Developed images are captured by image sensing and converted to original digital image data, which is used to represent the developed images. The original digital image data is converted to reduced digital image data representing images that are reduced in size. The reduced digital image data is stored on a user""s disk, and the original digital image data is stored on a laboratory recording medium together with an identification code identifying the roll of film. The identification code is applied to the film and to the user""s disk on which the reduced digital image data has been stored. The original digital image data is read out of the laboratory recording medium and photographs of the images represented by this data are printed. The identification code may be recorded on the user""s disk instead of being applied thereto. A program (hypertext) for reproducing the images is also stored on the user""s disk.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a laboratory system well suited for use in photographic film processing laboratories (inclusive of photography stores capable of providing developing and printing services), a method of controlling the operation of such a system, a playback apparatus primarily placed in the home of the customer (user), a method of playback using this apparatus, and a film image management method using this system and apparatus.
The invention further relates to a copying system and method for transferring image data from a xe2x80x9csourcexe2x80x9d recording medium to another recording medium or xe2x80x9cdestinationxe2x80x9d recording medium and recording the image data on the destination recording medium. The source recording medium may be a photographic film, a semiconductor memory on which image data read from a photographic film has been stored, a memory card (or memory cartridge) on which image data obtained by photography using a digital still-video camera has been stored, or a recording medium (optical disk, magneto-optical disk, magnetic disk, optical tape, magnetic tape, etc.) on which an image file (a collection of image data representing a plurality of images) has been stored. The destination recording medium may be an optical disk, magneto-optical disk, magnetic disk, optical tape, magnetic tape, semiconductor memory, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to obtain developed photographic film and prints, an ordinary user takes exposed undeveloped film to a processing laboratory and the laboratory develop the film and print the images from the developed film on photographic paper to produce photographs. The user takes the developed film and printed photographs home from the laboratory.
Depending upon user preference, the film and photographs are kept as by being pasted in an album or placed in bags or envelopes in a specific order or without being put in order.
If extra prints are required, the user takes the film to the laboratory and informs the operator of the laboratory of the frame numbers of the extra prints desired, the number of prints of each frame and various other conditions.
Thus, management of film and photographs generally is a manual operation performed by both the user and laboratory and is a very troublesome task. Since frames to be printed for extra copies must be selected while looking at the film, the ordering of extra prints also is a troublesome task.
It is contemplated to use a film scanner to read the image of each frame recorded on developed photographic film (negative film or positive film), convert the image of each frame to digital image data and record the digital image data on a disk-like recording medium (such as an optical disk or magnetic disk). The disk-like recording medium can be played back by a player in the possession of (or capable of being utilized by) the user. Configurations presently being contemplated include one (automatic playback) in which images represented by image data that has been recorded on a disk-like recording medium are simply displayed on a display device in the order in which the images were recorded, and one (manual playback) in which the images of frames designated by the user are displayed on a display device.
New photographic film having elongated band-shaped information recording zones each comprising a transparent magnetic material has been studied. Information (IX1) pertaining to each roll of film and information (IX2) pertaining to each frame on the film can be recorded on the photographic film. Sufficient consideration has not yet been given to how such information may be fully exploited.
Conventional photographic film is available in a 12-, 24- and 36-exposure format, by way of example. Photographs often are preserved in units of the number of frames on the film (or in units of the number of rolls of film). For instance, photographs of field days, summer festivals and family excursions are taken on one or several rolls of film. Accordingly, photographs often are managed film by film.
Similarly, with regard to a memory card loaded in a digital still-video camera in order to record digital image data representing images captured by the camera, the image data often is managed in memory-card units, namely card by card.
The management of image data that has been recorded on other portable recording media (floppy disks, etc.) also often is performed in units of the recording media. In a case where images of a plurality of image files have been saved on one recording medium, the recording medium would be managed as a large classification unit and the image files would be managed as small classification units.
An image is based upon the sense of sight and is recorded in the human brain as one type of pattern. The pattern is remembered by a human being with the event (the aforesaid field day, summer festival, etc.) that gave rise to the image serving as a key. The reason for this is that one or a plurality of portable image recording media (films, memory cards and other media) are created for each event. Accordingly, by adopting a medium on which an image has been recorded first as the unit of image management, retrieval at a later date is facilitated.
It is required that an image or image data that has been stored on such a portable recording medium be preserved by being copied to a recording medium having a larger capacity. The purpose of this is to keep the image data from a plurality of recording media at a single location.
An object of the present invention is to provide a system, apparatus and method for facilitating the arrangement of film images and the retrieval of films or frames for the purpose of making extra prints of the images, and for simplifying the ordering of extra copies.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a laboratory system in which information that has been recorded on the information recording zones of a new photographic film can be recorded on a recording medium together with the images from the new photographic film, as well as to a method of controlling the operation of this system.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for producing an impressive slide-show program using a recording medium on which information in information recording zones and image data have been recorded.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for playing back a slide-show program that has been produced.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for copying the image data of an initial recording medium to another recording medium while maintaining intact the unity of the image data on the initial recording medium and in a form in which subsequent retrieval may be performed with ease.
A method of managing film images according to the present invention comprises the steps of capturing an image from a film that has been developed to thereby convert the image to original digital image data representing the image, converting the original digital image data to reduced digital image data representing a reduced image, storing the reduced digital image data on a user""s recording medium, storing the original digital image data on a laboratory""s recording medium together. with an identification code of the film, and applying the identification code to the film and to the user""s recording medium on which the reduced digital image data has been stored.
This management method preferably is implemented at a processing laboratory using a laboratory system described later. The term xe2x80x9claboratoryxe2x80x9d is meant to cover all types of processing establishments capable of implementing the management method set forth above. Establishments capable of implementing the management method, regardless of whether they are photography stores or shops for performing development, are considered as being laboratories.
The above-described management method would most likely be implemented at a laboratory after the undeveloped film is developed. However, it is possible to apply the management method even to film that has been developed in the past.
The film and the user""s recording medium to which the identification code has been applied are delivered to the user (customer).
The application of the identification code to the film generally would be performed by affixing a label to the film (inclusive of the film sheath or case), which film would have a code (a code, not limited to a bar code, which includes numerals, symbols or characters, etc., readable by a human being) representing the identification code printed on it.
The application of the identification code to the user""s recording medium would be performed by affixing a label, on which the code representing the identification code has been printed, to the user""s recording medium (the case or cartridge), as in the manner of the film, or by writing the identification code to the user""s recording medium.
Preferably, frame numbers (the identification numbers of the frames) are recorded on the user""s recording medium and laboratory""s recording medium in correspondence with the image data of the respective frames of the film.
In accordance with the present invention, identical identification codes are applied to the film and to the user""s recording medium, which are in the possession of the user. This makes it possible to ascertain the corresponding relationship between them. Since a number of film rolls of image data generally can be stored on the user""s recording medium, the user is capable of loading the user""s recording medium in a playback apparatus so that images represented by image data stored on the user""s recording medium can be viewed. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to look at the film directly.
If frames for which extra copies are desired are selected when extra prints of photographs are requested, this can also be performed by utilizing the images displayed on the display device of the playback apparatus.
An identification code identical with that of the film and user""s recording medium in the possession of the user is stored also on the laboratory""s recording medium, which is preserved at the laboratory, in correspondence with the original image data. When the user request extra prints, prints of photographs can be made using the original digital image data, which has been stored on the laboratory""s recording medium, even if the user does not bring the film to the laboratory.
The user""s recording medium includes such media as a magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk, magnetic disk and memory card (semiconductor memory) (also referred to as a memory cartridge). An arrangement may be adopted in which the original digital image data is recorded on the user""s recording medium rather than the reduced digital image data.
Image data recorded on the user""s recording medium and laboratory""s recording medium may also be subjected to data compression processing or encoding processing.
The laboratory""s recording medium includes media such as an optical disk, magneto-optical disk and magnetic disk.
The user is capable of ordering extra prints by storing order information for this purpose on the user""s recording medium. In such case a playback apparatus having an ordering function described later would be utilized to store the order data on the user""s recording medium. When the playback apparatus is used, the order data can be transmitted to the laboratory system via a communication line (a public telephone line, for example). Since only the order data (or the order data together with reduced image data) is transmitted, the time needed for transmission is much shorter than that which would be required to transmit the original digital image data. Further, the user need not make a call on the laboratory.
It is preferred that parameter data relating to the characteristics of the original digital image data be stored on at least one of the user""s recording medium and laboratory""s recording medium. The parameter data is used in processing for making extra prints. Since the characteristics of the image data are quantified, photographs always having the same properties can be printed.
The laboratory system according to the present invention is ideal for use in executing the management method described above.
A laboratory system according to the present invention comprises a film reader for converting an image from a film that has been developed to original digital image data representing the image, a recording unit for a user""s recording medium for storing, on a user""s recording medium, the original digital image data obtained by the film reader or reduced digital image data obtained by reducing the original digital image data, a laboratory recording unit for storing the original digital image data, which has been obtained by the film reader, on a laboratory""s recording medium in correspondence with an identification code of the film, and a label issuing unit for issuing a label, which represents the identification code, affixed to at least the film.
In an embodiment of the invention, the recording unit for the user""s recording medium records the identification code on the user""s recording medium in correspondence with the image data.
In a preferred embodiment, the recording unit for the user""s recording medium records the image data of each frame of the film on the user""s recording medium in correspondence with an identification number of the frame.
In another preferred embodiment, the recording unit for the user""s recording medium records parameter data relating to characteristics of the image data on the user""s recording medium in correspondence with the image data.
In a preferred embodiment of the laboratory recording unit, the unit stores the image data of each frame of the film on the laboratory""s recording medium in correspondence with an identification number of the frame.
In another preferred embodiment of the laboratory recording unit, the unit stores parameter data relating to characteristics of the image data on the laboratory""s recording medium in correspondence with the image data.
According to another embodiment, the label issuing unit further issues a label, which represents the identification code, affixed to the user""s recording medium.
When appropriate, the laboratory system is provided with a photograph printer for printing an image represented by the original digital image data obtained by the film reader or read out of the laboratory""s recording medium.
In one embodiment, the laboratory system is further provided with an input unit for designating the identification code and the frame identification number of image data to be printed recorded on the laboratory""s recording medium.
In a preferred embodiment, the laboratory system is provided with a receiving unit for receiving order data designating the identification code and a frame identification number of image data to be printed recorded on the laboratory""s recording medium. The image represented by image data designated by the received order data is printed by the photograph printer.
In a further preferred embodiment, the laboratory system is provided with a reader for reading, from the user""s recording medium, order data designating the identification code and a frame identification number of image data to be printed recorded on the laboratory""s recording medium, and a photograph printer for printing an image represented by the image data designated by the read order data.
The management method described above is performed automatically, semiautomatically or manually using the laboratory system.
A playback apparatus having an ordering function according to the present invention comprises a reader for reading, from the user""s recording medium, image data that has been recorded in correspondence with an identification code of film and an identification number of a frame, a display device for displaying an image represented by the image data read by the reader, and an input unit for entering order data with regard to an image displayed on the display device.
In an embodiment, the reader records the order data, which has been entered by the input unit, on the user""s recording medium.
In another embodiment, the playback apparatus is further provided with a communication device for transmitting the order data entered by the input unit.
By using a playback apparatus of this kind, the user can order extra prints of a photograph via the user""s recording medium or by communication.
In accordance with the film management method and laboratory system described above, a label representing an identification code is issued and the label is affixed to the film and, if necessary, to the user""s recording medium.
If the user is merely to reproduce and enjoy image data that has been recorded on the user""s recording medium or to order extra copies as needed upon referring to a reproduced image, with the printing of the extra copies being performed using the image data that has been stored on the laboratory""s recording medium, then the identification codes need only be stored on the user""s recording medium and laboratory""s recording medium in association with the image data recorded on these media. The film may or may not be provided with an identification code.
A method of managing film images according to the invention applied to such a practical configuration comprises the steps of capturing an image from a film that has been developed to thereby convert the image to original digital image data representing the image, converting the original digital image data to reduced digital image data representing a reduced image, storing at least one of the original digital image data and reduced digital image data on a user""s recording medium in association with an identification code of the film, and storing the original digital image data on a laboratory""s recording medium in association with the identification code of the film.
