A camera apparatus of the present invention comprises: an optical system for projecting image light representing an image of a wide view field area toward a prescribed direction; an imaging section for obtaining, as an image, the image light projected by the optical system; and a holding member for integrally holding the optical system and the imaging section in a state where the curved mirror and the imaging section are opposed to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera apparatus and a monitoring system, and more particularly to a camera apparatus, which includes a curved mirror reflecting image light representing an image of a wide view field area toward a prescribed direction and an imaging section for obtaining, as an image, the image light reflected by the curved mirror, capable of obtaining an image of a wide view field area and a system including the same camera apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many cases, automated teller machines (ATM) for automatically paying/receiving money are installed in a relatively small area within a bank or the like, where money is handled, and therefore there is a high possibility that a criminal activity such as larceny might occur. Accordingly, a place where an ATM is installed is required to be monitored at all times using a monitoring camera.
When monitoring an ATM, it is necessary to monitor the operator and an operation panel of the ATM, i.e., the general vicinity of the ATM must be targeted for monitoring. However, in many cases, ATMs are installed in a relatively small area, and therefore a target for monitoring cannot be sufficiently distanced from the location where a monitoring camera is installed. Therefore, there is a possibility that a view field area for an image obtained by the monitoring camera might be limited. In particular, a monitoring camera using an industrial television (ITV) camera has a problem that an angle α of view which enables monitoring is predetermined by an optical system of the monitoring camera, and therefore part of the target for monitoring is located out of an area defined by the angle of view, i.e., the target for monitoring is partially located in a blind area.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing an area monitored by a monitoring camera using an ITV camera normally used for monitoring an ATM which is installed on a wall above the ATM.
In the example shown in FIG. 9, the monitoring camera is installed such that the operator of the ATM is positioned within the area defined by the angle α of view of the monitoring camera. In this case, an entire image of the ATM operator can be obtained, while there is a blind area represented by angle β in directions in the vicinity of a direction vertically downward from the monitoring camera. Such a blind area cannot be monitored, i.e., an operation panel of the ATM cannot be monitored.
On the other hand, although not shown in the figures, when an installation angle of the monitoring camera is adjusted so as to monitor the operation panel of the ATM, it is not possible to obtain an image of a sufficiently widely ranging area for monitoring the ATM operator.
In the case of monitoring circumstances in a wide range of area around an ATM or the like using a conventional ITV camera, it is conceivable that a monitoring system, which includes a turntable for turning the ITV camera and a driving device or the like for pivotably driving the turntable, is provided so as to allow the ITV camera to be turned pivotably, thereby reducing the blind area created when the ITV camera is used. However, in such a case, it is necessary to provide, in addition to the ITV camera, the turntable for turning the ITV camera and the driving device or the like for pivotably driving the turntable, and therefore the configuration of the monitoring system becomes complicated.
Alternatively, instead of providing the turntable, the driving device, etc., it is conceivable that a wide-angle lens is used to widen a field view area of the ITV camera. However, in such a case, there is a problem in that a large wide-angle lens causes the ITV camera to be increased in size. Further, the ITV camera becomes expensive by the cost of the wide-angle lens.
As an example of a camera apparatus which overcomes the above problems caused by using the conventional ITV camera, there is a vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-118178. This vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus is applied to a vehicle surroundings recognizing system used for appreciating a positional relationship between a car and an object therearound.
The vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus described in the above publication includes a wide-angle camera mounted at a left rear end portion of the vehicle and a monitor installed in the vehicle for displaying a view obtained as an image by the wide-angle camera on the screen. The wide-angle camera includes a convex mirror capable of reflecting an omnidirectional view around the vehicle, an imaging device for obtaining a virtual image reflected by the convex mirror, and a transparent pipe for connecting the convex mirror with the imaging device. In the vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus described in the above publication, the imaging device obtains an omnidirectional virtual image reflected by the convex mirror and a synthetic image is created based on the image obtained by the imaging device so as to allow a positional relationship between the vehicle and an object located therearound, the shape of the vehicle, etc., to be readily appreciated. The synthetic image is displayed on the monitor installed in the vehicle. With such a simple configuration, the vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus allows easy appreciation of omnidirectional positional relationships around the vehicle.
Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-206635 discloses a panoramic imaging apparatus including a hyperboloidal convex mirror for reflecting a 360° image, a lens placed so as to be opposed to a reflection surface of the hyperboloidal convex mirror, a camera apparatus for obtaining an annular image reflected by the hyperboloidal convex mirror, and a computer for transforming the annular image obtained by the camera apparatus into a planar image based on a specific viewing angle. With such a simple configuration as to use the computer for transforming the annular image reflected by the hyperboloidal convex mirror into a panoramic image, the panoramic imaging apparatus obtains a panoramic image of a 360° view field area.
In the case of installing a conventional ITV camera in a manner as shown in FIG. 9, it is necessary to confirm whether or not a certain area is appropriately obtained as an image during installation. Specifically, it is necessary to adjust an installation angle, etc., of the ITV camera while viewing an image displayed on a monitor during the installation of the ITV camera, and this is a complicated and time-consuming task.
As in the case described in conjunction with FIG. 9, when using a camera apparatus disclosed in either Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-118178 or 2000-206635 for monitoring a particularly small area in a bank or the like where an ATM or the like is installed, even if the camera apparatus can obtain an image of a wide view field area in a lateral direction, an area in a direction vertically downward from the camera apparatus cannot be obtained as an image since an image of an imaging section of the camera apparatus itself is reflected in a convex mirror of the camera apparatus.
Further, in such a camera apparatus, a device required for controlling an image obtaining operation, e.g., an interface section for transferring an image to an external device, needs to be provided in the vicinity of an imaging device. This increases the size of the imaging section, and thus an area located in a direction vertically downward from the camera apparatus, where obtaining an image is not possible, is also increased. As a matter of course, the device is restricted in its design.
Furthermore, in the vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-118178, the transparent pipe is used for connecting the convex mirror with the imaging device, and in the case of using such a transparent pipe for connecting the convex mirror with the imaging device, when incident light entering into the transparent pipe is transmitted therethrough, internal reflection occurs in the transparent pipe. The internally reflected light reaches the imaging device so that light other than that essentially required is incident on the imaging device. As a result, an image including a plurality of overlapping views is generated.
Further still, the panoramic imaging apparatus described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-206635 does not have a mechanism for maintaining the camera in the state of being opposed to a reflecting surface of the hyperboloidal convex mirror. However, the panoramic imaging apparatus described in this publication is configured to obtain an image by collecting light reflected by the hyperboloidal convex mirror. Although a positional relationship between the hyperboloidal convex mirror and the camera is important in order to obtain a clear and high resolution image, it is difficult to separately install the hyperboloidal convex mirror and the camera in a place where an image obtaining operation is performed, such that the positional relationship between the hyperboloidal convex mirror and the camera is adjusted so as to bring the camera into focus. Moreover, since the panoramic imaging apparatus is intended to obtain an image of a 360° view field area using the hyperboloidal convex mirror, it is appreciated that the panoramic imaging apparatus also uses a transparent pipe so as to hold the hyperboloidal convex mirror and the camera as in a similar manner to the vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus described in the aforementioned Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-118178. In such a case, as described above with respect to the vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-118178, internal reflection occurs in the transparent pipe and the internally reflected light reaches the imaging device so that light other than that essentially required is incident on the imaging device. As a result, an image including a plurality of overlapping views is generated.

Wide view field area camera apparatus and monitoring system


Proposed is an improvement in the process for the preparation of an SOI wafer comprising the steps of: forming an oxidized surface film on the mirror-polished surface of a first mirror-polished semiconductor silicon wafer as the base wafer; forming a doped layer with a dopant in a high concentration on the mirror-polished surface of a second mirror-polished semiconductor silicon wafer as the bond wafer; bringing the base wafer and the bond wafer into contact each with the other at the oxidized surface film and the doped layer; and subjecting the thus contacted semiconductor silicon wafers to a heat treatment to effect integral bonding thereof into a precursor of an SOI wafer. The improvement of the invention is accomplished by polishing the surface of the doped layer on the bond wafer before the base wafer and the bond wafer are joined by contacting at the oxidized surface film and the doped layer so that a great improvement can be obtained in the bonding strength between layers.

