around the support shaft. Therefore, the torsion spring does not largely protrude around the support shaft. A gear change mechanism including such a torsion spring is advantageous in that the gear change mechanism is easily reduced in size.


A tool holder assembly for connecting a tool to a spindle. The tool holder assembly defines a conical envelope for seating in a conical seat defined by the spindle and an annular clamping surface in surrounding relation to the conical envelope for seating against an annular clamping surface defined by the spindle. The conical envelope is resilient so as to allow simultaneous seating of the conical envelope in the conical seat of the spindle and seating of the clamping surface on the clamping seat of the spindle irrespective of the tolerances between the conical seat and the clamping seat. Several embodiments are disclosed for providing the resiliency to the conical envelope.

This invention relates to tool holders and more specifically to an improved arrangement for mounting a tool holder in a spindle.
Tool holders are typically secured to spindles by positioning a conical shank on the tool holder in a conical opening or seat defined by the spindle. The tool holders also typically include a flange or a collar defining an annular seat which confronts an annular seat on the spindle surrounding the conical seat in the spindle. Since it is practically impossible to make interchangeable conical shanks that allow a fit both on the conical seat of the spindle and against the annular seat defined on the spindle in surrounding relation to the conical seat, it has been standard practice to specify a guaranteed clearance between the annular collar face and the annular spindle face so that the attachment stiffness between the spindle and the tool holder depends solely on the conical interconnection.
Although it is possible to machine the tool holder and spindle with high precision to achieve interface at the conical interconnection as well as at the flat annular seat for a given spindle and tool holder, it is virtually impossible to maintain the tolerances between the various interfaces to a degree such that it would be possible to interchange tool holders and spindles and yet retain positive interface at both the conical seat interface and the annular seat interface. In the absence of face contact, the stiffness depends totally on the tapered or conical interface. When the tapered seat in the spindle begins to wear out, effectively increasing the taper angle, the stiffness of the connection is drastically diminished. Stiffness is also drastically reduced when the mouth of the spindle hole expands during high rpm operation. Various attempts have been made to provide compliance between the conical shank and the conical seat of the spindle so as to allow the tool holder to seat in the spindle with positive interface at the conical shank as well as at the annular seat. These prior art compliant designs have several disadvantages. Specifically, the compliant designs are much more complex and thus much more expensive; since the taper and the holding portion are connected with a fit and are not solid, accuracy is reduced; and each clamping event involves some relative motions between the parts, thus allowing wear gradually to develop leading to further deterioration in accuracy.


A passively cooled computer includes two or more components arranged in a housing frame 41, wherein each of these components is associated with a cooling body for dissipating waste heat of the component when the component is in operation. The cooling bodies each include a cooling surface, and these cooling surfaces are arranged to oppose one another with their cooling surfaces and thereby define an air channel leading vertically through the inside of the housing frame. The cooling bodies substantially separate the air channel from the remaining volume inside the housing frame.

The invention relates to electrical and electronic data processing devices, in particular to a passively cooled computer
Such a computer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,095,611. The housing cover and floor of this computer are shaped as cooling elements. Internally, the computer is separated in an upper, hot compartment, and a lower, cooler compartment. Components with a larger heat loss, for example the processor, are arranged in the upper compartment. However, the temperature of the cooling elements can become uncomfortable, and the power that can be dissipated is limited.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,120 shows a personal computer, in which one side of the housing is configured to be a cooling body cooling the processor. The other sides of the housing consist of perforated plates which allow for an air flow through the entire inner volume of the housing. The openings in the side walls allow for objects to fall in and damage the computer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,848 shows a laptop computer, in which components to be cooled are arranged behind the monitor and a gap in the monitor housing allows for the flow of air. The monitor housing comprises air entry openings at the bottom and exit openings at the top, allowing for heat to be transported away by convection.
US 2006/198112 A1 shows a computer with three sections. A middle section comprises a hard disc with cooling ribs attached to its top. In another section, a set of vertically arranged cooling ribs for cooling circuits is arranged. The cooling ribs form an internal channel, and corresponding holes may be arranged in the top and bottom. A fan is optional.
US 2004/156180 A1 describes a passively cooled computer with cooling ribs pointing outwards. In between the cooling ribs, among others, a motherboard is arranged, with the processor being pressed against one of the cooling bodies by elastic elements. The hard disc is arranged between the cooling bodies and is separated from them by a flexible, vibration damping layer.
The known solutions do not provide for sufficient dissipation of power for the various different components of the computer. Thus, the processing power of modern processors cannot be made use of.


A method comprising detecting at least one Quality of Service (QoS) requirement is met that indicates a very important packet (VIP) is outstanding from a source node in a multi-hop network comprising multiple nodes, sending an initiation message to an adjacent node in response to the detection that may activate a protocol in which a reserved channel is activated, and receiving the VIP via the reserved channel. Also, a method comprising receiving an initiation message from an adjacent node in a multi-hop network that comprises information identifying the VIP comprising a source node, a destination node, a packet type, wherein the initiation message activates a protocol in which a reserved channel is activated, searching for the VIP identified by the initiation message, and forwarding the VIP promptly if present via the reserved channel or forwarding an initiation message to adjacent nodes closer to the source node.

Packet transferring systems may be utilized to share information among multiple nodes, in which a node may be any electronic component that communicates with another electronic component in a networked system. For example, a node may be a memory device or processor in a computing system (e.g., a computer). The computing system may have a plurality of nodes that need to be able to communicate with one another. A node may employ data buffers to store incoming packets temporarily until they can be processed. Packets may be forwarded from one node to another across physical links, which may be divided into virtual channels. However, throughput and link utilization may be drastically reduced if one or more of the nodes are oversubscribed, and its packet queues back up and consume a large fraction of the available buffers. The overall quality of service (QoS) may be degraded due to high latency during data transmission. Also, forward progress of packets through the system may be hindered due to backed up packet queues at one or more nodes. The problem may proliferate through the system as packets fill up the queues of additional nodes waiting for packets held up at the oversubscribed nodes, for example, due to data dependencies and interdependencies of tasks.

Forward progress assurance and quality of service enhancement in a packet transferring system