A laboratory system according to the present invention applied to implement this film image management method comprises a film reader for converting an image from a film that has been developed to original digital image data representing the image, a recording unit for a user""s recording medium for storing, on a user""s recording medium in correspondence with an identification code of the film, at least one of the original digital image data obtained by the film reader and reduced digital image data obtained by reducing the original digital image data, and a laboratory recording unit for storing the original digital image data, which has been obtained by the film reader, on a laboratory""s recording medium in correspondence with an identification code of the film.
Thus, image data representing film images can be kept by being stored on each of a user""s recording medium and laboratory""s recording medium in association with an identification code. The image data on the user""s recording medium can be used in order that the user may play back the images and enjoy looking at them or for the purpose of ordering extra prints. In addition, the laboratory""s recording medium is utilized to create prints in response to an order from a user.
To reproduce an image represented by image data stored on the user""s recording medium or to order extra prints, it is desired that software for the purpose of controlling the playback apparatus or ordering apparatus be stored on the user""s recording medium beforehand in association with the image data and identification code.
The present invention further provides a file-image management method and a laboratory system in which software for image playback is stored on the user""s recording medium.
A method of managing film images according to the present invention comprises the steps of capturing an image from a film that has been developed to thereby convert the image to original digital image data representing the image, converting the original digital image data to reduced digital image data representing a reduced image, storing at least one of the original digital image data and reduced digital image data obtained by reducing the original digital image data, software including an instruction for reproducing the image data and an identification code of the film on a user""s recording medium in associated form, and storing the original digital image data on a laboratory""s recording medium in association with the identification code of the film.
A laboratory system according to this aspect of the present invention comprises a film reader for converting an image from a film that has been developed to original digital image data representing the image, a recording unit for a user""s recording medium for storing at least one of the original digital image data obtained by the film reader and reduced digital image data obtained by reducing the original digital image data, software including an instruction for reproducing the image data and an identification code of the film on a user""s recording medium in associated form, and a laboratory recording unit for storing the original digital image data, which has been obtained by the film reader, on a laboratory""s recording medium in correspondence with an identification code of the film.
Since software for reproducing an image represented by the image data recorded on the user""s recording medium is recorded on the user""s recording medium, it is possible to reproduce the image in accordance with the software by loading the user""s recording medium in the playback machine.
In a case where the items of original digital image data and reduced digital image data have been stored on the user""s recording medium in correlated form, it is preferred that the software include an instruction for displaying an original image which corresponds to a designated reduced image after the reduced image represented by the reduced digital image data is displayed.
This makes possible a method of use in which a large number of reduced images may first be displayed on one screen, desired images are designated among these reduced images and the original images designated are selectively displayed.
By including in the software an instruction for processing relating to an order for the printing of images, an order for extra prints of desired images can be made in the playback apparatus.
One example of the above-mentioned software is hypertext. It will suffice to store a hypertext interpreting program in the playback apparatus (inclusive of a personal computer).
As mentioned above, a new type of photographic film having elongated band-shaped information recording zones each comprising a transparent magnetic material has recently been proposed. Information (film information) pertaining to each film and information (frame information) pertaining to each frame can be recorded on the photographic film. The present invention is applicable to such photographic film as well.
In a case where the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned new photographic film, the method of managing the film images comprises the steps of reading, from a developed film having a film-information recording zone and a frame-information recording zone that is provided for each frame, an image of each frame recorded on the film, producing digital image data representing the image, reading at least one of film information and frame information recorded in the film-information recording zone and frame-information recording zone, respectively, and recording at least one of the read film information and frame information and the image data on the user""s recording medium in associated form.
In a laboratory system according to this aspect of the present invention, the film reader reads, from a developed film having a film-information recording zone and a frame-information recording zone that is provided for each frame, an image of each frame recorded on the film, produces digital image data representing the image, and reads at least one of film information and frame information recorded in the film-information recording zone and frame-information recording zone, respectively. At least one of the film information and frame information read by the film reader is recorded on the user""s recording medium in association with the image data of the film by the recording unit for the user""s recording medium.
At least one of the film information and frame information recorded on the user""s recording medium is utilized effectively in image playback in the playback apparatus.
A laboratory system well suited for a new photographic film having information recording zones according to the present invention comprises a film reader for reading, from a developed film having a film-information recording zone and a frame-information recording zone that is provided for each frame, an image of each frame recorded on the film, producing digital image data representing the image and reading film information and frame information recorded in the film-information recording zone and frame-information recording zone, respectively, and a recording unit for a user""s recording medium for recording the digital image data obtained by the frame reader, the film information and the frame information on a user""s recording medium each in association with the digital image data of each frame with regard to the frame information of each frame.
The laboratory system referred to here is meant to cover not only a system installed in a processing laboratory for film development but also a system installed in the home of the user. In other words, the laboratory system should not necessarily be thought of in connection with a developing apparatus for photographic film. The term xe2x80x9claboratory systemxe2x80x9d is used merely to facilitate an understanding of the system by assuming that it will be utilized mainly in a processing laboratory.
A method of controlling operation of a laboratory system according to the present invention comprises the steps of reading, from a developed film having a film-information recording zone and a frame-information recording zone that is provided for each frame, an image of each frame recorded on the film, producing digital image data representing the image, reading film information and frame information recorded in the film-information recording zone and frame-information recording zone, respectively, and recording the digital image data obtained, the film information and the frame information on a user""s recording medium each in association with the digital image data of each frame with regard to the frame information of each frame.
In accordance with the present invention, not only the images from the photographic film but also the film information (the information pertaining to each film) and the frame information (the information pertaining to each frame) recorded in the information recording zones of the film are read and recorded on the user""s recording medium. The items of film information and frame information on the recording medium are put to effective use in image playback in a playback apparatus, described later.
The user""s recording media are of two types. One type has resources recorded on it in advance. The resources include at least one of a video component and an audio component used when an image represented by digital image data is reproduced. The other type has no such resources recorded on it. In the latter case, a resource which includes at least one of a video component and an audio component, and which corresponds to the above-mentioned film information, is recorded on the user""s recording medium by the laboratory system.
The video component mentioned here is image data which, alone or in combination with an image obtained from the film, is used to provide a more desirable, clearer, more impressive and more attractive picture. The audio component is data representing sound (music, narration, sound effects, etc.) played when images are displayed.
In the presentation of a program (slide show), in principle the video components are associated with film images in one-to-one correspondence. However, audio components need not necessarily have one-to-one correspondence with film images.
Since resources which include at least the video component or the audio component are recorded on the user""s recording medium, a program (slide show) can be created using these resources when film images are played back.
Though the details of program (slide show) creation will be given later in the section on the playback apparatus, the program may be produced by the laboratory system.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the digital image data is meant to cover data obtained by reducing this image data. Reduced image data is useful when grasping all of the images that have been recorded on the user""s recording medium or retrieving an image.
A playback apparatus according to the present invention comprises means for verifying at least the presence of a group of image data and the presence of resources, associated with the group of image data by first information, on a recording medium on which have been recorded the group of image information (which corresponds to image data on one roll of film) comprising a plurality of frames of image data, the first information (which corresponds to the above-mentioned film information) relating to the group of image data, second information (which corresponds to the above-mentioned frame information) relating to the image of each frame, and resources which include at least one of a video component and an audio component used when the group of image data is reproduced, and slide-show program creating means for creating slide-show information relating to playback sequence and to a combination of images and resources when presence of the group of image data and of the resources has been verified, and storing the slide-show information on the recording medium.
A playback method according to the present invention comprises the steps of verifying at least the presence of a group of image data and the presence of resources, associated with the group of image data by first information, on a recording medium (which corresponds to the user""s recording medium) on which have been recorded the group of image information comprising a plurality of frames of image data, the first information relating to the group of image data, second information relating to the image of each frame, and resources which include at least one of a video component and an audio component used when the group of image data is played back, and creating slide-show information relating to playback sequence and to a combination of images and the resources when presence of the group of image data and of the resources has been verified, and storing the slide-show information on the recording medium.
The playback apparatus and playback method can also be referred to as a program (e.g., slide show) creating apparatus and program creating method.
When a plurality of groups of image data are present on the recording medium, a group for the purpose of creating a slide show would be selected from these groups.
In the simplest case, the creation of the slide show show is implemented by a predetermined combination in a predetermined sequence. However, it can be so arranged that the sequence or combination is be designated or altered in conformity with user preference.
Preferably, data to be reproduced at the start of a slide show is included in the video resource and in the audio resource.
Playback of images is carried out in accordance with the slide-show program thus created.
More specifically, the playback apparatus according to the present invention further comprises reading means for reading the image data and at least the video component, which has been combined with this image data by combination information included in the slide-show information, out of the recording medium in accordance with the sequence included in the slide-show information, means for mixing the image data and video component that have been read out, and means for displaying the image represented by the image data mixed.
The playback apparatus preferably is further provided with means for reading out the audio component in accordance with the slide-show information and reproducing the audio represented by the audio component.
The playback apparatus preferably is further provided with means for generating a character image represented by the second information, and means for mixing and displaying the character image generated and the image corresponding thereto.
Thus, effective utilization is made of the film information (first information) and the frame information (second information) recorded on the photographic film so that film images can be played back as a slide show in line with user preference in a form that can be enjoyed by the user.
If necessary, or in conformity with user preference, at least one of an additional video component and an additional audio component is entered, and the entered additional video component or audio component is recorded on the recording medium upon attaching an identification code thereto. The user is capable of utilizing the additional video component or additional audio component in creation of the slide show.
In a preferred embodiment, a printer is connected to the playback apparatus. By employing the printer, the user is capable of creating photographs of desired images that are being displayed. Preferably, the displayed images are displayed continuously for as long as possible. To this end, it is preferred that the user be capable of setting the changeover time (display time) of the displayed images at will, or that the changeover time be set automatically, without relation to the slide-show information when the printing mode has been set.
A system for copying image data according to the present invention comprises an image data reader for reading image data from a copy-source recording medium image by image, an image data writing unit for writing data, which includes the image data read out of the copy-source recording medium, to a copy-destination recording medium, and a control unit for creating, image by image, reduced image data representing an image obtained by reducing an image represented by the image data read out of the copy-source recording medium, and for controlling the image data writing unit so as to write the data in the copy-destination recording medium in such a manner that an index file, which includes the reduced image data that has been created, is formed in units of the copy-source recording medium, and in such a manner that an image file, which includes the image data that has been read out of the copy-source recording medium, is formed in units of the copy-source recording medium in a manner associated with the index file.
A method of copying image data according to the present invention comprises the steps of reading image data from a copy-source recording medium image by image, creating, image by image, reduced image data representing a reduced image obtained by reducing an image represented by the image data read out of the copy-source recording medium, and recording an image file, which includes the image data that has been read out of the copy-destination recording medium, and an index file, which includes the reduced image data that has been created, on the copy-destination recording medium in a manner associated with each other and in units of the copy-source recording medium.
Preferably, image data (or reduced image data) of a representative image standing for the copy-source recording medium is recorded on the copy-destination recording medium in association with the image file or index file.
In a case where the copy-source recording medium includes a plurality of image files and the image files form one set, these image files may be written on the copy-destination recording medium as a single unit.
In order that a copy-source recording medium will serve as a unit, the image data that has been recorded on this recording medium is recorded on the copy-destination recording medium. Since the original medium constitutes a single set, classification can be performed in units of events and in units of time (duration or period). This facilitates the retrieval of images on the copy-destination recording medium.
On the basis of the image data read out of the copy-source recording medium, reduced image data is created and the reduced image data also is recorded on the copy-destination recording medium. Retrieval of the image data can be carried out using the reduced image data and a large number of reduced images can be displayed on the display device simultaneously. Retrieval is facilitated in this respect as well.
Storing the representative image data also facilitates searching of the copy-source recording medium.
It goes without saying that not only are the image file and index file that are formed on the copy-destination recording medium in units of the copy-source recording medium recorded at a recording location having unity but it is also permissible to associate the image data or reduced image data by the logical structure.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