The present invention relates to a method for the integral bonding of two semiconductor silicon wafers or, more particularly, to a so-called SOI (silicon-on-insulator) wafer and a method for the preparation thereof.
It is known that, when two mirror-polished semiconductor silicon wafers or a two silicon wafers of which at least one is provided with an oxidized surface film of silicon formed on the surface are brought into contact at the mirror-polished surfaces under clean conditions, the wafers adhere one to the other even without using any adhesive or other bonding means. This phenomenon is referred to as joining hereinafter. This condition of joining, however, is not a state of complete bonding so that the wafers can be firmly bonded together only after a heat treatment of the wafers under junction. This state of firm bonding is referred to as "integral bonding" hereinafter. An SOI wafer as the subject matter of the present invention is obtained by integrally bonding two semi-conductor silicon wafers, of which at least one has an oxidized surface, with the oxidized surface film or films interposed between the wafers.
Such an SOI wafer can be freely subjected to subsequent treatments such as a high-temperature heat treatment and various types of chemical treatments because no foreign substances such as an adhesive and the like need not be interposed between the component wafers and has an advantage that formation of a pn-junction and embedding of a dielectric material can be accomplished efficiently and conveniently. Accordingly, SOI wafers are highlighted in recent years as a practically applicable item along with the rapid progress in the technology of thin film formation relative to the flatness and cleanness of the surface.
The progress in the technology of semiconductor devices in recent years to accomplish higher and higher degrees of integration and higher and higher operating velocities has led to a trend in the SOI wafers of which the thickness of the active layer is decreasing. For example, an SOI wafer of which the thickness of the active layer for the formation of a semiconductor device is as small as around 0.1 .mu.m is now required. An SOI wafer having such an extremely thin active layer can never be prepared by a conventional mechanical working method such as grinding and polishing. Suitable thickness-reducing methods for finishing include, for example, the etch-stop method by using a high-concentration layer of dopant reported by K. Imai in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, volume 30 (1991), page 1154, the dry etching method disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai 5-33539 and so on.
The above mentioned etch-stop method with a high-concentration layer of dopant is described by making reference to FIGS. 3A to 3F of the accompanying drawing, each of which illustrates one of the steps (A) to (F), respectively, in the method by a schematic cross sectional view of the wafers. In step (A), as is illustrated in FIG. 3A, an ordinary semiconductor silicon wafer 1 having a thickness of 600 to 1000 .mu.m as a substrate, which is referred to as the base wafer hereinafter, is provided with an oxidized surface film 1A having a thickness of 1 .mu.m or smaller on the mirror-polished flat surface. On the other hand, a second silicon wafer 2 having a thickness of 600 to 800 .mu.m, which is referred to as a bond wafer hereinafter, is subjected to a doping treatment with a boron dopant on the mirror-polished surface by the thermal diffusion method or ion implantation method to form a high-concentration doped layer 2A to serve as the active layer for the formation of a semiconductor device, of which the thickness is about 0.5 .mu.m and the concentration of the dopant is around 10.sup.20 atoms per cm.sup.3.
In step (B), in the next place, the two wafers 1 and 2 after the above described pretreatment are brought into contact each with the other at the respective mirror-polished surfaces, as is illustrated in FIG. 3B, in a clean atmosphere at room temperature to be joined together with the oxidized film 1A and the dopant-diffused layer 2A in direct contact followed by a heat treatment at a temperature in the range from 700 to 1000.degree. C. in an atmosphere of oxygen for about 1 hour to effect integral bonding of the wafers 1 and 2. In this heat treatment, diffusion of the dopant proceeds through the bond wafer 2 so that the thickness of the doped layer in a high dopant concentration is increased while the concentration thereof is somewhat decreased.
In step (C) of the process, the integrally bonded body of the wafers 1 and 2, i.e. a precursor of an SOI wafer, is subjected to mechanical grinding or polishing to thin down the bond wafer 2 until the thickness thereof is decreased into a thin layer having a thickness of 5 to 10 .mu.m, as is illustrated in FIG. 3C.
In step (D), in the next place, the integrally bonded body of wafers 1 and 2 after the mechanical grinding or polishing treatment on the bond wafer 2 in step (C) is subjected to an etching treatment with an aqueous etching mixture prepared by blending 3400 ml of ethylenediamine, 600 g of pyrocatechol and 1600 ml of water at a temperature of 100 to 110.degree. C. so that etching of the bond wafer layer rapidly proceeds and to remove the portion with a low dopant concentration so that the dopant concentration at the etching front is succeedingly increased to gradually decrease the rate of etching until etching is stopped at a certain level of the dopant concentration. By this etch-stop method, the bond wafer 2 is removed by etching leaving only a thin layer 2A of a relatively high dopant concentration having a thickness of about 0.5 .mu.m. as is illustrated in FIG. 3D.
In step (E), in the next place, the surface of the bond wafer 2 or the dopant-diffused layer 2A is subjected to a thermal oxidation treatment to form an oxidized film 2B on the surface. The dopant is taken into this oxidized surface film 2B under growing so that the concentration thereof in the dopant-diffused layer 2A is decreased to one tenth to one twentieth provided that the conditions for the growth are adequately controlled. Thus, a thin layer of silicon 2A having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.2 .mu.m, referred to as an SOI layer hereinafter, is formed between the above mentioned oxidized surface film 1A for integral bonding and the oxidized film 2B grown on the surface, as is illustrated in FIG. 3E.
Finally, in step (F), this oxidized surface layer 2B is removed by etching with diluted hydrofluoric acid so as to give an SOI wafer having an extremely thin SOI layer 2A exposed on the surface, as is illustrated in FIG. 3F.
In connection with the method for the preparation of such an SOI wafer having an extremely thin SOI layer 2A, however, a trouble is sometimes encountered during the procedure of the mechanical grinding or polishing for obtaining a very thin SOI layer 2A as mentioned above or during the procedure for the preparation of a semiconductor device by using the SOI wafer that exfoliation or separation between layers takes place due to incomplete bonding. When two wafers 1 and 2 are joined together to prepare an integrally bonded wafer through the heat treatment, for example, separation of the two wafers takes place in the course of grinding and polishing to decrease the thickness of the bond wafer 2 to 5 to 10 .mu.m as in usual cases.
In the case of an integrally bonded wafer obtained by bonding a bond wafer having a high-concentration doped layer on the mirror-polished surface and a base wafer after oxidation of the mirror-polished surface, in particular, troubles are sometimes caused that separation takes place between the bonded surfaces due to weakness of the bonding strength.
The inventors have conducted studies for finding the mechanism of these troubles to arrive at a discovery that, when two mirror-polished wafers without a high-concentration layer of dopant on the surface are to be bonded together, the surface roughness of each of the bonded surfaces as mirror-polished does not exceed, for example, about 10 bits as estimated in terms of the haze level based on the scattering intensity of a laser beam. A satisfactory integrally bonded SOI wafer can be obtained when such mirror-polished wafers with the above haze level are joined together after thermal oxidation of one or both of these wafers followed by a bonding heat treatment.
It has been discovered that the surface of a wafer having a layer doped with boron or antimony in a high concentration, however, is necessarily roughened in the course of thermal diffusion or ion implantation of the dopant so that no satisfactory integrally bonded wafer can never be obtained from such a wafer having a roughened surface due to occurrence of voids in a large number. The bonding strength in an SOI wafer having such voids is low so that separation of the layers frequently takes place in the course of the polishing process for thickness reduction of the SOI layer or in the course of the preparation of a semiconductor device after thickness reduction of the SOI layer.

SOI wafer and method for the preparation thereof


A computing device identifies a plurality of media files within a data store, each of the media files lacking user established file names. The computing device analyzing the plurality of media files to recognize humans in the media files based on facial recognition and/or voice recognition programs. Using results of the analyzing to generate a plurality of content identification keywords, which are scored and ranked. Establishing a filename prefix for the media files using scored and ranked content identification keywords. Automatically generating a unique file name for each of the media files, wherein each unique file name includes the established filename prefix.

The present invention relates to the field of media and, more particularly, to enabling intelligent media naming and icon generation utilizing semantic metadata.
In today's digital world, many types of devices can produce a variety of media which can lead to substantial amounts of generated media files. For example, a mobile phone can allow a user to take pictures, record movies, and music which can be stored on the mobile phone as media files. The media content can quickly become disorganized and/or difficult to manage due to the generic automated naming generation capabilities of devices. Consequently, retrieval and reuse of this generated media can be hindered by cryptic filenames, incorrectly named files, and/or misleading icons.
Traditionally, media capture devices often name media files in an alphanumeric value combination and maintain a progression order. For example, the first image file of a camera is often labeled (e.g., IMG_0001) with number values of the filename are incremented for each subsequent picture (e.g., IMG_0002). These file names do not provide much information and lack the ability to give meaningful naming to the media files. Currently, organization methods require manual processes to be completed by device owners to give media files generated meaningful names. For example, the media file has to be inspected and named manually. That is, media files must be renamed individually or folders must be created to group multiple files together based on their relevancy. Such known solutions are tedious, unintuitive, time consuming, and failure ridden.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Automatic media naming using facial recognization and/or voice based identification of people within the named media content