Laboratory system, method of controlling operation thereof, playback apparatus and method, film image management method, image data copying system and method of copying image data


The ability to control a concentration ratio of a metal and silicon in a metal silicate film is improved, allowing a high-quality semiconductor device to be manufactured.

One of the steps for manufacturing a semiconductor is a step in which a predetermined film-forming treatment is carried out on the surface of a substrate (a treated substrate in which a fine electrical circuit pattern is formed using a silicon wafer, glass, or the like as a base). Among such predetermined film-forming treatments, methods are being actively researched in which the electrical film of a gate insulation film is made thinner and a silicon (Si) oxide film/oxynitride film is converted to a High-k (high dielectric constant) film in a step in which a gate insulation film is formed. Sputtering and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) are being studied as methods for forming ZrO2, HfO2, and other High-k films. CVD is widely used for mass production due to the advantages in step coatability and other properties, as well as the ease with which the raw materials for forming the film can be exchanged.
MOCVD (Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition), which is one type of CVD, is used to form High-k films. In MOCVD, an organometallic raw material is used as the raw material gas. There are various organometallic raw materials, and each of these materials has been researched. Examples of HfO2 and HfSiO4 raw materials that are used include Hf[OC(CH3)3]4(Hf-OtBu), Hf[OC(CH3)2CH2OCH3]4 ("Hf-MMP" hereunder), Si[OC(CH3)2CH2OCH3]4 ("Si-MMP" hereunder), Hf[O—Si—(CHs)]4(Hf—OSi), and Si(OC2H3)4(TEOS). Among these, Hf-MMP and Si-MMP are liquid at about 30° C. and normal pressure. Therefore, such liquid raw materials are heated and, depending on the vapor pressure, are converted to a gas before being used. There are CVD methods that use Hf-MMP, which is one of the MOCVD raw materials (e.g., see Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A 2004-6699

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device, and substrate processing apparatus

Abstract: A step is provided for supplying a first raw material, which contains a metal atom, and a second raw material, which contains a silicon atom and a nitrogen atom, into a processing chamber (4); and forming on a substrate (30) a metal silicate film containing the metal atom and silicon atom. A raw material supply ratio of the first and second raw materials is controlled in the step of forming a metal silicate film, thereby controlling a concentration ratio of the metal and silicon in the resulting metal silicate film.