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A water heater and storage tank assembly comprises a housing defining a chamber, an inlet for admitting cold water to the chamber, and an outlet for permitting flow of hot water from the chamber. A compressor is mounted on the housing and is removed from the chamber. A condenser comprises a tube adapted to receive refrigerant from the compressor, and winding around the chamber to impart heat to water in the chamber. An evaporator is mounted on the housing and removed from the chamber, the evaporator being adapted to receive refrigerant from the condenser and to discharge refrigerant to conduits in communication with the compressor. An electric resistance element extends into the chamber, and a thermostat is disposed in the chamber and is operative to sense water temperature and to actuate the resistance element upon the water temperature dropping to a selected level. The assembly includes a first connection at an external end of the inlet, a second connection at an external end of the outlet, and a third connection for connecting the resistance element, compressor and evaporator to an electrical power source.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to water heater and storage tank assemblies, and is directed more particularly to such an assembly of the heat pump type.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
A widely accepted and used water heater for residential hot water production and storage is the electric resistance water heater and storage tank. Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that such water heaters typically include a tank 20 defining a chamber 22 for retention of water. A water inlet pipe 24 is provided with a first connection 25 for interconnection with a cold water supply line (not shown) and conveys fresh relatively cold water into the chamber 22. Electric resistance elements 26 heat the water in the tank. A hot water outlet pipe 28, provided with a second connection 29 for interconnection with a hot water discharge line (not shown), conveys relatively hot water from the chamber 22. A pressure and temperature relief valve 34 is provided at the top or side of the tank 20 and typically is connected to a pressure and temperature relief valve drain tube 36 extending downwardly alongside the tank 20. An electrical power line 30 is provided with an electrical connector 32 for connection to a power source (not shown), such as a high voltage household outlet, and provides electrical power to the electric resistance elements 26. Such electrically powered assemblies typically have an Energy Factor (a measure of efficiency) of about 0.86 for a 50 gallon tank. The assemblies are available in different sizes, usually 40-80 gallon capacity, most typically 40 or 50 gallon capacity, and are dimensioned for acceptance in residential basements, kitchens, closets, and the like. Typically, the cold water inlet and hot water outlet are disposed at the top of the tank, and the electrical power line is disposed at the top (as shown) or side of the tank.
Heat pump water heaters and storage tank assemblies are generally known in the art. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,516,094, issued Jul. 18, 1950, to A.W. Ruff, there is shown and described a heat pump water heater. In the Ruff assembly, a compressor and condenser are disposed within a water containing tank and an evaporator is disposed on top of the tank. These heat pump components occupy a large portion of the volume of the tank, leaving a limited volume for storage of water. The hot and cold water connections are on the side of the tank, the cold water inlet being near the bottom of the tank.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,696,085, issued Dec. 6, 1954, to A. W. Ruff, there is disclosed a similar heat pump water heater differing from the '094 assembly in that the condenser portion of the refrigerant circuit comprises three sets of coils submerged high, low and midway inside the tank.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,575,325, issued Nov. 20, 1951, to E. R. Ambrose et al, there is shown a heat pump water heater and storage tank in which a compressor and condenser are located within the tank and two evaporators are located externally of the tank.
While heat pump water heaters provide improved efficiencies over electric resistance water heaters, they have never attained wide acceptance. The reasons for the lack of acceptance appear to be (1) high initial costs; (2) the fact that water heater installers (a) are used to placement of hot water and cold water connections in about the same place relative to the tank, which typically is a 40 gallon or 50 gallon tank, and used to a single simple electrical connection, and (b) are not equipped to handle system components external to, and removed from, the tank; (3) the fact that often a water heater is located in a confined space which is constructed with enclosure of a 40 or 50 gallon residential electrical water heater of conventional shape in mind; and (4) the fact that heat pump water heaters can be slow to recover from a large draw-down of hot water.
It has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy that wide-spread acceptance of heat pump water heaters would lead to substantial savings in energy consumption.
There is thus a need for a heat pump water heater having substantially improved efficiencies over a comparable electric resistance water heater, having substantially the same physical characteristics as a comparable electric resistance water heater, and having connections that can easily be made by anyone practiced in installing electric resistance water heaters. There is further a need for such a heat pump water heater wherein provision is made for quick recovery from large draw-downs. There is still further a need for such a heat pump water heater which is comparable in initial cost to that of an electric resistance water heater.

Heat pump water heater and storage tank assembly


An operator for a jalousie window includes a linkage with two toggle joints. The toggle joints assist in locking the window in its fully opened or fully closed position. The toggle joints of the operator are actuated by an actuating lever which is mounted to the window frame of the jalousie window so as to provide a mechanical advantage to operation of the jalousie window. The mechanical advantage afforded by the operator allows relatively heavy jalousie window louvers and associated moving components to be actuated by means of a tolerable range of actuating forces. The operating linkage is equipped with brakes which permit the louvers of the window to be maintained in any number of fixed orientations between the fully opened and fully closed position of the window.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to operating assemblies or operators for jalousie windows, and more particularly, to a lever-based operator and associated jalousie window.
2. Background
Jalousie windows generally include louvers extending across and pivoted in a rectangular window frame. The louvers are often rectangular and are generally mounted in the window frame at vertically spaced locations, often in such a way that, when the louvers are fully closed, opposing horizontal edges of adjacent louvers either abut each other or preferably overlap slightly such that upper louvers lap over lower louvers on the outside of the window. The louvers are parallel and substantially horizontal when fully open, thereby opening vertical spaces between the horizontal louvers for airflow, line-of-sight, etc.
The louvers are mounted on parallel horizontal pivot axes and are mechanically linked to open or close as a unit. To open the louvers, a user actuates an operating mechanism to rotate the louvers outwardly around a horizontal axis at or near the upper horizontal edges of each louver. In this way, the jalousie window provides light and ventilation by allowing air to pass between the opened louvers.
One mechanism for operating a jalousie window generally includes a rotatable crank with associated pinions and gears. Rotation of the crank is transformed into translational displacement of a window bar operatively connected to the louvers, that is, translational displacement of the window bar causes the louvers to open or shut. The window bar can be an integral connecting bar pivotally attached at regular intervals to the louvers, in each case at a space from their pivot axes. Alternatively, a connecting linkage having plural links coupling adjacent louvers to the operating mechanism can operate all the louvers as a unit.
Jalousie windows are applied in a variety of settings having different needs for ventilation, light transmission, appearance, security and the like. Applications range from heavy industrial to residential, and may concern windows or doors of buildings, porches and sunrooms, mobile homes and other vehicles. The louvers often comprise glass, plexiglass or other transparent or translucent material, and in the commercial context may comprise metal or another opaque material. Jalousie structures also serve as vents for manufacturing plants and other industrial facilities and structures as well as fire-damping controllable closures in HVAC ducts, which also may be considered windows in accordance with the invention. Metal-louver jalousie windows are also useful when security is an issue.
The material, size and thickness of the louvers are selected to suit the security and other demands of the particular application. The number of louvers and their respective dimensions vary depending on the size of the jalousie window, as well as the particular industrial, commercial, or residential application. A jalousie window of a given size may have relatively more louvers that are narrow or fewer louvers that are wide. Wide louvers pivoted at their top edges can present a substantial weight when open, producing a force borne by the operating mechanism. For wide louvers, the pivot axes can be spaced from the top edges to reduce the applied force. However, this is less desirable than placing the pivot near the top edge so that the louvers open outwardly.
It is desirable for jalousie windows--of whatever configuration--to be straightforward and relatively easy for the user to operate, while at the same time satisfying ventilation, security, access, and other requirements associated with windows. Jalousie windows typically are opened and closed by winding a crank mechanism comprising worm and pinion gears arranged to translate the window bar coupled to the louvers. The mechanical advantage of the gearing enables the user to turn the crank readily to open, close or otherwise adjust the jalousie window to maintain a desired louver angle. As a trade-off for mechanical advantage, multiple turns of the crank may be needed to move the louvers between the fully closed and fully open positions.
The louvers should also remain at the desired angle where they are set, and not tend to sag toward the closed position due to gravity. A worm and pinion mechanism or the like, having a substantial or moderate gear reduction ratio, can provide the necessary frictional resistance to hold the louvers in place. However, friction makes the mechanism more difficult to operate, and may dictate a need for even greater mechanical advantage.
Some of the same considerations apply to jalousie structures used, for example, as automatically operable ventilation dampers. Ventilation dampers are normally maintained in either the fully opened or fully closed position, unlike windows wherein the louvers are adjusted to remain at any desired angle. Nevertheless, a certain force and stroke length is needed to translate the connecting bar and the louvers between the fully open and closed positions. Mechanical advantage, stroke length and power constraints affect the nature of the operating mechanism and the source of motive power (for example, a gear motor, solenoid, etc.) as well as its cost.
In more general terms, the need to make a jalousie structure relatively easy to operate acts as a design constraint potentially limiting not only the size, shape, and number of louvers, but also dictating the configuration, gearing ratios, relative sizes, and other aspects of the other moving components of the window. These constraints are especially important for large or heavy jalousie windows such as security windows having cantilevered louvers made out of heavy material such as steel, or whenever security or other design requirements necessitate a robust construction with heavy louvers and sturdy moving parts. In other words, if the louvers and moving components of a given jalousie window design need to be relatively heavy, it can be difficult to design a correspondingly robust operating mechanism which meets the user's needs to operate the window without excessive exertion, to cause the louvers to maintain a desired louver angle, and to do so at reasonable cost.
Accordingly, there is a need for a durable jalousie window and operating mechanism that is easy to operate, delivers sufficient actuating force for a wide variety of jalousie window designs, and maintains a selected louver angle without introducing excessive frictional resistance.
There is a further need for such operating mechanism to be relatively straightforward and inexpensive to manufacture.


A core network device receives a fallback identifier from an access network device in a first radio access network when radio access technology (RAT) of a terminal is falling back from RAT of the first radio access network to RAT of a second radio access network. The first radio access network is a 5G network, and the second radio access network is a 4G network. The core network device determines, according to the fallback identifier, that the fallback of the RAT of the terminal from the RAT of the first radio access network to the RAT of the second radio access network is for establishing a voice service under the second radio access network. After the RAT of the terminal falls back from the RAT of the first radio access network to the RAT of the second radio access network, the core network device establishes a bearer/flow for the voice service.

At the onset of 5G new radio (NR) network deployment, a fallback from 5G NR network to 4G long term evolution (LTE) network may occur in some scenarios (e.g., in network congestion, or the need for a voice service, etc.). However, for now, after the fallback from the 5G NR network to the 4G LTE network, it is impossible to accurately determine whether the fallback is for the voice service, nor is there any specification regarding how to return to the 5G NR network. Thus, after the occurrence of fallback from the 5G NR network to the 4G LTE network, it is impossible to accurately determine whether the fallback is for the voice service, nor is a swift return to the 5G NR network possible, spoiling the user experience.

Method for network handover and returning after network handover, access network device and core network device

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A refrigerator appliance and a door for a refrigerator appliance are provided. The refrigerator appliance includes features for firmly attaching a decorative panel to a door of the refrigerator appliance, where such features are hidden from the view of a user of the refrigerator appliance. The door for a refrigerator appliance includes concealed features for attaching a decorative panel to the door.

Generally, refrigerator appliances include a cabinet that defines a fresh food chamber for receipt of food items for storage. Refrigerator appliances also usually include a door that, with normal operation, pivots about one or more hinges between an open and a closed position to allow access to the fresh food chamber. Many refrigerator appliances further include one or more freezer chambers for receipt of food items for freezing and storage, with a door positioned to selectively open or close the freezer chambers.
Some consumers may desire to customize the appearance of a refrigerator appliance, e.g., by providing one or more decorative panels as part of each door of the refrigerator. Such panels are typically mounted on the refrigerator appliance using one or more brackets positioned at the top and bottom of the door such that the brackets are hidden from the consumer's view. Thus, the sides of the panels are left unsupported, which, over time, may allow the panel to warp or creep. Additionally, a handle mounted to the panel is often provided for each door, to assist the consumer in opening and closing the door. Without supporting the sides of the panel, when a user pulls on the handle to open the door, the pulling force may cause the panel to flex, which could be undesirable in terms of how the panel appears and how the handle feels to the consumer.
Accordingly, improved refrigerator appliances are desired. In particular, a refrigerator appliance with features for firmly attaching a decorative panel to a door of the refrigerator appliance, where such features are hidden from the view of a user of the refrigerator appliance, would be advantageous. Additionally, a door for a refrigerator appliance with concealed features for attaching a decorative panel to the door would be beneficial.

Concealed mount for refrigerator appliance door panel


An air control valve for an engine includes a throttle body defining an air intake passage and a throttle valve rotatably mounted in the passage. The range of valve rotation includes an idle control portion extending from a minimum air flow position to an intermediate air flow position and a power control portion extending from the intermediate air flow position to a maximum air flow position. The intake passage is defined by an internal wall of the throttle body having a pair of arcuate surfaces spaced from the valve periphery, at a maximum first radius from the valve axis, with gradually increasing clearance on opposite sides of the valve axis in the idle control range from the minimum to the intermediate air flow position of the valve. The arcuate surfaces are defined by second and third radii greater than the maximum first radius and centered on second and third axes spaced laterally of the passage a predetermined offset distance beyond the valve axis relative to their respective surfaces. The offset dimensions are chosen to provide fine air flow resolution (gradually increasing air flow) during opening of the throttle valve in the idle control portion of its range with much greater air flow change in the power control portion. The arrangement allows control of the throttle valve with an electronic throttle control actuator with a limited number of control positions.

A conventional throttle body includes a bore, a throttle valve, mechanical linkage for actuating the valve, a throttle position sensor and possibly an idle air control actuator responsible for smoothing out the air flow during idle operation. In systems having electronic throttle control, the idle air control function may be performed directly by the electronic throttle control, eliminating the idle air control actuator. To obtain the necessary accuracy in positioning and motion of the valve by an electronic throttle control actuator, the bore of the throttle body or air control valve may be shaped. For example, a spherical shape may be applied to the bore either above or below the valve to block air flow on half the bore for an initial angular rotation of about 10 to 22 degrees. For large bore throttle bodies and normal air flow resolution requirements this is a feasible solution. However, for smaller bores and more precise air flow requirements, a single spherical shape will not produce sufficiently fine air flow resolution (small enough increments of air flow change) to meet idle air flow requirements using a current electronic throttle control actuator. One solution would be to provide a special actuator with finer control steps, at least in the idle range; however, further modification of the throttle body bore could be a more economical solution.


Systems, apparatus, and methods of encoding variable length data for efficient transport over a wireless channel. A wireless terminal can determine a frame size to encode, and can encode and transmit the frame data as one or more encoded blocks selected from a family of block sizes. Each block size can correspond to a particular encoder rate. The frame is parsed into a number of segments having a block size selected from the family of block sizes. The block sizes are selected to maximize the spectral efficiency of the frame. Each segment is then encoded with an encoder corresponding to the block size and having a coding rate that is configured to provide a substantially equal energy per symbol for all of the blocks. The encoded blocks are then aggregated and the smallest block zero padded. The aggregate of encoded blocks can be transported in one or more bursts.

The disclosure relates to the field of electronic communications. More particularly, the disclosure relates to encoding of variable sized data frames in an electronic communication system.
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) or Multi-Frequency TDMA (MF-TDMA) are commonly used techniques to support multiple access in mesh networks and in the inbound traffic for Hub spoke networks. The transmission of continuously variable size data frames, such as Internet Protocol (IP) datagrams, over a TDMA network requires the packaging of the data into messages, herein described as MAC (Medium Access Control) messages or MAC frames, each suitable for transmission within a single RF burst. The MAC message in this case may comprise a number of IP datagrams, a single IP datagram, a fraction of an IP datagram, and/or control messages. RF bursts in a wireless data transmission each consist of a number of slots, and the slot size may be chosen as small as one data symbol in length. A practical wireless data transmission may thus have a large number of possible burst lengths (measured in slots) depending on the nature of the network traffic.
Historically, the RF burst has been created by encapsulating the data (placing it into a lower level networking layer and adding headers, etc. as needed) into fixed size containers, commonly called 'cells'. When the size of the datagram is larger than the size of the cell, the datagram must be fragmented into smaller pieces, each of which will fit into one cell. Additional overhead must be added to enable the correct reassembly of the MAC message from the cells. This is how one aspect of Digital Video Broadcasting-Return Channel via Satellite (DVB-RCS, ETSI Standard EN 301 790) works, with a fundamental cell size of 48 bytes (53 Byte ATM cell with 48 bytes of usable payload). An adaptation layer (AAL-5) is used to allow datagram re-assembly. The same concept could be employed with a different cell size, however optimal selection of the cell size is not obvious.
Small cell sizes are efficient for the transport of small messages but produce a lot of overhead for the transport of large messages. A large cell size provides for the efficient transport of large messages, however are very inefficient for the transport of messages which are much smaller than the cell size since the remainder of the cell must be padded with zeros (alternatively referred to as zero filling).
A similar problem is exists with selection of the Forward Error Correction (FEC) encoding used on the physical layer. In particular, the selection of the FEC block size is a critical parameter. Information theory predicts that the reliable transport of long block size codes can be performed at a lower Eb/No than short block size codes. For example, the Random Coding Bound (RCB) establishes that an IP datagram of length 1500 bytes can be transmitted at a rate of 1 bit per symbol, with a block error rate of 1E-4, using an Eb/No of 0.25 dB. But a minimum sized IPV4 frame of 40 bytes (assuming TCP/IP) needs an Eb/No of 1.35 dB to transmit at the same rate with the same reliability (BLER=1E-4). The difference is 1.1 dB. Practical FEC codes generally deviate from the RCB much more so at short block sizes than large block sizes, so this difference becomes even larger with practical coding systems. Furthermore, many systems frequently need to transmit very small sized MAC management messages, for things such as bandwidth request, ranging, and other management information. It is common for such messages to be smaller than the minimum sized IP frame. The minimization of transmit power requirements argues for the selection of a large FEC block size. However, small IP datagrams and Media Access Control (MAC) messages will be transmitted very inefficiently due to the required zero padding to fill the code block. Smaller FEC code block selection reduces the inefficiency problem but now requires more transmit Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP).
A brute force approach to provide the most efficient use of the communication channel capacity is to simply encapsulate each MAC message into a burst that contains exactly one encoded block of data that perfectly matches its input code size to the MAC message and its output code size to the minimum slot length burst. This technique has the severe disadvantage of requiring a different encoder/decoder pair for each required length of RF burst, as measured in slots. As well, some method must be employed by both transmitter and receiver in order to coordinate the appropriate decoder to match the selected encoder.

Variable length data encapsulation and encoding


In embodiments of statistics of nearest neighbor fields, matching patches of a nearest neighbor field can be determined at image grid locations of a first digital image and a second digital image. A motion field can then be determined based on motion data of the matching patches. Predominant motion components of the motion field can be determined based on statistics of the motion data to generate a final motion field. The predominant motion components correspond to a motion of objects as represented by a displacement between the first and second digital images. One of the predominant motion components can then be assigned to each of the matching patches to optimize the final motion field of the matching patches.