New photosensitive PBO precursor polymers which contain diazoquinone moieties attached to its backbone and in which all amino end groups are converted into amide groups. The photosensitive formulation based on the disclosed PBO precursor polymers have good imaging and mechanical properties as well as superior shelf life stability.

In microelectronic applications, polymers that demonstrate high temperature resistance are generally well known. Precursors of such polymers, such as polyimides and polybenzoxazoles can be made photoreactive with suitable additives. The precursors are converted to the desired polymer by known techniques such as exposure to high temperatures. The polymer precursors are used to prepare protective layers, insulating layers, and relief structures of highly heat-resistant polymers.
Conventional positive-working photosensitive polybenzoxazoles (PBO) contain an alkaline soluble PBO precursor and a diazoquinone photoactive compound as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,685. The diazoquinone compound inhibits the solubility of the PBO precursor in an aqueous base. After exposure to light, the diazoquinone compound undergoes photolysis and converts to indenecarboxylic acid, which promotes the aqueous base solubility of the PBO precursor.
The PBO precursors disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,685 have amino end groups. Amino groups are known to cause decomposition of diazoquinone moieties (see for example Arnost Reiser, Photoreactive Polymer, John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 1989) which limits the shelf life of the photosensitive formulations based on PBO precursors and diazoquinone compounds.
In order to remedy this problem it was proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,151 B1 to convert amino end groups of PBO precursor into amide groups mostly through the reaction with various anhydrides or sulfonyl chlorides. In many cases it was demonstrated that the shelf life of formulations based on such modified PBO precursors is indeed substantially better than the shelf life of formulations based on PBO precursors containing amino end groups.
It was shown furthermore that the attachment of some diazoquinone moieties directly to the PBO precursor backbone, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,225 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,086, dramatically improves such lithographic properties of the positive-working photosensitive formulations as contrast and photospeed. However, these PBO precursors still have amino end groups, which also put limitations on the shelf life of their photosensitive formulations.
Cured PBO formulations are typically dark in color because of the myriad of high temperature reactions which take place during the high temperature cure. Unfortunately, the color of cured films of the positive photosensitive formulations is important for alignment during wire bonding and other packaging and assembly operations. Lighter-colored, more transparent films offer significant advantages in alignment during wire bonding and other packaging and assembly operations. This can result in increased throughput and accuracy.
The present invention discloses new photosensitive PBO precursor, which contains diazoquinone moieties attached to its backbone and in which all amino end groups are converted into amide groups. This invention found that the applicable end groups could be of much wider variety than those identified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,151 B1. The photosensitive formulation based on the disclosed PBO precursor has good imaging and mechanical properties as well as superior shelf life stability.
Furthermore, we have surprisingly found that photosensitive polybenzoxazole precursor polymers having (sulfon)amide end groups (with or without attached diazoquinone groups) can be formulated into photosensitive compositions with diazoquinone photoactive compounds which lack benzylic hydrogens on the backbone to yield compositions producing films significantly lighter in color after curing. Previous patents disclosing positive polybenzoxazole photosensitive formulations using diazoquinone photoactive compounds which lack benzylic hydrogens on the PAC backbone did not disclose any report about the color of the resulting cured films of such formulations nor how to address the problem of dark cured film in PBO formulations. Such formulations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,499, U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,279, U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,654, U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,221, U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,825, U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,202, U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,970 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,350, herein incorporated by reference.

Abstract: Photosensitive polybenzoxazole precursor polymers having (sulfon)amide end groups (with or without attached diazoquinone groups) can be formulated into photosensitive compositions with diazoquinone photoactive compounds which lack benzylic hydrogens on the backbone to yield compositions producing films significantly lighter in color after curing.


A combination golf and dice game for a golf foursome comprising a first die and a second dice. The first die has different indica defining specified pairings of the foursome while the second die has different indicia defining at least one of a skill challenge(s) and scoring rules for the game. A player rolls the pair of dice to obtain both the specified pairing of the foursome being dictated by the first die such that a first team competes against a second team under one of the specified skill challenges and scoring rules of the game dictated by the second dice. A method of playing the game for a golf foursome is also disclosed.

Golf is an extremely popular game. There have been numerous games developed which "simulate" the game of golf, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,967 to Murphy et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,218 to LaRocca.
SUMMARY OF TEE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a game to be played by a golf foursome during a round of golf. The game includes instructions outlining a number of golf contests, intended to make the round of golf more entertaining, in the form of skills, challenges, or scoring options. The instructions instruct the players to compete in golf pairings and randomly select one of the golf contests prior to beginning each golf hole.

Game played by a golf foursome during a round of golf


A user terminal device is provided that includes a display part configured to display a document preparation window, an input part configured to receive a selection command for selecting a text in a document displayed in the document preparation window, a communication part configured to connect to a server, and a controller configured to control displaying of an activated search button in a region of the document preparation window when the text is selected, and to search for, when the search button is selected, at least one image corresponding to the selected text using the communication part, wherein the controller is further configured to control displaying of images searched for from at least one of the server and a storage part of the user terminal device, and to, when one of the searched images is selected, insert the selected image at a predetermined position of the document preparation window.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a user terminal device and a control method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a user terminal device for searching for and inserting an image directly into a document preparation window, and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A user may write various documents using a document preparation program in an electronic device. A document may have content including text and may also include images accompanying text included in document contents. Hence, the document written using the document preparation program may include the text and the images. In order to insert an image using the document preparation program, the user may have to search for an image stored in a storage unit of the electronic device using an insertion menu. However, since images stored in the storage unit are limited in number, the user may also search for an image through a web browser and may select and insert the image searched for using the web browser.
The user may insert the image stored to the storage unit as described below. The user may select an insertion menu and/or execute a function for inserting an image of the document preparation program. When using the insertion menu and/or function for inserting the image, the user may find a directory including the intended image and may select the intended image in the directory, and thus, the intended image may be inserted into the current document. Alternately, the user may insert an image using the web browser as described below. The user may open a web browser window and may search for an image by inserting a search word, by searching for images on the Internet, or may locate the image on the Internet according to any suitable manner. The user may then select an image from among the image search results. The user may download and store the selected image in the storage unit of the electronic device or may copy the searched image and may then paste the image into the document preparation program window.
As discussed above, in order to insert the image during the document preparation, the user may have to perform many steps and/or processes. Accordingly, in order to insert the image stored in the storage unit, it may be difficult to know where the image is stored. In order to search for and insert the image using the web browser, it may be inconvenient to open a separate search window and/or web browser window in order to search for and select the image from the search results, and to switch back to the document preparation program window. Therefore, a need exists for a system and method for searching for an image and inserting the image more easily when the user creates a document in an electronic device, such as a user terminal device.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

Device and method for image search using one or more selected words


A means of alleviating or preventing flooding in geographic areas which are normally drained by slow moving water in ditches, rivers, bayous or other waterways of relatively shallow slope by using a water thrusting means to add kinetic energy and therefore velocity to a portion of the water, mixing the portion back in the main body of water in a downstream direction to increase the average velocity downstream of the main body of water, and thereby move water away from the flooding area to a remote area more quickly than would occur naturally.