Matching patches between two images, or between regions of the images, is also referred to as computing a nearest neighbor field and is a common technique used for image processing and computer graphics applications. Patches of an image may be compared as each pixel of the image, or may be a larger region of the image that includes a grid of multiple pixels. One technique for determining matching patches between two images is to exhaustively search for the best matching patch in one of the images for every patch in the other image. Although this technique is a simple algorithm, it is computationally expensive and time-consuming.
There are other more efficient algorithms that can be utilized to speed up the matching process, such as by utilizing a spatial constraint that adjacent patches in one image tend to have the same spatial relationship with the matching patches in the other image. However, these algorithms are directed to reconstructing one image from the other and often produce patch matches that are spatially incoherent, with the resulting nearest neighbor fields being based on reconstruction errors. Conventional techniques and algorithms to compute nearest neighbor fields between images do not enforce spatial coherency of the matching patches, and may not match a patch in one image to the respective, same patch in another image. For example, a white color patch in one image may be matched to any number of white color patches in another image without maintaining the spatial coherency of the actual corresponding patches in the two images.
Optical flow is the problem of inferring the apparent motion between images, and conventional algorithms for optical flow are utilized to compute a motion field, such as for optical flow registration, which is useful for image tracking, motion segmentation, and other motion processing applications. A nearest neighbor field typically provides only a very noisy estimate of the true optical flow field for the images. A motion field can be computed between two images, where the direction and magnitude of optic flow at each location is represented by the direction and length of arrows in the motion field. A motion determination between images can be utilized to track object motion, such as in video frames. For example, in a robotics application, cameras may capture two or more separate images of a scene and/or subject from slightly different perspectives and combine the separate images into one image to reduce or eliminate noise in the images. The noise effect will be different in each of the images, and the combined image is a smoothed combination of the separate images that reduces or eliminates the noise effect of each image.
Although optical flow algorithms can enforce the spatial coherency of pixels and/or patches between images, the conventional algorithms assume that the pixel motion of objects (e.g., object displacement) from one image to the next is very small. Further, optic flow registration algorithms that extract feature points do not provide a dense motion field of the images. Additionally, the conventional algorithms often produce incorrect results because they are initialized to start from an initial motion field that is typically set to zero everywhere, and therefore cannot account for a large motion between two images.


An object of the invention is to provide a granulation method and a granulation apparatus that can reduce the manufacturing costs of pellets. There is provided a granulation method which uses an underwater cutting (UWC) device 107 that cuts a medium to be processed extruded from holes of a die 106 by using cutter blades provided in a circulation box 109 and conveys the cut pellets from the circulation box 109 while cooling the cut pellets by pellet cooling/transport water (PCW). The granulation method includes circulating the PCW and stopping the circulation of the PCW after pushing the cutter blades against the die 106 while rotating the cutter blades, before the start of the granulation; storing a predetermined amount of PCW in the circulation box 109 by discharging the PCW; and heating the PCW, which is stored in the circulation box 109, up to 69° C. or more.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example of a plastic plasticizing-kneading-extrusion granulator 100. The plastic plasticizing-kneading-extrusion granulator 100 shown in FIG. 5 includes a plastic plasticizing-kneading machine 101, a diverter valve 102, a gear pump 103, a molten polymer filtering device 104, a die holder 105, a die 106, and a pelletization device (UWC device) 107.
The plastic plasticizing-kneading machine 101 is a device that plasticizes and kneads solid resin. The diverter valve 102 is a device that discharges molten polymer plasticized and kneaded by the plastic plasticizing-kneading machine 101, and can switch a flow channel for molten polymer to a discharge side outside the system or the gear pump 103. The gear pump 103 is a device that transports molten polymer, and has high boosting capability with respect to large pressure loss that is generated at a device as a transport destination.
The molten polymer filtering device 104 is a device that filters out solid impurities contained in the molten polymer. The die holder 105 is a part that connects the molten polymer filtering device 104 with the die 106. A flow channel, which guides the filtered molten polymer to a plurality of holes formed at the die 106, is formed in the die holder 105. The die 106 is a part that forms the filtered molten polymer into a spaghetti shape, and a plurality of holes are circumferentially arranged on the die 106.
The UWC device 107 is connected to the die 106, and includes a circulation box to be described below. Pellet cooling/transport water (PCW) is circulated in the circulation box. The UWC device 107 forms the spaghetti-shaped molten polymer, which is continuously extruded from the holes of the die 106, into fine grains (pellets) by cutter blades that are rotated in the circulation box.
Next, the operation of the plastic plasticizing-kneading-extrusion granulator 100 will be described. In FIG. 5, solid resin is supplied to the plastic plasticizing-kneading machine 101 and is plasticized and melted by the thermal energy obtained from a barrel that can be heated and cooled and shear energy that is applied when a built-in screw 101a is rotated by a motor and a gear reducer. The plasticized and melted plastic is conveyed to the diverter valve 102, which is a downstream device, by the conveying function of the screw 101a that is built in the plastic plasticizing-kneading machine 101. The conveyed molten polymer is conveyed to the molten polymer filtering device 104 and the die holder 105 through the diverter valve 102 by the gear pump 103, and is conveyed to the UWC device 107 through die holes to be described below.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view (inside view) of the UWC device 107 during the formation of pellets. The die holder 105, the die 106 including die holes 108, the UWC device 107, pellets 116, molten polymer 117, and pellet cooling/transport water (PCW) 118 are shown in FIG. 6.
The UWC device 107 includes a circulation box (water chamber) 109, a movable carriage 110, a motor (M) 111, a cutter shaft 112, a coupling 113, a cutter holder 114, cutter blades 115, a forward pressure controller 119, a backward pressure controller 120, a gap measuring unit 121, and a plate 122.
The cutter shaft 112 of the UWC device 107 is rotated by the start-up of the motor 111. At the same time, the cutter blades 115, which are fixed to the cutter shaft 112 through the cutter holder 114, start to be rotationally moved in the circumferential direction. The cutter blades 115 are moved forward or backward by a hydraulic unit or a pneumatic unit (not shown) of the forward pressure controller 119 or the backward pressure controller 120. It is possible to confirm a gap, which is formed between the die 106 and the cutter blades 115, using the plate 122 indirectly fixed to the cutter shaft 112 and the gap measuring unit 121 fixed to a housing 122a.
The molten polymer 117, which is extruded from the die holes 108, is cut to the shape of pellets by the cutter blades 115 and is formed in the circulation box 109 in which the PCW 118 is circulated. Further, the die 106 is heated by a heating medium (steam, hot oil, an electrical heater, or the like). The UWC device 107 includes a hydraulic system (not shown), so that it is possible to fasten the circulation box 109 and the die 106.
FIG. 7 is a system diagram showing an example of a granulation apparatus 200 in the related art. The granulation apparatus 200 includes a die 106, an UWC device 107, a dehydration screen 123, a centrifugal dehydrator 124, a PCW tank 125, a PCW pump 126, a three-way valve 127, a PCW flow rate detector 128, a detector 129 for internal temperature of the PCW tank, a PCW temperature detector 130, a PCW pressure detector 131, and a manual drain valve 132.
The PCW 118 is circulated in the granulation apparatus 200 by the PCW pump 126. The pellets 116 formed by the UWC device 107 are cooled by the PCW 118 stored in the circulation box 109, are transported to the dehydration screen 123, and are separated from the PCW 118 by the dehydration screen 123 and the centrifugal dehydrator 124. As a result, pellet-like products are obtained.
The flow rate of the PCW 118 is detected by the PCW flow rate detector 128, and is adjusted by a PCW flow rate adjusting valve (not shown). Further, the temperature of the PCW 118 stored in the PCW tank 125 is detected by the detector 129 for internal temperature of the PCW tank, and is adjusted and managed so as to become a setting temperature by a PCW temperature control system (not shown). The temperature of the circulating PCW 118 is detected by the PCW temperature detector 130. The pressure of the PCW 118 during the pelletization is detected by the PCW pressure detector 131.
The following procedure is required when pelletization is started in this granulation apparatus 200.
(1) The UWC device 107 is separated from the die 106, and the die 106 is sufficiently heated by a heating medium.
(2) The plastic plasticizing-kneading machine 101 is started up, molten polymer 117 is discharged from the diverter valve 102 to the outside of the system, and cleaning (purging) is performed in the plastic plasticizing-kneading machine 101.
(3) The gear pump 103 is started up, the diverter valve 102 is switched to the gear pump 103, and it is confirmed that molten polymer 117 is uniformly extruded from die holes 108.
(4) The diverter valve 102 is switched to the discharge side outside the system, and the gear pump 103 is stopped (this state is a state where the molten polymer 117 is discharged from the diverter valve 102).
(5) The UWC device waits until a state where the molten polymer 117 is not discharged from the die holes 108, the cutting surface of the die 106 is quickly cleaned, and the UWC device 107 is connected to the die 106.
(6) The motor 107 of the UWC device 107 starts up and rotates the cutter blades 115.
(7) The rotating cutter blades 115 come into contact with the die 106.
(8) The three-way valve 127 is switched from a state where the PCW 118 is circulated on the bypass side by the PCW pump 126 so that the PCW 118 is supplied to the circulation box 109 of the UWC device 107.
(9) The gear pump 103 is started up, the diverter valve 102 is switched to the gear pump 103, and the molten polymer 117 is extruded from die holes 108 so that the pellets 116 are formed.
(10) The formed pellets 116 are transported to the dehydration screen 123 or the centrifugal dehydrator 124 by the PCW 118, and the PCW 118 attached to the pellets 116 is removed.
In the operations of (7), (8), and (9) of the above-described procedure, the PCW 118 cools and solidifies the molten polymer 117 that is present in the die 106 and the die holes 108. For this reason, there was a problem in that the molten polymer 117 is not extruded. Further, even though the molten polymer 117 is extruded from the die holes 108, there was a problem in that the molten polymer 117 is caught by the cutter blades 115. In order to avoid these problems, there is a method of making the cutter blades 115 come into contact with the die 106 before the molten polymer 117 is extruded from the die holes 108 and extruding the molten polymer 117 before the PCW 118 reaches the die holes 108 and cools the die holes 108.
However, in the above-described granulation apparatus 200, the throughput of one series of devices was about 50 t/h. For this reason, the throughput where pellets 116 having good shape can be formed without the clogging of the die holes 108 is designed to be about 25 t/h. If throughput is lower than 25 t/h, the thermal energy transmitted to the die holes 108 from the molten polymer 117 is insufficient and the temperature of the die holes 108 is lowered due to the thermal energy that is absorbed from the surface of the die 106 by the PCW 118. Accordingly, the molten polymer 117 is solidified in the die holes 108.
For this reason, it is preferable that granulation be started at 25 t/h as the throughput at the time of granulation start. However, since a large amount of molten polymer 117 is discharged from the diverter valve 102 in (4) and (5) of the granulation start procedure, many persons are required to perform the waste disposal of the molten polymer, and a large amount of plastic is scrapped. Further, many workers are concentrated in a small place, and work disorderedly. Furthermore, since feet are covered with a large amount of water and molten polymer 117, footholds are poor. This is not preferable in terms of safety.
In recent years, there has been a need for the throughput of one series of devices of 70 t/h or more. Considering the above-described contents, the throughput at the time of granulation start becomes 35 t/h or more. For this reason, waste disposal is more difficult and the amount of molten polymer 117 to be scrapped is large. Moreover, in order to pelletize a large amount of molten polymer 117, the size of the UWC device 107 is increased and the diameter of the circulation box 109 is also increased. Accordingly, a time, which is required until the circulation box 109 is filled with PCW 118 from an inlet (bottom) of the circulation box 109 to the outlet (ceiling surface) thereof, is lengthened. For this reason, since it is difficult to adjust a timing where the molten polymer 117 is extruded from the die 106 and a timing where the PCW 118 reaches the lower portion of the die 106, it is difficult to perform pelletization.
For example, in the case where pelletization is performed using the PCW 118 that is heated up to 60° C. at a bypass line, the temperature of the PCW 118 cooled by a cold pipe is lowered to a temperature lower than 60° C. when the PCW 118 reaches the lower portion of the circulation box 109. Further, if molten polymer 117 is extruded from the die 106 when the PCW 118 does not reach the vicinity of the lower end portion of the die holes 108 positioned at the lower portion of the die 106, the molten polymer 117 extruded from the upper portion of the die 106 is caught by the cutter blades 115. For this reason, a trouble where the pellets 116 cannot be formed occurs.
On the other hand, if molten polymer 117 is extruded from the die when the circulation box 109 is filled with the PCW 118, the molten polymer 117 present in the die holes 108 formed at the lower portion of the die 106 is solidified since the lower portion of the die 106 is particularly cold, so that clogging occur. If clogging occurs, the shapes of the pellets 116 become irregular and the extrusion speed of the molten polymer 117 to be extruded from the die 106 is increased. Accordingly, long pellets 116 are formed, so that yield is reduced. Further, if the incidence of clogging is increased, the pressure loss of the die 106 is increased and exceeds a design pressure. For this reason, a trouble where operation cannot be performed at a predetermined throughput also occurs.
Accordingly, in order to solve the problems at the time of the pelletization, there has been proposed a granulation apparatus including: a detection unit that detects the temperature of PCW 118 stored in a circulation box 109; and a control unit that controls the temperature of the PCW 118 stored in the circulation box 109 so that the PCW 118 stored in the circulation box 109, which is heated by the die 106, does not boil (for example, see PTL 1).
This apparatus stores the PCW 118 in the circulation box 109, controls heating so that the PCW 118 does not boil in the circulation box 109, and melts plastic present in die holes 108 by uniformly warming up the die 106. The die 106 is heated to 200 to 250° C. in order to melt plastic.

Granulation method using an underwater cutting (UWC) device


An image processing apparatus includes an input section and a binarizing section. The input section inputs multilevel image data. The binarizing section binarizes multilevel image data to generate output image data representing halftone dots each having a hollow-structure. The binarizing section enlarges the halftone dots in a predetermined direction preferentially in accordance with the input multilevel image data.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to an image processing apparatus for converting multilevel image information into binary image information when an image is formed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine or a printer, using an electrophotographic system or an ink-jet technique, performs image processing for representing halftones by converting input multilevel image data into binary image data. As an image processing method for converting multilevel image data into binary image data, there is known a binarizing process (halftone-dot processing) for forming halftone dots (colored dots) having size corresponding to the input multilevel image data so that the density of a halftone image is reproduced apparently by the size of the colored dots.
For example, a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image by an electrophotographic system, prints and superposes respective toner images of the four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) successively on a sheet of paper, which serves as a recording medium, to thereby form a color image. On this occasion, the density of each color toner image is reproduced as a set of a large number of fine halftone dots by use of the aforementioned binarizing process.
The binarizing process according to the related art will be described specifically while a color copying machine using an electrophotographic system is taken as an example. FIG. 13A is a view schematically showing an example of the binarizing process according to the related art. FIG. 13B is a view showing an example of halftone dots (halftone-dot image) generated by the binarizing process. As shown in FIG. 13A, to form an image of a color original, the image density in the color original is first detected in units of pixels each having a predetermined size, so as to generate multilevel data having a predetermined number of bits for representing the image density (density level "8" in 16 gradations of 4 bits is shown as an example in FIG. 13A) as an input image signal. Then, a comparator compares the input image signal (multilevel data) with predetermined screen pattern data (respective threshold data in a threshold matrix). Thus, multilevel data of each pixel in the color original is binarized to thereby generate a binarized recording signal.
The generated binarized recording signal is output to an exposure device. The exposure device controls the on/off state of an exposure beam (such as a laser beam) on the basis of the binarized recording signal so as to scan and exposes an image carrier (such as a photoconductor drum) with and to the exposure beam. Thus, an electrostatic latent image in accordance with the on/off state of the exposure beam is formed on the image carrier. The electrostatic latent image is developed with each color toner. In this manner, respective color toner images are formed. The respective color toner images are transferred and fixed onto a sheet of paper, so that a color image is formed. On this occasion, the image density of the color image on the sheet of paper is represented by halftone dots each having a size corresponding to the image density as shown in FIG. 13B.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method and image forming apparatus


Bidimensional electromagnetic emission level monitoring equipment for detecting the electric fields or the magnetic fields of RF (Radio Frequency) emissions from equipment under test by moving an electromagnetic probe bidimensionally. The measuring frequency, the scanning range of the probe, and the distance between measuring points are entered on a keyboard of a controller. A spectrum analyzer selectively receives RF emissions of a designated frequency from the probe in response to an instruction from the controller and feeds emission level signal data to the controller as digital signals. A probe scanning section loaded with the probe is moved bidimensionally by a motor driver under the control of the controller. The controller delivers to a display an emission level distribution signal representative of an electromagnetic distribution based on the emission level data and position data associated with the probe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bidimensional electromagnetic emission level monitoring equipment and, more particularly, to bidimensional electromagnetic emission level monitoring equipment of the type measuring the electromagnetic field distribution of RF (Radio Frequency) emissions from electronic or similar equipment in a bidimensional plane.
2. Description of the Background Art
Regulations regarding the level of RF emissions from electronic equipment are prescribed in various countries to prevent RF emissions from disturbing the operations of the other electronic equipment. In the U.S.A., for example, FCC (Federal Communications Commission) Regulations, Part 15, Subpart J prescribes the regulation for 30 megahertz to 1 gigahertz RF emissions. Manufacturers of electronic equipment have to accurately evaluate the level of RF emissions from designed equipment and produce equipment meeting the regulations.
One conventional method available for measuring the level of RF emissions from electronic equipment consists of rotating the equipment under test (EUT) on a turntable, receiving RF emissions from the EUT with an antenna which is fixed or moved monodimensionally, and measuring the received emission levels. Such a method is extensively used to determine whether or not electronic equipment meets the prescribed RF emission level.
The prerequisite for the above-described method is that the antenna be located at a predetermined distance from the EUT so as not to strike against the latter. Especially, when the EUT has a quadrilateral or similar configuration having projections and recesses, the antenna has to be placed a great distance from the EUT. Since the distance between the antenna and the EUT is great as mentioned and since it changes, it is difficult to locate the source of RF emissions accurately. This makes it difficult to evaluate RF emissions of electronic equipment at the design stage.
Another method for measuring RF emissions from electronic equipment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,238. Bidimensional magnetic emission level monitoring equipment disclosed in this U.S. Patent has antennas (magnetic probes) arranged in a matrix in a bidimensional plane for receiving RF emissions. The equipment has a measuring circuit which sequentially accesses RF emissions from an EUT which are received by the individual antennas, thereby determining bidimensional magnetic emission levels. A display displays the magnetic emission levels produced by the measuring circuit on a bidimensional screen thereof. This kind of monitoring equipment successfully produces accurate location data representative of the source of RF emissions of the EUT. However, such equipment is complicated and expensive due to the number of receiving antennas and does not allow the range for measuring the bidimensional magnetic emission level distribution or the distance between measuring points to be set as desired. Furthermore, an accurate electromagnetic emission level distribution is not achievable unless the great number of antennas have the same sensitivity, resulting in time-consuming adjustment.