Conventional flood control is done by having a waterway such as bayous, rivers, or streams lead from the area in which it is raining toward the ocean, or in the case of the Houston area, to the Gulf of Mexico. As rain falls, water travels down to the lower parts of the waterway at a speed which is a function of the grade or slope of the waterway and the depth of the water. The more the grade or the difference in height from where the rain is falling to the ocean, the faster the water will flow and when water is deeper, more of the water is away from the wall effects and therefore it will flow faster as more and more rain falls. The waterway will become increasingly fuller until at some point the amount of water which will flow down to the waterway is exceeded by the amount of rain fall, and therefore you have a flood.
The elevation of the seawater the water is flowing to and the elevation of the area in which the rain is falling on are not variable for a specific location. Therefore the conventional methods for increasing the amount of flow is by making the waterway larger, making it straighter so that the water will not be slowed down by making turns, and removing friction causing impediments from the waterway such as trees.
In the case of the Great Flood of 2001 in the City of Houston, the elevation between the flooded area and the Gulf of Mexico was about 24 feet above sea level and the distance from the flooded area to the Gulf Mexico was about 20 miles. So the driving force of the rainwater was a head of about 24 feet. It literally would not do a substantial amount of good to make the waterway significantly deeper because if the waterway were significantly deeper it would potentially be below sea level. To make the waterway progressively wider to increase the volume in a highly urbanized area is a massive investment in the purchase of land and the movement of earth, and the changes to other civil engineering structures such as bridges and roads.
This invention will be primarily discussed in terms of the sites specific application of Houston, Tex. and the flood of 2001. However, it can be applied to a number of other localities such as even flooding on the Mississippi River can be prevented by the methods discussed herein.
Flooding is caused because water is concentrated in an area and is not caused to move out of that area to the sea. That is an obvious statement, but it is a statement well worth considering. If we take one pound of water in the middle of the flood in Houston and desire to deliver it to the Gulf of Mexico at sea level, it will be reduced in height by the amount of the elevation in Houston to the elevation of sea level or about 24 feet. In other words it will give up about 24 foot-pounds of energy in the transportation from Houston to the Gulf of Mexico. Where do the 24-foot pounds go? The 24 foot-pounds of energy goes to frictional losses moving down Buffalo Bayou from Houston to the Gulf of Mexico. A certain amount of the energy is retained in kinetic energy as it has a velocity as it enters the Gulf of Mexico and so some part of the energy is given up due to frictional losses traveling down Buffalo Bayou some of it is kinetic energy which dissipates into the Gulf of Mexico as it arrives at the Gulf of Mexico. Pound for pound this says that each pound of water in the middle of the flood has 24 pound-feet of energy available to drive itself from the flooded area to the Gulf of Mexico. This additionally says that in the flooded situation in the City of Houston with the volume of water to be handled at that time, 24 foot-pounds of energy is not enough to drive the water away fast enough to prevent flooding. We literately have an objective measure that says this is not enough energy, not enough horsepower or however you want to say it, to get the job done.


A schedule management system is provided in which a requested task is not unconditionally accepted by the requesting schedule management system. The requested task may be accepted by the user's schedule management system by negotiating for the conditions under which the task will be completed so that the requested work can be allocated and accepted by mutual agreement between the schedule management systems of the requester and the requestee. The user's (requestee's) schedule management system negotiates for acceptable work conditions by evaluating the work load of the user based on the recorded personal schedule and calculating an acceptable completion day of the requested task. The requesting schedule management system then allocates the requested task to the user whose schedule management system is most likely to complete the task closest to the requested deadline based on the negotiation conditions transmitted from a plurality of user schedule management systems.

The present invention relates to an art of a schedule management system and recording medium. More specifically, this invention relates to the schedule management system, wherein a request, acceptance and adjustment of a work are made when two or more works allocated to a group are done by two or more workers belonging to the group and schedules for the whole group and each worker are managed and the recording medium recorded in a computer program that can cause a computer to function the schedule management system.
Conventionally, the schedule management system, wherein a schedule for each worker belonging to a group and the like is adjusted and two or more works are done, has been disclosed in JP-A-6378/1993 "Schedule Management System" (referred to as Document 1, hereinafter). The Document 1, disclosed the schedule management system comprising the means of managing a schedule for each worker belonging to a group, the means of inquiring of another schedule management system on the network about a schedule and the means of responding to the inquiry from another schedule management system. As a result, free time of each worker in the schedule and a schedule for a meeting room can be retrieved so as to decide a meeting date and check the work progress of other workers.
The main purpose of the schedule management system in the Document 1 is to support the progress and management of the recorded work provided that the information on the work done by each worker is recorded. That is, the art is used to support scheduling on the condition that the work has been allocated to each worker.
However, as a matter of fact, one work is not always specifically allocated to one worker in everyday office work. Therefore, a work has to be allocated to a worker who can surely carry out any urgent work. On the other hand, when receiving a request for a new work, a requestee who takes the work has to consider his/her recorded schedule and inform whether he/she can accept the work request or not. Therefore, as disclosed in Document 1, disclosing the progress of the recorded work to other workers is not useful enough for scheduling in a group comprising two or more workers. It is necessary that decision of the proper worker for the work and selection of a new work has to be supported.
The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems.
Moreover, the purpose of this invention is to provide a schedule management system that comprises the retrieval function of retrieving the proper requestee and the work allocation function of allocating a work by negotiation between the allocator and the requestee, and supports decision of the proper requestee for the work and selection of newly accepted work.
Furthermore, the purpose of this invention is to provide the schedule management system wherein the work load is displayed to the allocator and the requestee in order that the work schedule can be adjusted to balance busy time and free time.
In addition, the purpose of this invention is to provide a recording medium storing a computer program in which the above-mentioned schedule management system is executed.
The schedule management system of the present invention comprises the communication means of communicating with another schedule management system on the network as well as the schedule management means of managing a schedule of each worker who is a user, and further more comprises the negotiation means of negotiating the work conditions such as a deadline between the schedule management systems belonging to the allocator who allocates the work and the requestee who is the user. Therefore, the requestee does not unconditionally accept the work allocation put on by the allocator but both the allocator and the requestee can allocate and accept the work respectively by mutual agreement. The schedule management system further comprises the evaluation means of evaluating how busy the worker feels (referred to as the work load, hereinafter) based on the recorded each worker's schedule and the calculation means of calculating the completion day of the newly allocated work based on the evaluation result. As a result, the allocator can retrieve the proper requestee who surely meets the work deadline presented by the allocator. As described above, the conventional schedule management system is performed provided that the work has been allocated to each worker. On the contrary, the present management system further comprises the retrieval means of retrieving the proper requestee and the work allocation means of allocating the work by negotiation between the allocator and the requestee in order to support decision of the proper requestee for the work and selection of the newly accepted work. Moreover, the work load is disclosed to the allocator and the requestee who is the user therefore the each worker's schedule can be adjusted to balance the worker's busy time and free time.

Schedule management system and recording medium


The current measuring device includes an upper solution chamber (3) and a lower solution chamber (8) whose bottom has a support layer (5) and measures a current flowing via an artificial lipid bilayer membrane (2) formed on a small hole (4) of the upper solution chamber (3), wherein the lower solution chamber (8) is provided below the upper solution chamber (3) by being surrounded with a bottom plate (6) and an interval keeping member (7a). An internal pressure of the lower solution chamber (8) is dropped so that the artificial lipid bilayer membrane (2) formed on the small hole (4) swells to the side of the lower solution chamber (8) so as to be thinner, and the thinner artificial lipid bilayer membrane (2) is supported by the support layer.