A plurality of signal wands having a handle and a signaling portion comprising photoluminescent material and a high visibility pigment are stored in a lighted receptacle for use in either high light or low light conditions. Openings provided in one wall of the receptacle permit the signaling portion of each signal wand to be inserted into an internal chamber of the receptacle, which houses a plurality of full spectrum light bulbs. The signal wands and light bulbs are oriented relative to one another in a pattern that ensures that the signaling portions are substantially surrounded by light. Exposed to light for as little as five minutes, the signaling portion of the signal wands glow with sufficient intensity and for a sufficient duration to signal vehicles, such as aircraft operating near airport gates, in low light conditions. The high visibility pigment associated with the signaling portion enables the signal wands also to be used for daytime signaling.

This invention relates to a signaling system. More specifically, this invention relates to a photoluminescent signaling system for guiding vehicles, such as aircraft, in both low and high light conditions.
Commercial aircraft requires a ground based signaling system to guide aircraft towards and away from airport gates. A ground crew of five individuals, including a supervisor, a marshaller, a driver of a pushout tractor and two wingwalkers, is used to safely guide aircraft. The marshaller stands on the ground at the front of the plane and has contact with the pilot via a headset. The driver of the pushout tractor uses the pushout tractor to push the plane into place. The wingwalkers stand on the ground on opposite sides of the plane towards the rear. The wingwalkers are responsible for escorting the aircraft away from the gate to a ramp where the aircraft is released for taxiing. The wingwalkers use signaling wands to signal the marshaller, who communicates with the pilot via the headset worn by the marshaller. The supervisor oversees the marshaller, the driver, the wingwalkers, and the operation generally.
During the day, the wingwalkers use a first type of signaling wands, i.e., day wands, having a high visibility color. At night, the wingwalkers generally use a second type of signaling wands consisting of lighted flashlights. The lighted flashlights may contain yellow cone extensions that cover the lighted end.
The current signaling wand system has its drawbacks. At times, the wingwalkers are unable to locate the flashlights from the previous shift or the batteries of the flashlights expire. Occasionally, day wands, which do not light up, are used during evening hours. In addition, if wingwalkers are working at dawn or dusk, the crew must decide when the night or day wands should be exchanged. In inclement weather, the crew must decide which signaling wand is best suited for the conditions, which also leaves room for judgment error. There is a need for an improved signaling system that is inexpensive, reliable and easy to use in both high light and low light conditions.


There is provided an improved branching section of a sheathed multicore optical fiber which is free from twisted and/or bent optical fiber cores during the operation of assembling the component of the branching section so that the operation may be carried out effectively and efficiently to provide a stable branching section of a sheathed multicore optical fiber. Such a branching section is established at an end of a sheathed multicore optical fiber by using stop rings 13, 23 having respective noncircular flanges 13, 22 and a sleeve 27 comprising a plurality of matching oblong members 28a, 28b. Since such a branching section 47 of a sheathed multicore optical fiber is established by using stop rings 12, 21 comprising respective noncircular flanges 13, 22 and a sleeve 27 comprising a plurality of matching oblong members 28a, 28b as well as other components, the branching section is free from any twisted and/or bent optical fiber cores and the operation of establishing such a branching section can be carried out effectively and efficiently to provide a stable branching section of a sheathed multicore optical fiber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a branching section of a sheathed multicore optical fiber to be realized by an improved branching mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a sheathed multicore optical fiber is branched, typically a series of operations as described below by referring to FIG. 5(A) through 5(C) of the accompanying drawings are carried out.
Referring firstly to FIG. 5(A), a cylindrical boot 2a having a tapered section and a cylindrical holding member 3a are fitted onto an end portion of a sheathed multicore optical fiber 1 comprising a plurality of strip-shaped optical cords to cover the outer peripheral surface of the sheath 4 at that portion.
Then, the sheath 4 of the multicore optical fiber 1 is partly removed at a very end portion extending from the holding member 3a to expose corresponding end portions of the optical fiber cores 5 and tension-resistive fibrous members 6 it comprises.
Then, a cylindrical sleeve 7 is fitted to the unsheathed end portion of the optical fiber 1 to partly cover the exposed optical fiber cores 5 and, subsequently, tubes 9 each having tension-resistive members 8 are put on the respective remaining end portions of the optical fiber cores 5. Thereafter, a cylindrical holding member 3b and a cylindrical boot 2b having a tapered section is fitted onto the tubes 9 to partly cover the tubes 9.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5(B), the corresponding remaining end portions of the tension-resistive members 6, 8 are placed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 7 at the opposite ends and the holding members 3a, 3b and the boots 2a, 2b are sequentially moved onto the sleeve 7 and securely held there to establish a complete branching section 10 as illustrated in FIG. 5(C).
The end portions of the optical fiber cores 5 of a branching section 10 which is prepared in this manner are protected by a sleeve 7 and respective tubes 9 and made resistive against tension by the sleeve 7 and the end portions of the tension-resistive members 6, 8 secured to the sleeve at the opposite ends thereof so that the branching section 10 is consequently highly resistive against tension.
However, since each of the components of a branching section 10 as illustrated in FIG. 5(C) have a circular cross section, the optical fiber cores 5 in the sleeve 7 can be inevitably twisted and/or bent to damage their transmission capabilities when the components are assembled.
While it is highly desirable to check the established branching section 10, the optical fiber cores 5 in the sleeve 7 are invisible from outside and any twisted and/or bent optical fiber cores 5 are normally left unchecked.
If the sleeve 7 is made of a transparent material and twisted and/or bent optical fiber cores 5 are visible from outside, any efforts of remedying such faulty optical fiber cores 5 can significantly reduce the efficiency of branching operation.

Branching section of a sheathed multicore optical fiber


A method according to preparing an integral image from an interwoven image is provided. The interwoven image is prepared by interweaving at least two source images which have been divided into cells which themselves have been divided into image elements. By interweaving the image elements within each cell and forming an array of cells, an integral image is formed when the array of cells is viewed through a viewing screen. 3-dimensional, moving or motion, and images which are combinations thereof are formed with the present device. The method can be used in electronic display devices as well as on non-electronic services to form integral images. A 3-dimensional image formed by the present device will generally have a portion which appears to project above the surface of an overlaying viewing screen. A quality control method for the manufacture of three-dimensional integral image devices and for the selection of viewing screens is also provided herein. The quality of the integral image as well as the ease of manufacture and the versatility of integral image control are superior above other known methods for preparing integral image devices.