An ion channel is a protein, penetrating a biological membrane, whose basic structure is a lipid bilayer membrane, and adjusts entrance and exit of ions according to stimulus so as to generate an electric signal or a calcium signal in a cell. That is, the ion channel is an important protein molecule for converting stimulus into an intracellular signal.
Such an ion channel is constituted of a pore serving as an ion path and a gate for controlling opening/closing of a channel. This opening/closing function can be confirmed by measuring an ion current at the time when the ion passes through the ion channel. As a method for measuring an ion current of a single ion channel, a patch-clamp method is adopted. Also a planar lipid bilayer method is adopted so as to measure the ion current.
In order to more deeply study correlation of structural functions of the ion channel, it is necessary to use a simple rearrangement system in carrying out an experiment. An artificial lipid bilayer membrane formation method adopted in this case is the planar lipid bilayer method. In the planar lipid bilayer method, a minimum simple system including ion, water, an artificial lipid bilayer membrane, and an ion channel is used so as to study a basic structure of the ion channel and detail correlation of structural functions thereof (Non-Patent Document 1 and the like).
The following specifically explains a system of the planar lipid bilayer method. As illustrated in FIG. 7, an ion channel 112 is provided in an artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111, and a current flowing via the ion channel 112 is measured. The artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 is formed on a small hole 115 provided in a partition plate 114 such as a plastic plate for parting an aqueous solution chamber 113. In one of two chambers obtained by parting the aqueous solution chamber 113, an electrode 116 is provided. Via the electrode 116, a current measuring device 117 is provided. In the other chamber, an electrode 118 is provided. Via the electrode 118, an earth 119 causes the aqueous solution chamber 113 to be earthed.
Here, examples of how to form the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 on the small hole 115 include (A) vertical painting method, (B) vertical applying method, (C) horizontal formation method, and the like.
In the (A) vertical painting method, first, as illustrated in the left illustration of FIG. 8, with a thin glass tube or the like, lipid solution 110 is applied to the small hole 115 provided in a support such as the plate 114 for parting the aqueous solution chamber 113 (not shown in FIG. 8). Under this condition, the lipid solution 110 swells in directions of both surfaces of the partition plate 114 so as to cover the small hole 115. The lipid solution 110 is obtained by dissolving lipid in organic solvent such as decane. After applying the lipid solution 110, the lipid solution 110 moves on the surface of the plate 114 as illustrated in the right illustration of FIG. 8, thereby obtaining an artificial lipid bilayer membrane which has become thinner in a natural manner. Note that, the wording "become thinner" means a process in which the organic solvent or the like moves from a central portion of the applied lipid solution 110 so that a lipid bilayer membrane is formed in the central portion.
Next, in the (B) vertical applying method, as illustrated in the upper illustration of FIG. 9, a lipid monomolecular membrane 121 is developed on a gas-liquid interface of the aqueous solution chamber 113 (not shown in FIG. 9). At this time, a position of the gas-liquid interface is the same as a position of a lower side end of the small hole 115 provided in the partition plate 114. Thereafter, as illustrated in the middle illustration of FIG. 9, a liquid surface (gas-liquid interface) of one chamber (right side of the middle illustration) of two chambers obtained by parting the aqueous solution chamber 113 is raised, thereby developing the monomolecular membrane 121 on the surface of the partition plate 114. On this account, one opening side of the small hole 115 is covered by the monomolecular membrane 121. Thereafter, as illustrated in the lower illustration of FIG. 9, a liquid surface (gas-liquid interface) of the other chamber (left side of the lower illustration) of two chambers obtained by parting the aqueous solution chamber 113 is raised, thereby developing the monomolecular membranes 121 on the surface of the partition plate 114. On this account, also the other opening side of the small hole 115 is covered by the monomolecular membrane 121. As a result, on each opening side of the small hole 115, the monomolecular membrane 121 is applied, so that the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 is finally formed.
Next, in the (C) horizontal formation method, the aqueous solution chamber 113 illustrated in FIG. 13 is vertically parted with the partition plate 114. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 10(a), the small hole 115 provided in the partition plate 114 is covered by the lipid solution 110, and the lipid solution 110 is left until the lipid solution 110 becomes thinner in a natural manner as the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 10(b), a hydraulic pressure above the small hole 115 is raised in the chamber so that the lipid solution 110 swells downward so as to be thinner, thereby forming the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111.
However, in any one of the artificial lipid bilayer membrane formation methods, it is difficult to quickly form a stable artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111. That is, in the (A) vertical painting method, it takes several minutes to dozens minutes for the lipid solution 110 to move on the surface of the partition plate 114 and become sufficiently thinner as the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111. Further, in the (B) vertical applying method, it is essential to carry out a pre-treatment with respect to the small hole 115 with organic solvent such as squalene before forming the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111, so that such a larger number of steps results in a more complicate formation method. Further, it is general that the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 is not formed unless the liquid surface is raised and lowered several times.
Further, in the (C) horizontal formation method, in case of leaving the lipid solution 110 covering the small hole 115 until the lipid solution 110 becomes thinner in a natural manner (in case of FIG. 10(a)), it is impossible to intentionally control the formation of the artificial lipid bilayer membrane. Therefore, it sometimes takes several hours for the lipid solution 110 to become thinner. Further, in case of raising the hydraulic pressure above the small hole 115 in the chamber so that the lipid solution 110 becomes thinner, the obtained artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 has a thin portion serving as the "lipid bilayer membrane" and a thick portion referred to as a cyclic bulk phase surrounding the thin portion. Thus, the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 obtained in this method is based on physicochemical balance of the foregoing portions. Thus, if these portions are physicochemically unbalanced by vibration caused by aqueous solution flow or the like, the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 is easily broken. Moreover, it is difficult to exactly control a pressure difference between the upper and lower chambers of the aqueous solution chamber 113, so that the obtained artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 is likely to be unstable.
In case of adopting the planar lipid bilayer method, it is necessary to realize a great object: to form a stable and durable artificial lipid bilayer membrane.
Incidentally, it is considered that permeation of ions and structural change of ion channel molecules occur at the same time upon opening/closing a gate of the ion channel. In order to clarify a relationship between a structure and a function of the ion channel molecules, it is necessary to use a measuring device which can simultaneously measure the structure and the function of the ion channel molecules.
The inventors of the present invention proposed a current measuring device which improves the foregoing problems of the conventional artificial lipid bilayer membrane and can simultaneously measure the structure and the function of the ion channel molecules (for example, Non-Patent Document 2 and the like). As illustrated in FIG. 11, the current measuring device includes two solution chambers: an upper solution chamber 101 and a lower solution chamber 102. On a central portion of a bottom of the upper solution chamber 101, a film 103 having a small hole 105 is applied. Further, the lower solution chamber 102 has an opening 104 in its bottom, and a cover glass 106 is fixed on the opening 104 with an adhesive. On the cover glass 106, an agarose gel layer (not shown) is formed. Note that, as in the system of the planar lipid bilayer method, an electrode 116 is placed in the upper solution chamber 101, and a current measuring instrument 117 is provided via the electrode 116. In the lower solution chamber 102, an electrode 118 is placed, and an earth 119 causes the lower solution chamber 102 to be earthed via the electrode 1 18.
In the current measuring device, first, a lower portion of the upper solution chamber 101 is moved in the lipid solution so as to form a thick membrane made of lipid solution in the small hole 105. Thereafter, the upper solution chamber 101 is placed in the lower solution chamber 102, and the upper solution chamber 101 is lowered so that the thick membrane formed in the small hole 105 comes into contact with the agarose gel layer formed on the cover glass 106. Here, the pressure (hydraulic pressure) in the upper solution chamber 101 is raised so as to make a thick membrane thinner, thereby forming an artificial lipid bilayer membrane.
In the current measuring device, the pressure in the upper solution chamber 101 is raised, so that it takes less time to form an artificial lipid bilayer membrane (to make the thin membrane thinner). The thus formed artificial lipid bilayer membrane is supported by the agarose gel layer. Thus, even when a pressure is exerted by the upper solution chamber 101, the artificial lipid bilayer membrane is stabilized in upward and downward directions. Further, when the agarose gel layer is made thinner, it is possible to observe the artificial lipid bilayer membrane through a lens 107 whose numerical aperture (NA) is large. Thus, even in case where the ion channel is included in the artificial lipid bilayer membrane, the actual ion channel can be observed. On this account, it is possible to simultaneously measure a channel current and a structure of the ion channel.
Non-Patent Document 1
Bayley, H., Cremer, P. Stochastic sensors inspired by biology, Nature 413, 226-230 (2001)
Non-Patent Document 2
Ide, T., Takeuchi, U., Yanagida, T. Development of an Experimental Apparatus for Simultaneous Observation of Optical and Electrical Signals from Single Ion Channels, Single Mol. 3(2002)1, pages 33-42
However, the conventional current measuring device is insufficient in terms of the stability and the size reduction of the artificial lipid bilayer membrane, so that a current measuring device having higher performance is required.
Specifically, first, the conventional current measuring device is arranged so that: as illustrated in FIG. 12, the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 formed on the small hole 105 provided in the film 103 is supported by the agarose gel layer on the cover glass 103, so that the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 is stabilized in upward and downward directions. However, both the upper solution chamber 101 and the lower solution chamber 102 are open, a higher pressure in the upper solution chamber 101 causes vibration of aqueous solution flow to destabilize the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 in a direction (H direction in FIG. 12) parallel to a bottom of the upper solution chamber 101 (not shown in FIG. 12).
Thus, in the conventional current measuring device, it is impossible to strictly keep a curvature of the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111. Thus, in the aforementioned (C) horizontal formation method, as in the case of raising the hydraulic pressure above the small hole 115 in the chamber so as to make the membrane thinner (FIG. 10(b)), the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 and the cyclic bulk phase are physicochemically unbalanced, so that the artificial lipid bilayer membrane 111 is broken.
Further, in the conventional current measuring device, two solution chambers are used, so that it is difficult to reduce the size of the current measuring device. Thus, it is actually impossible to produce the artificial lipid bilayer membrane on the small-size chip.