The present invention relates to methods and an apparatus for producing integral images. An integral image having a multiple axis, or viewing angle, three-dimensional image of a scene with forward and backward depth is prepared by interweaving a plurality of views of a scene in a specific pattern which is viewed through a screen.
Various methods have been proposed for the formation of integral images. Traditionally the integral image has been formed using photographic techniques and a fly""s-eye lens. A fly""s-eye lens is a sheet of optically clear substrate with an array of semi-spherical lenses on one or both sides of the sheet that uses refraction to focus light. A photographic material is placed behind the fly""s-eye lens and exposed. When the film is developed an array of images is formed corresponding to the fly""s-eye lenslets. Each element of the image array represents a portion of the photographed scene from each lenslet""s perspective.
Viewing the image array through the fly""s-eye lens presents the observer with an integrated image of the scene wherein each lenslet provides image detail from differing perspectives as the observer""s viewing angle changes. The eyes are separated by the interocular distance giving a slightly different angle of view to each eye for a stereoscopic effect.
A proposed method by Rodger de Montebello (U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,453) uses elaborate procedures to form the fly""s-eye lens materials for an integral imaging camera and reproducing orthoscopic integral images as described. The primary difficulty being the dimensional precision required to manufacture the various components used to form and view the image.
An alternate method of integral photography proposed by Vilums (U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,735) uses an array of Fresnel zone plates. A Fresnel zone plate is xe2x80x9ca flat bull""s-eye image made of concentric, alternating clear and opaque ringsxe2x80x9d that diffracts light to a focus. The array of Fresnel zone plates is substituted for the fly""s-eye lens. This method is particularly suited for imaging with non-visible light, such as X-rays.
Symmetrically distributed apertures on a plane has also been proposed as a substitute for the fly""s eye and Fresnel zone plate screening methods. Seegar (U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,324) describes utilizing an xe2x80x9caperture-raster platexe2x80x9d to both generate and view the resultant three-dimensional image. Similarly, Takezaki U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,095 discloses a xe2x80x9cnon-transmittable or opaque surface having a plurality of transmission points xe2x80x9creferred to asxe2x80x9d incident portsxe2x80x9d used in the generation and viewing of the three-dimensional image.
Additional reference is made to Gibas (U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,377) describes a three-dimensional imaging and display system. Using an acquisition device, image and distance information is captured from a plurality of points of view and output as a non-standard image consisting of image and distance data for each pixel captured from the points of view. The display device processes the non-standard image into a plurality of display images with a display panel having a fly""s eye lens to produce a three dimensional image. Gibas""s method requires a special image capture device to obtain the image and distance data used to construct the non-standard image as well as a special device to display the non-standard image as a three-dimensional image. The method is calculatively intensive requiring special image processing hardware to capture and display the three-dimensional image. As in the other prior art references the perceived depth does not project in front of the display. The output is limited to a dedicated display device thereby inhibiting its acceptance in the market place.
Most of the prior art above creates or generates the original three-dimensional image as a single exposure through a refractive or defractive screening means upon a light recording medium. This original xe2x80x9cmasterxe2x80x9d image is a result of incident light reflected from an object or scene through said screening means onto the recording medium. Unfortunately, several technical problems are presented to those who create integral images by these methods. All of these techniques result in an original integral image that is pseudoscopic i.e. the depth information is inverted from that of the original object or scene. A secondary procedure is required to create a true working stereoscopic image. This usually involves exposing through the original integral image, in precise alignment with a screening means, onto a second light recording medium. The photographic duplication process adds costs and reduces quality. Elaborate steps are also taken to minimize interstitial falloff or overlap of exposure. Additionally, all objects created in this manner will appear to recede into or be behind the surface of the screen i.e. no objects will appear to xe2x80x9cfloatxe2x80x9d in front of the screen. Fresnel zone plates and fly""s eye lens materials are not readily available and the difficulty and cost of manufacturing of these materials make these techniques impractical for mass production.
A method according to integral imaging is needed that provides for the printing, projecting, displaying and broadcasting of integral images using existing digital imaging equipment and screening materials, wherein at least a portion of the image projects above the surface of an associated lens.
The present invention is directed toward methods and an apparatus for producing integral images hereafter known as Tru3(trademark) images. In one embodiment of the invention, the method involves the use of multiple views captured from predetermined vantage points along a Cartesian coordinate grid. Elements from each perspective view are manipulated and incorporated into a single interwoven image according to a specified pattern. A viewing screen is placed in alignment between the observer and the interwoven image creating a Tru3D(trademark) image. The combined unit of image and screen can then be illuminated from behind. The viewing screen then presents a discreet perspective view that corresponds to the observer""s angle of view. As the viewer has two eyes separated by an interocular distance the illusion of three dimensions is perceived. The interwoven images could also involve an object in motion, in which case an animated three dimensional effect is observable by changing the viewing angle.
The number of views interwoven and the resolution of the Tru3D(trademark) image is affected by the geometry of the viewing screen used as well as the space between the screen and image. Viewing screens consist of evenly spaced dots, as in an half-tone screen. In one embodiment, the viewing screen is a fly""s-eye lens, zone plate array or a compound lenticular lens. A novel method of aligning the image and screen is described. Methods for producing static and dynamic Tru3D(trademark) images are disclosed.


An electrolyte composition including a macro azo initiator containing a polyethylene oxide repeating unit, and a multi-functional urethane acrylate-based monomer, a gel polymer electrolyte including the electrolyte composition, and a lithium battery including the gel polymer electrolyte.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to an electrolyte composition, a gel polymer electrolyte, and a lithium battery including the gel polymer electrolyte, and more particularly, to an electrolyte composition that improves ionic conductivity and lifetime characteristics, a gel polymer electrolyte including the electrolyte composition, and a lithium battery including the gel polymer electrolyte.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flexible electronic devices such as electronic paper are drawing a great deal of attention as next-generation products. Flexible electronic devices often use a secondary battery as an energy source. Secondary batteries for use in flexible electronic devices need to be flexible and free of an electrolyte leakage problem. Therefore, polymer electrolytes may be suitable for use in flexible electronic devices.
Existing polymer electrolytes may be prepared by photocuring or thermal curing methods in which an electrolyte solution containing a mixture of monomers and an initiator is irradiated by ultraviolet (UV) light or electron beams, or is heated. As compared with photocuring methods that require expensive systems and involve complicated processes, thermal curing can be performed using relatively low-cost systems and by less complicated processes.
However, there still is a demand for an electrolyte composition and polymer electrolyte that have an affinity with existing electrolytes, have improved ionic conductivities and lifetime characteristics, and are be easy to prepare.

Electrolyte composition, gel polymer electrolyte, and lithium battery including the gel polymer electrolyte


A method of producing a multiple coated cellulosic sheet product having a surface which is smooth, bright and capable of being printed upon, includes the steps of coating a substrate comprising a cellulosic sheet with a first layer of an inorganic pigment-containing aqueous coating composition, and coating the first layer with a second layer of an inorganic pigment-containing aqueous coating composition to form a product in which the first layer is bonded to the cellulosic sheet and the second layer is bonded to and inseparable from the first layer, wherein there is incorporated into the first layer a sizing agent in an amount of up to 0.6% by weight based on the dry weight of the pigment present in the first layer. The sizing agent is selected from alkene ketene dimers, alkenyl succinic anhydrides, and anionic polyurethane sizes.

This invention relates to the improvement of the quality of a multiple coated cellulosic sheet material which is prepared by applying, to a cellulosic sheet material base, two or more layers of a mineral pigment-containing coating composition to form a bonded unitary structure having suitable surface properties.
If a high quality printed image is to be applied to a cellulosic sheet material such as paper or cardboard it is generally necessary to apply to the surface at least one coating composition layer containing one or more mineral pigments such as kaolin clay, calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate, titanium dioxide, barium sulphate, satin white and the like. The application of such a coating composition layer improves the smoothness, gloss, whiteness and opacity of the surface to which the printed image is to be applied. In many cases, in order to obtain a final coated surface of the desired quality, it is necessary to apply two or more layers of pigment-containing coating compositions. For example, a first coating composition layer may be employed to smooth the profile roughness of and cover voids present in the base cellulosic layer and a second coating composition may be employed to adhere to and coat the first layer and to give a better quality surface finish than the first layer and/or complete the pigment coverage or `hiding` of the underlying base provided by the first layer especially where that is relatively dark, eg. comprising board. The materials of the two or more coating composition layers may be the same or different. Generally, they are different. The pigment material of the outer layer is usually finer and more expensive than that of the first coating composition applied. In any event, the resulting product eventually comprises multiple inseparable layers bonded together as a unitary structure providing a high quality surface on at least one side to which a printed image may be applied.
Paper coating composition layers are applied in a well known way using coating machinery, eg. in which the coating composition is applied to the underlying layer by a so called `doctor blade`. Generally, in order to receive the maximum return from capital invested in paper coating machinery, it is desirable to run the coating machine at the highest practicable web speed. Also, since the coating compositions consist of pigment, adhesives, and possibly other solid ingredients in suspension in water, it is necessary to remove the water content of the composition by thermal evaporation in order to dry the coatings. In order to minimize the consumption of energy for thermal evaporation it is desirable to operate with coating compositions having the highest possible solids concentrations. However, it is found that when a final coating composition of relatively high solids concentration is applied to a base sheet of relatively high water absorbency, there is a tendency, when a doctor blade is used to remove excess coating composition and smooth the coating, for this final coating to be marred by scratches and other defects.
Where such scratches and defects occur it can be very costly to the manufacturer, since the machinery will need to be stopped sometimes for considerable periods of time, to correct the fault. The general ability to use a paper coating composition continuously in a paper coating operation without difficulty is known in the art as "runnability". Another problem which occurs in the manufacture of multiple coated paper and like products is to obtain good adhesion of an outer coating composition layer to an underlying coating composition layer on a cellulosic sheet. This is because the underlying coating composition layer will usually have a smoothness which is much improved compared with the underlying cellulosic sheet and it is difficult to ensure that the outer layer keys onto the surface of the smoother underlying layer.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of depositing multiple layers of pigment-containing coating compositions on a base cellulosic sheet in a manner in which the runnability of the product may be improved without significantly interfering with the adhesion between the coating layers.


An exercise machine is provided for a user performing squats. A base supports the exercise machine, and an upright member having a free end and an attachment end is mounted to the base at the attachment end and configured to be straddled by the user. A leg pad assembly is adjustably attached to the upright member for vertically adjusting a height of the leg pad assembly. The leg pad assembly has a first leg pad member extending horizontally relative to the upright member and configured to engage a back of the user's legs. A locking mechanism is provided for selectively releasably securing the leg pad assembly in a desired position on the upright member.

A conventional exercise machine used for performing squats helps strengthen muscles using stabilized weight, which is guided through a range of motion by the machine. However, performing the squats creates stress on knees and back, causing improper conditioning of the muscles around targeted areas of a user's body while exercising. Knee pain from using the squat machine is common because the machine forces the user's body into fixed movement patterns and places shearing loads on the user's knees. Further, the conventional machine tends to make the user rest directly against the machine and forces the user into unnatural movement patterns losing balance while pushing a weighted bar upwardly. This creates more back stress, especially with heavier weights, thereby causing lower back pain.