Current measuring device having artificial lipid bilayer membrane


An apparatus (10) for propelling a projectile generally vertically upward includes a Y-shaped member (12) having a shaft (14) and a pair of elongated arms (16) attached to an upper end of the shaft and extending upward therefrom in spaced-apart relation. The shaft slides telescopingly into a hollow tubular ferrule (20) attached to the top end of an elongated pole (18) and is secured within the ferrule by a spring-biased pin (30), the shaft forming an extension of the pole. The arms have upper curved portions (42) each of which curves through an angle substantially greater than 90 degrees, so that the free ends (44) of the arms define a direction that has a substantial component parallel to the pole toward the bottom end (48) thereof. A sling assembly (34) is attached via elastic tubing (38) to the arms, free ends of the tubing being sleeved over the curved portions of the arms.

In a variety of pursuits, there is frequently a need to secure a line or rope between one point and another remote or elevated point. For example, in the rescue field, so-called "high angle" rescue often necessitates placing a rope or line up to a point high off the ground, such as a building, a tower, a chair lift on a ski slope, or other structure. A rope is generally put in place by first throwing or propelling a weighted object, to which a light line is attached, over a weight-supporting part of the structure so that the object falls back to the ground with the light line still attached. The light line is then attached to the stronger rope and the rope is pulled up and over the structure, whereupon the rope is secured in a desired manner.
The method of throwing the weighted object to the desired point has obvious drawbacks and limitations, the principal ones being that most persons cannot throw an object to a very significant height above the ground, and most persons cannot always throw an object upward with the degree of accuracy required to place the object where it is needed.
Accordingly, slingshot-type devices have been developed for propelling an object over a greater distance and with greater accuracy than possible by throwing. Most of these, however, are hand-held devices in which a forked member is held in one hand and a sling carrying the object to be propelled is pulled back against the force of elastic bands or the like and then released. One disadvantage of such devices is that the biomechanics of pulling the sling back are poor, i.e., an average person cannot exert a great amount of force by pulling with one arm in the direction required by such devices. Thus, even though the elastic bands might be strong enough to potentially propel the object to a substantial height, the average person cannot utilize the full potential of the device because he or she cannot pull the sling back far enough. Another disadvantage of such devices is that they are awkward to use when propelling an object vertically upward, and therefore are not particularly accurate for such purpose.


A braking device for a motor vehicle having a first brake circuit (10) with a master cylinder (11) controlled by a brake pedal (12), a second brake circuit (20) with at least one pump (27) that is controlled by a computer (C), and a pedal travel simulation mechanism (40). The simulation mechanism (40) includes a solenoid valve (41) that is mounted in a pipe (42) connected to a hydraulic fluid storage chamber (43) and controlled by the computer (C) so as to allow the brake fluid to flow toward the chamber (43) when the second brake circuit (20) is active and when the driver presses on the brake pedal. The pipe (42) is also connected to another pipe (44) in which hydraulic fluid is displaced by a first part (45) of a control rod connected to the brake pedal (12) and second part (46) associated with the master cylinder (11).

The invention relates to a braking device for a motor vehicle, comprising a first brake circuit, controlled by the driver of the vehicle, and a second brake circuit controlled by a programmed computer.
The first brake circuit includes a master cylinder controlled in general by a brake pedal, via a pneumatic brake booster, and the second brake circuit includes at least one pump driven by an electric motor and supplied with brake fluid from the master cylinder. The outlet pipes of the master cylinder and of the aforementioned pump are connected to wheel brakes via circuits that include solenoid valves controlled by the computer.
In normal operation, the solenoid valves that connect the outlets of the master cylinder to the wheel brakes are opened by the computer and the wheel brakes are supplied with pressurized brake fluid by the master cylinder of the first brake circuit under the control of the driver when he presses on the brake pedal. During this normal operation, it may happen that a braking command is generated by the computer, which receives setpoint signals from, for example, a software program of the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) or ACC (Active Cruise Control) type.
In this case, the solenoid valves that connect the first brake circuit to the wheel brakes are closed. Because the pressure in the second brake circuit is high, any action by the driver on the brake pedal will result in a very small displacement, one which is very unusual for this pedal and which runs a risk of disturbing and worrying the driver.


A speaker for transmitting reflected sound waves off an upper surface down to a listening environment, comprising: a cabinet containing a plurality of audio drivers, direct-firing drivers within the cabinet oriented to transmit sound along a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the cabinet, and a pair of upward-firing slotted drivers placed proximate to ends of an top surface of the cabinet and oriented at an inclination angle relative to the horizontal axis. The slotted drivers are configured to create an overlapping reflected sound projection for high frequency sound when reflected down to a listening position located at a distance in front of the speaker pair. Such a speaker projects reflected sound that provides wider horizontal or side-to-side dispersion to better cover the listening area.

The advent of digital cinema has created new standards for cinema sound, such as the incorporation of multiple channels of audio to allow for greater creativity for content creators and a more enveloping and realistic auditory experience for audiences. Model-based audio descriptions have been developed to extend beyond traditional speaker feeds and channel-based audio as a means for distributing spatial audio content and rendering in different playback configurations. The playback of sound in true three-dimensional (3D) or virtual 3D environments has become an area of increased research and development. The spatial presentation of sound utilizes audio objects, which are audio signals with associated parametric source descriptions of apparent source position (e.g., 3D coordinates), apparent source width, and other parameters. Object-based audio may be used for many multimedia applications, such as digital movies, video games, simulators, and is of particular importance in a home environment where the number of speakers and their placement is generally limited or constrained by the confines of a relatively small listening environment.
Various technologies have been developed to more accurately capture and reproduce the creator's artistic intent for a sound track in both full cinema environments and smaller scale home environments. A next generation spatial audio (also referred to as "adaptive audio") format has been developed that comprises a mix of audio objects and traditional channel-based speaker feeds along with positional metadata for the audio objects. In a spatial audio decoder, the channels are sent directly to their associated speakers or down-mixed to an existing speaker set, and audio objects are rendered by the decoder in a flexible manner. The parametric source description associated with each object, such as a positional trajectory in 3D space, is taken as an input along with the number and position of speakers connected to the decoder. The renderer utilizes certain algorithms to distribute the audio associated with each object across the attached set of speakers. The authored spatial intent of each object is thus optimally presented over the specific speaker configuration that is present in the listening environment.
Current spatial audio systems have generally been developed for cinema use, and thus involve deployment in large rooms and the use of relatively expensive equipment, including arrays of multiple speakers distributed around a theatre. An increasing amount of advanced audio content, however, is being made available for playback in the home environment through streaming technology and advanced media technology, such as Blu-ray disks, and so on. In addition, emerging technologies such as 3D television and advanced computer games and simulators are encouraging the use of relatively sophisticated equipment, such as large-screen monitors, surround-sound receivers and speaker arrays in home and other listening environments. In spite of the availability of such content, equipment cost, installation complexity, and room size remain realistic constraints that prevent the full exploitation of spatial audio in most home environments. For example, advanced object-based audio systems typically employ overhead or height speakers to playback sound that is intended to originate above a listener's head. In many cases, and especially in the home environment, such height speakers may not be available. In this case, the height information is lost if such sound objects are played only through floor or wall-mounted speakers.
To overcome issues with height speakers along ceilings or upper walls, reflected sound speakers have been developed to allow floor or low mounted speakers to reflect audio content with height cues off of the ceiling or upper walls. Such as product and system is described in patent application No. 62/007,354 (D14054USP1), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIG. 1 illustrates the orientation of an upward firing speaker as so described. As shown in FIG. 1, a floor or bookshelf speaker 102 includes a driver or driver array oriented upwards to reflect sound off a point or area 104 on an upper surface, typically the ceiling, onto the listening position 106 so that sounds intended to originate from the height location still do so even if they are projected from a much lower location 102. This effectively replaces a height or ceiling loudspeaker with a more convenient floor standing unit.
As is known, a loudspeaker driver is a device that converts electrical energy into acoustic energy or sound waves. In its simplest form, a typical loudspeaker driver consists of a coil of wire bonded to a cone or diaphragm and suspended such that the coil is in a magnetic field and such that the coil and cone or diaphragm can move or vibrate perpendicular to the magnetic field. An electrical audio signal is applied to the coil and the suspended components vibrate proportionally and generate sound. With respect to speaker dispersion, a traditional loudspeaker driver, mounted in a cabinet has a dispersion or directivity character which is wide, often omnidirectional, at low frequencies and narrow, or more directional, at higher frequencies. FIG. 2 shows example a cross section view of a loudspeaker cone 204 in a sealed cabinet 206 and how the sound radiation pattern or dispersion becomes narrower at higher frequencies. As shown in FIG. 2, the sound dispersion pattern 201 at low frequencies is very wide, substantially 360 degrees for the example shown, while the sound dispersion pattern 203 for mid-frequencies is narrower (e.g., 120 degrees), while the sound dispersion pattern 205 for high frequencies is narrower still (e.g., 60 degrees). The amount of narrowness also depends on the size of the loudspeaker driver, with larger diameter drivers exhibiting narrower dispersion at lower frequencies than smaller diameter drivers.
When a typical circular cone loudspeaker driver is used in an upward firing loudspeaker, as in FIG. 1, lower frequency sounds radiate in all directions whilst higher frequency sounds radiate toward the ceiling and reflect off the ceiling to toward the listening position, in accordance with the frequency-dependent sound dispersion patterns shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3A illustrates an example high frequency sound dispersion pattern 302 for a typical known upward firing loudspeaker firing reflected sound off of a ceiling. FIG. 3A shows the effect of the higher frequency dispersion pattern for a typical loudspeaker driver used to reflect sound of a ceiling. As shown in FIG. 3A, a fairly narrow angle of radiation 301 from the driver becomes a fairly wide area 303, once the sound has reflected from the ceiling and down onto listening position 307.
For typical stereo or surround sound audio content, speakers are often deployed in pairs. Thus, the speaker array in FIG. 3A may actually comprise two upward firing speakers placed on either side of the television or viewing screen. FIG. 3B shows a front view of the sound dispersion for the speaker setup of FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 3B, the two (left and right) upward firing loudspeakers create respective reflected sound dispersion patterns 304 and 306, which provide separate left and right ceiling sound images. FIG. 3C shows a top view of the sound dispersion patterns of FIG. 3B. It can be seen in FIGS. 3B and 3C that at high frequencies, neither speaker provides good sound coverage at the listening position. A person sitting in the center receives little energy from both speakers, and person sitting at either side of the listening position 307 received predominantly energy from the nearest upward firing loudspeaker. One way to provide more even high frequency coverage at the listening position 307 is to rotate the loudspeakers such that they face the listening position. This is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, where FIG. 4A illustrates a front view of example sound dispersion for the speakers of FIG. 3A rotated inwards and FIG. 4B illustrates a top view of the sound dispersion patterns 404 and 406 of FIG. 3B. As can be seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the overlapping region 403 of the high frequency sound is not large and is very dependent on loudspeaker aiming, as shown for the example rotation angle 402 for the loudspeakers, which helps overlap the two sound dispersion patterns 404 and 407 onto listening position 407.
What is needed therefore, is a speaker system for reflected sound that provides wider horizontal or side-to-side dispersion to better cover the listening area.
For purposes of the present description, the term loudspeaker means complete loudspeaker cabinet incorporating one or more loudspeaker drivers; a driver or loudspeaker driver means a transducer which converts electrical energy into sound or acoustic energy, and sound dispersion or dispersion means or describes the directional way sound from a source, in this case a loudspeaker, is dispersed or projected. Wide dispersion indicates that a source radiates sound widely and fairly consistently in many directions; the widest being omnidirectional where sound radiates in all directions. Narrow dispersion indicates that a source radiates sound more in one direction and over a limited angle. Dispersion can be different in different axes, for example vertical and horizontal, and can be different at difference frequencies.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions. Dolby and Atmos are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Upward firing loudspeaker having asymmetric dispersion for reflected sound rendering


A method for releasing impurities from a calcium-based mineral is described. The method comprises reacting a calcium-based mineral containing impurities with an aqueous solution of one or more ionic salts at a temperature of approximately 85° C. or above, wherein at least one of the calcium-based mineral and the one or more ionic salts comprises sulphate and at least one of the calcium-based mineral and the one or more ionic salts comprises ammonium, and wherein the concentration of the solution is approximately 25% or higher mass fraction, such that double salt crystals are formed and impurities are released. The method further comprises separating the double salt crystals from the impurities. Various products of the process are also described.

Gypsum is commonly sold for use as a filler or pigment. Moreover, the potential exists for gypsum powders to displace a number of other substances such as calcium carbonate, talc and titanium dioxide for various purposes if the brightness and purity of the gypsum could be brought up to comparable levels.
As one example, pure white calcium carbonate has a high commercial value as a powder when used as a filler or pigment. The production of ammonium sulphate through the reaction of gypsum with ammonia and CO2 is a well-established method that has been used for many years and is well documented. At one point it was the primary method for production of ammonium sulphate. However, whilst it is an effective method of producing ammonium sulphate, it also creates a calcium carbonate by-product. Unfortunately the calcium carbonate so produced suffers from purity issues as the impurities in the gypsum feedstock ultimately end up in the calcium carbonate. The level of impurities, even when using mined natural gypsum as the feedstock, is high and this results in the calcium carbonate ending up as a by-product sometimes called 'Lime Mud', which as the name suggests is dirty calcium carbonate. This by-product has limited application and although it can be used as a low value product to 'sweeten' low pH soils, it may also simply be stored in a slag heap as a waste product. The issue can be even more severe when the gypsum used is from power station flue gas desulphurisation (FGD gypsum) as this gypsum can have high levels of noxious contaminates which may even prevent its use as a soil sweetener.
Another known method of producing calcium carbonate is by a classic process of carbonisation, but this is carbon and energy intensive and requires calcining limestone at temperatures of 900-1000° C. It is also restricted by the availability of suitable high-quality limestone deposits which are both relatively rare and also diminishing. By contrast, natural gypsum is abundant all over the world and there are also industrial by-product sources such as FGD gypsum and phosphogypsum, hence producing calcium carbonate through the above-described ammonium sulphate process would not suffer from the same issues of lack of availability of feedstock deposits. Calcium carbonate produced from this process could potentially be used as a filler or pigment if it was sufficiently clean and pure. Hence production of pure and clean calcium carbonate as a by-product of the ammonium sulphate process could provide a means of producing commercial grade calcium carbonate at a lower cost and with a lower carbon footprint.
There are also many waste streams of calcium carbonate which result from industrial processes such as paper and pulp production.
The purity of the calcium carbonate powder has a direct bearing on its brightness and other characteristics such as abrasiveness. In certain uses, for example as a pigment in the coating of paper, the calcium carbonate powder is desired to have a maximal degree of brightness whilst having minimal abrasiveness.
Another property of gypsum or calcium carbonate that can be important for some uses is a lack of abrasiveness. Insoluble impurities in particular, such as sand for example, can cause abrasiveness.
For the above-discussed reasons, there have been developed numerous processes intended for enhancing the purity of gypsum.
European Patent publication no. 2279151 discloses a method of purifying gypsum using magnetic separation and acid washing. The disclosed method will remove the majority of magnetic particles and any impurities that are soluble in acid solutions but will not remove insoluble and non-magnetic contaminates such as silica, which is one of the causes of abrasiveness. The process will also have no effect on the impurities that are enveloped in the gypsum crystal lattice and hence the process will only be effective after the gypsum has been ground to a level that liberates such impurities first, else on further grinding these impurities will be released, adversely affecting the brightness. In addition, washing with an acid solution typically consumes the acid, which is costly in terms of the acid and creates a waste issue.
UK Patent no. 577,970 discloses a method of purification of calcium sulphate in which dehydrated gypsum is crystallised (rehydrated) in a dilute electrolyte solution to slow the crystallisation process such that the finer impurities precipitated by this crystallisation can be mechanically separated from the larger gypsum dihydrate crystals. This document teaches that with a dilute electrolyte solution the impurities do not precipitate out until the crystallisation stage, which is specified as requiring between 12 and 24 hours, and that separation is possible because the gypsum crystals have grown large in comparison to the smaller size of the impurities. This method is difficult to implement due to the excessive time that is required for crystallisation if the impurities are to be excluded.
Other processes, such as the Giulini Process, use a method of acid dehydration where gypsum is heated in an acidic solution in order to dehydrate it and release the impurities enveloped within the gypsum crystals which dissolve in the acidic solution. Such processes have several problems. The acid environment is highly aggressive to equipment, requiring costly materials to be employed and increasing maintenance costs. The impurities are dissolved into the acidic solution which makes them difficult and costly to remove out of the process. Acid dehydration processes are not tolerant of fluoride contamination as this reacts to become hydrofluoric acid. Under the heated conditions of this process, very few materials are compatible with hydrofluoric acid.
Thus there is a clear need in the art for a process by which high purity gypsum could be produced but which would not suffer from the disadvantages found in prior art processes.

Releasing impurities from a calcium-based mineral